Roberta Reads

A Postcard from Italy by Alex Brown My rating: 5 of 5 stars A wonderful book. A romance, a self-discovery and a mystery all wrapped up in one. The descriptions of Italy really make you feel like you are there. Highly recommended. View all my reviews

Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop by Rebecca Raisin My rating: 3 of 5 stars Not quite my usual fare, this was an interesting and different romantic comedy. I enjoyed it, but probably won’t read it again. The audiobook narration was good, clearly read and easy to understand, though I could have done without the continual lengthy sibilants. View all my reviews

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal My rating: 4 of 5 stars An excellent retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan. Well written and very readable, this book provides an interesting glimpse into another culture. I particularly enjoyed the way Mrs. Binat’s caring for her daughters (though misguided) shone through much more clearly than in the original. I’d definitely recommend to anyone wanting to enjoy a more diverse version of P&P. View all my reviews

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl My rating: 5 of 5 stars I absolutely loved this fun steampunk adventure for children (and, indeed, adults). Too many parents dying for my taste, but otherwise an excellent read. I’ll definitely be seeking out the sequel! View all my reviews

The Pet Shop at Pennycombe Bay: An uplifting story about community and friendship by Sheila Norton My rating: 3 of 5 stars Shiela Norton is a new author for me, so I borrowed this book from the library. The story is well written and enjoyable, but not quite my cup of tea (and one of the dogs dies). I probably wouldn’t recommend it to someone, unless I knew they were into this kind of story. View all my reviews

Wolves of Wisteria by Angela Pepper My rating: 3 of 5 stars An interesting magical murder mystery, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as some of the others by the same author. I think it didn’t have quite the same light hearted touch. Still a good read though. View all my reviews

Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer My rating: 5 of 5 stars A very entertaining and silly romp from Georgette Heyer View all my reviews

Geek Girl by Holly Smale My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is an excellent book. Well written. Funny. Portrays the insecurity of being a teenager well. Has a good message about people who love you can be angry with you but not hate you. The way it portrays a geek’s sudden entry into the modelling world feels realistic. The mishaps and funny situations seem like the kind of thing that could really happen. And I love Harriet, she’s a sweet, charming girl who just needs to gain some confidence to come into her own. A fun, easy to read book, whether you’re an adult or a teenager. Highly recommended, I can’t wait to read the next one. View all my reviews

The Secret Cove in Croatia by Julie Caplin My rating: 5 of 5 stars A well written book, easy to read and very enjoyable. The Secret Cove in Croatia takes us on a delightful summer cruise. The characters are generally well rounded, and the two main characters are easy to connect with. I loved Maddie. I liked the fact that she is happy to go off on her own in foreign country, though she still has a few insecurities. I definitely appreciated the way she speaks her mind. I do sometimes get a little fed up of insecure, feeble heroines, so it’s great to read one who is more confident. I really disliked Simon straight away, he’s one of those entitled people who don’t take no as no. A smarmy jerk. This opinion was then confirmed by his dangerously reckless behaviour later in the book. I quite liked Nick, though I found him to be rather pathetic and weak willed around Tara. The descriptions of the places are lovely, not too long, but really give the atmospher...

The Colonel and the Bee by Patrick Canning My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Colonel and the Bee is an interesting book, and very different from anything I’ve read before. It tells the story of Beatrix, who escapes from abusive employment in a circus, to the giant airship belonging to an enigmatic man known mostly as the Colonel. They then embark upon a hazardous adventure to find a treasure - though the Colonel’s true motives remain mysterious for most of the book. I didn’t enjoy the first part of the tale, before Bee escapes the circus. Reading about abusive relationships is really not my cup of tea. Although this book goes to darker places than I in general prefer to read about (abuse, deaths etc), it is well written, and leavened with much wit and interest. This book felt more realistic than many I read, as the majority of the characters were not wholly good or evil. They all had their faults and foibles. It was great to see Bee gain confidence and co...