Today Mandie is back with a review of The Empire by Michael Ball. We're both big musical theatre fans as well as life long readers so intrigued to see what happens when the two worlds collide. Here's what the book is about: Source: Owned CopyRelease Date: 13 October 2022

It was my absolute pleasure to meet lovely Jenni Keer at the Love Stories etc fiction festival in Manchester back in July. I simply had to invite Jenni onto Linda’s Book Bag and with a brand new bo…

Nesting by Roisín O'Donnell (Jan 2025, Scribner) is described as 'tense, beautiful...underpinned by an unassailable love, hope & resilience'

Bea’s Book Wagon is the third book in Julie Haworth’s series set in the fictional Sussex village of Blossom Heath. The first was Always By Your Side (you can read my review here) and th…

Author : Jenni KeerTitle : The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick HousePages : 320Publisher : Boldwood BooksPublication date : 11th October, 2025Source : Netgalley As the bones start to fall, the spi…

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . . For most people, that means a time of celebration, relaxation and inebriation, but not for the staff of The Stranger Times. While a book clu…

Source: Review copyPublication: 10th Anniversary Edition 23rd October 2025 from Orenda BooksPP: 340ISBN-13: 978-1916788947 My thanks to Orenda Books for an advance copy for review. I am thrilled to…

When I met Barbara Henderson at a lunch in Edinburgh all those years ago, I had no idea quite what a talented writer I had in front of me. Since then it has been my privilege to read many of her bo…

Last weekend was the 17th Portobello Book Festival which takes place each year in our wonderful local library, Portobello Library. As part of the organising team for about ten years it’s alwa…

What am I currently reading? I’ve just started The Monday Night Heartbreak Club by Jane Lovering for my blogtour stop next Sunday. I always enjoy Jane’s books and this one is great so f…

Hosted by Lipsy Lost and Found, my Wednesday post gives you a taste of what I’m reading this week. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words.  As the bones start to fall, t…

Welcome to WWW Wednesday. This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your po…

Welcome to this week’s WWW Wednesday!

Source: Review copyPublication: 28 August 2025 from PicadorPP: 432ISBN-13: 978-1035046683 My thanks to Picador for a review copy It is one of the biggest trials of the year. Three seventeen-year-ol…

Today I am sharing my review of the brand new novel from Natasha Bache, 12 Ways To Kill Your Family At Christmas which is out today. Happy publication day Natasha. Yes. It's a Christmas book. But a suitably murdery one so I don't think it counts as being too early before anyone complains. (If you want to get really mad, I'm reviewing it now but I read it in August).

Author : Laura PurcellTitle : House of SplintersPages : 370Publisher : Raven BooksPublication date : 9th October, 2025Source : Netgalley Belinda Bainbridge has spent her life in the shadow of her a…

On my blog today I’m sharing my thoughts on the debut novel by Nikki Allen, The Hideaway. BLURB THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME?When five strangers are chosen for an all-expenses-paid stay at an exclu…

Hello and a very warm welcome to damppebbles. It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday post. I’ve decided to take part in That Artsy Reader Girl&#8…

This week’s topic: Satisfying Book Series This week’s topic asks us to think about satisfying book series. I’m not entirely sure if that’s meant to be series which are compl…

Fly, Wild Swans by Jung Chang (Sept16th 2025, William Collins) is a remarkable read from a courageous individual unafraid to express her views

The movie “Stand By Me” was brought to mind whilst reading this novel. Only instead of four boys, it was three eleven year old girls. It is a hot and sultry summer in the year 1960. A d…

My huge thanks to Ayo Okojie at Quercus who sent me a copy of The Christmas Eve Murders by Noelle Albright way back in 2024. I’m delighted finally to have got round to reading it and to share my re…