Review: The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

The Clockmaker’s Daughter is another winner for Kate Morton. I’m in awe of her storytelling ability: she expertly weaves together past and present, while holding the book’s secret right until the end. Her latest novel contains all of the elements we’ve come to expect from her: different timelines; a grand, old house; and, of course, …

30 Before 30

I’m not quite sure why I decided to write a ‘30 before 30’ list less than a year before, but there’s nothing like a deadline to provide a little inspiration. Mine won’t read like many of these lists, because having asked myself what I’d really like to achieve before my next birthday, the answer was …

Review: How Do You Like Me Now? by Holly Bourne

I am already a big Holly Bourne fan, having enjoyed the Spinster Club series and It Only Happens in the Movies, so I was keen to see how her first adult novel would compare. I think existing fans will find a lot to like here, particularly those like me who are a bit older than …

Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

I am a big fan of retellings of fairy tales, but don’t expect a straightforward version of The Little Mermaid. Rather than getting a prince to fall in love with her to stay human, this siren has to kill a prince to become a siren again – and that prince wants to kill her too. Blurb: …

2018: Half-year review

Hello! I am here for a half-year update, although another month has disappeared by the time I've posted this – that about sums up my year! I’ve really wanted to write more, and there is nothing particularly wrong. (With me, that is. There is plenty wrong with the world at large, which might be affecting …

A dose of ’90s pop

It has been a tiring week: a combination of late nights, early rises, and a few unusual stresses, including a trip to eye hospital... fortunately everything now seems to be sorted. It meant that when I settled down today, excited to finish The Ship of Destiny, I couldn’t keep my eyes open for more than …

Yay for a snow day!

Oh yes, I have taken a holiday, and not to go out and play in the snow, oh no – I properly fell on the ice on Wednesday. It’s to stay inside ALL DAY and read some Robin Hobb and bake some rock cakes and do two lots of life admin and write a blog …

Candid – Seven Confessions

Seven confessions, from the superficial… To the woman who did my nails at Stylist Live and said I needed to be using cuticle oil twice a day, never mind once a week: I have NEVER used cuticle oil. So there. Speaking of nails... I last painted my toenails two months ago. This wouldn’t be such …

Fortnightly Round-Up, 14 January 2018

For the first two weeks of 2018, I’ve been… …feeling: ill. OK, I’ve only had the cold this week, but it’s my overriding feeling right now as I sit here with blocked sinuses. I’ve also been happy and excited, as my friend called to ask if I’d be her bridesmaid! The provisional wedding date is …

Review: Everless by Sara Holland

As soon as I heard the premise of Everless, I knew I had to read it. Even with all the events surrounding Christmas, I still got home and read until the early hours because it was completely compelling. The novel is set in a world where time is literally money. Your time – an hour, …