NetGalley Reviewer nix21230

This is the third book in about Port Berry and I read it cold, without having read the previous two. As such it felt like I was missing some of the backstory, like I was a visitor looking in without knowing the history of the many characters that fleeted through the pages of the book. Will has returned to Port Berry to find his family and hopefully learn about his past. The warmth comes through the pages. He is also roped in by the local welcome committee and is quickly made to be part of the community.  Ginny runs the local cafe and also looks after her very unappreciative mother when she gets a chance; their relationship is pure toxicity. When Will and Ginny meet for the first time sparks fly. Different types of sparks fly later on, when Ginny finds out that Will is "stealing" her dream. With some adult level communication, much of the angst could have been avoided, and this would have been a pure, cosy, happy winter story. Winter Magic In Port Berry by K.T. Dady is releasi...

After a tragic accident which claims the life of her daughter Amanda and son-in-law, Lily is left to care for Emma, her young granddaughter.   Lily is determined to give Emma the best possible life that she can. Part of this includes to fulfil the dream Amanda had of opening a quilt shop. She had already bought the house for the shop but it requires A LOT of work.  With the mantra of " Don’t think about the end. Just tackle one thing at a time " Lily is slowly achieving the dream with support of her quilting group and the community.   Through love, hard work, perseverance, and the therapeutic act of quilting, Lily and Emma gradually heal their wounds and find hope for the future.

Kitty's back!!! If you haven't yet read "How to kill men and get away with it", you really ought to do it before starting this book! My summary of "How to kill..." was:  "Kitty Collins. Influencer. Meat princesses. Killer."  There is less influencer and less meat processing, and she's done really well not killing off any men lately. But, then there's Blaze Bundy, an anonymous influencer spreading misogyny online (inspired perhaps by A. Tate?), and her urge to kill is back... As Cassie, Kitty's friend, said: ‘Men like that think “no” is a negotiation,’ [...] ‘And if that doesn’t work, they just take what they want anyway.’ Serious topics wrapped up on a hilariously entertaining package, a distant but unexpectedly helpful mum, wrong sounding right, and supporting violence to ensure calm and safety. It shouldn't feel this good to want the bad... Huge THANK YOU to NetGalley and HQ Digital for allowing me to review an eARC of this book. ...

Dark Secrets on Dressmakers' Alley is the latest instalment in the gritty, historical saga series set in London's East End in 1924.  It builds on the first book in the series "Dangerous Times on Dressmakers' Alley" with many of the characters returning and coming further to life.  The girls are enjoying their work at Miss Susie's, the dressmaker's run by a former maid. Recently there has been a series of women being attached and robbed, even in broad daylight.  The Police seem too busy (and somewhat incompetent) so the men of the Dressmakers' Alley create a rota to keep an eye on the area and to keep their wives, girlfriends and sisters safe. The story felt a bit darker than the previous one, and some of the novelty from the first book was now just part of the back story (a Lady designing dresses, a former maid running a business, the Women's Movement, etc).    Dark Secrets on Dressmakers Alley by Rosie Clarke is available on 29 October 2024.

Knock Out by Logan Ryles is the eight book with Mason Sharpe as the lead character.  Sharpe is finally enjoying some much needed down time but this all stops when he spots three men beating up a kid in an alleyway. Sharpe  sends the attackers on their way, and then patches up the kid, Spencer.  Spencer has set his target on earning some "quick" cash, by winning big money at an underground fight club. The fight club is run by a biker gang and Sharpe soon finds himself in a bit of a predicament.. Personally I wasn't keen on the fight club element, but it's Mason Sharpe so it is still a book well worth reading! Knock Out by Logan Ryles is available now.

Ben Lytle's second Potentialist book focuses on the pursuit of wisdom.  He shows that it is possible to exercise the muscle of wisdom to create a better quality of life and relationships, and help us reach our potential.  Similarly to the first book in the series, which focused on potential, he is encouraging us to be the best we can be. In his words: “I will do my best, to be my best, and leave the world and the people I meet a little better than I found them.” Lytle takes us through a thought-provoking exploration of the future and how we as individuals can prepare for the rapid changes ahead. The book offers a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, society, psychology and personal growth. Preparing for and living in The New Reality, our future will shaped by technological advancements and societal shifts. To thrive, we must learn how to adapt to this "new reality". Wisdom, as defined by Lytle, is the ability to apply knowledge and experience to make soun...