Book Review - A Wedding on Lily Pond Lane by Emily Harvale

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Title: A Wedding on Lily Pond Lane

Author: Emily Harvale

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Crescent Gate Publishing

Publication Date: 26th March 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

The Angel Bell is ringing for Mia and Jet’s Big Day – but will the Wedding of the Year go without a hitch?

Every bride wants the perfect wedding and Mia Ward is no exception. But she is the only bride in Little Pondale and everyone in the village has ideas for her Big Day. Drowning in suggestions, Mia needs some help.

When she bumps into childhood friend, Breanna Wright on a shopping trip to London, Mia’s convinced it’s Fate. Breanna’s only ambition was to be a wedding planner with her own business, The Wright Wedding … so Mia doesn’t hesitate.

Breanna’s now got three months to plan a wedding where the sky’s the limit, budget-wise. She should be over the moon. Especially as she’ll get a chance to see old friends again, including her first love. There’s just one tiny hitch ... Breanna doesn’t have a wedding-planning business.

She should tell Mia there has been a slight mistake, but as usual Breanna’s life isn’t running smoothly and she could really use a break. And when you’ve dreamt about planning weddings all your life, how difficult can it be?

Will this be the chance Breanna’s longed for? Or will Mia’s Dream Wedding be Breanna’s biggest disaster yet?

I was deliriously happy to be hack in Little Pondale along with Mia, Jet and everyone else.  It feels like only yesterday that I read Return to Lily Pond Lane, so it was much easier for me to pick up the story than it had for me in previous installments. 

This book picks up pretty much where the previous one finishes, so I reckon its best to read these two as a pair, but they are both wonderful, and quick and easy to read, so it really wouldn't be any hardship. 

This was so amusing, romantic, and also just proves at a magical place Little Pondale is to live in.  It was lovely getting to know Breanna, and there is plenty going on to keep the village gossips happy. 

It's hard to know what to share with you, as the book is really quick to read, a sheer pleasure, a bit of a whirlwind, but with assorted sub plots. There are even some lovely surprises to look forward to.  

I loved every moment I spent hoping that the wedding would go smoothly, and that Mia and Jet would be happily married by the end of it.  Of course that doesn't mean that is the only romance, and there are some lovely interactions between some of the other villagers too. 

All in all another triumph of a book in this very popular series. 

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

Book Review - The Happy Home For Ladies by Lilly Bartlett - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Title: The Happy Home For Ladies

Author: Lilly Bartlett

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 31st August 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Meet Phoebe, who’s 28, and Laney, Dot and Maggie, who are 68, 78, and none of your business. Together they'll prove that age doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship, belonging and an unquenchable zest for life.
A hilarious, uplifting novel about the ties of community, the strength of love and how nobody is truly ordinary.

When Framlingham’s famously all-female senior living home goes co-ed, a war between the sexes is declared.

Stuck in the middle, chef Phoebe Stockton is desperate to help her friends plot to keep the community that means so much to them. It’s become her life raft, too. She finds comfort in her beloved career that might finally make her parents proud. But Phoebe’s darling Nick is lining up on the other side of the battle, and their relationship is suffering collateral damage.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If the home’s owner can’t improve business by moving the men in, he’ll have to evict everyone.

The women aren’t about to let that happen.

Always a joy to read a book from Lilly Bartlett and this really is no exception. 

I loved getting to know all the residents at The Happy Home for Ladies, which is care home for ladies of a certain age, and has far more of a community feel to it than some.  There are many clubs and activities daily, and it sounded like a really pleasant place to live. 

We meet Phoebe on the day of her mother;s funeral, and I instantly felt a sort of kinship with her, as her relationship with her mother isn't simple, and neither is mine, 

Phoebe is the cook at the care home, but not only that her best friend is the manager, her crush is the all around dogsbody of the place, and they are all friends to ladies that live there. 

I loved hearing about the ins and outs of the home and its various residents, there were some very interesting sub plots at play, in addition  to a few more serious ones too. 

It is a well thought out, fun book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. 

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

Book Review - Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts - Blog Tour

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Title: Rachel's Pudding Pantry

Author: Caroline Roberts

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 18th April 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Primrose Farm is Rachel’s very own slice of heaven. Come rain or shine there’s always a pot of tea brewing by the Aga, the delicious aroma of freshly baked puddings, and a chorus of happy memories drifting through the kitchen.

But the farm is in a spot of trouble. As the daffodils spring, Rachel must plant the seeds of change if she wants to keep the farm afloat, and it’s all resting on a crazy plan. She’ll need one family cook book, her Mum Jill’s baking magic – and a reason to avoid her distractingly gorgeous neighbour, Tom . . .

Swapping their wellies for aprons, can Rachel and Jill bake their way into a brighter future? The proof will be in the pudding!

I clearly drawn to this book the second I saw its title, and author. Well I love the author, and when the main character shares my name, and I also love desserts, it seemed fated that I needed to read this book. 

And boy and I glad that I did.  However first a warning - don't read this on an empty stomach, make sure you have snacks to hand while you are reading, it will make you that hungry.  There are puddings in practically every chapter, which if you are anything like me could make you drool. 

From the first few chapters I was hooked, and given they were short chapters throughout, its a very easy book to fall prey to just one chapter syndrome, and find you are still reading half an hour later.   I was resenting real life while reading this, as I just wanted to get back between the pages. 

I loved all the generations of women in the Swinton family, from the lovely Granny Ruth, who Rachel visits occasionally, to Jill, Rachel's mum and pudding baker expert,  Rachel whose ideas will be key to giving Primrose Farm a chance of surviving, and Rachel's daughter, the almost 5 year old Maisie. 

I adored Maisie, she may be young, but she is adorable, smart, insightful and apparently is a good little waitress too.  She is though starting to ask Rachel about her father, and let's just say in terms of fatherhood,  Jake could be considered a "learner father". 

Then there is Tom, the neighbour who is always there for Rachel and her family.  I don't think I have a bad thing to say about the man, other than he isn't real and therefore can't be interested in me!  

Set to a farming background, especially featuring sheep, this is the story of how you can try to turn around your fortunes after a tough few years. with plenty of pudding, good friendships, and a large helping of family. 

This is such a cosy read, its a warm hearted story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's another fabulous book from an author who by now is an auto  - must read author. 

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

Please do follow along with all these other fabulous bloggers. 

Book Review - You, Me and Italy by Sue Roberts - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Title: You, Me and Italy

Author: Sue Roberts

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 6th March 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Three best friends, Italian sunshine and a handsome stranger can fix just about anything… Can’t it? 

Maisie Knight had it all. A gorgeous husband. A successful business. A beautiful home. Until one day, after walking into the storeroom of their shop, she loses it all at once – catching her husband cheating on her with the girl from Checkout 3. So when she wins a holiday to Italy, a week under the Tuscan sun couldn’t come soon enough. 

Treating best friends Cheryl and Emma to a girls’ trip, the terracotta-roofed Villa Marisa on a rustic farm awaits them. The fields of golden sunflowers could be the perfect cure for Maisie’s broken heart – and local farmer, suspiciously perfect Gianni, with his thick black hair and twinkling brown eyes is a welcome distraction from her broken heart.

Mornings waking up to freshly brewed coffee and views of the rolling hills, moped rides with cheeky Italians, and feasts of prosecco and pasta help Maisie forget her troubles. After all her heartache, she’s surprised when she starts opening up to Gianni – she’s even more surprised when the temperature rises and it’s not just the rays of the Italian sunshine…

Maisie could get used to the good life. But just as she’s getting her spark back, disaster strikes. The next thing she knows, her past is catching up with her, reopening old wounds and Maisie has a life-changing decision to make. Should she say ciao to her summer of love and limoncello?

A laugh-out-loud page turner about second chances, finding happiness when you least expect it and the restorative power of Italian food!

Another delightful story from an author I really do enjoy reading. 

I felt sorry for Maisie quite early on in the story, when she discovers the truth about her husband, 

We then fast forward to her current situation, which leads to another amusing scene early on when Maisie quits one he jobs, in a rather public way. 

However her luck is due to change with a competition with for a holiday to Tuscany, Who knew that this would be a life changing holiday for her. 

From the moment Maisie and her friends Cheryl and Emma arrive in Italy, I completely fell for this book.  The divine food descriptions, the sense of location, the sexy Italian men, its all just fabulous. 

This is a story of love, friendship and finding new life opportunities when you least expect them. 

What a lovely summery read this is, I would expect to see this on kindles poolside all over the coming months as we move into Summer Holiday season (or even wishful thinking there could be sun season,)

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

Book Review - The Bad Mother's Book Club by Keris Stainton - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Title: The Bad Mother's Book Club

Author: Keris Stainton

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Trapeze

Publication Date: 18th April 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Since moving to the Liverpudlian seaside after her husband's career change, Emma Chance's life consists of the following: long walks on the beach (with the dog), early nights (with the kids) and Netflix (no chill).

Bored and lonely, when Emma is cordially invited to the exclusive cool school-mums' book club, hosted by Head of PTA and footballer's wife, Jools Jackson, she thinks her luck may finally be about to change. She soon realises she may have made a grave mistake when she realises it's all about books, and less about wine and gossip - but it's always better to stick things out, isn't it?

Or not.

After a few months and a few awkward moments involving a red wine on white carpet accident and a swear-word incident involving Jools's daughter, Emma is ungraciously kicked out of the book club. Exhausted and exiled, she decides it's about time she fights back against the shame and humiliation. Enlisting the help of some similar-thinking mums, Emma sets up her own book club - no cleaners, polite conversation or reading required: this is the Bad Mother's Book Club.

I really enjoyed this book about a group of mothers at the same school, all which do like reading. 

Yet although there are some book club meetings featured, this story is about so much more than that. 

It shows just how different people are coping with being parents, the challenges they face in parenting, professional and personal lives. 

There are many moments that will make you laugh, and then there is Jules' much more serious story line. 

I adored Sam and Rosie, Emma's two children, who are worlds apart, with individual personalities, and who both get rather a starring role in this book. 

The Bad Mother's Book Club is a fun story, that was reasonably quick to read. It was the first book I have read by the author, and now i am wondering why on earth that is!

Thank you to Netgalley and Trapeze 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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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 - Sorry Not Sorry by Sophie Ranald

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Title: Sorry Not Sorry

Author: Sophie Ranald

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 13th February 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

A fabulously feel-good novel that will make you laugh till you cry and leave you living life to the full, margarita in hand! 

Is this all there is? I scraped the last dregs of Caramel Chew Chew ice cream out of the bottom of the tub with my finger and licked it. It left a sticky smear on my phone’s screen when I typed into Google, “How to find love, sex and happiness.”

Charlotte has always been a good girl. But being good is getting boring…

She’s not just stuck in a rut – she’s buried in it up to her chin. The only company she has in bed is the back catalogue of Netflix and falling in love feels like the stuff of fairy tales. So when she stumbles across a popular podcast, ‘Sorry Not Sorry’, which challenges women to embrace their inner bad girl, she jumps at the chance to shake things up.

Old Charlotte would never ask for a stranger’s number, go on a blind date or buy lacy lingerie… But New Charlotte is waving goodbye to her comfort zone (with a side order of margaritas). And it turns out that good things happen to bad girls…

After a bit of a slow start, where I was struggling to work out who worked where, and what all the characters connections were - admittedly I was very tired when I read the first half of the book, which possibly affected my initial enjoyment - I'm glad I continued as I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the book. 

What really intrigued me initially and kept me reading was the pod cast series that Charlotte was following called Sorry Not Sorry, all about getting in touch with your inner bad girl. I loved all the various challenges that were set and how Charlotte tried to embrace them. 

There were a couple of men in the book and I always had a weird inkling who she may end up with.  I really enjoyed the hot and steamy times she had with Miles, the office architect, although whether I ever trusted him would be another matter. 

Getting to know Tansy, Charlottes new flat mate was enjoyable, and I was interested in what she was clearly hiding.  And when the secret was revealed it made me think too. 

After around 50% was when I became properly engaged with the story, and found it was coming together in my mind more. I found I was really caring about the characters, and was interested to see how various situations would resolve themselves.  

There are even a good selection of people to hate if you are that way incline, and Charlotte's job exhausted me just thinking about it. 

An enjoyable book, and the hint in the notes at the back that we may get more books featuring  Tansy and Adam, Charlotte's other flatmates is rather intriguing, and I really hope we do as I'd love to get to know Tansy even more. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - In High Places by J J Holland

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Title: In High Places

Author: J J Holland

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 18th April 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Ever since the death of his wife, Lina, in a Kabul bombing, Aubrey Savage has been determined to fulfil his promise to her: to find out what happened to her brother, Jarrah, a disavowed MI5 agent who has been missing for two years.

An ex-SAS officer, Savage is used to noticing the small things. So when he offers a lift to a terrified runaway bride on the moors, he knows there's more to her story than meets the eye.

But when she is snatched away immediately, leaving behind a holdall and a Glock that he recognises to be that of an MI5 agent, he is thrust into a deadly world of corruption, and a threat that's all too close to home...

I can now understand why the talented Jane Holland has yet another pen name, as this is very different to her normal thrillers.  In fact I'm not entirely sure what I thought of it. 

However I did find myself incredibly caught up with the action, it gave me a disturbed night's sleep, and I found I kept thinking about the book.  I was also utterly gripped whenever I was reading it. 

But yet its not the sort of story  I would tend to look for, and only read it as I knew I could trust the author's writing and I was curious.  I'm still convinced books with ex-SAS officers, and all manner of violence from the main protagonist aren't really for me. 

That being said I was rooting for Aubrey Savage the whole way through and was hoping he would get answers about his missing friend, and his protection of women in a situation that is so far removed to most people's realities was very interesting to read. 

Everything that was going on at the Green Chapel was very disturbing and there and the arrogance of the main criminal mastermind was shocking.  

I loved all of Aubrey's theories, and how he was able to get people onside to help him, and his background was rather surprising too. 

If you like your books quite dark, definitely dastardly and full of action then this is definitely the book for you. 

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

Book Review - Return To Lily Pond Lane by Emily Havale

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Title: Return to Lily Pond Lane

Author: Emily Harvale

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Crescent Gate Publishing

Publisher: Author supplied copy

Publication Date: 26th February 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Life couldn’t be better for Mia and her friends in Little Pondale – until tragedy strikes... 

Mia Ward is on cloud nine after a magical Christmas and New Year and she isn’t the only one. Everyone on Lily Pond Lane seems to be living in blissful harmony. Until tragedy strikes… not once, but twice. And as Hettie Turner points out: ‘Bad things always come in threes.’ 

Whilst the other residents of Little Pondale are wondering what might happen next, Mia is busy worrying about her friends, and trying to help them with their grief. But she needs to be careful. Just when she thought she had everything, there’s a very real chance she might lose the only thing she truly wants. 

If you enjoy reading Sarah Morgan, Holly Martin, Cathy Bramley, Bella Osborne and Debbie Johnson, this book is for you. 

I am so enjoying my visits to Lily Pond Lane and my first thought on finishing this book was - omg I need more, I don't want to wait for the next one! 

Those dark clouds on the cover are very relevant, there some really bad things that happen in this book early on, and its how everyone recovers from them that is so key to the story.   

I loved seeing how Jet and Mia were getting on, given they were now living together.  And also meeting up with old friends all around Little Pondale.   

This was such a warm and cosy read, full of great moments, and although I would have loved to have read it in one go, I was just too tired, but overnight anytime I was even remotely more alert than asleep, my mind was wondering what was going on in Little  Pondale, and I was chomping at the bit to read the rest of it. 

Even if you haven't read previous books in this series, I do feel it will work well as a standalone. There are relevant snippets or reminders of backstory, in a way that you get the gist even if you don't know fully what was happening.   Although why you would want to miss out on any of the other fab books is beyond me! 

i really loved every second of this book and once again amazed at how talented Emily Harvale is. 

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

Book Review - Relight My Fire by Joanna Bolouri

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Title: Relight My Fire

Author: Joanna Bolouri

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 1st March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Phoebe and Oliver had their happy ending, but now, with a five year old daughter, they are far from the blissful hedonistic lifestyle of when they first started dating. Not one for giving up, Phoebe creates a sexy wishlist: a jar where they can ask the other for anything they've ever wanted in bed - or out of it. But with distractions aplenty, will they be able to relight the fire in the bedroom?

Set 5 years after The List, it was great to catch up with Phoebe and Oliver again.  I will shamefully admit that I don't after such a break since I read the first book, recall too much about it, but that does mean that I can assure anyone that this can easily be read as a standalone. 

There were a few reminders from The List, but on the whole this was a whole new story, about a married couple needing to reinvigorate their sex life. They have 4 year old Mollie now, and she is adorable, which would put a dampener on most people's passion, and so they come up with ways to try to spice up their lives. 

Easily my favourite parts of this book was the introduction of the sex jar and how it was used, and the scenarios being played out, were  a lot of fun, and incredibly sexy too. 

I really enjoyed Phoebe's best friend Lucy, she was such a breath of fresh air running through the book, some of the funniest lines seemed to come from her. 

The story takes place over a year, and is told in what appeared to be diary entries, some longer and some shorter.  I really enjoyed all of Pam's suggestions for Phoebe and Oliver and it really wasn't all plain sailing.  

This was the perfect length of book for me to read on a journey to and from Stoke, and it passed the journey incredibly well.  I almost missed at least one stop, and generally didn't notice the world passing me by. Was incredibly enjoyable and the ending left me with a massive grin on my face (to the extent I think I had a few weird looks). 

Many thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.