The Library - Bella Osborne

 MY FAVOURITE READ OF 2021

Two different generations. Two unusual people. Thrown together to save their local library.
Tom is a teenager and blends into the background of life. After a row with his dad, and facing an unhappy future at the dog food factory, he escapes to the library. Tom unwittingly ends up with a bagful of romance novels and comes under the suspicion of Maggie.
Maggie is a pensioner and has been happily alone for ten years, at least that's what she tells herself. When Tom comes to her rescue a friendship develops that could change her life. As Maggie helps Tom to stand up for himself, Tom helps Maggie realise the mistakes of her past don't have to define her future.

They each set out to prove that the library isn't just about books – it's the heart of their community.

Together they discover some things are worth fighting for.

Purchase your copy: HERE

My Review:
What more can I say other than I LOVED it?! My absolutely favourite read of 2021.

The Library by (the always lovely) Bella Osborne is truly something very special. With a move away from her normal type of work, Bella hasn’t given us the light hearted romance than fans know and love. Whilst still written with her undoubtable skill and sensitivity, she uses this story to tackle more serious, hard hitting topics. 

A wonderful cast of characters, of different backgrounds, ages etc but they are all flawed and with their own issues. They have been carefully written, relationships have been delicately nurtured so to engage the reader, such as the relationship between Tom and Maggie. Their bond and connection started so small, with a simple act but grew into something life changing. 
When a common cause unites members of the community you quickly see how bonds grow and how those bonds can affect a person in many ways. They are trying to save the community library but through doing so they are also saving themselves. 

I didn’t want to put it down, and once I got to the end it stayed with me long after turning that last page. 

A charming, heartfelt story that I will recommend to all. 

For more from Bella please follow her on Twitter : Bella Osborne (@osborne_bella) / Twitter

A Spring Surprise For The Cornish Midwife - Jo Bartlett

 

Brand new from the top 10 bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife.

Midwife Jess knows she’ll never have a baby of her own, but she’s determined to still be a mum. So Jess decides to foster, providing love and support for children who desperately need it – something Jess never had as a child when she was in foster care.

Jess loves caring for the precious babies who come into her life, but letting them go again breaks her heart every time - can she really be a mum after all?

But then Jess finds a surprise on her doorstep – a newborn baby! As the search for the missing mum begins, Jess cares for the precious babe day and night. She desperately wants to reunite mum and baby, but knows that when the day comes, her own heart will shatter.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3EBUtY3

My Review:

It’s lovely to return to a series that you’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I will say that I have really enjoyed each ‘Cornish Midwife’ book but this one to me is a standout favourite.

A Spring Surprise for The Cornish Midwife is full of drama, surprise and heart-breaking sentiment. There are moments of joy coupled with times of anguish. Your emotions will be pulled in every direction with this one.

This time we focus on Jess and her plans to foster children in need following the breakup of her marriage. Working with the team at the maternity unit means she is fully supported and has friends who need her as much as she needs them. Whilst we follow Jess’ story we do get to catch up with previous characters which I love. That being said you could read this as a standalone book though (I would recommend reading the other books in this series).  

I really liked Jess, down to earth, kind, caring and deserving of some happiness. She has been through so much it seems like its her turn for something good to happen. I won’t give any spoilers but after this rollercoaster read, I really felt every emotion Jess did. I did not like

As always it sounds lovely in Port Agnes and makes me want to run away to Cornwall myself. I am so keen to see what happens next. Jo Bartlett has created a brilliant community of characters, with well written storylines that will keep you invested from start to finish.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Author Bio:

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Boldwood published the first title in The Cornish Midwife Series - part of a twelve-book deal – in April 2021.

Social Media Links.

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/j_b_writer?lang=en  

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jo_bartlett123/?hl=en

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/JoBartlettNewsletter

The Cocktail Bar - Isabella May

 

Rock star, River Jackson, is back in his hometown of Glastonbury to open a cocktail bar… and the locals aren’t impressed.

Seductive Georgina is proving too hot to handle; band mate, Angelic Alice, is messing with his heart and his head; his mum is a hippie-dippy liability; his school friends have resorted to violence – oh, and his band manager, Lennie, AND the media are on his trail.

But River is armed with a magical Mexican elixir which will change the lives of three lucky people. Once the Mexican wave of joy takes a hold of the town, he’s glad he didn’t lose his proverbial bottle.

Pity he hasn’t taken better care of the real one…

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

 

My Review:

The Cocktail Bar is a definitely a read that is full of fun, humour and drama. We have magic, mystery, and of course enough cocktails to please every reader. A really interesting read!

Whilst I didn’t think all the characters were likeable, they were all so well written. River has returned to Glastonbury to open a cocktail bar; throughout the story we are taken to further climbs – from Mexico to Prague, Bath to London.

River is hoping the locals take to his new bar, although met with instant trouble and disdain. He really needs to get locals onside and uses every trick in the book to do that. Georgina is using her feminine charm to lull River into trusting her, get ready for the crazy there. When we see the return of Alice, well, sparks fly, and we see that Georgina will not give up without a fight.

The mystical elixir given to River is going to change lives and I couldn’t wait to see what happened and how their lives would “change.” Is it really this special ingredient that has such powerful effects?

Spiritual and sexy, this book will keep you entertained from start to finish. A lovely escape and perfect for those heading off for a beach holiday, sip on a cocktail or two and enjoy The Cocktail Bar

Author Bio:

Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalusia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the mountains and the sea. She grew up on Glastonbury's ley lines and loves to feature her quirky English hometown in her stories.

After a degree in Modern Languages and European Studies at UWE, Bristol (and a year working abroad in Bordeaux and Stuttgart), Isabella bagged an extremely jammy and fascinating job in children's publishing... selling foreign rights for novelty, board, pop-up and non-fiction books all over the world; in every language from Icelandic to Korean, Bahasa Indonesian to Papiamento!

All of which has fuelled her curiosity and love of international food and travel - both feature extensively in her cross-genre novels, fused with a dollop of romcom, and a sprinkle of magical realism.

Isabella is also a Level 4 Pranic Healer and a stillbirth mum.

Social Media Links:

www.isabellamayauthor.com

Twitter - @IsabellaMayBks

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaMayAuthor/

Instagram - @isabella_may_author

 

Giveaway to Win Kindle Copies of all of Isabella May’s Eight currently published books in the Foodie Romance series (Open INT)

Prize includes, The Cocktail Bar, Oh! What a Pavlova, Costa del Churros, The Ice Cream Parlour, The Cake Fairies, The Chocolate Box, Bubblegum and Blazers, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

A Cosy Countryside Christmas - Eliza J. Scott

 

Ella Welford’s done with love. After having her fingers burnt, she’s been resolutely single for the last year and has sworn to stay that way.
Joss Campion’s still reeling from a messy divorce and has vowed never to open his heart to love again.
Growing up in the picturesque village of Lytell Stangdale, with the North Yorkshire Moors as their playground, Joss and Ella were best friends. The pair were inseparable.
Until the day something happened to ruin their friendship and Joss moved away.
An urgent telephone call summons Joss back to the village. His father’s been rushed to hospital and he’s needed to run the farm. When he returns, with his loyal canine companion, Sid, in tow, it isn’t long before he realises things aren’t as they seem. Why is his brother, Rich, being so evasive? And why does he get the impression the farm’s in trouble?
Teaching Assistant, Ella, has just broken up for the Christmas holidays and is looking forward to spending more time on her parents’ farm, tending her variety of rescue animals and recharging her batteries.
It isn’t long before the pair run into one another and sparks of attraction begin to fly - not that either of them will admit to it. But, just before Christmas, they find themselves thrown together in an unexpected turn of events as a fierce snow blizzard rages around them.
Could this be the moment that changes everything? Or is their past too big to ignore?
One thing’s for certain, life’s never dull in this little corner of the North Yorkshire Moors.
Join Ella and Joss – and all the usual Lytell Stangdale characters – for a heartwarming festive read.

My Review:

I’m such a big fan of this author and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book, and this is no exception. A Cosy Countryside Christmas is a festive delight, giving you the warm and fuzzies, with added drama. With heartfelt, poignant moments, with and charm, this will they/wont they romance will have you turning the page with anticipation.  

I loved this return visit Lytell Stangdale in the North Yorkshire Moors, especially at this festive time. It was brilliant to catch up with the characters we’ve read about before  in this Life on the Moors series– although I must point out it can be read as a standalone book that you can thoroughly enjoy without having read any others.

At the heart of this story, we have family and friendship and that those bonds can be tested to the point of breaking, but can remain firmly in time no matter the time or problems faced. Former best friends Ella and Joss were so very close until one day things changed dramatically and Joss left the village. Unresolved issues with his Dad make Joss’ return difficult but a chance reconciliation with Ella may just change his outlook at being back.

I love Ella and her family. They are so close, kind and caring and put other before themselves. Perfect support for Joss and key to helping repair his relationships with everyone.

When secrets from the past are uncovered and the truth is revealed, there are surprises for many.

This cost, cuddle of a book is perfect for snuggling up with. You will in love with Ella and Joss, a couple you will be behind from the start. I hope there is another visit and we get to look in on how Joss and Ella are doing.  

Highly recommended for a cosy read this winter. 

Purchase Links:

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09KWYN89M

US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KWYN89M

Author Bio: Eliza lives in the North Yorkshire countryside with her family. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her kindle or working in her garden , fighting a losing battle against the weeds.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming romance stories with relatable female characters. Her books will always have happy endings.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: @elizajscott

Facebook: @elizajscottauthor

Website: www.elizajscott.com/

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/elizaj-scott

Amazon author page UK: amazon.co.uk/~/e/B07DMQWPMH

Amazon author page US: amazon.com/~/e/B07DMQWPMH

A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm - Helen J Rolfe

 

It's almost Christmas in Heritage Cove - the village tree is all lit-up, the bakery is full of festive treats, the tea rooms and waffle shack are welcoming locals inside out of the cold, and for some of the residents of the Cove, snow might not be the only thing they're wishing for this year...

Tilly is overjoyed when an estranged relative comes to Heritage Cove wanting to make amends. But as she lets him in to her life and Tilly’s Bits ‘n’ Pieces - the shop she owns and loves - her friends aren’t so sure whether everything is quite as it seems.

Benjamin’s parents run Mistletoe Gate Farm, selling Christmas trees, wreaths and mistletoe. Benjamin has always thought his family was as firmly rooted in the ground as the rows of Norway Spruce and Fraser Firs. But when he finds a letter that rocks his world he realises he may not be able to do anything to prevent the changes coming their way.

Benjamin and Tilly have been falling for one another since the summer but will family complications put an abrupt stop to what is looking like a burgeoning romance?

With festive cheer weaving its way through the Cove as two local favourites plan their wedding, there’s more than one relationship that could receive a little Christmas magic…

My Review:

A treat to be back in Heritage Cove, this being book 4 in the series. Although I would highly recommend all the previous books, this can be read as a standalone, for fans of the series you do get to catch up with all our favourites a little, but the focus is instead on Tilly, who runs the local gift shop.

Tilly is beyond happy when an estranged relative comes back to the Cove to show her how he has changed. He seems keen to support Tilly with plans for the shop. Everyone else may have misjudged him but Tilly really does believe she see’s the best in him.

Benjamin is the pub chef who works extremely hard in supporting his parents on their Mistletoe Farm. When their happy marriage seems under strain, can Benjamin do anything to help or prevent things from going too far.

Tilly and Benjamin have eyes for each other, everyone knows it but them. Can their blossoming friendship evolve into anything more, especially with everything that is happening in their lives?

I love how these characters get under your skin, I was fully behind Benjamin and really felt for him when discovering the problems in his parents’ marriage. He is kind, caring and despite all the things he has to do his concern for Tilly is so heartwarming.

Tilly is headstrong and to some extent very blinkered, especially where matters of the heart are concerned. I can understand why she is that way though. A kind soul, but one that could be hurt if not careful.

A lot happens throughout this book but I guarantee you will be swept up in it and fully engrossed. I couldn’t put it down, which is pretty standard for anything Helen writes.

With love, marriage, break-ins and break-ups, a turbulent time this festive season but one that will ultimately lead to a warm, Christmas story, full of heart and soul.

Highly recommended this festive season. 

Purchase Links

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09BRF5KDF

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BRF5KDF

Author Bio:

Helen J Rolfe writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and community. Characters often face challenges and must fight to overcome them, but above all, Helen's stories always have a happy ending.

Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries around the world. So far, locations have included Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Connecticut, Bath and the Cotswolds.

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfewriter
https://twitter.com/HJRolfe
www.helenjrolfe.com
https://www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/helen-j-rolfe

 

Christmas Surprises at Mermaids Point - Sarah Bennett

 

Christmas is a time for love, laughter, families and friends, and in Mermaids Point, everyone is getting ready for the festive season.

For Nerissa and Tom, this will be their first Christmas as a couple, but making sure they have time for each other, whilst blending their families, will take some careful planning. What festive traditions will they make their own?

Laurie and Jake are flat out running Laurie’s seafront café, packaging up orders of mince pies, sausage rolls and other delectable Christmas goodies, as well as finding time for Jake’s journalism.  But when Jake’s mum offers them an unexpected gift, their plans are turned upside down.

Alex can’t help but be charmed by beautiful and talented Ivy, but he’s still recovering from his ex-wife’s betrayal and has a secret life he’s not ready to share with anyone yet. But as the Christmas spirit starts weaving its magic, Alex may find himself ready for love sooner than he imagines.

For Andrew, nothing is more important than family. As friends and family gather beneath his roof it's a time for reflection about what the future might hold.

As far as Nick is concerned, pop sensation Aurora Storm is the ‘one that got away’. After they shared a brief holiday fling, he has been thinking about her ever since. Is Christmas the perfect time to finally reach out to her, or is love at first sight just in fairy-tales?

My Review:

An absolute festive charm of a novella which is a brilliant addition to a great series from Sarah Bennett.

I enjoyed catching up with characters from Summer Kisses and Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point, but feel if you are coming to this without reading either of those, you’d be totally fine as there is enough to catch you up with any fun you’ve missed. (I do highly recommend reading those books though, they are fab!)

I also liked the hint of future stories in Mermaids Point, which I would welcome, as the characters are endearing and the whole feel of the books is lovely.

Although a novella, this gives us a lot more than a quick, simple festive tale; it looks into friendships, love, loss and having the strength (and support of loved ones) to try something new.

A very brief, but very fulfilling trip to Mermaids Point. I shall look forward to more. 

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3uPpHat

Author Bio:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.

Social Media Links:

Website https://sarahbennettauthor.wordpress.com/

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/Sarahlou_writes

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

Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/SarahBennettNewsletter

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah-bennett-b4a48ebb-a5c3-4c39-b59a-09aa91dc7cfa

Snow Falls over Sunnybrook - Rosie Green

 

The chance to spend a night ghost-hunting alone with Hudson Holmes at Brambleberry Manor seems like a dream come true for Ruby Watkiss. Maybe, she thinks, this is their chance to get closer? But when mysterious goings-on start happening which have nothing to do with the spirit world, the pair are catapulted off on another sleuthing adventure. And as the snow starts to fall and emotions are rising at the Little Duck Pond Cafe, Ruby is faced with a double challenge. Can she be braver than she's ever been, in order to rescue something very close to her heart? And can she convince Hudson that Christmas really can be the most wonderful time of the year?

My Review:

As ever, a fun filled, haunting at times, and incredibly lovely return to Sunnybrook. I look forward to seeing the latest adventures from the great characters created by Rosie Green.

I was eager to see how the run up to the festive season would look this time around, and I really enjoyed the haunted mansion elements to the story, even thought I was a bit of a scaredy cat myself.

I am a huge fan of Hudson and Ruby’s investigations, and this time Ruby really does put herself right in the thick of all the drama; with all things that go on my biggest question was – will they ever get it together?! The chemistry between them in electric and it would be brilliant at this time of year.

I love catching up with all our old familiar friends in the café too and will look forward to more of their adventures soon.

Rosie Green is really showing us just how versatile she is, incorporating so much into this series of books. Her writing draws you into the story and makes you take characters to heart, that’s why this series is one I will never miss, the characters seem like long lost friends who I cannot wait to hear from.

Thanks to Rosie Green and Rachels Random Resources for the opportunity. 

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3BqYwpv

Author Bio:

Rosie’s series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. Her latest, ‘The Wedding Cake Wish', is out now.

Look out for more Little Duck Pond Café tales in 2022, including ‘Chocolate Cake for Breakfast’ and ‘Christmas in June’.

 

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