Roberta Reads

A Lesson in Murder by Verity Bright My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love this series by Verity Bright, so it was lovely to receive the latest instalment (A Lesson in Murder) as an ARC. I really enjoyed the setting for this book, it’s unusual for an adult cozy crime to be set in a boarding school. The insights into Eleanor’s earlier life, when she was at school, were really interesting. Although some of the regular characters don’t feature in this book, it’s always a pleasure to return to this world, and the characters feel like friends by now. I love Clifford’s unparalleled efficiency, and I liked how the change in setting altered the dynamic between Eleanor and Chief Inspector Seldon. It was fun exploring the school through Eleanor and Clifford’s eyes. The plot was a great one, and each character fell under my suspicion, until finally the solution was revealed. There was a good range of suspects, and quite a few of them were hiding secrets. Overall, this ...

Celebrations at the Chateau: A cosy feel-good read to curl up with this winter by Jo Thomas My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have read (and enjoyed) a number of Jo Thomas books now, so I was pleased to be invited to review a copy of Celebrations at the Chateau. I really enjoyed reading this book. Three sisters unexpectedly inherit a Chateau, and Fliss stays to sort out selling it. There are a number of hitches, not least her neighbour. The whole story has a great atmosphere of warmth and family. It was lovely to read about Fliss’s journey to finding out what she really wanted from life, and the book is peppered with lots of interesting characters. The setting (both the Chateau and it’s surroundings) is really fun, and feels homelike from very early on. Overall, this is a great story, full of warmth and family, and the romance is lovely. I really hope there will be a sequel, perhaps focussing on one of Fliss’s sisters? I was given a free copy of this book, m...

The Great Troll War by Jasper Fforde My rating: 4 of 5 stars Having reread The Last Dragonslayer, The Song of the Quarkbeast, and The Eye of Zoltar, I was finally ready to read The Great Troll War. I’ve really enjoyed the series so far, and I love so many of the characters (Jennifer, Tiger, and the quarkbeast especially). So it was joyful to return to this world. Jasper Fforde’s writing, as always, flows so smoothly, allowing readers to get caught up in the story. I love all the jokes and funny moments, and the way that magic works. I love the characters, and the way that they develop as circumstances change. I particularly enjoyed the trolls as a species, and Molly in particular. The scope of this book is much larger than that of the previous three, but the themes are similar. Friendship, the fight for justice, and the defeat of evil. Why, with so many things I loved about it, have I only given 4 stars? Because too many people died, not just charact...

A Capital Crime by Kate P. Adams My rating: 5 of 5 stars A Captial Crime is the seventh book in the Charleston House Mysteries series, and once again, I hugely enjoyed returning to this world. I really enjoyed the change in location, not only was it interesting to see Sophie out of her usual setting, but we got to visit some great places, such as the Natural History Museum. The characters, as always, were well written and interesting to read about. I missed Pumpkin, but there’s another cat. The writing flows well, and it’s easy to get lost in the story. The plot was interesting and entertaining. It was fun to learn a little more of Sophie’s past, and meet friends from before she moved to Derbyshire. If you’re looking for a fun and interesting cozy crime, I recommend this one. In fact, I recommend the whole series! I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Christmas Wishes at Pudding Hall by Kate Forster My rating: 4 of 5 stars I loved the cover of Christmas Wishes at Pudding Hall, and I love Christmas romances, so I was pleased to receive an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this story. Kate Forster writes well, and it’s easy to become absorbed. I read the whole book in one day! The characters are well written and likeable. I particularly loved the twins, they’re so funny with their love of horror and guts. I also loved Christa. She’s a lovely and compassionate person, and I was rooting for her right from the start. The secondary characters are also great, they all have their own stories going, no matter how little they appear on the pages. The setting is also great. Pudding Hall sounds amazing, and I loved the deer. The atmosphere of the book is Christmassy, especially when it snows. I enjoyed the epilogue (though it’s simply titled two years later), it rounds off the story nicely, and ties up the p...

The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been enjoying Angie Fox’s Southern Ghost Hunter series for years now, so I was pleased to receive an ARC of the latest volume - The Haunted Homecoming. It’s always so much fun to return to this world, and to catch up with a favourite cast of characters. Verity, Lucy, and Frankie make such a great team. This time around, Verity’s mother is in town for a special homecoming celebration. They come across a body, and hilarity ensues as they investigate. I really enjoyed reading this book. As always, the writing flowed really well. The mystery was intriguing, and there’s plenty of interest to keep you turning the pages. It was fun to explore Verity’s relationship with her mother a little, as she’s very much been an absent character so far. I enjoyed the Frankie and Molly subplot, I can’t really say any more without spoilers. If you’re looking for a fun murder mystery, with a supernatural twis...

The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book. The Bennet Women is one of those rare books where you get immediately swept up in the story, and you want to go on reading until the very end. In spite of the fact that the setting is unfamiliar to me, I felt at home right from page one. I loved the way that certain key events and themes from Pride and Prejudice were seamlessly woven in, but the book was very much its own story. I really liked the characters, EJ and Will especially. I loved the supportive atmosphere of Bennet House. I loved the central friendship (EJ, Tessa, and Jamie). I highly recommend this book, both to lovers of Pride and Prejudice, and those who have never read it. I look forward to reading any further books from Eden Appiah-Kubi. View all my reviews

Diary of an Accidental Witch by Perdita Cargill My rating: 4 of 5 stars I loved the look of the cover of this book, and the concept was appealing, so I decided to give it a go. I really enjoyed this book. Bea Black accidentally ends up enrolled at a school for witches. Lots of funny things happen as she tries to settle in, and the ending is lovely. The illustrations are excellent, they really bring the story to life, and add to the humour. Overall, I think this story is an excellent and entertaining read for younger children. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café: The BRAND NEW winter release from bestseller Jessica Redland for 2021 by Jessica Redland My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have so enjoyed the Hedgehog Hollow series by Jessica Redland, that it was a no-brainer to read Snowflakes Over the Starfish Cafe. Especially with such an attractive cover. This book is very well written. Apart from a couple of minor typos (sooth instead of soothe, bought instead of brought), the writing flows so well. It’s just so easy to read, and the various timings and two viewpoints work really well. That can’t have been easy! I was drawn into the story really quickly, and I immediately liked and warmed to the two main characters. I also really liked many of the other characters, and the sense of supportive friendships. I liked the theme of slowly rebuilding after tragedies and difficulties. However, I did find it really hard watching Hollie and Jake go through so much. It makes it extra wonderful ...

A Bookshop Christmas by Rachel Burton My rating: 4 of 5 stars TW: cancer death (on page, but brief). Rachel Burton is a new author for me, but I couldn’t resist the Christmas and bookshop combination. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, and a little different to what I normally read. The characters were well drawn, I felt like they all had their own stories, even if they weren’t gone into in any detail. I’d like to read stories based around some of the other characters too. The setting was great, I loved the bookshop, and the wintery, Christmassy feeling comes across well. The book group sounded like a lot of fun. The romance was very enjoyable, it seemed realistic for people who had been through the difficulties Megan and Xander had been. By the end of the book, I could believe that they would go on to be happy together, providing they keep communicating. There were a number of funny moments too. Humorous without being slapstick. O...

Murder At The House On The Hill by Victoria Walters My rating: 4 of 5 stars I very much enjoyed Victoria Walters’ Glendale Hall series, and I love cozy crime, so I was excited to receive an ARC of Murder at the House on the Hill. Nancy and her grandmother attend the first party at Roth Lodge for 30 years. When a woman is murdered, Nancy investigates. I loved the name of the village where this book is set - Dedley End, and the name of the bookshop. It makes a great setting for a murder mystery. I liked Nancy, her grandmother, and her friends very much. I liked the fact that the plot was about more than just the murder mystery (though of course it’s mostly about that). The mystery plot itself kept me interested throughout the book, and I didn’t pin down the murderer until near the end. The story takes place over Christmas, so there’s also a small sprinkling of Christmassy cheer and cold weather - a welcome relief to read about in this heatwave! Overall...

A Home in the Sun by Sue Moorcroft My rating: 4 of 5 stars TW: stillbirth, death (off page, but in current time). I’ve been a Sue Moorcroft fan for a few years now, and so I was really pleased to receive an ARC of A Home in the Sun (which is a rerelease of her first book Uphill All the Way). I found this book to be more emotional than some of Sue’s more recent books (not necessarily a bad thing). Judith is really put through the mill during the course of the story. However, don’t let that put you off, because this tale also contains humour, and a lovely romance. I really liked both of the main characters, but especially Adam. In spite of having had a rough time of it, he is generally kind. I enjoyed the easy friendship that he and Judith fell into, even though they had opposing interests initially. The plot is well written, and gets you involved. It’s emotional, and both main characters go through a lot, but it’s totally worth it for the final scene....