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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Phoebe has twenty-four hours to deliver a rescue puppy to her sister’s family in Devon. Armed with a pink woolly hat and a heart full of good intentions, she’s determined to make it happen.

The only problem? She doesn’t have a car. Joshua, her sister’s American house sitter, does.

Joshua came to England to focus on his work and heal a broken heart. Spending Christmas Eve driving a relentlessly cheerful stranger and a howling dog through a blizzard was not part of his plan.

But Phoebe is very persuasive. And somewhere between an impromptu snowball fight and a night sheltering in a firelit shepherd’s hut, the frost between them begins to melt.

Soon what started as a chaotic road trip turns into an even bigger adventure: falling in love.

My Thoughts:

I love a little festive read like this one where there is a puppy, snow, Christmas Eve and a cute hot guy to contend with. Phoebe is driving to her sister’s house with a puppy in tow, with no car, she has to ask Joshua to give her a lift, this is the last thing he needs especially so close to Christmas but when things start sizzling between the two could they both be getting a better Christmas than they had ever imagined. It was a cute opposites attract story, that was easy to read, yes predictable but great in every sense. You can just imagine the amount of heat in that shepard’s hut. Also a cute puppy too that you will absolutely adore. I loved the beginning, middle and the end. A gorgeous story.

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

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Some secrets don’t die―they wait.

When Julia Barlow loses her job and her apartment, she has nowhere left to go but Pemberton, her family’s sprawling seventeenth-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Officially, she’s there to check in on her ageing grandmother. Unofficially, she’s hoping the old house will give her a place to disappear.

Instead, Pemberton begins to unravel her.

Every night, the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m. The lights flicker without warning. And a disembodied voice cries for help outside Julia’s bedroom door.

As Julia digs into the house’s dark history, she uncovers the story of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692―and realises the past may not be finished with Pemberton yet. When decades of family lies begin to surface, Julia must confront a terrifying truth: Pemberton may be haunted by women whose voices refuse to stay silent.

My Thoughts:

As a big fan of Frieda’s books, I was not sure what to expect from this one, it is definitely different from her previous books. This story is about Julia who is struggling with life, no job and no home, she knows she has to return to her families home. But it is not just any home it is a seventeenth century estate that is haunted. The place starts to really creep her pit, unexpected things that she hears or sees really unsettle her but what happens when she starts looking into the history of the house, will the ghost repel against her? it was an interesting concept for the book which flitted from past to present, I would not say it was one of my favourite reads by Freida but it did hold my attention and I was intrigued by the whole concept.

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

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He’s the one she walked away from. She’s the one he never forgot…

Eighteen years ago, Holly broke up with the love of her life, Riggs, so she could become the ‘grown-up’ she felt ready to be. Then Miles came into her life, with the promise of everything they could be together. And for a long time, their home and family felt like enough.

But now Miles has betrayed Holly, and she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about love, marriage and happiness.

And then she bumps into a stranger on the street. Except it’s not a stranger. It’s Riggs. And one look at him is enough to tell her – she never stopped loving him. But is it enough for her to contemplate leaving the life she’s built, even if it no longer makes her happy?

Determined to be honest with herself and with Miles, Holly starts thinking about a very different future. But then Miles makes an announcement that changes everything…

My Thoughts:

Wow what a story, my heart was in my mouth so many times reading this unique story about love, betrayal and moving forward. In the past Holly broke up with the love of her life, and she has always thought what if she had stayed with him, switching to the present, she is married and has two kids but there is something not right with her marriage and when this guy comes back into her life after so many years she questions everything. Riggs the guy knows he has loved Holly all his life and will do his upmost to get her back. But when tragedy strikes Holly is left wondering if she was ever meant to be happy. This was a stunner of a story, it makes you question everything, what would you do in Holly’s situation and also Riggs situation? I inhaled this story as I just needed to know what the outcome would be and it certainly did not disappoint. God I feel drunk after reading this book it was so good. I cannot wait to read Debbie’s next book.

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

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When professional housesitter Erin moves into Marie’s cosy home at Station Cottages while the widow takes a four-month cruise, the job seems pretty easy:

1. Stay in the house to take care of Marie’s pup, Bella.

2. Keep an eye on Marie’s plantings in the community allotment.

3. Host the Thursday Night Slow Cooker Supper Club in Marie’s kitchen.

But sitting still isn’t easy for a woman who has spent her life running away, and with a distractingly gorgeous neighbour who seems to be keeping secrets of his own, Erin realises that her ‘easy’ gig is going to be anything but simple. In fact, it just might change her life…

My Thoughts:

Absolutely loved this book about a group of neighbours who get together to have a slow cooker supper club, they all have a chance to cook in a slow cooker so when one of the group leaves to go on a cruise, she ropes in her house sitter to be part of the group and it is just what she needs. Maybe a little romance too along the way. I loved reading this book, it was such a nice idea and it felt like such a comforting and easy read. Loved it.

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

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At forty-three, Meg’s life has drifted off course. Living back with her parents, with her career on hold, and making ends meet walking other people’s dogs, her days are quiet, simple – and slowly running out of meaning.

But everything changes when one of her clients dies and inexplicably leaves Meg her beautiful Cotswold house…along with three gloriously unruly dogs, and a note bearing the name of the local vet: Ed.

Ed is kind, intuitive, and frustratingly off-limits. But as Meg steps into a life she never asked for – surrounded by muddy boots, horses, and the weight of someone else’s legacy – she begins to realise this unexpected inheritance might just be the greatest gift of all.

My Thoughts:

When your in your forties, you don’t think everything will come crashing down on you until it does. Poor Meg has nothing, living back with her parents and with no job to account for, she know she must do something to raise some cash to get her life back on track. She likes dogs and finds a job walking people’s dogs for them, it is easy work and she enjoys it. When one of her clients die, they leave her their house in their will, but also her three dogs, Meg cannot believe it, how could she become so lucky, but then she meets Ed the vet and things start changing for Meg, but will she get cold feet? or accept this is the life she is going to live for now? it was an easy read, I liked the characters and the idea of walking other people’s dogs sounded quite therapeutic. It seemed a bit of a far fetched story but that is what it is at the end of the day. It is all about discovering yourself in your forties and I am here for that.

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

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Welcome to Christmas at Grey Gables, where everyone’s a suspect.

Struggling mystery writer Nicholas Child is commissioned to help another writer finish the overdue follow up to his breakout bestseller.

Travelling to Grey Gables, the writer’s Cape Cod home, in the week before Christmas, he discovers a house full of secrets, and a cast of very suspicious guests.

When two shocking deaths occur, Nicholas tries to write his account of what happened, and a perfectly fiendish puzzle starts to emerge.

My Thoughts:

When Nicholas is tasked to spend Christmas with a fellow writer, he discovers there is more to this than meets the eye. The house is something out of a horror film and there are plenty of suspicious characters but when tragedy strikes Nicholas wonders if it would be good to plot a story line. I like it when a author brings something fresh out of the water, this idea for the story was mind blowingly good. It has the perfect level of intrigue and mysteriousness that makes you want to keep reading, every character for me was under suspicion. I did not guess where this story was going to lead to. A brilliant murder mystery. Peter’s books just keep getting better and better.

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

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