With her thriving business Cottage Angels, Freya Bolton prepares the Lake District’s holiday homes for Christmas visitors. It’s her job to think of everything, from cinnamon-scented candles to tasteful decorations and hampers of seasonal treats.

If only her love life were such a success… After being burned by past relationships, she’s now determined to steer clear of love for good.

So when she bumps into gorgeous – and single – ex-boyfriend Travis, a no-strings festive fling seems perfect.

But when her feelings for him begin to develop, is she on track for another romantic calamity? Or could this Christmas give her the gift of true love?

My Thoughts:

When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. Phillipa is one of my go to comfy cosy authors and I knew I would love it. It is one of her older books, but still a great comfort read and I could not wait to dive in. I loved the idea of the plot, it made me feel warm inside, Freya runs a business where she prepares holiday homes for visitors. I liked this idea as not many books are centred around this subject or maybe I have not read any. She has a great business that is doing really well but she does not have a certain someone in her life to share it with. Until an old flame turns up unexpectedly and Freya and Travis are thrown together whether they like it or not. It is set in the Lake District and this is my favourite place in the world. It felt as though I was coming home. You can guess the outcome of this story but it was such a comfort read that I did not mind. I loved it.

Get your copy here:

When Mallory Dawson gets a call from a former colleague, Elsa, describing a strange scene, she initially thinks nothing of it. The teenage cleaner had gone into clean a holiday cottage in the forest to find a kettle boiling on the Aga, sandwiches half made and the family who were renting it gone.

DI Harri Evans, however, has a story about the place from the time he was in uniform. He was called out to a girl with scratches down her face claiming someone unseen had attacked her.

When the father of the missing family is found dead in their hire car there is an urgent hunt for the rest of the family. But their identities are false and there’s no hint of their history. How are the past and present connected?

My Thoughts:

This is book three in the Mallory Dawson Crime Thriller Series and can be read as a standalone. I have not read any books by this author but this one intrigued me. There are strange goings on in one of the remote holiday cottages, a cleaner has found some unsettling and quite frankly weird goings on as she went into clean for them. Mallory Dawson is the one to head up the investigation and see if she can piece together what happened to the family? but this holiday cottage holds a lot of memories are these things related? I liked how the story builds and I did not want to stop reading. I liked the mixture of characters and the plot was well thought through. I felt the first half was better than the first but I still enjoyed it. If you like a twist this is the book for you, as there are plenty. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading Sarah’s previous two.

Get your copy here:

Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?

Meet Sam. Meet Nisha.

Two women living very different lives.

But when their paths cross, causing each a world of trouble – and finding some missing shoes is the only way to solve it – they’re left with a choice every woman must face: to walk alone, or stand together . . .

My Thoughts:

I have not read a book by Jojo for a while and realise that I really should catch up with her previous books as I always remember how good they are. I like how this book was spit into two. Two very different women living completely opposite lives. It was so good meeting both women and see how their lives are affected in certain ways. But what will happen when they meet? I love the strong female connection and how it made me feel. It was fun and exciting but also had an important message to go with it. This would be a great movie.

Get your copy here:

Welcome to a delicious world of vegan nibbles

From the healthy to the decadent, from on-the-go breakfast ideas to after-dinner indulgences, this book has sweet bites and savoury treats to satisfy everyone. Try not to swoon as you whip up delights such as:
– tofu poké bowl
– matcha tea and lime pie
– jackfruit tacos
– apple pie milkshake
– pitta pizza
– chocolate chip cookie dough
– buffalo cauli wings

Whether you have only a few minutes to prepare a quick morsel or you want to create something truly impressive to satisfy those cravings, these tasty recipes are all you need to keep your hunger pangs at bay.

My Thoughts:

I do love a recipe book and was intrigued by this one for Vegan snacks. Now I am no way Vegan but I am trying my best to eat more healthily so was willing to take a look and give some recipes a try. First I tried the Salt and pepper roasted chickpeas and was a fan, they are crunchy and moreish, definitely a winner, then I tried the pitta pizza which was really good too. The cinnamon and maple roasted walnuts are to die for, if you are having people over for Christmas, these are going to be a bit hit and so simple to make. That is what I found all the recipes are easy to make and don’t take much time up either. I like how it is broken down into sections and also the pictures just make me hungry by looking at them. A great gift not just for people that are Vegan. I really enjoyed this book. There is something for everyone in here.

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

Get your copy here:

Whether it’s the relatable lyrics, the cathartic bridges or the songwriting genius behind it all, there’s just something about Taylor’s music that has captivated a global fandom. No matter what era you’re in, her resilience, determination and unique talent for storytelling will encourage you to stand tall, speak now and define your own reputation.

Exploring her extraordinary journey from a small-town girl to one of the most successful and empowered artists of the twenty-first century, A Little Bit of Taylor Swift features:

– A powerful dose of fearless words from the woman herself
– Insights into her personal life and illustrious career
– Trivia to test even the most avid addict

My Thoughts:

This little book is packed with a whole range of Taylor Swift related quotes, trivia and an insight into Taylor’s life. If you know someone who is a swiftie, they are absolutely going to love this book. I like Taylor’s music but did not know much about her and now after reading this book I feel as though I know her a little better now. I liked the Trivia in there, I got most wrong but it was a fun thing to do. Really liked this compact book and I feel as though it would make a great present.

Get your copy here:

Bryce Quinlan loves her life. Every night is a party, and Bryce is going to savour all the pleasures Lunathion – also known as Crescent City – has to offer. But when a brutal murder shakes the very foundations of the city, Bryce’s world comes crashing down.

Two years later, Bryce still haunts the city’s most notorious nightclubs – but seeking only oblivion now. Then the murderer attacks again. And when an infamous Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to watch her every footstep, Bryce knows she can’t forget any longer.

As Bryce and Hunt fight to unravel the mystery and their own dark pasts, the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents and down to the deepest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir .

My Thoughts:

After reading the ACOTAR Series, I knew I wanted to get stuck into another of Sarah’s series that she has written so I chose The Crescent City Series, It is more urban fantasy with this series, which I didn’t mind. Bryce is living her best life but when something terrible happens in her city, she is traumatised from it even years later it really shakes her up what had happened back then. But now Bryce wants to find out what really went on then and see if she can find out who did it. I found there were lots of characters involved which took me a little time to try and remember who was who. I like the fact that it was a murder mystery too, but I did feel as though it took a while to get into, the second half I found much better than the first half. I did not enjoy it as much as ACOTAR. But I will be reading the rest of the Series.

Get your copy here:

All families have secrets. But some secrets are deadly.

Erika Cass has a perfect family and a perfect life. Until, one quiet evening, two detectives show up at her front door.

“Mrs. Cass, we were hoping your son could answer a few questions about the girl who disappeared last night…”

A high school girl has vanished from their quiet neighbourhood, and the police suspect the worst. Erika’s teenage son, Liam, was the last person to see the girl alive.

Erika has always sensed something… different in her seemingly perfect oldest child. He’s charming, smart and popular, but mothers have the best instincts. Erika knows there’s more to her son than meets the eye.

She wants to believe he’s innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can’t deny the truth? Liam may have done the unthinkable.

My Thoughts:

This story is about Erika and her family, a girl has disappeared and when two detectives want to speak to her son, Erika worries that her son may be involved. It is a lot to take in for the family but Erika knows what her son is like and what has happened in the past, but she could never imagine what is about to go down. As soon as I read the first chapter I knew I would be sucked into the story. As the reader I thought I knew what was about to come but little did I know what really was going to happen. The twist and the thrills that come alive through out this book are unbelievable. I had to read this book in one sitting as I just had to know what the outcome would be. And it did not disappoint. Such a good read.

Get your copy here: