NetGalley Reviewer nix21230

Don't Give A Cluck by Karigan Hale is part of the shared Tuft Swallow world series written by seven different authors. All the stories are set in a cosy, small town full of charming people, all keen on bird jokes and minding each others' businesses...  Don't Give A Cluck is the fourth story in the series, and we get to meet Nix who's been a nomad for the last decade. She's come to Tuft Swallows to be a camp site host. She has an attitude to match her free spirit, and she never plans to stay any longer period of time in any place.  Thayer is a former award winning architect who's returned home to Tuft Swallow to run his parents' book store. To the horror of the whole town, he's also decided to run a cat rescue - not popular in a town mad about their birds. Nix and Thayer are both somewhat lost, but they seem to be able to bring out the best in each other - the question is if they'll allow that to happen or if the wanderlust will win? Add in the meddli...

This is the third book by Ellie Henderson about people and events taking place on Arran, a beautiful Scottish island - the local tourist board should be giving out copies of her books at events around the world!  Two women looking for a fresh start. An escape to a Scottish island. A summer of sisterhood and second chances . . . Recent empty nester Kitty is heading to Arran to house sit Lilybank Cottage.  At the same time, Olivia, who is looking for a fresh start after her current life has taken a turn for the worse, is also heading to Lilybank Cottage.  After a tense first encounter, they decide to share the cottage. They soon discover that they have more in common than they expected and a genuine friendship is developing.  Together they help each other find new energy and deal with the past.  I liked the friendship between Olivia and Kitty and also the relationship Kitty develops with Logan aka the Tartan Wanderer, a local tour guide.  In Henderson's world...

This is an amazing, engaging and funny historical novel! Miss Hannah Simmons is doing her best to blend in, to not be noticed, she dresses is muted grey and brown colours and rarely speaks.  Operating in plain sight has become her best disguise, until Duke Robert Killian takes notice of her. They are both tasked with secret missions - one working for the queen and the other one for the prime minister. What can possibly go wrong?  Highly recommended! The second book in the series, "A Lady's Lesson in Scandal" is currently scheduled to be released on October 2024.

BUTTER YOU UP is the second book in the Farm 2 Forking author collaboration. You really must have read the first book "Since you've bean gone" before starting this one as there's a backstory adding more richness to most of the characters.  Alex is the grumpy brother in the Bedd family and he is happiest when he's with his milkers (cows) at Udderly Creamery, the farm next to Bedd Fellows. Dealing with people in general and his own family in particular, isn't really his thing.  Molly is on the van journey of her life through the US, slowly ticking off her and her father's 3-item bucket list in each state. Nearing New York, her van's batteries are getting to the end of their lives and she has secured a free space at Bedd Fellows Farm in exchange for helping out on the farm for a few months. To earn more money she also agrees to work in the farm shop at Udderly Creamery, where she meets Alex. There is instant attraction between them and they are both quick...

Whoa!! This fast paced, spy thriller novel set in a frighteningly believable world where the tension between China and Taiwan is escalating to new levels. The MI6 in Britain is expecting crucial intelligence from their high-level turncoat within the Chinese Communist Party - with it, Britain is hoping to stop the war between China and Taiwan before it begins - but somewhere along the way something goes very wrong and two new operatives - Luke Charlton and Jenny Li, who's been in previous books by Gardner - are sent to try to save the day. I loved how the book builds on Gardner's knowledge as a reporter, making it feel more real than the news reports in the media, making even the ending feel completely plausible. 

Flock and Roll by Vicki Hilton is part of the shared Tuft Swallow world series written by seven different authors. All the stories are set in a cosy, small town full of charming people, all keen on bird jokes and minding each others' businesses...  Flock and Roll is the third story in the series, and we get to meet crochet lover Rowena and currently injured hockey player Brody. Rowena has been in love with Brody, her brother's best friend, since before he left Tuft Swallow to peruse a successful hockey career. She has since been doing her best to forget all about him. Now he is back, this is proving difficult! Judging by the sparks flying when they meet up, perhaps it is not as one-sided as she thought. With the help from Brody, Rowena is training for a roller derby tryout over in the next town and there a some very memorable moments in the book including the snippet below describing her emergency tryout outfit: "I looked more Stinkerbell than Tinkerbell. I shrugged. At le...