Guest Review: The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling

Saskia is building a home for herself out of the ruins of an old castle. Surrounded by forest, hidden away from everyone and everything, the place is special - it’s the only connection she has left to her father and it’s a hard-won chance to escape from her difficult past and create a new future. She’s spent her whole life trying to find a way to make this project work and finding someone to help her realise her dream has been almost impossible.

When local builder Owen finally signs up to manage the construction, things get off to a very bad start. But forced to find a way to work together, both realise that first impressions aren’t always the right ones, and when Owen discovers the forest is hiding a secret that could bring work to a halt, he realises he’s much more invested in the project – and Saskia – than he thought . . .

Review: I have been an avid reader of Sharon Gosling’s books since reading her compelling story The House Beneath the Cliffs, enjoying each of her novels since then. Her well-written stories feature family, community and romance in stunning settings. This latest book is set in a remote part of Cumbria and sounds to contain an element of mystery.

The story centres on Saskia Tilbury-Martin’s attempts to fulfil her ambition to restore ruined Gair Castle, located in an isolated part of Cumbria, into a home. She has loved the castle and surrounding forest since visiting there as a child with her father and experiencing the area’s magical quality. Having followed in her father’s footsteps and qualified as an architect, she has made plans for the castle ruins that are sympathetic to its surroundings. The problem is finding a builder who will agree to undertake the ambitious project. Finally, she meets Owen Elliott who, despite misgivings, takes on the contract. Unfortunately, their relationship gets off to a very rocky start, adding to the difficulties she has encountered due to local opposition to her plans. Both of them are surprised when, once the work begins, they discover a secret that the surrounding forest has been hiding for years. Owen also finds himself surprised to find that he would be disappointed to leave the project, and Saskia, behind if work has to stop as a consequence of their discovery.

This was a really interesting book. The two main characters showed admirable amounts of perseverance in pushing forward with Saskia’s plans for the ruined castle. As the book progressed, details of her history and reasons for her desire to restore the site were revealed. I loved the idea that Saskia had even designed a special bespoke mini-home to allow her and her gorgeous dog to live on site while the work was completed. Owen became more sympathetic towards Saskia as he learned more of her background and romance began to creep gently into their story. Although there were clues as to mysterious and magical events reported historically in the area, I was still not ready for the discoveries Saskia and Owen made. This book was a little different from other books I have read from this author, but no less enjoyable for that. Readers who like some mystery and even magic with their romance will certainly enjoy this book.

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Guest Review: The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan

Step into the warmth and the cosy glow of the secret Christmas library...

Mirren Sutherland didn't expect an old book in her great-aunt's attic to change her whole world. But one minute she is staring resentfully at the sparkly London Christmas lights, dreading the thought of another Christmas alone. And the next, she is being whisked away on a secret night train to a grand old house in the highlands...

Jamie McPherson is desperate to save his family home - and he needs Mirren's ability to sniff out an antique to do it. There is a very rare, very valuable, and very lost book somewhere in the nooks and crannies of his family's crumbling estate. And if Mirren can find it, they might just be able to save the McPhersons from financial ruin.

But the house has its secrets, and when a snowstorm traps Mirren and Jamie in along with rival book hunter Theo Palliser, they realise that there is much more than just a book hidden in the halls. With old feelings and new sparks slipping through the cracks, it's a race against time - and snowfall.

With the help of a sprinkle of Christmas magic, will Mirren uncover the clues and find the book - without losing her heart?

Review: This book follows on from Jenny Colgan’s short story, The Christmas Book Hunt. That said, you don’t have to read the short story to appreciate this storyline; this book stands alone very successfully. It is set predominantly in the highlands of Scotland, and contains vivid descriptions of the stunning landscape. The book’s cover is one of the loveliest I have seen in a while.

The main character in the story is quantity surveyor and book obsessive Mirren Sutherland. She gained a reputation as a book finder after she tracked down a very valuable book in her great aunt’s attic after a countrywide search. This fact led Jamie McKinnon to her door to ask if she would come to his house to look for a rare book that might save his debt-ridden estate. Unfortunately for Mirren, Jamie has also invited fellow book hunter Theo Palliser to aid in the search. Mirren has an unhappy history with Theo. The task is complicated by the size and dilapidated state of the large house and by the fact that Jamie’s recently deceased grandfather, fond of puzzles, has left a series of clues as to the whereabouts and identity of the book. Added to these hurdles is the fact that Mirren is attracted to the two men with whom she is sharing the house, which, soon after her arrival, becomes cut off by a heavy fall of snow.

I very much enjoyed this book, and loved joining Mirren in her hunt for Jamie’s grandfather’s valuable book. The journey to Jamie’s estate in the family’s private train carriage featuring all manner of luxuries was magical; if only all rail travel could be like that. However, Mirren’s experiences in the actual house were more frustrating than magical since it was filled with nooks and crannies, crumbling away at points and freezing cold unless you could find a position near to an open fire. The story was very cleverly written, with so many clues to solve and so many wrong turns to take. I was completely immersed in trying to find the answer, as well as wondering which, if either, of the men she would finally choose. This is definitely a book to enjoy by a warm fire while accompanying Mirren on her odyssey.

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Guest Review: Christmas on Fifth Avenue by Julie Caplin

Evie Green's Christmas dream turns into a nightmare when a viral video makes her the laughing stock of the internet. But then a 5 star hotel sees a PR opportunity and invites her to New York for a Christmas she’ll remember forever.

Enter Noah Sanderson, a disgraced soccer star seeking anonymity. Forced to fake a festive romance for the cameras, sparks fly – but not the twinkling Christmas kind!

As Fifth Avenue sparkles in all its holiday glory, can The City that Never Sleeps show these two frosted hearts that, maybe, the best love stories are the ones you never see coming.

Review: Even had I not been a follower of Julie Caplin’s work, I would have been drawn to this book just from the title and cover artwork. Spending the festive season in a snowy New York sounds pretty ideal to me. This is book 1 in the Christmas Escapes series, described as a spin off from Julie’s Romantic Escapes series, which I have enjoyed.

The main characters in this story are financial journalist Evie Green and professional footballer Noah Sanderson, who both find themselves in New York in the run-up to Christmas. Evie has been invited by the management to spend Christmas in the famous Plaza Hotel following a disastrous incident that has seen her ridiculed all over social media. Noah is also on his way to the same hotel to hide from the adverse publicity resulting from an on-field event. Although they hadn’t met before travelling to New York, Evie and Noah manage to rub each other up the wrong way as they keep bumping into each other. When Noah’s agent suggests that a very public fake romance with Evie might smooth things over for both of them, the pair begin to be seen together visiting tourist spots. As they spend more and more time together, it seems as though they have more in common than they thought and perhaps their dating might not actually be quite so fake after all.

I really enjoyed this festive rom-com. The setting was, of course, absolutely wonderful and I loved following along as Noah took Evie to visit so many of the tourist attractions that the Big Apple has on offer, as well as less well known locations. The Plaza Hotel, where I would love to stay one day, was also brought into the limelight, with its staff for whom nothing was too much trouble to please the guests and the amazing decorations everywhere. I really liked both of the main characters, who had been dealt with unfairly by the media. It was heartwarming to see Evie achieve things that she and her late mother had planned to do if ever they had got to New York. At the same time it was rewarding to see Noah unwind and begin to enjoy his enforced holiday. I think this would be a perfect read for those wishing to escape for a while over the Christmas period.

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Guest Review: The Christmas Retreat by Trisha Ashley

Ginny Spain usually loves Christmas: wrapping up warm by a cosy fire, putting twinkling lights on the tree… But after breaking up with her ex, her festive spirit has deserted her. This year, she plans to hide away and spend the holiday alone.

Her formidable mother, Evie, has other ideas. Dragging Ginny out of isolation, Evie takes her to an artist and writers retreat at Triskelion, a remote old house in the tiny coastal village of Little Star, determined to uncover the secrets of an ancestor who once lived there.

Triskelion is now home to rugged Rhys Tarn and his ten-year-old daughter – and Ginny is in for a shock when she discovers Rhys and her share an unexpected connection.

Before Twelfth Night, and with the help of Rhys, can Ginny unlock her past and bring back her Christmas cheer?

Review: I have read and enjoyed many Christmas romances from this author over the years. I look out for her next book each festive season. Trisha Ashley has books set in a variety of locations; this one is set in Wales. This book certainly draws the eye with its bright pink cover and I was confident that the story within would be equally pleasing.

The story centres on writer and illustrator Ginny Spain who has recently broken up for the second time with her boyfriend and is planning to spend Christmas on her own in her little cottage in the country. However, when she suddenly has to leave her beloved home, her plans have to change. Concerned that her daughter may be becoming a hermit, Ginny’s flamboyant mother, Evie, books them both into a retreat for writers and artists over the Christmas period. The retreat is to be held in a small Welsh coastal village in an old house called Triskelion. Evie is writing a book about her grandmother (Arwen), an artist who once lived and painted in the house, and hopes to learn more about her. When Ginny arrives at the house, she meets the other people on the retreat, an odd assortment of men and women. Already living in the house with the owners she discovers writer Rhys Tarn and his small daughter. She has met Rhys briefly before and has a low opinion of him. As she gets to know him better, she realises that she may have been wrong about his character. It is a shock when she finds that she and Rhys are connected through her ancestor.

There are many threads to this festive romantic story, in which a historic account of Arwen’s life is told through letters to her best friend and runs alongside a present day narrative of Ginny’s life. The book includes a cast of many characters other than the group spending the festive season in Triskelion. The entire community of the village have their part to play. It is interesting to become involved in their various celebrations during the time that Ginny is visiting, such as winter solstice and twelfth night festivities. I found Arwen’s story very sad and was glad of the more light-hearted events taking place in the present day tale. The members of the retreat party lent an air of comedy at times. A nice touch is the inclusion of recipes for dishes mentioned in the text if people wish to make them for themselves. This is not one of my favourite Christmas stories, but it is certainly an interesting tale with a different approach, transporting the reader back and forth between 1919 and the present day.

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Guest Review: Christmas for the Village Midwife by Tilly Tennant

Snow crunches underfoot, lights twinkle on the lakes, and in the little village of Thimblebury, midwife Zoe is hoping for more than one Christmas miracle…

As the streets of Thimblebury are blanketed by sparkling snow, village midwife Zoe Padbury wants nothing more than to warm her cold feet by a roaring fire and spend the holidays holding hands with her handsome new boyfriend Alex.

But babies don’t stop being born, and Zoe is busier than ever with new arrivals (and her grumpy new boss at the surgery, who definitely doesn’t believe in the magic of Christmas).

It should be happy news when Zoe’s oldest friend Georgia arrives in Thimblebury, pregnant with her first baby, but it’s obvious that Georgia is far from happy and is hiding something. Zoe is determined to help her friend… but in doing so unravels a long-held secret that will impact them all. Has Zoe got in too deep, and is it too late for her to save Christmas in Thimblebury?

Review: This is the second in a series of books about midwife Zoe Padbury who has moved from Manchester to join a medical practice in the small Lake District village of Thimblebury. This book starts in the run up to Christmas. In the first book in the series, readers learned that Zoe had divorced her husband and was looking for a fresh start somewhere new. She is renting a small cottage some way out of the village on one of the local farms and has met another newcomer, Alex, who is becoming a good friend.

Zoe is finding it a busy time in the village, with lots of babies on the way. Unfortunately, the usually pleasant atmosphere in the village surgery has become more subdued because of the arrival of a new GP who seems to disapprove of lots of things, Christmas activities in particular. However, she has brought with her to the village her sister who is an old childhood friend of Zoe’s, and happens to be in the late stages of pregnancy. Zoe can’t help feeling that something is wrong in her friend’s household and is keen to sort things out, but Alex thinks she should leave well alone. As the snow falls thick and fast, bringing extra problems for the couple, Zoe hopes that her growing relationship with Alex can survive even though this is not the cosy first Christmas in the village that she had anticipated.

I thought that this was a delightful festive read. It took me on quite a roller coaster ride, with all the drama, excitement, humour and romantic moments. Having read the first book in the series, I was looking forward to finding out what was happening in the lives of this lively and warm community. It was easy to envisage the village and its surrounding homes, and I could well imagine what it must have looked like with a coating of snow - just like many a Christmas card. Zoe was such a lovely, caring character, like all of the staff in the local surgery; it is easy to see how they must have felt with the arrival of someone with a totally different outlook on life. I was glad that the reason for the newcomers’ behaviour came out in the end. I was really moved by the ending of the story and I’m already looking forward to reading the next part of this series and finding out what happens next for Zoe and Alex.

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Guest Review: Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop by Jessica Redland

It's the most wonderful time of the year at Bay Books, and a new love story is being written in the stars... ✨

Nestled amongst the comforting shelves of her beloved Bay Books, Lily Appleton finds the peace and quiet she needs. But with Christmas just around the corner, Lily has to find an extra pair of hands to help her share the bookish magic.

After selling his business, Lars Jóhannsson is feeling lost. A job at Bay Books would give him the space he needs to contemplate his next move, but returning would mean confronting a painful past he's been avoiding. He’s also fairly sure he’s the one person Lily would never want to see again.

Lily is torn. Lars could be the perfect fit for Bay Books, but he once rejected her friendship and the hurt still lingers. But working together, Lily discovers a vulnerability that Lars has kept hidden away, along with a few surprising secrets. And as the Christmas season sprinkles its magic, Lily discovers the warmth of renewed friendship and the joy of heartwarming traditions from Lars’s Icelandic roots.

Review: I knew from the minute I saw the title of Jessica Redland’s latest book that she was taking readers back to the North Yorkshire seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, the setting for many of her earlier novels that I have read and enjoyed. I was excited to return to the cobbled street with its independent shops selling a range of goods from handmade chocolates to wedding dresses, many of which have been the focus of one of Jessica’s books. I love the book’s bright Christmassy cover as well; a sign of a truly festive story within.

This story features Bay Books, owned and run jointly by Lily Appleton and her father, Marcus. When Marcus has to take some time off for an operation in the run up to Christmas, their busiest time of year, Lily has to find somebody to fill in for him. Of all the applicants for the job, Lars Jóhannsson stands out as the most suitable. However, Lily is unsure about employing Lars as they have an unfortunate past history and he is afraid that the bookshop will stir up distressing memories for him. When they start working together in the shop, Lily discovers that Lars is not the person she remembers but a far more likeable and sensitive person altogether. He eventually opens up to her about his family history, explaining his treatment of her many years ago. She is fascinated by his tales of Christmas traditions in his father’s native Iceland and recognises their potential for utilisation in the bookshop. Most surprising of all is the secret that Lars has been keeping from everyone in the town for years.

I absolutely loved being taken back to Whitsborough Bay and reconnecting with some familiar faces and places in this wintry book. Bay Books sounds such a marvellous bookshop, crammed to the rafters almost literally with books on every topic and with the kind of customer service that I love to encounter when shopping. Lily and Marcus have built up a wonderful team. The shop is so well described by the author that I could almost smell that aroma you get when walking into a bookshop. From the start, I took to Lily and hoped she and Lars would be able to get past what had happened in earlier years. I was happy that they not only worked well together, but that they formed a friendship and more. I very much enjoyed learning a bit about Icelandic customs connected with Christmas and books in particular. This would make a great book for reading on a cold winter’s day in front of a warm fire.

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Guest Review: So This is Christmas by Helen Rolfe

Care assistant Sophie loves the holidays, and nothing makes her feel more festive than helping 82-year-old resident Bea keep in touch with her old friend Greta. In their Christmas letters, the women update each other on their lives – Bea’s in the quiet residential home in London, Greta’s in the heart of Vienna and the grand Wynter Hotel.

But everything changes when Bea passes away before Sophie’s had a chance to post this year’s letter. Devastated, Sophie struggles to imagine this Christmas without her dear friend. But then Sophie finds one last note from Bea – and this time, it’s not addressed to Greta. It’s to Sophie, telling her to go to Austria.

Which is how Sophie finds herself in Vienna at Christmas, with the snow falling, and an important delivery to make… But when Sophie reaches the Wynter Hotel, there are surprises in store, and before she returns to England, her life will have changed in ways she could never have imagined…

Review: I have read quite a few excellent Christmas stories penned by Helen Rolfe, and was pleased to find that her latest book is my first Christmas novel of the season. Most of the action takes place in the wonderful setting of a snowy Vienna. I listened to the audio version of the book and found myself expertly transported into the world of its characters by the talented narrator.

This story begins in London, where elderly Bea is living in a care home and being well looked after by care assistant Sophie. Bea has been corresponding for years with her friend Greta, who now lives in Vienna, each looking forward in particular to their friend’s Christmas letter. Due to her failing eyesight, Bea has asked Sophie to write her latest letter, but sadly dies before it can even be posted. Bea has been suggesting to Sophie for years that she should visit Vienna, so she decides to take the letter to Greta and break the news of her friend’s passing in person. Once in Vienna, Sophie meets up with Greta’s family and falls in love with the city and its Christmas traditions. However, as time passes, she unexpectedly uncovers a secret connection with one of the family, linked with a tragic event in her past.

I absolutely adored this heart-warming festive book. In addition to all the Christmassy elements, which of course I loved, there is a powerful story with elements of a friendship spanning years as well as countries, a tragedy that has had long lasting effects on many people, the strength of family ties and the kindness of strangers; there is even a hint of romance. The setting in Vienna was really well described and had me wanting to spend Christmas there myself so I could witness in person all the sights and sounds of the city. The characters in the story were varied, but all strong with their own stories. I was totally surprised by the secret that was revealed to Sophie and which had so many ramifications. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone wishing to get into the Christmas spirit or wanting to pass it on to others.

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