Saturday, 28 September 2019

BLOGTOUR: Bonfires and Hot Chocolate at The Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green



Bonfires & Hot Chocolate (at the Little Duck Pond Café)

If you love all the colours of autumn, you're sure to warm to this uplifting story of love, loss and starting over.

Primrose Wilkins arrived in Sunnybrook with a burning desire to find the family she's never known. But after a heart-breaking false start, she's beginning to have second thoughts. Can she find the courage to battle on in her quest? And with her romantic life at an all-time low, will meeting the intriguing and attractive Callum Davy be just what she needs to renew her faith in love?

Meanwhile, Fen is also finding it hard to be brave. She's made it through to the final of TV show 'Battle of the Bakes' (thanks to Ellie entering on her behalf), but she's always shied away from being in the spotlight. How will Fen cope now that she's a famous 'celebrity', recognised in the street everywhere she goes?

Purchase Links

My Review


So pleased to have another visit to The Little Duck Pond Café; such wonderful characters that feel like friends, I have grown very fond of them all. This wonderfully autumnal visit sees us enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night – where sparks fly in more ways than one (of course!)

This time we focus on the lovely, bright and relatively new addition to Sunnybrook, Primrose. She came to find her birth Grandmother and throughout this book we see her, finally manage to start piecing together the clues.

It is such a moving and heart-warming visit and there is a lot of emotion throughout; especially as Primrose goes to clear the farmhouse where she’d lived with her dearly departed Gran. I will leave you in suspense as to the discoveries Primrose makes but I’ll say that what does happened changes things for more people than just Primrose.

Two gorgeous, kind, and decent love interests for the delightful girl – I was always rooting for one over the other, I have a soft spot for the character anyway, and it was great to see how the relationship develops.

Every addition to this series is special, and I would completely recommend reading them all but you could read this as a standalone ( but go on, treat yourself to the others too!) I cannot wait to read more about Sunnybrook and these wonderful people, I know there is another coming up but I hope that Rosie can keep them coming!

A gorgeously cosy read, very feel good and ideal to snuggle up with this autumn. I highly recommend!

Author BioRosie has been scribbling stories ever since she was little.

Back then, they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by 'the baddies'.

Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all - unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie's brand new series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. The latest, 'Bonfires & Hot Chocolate at the Little Duck Pond Cafe', is out now.

Watch out for 'A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe', which will be published Christmas 2019.

Rosie is also writing a full-length, standalone book for Christmas 2019, entitled 'Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage'.

Follow Rosie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988





Friday, 27 September 2019

BLOGTOUR: A Christmas Star - Mandy Baggot






About the book

Emily Parker is set to have the worst Christmas ever!

 

Her flatmate's moved out, she's closed her heart to love and she's been put in charge of the school original Christmas show – with zero musical ability.
Disgraced superstar, Ray Stone is in desperate need of a quick PR turnaround. Waking up from a drunken stupor to a class of ten-year-olds snapping pics and Emily looking at him was not what he had in mind.
Ray needs Emily's help to delete the photos, and she needs his with the show. As they learn to work together they may just open their hearts to more than a second chance...

My Review:

Mandy Baggot never fails to deliver an outstanding, feel good, romance – throw in a fabulous amount of festive cheer and we have one heck of a story... I loved it!

What wonderful characters (as yummy as always!) Emily and Ray are our leading characters; worlds apart on paper but they absolutely bring out the best in each other; they honestly make the nicest pairing I’ve read in a long time. Romance never runs smoothly but I was so happy that they faced their separate issues and they still wanted the best for each other. I’m not sure I am gushing enough about them!

There is a whole cast of hilarious additional characters both adult and child. Emily’s class are such superstars, they provide some wonderful moments, both funny and emotive. Working in a school and knowing how you must “go with the flow” and react to situations was funny and something I could totally relate to with Emily... she really proved her worth to that school.

Packed with genius comedic moments, this book will have you laughing your socks off, but it will also have your heart full and your emotions singing. Such a gorgeous festive treat, it isn’t all fluff, tinsel and turkey, there are some serious moments and issues addressed... I love how Mandy can take something and interweave it in a happy, love filled read.

With the most amazing festive atmosphere being created, I'm almost ready to get my Christmas Tree out now! I cannot recommend this superb festive, feel good smasher.

About the author 



Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.
Follow Mandy:   
Twitter: @mandybaggot

BLOGTOUR: Four Christmases and a Secret - Zara Stoneley





Four Christmases and a Secret
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
Except for Daisy Christmas means another of Uncle T’s dreaded Christmas parties, complete with Christmas jumper and flashing antlers.  And Oliver Cartwright.  Gorgeous Oliver Cartwright. Who she hates.
Every year Daisy has to face insufferable Ollie and hear all about how BRILLIANT he is.  Whereas Daisy has no job, no man and no idea how to fix things.
This Christmas however Daisy is determined things will be different.  There will be no snogging Ollie under the mistletoe like when they were teenagers.  No, this year she’ll show Ollie that she’s a Responsible Adult too.

But as the champagne corks pop, and the tinsel sparkles, Uncle T has news of his own to share…and it could change Daisy's life forever…

Purchase Links
 
My Review:


A delightful read that gives us more than your typical festive feel-good frolic.
Although we have a lot of festive cheer through the annual Christmas party held by Uncle Terrance (in a bookshop – how amazing does that sound by the way!?!) a lot of this story is based throughout several points throughout the year in between each party. Moved along nicely and timely so the pace is good, if you aren’t a huge Christmas fan then this is perfect as it isn’t all festive all the time.

I think Daisy is a lovely character, although perhaps it took me a bit of time to get used to her, she grows on you and she develops as a character throughout. I liked the fact she loved books, she was funny and caring and the way she cared for Stanley. I laughed so much at the rescue mission she went on with Ollie.

Ollie is the enigmatic, successful and gorgeous doctor – he has always been in Daisy’s life, but could now me the time they are more than friends, or will Daisy’s interesting, confident colleague get in their first?

The thing with secrets is that they do come out and honestly this book took me on a rollercoaster of revelation. Some secrets and just heartbreakingly sad and emotional. I didn’t necessarily expect everything this book gave me, but it made the story more enjoyable.

I’m a big fan of Zara Stoneley’s style of writing, managing to engage you in the lives of her characters without it being too much.  A beautiful look at relationships, family, friendships and moving on from the past.

About the Author: 



Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of 'The Wedding Date'.

She lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Born in a small village in the UK, Zara wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true. She now writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

Zara’s bestselling novels include 'Bridesmaids', 'No One Cancels Christmas', 'The Wedding Date', 'The Holiday Swap', 'Summer with the Country Village Vet', 'Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage' and the popular Tippermere series - 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs' and 'Country Rivals'.

Social Media Links –

Website:
http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter:
@ZaraStoneley
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley
Instagram: zarastoneley



Sunday, 22 September 2019

BLOGTOUR: Magic Under the Mistletoe - Lucy Coleman


Christmas and romance are in the air...

 

It's December 23rd and while everyone else is rushing home for the holidays, workaholic Leesa Oliver is dreading switching on her out-of-office for the festive season. And it seems her equally driven boss, Cary Anderson, isn't relishing spending Christmas at his family's country estate either.
So together, they draft an unexpected Christmas contract: They'll spend half of the holidays with each other's families, pretending to be a couple. Leesa knows the insufferably good-looking Cary will make her Christmas more bearable, but what happens after the last of the mince pies have been eaten...?
Leesa signed off on a sensible business agreement, but somewhere, amongst the fairy lights and carols something seems to have changed... It seems there might just be some magic under the mistletoe this Christmas!


My Review:     

Woah, what a festive treat! For festive fans and those romance lovers.

Leesa on a long-haul flight with Cary – a workaholic, picky man who has deserted her back in economy. They are colleagues but only really start get to know each other better on this flight back from Sydney. With bad weather stalling her original plans, Leesa finds herself heading to his family for the night; both characters do not seem enthralled with having a festive filled Christmas though – will this change?

I must admit Cary seemed like a right idiot at first and it put me off. I didn’t want to like him at all…but… I guess by the end he may have won me round a fair bit, I couldn’t help it.. I got swept along with all the characters and even him! I was all for Leesa from the opening page, she seemed like my kind of girl and if it was a hallmark movie, she’d be the character everyone loves – the girl who has been through so much and is scared, the girl who has readers on side from the start.

Lots going on in this story, it kept me interested and I do love when fate seems to have a plan that ensures our main characters get what they deserve, even if they aren’t expecting (or wanting) it at all. Thought it brilliant that the timing of the book takes us on a journey, not just a quick glimpse in time. We see throughout the book there are complete misunderstandings, drama and family issues that save this being what you typically expect.

Lucy Coleman gives us emotion, heartache and sincerity – such an emotional read, that will give you a cosy warm glow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           About the author

Lucy lives in the Forest of Dean in the UK with her lovely husband and Bengal cat, Ziggy. Her novels have been short-listed in the UK's Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. Lucy won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award.

Follow Lucy:  



Monday, 9 September 2019

COVER REVEAL: One Week til Christmas - Belinda Missen


Two people. One chance meeting. Seven days to Christmas.
Isobel Bennett is waiting for the number 11 bus when a man quite literally falls into her lap. Snow is falling, Christmas lights are twinkling, and a gorgeous man with dark brown hair has just slipped on ice and is now pressed against Isobel.

Isobel knows she’s not imagining the chemistry between them. But then his ride arrives and, embarrassed, he beats a hasty retreat, murmuring apologies – and Isobel realises only too late that she didn’t manage to catch his name…

When she runs into him again the next morning, she decides it’s fate.

It’s a second chance for Isobel and Tom – but there’s only one week until she’s leaving London for good. Seven days of enjoying all the festive delights the city has to offer: ice-skating at Somerset House, mulled wine on the Southbank, Christmas shopping at Liberty.
There’s magic in the air and mistletoe in the trees – but what will happen when the week is over?

For fans of Josie Silver, Lucy Diamond and Marian Keyes, this is one Christmas romance you don’t want to miss!


Pre-order Links: 


Author Bio –
Author and sometimes foodie, Belinda is a ridiculous romantic who met her husband after being set up by a friend two states away.
Residing in country Victoria, surrounded by books, cat-fur, and half-eaten cake, Belinda divides her days between writing rom-coms, baking, and indulging her love of comic books.

Social Media Links –


Instagram @belinda_missen