Jenna has lived in Starr’s Fall for most of her life, and has run the general store for over ten years. Secretly she might dream of love and romance, but she’s happy as she is. Really.

That is, until Starr’s Fall’s newest resident―ex-New Yorker, millionaire investment banker―Jack Wexler breezes into Jenna’s store, seemingly furious they don’t stock smoked salmon. Jenna is as amused as she is annoyed. Who is this ridiculous guy, and doesn’t he realize he’s not in Manhattan anymore?

Jack meanwhile can’t believe he lost it in public. But ever since being forced to leave his high-flying career to focus on his health, he’s not been himself. What’s more, the last person he’d expected to be attracted to is the shrew of a storekeeper he’s just encountered… which he might have called Jenna, in a moment of temper…

Neither of Jenna or Jack’s ideal of romance includes these sorts of furious sparks flying. But when they’re both roped in to organizing the town’s Winter Wonderland parade, they’re forced to work together. And as Christmas approaches – will two opposites merely attract? Or, in magical Starr’s Fall, could they fall in love for keeps?

My Thoughts:

This is my first time reading one of Kate’s books, even though this is book three in the Starr’s Fall Series and I have not read the other two I would say it is fine to read as a standalone though I will be going back to read the others as I really enjoyed this light hearted read. As soon as I started this read I knew it would be for me. Jenna runs a general store in a quiet town and it’s slow and rustic and she knows she could be doing more but when Jack turns up and points out the obvious to her it really gets her hackles up. This infuriating outsider coming here and telling her what to do but he is handsome too. Can the two of them work out their differences and help each other see the light at the end of the tunnel. The story flowed well and was sad when it ended. Loved it. A new author that I will be looking out for in the future.

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

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Enya’s life has become small. Her husband’s death has left her bereft, and though she’s only in her early fifties, she’s happiest looking after her son, Aiden, his childhood sweetheart, Holly, and her beloved cat, Pickle.

So the spark she feels for the stranger who bumps into her car in the airport car park is a complete shock. But Enya can’t stop thinking about him.

Then, when Aiden makes a life-changing decision, Enya suddenly finds her close-knit community thrown into chaos. Her best friend, Jenny, isn’t speaking to her, Aiden’s future hangs in the balance, Holly is devastated, and the stranger from the car park is suddenly in her life.

Torn between family, love and loyalty, Enya faces a dilemma: stay safely where she is, or take a leap into the unknown? Because maybe her happily-ever-after could have one more chapter yet…

My Thoughts:

Enya does not feel as though much is going on with her life at the moment and feels a bit stale, she is bereaved and has made her son her priority but what is left for Enya. Until she meets a guy and is surprised with how she feels towards him. Could this be her chance at finding happiness again? her son has other ideas and when he makes a transformational decision it won’t just affect him but her as well. What can Enya do to put everything back together and she herself and her son happy again? I liked how the story flowed, Amanda is a writer who you instantly can connect with and her writing style is easy and light. I found Enya to be inspiring and it did make me think what I would do in her situation, full of family, grief and love packed into a gorgeous story.

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

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Fifteen years ago, Frida and her brother Gabriel escaped from a cult. Once so close they were able to finish each other’s sentences, a sudden, unspeakable tragedy caused them to drift apart. Now, on holiday at the stunningly luxurious Ara Hotel, they finally have a chance to reconnect between dips in the pool and hikes on spectacular desert trails. It all feels like paradise – until a young woman is found dead.When the local police arrive and put the resort into lockdown, Gabriel becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. At first Frida’s belief in his innocence is unwavering – but as the evidence mounts against him, she is forced to confront long-buried memories from their traumatic upbringing, their dramatic escape, and the secret they swore to keep forever.

My Thoughts:

This book gave me the chills and is edge of the seat kind of stuff. When Frida and her brother escaped from a cult, they did not realise many years later there would be repercussions. When they arrive at a beautiful hotel on their holiday everything seems serene and calm until it doesn’t. A woman is found dead and the police are putting Frida’s brother down as the killer but is he? long ago memories come back to haunt the two of them, can they ever be rid of what happened all those years ago? It was a good story that keeps you captivated. It flits from past to future and is easy enough to follow along with. It is full of drama and mysteriousness until you find out what really happened. I am stunned how good it was.

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

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When Carrie Adams flees to the remote, pretty Isle of Wight after her life crumbles, all she wants is quiet solitude to heal. Hideaway House, with its thatched roof and weathered turquoise door, seems the perfect retreat – a place where time stands still.

As Carrie settles into island life, she’s drawn into a circle of unlikely friends: apple-cheeked Rita, whose warmth feels like coming home; the prickly Major, guarding his own grief; and Guy, a tousle-haired gardener whose quiet presence stirs something unexpected in her heart.

But the house holds secrets of its own – whispers in empty rooms lead Carrie to a rusted tea caddy of bittersweet memories of a family who once lived here, long ago. As Carrie begins to piece together the cottage’s achingly beautiful secrets, she realises that the threads connecting past and present could be the key to finally finding her own fragile peace…

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this book and I really enjoyed it. Carrie has gone to live in the Isle of Wight, there are some things she needs to escape from and she wants to settle herself somewhere new and different. As Carrie starts to meet the locals, there are some interesting characters that she meets, I liked the sound of Guy who has his own problems he is trying to deal with. Can Carrie and him help each other heal? the place where Carrie is staying has it own secrets can she figure them out/ overall I really enjoyed it this book however I did feel as though the ending was a little slow and drawn out. I did like reading about the Isle of Wight though as it is a place I have been to before and now want to return to.

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

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When Afia, a newborn Western Lowland Gorilla, is rejected by her mother Kera after a difficult birth, her human keepers must start the challenging – but rewarding – experience of hand-rearing her themselves. Teaching her the ropes of life in the Gorilla House at Bristol Zoo is tricky enough. But providing 24/7 care for a baby gorilla means Alan must hand-rear Afia in his own home too, an experience that forges a remarkable emotional bond between the two of them over the course of many sleepless nights.

Soon a second baby gorilla, Hasani, is facing rejection from his mother, and Alan and his colleagues must embark on a daring mission to train Kera – now recovered but socially isolated – to become Hasani’s surrogate mother. Can she learn to protect and love Hasani as her own, in a way she couldn’t for Afia? Can she find her maternal instincts and claim a place within the troop at last?

My Thoughts:

I love a book that is a bit different to my usual reads and this was the perfect read. The cover is so cute and I knew I was going to fall in love with this read and I did. This is about a zookeeper at Bristol Zoo having to hand rear a baby gorilla called Afia. I fell in love with Afia straight away. It is a long and slow process but worth it in the end to see a fit and healthy gorilla go and make it in the world. I had never realised how much work a zookeeper would have to put in to look after a baby animal let alone a gorilla. It takes time and Patience and you can tell Alan the zookeeper loves his job very much. It was an eye opening read and one I feel really passionate towards. I think baby gorillas are my new favourite animal now. Thank you Alan for writing about your experience. It means a lot.

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

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