Love and Lies at the Village Christmas Shop by Portia MacIntosh

Love and Lies at the Village Christmas Shop

Portia MacIntosh

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove by Karen Clarke

The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove

Karen Clarke

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances by Donna Ashcroft

The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances

Donna Ashcroft

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happily Ever After at the Dog & Duck by Jill Steeples

Happily Ever After at the Dog & Duck

Jill Steeples

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coming Home to Maple Cottage by Holly Martin

Coming Home to Maple Cottage

Holly Martin

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

This utterly addictive new novel from bestselling author Holly Martin will make you smile until your cheeks hurt, sob tears of pure joy and fall head over heels in love with a totally unforgettable romance...

Isla Rosewood is creating a new life for herself and her sweet nephew Elliot in their cosy, yellow-brick family cottage, brimming with special memories. Living with Sandcastle Bay was never part of Isla's plan but, after her brother Matthew's tragic accident, her whole world changed as she unexpectedly became a mother to the little boy she adores so much.

Leo Jackson was always known as Matthew's fun-loving and wild best friend. But now Matthew is gone, it's time to put his colourful past behind him. His role as Elliot's godfather is the most important thing to him. And even though Leo and Isla are two very different people, they both want to give Elliot the childhood he deserves.

As the three of them enjoy time together watching fireworks, baking cakes and collecting conkers, Isla begins to see a softer side to charming Leo, with his twinkling eyes and mischievous sense of humour. And, despite herself, she begins to fall for him.

But does Leo feel the same way? Isla knows their situation is complicated but is it too complicated for true love... or will the year end with a happy new beginning for them all?

A glorious, feel-good romance that will make you want to snuggle up under a warm blanket with a hot chocolate and the one you love. If you enjoy reading Sarah Morgan, Jenny Oliver and Lucy Diamond this book is for you.

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I cannot tell you enough how excited I was to read this book. I absolutely adore Autumn and whilst we have a lot of Christmas/Winter novels, we don't have a lot of novels set in Autumn out there. So when Holly Martin (one of my fave novelists) announced her next one was set in the season, I was delighted and could not wait. The mention of the fireworks, baking cakes etc got me excited and this book certainly sets your mood!

When I started getting into the book, it was like I had never left Sandcastle Bay. I simply adore all of the characters, and I was so eager to find out more about Isla and Leo's relationship. I also loved that Elliot was a part of this story, everything is better with children! I was loving reading about the acorn hunts, the halloween decorating - everything! When I got to about 50% I wished there was more of it! I really enjoyed the fact that we heard about some of the other characters in the series as well - seeing how their relationships were getting on was lovely.

Having said this, you could easily read this story as a standalone. You don't need to have read the others to understand what's going on because it's about completely different people essentially. One thing that made me smile in this book was the names of the cottages. Hot Chocolate Cottage was my favourite but then there was also Maple Cottage and Marshmallow Cottage (Elliot's treehouse), they all sounded lovely and homely!

Overall, another fabulous novel by Holly Martin. My favourite of hers is still Christmas at Mistletoe Cove, but this is a strong contender! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

One in a Million by Lindsey Kelk

One in a Million

Lindsey Kelk

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Everyone wants that special someone...

Annie Higgins has given up on love: she's too busy trying to get her tiny business off the ground. Infuriated by the advertising agency across the hall making fun of her job, Annie accepts their crazy challenge - to make a random stranger Instagram-famous in just thirty days.

And even when they choose Dr Samuel Page PhD, historian and hater of social media, as her target, Annie's determined to win the bet - whether Sam likes it or not.

But getting to know Sam means getting to know more about herself. And before the thirty days are out, Annie has to make a decision about what's really important...

Funny, real and heart-meltingly romantic, Annie and Sam's story is My Fair Lady for the social media age - and the perfect feel-good read.

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My first read by Lindsey Kelk and certainly not my last. I was at the airport the other day with low battery on my Kindle (rookie mistake not charging it before I left!) and decided to take a browse at what was on offer. They were outrageously expensive (14 euros for this one!) but I knew I just had to buy one otherwise I'd be bored on the flight (4 hours with 6 screaming children within 2 rows of me was NOT the one let me tell you) so I settled on this one in the end.

I don't usually read novels surrounding the topic of social media as I tend to find them a bit boring - however this one was great and engaging - Lindsey Kelk's style of writing reminded me a bit of Sophie Kinsella, which I love and find hilarious! The story itself follows Annie, who owns a digital marketing company in London. The company itself is struggling, even though they have more work than what they can handle at the moment. Charlie, one of the lads which work in the same space as Annie, gives her a challenge one day - to make someone InstaFamous. Annie stupidly agrees and they agreed that whoever walked through the door next was their subject.

In walks Dr Samuel Page (with TWO PhD's!), his long hair and huge beard covering most of his face and wearing baggy clothes. Annie thinks she's doomed but doesn't give up on the bet. She is determined to win this! Over the course of the bet, their relationship changes and it was so nice to see Sam coming out of his shell, and Annie seeing that there's more to life than getting 20k followers and loads of likes on her posts. It was lovely to see that they change one another for the best.

Of course, this romance isn't plain sailing - there's heartbreak and tears but this book had such a happy and lighthearted feel to it, that once I got into it I just couldn't put it down. It's quite a hefty story (just over 400 pages) but it doesn't feel like the story dragged at all, it was a great read and I couldn't wait to see how it turned out for Annie and Sam. As well as those two main characters, I loved Miranda - she was funny and Brian was great! They all had such a great working relationship, and it had me dreaming of a career in digital marketing!

So, my overall opinion is that if you haven't read a novel by Lindsey Kelk before - that you do so immediately! Otherwise, quite frankly, you are missing out on her funny and engaging style of writing. It was fantastic and it certainly made my 4 hour flight with 6 screaming children that little bit more bearable.

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

The Little Book Cafe: Emma's Story

Georgia Hill

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

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

When Emma discovers that Berecombe's fabulous book cafe is running a literary course for beginners, she is excited to give it a try. She's always wanted to study more, and it doesn't hurt that Joel, the suave and charming new teacher is pretty easy on the eye...

The more she learns, the more she starts to question whether she really wants the life she has built up. Her boyfriend of forever, Ollie, is constantly training with the RNLI, so they hardly get to see each other, and she is pretty sure Joel has a soft spot for her...

Will Joel sweep her off her feet? Or can Ollie make the most important rescue of his life?

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What a great way to go back to Berecombe again. I adored the first novella in this little series so I was really looking forward to going back again and reading more about the characters. Straight from the off there's drama and that just caught my attention immediately and I found the whole storyline so engaging. The cover is so cute and I love the colours, it just looks so inviting!

The story this time follows Emma, who works alongside Tash (who was the main character of the first novella) as an estate agent in the cute little seaside town of Berecombe. Emma feels lost in her life, decides to jump at the chance of joining a literary course in order to make her life feel a bit more exciting. Her family are constantly arguing and her home is a mad-house, she is currently saving every penny to move in with RNLI-mad boyfriend Ollie but is getting no where and she fancies the pants of her new teacher Joel.

Emma's life is anything but simple at the moment, and as the novella continues we learn a lot about Emma's character. At some parts Emma annoyed me. Yes, I'm sure Ollie talking about the RNLI is a tad boring, but why doesn't she voice this? Instead she makes Ollie feel worthless and I imagine that isn't a very nice feeling. I also felt for Emma's family, I'm sure it is mad at times but I feel Emma was quite horrible about her family sometimes - after all, family is family!

At other points, I really felt for Emma too and I was just hooked on Emma's story from the off. I read this in one day so it's the perfect novel to pick up and delve into whilst lounging by the pool if you're on holiday, or just lounging on the sofa with a snuggly throw and hot chocolate. It's entertaining, it's an easy read and I urge you to give this series a go. Overall, another great instalment by Georgia Hill. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.