 Release date - 14th December 2019 Book length - 400 pages Publisher - One More Chapter BUY LINKS: UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Lorna for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review and for inviting me to take part in her wonderful online event, #30DaysOfBookBlogs - it was great fun! ABOUT THIS BOOK The Cotswolds, Christmastime 1946 A young widow leaves behind the tragedy of her wartime life, and returns home to her ageing aunt and uncle. For Lucy – known as Mrs P – and the people who raised her, the books that line the walls of the family publishing business bring comfort and the promise of new beginnings. But the kind and reserved new editor at the Kershaw and Kathay Book Press is a former prisoner of war, and he has his own shadows to bear. And when the old secrets of a little girl’s abandonment are uncovered within the pages of Robert Underhills’s latest project, Lucy must work quickly if she is to understand the truth behind his frequent trips away. For a ghost dwells in the record of an orphan girl’s last days. And even as Lucy dares to risk her heart, the grief of her own past seems to be whispering a warning of fresh loss… Mrs P’s Book of Secrets will be published in the US as The Book Ghost. MY REVIEW A fresh premise, quirky characters, and some twists along the way are just some of the reasons why I enjoyed MRS P'S BOOK OF SECRETS by Lorna Gray. Lucy, now known as Mrs P, lost her husband during the war and is trying to forge ahead with her life as best she can. Moving back home to her aunt and uncle in the Cotswolds seems to be exactly what she needs and when she starts working for her uncle's publishing business, Lucy finds a certain sense of peace among the books that surround her. With only her uncle and the quiet and always reserved Mr Robert Underhill working there, the job is not exactly tasking, but as everyone tries to get used to life after war and all that that entails, Lucy feels lucky to have this place to occupy her thoughts. But when a new manuscript that Robert is working on appears to throw up a mystery about a little girl, Lucy gets caught up in this search for the truth. But facing the ghosts of the past is not always easy and as old pain resurfaces, can Lucy open herself up to love once again? It is obvious that the author has researched the time period extremely well as I felt that I had stepped back in time instantly and I was caught up in the reality of that post-war era. The characters are well-developed and likeable, and I enjoyed getting to know more about Robert and Lucy as the story developed. MRS P'S BOOK OF SECRETS by Lorna Gray is a wonderful tale of friendship, grief, and opening yourself up to new possibilities, and I look forward to reading more from this author. AUTHOR BIO Lorna Gray was born in 1980 in Bedfordshire. Her relationship with the glorious countryside of the Cotswolds began many years ago when she first moved to Cirencester. She has been exploring the area through her love of history, adventure and romance ever since. This is Lorna’s fourth post-WWII mystery. Her three previous novels are In the Shadow of Winter (2015), The War Widow (2018) and The Antique Dealer’s Daughter (2018). She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. For more information: Website - mslornagray.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/MsLornaGray Facebook - www.facebook.com/MsLornaGray/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/mslornagray/ 
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#BookReview: The Christmas Company by Alys Murray @writeralys @HallmarkPublish #TheChristmasCompany17/12/2019  Available Now
Book length - 298 pages Publisher - Hallmark Publishing BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK She's out to save her town from a real-life Scrooge... The small town of Miller’s Point is known across the country for their annual Dickensian Christmas festival. When the celebration is threatened by Clark Woodward, a miserly, big-city businessman, Kate Buckner steps up to save her hometown, their traditions, and her favorite holiday. But, along the way, she realizes that the man she’s trying to protect her town from might need some rescuing of his own. With a lot of heart and a little Christmas magic, Kate is convinced she can teach Clark to love her favorite holiday. But can such different people learn to open up and love each other? MY REVIEW Like a Hallmark movie on the page, THE CHRISTMAS COMPANY by Alys Murray is a sweet romance that really brings the magic of Christmas to life. To Kate Buckner, the town of Miller Point and its inhabitants is the family that she never had, and working for The Christmas Company which runs the annual Dickensian Christmas festival is everything she dreamed of as a child. So when Kate and the town discover that The Christmas Company is being shut down effective immediately and that a lot of families are going to be struggling because of this, Kate is not willing to take it lying down. She wants to be angry at the cause of all of their problems, Clark Woodward, but as she spends a little time with him, Kate recognises a lost man who has buried his emotions deep inside. If only Kate could show him how important Christmas is for this town, then maybe he would allow them to keep their festival. So Kate decides, with the help of her friends, to make Clark love Christmas again but what she doesn't expect is to feel a hitch in her heart when he is around her. Can the magic of the season bring these two souls together or will the magic be lost on someone who has left Christmas in his past? THE CHRISTMAS COMPANY by Alys Murray puts the sweet into sweetheart romance and sometimes that is just what you need. The characters have had their own troubled pasts but have dealt with their heartache in very different ways. The setting and the whole Dickens vibe worked well for me as I am a huge fan of A Christmas Carol so I could picture it all perfectly as I read each page. Overall, THE CHRISTMAS COMPANY by Alys Murray is a delightful read that is sure to be a huge hit with Hallmark fans everywhere. AUTHOR BIO Alys Murray was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and will always be a southern girl at heart. A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she travels with her fiancé as much as she can and writes as many love stories as she can. For more information: Website - alysmurray.com Twitter - twitter.com/writeralys Facebook - www.facebook.com/alysmurrayauthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/writeralys/  Release date - 7th December 2019 (Ebook)
Book length - 368 pages Publisher - One More Chapter BUY LINKS: UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Claire from www.harpercollins.co.uk for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK Hannah Thompson loves her family beyond words… but sometimes she wishes they would recognise her as more than just ‘mum’. Eldest son Dylan is soon to be flying the nest, sixteen-year-old Scarlet keeps asking about penalties for worryingly specific crimes, they’ve forgotten world book day and Benji absolutely will not be Where’s Wally again, and it’s at least two days before she and hubby Nick can sit down for Wine Wednesdays… and even longer until Fizzy Friday. Determined to find herself a job that she loves, earn a whole lot of money and to have her teenagers respect her as ‘Hannah’ as well as ‘mum’; it might sound like a tall order, but she’s a mum on a mission. MY REVIEW Hilarious at every turn and relatable in so many ways, MORE THAN JUST MUM by Rebecca Smith is the must-read book for every mother out there who just feels like they can never get it right. Hannah Thompson is a wife, a mum, and a part-time teacher so life is pretty busy. Scrap that, life is crazy and Hannah is fed up with everyone dropping the ball and expecting her to have all the answers. With so many balls in the air, it is natural to drop one every now again but Hannah feels like she has lost them and hasn't a clue where they are hiding. She adores her kids but sometimes they drive her crazy, and then at work, she has to deal with other people's little terrors, and while her husband is caring, she could do with a little more of something from him to help her keep her sanity. And as usual, they need more money - a lot more money. So Hannah has decided it is time to make a change. She has ambitions, she has dreams, and she is determined to make her family realise that she isn't just 'mum' but her own person too, and it's about time they sat up and took notice. MORE THAN JUST MUM by Rebecca Smith will make you shake with laughter and sympathise with the craziness that is life and is sure to please all fans of humorous fiction everywhere. The characters are realistic and while there are plenty of mishaps, drama, and misunderstandings, you never lose sight of the fact that they are a family who love each other no matter what. I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel but I really enjoyed it and I look forward to more from Rebecca Smith. AUTHOR BIO Rebecca was born in Chester, England in the same year as the three-day week, the world population hitting 4 billion and McDonalds opening their first UK restaurant. Her mother educated her on a diet of T Rex, Adam and the Ants, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen and she grew up thinking that Frank Zappa was her dad (sadly untrue). She studied at Exeter University during the heyday of Blur, Oasis, The Offspring and The Spice Girls, when life was sweet and everything cost £1 and has had a variety of jobs that have taken her to some very interesting places, including four years teaching in a Category C male prison. Rebecca has been attempting to parent since the start of the millennium and currently lives in South-West England with her husband and three children. When not working her day job or frantically writing, she can often be found either engaged in the fruitless pursuit of trying to find a bra that genuinely does its job or the less frustrating pastime of drinking prosecco. More Than Just Mum is her adult debut. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/bexsmithwriter  Release date - 12th December 2019 Book length - 322 pages Publisher - Aria BUY LINKS: UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Vicky from headofzeus.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK When one-hundred-year-old Violet Ross is found dead at Eden's End, a luxury care home hidden in a secluded nook of the Lake District's Eden Valley it's tragic, of course, but not unexpected. Except for the instantly recognisable look in her lifeless eyes... that of pure terror. DCI Jude Satterthwaite heads up the investigation, but as the deaths start to mount up it's clear that he, and DS Ashleigh O'Halloran need to uncover a long-buried secret before the killer strikes again... MY REVIEW A gripping tale of past and present, DEATH AT EDEN'S END by Jo Allen is sure to keep you captive from start to finish. When Dr. Violet Ross is found dead in Eden's End, a luxurious residential care home in the Lake District, it isn't all that surprising as she was one hundred years old. But when an autopsy shows that she was murdered, DCI Jude Satterthwaite is determined to uncover the truth. Just who was Violet Ross and could her past be the reason for her murder? As Jude starts to dig into the care home and the victim's past, it isn't long before more deaths start happening. Just what is going on in this picture-perfect place of solitude? What secrets are seething beneath the surface? And can Jude and his team figure it all out before anyone else loses their life? With plenty of twists and turns along the way, I enjoyed watching Jude pick each part of the puzzle apart as everything slowly starts to slot into place. Jumping back in time to when Dr. Violet Ross was a younger woman worked well for me as we got to know the victim while also trying to link it to her murder in the present. With plenty to keep you thinking I'm sure that DEATH AT EDEN'S END by Jo Allen will please crime fiction fans everywhere and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. AUTHOR BIO Jo has been writing since she could first put pen to paper. Short fiction, long fiction, non-fiction...anything will do to fill a dull moment and give her imagination a little more exercise. Jo lives in Edinburgh but spends as much time as possible in the Lake District. For more information: Website - joallenauthor.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/JoAllenAuthor Facebook - www.facebook.com/JoAllenAuthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/joallenauthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!   Release date - 5th December 2019 Book length - 480 pages Publisher - Head of Zeus BUY LINKS: UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Vicky from headofzeus.com/home for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK The Cornish fishing village of Tremarnock seems to have it all. Charming houses cluster round the harbour where fishermen unload their catch each day. There is a pub, a corner shop and a brilliant restaurant. Everyone knows everyone else and mostly they look out for each other. But throw a stranger – a beautiful stranger – into the mix and all bets are off. Vivacious Chabela Penhallow is on holiday from Mexico to find out more about her Cornish roots, but rumours soon start to fly. Why has she really come? What is she running from? Is there more to her than meets the eye? MY REVIEW A charming setting and wonderful characters make THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME TO CORNWALL by Emma Burstall a captivating story that will grip you from the very beginning. Tremarnock is a stunning Cornish village where everyone knows everything about each other and look out for each other at every turn. It looks like a postcard and has a special atmosphere for those that have lived there for so long. But when a beautiful stranger arrives to research her ancestry, not everyone welcomes her with open arms - why has this woman come to their village in particular? What secrets is she hiding? And who is she connected to in Tremarnock? They do not know that Chabela Penhallow is trying to deal with a broken heart, and is searching for something to make her feel whole again. But as Chabela begins to make friends and open up about her life, there may be some interesting discoveries along the way ... THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME TO CORNWALL by Emma Burstall is a well-crafted story about family and connection, and I enjoyed every moment of this novel. The characters are detailed and I enjoyed the community vibe that comes alive on the page at every turn. A well-thought-out book that is sure to please readers of this series as well as new readers. AUTHOR BIO Emma Burstall was a newspaper journalist in Devon and Cornwall before becoming a full time author. Tremarnock, the first novel in her series set in a delightful Cornish village, was published in 2015 and became a top-10 bestseller. For more information: Website - www.emmaburstall.com Twitter - twitter.com/EmmaBurstall Facebook - www.facebook.com/emmaburstallauthor Instagram - www.instagram.com/emmaburstall/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!   Available Now
Book length - 312 pages Publisher - Rivey Field Press BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anna for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Niklas has spent fifteen years at the North Pole He has dedicated his life to science, but is still waiting for the big breakthrough when he will finally get the recognition he deserves… …And on top of that he has an embarrassing problem. Every year before Christmas, he receives a huge amount of misdirected post — children’s wish lists to Santa Claus. When Niklas loses his funding he tumbles into an identity crisis. If he isn’t the brilliant scientist he has fancied himself, then who is he? He follows one of the letters to London. There he meets Scottish reindeer herder Clare, who hates everything about Christmas… …and his eccentric landlady Mrs Dollimore, who believes that those letters were not misdirected at all, and that Niklas is the real Santa Claus... There’s only one way to find out! Together they come up with The Christmas Hypothesis. MY REVIEW A special story from start to finish, THE CHRISTMAS HYPOTHESIS by Anna Blix is sure to warm your heart this festive season. Niklas has dedicated his life to his scientific research in the North Pole but after spending fifteen years there he is being pushed out. Rather than going back home with his tail between his legs, he thinks about all of the Christmas post that he has received over the years from children around the world who think that he is Santa Claus, and it sparks an idea that sees Niklas heading to London. For a man who spends most of his time alone and struggles with society and it's expectations, Niklas soon finds himself with Mrs. Dollimore who is quirky and kind. And then he meets Clare, a reindeer herder who hates Christmas, and together they decide to begin an experiment and maybe create a little magic for themselves in the process. Enjoyable and sweet, THE CHRISTMAS HYPOTHESIS by Anna Blix sheds a gentle light on loneliness and being different from the crowd, and I loved getting to know Niklas, Clare, and Mrs. Dollimore in this wonderful story about new beginnings and kindness. THE CHRISTMAS HYPOTHESIS by Anna Blix is sure to make you smile this season and is well worth reading. AUTHOR BIO I'm a writer and engineer and I live near Cambridge in England. With a background in space science, I'm always on the lookout for books featuring scientists and engineers. The Christmas Hypothesis is a heart-warming story about a polar researcher who's receiving an abnormal amount of post every Christmas... When I'm not writing, I enjoy reading, walking my dog and knitting. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/ak_blix Facebook - www.facebook.com/annablix.author/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/anna.blix/  Available Now Book length - 352 pages Publisher - Harlequin BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Justine & www.harlequin.com for the opportunity to take part in this wonderful blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK As snowflakes fall in Gold Valley, Oregon, will this rugged cowboy finally win the woman of his dreams? Cowboy Caleb Dalton has loved single mom Ellie Bell, and her little daughter, Amelia, for years. But since Ellie is his best friend's widow, Caleb's head knows Ellie will always be strictly off-limits. If only his heart got the memo. So when Caleb discovers that Ellie has a Christmas wish list--and hopes for a kiss under the mistletoe--he's throwing his cowboy hat into the ring. If anyone's going to be kissing Ellie and sharing this magical time with her and her daughter, it's him. Ellie has dreaded the holidays since losing her husband. But this year, she's finally ready to make some changes. She never expects the biggest change to be the heart-stopping kiss she shares with Caleb. For almost five years, Caleb has been her best friend, her rock, her salvation. This Christmas, can Caleb prove he's also the missing puzzle piece of Ellie's and Amelia's hearts? MY REVIEW Captivating, romantic, and steamy all rolled into one, COWBOY CHRISTMAS REDEMPTION by Maisey Yates is a beautiful story of loss and finding love again. Caleb Dalton has loved Ellie Bell from the first minute he saw her but she was married to his best friend so he repressed his feelings as much as he possibly could. But when Clint died over four years ago, Caleb stepped in as Ellie's best friend and protector for both her and her little girl Amelia. Clint was the best man he knew and Caleb knew that Clint would want him to be there for them as much as he could. But with things changing at the home ranch and that underlying feeling that he is just never enough for anyone, Caleb buys his own land and wants to set his own path for the future which leaves Ellie a little unsettled. She wants things to change for her own life too - she yearns to feel like a woman again not just a mom or a widow. She wants to dance and be kissed by someone who wants her, something fun and uncomplicated but Caleb isn't having any of that. He hid his feelings for her out of respect for what she and Clint had but there is no way he is going to watch Ellie be with someone else when she could be with him. And together their chemistry and attraction is explosive. This is so much more than a harmless kiss under the mistletoe and neither of them know how to handle it. Caleb feels like he is not good enough to step into Ellie and Amelia's life while Ellie knows the dangers of an all-consuming love having watched her mother throw her life away chasing love. As Christmas dawns, will Caleb and Ellie take a chance on love and a future together? I loved every element of this heartwarming story of moving on and taking a chance at love. Caleb is a wonderful character and it broke my heart to watch him doubting himself and his character when he is such a good man. Ellie had a gentle love with Clint that gave her security and her lovely little girl but I could understand her fear at letting herself fall so completely in love with someone who stirs her soul so deeply. Watching her grieve and try to build a happier life for herself and her daughter was a wonderful thing to watch. The setting is stunning and really painted a picture for everything that was about to happen. COWBOY CHRISTMAS REDEMPTION by Maisey Yates is part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone - but after reading this book, I'm off on a shopping trip for the Gold Valley series. An excellent story that is sure to melt your heart as well as make you blush! AUTHOR BIO Maisey Yates started writing stories from the moment she first learned how to form words with a pen. But she never had any idea what to write, and most stories sat started, half formed and half finished, but never completed. During her high school and college years she spent a lot of time dreaming about holding a book in her hands that had her name emblazoned across the front, but she did a lot more dreaming than actual writing. At her very first job she was fortunate enough to meet her very own tall, dark and handsome hero, who happened to be her boss, and promptly married him and started a family. It wasn’t until she was pregnant with her second child that she found her very first Harlequin Presents in a local thrift store. She’d never read a Harlequin romance before, and by the time she’d reached the happily ever after she had fallen in love. She devoured as many as she could get her hands on after that, and she knew that these were the books she wanted to write! Soon after that she saw online that Harlequin was running a competition to win an editor for a year. She decided that was her sign to get in gear and start writing again. So she wrote her chapter and synopsis and hit send with trembling hands. She didn’t get any feedback from the contest, but it was the boost she needed to get her first full manuscript finished and submitted to Presents. Nearly two years later, while pregnant with her third child, she received The Call from her editor, informing her they wanted to buy that manuscript. She was very glad that the good news didn’t send her promptly into labor! She still can’t quite believe she’s blessed enough to see her name on, not just any book, but her favorite books. Maisey lives with her supportive, wonderful, diaper-changing husband and three small children across the street from her parents, and the home she grew up in, in the wilds of Southern Oregon. She enjoys the contrast of living in a place where you might wake up to find a bear on your back porch and then heading into the home office to write stories that take place in exotic, urban locales. For more information: Website - www.maiseyyates.com Twitter - twitter.com/maiseyyates/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/MaiseyYates.Author/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/maiseyyates/   Available Now Book length - 384 pages Publisher - Harlequin BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Justine & www.harlequin.com for the opportunity to take part in this wonderful blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK In Alaska, it's always a white Christmas--but the sparks flying between two reunited friends could turn it red-hot... If there's one gift Erika Sheraton does not want for Christmas, it's a vacation. Ordered to take time off, the workaholic surgeon reluctantly trades in her scrubs for a ski suit and heads to Wild River, Alaska. Her friend Cassie owns a tour company that offers adventures to fit every visitor. But nothing compares to the adrenaline rush Erika feels on being reunited with Cassie's brother, Reed Reynolds. Gone is the buttoned-up girl Reed remembers. His sister's best friend has blossomed into a strong, skilled, confident woman. She's exactly what his search-and-rescue team needs--and everything he didn't know he craved. The gulf between his life in Wild River and her big-city career is wide. But it's no match for a desire powerful enough to melt two stubborn hearts... MY REVIEW Sexy, compelling, and with characters that feel like family, AN ALASKAN CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Snow is sure to set your pulse racing and your heart melting this festive season. Erika Sheraton is a workaholic but that's what it takes to be one of the top surgeons in the city, and it doesn't help that she is always striving for approval from her father who runs the hospital. But when she is forced to take a vacation Erika doesn't know what to do. She doesn't have a boyfriend, or hobbies, or even friends anymore if she is being really honest with herself. She hasn't had a close friend since Cassie whom she grew up with in Wild River. On a whim, Erika gets in touch and soon finds herself on holiday back in her childhood town where Cassie's annoying brother, Reed, is still there judging her, even if he is much more handsome and sexy now. But as Erika and Reed begin to get to know each other there is an unescapable chemistry between them but nothing can ever come from it. Erika will be returning to her life as a surgeon and Reed is born to lead the mountain search and rescue team. It cannot work, and when fear and an awful accident occur, will Erika lose her chance at happiness? I loved every moment of AN ALASKAN CHRISTMAS and as this is my first time reading anything from this author, I cannot wait to catch up on her back catalogue. The setting is stunning yet the dangers of nature at its finest are excellently portrayed. I really felt for Erika who has given up every facet of her life to be the best surgeon but there has to be more to life than work all of the time and I desperately wanted her to open up to Reed. Reed is everyone's dream guy - sexy, kind, witty, and strong - and I wanted him to find happiness because he deserved it. There are misunderstandings, secrets, dangerous situations, and steamy sessions, all nestled amongst these pages and I highly recommend that you all buy yourself a copy of AN ALASKAN CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Snow because it is just that good! AUTHOR BIO Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and four year old son. She is a member of the RWA, the Alberta Writers Guild, Canadian Authors Association and SheWrites.org. Her first Brookhollow book was a finalist in the Heart of Denver Aspen Gold contest and the Golden Quill Award. For more information: Website - www.jennifersnowauthor.com Twitter - twitter.com/JenniferSnow18 Facebook - www.facebook.com/jennifersnowbooks/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/jensnowauthor/  |
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