The Christmas Wish List by Heidi Swain

The Christmas Wish List

Heidi Swain

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

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

After being let go from her job in a swanky hotel just weeks before Christmas, Hattie is feeling lost. Even more so when her high-flying boyfriend announces he's landed his dream job in Abu Dhabi and asks her to move in with him. Luckily, Hattie's long-time friend Dolly is on hand to help and invites Hattie to spend one last holiday in the small, festive town of Wynbridge, determined to give her a Christmas to remember. . . 

Upon Hattie's arrival, holiday preparations are in full swing. But for Hattie, whose Christmas cheer has long since run out, it'll take more than mince pies and mistletoe to open her heart to the season once more. Relishing the task of reigniting Hattie's Christmas spirit. Dolly suggests they create a wish list of all the things the season can offer, and with the helpful hands of Wynbridge's resident handyman, Beamish, Hattie finds her frosty exterior is starting to thaw.

As Wynbridge prepares for its most spectacular Christmas yet, will Hattie leave snowy England behind for life in a sunnier clime, or will she in fact realise that her heart's desire lies much closer to home?

The Christmas Wish List is the perfect read this Christmas, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews and Cathy Bramley.

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It's pretty easy to be a Heidi Swain fan when she writes such amazingly festive and unputdownable novels such as this. After every new book I instantly say it's my new favourite, and now I'm saying the same! Heidi just keeps getting better and better and I simply adore her style of writing and the fact that most of her stories are linked in some way. The covers are also getting more and more beautiful and as soon as this was released I quickly made sure I grabbed myself a copy!

Main character Hattie, has recently been made redundant from her job in a posh hotel and she's at a loss as to what to do with her life now as working in a hotel is all she has known. However, old pal Dolly decides to give her a surprise visit and asks her to spend Christmas down in Wynbridge with her but partner Jonathan has asked her to move to Abu Dhabi with him making Hattie question which is the best move for her.

In the end she decides to go to Wynbridge for the festive season, then move to the hotter country in the New Year. Dolly soon makes up the Christmas Wish List as she is aware Hattie isn't all that fond of the holiday and together, with the helping hand of Beamish, they set about ticking everything off the list. In the meantime, Hattie gets involved with the towns events and she soon realises just how much she has missed out on.

With a shocking turn of events, Hattie and Jonathan have a huge bust up and to be honest, I really wasn't expecting the twist that takes place near the end of the novel! It's utterly heart-wrenching and I definitely had a tear in my eye when reading this! It was an amazing novel which had me not wanting to put it down. I adored all the characters, and of course it was a fabulous (if not emotional) ending! Simply cannot wait for Heidi's next novel already!

Coming Home to Winter Island by Jo Thomas

Coming Home to Winter Island

Jo Thomas

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Wrap up warm and explore the breath-taking beauty of a remote Scottish island and an old house waiting to unlock enchanting family secrets.

Fans of Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will love this irresistible new winter novel from Jo Thomas.

Do you need to find out where you've come from before you can know what the future holds?

Ruby's singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover.

But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It's time to go and see the grandfather she's never met.

City girl Ruby knows she will be happy to leave the windswept beaches behind as quickly as she can, especially as a years-old family rift means she knows she won't be welcome at Teach Mhor.

But as she arrives at the big house overlooking the bay, she finds things are not as straightforward as she might have thought.

There's an unexpected guest in the house and he's not planning on going anywhere any time soon ...

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As always I couldn't wait to delve straight into another Jo Thomas novel. Jo Thomas was one of the first authors I read when I first started reading Chick Lit books - and I haven't regretted it! Every book of hers I read is so refreshing and unputdownable that I remember them for a long time afterwards. This one in particular I really loved the cover, I love the light snow falling, the sea and the main character in the bottom right.

The synopsis sounded really interesting and completely different, as I said above, to what I've read before and I was really excited to read more about Ruby and her story. I enjoyed that the setting was in Scotland, it sounded so picturesque and idyllic. It was interesting to see what was going to happen and whether Ruby was was going to stick around on the island or whether she was going to flee back home.

Out of all the characters (there aren't actually too many in this novel), I really liked Hector and Lachlan the best. Hector because of what he was going through bless him, and Lachlan because he just seemed to be so caring and thoughtful. A few characters I didn't really take too (but maybe that's the point) was Isla and Joe. And too be fair, what I thought was going to happen didn't happen so there was quite a bit of surprise and a few twists along the way which kept me wanting to read on.

One thing I didn't enjoy was the ending with regards to Hector, I didn't think anything like that would happen and was disappointed that it did as it didn't seem necessary - bless him! It definitely made me teary-eyed and I was left quite emotional afterwards! Overall though, it was a great read with festive feels and I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Christmas Wish and a Cranberry Kiss at the Cosy Kettle by Liz Eeles

A Christmas Wish and a Cranberry Kiss at the Cosy Kettle

Liz Eeles

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Fans of Milly Johnson and Phillipa Ashley, the Cosy Kettle cafe is waiting for you to find a comfy spot by the fire and snuggle up with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Amidst the twinkling lights and falling snowflakes, Becca has a wish to make this Christmas...

Running from heartbreak, twenty-five-year-old Becca has moved to the cosy village of Honeyford. Living with her best friend Zac in a little stone cottage, and serving mince pies and steaming gingerbread lattes at the Cosy Kettle, is the perfect escape from her past.

But starting over isn't always plain sailing, and Becca's shyness is holding her back from making her mark on the cafe. To make matters worse, her crush on blond-haired, blue-eyed local heartthrob Logan gets stronger by the day - but he can barely remember her name. So as the snow starts to fall in Honeyford, Becca has one big Christmas wish: to completely reinvent herself. Becca dreams of brining the Cosy Kettle success and finding romance with Logan under the mistletoe.

As she gets a makeover, cosies up to Logan over mulled wine and plans the most festive celebration the cafe has ever seen, Becca wonders why she waited so long to step out of her comfort zone... Zac, on the other hand, thought she was perfect before - always caring for others - and he misses the quirky girl with the bright blue hair.

When Logan turns out to not be all he seems, Becca is left wondering if he's really the one for her. With her party plans also going awry, can Becca save her beloved Cosy Kettle in time for Christmas? And has the key to her happiness been in front of her all along?

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Oh I couldn't wait to delve into this delightful, festive novel! The cover completely drew me in with it's pretty fairy lights, mouthwatering treats lined along the bottom. I love the bright, Christmassy colours used and to me it's the most beautiful cover. I was wondering when we would get to learn more about the shy and anxious Becca, and I'm glad we're finally getting to read her story.

At first, as with the other novels, I wasn't sure what to make or think of Becca. Yes, I understood that she was anxious and unsure on life, but she seemed a little standoffish and not very likeable to begin with. However, as the story went on, we learn more about her and realise her ways. Once I began to know her a little more, I begun to like her more too. Again, like the other novels, I absolutely loved the setting of this novel. It sounded so idyllic and even more so at Christmas time.

One thing I really loved is that we had the bookclub gang back again. They're such a unique and fun bunch. My favourite is definitely Stanley, the way he talks and acts just makes me laugh and he adds such a lightheartedness to every novel. One character who I would love to learn more about is Millicent. She seems a strange and withdrawn character, like she is hiding something, so I'd love to read more about her! I'm hoping there's another in the series and we get to read about her!

I kind of knew where this story was going about a third of the way in, but I was happy with where it was going. I don't want to give too much away but I'm happy with the outcome and who Becca ended up with. They seem like such a suited couple and I'm pleased it worked out the way it did. I really couldn't stand Logan, he seemed so up himself and I wasn't too keen on Jasmine either. Apart from those two characters the others were really likeable.

Overall, a really heartwarming and festive story that I really loved. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley which I have reviewed honestly.

Christmas at Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts

Christmas at Rachel's Pudding Pantry

Caroline Roberts

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

 *Doors open at Rachel's Pudding Pantry again for Christmas!*

Cosy up with the new novel in the Pudding Pantry series, full of love, laughter, kisses under the mistletoe, and plenty of delicious pudding!

The first snow is falling over Primrose Farm, the mince pies are warming, and Rachel can't wait to share a kiss under the mistletoe with her gorgeous new flame, Tom.

If only it was all comfort and joy . . . The arrival of Tom's ex brings an unwelcome chill to the farm. And despite Master Baker Mum Jill's valiant efforts, the new pudding pantry business is feeling the pinch. 

With a spoonful of festive spirit, a cupful of goodwill with friends, and her messy, wonderful family by her side, can Rachel make this a Christmas to remember?

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What a delightfully festive and mouthwatering read by the talented Caroline Roberts. I had been looking forward to reading this since I had seen the cover revealed on Twitter quite some weeks ago. I really loved the first in the series, it was so deliciously heart warming (as well as mouthwatering!) that I had hoped there would be another one. The cover is so Christmassy and pretty I was so excited to be back at Rachel's Pudding Pantry.

I adore Caroline Roberts' style of writing, the way she describes the cakes and sweet treats has you wishing that you could to go to the Pantry right there and then if it were real! I also love the way Caroline writes about the relationships in the novel, it makes you feel warm and happy with how close the family and friends all are. The community spirit in this novel is massive and this particular story is just a joy to read.

With this particular story, Rachel and her mum Jill are struggling to make ends meet with their new cafe, the Pudding Pantry, which is held at their farm. The treat they have on offer sound amazing and the customers are so caring and helpful. My favourite in this book was Granny Ruth, she was just so cute and lovely and Frank was another firm favourite in my book! The idea behind the Pudding Club was genius and the characters who all joined got on really well and was enjoyable to read about all the different puddings.

Although this novel is based around Rachel and her relationship with Tom, at the beginning there isn't much about the pair and the novel is more on Rachel and everything she is doing to keep the farm and the pudding pantry afloat. I would have liked to have read more about them as it seems like the ending was a little rushed but overall it was an amazing read and I loved reading about all the different puddings, the relationships between Jill, Rachel, Maisy and Granny Ruth and of course, I loved the Christmas spirit!

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.