Blog Tour Review: Confetti and Confusion by Daisy James

Confetti and Confusion (Paradise Cookery School #2) by Daisy James

Published: 9th July 2018

Publisher: Canelo

Pages: 160

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Blurb

Stepping in for a celebrity chef, Millie Harper is feeling the pressure to make the first ever Paradise Cookery School classes a dazzling success and ensure that bride-to-be Imogen and friends have an unforgettable experience.
Meanwhile, Millie is trying to play it cool around handsome estate manager Zach Barker. But whenever he is near Millie cannot fail to notice the chemistry between them – until someone from Zach’s past arrives and any potential romance seems out of the question.
When disaster strikes and the wedding is in jeopardy, Millie realises she may have to go above and beyond to make sure the school is a success. Can Millie manage to create a day that dreams are made of, and will she find a way to tell Zach how she feels?
Allow yourself to be transported to the balmy St Lucian sunshine by his uplifting summer read – perfect for fans of Jenny Oliver and Sarah Morgan

Review

Confetti and Confusion is the second book in Daisy James’ Paradise Cookery School series, in this book we see Millie Harper all set to stand in for missing chef Camilla and deliver the school’s debut class Chocolate and Confetti to Imogen and her wedding party as they prepare for her big day.  When things start to go wrong with Imogen’s wedding plans its Millie to the rescue, but can she fix her blossoming relationship with estate manager Zach after his ex-girlfriend comes back and makes it clear she wants him back.

This is a quick summery read which will have you longing for some chocolate or to be in St. Lucia (or in my case both) as the book is filled with beautiful descriptions of both, the Confetti and Chocolate course is my idea of heaven. Throw in handsome Zach and you have to perfect set-up.

 Once again Millie finds herself surrounded by mishaps and mayhem as the wedding plans start to go wrong. While I enjoyed the storyline, I felt this plotline was all a little too predictable and lacked the little bit of mystery which the previous book had.

This is the perfect story for a holiday read, it’s a fun and quick read with some likable characters set in a gorgeous location. I’m eager to read the next instalment to see where Millie ends up, so hurry up September when Mistletoe and Mystery is out.

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for sending me a copy to review and inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Daisy James is a Yorkshire girl transplanted to the north east of England. She loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. When not scribbling away in her summerhouse, she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something pink and fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea – china plates and teacups are a must.

Twitter: @daisyjamesbooks

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

Blog Tour Review: Sunshine and Secrets by Daisy James

Sunshine & Secrets (The Paradise Cookery School #1) by Daisy James

Published: March 19th 2018

Publisher: Canelo

Pages: 165

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Blurb

When newly heartbroken, michelin-starred chef Millie Harper is offered a job overseeing the setup of The Paradise Cookery School she jumps at the opportunity. Leaving London and her memories of heartbreak behind she hops on a plane to the hilltop cocoa plantation in St Lucia.

But this beautiful island break might be more work than she’d expected….  With only two weeks to have the kitchen installed, cocoa pods going missing from the plantation and the notoriously relaxed island workmen to contend with, she’s going to need some help. Gruff but charming estate manager Zach Baxter, is only too happy to offer his opinions. As the two clash heads can they remain focussed on the job in hand and get the cookery school finished in time?

Review

Heartbroken Millie Harper is about to set off to France for a  holiday with her mum, when sister Jen asks if she’ll fly to St. Lucia and oversee the installation and recipe testing for new cookery school for famous chef Claudia Croft instead. Being a Michelin-starred chef Millie is keen to develop her skills and jumps at the chance to spend time learning about a different cuisine and in such a fabulous location, what could be more perfect.

Millie’s idea of a tropical paradise is soon ruined when she’s left in the pouring rain on arrival and then met by grumpy estate manager Zach Baxter who doesn’t offer her the warmest of welcomes. With kitchen fitters that have a much more laid-back way of working than Millie is used too, missing cocoa pods and disastrous dates can Millie get the cookery school up and running in time.

Sunshine and Secrets is a book filled to the brim with delicious food descriptions, in fact 70% of the story probably revolves around food so if you’re not a fan then this is maybe not the book for you. I love food so really enjoyed all the food descriptions, especially those relating to chocolate, only problem was it left me very hungry. I also loved all the descriptions of St. Lucia, Daisy James has done an excellent job bringing this part of the world alive for me.

Millie was the perfect main character for this story as her passion for food is so contagious that she had everyone around her excited to be involved with the school and the chocolate recipes. This passion helps Millie to gain confidence and with more than one handsome man showing her some interest it’s the perfect place for her to forget about her heartbreak from ex-boyfriend Luke.

This was quite a short read with many characters being introduced, perhaps too many as most of the book is spent getting to know the characters and the main action in the story takes place quite near the end and felt very rushed. I was also a little disappointed with the ending as the story just kind of stopped. I think if the book had been a little longer with the ending drawn out a bit more it would have made the book more enjoyable for me. It does leave the story open for a follow-on book though which I would like to read.

Sunshine and Secrets is the perfect escapist read to a tropical paradise where food, flirting and fun are part of everyday life and is a great book to welcome summer into your life.

Thank you so much to Canelo and Netgalley for sending me a copy to review and inviting me to be part of the blog-tour.

About the Author

Daisy James is a Yorkshire girl transplanted to the north east of England. She loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. When not scribbling away in her summerhouse, she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something pink and fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea – china plates and teacups are a must.

Author Social Media Links

Twitter: @daisyjamesbooks

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

Links to Book:

Amazon (UK)

Kobo (UK)

Google Books (UK)

Apple Books (UK)

If the Dress Fits by Daisy James

If the Dress Fits by Daisy James

Published: 14th July 2016

Publisher: Carina UK

Pages: 316

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating 5/5

Blurb

Callie’s exquisite, glittering silk gown has been shortlisted for the celebrity wedding of the year. But just as all her dreams are coming true, disaster strikes!
Leaving behind the bright lights of London, Callie is forced to return home to sleepy Althorpe. And there’s one man she hopes to avoid – the childhood sweetheart who turned her life upside down. But now she’s back, is it finally time to stop running?
Yet, as Callie faces her past, a Cinderella-like hunt begins for that perfect, pearl-embroidered dress, mysteriously submitted without a name…

Review
If the Dress Fits by Daisy James was a book I was eager to read after seeing the lovely cover and reading the blurb, I’m drawn to anything wedding related, especially at this time of year so this was the perfect read for me.

Callie left her hometown village of Althorpe in Yorkshire years ago after catching boyfriend Theo in the arms of another woman. Since then Callie has poured herself into her work and built up a successful wedding dress design boutique and now she’s at the pinnacle of her career as she’s a finalist in a competition to design a dress for famous actress Lilac Verbois. On the day Callie’s entry is due to be sent for judging she gets a phone-call which devastates her. Leaving her assistants in charge of the paperwork for the competition Callie heads back to Yorkshire where her life has been turned upside-down.

On returning to Yorkshire Callie has a few shocks. Firstly she is now the owner of her aunts shop Gingerberry Yarns and secondly her old boyfriend Theo, the famous rock star just keeps popping up where ever she is. She’s also trying to hide her disappointment at not winning the dress competition, but unbeknown to Callie Lilac’s wedding team are desperately trying to find the owner of the winning dress, which was submitted with no name…

Despite longing to get back to her studio and her work Callie remains in Yorkshire and begins to give Gingerberry Yarns a make-over in order to make it more saleable, but slowly happy memories of the place come flooding back and Callie begins to be won over by the shops charm, which is helped along by some lovely and loyal customers.

What will happen to Gingerberry Yarns? Will Callie return to London? Will she give Theo another chance and who won the dress competition? This books is full of drama as Callie works out where her heart lies.

This was a lovely read which I really enjoyed. Daisy James has created such a magical place with Gingerberry Yarns that I couldn’t help wishing I could go there myself and join in the Cupcakes and Couture group, despite the fact I’m useless with needles! It was such a warm and comforting place, made even better by the delicious sounding cakes which baker Tom keeps dropping by.

I also loved all of the characters, both in Yorkshire and back in London. They have each been given there own distinct personalities and dreams. One of my favourite characters was Tish, Lilac’s slightly ditzy wedding planner. She was such a hopeless romantic getting swept away with others peoples big days while she waited for her Prince Charming to come and she her off her feet. I loved how Nikki, Lilac’s PA has to step in more than once to help her organise things she’d completely forgotten.

If the Dress Fits was a really enjoyable read, it’s a light-hearted easy read which is perfect for reading in the sunshine. It left me with a warm glow inside and is sure to be a book I reach for when I need cheering up. I’m so looking forward to Daisy’s next book When Only Cupcakes Will do, as I know Daisy is one of those writers that will deliver something I will enjoy.

Thank you to the publishers for this review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.