Love And Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

The Blurb On The Back:

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, fulfilling her mother’s dying wish that she should get to know her father. With the help of her mother’s journal, Lina uncovers a magical world of secret romance, art and hidden bakeries. People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Jenna Evans Welch’s debut YA romance is a sweet and snappy read with good pacing, some smart one-liners and an interesting main character, which helps to overcome a contrived plot, a mandatory YA love triangle that is only ever going to go one way and an abrupt ending that involves Lina effectively dropping her best friend without any explanation.

Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Midnight Peacock by Katherine Woodfine

The Blurb On The Back:

You are cordially invited to Sinclair’s Midnight Peacock Ball!

The festive season has come to Sinclair’s and Sophie and Lil are spending the holidays at snowy Winter Hall. As sinister secrets come to light, our intrepid heroines find themselves faced with a more baffling mystery than ever before!

With the help of their friends, can they uncover the truth in time to foil a truly diabolical plot? Or will Mr Sinclair’s Midnight Peacock Ball spell disaster on New Year’s Eve for the dauntless young detectives?

Prepare for the thrilling conclusion to the Sinclair’s Mysteries!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The concluding novel in Katherine Woodfine’s mystery series for children aged 9+ is a tightly plotted, enjoyable read that wraps up all of the relevant series arc storylines without descending into mawkish sentimentality, gives a good sense of period and leaves open the possibility of a prequel series (which I’d definitely read).

THE MIDNIGHT PEACOCK was released in the United Kingdom on 5th October 2017. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.