Janet Gordon is married, retired, obsessed with her Westlake Terrier, Rollo – and books are her passion. She reads multiple books a week across all genres and reviews them for Rest Less.
This month’s round-up features Ship of Dreams, Making the Cut, Watching You, The Lowlife, Identity Crisis, The Hideaway, and Little Secrets.
Note: Prices can often change, so you may notice some variations on the providers’ websites. Prices and availability are accurate as of the 2nd of October, 2025.
Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward (Kindle £0.99, Amazon £9.19, HarperCollins £9.99)
In this truly heartwarming tale, Louisa (Lou) and Hannah (Han) have been best friends forever, and they decide to set sail on the Titanic bound for New York. Unbeknownst to Han, Lou has invited a would-be flame to join her, and he’s bought himself a single, but still luxurious, inside cabin.
Han has been married for a couple of years to wealthy landowner Charles. However, as their first baby was stillborn, the two are barely able to communicate their grief to one another. And, what’s more, Hannah hasn’t told Charles that she’s pregnant again.
Lou is a determined Women’s Rights activist and the daughter of a baronet. For her, this is a runaway trip to prevent her father from marrying her off to a completely unknown but obviously horrible man. And, if she doesn’t marry him, she’ll be cut off without a penny.
Ship of Dreams features wonderful descriptions of the Titanic, its opulence, its food, and the public figures the two met on board. I absolutely loved this gentle, romantic read.
Win!
Courtesy of One More Chapter, one lucky reader can win a copy of Ship of Dreams by answering this question…
What year did the Titanic sink?
a) 1914
b) 1912
c) 1916
Terms and conditions
The giveaway will close at 11.59pm on 12th October 2025, and the winner will be chosen at random in a prize draw on 13th October 2025. The winner will be connected by Janet via email for the fulfilment of their prize.
Watching You by Helen Fields (Kindle £4.99, Amazon £5.48, HarperCollins £9.99)
I had intended to save the new Helen Fields to take on holiday, but I had a peek beforehand, then, of course, I couldn’t put it down!
Forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine and Detective Sergeant Lively have appeared in some of Helen Fields’ previous novels. Now the twosome is back in the harness again.
A homeless man’s body has been found. However, he was still alive when he was brought into the hospital to be treated by surgeon Beth Waterfall. Sadly, she was unable to save him, so talking it through over a coffee afterwards, she and Lively began falling for one another, even if they hadn’t realised it yet.
Then, more bodies were found. Profiler Connie was brought in along with her sidekick Brodie, and their strictly unorthodox methods were brought into play. Connie and Lively are convinced there’s a serial killer on the loose, but others aren’t so sure. The unlikely team have to start thinking even faster as Beth is set to be the next victim.
Oh my goodness, this is a heart-stopping read – yet another showstopper for bestselling author Helen Fields.
The Lowlife by Alexander Baron (Kindle £6.78, Amazon £10.89, Faber £8.99)
The Lowlife, now reprinted by Faber, was first published in 1963, and the author, Alexander Baron, lived in London’s East End, around the corner from my dad.
In short, this book details the life of Harry Boas, a gambler in Hackney, whose life starts to unravel when a new family moves into the apartment below him. This is a cult classic, telling the whole story of Harry’s descent into the murky gangster world of post-war London’s East End – one I remember vividly. What a snapshot of life as it was then.
This is certainly one of my “Desert Island” books.
Making the Cut by Sophie Wiggins (Kindle £4.99, Amazon £9.19, The Book Guild £9.99)
It started so nicely for Lydia. She takes her two-year-old daughter, Annie, to a toddler ballet class, after which her daughter comes out with a beaming smile, pointing her toes and embracing her new hobby. But soon comes the question, “Could I go every week, please, Mum?”
Wanting the best for her daughter, Lydia gave in and began spending all her wages – and a secret credit card – to keep up with the financial demands of all those new leotards, ballet shoes, and trips out.
Annie turns out to be a very talented dancer, but the pressure takes its toll, classmates get jealous, and Lydia’s credit card debt continues to climb. Eventually, the pair begin to wonder whether it’s all worth it.
This is such a poignant story, and one that really struck a chord with me. When my sister and I were around six, we were enrolled at a famous stage school in North London. Luckily, I left after a term or two – but my younger sister Nadine turned out to be a natural dancer, and my parents went through all the new leotards and extra dance classes that ballet dancing training entails.
What Annie and Lydia go through is horrific. This is such a salutary tale and a definite must-read.
Win!
Courtesy of The Book Guild, another lucky reader can win a copy of Making The Cut by answering this question…
Who composed ‘Swan Lake’?
d) Barry Manilow
e) Mozart
f) Tchaikovsky
Terms and conditions
The giveaway will close at 11.59pm on 12th October 2025, and the winner will be chosen at random in a prize draw on 13th October 2025. The winner will be connected by Janet via email for the fulfilment of their prize.
The Hideaway by Nikki Allen (Kindle £0.99, Amazon £9.19)
Readers will know how much I love a chiller thriller destination read – and here we have Nikki Allen’s debut novel set in the Costa Rican rainforest.
Five strangers in need of a digital detox have been lucky enough to test drive their favourite spiritual influencer’s new wellness retreat deep in the heart of the rainforest. Upon arrival, the fivesome are somewhat dismayed to discover that influencer Hannah has made a quick trip into the nearest village. A sudden storm then means she can’t make it back, and the guests are left to fend for themselves.
After a comfortable night, the five grab snacks and water and set out to follow the marked trail through the rain forest to a stunning waterfall. But it wouldn’t be a thriller if disaster didn’t occur, so, with panic mounting and supplies dwindling, the five begin to doubt their survival.
A terrific debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to more destination chiller thrillers from the talented Nikki Allen.
For more reading inspiration, head over to our books, literature, and writing section. Or, for further book and literature discussions, you might be interested in joining the thriving book club over on Rest Less Events.
Have you read any of these books? Or have you added any of them to your reading list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.