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Book length - 182 pages Publisher - Self-Published Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Bernadette for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Sometimes hot cocoa just isn’t enough to keep you warm in the snow... Eloise is too busy juggling the chaos of three kids, an ever present ex-husband and a demanding boss to even remember the last time dating crossed her mind. But as soft snow falls silently all around, romance twinkles with the flakes. After being single for so long, Eloise suddenly has a lot of choices. Too many choices. Will anyone be worthy of melting the guard around her heart to let love in? MY REVIEW You know when you just click with a book and it is everything you hoped it would be and more? Well, that is exactly what happened to me when I picked up SNOWDAY by B.R. Maycock to read the other night and then couldn't put it down. This is the story of Eloise who is everything to everyone with very little time for herself or her needs. A single mother of three adorable (and sometimes exasperating) children, working for a demanding boss, and with an ex and his baggage popping up around every corner, love and dating just aren't even in her vocabulary. But when the magic of Christmas begins to spread, Eloise finds herself with plenty of offers but are any of them the right one for her? With plenty of laughs, romance, and mishaps, SNOWDAY by B.R. Maycock is the winter romance that we all need to read but it is also so relatable and witty from start to finish which makes it really special. The characters are engaging and not always what they seem which I loved and there was never a dull moment in this story. So if you are looking for a cracking good story with plenty of emotion, laughter, and just that extra spark of magic this festive season, then look no further than SNOWDAY by B.R. Maycock. I cannot wait for more from this talented author. AUTHOR BIO When Bernadette Maycock isn’t dreaming up vibrant leads for romantic comedies, she’s ingesting books for her blog (https://brmaycock.wordpress.com/), in particular chick lit (her first love!) books, romantic comedies and thrillers. She can also be found playing footie or watching Marvel, DC or Star Wars movies and cartoons in Co. Westmeath, Ireland with her brilliantly out there husband, Keith, and their four epic little men. Her debut ‘It Started With A Snub’ and Christmas romantic comedy ‘Snowday’ are available now on Amazon, and Bernadette is currently working on a three part series about AbbeyGlen Village, whose luck is about to change … She has one goal and that’s simply to make readers smile and/ or laugh (a splutter rates highest;)). For more information: Website - brmaycock.wordpress.com Twitter - twitter.com/@brmaycock/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/BRMaycockWriter/
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 Available Now Book length - 368 pages Publisher - Unbound Digital Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK When a swan crashes through her window at the height of a winter storm, journalist Mitzi Fairweather decides to nurse the injured bird back to health. But at sunset, the swan becomes a woman. This unexpected visitor is Odette, the swan princess – alone, adrift and in danger in 21st-century Britain, entirely dependent on the kindness of strangers. Bird by day, human by night, and with no way to go home, she remains convinced, to Mitzi’s distress, that only a man’s vow of eternal love can break her spell. Mitzi is determined to help Odette, but as the two try to hide the improbable truth, their web of deception grows increasingly tangled. Can they find a way to save Odette before it’s too late? MY REVIEW A modern retelling of Swan Lake with a twist, ODETTE by Jessica Duchen is a wonderful story with plenty to keep you hooked from beginning to end. When a swan crashes into her home during a storm, journalist Mitzi Fairweather decides she cannot abandon the creature and tries to nurse it back to health. What she did not expect was the swan to transform into a princess called Odette as soon as the sun sets. Thrown into this new world, Odette experiences our modern world alongside Mitzi with some hilarious consequences, but Mitzi really wants to help this woman who is fast becoming a friend. Odette believes that only a man's vow of eternal love can break this curse but Mitzi is sceptical. And as time begins to run out will they find a way before it is too late? I have always loved fairytales and I'm always intrigued when they receive the retelling treatment from authors - sometimes these new perspectives and modern twists are excellent and sometimes they are anything but. Well, I'm delighted to say that ODETTE by Jessica Duchen ticked all of the boxes for me, taking fairy tale legend and making something fresh and distinctive out if it while at the same time treating the original story with respect. The characters are dynamic and interesting and the story is perfectly paced with never a dull moment. There are some true surprises sprinkled along the way and when I sat down to read ODETTE I couldn't stop until I got to the very end because it utterly captivated me. ODETTE by Jessica Duchen is a wonderful and enchanting read and would make a wonderful gift this Christmas. AUTHOR BIO Jessica was born in London. After studying at Cambridge, she worked as an editor in music publishing and magazines for ten years. Jessica lives in London with her violinist husband and two cats. She enjoys hiking, cooking, playing the piano and plundering second-hand bookstores for out-of-print gems. For more information: Website - www.jessicaduchen.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/jessicaduchen Facebook - www.facebook.com/jessicawordsmusic/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/jessica.duchen/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!   Available Now Book length - 368 pages Publisher - Headline Review Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and to Becky from www.headline.co.uk for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Halley has been running from her problems for years. On a courier trip to Tallfors, deep in Swedish Lapland, everything is going to plan. Halley has her bag, with two precious wedding rings inside for delivery... until she doesn't. The only way to save the wedding is to team up with mysterious reindeer herder Bjorn, the one person who can lead her across the snowy tundra to be reunited with her bag. On a journey of a lifetime beneath the stars, with only the reindeer and a bad-tempered stranger for company beside the fire, Halley realises that she will need to confront her past heartaches in order to let the warmth of love in once more... MY REVIEW A WINTER BENEATH THE STARS by Jo Thomas is as magical and heartwarming as the beautiful cover of this book would suggest and a must-read for fiction fans everywhere this winter. Halley has a job to do that shouldn't take her more than a few hours but when the rings she needs to deliver are mislaid, Halley begins a journey across Swedish Lapland that may just change everything for her. Depending on the help of Bjorn, a gruff reindeer herder, Halley will do whatever it takes to sort out the mix-up but as she relaxes into the special atmosphere that exists beneath the stars, she may just open up enough to find something extra special. Engaging, beautiful, and completely unputdownable, A WINTER BENEATH THE STARS by Jo Thomas is the first winter romance by this author and I really hope it won't be her last. The setting is breathtaking and has definitely been added to my bucket list and it becomes a character in its own right, as do the animals in this story, which all combine to create a very special atmosphere that jumps off the page. There is a little mystery, some drama, and lots of emotion at every turn, and I highly recommend A WINTER BENEATH THE STARS for readers to who love a contemporary story with a superb setting. AUTHOR BIO Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before moving on to Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Radio 2's The Steve Wright Show. In 2013 Jo won the RNA Katie Fforde Bursary. Her debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller in ebook and was awarded the 2014 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the 2014 Festival of Romance Best Ebook Award. Jo lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband and three children. For more information: Website - jothomasauthor.com Twitter - twitter.com/jo_thomas01 Facebook - www.facebook.com/JoThomasAuthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/jothomasauthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!   Available Now
Book length - 385 pages Publisher - Harper Impulse Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Harper Collins Ireland for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Can a single act of kindness change a life forever? To many people Ruth Ryans has everything: the perfect job, a home to die for and a loving family. But it’s all lies. As Christmas approaches, Ruth feels lonelier than ever. Then Ruth meets Michael. A man who, on the night of her father’s death the year before, she showed kindness to during his darkest moment. That one single act, his miracle, helped change his life forever. Can one act of kindness really change a person’s life? Ruth decides to find out and plans to make this Christmas the most perfect one ever, opening up her home to those who need her help – the lonely, the lost and the ignored. This Christmas actions will speak louder than words and Ruth Ryans’ kindness will create little miracles for everyone … including her own battered heart. MY REVIEW A beautiful, captivating, and life-changing story, A MIRACLE ON HOPE STREET by Emma Heatherington is one of those books that you will never forget. Ruth Ryans has the perfect life with a successful career as a famous agony aunt and attending celebrity events with a different hunk on her arm most evenings, and Ruth enjoys her life, she really does. But when her father, to whom she is devoted, passes away Ruth struggles to cope and one year later, everything that she enjoyed in her life before just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. When she is reminded of a good deed and how it transformed a stranger's life, it isn't long before Ruth is brimming with an idea to make the first Christmas without her father more bearable by opening it up to some of her readers who are also struggling this year. And as Ruth throws herself into other people's lives, she soon begins to take stock of her own and realise what she wants and needs. But when she plans to meet a stranger to offer her help but sees a face she knows well, will Ruth be able to put the past behind her and embrace the future? A MIRACLE ON HOPE STREET by Emma Heatherington is such a superb and special book that will make you tear up and make your heart squeeze tight at times. The subject of loneliness in all of its forms is excellently portrayed and made me think about how something small that one does can make such a difference to someone else's life. The characters are so engaging and relatable that it will make you stop and think about others and what they may be feeling, and there were times when I couldn't stop the tears from falling. But this is not a doom and gloom story at all. There is fun, freshness, laughter, friendship, and more amongst these pages, all beautifully packaged with the sentiment that you never truly know how people are feeling behind the face that they show to the world, so ask them. Showing someone that you see them may make all the difference. A MIRACLE ON HOPE STREET by Emma Heatherington is moving beyond words and would make the perfect gift this Christmas. AUTHOR BIO Emma Heatherington is from Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone where she lives with her children - Jordan (20), Jade (15), Dualta (15), Adam (14) and baby Sonny James. She has penned more than fifty short educational films, plays and musicals as well as nine novels, including the top ten Kindle bestseller The Legacy of Lucy Harte (January 2017). Emma loves spending time with her partner, the artist and singer/songwriter Jim McKee, all things Nashville, romantic comedy movies, singalong nights with friends and family, red wine, musical theatre, new pyjamas, fresh clean bedclothes, long bubble baths and cosy nights in by the fire. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/emmalou13 Facebook - www.facebook.com/emmaheatheringtonwriter/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/emmaheatheringtonwriter/  Release date - 13th December 2018 (Hardback UK)
Book length - 385 pages Publisher - Head of Zeus Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Clare from headofzeus.com for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Meet Stanley Huang: Father, husband, ex-husband, man of unpredictable temper, aficionado of bargain luxury goods. He's just been diagnosed with cancer, and his family are dealing with the fall-out. Meet Stanley's family: Son Fred, a banker who never has enough money; daughter Kate, juggling a difficult boss and her two small children; ex-wife Linda, suspicious of Stanley's grand gestures; and second wife Mary, giver of foot rubs and ego massages. Meet Stanley's fortune: As the Huangs come to terms with Stanley's approaching death, they are starting to fear that there's a lot less in the pot than they thought. And that's a problem when you're living in one of the wealthiest parts of California... MY REVIEW FAMILY TRUST by Kathy Wang is a dry and witty look at a wealthy family in Silicon Valley at a changing point in their lives when they receive some unexpected news. Stanley Huang has found out that he has pancreatic cancer and it doesn't look good. His reaction is to try every herbal remedy and meditation practice his much younger second wife recommends while at the same time trying to get his adult children and his ex-wife to pander to his every need despite his treatment of them over the years. What he won't do is make his will and let them all know what they can expect to inherit when he passes. Meanwhile, both of his children have their own issues to deal with from feeling unfulfilled at work and dreaming of playing with the big boys to a marriage falling apart and that is just for starters. And then there is Linda, Stanley's first wife who made all of Stanley's money for him and who cannot really stand the sight of him if she were really honest. She has enough to occupy her with her new foray into the modern dating scene. But she would like to know that her children won't be left wanting when Stanley passes, that is if he has anything left at all ... I have seen this book compared to Crazy Rich Asians and I can definitely see the similarities but there is a much more serious and emotional edge to FAMILY TRUST by Kathy Wang and I found this story very compelling. Each of the characters fascinated me and while I didn't particularly like any of them, that didn't stop me from wanting to know more so it was no surprise when I read this book in one evening. There is technical, power-house, business type lingo throughout but the setting is Silicon Valley so it is to be expected and made the story realistic. FAMILY TRUST by Kathy Wang is a layered family drama that would translate to tv really well and I thoroughly enjoyed it. AUTHOR BIO Kathy Wang grew up in Northern California and is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard Business School. Family Trust is her first novel. For more information: Website - www.bykathywang.com Twitter - twitter.com/bykathywang Facebook - www.facebook.com/bykathywang Instagram - www.instagram.com/bykathywang/  Available Now Book length - 233 pages Publisher - Duckworth Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Staying On is a geriatric coming-of-age story and a comedy-drama about an expat family played out between a working patriarch and his charming, self-possessed daughter-in-law. Tony Metcalfe, a seventy-year-old Yorkshireman and his wife Laney run Viva Espagne, a bar in a small village in the mountains beyond the Costa Blanca. Set amongst the bawdy working class expats of Spain - the por favors as the Spanish call them - the monoglot, post-war babies who retired early on good pensions, flocking to the dream of wine and rest and sun around the pool. But now their retirement paradise is shadowed by Brexit: the pound has fallen, pensions are frozen and the property crash happened long ago. Tony dreams of moving back to enjoy the remainder of his life in his childhood home, but Laney wants to stay in the happy valley and forget about England and the dark, unresolved feelings it provokes in their marriage. Tony loves his wife and keeps his dreams to himself along with the fact that Viva is losing money. He couldn't go home even if he tried - nobody would buy an ailing bar in a recession. Tony's only chance of getting home lies in puncturing the silence and blame in his marriage, and turning his bar to profit to sell. This looks impossible for passive, amiable Tony until his only son Nick arrives for an unexpectedly long stay, bringing his young wife Jo and son Fred in tow. Their arrival signals a new chapter in Tony's life, but will it be one in which his dreams are finally realised? MY REVIEW Who hasn't dreamed of retiring in the sun and possibly running a cafe or restaurant while enjoying the beach and spending quality time with your loved ones? Well, that was Tony and Laney's dream when they moved to Spain and opened up a bar, Viva Espagne, in a small village brimming with like-minded ex-pat pensioners. But with Brexit bringing things to the boil it isn't long before all of their friends are packing up and returning to their families in England, a move that Tony would be more than happy to make but Laney has vowed never to set foot on English soil again and there is nothing he can do to persuade her. Worried about his wife, and losing money by the second through the bar which is always empty, and Tony isn't sure what to do to sort out their future but when his son, daughter-in-law, and little grandson arrive for an impromptu visit it may just be the answer to their prayers. That is if everyone can be honest and confront the secrets nestling among them. Compelling, enjoyable, and relatable STAYING ON by C.M. Taylor is a story that really connects with readers through the author's engaging characters that pull you quickly into the drama. This is a book that doesn't shy away from the fear and mess of Brexit but brings it home in a very real and honest way which is admirable. The setting works and there is never a moment that drags or feels forced and I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering the mystery that surrounds this family. STAYING ON by C.M. Taylor is a great read about family, secrets, and finding real happiness and I highly recommend it to contemporary fiction fans everywhere. AUTHOR BIO Craig Taylor lives in Oxford, teaching at the Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies where he is an Associate Lecturer. He also teaches for Jericho Writers and is a freelance editor of fiction. Under the pen name C M Taylor, he is the author of Premiership Psycho (Corsair 2011) and Group of Death (Corsair 2012), two-thirds of a satirical trilogy. Premiership Psycho has been optioned for television. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/CMTaylorStory DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!   Release date - 10th December 2018 Book length - 272 pages Publisher - Bloodhound Books Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Emma from www.bloodhoundbooks.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Katerina Rowe, a Deacon at the church in the sleepy village of Eyam, has a fulfilled life. She is happily married to Leon and her work is rewarding. But everything changes when she discovers the body of a man and a badly beaten woman, Beth, in the alleyway behind her husband’s pharmacy. Drawn to the young woman she saved, Kat finds herself embroiled in a baffling mystery. When Beth’s house is set on fire, Kat offers the young woman sanctuary in her home and soon the pair begin investigating the murder, with some help from Beth’s feisty grandmother, Doris. But neither the police, nor Leon, nor the criminals want Kat and Beth looking into their affairs and the sleuths quickly find themselves out of their depth… MY REVIEW What do you get when you add wonderful characters, gripping suspense, and a mystery that will knock your socks off? MURDER UNDENIABLE by Anita Waller, that's what! Nothing much happens in the historic little village of Eyam and nobody knows that better than Kat, the Deacon. But all that is about to change when Kat discovers a man's body and a badly beaten woman. Feeling some sort of connection with the young woman, Kat stays by her side as she recovers and is determined to uncover just who did this to her. Alongside with Doris, they will embark on a detective mystery all on their own but it isn't long before they realise that nobody wants them poking around and will do whatever it takes to keep them silent ... The setting, drama, and mystery in this book are all excellent but it is the characters that really steal the show. Kat, Beth, and Doris are a force to be reckoned with and I loved every moment with them as they picked apart the crime to find the truth. MURDER UNDENIABLE by Anita Waller is the kind of book that you will pick up with the intention of reading a few chapters but then suddenly find yourself completely absorbed and an hour will pass in an instant. This is a detective story with a difference and I look forward to more from this talented author. AUTHOR BIO Anita Waller lives in Sheffield, UK. She is retired and has recently fulfilled her lifelong ambition of becoming a published author with Bloodhound Books. She is married (almost 50 years to Dave) with three children and seven grandchildren. She is a patchwork and quilting tutor as well as a writer. For more information: Website - anitamayw.wixsite.com/anitawaller Twitter - twitter.com/anitamayw Facebook - www.facebook.com/anitawaller2015/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!   Release date - 12th December 2018 Book length - 245 pages Publisher - Bloodhound Books Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Emma from www.bloodhoundbooks.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Imagine a quaint little bookshop. Outside the snow is falling. Inside the shelves are stacked with books by authors waiting to be discovered. What could be better? When Tilly Edgely lands a position working at Ashton’s bookshop in Cambridge she thinks she’s found her perfect job. But one winter’s morning, when she arrives to open up, she discovers the body of her boss suspended from the ceiling, hanging by a rope around his neck. DCI Barrett and DI Palmer are called to the scene and quickly find themselves searching for a twisted killer whose identity and motive are nearly impossible to trace. But just when they think they have the murderer in their sights, another body shows up throwing the case wide open… Who is behind the killings and why? The police have their work cut out and key to unlocking the gruesome mystery might be found right under their nose. But one thing is for certain, this killer will leave you hanging… MY REVIEW An absorbing and intriguing murder mystery, MURDER IN THE DARK by Betsy Reavley had all the components to keep me hooked to the very end. Tilly Edgely has the perfect job in the nicest bookstore in Cambridge and with Christmas on the way, everything seems to be going swimmingly. That is until she arrives at work one morning to find her boss dead. With DCI Barrett and DI Palmer on the case, they are sure that they will uncover this twisted killer and soon but when the body count begins to rise with no apparent connection between the victims, will they be able to solve this case? As someone who used to work in a bookstore, the premise of this story is what snared my attention and it really worked for me. There is plenty of detective work needed and I have to say that I didn't see the who and the why which always shows the greatness of the writer. The setting and characters are all excellent and while this is a sequel, it can easily be read as a standalone novel which is what I did. MURDER IN THE DARK by Betsy Reavley is an evenly-paced, gripping read and I highly recommend it to crime fiction and mystery fans everywhere. AUTHOR BIO Betsy Reavley is the international best-selling author of multiple thrillers, including The Optician's Wife and Frailty. Murder in the Dark is the follow-on to Murder at the Book Club, though can equally be read as a stand-alone. It's a gripping mystery thriller which will appeal to fans of authors like Joy Ellis, Faith Martin and LJ Ross. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/BetsyReavley Facebook - www.facebook.com/BetsyReavleyAuthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!  |
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