The Pet Shop at Pennycombe Bay by Sheila Norton

The Pet Shop at Pennycombe Bay

Sheila Norton

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Jess is looking for a fresh start and facing an uncertain future.

She takes refuge in the beautiful Devon seaside town of Pennycombe but her confidence is at an all-time low after losing her job. She's treading on eggshells living with her cousin Ruth, who seems to be permanently angry with her, and although she enjoys her new job at the local pet shop, with boss Jim pondering retirement, it's soon threatened with closure.

But with faithful dog Prudence by her side, Jess decides it's time for her to overcome her shyness and make a life for herself in Pennycombe. After volunteering for Pets at Therapy she soon becomes more involved with the local community and makes new friends, including handsome Tom and his son Jacob. But her hopes of romance are dashed when she sees Tom with a mystery woman.

Will Jess finally get her happy ending and feel at home at Pennycombe?

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I always get really excited when I see a new book by Sheila Norton. Her style of writing draws me in straight away and I always feel I'm right there next to the main character. She also instantly makes you want to visit wherever the book is set and this novel of hers is no different! I love that once again animals are included and are quite a main factor in the novel and I also like the cover. I enjoy the bright, summery colours and the little cute parade of shops at the top of the cover.

When this one started, I didn't relate to Jess as much as I would to Sheila's other main characters. I'm not sure why I didn't warm to her at first - I thought that she was a bit of a pushover and I didn't like the way she let people talk to her. I understand that she was very shy but didn't understand why she let cousin Ruth (who she lives with) talk to her terribly! I did feel really sorry for Jess throughout the start of the novel, and perhaps this was what made me warm to her in the end.

I love the use of the animals throughout the novels and found little Prudence sooooo cute! I absolutely love animals so I feel like this is why I love Sheila's novels! As well as the animals, we heard a lot about the secondary characters and I love the community feel in this particular book and that everyone looks out for one another. I really liked Jim, Jess' boss, he was really kind and I liked their relationship with feisty Vera and her new cat Doc! I also loved the setting, it sounded so beautiful and I found myself on more than one occasion wishing I could live somewhere as idealistic as Pennycombe Bay!

I was actually surprised that this novel was released as one whole book at first (unless I completely missed the four different parts being uploaded separately on Netgalley?!) but actually I preferred reading it as one big story as you don't need to wait to hear that happens next! I'm not patient in the slightest so selfishly this book being released as one big novel worked out perfectly for me! Overall, I feel like this novel was a lovely and entertaining and easy to read book that I really found myself enjoying. As always, Sheila Norton has pulled it out the bag! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: A Very Lucky Christmas by Lilac Mills

A Very Lucky Christmas

Lilac Mills

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Things can't get worse for Daisy Jones... Can they?

Christmas is meant to be the happiest time of year so why is absolutely everything going wrong for Daisy? Reeling from a bad breakup, moving back in with her parents and hounded by trouble at work she really shouldn't be surprised when things go from bad to worse...and she ends up in A&E!

Her great-grandmother persuaded her to plant a silver sixpence in the Christmas pud for luck but choking on the coin isn't the 'change' she'd wished for. Yet when dashing Dr Noah Hartley saves the day things finally start to look up. With Christmas Day just around the corner Daisy's determined to make her own luck...and hopefully bag herself a dishy doc in the process!

A heart-warming Christmas romance perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Debbie Johnson and Daisy James.

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I'd previously read Lilac Mills' other novel Love in The City by the Sea and really enjoyed it, when I saw the cover revels of Lilac's other novels I was really eager to read more by this author. This cover certainly didn't disappoint, I adore the Christmas pudding in the centre (oh the relevance!) and of course the snowy scene out the window, the candles, crackers and the baubles just make for an extra festive and just beautiful cover! It's just so twinkly and pretty!

On to the story itself, it was just as good as the cover! From the off I was so drawn in to the storylines and the characters. I was eager to find out what was going on, and although I didn't twig what Freddie was up to at first, I soon caught up with what was going on when Daisy showed up at Freddie's house early! To say I couldn't believe it would be an understatement! As well as this, I actually found parts of the scene quite funny (although this is obviously meant to be an emotional and heart wrenching moment for Daisy), Carl in particular had me laughing with his sass and attitude - and the dress that Freddie was using to cover himself - don't get me started! Ha!

I felt really sorry for Daisy throughout this novel though, I know that Daisy's mum, nan and great-nan were probably meant to come across in more of a jokey way but I felt really sorry for Daisy and felt that she was being picked on by her family quite a bit. There was only a few moments when her family were nice to her which made me feel quite sad indeed! With regards to the other characters, I liked Noah, he seemed quite gentlemanly and really nice! Some of the conversations in this novel actually had me laughing out loud. There were quite a few times where a conversation would take place but one character would get the wrong end of the stick, ending in more confusion and more laughter from me!

Overall, this novel was funny, full of laughs and in moments quite heart-warming. I really liked the character of Daisy and felt her to be quite relatable. I wouldn't say it was overly festive, as Christmas takes place nearer the beginning of the novel, it's more a story about something that takes place on Christmas Day and the effects it has afterwards. It was really enjoyable and such an easy read. I read this in about two days because I just couldn't put it down. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Wildflower Park Part 1: Build Me Up Buttercup by Bella Osborne

Wildflower Park Part 1: Build Me Up Buttercup

Bella Osborne

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Escape to Wildflower Park with Part One of a brand new four-part serial from bestselling author Bella Osborne.

Life's not always a walk in the park...

When Anna is dumped by her fiancé, she moves in to her own place on the edge of the gorgeous Wildflower Park and pledges to stay off men and focus on her career, but a handsome new colleague seems to thwart her attempts at every turn. And when she receives an accidental text from a mystery man, could it be the new start she needs? Or someone she really shouldn't be falling for?

Anna's neighbour Sophie is a stressed-out mum-of-two with a third on the way. Her husband is a constant frustration, and their children are a regular source of newly-invented swear words and unidentifiable sticky surfaces.

Luckily, Anna and Sophie have each other - and Wildflower Park proves to be a sanctuary as they map out a path to find the happiness they both deserve...

Fantastically funny, this irresistibly heart-warming novel will charm the fans of Milly Johnson and Jill Mansell.

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Oh how lovely it was to be reading a novel by Bella Osborne again! I love her novels, they're so witty and enjoyable. They're also really easy and heartwarming to read so I was so happy when I saw this one pop up on Netgalley. I love the cover of Bella's new novella's. They're cosy, I love the bright colours, the colourful houses and flowers and the cute little pond with the ducks. It's all very cute and draws you.

Now onto the actual story! There isn't too much that happens in this one, but it's left on a great cliffhanger that I just know will build up and I can't wait to read about what happens! The story follows two main characters, best friends Sophie and Anna. Two completely different people. Anna is single, and just broken up with her ex-fiance. She's just moved into a new flat which backs on to Wildflower Park. A lot of the book is spent where Anna is at work, but I enjoyed this as with Anna it's based around her colleagues. She has to work beside new American worker Hudson and whilst she finds him annoying, she also finds him a bit attractive.

Then there's Sophie, and Anna isn't the only one who finds Hudson attractive! Whilst Sophie is pregnant with her third baby, she is feeling really unappreciated with her husband and starts to fantasise about Hudson. She's really struggling with being a mum to Arlo and Petal and says to Anna that she needs to get away. There's loads of potential with Sophie's story and I can't wait to read more about her! I think I preferred Sophie's character to Anna but I enjoyed reading about both of them.

Overall, not a bad start. It has loads of potential with being an amazing story (and I know it will be!) and I can't wait to read the next one in the series to find out what happens next! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: Five Ladies Go Skiing by Karen Aldrous

Five Ladies Go Skiing

Karen Aldous

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

A delightful new novel of Love and Friendship from Karen Aldous...

Ginny is now alone after losing her husband, so her friends (her F.L.O.W.E.R.S) decide with his first memorial imminent, learning to ski in the Swiss Alps would be a great distraction for her.

What Ginny's friends fail to add into the equation however, is their own distractions! The baggage they carry with them not only threatens their skiing but scales mountainous emotions throughout the trip.

The questions then are... Can their friendships survive, and can Ginny ever trust enough to love again?

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What a wonderful festive read by Karen Aldous. I don't think I've ever read a novel by this author before and after reading this I can't imagine why! It was gripping right from the start, and after the first couple of pages I actually had a few tears in my eyes as it was quite emotional!

Quickly talking about the cover, this is what automatically drew me in. I love the pale blue sky full of snow, and of course the thick snow covering everything in sight! The skiers, the lodge, and the mistletoe around the edges makes such a beautiful cover that I couldn't wait to get stuck in! I also love that all five women are featured on the front cover, as it gives you a better idea of the story. The blurb also drew me in, it sounded so exciting and really intrigued me!

I really found that I related to all of the characters in their own certain way. They were all quite different but it was refreshing to read about different characters. It had everything you could possibly ask for in a novel, it had love, friendship, drama and snow! It had deep meanings behind this novel and for that I was completely gripped. I would 100% recommend giving this novel a read, as you will be hooked after the first page! I will certainly be looking out for more novels by this author in the future that's for sure!

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly and thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for allowing me to be a part of this amazing Blog Tour.

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Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits of her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!

Much of Karen's inspiration comes from her travels and meeting people. The UK, France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy and parts of the USA and Asia are just some you will experience in her books to date. However, wherever she goes, new characters emerge in 'Karen's World' screaming at her to tell their stories; past or present. She loves to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives - but struggles to control them! And, of course there's always a hunk or two!



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If We're Not Married by Thirty by Anna Bell

If We're Not Married by Thirty

Anna Bell

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

A brilliantly funny, romantic and effervescent read, If We're Not Married by Thirty is the irresistable new novel from the bestselling author of The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart and It Started With a Tweet. For fans of Lindsey Kelk and Sophie Kinsella.

Lydia's not exactly #LivingHerBestLife. She never imagined she'd be here at thirty - newly single, a job that's going nowhere and her friends all winning at life when she's still barely taking part. So she jumps at the chance of a free holiday and jets off to sunny Spain.

Then, out of the blue, she bumps into her childhood friend, the handsome and charming Danny Whittaker. She's always had a crush on him and they soon enter into a passionate holiday romance.

But this relationship could be more than a fling. Years ago they made a pact that if they were still single when they turned thirty they would get married. But noone really follows through with these pacts . . . right?

Could Lydia's back-up man really be her happy ever after?

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What a delightful and enjoyable read. I'd never read any novels by Anna Bell but after reading this I wonder why. I feel like I say that about a lot of authors so I will definitely be broadening my reading! Although this cover isn't my most favourite ever, I enjoy the bright colours, the two main characters parallel to each other and the style of writing. It doesn't give much away but at the same time piques your intrigue and makes you want to find out what it's about.

This was quite a different novel to what I usually read, however this is no bad thing. I loved the character of Lydia, there are laughs throughout the novel and I found myself laughing at this novel on more than one occasion. I love a book that makes you feel good and this is exactly that.

The novel follows main character Lydia, who is feeling a bit 'bleh' about her life at the moment. She feels that everyone around her is moving on with their lives, either getting engaged or having a baby and she feels that time has stood still for her. So, when her mum buys her a ticket to Barcelona to 'find herself' again, she reluctantly goes. However, whilst she's out there, she bumps into old friend Danny, whom she's loved since she was a teen and they kissed at her sister's wedding. Sparks fly and the pair pick up from where they left off. One thing leads to another and the pair decide to go ahead with a pact they made when they were at the wedding, to get married to each other if they are still single by the time they're thirty. Lydia's made up because she's always loved Danny, well at least she think she has... and the pair indulge in a whirlwind romance. But is it all that's cracked up to be?

Oh, what an amazing story!! I literally could not put this down!! When it got to the 'sten' do, I was literally just so eager to carry on reading it and I was getting frustrated when I couldn't! I literally couldn't wait to find out what happened next and to find out what was going on. Why was Victoria and Danny acting so shifty? Was something going on between them? Will Danny and Lydia stay together? What happens with Ross? All of these questions kept flying around my head and I just had to know how it ended - and what an ending! One thing I loved about this story was Lydia and Danny's mums. They were just so funny and their antics had me in stitches. I also liked that we got to hear about other secondary characters as well. Such as Lucy and her fiancé Ed, Kerry and her family and the like.

I will certainly be looking out for more novels by Anna Bell in the future. And I'll be going back to finding some older ones of hers to read too! Overall, a brilliant unputdownable read. Thank you so much to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: One New York Christmas by Mandy Baggot

One New York Christmas

Mandy Baggot

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Will this Christmas romance be just for the holidays?

A fun, festive romantic comedy to curl up with this winter. If you love Josie Silver's One Day in December, you'll love Mandy Baggot's heart-melting love story.

Lara Weeks is heading for New York with best friend Susie for the Christmas trip of a lifetime.

A festive break in the snowy Big Apple visiting the tourist hotspots, not to mention the shopping, seems like the perfect way for Lara to get over her ex-boyfriend. Or maybe make him so jealous he begs for a second chance.

Enlisting the help of gorgeous actor, Seth Hunt, doesn't quite go to plan, but there's something about him that has Lara wishing for a different kind of happy ever after...

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What a perfect winter novel to cosy up with. It will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside by the time you've finished this fantastic new novel by Mandy Baggot. As soon as I knew that Mandy was bringing out a new Christmas novel, I jumped at the chance to read it because I have loved every single one of her other novels. This one was definitely no different. This cover is definitely one of my favourites of Mandy's. It just looks so sparkly and gorgeous! It's definitely got a festive feel to it and it completely draws you in. I couldn't wait to read it as soon as I saw this cover! Set in New York, this novel focuses on Lara who has escaped to the City That Never Sleeps with best friend Susie to get away from what's happening in her life at home back in Appleshaw.

One thing I love about Mandy's novels is that we always get to see both sides of the story. This time we get to read about Lara, who as mentioned above, is from a little village in England - and that village is all she's known for her whole life. She's never travelled, and she thought she had it good with boyfriend of two years Dan, that is until he says he wants a break from their relationship. On the other side is Seth, an actor trying to get his big break and also trying to find his birth mum (or mom). The two collide when Susie and Lara drunkenly message him on Twitter one night, they decide to meet up in New York to make Dan jealous and the attraction is obvious right from the beginning.

I really liked Lara and her no-nonsense attitude, she was a really refreshing character and I enjoyed reading about her and Seth's relationship. I also loved reading about New York around Christmas time and it's definitely made me want to book up and go! Mandy has a gift of making you feel as though you're right there with the characters, feeling what they're feeling and doing what they're doing. This book was simply magical and Mandy Baggot at her finest. I loved every page. I was just sad when I finished it! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

For Once in My Life by Colleen Coleman

For Once in My Life

Colleen Coleman

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Twenty-nine-year-old Lily Buckley planned to be happily married and in her dream job by now. Instead she's been single since being left at the altar three years ago, and works at her local paper, writing about giant vegetables at the village fete and a dog who looks exactly like Chewbacca.

Not quite what she was dreaming of.

So when Lily's given the opportunity to write her own column it's exactly what she's always wanted - except what she has to write about. She has to do one thing every week that scares her.

With encouragement from sexy colleague - and adrenalin-junkie - Christopher, Lily agrees. From sky-diving to haunted houses, Lily is going to be pushed to her limit. But Lily is hiding something - the thing that she fears most of all...

Ever since her heart was broken Lily has been afraid of falling in love again. Will fear hold her back once more - or can Christopher help her to finally find happiness?

An uplifting, feel-good story about friendship, romance, and finding the hero inside yourself. Fans of Marian Keyes, Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella will love Colleen Coleman!

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I was really looking forward to starting this novel, I wanted something a bit different to what I usually read and this fit the bill perfectly. The cover is bright and so eye catching. I love the colours used, the stars really stand out, and it kind of shows you that the main character of this story will be going on some sort of journey. It doesn't give too much away but it gives you some sort of indication as to what the story is all about.

I didn't read Colleen's other novel, and after finishing this one I have no idea why! I really need to start broadening what I read because as many of you know, you should never judge a book by it's cover! This book follows main character Lily who works at her local newspaper, Lily had always loved her job - until Gareth took over and took all the fun out of it that is. But when Gareth suddenly leaves, Lily is able to finally get her chance to shine and when head office puts forward that she starts her own weekly column, she jumps at the chance.

The only catch is that she needs to do something weekly that scares her. From skydiving, to completing a crazy assault course. However, Lily is determined not to be beaten on this one and goes along with it. Although she wouldn't have gotten through it without friendly consultant Christopher, that has been hired to keep an eye on the paper and help turn it around. Along the way, Lily and Christopher grow close. But with Lily hiding away from her feelings, the big question is whether she can finally put the past behind her and put love first.

I have to say, it was a little slow to begin with. There was a lot of Lily basically talking at us, describing this and that and it was a lot of description. However, having said that, when Lily starts this bucket list, that's when things get interesting and I started to really enjoy it. So if you're feeling the same, don't give up! It gets so good to the point where you can't put it down - so keep going! Just like Lily. I found myself really relating to Lily because I feel that in some way we have quite a bit in common. I am the same, I love wrapping up and being all cosy and settling down to read a good book. But as Lily says in this novel, it's all about doing what you love isn't it? Sometimes we all must get to a point where we question whether what we do in our life is making us truly happy, and what we can do to change that if it's not. I just feel that this book was really relatable and I think it will relate to a lot of different and various readers too.

Overall, a really interesting and refreshing read. It was lighthearted and so enjoyable to read but there's a deep meaning of grabbing life by the hands and the feeling of belonging which really pushed this book into becoming one of my favourites of the year. A lot of what Lily said really resonated with me and made me really think! I will certainly be keeping an eye out for more novels from Colleen Coleman in the future that's for sure! And I am now the proud owner of 3 of her other novels. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Bridesmaids by Jane Costello

Bridesmaids

Jane Costello

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLING AUTHOR

It's a happy day for everyone except the bridesmaid ...

With less than an hour to go before her best friend, Grace, is to walk down the aisle, Evie is attempting to fulfil her most important bridesmaid role: to deposit the bride at the start-line at the appointed time. But with a bride famed for her chaotic sense of time, and the bride's daughter busy mashing Molton Brown into the expensive hotel carpet, minus underwear, the odds are stacked against her.

Evie is twenty-seven; a sparkly, down-to-earth journalist. She has never been in love and has started to fret that she never will be. Small wonder, then, that the prospect of being bridesmaid at no less than three impending weddings is one that fills her with trepidation. But then she meets her friend Valentina's date, Jack. Valentina is beautiful, shallow and self-obsessed. Her dates tend to be mirror-images. Which can only mean one thing: Jack can't possibly be as good as he seems. Can he?

Full of warmth, fun and laughter, Bridesmaids is a novel to devour!

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I picked this up in Asda one day thinking it was a new novel of hers and then got home and realised that it was just a new cover of an old novel from 2008. Although, to be fair, not that it mattered because it turns out this was on my TBR pile anyway! So was pleased that I managed to pick it up with a cute and pretty new cover. The cover is simplistic but works really well and really draws you in. I like the pastel and bright colours used.

I was in a bit of a reading rut after just finishing about 3 Christmas novels in a row and didn't really fancy reading another one. I wanted something a bit more refreshing and when I started reading this I wasn't sure if this was going to get me out of said rut! It took me a bit of a while to get into it, some parts I had to re-read a line 3 or so times for me to be able to understand what it actually meant! But, the further you read in, the better it becomes! From about half way I was absolutely hooked and couldn't put it down. When it got to this point I was pleased I didn't give up and finished it to the end as I was so eager to find out how it ended!

The blurb didn't give much away, as it only really mentioned main character Evie and Grace's wedding - where she meets Jack. So I didn't know how the entire book was going to pan out, but of course knew the storyline was going to surround weddings. Evie was a really lovely and funny character. At some points in this novel I found myself laughing out loud because some of the things Evie went through was just hilarious! (Like Gareth for example! How much bad luck can one bridesmaid get?!) I really liked Evie and felt myself really feeling sorry for Grace - and hating Patrick! Valentina was another funny one who I liked, even though she was really self-absorbed I found her great fun.

Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed this novel in the end, even though I thought I wasn't going to when I first started it! It was funny, a bit emotional in parts and just completely unputdownable. A fab book that really helped me get out of my reading rut! I would definitely recommend you pick one up, especially with the gorgeous new cover.

The Best Festive Reads of 2018 So Far...

Since I started blogging a few years ago now, I've read quite a few Christmas novels! This year I've decided to list my favourites of the year so far as there are so, so many different ones out there that it's hard to choose which festive novel to read first!

Going through to write this post, it's actually surprising how many books I've already read this year and it's only October! So let's get stuck right in...

1. Dreaming of Christmas by T.A. Williams

You can read my review here.

2. The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove by Karen Clarke

You can read my review here.

3. Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at The Winter Wonderland by Heidi Swain

You can read my review here.

4. The Mother of all Christmases by Milly Johnson

You can read my review here.

5. A Winter Beneath the Stars by Jo Thomas

You can read my review here.

6. Love at the Northern Lights by Darcie Boleyn

You can read my review here.

7. One New York Christmas by Mandy Baggot

You can read my review on the 12th of November. So watch this space!

So those are my favourites so far! I've still got plenty more on my TBR pile but these have stood out to me so far this year. I've also been wanting to re-read the following other Christmas novels!

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas
Tilly Tennant

The Canal Boat Christmas: Port Out
Cressida McLaughlin

Possibly going to re-read these!!

A Winter Flame
Milly Johnson

The Canal Boat Christmas: Starboard Home
Cressida McLaughlin


OK no - definitely going to re-read these!

Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights
Carole Matthews

The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop
Caroline Roberts





















And those are my best festive reads of 2018 so far! What festive novels have you been loving?

The Little Book Cafe: Amy's Story by Georgia Hill

The Little Book Cafe: Amy's Story

Georgia Hill

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Escape to the seaside for a new three-part series for fans of The Canal Boat Cafe and Willow Cottage.

Amy, the manager of The Little Book Cafe, is a hopeless romantic who had her heart broken, but quietly refuses to give up on love.

With her friends Tash and Emma, not to mention their shared love of books and delicious cake from the cafe next door, Amy might just find the courage to fall for a real life romance this time...

Amy's story is the final instalment of The Little Book Cafe series so wrap up warm this Autumn and treasure this wonderful book.

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I was so looking forward to diving into Amy's story and I can honestly say that it certainly didn't disappoint. We'd seen a little bit about her in the previous two novella's and was excited to read more about her. I must say that this cover is just absolutely delightful. I adore the burnt orange colours, it just screams autumn! I love the big pumpkins, the cute little cupcake and of course the pile of books in the centre of the cover! The colourful leaves around the outside just completes the cover for me.

Onto Amy's story. I really felt for Amy throughout this novel. Her mother treated her awfully and she just wants to catch a break. I will say, I feel like theres a huge focus on weight in this book and I really don't feel like it was necessary. I couldn't believe it when friend Emma said 'Yes, you've got some weight to lose' and Amy's mum saying she'll never find someone who will love her and being shocked at Amy's size. I just felt it was all a bit over the top and as the story went on it got a bit annoying.

One thing I liked about this, was that the women all came together in the end. In the first novella, Tash and Amy didn't see eye to eye, and now in this one they are rooting for each other. It was nice to see. It was also nice to see that Amy and her mum finally sorted things out and that they were going to be more positive to one another. I did enjoy the descriptions of the hot chocolates, the parties. Everything was described so beautifully and it was such an easy read. It took me a few days to read it (but that's because I'm such a slow reader!), you could easily sit down and read this in a few hours.

I'm sad that this is the final one in the series, it was so nice being back in Berecombe and I loved reading about some much-loved characters again. I wished there was another Christmas one! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson

The Mother of All Christmases

Milly Johnson

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Eve Glace - co-owner of the theme park Winterworld - is having a baby and her due date if a perfectly timed 25th December. And she's decided that she and her husband Jacques should renew their wedding vows with all the pomp that was missing the first time. But growing problems at Winterworld keep distracting them...

Annie Pandoro and her husband Joe own a small Christmas cracker factory, are well set up and happy together despite life never blessing them with a much-wanted child. But when Annie finds that the changes happening to her body aren't typical of the menopause but pregnancy, her joy is uncontainable.

Palma Collins has agreed to act as a surrogate, hoping the money will get her out of the gutter in which she finds herself. But when the couple she is helping split up, is she going to be left carrying a baby she never intended to keep?

Annie, Palma and Eve all meet at the 'Christmas Pudding Club', a new directive started by a forward-thinking doctor to help mums-to-be mingle and share their pregnancy journeys. Will this group help each other to find love, contentment and peace as Christmas approaches?

The brand new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Perfectly Imperfect Woman; a gorgeous read full of love, life, laughter - and crackers!

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Milly Johnson has a gift. There's no two ways about it. Her writing draws you in from the very beginning and just when you think that these characters are going to be happy finally - BAM! Something happens that turns their world upside down. This is the point where you do not want to put the book down and you take it absolutely everywhere with you. This book is no different to the others I've read by Milly. I absolutely loved it.

The cover is wonderfully festive, I love the colours, the cute little shop cabins and the beautifully lit Christmas trees. The title is extra special too. It's a novel that you can't wait to dive into. And dive into it I did! I really enjoyed reading about the three women, it was nice to read about women who were pregnant, as with most of Milly's novels they do not include children. Also with most of Milly's other novels, we get to know three main characters with a side bonus of visiting some other characters too. In this novel, we focused on Eve (from previous novel A Winter Flame), Annie and Palma. All three ladies are absolutely lovely and I couldn't wait to read their stories and about their pregnancies. We also touched in briefly with Effin (One of Eve's workers) and Caraid (Think that's how it's spelt!!! Effin's niece).

The story slowly builds up, and at about half way through - that's it - you're hooked. There's no going back and you feel as though you have to finish it -  and soon! What I find with Milly's novels, is that every chapter is left with a big cliffhanger, so if you're reading before bed, that 'one more chapter' idea that you usually tell yourself never works and you end up reading 6 more before you finally convince yourself to put it down. Then, when you're eating breakfast you find yourself reading it again! I wouldn't say it was overly festive though, there wasn't much mention of Christmas, although this didn't really matter because the storyline was just so good.

It's honestly impossible to dislike this book. It has everything and you find yourself relating to the characters quickly. I think Palma was my favourite in this novel, I really felt for her and all that she had been through - I found myself thinking on more than one occasion 'Can't this woman catch a break?!', just a quick side note, you WILL need tissues when you start reading about her giving birth! I was soooo emotional it's unreal! Milly Johnson what have you done to me! Crying into my porridge. Although having said that Annie was really cute too and I was so pleased that her and Joe finally got what they've always dreamed of! Overall, it was an utterly brilliant novel and I am so pleased I managed to read this before it was released. It's definitely put me in a festive mood and it's not even November yet!

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Winter Beneath the Stars by Jo Thomas

A Winter Beneath the Stars

Jo Thomas

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Escape to snowy Sweden in the gorgeous new novel from the author of Late Summer in the Vineyard and Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard. Fans of Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will love this unforgettable winter story from Jo Thomas.

Halley has been running away from her problems for years.

On a courier trip to Tallfors, deep in Swedish Lapland, everything is going to plan. Halley has her bag, with two precious wedding rings inside for delivery... until she doesn't.

The only way to save the wedding is to team up with mysterious reindeer herder Bjorn, the one person who can lead her across the snowy tundra to be reunited with her bag.

On a journey of a lifetime beneath the stars, with only the reindeer and a bad-tempered stranger for company beside the fire, Halley realises that she will need to confront her past heartaches in order to let the warmth of love in once more...

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I've always loved Jo Thomas' novels, so when I got an opportunity to read her first ever winter novel, I jumped at the chance. I saw this cover and instantly fell in love, add in some reindeer and snow and it sounds like the perfect novel to cosy up with a hot chocolate. I love the deep colours on the cover, the gorgeous deep white snow and the beautiful stars dotted around the sky. It gives you a real understanding of what happens in this novel.

With regards to the story itself, I simply loved it. It was certainly what I would call different to what I usually read. As well as it being a quick, easy, heartwarming novel, there's a real deep theory behind it as well. You can tell as you're reading it, that a huge amount of research has gone into this novel and I think it's amazing! I really loved reading about the Sami way of life and it was just so intriguing and enjoyable! Parts of this novel absolutely broke my heart and actually had me crying! I was an emotional wreck by the end of this book but it was just absolutely beautiful.

I absolutely loved the setting of this novel, it sounded so surreal and beautiful. I have a huge urge now to go and visit!! The character of Halley was interesting. I had a feeling that she was hiding something and I was so intrigued to get to the bottom as to what it was. This is the same for Daniel. I knew that there was something that had happened for both of them that had caused them to be so anxious and so withdrawn to love. It was just such a beautiful read that I found myself eager to read more, tempted to pick up the novel at every opportunity to read on.

The Oyster Catcher will always be my favourite read by Jo Thomas, but this is a very strong contender that's fighting for that top spot! This novel is like a huge warm hug. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at the Winter Wonderland by Heidi Swain

Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at The Winter Wonderland

Heidi Swain

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

The sparkling new Christmas novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain!

After calling off her engagement, Hayley, the Wynthorpe Hall housekeeper, wants nothing more than to return to her no-strings fun-loving self, avoiding any chance of future heartbreak. Little does she know, Wynbridge's latest arrival is about to throw her plan entirely off course . . .

Moving into Wynthorpe Hall to escape the town's gossip, Hayley finds herself immersed in the eccentric Connelly family's festive activities as they plan to host their first ever Winter Wonderland. But Hayley isn't the only new resident at the hall. Gabe, a friend of the Connelly's son Jamie, has also taken up residence, moving into Gatekeeper's Cottage, and he quickly makes an impression on Wynbridge's reformed good-girl.

As preparations commence for the biggest event of the season, the pair find themselves drawn ever closer to one another, but unbeknownst to Hayley, Gabe, too, has a reason for turning his back on love, one that seems intent on keeping them apart.

Under the starry winter skies, will Gabe convince Hayley to open her heart again once more? And in doing so, will he convince himself?

Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at The Winter Wonderland is the perfect read this Christmas, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance. Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Carole Matthews and Cathy Bramley.

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Heidi Swain does it again! I am a huge fan of Heidi's novels and this one was no different. It has the same wonderful community feel that all of her other novels have. Let's just take a moment to talk about this absolutely stunning cover. Absolutely everything about it screams Christmas and it's so, so beautiful! Probably one of my favourite covers of Heidi's to date. I adore the purple sky, the thick snow, the cute little cottages and the beautiful Christmas tree taking pride of place in the centre.

This time, Heidi's novel follows Hayley, the Wynthorpe Hall housekeeper. Hayley thinks she's found it all, a good job, lovely friends, and a good looking and cheeky fiance Gavin. However, things turn upside down when Hayley finds herself wishing she never got close to Gavin in the first place! To avoid anymore gossip about her life, she moves into Wynthorpe Hall and doesn't look back. She starts to love her job even more and new arrival Gabe is one of the reasons behind that.

Hayley and Gabe both have their secrets, (Gabe's was so heartbreaking!) but can they put it behind them to start a relationship together? We go through so much with this couple, and it was such an engaging and heartwarming read. I absolutely loved reading about the Christmas and festive events that take place at the Hall and at Wynbridge. It was honestly just to heartwarming and I adored reading about the sweet treats that Dorthy made or the crafty festive items on sale by the girls at The Cherry Tree Cafe.

It was so lovely as well reading about some of the characters which has made an appearance throughout most of Heidi's other novels. Although these characters pop up every now and then in this novel, you don't have to have read the others in order to understand them. It just adds to the magic that all the characters are the same! It really adds to that lovely community feel that all of Heidi's novels have. Overall, a beautiful festive read. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Always the Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk

Always the Bridesmaid

Lindsey Kelk

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

The hilarious new summer bestseller from Lindsey Kelk, bestselling author or the I Heart series.

Everyone loves a bridesmaid - except Maddie, who's perpetually asked to be one.

Everyone loves a wedding - except Maddie's best friend, who's getting divorced.

And everyone loves the way Maddie's so happy behind the scenes - except Maddie herself.

One best friend is in wedding countdown, while the other heads for marriage meltdown. And as Maddie juggles her best chance at promotion in years with bridezilla texts and late-night counselling sessions, she starts to wonder - is it time to stop being the bridesmaid?

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After reading Lindsey Kelk's newest novel One in a Million, the other week and absolutely loving it, I've been searching for a new one of hers to read and stumbled across this one on sale for 99p - I mean, how could I say no to that price? This one offered humour, emotion and romance all rolled into one and I love that - that way you get to feel all the feels! The cover didn't exactly blow me away, but I was looking forward to reading another one by my newly favourite author and I liked the sound of the blurb.

As with One in a Million, it was full from the start of humour and I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion! I have to say that I think this is possibly one of my favourite novels I've read from this year. I was just laughing all the way through and visibly cringing when things just kept going wrong for Maddie! I didn't think it was possible for that much to go wrong for one person! One parts that particularly tickled me was when Maddie spilt some tea at a clients house and instead of spilling the tea on their clean, white sofa - her blue ink pen leaked all over it, leaving a huge blue stain! Honestly, I couldn't believe it, it was so funny.

The story follows Maddie, in a journal-type way. A journal that was given to her by bride Lauren, one of her best friends (I love the entries that she put in, I was in stitches!). Maddie has a lot on her plate, she's going for a new job, she starts really liking Will a guy whom she met at a wedding she worked at, and she has to deal with planning her Lauren's wedding plus dealing with other best friend Sarah's recent divorce. Throw in there confused feelings for Tom (another man she met at the same wedding as Will) and Will (said first man) 'cheating' on her, Maddie doesn't know what to do.

I honestly really felt for Maddie on many occasions in the book, to name a couple:

1. When Maddie's sister Eleanor called her life pointless and empty
2. When Lauren and Sarah had an argument and Maddie had to deal with the aftermath
3. When Maddie realised that Will wasn't single after all and actually had a girlfriend, who he was cheating on her with
4. The way Shona completely and utterly took the piss with how she treated and spoke to Maddie

Other than this, I found Maddie hilarious and loved the overall storyline as well as all of the characters (apart from Will of course). I loved the events Maddie put on and I loved the stories from the hen party (Laughed yet again when they went to the club and Lauren was puking up and crying and Sarah was getting off with a nineteen-year-old). I don't want to give too much away, although I know it's been out a long time now but it was just honestly such an amazing book and I will definitely be looking out for more by Lindsey Kelk now (if I wasn't already before!).

Love and Lies at the Village Christmas Shop by Portia MacIntosh

Love and Lies at the Village Christmas Shop

Portia MacIntosh

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Blast the Michael Buble, wrap your hands around a cinnamon latte and enjoy this warm, hilarious Christmas novel!

Ivy loves Christmas. As owner of Christmas Every Day, the year-round festive store, you'd expect nothing less!

The only thing missing in Ivy's life is a dash of romance - something her twin sister Holly will not let her forget...

When her mother passed away, Ivy vowed to take over the running of her mother's store and keep the Christmas spirit alive in the idyllic seaside town of Marram Bay.

But all this changes when an enigmatic businessman moves to the town, threatening to bulldoze her beloved shop to make way for a holiday complex.

Can Ivy save her shop before Christmas? Could there be a different side to the newest resident of Marram Bay that would make all her Christmas wishes come true?

The brand-new laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Zara Stoneley and Tilly Tennant.

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This is the second novel I've read by Portia MacIntosh and I'll be honest and say they just keep getting better. I loved the last one but this one just blew me away because it was set at Christmas! And Christmas novels are my absolute favourite type of novel. The cover for this novel is so festive and simply beautiful! The idea of having a Christmas shop open all year round sounds amazing to me! The Christmas decorations, the little Santa and the beautiful tree looks so cute and just so Christmassy! It's one of the best Christmas covers I've seen.

As for the story, it was lovely and heartwarming. What I love about Portia's novels is that they are so lighthearted and easy to read. You feel like you're flying through the pages! This particular novel by Portia MacIntosh follows main character Ivy as she takes over her mums beloved Christmas shop but is stopped in her tracks when Seb comes along. Seb is intent on knocking down Christmas Every Day and wants to build holiday homes - which most of the village agree he should do to get more tourists! Ivy is heartbroken by their decision to knock down her childhood home and livelihood and makes it her mission to stop Seb getting his own way.

Along the way, she and Seb grow closer, no matter how much Ivy tries to stop her feeling - this man is trying to destroy her home after all! Will Seb compromise on his plans in order for Ivy to see him as he really is? It was such a great, festive read and I was left feeling so happy and warm inside once I finished it! I was sad when it finished and it was definitely one of the most festive novels I've read so far this year so would recommend giving it a go if you're not feeling as festive yet! It's a great way to get you in that Christmassy mood for sure.

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove by Karen Clarke

The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove

Karen Clarke

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the cafe at Seashell Cove, where there's hot chocolate to keep you warm - and the man of your dreams could be waiting...

Interior designer Tilly Campbell loves being carefree and single. But her latest job is redecorating the cosy local cafe for a Christmas party, and when her friends confess their plans for the big night - including a proposal, a declaration of love and a pregnancy announcement - Tilly starts to wonder if she might be missing out...

Transforming the cafe into a winter wonderland is more of a challenge than she thought, so when she bumps into gorgeous newcomer Seth, Tilly welcomes the distraction. Seth is a single father, struggling to settle his son Jack into their new cottage, and Tilly is determined to help them make their house into a home in time for Christmas.

But with the cafe still in chaos just days before the party it looks like it's going to be a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons... With friends old and new relying on her, can Tilly save the Christmas party?

And could she finally find love waiting for her under the mistletoe?

A heart-warming, hilarious read about friendship, family and the meaning of Christmas. Perfect for fans of Sue Moorcroft, Holly Martin and Debbie Johnson.

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Oh how I love Seashell Cove! It's probably one of my favourite series - ever - and I was so excited when I saw another one was coming out! The cover is probably my favourite Christmas cover to date. I LOVE the use of the huge Christmas pudding, the snow, the presents - it's all so cute and pretty! I've also been really eager to read about Tilly, she's been a character in the past novels that I've liked and been interested in. As with all Karen's other books, it's funny throughout, it's engaging, and just written beautifully!

I've been so looking forward to Tilly's story and her story didn't disappoint. If this novel doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit then I don't know what will! What I will say, is that it's not as festive as what I thought it would be, there's a few mentions of Christmas baking and a paragraph or so on decorating a tree but not much else festive happens - even the Christmas Eve Party wasn't described that much! However, the overall story was wonderful and enjoyable to read - so I couldn't give it less than 5 stars!

I liked Tilly's character. She's a no-nonsense kinda gal and I love that about her. She's not overly interested in what she looks like, she prefers to stick to jeans and trainers rather than a dress and isn't that interested in a career or money. I also loved Seth's character, at first I thought he was probably too good to be true but he ended up being a nice guy and I loved his son Jack and Tilly's sisters daughter Romy's frienship - so cute! And I loved Digby of course.

I loved, loved, loved being back in Seashell Cove, as always Karen's style of writing keeps you hooked to the story until the very last page. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances by Donna Ashcroft

The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances

Donna Ashcroft

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Snow is beginning to fall around the cosy Castle Teashop, with its toasty log fire, scrumptious mince pies and delicious hot chocolates. Romance is in the air and Lily King is hoping some winter magic will help to make her dreams come true...

Twenty-five-year-old Lily King is wondering when her life is going to start. She adores working at the much-loved Castle Teashop, surrounded by familiar faces and delicious cakes. But she's stuck in a rut. She's just been dumped by her boyfriend and her dream job seems to be slipping through her fingers.

When her best friend Emily Campbell needs urgent help to organise her enchanting Christmas wedding, Lily realises it's finally her moment to shine and reach for the opportunities she's been wishing for. Can she pull off the biggest celebration Castle Cove has ever seen or will something - or someone - make things more complicated than she imagined?

Rebellious and handsome photographer Josh Havellin-Scott has always felt like an outsider, especially next to his perfect older brother, who is about to get married. At the last minute, Josh finds himself roped into plans for the Big Day, the very last thing he wants to do, until he meets creative and quirky Lily King...

When Lily and Josh are thrown together, it's clear they couldn't be more different. But they begin to realise that opposites attract - and sometimes when you're not looking for love, it comes and finds you when you least expect it. With some festive magic, will they manage to work together and save the day?

And could they discover a winter romance of their very own along the way?

An utterly scrumptious festive romance about the importance of being true to yourself, following your dreams and opening your heart to second chances. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Milly Johnson and Debbie Macomber.

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Another day, another Christmas review! I feel like these are all I'm going to post at the moment but I'm absolutely loving all these festive reads! This one I was particularly excited to read, just look at that cover! The mince pies, the Christmas cakes, the snow falling outside the window and all the holly just looks so beautiful and Christmassy! I absolutely love it, and if you weren't feeling festive after reading the blurb, then you definitely would after seeing this cover!

The story itself is just as festive as well. I found myself really relating to Lily's character. It's clear that Lily has big dreams but is - quite frankly - too scared to do anything about them! It wasn't until Simon spoke to restaurant owner Luc about Lily getting a job there as a chef that anything was done about it. Lily came across as quite timid to me at the beginning, and I instantly warmed to her character.

The Castle itself sounds glorious, this novel is set in such a beautiful sounding place that you'd soon be feeling Christmassy after you read this. The overall story kept up a good pace and was entertaining. At no points was I wishing the plot would hurry up a little and I felt all warm and fuzzy at some parts. So it was a great read all together. Lily goes through a lot in this novel, what with her job, her mother (who walked out on her when she was just 18 months old) contacting her out of the blue and her 'relationship' with Josh, she feels completely overwhelmed.

Some characters I didn't really warm to or necessarily like but it was so lovely to read about Lily and Josh's growing and changing relationship though. I really enjoyed reading about them. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Happily Ever After at the Dog & Duck by Jill Steeples

Happily Ever After at the Dog & Duck

Jill Steeples

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Life in Little Leyton is never quiet, and when handsome developer Max and his bride-to-be Ellie, receive some sad news, he decides to whisk her away for a romantic break. The time away gives Ellie a new perspective, and she's eager to get home to get on with planning their wedding.

But a devastating incident at the pub she runs, The Dog & Duck, puts everything in jeopardy. And, at their home Braithwaite Manor, tensions are heightened when Ellie's future mother-in-law turns up with all her worldly belongings, much to Max's sister Katy's despair.

With Max preoccupied with problems at work, Ellie's left literally holding the baby, while dealing with a seemingly endless lists of dramas. And as Christmas approaches, Ellie begins to wonder if she'll ever get her happily ever after...

Jill Steeples' heart-warming The Dog & Duck series is the perfect escapist read for all fans of romance, laughter and unforgettable stories.

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It was so lovely being back at The Dog & Duck again. I've absolutely adored the rest in the series so I was really looking forward to being back there again and reading out some of my favourite characters! The fact that the cover is absolutely beautiful did help push me into reading it though! I adore the pink sky with the white snowflakes, the cute pub and of course the characters at the front. It really looks stunning and completely draws you in.

Getting on to the story itself, it was really enjoyable. It was the perfect way to spend a day, curled up on the sofa and reading this. I would recommend giving the others a read before you read this one though, as it will give you a better understanding as to what has happened and I think it'll just be more enjoyable if you know the characters.

This particular one in the series follows on after Ellie has had baby Noel. She feels completely overwhelmed with everything that is going on and just feels that everything is constantly going wrong. Max then takes her away for a break and Ellie takes this time to get everything back together, however when they get home there's more drama and the couple are in crisis. With everything that's going on, Ellie decides to focus on her wedding to keep her mind occupied and it may appear that a Christmas wedding is do-able after all..

I really loved this story, it was lovely being back with the characters again. I'm sad that it's ended but it has been a great series. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.