And Fall has offically arrived! I already spotted some pretty coloured leaves on the trees around my neighbourhood, slowly the temperatures are dropping and we're getting our comfy sweaters out of the back of our closets... I have to admit I am quite looking forward to the colder weather, because it is the time to snuggle up on the couch with a cup of tea, a blanket, and a good book. And, also something I am personally really excited about, the lead-up to the holiday season! The book releases that are coming up in October form a great mixture of some fab chick lit novels to promising stories of festive cheer which I can't wait to pick up. Which releases are you looking forward to the most? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment to this post! :)
Eve Devon - 'The Love List' (2nd of October)
Falling in love is just not on Nora King’s To Do List…
Neither is accidentally super-gluing her shoe to her hand right before the biggest presentation of her life!
With all the hard work she’d put into securing the family business after her father’s death, Nora has no choice but to accept help from a knight in shining armour.
Disaster relief worker Ethan Love is still haunted by his last deployment, and desperate for distraction. He’s in town to ask Nora for a major favour, and swooping in to save her presentation is a sure way to get her on side.
As Ethan sticks around and helps Nora through her grief, her barriers tumble down…but will she dare to swap her To Do lists for a How to Fall in Love list?
Why so excited? --> What better way to start the month than with a new and exciting Harper Impulse release? I love Harper Impulse's romance stories and Eve Devon's 'The Love List' sounds like another great read!
Fiona Harper - 'The Little Shop of Hopes & Dreams' (3rd of October)
Nicole Harrison is planning the proposal of the century. Too bad its not her own…
Nicole, a born organiser and true romantic, has created her dream job when she sets up the Hopes & Dreams proposal agency – staging YouTube worthy proposals… until she’s hired to plan a proposal by gorgeous photographer Alex Black’s girlfriend.
Alex is the New Year’s kiss that Nicole hasn’t been able to forget – and now she’s planning his wedding to someone else! But if she lets herself fall for Alex’s charms, her reputation and business will be ruined before it’s even got off the ground! Suddenly the girl whose always prepared is at a loss…and falling head over heels.
Why so excited? --> Last year I got the chance to read Fiona Harper's novel 'Make My Wish Come True' and I really enjoyed it. I absolutely LOVE the sound of 'The Little Shop of Hopes & Dreams'; the Hopes & Dreams proposal agency already sounds amazing and this is definitely an October release I am really looking forward to!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Fiona Valpy - 'The French for Christmas' (3rd of October)
Evie used to LOVE Christmas, but this year she can’t wait for the tinsel and presents to be a distant memory.
When her best friends offer the use of their cottage in the beautiful French countryside, Evie jumps at the chance. With her soon-to-be-ex-husband, celebrity chef Will Brooke, plastered over the news with his latest ‘love interest’, leaving the country seems like the perfect plan.
Armed with her French grandmother’s tattered notebook of recipes, Evie is determined to ignore Christmas altogether and bake herself back to happiness.
And when Evie meets her next-door neighbour – the très gorgeous doctor Didier she finds a very willing taste-tester. But is it possible that he could be interested in more than just her Tarte Tatin?
With snow falling, a special Réveillon dinner and a little Christmas magic in the air, could Didier even be the one to thaw Evie’s heart? Or will a visit from the ghost of Christmas past change everything?
Why so excited? --> I fell in love with Fiona Valpy's writing this year and I honestly can't wait to pick up another one of her stories. I love Christmas and I think this will be a great read to get into an early festive holiday mood!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Yona Zeldis McDonough - 'You Were Meant for Me' (7th of October)
What do you do when you have to give up the person you love most?
Thirty-five-year-old Miranda is not an impulsive person. She’s been at Domestic Goddess magazine for eight years, she has great friends, and she’s finally moving on after a breakup. Having a baby isn’t even on her radar—until the day she discovers an abandoned newborn on the platform of a Brooklyn subway station. Rushing the little girl to the closest police station, Miranda hopes and prays she’ll be all right and that a loving family will step forward to take her.
Yet Miranda can’t seem to get the baby off her mind and keeps coming up with excuses to go check on her, until finally a family court judge asks whether she’d like to be the baby’s foster parent—maybe even adopt her. To her own surprise, Miranda jumps at the chance. But nothing could have prepared her for the ecstasy of new-mother love—or the heartbreak she faces when the baby’s father surfaces....
Why so excited? --> I'm not familiar with Yona Zeldis McDonough's work, but I really like the sound of her upcoming release 'You Were Meant for Me.' It sounds like an intriguing read, perfect for book clubs and discussions with other readers.
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Vanessa Greene - 'The Seafront Tea Rooms' (9th of October)
The Seafront Tea Rooms is a peaceful hideaway, away from the bustle of the seaside, and in this quiet place a group of women find exactly what they've been searching for.
Charismatic journalist Charlotte is on a mission to scope out Britain's best tea rooms. She knows she's found something special in the Seafront Tea Rooms but is it a secret she should share?
Kathryn, a single mother whose only sanctuary is the 'Seafront', convinces Charlie to keep the place out of her article by agreeing to join her on her search.
Together with another regular, Seraphine, a culture-shocked French au pair with a passion for pastry-making, they travel around the country discovering quaint hideaways and hidden gems. But what none of them expect is for their journey to surprise them with discoveries of a different kind...
Why so excited? --> I love the sound of Vanessa Greene's October release! The Seafront Tea Rooms sounds like a lovely place to spend the time and I can't wait to join these characters and learn more about their story!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Hilary Boyd - 'A Most Desirable Marriage' (9th of October)
Lawrence and Jo have enjoyed a strong marriage, the envy of their friends. Even after thirty years they have lots to say to each other, many interests in common and, until recently, a good sex life.
But Lawrence seems wary and restless. Something’s wrong. Just how wrong, Jo is about to discover…
Can they use their years of history – all the things they’ve shared – to overcome a devastating betrayal?
Why so excited? --> Hilary Boyd's 'A Most Desirable Marriage' sounds like a really fascinating read, a great book for those who are looking for a nice women's fiction title to pick up this October!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Cecelia Ahern - 'The Year I Met You' (9th of October)
Jasmine know two things: one, she loves her vulnerable sister unconditionally, and will fight to the death to protect her from anyone who upsets her. Two, she's only ever been good at one thing – her job helping business start-ups.
So when she’s sacked and put on gardening leave, Jasmine realises that she has nothing else to fill her life. Insomnia keeps her staring out of her bedroom window, and she finds herself watching the antics of her neighbour, shock jock Matt, with more than a casual eye. Matt is also taking a forced leave of absence from work, after one of his controversial chat shows went too far…
Jasmine has every reason to dislike Matt, and the feeling appears to be mutual. But not everything is as it seems, and soon Jasmine and Matt are forced to think again…
Why so excited? --> Yay, I am SO incredibly excited a new Cecelia Ahern novel is coming our way! Cecelia Ahern is one of my favourite authors and her magical style of writing is really unique and her stories never cease to amaze me. Definitely one of the books I'm most looking forward to this Fall!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Tracy Bloom - 'I Will Marry George Clooney (By Christmas)' (9th of October)
There comes a time in every woman's life when the only answer is to marry George Clooney.
For Michelle, that time is now.
Slogging her guts out in a chicken factory whilst single-handedly bringing up a teenager who hates her is far from the life that 36-year-old Michelle had planned.
But marrying the most eligible man on the planet by Christmas could change all that, couldn't it?
Sometimes your only option is to dream the impossible - because you never know where it might take you.
Why so excited? --> Okay, the title of this novel alone is already enough reason to pick up this book, if you ask me! I really enjoyed Tracy Bloom's previous novel and I have a feeling this will be another fun read!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Cathy Kelly - 'It Started With Paris' (9th of October)
It all started with Paris. At the top of the Eiffel Tower, a young man proposes to his girlfriend, cheered on by delighted tourists. In that second, everything changes, not just for the happy couple, but for the family and friends awaiting their return in Bridgeport, Ireland...
Leila's been nursing a badly broken heart since her love-rat husband just upped and left her one morning, but she's determined to put on a brave face for the bride.
Vonnie, a widow and exceptional cake-maker, is just daring to let love back into her life, although someone seems determined to stop it.
And Grace, a divorced head teacher, finds the impending wedding of her son means that she's spending more time with her ex-husband. After all those years apart, is it possible she's made a mistake?
Why so excited? --> A gorgeous cover, a great title, and the promise of a love story set in Paris... Do I need to give more reasons for wanting to pick up this release this October?!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Emma Hannigan - 'The Heart of Winter' (9th of October)
Holly Craig's family have lived happily in Huntersbrook for generations but when times grow hard, even she must admit defeat and sell off their once-successful stables.
The three Craig children, Lainey, Joey and Pippa find themselves locked in a fight to keep their beloved Huntersbrook; dare they transform it into one of Ireland's most sought after countryside venues?
Renovation work is well underway when life rears its ugly head and everything stops in its tracks. The Craig family is forced to reassess what matters and although they no longer live at Huntersbrook, can the house work its magic even so ... and lead them into the light once more?
Why so excited? --> I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Emma Hannigan's novel 'Driving Home for Christmas' last year and it was one of my favourite Christmas reads of 2013. This year, Emma Hannigan is treating us to a sequel in which we get to visit the lovely Craig family and their amazing home, Huntersbrook. Can't wait!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Jenny Hale - 'A Christmas to Remember' (10th of October)
Everyone loves Christmas – don’t they?
Carrie Blake loves her job as a nanny but, while her friends are settling down, all of Carrie’s spare time is spent with other people’s families. Though it breaks her heart, her New Year’s resolution is to embark on a new career and fix her love life.
As Carrie starts her last job, she’s sure she’ll be going out on a high – the house is amazing, the kids are adorable, and she’s in charge of decorating the tree!
The only problem could be her boss… single-dad, Adam Fletcher might be both handsome and successful, but he’s always working. Doesn’t he realise he’s missing out on precious moments with his son and daughter?
As Adam’s family arrive for Christmas including his sensitive sister, Sharon, and his fun-loving elderly Grandpa, Walter, Carrie realises that she might just have found the perfect allies in her quest to persuade Adam to loosen up. There’s still time for Carrie to make this the best Christmas ever… after all, Christmas is the time for miracles, isn’t it? Let the festivities begin!
Why so excited? --> Jenny Hale's previous Christmas novel, 'Coming Home for Christmas', was an absolutely fabulous read and I'm really excited Jenny is treating us to another Christmas story this year! I'm sure 'A Christmas to Remember' won't be a disappointment and already look forward to sitting down with it!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Michele Gorman - 'Perfect Girl' (14th of October)
Carol is perfect… at least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality she’s sinking fast – her family treats her like their personal assistant and her boyfriend is so busy with work that he’s got her single-handedly running their relationship. Not that her job is any easier. As the only woman on the bank’s trading floor she spends twelve-hour days trying not to get sworn at or felt up by colleagues who put the "W" in banker.
How long can she go on pleasing everyone else before she snaps and loses it all?
Why so excited? --> I just have to say I really like the cover of 'Perfect Girl', it would definitely have caught my attention in any book shop. I've enjoyed Michele Gorman's previous novels, so I have high hopes for this new one!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Elin Hilderbrand - 'Winter Street' (14th of October)
Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket's Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can't get him to commit. And Bart, the youngest and only child of Kelley's second marriage to Mitzi, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines.
As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who's playing Santa at the inn's annual party), utter chaos descends. With the three older children each reeling in their own dramas and Bart unreachable in Afghanistan, it might be up to Kelley's ex-wife, nightly news anchor Margaret Quinn, to save Christmas at the Winter Street Inn.
Before the mulled cider is gone, the delightfully dysfunctional Quinn family will survive a love triangle, an unplanned pregnancy, a federal crime, a small house fire, many shots of whiskey, and endless rounds of Christmas caroling, in this heart-warming novel about coming home for the holidays.
Why so excited? --> I haven't had the chance to read any other books by Elin Hilderbrand, but I really like the sound of her upcoming release 'Winter Street.' It sounds like a fascinating story about family around Christmas time, so I have a feeling I will really enjoy this; definitely part of my to-be-read list!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Claudia Carroll - 'Love Me or Leave Me' (23rd of October)
‘Welcome to the Hope Street Hotel – where you check in married, and check out single.’
Two years ago Chloe Townsend was dumped at the altar and had to leave behind everything that mattered to her. Even now she’s finding it hard to move forward. That is until she lands an incredible job, running a brand new boutique hotel. Suddenly she’s starting to put her life back together, and, apart from the fact that her hard-to-please new boss is breathing down her neck, things are looking good.
But what goes on in the Hope Street Hotel is a far cry from anything she’s ever dealt with before. This is a pioneering ‘divorce hotel’ designed to make every aspect of breaking up efficient and pain-free. In one single weekend, Chloe’s team promises to take care of everything – legal, technical, emotional – and guests check out carefree and single.
No one is better qualified than Chloe to understand what couples need when their relationship is at breaking point, but she soon finds herself having to tackle the heartbreak she’s tried to bury. In particular three couples need her help – Jo and Dave, Lucy and Andrew, and Kirk and Dawn – and the opening weekend is full of revelation, trouble, memories happy and sad, facts that need facing, and some very big surprises.
It’s time to move on. And it soon becomes clear that some endings are, in fact, very exciting new beginnings …
Why so excited? --> Another great author who is treating us to a new novel this Fall is Claudia Carroll! I've been looking forward to reading 'Love Me or Leave Me' since I saw the cover, which I think looks absolutely fabulous! I really think this will be a great read and I'm sure I'm not the only one!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Ali McNamara - 'From Notting Hill With Four Weddings... Actually' (23rd of October)
Movie addict Scarlett O'Brien is finally living the jet-setting life she's dreamed of, but it all hangs by a shiny, golden thread. Flying between London and New York, running two businesses, and planning her wedding to handsome fiancé Sean along with her best friends Oscar and Maddie—life couldn't be better. Then Scarlett meets paparazzi darling Gabriella Romero, and life suddenly becomes even more extravagant and glamourous. But as she begins to experience the other side of being rich and famous, it's not only Scarlett's perfect wedding that's put in jeopardy, but her whole world.
Why so excited? --> YES, YES, YES! I'm SO excited Ali McNamara decided to write a third part of her absolutely amazing 'From Notting Hill With...' series and I can't even explain how much I'm looking forward to reading more about Scarlett and Sean and Oscar and Maddie... This is going to be one of my favourite reads of 2014, no doubt about it!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Carole Matthews - 'The Christmas Party' (23rd of October)
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...
Why so excited? --> Every year, Carole Matthews has an amazing Christmas novel ready for us and I'm really looking forward to picking up her 2014 festive read, 'The Christmas Party'! It promises to be another entertaining and lovely holiday read, and I can't wait to read it!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Clare Dowling - 'A Special Delivery' (23rd of October)
Every family has its ups and downs...
Aisling Brady is miserable. So is her husband Mossy. The three kids are too. Yet nobody dares say a thing. Instead the Bradys keep their heads down and grimly look forward to another miserable Christmas in Dublin.
What Aisling doesn't know is that this year, they will get the most unexpected gift of all. One that will bring joy and heartbreak, hope and a string of sleepless nights.
As their world is turned upside down, questions have to be asked. But are the Bradys ready to face the truth about themselves? And what each of them has done?
Why so excited? --> I've been lucky enough to have read 'A Special Delivery', Clare Dowling's latest novel, and it's a great read! The paperback version is released on the 23rd of October and if you're looking for a good women's fiction read, definitely be sure to pick up your own copy.
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Sarah Morgan - 'Maybe This Christmas' (29th of October)
This winter, ex-skiing champion, reformed heartbreaker and single dad Tyler O'Neil has only one mission—making sure his daughter, Jess, has the best Christmas ever. The fact that his best friend, Brenna, is also temporarily moving into his chalet at the overbooked Snow Crystal resort is a delicious distraction he's simply going to have to ignore. Theirs is the one relationship he's never ruined, and he's not about to start now.
Ski pro Brenna Daniels knows all about the perils of unrequited love—she's been in love with Tyler for years. But living with him is absolute torture…how can she concentrate on being his friend when he's sleeping in the room next door? Then when Tyler kisses Brenna, suddenly the relationship she's always dreamed of feels so close she could almost touch it. Could this be the Christmas her dreams of a happy-ever-after finally come true?
Why so excited? --> And October has another lovely Christmas novel in store for us! Sarah Morgan's 'Maybe This Christmas' sounds like the perfect romantic read to get into the holiday mood and I have a feeling I'll really enjoy it!
Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
