When she unexpectedly loses her husband, Yvonne Kellerman’s world turns quiet and grey. Five years on, her days are filled with the gentle chatter of her loyal parrot, Trevor, and the comfort of her crafting table—but she can’t shake the feeling that life is slipping her by and Yvonne feels lost and lonelier than ever.

When she joins the local crafting club at Willowdale Village Hall, Yvonne expects nothing more than a few afternoons of sewing. Instead, amongst the other local crafters, she discovers friendship, laughter and a renewed appreciation for her gorgeous Lake District home. It’s a reminder that she isn’t alone and, with each new stitch, her confidence returns, and so does her belief that it’s never too late for fresh starts and new beginnings.

When a familiar face from her past reappears, Yvonne finds herself standing at a crossroads: will she protect her heart, or embrace the chance to love—and truly live—again?

My Thoughts:

Yvonne’s world is turned upside down when her husband of so many years passes away, she loves her crafting and spends time doing crafts but feels very lonely by herself. She decides enough is enough and sees that the local Village Hall has a crafting club so decides to bite the bullet and join. Apprehensive and nervous, she realises that these women don’t bite and most of them are in the same situation as her. Yvonne starts to open up more and starts doing a bit more for herself and realises she is loving her new life and her new friends. I loved meeting all the other crafters and hearing some of their stories. Even though it was a sad story to begin with, it was lovely to see how much joy it brought to Yvonne and to see her doing much better. It was a cosy read full of warmth and hope. I really enjoyed it.

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

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Can a cake change your life?

Clemmie Rose’s great-great-grandmother’s beloved clementine torte is her ticket to the prestigious Royal Baking Competition. A win could put Puffin Island’s charming Café on the Coast on the map, land Clemmie her very own cookbook deal, and secure her a coveted invitation to a royal garden party.

But when she discovers the competition is being hosted aboard the Royal Yacht by none other than her ex, Oliver Lockwood, the stakes – and the soufflés –suddenly rise, and Clemmie’s bid for the Golden Whisk trophy is at risk of collapsing like an underbaked sponge.

When a decades-old secret is thrown into the mix, she’ll need more than the perfect recipe to keep her dreams from crumbling.

My Thoughts:

This is book four in the Puffin Island Series but can be read as a standalone like I have done, though I will be reading the previous books as I just loved this one. When Clemmie gets picked to bake for a baking competition she cannot wait, everyone loves her cakes and she feels as though this could be the making of her. Though there is stiff competition and Clemmie does have a few wobbles especially when she finds out one of the judges is a former lover. When things start going wrong Clemmie has to decide what she really wants. It was a great and fun story to read, I liked Clemmie instantly and loved reading about the cakes she made, it was quite comforting to read on a cold day. It felt a very satisfying read to escape with. I will be going back and reading the previous books and I cannot wait to read the last book in the series when it comes out.

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

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At forty-six, Sophie Bianco’s life is half baked―trapped in a controlling marriage and estranged from her critical mother. Her only solace? The Invisible Baker, her secret business helping overwhelmed moms create Pinterest-worthy moments.

When her mother’s death coincides with the last straw in her marriage, Sophie grabs her chance. Armed with divorce papers and her savings, she reclaims her childhood home. But freedom comes with complications: hoarder-level chaos, plumbing disasters, and an ex-husband plotting revenge. When her daughter announces an engagement that echoes Sophie’s own mistakes, the past threatens to repeat itself.

Desperate for income, Sophie takes a position as a pastry chef, finding unexpected sweetness in both the work and the charming restaurant owner. But as family drama and professional opportunities collide, Sophie must finally answer the question she’s been avoiding: Who is she when she’s no longer invisible?

My Thoughts:
There is nothing going right in Sophie’s life at the moment apart from her secret business that no one knows about. Then a death in the family brings Sophie back to reality and makes her realise she needs to do something about her life. A big change is coming for her and Sophie finds herself as a pastry chef, is this the way forward for Sophie? can she finally find her happiness? It was such a brilliant read to get lost in. You feel for Sophie with everything she has to go through but I like how Julie the author has written relatable issues that the reader may be able to connect with. I did not want to put this book down, I had high hopes that Sophie would find happiness, and it came in an unexpected way. It is about pushing your self to the limits and getting a second chance. I really enjoyed it.

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

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When Olivia Kaspen spots her ex-boyfriend in a Miami record shop, she ignores good sense and approaches him. It’s been three years since their breakup, but when Caleb reveals he’s suffering from amnesia after a recent car accident, first she feels regret – and then opportunity. If he doesn’t remember her, then he also doesn’t remember her manipulation, her deceit, or the horrible way she broke his heart. Seeing a chance to reunite with Caleb, she keeps their past, and the details around the implosion of their relationship, a secret.

Wrestling to keep her true identity and their sordid history under wraps, Olivia’s greatest obstacle is Caleb’s wicked new girlfriend, Leah, who’s equally determined to possess the man who no longer remembers her. But soon Olivia must face the consequences of her lies, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

My Thoughts:

When you see your ex boyfriend who you haven’t seen for a while in a shop do you go and say hi or do you give him a wide berth? Olivia doesn’t do either she has her own plan up her sleeve until she finds out something that has happened to her ex and uses that to her advantage but is the cat playing the mouse or the other way round. I liked how the story spiralled and kept me hooked the whole time reading it. I flew through it and cannot wait to read more by Tarryn. One to watch out for as this was so good.

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

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Set in the fictional Sussex village of Blossom Heath, and featuring characters you will know and love from Julie Haworth’s RNA Katie Fforde Debut of the Year Always By Your Side and follow up New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café, Bea’s Book Wagon is a cosy, uplifting and comforting romance that tells the story of two love-interest heroes vying for Bea’s heart – her artisan-cheesemaking childhood sweetheart and a knock-you-off-your-feet property developer. After impulsively jacking in her dead-end temp job and investing her life savings in a ramshackle old horsebox, Bea sets about turning her dream of running a bookshop into a reality, and opens Bea’s Book Wagon. But it’s not all smooth sailing, and as Bea struggles with the challenges of running her own small business, she can only hope that her love of literature and the power of reading can help transform the lives of her friends, her community and herself in the process.

My Thoughts:

I could not wait to start this book, I love a book where the main character is a powerful woman who decides enough is enough and sets out on a journey to make her dream a reality. In this case her name is Bea and she has always wanted to start her own bookshop. But nothing is every as simple as it could be and Bea soon runs into a spot of bother, but she is a determined woman and if she wants something so badly she will do anything to stop anything getting in her way. It was a light and uplifting read, I loved Bea from the get go and how determined she is. I always find reading a book that is set around a bookshop very comforting, I am not sure why but I do. The perfect book for me.

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

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‘Is he your little boy?’

‘No. No. He is not my boy. He’s your boy.’

When Bronagh opens her front door to find a child on her doorstep, crying for his mother, she follows him without question.

Twenty-four hours later, Bronagh’s boyfriend Mal returns to their home in Derry to discover the house empty. Bronagh has vanished.

At first, the police don’t take Mal seriously, but as the hours since Bronagh’s disappearance tick past, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a case of extreme ghosting. Something is wrong. Very wrong.

Because people don’t just vanish, and Bronagh may be in more danger than Mal could ever imagine.

Just where is Bronagh? And can they find her before it’s too late?

My Thoughts:

When Mal comes home from a work trip he cannot believe that Bronagh his girlfriend has gone missing. The last sighting of her was with a small child but they don’t have kids so who is the kid? When the police don’t take him seriously he takes matters into his own hands, as he knows something is very wrong, can he find her before it is too late. I loved the idea for this story, I felt invested in this story and wanted to know the outcome, it is quick paced and full of twists. I liked how each chapter was either Mal or Bronagh so we as the reader knew where she was. I was shocked finding out how the story ended. It was tense, gripping and brimming full of suspicion. It was brilliant.

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

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Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting the boy next door.
 
Jenni lives alone with her cat Oscar – yes, she’s single but, after breaking up with her boyfriend, she’s more than content to be living alone. Sometimes she worries she might be playing things too safe, but she’s had enough of taking risks.
 
Ben is a firefighter and, if he’s honest, he’s finding life hard. The arrival of a small tabby cat, who Ben decides to call Fred, helps him feel less isolated. But then, one day, Ben decides to take a chance. Wanting to reassure Fred’s owner he’s not stealing their cat, he attaches a note to the cat’s collar. 
 
As the two neighbours start corresponding via the cat, their notes to each other reveal the truths they are hiding from even their closest friends, and themselves.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book so much, it is about two people who are connected by a cat. This cat Oscar who is a cheeky thing and likes to go elsewhere for comfort and food mainly. Neither of them realise that they are neighbours and that a cat would bring them together. Though how they are connecting with each other will make you laugh out loud and Oscar is having a lovely time getting fed twice. It was a lovely warm hearted story that has some added romance. I mean you know what is going to happen but it gave me pure joy reading it. I have a cat so I found this book even more enjoyable.

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

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In the summer of 1967, the Levitsky family convenes for a long weekend at their home in the suburbs―an idyllic holiday for the perfect family.

But Nora has always known better.

Growing up, she learned to tiptoe around her mother Lillian’s explosive temper. Her father did the same. Nora’s sole confidante was their housekeeper, Clara, and their bond has only strengthened through the years. In fact, it’s all that’s keeping Nora together for her homecoming. But under that lifetime of pressure, the facade is beginning to splinter.

Over the next four days, everyone’s secrets are at risk. None more so than what Nora really wants for her life, how Clara has helped her get it…and how they’ve orchestrated it all behind Lillian’s back.

As the family grapples with the complex ties that bind them, Nora discovers that facing the truth―however painful―might be the key to finally breaking free. This weekend, Nora’s bravest act may be in knowing which bonds to cherish and which ones need to be gently set aside, making room for a future of her own choosing.

My Thoughts:

This was a bit of a random pick for me, something about the blurb drew me into reading this book and I am so glad I did. I enjoyed it immensely. Set in the summer of 1960’s, it is all about the Levitsky family and how the whole family is brought together for a long weekend. Each family member has something going on in their life and it was interesting to piece together what would happen. Secrets, lies, betrayals all happen between this family. It was an interesting concept to a story and one that really worked. I loved it and the ending was so good.

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

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In a picturesque town in Derbyshire, Merry has always wanted a family to spend Christmas with, and this year her dream comes true as she says ‘I do’ to father-of-two Cole. But as she juggles worries about her business, last-minute wedding planning and the two new children in her life, Merry is stretched to breaking point.

Meanwhile, only a few miles away, Emily is desperately waiting for the New Year to begin. Her father Ray’s dementia is worsening, and she’s struggling to care for him alone while holding down a job. When Ray moves into a residential home, she discovers a photograph in his belongings that has the potential to change everything .

As shocking secrets from Ray’s past finally come to light, will this Christmas make or break Emily and Merry?

My Thoughts:

I have read this book before but it is one of my favourite Christmas books so I knew coming up to Christmas I would have to revisit it. There are two stories that intertwine together. Merry is working hard at her candle shop with her fiancé and his two children but she worries that the kids don’t like her. Emily is struggling with her dad who’s dementia is deteriorating and she is finding it hard to care for him and go to work. Emily makes the hard decision to move him into a home but it’s hard for her to accept it but knows it is the right thing to do. When she finds a baby photo, she will come to realise that not everything is as it seems but in the end everything will come together perfectly. Such a lovely festive read. I really hope the subject matter helps people in the same situation, that you need to do what is best for everyone involved. Loved it.

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Thirty-four-year-old Lauren has a list for everything, especially Christmas. With her presents bought months in advance, the last thing on her checklist is the charity party she runs every year. It has to be perfect – she has seen how much the event means to the older villagers who would be alone for the holidays otherwise.

Everything is going smoothly as the local church bells ring. Until handsome Kian walks in, claiming he has the little village hall booked for his young daughter’s birthday party. Lauren nearly falls off the ladder she is using to hang fairy lights. There’s no way this is happening. Not when she’d triple-checked every detail…

As Lauren frantically tries to find another option, Kian’s insistence that she should just “relax” isn’t helping her stay merry and bright. There’s only one way to make this a festive party to remember. She has to try and work with Kian.

They clash over every detail, but as their helpers arrive, Kian’s kind and welcoming nature soothes Lauren’s shaken nerves. And his gorgeous blue eyes make her wish she’d put the mistletoe out. Until Kian mysteriously disappears…

And Lauren is left alone to keep the excitable children from running into the flaming Christmas pudding the older guests love every year. Will Kian’s chilled approach cool the celebrations? Or can Lauren and Kian put aside their differences and save the day once more?

My Thoughts:

Oh this is such a wonderful story to curl up with. There is everything from festivities, a handsome man, romance and just sheer warmth. Lauren is an asset to the local community, she does everything for everyone else but has little time for herself. But the community could not do without her especially organising the charity Christmas party but when a handsome stranger tells her the village hall has been double booked Lauren must find a way to keep everyone happy. They clash at first but then can they both see the potential. It was a lovely Christmas story.

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