Review for Warm Winter Kisses by Jill Steeples - Four *


Blurb:

A fun feel-good winter romance that you’ll love curling up by the fire with

“Lovely, witty read which I couldn’t put down. Funny, uplifting, and magical book about never giving up on true love.” Beth Boyd 

When Beth Brown is dumped by her long-time boyfriend, she needs a brand-new start. She ends up stuck in the middle of nowhere, working as a PA for superstar chef Rocco di Castri. She has to deal with his legendary temper and annoying supermodel girlfriend, Pandora. 

But Beth grows to like the lovely English countryside . . . and her gorgeous boss, Rocco. Then her ex-boyfriend Martin turns up and she assumes he wants to get back together. But he has news which will turn her world upside down. 

And when she finds out that Rocco’s going to become permanently unavailable, she flees the wintry countryside back to her old life in the city. 

Will Beth ever get things right with the man she really wants? Find out in this charming and funny chick-lit novel. 

Review:

This is a light, romantic read with a lovely man and great food! 

Thoroughly enjoyed it - not too much angst and plenty of laughs. 

Definitely worth a read :) Especially as it is FREE on Kindle at the moment!

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Review of Frosted Sweets by A M Willard - Four *


Blurb:

Will it turn into sugar and spice? Or a friendship over some frosted treats? 

Morgan Lewis, the owner of The Polka Dot Café & Bakery, is about to wed the man she’s spent the last four years building a life with. What she doesn’t know is, that’s all about to change. Can her life move past a wedding disaster? Can her crazy friends help her pick up the pieces? And what's in store for this sweet baker? Along with a booming business, the Christmas holiday rush, and her friends, Morgan is really sent into a spin when Jayden Rivers moves to town. 

Jayden’s focus is on his career in production, but what he wasn’t expecting was to be knocked off his feet by a woman in the park. Sparks fly, but he’s not sure if she’s truly available or taken. With a severe sweet tooth and an addiction to Morgan Lewis’s treats, he can’t seem to stay away. 

A.M. Willard brings you a romantic comedy with a touch of contemporary romance and a dash of chick lit, which takes you on a journey of friendship. 

Frosted Sweets is the first installment of A Taste of Love Series in which we follow the lives of Morgan and Jayden, who are discovering life is anything but what it seems.

Review: 

Lovely book about love and friendship. About talking, running away, letting go and cupcakes! And a baker with a severe allergy to chocolate!

Loved this book and the characters. Look forward to the next in the series and reading more about Morgan and her friends and men!

Would have really liked to see some recipes...?

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Review of Jessica's Christmas Kiss by Alison May - Five *


Blurb:

Real Christmas miracles only ever happen in the movies – don’t they? 

When Jessica was fifteen, she shared the perfect kiss with a mystery boy at a Christmas party. It might have only lasted a moment, and the boy might have disappeared shortly afterwards but, to Jessica, it was just a little bit magic. 

Fourteen years later, and Jessica is faced with a less than magical Christmas after uncovering her husband’s secret affair. And, whilst she wouldn’t admit it, she sometimes finds herself thinking about that perfect Christmas kiss, back when her life still seemed full of hope and possibility. 

But she never would have guessed that the boy she kissed in the kitchen all those years ago might still think about her too …

Review:

This is such a lovely novella! I've enjoyed all the books in the series, but I think this one is my favourite.

Lucas and Jessica meet in the kitchen of a party on Christmas Eve when they are 16 and 15 and Jessica receives her first ever kiss. The description of the scene, the awkwardness and the kiss were wonderful - I think it will take everyone to their first kiss!

The rest of the book is taken up with them meeting years later and how they both cope with each other's baggage - by which time there is plenty!

A happy ending or course, but now without a couple of false starts in the meantime! Loved it - and Lucas!

Thank you to Choc Lit and NetGalley for the ARC.

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Review of That's What Friends Are For by Marcie Steele - Four *


Blurb:

Best friends tell each other everything… right?

Sam and Louise have been best friends since they hung their coats side by side on the first day of primary school. Now in their thirties, they’re just as close, but life is a little bit more complicated… 

On the outside, thirty-something Sam seems to have it all; the gorgeous husband, the beautiful home and the flourishing business. But things are not quite as rosy as they seem. So when handsome stranger, Dan, walks into her life, Sam finds his attentions hard to resist. 

Louise might seem like life and soul of the party, but her outgoing exterior hides her sadness about the heartbreak in her past. She just wants someone to love – but all Louise gets left with is a quick fumble with an ex at the end of the night. 

When a glamorous face from the past returns to shake things up, things get even more complicated for Sam and Louise. And just when they need each other the most, they’ve reason to wonder whether they ever really knew each other at all. 

An emotional and uplifting tale of love, secrets and the importance of having a best friend. 

Review:

The cover is a little misleading - yes, this is a chick lit book but it is a much deeper story than most.

Louise and Sam have been friends since childhood and are now in their mid-thirties. The story revolves around them, their family, friends and the market hall where they work.

The book is all about lies, secrets and trust. Secrets are told, lies uncovered and it's the reactions of the characters which hold you in. No one is left untouched and how they adjust to the revealed truths makes for a great read!

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Review of As Weekends Go by Jan Brigden - Four *


Blurb:

What if your entire life changed in the space of a weekend? 
When Rebecca’s friend Abi convinces her to get away from it all at the fabulous Hawksley Manor hotel in York, it seems too good to be true. Pampering and relaxation is just what Rebecca needs to distract herself from the creeping suspicion that her husband, Greg, is hiding something from her. 

She never imagined that by the end of the weekend she would have dined with celebrities or danced the night away in exclusive clubs. Nor could she have predicted she would meet famous footballer, Alex Heath, or that he would be the one to show her that she deserved so much more … 

But no matter how amazing a weekend is, it’s always back to reality come Monday morning – isn’t it? 

Winner of Choc Lit & Whole Story Audiobooks Search for a Star 2014/15

Review:

I enjoyed this book - it was different from many of the usual scenarios and made me laugh in places as well.

Rebecca is married to Greg - an ambitious sales exec, who has really been ruling the roost for the past year or so - he is about to go away to a very important sales conference.. Abi is seeing Nick and he is off on a stag weekend in Spain. Abi's boss gives her a weekend at a luxury hotel in York and Abi and Rebecca go for a weekend of pampering.

While there, they meet a couple of professional footballers and Rebecca is very affected by Alex Heath. He is equally smitten -but she is married.

How all the problems are resolved, both for Rebecca and Abi made for great reading and the ending is wonderful!

I would have given it 5*, but Greg bothered me slightly. I just cannot see how Rebecca would have ever married him. For me, there is insufficient background to make it believable that he was once a nice person.

But overall, it was a great read and I wish Jan luck with this, her debut novel.

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What Doesn't Kill You by Laura E James - Four *


Blurb:

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger – but how strong can one person be? 
Griff Hendry knows what it is to be strong. After a turbulent past, he’s dedicated himself to saving lives, working as a coastguard along the breath-taking shores of Dorset. It's Griff's belief that everyone is worth saving – which is why he can't forgive his father, Logan, for what he did. 

Griff's future is plunged into uncertainty when his wife, Evie, tells him she wants a separation. The revelation is a shock and leads Griff to question what Evie could possibly be hiding – and she isn't the only one holding back. Griff's troubled stepdaughter, Tess, also harbours a dark secret. 

As the truth is uncovered, Griff is forced to accept that perhaps he's never understood what real strength is. 

From Dark Choc Lit - compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels. Not your typical romance story.

Review:

It's always a red letter day when a new Choc Lit novel appears and this is no exception.

It took me a little while to get into it - I wasn't sure what the main theme was going to be, but after a while, I was hooked! Laura's characters are very real - a long way from perfect and I identified in some way with all of them!

Evie and her daughter have come out of an abusive relationship and Evie has found happiness with Griff. But when the book starts, they are living apart and Griff has no idea why. 

The book is really like an inter-locking jigsaw puzzle - as you uncover each piece, the whole picture becomes clearer. But it's not until it is finished that you can actually see it clearly.

There are several thought-provoking themes within the book and Laura handles these well. I'll not mention them all here, it would be too much of a giveaway. But suffice to say any one theme could be the basis for a book!

Really enjoyed it - thank you Netgalley and Choc Lit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Any budding writers out there? Fantastic workshop at Purbeck Literary Festival next year with Sue Moorcroft and Nikki Moore :)

Purbeck Workshop

Review of The Long Dance Home by Julie Mayerson Brown - Five *


Blurb:

As Cece approaches her 29th birthday, life takes an unexpected turn that throws the level-headed, disciplined, former ballerina into turmoil. After a chance encounter with an old rival who makes an unexpected request, Cece is forced to make a life-changing decision. 

With a broken heart and an unknown future, she returns to her hometown where she is lured back into the life she had escaped long ago, vowing never to return. 

Now, immersing herself in a production of The Nutcracker, she struggles to let go of the life she had dreamed of and the love she left behind.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book, it is warm, funny and very touching. Cece has a loving boyfriend and, at 29, sees them getting married and starting a family. Unfortunately Doug isn't on the same page and this causes a rift. Cece flees home and helps out with the production of The Nutcracker Suite that her old ballet school is putting on.

There isn't a bad character in the book - even the ones you think might a bit dodgy turn out to be real gems. Cece was a brilliant dancer herself until she stopped at 16. Seeing her blossom as she teaches Dawn is quite wonderful!

Brad enters as the temptation- a really good looking divorced man - and the father of Dawn. And Patti turns up for Christmas, Cece's best friend and one of the funniest characters I've come across in a long time. The scene at Cece's home at Christmas is hysterical!

But does Cece choose Doug and her old life or Brad and a new one in her hometown? You'll have to read it to find out!

Thank you for giving me a copy, Julie, I thoroughly enjoyed it

***** Throughout December 2015 100 % of author royalties 

will be donated to the "Steppers Dance Program" 

run by the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica, Ca.****

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I've just won a copy of Kate Morton's The Lake House! Can't wait to get stuck in....watch this space ;)

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while - too busy reading!!

Review of The Art of Christmas by Jane Lovering - Five *


Blurb:

What if the memories of Christmas past were getting in the way of Christmas future? 
It’s been nearly two years since Harriet lost Jonno, but she’s finally decided that it’s time to celebrate Christmas again. 

Then she finds a stash of graphic novels belonging to her comic book-loving husband in the attic, and suddenly her world is turned upside down once more. 

With the help of eccentric comic book dealer Kell Foxton, she discovers that the comics collected by Jonno are not only extremely valuable, but also hold the key to his secret life – a life that throws Harriet’s entire marriage and every memory she has of her husband into question. 

As Harriet grows closer to Kell, she begins to feel like she could learn to love Christmas again – but first, she needs to know the truth. 

Review:

I was accepted to review an ARC by Choc Lit via NetGalley and I confess that I didn't even read the blurb before starting this Christmas novella from Jane. I've read all Jane's books and had been looking forward to this one!

This is an absolutely charming story of Harriet still trying to get over her husband's death and Kell, a graphic bookseller. Oh - and Frodo the dog! It has all the usual Jane Lovering ingredients - great humour, a lovely romance, some sadness and an unexpected twist to two. 

There is always at least one line that makes me howl with laughter and this novella was no exception: "a bus load of trainee removal men had come round to gain their BTEC in ‘shoving stuff up against the walls’."

Frodo was the funniest dog I've come across in a long time - wait til you read the bit about the phone call; I was crying with laughter!

A real Christmas treat! Thank you Jane!

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