Happy Endings At Mermaids Point - Sarah Bennett

 

Music sensation Aurora Storm finally has her career back on track, but then she’s caught up in a media storm. Desperate to distract from the story, she enlists the one man she trusts to pretend to be her boyfriend.

Meanwhile, in the small seaside village of Mermaids Point, Nick Morgan never expected to see Aurora again. When she calls out of the blue needing his help, he agrees at once. It feels like she’s back in his life for a reason, and he’s determined to make the most of it.

Aurora joins Nick and the rest of his family for their festive celebrations and, as the snow falls, Aurora finds herself caught up in the romance of Christmas. But having tasted worldwide fame, can she ever be content with village life?

Two weeks is all Nick has to prove to Aurora that there’s a happy ending for them both in Mermaids Point.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3uGH8LP

My Review:

Happy Endings at Mermaids Point is the final book in this brilliant series by Sarah Bennett. I’m gutted as I love this little community and it’s residents who we have come to know and love.

We had had to wait a while for this story – Aurora and Nick. We first came across Aurora in book one, when the town was whipped into a frenzy over mermaid sightings, but I am so glad we finally got to find out more about her as well as Nick, who I’ve felt really sorry for over the series of books.

Auroras career takes an unexpected turn and there is a social media frenzy, she needs to escape and turns to the man (and the place) where she can feel safe and secure.  Nick and Mermaids Point; she knows she may not be welcome after the way she left things but has little option.

Nick is surprised to hear from Aurora, after all the time he has spent trying to get over her and move forward with his own plans but he won’t turn his back on someone in need.

I won’t ruin any of the story, but I enjoy seeing how the story plays out, we see a real change in Aurora (not that she was all bad at all) but being in Mermaids Point really suits her, so much so we find her making some really big decisions. Nick brings out the best in her, as she does in him – it is clear to see how happy is he with her around.

As always the community, and whole family, welcome Aurora with open arms, especially during the festive season. A wonderful Christmas read, full of heart warming, winter cheer. It’s a perfect end to a fantastic series, I shall miss the characters and the community but I will eagerly await more from Sarah.

Thank you for giving us a great series of books, I highly recommend Happy Endings at Mermaids Point but really recommend you start from book one and enjoy every moment!

MAuthor 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 –  

Facebook: Sarah Bennett Author | Facebook

Twitter: Sarah Bennett (@Sarahlou_writes) / Twitter

Instagram: Sarah Bennett (@sarahlbennettauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SarahBennettnews

Bookbub profile: Sarah Bennett Books - BookBub

A Winter Warmer at the Little Cornish Kitchen - Jane Linfoot

 

St Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it’s always cocktail hour somewhere…

A clean slate in the world’s cosiest cottage by the sea…

When Gwen Starkey and her best friend, Ella Simpson, arrive in St Aidan to take on a cottage renovation, it’s the fresh start they both so desperately need. But when their new adventure begins with them unintentionally breaking into their neighbour, Ollie Lancaster’s cottage – thinking it’s their new home – and Gwen accidentally flashing the gorgeous Ollie before they flee, the life-long friends realise that life in Cornwall is going to be anything but quiet!

They also quickly discover that they’re in over their heads and it’s going to take a village to turn their cottage’s narrow walls into the luxurious hideaway of their dreams. St Aidan is full of colourful characters just waiting to welcome them, if only Gwen and Ella can find the courage to start leaving the past behind them…

Purchase Links

Ebook

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Warmer-Little-Cornish-Kitchen-ebook/dp/B09RQD3Y74/

Paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Warmer-Little-Cornish-Kitchen/dp/0008537046

My Review:

A delight to be back in St Aiden, with characters old and new, Jane Linfoot has created a idyllic sounding community with another story full of ups, downs, laughter and romance of course. 

 

Ella and Gwen are following a dream, both wanting to enjoy a new start by the coast in a favourite village from their childhood but have perhaps “oversold” themselves when in competition to get the cottage of their dreams (or so they think!) Promises have been made  and the villagers are regularly keen to see what Ella and Gwen can do. Both are recovering from heartbreak, can a simple renovation project help heal their hearts? 

 

Upon their arrival to St Aiden they soon discover things are not exactly what they seem; an abrupt meeting with a neighbour and a realisation of the task they’ve taken on. 

 

Ollie is the new neighbour, he has his own secrets and own history that he is working through but it doesn’t stop him always being there for Gwen when she needs him, even if he doesn’t quite take to community life as she does. 

 

Gwen thrives in this small close knit community, slowly but surely she starts to rediscover parts of herself, with the help of our ‘Mermaid’ friendship group. Honestly you will be hungry throughout this book, with wonderful descriptions of yummy foods and tasty treats. 

 

I am a massive fan of Jane’s and thoroughly enjoy every book; this trip to St Aiden was a pleasure and although romance was plentiful it was slow, steady and allowed other issues to be resolved. It was well paced, characters that were realistic and likeable. 

 

A book to curl up with this winter, make sure you enjoy it with a hot choc and treat! 

Author Bio:

I write fun, flirty fiction, with feisty heroines, and lots of heart. Writing is fab, because I get to wear pretty shoes instead of wellies. I live in a cottage up the steepest hill in Derbyshire, where my family and pets are kind enough to ignore the chaos. Happily, we're in walking distance of a supermarket. I love hearts, flowers, happy endings, all things vintage, most things French. When I'm not on Facebook, and can't find an excuse for shopping, I'll be out with my two Old English sheepdogs or in the garden. On days when I want to be really scared, I ride a tandem.

Social Media Links –

Insta https://www.instagram.com/janelinfoot/

Facebook profile  https://www.facebook.com/JaneLinfoot20

Author page https://www.facebook.com/Jane-Linfoot-Books-110048451515364

Twitter https://twitter.com/janelinfoot

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/janelinfoot/

Daggers at the Country Fair - Catherine Coles

 

Winteringham Village 1947

As a thank you for her previous brilliant crime solving, amateur sleuth, Martha Miller is guest of honour at the Winteringham Country Fair. However, this time she is looking forward to simply judging dog shows and eating cream teas rather than apprehending a killer!

And Martha is just beginning to enjoy spending quality time with Vicar Luke Walker away from the prying eyes and gossips of her own village, when disaster strikes, and the local teenage femme fatale is found stabbed to death behind the tea tent by Martha’s trusted red setter Lizzie!

But who would want to kill such a young girl and why? Someone in the village has secrets to hide and it seems Martha and Luke have another case to solve!

Let the investigation commence!

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/39FO4RF

My Review:

A second cosy mystery, set in a rural village in 1947, Daggers at the Country Fair is another opportunity for Martha Miller to use her amateur detective skills yet again.

Martha has been asked to open a local village fair, what everyone doesn’t bank on is someone being murdered and the whole villages secrets start becoming public knowledge. Everyone is in the frame for this murder with most men having some connection to the victim.

I felt this book was a little more to the point than the previous one but contained more red herrings and some interesting twists along the way. I enjoyed seeing how the mystery was solved and it took me a while to piece the clues together.

I really enjoy seeing Martha’s character development from book one, she’s becoming more confident and her relationships/friendships are developing. She is making headway in getting locals in her own village she understand her and see her as Martha and not the woman with her husband buried in her garden (he ISNT, he walked out).

I’d love a little more romance with Luke, but as the story is very in keeping with the era I think we need to solve the missing husband mystery.

A charming read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I will look forward to the next visit. 

Catherine Coles writes bestselling cosy mysteries set in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie series is based in North Yorkshire in the 1920’s and Catherine herself lives in Hull with her family and two spoiled dogs.

Social Media Links:

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/catherinecoles

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/CatherineColesNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/catherine-coles

 

Just Date and See - Portia MacIntosh

 

Billie is looking forward to a quiet, man-free Christmas. It’s just a shame her family doesn't feel the same way…

With a house full of unexpected (and unwanted) guests, Billie needs to find the perfect escape to get away from the chaos.

So when her dating app recommends a week of singles nights in her area, Billie decides that braving these events has to be better than making conversation with her dad’s new wife, dealing with her mum's mid-life crisis or witnessing her sister flirting with her insufferably arrogant next-door neighbour.

While this is definitely not the festive season she had planned, between disco bowling and boozy bingo, little does Billie know that she may find love this year after all - she'll just have to date and see...

Fall in love with the perfect laugh-out-loud festive read from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh.

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

My Review: 

As a big fan of Portia’s books, Just Date and See did not let me down. It was highly entertaining, funny, interesting and a eclectic mix of characters; some you love, some you instantly dislike.

Main character Billie is looking forward to a calm, man-free Christmas, looking forward to some peace and quiet in her house over the festive period. Poor Billie has no chance! As her house fills up with (un)invited guests (each with various bad habits) her dream of that Christmas slowly turns into a nightmare.

To escape Billie takes drastic action by signing up to every singles event she can. Meeting another like-minded soul, she is soon having fun and adventures of her own. But are things too good to be true? What secrets are being kept and why?

I loved It from start to finish. I loved Billies character and really felt for her, she is taking advantage of by just about everyone in her life. Luckily she has support in the unlikeliest of places.

Another hit that is perfect reading this upcoming festive season. 

Author Bio:

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 romantic comedy novels. From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh

Janet Jackson’s Yorkshire B&B - Becky Papworth

 

Yorkshire lass and dental receptionist Janet Jackson has just taken a big risk. Using all her savings, she’s turned her spacious garage into a Bed and Breakfast, slapped a sign on it and without any experience at all, is now awaiting her very first guests.

With a moody teenage daughter and a crazy sister to contend with she’s already got her work cut out. The trouble she soon discovers, is that guests have undesirable habits, annoying pets and endless demands. ‘Is it bloody worth it?’ she asks herself a dozen times a day. Janet gradually learns her trade - but not without being tested to her limits. The question is: will she come through the experience with her bank balance, cottage and her sanity intact?

Hugely entertaining but a word of warning: if ever you’ve thought of running a B&B, read this hilarious debut novel first– you might want to think again! 

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janet-Jacksons-Yorkshire-B-ebook/dp/B0B77SK3QK/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Jacksons-Yorkshire-B-ebook/dp/B0B77SK3QK/

My Review:

A refreshing, quirky book that kept me thoroughly entertained. I really didn’t know what to expect next! Fun and light-hearted reading at its best.

When Janet decides to open her ‘Annex’ as a B&B she really doesn’t know what she has let herself in for, especially when she is surrounded by people who demand quite a bit of her time and energy! Us readers are almost like her confidantes and it’s like she is confiding her inner most thoughts to us in a chatty, friend like way.

With each new booking Janet learns something new, but we also get to see how her relationships change, how her family has it’s ups and downs and how she survives and thrives.

It is funny and full of humour but it does have a warmth that is pretty unique. Janet seems just like your run of the mill woman, trying her best in every area of her life – yes she sometimes gets it wrong but she has every good intention. She is such a likeable character, surrounded by a whole host of characters who each bring their own unique voice.

It’s brilliant and I highly recommend; well written, moves along nicely and is easy to pick up and enjoy.

Author Bio:

Becky Papworth has spent 20 years making people laugh as a TV Producer on shows like Have I Got News For you, Rab. C. Nesbitt and Citizen Khan. She’s hoping to entertain some readers with this account of running a B&B, much of it based on her actual experience, she’s not saying which bits…

Social Media Links

https://twitter.com/beckypapworth1

https://www.instagram.com/beckypapworth/

Giveaway to Win a Lottie Shaw’s Seriously Good Hamper (Open to UK only)

For full information and extra photos of this hamper please look at https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/lottieshaws/product/fabulous-treat-hamper

*Terms and Conditions –UK 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.

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Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall - Victoria Walters

 

Lorna is following her dreams. But can she follow her heart?

Lorna Ferguson has dreamt of opening her own bed and breakfast in the village of Glendale for as long as she'd pictured falling in love. While her love life remains frankly hopeless, Lorna is determined to secure Dove House - the home she imagined living in as a child - to start this new venture with her family.

Along with brother Adam, Lorna starts restoring the house to its Art Deco glory, but faced with a whole host of renovation problems and their money fast running out, they worry that Dove House will never be ready to open in the New Year.

When a mystery man turns up, needing to fulfil a promise he made to his dying father and find the object he left at Dove House many years ago, Lorna's heart goes out to him. But what they find there is going to change both of their lives forever.

Facing problems at every turn, and distracted by her heart, Lorna is going to need all the magic that her beloved Glendale can supply to make all her dreams come true..

Purchase Links

AMZ: http://amzn.to/3Q90hin

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3NZfAbr

Apple: http://apple.co/3Nz562X

Hive: http://bit.ly/3QjuawG

My Review:

I have been looking forward to a return to Glendale, seems an age since the last book but this was definitely worth the wait. Back to a wonderful setting with familiar characters and a chance to catch up with their lives. We do focus on Lorna, although she had appeared before, this book is the chance to really get to know her and the rest of her family.

I enjoyed getting to learn about Lorna’s dreams, her aspirations to open her own B&B but also having the perfect location in mind that has sentimental reasons. Her relationship with her brother (who shares the dream to open the B&B) is great to read and they balance each other out well. It’s a great family, with the slight exception of their older sister who isn’t always as positive as Lorna would like her to be.

When fate and opportunity aligns, the time is right for them to take a leap and follow their dream. But.. even when dreams come true, things don’t go smoothly and both have to learn to take risks – with the B&B but also their hearts.

I love Victoria’s writing, cosy and familiar so as soon I started the first page, I felt content and happy just to snuggle up and savour every word.

A fantastic return to Glendale, a story of following your heart, understanding the past and learning to move forwards, believing in yourself but allowing other people in to help.

Dreams can come true, it may not be a smooth ride and you made have to have a whole lot of faith as well as determination but with those you love and care for around you, you can achieve all you want.

I cannot recommend anything by Victoria enough but this is a great Autumn read.

Author Bio:

Victoria Walters is a full-time author living in Surrey. Victoria writes cosy books including the bestselling uplifting and romantic series GLENDALE HALL and the new gripping and charming crime novel MURDER AT THE HOUSE ON THE HILL. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for two RNA awards. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star.

Find out more about Victoria by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters, on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at:https://victoria-writes.com/.

Murder in Myrtle Bay - Isobel Blackthorn

When feature writer Ruth Finlay and her elderly neighbour Doris Cleaver visit an antique and collectibles market in the small town of Myrtle Bay, they get a lot more than they bargained for.

After Ruth's old tennis coach is found dead, they discover that there's no lack of people who harbour a grudge against the victim, and a tangled web of family ties and lies begins to unravel. But can Ruth and Doris find the killer in time to avert a second murder?

A quirky feel-good mystery laced with intrigue, Murder in Myrtle Bay is the first book in Isobel Blackthorn's 'Ruth Finlay Mysteries' series. Set in small town Australia, it is a sure pick for any fan of classic whodunits and cozy mysteries!

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Myrtle-Ruth-Finlay-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0B5VRZX2Q/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Myrtle-Ruth-Finlay-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0B5VRZX2Q/

My Review:

I thoroughly enjoy a cosy mystery (even ones full of recipes) and this definitely entertained me, although it took me a few chapters to settle into it, especially with so many characters to get my head around. Set in Australia, we meet Ruth and Doris who suddenly find themselves in the middle of a 'situation' and get stuck in solving this murder mystery. Amateur sleuths at their best!

A pair of fab leading characters, mouthwatering recipes and descriptions of food, you better have a snack or two handy! A good plot with fun characters led to this keeping me invested all the way, I was desperate to know everything and almost wanted to race through to find out. I love to see if I can figure it all out, but I didn’t quite manage it this time.

I have never read anything from this author but I am now a fan and will look to be reading more. The first in a series, I shall look forward to more sleuthing, A must read for mystery fans!

Author Bio:

Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers.

The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader's Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Her short story 'Nothing to Declare' was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller A Legacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018.

Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy.

Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Five of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction.

Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in rural Victoria, Australia.

Social Media Links –

https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn

https://www.facebook.com/Lovesick.Isobel.Blackthorn/

www.isobelblackthorn.com

https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn