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Today I am on the tour for Starlight at Snow Pine Lodge by Rachel Barnett, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and m the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 314

Synopsis: Three friends. One Christmas escape. A week that will see their lives changed forever…

Making headlines is something socialite Tania knows all too well. After her latest scandal goes too far, she decides the perfect solution to her problems lies in a remote ski lodge away from the cameras.

Clara is learning to take each day as it comes after a sudden tragedy rocked her whole world. A trip to the French Alps couldn’t have come at a better time, a chance to heal and get back on her feet.

To her friends, Rose is the glue that keeps the group together. The first person they call in times of need and one always to put others before herself – even if it comes at the cost of her own secret heartache.

As Clara, Rose and Tania head to Snow Pine Lodge, what waits for them there is far more than the relaxing break they were expecting. Between uninvited guests, a brewing snowstorm and old secrets bubbling to the surface, these women will need to lean on their friendship more than ever before if they’re to face up to their pasts and fight for the relationships they really want…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this book had everything, friendship, romance, secrets, sibling rivalry. And I absolutely devoured it!

One thing I will say, I went into this blind and expected a cute, fluffy Christmas romance and that is not what this is… the romance is there but it’s a smaller theme in the book, this focuses more on the heavy themes of grief, loss and the seemingly impossible journey of rediscovering your identity.

Whilst Clara is dealing with all that, we have Tania who is trying to escape for a bit after ending an affair & Rose who is hiding a big secret of her own too! The question is where does Miranda fit into it all?

Lots of funny moments, I’ll never be able to think of a hot tub in the same way again 🤣.

With a hunky sounding Scottish chef that has breakfast on the table in the morning and a slap up meal in the evening along with a new cheese every night that comes with its own story, I’m not a fan of cheese but I would’ve loved to be around that table every night, the characters felt like old friends!

And as for Lysander, the way him and Tania spoke to each other, reminded me so much of the relationship I have with my brothers, without the animosity.

I don’t want to give too much away, because where’s the fun in that, but this one definitely needs to be added to your TBR!

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Today I am on the tour for Meeting The Billionaire Boss by Wynter Wilde, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 227

Synopsis: Edward Cavendish: Losing my wife two years ago was not something anyone expected. Lucille was beautiful and successful, and I thought we’d spend our lives together. Turns out I was wrong. Facing the world feels impossible so I shut myself away in my mansion in the countryside where only my young son can bring a smile to my face.
Ava Thorne: I’m broke. More than broke, actually. I have mountains of debt and it’s getting worse by the day. I’ve been working two jobs to support my sick mother and younger brother, but when I’m fired from the one over a mistake that wasn’t mine, I don’t know where to turn.
Edward: My son’s nanny is going away on the trip of a lifetime, so I need to find a replacement. It has to be someone we can trust but the thought of having anyone else in my home turns me cold. Plus, there’s the inheritance clause that states I must be married on my 35th birthday and the date looms ever closer…
Ava: When the opportunity of a lifetime arises in the chance to earn a large sum of money fast, I’m forced to confront my past and decide if I can embrace a future I never dreamt of.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: this was the palette cleanser I needed at the time, an easy book to lose yourself in and lose track of time at the same time, I had a cup of tea, a blanket and a packet of biscuits, I was so settled that this was a one sitting read for me!

I adored all the main characters, Ava was selfless, Edward was just the perfect dad and Joe was just the cutest little boy ever 😍😍

After losing his wife and telling his grandad he wouldn’t remarry it was put in as a clause that Edward has to fulfil before his 35th birthday in order to become the CEO of the company, when he sees the way Ava is with Joe and seeing Joes little face light up when they’re together he starts to see a solution to his problem…

Although as expected it’s not long before real feelings get involved and I was here for it, it wasn’t instant or rushed, but it got hot and heavy eventually 🥵

Lots of cute moments between them that made me swoon and say “aww” out loud.

My only bug bear was that it just wasn’t long enough, I needed more Ava and Edward.. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them.

I cannot wait for the rest of the trilogy!

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Today I am on the tour for Christmas at the Cat Cafe by Jessica Redland, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 386

Synopsis:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year on Castle Street, and there’s a paw-some new business opening….

It had always been Tabby’s dream to work with catsand an inheritance from her beloved nanna has finally made that a reality. Idyllic Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay couldn’t be a better place for pastry chef Tabby to open a cat café with her boyfriend, Leon.

But when Leon leaves her in the lurch, the pressure mounts for Tabby. With Christmas fast approaching, she has to open the café on her own – a daunting prospect, especially when she’s been hiding her health issues from the ones she loves.

Faced with local resistance to the café – and somebody seemingly determined that she won’t succeed – Tabby will need her friends, family and cats more than ever to recover her broken Christmas spirit and pull together for a Christmas miracle.

Will the cat café bring the festive joy to Castle Street as Tabby had hoped or will it be a cat-astrophe? And can the magic of Christmas on Castle Street mend Tabby’s broken heart as well as her business?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: as a cat person this one was right up my street!

Tabby and her boyfriend have been trying to find the perfect premises for a cat cafe, which they find on Castle Street, but before they can open Leon goes away to work on a cruise ship for 3 months then the day he’s supposed to be back he calls her and says he’s not coming back… Tilly is rightly devastated and because of her fibromyalgia she almost shelves her dream because she knows she won’t be able to do it alone..

In steps her family and her brothers best friend Tom, Between them they make Tabby’s dream a reality!

It was lovely to be back in Castle Street with old friends and new, and in typical Jessica Redland style there was romance too!

I especially loved this one as someone with a chronic illness the representation was incredible, and felt genuine!

This book genuinely made me want to open my own cat cafe, but I definitely couldn’t handle the work.

This one definitely gave me the warm and fuzzies but also made me cry like a baby, who would’ve thought I’d get so attached to fictional cats 🤣

A perfect book to get lost in and add a little light to these cold dark evenings.

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Today I am on the tour for Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern by Helen Rolfe, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 297

Synopsis: A wonderful story of love, friendship and opening your mind and your heart to new possibilities that will enchant fans of Holly Martin and Heidi Swain.

The Copper Plough is at the heart of village life for the residents of Heritage Cove, and never more so than at Christmas, when the tree glows in the alcove and the smell of mulled wine carries out onto the street. So when new owners for the beloved pub arrive and decide to shake things up, not everyone welcomes the changes with open arms.

Local bakery owner Celeste is ready to keep an open mind. But she’s shocked to discover that one of the new landlords is Quinn, a former Navy sailor with whom she had a short but powerful romance years earlier.

Fate may have brought Quinn and Celeste back together, but life seems determined to keep them apart. Can the villagers learn to embrace the newcomers this Christmas? And will Quinn and Celeste find a way back to each other before snow falls over Heritage Cove?

Join new friends and old, as Christmas comes to Heritage Cove.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this was my first time visiting Heritage Cove and I can tell you I will be going back to read the rest, I absolutely loved this!

The characters felt real and genuine, like they could be a person you met on the street and meet up with them for a coffee!

The only think about Heritage Cove is that the residents don’t like change, so the fact that the owners of The Copper Plough are leaving and selling up had them all on tenterhooks whilst they wait to meet the new owners…

What Celeste doesn’t expect is to see a blast from her past back in the Village, but is he there to stay or is it just another flying visit?

I loved the whole will they won’t they aspect of this book and watching them discover each other again was just lovely, I felt the need to know where the story would take them which made this book a one sitting read for me!

The issues dealt with in this book were done so in a sensitive way, but without making them small or feel unimportant which means the representation will be appreciated by readers who are in a similar situation.

Absolutely recommend this book, it does work as a stand alone. I was left feeling like I didn’t get some of the subtle references made about other characters, but that didn’t take away from the story at all & left me intrigued to give the previous books a read at some point.

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Today I am on the tour for Things We Do For Love by Vered Neta, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pages: 264

Synopsis: Daisy Bach, a therapist, has always been certain that she did not want to have children. Her childhood experiences with an overbearing and controlling mother, Verity, who tore the family apart, further cemented this decision. However, at the age of forty-five, Daisy finds herself reconsidering this choice. Unfortunately, her decision to try and conceive is complicated by her mother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. With strained family relationships, Daisy faces the daunting task of caring for her elderly parents while also attempting to conceive. As she navigates this challenging time, Daisy is forced to confront her deep-seated resentment towards Verity. This journey leads her to re-evaluate her beliefs about motherhood, forgiveness, and the true meaning of a “happy” family. Will Daisy find a way to reconcile with her past and make peace with her present? Only time will tell.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this book broke my heart into a million little pieces and then put it back together again.

Oh the emotions I felt, I don’t think I was quite prepared for it!

We’re following 3 sisters, Daisy, Heather and Iris, they’re organising an 80th birthday party for their dad Sol, when they all get together you see the past rear it’s ugly head.. nothing quite like sibling resentment..

We soon learn that they’re all going through their own struggles, some a lot deeper than others but yet all dealt with with the same sensitivity.

A very real representation of a family, nobody is perfect and they all take very different things away from the same childhood.

It’s a story that makes you be realise the fragility of life and how quickly it can all be taken away.

I lost my dad last year, very unexpectedly so found that I needed to put the book down, step away and collect myself more than once, I cried proper ugly tears, I smiled and found myself wanting to shake the characters or a regular basis and show them that in the grand scheme of things the aspect they’re focussing on isn’t that important.

There was a paragraph that has stuck with me, it’s not often I highlight things. But I physically felt this one. So I’ll leave you with it.. just know I wholeheartedly recommend that you read this book!

“I feel as if the world has turned upside down, and I’m spinning without a point of reference in the world. It’s as if I lost my North Pole and am lost in the universe.”

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Hi 👋🏼

Today I have a review for you for The Secrets Of The Deadwoods by Ashley Brandt I am on the blog tour for book two in October.

Pages: 23

Synopsis: Book One in The Secrets of the Deadwoods series!

Every town has its secrets, and Corinth is no exception.

When a local realtor turns up dead, Denali falls under suspicion as she was the last person to see the victim alive. Together with her telepathic cat, Da Vinci, these two amateur sleuths uncover the killer’s trail, leading them back to the haunted wood, known by the locals as the Deadwoods.

But when the murder suspect turns victim, the residents of Corinth are left with more questions than answers, not to mention more ghosts inhabiting the Deadwoods!

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: this is a really hard book to review as it’s only 23 pages long, so by the time it got started it was over – that being said there was a lot that happened in so few pages!

A cat that can communicate with his owner telepathically and always seems to find himself in the right place at the right time when it comes to uncovering crime, which doesn’t always bode well for his owner Denali, because wherever he is she must follow, leaving her at the scene of 2 different crimes when the Sheriff appears! – does this mean that she will be the prime suspect?

There was a lot of unanswered questions and things that are hinted at which left me so intrigued!

There was so much promise in this book & I can’t wait to continue with the series!

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Hi 👋🏼 I was lucky enough to be approached by Claire and asked if I’d like an advanced copy of her new book Clues to you which is released today!

Pages: 339

Synopsis: One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths.
They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either.

But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis.

When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad.

With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this couldn’t be any less than 5 stars, Claire just has this ability to make you forget everything else around you whilst you’re reading, I adore her romance books, but this is possibly the best one yet as it has a cosy mystery element too that just keeps you guessing!

In this one we’re following Kate and Max, they’re murder mystery rivals and thrown into the same team for the first time in years… can they put their differences aside to solve the case?

I’m not sure what I was living for more, the 1930’s mystery or the cute little scenes between Max and Kate where they start to realise that the line between love and hate really is paper thin!

The change between the mystery being solved and the actors was so seamless that sometimes I forgot that the whole Murder mystery aspect was just a bit of fun, and was all for them solving the case, I got SO invested that I found myself actually gasping at some of the reveals!

Full of swoon worthy moments that made me jealous (is that normal?🤦🏻‍♀️😂) of Kate, we all need a man like Max! And moments that make you realise that having a female best friend can really be the most dangerous weapon you have in your arsenal!

I am torn between wanting the Love In The Comptons series to continue and not wanting there to be another couple after Kate and Max because they are just everything 😍🥺

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Today I’m on the tour for The Gingerbread House In Mistletoe Gardens by Jaimie Admans, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pages: 330

Synopsis: In Mistletoe Gardens a legend exists: anyone who kisses underneath the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love…

When local baker Essie Browne discovers that Mistletoe Gardens is to be demolished in January, she’s determined to save the place she loves so much. So Essie proposes building a life size gingerbread house to bring in the crowds…just how hard can it be?

Well, quite hard actually. Essie can bake gingerbread blindfolded, but she hasn’t got a clue how to build an actual house with it! She needs help – and fast!

Enter local builder, Joss Hallissey. Essie is convinced that with Joss’s help they can pull this off. There’s just one tiny problem: Joss hates Christmas, gingerbread, and… well, just about everything else too.

Joss the Grinch makes it clear that her idea is ludicrous and pointless, but he reluctantly agrees to help with her plan.

Will the gingerbread house be enough to save Mistletoe Gardens? Or will Essie’s chance for a magical kiss under the mistletoe be lost forever?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: it’s been a while since I read a clean romance and I forgot how refreshing they can be.

We’re in the small town of Folkhornton and the residents have just been told that Mistletoe Gardens is being demolished to make room for a new housing estate.. now everyone is upset, Mistletoe Gardens is a thing of legends, not no one more than the local baker Essie, Mistletoe Gardens is her family legacy..

She decides that it deserves a goodbye to be proud of and with the help of the grumpy local builder decided that a giant gingerbread house is the way to do it!

I really loved this one, it just shows that pure grit and determination can really get you what you want in life but obviously it’s never straight forward!

Plenty of bumps in the road and a whole hose of different characters to keep you engrossed from start to finish.

A book that made me feel all the Christmassy warm and fuzzies and craving gingerbread.

My first Christmas book of the year and what a high bar it’s set!

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Hi 👋🏼

I’m here to share a cover reveal for The Road Home by Nigel Stewart with you!

But before I do let me tell you about the book..

Synopsis: Joe Thompson is a success. Great job, own house, car, money. He’s got it all – or he thinks he has until one day, his boss suddenly decides he needs some time off and tells him to take a break, with immediate effect, which leads Joe to get in the car and drive somewhere, anywhere. Eventually, he arrives in Ripon, and the cathedral. Imbibing the atmosphere and the history, Joe’s road trip leads him onto several more cathedrals. Is it a pilgrimage? Is he looking for something he can’t find except in the sanctity of a cathedral? Or is what he is looking for much more simple. A chance encounter with Louise gives him what was really missing in his life – love on equal terms, until he learns Louise’s love comes with complexities, something Joe does not know if he can cope with.

What happens to someone when they get lost? When their past and present don’t add up to their future? Is what Joe has got worth giving up for what he really wants and will he only find it on the road home?Nigel Stewart’s novel takes Joe not only on a physical journey but an emotional one, too, where he is able to discover the complexities of his own personality and why he has become who he is and how he can become who he really wants to be. The book explores the effects of modern day life when you think you have it all and you actually have nothing.

Here’s the cover… isn’t it gorgeous?! 😍🥺

This book will be available in November!

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Today I on the tour for Crossroads by P Robertson, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 52

Synopsis: Izzy has always been adamant about not wanting children. Her husband, Luke, had also agreed with this stance until one fateful day when he reveals that he wants to have a child.

Izzy is thrown into a difficult situation as she must decide whether to compromise on her beliefs and have a child or not. She begins to question her own desires, plans for the future and, most importantly, her relationship with Luke.

A compelling story that explores personal growth, self-discovery, and the importance of communication in a relationship. It highlights the struggles of deciding whether to have children and how that decision can impact a couple’s dynamic.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: how could I give this one anything less than 5 stars?! It was raw and honest, I really felt for both Luke and Izzy whilst reading this, having children has to be a mutual decision unfortunately and if one doesn’t want them then it can’t happen.

For such a short book this stirred up some deep feelings in me, I just wanted to hug both of them whilst telling them both their reasons and feelings were both valid. But the author was very clever not to make either one look like the bad guy, which I loved because it didn’t sway the readers opinion in any way!

I laughed, I cried and I smiled all within less than 55 pages 🤣

I adored that Izzy found comfort and friendship in the unlikeliest of places and there was no judgement whatsoever.

Big shout out to Izzys dad too, what a man he was!

I could shout about this book for ages, but then I may as well just tell you the whole thing 😅

It’s emotional and impactful but absolutely worth the read.

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