Book Review - Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans

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Amazon UK

Title: Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm 

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 9th October 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

All she wants for Christmas…

Leah Griffiths has woken up after a few too many glasses of Prosecco with a hangover – and discovers she’s accidentally bought a little Christmas tree farm in Scotland!

At first she’s horrified, but perhaps it’s the perfect way to forget all about her cheating ex.

And when she meets grumpy (but ridiculously gorgeous) pumpkin farmer Noel underneath the mistletoe, Leah begins to believe that at Christmas time, anything can happen…

I'm sure we have all seen a Christmas Tree farm up for sale, at the other end of the country,  gone onto the auction site while drunk and purchased the farm without having ever seen it in real life, and then been shocked when it looks nothing like the pictures?

You mean you haven't done that - well it must just be Leah Griffiths, the heroine in this book, where she does exactly that and then has to somehow make a go of it, given she has sunk all her savings into the purchase. 

Leah wasn't expecting the handsome pumpkin farmer next door, and from there first meeting you would wonder why I'm even mentioning him at all, apart from the obviously adorable Gizmo the Chihuahua! 

And for a book about a Christmas Tree Farm I was shocked at the amount of pumpkin that gets into the story, in fact I think this could almost be re-titled 101 things to do with pumpkins, or how to be a pumpkin farmer - as that is exactly that Noel is, but thankfully unlike Leah he also knows everything you need to know about Christmas Tree farming. 

I have learnt a lot about how to be a tree farmer, to if the opportunity ever arises to drunkenly purchase a Christmas tree farm, sight unseen, then I will at least know a whole deal more than Leah did at the same stage. 

If you ever need to gain some new tree puns, please do talk to Noel, he is full of them, most will make you groan, but still rather amusing. 

The community feel of the small town was really strong and I enjoyed seeing Leah's ideas for their Christmas market, and the various tree decorations were really inventive.  The well meaning gossipy new friends were really sweet too, and I just had a wonderful community, feel good feeling from this book. 

I loved, loved, loved this book.  It flowed so well, the writing was great, and it has such imagination in it. I adored the concept and the story was just fabulous - easily one of my favourite books from this talented author. 

Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Little Vintage Carousel by the Sea by Jaimie Admans

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Amazon UK

Title: The Little Vintage Carousel by the Sea

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 3rd April 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

What if one moment could change your life forever?

Ness has almost resigned herself to being single forever, when she catches sight of the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen on the train to work.

But just as she plucks up the courage to speak to him – he steps off the train and disappears into the crowds, without realising he’s accidentally dropped his phone!

It’s her ‘glass slipper’ moment, she’s sure of it, she just needs to track him down – all the way to the gorgeous seaside village of Pearlholme, where she finds him restoring a vintage carousel by the sea…

Maybe it’s finally time to follow her heart?

A joyous read, this is absolutely wonderful. Its enchanting, and funny and just a fabulous story. 

The amount of times during this story that I was laughing along with Ness and Train Man's dialogue, was ridiculous. Just every interaction they had as sort of awkward, but sort of perfect at the same time. Train Man really is gorgeous but also a bit dorky, and Ness isn't the most graceful of women, so the pair just works.  

All the dialogue generally in the book was just en-point and engaging. 

However they are both adamant they aren't looking for love, but they really do bond when Ness goes up to Pearlholme to return train man's phone.  Previously there had just been eye contact and smiles on crowded commuter tube trains - which pretty much never happens in real life. 

It turns out that Train Man is a carousel restorer and we learn a lot about Carousels, and more specifically this rather special one. It has the most beautiful story behind it, which is slowly discovered. 

Pearlholme itself is a gorgeous little Northern coastal village, so picturesque, and when you meet Charles and Camilla there are even more laughs to be had. 

This book is just so funny and entertaining. 

My only niggle with the book is that the characters seemed to love the film Carousel so much, whereas to my own personal taste it is the only musical I've ever seen that I've not enjoyed one bit, even despite the iconic You'll Never Walk Alone coming from it.  There are just too many mentions of a film that sends me to sleep, and the stage show which I saw first was one of the most underwhelming productions of anything I've watched in the West End. 

Apart from that I can't fault this book, I just loved every moment of it.  Jaimie Admans is fast becoming one of my go to authors, and her books seem to be getting even better and better with each release. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - It's A Wonderful Night by Jaimie Admans

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Amazon UK

Title: It's A Wonderful Night

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 5th October 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

One night will change their lives forever…
Georgia Bailey is closing up her little charity shop in Oakbarrow when she gets a mysterious late night call from a stranger, threatening to jump off the town’s bridge.

Something about the man’s voice is faintly familiar but all she can do is stay on the line and after talking for hours, losing sense of time passing, coax him back from the edge.

The next morning, Georgia walks to work, buys a festive latte from Leo (who she’s had a crush on for months!) at the local coffee shop, and is shocked when she suddenly recognizes the voice from last night…

A heartwarming festive love story that reminds us that even in the darkest of times, hope is always just around the corner!

I had been saving this book for a while, to read when I hopefully had enough time to savour every moment, as I had an inkling between the blurb and the author that it would be something special. 

It is more than something special and needs to take pride of place in anyone's festive book collection, or in fact any bookshelf at all. 

I have laughed and I have almost cried during the reading of this story - it really gave me all the feels and I was hooked on Georgia and Leo's story.   

There are so many strong themes running through this book, mental health, the decline of the high street, nostalgia for Christmas's past,  and the film It's A Wonderful Life to name a few.  And between them all these story elements combine into a simply wonderful story. 

The plot is incredible, it has everything you could want from a book set in December in the run up to Christmas. I loved how although there is a massive lie at the heart of the book it is there for all the right reasons, but equally could blow up in Georgia’s face completely.

There are some completely light hearted moments, the suggestions from Leo about Santa for their big project are hilarious,  as were some of their conversations. But other times there was a more sensitive serious tone to the book which just drew me in further.

And the descriptions, well they are fabulous.  There is a scene in Hawthorns where I could picture every last thing so, so clearly and the best way I can describe it was like I was reading a description of Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium – I got the exact same feeling from both of those!

It’s a Wonderful Night is without a doubt one of my favourite books of the year, and I would recommend it to just about everyone.  It is just that good!

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Book Review - The Little Wedding Island by Jaimie Admans

Amazon UK

Title: The Little Wedding Island

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 2nd March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

‘Will you… pretend to marry me?’

Bonnie Haskett loves everything about weddings. She loves her job at a national bridal magazine and even has a deposit down on her dream dress. The only problem? She doesn’t have a fiancé!

So when Bonnie is sent to Edelweiss Island, known as ‘The Little Wedding Island’, it’s a dream come true. She’s heard the rumours, every wedding that takes place in the tiny chapel ends in a happy-ever-after.

But there’s a catch! Investigating the story, Bonnie needs to pose as a blushing bride – and the only man up for posing as her groom is her arch rival (and far too handsome for his own good) journalist Rohan Carter…

It's been a while since I had a good book boyfriend, someone that I enjoyed reading about and wishing that they were all mine. But in Rohan I got exactly that, from the first in person meeting between him and Bonnie I could sense he was rather special 

Of course it isn't all smooth sailing as his first time he actually came across Bonnie was on twitter, and the best way I can describe him was an idiot, and after having a huge public row with someone online it is that bit harder to try and get the person to like you afterwards. 

Bonnie is the ultimate believer in true love and she loves weddings. Rohan is a complete skeptic but after their twitter row they are both sent to get a story about a small island often called The Little Wedding Island, although its real name of Edelweiss Island sums up how pretty it really is. 

From the moment they stepped foot on the island you could tell it was a magical sort of place, where everyone believe in fate and marriage. 

You won't believe the lengths our pair of opposites go to to try to get the story about the island that hates reporters.  You may believe though in love at first sight and love being blind, both of which may become key to the story. 

The island is picturesque and has such wonderful locals on it, I would have loved it to be real to visit for myself. Between the pretty descriptions of everything on the island, to the sarcastic asides that Rohan makes on a frequent basis, to the sheer optimism radiating from Bonnie,  you have a fabulous mix of characters and location for this wonderfully charming story. 

This is the second book I have read from this author, and second book I have utterly adored,  I really need to make sure I read her next one as soon as it comes out.  This is story that brings pure escapism and joy to its readers and had me believing in true love and beautiful, secretive wedding locations. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters by Jaimie Admans - Chances Fortnight

Although I was taking a chance on a new author, I was delighted to see that big chances were a central theme for this book. 

Amazon UK

Title: The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital 

Publication Date: 7th June 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Where dreams come true…?
Wendy Clayton stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. Instead, she has a ‘nice’ life. Nice job. Nice flat. Absolutely no men. Until her life is turned upside-down when her elderly neighbour, Eulalie, passes away and leaves her the Château of Happily Ever Afters!

But there’s a catch: she must share the sprawling French castle with Eulalie’s long-lost nephew, Julian. And no matter how gorgeous he is, or how easily she finds herself falling head over heels, Wendy needs to find a way to get rid of him…

Because surely happily ever afters don’t happen in real life?

Enchanting story that features a huge French Chateau that depending on what you believe may or may not have magical walls and a treasure hidden inside.  It also features two people who inherit the Chateau, both suspicious of each other, and both want to get rid of the other, with amusing consequences. 

 Wendy rarely takes chances on anything, she hates change, holidays,  she is happy to work a job that is so loosely related to what she wants to do, and has a flat. She is very content with her life, so when she is told she stands to inherit a Chateau in Normandy that her next door neighbour owned, she is scared. She also didn't realise it was a real place, and thought the stories, Eulalie (her neighbour) had told her about a big house and a Duke, and parties were all fiction, when it could turn out to be the truth. 

Julian is a male model and Eulalie's great nephew although they never met. He is the loophole in the inheritance laws and now owns half the chateau too They take an instant dislike to each other, both suspicious,  and both intrigued by a riddle Eulalie laid out in the will too. 

I was laughing almost as soon as they both arrived separately in France, their approaches are marked contrast. One clearly having travelled before and knowing what to expect, the other managing to get stuck in a wall cavity on day 1!  And the catalogue of slight disasters doesn't stop there, watch out for an entertaining scene with a snake, the pair sharing a bed together, and not in the way or reasoning you may be thinking. 

They make a new friend quite early on who helps Wendy especially start to feel settled at the chateau, and I also loved seeing how Julian started to change too.  There are a lot of mentions of delicious french baking, and I loved the descriptions of the nearest village, and the twice weekly market held there. 

This really gives a great look into life in rural Normandy life, and the possibilities of living in a big chateau and self sustainability. 

The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters is the first book I have read by Jaimie Admans and it was charming and such a pleasurable read. I found myself whizzing through the pages, as the story overtook me, and I just had to see how things would turn out.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.