Review: Don't Forget the Crazy

 

Her lists are life or death.
“If it’s on the list, I have to do it.”

Milli Morgan lives by her lists. Groceries, goals, organising her boss – nothing escapes being ticked off her ever-growing to-do lists. Order brings her comfort; control keeps the chaos at bay. Everyone can rely on Milli.

Until the day new items start appearing on her list in red ink.

At first, she blames stress. A prank. Someone playing mind-games. But one instruction on the list refuses to be erased and demands to be completed.

A command so terrible she would have to be crazy to tick it off.

Don’t Forget the Crazy is a dark psychological suspense short story about obsession, perfection, and the dangerous pressure of always being “the good girl.” Fans of Gillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell, Patricia Highsmith, and Shirley Jackson will devour this chilling portrait of order unravelling into darkness.

Review

Much like the notebook in Death Note, Milli Morgan has a paper problem. Her to-do list has taken on a mind of its own and it doesn't always have good intentions. The psychological drama follows Milli as she tries to decide if she dares defy a system of her own making. The journey is intriguing and the ending satisfying. In addition, as a novella, you can easily squeeze it in between your own to-do items on that infernal, commanding list. 

This novella is recommended for anyone who has wondered if their organization was the very thing driving them crazy. With a compelling commentary on our modern rat race, Don't Forget the Crazy will leave you with a strong impulse to have a do-nothing day...just to make sure you still can.

Purchase

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G1KPBK1N

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1KPBK1N

Giveaway

Follow Lucy Kaufman on Instagram by 24^th December 2025 to win an Audrey’s solid milk chocolate Scaredy Cat (UK entrants only).

Author Bio –

Lucy Kaufman is an award-winning author, playwright, audio dramatist and poet. 40 of her plays have been performed professionally around the UK and Australia, to critical acclaim. She has lectured in Playwriting and Screenwriting for Pen to Print and Canterbury Christ Church University and is a mentor at The Writing Coach. Originally from London, she now lives by the sea with her husband, sons, dogs and cats.

 

Social Media Links –

Insta: kaufmanlucy

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/sepiainkpublishing/

www.sepiaink.co.uk

Review: Alcatraz for the Rick

Maisey Green needs an escape. Strapped for cash and running from her past, she stumbles into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—a week aboard billionaire Otto Ravenesky’s exclusive superyacht in the South of France.

It’s a world of dazzling luxury and simmering tension, in forced proximity with a man she despises yet can’t ignore, Maisey fights to resist the pull between them. But the chemistry is undeniable, and every charged moment pushes her closer to the edge of temptation—and the guilt that comes with it.

But in this seductive game of power and passion, Maisey must ask herself: how far is she willing to go for freedom—and what will it cost her?

Perfect for fans of Mills & Boon, Sylvia Day and Jackie Collins, Alcatraz For The Rich is a sizzling romance filled with power, lust, and the battle for control in a world where no one plays fair.

Review

A sizzling fiction for fans of Jackie Collins and billionaire romance. Maisey and Otto may have attraction in common, but very little else. Otto runs in a world where money buys anything he wants. Maisey could use a little of that luck. There are plenty of moral quandaries to explore. Otto is in a position of power and privilege but is also imprisoned by those very things. Maisey offers him the freedom of a new perspective, but his power and privilege hold her prisoner and make their love story complicated (and a bit uncomfortable). The book relies on the enemies-to-lovers trope to fuel the romance. It definitely felt very 1980s romance, but reading it from a modern perspective left me questioning if these two people could really find a happily-ever-after beyond the carnal.

Purchase Link

https://amzn.eu/d/dM5wrTW

Author Bio – Abi Harvey, born and raised in the picturesque seaside county of Devon, England, discovered her love for storytelling early on. After earning a degree in English Literature from the University of Exeter, she honed her craft by studying screenwriting, mastering the art of weaving gripping stories. “I always write what I want to read,” says Abi, whose talent for spinning captivating tales began in childhood, entertaining family and classmates with her vivid imagination. After moving to London, she built a successful career in luxury fashion, but her passion for writing never faded. A true creative force, Abi writes every day and is always working on a new novel or script. Now, she splits her time between South Devon and London, where she enjoys painting, staying active, and traveling for inspiration. You can follow Abi on Instagram (@abiharvey21) to stay up to date with her latest releases.

Social Media Links – https://www.instagram.com/aquilarius_publishing/ and https://www.instagram.com/abiharvey21/ 

Review: A Husband is Hushed Up

 

A fatal fall. A duchess determined to uncover the truth. And barely any time for tea.

Fenshire, 1891. It was meant to be a birthday celebration weekend in the country—cucumber sandwiches, polite conversation, and maybe a waltz or two. But when the Duke of Stortford is found dead in a crumpled heap at the foot of the stairs everything goes dreadfully sideways. The police declare it a tragic accident. His wife, Alice, has her doubts. After all, only hours before, the Duke had promised to give up his mistress and make a go of their marriage. Now he’s inconveniently deceased. 

Driven by a need for answers, and helped by her fiercely loyal maid Maud, her observant footman George, and her childhood friend Lord Rushton, Alice sets about uncovering the truth. But as she navigates a house full of secrets, simmering tensions, and more than one guest with murderously bad manners, her suspect pool grows to include those closest to her. Can she piece together the truth? Or will her husband’s murderer get away with it after all?

The guests are leaving. The killer may be among them. Time is running out…

 

Review

This was a very fun little British mystery. There are plenty of suspects and only one clever duchess can solve the puzzle. If you are in your cozy mystery era, you will love this throwback to the era of Miss Marple. This book is so well-written that you will feel as if you were invited to tea. 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Husband-Hushed-Duchess-Stortford-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FB916FDV

https://www.amazon.com/Husband-Hushed-Duchess-Stortford-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FB916FDV

 

About Helen Golden

Helen Golden spins mysteries that are charmingly British, delightfully deadly, and served with a twist of humour.

With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.

Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.

If you love clever puzzles, charming settings, and sleuths with spark, her books are waiting for you.

 

​Follow Helen Golden

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/helengolden_author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helengoldenauthor 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@helengoldenauthor 

https://twitter.com/HelenGoldenAuth 

Review: The Falconer’s Lost Baron

 A sweeping Regency tale of identity, devotion, and unexpected romance.

Lady Antonella thought she knew who she was—until a shattering family secret strips her of her name, her place in society, and her future. Cast adrift in Cornwall, she finds an injured goshawk in a poacher’s net and begins to nurse it back to health. But the hawk belongs to the war-scarred Lord Atherleigh—a man haunted by loss, determined to dismantle his mews, and certainly not expecting a spirited young woman to upend his solitude.

In London, her twin sister Belinda—radiant, poised, and newly on the marriage market—has only one goal: to find a worthy match… for Antonella. But when Hector Gainesworth, a charming rogue with laughter in his eyes and secrets of his own, turns his attention to Belinda instead, her heart begins to spin in an altogether unexpected direction.

As the sisters navigate betrayal, desire, and the demands of their hearts, two men must decide whether to risk everything for love. And Antonella’s goshawk may be the wild, winged thread that binds their fates.

Review

This is an in- depth historical fiction with a strong romance element  Falconry is a major plot device, which I found very interesting  The characters are strong and well-developed The romance delivers all the necessary elements without letting itself become formulaic  overall, a really strong story told in the right way  

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falconers-Lost-Baron-Forgiveness-Double-Dilemma-ebook/dp/B0FPBG1P54

https://www.amazon.com/Falconers-Lost-Baron-Forgiveness-Double-Dilemma-ebook/dp/B0FPBG1P54

Author Bio – Susanne Dunlap is the author of over a dozen historical novels featuring strong women, from Medieval times to the 20th century. This is the fourth Regency Romance in her series of Double-Dilemma Romances. Susanne lives and writes in Biddeford, Maine.

Social Media Links – 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanneRomance

Instagram: https://instagram.com/susanne_dunlap

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@SusieRegency

Review: The Secret Sauce

 

Birmingham, England, November 1944.

Chief Inspector Mason of Erdington Police Station is summoned to a suspicious death at the BB Sauce factory in Aston on a wet Monday morning in late November 1944.

Greeted by his enthusiastic sergeant, O’Rourke, Sam Mason finds himself plunged into a challenging investigation to discover how Harry Armstrong met his death in a vat containing BB Sauce – a scene that threatens to put him off BB Sauce on his bacon sandwiches for the rest of his life.

Together with Sergeant O’Rourke, Mason follows a trail of seemingly unrelated events until something becomes very clear. The death of Harry Armstrong was certainly murder, and might well be connected to the tragedy unfolding at nearby RAF Fauld. While the uncertainty of war continues, Mason and O’Rourke find themselves seeking answers from the War Office and the Admiralty, as they track down the person who murdered their victim in such an unlikely way.

Join Mason and O’Rourke for the third book in the quirky, historical mystery series, as they once more attempt to solve the impossible in 1940s Erdington.

Review

What a charming book by an accomplished writer! I became acquainted with MJ Porter in the Mercia series. I knew them to be a deft historical fiction author. I was delighted to discover that they also dabble in cozy mysteries. 

The Erdington Mysteries are well-written procedurals that follow the two main protagonists as they explore unusual mysteries in war-time England. While the stories may be "quirky," they are not silly. The atmosphere is gritty and real, well-grounded in the difficulties of the war and seriousness of the crimes. The stories are drawn well - there are plenty of clues and surprises to help keep any reader engaged. 

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Sauce-incredibly-historical-Erdington-ebook/dp/B0F4PCVJWP

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Sauce-incredibly-historical-Erdington-ebook/dp/B0F4PCVJWP

Author Bio – I’m an author of historical fiction and non-fiction (Early English (Saxon), Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as five twentieth-century mysteries), born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since the end of 1066. Historical mysteries allow me to use such modern inventions as the telephone and the car, which is very exciting when I spend so much of my time worrying about feeding the horses my warriors usually ride.

I was raised in the shadow of a strange little building and told from a very young age it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia, it’s little wonder my curiosity in the early English ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I like to write. You’ve been warned!

 

Social Media Links – https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor

Review: Apple Butter Christmas

 From the USA Today Best-Selling Author Terry Lynn Thomas

An Apple Butter Christmas
A Heartwarming Small-Town Christmas Romance

Coming home for Christmas was supposed to be temporary—until love, legacy, and one unforgettable orchard changed everything.

Welcome to Hartstone, where the snow is deep, the secrets are deeper, and love might just get a second chance under the twinkling lights of the town Christmas tree.

Diana Marchcroft didn’t plan on returning to Hartstone, but when her beloved aunt is injured, Diana leaves the city behind to help save her family’s struggling apple orchard. What she doesn’texpect? The fight of a lifetime and the survival of her family’s heritage. The orchard is at risk of being developed into an exclusive golf course and destination wedding venue.

Alex Kelley thought he'd buried his feelings for Diana after their relationship ended abruptly on the night he planned to propose. When he unexpectedly bumps into her, he realizes that some embers never go out.

With the town busy with visitors for the annual Apple Butter Festival, Diana and Alex discover that sometimes Christmas miracles come wrapped in second chances.

If you love:

• Cozy snow-covered small towns
• Second-chance love stories
• Orchard festivals and secret kisses under the stars
• Family, friendship, and a sprinkle of holiday magic

…then curl up with An Apple Butter Christmas, a feel-good romance that will warm your heart like a mug of hot cider on a winter's night.

Review

A charming little story to bring in the Christmas season! This heartwarming and cozy romance deserves to be paired with fuzzy socks, apple cider and a warm fire  

The characters are lovely and the story perfect to the occasion but its the overall feeling of warmth that glows through this novel that will make it a holiday delight. The apple butter festival is a great setting thatallos  for just enough drama to drive the plot without losing that yummy feeling of a cozy christmas romance  

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Butter-Christmas-Hartstone-Romance-ebook/dp/B0FNKNM4D8

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-Butter-Christmas-Hartstone-Romance-ebook/dp/B0FNKNM4D8

Author Bio – Terry Lynn Thomas is a USA Today best-selling author who writes contemporary legal thrillers and historical mysteries set in World War II. Her debut cozy Christmas romance, Apple Butter Christmas, will release in November of 2025. Her stories are known for their strong female protagonists and the emotional connection between her characters. 

When she isn't writing, Terry Lynn likes to watch British mysteries, read books about found family and friendship, paint, garden, and take long walks with her husband and dogs. 

Social Media Links –(1) Facebook

Cover Reveal: Magical Beginnings in Little Beaubrook

 Some places are special enough to heal hearts… Welcome to Little Beaubrook

In a tiny English village hidden away for decades, the mists are parting to reveal a manor which

glows gold and tumbledown thatched cottages that have been waiting for the right people to rebuild

them.

On moving in day, a diverse group of new neighbours have only two things in common. Their hearts

have been broken in some way, and they’ve all signed a contract with some very strange

stipulations, including buying one of the cottages for a pound. As Chair of the commonhold

association, Albie Curville hopes that by sharing his late wife’s rules for living he can bring these

reluctant strangers together to fulfil her dying wish before he runs out of time… and before they

discover his secret.

When their newfound community – built on kindness, friendship and a manor with a long history of

helping those in need – is threatened by an outside source, can they finally overcome their pasts to

save Little Beaubrook and seize the second chances they deserve?

Come and visit this magical lost village for a cosy, feel-good story about love, found family, new

beginnings and the healing power of community. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Jenny

Colgan, Evie Woods and Phaedra Patrick.

Pre-order Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magical-Beginnings-Little-Beaubrook-heartwarming-

ebook/dp/B0FVNQC7S8

US - https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Beginnings-Little-Beaubrook-heartwarming-

ebook/dp/B0FVNQC7S8

bitly link bit.ly/48XcAKD

Author Bio –

Bella Brightside is a multi-published, award-nominated romance author who writes under several

pen names and had commercial success with her novel The Last Charm. Owned by a husband, large

family and two naughty beagles, she drinks too much coffee, buys far too many books and spends

her nights wondering how a sentient village would behave.

You can find her on Instagram at @authorbythesea1207.

She is represented by the literary agent Rachel McMillan.

Social Media Links

Instagram & Threads - @authorbythesea1207

TikTok - @authorbysea1207 (note there is no ‘the’ in the middle)

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BellaBrightsideAuthor