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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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‘It’s all about reframing things. No regrets. Just silver linings.’

Juliet believes in love stories. As a wedding planner, she’s helped create more than five hundred perfect days for other people, though her own path to happy-ever-after has been far from easy. Her first love always taught Juliet to look for the silver linings in life, and when she unexpectedly meets Christian Wynterson, it feels as though one might finally be shining through.

But not everyone is ready to accept Juliet and Christian’s new beginning. Family tensions, buried secrets and old wounds threaten to overshadow what should be a joyful new chapter.

Juliet has spent years believing in happy endings for everyone else. But can the people she and Christian love see that their relationship isn’t just a silver lining – it could be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

My Thoughts:

This is book six in the Escape to the Lakes Series but don’t be put off as these books can be read as a standalone but I would seriously consider reading them all as they were all so addictive and you get to know the characters a bit more as they pop up in each other books. I love going away to the Lakes and I have done with my husband for the last few years, it is such a special place to us so reading about all the different places we have visited brings back so many memoires for me. Jessica’s writing makes you feel apart of the story and whisks you away from the daily routine. This story was about Juliet who has had her ups and downs through out her life but when she meets Christian could he change things for her for the better. Jessica has a brilliant way with how she writes, and the sensitive issues are tackled sensitively. I loved it.

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

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Based on the popular TV game show Catchphrase, this official puzzle book includes: 

• 8 fun-packed rounds with over 200 official catchphrases introduced by Mr Chips
• ‘Say what you see’ puzzles where images and symbols reveal hidden sayings.  
• Hidden catchphrases to test your knowledge of classic phrases. 
• Super Catchphrase rounds for fast-thinking, competitive fun. 
• Full answers and score sheets at the end of the book.  

Whether you dip in for a quick brain boost or settle in for a longer solve, there’s always a new phrase waiting to be discovered . . . 

My Thoughts:

When I saw this book, it reminded me of growing up and watching it with my family, so many great memories. This is such a fun and immersive book packed with different games to play. There are different puzzles in this book some more harder than others but it gives everyone a fair chance of winning. I liked the overall design of the book and the illustrations make it come more alive. All the answers are at the back and they also have score sheets for when you are playing against other people. Great for all the family and a perfect Christmas gift for the CatchPhrase person in your life. It is a book you can play time and time again and will never get bored of. I love the Super CatchPhrase rounds as it really makes your brain work. It was so much fun.

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

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When Nell loses the promotion she’s spent years working towards, it’s bad enough. But when it goes to her glamorous sister Ava – who then helps orchestrate Nell’s entire team being made redundant – it’s the final straw. Humiliated, heartbroken and in full-scale emotional meltdown, Nell does the only sensible thing: she flees to Spain.

Her escape plan involves a wellness retreat, a complete reinvention and absolutely no more people-pleasing. Unfortunately, the retreat turns out to be a caffeine-and-wifi-free spiritual bootcamp fuelled by sticks for breakfast, tree hugging and enforced emotional honesty. Worse still, Nell keeps running into Oliver – a super-hot, kind stranger who witnessed her airport breakdown, accidentally got detained by armed police alongside her, and now seems impossible to avoid.

As Nell scrambles to fake her way into a new career as a life coach while hiding a growing mountain of lies, she begins to question if she’s spent her entire life trying to please everyone except herself.

My Thoughts:

Nell’s life is going well until it is not, years she has spent working towards a promotion at work but she is piped at the last post by her sister of all people. She knows she needs to run but where to, Spain is the answer to a wellness retreat but even getting there has proved a task and a half. Though she has met Mr Hot, who funnily enough happens to be going to the same place as Nell. Oh God could the ground just swallow her up. Is there more to Mr Hot than meets the eye, could he be the excitement Nell needs in her life. I was looking forward to reading this book, it sounded amusing but unfortunately for me it fell short, I found it a bit cringe in places and I did not find it amusing as much as I hoped. The story was quite drawn out and I felt did not seem to go anywhere. It is not an author I would pick up again.

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

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Meet Laurie: a working mother of two who is at the end of her tinsel. All she really wants for Christmas is five minutes of peace (and another Bailey’s in her coffee).

With a disastrously chaotic family Christmas brewing, Laurie has a choice to make. Should she double down on her perfectly manufactured festive cheer? Or burn the Pinterest board and embrace her imperfections so that she can have some fun too?

My Thoughts:

If you are after a hilarious read this is the one for you. I literally was laughing the whole way through. Even if you are not a mother, this will have your sides splitting. Laurie is a mother of two who never gets any peace and quiet, coming up to Christmas she is as busier than ever and does not know how she is going to get through Christmas. Parents will be able to relate, Christmas is about spending time with the family and making it fun for everyone. It is just one day remember. I thought it was so funny and light hearted. This is going to be a hit.

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

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In a seaside village, where the winter sunset meets the sea, Daisy is coming home …

When her perfect life falls apart, Daisy returns to Mistingham, determined it’s a temporary stop until she can find her feet again.

She hasn’t counted on the community’s irresistible (aka infuriating) festive spirit. Or on Avery, building a grand house near the village green – his optimism and easy smile are proving equally hard to resist.

As Mistingham works its magic, Daisy wonders if her heart has known where home is all along.

My Thoughts:

If there was ever a Christmassy cover that makes you feel all warm and festive inside this would be it. I bet it is stunning in paperback form. When Daisy returns to her old home, she feels all over the place, there are people she has not seen for a long time and it has brought back good and bad memories being back on a temporary basis or is it. There might be a love interest too on the horizon for Daisy too. This is the third book in The Secret Bookshop Series and you are going to love it, curl up with a big cosy blanket and you can escape with Daisy to Mistingham. Perfect storyline.

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

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‘No-one gives you the joy and magic of a second-chance romance like Cathy’ MILLY JOHNSON

When Lucy, Jack and Dylan meet on a beach in Devon, a friendship begins that will last a lifetime.

Over the next twenty years, Dylan rises to stardom and becomes a famous popstar, whilst Jack and Lucy take over the family farm and have a son, Sam – but then an accident changes everything.

And so, even with Christmas fast approaching, Lucy is feeling far from festive. Running Merrydown Farm singlehandedly was never in the plan, and she’s exhausted.

On the other side of the world, Dylan is burned out and in need of a break – so when an invitation to spend Christmas with Lucy arrives, it seems like the perfect escape.

There’s just one problem. It turns out Lucy didn’t invite him…

My Thoughts:

When three people meet in unexpected circumstances many years ago, little do they know what an impact each of them have on each other. Many years later the three are now two, Dylan lives abroad and Lucy is struggling with day to day life and looking after her son. But can Dylan turn things around for Lucy. Hidden feelings, the sense of betrayal but wanting to do something to better her and her son’s life, will Lucy be able to take that leap? This was such a beautiful story about love, loss and loving again after a loss. Many people go through this daily and I cannot ever imagine what that must be like but at the end of the day, you deserve to take time for yourself and be happy. You can only live one life and you must do what is right for you. I liked the characters and the way the story unfolded. It was a great read.

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

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