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I’m Still Standing by Colleen Coleman

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Synopsis: When Evelyn Dooley married her high-school sweetheart, James, she thought she was set for life. Now she’s twenty-eight, single, and fleeing to Dublin from her hometown to avoid the gossip surrounding their break-up. And all because of a test-your-relationship board game.

This was not in her five-year plan.

Then a chance encounter with gorgeous musician Danny leads to an unlikely friendship, and soon the pair are running music nights together in one of the oldest pubs in Dublin. For the first time Evelyn is following her dreams rather than someone else’s – and sparks are beginning to fly between her and Danny…

But when her savings run out and home beckons, Evelyn has to choose. The safe, comfortable life she left behind, or a new adventure with Danny? Will Evelyn flee back to the familiarity of her ex, or reach for the stars and take a leap into the unknown?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “I’m Still Standing by Colleen Coleman”

I’m Still Standing by Colleen Coleman

This was not in her five-year plan.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Read more…

Kat’s Review: This author was recommended to me by the lovely Shell Baker and as she knows my taste I decided to buy it and give it a go and I’m so pleased I did. Evelyn Dooley is the star of this show and we start by seeing her and her husband James attending marriage counselling and it becomes pretty clear pretty quickly that it just isn’t working. What follows is Evelyn taking the ‘Bull by the horns’ and taking a huge chance and relocating to Dublin to live with her sister.

I liked Evelyn and you cannot help but want her to do well as it seems she is literally starting from scratch all over again. So she takes the plunge and tries to get herself a job as a teacher as that is all she has done since she left school. However, she quickly realises that School Teachers aren’t needed at that time and she becomes aware that she must get a job…any job!

Luckily for her she stumbles across a guy named Danny and a local pub and that is where the story really begins to take place. I also liked Danny, but I also liked Tara (Evelyn’s sister) and Ruby, the young granddaughter of Evelyn’s Landlady.The characters were definitely what made this story for me, so much so that I read it in just one day over 2 sittings. Having said that I did have one small gripe and that was that for some reason I felt that some parts of the story had the descriptive element missed out. To give you an example, Evelyn and Danny are talking in Danny’s room, but there had been no mention of his house, his room, where he lived prior to that…nada. Now I know that sounds like an odd criticism but there were a few occasions throughout the book where I felt there was a chapter or two missing (if that makes sense). That small critique aside it was a thoroughly enjoyable book and certainly an author I will be reading in the future.

One Christmas Kiss In Notting Hill by Mandy Baggot

Synopsis: Imagine the perfect Christmas Kiss…

His strong arms around her waist, her hands on his face, the snow slowly starts to fall…

It’s enough to make Isla Winters cringe! While her sister can’t get enough of this – increasingly common – sight on the streets of London, Isla’s too busy trying to stop Hannah’s wheelchair from slipping on the ice, and making sure she’s not too late to her dream job at Breekers International.

But everything changes with the arrival of Chase Bryan, fresh from the New York office. He’s eager to learn everything about Isla’s beloved Notting Hill, but as the nights get colder, will cosying up to him come at a price?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Read more…

Kat’s Review: I do love a good Mandy Baggot book and this one was no exception. A beautiful christmas themed cover and something to make me feel like the world is not as depressing as it really is sometimes!

Isla Winters is our leading lady along with her sister Hannah. Isla works for Breekers and when she is told she is the new CEO’s ‘go to girl’ on his visit to London she is not amused. She has a Christmas Party to finalise and the last thing she wants or needs is to become somebody’s ‘go to girl’. What she didn’t bank on was ChaseBryan being such a hottie! Although Isla and Chase are the main focus of the stroy the other characters in this latest Mandy Baggot book were just as important to me. Isla’s sister Hannah as well as Chae’s children Brooke and Maddie as well as Raj the postman. This was a whole host of characters all very different and all very likeable for various reasons.

Hannah at only 20 is in a wheelchair but the way this element of the storyline was written was so refreshing. Done with a dusting of humour and along with the loveable cockney Raj they made for a pairr I loved reading about. Isla struggles as the plans for the new Breekers projest could threaten her own life and she finds herself stuck bang in the middle of her worst nightmare. However, she does what she can until there comes a point when she needs to rely oon others and it ends up with some very funny results.

Once again Mandy Baggot has produced a wonderful Christmas themed book which was packed to the brim with wonderful characters, a great storyline and a sprinkling of humour. I read this in just two sittings and absolutely loved it. It seems ever time I pick up a Mandy Baggot book I am never dissapointed and this latest one is certainly just as amazing as some of her others. A wonderful read that would definitely make the perfect stocking filler!

Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher

Synopsis: When the love of your life says you’re not The One, who are you?

Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since the first week of university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they’re about to get engaged.

Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiancé and no future.

Lizzy is heartbroken – but through the tears, she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she’s been missing while playing Ian’s ideal ‘better half’.

But how much has Ian changed her, and who should she be without him?

Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before – and, in the meantime, have a little fun . . .

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Well I have to say this is a bit of a departure from the normal Giovanna Fletcher writing style but one that I absolutely loved. Lizzy has been with Ian since Uni and she has their whole lives planned out, even if it is only in her imagination. When they go on a trip to Dubai Lizzy is convinced that this is ‘it’. Instead she finds herself at the polar opposite of where she thought she would be and flies home a single woman. This throws her and she returns to her Mum’s house to lick her wounds and find out who she really is.

The reason I say this is a departure is that it doesn’t follow suit with some of her other fabulous books where everything is wrapped up neatly by the end. This isn’t about Lizzy finding the man of her dreams which will fix everything, it’s about her journey from being part of a couple to suddenly re-discovering what she likes to do and the things she wants from life.

All of the additional characters were brilliant in this book especially her friendship with her friend Connie. Then there is her very funny sister Michelle, her Mum and husband, her Dad and a whole fleet of other people who pass through. This truly was a fantastic read if only because I think it will resonate with so many people. It’s been written with humour and love throughout without the condescending tone that some books manage to spill out. It was a sheer joy to read and I loved every page of it. Although I absolutely loved her other type of books such as Billy & Me this really was a brilliant book. The icing on the cake was the ending where it’s not all wrapped up and the options for Lizzy are limitless, bravo Giovanna!

I Heart Forever by Lindsey Kelk (I Heart #7)

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Synopsis: Winter in Manhattan…and someone’s keeping a secret.

The day her husband Alex picks up a backpack and goes travelling, Angela Clark promises to stay out of trouble and keep both Louboutins on the ground.

So when her best friend’s boyfriend confides in her, it can’t hurt to help him pick out a ring at Tiffany’s surely?

And when her fashion magazine announces major changes, being terminally late and arguing with your boss isn’t that bad, is it?

Then suddenly there’s another big secret Angela’s got to keep – and the man she loves is still thousands of miles away. As the wedding of the year looms, and Manhattan switches on its Christmas lights, Angela is going to need her friends by her side as her old life looks set to change forever.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: It’s been far too long since I read a book in this series but it took me no time at all to get back into the swing of it with the loveable Angela Clarke. Angela is settled in New York and seems to have it all now, but as loyal readers will know everything Angela does is NEVER easy. This time around her husband Alex is on travels to Asia and Angela is left in New York which would be fine…until she discovers a secret. I know as one of those loyal readers that secrets and Angela don’t mix very well. IN fact is almost always a recipe for disaster and this latest book is no different.

What makes this series so special is not only Angela herself but the characters we have met along her journey such as Jenny Lopez her best friend. These two are a match made in heaven and some of the things they get up to had me roaring with laughter. In addition Angela has issues at work where she is Editor of Gloss magazine. With Alex away travelling we don’t actually see too much of him but in all honesty this book was all about Angela and Jenny and it just worked.

I’m fearful of saying anything else about the storyline, because it really will be a spoiler for those that haven’t read it yet. Suffice to say that I absolutely loved this book and feel like I have severely missed out having not read any Kelk books for some time! I have seen other readers and reviewers say this may be the end of the series. I can’t say I have seen that anywhere but will be truly gutted if that’s the case. Besides the ending is left open for a corker of a next book if that’s not the case. This truly was a joy to read and I will be moving my unread Kelk stand alone books firmly up my to read list.

Ladies Who Launch by Milly Johnson (Short Story)

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Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: So the follow up from the Short Story Here Come The Boys is this one and it’s a perfect continuation and wrap up of both Angie and Selina’s story. Angie and Selina are now firm friends following their years of not speaking after their school days. Their last trip resulted in Seina making the brave decision to leave her husband and it made Angie see what she had waiting for her at home!

This book seemed a little shorter than the last and I literaly read it in about 10 minutes. I think this would have been better being added on to the last short story. Unfortunately about 40% of this was the short story and the rest is extracts from another MJ book. Couldn’t helpp being a little bit dissapointed but am hoping we return with a full length book at some point to see how Angie and Selina are getting on.

Here Come The Boys by Milly Johnson (Short Story)

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Synopsis: Angie Silverton and her husband are taking a much-needed holiday on the cruise ship Mermaidia, so the last person she hopes to bump into is her one-time best friend Selina who stole the love of her life and married him twenty years ago.

And what she needs even less is to be marooned in Malaga with Selina when both of them manage to miss boarding the ship in port.

It will take three days for them to travel across Europe to catch up with the ship again in Croatia. And in the company of each other twenty-four/seven, a lot of old baggage is going to be unloaded.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: Considering I don’t read short stories this is the second of Milly Johnson’s I’ve read in the same amount of weeks:-) Angie and her very loveable husband Gil are taking their very first trip aboard a cruise ship. From the moment they start their journey on the coach they realise this will be very different to what they are used to. No sooner have they arrived do they start to meet some onboard friends all of whom had their own part to play in this story.

Both Angie and Gil are such likeable charaters however when Gill is suffering from sea sickness when they dock in Malaga, Angie decides to do some shopping on her own. What she didn’t bank of was not making the ship in time and being stranded. Not only that she ends up being stranded with her ex-best friend who went off and married the man she was supposed to end up with.

This story was a delight to read and as soon as I had finished I checked out whether there was a continuation of sorts andd sure enough the short story named ‘Ladies Who Launch’ appeared and hey Presto, my next Milly Johnson arrived on my Kindle. It’s been far too long since I read this lady’s books it certainly put me back in that zone! A great short read…

Blog Tour: A Cosy Candelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant

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Synopsis: It’s the week before Christmas and Isla McCoy has just received an unexpected gift: a letter announcing she is due a life-changing inheritance, but only if she’s willing to make amends with the father who abandoned her.

She has absolutely no intention of forgiving him, but who could resist an all-expenses-paid trip to the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville?

There she meets smooth-talking Justin and nerdy glaciologist Sebastian; two very different men, with two very different agendas. Torn between her head and her heart, Isla finds herself utterly lost in a winter wonderland of her own feelings.

Surrounded by twinkling candles and roaring log-fires, Isla’s resolve finally begins to melt. But will she learn how to reconnect, not only with a whole new family, but with herself and her heart?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I really enjoyed the last book by Tilly featuring Isla’s friend Dodie. However I wanted to get stuck in with this book as I was curious about her best friend Isla. This book moves on to the same time period as Dodie, but we get to catch up with what Isla has done. Isla has had a strange phone call saying that her Grandmother she never knew has left her something in her will. However, that means visiting the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville and seeing the Father who walked out on her and her Mum when she was a girl. <blog_break>

As Isla arrives in the resort she has no idea but upon meeting Dahlia the owner of the place she is staying, and geeky but loveable Glaciologist Sebastian things seem to take a turn for the better. I absolutely adored Sebastian and although Isla is quite prickly and defensive you could tell that she was thawing to both him and the lovely Dahlia that owns the hotel. Tilly does a cracking job describing this beautiful place and it was easy to fall in love with it all as you read.

There are certainly some hairy moments as Isla faces her fears and meets not only the Father she doesn’t know but the new step mother and half siblings. There are a couple of curveballs going on and you get the feeling that all is not as it seems on the surface. However, Isla doesn’t suffer fools gladly and you can see her battling to do the right thing. What I did love was that the process wasn’t shown to be easy. If she would have met her Dad and everything was instantly wonderful it wouldn’t have had the same impact.

I read this book in just two sittings and absolutely loved it. As much as I enjoyed reading about Dodie in book 1, geeky Seb and stern Isla stole the show and this book was definitely my favourite of the 2. A wonderful book and a perfect Christmas present!

No One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day by Tracy Bloom

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Synopsis: Katy’s been stuck in the office away from her family so she wants it all: snow (fake or real), the Michael Bublé Christmas album, whatever it takes.

There’s only one thing missing as far as her husband Ben is concerned: another baby to complete their family. But Katy isn’t so sure she’s ready yet…

Ben may be playing the role of Master Elf in the pre-school nativity but he is struggling to master his own family life. With romantically-challenged friends, an ex who refuses to go away and Katy’s mum’s 64-year-old toy boy thrown into the mix, Christmas looks like it could be going off the rails… Never mind family planning, can Katy and Ben even plan to make it to the end of Christmas Day?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I have really enjoyed some of Tracy Bloom’s books and especially since I read the previous book featuring Katy and Ben I was keen to see what had happened to them. Even if you haven’t read that book you can certainly read this as a stand alone, but I found it so much more enjoyable to go back and see where they had got to.

Following on from the last books debacle, Katy is now living in her little house with Ben and their daughter Milly. All Ben seems to want is another baby to complete their little family, however Katy doesn’t know what she wasnts. To add to her woes, when her Mum skypes her to tell her that she had left Katy’s father and found herself a toyboy AND that she was bringing him over for Christmas she doesn’t know what to think. We also see a lot of Braindead who is Ben’s closest pal and as the name suggests not the brightest spark at times.

The other characters are Matthew and Allison who are expecting baby number four. Matthew is Katy’s ex which makes for a more complicated story than usual. Allison seems to have an ovedoes of hormones making her slight dillusional at times but to be fair also make for some amusing elements of the story.

This story had some very funny moments in it, and also some slightly chatoic crazy moments in it, but overall was another fantastic read. Tracy Bloom has certainly written a very amusing and entertaining story with characters that you can’t help but laugh at. It may not be everybody’s cup of tea but it certainly put a smile on my face. I would definitely recommend this as an easy to read book that will certainly make you laugh. Can’t wait for the next TB book.

The Barn on Half Moon Hill by Milly Johnson (Short Story)

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Synopsis: Cariad Williams has been writing to Franco Mezzaluna since they were kids. But he has never written back. And now he has become a famous film star. What’s more, he is due to visit Winterworld, the Christmas theme park where Cariad works. The only problem is that she has boasted to her friends that he is her boyfriend and now everyone will find out about her lie…
An exclusive short story from Milly Johnson to raise funds for the Care for Claire charity.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I’m not that much of a fan of short stories as no sooner have I got into the story it’s finishing. However with this book being part of a charity to raise funds for the Car for Claire Charity I figured it was a good enough reason to read it.

As usual Milly Johnson manages to createe characters I like instantly and Cariad is no different. A lady that spent years writing to Franco Mezzaluna her childhood friend. The only problem is he has never written back and has now become a famous film star.

With the imminent arrival of Franco to the town where Cariad lives her tension mounts and she has no idea what to expect. A lovely short story with a lovely ending albeit a story I could have continued reading about as I would have loved to have known what happened next for all the characters involved. Although short stories aren’t really my thing this was for a great cause and Milly’s writing does just the thing and this 80 page treat was perfect to cheer me up one lunch break!