Tag: fiction

Christmas at the French Repair Shop By Sophie Claire

Christmas at the French Repair Shop By Sophie Claire

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Christmas in the picturesque village of Willowbrook should be dreamy – twinkling fairylights, snow in the air, and a busy time for Amélie in the repair workshop she owns, restoring furniture and mending treasured objects for locals to give as Christmas gifts. But in the tiny community, Amélie keeps bumping into her ex, Jack – and it’s killing her festive feeling.

Jack and Amélie were perfect for each other… until one day they weren’t. And when Jack’s attempt at reconciliation goes wrong, he finds himself locked in Amélie’s van.

Driving to her aunt’s house in the South of France, Amélie thinks she’s finally going to get some peace over the festive period, but like it or not, she’ll now be spending Christmas trapped on holiday with Jack. Could it help unwrap the secret to why they split up? Or will it be a gift they’d rather exchange?

My Thoughts:

Christmas time is a busy time for Amelie who runs a repair workshop and she is busy fixing and restoring all different items for the community surrounding her. What she does not need is her ex cropping up all over the place, she has accepted it is over between them but he does not and wants her back. After a big mishap when she is driving to her aunt’s house she hopes to have gotten away from him and work out how she feels when he unexpectedly turns up. Can they give it one more try or give up for good. It was a nice and easy story to follow along with. I liked reading about the restoring side of things as I have not read much about it before and love watching the TV show about it. This story was right up my street, Christmas, romance and great food. Well worth a read.

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

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All Together for Christmas By Sarah Morgan

All Together for Christmas By Sarah Morgan

by Hannah ♥ 3 Comments

This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents …

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Rosie married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

All this secrecy could derail everyone’s happy holidays. Can the siblings open up to each other in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

My Thoughts:

It cannot be Christmas unless you have read one of Sarah Morgan’s festive reads. This was just as good as all her other books, she has been one of my go to authors for many years, I don’t even need to read the blurb to know I will fall in love with the story. I love how Sarah sets up her stories so that there is never just one main character, so in this story we meet Becky who is not having much luck trying to get home for Christmas, Rosie and Declan got married too quickly and now are they both regretting their decision and Hayley who is worried her partner Jamie’s family won’t like her when she goes to stay with them for Christmas. I love how the stories intertwine and they are real life situations. There is always a lot of pressure around Christmas time so it intrigued me how the story would play out but it was brilliant as always and I was sad when I read the final words.

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

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Cozy Girl Fall By Willow Hurst

Cozy Girl Fall By Willow Hurst

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When Penny returns to Magnolia Springs after ten years in San Francisco, she tells herself it’s only for the fall. She’s there to help her parents with the harvest season on their orchard, surrounded by golden leaves and baskets of red apples, and she swears she’ll be back to her city life by December. But Penny didn’t expect to find her childhood sweetheart, Ethan, working at the orchard, too.

She can’t quite believe that the boy she left behind to chase her dreams has grown into a man who is even more handsome than she remembers. His broad shoulders, dirty blonde hair, and deep brown eyes still set her heart racing, and his steady presence soon stirs up feelings that Penny thought she’d left in the past.

As the golden leaves start to fall and long days of harvesting side-by-side turn into cozy evenings with Ethan, Penny finds herself drawn to him all over again. Now, Penny is facing a choice: return to the life she built for herself in the city or stay with the man who still feels like home. Because this time, leaving Magnolia Springs might mean losing Ethan for good…

My Thoughts:

I loved the aesthetics of this cover, it makes me think of hot chocolate under a blanket getting all snuggly and reading. I liked the sound of the plot but for me it was not as good as I would of hoped for. The story is very predictable and nothing really happened. The only thing you feel reading it is autumnal. I think it would of been nice to know a little more about the other characters it may of made it a little bit more interesting. I have never read this author before but I don’t think I would be reaching for her other books any time soon unfortunately.

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Christmas at Hollybush Farm By Jo Thomas

Christmas at Hollybush Farm By Jo Thomas

by Hannah ♥ 2 Comments


Jemima Jones is driving home to her family’s magical hill-top farm for Christmas…

And on arrival, she soon learns that her dad has been keeping a secret – all is not as it seems, and Hollybush Farm is struggling to make ends meet! Worried about losing the childhood home she loves, Jemima must pull on her winter wellies and get stuck in.

Amid the chaos of chasing after escaping sheep and organising the Christmas tractor run, Jemima begins documenting her slice of farming life on social media. As she builds a supportive online following, she also forms an offline connection in the shape of charming, retired rugby player Llew, her very own Santa’s helper.

My Thoughts:

When Jemima returns home for Christmas little does she realise how much her dad has been struggling with out her. She has her own life now and is working hard to get herself a better life and do a job she loves but when she returns home she knows she needs to do something to help her dad out of the crisis he is in. Jemima has a big decision to make and one she really needs help with. Jo is one of my go to authors, I don’t even need to read the blurb to know I will enjoy the book. I liked all the characters and the way Jo writes makes you feel all warm and comforted. A lovely story with a lovely ending.

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

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The Pieces Of Us By Claire Alexander

The Pieces Of Us By Claire Alexander

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At fifty-eight Minnie McAllister isn’t an old woman. But as Alzheimer’s ravages her mind, her brain says otherwise.

Cat McAllister is tackling everything life can throw at her. And just when she thinks it can’t get any worse, she’s faced with the discovery that Minnie might not be the mother she once knew.

Meanwhile, Cat’s daughter, Ruby McAllister, who is staring at a two very blue lines, faces a decision that will change the course of her life.

As three generations of women are pulled in three different directions, each are forced to learn lessons about themselves that they never could have imagined.

My Thoughts:

This is a story about three generations of women, who all go through life changing events. Minnie cannot understand why her mind is not working as well as it should be, the Alzheimer’s has taken hold of her and won’t let go. Minnie is Cat’s mother and Cat is struggling with seeing how Minnie is declining very quickly. Cat knows there is little that can be done but it is still so hard to see Minnie like this. Ruby is Cat’s daughter and with everything her mum is going through at the moment with her gran, can Ruby tell her mum about a big event that is going to change her life, but is this what Ruby wants? It was an interesting concept for a book but one that worked really well. You kind of get a different perspective for what all three women are going through. It was heart breaking reading about Minnie especially when it is a subject that is close to home. It is a relatable subject and I know one that many people are going through. It is a moving read.

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

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Meet Me at the Seaside Cottage By Jenny Colgan

Meet Me at the Seaside Cottage By Jenny Colgan

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Janey Carter has a lot to be grateful for – a home by the sea in Carso that she renovated herself, a job as an audiologist that she loves, two great kids, and a network of kind and supportive friends. But since her husband left, her confidence has taken a nosedive. And then, out of the blue, her grumpy 30-year-old daughter announces she’s moving back home. Janey loves Essie dearly but they only just made it out alive from her adolescence. And this really is going to cramp her soon-to-be-rediscovered dating style.

Yes, Essie Carter is grumpy but she’s just lost her job, she can’t afford her rent in Edinburgh and her boyfriend isn’t ready to commit. There’s nothing for it but to admit defeat and hope the sea air soothes her soul. Life seems to be punching this millennial squarely in the face.

Living back under the same roof brings its challenges. But a combination of rescue dogs, pub quizzes and a surprise project doing up the unloved Seagate Cottages next door slowly brings mother and daughter closer together. Meanwhile, the steady stream of people coming past the house with fabric swatches and paint brings revelations for Essie, and offers Janey a surprise second chance at love as well.

My Thoughts:

Janey does not really know she is anymore, her husband has left and left the kids with her, she has a job she enjoys but she feels as though she is stuck in a rut. When her daughter moves back home, Janey does not know how to be around her, her daughter has always been self reliant and now she isn’t Janey feels as though she has to tiptoe around her. But Essie has reasons to be grumpy and withdrawn but can she let go and tell her mum really how she feels. Essie being near the sea with a different view altogether brings her some hope not straight away but she can really see that her life is going to change for the better. I normally love Jenny’s books but for me it wasn’t for me, it was a very slow story throughout, nothing really happened and I felt as though the story was a bit jumbled and did not really go anywhere. I had high hopes for this book but it just really did not hit for me.

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Will You Stay Another Day? By Samantha Tonge

Will You Stay Another Day? By Samantha Tonge

by Hannah ♥ 2 Comments

If you could spend just one more day with someone, who would it be?

When Lili sends a jokey ‘knock-knock’ message to her best friend Em, she doesn’t expect to hear back. Because – as Lili notices the chill in the air, and the little robin in her garden – she realises Christmas must be just around the corner once again. A whole year since she last saw Em.

But then this time someone replies. ‘Who’s there?’ It can’t possibly be Em, but Lili wants to believe it could be, and she hastily suggests meeting.

However when she gets to the meeting place, there only one other person there waiting. A man. And not just any man. The most handsome man Lili’s ever seen, Dylan… And he is also waiting for someone he’s been missing.

As the days get shorter and Autumn turns to Winter, will two lonely hearts spend another Christmas without their loved ones? Or can they welcome an unexpected friendship? Or maybe even more, if they can just help each other to focus on not what they’ve lost, but what they’ve found…

My Thoughts:

Lili is still reeling about what happened to her best friend Em so when she decides to send a final message to her she does not expect a message back. Everything comes flooding back to Lili and she is holding out hope it really is Em, but when they arrange to meet she cannot believe what is going to happen, this is when she meets Dylan little does she know he is going through the same thing as she is. But as the pair bond together could they both help each other to heal the pain? I don’t think I have ever read any of Samantha’s books and I am really questioning myself why. This book literally took my breath away, I felt emotionally attached to the pair of them and couldn’t believe how much pain they both must be in. I loved the idea of the robin and it’s meaning especially when you have lost someone, it means a great deal when you see one. I just loved the connection between Lili and Dylan and how the story wrapped up in the end. This is definitely a winner in my eyes and a bit of a tearjerker too. I cannot wait to read more of Samantha’s books now.

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

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Somewhere Only We Know By Cathy Bramley

Somewhere Only We Know By Cathy Bramley

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It was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip: just not for Magnolia Jones.

Six months on from the loss of her daughter and Magnolia’s heart isn’t any closer to healing. So when she discovers Bronte’s travel journal, she can think of no better way to honour her daughter’s life than setting off on the gap year trip the twenty-three-year-old had dreamed of taking.

And then the memories of a magical summer in Bali more than two decades ago come to light. Giddy with freedom, Magnolia barely recognises the girl she used to be: the dreams she’d had; the freedom that lay ahead; the midnight kisses on the beach with the curly-haired, brown-eyed Jackson…

Though this was meant to be Bronte’s trip, was it too much to hope that an adventure could piece Magnolia back together too? And without the person she loves most in the world, who is she?

What if Brontë’s adventure not only helps Magnolia to find herself, but also leads to the man who promised her the world all those summers ago?

Because as Magnolia Jones will soon realise: her journey isn’t over. It’s just about to begin…

My Thoughts:

Wow what a powerful and moving read. It blew my socks away how emotional I got reading this book. Magnolia Jones is missing part of herself as her precious daughter had a fatal accident and Magnolia is still struggling to accept that her daughter is not coming back. Magnolia’s work is being affected so they have given her time off work. Her daughter was planning to travel the world and see the sights, so Magnolia decides to go on the trip through her daughters eyes. But Magnolia is not young anymore can she really do this and will it bring her a little closure and comfort that she needs. It was a heart breaking and emotional read that deals with grief and courage and I loved the way Magnolia turned it around. Cathy’s writing is very detailed and powerful. It was such a beautiful read.

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

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You Lied First By Annabel Kantaria

You Lied First By Annabel Kantaria

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The truth is, everyone lies. All that matters is who lies the best…

Sara is about to spend a week in a villa with people she barely knows.

Sara’s daughter Liv, her boyfriend and his parents have invited Sara on their holiday. After what happened, she’ll jump at any chance to spend time with Liv.

She tries to be the perfect guest, and while the Forrests seem like the perfect family, something isn’t right.

By the end of the trip, someone will be dead. Lies will tie the rest of them together. But who can lie the best?

My Thoughts:

When Sara gets invited on holiday with her daughter’s boyfriends family, she is a little nervous, not knowing his family well but Sara will do anything to make her daughter happy. Things seem to go well, they all make time for each other and they have a good laugh. But when tragedy strikes, is this family really who they say they are. And then things start to unravel and Sara wishes she never came on this holiday. This was such a good thriller read, quick paced, dark in places and full of suspense. I guessed half way what the ending would be but it was still good, there are a few twists along the way and it had me on the edge of my seat on anticipation for the ending. It was so good and I really enjoyed it. I will be looking out for Annabel’s books in the future.

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

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The Secrets of Harbour House By Liz Fenwick

The Secrets of Harbour House By Liz Fenwick

by Hannah ♥ 3 Comments

When Kerensa is sent by her father’s auction house to catalogue a neglected house overlooking the sea in Newlyn, Cornwall, it’s a welcome escape. Once the home of two female artists, Harbour House is a treasure trove, but one painting in particular catches Kerensa’s eye – a hypnotically sensual portrait of a beautiful young woman which dominates the hallway.

Captivated and intrigued, Kerensa finds herself piecing together the enigma of Bathsheba Kernow, a fiercely talented young artist who left St Ives almost a hundred years before, eager to escape a society that wouldn’t understand her, and her sweeping journey from the underbelly of Paris to the heady luxury of Venice, where a chance encounter would change her life for ever, drawing her into the most dangerous and forbidden of love affairs.

For Kerensa, still reeling with a grief of her own and facing an uncertain future in love, Harbour House will have secrets that will change her life too, and in ways she could never have imagined…

My Thoughts:

This is a story that will whisk you away not only to Cornwall but also to Venice, a place I have heard about but never been too. Kerensa is from Venice and working for her father, she finds herself in Cornwall to valuate items in a very run down property. This is perfect for her as she needs to get away for a bit. When Kerensa finds a painting, she goes and researches into it. She has things going on in her life that she needs to come to terms with. This was storytelling at it’s best, Liz always finds a way to make you completely entranced in her books. I enjoyed all aspects of this book, the history and the art and I found it useful to know a little more about both of these. I really enjoyed this spellbinding read.

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

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