Me And Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter (Audiobook)

 

For New Yorker Emily, Mr. Darcy has been the man of her dreams since she first read Pride And Prejudice as a child. When she signs up for a Jane Austen tour, the last thing she expects is to bump into the man himself.

Having recently read and enjoyed So, I Met This Guy... by Alexandra Potter, the chance to listen to one of her earlier books seemed like an ideal opportunity to experience more of the author's work. In the introduction to Me And Mr Darcy, the author explains that the book was written twenty years ago and has now been updated to reflect today's society.

Emily is happy and successful in her job as the manager of an independent bookshop. She has plenty of friends; the only thing that she isn't happy about is her dating life. All the men she has met through online dating have been disappointing, which is hardly surprising when she compares them all to her ideal man, Mr. Darcy. When her friend suggests they join a group of women for an alcohol fuelled beach holiday over Christmas, Emily can't imagine anything worse. As an excuse, she books a last-minute Jane Austen tour in England.

When Emily arrives in England, she finds the rest of the tour party consists of elderly women and a journalist, Spike. Emily takes an immediate dislike to Spike, finding him rude and dismissive. It was pretty obvious from the outset where this was going to end. Along the way, as the tour party visits places featured in Jane Austen's novels, Emily keeps bumping into Mr. Darcy. 

Having finally met the man of her dreams, it is understandable that Emily compares Mr. Darcy's impeccable manners to those of the abrasive Spike. Mr. Darcy seems to offer everything that modern men don't. Darcy is obviously enamored of Emily; she's very different from all the young women who are constantly introduced to him as prospective marriage candidates. 

I enjoyed the fact that Emily was so sure of what she was looking for in a man, but her opinion of the two male characters metamorphosed the more time she spent with each of them. Yes, the storyline was entirely predictable, but sometimes that's exactly what you need in a feel-good book.

Author Details

Alexandra Potter is the bestselling author of numerous romantic comedy fiction novels in the UK, including One Good Thing and Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, one of the bestselling books of 2022 and 2023 and the basis of a major TV series. These titles have sold in twenty-eight territories and achieved worldwide sales of more than one million copies, making the bestseller charts across the world.

Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lived for several years in LA before settling in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she’s not writing or travelling, she’s getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life. 

How To Lose The Lottery by Jay McKenzie

 

Edie and Ron have won millions on the lottery, changing their lives forever. While Ron is embracing his new lifestyle, Edie is struggling to come to terms with the change in circumstances. Something in her past is holding her back from enjoying her newfound wealth.

In How To Lose The Lottery, author Jay McKenzie has combined three things that I love seeing in novels: a positive change in circumstances, older protagonists, and a north-east setting. When we first meet Edie and her family, the lottery win is behind them, and they are settled in their new home on an exclusive housing estate. Both husband Ron and son Colin are making the most of their newfound fortune. Edie, however, is still living as if nothing has changed in her life.

Wealth is not something Edie has ever dreamt about. As chapters alternate between the present and the past, we learn about Edie's troubled childhood, the struggles to make ends meet throughout her married life, and the love she has for her twin sons. 

Present-day Edie is lonely. Having relocated from her little terraced house, she has lost contact with the friends she had. Not being able to drive makes things even more problematic. But underneath everything is an overwhelming sadness; having raised twin sons, only one is ever mentioned and the reader is left wondering what happened.

As we follow Edie through all the stages of her life, we meet a host of engaging characters. We're also embroiled in a couple of mysteries. Firstly, what happened to her other son? Secondly, why is husband Ron acting so secretively? My heart constantly went out to Edie; her life had been a difficult one, I desperately wanted her to find some happiness. The book just goes to show that while money can buy nice things, it can't bring about contentment.

How To Lose The Lottery by Jay McKenzie will be published on 26th March 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperFiction for a review copy.

Author Details

Jay McKenzie grew up in the North East surrounded by storytellers and Catherine Cookson novels, before attending Bretton Hall College of the Arts in the beautiful Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Since graduating ( a long time ago! Her degree is old enough to have a degree!) she has worked as a holiday rep, a performing arts teacher, a life model and a street theatre performer in Greece, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

Her short stories and flash fiction appear  in adda, Bath Flash, Maudlin House, Fictive Dream, The Hooghly Review, Fahmidan Journal, Roi Faineant and others. She has won prizes such as the Exeter Story Prize, the Fish Short Story Prize, The Danahy Prize for Fiction, Quiet Man Dave and others, and shortlisted for the Edinburgh Story Award, Exeter Novel Prize, The Alpine Fellowship, Oxford Flash Fiction Prize, Bath Short Story Award, Bridport Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

She has a penchant for knitwear and lives with her husband, daughter and too many cardigans. She has a dog called Duck.

#CoverReveal The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous

 

Today, I'm delighted to be taking part in the cover reveal for The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous. Reading the synopsis below, this sounds like such a fun read. 

Synopsis

They're off for the time of their lives. But are you? 

Book #1 in The Empty Nesters Series.

Single parent Heather isn't neurotic (honest!) - she's simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university - so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice on a parents' forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad whose "helpful" statistics and assertions about “helicopter parenting” leave her fuming. 

Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren’t just roommates – they are self-declared "besties for life". Suddenly, Heather and Scott are thrown into a begrudging alliance. 

As they navigate the new status quo, Heather's instinct to organise meets Scott's philosophy of letting go. Their practical text messages about mattress toppers and emergency supplies evolve into conversations about dream jobs and bucket list aspirations. Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing them together, meaning Heather and Scott find it increasingly difficult to ignore each other... 

Publication Date: 10^th July 2026

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.eu/d/0dbgIz37

Author Details

Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10.  

Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving women navigating the messiness of life. She has worked as a Research Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.  

As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and provides listening services for a mental health charity aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide.  

In her free time Ko loves to run, meditate and travel; preferably all on the same day.   

Ko has been married for 25 years, has 2 children of her own and is now navigating her own empty nest.  

The Freshman Parents is Ko’s debut novel and is the first in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series. 

No Safe Place by Hannah Brennan

 

The first page of a medical paper left close to the body of a victim of a brutal stabbing has the police trying to identify the five anonymous patients mentioned in the study. Is one of them responsible, or could they be potential targets?

I have a copy of the audiobook Nothing Left Behind to listen to. When I discovered this is the second book in the Detective Liz Field series by Hannah Brennan, I decided to read the first book, No Safe Place, to familiarise myself with the characters.

We are straight into the action as the book opens with the brutal stabbing of psychologist David Moore. DCI Liz Field and her partner, DS Riley, are close by when the emergency call is received. Close to the body is the first page of an article about the treatment of severe OCD in teenagers. One of the people who witnessed the aftermath of the stabbing is Callum, who lives with his ex-girlfriend, Lily. What the police don't realise immediately is that both Callum and Lily were part of the study. This gives the reader a slight advantage over the police.

Through alternating chapters, we follow DCI Field, Callum and Lily in the aftermath of the crime. All of the characters are written sympathetically. For Liz Field, the case hits close to home as her own son struggled with mental health issues as a teenager, and she still worries about him even though he's now an adult. Callum and Lily met during their stay in the psychiatric hospital where they were treated by David Moore. Their relationship ended a year ago, but Lily has struggled to move out as she feels responsible for Callum, particularly given his ongoing mental health issues.

Callum is the most interesting character, the one I felt most sympathetic towards. For the past two years, Callum hasn't left the house; this plays a major part in the storyline. The point at which he is unable to ring the emergency services because of his OCD is gut-wrenching. 

I love a thriller that keeps me engaged, that has me puzzling over who the villain is, that offers unforeseen twists. No Safe Place offers all of these, and at the same time educates. I had a vague idea of what OCD is; repeatedly checking the door is locked, handwashing, and turning switches on and off a specific number of times. This novel put the illness in a whole new light for me, not only giving me a greater understanding of the different ways in which OCD manifests itself, but also in the ways in which lives are disrupted by it.

I'm now looking forward to the second book in the series and seeing how DCI Field's character develops.

Author Details

Hannah Brennan lives in South East London, where she was born and raised.

She studied English Literature at Durham University – alongside British Sign Language, which she uses in her role as a trustee for the Royal Association for Deaf People. After returning from the North East, Hannah has turned her love of pubs into a career, working in marketing and technology for many fantastic British hospitality brands.

Hannah is a fanatic book-collector, with a passion for crime fiction and television. She is also one of the organisers of Greenwich Writers, a South-East London writing group.

Hannah developed OCD as a teenager, and hopes that her debut novel, No Safe Place, may give readers a fresh insight into a frequently misunderstood and misrepresented condition.

It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

 

Convinced her partner is cheating on her, Nadeeka rushes home from work, hoping to catch him in the act. However, when she gets home, the police are waiting for her and her partner is dead.

It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh is absolutely gripping. The riveting opening puts you straight into the action as you join Nadeeka rushing home, hoping to catch her partner, Jamie, with another woman. Although she's desperately hoping she's wrong, as Jamie is her first serious relationship since her ex-husband cheated on her and he'd promised he would never do the same.

You really feel sympathetic towards Nadeeka. After the end of her marriage, she was extremely reluctant to let anyone else into her life, but Jamie seemed perfect; to then have him cheat on her is gut-wrenching. The emotional punches continue when Nadeeka learns that Jamie is dead. Over the coming days, Nadeeka is unable to accept what has happened, and in her search for answers, she discovers some disturbing facts. Doubts and questions begin to swirl around her mind, robbing her of the happy memories she had.

There are lots of twists, and they start early in the narrative; the first one in particular floored me. Using different POVs allows us to see the investigation from different viewpoints, each one adding to the twisty plot. The pacing works brilliantly. After the frantic opening, the tempo slows to reflect the different perspectives and the rate at which an investigation happens, to then increase again at breakneck speed towards the shocking conclusion.

It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh will be published on 26th March 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a review copy.

Author Details

With over three million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016. She has since written seven more bestselling novels. Together, her books have been translated into 40 languages and spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists.

Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies.

February 2026 Reads

 

What a dismal month February was! The running joke that January seems to be never-ending seems to have continued as February seems to have merged with January. On the positive side, all this poor weather has meant no excuse has been needed to stay indoors and read.

My month began with The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead for my book group. I was apprehensive about reading this, but once I got going, I really enjoyed this tale of a young woman and her escape from slavery. Brutal and horrific at times, but lots of parallels with what is happening in the world today.

The Weekend is the latest thriller from T. M. Logan. The author always guarantees plenty of suspense, and his latest offering is no different. A group of friends finds a large amount of money. Deciding to keep the money, they find themselves in serious trouble when the people the money belongs to decide they want it back. Moral dilemmas, secrets and twists keep the pace moving.

The Truth About Ruby Cooper from Liz Nugent is sure to cause lots of discussion. The lead character, Ruby, is so divisive. Following an incident with her older sister’s boyfriend, she leaves America and settles in Ireland. Over the next twenty-five years, her past choices and her current actions are not only self-destructive but also cause damage to those around her. Just when you think she’s turned a corner and you begin to have some sympathy for her, Ruby reverts to type and shows her true nature.

How To Get Away With Murder is the debut novel from Rebecca Philipson and is superb. There are two interlinked stories: the murder of a teenage girl and a “How To” book by a self-confessed serial killer. As DI Sam Hansen tries to track down Denver Brady, the book’s author, the rest of the country is convinced he was responsible for the girl’s murder. Sam has her doubts, but she seems to be the only person who does. There’s plenty of humour, twists, and that unsettling feeling that you’re being manipulated as you read.

I always love catching up with the Max Craigie series by Neil Lancaster, and The Dark Heart, book 7 in the series, is just as good as the previous ones. Max has to go undercover to gather information from an organised crime gang with far-right views who are intent on destabilising the country. There were times when I really did fear for Max.

The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-jeong was a complete change of pace for me. A story of coping with grief and the all-encompassing power of love, set in a magical bookshop that allows you to travel back to earlier times in your life.

Light relief this month was provided by The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine. I actually combined reading this along with listening to the audiobook. Paula wins big on the lottery at the same time her husband dies in an accident abroad. Struggling to come to terms with the momentous changes in her life, she’s befriended by two other lottery winners who also happen to have been widowed shortly after their big wins. This was great fun, although it does have a serious element, filled with brilliant characters.

The month was rounded off with my book group read, The Late Greats by Nick Quantrill. Private investigator Joe Geraghty is employed to look after members of a Hull band that is reforming years after an acrimonious split. When the frontman disappears, Joe goes looking and finds lots of unpleasantness.

My first audiobook of the month was A Neighbour’s Guide To Murder by Louise Candlish. This was a deliciously wicked story. Elderly Gwen lives in an affluent mansion block and takes an interest in her neighbour’s new flatmate, Pixie. When she learns about the “arrangement” between Pixie and her landlord, she’s shocked. I loved the way the story developed. I was never quite sure about what was true and what was manipulation.

Murder In A Cornish Teashop by Fliss Chester was my second audiobook of the month. This is a cosy crime novel set in a small community in Cornwall. Maddie Penrose is helping her grandmother run the teashop attached to her farm when she becomes involved in the death of a tourist. The more Maddie investigates, the longer the list of crimes and suspects becomes. Engaging characters and a twisty plot keep you listening.

Publication dates to look for:-

Murder In a Cornish Teashop by Fliss Chester will be published on 11/3/26 in ebook and audio format.

The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent will be published on 12/3/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

How To Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson will be published on 12/3/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Dark Heart by Neil Lancaster will be published 12/3/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-jeong will be published 12/3/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine will be published 26/3/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine (Read/Listen)

 

Fate seems to be playing tricks on Paula. At the same time, she learns that her husband has died in a terrible accident abroad, she also discovers that she's won millions on the lottery. Both events leave Paula feeling numb; luckily, some like-minded people are there to help her come to terms with the events.

Somehow, I managed to get access to the ebook and the audiobook of  The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine. While I'm a huge fan of both formats, I always have different books on the go. Having access to two versions of the same book gave me the opportunity to experiment with how I read/listened to the book. I'll review the book first. If you want to know the outcome of my little experiment, please check the end of the post.

Review

I thoroughly enjoyed this comedy crime caper; it is pure escapism. Paula is overwhelmed by the two pieces of news she receives; things are made doubly difficult as her husband, John, is the one who made all the decisions. Thankfully, another lottery winner, Teddy, seeks her out and takes her under her wing. Through the glamorous Teddy, she is also introduced to another lottery winner, Audrey, and both admit to killing their abusive husbands after winning big. They are both convinced that Paula is responsible for John's death.

The longer Paula is with Teddy and Audrey, the more she comes out of her shell. It was lovely to see the personal growth Paula goes through, although there are still lots of times when she hesitates over making decisions. She's particularly reluctant to stand up to her grown-up children. 

Taking a fourth lottery-winning female under their wing, the group decides that they are going to put their particular skills to use and free women from abusive relationships by murdering the men responsible. This leads to some hilarious situations. I found myself giggling at times over the antics of the trio. Brilliant narration by Virginia Grainger really helps you to differentiate between the characters.

There is a serious side to the story, with some alarming statistics shared with the reader. Unfortunately, the group of women proves to be poor at murder, but they are still able to ensure that fate comes calling for some of the despicable men in the story.

The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine will be published on the 26th March 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

Experiment

Having access to both the ebook and the audiobook, I decided to try three things

1. Reading the ebook

2. Listening to the audiobook

3. Reading along to the audiobook

I thoroughly enjoyed jumping between the ebook and the audiobook. I tend to listen to audiobooks in the morning while doing housework or a jigsaw puzzle. Reading is for afternoons and evenings. By alternating between the two formats, the pace of the story never let up. I did find that I had to increase the speed of the audiobook though, the default speed was too slow. I normally listen at x1.25 speed.

Reading along to the audiobook was less successful. I had to increase the speed to x1.5, and even then, I had to slow my reading speed a little to match the audio. I felt that by trying to match my reading speed to the narration, I wasn't fully taking in either format. While I think this is an ideal way to encourage struggling readers, it's not for me.

Alternating between reading and listening is definitely something I'll do in the future. I loved the fact that I didn't have to stop reading because my hands were busy.

Author Details

Elly Vine is the pseudonym of bestselling author, Lucy Vine. Lucy Vine is the author of novels Hot Mess, What Fresh Hell, Are We Nearly There Yet?, Bad Choices, Seven Exes, Date with Destiny and Book Boyfriend. Her eighth novel is Good For You. Her books have been published in seventeen territories, with Hot Mess optioned for a TV series in America. In a previous life, Lucy was a journalist, writing for publications including Grazia, Stylist, Heat, Fabulous, Marie Claire, Sugar and Cosmopolitan.