Roberta Reads

Life and Otter Miracles by Hazel Prior My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved Away with the Penguins and Call of the Penguins, so I was keen to get my hands on Life and Otter Miracles. I was not disappointed! I loved this book. I loved the characters, the animals, the plot and everything. I very quickly connected and empathised with Phoebe. Her experiences of everyday life echo my own so much. Whilst I don’t suffer from a chronic pain condition, I do have a severe energy-limiting condition. I relate so much to Phoebe having to ration what she does. I just want to give her a big (gentle) hug. Living with a long term medical condition is so hard. I thought she was a strong character, who in spite of the struggle she has every day, invested in those she cared about, including the otters. I also loved her dad, who is so supportive, and loves all his children very much. The secondary characters were also great - it really felt like they all had lives of their ow...

Review - 4 stars: Lydia Travers is a new author for me, however I love my historical cosy crime (especially when the detective is female), so I took a risk. It definitely paid off! Initially, The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency was a little slow to get going. For the first third of the book, Maud seemed slightly inept. However, as this is her first proper case (I’m not including the previous one referenced, as the answer to that came so easily to her), that seems realistic to me. I really enjoyed watching Maud improve her detective skills over the course of the book. I really like both the main characters in this book. Maud is determined, and willing to make mistakes and learn from them. She’s not rich and gregarious as some of the other historical detectives I like to read, but she’s a very admirable character. I really like her calm determination. Daisy is also a great character. She’s cheeky and funny, and very lovable. I’m looking forward to getting to know them both better in fu...

Review - 5 Stars: I loved this book. It’s packed full of interesting information on conservationists and the wildlife they’re fighting to protect. Every page is covered in colourful and engaging illustrations of the conservationists, animals and the environment. The conservationists show diversity, and there’s also at least one disabled person illustrated.  I’m not sure how easy some of the text would be for people with dyslexia or other difficulties reading - Some of the boxes have small text, and occasionally the contrast between background and text is low. However, this is a really excellent book otherwise!  As well as the information about the conservationist, each double page spread also has a fun activity that the reader can get involved in, if they wish. The quality of the book is also great, it’s a hardback and quite large, and feels robust. The pages turn easily, and feel nice.  Overall, this book was both fun and informative, with the information conveyed in a c...

Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been a fan of Genevieve Cogman since the first Invisible Library book, so I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of Scarlet, the first in her next series. This time, we’re in the midst of the French Revolution, only there are vampires! I’m not really into history, and especially such a bloodthirsty era. However, this book is from a favourite author, so I decided to go ahead anyway, and I’m glad I did. The world building, as I’d expect from this author, was excellent. It all felt very real and visceral. The vampires fitted in well, not seeming at all out of place. The plot was great, I was gripped straight away, and I was rooting for Eleanor all the way through. She was a great character, feisty, intelligent, and thoughtful. She came across so completely, a clear sign of excellent writing. Overall, this was a gripping adventure that I couldn’t put down. Not my usual cosy fare, but I can...

Dread and Buried by Angie Fox My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve loved the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries by Angie Fox since I first came across it (quite a few years ago now). So I couldn’t wait to read Dread and Buried, the twelfth book in the series. This time, Verity, Melody, Ellis, and Duranja are celebrating Melody’s birthday by taking part in a pirate treasure hunt. With a valuable prize, things soon get exciting, and the place is full of pirate ghosts too (of course). This story was the usual excellent blend of exciting and hilarious. There’s plenty of ghosts with centuries old grudges for Verity to help, and a modern day crime to solve at the same time. The plot was very enjoyable, and the second half especially kept me on the edge of my seat. And, of course, it’s full of witty banter. What more could you possibly want from a book? As well as all the above joys, I was pleased that the relationship between Verity and Duranja showed good progress. ...

Review - 4 Stars: Over the last few years, Jessica Redland has become one of my favourite romance authors. She has a way of melding emotional backstories/plots (which I normally avoid) and happy romances that is just perfect, and doesn’t feel too much for me to cope with. So I couldn’t wait to read Summer Nights at the Starfish Cafe, the third in the series. Especially when I saw the absolutely beautiful cover! I loved seeing Jake and Hollie finally get married after all they’ve been through. I also loved getting to know Kerry better. I can’t imagine how she manages with four children! It was lovely to see her find happiness by the end of the book, after rather a bumpy ride.  As always with Jessica Redland, the book was very well written. The story flowed easily and kept my attention throughout.  Although this story had many very emotional moments, I felt like it was written in a realistic and sensitive way. And of course there’s happy endings too! The epilogue was just perfec...

A Cornish Seaside Murder: A gripping cozy mystery with twists you won’t see coming by Fiona Leitch My rating: 5 of 5 stars I discovered Fiona Leitch’s Nosey Parker Mysteries about a year ago, and they’re a really fun series. A Cornish Seaside Murder is the 6th book in the series, and was just as much fun as the others. More in fact! There was a good mix of family moments, and crime solving. Although the plot was darker than the previous books, it didn’t feel too heavy or adrenaline filled for a cosy crime. The pacing was excellent, and kept my attention engaged throughout. It was great to see Jodie and Nathan’s relationship continuing to develop, and adapting to their new professional relationship. Also, Jodie trying to find a good balance between the way she used to investigate, and police procedure. It’ll be interesting to see how this, and her work/life balance develops in future books, with everything she’s got going on! Overall, this was a great...

Summer Wedding by Sarah Morgan My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have loved Sarah Morgan’s books for many years now, and I have enjoyed the evolution of her writing. Summer Wedding was no exception, I absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed the multigenerational aspects of this story, and reading the perspectives of the three different women. I loved the gradual uncovering of the past, and the healing of old wounds. The three romances were almost secondary to the main plot, but they were nonetheless very satisfying to read. I also enjoyed getting to know the three women, and how the events of the past had affected them all differently. The setting of Corfu came through very strongly, you could almost feel the sun on your face. Overall, this was one of those books you just don’t want to put down. It was full of family and romance, and a beautiful setting. I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

The Cottage by the Shore: it's never too late for a happy ending by Rachael Lucas My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book. I always enjoy reading books where the main characters are in their late 30s or older. And Rachael Lucas always seems to write her books so they’re just perfect for me! I really liked both the main characters in this story. I so enjoyed watching Sophie come out of her shell and make friends after moving to Applemore. I loved the way her relationship with Ben slowly developed. I loved being back in Applemore, and seeing favourite characters from the previous books make appearances. I also love the scenery, the books have a great sense of place. This was such a lovely, gentle romance, which was a joy to read. I highly recommend it. I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews