Monthly Archives: December 2022

Book Review – Holiday Romance By Catherine Walsh

She’s meant to be catching flights, not catching feelings…

Molly and Andrew are just trying to get home to Ireland for the holidays, when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight.

Nothing romantic has ever happened between them: they’re friends and that’s all. But once a year, for the last ten years, Molly has spent seven hours and fifteen minutes sitting next to Andrew on the last flight before Christmas from Chicago to Dublin, drinking terrible airplane wine and catching up on each other’s lives. In spite of all the ways the two friends are different, it’s the holiday tradition neither of them has ever wanted to give up.

Molly isn’t that bothered by Christmas, but—in yet another way they’re total opposites—Andrew is a full-on fanatic for the festive season and she knows how much getting back to Ireland means to him. So, instead of doing the sane thing and just celebrating the holidays together in America, she does the stupid thing. The irrational thing. She vows to get him home. And in time for his mam’s famous Christmas dinner.

The clock is ticking. But Molly always has a plan. And—as long as the highly-specific combination of taxis, planes, boats, and trains all run on time—it can’t possibly go wrong.

What she doesn’t know is that, as the snow falls over the city and over the heads of two friends who are sure they’re not meant to be together, the universe might just have a plan of its own…

Published Date : 4 October 2022

My Review

Andrew and Molly both live in the same town and they take their yearly flight to their home country at the same time. This has been going on for the past 10 years. Despite they live separately in the same town, they stay in contact and supported each other in both their relationship. But this year their 10th year of flying back together, plans didn’t go as planned due to a winter storm. Molly realise how important Christmas is to Andrew and is determined to get both of them home to their respective family come what may.

I love the characters very much. They are funny and playful together. It is a lovely story and perfect for this seasonal read.

My Rating

Review Card – Holiday Romance By Catherine Walsh

She’s meant to be catching flights, not catching feelings…

Molly and Andrew are just trying to get home to Ireland for the holidays, when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight.

Nothing romantic has ever happened between them: they’re friends and that’s all. But once a year, for the last ten years, Molly has spent seven hours and fifteen minutes sitting next to Andrew on the last flight before Christmas from Chicago to Dublin, drinking terrible airplane wine and catching up on each other’s lives. In spite of all the ways the two friends are different, it’s the holiday tradition neither of them has ever wanted to give up.

Molly isn’t that bothered by Christmas, but—in yet another way they’re total opposites—Andrew is a full-on fanatic for the festive season and she knows how much getting back to Ireland means to him. So, instead of doing the sane thing and just celebrating the holidays together in America, she does the stupid thing. The irrational thing. She vows to get him home. And in time for his mam’s famous Christmas dinner.

The clock is ticking. But Molly always has a plan. And—as long as the highly-specific combination of taxis, planes, boats, and trains all run on time—it can’t possibly go wrong.

What she doesn’t know is that, as the snow falls over the city and over the heads of two friends who are sure they’re not meant to be together, the universe might just have a plan of its own…

About The Author

Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. 

She lived in London for a few years before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.

Link to Purchase

Book Review – Dare Me By Samantha Chase

One year ago, Arianna Donovan and Will Jameson met on a dare and spent a perfect 24 together before going their separate ways. She thought they would stay in touch, but he disappeared without a word.

Arianna thought she’d moved on. But when Will shows up at a family dinner with her older—and very protective—brother, she’s angry and confused. How could he possibly forget to mention that he was friends with her brother? No one knows about their past and Arianna wants to keep things that way. No matter how tempting Will is.

When he walked away a year ago, Will thought it was for the best. Staying away from Arianna was the smart thing to do, especially with how protective her older brother—his friend and fellow soldier—can be. Time and distance will work wonders when you’re trying to stay away from someone. Now that he’s seen her again, he forgets all about doing the smart thing. He’ll just have to first convince her to let go of her anger and give him another chance.

Will isn’t above playing the nostalgia card, and when he challenges Arianna to a sexy game of truth or dare, she can’t resist. Neither one is ready to tell the world what they’re doing, but how long can they possibly keep things a secret when there are Donovans ready to meddle around every corner?

Published Date : 4 October 2022

My Review

Arianna and Will spent one day in California and it is enough for them to discover that they are meant to be with each other until Will left without an attempt to contact her. A year has passed; they met again at family gathering. They must decide now whether what they want and have is worth taking a chance on them or what they have shoe just be a beautiful memory left in the past.


This book focus on family relationship and I love the truth or dare game in the story line as it added humor and fun in the question with the feelings are revealed. Overall, it is a sweet read to me with a mixture of fun, hot and romance in its story plot.

My Rating

Review Card – Dare Me By Samantha Chase

One year ago, Arianna Donovan and Will Jameson met on a dare and spent a perfect 24 together before going their separate ways. She thought they would stay in touch, but he disappeared without a word.

Arianna thought she’d moved on. But when Will shows up at a family dinner with her older—and very protective—brother, she’s angry and confused. How could he possibly forget to mention that he was friends with her brother? No one knows about their past and Arianna wants to keep things that way. No matter how tempting Will is.

When he walked away a year ago, Will thought it was for the best. Staying away from Arianna was the smart thing to do, especially with how protective her older brother—his friend and fellow soldier—can be. Time and distance will work wonders when you’re trying to stay away from someone. Now that he’s seen her again, he forgets all about doing the smart thing. He’ll just have to first convince her to let go of her anger and give him another chance.

Will isn’t above playing the nostalgia card, and when he challenges Arianna to a sexy game of truth or dare, she can’t resist. Neither one is ready to tell the world what they’re doing, but how long can they possibly keep things a secret when there are Donovans ready to meddle around every corner?

About The Author

Contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, blogging, playing way too many games of Scrabble on Facebook and spending time with her husband and their two sons in North Carolina.

Link to Purchase

Book Review – The Christmas Sneak By Marie Harte

Ex-NFL star Deacon Flashman had the perfect woman in the palm of his hands…and dropped the ball.

Considering Deacon’s past performances, that isn’t news. An injury cut short his football career, and then he got taken for millions by a greedy ex-wife. But Deacon’s luck has changed. He’s got a great job, and he’s recently become an uncle again. With the holidays close, he’s getting a second chance. Nora Nielson, the woman who got away, is back. Now he needs to figure out a way to get into her good graces. A relationship with Nora is everything he wants…and everything that scares him. But to let the past go, he’ll have to go big or go home. And the stakes have never been higher.

Published Date : 1 September 2022

My Review

Deacon and Nora have a love hate relationship. Attempted to date once, they end up hating each other. There was chemistry between them but they refuse to acknowledge the feeling. Being force to be in each company, they began to let their guard downs and spark between them exploded. Deacon has been hurt in the past and he refuse to go down that route ever again and Nora has her own secret too.

It is a story of family, friendship, love and relationship that happened in a season of holiday setting. The plot is fun and engaging and overall, it is a quick read to me

My Rating

Happy Publication Day – 6 December 2022

Tempt Me By Samantha Chase

He hates the holidays. She lives for them. Let the games begin.

A small town, grumpy/sunshine romance from NY Times Best Selling Author Samantha Chase

Six months ago, Liam Donovan met the world’s cheeriest, most upbeat woman at a wedding.

It was the longest two days of his life.

Now she’s his next door neighbor.

Talk about awkward.

Tessa Sullivan believes in always looking at the bright side. Unfortunately, her new neighbor is the most negative man on the planet and seems to have made it his mission to ruin her good mood on a daily basis. She loves to sing, she loves to smile, but more than anything, she loves to decorate for the holidays. The fact that this seems to bug her new neighbor is simply a perk.

After twelve years in the Marines, Liam is more than ready to come home and start the next phase of his life. He’s starting a business, reconnecting with his mildly over-bearing family, and loves the fact that he’s finally got a place of his own. If only his neighbor’s decorations would stay on her side of the property. There isn’t one thing about Tessa that tempts him…until there is. Now she’s all he can think about.

Being friends makes sense.

Becoming lovers was inevitable.

But having Tessa be his forever is more than tempting

The Golden Oldies’ Book Club By Judy Leigh

Deep in the Somerset countryside, the Combe Pomeroy village library hosts a monthly book club.

Ruth the librarian fears she’s too old to find love, but a discussion about Lady Chatterley’s Lover makes her think again.

Aurora doesn’t feel seventy-two and longs to relive the excitement of her youth, while Verity is getting increasingly tired of her husband Mark’s grumpiness and wonders if their son’s imminent flight from the nest might be just the moment for her to fly too. And Danielle is fed up with her cheating husband. Surely life has more in store for her than to settle for second best?

The glue that holds Combe Pomeroy together is Jeannie. Doyenne of the local cider farm and heartbeat of her family and community, no one has noticed that Jeannie needs some looking after too. Has the moment for her to retire finally arrived, and if so, what does her future hold?

From a book club French exchange trip, to many celebrations at the farm, this is the year that everything changes, that lifelong friendships are tested, and for some of the women, they finally get the love they deserve.

Review Card – The Christmas Sneak By Marie Harte

Ex-NFL star Deacon Flashman had the perfect woman in the palm of his hands…and dropped the ball.

Considering Deacon’s past performances, that isn’t news. An injury cut short his football career, and then he got taken for millions by a greedy ex-wife. But Deacon’s luck has changed. He’s got a great job, and he’s recently become an uncle again. With the holidays close, he’s getting a second chance. Nora Nielson, the woman who got away, is back. Now he needs to figure out a way to get into her good graces. A relationship with Nora is everything he wants…and everything that scares him. But to let the past go, he’ll have to go big or go home. And the stakes have never been higher.

About The Author

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic.
Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with romance and happy endings and knew writing was her calling.
Years later after the Marine Corps, Information Technology, and 60 hour work weeks, her dream has finally come true.

Marie lives in Oregon with her family and is constantly reading and writing.

Link to Purchase

Author Interview – Donna Ashcroft

Donna Ashcroft was born in London and grew up in Buckinghamshire. She went to university in Lancashire and, among other things, worked as a copywriter, buyer, waitress, secretary and marketing manager. 

Donna wrote novels for over ten years before being published. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and was a joint winner of the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2017. Her first two books Summer at the Castle Cafe and Christmas at the Castle Cafe will publish in 2018.

Donna loves a happy ending and is never happier than when she’s escaping into a romance novel or movie. When she’s not reading or writing she’ll probably be found hoovering … or negotiating with her teenagers about who is doing the washing up.

(a) What inspire you to write a book?

Lots of things. I love Christmas and traditions like Secret Santa. I heard a story from a friend about someone who was Secret Santa for their office and no-one knew who brought and delivered the presents to them each year. One year she was ill and forced to take time off work, so she had to ask someone to fill in because she didn’t want the people in her office to guess that she was secret Santa. I also love animals and had an idea early on about my heroine having to take care of someone’s animals – including a turkey who hated men. I liked those ideas and the story sprang from there.

(b) Do you write full time? if yes, is it tiring to write day in day out?

Yes, I’m a full time writer and it can be tiring. I have to build in breaks to walk and get out of the house. If I write all day I’m mentally exhausted by the evening but I love it.

(c) Which of the book that the story plot touches you the most and the hardest for you to let go?

I always find it hard to let go of my characters when I finish a book. I really get to know them through their journey and I feel for what they go through and fall in love with them a little. It can be difficult to start a new book until I’ve had sufficient time to forget the characters I’ve been writing about.

(d) Do you read other author’s book specifically from the same industry as you?

I read lots of other romantic authors. I’m good friends with Jules Wake/Julie Caplin and read all of her books. I also love books by Milly Johnson and Sarah Bennett and many more. Romance is my favourite genre.

(e) Which part of the writing process that you find it hardest to go thru i.e. from writing to the published book?

I find writing the hardest part of the process, simply because while I will have an idea when I begin, it can take a while to discover the story and my characters. I’m very lucky though because I have a publisher who does a lot of the hard work from sorting covers, creation of the book, publishing it, advertising and publicity and that means I get to concentrate on my writing.

To Learn More About The Author:

Book Review – Snowflakes & Secrets In The Scottish Highlands By Donna Ashcroft

Step into the cosy Scottish village of Christmas where you’ll find plenty of secrets, romance and mulled wine! And join Merry McKenzie as she stays at her Aunt Ava’s cottage for the winter festivities to try and mend her broken heart…

Thirty-one-year-old Merry is escaping to the Scottish Highlands for Christmas. Heartbroken by the death of her father, the man who raised her single-handedly, she needs some time to heal. Hiding away at Chestnut Cottage with only her Aunt Ava’s menagerie of pets for company seems like the perfect way to spend a peaceful December. But when she arrives, Merry discovers some curious instructions from her aunt asking her to organise Secret Santa gifts for the residents of Christmas village.

Merry’s determined to try and carry out her aunt’s festive task. But on her first night in the little cottage everything goes wrong – including upsetting the handsome local vet Theo Ellis-Lee when he arrives to assist with a crazed turkey and the mischievous rabbit who’s torn apart her aunt’s gift list. Merry is completely out of her comfort zone and it doesn’t help that Theo is both infuriatingly cheerful and insanely attractive.

Merry’s plans for a quiet break are quickly thwarted as Theo starts coming by every day to check on the unruly animals, and she can’t deny he sets her pulse racing. And, one by one, the friendly locals draw her out of her shell with cosy cups of tea, warm words and laughter-filled evenings in the pub. She finds herself embracing the challenge of finding the perfect gift for each of the kind-hearted people on her list. When Theo offers to help, sparks fly between them. But when the Secret Santa project forces Merry to face her heartache, she’s not sure she’s ready for a fresh start.

At a crossroads in her life, will Merry decide to go home and hide from her problems or will she open her heart and stay in Christmas village?

Published Date: 27 September 2022

My Review

Deacon and Nora have a love hate relationship. Attempted to date once, they end up hating each other. There was chemistry between them but they refuse to acknowledge the feeling. Being force to be in each company, they began to let their guard downs and spark between them exploded. Deacon has been hurt in the past and he refuse to go down that route ever again and Nora has her own secret too.

It is a story of family, friendship, love and relationship that happened in a season of holiday setting. The plot is fun and engaging and overall, it is a quick read to me.

My Rating

Happy Publication Day – 2 December 2022

Finding Family At Seabreeze Farm By Jo Bartlett

Another wonderful new series from the top 10 bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife, Jo Bartlett. Welcome to Seabreeze Farm.

Freya Halliwell is looking forward to marrying the man of her dreams and starting their new life together. After the death of both of her parents, Ollie, along with Freya’s aunt, are the only family she has, but all the family she needs.

Until Freya discovers a shocking secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her once happy family and especially the man she used to call dad. Devastated and feeling more alone than ever before, Freya needs time and space to come to terms with the news. But until then the wedding is off!

Seabreeze Farm is the perfect place for Freya to recover. But could this beautiful farm perched high on the cliffs, also hold the answer to Freya’s past and reunite her with the family she never even knew she’d been wishing for?