Secrets on the Italian Island - T.A Williams

 

Her work has got in the way of relationships before – but never like this

Anna’s job as a geologist takes her all over the world, including to the beautiful island of Elba, where she’s sent to look for precious metals. And the island isn’t the only thing that’s gorgeous – she can’t believe her luck when she meets windsurfer Marco and sparks fly.

But Anna must keep her role on Elba a secret to avoid upsetting the locals, which means lying to Marco even as they grow closer. When her old friend Toby visits, Anna suddenly finds herself torn between the attentions of the two men. However, Anna’s not the only one keeping secrets.

Is Marco being entirely honest with her? And why did Toby really come to visit?

A fun and escapist romance, perfect for fans of Lucy Coleman and Alex Brown.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/SecretsIsland

My Review:

Let T.A Williams whisk you away this summer with the brilliant escapist read. The third book in the Escape to Tuscany series; each a standalone but a wonderful selection of reads – I highly recommend! Fantastic descriptions of scenery and surroundings; I could picture myself there among the action – I wish! 

Anna is a hardworking geologist, with no work life balance. She is at a point in life where she thinks a change may be needed, no matter how much she loves what she does. Her work takes her to the stunning island of Elba; an Italian dream destination, in search of precious metals. 

She soon makes friends in the local community and struggles to keep the reason for being there a secret. Elba residents are protective over it’s natural and undisturbed habitat and Anna realises just how difficult a position she is in. Anna tries to come to some conclusions about her life – in terms of relationships and who is right for her as well as what she wants from her career.

I liked Anna, she seemed kind, caring and passionate about what she does as well as those she cares about. I was worried she would be easily led by those that couldn’t be trusted. 

Great writing, wonderful location and interesting characters make this one book you need to pick up! A great summer read, romance and adventure galore - I highly recommend. 

Author Bio:

I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only seven years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

The fact that I am now writing romantic comedy is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations, even if travel to them is currently difficult.

Social Media Links –:

Website: www.tawilliamsbooks.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawilliamsbooks

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

Blue Hawaiian - Carla Luna

 

The first rule of serving as the maid of honor at your perfect sister’s destination wedding?

No mistakes. The second rule? No drama.

For Jess Chavez, a week in Maui is hardly a dream vacation—not when her sister expects her to be the perfect maid of honor. Not only does Jess have to fake perfection, but she can’t let anyone know she’s unemployed and barely scraping by. Above all, she needs to steer clear of Connor Blackwood, the sexy groomsman who broke her heart five years ago.

A family wedding offers Connor the ideal opportunity to convince everyone he’s no longer an irresponsible playboy. If they see he’s changed, they might support his decision to leave the family winery and strike out on his own. With so much at stake, the last thing he needs is an alluring distraction like Jess.

When Jess and Connor end up together, exploring the island’s lush, tropical beauty, the sparks between them become impossible to ignore. Throwing caution to the wind, they decide to make their own rules.

Five days of passion. No strings. No tears. No promises.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

My Review:

A wonderful, tropical delight of a summer read. Fantastic setting, glorious characters and hot, sizzling romance that kept me hooked, reading it in pretty quick time. If you do get a break, this will be a perfect read.

This is a great rom com, with plenty of laughs and plenty of heart-stopping romance; my first read by this author, it looks set to be the start of a series and one to watch out for.

Jessica Chavez is determined to be the perfect maid of honor for her sister but flight delays mean she’s already not had a great start. Bumping into Connor Blackwood at Maui airport is a disaster she was hoping to avoid. Not wanting to confront what happened years ago, Jessica resolves to have nothing to do with him, but how easy is that going to be in this tropical paradise.

An enjoyable, quick read where you jump straight into the story and then the action never stops. I quite like Jessica and felt annoyed that she got herself into situation she didn’t need to be in. Connor sounds dreamy and a great guy, we all know nobody is perfect though but I think they make a cute couple really – shame nobody else seemed too.

Will the wedding of the year run smoothly? That’s to be seen but there are mishaps, fall outs and drama along the way.

A hot hot hot read, in more ways than one!

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Hawaiian-Blackwood-Cellars-Book-ebook/dp/B092KH7LB2/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Hawaiian-Blackwood-Cellars-Book-ebook/dp/B092KH7LB2/

Author Bio:

Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her spoiled Siberian cat.

Social Media Links –

Website: www.carlalunabooks.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/casacullen

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLunaAuthor

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

The Summer Seekers - Sarah Morgan

Get swept into a summer of sunshine, soul-searching, and shameless matchmaking with this delightfully big-hearted road-trip adventure!

Kathleen is eighty years old. After she has a run-in with an intruder, her daughter wants her to move in to a residential home. But she’s not having any of it. What she craves—what she needs—is adventure.

Liza is drowning under the daily stress of family life. The last thing she needs is her mother jetting off on a wild holiday, making Liza long for a solo summer of her own.

Martha is having a quarter-life crisis. Unemployed, unloved and uninspired, she just can’t get her life together. But she knows something has to change.

When Martha sees Kathleen’s advertisement for a driver and companion to share an epic road trip across America with, she decides this job might be the answer to her prayers. She’s not the world’s best driver, but anything has to be better than living with her parents. And traveling with a stranger? No problem. Anyway, how much trouble can one eighty-year-old woman be?

As these women embark on the journey of a lifetime, they all discover it’s never too late to start over.

As these women embark on the journey of a lifetime, they all discover it's never too late to start over...

My Review

An action-packed adventure - perfect for those still wanting to stay close to home. I love when a book can transport you thousands of miles and this latest release from Sarah Morgan does just that.

Kathleen is pretty cool; a kick ass 80 year old who feels no fear in bashing an intruder across the head. Determined to prove there is still adventures to be had, despite her daughters reluctance, she sets off on the trip of a lifetime. There may be an ulterior motive for this particular journey but she discovers more about herself and her relationship with her daughter along the way.

Liza is concerned about her Mum, she’s worried her marriage isn’t what it should be and she is constantly put upon by everyone around her. She’s lost sight of herself somewhere and as her Mum goes off to live out her dreams it makes Liza realise there may just be more to life, the question is what changes does she need to make?

Martha needs a direction in life. She’s not had the best of times and she doesn’t get any support from her family. Tasking a chance on an opportunity gives her a whole new lease of life, plus a little bit of romance! After a few weeks with Kathleen, Martha becomes more confident, carefree and able to see she isn’t the failure others lead her to believe.

All the components of a fun filled, adventure with laughs, love and drama along the way. I love all the characters in the book, Kathleen is awesome for her age and spirit, I felt sorry for Liza and really hoped she would loosen up a little and speak up and Martha; I really hoped she’d see the qualities in herself that were apparent to everyone who met her.

I think many people dream of doing the Route 66 adventure so was lovely to take this trip if only in book form.

Brilliant writing, which I have come to expect from this author and a story that moved along at a great pace. A brilliant summer read, I highly recommend. 

Order your copy HERE 

About the Author: 

USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.

Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Follow Sarah on Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/SarahMorgan_/
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com

The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts - Alison Sherlock

A feel-good story of new beginnings set in a gorgeous country village, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson.

After losing her job in New York, Amber Green isn’t looking forward to visiting her godmother in the sleepy village of Cranbridge. With its empty lanes and rundown shops, it’s hardly a place to mend her lonely heart.

But when Amber discovers that Cranbridge Stores, owned by her godmother Cathy and son Josh, is under threat of financial ruin, she realises that her skills as a window dresser might just be able to help save the struggling shop.

When disaster strikes, Amber and Josh must unite to save both the shop and the village from flooding.

Can Cranbridge Stores become the heart of the village once more?

And as the village begins to come back to life, perhaps Amber will discover a reason to stay…

My Review:


My first read by this author but definitely not my last. A cosy, uplifting tale, full of community spirit and heart.

The story is based in the wonderful sounding village of Cranbridge,  revolving around its inhabitants and the focal point - Cranbridge stores; one of those one stop shops that has everything and anything you may (or may not actually) need.

The store is past it’s best in some ways, it needs a declutter, a clean an overhaul but there is a reluctance to make changes. Something needs to change soon as they need to start making money to survive.

Amber was working in her dream job in New York. After being made redundant she decides to head to her parents via a pitstop to visit her godmother in Cranbridge. After a memorable reintroduction to Josh, her Godmothers son, can she use her creative skills to do some good?

It’s a story with ups and downs, some drama and a host of characters that you will take to your heart.

It’s well written by Alison Sherlock, it flows nicely and is a quick read. I will look forward to a return visit in the future to see what other adventures await residents of Cranbridge.

Purchase Links - https://amzn.to/2VPGfzh


Author Bio

Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree Hall books. Alison enjoyed

reading and writing stories from an early age and gave up office life to follow her dream. Her new series for Boldwood is set in a fictional Cotswold Village and the first title will be published in July 2020.



Social Media Links –

Twitter https://twitter.com/AlisonSherlock

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alison.sherlock.73

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alison-sherlock

A Sunset in Sydney - Sandy Barker

How far would you go in the name of love?

Sarah Parsons has a choice ahead of her. After the trip of a lifetime she’s somehow returned home with TWO handsome men wanting to whisk her away into the sunset.

Pulled in two directions across the globe, it’s making life trickier than it sounds. Her gorgeous American, Josh, wants to meet Sarah in Hawaii for a holiday to remember. Meanwhile silver fox, James, plans to wine and dine her in London.

It’s a lot to handle for this Aussie girl, who had totally sworn off men!

Join Sarah after her adventure in One Summer in Santorini, for the heart-warming and uplifting third novel in The Holiday Romance series.

My Review: 


I have read the previous two books in this series and was delighted that we would now get to find out which way Sarah would finally decide to go. Her previous adventures have been fun and matters of the heart left her in quite a predicament.

You could read this as a standalone, it covers in brief detail what has previously happened but I would recommend reading the other books, they are really good and take you on such fun adventures.

In this third instalment we follow Sarah, figuring her way through an international love triangle. This book will have you rooting for one man over the other – will you be a James or Josh fan?

Split into three parts you get to see Sarah spend time with James. He is older, successful, wealthy, and keen to commit to Sarah; he is also in London and Sarah lives in Sydney. I admit I was not overly keen on James at all. He seemed full of himself, overly confident and just, in my mind, a bit smarmy.

You then get a part that is Sarah meeting Josh for New Years in Hawaii. Now this was my favourite part. Great locations wonderfully described so you can imagine being right there. Josh is younger than Sarah but has the same adventurous spirit. The trouble is he does not seem in a rush to commit, and Sarah doesn’t really know where she stands.

Oh, to be in Sarah’s position; two gorgeous men chasing her! I won’t spoil anything, but she does have to decide at some point... where will her heart take her?

Well written, with fun characters you can’t help but adore. I have thoroughly enjoyed each of this series and the adventures Sandy has taken us on.

I highly recommend this fab summer read, perfect for some escapism right now.

Purchase Links

AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunset-Sydney-totally-uplifting-holiday-ebook/dp/B081MSC5S3

Google play: https://bit.ly/3dLjJxU

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-sunset-in-sydney/sandy-barker/9780008390020

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/a-sunset-in-sydney-the-holiday-romance-book-3

About the Author:

Sandy Barker is an Australian writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list

and a cheeky sense of humour. She’s also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob.
Many of Sandy’s travel adventures have found homes in her writing, including her debut novel, a contemporary romance set in Greece, which was inspired by her true-life love story.

Social Media Links –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandybarker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandybarkerauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandybarkerauthor/
Blog: https://sandybarker.com/

The Summer Island Swap - Samantha Tonge

About the book

Sometimes the best holidays are the ones you least expect...

After a long and turbulent year, Sarah is dreaming of the five-star getaway her sister has booked them on. White sands, cocktails, massages, the Caribbean is calling to them.

But the sisters turn up to tatty beaches, basic wooden shacks, a compost toilet and outdoor cold water showers. It turns out that at the last minute Amy decided a conservation project would be much more fun than a luxury resort.

So now Sarah's battling mosquitos, trying to stomach fish soup and praying for a swift escape. Life on a desert island though isn't all doom and gloom. They're at one with nature, learning about each other and making new friends. And Sarah is distracted by the dishy, yet incredibly moody, island leader she's sure is hiding a secret.

Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Mandy Baggot and Heidi Swain.

My Review:


Summer Island Swap is an easy to read story about Sarah, who is dreaming of the perfect relaxing get-away with her sister. In a twist, she is not going on the all-inclusive, glamourous getaway but instead she is on a conservation trip for the whole month (her sister secretly swapped trips before they were set to go

Will Sarah stick at it or will she decide that it really isn’t her thing and head home?

I have to admit, it took me a good while to get into this one… I found it a bit slow at first but once we really got into the project on the island, I was all in. To be honest I was angry for Sarah and would have been fully supportive if she’d had upped and left, by the end though I was so glad she stays to suffer it out.

With a whole cast of interesting characters, all with their own wonderful backgrounds and story, you will laugh out loud, by sympathetic and even be annoyed by people at various parts of the story. Keep an eye out for the fantastic, fun and entertaining Chatty though – my favourite character.

The Summer Island Swap is a sweet book to read and was enjoyable, I definitely saw things from a new point of view. It’s well written and had me dreaming of the next time I can go on holiday!

About the Author

Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK with her husband and children. She studied

German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely.
When not writing she passes her days cycling, baking and drinking coffee. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women's magazines. 
She is represented by the Darley Anderson literary agency. In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014, her bestselling debut, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction best Ebook award. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category. In 2018 Forgive Me Not, heralded a new direction into darker women's fiction with publisher Canelo. In 2019 she was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association romantic comedy award

Follow Samantha

Website: http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Twitter: @SamTongeWriter

Facebook: @SamanthaTongeAuthor

Buy links:

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

Kobo: https://bit.ly/333XuPn

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2IuyI1q

BLOGTOUR - One Summer in Santorini - Sandy Barker

About 'One Summer in Santorini'
There was something in the air that night. . .

Sarah has had enough of men. It’s time to rekindle her first true love – travel – so she books a sailing trip around the Greek islands with a group of strangers.

The very last thing Sarah wants is to meet someone new… But then a gorgeous American man boards her yacht and she knows she’s in trouble. And when she also encounters a handsome silver fox who promises her the world, she realises that trouble really does come in twos.

Will Sarah dive into a holiday fling, embark on a relationship, or stick to her plan – steer clear of men, continue her love affair with feta, and find her own way after all?

PURCHASE HERE

My Review:

I love a book that can whisk me off to a glorious, sun filled destination and Sandy Barker didn’t let me down.

One Summer in Santorini is a fun story with relationships and friendships at its heart as well as embracing the culture and surroundings of wherever you may roam.  I felt like I’ve been on adventure; Santorini is like a dream destination of mine so getting to hear these well written, idyllic descriptions were fantastic.

Sarah is our leading lady; she is strong and independent and realising she lost a bit of herself within her last relationship she seizes the opportunity to travel again and chooses this 10 day yacht adventure to find herself again.

It took me a little while to get used to Sarah, I can’t put my finger on why… I liked her but I thought she was going to be hard work – I’m glad I wrong, she turns out to be smart, kind and caring, considerate and a wonderful friend to those around her.

She meets and is attracted to a fellow passenger, he is different, younger and her feelings seem pretty instant, she does try to fight them, but I was urging her on. I thought it was a perfect coupling from the start, definitely what she needed. I can appreciate the temptation with the silver fox, but I wasn’t rooting for him at all. He isn’t what she should have been looking for in my opinion.

I loved the beautiful cast of characters, some very quirky, temperamental and I feel I would have loved to explore their stories a little more too. For example, what was Patricia all about, what happened next with her etc?

Sandys passion for Santorini and travelling is abundantly clear and is a real pleasure to read.  I laughed, I ‘arghed’ and I enjoyed. It’s a great read for the summer. 

Author Bio:

Sandy Barker is an Australian writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list and a cheeky sense of humour.

Many of Sandy’s travel adventures have found homes in her writing, including her debut novel, a contemporary romance set in Greece, which was inspired by her true-life love story.

Follow her on Twitter @sandybarker

Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop - Rebecca Raisin

AVAILABLE HERE

Goodreads Blurb:

Rosie Lewis has her life together.

A swanky job as a Michelin-Starred Sous Chef, a loving husband and future children scheduled for exactly January 2021.

That’s until she comes home one day to find her husband’s pre-packed bag and a confession that he's had an affair. Heartbroken and devastated, Rosie drowns her sorrows in a glass (or three) of wine, only to discover the following morning that she has spontaneously invested in a bright pink campervan to facilitate her grand plans to travel the country.

Now, Rosie is about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, and the chance to change her life! With Poppy, her new-found travelling tea shop in tow, nothing could go wrong, could it…?

My Review:

What an utterly charming, delightful book! I was fully immersed in Rosie's new adventure after finding herself alone and determined to prove her (quite awful sounding) husband wrong in that she isn't predictable and boring. A travelling tea shop sounds like the perfect idea to me -and I do love a book that makes me drool for the wonderful treats and delights it describes!

Rosie seems like a woman I would be friends with, shes brave, independent and really funny - I laughed out loud several times throughout. She's been pushed out of her comfort zone but she goes with it and makes the best out of each new situation. I think the combination of her and new friend Aria is wonderful.

 Aria is probably my favourite - a mobile book van, come on!! Books and a tea shop is my idea of heaven. Their friendship is so well written, they support each other perfectly. Both need someone to guide them and work through their different problems, which they do as the story progresses. I could really imagine going to some of the festivals mentioned and sitting with a book from Aria coupled with a wonderful tea from Rosie. 

I enjoyed the romantic aspect of the wonderfully annoying, yet gorgeous, Max. I liked how he continued to push Rosie into new, uncomfortable things and yet she found utter pleasure from them. He really healed her heart and confirmed her ability to be happy and push her boundaries. I think their relationship was well written, sweet and gave Rosie the happy ending I know I was hoping for. 

I have never read anything by Rebecca Raisin before - shame on me! I will be rectifying that. I loved this book, I have never felt tempted by camper vans etc but this genuinely made me imagine life on the road, having adventures and meeting new friends. 

I highly recommend - a book full of adventure, self-discovery, friendship and heart. Thank you to HQ Digital UK and Rebecca for an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley.

The Flatshare - Beth O'Leary

Available to order here 

Goodreads Blurb:
Tiffy’s been dumped by her cheating boyfriend and urgently needs a new flat. But earning minimum wage at a quirky publishing house means that her choices are limited in London.Leon, a palliative care nurse, is more concerned with other people’s welfare than his own. Along with working night shifts looking after the terminally ill, his sole focus is on raising money to fight his brother’s unfair imprisonment.

Leon has a flat that he only uses 9 to 5. Tiffy works 9 to 5 and needs a place to sleep. The solution to their problems? To share a bed of course... As Leon and Tiffy’s unusual arrangement becomes a reality, they start to connect through Post-It notes left for each other around the flat.

My Review:

The Flatshare was far more than I expected. I imagined it would be your typical, run of the mill rom com (which isn't a bad thing for me) but I was pleasantly surprised at how this book gave me a little bit more drama/comedy.   

The whole premise of the book is wonderfully bonkers; but it works. The shared bed situation is unique and the way our protagonists forge a relationship is brilliant. Notes between the two move the story on well and add some real funny, quirky moments. Starting off quite innocently with messages about bins, food etc its interesting to see how they develop a level of intimacy the longer the notes continue - talking about themselves, their lives and their feelings.  I think the balance between using the notes and not to tell the story was just right. 

The story moved along at a good pace - with some unexpected plot points - I was really surprised by some developments. (I don't want to ruin it for anyone but I like how we were not given the whole picture from the start).
 

I loved Tiffy - who appears to be loud, proud and confident. You definitely know there is a soft, vulnerable side, something you cannot quite fathom and you see how Tiffy has certain realisations regarding her past. Leon is different - quietly confident, self assured and wanting the best for those he cares for. Hardworking and loyal - I was rooting for him all the way.  His back story, being told slowly throughout the book is indicative to why he chose the caring profession and why he has a strong connection to Tiffy. I also love the quirky/fun 'best friend' character in these types of book and was not disappointed by the varied characters we meet in this story. 

I assumed this would be a light hearted, simple but lovely read but it is emotional and thought provoking - far more than the romantic comedy books we all love. Touching on some serious issues that will resonate with many readers; the serious moments were cleverly balanced with comedy that had me laughing out loud

Having heard and seen so much about this book I was so pleased I got to read this now. I highly recommend. An e-copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher, Quercus, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Comfy Rating:👍👍👍👍👍

One New York Christmas - Mandy Baggot

Available to buy here

Confession time. This is my first Mandy Baggot book – although upon checking my TBR pile I notice I have a couple of others stowed away there, so let’s say they have been bumped up the pile towards the top (I can’t be the only one that piles her TBR pile in an order that she usually ignores right?)

One New York Christmas
Lara Weeks is looking forward to Christmas with her long-term boyfriend Dan until he drops a bombshell.

When best friend Susie persuades Lara to head to the Big Apple for a festive trip, will Lara find the answers she has been searching for and will she be ready to break-up or breakthrough this Christmas? Will Lara get her happy-ever-after with the man of her dreams?

What a treasure this book is! Set in ever exciting and completely entrancing New York, Mandy Baggot transports us via her descriptive writing and charming characters. If, like me, you’ve had an opportunity to explore NYC you will be taken back, recalling what its like on those tourist filled, busy streets, remembering the sounds and smells as well as those iconic views. If (like main character Lara) you haven’t yet adventured to New York this book will have you yearning to go!

Lara, our truck driving lead is comfortable with her life and her boyfriend Dan, but as Christmas approaches, he drops a bombshell that leaves Lara feeling not so merry and bright. I like Lara immediately – she’s direct and straight to the point, fearless but afraid in equal measure.  Lara is pretty kick ass really when I think about it – she flies off to somewhere she has only ever dreamed of, is left to her own devices A LOT in this massive, strange city, she climbs trees, rescues animals and stands up for the things she believes in. I related to the way Lara fell in love with NYC and her desire to explore more of the world in any way she can.

Our main male lead Seth is an actor, having known success (Lara is a fan before New York is even mentioned) he is now a jobbing actor on the hunt for his next big role and has his sights set on a role that is perfect for him. His best friend, now acting as his agent, starts something on Twitter that has unexpected consequences for all involved. Seth is kind, caring and gets swept away in Trent’s crazy, but well intended plans that lead him to a chance encounter with Lara. The connection between the two characters is instant, although they are from two completely different worlds. I enjoyed seeing how they developed and hoped that we could see each character get the happy ending they deserved. 

Mandy Baggot’s writing is descriptive and draws you in but it did take a few chapters to be fully invested but, once I was there was no stopping me - I read quickly as I was so keen to see how things were going for both Lara and Seth. The additional characters in this book are funny and you will like them – Susie and her boyfriend; Kossy, all the characters from the shelter, Trent; each adding something interesting to the story and helping Lara and Seth discover themselves (and each other!)  I feel like I would have liked to hear more about some of them, not a criticism more of me being greedy to have more.

I giggled a lot reading this book, especially thanks to some interesting animal escapades and was enticed to consider many new holiday destinations. I found it emotional in some places, especially in terms of Seth when he was searching for answers, not fully knowing if he really wanted to discover the truth. One New York Christmas is a fantastic read that will leave you feeling all warm and happy, it’s one book you need on your festive to read list. 
Thanks to Penguin Random House UK & Ebury Publishing for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.