January 2024 – Page 4

Happy Publication Day – 11 January 2024

An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street By Jaimie Admans

A tale as old as time…

Since her mum’s death, Marnie Platt has shut herself away from everyone who cares about her. Worse, her beloved bookshop on Ever After Street is suffering too. With sales down and the shop’s garden falling into disrepair, Marnie risks losing the very last thing she loves. Until a chance encounter with her surly and reclusive neighbour….

Dark and brooding, Darcy O’Connell likes to keep himself to himself. But when he hears Marnie needs help, he can’t turn his back on her. Soon they are spending most evenings together in her enchanted garden and a friendship starts to bloom…

With the help of old and new friends on Ever After Street, Marnie’s bookshop begins to thrive again, and with Darcy’s kindness, she starts to get her sparkle back too. She just can’t understand why Darcy continues to shut himself away – especially from her. Can she convince him it isn’t too late to embrace life, and maybe love, again?

The Allotment On Willow Tree Lane By Lilac Mills

When a local meadow is turned into a bee-friendly allotment, will romance also blossom?

New teacher Ceri has enough on her plate trying to keep her class in line and get them excited for her Foxmore wildlife efforts. Then she meets the mysterious – and occasionally grumpy – Damon, whose orchard she’d like to explore.

Rock star Damon has moved to Foxmore to escape the hounding paparazzi following the tragic death of his bandmate. Relocating to somewhere quiet and isolated is just what he needs to recover. Ceri is a ray of sunshine, but he’s not ready to share his dark secrets with her.

As love blooms, will Damon’s hidden past get in the way of their happiness? And can he bring himself to give up his music for love?

Review Card – High Hopes At The Second Chances Sweet Shop By Hannah Lynn

Special delivery for Miss Holly Berry

A successful summer has seen Holly’s shop thriving for the first time since she bought it, and she has high hopes for the future of Just One More. However, it is not only her business prowess that has been growing. In a little over a month she will be trying to run the shop with a baby on her hip.

If only her love life was so easily managed. With things far from solid with Ben, and Giles back on the scene, Holly might find herself changing more than nappies…

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 10 January 2024

A Breath Of Fresh Air By Jessica Redland

Rosie feels like there’s something missing in her life.

She loves her job as the manager of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, caring for the horses and teaching children to ride, and she loves the home she shares with her mother in the beautiful Lake District. But she can’t help wondering how her life might look if things had been different. What if her father had been around to help care for her mother? And what if she’d found someone special herself?

When Hubert Cranleigh – the owner of Willowdale Hall – is taken ill, his son Oliver steps into the breach. Brooding and distant, Rosie is furious when he claims not to know who she is. Especially when they have a history.

Rosie’s life is about to be turned upside down, but with the New Year comes new opportunities. What Rosie feels is missing from her life might be closer than she thinks, and with more significant consequences than she could ever have imagined…

Book Review – It All Started With You by Debbie Howell

I always thought I was going to be a girl who did something. I was going to run my own business and find fame and fortune! Fall in love…

But here I am. Still waiting for it all to happen, sitting on the floor, surrounded by lilies and roses, trying to do my best friend’s wedding flowers because – in her words – ‘how hard can it be, Frankie?’. The answer is actually ‘very hard’ but it’s not the only thing that’s tough right now. My boyfriend won’t commit, I barely have a job, and once again I have the hangover from hell…

What I don’t know is that life’s about to throw me a curveball. A new friend I will make with a beautiful, sad-eyed little boy who is so very tragically ill. I still don’t know about that heartbreak.

Even so, in this moment, I know that it’s time for some changes. Maybe it’s time to make my dreams come true? To try to become a marathon-running, healthy-living, wildly-in-love florist-to-the-stars!

Because I’m beginning to realise that you only get one chance at life. I don’t yet know how you change everything, all at once, but what I do know is it all starts with me…

Published Date: 23 June 2023

My Review

Frankie initially aspired to achieve fame and fortune but soon faced the reality that it wouldn’t be her future. She found herself in an unfulfilling job, with a commitment-phobic boyfriend, and friends who took her for granted. While helping with yet another friend’s wedding, Frankie questioned when her turn for happiness would come. This led her to wonder if she had been seeking happiness in the wrong places.

A chance encounter with a new friend made Frankie realize she had wasted much time. She recognized that life is short and decided to stop waiting and start being the change she desired. Despite the challenges, Frankie is determined to conquer the world one step at a time with hope, determination, and spirit.

I found great pleasure in this book; it’s a heartwarming reminder of how even the tiniest gestures can brighten someone’s day if we’re willing to extend a helping hand. It weaves together elements of drama, a touch of romance, and plenty of moments that bring smiles to your face. It beautifully captures life’s highs and lows, and when faced with challenges, it encourages the idea of turning lemons into lemonade (or adding some gin for good measure).

My Rating

Happy Publication Day – 9 January 2024

The Island Cottage By Jane Lovering

When Brid Harcus is sent to the Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland, she has high hopes for her trip being short, straightforward and lucrative.

Her mother has inherited a cottage from her Great Aunt Jennet which has been unlived in and unloved for decades, and the time has come to make it habitable and saleable. Easy, right?

But Midness Cottage has other ideas. For one thing it’s rather more ‘fixer upper’ than Country Living, with a resident goose and her goslings who have made themselves at home. And Brid definitely hadn’t planned for the strongly-held local belief that the cottage is meant to be the home of the Orkney Witch, and whomever lives in it must fulfil this role. Not the best message for the estate agent brochure and of course Brid doesn’t believe in magic, let alone have healing powers.

But Orkney does have healing powers. Its beauty and peace are enchanting, its people welcoming, and Brid’s handsome new friend Magnus is rather charming too. When her life back in York starts calling her home, will Brid sell up and ship out? Or did the last Orkney Witch cast a spell and leave a legacy of love if only Brid believed in magic…

Meadow Falls By Carolyn Brown

Angela Marie has spent all of her thirty-five years on Meadow Falls, the farm that’s been in her Texas family for generations. It wasn’t her plan. It was an obligation. Now that her parents—less loving kin than strangers—have passed, the whole shebang belongs to Angela. And a legacy she never wanted is hers to uphold.

She can’t forsake it now. Her beloved nanny, Mandy, who was always more of a mother, needs a caregiver herself. And Mandy’s great-granddaughter, as close to Angela as a sister, has returned to roost. When a handsome veteran arrives seeking work as a farmhand, Angela thinks the future might not be half-bad after all.

But it’s the past that proves enlightening. Mandy is revealing secrets Angela never knew about her parents. As the clouds on her family history begin to part, the inheritance feels more like a precious gift, and Meadow Falls more like the home Angela’s been looking for her whole life.

Review Card – It All Started With You by Debbie Howell

I always thought I was going to be a girl who did something. I was going to run my own business and find fame and fortune! Fall in love…

Because I’m beginning to realise that you only get one chance at life. I don’t yet know how you change everything, all at once, but what I do know is it all starts with me…

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Book Review – Family Ties At The Second Chances Sweet Shop By Hannah Lynn

Life has finally settled down for Holly Berry…

Holly’s family has always been there for her, and when her dad is made redundant she is only too happy to help out. But giving her father a job wasn’t quite what she had in mind.

And when she tries to involve herself with Ben’s family, tensions rise quicker than one of her delicious cakes. Will family complications be too much for her blossoming relationship or is this the next step on the path to happy ever after?

Published Date: 21 June 2023

My Review

In this series, the author explores Holly’s ongoing journey in a way that keeps her character authentic by addressing the consequences of her past decisions. The story begins with Holly’s struggles with her own relationships and those of her roommate, which might be relatable for new readers but could feel slightly prolonged for those familiar with the characters. The plot takes a dramatic turn as a figure from Holly’s past reappears, setting the stage for the next book. I recommend reading this series to connect the dots between the books, as no single installment brings closure to Holly’s personal growth. It’s rewarding to watch her gradually navigate life’s challenges. While some books in the series may be more appealing than others, it’s a great choice for readers who enjoy a continuous character development narrative with straightforward and emotionally engaging writing.

My Rating

Review Card – Family Ties At The Second Chances Sweet Shop By Hannah Lynn

Life has finally settled down for Holly Berry…

Holly’s family has always been there for her, and when her dad is made redundant she is only too happy to help out. But giving her father a job wasn’t quite what she had in mind.

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Book Review – Last Bride Standing By Ginny Baird

With just ten days left till her folks’ loan comes due, ever-pragmatic Charlotte Delaney is officially throwing in the towel on the bet that she made with her sisters. It looks like it’s up to her to save their parents’ café and beloved home with a marriage of convenience to her family’s rival. It’s time to get the in-name-only nuptials over with. Of course, Charlotte’s never been one to easily admit defeat…

Aidan Strong has exactly zero intentions of marrying one of the Delaney sisters—even Charlotte, his first crush. He’s come to Majestic, Maine, to make things right…only Charlotte has other plans.

She’s challenging Aidan to a new wager. And the prize? His billion-dollar coffee empire. Now the tiny seaside town of Majestic is about to witness the ultimate game of hearts…and winner takes all.

Published Date: 27 June 2023

My Review

Charlotte Delaney, the only sister yet to find love, faces a unique challenge: marry Aidan Strong, now a successful 30-year-old running Bearberry Coffee, in a five-year, in-name-only arrangement. In return, she’d get half of Bearberry Coffee, a significant aid for the Delaneys’ local café, Bearberry Brews. However, Charlotte aspires for more than just half, leading to a fresh rivalry. When Aidan returns to Majestic Maine after two decades, his transformed handsome appearance takes the sisters by surprise. While Aidan and Charlotte’s dynamic involves continuous banter and competition, Charlotte’s portrayal can come across as slightly mean-spirited.

The book follows a captivating tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. Both characters confront their prejudices and learn to trust. The book delves deep into the characters’ introspection, occasionally making the pace slow, but concludes satisfyingly, wrapping up the storylines a decade into the future. Although the book can stand alone, reading the first two offers deeper context. The ending felt rushed, but the book is recommended for its engaging storyline and character development.

My Rating