Ice Town by Will Dean

 

ONE WAY IN. NO WAY OUT.

'Deaf teenager goes missing in Esseberg. Mountain rescue are launching a search party but conditions hinder their efforts. The tunnel is being kept open all night as an exception.'

When journalist Tuva Moodyson reads this news alert she knows she must join the search. If this teenager is found, she will be able to communicate with him in a way no one else can.

Esseberg lies on the other side of a mountain tunnel: there is only one way in and one way out. When the tunnel closes at night, the residents are left to fend for themselves. And as more people go missing, it becomes clear that there is a killer among them ...

I have only read two books by Will Dean, The Last Passenger and The Chamber so I haven't been introduced to to Tuva Moodyson until starting Ice Town. This storyline is a slow burn and my interest wasn't piqued until chapter 20 but from then onwards I was drawn into the hunt to solve the clues that would lead to the mysterious Bear Spray Murderer.

The setting of this book couldn't have been more apt with it being cut off from the rest of the world only connected by a tunnel that isn't acceptable 24/7 and with the dark forest blanketed in deathly snow just makes this a chilling base to the plot. 

I loved the inclusion of two death characters but I wish this was explored more in the book as I can only imagine how much more scary and sinister things would feel in this situation in Ice Town when you also have a hearing impairment too.

I was certainly kept off the right path because I didn't even have a hint of suspicion for the murderer so this was an unpredictable read. I enjoyed this book and I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books and had a bond with Tuva but all this has made me want to do is go and pick up all of the previous books.

A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying. But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous – especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. So when she is tasked with the ultimate sacrifice of pretending to be one of the true royal princesses and marry Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, son to the great dragon slayer, Tamsyn accepts her fate even if it means tricking the deadly warrior.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion, but ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride … but Tamsyn isn’t what she seems. She harbours dark secrets, secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist.

For Tamsyn is more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead … it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

I only found myself stepping into the Fantasy genre this year when I read Fourth Wing and having read a few from this genre now I certainly find I am more drawn to dragons so the minute I saw the cover for A Fire in the Sky I didn't hesitate in starting it straight away.

The pace of the book is slow paced but this felt fitting as it really felt like the author was concentrating on developing the readers relationship with Fell and Tamsyn and the world building ready for something bigger to come in book 2. Although the pace is slow my attention didn't waver at all I was intrigued to see if an actual relationship was going to happen between them and was eagerly awaiting where the dragons were going to fit into this storyline.

One thing this book was not was predictable and I actually loved that the author taken a completely different and unexpected approach towards the dragons which I won't say anymore on as I really don't want to give any spoilers but it did make for a fresh take on this genre that I applaud.

This was more on the romantasy that had a slight YA feel but there is also a couple of sex scenes but these were wrote really well into the storyline rather than just feeling like a bit of spice thrown in for what seems like a current trend.

I actually really enjoyed the kind of royal historical feel to this too, I had never heard of a whipping girl and was applaud by this but it just made me warm to our main character Tamsyn even more.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book and I really hope I don't have too long to wait to be reunited with Fell and Tamsyn.

 

The Secret Christmas Bookshop by Cressida McLaughlin

 

In a village by the sea, where wintry skies bring a dusting of sparkling snow, somebody is opening an unexpected gift…

When Sophie receives a surprise package, she’s intrigued to find a beautifully bound book inside.

Sophie is desperate to discover the mystery sender, and her hunt draws her to the enigmatic Harry. The subject of much gossip since his return from London, Harry keeps to himself in his crumbling manor house.

But they are both about to learn that the best stories can take on a life of their own.

If you are looking to start your festive reads now in October and not sure where to start then The Secret Christmas Bookshop by Cressida McLaughlin is a great place to start in my opinion because it is a cosy winter romance without being to heavy on the festivity.

This is a new standalone from Cressida and introduces us to a whole host of new characters who are big on community spirit and traditions. Our main character Sophie has never had a place to call home that is permanent which offers solid foundations, stability and love. Having always been ready to up and run as soon as she starts to set down roots anywhere and start again in a way of protecting herself from making strong bonds and face getting hurt, her first instinct is to run and start again. 

I adored not only this storyline but also Sophie as a character, she has a dream job making notebooks which really intrigued me being such a big stationery addict myself but I also really warmed to her character. She was such a loveable woman who I was hoping I would see let her barriers down and let those around her who love her to help her feel safe and secure to be able to actually start living her life rather than always being on the run.

There was a lovely romance blossoming and yes you could see this romance happening a mile off but that's fine with me as I was still so preoccupied trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of who was behind the secret book shop book gifts which I still hold my hands up and say I didn't solve until the point before they were discovered.

I will say at times I was so frustrated with Sophie and wanted to give her a good shake and a hard wakeup call but luckily our characters felt the same as me and gave her some tough love for me!

This was a heart-warming romance that was full of community spirit and learning to trust again to be able to truly start living. 

Available to purchase here

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Caraval by Stephanie Garber

WELCOME TO CARAVAL, WHERE NOTHING IS QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS . . .

Scarlett has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.

Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father.

When the sisters' long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind organiser, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

Caraval has been such an unexpected exciting read, I didn’t actual have any intention on reading this series but I was kindly gifted Once Upon a Broken Heart which I am desperate to read but after seeing a few videos online saying that it is best to read Caraval series first I thought I better take their advice so I quickly brought a kindle copy and I am so glad I did.

Caraval is a completely unpredictable read that leaves you continually in a state of confusion never quite knowing what is real and what is fake and it is great as the reader to feel completely vulnerable and mind boggled along with our main character Scarlett.

The storyline is magical and adventurous but with a sinister undercurrent too. This was fast paced and once of those books where there is no safe place to put it down because you are desperate to see what is going to occur next.

There are a lot of characters in this book but they don’t have obscure names and the more central characters are developed really well so they were easy to distinguish between and even the supporting characters all brought an enchanting feel to the story even though I didn’t trust a single one of them.

The world of Caraval was so vividly detailed you really feel a part of this enchanted place and I am really not ready to leave it behind so I am going to waste no time and will pick up the second book in the series this week.

 Available to purchase here

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The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

 

Following the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that lie at the bottom of their customers' teacups. Days at their teashop are filled with fortune-telling intertwined with the sound of clinking china and the scent of cinnamon shortbread.

When the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions. As Anne's magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters', Beatrix's writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus-and a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet-it seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters forever is taking effect.

With dwindling time to rewrite their future and save the cosy and much-loved tearoom, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?

I am a sucker for any books set in a tearoom so when I saw The Crescent Moon Tearoom I jumped at the chance to read this spooky tearoom story this October.

This was actually quite a cute charming little novel and rather than being spooky it was more heartwarming and magical with three sisters strong bond being put to the test. They are all so determined to stay close together as they have always known it but there are other things at play when each of the sisters begin to desire something that means so much to them and gives them their individualities but mean that they need to severe the tight bond to each other.

I preferred the first half of this book where we meet the sisters and watch them in their daily lives in the tearoom reading the customers fortunes from their tea cups it really did give a cosy mystical vibe which I loved. I did find as the sisters began to drift apart in their own directions despite having a quest to conquer my interest in the storyline began to wander slightly.

This is is a sweet light read for this season but it isn’t one that would leave a lasting impression on me.

Training the Heart by Paisley Hope

 Wade Ashby is a closed book.

With the weight of the family business on his shoulders, and his ongoing battle to escape a failed marriage, he only has time for one thing: looking after his ranch.

Life has dealt Ivy Spencer some tough blows.

So when the opportunity to work on the Silver Pines ranch presents itself, she grabs it by the horns. Nothing will stand in the way of her dream of training a racehorse on route to the Kentucky Derby.

Wade might be determined to keep his heart under lock and key, but Ivy’s constant presence soon ignites a passion he thought he’d lost long ago.

And once she starts tearing down his walls, there’s no going back. . .

It has only been a matter of weeks since I finished reading Holding the Reins which was my first ever Cowboy romance and the Ashby family definitely got under my skin so I wasted no time in jumping straight into Training the Heart which focuses on Cece's grumpy brother Wade who we already met in Holding the Reins.

Wade sure is a grump walking around under a dark cloud but new town comer Ivy is the polar opposite full of positivity and sunshine which is admirable when we learn that she has her own battles behind the big smile. It isn't long before a spark of attraction begins to ignite and being in a forced close proximity situation when Ivy gets hurt things go from saucy to spicy!

We get to unravel both Ivy and Wade's history to reveal the struggles they both face and this adds a little depth to an otherwise steamy storyline. There are a number of sex scenes so if a little smut isn't your kind of read then step aside on this one. Although the ending was to be expected I still enjoyed reading the build upto the inevitable.

If you haven't read Holding the Reins you can still go in and read Training the Heart as a standalone you will still follow the storyline with ease, I just like that I felt like I already had a bond with the family and an insight into Wade's moody persona already!

I am chomping at the bit now to read Cole's story and I think his will be the spiciest of them all!

Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain

 

Bella is living her best life in Wynbridge, with her beloved Spaniel, Tink. She’s found a way to keep the house she inherited from her grandparents while expanding her dream business – Away With the Fairies – and she’s ecstatic that Christmas is on the horizon!
 
In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.
 
Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!
 
With her favourite time of the year suddenly in jeopardy, will Bella ever feel like she’s home for Christmas?

Heidi Swain has fast become my go to author for Christmas books she is my very own Christmas fairy who sprinkles a large helping of festivity into her books and Home for Christmas is no exception.

Bella is a new character who is surrounded by so many characters that we know and love from all of her previous books including Holly and Bear from her last Christmas book That Festive Feeling as well as the Connelly family too. I loved being reunited with all of these characters it gave the book a cosy and familiar feel but fret not if you haven't read the other books you can go straight into this book as a standalone with ease and be whisked away into the arms of these supportive and friendly characters.

Bella has a new unexpected house guest in Jude and it is no surprise that a little romance is bubbling as we come to expect in Heidi Swains books but it isn't going to be an easy ride with Bella being the Queen of Christmas and Jude being the Christmas Grinch!

Friendship and community spirit is plentiful in this book but what I also love is Bella's passion for her job making fairies and it just helped to add an extra sprinkling of magic on the build up to the festive season. I love books that have small independent business it is a real soft spot of mine but my problem is always I want to recreate that magic myself after finishing the book!

This isn’t one of this Christmas covered books that has barely a hint of festivity in the storyline this one has a generous helping of all things festive thanks to Bella who wants to show all the traditions she has for this time of year in the hope that Jude may come around to love the season.

This is a great book to kick off the 2024 festive novels and will be a hard one to match.