Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood

 

It's time to break the spell of perfection . . .

Andromeda Wildwood is practically perfect in every witch way. Her life is a haze of pink, magic and impossibly high standards. The proud owner of Celestial Bakehouse, a bustling London bakery, Annie devotes her powers to pleasing others, and while perfection exacts a magical toll, it’s a price she is more than willing to pay.

However, when Annie is tasked by her coven with mentoring a troubled teenage witch, her charmed existence is thrown into chaos. She couldn’t be more different from fiery, stubborn Maeve. Or from Hal, the gruff but handsome owner of their temporary lodgings, who is not best pleased to find the coven has offered up his woodland cottage to two headstrong witches.

As the unlikely trio slowly bond, outside forces begin to take an interest in Maeve’s extraordinary powers. Will Annie risk everything to protect the true magic she’s finally found?

After thoroughly enjoying the magical escapism that was Rewitched last year I didn't waste a moment in picking up Lucy Jane Woods new release Uncharmed and sorry but how can any one walk past this absolutely stunning cutesy cover!

Don't fear if you haven't read Rewitched because this is a stand alone although previous characters do make an appearance. But our practically perfect main character Annie is fresh and new and pulls us into a slice of heaven from the first chapter. The author has such deliciously good descriptive writing which needs to come with a warning because it had me drooling over all the sweet treat in the first chapter and I found myself praying for my diet and willpower!

This book is magical but with such a warm cosy charm to it which I am finding is my happy place when it comes to fantasy books because there is no crazy challenging world building for my ADHD brain to get my head around I am just enveloped in a welcoming hug of sorcery.

Annie soon shows us and learns for herself that perfection isn't all it is cracked up to be and that being true to yourself will bring the best form of happiness and attract the right people to be around you, likeling you for you and not who you are trying to be.

I loved Annie she was our ray of sugary hope and on the flip side we also meet our little storm cloud Maeve and watching these two come together to help each other find their place in the world and show their true colours was exciting and joyous to watch.

I think I may have actually enjoyed this one a tad more than Rewitched which is a rare thing I find in second books. If you are looking to kick of your cosy sorcery reading this autumn then I have just found the perfect one for you.

Available to buy here

All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain

 

In Wynbridge, the scent of autumn is on the breeze and love is in the air…
 
Clemmie Bennett has been renovating beautiful Rowan Cottage on the outskirts of the small town of Wynbridge, for eighteen months following a very public heartbreak back in her childhood hometown. The popular Instagram influencer, lost her husband, sold their home, and has been cosied up the Fens and living a very private life, but now she feels it’s time for a change.
 
A chance encounter with co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, the bubbly Lizzie Dixon, pulls her into organizing Wynbridge’s first-ever Autumn Festival, and her once quiet life is soon a distant memory. With the whole town rallying behind the event, she discovers a new sense of purpose.
 
 And when local vet Ash falls hard for Clemmie, she begins to wonder if she’s ready to move even further on from her past and fall in love again…
 

The excitement is real, we are off for another trip to the idyllic village of Wynbridge in this latest release by Heidi Swain and as ever this book didn't disappoint.

We are introduced to a new character who out of all of Heidi's previous characters I felt like I could really relate to, Clemmie us instantly loveable and we can see that she is healing in her own way from the loss of her husband, throwing herself into her home renovation and shutting herself off from the world. If anyone is going to heal and start living again after loss then being in the cosy community driven village of Wynbridge is the perfect place to be.

We reunite with so many characters in this book which I loved but if you are late to joining the love of Heidi Swains novels then do not fear you can still read this as a standalone although I a word of warning you will rushing to go pick up The Cherry Tree Cafe straight after! 

The Cherry Tree Cafe has long been my favourite read by this author so I loved spending so much time back at the cafe with Lizzie and Jemma. The excitement can be felt through the pages as we watch the Autumnal Festivities take off.

If you love Autumn then this book is screaming out for you to pick it up because it is oozing Autumnal festivity from start to finish I would even go as far as to say its the most Autumnal themed book I have ever read. Wrapped around this cosy comforting setting is the burning embers of a new romance that is navigated so delicately and made for such a heart-warming read.

This Wasn't Meant to Happen by Ali Harris

 

This wasn’t meant to happen. But it did.

Sofie Jensen has always lived by logic ― calculating risk, staying in control, believing that if she did everything right, life would follow the rules. But nothing could prepare her for the unimaginable: the stillbirth of her baby boy.

Now, grief carves a hollow space where joy once lived, and love ― so fierce, so fragile ― teeters on the edge. Nothing adds up anymore. Not the life she had. Not the future she imagined.

I have read all of Ali Harris previous books and I have really missed her writing so I couldn't wait to read another book by her but this book hit completely different. As I finished reading this book I just had to sit in peace for a while because this storyline really did hit hard. This is such a raw honest and brave storyline that feels so personal and heartbreaking and at one point I found tears rolling down my cheeks without even realising I was crying because I was so enveloped in Sofie and Rory's bubble of grief that I lost track of the outside world.

This story so so delicately and carefully told and for me it really did open my eyes. I have never been a greatly maternal woman and I have no children of my own so I wasn't sure if this book would touch my heart but it not only touched it but broke it into pieces. Seeing how men and women deal with the grief of losing a still born baby differently and not always being able to navigate this cruel journey together makes everything so much more heart wrenching. It also highlights how challenging it is to try and fit back into " normal " life again after the loss has reshaped you it shows how far we still need to come in future in helping those who are grieving to be able to take the time they need and be able to offer the support needed without hurdles and pressure constraints.

What broke my heart even more after reading this book was discovering that the author herself has and is living similar footsteps as Sofie and the courage and bravery for her to write her experiences into this storyline is remarkable and I really hope that this book gets into the hands of readers who will feel like they are alone in their journey of baby loss to feel a sense of understanding and being seen.

This is quite simply the most heart-breaking and thought provoking read I have read in such a long time and it is certainly going to leave a mark on me.

Available to buy here

Layla by Colleen Hoover

 

When Leeds meets Layla, he’s convinced he’ll spend the rest of his life with her―until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with. In order to put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. And that’s just one of many inexplicable occurrences.

Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow―another guest of the B&B with whom he forms a connection through their shared concerns. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well-being. Leeds soon realizes he has to make a choice because he can’t help both of them. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental for all of them.

I have read quite a few Colleen Hoover books now but I have to say this one was the most bizarre one I have read of hers and I actually at one point had to relook at the cover to see if it was a Colleen Hoover as it felt a little more like a Freida McFadden!

I am not one who enjoys books that have a supernatural element so I am not going to lie there did get a point in this book that I felt like this book was going to be a DNF for me after being completely thrown by the turn the book took and thinking what on earth am I reading but I persevered and in a way I am glad that I did because it was certainly unpredictable and I did find I became more intrigued by the outcome.

Would I recommend this one? In all honesty I don't know, but all I can say is have an open mind and be ready and open to embrace the supernatural element. Personally it is not my favourite by this author but I also have to say it is unlike anything I have read before and she certainly has an out there imagination to think this storyline up.

Available to purchase Here

Grumpy Darling by Alexandra Moody

SHE’S NEVER BEEN KISSED. HE’S NEVER FELT THIS WAY ABOUT ANYONE.

Paige has ticked off everything on her senior year bucket list except one tiny thing ― she’s never kissed anyone. And her best friend, Grayson Darling, is to blame.

Grayson is the school hockey team’s notorious enforcer, and he’s been scaring away any eligible bachelors that so much as look in Paige’s direction. With time running out, she demands that Grayson stop defending her honour. Instead, he’ll become her dating coach, training her to win the guy of her dreams.

But Grayson has plans of his own. He’s been in love with Paige since they were kids, and his clock is running, too. Coaching Paige might be his last chance to show her how good they’d be together. After all, practice makes perfect.

 

I can't say sports romance are usually my go to reads but after reading Rival Darling last week I surprised myself with how much I actually enjoyed it and having loved Reed and Violets story I was more than a little tempted to pick up Grumpy Darling because I found Grayson an intriguing character and was looking forward to seeing if there was more to his and Paige's friendship.

This storyline looks at the blur of male female friendships when you think you have been friend-zoned but secretly underneath there is a bubble of chemistry waiting to explode. Yes the outcome of this book is certainly predictable but did this ruin my enjoyment of seeing Paige and Grayson slowly discover their feelings for each other? No not at all I enjoyed every cringey awkward moment of poor Paige learning to flirt alongside Grayson finally opening up and trying to navigate how to tell and show his true feelings for his best friend without ruining their years of friendship.

Both Grayson and Paige were both likeable characters even if they were polar opposites with Paige being a bright positive "rainbow" and Grayson being a "Grumpy Panda"! 

This is a great read for students this time of year too because it does touch on career paths and shows how some people have a clear passion and a career path ready to follow by the time they leave school whereas for others it isn't always clear what path they want to take and that is ok you will find your way when you stop putting pressure on yourself.

Having just finished a really deep emotive read before starting this book this was definitely right book right time as it was light hearted, uplifting and romantic which is the perfect tonic to repair a readers heart. Now let's hope we don't have too long to wait for Parkers story.

Available to buy here

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

 

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

I am relatively late to the Colleen Hoover party and I have read some so far that I have loved and some not so much but having just finished Regretting You this is firmly going on the books I loved list.

This book follows a family who are navigating grief after the loss of a Father/Husband and Auntie/Sister and this highlights how differently people deal with grief but also especially for Morgan looks at dealing with grief when secrets are revealed leaving you to deal with grief, heartbreak, trust and the ultimate betrayal. So often when someone passes they are put on a pedestal and people only remember and reminisce on how wonderful the deceased are but there are often more to the person and with both Chris and Jenny they have turned Morgan's life upside down and my heart really went out to this poor lady as her whole life as she knows it is ripped away from under her feet whilst she also has to be there for her daughter Clara who is dealing with the loss in a challenging way.

Clara finds comfort and love in the form of Miller but she is going through the motions of a new romance whilst dealing with the loss of her aunt and dad whilst also batting heads with her mother and having this overwhelming thought of being responsible for their deaths.

I was really taken in by these characters and this touching storyline, it doesn't sugar coat the challenging issues that are faced during grief and I was wishing for both Clara and Morgan to come together and get through this devastating time together and sometimes although you may have all the best intentions of keeping secrets to protect the people you love ultimately truth is always the best outcome.

The romance that builds around our characters felt genuine and honest, I was really routing for a happy wholesome outcome for all of our characters involved. I definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for this one to make it to the big screen because I will definitely be grabbing the popcorn.

Right Place, Right Time by Ali McNamara

 

Eve has always loved antiques.

She loves the way an item from the past can offer a glimpse of another world, of another time. It's why she painstakingly researches the stories behind every item in Rainy Day Antiques, her little Cambridge shop, to share with their new owners. It's her way of honouring the past and cherishing the present.

Adam is firmly focussed on the future.

He's only in town to sort his late grandfather's affairs. When he discovers that his grandfather hired Eve to manage his house clearance, he can only hope her methods don't delay his return to London.

What neither of them know is that Adam's grandfather chose Eve for a reason. It's finally the right place and the right time for the two of them to meet. But what did he have planned for them?

I have enjoyed many books by Ali McNamara so I was looking forward to her new release Right Place, Right Time.

This story line follows Eve who runs a little antiques shop called Rainy Day Antiques which is set in the quaint little  square called Clockmaker Court in Cambridge. Their is a close knit community in the court, all supporting each others businesses and providing friendships alongside which I love and before long you want to be a part of the court.

Eve meets Adam who is the love interest in this storyline but sparks don’t fly instantly as Eve is called in to hold the house clearance as requested by Adams late Grandfather. 

I was thoroughly enjoying this storyline learning more about Adam and Eve and I was becoming intrigued by this mysterious quest that seemed to have brought them both together. I can’t lie I was a little surprised when suddenly around 3/4 of the way through the book it took an unexpected turn and the revelation seemed so out of place with the rest of the book it felt for a while like I had picked up another story!

My attention did waiver a little at this point but I persevered with it and luckily my attention was piqued again and I enjoyed the bizarre remainder of the book.

This was unlike anything I have read before it began with a cute cosy vibe with a blossoming romance developing and later turns into something more “out there” and questionable is probably the only way I can explain it without giving away the storyline.