Review: Windvale

 

From Cedar Fort promotional materials:

Sir Henry Ainsley is drowning. Years of debt have piled up, and the only thing keeping him afloat is the need to see his sister secure in marriage. When an unexpected lifeline appears to absolve his debts in return for information on a missing merchant ship, he jumps at the chance—though he thought he’d left such dangerous work behind him. The catch is it comes with attending a house party on the Channel Islands, hosted by Mrs. Alice Seymour. But what's one more gamble, if it could see his sister safely married before his crumbling facade is revealed?

Alice Seymour has no interest in love. Widowed and painfully reserved, she hosts her yearly matchmaking parties more out of duty than delight; it is far easier to help others find their happily ever after. Yet when the inscrutable Sir Henry arrives, his charm and quiet kindness begin to stir feelings she had long believed were too fanciful to be real. But as secrets from his past surface—and pieces of her own begin to fall into place—she is not certain she wishes to open her heart.

But the truth behind the missing ship might be more dangerous than Henry believed, and the possibility of failure threatens to destroy his future and the fragile trust growing between him and his hostess. As the island's shadowy dealings come to light, Henry’s options grow limited, and Alice must choose between the comfort of the life she knows... or risk everything for the one man who truly sees her.

Review:

A charming, interesting story with charming protagonists and believable story. The story weaves the history of piracy and smuggling along the Channel islands with the more well-known regency tropes. The long-suffering protagonists work well together. You cheer for them and get the right punch of joy when they finally figure it all out.

As with many of these historical romances, the slow-burn is v...e...r...y... s...l...o...w... The complexities of the relationship worked to hold the story together, but I wondered if it could've been edited down a little to improve the pacing. 

Overall, I think this will please lovers of historical romance. It fits very nicely into the Cedar Fort catalogue.

Purchase information: 

Cedar Fort

Amazon

Promo - Bamboo Island: The Planters Wife

 I am so excited to feature Ann Bennet, author of  Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, as a guest writer for the blog.  Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for making this post happen! You can read my original review of the novel at: Bamboo Heart Review. Thank you, Ann, for joining us on your book birthday!

From award-winning author Ann Bennett comes a haunting and powerful novel of love and loss during World War 2 Malaya.

'A vivid account of a brutal period, and a searing exploration of trauma, memory and loss..' The Lady Magazine.

1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin’s plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother…

But in 1941 the Japanese occupy Malaya and Singapore sweeping away that world and changing Juliet’s life forever.

For decades after the war which robbed her of everyone she loved, Juliet lives as a recluse back on the plantation. But in 1962 the sudden appearance of Mary, a young woman from an orphanage in Indonesia, forces Juliet to embark on a journey into the past, and to face up to the heart-breaking truths she’s buried for so long.

This book has previously been published both as The Planter's Wife and as Bamboo Island

Praise for Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife..

‘This was a story of love, passion and cruelty I could not put down … I needed to discover Juliet's secrets.’ Lizeanne Lloyd - Lost in a Good Book

‘I raced through this book in just over twenty-four hours … I literally could not put it down. I connected and sympathised with Juliet as a character so much… and I was constantly on edge whilst reading it, desperate to find out more about her past.’ Bibliobeth – Goodreads.

‘I really loved this haunting, powerful and beautiful novel.’ Amazon Reviewer

Inspiration for the novel by Ann Bennett

Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife, is the second standalone book I wrote about World War Two in Southeast Asia, the first being Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest. That book was inspired by researching my father’s wartime experience as a solider fighting in the Malaya campaign and as a prisoner of war of the Japanese on the Thai-Burma railway. As I researched the conflict in Southeast Asia for Bamboo Heart, I read many more stories of suffering and bravery, and discovered how the war impacted different people in different ways. Those stories inspired me to write more books set in the region during WW2, all of which are standalone and now form a collection called Echoes of Empire.

Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife is the story of a British woman, Juliet Crosby. She travels to Malaya (now Malaysia), in the 1930s with her sister after the death of their father, to stay with an aunt in Penang. Although they don’t intend to stay longer than a few months, they both marry and end up making their home there. Juliet marries Gavin Crosby, a wealthy rubber planter, but when she moves to his remote plantation, things there aren’t quite what she expected. Later, when the Japanese invade, her world is torn apart, and she finds herself alone and struggling to survive. She ends up in hiding in occupied Singapore, witnessing the cruelty of the Japanese towards the local community; the massacres of the Chinese population, the brutality, the starvation.

Years later, back on the plantation, a virtual recluse, still coming to terms with what happened during the war, the arrival of a mysterious stranger forces Juliet to confront the past.

As well as being inspired by researching my father’s experience and reading about ordinary British people caught up in the conflict, the story was also shaped by my own travels there and by books I had read set in the region. When I was a student, I picked up a battered, second-hand copy of a volume of short stories by William Somerset Maugham, many of which were set in far-flung places in the British empire. They depict vividly the lonely, claustrophobic lives of many British ex-pats who lived and worked there. Many were homesick, hankering after Britain, and clung fiercely onto their traditions and rituals, dressing for dinner and playing tennis and bridge at the club. Others took to their new home more easily, learning the language and adapting to the environment as if they’d always lived there. Somerset Maugham’s stories like The Letter, in which a British woman living on a lonely plantation is accused of murder, The Back of Beyond about an affair which tears lives apart and The Book Bag, another tragedy, this time concerning the close bond between a brother and sister, tell haunting stories of those times between the wars. They evoke a way of life which vanished when the sun set on the empire.

These stories inspired me to visit some of these places myself. In 1985 I took a trip from Bangkok to Bali, visiting Malaysia and Singapore enroute (including Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka). I loved those places have visited several times since. It is now a modern, multi-cultural region, its cities full of modern, high-tech buildings, but in amongst them are streets bearing the hallmarks of the region’s past; streets of old Chinese shophouses, grand old hotels and gracious colonial villas. Those old buildings, some of which are preserved, others left to crumble, are a reminder of those very different times and of forgotten lives.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/bambooisland

Price Drop Alert!

From 19th - 27th April Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife will be at the bargain price of 0.99 p/c. 

Author Bio –

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own journey to uncover his story. It won the Asian Books Blog prize for fiction published in Asia in 2015, and was shortlisted for the best fiction title in the Singapore Book Awards 2016.

That initial inspiration led her to write more books about WWII in Southeast Asia - Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club and The Amulet. Along with The Lotus House, published in October 2024, they make up the Echoes of Empire Collection. A further collection, Tales of Kathmandu, includes The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu and The Bookseller of Kathmandu, published in September 2025.

Ann is also the author of The Oriental Lake Collection - The Lake Pavilion and The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, set in French Indochina.

The Runaway Sisters, USA Today bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture. The Stolen Sisters, published on 29th November 2024 is the follow-up to The Orphan List and is set in Poland and Germany during WWII. Her latest book, Once We Were Sisters was published in February 2026.

A former lawyer, Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details, please visit her website www.annbennettauthor

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/annbennettauthor

https://x.com/annbennett71

https://www.instagram.com/annbennettauthor/

www.annbennettauthor.com

Review: Something in the Air in Pelican Crossing

 

Rhana Black has always been content with her quiet life in the Pelican Crossing hinterland, where she spends her days breeding spaniels. Following a traumatic incident at her school formal and weighed down by her own insecurities about her appearance, Rhana has shied away from any romantic relationships. That is, until a chance encounter with a hot air balloonist changes everything.

Steve Morton has been struggling to move on after the tragic death of his pregnant fiancée. In search of solace, he finds himself in Pelican Crossing, where he rediscovers his love for flying and starts offering hot air balloon rides and scenic helicopter flights along the coast. When he meets Rhana, he is taken aback by the intense emotions he feels towards her.

As Rhana and Steve navigate their complicated pasts and undeniable chemistry, they must decide if they are willing to break their self-imposed barriers and take a chance on love. But with their old wounds and deep insecurities threatening to keep them apart, can they be able to overcome their fears and find happiness together?

Review - 

In between intrusive thoughts that you're about to die and the thundering roar of the bellows, balloon rides offer an intimate space for an awfully meet cute. Two neighbors who have hovered near each other without ever interacting find that freedom and connection is one perilous journey away. 

Overall, the story is charming. There is a respect for people with deep feelings and profound trauma - the writer doesn't rush them toward love or pretend that one person can fix a lifetime of hurt. She does a good job demonstrating, however, that pain is lessened through connection. Their story feels real and honest. The character growth is earned. It's a lovely, happy story about the power of human love.

Maggie Christensen writes lovely serial drama. This book is the 9th in the Pelican Crossing series about love in an idyllic seaside town. You don't need to read all of them to appreciate this story, but you may miss out on some of the cute interactions with past characters. 

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/somethingPC

Author Bio –

After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.

From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!

 

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/maggiechristensenauthor
https://twitter.com/MaggieChriste33
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120020.Maggie_Christensen

https://www.instagram.com/maggiechriste33/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maggie-christensen?list=about

https://maggiechristensenauthor.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/maggiechriste33.bsky.social

Review: Lighthouse by the Sea

 

His love might be the light she’s looking for

After a string of disasters, music teacher Lottie Ashford is out of options. So when her well-meaning mother suggests she restore an old family property – a crumbling lighthouse on the remote island of Barra – Lottie reluctantly agrees.

Local fitness fanatic Ruaridh Griffin has been unlucky in love. When Lottie turns up at his sister’s B&B asking for help to find a mystery lighthouse, he can’t help wanting to assist – and he’s instantly drawn to her. But getting involved with a visitor is one thing he’s sworn never to do again.

As Barra weaves its quiet magic, Lottie begins to feel at home for the first time in years. Worse still, she’s falling for someone she’s not sure feels the same. And despite Ruaridh’s best intentions, Lottie is getting under his skin, making his promise to himself harder than ever to keep.

If this is love, Ruaridh must face his fear of being burned again – and Lottie must decide whether her future lies on the island or somewhere else entirely.

♥ This is the second book in the Love on the Edge - Barra series, but it can be read as a standalone.
♥ Set on the Hebridean island of Barra in Scotland with fun, romance, drama, and a guaranteed happy ending, The Lighthouse by the Sea has a bit of steam and lots of heart.

Review - There is a lot of fantasy rolled up in one book. Rock-hard Scottish abs. Isolated lighthouse. An attraction too flamey to resist. None of that is a negative - the author knows her audience. 

It's a standalone book that's part of a series based on this island. You will run into characters that were obviously introduced elsewhere. If you love diving into a community and not just a book and don't mind some steam, this could be a series for you. 

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/lighthousebythesea

Author Bio –

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

Social Media Links –

https://www.margaretamatt.com/subscribe

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretAmattAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/margaret_amatt_author

https://ko-fi.com/margaretamattauthor/shop

Review: A Perfect Devon Manor

 

What if becoming the perfect wife meant losing the woman you used to be?

Christina Pemberton – born plain Tina Miller – may be a skilled restorer of antique silver, but to her husband’s old-money family, she is still tarnished goods. They won’t quite let her in to their rarified world, and it's tearing her marriage apart.

Desperate to prove herself worthy, Christina makes a decision that weighs heavily on her conscience. But then a secret from her past threatens to resurface, and Christina faces an impossible choice between the world she aspires to join, and the life that shaped her.

This is a warm, gripping tale of family, legacy, love, and second chances, set in a beautiful house on the rugged North Devon coast, perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Tilly Tennant, and Sue Moorcroft. A Perfect Devon Manor is a warm, emotionally satisfying midlife romance set in an enchanting Devon manor. Expect a marriage in trouble, self-rediscovery, second chances, and falling in love again, with high-stakes family drama, village intrigue, a glimpse into the rarified world of antique silver restoration, and a life-affirming happily ever after.

Review

I can tell from the start that the author is writing what she knows. From the discomfort of being in a life that doesn't quite fit to the pure joy of finding one that does - she brings the facts into this work of fiction. 

This story goes beyond the luxury romance to the reality that hits once the kids come and life gets less passionate. Hamish and Tina are struggling to make their worlds stay collided. Tina is struggling to deal with unethical requests from manipulative bad actors. I love a messy middle book. Romance is fun, but marriage is work. Hamish and Christina have to work through some pain to decide if their romance deserves an "ever after" or if the real work of adulthood is falling in love with the person you really are.

This is part of a series but I didn't find that off-putting. It was an easy read-alone full of beautiful landscapes and a host of characters, some you love and some you hope fall off a cliff. Fans of Debbie Macomber will really love this one. 

Purchase Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FG81Y869

About the Author

Hi! I’m Debbie. Once upon a time, I was a perfectly respectable London professional – a chartered accountant with a law degree, a Blackberry (remember those?), and too many sensible shoes. Then common sense prevailed, romance called, and I swapped London’s Zone One for Devon’s Zero Signal.

These days, I know the real price of life’s essentials: a good haircut, a great friend, and the joy of a proper night’s sleep. I write love stories for grown-ups – warm, witty, stuffed with second chances and the kind of relationships where affection and exasperation create irresistible chemistry – for better for worse.

I divide my days between the page, the garden and long walks along the Devon coast – usually accompanied by two determined dogs with strong opinions about pacing and biscuit breaks.

 

Social Media Links –

> Website - www.debbiemorrison.co.uk

> facebook - Debbie-Morrison-Author

> instagram.com @debbiemorrisonauthor

Cover Reveal: The Secret Castle in the Highlands

 

Prepare to escape to Scotland with a gorgeous feel-good romance this summer…

Returning to the Scottish Highlands was never part of Poppy Summers’ plan. But life had other
ideas.

With her parents’ cherished holiday cottages losing money, Poppy is determined to carry on their
legacy and save the business before they’re forced to sell.
Revamping the cottages is Poppy’s priority until she meets Mason Cooper, a charming historian
drawn to the highlands for research. As their newfound friendship grows, is it possible that
something more might be enough of a reason to make Poppy stay for good?

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Castle-Highlands-feel-good-heartwarming-

ebook/dp/B0FT1S9NHY/

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Castle-Highlands-feel-good-heartwarming-

ebook/dp/B0FT1S9NHY/

Publication Dates

30 th August 2026 for Ebook and 10 th September 2026 for paperback

Author Bio –

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to
write feel-good romance.

As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies.
Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags.
She has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, Cooper.
The Secret Castle in the Highlands is Julie’s fifteenth novel.

Social Media Links –

Julie Shackman Author
Julie Shackman (@G13Julie) / Twitter
Julie Georgina Shackman (@juliegeorginashackman) • Instagram photos and videos
(2) Julie Georgina Shackman | Facebook

Book promo: The Teacher's Noble Heart

 

In Regency Cornwall, governess Miss Wilkins has always survived by being sensible, capable, and self-reliant. When she dares to take a bold step toward independence, she has no intention of complicating her life—or her heart.

Her encounters with James Pentarrant, the steadfast captain of the Delabole slate quarry, are marked less by romance than by spirited disagreement. Self-contained and disciplined, James challenges her views at every turn, even as he respects her resolve. What begins as wary sparring and mutual resistance gradually deepens into an understanding neither expected nor sought.

Alongside their unfolding story, a young heiress newly returned to Cornwall hides a calling that defies convention. When a moment of danger on the moor—and the inevitable gossip that follows—forces her into an unintended engagement, assumptions harden and emotions become dangerously entangled. Her growing affection for her own sparring partner, a gentle country doctor with the manners of a true gentleman and a secret of his own, only further unsettles what society is determined to set in place.

Set against the rugged beauty of Cornwall’s coast, quarries, and windswept moors, The Teacher’s Noble Heart is a tender Regency romance of intertwined lives, mistaken conclusions, and love discovered in spite of every sensible intention.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Teachers-Noble-Heart-Cornwalls-Double-Dilemma-ebook/dp/B0GHST6WCH/

 

Author Bio –

Susanne Dunlap started out a historian, became an award-winning historical novelist with fourteen published novels for adults and teens, and is now the author of the Regency romance series, Double-Dilemma Romance. She lives and writes in a converted textile mill in Biddeford, Maine.

 

Social Media Links –

https://www.instagram.com/susanne_dunlap/

https://www.facebook.com/SusanneRomance

https://www.tiktok.com/@susieregency