Book Review: Family Lies by Karen Rose

 

Family Lies is a suspense thriller written by award winning novelist, Karen Rose. This is the fourth novel in the San Diego Case File series. 

San Diego Homicide Detective Kit McKittrick and police psychologist/ boyfriend Sam Reeves. 

This case focuses on Lit’s foster sister Akiko. A recently deceased woman, Mary leaves a message on Aliko’s answer machine claiming to have information about her birth mother. Kit is shot and wounded when she goes to Mary’s house at Akiko’s request to find out what she knows about her mother and finds Her body. and the story develops from there.  Mary had been in touch with Aliko’s sensei and mentor (who was subsequently beaten up). The plot line is increasingly murky as they are drawn into the Japanese mafia underworld. 

I enjoyed this novel, but I did find it to be very long and complicated with lots of subplots and characters that were superfluous to or didn’t add anything to the storyline. I found the name changing for the Japanese characters very confusing, and unnecessary. The plot line could could have been pared down without losing the overall direction of the plot. 

Book Review: Off Grid And Off Limits by Jenni Fletcher

Off Grid And Off Limits is Jenni Fletcher’s first Mills and Boon Modern novel. It is set in the world of Formula 1. Dario is an F1 driver, recently divorced, aiming at winning the championship at the end of season whilst Livi, has recently been dumped for someone else right before her wedding. She writes biographies and sees writing Dario’s biography  as a steppingstone, a way of getting closer to her goal of interviewing and writing the biography of one of her childhood heroes. Both characters are anti relationship, focused on their careers but slowly they get closer but will it last as the F1 season heats up?

This was a short but enjoyable novel. The characters were fun, relatable and worked well together. The storyline was well written and wasn’t dominated by F1 references, which for me was was great,  as I know nothing about it. 

I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I would be interested in reading more Books by the author as I found the quality and pacing of the novel to be good. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Miffy White Beaded Friendship Bracelet

The Carat Shop sell reasonably priced licences jewellery. Their lines includes  everything from Miffy, Hello Kitty to Harry Potter to Peppa Pig and football clubs. I think for the price their items are well made and nicely presented. I gave away some Harry Potter items a few years ago in a blog competition and price’s don’t seem to have increased that much since then. 

I chose this Miffy Silver pearlised Beaded Friendship bracelet (£7.99) to go in my Miffy competition bundle as it it adjustable so will fit a wide range of wrist sizes and it is quite cute. 

The white beads are pearlised. The friendship style fastening means the bracelet is adjustable from 17-21cm in length. The silvertone disc has Miffy’s head embossed on it. It comes packaged nicely Miffy packaging. I haven’t taken it out to photograph as it is a gift/ prize and I don’t want to spoil it. 

I would wear this bracelet or be pleased to receive it as a gift. The price point is great and the item itself looks more expensive than it actually cost. A lovely item. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 

Miffy Blind Box: Colouful Surprise Lights

I have purchased and reviewed a Miffy night light several years ago and it’s still going strong. It “lives” in the front porch and I leave it on when I’m going out so when I return I can see where my cats are etc. As I am in a lot of pain with my spinal cord pain I decided I needed a treat and a light that I can watch from bed as I am having difficulty sleeping because of the pain. I never fell for the potential dopamine hits of the Lububu etc dolls but the Miffy lights intrigued me because they are cute and functional. 

There are 7 lights to collect, 3 pastel shades, 3 Warm toned and one surprise Miffy mini light. Each box (£20) contains a random light. They are small but adorable, measuring 7.5x7.5x15cm. Made of soft silicone they automatically switch off after 15 minutes to save battery power. The batteries can be replaced and Miffy can be cleaned with a wipe down using a damp cloth. Unlike the Laboubou blind boxes the Miffy ones don’t come in a plastic bag to be ripped open for social media clout, so slightly better for the environment as my empty box went in the recycling bin. 

I like Miffy artwork and have bought several items and won several pieces from the Midfy shop official account on X. I also visited the shop when I went to Amsterdam. I really like my light, it cheers me up to see it glowing when I’m in bed feeling sorry for myself.

They are out of stock on the official Miffy site but there is an eBay seller who is selling them slightly cheaper or you could enter my competition on the next blog post! Good luck

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 

Mills & Boon: 4 Free Reads for Valentines Day!

Mills and Boon  are offering 4 free e-books to celebrate Valentines Day 2026. For the whole of February 4 e-books, with redesigned vintage covers are available to download from their own site, Amazon, Kobo, Apple etc. this is a great offer as it’s a free way to explore 4 of M&B’s main genres, Modern, Medical, Historical and True Love romance. Even if you are a long time reader this also maybe a good opportunity to scope out a new author and see if there style catches your interest or you may be reintroduced to an author that you used to like but hasn’t made it in to your TBR pile for a while.

The first book I downloaded was Off Limits Fling by Rachael Stewart, She is one of my favourite authors and this novel did not disappoint. This is a True Love novel. Gabe and Avery Monroe meet again 3 years after Gabe turned down Avery’s kiss. Now, due to her brother’s meddling the pair are reunited at Gabe’s Croatian castle for the whole summer. The passion is reignited but will it burn eternal or be blown out? Both the main characters are damaged. In the past Gabe saw Avery as off limits as she had a reputation as a wild child. Now, as they spend time together he sees the real Avery and understands why she acted the way she did. An enjoyable read, both characters are relatable and work well together. Enjoyable descriptions of Croatia. The story is well paced and not dragged out. 

Falling For Her Miami Rival is an LGBTQ Medical romance.  This novel introduced me to a new author, Luana DeRosa. Both Jamie and Allegra work at the ER Palm Grove Hospital. Jamie grew up on foster care and worked hard to get where she is today. The ER depended on her. She applied to be the consultant but the job went to a new Doctor, Allegra. She is hurt but ever the consummate professional she works with Allegra and a connection between the pair develops. Once Jamie finds out Allegra is fresh out of a divorce, however, she decides they would be better staying as rivals.

This is quite a short read and focuses more on the inequalities of the US medical system as a storyline rather than the balance of the relationship between the two women. Jamie is no longer in charge, Allegra is. The author created the basis for a great storyline as she could have developed their characters and relationship around how they learned to cope with the power imbalance in the relationship but it is hardly mentioned. 

The premise for this novel is great but the execution is lacking. There are missed opportunities to develop some interesting storylines but I would still be interested to read her future novels to see how her style develops. 

Accidentally Wearing The Argentinian’s Ring by Maya Blake represents the Modern genre. Mareka is the shy quiet personal assistant to  Cayetano, her rich boss. He is about to become engaged (ultimately the engagement with Octavia is a business transaction) but when Mareka goes to collect the engagement ring from the jewellers she is photographed trying it on! The world now thinks she is his fiancée and he is dumped by Octavia. Caye still needs a fiancée inherit his grandfather’s business as his will stipulates that he must be married to inherit.  and so Mareka is the chosen one, after all she scuppered hos original plan. As the pair work together on Caye’s opulent estate they struggle to keep their engagement a business only proposition. 

This is a traditional M&B Modern romance. The alpha male needs a fiancée/ fake marriage in order to inherit. There was a fleeting hint of mutual attraction between the pair prior to the engagement ring debacle but it was never acted upon. Both main characters have problematic families which affects their attitudes to relationships. An enjoyable read, as are all Maya Blake’s novels. 

Finally the novel I wasn’t particularly looking for to reading as I don’t enjoy reading historical romances but I thought that maybe this one may change my mind - How The Wallflower Wins The Duke by Lucy Morris. This is a spicy Regency romance. Set mainly at a weekend house party Marina Fletcher is attending with her family as her father is a renowned architect and he is competing with the Moorcroft family for a contract to renovate Brook’s country house. Brook Wyndham is ex army, ex spare and now the Duke of Framlingham which he losing interest in. What he really wants to do is go on a Grand Tour and find himself. Marina Fletcher is a successful musician who has decided that she will only marry for love. Brook suggests a fake marriage between the pair.

There is definitely chemistry between the pair and neither are the traditional Regency hero/ione characters. The first part of the book is the tradition clean, almost staid romance whilst the second involves Mariana scrambling through Priest holes to get to Brook as she wants to try sex in case she never gets another chance!

I enjoyed this novel more than I though I would but I still don’t think I would reach for them regularly. As a one off it was okay but I wouldn’t rush to read anymore. I can see why they have stood the test of time and are a M&B staple, they are just not for me.