The groom that got away | A flirty Second Chance Romantic Comedy (The Logan Brothers Book 1) by Sally Clements. Note that this is Book 1 of a series of 4, and it is FREE, and all about second chances. Do you believe in them – or not?

You see, Matthew left April’s sister standing at the altar seven years ago, breaking June’s heart in the process. Now June is marrying another bloke, the cake is iced, April has made the wedding dress and she’s not having her sister’s big day ruined all over again. Oh, but why should it be… June has chosen Matthew to be her something old! Yes, really, and this tickled me. I had to read it. You will have to as well, to see what happens, as I am not going to tell you. @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G4HCCC1N/ for the grand total of – nothing. It is FREE but see the even better news below.

Yes indeedy, the second in The Logan Brothers series – happy days. Match me if you can | A sweet and spicy Romantic Comedy (The Logan Brothers Book 2) by Sally Clements.

Photographer Valentine Jones isn’t a great one for ‘in love’ but when her romantic friend Maggie drags her along to a speed dating event, she finds herself reluctantly attracted to architect Finn Logan. Against her better instincts, she ticks yes on her scorecard to seeing him again. He never calls. Finn shouldn’t have flirted with Val at the speed dating event because he was there to chaperone his wayward niece, not find another girlfriend–he has two already. When he meets Val again at his cousin’s wedding, he tries to explain, and ends up kissing her instead. Then she acts as a photographer for Finn’s company, but is Finn just the same? Or has he dispensed with the harem??? Read on, read on… all for £0.99 instead of £1.99 @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G8GZ7VMT/

is this all? Certainly not.

Sweet Poison: A twisty Golden Age murder mystery (Lord Edward Corinth & Verity Browne Book 1) by David Roberts. The first of 7 and a steal at £0.99 instead of £1.99

A must-read classic whodunit set in 1930s England, where murder, political intrigue, and high-society secrets collide. It is August 1935 and the Duke of Mersham is hosting one of his many parties, this time the bringing together public figures interested in improving Anglo-German relations. One of his guests is General Sir Alistair Craig VC, who swallows poison in the duke’s excellent port and dies just as latecomers Lord Edward Corinth and journalist Verity Browne arrive on the scene.

The unlikely pair – the younger son of a duke and a journalist committed to the Communist Party – find common ground as they seek for the truth behind the general’s murder and discover that everyone present, including the duke himself, had a motive for wanting Sir Alistair out of the way. Do read it at the reduced price (for a limited time): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DT21FRL9/ for £0.99

The Wrong Sort to Die : A gripping Edwardian mystery with a daring female pathologist (Dr Margaret Demeray Book 1) by Paula Harmon and it’s FREE

This is a period I love – it’s London, 1910. We have a pioneering woman, a string of suspicious deaths and to top it off, a conspiracy that could cost Dr Margaret Demeray everything. Look, she has fought hard for her place as a pathologist in a man’s world as you can imagine. But when the deaths of two paupers raise troubling questions, her search for answers draws her into the orbit of Fox—an enigmatic stranger with secrets of his own. As Margaret digs deeper, she finds herself shadowed at every turn. Her home is burgled. She is attacked in broad daylight. Friends grow distant. And Fox may be ally… or enemy.

With whispers of corruption reaching from London’s slums to the highest levels of society, Margaret must risk her career—and her life—to uncover the truth… @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DW928SMY/ FREE for a limited time.

Death in the Last Reel: Another intriguing Edwardian mystery (Dr Margaret Demeray Book 2) – by Paula Harmon. I said ridiculous prices and now the second in the series… not quite FREE this time, but close to it.

As you know it’s set in Edwardian London, a pioneering female pathologist must continue to defy societal expectations and confront a web of espionage, murder, and betrayal to uncover the truth behind a growing threat to the city.

After the violent murder of three policemen in the line of duty, tensions between London constabulary and Whitechapel anarchists simmer. Meanwhile accusations and counter accusations of espionage further weaken relations between Germany and Britain. (Isn’t it a fascinating period). When Fox asks Margaret to help with a mission, she can’t wait to assist. But enquiries in wealthy Hampstead, and assaults in Whitechapel backstreets lead to genteel Glassmakers Lane. How can a place where a moving picture studio is the only thing of interest be important? And is the death of a young woman Margaret can’t forget ,a critical link or a coincidental irrelevance? How can Margaret persuade Fox to stop protecting her so that she can ask the questions he can’t? @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DYTS9M4G/ £0.99 instead of £2.99 for now.

Another favourite – treats galore for us this week: The Sugar Secret: Another thrilling action-packed naval adventure in the Evan Ross Series (Book 7) by Lyle Garford 

In the wake of the Battle of Trafalgar, a secret mission, hidden treasure and a trail of murder threaten to ignite the Caribbean once more. As the French and British forces collide, they are pulled into a dark web of conspiracy where the fate of two empires hangs in the balance. Martinique and St. Kitts, 1808 – hard to put down, I assure you.

In the aftermath of Trafalgar, French power in the Caribbean is crumbling. With morale at rock bottom and British forces closing in, only Martinique and Guadeloupe remain under French control. Desperate pleas for reinforcements go unanswered … until Napoleon takes matters into his own hands. He dispatches Colonel Rémy Bernard, a senior intelligence officer and Knight of Malta, to restore order. But Bernard arrives with a secret agenda: the Knights have uncovered rumours of a priceless treasure hidden decades earlier on the British-held island of St. Kitts—and Bernard is determined to find it. While launching a series of daring raids to keep the British off balance, he begins a covert search that could change the course of the war. However it’s not going to be plain sailing – sorry about that – but I couldn’t resist. Standing in his way are Captain Evan Ross and Commander James Wilton of the Royal Navy. As they race to halt the French attacks, they are… Now read on – oh,I know I’m mean but- @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GPWFC8LL/ for £0.99 instead of £4.99 for a limited time.

Milly Adams is the author of the Waterway Girls trilogy https://www.amazon.co.uk//dp/B0FRN1JWMF/ @ £5.97 for all 3 kindles

Alexa Vernon Museum Director and Dr Laura Allan, Museum Curator – photo credit Ripon Museums

Step into the shoes of Victorian paupers, vagrants and workhouse children this summer as the newly transformed Workhouse Museum  in Ripon opens following a £2.8 million redevelopment. Through hands-on activities, interactive displays and powerful storytelling, visitors will discover what life was really like inside one of Britain’s most complete surviving Victorian workhouses. The new and expanded museum trail takes visitors on an immersive journey telling the individual stories of past residents, who entered the workhouse gates as a last resort.

Lorne Campbell/Guzelian photography. Photos show, children: Zoe, 7, Tom 5, and Laurel, 10. The porridge lady is Liz Penwill, Visitor Experience Officer.

The reopening marks the culmination of extensive conservation and restoration work undertaken as part of the Inspiration for a Fairer Future project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Other supporters include The Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and North Yorkshire County Council.

The largest building on the workhouse site, the Residents’ Block, where paupers ate, slept and worked, has had a complete and sensitive restoration as part of the project. This building had been acquired by Ripon Museum Trust in 2017, but was in a state of disrepair after years of changing uses such as a care home and council offices. The National Lottery Heritage Fund support has allowed Ripon Museum Trust to fix the leaking roof and rotten windows, alongside reinstating historical features to restore its authenticity.

Revamped rooms include the Old Men’s Day Room, Kitchen and Dining Hall, and the original workhouse cellar has been opened up for the first time. Dr Laura Allan, curator at Ripon Museums Trust, said: “The cellar is particularly exciting as it’s the only part of that building that had been untouched since it was turned into council offices. It has the massive original meat block table where the workhouse pigs would be butchered, trough and sink. It’s like glimpsing behind the curtain, seeing how it truly was.”

The hands-on visitor experience is designed to be a unique thought-provoking and engaging day out. Alexa Vernon, Director of Ripon Museums Trust, said: “We’ve transformed the workhouse into a powerful, immersive experience where visitors can step into the shoes of real people who lived through extraordinary hardship. Their stories challenge us to think about fairness, dignity and opportunity, both in Victorian Britain and today.

“This project is about much more than restoring a historic building. It is about preserving important heritage, creating opportunities for communities and young people to engage with history, and inspiring visitors to reflect on how we can build a fairer future.

“We want people to leave feeling not only informed, but also more compassionate, thoughtful and connected to the stories of those who came before us.“

Asking the public, ‘Could you survive the workhouse?’ visitors have the option to be shut inside a vagrants’ cell and listen to the sounds of a night spent behind its locked door. They can also try their hand at sweeping the yard, picking oakum from old ropes, and discover whether they are up to the jobs that filled the days of paupers and workhouse children. Young visitors can search for hidden mice in the kitchen, use traditional weighing scales to portion out meagre meals, and discover what fate might await them by spinning an interactive wheel in the Guardians’ Room. Families can even dress in replica workhouse uniforms for a photo as they imagine life inside one of Victorian Britain’s most feared institutions.

The reopening introduces new spaces for creativity and community participation, including the museum’s Discover Space, where visitors can explore connections between past and present through exhibitions, conversations and creative activities.

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The redevelopment has secured the future of one of Britain’s most complete surviving Victorian workhouses, preserving both the building and the stories it holds for future generations. We’re incredibly proud to have been able to support the project thanks to money raised by National Lottery players and it is now creating opportunities for volunteering, learning and skills development, ensuring the museum remains relevant and accessible to all.” The Workhouse Museum is part of Ripon Museums Trust’s unique trio of museums – all located within easy walking distance of each other.

Visitors can continue their journey following the path many people took through the systems of poverty, crime and punishment in Victorian Yorkshire at the Prison & Police Museum and Courthouse Museum. In the Courthouse, visitors can stand where magistrates passed judgement, while the Prison & Police Museum invites them to step inside original prison cells. Together, the three museums tell a powerful story about justice, fairness and social change, encouraging visitors to consider what lessons the past can offer in building a fairer future.

The redevelopment also strengthens Ripon’s position as a heritage destination, contributing to the city’s cultural life and attracting new visitors to North Yorkshire.

For opening times, tickets and events, visit https://riponmuseums.co.uk

Visit the Mad Hatter’s hat shop, tumble down a rabbit hole and meet the Queen of Hearts at A Palace House Christmas, as Beaulieu announces its fabulous festive themed experience for 2026. – Yes, I know it’s still summer but advance warning for our readers is essential as the tickets go so quickly…

It gets curiouser and curiouser as designers extraordinaire Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Adrian Lillie return with theatrical installations, immersive soundscapes and multi-colour projections for a magical Christmas journey around the stately rooms by CLW Event Design. Frankly, there is no more fitting setting to explore Lewis Carroll’s imaginary world than Palace House, (see below) where the real Alice – Alice Liddell – was a guest at a tea party to celebrate the coming of age of the Hon John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, the 2^nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu in 1887.

So, don’t be late for a very important date. Be the first to experience Alice’s Christmas Wonderland when it opens from Saturday 21^st November – Sunday 3^rd January(excluding Christmas Day). Head down the rabbit hole and enter a fantasy Wonderland for your festive experience. Follow the White Rabbit to see Palace House rooms dressed with twinkling lights and beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Expect to see an explosion of colour in the Mad Hatter’s hat shop, (just look at the hat below) a life-size Caterpillar on a five-foot toadstool, the grinning Cheshire Cat and the maddest tea party ever . . . with lavish festive twists at every turn. 

Hunt for trees decorated with fairy woodland toadstools, cascading playing cards and pastel-coloured butterflies, as well as Beaulieu’s 20ft Wonderland-themed real tree at the foot of the grand staircase. You can even take a little of the Christmas magic home with you, from the tempting range of the Wonderland-themedbaubles and decorations on sale in the Palace House gift shop.   You may be lucky to meet live characters to entertain you along your way*. Then put yourself in Alice’s shoes for ‘end-of-pier’ peep-throughs to capture memories with a selfie.Complete your festive experience with a Wonderland Tea & Treats, with delicious heart-shaped scones with cream and jam, cakes and sandwiches all served on an Alice in Wonderland stand in the historic abbey Domus – and add a celebratory glass of Prosecco.*

CLW Event Design’s team of theatre designers and artists has created award-winning installations at heritage properties across the UK, including Kensington Palace, Belvoir and Bamburgh castles, Treasure House Castle Howard and the National Trust’s Polesdon Lacey. They return to Beaulieu for the second time this year. Artistic Director Charlotte Lloyd Webber said: “CLW Event Design is delighted to return to Beaulieu for a second year to present Alice’s Christmas Wonderland. Palace House presents the perfect late Victorian interior setting to inspire us to bring this iconic Lewis Carroll story to life. We are using the house decor to influence the design and create a magical environment that will delight throughout all the rooms.”

Design Director Adrian Lillie said: “Our team is having a lot of fun designing each space in Palace House to present all the best known and favourite characters from the Alice story . . . not just Alice, the Mad Hatter and White Rabbit but also room schemes dedicated to the Queen of Hearts, the Caterpillar and Cheshire Cat. And just wait for the maddest tea party ever staged!”

Book tickets : A Palace House Christmas 2026 – Alice’s Christmas Wonderland ticket includes entry to Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum with new gallery Driven: Britain’s Motoring Story, Disney and Pixar Cars display, hands-on exhibition We Had One Of Those, fun adventure playground Little Beaulieu, 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey, the Secret Army Exhibition, unlimited rides on the tree-top monorail and beautiful grounds and gardens.

Tickets go on sale in early August – sign up now to Beaulieu’s Christmas newsletter for the chance to be the first to book tickets at early-bird prices.

For more details and tickets to A Palace House Christmas at Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

The Seduction of Lord Stone: A steamy and scandalous Regency romance of love and temptation by Anna Campbell is FREE for a short while. Witty, passionate as Regency romance novel and the irresistible first book of 7 in Anna Campbell’s Dashing Widows series. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DK276ZYQ/

Can we do steamy in this super hot weather? I rather think we can, but this is a different steamy – come on, keep up. A daring widow. A notorious rake. A scandalous game of love. Caroline, Lady Beaumont, is done with dreary respectability. After ten years in a loveless marriage and a year of mourning, she’s ready to seize life with both hands. London promises everything she craves—glittering balls, delicious intrigue, and above all, a lover who can give her passion without chains… Oh dear, because t here will be an ‘oh dear’… https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DK276ZYQ/ FREE

House of Lies | An unputdownable and shocking domestic thriller by Helen Matthews @ £0.99 instead of £2.99  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H94VMGHK/

How well do you really know the person with whom you are sharing your life?
When Emma and Paul buy a derelict French farmhouse, they’re hoping for a fresh start. But behind closed doors, they discover lies, betrayal and an increasing sense of danger. A fatal workplace accident occurs… And questions that nobody has the answers to… Hardship has been her usual existence, and now Emma’s chance of happiness is tinged with heartbreak. With her husband Paul and their daughter, Mollie, she grabs the chance and moves to France, where an old ruin is set to become their new home,.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H94VMGHK/ Only £0.99 instead of £2.99.

The Good Sister | A gripping mind-bending domestic thriller by Bonnie Traymore @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GH2BR3PQ/ for £0.99 instead of £3.49

When her mirror twin goes missing, Casey is led to a deadly paradise where no one escapes… Casey and Nora are mirror twins, identical—perhaps. Casey is right-handed, Nora is left-handed. Their moles sit on opposite cheeks. So at this level they are diametrically opposed. Then Nora disappears after a fight with her husband. She’s done this before, but why is Casey so troubled? Ah… https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GH2BR3PQ/ for £0.99 instead of £3.49

Tempting Mr. Townsend: An opposites-attract Regency romance novel (Dashing Widows Book 2 of 7) by Anna Campbell. @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DLFCJSZJ/ £0.99 instead of £2.99

Tempting Mr. Townsend is a stirring, passionate Regency romance novel and the excellent second book in Anna Campbell’s bestselling Dashing Widows series. After five years of mourning her heroic husband’s death at Waterloo, Fenella, Lady Deerham, feels recovered enough to return to London society as a perfect diamond of the first water. But graceful though she is, beneath this veneer is a woman of strength, and also of longing. But then her young son and his school friend disappear, Fenella will risk everything—even her reputation—to find them.  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DLFCJSZJ/ @ £0.99 instead of £2.99

The Eagle and the Dragon: A Novel of Rome and China (Novels of Ancient Rome Book 1) by Lewis F. McIntyre.  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DLWMB3NZ/ @ £0.99 instead of £2.99

In a world where diplomacy is key, can a Roman centurion and a senator’s cousin navigate the treacherous waters of ancient politics to forge unlikely alliances? This is a fascinating novel,

In the 1st century, Marcus Lucius, a resourceful centurion, narrowly escapes execution by Parthian soldiers, while Gaius Lucullus, a reluctant diplomat, embarks on a perilous mission to the Hanaeans with his cousin, Senator Aulus Aemilius Galba. Alongside allies like the wise librarian Demaratos, they navigate the complexities of foreign lands, political intrigue, and personal relationships across Rome and China. I repeat, this is a fascinating novel, and there’s one more to come. Oh goody. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DLWMB3NZ/ @£0.99 instead of £2.99

Milly Adams is the author of the Waterway Girls trilogy https://www.amazon.co.uk//dp/B0FRN1JWMF/ @ £5.97 for all 3 kindles

I’m taking advantage of this lovely hot weather to create salads in as many ways as possible. I’m in awe of the beautiful displays created by professional chefs – perfect slices of brightly-coloured vegetables arranged like a work of art, and I’m keen to reproduce these gorgeous platters, but ideally without slicing off my finger-tips in the process.

Now, thanks to wonderful Microplane, I don’t have to worry. Mindful of people like me, Microplane have created the perfect mandoline – the Microplane Adjustable V-Blade Slicer PureCut and I simply adore it. True to the Microplane pedigree, it’s razor sharp, for the most perfect slicing, but it’s so cleverly designed that my pinkies are totally safe.

Microplane – the original manufacturer of photo-etched cutting tools – was inspired by a Canadian housewife in the 90s, who, fed up with her kitchen grater, borrowed one of her husband’s wood-working tools. After over fifty years of experience, their durable, photo-etched and razor-sharp stainless-steel blades are simply the best – effortlessly cutting through hard and soft foods, without tearing or shredding.

Firstly – the Microplane Adjustable V-Blade Slicer PureCut looks beautiful – sleek and stylish in a choice of three colours – After Dark Grey, Eucalyptus Green and Cashmere Beige – to match any kitchen. Secondly – the ultra-sharp blade is a given – it’s Microplane – nothing more to be said. But thirdly, it’s cleverly designed to create different-sized slices from wafer thin to 8mm thick by simply turning the rotating wheel (see picture below). It does everything you need for glorious salads, perfectly sliced Dauphinoise potatoes, Aubergine Parmigiana, and frankly anything else involving slicing food – it’s so easy to use and totally effortless. Thanks to the non-slip base it’s very stable, and the clever curved notch allows it to fit onto the edge of a container, meaning you can grate directly into it.

With my aversion to sharp blades, I love that it comes with a Universal Hand Guard – so cleverly designed to protect fingers while slicing – it attaches conveniently to the handle so it doesn’t get misplaced. For added protection, you can also use the Microplane Cut-Resistant Glove (sold separately).

The Microplane V-Blade Slicer PureCut is dishwasher safe, but a quick wipe under a hot tap is all that’s needed. By rotating the wheel completely anticlockwise, the blade becomes completely flush with the base, preventing accidental injuries when stored in a drawer or with kids around.

Microplane Adjustable V-Blade Slicer PureCut RRP £49.95 is available from selfridges.com. This really is a must have – no discussion needed.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.