Mango Bay - Serena Fairfax

 

Jazz clubs, yacht clubs, aunty bars and a Bollywood beauty shadowed by her pet panther. This is glamorous Bombay in the late 1950s.

Love has blossomed in London between vivacious Scottish Presbyterian, Audrey, and clever Indian lawyer, Nat Zachariah.

When the happy newlyweds move to Nat’s exotic homeland and the striking family villa, Audrey must deftly navigate the rituals, secrets, intrigues and desires of his Bene Israel Jewish community, and adjust to perplexing new relatives.

In time, the past unlocks, old family ties unravel, lies are exposed and passions run high as different generations fall out. Then something shocking happens that undoes everything. Will this marriage that has crossed boundaries survive?

 Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mango-Bay-Rituals-secrets-intrigues/dp/0957040563

My Review:

As a reader new to Fairfax’s work I was excited about reading Mango Bay and I was not disappointed at all. The story, a gorgeous romance set in Bombay during the 1950’s, is of Audrey and Nat, who meet, quickly fall in love and get married in a bit of a whirlwind before eventually moving to Nat’s homeland.

We soon see that wedded bliss is not all that Audrey expects it to be, Nat is not the same and we are taken on a journey of the lows and turmoil surrounding these two characters but they do have highs and happiness. How long does that happiness last? Well I will leave that for you to discover but to say things and people are not always as they seem. We read how this family lives with the situations they find themselves in and how differing cultures may play a role in the marriage and family dynamic.

Very well written, Serena Fairfax transports you to another time and place, full of culture and difference. As someone who loves India and has spent time there this book took me straight back, I could feel the atmosphere, imagine the smells, and sounds and I was engrossed.

It’s a beautiful book that will sweep you up and keep you reading for hours. Highly recommended. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Serena spent her childhood in India, qualified as a Lawyer in England, and worked in a London law firm.

Some of her novels have a strong romantic arc although she burst the romance bubble with one quirky departure. Other novels pull the reader into the dark corners of family life and relationships. She enjoys the challenge of experimenting and writing in different genres.

Her short stories and a medley of articles, including her reviews of thrillers and crime fiction, feature on her blog.

Fast forward to a sabbatical from the day job when Serena traded in bricks and mortar for a houseboat that, for a hardened land lubber like her, turned out to be a big adventure.  A few of her favourite things are collecting old masks, singing and exploring off the beaten track.

Serena and her golden retriever, Inspector Morse, who can’t wait to unleash his own Facebook page, live in London.

www.serenafairfax.com

 Twitter @Sefairfax

The Resistance Girl - Jina Bacarr

 

The Resistance Girl
Two women. One heartbreaking secret.

Paris, 1943.
Sylvie Martone is the star of French cinema, and adored by fans. But as Nazi officers swarm the streets of Paris, she is spotted arm in arm with an SS Officer and her fellow Parisians begin to turn against her.
However Sylvie has a secret - one she must protect with her life.

Paris, 2020.
Juliana Chastain doesn't know anything about her family history. While her mother was alive she remained very secretive about her past.
So when Juliana discovers a photograph of a glamorous French actress from World War Two amongst her mother's possessions, she is in shock to find herself looking at her grandmother - especailly as she is arm in arm with a Nazi Officer...
Desperate for answers, Juliana is determined to trace the journey of her grandmother. Surely there is more to the photograph than meets the eye?
But as she delves into Sylvie's past, nothing can prepare Juliane for the tales of secrets, betrayal and sacrifice which she will uncover.

A heart-wrenching story of love and war, perfect for fans of Pam Jenoff and Suzanne Goldring.

My Review:

An interesting, somewhat informative read told from the perspectives of Sylvie and granddaughter, Julianna. She is desperate to prove her grandmother wasn’t a Nazi sympathiser after discovering a photograph.

I enjoyed seeing Sylvies journey unfold – leaving a convent to become a star in French films. The book describes the highs and lows of this lifestyle and all that came with it. Using her power and influence Sylvie finds she can help the resistance even if this may cost her more than she realises.  

The storytelling was well written and I really liked the characters, I didn’t feel as much emotional impact from the descriptions of the war or what was happening as I have read in other books. I didn’t feel the true horrors of the situation were as hard hitting as they could be – maybe this is just personal preference as it didn’t take anything away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

The book is intriguing and is a great story. I love that the characters go through ups and downs, we go on an emotional rollercoaster with them and I was kept interested throughout. I enjoyed each chapter and read this is a few sittings. I would definitely recommend for fans of this genre. 
Purchase Link - https://buff.ly/3dHGHqQ

Author Bio: 

Jina Bacarr is a US-based historical romance author of over 10 previous books. She has been a screenwriter, journalist and news reporter, but now writes full-time and lives in LA. Jina’s novels have been sold in 9 territories.

Social Media Links: 

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/JinaBacarrNewsletter

Website: https://jinabacarr.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JinaBacarr.author

Twitter @ https://twitter.com/JinaBacarr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jinabacarr/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LadydeGrey/videos?view_as=subscriber

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jbacarr

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jina-bacarr

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50392.Jina_Bacarr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinabacarr/

https://bookandmainbites.com/JinaBacarr

One Family Christmas - Bella Osborne

 

A big family. A whole lot of secrets. A Christmas to remember…

This year, Lottie is hosting one last big family Christmas at the home she grew up in – just like her Nana would have wanted.

But when her relatives descend on the old manor house, Lottie gets more than she bargained for. Every family has its secrets, but in this family, everybody has one!

So, between cooking a Christmas dinner, keeping tensions at bay and a stray dog out of mischief, she has plenty on her plate and not just misshapen sausage rolls and a frozen turkey. And then her first love shows up – nine years after he walked out of her life.

Can Lottie make their last family Christmas one to remember… for the right reasons?

Purchase Links

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B085XQXDB9/

Universal Amazon link - http://mybook.to/OneFamilyChristmas

KOBO - https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/one-family-christmas

My Review:

Time to get festive and for Lottie that means upholding long standing traditions, at least this one final time. Determined to uphold her Nana’s customs and Christmas traditions she sets about playing host before a surprise visitor leaves her feeling on edge, a houseful of family drama and a cat and dog that cause drama every way she turns.

What an absolute hoot, I loved this from beginning to end. Littered with sentimentality for years gone by and missed loved ones, it has plenty of laugh out loud moments that highly entertained – usually involved one furry friend at least. I really loved this family and fair play to Lottie – she really works hard to make everyone happy.

Her kitchen disasters are appreciated even if sounding inedible. I loved her relationship with her brother, he is always on her side which is good as at times I felt like she was treated like some servant catering to everyone else’s whims and fancies.

What I really enjoyed about this? Is that I could identify with parts, some of the mishaps and funny moments. I think this is what will appeal to so many readers, we aren’t given the picture-perfect Christmas that although often cute, just isn’t realistic. One Family Christmas is bound to remind most people of their own unique family Christmases.

So many characters can sometimes be confusing, but each had their own unique personality and place in the book it felt like you were right in the middle of this crazy but equally lovely family. I could see this as a fun filled, comedy Christmas film!

Family relationships are tested but this heart warming read will show that through all the ups and downs family can be there for each other. It’s a gorgeous, cosy read that will have you laughing one minute and feeling reminiscent the next. With forgotten love, missed family members and new chances at love being offered, this wonderful read can tick all the boxes.

I highly recommend this fun filled, festive treat! 

Author Bio:

Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written six best selling romantic comedies and she’s been shortlisted three times for the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year Award.

Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She lives in The Midlands, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.

For more about Bella, visit her website at www.bellaosborne.com or follow her on social media.

Social Media Links:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/osborne_bella

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BellaOsborneAuthor/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bellaosborneauthor/

Winter Wishes At Swallowtail Bay - Katie Ginger

     

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay

Grab your cosiest jumper and escape to the beautiful Swallowtail Bay!

Christmas and romance are in the air and Nell is obsessed! She can’t stop watching her favourite Christmas romcoms and dreaming of the day when she meets her own romantic hero, especially as she is hosting the first ever wedding at her small hotel, Holly Lodge.

Nell’s best friend, Tom, has been in love with her ever since they met. But Nell has never seen him that way, and he’s always kept his feelings a secret in case it ruins their friendship.

After the opening of the glamorous Langdon Mansion Hotel in the bay, Nell’s hotel is struggling for survival and she must fight, with Tom’s help, to keep Holly Lodge open. Can the magic of Christmas help two old friends save Holly Lodge and open Nell’s eyes to a love that was always there the whole time?

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the hilarious new romantic comedy from Katie Ginger, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Veronica Henry and Holly Martin!

My Review:

What a gorgeous festive, wintery treat. Perfect reading for cold winter days, where you snuggle down, get cosy and get lost in the adventures from Swallowtail Bay.

Nell is a sweetheart, a true romantic who I loved from the start. Her cosy, family run hotel is struggling following the arrival of a fancy, new, posh hotel. She needs go boost bookings fast to survive. She’s also a true romantic and is looking out for ‘The One,’ The answers are right in front of her but how long will it take her to realise.

Events in the community help Nell’s business start to turn around, but the niggling negative reviews are a cause for concern. How will she solve this mysterious problem and save her hotel?

I adored the relationship between Nell and Tom. What a gorgeous friendship, and in my opinion a solid foundation for romance – not that Nell would even consider it. Tom is probably my favourite character overall, what a wonderful guy. His work ethic, the fact he would go to the ends of the earth to support his friends and the sweet connection he has with his Grandad.

This is book three in the Swallowtail Bay series, I have loved each and every one and I must admit I feel a little bit sad that we won’t be back. Each can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend them all. Although I will miss this gorgeous, fictional community and its lovely inhabitants I cannot wait for more from Katie Ginger.

A heartwarming, romance with wonderful characters, seasonal cheer and festive fun. A must this winter. 

Purchase Links

UK Amazon ebook: https://amzn.to/2Ni5ipv

US Amazon ebook: https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Wishes-Swallowtail-Bay-Book-ebook/dp/B08B4D1N1M

Author Bio:

KATIE GINGER lives by the sea in the south-east of England, and apart from holidays to very hot places where you can sit by a pool and drink cocktails as big as your head, she wouldn’t really want to be anywhere else. Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is her sixth novel. She is also the author of Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay, Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay, Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage and the Seafront series – The Little Theatre on the Seafront, shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award, and Summer Season on the Seafront.

When she’s not writing, Katie spends her time with her husband and two kids, and their dogs: Wotsit, the King Charles spaniel, and Skips, the three-legged Romanian rescue dog. (And yes, they are both named after crisps!)

For more about Katie, you can visit her website: www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor.

The Winter Garden - Heidi Swain ** GIVEAWAY **

Fancy winning a signed copy of The Winter Garden from Heidi Swain? Read on... 

***The sparkling new Christmas novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain!***

Freya Fuller is estranged from her parents and has been following her childhood dream of becoming a gardener ever since. When an opportunity to design a winter garden opens up at a Victorian property in Nightingale Square, Freya jumps at the chance to make a fresh start. But while the majority of the residents are welcoming, local artist Finn seems determined to shut her out, and when Freya's family make a surprise appearance, it seems that her new life is about to come crashing down . . .

The Winter Garden  is the perfect read this Christmas, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Cathy Bramley and Sarah Morgan.

My Review:

Heidi’s writing is like a comfort blanket and the stories she creates are heart-warming, soul soothing and a perfect tonic to what’s been the most unsettling of times.

Heidi Swain books always shoot straight to the top of my TBR. I will ditch any other just to read them as I know I will adore them from start to finish. I’ve been looking forward to ‘The Winter Garden’ so didn’t hesitate to start and I was hooked from the off.
A return to Nightingale Square – YEY – we are familiar with this setting thanks to Heidi’s previous books, Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square and Poppy’s Recipe for Life but don’t worry The Winter Garden is a standalone, you don’t need to have read the others but for those of us who have we will be greeted with a few familiar faces.
Freya finds herself leaving a place she’s loved and treasured for years after it is inherited by heartless and awful sounding Jackson; she’s heading to Prospect Place and is keen to start work on The Winter Garden. Cue Freya finding herself in Nightingale Square and finally finding her home.
The locals all make Freya feel welcomed and she is soon in the thick of community activities. Freya is a lovely character, hard working, self-assured and confident in many ways. Her first meeting with Norse god like sculptor, Finn, leaves a lot to be desired and its clear that these two characters don’t see eye to eye which could become awkward having to work in such proximity.
The story progresses and we see how settled Freya becomes, how happy she realises she is and how well she fits into this community. I love catching up with the old favourites so I will look forward to a return to the square and a little catch up with her.
Although this book isn’t solely Christmas themed, there is the perfect amount of festive cheer to make you feel all cosy and ready to celebrate the season. A winter delight I’d say, it gives you all the right feels, with gorgeous characters and a heart-warming tale.

About Heidi:

Sunday Times Best-selling author with a passion for vintage, hearth & home.

Creating wonderful communities and characters. Find out more -

Website: https://heidiswain.co.uk/

Check out the blog: http://heidiswain.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterHeidiJoSwain



WIN A SIGNED COPY:

All you need to do is leave a comment on this blog with your favourite part of Winter.

Closing date is Sunday 11th October at 9pm and I will announce the winner on the blog and on Twitter (please follow me @TheComfyChair2 to see announcement there) on Monday 12th at 9am. 

 

Coming Home to Penvennan Cove - Linn B. Halton

 Can Kerra's Cornish hometown offer the fresh start she needs?

When Kerra left the quiet Cornish town of Penvennan Cove for the bright lights of London she didn't look back. But after the death of her mother, she's decided it's time to face her past and return to the place she called home. Her father needs her, and perhaps she needs him more than she's willing to admit?

Tackling town gossip, home renovations and a flame from her past, it's not quite smooth sailing for Kerra. Ross is the bad boy she was meant to forget, not a man who still sets her heart aflutter. As he helps bring her dream home to life, they begin to break down the barriers that have been holding them back and in the process learn things about themselves they never thought possible.

As friends old and new come together, the future in Penvennan looks bright.

Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Phillipa Ashley and Julie Houston.

My Review:

An author I haven’t had the pleasure of reading before so I was very keen to read this.

Following the death of her mother, Kerra returns to her hometown of Penvennan from the hustle and bustle of London.

Neighbour, Drew, wants to develop his cottage so they decide to save money and do them both matching. A former crush comes back into her life to help with the renovations, but is her crush completely behind her?

A charming read, that builds slowly. It is full of friendship and the relationships, a stunning location full of charm and charming characters that you get to know. Kerra is used to being anonymous in the city so life back in this community is a bit of a contrast, especially with the gossip and past comes round.

I really enjoyed this read, its heart warming and a feel-good read for a bit of escapism. I’ll definitely read more by this author in future.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2F7KHUd

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3f1Nknq

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3m2oJ6e

iBooks: https://apple.co/2QZ9XP8

About the author
From interior designer to author, when Linn B. Halton's not writing, or spending time with the family, she's either upcycling furniture or working in the garden. Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award; her novels have been short-listed in the UK's Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her 'rock', Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she freely admits she's an eternal romantic. Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors. Linn writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.

Twitter: @LinnBHalton
Facebook: @LinnBHaltonAuthor

 

Log Fires & Toffee Apple Cake at the Little Duck Pond Café - Rosie Green

 Log Fires & Toffee Apple Cake at the Little Duck Pond Café

Get set for a wonderful celebration of autumn with all your favourite characters at the Little Duck Pond Cafe!
An autumn fair is coming to Sunnybrook, much to the delight of the villagers. But for Madison, whose personal life seems to be spinning out of control, a roller-coaster is the last thing she needs – especially when it’s her emotions at stake.
Can she convince the delectable Jack that their relationship is worth another shot? Or has their romance ground to a permanent halt like a faulty big wheel? Will she solve the mystery of the missing name on her birth certificate? Or will her discoveries take her on a journey even bumpier than the dodgem cars? One thing’s for sure. Madison is going to need more than a fairground fortune teller to find the answers to her questions, if she’s going to ‘waltz-er’ into the happiest of sunsets…

Purchase Link -  https://amzn.to/38v98Fz

My Review:

It’s book twelve of this fantastic series from the lovely Rosie Green, I can’t believe it. I adore this series – I say it every time and I mean it wholeheartedly. Each time I finish one book I am already eagerly awaiting the next.

The characters are now firm favourites, each brings something different; their quirks and personalities are contrasting but overall, that is what makes it all work so well.

This book focuses on Madison, who has probably caused more tension and ill feeling than most. She can be very misunderstood and when she first appeared, I didn’t think she would ever gel well with the rest of the group. Time has served her well and she is a little less selfish these days… a teeny weeny bit.

It has been nice to get to know her better, I think it was long overdue. We saw her loved up and know that it kind of fallen apart. This story picks up on Madison trying to discover herself a little more.

The discoveries she makes are, quite frankly, life changing and she handles them as well as any other person might. I thought it was quite emotional in places and I felt for her, even if she did always seem to go feet first into every situation.

There are some funny moments, as always in these books, especially where Madison mixes up dog snorkelling with bog snorkelling.

I think by the end of the book Madison has changed a little, she’s found the love and approval she needed and believes in herself a little more. Relationships have been repaired in all ways and its very heart warming.

A gorgeous return to our favourite little community. Despite this being book 12, you can read each as standalones, with enough to fill you in on previous moments so you don’t feel confused. Rosie has a wonderful, engaging and fun writing style, the books flow beautifully and you feel at the heart of the community.

Roll on Book 13, I cannot wait! 

Author Bio:

Rosie 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.

Her series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. The latest, ‘Lucy’s Great Escape', is out now.

Rosie will be revisiting the Little Duck Pond Café with a beautiful story of love and friendship at Christmas time, entitled A Kiss in the Snow, out in October 2020.

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