I'll Be Home for Christmas by Karen Clarke

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Karen Clarke

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Nina Bailey loves Christmas. Except this year she doesn't. Because it turns out that her husband-to-be has been cheating on her - and her beautiful wedding ceremony in the snow is cancelled.

She's not really in the mood to be jolly, sing carols, or go anywhere near gingerbread men - in fact, what Nina wants is to avoid the whole thing. So she's come to stay at her Aunt Dolly's cosy cafe to nurse her broken heart.

Nina is determined to get through Christmas with no tinsel, no fuss - and definitely no flirting. So when she arrives and meets infuriatingly handsome Ryan Sadler, with his gorgeous forest-green eyes, she is not best pleased. And when Nina overhears him making fun of her, she is furious. (There might have been an incident with a koala onesie and a spilled bottle of milk, but that wasn't her fault!) So despite the spark between them, and the fact that he can whip up a fabulous dinner faster than she can say Michelin star, romance and Christmas are off the menu this year.

Unfortunately, Aunt Dolly hasn't quite got the message, going to great lengths to provide a proper British Christmas for her beloved niece: a true home away from home. With sparkling lights adorning every wall and a tree to equal the Rockefeller Center's and, yes, mistletoe above every doorway, can Nina resist the magic of Christmas - and stick to her no-romance rule?

This heart-warming romantic comedy will have you reaching for eggnog, roasted chestnuts and gingerbread cookies! The perfect festive book to read curled up in front of the fire, for fans of Sue Moorcroft, Holly Martin and Debbie Johnson.

-----------------------------------

I love Karen Clarke's books. They're feel-good, lighthearted and full of humour. I adore the novels set in France by this author, the location sounds so idyllic and the characters all seem so friendly. The cover initially drew me in, the village in the cover looks so cosy and festive and I love the twinkly lights and the ice skating rink - I couldn't wait to dive in!

I loved this novel. I love the fact that the characters mainly remain the same and I loved reading about my old favourites such as Dolly and Charlie. They seem like such a caring and fun pair and I enjoyed reading all about their match-making antics. My mouth was watering after reading more about Dolly's cafe and the delicious treats that she has on offer. I wish I had an aunt that could bake like Dolly!

As with the other novels by Karen Clarke, this one is easy to read and with every available opportunity I was picking up my Kindle dying to read more! As mentioned above, it's set in France - and what a cosy sounding village it is. It's full of community spirit and it was a joy to read about the other villagers shops, such as the florist and also the market with it's beautiful Christmas ornaments and charms.

There's also plenty of drama in this novel as well as lots of festive-feels (despite Nina not wanting to have anything to do with Christmas this year!), and it was lovely to read about Nina coming out of her shell with her relationship with Ryan. I'm very sad that this is the last in the series! But I know that Karen Clarke will pull it out of the bag with her next novel. They're utterly spellbinding and I adore them. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Christmas in Chamonix by Sasha Wagstaff

Christmas in Chamonix

Sasha Wagstaff

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

When life goes downhill... head to the snow-capped Alps for roaring fires, apres-ski and festive romance.

Lily Jackson loves Christmas. She also loves her childhood friend Jamie, but when her plan to kick-start their romance goes drastically wrong and her job gets her down, Lily decides it's time to make changes. A job opens up in snowy Chamonix and egged on by her best friend Imogen, Lily decides to go for it.

As Lily settles in with the eccentric Devereux family at their gorgeous boutique ski hotel, she starts to confront her past. But when she meets handsome ski instructor Luc, who hates Christmas, Lily might have taken on more than she can handle.

Can Lily make a new life - with or without skis? And can she get Luc to see how truly romantic Christmas can be?

A heart-warming, feel-good romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Carole Matthews and Tilly Tennant.

----------------------------------

I'd never read a novel by this author before but after finishing it I wondered how I hadn't! I loved Sasha Wagstaff's style of writing, it was easy to read and really enjoyable. It was the cover that made me really want to read this novel, I love the dark colours, the snowy mountains, ski hotel and the beautiful fairy lights along the top.

The setting sounded idyllic and it really made me want to go skiing! I'd never been before but it sounded like fun and the hotel setting was really nice. As well as loving the location, I also loved the characters. Imogen was a lot of fun and I was intrigued by Luc and wondered more than once what had made him hate Christmas like he does, and once I had found out, I loved him even more! One character I really disliked at first was Elodie, she seemed so full of herself and nasty but I felt there was a bit of a back story there and was interested in finding out what was her story.

I loved reading about Lily overcoming her fear of skiing, the location, the characters - honestly this book was really joyful and I couldn't wait to read it again once I'd put it down! Although, the book synopsis mentions that Lily gets tries to get Luc to love Christmas, there is only a little bit in the book that does this so was a little disappointed - Christmas isn't the biggest theme in the novel, to be honest I would have liked a bit more about Christmas, but it was still a great storyline and happy, enjoyable ending.

Overall, this was a fun and lighthearted Christmas novel that I loved. I'll definitely be looking for more books by this author in the future as I loved her style of writing and the storyline. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Christmas Countdown by Donna Ashcroft

The Christmas Countdown

Donna Ashcroft

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

It's that time of year again, snowflakes are fluttering and the countdown to Christmas has begun! Holly Devine is returning to the only place that feels like home, hoping that some festive magic will help to turn her life around...

Twenty-seven-year-old Holly Devine has just had her heart well and truly broken. Hurt by the two people she loves the most, she flees to her eccentric Aunt Clara's cosy cottage to hide away over the winter season.

Twenty-seven-year-old Holly Devine has just had her heart well and truly broken. Hurt by the two people she loves the most, she flees to her eccentric Aunt Clara’s cosy cottage to hide away over the winter season. But kind, impulsive Aunt Clara has other ideas… She’s not about to see her favourite niece wallowing in sadness during the most wonderful time of the year. So, with the help of her close circle of friends and plenty of gin, she creates a handmade advent calendar for Holly.

Every day in December, Holly opens a new door and has a different task to complete. She soon finds herself asking out a complete stranger – gorgeous, cheeky pub landlord, Finn Jackson. But as handsome Finn gets involved in her festive challenges, Holly’s determination to avoid romance is put to the test. Still, Finn’s far too carefree and single for true love, isn’t he?

As Holly begins to embrace each day – a complete makeover, building the biggest snowman she’s ever seen, singing in a karaoke contest – Finn is there adding fun and laughter to every moment. Holly starts to realise that she can become the person she’s always wanted to be…

But a secret from Finn’s past threatens to turn Holly’s Christmas upside down and makes her question everything she has experienced in the last few weeks. Will Finn open up to Holly in time to show her how he really feels? And will she complete the advent calendar challenges and fall in love this Christmas?

It’s time to curl up for a delicious Christmas romance about daring to take chances, opening yourself up to love, and being true to who you really are. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Debbie Johnson and Debbie Macomber.

-----------------------------------------------------

What an amazingly written festive novel. One of my favourites so far I think! I've always enjoyed the style of Donna Ashcroft's writing and this one was no different - in fact, it was better! It hooked me from the first page and I couldn't wait to see where the story went. As well as the story, the cover caught my eye and made me want to read it straight away. I love the Christmassy colours, the mince pies, Christmas Cake and the snow in the background. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy just looking at it!

What I enjoyed about this was seeing the story from both main characters point of view. I enjoyed reading Holly's view on things and Finn's take on the events too. At first I was a bit unsure on Holly, just because of the comments she kept making to Finn despite the fact that she hardly knew him. But I warmed to her once I learned more about her story and her life and what she had been through... It made me understand her more. As well as Holly, I liked Finn's cheeky character. Although at some parts in the novel I did have a few tears! I felt for Finn far more than Holly in the end!

The location of this novel as well sounded delightful and all the Christmas events that take place made me feel so festive! I also loved the idea of the Christmas advent calendar with the daily tasks that Holly has to do. It's unique and I loved finding out what her next task was! As well as the main characters, we also get a few sideline stories about other secondary characters, such as Beth and Tom and Holly's Aunt Clara. I found these really interesting and it made it refreshing to read about a different sort of storyline for a little while!

Overall, Donna Ashcroft's latest book is a perfect feel-good festive novel which will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. It has great characters and will teach you a thing or two about love and loss. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel to read via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Tanglewood Flower Shop by Lilac Mills

The Tanglewood Flower Shop

Lilac Mills

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Love can be a thorny business.

When Tanglewood flower shop owner Leanne enters Budding Stars - a floristry TV competition - she's shocked to make it through to the televised stages where the pressure grows to prove herself a success.

Luckily for Leanne, new Tanglewood park ranger, Rex, is a rose among the thorns as he provides support and friendship that could blossom into something more...

But Rex's ex-girlfriend appears with some shocking news, and between busy schedules and the occasional mountain rescue, Leanne can't see how romance could possibly bloom. And with a new job opportunity suddenly sprouting up, will she need to uproot her life and leave Tanglewood entirely?

This uplifting romance is perfect for fans of Daisy James, Holly Martin and Portia Macintosh.

--------------------------------

I've always enjoyed Lilac Mills' novels but I have to say I think this is my favourite one of hers so far. Firstly the cover is so pretty I couldn't resist reading it! I love the striped awning and the rows and rows of beautiful flowers outside Leanne's shop - as well as the cute little dog sitting outside too! It's a really summery and fun cover and I couldn't wait to delve in and get to read it.

What I liked about this novel was that one chapter would be on Leanne and the next would be on Rex. So we would constantly be reading about how each of the two main characters felt, and I really got to know and relate to each of the characters because of this. It made understanding their ways so much better and easier and as a result I think it made me enjoy the novel more. As well as this, I really liked the two characters. Leanne seemed really fun and down to earth, where as Rex seemed a little more shy but still just as lovely.

The storyline was refreshing, and something slightly different to what I usually read. It was interesting to read about the competition and I loved reading about Rex and Leanne's relationship. It was nice to see how they were blossoming and getting to know one another and I liked reading about what was going to happen between them. I felt really sorry for Rex with all what he was going through and I understood why he was the way he was with Leanne. But that didn't stop me from feeling sorry for Leanne too! It was clear to see that Leanne had fallen for Rex and him her.

Overall, a really lovely and lighthearted read that I throughly enjoyed. It was set in a lovely location, the characters all seemed really nice and caring and I loved the storyline. I would recommend you give not only this novel a go, but the authors other novels too! Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel to read via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello by Daisy James

Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello

Daisy James

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Escape to Villa Limoncello... where dreams come true in the most unexpected ways.

With Christmas around the corner, Izzie Jenkins is ready to kickstart the new 'Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes' course at Villa Limoncello with chef and business partner, Luca Castelotti.

However, secrets are stirring with their latest guests and when nasty accidents keep befalling the group it looks like Izzie will have to turn detective once more to protect the Villa's fledging reputation. On top of all this, Izzie's been offered the job of a lifetime - back home in Cornwall. Will she be coming home for Christmas, or will Tuscany work its magic to keep her at Villa Limoncello with Luca?

A gorgeous festive read perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Jenny Oliver.

--------------------------------------

I have fallen in love with this series by the talented Daisy James. I absolutely adore her novels but for some reason, the Tuscan Dreams series has a special place in my heart! I adore the covers, they really draw your attention to them and I love how all three are really similar. This one in particular is so magical because of the deep, dark colours and of course the snow and fairy lights surrounding the cover.

This one I was especially excited to read, because not only is the novel set in gorgeous Tuscany, it's also set at Christmas time! I mean, what more could you want?! I adored the descriptions of the delicious sounding treats they were baking and I also loved reading about the decorations they made. It was really festive and magical. I really enjoyed reading about the same characters as the last two novels (not that this matters as you could still read this as a standalone, it would just be better for yourself to read the first two because they're so good!), it was nice to hear about them and what they have been up to since the last book.

As for the characters, once again I adored Izzie's character. She seemed down to earth and like such a caring person. I also liked Luca (although he seemed a bit confusing in this one and I wasn't as keen on him as before!) and the fabulous Jonti. However, the thing that made me love these novels was the location. It just sounded idyllic in every season. Add the setting and the sweet treats together and you've got yourself a perfect novel!

One thing I really liked about this novels is the mystery to all of the storylines. It's different to what I usually read so I was enjoying being on the edge of my seat to find out all the secrets and also to find out which character done what! It was an interesting and unputdownable read that I throughly enjoyed. I can't wait to see if there are more novels in this series in the future! Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

A Perfect Cornish Christmas

Phillipa Ashley

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Return to Porthmellow Harbour in this gorgeous festive romance.

Christmas in Cornwall is just around the corner...

But after last Christmas revealed a shocking family secret, Scarlett's hardly feeling merry and bright. All she wants this Christmas is to know who her real father is.

So Scarlett heads to the little Cornish town of Porthmellow, where she believes the truth of her birth is hidden. She just didn't bargain on being drawn into the Christmas festival preparations - or meeting Jude Penberth, whose charm threatens to complicate life further.

Everything will come to a head at Porthmellow's Christmas Festival ... But can Scarlett have the perfect Christmas this year, or are there more surprises on the way?

Curl up with this gorgeous novel and savour the world of Porthmellow Harbour.

-------------------------------------

Wow, will you just take a look at this gorgeous cover?! As soon as I saw it be uploaded on Netgalley I knew I had to read it. Especially with it being set in the gorgeous town of Porthmellow and by one of my favourite authors, Phillipa Ashley. I absolutely loved the other novel set in this town, A Perfect Cornish Summer so couldn't wait to get stuck into this one. This cover is absolutely gorgeous, I love the bright sky, the snowy cottage and the fairy lights around the cottage too.

I loved being back in Porthmellow, as mentioned above, I loved the first one set in this delightful little town and I couldn't wait to see what the previous characters had been up to. Even though this novel mentions characters from the first novel, you could easily read it as a standalone as Phillipa really describes who everyone is and a little bit about their background. I love the setting, it sounds idyllic and so festive! Planning a trip to Cornwall ASAP...

Onto the storyline itself, I was so intrigued by Scarlett's story! I really wanted to find out if she did find her real dad and the whole background story from Christmas 2018 had me hooked! Bless Scarlett, she thought she was doing the right thing but in actual fact everyone kind of blamed her for the outcome! What I liked about this novel as well was that we read quite a bit about Scarlett's sister, Ellie, too. I enjoyed getting to know her and seeing what happened with her and Ashley.

Each sister had their own relationship issues, but it was nice to read about the family and about how well they came together to support each other through said issues. Ellie and Scarlett had a great family bond and you can easily see that. Nearer the end of novel, there's a huge twist that I certainly didn't see coming. It had me gripped and I sped through the pages! The only thing I would say is that it needed a little more festivity. I loved reading about the Christmas lights and Christmas Day, but I just wish there was more descriptions about it. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

One Christmas Star by Mandy Baggot

One Christmas Star

Mandy Baggot

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Emily Parker is set to have the worst Christmas ever!

Her flatmate's moved out, she's closed her heart to love and she's been put in charge of the school original Christmas show - with zero musical ability.

Disgraced superstar, Ray Stone, is in desperate need of a quick PR turnaround. Waking up from a drunken stupor to a class of ten-year-olds snapping pics and Emily looking at him was not what he had in mind.

Ray needs Emily's help to delete the photos, and she needs his with the show. As they learn to work together they may just open their hearts to more than a second chance...

--------------------------------------

If you've read my blog for a while you'll know just how much I love Mandy Baggot's novels. They're fun, romantic and so enjoyable to read. This one was no different from her other novels. When the cover was revealed, I fell in love! I love the dark sky, the colourful lights on the trees and of course the snow! It felt a bit odd reading a Christmas novel at this time of year but to be honest, it didn't have that much Christmas references in it. Don't know if I was disappointed about this or not!

At first, I wasn't sure what to make of Ray. I don't usually read novels set around celebrities but I found myself warming to Ray when we learnt more of his story. His life had had lots of ups and downs and I really felt for him and what he'd been through to get to where he is today. Emily on the other hand, I clicked with straight away. My heart melted for her all the time, I was heartbroken upon hearing about her trauma, I just wanted her to be happy! So when Ray and Emily meet (in quite the unexpected way may I add!) I was delighted for them both. They both deserved a shot at love and happiness!

One thing I loved a lot about this novel was that Emily was a teacher and the novel had quite a lot of input by the children in Emily's class. I loved them all! Particularly Jayden, but I also found Alice really funny and also loved Felix. All the children had such fun and unique personalities that I really found myself enjoying the storyline around the Christmas show. There is an overall happy and cheerful storyline, with some deep and meaningful parts, especially with Ray and what is going on with his ex.

Overall, this is a great winter read. Or a great read to get you in the Christmas spirit! There's a sense of magic within this novel, I loved the characters, the storyline and the happy ending. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.