Review: 'Summer at the Little Wedding Shop' by Jane Linfoot (2017)

The third book in the bestselling series, ‘The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea’.
Summer fun comes to Brides by the Sea and there’s love in the Cornish sea breeze as the girls tackle their busiest wedding season yet. There’s plenty of bunting, bubbly and baking – but who is going to catch the bouquet?
I'm so glad author Jane Linfoot contacted me a few weeks ago with the question whether I was interested to review the third part of her lovely series about the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea. Both Jane and her novels have been some of my favourites during the past few years, and even though I actually stopped accepting book review requests because I'm closing down the blog, I couldn't possibly say no to her. When I read 'The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea' I immediately loved everything about it and I'm so glad to have been given the chance to check out this third and latest instalment of the series. I was more than ready to dive back into the world of weddings and once again meet up with some familiar faces...!
Wedding dress shop Brides by the Sea is doing better than ever, and when boss Jess decides to open a special section for styling weddings she immediately knows whom she wants as her stylist. Lily is mainly used to working with flowers, but as she finds herself out of a job she decided to take Jess' offer with both hands and make the best of it. But then Kip Penryn, a familiar face from Lily's past, unexpectedly shows up in Cornwall and sets up a rival wedding business in a gorgeous country mansion down the road. Without even a second to worry about her new job, Lily is sent to investigate and check out the enemy; what are Kip's plans and how will this affect Lily and her friends and their wedding business...?
As soon as I picked up this novel I knew Jane Linfoot wouldn't let me down, and as expected: she didn't! 'Summer at the Little Wedding Shop' is the third part of this book series, published by Harper Impulse, and it's a series I honestly can't get enough of. The first part already made me fall in love with Brides by the Sea (the wedding shop that's central to the story), the different characters (Poppy, Sera, Jess, Rafe, Immie, Lily...), the setting and the engaging and simply great storylines. The second part of the series was just as great, and I can say the third part follows the exact same line. While the novel can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series, because you won't be disappointed (especially if you're a chick lit fan).
This novel focuses on Lily, who is a great and easily likeable main character, and some handsome man candy is added to the novel in the form of Kip Penryn. I loved the fun banter between Kip and Lily and felt myself rooting for them from the start. There were several different aspects to the story and I really loved how the pace of the book was great and all the different storylines kept me captivated and entertained at all times. All in all, I think 'Summer at the Little Wedding Shop' is a simply fabulous, sweet and delightful wedding-filled story by author Jane Linfoot; a fantastic third part of this series, and the only thing left for me to say is: when can we expect part four...?! 

Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher & author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'A Kiss in the Dark' by Lisa Fox (2015)

Grace’s attraction to her new web designer, amateur boxer and all-around playboy, Ryan Granger, is off the charts. But the bad boy of programming is not someone she needs to get entangled with. She’s got too many responsibilities and no time for games. She has deadlines to meet and a sick father to care for. Ryan is tempting, but being with him is completely unrealistic. Still, a girl can fantasize, right?
Ryan wants Grace badly, but while he’s building her website, they have to keep things strictly professional. Thankfully, walking her home during a city-wide blackout is on his own time and whatever happens in the dark doesn’t count. He’s falling hard for Grace and he is a man used to winning. The only problem is, he’s got to convince her that he’s worthy of her trust.
If there is one review copy that I should have picked up a lot sooner it's Lisa Fox's 'A Kiss in the Dark'; a Harper Impulse novella that was released in 2015. I received the review copy and somehow was under the impression that this was a story set around New Year's Eve. I prefer to read novels set around Christmas/New Year at the end of the year, so I saved this one. But then I actually realised it is not a festive read at all, and put it away again because I had multiple festive reads to finish. A few weeks ago I decided it was finally time to sit down with this read, finally be introduced to author Lisa Fox's writing... And I can say I am really glad I did! 
Grace Betancourt has enough going on in her life; she needs to focus on writing her next novel, think about how to market herself as an author to increase her book sales, and take care of her sick father. Definitely no time for men or romance. But when Grace meets web designer and amateur boxer Ryan Granger, it becomes quite difficult to stick to that rule. Ryan is known as a bit of a playboy, but the chemistry between him and Grace is undeniable. Yet, Grace is his first real client as a web designer, so he needs to keep things professional. When there's a black-out in part of the city, Ryan and Grace get to spend some more time together; the question is, are they both willing to take the risk and start something, or are things simply too complicated?
I've had the pleasure of reading several Harper Impulse romance reads up until now, and I am glad to say Lisa Fox's 'A Kiss in the Dark' certainly is one of my favourites. The story focuses on author Grace who gets to work together with web designer Ryan when she is looking for someone to help her out with her website. The sparks fly between them, but at the same time they both know, for their own reasons, that them starting something would not be the best idea. It's been quite a long time since I've read a story with a great male character at its core, but I straight away liked Ryan. I also easily warmed to Grace and was really rooting for them to get together.
I was also impressed with the author's writing. It almost felt as if I was flying through the pages, and I finished the book way too quickly for my liking. There was also a good mix of description and dialogue; and regular storyline with some steamy scenes added to it. I definitely wouldn't have minded if this had been a full-length novel, and already can't wait to read some more of Lisa Fox's work. If you are looking for a quick romance read, there's definitely no need to look any further. 'A Kiss in the Dark' is a fast-paced, steamy and thoroughly enjoyable novella that I loved from start to finish, and I'm already looking forward to my next Lisa Fox read!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop' by Jane Linfoot (2016)

The snow is falling around Brides by the Sea, Cornwall’s cutest little wedding shop, and wedding dress designer Seraphina East is in her cosy studio designing exquisite dresses to make even the most demanding bride’s dreams come true.
Unless the bride is her big sister Alice of course. Saying that the two sisters don’t always see eye to eye is an understatement. Alice hasn’t even asked Sera to design her wedding dress. But when an absent groom and ill-fitting dress threaten to ruin Alice’s happiness let alone her big day, Sera’s determined to give her sister the winter wedding of her dreams – even if that means keeping not one but two irresistibly gorgeous best men under control…
Is Sera going to end up being the maid of dishonour…Or will repairing her frozen relationship with Alice be the icing on the wedding cake?
Over the past few years I've had the pleasure of reading several of author Jane Linfoot's books, such as 'The Vintage Cinema Club' (click here to read my review), which I loved, and most recently the first part of her new series 'Cupcakes and Confetti: The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea' (click here to read my review). I really loved that one and as soon as I'd finished it I was already looking forward to the second part, 'Sequins and Snowflakes: Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop'. Luckily, the lovely Jane herself made sure I received a review copy of the novel (thanks so much, Jane!) and it has been one of this year's festive winter reads I was most excited about, because I had a good feeling it would end up being one of my favourites of this year...!
Seraphina East, known to her friends as Sera, loves her job working as a wedding dress designer in shop 'Brides by the Sea' in St. Aiden in Cornwall. Having to deal with her bridezilla sister Alice is a completely different matter, though. Sera and Alice don't always see eye to eye, and Alice's winter wedding, which she has been saving for and planning for the past three years, is one of the matters that causes quite a bit of tension. But when everything seems to go wrong, Sera is determined to fix things and give her sister the wedding she deserves. With the help of her wedding shop colleagues and the two best men, Quinn and Johnny, Sera tries her best, but will she be able to save the day or will a bit of Christmas magic and determination simply not be enough this time around...?
'Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop' is the second part of Jane Linfoot's series that focuses on 'Brides by the Sea', a wedding shop in Cornwall. In the first instalment we were introduced to Poppy, the wedding cake baker and close friend of our leading lady in this second book, Seraphina, who designs wedding dresses. I'm a sucker for novels about weddings and I have to say Jane Linfoot has done an amazing job with this series. The characters are wonderful (I already loved Poppy and other familiar faces such as Jess and Rafe, but Sera really won me over in this book that's all about her), the setting is stunning with great descriptions, the storylines are captivating and I just thoroughly enjoyed everything about it, really!
What makes this novel extra special is the added Christmas element; a winter wedding takes centre stage in the story and the descriptions were just gorgeous. Combined with the story it made me feel all warm inside, and I really didn't want the story to end. For those of you who haven't read the first part of the series, you should definitely give it a chance, but you can also start with this one because it can quite easily be read as a stand-alone. I could go on and on about the lovely wedding details and the handsome best men Quinn and Johnny, but it's best if you just go out and get a copy yourself! Jane linfoot has done an amazing job with 'Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop'; it's a gorgeous, festive, sparkling read that left me with a big smile on my face. I honestly already can't wait for the third part which will be released in 2017... Loved it!

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'The One With the Wedding Dress' by Erin Lawless (2016)

Save the Date!
For fans of romantic comedies like Bridesmaids and Four Weddings & a Funeral, and bestselling authors Mhairi McFarlane and Jenny Oliver, this is a hilarious new romantic comedy series about one bride and her four best friends.
The second part of Erin Lawless' newest e-book series has finally been released and it's something I've been looking forward to for quite some time now! After reading 'Somewhere Only We Know' earlier this year (click here to read my review), I developed a bit of a crush on Erin and her writing style and was already looking forward to checking out more of her work. 'The One With the Engagement Party' was a promising start to a new series (click here to read my review) and I couldn't wait for the second instalment to be released. Well, luckily I was approved to receive a NetGalley review copy of the novella a few weeks ago and immediately freed up some time in my reading schedule to catch up with the story again!
Nora Dervan is getting married to the love of her life, Harry, and she couldn't be more excited to share her journey to the aisle with her friends and bridesmaids Sarah, Cleo, Bea and Daisy. After a successful and fun engagement party, it's now time for a weekend trip to the countryside to score a wedding dress. A pretty full itinerary, the brides mother, some delicious cupcakes, and a lot of pretty and not-so-pretty dresses all together form the recipe for quite an interesting trip for Nora and her friends...
'The One with the Wedding Dress' is the second instalment of Erin Lawless' new e-book series and I'm happy to say that after reading it I've only become more excited about this series! There's quite a big group of characters at the core of the story, namely bride Nora and her friends Bea, Cleo, Daisy and Sarah. While Nora's wedding preparations take centre stage, all women are dealing with their own issues as well, which makes for some interesting and enjoyable reading. I have a soft spot for books about weddings, and just loved the dress shopping that was going on in this instalment of the series.
I think this new Erin Lawless read definitely has everything I look for in an enjoyable chick lit story. As mentioned in my review of the first part as well, though, there are quite a lot of characters, and especially since the novel is released in different parts, it makes it a bit tricky to keep up with all of them and remember who is who. Maybe this would work better as one full-length novel instead of a series, but nevertheless, I'm still really enjoying it and already curious to see what's going to happen in the next part, which will focus on the hen party...!

Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'The One with the Engagement Party' by Erin Lawless (2016)

For fans of romantic comedies like Bridesmaids and Four Weddings & a Funeral, and bestselling authors Mhairi McFarlane and Jenny Oliver, this is a hilarious new romantic comedy series of four novellas about one bride and her four best friends.
Nora Dervan is getting married... but her four bridesmaids are more full of secrets than champagne.
Bea has barely gotten past the fact that her two best friends are seeing each other, and now they’re engaged, and Cleo is rather distracted by the hot new colleague she absolutely, definitely must not sleep with. Daisy is dreading the singles’ table, whilst Sarah’s own marriage hasn’t turned out to be all she hoped it would be...
I love romantic comedies, both in book and film format. There's nothing like a rom-com to make you feel better after a crappy week and I can never get enough of a good dose of laughs and romance. So, when I read the blurb for Erin Lawless' new series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of the first part, 'The One with the Engagement Party' (anyone else who immediately thinks of 'Friends' when hearing this title?!). I read my first Erin Lawless novel a few weeks ago, 'Somewhere Only We Know', and really liked it (click here to read my review), so I was really quite excited to check out this new Harper Impulse series!
Nora Dervan is over the moon when her boyfriend Harry asks her to marry him and she can't wait to start planning her wedding with the help of her four friends and bridesmaids Sarah, Bea, Cleo and Daisy. First on their list is the engagement party, but it quickly turns out that all four bridesmaids have their own issues to deal with next to Nora's big wedding, so it's going to be quite an interesting few months for all of them.
Erin Lawless is treating us to a new romantic comedy series of four novellas about bride Nora and her four best friends Daisy, Cleo, Sarah and Bea, with 'The One with the Engagement Party' as the first part. In this novella the reader is introduced to the five main characters and what is going on in their lives, setting the scene for what is yet to come. Even though I felt there was quite a lot of information and different names to take in within just roughly 80 pages (I had to go back several times to double check something and make sure I knew who was who), I did really enjoy this read and am already looking forward to the second instalment of the series.
I was introduced to Erin Lawless' writing several weeks ago when I read her novel 'Somewhere Only We Know' and I really like her fun and well-paced writing style which is filled with dialogue. I also really liked the extra references to real wedding stories that were added at the start of some chapters; this was definitely a nice extra touch. Overall, I think 'The One with the Engagement Party' is a wonderful start to this new novella series by Erin Lawless and I already can't wait for the second part, 'The One with the Wedding Dress', which will be released in August!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea' by Jane Linfoot (2016)

Brides by the Sea, the cutest little wedding shop in all of Cornwall, has it all, including cake baker Poppy who lives upstairs. But wedding planning is not the piece of cake Poppy thought it would be, and when her best friend Cate’s wedding planner walks out, Poppy has to tie up the loose ends so her bestie can tie the knot.
Double-booked venues, ‘rustic’ locations and gorgeous but grumpy farmer Rafe have this wedding pro feeling like she could be Cate’s ‘something blue.’
Will the wedding, the shop and the cake all come crashing down on her? Or will Poppy pull it off to give Cate – and herself – the happy ever afters they deserve?
I've always loved books about weddings; I don't know what it is exactly but all the wedding prep with the pretty dresses, fabulous locations, trouble shooting, delicious cakes... I guess it just makes for some quite entertaining reading material! So when I first heard author Jane Linfoot would be releasing the first part of a completely new series, titled 'Cupcakes and Confetti', set in a wedding shop, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. Also because I really enjoyed Jane's last novel, 'The Vintage Cinema Club' (click here to read my review) and couldn't wait to see what she would treat us to next. 'The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea' was released in April by HarperImpulse and has the cutest book cover, I love it. A big thanks to Jane herself for providing me with a review copy; as soon as I picked this up I already had a good feeling I would end up loving it...
Poppy loves baking cakes and it's pretty great that she has managed to turn her passion into a freelance job while living on the top floor of wedding shop 'Brides by the Sea' in Cornwall. However, when her best friend Cate unexpectedly loses her wedding planner, Poppy is the one to save the day by temporarily taking on another job as event manager/wedding planner at local venue Daisy Hil Farm. Before she knows it, Poppy has to deal with double-booked weddings, spoiled brides and, last but certainly not least, her new boss: moody farm owner Rafe. Poppy tries her very best to juggle all the balls she's trying to hold up, but will she be able to deal with everything that's thrown at her and guarantee her best friend the amazing wedding she deserves?
If you're a real sucker for romance, just like I am, you definitely do not want to miss 'The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea', Jane Linfoot's brilliant new novel. After seeing the gorgeous book cover and reading the promising book description, I had high hopes for this novel and I'm glad to see the story definitely managed to meet them! The book revolves around main character Poppy, who unexpectedly becomes a wedding planner at local venue Daisy Hill Farm to help out her best friend. I straight away liked Poppy and loved joining her on her adventures within the world of wedding planning. I loved all the cakes, the dresses, the brides... I was completely captivated by the story and didn't want to put the book down but keep on reading and discover whether Poppy would manage to make everything work or not.
I've had the pleasure of reading several of Jane Linfoot's works so far, and in my personal opinion her writing just keep getting better and better and this is undoubtedly her best novel yet. I'm so happy this is actually just the start of the 'Cupcakes and Confetti' series and I already can't wait to see what will happen in the following instalment. I have only good things to say about this book and its storyline, the characters, the romance aspect, the scene setting... It's an amazing read and one I highly recommend to any chick lit/romance fans out there. 'The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea' is a  feel-good, light-hearted, romantic read that I couldn't get enough of and I already can't wait for part 2!

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe' by Debbie Johnson (2016)

The Comfort Food Cafe is perched on a windswept clifftop at what feels like the edge of the world, serving up the most delicious cream teas; beautifully baked breads, and carefully crafted cupcakes. For tourists and locals alike, the ramshackle cafe overlooking the beach is a beacon of laughter, companionship, and security – a place like no other; a place that offers friendship as a daily special, and where a hearty welcome is always on the menu.
For widowed mum-of-two Laura Walker, the decision to uproot her teenaged children and make the trek from Manchester to Dorset for the summer isn’t one she takes lightly, and it’s certainly not winning her any awards from her kids, Nate and Lizzie. Even her own parents think she’s gone mad.
But following the death of her beloved husband David two years earlier, Laura knows that it’s time to move on. To find a way to live without him, instead of just surviving. To find her new place in the world, and to fill the gap that he’s left in all their lives.
Her new job at the cafe, and the hilarious people she meets there, give Laura the chance she needs to make new friends; to learn to be herself again, and – just possibly – to learn to love again as well.
For her, the Comfort Food Cafe doesn’t just serve food – it serves a second chance to live her life to the full…
I love Debbie Johnson; over the last two years or so she has really become one of my favourite chick lit authors and whenever a new novel of hers is about to be released I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Luckily, the lovely people over at HarperImpulse are always willing to send me review copies of Debbie's work (you can check out my review of Debbie's previous book 'The Birthday That Changed Everything', by clicking here), so I was lucky enough to also receive a copy of Debbie's latest novel, 'Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe', which was released on May 1st. The lovely colourful and summery cover already made me smile and the blurb only made that smile bigger... I had my fingers crossed for a great read, but was secretly already sure Debbie wouldn't disappoint!
After losing her husband, Laura Walker, now a single mum of two teenagers, never really managed to pick up the pieces of her life, and how could she, after something so horrible? But she knows she has to at least give it a shot for Nate and Lizzie, her kids, so when she stumbles upon an advert for a summer job at a cafe near the beach, Laura applies. When Cherie, the owner of the Comfort Food Cafe, picks Laura for the job, Laura and her kids pack their bags and make the journey to spend a few weeks away from it all. But the Comfort Food Cafe isn't just your average place, as Laura soon discovers, and it has quite a few things in store for her and her children...
I think I mentioned before in one of my other reviews that I feel Debbie Johnson is just getting better and better with each novel, and 'Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe' definitely proves this; what a simply stunning read! I honestly loved everything about this book: the gorgeous setting, the idea of the Comfort Food Cafe, the storyline, the writing style, and, of course, the great characters. I easily warmed to protagonist Laura and her story made me both smile and shed a few tears every now and again. As with Debbie's previous works, there is also a fantastic group of secondary characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with as well. Debbie has the skill of adding numerous extra characters to her stories, but making sure you can remember all of their names, background stories and specific roles in the book with ease, which is a skill not every author has. 
The book starts with a job advertisement and Laura's application letter, which I thought was a really inviting beginning that made me curious to read on. The story has quite an emotional side to it as well, showing how important it is to be brave and try to go on with life after a set-back, and I can only applaud Debbie for writing another amazing, warm, heartfelt novel which will make you laugh at times but also make you feel all kinds of other emotions. I, once again, couldn't get enough of the storyline, the characters, the comfortable writing style... If you're a chick lit fan and haven't picked up a Debbie Johnson novel yet, go and get one RIGHT now, because you're definitely missing out on something!

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'It's in His Kiss' by Eve Devon (2016)

Who do you turn to when things go wrong?
Your best friend. Obviously.
Sephy King’s worked flat-out to make her new lingerie business a success, only there’s a tiny snag – the marketing photos for the launch party are a disaster.
Luke Jackson will help her, won’t he? They just need to strip off, model gorgeous, sexy underwear together and take more photos! So what if the stunning body he’s been hiding makes Sephy’s eyes pop out? And when he holds her, she suddenly wishes they were in her bedroom…alone? He’s her best friend.
Then Luke asks Sephy for a return favour: to pose as his fake fiancée to get his parents temporarily off his back. It’s a risky strategy – but she’s sure she can pull it off.
Until he kisses her…
It's been quite a while since I've had the pleasure of reading a new Harper Impulse read! I'm a big fan of the publisher and always love checking out their reads (such as Debbie Johnson's 'Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper', click here to read my review), so when I was approved for a review copy of Eve Devon's 'It's in His Kiss', which was released on April 21st, via NetGalley, I was really excited to once again have the chance to discover a (to me) new author's writing. The lovely pastel colours of the cover and the book description already definitely managed to grab my attention, so it was fingers crossed, hoping I'd also end up enjoying the story itself!
Twenty-something Sephy King doesn't shy away from a bit of hard work. She has been working on her new lingerie business non-stop, making sure it will be a success so she can keep on taking good care of her young daughter Daisy. However, Sephy knows she needs something to boost her marketing campaign if she really wants her line to make an impression, and that something is a man, particularly her best friend Luke. In return for his modelling services, Luke asks one thing from Sephy: to pretend to be his fake fiancee when his parents come to visit him. It seems like a good deal for the both of them, but when sparks start to fly and things are getting hotter and hotter, Sephy comes to realise there is a lot more between her and Luke than she initially thought.
When I started this novel I had absolutely no idea it is actually the third part of a series by Eve Devon. Her novels 'The Love List' and 'Her Best Laid Plans' focus on two other female characters that both come back in this book as well and the three stories are all connected to one another. While you can certainly read 'It's in His Kiss' as a stand-alone, I personally definitely felt as if I was missing out on important background details and think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the other two parts first. This doesn't take away the fact that I liked both Sephy and Luke's tale (the chemistry between these two almost literally sparked off the pages!) and Eve Devon's writing style, which fit the romance genre really well and was comfortable to read.
The novel's first chapter straight away dives into the middle of Sephy and Luke's friendship, and this remains the main focus of the book. While the sexual tension between them is really well done, I did feel that the story dragged a bit, with not too much going on. I wouldn't have minded it if another storyline had been added, perhaps something involving Sephy's incredibly cute daughter Daisy. There's also an important role for Sephy's family in the story, but I thought they really weren't very likeable character, unfortunately. On the whole, 'It's in His Kiss' is an enjoyable romance read with a lot of chemistry and heat between its main characters, but I do recommend reading the other parts of this series first in order to enjoy the book the most.

Rating:7,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Upcoming Release: 'The Summer Flings Travel Club' by Aimee Duffy!

Armed with a degree that she doesn't have a clue what to do with, Ciara Bree convinces her two best friends, Elle and Gem to spend their first summer of freedom backpacking across the globe. Now it's time to shop, sunbathe, think about boys for a change, and party hard…

LA, Miami, Paris, Santorini, Ibiza, Florence and Dublin…these fabulous jet-setters are in for the summer of their lives.

From crashing celebrity parties in Tinseltown to grape-squishing in Florence, Ciara globetrots her way to happiness with her friends Elle and Gem by her side.

But Elle’s gorgeous cousin Zack keeps showing up, and while Ciara can think of a few ways to have fun with him, she starts to realise that her summer fling isn’t as uncomplicated as it should be…

On April 17th Aimee Duffy's 'The Summer Flings Travel Club' will be released; a novel I can't wait to read! I'm a big fan of publisher Harper Impulse and I'm always up for checking out their novels. I love the sound of this novel; three friends travelling to all kinds of places to have the best summer... It sounds like the perfect read to get into the summer mood, so hopefully we've got some nice Spring days coming up on which to sit outside with this wonderful read. Can't wait!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'A Very Country Christmas' by Zara Stoneley (2015)

Love is in the air in Tippermere as Lottie dreams of a white Christmas with no trimmings – other than her hot and hunky eventer, Rory. But things are never quite that simple on the Tipping House Estate.
Festive fervour takes over and it isn’t all seasonal peace and goodwill as expectations rise and it soon escalates from cosy dinner for two, to all the trimmings for ten!
With missing turkeys, loose horses, troublesome terriers and randy huntsmen, Lottie is hard pushed to find time for a kiss under the mistletoe, let alone find the opportunity to woo Rory with her sexy Santa costume.
But there is only one thing Lottie really wants for Christmas, and only one man can deliver it…
Earlier this year I had the chance to check out Zara Stoneley’s Tippermere book series, consisting of her two novels ‘Stable Mates’ (click here to read my review) and ‘Country Affairs’ (click here to read my review). I really enjoyed both books, so was quite excited when I discovered Zara has written a festive novella as the latest part in the series, ‘A Very Country Christmas’, which is set a few months after the end of ‘Country Affairs.’ I was lucky enough to receive a review copy via NetGalley and couldn’t wait to join Lottie, Rory and the other characters for the festive season!
Lottie Brinkley can’t wait to spend Christmas with her fiancée, Rory Steel. She already has dreams of a white Christmas, just the two of them in front of the telly with enough Christmas food for days, the house to themselves, and hopefully that one special Christmas present Lottie has secretly been wishing for… But when the merry and kind-hearted spirit of Christmas unexpectedly hits Lottie, she suddenly  finds herself inviting all her friends and family for Christmas at her and Rory’s place. Instead of an exclusive dinner for two, Lottie finds herself preparing a festive meal for ten and all of a sudden Christmas at Tippermere isn’t exactly what Lottie expected it to be… 
I loved this wonderful festive trip back to Tippermere and once again seeing all these familiar faces! While ‘A Very Country Christmas’ could be read as a stand-alone, I definitely recommend reading it as part of the series, because it provides you with that extra bit of background information that makes this story even better than it already is. The author has included a guide with all characters’ names and a bit of information at the beginning of the story, which is really helpful to refresh your memory or help you when all these characters get a bit too much. I loved the fact that almost all familiar Tippermere faces make an appearance in this Christmas novella and I had a big smile on my face throughout.
The novella is divided into three separate parts: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which was a nice division. Zara Stoneley’s writing style is great; it flows well, provides enough detail, and made me laugh several times. I personally know nothing about horses and am also not a particularly big fan, but Zara has made me fall in love with Tippermere and its characters (also the great animals, mainly dogs and horses) and I can only hope we will be treated to another part in 2016! ‘A Very Country Christmas’ is a light, feel-good, festive read that is definitely worth picking up this Christmas; I loved it!

Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper' by Debbie Johnson (2015)

For single mum Maggie, Christmas has always been a family occasion – her daughter Ellen filling the house with her bubbly warmth and mistletoe, her dad Paddy having one too many festive tipples, and the traditional family Christmas tree looking like a drunken elf vomited a rainbow all over it.

But this year, with both Ellen and Paddy away for the holidays, Maggie’s facing a truly blue Christmas – alone with nothing but a bottle of Baileys and an M&S turkey dinner.

Until walking the snowy streets of Oxford, Marco Cavelli quite literally crashes into her life – and, complete with broken leg, becomes her unexpected houseguest. All dreamy brown eyes and 6’5” of gorgeousness, the man is hotter and more delicious than a freshly baked mince pie.

Though Maggie always thought it’s a truth universally acknowledged that you never kiss a man in a Christmas jumper?

I have to admit both the title and reference to Mark Darcy (from 'Bridget Jones') and his Christmas jumper were already enough reason for me to want to pick up Debbie Johnson's latest release, 'Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper'. There's nothing like a good Christmas jumper for the holidays, if you ask me! However, I am also already familiar with Debbie Johnson's writing and would have picked up anything with her name on it, if we're being honest! Her previous title 'Pippa's Cornish Dream' (click here to read my review) was a read I ended up really enjoying, so I had my fingers crossed for this, hopefully, lovely read as well!

Thirty-something and single mum Maggie has always loved spending Christmas with her family. But this year both her father Paddy and daughter Ellen have other plans, leaving Maggie alone with just her Christmas tree for company. Until an unfortunate snowy bicycle accident leaves Maggie with an unexpected but handsome and charming houseguest in the form of Marco Cavelli. Since Marco lives in Chicago and is only in the UK for a short time, Maggie agrees to help him recover at her home after the accident. Marco should be out of there again before Christmas, but Maggie quickly realises there's a lot more to Marco than a pretty face and a Christmas jumper, and him staying with her might not be as awful as she initially expected...

'Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper' is a thoroughly enjoyable and simply lovely festive read; another great title by publisher Harper Impulse and author Debbie Johnson! The book is quite a short and quick read with nearly 200 pages, which makes it perfect to pick up in a quiet moment during this busy time of the year. I've had the pleasure of reading some of Debbie Johnson's other stories and it seems like she just keeps on getting better with every new release. This read has a great group of characters (with protagonist Maggie at the centre, a character who I felt was really easy to like, and some familiar faces if you've read Debbie's other festive novella 'Cold Feet at Christmas'!), a basic but entertaining storyline, a good dose of romance and sparks; everything I look for in an enjoyable romcom read.

I personally loved the setting of this book; winter time in Oxford sounds simply wonderful and the descriptions made me almost feel as if I was there myself. I am also a sucker for wedding-related topics, so I loved the fact that Maggie works as a seamstress and creates her own wedding dresses. The chemistry between Maggie and Marco was there from the first page, and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship and friendship develop as the story progressed. The only negative thing is that it wasn't a full-length novel, because I would have definitely loved to read more about all of the characters. 'Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper' is a sweet, warm, fast-paced, festive read that made me fall in love with Debbie Johnson even more. The book to pick up if you're looking for a quick and lovely Christmas fix!
Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'What Happens to Men When They Move to Manhattan?' by Jill Knapp (2014)

Life in the big city gives Amalia a ride she is not expecting. As she tries to find her way on the little island that never sleeps, she discovers she has a harder time navigating through life then she does the streets of Greenwich Village and finds herself truly lost in the complex world of men, graduate school, money, family, and friendship.

She thought she had everything she wanted – a new apartment in Manhattan, a first-rate education at NYU, a group of trusted friends and Nicholas, a boyfriend who she once believed was her soul-mate. But somehow, it isn’t enough. 
Stumbling through her relationships, Amalia encounters Michael. An attractive classmate who quickly moves from being one of her close friends, to an inconsistent friend-with-benefits. After all, the only thing consistent about New York is its beauty. 
After getting terribly lost searching for love in all the wrong places, Amalia finds herself torn between the possibility of a relationship, and an adventure she's been planning all along. 
She eventually realizes that solely chasing love closes her off to all of the other good things life has to offer. Now she must decide – what is worth the chase?
Harper Impulse continues to be one of my personal favourite publishers. Over the past year they've once again released numerous thoroughly entertaining reads and I am almost starting to think that if I can find the Harper Impulse logo on the book, it's a guaranteed good read! Today I've got a review of Jill Knapp's 'What Happens to Men When They Move to Manhattan?', which is the first part of her book series 'What Happens to Men.' The novel was first released in 2014 and since then the other two parts of the series, 'You'll Find Me in Manhattan' and 'We've Always Got New York', have also been released. I love starting a new series in the hope of enjoying it so much, you can straight away grab the other parts, so I had my fingers crossed!
23-year-old Amalia is leading the good life: she has a great apartment in Manhattan, goes to NYU to get her master's degree, has some great friends, and a lovely boyfriend named Nicholas whom she can't imagine living without. Until Nicholas breaks up with her for no clear reason, and Amalia suddenly finds herself being single in New York City. She realises the city has a lot to offer her, such as her classmate and friend Michael who seems to be just as attracted to her as she is to him but doesn't seem to be looking for something serious. But is Michael really the guy for her, or should she perhaps forget about guys for a while and focus on other things in life that could make her happy?
I completely understand why 'What Happens to Men When They Move to Manhattan' is compared to TV shows like 'Sex and the City', because the similarities are definitely there. Set in New York City, a twenty-something female protagonist, and a strong storyline focus on men, love/romance, and friendship. I quite enjoyed the novel, which was a quick read with roughly 290 pages, and enjoyed taking a look into main character Amalia's life. New York is, of course, a great setting for a book like this one and there was also an interesting collection of secondary characters, such as Amalia's best friend Cassandra, which I enjoyed learning more about. 
I've seen this novel being described as New Adult; a genre which I'm not really that familiar with, but there are definitely some chick lit elements in the novel as well. As mentioned before, the story really focuses on Amalia and her love life. While this was fun to read about it, I also wouldn’t have minded if another storyline had been added, just to have a bit more going on. The book ends with an open ending and I am really curious to find out what will happen to Amalia next, so I already look forward to picking up the second part of this series. Overall, ‘What Happens to Men When They Move to Manhattan’ is a fun, entertaining and quick read and a promising debut by author Jill Knapp!

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.