Blog Tour Review: Snowflakes Over Moondance Cottage by Rosie Green

Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage

Pages: 240

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

When Jess Thornton’s dad was lost at sea, the family coped in different ways, alone in their grief. Now, her mum seems to be going off the rails and her sister, Isla, who moved to France, is now back and determined to get their old family home on the market. But the last thing Jess wants this Christmas is for renovations to start on the house. It’s sure to stir up all sorts of memories she’s desperate to avoid. And to make things worse, Isla appears to have hired the most obnoxious builder in the world to do the work. Jess could ignore the fact that women seem to be putty in his hands. But what she finds harder to ignore is the frisson she gets every time she squeezes past him in the mess that is now their beloved old home! Can the family finally start talking and find a way to move on from the past this Christmas?

Review

I’ve not previously read any of Rosie Green’s novella’s and after reading Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage I’m thinking that is something which needs rectifying immediately because I absolutely loved this book and its exactly what I want to read at this time of year…or anytime actually.

Jess Rigby has not been a fan of Christmas since she lost her dad a few years ago and this year its made extra hard when sister Isla returns from France and drops the bombshell that she wants to sell their family home Moondance Cottage.  As builder Seb starts renovations on the house a whole host of feelings are stirred up in Jess as she struggles to cope with her emotions. The lives of Jess, Isla and their Mother all seem to be on a collision course as they deal with their grief, but can a little Christmas magic pull this family back together.

Jess, Isla and the rest of the cast of characters are easy to like to as they all seem to be dealing with their own everyday struggles which makes them so relatable.

This is a novel which has it all romance, heartbreak, moments of humour and an ending which will take your breath away. It’s a wonderful festive read with plenty of drama to keep you entertained and one which I highly recommend as I loved every single page.

Thank you so much to the author and publishers for sending me copy to review and to Rachel’s random Resources for inviting me to be part of this blog tour. 

About the Author

Rosie has been scribbling stories ever since she was little.

Back then, they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by 'the baddies'.

Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all - unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie's brand new series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. The latest, 'Bonfires & Hot Chocolate at the Little Duck Pond Cafe', is out now.

Watch out for 'A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe', which will be published Christmas 2019.

Rosie is also writing a full-length, standalone book for Christmas 2019, entitled 'Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage'.

Follow Rosie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snowflakes-over-Moondance-Cottage-sparkling-ebook/dp/B07XGDZ4Z2

US - https://www.amazon.com/Snowflakes-over-Moondance-Cottage-sparkling-ebook/dp/B07XGDZ4Z2

Callie's Christmas Wish by Jessica Redland

Callie's Christmas Wish by Jessica Redland

Published: 25th October 2018

Publisher: Little Bear Books

Pages: 210

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

Christmas is approaching and love is in the air at Bay View Care Home. Supervising carer, Callie Derbyshire, is blissfully happy with new boyfriend, Rhys. The tree’s up, the lights are twinkling, and, with the Christmas Eve wedding of one of the residents, Iris, to look forward to, everything is perfect.

Well, almost.

Rhys’s ex has him at her beck and call, yet refuses to let Callie meet their baby daughter. Callie’s ex is intent on stirring up trouble. And Callie’s favourite resident, Rhys’s nanna, Ruby, hasn’t been her usual self since Iris announced her engagement.

Convinced that Ruby’s lonely, especially after discovering the truth about her lost love, Callie’s determined to give Ruby’s romantic story the happy ending it deserves. Ruby might be adamant that the past should be left in the past. But, when it comes to true love, surely a little well-meaning meddling and a Christmas wish or two can’t do any harm. After all, it’s never to late to let love in again. Or is it?

A heart-warming Christmas story of finding new love, and the courage to revisit a love that was lost long ago.

Review

Callie’s Christmas Wish is the first book by Jessica Redland that I’ve read and I loved every page of it, if your looking for a heart-warming romantic tale with a little Christmas cheer then this is the book for you. It follows on from Jessica Redland’s novella Raving About Rhys but I think you’ll still love this book just as I have if you haven’t read it.

Callie Derbyshire is all set to have a magical first Christmas with her new boyfriend Rhys, there’s just one or two problems which might get in the way first. The major one threatening to spoil Callie’s Christmas is Rhys’s ex-girlfriend Tiffany who’s determined to keep Rhys at her beck and call helping her with baby Meagan, who she insists Callie cannot meet. Callie’s own ex-boyfriends Tony is also out to cause trouble; but Callie’s biggest problem is how lonely Ruby seems. Ruby is Rhys’s grandma and she lives in the Bay View Home where Callie works, with her best friend Iris planning to marry Ruby’s looking at a future alone and warm-hearted Callie wants nothing more for Christmas than to see Ruby happy.

Callie is such a warm-hearted and loving character and all she wants is for everyone around her to be happy, so she decides to take matters into her own hands and do a little festive match-making. I warmed to Callie instantly as she’s just lovely, she sees the best in everyone and longs for everyone to get along happily. She’s even nice to those people who have wronged her in the past such as old friend Maria, but sometimes even the nicest people snap and when Callie does its quite brutal but made for gripping reading.

Ruby was one of my favourite characters, she was such a lovely old lady and despite there being a sadness about her it was obvious that she adored Rhys and was very proud of him. I longed for her to get her happy ever after, like her friend Iris as she seemed a lady who hadn’t had much love in her life.

This book is full of drama and twists which made it such an enjoyable read for me, I loved the mystery of Ruby’s past and wondering how everything would come together after it turns into a big mess for Callie.

This is one of those stories which I could have just read forever as I just adored the characters and the storyline. I’m really glad Jessica Redland has another book out this Christmas as I’m eager for more of her wonderful story-telling.

Thank you so much to the publishers and Jessica Redland for sending me a copy to review honestly and to Rachel’s Random Resources for organising the blog tour.

About the Author

Jessica had never considered writing as a career until a former manager kept telling her that her business reports read more like stories and she should write a book. She loved writing but had no plot ideas. Then something happened to her that prompted the premise for her debut novel, Searching for Steven. She put fingers to keyboard and soon realised she had a trilogy and a novella.

She lives on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast — the inspiration for the settings in her books — with her husband, daughter, cat, Sprocker Spaniel, and an ever-growing collection of collectible teddy bears. Although if the dog has her way, the collection will be reduced to a pile of stuffing and chewed limbs!

Her passion for North Yorkshire is shared by fellow-writer and great friend, Sharon Booth and, together, they are the Yorkshire Rose Writers.

Jessica tries to balance her time — often unsuccessfully — between being an HR tutor, trying to re-learn how to play the piano, studying towards a Masters in Creative Writing, and writing itself. Who needs sleep?

Social Media Links –

Twitter:                               @JessicaRedland

Facebook:                          https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/

Website and blog:           www.jessicaredland.com

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JFQZN79

Blog Tour Review: A Little Christmas Charm by Kathryn Freeman

A Little Christmas Charm by Kathryn Freeman

Published: 16th October 2018

Publisher: Choc Lit UK

Pages: 267

Available on Kindle

Order now on Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Blurb

Would you swap sea and sunshine for tinsel and turkey?
Gabby Sanderson is used to being let down – even at Christmas. Which is why she’s happy to skip the festive season completely in favour of a plane ticket and sunnier climes.

But this Christmas could be different, because this time she might not be spending it alone. Can Owen Cooper charm Gabby into loving Christmas in the same way he’s charmed his way into her life, or is he just another person who’ll end up disappointing her?

Review

Gabby Sanderson has been used to spending Christmas alone, preferring to jet off somewhere exotic rather than drown herself in tinsel and turkey. So when she starts an office romance with Sales Director Owen Cooper it looks like Gabby is about to share her Christmas holiday with someone else. As the big day approaches more and more obstacles appear preventing Own from joining Gabby on the beach. But has he charmed her enough for her to consider spending Christmas with him, his elderly father and his wannabe daughter Zoe and have the full on Christmas experience or will she board that plane alone again.

This is the second book I’ve read by Kathryn Freeman and it was a joy to be back immersed in one of her stories. Gabby and Owen’s romance is full of chemistry despite Gabby’s reluctance to completely open herself up to her feelings. This additional storylines in this book gave it much greater depth than just a romance. These characters all felt very real to me and I love how Kathryn Freeman has portrayed the vulnerabilities of both Gabby and Owen perfectly.  Their concerns about elderly parents and trying not to disappoint young Zoe, while finding time for their own fun are issues facing most of us at Christmas time and it was good to read about the realistic solutions they came up with.

I loved the addition of young Zoe who really added to the Christmas feel of this book and her interactions with Owen’s father were lovely to read about. Introducing Faith for A Little Christmas Faith was a great idea too as I now have this book on my Christmas reading wish-list.

This is a lovely Christmas romance which had me completely absorbed from the start with lovely characters and plenty of fun moments making it the perfect read for this time of year.

Thank you so much to Choc Lit for sending me a copy to review and Rachel’s Random Resources for organising this blog tour.

About the Author

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.

With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links –

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Christmas-Charm-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B07GNL7VN8

Giveaway

Win a paperback copy of A Little Christmas Faith by Kathryn Freeman (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Blog Tour Review: No-One Cancels Christmas by Zara Stoneley

No One Cancels Christmas by Zara Stoneley

Published: 19th October 2018

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages: 269

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

It’s the most magical time of the year, and for travel agent Sarah it’s also the busiest! But this year one man threatens to ruin Christmas for Sarah’s customers – Mr Grinch, Will Armstrong.

The Shooting Star Mountain resort is a magical place, and Sarah has fond memories of Christmas here as a little girl – visits to Father Christmas, husky rides in the snow and hot chocolate by a roaring fire. But as the resorts new owner, Will refuses to play snowball or to deck the halls with anything remotely resembling tinsel!

With customers complaining their Christmas is ruined, Sarah decides it’s up to her to convince Scroogey Will just how magical Christmas can be….

But getting Will into the Christmas spirit is hopeless – he is Bah Humbug personified! But as Sarah gets to know him better, she realises that underneath all the gloom is a man struggling with a pain of his own.

With the big day approaching, Sarah realises that the magic and sparkle can wait. This year, she’s going to spend Christmas day with someone special her very own Mr Scrooge…

Review

I’m a massive Zara Stoneley fan as her books are hugely entertaining, her latest on No One Cancels Christmas also has the bonus of being full of festive antics as its set in the magical Christmas resort of The Shooting Star Mountain Resort. A place which is full of snow, sleigh rides, huskies and hot chocolate.

Sarah has been running her aunt’s travel agents for a while so when the Shooting Star Mountain Resort starts getting a bad reputation Sarah knows she must step in before it starts to affect her business. After a few heated emails with the resort owner Will Sarah decides its time to head to Canada and sort the problems out herself.

The Shooting Star Resort isn’t just a holiday destination, it’s the last place Sarah was truly happy when she had both her parents around her and was surrounded by love and joy, fifteen years later its time to go back and face what happened there.

Sarah’s enthusiasm for Christmas soon works its magic on the resort and its owners brother Ed and Will. Ed the younger brother tries his best to dodge any work tasks Sarah sets him by flirting his way out, while scrooge like Will tries his best to avoid any fun by hiding away in with husky Rosie. Sarah’s sparkling personality has a way of finding the real Will hidden underneath all the grumpiness.

One of my favourite parts of the book was the interaction between Sarah and young Poppy, who initially seemed like a child nightmare in Sarah’s eyes but actually turned out to be a lovely kid.

This is a book full of hilarious scenes which Zara Stoneley seems to write perfectly, my favourites include scenes with snowmobiles, Christmas trees and gladioli stems.

It was also lovely to catch up with Sam and Jake who are featured in Zara’s previous novel The Wedding Date. Not to mention Sam’s mother the over jealous Ruth, who is sure to bring a smile to your face.

No One Cancels Christmas is a lovely festive novel full of fun, family secrets and a sprinkle of romance. It’s a novel I enjoyed very much, and I can’t wait to read Zara Stoneley’s next novel.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for the copy to review and to Rachel’s Random Resources for organising the blog tour.

About the Author

Born in a small village in Staffordshire, I wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when I grew up. After many years, and many different jobs, my dream of writing a bestseller came true.

I write about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hope that my tales make you cry a little, laugh a lot, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

I now live in a Cheshire village with my family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Where you can find her-

Website: http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter: @ZaraStoneley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarastoneley/

Purchase Link

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-One-Cancels-Christmas-romantic-ebook/dp/B07CWTVJGD

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/no-one-cancels-christmas-romantic-ebook/dp/B07CWTVJGD

Blog Tour Review: Love at the Northern Lights by Darcie Boleyn

Love at the Northern Lights by Darcie Boleyn

Published: 17th September 2018

Publisher: Canelo

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

‘Climbing out the window in her dress and tiara wasn’t exactly how Frankie imagined her wedding day…’

Runaway bride Frankie Ashford hops a plane to Norway with one goal in mind - find her estranged mother and make peace with the past. But when a slip on the ice in Oslo lands her directly in Jonas Thorsen’s viking-strong arms, her single-minded focus drifts away in the winter winds.

When it comes to romance Jonas knows that anything he and Frankie share has an expiration date - the British heiress has a life to return to in London that’s a world away from his own. But family is everything to Jonas and, as the one man who can help Frankie find the answers she’s seeking, he’ll do whatever it takes to help her reunite with her mother.

Now, as Christmas draws closer and the northern lights work their magic Frankie and Jonas will have to make a choice...play it safe or risk heartbreak to take a chance on love.

Review

Love at the Northern Lights is the first book I’ve read by Darcie Boleyn. I’ve always thought her books sound lovely but have never managed to pick them up, the cover of her latest one had me intrigued as its so beautiful and just seemed the perfect book to start my Christmas reading for 2018. It turned out to be the perfect book for this time too as it’s a story which for me oozed love and cosiness throughout.

I loved the way this book starts with Frankie running away from her wedding to stuffy sounding Rolo Bellamy. Frankie’s been surrounded by money her whole life and marrying Rolo would have meant wealth and security for the rest of her days but what Frankie is really craving is love. So when she rips her four thousand pound dress on her escape route and finds her would-be husband hiding in the bushes with possibly another woman she’s not bothered, on a whim she decided its time to find her mother and ask her why she left Frankie as a baby all those year ago.

Frankie finds herself alone in Oslo with a suitcase full of very precarious clothes she’s never felt freer and more in control in her whole life. Soon she falls quite literally into the arms of Jonas, who’s rugged and gentle and everything Frankie thought she didn’t want but can’t seem to stop thinking about. Jonas helps her unlock the secrets of the past and begins to show her what its like to really feel loved. Can he help her put her family back together?

Frankie and Jonas’s blossoming romance was a joy to read about despite a few bumps along the way, I love the way Jonas’ life way solely focused on his family and experiences and not on the material trappings that the men Frankie usually dated seemed to be interested in. I also love the other romance that develops in this book which shows sometimes there really only is one true love for some people.

This book has everything I love in a story, a lovely developing romance, family secrets uncovered, adventures to new places and most of all I loved the funny scenes which really brought the story alive for me. After reading Love at the Northern Lights I can’t wait to read more from Darcie Boleyn as her story-telling is magical.

Thank you so much to the publishers Canelo for sending me a copy to review and be part of this blog tour, Love at the Northern Lights gets a full five stars from me.

About the Author

Darcie Boleyn has a huge heart and is a real softy. She never fails to cry at books and movies, whether the ending is happy or not. Darcie is in possession of an overactive imagination that often keeps her awake at night. Her childhood dream was to become a Jedi but she hasn’t yet found suitable transport to take her to a galaxy far, far away. She also has reservations about how she’d look in a gold bikini, as she rather enjoys red wine, cheese and loves anything with ginger or cherries in it – especially chocolate. Darcie fell in love in New York, got married in the snow, rescues uncoordinated greyhounds and can usually be found reading or typing away on her laptop.

Author Social Media Links

Twitter: ‎@DarcieBoleyn

Website: https://darcieboleyn.wordpress.com/

Links to Book:

Amazon (UK)

Kobo (UK)

Google Books (UK)

Apple Books (UK)

Blog Tour Review: Christmas Angels by Nadine Dorries

Christmas Angels by Nadine Dorries

Published: 16th November 2017

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Pages: 336

Available in Paperback and in Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5 

Blurb

Christmas is the most harrowing time of year for the nurses of St Angelus Hospital.
A brilliant nurse secretly battling a fatal illness over Christmas... A starving baby boy abandoned in the freezing cold... A cruel, controlling mother, determined to block her daughter's nursing career at all costs...
In the run up to Christmas, nurses Pammy and Beth are aiming to win the coveted national decorating competition for the St Angelus children's ward, but drama after drama threatens to upset their plans.
Amid the hardship and poverty of 1950s Liverpool, only the humour and community spirit of nurses and patients will get the Angels through their toughest Christmas yet.

Review

Christmas Angels by Nadine Dorries is the forth book in the Lovely Lane series.  It features characters working in the St. Angelus hospital in Liverpool and living on Lovely Lane.  This could easily be read as a standalone but I think you will find more enjoyment if you have read the previous novels as some characters do carry over. I was a little sad that Dana and Victoria from the previous story do not feature in this novel but there are plenty of characters in this novel to love, Sister Paige being a favourite of mine.

The story starts with Maura and Tom Doherty, residents of Lovely Lane who are caring for their little girl Angela who is suffering from a chest infection. She is admitted to the hospital which leaves Maura sick with worry as this was at the very beginnings at the NHS and hospitals were still seen as scary places for most people. 

On the wards Sister Tapp is battling a hidden illness while determined to still give her patients on the children’s ward their best Christmas ever and newly appointed Sister Paige is trying to balance her working life with the demands of her manipulative mother.

Beth and Pammy are enjoying the Christmas festivities and determined that their ward will win the best decorated ward competition, but things are thrown into turmoil when little baby Louis is found neglected and abandoned in a locked up garage. Little Louis wins the hearts of all those around him and the whole hospital are praying he pulls through and gets better.

This is a beautifully written novel which had me totally absorbed from the start, it’s a novel which I struggled to put down as it pulled on the heartstrings bigtime with how emotional it is. I can pretty much guarantee if you read this you will shed a tear or two, especially with the storyline of baby Louis.

It is a novel which makes you feel as if you are there alongside the nurses and staff of St. Angelus as daily life is described in such a way that makes reading about housework captivating. This attention to detail brings to life the joys and heartache of Lovely Lane, especially in this novel where Christmas features heavily. You can picture how magical the children’s ward must have looked once the nurses had decorated and can imagine how enchanting it would be to hear the nurses singing on Christmas Eve. This is a novel which for me brings alive the true magic of Christmas of sharing, rejoicing and letting those we love know just how special they really are.

Despite featuring many storylines Nadine Dorries has managed to seamlessly work them all together to make a truly stunning read with an ending which works perfectly. I’m hoping there is another novel featuring the characters of Lovely Lane as I don’t think I could tire of reading about them ever, but I have a feeling this book could be the last one.

Thank you so much to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy to review and for inviting me to be part of the blog tour, I adored this book so much.

Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin

Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin

Published: 20th October 2016

Publisher: Zaffre (Paperback) Bookouture (Ebook)

Pages:362

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

Penny Meadows loves her cosy cottage with its stunning views over the snow-topped town of White Cliff Bay, but not even the roaring log fire can keep her personal life from feeling frozen.

That is until dashing Henry and his daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage for the festive season. And between decking the halls and baking delicious mince pies, Penny realises there is more to Henry than meets the eye.

With sleigh bells ringing and fairy lights twinkling, the ice-sculpting competition and Christmas Eve ball are in full swing. Will Penny be able to melt the ice and allow love into her heart? And will she finally have the perfect Christmas she's been dreaming of?

Review

Christmas at Lilac Cottage is the first book in Holly Martin’s new White Cliff Bay series and it’s a book which just oozes Christmas from cover to cover. Especially the cover itself at its covered in super sparkly snowflakes which make you just want to dive in and read.

Penny Meadows is an ice sculptor who lives alone in Lilac Cottage up on the hills above White Cliff Bay and that is how she would like it to stay. But sadly Penny needs some extra income so has agreed to rent out her annexe to Henry and Daisy. Being single and suffering from heartbreak Penny is not looking forward to a couple sharing her home. So imagine the surprise she gets when she realises Daisy is actually Henry’s daughter! Despite Henry’s initial gruff exterior Penny finds herself more and more intrigued by this handsome man. With Daisy trying her best to set the two up, can Penny find a way to let love into her frozen heart.

I love Holly’s writing and her Christmas novels are some of my favourites, this one is just perfect for anyone who wants to overdose in Christmas cheer.  As with most of Holly’s characters I found Penny someone I instantly liked but was intrigued as to why she shut herself off from the rest of town so much, what could have happened to such a sweet girl to make her so isolated. Henry and Daisy are also great characters and have a lovely father/daughter relationship between them which was just lovely to read about.

White Cliff Bay is a place which Holly has brought to life perfectly, it’s a charming little town which just oozes Christmas spirit and the community really throw themselves into all things Christmas with ice carving competitions, Christmas Balls, ice-skating, it’s like a Christmas wonderland and somewhere I would just adore being over the Christmas period.

This book had everything I want in a Christmas novel, a beautiful setting, a romance which is both naughty and nice, adorable characters, a few moments of danger or uncertainty and most of all I want to laugh. With Christmas at Lilac Cottage Holly Martin has completely nailed all these aspects and written a truly wonderful book. I can see this being a favourite of my Christmas reads for many years to come.

Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy to review.

The Christmas Cake Cafe by Sue Watson

 

The Christmas Cake Café by Sue Watson

Published: October 12th 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 258

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

As the Prosecco chills and Bing Crosby croons, Jen Barker just knows that her long-term boyfriend is about to propose.  But instead of a diamond ring nestled in her champagne flute, Jen finds cold flat rejection.  Her once perfect life and dreams of a husband and family seem even further from reach.

A working holiday to the Swiss Alps with her younger sister Jody might not be the Christmas Jen had it mind, but it offers her the chance to recharge her batteries and recover from heartbreak.

When Jen meets handsome ski instructor Jon Zutter her hopes for a happy-ever-after seem within her grasp again. Jon is kind and gorgeous and as they bond over Sachetorte at the picturesque Cake Café, Jen thinks he might just be her perfect man. But a relationship with him comes with a catch – and there are some things even cake can’t fix.

As the snow falls and Christmas approaches, could this be the place that restores Jen Barker’s faith in love?

Review

Sue Watson is one of my favourite authors when it comes to Christmas novels, they are always full of fun and put me in an extra festive mood, her latest book The Christmas Cake Café could be my favourite so far.

Jen Baker has spent years planning and dreaming of the perfect Christmas and this year is the year its finally going to be perfect as she is sure that boyfriend Tim is just about to propose…instead he ends their ten year relationship and shatters poor Jens heart. Fast forward eight months and Jen is dreading being alone for Christmas, so when half-sister Jody offers her the chance to go to Switzerland for three months and work at a ski-resort she reluctantly agrees. After a bumpy start where Jen faces lost luggage and Jody’s drunk friends things start to pick up and Jen finds herself falling in love and not just with the gorgeous scenery and delicious pastries but with handsome German Jon.

Jen was a character I could identify with straight away, she’s a planner and just longs for every moment to be perfect and instead life seems to pass her by and she always ends up disappointed. She’s never felt she was really good enough after her father left her and her mother when she was ten years old to start a new family. I loved how Jen opened up more as the story progressed. Throughout the book she is often put in some awkward positions such as being the only member of the café to wear a cow onesie to work or to go on a sight-seeing trip wearing a see through dress. However as she begins to lighten up and laugh at these embossing situations and just go with it she has a lot more fun and begins to realise living in the moment is much more fun, something I found very inspiring.

I loved the way the romance developed between Jen and Jon, it was romantic but comical at the same time as things never quite went to plan. The part where Jen meets Ella for the first time was probably my favourite part of the book…awkward.

I found this didn’t take me long to read at all as with all Sue Watson books there is never a dull moment and the drama just keeps coming. The characters are all brilliant and there wasn’t one I disliked, well maybe Tim but luckily he’s not in the book for long.

This probably isn’t the most festive of Sue Watson’s books but it was definitely the funniest in my opinion. It’s a book which made me laugh all the way through and definitely one to pick up if you-re feeling a little down, I guarantee you will laugh.  I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to read what Sue brings us next.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy to review.

The Silver Bells Christmas Pantomime by Lynsey James

The Silver Bells Christmas Pantomime (Luna Bay #3) by Lynsey James

Published: 10th November

Publisher: Carina UK/HQ Digital

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

This Christmas pantomime is about to be the talk of the town!
Luna Bay’s festive preparations are well under way and the much anticipated annual pantomime is to be, once again, the highlight of the season. Too bad that the village’s very own actress and darling of Broadway, Alice Woods, isn’t feeling in the mood for Christmas.
Until the pantomime comes under threat and a grief-stricken Alice is forced to push her personal pain aside and step up to direct – after all, the show must go on…
So with (more than) a little help from her new found friends, not to mention one very gorgeous Hollywood A-list celebrity, the play begins to come together, but will Alice finally believe that Christmas is a time for miracles after all?

Review

The Silver Bells Christmas Pantomime is the third book in Lynsey James’ Luna Bay series and is yet again a brilliant read. I was really pleased to find out that my hunch about who this book would be based around was right and that Alice Woods, who pops up briefly in The Sunflower Cottage breakfast Club is the main character in this new book.

Alice Woods used to be Broadway superstar until three years ago her world came crashing down and she was left heartbroken and alone in New York. Vowing never to act again Alice returns home to Luna Bay to hide away from the world, especially at Christmas time. But this year Alice’s mum has other ideas and is determined to see her bright and loving daughter embrace life once more. She makes a deal with Alice to take her away for a cruise over Christmas if Alice will at least try to partake in the Luna Bay pantomime, even if it’s just a backstage assistant.

Reluctantly Alice agrees to be involved in the panto and it’s not long before her acting buzz begins to return and she finds herself the new director of the panto. Can Alice take this big step and help the panto become more successful than in previous years? Surely she can with the help of her new found friends Lucy and Emily and a certain Mr Fox, the new Hollywood Mr Darcy himself.

I have adored Lynsey’s previous two novels set in Luna Bay and this one is just as good. I love how she has created the wonderful place of Luna Bay which just seems to ooze community spirit and be a sanctuary for people in need. I love all the characters she has created and am so glad some of my previous favourites have return in this third book. Most of all I love the little comedy moments in the realistic actions and dialogue of the characters which just makes me smile the whole time I read one of her books.

I loved Alice and the transformation she makes throughout the book. When we first met her in The Sunflower Cottage Breakfast Club she was shy, quiet and kept herself to herself, leaving me as a reader with a whole lot of questions about her. Slowly Alice, encouraged by her mother takes steps back into the public and gradually she begins to realise she can move forward and be happy again. I think is helped enormously by the gorgeous Ethan fox who just happens to appear every time Alice seems to set foot outside her house and would surely make any fell better.

I loved the simmering chemistry between Alice and Ethan and had my fingers crossed that she would take that final big step and reach out for her happy ever after.

This is the perfect read for fans of Lynsey’s books, people who want a little festive spirit and people who just love a good pantomime, I loved it!

Thank you so much to Lynsey and the publishers for this copy to review.

Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky by Holly Martin

Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky by Holly Martin

Published: 22nd September 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 322

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away.

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again.

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace.

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home?

Review

Christmas under a Cranberry Sky is the first in Holly Martin’s A town Called Christmas Series and it’s a book which oozes Christmas and romance off every page and once again she has proved she is a master at bringing the magic of Christmas to life.

Piper “Pip” Chesterfield has spent her life traveling the world as a mystery guest reviewing hotels for The Tree of Life Magazine. Pip has never found a place to call home after a disastrous accident left her with no remaining family and trust issues among those who used to be closest to her. After ten years of travelling Pip has decides to take some time off and try and put down some roots, her trip to Juniper Island to review the new Stardust Lake Hotel over Christmas will be her last.

Gabe Whitaker has spent his life wondering what happened to the golden-haired love of his life Pip after she just disappeared one-day. As owner of the Stardust Lake Hotel Gabe has built a new life for himself and daughter Wren on Juniper Island after numerous failed relationships have left him longing to forget Pip.

So imagine the surprise of these two when these two childhood sweethearts bump into each other outside the hotel. Forced to spend time in each other company can love give these two a second chance or love or will their hearts remain broken forever?

I adore Holly’s Christmas novels, they include everything I want in a festive read, a little romance, a beautiful setting, wonderful characters that you can really relate to and that special magic that’s only found in Christmas books.

I instantly warmed to Pip. She was such a caring and thoughtful character the way she instantly wants to help Wren when she meets her and how helps Gabe with finishing touches for the Christmas village. I was longing for her to find somewhere to call home as she’s had such a tragic past right from being abandoned in an orchard as a baby up until the heartbreak from losing Gabe as a teenager. I loved the way she was hesitant to begin a new romance with Gabe and I found this made me keep reading to see if they would get their happy very after.

My favourite character in the book though has to be little Wren. She was such a joy to read about and reminded me so much of my own Frozen obsessed little lady. I loved the way she was a little sneaky saying things to various adults to get what she wanted…like an early trip to the Ice Palace and I loved her amazement when she finally got her wish.

I think the most magical thing about this book is the setting, Holly has managed to create the ideal romantic Christmas wonderful and if it were a real place I be booking my husband and I a trip there for sure. Everything about it was perfect from the little log cabins to stay in each with their own Christmas tree, the dining room looking out over the lake, the Ice Palace. But two things really make this place special for me, firstly the glass igloos so you can watch the stars and hopefully the Northern Lights above you while you lie in bed, is there actually anything more romantic than that? Also the Christmas market sounded like a dream place to wander about, each house offering its own seasonal speciality, wooden tree decorations, snow globes, churros and a chocolate fountain…umm yes please!

I utterly adored this book, it’s one of the most magical Christmas books I’ve ever read and definitely one not to be missed, thank you Holly for writing such a fantastic book.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.