The Italian Correspondent

 The Italian Correspondent

Belinda Alexandra

Reviewed by Helen

Rome 1951 and Italian correspondent for Vogue, Veronica Gold is working hard after the war years and the loss of her daughter it is not always easy there is still a lot of conflict about the past and the fascists and the horrors she has seen while reporting the war are not easy to forget but she has her sister Penny and her cat Oggi and life will go on, but will she find love again?

With her life settled she is living in Rome when some men from her past arrive, Professor Marcello Fabbri, archeologist and former Partisan a man she spent one glorious night with during the war, her ex-husband Lyle Cooper who is an American diplomat he left her to marry her best friend heiress Emerald Evergreen add to that Count Carlo Durazzo, Emerald’s current husband and her life is just about to get turned upside down in so many ways.

When Lyle asks her to cover a story for him and then he is found murdered and it is looking like Emerald has killed him, Veronica is convinced she did it but Carlo says she is innocent but evidence shows that she may not have done it, Veronica and Carlo work together to set her free, this will need more help and Marcello steps in to help and a tangled web of emotions between all of these people grows making decisions for Veronica very hard, a couple of twists will really change the way she thinks, spies, the threat of nuclear war and so much more, but what of her heart will she finally find the love that she so very much deserves after all she has been through?

This is a story that is well written, Veronica Gold is based partly on the woman correspondents who worked so hard and made a difference back then, she is strong and determined but honest and real in herself, I could feel all that she was going through, there are so many fabulous characters in this story that made it what it is good and bad. There is adventure, mystery and murder and it is one that I highly recommend, I loved it.

My thanks to Harper Collins AU for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

March 31, 2026 by HarperCollins AU

Harbored Desires

 Harbored Desires

The Hazelby Sisters #1

Shannon Frances James

Reviewed by Helen

I do love an historical romance and this debut hit the spot beautifully I loved getting to know Harriet Hazelby and Alexander Ordell, come along and meet them for a rollicking sensual adventure.

Harriet is the third sister and has always been happier helping her father with his estates, riding horses and has been known to dress as a stable boy here and there for an adventure, it is one of these times when she has left her home after her eldest sister Eliza who is a duchess is insisting that she come for tea at the home of a Duke that she takes off into the town of Hull here she is mistaken for a sailor and ordered to board the The Seren with a message, this day could change Harriet’s life.

Captain Alexander is in a hurry to sail with the tide but when he discovers a stowaway on board who he wants off immediately that is until the young lad gives him a message and this message changes everything not only that but this young lad is not a lad at all but a young woman. This message cannot be ignored and it puts her life in danger so young Harry is soon sailing the seas with him and his crew and he puts her to work, was this the right thing to do, who is she really?

As they sail the sparks fly between them, Alexander is enjoying his spitfire she does not back down easily and Harriet is learning to be a sailor and quite enjoying it but she is also enjoying her time with Alexander and his dog Shadow. Alexander has sworn of marriage after what his mother went through but could Harriet be breaking down those walls and as for Harriet she has always thought she was not good enough to find a match as her parents did, could she be wrong?

This is a fabulous debut a beautiful story witty and sensual as we know love doesn’t always run smoothly and there are a few hurdles for Harriet and Alexander to jump before they find their gorgeous HEA, I loved both of them and the other characters in this story that help make it what it is and I am very much looking forward to more in this series and see what the authors has installed for them. I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a good historical romance it had me turning the pages and cheering them on and very happy at the end.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

April 11, 2026 by By The Fire Publishing

A Bride for Marcus

 A Bride for Marcus

The Devil Riders #6

Anne Gracie

Reviewed by Helen

Another beautiful story one of the best authors I do love a good regency and Anne Gracie does them so well and we have been awaiting for this one for a long time and finally Marcus has his story and it was worth the wait, I loved it, I loved Marcus and Tessa come along and meet them, although part of a series it can be read as a standalone.

Marcus Earl of Alverleigh is a most eligible bachelor but he is never going to marry he learnt enough from his parents’ marriage so that is not for him he has heirs in his brothers that will be enough, he is known as dull and quiet and that suits him well, that is until he reunited with an old friend someone he has not seen for many years his old neighbour and forest exploring friend Tessa Blaxland.

Tessa now Lady Hewitt has been widowed again and her brother Edgar has her back in London to do his best to marry her off again to pay his gambling debts she is known as the ice widow but this time she is refusing Edgar’s push to marry another old man, something that she is determined to never do again, she want her freedom, when at a ball she meets up with her old friend Marcus they had had so much fun together when they were young but her reputation is ruined and she keeps him at arm’s length.

But when Marcus steps in and rescues her things change with rumours spreading through the ton, Marcus offers her a convenient marriage of friendship and companionship, no passion, no love can she refuse and let her reputation be tarnished more and even worse what about Marcus’s reputation, maybe this will be good for both of them after all they are friends.

On their honeymoon though they are open and honest with each other and Tessa soon learns what making love is all about and Marcus’s walls are breaking down, could this be a match made in heaven, friends to lovers and a HEA so beautiful?

This is just the best story, fun, witty filled with humour but emotional and moving with such awesome characters, who cannot love Aunt Maude and Barney, Billy, Joey and Flora I laughed, I smile I cheered them on and felt for Tessa in so many ways but she stayed strong and so caring and Marcus what a hero he is the best, he knows how to love after all. I do highly recommend this one, sigh worthy and just what I needed.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

March 25, 2026 by Gracie Enterprises

My Fair Scot

 My Fair Scot

The MacKenzies Take London #1

Sara Bennett

Reviewed by Helen

When Callum MacKenzie is told by his father The Duke of Bonnyrigg that he must leave his beloved home in Scotland to go to London to find a wife who will bring respectability to the family he is not happy at all, Callum is very happy wandering the forests and caring for the animals but he must do what his father says, so off to London he goes to stay with his aunt but his first appearance amongst the ton does not go well, his aunt decides that he needs a tutor someone who can teach him the rules and manners of the ton and this person is Penelope Armstrong.

Penelope lost her parents in a carriage accident at the age of eighteen and with a young brother to care for Penelope does what she has to, but now she must find a way to keep food on the table and becomes a tutor in etiquette and manners for those who need it, this has not been easy to start with as she is known as a fallen woman but soon she is making a success of her small business but when she is hired to transform Callum MacKenzie she might just break her rule about her students.

The pull between these two is instant and soon Callum is becoming a gentleman but also falling for the beautiful Penelope and Penelope is feeling the same way and their time spent together is getting very sensual is there a chance that Penelope could be the wife that Callum needs, will his father accept her?

This is such a great story and I loved it I do love a good Scotsman and Callum is the best and Penelope is so caring and strong after all she has been through, their journey to a HEA was a beautiful one and I do highly recommend it and am looking forward to the next one.

My thanks to Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

March 6, 2026 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc

The Valkyrie Begins

 The Valkyrie Begins

The Valkyrie of Birca Series (a prequel)

Tanya Nellestein

Reviewed by Helen

I absolutely loved The Valkyrie of Birca series and was thrilled when the author put out a prequel before re-releasing this awesome series, it was fabulous getting to know Brenna from when she started her journey firstly to becoming a shieldmaiden then on to become who she is today The Queen of Birca and her relationship with her best friend Vali.

The seer has spoken she is destined to lead and heal the scars of her ancestors will the Gods be correct in their prophecy for what will happen with Brenna?

This story is just fabulous as is the series learning about The Vikings and their beliefs, the strength they carry and the deep love they share with each other, Tanya Nellestein has researched very well and brings the Vikings way to life on the pages, a must read, one that I highly recommend.

5 stars

February 18, 2026

The Resistance Knitting Club

 The Resistance Knitting Club

Threads of Resistance #1

Jenny O'Brien

Reviewed by Helen

This is such a lovely story based on a true story, a story of courage and strength of heartbreak and love. Leonora and James Galliene grew up on the Island of Guernsey bought up by an aunt after the death of their parents, Leonora (Lenny) started knitting at a young age, never knowing how much it could help later in life.

When the war starts James joins up and works for the War Office in London as an interpreter while Lenny stays on the island and knits socks for the troops but when a telegram arrives to say that James is missing in action and the island is just about to occupied by the Germans Lenny takes herself to London to get answers.

Then Lenny finds herself working for the war office and joining what has become to be known as Churchill’s secret army, months of training sees her going to France to become part of the resistance, her coding skills are brilliant and with her suggestion that Morse code be used in the knitting that is sent to the troops messages can be sent. She is in Paris with Harry Dennison an old friend of James working together in dangerous situations, things change very quickly and decisions must be made.

The danger grows, will Lenny and Harry escape in time and what will become of them in the future, this story is told in duel time lines when we first meet Lenny in 2010 and then we go back and learn her story and truly what a story I loved it from start to finish and I do highly recommend it the characters are just wonderful strength courage abound in this one and the settings so good, don’t miss this one and I am looking forward to more in the series.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review

5 stars

February 6, 2026 by Storm Publishing

The Wartime Book Club

 The Wartime Book Club

Kate Thompson 

Reviewed by Helen

This is a story filled with heartbreak and it is so heart-wrenching but it is also a beautiful story of friendship, strength and courage shown by the people who lived through five years of Nazi occupation on the Island of Jersey during World War two, based on a true story of stolen German letters come and meet Grace and Bea.

Grace is the librarian and knows the power of books and how they can help and Bea is a postwoman sorting and delivering mail to people on the island, times are hard food is scarce and the morale is ebbing as people try to stay alive, Grace and Bea are taking very big risks to keep people safe but it is what they need to do, Bea is grieving the loss of her fiancé in an attempted escape and puts that grief and anger into what she can do to disrupt the Nazis Grace comes up with another plan to start a book club maybe that will build morale.

This book club works wonders and soon the library is lending more books than it ever has before with Grace also delivering books, banned books as well to help people being kept save she meets and American air force pilot shot down, Red and soon their hearts are growing but what a time to fall in love, how will it all end, is the end near?

This is a book that made me cry with what Grace and Bea went through but had me cheering them on as well and it shows what the power of books can do, I loved this one from start to finish the characters all of them played such a big part in this story and at the end the author has told her readers about the research, it is very interesting, I would highly recommend this one to any reader who loves a fabulous historical fiction.

5 stars

April 9, 2024 by Forever