Welcome to another friendly edition of My Favourite Reads.

Ooh, I read some cracking books in July. Without further ado, let’s see what they are.

My favourite was…

Return to Roseglen by Helene Young

With Return to Roseglen, Helene Young has moved away from the romantic suspense she’s renowned for and stepped seamlessly into women’s fiction. Now, women’s fic isn’t normally my thing. I enjoyed it when I was younger but not so much these days. I expected Return to Roseglen to be good – it’s a Helene Young book, after all – but it turned out more than good. It was fabulous!

There was so much I loved – the excellent writing, the vivid setting – but mostly I adored the characters (Ivy was brilliant, as was Georgina) and their all too believable family dramas. And there are plenty of those to be had in Return to Roseglen. Some of the elder abuse scenes had me seething. Our vulnerable elders should be protected not exploited, yet there are those in society who think nothing of taking advantage, and usually for no other reason than greed. The bastards. I’m glad Helene tackled such an important topic. It needs more airing.

Do yourself a favour and grab a copy of Return to Roseglen. Yes, I’m friends with Helene but I honestly loved this story and I think you will too.

Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine

Book 4 in the Great Library series and probably the best book since the first, which is saying something because every book has been fantastic.

Jess and the gang are in serious strife this time. It seems impossible that they won’t all be dead by the end, but our heroes and heroines are people of courage, brains and multiple talents. They’re book lovers. We expect no less!

Apparently, this is meant to be a 5 book series. If that’s true, then the next will be the final. I don’t even want to think about that. It’s too horrible. This series is the best.

Holly’s Heart by Fiona McArthur

Holly’s Heart is book 4 in the Outback Brides series, which includes my own Elsa’s Stand.

This is such a sweet story. There’s nothing like the pain of unrequited love, and our hero Ben suffered badly in his youth when he fell for Holly. Now life has brought him back to Wirralong, grown up, a doctor with a newly established surgery, and looking to settle down to country life. Who should he find in town also? Yup, his Holly. And the attraction hasn’t faded a scrap.

A gentle and emotional second-chance romance.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

A magical historical fantasy set in northern Russia, where winters are harsh, long and dangerous, and the locals hold on to their superstitions. Or they did until an ambitious and charismatic priest arrives and determines to change their ways.

The heroine of the story is Vasilisa and she’s a beauty. Wild, tough, stubborn and brave, she defies the priest and her step-mother, who want her married off and her strange talents out of sight. The villagers begin to think her a witch but this stubborn girl might be the only one who can save them.

I didn’t realise this is going to be a trilogy. Book two, The Girl in the Tower released recently and now I’m torn over whether to gobble that down straight away or wait until closer to the third book’s release. Decisions, decisions!

Inherited for the Royal Bed by Annie West

What a premise! Sayid has only been sheikh a short while when he returns, exhausted, to his rooms to find he’s inherited not just a war-weary country but the former ruler’s young concubine.

Being a man of decency and honour and liking Lina’s fight, Sayid makes Lina his ward and sends the tempting girl away to receive the education she’d always dreamed of. Four years later, Lina returns and this time she’s all woman – smart, cultured and even more irresistible.

This was fun and emotional, and I loved it. As for the ending… wowsers!

What reads have you enjoyed lately?