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I absolutely adore Lindsey’s books, and having read most of her I Heart series, as well as a few of her stand-alone books, I consider myself a big fan. I’ve eagerly anticipated this release for a couple of months so I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.

Blurb:

It only takes one night to fall in love….

Pre-order the most romantic book of 2021 now!

Within days of wishing she could change her life, Fran Cooper is acting assistant to a celebrity, on a yacht in the Mediterranean, and en route to a tiny Italian island and the glittering Crystal Ball, along with the world’s rich and famous.

When she – quite literally – bumps into a handsome American called Evan, a man able to keep his cool in the face of chaos, the magic really begins.

Evan makes her a promise: no last names, no life stories, just one unforgettable night. Yet Evan belongs at the Crystal Ball and Fran is a gatecrasher. They may be soulmates, but their homes are an ocean apart and their lives a world apart. They’ll never meet again – unless, on a night like this, everything can change forever….

My thoughts:

This book has not disappointed and has been a delight to read from beginning to end. I absolutely loved the character of Fran from the beginning and could identify with some of the things that seemed to be holding her back.

There is an enjoyable romance within the book but I also really appreciated the fact that the majority of the story focused on Lindsey’s journey of growth and her adventures as an assistant to world-famous performer, Juliette.

With the two main settings being a luxurious yacht and an opulent ball, this book definitely felt glitzy and exciting. It is an experience that is enlightening for Fran in more ways than one!

A romantic, warm book with some well-placed romantic tropes and fairy tale elements, Lindsey Kelk has once again proved herself to be an absolute queen of romantic fiction. I would highly recommend this book to fans of Portia Macintosh, Lyndsey Gallagher, Olivia Spring and Shari Low.

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I was drawn to this book as it includes lots of things I enjoy in a story, such as issues of secrets and the theme of friendship, but I also thought the cover and premise set it apart and I hoped that it would be refreshingly different to other books in this genre.

Blurb:

After years of putting work first, Andrea’s love life is a mess. She’s in a relationship that she knows is wrong yet can’t turn to her best friends. If she told Hannah and Rosalie her lover’s identity it would tear their friendship apart.

But keeping secrets takes its toll, and between Hannah’s demanding family life and Rosalie’s preoccupation with her own troubles, the cracks begin to show. Suddenly their differences – once a strength – are pushing them apart.

Andrea, Hannah and Rosalie have been there for each other through thick and thin. Will that be enough to rely on when everything comes to a head?

This page-turning novel is perfect for fans of Zara Stoneley, Jane Fallon and Lauren Weisberger.

My thoughts:

I loved that the writer presents us with not one, not two, but three strong and individual main characters who we are able to follow and develop an understanding of throughout the story. The careful structure and organisation really helped with this as their stories slowly but surely fused together.

The fact that it is set within the bustling and pressurised atmosphere of New York restauranteering adds to the sometimes heightened atmosphere of the story itself and also provides an escapist and sensory experience for readers like me, for which this sort of setting is worlds away from my normal life.

I loved seeing how these women were able to hold their own and forge their path in a male-dominated environment of the restaurant industry.

This has been a dramatic and heart-warming story about the power and challenges of adult friendships. I would definitely like to read more by this author in the future.

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I love Olivia’s books. They are fun, romantic, sexy and beautiful. I previously enjoyed My Ten Year Crush, the first book in this series, so I was excited to find out there would be a Christmas themed follow up novella!

Blurb:

She hates Christmas. He’s about to change her mind…
Cassie isn’t a fan of Christmas. After a string of unlucky incidents during the festive season—including getting dumped—this year she decides to spend the day at home. Alone. No men. No complications.

But then her nightmare boss demands she track down this year’s most coveted Christmas gift—and the only person who can help is an annoyingly sexy Frenchman she’s just met.

Nicolas might look hot, but Cassie can tell he’s also arrogant, irritating and in love with himself. Exactly the kind of guy she hates. Plus, he’ll only help her find the gift if she helps him with something in return…

Could Cassie’s festive fortunes finally be about to change? Can she learn to love Christmas again? And will Cassie get lucky in more ways than one?

Set against a gorgeous London backdrop with sparkling lights, Christmas markets and mistletoe, My Lucky Night is a fun, sexy enemies-to-lovers romcom novella that will give you all the feels! Ideal for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane.

Read as a standalone novella or as book two in the My Ten-Year Crush series.

My thoughts:

This has been a wonderfully romantic and uplifting book which I have read in one sitting. This is one thing I love about Olivia’s books – I very rarely manage to get so into a book I devour it in one sitting, but this is a regular habit with Olivia’s books.

I loved hearing Cassie’s tale and I loved some of the perfect tropes Olivia included, such as “judging a book by its cover” and being divided over whether you love/hate Christmas.

Cassie is a hard-working, loyal and charming character who I have been rooting for and loved getting to know. I was really hoping she would get her happy ending and learn to enjoy Christmas again.

This book is fun, sexy and full of the Christmas atmosphere we all know and love, and some of the bits we hate too. Some of the descriptions are picture perfect, but others showing the bustle and pressure of Christmas make for a story that feels realistic and romantic in equal measure.

Another wonderful story by this incredible author who is definitely a firm favourite of mine. I would recommend this author to fans of Sophie Ranald, Portia Macintosh and Rosie Dean.

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I love Shari Low’s books so I had high hopes about this new release. Shari’s books are always full of carefully placed and constructed humour, warmth and romance. I had a feeling this book may be more emotional and dramatic than any of my previous reads by her, and I was excited to pick this one up. Again, it has a gorgeous cover and I was intrigued by the ‘story’ and ‘secrets’ contained within the pages.

Blurb:

Colm O’Flynn was loved by his close circle of family and friends, however his death came too soon for everyone to make peace with their past.

Shauna, his second wife, adored him. But one night she broke their marriage vows, and didn’t get time to ask Colm’s forgiveness.

Jess was the first Mrs O’Flynn. Her heart is set on someone new, but will the last one night stand she shared with Colm come back to haunt her?

Colm’s best friend, Dan, is recently divorced. Can he take a second shot at happiness if it means betraying the one person who always had his back?

What no-one knows is that somewhere out there Colm left messages that could set them free to start over again.

Can divine intervention help them find Colm’s last wishes before it’s too late to love again?

My thoughts:

“Everyone our age has fucked up at some time, they’ve done things they regret, they’ve made wrong moves and bad decisions. We’re too old for fairytales.”

Wow. I’m not sure how any review I write will do this book justice. I think I’ll start by saying that this book has made it into my top 5 of 2021, which is a huge feat after over 200 books and some incredible reads and authors. It is an absolutely stunning and heart-wrenching read from cover to cover.

Firstly, let’s discuss the characters. They are wonderfully drawn and I felt like they were people you could come across in real life. They all had their flaws, secrets, mistakes and limitations that they were dealing with, but this ensured that they were complex characters that I was absolutely fully invested in. I got completely lost in the story of their lives.

There is a beautiful and delicate balance of humour and emotion. It is an emotional journey which I will not forget in a hurry, that covers issues such as relationships, death, friendship and blended families. However, humour is carefully peppered through the book and I love the kind of humour Shari writes. It is soft, sarcastic, dry, the kind of humour we all need in our lives and the kind we see every day. It adds to the realism of the book.

This has been an absolutely stunning exploration of coping with grief and making the most of opportunities that bring you happiness. It is the type of epic book that helps you re-evaluate your life and appreciate what you have. It has had a huge emotional impact on me and I won’t forget it. I would recommend this book to fans of One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot and P.S. I Love You.

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This is an author that has been recommended to me many times, and I often see her books in the shops or on social media. They covers are absolutely exquisite, they always catch my eye and her books definitely look like the sort of books I would enjoy.

Blurb:

’Tis the season for mulled wine, mince pies, and magic under the mistletoe…

Flora loves Christmas more than anything else in the world, so she’s gutted when her Scrooge-alike boss fires her from Deck the Halls Christmas emporium. But now she finally has a chance to follow her dreams – and what better place to start than the home of Christmas?

Before she can say ‘sleigh bells’, Flora’s on her way to Lapland in a campervan-cum-Christmas-shop. She can’t wait to spend her days drinking hot chocolate and taking reindeer-drawn carriage rides, but something Flora didn’t expect was meeting Connor, a Norse god of a man who makes her heart flutter and snowflakes swirl in her stomach. There’s just one problem: Connor hates Christmas.

Can Flora convince Connor of the joys of Christmas – and will she find a festive romance along the way?

The perfect Christmas romance for fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Jenny Colgan

My thoughts:

I was immediately drawn into the story but got the foreboding sense that things wouldn’t stay perfect for long for Flora. I was really hoping that, whatever happened to her, it would never dull her sparkle as her confidence, positivity and Christmas spirit is infectious and wonderful.

I loved the premise of throwing caution to the wind and chasing your dreams. I really wished I had Flora’s courage and confidence, but of course Livvie makes a great supporting character, both in terms of the plot and as a great friend to Flora.

I have really missed visiting Christmas markets over the last few years, some due to having small children and other due to Covid restrictions and worries, and I loved how Rebecca brought the market to life. Her wonderful descriptions made this a really sensory experience.

Then, just when you think this story can’t get better, a romance storyline is created and I absolutely loved following this, too. Can the unlikely pairing find common ground or even love at Christmas?

This is a book filled with warmth and Christmas spirit, complex and well-developed characters, and fabulously festive settings. It is perfect for fans of Jaimie Admans, Donna Ashcroft and Jane Lovering, who have written some of my previous favourite Christmas reads.

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I was drawn to this book as I am a fan of Sue Moorcroft’s work. I also love this crisp, uplifting and beautifully illustrated cover and I adore Christmas books, but especially Christmas romance books. The title and cover sort of hinted that there might be quite a bit of romance in this story… 😉

Blurb:

Snuggle up with a mince pie, a cup of cocoa and the most heartwarming book this Christmas from the bestselling Sue Moorcroft.

Christmas. A time for family, friends – and rekindling old flames…

When Laurel returns to the village of Middledip, she’s looking for a quiet life. Adjusting to her recent divorce, she’s ready to spend some time getting back on her feet amidst the glorious snow-dusted countryside.

Yet, life in Middledip is far from straightforward. Coming to the aid of her sister, Rea, as she navigates her own troubles, Laurel barely has a moment to think about where her own life is going.

However, time stands still when she sees her old flame, Grady Cassidy – and it’s soon as if they’ve never been apart. But through her happiness, Laurel remembers why she left the village all those years ago, as she recalls a dark night and Grady’s once-wayward brother, Mac…

Can Laurel learn to forgive and forget? Or will her chances of Christmas under the mistletoe with Grady remain a dream?

An enchanting, festive read, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Carole Matthews.

My thoughts:

This is a gorgeous Christmas book and I have devoured each and every page. I love Sue Moorcroft’s style. As a best selling author, it is definitely a commercial and accessible style, but at times I also feel her personal voice comes across as well as at times, feeling more literary in style.

The characters in this book are beautifully drawn and well-developed, especially Rae, Grady and Laurel. They are all likeable and sympathetic characters but each one comes with, and during the course of the book has to face up to, some of their complications and limitations.

There was far more emotion and drama in this book than I was originally expecting but this definitely made for a gripping read which I quickly became invested in. The romance develops organically and slowly, but I was hooked on it as I was fully lost in the story and the characters.

A heart-warming and wonderful book, perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Heidi Swain and Jessica Redland.

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I was drawn to this book as I have previously read The Chocolate Box and Bubblegum and Blazers by this author. The cover is crisp, festive and the drink looks inviting. I was ready for a fun and heart-warming read.

Blurb:

River and Alice miss Somerset. Christmas isn’t Christmas without family and friends, even when you live in quaint Cornwall.

When River’s aunt Sheba dies unexpectedly, leaving him her ancient VW camper van, nostalgia nudges him and Alice back to Glastonbury – and the surrounding villages – to rediscover their roots whilst serving the most decadent hot chocolate and delectable gingerbread from their renovated ‘bar on wheels’. A bar on wheels complete with a fold-up stage to host local talent competitions rivaling anything Simon Cowell could dream up, even if he’d gorged on a truckle of Cheddar cheese!

As the villagers sip their cocoa and ice their gingerbread houses amidst the festive backdrop of song, dance, and slightly more unconventional talents, River and Alice find themselves in an unexpected race against time: Zara, their chocolate supplier is leaving Glastonbury on the twelfth day of Christmas, keen to put a string of disastrous relationships behind her to make a fresh start. Bruno, their gregarious and gorgeous baking supplier is secretly smitten with Zara – ticking every box on her New Year’s wish list.If only they can get them together for one experimental kiss under the mistletoe… They’ve even enlisted their customers’ help in their mission to wrap this budding romance up in all the jingle bells and whistles. How hard can it be?

So, ho, ho VERY tricky, as it turns out…

My thoughts:

There is something just ultimately brilliant about Isabella’s books. This is a follow up to The Cocktail Bar which I somehow have not read! However, as per her other books I have read, they are filled with the conventions of genre including will they/ won’t they, timeless romance, drama and light-hearted humour. However, something about her books always feels refreshingly different.

I love Isabella’s focus on food and culinary delights in this book, and many of her other books. The descriptions of fudge, Baileys hot chocolates and even pasties had my mouth watering and definitely added to the escapist and atmospheric feel of the book.

Once again, the characters in this book are lively, fun and jump off the page. Isabella ensures that she adequately develops the main characters of River, Alice, Zara and Bruno so that you are able to identify with and sympathise with them at times. I liked hearing from different characters’ points of view in different chapters, as this sometimes added to the tension and drama!

Appropriately festive without it overtaking the story, which is about community, freidndship and romance at the most magical time of year. Another warm and fuzzy read from a delightful author.

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I don’t want to be that shallow but sometimes I am, and what definitely pulled me into this book was the cover. There’s something about a spillage of red wine that sets me on edge, and suggests this may be a dark, domestic thriller. The cracked mirror also adds another layer of intrigue related to bad luck and possibly damage to someone’s identity, which of course relates to the engaging title. I was excited to try this debut book by an exciting new author!

Blurb:

A crime thriller with a brilliant twist you won’t see coming!
Powerful, packed full of gruelling details that will linger with you long after the book has finished.

Nat lives a picture-perfect life, but it wasn’t always this way. A victim of horrific bullying when she was a teenager, Nat will do anything to keep distance between the girl she was before and the woman she is now.

But when her best friend is murdered and people begin to point their finger at her, Nat’s new life quickly unravels.

To Nat, it’s no surprise the crime happened at the same time as the return of her biggest tormentor, Chrissy Summers. A woman with a violent streak who destroyed lives when she was younger and isn’t afraid to do it again.

Face to face with the past she so firmly keeps behind her, Nat’s sanity wavers as her determination to reveal Chrissy as the monster she knows her as rises to dangerous heights.

The question is, can Nat prove Chrissy is a killer, or will Chrissy get to Nat and her family before she has the chance?

You can’t outrun the past…

My thoughts:

Wow, this definitely does not read like a debut and I had to double check this before writing this review!

I think Jess and this book is what this genre needs. She has managed, in a saturated market, to produce something original and refreshing. The storyline is completely gripping and compelling. I loved the structure, too, which helped me gain a clear picture of the horrors of what happened “then” and Nat’s brutal and confusing reality in the chapters called “now”.

I thought focusing the book around the issue of bullying and its life-long psychological impact was effective for a number of reasons. Firstly, I’d argue that it is a normalised childhood trauma and for most people it is what shapes and impacts their younger years, which of course in turn effects how they interact and feel about themselves as they grow up. The psychological impact is huge and when I’ve sat down and thought about it, it’s surprising to me that I can’t re-call another book in this genre that puts this topic as a central theme in the book. I’m sure there may be some, but I’ve not read them, which is again why this book felt so refreshing and unique.

Bullying is something that happened to me and therefore I could identify with Natalie on an emotional and psychological level, which again increased my interest and engrossment in the story. Some of the scenes are quite graphic but for me this only highlights the realism and urgency of the issue.

As the story develops, there are some intriguing twists and you meet some pretty questionable characters, which of course is all par for the course in this genre but yet is definitely done in a very clever way in this book.

This is a twisty, creepy and exciting story by a fresh voice and I have honestly been blown away by it. I am so excited to hear more from this author. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Allie Reynolds, Shalini Boland and Shari Lapena.

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I was drawn to this book by the gorgeously illustrated cover and the title. This is a new to me author, but I struggle to resist cosy Christmas romances! The cover really gives off a sense of community and fun which I hoped would be found in the book.

Blurb:

Clare Greene and Sam Wilson are getting married and everyone in Little Bramble is excited for the event of the year. But Clare and Sam are busy people and have left organising their wedding to the last minute.

Luckily, wedding planner Hazel Campbell has recently moved to the village. She had what she thought was a wonderful life in Edinburgh with a successful business, a loving fiance and her own wedding coming up. But when she caught her groom-to-be in bed with her best friend she fled, leaving everyone and everything behind.

Little Bramble seems like the ideal place for Hazel to start over. As she throws herself into planning the perfect country village winter wedding, she starts to find herself again. And soon she realises that a second chance at happiness might just be on the cards . . .

Escape to Little Bramble with the rest of The Country Village Series – The Country Village Christmas Show and The Country Village Summer Fete, available now, and The Country Village Allotment, coming in Spring 2022.

My thoughts:

I am always a little nervous when trying out a new author, especially if the book is part of a series I haven’t read. I tend to find that the authors either quickly become ‘must read’ authors, or they fall into the ‘can take them or leave them’ category. For me, Cathy’s easy and cosy style has definitely placed her as a ‘must read’ author. It took me no time at all to settle into her style or get hooked into this book.

I really enjoyed getting to know Hazel and I definitely agree with some of the other character’s comments that she is a kind, likeable and hugely brave character. I respected her work ethic and I also liked that she became a very well-drawn character, as Cathy manages to portray her fun and friendly side alongside her more vulnerable, lonely side.

Jack is another gorgeous character and it was great to see him as a devoted, family man whilst also revealing his vulnerable side. I thought it was quite unique that through her third person narrative, Cathy manages to show some of the story from Jack’s point of view, giving us further insight into the village from an outsider’s point of view.

That of course brings me on to the village itself. Little Bramble is idyllic in lots of ways. It appears almost rural and quaint, but still lively, and the community within the village prove to be full of warmth and heart. It was a really refreshing stance as I do feel like in the modern world so many of these communities that would have existed a couple of decades ago have either moved online or disappeared completely.

This is a gentle, entertaining read, with a good mix of light-hearted and emotional moments. This has been a fabulous introduction to this author’s work and this series. I’m definitely keen to go back and read the first two, and am also excited for the release of book 4 in 2022!

I would highly recommend this book and author to fans of Jessica Redland, Heidi Swain and Rosie Green. It has been an absolute delight from beginning to end.

I am a fan of gangland thrillers and really enjoyed The Price by this author a few months ago. I was excited to read the followi up.

Blurb:

He did the crime…

Twenty years ago, Fletch avenged the gangland killing of his younger brother, Spencer and accepted his guilt. But his actions meant he had to leave his precious children, Austin and Kitty to fend for themselves. He thought they would be looked after…

Served his time…

Now a free man, Fletch returns to find his family in chaos, devastated by his prolonged incarceration. Kit is married to notorious gangster Rosco Taylor, while Austin seems hell bent on doing everything he can to create a turf war.

Fletch knows he has to do something to get his kids under control, but he also knows that the seeds of this disaster were planted long ago by his own reckless actions.

Now Fletch is back and it’s time to settle the score.

My thoughts:

This is a great follow up but it is exactly that – a follow up. I don’t feel that you can read this without reading The Price first, as you can with some books and series.

I loved the fact that Kerry Kaya jumped 20 years in the timeline to ensure that Fletch could still have a big role in this book as I think he is a brilliant gangland hero. I identified with his appreciation of the simple things in life after his stretch in prison.

I love the fact that this gangland thriller is full of grit and tension but is also very family based which gives it a sense of realism that really brings the story and characters to life.

This is a well-written and exciting story about lies, revenge and family loyalty. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Gemma Rogers, Emma Tallon and Heather Atkinson.

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