I made an effort to set aside more time this month to enjoy books on my toppling TBR… and here is a round up if you missed these terrific books the first time around.
Delighted to share my review for the latest release by Terry Tyler…Served Cold: Book 1 of the Revenge Series
About the book
Revenge is a dish best served cold
Two novellas in which vengeance is planned long after emotions have cooled … these are calculated, deliberate acts of retribution. Justice designed for catastrophic effect.
The Steal
Jodie Tarrant has it all – her own small business, a husband she adores, lots of friends, a house she loves in a cosy English village.
She can see her and Kirk’s future all mapped out, with the children she longs for – until the arrival of an enigmatic stranger becomes a threat to everything Jodie holds dear.
Lucky Star
Abduction! Imagine waking up in a strange room, in a strange building, with no recollection of how you got there.
This is what happens to Stevie Warren. Worst of all, she soon discovers that she can’t leave. But who put her there, and why? Deep down, she has her suspicions…
My review for the book October 4th 2025
Be prepared for a riveting read from first to last page of this two novella release, first in the series on revenge by Terry Tyler.
You would probably have to be a rather forgiving person, to not sometimes fantasise about doling out a little justice to those who may have caused upset in your life, from small infractions to sometimes devastating and lasting traumas.
The author has taken that premise and in these first two stories we need not use our imaginations, as she has created some wonderful and detailed examples of retribution.
There are plenty of twist and turns in the first story particularly, where you are lulled into a sense of righteous indignation on behalf of one of the characters, and then faced with a sudden turn of events which has you doubting your own judgement. As always this author creates compelling characters the reader can relate to, as if you have met them personally. As the steal plays out, you will find yourself becoming more and more involved in the story and the lives of the players.
In the second story Lucky Star… the characters all appear to have something to hide, and as they begin to show their true natures, you pick up on how easily, particularly today with everything on social media, you can’t get away with much. Someone around you has a camera, photos, recordings and greed can turn you into a pawn in a dangerous and intricate challenge. Someone is after justice but who is it and who is their target?
This is a fascinating study into human nature and its many facets…skilfully formated into two stories that will have you considering your own actions on either side of the revenge game. I can highly recommend and very happy to know there are more stories on retribution to come.
Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
My next review of the month was for the latest release by Darlene Foster…a lovely episode in the Amanda travel stories…close to home. Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bag.
About the book
Twelve-year-old Amanda Jane Ross is invited to be a bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding in Ireland! She falls in love with the Emerald Isle the moment she lands in Dublin. The warm, friendly Irish people immediately make her feel at home. Towering castles, ancient graveyards, and the stunning green countryside are filled with fascinating legends, enthralling folktales, and alarming secrets.
Things take a dark turn when disaster strikes. Amanda wonders if there will be a wedding at all. As she joins the search for a missing horse, she stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, bloody battles, and dangerous peat bogs. The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Will she become another body in the bog?
My review for the book October 6th 2025
Another gripping mystery featuring teenage sleuth Amanda set in the vibrant green landscape and key historical sites of Ireland, as she faces a family drama fraught with danger.
What should be a very happy family occasion as her cousin Taylor marries the lovely Roisin, is put at risk days before the wedding. Preparations go ahead including a trip to Dublin to finish the fittings for the bridesmaids, including Amanda’s dress. Whilst there she takes the opportunity to visit some of the amazing museums with their ancient Irish history exhibits but whilst there even more disturbing encounters trigger her investigative instincts.
Being in a strange country and not familiar with the different relationships of those around her, Amanda is not sure who she can trust. This means relying on her own ability to follow clues and discover the truth behind a worrying disappearance. This brings her to the attention of some unscrupulous people who are prepared to stop at nothing to get what they want.
As always with this author and series, there are wonderful characters, a clever plot and interesting twists and turns. Darlene Foster always highlights not just the country but the people in a lovely way. Ireland’s rich traditional culture and some of its iconic historical sites are given pride of place and for anyone planning to visit the country, a taste of what they can expect and should put on their to visit list.
This book is aimed at young adults but I always find Amanda’s adventures well worth putting your feet up for a couple of hours and enjoying. They are well written and offer a glimpse into other cultures and traditions. I have no hesitation in recommending this lovely story.
Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
My next review was by Veronica Kay who lived in Liverpool all her life. Her grandson wanted to share her story and has published the book so others can read her remarkable story… He is married to Sabrina Ostrowska who has been promoted here in the past and who will be using her own online platforms to promote the book.
Her Own Words: A Liverpool Mother’s Life: A True Story of Hardship and Fierce Heart
About the book
A must-read for the fans of Call the Midwife and autobiographies written by working-class women
My kids don’t seem to understand me anymore. I don’t think they want to. They are all wrapped up in their own lives, their homes.
After all, they are saying “Mam’s old.”
In other words, I’ve lived my life, they are going to live theirs.
Well, that’s life, but in my book, I have not lived My life. I have existed, pushed my way through life, with all the hoard giving Grief, worry, sorry, and a lot of heartache. It’s left its mark, not only in my face, but in my Heart, which, at the moment, is very heavy. Tears won’t even ease the pain.
God, another day dawning.
In Her Own Words: A Liverpool Mother’s Life, Veronica Kay offers a powerful and unfiltered account of a life shaped by hardship and quiet determination. From her early years in Liverpool through war, marriage, motherhood, and personal loss, she records the events of her life with emotional clarity and unwavering honesty.
Written in plain, evocative language, this memoir captures the struggles and triumphs of an ordinary woman whose story speaks to an entire generation. Kay’s voice is unmistakably her own.
She is direct, unsentimental, and profoundly human.
This is not a celebrity memoir. It is something far rarer: the lived truth of a woman who survived, endured, and remembered. Her Own Words: A Liverpool Mother’s Life is a record of a working-class life, a mother’s love, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going.
“I am still here and intend to be here till the end of my Days.”
Note about the book from Sabina Ostrowska who is married to Veronica’s grandson who edited the book.
‘My husband, Robert Ryan, transcribed it and did light editing. We decided not to correct all the misspellings or grammar to keep the character of the writing. You will also find many colloquialisms that were common in Liverpool at that time but which may be obscure to some modern readers. We left these to capture the voice of the writer.’
My review for the book October 11th 2025
It is easy to forget, as we enjoy our modern day luxuries, that even 100 years ago life was very different for so many. Living history is so important to pass along, and Veronica Kay’s grandson has done just that with this diary kept by his grandmother, with a snapshot of her life from childhood through turbulent teen years, a mis-guided marriage, multiple births, losses and her reflections on life, love and family.
This is a record of a life filled with grit and determination and a fierce love of that family. Veronica’s childhood was, apart from a few isolated incidents, largely filled with happiness. Her father bought and sold horses and also had a haulage business wih his sons. Veronica loved the horses in particular but was also lucky enough to be around an assortment of other animals. Even when the day of the horse came to an end with the advent of engines and the wagons were swapped out for trucks, life continued to be fun.
Unfortunately, at 17 this all changed with the hasty marriage to a man much older than Veronica. Judging by the entries of life over the next 60 years, all the grit and determination was necessary to weather the relationship and to care and bring up a growing family..there were losses and heartache and it makes for very difficult reading in parts.
This diary about her life, is definitely in her own words and it is all the more authentic for the use of her grammar and spelling. It is real and gritty, and for a short book, it leaves a huge impact. There are some wonderful images of Veronica and her family and they add to the weight of the story. In a time when the elderly are often dismissed as less relevant than they should be, this book highlights what so many of this era endured to bring up children on a shoestring, nuturing them and enabling them to go on to work and grow the economy we enjoy today.
I recommend Veronica’s story as it is a reality check on our own lives, and a cause to be grateful.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
My next review was for the debut poetry collection by Nicole Sara – Rhyming Dreams.
About the collection
Rhyming Dreams is an enchanting and engaging collection of poems about the heart’s winding journey through deep wistful longing towards bliss and belonging along the meandering road of love and loss, hope and healing. This book is for anyone who dreams a lot, loves deeply, and has both good and bad days.. like steps on a pathway, be them confident or hesitating, nevertheless tirelessly searching for happiness in the enjoyment of small things around, yet so sweet, that life has to offer.
Each and every poem in this debut collection is deeply rooted in personal moments and experiences but still wonderfully universal, so that you feel taken by the hand and shown the beauty and brightness of it all, thus wholeheartedly invited to gently give yourself grace beyond the sadness of blue gloomy days, the tears or the brokenness.
This collection of beautifully flowing and uplifting verse is a soothing balm for the soul in search of serenity, helping the reader to reach peaceful shores deep within.
for here, on Earth, you and I
bearing within us the sky
we dance away beneath whispering stars
trying to reach beyond rails and bars
My review for the collection 18th October 2025
This is a delightful collection of poetry that flows and is written to appeal to all the readers senses… accompanied by wonderful photos and also wise words from other writers.
Life is not perfect, although for most of us the ebb and flow of love and events offer more celebration than loss. In this debut collection the poet has captured that movement within our lives brilliantly.
There is a reminder to make the most of every moment of each day and to be grateful for the time we have, particularly in our relationships and our place within nature in all its glory. It also offers hope in our chaotic world, if we choose to look for it.
There were several poems that touched me in a profound way… Here are a few words from some of them.
The Blue Strawberry.
Spring has arrived and there’s love in the air
‘tis shining around, in her eyes, in his stare,
she told him she wished a day for them two
and he gave her instead a strawberry,
..blue
If love be
If love be a season, then summer we’d be
Our heartbeats, afternoon rays aslant pulsing golden aflame
Happiness
love every moment like an amazing wave
minutes for miles, effortless
and brave
love each as if it were a star or a caressing flower,
a winding step that spirals
up a tower…
I recommend that you read this lovely poetry collection to appreciate words that are clearly written from the heart.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
My next review was for the latest release by Laura Lyndhurst… The Guilty Party.
About the book
THE PAST HAS A WAY OF CATCHING UP …
Nothing exciting going on. Just a bunch of oldies celebrating a birthday, having a reunion. Ordinary people, parents and grandparents, always there, the Bank of Mum and Dad, cooking Sunday lunch, available for babysitting duties at short notice.
They were young once, however, and now they’re reminiscing over the good old days. Not the bad old days though; best leave those firmly in the past.
But the past has a habit of coming back, and this party appears to be the catalyst for it to reappear—with a vengeance.
My review for the book 21st October 2025
Having read previous books by this author, I knew to expect the unexpected. This is a clever, intricate and compelling mystery with great characters and plenty of surprises.
The cast of brilliantly crafted characters are mainly in their 60s and 70s and most have a connection going back decades. Following a reunion where we meet them individually, along with the next generation, events begin to take place which threaten to rock their lives and in some cases result in violence.
As these events unfold it seems to be random, as the back stories we are made privy to, show little connection between those being targeted. Closely held secrets and indiscretions are being used to manipulate and terrify those who thought them long buried and forgotten.
For readers who are also in their 60s and 70s, it is likely that there are certain events that took place decades ago, which you might wonder about occasionally, and be glad Facebook was not around at the time. But for some of these characters, the burden of their past has led to a life unfulfilled or restricted in one way or another. Whilst the perpetrator behind the current hate campaign is after a different outcome, there are surprising revelations and unburdening of guilt, that ultimately leads to a different and better way forward for some of those involved.
The finale is brilliant and completely unexpected which is always the sign of a great writer.
I highly recommend this well plotted psychological thriller and I am sure anyone reading it will be totally engaged from beginning to end.
Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – And: Universal link
This was followed by my review for my friend and collaborator D.G. Kaye, Debby Gies… About the Real Stages of Grief: A Journey Through Loss
About the book
The truth about grief: it has filled countless pages in clinical studies and personal stories, but no words can prepare us for its reality. When I lost my beloved husband, I searched for solace in grief groups and forums, longing to make sense of my experience. There I discovered something rarely spoken aloud—that many of us carry the same hidden aches and side effects of loss, the ones that seldom find their way into books.
Love does not die, and so grief never truly leaves us. It lingers, reshaping itself, teaching us to live with its many faces. This book is the story of my own passage through loss—an endurance of sorrow, and a testament to the strength of those left behind.
Grief is a heart-wrenching journey each of us will one day face. I write not only for those who are grieving, but also for the ones who walk beside them—for the friends, family, and witnesses to heartbreak—so they might understand, even a little, what it means to live with loss.
My review for the book 23rd October 2025
This book is a very personal insight to living with grief after losing a loved one. Death is one of the areas we are most likely to be reluctant to talk about, but it is something all of us will experience in life at some stage, and is therefore important to acknowledge and understand.
From the first page the empathy and authentic emotion is evident, and can only be expressed by someone who has experienced a devastating loss… something that can be missing in books or articles written by professional therapists.
The author highlights the phases we might already be aware of by reading articles or books, but she also underlines the fact we are all individual in how we will deal with grief. This includes the often overlooked grief that is suffered as we watch the decline of someone we love and care for over a prolonged period of time.
The chapter on anticipatory grief is very important as millions of carers around the world will experience this on a daily basis. In this particular case, this was compounded because of Covid and the automatic delays in diagnosis and treatment. It is only expected that part of the grieving will include frustration, anger at the injustice of being let down at a time of great need.
Depression and isolation often follow the loss, especially if the griever is alone. Others feel awkward and find it hard to respond with the right words or actions. Life does go on, daily functions such as shopping, house maintenance etc. have to be taken care off, but having been joint efforts, they now provide triggers for deeply emotional moments.
Even dealing with family can be challenging with normally celebratory events turned into awkward moments where you can suddenly feel like a stranger. The most difficult times are the holidays, the special dates such as wedding anniversaries and birthdays, celebrations shared and treasured.
So where do we turn to when we are at this point in our lives and grief? This is covered in a number of chapters, which acknowledges that those we expect to support us may be absent and new friends and groups are necessary and how this opens up an opportunity to talk about our loved one, and share the stories from the years we have loved them as well as offering a new form of relationship with others as a single person.
And as part of the expected stages of grief, acceptance is included but is it as easy as talking about it to achieve? Certain aspects may well be accepted, but not necessarily of all of the experiences we went through are so easy to be put aside.
Even everyday activities lead to anxiety and importantly self-care can become neglected leading to health issues and also a loss of identity. For some this might lead to a dependence on a crutch, perhaps alcohol or anti-depressants but whilst they might offer a temporary fix, they are not healthy in the long run.
One of the chapters is about seeking out others who are going through grief, either physical groups or forums. It is clear that spammers also frequent these areas meant to bring comfort, and there is some very good advice on how to verify those you are in contact with.
It is clear how long and challenging, from an emotional perspective, the journey of writing and publishing this book has been. The author has done a wonderful job of comforting those who grieve and preparing others for an event we are all likely to experience in our lives. I highly recommend this book as a guide and a comfort.
Head over to buy the book : Amazon US And: Amazon UK
And now my review for the latest short story collection by D.L Finn… Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection Two.
About the collection.
Miracles saturate the sweet-scented Christmas season—a reminder we aren’t alone.
Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection brings eight stories from past holidays.
Rita buys train tickets for her and Morris’s 30th anniversary in the novelette, “The Christmas Train Mystery.”She’s convinced this trip will bring her and Morris closer—if he can find the time. A murder mystery excursion will change Rita’s life in more ways than one, but will she go with her workaholic husband or by herself?
In the first short story, “Christmas Rescue,” Opal trusts the wrong man and loses her mother in the same year, leaving her feeling lost. On a mission to get candles for the dinner table, she makes an unexpected find.
“Is There a Santa?” goes back to the 1920s, where a widower is desperate to hold on to his farm and children. He doesn’t want charity, just a bit of luck or a miracle. In the final stories, you’ll meet an eleven-year-old who’s home alone, a family living in the aftermath of war, a girl who gets some shocking news, a widow with a warning from beyond, and a woman trapped on an elevator with Santa.
Hope underlies these stories; it endures even in the direst of circumstances. Whether help comes from a ghost, Santa, or an angel, miracles are just within reach.
My review for the collection October 25th 2025
Having read the first Christmas collection by D.L. Finn, I knew that I was going to enjoy each of the stories in this follow on release.
Most of the stories begin with those in turmoil, or hard times, and even following a devastating civil war. The characters may be facing some of the worst times in their lives, but the author creates opportunities for them to either make changes that will improve their situations, or brings in some outside help to assist them on their way.
That help is often outside the normal realms of belief, but if you have an open mind and heart, it is easy to accept that there are many things outside of our own world at work in our lives. The element of paranormal is subtle and add to it the wonderful contribution that animals within the stories contribute, it is with hope the reader turns each page.
Hard to select my favourite stories but certainly ‘After a War Comes Christmas’ struck a chord, as not just a fictional enactment, but something being experienced by children and their families in real life.
There are some dangerous moments, evil intent but also some lovely romantic moments to enjoy. Such as in ‘Elevator Santa’…
This collection will certainly get you in the festive spirit and you will find difficult to put down once started. Very happy to recommend.
Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
For my final review for in October, I have moved up a short story collection that has been sitting for far too long on my TBR… Slivers of Life by Beem Weeks.
About the collection.
These twenty short stories are a peek into individual lives caught up in spectacular moments in time. Children, teens, mothers, and the elderly each have stories to share.
Readers witness tragedy and fulfillment, love and hate, loss and renewal. Historical events become backdrops in the lives of ordinary people, those souls forgotten with the passage of time.
Beem Weeks tackles diverse issues running the gamut from Alzheimer’s disease to civil rights, abandonment to abuse, from young love to the death of a child. Long-hidden secrets and notions of revenge unfold at the promptings of rich and realistic characters; plot lines often lead readers into strange and dark corners. Within Slivers of Life, Weeks proves that everybody has a story to tell—and no two are ever exactly alike.
My review for the collection October 28th 2025
This collection is appropriately titled…Slivers of Life delivers just that. A glimpse into the lives of men, women, teenagers and children, at pivotal moments in their lives. Some stories are stark, as they focus on the worst times in a life, and others have an element of humour that leaves you smiling… such as Big Foot was my Father.
As always with this author the characters are distinct and capture the reader’s attention with the details about their lives, character and inner thoughts and ambitions. In some stories we are reminded to be careful what we wish for. In others we are drawn into the dark side of humanity and relationships which haunt those involved for life.
Out of the twenty excellent stories just a few to whet your appetite.
- A Match Met…definitely a case of what goes round comes round!
- Belief is tested in tragic ways because of racial hatred in When Jesus Left Birmingham
- The Distance raises the so far unproven theory of reincarnation.
- What is the story behind the discovery of some medals in Medal Detector?
- In the Year Book, a man relives a moment of terror in the corridors and classrooms of his school which were life changing.
- The true nature of a teenager are exposed during the Rave On.
- And for those who read the excellent Jazz Baby….an alternative perspective on the decisions made.
This is an excellent collection to dip in and out of and to appreciate how actions and words can change your life in a moment for better or worse. Recommended.
Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
Although officially in November, I wanted to include my review for The Weight of Snow and Regret by Elizabeth Gauffreau so that you can put on your TBR before things get hectic in the run up to Christmas.
About the book
For over 100 years, no one wanted to be sent to the Sheldon Poor Farm. By 1968, no one wanted to leave.
Amid the social turmoil of 1968, the last poor farm in Vermont is slated for closure. By the end of the year, the twelve destitute residents remaining will be dispatched to whatever institutions will take them, their personal stories lost forever.
Hazel Morgan and her husband Paul have been matron and manager at the Sheldon Poor Farm for the past 20 years. Unlike her husband, Hazel refuses to believe the impending closure will happen. She believes that if she just cares deeply enough and works hard enough, the Sheldon Poor Farm will continue to be a safe haven for those in need, herself and Paul included.
On a frigid January afternoon, the overseer of the poor and the town constable from a nearby town deliver a stranger to the poor farm for an emergency stay. She refuses to tell them her name, where she came from, or what her story is. It soon becomes apparent to Hazel that whatever the woman’s story is, she is deeply ashamed of it.
Hazel fights to keep the stranger with them until she is strong enough to face, then resume, her life–while Hazel must face the tragedies of her own past that still haunt her.
Told with compassion and humor, The Weight of Snow & Regret tells the poignant story of what it means to care for others in a rapidly changing world.
My review for the book November 1st 2025
In our world there has always been those who are either shunned by society or who find themselves lost and homeless, usually down to circumstances beyond their control. This story follows the lives of several men, women and children who have found themselves needing a sanctuary, a roof over their heads, however desperate it might be, over a period of over 40 years.
Hazel knows only too well the devastation of tragedy, loss and the burden of charity at a very young age. She also learns about human nature, and sees the compassion and generous spirit of those who have very little, or are considered feeble-minded. This makes her the perfect guardian for those still living in the poor farm when she returns as matron, and for those newer residents, desperately in need of kind and loving care.
This book is profoundly moving, as the back story of Hazel and her husband Paul is revealed. Most people would be hardened to the suffering of others because of their own losses, but despite his gruff exterior, Paul and his wife are determined to create a far better life for those they care for.
This includes Claire, found wandering, cold and lost as she seeks a safe place to find a new path in her life. As her story unfolds we share her spiral into depression as a wife and mother, questioning everything around her except for her compelling need to follow the sound of music she hears in the night. Coming into the warmth of the care of Hazel, may be the best way to find that new path.
Each character is carefully crafted and there is a definite sense of being amongst them as they manage each difficult day. There is a growing concern for them as their time at the poor farm comes to an end, despite their carer’s desperate efforts to keep them together. The residents are heading off to a future which must seem terrifying for many of them, but for some it holds hope for a new beginning.
This is important social history, carefully researched and written to involve the reader at every stage, leaving them grateful for what they enjoy on a daily basis, and a reminder that still, for too many there is a need for a safe haven from life. Highly recommended.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.
Image Tales from the Irish Garden
If you are lucky enough to visit this tiny principality, the forests and mountains of Liechtenstein are a haven for wild game, and dishes featuring venison, rabbit, and wild boar are quite common, especially in autumn.. slow-cooked and served with rich gravies, berry compotes, and seasonal vegetables like red cabbage or spätzle (a type of egg noodle)…if you read my last post on the cuisine of Switzerland you will know that they are also popular with the Swiss…
Whether you choose sweet plum as a dessert or onion as part of a light meal, you will be partaking in what the land provides, and that is at the heart of the cuisine of Liechtenstein…
Smorgasbord Blog Magazine 