Christmas at the Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green

Christmas at the Little Duck Pond Cafe

Rosie Green

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Fen has always hated being the centre of attention.

She loves her new job, working behind the scenes at the Little Duck Pond Cafe and baking the scrumptious cakes that have helped its reputation soar. But frankly, she'd rather scrub the public toilet floor with a toothbrush than have to come out and talk to the customers.

She's always been happy to stay in the background as long as she has a good supply of books to escape into. That's her kind of romance - the fictional sort where she can read about other people taking a chance on love, but she doesn't have to risk her own heart.

But that was before Ethan Fox arrived in the village and turned her world upside down. Ethan is a leading light in the local amateur dramatics theatre company and Fen knows he's way out of her league. But when the popular village Christmas pantomime hits a crisis, Fen and Ethan find themselves thrown together.

Can Fen overcome her shyness and find the courage to step on stage and save the day?

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I've really been looking forward to reading Fen's story. She was so shy and reserved and I've really enjoyed reading about her in the past two novella's so I'm glad it's finally her time to shine! Although Fen comes across as quite shy to other people, when it's her talking in the novel she comes across as quite confident and funny really, which is interesting. Also, lets just take a moment to talk about this gorgeous cover! I love the pale colours, the red baubles hanging across the top of the cover and the snow! It's all so cute and pretty.

This novella was full of drama! It was far more exciting than the other two, I just felt there was so much going on and I loved it! With Fen, she has a massive crush on Ethan who convinces her to join the am dram group, but she soon realises that he's not all that he seems! I really hoped that things would work out for Fen, not with Ethan of course, but with the lovely Rob! He seemed like such a gentleman, and I was praying Fen would soon realise just how lovely he really is.

We also hear more about the other girls, Ellie and Jaz. Ellie's having a hard time of things lately, what with Maisie's real mum trying to worm her way back into their lives! Ellie gets really run down from it all and soon argues with Fen over her love life. It was quite upsetting reading about their argument - knowing just how much each of them was going through! I was hoping they'd make it up and become friends again. With Jaz, who has recently started dating Harry, she feels that Harry no longer loves her, after booking a lads holiday without telling her, and constantly letting her down with plans to go out with his friends instead, Jaz decides that enough is enough and applies for a job further away from Sunnybrook.

Everything comes to a magical end on the night of Fen's families traditional Snow Ball. Fen realises that Ethan isn't all what he appears after chasing after him, she then realises just how much she likes Rob. Ellie also is happy again, after Fen rushed off to confront Sophie (Maisie's mum) and scare her away from the family. Harry gets down on one knee and begs Jaz to stay in Sunnybrook because he will be lost without her. And most magical of all, Fen's dad comes home for the party! The novella is left on a happy ending and I couldn't have been happier. I'm getting more and more sad that these are coming to an end!

Summer at The Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green

Summer at the Little Duck Pond Cafe

Rosie Green

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Jaz Winters stuck a pin in a map and fled to the village of Sunnybrook, looking for a brand new life - and after a rocky start, it's beginning to look as if she made the right decision. Her blossoming friendship with Ellie and Fen has seen her through some dark times, and she's managed to land two jobs - waitressing at The Little Duck Pond Cafe and working as a weekend tour guide at Brambleberry Manor, the country house that's been in Fen's family for generations.

Sure, life isn't totally perfect. There's the irritating know-it-all guy who keeps popping up on her manor tours, for a start. He seems determined to get under Jaz's skin whether she likes it or not. But she supposes he's a small price to pay for the relative peace she's found, living in Sunnybrook.

But just as Jaz is beginning to think rosier times are on the horizon, a shock encounter looks set to shatter her fragile happiness.

Will she be forced to flee from Sunnybrook and everyone she's grown so fond of? Or will she find the strength to stand her ground and finally face up to the nightmares of the past?

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I'd been looking forward to get to know more about Jaz and her story. When I first read about her in part one, she seemed distant, quite rude and overall just not a very nice person! However, when I first started reading this novella, I knew straight away just why she acted the way she did and I completely fell for her. I feel like the covers just keep getting prettier and prettier, I love the bright flowers, bunting and butterflies on this cover and of course the cute little ducks and cottages! This is possibly my favourite cover out of the whole series, it just looks so happy and inviting!

I really felt for Jaz when I read the first chapter of this novella, she really had been going through a lot what with what Grant done to her and I was happy for her when she decided to move to Sunnybrook to lay low for a little while. At first I actually thought Titch was a cat but it was soon made clear that she is Grant's daughter - which possibly makes Jaz's situation worse because she hasn't really got much say in what's going on.

The book was summery and gave off a happy feel to it. I really started enjoying it more when Jaz got the job at Fen's family home and when Harry and Jaz's relationship started heating up! Even though Jaz thought Harry annoying at the start, it was clear that she found him attractive and I had a feeling they would have a happy ever after! I also love that no matter who the novel's main character is, there's still involvement in the other secondary characters - such as Ellie (from the first in the series) and Fen (who's story is told in the third of the series) and I also love that a lot of the story is based around the cafe and the duck pond. It just has such a wonderful community feel to the overall novel and the ending left me feeling all warm inside.

In my last review, I mentioned that Ellie's mums Rose's story was left in the open a bit. Well, we did learn more about Rose in this one and I'm pleased that those little confusions were laid to rest! Even though it was kind of left on a cliffhanger again, what with the Grant and Titch mishap, I'm sure it'll be spoken about more in the next novella so I'm looking forward to finding out more. One thing's for sure, I'm so glad that Jaz got her happy ending.

Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green

Spring at the Little Duck Pond Cafe

Rosie Green

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Fleeing from a romance gone wrong, Ellie Farmer arrives in the pretty little village of Sunnybrook, hoping for a brand new start that most definitely does not include love! Following an unscheduled soak in the village duck pond, she meets Sylvia, who runs the nearby Duck Pond Cafe. Renting the little flat above the cafe seems like the answer to Ellie's prayers. It's only for six months, which will give her time to sort out her life, far away from cheating boyfriend Richard.

But is running away from your past ever really the answer?

Clashing with the mysterious and brooding Zack Chamberlain, an author with a bad case of writer's block, is definitely not what Ellie needs right now. And then there's Sylvia, who's clinging so hard to her past, she's in danger of losing the quaint but run-down Duck Pond Cafe altogether.

Can Ellie find the answers she desperately needs in Sunnybrook? And will she be able to help save Sylvia's little Duck Pond Cafe from closure?

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I'm currently reading the Little Duck Pond Cafe series as a whole (A Year at the Little Duck Pond Cafe) but decided it best to review the novel as parts as there's so much happening and the stories follow different characters. These novella's have always caught my eye but I got so behind with them that I decided there were too many to keep up! However, when I saw there was one full book with most of the novella's included, I knew I had to read it. The covers for them all are really delightful. This one in particular is so cute! I love the bright pastel colours, the swirly writing, the duck pond, flowers and the cute little cottages along the back! It's very eye-catching and it draws you in. Very inviting!

Onto the story itself, as soon as I started reading this I knew I was going to enjoy it. Rosie Green's style of writing reminds me a lot of Cathy Bramley's so it was a delight to read. I was engaged straight from the start and was eager to learn more about Ellie. What I did learn however, broke my heart. I absolutely felt so awful for what Ellie and her mum was going through and couldn't imagine ever dealing with that situation. I really felt for her and at quite a few times throughout the novel I had tears brimming!

I really liked Ellie's character, she seemed sweet, quite funny and just overall a really lovely person. As well as Ellie, we meet the other villagers and they're just as delightful as our main character - well baring one - the bakery manager, Monster Madge. Sylvia was so cute and sweet! Fen seemed lovely enough but I'm really looking forward to hearing more about her because she seems quite troubled. Even Mick was really lovely. I also found myself warming to Zack, the main male character in this particular novella.

The setting sounded absolutely wonderful and the lovely little village sounded idyllic. The cottages, the duck pond and the bakery all sounded lovely and I longed to visit someplace similar. I felt this novella was left on a bit of a cliffhanger, as there wasn't really any finality on how or what is happening with Ellie's mum, but I hope in the next one we'll find out more. This novella is heartwarming and uplifting and will leave you feeling like you can get over anything. I can't wait to read more.

Dreaming of Rome by T.A. Williams

Dreaming of Rome

T.A. Williams

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Rome is where the heart is...

The heartwarming read of the summer.

Jo has had enough of handsome men. After a painful break-up, she's decided she doesn't believe in love.

Then, while on a professional trip to the magical city of Rome, she meets Corrado, a scientist and her brother-in-law to be, who doesn't believe in love either. To him, it's just a biochemical reaction. So what's the problem?

Well, he's gorgeous for a start, as well as charming, generous, intelligent and attentive, and she feels herself immediately falling for him, despite her new outlook.

The majesty of the Eternal City brings them ever closer together. But is their relationship doomed, or will love conquer all?

Heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measure, Dreaming of Rome is a joyous and uplifting read from T.A. Williams, perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Tilly Tennant and Jenny Oliver

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I simply adore reading novels by T.A. Williams. With every page I read, there's a certain sense of luxury and escapism and you just get lost in the pages, not wanting to put the story down! This was exactly the case with T.A. William's newest novel: Dreaming of Rome. The cover is gorgeous, I love the fact that it has a sense of continuity within these Dreaming of... series' with the font and style of cover. I love the bright colours used, the flowers framing the cover, the Spanish steps (which gives a clear indication as to where it's set) and also the main character taking centre stage.

The story this time follows Jo, and it starts with her and future brother-in-law Corrado sitting outside an eatery in Rome overlooking the tourists and the city. It's clear from the off that Jo finds Corrado attractive, and that he is a very handsome man but something about the writing shows us that Jo has been severely put off handsome men, and love, for a long time. I actually didn't warm to Corrado that well during the first half of this novel, but then perhaps that's what's Jo's paranoia did to me! Corrado comes across as a ladies man, someone who attracts lots of many different types of women but ends up hurting them and I didn't like that. As the story went on, I found myself liking his character more, but with Jo's paranoia about every female he talked to, I was then the same and was wondering whether he was a womaniser too!

Jo's character on the other hand, was lovely. She seemed down to earth, kind and caring and I felt like I connected with her character more. I enjoyed reading about her time at the conference in Rome and of course, reading about all of the food! It sounded mouthwateringly delicious and I longed to try all of the food which T.A. Williams described! As well as Jo, there are a few other secondary characters we meet, such as Victoria (Jo's best friend), Angie (Jo's sister) as well as Mario (Angie's fiancé and Corrado's brother) and they all seem really lovely too.

I also adored reading about Rome and all of it's history. Having been to Rome myself, it was nice to picture those places again and have such fond memories. So when Corrado was telling Jo all about the history, it was interesting to read, because I still wasn't aware of half of those things! Overall, this was another magical and beautifully written novel by the talented T.A. Williams. I adored every page and eagerly await his next novel! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts

Rachel's Pudding Pantry

Caroline Roberts

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Step inside Rachel's Pudding Pantry, a place where love, laughter and scrumptious bakes bring everyone together.

Pre-order the gorgeous new novel from Caroline Roberts, the Kindle bestselling author of the 'Cosy Teashop' series.

Primrose Farm is Rachel's very own slice of heaven. Come rain or shine there's always a pot of tea brewing by the Aga, the delicious aroma of freshly baked puddings, and a chorus of happy memories drifting through the kitchen.

But the farm is in a spot of trouble. As the daffodils spring, Rachel must plant the seeds of change if she wants to keep the farm afloat, and it's all resting on a crazy plan. She'll need one family cook book, her Mum Jill's baking magic - and a reason to avoid her distractingly gorgeous neighbour, Tom . . . 

Swapping their wellies for aprons, can Rachel and Jill bake their way into a brighter future? The proof will be in the pudding!

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Oh how I have been looking forward to reading another mouthwateringly delightful novel by the lovely Caroline Roberts! After absolutely falling in love with her other novels, especially The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop, I couldn't wait to get stuck in to another one of Caroline's fabulous baking stories. The cover is stunning and I love the bright colours, the main character in the middle and the beautiful looking sweet treats dotted around the kitchen! It's quite simple but it works really well and completely draws you in.

The novel starts with Rachel working hard during lambing season, it's clear from the very first page that Primrose Farm is her life and she adores where she lives, but it's also clear that Rachel and her family have suffered a terrible loss. The novel mentions quite a bit about Rachel's mum Jill 'finally getting back to her usual self' and how happy Rachel was about that. It was a lovely, relaxed start to a novel actually. What with Rachel working all hours during lambing season and it was nice to get a feel of the location - which sounded absolutely idyllic might I add - so I was looking forward to reading about where this story goes.

Rachel seemed to have been through a lot, especially with her daughter Maisy's father and I had a bad feeling about him from the start! However, despite that, there's such a lovely heartwarming feel-good feeling to this novel. And the more I read the more I fell in love with the story and the location. Reading about Jill and Rachel's bakes made me so hungry and made my mouth water! They sounded so delicious and I love that each chapter has it's own scrumptious sounding title!

The story really got started once the Pudding Pantry came to life! I loved reading about their days there and all of the puddings once again made my mouth water. I really enjoyed reading about Rachel and Tom too - and their blossoming relationship. It was nice seeing them go from friends into something a little bit more. Tom was such a lovely character and after reading everything that Rachel went through with her dad, I was rooting for them! Rachel and her family desperately needed a Happy Ending - and I thought that Tom was the right man to give it to them.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed every moment spent at the Pudding Pantry with Rachel, Jill, Maisy and all the other lovely characters! This novel is unputdownable, heartwarming and beautifully written. This is possibly my favourite Caroline Roberts' novel to date! I urge you to give this novel a read, it's perfect for the looming summer days. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Wedding on Lily Pond Lane by Emily Harvale

A Wedding on Lily Pond Lane

Emily Harvale

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

A gorgeously uplifting, romantic and heartwarming read.

The Angel Bell is ringing for Mia and Jet's Big Day - but will the Wedding of the Year go without a hitch?

Every bride wants the perfect wedding and Mia Ward is no exception. But she is the only bride in Little Pondale and everyone in the village has ideas for her Big Day. Drowning in suggestions, Mia needs some help.

When she bumps into childhood friend, Breanna Wright on a shopping trip to London, Mia's convinced it's Fate. Breanna's only ambition was to be a wedding planner with her own business, The Wright Wedding ... so Mia doesn't hesitate.

Breanna's now got three months to plan a wedding where the sky's the limit, budget-wise. She should be over the moon. Especially as she'll get a chance to see old friends again, including her first love. There's just one tiny hitch ... Breanna doesn't have a wedding-planning business.

She should tell Mia there has been a slight mistake, but as usual Breanna's life isn't running smoothly and she could really use a break. And when you've dreamt about planning weddings all your life, how difficult can it be?

Will this be the chance Breanna's longed for? Or will Mia's Dream Wedding be Breanna's biggest disaster yet?

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I have absolutely fallen in love with Little Pondale and all of it's characters. I have adored every single instalment in the Lily Pond Lane series and I'll be sad once I've finished them all! They're lighthearted, fun to read and full of drama which meant that I just could not put them down. I understand this is the final one in the novels (so far), and I'm so hoping that Emily Harvale decides to write at least one more! I love reading about all of these lovely characters and I don't want their story to end.

I know I say it every time, but I love the cover! I especially love this one because I love all the little pink add-ons. Like the pink wedding cake, the pink flowers, white bunting around the village green and the fireworks exploding from the ship! The colours and everything looks so stunning together and I just really fell for this one in particular - it's possibly my favourite one so far! The planning, the detailing, everything just worked so well together and I loved reading about Mia and Jet's amazing relationship.

I also really liked reading about Breanna, she added a nice new touch to the story and even though her story was kind of separate, it still didn't take too much away from Mia and Jet because all the story interlinked. I really hoped that she and Garrick got it together and I'm just so pleased with the overall ending! My only concern was that this novel didn't have Hettie involved as much as the others which, to be quite honest, I was a bit upset about! Hettie is a big part of the series and even though at first I wasn't her biggest fan, she really grew on me and I loved her funny ways!

Overall, an amazing end to such a lighthearted and enjoyable series! I've loved every single novella, loved all the characters and most of all, I've loved Little Pondale! I can't wait to read more by this author in the future.

Return to Lily Pond Lane by Emily Harvale

Return to Lily Pond Lane

Emily Harvale

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

A gorgeously uplifting and heartwarming read.

Life couldn't be better for Mia and her friends in Little Pondale - until tragedy strikes...

Mia Ward is on cloud nine after a magical Christmas and New Year and she isn't the only one. Everyone on Lily Pond Lane seems to be living in blissful harmony. Until tragedy strikes... not once, but twice. And as Hettie Turner points out: 'Bad things always comes in threes.'

Whilst the other residents of Little Pondale are wondering what might happen next, Mia is busy worrying about her friends, and trying to help them with their grief. But she needs to be careful. Just when she thought she had everything, there's a very real chance she might lose the only thing she truly wants.

If you enjoy reading Sarah Morgan, Holly Martin, Cathy Bramley, Bella Osborne and Debbie Johnson, this book is for you.

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Ah to be back in Little Pondale (again!). I feel like I've been reading these novels all my life, but yet they've gone by and finished so quickly! I must say, I didn't notice this at first but this cover appears to be a lot darker than the other ones and to be honest, the storyline has a little dark cloud over it too.

When this book starts, I get a bad feeling about it almost as much as Mia. I just felt like things were going to be going wrong and as much as I was eager to find out what was happening, I also didn't really want to know! I couldn't believe what happened to Alec, let alone Fiona! And don't even get me started with Mia and Garrick! There's just so much drama from the off and I simply couldn't stop reading it. Every page had something happening and I loved it.

In this particular Little Pondale novel, there are some shocking events that take place. Two are absolutely awful and heartbreaking and I got a bit emotional thinking about them! And then there are 2/3 others that had me so shocked because I really wasn't expecting them. I was a bit hesitant about Garrick coming back in this novel, especially after everything him and Mia had been through and with Mia being engaged to Jet now! I was quite worried at how it would all turn out but of course, in the end, it finishes in the most perfect and heartwarming of ways. I don't want to give too much away, so I urge you to give them a read!

I only have one more left in this series and I'm so sad that they're coming to an end! Although, I do believe that Emily Harvale is writing another one to hopefully come out soon, so I won't be without my Little Pondale fix for too long thank goodness! If you want a lighthearted, easy read - then I would recommend you try giving these a read. They're fun and full of drama, which makes it a perfect read if you ask me!