Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews

 

Molly Baker is living her best life.

Thirty-eight years old, she lives on the twenty-five-acre Hope Farm in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by (mostly) four-legged friends and rolling hills. There's Anthony the anti-social sheep, Tina Turner the alpaca with attitude, and the definitely-not-miniature pig, Teacup.

Molly runs the farm as an alternative school for kids who haven't thrived in mainstream education. It's full on, but she wouldn't have it any other way. So when the well-groomed Shelby Dacre turns up at Hope Farm asking to enrol his son Lucas, Molly isn't fazed.

But Lucas is distant and soon Molly realises he might be more of a handful than she anticipated. And then there's the added problem that his dad is distractingly handsome. Molly has her beloved farm to think of - could letting Lucas and Shelby in be a terrible mistake, or the start of something wonderful?

Looking for an uplifting read I turn to Carole Matthews and her book Happiness for Beginners has been on my TBR pile for way to long now and so it seemed the perfect time to pick this one up.

Our heroine is the lovely Molly who has dedicated her whole life to her animals, here farm is quite different from a traditional farm because this place is a safe space for children with various difficulties be that mental health issues, learning disabilities or just those who have lost their way and need a place to escape and find their worth and confidence again.

There is a young newcomer to Hope Farm in the form of Lucas who is the local TV stars son and he is at a loss as to what to do with his uncontrollable son.

What an absolute joy this book was, it is easy to see how Molly became so isolated and dedicated to her farm because looking after the charismatic mix match of animals really is a 24/7 job added to that the work she does with the students that help out on the farm and there really isn’t any time for herself but she was so content with this.

Lucas was a character who really touched my heart, misunderstood, lonely and hurting I just wanted to reach into the pages and pull him out, I was really hoping that Molly and Hope Farm could reach him and help him.

The animals played such a strong part in this book and I wouldn’t be surprised if the author spent sometime on the farm researching this book because the attention to detail from the feeds, their characteristics and needs as well as the financial strains was all covered in great detail. I can’t not mention the secondary characters in this book because both Alan and Bev were great characters and a big support to Molly too and even bring a little humour to the storyline too.

There of course is a romance or two blossoming through the pages which we expect with a Carole Matthews novel but it was one that was far from straight forward so made it even more exciting.

If you are looking for a comforting uplifting read to perk you up then this book will certainly do the trick.

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Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews

Today it is my stop on the Blog Tour for Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews.

I will be sharing my review for Million Love Songs and I will be sharing my favourite Love Songs with you.

1. All Of Me by John Legend
2. Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
3. How Long Will I Love you by Ellie Goulding
4. A Thousand Years by Christina Perry
5. At Last by Etta James

You can also check out Carole Matthew's favourite Love songs on Spotify 

BY CLICKING HERE

Ruby Brown is ready for a change. She's single for the first time in years and she's going to dive into this brave new world with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. The last thing she's looking for is a serious relationship.

Mason represents everything Ruby wants right now: he's charming, smooth and perfect for some no-strings-attached fun. Joe on the other hand is kind and attractive, but comes with the sort of baggage Ruby wants to avoid: an annoyingly attractive ex-wife and two teenage children.

MY REVIEW

I am always eager to read a new release by Carole Matthews so when my copy of A Million Love Songs arrived I wasted no time and dived straight in.

Ruby Brown has recently divorced and is now taking time to change every part of her life. Ruby and friend Charlie are having fun and before long Charlie who is totally devoted to a certain member of Take That soon pulls Ruby in to become an uber fan! Where Charlie only has eyes for her Take That lover there is a guy or two who have their eyes set on Ruby but they are polar opposites but will she fall for either of them?

There were some steamy scenes in this book that brought great humour and shock to me as it was a step away from what we are used to in Carole’s romance scenes she takes Ruby right out of her comfort zone!

Ruby was a lovable if somewhat indecisive character but you can’t knock her for giving everything a try. Her friendship with Charlie felt so natural she wasn’t afraid to tell Ruby what she thought and at times she was there to support event after her advice was ignored just as a good friend should be. I was interested in Charlie’s love life just as much as I was Ruby’s.

This book although enjoyable wasn’t one of Carole’s strongest for me although this could be because I am not a major Take That fan ( I say as I sat humming A Million Love Songs each time I picked up the book) It just felt little more than an indecisive love triangle and it didn’t have the warmth and depth usually found with Carole’s previous books.

As ever the characters are so well developed which is something you can always rely on with Carole’s books and the romance flows through the pages. I had a feeling I knew who Ruby would end up with but I enjoyed watching events unfold as she made her choice.

This is a perfect quick read with short sharp chapters allowing you to pick up and put down without feeling you are missing out. I look forward to Carole Mathew’s next release.

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Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights by Carole Matthews

Fay and Danny are madly in love and it's all Fay's ever dreamed of. But she left everything - including the delightful cake shop she used to run - to be with Danny on his cosy canal boat The Dreamcatcher. And as she soon finds out, making delicious cakes on the water isn't always smooth sailing!

Then Fay gets a call from her friends, a call that sends her back to her friends and the Cake Shop in the Garden. It will be hard being away from Danny but their relationship is strong enough to survive . . . isn't it?

Fay soon falls happily back in love with her passion for baking - especially now she's on dry land again! - and starts to wonder if she ever should have left. With Christmas around the corner, Fay is determined that her friends will have a very merry time, but does that mean even more time away from Danny?

What could be more exciting than a new Carole Matthews book?

How about a new Carole Matthews Christmas book?

Even better………..

A new Carole Matthews Christmas book that reunites us with our much loved characters from one of favourite books of hers The Cakes Shop in the Garden!

Fay and Danny have been living the dream onboard The Dreamcatcher but Fay is starting to miss the cake shop and her friends but she doesn’t want to leave Danny whilst he is enjoying his new life on the canal living a spontaneous life.

The decision is made for her when she gets a desperate call from Lija that means Fay has to return and it isn’t long before she feels content back in the life she knows so well but can her relationship still survive?

I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book and I couldn’t wait to return home from work to steal another chapter to see what lay ahead for Fay. It was wonderful to be reunited with the fowl mouth Lija and the loveable “ Stinky Stan “ even if they were facing some difficult times and clearly missed Fay. We have a new character, Rainbow, who I was a little struck by when she first appears in the book and thought she was going to grate on me but her kind, positive and upbeat manor soon won me around.

This book could easily be read at any time of year as it only brushes on Christmas and isn’t overly festive which was a slight disappointment as I always get my hopes up for a real magical read when picking up a Christmas themed novel but luckily the storyline still kept me hooked all the way through so it didn’t put me off reading.

Although this could be read as a standalone I would urge you to read The Cake Shop in the Garden first as the connection you build with the characters in the first book then transfers in to this book and you know the background of each characters.

Carole Matthews fans will not be disappointed with this book she has brought back much loved characters and thrown an extra spoonful of romance and friendship in to make this I wonderful enjoyable light read that will hooked.

The wonderful team over at Sphere have provided a signed copy for one of you lucky followers to 

win as part of my spot on the blog tour.

This giveaway is open to the UK and Ireland only ( publishers request )

GOOD LUCK!

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Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses by Carole Matthews

Today it is my stop on the Paper Chain tour for one of my favourite authors new books Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses by the fabulous Carole Matthews.

REVIEW

Carole Matthews is back with another charming read in Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses. I only picked this book up to briefly read the first chapter but ended up completely hooked and finished the book in one sitting as I couldn’t bear to put this book down.

Single mum Christie Chapman has for years made the long commute into London for work each day to keep a roof over her sons head. What little time she has at home she spends her time crafting and watching the Creative Craft channel feeding her passion and uber talent for craft often with the reluctant help from her son. Recently son Finn has been increasingly missing time from school feeling poorly and Christie is struggling to juggle everything but can the handsome Max give her an offer she can’t refuse?

This book ticked every box for me, I found it uplifting and heart wrenching at the same time with a fabulous love triangle with that typical will they won’t they question keeping us guessing. I have to hold my hands up and say I have never really been into crafts in anyway but even I found myself excited by the topic in this book and I think that was helped by Christie’s passion for it that just pours through the pages.

I adored the relationship between Christie and son Finn it was so endearing to read as they had such a special bond, Christie has raised such a polite and loving son and it is clear that Finn appreciates everything his mum does for them.

I definitely found whilst reading this book that it got me thinking and really makes you put things into perspective and get your priorities right. We are all faced with opportunities throughout our life like Christie that could take our lives down a completely different path but it’s that point at the crossroads where we battle between playing it safe and actually taking a leap of faith and chasing that dream and watching Christie battle through those thoughts and weighing up the pro’s and con’s had me shouting to just take that leap!

This is definitely up there with one of my favourites of Carole Matthew’s books and fans will not be disappointed but just be warned this is not a book that you will be able to sneak a few chapters here and there as it will have you hooked from the opening chapter.

This is such a wonderful book that should be shared with friends. The wonderful publishers at Little Brown have given me a copy to give to someone and I want to give it away to one of my lovely followers because it is thanks to all of your support that my blog is still going strong nearly 6 years on!


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Chocolate Lovers Wedding and #Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting this amazing giveaway along with the other wonderful bloggers on this tour, I am actually really envious as this is an amazing prize that is going to make a bookworms day!

REVIEW

I am a huge Carole Matthews fan and her Chocolate Lovers books are my favourite of hers so when my copy of The Chocolate Lovers Wedding arrived I abandoned my current read and wasted no time in revisiting Chocolate Heaven.

There are big changes for Lucy, Nadia, Autumn and Chantel in this book, some exciting changes, some more challenging and one absolutely devastating, this book will break your heart and try to piece it together again piece by piece.

Carole Matthews tackles two delicate issues in this book and she develops the emotions and thoughts that the characters have with such care and realism. After reading the whole series the characters feel so real and like our own group of friends now so it sure pulls at the heartstrings what the girls are facing.

There seemed to be a lot packed in to this book there was no safe place to put the book down. When Lucy had another one of her “ I have a plan” moments straight away I thought oh no this isn’t going to end well but as Lucy’s plans go she typically managed to bring great humour to the girls and the reader.

I still don’t feel ready to leave the ladies behind and I really hope that Carole Mathews feels the same and is locked away somewhere continuing the ladies adventures. I absolutely loved this book and it is one of the rare books that will be staying on my shelf as I can’t bare to share!

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This is a Uk only giveaway. Good Luck!

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The Chocolate Lover's Christmas by Carole Matthews

Christmas is just around the corner but the women of The Chocolate Lovers' Club have more to worry about than present shopping . . . Lucy loves running Chocolate Heaven but she hasn't spent time with her boyfriend, Aiden, in weeks. And then her ex-fiance turns up and things become even more complicated. 
Nadia hasn't let herself get close to a man in a long time, yet she can't help feeling drawn to Jacob. Will he be her last chance for a happy ending? 
Chantal and her husband, Ted, are besotted with their baby daughter Lana - but she's not sure that's enough to base a marriage on. 
Autumn is dealing with a tragedy that has hit too close to home. But when she doesn't get the support she needs from her fiance, will she look elsewhere for comfort?

My favourite books by Carole Matthews by far are her Chocolate Lover's Diet books and I have been longing for her to revisit the women in another book so you can imagine how thrilled I was when it was announced that she was releasing a third book in the series called The Chocolate Lover's Christmas, what more could you ask for Christmas+ Chocolate+ Carole= Heaven!

The ladies are back and as ever are facing various dilemma’s but they have each other and a large helping of chocolate goodies for support.

Lucy is running Chocolate Heaven but she is struggling to find a healthy work/life balance and she is really missing her boyfriend Crush. Lucy has always been my favourite character out of the girls as she is such a live wire who has some crazy ideas and her love of chocolate is something I easily relate to as I am sure most readers will! Autumn is in an emotional state after her brother dies and her relationship doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, we are then hit with a totally unexpected twist that really made my heart go out to her.

Chantal is a changed woman since having baby Lana and although I loved her character before I did find I cared for her more in this book. Nadia is trying to make ends meet and she hopes to find love again and have a safe and secure life for her and her son.

This could be read as a standalone book but there is no way you would want to miss out on the first two books especially because they help to build a strong picture of the girls friendships whilst entertaining you with their unbelievable antics!

Chocolate Heaven once again felt so comforting and inviting, there is a constant buzz in the shop and it is easy to see why. I really think Carole owes it to her readers to open her own Chocolate Heaven! Each chapter alternates between each of the women which works perfectly and allows us to get a better picture of the emotions and thoughts of each of them.

The book flows at a fast pace and there is a constant flow of events which leaves no low points in the book so no safe place to put the book down for a breather!

This book had a splash of festivity which is perfect for this time of year but in all honesty this book can easily be read anytime of year as the majority of the book doesn’t feature Christmas.

Without question this book gets the full five star rating from me as it was pure enjoyment on every page and I cannot wait to read  The Chocolate Lovers Wedding.

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The Cake Shop in the Garden by Carole Matthews

Yesterday was the release of The Cake Shop in the Garden by Carole Matthews and what better way to celebrate the launch of this deliciously good book but with the worlds first edible garden!

I couldn't miss out on this event I have wanted to meet Carole for so long now so this was a perfect opportunity to meet the lovely lady herself as well as get my book signed and then get lost in the garden of cake.

Cake + Carole + Book = HEAVEN!

The sun was shining and the crowds began to gather to take a look at the detail that had gone into creating the garden which took 450 hours to create and was crafted by cake designer Rosalind Miller. It was great to see so many members of the public coming over to see what it was all about and so many of them walked away with a copy of the fabulous book too.

I had such a wonderful afternoon and was so pleased to meet Carole who kindly signed my book too.

The Cake Shop in the Garden is out NOW!

Fay Merryweather runs her cake shop from her beautiful garden. She whips up airy sponges and scrumptious scones, while her customers enjoy the lovely blossoms and gorgeous blooms. Looking after the cake shop, the garden and her cantankerous mother means Fay is always busy but she accepts her responsibilities because if she doesn't do all this, who will? Then Danny Wilde walks into her life and makes Fay question every decision she's ever made. When a sudden tragedy strikes, Fay's entire world is thrown off balance even further and she doesn't know which way to turn. Can Fay find the strength to make a life-changing decision - even if it means giving up the thing she loves the most?

MY REVIEW

I have had book hangover for a week after finishing a great book and I have picked up four books since that I haven't managed to settle into so I needed to read a book from one of my lovable reliable authors to get me out of this slump and get my reading mojo back so I decided to read The Cake Shop in the Garden by Carole Matthews which I have been so excited about reading. A book by one of my favourite authors and it features cake........ Perfection!

When Fay becomes a full time carer to her mum she needs work to pay the bills but she needs to find something that she can do that means she can still be at home full time so she opens up her own cake shop in the garden of their home. The business is a success thanks to the help of her Latvian assistant Lija and things seem to be plodding along until something tragic happens that could mean Fay is set to have everything turned upside down.

Oh Carole Matthews you have done it again! This was such a gentle, charming read that had me entranced from start to finish so I ended up reading in one sitting. Our main character Fay is such a loving, caring and selfless character who is very passionate about her work and loves to be by the canal. At times I wanted to give her a good shake when she let people take advantage of her but it was her gentle nature that I loved and it is the characters who abused this that really needed a good shaking! I loved the feisty character Lija, she was a very loyal as stint as well as a friend to Fay and she brings a nice little touch of wit to the storyline.

I loved the setting of this book, set on the Grand Union Canal which is something that is completely new to me but that has now really sparked my interest, it really seemed like a welcoming and tranquil place to be and I wish I could have been on The Dreamcatcher whilst reading this book!

This was a light read with a great mix of characters, a splash of romance, a pinch of humour, and an idyllic setting. This is another one to add to my long list of favourite by this talented author.

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The Christmas Party by Carole Matthews

Louise Young is a devoted single mother whose only priority is providing for her daughter, Mia. Louise has a good job in a huge international corporation and she's grateful for it. The only problem is her boss who can't keep his hands to himself, but Louise can handle him. What she really doesn't have time for is romance - until she meets the company's rising star, Josh Wallace. Louise usually says no to evenings out but she's decided to let her hair down tonight. It's the office Christmas party, she has a pretty dress to wear and she's looking forward to some champagne and fun. She's completely unaware that others around her are too busy playing dangerous games to enjoy the party - until she's pulled into those games herself . . . 
Romance is in the air and secrets are about to be uncovered. It's going to be a night to remember at The Christmas Party.

The Christmas Party is Carole Matthews 25th book and what an achievement that is! The cover has that unique Carole Matthews look and is beautifully festive too, and after reading the synopsis I couldn't wait to get started on this one and meet the lovely Louise.

Having only been in her new job a short while single mum Louise is nervous about the Christmas Office Party she just hopes that her boss will keep his hands to himself for once. Leaving her daughter Mia home with her mum and dad she makes her way to Wadestone Estate and she feels like a fish out of water in this breathtaking venue but as her colleague Josh spots her he takes her under his wing, her problems seem so small compared to everyone around her!

This book was not what I had expected at all! After reading the synopsis I assumed the book was predominantly going to be about Louise but actually Louise was just one of many main characters, I did enjoy all the scandal that was going on with all of the characters it made it a very entertaining and unpredictable read I never quite knew what was going to happen next as there are a lot of naughty people who work at Fossil Oil! The book is set over only three days, the day of the party which takes up the majority of the book, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and the chapters alternate between all of our characters points of view which works really well because we get to see what is going on but through different eyes. What an action packed eventful couple of days and a party full of absolute chaos what is not to enjoy.

This book felt very different from this authors usual books, I normally find her books ( especially her festive reads ) homely, cosy and traditional with a main character who has a heart of gold but is facing a troubling time where as this book is packed full of drama drama drama and only two characters for me had a heart of gold all the others had hearts of ice! I must admit I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Louise because out of all of the characters she was my favourite and her story appealed to me more so than the others but it was nice to have a mix.

As much as I missed this authors usual festive cheer it was great to see something completely different from this author. There were many witty moments in this book from nakedness to magician errors and these points had me chuckling away. This will be another hit for Carole Matthews fans this year.

Overall Storyline

Festive Storyline

Festive Cover

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Interview with Carole Mathews and review of A Place To Call Home

Today I am joined on the blog by one of my top 10 authors, the lovely Carole Matthews....

Thank you for taking the time to stop by Rea Book Reviews and answer some questions for us.

1) This has to be my favourite of your books, it had a slightly deeper and serious topic compared with your other books, what gave you the inspiration for this book.?
I do two books a year, so that’s a lot of material! It also gives me chance to do something a little bit different every now and again. The background to the story is an abusive relationship, but I concentrate more on how my character, Ayesha, builds a new life for herself and her daughter. I always like to have an issue with a tiny ‘i’ at the heart of my stories and pick something that affects a lot of women. Sadly, a lot of women have found themselves having to leave abusive relationships for one reason or another. The book still has it’s funny moments though. And a few weepy ones too. 

 2) Crystal was my favourite character she was so much fun but also had a caring side to her, was she or and of your other characters based on people you know? She’s named for my good friend, Ayesha, who is a lady from a Sri Lankan background so she helped me a lot with research - as did a trip to Sri Lanka. I wanted to explore how her character became so much more strong after she left her marriage and was free to be herself. She goes from being so timid to developing into quite a feisty lady. Quite often my characters have a basis in truth and I think that’s why so many women relate to them. I don’t often use one person entirely as inspiration, but I made the exception for Summer Daydreams which is the story of my friend, Helen Rochfort, handbag designer extraordinaire. That’s about 75% true to her own story.

 3) A birdie tells me you used to work as a Beauty Therapist which is what your character Ayesha turns her hand to, do you miss the industry at all? I was a beauty therapist for 15 years and loved it. Sometimes I miss the company as I used to see about 20 clients a day. Now I work in splendid isolation! There’s nothing quite like having a good gossip over a manicure. It also gave me a lot of interesting stories to draw on for inspiration. 

 4) Can you give us a teaser about the book you are currently working on? I’m just editing my book for Christmas this year and it’s called The Christmas Party. The book is about an office party in a manor house and features the stories of three women whose lives all change during the course of the evening. I’ve had great fun writing this. There are some quite slapstick moments and a wonderful pantomime baddy who we can all hate. 

 5) What was the last you’re currently reading and would you recommend it? I’m just in the middle of an oldish book - Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka. I adored her first book, A Short History of Tractors in the Ukraine - even though I thought it was a terribly unattractive title. I’m finding this book a little bitty. There are many viewpoints and it swaps from one to another every paragraph, so I’m struggling to remember who’s who. Even the dog has its own viewpoint. The underlying story is very interesting though. It’s about a bunch of immigrants - from Eastern Europe, China and Africa - who come together to pick the fruit during the summer in England. Nice, but I’m not as totally engrossed as I like to be. 

 6) What are your thoughts on Kindle vs paperback? You can’t beat the feel and smell of a proper book! However, I fell in love with my Kindle when I bought it for my trip to Sri Lankan. I loaded it up with about 350 books - all on one little gadget! For once, I didn’t have to choose between shoes and books when packing. I like the convenience of the Kindle and also that there are some great bargains to be had. I recently bought Donna Tartt’s book, The Goldfinch, for 99p on Kindle. And, at 800 pages long, I’m quite glad that I don’t have to carry the book around in my handbag. I don’t think I’ll ever stop buying paperbacks though. Like the banana, a perfect package.


MY REVIEW

I am a huge Carole Matthews fan and I have loved all of her books she never seems to put a foot wrong which is why I find her books so enjoyable they are like comfort food to me!

In the early hours of the morning Ayesha makes her escape with her mute daughter from her violent husband. With all her family still living back in Sri Lanka they have no one to turn to so they head for London to try and find a place to stay where her husband cannot find them.

Former popstar Hayden has become somewhat a recluse and has opened his house to Joy and Crystal, when Crystal asks Hayden if he could do a friend of hers a favour and take in a homeless mother and child he is not won over but cannot say no to Crystal.

Will this house be a safe haven for Ayesha and her daughter?

One of the first books I read of Carole Matthews was The Chocolate Lovers Diet Club and it has remained a firm favourite of mine by this author but there is now a book threatening to knock that off the top! A Place to Call Home was a fabulous read that is now easily my favourite by Carole Matthews. I knew from the first page that this book was going to be devoured in one sitting. Somehow the author managed to get me intrigued and on edge straight from that first page.

The characters are what make this book such a pleasure to read. There are a diverse group of characters who will melt your heart. Ayesha is a courageous, innocent and loveable and she has lived a very sheltered life so she is not very street savvy. Her cute little daughter Sabine was a big hit for me I had great sympathy for her and I was willing her to find her voice not only for her but for her mum also. Crystal was a very trendy, modern loving woman who brought a great deal of entertainment to the book whilst the gorgeous Hayden kept us ladies occupied!

The storyline was actually quite deep and tense compared to the author’s previous books. The storyline obviously covers a horrific topic of domestic abuse but this is dealt with so delicately. I really sympathised with Ayesha and I thought she was a very brave woman to try to escape but I am sure this is what the love for your child would make me do, I just wanted a happy ever after for her and her daughter.

This book has some great humour a touch of romance, some great friendships as well as some tense moments. This was an enthralling read that I would highly recommend, Carole Matthews fans you are in for a real treat with this book ENJOY! xx

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Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews

Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She's soon in huge demand and Cassie's business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born.

Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children, so he enlists Cassie's help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her loving partner Jim to handle the rest of her clients. 

When millionaire Carter asks Cassie to join his family on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn't go . . . Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her entire life.

The first book in our 2013 Christmas book feature is Calling Mrs Christmas and let me tell you this book has started this feature off with a Bang! The cover is very traditional and festive, this will definitely catch your eye on the book shelves this Christmas.

Cassie has been unemployed for some time now and with her confidence dwindling and with both her and husband Joe finding the pinch living on one wage she is desperate to work and bring in some money. After being turned down by all her job applications she decides that she will start a business of her own and has a plan to be a Christmas planner. Before long she is in demand and her main client Carter has many Christmas needs but will Cassie be able to cope with this ontop of her other clients and how will husband Joe feel about the time she has to spend with the handsome millionaire Carter?

This is going to be such a hard book to compete with this Christmas. This was a truly fantastic book that was everything I could have dreamed of for a Christmas themed book. Each and every one of the characters in this book I loved, Cassie was a very down to earth warm character, there was a couple of times where I wanted to shake her but I felt as though her actions were a result of the pressures she felt from when she was unemployed. My favourite characters though were Rozzer and Smudge and their story really intrigued me it is something I haven’t seen featured in a book before and it is quite clear that Carole Matthews done a lot of research on this topic.

This had everything you could hope for in a Christmas themed book, presents, decorations, card writing, Santa and his elves and to top it all of Lapland! One thing you can always count on with books by Carole Matthews are the scenes that she sets are going to be very detailed and this book is no exception not only when Cassie is in Lapland with all the amazing adventures she partakes in but also when she is at home decorating too.

I love that although the book is very festive and entertaining there are also some raw, hard topics that are used with the young offenders and also with the recession and unemployment and the effects they have and yet this still doesn’t bring the joy of the storyline down at all.

Calling Mrs Christmas will definitely get you into the festive mood, and it is a real page turner that is just impossible to put down. This is going to be an unforgettable book and it is certainly up there with one of my favourites by Carole Matthews. Another fantastically festive read by the Queen of Chick Lit, Carole Matthews is my Mrs Christmas this year!

FESTIVE COVER              

FESTIVE STORYLINE  

OVERALL REVIEW      

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A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews

Grace has been best friends with Ella and Flick forever. The late-night chats, shared heartaches and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time.

When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband. 

Then Flick arrives; loveable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah. This is going to be one week which will change all their lives forever...

I decided to settle down and make a start on Carole Matthews new book A Cottage by the Sea last night, I only expected to make a start not completely finish it but that is exactly what happened!

There is something about this authors writing style that is so comforting and I seem to visibly relax when I settle into her books and reading this book was no different. A Cottage by The Sea has a lovely group of friends and their partners who are all taking some time out from their day to day lives and holidaying together in the middle of nowhere. Some are more happy about the location than others as with the cottage being so remote there is no phone signal and no local shops or pubs! Grace, Eve and Flick have all been friends since uni so this is a great time for them to all catch up but they all seem to be having problems in their love lives, will this break get the relationships running smoothly.

The scene is set beautifully thanks to the authors descriptive writing style, you can picture the beautiful surroundings and you cant help but feel as though you are there living the story with the characters. The relationship between the three girls feels very genuine even though they all have very different characteristics. Grace is our main character and she is a very natural and loving character I loved her through the whole of the book other than in one chapter where I wanted to wring her neck but then she makes up for it a little with a golf club!

I think everyone who reads this book is going to fall in love with Noah as men like him are few and far between. You can feel  the chemistry between Noah and Grace flowing through the pages but I do love that Grace wasn’t predictable in her actions and she went up a step higher in my expectations. We are led all the way through the book thinking will they wont they it was unpredictable.

This story is full of friendship, love, heartbreak and secrets which is why it is such a captivating read. I loved this book it has got me ready for Summer ( can some just let the weather man know!) 

A Cottage by the Sea is available now on kindle and is released on 28th March in paperback

Paperback               Kindle

With Love At Christmas by Carole Matthews

I loved Wrapped up in You by Carole Matthews last Christmas so I had extremely high hopes for With Love at Christmas this year ( No pressure Carole)!

Juliet Joyce adores Christmas. She loves the presents, the tree, the turkey, the tinsel, everything. Already the festive spirit is upon her, which is just as well as this Christmas things are starting to get out of hand.

Her son Tom is out of work and bringing home a slew of unsuitable partners; pregnant daughter Chloe and her little boy have moved back in; Juliet's father, Frank, is getting over a heartbreak of his own and Rita, her eccentric mother, is behaving more erratically each day. And has the chaos got too much for Juliet's husband Rick? 

With the big day fast approaching, Juliet hopes that she can stop everything spiralling out of control, because the only thing she wants is her family all around her and her home to be filled WITH LOVE AT CHRISTMAS.

We are reintroduced to the characters we know and love from a previous book of Carole Matthews, That Loving Feeling which only made this book have even more of a warm cosy feel to it because of the familiarity to the characters. What I love about this group of characters and their story lines are that they are so down to earth that it often feels as though you are reading about the story of the people next door because it all feels so realistic.

I love all of the characters but I have to say on more than one occasion I wanted to throttle them mainly Chloe who quite clearly is used to having everything handed to her on a plate and finds it all too easy to expect her mum to babysit at a drop of a hat because her little boy is obviously a pain when it comes to her social life but then I equally want to throttle Juliet just as much for giving in to her daughter so easy which does Chloe no favours but having said that I still love both of the characters!

This is a perfect Christmas read and it gives you a real festive feeling. The family are building up to the big day and we get to be with them on a traditional Christmas day opening presents and sitting down to a Christmas dinner. There are many little story lines going on through this book involving each of the many characters and yet Carole manages to tie them all up and bring them together so they all come together to make a perfect read.

I think this book brings out every emotion from excitement to family troubles, heartache to romance. Oh and how can I forget the humour! There was more than one occasion where I found myself laughing out loud my favourite involving Juliet and the Kitchen table! Once again I find myself taking my hat off to Carole Matthews she really is the Queen of chick lit and doesn’t ever seem to falter so thank you yet again for a fantastic read.

Looking for a traditional and festive story with all the trimmings then With Love at Christmas is the book for you.

Book Cover


Festive Feel


Overall Book Review Rating




Paperback              Kindle

Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews

The winners of our Carole Matthews give away are 

*Stacey Bennett

* Zoe Lee

*Aileen Russell

* Rainie Bish

* Sarah Ridgeway

Well done Ladies!!

My Review

I am a huge fan of Carole Matthews and I have been eagerly awaiting her next novel. Since Carole has changed publishers her book covers have really changed and are really eye-catching and Summer Daydreams has a beautiful and bright cover which certainly suits the title.

Nell McNamara works in the local fish and chips shop to try and bring more money in to help her struggling family keep their heads above water. Husband Olly is juggling work trying to make ends meet. Nell and Olly have a beautiful little girl called Petal who they have to try and juggle child care between their jobs. Nell wants a better life for her family and after an idea is put in her head by her chip shop boss Phil she decides to go into business on her own. As with the start of any business venture there sure are ups and downs but poor Nell does get more than her fair share of problems.

This book had a very realistic storyline, with so many people struggling with the current economic climate people are trying to do whatever they can to try and bring more money in to take the strain off of the constant flow of bills they have to pay. It was great to see Nell take on a new challenge and to use her own skills to set up a business but it shows how difficult and also how important it is when having your own business to try and get the work and family balance right.  I liked that although Nell is our main character in this book every so often the book switches to Olly’s point of view and we get to see firsthand how Nells new business has an effect on their relationship and also how it is effecting Petal.

I loved little Petal in this book she really was a fun little character that brought a lot of humour to the storyline. I loved the friendly mix of characters in this book there didn’t feel as though there were and ulterior motives from any of the characters which made the book a joy to read it made the book a simple and enjoyable read without having to have your guard up trying to find out who was the bad guy!

Once again Carole’s beautiful writing style had me gripped meaning I finished this book in a few hours. As ever she has created  a great group of characters and a fresh new storyline that just keeps you turning the page. Carole Matthews strikes again!

Kindle                       Paperback

Wrapped Up In You by Carole Matthews

I am a huge Carole Matthews fan.. I cannot walk past new Carole Matthews book without picking it up. I was so excited when an advanced copy of Wrapped up in You arrived in my letter box to review, all wrapped up in a lovely little bow, my Christmas had come early!






Plot.


A Christmas fling, or has Janie found the real thing? Thirty-something hairdresser Janie Johnson's single status is a constant source of gossip for her friends and clients. So after too many nights in with her cat, a blind date disaster and news that her ex is getting married, Janie realises it's time to do something dramatic with her life. It's time for an adventure! Leaving winter behind, Janie takes the plunge and books an exotic trip to Africa. Her friends think she's mad and Janie thinks they may very well be right ...but then she falls head over heels for her tour guide ? and fully fledged Maasai Warrior ? Dominic. But can Janie now face spending a snowy Christmas back home without him? Packed with unforgettable characters, romance and laughter, Wrapped Up In You is your very own perfect Christmas Carole!


My Opinion
Sighhhhhhhhhhhh! I Loved it....The End!


Carole Matthews has come back with a bang this year. From the first chapter of Wrapped Up in You I was hooked. I connected with the main character from the moment I met her. Janie works as a hairdresser which is a similar industry that I work in so when we first meet her at work with her chatty clients talking about love and holidays, I felt like I was reading about my working day! Janie's character comes over as very warm and caring if a little vulnerable. We only hope that she can soon find the love and happiness she deserves.


Carole teases us in this book with two gorgeous men, Dominic and Mike, who are two worlds apart and who are both perfect in every way and will have you looking at your partner wondering why he isn't more like these characters!


The descriptive method of writing Matthews uses in this book really gives this book an intriguing and exciting feel to it. I think this book should come with a warning on the festive front cover as once you have read this it will have you looking at holidays in Africa!


As you will see from the picture above now that Carole has moved over to Sphere she now has a fresh new look which in my opinion looks much more inviting. I was expecting more of a festive feel to the book judging by the cover so I was a little surprised y the storyline when Janie leaves the festive setting for a gorgeous setting in Africa.


We also get our little touches of humour in this book, my favourite involving a difficult escape route! The book starts at a great pace and continues the whole way through with no dull points to the book. I thought by the second chapter that I knew how the story was going to pan out but I was wrong. This novel is beautifully written and the ending is wrapped up in a lovely way not leaving us hanging and not feeling a rush to the close. 

This is one of my favourite Carole Matthews books and I cannot recommend it enough, everyone needs this book sitting under their Christmas tree.

Wrapped up in you is released in paperback on the 27th October so put this one on your Christmas List or pre-order to make sure you do not miss out!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0751545090/ref=pe_132581_26367951_pe_vfe_dt1

Thankyou to Carole and her publishers for sending me an advanced copy of Wrapped Up In You.