My five star review of It Had to Be You by Beth Moran

 

Growing up, sisters Libby and Nicky never knew who they’d find at breakfast.

Their parents fostered children of all ages, and although the girls loved playing their part in providing a safe haven, it meant that life was rarely peaceful.

Now as a single mother of two, Libby’s life is still anything but peaceful. In her work as an antenatal coach, as well as for the charity she and Nicky run for teenage mothers, Libby uses all the skills she learnt growing up surrounded by children. Her days are full, caring for her family, the mothers-to-be and the latest strays she has welcomed into her home. But in the dark of the lonely nights, Libby worries she’s falling apart at the seams.

One troubled boy and a reckless decision she made thirteen years ago still haunts her.

Two hearts that were broken, still not mended.

The time has come for Libby to look out for herself. As her family, friends and her community have known forever, Libby is one of a kind, and if she can just learn to love herself, she may be able to welcome back the love she let slip through her fingers.

Uplifting, heart-warming and irresistibly good for the soul, it’s impossible not to fall in love with a Beth Moran story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Warm, Feel-Good, Heart-Squeezing Delight

It Had to Be You by Beth Moran is the kind of book that makes you settle into your seat on page one and think, “Ah, yes… this is exactly what I needed.” And honestly? It absolutely is.

Moran pulls you straight into a world full of charm, chaos, and characters who feel like the sort of people you’d accidentally overshare with at a coffee shop. Every chapter adds a new emotional spark — sometimes sweet, sometimes hilarious, sometimes the kind that sneaks up and pokes you right in the feelings. It’s effortless, comforting storytelling with just the right amount of messiness.

The pacing hums along beautifully, never dragging, never rushing — just carrying you through the heroine’s journey like a friend saying, “Come on, you’ve got to see this bit.” And the romance? Slow-burn perfection. It strolls onto the page with all the chemistry and tenderness you want, smiling like it knows exactly what it’s doing.

The characters are wonderfully flawed and loveable, the kind of cast you want to cheer for even when they’re stumbling, hesitating, or making life choices that definitely need a group chat intervention. Their warmth and humour give the story its glow, and watching their connections grow is half the joy.

A definite five stars from me: uplifting, heartfelt, and exactly the sort of book you reach for when you want comfort, charm, and a story that leaves you wearing a big, dopey grin. Perfect for readers who love romances filled with heart, humour, and hope.

Amazon

Beth Moran is the author of fourteen novels including the number one bestseller, Let it Snow. These are mostly set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she can be found most mornings walking her spaniel, Murphy. Prior to becoming an author, she worked as a biochemist doing cancer research and was an antenatal educator. While her older children have all now flown the nest, she is a foster carer for teenagers and babies so life is never boring. 

Four Stars: All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

 

'Two people are less lost than one...'

There is a moment when childhood ends.

For Joseph 'Patch' Macauley and Saint Brown, it comes late one summer as Patch is abducted from their hometown. Devastated, Saint devotes her days to finding her best friend.

Held in total darkness, Patch is hopeless and alone - until he feels a hand in his. Though he never sees the girl, they fall in love. When he escapes, he's left with only her voice and name - and promises to spend the rest of his life searching for her.

As Saint's heart breaks for the boy she lost - and the man he becomes - she will shadow his journey, to uncover the truth behind who took him.

Over a lifetime driven by obsession, Patch and Saint must sacrifice everything for redemption, justice, and, ultimately, love - even if that means losing each other forever...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Dark, Dreamy, and Surprisingly Cozy Thriller

All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker is one of those rare novels that manages to be bleak, beautiful, suspenseful, and oddly comforting—all at the same time. It’s like being handed a warm blanket… that may or may not be hiding a secret.

Whitaker’s writing is cinematic and emotional, the kind that sweeps you into the story before you’ve even realized you’ve sat down. He blends mystery, heartbreak, and hope with such ease that you find yourself fully invested in these characters—messy, lovable, flawed, and stubbornly human.

The plot twists are sprinkled in like seasoning: never overdone, but definitely enough to make you raise an eyebrow and mutter, “Oh, that’s what we’re doing now.” The atmosphere is moody and immersive, the kind you want to sink into with a hot drink, even while terrible things are happening on the page.

Is it a “feel-good” thriller? Not exactly. But it is the sort of story that stays with you—not because it shocks you senseless, but because it hits you right in the feelings when you least expect it.

A solid four stars: emotional, atmospheric, and wonderfully crafted. Perfect if you love your thrillers with heart, healing, and just the right amount of darkness.

Amazon

Chris Whitaker is the author of the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling All The Colours Of The Dark. His other acclaimed and bestselling novels include We Begin At The End, Tall Oaks, and All The Wicked Girls. 

Chris’s novels have been translated into thirty languages and have won the CWA Gold Dagger, the CWA John Creasey Dagger, the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, the Ned Kelly International Award, and numerous awards around the world. 

His books have also been selected for the Read With Jenna Book Club, Waterstones Thriller of the Month, Barnes & Noble Book Club, Good Morning America Book Club, and for BBC2’s Between The Covers. 

All The Colours Of The Dark is currently in development with Universal Pictures. We Begin At The End is currently in development with A24.

Chris was born in London and lives in the UK. 

My five star review of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

 

Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Deliciously Devious, Unputdownable Thriller Treat

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is the kind of book you start on a whim and then suddenly you’re ignoring responsibilities, meals, and possibly your moral compass because you have to know what’s going on in that house.

Millie, our underdog heroine with a mysterious past, accepts a job that seems too good to be true—and shocker! It absolutely is. The Winchester household is a carnival of red flags, with Nina Winchester at the center, gleefully waving the biggest one like she’s leading a parade of psychological chaos.

McFadden’s pacing is wickedly addictive: short chapters, sharp twists, and cliffhangers that feel like she’s whispering “just one more…” every time you try to stop reading. The tension builds until the story practically sprints toward its finale—and yes, the payoff is chef’s kiss satisfying.

What makes this a five-star ride? It’s fun. Wild. Dramatic in all the best “pop some popcorn and settle in” ways. It knows exactly what kind of twisty thriller it wants to be and delivers it with flair.

Five stars: wickedly entertaining, irresistibly bingeable, and packed with gasp-worthy moments. Perfect for thriller fans who love clever reveals, messy secrets, and books that make you say “WHAT?!” out loud.

Amazon

#1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Sunday Times, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author Freida McFadden is a physician who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages.

​ Freida lives with her family and cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

To hear Freida talk about herself more in the third person, check out her website freidamcfadden.

My five star review of When The Storm Dies by Jack Cartwright

 

When the storm dies…where will you hide?

When a violent summer storm hits the Lincolnshire Wolds, the tiny village of Bag Enderby falls foul of the devastating deluge. Homes are flooded, fallen trees lie across the winding lanes, and in one picturesque valley, a terrible secret is unearthed – a woman’s body is discovered floating among the debris.

For Detective Inspector George Larson, the storm marks the beginning of a new episode. A return to where his career began all those years ago, with colleagues he hasn’t seen for a lifetime, and places that are etched into his heart. It’s as if the storm is wiping his slate clean for him to end his career in the place he loves – until his journey leads him into the heart of the crime scene, where he learns the victim’s name and memories of an unsolved murder float to the surface.

Florence Tucker suffered severe head wounds, which leaves George faced with a possibility that his new superior officer is keen to reject – is this a new investigation, or is George’s ageing mind trying to close an unsolved case that has haunted him for years?

With a community still reeling from the past, few are willing to speak the truth, leaving George with little option but to wade through the lies and deceit, and face his nightmare head on.

Why did Florence Tucker die? Who was the last to see her? And why are the locals terrified of digging up the past?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Stormy, Heart-Pounding, Absolutely Addictive Adventure

When The Storm Dies by Jack Cartwright is one of those rare thrillers that grabs you by the collar from page one and refuses to let go—even when you promise yourself you’ll just finish this chapter before bed. (Spoiler: you won’t.)

Cartwright knows how to build tension like he’s assembling a lightning rod. The story opens with a bang, plunges you straight into chaos, and then somehow keeps escalating until you’re clutching the book like it’s a flotation device. The storm at the center of the novel isn’t just weather—it’s mood, metaphor, menace, and pure narrative adrenaline.

The characters? A delightfully messy crew of survivors, secret-keepers, and people who probably should have stayed home that day. You root for them, shout at them, and occasionally want to shake them—but you’re with them every step through the swirling danger.

What makes this a five-star blast is the sheer fun of it. It’s cinematic, twisty, and paced like Cartwright had a stopwatch in one hand and a bolt of lightning in the other. The final reveal hits with such force that you might briefly forget how breathing works.

Five stars: electrifying, wildly entertaining, and impossible to put down. Perfect for readers who love their thrillers fast, their twists bold, and their storms truly unforgettable.

Amazon

Jack Cartwright is a USA Today bestselling author, based in Lincolnshire, UK.

Born in Essex, Jack lived and worked in Dubai for much of his adult life, as an IT professional, and as an international photographer.

Under various pen names, Jack has written and published more than fifty novels, won awards, and achieved the USA Today bestseller status in early 2021. ​

The Wild Fens Murder Mysteries, The DCI Cook Mysteries, and The Deadly Wolds Mysteries have all been written for TV adaptation, featuring gritty, rural locations, unforgettable characters, and powerful storylines with twists aplenty. 

After a life of travel and adventure, he has put down his roots with his wife, daughters, and dog in one of Lincolnshire's many beautiful villages. He plans to stay for good. 

My four star review of Secrets In Blood by Jack Cartwrigh

 

If you can't live with the truth, bury it...

Following a devastating encounter with a serial killer, Detective Inspector Freya Bloom is left mentally scarred. After a six-month sabbatical, and no desire to return to the bustling London streets, she accepts a position in rural Lincolnshire in search of a slower pace of life.

But with London behind her, and a new life in the wild fens of Lincolnshire before her, she finds only endless drama in her new team, a tortured romance in her only ally, and crimes so deadly even the steely determination that drove her to success is tested.

From the moment Freya’s expensive heels hit Lincolnshire soil, the push-pull relationship with her Sergeant begins. Noses are put out of joint, tempers are frayed, and more importantly, a body is discovered on a wild beach. There’s no time to make friends. If Freya is to make her mark in this remote county, she must work with the team she’s been given, and untangle the web of lies surrounding the death of teenager, Jessica Hudson.

Can Freya ditch her designer heels for wellington boots, and adapt to the country life? Can she shape her new team into something workable? And can she put her past behind her long enough to prevent a second murder?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Sharp, Thrilling, Blood-Pumping Page-Turner

Secrets In Blood by Jack Cartwright is the kind of thriller that makes you raise an eyebrow on page one and mutter “oh, this is going to be fun.” And it absolutely is.

Cartwright wastes no time dropping you into a world of hidden motives, buried truths, and characters who seem to collect secrets the way other people collect fridge magnets. Every chapter adds another layer of intrigue—sometimes helpful, sometimes delightfully confusing, always compelling.

The pacing is snappy, like the story is daring you to blink and miss something. And the twists? They appear exactly when you think you’ve figured it all out, strutting onto the page with a smug little grin.

The characters are a great mix of flawed, fierce, and “I can’t decide if I trust you but I’m enjoying this too much to stop.” It’s the kind of cast you want to follow even when they’re making questionable life decisions (which they do with gusto).

Why four stars? Because while it’s a blast to read, it barrels forward so fast at times you might wish for a tiny breather. A snack break. A moment to whisper “wait, WHAT just happened?”

A solid four stars: gripping, twisty, and devilishly entertaining. Perfect for readers who love thrillers that spill secrets, spill adrenaline, and keep you glued to the page from start to finish.

Amazon

Jack Cartwright is a USA Today bestselling author, based in Lincolnshire, UK.

Born in Essex, Jack lived and worked in Dubai for much of his adult life, as an IT professional, and as an international photographer.

Under various pen names, Jack has written and published more than fifty novels, won awards, and achieved the USA Today bestseller status in early 2021. ​

The Wild Fens Murder Mysteries, The DCI Cook Mysteries, and The Deadly Wolds Mysteries have all been written for TV adaptation, featuring gritty, rural locations, unforgettable characters, and powerful storylines with twists aplenty. 

After a life of travel and adventure, he has put down his roots with his wife, daughters, and dog in one of Lincolnshire's many beautiful villages. He plans to stay for good. 

My five star review of Strangers in Time by David Baldacci

 

In 1944, during one of the fiercest conflicts the world has ever known, three strangers’ lives collide . . .

* * *

EVERY SECOND COUNTS

An orphan with no prospects, Charlie Matters’ life has always been a fight for survival. He emerged miraculously unscathed from the Blitz, but there’s no telling when the next bomb will fall, or whether it will be the one to end his life.

Molly Wakefield’s dreams of a joyful homecoming are all she’s had to hold on to after being evacuated to the countryside five years ago. But when she finally returns, Molly faces a London changed beyond recognition, and the devastating news that neither of her parents are there.

Charlie’s and Molly’s paths converge at The Book Keep, where they find an unexpected ally and protector in the bookshop’s owner, widower Ignatius Oliver. But the trio’s newfound peace is jeopardized as past secrets catch up with them. Can they help one another survive this turbulent time? Or will they be ripped apart from the last remaining people they hold dear?

Journey back to wartime London with Strangers in Time, a gripping wartime drama from David Baldacci, the internationally bestselling author of The 6:20 Man and A Calamity of Souls.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Time-Twisting, Big-Hearted Adventure You’ll Zoom Through

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci is an absolute joyride—emotional, exciting, and packed with the kind of charm that keeps you grinning even when the stakes are high.

Baldacci throws you straight into a world where past and present collide, and the result is wildly fun. The characters are instantly engaging: clever, curious, and the kind of people you want to follow anywhere (even through time). The relationships that form are sweet, believable, and filled with the sort of chemistry that makes every scene sparkle.

The plot moves fast—like, “oops, I just read 100 pages” fast. There are mysteries to unravel, dangers to dodge, and twists that pop up right when you think you’ve figured things out. And through it all, Baldacci keeps the tone warm and uplifting, balancing adventure with just the right amount of heart.

What really makes this a five-star treat is the blend of fun and feeling. It’s imaginative without being confusing, emotional without being heavy, and consistently entertaining from start to finish.

Five stars: bright, inventive, heartfelt, and completely bingeable. A perfect pick for readers who love fast-paced adventures with big emotions and even bigger fun.

Amazon

David Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she'd given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.") 

David published his first novel, ABSOLUTE POWER, in 1996. The feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 50 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers and several have been adapted for film and television. His novels have been translated into over 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. 

David is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy programs across the United States. 

My four star review of A Long Time Dead by J.M. Dalgliesh

 

You can’t stay dead forever…

A group of high school students gather on the Isle of Skye’s remote Coral Beach for a hedonistic night of partying to celebrate the passing of their final exams. The new millennium is on the horizon and the future beckons, promising new hope and a fresh wind of optimism. In the coming days, many will leave the island for work or to study on the mainland, whereas others will remain on Skye and forge a more traditional path much as their families have done for centuries before them.

That is… all but one…

D.I. Duncan McAdam is dispatched home to the Misty Isle. A body has been found buried in a remote location on the Waternish peninsula. Well preserved in the peat, Isla Matheson – missing for the better part of two decades – is revealed to a shocked island community. A teenage runaway is dead… and no one is talking…

Joining a small team of detectives, Duncan is tasked with revisiting those who knew Isla, those who cared for her… and those with the potential to kill her… In a remote community well used to settling scores among themselves, will they trust one of their own when he asks questions or will they persevere with the façade of ignorance?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Gritty, Gripping Mystery With Plenty of “Just One More Chapter” Energy

A Long Time Dead by J.M. Dalgliesh is the kind of crime thriller that grabs you gently by the collar, whispers “things are about to get messy,” and then leads you through a perfectly twisty maze of secrets and small-town shadows.

We follow DI David Dark, who is as steady and intriguing as his name suggests. He’s clever, he’s determined, and he has that classic detective vibe—haunted enough to be interesting, but not so broody you want to shake him. The Norfolk setting adds a deliciously eerie atmosphere, all wide skies and whispers in the marsh grass, making every clue feel a little more ominous.

Dalgliesh writes short, sharp chapters that practically dare you to stop reading. (Spoiler: you won’t.) The mystery is layered, the suspects are shady in all the right ways, and the pacing has just the right rhythm to keep you turning pages long past bedtime.

Why four stars? Sometimes the story zooms ahead so quickly you might wish for a touch more depth in a few moments—but honestly, that’s part of its charm. It’s a thriller built for fun, fast reading.

A solid four stars: atmospheric, addictive, and wonderfully twisty. Perfect for crime-fiction fans who love moody landscapes, compelling detectives, and mysteries that keep you guessing all the way through.

Amazon

Jason Dalgliesh is a British crime-writer who was born on the south coast of England and grew up in Hampshire, UK.

Following on from the worldwide bestselling Dark Yorkshire and Hidden Norfolk crime series, in 2023, he introduced us to DI Duncan McAdam, a detective returning to his childhood home on Scotland’s Misty Isle, the Isle of Skye. A LONG TIME DEAD was published in October 2023 and hit the coveted #1 spot in the Amazon Kindle Store, followed soon after by THE DEAD MAN OF STORR which also placed high in the Top 10 upon release. The following books in the series have all been Amazon bestsellers. 

Jason was recently listed in the Top 10 most-read authors of the last decade on Amazon UK despite only publishing titles for six of those ten years. To date, he has recorded over four million sales across his works and has also been published by Bookouture (Hachette UK.)

The Hidden Norfolk series has seen multiple number ones and the fifth book, HEAR NO EVIL, was shortlisted for Amazon’s prestigious Kindle Storyteller Award in 2020. Jason has seen multiple books top the charts in the USA, Canada and Australia.

Jason has cemented his place as one of the most popular authors writing UK based regional crime in recent years. His work is currently in development for television by an award winning production team. The plots take in some of the UK’s most rugged and beautiful landscapes.

Penned in the style of crime thrillers with a touch of Scandinavian noir, readers who enjoy dark atmospheric mysteries will find his books a must-read.

Having spent time abroad, Jason has lived and worked in various parts of England as well as the Scottish Highlands. He currently lives in Norfolk with his wife and two young children.