Novella Review: Booked For Christmas by Lily Menon

 Booked for Christmas, a novella from debut author Lily Menon, is sure to get readers in the holiday spirit!

Novelist Sophia Hart (real name: Sophie Bartholomew-Kaur-Hughes, but try fitting that on a book cover) absolutely hates her loudest critic—Evan Wolfe, evil mastermind behind the Lone Wolfe book review column. They've never met, but Wolfe's favorite pastime seems to be dumping on Sophie's unapologetically happy, magical romances. Sophie, not one to be left behind, gets her revenge in her own ways (never annoy a writer in search of a villain).

When Sophie decides to throw a holiday party at her cabin, Wolfe is the last person on her mind. But the universe has a twisted sense of humor. Not only does Wolfe show up as someone’s plus one, but a massive snowstorm blows in, stranding them both alone together in Sophie’s cabin.

Over the next few days, Sophie begins to realize that Wolfe isn’t as odiously cynical a man as she’d originally thought. In fact, he’s kind of…sweet. And impossibly hot. But still, Sophie’s been hurt before and she has so much to lose. What she needs is one sure sign that she and Wolfe are meant to be together. Will Sophie and Wolfe get their Christmas miracle?

Review: This cute festive story was great to enjoy with a cup of coffee on a cold wintery afternoon. I actually drank a couple of cups whilst reading this and was a great way to take a break from everything else going right now!

This is a festive romance and whilst Sandhya Menon might be know for writing young adult novels, this novella is definitely for the adults amongst us. As you can tell from the cover it is cold outside for Sophie and Wolfe but there is definitely some heat going on inside that cabin. This was an interesting setting for a romance novella, I don't think I've read an awful lot set in and around Portland and so I enjoyed getting to know these characters. 

For such a short number of pager this novella really packs a lot in. We have a whole cast of characters, many of whom identify as trans or queer and then we have main characters Wolfe and Sophie. Wolfe is a book critic and Sophie is a romance writer, what could possibly go wrong when they end up possibly trapped together in a cabin? This hit some of my favourite romance tropes and I really enjoyed it. In terms of writing style, this one definitely starts off a little 'debut' in nature but hen we start having some easter eggs of and revisiting of previous information and it became really quite slick. 

I enjoyed this read an awful lot and highly recommend it for a little romantic escape right now!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Review: Meet me at Pebble Beach Part 4 (Seas the Day) by Bella Osborne

This is the fourth part in a brand new four-part serial from Bella Osborne. Make sure you read parts one, two and three first!

Regan has been busy trying to tick everything off her lottery wish list: she’s started her own business, helped a worthy cause, and even sorted out a new home – albeit a temporary one. But she still has a couple of items to check off – including get a hot new boyfriend, and she knows justwhere to find one… 

Will Regan and Charlie get their happy ending and sail off into the sunset – or does fate have other ideas?

Review: Oh this ending to the series was everything I hoped it would be and more. Things start to tie up, relationships become stronger, there is drama and heartbreak but there are also some ‘aww’ moments and some more adventures for Regan to go on. 

I feel like, not only have we now got to know Cleo a lot better than we did in the beginning (I now love her as a character, she needs her own spinoff) but this installment we get to see the hidden depths of Charlie and I love that he finally gets to expose himself a little more. Charlie has a bit of an up and down past and has an uncertain future and all that comes to the forefront in this installment. 

I also feel like we get a final step in the growth of lovely Regan in this book. She has finally found her stride and is now really settling into her life post lottery gate, she is where she needs to be and we finally get to see her heart come out. She really does care so much about others and it's great that she is able to show us how much in this episode!

Drama, drama, drama though. Oh my goodness so much drama! Things are revealed, other things happen and then you’re gasping, crying, laughing and crying again. I won’t say anymore because there are no spoilers here but… all the feels and all the action for part 4 of Pebble Beach! Really recommend this series, or the book as a whole and its great escape to Brighton with Regan too!

To order your copy now, just click here. 

If you need to order the rest of the series...

Part 1: Out of The Blue

My Review

Part 2: In Too Deep

My Review

Part 3: Sink or Swim

Bind up of all 4 parts!

Review: Sea Breezes at Brightwater Bay by Holly Hepburn (Brightwater Bay Part 2)

PART TWO in the brand new series from Holly Hepburn.

On paper, Merina Wilde has it all: a successful career writing the kind of romantic novels that make even the hardest hearts swoon, a perfect carousel of book launches and parties to keep her social life buzzing, and a childhood sweetheart who thinks she’s a goddess. But Merry has a secret: the magic has stopped flowing from her fingers. Try as she might, she can’t summon up the sparkle that makes her stories shine. And as her deadline whooshes by, her personal life falls apart too. Alex tells her he wants something other than the future she’d always imagined for them and Merry finds herself single for the first time since – well, ever.

Desperate to get her life back on track, Merry leaves London and escapes to the windswept Orkney Islands, locking herself away in a secluded clifftop cottage to try to heal her heart and rediscover her passion for writing. But can the beauty of the islands and the kindness of strangers help Merry to fool herself into believing in love again, if only long enough to finish her book? Or is it time for her to give up the career she’s always adored and find something new to set her soul alight?

Review: Oh just as I thought that Marry was getting her professional life back on track, now her personal life is all in a muddle. Whilst part one of this series was all about introducing us to these intriguing characters and our wonderful setting, part 2 takes us deeper into how all these characters connect together and what makes them tick. I really liked getting to know a little more about Merry. But i also enjoyed getting a little deeper involved with Magnus and Niall. I love this community and I am so glad that we get to be a part of it with Merry as our guide. 

I think my favourite thing about this new series though, has to be the setting. I have always wanted to go to Orkney and now I can in the pages of this book. I love the way everything is described and the detail that we get even though these installments are  only short. I feel like i can picture myself on the winding roads, smell the sea and feel the long grass on my calves. Everything is just so vivid and described in such beautiful detail I literally feel like I've just come back from a trip there to write this review. 

A whole chapter of this installment of the series is dedicated to a visit to Highland Park. Now whilst this may not be my favourite whisky, a visit to a distillery is always welcomed by me. Holly Hepburn is spot on with the details of the tour and I did have to pour myself a wee dram to read with the rest of the book after the way Merry enjoyed herself there. It was great to have this particular spot opened up to us as readers, I don't think I've read anything else that visits a distillery in quite such detail and as a whisky lover I really appreciated it. 

I just can't wait to read the rest of this series. I wish I didn't read the installments so quickly so I now have a long time to wait until the next one is out, but at the same time with a setting and characters like this, I just can't help myself. 

To order your copy of part 2, just click here!

If you missed part 1, click here to order it now...

Click here to pre-order part 3

Click here to pre-order part 4

Review: Meet Me At Pebble Beach Part 2 (In Too Deep) by Bella Osborne

This is the second part in a brand new four-part serial from Bella Osborne. Make sure you read Part One, Out of the Blue, first!

Spoilers for Part 1 Ahead...

With a little help from some new friends in her seaside community – including one very handsome fireman called Charlie – Regan realises that when you hit rock bottom, the only way is up! She decides to start living her best life and attempt to make the changes she would have made if shehad won the lottery – on a budget, of course.

Newly determined and armed with a list of ways to change her life, Regan works hard and things start looking up – but is she out of the deep end yet?

Review: Well things get a bit dark and twisty for poor Regan in this installment, we really get in much deeper into her storyline and her reasons for being. I like that we really got to know Regan as a character during part 1, out of the blue because that means we can move forward with the plot of the sotry in this installment and get to know ore about some of the side characters, namely Penny, Charlie and Kevin. 

I really like Penny as a character and I love the fact that we have a side character who is a little more diverse, Penny is gay and is also an entrepreneur who I feel will really give Regan some help and support over the course of this novel. I have enjoyed getting to know Charlie although I find him a little frustrating as a person. On paper he is a fireman who practices mindfulness and I love that about him but in reality he is still a bit of a mystery and I want to jump into the book and find out some more about him. I like that this book does put a focus on homelessness and the risks for people who are homeless physically and mentally and I've enjoyed getting to know Kevin through that and his dog Elivs. We definitely get deeper into Kevin's story in this part of the book. 

This installment drives the plot forwards in terms of Regan's bucket list and her life plans. She ticks off a couple of things on her list and takes steps towards having her own business. I really like the steps that she took towards this (no spoilers here) and I'll be really interested to see how this develops in future parts. There's also the potential to develop more side characters from her new business plan and I am looking forward to seeing where that goes. Chloe is an interesting side character and sub plot and I really hope we get to see and hear a bit more from her in future parts because I feel like she is important but we don't really know how she fits into Regan's life as much because she is such a distance away...

So part 2 of Pebble Beach definitely got darker, we got to know people more and we moved on with Regan's life plan. I am itching to find out what happens in part 3!

Click here to order your copy now!

Don't forget to pre-order the rest of the series...

Part 3: Sink or Swim

Part 4: Seas the Day

Bind up of all 4 parts!

Review: Meet Me at Pebble Beach Part One Out of the Blue by Bella Osborne

This is the first part in a brand new four-part serial from Bella Osborne.

When Regan’s lottery numbers unexpectedly come up on a rollover, she can’t believe her luck. Having spent the past few years coasting along in the slow lane of life, this is the break she’s been waiting for – and she wastes no time in making some big life decisions.

But Regan’s plans for a life of sipping cocktails on her own private island come crashing down when she discovers that the winning ticket was a bad prank – and she’s now jobless, boyfriendless, and homeless to boot.

When the going gets tough, can Regan stay afloat?

Review: Well this was an excellent way to kick off a series! This book wasn't what I was expecting but in a really good way... I mean everything that could go wrong for Regan really does and there are so many things hanging over her head it could make you weep, but it makes for excellent reading. 

Regan is quite an easy character to get to know and so sympathise with from the word go. I would HATE to have her as a co-worker or even a friends for that matter because I think all of her troubles would stress me out a bit and I know I wouldn't be able to tolerate her work ethic. But as someone to read about, she is perfect reading material and allowed me to escape all the chaos in the real world. 

I love the fact that this series looks like its going to be set in Brighton as well, it's been so long since I read a book set there and I can't wait to see what the town has in store for Regan and her friends. This opening installment of the series really does leave you wanting more and I can see that it is setting up for some trouble and hopefully some answers for Regan in the pages to come. I can't wait to read part 2!

Click here to order your copy now!

Don't forget to pre-order the rest of the series...

Part 2: In Too Deep

Part 3: Sink or Swim

Part 4: Seas the Day

Bind up of all 4 parts!

Review: Broken Hearts at Brightwater Bay by Holly Hepburn

PART ONE in the brand new series from Holly Hepburn.

On paper, Merina Wilde has it all: a successful career writing the kind of romantic novels that make even the hardest hearts swoon, a perfect carousel of book launches and parties to keep her social life buzzing, and a childhood sweetheart who thinks she’s a goddess. But Merry has a secret: the magic has stopped flowing from her fingers. Try as she might, she can’t summon up the sparkle that makes her stories shine. And as her deadline whooshes by, her personal life falls apart too. Alex tells her he wants something other than the future she’d always imagined for them and Merry finds herself single for the first time since – well, ever.

Desperate to get her life back on track, Merry leaves London and escapes to the windswept Orkney Islands, locking herself away in a secluded clifftop cottage to try to heal her heart and rediscover her passion for writing. But can the beauty of the islands and the kindness of strangers help Merry to fool herself into believing in love again, if only long enough to finish her book? Or is it time for her to give up the career she’s always adored and find something new to set her soul alight?

Review: A new series from Holly Hepburn set in Orkney? I am in heaven. I was eagerly anticipating this read hitting my kindle on release day (today) and did not disappoint, let me tell you. I loved meeting all the new characters, the new setting and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen with possible dramas and romances as this series progresses. 

Merry is such a great character to kick this series off with. She has had some trauma, that we find out all about in the prologue, and now she needs to get away from it all and get over her writers block to what better way to tackle that than fly far far away somewhere remote care of a wonderful library and librarian? I really loved spending time with Merry, She is very relatable and very open to possibility. She also has flaws which makes her easy to identify with. I can't wait to see how she grows as this series progresses. 

Then we have this epic new setting. I love that fact that way up there in Orkney we get such wonderful views and scenery as well as remoteness and the wild coast. I love that fact that this area is getting some love because there is such possibility in this part of the world and not enough people show it off in the pages of a book like Holly Hepburn is doing here. I'm looking forward to exploring the bay a little more as the weather improves and also getting to know the community and the library that lies therein. 

A whole cast of characters are introduced in this instalment and I am sure that there are plenty more to come and we continue with the series but I already recognise Sheila (and love her) and I am just so intrigued by Magnús and Niall. I can't wait to read more about them. 

This series is shaping up to be another winner from Holly Hepburn. I have all four books on pre-order so now all I have to do is wait with baited breath for the next in the series to hit my Kindle. 

To order your copy now, just click here.

To pre-order Sea Breezes at Brightwater Bay click here 

To pre-order Dangerous Tides at Brightwater Bay click here 

To pre-order Sunset Over Brightwater Bay click here 

Review: It Happened on Christmas Eve by Kirsty Greenwood

The top three reasons why I do not like Christmas are as follows:

1. It's super cheesy

2. Everyone drinks boiled red wine that tastes like air freshener and pretends they enjoy it

3. Last year the man I was in love with decided that Christmas Day was a perfectly decent time to reveal that he did not feel the same way about me 

So you can see why, on Christmas Eve, it's totally reasonable for me to just want to get home from work as soon as possible, close the curtains, eat my weight in noodles and watch horror movies until the whole thing is over. 

My boss, Marcy, has other ideas. Her son Adam broke his leg ice-skating and now she needs me to accompany him on his last minute Christmas errands around Notting Hill where we live. It wouldn't be half as bad if Adam wasn't the most irritatingly confident, annoyingly enthusiastic Christmas-giddy man I've ever encountered. And, well, a whole lot sexier than I expected he'd be... 

Review: A Christmas novella? To read during December? By one of my favourite authors? Yes please! This book is absolutely everything I could have wanted and more. 

If you love your Christmas tales more A Christmas Carol than Hallmark Christmas movie you're going to love this book, and there are plenty of Hallmark moments in this book, don't get me wrong, but I love the fact that the premise behind this one is coming to Christmas eve being soooo anti-Christmas. I like it because not everyone loves Christmas/gets as excited about it as I do and that's OK. It's great to see it reflected in a book and Phoebe makes for a great protagonist because of that. 

There is plenty of festive fun in this novel even though phoebe herself is very against the holiday, she has her reasons to be and that is absolutely fine, I love how strong minded she is and I love that she is determined in everything that she does. There are some fab Christmas movie quotes as well as just general awesome pop-culture references in this novella and I really think Phoebe and I would get along in real life!

We have to talk about the fact that this is a novella rather than a full length novel. I love the fact that it is so short because it is so hard to find time to actually sit down and read at this time of year and you really need books like this to come into your life that you can pick up and read just one or two chapters, they make you laugh, they make you feel a little warm and fuzzy and even just picking up a couple of chapters at a time mean that you can actually finish the book whilst it is still December. 

So thank you Kirsty Greenwood from bringing us a novella that is funny and has a great main character, is a great length and therefore is the perfect read to pick up this December. 

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

Review: Wildflower Park Part 4 (Rooting for You) by Bella Osborne

Escape to Wildflower Park with Part Four of a brand new four-part serial from bestselling author Bella Osborne.

Life’s not always a walk in the park…

When Anna is dumped by her fiancé, she moves in to her own place on the edge of the gorgeous Wildflower Park and pledges to stay off men and focus on her career, but a handsome new colleague seems to thwart her attempts at every turn. And when she receives an accidental text from a mystery man, could it be the new start she needs? Or someone she really shouldn't be falling for?

Anna’s neighbour Sophie is a stressed-out mum-of-two with a third on the way. Her husband is a constant frustration, and their children are a regular source of newly-invented swear words and unidentifiable sticky surfaces.

Luckily, Anna and Sophie have each other – and Wildflower Park proves to be a sanctuary as they map out a path to find the happiness they both deserve…

Review: Well it certainly all kicks off in the last part of this wonderful new series from Bella Osborne. I can't believe just how much stuff happens over the course of this short amount of reading. I was gripped every step of the way as I flew through the final dose of Wildflower park. This made for an excellent end to the series and will make for awesome final chapters when the entire novel comes out in June!

We left part 3 on a cliffhanger and so I knew things were going to get exciting for Sophie and Anna in part 4 but boy does everything happen to them. Its so hard to talk about things without giving any spoilers but we do know that Sophie is going to be having a baby at some point and we're going to find out what happens between her and husband Dave. We get to see if Anna decides to conquer some of her fears and how things pan out in the advancement of her career. We also get to find out which path her heart is going to take-all so exciting. 

I have to say there were some very tense moments in this novella.m There were moments where I feared for these women's safety and their were moments where I wanted to be able to jump in the book and give them some advice. You'll be pleased to know we get to hear from all of the supporting characters again in this instalment. Anna's parents appear, as does Maurice and of course Dave's mum Karen-wonderful!

I so enjoyed this and whether your are going to read all four parts separately when this part comes out or wait for the complete Wildflower Park novel, you're in for a treat. I have loved spending time with Sophie and Anna and definitely recommend this book/series. This would be a great addition to your summer TBR.

To order part 4 now, just click here.

Review: A Christmas Wedding by Paige Toon

The short story eBook sequel to Thirteen Weddings, from bestselling author Paige Toon. 

Four years ago, following that fated thirteenth wedding, Bronte fled the UK and has been happily burying her head in the sand ever since. But when an email lands in her inbox from Alex, it seems her past might be about to catch up with her right here in Sydney. Is it time for Bronte to finally face her demons?

With links to The Last Piece of My Heart, Lucy in the Sky and One Perfect Summer, this short story ebook sequel to Thirteen Weddings is a must for all fans of Paige Toon.

Get ready for Christmas with a heartwarming short story from Paige Toon.

Review: Oh wow, it was so great to catch up with characters from all of those books mentioned above again! Seriously, if you are a Paige Toon fan then this is a must-read for you. All of the characters that had cameos in this story had full on parts to play in the development of the story and we also got to find out what was going on with them, so although the main arc of the story is about Bronte, there are so many little extra min sub plots in here that really this is about all of your favourite characters. 

Although this is a novella and therefore a quick read, the books takes place over quite a long period of time and so, boy does a lot happen in a short amount of pages. This book is seriously action packed with plenty to keep you turning those pages and wanting to find out what is next for Bronte. Its so hard to properly evaluate the events and the characters in this novella without giving away any spoilers so apologies for being vague but seriously, it is jam-packed with action!

This book also has multiple settings, which I also appreciated! I enjoyed getting to travel around with Bronte a little, of course seeing other characters along the way helped too! One of my favourite things about Paige's novels is that sense of escapism and even though this is only a short read, you still get that with this novella-brilliant. 

I did find that sometimes I had forgotten the plots that some of the other characters had been involved in as they were brought into the book, but the fact that they all had a little catch up, a sort of 'where are they now?' type of reminder really helped so I wouldn't worry too much if you rad the other books mentioned in the blurb a while ago. If you haven't read the other books though, I would definitely recommend reading those first so that you won't be spoiled for them if you decide to go back to them after reading this novella. 

This was the perfect length for this time of year because we run of out time so quickly around the holidays. This is a great excuse to carve out some time for yourself and get away from the hectic food buying and eating and sit down and really enjoy, just like i did! 

Click the link to order your copy now: UK

Review: Snowy Nights at Castle Court by Holly Hepburn

Part one in the new series from bestselling author Holly Hepburn.

Sadie is a single mum, nursing a broken heart. Cat is burned out from working long hours as a chef. They decide to invest in their dream – running their own handmade biscuit shop in gorgeous Castle Court, a three-storey food court tucked away behind Chester's bustling streets.

They soon discover that Castle Court has its own community – a little haven of delight against the stresses of the outside world. But not everyone welcomes the new business; the patisserie owner is less than pleased by what she sees as direct competition and Greg, who runs the fancy bistro that dominates one end of the courtyard, doesn't think Sadie and Cat have the talent or business acumen to succeed. Luckily, there's support in the form of the delectable Jaren, who owns the Dutch waffle house opposite Smart Cookies, and Swiss chocolate-shop owner, Elin. And if all else fails, the friends can drown their sorrows in the cocktail bar that overlooks the court.

Review: This was the perfect start to this new series from Holly Hepburn. It was also great that this was released during a really busy time of year because it is short and so it means you can steal away from everything else going on around you and enjoy a full story without feeling guilty!

This instalment in the series was great for introducing the characters we are going to be spending the rest of the series with and also introducing the setting. I think the setting of this new series is going to be one of my favourites. The way it is described in the story makes it very easy to picture. I loved that it was set in Chester too, I can't remember reading another book set there and I'm glad its sightly further north than a lot of the books out there at the moment. It also makes for a very close knit community which I am sure is going to add some tension to future instalments in this series!

I loved meeting all the characters too of course. Cat and Sadie are great anchors for this story and I like the fact that we have two friends as the main characters as opposed to a couple or just one person on their own. The others characters in the court are all very interesting and I am sure we will unearth a few skeletons from their closet as the series progresses. They all seem very strong willed and so, as I am sure you can imagine, there have already been some tense moments, as well as some comedy misunderstandings. My favourite other characters so far are the guys who own the diner, they are great!

All in this was a great start to the series. I am glad that it has a wintry festive theme and as I have already mentioned, it was great to read at this time of year. I read this story in two sittings but it could definitely be read in one indulgent gulp. I can't wait for the next instalment to hit my Kindle now!

Click here to order your copy now: UK

Review: Christmas in St Ives by Miranda Dickinson

A wonderfully festive ebook short that will get you excited for the Christmas season, by the author of the bestselling Fairytale of New York.

Heartbroken Cerrie Austin is doing her best to hold it together in the run up to Christmas. Not easy when her cheating ex works in the same school and everyone’s eyes are on her. The last thing she needs is a new teacher meddling in her beloved nativity play, even if he is charming, handsome and a talented musician. The Christmas performance is her pride and joy, and she won’t be undermined.

Seren McArthur has recently returned to her Cornish hometown and is enjoying being close to her family and her oldest friends again. St Ives is at its most magical at Christmas, with fairy lights and tinsel in every shop window, tempting locals and holidaymakers alike as they pick up gifts. But an exciting opportunity is just around the corner: will she stay or will she go? 

Meanwhile, the St Ives Christmas celebrations are in crisis: plans for a giant lantern parade through the starlit streets have ground to a halt. As the snow starts to fall, can Cerrie, Seren and their friends Kieran and Aggie rally around in time to save the big day? 

Christmas in St Ives is a charming novella that introduces you to the characters from Miranda Dickinson’s upcoming novel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Available for preorder now! Just click the link: UK or US

Review: ok this was just the perfect start to the festive season for me. I am now ready to drink peppermint mochas, mulled wine and snowballs, watch all the christmas films and wrap my presents. And all this from one novella. I decided not to gobble up this festive offering in one go but to take it in slowly and savour it so I read it in 3 sittings. I really feel like i got to know the characters this way and I can't wait to meet them again in Somewhere Beyond the Sea in June 2018!

I think that Cerrie was my favourite character but that is because she is a kick-ass teacher and just a kick-ass woman in general. Miranda did such a good job writing about what it is like to be a teacher putting on a christmas production and got all the little important details spot on! I loved Aggie too and I know I would loved to visit her coffee hut after a long day at school as well. Of course I know we are going to find out more about Seren in Somewhere Beyond The Sea, and I really hope I get to see all of these characters get their happy endings in that book next year. 

This works really well as a novella because it is getting us ready for christmas, but also getting us ready for this novel next year. I love the fact that we have been introduced to these characters, we know some of their back story and their relationships to each other. But also we get to know about their lives and their town. It was great getting to know how the community works so we candice right in when the novel is out next year. 

The Christmas level in this novel is on high and it really does celebrate all the little things that we take for granted during the festive season. there isn't so much talk pop christmas trees, christmas dinner and the presents, but the events like the school play and the shop windows being dressed. `the first festive drink of the season and people breaking up from school for the holidays. I know these things are so important to me and reading about them made me feel so ready for the holidays. 

This book was a bargain and could definitely be a quick read if you decided to devour it all at once. Whether you are planning to read the follow up novel or not, I would definitely recommend picking this one up to get you in the festive mood and make you feel all warm and sparkly this winter!

Review: Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass

A companion volume to the bestselling The Selection series – extra stories and never-before-seen material. Fans should prepare to swoon!

The achingly romantic and stylish four The Selection enovellas – The Prince, The Guard, The Queen and The Favorite – together in one irresistible volume. Plus exclusive extra content – Art for each of the novellas, a new intro for each of the novellas and 3 brand new scenes from each of the first 3 novels.

Review: I really enjoyed being back in this world. Having read the five novels in the series back to back, I decided to take a break and came back to this one a month later, but immediately I started reading it, I was transported back to a royal kingdom with characters I knew and loved. I read a story a day and binged the bonus materials almost as soon as I opened the book and would really recommend reading it this way!

My favourite story of the four was The Queen, it gave great insight into the character of The Queen but it also gave me a great insight into the whole selection competition! The only one I wasn't as keen on was The Guard (I left it until last) but this wasn't because of the plot or the writing, it was just because I wasn't as big of a fan of Aspen throughout the books and although the author puts a forward about how this story will get you to see Aspen in a new light, I still wasn't sold on him-sorry!

One of my favourite things about this book was the illustrations. I loved the fact that there were drawings spread throughout the book, some before a short story and some throughout the novellas too. They really brought the stories to life and made me think back to when I was reading illustrated books when I was younger, bring back pictures in all books I say! I also really loved the 'Where are they now' section, although I had forgotten about a few of the characters mentioned!

Overall I really enjoyed this read and would love some more selection stories to tie in with the final two books, if that could be arranged please? I think I would recommend reading these in the order they were intended, so if you haven't started the selection series yet, grab yourself a copy of this to read alongside!

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