The Library Girls of the East End - Patricia McBride

 

1940, London

When Cordelia accepts the post of head librarian in Silver Town Library, her mother is more than a little disapproving. The East End has high levels of poverty and illiteracy, and her mother says it’s no place for a woman of her status.

But Cordelia is determined to make a difference in these times of strife, and along with her colleagues, Jane and Mavis, she begins to help the local community, making sure everyone knows what the library can offer them.

And maybe even a romance will blossom, giving Cordelia the strength to make it through the chaos and destruction that constantly threatens their livelihood.

Against a background of war, air raids and rationing, it becomes clear the library is more than a building filled with books - it is the beating heart of a community refusing to be torn apart.

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

My Review:

A very entertaining read from a new author to me. It’s the start of a series so I’m already looking forward to what is to come.

Cordelia has taken on the job of Head Librarian at an East End library, much to the disdain of her mother, who believes she shouldn’t lower herself and be amongst the poor. She meets her new library assistants, Mavis and Jane and soon set about making their library a thriving hub for the community. Set during the war, we discover how the characters ensure the library is a place where people can escape, take their minds off their problems but they can also find support for their problems too if they wish.

I loved the three characters, each very different but that’s what probably makes their friendship work so well. I only hope this friendship continues going from strength to strength. The more I learned about their backgrounds the more I took each girl to heart. They have had their work cut out for them to ensure the library can continue as it is but through their determination it proved to be an asset to the local area.

A story that was really easy to read yet entertaining, nothing too heavy or heart breaking but characters written with depth and warmth so you care about each. With many books set in war time, it is good to see a different perspective. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. 

Author Bio:

Patricia McBride is the author of the very popular Lily Baker historical saga series. She is now writing a new WW2 series for Boldwood, based in the East End of London during the Blitz, the first title of which, The Library Girls of the East End, will be published in November 2023.

Social Media Links: 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricia.mcbride.writer/

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Welcome to The Cornish Country Hospital - Jo Bartlett

 

A new start…

When Danni Carter moves to Cornwall from London, she hopes it will be the fresh start she so desperately needs. She’s nervous, but hopefully the change of scene will help her to finally forget her feelings for Lucas Newman, a man she can never be with, because he’s already engaged to Danni’s best friend, Esther.

An Impossible Dilemma…

But when Lucas and Esther decide to follow Danni to Cornwall, and both announce they will be working with her at the new St Piran’s hospital, Danni is thrown into turmoil again. She can’t lose Esther, but being near Lucas is getting harder to deal with. Will she have to give up her new life before it’s even started?

A chance to start again?

Throwing herself into work, Danni finds herself drawn to new patient, Connie Berrycloth, a woman Danni knows has dark secrets of her own. Secrets that are about to be revealed….

As the two women form a friendship, Danni begins to realise that letting go of her dreams might be the only way of holding on to the people she loves.

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

My Review:

Jo Bartlett does it again. The start of a brand-new series and I am already invested in the people and the place!

Danni Carter is looking for a fresh start after moving from London to Cornwall. She’s running away from Lucas Newman, the man she has loved for years and a man she can never be with. He is engaged to Danni’s best friend Esther and Esther means the world to her. But Lucas and Esther decide to follow Danni to Cornwall, announcing they will be working with her at the new St Piran’s hospital. Will she have to give up her new life before it’s even started?

 After a big accident, Danni gets to know patient Connie, very well. With both women sharing their secrets, how long will it take for them to be revealed and their lives changed dramatically.

A gorgeously heart warming read, friendship, family and long lost love. I love how Jo builds a wonderful community, with descriptive settings and brilliant characters who you will just love, well perhaps except for one – who thoroughly deserves anything that comes to them.

When secrets are revealed and hearts broken, will both women have a happy ever after? With some interesting twists along the way, there is romance, drama and light relief. A great first book in the series, I already cannot wait to return for the next book!

Author Bio:

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over 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. Her first title for Boldwood is The Cornish Midwife – part of a twelve-book deal.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: Jo Bartlett - Home | Facebook

Twitter: Jo Bartlett Writer (@J_B_Writer) / Twitter

Instagram: Jo Bartlett (@jo_bartlett123) • Instagram photos and videos

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

Bookbub profile: Jo Bartlett Books - BookBub

A Cosy Cottage Escape, Little Duck Pond Café - Rosie Green

 

Autumn is here and the Little Duck Pond Café crew are looking forward to spending a relaxing week in the country. That’s the theory, anyway. Because when they arrive, they quickly become immersed in village life after a power cut, only to find themselves spooked at every turn by mysterious goings-on, all of which seem to be connected to the creepy old house next-door. Is someone playing scary Hallowe’en tricks on them? Or is there something rather more sinister afoot…? 

My Review:

A series that goes from strength to strength, book 30! Wow. What I enjoy about Rosie’s Little Duck Pond books is that we have variation, location, main character, theme but they are always an entertaining and familiar read.

It is also nice to know a bunch of characters and their back stories, even though you don’t need to have read any previous books to enjoy each one. This time the I Little Duck Pond ladies are off on a little trip to a cottage in a small village. They soon discover this cottage is next door to a so called haunted house, with some fears starting to surface, tensions mount and things start happening – well it is Halloween after all!

The girls, in typical style befriend locals, including the resident of the house next door, and when spooky figures are seen – in the garden, flying overhead; they try to figure out what exactly is happening and whether there is hauntings or other explanations.

As always the story includes details on how their lives have progressed, there are changes afoot for many of our favourite characters, some don’t seem to be their usual selves and we discover that they are holding on to secrets.

Such an entertaining read, I was trying to stay logical in piecing out the mystery events but you never know! It all came together nicely though, and was fun to have the girls in a different setting. I’m not a fan of Halloween but I did enjoy the spookier elements to this one.

I love this series so it’s a pleasure to read. Fun and engaging writing with great, likeable characters. I look forward to the next one! 

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C6B1Y1KW

Author Bio:

Rosie’s series of Little Duck Pond Café novellas is centred around life in a country village cafe. ‘A Kiss under the Stars’ and ‘A Cosy Cottage Escape’ are out now. Look out for ‘A Winter Wonderland’, a heart-warming will-they-won’t-they romance for Christmas, out in November 2023.

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

That Festive Feeling - Heidi Swain

 

Holly has the place to herself this Christmas. It’s not her place, though – she is house-sitting for friends who live on Nightingale Square – just there to keep the place warm and cosy and only for long enough for her to sort her life out. Newly single and finding herself unsure about next steps for her career, she plans to hunker down and make some life decisions.

To clear her mind, she sets off on early morning walks around a nearby lake and bumps into May, an older lady who is also new to the area, and her dapper Dachshund Monty. Quickly, a firm friendship blossoms. Then when Holly meets Bear, a rather large and rather attractive man, at the local pub, and his rescue dog Queenie, her stay at Nightingale Square suddenly feels even more appealing.

As the community comes together for the season’s festivities, Holly must start thinking about where her life will take her next. Some big decisions need to be made, but distractions close to home make thinking about the future more tricky than ever…

Will she get that festive feeling this Christmas…?

My Review:

Want to get into the festive spirit? Heidi Swain’s books will always leave you feeling ready for the season and ‘That Festive Feeling’ is just perfect for doing just that.

Having created many wonderful settings for us, Nightingale Square is so special and even more so at Christmas time. It’s a strong community with a great cast of characters (or friends as us Swainettes see them).

Holly is a great addition to the characters we love so much. She is housesitting for characters we already have come to know a little about and all she wants is to hide herself away, have a quiet time to evaluate her life/options for roving forward. She is adamant that she will not be drawn in to all the frolics and activities in the square, not matter how much any of the neighbours try to cajole her. Even I know this is not realistic with the Nightingale Square residents and soon Holly is finding herself getting involved.

Holly does strive for some quiet independence and soon becomes friends with a dog walker called May. May is the absolute best, what a colourful breath of fresh air she is, I adore her and would love to have her tenacity and character. The bond formed between these two characters is gorgeous, really so heart warming and it’s very clear both are helping each other in so many ways.

After a collision with Bear, Holly’s festive season is about to get busier and perhaps a little more complicated than she expected. Bear lives in an ‘alternative’ home and is quite keen to show Holly she has options she had never considered.

An absolutely gorgeous story with friendship at the heart of it all. Encouraging people to take chances, make changes and putting a bit of trust in other people again. Although it is a romance, it gives us so much more – comedy, drama, heart warming messages of kindness and compassion. A story to inspire people to follow their hearts and dreams, think outside the box and to always add a little more colour to their lives.

Left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. Another Heidi Swain classic!!

Buy a copy - HERE! 

Heidi Swain - X , Facebook, 

The Perfect Christmas Village - Bella Osborne

 

When Christmas-hating Sam moves to Holly Cross, he thinks he's found the perfect home, until he discovers that, each year, Holly Cross transforms into the most Christmassy village in the whole country...

Blythe is just one sale away from being Real Estate Agent of the Month, so she twists the truth to sell a home to city boy Sam, who is looking for the perfect house in the perfect location. Little does he know he's just bought a cottage in the middle of the most Christmassy village in the country. And if there's one thing Sam loathes, it's Christmas.

Sam's arrival puts Holly Cross's chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village now in jeopardy, and the villagers are soon up in arms. Meanwhile, Sam is in his own personal hell surrounded by fairy lights and everyone is looking to Blythe to fix things.

But as the festive season looms, maybe there's more than just Christmas in Holly Cross for Sam to fall in love with...

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Christmas-Village-Bella-Osborne-ebook/dp/B0BM2DP2PK

KoBo - https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-perfect-christmas-village-1

Apple - https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-perfect-christmas-village/id6448858762

My Review:

I genuinely look forward to each of Bella’s books as I know it will be quality, entertaining and a blooming great story. The Perfect Village Christmas is wonderful – I was enthralled with each page I sat and devoured. It is a Perfect Christmas book and will leave you feeling festive fuzzies.

The village of Holly Cross is my kind of place and yet again I wish I lived in such a brilliant community. I think each character was brilliant, even Leonora who was perhaps a bit full on (but for the right reasons really!) Reading about their efforts to become the ‘Perfect Christmas village’ had me laughing and feeling all sentimental.

Blythe is desperate to prove herself and sells a house in her local village to Sam, unaware that he is harbouring some secrets. Sam moves to Holly Cross and is not a fan of Christmas, in fact he hates it – which proves challenging in this village. Soon regretting his choices, he is determined to ignore everyone’s, especially Blythe’s, efforts this festive season.

Blythe is determined to make him see the good in Christmas no matter what. On many occasions she pushes her festive agenda and in my opinion really pushes her luck with him. I’m amazed he tolerated as much as he did! There is something about their connection though and it is clear to see the spark between them.

A story full of shenanigans, pumpkin picking, fireworks and festive fun at the sexy Santa dinner; a whole community pulling together and being there for each other. All have very different reasons for being so involved in the village activities but it’s clear everyone cares for one another too. Fun characters, heart warming moments, comedy and charm – what more do you need this time of year.

I cannot recommend this one enough. It’s a must read this Christmas, I suggest you ask Santa very nicely and get a copy!

Author Bio:

Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written nine best-selling romantic comedies, two best-selling bookclub reads and won the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award.

Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.

For more about Bella, visit her website at www.bellaosborne.com or follow her on social media.

Social Media Links:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/osborne_bella 

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

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bellaosborneauthor/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@bellaosborneauthor

In the Greek Midwinter - Mandy Baggot

 

It was supposed to be a holiday of a lifetime…

But when Jen’s boyfriend David suddenly cancels their romantic Paris trip, needing to urgently travel to Athens for work, it’s best friend Bonnie who suggests they surprise him.

Having already booked the time off from her events company – Christmas Every Day – Jen decides an impromptu and romantic gesture might be just what their relationship needs?

Arriving in Greece and finding David is not there, Jen has a lot of questions. And when she gets her answers she has a choice – should she go home or should she stay a while?

With the help of Astro, the handsome yet Christmas-hating waiter from the local bar, she sets about a little Greek Christmas research. But what starts as a ‘business trip’ soon turns into something more…

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

My Review:

Do I look forward to Mandy Baggot’s ‘festive’ books? You bet I do. Do I love when Mandy whisks us away to glorious locations? Always. Have I loved the combination of both? ABSOLUTELY!!

After some of my favourite festive reads over the years, In the Greek Midwinter is yet another gem that left me ready for the season ahead. It is heartwarming and romantic but at it’s core it’s about people allowing themselves to believe – whether that’s in other people or a little bit festive magic. It’s a story of two people who both had difficult starts in life, coming together and discovering they have so much more in common than they realised.

Jen is a festive fanatic, the season reminds her of the moments in life she can think of fondly. She doesn’t let people in, not easily and never completely. She can put hurt behind her – or so she thinks. When a romantic break doesn’t go as planned, a change of scene leads to some life changing discoveries.

Astro cannot stand the season and rallies against his uncles plans to decorate everything. The season intensifies a pain he cannot move on from. His hidden passion is a way for him to unleash his feelings, even if it risks getting in trouble.

When their worlds collide, can they find a way to get along with each feeling so strongly. I loved the dynamic between these two characters, seeing how their relationship developed over the course of the book.

A whole cast of supporting characters make this book so entertaining and really funny. I loved Natalia – Jen’s ‘colleague’ from the Ukraine who looks after her business whilst Jen is in Greece. She is very “gangster- esque” but in a humorous way, someone to keep onside. Achilles is a brilliant character, his enthusiasm for all things jumps off the page.

A great book to cosy up with this festive season, let the snow fall (no matter where you may be!) and enjoy the read. Another great story from Mandy Baggot, festive and in Greece; what a fab combination. 

Author Bio:

Mandy Baggot is a bestselling romance writer who loves giving readers that happy-ever-after. From sunshine romantic comedies set in Greece, to cosy curl-up winter reads, she's bringing gorgeous heroes and strong heroines readers can relate to. Mandy splits her time between Salisbury, Wiltshire and Corfu, Greece and has a passion for books, food, racehorses and all things Greek!

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.baggot

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mandybaggot

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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mandy-baggot

Christmas at the Cat Café - Jessica Redland

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year on Castle Street, and there's a paw-some new business opening....

It had always been Tabby's dream to work with cats and an inheritance from her beloved nanna has finally made that a reality. Idyllic Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay couldn’t be a better place for pastry chef Tabby to open a cat café with her boyfriend, Leon.

But when Leon leaves her in the lurch, the pressure mounts for Tabby. With Christmas fast approaching, she has to open the café on her own – a daunting prospect, especially when she's been hiding her health issues from the ones she loves.

Faced with local resistance to the café – and somebody seemingly determined that she won’t succeed – Tabby will need her friends, family and cats more than ever to recover her broken Christmas spirit and pull together for a Christmas miracle.

Will the cat café bring the festive joy to Castle Street as Tabby had hoped or will it be a cat-astrophe? And can the magic of Christmas on Castle Street mend Tabby's broken heart as well as her business?

Escape with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland this Christmas for the purr-fect festive treat!

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

My Review:

Firstly, I have to say how much I adore all of Jessica Redlands books, no matter which series, setting or characters; her writing always captures me. I was so excited to be back in Castle Street and loved the idea of a cat café! After this book I definitely want to visit one.

At many points it appears that Tabby may not get to open her much longed for cat café, she faces adversity from all angles – crazed ex-girlfriends, animal activists, an ex who let her down as well as a body that leaves her in so much pain she cannot function no matter how much she wishes she could. Hard to read but incredible to learn more about a condition I’d only ever heard of and didn’t realise the extent to which it can debilitate a person. Luckily for Tabby she has a wonderful community around her, family, friends and fellow business owners.

 I adored hearing about the different cats, just picturing their antics adding some light relief and cute moments. Part of why I love Jessica’s books is for the sense of community that is developed; how people come together to help and support each other – always makes me wish I could join them!

There are moments of pain and sadness but it’s overwhelming a story about acceptance, perseverance, recognising that you can ask for help and that nothing needs to hold you back when following your dreams. Of course, we have romance and at first it threw me, I didn’t expect it but I soon realised the pairing was completely right.

 Festive spirit, cute cats and romance; a fabulous read.

 Author Bio:

Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Social Media Links:

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