Guest Review: A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson

One part American sugar, two parts Irish spice. Cassie O'Hara is about to discover the recipe for the sweetest Christmas…

When New York-born Cassie O'Hara decides to use the money her sassy Irish nana Nora left in her will to book a month-long stay in a quaint country village, she's expecting a cozy cottage, steak-and-ale pie and plenty of Christmas cheer. Instead, she gets a draughty disaster covered in dust, a temperamental stray dog and two devastatingly handsome men vying for her attention…

There's Charles, the dashing English aristocrat with an enormous manor house and a heart of gold. And Ryan, a curly-haired Irish handyman with a past he won't talk about and an accent that makes her weak at the knees.

When Charles enlists Cassie's event-planning expertise to save his family estate, she finds herself working shoulder to shoulder with Ryan, breathing new life into Bancroft Manor. As village life weaves its spell, Cassie uncovers some intriguing secrets about Nana Nora's past. With her return ticket looming and her heart pulling her in unexpected directions, can Cassie find the love and belonging Nana Nora always wanted for her?

Review: I have been looking forward to reading this Christmas book from one of my favourite authors. She writes brilliant romantic comedies in wonderful settings. I just knew that once I started reading this one I wouldn’t want to put it down. It reminded me a little of the Christmas film the Holiday. I particularly liked this book’s cover, so striking in green, linking in with the Irish theme.

The heroine of the story is event planner Cassie O’Hara, who has decided to use the inheritance left to her by her beloved Irish grandmother to leave behind her native New York and spend Christmas in the UK. Searching online, she finds the perfect little cottage in a small English village where she pictures herself relaxing by the fire surrounded by Christmas spirit. The reality is quite different when she opens the door of the cottage to find dust and decay. Turning to find the village pub in the hope of a meal, she is intercepted by a small dog barring her way, but her fortunes improve when she is rescued from the whole situation by not one but two handsome men. The first is Irish handyman Ryan and the other is local landowner Charles, who offers her alternative accommodation in the local manor house that has been his family’s home for generations. While Ryan fixes up Cassie’s holiday cottage, she helps Charles with advice on activities that will bring in some income for his floundering estate. During Cassie’s stay, she also finds out some facts about her own family history. As time passes, she becomes attracted to both Ryan and Charles and they to her, but who will she choose or will she in fact return to New York?

What a marvellous Christmassy romance this was, filled with humorous situations and characters in an unusual setting. I loved the idea of the quaint English village that is so very Irish, filled as it is with families with Irish backgrounds. Cassie was a great character, so kind and helpful and not at all fazed by anything thrown at her. She has been unlucky in love in the past and then two lovely men are there before her - she certainly had a quandary. I loved the little stray dog who turned up mysteriously all over the place. The story was not all laughs. There were some serious issues dealt with and I was reduced to tears at times. I can thoroughly recommend this heartwarming Christmas book; charming setting, likeable characters and romance - what more could you want?

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October Wrap Up/Nonfiction November TBR 2024

OK, long time no post, I know. Can we just not mention that?

I DID actually read some books in the month of October and I'm pretty proud of that so I want to tell you about them and it has motivated me to want to read some books in November too so I hope you'll help cheer me on to finish at least one of those before the month is up!

Books I read in October 2024

Nonfiction books I want to read in November

Netgalley books I want to read in November

Let me know what you've been reading...

Guest Review: The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan

Will this Christmas finally bring comfort and joy?

A PAINFUL SECRET

Imogen loves her job as an events organiser, and her colleagues are in awe of her. But Imogen isn’t the person she pretends to be, and she’s hiding painful truths about her past. But as long as she can keep on top of her work, Imogen can put everything else to one side.

AN ACT OF KINDNESS

And then Imogen makes a catastrophic mistake at work, and finally realises it's time to reset. When her favourite client, Dorothy, invites her to spend Christmas with her and her family, in her cottage in the Cotswolds, it sounds like the perfect way for Imogen to take stock.

FINDING HAPPINESS AT CHRISTMAS

Imogen soon settles into idyllic cottage life, especially with the prospect of a new romance on the horizon … but when long-buried secrets and unwanted faces from the past resurface, Imogen’s new peace is threatened. Will Imogen end up alone this Christmas, or can she find it in her heart to forgive and move on?

Review: I always enjoy a Christmas book by Sarah Morgan. The reader is presented with all the essential elements of a story set at Christmas on top of the usual high quality narrative from this author. This book has a very attractive cover depicting a snowy country scene indicative of the setting for this story.

Individual chapters of this book are voiced by one of three female characters. Imogen is an events planner living in London. She is highly skilled at her job and works hard to provide clients with their often exacting requirements. She has had a difficult past and is hiding the reality of her life outside work from her colleagues by inventing a fictitious existence. However, it is becoming difficult to keep up the pretence. Dorothy, Imogen’s favourite client, lives on a large estate in the Cotswolds, where she looks after animals in need of a home. Sara is Dorothy’s daughter, who lives near her mother with her husband and two young daughters. When overstretched Imogen eventually makes a dreadful mistake at work, she is given leave from her job and is grateful when Dorothy offers her use of a luxurious cottage on the estate over the Christmas period. She is soon enjoying spending time with the family and with the handsome local vet, Miles. That is when a secret that Dorothy and Sara have been keeping from Imogen comes to light. The implications of what they have been hiding are enormous for Imogen and she is thankful for support from Miles. Can she forgive the others or will she go running back to her life in London?

This was such a good story, containing a wide range of elements that had me hooked from start to finish. There is drama throughout the book and so many secrets, including one massive one that had me gasping with its enormity. To balance out all the drama, there is a gentle romance, a family Christmas with all the trimmings, a beautiful setting and some well-developed characters. Imogen was such a workaholic that I feared for her health, especially with pressures put on her outside work as well. Thank goodness for Miles; he was just what she needed to get her through. Although Dorothy and Sara were both strong characters, I’m not sure that I liked the way in which they behaved. I think this is another triumph for Sarah Morgan and a festive book that would make a welcome addition to anybody’s Christmas stocking.

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Guest Review: A Recipe for Christmas by Jo Thomas

Take one woman longing for the perfect Christmas . . .

All Clara has ever wanted is Christmas surrounded by loved ones, full of warmth and delicious food. So when her new boyfriend asks her to move to Switzerland, she can't help but say yes! After all, what could be more perfect than Christmas in the Alps?

Add a dash of surprise

She quickly signs up for a tempting chocolate-making class, but it turns out to be chocolate-making bootcamp! And her boyfriend isn't all he seemed either . . .

And enjoy a magical festive treat!

Despite it all, Clara begins to make friends - including the aloof yet intriguing Gabriel. With all of the ingredients at her fingertips, will she finally be able to whisk up her Christmas dream?

Review; Jo Thomas is one of my go-to authors; I know when she releases a new book I am assured of a story that will have me transported to an interesting location while enjoying lots of lovely local dishes. For this year’s Christmas book, Jo is taking readers off to Switzerland. What could be more perfect than a festive trip to the snowy alps combined with lots of chocolate?

The story centres on chocolate-loving Clara, who has shocked her two best friends by announcing that she has left her position as HR manager and, what’s more, is moving to Switzerland with her very new boyfriend as he begins a new job there. Her plan is to enrol on a chocolate-making course that runs for six weeks up to Christmas. Clara has spent years celebrating Christmas on her own and is dreaming of a different experience this year with her boyfriend in their Swiss home surrounded by all the trappings of the season. The reality is somewhat different as neither the course nor the boyfriend is what she expected. However, Clara does her best to make the most of the situation. She finds friends amongst the others on the course and surprisingly becomes close to gruff tutor Gabriel. It looks as though that perfect family-style could be in her future after all.

I absolutely loved this book. It has so much going for it, with marvellous mountain scenery, a host of interesting characters, romance and a mouthwatering selection of food, with chocolate front and centre. Definitely a story for foodies and chocolate addicts, with a lovely Christmassy feel throughout. I feel as though I learnt a lot about the chocolate making processes. Even hot chocolate was very different from what we are used to drinking from our usual coffee shops. I loved the main characters in the story. Clara was somebody with great determination to turn her life around and I admired the way in which she fought to achieve her goals. She was slightly misguided in putting her faith in someone she had just met, but fortunately that worked out in the end. I was attracted to Gabriel right away, although he was a little moody at times. Thanks to the author for including a selection of recipes, sweet and savoury, at the end of the book; I might just give some a try.

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Guest Review: An Ideal Husband by Erica James

After a long and seemingly happy marriage, and a wonderful family Christmas, Louisa is stunned when husband Kip asks for a divorce on Boxing Day. He’d never seemed unhappy – and they’ve raised three children together.

For months, Kip has been secretly seeing a younger woman – and if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s the woman who broke their youngest son’s heart.

Now Kip is moving out and embarking on a new life with Zoe, and Louisa is left to pick up the pieces. Their beloved family home, Charity Cottage, is up for sale, and tensions are running high.

Yet, despite the betrayal and anger, when Louisa lays eyes on what might be a unique and welcoming new home, she feels a first glimmer of hope that life might be taking a turn for the better.

And while Louisa is making exciting plans, Kip finds himself facing challenges of his own and begins to learn that living the dream may not be as simple as he thought…

Review: As a fan of Erica James’s writing, I have been looking forward to the publication of her latest book. Her stories are always full of family drama and romance and I was intrigued to discover all about the husband in the title of this book. The first few paragraphs of the story quickly drew me into the drama that was about to unfold, and, once hooked, I finished the book all too soon.

The story focuses on Louisa and Kip, who are divorcing after almost forty years of marriage. Kip’s announcement that he wanted a divorce came as a shock to everyone, almost as much as the news that he was setting up home with his teenage son’s ex-girlfriend, Zoe. Louisa is further devastated that the lovely family home has to be sold, leaving her looking for somewhere else to live. Luckily, she is a strong woman with the support of her three children, and realises she must continue with the cards she has been dealt. While looking for a suitable home, she suddenly finds the perfect place to live where she can make a new beginning. Meanwhile, Kip is finding that his plans for the future may not play out as he hoped, as complications arise.

I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling story with all its twists and turns and recommend the book to everyone who enjoys a good family drama. It was full of surprise after surprise for the main characters and had me gasping out loud several times. Even by the end, I was not sure I liked Kip as a character; there was a certain amount of sympathy for all that befell him along the way, but did he deserve it? Louisa, on the other hand, was a warm, likeable character. She had such strength to pick up the pieces and get on with life. I absolutely loved the place she found to live after the family house was sold. I won’t go into detail and spoil the surprise, but I was jealous. Of course, the story is not all about Kip and Louisa; there is a lot going on with the other family members as well as they come to terms with the divorce and its ramifications as well as unconnected events in their lives. I think this book is another triumph for Erica James.

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Guest Review: Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe

A hidden secret

Live every day as if it were your last – that’s the motto Bess has lived by since her father died unexpectedly. As a critical care paramedic, Bess sees every day just how easily life can be taken away. But carefree living has risks, and as Bess’s debts mount, she discovers her actions could have terrible consequences…

An unexpected arrival

Nothing gives Gio more joy than his work saving lives in the fire service. And on the days when his call-outs put him in the path of the air ambulance, and one paramedic in particular, things are pretty perfect. Until Gio’s world is spun on its head, first by the arrival of his estranged mother on his doorstep, and then by an accident that could put his career on hold indefinitely.

A new beginning?

Gio and Bess have always worked well together, but could they be the solution to each other’s problems beyond the frontline as well? And will they let their guard down enough to give each other a chance before snow falls over Whistlestop River?

This is the second book in The Skylarks series from Helen Rolfe. Books in this series follow the lives of the crew of the air ambulance service based in the fictional Dorset town of Whistlestop River. Although there are characters common to both books, each can be read as a standalone.

This story focuses on Bess, critical care paramedic with the air ambulance crew, and her friend Gio, a local firefighter. Since the tragic death of her father, Bess has dealt with her grief by splashing out on luxuries and holidays. Now she is deep in debt and it’s spiralling out of control. Gio also has troubles, but of the family kind. His estranged alcoholic mother has turned up on his doorstep claiming that she’s ready to make a fresh start, but can he believe her, after all he’s heard it all before. On top of that, he’s badly injured in the line of duty and is worried that his injury may end the career he loves. Bess and Gio have known each other for a long time, but suddenly realise how close they have become. Should they risk their friendship by taking their relationship further?

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first in the series, once again it was full of friendship and love. It was fascinating learning more about the air ambulance service and how it works. It was also good to meet the crew members, ground staff and their families again. Both Bess and Gio are dedicated to their jobs and both have troubles that are sadly not uncommon. It was lovely to see how their families and friends rallied around to help. I especially loved the relationship between Bess and her mother. They were more like sisters than parent and child. I wasn’t too sure about Gio’s mother, but she grew on me. I’m hoping that there will be more books in this series as there are lots of other characters to explore.

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Guest Review: The Secret Orchard by Sharon Gosling

Bette and Nina Crowdie have never been close – the ten-year age difference doesn’t help, and Bette’s rarely been home since she left for university at eighteen. When their father passes away and unexpectedly splits the family farm between them, Nina is furious and afraid. She’s been working at the farm for the past five years. It’s the only home her young son, Barnaby, has ever had, and she’s convinced that Bette will sell at the first chance she gets.

When they discover the huge debt their father has been hiding, Bette reluctantly agrees to help her sister. But that means they have to find a way to work together, and Bette must face up to the real reason she left all those years ago.

Could a long-forgotten diary and the discovery of a secret orchard on their land help save the farm – and the sisters’ relationship?

I have been a fan of Sharon Gosling’s books since reading her debut adult novel. The Secret Orchard is her fourth adult fiction book and is set like some of the others in a small community in north-east Scotland. I liked the sound of the story, with a little bit of mystery and history combined with family affairs. I certainly found it an intriguing tale from the very start, the storyline keeping me coming back for more right up to the end.

The story centres on sisters Nina and Bette Crowdie, whose father has recently died, leaving the family farm shared between them. This has angered Nina, who has been living there with her young son and working the land alongside her father. Bette, on the other hand, left home many years ago and has been working as a successful lawyer in London, seldom returning home. When it becomes clear that the farm has been left in serious financial difficulties, the sisters must work together with the help of some close friends to save their family home. The discovery of an orchard on the land which seems to have an interesting history holds a possible lifeline for the farm. While the estranged sisters work together to establish their rights, it seems that their fractured relationship could just be healed.

I very much enjoyed this story with its cast of interesting characters, stunning setting on the sometimes wild Scottish coast and air of mystery surrounding the history of the orchard. Nina and Bette seemed initially very different, but as they worked through the problems left by their father and the discoveries linked to the orchard nobody knew about, problems from the past were gradually eaten away. I loved Nina’s son, Barnaby, whose sometimes amusing antics helped smooth the way for the sisters to find common ground. It was interesting, but also frustrating, to discover as the story progressed the real reason why Bette had left home in her teens. Although much of the story involves problems for the characters, I was pleased that there is also romance for the sisters along the way. This is a book that I would definitely recommend; with its combination of family and mystery, it should appeal to many readers.

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