Book Review - Christmas Kisses on Hollywell Hill by Jackie Ladbury

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Amazon UK

Title: Christmas Kisses on Hollywell Hill

Author: Jackie Ladbury

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Fabrian Books

Publication Date: 16th November 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Christmas is coming and actress Kirsty Castille seems doomed to play the front part of Nag, the Christmas pantomime horse, when a surprise audition lands her the lead role as Maria in the Sound of Music.
Even better she bonds with a handsome chef over a piece of squid at her local supermarket, although sadly romance is the last thing on Jake Levy's mind.
He has a Christmas deadline, an ex-wife to mourn and lots of emotional baggage to drag around. He certainly doesn’t have time for romance and even if he did he wouldn’t fall for someone like Kirsty who craves the limelight: been there, done that.
A misunderstanding leads Jake to offer Kirsty a job in his new restaurant and she takes it purely to convince him that she’s the girl of his dreams.
Her charm offensive begins to work but while he’s cooking up a storm she’s secretly sparkling under the spotlight – until her cover is busted.
The fallout is catastrophic, but as they say in Luvvie Land, the show must go on, even if Kirsty is terrified that she's taken her last curtain call and ruined her chance for love.
Read on and immerse yourself in this delightful winter romance as the snow starts to fall and Christmas day becomes a magical reality.

I really enjoyed reading Christmas Kisses on Hollywell Hill.  

From Kirsty's innate quirkiness and ability to cause me to giggle in many scenes, to Jake's obvious love and knowledge of food, this was just an enjoyable story. 

Although set at Christmas time,  which certainly explains why Kirsty had roles as a dancing turkey, the front end of a horse,  and a wicked witch, and why there were mentions of dancing Christmas puddings, I didn't really feel as though it was what i wanted from a festive story.   

That's not to say that it's not a good book, it truly is just more that I didn't feel remotely Christmassy as a result of reading it and that the time of year felt as though it was there to add a bit of character but could have possibly worked no matter when in the year it was.  It does though mean you could probably easily read this at any time of the year, and not feel the Christmas spirit too early! 

I adored all the food descriptions, really did make me hungry read it. I also enjoyed seeing Kirsty's attempts to be a real actress instead of just a person with a funny costume doing promotional work!  There was loads of make you smile in this story and I loved all the interactions between Kirsty and Jake even if at times I thought banging their heads together and making them realise the obvious would be a lot more satisfying!! 

It really is a delightful book, and one that kept my on my toes, especially with Kirsty's more whimsical nature.  I loved her hair colours, her seemingly random trivia, her best friend,  the way she dealt with her ex boyfriend, although the continual mentions of how broke she was, did drive me slightly demented and felt a bit repetitive.   I got it she is a poor struggling actress! 

The initial meeting between Jake and Kirsty is pure gold!! It's fabulous and it really does set the tone for what is a really entertaining book. 

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - A Lake in Switzerland by Melinda Huber - Bookish World Cup - Switzerland

Amazon UK

Title: A Lake In Switzerland

Author: Melinda Huber

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Fabrian Books

Publication Date: 27th February 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Stacy can’t believe her luck when her best friend Emily invites her on a holiday to Switzerland.
She arrives at the Lakeside Hotel with high hopes, but the problems begin straightaway. Emily’s recent injury doesn’t let her do much, and something is wrong at the hotel. Where are all the guests? Why is the owner’s son so bad-tempered? And then there’s the odd behaviour of Stacy’s fiancé, back home. It’s hard to enjoy the scenery with all this going on…

By the last day of the holiday, Stacy knows her life will never be the same again – but the end of the week is just the beginning of the Lakeside adventure.

A really lovely feed good novella with a stunning back drop of a lake in Switzerland. 

Two friends, Stacy and Emily are staying at the Lakeside hotel for a week of relaxation and recuperation, and it turns into a rather life changing staay for them both. 

I loved the various day trips / outing the friends did around Switzerland and on once occasion Germany and Austria too since they are close to the borders.  Was great to get a bit of insight into some of the perhaps less known areas of Switzerland. 

There are romantic elements too, to this story especially for Emily, as Stacy has a fiance who I didn't think that highly of.  We also get to know Rico rather well, with sections from his perspective of what he should do about the hotel's future. 

An excellent debut rom-com from Melinda Huber and I'm already wondering if I have time to fit in another trip to Switzerland to fit in the second book. 

Guest Post - Living the Dream in… Switzerland by Linda Huber - Bookish World Cup - Switzerland

The Santis

Several decades ago, I was a young physiotherapist, working in a big Glasgow hospital. And I had a dream. I wanted to spend a year working somewhere in Europe, travel around a bit, maybe even become proficient in another language. The Physiotherapy journal always had job ads in the back… should I apply for one in France? Germany? No, Switzerland was bang in the middle of Europe, I’d try there first. So I did, and one foggy January night I left Glasgow Central Station, en route for snowy Switzerland.

Long story short, I’m still here. Why? Quite simply, it’s the best place ever. I love Scotland, but Switzerland has become home. Mountain scenery, beautiful lakes, fresh air, stability – there’s nothing not to like. Okay, we don’t have an ocean anywhere nearby. Although the lake just metres from my balcony is gorgeous, it’s not quite the same. But that’s a small price to pay for everything else.

Bernese Oberland

Over the years I’ve been to all the typical tourist places – the Matterhorn, Zermatt, St Moritz, Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland, as well as Salzburg, Vienna, Milan – I could go on and on. As a child I devoured the Chalet School books, and I’ve often felt I was taking part in one of the excursions the schoolgirls used to love!

Lake Constance

It hasn’t all been plain sailing. We lost my husband at a young age, and my boys and I had to pull together. Home nowadays is a little town in the top right-hand corner of Switzerland, on the banks of lovely Lake Constance. On a clear day, I can see across the lake to Germany, and another window shows the mountains in Austria, snowy in the distance. You don’t get much more Central Europe than that. I feel very privileged.  

In spite of all this, up until this year, none of my books have been set in my adopted country. People kept asking, ‘Why don’t you set one in Switzerland?’, but somehow, psychological suspense came more easily to me when my characters were roaming around in the UK. Then I had an idea – I’d write a couple of novellas, short feel-good pieces of fiction set right here on Lake Constance.

Rhine Falls

In the first, A Lake in Switzerland, my characters Stacy and Emily visit not only the lakeside resorts, but also the Rhine Falls and the summit of our local mountain, the Säntis. (In between times, they try to sort out their problems, with varying degrees of success…)

Lake Lugano

In A Spa in Switzerland, they take a fateful weekend trip to Lake Lugano, in the Italian-speaking part in the south.

I’m having huge fun with my novellas, and I have all my memories of trips to these places to help me. It’s making me want to visit them all again… And if anyone reading this has a dream – go for it. It could change your life!

Just how pretty does Switzerland sound. You are incredibly lucky to be living in Switzerland and thank you so much for this post. 

Linda Huber bio

Linda grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, but went to work in Switzerland for a year aged twenty-two, and has lived there ever since. Her day jobs have included working as a physiotherapist in hospitals and schools for handicapped children, and teaching English in a medieval castle. Not to mention several years being a full-time mum to two boys and a rescue dog.

Linda’s writing career began in the nineties, and since then she’s had over fifty short stories and articles published, as well as seven psychological suspense novels. Her latest project is a series of feel-good novellas written under her pen name, Melinda Huber.

After spending large chunks of the current decade moving house, she has now settled in a beautiful flat on the banks of Lake Constance in north-east Switzerland, where she’s working on another suspense novel.

Find out more about Linda here:

Amazon Author Page: viewAuthor.at/LindaHuber

A Lake in Switzerland universal link: getBook.at/ALIS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlindahuber

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaHuber19

website: http://lindahuber.net/

Book Review - Air Guitar and Caviar by Jackie Ladbury - #HolidayReading Book 13

Book 13 of 30 that I read on my holiday to Fuerteventura in December 2017

Amazon UK

Title: Air Guitar and Caviar

Author: Jackie Ladbury

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Fabrian Books

Publication Date: 2nd February 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Busker Dylan spends his days pulling pints in the local pub and singing on the high street, waiting for fame to call. That suits him fine, until beautiful, but frosty air stewardess Scarlett tosses some coins into his hat but ignores his killer smile and his offer of pizza. 

He sets out to make her fall in love with him but Scarlett isn’t in the right frame of mind to date anyone let alone a penniless, if charming, busker boy.

Dylan's desperate for his big break, but will it bring him the happiness he longs for? And with Scarlett's past threatening to ruin her future, will Dylan be left to make sweet music all on his own?

Best-selling author Chris Manby says, "I love Jackie Ladbury’s warm, engaging and amusing characters so Air Guitar and Caviar promises to be a real treat." 

Amusing will they, won't they romance that will have you flying by the seat of your pants. 

Absolutely loved Dylan's character, he is the typical cheeky chappy, regular busker on the street with dreams of stardom, who happens to fall for Scarlett before hes even met her properly. 

Scarlett is an air hostess, who is determined that she shouldn't be dating, much less someone who on their first meeting uses an incredibly corny chat up line. 

I really enjoyed the interactions between Dylan and Scarlett, and really wasn't sure how the book was going to turn out, despite a sneaking suspicion. 

A very enjoyable debut novel from Jackie Ladbury that will have you smiling!

Thank you to Jackie Ladbury for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Magic of Stars by Jackie Ladbury

Amazon UK

Title: The Magic of Stars

Author: Jackie Ladbury

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Fabrian Books

Publication Date: 12th January 2018

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sapphire Montrose always felt like a loser in the struggle of life, but when she becomes the airline manager of a run-down airline she starts to believe she is a winner – until she unwittingly propositions her new boss and all her hard work is undone.

In a moment of recklessness air stewardess, Sapphire Montrose throws caution and her dress to the wind by propositioning a handsome stranger in a hotel in Florence, only to find herself waking up alone and embarrassed in her hotel room.

Unfortunately for Sapphire, it turns out that her new boss, Marco Cavarelli, is the man she failed to seduce and she is now fighting for her job and her self-respect when he tells her there is no place in his revamped airline for an alcoholic woman with lascivious tendencies. To make matters worse she is increasingly attracted to him and he seems to be giving out the same vibes. Or is he simply testing her? One wrong move could be the end of her career. But what if he really is offering love – and is he worth the risk?

Having recently read Jackie Ladbury's first book, I jumped at the chance to read the next one, and what a lovely story this one is too.  I was drawn into the story from the first few chapters that were hilarious, but relatable to at the same time, and from then on I was just rooting for Sapphire to have a happy ending. 

Sapphire is a rather innocent, naive person in some respects but in others she is absolutely fabulous, and incredibly good at her job as an air stewardess, although as you read further you will discover she has hidden talents. 

It seems like the bane of her life is sexy Italian Marco Cavarelli, a man she drunkenly propositioned and then a few chapters later discovers is her new boss at the airline,  and from there sparks fly between them, and not necessarily in a good way. 

I love the way Jackie Ladbury creates such rounded, realistic characters, that feel like they could be good friends with you. Fintan, Sapphire's friend and colleague is hilarious and I was laughing a fair amount of his antics.  

The other thing I'm realising this author does incredibly well, is dialogue, I loved the conversations between Marco and Sapphire, especially when the reader has more likely more idea of what is going on than Sapphire a lot of the time. 

As you may hope there is a grand romantic gesture towards the end that I absolutely loved seeing, and guessed only a few pages before hand, that almost made me go weak at the knees.

My only disappointment with the book, is despite its absolutely gorgeous cover, was how little Florence was featured as the majority of the book takes place in the UK. I understand it makes for a much more striking cover, and the Florence scenes were pivotal to story, I just wish I had seen a bit more of the city and its food, as I'm a huge lover of anything Italian in fiction! 

Besides that I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover, and kept wanting to return to it even when I was meant to be working. It made me smile and I am positive this is an author who is going to go from strength to strength. 

Thanks to Jackie Ladbury for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Cover Reveal - The Magic of Stars by Jackie Ladbury

I am so excited that Jackie Ladbury asked me to organise her cover reveal in my other guise of Rachel's Random Resources and once I saw the cover I knew I had to share it with you all, as well as getting other bloggers involved.

So please take a look enjoy the cover, and then help make Jackie Ladbury have a fabulous publication day for The Magic of Stars which is also today, by purchasing her book or sharing mine or all the other cover reveal posts on social media today!

Sapphire Montrose always felt like a loser in the struggle of life, but when she becomes the airline manager of a run-down airline she starts to believe she is a winner – until she unwittingly propositions her new boss and all her hard work is undone.

In a moment of recklessness air stewardess, Sapphire Montrose throws caution and her dress to the wind by propositioning a handsome stranger in a hotel in Florence, only to find herself waking up alone and embarrassed in her hotel room.

Unfortunately for Sapphire, it turns out that her new boss, Marco Cavarelli, is the man she failed to seduce and she is now fighting for her job and her self-respect when he tells her there is no place in his revamped airline for an alcoholic woman with lascivious tendencies. To make matters worse she is increasingly attracted to him and he seems to be giving out the same vibes. Or is he simply testing her? One wrong move could be the end of her career. But what if he really is offering love – and is he worth the risk?

Purchase from Amazon UK  

Isn't this just a simply stunning cover? I know I will be making sure to read it when I get a spare moment, as I do love a book featuring Italy! What do you think?

About Jackie Ladbury

​

Jackie Ladbury was desperate to become a journalist when she left school but was ousted within minutes on the day of the exam at her local rag because she'd forgotten to bring a pen.

Short and sharp lesson learned.

Her budding writing career was not on hold for long, though, as Jackie found herself scribbling love stories of pilots and 'hosties' while she flew in aeroplanes of various shapes and sizes as a flight attendant herself.

Fast forward a good few years and, after being short-listed in a couple of prestigious romantic writing competitions, Jackie decided it was time to discard her stilettos, say goodbye to the skies and concentrate on writing romantic novels, where the only given is a guaranteed 'happy ever after.'

Social Media Links –

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jackie.ladbury

Website - https://jackieladbury.com/

The Write Romantics -  https://thewriteromantics.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/JackieLadbury

Fab Firsts - Q&A With Sharon Booth

Fab Firsts is my new regular Sunday feature, that is going to be highlighting books that are firsts. When interviewing authors, it will be about their first book, as well as other firsts in their lives. When reviewing books for this feature, there will be a mix of debuts, first books in a series, the first time I read an author, and possibly other firsts depending on what I can think of!

If you are an author wanting to take part in Fab Firsts then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you.

I hope you enjoy this look at a variety of hopefully fabulous firsts, while making some sort of dent in my review and paperback TBRs which are my current main focus!

Thank you, Rachel, for having me on your blog. I write contemporary romance with a good sprinkling of humour—"fun-filled fiction with heart". I live in East Yorkshire with my husband and our German Shepherd dog, Tessa. I'm one tenth of blogging group, The Write Romantics, and a full member of the Romantic Novelists' Association. I've published five books and I've also written for The People's Friend. My PF pocket novel is due to be published in large print by Ulverscroft in April. I'm currently working on my sixth novel. I love books, chocolate, and I'm shamefully prone to all-consuming crushes on fictional heroes. 

1) Can you tell us a bit about your first book?

My first book is called There Must Be an Angel. It's the first book in a series, set in the fictional village of Kearton Bay, which was inspired by the beautiful Robin Hood's Bay near Whitby. Here's 
the blurb:

When Eliza Jarvis discovers her property show presenter husband, Harry, has been expanding his portfolio with tabloid darling Melody Bird, her perfect life crumbles around her ears.

Before you can say Pensioner Barbie, she’s in a stolen car, heading to the North Yorkshire coastal village of Kearton Bay in search of the father she never knew, with only her three-year-old daughter and a family-sized bag of Maltesers for company.

Ignoring the pleas of her uncle, chat show presenter Joe Hollingsworth, Eliza determines to find the man who abandoned her mother and discover the reason he left them to their fate. All she has to go on is his name – Raphael – but in such a small place there can’t be more than one angel, can there?
Gabriel Bailey may have the name of an angel but he’s not feeling very blessed. In fact, the way his life’s been going he doesn’t see how things can get much worse. Then Eliza arrives with her flash car and designer clothes, reminding him of things he’d rather forget, and he realises that if he’s to have any kind of peace she’s one person he must avoid at all costs.

But with the help of beautiful Wiccan landlady, Rhiannon, and quirky pink-haired café owner, Rose, Eliza is soon on the trail of her missing angel, and her investigations lead her straight into Gabriel’s path. As her search takes her deeper into the heart of his family, Eliza begins to realise that she’s in danger of hurting those she cares about deeply. Is her quest worth it?

And is the angel she’s seeking really the one she’s meant to find?

It's a story of love, friendship, and new beginnings, of home and belonging, and finding out who you really are. Oh, and there are donkeys. And marshmallows!

2) What was your original inspiration to become a writer, and to write your debut?

I always wanted to write, and really looked forward to English lessons at school. I was the annoying kid in the class, who actually wanted to write stories, poems and plays. In fact, I occasionally wrote my classmates' stories, too, if they couldn't be bothered. I more-or-less stopped writing anything when I had children, except shopping and to-do lists, sometimes managing a "Chapter One" but rarely getting beyond that point, before throwing the thing in the bin and giving up. One day some characters popped into my head and just wouldn't budge. I had to tell their story, and I used NaNoWriMo as an incentive to make sure I finally finished my first novel. 

3) How long did it take you to write your first book?

Well, the first draft took thirty days. Throughout November 2011 I wrote solidly, and finished NaNoWriMo with a manuscript of a hundred and twenty thousand words. Done, I thought triumphantly. Ha, how naïve I was! Little did I realise that the work was just beginning. I can't tell you how many changes I made to that first draft. I lost count. In all, I was editing and re-writing for well over two-and-a-half years.

4) If you could do anything differently in retrospect, what would you change about your debut, or how you went about writing it?

I don't think I'd change anything about how I went about writing it. It was incredibly frustrating at the time, and I can remember almost giving up on several occasions. It actually reduced me to tears! But, at the same time, I learnt so much from the process of pulling the thing together. I took advice from a creative writing tutor, and I submitted a draft to the Romantic Novelists' Association as part of its New Writers' Scheme, receiving a very encouraging and useful report, which helped me to understand where I was going wrong, and what I could do to improve the book. I also asked three other writers to read through it and give me their honest opinions, which they did. Their advice was invaluable, and it was wonderful to have people to discuss it with. All that writing, rewriting, chopping, changing and refining was a fantastic experience, and I'm glad it took me that long to feel happy with it. I read There Must Be an Angel a year ago, to get me back in the "Kearton Bay vibe" as I was about to start writing the third book in the series, and I will admit there were a few things I would change. I think it's inevitable that, as you get more experience, you see how you would improve your previous work. However, I wouldn't change the storyline, or the characters. I actually enjoyed reading it, so that must say something!   

5) Was your first book self or traditionally published, and how did you go about making that decision?

Angel was self-published. I always wanted to self-publish, and intended that the whole time I was writing it. I was encouraged to seek a publisher, and did submit to half a dozen small publishing companies. Angel was being considered by one when I had an offer from a fellow writer, who was setting up an author co-operative, whereby several writers would publish under one imprint and we would pool resources, advice, and help each other with publicity etc, but keep our own profits. It seemed the ideal solution to me, so that's what happened. The situation with Fabrian Books has evolved since then, and continues to do so. We're now going in a different direction, so that will be interesting. I've also had a pocket novel published by People's Friend, and that's due to be published in large print by Ulverscroft in April, so it's been a nice balance.    

6) Do you have any tips for other first time authors?

Write! Just keep writing, even when you want to give up. Get support and take as much advice as you can get from people who know. If you write romance, join the RNA's New Writers' Scheme. The joining fee is worth it for the critique alone. Writing is lonely, so make friends online with other writers. There's a massive writing community on Facebook and Twitter, and it's very welcoming. Read how-to books. Don't be in a rush to get published. Most of all, though, just keep going. If you really want to write, you will.  

Tell us about your first…

7) Book you bought

I can't remember the first book I bought, though it was probably a pony book from WH Smith. I can remember the first book I was ever given, though. It was Noddy by Enid Blyton, and I still remember the wonder I felt when I unwrapped the present and held that book in my hands.

8) Memory

Looking out of the dining room window into the garden and feeling sad. It was my third birthday. I can't remember why I was feeling sad. I just remember that feeling, and watching the rain pouring down.

9) Person you fell in love with

Probably Jimmy Osmond when I was nine years old!

10) Holiday you went on

Primrose Valley on the North Yorkshire coast. A whole crowd of us went—Mum, Dad, me, my sister, possibly my brother (though I'm not sure if he was born then), Nanna, Grandad, auntie, great-aunties and great-uncles, and half-cousins. We stayed in caravans or bungalows, and we'd walk along the beach to Filey each night for fish and chips, and my Nanna and great-aunt took me and my sister winkle picking on Filey Brigg. Dad got sick eating too many winkles! Happy days. 

11) Prize you won

A diary from WeightWatchers in a raffle, unless you count merit badges and certificates that I got from primary school for being good. I was a very well-behaved child!

12) Album you purchased

The first albums I bought with my own money were for other people. The first one I remember buying was a Vera Lynn Christmas album for my mother, who pretended to be thrilled. I was persuaded by the shop assistant that it was the ideal Christmas present for her. Hmm. I think I was conned. My mum was only in her very early thirties at the time! The first album I remember having bought for me by my parents was Donny Osmond's Too Young. I can't remember the first album I bought for myself, but I suspect it was probably by Abba.

13) Sport you enjoyed participating in

You must be joking! Unless Cluedo counts as a sport. I did love watching show-jumping, though, and used to follow all the famous nineteen-seventies show-jumpers. Dad used to take me to the annual local show, where the likes of Harvey Smith would be competing. It was amazing. Anything horsy was thrilling. Netball and hockey meant nothing to me.

14) Embarrassing moment you can remember

Being told off in front of the whole class for going to get a toy from the cupboard in the classroom, and playing with it while the teacher was telling us a story. "This is story time, Sharon, not toy time," she said crossly, taking it from my hands. It must have been a very dreary story, because usually I preferred story time to anything!

15) Pet

A Yorkshire terrier called Sooty. She was my best friend. Really. I remember all that teenage angst, and crying into her fur while I poured out all my troubles. She never tried to move away. She always listened. She died when I was fifteen and I was devastated. I still miss her.

16) Time you were in trouble

I can't actually remember, though knowing me, it was probably because I was late.

17) Choice of alternative career if you weren’t an author

I work for the NHS, but that wouldn't be my first choice. If I had my time over again, I would start writing seriously much earlier, but I'd also like to do something similar to my friend's work. She teaches creative writing to people with depression and anxiety, and other mental health issues. The writing really helps them, and I'd love to have done something like that.

18) Time you had any independence

Well, I left home at just sixteen, so I was pretty independent very early on. I remember, though, being allowed to go on the bus to my Nanna and Grandad's house all by myself. It was a thirty-minute bus ride, so I felt quite accomplished about that. Also, I remember being told that I was old enough to walk to school and back on my own for the first time. I was about five. That was quite scary. I wasn't sure if I could remember the way, but the sense of achievement when I did was exhilarating.

19) Toy that you recall loving

A navy-blue Silver Cross twin pram, complete with two Tiny Tears dolls, dressed in red velvet coats and white tights. A Christmas present from my Nanna and Grandad.

20) Time you felt like an adult

I'm still waiting for that to happen.

21) Time you realised you were good at something

When I got double A for English on my school report. I usually only managed Bs or Cs for most subjects, so that was a real thrill, and the comments made me start to think maybe there was something I could actually do at last.

22) Dish you cooked

I'm not sure, but I do remember the first Christmas dinner I cooked. I still remember the pink turkey legs. It's a wonder we survived.

23) Time you were really scared

I was bullied at school by a girl in another class, when I was about eight. I didn't even know her, so I don't know why she decided to pick on me. She pushed me into a huge puddle after school, and I was dripping in mud and slime. My school project was completely ruined. My mum went into school the next day to see the headmaster, taking my mud-soaked clothes with her. I think I was more scared about her turning up and making a fuss than I was about being bullied!

Thank you so much for that comprehensive interview, Sharon.  I laughed at the album you bought your mum, I think you definitely were conned, and such a shame your earliest memory is being sad on your birthday.

Purchase and social media for Sharon Booth

The Kearton Bay series:
hyperurl.co/theremustbeanangel
hyperurl.co/akissfromarose
hyperurl.co/onceuponalongago

Skimmerdale series:
hyperurl.co/thisothereden

Christmas novel:
hyperurl.co/baxterschristmaswish

Find out more about me at http://sharonbooth.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonbooth.writer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sharon_Booth1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonboothwriter/?hl=en
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/sharonbooth1/

Book Review - Baxter's Christmas Wish by Sharon Booth - #CuteChristmas

Amazon UK

Title: Baxter's Christmas Wish

Author: Sharon Booth

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Fabrian Books

Publication Date: 7th October 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

When Ellie Jackson's marriage unexpectedly ends, she and her young son, Jake, seek refuge with Ellie's cousin, Maddie. But Maddie soon tires of her house guests, including her own boisterous rescue Boxer dog, Baxter. 

A trip to the park proves eventful, when Baxter literally bumps into Dylan. Kind, funny, and not-too-shabby in the looks department, Dylan soon wins Ellie and Jake over, and Ellie dares to dream of a happy ending at last. 

But as the snow starts to fall and Christmas approaches, Ellie realises time is running out for them. Dylan clearly has a secret that may ruin their happiness, Baxter's home is in jeopardy, and she has no way of making Jake's wishes come true. 

Must Ellie give up on her dreams, or can Baxter lead her back to happiness? 

Light the fire, switch on those Christmas tree lights, curl up with a hot chocolate, and enjoy this heart-warming festive story of love, home, and second chances.

Baxter is a loveable Boxer dog. Sure he can be a little naughty but that is when he gets bored, and you really need to feel sorry him, as his last owner gave him away free to a new home. Now that new home just happened to be Maddie. 

Maddie loves a sob story, she had already taken in her cousin Ellie, and her son Jake, when Ellie's marriage falls apart. However she is already starting to find they may be overstaying their welcome, but she still can't resist Baxter's story and takes him in too. 

This is despite her not really knowing anything about dogs, and having a boyfriend who is fed of of Ellie and Jake and doesn't like dogs either. 

Ellie and Jake really take to Baxter luckily and start taking him to the park on walks to try and burn off his energy. Its during one of these walks he bowls over Dylan, and so enters the romantic interest for the book. 

Dylan loves dogs too, but he is clearly hiding things, and I must say at least one of the various things he was hiding, I did guess. However the others although surprising in some respects, I could completely understand too. 

I found Baxter's Christmas Wish to be a very sweet story, with Baxter as the absolute start of the book, and any scene he wasn't in I was still hoping he was ok, as in his young life he really wasn't having much luck with owners and all he, and any dog ever wants is his forever home. 

This is quite a quick story to read, and I read it in a couple of short hours, while loving every moment of it. Some of the scraps that Baxter gets himself into are incredibly funny, and I loved the way he was around not only Jake, but Dylan's dog Tyson, a small yorkshire terrier. I was kept engaged in what was going on at all times, and also quite liked the chapter titles that gave a hint as to what may be about to happen in the immediate future. 

Pleasurable story with the dogs pretty much leading the relationships and romance, while the human stories are also good too! 

Book Review - In A Manhattan Minute by Helen J Rolfe

Amazon UK

Title: In A Manhattan Minute

Author: Helen J Rolfe

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: Fabrian Books

Publication Date: 20th October 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… but when the temperature dips, can Manhattan work its magic? 

Jack exists in a world that has seen its fair share of tragedy, but also success and the wealth that comes with it. One snowy night, he crosses paths with Evie, a homeless girl, and it changes everything. 

Three years on, Evie’s life is very different. She’s the assistant to a prestigious wedding gown designer, she’s settled in Manhattan, has her own apartment and friendships she holds dear. But the past is lurking in the background, threatening to spoil everything, and it’s catching up with her.

Kent has kept a family secret for two decades, a secret he never wanted to share with his son, Jack. And even though she doesn’t realise it yet, his life is inextricably tangled with Nicole’s, the woman who was his housekeeper for thirteen years and the woman who helped Evie turn her life around. 

It’s Christmas and a time for forgiveness, love and Happy Ever Afters. And when the snow starts to fall, the truth could finally bring everyone the gift of happiness they’re looking for.

Grab a hot chocolate, turn on the twinkly lights and snuggle up with this unputdownable heart-warming novel.

I've got a friend who has been telling (possibly demanding!) that I read a book by Helen Rolfe for months, she wasn't bothered which one but I was under instructions to read something by this author. Now clearly I had no problem with this plan, and have in fact bought a few books that are currently unread (but for how much longer I'm not sure). 

So when I saw this Christmassy looking book by her, I just couldn't resist giving it a go, and I'm so glad I listened to my friend. What an impressive book, and such a strong story. Please note this is not your typical light hearted Christmas book, it deals with some proper issues and in a very sympathetic and understanding manner. 

Kent, Jack, Nicole and Evie's lives are all linked and not necessarily in the way you may think, after seeing the initial chapter between the four of them. As the story progresses there are all sorts of hints as to secrets being kept, and I only half guessed one of them, the rest really did take me by surprise. 

This is a story that takes in a variety of relationships, between family members and even a small amount of romance. It is Evie's story that fascinated me the most, she starts off homeless, and then the next time we see her she is a wedding dress designer's assistant but is petrified the past will come back to haunt her. 

Evie's best friend is Nicole who used to work for the Churchill's as their housekeeper. She is a very kind hearted woman, and sees the best in people,  Nicole isn't too happy though about the way her employment came to an end, but she does still care about the family. 

Jack appears to be one thing to his father but as we get to know him, the person he is trying to become is a far more palatable version and he really does have  a heart of gold somewhere! Whereas his father Kent, comes across as a cold hearted businessmen, who is really only interested in the family business. 

As their lives continue to intersect, it becomes clear some secrets will come out, and its a fascinating story spanning from Thanksgiving until Christmas. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the depth of the story that is being told. It moves at a fair pace, and as a book that kept me interested throughout. 

In A Manhattan Minute is a good introduction for me to this author and her brilliant capability for narrative and taking you to the heart of the story, while making you feel as though you are there alongside the characters. 

Thank you to Helen Rolfe for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.