Book Review - My Greek Island Summer by Mandy Baggot

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Title: My Greek Island Summer

Author: Mandy Baggot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 2nd April 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Two weeks. One unforgettable trip to Corfu. A chance to change her life.
Becky Rose has just landed her dream job house-sitting at a top-end villa on the island of Corfu. What could be better than two weeks laying by an infinity pool overlooking the gorgeous Ionian waters while mending her broken heart.

Elias Mardas is travelling back to Corfu on business whilst dealing with his own personal demons. Late arriving in Athens, Becky and Elias have to spend a night in the Greek capital. When they have to emergency land in Kefalonia, Becky's got to decide whether to suck up the adventure and this gorgeous companion she seems to have been thrown together with or panic about when she's going to arrive at Corfu...

Finally reaching the beautiful island, Becky is happy to put Elias behind her and get on with her adventure. Until he turns up at the villa...

Greek sexy man.... check!
Delicious sounding Greek food.... check!
A longing to jump on a plane while reading.... check!
Wonderful heroine, prickly sister and new friend who is hilarious.... check!

I mean what more do you want from a Mandy Baggot book?  Especially as this was her 20th story, and shes is an absolute master of her craft. 

It is amazing how much was packed into the book even before they land in Corfu. We have unexpected extra sightseeing and some of the Athens descriptions matched my memories of the place and I could see everything so clearly. 

Then there is what is awaiting them in the villa which made me laugh. Easily the most unexpected contents of a bath tub ever!!

Petra, Becky's new friend, let's call her is a breath of fresh air. I loved all of her travelling anecdotes and her lack of pretension when it comes to men.   

Then there is Becky and Megan's sandwich business,  and fractured sibling relationship to discover. 

Oh and Elias and Eleni are fabulous, I loved their interactions, and also just everything about Elias. 

I just loved every single second of this book. 

What I love about stories like this is the way you can travel just from the safety of your armchair.  If you are looking to loose yourself in a story that will let you escape the world at this troubling time, then this,  and well any of this authors Greek set books are just what the doctor ordered.

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

Book Review - A Question of Us by Mary Jayne Baker - #HolidayReading Madeira

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Title: A Question of Us

Author: Mary Jayne Baker

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 5th September 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Two best friends. Eight pub quizzes. One shot at love...
There are some people who seem like they have all the answers in life. Clarrie Midwinter isn't one of them.

At the age of 26, tomboy Clarrie is still struggling to become a 'proper' grown-up. She's eternally strapped for cash, she hasn't had a date in nearly a year and her attempts to quit smoking tend to take a nosedive after the second pint. Most annoyingly of all, her ladykiller best friend Simon just won't stop asking her out. The only thing keeping her sane is her pub quiz team, the Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers.

But when Simon bets her a date their team will win the quiz league, Clarrie is forced to confront what she really wants out of life – and love. Is it finally time for her to grow up?

Gloriously irreverent, badly behaved romantic comedy from the author of Meet Me at the Lighthouse.

I adore quizzes and I love this authors works, so combined this was a fabulous book for me. 

Featuring a local quiz league Clarrie and her friends are determined to win this year, as there is the outcome of a big bet riding on it. 

The connection between Si and Clarrie is obvious to everyone apart from Clarrie and at times I wanted to knock some sense into her, to see the obvious. 

I loved the whole group of friends, and seeing their dynamic at play. 

And their competitiveness was amusing to see too. I loved the various quiz questions and can't help but wonder how much research was done in the compilation of the quiz snippets seen. 

Filled with great humour, really relatable to character and loads more besides,  A Question of Us is another fantastically enjoyable story from Mary Jayne Baker. 

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

Book Review - One Christmas Star by Mandy Baggot - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: One Christmas Star

Author: Mandy Baggot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 12th September 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Emily Parker is set to have the worst Christmas ever!
Her flatmate's moved out, she's closed her heart to love and she's been put in charge of the school original Christmas show – with zero musical ability.

Disgraced superstar, Ray Stone is in desperate need of a quick PR turnaround. Waking up from a drunken stupor to a class of ten-year-olds snapping pics and Emily looking at him was not what he had in mind.

Ray needs Emily's help to delete the photos, and she needs his with the show. As they learn to work together they may just open their hearts to more than a second chance...

I've known for years now that Mandy Baggot is one talented author and fabulous story teller.  However within this book we  discover she is fabulous lyricist too.  Well at least her character of Ray is, as he helped Emily with her schools Christmas show. 

I loved seeing all these new lyrics to old Christmas favourites, and I couldn't help but sot of get the feeling that the show itself had the same feel to it as the film Nativity.  

I really enjoyed getting to know the children in Emily's class, and although they may not have been completely key to the main story, it didn't detract from loving her class, and seeing how she reacted to various situations as a teacher.  Was also amused to see the various wildlife that ended up in her classroom. 

Emily and Ray are from completely different walks of life, and under normal circumstances would have probably never, met, but now that they have, this fledgling friendship was enjoyable to watch develop. 

And seeing how Ray, famous singer, songwriter is coping with the blatantly untrue bad press he is getting is admirable, although I was completely shocked when the truth came out, as I hadn't even considered it as a possible outcome. 

I found the book got off to a bit of a slow start, but once I got into the swing of it I was wholeheartedly enjoying it.  i connected with Emily rather quickly, but it took Ray a short while to warm to, and when I did, well you could't have asked for a nicer hero. 

It was great getting to know Emily and Ray's friends and families, and seeing how different their feelings for Christmas. are. 

Many fantastically festive moments in this story, far too many to mention in this incredibly charming festive romance. 

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

Please take a look at the rest of the stops on this fabulous blog tour. 

Book Review - Magic Under The Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: Magic Under The Mistletoe

Author: Lucy Coleman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 5th September 2019

Rating: 4 Stars 

Christmas and romance are in the air...
It's December 23rd and while everyone else is rushing home for the holidays, workaholic Leesa Oliver is dreading switching on her out-of-office for the festive season. And it seems her equally driven boss, Cary Anderson, isn't relishing spending Christmas at his family's country estate either.

So together, they draft an unexpected Christmas contract: They'll spend half of the holidays with each other's families, pretending to be a couple. Leesa knows the insufferably good-looking Cary will make her Christmas more bearable, but what happens after the last of the mince pies have been eaten...?

Leesa signed off on a sensible business agreement, but somewhere, amongst the fairy lights and carols something seems to have changed... It seems there might just be some magic under the mistletoe this Christmas!

A unique take on the fake date trope.  

Wow there is a lot of story in this book, there are so many threads, characters, storylines, with more developing the whole time, that by the time I'm trying to write this review, I can't work out what was early enough in the book I dare comment on. 

Cary and Leesa start as colleagues and get to know each other a bit better on a long haul flight back from Sydney and then with some bad weather, Leesa ends up going to Cary's family home for the night. 

Neither of them are particularly relishing their Christmas this year,  Leesa it turns out for incredibly good reason. 

Even as we got to know Cary better, I still couldn't quite gel with him, I can't put my finger on it.  I liked him, I just didn't fall for him at all.  I loved his grandma though, Cressida was wonderful.   Actually I loved all of Cary's family more than Leesa's. 

There are all manner of secrets and surprises to be uncovered as you turn the pages, its certainly a book that keeps you on your toes.  Plenty going on in it, but equally really easy to follow. 

At times I wanted to slam Leesa and Cary's heads together, at others I wondered if we learnt a bit too much about their working lives.  I really felt for Leesa at times, and the rest I wasn't as sure.   I suspect that had I connected to characters a bit more, I would have enjoyed the book even more, than I did.  But that is more down to personal preference than anything particularly wrong with the book. 

It is a really enjoyable story, and where Christmas is involved it does feel festive, especially the finale.  

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

Please do follow along with the other blogs on this tour

Book Review - The Christmas Calendar Girls by Samantha Tonge

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Title: The Christmas Calendar Girls

Author: Samantha Tonge

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 3rd October 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

This Christmas fall in love with the town of Chesterwood...
Christmas is meant to be a time of giving, so with Chesterwood food bank under risk of closure Fern knows just what to do to save it. She's going to get the town to create a living advent calendar.

Fern, and her best friends, call for help from the local community to bring this calendar to life. When Kit, the new man in town, offers his assistance Fern's heart can't help but skip a beat (or two).

As they grow ever closer, Fern must admit that Kit's breaking down the barriers she built after the death of her husband. But his past is holding him back and Fern doesn't know how to reach him. No matter how hard she tries.

In this town, Kit's not the only one with secrets. Domestic goddess Cara is behaving oddly, burning meals in the oven and clothes whilst ironing, and Davina's perfect children are causing trouble at school leaving her son, Jasper, desperately unhappy.

Can the Christmas Calendar Girls find a way to bring the community together in time to save the food bank, while still supporting their families and each other? Can Fern find love again with Kit?

This is a story about kindness and letting go of the past. It's about looking out for your neighbours and about making every day feel like Christmas.

A fabulous festive story with feeling and grit. 

What an inventive idea a living advent calendar is, and seeing how it all came together and the ideas that each day had for their turn were incredibly imaginative.   

There is a lot of depth within this story, all three of the main characters are struggling with various things in their lives.   Fern, Davina and Cara are great friends, and I enjoyed seeing how their stories would develop. 

What really hooked me as the storyline that felt a bit like it came out of a Christmas film - where the friends are asking to community to rally around and save a much needed amenity, in a race against time to raise the funds, from the nasty scrooge like landlord. 

It's an eye opening story in that it takes in just how important a local foodbank is, gives plenty of examples of people whose circumstances mean they need to use it, as well as a character who is starting to turn their life around,  and is someone I was really drawn to. 

There is plenty of Christmas Cheer, and its such an enjoyable story.  All the children are great, and there are some incredibly touching moments. 

I really loved this book, and it is so great to see Samantha Tonge go back to writing a more light hearted book, but still taking in some of the more serious topics that were dealt with in her darker books.  

I'm trying to not give too much away, but safe to say I would definitely recommend reading The Christmas Calendar Girls.  And I promise unlike The Calendar Girls film / musical there are no naked calendars... this is completely different!! 

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

Book Review - The Postcard by Zoe Folbigg

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Amazon UK

Title: The Postcard

Author: Zoe Folbigg

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 1st August 2019

Rating: 3 Stars

The sequel to the bestselling phenomenon The Note – based on the true story of one girl and her 'Train Man'...
A year after the kiss that brought them together in a snowy train-station doorway, Maya and James are embarking on another journey – this time around the world.

The trip starts promisingly, with an opulent and romantic Indian wedding. But as their travels continue, Maya fears that 'love at first sight' might not survive trains, planes and tuk tuks, especially when she realises that what she really wants is a baby, and James doesn't feel the same. 

Can Maya and James navigate their different hopes and dreams to stay together? Or is love at first sight just a myth after all...

Perfect for fans of One Day in December, Our Stop and Marian Keyes. The Postcard continues the once-in-a-lifetime love story that readers so took to their hearts.

Ultimately it was the plane on the cover and the mention of a round the world trip that made me decide to read this book. After all I love books featuring travel, and I know people had raved about The Note, which I hadn't read, but I thought I would give this a go. 

Well for the first 15% or so I was lost, there were far too many characters coming at me at once, while Maya and James prepare for this round the world trip.   And even once they were abroad their first stop a lavish Indian wedding, I just wasn't connecting with the book. 

But then as they started to travel, I felt more with the rhythm of the story, and yet I was still conflicted.  Initially I was thinking I wasn't getting enough details on any of the places visited to get a real feel for them. 

And then Maya and James went to a detox spa in Thailand, which Maya needed to mention in her weekly column she was writing - and frankly there was far far far too much detail on the treatments.  At no point do I want to know what is coming out of a person during a self administered colonic irrigation. 

Yet I'll admit the book started off with an unsettling first chapter that I couldn't quite get into but also felt as though it was not from a book of this genre, and let me to wonder what I was getting into.  The story touched on in that first chapter actually turned into what kept me reading as I wanted to know what actually the truth of the matter was and just how it connected into Maya and James story. 

And then there were also chapters from Nena's point of view, about life back in London as a mum to a 6 month old, who still isn't sleeping through the night, and how she is coping with motherhood. 

It was after the retreat and once the couple went to Vietnam that I found myself really enjoying the story, there were some funny bits, some areas of despair and there was an unexpected conclusion for this couple that I just didn't really feel the connection between. 

There was the introduction of another couple that added fabulous light relief to the book, and I just wanted to give Lenny a great big hug.  I sort of wish we had their story instead, as I much preferred those characters. 

Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the writing and in parts I really was lost in the story, but it just didn't gel properly with me.  I suspect the fact I hadn't read The Note may have been an issue, or maybe I was just expecting more from the book than was there. 

Apart from the scenes that made me feel ill, it was an enjoyable story, and one that I'm sure fans of the author would enjoy a whole deal more than me.   I would suggest that if you have read the blurb and it does appeal for you to give it a go, as it may just be it was the wrong book for me on the wrong day. 

Thank you to Vicky Joss at Aria for this copy which I have reviewed honestly. 

Book Review - A Village Affair by Julie Houston

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Title: A Village Affair

Author: Julie Houston

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 6th November 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Cassie Beresford has recently landed her dream job as deputy head at her local, idyllic village primary school, Little Acorns. So, the last thing she needs is her husband of twenty years being 'outed' at a village charity auction - he has been having an affair with one of her closest friends.

As if that weren't enough to cope with, Cassie suddenly finds herself catapulted into the head teacher position, and at the forefront of a fight to ward off developers determined to concrete over the beautiful landscape.

But through it all, the irresistible joy of her pupils, the reality of keeping her teenage children on the straight and narrow, her irrepressible family and friends, and the possibility of new love, mean what could have been the worst year ever, actually might be the best yet...

Julie Houston's novels are funny, wonderfully warm and completely addictive. Perfect for all fans of Gervaise Phinn, Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell.

It has been a long while for me, but it was good to be back in Midhope in this all new story, focusing on Cassie Beresford.  

It can easily be read as a standalone, but there are familiar faces to those who have been reading other books from the author. 

And what a story this was, I can't believe how many story lines and threads where packed into this book.  There is a lot going on and never a dull moment.  

We have cheating husbands, questions of parenthood, sexuality, a campaign again a development, a hilarious hen party, best friends. and new love.   All of it executed in such a way that you can't help but be drawn into Cassie's life and enjoy seeing just bump in the road she may encounter next! 

For nothing seems to run smoothly in this story for anyone, which keeps the reader on their toes at all times.  Even the characters you want to dislike on the whole are shown to have another side to them.  

I really enjoyed Julie Houston's writing, and everything about this story.  I just regret that I'd had the book on my kindle for about a year before starting to read it, which given how much I liked the book, I now feel very guilty about. 

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

Book Review - How To Make Time For Me by Fiona Perrin

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Title:  How To Make Time For Me

Author: Fiona Perrin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 11th July 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

No-one said being a single mum would be easy...
Everyone knows that being a single mother means having no time to yourself. But for Callie Brown, its more exhausting than most. She's juggling the needs of three teenage children, two live-in parents, a raffish ex-husband, and a dog who never stops eating.

The last thing Callie needs is anything more on her plate. So when she bumps (quite literally) into a handsome, age-appropriate cyclist, she's quick to dismiss him from her life. After all, if she doesn't have time to brush her hair in the morning, she certainly doesn't have time to fall in love...

Funny, heartwarming and oh-so-true, this is a novel about motherhood, families, and life after divorce, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Allison Pearson.

A rare sort of book that I found was on my mind even when I was reading it. I was completely interested in Lily and Wilf's stories in particular. 

Which is odd as the main character was Callie, and the book was written in the first person from her perspective, yet its one of her twin daughters, and Wilf, the boy she has been a mother too since he was 6 (now 14), that really interested me. 

Although any book that starts with the main character being run over by a deliveroo cyclist, and then calling herself Miss Invisible in A&E, definitely captured my attention initially, and I did enjoy seeing how her story progressed. 

This is a book which just goes to show it doesn't matter that shape, size or blood ties, that determine who your family really are and where your home is.  Although it take many funny moments, some more worrying ones, and a whole deal of drama to get through this. 

There are issues dealt with in this book that any parent of teenagers will relate to, and also those with ageing parents who are becoming slightly more needy.   

I loved Callie's friends, and her job in HR just had me rolling my eyes and the sexism and chauvinism of some of the people she was meant to be working with, but again could easily see happening in real life. 

This is the first book I've read by the author, and I was struck by her conversational writing style, realistic and relateable characters, and plots that make you think while being entertaining.   This is almost certainly an author I will be looking to read again in the future. 

A very enjoyable book that gives a great look at modern parenting of a teenager while trying to potentially have your own life. 

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

Book Review - One Last Greek Summer by Mandy Baggot - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: One Last Greek Summer

Author: Mandy Baggot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 6th June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Beth Martin is 31, newly divorced and wondering just what life holds for her...
Best-friend, Heidi, is adamant that all the answers lie in Corfu – the island where the girls partied away their youth. So cue a trip to a sun-drenched Greek island, ouzo cocktails, a trip down memory lane... and Alex Hallas, the man Beth has never quite forgotten.

As they dance under the stars, the sand beneath their toes, old feelings begin to resurface and Beth might just have a chance to take back her life. If they can learn to love the people they've become...

The first line of the book made me laugh out loud, and I knew then that I was going to be in for a treat. Actually that first line is still making me giggle now! 

I do love a Mandy Baggot book, and this was no exception.  I had a wonderful new book boyfriend incredibly early on, I was hooked on Alex and his story, while also enjoying what the friends Beth and Heidi were getting up to in Corfu. 

We get to see a fair amount of the island, and each chapter is helpfully given a subheading of the exact location we were in.  I loved the assorted activities that Heidi roped Beth into as they tried to relive their holiday of 2009 and act like they were 21 again. 

Now what can I say about Alex Hallas, sexy Greek DJ, and man of many jobs.  Well I could certainly identify with his mother issues, and loved the project he was working on with his cousin.  I could also very quickly see why Beth had never really forgotten him, and spent the whole book rooting for them both. 

This is a story of second chance love, of having a wonderful two week holiday and emerging from it with a far better idea of who you want to be.   I adored every sun filled moment of the book.   

This is the perfect garden / poolside / holiday read, depending on where you are sitting in the sun.  It is feel good, has some fabulous sub plots and generally is an all around great book.   I loved it! 

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

Please do follow along with all the other stops on the blog tour for this wonderful book. 

Book Review - Summer on the Italian Lakes by Lucy Coleman

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Title: Summer on the Italian Lakes

Author: Lucy Coleman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 5th February 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Bestselling Brianna Middleton has won the hearts of millions of readers with her sweeping - and steamy - love stories. But the girl behind the typewriter is struggling... Not only does she have writer's block, but she's a world-famous romance author with zero romance in her own life.

So the opportunity to spend the summer teaching at a writer's retreat in an idyllic villa on the shores of Lake Garda - owned by superstar author Arran Jamieson - could this be just the thing to fire up Brie's writing - and romantic - mojo?

Brie's sun-drenched Italian summer could be the beginning of this writer's very own happy-ever-after...

This has to be a dream book for a book lover, or anyone with any sorts of writing aspirations, or those who love Italy, or sexy heroes, or just an all around fabulous story. 

I have no idea where to start in waxing lyrical about all aspects of this book,  I really don't think I could fault anything. 

I mean Brie is a romance writer that verges more towards the hot and steamy side of things, but her real life persona is a lot quieter, she is struggling after a rather high profile break up, to the extent her friends and family need to stage an intervention. 

Throughout the book we get to know a lot about her writing process, and how the characters come to life in her head. She is writing two  books at the same time, and gets involved in another one too, so that is a lot of Brie's fictional characters we get to know as she writes her books. 

Thankfully, unlike some books where authors are the main characters, there isn't a full book within a book style approach here, which I am grateful of, as I always find it confusing, and besides hearing about the creative process was far more interesting to me. 

The book really gets going when she takes over last minute as a teacher on a writing retreat for a month in Lake Garda, Italy.  Such a stunning inspirational location, and the Villa which is so central to the story is owned by the rather more academic author Arran, who is not at all like Brie was imagining. 

I loved getting to know the participants for the first week of the writing retreat, and also learning all about Arran too. Not to mention the gorgeous backdrop, interesting information about publishing from some of the workshops, plus Carrie - both Brie and Arran's agent,  the Italian food, the couple of planned excursions. 

And yet you may be thinking I'm portraying a rather simple book - but that couldn't be further from the truth as both Arran and Brie are complex characters, with all manner of things in their backgrounds that are influencing how they are. 

Plus Arran is instrumental to so many of they key story lines.   I couldn't get enough of our pair of authors, and was always eager to return, when real life dragged me away from the book. 

Words... or at least my words can not do this book justice. You really need go read it for yourself to fully enjoy its wonderfulness! 

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

Book Review - The Sisters by Kate Forster - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The Sisters

Author: Kate Forster

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 20th November 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Wealth and privilege can't buy you love... or keep your secrets safe.
The de Santoval sisters are heiresses to a glamorous fashion house, and the darlings of LA society.

Violetta is the hottest reality TV star of the moment, with a fierce press interest to rival Hollywood's A-list.

Carlotta is an exclusive horse trainer, as wild as the stallions she breaks in.

Fine-arts consultant Grace is hiding a dark secret she must keep hidden at all costs.

Their mother, wealthy fashion maven Birdie De Santoval, lies unconscious following a mysterious accident. Blame soon falls on their powerful but ruthless tycoon father, the missing Leon De Santoval.

Beneath the ritzy façade of the de Santoval family lies a web of deceit and betrayal that hides a secret that threatens to destroy them all...

Perfect poolside reading, a glorious blockbuster of a novel that hits everything that I love from a book I am reading on holiday. 

There are rich people, scandals, mysteries, surprises and sex!

It is pure escapism that completely transported me to the sisters stories.  All three of them are so different but the question is will they be able to band together to save their mother's company, even though none of them have ever worked there. 

At first Violetta and Carlotta are fairly unlikable but once you get to know them I found I was rooting for all 3 girls. 

I love reading books from this author, and this was no exception, just the sort of book I adore, very well written and highly compelling. 

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

Book Review - Snowflakes Over Holly Cove by Lucy Coleman - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: Snowflakes Over Holly Cove

Author: Lucy Coleman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 18th September 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

As the snowflakes start to fall, Holly Cove welcomes a new tenant to the beautiful old cottage on the beach...

For lifestyle magazine journalist Tia Armstrong, relationships, as well as Christmas, have lost all their magic. Yet Tia is up against a Christmas deadline for her latest article 'Love is, actually, all around'...

So Tia heads to Holly Cove where the restorative sea air, and rugged stranger Nic, slowly but surely start mending her broken heart.

Tia didn't expect a white Christmas, and she certainly never dared dream that all her Christmas wishes might just come true...

Set in Caswell Bay on the stunningly rugged Gower Coast, the cottage nestles amid the limestone cliffs and the woodlands; the emotions run as turbulently as the wind-swept sea.

What a charming story,  which kept me entertained from start to finish. 

I loved getting to discover the Gower Coast an in particular Holly Cove which sounded lovely.  I enjoyed getting to know the locals to the area, especially Max and Nic. 

I especially was interested in both Tia's friendships between Max and also Nic, and she was gaining different things from both men. 

Tia is still coming to terms with the loss of her mother, but through it there is a silver lining, she is back in touch with her brother, and may start getting to know her estranged niece.  

This whole book had a lovely heartwarming feel to it, and although its predominately set throughout the year, it does a bit of a festive slant to it, with Tia writing articles for the November, December and January issues of the magazine she writes for in the early summer.   The various couples she interviews are all interesting and I liked how Tia was able to draw people into her, and get them chatting. 

This does mean the book doesn't need to be saved for when you are doing your Christmas reading and can easily be enjoyed year round. 

There were plenty of unexpected moments in the book which kept me wondering whether I had missed any vital clues.  Plenty of secrets to uncover and there is a scene of high drama that me on the edge of my seat. 

It is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more from Lucy Coleman in the future. 

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