A Winter Beneath the Stars by Jo Thomas

A Winter Beneath the Stars

Jo Thomas

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

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

Halley has been running away from her problems for years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at the Winter Wonderland by Heidi Swain

Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at The Winter Wonderland

Heidi Swain

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Always the Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk

Always the Bridesmaid

Lindsey Kelk

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love and Lies at the Village Christmas Shop by Portia MacIntosh

Love and Lies at the Village Christmas Shop

Portia MacIntosh

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove by Karen Clarke

The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove

Karen Clarke

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances by Donna Ashcroft

The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances

Donna Ashcroft

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happily Ever After at the Dog & Duck by Jill Steeples

Happily Ever After at the Dog & Duck

Jill Steeples

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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