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

Stuck On You - Portia Macintosh

Could a post-it note really lead to love...?

Sadie doesn't have time for finding love. She's too busy as PA for famous artist Damian Banks. When she's not arranging exhibitions, she's organising his dry cleaning or dumping his never ending stream of girlfriends.

But when she strikes up an unusual friendship with her desk share buddy, she finds a confidante and a new potential love interest. Problem is, they've never actually met...

With Christmas just around the corner, can Sadie put herself first for a change and find what she's been looking for all along?

The brand new romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald, Mhairi McFarlane and Zara Stoneley.

My Review:

I’m going to start by saying I absolutely loved this book. As a fan of the author I’ve read a fair few now and this is probably my favourite. I couldn’t put it down. So entertaining and fun, a perfect read to cosy up with an escape the outside world.

I love a book with something quirky to entertain us – the post it relationship between Sadie and Adam is that perfect something. Mystery and the hint of a blind date style romance is really entertaining, I looked forward to the next Adam note, although I had suspicions about him and did wonder what would happen if the two were to actually meet.

Sadie is such a lovely character and I warmed to her straight away. Her boss, Damian sounds like a nightmare to work for, at first I really wasn’t sure what to expect from him or if I would warm to him. I’m really pleased that by the end my thoughts on him were completely different and I was a fan of his.

A real turning point is when Sadie and Damian go to her family home for Christmas. Its so cosy and fun sounding, I wish my Christmas entailed all the fun and merriment they have in that community. We see a definite change in the relationship between the characters during this time and see that actually what Sadie needs is in front of her.

I can’t recommend enough, wonderful cosy, heart warming moments, gorgeous characters and a real festive feel.  

Purchase Link - buff.ly/3f9Yy8M

Author Bio:

Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 12 novels, including It's Not You, It's Them and Honeymoon For One. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences.

Social Media Links:

Newsletter sign up: http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter

https://portiamacintosh.com/

https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia

https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh

http://instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor

http://bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh

 

Accidentally In Love - Belinda Missen

 

Accidentally In Love

Don’t miss the new laugh-out-loud rom com from the author of One Week ’Til Christmas!

Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Rosie Walsh and Josie Silver.

In the space of a week, Katharine Patterson has quit her job, decided to move back home, and broken up with the guy she thought was the one.

No big deal.

Because Katharine has a plan. She’s going to open her own art gallery, just like she’s always wanted. What she’s not going to do is worry about boyfriends.

Then she meets Kit, a handsome and talented local artist. He might be the most stubborn person Katharine has ever met. He might also make her feel like no one ever has before.

And Katharine might be about to fall accidentally in love…

My Review:

Not entirely what I expected. I thought this would be your normal, fun filled, rom-com – easy enough to read, enjoyable and light, and it was but then it as so much more too.

Katie is a fab character and I like that we really got to know her well early on. She is strong and independent, coming from a good family and a Dad who made me laugh, although unintentionally at times. He is intent on making a match with Kit, even if this seems a mile off from ever happening!

Katie and Kit completely get on each others last nerve and just clash, but there is a spark. With definite enemies to lovers vibes, Accidentally in Love, our characters work through their issues and things move in more a romantic direction.

A great little pick me up of a book, a recommended read from me! 

Purchase Link - books2read.com/AccidentallyInLoveBM

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

www.belindamissen.com

facebook.com/BelindaMissen

twitter.com/belinda_missen

Instagram @belinda_missen

The Cottage of Curiosities - Celia Anderson

 

 

Return to 59 Memory Lane with a new novel from the Kindle Top Ten bestselling author Celia Anderson!

’A brilliantly original and enchanting tale’ Sun ‘Wonderful characters make this a great read’ Good Housekeeping ‘Truly unique…unforgettable’ Woman’s Weekly

Grace Clarke is shocked to learn at the age of fifty-six that she’s adopted – it feels as though her whole life has been a lie. But it also explains a lot of things for Grace too. Including the gift that has plagued Grace since childhood – the ability to feel other people’s memories.

Could this gift be something she shared with the woman who abandoned her – the mysterious May Rosevere?

And as Grace travels to the small coastal village of Pengelly to find the answers she craves, she feels her gift growing stronger. As though May is somehow calling her long-lost daughter home…

My Review:

Having read and adored 59 Memory Lane I could not wait for this return to Pengally. I do think if you haven’t read 59 Memory Lane you should read it first (a) because its wonderful and b) it will give some clarity to this story. 

Celia Anderson is brilliant; her writing is gorgeous and the way she tells these stories, brings her characters to life is wonderful. I feel so involved with these stories it takes me days to be able to move on with another book. Ultimate book hangover!

With ‘The Cottage of Curiosities’ we have a lovely tale of self discovery, love, hope and acceptance. Friendships and relationships play such important roles within this story.
We meet Grace who is searching for information on her biological parents, and finds herself heading to the coastal village of Pengelly. Here she effortlessly fits into the community, making friends as she uncovers the truth about where she came from. All of that on top of managing and utilising an extremely special, maybe magical, skill to help those she gets close to. 

An absolutely heart-warming and uplifting book, a real curl up, get cosy kind of read. I cannot recommend this enough. One of my favourites of the year. 

PURCHASE HERE

A Summer to Remember in Herring Bay - Angella Britnell

 

A Summer to Remember in Herring Bay

Essy Havers is good at finding things. Her company specialises in helping clients track down anything, from missing china pieces to rare vintage clothing. But now Essy has something more important to find: herself.
Essy has always been curious about her mother’s secret past and her Cornish roots. So, when the opportunity arises, she hops on a plane in Tennessee and ends up in Herring Bay in Cornwall; the village where her mother grew up.
But once there, she’s mystified by the reactions of the villagers when they realise who she is. Was Essy’s decision to visit Cornwall a mistake, or will it lead to a summer she’ll never forget?

My Review:  

A fabulous tale compromising of family secrets, old wounds and larger than life characters. A romance with extra drama and intrigue added, what more do we need? Oh did I mention its set in a small seaside community! Great book for a little bit of escapism!

Colourful character Essy has wanted to know more about her Mums background, she never lets on much about her life in Herring Bay and the reason she left for Tennessee. Grabbing the chance to visit she stays with her Aunt. She soon discovers that her mum is very much remembered by the locals, and she isn’t thought of fondly at all. Essy is determined to find out more.

With some help from an unlikely source, Ruan, they work together to uncover the truth. An opportunity to right old wrongs, mend a community and heal those wounds, this story is heart warming and sentimental.

It was fun to discover secrets from the past, surprised are plentiful and it kept me reading eager to know more. Sometimes our initial ideas and thoughts don’t turn out to be what’s real and I think the same of this book. It isn’t what I originally expected when I started to read but I loved it all the more.

Relatable fun characters, and a community I would like to see again. Highly recommended! 

Purchase Link - https://smarturl.it/ff87oe

Author Bio:

Angela grew up in Cornwall, England and returns frequently from her new home in Nashville, Tennessee to visit family and friends, drink tea and eat far too many Cornish pasties!

 A lifelong love of reading turned into a passion for writing contemporary romance and her novels are usually set in the many places she's visited or lived on her extensive travels. Thanks to over three decades of marriage to her wonderful American husband she's a huge fan of transatlantic romance and always makes sure her characters get their own happy-ever-after.

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, the Romance Writers of America and the Music City Romance Writers. Her first novel ‘Truth and Consequence’ was published in 2006 and she’s now had over 30 novels published internationally and several short stories in women’s magazines.

 If you'd like to find out more of what Angela gets up to (Advance warning: this may include references to wine, dark chocolate, Poldark and the hunky Aidan Turner) check out www.angelabritnellromance.com  or follow her on www.facebook.com/angelabritnell , www.twitter.com/angelabritnell and on Instagram as Angela Golley Britnell.