Book Review - Christmas at the Dog & Duck by Jill Steeples

Amazon UK

Title: Christmas at the Dog & Duck

Author: Jill Steeples

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 1st October 2016

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Ellie Browne has left behind her high-flying job in London to return to the charming Buckinghamshire village of Little Leyton. Working shifts at The Dog and Duck and running her own doggy-day-care business, Ellie's looking for a much simpler way of life and a good old fashioned Christmas.

But Little Leyton’s landscape is changing; Johnny Tay, Ellie's ex, wants to pick up where they left off; sultry property developer Max Golding, has moved into the village and is ruffling feathers; and rumour has it that the pub, which holds a special place in Ellie's heart, might be sold. Suddenly, life’s looking a whole lot more complicated...

Can Ellie juggle her emotions and commitments in time to celebrate Christmas?

I've read a few of Jill Steeples' books by now and this new one, is probably my favourite to date. It is the sort of book that could easily be read at any time of the year, and at points, I felt it was quite summery, which is weird thing to say about a book that has Christmas in the title. 

But yet the majority of the book is set earlier in the year, and there are a few things that the story centres around. Those are The Dog and Duck pub, where Ellie is currently working shifts, Ellie's dog business, offering walking and training services to locals of the village of Little Leyton, and also her communications with Max Golding. 

Max and Ellie just keep running into each other, and have varied opinions of each other, and seem to rub each other up the wrong way almost every time. Ellie does though keep flying off the deep end at him, which makes it a bit trickier to get a real feel for their fledgling friendship. 

If felt as though there were a couple of ideas that were introduced into the book, but that the stories didn't go as deep as perhaps they could. One is Ellie's friendships which although we know about, just felt lacking, especially when taking into account an ex too. The other was to do with a charity appeal they held, I was moved during a couple of scenes, and then it felt almost forgotten. 

I really enjoyed the story, and it certainly kept me entertained, even if the title did feel slightly misleading. I do love a cosy village story, and this was definitely a cosy story, and the pub sounded like a fantastic typical village pub, a bit olde-world, with its charms. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Aria for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - Molly Matthews Meddles in Marriage by Jill Steeples

Amazon UK

Title: Molly Matthews Meddles in Marriage

Author: Jill Steeples

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied ARC

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publication Date: 16th February 2016

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Matchmaker extraordinaire Molly Matthews is an expert in love, but her skills are put to the ultimate test when international heartthrob Rory Campbell waltzes into her office.

Molly Matthews knows everything there is to know about love. She should too, she runs the most exclusive marriage bureau in town. So why, then, is her own love life a complete disaster area?

When Rory Campbell, the international film star and hell-raising playboy, turns up at Molly’s office, she can’t believe he’s looking for a wife. Despite her better judgment, Molly agrees to help Rory in his quest, but all her attempts at finding him the perfect woman are met with disdain from her trickiest customer to date.

Molly is furious that her professional integrity has been compromised and she’s allowed her personal feelings to get in the way of a business relationship.

When photos of Rory appear in the press with Emma D’Santi, a beautiful pinup and the only woman Molly suspects Rory has ever loved, she wonders if Rory is wasting her time and playing with her heart.

Can Molly still find Rory the woman of his dreams while putting her own burgeoning emotions to one side and hanging on to what’s left of her frazzled heart?

First let me congratulate Jill Steeples on fabulous usage of alliteration in the title of this book. I suspect its a bit of a tongue twister, and definitely a finger twister for typing. 

Molly Matthews works in a marriage bureau (different from a dating agency as this is for people who are ready to be married, but are partnerless), and is shocked to come back into the office one afternoon, to find international film star Rory Campbell on the sofa in her office. 

Rory has decided he needs a wife, in order to improve his image in the media, and is looking to Molly, for help. What neither of them counts on is an obvious sexual tension between the pair. 

The outcome of the book, was fairly obvious, and the journey to get there was pleasant. I thought the story improved as it went on, and as Rory and Molly started to open up to each other, it became really enjoyable. 

Molly Matthews Meddles in Marriage is a reasonably short and easy to read romantic comedy, perfect for when you want something quick and light hearted to read. 

Thanks so much to Totally Bound for this review copy. This is my honest opinion. 

Happy publication day to Jill Steeples, Molly Matthews Meddles in Marriage is out now!

Book Review - It's Now or Never by Jill Steeples

Amazon UK

Title: It's Now or Never

Author: Jill Steeples

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 29th June 2015

Rating: 3.5 Stars

‘For Jen Faraday - Not to be opened, in any circumstances, until April 2016’

When smooth-talking Alex Fellows tells Jen Faraday he can predict her future – and leaves a note with the bartender for her to collect in one year’s time – she thinks it’s just a line. After all, how can a man she’s known for only one night see what her future holds? Or maybe it’s not too hard. Recently her life has been a series of things she hasn’t done. She didn’t go to college – family trouble. She didn’t get married – dumped. And she hasn’t yet handed in her notice at work – too scared! If she had to predict her own future, would it be ‘More of the same’?

Or maybe not. After all, she’s just had a passionate one-night stand with a man who is rich and ridiculously good looking and totally not her type. That was unexpected. And she is going to resign from her job... Things are already changing. Whatever that prediction says – and how Jen wishes she knew - perhaps this year is the year she takes control of her destiny!

Jill Steeples seems to be one of those authors that I had been buying all of her releases, and then due to the age old problem of so many enticing books and so little time, I have failed to read anything by her until now. So once I spotted this new book by Jill on Netgalley, I couldn't resist, knowing I would definitely read it from that source. And I am so glad that I have taken the punt, and that I already have more books by Jill Steeple ready for me, as I loved this book. 

It's Now or Never had a very interesting premise - Jen meets Alex at her best friend's wedding, they go to the pub afterwards, get talking and he writes a prediction for the future, that he leaves in the bar for Jen to collect 1 year later, and for her only the to see how good his predictions for the future really are. 

In the mean time, Jen's gramps hands her a letter from her mum, that she had read shortly after her mum's death, but hasn't thought about or re-read since. She reads this letter and with the urging from her mum, she decides to make various life changes. 

I found this to be a very light hearted, easy to read book, that was very enjoyable, but at times did feel a bit shallow. I would have preferred the book to be a bit longer, and to have included more depth, especially to main characters Jen and Alex, so that I felt like I knew them a bit better. 

Jen in her changes in work, becomes very busy, but also takes on a couple of temp jobs. Her first temp job is well worth reading about, it was hilarious, while the small amount of details we get about another one of her temping gigs, sounded as boring as it made Jen!

We also see a lot from Jen and Alex's best friends Angie and Tom. But again my main problem with them is although they were clearly side characters, they didn't feel very fleshed out. They just made the odd appearance. 

The lack of depth, made it harder for me to really feel anything for the characters, to really care or empathise. So although I loved the book, I have had to reduce the rating I have given it, as ultimately I like feeling as though I know my characters fully. Apart from that I loved the fast pacing of the story, the sense of humour in it and when you finally find out what the prediction letter says, I was shocked (in a good way!). 

It's Now or Never is fabulous for when you want a nice quick book, if you only like easy reading on holiday then this would be great to take with you. 

Thank you so much to Carina and Netgalley for my copy of this book. This was my honest review.