Christmas, the season where anything can happen…

Synopsis

Everyone deserves a Christmas treat…

The annual Wheaton gingerbread exhibit (a model village made of gingerbread) and grotto has been an important part of the sleepy Cotswold hamlet’s Christmas celebrations for decades.

For years the gingerbread exhibition drew visitors from across the region and each year the model town grew more elaborate and ambitious but recently, interest has been dwindling. The gingerbread grotto needs to be rehomed or close forever.

Sixty-four-year-old Margi, the event’s founder, has had enough of village life (and its total lack of eligible men) and is planning to sell up and head to Birmingham to live closer to her niece.

She has lost her spark and her Christmas spirit and decides this will be her last gingerbread village, but despairs when she finds her only support is her old friend, Izzy, her niece Lucy from Birmingham, and Fern, the shy young farmer’s daughter. Oh, and Patrick, the gorgeous, reliable school caretaker.

As if this wasn’t enough, Lucy is determined to get her out dating again and persuades her to try some online dating apps but Margi’s had her heart broken too many times and wonders if she has just missed her chance.

Can they save the Gingerbread Grotto and can Margi get her old spark and her Christmas spirit back?

A cosy, totally feelgood seasonal read that will have you smiling. The perfect read to snuggle up and have you feeling festive! Fans of Jenny Colgan and Trisha Ashley will love this book.

My review

Sixty – four – year – old Margi has been organising the annual Wheaton gingerbread exhibit. It has become a real tradition around Christmas.
But this year, Margi has lost her spark and as the exhibit only keeps on growing but the amount of volunteers are decreasing. So Margi decides that this year’s exhibit will be the last one.
For sure it doesn’t help that Margi is lonely but has also had her heart broken once too much, even if her niece Lucy, from Birmingham, is trying to persuade Margi to date some more. And why not, with the help of dating apps?
Will Margi be able to find her spark back? Or is this definitely the last gingerbread exhibit? And will this Christmas bring Margi some love too?

I started reading this book with very good intentions as I know what delightful books this author can write. But for some reasons I cannot explain myself, in those first chapters, I just couldn’t find my mojo…
Yet as an Italian, I am known for my stubbornness, and I refused to give up on this book. And glad that I was that I didn’t! Because suddenly, out of the blue, I was completely enthralled by this book!

Margi has started a wonderful tradition, that I did not only admire, but also made me feel very very hungry! ☺️
I could see where her passion for the gingerbread village came from, but I could also understand why she had had enough of it this year.
It saddened me to see how initially she had to fight to keep the tradition alive, as nobody Wheaton seemed to care about Margi’s efforts.
Yet I found it also heart – warming to see how Margi still could rely on some hard-core volunteers, like her friend Izzy, her niece Lucy, latest addition and farmer’s daughter Fern and most important, school caretaker Patrick.

As Margi is sixty – four, I could comprehend why she was thinking about stopping with the grotto after this year. I saw it somehow as a general feeling that Margi had, as why just bother with anything, as there is no one to appreciate her or all her efforts, not only concerning the grotto.
She has had so many disappointments lately, and the grotto and its struggles are just the last straw. She is also taking herself down, for no reason. Yes, the men in her life haven’t been acting like they should, but that doesn’t mean that the blame is on her. Yet she has still so many doubts about herself, or about the intentions of the person who would be so perfect for her.

But slowly, on such a heart – warming level, she starts to see that people still do care, and are read to offer a helping hand.
I found it so sweet to see how more and more people got invested in making the grotto a real success, and how even the youngsters are using their ‘power’ and knowledge to make this grotto the most amazing one.

This was truly a beautiful story about self – discovering, second chances, but also about friendship and community.
There is always a moment in our lives where we are doubting about the choices we have made and which choices we should make next, or even where we are doubting ourselves. But it’s only with the love, kindness, help and appreciation of those around us we realize that life does come with ups and downs, but that doesn’t define us at all.

We are enough, we are worthy, what we do is appreciated and it’s never too late to find love.
And is there a better time to realize that than the Christmas season?

So while it was a rough start, in the end it was worth of keep on reading, as even if the main character may be older than I am, it made me realize that in fact, no matter of the past or our doubts, it’s always the right time to love and feel loved, by friends, family, new acquaintances, the community and even a new (or old) love interest.

Today I’m trying to tempt you with with this book!

Synopsis

Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.

Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.

When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.

Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.

With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?

Purchase Link – https://amzn.eu/d/f8zin9z

A job offer in paradise, how to refuse?

Synopsis

Welcome to Holly’s Hawaiian Holiday, the third book in a brand new series from the author of the Hummingbird Hotel series and the Cornish Confetti Agency series.

Escape to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands!

When Holly Henderson loses her dog-grooming business in the Blossomwood Bay fire, she’s devastated, and her plans to expand into creative coat-dyeing are over before they began. After her temporary job at Blossomwood Kennels also comes to a heart-breaking end, she’s left with no choice but to accept her cousin’s offer of a dog-sitting assignment for celebrity TV chef Oscar Reynolds if she wants to keep her beloved springer spaniel, Ariel, in dog biscuits.

However, the assignment is in Hawaii and Holly has never been further than a short weekend trip to Paris. With some trepidation, she heads to Oahu and the Mahina family’s ranch where, within five minutes of arriving, she’s run off the road by a speeding Ferrari and doused in an avalanche of “organic” fertiliser.

So much for the glamorous holiday she’d hoped to enjoy!

But despite the inauspicious start, it doesn’t take long for the tropical island paradise to weave its Aloha magic through Holly’s veins. Can the hang loose lifestyle help her find the confidence she needs to deal with the demons that have been chasing her for as long as she can remember? Or will they continue to pursue her, sapping her energy, and ruining her chance of finding happiness?

Join Holly as she explores everything the beautiful Hawaiian Islands have to offer, and enjoy a story filled with sun, sea, and surfing, along with a Dash, Dollop & Drizzle of heart-warming romance.

My review

After the Blossomwood Bay Fire, Holly Henderson has lost her dog – grooming business. Even if her dream ended up in fire, she luckily found a new temporary job at Blossomwood Kennels. But when that job comes also to an end, Holly doesn’t know what to do.
Her cousin comes up with the perfect solution: a job as dog – sister for celebrity TV chef Oscar Reynolds. The only “downside” is that the job is in Hawaii and Holly has never been on such a faraway journey.
However, beggars cannot not be choosers and Holly heads to Oahu, even if her arrival isn’t exactly how it was planned.
Nevertheless, Holly finds herself quicky submerged in the magical atmosphere of the place. And perhaps she can finally defeat her demons and find her own happiness, while helping the Mahina family too with their own struggles. 

How does Daisy James do it in each book? No matter where she takes us with her stories, whether we are in France, Italy or Hawaii, she captures perfectly the way of life in that place, and makes it so easy for her readers to make them feel they are walking there themselves. 

The book starts when the tragical fire already took place, and we get to know a Holly that is trying to put her life back on track. But it’s easier said than done of course. 

From the beginning, we see that Holly is the kind of person that wants to avoid any kind of confrontation as much as possible. And while that is very relatable, because don’t we all want to avoid it, for Holly is has a deeper reason, a reason that has affected her at a younger age and she is still having that same demon hanging over her. 

But we also see a Holly with her heart at the right place. While she loses her temporary job, she also knows that it’s the best decision, also for the animals kept at the kennels. Because she for sure is an animal – lover, and if she could, she would take all the animals with her! 

So having presented a job as a dog – sitter is absolutely her cup of tea! Despite the job being in the paradise of Hawaii, I could understand her initial trepidation, especially when we learn that Holly hasn’t been a real globe trotter. And her arrival isn’t exactly running smoothly.. 

But no worries, as Hawaii quickly shows its way of living, and ‘hanging loose’. I have never been to Hawaii myself, but I liked it to read how laid back the people there are. They have obviously their responsibilities and they take them too, and their worries for sure bring a few frowns on their forehead. But generally speaking, it’s a relaxing way of life. 

I have to say, I don’t think I would manage to work with Alani. That woman is a recipe for disaster, with her forgetfulness. But that doesn’t take away her kind and generous character, even if she is adamant on finding The One, but having the wrong mindset perhaps? 

Holly working in Hawaii may be exactly what Holly needed in her life. Hawaii, its inhabitants and also Oscar give her the chance to mature, to face her demons and stand tall. Of course this isn’t a change made overnight, as she needs a lo of courage to finally do it. But she also knows that it’s the right thing to do, as the confrontation may reveal the truth that affects the island. 

It was lovely to see Holly and Oscar grow together, how even if they don’t know each other, are so at ease with each other. Of course does the presence of Max, the Westie, help. But there is just an underlying something bringing these two people together. 

Yes, there are also a few twists, a few predictable and some not, adding drama to the story. but that drama is also needed, as the characters need to understand what is happening and what it is that they true want. 

I absolutely enjoyed this journey to Hawaii and I loved seeing Holly emerge from the shadows. Daisy James took us to an amazing place, making us wanting to order any food and drink that was mentioned. And we got to know some wonderful characters, going through their own rollercoasters but rising stronger and fiercer than before!

Having found love is just the start… keeping it is something different…

Synopsis

How can life be too busy for love?

Phoebe Dashwood is living the dream. She’s running her own successful vet practice, Puddleduck Vets, alongside her grandmother’s animal sanctuary.

She’s also dating the gorgeous, yet slightly broken Rufus Holt, the most eligible bachelor in the New Forest.
So why isn’t she blissfully happy?

Both Phoebe and Rufus are consumed 24/7 by their own commitments. Their relationship is always last on the list.
Phoebe juggles quirky, yet demanding clients and their pets whilst widowed Rufus is consumed by his anxieties, responsibilities of fatherhood and the unenviable tasks of being a Lord in waiting with a huge estate to manage.

Phoebe knows that when you’re a vet, there isn’t always a happy ending. But will there be a happy ending for Phoebe, Rufus and everyone else at Puddleduck Farm?
Is it ever really possible to have it all?

My review

Phoebe Dashwood is finally in a happy place. She is running her own vet practice, has a loyal team and also managed to date the elusive Rufus Holt, Lord – to – be and still scarred by his past.
But no matter how wonderful things may seem, Phoebe and Rufus are so packed by their own commitments, that they can barely spend any quality – time together. And Rufus’ anxieties aren’t making things easier.
With being a vet, there is never a peaceful moment, but will Phoebe manage to have her
well – deserved happy ending anyway? 

First of all, I need to say that I found it so lovely to return to Puddleduck Farm! I was very curious to see how Phoebe was doing, and all her friends and family too! 

Only to be left disappointed… now, not that I didn’t like the story, no worries! But it saddened me that even if some time has passed, there hasn’t been a real evolution in Phoebe’s relationship with Rufus.
Yes, Rufus has a serious baggage, and being a vert isn’t easy, as you can be called up any time.
But somehow I had hoped that some demons would have been chased away, that a balance somehow would have been found… 

And we see the toll It has taken on Phoebe. While on paper she has it all, the reality is very different. Being a vet is a calling, and you know that helping the animals is always the main priority. Phoebe still has a great passion, and the way she is heart – broken when there are animals in need show that more than often.
We also see a kind – hearted Phoebe, that finds it difficult to be strict. Any kind of sad story is enough for her to give reduction, to do exams without charging the patients’ owners. And while that is truly admirable, that is however not how a business is run… 

Phoebe’s life as a vet is hectic, so I had so much my fingers crossed that at least in her free time he could cuddle up and relax with her boyfriend. Too bad she didn’t…
That relationship hasn’t evolved like a relationship should. In my opinion, it seemed more that Phoebe and Rufus were ‘just’ friends and the sparkle I saw in the previous books was somehow just missing. 

Yes, I know that Rufus is still struggling, and demons aren’t chased away just overnight. And yes, obviously Rufus still loves his late wife and his priority is looking after his son. The baggage he is carrying around is a heavy one, and I completely understand that.
But Rufus’ character seemed to be standing still, while all the other characters have grown.
And Emilia’s presence for sure didn’t help in the evolution of the relationship. 

In this book, we see the struggles of being in a relationship. Whether it’s finding no time to spend together, or an unexpected surprise, or being not ‘good enough’ for your partner’s parents, how wonderful it may seem to be having found love, it isn’t always a walk in the park. Getting together is just the start, not the finish. 

Don’t worry, this isn’t a depressing book, as the ending tied all the knots perfectly. Perhaps not like we expected it to end, but different isn’t always bad. Because for sure I had several laughs too! Saddam the cat for sure lives up to his name, and his antics had me laughing all over the place. And let’s not forget about sweet, wonderful Archie, Rufus’ son. His innocence and curiosity is a force to be reckoned with.
Della Galton wrote an amazing third part of a wonderful series. She shows us that love is always a work in progress, and we keep learning from it. And sometimes love is enough, and sometimes it just isn’t… 

But that doesn’t mean that we should give up on our search for our own happy ending. Because perhaps the journey we have taken will show us that what we truly need, has always been there and we just have to understand what our heart is trying to tell us.

Oooh check out this cover, are you just as impatient as I am???

Synopsis

Lexie Dunbar is a book lover. And her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends.  So when she hears that it’s going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help.

Lexie’s plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified; the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her.

Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever after…

Pre-order Links 

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bookshop-Loch-brand-escapist-romance-ebook/dp/B0CCXFV6GK/

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bookshop-Loch-brand-escapist-romance-ebook/dp/B0CCXFV6GK/

Publication Date: 29th February 2024

About the author

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance. As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags. She is married, has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, Cooper. The Bookshop by the Loch is Julie’s tenth novel.

The cover!

To spend Christmas and New Year in New York, just not like how expected…

Synopsis

Thirty-two year old Charlie Brown has a plane to catch.

As Christmas approaches, she is New York bound, to be reunited with boyfriend Harry after work has kept them apart.

But once she lands, Harry is nowhere to be found…

There’s no hand-drawn sign with her name being brandished at the gate. No answer from Harry’s phone. And all at once, Charlie’s worst fears come true.

What has happened to Harry? And what should Charlie do now that she’s an ocean away from home?

As Charlie slowly comes to terms with her predicament, she makes a decision. She’s not leaving New York without finding out the truth, and with a little help from her handsome new friend Pete, there might still be a path to happily-ever-after…

Bestseller Zoë Folbigg returns with a page-turning story of love, friendship and learning to believe in your own worth. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, JoJo Moyes and David Nicholls.

My review

Make – up artist Charlie Brown cannot wait to fly over to New York to spend the holidays with her boyfriend Harry, who is living there for work.
But when Charlie arrives at the airport, there is no Harry to be found. Not only that, but Harry doesn’t answer his phone and with Charlie not knowing Harry’s address, Charlie is utterly lost in a city she doesn’t know.
What can Charlie do in a city on the other side of the world, and worried about what could have happened to the man she loves?
With the help of her new friend Pete, a real New Yorker, Charlie is determined to find out the truth. But is it a truth Charlie wants to hear?  

If there is one thing I absolutely hate, it’s ghosting… so reading how Charlie is being ghosted by her actual boyfriend of all people, made my blood boil!
How can someone who claims to love you, leave you just stranded in a city you never been before? I understand that people can fall in love with someone else, but is it so hard to grow a pair and actual just break up with them? 

And Charlie for sure doesn’t deserve to be treated like that!
Charlie is such a likeable character. Likeable but also a bit naïve… from the moment there is radio silence from Harry’s side, I knew what happened. Yet Charlie has the hope somehow it’s all a misunderstanding, or that something has happened.
However, even in her naivety, Charlie shows an admirable determination. She goes lengths to find out what happened with Harry. 

And also further in the story, she shows a growth, by not just accepting cr*p from anyone. Slowly she learns to even go for the confrontation, to make her point clear, to show others that they are wrong. 

Charlie is also a very caring person. She doesn’t look at “what” you are, but who you are. She likes or dislikes you for the right reasons. And with Harry being the exception, she also quickly senses someone’s true colours. 

That is why it’s so easy for her to befriend Pete. Because Pete is genuinely a nice guy. I have never been to New York, but I can imagine it’s the kind of city where a lot of people only care about themselves and won’t help out a stranger.
But that is not who Pete is. He befriends Charlie not only out of pity, but because they just click. Even if Pete himself has been heartbroken, and apparently the person in question likes to rub it in, Pete didn’t let it affect his kind nature.  

It warmed my heart to see how Pete, his friends and even his family embraced Charlie. While Charlie sees the bad of some people, she, and we as a reader, see also all the good that people have. 

This was a wonderful, heart – warming but also slow – burning story, about how the worst that could happen can turn in the best.
We see the characters grow more mature, learning to stand tall and stand up for themselves. But we also see so much kindness and love in this book.
And it’s a nice extra touch having a character discovering a new city, taking us together with her on all her explorations!

One festive night, three decades, one family

Synopsis

Three women, three decades, three Christmas Eve moments that change their lives forever.

On Christmas Eve, 1968, Cathy McLean receives a surprise visit from the lost love of her life and is forced to chosebetween the one that got away and the one that stayed.

On Christmas Eve, 1993, Cathy’s daughter Helena is overjoyed to hear that her boyfriend is about to propose, until a devastating encounter threatens to bring her heartbreak instead of diamonds.

On Christmas Eve 2023, an shocking discovery rocks Eve Quinn’s world. The only gift Eve wants this year is the truth. But will it take a Christmas miracle to unravel generations of secrets?

Unwrap this festive tale of complicated families, impossible choices, and an unforgettable love that lasts three lifetimes.

My review

Christmas Eve is a wonderful holiday for everyone.
Yet in 1968, Cathy McLean is left flabbergasted from a surprise visit from the love of her life. Because no matter how they felt, he left and Cathy hasn’t heard from him in more than a year. And she has moved on…
But now she has to choose… to go back to the man she once loved, or stay with the man she loves now?
Same day, different year, as in 1993, Cathy’s daughter Helena is over the moon hearing that her boyfriend is going to propose. But on the prelude of an amazing night, Helena discovers that her boyfriend may still not have changed his spots. And that his intentions aren’t all that well…
So what should Helena do, especially as Christmas Eve may change her future forever?
Same day, different year, as in 2023, Helena’s daughter Eve discovers that what she thought was the truth, in fact wasn’t… But how can Eve find out what truly happened in the past and find that missing piece of the puzzle?  

Oh my God, Shari Low just did it again! I know with each book she writes, that I will dive straight into it, will find it impossible to put it away and I just keep on reading even when I should be sleeping! 

Having read several books from this amazing author, I know that there is *A LOT* happening in a short timespan and that you should keep your focus otherwise you will miss a lot! Yet I juts loved how she did her usual thing, but yet managed to do it differently! It was just great to see the same common thread, Christmas Eve, and how each character lived this festive moment so differently with decades between them. 

With the three decades between all the characters, it’s easy to see the evolution of the characters. we can see Cathy thirty years later, Helena twenty years later and see how Eve is picking up all the pieces of a complicated puzzle. 

Cathy is perhaps the most gullible person. And I am not meaning this in a bad way. she got her heart broken and moved on, is a very responsible young woman. But did she truly expect things would just be that easy when her past reappears?
She is responsible not only towards looking after her sister, but also responsible in the choices she made and is still making. She doesn’t regret those choices, and knows that she did the right thing.  

And seeing how after thirty years she still stands by those choices, made my respect grow for her. But it was also sweet somehow to see how she still is wondering what would have happened if things went differently. 

For me, Helena was the most difficult character to like. As we see her in 1993 and in 2023, and we know what happened to her in 1993 with her boyfriend, I found it hard to understand how in 2023 she ends up by being divorced. And her being rather cold and distant didn’t make her score any cookie points. 

But slowly I got to understand Helena better. We see her struggling with the choice she has to make. And even on what was supposed to be a wonderful evening, I could comprehend what she did and why she did it. 

Eve was the character I liked the most. She was the most down – to – earth. She is shocked by a revelation and wants to discover the truth. But she also knows that she needs time to digest the information herself and needs to pick the right moment to confront her family. 

Beside the shocking news, she also has to make a personal choice herself. And while it would have been easy to take the easy way out, once again she decides to take her time to think things over. Whatever Eve does, she doesn’t do it on a whim. She wants to make the right choice not only for her, but also for those around her. 

I absolutely loved reading this book, as it shows that we all have a turning point in our lives. and how one choice, one decision will affect not only the course of your life but also the lives of those around you and even the next generations. 

But what I loved the most in this book was, no matter how all the main characters were from each other, even if they were family, the fact that they are and always will be family unites them.
Perhaps in the end, the loose nods were tied too easily, but that somehow was also in sync with the rest of the story, because in the end, you’ll never know how things will turn out for real. Sometimes all it needs is one moment in your life to make all the pieces of the puzzle fall perfectly into place. 

This was another amazing, marvellous, astonishing book from a very talented author. Each book makes me fall more and more in love with her and her amazing talent!