Category: General Fiction

The French for Christmas by FIona Valpy

My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Paperback, Kindle, Nook and Kobo

Synopsis: Evie used to LOVE Christmas, but this year she can’t wait for the tinsel and presents to be a distant memory. 

When her best friends offer the use of their cottage in the beautiful French countryside, Evie jumps at the chance. With her soon-to-be-ex-husband, celebrity chef Will Brooke, plastered over the news with his latest ‘love interest’, leaving the country seems like the perfect plan. 

Armed with her French grandmother’s tattered notebook of recipes, Evie is determined to ignore Christmas altogether and bake herself back to happiness. 

And when Evie meets her next-door neighbour – the très gorgeous doctor Didier she finds a very willing taste-tester. But is it possible that he could be interested in more than just her Tarte Tatin?

My Review: I recently read on of Fiona’s other books The French for Love and really enjoyed it so was looking forward to reading this book. The main character Evie seems like such a sad and forlorn character in the beginning I wondered if life could ever look up for her. When her friends offer her their cottage in the rural countryside of France, Evie jumps at the chance to take some time out. Although it’s Christmas she wants to spend some time alone and recharge her batteries and try and get a fresh perspective on her life. 

Although the reasons for Evie’s sadness are extremely sad Fiona Valpy manages to make this book more about hope and survival rather than a ‘poor me’ kind of book. She also does a wonderful job of making the reader feel like they are right next to Evie as she takes in her new surroundings. Her neighbours in France are not quite what she was expecting but the introduction of Didier the local doctor, and the elder couple Mathieu and Eliane are a pleasant addition. 

In addition to the beautiful descriptions of this idyllic French house and area, we also get the mouth-watering descriptions of the beautiful food that Evie cooks. I did spend quite a bit of the time whilst reading this feeling extremely hungry! The story is a very happy and uplifting one which has the festive touches guaranteed to make for a wonderful Christmas read. It has everything you could want from a book for this time of year, all you need is the time to read it and a warm and cosy fire to sit in front of. 

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

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My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Hardback, Audio, Paperback (15.01.15), Kindle, Kobo and Nook

Synopsis: WHAT IF EVERYTHING YOU BELIEVED TURNED OUT TO BE A LIE? Riley MacPherson is returning to her childhood home in North Carolina. A place that holds cherished memories. While clearing out the house she finds a box of old newspaper articles – and a shocking family secret begins to unravel. Riley has spent her whole life believing that her older sister Lisa died tragically as a teenager.

But now she’s starting to uncover the truth: her life has been built on a foundation of lies, told by everyone she loved. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley tries to separate reality from fiction, her discoveries call into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Can she find the strength inside herself to decide her future.

My Review:  Riley MacPherson is the lead in this latest release from Diane Chamberlain. Riley is making her way back to North Carolina to sort out her father’s house shortly after he passes away. Whilst she is there she tries to communicate more with her elder brother Danny, who is practically a recluse. Having served and been severely injured in the war, Danny is a very difficult character to read. Riley’s elder sister Lisa is something of a taboo subject. All Riley grew up knowing was that her oldest sibling had committed suicide. However, when she starts organising things at her Dad’s house, she starts to realise that wasn’t the case.

Riley soon starts to uncover many secrets and the biggest one would be that her sister may still be alive. I wouldn’t say I instantly liked Riley, but her and her brother Danny were intriguing and made me want to read about them more. Like many others their family was a dysfunctional one and I wanted Danny and Riley to talk again. The story shows early on that there are many layers to the various stories and each one brings another emotional dilemma.

The really nice thing that I loved about this book was that nothing is ‘prettied up’, neither is it written without empathy. I really felt for the various situations Riley found herself in. There is also an extremely subtle thread of imminent danger to various characters which made the story that little bit more edgy. DC is also not afraid to touch on subjects that aren’t always easy to discuss, but does so with her beautiful writing skill in a way which is just perfect for the storyline. It was certainly a book that I didn’t want to put down that’s for sure. There was only one minor thing which threw it away from a 5 star read and that was the ending. Although I have since thought about it and I’m not sure any other ending would have fitted any better. I think the position Riley finds herself in the very end is just a sad ending maybe (I’m still not sure why I felt like that). Aside from that another wonderfully captivating read from Diane Chamberlain.

A Christmas To Remember by Jenny Hale

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My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Everyone loves Christmas – don’t they? 

Carrie Blake loves her job as a nanny but, while her friends are settling down, all of Carrie’s spare time is spent with other people’s families. Though it breaks her heart, her New Year’s resolution is to embark on a new career and fix her love life. As Carrie starts her last job, she’s sure she’ll be going out on a high – the house is amazing, the kids are adorable, and she’s in charge of decorating the tree!  The only problem could be her boss… single-dad, Adam Fletcher might be both handsome and successful, but he’s always working. Doesn’t he realise he’s missing out on precious moments with his son and daughter? As Adam’s family arrive for Christmas including his sensitive sister, Sharon, and his fun-loving elderly Grandpa, Walter, Carrie realises that she might just have found the perfect allies in her quest to persuade Adam to loosen up. There’s still time for Carrie to make this the best Christmas ever… after all, Christmas is the time for miracles, isn’t it?

My Review: I feel very torn with this book. On the one hand I loved it and it’s a true romantics dream. On the other hand there was one minor irritant which was the main characters constant referral to self-help books…grr.it drove me mad. That aside, I absolutely loved reading this book. Carrie Blake is going to a new job as a nanny. The Fletcher family are a strange bunch when she first gets there and she instantly feels like maybe she won’t fit in.

What follows is the fairy-tale type of story that I absolutely love reading about. Carrie wasn’t necessarily easy to like, due mainly to the constant feeling of insecurity. I think the character minus the reference to self-help books would have been a lot more likeable.  Adam Fletcher is a bit of a dark horse and seems to favour work over his children which Carrie just can’t work out. It seems before too long there is a lot more to the family than meets the eye.

I absolutely adored the rest of the Fletcher family, especially Adams parents, his sister Sharon and especially Grandpa Walter.  With an especially festive feel this is the absolute perfect stocking filler and would be a perfect gift. A thoroughly enjoyable read from an author I haven’t read before. I will certainly be looking out for more by Jenny Hale and would definitely recommend this to put on your Christmas to read list.

BLOG TOUR: The Stall Of Second Chances by Dana Bate

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My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Kindle, Paperback and Kobo (released 20.11.14), AKA A Second Bite at The Apple available on Nook (25.11.2014)

Synopsis: Sydney Strauss is obsessed with food.

Not just with eating it – though she loves that too – but with writing about it as an aspiring cookery reporter. But food journalism jobs are more coveted than cupcakes, and so Sydney is stuck working for one of TV’s biggest egomaniacs – until she’s left scrambling for shifts at the local farmers’ market.

Selling muffins at the Wild Yeast Bakery is hardly going to make her the next Nigella. But soon Sydney is writing the market’s weekly newsletter, and her quirky stories gain attention from a prominent food columnist. After years of being left on the shelf, she’s even dating again. And then Sydney gets a shot at the story, one that could either make her career or burn it to a cinder – along with her relationship and her reputation.

My Review: I really like the cover of this book and the synopsis sounds fun. Sydney Strauss is stuck working for an ego maniac and frankly it’s a million miles away from the job she envisaged herself doing back in her college days. Food is her real love and when she finds herself out of work she ends up with a job very far removed from her dream.

Instead of the dream of being a food journalist she ends up working at a farmers market for Wild Yeast Bakery. Sydney is a funny girl and she comes out with some hilarious one liners in a weird way because she isn’t outwardly trying to be funny. I also fell in love with her boss at the Farmers Market Rick. Her background and history is told to us in snippets and when an interesting man comes along I felt myself holding my breath and wondering what massive blunder Sydney would make next.

I picked this up with little expectation, and found myself thoroughly enthralled and loved the book. There were small things that annoyed me but nothing major enough to mention. I must say that this is perfect Chick Lit reading and all you need is a comfy sofa and a hot brew or glass of wine and you are all set. A highly enjoyable book, and an author I will definitely be looking out for in the future.

No-One Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday by Tracy Bloom

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My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Childhood sweethearts Matthew and Katy agree they must never see each other again following a school reunion.

So all is forgotten … until eight months later when a shock meeting at an antenatal class forces them to confront the fact that Matthew could be the father of Katy’s baby.

Love and life are messy, but Katy and Matthew take things to a whole new level as deep emotions begin to resurface and hormones run riot.

My Review: I’ve never read Tracy Bloom and the synopsis on this looked okay so I was hoping for a light hearted and funny read. I’m pleased to say that’s exactly what I got. Katy the lead character is pregnant and attending an antenatal class with her boyfriend Ben. When they arrive the bump into Katy’s childhood sweetheart Matthew and from that point on all hell breaks loose. I liked Katy the main female character but if I’m being 100% honest I actually preferred the boyfriend Ben. He was funny and childish and a fantastic character to read about along with his madcap and equally childish friends.

Matthew on the other hand grated on me from start to finish with his weak and pathetic manner, I just spent most of the time wanting to slap him. The story itself was quite funny and I enjoyed the book and read it in a day and a half. I would say this is the perfect beach read and is a perfect reason to sit and do nothing! I also want to mention the cover, although simple it’s really eye catching and I hope she sticks with this theme as the books look great. I have now made sure I have another Bloom on my Kindle for future reading and will certainly be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.

One Night In Italy by Lucy Diamond

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My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audio,

Synopsis: Is Italian really the language of love? A new class of students hopes to find out. Anna’s recently been told the father she’s never met is Italian. Now she’s baking focaccia, whipping up tiramisu and swotting up on her vocabulary, determined to make it to Italy so she can find him in person. Catherine’s husband has walked out on her, and she’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life. But she’ll need courage as well as friends when she discovers his deception runs even deeper than infidelity. Sophie’s the teacher of the class, who’d much rather be back in sunny Sorrento. She can’t wait to escape the tensions at home and go travelling again. But sometimes life – and love – can surprise you when you least expect it. As the evening class gets underway, friendships form and secrets from Italy begin to emerge. With love affairs blossoming in the most unlikely places, and hard decisions to face, it’s going to be a year that Anna, Catherine and Sophie will never forget.

My Review: Three women are the focus in this latest Lucy Diamond release. Catherine is the first and when her husband ups and leaves she feels like she is starting all over again. We also meet Anna who has recently discovered her father who she has never known is Italian, and then Sophie who has returned from her many years abroad to see her ill father. The three women will meet through the Italian language course they all decide to be a part of.

The three women’s stories are told individually and you really get to know each of them before they eventually meet. Anna and Sophie I instantly liked, but for some reason I wanted Catherine to grow a backbone and she annoyed me for the first few chapters. However, when she starts to make changes to her life I warmed up to her. Sophie was my favourite and I loved the way the reader gets to discover slowly why she left the UK, and why her relationship with her parents had gone so wrong. Anna was a funny and warm character and you couldn’t help but get swept along with her in her dream to find out about her Italian roots. 

The story flowed beautifully and I was transported into all of their lives and willing them to all get what they wanted out of their classes. In addition to the three main characters we also meet some of the characters at their class, and they definitely made the book complete in my eyes. Once again Lucy Diamond has managed to create a heart-warming story, which takes you away from reality for a few hours. I read this in just under 2 days and really enjoyed it. Certainly a recommended read, although ‘Summer With My Sister’ will always remain my absolute favourite!

What Might Have Been by Matt Dunn

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My Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: A year ago, Evan and Sarah shared one incredible night. Then Evan’s music—the thing that brought them together—suddenly tore them apart.

Since then, Evan’s not been able to forget about her. And try as she might, Sarah can’t seem to get over him either.

With time running out, Evan’s got one last chance to convince her that the two of them were meant to be. But is one night enough for Sarah to make a decision about the rest of her life—even if it was the best night of her life? And if she doesn’t believe in love at first sight, how can Evan persuade her that what they had will last?

My Review: I have liked some of Matt Dunn’s previous books but for some reason this book just left me feeling really impartial (I HATE that!). Evan and Sarah are the lead characters in this book and Evan is a pretty decent guy. He’s a musician who plays the saxophone and had his 10 minutes of fame back in the day. Sarah is an American who happens to stop by a jazz club and sees Evan play. It takes her back to her childhood when her father used to play the sax in clubs. What results is a reckless night together. However events after that one night mean they go their separate ways for a year.

Sarah in the beginning was a reasonably likeable character, however as the book progressed she just irritated me. Whilst Evan goes off to another country Sarah is left behind and her life inevitably changes. When Evan returns he just can’t stop thinking about Sarah and is determined to make Sarah see they are meant to be together. The writing was good as usual, and there is certainly nothing lacking in Matt Dunns ability to write a cracking story. For me though, the character Sarah got worse as the book progressed to the point where I couldn’t have cared less about her.

There are additional characters that make appearances such as Mel (didn’t get enough time in the book in my opinion) and David (who I also couldn’t stand). I read this to the end and it was certainly an easy read. But sadly, it just wasn’t as good as other books he has written. Maybe the character thing was just my issue, because normally I can really take to characters. However, this being one of the major factors for me made me mark it down. Sarah’s incessant whining and to-ing and fro-ing quite frankly gave me a headache. I will still look forward to Matt’s future work in the hope I will love the next set of characters he creates.

THE LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY BY JENNY COLGAN

My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: Polly Waterford is recovering from a toxic relationship. Unable to afford their flat, she has to move miles away from everyone, to a sleepy little seaside resort in Cornwall, where she lives alone above an abandoned shop.

And so Polly takes out her frustrations on her favourite hobby: making bread. But what was previously a weekend diversion suddenly becomes far more important as she pours her emotions into kneading and pounding the dough, and each loaf becomes better and better. With nuts and seeds, olives and chorizo, with local honey (courtesy of local bee keeper, Huckle), and with reserves of determination and creativity Polly never knew she had, she bakes and bakes and bakes . . . And people start to hear about it.

Sometimes, bread really is life . . . And Polly is about to reclaim hers.

My Review: OH MY! I have read most of Jenny Colgan’s books and am very fond of her Rosie Hopkins books. However, MOVE OVER Rosie because Polly is in town! I picked this book up and did not put it down until I managed to finish it later that day. I just fell in love again and again, and now I feel a little bit sad that Polly is gone. The only thing that perked me up was the idea of a re-visit in the form of Jenny Colgan’s release in February 2015 entitled summer at The Little Beach Street Bakery.

Polly Waterford is by far one of my favourite characters this year. She is without a doubt a gem of a woman who I literally cannot wait to read about next year. Polly is having a tough time and when her and her partners business fails she ups sticks and moves into a ramshackle flat which is basically an abandoned shop. The sleepy little town she is residing in is the furthest from what she is used to as you can get. It’s essentially an island that is isolated once the tides turn and the bridge to the mainland is inaccessible.

The way Jenny describes the place made me fall in love with it and immediately want to visit. While Polly is trying to recover from her past toxic relationship she realises that she has a whole new host of problems to deal with, such as a job, not knowing anybody and living in a place that is fit to be knocked down. However, Polly is not a pushover and her character from start to finish is just perfect. She is very sarcastic but funny with it and one of her relationships made me chuckle and it was with a bird!!!!

I don’t want to delve too much into the storyline as I don’t want to spoil it for anybody but trust me when I say this is a magical book and one which I read in one sitting. Jenny Colgan has won me over with Polly, and although Rosie remains one of my favourites she is beaten to the post by the brilliant Polly Waterford. If you haven’t read a Jenny Colgan, then what are you waiting for? A magical and reality escaping haven, it’s a book you should definitely have in your collection

The Christmas Party by Carole Matthews

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My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Hardcover, Paperback (23.10.14) Kindle, Kobo, Audio (01.11.14)

Synopsis: Louise Young is a devoted single mother whose only priority is providing for her daughter, Mia. Louise has a good job in a huge international corporation and she’s grateful for it. The only problem is her boss who can’t keep his hands to himself, but Louise can handle him. What she really doesn’t have time for is romance – until she meets the company’s rising star, Josh Wallace.

Louise usually says no to evenings out but she’s decided to let her hair down tonight. It’s the office Christmas party, she has a pretty dress to wear and she’s looking forward to some champagne and fun. She’s completely unaware that others around her are too busy playing dangerous games to enjoy the party – until she’s pulled into those games herself.

Romance is in the air and secrets are about to be uncovered. It’s going to be a night to remember at The Christmas Party.

My Review: Carole Matthews is the Volvo of the book world. You may not think they are the best thing out there, but they are solid, dependable and these days are looking pretty bloody snazzy if you ask me! Jokes aside I really mean what I say, Carole Matthews was one of the first authors I read religiously from my 20’s and she has rarely let me down as a reader. I have read EVERY single one of her books and just keeps delivering. Quite how authors such as her (and many others I know of) amaze me that they just keep on bringing you wonderful storylines and characters you just fall in love with. This latest release is absolutely no exception, and is based around a Christmas Party.

Louise is a single mum trying desperately hard to get along at her new job with Fossil Oil. However, her boss Tyler thinks nothing of making her life very difficult and as the Christmas Party approaches she wonders whether she can manage to keep her job whilst keeping Tyler firmly at arm’s length. The whole book only spans a few days but its absolutely brilliant how Carole has done it. We meet Tyler’s wife Kirsten, the man in charge of Fossil Oil Lance and his wife Melissa, all with their own issues.

The characters are wonderful and each one keeps you reading until the end. There is plenty of humour thrown in and the scene involving Louise and her boss Tyler in the Library is legendary. Although this book was set over a short time span it definitely worked and I enjoyed every page. Although this isn’t my favourite Matthews book (there are far too many to choose from) it’s certainly a great read and would make a fab Christmas Present. As usual I will look forward to her next one.

Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake by Sue Watson

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My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: For Tamsin Angel, Christmas is always the biggest and best… chic parties and a little showbiz sparkle are a must. This year though, things aren’t going quite as planned… 

With bailiffs suddenly at the door and her husband nowhere to be found, it looks like Christmas just got downsized. Moving into her sister’s one-bedroom flat, she wonders whether things will ever be the same again. 

After losing her husband on Christmas Eve, Sam Angel has rebuilt her life around her son Jacob and her new business – The White Angel Bakery. She’s also found herself a very handsome, loving boyfriend, but is struggling to let go of the past. 

Thrown together with a sprinkle of Christmas magic, Sam and Tamsin might just learn a little more about each other – and themselves. But when disaster strikes at the bakery, will they be able to save the day in time for Christmas? 

My Review: I was delighted that Sue Watson had produced a lovely Christmas book to get me through the next year until her next release. Thankfully this little baby could tide me over until then and FYI how lovely and Christmassy (that’s a real word you know) is the cover?! 

At 254 pages this felt a little bit too short for me but I forgive the wonderful Sue as the book was so enjoyable! I adored the two main characters of this story who are sisters from the get go! Sam Angel is the sensible sister, but having lost her husband on Christmas Eve she now dedicates her time to her Bakery and her son Jacob. Her elder sister Tamsin is living what appears to be the high life.

Although I loved both sisters Tamsin (also called Tammy) stole the limelight a little bit in my opinion. Tammy’s life is just about being seen at the right parties, with the right people and being the best at everything among the other women who are part of the ladies that lunch group. When Bailiffs arrive at her door everything in her life is taken from her in the blink of an eye and she literally has to start again! Tamsin in particular is a brilliant character, and one that you end up rooting for even though she makes some shocking decisions.

One thing Sue Watson has is this magical ability to create characters you connect with. In addition her humour is apparent throughout this, and every other book she writes. Some of the characters that she throws in the mix are hilarious and in this case it’s most definitely Mrs J. This book also manages to transport you into that very fluffy and warm and cosy Christmas that will soon be upon us. I can’t say this is my favourite as that is reserved for Love, Lies and Lemon Cake. All this book resulted in was me wanting to read what happens next for Tammy. A total tease until the next novel is released. Come on Sue, stop all that Social Networking malarkey and get writing woman!