Somewhere Beyond The Sea - Miranda Dickinson

Available here on Amazon 

Miranda Dickinson's Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a romantic tale full of love, stars, living your own life and accepting the magic that can be found all around.

Seren MacArthur is living a life she never intended. Desperately trying to save the Cornish seaside business her late father built – while grieving for his loss. Seren has pushed her own dreams to one side and the pressures soon take a toll. One morning she discovers a half-finished sea glass star on her favourite beach, and cannot resist completing it.  One simple action starts a whole chain of events that will change everything.

Jack Dixon is desperate – wanting work to ensure he can give his young daughter Nessie the life she deserves. Recently widowed and made homeless, Jack has managed to somehow kept their heads above water. Creating seaglass stars with Nessie soon becomes something truly special for them both and the duo discover the magic they need to see a positive future.

Seren and Jack are both searching for something that is missing in their lives, but when they meet in real life, it’s on the opposing sides of a battle. Both have a definite reason to fight –but only one can win. With so much at stake, will they ever find what they are really looking for?
Miranda Dickinson (@wurdsmyth) has given us an incredibly heart-warming tale that transports you to the idyllic, St Ives. A location that adds some extra magic to this wonderful book, written with such description you feel like you are right there (and you definitively wish you were!) We are introduced to the hardworking and creative Seren, a young woman passionately, yet quietly, grieving the loss of her father; and Jack - a single father focused on giving his energetic daughter and with doing whatever it takes to provide her with all the love, attention, and security she needs. 
The characters and their stories of loss broke my heart in such a real way. I identify with both characters - the grief of losing a father and the heartbreak of being left a young widow (although my reality is we had no children and we were very much in love - so not quite the same as Jack). Without my Dad, I feel like a small girl wandering alone without the security and protection I always felt from him and this made everything Seren felt and did more important, I felt like I was with her in every heartbeat, every thought.

Nessie is fantastic; her character providing fun, comedic moments as well as melting your heart with her honest, innocent views on life. The relationship she has with her father is simply gorgeous, the love they have for each other is almost tangible and reflects what I imagine the relationship between Seren and her Dad was like when she was that age. Also, a very real reminder of the love I lost and deeply miss – as I am sure many other readers will feel too. 
I loved how the story was told through the dual narrative, having it unfold equally from both perspectives and understanding the motives behind each character’s actions.  I find the alternating chapters a treat, quite short and fast paced, it makes it difficult to put down as you desperately want to know each character next move. (It’s difficult enough as it’s such a beautiful book anyway). 

Although this is a love story, a real head over heels tale of falling for someone when it’s least expected, it isn’t all the story is. It is a beautiful reminder of how delicate and fragile we are (like the sea-glass), how deeply we can feel and how although we may be broken, we can still sparkle and shine – especially when you find something, or someone, to feel passionate about. It’s also about how we must, at times, look beyond what we need for ourselves and think about what those around us need more.

Somewhere Beyond The Sea is beautifully written, with characters you love and themes that you will easily identify with. It’s something special and you will not want to put it down. It’s not often something resonates SO deeply and personally. It’s a must read, you’ll be enchanted. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop - Jane Linfoot

Available on Amazon 

Christmas is coming for all those at Brides by the Sea, Cornwall’s cutest little wedding shop, and the in-house wedding dress designer Seraphina East is at her best in her studio designing exquisite dresses, the type that makes even the demanding bride speechless.

This time the demanding bride is Sera’s very own sister Alice. These two sisters aren’t exactly close, Alice hasn’t even asked Sera to design her wedding dress but asks Sera to take charge in getting things ready when she is stuck overseas with work. But as plans start to go wrong and the groom hasn’t turned up, Sera is determined her big sister gets the wedding of her dreams – especially when that means keeping two irresistible best men under control. A blast from the past shocks Sera, can she keep her mind on what she needs to do for her sister, or will everything end in disaster?!

This is my third visit to St Aiden and the wonderful women (and men) of Brides by the Sea. I didn’t read them in order – usually something that would drive mad – but it really doesn’t matter. Picking up this book, I was instantly transported back to Cornwall and it very much felt like I was back with my closest friends. 

If you haven’t read any of the previous books, don’t worry, this can easily work as a standalone but I would imagine you’d want to catch up.
This story gives us Sera, the quiet, yet fabulously amazing, dress designer – I like her a lot. I like that she is not a girly girl, she doesn’t like fuss and attention yet she can be fiery and doesn’t realise just how tough she can be. She doesn't suffer fools gladly and she really does find one in the gorgeous, utterly chaotic and charming Quinn, one of the two best men helping to get the wedding organised. As they try to fulfill all the tasks in the wedding manual Alice sent, all manner of things start to go wrong. Sera's friends are on hand and, as always, they are willing to help - there are no problems that these guys cannot fix to ensure a Happily Ever After.

Personally, I enjoyed the obvious rivalry between the two best men. Both wanting Sera for themselves and constantly battling for her attention. Quinn, in a more brash and obvious way while Johnny kept it simple, classy and was the guy I was championing from the beginning. At times during the book I did wonder if Sera would go the other way and end up with the wrong guy, as it sounded really tempting for her but I knew the best man (ha ha – best man, get it?!) would win. 

I adore Jane Linfoots writing, her style and the way I never want to put a book down. The way her writing flows and gives us the kind of book where you don’t notice time slipping by because you are so completely absorbed.

This book gave me a true Christmas feel (even in September), I was dazzled by the decorations, the descriptions of the amazing dresses, and I drooled over the cakes. With all of books I’ve read by Jane Linfoot, I was bowled over by the feelings of love and friendship. So much so I wish I lived in St Aiden and I could be part of Brides by the Sea.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair - Heidi Swain

Available here from Amazon 

I hold my hands up and admit I’m a new addition to the Heidi Swain Appreciation Society, but I LOVE everything I have been able to get my hands on so far and that includes Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair.

Independent Anna takes a job as companion to the owner of Wynthorpe Hall for the festive period, expecting it to last only a few weeks - little does she know that this is the start of a life she never believed she could have. Anna is Anti-Christmas and does everything she can to avoid the entire season, but very soon after her arrival at Wynthorpe Hall she is amazed to find herself thrown in the festive deep end. Within the eccentric household, she starts to feel like she is part of their very unique family and when Jamie arrives home from travelling it soon becomes clear Wynthorpe Hall will provide her with far more than she was bargaining for

Jamie finds himself struggling to come to terms with life at home, responsibilities are making it difficult for him to be truly happy. He makes a pact with Anna – she must teach him to fall back in love with Wynthorpe Hall, while he helps her fall back in love with Christmas. But will it all prove too much for Anna, or can the family of Wynthorpe Hall warm her heart once and for all.

I have no qualms with reading festive books at any point in the year, I’m more than happy to cosy up and start thinking about getting festive. Heidi Swain gives us a marvellous, heart-warming festive filled book and I loved every moment of it.

Having only recently been introduced to Wynbridge I was pleased to find myself back -  this time up at Wynthorpe Hall with a whole host of new characters to discover (and ultimately fall in love with). I thought the setting of the Hall added extra festive feeling, imagining the grand building and sweeping landscape. Throughout the book, we are re-introduced to characters from Heidi’s other books, this is something I always really love in books as it feels like you are visiting old friends and catching up on their lives.

This takes nothing away from the new characters in this books. They are all different with their own little back story (and potential for future stories maybe??) but I must confess, I was mostly enamoured with Angus. Lovable Angus, mischievous, smart and always up to something. I can’t wait to find out what Angus can get up to next. I felt for, and liked, Anna- not because I am anti-Christmas (I’m not!) but through the writing you can feel that she has suffered, she has been hurt, devastated and built her own walls up to protect herself. It was wonderful to see her open up and let others in, she embraced the people around her and accepted the love and support they were offering.

I love the relationship between Jamie and Anna, how they help each other and how they learn to love along the way – Anna with Christmas, Jamie with Wynthorpe Hall and both with each other. It is such a feel good, romantic tale that you can cosy up with – whether it’s the festive season or not. 


I just couldn’t put the book down, it’s beautifully written and leaves you with a lovely warm feeling. Here’s to the next! Follow Heidi on Twitter - @Heidi_Swain

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

The Big Dreams Beach Hotel - Lilly Bartlett

Available here on Amazon 

Leaving a flourishing career in New York, Rosie never imagined she’d come back home nor that she would be managing a faded Victorian hotel in Scarborough.

As the hotel comes under new ownership, their vision is not received well. Cultures are clashing and the hotel’s residents decide to stand in the way of the developers’ plans.  Rory comes to the hotel to ensure the changes are made smoothly, although that is a task that may prove difficult if Rosie has anything to do with it.

Lilly Bartlett (pen name of Michelle Gorman) gives us a funny, upbeat story about following a dream and moving on.

Firstly I adore Scarborough – it’s a seaside town that has coloured my childhood and I have amazing memories of the place so to find the book set there is brilliant. (I adore it when books are set in places other than the norm).  Most the book is set within the hotel itself, I would have perhaps liked some more ventures into the town or descriptions of the local area so many of us are fond of with anecdotes or titbits of information.

The collection of characters in this book are mad! Totally eccentric and a real eclectic bunch. Narcoleptic Peter with Barry is a stand out for me, but you do adore each of them for the comedic elements they bring. Our lead, Rosie clearly gone through something in New York and this is interwoven within the book, for me it was obvious what had happened to her but I didn’t feel like it ruined the book but it did make me eager to see how she would now move forward and how she would change when the hotel had new ownership. It was also interesting to see how her past would affect the relationship she would have to build with Rory, both professionally and romantically.

I do really like Rosie, I think she could be a little bit feistier and stand up for herself some more. I admit I didn’t warm to Rory that much. He seemed nice enough and he obviously liked Rosie, he wasn’t a pushover and yet he seemed to be too dominant, too quick to dismiss Rosie’s concerns on occasion. He started to grow on me more towards the end of the book and I was pleased they both got to be happy together and in their careers.

‘The Big Dreams Beach Hotel’ had a lot laughs and charm, it was an enjoyable and funny read but for me, I felt like I expected something more. Some big event, some massive twist or something to shock me.  Maybe I’m too used to something like that happening it the books I read.

I did enjoy the book, I would recommend it if you wanted something quick and positive to read. It is the first book I have read by Lilly Bartlett and I would look to read more in the future.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍

Summer at the Little Wedding Shop - Jane Linfoot

Available on Amazon here 

Having only recently read (and loved) the first book in the Little Wedding Shop series – The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, I was delighted to dive in and catch up with some of same characters I felt like I'd left behind. I often find myself missing characters and wondering how they get on and so getting a little glimpse into what is happening for them now is really a nice touch.

Although part of a series, these books can be read as a standalone. I have missed the second book (it’s on order at the library though so I will get my hands on it soon!)  but I don’t feel it matters too much. If you are reading this and have no previous knowledge of the other books you are quickly brought up to speed by JaneLinfoot, but not in such a way that you wouldn’t want to go back and read the ones you had missed. Summer at the Little Wedding Shop gives us Lilly - this time around it is her turn to take centre stage, but I was thrilled that the other girls I’d previously adored reading about still play a big part and are around to support our lead girl.

When the owner of Brides by the Sea offers Lily a job as their new wedding stylist she worries that she can’t rise to the challenge. Before she even gets chance to get used to her new role Kip Penryn hires her services he’s opened an exclusive wedding venue in direct competition to her friend Poppy. Lily feels like a traitor working for Kip, he has no idea what he is doing but is determined to succeed and everyone knows Penryn men are gorgeous but unreliable.
The thing I love most about these books is the characters Jane Linfoot creates for us. They are well written and very likable. You believe in their friendships and relationships, I for one wish I were part of their group. They do go through a lot and always have each other’s back, no matter what they are there for one another and in times of doubt they really do rally and ensure their friends happiness/success. I love all the women of Brides by the Sea and enjoy reading about their lives, which Jane Linfoot brings to us in a light-hearted and romantic way.

I must admit there were similarities between this (Lily’s story) and the one I previously read (Poppy’s story) BUT I didn’t particularly mind, it didn’t take anything away from my enjoyment of reading about Lily and how she was slowly overcoming personal issues to move forward (and yes even love again!).

Lily really has two romantic possibilities in Fred and Kip. I was dead against Fred from the start – I knew he wouldn’t be right for Lily at all, he didn’t have much appeal beyond the description of how attractive he appeared to be i.e. his six-pack. His general attitude and way he pursued Lily just made me switch off from him completely. At first I was also Anti-Kip. I’m certain it was intentional by the author though and throughout the book you see little chinks of his true character which makes you reevaluate and consider him as a love interest for our girl.

Our main girl - Lily is insecure about being able to do a good job, although she really is brilliantly creative and very confident in many ways. She can be rather spiky and not afraid of saying just what she thinks - well with certain people who rub her up the wrong way. Lily (just like the others) is always there for the people who need her and would try and move mountains to ensure everything works out well.

Jane Linfoot brings us into the Brides by The Sea world and give us lovable characters and well written and descriptive locations. This world is brought to life with enthusiasm that means you can’t help but root for them in their search for love and success.

I enjoyed this so much, I have ordered the ones I haven’t read yet at the library – I’m so keen to jump back into their stories ASAP. These are light hearted, fun and romantic tales and such a lovely read. Oh, and if you are sweet toothed like me , the descriptions of the wonderful cakes and treats available (via Poppy) will have you reaching for your very own slice.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

The One We Fell In Love With - Paige Toon

Available here on Amazon 

I admit to be late in finding just how incredible Paige Toon books are. I have read a couple of her early offerings YEARS AND YEARS ago but recently bought a copy of ‘The last piece of my heart’ and I’m pretty much in book love with her, I'll even go as far as to say no book by Paige would disappoint. With that in mind, I took myself down to the library and got myself ‘The one we fell in love with.’

The story is told through identical triplets – Phoebe, Eliza and Rose. We look at their relationship -the advantages and more importantly, the disadvantages of growing up as being part of a three. We find that Phoebe is caught between a rock and a hard place, is it really her time to settle down and get married, or return to the French Alps to pursue her passion? Eliza is in love with someone who is no longer hers and the dream of becoming a musician seems to be getting further out of reach. Rose returns from London, no job and no boyfriend. To make matters worse, she’s been forced to move back in with her mother, will she find what her passion really is? Although identical, the sisters are all very different but  have one thing in common. Angus. He is the one they fell in love with.

To get straight to the point – I LOVED this book. From the first word to the last it had me hooked. It is difficult to write a thorough this review without giving away a lot of spoilers and I do not want to do that. Everyone should experience this book without knowing more than the basics.  I thoroughly advise that you DO NOT go looking for spoilers or any information – it will ruin such massive, pivotal moments of your reading experience.

Firstly, I loved each of the triplets - they all had their own qualities and styles but I probably preferred Phoebe and Rose. It was difficult to warm to Eliza at first, she had moments where you could see her vulnerability and I hoped that by the end I’d love her just as much (I kind of did). Paige Toon gave each character a distinctive, clear voice and it helped that the book was broken down into chapters for each girl, so it was easy to keep track and avoid confusion between them.
 
The introduction of Toby was an absolute blessing for me. Don’t get me wrong, I like Angus but he just exists within the book, he seems nice but I don’t know if he really lived up to the hype especially having three girls, sisters, in love with him – what made him SO special?  I did love Toby. His character, personality and his back story was just all in place to make me adore him and want him to be happy.

If you think this is going to be a typical book about women wanting the same man, you’d be wrong. It is more – deeper meanings and looking at the delicate but powerful bonds that bind us, it is such a touching story. Paige Toon has written a beautiful story, a really clever idea that sparks many emotions and may just make you shed a tear.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

On a Beautiful Day - Lucy Diamond

Available here on Amazon 

I was very excited to spot ‘On a beautiful day’ in the library and loved that it was a 7 day chart topper – meaning I had to get it done and dusted as I can’t renew it. It wouldn’t ever take me that long to read a book I started but having already got Milly Johnson's ‘The Perfectly Imperfect Woman’ in my hands, could I rise to the challenge of two chart toppers?! (Silly question really)

‘On a Beautiful Day’ is set in Manchester and explores the unexpected turns life can take and how you must accept the bad along with the good. It shows how a person can face things bravely and find a way to survive when your world turns upside down.

We meet four friends enjoying a birthday lunch, all smiles and seemingly without problems but after they witness a shocking accident, each begins to unravel and it is clear all is not well in each of their lives.

We have Laura, a likable, married, career woman who has suffered miscarriages and is desperate to have a baby. The accident is the wake-up call to heed the ticking of her biological clock. Jo, a nurse, gets involved in the aftermath of the accident and strikes up a connection with one of the casualties. She is in the early stages of a new relationship and decides she has to seize the day and throw all caution to the wind, ignoring the warning signs. Self-controlled mum Eve has been trying to ignore the lump in her breast. For once she feels helpless and out of control. Finding support in an unexpected place, Eve knows she needs to face things head on before too long. Happily married, mum of three, India is drawn to one of the victims of the accident and it causes long hidden emotions to bubble to the surface. Also, a chance encounter with someone from her past reignites old feelings and makes India take stock of how her life is turning out.

The aftermath of the accident and how each of the group changes makes an intriguing story and Lucy Diamond has given us four interesting and likable leads that are different, yet have such endearing qualities that make you want the best for each of them. The accident shakes up their friendship and their relationships, but we see that this can only make things stronger as we read how each character looks at themselves and their lives in a new way. All four women and their situations are entirely realistic - a credit to the wonderful writing of Lucy Diamond. She has created four diverse stories but pulled them together beautifully in one especially so the reader sees from each of their perspectives. It is easy to follow, which is often difficult in a multiple narrative

‘On a Beautiful Day’ is an emotional and at time, sad, read yet it is also full of moments that show pure love and devotion to friends and family alike. It is funny in parts and powerfully thought provoking. An uplifting read essentially that emphasises the idea that you do get a second (and third, fourth etc.) chance and stresses the importance of friendship and support.

I liked the characters within the book, not one stood out more than another. I’m so happy each character got the ending they deserved, albeit probably not what was expected in some cases. It took me a few chapters to get fully hooked but once I was, I couldn’t wait to keep reading more. Although the conclusions within the story are there, I feel there is potential for each character to be revisited in the future (maybe?!) because I would love to see how their lives all continue.

I’ve read several of Lucy Diamonds books before but this is a stand out one for me now. I recommend any of her previous books if you haven’t had the pleasure yet but especially this one.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍