Review: 'The Bluebell Bunting Society' by Poppy Dolan (2017)

At twenty-nine, Connie isn’t quite where she thought she’d be. When her beloved gran died Connie returned to Hazelhurst, the village she grew up in, and took over her gran’s old job as caretaker at the village hall. It might not be the stuff of dreams, but Connie loves working at Bluebell Hall – the heart of the community fuelled by copious cups of tea.
So when Bluebell Hall is threatened with closure, Connie is determined not to let greedy property developers get their hands on it. She hatches a plan bonkers enough that it just might work. All it takes is a needle and thread, scraps of old material and willing hands.
Can Connie convince the people of Hazelhurst that their village hall is worth saving? And will she save herself in the process…?
I can’t quite believe it, but the moment has finally arrived: it’s time for my very last book review on this blog! Ever since I made the decision to stop blogging a few months ago, I’ve been both looking forward and dreading this moment. I’ve loved having my own book blog, but at a certain point it was simply taking up too much of my time and I couldn’t combine it anymore with my life and full-time job. I’m incredibly happy I managed to reach the last book on my to-review pile, making sure I’ve honoured all review requests I’ve received over the past few months. So, here we go… One more review to share with all of you, and one more set of spoons to give away!
Twenty-something Connie loved her grandmother, and when she passed away Connie immediately returned to the town of Hazelhurst, where she grew up, to take over her grandmother’s responsibilities as caretaker at the local Bluebell Hall. Connie has come to love her job as caretaker, but unfortunately the hall has seen better days. A lot of maintenance work needs to be done and there are certainly not as many visitors these days as there used to be in the past. When Connie discovers the hall is under threat of being closed, she decides to do everything in her power to stop this from happening. With the help of her friends and the Bluebell Bunting Society, Connie is determined to save her grandmother’s legacy, but will it be enough…?
‘The Bluebell Bunting Society’ was actually my very first Poppy Dolan read. I straight away liked the colourful book cover (it reminds me of sunny days and that lovely holiday feeling) and the description promised a lovely story, which I’m glad to say it was! Connie is a great main character; I found myself rooting for her and her mission to save Bluebell Hall straight away, but was also curious to learn more about her, since it is quite clear she’s struggling with what it is she wants to do in life and whether her job as the caretaker is really what she was meant to do. There are some great secondary characters in the story as well (such as Connie’s best friend Steve and his wife Lucy, and new mum Flip), even though I did feel we didn’t get to read as much about the secondary characters as I personally would have liked. However, this obviously also has to do with the fact that the read is quite a short one, with just 200 pages, while it could also have made a great full-length novel, I think.
I’m a sucker for reads that have that lovely comfy village and community feel at its core, and that is definitely the case with this read. All the people in the village of Hazelhurst come together to try and save Bluebell Hall, and I just loved that aspect of the story. The read was a bit slow-paced at times, in my opinion, but I still really enjoyed it and it has certainly made me want to check out more of author Poppy Dolan’s work in the future. All in all, ‘The Bluebell Bunting Society’ is a warm, light and cozy read that is great to pick up on a sunny day when you have a few free hours to yourself. A recommended read for any chick lit fans out there, or if you’re just looking for a read that will cheer you up!

Rating:8,5/10

  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: '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: '#Love London - The Complete Collection' by Nikki Moore (2015)

Six couples. One city. A year to remember.
Now you can get all of Nikki Moore’s gorgeously romantic stories from the #LoveLondon series in one book! This is THE book to fall in love with …
Includes the short stories: Skating at Somerset House New Year at the Ritz Valentine’s on Primrose Hill Cocktails in Chelsea Strawberries at Wimbledon
and the full length novel: Picnics in Hyde Park
London is undoubtedly one of my favourite cities in the whole world. It really is a magical place and I’ll never say no to a trip to visit the city, even if it’s just for a day. So, when I first heard about Nikki Moore’s short story collection focusing on London, I immediately knew this was going to be a book I wanted to check out. When the separate short stories were released by publisher Harper Impulse I unfortunately never managed to get any review copies, but when the complete collection appeared on NetGalley, I was one of the lucky reviewers to get a review copy. Unfortunately, it took me way too long to finally sit down with this particular read, but as I’m now slowly coming towards the end of my TBR-list, I finally had a chance to check out this lovely London collection…!
The ’#Love London’ collection is an anthology of author Nikki Moore’s writing and the thing all stories have in common is that they’re all set in the lovely city of London. As we are invited to check out short stories ‘Skating at Somerset House’, ‘New Year at the Ritz’, ‘Valentine’s on Primrose Hill’, ‘Cocktails in Chelsea’ and ‘Strawberries at Wimbledon’, we meet several characters, visit different sides of London, and experience different festive times of the year, including Christmas and Valentine’s Day. After these five short stories, there is also a full-length novel included in the collection, namely ‘Picnics in Hyde Park’, which focuses on yet another set of characters, but also brings back some of the characters we’ve already had the pleasure of meeting along the way. A great collection for any chick lit/romantic comedy fan, especially if you have a soft spot for the UK capital…!
From her ‘#Love London’ collection it straight away becomes clear that author Nikki Moore has quite a bit of knowledge to share when it comes to some special places in the wonderful city that is London, but also knows how to tell a captivating romantic story. I loved all these different short stories, set in the same city, but all focusing on a different time of year, a different collection of characters and a different captivating storyline. The fact that the stories are set in London gives them that extra special something, and I loved visiting Wimbledon, Somerset House, the Ritz, Primrose Hill… I also really enjoyed getting to know all the characters and I love short stories, because they’re great when you’re commuting or have a free hour all of a sudden. 
With more than 550 pages, the collection is quite a long read. While I really enjoyed the short stories, I struggled a bit with the full-length novel, ‘Picnics in Hyde Park.’ I think this would have perhaps also worked better as a short story, because it seemed quite slow-paced and just didn’t grab my attention as much as the short stories did. If I have to choose a favourite, it has to be a tie between ‘Skating at Somerset House’ and ‘Strawberries at Wimbledon’, which I can both highly recommend. I’m really glad I got the chance to be introduced to author Nikki Moore’s writing and I am curious to see what the future will bring. All in all, Nikki Moore’s ‘#Love London Collection’ is a great collection of short stories; quite a long read, but one which I’m sure many chick lit & London fans will thoroughly enjoy.

Rating:8/10

  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: 'Evie's Year of Taking Chances' by Christie Barlow (2017)

Evie’s job has always been her safe haven. As a librarian in the little town of Becton she loses herself in books - after all it’s far easier to read about other people’s problems than set about solving her own. 
Then, one birthday, everything is turned upside down. A mysterious parcel containing a beautiful book with a poignant inscription arrives for Evie. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for Evie and she’s inspired to try and find her real mother. 
Evie’s search leads her to meet handsome author Noah Jones. Charming and intelligent, Noah seems the perfect catch but what Evie doesn’t realise is that he is hiding something – a key to Evie’s past. 
As Evie gets closer to Noah and discovering her mother, she must take a giant leap of faith. Can she embrace the new and make this her year of taking chances? And if she does, will she get her heart broken?
Over the past year and a half or so I’ve had the pleasure of reading several of author Christie Barlow’s novels. I’m a big fan of publisher Bookouture, which is how I was introduced to Christie’s works, namely when I requested a review copy via NetGalley of her novel ‘Kitty’s Countryside Dream.’ I ended up really loving the book, and since then I’ve been looking out for other reads by this author. Since that first novel I’ve also read ‘Lizzie’s Christmas Escape’ and her ‘The Misadventures of a Playground Mother’ series. I have to admit I wasn’t too big a fan of the last one mentioned there, but I was definitely curious to check out Christie’s latest release, ‘Evie’s Year of Taking Chances’, which promised to be a great chick lit read…
Twenty-something Evie has a pretty good life; she loves her job as a librarian and she has some great people around her in the town of Becton, particularly her best friend and colleague Clara and her foster mother Irene. Yet, every single year on her birthday Evie can’t help but wonder whatever happened to her real mother; why was she unable to take care of her and where could she be now? One year, Evie decides it’s time to finally start searching for some answers to her questions so she tries to find her birth mother. At the same time, however, there is someone else who makes an unexpected reappearance in Evie’s life; eight months ago she developed a crush on author Noah, but never bumped into him again after that. Now he’s back in town and, most important of all, seems to be interested in her… Will Evie be able to make the best of this new year, full with chances, or will it all just be a bit too much in one go?
When I read my first Christie Barlow novel, ‘Kitty’s Countryside Dream’, I immediately developed a liking for the author’s writing style and loved the story she had come up with. However, the books I’ve read since then just didn’t quite manage to live up to that very first novel I picked up, in my opinion. However, I’m happy to say ‘Evie’s Year of Taking Chances’ did manage to capture that same feeling, and really was another captivating and warm-hearted chick lit read I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. The book has realistic characters at its core, and also ones that are easy to warm to and root for. I liked Evie from the start, and also thought there were some wonderful secondary characters that really added their own touch to the story as a whole (I especially liked Clara, Evie’s best friend and colleague).
I quite like it when the main storyline of a novel consists of several different aspects and different things are going on. This was also the case for this book and I was really curious to see how everything would work out, even ending up being a bit surprised by some of the events (don’t want to give anything away!). Christie Barlow’s writing style also fits the chick lit genre really well, so if you’re a chick lit fan and curious to check out one of her reads, don’t hesitate to start with this one. All in all, I’m really happy to say I was once again convinced by Christie Barlow’s writing with her latest release; ‘Evie’s Year of Taking Chance’ is a lovely and wonderful story filled with smiles, love and friendship; a thoroughly nice feel-good read!

Rating:8,5/10

  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 Choir on Hope Street' by Annie Lyons (2017)

The best things in life happen when you least expect them
Nat’s husband has just said the five words no one wants to hear – ‘I don’t love you anymore’.
Picture-perfect Caroline has to welcome her estranged mother into her house after she was forced out of an exclusive nursing home.
Living on the same street these two women couldn’t be more different. Until the local community centre is threatened, galvanising Caroline and the people of Hope Street into action. But when the only way to save the centre is to form a community choir – no one, least of all Nat, expects the results…
This spring, hope is coming!
When I saw ‘The Choir on Hope Street’ popping up on my NetGalley overview page, I just couldn’t stop myself from requesting a review copy of the book even though I am trying my very best to get my review book pile down to 0. I wasn’t familiar with author Annie Lyons before picking up this latest title of hers, but was definitely curious to check out this particular novel because the title, blurb and cover immediately got me excited. I just can’t ignore a promising chick lit read…! ‘The Choir on Hope Street’ was released by HQ on 6 April, and it was undoubtedly one of the April releases I was most looking forward to checking out, so as soon as I received my review copy I sat down with it….
Natalie is trying her best to pick up the pieces of her life after her husband Dan completely unexpectedly told her he isn’t in love with her anymore, even though she had the feeling things were going quite well between the two of them. Now, Nat not only needs to take care of herself, but also need to make sure her son Woody doesn’t get stuck in the middle of her problems with Dan. At the other side of Hope Street, perfect mum Caroline is dealing with some unexpected troubles of her own when she has to take in her estranged mother, who has been turned away from the nursing home she was staying at. Even though Nat and Caroline don’t seem to have a lot in common at first sight, their love for the Hope Street Community Centre is what brings them together. The local council has plans to demolish the centre, so the locals decide to get together and start a choir to try their best to save this important place in their community…
Oh, I’m such a sucker for novels in which communities get together to work towards a common goal, such as starting a choir to save the local community centre… I loved ‘The Choir on Hope Street’ and am so glad I got the chance to check out Annie Lyons’ writing. This really is a great chick lit read; one with some interesting characters at its core and even a focus on some quite serious topics (which I wasn’t expecting at first). The chapters in the books are told from the points of view of Natalie and Caroline, alternating between them. The two female leads couldn’t be more different: where Natalie is quite sarcastic and chaotic, Caroline is bossy and organised, but the two are thrown together due to circumstances, which ends up in some great reading material.
I really liked the idea of starting a community choir and loved how this brought different kinds of people together, all fighting for the same goal. I wouldn’t have minded if the choir had played a slightly bigger role in the novel, really adding that musical touch to the story, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author’s writing flowed really well, provided a good mix of description and dialogue, and fit the genre. I know I will definitely look out for Annie Lyons’ name the next few months and hope she will be treating us to another read soon. All in all, ‘The Choir on Hope Street’ is an uplifting, hopeful and warm-hearted romantic comedy read which I’m sure any chick lit fan will enjoy just as much as I did!

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: 'Summer at Rose Island' by Holly Martin (2016)

Darcy Davenport is ready for a fresh start. Determined to leave a string of disastrous jobs and relationships behind her, she can’t wait to explore White Cliff Bay and meet the locals. 
When Darcy swims in the crystal clear waters of the bay, she discovers the charming Rose Island Lighthouse. But it’s not just the beautiful building that she finds so intriguing… 
Riley Eddison doesn’t want change. Desperate to escape the memories of his past, he lives a life of solitude in the lighthouse. Yet he can’t help but notice the gorgeous woman who swims out to his island one day. 
Darcy is drawn to the mysterious and sexy Riley, but when it seems the town is trying to demolish his home, she soon finds herself having to pick sides. 
She’s fallen in love with White Cliff Bay. But is that all Darcy’s fallen for?
Over the past few years author Holly Martin has really made a name for herself within the romantic comedy/chick lit world. I’ve had the pleasure of reading several of her novels up until now, mainly her Christmas titles such as ‘Christmas under a Cranberry Sky’, ‘Christmas under a Starlit Sky’, ‘Christmas at Lilac Cottage’ and ‘Snowflakes on Silver Cove.’ In 2016, ‘Summer at Rose Island’ was released, and while I straight away managed to get a review copy of the novel via NetGalley, it took me quite a bit of time to finally sit down with it. Nevertheless, I know by now that a book with Holly’s name on the front is definitely worth giving a try, so I was keen to finally get started and discover more about Darcy’s story.
Darcy Davenport has moved to beautiful White Cliff Bay with a mission. Even though she loved her work as a marine biologist, she is determined to have a fresh start and make something of herself, and hopefully finally make her parents proud of her. When she first spots Rose Island lighthouse, she immediately falls in love with the beautiful building, but when she discovers there are actually plans to demolish this piece of Rose Island history, Darcy wants to do whatever she can to stop this from happening. Lighthouse-owner Riley Eddison seems to have the same goal and Darcy can’t help but fall for his rugged good looks. However, Darcy can’t forget what she came to White Cliff Bay for, and this ultimately puts her in an incredibly difficult situation where she is forced to pick sides…
‘Summer at Rose Island’ really is one of those chick lit novels that makes you long for warm lovely days on the beach and walks outside in the sunshine… Setting the scene is something author Holly Martin is known for and she certainly manages to do just that in this particular book; I wish I could actually visit White Cliff Bay and its lovely locals! While this novel is actually the third part of a series, it can undoubtedly be read as a stand-alone and no prior knowledge of any characters is needed. That being said, I did really enjoy seeing some familiar faces again and discovering how they are doing, such as Libby and George.
Darcy is a great main character; I loved how feisty she was, but also struggling to deal with some issues in her life, and it was wonderful to join her during this new step in her life. White Cliff Bay is a lovely village with a great sense of community; all locals know each other and seem to know everything about each other as well, but in the end they all mean well, and it resulted in this lovely atmosphere and feeling to the whole book. There is definitely a pattern noticeable in Holly Martin’s books and storylines, but I have to admit I personally still enjoy it every single time and I’m already excited to see when I will be able to pick up her next read. All in all, ‘Summer at Rose Island’ is a sweet, heart-warming and romantic read, and definitely a good one to pick up if you’re longing for a bit of sunshine in your life!

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: 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Colleen Coleman (2017)

Poppy Bloom has a Life Plan: PhD in psychology, research job at her university, and a life of domestic bliss with handsome boyfriend Gregory. 
But then she finishes her PhD with no job offer, no relationship, and nowhere to live. Being unemployed and living back at her mum’s house in her vampire-themed childhood bedroom was definitely not the plan. 
Poppy is back to square one and miserable, so when she runs into childhood friend Leanne she jumps at the opportunity to catch up. The chance to run into Leanne’s gorgeous brother Tom is just a bonus… 
Soon Poppy’s scored an internship at a radio station, a boyfriend, and a whole netball team of friends: things are on the up. 
But life has a way of tripping you up when you least expect it, and Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie… With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?
If you’re looking for an entertaining chick lit read, you only need to check out publisher Bookouture’s list of novels and you’ll undoubtedly be able to find more than one title that will fit your needs. I love checking out new authors that have become part of the Bookouture family, which is why I was really excited when I managed to get an early review copy of Colleen Coleman’s debut novel ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’ Both the cover and the description of the novel were already enough for me to want to pick up this read, which was released on March 22nd, and I had my fingers crossed, hoping I would enjoy the story as much as I hoped I would when picking it up…!
 Poppy Bloom has been following her career plan for years now and she’s incredibly excited to finally get to the point she has been working so hard for: finishing her PhD and getting a researcher position at her university, with her boyfriend Gregory by her side. But then her world is suddenly turned upside-down when it turns out the university decided to not give Poppy the position she wanted, and within a few days she finds herself living back at her mum’s house, newly single and jobless. Luckily Poppy bumps into her former primary school friend Leanne, which leads to her finding a new exciting job at a local radio station and a position on a determined netball team. Add a touch of romance with a former crush and Poppy can’t believe how her life has turned around. But nothing is as straightforward as it seems; when her past comes back to haunt her, Poppy is forced to make some important choices and decide what will really make her happy…
I love the feeling when you’ve read just the first few chapters of a novel and you just know this is going to be a read you’re going to enjoy until the very last page; and I got exactly that feeling as soon as I’d picked up Colleen Coleman’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’ The novel is a great and promising debut and I’m already excited to hopefully read more of Colleen’s work in the future. We meet Poppy Bloom, the lovely leading lady of this story, whose future turns out to not go exactly as she originally planned. We join Poppy as she starts the next, yet unknown, stage in her life, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Poppy was incredibly easy to like, and I think many readers will be able to relate to her and what she’s going through in one way or another, which usually makes for a great heroine, in my eyes.
There are many different elements to the storyline that kept me as reader captivated at all times. There is the idea of finding yourself, looking for what it is you really want in life, following the path that has been set out for you but not giving up on your dreams at the same time; combine this with a lovely dose of romance and fun secondary characters and you’ve got ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’ This novel is a warm-hearted, feel-good and simply great read that I didn’t want to put down; another Bookouture success, without a doubt. Colleen Coleman has definitely managed to grab my attention with her debut novel and I will definitely recommend this to others and keep my eyes open for her next one! 

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: 'There's Something About Cornwall' by Daisy James (2017)

A knight in a shining camper van!
Life is far from picture perfect for food photographer, Emilie Roberts. Not only has her slimy ex cheated on her, he’s also stolen her dream assignment to beautiful Venice! Instead, Emilie is heading to the wind-swept Cornish coast…
Emilie doesn’t think it can get any worse – until disaster strikes on the very first day! And there’s only one man to rescue this damsel in distress: extremely hunky surfing instructor, Matt Ashby.
Racing from shoot to shoot in a bright orange vintage camper van, Matt isn’t the conventional knight in shining armour – but can he make all of Emilie’s fairy tale dreams come true?
March was filled with some pretty exciting book releases and one of the novels I was personally most looking forward to checking out was definitely Daisy James’ ‘There’s Something About Cornwall.’ The book was released on the 8th of March by publisher HQ Digital, and I challenge any chick lit fan to not just want to smile when looking at the gorgeous cover! I’ve had the absolute pleasure of reading and reviewing several of Daisy James’ stories over the past year or so, and I’ve become quite a big fan of her work (click HERE to read my review of ‘If the Dress Fits’, and HERE for ‘When Only Cupcakes Will Do’). I couldn’t wait to be transported to lovely Cornwall and get lost in another hopefully great novel by this great author….!
Emilie Roberts loves her job as a food photographer, but after having been dumped by her boyfriend Brad and him also stealing her dream photography assignment in Venice from her, she’s finding it difficult to look at the bright side of life. Her good friend Alice convinces Emilie to join her on another job; taking photos of delicious treats baked by famous chef Lucinda Carlton-Rose, who plans to travel all across Cornwall for her new ‘Lucinda Loves…’ book. Without a better offer on the table, Emilie says yes and can’t help but be curious to discover what working with ‘The Devil Wears an Apron’ will be like. But disaster strikes: Emilie ends up making mistakes on her first day and the help of handsome surfer Matt Ashby couldn’t have come at a better time… Will Emilie be able to finish this assignment with a happy client, or is the start of her freelance career destined to be one big  tragedy?
I think this has to be my favourite Daisy James read to date; ‘There’s Something About Cornwall’ really has everything I look for in a romantic comedy read and I only want to shout from the rooftops how much I’m loving Daisy James’ writing  and that every chick lit fan should give one of her books a try. The novel is centred around main character Emilie, a food photographer who finds herself travelling around Cornwall in a VW camper van, working on an assignment for famous TV chef Lucinda Carlton-Rose. I really liked the plotline from the start and loved following Emilie on her journey across beautiful Cornwall, taking photos of all kinds of delicious foods and meeting new people along the way. The book has some great characters at its core, including Emilie’s friend Alice, surfer Matt, and chef Lucinda and her personal assistant Marcus. 
I’ve actually had the pleasure of visiting Cornwall myself and the author’s descriptions easily transported me back to places such as St. ives and Bodmin, and it really gave me that summer feeling. I personally love Daisy James’ writing style; it’s incredibly easy to fall back into after a long day and when you’re just longing for a quick escape from reality, and it managed to make me smile continually. I’m falling more and more in love with Daisy James and she really is one of my favourite romance authors of the moment; I already can’t wait for her next release. All in all, ‘There’s Something About Cornwall’ is a fabulously entertaining and fun romantic comedy read that had me longing for the sun (and some delicious treats…); I loved it from start to finish!

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.

April 2017 Releases!

It's almost April, which not only means that Spring has made its first appearance of 2017 (hooray for that!), but it also means there are some great new book releases coming our way soon...! The next thirty days have some pretty promising chick lit titles to offer us; it was tricky to just pick 10 of them to share with all of you today. The titles below are definitely on my wish list for next month, but I'd love to hear which ones you are looking forward to reading most at the moment! 

'The Choir on Hope Street' - Annie Lyons (6 April)
The best things in life happen when you least expect them.
Nat’s husband has just said the six words no one wants to hear – ‘I don’t love you any more’.
Caroline’s estranged mother has to move into her house turning her perfectly ordered world upside down.
Living on the same street these two women couldn’t be more different. Until the beloved local community centre is threatened with closure. And when the only way to save it is to form a community choir – none of the Hope Street residents, least of all Nat and Caroline, expect the results…

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

 

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'A Not Quite Perfect Family' - Claire Sandy (6 April)

Fern Carlile has a lot on her plate. It’s a good thing she loves her big, imperfectly perfect family, because she’s the one who washes their pants, de-fleas the dog and runs her own business. A hearty meal is the one thing that brings the Carliles together – but over the course of a year, the various courses also pull them apart.

Around the table sits an eight-year-old militant feminist, a pair of teenage accidental parents, and a cantankerous OAP. Fern’s husband needs an extra seat for his spectacular midlife crisis.

Will Fern’s marriage be over by the time coffee is served? Perhaps she’ll give in and have the hot new dish that looks so tempting. Decisions, decisions...

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads 

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'Spring at Blueberry Bay' - Holly Martin (7 April)

Bella has always had a sunny outlook and caring nature, despite recently falling on hard times. When she finds a handsome homeless man on her doorstep, her kind heart tells her she must help him. So, she invites Isaac into her cottage and into her life in ways she could never have imagined… 

But Isaac is not what he seems. He’s keeping a huge secret from Bella, yet he never expected to fall for this open, generous and charming woman. 

Bella can’t ignore the chemistry between her and Isaac, but she’s had her trust badly broken in her past. Will she run when she learns the truth about Isaac, or will he be the one man who can help Bella believe in love again? 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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'The Big Little Wedding in Carlton Square' - Lilly Bartlett (7 April)

‘I feel like The Wurzels visiting Buckingham Palace!’

When Emma’s boyfriend Daniel pops the question with a ring the size of a small country, she suddenly realises just how different they are. She’s the Eastenders to his Made in Chelsea. She wants a low-key wedding with close friends and family in Uncle Colin’s pub, while Daniel’s mother is expecting a society do that their high-brow guests won’t forget!

How on earth can Emma put together a celebration fit for Lords and Ladies on a shoestring budget? Not to mention the fact her cross-dressing Uncle Barbara wants to be a bridesmaid, her best mate Kelly can’t stand Daniel’s best friend Cressida, and her dad is too proud to accept any help from Daniel’s family towards the costs.

There’s three months to go until the big day. Will Emma’s happy-ever-after end in disaster?

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'The Horse Dancer' - Jojo Moyes (11 April)

When Sarah’s grandfather gives her a beautiful horse named Boo—hoping that one day she’ll follow in his footsteps to join an elite French riding school, away from their gritty London neighborhood—she quietly trains in city’s parks and alleys. But then her grandfather falls ill, and Sarah must juggle horsemanship with school and hospital visits.

Natasha, a young lawyer, is reeling after her failed marriage: her professional judgment is being questioned, her new boyfriend is a let-down, and she’s forced to share her house with her charismatic ex-husband. Yet when the willful fourteen-year-old Sarah lands in her path, Natasha decides to take the girl under her wing.

But Sarah is keeping a secret—a secret that will change the lives of everyone involved forever.

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'The American Girl' - Rachael English (13 April)

Boston 1968. Rose Moroney is seventeen, smart, spirited – and pregnant. She wants to marry her boyfriend. Her ambitious parents have other plans. She is sent to Ireland, their birthplace, to deliver her daughter in a Mother and Baby home. Against Rose's will, her baby is taken for adoption.

Dublin 2013. Martha Sheeran’s life has come undone. Her marriage is over, and her husband has moved on with unsettling speed. Under pressure from her teenage daughter, she starts looking for the woman who gave her up for adoption more than forty years before.

Martha's search for her birth mother leads her to the heart of long-buried family secrets and forces her to question everything she thought she knew. When her first love, Paudie Carmody, re-enters the frame, she's also forced to take a hard look at her own life.

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'A Wedding in Italy' - Tilly Tennant (14 April)

Kate is living the dream with her gorgeous boyfriend Alessandro in his native city, but the reality is sometimes a little less romantic than she’d hoped. Every day in her new home is a fight against leaking pipes, her cantankerous landlord and her less-than-perfect grasp of the Italian lingo. 

All around her there is talk of weddings, but when a secret from her past is thrust out into the open, Kate must fight to prove to Alessandro’s Mamma – and the rest of his formidable family – that she truly is Italian marriage material. 

With the women in Alessandro’s life on a mission to break them apart, the cracks begin to show and Kate starts to question if Alessandro really is the man of her dreams. Can love and the city of romance conquer all, or is that just a fairy-tale? 

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'The A-Z of Everything' - Debbie Johnson (20 April)

P is for Paris where it all began. J is for Jealousy where it all came undone. But the most important letter is F. F is for Forgiveness, the hardest of all.

Sisters Poppy and Rose used to be as close as two sisters could be, but it’s been over a decade since they last spoke. Until they both receive a call that tells them their mother has gone – without ever having the chance to see her daughters reunited.

Andrea, though, wasn’t the kind of woman to let a little thing like death stand in the way of her plans. Knowing her daughters better than they know themselves, she has left behind one very special last gift – the A-Z of Everything.

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'The Woman Who Met Her Match' - Fiona Gibson (20 April)

What if your first love came back on the scene... 30 years later?
After yet another disaster, Lorrie is calling time on online dating. She might be single in her forties, but she’s got a good job, wonderful children and she’s happy. This, Lorrie decides, is going to have to be enough.
That is, until she receives a very unexpected request from France. Antoine Rousseau, who had once turned a lonely French exchange trip into a summer of romance, wants to see her – after thirty years.
But Lorrie is a responsible woman. She can’t exactly run off to Nice with the man who broke her teenage heart...can she? Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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'Slightly South of Simple' - Kristy Woodson Harvey (25 April)

Caroline Murphy swore she’d never set foot back in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff; she was a New York girl born and bred and the worst day of her life was when, in the wake of her father’s death, her mother selfishly forced her to move—during her senior year of high school, no less—back to that hick-infested rat trap where she'd spent her childhood summers. But now that her marriage to a New York high society heir has fallen apart in a very public, very embarrassing fashion, a pregnant Caroline decides to escape the gossipmongers with her nine-year-old daughter and head home to her mother, Ansley.

Ansley has always put her three daughters first, especially when she found out that her late husband, despite what he had always promised, left her with next to nothing. Now the proud owner of a charming waterfront design business and finally standing on her own two feet, Ansley welcomes Caroline and her brood back with open arms. But when her second daughter Sloane, whose military husband is overseas, and youngest daughter and successful actress Emerson join the fray, Ansley begins to feel like the piece of herself she had finally found might be slipping from her grasp. Even more discomfiting, when someone from her past reappears in Ansley's life, the secret she’s harbored from her daughters their entire lives might finally be forced into the open.

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