Book Review - I'm Dreaming Of A New York Christmas by Hayley Dunlop

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Title: I'm Dreaming Of A New York Christmas

Author: Hayley Dunlop

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hera

Publication Date: 27th August 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Will a New York Christmas lead to all she never knew she wanted?

After the worst year of her life, speechwriter and introvert Flora Bell is looking forward to a calm Christmas: home, alone and as peaceful as possible. But when her chaotic mum and sister turn up out of the blue to take Flora on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New York, it's clear the universe has other ideas.

When Flora meets cartoonist Ethan in a Greenwich Village coffee shop – who asks for her help to write a best man's speech – fate and joy seem to be taking the wheel for the first time in her life.

But just as she dares to believe her New York fairytale might be coming true, she discovers something that changes everything.

Will Flora ever be able to reclaim her quiet existence?

Or will the bells of New Year's Eve ring in a new life altogether?

I'm a sucker for a Christmas book, and New York at Christmas has always sounded magical to me, so this was always going to a book on my radar. 

And it was as enjoyable as I expected it to be,, if not more so. 

I loved meeting Flora, who has spent the past year broken after being broken up with 3 days before her wedding. But she has moved to a new town and is looking forward to spending alone this year, in peace and quiet. 

Until her mum and sister show up, and essentially kidnap her, and they are taking her on holiday to New York for Christmas. 

She has never felt understood by her family, and finds them a bit overwhelming so this has come as a shock to her. 

But it turns out it's just what's needed and it's an "adventure".  And things take an interesting turn when she meets Ethan in a coffee shop.

Amidst various bits of blagging from her family, foraging in Central Park and various other things, it becomes apparent that this is a trip that Flora really did need. 

I loved the character development, and thought this was a great book to kick off my 2026 festive reads. 

This is the second book I've now read from the author and I'm already curious to see what she may have in store for us next Christmas. 

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

Book Review - Holidays With The Girls by Jo Lyons

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Title: Holidays With The Girls

Author: Jo Lyons

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 23rd August 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

If there’s one thing more unpredictable than love… it’s spending the holidays with the girls. 🎄

Connie Cooper should be basking in newlywed bliss. Instead, she’s frantically juggling a long-distance marriage, a busy singing career, and the small matter of her best friends’ wedding… which is in three weeks. In France. At Christmas. With absolutely nothing organised.

When groomzillas Ged and Liam’s dream venue falls through, their wildly over-the-top vision – a Bridgerton-meets-Hogwarts-meets-Whitney-Houston extravaganza – seems doomed. Connie definitely does not have time to save the day… right?

Soon, Connie and her chaotic girl gang (the outrageous Dollz) are descending on a stunning chateau in the south of France to pull off the impossible. But diva demands, unexpected guests and risky secrets could get them all kicked out before the wedding can even take place.

As emotions run high, Connie must navigate friendship, love and the reality of her own whirlwind marriage to Matteo, while trying to stop the Christmas wedding from spiralling completely out of control.

OMG I don't have the words to express how much I absolutely totally and utterly adore and am in love with this series, and this author's work generally. 

I devoured this poolside on holiday in a few short hours that had me on multiple occasions audibly snorting at things I was reading.

I love it when an author's sense of humour matches mine, and this is totally a match for me!

This is once again a madcap adventure for Connie, The Dollz, Matteo and of course Ged and Liam.

I think the levels of chaos can only  be best left to you to read as I would hate to spoil anything.  But we have last minute wedding plans, a chateau with strict rules (that everyone breaks instantly), a couple of unruly children, and poor parenting decisions, a possible ghost with a far more amusing reality, not to mention Matteo's ex being far too present, and a whole lot of big decisions to be made for Connie. 

This is totally bonkers, completely and utterly light hearted and the perfect holiday read or for anytime you want to escape reality and just smile.

And this is all in the run up to Christmas too, and to say Ged and Liam have big, huge ideas for their wedding is an understatement. 

And the way this was left, I can imagine there will be a good few more books easily in this series, each presenting more opportunities for hilarity, chaos and good times for a large fairly close knit group of friends. 

Absolutely adore this!  

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Murder at Christmas by T. A. Williams

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Title: Murder at Christmas

Author: T. A. Williams

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 5th August 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

A festive gathering...

Private investigator Dan Armstrong, accompanied by his wife and his canine sidekick, Oscar, are spending the days before Christmas in a luxurious Alpine chalet tucked away in a hidden valley. It should be the perfect escape, except the owner is in fear for his life.

A house full of secrets...

Amid perfect winter wonderland scenery, the more Dan discovers about his host and the other guests, he realises that all is not as it seems. What should be a happy family party is riddled with rancour, mistrust and hatred.

A killer in the snow?

Then the snow falls – fast and heavy – and within moments, someone is dead. Accident, suicide, or murder? As the snow closes in, Dan has to work out if he's looking for a killer, or whether he and Oscar are barking up the wrong tree.

Another triumph for T.A. Williams in this epic series. 

And it was lovely to see a completely different bit of Italy, and to discover a whole new regional cuisine too. 

All to the backdrop of a case that seems simple at first but the more Dan digs, the more possible suspects and motives occur. 

It was lovely to catch up with Selena again who has been in a few of these books now, and I have to say the more I discovered about the case that Dan is looking into the least I liked the target. 

And of course Anna is there too and she provides some good thoughts, and Oscar is the superstar dog as always and watching him and Winston (an even bigger dog) frolic in the snow was a delight. 

Although Christmas is in the title, it's not an overly festive read and it can easily be read at any time of year, and it certainly didn't cool me down while reading poolside in Mallorca. 

I already can't wait for their next adventure.  

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The French Christmas Market by Gillian Harvey

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Title: The French Christmas Market

Author: Gillian Harvey

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 4th September 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Nicola’s move to France is not going to plan. Her husband Steven’s job meant he couldn’t join her for the first few months. Now he has to work at Christmas too, and she’s facing the season alone.

She’s finding life in the tiny French village harder than expected. The house feels more remote than she remembered, and the cold weather makes going out a challenge. Plus the neighbour she’d hoped to befriend seems to be doing everything he can to avoid her friendly ‘bonjours’.

Things begin to look up when she takes on an art student named Lucien who introduces her to life beneath the village’s sleepy façade. Then – at the local Christmas market – she’s given a ceramic angel and told to make a wish…

Nicola doesn’t believe in magic. But as things in her life begin to change, she starts to wonder whether wishes really can come true?

A totally gorgeous and escapist Christmas story, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Veronica Henry and Faith Hogan – available now!

I've been meaning to read another Gillian Harvey novel for years, so when I spotted this brand new Christmas book I couldn't resist! 

And what an enjoyable festive story this was, all about new beginnings set to a lovely wintery backdrop in France. 

Nicola is lonely, she fears Christmas is ruined now her husband is saying he won't be able to make it over, and her family are reluctant to fly, plus her passport isn't to be found. 

But then she rescues a kitten, takes on an art student, Lucien and as she gets to know him, he introduces her to more of life in her new home village. 

And she starts to get to know people and really start to fit in.  And it all begins with a purchase of a angel at the local Christmas Market that is meant to bring luck. 

I really enjoyed seeing how she gets to grips with her new life, and could picture the markets especially really clearly. 

And there is a rather emotional subplot that had me truly wishing for a Christmas miracle. 

A festive joy of a book to read, and I must not leave it so long before I read another from this author. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly

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Title: Yes, Chef

Author: Grace Reilly

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 21st July 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

If you can’t take the heat…get out of the kitchen.

After a public meltdown in one of Manhattan’s most elite restaurants, Chef Jack Hartman must return to his small Florida hometown. The only upside? He’ll be far away from Poppy Winfield – his former boss’s blonde, beautiful, utterly infuriating daughter – and the shrimp she threw at his head.

Poppy is also desperate for an escape – from her disapproving family and from her infamy as an influencer without a serious bone in her body. With their reputations in ruins, Jack’s only ticket back to New York is turning the unloved restaurant of his childhood into the newest dining hotspot on the East Coast. And unfortunately for him, Poppy’s is using her well-honed social media skills to sell out his grand opening.

As sparks fly and tensions reach boiling point, will Poppy and Jack be a recipe for disaster? Or could they be a perfect pairing …?

What a lovely and spicy  grumpy-sunshine romance this is.  There is a great deal of heat both inside and outside of the kitchen. 

It's a story of finding your place in the world for both Jack and Poppy.  They are at each other's throats initially. but soon realise the only way they can get their lives back in New York after two separate public meltdowns on the same evening, is to work together. 

I really enjoyed seeing Jack teaching Poppy how to cook and all he knows about restaurants.  I also loved how much character development there was for both characters. 

This was the first time I've read a book from this author and I will certainly be keen to read more in the future.  It's highly enjoyable and I definitely enjoyed my time between the pages of this story. 

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

Book Review - Please Help Me by Gytha Lodge

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Title: Please Help Me

Author: Gytha Lodge

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 23rd July 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

A BEAUTIFUL RESORT

It looked like the perfect getaway. A luxury resort with endless pools, a gorgeous golden beach, and a kids' club that is every parent's dream.

But for Amanda, a British detective in desperate need of a break with her young son, it soon becomes clear this isn’t going to be a holiday.

A MISSING GIRL

A girl has been sending anonymous messages to a teenager at the resort. She says her real name is Lara, that she was kidnapped from the UK, and that the family she's with are her abductors.

But the resort is full of families. The kidnappers could be any of them. If the police guess wrong, Lara could be whisked away, and never see her real family again.

When every family seems to be hiding something, can Amanda find the truth – and Lara – before it’s too late?

From the first few pages there was something about this author's writing style and the story that had me hooked. 

I loved that one of main characters is a teenager, and Sadie is determined to help the girl who has reached out to her, as all she wants to be is a hero. And the fact there is a girl who clearly is trying to get help but unsure about it, as she believes she isn't with her real parents, is an interesting concept. 

It reminded me of the couple of people over the years that have claimed be Madeleine McCann, but equally this is totally and utterly different from that situation. 

Amanda is on holiday with her son Otis, and she is determined to enjoy the holiday, but then a man she is trying to forget from a night of madness shows up, and given they both work in various police related departments, and are both in resort in Cyprus, means they end up teaming up to try to see if they can rescue this girl. 

There are a few clear suspects as to who the girl might be, but nothing is simple, and all sorts of interesting things are discovered about various of the families in the resort. 

I really enjoyed all the various viewpoints we got, and I was racing through this book determined to find out just what would happen next. 

It has a totally different vibe to a lot of the psychological thrillers I have read in the past, and I was totally there for it. 

This is the first book I've read by this author and I'll be keen to see what they write next. 

I loved everything about this story. 

Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Besteller by Jenny Knightsby

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Title: The Bestseller

Author: Jenny Knightsby

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Mountain Leopard Press

Publication Date: 10th September 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Therapist Helena Salve knows that client confidentiality is the number one unbreakable rule of her job. But the constant stories of coercive control and threat she hears from her client Belle about her dangerous husband have been wearing her down. One night over too many glasses of wine, she tells her best friend Tala everything that Belle has told her.

The problem is, Tala is a down-on-her-luck novelist who is looking for an idea for her new thriller.

Months later, Tala is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher is saying this is going to be her biggest book ever. The story is Belle's story. Not only is Helena's job on the line, but if Belle's husband is as dangerous as she says, her life is too...

Why would Tala do this to Helena? She knows what's at stake.

Your friends are meant to protect you... aren't they?

What an accomplished and addictive debut novel this is. 

I barely wanted to put it down, and found the pages were turning almost by themselves as I had to see what would happen next. 

And wow there are some fabulous pay offs and twists in this that I somehow didn't see coming. 

This is though a book that does shine a spotlight on a tricky and for some upsetting subject of coercive control, and I believe it was dealt with in a way to open peoples eyes to it, and in a sensitive manner. 

I'm not completely sure I loved any of our leading ladies but I was rooting for them, and as things start to unravel, I was open mouthed. 

The author has such a readable writing style that the pages were flying past and I was hooked to the point that someone in real life apologised for making me jump while I was reading this  I was that unaware of my surroundings. 

Such a fabulous story, and one I feel that could play on my mind for a while after reading. 

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

Book Review - The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin

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Title: The Little Porto Book Club

Author: Rebecca Raisin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 13th August 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

In a city full of stories, can she write her own…

Introvert and self-described whodunnit enthusiast Viviane has never much believed in living life outside of the pages of a book. But when her interfering mother insists that Viviane needs some friends who aren’t fictional, she decides to head into the beautiful bustling streets of Porto in search of her community.

What better place to start than by reading her favourite mystery in the corner of a little-known café? But when one, then two, and then outrageously six other people decide to join her silent book club Viviane realises that she is firmly out of her depth. There’s Thomas, a middle-aged man hiding his love for romance novels, Lucinda, a chic sixty-something with a penchant for Christie, and then there’s Tiago, the hot alpha male of every romance novelist’s dreams.

But when one of these newfound friends disappears from the book club without a word, will the community come together to find their fellow lost soul, and will Viviane find love along the way…?

What a wonderful character Viviane is.  She sees mysteries in every part of her life, and she has such a forthright way of putting her views across about anything.  She is rather particular,  and definitely an introvert.  I just loved the way she came across and I was rooting for her throughout. 

I especially loved her character development, as she is encouraged by her mother to go for a walk each day, and then is pushed into other things.  She starts going to a cafe to read, and soon she not only is the leader of a silent reading book club that doesn't always stay silent, but she seems to have a big mystery on her hands. 

Tiago is made out to be her bumbling side kick, but there is so much more to him than that, and I really fell for him quite early. 

I loved the setting of Porto, and getting a glimpse into how Porto mothers are, reminds me of mothers in other cultures - quite interfering, possibly with best interests at heart, but don't really listen and always think they know best! 

This is a heart warming story of new friendships, of finding your own place in the world, and finding your tribe.  I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the other members of the book club and seeing just what they were hiding, and how much they are also benefitting from this most unlikely of groupings. 

It's another wonderful book from Rebecca Raisin and I'm already looking forward to her next book. 

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

Book Review - The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Stealing the Bride by Jeevani Charika

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Title: The Wedding Planner's Guide to Stealing the Bride

Author: Jeevani Charika

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 30th July 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Rule one of being a wedding planner, don’t fall for the bride.

Romance novelist Kalpana is about to marry the man of her dreams – or is she? The chaos of wedding planning is taking its toll on her relationship with the charming but self-absorbed Marcus, a prize-winning literary star.

Enter Sampath, the wedding planner skilled in uncovering what the soon-to-be-wed couple want out of their big day. Marcus wants a traditional wedding in Sri Lanka, but being the third generation of her family to be born in the UK, Kalpana doesn’t feel like those traditions are her own.

Forbidden feelings start to blossom, secrets are unravelled and identities are questioned. Living a love story that feels like it was written for someone else, Kalpana must take charge of her heart and rewrite her happily ever after before it’s written for her.

Almost certainly my favourite book from Jeevani Charika to date.  This was an absolute joy to read and I devoured every single word of it. 

This is a book that has made me really want to go on holiday to Sri Lanka, to the extent that at one point I just had to look at the prices for Christmas, just in case I could make it a reality.  It sounds like such a wonderful place, and so beautifully that I would love to experience it. 

But at least I got the author's wonderful descriptions while Kalpana and Sampath are there, with him planning her wedding to Marcus.  Marcus who I really didn't take to at all, and although for appearances sake he seems to adore his bride to be, I was rather cynical about his true feelings. 

Whereas Sampath is even a fan of Kalpana's romance books, and it was lovely to see how well the genre was being championed within this story against the backdrop to pure genre prejudiced people that look down on the genre, which is so authentic to the real life opinions and prejudice that romance authors receive. 

This is a wonderful look at multicultural relationships and traditions, and it was entertaining and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and feel this is an author who is growing in confidence with every book she is writing at the moment. 

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

Book Review - A Cornish Escape by Rosie Green

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Title: A Cornish Escape

Author: Rosie Green

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self published

Publication Date: 30th May 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

When a catastrophe threatens Ellie's business there's a puzzling mystery to solve, and Gertie steps in to follow the clues. Love and romance are the very last things on Gertie's mind right now. But while she's risking her safety helping to hunt down the culprits, could she also be in danger of losing her heart?

Forty Six books in and I am starting to think that I say the same thing every single time - I absolutely loved it. I have no new words, but thankfully Rosie Green seems to always have brand new storylines. 

And this one was wonderful, there is a mystery, and I would never have guessed who was behind the bad reviews and spate of burglaries targeting cafes. 

I loved seeing how Gertie and Jonah manage to follow clues, and their instincts in the hopes of getting justice for Ellie. 

The storytelling drew me right in and I was totally and utterly absorbed by this story.  I couldn't read it fast enough and was loving every single page. 

Another truly fabulous addition to this completely epic series. 

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