Its Christmas time and I’m #ComingHomeToMerrimentBay for it!

Part three of ‘Coming Home to Merriment Bay’ is here and its beginning to look a bit like Christmas! Many thanks to Rachel for inviting me to take part in the blog tour today, and the ARC. Here is my review:

Cat and Kyra have finally traced the man in the photo they found in Viola’s trunk – thanks to Amias. But Bailey Mitchell lives thousands of miles away and is almost ninety-eight, so meeting him in person is never going to happen. Which is just as well. Exchanging Christmas cards and chatting on social media leads to revelations Cat had not expected.

At least Christmas is looking promising. It may be freezing outside but things have definitely thawed between Cat and her mum, Mary. They’re actually getting on, especially now that Mary is dating Jeremy Stone, the builder working on Viola’s house.

Cat’s also hopeful that Viola’s situation may improve. And when a surprise visitor brings more than just well wishes, Cat’s Christmas takes a delightful turn.

With the festivities in full swing, and snow falling on Merriment Bay, the future’s looking bright. Christmas is a time for miracles and Cat believes she may get one of her own this year if she’s prepared to put the past behind her and open her heart to Love once more.

What does TWG think?

I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it again – Cat is seriously not doing herself any favours AT ALL! At the start of the book I was beginning to feel like she had turned a corner, as though she was willing to open her mind to other points of view. However that didn’t last long at all. I know that she is stressed, what with Viola being in the hospital and wondering what those mystery letters are all about, but she cannot moan at Amias for blowing hot and cold if she is doing the exact same….in the hospital of all places!

The whole Jeremy situation is odd and, given the hoity toityness of Mary, I wasnt expecting her to be sucked in so easily! I’m still not so keen on her character as I just wish she would tell her daughter the truth. It’s no wonder that Cat has trust issues!

Part three answers some of the questions hanging from part two, yet also throws another bunchful of questions in the air again! I feel like there is more of Cat’s personality waiting to be discovered, and I am hoping that the series goes beyond four parts as I think the Devon family have a lot more secrets in their closets!

This is shaping up to be a very entertaining series, one which I seem to be investing in as though its reality TV – brilliant!

Buy now.

Move over Cinders! I’ve found #ThePerfectFit! @maryjaynebaker @MirrorBooks @RaRaResources #blogger #review

Thank you to RaRaResources for the blog tour invite, and thank you to Mary Jayne Baker for my special copy of the book a while back. I’m delighted to be kicking off the blog tour for ‘The Perfect Fit’. Apologies for the lateness, I’m currently writing this blog post with a headache from hell, so if it doesnt make sense, blame that!

Escape to the frost-sparkling Yorkshire Dales for some festive fun under the mistletoe! A saucy comedy-romance with more than a sprinkle of Christmas spice – this will lift your spirits!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for costume shop owner Becky Finn. Leaving London to move back home to the twinkly rural village of Egglethwaite, she plans to build a new life for herself with fiancé, Cole.

Keen to raise funds for the struggling village hall she loved as a child, Becky finds herself at the head of a colourful group aiming to revive the Egglethwaite Christmas pantomime. But when that festive feeling sets in, she discovers there’s more to panto than innuendo and slapped thighs.

Falling in love was not in the script! But as opening night grows closer, she starts to wonder if the panto will ever make it to the stage and, with handsome co-star Marcus on the scene, if she has chosen her right leading man…

What does TWG think?

Its beginning to look like Christmas!!!

Oh no it’s not….

Oh yes it is!

Oh no it’s not….

Oh yes it is!!

Ish….

Have you ever wondered how a local pantomime is created? I hadn’t, but lets be honest, after reading this book you’ll be glad to know about the ins and outs of the local talent! Or in Maisie’s case, literally….

It’s been a while since I last was in the company of Mary Jayne Baker’s unique mind, however this book was the perfect fit (see what I did there?) as it felt like I had never had a breather between Baker’s books.

Becky has a fiance who is a cactus with a capital P! No, I havent spelt that wrong, but if I put the insult beginning with a P, Amazon wont accept it! Cole infuriated me! What an utterly selfish, selfish man. As for Ryder, well, I was genuinely surprised that he didn’t have the rest of the Paw Patrol gang with him!

‘The Perfect Fit’ has a jam packed cast, full of people with so much colour in their personalities, I needed sunglasses! At times I felt a little bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people that I had to keep in my mind, and the confusion as to who was related to who and what not, dented my enjoyment a little.

That said, I throughly enjoyed reading this! I adore Baker’s humour and the way the dialogue flowed brilliantly between each character, and i thought that the banter amongst the residents was great fun.

Humour aside, Baker does include more serious topics such as adoption and IVF, as well as slightly more emotionally based topics to do with mental health and the sense of feeling lost in life. The inclusion of the above topics kept the storyline varied and ensured that the humour wasnt too ‘try hard’ or forced. It worked bloody well.

‘The Perfect Fit’ literally was the perfect fit for me and, during a time where my own mental health is suffering, I couldnt have asked for a better book to escape into.

Buy now.

I’ve been told by a certain Lucy Coleman, that there is #MagicUnderTheMistletoe! @lucycolemanauth @RaRaResources

Some of you may remember me being on a tour for this very book in September so, seeing as Christmas is nearly upon us, I’ve decided to be on another blog tour for it!

It’s December 23rd and while everyone else is rushing home for the holidays, workaholic Leesa Oliver is dreading switching on her out-of-office for the festive season. And it seems her equally driven boss, Cary Anderson, isn’t relishing spending Christmas at his family’s country estate either.

So together, they draft an unexpected Christmas contract: They’ll spend half of the holidays with each other’s families, pretending to be a couple. Leesa knows the insufferably good-looking Cary will make her Christmas more bearable, but what happens after the last of the mince pies have been eaten…?

Leesa signed off on a sensible business agreement, but somewhere, amongst the fairy lights and carols something seems to have changed… It seems there might just be some magic under the mistletoe this Christmas!

What does TWG think?

It honestly feels like ages ago since I was last able to lose myself in a Lucy Coleman novel!

Leesa isn’t driving home for Christmas…literally. In fact, she’s travelling back to the UK from Australia, just days before Christmas day. Why? Let’s just say that her boss is a little bit of a task master, as well as the fact that Leesa has her own business and can’t really afford to turn down an extra profit. Her opinion of her boss/client is pretty straight to the point – he grates on her and leaves her feeling frustrated more often than none. And no, I don’t mean in a good way either!

Considering the fact that Leesa wasn’t a massive fan of Cary, their United front and plan completely blindsinded me. I know they were desperate but seriously!

It took me a while to take to the storyline as I’m so used to Lucy Coleman’s trademark story telling, and I felt like the author had stepped outside of the box. I’m not saying that that is a bad thing as it’s good to experiment, I just didn’t think that Lucy Coleman had any need to differ from what readers know and love about her books. It didn’t really work for me, I’ll admit.

However, I did end up finishing the book feeling rather festive and content, so I can’t complain! I did enjoy this little festive read, and whilst I do wish that it had more of the authors personality in the book, I thought that the uncertain family dynamics were written very graciously, and I thought that it was a poignant nod to today’s society having a female protagonist with her own company, at the heart of her book.

‘Magic Under the Mistletoe’ gave me the giggles and put me in the Christmas spirit….in September. I enjoyed the hope filled story and cosy characters, especially Cary’s grandmother – what a legend! So, whilst the overall vibe of the book was different to the authors other book, I was still spellbound by the enchanting storytelling of an author who has great talent.

Buy now.

Uhoh! I’m #SnowedInAtThePractice! @CotswoldPenny @SimonschusterUK @AnneCater

Thank you Anne Cater for the blog tour invite, and thank you to the publisher for the ARC of Penny Parke’s upcoming novel, ‘Snowed in at the Practice’. This book is set to be published by Simon & Schuster on the 14th November.

Larkford Surgery is the heart of a tightknit community in the Cotswolds, as well as a hotbed of drama, rivalry, resentment and romance – and that’s just the doctors …

Dr Holly Graham is finding life with two sets of twins exhausting. Even with husband Dr Taffy Jones and devoted friend Elsie by her side, she is completely outnumbered. Making the transition back to work will be no easy feat but a regular slot on Radio Larkford as their on-air doctor might be the perfect stepping stone, until an unexpected job offer changes everything.

Dr Alice Walker’s new canine clinic at Larkford Surgery with Coco, her assistance dog, has been a storming success. If only shipping her best friend, Dr Tilly Grainger, in from South America to cover for Holly had been such a smooth transition. It seems that Tilly isn’t finding life in the peaceful Cotswolds valley as rewarding as she’d hoped, and she is causing chaos …

What does TWG think?

Emotion? Check.

Heartwarming? Check.

Thought provoking? Check.

The perfect escapism? Double check!

What I love most about Penny Parkes’ novels is the way she captures the heart of her characters, whilst captivating her readers at the same time. In my eyes, that is a talent that you either have or you dont, and Parkes certainly has that talent!

Dr Holly Graham has swapped her scrubs and latex gloves, for nappies and dribbles. Holly loves being a mum and wouldn’t change it for the world, yet she cant help but miss her patients and the job she has temporarily left behind. Some people think that mothers cant have it all, yet Holly is determined to prove them all wrong.

Holly isnt the only one finding her feet, there is a new resident to the town who is finding it difficult to settle in and is worrying that she may have made the worst decision she has ever made.

In this story there is sunshine and rainbows mixed in with rain clouds and gales – you honestly get the best of both worlds in terms of uplifting storyline, and a storyline which makes your eyes close to leaking. The dynamics of the book were brilliant, and the variation between light and shade was incredible, as I felt that it kept me on my toes due to being unable to work out what to expect. I didn’t know what was going to be around the corner on the next page, and the fact that there were several characters with colourful personalities, made the element of surprise all the more addictive.

I thoroughly enjoyed the latest installment in the Larkford series. It was such a joy to lose myself in, and the festive frolics were an additional bonus in an already incredible read.

Heartwarming and memorable, ‘Snowed in at the Practice’ is THE perfect escapism for every single day of the year. I loved it.

Pre-order now.

#TheChristmasWishList, yes please!! I hope I’m on the nice list this year!! @heidi_swain @TeamBatc

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for the blog tour invite and ARC of ‘The Christmas Wish List’ by Heidi Swain. I am delighted to be today’s stop on the blog tour today!

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 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?

What does TWG think?

Heidi Swain is one of my ALL TIME favourite authors and I now have every single book that she has published, reading ‘The Christmas Wish List’ just cemented my love for the author and the way she makes her characters come to life in her own I unique way.

Even though this book is another installment in the ‘Wynbridge’ series, each book in the series can be read as a standalone. Of course, I highly suggest that you read each and every one of Heidi Swain’s novels just so that you can experience the magic in each book.

What I loved most about this read, was the way we got to see other characters from other books as they made this storyline come to life and it was such a joy to catch up with characters from the very beginning.

‘The Christmas Wish List’ is full to the brim of festive delights, Christmas antics, and enough magic to make the Christmas dreams of all ages come to life. Despite that, there is quite a dark theme to the story as the main character, Hattie, is going through something which is quite difficult to read in terms of the subject of coersive control, something which needs a lot more awareness than its currently getting.

Hattie is such relatable character, and her situation is one that people will be able to find strength in. I think that Heidi Swain’s addition of such a misunderstood subject, is a genius move and one that should be applauded due to her sensitivity and poignancy.

I fell in love with ‘The Christmas Wish List’, and I loved feeling as though Christmas was just around the corner. From start to finish, the storyline captured my heart and left me bereft at the very end. Another absolutely stunning, iconic read that is full of heart, hope, and sheer beauty. Heidi Swain, you’ve done it again!

Buy now.

I know its only November, but is anyone up for #AChristmasKiss? @ElizaJScott1 @RaRaResources

Happy publication day, Eliza.J.Scott and ‘A Christmas Kiss’! I am so excited to be sharing my review today, thank you so much to RaRaResources for the tour invite and ARC.

A sparkling festive romance that will warm your heart this Christmas.

The week before Christmas, GP Zander Gillespie finds his festive plans in tatters. He’s supposed to be flying out to his parents’ chateau in Carcassonne with his high-maintenance girlfriend, Melissa. But she has other ideas. She wants to spend Christmas in London with her party friends – and he’s not invited.

The prospect of facing his family, with their questions and their sympathy – not to mention the ‘I told you so-s’ – just isn’t an option. Instead, Zander decides to head to his holiday cottage in the quaint moorland village of Lytell Stangdale, where he intends to hide away with his faithful rescue Labrador Alf.

Eighty miles away, Livvie’s world has come crashing down. With plans to cook a romantic meal for her boyfriend, she heads home early and walks in on him in a compromising position with their neighbour. Fed-up of his lies and philandering ways, this is the final straw.

With her Christmas plans up in smoke, the thought of spending it with her parents and her smug, married sister with her pompous husband in tow, is enough to bring Livvie out in hives. So, when she fires up her laptop and finds the perfect little holiday cottage in Lytell Stangdale available to rent over the festive period, it seems the perfect solution. Or is it…?

Zander didn’t believe in love at first sight until he set eyes on Livvie.

Livvie had sworn off men until she met Zander.

The pair may be reluctant to give in to temptation, but fate seems to have other ideas…

What does TWG think?

Any book that has me reading it from start to finish in 2.5 hours without putting it down once, in my eyes, is a bloody belter of a read!

I don’t usually state my star ratings in my reviews, however this is one of the easiest 5 stars I have EVER awarded a book. I really do wish that I could bottle up my feelings of the story, just so everyone else can experience what I did. But, because I cant, I can only cross my fingers that you pick up this read instead.

The absolute star of the show who deserves to be a mascot of the entire series, is little Alfie boy. That four legged little cutie hasn’t had the best of times and his owner, Zander, briefly explains what happened to him. I’ll be honest, it brought tears to my eyes. How anyone can treat a defenceless animal like dirt, causing them harm, is beyond me. Alf’s antics had me in hysterics and his personality was such fun to read about. I loved him!

As for the rest of the storyline, I loved that too. Whilst the general vibe of the story is fun and full of humour, the author does touch upon several topics such as coersive control, manipulation, infidelity, and emotional abuse. For some readers, those topics may be difficult to read, however the author has written them with such sensitivity and grace, and I thought that they were all delivered very well and had a strong reason to be a part of the overall storyline. I’m not saying that I wasnt affected by what I read, because I have, just like many, been in a similar position myself. In fact, I was utterly livid with the way that Livvie was treated, and the way it had the dominio effect on her confidence. She really didn’t deserve that at all, but I was so glad that she had someone in her corner.

I’m not really a believer of love at first or people falling in love in a short space of time. Now I’m not saying that it doesnt happen, because evidently it does, I just personally cant see it….probably because it has never happened to me. Anyway, despite my slight pessimism surrounding that, I truly did believe the connection between Zander and Livvie. I felt the sizzling tension, the crackling romance fizzing in the air between them, and that is all down to the outstanding talent of Eliza.J.Scott. If it wasnt for her beautiful character creation, the well thought out romance, and her incredible, incredible writing talent, I would have sat and eye rolled Zander and Livvie’s ‘love at first sight’ stuff.

It just goes to show that, if something is written well, readers will believe anything. It’s all in the power of the craft and I am very, very impressed at what Eliza.J.Scott achieved in this book.

It was so lovely to recognise some of the other characters who popped up in this story as, weirdly enough, I had missed them and it was fab to catch up as though we were all long lost friends.

I hope that this series keeps on going because i will be absolutely devastated should it end. I have loved ALL of the previous books in the series, yet they just keep on getting better and better each time – I really have no idea how she does it.

Like I said, I’m not a believer in love at first sight, but I can assure you that once you meet Alf, you’ll be inviting that four legged cutie into your bed!

Sublime, addictive, enchanting, poignant – utterly, utterly brilliant. I dont know what else I can say except buy it, read it, and I can guarantee that you will love ‘A Christmas Kiss’ as much as I did.

Buy now from Amazon UK

Buy now from Amazon US

Stuff cooking this year, I’m having #ChristmasatRachelsPuddingPantry! Who’s joining me?! @_caroroberts @fictionpubteam @HarperFiction @JenRHarlow

Wahey, it’s the second book in the #PuddingPantry series, and I am delighted to be on the blog tour for it today! Thank you so much to the Harper Fiction team for the tour invite and the ARC.

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?

What does TWG think?

There needs to be a pudding pantry in every single town! Please don’t burst my bubble and tell me that I can’t have Christmas at Rachel’s pudding pantry this year – I’m just going to pretend that i can! Can you blame me?!

Caroline Roberts is an absolute GENIUS for creating Rachel’s pudding pantry and, after devouring the first book in one sitting, I had very high hopes for this installment. Was it going to live up to my expectations? Would the addition of a sequel make the series stronger, or weaker? Would I enjoy it as much the second time round?

In answer to those questions;

YES, it more than lived up to my expectations, in fact it went above and beyond.

NO, the addition of the sequel made the series even stronger as we got to see different sides to the characters.

And YES, I definitely enjoyed popping in to visit the gang in the pudding pantry again. I don’t think I would ever get bored of the characters or the delectable treats which have caused me to drool whilst reading!

Maisy reminds me so much of my little girl because of the ‘out of the mouth of babes’ comments, and her sassy personality. I love her character and the way that she adds so much energy to the story. Such a breath of fresh air.

It was great to see a different side to Rachel, although I did find all of her conversations very stilted and very ‘she said’. I found it to be a little awkward at times and felt that it was missing the conversational flow like the previous book.

That said, the emotions were rife again and the way in which Rachel spoke about her dad, was incredibly moving. I could tell that all she wanted to do was make him proud, even if that meant running herself down to the ground.

If you have read any of Caroline Roberts’ previous books, you will be happy to know that a couple of characters from other stories pop up in this book! A lovely surprise I must add! It was honestly like catching up with some old friends.

That’s what I love most about Caroline Roberts’ novels – the way that her storylines welcome readers with open arms each and every time, like you’re a long lost friend popping round for a cuppa. Going back to the Pudding Pantry certainly gave me that cosy and welcoming feel I didn’t quite realise I was needing.

With so much food for thought (literally) filling the pages of this book, ‘Christmas at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry’ is a genuinely warm, entertaining read which tickled my tastebuds and left me hungry for more. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Rachel, Jill, Maisy, and the rest of the gang, although I would have to say that this book should come with free cake! I’m salivating!!!

A touching, emotive, cosy, and delectable novel that is PERFECT for losing yourself in and devouring each and every morsel. Sorry, ahem, I mean pages. I loved it.

Buy now.

Put the kettle on, I’m #ComingHomeToWinterIsland! @jo_thomas01 @AnneCater @headlinepg

I am delighted to welcome back, Jo Thomas, to TWG today as I review her latest novel, Coming Home to Winter Island. Many thanks to Anne Cater for the blog tour invite, and many thanks to the publisher, Headline, for the ARC.

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 …

What does TWG think?

Absolutely beautiful – if emotion doesn’t make itself known in any shape of form throughout this book, I’d want to know why!

Ruby has a life plan. Wait, I’ll rephrase that…her boyfriend, Joe, has a life plan and Ruby just happens to be the one doing all of the hard grafting. I know, I know – it didn’t make much sense to me either, but what do I know?

Thanks to Ruby’s voice not working as well as she needs it to, what with her being a professional singer and everything, Ruby decides to take a break to Tenerife for some well deserved relaxation. However, due to an out of the blue phone call, Ruby’s plans are now scuppered and shes needed elsewhere. Personally, I thought she got more out of her visit to Scotland than Tenerife!

I loved how we got to know more about Ruby in Scotland. She seemed to fit into her grandfathers way of living, even if she had never met him before. I wasn’t entirely keen on the community though! I know that people are protective about newcomers, especially in a close knit community, but they didn’t do themselves much favours by coming across stuck up. Like I say, I can see why they were like it as their loyalties laid with Ruby’s grandfather, but then again, Ruby didn’t exactly help herself though!

As I said at the start, the storyline is full to the brim with such heartfelt and poignant emotion, I dont think I could have stopped the tears pricking my eyes if I had tried. It was so lovely to watch memories being reunited, families having their dreams come true, and legacies leaving their marks.

Coming Home to Winter Island, is the perfect read to lose yourself in, and escape to a realm that only Jo Thomas can create. This is a story that captures the true essence of dreams, and the powerful mark that memories can leave for multiple generations.

I loved visiting Winter Island, and I think that Jo Thomas has written yet another beautiful, inspiring novel that will leave it’s own mark on readers from all walks of life.

Buy now.

Dunno about you but ‘Christmas at Wynter House’ sounds right up my street! Who’s driving! @emilyharvale @RaRaResources

Huge thanks to RaRaResources for inviting me to take part in the blog tour today for Emily Harvale and ‘Christmas at Wynter House’, and of course thank you for the ARC. Here is my review:

After a frosty welcome, things soon heat up at Wynter House.

Neva Grey is looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas with her family in the cosy cottage they’ve rented in the picture-postcard village of Wyntersleap. Nestled between rolling hills and a gently burbling river, it’s going to be idyllic.

Except it’s not. Torrential rain causes the river to burst its banks and the quaint little village isn’t quite so cosy with water lapping at the doors. Add to that a power cut and a sudden blizzard and Christmas is looking bleak … until gorgeous Adam Wynter invites them all to Wynter House.

Although not everyone is happy to share the ancestral home. Adam’s elder brother, Rafe is less than pleased. Their grandmother, Olivia extends a grudging welcome. And for Carruthers, the oddly arrogant butler, unexpected guests are a Christmas surprise he could do without. Especially one as troublesome as Neva’s eight-year-old niece.

But something’s not quite right at Wynter House. What is Rafe intent on hiding behind the locked doors of the old barn? And what really happened to his first wife? It’s a good thing Neva has a sense of humour. She’s going to need it this Christmas at Wynter House.

This is book one in the Wyntersleap series but it can be read as a standalone. The Wyntersleap series is interlinked with the Merriment Bay series and several characters appear in both series.

What does TWG think?

What a way to kick start a brand new series – hello, Ms Feisty!! Neva was the star of the show for me! A kick ass protagonist who wasnt afraid to stand up for what she believed it. Granted at first I thought she was going to be a little bit of a wet blanket, however it didn’t take long for her personality to come into it’s own.

A lot of family get togethers always seem to end up in a disaster; at least the Grey’s were consistent, I’ll give them that! Due to mother nature refusing to calm down on the rain, the Grey’s family christmas was hanging by a thread. Do they attempt to drive home in the bad weather? Or do they stay in their rented Cottage and hope that it doesnt flood?

This was such a laugh out loud, spirited read and I loved every single minute of it. The romance element made itself known nice and subtly, giving the other characters time in the spotlight to show the readers what they’re made of. I loved the mishmash personalities as it shouldn’t have worked yet it did, and Neva’s niece was such a old head on young shoulders, I am hoping they all make appearances later on in the series as I am so looking forward to seeing what else they bring to the table.

Emily Harvale is a force to be reckoned with and as long as she keeps writing books, I’ll sure as hell keep reading them.

Buy now.

A little birdy told me that you should visit #NottingHillInTheSnow! @JulesWake @0nemorechapter_ @RaRaResources

I am absolutely delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for ‘Notting Hill In The Snow’ by Jules Wake – thanks for the invite RaRaResources, and thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

A Notting Hill nativity… what could go wrong?

Viola Smith plays the viola in an orchestra (yes really!) but this year she’s been asked to stretch her musical talents to organising Notting Hill’s local nativity.

Nate Williams isn’t looking forward to Christmas but as his small daughter, Grace, has the starring role in the show, he’s forced to stop being a Grinch and volunteer with Viola.

With the sparks between them hotter than the chestnuts roasting in Portobello market, Nate and Viola can’t deny their feelings. And as the snow starts to fall over London, they find themselves trapped together in more ways than one…

What does TWG think?

I’m just going to come right out and say it – ‘Notting Hill In The Snow’ is by far, THE best festive book I have ever read. Not only did the storyline contain snow, Christmas presents, the magic of Christmas, and of course the unforgettable Christmas armadillo (obvs!), it also had enough warmth to light a mansion and a plot which brought tears to my eyes.

Whenever someone says that they NEED Viola, she goes and helps them. Whenever Viola says she needs someone, what do they do? They try to ignore the fact that she even spoke. She is such a selfless character, and it was evident that a lot of people around her took that for granted. Yes, she could have said ‘no’ to them, but the fact that her family could be disappointed with her was enough to make her say yes to whatever they needed help with. God, I so badly wanted her to tell her family, especially her mother, to go and fornicate themselves!!

Naturally, like many of Jules Wake’s novels, a gentleman was involved in a large portion of this book. A gentleman who shared Viola’s love of mince pies (my dream man!), but also a man who was afraid. Viola ends up supporting Nate’s daughter, Grace, and oh my goodness, that was when the tears pricked at my eyes. I wont give anything away by telling you too much, but Grace was a child who was losing her way. She was afraid to be a child in fear of getting told off and, in all honesty, her reaction to Christmas broke my heart. In many ways she reminded me of my little girl due to the similar ages and interests, so my maternal instinct was on high alert whenever Grace was mentioned. I just wanted to take her under my wing and show her that it was okay to be a child, that it was okay to make a mess. Thankfully she had Viola in her corner though.

‘Notting Hill in the Snow’ has the type of storyline that you want to devour, yet it also has a storyline that you dont want to devour because you know that when you do, the feelings of elation, beautiful emotional, and cosiness will go because the book would have ended. I was absolutely gutted saying goodbye to Nate, Viola and Grace – I would love it if they came back again in another story, but who knows.

There is more than just warmth at the heart of the storyline, there is also hope, passion, magic, selflessness. Most importantly though, the storyline reminded me about the importance of being true to yourself and live life for you, and not by the way anyone else wishes you to.

I really couldnt have wished for anything more where this book was concerned – I absolutely loved everything about it, especially the way that Jules Wake made her characters come alive from her heart, to ours.

An undeniably beautiful, hilarious, and magical novel – this is the definition of perfection in my eyes.

Buy now.