A Winter Wonderland - Rosie Green

 

A Winter Wonderland

The festive season is fast approaching and the Little Duck Pond Café menu has been given a mouth-watering sprinkling of December magic. Jaz is hoping for the perfect festive season with little daughter Emma. But her feelings for next-door neighbour, Milo, are getting in the way. With his old love back on the scene, is she really prepared to risk her heart and make it the best Christmas ever?

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C97VXWCY

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C97VXWCY

My Review:

Perfect for this festive season! As always, Rosie Green takes us to Sunnybrook and the characters we have grown so fond of throughout this series. A community that continues to grow, thrive and bring us stories to pull on our emotions and carry us through whichever season.

This time we are focused on Jaz again, she’s been finding it hard to move on following her ex (boo) cheating on her. She has romantic interest in her next door neighbour but she has been so hurt it is difficult for her to fully trust again. Milo has the patience of a saint, their children get on so well, he really looks like he’s putting the effort into proving to Jaz he isn’t like her ex at all.

As Christmas approaches the village is as festive as ever, I love the exciting build up. We meet some new characters and both adds some festive sparkle for differing reasons, another chance for this wonderful community to shine and do what it is best at – helping those in need.

But when Jaz spots someone new in Milo’s life, no matter what he says to persuade her that is isn’t what it seems, Jaz struggles to believe him and its her own actions that cause the heartache.

Festive and feel good, the characters of old join with the new and deliver seasonal cheer. I love this series no matter the season but at Christmas it is just fabulous. Cosy up this Christmas and enjoy another wonderful novella from Rosie Green. I’m looking forward to a return to Sunnybrook soon. 

Author Bio – Rosie’s series of novellas is centred around life in a country village cafe. Look out for THE SUNSHINE SISTERS – a heart-warming and thoroughly enchanting trilogy of books in the Little Duck Pond Café series, out early in 2024!

Follow Rosie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88

Recent Read Round-up

The Rumour - Lesley Kara
Published 25 July 2019 by Corgi 

The Rumour is a gripping, psychological thriller that really gives you something to think about. The theme is based around something most people are guilty of at some point – gossiping and/or sharing a rumour.

Main character Joanna is trying to fit in, she’s moved back to the quiet town and wants to fit herself but more so for her son Alfie. With a rumour rife about a child killer living in the community, Jo uses this to garner attention with the other school Mums.

With rumours snowballing and innocent people being victimised, Jo finds herself at the centre of some unwanted and scary attention. With threats to her son, Jo wishes she could find a way to stop the rumour mill before disaster strikes.

I have to say I was hooked from the start, I read it in one sitting. It had some interesting twists, along with some classic misdirection that really kept me on my toes. I thought I had it nailed early on, I’m usually pretty good at generally figuring things out but I was surprised this time.

It is a thought provoking read, the tension slowly builds throughout culminating in a fantastic turn of events.  I enjoyed the writing style and the characters presented; at the beginning I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of different characters being introduced but it worked out fine as I continued to read.

If you enjoy a good thriller than I would recommend. I will look forward to more by the author.

The Night You Left - Emma Curtis
Published July 22nd 2019 by Transworld Digital

Nick disappears just hours after proposing to Grace. She goes through the motions but slowly starts to realise everything may not be as it seems – will her secrets be kept whilst she’s uncovering those of the people around her?!

Such an enjoyable read, the story moves around from present day to the past and from different characters perspectives. I always enjoy this- when done in the right way and this was good. I never felt confused or not sure whose perspective I was reading. I think the inclusion of different character’ POV and scenes from their old lives really helped move the story along quickly.

Grace is obviously emotional, urgent and wanting answers – this leaps from the page and you feel the frustration in not knowing what has happened and if anyone she knows has got the answer. I must admit I worked out some aspects of the story, but they were quickly addressed and there were plenty of additional twists that took me by surprise. The ending – well, crikey me, I did not anticipate that at all.

This book is well-paced, lots of drama happening throughout to keep you entertained. I enjoyed the elements showing Nicks past – especially as we hadn’t had chance to garner opinion of him before he went missing – and we get to see everything he has had to go through.

This book will grab you from the off, I was engrossed and on the edge of my seat until I finished it. I’ve never read any of Emma’s books but I will definitely be rectifying that.

Highly recommend. 

The Library of Lost and Found- Phaedra Patrick 
Paperback - Published June 27th 2019 by HQ

A gorgeous, charm of a book. Some absolutely beautiful moments throughout this book.

Martha Storm is quite the character; putting everyone else before herself she is unable to say no to anyone and crikey me, they do take such advantage of her.

Her world starts to change after being left a copy of a book; full of familiar stories and a special dedication to her. The dedication comes from someone unexpected and it starts Martha on the quest for answers. This quest gives her answers but more than she bargained for.

A wonderful tale about someone breaking out and becoming the version of herself she was destined to be; of doing something for yourself. Martha is a lovey character and I love how she was written; we were on her side and I know I was frustrated for her at times. I was so sympathetic at all that she sacrificed and the moments she missed out on.

This is a lovely, heart warming read that will restore faith in people. Full of characters – some will annoy, some are funny and some just do the best they can for someone they clearly care about. This isn’t a predictable read at all so you may be surprised at times.

I definitely recommend for a cute, quick read. 

My Blog's 1st anniversary!

It’s a year ago today that I set up this blog and posted my first review. I didn’t know what I was doing at all (some may argue that I still don’t) and I certainly had no expectations of what would happen.

So, what has happened? Crikey… well, things beyond what I envisaged. I have found a community of incredible, like-minded people who share, encourage and support one another. Authors, other bloggers, readers all coming together to celebrate books and wonderful stories. If only I knew that having this blog would open a whole new world. I’ve got to know so many new and lovely people that it feels like I’m part of something – that doesn’t always happen to me.

I never expected to be able to read ARCs, I didn’t imagine I’d meet authors I admired, I wouldn’t dream that I could be asked to read and review books from my favourite authors before publication days.  But these things have happened, continue to happen and I am so so sooooo grateful.

Throughout the year I have connected with a lot of wonderful new (to me) author. I’ve instantly become a fan of so many and of course I have had to ensure I read every single book they had ever written in the shortest possible time…  people talk about binge watching a TV series, well I binge read authors that I discover/love.  The world being as it is now, and with book Twitter being totally amazing, the ability to connect with these same authors is incredible and better than I imagined – I love that we, as fans, can get to know authors, help support them in any way possible, whether that’s a book review, tweet, or even something simple like a RT.

“Book Twitter” has led to some wonderful….. friendships. I’ll call them that because although I haven’t had the chance to meet any of the lovelies yet, the people I communicate with regularly are like friends. We share stories, pieces of information about our lives and we support each other like friends do. It’s been the most fun year… I know without a shadow of a doubt these guys will have a book recommendation at hand in an instant and they all share the opinion that there is no such thing as having too many books.

As I head into my second year I’ve been thinking, ‘do I have any goals? Any expectations of what I would like to have happened by this time next year?’ Quite honestly, no. I may not have the level of following as some blogs that are around, I may not have the interaction as others do -but you know what? That’s OK.

Something I would like to do is take the chances to meet others; go to more author events, see other bloggers etc - that is what I will work on over this next year.  

My little blog and I are happily moving along. I’m reading the books I want to read; I’m enjoying what I do and how I do it. I am happy with the community I have become part of and I don’t think I’d change that at all.

Happy Anniversary to me. If you’ve been here since the beginning – thanks, if you have only just found me, then hello.

Here’s to another year in my Comfy Chair.