My Top Monthly Reads: October 2017

Wow, is anyone else in shock that it's November tomorrow or is that just me? I have quite an exciting few months coming up, including my birthday and a few other bits & pieces and of course - CHRISTMAS! Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. I just love it. I also love that I'm reading Christmas novels now!

I've mentioned it before on my Twitter but signing up to Netgalley was probably one of the best things I've done and I really don't regret it! Getting to read some of my favourite books is amazing and creating a blog to work beside that has been exciting as well. So, I thought I'd mention a few books that I really enjoyed this month so without further ado...

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove

Holly Martin

Rating: 5 stars

Review here

This book is absolutely stunningly written. I fell in love with the story completely and it's so incredibly romantic!

I loved everything about it and I want to re-read it again before Christmas!

The Beachside Christmas

Karen Clarke

Rating: 5 stars

Review here

This was a really lighthearted and enjoyable book that it had to be included on my Top Monthly Reads! It was so heartwarming and had a lot of humour so I found myself easily getting through the pages.

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas

Tilly Tennant

Rating: 5 stars

The review isn't yet up on my blog (shall be up in November!)

This is by far my favourite of Tilly Tennant's novels - it was so, so enjoyable and I whizzed through it. Would definitely recommend!!

Christmas at Conwenna Cove

Darcie Boleyn

Rating: 5 stars

Review here

I was part of the blog tour for this book, and I enjoyed every minute! I read the book in about a day so that's how much I enjoyed it - and I'm normally a slow reader!!

And that's it for my top monthly reads for October! What have you enjoyed reading this month?

Christmas at the Dancing Duck by Daisy James

Christmas at the Dancing Duck

Daisy James

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK £2.99

Synopsis:

A wonderfully festive romantic read to curl up with this Christmas.

The most wonderful time of the year!

Ever since tragedy struck a few years ago, television presenter Kirstie Harrison has hated Christmas - but she didn't intend to tell the whole country live on air! She needs to lie low for a few weeks, so she's finally coming home for the holidays, determined that this Christmas will be different...

Staying at the family pub, The Dancing Duck, means it's impossible not to get caught up in the little village of Cranbury's festive traditions. And it's equally impossible to avoid her ex, Josh Turner! Kirstie is torn between making this the best Christmas yet and knowing that she can't stay forever.

Maybe it's time to make a holiday wish of her own...?

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This was a really lighthearted and easy Christmas read - just the type I love! Kirstie Harrison is live on her show Kirstie's Kitchen and accidentally lets the whole nation know that she hates Christmas treats! Of course, people are not happy and it soon ends up all over the internet. So Kirstie decides to lay low for a few weeks and spends Christmas at her family pub The Dancing Duck.

Having to run the pub whilst sister Olivia has to rush to Ireland isn't the only problem, she also has to work with ex-boyfriend Josh Turner and things are still quite frosty between them. Over the course of the two weeks, we get to learn more about the running of the pub and also the Christmas events that are being held there. As well as this, I could see Kirstie changing over her time at the pub, she becomes more relaxed and finds herself loving being back home in the village of Cranbury.

One thing I absolutely adored about this was the Christmas events that the pub held, I loved the baking event and the descriptions of the gingerbread men, the mince pies and puddings was making my mouth water and I suddenly had the urge to go and make some myself! There was also the more crafty event, where the villagers was decorating glass jars and a manner of other objects - these really made me feel like I was there as part of that village and enjoying the events with them.

One character I didn't like was Miles (who was buying the pub) and I disliked when him and Kirstie went out together, I found him slimy and secretive (which of course, you are meant to find him this way I suppose!) and I was so pleased with how things worked out in the end. I must admit that I was even a little disappointed with Kirstie and even debating her going out with him!

This book is just full of Christmas cheer and will certainly leave you feeling festive and all warm inside at the ending. It's full of descriptions about Christmas food that will leave your mouth watering and it will make you wish you lived in a village like Cranbury!

Overall, another really enjoyable novel by Daisy James. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Joe & Clara's Christmas Countdown by Katey Lovell

Joe & Clara's Christmas Countdown

Katey Lovell

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £1.99 / P £7.99)

Synopsis:

This Christmas she'll give her heart to someone special...

As Christmas approaches Joe Smith knows he should be celebrating with friends and family, making the most of the season. But for Joe, Christmas only holds painful memories. Ones he can feel crushing his heart, a reminder of a time he can never forget.

Clara O'Connell loves Christmas. For her it is the most magical time of the year. And she's determined to make Joe love it too! She knows he's hurting, but maybe she can help to ease his pain. Her plan: One special gift every day to remind Joe just how loved he is.

But the clock is ticking. Will the Christmas magic wear off at midnight or will Clara's Christmas countdown be the perfect gift to heal Joe's broken heart? And in doing so, maybe she will get a gift in return...Joe's love for Christmas and forever...?

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I was hooked on this story straight from the start. It's a great feel-good Christmassy novel which is full of Christmas treats. When I read a book with a Christmas title and Christmas in the description then I would actually like a big involvement of the holiday - and this is exactly what this book had.

This book follows main characters Joe and Clara as they embark on a relationship journey to prove the other one wrong. Joe wants to prove to Clara that men can be trusted and Clara wants to prove to Joe that Christmas is a magical and enjoyable time. Of course, there are some sad parts to the story (what typical Christmas novel wouldn't have a bit of sadness?) but most of the way it is happy and upbeat.

I found myself really loving Clara's character - because even though she was knocked down by her fiancé, she refuses to remain beaten. She just gets back up and dusts herself down and I really admire that. I wish I was like that in those situations! Joe is slightly different, he is heartbroken and his character shows that but you can't help but relate and love him with what he's going through - he still comes across as strong.

Although both of their stories are equally heartbreaking but in different ways, you don't feel put down with the book and the story continues to unfold in an upbeat and uplifting way. This book is definitely filled with Christmas magic and will certainly get you into the festive spirit!

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

Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson

Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe

Debbie Johnson

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £1.99 / P £5.59)

Synopsis:

Moving to the little village of Budbury, Zoe hopes the crisp Dorset sea breeze and gentle pace of life will be a fresh start for her and her godddaughter, Martha.

Luckily for them both, the friendly community cafe provide listening ears, sage advice, shoulders to cry on, and some truly excellent carrot cake. And when Martha's enigmatic, absent father suddenly turns up, confusing not only Martha but Zoe too, the love and support of their new-found friends is the best present they could ask for.

Have Zoe and Martha truly found their home at the Comfort Food Cafe?

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It feels wonderful being back in Budbury again at the Comfort Food Cafe. I absolutely adored the first two in the series and I knew I would enjoy this one. The cover drew me in straight away, the colours, the snow, everything looks perfect and so, so pretty!

When I first read the description, I was worried about the sadness this book included and I would say that the opening to this book was fairly emotional (you know what I'm like with emotional books - I just can't handle them!) but after the initial storyline was shown the book was really enjoyable and I couldn't put it down. It was so lovely to be able to read about past characters too - as I enjoyed the first two so much I couldn't wait to be back. It certainly did feel like coming home!

It was lovely to be able to read about Zoe and Martha becoming friends with the regular cafe characters and I enjoyed it even more simply because it included Christmas! I will say that even though the main two characters have had a hard time recently, the book is still uplifting and heartwarming. I really loved the Christmas Day talent show, it sounded like to much fun and it was lovely to see Martha and Zoe enjoying themselves despite what they've been through.

It wouldn't be a Chick Lit book without a bit of drama, and it was a bit shocking to say the least when Martha's dad shows up out the blue! It made for great reading and I was so immersed in the storyline that my coffee went cold on several occasions! I can't wait to read more about the Comfort Food Cafe, because every book I've read on it so far have been so enjoyable.

Overall, a lovely read with some heartwarming moments. It was lovely to read about old characters as well as new ones. There's sad moments as well as lighthearted ones and I loved Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Little Village Christmas by Sue Moorcroft

The Little Village Christmas

Sue Moorcroft

Rating: 3.5 stars

Amazon UK (K £2.99 / P £7.99)

Synopsis:

Alexia Kennedy - interior decorator extraordinaire - has been tasked with giving the little village of Middledip the community cafe it's always dreamed of.

After months of fundraising, the villagers can't wait to see work get started - but disaster strikes when every last penny is stolen. With Middledip up in arms at how this could have happened, Alexia feels ready to admit defeat.

But help comes in an unlikely form when woodsman, Ben Hardaker and his rescue owl Barney, arrive on the scene. Another lost soul who's hit rock bottom, Ben and Alexia make an unlikely partnership.

However, they soon realise that a little sprinkling of Christmas magic might just help bring this village - and their lives - together again... 

Settle down with a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine as you devour this irresistibly festive Christmas tale.

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Another enjoyable Christmas novel to add to your to-be-read pile. This lovely little Christmas story is set in the cute village of Middledip and is sure to get you into the festive spirit. If the blurb doesn't make you want to read it then the cover sure would. I love everything about it!

This particular Christmas novel is a more traditional story I would say, girl meets boy, something tragic happens, then they both work together to make everything better again, add in some snow and Christmas and you've got yourself an enjoyable read.

The story starts with us learning Ben's story with his ex-wife Imogen and how they came to be separated. This, I believe, gives us the perfect insight to know exactly why brooding Ben is the way he is when he comes to meet interior designer Alexia when they are decorating Ben's uncles cafe. The pair start off with a little flirting and you can feel the chemistry between the two.

However, when all the funds for the cafe have been stolen, all hell breaks lose and Alexia and Ben have to work together in order to make everything in the village right again. Not only is Ben's uncle and Alexia's friend counting on them, but so is the rest of the village.

The book was a nice pace from about a quarter in, as I found the beginning to be a little slow and I found it hard to get into at first. However, when I passed this I then found I struggled to put it down and was constantly dying to know what happens between our two main characters. It has a wonderfully Christmassy atmosphere and it will leave you feeling festive. It's a great story of how people come together at Christmas to help each other out.

If you want a book that will make you excited for the fast approaching holiday, then look no further. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: Christmas at Conwenna Cove by Darcie Boleyn

Christmas at Conwenna Cove

Darcie Boleyn

Previous books: Something Old, Something New, A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas, Summer at Conwenna Cove

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK £1.99
Publisher: Canelo

Synopsis:

A heartwarming, romantic and Christmassy novel set in the gorgeous Cornish village of Conwenna Cove.

When Grace Phillips travels to Conwenna Cove to help her parents move there 30 years after their honeymoon in the village, she sees why they fell in love with the place. The festive decorations, carols in the air and constant supply of delicisious mince pies certainly make it hard to leave. Grace soon meets local vet Oli Davenport and initially finds him rude, but learning about his passion for animals and how much he cares for his two kids helps Grace to see a softer side to Oli.

It's been two years since Oli lost his wife to cancer. Though he loves eleven-year-old Amy and five-year-old Tom more than anything it's hard to be mum and dad. He has no interest in romance until he crosses paths with beautiful and kind-hearted Grace. The sparks fly but both Oli and Grace are holding onto their fear about letting someone into their heart.

As the snow falls and Christmas wishes come true can Conwenna Cove work its magic and help Grace and Oli find the happiness they both deserve?

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Links to book:

Amazon / Kobo / Google Books / Apple Books / Goodreads

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Author Bio:

Darcie Boleyn has a huge heart and is a real softy. She never fails to cry at books and movies, whether ending is happy or not. Darcie is in possession of an overactive imagination that often keeps her awake at night. Darcie fell in love in New York, got married in the snow, rescues uncoordinated greyhounds and can usually be found reading or typing away on her laptop.

Author Social Media Links:

Twitter @DarcieBoleyn

Facebook DarcieBoleyn

www.darcieboleyn.wordpress.com

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Review:

When I got asked if I wanted to be part of the blog tour for Christmas at Conwenna Cove, I jumped at the chance - who wouldn't? I absolutely loved the first one so I knew I would love the second - plus it was set at Christmas, which is already a winner in my books. Then I saw the cover reveal and instantly fell in love with it.

When I read the book, I can't believe how much I actually did enjoy it. I managed to read it in under a day and in that time I fell in love with Oli and Grace's story. Grace has come to Conwenna Cove to help her parents settle in to Rosehip Cottage (what a cute name) but doesn't realise she'll fall in love with the village herself. Oli, who is the vet in the village, hasn't wanted a relationship since his wife died, but the pair come together and the Christmas magic has something in store for them.

The book was incredibly romantic and Christmassy. The use of the Christmas markets, gingerbread spiced drinks and Oli's children decorating a tree made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I found myself really looking forward to Christmas. The snow and the friendly villagers made me wish that I lived in Conwenna Cove myself!

The characters in Christmas at Conwenna Cove are all absolutely lovely and I really loved Oli's children Amy and Tom. They were so cute and really set the Christmas novel off nicely. Both Oli and Grace had been through a lot in their life and have both suffered a terrible loss so it was nice to see them coming together and relating to each other. One other thing I adored is the amount of greyhounds in the story - something I feel really passionate about because it's my dream to adopt a couple too!

Overall, I couldn't get enough of this book. There was a beautiful romance, a bit of humour and lots of Christmas spirit. Thank you to publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

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You can follow the blog tour here.

#ChristmasAtConwennaCove

Christmas at the Gin Shack by Catherine Miller

Christmas at the Gin Shack

Catherine Miller

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK £2.99

Synopsis:

Welcome in the festive season with love, laughter and the perfect G&T in Christmas at the Gin Shack - the most uplifting holiday read of 2017!

Gingle bells, gingle bells, gingle all the way...

Olive Turner might have lived through eighty-four Christmases, but she'll never get bored of her favourite time of year. And this one's set to be extra-special. It's the Gin Shack's first Christmas - and there's a gin themed weekend and a cocktail competition on the cards!

But, beneath the dazzle of fairy lights and the delicious scent of mince-pies, Olive smells a rat. From trespassers in her beloved beach hut to a very unfunny joke played on her friends, it seems that someone is missing a dose of good cheer.

Olive knows she's getting on a bit - but is she really imagining that someone in the little seaside town is out to steal Christmas? More importantly, can she create the perfect gin cocktail before Christmas Eve - in time to save the day?

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Links to book:

Amazon / Kobo

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About the Author:


When Catherine Miller became a mum to twins, she decided her hands weren't full enough so wrote a novel with every spare moment she managed to find. By the time the twins were two, Catherine had a two-book deal with HQDigital UK. There is a possibility she has aged remarkably in that time. Her debut novel, Waiting For You, came out in March 2016. She is now the author of four books and hopes there will be many more now her twins have started school. Either that, or she'll conduct more gin research on Olive's behalf.


Facebook

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Review:

I was really excited when Rachel contacted me to be part of the blog tour for Christmas at the Gin Shack, because not only did I really enjoy the first one and was excited to read about all the lovely characters again - I also couldn't wait to hear if Olive had found the perfect G&T!

If you're looking for a book that has Christmas Spirit, cocktails, humour and mysterious drama, then Christmas at the Gin Shack is exactly what you're looking for. When someone mysteriously vandalises the sign to The Gin Shack and Olive suspects someone has been in her beach hut, her mind starts whirring as to who could be behind it all. Along the way there are a few more surprises but this just all adds to a wonderfully addictive story.

In this sequel, Olive and her gang enter into a Christmas Cocktail competition and some of the ones they come up with sound so delightful - especially the chocolate orange one - I'm a huge fan of chocolate orange! As well as this, I love the Christmas touches that are in the book - making it not overly Chrsitmassy. But I have to say that Olive sounds exactly like me and likes to go overboard at Christmas time - if you can't at Christmas then when can you?

With The Gin Shack on the Beach, I wasn't a huge lover of Olive's son Richard but in this second part of the series, I started warming to him and could see that he is really caring towards his mum. As well as Richard, a lot of characters from the first novel come into this one but don't worry if you plan to read this one but haven't read the first - it could easily be read as a standalone. Olive is by far my favourite character - she just has such a lovely, bubbly personality and I hope to be like her when I'm her age!

I'm not a big drinker myself and despite never drinking Gin, this book has you wanting to taste the mouth-wateringly described flavours that they have on offer at The Gin Shack - I for one didn't know that you could even get that much variety! The Gin Shack series is definitely an uplifting and lighthearted one. Again I believe that Catherine Miller is a great writer and certainly makes you believe that you're there next to Olive and her gang.

Overall, a really bubbly, humorous story with some lovely heartwarming moments and full of great characters. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

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You can follow the rest of the blog tour here.

A Very Vintage Christmas by Tilly Tennant

A Very Vintage Christmas

Tilly Tennant

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £0.99 / P £6.99)

Synopsis:

The fairy lights are up and shoppers are flooding the snowy seaside promenade. It's going to be a busy month at Forget-Me-Not Vintage, a magical shop with a warm heart where every item has a story to be told.

With bright red hair and an infectious smile, Dodie is a hopeless romantic and absolutely one of a kind, just like the pieces in her shop.

When Dodie finds a love letter in the pocket of an old woollen coat, she makes it her mission to deliver it to its rightful owner. Following the address, she manages to persuade handsome but reluctant new tenant, Edward, to help her with her search.

As the story of the letter unfolds, Dodie is there, as always to pick up the pieces and make things right. But who will be there for her when her own love story needs a helping hand?

Is it too much to dream of a happy ending like the ones in the black and white movies she adores?

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I'll be honest and say I wasn't sure what to expect with this particular story by Tilly Tennant. Although I normally really love her books, it isn't usually the type of story I generally read but the cover was what won it over for me and I decided to give it a go. I must say now that I'm glad I did. It was a simply enjoyable read and has made me so excited for the next one in the series.

One thing I will say is that I didn't think it was overly Christmassy - and this is what I missed! With a Christmas book, I do want it to have a lot of descriptions and storylines devoted to the holiday, which sadly this didn't really have. But, it was still a beautiful love story that I did enjoy. I just wouldn't necessarily read it around Christmas time.

So the story follows one of a kind main character Dodie (what a lovely name) as she tries to find who the love letter she finds belongs too. It's as romantic as it sounds and you will be left with a warm and fuzzy feeling afterwards. The characters are all so unique and I think that gives this book a really lovely feel to it. 

Overall, I found this story to be written beautifully and made me smile and also feel pretty emotional at times (in a good way of course!) but I would definitely recommend giving it a read. Now to read A Cosy Candlelit Christmas - I'm even more excited now about this one!

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

Blog Tour: Fatal Masquerade by Vivian Conroy

A Lady Alkmene Mystery: Fatal Masquerade

Vivian Conroy

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK £1.99

Synopsis:

Masked danger...

Lady Alkmene Callender has always loved grand parties, but when she receives an invitation to a masked ball thrown by Franklin Hargrove - oil magnate, aviation enthusiast and father of her best friend, Denise - she's never seen such luxury. The estate is lit up with Chinese lanterns in the gardens, boats operated by footmen float across the pond and the guest list features the distinguished, rich and powerful!

But below the glamour, evil is lurking. When a dead body is discovered, it forces Lady Alkmene to throw off her mask and attempt to find the true killer before Denise's family are accused. If only her partner, Jake Dubois, weren't hiding something from her...

This case might just be more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.

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Review:

Vivian Conroy's writing really is something else. I've never read a book where I'm as hooked onto the storyline as I was whilst reading her novels. There's something about the style of writing that just makes you not be able to put the book down and such was the case with Fatal Masquerade.

As you may well know, if you've read my blog before, I don't tend to read mystery novels. They just aren't usually my thing. That was until I reviewed Rubies in the Roses, another book by Vivian Conroy, and I was hooked. Now I really enjoy them. The thing is with Vivian's stories is that they're not just mystery's - they're cosy mysteries - and this makes all the difference.

Mysteries are usually ones that have no humour or romance but these are different, and the book reflects that. I just found this book so intriguing from the start. I hadn't read a Lady Alkmene book before this, but if you're worried that you won't get into the story or you'll get too easily lost, then don't worry - I was worried about this too but I easily understood who was who and what was going on!

The story follows Lady Alkmene as she attends her best friends fathers masked ball. But of course, with a mystery novel, drama occurs too soon and they are shortly trying to work out which of the party-goers was the killer. It's definitely treated as mysterious, and Lady Alkmene is trying hard to figure out who committed the crime before Denise or any of her family are accused.

The overall settings and the descriptions of said settings were described beautifully and you really felt as though you were there at the party with everyone. The characters all flowed easily together and I did find myself really enjoying this book.

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:

Vivian Conroy writes the Cornish Castle Mysteries for HarperCollins, with book 1 Death Plays a Part released in July and Rubies in the Roses following in late August. Her Lady Alkmene Mysteries, of which the first instalment, A Proposal to Die for, became an Amazon USA and Canada best seller in five categories.

For all the latest bookish news, with plenty of dogs and desserts, follow Vivian on Twitter via @VivWrites. You can also find her on Goodreads, Library Thing, Book Bub and Fantastic Fiction.

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You can follow the blog tour below:

Annie's Christmas by the Sea by Liz Eeles

Annie's Christmas by the Sea

Liz Eeles

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £1.99 / P £7.99)

Synopsis:

On the beautiful coast of Cornwall lies the idyllic Salt Bay, where Christmas is the perfect time for brining family and friends together...

Annie Trebarwith is happily settled in Salt Bay with her beloved great-aunt Alice and gorgeous boyfriend Josh Pasco. Snow is in the air, and Christmas is just around the corner.

But when the father she's never met, aging rock god Barry, turns up with the half-sister Annie didn't know existed, life suddenly gets complicated. Barry and Storm are soon clashing with the entire village, and their antics are even driving a wedge between Annie and Josh.

Can Annie prevent her new family ruining the festivities and repair things with Josh in time for a cosy Christmas? Or will their relationship end up as frosty as the Salt Bay air?

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I was so looking forward to returning to Salt Bay and the story certainly didn't let me down. I really loved the first one, the book surrounding a choir was something totally different to what I would usually read about that I found it completely refreshing and I was sad when it finished. I loved the characters and the drama they had. So I was so happy when I heard we would be returning there, and at Christmas too!

On the return to Salt Bay we see main character Annie meeting her long lost family that she didn't even know existed (yikes) and the story follows her coming to deal with the sudden realisation that she has more family than she thought possible! At first (like Annie) I was a bit hesitant over whether I liked Barry and Storm but towards the end of the book I found myself loving them (especially Storm) and I was pleased that it all worked out in the end (without giving too much away).

The book has some emotional moments in it, and as Annie's new family arrive it causes her to drift further away from boyfriend Josh, making me wonder whether they could get through this strange time. However, I found that this added bit of drama meant that I just couldn't put the book down. It had everything that I love to read about: drama, romance, humour and of course - Christmas.

I still loved the choir part of the book - I loved the carol singing by the Christmas tree, and the competition that the Salt Bay Choir was a part of, as it gave it a really traditional Christmas feel to the book. Although it is a Christmas book, I wouldn't say it was overly Christmassy as most of the story is set before Christmas.

Overall, a really enjoyable second book in the series. I can't wait to see if we return to Salt Bay again - I hope so! Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Snowflakes, Iced Cakes and Second Chances by Sue Watson

Snowflakes, Iced Cakes and Second Chances

Sue Watson

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (K £1.99 / P £6.99)

Synopsis:

Escape to the cosy little village of Appledore for hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and a second chance at love. Will Christmas prove that miracles really can happen?

A year after she separated from her husband, Gianni, on Christmas Day, Chloe's heart is finally on the mend as she unpacks the decorations for her first ever festive holiday alone. That is, until the phone rings...

It's the manager of Gianni's new seaside restaurant in Appledore, begging for Chloe's help. Equally famous for his gold-leaf Christmas puddings and his explosive temper, Gianni has been stirring up a sensation with the locals - and not in a good way! It's the last thing she wants to do, but Chloe knows she is the only one that can help.

As pans fly and the temperature in the kitchen rises, Chloe's calming influence and magic touch might just get critics back on side in time to save the restaurant from sinking like a sad souffle. But as Chloe's eyes meet Gianni's as they tussle over a plate of turkey tartlets, could there also be a chance for new romance on the menu?

A laugh-out-loud festive treat that will give you the tingle of freshly hung tinsel.

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Another brilliant, Christmassy and heartwarming novel by Sue Watson. After her releases in the summer (set in Appledore), I was throughly looking forward to going back for Christmas. And boy was I not disappointed. Although it wasn't overly Christmassy, I adored the style of writing and it seemed to have a bit more of a serious approach to it, which was a bit different to the others.

The story follows main character Chloe a year on after breaking up with husband Gianni. She receives a call out the blue one evening near Christmas asking her to come and work on a new restaurant because it's struggling. She soon works out that said restaurant belongs to ex Gianni, and is somewhat reluctant to go. However, after reliving some memories when she finds an old Christmas decoration, she decides to give it a go.

For most of the first quarter of the book, we read about Chloe's past and her relationship with Gianni, who she met at work in Harrods at Christmas. This gave us a lovely insight into how their relationship worked and I found myself really relating to Chloe. I also found myself warming to Giannni, as at first he appeared to be quite rude - but once he bought Chloe Snowflake, I was smitten!

When it gets to about half way through, that's when the real heartbreak starts. I was welling up reading this and I honestly felt sorry and hurt for Chloe and Gianni and what they had been through throughout their marriage. It makes me realise a lot as to why they broke up and why they are how they are and I feel that this certainly made it a bit of an emotional book.

However, away from the sad storyline - there is also what may be a re-blossoming of their past relationship. I felt like Chloe helping Gianni again must have bought back so many memories for them and this is why Chloe tried to re-create their first restaurant that they opened together by lighting cosy candles, and hanging up Christmas decorations where she can.

As well as Chloe and Gianni, it was lovely to read about some familiar characters that was in the other books that are set in Appledore. Reading about them in the Ice Cream Cafe was lovely and I really enjoyed being back in the cosy fishing village of Appledore again. Especially when there is snow along the beach and Christmas decorations filling up the shop windows.

Overall, not an overly Christmassy novel but still enjoyable to read in the build up. A lovely romantic story which is heartwarming and will make you feel all fuzzy inside when you finish it. Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Beachside Christmas by Karen Clarke

The Beachside Christmas

Karen Clarke

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK (K £0.99 / P £9.99)

Synopsis:

Snow is falling and there's romance in the air. Curl up for a cosy Christmas by the fire at Seaview Cottage...

When thirty-year-old Lily Ambrose's latest relationship ends in disaster, she remembers happy childhood holidays in the seaside town of Shipley and decides it's the perfect place for a fresh start.

But when Lily arrives, the town's spirits are as low as her own: the local celebrity due to turn on the Christmas lights has hone on a cruise instead. Keen to prove to herself, she calls in a favour and secures gorgeous reality star Ollie.

Lily's neighbours are initially thrilled but Ollie is as uncontrollable as he is good-looking. He can't remember the town's name, calls the Christmas decorations tacky, and manages to offend everyone. And whilst handsome but stubborn cameraman Craig tries to help, even he can't stop Ollie's madcap plans to stage a romance with Lily...

Will Lily be able to keep Ollie under control and bring the Christmas cheer back to Shipley - and find herself a real kiss under the mistletoe?

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What a throughly enjoyable Christmas novel. The cover for this book was enough to make me want to read it, well - that and the fact that I really love Karen Clarke's other books! The use of the presents, the Christmas tree and the snowman is beautiful and I just love it. There's something about them that just have the right amount of everything you're looking for.

Humour? Check. Romance? Check. Drama? Check. And in this case, a big lump of Christmas festivities. Check! When I knew this book was going to be set in Shipley like the rest, I was thrilled. I was even more happy to see some familiar faces peep up throughout the book as well. Although this book is set with the same characters as the last two, you do not need to read them before this one. The Beachside Christmas could easily be read as a standalone.

This particular Shipley novel follows Lily when she moves away to where she used to spend her childhood holidays after a really bad breakup and embarrassing moment with her ex's wife in her classroom... However, soon after she moves in she finds herself a part of The Christmas Lights Society and trying to find a celebrity to switch on the Christmas lights, as is tradition.

Lily soon finds reality TV star Ollie but thinks she's bit of more than she can chew when Ollie turns out to be a bit of a handful. As the days go on and Ollie unintentionally upsets more of Lily's neighbours, she fears that she'll have to move on again to a somewhere different as she thinks she's royally messed this up. However, Lily soon finds that everything around her is coming together and she starts falling in love with not just where she lives...

I loved every character - and although Craig comes across as grumpy, I was praying for Lily to notice him the same as everyone else was! I was very happy with the ending (and you probably will be too) and it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy and excited for Christmas! The story involves a Christmas Lights Competition so this story was right up my street - I love Christmas lights!

Overall, a really lovely and lighthearted Christmas story. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel which I have reviewed honestly.

The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of France by Alice Ross

The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of France

Alice Ross

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK £0.99

Synopsis:

Too many men spoil the broth...?

Kate Harris has enough on her plate! Life is constant juggling act between raising her three young children and running a busy Veterinary Practice in the Cotswolds. But with her passion for all things French, especially the mouth-watering cuisine, the cookery club with her best friends, Connie, Melody and Trish is the perfect escape...

Now the foursome has been given their biggest challenge yet! Yet, with her husband Andrew's increasingly secretive behaviour, the unexpected reappearance of her dishy ex-boyfriend, Gregg, and an unexpected culinary challenge from her daughter's nursery, Kate decides it's time to take charge of the disparate ingredients of her life and transform them into the perfect pot-au-feu!

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Now this is the story I've been waiting for! I've been dying to hear about Kate's story since the series began and I was delighted when I found out that this would be the one! This series has been amazing and I've enjoyed every moment - this is the perfect final novella to end it. But I'm so sad it's over!

I've really enjoyed this series, with the mouth watering food, the drama between the couples, and the humour and good friendship between the cookery club - it's been an absolute delight.

I love the setting of the Cookery Club series, the Cotswolds to me sounds like a dream and I really felt like I was there with the characters. The characters are easily relatable to and I really enjoyed reading about each of their stories - apart from poor Melody! (I'm hoping Alice writes another purely for her!)

For a start, I adore the covers of this series. It's beautiful colours and background simply makes you want to read it even more! Then you read what the books about and it just draws you in - utterly and completely.

I don't want to give too much away but for most of the book I was convinced about Andrew - but there's a twist nearer the end of the book which I completely wasn't expecting! It was another great read in the series and I fell in love with the story. I know I sound like a broken record but I did really enjoy reading this and couldn't put it down.

Overall, an extremely enjoyable read. I'm so sad that this series is finished now! But cannot wait to read more by Alice Ross. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove

Holly Martin

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK (K £1.99 / P £8.99)

Synopsis:

Christmas has arrived at Hope Island, promising snowflakes, surprises and plenty of seasonal joy. So snuggle up and fall in love at Mistletoe Cove ...

Growing up on Hope Island, Eden Lancaster always believed that if you wished hard enough for something, dreams really could come true. But Eden's greatest wish is also her biggest secret: she has been completely in love with her childhood friend, the charming and attractive Dougie Harrison, for as long as she can remember. And he has no idea.

When Dougie leaves his successful life in New York to return home to Hope Island for good, Eden can't escape her feelings. Her heart is full of hope that her romantic dreams are finally, at long last, going to come true...

This Christmas could change everything. But can a lifelong friendship really turn into the perfect romance? And will Eden get the happily ever after she's always wished for?

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Wow. I always knew that when this book came up on Netgalley that I would enjoy it but I didn't think I would love it as much as I did. This book is so Christmassy and beautiful it's untrue - Holly Martin certainly knows how to write a Christmas romance novel.

The story follows Eden as she figures out where to go with her love life now that her true love Dougie has returned to Hope Island. I soon was hoping and praying that things worked out between the pair but of course (without giving too much away), Holly Martin is known for her beautiful endings that shall make you swoon!

The story was terribly romantic and simply magical and I loved the descriptions about the Christmas markets, mince pies and of course, the snow! This story was written so beautifully and had fast become my favourite Christmas book, making me want to visit Hope Island myself at Christmas time!

I loved everything about it, I loved the 'wooing', I loved the descriptions of the magic and the Christmas markets. The mince pie pancakes sounded delicious and I found myself soon Googling how to make them myself! The romance between Eden and Dougie was described beautifully and I fell in love with Holly Martin's stories even more.

Overall, a beautiful love story, which I throughly enjoyed and was very sad when it ended. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: The Woolly Hat Knitting Club by Poppy Dolan

The Woolly Hat Knitting Club

Poppy Dolan
Rating: 5 stars
Previous books:
The Bad Boyfriends Bootcamp, There's More to Life than Cupcakes, The Bluebell Bunting Society
Genre: Women's Fiction
Release Date: 25th September 2017
Publisher: Canelo

Synopsis:

Finding happiness one stitch at a time.

When Dee Blackthorn's brother, JP, breaks both wrists not only is he in need of a helping hand - or two - but the knitting shop he owns can't function. Sisterly duties take Dee away from her demanding job and she is unceremoniously fired amidst rumours of inappropriate behaviour. Dee is certain that her hot-shot nemesis, Ben, is behind it all but has no proof.

When Dee bumps into an old friend who is a new mum to a premature baby she convinces JP to enlist his knitting pals to make lots of tiny woolly hats. Then Ben turns up denying involvement in Dee's sacking and she ropes him into helping the knitting cause.

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

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Links to book:

Amazon / Kobo / Google Books / Apple Books / Goodreads

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Author Bio:

Poppy Dolan is in her mid thirties and lives in Berkshire with her husband. She's a near-obsessive baker and a keen crafter, so on a typical weekend can be found moving between the haberdashery and kitchenware floors of a department store, adding to her birthday wish list. She has written three novels: The Bad Boyfriends Bootcamp, There's More to Life than Cupcakes and most recently The Bluebell Bunting Society. The Bad Boyfriend's Bootcamp made it into the Amazon top 100 bestseller chart, so clearly someone other than her mum must have read it. She's currently working on her fourth novel - it's about friends, siblings and crafty things - and drinking far too much tea.

You can get in touch with Poppy on Twitter @poppydwriter and on Facebook at PoppyDolanBooks. She doesn't bite. Unless you are a dark chocolate digestive.

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Review:

Poppy Dolan is fast becoming my new favourite author. First up lets discuss this beautiful and colourful cover. It's bright and draws you in immediately. Add in the stripped awning and you're in love with the cover! I love the cute little woolly hats hanging up in the shop window and the small potted plants either side.

Now with the story itself ... I can't say much else other than I loved it! As soon as I saw the cover of the book I knew I just had to read it. The description was intriguing and I couldn't wait to find out what the story was all about. As the whole story is based around Dee, her brother JP and his knitting shop. It's a completely different kind of story to which you normally tend to read and for that I found it to be totally refreshing and so, so interesting.

The characters themselves are so easy to relate to and I found myself loving each and every one of them. There wasn't a character that I thought was a bit annoying, or a storyline that was a bit far fetched. It was light-hearted and easy to read. Exactly what you want from a Chick Lit novel.

Without giving too much away, the story revolves around Dee and her workaholic life. After she's fired, she heads back home to help JP run their knitting shop, and it's there that she bumps into old school friend Becky. Becky had just had a baby - but he was born weeks and weeks early so found it difficult to find clothes that fit him to keep him warm. This is where JP and Dee step in, they plan on raising awareness and knitting lots of baby hats to help premature babies around the UK.

However, along the way there is of course romance, humour and some drama too! Which makes for a very enjoyable read. I just found this story to be so heart-warming, especially because it's all based around a good cause and raising awareness for it.

Overall, I loved this story and I'm sure you will too! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

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You can check out the other days of the blog tour below:

The Christmas Holiday by Maxine Morrey

The Christmas Holiday

Maxine Morrey

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK (£2.99)

Synopsis:

Fall in love this winter on a romantic trip around the world ending in a fairy-tale winter wedding!

As winter comes to London, journalist Mia Walker is desperately hoping for her big break as a travel writer, dreaming of exotic locations and sun-soaked beaches. When she's invited to write a romantic travel piece that ends in a huge winter wedding in London, she jumps at the chance. The only trouble is, the photographer is reowned adventure-junkie Hunter Scott, who Mia last saw five years ago when she ended their engagement.

It's the opportunity of a lifetime, and Mia knows that she'd be mad to say no - even if it does mean spending weeks travelling round the world with the one man she never wanted to see again! But as the wedding approaches, and the magic of Christmas begins to take hold, Mia can't help looking out for mistletoe - and wishing she hadn't cancelled her own engagement after all...

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I love how different this book is in comparison to other Christmas novels. This is the first Maxine Morrey novel I've read (I feel like I keep saying that in my reviews lately!) and I was wonderfully surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

As well as this being decidedly different to other Christmas novels I've read, the cover is totally different as well. The colours are so inviting, and although it doesn't scream Christmas, it still stands out and draws you in. Also, how could you resist reading a book with the Taj Mahal on the cover? Exactly, you can't.

This novel is all about new experiences, romance and of course travel, which makes it an exciting and refreshing read to the other usual Chick Lit novels. The travel side of the book is something that I really did enjoy reading about, as it's in my personal interest to travel as much as I can. And although I haven't visited enough places as I would have liked, I felt like I was living the experiences of the places through main character Mia.

This book is a lot of fun, it has a ton of humour and is a lighthearted and easy read. Something I tend to look for in a book. When I read, I want to escape to a happy story, and this is definitely the book to choose to do just that. The characters of this book are so, so easy to relate to and you end up falling in love with their character. It's real obvious that there's still a romantic spark between Mia and ex-fiancé Hunter, and it's really exciting reading their story and seeing how their relationship turns out.

As the book does have some involvement with Christmas, it's the perfect book to read in the build up to the holiday itself, it'll get you really excited! Now I just can't wait for more books by Maxine Morrey!

Overall, an exciting read that is lighthearted and enjoyable from the start. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.