It’s December in Heritage Cove and along with the village Christmas tree, frosty mornings and the promise of the most wonderful time of the year, the new waffle shack is about to open. And its owner isn’t a stranger to the Cove, because after all this time, Daniel is back to make amends with his brother Harvey – as well as a few other locals he might have offended along the way.

Fairly new to the village, local blacksmith Lucy has kept up the pretence of being with her ex for the sake of his gran but she’s fed up with all the lies. Determined to come clean and live the life she wants to live, she’s devastated to find that her attraction to Daniel is tainted by the fact he’s hiding a few things of his own. And his secrets are ones she isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to get past.

Heritage Cove is full of friendship and community; it’s a welcoming place people visit and never want to leave. But will it work its magic for Daniel and Lucy?

My Thoughts:

This is book two in the Heritage Cove Series and can be read as a standalone liked I did. It is set in Heritage Cove in December, how Helen has written the descriptions of the weather and everything else was perfect, it felt like you were there feeling the cold crisp air against your skin. Lucy is a blacksmith and I found this part of the story really interesting about how Lucy uses her skills to craft different items. So clever. Daniel has just set up his business in Heritage Cove, a waffle shack which the locals are going to love especially around Christmas time. When they first meet they hit it off instantly, they are both attracted to each other and to see how they start to bond was lovely until Lucy finds out something about Daniel that could rock the boat, they both have been through a lot, but can they turn this around and be happily ever after? It was a nice light read, one that was predictable but well worth the read.

Get your copy here:

Fripp Island, South Carolina is the perfect destination for the wealthy Daly family: Lisa, Scott, and their two girls. For Lisa’s childhood friend, Poppy Ford, the resort island is a world away from the one she and Lisa grew up in–and when Lisa invites Poppy’s family to join them, how can a working-class woman turn down an all-expenses paid vacation for her husband and children?

But everyone brings secrets to the island, distorting what should be a convivial, relaxing summer on the beach. Lisa sees danger everywhere–the local handyman can’t be allowed near the children, and Lisa suspects Scott is fixated on something, or someone, else. Poppy watches over her husband John and his routines with a sharp eye. It’s a summer of change for all of the children: Ryan Ford who prepares for college in the fall, Rae Daly who seethes on the brink of adulthood, and the two youngest, Kimmy Daly and Alex Ford, who are exposed to new ideas and different ways of life as they forge a friendship of their own. Those who return from this vacation will spend the rest of their lives trying to process what they witnessed, the tipping points, moments of violence and tenderness, and the memory of whom they left behind.

My Thoughts:

After reading the blurb I knew I had to pick this book up and it certainly did not disappoint. It is all about two very different families that go on a shared holiday. The Daly family have more money then they know what to do with and the Ford family really struggle to keep their heads above water so of course they are going to accept a free holiday to South Carolina, but without them seeing each other for a very long time what secrets will surface and will harm come to any of them? Are their lives going to be changed forever? I liked how the story unfolded, you kind of get other people’s perspective which I liked. It was a great thriller, packed with twists and brimming full of suspense and grittiness.

Get your copy here:

After a life-changing accident, Katie’s plan for Christmas is simple: rent a spectacular island house in the Lake District, gather the people she loves, and enjoy snowy walks, crackling fires and the promise of a fresh start.

What she doesn’t plan on?

Her ex-boyfriend turning up.

Still reeling from their break-up, Katie isn’t sure whether seeing him again will bring closure or reopen old wounds. Especially when she finds herself drawn to Arlo, the handsome owner of the island house, who is keeping his heart carefully guarded.

As Christmas approaches, old feelings resurface and new sparks begin to fly. Katie must decide whether to give the past one more chance, or open her heart to a love she never expected.

THIS CHRISTMAS, WILL KATIE RETURN TO THE LOVE SHE LEFT BEHIND . . . OR FIND THE COURAGE TO BEGIN AGAIN?

My Thoughts:

Wow what read that I instantly fell in love with. There is just something so cosy about reading one of Phillipa’s books especially when they are set in the Lake District which is my favourite place on earth. I loved how all the places Phillipa mentions that I have been too, it makes the books more enticing. I loved the story about Katie who after a traumatic event happens to her she knows she needs to get away and rest and recuperate, so she knows she is going to the Lake District at Christmas time and inviting the most important people in her life to say thank you for being there with her through thick and thin, but whilst she is trying to get some rest, her ex turns up and Katie does not know what to do because she has set her sights on Arlo the owner of the house they are staying in. It is all a bit of a crazy time for Katie and she really does not know what to do but she will figure it out she always does. It was a relaxing and powerful read about friendship, coming together and building bridges. I loved it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

When three-year-old Tippi Macklin goes missing on a weekend break with her parents, her face appears in newspapers around the world, sparking endless debate and conspiracy theories. Wealthy and glamorous Jed and Gabby never give up hope that ‘Little Tippi’ will be found.

Eighteen years later, a young woman arrives at their door claiming to be their lost girl. She has a new name, a new history and some startling evidence to support her claim. Can she really be Tippi – or is she an imposter?

A DNA test will prove her identity one way or the other, but when the results come back, it seems the mystery has only just begun…

My Thoughts:

Jed and Gabby lead a pretty good life with their three year old daughter but on a weekend away something terrible happens, Tippi their daughter goes missing. They suffer such backlash from the media and the public, but what really happened to her that fateful day? Eighteen years later and with a whole barrage of women claiming to be Tippi, the family have come to the point of realising they may never know, but when Eden turns up on their doorstep, Jed and Gabby try and pin their hopes on her being Tippi. But is she who she really says she is/ the rest of Jed and Gabby’s family have their suspicions. The one test that will prove it but what will the test confirm? This was such a gripping read and I liked how the story was told with the snippets of what the public was thinking about all of it going on, like who was being accused and so forth. Such a twisted tale, I would never of guessed the dramatic ending. So so good.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Athena’s rule is simple: men are unreliable, untrustworthy, and best admired from a safe distance.

And with her career to focus on, it’s a rule she’s perfectly happy sticking to – much to her mother’s dismay.

Until work sends her to Cape Town, and she meets Nathan: charming, thoughtful, and dangerously attentive. Suddenly, Athena’s long-held decree feels… negotiable.

But Nathan’s past may not be as spotless as it seems, and Athena starts to wonder if her instincts were right all along. The problem is, by the time the warning signs appear, she’s already falling for him.

Should Athena risk her carefully curated world for love – or will her heart pay the price?

My Thoughts:

This is the first book I have read by Phoebe and I cannot wait to read more. It was so worth the read, it was funny, relatable and brimming with romance. The story is about Athena who has not had much luck with men until she is sent to Cape Town where she meets Nathan. Can he change her feelings towards the male species? but what is Nathan hiding? will this be another flop for Athena’s heart? I liked how the story flowed, it was really funny in parts and just what I needed to read. It was light and entertaining and made me very happy to read it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Meredith Bailey is a woman who doesn’t do emotions, doesn’t do cake, and she absolutely does not do cosy Dorset villages. But when she’s sent a photograph of a little café overlooking a picture-perfect bay, Meredith does what she always does – she draws up a spreadsheet and makes an offer.

Cherie Moon, owner of the Comfort Food Café, has other ideas. She isn’t selling. But she is, rather inexplicably, offering Meredith an apron.

What Meredith doesn’t account for is a very handsome vet in a Santa hat, or a village with the magical gift for thawing the most frozen of hearts – one mug of the world’s best hot chocolate at a time…

My Thoughts:

If you have not read any of the books from the Comfort Food Café, you need to start asap. This series has just been a pure delight and such a cosy read. Meredith means business, she is proud of what she has achieved and wants to continue with the success by purchasing the café but the owner has other ideas up her sleeve to show Meredith that life can be fun away from a highly strung job. Can Meredith change her ways and open up to a new possibility of a new life. As always these are such easy going reads, perfect little pick me ups, it will have you grinning from ear to ear. The characters are what make this book come alive and I just wanted to be there in the thick of it all. Wonderful read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Emily whips up Christmas magic like a festive fairy: cinnamon rolls, gingerbread cookies, peppermint mochas with Mariah Carey on full blast. When a blizzard hits, her bakery’s kitchen is headquarters for holiday deliveries to save the town. The only problem? Cole, the hot, infuriating firefighter she loves to hate. Can she survive them working side by side?

Emily’s the hot-tempered blonde who pushes every one of Cole’sbuttons. But with Maple Falls snowed in, he needs her help… and her orange-and-cinnamon scented kitchen. Soon it’s command central for Operation Sugar and Spice, with simmering pots, stacked pies, and elf-hatted volunteers loading snowmobiles. Emily’s attitude won’t let up… can they last until Christmas without strangling each other—or worse, falling for each other?

As sparks fly hotter than the kitchen’s wood-fired stove and the truth behind their family feud surfaces, will Emily and Cole give in to what’s always been burning between them… or stay on each other’s naughty list forever?

My Thoughts:

Emily has her own bakery and loves to make special treats especially at Christmas time but when a blizzard arrives she is left stranded until Cole turns up and helps her save the day. They both had something between them in the past but can they reignite what they had before now? they have to work together to help the towns folk in a huge snowstorm. I loved the sound of all the festive treats that Emily has conjured up, you can almost smell the bakery as you are reading about it. I liked seeing the interactions between Emily and Cole and to get each others perspective on the whole thing. It was an easy read that was steamy in parts. A real festive treat.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Gwen has lived at Christmas Tree Farm for many years. It’s where she’s built a life, a business and a place to call home. But after her beloved husband Paddy dies, it’s time to downsize and move on.

But when nine-year-old Willow, a distant relative of Paddy’s, arrives on her doorstep in urgent need of a place to stay, everything changes. And now, with the purchase of her new property falling through, Gwen needs to make some money, and fast.

With the help of Willow, his mum’s friend Horse, and Lara the social worker, she reopens her business selling Christmas trees for one last season. But with the mega-corporate Christmas Tree World as new neighbours, can her tranquil offering tempt the customers in?

This will be her last Christmas at her beloved farm. But endings can become beginnings, and could love, friendship and a sense of belonging flourish here . . . ?

My Thoughts:

Jo Thomas is one of my go to authors, I don’t need to read the blurb to know I am going to love the story. This one is set on a Christmas tree farm which intrigued me, Gwen lives here and runs the day to day business but when her husband dies, she knows she needs to move on with her life. But then Gwen gets a shock when a distant relative of her late husband needs a place to stay. Nine year old Willow needs someone to look after him, he has never met Gwen in his life and he has withdrawn from himself and finds it hard to express how he is feeling. Gwen has patience and over time Willow opens up to her. Gwen decides she must stay for another year, Willow can help her with the Christmas tree farm, but can she really let the farm go? It was a lovely story to relax with. It felt festive and fun and I liked reading about the ins and outs of running a Christmas tree farm. It felt warm and comforting and just pure delight to follow Gwen along with her life. I loved it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

This year, Christmas isn’t going to plan … and that might be the best gift of all.

Mabel has no intention of celebrating Christmas. Living alone in her beautiful old house in the woods, she’s happier keeping the world at a distance.

Brooke has planned every detail of a magical family Christmas at her parents’ house. But when a fierce snowstorm forces her, her husband and their two daughters to take shelter in Mabel’s home, all her careful plans are turned upside down.

Also stranded are Izzy and Jason, two colleagues with unfinished business and undeniable chemistry. Izzy is hiding a lonely heart behind a bright smile. And Jason may be the one man capable of breaking through her walls.

Suddenly, Mabel finds herself hosting the last thing she wanted: a full house for Christmas. Then the chaos, laughter and warmth begin to work their quiet magic. As the snow falls and the fire crackles, this snowbound group discover that family can be found in the most surprising places.

Because sometimes the Christmas you never planned is the one that changes everything …

My Thoughts:

Sarah is one of my go to authors, I don’t even read the blurb as I know I am just going to love the story. And it is so true. This story is set over the Christmas period and is all about Mabel, who has never celebrated Christmas, she is fine by herself in her house where she can keep everyone at arms length. But when a family are stranded on her doorstep during a snowstorm Mabel does not have the heart to turn them away. Mabel is not use to visitors and little visitors too, but she tries her best to accommodate. Just as she is starting to settle, another two people knock on her door, the same thing has happened to them, could they come in and shelter for a while please? The snowstorm is in full force so no one is going anywhere, Mabel is kicking around in this big house that was once loved and deserves to be loved once again, Can she turn herself around and try and bring a little Christmas joy to these people? she can only try. She might enjoy the company after all. It was such a brilliant read to escape with. I loved all the characters, Mabel held a space in my heart, their stories all intertwined and it did really feel festive. I loved it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Noémi Blanc loves happy endings. In fact, she runs a cozy bookshop brimming with them. Following a friend’s tragic accident, Noémi is sworn off adventures (and love), and even refuses to bake her mouth-watering, crowd-attracting cookies.

Shay Cassidy craves adventures. In a whirlwind of costumes, he opens a pop-up business next to the bookshop, stealing Noémi’s footfall. His quirky activities and rival cookies quickly capture the interest of the small town, igniting Noémi’s competitive spirit.

As the festive season looms, tensions simmer and loyalties are tested. Noémi is determined to reclaim her customers and prove that her bookshop is a treasured part of the village. But Shay’s charm and wit are hard to ignore – even for Noémi. With the bookshop’s success hinging on a festive event and Shay’s lease almost up, Noémi must decide if she’ll open her heart to a chance at happiness and save the bookshop in time for Christmas.

My Thoughts:

I love a Christmas story and this was the perfect one to settle down with. Noemi owns her own bookshop which sounds incredibly cute and wholesome. This is the kind of bookshop you want to go to, that has a cosy and warm atmosphere, where you can browse and read with a coffee or a cookie, But since Noemi lost her friend, she does not want to do anything as it reminds her of her friend and what she lost. But when Shay opens up his business next door to Noemi’s bookshop, Noemi must pull herself together to win back her customers and make her friend proud of her. It was a lovely and light story that may be predictable storyline but one that I feel as though everybody needs in their life. I really enjoyed it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here: