My Top 16 Fiction Books of various genres of 2024 By Lou #BookReviews #ReadingCommunity #BookTwitter #Thrillers #RomanticFiction #LiteraryFiction

First of all, I, Louise Cannon wish you all a good New Year! Thank you so much for reading my blog and sharing my posts onto your social media. It’s much appreciated!

Whittling down lots of books is a challenge, but here are 16 of my best fictional reads of many genres of 2024. Each link will open in a new tab so you can navigate back here as you please with ease. Below this list you will find a link to a previous blog post about my 5 top non-fiction/memoirs to read.

The Teacher By Tim

The Headmaster isn’t liked by many others. When a body is discovered, in comes DS Cross and his team to uncover what becomes a search for motive and there’s plenty of suspicion to get stuck into.
Tim Sullivan mixes mystery and humour very well.
If you liked Ludwig on tv, you’ll enjoy this.
This is part of a series that can be read as a standalone.
2025 will see the next book – The Bookseller.

Discover the blurb and full review here: The Teacher

An Ideal Husband By Erica James

Louisa’s needing to carve out a new life. An Ideal Husband shows that everything can seem just fine and could well last forever, but sometimes secrets can be concealed very well… There are compelling twists and turns to this refreshing romance that tackles a bit of a disaster in life that isn’t often talked about…

Discover the blurb and my review here: An Ideal Husband

The Wedding of the Year

Expect the unexpected with cracks, bumps and twists in the road. Is it the wedding it’s cracked up to be? The Wedding of the Year becomes quite the page-turner as characters, refreshingly tell of their not so easy-flowing romances.

Discover the blurb and review here: The Wedding of the Year

Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings

Beauty on the outside doesn’t always mean beauty on the inside. Riches don’t always buy the perfect life are perhaps the takeaways from this psychological thriller. Victoria escapes her broken home for university life where she meets people who can open new doors for her. The very people who she thought were “Beautiful People” aren’t all they first seem in this darkly twisted psychological thriller that takes you into moments where you may well be holding your breath…

Discover the blurb and full review here: Beautiful People

Edge of The Land by Malcolm Hollingdrake

Part of the Merseyside crime series, this particular book is darkly compelling, set around the docklands and the famous Liverbird building. It can also be read as a standalone. How did an 8 year old turn to being a petty criminal and later fall foul with a drugs gang? Why are homeless people suddenly being murdered? Detective Inspector April Decent and Detective Sergeant Skeeter Warlock have tricky puzzles to unravel to uncover the serial killer.

Discover the blurb and review here: Edge Of The Land

True Love By Paddy Crewe

Set in the 1980’s Finn and Keely are growing up in the north east of England and life is hard in this gritty book of tragedy, yet also shows edges of romantic, agape, unconditional love. With characters to root for, it’s an immersive read.

Discover the blurb and review here: True Love

The Beaver Theory By Antti Tuomainen

Antti Tuomainen writes Scandi Noir with humour. The last in the trilogy that began with The Rabbit Factor, Henri Koskinen, the quirky mathematician who is the last person you’d think would own the theme park “YouMeFun” notices an unscrupulous rival is at play. Things get rather messier when there’s a death and soon after, the body count increases. The series is one of the most entertaining Scandi Noir I’ve ever seen.

Discover the blurb and review here: The Beaver Theory

Home for Christmas By Heidi Swain

This is the most festive book ever, ever! Heidi Swain takes people back to her community in Wynbridge and she weaved everything that is heartwarming and festive into a book to cosy up with.

Discover the blurb and review here: Home For Christmas

The Night In Question By Susan Fletcher

Florence Butterfield, an octogenarian with a colourful past. She was quite the adventurer and now is an amputee in a care home. The thing is, there’s a lot more sinister things than just care that’s going on…

Discover the blurb and review here: The Night In Question

The Island of Dreams by Helen McGinn
Meet Martha, she’s won a holiday to Paxos and is daunted by going it alone. Along with challenges, she also meets a rather welcoming community. McGinn gives a great sense of place and draws you into everyone’s personalities.

Discover the blurb and my review here: Island of Dreams

One of Us Is Dead By Peter James

One of Us Is Dead is part of the successful Grace series that you may have also seen on TV. This is the latest book. It can be read as standalone too.

A Dopple-ganger, a strange figure at a funeral of someone who’s supposed to be dead, all woven into a gripping case.

Discover the blurb and review here: One of Us Is Dead

The Guests By Nikki Smith

Sink into the luxury of the Maldives, feel the sand and sun on your skin. All isn’t all it seems in one of the resorts where secrets lie and the psyche of human nature truly comes through.

Discover more in the blurb and review here:
The Guests

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

A retelling of Mansfield Park, set between 1986 and 1992, retellings aren’t normally my thing, but this book was one piqued my interest by the author of WAHALA.

Eavesdrop on conversations and have fun with pop culture as well as having a feel of the original book by Jane Austen, it’s cleverly written with humour.
Discover more in the blurb and review here This Motherless Land

Gone To Pieces by Rachel Cosyns

A spider spinning a web like a labyrinth is cleverly how Gone To Pieces begins. It’s thought-provoking as it sets the story up to show human life, the web of connections and home as well as demonstrating the fragility of life.
Follow Rebecca into places people don’t always get to see…
Check out the blurb and review here: Gone To Pieces

Geneva By Richard Armitage

It’s easy to feel trapped and desire a good facility such as the carehome in Geneva.
The emotions and tensions build as does something rather sinister.
I’ve also included a link within the full review to a write-up of a talk Richard Armitage gave in the autumn of 2024.

Discover blurb, review, talk here: Geneva

Her Deadly Friend By Rachel Sargeant

It’s a thought-provoking thriller that makes you wonder how you’d feel if you suspected someone you knew of murder and may also destroy your life!

Discover the blurb and review here: Her Deadly Friend

See here for my top 5 Memoirs/Autobiographies:
Memoirs

#CoverReveal By Lou of Slow Burn By Oti Mabuse #SlowBurn #TeamBATC #OtiMabusi #RomanticFiction @BookMinxSJV

In 2025, something sizzling and electrifying is coming to a bookcase near you! It’s so hot and smouldering, can you handle it?

Former Strictly dancer, Oti Mabuse has written 2 books that will be published by Simon and Schuster’s Books And The City (BATC) arm. Slow Burn being the first.

I have the very exciting pleasure of being part of revealing the cover.
Check it out and the blurb below.

To fall in love, they first have to get back in hold.

For Lira, Latin Ballroom is everything. Whilst her dreams of fame were cut short aged 19, she’s never forgotten the connection she felt dancing with a stranger at the Paris World Championship afterparty 13 years ago.

Taking on the responsibility of running the family dance studio wasn’t in her master plan, but with her two younger sisters pursuing their own successful careers, Lira’s flame of ambition is barely burning anymore.

But Lira is still feisty and fierce, and just because her family treat her like a doormat, she’s not going to take it lying down anymore.

A chance encounter sees Lira secretly auditioning for Slow Burn, a new dance show about to embark on a 6-week European tour, and coming face to face with a blast from her past that sends her reeling.

Gabriele has been the darling of the Latin Ballroom scene since his mother taught him the Argentine tango as a child. Slim of hip, with long, lean muscles that pop, a chiselled jaw, dark eyes, obscenely long lashes, and a mouth that just won’t give, he’s been surrounded by fawning women all his life. He’s the quintessential bad boy – arrogant, cocky, and he almost can’t help but take women for granted.

As the longest serving, and most popular professional dancer on hit Italian TV dancing competition, Bring the Heat, the world’s his oyster, and it’s no surprise when he lands the principal male lead role on Slow Burn. But, with just a few weeks to go till the tour starts, he’s at his wit’s end and down to his last two female lead auditionees. He needs to feel the heat, the fire, the chemistry… then in walks Lira.

On the dance floor they’re smouldering, off it, they’re electric.

Filled with sexy, Black female characters, hot scenes of sizzling, spicy passion that’ll make you blush, and plot beats of swoon worthy romance that will leave you breathless, the highly anticipated and unputdownable debut novel from Oti Mabuse brims with heat and heart, for fans of Colleen Hoover, Tahlia Hibbert, Ana Huang, Lauren Asher, Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace.

#Review By Lou of Island In The Sun By Katie Fforde @KatieFforde @centurybooksuk @randomhouse #HolidayRead #Escapism #Summer

Island In The Sun
By Katie Fforde

Sun, sea and pure escapism can all be found in Katie Fforde’s latest, enticing book.

Blurb

Dominica. A beautiful remote island where the sun shines and the living is easy.

And where Cass goes to photograph a rare stone carving as a favour to her father.

With her is Ranulph, a deeply attractive, much-travelled journalist, who offers to help Cass with her quest.

But Dominica has just been hit be a severe hurricane, and Cass and Ranulph are spending all of their time helping the local community.

Cass knows she must not fall in love with him… He is just looking out for her. He’s being kind.

There is no way he could be even the slightest bit interested in her. Could he?

Review

Dominica is painted as a very attractive and desirable place to be. The idyllic location is soon rocked by a severe hurricane hitting its shores and interfering with community life. Katie Fford captures the contrast in between the calm, serene scenery and the destructive nature of the storm, beautifully.

Cass is on a mission from her father to photograph a rare stone carving in Dominica, where she also meets Ranulph. He’s well travelled and interesting, so very quickly becomes a character you want to know more about. He’s a journalist, so of course is curious about Cass, since she’s on the hunt for something rare.
When the hurricane hits, there’s a more genuine warm-heartedness about the characters as they want to help the community get through the devastation.

Romance is in the air and oozes off the page, just like the romance of the location does. It’s a very different sort of romance from the norm, which I rather liked. I won’t say too much about that as I feel it’s something to be explored as you read the book. It certainly adds much interest to the characters as its played out.

Island in the Sun is a rather interesting escapist read that embodies romance and danger.

#Review By Lou of Island In The Sun By Katie Fforde @KatieFforde @centurybooksuk @randomhouse #HolidayRead #Escapism

Island In The Sun
By Katie Fforde

Sun, sea and pure escapism can all be found in Katie Fforde’s latest, enticing book.

Blurb

Dominica. A beautiful remote island where the sun shines and the living is easy.

And where Cass goes to photograph a rare stone carving as a favour to her father.

With her is Ranulph, a deeply attractive, much-travelled journalist, who offers to help Cass with her quest.

But Dominica has just been hit be a severe hurricane, and Cass and Ranulph are spending all of their time helping the local community.

Cass knows she must not fall in love with him… He is just looking out for her. He’s being kind.

There is no way he could be even the slightest bit interested in her. Could he?

Review

Island in the Sun is a rather interesting escapist read that embodies romance and danger.

#Review By Lou of The Island of Dreams By Helen McGinn @knackeredmutha @boldwoodbooks #RomFic #ContemporaryFiction #RomanticFiction @rararesources #BlogTour

The Island of Dreams
By Helen McGinn

Review written by Louise Cannon (Lou)

Today is my turn on the Rachel Random Resources/Boldwood Books blog tour for newly published book – The Island of Dreams.
I heard Helen McGinn was writing books and was intrigued. Now, I have the lovely opportunity to review one.
On a rare time when not volunteering, I manage to catch her on Saturday Kitchen with her wine etc recommendations. If she’s reading this, I like that she is also a fan of rose wine.
She has written The Island of Dreams, an uplifting, romantic novel, perfect for Valentines Day, whether you’re coupled up or not.
Discover more in the blurb and then my review below.

Blurb

Martha is the youngest of three sisters and, in her mid-thirties, has the dubious honour of being the only one to call off a wedding at the last moment.

Now, feeling as if she’ll be single forever, and trying to keep her low opinion of her sister Iris’s fiancé to herself for risk of looking bitter, Martha needs a change of scene.

When she is given the opportunity of a holiday to Paxos it seems too good to turn down, though the idea of travelling alone is daunting. And when the trip to the Greek island gets complicated, Martha wonders if this has all been a mistake.

But soon the island and its residents start to work their magic on Martha, and when she meets single father Harry and his adorable son Milo, a new way of living is revealed in contrast with the drab routine of her life back home. How can Martha leave behind the warmth of the people, the freedom and the fun, not to mention Harry and Milo when it’s time for her to go home…

Let Helen McGinn magic you away to a world of sunshine and serenity, romance and relaxation. Perfect for fans of Erica James, Carol Kirkwood and Karen Swan.

Review

Check out that cover! Place yourself under that hat and seeing the horizon. It is intriguing to see what life holds, in a wistful way.
Meet Martha, she’s boldly called off her wedding last minute and she lands a holiday to Paxos, even though she finds it daunting to travel alone. Personally, having travelled alone, I wanted to sit her down and tell her she would be fine and everything that seems difficult about it, works out in the end. She’s a likeable character who is easy to root for. To give her, her dues, Paxos does sound challenging. Overpriced and unreliable (sounds like the UK) transport makes everything harder than it should be, especially when alone. Prior to this life change, you can totally sympathise as to why she seeks a change of life and jumps at the opportunity to do it.

Whilst in Paxos, readers are treated to beautiful scenery and interesting people within the community.
Helen McGinn captures the sense of a place and personalities of people rather well.

The Island of Dreams is pure escapism! It’s got a warm and uplifting, relaxed feel, but with a certain amount of urgency to keep turning those pages to see where the characters end up.

I recommend cracking open the wine (or whatever your tipple is) and feel the sunshine, even if it’s only in book form.
It’s a relaxing read with pure escapism away from any worries about real life and the outside world for a while. It’s well-worth the time to read for the magical time of imagining elsewhere.

#BookReview By Lou of That Festive Feeling By Heidi Swain @Heidi_Swain @simonschusterUK @RandomTTours #BlogTour #ChristmasReads #Christmas

That Festive Feeling
By Heidi Swain

Review By Louise (Lou)

This Christmas, cosy up with That Festive Feeling, a seasonal book that will melt the iciness outside and the heart inside to get into the festive spirit. Today, I am on the blog tour, thanks to Random T. Tours for inviting me. Discover the blurb, my review and a bit about the author below.

Blurb

Holly has the place to herself this Christmas. It’s not her place, though – she is house-sitting for friends who live on Nightingale Square – just there to keep the place warm and cosy and only for long enough for her to sort her life out. Newly single and finding herself unsure about next steps for her career, she plans to hunker down and make some life decisions.

To clear her mind, she sets off on early morning walks around a nearby lake and bumps into May, an older lady who is also new to the area, and her dapper Dachshund Monty. Quickly, a firm friendship blossoms. Then when Holly meets Bear, a rather large and rather attractive man, at the local pub, and his rescue dog Queenie, her stay at Nightingale Square suddenly feels even more appealing.

As the community comes together for the season’s festivities, Holly must start thinking about where her life will take her next. Some big decisions need to be made, but distractions close to home make thinking about the future more tricky than ever…

Will she get that festive feeling this Christmas…?

Review

That Festive Feeling brings that feeling of wrapping up in a cosy fleece blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows, hunkering down the house and indulging in some you time with a great book to sweep you away.

The book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. Essentially the stories are complete within themselves, whether you are returning to the warmth of Nightingale Square or are a newcomer, like Holly, who is housesitting for a friend. By the end, you leave, not only with a real sense of the character and scenery of the place, but also where people live, in the detailed writing that has a light touch.

Nightingale Square is painted as a wonderful place to live in, even through its challenging times as a community or for individuals living there, it has some of the best spirit. It’s a generational rom-com, which is brilliant for readers of many ages.

This time, readers meet Holly, an inescapably befitting name for this new Christmas book. She’s newly single and housesitting, which gives her a change of scene to work out what she truly desires as her next stage in life. As a reader, we can enjoy Nightingale Square when Holly takes to her walks. Upon meeting May and her Dachshund, a new friendship sparks and we see Holly fitting in pretty well. She also meets Bear, a rather attractive man in the local pub and the feeling of romance is in the air.
Life isn’t as easy as that. This in someways has thrown a curveball for Holly as she has decisions to make about what she wants out of life and what to do as time marches on. She has her future to work out as festivities happen all around her, which she may or may not be quite in the mood for.

That Festive Feeling is a snug book to cosy up against the fierce wintry weather or how about buying it for someone as a present this Christmas to bring them joy and comfort.

About the Author

Heidi lives in beautiful south Norfolk with her family and a mischievous cat called Storm. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading.
Her TBR pile is always out of control!