My Top Monthly Reads: January 2018

I feel like this month has been going on for years. Anyone else feel this way? I feel like its not January 31st but actually January 74th and I for one can't wait for January to be over! Bring on February and Spring and more sunny days!

Moving on to the books I've enjoyed this month, as well as being fed up with the length of January I've also been in a bit of a reading slump again. I've enjoyed certain books, but when I go to pick up others I just can't get into it and this has happened quite a few times recently. I think it's mainly due to Christmas being over and being back to work (doesn't Christmas feel like it happened months ago?!) and the weather certainly hasn't helped!

But, here are the books that I have enjoyed this month:

The Little Cafe in Copenhagen

Julie Caplin

You can read my review here

The Pets at Primrose Cottage, Part Three: Trust Your Heart

Sheila Norton

You can read my review here

Dreaming of Florence

T.A. Williams

You can read my review here

The Teashop on the Corner

Milly Johnson

You can read my review here

As you can see, not too many at all on my January Favourites unfortunately! But those that are on here I absolutely adored. The Little Cafe in Copenhagen was by far my overall favourite but these were all amazingly written and I enjoyed them all.

What are your favourites of the month?

The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson

The Teashop on the Corner

Milly Johnson

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK (K £4.99 / P £7.99)

Life is full of second chances, if only you keep your heart open for them.

Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. And at its centre is Leni Merryman's Teashop on the Corner, specialising in cake, bookish stationary and compassion. And for three people all in need of a little TLC, it is somewhere to find a friend to lean on.

Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. And now she must learn to put her marriage behind her and move forward.

Molly Jones' ex-husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years, wanting to put right the wrongs of the past before it is too late.

And Will Linton's business has gone bust and his wife has left him to pick up the pieces. Now he needs to gather the strength to start again.

Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in The Teashop in the Corner? And as their hearts are slowly mended by Leni, can they return the favour when she needs it most?

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As always, I couldn't give a Milly Johnson book less than 5 stars. And this one in particular definitely pulls at your heartstrings. I picked it up from a charity shop and I'm so glad that I did! I've loved all of Milly's novels and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into this one - the choice of what to read next was between three of her novels so I will be reading those other two soon and reviewing! So watch this space!

The cover doesn't give much away but is cute and I love it. I love the stripped awning, the cupcake, the flowers - it's all so pretty! The story itself really was heart-wrenching. Urgh. It was beautiful! This novel was another one of my ever-growing favourites by Milly Johnson. At first, I'll admit I was getting a tad confused because it just seemed like there were so many characters and so many different stories going on but after a bit I got into it and started to learn as well as relate to all of the characters.

The story follows many different characters, as mentioned above, and they all have their own individually heartbreaking stories. Carla has just found out that her husband isn't who she thought he was and is now wondering if her marriage was a lie. She struggles to keep positive until meeting Will Linton, who has also had a heart time recently. Molly is lost, she hasn't ever found someone who can replace the love of her life but then she's in for the biggest shock ever when he returns on her doorstep one day begging for her forgiveness!

The characters are all wonderful. And amongst them all is kind and caring Leni. Leni owns the Teashop where they all meet and is probably the nicest character I've ever read about! I shed a little tear when reading about her daughter Anne but I have to admit that my favourite character was definitely Ryan. He pulled at my heartstrings and I was just hoping and praying everything would work out for him! I guess you need to read it if you want to find out what happens to our dear Ryan in the end!

I don't think I've ever cried more at a book than I did with this one. It started off a little slow but when I got into it, it didn't want to let me go! I cried when I read about Molly's past, I cried when Harvey's story came to an end and I cried when Leni's secret was revealed. I just thought it was beautifully written and I loved it. Thank you Milly Johnson!

The Endless Beach by Jenny Colgan

The Endless Beach

Jenny Colgan

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £3.99 / P £3.00)

On the quayside next to the Endless Beach sits the Summer Seaside Kitchen. It's a haven for tourists and locals alike, who all come to eat the freshest local produce on the island and catch up with the gossip. Flora, who runs the cafe, feels safe and content - unless she thinks too hard about her relationship with Joel, her gorgeous but emotionally (and physically) distant boyfriend.

While Flora is in turmoil about her relationship, her best friend Lorna is pining after the local doctor. Saif came to the island as a refugee, having lost all of his family. But he's about to get some shocking news which will change everything for him.

As cold winter nights shift to long summer days, can Flora find her happy-ever-after with Joel?

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I haven't read much by Jenny Colgan before so wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I can say that I was pleasantly surprised. The title captured me, I thought it sounded charming and exciting so was keen to get stuck into it. It started off a bit slow if I'm 100% honest but as soon as you got into it it was really enjoyable.

There is a novel set before this one with the same kinda characters (which I did not know until I started reading) but this doesn't actually matter because there are a few pages at the beginning where Jenny explains everything major that occurred in the first novel. At first I was worried that I wouldn't understand what was going on and as a result not enjoy reading it but in actual fact it was easy to get into (once the initial slow part was over) and I found myself eager to read on and find out more.

The characters are all really lovely and it's nice again to see a community where everyone wants to help each other out and where everyone is so close. It was really lovely to read and not for the first time wishing that I could live somewhere like this. The characters are all where you would fully relate to them as a person and what they're going through, their stories all being really intriguing and gripping. I enjoyed reading about Flora, but really enjoyed reading about all the other characters on Mure as well. There are some parts in the book about Joel, whom Flora is starting a relationship with, that I didn't see coming! It was excellent writing.

Overall, I found this book by Jenny Colgan to be written beautifully and was really interesting and gripping. I will definitely be looking into reading more by Jenny Colgan in the future. It was heart-warming and emotional and just genuinely really lovely. This story didn't disappoint and will pull at your heartstrings for sure.

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

A Good Heart is Hard to Find by Trisha Ashley

A Good Heart is Hard to Find

Trisha Ashley

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £4.99 / P £5.59)

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man of over forty is in possession of a major defect . . ."

Cassandra Leigh has woken as if from a bad dream: forty-four, childless and twenty-plus years into an affair with a married man. Max assures her they just need a little more patience for his wife to die (!) but Cass is desperate for a baby and running out of time. Maybe Max is not the only man for her?

There's her friend Jason - though he's perhaps a little too rugged, and there's something strange about the way his wife disappeared . . . Or there's Dante, the mysterious stranger she meets on a dark night in his haunted manor house . . .

Cass must throw caution to the wind and claim the life she's always wanted. Suddenly, it's a choice between Mr Right, Mr Wrong or Mr Right Now . . .

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I have been wanting to read a book by Trisha Ashley for agessssss. Her covers look so beautifully inviting and even the title manages to draw you in. This one is no different and as soon as I saw it on Netgalley I quickly pressed that 'Request' button!

I'd read some wonderful things about Trisha Ashley novels so of course I wanted to read one! I was just lucky when one came up on Netgalley. I was very happy that I requested to read it. Firstly, I just wanted to say how beautiful the cover of this novel is. I love the pink roses on either side of the cover and the big stately home in the background. Also, the female character at the front is dressed beautifully and quite stylishly as well!

When I first read this I wasn't too keen on Cass and her relationship with Max. Max is a married man and to read that they are having an affair was quite sad and something I definitely don't agree with. As the book went on, I actually started feeling more sorry for Cass then annoyed. She obviously is very lonely and just wants someone to love her, however is Max as good as he seems? To me, anyone who can cheat on a partner is no good. I also felt for Cass because even her family appeared to have singled her out.

Cass is eager to meet someone who loves her for who she is and whilst Max is telling Cass to wait, she is in half a mind with what to do. Friend Jason is another contender for Cass' heart, but she's not 100% sure he is the guy for her. Another character whom Cass meets is Dante, after exploring a possible haunted house. Cass has a difficult decision to make but along the way, the story has it's ups and downs for me. There are some funny moments and there are some heart wrenching moments. All of this make for fantastic and interesting reading.

Overall, although it wasn't my most favourite book of all time, I still really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to reading some more novels by Trisha Ashley. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Little Cafe in Copenhagen by Julie Caplin

The Little Cafe in Copenhagen

Julie Caplin

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK (K £2.99 / P £7.99)

Welcome to the little cafe in Copenhagen where the smell of cinnamon fills the air, the hot chocolate is as smooth as silk and romance is just around the corner...

Publicist Kate Sinclair's life in London is everything she thought she wanted: success, glamour and a charming boyfriend. Until that boyfriend goes behind her back and snatches a much sought-after promotion from her. Heartbroken and questioning everything, Kate needs to escape.

From candles and cosy nights in to romantic late-night walks through the beautiful cobbled streets of Copenhagen, Kate discovers how to live life 'the Danish way'. Can the secrets of hygge and happiness lead her to her own happily-ever-after?

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I honestly cannot tell you in words how much I loved this book. Much like hygge, it's more about the feels - and this book gave me plenty of them! I must admit that this novel has made me push Copenhagen up my list of places I want to travel to and now I'm pining to go there.

It has to be said that the first thing that usually makes me want to read a book is the cover, and this cover certainly doesn't disappoint. I LOVE it. It's so, so beautiful. Whoever designed it - kudos to you! I adore the style of font, the bright colours brightening the cover, the cute town houses in the background, the flowers, the cute little table and chairs - literally everything I love!

The storyline is exactly the same, I immediately loved it from the start and found myself struggling to put it down! I really loved the character of Katie and immediately found myself relating to her. Not so much from a work view, but from a family view. It must be so tough basically being the bread winner of a big family (especially a family that expects you to work hard in order to help out) and I really felt for Katie when she explained how much work she actually put in just to help her family out. I related to Katie in other ways too and just loved her overall character - she came across as friendly and caring.

I just found the whole book really interesting and charming. I really loved Eva, and how I wish there was a cafe like that actually in London! It sounded so welcoming and cosy. And don't even get me started on how good the pastries sounded!! My mouth was watering as I read and I honestly cannot explain how much I want to go to Copenhagen just to try their pastries now!! Even reading about the coffees was making me want to visit!

In the story, Katie is assigned a task to take five journalists out to Copenhagen to get a good feel of Denmark, the happiest country in the world and to see how hygge is presented in their country. I  found myself becoming really rather jealous of the journalists that attended the trip to Copenhagen, and would love to see and do all the things they did in the book! I started warming to all of the characters when I got to know them all throughout the story and especially loved Fiona and Sophie - both girls seemed so lovely.

Of course, as with Chick Lit novels, there was romance involved. I kinda saw it coming, but I loved it anyway. As the trip went on, I really hoped that Ben and Katie would get together. And was shocked when Josh turned up! Throughout the story a lot of unfortunate events take place (much to Katie's horror) and this makes it for a great and entertaining read. There's also some humour throughout, so the book was easy to read and just really, really enjoyable.

Overall, I absolutely loved it (if you haven't already guessed by now) and I literally cannot wait for the next one to come out! I really enjoyed reading my first novel by Julie Caplin and so excited to read more by her in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Cover Reveal: One Summer in Rome by Samantha Tongue

Today I have the absolute pleasure of showing you all the gorgeous cover for Samantha Tongue's new book One Summer in Rome. How gorgeous does even the title sound, eh?

The cover will leave you booking flights outta the UK and flying straight to Italy. It will leave your mouth watering for delicious pizza and praying for some sunshine!

Without further ado, here's the cover:

One Summer in Rome

Samantha Tonge

I, for one, am totally in love with it. I adore the lemon tree, the pizzeria to the left and of course, the colosseum in the centre.

The colours are so vibrant and draw you in - it's so beautiful! Urgh - to be in Rome again! A woman can dream.

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To Rome... with love?

Mary Smith is turning her very ordinary life upside-down! She's bought herself a one-way ticket to Rome and is ready for a summer she'll never forget.

Men might be off the cards for waitress Mary, but within hours of arriving at the utterly charming family-run La Dolce Vita pizzeria, she's already fallen in love with the bustling capital!

Only Dante Rossi, the mysterious (and drop-dead gorgeous) chef seems displeased with her arrival. And in the heat of the kitchen, it doesn't take long for long-buried secrets to surface and sparks to fly...

A deliciously heartwarming romance to have you dreaming of summer. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Caroline Roberts.

How exciting does this sound?!

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Samantha Tonge lives in Cheshire with her lovely family and a cat who thinks it's a dog. When not writing she spends her day cycling, willing cakes to rise and avoiding housework. She has sold over 80 short stories to women's magazines. Her bestselling debut novel, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction best Ebook award in 2014. Game of Scones hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Best Romantic Ebook category at the 2015 Love Stories Awards.

Twitter / Facebook / Website

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You can pre-order this book here - for only £1.99!!!

A Year of New Adventures by Maddie Please

A Year of New Adventures

Maddie Please

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £1.99 / P £7.99)

Billie Summers has always been quite content in her little cottage in the Cotswolds, sure half the house hasn't been renovated, but what's the point when it's only her? Working part-time at her uncle's bookshop and planning 3-4 writer retreats with her best friend allows her to pay the bills. What more could anyone want?

That is until Oliver Forest, the bad boy of the book world, turns up to one of her retreats and points out that Billie hasn't done anything very adventurous. Couple that with her best friend falling head over heels and beginning to drift away from their Friday night wine and dinner plans, Billie is starting to wonder if it isn't time she tried something exciting for a change...

So she starts a list: get fitted (properly) for a bra, fix up rest of house, find a 'career' and well, get a tattoo ... Her life might just get the makeover it needs, too bad pesky and far-too-attractive Oliver keeps showing up ...

Because sometimes love just won't let go

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I was really looking forward to this new one by Maddie Please. I'd quite enjoyed Maddie's first novel and was looking forward to reading another by her. This one, I feel, was written better than the first, the narrative easier to understand and follow. I also felt as though I related to the character better as well. Sometimes life throws things at you unexpectedly and I feel that Billie took Oliver's words in her stride and planned to make her life better.

The book turned out to be brilliant as the story went on and I really enjoyed the storyline. It had some great laugh-out-loud moments, but also sometimes where you really felt and understood Billie's actions. I loved that Billie changed her life around, by wanting a new everything - a new career, love life and so on. Although, I'll be honest, I loved the fact that Billie creates writer retreats, it's different and I really found it interesting to read about.

I will admit that the ending struck me as somewhat abrupt, and I wasn't expecting it, however pushing that aside I still did end up enjoying the overall storyline. I felt as though I related to the main character and that for me is a big part of a book. If I do not relate to the main character then I just can't get in it. It was another novel by Maddie Please that I enjoyed. As with Maddie's other covers, I found this one to be really stunning. The bright colours drawing you in, and I adore the little village in the background!

Overall, an enjoyable story - but not my favourite ever book. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Pets at Primrose Cottage, Part Three: Trust Your Heart by Sheila Norton

The Pets at Primrose Cottage
Sheila Norton
Rating: 5 stars
Amazon UK £0.99

Part Three of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals.

Emma Nightingale finds she's accidentally becoming something of a local celebrity in the small town of Crickleford, and it seems that everyone wants her to look after their pets.

While looking after a hamster, she accidentally uncovers a mystery that threatens to draw even more attention to her. With nowhere to turn, soon Emma will have to make a decision that could cost her everything...

Note: this is part three of a four-part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in April 2018.

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As always, I'm so happy when I see another part of this series pop up on Netgalley. It gives me somewhat of a buzz to click request and this is simply because I'm enjoying the story so much! In this one, it's much more jam-packed with events and goings on than the last two and every page was exciting, making me wonder where the story was going and which animal is going to make Emma uncover something else!

As with the last two, we get to learn a bit more about Emma and why she came to running away to hide in Crickleford. There are a few moments in this novella where I don't fully agree with what she's done but I understand completely where she's coming from and I get why she would act the way she does. Throughout the novella I started to feel quite sorry for Emma, it mustn't be nice what she's gone through and it must be so hard being away from your family and not feeling good enough or that you've done enough to make them proud.

I really liked that Matt started getting into this one a little more, and I was hoping that he and Emma would start seeing eye to eye a little more but there is certainly a spark between them! Whether or not this is always a romantic spark or an anger spark is something to distinguish. I'm really hoping that we find out what happens between the pair in the fourth and final novella in this series and fingers crossed for a happy ending for both Matt and Emma! As it seems that they've been through some similar heartbreaks.

As always I've loved reading all about the animals that Emma looks after and it was nice to read about different animals this time, such as the hamster, which brought back some fond memories of when I used to have one myself! There are some laugh-out-loud moments throughout the novella (including a runaway hamster and some disastrous fish event) and I once again really enjoyed reading another part of the series. I'm really coming round to reading books in parts, although I still need to go back to the last one to remember how it finished before I start a new one!

Overall, a very lovely read that you can finish in about 3 hours (I can't think of a better and more relaxing way of spending an afternoon). I've really enjoyed this series so far and I literally cannot wait for the final in the series! I'm desperate to see how this one finishes! Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness by Laura Kemp

The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness

Laura Kemp

Rating: 4.5 stars

Amazon UK (K £0.99 / P £7.99)

Synopsis:

Sometimes all it takes to make the world a better place is a small act of kindness..

When Ceri Price arrives in the small seaside village of Dwynwen in West Wales, she only means to stay for a couple of nights - long enough to scatter her mother's ashes, and then go back to her life as a successful make-up entrepreneur.

But a case of mistaken identities means she lands a job as a barmaid in the local pub, she unexpectedly finds friendship, and wonders if love might follow... But when the plans for a new housing estate put the local woodland under threat, she fears the way of life here could disappear.

Then mysterious acts of kindness start springing up around the village - a string of bunting adorns the streets, a new village signpost appears out of nowhere and someone provides paint to spruce up the houses on the seafront. Who is behind these acts of kindness and can they help in the race to save the village from the faceless developers...?

Welcome to Dwynwen: Village of Love. Where friendship flourishes and love blossoms...

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This was the first novel I have read by Laura Kemp and I just want to start this review off by saying that it certainly won't be the last. Of course, the cover drew me in. This seaside town looks beautiful and I love the little boats bobbing in the sea, the colourful houses and the heart shaped bunting in the foreground. The title and the blurb is what interested me the most though. I was so keen to know where all these 'mysterious acts of kindness' were coming from! So I couldn't wait to get stuck in and find out...

It's a beautifully written romantic and heartwarming novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. As soon as I started reading it, I felt uplifted and happy. It's lovely to read. I really loved reading about the secretive nature of the community, and was trying to figure out who could've been behind these acts of kindness. The book starts with Ceri returning to the seaside village to scatter her beloved mum's ashes. The town is where her mum used to love going, so it made sense to Ceri to take her there for her final resting place.

However, as soon as Ceri pulls up, she's shocked at just how different and run down the town looked. Could this really be the same place? She asks herself. It turns out, that of course it is and Ceri ends up staying for longer than she originally planned. She gets a job as a barmaid in the local pub after being wrongly mistaken for someone who was actually going for the post and gives them a false name so that she isn't recognised by anyone. As she starts work, she soon makes some good friends and it was so nice reading about the lovely townfolk. They all seemed so friendly and eager to make Ceri feel at home.

Of course, when Ceri starts the job, the town is come under threat by developers wanting to change the town and this is when the acts of kindness starts cropping up in unexpected places. At first she wonders whether she should go back to her old life or whether she should stay in the seaside town and start a new and happier life here. She also wants to get to the bottom of who is doing these lovely things.

Overall, this is a lovely, lighthearted story about community and kindness. It's a story about love and friendship and I would recommend you give this novel a read. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Single Girls Calendar by Erin Green

The Single Girl's Calendar

Erin Green

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £2.99 / P £10.99)

Synopsis:

A task a day to cure a broken heart.

Esme Peel is approaching thirty with some trepidation, but hope in her heart. If she can just get her long-term boyfriend Andrew to propose, she will have ticked everything off her 'things to do by the time you're 30' list. She didn't reckon on finding another woman's earring in her bed however, and soon she finds herself single, homeless and in need of a new plan. Her best friend Carys gives her the perfect present - The Single Girl's Calendar - which has a different cure for heartbreak every day:

Day 1: Look and feel fabulous with a new hair style.

Day 2: Step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Day 3: Reconnect with friends and enjoy!

Despite thinking it's a bit of a gimmick, Esme hasn't got any better ideas, so she puts the plan into action. By the end of week one she has four new male housemates, and despite a broken heart she is determined to show Andrew she can do more than survive, she can thrive.

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What a beautifully uplifting and enjoyable book to read in the dreary days of January. I found that I really enjoyed this book and was so glad I got the opportunity to read it. This is the first novel I've read by Erin Green and now I'm quite shocked that I haven't picked up any of her other books before! It has great laugh-out-loud moments and when parts got intense I really couldn't put the book down.

I love the general idea of the book, the storyline dragged me in and didn't let me go until I'd read the final page. A calendar for single girls sounds like a really heart-warming way of getting over a break up and the things included in the calendar were brilliant and I found myself wondering if there was such a thing in real life! That would have come in handy for so many women all over the world who struggle to get over someone and need to learn to find themselves and that they don't need a man to make them happy.

The calendar turns out to be exactly what Esme needed, unfortunately for her she had just found out that her boyfriend of a very long time has been cheating on her with another woman and I cannot even begin to imagine the heartbreak that would cause! The calendar appears to be very handy and after just a few days I could see a dramatic change in Esme's overall happiness.

There are a lot of characters to get around but after a while you get to learn all of them and the more the book goes on the easier and better the story became. I just found the overall story of the book really uplifting and positive and I really enjoyed it.

Overall, a really lovely and uplifting novel. One that I really enjoyed. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: Springtime at the Cider Kitchen by Fay Keenan

Springtime at the Cider Kitchen

Fay Keenan

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK (£2.99)

Synopsis:

Caroline Hemingway can't help but feel a little strange watching her ex sister-in-law marrying the owner of Carter's Cider Farm, but she's delighted Anna's found happiness after the death of her late husband, and Caroline's brother, James. If only Caroline could find her own love story...

Desperate to escape the rat race, Caroline decides to take the plunge and move to the idyllic village of Little Somerby, where she is given the task of opening and running a restaurant in one of the forgotten barns on the Cider Farm.

Opening and running The Cider Kitchen is no easy task, and there are many challenges on the way, but slowly Caroline feels she's being accepted into the local community, and starts to believe she may have found her forever home. But secrets from her past seem destined to haunt her, and not even the attentions of the very dishy Jonathan Carter can distract her from all she's left behind...

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Review:

This is the first novel I've read by Fay Keenan - and I absolutely loved it. I hadn't actually read the first one in the series, but that didn't matter at all because even though some of the characters from the first one are in this one, it's based on someone completely different and is about their story, so it's easy to read and understand - not confusing at all.

What drew me in to this story was indeed the cover. I absolutely love the colours used - I've always loved the colours pink and green together - and together they make such a stunning and vibrant cover. I also really fell in love with the blurb of the book, I love stories about cafes and restaurants in the country so this seemed like the perfect book for me. I wasn't proved wrong. I just really enjoyed the whole storyline.

The second Little Somerby novel in the series follows main character Caroline - after she moved to the village to manage the new restaurant The Cider Kitchen. Along the way, Caroline thinks part of her past has followed her back to the village in order to make her new life there hell. Caroline does everything she can to stop this from happening but it proves difficult. Then main hero and Carolines boss, Jonathan steps in and helps put things right again.

Caroline and Jonathan hit it off from the beginning of the novel, but decided to keep things professional between them - however this obviously proves difficult as it's clear from the story that they are both falling in love with each other and they have a deep passion for each other and you desperately want them to put their differences aside and get together. This is a really lovely story, although sometimes I found it a bit difficult to relate to Caroline, I really felt for her and what she was going through and I just wanted to see her with a happy ending. She'd gone through so much in her life that you can understand why she done what she did.

Overall, a brilliant novel by Fay Kennan. I will definitely be reading more of her novels. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

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About the Author:

Fay Keenan was born in Surrey and raised in Hampshire, before finally settling in the West Country. When Fay is not chasing her children around or writing, she teaches English at a local secondary school. She lives with her husband of fourteen years, two daughters, a cat, two chickens and a Weimaraner called Bertie in a village in Somerset, which may or may not have provided the inspiration for Little Somerby.







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You can follow the other bloggers on the tour here
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Blog Tour: Dreaming of Florence by T.A Williams

Dreaming of Florence

T.A. Williams

Previous books: To Provence, With Love, Dreaming of Venice, To Rome, With Love,

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK £1.99

Publisher: Canelo

Synopsis:

Fresh pasta, red wine, fine art... and love? Find enchantment this year in the magical city of Florence.

When Debbie Waterson's bicycle crashes into handsome doctor Pierluigi, she wonders if her luck has changed. Determinedly single after ending a long relationship, at least, a man worth bumping into!

Inspired to visit Florence, she soon runs headlong into that old foe: reality. But is Pierluigi the man of her dreams? Then there's her booze obsessed boss, his forbidding secretary and her noisy inconsiderate neighbours. But could her luck be about to change? Will she find love after all?

Warm-hearted and unputdownable, Dreaming of Florence is the perfect escape for readers of Holly Martin, Tilly Tennant and Jenny Oliver.

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Links to book:

Amazon / Kobo / Google Books / Goodreads

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Author bio:

T.A. Williams lives in Devon with his Italian wife. He was born in England of a Scottish mother and Welsh father. After a degree in modern languages at Nottingham University, he lived and worked in Switzerland, France and Italy, before returning to run one of the best known language schools in the UK. He's taught Arab princes, Brazilian beauty queens and Italian billionaires. He speaks a number of languages and has travelled extensively. He has eaten snake, still-alive fish, and alligator. A Spanish dog, a Russian bug and a Korean parasite have done their best to eat him in return. His hobby is long-distance cycling, but his passion is writing.




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Review:

Every time I sign in to Netgalley and see a new book by T.A.Williams, I instantly download it to my Kindle. There's something so refreshing and interesting about his novels that I just have to read them. I've loved every novel I've read of his so far and once I get time in my busy reading schedule I want to go back and read some of his earlier works too!

But for now, lets get on with his news novel: Dreaming of Florence, and I am so, so excited to be part of the blog tour for this fabulous book. First of all, I have always wanted to go to Florence, it's been a dream of mine for quite a while now, so reading this book which is set at that exact location was wonderful. I felt like I was living my dreams through this story. The cover of the novel is also extremely beautiful and draws you in. I couldn't wait to read it even more once I'd spotted the cover!

The story itself was so fascinating, I loved reading about Debbie's story on her move to Florence to be an English teacher out there but when she eventually gets there, she finds that it's so much more than that. The descriptions of the city itself sound fabulous and all of Debbie's adventures sound simply amazing and I wish that I could live somewhere just like that! The parties that Debbie attends are fascinating and I love when she and Dario visit various interesting locations in the wonderful city.

It was lovely to read about Debbie and her romantic relations, throughout the book I was starting to feel sorry for her as she had been through so much and it seemed like she had had such bad luck when it comes to relationships. I found myself really relating to her character. However, when she met Dario, I was just hoping that they got together! They seemed perfect for each other. I loved the ending of the book as well, it was lovely and romantic. I don't want to give too much away but I will say that I really, really enjoyed it and I would recommend you give it a read! There are some twists that I really didn't expect!

Overall, a really beautifully romantic and heartwarming novel. Another brilliant story by T.A. Williams. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel which I have reviewed honestly.

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Ottercombe Bay, Part One: Where There's a Will... by Bella Osbourne

Ottercombe Bay, Part One: Where There's a Will...

Bella Osbourne

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK £0.95

Synopsis:

Escape to the Devon coast, with Part One of a brand-new four-part serial from the author of Willow Cottage.

Daisy Wickens has returned to Ottercombe Bay, the picturesque Devon town where her mother died when she was a girl. She plans to leave as soon as her great uncle's funeral is over, but Great Uncle Reg had other ideas. He's left Daisy a significant inheritance - an old building in a state of disrepair, which could offer exciting possibilities, but to get it she must stay in Ottercombe Bay for twelve whole months.

With the help of a cast of quirky locals, a few gin cocktails and a black pug with plenty of attitude, Daisy might just turn this into something special. But can she ever hope to be happy among the ghosts of her past?

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What a great and intriguing start to a new series by Bella Osbourne! After reading Willow Cottage, I was so eager to read more of her work so when I saw this pop up on Netgalley I quickly requested it.  The cover caught my eye straight away, there's so many different beautiful pastel colours that it just looks stunning. Even though you can tell the old train station is in need of repair, it still looks utterly adorable, with the pretty clock standing outside and the sea in the background. If I got left this in someones will then I would be very grateful indeed!

So it starts off with main character Daisy heading back to Ottercombe Bay for her great uncles funeral. Daisy intends to leave straight after the service but her aunt tells her she has to stay because she has been left something in Reg's will. Daisy believes its something small, so was gobsmacked to say the least when she finds out what it really is (although, to be fair, I think we'd all be gobsmacked)! Now, at first, I wasn't sure what to think of Daisy. She seemed quite ungrateful towards her great aunt and all her friends from her old hometown. However, as the story got underway I started to understand Daisy's actions a lot more and why she acted the way she did.

I started to feel terribly sorry for her when I read how her mother died, something like that much be so awful (I got a bit teary reading about it, so beware and be prepared!) so after this I definitely warmed up to her character a lot more. One thing I loved about this book was the events that took place, the carnival, the summer fete, it all sounded wonderful and once more I wished I could live somewhere just like this. The characters were all lovely as well, I loved Tamsyn - she seemed so down to earth and friendly! And felt a bit sorry for police officer Jason but overall I thought they were all really nice and it was lovely to get to know them in this first instalment.

Overall, a really enjoyable first novella. I really can't wait for the next one to be released! If you're looking for a novel to pass an afternoon with, then I would recommend this one. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

New Arrivals on Lovelace Lane by Alice Ross

New Arrivals on Lovelace Lane

Alice Ross

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK £0.99

Synopsis:

Property developer Chrissie Collins has a plan: to renovate Yew Tree House on Lovelace Lane, sell up, and move onto her next project. But even the best laid plans do not always run smoothly. With the house seemingly having ideas of its own, her sexy teenage house guest causing all kinds of mischief, and a geeky birdwatcher making a rare find, will Chrissie ever finish the renovation? Or will she realise it's not only the property that requires some TLC?

This is the fifth short story in the Lovelace Lane series:

Short Story 1 The Little Cottage on Lovelace Lane

Short Story 2 The Big House on Lovelace Lane

Short Story 3 The Wedding on Lovelace Lane

Short Story 4 Christmas on Lovelace Lane

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Oh, it's so nice to be back on Lovelace Lane! I really enjoyed Christmas on Lovelace Lane and so I was very pleased when Alice asked if I wanted to read this one. Of course I did! The cover is stunning and I love the house with the bright pink door. The cover is definitely inviting and so pretty.

As with all the Lovelace Lane short stories, they're all on someone new along the street, but old characters make an appearance which is something I really enjoyed. This time the short story follows Chrissie, a property developer. What I love about this series is that all the stories are so different, but its so nice to read about a street where the people care about each other and will help each other out.  I think that's what I liked so much about Christmas on Lovelace Lane and why I couldn't wait to read some more in the series.

I still haven't had a chance to read the first 3 in the series but I certainly will be, they're on my ever growing pile! I don't want to give away too much in this story but I really did find myself enjoying it. Because it's quite short as well, it's a lovely way to spend an afternoon and you feel quite an achievement at finishing it so quickly! I felt like I flew through the pages because I was so engrossed in the storyline.

It's definitely a heartwarming and lighthearted story, which is just what you need at this time of year in bleak January! As always, I look forward to reading more from Alice Ross! Thank you to Alice Ross for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights by Carole Matthews

Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights

Carole Matthews

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK (K £0.99 / P £7.99)

Synopsis:

Fay and Danny are madly in love and it's all Fay's ever dreamed of. But she left everything - including the delightful cake shop she used to run - to be with Danny on his cosy canal boat The Dreamcatcher. And as she soon finds out, making delicious cakes on the water isn't always smooth sailing!

Then Fay gets a call from her friends, a call that sends her back to her friends and the Cake Shop in the Garden. It will be hard being away from Danny but their relationship is strong enough to survive . . . isn't it?

Fay soon falls happily back in love with her passion for baking - especially now she's on dry land again! - and starts to wonder if she ever should have left. With Christmas around the corner, Fay is determined that her friends will have a very merry time, but does that mean even more time away from Danny?

Can Fay really get everything she ever wanted in Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights.

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Oh how glad I am that I read this book the closest to Christmas. This was my last Christmas book of the year and it was an absolute joy to read. I read the first one in this little series earlier and absolutely loved it and this one is no different. There were so many little turns that I simply couldn't put it down. And all the mention of baking and Christmas food had my mouth watering like crazy!

The cover doesn't give much away, Carole Matthews has lately changed her style of covers and although I love them now, I did enjoy when they used to have the characters on the front. However, I do love the colours and the beautiful swirly gold font, along with the cupcakes and snowflakes dotted about. This book is a delight in hardback (the format in which I read it in) and has a cover which can be removed. The cover above is the outside cover and inside is like a duck egg blue/green with blue writing on the front. It's stunning and minimal when you remove the outer cover.

Now onto the story itself, I've always enjoyed Carole Matthew's novels and this one was no different. I loved Fay's story in the first one and it was so lovely to catch up with all of the characters. I loved being back in the Cake Shop in the Garden (even if it was mainly set inside due to the cold weather!) and it was nice to read about Lija and lovely Stan again. I loved the new edition of Rainbow, she really made me laugh!

I was shocked at what Danny revealed about three quarters of the way through and I really felt for Fay at this point. I was also shocked at Lija's announcement, the arrival of someone I wasn't expecting and crossing everything that lovely Stan was going to be okay! He's one of my favourite characters and without giving too much away, I was so pleased that everything turned out okay for him. There really is a lovely bond between the characters and I just loved reading about them all living along the canal.

Overall, a beautiful story. I hope we come back to the Cake Shop in the Garden in the future! But for now, I couldn't recommend this novel enough - give the first one a read too, you won't regret it! If anyone has any other Carole Matthews recommendations, please let me know! I'd love to read more of her novels.

2018 Releases I'm Excited About

As we are now in 2018 (it feels crazy typing that - I almost posted this blog post with it saying 2017! I'm still a year behind!), I thought I'd write up a post showing which releases I'm looking forward to this year. 2017 was such an amazing year for Chick Lit and Romance books that I literally cannot wait to see what 2018 has to offer!

I already have a few books on my Kindle from Netgalley that I need to read for this year but I'll be reviewing them all in good time. For now, let's take a look at some lovely new books that I'm excited for!

Ottercombe Bay

Bella Osbourne

This is the cover for part 1 of Bella Osbourne's new series which was released at the end of December 2017 but as I have this one ready to review, I can't wait for the rest!

You can see the series on Amazon UK here

The Wedding that Changed Everything

Jennifer Joyce

Released on the 7th of February, this is another one I can't wait for! I loved Jennifer's previous books so I just know that this one is going to be amazing too.

You can preorder here

The Little Cornish Kitchen

Jane Linfoot

Just take a look at this cover! This beautiful new novel from Jane Linfoot is released on the 3rd of May for only £1.99!!!

Preorder here.

Hetty's Farmhouse Bakery

Cathy Bramley

Now you must have known a Cathy Bramley book would be in here somewhere (there's more of that to come from!).

This beautiful novel is released on the 22nd of March and I for one cannot wait.

Preorder here!!!

The Little Wedding Island

Jaimie Admans

A beautiful cover with what sounds like a beautiful story. Can't wait to read and review this one!!! (Watch this space)

This is released on the 2nd of March and you can preorder here

A Match Made in Devon

Cathy Bramley

I told you there was more where that came from!

This is only part one of a four serialised novel but is going to be released as paperback just not sure on the exact date!

You can however preorder part one of the ebooks here and the first one is released on the 11th of January (!!!) for only 99p (!!!!)

The Summer of Secrets
Tilly Tennant


This stunning book is out on the 14th of March and considering how much I enjoyed Tilly's previous novels, I literally cannot wait for this one!

The cover is beautiful and you can preorder this book here.

The Cafe at Seashell Cove
Karen Clarke


Another novel that's out in March, this lovely new one by Karen Clarke is out on March 15th.

And you can pre-order it here for only 99p. Can't wait!