The Woolly Hat Knitting Club by Poppy Dolan

The Woolly Hat Knitting Club by Poppy Dolan

Published: 25th September 2017

Publisher: Canelo

Pages: 300

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Blurb

When Dee Blackthorn’s brother, JP, breaks both wrists not only is he in need of a helping hand – or two – but the knitting shop he owns can’t function. Sisterly duties take Dee away from her demanding job and she is unceremoniously fired amidst scandalous office rumours. Dee is certain that her hot-shot nemesis, Ben, is behind it all.

Back in the village of Fenwild where JP's shop resides, Dee bumps into Becky, an old friend who is new mum to a premature baby. Desperate to help Becky, Dee convinces JP to enlist his knitting pals to make tiny woolly hats to keep the little one warm. Seeing how grateful her friend is, Dee makes it her mission to help lots of other premature babies. When Ben turns up denying involvement in Dee’s sacking she is initially furious, but hears him out before roping him into helping the knitting cause.

But before long Dee’s good intentions backfire and she risks losing her friends, her family and Ben, who’s turned out to be not so bad after all…

Review

Being someone who loves all things crafty The Woolly Hat Knitting Club was a book which really appealed to me. It’s a wonderful story of family, friendship and full on knitting fun and one which I found to be deeper than your average chick-lit novel.

Dee and her brother Julian (JP) co-own Blackthorn’s Haberdashery. Dee who works in advertising in London is more of a silent partner in the business until JP calls her and says he needs a hand…literally as he’s broken both of his wrists and can’t keep his shop or his blog About a (Knitting) Boy running without Dee’s help.

Dee steps into help JP but her absence from the office starts scandalous rumours leaving Dee being given instant dismissal on her return. Fuming Dee places all the blame on co-worker Ben and with nothing keeping her in London heads back to Fenwild to lick her wounds.

 Back in the village Dee bumps into old friend Becky and when she learns she’s given birth to a premature little boy Dee decides to make it her mission to help. What starts off as one woolly hat being knit turns into hundreds as Dee and JP set up a campaign to help as many babies as they can.

Dee is one of those characters who you’ll either love or hate. She very quick to judge things based on very few facts and always believes she knows the best for everybody which does land her in trouble with almost everyone she knows. But I believe her hearts in the right the place and she’s doing the best that she can, she may make many mistakes, but she also knew when its time to admit she’s wrong and apologise and for that I loved her. I also loved that she never gave up learning to knit despite being rubbish at it, I feel her pain, I still can’t master this craft and it annoys me greatly…knitting is harder than it looks.

I found this a lovely heart-warming novel which highlights that working twenty-four seven is not always the best way to life, the things outside of work such as family, friends, romance and even hobbies all add things to make our lives better and I loved reading Dee’s journey as she learns this.

I also loved that this showed the crafting community in such a positive light, being part of it myself its nice to read something where knitting isn’t just for the older generations but something which everyone can embrace.

This was my first novel by Poppy Dolan but I’m really looking forward to reading more of her stories in the future.

Thank you to Canelo for sending me a copy to review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Faking Friends by Jane Fallon

Faking Friends by Jane Fallon

Published: 11th January 2018

Publisher: Penguin 

Pages: 448

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

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Rating: 5/5

Blurb

Amy thought she knew everything there was to know about her best friend Melissa. Then again, Amy also thought she was on the verge of the wedding of her dreams to her long-distance fiancé.

Until she pays a surprise trip home to London. Jack is out, but it's clear another woman has been making herself at home in their flat.

There's something about her stuff that feels oddly familiar . . . and then it hits Amy. The Other Woman is Melissa.

Amy has lost her home, her fiancé and her best friend in one disastrous weekend - but instead of falling apart, she's determined to get her own back.

Piecing her life back together won't be half as fun as dismantling theirs, after all.

Review

Faking Friends is the latest twisty chick lit novel from Jane Fallon exploring the effects of a toxic friendship. In this book we meet best friends since childhood Amy and Mel, who’ve shared their hopes, dreams, secrets and stood by each other for years, or so Amy thought. Amy has been working away as an actress in New York leaving fiancé Jack alone in their London flat. With Mel’s fortieth about to happen and Amy’s contract in New York over she decides to make a surprise visit home. On entering the flat she shares with Jack its immediately obvious to Amy that another woman has been there. Her clothes and beauty products and are scattered all over the apartment and to top it off the place is spotless, something Amy knows Jack is not capable of managing himself.

When Amy works out that the other woman is Mel she decides not to get upset but get even. All throughout their friendship Mel has taken what she wanted and left Amy to pick up the pieces, but this time its different, this time Mel is going to get what she deserves.

With the help of friends Kat and Greg, Amy manages to inflict sneaky acts of revenge on Jack and Mel whilst finding herself a new flat, a new job and a blossoming new romance. This is a great and addictive read full of twists and turns as sometimes Amy’s revenge plans have a habit of back-firing.

Amy’s a very resilient character who is quite easily able to pick up the pieces from this devastating news and move on with her life. I feel a little sad for Jack really, as although he’s behaved badly Amy doesn’t even seem to give him a second thought once she’s decided on her revenge plan, surely, she must have had some regrets over all their years together.

Written mostly from the point of view of Amy it was refreshing to finally get Mel’s take on things when about half way though her voice is added to the narrative. This may come as a shock to some readers as there is no indication of this in the book. But having read previous Jane Fallon novels it was something I was expecting to happen and after a couple of pages its pretty clear which character is narrating.

At times I did start to feel sorry for Mel (a little) but then you turn the page and read more of the devious things she’s done in the past and think she’s getting everything she deserves. Does Amy manage carry out the ultimate revenge or does Mel get the last word as usual, read it for yourself and find out.

From the author of Strictly Between Us and My Sweet Revenge, Faking Friends is another fantastic not to be missed read from Jane Fallon.

Book Review - Mistletoe Mansion by Samantha Tonge

 

Mistletoe Mansion by Samantha Tonge

Published: 10th November 2014

Publisher: Carina UK

Pages: 384

Available on Kindle

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Blurb

Kimmy Jones has three loves: cupcakes, gossip magazines and dreaming of getting fit just by owning celeb workouts.
When Kimmy’s Sensible Boyfriend told her he didn’t approve of her longing for the high life or her dream of starting a cupcake company Kimmy thought she could compromise – after all, she did return those five-inch Paris Hilton heels! But asking her to trade in cake-making for a job sorting potatoes is a step too far.

So, newly single - and newly homeless – Kimmy needs a dusting of Christmas luck. And, masquerading as a professional house sitter, her new temporary home is the stunning Mistletoe Mansion. Soon she’s best buds with glamorous next door golf WAG Melissa, and orders are pouring in for her fabulous Merry Berry cupcakes! The only thorn in her side is handsome handyman Luke, a distraction she definitely doesn’t need. And talking of distractions, something very odd is going on at night…

Kimmy is finally living the life she’s always wanted. But will her glimpse into the glittering lifestyle of the rich and famous be as glamorous as she’s always imagined…?

 

Review

 

Firstly I would like to thank Samatha Tonge for sending me an advanced copy to review. I’d never read anything by her before but the cover of this book was so lovely I couldn’t resist.  I have to say I think I’ve found another favourite author as this book was jam packed with lovely characters and I just loved the plot, it was hilarious.

The story begins with Kimmy being thrown out of her shared flat by boyfriend Adam because she won’t give up her dreams of a baking business and go and work in a potato factory with him. Kimmy is a baking whizz and is hoping to build her own cupcake business, she’s had a few jobs through friends but not enough to give Adam the confidence to believe in her.  Kimmy begs him to give her more time to allow her to make her business work, but Adam’s having none of it and out she goes.

After meeting up with friend Jess, who has just been thrown out by her brother, they manage to blag themselves the position of house sitters for Mistletoe Mansion. The girls can’t believe their luck, set in a quiet cul de sac Mistletoe Mansion is everything Kimmy has dreamed of but is everything exactly as it seems? Hot handyman Luke seems initially very standoffish and neighbour Terry can’t wait to leave as soon as its gets dark, so what is going on?

Kimmy meets celebrity WAG Melissa from next door and gets her first job catering for one of her coffee mornings, as Kimmy makes a new friend she realises the celebrity lifestyle isn’t as glossy as the magazines make out.

Mistletoe mansion is full of great characters and I loved that they all seemed just slightly over the top. There’s Kimmy with her gold parka jacket that you just can’t help but like and who are longing to see succeed with her business, just to prove Adam wrong.  Jess, her  vegetarian best friend who is gardening mad, handsome handyman Luke with his sexy cords, who Kimmy might have a little crush on, Melissa the stylish but kind celebrity wife who’s longing for a baby and Terry the eccentric, celebrity gossip loving,  next door neighbour  with his micro-pig, yes you read that right PIG, Frazzle.

The thing I loved most about this book was the relationships. Especially the little love triangle between Kimmy, Adam and Luke. Kimmy’s so focused on proving to Adam that she’s worthy of his love and support by making her business a success. Initially she can’t stand how arrogant he is around her, but when she gets to know him she realises that he believes in her and gives her encouragement and support without question. Will she pick solid, reliable, sensible Adam or sexy, cheeky, risk-taking, Luke?

With the delicious descriptions of cupcakes, the slightly spooky goings on and the misbehaving celebrities this book is the perfect treat for a cozy Christmas read and I loved every single page.  I give this book 5/5 and think everyone should add it to their reading list this year.

 

 

Book Review - Driving Home For Christmas by A L Michael

 

Driving Home For Christmas by A L Michael

Published: 28th October 2014

Publisher: Carina UK

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

 

Blurb

Megan McAllister is home for Christmas…whether she likes it or not!

Christmas is about family…and for Megan family means two people: herself, and her daughter Skye. It doesn’t mean her parents who, ten years ago, saw her pregnancy as anything but a miracle. And it definitely doesn’t include her irresistible ex-boyfriend Lucas Bright.

So ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ has never been top of Megan’s festive playlist. But for Skye, she knows she needs to spend the holiday season with the people she’s left behind. She can do this. Even if the thought of meeting Lucas under the mistletoe still has her feeling like she’s drunk one-too-many Snowballs!

But somewhere between the hanging of stockings and the crackle of wrapping paper, Christmas starts to sparkle. And Megan begins to wonder if family could be bigger than her and Skye after all…

 

Review

Megan McAllister has been living with her estranged Aunt Anna and her lodger Jeremy ever since she ran away from her family when they found out she was pregnant.  Now ten years on she’s been persuaded to head home for Christmas and make amends with her family.  Arriving back home with daughter Skye evokes all kinds of memories for Megan and as Christmas day comes closer family secrets and old feelings which have been hidden for years start to surface, but will they bring this family close again.

After reading the blurb for this book I knew I had to read it, any book in which the characters have some kind of mystery in their past draws me in and A L Michael has done this brilliantly. It’s the type of story that slowly unravels and gives the reader questions:  Why did Megan leave? Why hasn’t she been back? How did she end up living with Anna? And probably the question we all want to know the answer to who is Skye’s father?

Luckily for us as we keep reading we find out the answers to these questions and also a couple of little surprises, some which I totally wasn’t expecting and some which you could guess.  This is done really well through the use of flashbacks in the narrative which help us build up a picture of Megan as a teenager and show the strained relationship she had back then with her mother.  These were slightly confusing to me at first as the flashbacks do chop and change years between 2001 and 2004 but once I had read a few chapters and had more knowledge of Megan I found they really helped build up a picture of Megan and what led her to run away.

A L Michael has created some really great characters in this book, Skye has to be my favourite, what a brilliant little girl she is, so intuitive and clever but not in that annoying know it all way that some kids can be.  She is hoping to be detective when she is older and I could just imagine her hiding under tables and writing down notes in a little book.  I loved the way she seemed to weigh people up and instantly get their measure and then just carried on with whatever she was doing. I think is she was my daughter I would be very proud of her.

I wasn’t sure about Megan; I did feel that she brought a lot of the problems with her mother on herself by not opening up to her at the time. I did like the way that she didn’t let having a baby so young stand in the way of her dreams and she was able to find a fulfilling career. The thing that stood out the most about Megan was that she was so focused on Skye’s happiness and making sure she was loved that I felt Megan herself might be a little lonely, so when she finally let her family into her daughter’s life I was hoping Megan would put herself first just once.  I loved Lucas, just the image of him with a Where’s Wally scarf round his neck was enough to melt my heart, he just seemed such a lovely guy and although I understand why Megan let him go when she was younger I don’t think I would have been able to.

Driving Home for Christmas is a wonderful story full of Christmas spirit which helps to bring a family closer once again. I laughed, I cried and I was left with that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you read something wonderful.  Add this to your Christmas reading shelf and you won’t regret it.

Rating 5/5

 

Book Review - High Heels and Bicycle Wheels by Jane Linfoot

 

High Heels and Bicycle Wheels by Jane Linfoot

Published: 23rd October 2014 (Paperback)

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages: 306

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order from amazon here.

 

Blurb

Meet Bryony: she’s a fun-loving, very single TV production assistant whose idea of sport is the Jimmy Choo sales scrum.

Meet Jackson: Cycling’s bad boy superstar. Injured and out of a certain race this summer, without his training, he’s looking for another distraction…

Bryony’s facing a triple whammy – her last single friend just named the day, her mother’s offering to have her eggs frozen, and the guy she’s loved from afar, forever, has just got hitched. So she’s more than happy to accept the offer of a totally out of character but seriously steamy one night of no-strings fun. Especially when the guy in question is so attractive he even looks good in Lycra!

Jackson’s on the lookout for a new career but if the opportunity to work on TV means a fortnight with the most uptight woman in the world, he’d rather not bother. He never goes in for seconds – and who in their right mind would head off in a campervan, with a woman who irons her knickers?

Add in a tandem (yes a tandem) and fast forward to double trouble for a summer neither of them will ever forget!

 

Review

 

I was kindly sent a copy of this to review by Jane after reading “The Right Side of Mr Wrong” back in July, which I adored. I have been saving this book to read for a while as I knew I was going to love it as Jane’s writing style is just brilliant. After a rough week I decided to pick this up and it has definitely put me in better mood.

In “High Heels and Bicycle Wheels” we meet Bryony Marshall, production assistant for the program “Sporting Chances” who featured briefly in Jane’s previous book as the sister of Brando Marshall. It was nice that she got her own story as I felt there was a lot more to Bryony than was mentioned previously.  She’s helped fix all her friends up with partners and even given brother Brando a nudge in the right direction with Shae. Now she’s feeling very single and determined to stay that way, until she finds her Mr Forever. Along comes Jackson Gale world famous cyclist intent on cleaning up his bad boy image. He’s taking part in a charity tandem bike race, filmed by bryony’s company. After his intended partner on the bike Annie is found throwing up Bryony has to step in and take her place. Initially thrown together in the tandem bike race these two have instant chemistry, which is obvious to everyone around. They meet later in the hotel and end up acting on the chemistry between them with the understanding it’s a one off. The sparks between them lead to a filming contract to tour Cornwall in a campervan filming scenic bike rides. Both are reluctant to revisit their one-night stand but as soon as the trip begins the chemistry between them is so hot that they can’t help giving in again, and again and again.

Through the narrative we get to experience both Bryony’s and Jackson’s feelings which I really enjoyed, it’s not often we get the male perspective in a chick lit novel and I think it really adds to the story. It’s obvious that Bryony and Jackson have fallen for each other big time but their histories and baggage make them both wary of commitment and unwilling to open up.  I’m glad they did eventually deal with these issues, Jackson probably more successfully than Bryony as it gave them a chance of a better future.

I absolutely loved this book; Jane has a real talent for writing some really hot and really believable chemistry between two people. I also loved the number of twists and turns in the plot, you want Bryony and Jackson to admit their feelings but something always seems to get in the way. I also found some scenes really funny, like Bryony ironing her knickers, I mean who does that really?

If you’re looking for a light-hearted read where the chemistry grows from tiny sparks to full on fireworks then this is the book for you. I loved it and hope it is not too long before we have another wonderful romance from Jane to devour.

Rating 5/5

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday - It Had to Be You

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine where you showcase a book you are eagerly awaiting for publication.

This week my pick is:




Author : Ellie Adams (Jo Carnegie)
Publisher: Corgi
Released: August 28th 2014
Pages:448

Taken from Amazon:
The worst break-up ever . . . Could be the best thing that has ever happened to her

Lizzy Spellman has been dumped. At a party. While wearing a Henry VIII costume. By the man she thought was The One. Someone even filmed it, so now she's a massive YouTube hit sensation too.

Just when she thinks things can't get any worse, she meets the rudest, most cynical man in the world, and gets a new mission in life. To prove him wrong.

Love does exist, and she's going to find it . . .

This looks like it could be a really funny read. Hope it is as good as her Churchminister series.

 

 

What are you "Waiting On" this week? Here is everyone else's list.

 

 

Joanne x