What Rachael Reads

Happy Mother's Day readers! I hope you have had a lovely day, however you have spent it. I have some books from my wishlist on order, thanks to a gift card from my lovely children. A quiet Sunday so far, catching up on some reading and looking forward to enjoying a nice Sunday roast at home later. Coming up on the blog this week I have two tours - Don't Answer The Phone by Miranda Rijks, and Nine Missing Girls by Steena Holmes. I'm looking forward to both of these as they are both new-to-me authors. I'll also have one or two other reviews of past reads, and hopefully an in-depth review of my Kobo Libra Colour that I have recently started using. Anyway, that's it from me for now. Thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave a comment below and tell us what your plans are or what you're currently reading. Until next time, Rachael. x

Book Details Title:  Taken From Her Family Author: C.J. Grayson Genre:  Crime Thriller Publisher:  Joffe Books Publication Date:  10th March 2026 Blurb It’s every parent’s worst nightmare . . . Tracy Marley is driving to collect her husband after hours from the gym, the children bickering in the backseat, when a text arrives: Why not come in, try and find me. You know the code for the front door. Hint: I’m in the office x It’s late. Tracy’s exhausted. But the kids are excited, and she gives in. She’s made a fatal mistake. Instead of finding her husband in the maze of dark, empty corridors, Tracy walks straight into three masked men stuffing cash into a black bin bag — and she won’t leave the building alive. A murdered mother. A missing daughter. A traumatised son. Detective April Fisher catches the case, and quickly realises time is her enemy. Because the thieves didn’t just kill Tracy before they fled with the money —  they abducted her ten-year-old daugh...

Every year I set myself the Goodreads Reading Challenge, but this winter I decided to go a step further and try to complete some of the extra seasonal challenges, too. It’s the perfect excuse to pick up books that have been sitting on my TBR for far too long, mix up the genres a little, and hopefully discover a few new favourites along the way. For my March Reads, I’ve chosen a mix of contemporary fiction, thrillers, and a couple of hugely popular titles that I've seen recommended for years. Here’s what I’ll be reading to help tick off those winter challenge prompts. Daisy Jones and The Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid Buy on Amazon | Buy on Kobo Blurb Set in the 1970s Los Angeles rock scene, this novel follows the meteoric rise of the fictional band Daisy Jones & The Six. Through a series of interviews, the band members recount their journey from obscurity to global fame—and the dramatic events that led to their sudden breakup at the height of their success. Told in an oral history ...

Matchmaker by S.E. Lynes My rating: 4 of 5 stars Matchmaker by S.E. Lynes is a psychological thriller, based in the north of England. Told through multiple POV’s, we meet Cat and Megan. Cat is a young woman with a troubled history, and she deliberately seeks out Megan to chase a link from her own past. Megan, a married mum of two, has an agenda of her own for Cat - a ploy to out her husband as a cheat. Little do they both know, not everyone is who they say they are. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A bit of a slow burner to start with, but really picks up the pace towards the end and leaves you wanting to keep turning the pages! A couple of clever twists and great character development. I’ve read a couple from this author now, and would definitely recommend. My rating: Genre: Psychological Thriller Publisher: Bookouture Publication date: 13th March 2026 Pages: 364 Buy on Amazon    View all my reviews

The Last Page Cafe by Kate Storey My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Last Page Cafe is a beautiful tale of friendship, community, and new beginnings. Erin McRae is a middle-aged business owner, who single-handedly raised her son, Jack, who has just returned from university. Erin inherited The Bookmark Cafe from her late mother, and makes ends meet by providing a welcoming space for locals to come and relax with a coffee and a book. She runs a small book club, and struggles with change, but when a letter arrives that puts the future of the cafe in jeopardy, Erin needs all the help she can get to save it. Beautifully written and heartwarming, I will definitely be picking up more from this author. My rating: Publication date: 12th March 2026 Page count: 349 Buy on Amazon | Buy on Kobo View all my reviews

Today it's my turn to host the tour for The Patients , written by Charlotte Stevenson . Published in the UK by Bloodhound Books on 9th March 2026, this psychological thriller will have you hooked! Blurb... They came seeking help. But not everyone can be saved.  When strangers Tess and Leah arrive at the private practice of renowned psychiatrist Dr Jenna O'Hara , both are desperate for support. But behind the calm of the consulting room, something far darker is taking shape. Leah, now in her forties, is haunted by a childhood trauma she's never escaped. Whereas Tess, a successful social media influencer , insists she's simply burned out.  But not everyone is as they seem, and the next session is more dangerous than any of them could have imagined.  Soon, Tess and Leah are caught in something they don't understand — a labyrinth of revenge where past wounds and hidden motives collide. Someone is lying. Someone is dangerous. And someone is about to p...