Book Review - A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall by Jane Linfoot

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Title: A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter 

Publication Date: 19th October 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

A December to remember…
Christmas in a Cornish castle? Sign Ivy Starforth up! Hired to kit out the holiday rental as the world’s most Instagramable festive dreamland, there’s only one thing standing in the way of her hefty paycheque – the lord of the manor.

Bill Markham could give Scrooge a run for his money but Ivy is firmly #TeamChristmas…even if her handsome host seems to be doing everything he can to sabotage her staging. Maybe she shouldn’t have stumbled in on him starkers in the hot tub?

As the temperature outside cools, things inside the castle heat up. It’s been a long time since Ivy allowed herself to give in to temptation…surely one little kiss under the mistletoe won’t hurt?

This title couldn't be more apt if it tried. It's certainly a cosy read, it's full of Christmas fun and it's set in a castle in Cornwall.

We have Ivy who feels she needs to make Christmas perfect for everyone else after the previous year ended in disaster.

And Bill who Ivy has met years ago as the grumpy not overly festive at all. But he was the one that let out his castle for a massive family of 20 for 2 weeks.

And Ivy somehow needs to turn this sparse castle more suited to stag parties into a homely space full of festive feeling before her best friend, her best friends sister, and that sisters sort of frenemy and all their kids descend.

To say there are many characters would be an understatement. But they all have such distinct personalities that I never felt lost.

I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this story. All the Christmas activities really got me into the mood. 

So many fabulous little touches, secrets to uncover, Instagram worthy picture perfect moments to be had.   Was Jane Linfoot at her very best.

And I loved the mentions of nearby St Aidan the setting of many other of the as authors fab books.

There is even a cute dog, some donkeys and the most adorable pony too at points in the book.

What more could a Christmas book lover want. This was a winter wonderland of festive goodness. I loved it!!

Thank you to One More Chapter on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - Edie Browne's Cottage By The Sea by Jane Linfoot

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Title: Edie Browne's Cottage By The Sea

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 24th May 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Those who don’t jump will never fly…

Hurtling through the sky was supposed to be Edie Browne’s flight of independence. But when she falls head over champagne bucket while celebrating her successful landing, her life is changed in an instant. 

But starting over has its benefits, and as Edie relearns the basics under the watchful eye of her Aunty Josie and an entire Cornish village of new friends and neighbours, she finds love and joy she never could have imagined in the unlikeliest of places… 

Come home to St Aidan and Periwinkle Cottage for a romance full of love, laughter and friends for life!

I've been a fan of Jane Linfoot's books for years, so always excited to read a new one by her, and seeing this one was set in St Aidan home to some fabulous books by Jane, I was keen to see what this new story brought. 

And yet I couldn't have been more surprised by it if I tried, as it really did feel slightly different to the authors normal work, while still having at its heart all the elements of a fabulous Jane Linfoot book. 

Every chapter starts with Edie Browne's latest epic achievement, now these achievements may surprise you, as given what Edie has been through, and how she currently is, what are epic things for her, may just be small fry to you. 

It's Edie's journey over the course of the year since she did a sky dive to celebrate life being successful, and what happens shortly afterwards that changes her life completely.  Now if like me you have read many books in the genre, you will have a pretty strong idea of how the book is likely to end up. 

But its getting there that makes the story so special.  It really is quite eye opening in a way, and its Edie's friendship with 6 year old Cam that really makes the book, plus the  continual denial of her even thinking she feels anything for a certain good looking man, who always seems to be about. 

Edie is trying her best to get Auntie Josie back out into the world, and meeting people in St. Aidan, which leads to some wonderful antics at assorted classes.  There is masses of depth in this book, the characters are all really well developed, , some of the back stories are very emotional. 

In fact there was an occasional lump in my throat while reading this, but mostly its full of laughter, and a great heart warming feeling.  

I really don't want to say much more, as I went in blind, i don't think I even read the blurb properly, and thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, so especially if you are already a fan of the author, just read the book, you won't be disappointed. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Little Cornish Kitchen by Jane Linfoot - #HolidayReading Book 18

Book 18 of 28 read on my holiday to Cyprus in June 2018.

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Title: The Little Cornish Kitchen

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 17th May 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

It's time to come home to Cornwall

With an exiting new life in Paris, Clemmie Hamilton isn't looking forward to heading home to the picturesque but sleepy village of St Aidan, Cornwall. However, when she discovers that the cosy apartment by the sea, which her grandmother left to her, is under threat from neighbour and property developer, Charlie Hobson, Clemmie realises she can't abandon her home in its time of need.

With her childhood friends encouraging her, Clemmie decides to turn the apartment into 'The Little Cornish Kitchen' – a boutique pop up pudding club raising money for the repairs to the building in an effort to stop Charlie once and for all. But when Charlie and his easy charm won't seem to go away, everything soon becomes even messier than the state of Clemmie's Cornish kitchen…

Why readers love The Little Cornish Kitchen:

‘Have you ever liked a book so much that you wanted to give it a hug…chicklit GOLD’ Pretty Little Book Reviews

Well I was craving macarons in the first few pages, and then moved onto sorbets, meringues, chocolate and more. To say this book is a treat for the tastebuds would be an understatement. 

If this book doesn't make you incredibly hungry as you read it I would be surprised. 

Even with a new cast of characters I loved being back in St. Aidan which the author has used for some of her previous books, and is a gorgeous Cornish setting. 

I loved everything to do with Clemmie's story, from the not knowing her father, to learning to cook to all of her fellow mermaids (friends).

In fact I loved every second of this marvellous story.  What a joy to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Christmas Promises at the Little Wedding Shop by Jane Linfoot

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Title: Christmas Promises at the Little Wedding Shop

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 5th October 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Christmas arrives at Brides by the Sea, Cornwall’s enchanting and most adorable little wedding shop.

There’s nothing more magical than a winter wonderland wedding, and the girls are determined to make this festive season their most romantic yet.

The champagne is on ice while the mistletoe is hanging from every nook, and the exquisite lace and pearl-encrusted dresses, glistening like the frosted shop windows, are waiting to be chosen.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and romance is most definitely in the crisp winter air- with promises, proposals and Christmas kisses aplenty…

What will the season bring, in this enchanting fourth book of ‘The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea’ series?

Arguably this could be renamed Four Weddings and a memorable Christmas Day, as that is probably the best way I can sum up the story. 

Holly is only in Cornwall for December to have a quiet month, and escape Christmas this year, after last years Christmas Day didn't go to plan. Not only that she is not overly keen on weddings but has agreed to be a photographer at one just before Christmas. 

However things never go according to plan, and Holly, who is a food photographer normally ends up having to agree to work multiple weddings over December. They are all incredibly different and mainly she is doing it as a favour to her friends in The Little Wedding Shop. 

Fans of the series will be delighted to know that Jess, Sera, Poppy, Immie, Lily are all back, and we are of course kept fully up to date with all their latest news.  Holly is good friends with them all and it was fantastic to be back in this setting. If you are new to the series it can probably be read as a standalone, as its a new main focal character. 

Rory, is the local brewer and regular at weddings. He is currently looking after his niece and nephew, although he's never really had much to do with kids. Holly also seems to be trying to avoid him at first, due to childhood teasing. However as the story progresses I found I was falling for Rory completely, and just loved seeing some of his more tender gestures. 

There is plenty of Christmas, snow, and romance in this book , and its a fabulous addition to this series. I felt as though I was at the Wedding Shop and all of the weddings.  There are so many fantastic moments, that I can only hint that large numbers of them seem to involve Rory or Bart! 

Christmas Promises at the Little Wedding Shop is another fantastic book in this excellent series and I can't wait to see what Jane Linfoot writes next. 

Thank you to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Summer at the Little Wedding Shop by Jane Linfoot

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Title: Summer at the Little Wedding Shop

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 18th May 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

The third book in the bestselling series, ‘The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea’.

When the owner of Brides by the Sea, Cornwall’s cutest little wedding shop, offers Lily a job as their new wedding stylist, her first thought is – can she possibly pull it off?

Before she’s even sourced a fairy light or tasted a cupcake, Kip Penryn hires her services – but he’s opened an exclusive wedding venue in direct competition to her friend Poppy!

Lily feels like a traitor working for Kip, only everyone knows Penryn men are gorgeous but unreliable. All she has to do is sit back and watch him mess it up…doesn’t she?

Love is in the Cornish sea breeze this summer as the girls tackle their busiest wedding season yet. There’s plenty of bunting, bubbly and baking – but who is going to catch the bouquet?

What a joy it is to be back at The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, with its wonderful cast of characters, both the regulars and the new ones. It has felt like I was returning to an old friend, warm and comforting, while on some occasions making me smile and laugh a lot. 

If you haven't read the other books in this series, you are missing out on some great stories, but in terms of Summer at the Little Wedding Shop, it can be read as a standalone book. The main focal character is Lily, and the previous books featured others associated with the shop. However if you have read the others, you will be glad to know that Poppy, Sera, Jess, Rafe are all back, and we a thrown into a very busy wedding season, in Cornwall. 

Kip Penryn is in town and comes from a family of men not to be trusted. He is setting up his own wedding business in a family manor house, despite knowing nothing about Weddings. Poppy is worried this could severely affect her own wedding venue, and enlists the ladies at The Little Wedding Shop to do some spying, and one upmanship. 

Lily who is the shops newest wedding stylist, is persuaded to play double agent and report back her findings while styling any of Kip's bookings. Or at least that was the initial plan! 

There are three main weddings to look forward to in this book, Immie to Chas, Natalie to Miles and then Lily's mother Barbara to Dave.  Of course nothing is simple, as Natalie and Chas were meant to be getting married to each other in book 1 of the series, and there is a great rivalry between Immie and Natalie, on instagram as they both organise their weddings.  Natalie is a real bridezilla, as is Barabara, and Lily is meant to be styling all three of these wedding. 

Add in acts of sabotage so that Kip stands less chance of competing with Poppy and you have a lot of things going on, in a well pace, highly enjoyable story. I seem to love this author more and more every time I read her books, especially this series, and Summer at the Little Wedding Shop will certainly make you think of summer, and equally have you reaching for the bridal mags to plan your own wedding! 

Thank you so much to Jane Linfoot for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop: Sequins and Snowflakes by Jane Linfoot

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Title: Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop: Sequins and Snowflakes

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 30th September 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

The snow is falling around Brides by the Sea, Cornwall’s cutest little wedding shop, and wedding dress designer Seraphina East is in her cosy studio designing exquisite dresses to make even the most demanding bride’s dreams come true.

Unless the bride is her big sister Alice of course. Saying that the two sisters don’t always see eye to eye is an understatement. Alice hasn’t even asked Sera to design her wedding dress. But when an absent groom and ill-fitting dress threaten to ruin Alice’s happiness let alone her big day, Sera’s determined to give her sister the winter wedding of her dreams – even if that means keeping not one but two irresistibly gorgeous best men under control…

Is Sera going to end up being the maid of dishonour…Or will repairing her frozen relationship with Alice be the icing on the wedding cake?

What a comforting and cosy Cornish story, complete with 2 incredibly hunky best men, one bridezilla, who just happens to be Sera's older sister Alice, a wedding instructions manual, some incredibly creative solutions, cakes and wedding dresses. 

It felt like I had never been away on returning to St. Aiden, the home of Brides by the Sea, the massive wedding emporium where Seraphina East works. She has never felt she fits into her family so is very surprised when her older sister Alice, asks her to oversee all of the last week of planning of the wedding of the year. Seraphina is more comfortable creating dresses than having to find her inner sass, and take control of situations. 

Everytime I picked up the book, I felt as though I had been transported to Cornwall and loved seeing a new side of Sera, who were introduced to in the first book of this series. However if you haven't read it don't worry, this feels as though it easily works as a standalone. In the course of trying to make sure Sera fills in all the tasks in Alice's master wedding manual, that she has provided to everyone involved in the wedding, with the help of Quinn, one of the best men, all manner of things go wrong. 

This though is St. Aiden and a wonderful piece of fiction, so of course all of Sera's friends are able to help out and fix just about whatever little issues come up, and between them just hope the bride and groom will walk down the aisle for a happy marriage. 

I loved the rivalry between Quinn and Johnny for Sera's attention, and although I knew at a basic instinct level who she would choose, there were times during the story I wasn't completely convinced I was correct as I was kept guessing. 

I loved everything about this story, from its fabulous setting, the wedding emporium, even bridezilla Alice herself. I love Jane Linfoot's writing and I am whole heartedly enjoying this Wedding Shop by the Sea series. 

This is the sort of book you can turn to no matter your circumstances and get a really good feeling from it, such is the bubble it protects you in as your read. Whenever I went back to the book, I found the story just flowed and I found that I was reading quite a lot in a short space of time without even realising. A true pleasure to read. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - Cupcakes and Confetti by Jane Linfoot

Amazon UK

Title: Cupcakes and Confetti (The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea)

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 28th April 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Brides by the Sea, the cutest little wedding shop in all of Cornwall, has it all, including cake baker Poppy who lives upstairs. But wedding planning is not the piece of cake Poppy thought it would be, and when her best friend Cate’s wedding planner walks out, Poppy has to tie up the loose ends so her bestie can tie the knot.

Double-booked venues, ‘rustic’ locations and gorgeous but grumpy farmer Rafe have this wedding pro feeling like she could be Cate’s ‘something blue.’

Will the wedding, the shop and the cake all come crashing down on her? Or will Poppy pull it off to give Cate – and herself – the happy ever afters they deserve?

This is the first full-length novel in a brand new series set in Cornwall. Look out for the next books in The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea series,

Sequins & Snowflakes
Bunting & Bouquets

Easily my favourite book by Jane Linfoot, Cupcakes and Confetti brings all the fun of multiple weddings, cute farm animals, delicious sounding wedding cakes, gorgeous dresses by a talented designer, a group of close friends, some dishy men all in one highly enjoyable and loving novel. 

Poppy is primarily a cake baker, living above Jess's wedding shop, when she is persuaded by her best friend Cate, to become the wedding planner at Daisy Hill Farm, so that her own wedding will be saved.  Rafe who owns the farm isn't too keen on weddings or cake, but is gorgeous, has grudgingly agreed to hire Poppy until the end of the wedding season. 

There are all manner to messes to sort out from her predecessor as well as all the normal stresses or wedding organising. Poppy though does get a helpful ally in local wedding photographer Jules, who is also a handsome hunk of a man and clearly besotted with Poppy. I loved seeing the two alpha males react with each other, both trying to get the upper hand for differing reasons. 

It was definitely the initial descriptions of The Wedding Shop by the Sea, which is a four floor wedding emporium, with its own signature wedding gown designer, and sells everything you could want for a wedding, that drew me into the book and suggested to me very early on that this would be a brilliant story. 

I wasn't wrong, I was enchanted throughout, and loved the writing, and the sense of fun in the story. I loved that although Poppy isn't too keen on the great outdoors and farm animals, she slowly starts coming around to them, especially a cute calf, and Henrietta who also shares and office with Rafe and Poppy. 

Some of the ideas for Cate's wedding were so outlandish and unfeasibly expensive, that you couldn't help but laugh at them. There is of course a double booking in amongst the fun, a very pregnant bride, weather woes, and a couple that may or may not make it as far as the aisle. 

If you are in the mood for a light hearted, start of summery, feel good read, with mention of some upbeat playlists from Jules, then I would definitely recommend Cupcakes and Confetti. I am already longing for my return to  The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, in the second book out later this year. 

Thanks to Jane Linfoot for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - The Vintage Cinema Club by Jane Linfoot - #HIReadathon

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Title: The Vintage Cinema Club

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 30th July 2015

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Meet The Vintage Cinema Club….

Izzy is a wow at making unwanted things pretty, but with three brothers and her shabby chic furniture business to run she doesn’t have time to date. Could a fabulous French proposal change her mind?

Single mum Luce’s vintage bridal dresses are exquisite, but there’s no way she’s ever going to wear one or walk down the aisle for that matter. She’s a strictly no romance, one night kind of woman – or so she thinks…

Dida seems to have it all – a chocolate and banana cake recipe to die for, lovely kids (most of the time!) and a great lifestyle. But what good is a fabulous home, when your marriage has more cracks than a pavlova and your husband is having it off with half of Lithuania?

Three retro fabulous friends, in love with all things vintage, run their dream business from the faded grandeur of a rescued cinema. When that dream comes under threat, they’ll do whatever it takes to save it.

Sometimes I will admit I buy books based on either the title, or my knowledge of the author, and possibly even the cover, with barely looking at the blurb, and this is one such book. Despite even seeing the pictures on twitter from the launch party of this book, I was somehow expecting a book about a group of ladies discussing old films.  

I couldn't have been more wrong if I had tried. This is a fabulous story about three friends trying to save their business. They sell vintage clothes and furniture from an unused, cinema, which Dida's troublesome husband owns. They have been running Vintage at the Cinema for three years and are just celebrating that, when a for sale sign is put up outside. 

Dida, Luce and Izzy need to do whatever they can to try and raise the funds to buy the place themselves, or at the very least appear a viable business in the hope the new owners will let them stay.  There are many fabulous descriptions of vintage items, and there are also some real laugh out loud moments. 

Within the book there are two blossoming romances, one between Izzy and a certain handsome customer, and one between Luce and a man she let get away. It is Izzy's story that takes up the majority of the book, and I loved her trip to France, it sounded idyllic and  a great way to spend days.

Once Izzy and Xander give into temptation the atmosphere sizzles, and the intimate scenes are really enjoyable. 

At the start of each chapter we get date, time of day, location, and I think its a scene name, as well as which characters, like you would possibly get at the start of a scene in a play. I found it worked well, and since you were reading about three main characters perspectives, always made it easier to know which thread we were continuing with next. There are also occasionally emails and text message exchanges between chapters which are a simple way of moving some of the story forward.  

I really enjoyed reading The Vintage Cinema Club, and watching how the friendships strengthen as they create new initiatives to keep the business running. 

Book Review - The Right Side of Mr Wrong by Jane Linfoot - Paperback Summer - #HIReadathon

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Title:  The Right Side of Mr Wrong

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Competition Win

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 6th March 2014

Rating: 4 Stars

One-off, moving on sex, wasn’t meant to be this hot…

When determined singleton Shea Summers is persuaded to become the “wife” of the Lord of Edgerton Manor, the last thing she wants to do is play house with a stranger.

Brooding playboy Brando Marshall is far from happy when Shea turns up at his sprawling estate with production crew in tow. Surely she’s just another woman after his wallet? And if she’s looking for Mr Right, she’s definitely hitting on the wrong guy. Then again, after catching an unscheduled glimpse of her knickers, perhaps Brando needs to teach this “gold-digger” a lesson!

She’s seizing the moment, he’s breaking the rules, and when bad boys can be so much fun, who can resist getting on the right side of Mr. Wrong…

This is a hot and steamy romance between two people who don't want a relationship ever. 

When Brando appeared on a TV show as a favour to his sister Bryony, it set off a national competition, to find him a wife, which he knew nothing about, nor wanted to be a part of. Shea sent in a postcard entry along with her friend, and she made it clear she wasn't interested in becoming a wife..but she does work for an organisation firm.

Shea is picked and arrives at Edgerton Manor in a helicopter, and whether they are willing to admit it or not, there was an instant attraction between Brandon and Shea. 

There is not a huge amount of depth in this book, but the romance and chemistry is sizzling, and reading this is a great way to warm up on a cold and wet afternoon.  This is a fast paced, highly sexed book, and the discoveries into the reasons Shea and Brando are they way they are, are interesting, but I would have loved to have known more about both of them. 

Shea when introducing herself to Brando, she explains her name rhymes with day. Whenever Brando says her name, he goes Shea sounds like... and then using a phrase that rhymes with Shea. Each time he uses a different one which is a nice recurring theme. 

I really enjoyed reading The Right Side of Mr Wrong, and think for me its a good introduction to the author Jane Linfoot. I hope to read more of her books soon.