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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Sometimes the only way forward… is to go back.

When Rowan Bellamy’s marriage collapses in spectacular style, she retreats with her two children, Bella and Theo, to the last place she ever wanted to return—her windswept Cornish hometown of Port Agnes. Taking the headteacher role at the local primary school is the easy part. Facing village gossip, curious neighbours, and old flames? Not so much.

Especially when one of those flames turns out to be Nathan Lark — the boy who broke her heart and the man who now has a reputation as bruised as her own. With his young nephew Leo a pupil in Rowan’s school, she and Nathan are thrown into each other’s lives once more. And whether she likes it or not, the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore.

As salty sea air begins to soothe old wounds and Port Agnes slowly feels like home again, Rowan must decide if she’s brave enough to let go of the past and open her heart one more time.

My Thoughts:

When Rowan’s marriage suddenly breaks up, she realises she has to return to her home town in Cornwall, taking her two kids she has not been back in a long time but have things changed? Seeing an old flame reignites sparks in her she didn’t realise she could have but she has to do what is best for the kids. It was a great story to follow along with. Predictable in places but still a comfort read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

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

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High-powered lawyer Sara Pearson thought she had life figured out – until her whirlwind marriage ends in divorce, her dream promotion slips away and a burnout diagnosis forces her to take a break.

Desperate for a reset, she books a four-week retreat in Norway, imagining a luxurious escape. Instead, she finds herself in the rugged wilderness of Firefly Forest, knee-deep in reindeer droppings and stuck with a grumpy but infuriatingly attractive outdoorsman, Henrik Nilsen.

What starts as a nightmare turns into a journey of self-discovery as Sara swaps designer heels for bare feet, legal briefs for tree-hugging, and fleeting flings for something far deeper.

My thoughts:

I loved the design of this book, it makes me feel ready for winter. I have always wanted to go and see the Northern Lights so I felt I would enjoy this book. It is a light hearted and fun read. Sara has a high pressured job and everything seems to be going wrong so she decides to book a month long retreat in Norway. She cannot wait to push the reset button and relax for a while. It is a time for her to gather her thoughts and enjoy being in the moment. How the scenery was described it sounded wonderful and I felt as though I was there with Sara. I did feel sorry for her and I hoped she would be able to come through her tough time. I enjoyed this book, I thought it was a good well rounded story to escape with.

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

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Is a new beginning waiting for her this Christmas?

When Imogen leaves her fiancé at the altar and escapes to her grandmother’s cottage by the sea, the only thing she wants to do is disappear.

But in a village curious about their new arrival, Imogen finds hiding out harder than expected, especially with the charming local baker Dexter around to distract her.

As secrets unravel and the festive season draws near, Imogen wonders if she’s been running from the wrong things all along.

Will the runaway bride find her happy ever after under the mistletoe?

My Thoughts:

Imogen has a lot going on, she has runaway from her wedding and decides the only place she will find comfort is to go to her gran’s. But the locals are intrigued as to why she has returned after so many years. One of the locals is the local baker and he is rather dashing and handsome, but Imogen does not know where her head is at as she stays there longer and longer she is beginning to realise that her old life is definitely not what she wanted. But can she make her life here and be happy? I loved the characters and how the locals all come together. You feel part of the community reading this. I loved the way the story unfolded, I love the way Cressida writes it was full of pure magic and happiness. I now need to read more comforting tales by Cressida. Loved it.

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

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At Ravendale Castle, nestled in the snowy heart of the Lake District, Lara is busy preparing for the Winter Spectacular ― a glittering light trail that will fill the grounds with the magic of Christmas. It’s the perfect distraction from her recent heartbreak until Flynn, the ruggedly handsome technical manager, arrives and sparks start to fly.

Flynn is determined to prove he’s worth taking a chance on. But just as Lara begins to believe in love again, someone from Flynn’s past arrives at the castle, bringing a secret that could tear them apart.

As Christmas draws closer, can Lara and Flynn take a leap of faith toward the happily ever after they’ve always wanted?

My Thoughts:

If you are after a festive read, this is the book to read. Set in my favourite place The Lake District Lara is busy setting up the castle that she works at for Christmas. But when the handsome Flynn turns up to help her she does not know how she feels towards him after her recent heartbreak. It is a will they won’t they? kind of read, but oozes warmth and comfort, I love reading about the castle and the Lake District is the perfect place for the story to be set in. The characters all bring their own delight and I could not wait to see what would happen. Loved it.

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

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Since her breakup with Fraser – which was not part of the script – she’s retreated into a lonely WFH world of sweatpants, disordered hours and comfort eating. The one luminous constant in her life is her love for her rescue dog, Tomsk, and his for her.

When Beth’s house share falls apart, she is thrown a lifeline by the least likely person: Fraser’s mother Martine, who offers Beth and Tomsk a temporary space above her garage in which to start over. Returning to Longhampton, scene of her happiest memories with Fraser and his family, feels like a second chance: might this be a sign that she and Fraser are meant to be?

But when Beth is recruited as a writer for a project called The Story of Your Life, she starts to gain more perspective on her own life. Run by the local retirement community, some of the stories she hears are heartwarming, some are heartbreaking. All of them, Beth notes, reveal a little more than the teller realises. And when she is sent an anonymous story of first love that threatens to destroy more than one family’s identity, Beth has to decide: is it sometimes better to keep a secret than reveal the truth?

My Thoughts:

I loved this book, it was an easy read and something about Lucy’s writing just makes it come alive like you are there. I loved the way each character had their own story to tell and that the setting was in an old people’s home. I think people reading this will be able to relate to Beth and hopefully find that they are not alone and have Beth’s determination. I liked hearing all of the residents stories of back in their days and also the warmth from the staff that work there. Full of warmth, kindness and a lovely family feel. I really enjoyed this story.

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

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At 30,000 feet, the danger isn’t turbulence—it’s him.

After suffering a breakdown from her brutal divorce, airline pilot Claire Winslow is rebuilding her life with her five-year-old daughter. Just as she’s finding her footing, an online romance spirals into a chilling nightmare. Her first date with Evan goes terribly wrong, and he soon begins stalking her, showing up outside her home and even her daughter’s school.

After nearly a week of no sightings of him, Claire dares to believe maybe he’s moved on. Relieved, she puts her focus on her upcoming flight—the first chance she’s had to prove herself since she was put on leave. Then, on a layover in Boston, Claire spots Evan at her hotel. She goes to the police, but with no real name and nothing traceable online, they say there’s nothing they can do.

When Evan boards her flight wearing a pilot uniform and takes the jump seat just before takeoff, Claire is convinced he’s there to kill her—or take the plane down. But after her recent breakdown, the question becomes: is she right…or unraveling all over again?

My Thoughts:

I needed something a little different to my usual reads and I have not read a novella for a very long time so picked this one. An author I have never heard before but have seen she has written a few books. This one is about a woman who decides to try online dating but she is not prepared for someone who starts to stalk her. As her job is an airline pilot she is shocked to find him on her plane and does her upmost to remain calm and collected but nothing is as it seems and she finds her self in mortal danger. As it is a novella I found it feeling quite fast paced but almost rushed. The main character annoyed me but constantly repeating herself and being whiny. I did feel as though it did not really go anywhere and was left feeling deflated after reading it.

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

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Jemma has lived a thousand lives through books. The only life she isn’t living is her own.
That is, until the day she finds a note from a stranger in her favourite library book. When she replies, the pair begin a longhand conversation about their love of novels that sees Jemma finally coming out of her shell. Is she ready to fall in love for the first time – with someone she’s never met?
 
Clara has always run away from her problems, but this might finally be one she can’t escape.
Everyone wants to know what happened to Clara in America – but Clara isn’t talking. Instead she’s focusing all her energy obsessing over a hot new actor, starring in the TV adaptation of her twin Jemma’s favourite book. Soon, Clara is reading every interview, trawling his social media, and following him to showbiz parties in the hopes he’ll notice she’s The One.
 
As the sisters fall hard for two men they’ve never met, it’s time to ask the question: Can either relationship survive the real world?

My Thoughts:

When Jemma finds a note in her favourite library book she knows she must reply, but who is the mysterious note writer? they both alternate between reading the book and leaving each other the notes but Jemma wants to find out who it is and if this could be love at first sight? When Jemma’s sister Clara turns up unexpectedly, Jemma wonders why as she thought her sister had the perfect life but obviously there is more than meets the eye. Jemma is not pleased when her sister starts to act like this is her life now. But then Clara starts daydreaming about a specific guy can the sisters both find love in unexpected ways? It was an ok story nothing to shout about really. The story was too long and drawn out. I just felt irritated by the end of the story by both sisters. It didn’t work for me.

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