I have written down some fantastic Christmas books that I think you and I will both enjoy, some of them I have read already and they are brilliant. They are all to pre-order, so it is always a nice treat to have especially when you forget that you have pre-ordered a book and it turns up. Enjoy and happy reading.
If you want to pre-order any of them, click on the picture and it will take you straight to amazon for you to pre-order, how easy is that?
Christmas at the Island Hotel By Jenny Colgan which is out 15th October
Pre-order your copy here:
One Family Christmas By Bella Osborne Out 15th October
Pre-order your copy here:
The Country Village Christmas Show By Cathy Lake Out 29th October
Perdita Riley is facing the greatest dilemma of her life. Why had she taken Violet Freestone’s advice on how to make herself look more alluring? It led her into the arms of a womaniser. And now Perdita has to deal with a huge setback. Actually, Setback Number One isn’t huge yet, but it won’t be long before it is. To cheer herself up, Perdita goes shopping, where an extraordinary encounter deposits her, literally, into the lap of Saul Hadley. She would like to stay there, but Setback Number One is going to get in the way. Will she find a way to deal with what has happened? Can she manage the complications of her growing attraction to Saul?
My Thoughts:
If you are after a laugh out loud book then this is the one for you, I genuinely could not stop laughing. I found this book to be well written and an easy read, I liked Perdita and I liked the fact that she was different and had a very quirky personality. Mari tackles the serious side very well, I liked the way Perdita does toughen up but also finds happiness. I look forward to the sequel. I really enjoyed this book, and one I would recommend and read again.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
When Hannah meets Sonny, she’s irresistibly drawn to him: he’s sexy and confident, but only in town on holiday. That’s fine with Hannah – she doesn’t do long-term relationships. And luckily for her, neither does Sonny. But before they can even so much as kiss, Sonny receives some shocking news and commits to making serious life changes – ones that can’t and won’t include romance.
With even a short fling now off the cards, Hannah and Sonny settle for being friends. But as summer hots up and their chemistry shows no signs of cooling, they start to question their reasons for shutting each other out.
Are they both too broken to find love? And if they tear down the walls between them, will they still like what’s on the other side?
My Thoughts:
Paige Toon has done it again another brilliant read that I could not put down. I love that Paige’s books always are uplifting and once you finish them you always have a smile on your face. I always know when I need cheering up to reach for a Paige Toon book. I loved the story about Hannah (good name) and Sonny’s story, they both have secrets but will they both break the barrier and let each other know what has happened in their pasts. I felt as though I was friends with Hannah straight away as she seems an easy going person that puts other people before herself and she is very caring. She has had a tough start in life and carries around her second heartbreak every single day but shows how you can continue your life. I felt slightly wary of Sonny to start with, I wasn’t sure what his intentions were and he has a lot of skeletons in his past, but I did eventually warm to him hearing about his past. Paige delves into issues that are necessarily bought up in this type of genre, I am most grateful to Paige for bringing up these topics and I feel as though we should be talking about them more. I don’t know how Paige will top this book with her next book but I look forward to finding out.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Lissa loves her job as a nurse, but recently she’s been doing a better job of looking after other people than looking after herself. After a traumatic incident at work leaves her feeling overwhelmed, she agrees to swap lives with someone in a quiet village in Scotland.
Cormac is restless. Just out of the army, he’s desperately in need of distraction, and there’s precious little of it in Kirrinfief. Maybe three months in London is just what he needs.
As Lissa and Cormac warm to their new lives, emailing back and forth about anything and everything, finally things seem to be falling into place. But each of them feel there’s still a piece missing. What – or who – could it be?
And what if it’s currently five hundred miles away?
My Thoughts:
There is just something about Jenny Colgan’s books that make you feel wrapped up in a great big hug. This was a brilliant story about Lissa and Cormac, both have had issues in the past and they swap jobs, but feel as though something is missing, but what happens when they meet? the story flows nicely and I warmed to both of them, that I hope they could have their happy ever after. I didn’t want this story and now want to read it over again. Another brilliant read by a fantastic author, cannot wait to read the next book.
Laura and Jess are sisters – but that’s pretty much all they have in common…
Laura has a laid back attitude to life. Her home isn’t spotless, and after a hard day she likes to take to bed with a block of cheese.
Jess, on the other hand, is your classic overachiever: The Big Sister, Chief of Chivvying, Queen of the family WhatsApp. Her life is picture-perfect.
Laura and Jess lost their dad when they were kids, and now their mum is gone too. And one of the hardest times in life is made harder by the fact they can’t agree on a single thing, from where to scatter the ashes to whether “passed away” is even an acceptable term.
But when Laura starts pushing her own boundaries and Jess agrees to let other people in to her (not so) perfect life, the two women realize they need each other more than ever. They might not be ready to admit it, but family is everything…
My Thoughts:
A thoroughly entertaining read but tender and emotional at the same time. This is Nicola’s second book, if you haven’t read the neighbours then you definitely should. This story is about two sisters called Laura and Jess who are relatable characters and are going through subjects that I think most people can relate to. I really felt for Laura as I felt as though people see her as a push over and she never has any time for herself. Jess I felt as though even though she is the bigger sister, she seemed very bossy and a little bit stuck up, like look at me. But she is hiding things that no one knows about, will she let her secrets come between her and Laura or will Laura be able to help her? Even though there are sad parts to this story there are also some hilarious bits that had me in stitches. Some of the things Laura says and does and also her son Billy.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.
There’s no problem Becky Watson can’t fix. Except her own love life…
Struggling single mother Becky Watson longs to revive her career as a life-fixer, working miracles to solve her clients’ problems, no matter how big or small. Since the birth of her two-year-old son she has been stuck preventing wedding fiascos for the richest and rudest residents of the Comptons, a charming, leafy area of southern England known for its artistic heritage.
So when semi-reclusive local artist Charlie Handren reluctantly hires Becky to fix his six-year creative slump, she’s delighted to set him up with a come-back exhibition and Rachel Stone, the woman of his dreams.
Though they get off to a rocky start, Becky and Charlie soon become close. But as the beautiful Rachel becomes Charlie’s muse, Becky is forced to wonder: will giving Charlie everything he wants mean giving up her own happily ever after?
My Thoughts:
I really loved this book, if you are after an uplifting with a sweet romance then this is the story for you, the characters are all relatable, I loved the connection with Becky and Charlie, and also two year old Dylan. Also all the mentions about cake made me really hungry and they sounded delicious. I wanted to finish quickly but then I really did not want the book to end. A very easy to follow read.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Hella Mauzer was the first-ever woman Inspector in the Helsinki Homicide Unit. But she’s been fired despite solving her first murder case. This is Helsinki, March 1953. An unusually long and cold winter, everywhere frozen sea, ice-covered lakes and rivers. In a port city flooded with refugees, who cares if a young woman goes missing? An up-and-coming inspector who views this as an opportunity to advance his career. A heartbroken PI with a score to settle. They have yet to discover one thing: the most dangerous lies are those we tell ourselves.
It all begins when Nellie, a prostitute working in a high-end brothel is found floating upside down in Helsinki Harbor. Not exactly a high priority case for the Helsinki police, so homicide chief Jokela passes the job to his former colleague Hella. It’s beginning to look like a serial killer is at work when Elena, another lady of the night, narrowly escapes being driven into the harbor by her 19-year-old john. Problem was he had handcuffed her in the car. And to add further excitement to Hella’s life, the madam is soon found dead in the garden outside the brothel.
What begins like a taut whodunit turns into something more tantalizing and psychological as Hella investigates different suspects, including Steve, the US DJ and love of her life, reluctant to leave his wife for Hella, and the fascinating Inspector Mustonen, charismatic, ambitious and trying desperately to live up to the standards of his high maintenance wife. There are dark powers at play, as well as lighter passages, particularly those involving Anita, voluptuous but savvy, freshly arrived from Lapland to join the Helsinki police force, a most unwanted roommate for Hella. Sadly she too ends up in deep trouble, in a satisfying denouement of twists and turns.
My Thoughts:
This is the Second book in the series, I wish I had read the first one beforehand but I will read it soon. I found this book really good, each chapter is between Hella and Chief Inspector Mustonen. It is a gripping read and it flowed nicely through out. It was an interesting story, Hella is a private investigator who was fired from the police force but why? when a woman is found dead in the harbour in a very Cold Winter Hella decides someone needs to investigate into this and she decides that person is going to be her. The story is set in 1953, in a very bitter and Cold Winter and you can imagine how cold it would of been. I really liked Hella, I think she is smart and got a good shoulder on her head.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
He lives in the rainforest, which secrets he’s eager to explore. Jasper loves his home and his family, and he’s also in charge of his younger brother Willie – a responsibility Jasper takes very seriously.
When he meets Charlie – a spider monkey with a penchant for food and a laid back attitude – he realizes he’s in for an adventure he never thought possible. Even if this means getting into danger and worrying his mother to no end.
Exploring the boundaries of the forest, Jasper understands that there is more to the world around him. Who are the strange new creatures that have come there? With Willie and Charlie by his side, he will soon find out.
My Thoughts:
This is the story of Jasper and his brother, who are parrots that live in the Amazon Rain forest. It was lovely to see the Jungle through the parrots eyes and to watch them grow. I think this book is very descriptive which I think is great for children, it is good for children to read by themselves or with an adult. I am not sure what age this book is aimed at but I would say some children might not know what some of the words mean like ruckus or late bloomer. But all in all I think it is a nice gentle read and an educational read as I found I was learning things about the Rainforest that I didn’t know. I look forward to reading book 2 to see what adventures Jasper and hos brother go on next.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
One unsolved murder. A best friend determined to right the wrongs of the past.
On the 21st August Tabitha Rice disappeared without a trace. All the signs point to murder, but no signs point to a murderer. The easiest answer is her husband, Rick. But he protests his innocence and there is little proof he is the murderer.
Annabella knows there is more to the story than what the police are telling. Tabitha was her best friend and she vows to uncover the truth.
As Annabella delves further into the past, she uncovers sides to Tabitha that she never saw coming, and she finds herself asking the question… Was this murder? Or is there more to Tabitha Rice’s story than meets the eye?
My Thoughts:
I like it when you get a book that engages you like this one did for me, I was captivated from the start, When Tabitha disappears, everything points to murder but there are no signs that actually point to a murderer, I was hooked I tried to work out what the logical explanation was but couldn’t get the answers I wanted. Tabitha’s best friend decides to delve deeper and uncovers stuff that she would never imagine, but what happened to Tabitha and can Annabella work it all out before it is too late?
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
When news of his brother’s murder reached him, aether pilot John Farnley raced back to his old family home. While he comforts his bereaved sister-in-law, and tries to sort the family business and holdings, he also wonders why his brother, Lord Nicholas Farnley, had ventured into the cramped streets of the East End of London where he had met his violent end. The slums are a deadly place where life was cheap and murderous thugs preyed on the weak and lost.
Now, in the midst of a thick, London fog, something even more monstrous is waiting in the mist-shrouded shadows. Something that has been brought to life by the refugees crowding Bethnal Green and Mile End. Something his brother might have had a hand in creating. Aided by his friend, the resourceful Miss Sylvia Armley, his own understanding of the aether lines that flow above London, and guided by the erudite advice of Professor Entwistle, John is forced to find his way through the darkest part of London to avenge his brother and stop whatever aether powered monster is lurking there.
My Thoughts:
Even though this is not my usual genre I decided to take a leap and read it anyway. What more could I ask for? I love London and hearing about all the places where I have been or know, it brings a kind of special quality to a book I think. I found it fast paced with some good characters, even though I have never read a steam punk mystery before I will be more inclined to read one in the future. This book really opened my eyes to what life was like in London during the “London Peculiars”. Made for a really good read. I will be intrigued to see what Lyssa writes about next.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Echoes In An Empty Room 