Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas

Finding Love at the Christmas Market

Jo Thomas

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Cosy up with the new Christmas book from bestselling author Jo Thomas

Residential-home caterer Connie has had one online-dating disaster too many. Hurt in the past and with her son to consider, now she's feeling hesitant. Then one of Connie's residents sets her up on a date at a beautiful German Christmas market - with the promise she'll take a mini-bus full of pensioners with her...

Amongst the twinkling lights and smell of warm gingerbread in the old market square, Connie heads off on her date with a check-list of potential partner must-haves. Baker Henrich ticks all the boxes, but when Connie meets Henrich's rival William, she starts to wonder if ticking boxes is the answer.

Will Connie's wish for love this Christmas come true, and if so - with who?

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I was so looking forward to reading another beautiful novel by Jo Thomas. The cover to this really drew me in and I couldn't wait to get started. I love the beautiful dark sky with twinkling stars and lights strung across the top. The little chalets with more lights looping over the snowy topped roofs. It all looks so magical and inviting and so, so Christmassy!

When I first started reading this, I must admit I was a bit lost and didn't really get into it. I was close to just giving up altogether as there was just so much going on and so many characters to get to know. However, I persevered and carried on reading and by about 25/30% through the book I did start to understand the characters a bit better and the storyline.

The location of the book is absolutely stunning. I love the descriptions that Jo uses, it sounds so idyllic and has made me want to visit a Christmas market in Germany! It was also really interesting reading about the two different towns and their markets. The old pensioners that Jo has included in the story gave it a bit of humour and I also thought that they added warmth to the story as well.

Overall, a nice heartwarming read. I felt a little bit lost in places but it was an easy read in the end. Ended it how I wanted it too anyway! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes by Jessica Redland

Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes

Jessica Redland

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

It's December on Castle Street; the fairy lights are twinkling, snow has settled and the festive season is in full swing.

For Carly, the owner of Carly's Cupcakes, it's the busiest time of year getting everyone's Christmas treats ready on time. However, with her clumsy sister, Bethany, as a co-worker, it's proving a difficult task. They say you shouldn't mix work with family. Maybe they have a point...

As Christmas approaches, Carly is also eagerly awaiting the return of her best friend to Whitborough Bay. Liam has no idea he's been the object of her affection since their schooldays. After years of pining after him, can Carly pluck up the courage to finally tell him how she really feels by 25th December?

Could a little festive magic make all of Carly's wishes come true this Christmas...?

A heartwarming, short festive story of friendship and family from bestseller Jessica Redland. You can finds out what happens to Carly next through exploring her best friend Tara's story in Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Cafe.

This is a new and updated version of Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes which has been previously published.

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I've only read a few novels by this author but this is by far my favourite so far. The last one I read was about Tara and that was so emotionally draining so I was a bit hesitant to read about what will happen in this one. However, this one was a lot happier and more uplifting so I found myself enjoying this one a lot more. The cover is so beautiful, I love the thick snow, colourful lights and of course Carly holding centre stage first-footing in the snow.

In this novel we follow Carly who owns her own Cake Shop - Carly's Cupcakes. She makes cakes come to life and I really enjoyed reading about her designs. She works alongside her sister Bethany who is a really clumsy person and is always destroying Carly's bakes. I did get a bit bored reading about the whole 'failure' thing, but the more I read I kind of just blocked it out and focused on the rest of the story.

I liked the character of Carly, she seemed down to earth and really kind to everyone. Although she was a bit of a pushover when it came to her sister. I loved the cakes she made, the location of the story and all the other third-party characters (apart from Paige of course, if you've read the book, you'll get it!). With regards to Liam, you don't really hear much about him until he comes back for Christmas. I got to about half way through and then the author started mentioning him more but he come across as a really loving guy and I really liked how the author done flashbacks too so we understood the characters and their relationship that little bit more.

Overall, a really lovely novel. Not overly Chrsitmassy but enjoyed reading about the Christmas cakes. It was an easy and heartwarming read. Would definitely recommend. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A French Affair by Jennifer Bohnet

A French Affair

Jennifer Bohnet

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

What will be will be...

Belinda Marshall's idyllic teenage life in Brittany, France, fell apart when her parents dramatically separated and her mother took her back to England.

Fast forward thirty-five years when Belinda's world is once again turned upside down. It's the week before Christmas and Belinda's employer 'surprises' her by asking for her help to rejuvenate their latest investment, a run-down campsite in Brittany.

Memories and anxieties that had lain dormant for years suddenly begin to resurface. As secrets from a lost life threaten to overwhelm her, there is a realisation that maybe she wasn't told the whole truth by her mother all those years ago.

Can Belinda reconcile her emotions and find happiness once more in the place she so loved and called home?

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I do quite enjoy Jennifer Bohnet novels so when I saw that her newest one was set in France, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I just really enjoy Jennifer's style of writing. It's quite elegant but also easy to read so you end up flying through the chapters. The cover of this novel is particularly pretty. I adore the bright summery colours, the French stripes and all the beautiful flowers surrounding the edges.

This novel actually follows two different women (although Belinda is the main character overall). We follow Belinda, who has recently had to move to France for a few months to oversee a new glamping site being brought up to her standards, and we also follow Fern who runs an inn (otherwise known in the book as the auberge) in the same town.

Belinda seems to have been through a lot in her past but she seems to be keeping her cards close to her chest as we aren't 100% told what exactly happened in her life has made her dislike being back in France. We are told at the start that it has something to do with her parents so this keeps you on the edge of your seat, dying to know what happened!

With regards to Fern, she is more of an open book. Belinda and Fern meet through Belinda staying at her auberge whilst the living accommodation gets cleaned at the glamping site. She confides in Belinda that her French husband died 18 months earlier due to a drunk driver and due to strict French laws, she cannot sell the inn and move elsewhere so she is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Together the two women become firm friends and their time in France is split between each chapter. Belinda meets (and dislikes) Alain the site manager, but you can tell from the off there are sparks between the two of them. Fern meets an American man whilst out walking her dog and the pair click straight away, but Fern is nervous about meeting new potential partners.

It's a great read with fabulous locations and delicious sounding food and drink. I really clicked with both women despite them being a lot older than me. They are relatable and enjoyable to read about. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Under a Siena Sun by T.A. Williams

Under a Siena Sun

T.A. Williams

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Lucy needed a change of scene. She didn't expect the change of a lifetime.

Doctors Without Borders has been Lucy Young's life for the past four years. After being rescued from a conflict zone, she's making a change from saving lives under gunfire to practising medicine in safe, serene Siena.

Now treating wealthy patients at a private clinic, she's never felt less comfortable. She's used to helping those in dire need - not those in need of a nip and tuck. Her turmoil grows when she encounters injured tennis star David Lorenzo, whose smiles make Lucy forget her aversion to the rich.

She's soon falling for the sportsman but is she losing herself in this world of excess? All she's ever wanted was to help the underprivileged, so can her future lie in Siena at the clinic - with David?

This sunny romance is the perfect summer escape for fans of Lucy Coleman and Alex Brown.

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I love a novel by T.A. Williams. I don't think I've yet to dislike any of his books, and this one is the same. I was so excited when I read that there'd be a new series, this one being the first in the Escape to Tuscany series. The cover is especially summery and looks so beautiful. I love the two coffee cups, bright blue sky and of course the gorgeous view of the town.

This novel started in a very different way to all of T.A. Williams' other books however. We are thrown in the deep end with Lucy as she escapes from a war torn country and to read it, it sounded extremely frightening. When she goes to Italy, it starts getting really interesting and at points I loved reading about the History of the country and separate towns, but as the story went on I got a little bored of reading about it so tended to skip the chapters that was describing the history. 

I did like the character of Lucy, she seemed a really lovely and kind person. She also seemed to have a lot of suitors! And at times, it was quite difficult to figure out just whom she was going to set her eyes on and settle down with. I enjoyed reading about her time in the clinic, but most of the time this novel is set in the town she lives in and in her new home. I also loved the involvement of certain black labradors! I don't think it would be a regular novel of the authors without these loveable dogs. 

Overall, it's an easy read. Not my favourite of T.A Williams as sometimes it could be a bit predictable but still enjoyable all the same. I look forward to reading more novels from this series in the future. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly. 

Sunrise on the Coast by Lilac Mills

Sunrise on the Coast

Lilac Mills

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

When a holiday becomes something more...

Struggling to come to terms with the loss of her mother, Sophie needs to get away from it all. On a much-needed break to Tenerife, she stumbles across a Help Wanted sign for local pensioner, Hugo, and on a leap of faith she accepts the job.

But life on the island isn't all sun, sea and siestas...

Hugo's beautiful villa is under threat and, to complicate matters, his brooding (but handsome) nephew, Alex, has shown up full of suspicion towards Sophie.

Her hands full dealing with difficult men and a clearly unreciprocated attraction towards Alex, Sophie needs to decide if her future lies in Tenerife or if her holiday is officially over.

Escape to a Spanish island with this gorgeously uplifting romance, perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Sue Moorcroft and Mandy Baggot.

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I really enjoy Lilac Mills' novels. They're lighthearted and extremely easy to read. I like nothing more than settling down all snuggled up to read one of her books with a cup of coffee! I like the simplicity of this cover, the beautiful sunrise background, the bright blue sea and of course Hugo's gorgeous villa.

This story follows main character Sophie who, after losing her mum, is convinced to go on a holiday. So, she books flights to Tenerife and doesn't look back. Whilst on holiday, she sees an advert for House Help, so on a whim she applies. Sophie gets the job and she soon flies back to Tenerife to start her new temporary job. Sophie and Hugo get on really well and they find themselves easily slotting into a new routine. When Hugo goes in for his hip surgery, his nephew shows up unannounced and is immediately suspicious of Sophie.

Even though the pair are at loggerheads a lot of the time, there's an obvious attraction between them. However, add in an OAP who needs Sophie's help, and a surfer-dude shop worker who is trying to win Sophie's affections, Sophie's 3 months in Tenerife have become much more hectic than she originally planned! The setting sounds glorious and I really enjoyed reading about Sophie's trip to Tenerife.

It's a great read. Really entertaining with some of the author's usual humour added. Quite emotional at the start but got a lot more lighthearted as the novel went on! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Katie's Cornish Kitchen by Rosie Chambers

Katie's Cornish Kitchen

Rosie Chambers

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Kindness, community and cake are all on the menu at Katie's Cornish Kitchen.

After all the heartbreak of being jilted by her fiance, Katie Campbell has been mending her broken heart in Bali. She has local restaurant owner and new friend Agatha to thank for providing a listening ear in her moment of need. When Katie confides she's worried about going back to what's left of her life in London, Agatha has just the opportunity for Katie - to manage her old cafe in the beautiful, picturesque village of Perrinby in Cornwall.

Although reopening the cafe and making it profitable won't be easy, Katie is determined to make the most of her fresh start. She quickly makes new friends in florist Jay, waitress Talia and handsome neighbour Oscar, and focuses on making the cafe a welcoming place for the community - from hosting floristry workshops to pizza-making nights and even the local knit-and-natter group. But, with the cafe under threat from local property developers circulating just as she's starting to grow closer to Oscar and finally feeling at home, can Katie find the recipe to make her Cornish Kitchen a success?

Escape to Cornwall in this heartwarming romance - perfect for fans of Julie Caplin, Phillipa Ashley and Debbie Johnson.

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This has been on my TBR pile for quite some time now. For some reason I kept on pushing it further back in my pile and once I started reading it, I had no idea why. I've never read a novel by this author before but the cover blew me away and made me want to read it. I love the ombre sky with all the pretty flowers surrounding it, and then the house right on the beach is just beautiful.

The story itself was really interesting and I'm glad I decided to give this read a go. The style of writing reminded me heavily of Daisy James, who is another go-to author of mine. It's a quirky style of writing, but one that I can't stop reading! So, onto the storyline itself. We follow Katie, who has just had a devastating break-up from ex-fiance Dominic. She flies to Bali to lick her wounds and there is where she meets Agatha who helps non-privileged children to learn basic skills which will help them in their future. Agatha used to own a cafe in Cornwall and decides that she doesn't ever want to leave Bali so gives Katie the keys and asks her to run it for her. And if it ever makes any profit, to send some back to her so she can continue to help those in need.

Katie arrives at the cafe and realises she has her work cut out as it's been sitting empty for over 6 months. However, not long after Katie even had her foot in the door did property developer Greg wrestle his way in and demand to know where Agatha is so he can purchase the property and turn it into a holiday complex. Soon, next door neighbour and artist Oscar comes to the rescue and Katie and Oscar get on like a house on fire.

There were some times in the novel where it got a bit repetitive about Katie's 'demons' and how she cleans to get rid of them and there are also some moments in this book that I found to be a little cringe-worthy and slightly unrealistic but it was a nice, lighthearted novel which I did enjoy and shall look out for more novels by this author in the future. The characters were all unique and eccentric (especially Talia, although she was a firm favourite of mine in the end!) and I really liked reading about the themed-nights and their relationships.

Overall, a light and easy read. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay by Katie Ginger

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay

Katie Ginger

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Hetty Colman loves her life in the cosy seaside town of Swallowtail Bay, organising children's birthdays, anniversaries and retirement parties. But after her recent break up from long-term boyfriend Ben, she's been searching for something new.

So, when Hetty overhears locals wondering how to return the old strawberry festival to its former glory, she jumps at the chance to relaunch it. There are just two problems - she only has four weeks to organise it and absolutely no where to host it!

When Hetty manages to convince the aloof, yet extremely handsome, John Thornhill to use the grounds of his rundown manor, things start to look up. But as Hetty and John grow closer and Ben tries to win back her affections, can Hetty make the festival and her love life run smoothly at the same time?

Fans of Rachael Lucas, Cathy Bramley and Jenny Colgan will fall in love with this hilarious summer read from Katie Ginger!

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I'm not going to lie, I have been so looking forward to reading another novel by Katie Ginger ever since I read the first book in this series. I absolutely loved it so I couldn't wait to read this one. The cover is so pretty and eye-catching and I love the strawberries and sweat treats that are lined along the bottom! And of course the bright blue sea and colourful bunting gives it a summery vibe. However, it did take me a little while to get into.

I'm not sure why because the location of this book is just perfect. I love the sound of the shops, cafe's as well as the beach and the pub, but I just found it a little slow at first. I didn't fully relate nor warm to Hetty and John at first and this was probably because of all the formalities at their meetings, it just seemed a little bit too high and mighty for my liking. However, once the meetings got out the way, I started to enjoy the storyline a bit more.

Once the story got going, I started to like the characters a little better and was starting to look forward to the food festival myself! It sounded like it was going to be amazing, especially with the funfair and the film screening. I could understand why John was the way he was, he was under a lot of financial and home stress so of course he was going to be a little standoffish. I wasn't a huge fan of his family, they all seemed quite stuck up and quite rude, especially Felix.

What I found a little confusing was Hetty's relationship woes. It was clear for me to see that she had feelings for John, the way she felt a sizzle every time she saw him made it pretty obvious! But, she also still had feelings for ex-boyfriend Ben, who has his own bakery in the bay. I wasn't a huge fan of Ben, simply because he seemed so sure of himself and sometimes just plain cocky. I'm not sure what Hetty see in him, but when he came up to her and was convinced they would get back together, it made me go right off him!

Overall, this was a lighthearted read but unfortunately wasn't my favourite by this author, I'm not sure what it was but it just didn't really hold my attention. I am looking forward to reading her other novels however, as I really enjoyed the first Swallowtail Bay book. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.