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




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Friends and Rivals by Tilly Bagshawe

Friends and Rivals is my first book by Tilly Bagshawe and I fell in love with the cover of this hardback book although very simplistic it is beautiful I was just hoping I would love the story inside just as much.

Kat fears she is past her prime. Her philandering husband, Ivan, who she still loves passionately after twenty years of marriage, leaves her for a younger woman. Devastated, there is only one person left who Kat trusts.

Kendall is sure she has it all. But underneath her tough exterior she hides a vulnerability – she is helplessly struggling with an unrequited love. But when Kendall’s need for success consumes her, she won’t let anyone stand in her way. 

Ava is an innocent, plucked from obscurity and thrown into the deep-end of the glamorous world of fame. When she is pitted against Kendall, the world watches closely, wondering who will survive.

As these three women try to navigate a backstabbing world of infamy, desire and fortune, will they be tempted to betray the people they hold dearest?

Friends and Rivals was not what I was expecting at all but it was a great surprise I really enjoyed this book. What I loved the most is how different each of the characters were and how well they were developed considering how big a part each character played in the book. Usually when there is a big cast of characters in a book there always seems to be one or two characters who outshines everyone else but this isn’t the case in this book I really felt as though I got to know each and every character in this book. There is a different character for everyone but combined together they complement the book by bringing you a little of each personality to this action packed, tense storyline.

The storyline is very much based around fame and fortune and the music industry but with the added bonus of many relationships and friendships with spanners in the works. All the way through this book I was never quite sure what was going to happen on the next chapter and there was no way of predicting who would end up with who as there is so much betrayal and rivalry between numerous amount of characters.

My favourite two characters had to be Jack and Catriona they had a more gentler and down to earth feel to them and I was hoping all the way through that they would finally get together to nurse each other’s broken hearts but in fiction books you never know how the relationships will end up!

The author is a little gem and gives us a perfect ending to the book by tying up all the loose ends to the storyline rather than leaving us on a cliff hanger but you just have to read this book to see if the outcomes are what you were expecting!

Looking for an intense read full of rivalry and betrayal, glamour and romance then look no further!

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Misfortune Cookie by Michele Gorman

Would you move 6,000 miles to be with the love of your life? Hannah did. Unfortunately her plan isn't going terribly well. What was supposed to be a move to Hong Kong to start a wonderful new life with Sam is turning into a move to Hong Kong to spend occasional weekends with Sam, when he can get away from an unanticipated work assignment on the opposite side of the South China Sea. Still, she's optimistic, if woefully unprepared for the intricacies of Hong Kong. Stumbling through the alien city, which she loves, she starts to build a life for herself. Things definitely look up when she finds a great boss to work for, and her best friend Stacy moves to the city too. But alarm bells ring as Sam seems to be getting a bit too cozy with his boss. And when things start going wrong at work, Hannah can't help but wonder if she's made the biggest mistake of her life. 

Having just finished Misfortune Cookie I have a great urge to book a trip to Hong Kong as the writer’s descriptive writing pulls you in and makes you feel as if you are walking around seeing the sights with the characters.

There was some great humour in this book especially surround language translation my favourite which comes to mind is translation of numbers which results in a very funny and yet very rude comment! 

As quick as I warmed to the main character Hannah is as quick as I took to loathing her boyfriend Sam, he got my back up from the moment I met him in this book, after his girlfriend has moved 6000 miles to be with him and yet he doesn’t even let her live with him or have the decency to stay in the country! Hannah was a great character although I was a little shocked at how easy it came to her to up sticks and move across the country to be with her boyfriend but then this is what happens in fiction and that’s why I love it so much as it is so extreme and different from my life. 

One thing I didn’t realise is this book is a carry on from the authors first book Single In The City but I still enjoyed this book I just feel maybe the characters would have felt a little more developed if I had read the first book. I enjoyed the authors writing style and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

The Great Escape by Fiona Gibson

I read my first book by Fiona Gibson only a couple of weeks ago and I loved it and couldn’t wait to read another book by this author, this time I have just finished her book The Great Escape and it doesn’t disappoint.

Hannah, Sadie and Lou have been great friends but their lives are pulling them in different directions. Sadie is now living in the country trying to look after her new baby twins and along the way seems to have lost herself among the breast milk and tantrums!

Lou is stuck in a dead-end job trying to make end meet while her lazy long term boyfriend is taking her for granted.

Hannah is counting down the days to her big day but problems with her step children are causing her to have serious doubts.

Will Hannah make it down the aisle?

I loved The Great Escape nearly as much as Mum on The Run. The author has such a great writing style which manages to draw you in right from the first page as she throws us straight into a great storyline.

The three main characters in this book all have their own individual personalities very different from each other and yet they are all loveable and down to earth characters who I think each reader will find they can relate to one of the characters, for me this was Lou I looked forward to her parts in the book hoping that things were finally improving for her.

There is a great mixture of content in this book from affairs to parenting struggles and each of the girls needing to find themselves, so there is something going on on every page so there were no low parts in this book.

This book wasn’t humorous or light hearted like the authors previous book it focused more serious problems which ordinary people face in day to day life but the friendship between the girls lighten the tone. I still found myself hooked and I cannot wait for another release from Fiona Gibson.

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Mum on the Run by Fiona Gibson

I remember walking into WHSmith and seeing a pack of two books by Fiona Gibson on the shelf. The covers of these books are exactly the brightly and alluring covers which seem to always catch my eye so I had to pick these ones up. Problem was I was very organised and put them in my drawer as I keep the books I buy separate from the books sent to review but I done a bad thing and forgot about them ( please form a line to smack my wrist!) I thought it was about time I read one of these books so I started with Mum on The Run.

Laura Swan is not happy with her weight but seems to just plod along without doing anything about it until the dreaded children’s sports day comes around and her daughter Grace is pleading with her to take part in the mum’s race. Finally giving in to her daughter she competes against the very athletic mums and in such a short time during this race her world comes crumbling down in more ways than one.

Laura decides to take drastic action and is going to shift the extra pounds but is this going to be enough to fix everything around her?

This is the first book I have read by Fiona Gibson and I can now say it definitely will not be my last. This book was pure entertainment right from the first chapter which had me laughing away. Laura is such a loveable character it doesn’t take long for us to warm to her and we find ourselves routing for her all the way through the book as she tackles situations many of us have found ourselves in.

The book flows at such a fast and easy pace that I finished it in an afternoon in the sun. I loved the way the author tied the ending up as I am sure you all know by now I do not like to be left on a cliff-hanger!

I did find the parts of the storyline very predictable but for me this didn’t effect my enjoyment of the book as it was great to see how everything unfolded and the day to day humour which is used in this book more than makes up for the lack of suspense. 

If any of you are like me and not read any of Fiona Gibson’s previous books then I would definitely pick one up especially thoughts of you who like the writing style of Jane Costello as this book had a similar feel to her books. I cannot wait to start another book by Fiona Gibson lucky for me I brought The Great Escape too so I am sure you know what I will be reading tonight!

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Diva by Carrie Duffy

I remember all too well being approached last year to read a debut book by author Carrie Duffy and what a great debut book Idol was. I have eagerly been awaiting her new book Diva to come flying through my door as this author showed great promise in her previous book and I was looking forward to see how she has progressed in her new novel DIVA.

Three beautiful women who are all desperate to make a better life for themselves and need to get away from their childhood memories. Dionne is stunning, confident and is determined to be the next top model. Shy and reserved Alyson has had the toughest of upbringings and when things come to a head she decides it is time she takes her life into her own hands and follow her dream.

Both of the girls find their journey begins in Paris where they both end up moving in with a quirky clothing designer CeCe who is trying to make it in the fashion world if only someone would give her a break. It soon becomes clear that there will be many hurdles to overcome to make it to the top of their careers which will put each of the girls to the test and show what some people will do to get to the top.

I found this book impossible to put down. The author creates three very different characters with Alyson being my favourite as she was a very delicate and innocent character. Dionne was a very hard character to take too the title clearly represents Dionne as Diva is the perfect word to describe her. She is a very jealous and determined character and yet although there was a lot I didn’t like about her personality there was something about her that I just knew I would warm to in the end. Although CeCe feature a lot in this book she does seem to take a back seat compared to the other two women but she still brought her own little something to the book.

The romance in the book was predictable but it was great to watch it develop. If you love a book with the glitz and glamour and a heap load of fashion this book is definitely one for you. Carrie Duffy has brought us yet another fantastic book and in my opinion this has knocked Idol off the top as the authors writing style seemed to flow alot easier in this book there were no low parts to the book that had you feeling like you wanted to skim through.

A thoroughly entertaining and fashionable read by Carrie Duffy.

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Chrissie Manby Interview

One of my favourite books that I read last month was What I did on my Holidays by Chrissie Manby. I only read my first book by this wonderful author last year when I read Spa Wars which I loved, so I was eager to get her over for a little chat to find out more about her.

Welcome Chrissie Manby....

1) Tell us a little about your new book What I did on my Holidays.
  What I Did On My Holidays is the story of Sophie Sturgeon, who finds herself single the night before she and her boyfriend Callum are supposed to go on a big romantic holiday. In the heat of their break-up row, Sophie tells him she's going to go to Majorca regardless but when it comes to getting the plane, she bottles out and stays home. However, when her friends, who think she took the trip, congratulate her on her bravery and assure her that Callum is rattled by her move, Sophie decides she has no choice but to pretend she is in Majorca after all. Things become complicated when her sister Clare, who has come to water the plants, discovers Sophie in hiding. Clare has problems of her own, and before Sophie can protest, Clare 'joins' Sophie in Majorca and they are locked into creating the ultimate fake break.

 2) What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

The premise behind WIDOMH is an extension of that classic mobile-phone enabled lie 'I'm in the office', when you're really tucked under the duvet. Now we have phones and laptops, we can work - and pretend to be - literally anywhere. But, of course, social networking creates its own problems. These days, you're expected to remain in contact all the time, even when you are on the beach.

3) What research did you do for this book ( I have visions of you hidden under the bed!) 

Ha! I haven't been able to fit under the bed for a very long time!

4) Are you currently working on your next book and can you tell us what to expect?

I've just finished writing a book called 'A Proper Family Holiday', which is set in Lanzarote. It follows the adventures of the Benson Family, who are holidaying together to celebrate Jacqui Benson the matriarch's sixtieth birthday. The action centres on Jacqui's daughters, Ronnie and Chelsea, who haven't spoken to each other in three years when they are forced back together by Jacqui's birthday wishes. The sisters lead very different lives - Ronnie is a mum, CHelsea is a magazine editor - and the tension of holidaying together threatens to ruin their relationship forever.

5) What was the last book you read and would you recommend it? I am currently reading the Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo. It's a book of life lessons drawn from the experiences of the great fashion designer. I'm enjoying it very much. I'm very interested in fashion.

6) Are you a Kindle convert?

 I would not be without mine! I love being able to summon up a new book anytime, anywhere

7) You are stuck on REA'S DESERT ISLAND what would be your three must have items?

My Kindle! Murad sunscreen and an endless supply of Earl Grey tea-bags.

Thank you Chrissie for taking the time to talk to us. 


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Summer Nights by Allie Spencer

One of the best Summer reads for me last year was Summer Loving by Allie Spencer. When I was looking through Amazon to see what new up and coming books were coming out I was shocked to see that Allie Spencer was releasing another book this time called Summer Nights. The book covers are very similar and very appealing perfect for a summer read if ever the sun does decide to come out but just remember to be careful you pick up the right book!

Flora is holidaying in San Francisco and she is eagerly awaiting her boyfriend’s arrival to join her in celebrating her 30^th birthday but things don’t go to plan when he dumps her leaving her alone in San Francisco. With only one option Flora seeks out her cousin Bella who lives in San Francisco but Bella has been keeping secrets from her family when it comes to her job with them thinking she is working as a nurse when in fact she is currently singing in an Abba tribute band. It looks like the girls need each other help to get over the difficulties in their lives.

Firstly I was a little surprised by this book as I thought because the title and the cover of the books were so similar I thought it was going to be a carry on from Summer Loving but this wasn’t the case.  We are introduced to a whole new bunch of characters all of whom I loved. Flora was easy to warm to after having her heart broken early on in the book although it is quite clear she is upset she doesn’t mope around for long as her cousin Bella and her friend Lisa soon take it upon themselves to cheer her up and encourage her to get back out on the dating scene again.

If there are any Abba fans out there you will also enjoy this book as Bella is part of an Abba tribute band and you soon have the songs playing in your mind! I love how light hearted the book felt until a certain point where out of nowhere the book takes an emotional turn which only makes the book more appealing. I love the romance in this book to it wasn’t rushed and it was great to read the build up to the relationship between Flora and her love interest.

Another great read from Allie Spencer which will make your perfect holiday read.

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What I did on my Holidays by Chrissie Manby

I have only read two books by Chrissie Manby before but I loved both of them.  It is one of the first real summery looking books I have seen so far this year and after reading the synopsis for this book I was already chuckling away.

After months of planning the most perfect romantic holiday Sophie finishes her last day at work and decides to cook a nice meal for Callum but when he still doesn’t arrive later than planned Sophie calls him and he dumps her the night before they are due to jet away to their holiday destination. Sophie is stuck what should she do go on her long awaited holiday or forget about it all together?

Sophie didn’t feel she could go on holiday on her own and so she plans to hide out in her flat in London. She pretends to her family and colleagues that she has jetted away and posts random texts but soon she is recreating her whole holiday in her flat but how long will she be able to keep up the game before someone suspects something?

I absolutely loved this book it is one of the most hilarious books I have read so far this year! When the book starts poor Sophie is looking forward to her holiday with partner Callum until he dumps her and I thought the book was going to be very emotional and I did feel that Chrissie Manby's usual writing style had changed and I was a little worried but from out of nowhere the humour starts and it had me laughing out loud ( in the middle of Costa which isn’t so good!)

Sophie was a fantastic main character she was so entertaining and she felt so life like and I connected with her character right from the first character. I also loved her sister Clare who also brought a lot of humour to the book even if it did mean she was creating more sticky situations for her sister. I think what made this book such a simple read was there was very few characters to get to know and the two characters who featured the most were developed so well.

The book was a quick read at only 308 pages but this was perfect for this book as there was something going on in each chapter which had you turning the pages to see what on earth Sophie and Clare were going to do next and I think if the book was any longer it would have felt a little drawn out. This would be a perfect beach read as it is a very light-hearted and entertaining storyline.

I highly recommend What I Did On My Holidays it was oozing with humour, a real feel good read. I am looking forward to more books by Chrissie Manby.

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One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon

I have read all of Paige Toon’s books and loved every one of them. I have been eagerly awaiting the release of One Perfect Summer and when I went into my local bookstore and see it was the last copy so it looks like I wasn’t the only one eager for this book to come out!

This is my favourite cover of Paige Toon’s books, it is quite simplistic and yet still eye-catching and instantly recognisable as one of Paige Toons.

Alice is taking a break in Dorset for the Summer with her mum before she goes off to university. The last thing Alice expects is to fall in love in her six week break but her heart is taken the moment she meets Joe in the local Devon pub. Their relationship grows over the six weeks but a tornado of events happen which see’s the couple ripped apart and Alice is heartbroken as her holiday is cut short, she wonders if she will ever find Joe again.

Nursing her broken heart with the help of new friend Jessie, Alice begins to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and starts to build a life attending university and it’s not long before a new love interest tries to win her heart but will Alice be able to put her thoughts and feelings for Joe aside and start her new life with Lucas?

This book had my full attention from the first chapter, there is something about Paige Toons writing style that draws you in from the moment we meet her characters.

Alice was easy to warm to she is a very gentle and loveable character and she leaves a lasting impression even after the book finishes and I think this is because when we first meet Alice she is only 18 and experiencing her first serious relationship which we can all relate to. The book then jumps through the years of her life and we see her growing up.

I loved Joe’s character too. His circumstances when we are introduced to him make his character feel vulnerable and we instantly want to care for him and hope that there are positive changes coming soon for him. When Alice and Joe parted I really missed his character, I was hoping we would move to Joe’s story at some point early on in the book so we could see what he was doing at the same time as Alice but none the less I still enjoyed the book I think it probably kept you turning the pages with the suspense of needing to know what happens to him.

I really didn’t warm to Lucas and I struggled to see what Alice saw in him he was very controlling and he seemed to just be competing with his ex rather than taking Alice’s feelings into account.

I would say this is one of my favourite Paige Toon boos but I would love to shake this author! She really does like to leave the reader hanging. As it was coming to the end I couldn’t wait to see how thing panned out but no wait for it....... there is to be a sequel to One Perfect Summer, Paige Toon what are you doing to me how will I sleep tonight!

This is a great read which will have you speeding through the pages and sitting on the edge of your seat. A must read by Paige Toon.

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White Wedding by Milly Johnson

White Wedding by Milly Johnson follows three brides to be who all meet by chance in the White Wedding bridal shop and soon become great friends. Violet, Max and Bel are all very likeable characters but they are no way the perfect brides to be as they all have a hidden secret when it comes to their weddings and it is not just pre-wedding nerves! 

Bel is due to marry first she is engaged to Richard but her hopes and dreams not only for her wedding but for her future with her new husband to be are shattered when she finds out a heartbreaking secret. Violet is engaged to Glyn but is clearly having doubts about the wedding she feels very suffocated in her relationship and it is clear Glyn needs to get help to stop his paranoia before it puts the wedding in jeopardy. Max has been with her fiancé Stuart since college and the time seemed right for them to tie the knot but both Max and Stuart have very different ideas of their perfect wedding day. Can changes be made to ensure all the weddings still go ahead?

This was my first Milly Johnson book, I am unsure why I haven’t got around to reading one the authors books before because the covers of her books are very appealing to me and now I have read the synopsis of some more of her books they sound right up my street.

The author creates three fantastic and loveable characters with Violet being my favourite as I could relate more to her than the other two characters. Max defiantly brought the entertainment factor to the book with all of her wedding wishes being based on the Gypsy Wedding style. Bel really did have a hard time but I was a little frustrated at the situation she put herself through which I wish I could say more but I don’t want to give away to much detail as it will ruin her part of the story.

The book is split up into three parts one part for each ladies weddings and it was great that the chapters were very short as it makes it easy to be able to pick up and put down when you just have time to snatch a chapter or two, although this book had me gripped after the second chapter so I ended up finishing it in a day!

I loved the suspense that Milly Johnson manages to create especially with Bel I knew something wasn’t right early on in the book with Bel but I couldn’t figure it out so I had a shock coming. This was the same with the ending of the book it was just not possible to predict the ending which made you keep turning the pages quickly trying to get to the end to see how it all pans out.

This was a genuinely perfect read with a realistic storyline and three great characters. I highly recommend this book and I will now be on the lookout for more books by Milly Johnson as she has such a warm and enjoyable writing style I am definitely a new member of the Milly Johnson fan club!

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Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues by Trisha Ashley

I have always found Trisha Ashley’s books a little hit or miss, although I read and enjoy them they never seem to grip me and leave me with a lasting impression and yet there is still something about them that make me pick up her new novel every year.

I will be very surprised if anyone can walk past this book and not turn their head as firstly the title of this book must grab the attention of every woman, I mean Chocolate and shoes in the same sentence, is it just me or does that sound like pure heaven. I also loved the fact that the cover is similar to Chocolate Wishes which makes the book instantly recognisable as Trisha Ashley’s book.

I instantly took a liking to our main character Tansy. She was a very likeable character who had a kind of old fashioned and traditional feel to her. After constantly knocked down by her partner about her weight and her quirky dress sense and with him not wanting children Tansy is a shadow of her former self. 

Things take a change and soon Tansy inherits her Aunt Nans shoe shop, she has a great idea to modernise the shop changing it into Cinderella’s Slippers which sells shoes for the beautiful brides. Things seem to be improving for Tansy if only her ex would get the hint and realise that her life is now in Sticklepond and no longer featured him in her life.

It’s not long before the owner of the house next door arrives and catches Tansy’s breath when she realises he is a blast from the past.

I particularly enjoyed reading Aunt Nans memoires at the beginning of each chapter I thought this was a unique part of the book. There were a great mix of characters in this book some who we have met already in Chocolate Wishes and some new characters, some you take an instant dislike to such as Tansy’s two evil stepsisters and her awful mother but then there were some great warm and friendly characters alongside Tansy such as great Aunt Nan and Bella.

The book had a modern day fairytale romance about it which I loved as it made it an easy read and a feel good feeling. I enjoyed watching Tansy create her shop of her dreams step by step.

This book defiantly gets the thumbs up from me and in my opinion it is Trisha Ashley’s work at its best this is defiantly my favourite book by this author and I would defiantly recommend it.

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Ten Years On by Alice Peterson

I loved Alice Peterson’s previous novel Monday to Friday Man and I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of her new novel Ten Years On which I was hoping was going to be just as good.

Ten Years On centres around the two characters Rebecca and Joe. Rebecca is an instantly loveable and warm character who you just feel the need to wrap her up in bubble wrap and look after her! 

When we first meet Joe he is definitely a ladies man but as the book progresses I found that each time Joe is around I was getting a little hot under the collar (as were most of the characters in the book!) It has been ten years since they last had contact but now Rebecca’s circumstances change and she finds herself running back to her childhood home while she recovers, the last thing she expected was for Joe to still be in the same village. They are forced to confront their past which caused them to lose contact but will they be able to move on and start a new chapter?

I am sure any of you who read Monday to Friday Man had a tear in your eye by the end of that book, well I think you will have a tear at the beginning, middle and end of Ten Years On! I have not had a real weepy book since Me Before You but the old lump in the throat definitely occurs in this book but although it is an emotional read, I didn’t find it really low and depressing. I was gripped from the start of this book and I think it is because it is such a touching and easy read which flowed at a great pace all the way through meaning I couldn’t put it down hence the reason I finished it in one sitting!

The story alternates at times back when Rebecca and Joe first knew each other and then back again to 10 years later when they re-meet. I loved this as it gave the characters more depth and gave us more insight into the relationship between the two characters. We don’t find out until a little further on as to why Rebecca and Joe lost contact but I did have an inkling as to why this could have been but this didn’t ruin the storyline or the enjoyment of the book.

It was quite clear that a little research had been done for this book as there were some very interesting references and tips when it came to wine tasting so I am assuming that the author had quite an interesting time doing research for this book!

This is a definite for all of your to be read piles a little weepy and a lot of hope this one will be pulling at your heart strings. I will definitely be reading more work in the future by Alice Peterson.

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The Love Letter by Fiona Walker

When Allegra North parted from first love Francis after a decade together, she poured all her regret into a letter. He didn’t reply. A year later her job brings her back to beautiful Devon coast where romance first blossomed and she hopes they can start a new chapter.


 A family crisis fans the old flames from the start, and sparks fly when a chance encounter makes Allegra question whether Francis was ever really on the same page. As summer storms circle, the exes juggle rebellious parents, vengeful family members, and a very reluctant celebrity author who holds the key to everyone’s future. Just when Allegra thinks she can’t blot her copy book any further, she finds herself held to ransom by her own love letter. Should she read between the lines, or is the writing on the wall? 

This is the first book I have read by Fiona Walker and I have to say when it was arrived I was shocked at the size of the book. Sealed With a Kiss is a prequel e-book to The Love Letter which is set 12 months before this book. I didn’t read the prequel which introduces you to the characters and involves the same letter that The Love Letter is about. For those of you who do not have an e-reader please do not be put off reading The Love Letter if you cannot read Sealed With a Kiss as I still found that the author develops each of the characters beautifully in this book so you can follow who everyone is without feeling like you are missing out on something. There is such a vast amount of characters in this book some that I loved and some I found I had my guard up around.

 I did struggle with the first quarter of the book I found it was a very slow start and I found myself picking the book up and putting it back down it just didn’t seem to grip my attention. I am glad to say after the slow start to the book things began to pick up and I found myself flicking through the pages as the pace of the book increased and the air of mystery finally caught my attention.

There seemed to be so many things going on in this book it really is action packed. I did find that from early on in the book I had my suspicions as to who the writer Gordon Lapis really was and my suspicions were right but it was great to watch the truth unfold. Although I predicted this part of the book there were still many twists and turns coming to light throughout the book. I did enjoy this book but I do feel that it didn’t need to be as long as it was.

I would definitely read another book by Fiona Walker again as she does have a lovely style of writing but I just hope that the next book doesn’t feel so drawn out, sometimes less really is more.

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The Camera Never Lies by Tess Daly

Most of you will know as much as I love reading I am not a fan of books by celebrities I have never read a book by a celebrity which I have enjoyed. When I read the synopsis for The Camera Never Lies it instantly sounded like my kind of read and I loved the front cover of the book, but then I see the author way Tess Daly.

I love Tess Daly in her presenting jobs but I wasn’t holding out much hope for this book.

Britt Baxter has just lost what she thought was the biggest job opportunity of her life when she refuses to sleep with the boss to seal the deal. When she is told from her management that she is too old now for another great modelling job to come her way Britt finds she is desperate for work to pay the bills.

Whilst trying her hand at waitressing Britt is offered a great job opportunity as a presenter on breakfast tv. Things start off all rosy and Britt is quickly accepted by the views and the press, but it isn’t long before things come crumbling down on Britt when she finds details about her personal life in the papers.

I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this book baring in mind if I am honest I didn’t start reading this book with an open mind, I had already made my mind up that this book was going to be like any other books by celebrity authors so Tess Daly had a real challenge in changing my stubborn mind!

It is quite clear through the book that the author has used some of her past experiences and insight into both the modelling and presenting parts of the book which gave the book a more realistic feel to it. Britt found herself in some humorous situations which for some people they may find borderline crude but I think anyone reading light hearted chick lit will take all of these parts on the chin.

I found the book really easy to get into and was an enjoyable and entertaining light read. I was pleasantly surprised that Tess Daly seems to be a very talented author. I did find the book predictable but this didn’t put me off of the book. I would have loved to have had Alex who was Britt’s boyfriend, involved in the story a bit more I found I enjoyed the book more when he was in it. I will definitely pick up any future books by Tess Daly and I would recommend this one if you are looking for a quick and easy read with all the glitz and scandals! 

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All the Single Ladies by Jane Costello

I have read all of Jane Costello’s books and I love them as they are always full of down to earth humour, which make the books such a joy to read so having thoroughly enjoyed her previous I had no hesitation in ordering her latest book All the Single Ladies even though it meant I haven’t been able to get the song out of my head!

As soon as we meet our main character Sam it is clear that her life has just been turned upside down. Partner Jamie has decided that he can’t be with Sam anymore as he now has plans to move to South America and these plans do not include Sam although he insists he still loves her. This is hard for any girl to hear and it sounds like mixed messages as surely if you love someone you cannot bear to be without them. Distraught Sam soon comes up with a plan along with the help of her tow friends and Jamie’s sister to try and win him back and change his mind.

We see some of Jane Costello’s familiar humour shining through in some of the situations that occur to win back Jamie one of my favourites involving a malfunctioning boob boost! I found that Sam’s character felt pretty in depth which I think is helped by the fact that the book is told from Sam’s point of view so we get to see and feel her thoughts and feelings first hand. I did find at one point in the book closer to the end that I wanted to throttle her for the way she was treating character Ben as I loved him he came across as a true caring gentleman.

Although the book was witty throughout the book there was also a deeper topic which was briefly covered to do with one of Sam’s friends and I thought this was covered very delicately and gave a lovely unexpected touch to the book.

I really enjoyed this book and part of me didn’t want it to end however I love the ending to this book as it was unpredictable and in all honesty I couldn’t have hoped for a better ending to a great book. I cannot wait for another Jane Costello book to come out, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

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California Dreamers by Belinda Jones

Ever wished you could make-over your life?

Make-up artist Stella is an expert at helping other people change their images, but when it comes to transforming herself, she doesn't even know where to start.

So when her new friend, glamorous Hollywood actress Marina Ray, summons her a movie set in California, Stella can't resist the chance to start afresh - it is the land of sunshine and opportunity after all!

But are they really friends or does Marina have an ulterior motive? What is the secret that both women are hiding about the nautical (but nice) men in their lives? And what will it take to really make both of their California dreams come true?

In a Pacific Coast journey that takes in Los Angeles, the world's most romantic ranch and California's very own castle in the sky - this story of friendship, long-distance love, kissing (and making up) is the perfect escapist read.

My Opinion

When it comes to finding the perfect beach read the first author who always springs to mind is Belinda Jones. Her descriptive writing style has always made me feel as if I am abroad at the setting of the books so I saved California Dreamers for my holiday.

The main character in this book is make-up artist Stella. I loved Stella and feel like I connected with her, which I think could possibly be because she is in a similar industry to me although my life isn’t as exciting as Stella’s!

I enjoyed the storyline and the facts that were given I found interesting but one thing I didn’t find with California Dreamers was that the descriptive writing was lacking a little in this book compared with her previous books and I didn’t feel as though I was being transported anywhere where as usually after reading any of Belinda Jones books I get an urge to go on holiday to the location but I didn’t get this with this book and I genuinely missed this. I did enjoy the romance that the author creates between certain characters and I think this is what saved the book for me and helped me to finish the book.

Although I wasn’t blown away by this book I have loved all of the authors previous books so I will still be picking up her next book when it is released I just hope some of the authors old writing techniques are brought back in her next book as I really missed them here.

Never Can Say Goodbye by Christina Jones

I am a huge Christina Jones fan, so when I heard she was releasing the final book in her current series I was devastated as these books are a world of their own I have never read a book by another author which has them same feel to them as these books. This last book, Never can say Goodbye was released earlier in the year and I couldn’t get it in any of our local stores so I ordered it online from Waterstones and I have been beside myself waiting for it as it has only just arrived so my advice to you is make sure you order from Amazon so you don’t have to be tortured by the waiting time.

This book focuses on the character Frankie who has been heartbroken and spends her days working in a retro clothes shop until Rita who owns the shop up sticks and moves abroad leaving the shop to Frankie. It was great to read along with the changes Frankie makes to the shop to put her own stamp on it, she really developed as a character during this part of the book, and the community support shines through in this part of the book as some of the characters we have met in previous books step in to help Frankie get the shop prepared for its open day.

Frankie is not the only character who has had a business dropped in their lap, heartthrob Dexter finds himself in the same situation and the two characters become close. All is going well until crazy Maisie arrives and announces that the shop is haunted although at the time Frankie passes it as nonsense however she soon changes her mind.

I love the quirky mix of characters in this book, some of whom I remember from previous books which gives the book a cosy and familiar feel to it, and I think this is why Christina Jones books are such an easy read that make you fall into the storyline because you are already familiar with the idyllic village and quirky characters.

There is a fresh new storyline and I must admit if I hadn’t already fallen in love with Christina Jones style of writing I may have been a little hesitant to read this one as I am not a fan of ghostly stories, but the magical element that Christina creates , makes this book a pleasant read.

I loved the relationship between Dexter and Frankie and it was clear from the start that they both had a lot of baggage which was keeping them apart and I have to say there was no way I would have predicted Dexter’s situation.

This is a fabulous read, if you want to get away from the day to day life then I would recommend you pop your nose in a Christina Jones book and find yourself transported to a dream world full of humour and gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

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The Angel at No33 by Polly Williams

I had never read any books by Polly Williams until a lovely friend of my contacted me last week to say she had just finished a fantastic book and was going to send it to me, this book being The Angel at No33 by Polly Williams.

I have to be honest if I had looked at this book in the shop I would have picked it up as I love the cover the colours that are used are very easy on the eye, but I think if I had read the synopsis I don’t think I would have read this book as I have read a couple of books where the main character is dead and I just didn’t find them enjoyable. This was not the case with this book though.

We meet our main character Sophie just as she has been run over by a bus which sounds like a very morbid opening to a book but funny enough although Sophie has just died she manages to lighten the tone by making witty remarks so instantly I was gripped as I am one who enjoys a good bit of humour when it is least expected! Sophie cannot rest and watches over her loved ones and see them all cope in their own ways with losing a wife, mum and friend. We also get to see from the living side how each of the characters are dealing with their grief and we also start to get more of an insight to Sophie and Ollie’s relationship which it seems everyone was envious of.

I found that although there was very emotional situations in this book especially revolving around Sophie’s son who not only is deeply missing his mum but also is effected by his dad who is always so sad, there were also some great down to earth humour, especially involving the local mums who are going out of their way to help Ollie but who often ends up with a number of similar gifts!

Polly Williams has a beautiful writing style which manages to bring the emotions of each character out in the reader and it is a topic which is close to us all as we all would feel the same as Sophie wanting to know our loved ones were settled and safe before we can rest and I am sure most of us have all experienced a great loss and so can connect with Jenny, Ollie and Freddie.

This book is definitely worth picking up as it will bring out all kinds of emotions and it is a real page turner. Thank you to Kayla for sending me this book with you enthusiastic recommendation!

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One Night Only by Sue Welfare

Last week on our Kindle spy I found One Night Only by Sue Welfare for only 99p. I have to say I loved the cover of the book and having now read the story I think the cover fits the storyline perfectly. This is the first book I have read by Sue Welfare and I have to say after reading this book I will be picking up her previous book The Surprise Party if this book is anything to go by.

The story centre’s around the life of celebrity Helen Redford who I surprisingly warmed to in the first few chapters, when I had read the synopsis of the book I was expecting some glitz and glam from the character which is what is usually brought to us with storylines revolving around celebrities but this couldn’t be further away from what to expect from Helen. At times during the book I forgot that Helen was a celebrity as she was such a warm and down to earth character.

Helen has reached a point in her career where the work seems to have reached a lull so when her agent Arthur approaches her with the offer to take part in the show “Roots” she reluctantly takes the opportunity which will delve into her past and follow her with cameras at each point capturing her re-living each moment of her past. It is time for Helen to go back to her home town after many years, back to a shed load of emotional memories.

The book switches between Helen’s past and present life which gives us a real insight into Helen’s life as she grew up having a mum that had walked out on her and a dad who didn’t show her the love she craved. She was part of a double singing act with her friend Charlotte (or Kate who she likes to be known as!) but I instantly found I took a dislike to this character and I think that is because we feel how lonely Helen feels in the earlier part of her life so you just want her to have a friend there for her but the way Charlotte treats Helen makes us develop an instant dislike to the character. I have to say my favourite character alongside Helen was Harry a close friend from Helens past I was hoping that there would be a different ending for the two characters.

I loved the way that as we were uncovering various parts of Helens life at no point was there ever a time when I could predict what was going to happen next and this is what really kept me turning page after page.

There was something else which stuck out for me with One Night Only, now I read this in Kindle format so I am unsure if this is also in the paperback but at the end of the book Sue Welfare writes that she was unsure if to write more detail between Helen and a certain character (sorry but it will be a spoiler if I say who!) or to leave it as it was leaving the reader to use their own imagination, and so she gives us a deleted scene if you like to be able to read what the author had in mind for the conversation between the two characters.

I did find that the book got off to a very slow start and I was unsure if I was going to carry on but after a few chapters in the book started to grab my interest as we went back to Helen’s childhood so I am glad that I did persevere with the slow start. The book does continue at a very relaxed pace and really is a gentle and cosy read ideal for Sunday reading in the sun!

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