Guest Review: Escape for Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

 Sophie used to adore everything about Christmas. Hot chocolate and velvet bows, fairy lights and mince pies.

Until the December her fiancé jilted her.

Since then, Sophie opened Sunnyside Hotel, a quaint guesthouse nestled deep in the Cumbrian countryside.

And, though it might be winter at Sunnyside, it’s never Christmas.

Marketing her hotel to those who wish to avoid the festivities, Sophie is busy preparing for a season full of joy and laughter, but without the tinsel and mistletoe.

Yet, as she finds herself growing closer to her gorgeous neighbour, Brody, her heart begins to melt.

Will this Christmas bring the touch of magic Sophie needs to give love another chance?

Review: What a pleasure to return to the Lake District for Phillipa Ashley’s Christmas book this year. She never fails to present the reader with a fantastic festive treat of a story at this time of year. This book also comes with the bonus of a perfectly stunning cover that could hardly fail to attract readers.

This story concerns Sophie Cranford, who runs a guest house situated on the outskirts of the village of Bannerdale in the Lake District. She has not enjoyed Christmas since breaking up with her fiancé at this time of year, an experience which caused her to up sticks and move miles away to her current location. This year she has come up with the idea of advertising breaks suitable for people who would like an alternative to the conventional Christmas celebrations. Local residents think this a strange idea and regard her as a Scrooge type of figure, but her accommodation is soon booked to capacity. In the light of her history with her ex, Sophie has sworn off romance, but is finding herself more and more attracted to her nearest neighbour, vet Brody. He certainly seems interested in a relationship with her. In the midst of all the snow and Christmas festivities, can she relent and allow herself to consider that she might love again.

I can highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a romantic festive story in a stunning setting. I absolutely loved everything about it, even though, as a lover of all things Christmas, I found the idea of escaping the festivities a strange idea. Sophie had her reasons for avoiding the celebrations, but I was quite amused by her choices of alternative festive fare and activities. In addition to the central players, the book is populated with many other interesting characters each with their own individual stories covering a range of topics. Sophie was lucky to have the handsome and practical Brody as her neighbour; I hoped that she might consider forgetting her ban on men for him. The amazing scenery of the area is well described by the author; a fall of snow can add to the beauty of the vista but there is a reminder of the problems that it can cause at the same time.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Guest Review: One More Christmas at the Castle by Trisha Ashley

This Christmas will be the most special of them all...

Elderly widow Sabine knows this will be her last Christmas in her beloved home, Mitras Castle. Determined to make it just like the ones she remembers from her childhood, she employs Dido Jones of Heavenly Houseparties to help with the big day.

Dido is enchanted by the castle as soon as she steps through the imposing front door. And as Christmas day approaches, her feeling of connection to the old house runs deeper than she first thought. But when the snow begins to fall and Sabine's family arrive at the house - including Dido's teenage crush Xan - tensions rise around the castle's future and long-buried mysteries begin to unravel...

As past secrets come to light, can this still be a magical Christmas to remember?

Review: I love this time of year when the festive books begin to arrive. This is the first one I have read this year and I’m pleased that it is by one of my ‘go-to’ authors. Trisha Ashley always delights me with her annual festive stories. As the title suggests, this one is set in a castle which turns out to be in a remote part of the north of England. I was literally hooked by the story right from the start and found it hard to put down. I should mention the book’s bright and attractive cover which depicts the castle in question just as I envisaged it from the author’s description.

The setting for this story, Mithras Castle, is actually a manor house to which a battlemented wing has been added at some time. The owner of the house and land surrounding it is Sabine Powys, an elderly widow. Having recently found out that she has not very long left to live, she has decided to have a fantastic Christmas celebration like the ones she remembers from days gone by. To this end, Sabine has engaged the services of Heavenly Houseparties, a business run by friends Dido and Henry, to organise household activities for the month of December, including a house party over the Christmas period. Dido feels an instant attraction to the castle and its grounds that she cannot explain, never having been there before. She does, however, recognise Sabine’s godson Xan, who she met, and had a tremendous crush on, in her teens. It seems that she is still attracted to him, but is he aware of her? As the month progresses, and more of the Christmas guests arrive, it becomes apparent that Sabine has an alternative motive for inviting them all there - she is to decide the future of the castle after her death. Among dusty old books and letters, long-kept secrets come to light that shock everyone and make Sabine’s decision even more complicated.

I can highly recommend this wonderful festive read, which would make a great addition to anyone’s Christmas reading list or Christmas stocking. It is positively brimming with varied and interesting characters, all in a marvellous setting in which the reader is served up meal after meal of mouthwatering dishes while being privy to family feuds, shocking revelations and unexpected romance. I loved the clever way in which the story is told, with chapters voiced by Sabine or Dido in turn. I found myself really immersed in life at the castle in the days leading up to Christmas, anticipating the arrival of the guests, wondering what they were going to be like - a mark of skilful storytelling. Although central to the plot, Sabine’s illness and terminal diagnosis do not overshadow the story; they are dealt with with sensitivity and there is also plenty of humour within the book. I do enjoy a story featuring a dog, and this one has a cute little spaniel who is never far from the action; with all that lovely food being produced in the castle’s kitchen, that’s not surprising.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: The Garden of Forgotten Wishes by Trisha Ashley

All Marnie wants is somewhere to call home. Mourning lost years spent in a marriage that has finally come to an end, she needs a fresh start and time to heal. Things she hopes to find in the rural west Lancashire village her mother always told her about.

With nothing but her two green thumbs, Marnie takes a job as a gardener, which comes with a little cottage to make her own. The garden is beautiful – filled with roses, lavender and honeysuckle – and only a little rough around the edges. Which is more than can be said for her next-door-neighbour, Ned Mars.

Marnie remembers Ned from her school days but he’s far from the untroubled man she once knew. A recent relationship has left him with a heart as bruised as her own.

Can a summer spent gardening help them heal and recapture the forgotten dreams they’ve let get away?

Review: I always look forward to reading a new book by Trisha Ashley; they are always full of interesting characters and situations. For returning readers, her books very often contain familiar characters too, which I always enjoy. This book is one of many set in a small Lancashire village and does indeed contain a few faces that I recognised from her last novel. I found it a quick but absorbing read.

The story revolves around Marnie, who has been living and working as a gardener in France for a few years, travelling around to avoid her controlling ex-husband. When it seems that he has turned his affections towards another unfortunate woman, Marnie decides to leave France and takes up a position as gardener in the little Lancashire village of Jericho’s End, once her mother’s home. The job comes with a small but cosy flat above an ice cream shop which is attached to a cottage inhabited by two rather eccentric sisters and a very large ginger cat who takes a liking to Marnie. While looking after the cottage garden, Marnie’s duties also involve helping to restore the large garden of the manor house next door. She is surprised to find that the large house and grounds belong to an old college friend, Ned, now a successful garden designer. After a somewhat rocky start, Marnie and Ned find common ground in their interest in the plants and the secrets that the overgrown garden gives up as they work. There are other surprises in store for Marnie as she settles into the job and life in the village, not all of them pleasant.

As I expected, I thoroughly enjoyed this book; another hit for Trisha Ashley. The setting in this tranquil village with the river running through and the picturesque falls with the promise of fairies and angels left me feeling peaceful each time I read. However, the pace of the story quickened towards the end, when there was a great deal of drama all within a few pages. I liked Marnie as a character and enjoyed her ability to stand up to the somewhat moody Ned. I found him a bit annoying to start with, but he grew on me as the story progressed. I was intrigued by the cat in the story; his colour and great size were unusual. He was quite a formidable character with definite ideas of his place in the world. As well as the drama, romance and hint of magic, the book has quite a bit of humour in its pages, the old ladies living in the cottage providing a large proportion. They enjoy experimenting with new ice cream flavours, and there is an interesting selection of recipes at the end of the book for those readers possessing an ice cream maker. I can definitely recommend this book to other readers; if not familiar with Trisha Ashley’s work, this would make a good place to start.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley

Meg is definitely not in the Christmas mood. She’s never gone in for tinsel, baubles and mistletoe, and right now she’s still getting over an illness. Yet when she’s invited to spend the run-up to Christmas in the snowy countryside, rather than dreary London, she can’t refuse.

Arriving at a warm and cosy family home in a small hilltop village, Meg soon begins to wonder what a proper Christmas might be like. But just as she’s beginning to settle in, she spots a familiar face. Lex.

Despite the festive cheer, Meg suddenly wants nothing more than to get as far away from him, and their past secrets, as she can. But if she stays, could this be the year she finally discovers the magic of Christmas...?

Review: I always enjoy a book written by Trisha Ashley, and ones set around Christmas in particular. This book did surprise me a little, as I struggled a bit to get into the story, but once I got going, I literally didn’t want to put it down. It’s one of those books that I miss now that I have finished it; I’m sure other readers will recognise that feeling.

The central character in the story, Meg, is a skilled artist recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia. She is approached by a rather forceful lady, Martha, who wants her to paint portraits of her and her husband, Henry. The request is accompanied by an invitation to spend the festive season with the couple in their country house set in a small hamlet high on the Lancashire moors. Having been raised in a commune, Meg has never celebrated a ‘conventional’ Christmas, and accepts the opportunity to experience something different. Once she arrives at Martha’s home, she finds herself enveloped in a household full of interesting characters. Unfortunately, one member of the extended family is Lex, someone with whom Meg has an unfortunate history. She hopes that if she can avoid him, her stay may still be an enjoyable one, but fate seems to have other ideas. There are quite a few other surprises in store for her too during her snowy Christmas visit.

This is another delightful tale from Trisha Ashley, filled with amazing characters and wonderful settings. Martha’s house and household were so warm and welcoming that I would love to be snowed up there for Christmas myself. Fans of her books will recognise quite a few familiar names from Trisha’s previous stories. I loved all the twists and turns in this book; I was never quite sure what would happen next and who would turn up. As well as drama and romance, there was a nice amount of humour in the story. I can’t fail to mention a very cute little dachshund who quite stole my heart. I can certainly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy a really snowy Christmas tale; it would also make a perfect addition to a Christmas stocking.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: Written From the Heart by Trisha Ashley

Tina Devino makes more money teaching people to write than writing herself. A middling romance novelist who dreams of penning a bestseller, she’s increasingly forced to compete with younger, blonder debut authors for her publisher and agent’s attention.

Feeling forgotten, Tina realises the only way up is to take her career and destiny in hand and build her own happy ending; which is perfect because, for a romance writer, Tina isn’t the most traditional of women… Although she does see her long term partner lover friend, Sergei, once a week which is ‘quite enough, thank you very much’. But her uncomplicated love life might soon need some unravelling when a mysterious Tube Man, unwelcome ex-husband and a shadowy figure in a butterfly mask waltz into the picture.

Only Tina can work through the drama and claim the life she’s always wanted… but will she succeed?

Review: This book was previously published under the title Happy Endings, and was one of Trisha Ashley’s earliest romantic comedies. Trisha informs us that she hasn’t rewritten it, simply polished it up a little, remembering the developments in technology that have occurred in the intervening decade since it was first published. I did not read the story in its original form, having ‘found’ this author more recently. I would have to say that I prefer the more recent novels, but I did find this story highly amusing and entertaining. 

The story concerns romance writer Tina Devino. A published author for many years, she now finds her work as a literary consultant more lucrative. This is mainly due to both her publisher and, to an extent, her agent considering her a midlist author and not devoting the required amount of effort to publicising her work. Luckily she has best friend Linny to encourage her. Eventually, through a combination of taking matters into her own hands and publicity gained through her association with long-term boyfriend Russian ballet dancer Sergei, things begin to change. A bit of mystery also creeps into Tina’s life in the shape of a handsome man she keeps encountering while travelling on the underground; who can he be?

This is one book that had me laughing out loud. The story is interspersed with letters written to and from Tina in her role as literary consultant; many of the concepts proposed by her would-be authors are most amusing or even bizarre. The situations she finds herself in at literary events also add to the overall hilarity of the book. Although not a favourite of mine, I think this is a funny and interesting story that will be enjoyed by many readers.

To pre-order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US 

Guest Review: The House of Hopes and Dreams

The perfect MOTHER'S DAY gift from the Sunday Times bestselling Trisha Ashley, this novel will more than satisfy romantic comedy fans. And it also contains recipes!

When Carey Revell unexpectedly becomes the heir to Mossby, his family’s ancestral home, it’s rather a mixed blessing. The house is large but rundown and comes with a pair of resentful relatives who can’t be asked to leave.
Still, newly dumped by his girlfriend and also from his job as a TV interior designer, Carey needs somewhere to lick his wounds. And Mossby would be perfect for a renovation show. He already knows someone who could restore the stained glass windows in the older part of the house…

Angel Arrowsmith has spent the last ten years happily working and living with her artist mentor and partner. But suddenly bereaved, she finds herself heartbroken, without a home or a livelihood. Life will never be the same again – until old friend Carey Revell comes to the rescue.

They move in to Mossby with high hopes. But the house has a secret at its heart: an old legend concerning one of the famous windows. Will all their dreams for happiness be shattered? Or can Carey and Angel find a way to make this house a home?

Review: I was very excited to read this new offering from the amazing storyteller, Trisha Ashley. I could hardly wait to get started on the book, and, once I had opened it, I was instantly immersed in the story. 

This is the tale of Angelique (Angel) Arrowsmith, a stained glass designer and restorer who has been in a long-term relationship with fellow artisan Julian, but finds herself facing an uncertain future upon his sudden death. Fortunately, her childhood friend, Carey Revell, comes to the rescue and asks her to help him restore the rundown mansion he has just unexpectedly inherited. The mansion is a rambling affair, with ancient and more modern parts, extensive grounds, secret passages and priest holes, talk of ghosts, and of course several stained glass windows in need of attention. Carey enlists an army of friends and a growing number of neighbours from the village to help in his project, while Angel is joined by stained glass workers from her old workshop. 

This is truly an epic and heart-warming tale, full of humour, intrigue and a cast of interesting and often zany characters that grows and grows with each page. At the beginning of the book, following Julian's death, Angel's plight is so well told that I actually found myself enraged by the injustice she experienced. However, this is balanced by later events in the story and support she gets from friends. The narrative from the present day is cleverly intertwined with an account of her life from an earlier inhabitant of the house, who lived there in the early 20th century. Her story adds nicely to the intrigue connected with the house's history. 

If you are a fan of Trisha Ashley's books, you may, like me, be excited to meet up in this story with some familiar faces from the village of Halfhidden, previously featured in her novel, Creature Comforts. Whether you are a fan or have never read any of Trisha's books before, I would heartily recommend this one; be warned though, you may find yourself unable to put it down. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: A Good Heart is Hard to Find by Trisha Ashley

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man of over forty is in possession of a major defect . . .”

Cassandra Leigh has woken as if from a bad dream: forty-four, childless and twenty-plus years into an affair with a married man. Max assures her they just need a little more patience and for his wife to die (!) but Cass is desperate for a baby and running out of time. Maybe Max is not the only man for her?

There’s her friend Jason – though he’s perhaps a little too rugged, and there’s something strange about the way his wife disappeared . . . Or there’s Dante, the mysterious stranger she meets on a dark night in his haunted manor house . . .

Cass must throw caution to the wind and claim the life she’s always wanted. Suddenly, it’s a choice between Mr Right, Mr Wrong or Mr Right Now . . .

Review: This book was originally published in 2003 under the title Singled Out. I missed it that time around, when I hadn't yet discovered Trisha Ashley, now one of my favourite author; her books never fail to entertain. This one has a different feel from the more recent ones I have read, and there's a bit of the supernatural going on, but as usual it's full to the brim with interesting characters and arresting events. 

The central character in this story is Cassandra Leigh, a 44-year-old with a troubled past and a long-term married lover, Max, who appears to be stringing her along. Cass is a writer of horror novels, and we are presented with entertaining excerpts from reviews of her books at the beginning of each chapter. To give her inspiration for plots for her books, Cass lives a rather strange existence, prowling the graveyard or sitting in the church at night and writing long into the early hours; her diet is somewhat unusual as well. She has two good friends in her village, Jason and Orla, both slightly bizarre characters. As luck would have it, her village contains a Manor House which is reputedly teaming with ghosts. The arrival of a new owner, Dante Chase, gives her the opportunity to investigate that avenue, while getting to know this initially unpleasant man at the same time. 

I took a few pages to get into this story, but once I was used to the format and the slightly strange characters I really enjoyed it. Although I have read other books by Trisha Ashley that I have preferred to this one, I would still recommend this as a fun read.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US