The Christmas Spirit By Susan Buchanan

The Christmas Spirit By Susan Buchanan

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Christmas is coming, but not everyone is looking forward to it.

Rebecca has just been dumped and the prospect of spending the holiday period with her parents is less than appealing.
Eighty- two year old Stanley lost his beloved wife, Edie, to cancer. How will he cope with his first Christmas without her?
Jacob’s university degree hasn’t helped him get a job, and it looks like he’ll still be signing on come New Year.
Workaholic Meredith would rather spend December 25th at home alone with a ready meal and a DVD box set. Can anything make her embrace the spirit of the season?
The enigmatic Natalie Hope takes over the reins at the Sugar and Spice bakery and café in an attempt to spread some festive cheer and restore Christmas spirit, but will she succeed?

My Thoughts:

With the run up to Christmas not that far away, this book is an absolute delight. This story is centred around the Sugar and Spice Bakery and a lady called Natalie that makes the most amazing cakes from around the world. It is in the bakery that all the characters congregate and interact with one another, which results in positive ways for all involved. This was a big hit for me as it involved Christmas, Cake and a bakery. I found the story left me feeling all warm inside.

EENY MEENY BY M. J . Arlidge

EENY MEENY BY M. J . Arlidge

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The girl emerged from the woods, barely alive. Her story was beyond belief. But it was true. Every dreadful word of it.

Days later, another desperate escapee is found – and a pattern is emerging. Pairs of victims are being abducted, imprisoned then faced with a terrible choice: kill or be killed.

Would you rather lose your life or lose your mind?

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has faced down her own demons on her rise to the top. As she leads the investigation to hunt down this unseen monster, she learns that it may be the survivors – living calling cards – who hold the key to the case.

And unless she succeeds, more innocents will die . .

My Thoughts:

Loved this book right from the start. Not a big fan on Thrillers but this is a definite must for people wanting to try a different genre. The characters were brilliantly strong and the M. J. has done well to incorporate all their different stories together without making it confusing. I loved the fact there were so many twists and turns. I didn’t expect what was coming next and was certainly surprised by what did happen. Brilliant ending and look forward to reading the next book as I have heard it is even better.

Stalemate By Alan Hamilton

Stalemate By Alan Hamilton

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Summer 1930 and Walter Bruce is told he has a terminal disease. With nursing care and an easier job he could have five more years. With neither he may not see out the year. But he’s got a wife to keep – one too selfish and idle to be his nurse. When he finds out she’s been deceiving him about her past for years he comes to a stark decision; if she won’t take care of him he’ll have to take care of her – for good. He plans her removal like one of the chess problems he loves. It will be the perfect murder; he’ll get away with it and enjoy his last few years in comfort. But his carefully laid plans unravel, entangling him in a slowly closing trap where truth and lies become confused… Set in between-the-wars Liverpool, ‘Stalemate’ is a gripping tale of moral choices and terrible punishment.

My Thoughts:

This book was an enjoyable read about a fictionalised tale of a real-life crime. Alan has done well to put his imagination as well as the true facts together and it works well. It is set in the 1930’s in Liverpool and it follows Bruce who is a door to door salesman who is trying to stage a perfect murder for his wife. This is a book that is mysterious and intriguing. Alan Hamilton is one to look out for in the future.

 

The Christmas Party By Carole Matthews

The Christmas Party By Carole Matthews

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Louise Young is a devoted single mother whose only priority is providing for her daughter, Mia. Louise has a good job in a huge international corporation and she’s grateful for it. The only problem is her boss who can’t keep his hands to himself, but Louise can handle him. What she really doesn’t have time for is romance – until she meets the company’s rising star, Josh Wallace.

Louise usually says no to evenings out but she’s decided to let her hair down tonight. It’s the office Christmas party, she has a pretty dress to wear and she’s looking forward to some champagne and fun. She’s completely unaware that others around her are too busy playing dangerous games to enjoy the party – until she’s pulled into those games herself . . .

Romance is in the air and secrets are about to be uncovered. It’s going to be a night to remember at The Christmas Party.

My Thoughts:

I am a big Carole Matthews fan but I didn’t enjoy this book as much as her others. I found I couldn’t really get into it until at least halfway through. I am glad I continued reading it as I thought it was predictable what was going to happen but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. There are quite a lot of characters in this book and it all centres around a work Christmas party but there are lies, deceits, romance and a whole lot more. Nice, easy read.

Fairy Tale in New York By Nicky Wells

Fairy Tale in New York By Nicky Wells

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New York. A restaurant near Park Avenue. It’s early evening, and dusk is falling. So is the snow. Jude and Carrie are only killing time while they wait for their flight to London. They don’t know yet that their life will never be the same.

When rock star Jude gets stranded in New York with his family on Christmas Eve, he has no idea that he is setting in motion a chain of events that will turn their Christmas into the most magical one yet…

No good deed goes unpunished, or so it seems to Jude and Carrie on the morning of the twenty-fourth of December. The previous day, they gave up their London-bound flights to someone in crisis. And now, a spectacular whiteout is grounding all planes, and Jude, Carrie, and baby Maya are stuck far from home.

Tired, hungry, and just a little panicked, Jude loads his family into a cab and returns to their hotel. But there’s no room at the inn, and not even a platinum credit card will make a difference. Snow is falling heavily, and the family is facing a very bleak night indeed.

How do you celebrate Christmas with no place to stay, no food, and no presents? Join Jude, Carrie, Maya and a cast of colourful characters in this fairy tale story of Yuletide in New York.

My Thoughts:

I started this book last night and had finished it by this morning. The characters in this book are called Jude and Carrie and I loved them both from the start. You can meet Jude and Carrie in Nicky’s other book called ‘Spirits of Christmas’, you can find out all about how they met in that book, I would suggest reading it as it was as lovely as this book and you get to learn all about how Jude use to be. I loved the plot, it was refreshing to have a change from the normal plots I usually read. Nicky Wells is such a talented author, everyone must read her, you definitely won’t be disappointed.

Spirits Of Christmas By Nicky Wells

Spirits Of Christmas By Nicky Wells

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At one time, up-and-coming rock singer Jude had it all: a great band, a platinum record, a loving girlfriend. This Christmas, however, he is well down the road towards spontaneous self-destruction.

Unwitting at first, Jude has progressively alienated his band and driven away the love of his life. Tonight, the night before Christmas Eve, he has broken the final taboo during a disastrous gig. Yet Jude doesn’t see how badly his life has derailed, not until a ghostly procession of legends passes through his bedroom with a series of vivid and powerful wake-up calls.

Will the Spirits help Jude put the friendship, love, and rock music back into his Christmas? Curl up with this festive novella to get yourself into the mood for Christmas…

My Thoughts:

This story had everything you want for a modern take on A Christmas Carol. It makes you feel as if you want to get into the festive spirit, well I suppose it is November already. The main character is a rock star called Jude, at the beginning I found him really annoying but through out the book I kind of warmed to him. I loved the ghosts of Christmas Past as they were some very recognisable stars of the Rock and Roll past. I felt warmth reading this book, escaping away from the daily grind of life. The humour has been written well in this book and the cover makes you feel like you want to snuggle up on a cold,winters day. I look forward to reading more of Nicky’s books.

Nice Girls Don’t By Sue Barnard

Nice Girls Don’t By Sue Barnard

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Who knows what secrets lie hidden in your family’s past? Southern England, 1982. At 25, single, and under threat of redundancy from her job in a local library, Emily feels as though her life is going nowhere – until the day when Carl comes into the library asking for books about tracing family history. Carl is baffled by a mystery about his late grandfather: why is the name by which Carl had always known him different from the name on his old passport? Fascinated as much by Carl himself as by the puzzle he wants to solve, Emily tries to help him find the answers. As their relationship develops, their quest for the truth takes them along a complicated paper-trail which leads, eventually, to the battlefields of the Great War. In the meantime, Emily discovers that her own family also has its fair share of secrets and lies. And old sins can still cast long shadows… Can Emily finally lay the ghosts of the past to rest and look forward to a brighter future?

My Thoughts:

This was a well written story which is so much more than a romance. It is set in 1982 England and it fits perfectly around the Remembrance Day celebrations. This is a story about love and a mystery entwined but it is so much more than a romance as there are links to World War One and some really heartfelt family tragedies that brings this book through so many twists and turns, but leaves it with a beautifully written ending. I didn’t want to put this book down and will be recommending it to my friends.

Breathing Underwater By Julia Green

Breathing Underwater By Julia Green

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Freya has come to visit her grandparents who live on a remote island. Last year she visited them with her brother – but last year her brother died alone in a boating accident. Whilst back on the island, Freya finds a way, with the calming presence of her grandparents and the gentle care and attention of the people around her, to adjust to the fact that her brother has gone, and that life – and love – are still vibrantly in the air.
A perfect coming of age for any young girl just tipping into teenhood.
My Thoughts:
This book is about a girl called Freya, it is beautifully written by her point of view and how she reacts going back to the Island where her brother drowned. I think she dealt well with the situation and her character comes across strong. The book mainly centres on how she is feeling. Julia writes in a way where you can almost feel like your there, there is a lot of emotion going on in this book, but Julia seems to write with light heartedness.
The Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams By Fiona Harper

The Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams By Fiona Harper

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Nicole, a born organiser and true romantic, has created her dream job when she sets up the Hopes & Dreams proposal agency – staging YouTube worthy proposals…until she’s hired to plan a proposal by gorgeous photographer Alex Black’s girlfriend.

Alex is the New Year’s kiss that Nicole hasn’t been able to forget – and now she’s planning his wedding to someone else! But if she lets herself fall for Alex’s charms, her reputation and business will be ruined before it’s even got off the ground! Suddenly the girl whose always prepared is at a loss…and falling head over heels.

My Thoughts:

I was lucky enough to get a signed copy of this book by Fiona for a honest review. I have enjoyed Fiona’s previous books, but I have to say this one was my favourite. The story evolves around Nicole who is a proposal planner. I thought it was a quirky idea for a storyline but it really does work. Nicole is a very thoughtful person but lacks confidence in herself. I did find myself giggling at parts of this story, which adds to it. The other character who I liked was Alex, who is a guy that works hard to get what he wants. He seems very handsome too as all the ladies love him. The cover almost seems magical which made me want to read it straight away, I read it in a few days as I wanted to saviour it. For those of you who love your chick-lit books, this is a definite must. So what are you waiting for? GO and buy it.

Flirting With Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens) Contemporary Romance By Melissa Foster

Flirting With Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens) Contemporary Romance By Melissa Foster

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IN FLIRTING WITH LOVE…

Elisabeth Nash has spent years dreaming of returning to the small town of Trusty, Colorado, where she spent summers with her favorite aunt. When she inherits her aunt’s farmette, she closes her Los Angeles pet bakery and pampering business, sure that life in Trusty will be as peaceful and as welcoming as she remembers. But being an outsider in the close-knit town proves to be very different from the happy summers she remembers from her childhood–and falling for Trusty’s hot, wealthy, and sinfully irresistible veterinarian, Ross Braden, sends the rumor mill into a frenzy.
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Ross Braden learned long ago that gossip spreads faster than weeds in his small hometown, and Ross loves nothing more than his privacy. For that reason, he doesn’t date women who live in Trusty. But that was before blond, beautiful, and refreshingly honest Elisabeth Nash flew into his vet clinic seeking help for her panicked piglet and turned his comfortable life–and his heart–inside out.
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Despite rumors about Elisabeth’s motives toward her aunt’s property, passion brews between Elisabeth and Ross. Every steamy kiss and every sensual touch brings the pair closer together, and when Ross helps Elisabeth try to fit into the town he adores, it makes their bond even stronger. But even Elisabeth’s efforts toward reaching the community, and the love she and Ross so desperately believe in, might not be enough for the protective small town to offer them a future.

My Thoughts:

Melissa Foster books never fail to provide a fantastic story. In Melissa’s books, she always has a strong male and female main character and they do get quite steamy in parts of this book. The plot is great and I love the fact that Elizabeth has to take over her aunt’s farm and the fact that the local veterinarian is a bit of a dish. I am a animal lover, so this book I found was really heart warming. If you have read Melissa Foster’s books before, you certainly will love this book, if you haven’t what have you been doing. Brilliant stuff!!