Book Review - Autumn Skies over Ruby Falls by Holly Martin - Blog Tour

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Title: Autumn Skies over Ruby Falls

Author: Holly Martin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 10th September 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Get swept away to the sparkling Cornish coast with the stunning new novel from bestselling author Holly Martin. Autumn Skies Over Ruby Falls is the perfect romantic treat to snuggle up with this autumn.

Clover Philips is exactly where she’s meant to be – back home on Jewel Island teaching dance to the guests at the beautiful Sapphire Bay Hotel that she co-owns with her sisters Skye and Aria. Her life is complete, except for one thing…

When Clover left London she also left behind a devastating betrayal. She hasn’t been able to date anyone since, let alone allow herself to fall in love. What she needs is a casual fling to ease herself back into romance. And as luck would have it, the very handsome Angel Mazzeo is back in town.

The chemistry between Clover and Angel has been undeniable ever since he first arrived on Jewel Island six months ago. And though content to be her friend till now, Angel is more than willing to help Clover find her dating feet again.

It should be easy to keep things carefree when love is off the table, but when every moment is magical what started as casual soon becomes something much deeper. Will Clover and Angel find the courage to tell each other how they really feel? And is Clover ready to do the one thing she swore she’d never do again, fall in love?

Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Lucy Diamond and Veronica Henry, this unforgettable romance is guaranteed to make you smile and melt your heart. 

It was wonderful to be back on Jewel Island and at the Sapphire Bay hotel, this time with Clover being the focus of attention. 

Now its obvious from the start, ok since the previous book, just who she is interested in but something happened in her last relationship a few years ago that has left her very wary of trusting anyone, and not really sure if she ever wants to be involved with anyone again. 

Added to that, Angel has never had a serious relationship and is rather keen on travel and not settling in one place for too long, and you have either a recipe for disaster, or the perfect recipe for a book where both characters develop as the story progresses. 

And since this is a Holly Martin story, and even has the take your breath away romantic gesture I've come to expect from her, I think you may be able to guess how it turns out - but they do keep you on your toes as to whether or not there really will be a HEA. 

Set over the course of a week, we get to see the hotel and island's elaborate Halloween festival, with so many fabulous activities, and I loved how they had family friendly versions day time and then the fear factor ramped up for the evenings. 

I loved Angel's attempts at Ballet dancing, Clover's dance show,  all of Sykye's delicious sounding desserts,  and the continuation of Aria and Noah's happiness. 

This can easily be read as a standalone, but why deprive yourself of the first book and another Holly Martin gem. 

This was a joy to read on a hot summer's afternoon in my garden, and I found the pages kept on turning as I kept reading to see what would happen next. 

It's another top quality book with all the elements I've come to hope for from the author - well written, very romantic in places, a fabulous new book boyfriend, and a stunning setting. 

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

Book Review - The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish

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Title: The Other Passenger

Author: Louise Candlish

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 25th June 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

It all happens so quickly. One day you're living the dream, commuting to work by riverbus with your charismatic neighbour Kit in the seat beside you. The next, Kit hasn't turned up for the boat and his wife Melia has reported him missing.

When you get off at your stop, the police are waiting. Another passenger saw you and Kit arguing on the boat home the night before and the police say that you had a reason to want him dead. You protest. You and Kit are friends - ask Melia, she'll vouch for you. And who exactly is this other passenger pointing the finger? What do they know about your lives?

No, whatever danger followed you home last night, you are innocent, totally innocent.

Aren't you?

I did not see that coming, I did not see that coming at all.  I mean I should have expected complete brilliance by now by Louise Candlish, but I think this is even more brilliant than I would have anticipated. 

Although I feel it did start a bit slowly it is all so so relevant, and as I think back over the course of the story, it is just so clever. I never suspected the truth of the situation at all. 

And of the various commuter scenarios for London, commuting by river boat has never come to my attention before, probably because I don't live anywhere near close enough to the Thames.  

At one point we a given an incident that happened on the tube the year before involving Jamie, and it was described in such detail that I felt as though I was there, I've experience some of it on a tube before, and trust me you don't want to be on the Northern Line in any sort of British Heatwave in summer it is horrific! 

There was a moment where suddenly in the book that I knew I was finishing it in that sitting regardless of how much I had left, when everything was starting to come together, certain realisations were had by me the reader, and I just had to know just where it would all lead. 

This is simply another masterpiece from Louise Candlish who seems to be going from strength to strength with each book.  The characters and story is so plausible and I was drawn in and read most of it, in one sitting  in the garden on a rare day of sun! 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - A Springtime Affair by Katie Fforde

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Title: A Springtime Affair

Author: Katie Fforde

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Century

Publication Date: 20th February 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

It’s the season of new beginnings for Helena and Gilly.

Gilly runs her own B&B business from her much-loved family home, which she doesn’t want to part with – at any price.

But that's before she meets handsome estate agent Leo, and soon she begins to wonder whether selling up might not be such a bad idea after all.

Meanwhile Gilly's daughter Helena has a budding romance of her own. A talented weaver, she's becoming very close to her new landlord, Jago, who's offered to help her at an upcoming craft fair.

It’s what friends do, and they are just friends. Aren’t they?

With spring in full bloom, Helena and Gilly begin to ask themselves the same question:

Might their new loves lead to happily ever after?

I love how every time I read a Katie Fforde book I come away having learnt about a new profession or craft.  In the case of A Springtime Affair it is weaving on looms, which I can honestly say is something I have never considered or given any thought to in the past.  Yet in this novel it sounded really lovely and something that if I ever had time to take up a craft could be interesting to look into - silk weaving that is due to being allergic to wool! 

I enjoyed Helena and Jago's newfound friendship, Jago sounds like a real keeper, he is just so caring towards Helena and animals, I really enjoyed their dynamic, and I was also really impressed with Helena's special skill, which doesn't seem to give her much pleasure but does have some interesting applications. 

Then there is Helena's mum Gilly, who is a real feeder, there is a lot of food in this book - and she is being pressured by her son, Martin, to sell her B&B and use most of the money on funding Martin a new house.  Which Gilly isn't really sure about, and then she meets slick tongued property valuer Leo, and they really hit it off. 

There is a lot of various plot lines weaved into this merry tale, and I really enjoyed all of them, and seeing just what is in Jago and Leo's pasts.  And there is the new hobby that Gilly becomes interested in, which  was exhilarating to read about. 

This is just what I have come to expect from the author, a warm and cosy story that I really did enjoy. 

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

Book Review - The Last Charm by Ella Allbright

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Title: The Last Charm

Author: Ella Allbright

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter 

Publication Date: 21st August 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Leila’s charm bracelet tells a story of love, a story of loss, a story of hope.

This is the story of her… and the story of Jake.

When Leila Jones loses her precious charm bracelet and a stranger finds it, she has to tell the story of how she got the charms to prove she’s the owner. Each and every one is a precious memory of her life with Jake.

So Leila starts at the beginning, recounting the charms and experiences that have led her to the present. A present she never could have expected when she met Jake nearly twenty years ago…

I had no pre-conceptions about this story, and even as I was reading, wasn't completely sure what direction it would ultimately take.  For which I'm delighted and think its the best way to go into this story - so that you can experience it fully, without any hints of the specifics in advance. 

And in saying that, it makes writing this review a whole lot harder!

This is the story of Leila and her charm bracelet.  She is recounting exactly how each charm came into her life,  and so we see her grow up from age 10, up to present day.  We go through highs and lows with her, and although we are only getting snapshots of her at various ages and points in her life, you feel like you get to know her incredibly well. 

I love how  this isn't flashbacks interspersed with present day - there is a short intro which is a valid way of explaining why we are getting the story of each charm, and then that isn't referred to again, until it is relevant towards the end. 

So it really is watching Leila and her friends and family grow up.  There are characters that appear in most chapters, and there is one particular person who is very present in this book besides Leila.  And it is the parallel of both of their stories and seeing how they both develop that fascinated me. 

I found this to be a really gentle read, it was a book I was always delighted when I could pick it back up, and lose myself within the next instalment of Leila's life.  I'm  very impressed that a book about a charm bracelet could develop the way it did, and I absolutely adored everything about this story. 

There are ups and downs, definitely some emotional bits but also some sections that will make you smile.  I don't want to say much more other than this book is very well written, it had me completely engaged with it, and I'm very much looking forward to Ella Allbright's next book as I know I need to read more by her.

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

Book Review - Unfiltered by Sophie White

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Title: Unfiltered

Author: Sophie White

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hachette Books Ireland

Publication Date: 18th June 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Ali and Shelly are back. But behind the filters, things are more chaotic than ever.

After faking a pregnancy to gain more Instagram followers, Ali Jones figured she'd be an internet pariah. But while her mentions are a mess, it turns out that her following is bigger than ever. And now that she's pregnant for real, Ali quickly realises that she might have to wade once more into the Insta-world to fund the new baby bump. With Sam, her ex, still ignoring her and her mother having a mild grief-induced psychotic breakdown, what else has Ali to cling to but #sponcons and #ootds?

Enter Amy Donoghue, social media manager extraordinaire, with a plan to rehabilitate Ali's image.

Meanwhile, Queen of the Influencers, Shelly, is still being hounded by her mysterious Insta-stalker. And with @HolisticHazel busy creating W Y N D festival (her answer to the Goop Summit) and @PollysFewBits being as non-descript as ever, Shelly has to deal with this latest drama without the help of her Mumfluencer friends - before it gets out of control.

The free swag may be good but will Ali and Shelly realise the Insta Life's not worth losing the people that matter most?

Reading Unfiltered makes me very glad that I'm a book blogger, and not well anything on instagram.  Life on the gram is sounding utterly exhausting  and bonkers, and the various grammers in this story are very close to being unhinged!! 

This is fantastic sequel, that continues almost immediately after the previous book ends, and catapults us back into the zany world of Ali and Shelly, two of Ireland's top mummy instagrammers.  Well apart from Ali isn't actually a mum yet, and the world is still reeling from her fake pregnancy, when she discovers it is now real! 

And Shelly's private life isn't  fabulous, she is also pregnant, and has picked up a stalker too,  which leads to some really creepy moments and in pivotal towards the end of the book too. 

This is a fast paced story that is full of cutting observations of real life and social media, and how you portray yourself to others.  Told in alternating chapters of Ali and Shelly, we get to see all the nitty gritty in their lives, much of it quite hilarious, and at other times mildly worrying.   

There are some tougher subjects examined carefully, but on the whole this is a light hearted book, that has made me smile a lot over the past few days while reading it.  I am thoroughly invested these characters lives and would be highly curious to see another book in the series, or failing that what Sophie White will write next, as I am loving her writing. 

An absolute joy to read. 

Thank you to Hachette Books Ireland and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily 

Book Review - Someday At Christmas by Lizzie Bryon - #HolidayReading Malta

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Title: Someday at Christmas

Author: Lizzie Bryon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 3rd September 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Enter the magical world of Duke & Sons department store, with this enchanting and laugh-out-loud funny romcom from Lizzie Byron, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Jenny Colgan and Beth O'Leary!

Shell Smith is the most popular make-up artist on the ART counter at Duke & Sons, a beautiful but old-fashioned department store in her hometown. But whilst Shell's love life is looking up, now that her long-time crush Nick is back in town and business is booming in the beauty department, the rest of the store is noticeably quiet . . .

The owner's grandson Callum has come up with some creative ways to keep Duke & Sons afloat this Christmas, including allowing a production company to film a romcom after hours. When Shell discovers the secret, Callum recruits her to help out and, in the process, Shell finds there is more to Mr Duke Jr. than sharp suits and a business-like demeanour.

Change is coming and romance is in the air for Shell during this most wonderful time of the year.

Except real life is nothing like a Christmas romcom . . . right?

As much as enjoyed getting to know Shell and Callum, for me the real start of this book is Dukes and Son, the department store. 

I really cared about the store and all of its employees futures, and loved hearing about all of Callum's new bright ideas. 

The new Christmas decorations are stunning and sounded like what you may expect to see on Oxford Street, London, and not ins Osterley. 

Shell and Ricky are fabulous larger than life characters that had me really hooked on seeing what may happen to them.

There is a lot to love about this book and if you are someone who enjoys a book set at Christmas, but doesn't want to star reading them too early - I will say this didn't give me great big festive feels but it was still most definitely worth of having Christmas in the title. 

This was my first book from the author, and I'm certain it won't be my last. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Dreams of Willow House by Susanne O'Leary

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Title: Dreams of Willow House

Author: Susanne O'Leary

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 15th November 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

A gorgeous, compelling page-turner about one woman’s journey to the heart of Ireland and the family secret she’s destined to discover…

Cordelia Mirafiore has never truly felt at home in South Florida, so when she’s unexpectedly called to the reading of a long-lost relative’s will in Ireland, she’s hopeful that escaping to Willow House to meet her family might help her to figure out who she really is…

As soon as Cordelia reaches Sandy Cove, the views of the blue ocean and stunning coastline around her provide a sense of calm she has never felt before. She meets her cousins Maeve and Roisin, who welcome her with open arms, finds herself drawn to a handsome man who is also an outsider in town, and feels an instant spark.

But the rest of the McKenna family aren’t so willing to accept Cordelia, or even believe that she’s family. When they learn that Cordelia is to inherit a third of Willow House, she is forced to prove who she is. All she has are old parish records and a battered box of family photographs, but they lead her to secrets she may not want to uncover.

Can Cordelia find the courage to face her family’s past? Can she trust the mysterious man who has swept her off her feet? Or will the lies told for generations force her to leave Sandy Cove forever?

Second chances begin on Ireland’s shores. An unforgettable story about mothers and daughters, Dreams of Willow House is perfect for fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe.

I felt completely at home reading this book, being back in Sandy Cove and at Willow House. It has been a while since I read the second book int the series, but with the first mentions of Phil, Maeve and Roisin, things came rushing back to me. 

That being said it can easily be read as a standalone as we have a whole new main character, Cordelia, who appears to be a long lost relative of the family.  But just what is she hiding and what secrets will be uncovered about the McKenna family generally. 

I really enjoyed seeing just where this story would take Cordelia, her new found friendship with Sally, and seeing how drawn towards Declan she is.  It was interesting seeing Ireland through the eyes of an American, and her searching for her real roots is interesting. 

A really warm and easy to get into story, that I was very invested in.  Another strong addition to the series. 

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

Book Review - The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

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Title: The Unhoneymooners

Author: Christina Lauren

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Piatkus

Publication Date: 14th May 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

The honeymoon of a lifetime . . . with her sworn enemy

Olive is always unlucky; her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. While she's about to marry her dream man, Olive is forced to play nice with her nemesis: the best man, Ethan.

Yet Olive's luck may be on the turn . . . When the entire wedding - except for Olive and Ethan - gets food poisoning, there's an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs. Putting their mutual hatred aside, Olive and Ethan head for paradise. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him spirals out of control.

Forced to play loving newlyweds, she and Ethan find themselves in closer proximity than they ever expected. Soon, Olive finds that maybe she doesn't mind pretending. In fact, she's beginning to feel kind of . . . lucky.

How have I never read a book by Christina Lauren before? This hit all the right spots for me and I am so happy I was able to read it. 

First though a warning there is a particular scene at around the 8-10% mark that I feel I should warn you not to read if you are currently eating too.  It really put me off the rest of my dinner - it did set up the reason why Olive and Ethan are going on their siblings honeymoon despite hating each other. 

They do though need to pretend to be a pair of inlove honeymooners, not just so that the hotel doesn't force them to pay or kick them out, as the honeymoon was won in a competition with strict terms and conditions,  but when they run into first Olive's new boss and Ethan's ex-girlfriend, well things become a bit more complicated than they first imagined. 

The continual bickering between Olive and Ethan really amused me, and I absolutely adored the variety of activities they took part in.  From Snuba to Paintballing, oh and the couples massage is priceless.  For a pair that didn't want to spend any time together, they are now actively wanting to do things together, while they are on their holiday of a life time, an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii. 

I loved their dynamics, but also enjoyed seeing Olive's relationship with her twin sister Abi, and Ethan's with his brother Dane, and from conversations more about Abi and Dane's relationship too.  If that sounded complicated it is. but it isn't, at least it isn't confusing! 

I was amazed just how large a family Abi and Olive have, they seem to have about a million aunts, uncles, cousins all clamouring for their time but its also clear they are a family with a lot of love. 

This book was a delight to read, on a sunny day in the garden and I think it will also be perfect poolside / beach reading as and when restrictions ease.   

I definitely need to read more from this author, and I absolutely adored this book! 

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

Book Review - Cynthia Smart's Midwife Crisis by Liz Davis

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Title: Cynthia Smart's Midwife Crisis

Author: Liz Davies

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Author Supplied Copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 

Rating: 5 Stars

Midlife crisis? What midlife crisis?

At forty-four, Cynthia Smart is exactly where she wants to be. Almost.

In a couple of years, she’ll be the CEO of the company she’s spent most of her adult life working in. For now, though, she’s still busy shimmying up the greasy pole of corporate business. She’s single, carefree, and independent, and nothing can stop her getting what she wants and deserves.

Until she discovers she’s pregnant.

Determined to have her cake and eat it, she’s convinced that having a baby will make little difference to her life, and that she will be one of those women who can hold down an incredibly demanding job and also be a perfect mother.

But as her pregnancy progresses and her life slowly falls apart, she has the sneaking suspicion that Max Oakland, the new guy on the block, is out to steal her dream job. That she’s terribly attracted to him doesn’t help, nor does the fact that he’s devilishly handsome, appears to be a really nice fella, and is good in a crisis.

When she gradually comes to realise that something has got to give, what she doesn’t want it to be is her heart.

Perfect for fans of Mandy Baggott, Heidi Swain, and Holly Martin.

What an amusing book this was.  Cynthia Smart discovers she is pregnant, and that she will be a single mum in her mid 40s.   She is adamant that the baby will just slot into her life, she will take two weeks maternity leave and keep working trying to get that promotion. 

Well that's her thoughts at first until she discovers the realities of being pregnant aren't quite what she anticipated and throughout you can see her mind altering, and her perspective of life changing. 

There is also a new colleague at work who is is instantly distrustful of, and reckons he is out to steal her promotion. But then Max shows various sides of himself that has her second guessing herself.  He is a fabulous man and so so caring, I loved him a lot. 

And I was eye rolling throughout at Cynthia's thoughts on all thing baby, I mean I don't have one, but I've read enough to know the reality and her guy reactions are no where near each other!! It's just a great story, and incredibly entertaining. 

I managed to read this in an afternoon in one sitting in the garden, and loved ever second of it, it had my smiling and giggling, all the way to its rather eventful finale.  Yet another truly enjoyable book from Liz Davies, that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

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

Book Review - You May Kiss the Bridesmaid by Camilla Isley

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Title: You May Kiss The Bridesmaid

Author: Camilla Isley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Pink Bloom Press

Publication Date: 23rd July 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Archibald Hill is handsome, single, and he’s going to his best friend’s wedding ready to make a conquest or two. After all, everyone knows weddings are the perfect setting to get lucky.

Summer Knowles used to have a life—friends, family, a sister who’d do anything for her—until she blew it all away with a terrible mistake. Now, attending her twin’s wedding as the party’s undesirable number one seems like more than she can handle. So, when a tall stranger with smoldering ice-blue eyes offers her a therapy of seven nights of no-strings-attached fun, she might even ignore that he has a beard and accept.

Problem is, Summer has never been good at keeping sex and feelings separated…

Having met Archie in the previous book and Summer has been referenced at least in the previous two books in the series, it is wonderful to finally have them staring in their own story.   

This though can easily be read as standalone, I've read the whole series and didn't know that much about Archie and Summer before reading this book, and certainly not as well as I do now. 

What is clear though is that they have chemistry that is off the charts, and from their first meeting I was almost needing a fan to cool myself off, I had a feeling they would be that hot, if they indeed sleep together.  And let's just say I was right!! 

I loved the chemistry and connection between our leads, one is a ladies man who is a bit of a commitment-phobe, the other has been dreading this week, due to having to see all her old friends who have since shunned her after she made a terrible mistake.  But it's Summer's twin sister, Winter's wedding, so she is willing to grin and bear it just for her.  While Archie is Logan's best man, and isn't that keen on weddings himself! 

The chapters alternate from both viewpoints, so we really get to know what our romantic leads are thinking before each other.  The scenes featuring acro yoga were brilliant and I really enjoyed all the various activities that went into the wedding week in Napa. 

I was totally invested in Archie and Summer, and couldn't' get enough of them, I was thoroughly entertained by this book, and impressed that yet again Camilla Isley has written such fabulous romance which characters I could almost reach out and touch (or in Archie's case I ma have wanted to do a whole lot more to!). 

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