368 pages Harper Muse publisher November 19, 2024 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
MY THOUGHTS
This is one not to miss. A truly beautifully written book. One scarf from a humble and simplistic background links together three women during WWI. This scarf sees it through three couples in time of heartbreak and woven in joy.
Messages stitched with hope into the fabric of the scarf. I loved meeting the couples and felt the emotions they went through the resilience and fortitude on the front line of not only the battlefield but also life. The three stories are beautifully woven together and full of detail. A must read again book.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Have yourself a merry little fauxmance—with a dashing Santa who just might make it real.
Rosie Gonzalez isn’t having a wonderful Christmas time. Not when she’s at risk of losing her job as assistant manager of the Duchess—Victoria’s oldest boutique hotel. If she and her team can’t bring in more guests by the end of December, she’ll be let go. Adding to her stress is a calendar filled with family gatherings where her mom will inevitably nag her for still being single.
Drew Richardson isn’t faring much better. As if working alongside his ex at Northlife Fitness wasn’t bad enough, now she’s invited him to her December wedding. And since all his coworkers will be there, bailing isn’t an option. To get through it, he’ll need a plus-one for moral support.
So, when Rosie recruits him to play Santa for her hotel’s activities, he also proposes a fake-dating scheme to benefit them both. Just for the holidays—nothing more. But as things between them turn from nice to naughty, they’ll have to decide whether a real relationship could be the best Christmas gift of all.
MY THOUGHTS
Who would have thought a book taking place in a hotel could be so entertaining. Now this is what a Christmas book should be. I loved the mmc, he’s humorous, entertaining, hot, generous, to sum it up, just about the perfect guy but with enough faults to be likable. Not to mention he loves children and is a volunteer Santa for them.
The Duchess Hotel is in Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia. It’s located on the West Coast of Canada. Though not an actual hotel the descriptions of this old past its prime boutique hotel makes me think of it in its former grand days with all its elegance.
Rosie works there and has been there for quite a while, frankly she enjoys her job and works hard at it. With a new GM in she’s worried she and her coworkers will lose their job if hotel business doesn’t pick up drastically during this holiday season like it has at the competition, the Duke Hotel. The holidays are something she’s starting to dread; all the family plans she must be present for, and her family is expecting her to bring a boyfriend.
A former love interest comes to the rescue, he needs a plus one for a wedding and she needs a few dates for holiday family gatherings. I love this couple, Rosie and Drew. Let the fake dating begin.
This rom com kept me in stitches, their interactions with each other was great and the other characters were just as entertaining. I loved seeing the plan they came up with to save the hotel. The book was so festive, it really had Christmas written all over it.
Hot chocolates, children’s crafts, holiday breakfast, beautiful decorations, cookies, I mean they thought of everything, and it makes the book so festively warm and welcoming.
What’s going to happen when the holidays are over, and the fake dating can end? Can they just go back to the way things were? Fully supportive family and friends make this a holiday read you’ll be sure to read more than once.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series and it has a Fall theme.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. Her books have been called “escape reads,” ideal for perusing during a beachside vacation, a long flight, or a relaxing weekend at the lake. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading, baking, and taking long walks while listening to pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Vancouver Island, she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her feisty Siberian cat.
320 pages Allison & Busby publisher September 19, 2024 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pippa Mason is ready for a fresh start. She has bought Pumpkin Cottage in the picturesque Wye Valley village of Riverdean, where her late mother grew up, and plans to renovate the run-down bed and breakfast into the business of her dreams. Adjusting to her new life on the Welsh-English border might take time, but Pippa is settling into village life and starting to fall for the charms of local Jake when problems start coming thick and fast … Jenny Foster has enough on her plate running Riverside Lodge as well as managing her husband Phil’s diagnosis of early-onset dementia. She did not need the threat of another B&B on her doorstep. When a spat between Pippa and Jenny escalates and an autumn storm brings matters to a head, they will have to see if Riverdean is big enough for the both of them.
MY THOUGHTS
Wye Valley village of Riverdean is the village where Pippa’s late mother grew up, she believes it’s as good a place as any to make her new start and she does so by buying Pumpkin Cottage which she is about to turn into a bed and breakfast after its remodel.
The other bed and breakfast owner. Jenny in this small village is jealous and doesn’t want the competition from another bed and breakfast owner. A rivalry starts though Pippa, the newcomer wants to become friends with everyone.
A romance starts when she meets Jake, someone Jenny is very familiar with. With so many new friends who could be sabotaging her new business?
A fun and heartwarming women’s fiction book with a slow start. The characters have their ups and downs, and the book has a nice solid ending.
Nice autumn seasonal read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my won.
THE AUTHORS
Jacqui was born into a very humble working-class family, and brought up on a council estate. Her parents were avid readers and books provided an escape, offering a ticket to a better life. She studied English Literature at university and has spent a life teaching in secondary schools. She loved words and has always dreamed of being a writer. She brought her daughter up on her own and they both loved books and films, and shared the same sense of humour. They are very close, speaking every day and enjoying annual holidays together. It was on one of these trips, a cruise where they visited Montenegro for the first time and had the gem of an idea for a book. The rest is history, as they say…
Anna grew up in South Wales, close to the beach, and loved taking long walks before coming back to snuggle up with a good book. She has always enjoyed reading and writing, as well as crafts such as painting and baking. Despite being creative, at school she performed well in Science and went to Birmingham to study Medicine at the age of 18. She chose to specialise in Psychiatry as she loves getting to hear people’s stories and help those struggling with mental illness, and is hoping to train in forensic psychiatry in the next few years. She currently lives in Derbyshire with her pilot boyfriend and cat Socks.
Thank you for stopping in.
Only pink pumpkin tag I have. I know I’m a bit late with it. I hope you’ll overlook it 🙂
Since his sister Lettie took over their parents’ farm on the beautiful island of Jersey at the start of the year, Zac Torel’s life has changed completely. Zac loves Hollyhock Farm, and he’s determined to help Lettie succeed, but when their insurance company refuses to pay for the restoration of one of their barns in time for winter, the clock is ticking for the Torrels to raise the money themselves.
The siblings decide to host a wellness festival, but with the summer already well underway, they’ve got their work cut out to get everything ready before the season ends. Lettie recruits the help of Melody, a yoga teacher from Edinburgh. New to the island, Melody is determined to shake things up and make a success of Lettie’s festival.
But Melody has come to Jersey with more baggage than her small backpack implies. And as her friendship with Zac grows, will her past catch up with her?
When I read Welcome to Hollyhock Farm I eagerly awaited the publication of Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm. Though it was worth the wait, I can’t say it was easy. I was so eager to start this next book in the series. The book so seamlessly follows the first book with many of the same characters returning but we do get to meet, Patsy who is Melody’s grandmother. I’ll admit I do enjoy reading about mature women characters. Patsy has a wonderful sense of humor, is pretty hip and a bit quirky. To sum it up, she’s an entertaining character and I hope to see her returning in future books.
This is Zac and Melody’s story, both characters who I loved. Returning character Lettie is in for a surprise when she finds out the insurance, she has for one of the animal barns doesn’t fully cover the replacement cost of repairs needed on the building. Winter is almost here, and the animals need the shelter and quickly.
When a plan is quickly gotten together to have a fundraiser for the barn repairs it sounds like a delightful plan. The fundraiser is to be a wellness festival revolving around taking care of yourself and healthy eating. This festival sounds like so much fun that I would have loved to attend.
Zac is Lettis’s brother and will do all he can to help his sister with the planning of the fair. Yoga instructor, Melody wants to put some oomph into the fair and has a plan to do so. I loved seeing Zac and Melody’s interactions and how their relationship progresses. Once again Jersey sounds so beautiful, the island a place I want to visit especially with the rescue animals.
Zac and Melody are getting along splendidly but each seem to have a little something they’re hiding from the other. I sure hope they can bring things out in the open because I want to see this lovely couple stay together. Realistic and heartwarming I’m already looking forward to the next book in this marvelous series!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Georgina Troy writes bestselling uplifting romantic escapes and sets her novels on the island of Jersey, where she was born and has lived for most of her life. She has done a twelve-book deal with Boldwood, including backlist titles, and the first book in her Sunshine Island series was published in May 2022.
Fate may have brought them together, but secrets seem destined to keep them apart…
An accident and a lost passport mean Gemma’s six-month sabbatical to go travelling is not off to a strong start. She heads to Polkerran Point to stay at her aunt’s while her new passport is processed and to find temporary work in the meantime.
Enter musician Matt. Newly moved into a secluded, renovated mill – complete with a recording studio – Matt is preparing for his band’s big reunion tour. Focused on writing new music for the album, he needs a live-in housekeeper.
Even as sparks fly, Gemma can sense Matt’s keeping secrets and with her role ending once Christmas is over, will there be anything to keep her in Polkerran?
A cosy, festive Cornish romance for fans of Phillipa Ashley and Cressida McLaughlin.
Do you have favorite places you enjoy traveling to? So do I but I also have favorite places I love traveling to through the books that I have to always read the latest when it releases. As I real I feel as though I’m on a grand vacation visiting the characters who are best friends with me.
I’m always so excited to see when Christmas books start releasing every year as they are one of my favorite types to read and this one is full of holiday spirit.
I love the author’s books and her writing style and was so happy to be back in the world of Polkerran Point. We meet a few new characters this time around, one of them being Gemma. An accident has her spending the holidays in Polkerran Point and taking a job with boyband member, Matt as his housekeeper.
Now we have a grumpy meets sunshine here, Matt being the grumpy one here. Gemma takes a dislike to Matt, and I’ll say he didn’t really have a lot to recommend himself with at first. After all, how far do good looks go if you don’t have the personality to back it up.
I loved watching Gemma and Matt’s relationship grow and evolve as they came to understand each other and start getting on better with each other. A slow burn romance that you’ll love snuggling in with while getting lost in it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Author Bio – Cass began her writing life in Regency England, enlisted Jane Austen’s help to time-travel between then and the present day and is now happily ensconced in 21st century Cornwall.
Well, in her imagination and soul; her heart and physical presence reside in northern England with her ever-patient husband and Tig and Tag, their cute but exceptionally demanding moggies.
A bit of a nomad, Cass has called three countries home, as well as six different English counties, but her aspiration is to one day reunite with her beloved West Country.
In the meantime, she writes feel-good contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manages to live there vicariously through her characters and settings.
An Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Cass is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Jane Austen Society UK and the Society of Authors.
Giveaway to Wina paperback copy of Christmas at Polkerran Point along with a small gift bag (Open Int)
The gift bag contains a pack of Christmas post-it notes, a Cornish coaster, a gingerbread tree ornament and some festive-wrapped Tic Tac mints!
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
A must-read for fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah!
Paris 1930s
A promise that binds them together. A war that pulls them apart.
Childhood companions Fleur and Colette make a vow, under the trailing ivy of their secret garden, that they will be secret sisters forever. But as they grow up, the promises of childhood are put to the ultimate test. For Colette is the daughter of the house, and her life is all jazz clubs, silk dresses and chilled champagne, while Fleur is the orphan niece of the housekeeper and doesn’t feel like she belongs anywhere.
Years later, in 1939, life as they know it will never be the same. As the German tanks roll in and Paris becomes an occupied city, the promise they made as children will have consequences they could never have imagined…
MY THOUGHTS
WWII historical fiction that was thought provoking yet entertaining. Two girls growing up together with vastly different backgrounds, one rich and accustomed to only the best life can offer, the other the niece of the housekeeper.
As these girls grow into women, they do their best to keep that childhood promise they made to stay in contact and be secret sisters. Besties for life. Paris, romantic, thrilling but then the war comes.
Life will never be the same for these women, life throws curves at them they could not have seen. So many circumstances they experience together and apart.
Life hits them hard but yet there is still joy to be find despite circumstances beyond their control. Romance is inevitable in a lovely book taking place in Paris but yet it is not the main focus.
The sisterhood, a lifetime of changes, vast differences still the bond is unbreakable between these women. Very much enjoyed this book.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
lisabeth writes romantic historical fiction as Elisabeth Hobbes and historical folklore/fantasy romance as Elisabeth J. Hobbes.
She teaches Primary school and unlike her characters, the six year olds generally do what she tells them. She spends most of her spare time reading and is a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book. She loves to travel and explore, looking for places to inspire her characters into life.
Elisabeth lives in Cheshire because the car broke down there in 1999 (though at heart she’s still a Yorkshirewoman). She has two almost grown kids, two cats, two dogs and a husband. The whole family are autistic. She dreams of having a tidy house one day.
435 pages Barbour Fiction publisher September 1, 2023 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember
Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town’s founding family?
In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places…
In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home…
In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again…
And don’t forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.
MY THOUGHTS
I enjoy reading novellas and this is a lovely Christmas one. Each story builds off of the previous one and when one ends the next seamlessly starts as we find a generational thing going with strong and faithful women from the same Louisiana town.
We don’t usually connect snow and Louisiana but this season with a little holiday magic and a generous helping from the unexpected snowstorm forgiveness, romance and coming together again of a special family may just be happening.
A delightful feel-good holiday story I was delighted to read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHORS
Lenora Worth is an ACFW Honor Roll member. She writes inspirational fiction for Harlequin’s Love Inspired and sweet romance for Tule Publishing. She also writes for Kensington Books. She helped launch the Rodeo Knights Western Romance imprint. Her LIS Body of Evidence made the NY Times Bestseller list and she is also a USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestselling author. In 2016, she received a Romantic Times Pioneers of Fiction Award. Three of her books have been nominated for the ACFW Carol Award and she is an RWA RITA finalist. Lenora has written 80+ books and has an estimated 3 million books in print. She loves cheesecake, shoe shopping, walking on the beach and reading.
Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two daughters, an impressive stash of coffee mugs, and one furry Schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored to truth. When she’s not composing her next book or baby-talking her dog, Betsy can be found somewhere in the vicinity of an iced coffee. She writes frequently for iBelieve, a devotional site for women, and offers author coaching and editing services through Storyside LLC.
Morgan Tarpley Smith is a bestselling author and world traveler who weaves stories of history and heart. She loves to write inspirational fiction that transports readers to faraway places and intertwines past and present to explore questions of truth and faith. Her debut novella was published in 2023 as part of a contemporary collection of interconnected stories called A Louisiana Christmas to Remember, which ranked #8 on the ECPA Bestseller List for Christmas Fiction. Morgan is an award-winning journalist who works as a freelance writer and publishing assistant. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and son. For more information, visit her website by searching her name online.
Hope you’re having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping in.
Happy Friday & welcome to the First Line Friday post! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today I’m delighted to feature A Louisiana Christmas to Remember. I really enjoy novella collections by multiple authors. What about you? Hosted at Reading is my Superpower.
By Betsy St. Amant; Morgan Tarpley Smith; Lenora Worth
Pub Date Sep 01 2023
FIRST LINE(S)
Three weeks before Christmas
Moreau, Louisiana
Mattie Hayes froze, her fingers warm around a latte, and stared at the flurries of white outside the window of Le Petit French Press coffee shop, the sight briefly restoring faith to her disheartened state of mind.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember
Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town’s founding family?
In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places…
In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home…
In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again…
And don’t forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.
Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface Kate’s lonely, and she longs to feel part of a family – especially during Christmas.
With the holiday season fast approaching, and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate conceives a brilliant plan: an enchanting living Advent calendar. Each December evening, a captivating window display will be unveiled across town. With local businesses struggling, including her best friend’s board game café, she’s feeling the pressure.
But Kate’s picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend arrives in Yorkshire, insisting on creating the Christmas Eve display. Can Kate trust him to deliver a show-stopping window? And can she finally put the past behind her and embrace the future she’s always dreamed of?
WOW! How is it even possible the author has four books out already in the Little Board Game Cafe series? I’ve read and loved every single one of them.
This one is Kate’s story, and I think it’s my favorite, but I probably said that about all of them because I loved them all. I think it’s the most emotional of the series but not in a bad way. There are so many things going on and I don’t think this is a spoiler, but the book has a lovely happy ending.
I still wish there was a board game cafe near me in the states, it’s sounds like such a fun way to spend some hours. I love the characters that we got to visit from previous books and meeting new characters was a blast too. Kate has been friends with the board game cafe owner since early school days and now that winter is here business is not only slowing down in the cafe but around town in general.
With dark approaching earlier there just doesn’t seem to be the draw from the business there was in the summer. Marketing guru Kate overhears her friend lamenting about lack of business during this cold and dreary time and knows she has to do something to jump start business for the cafe but also around town. The plan she comes up with is genius and in such a short amount of time.
A lot of the time is spent talking about this plan and its marvelous final results and I loved every minute of it. I was so glad to see Kate had cleared up a big misunderstanding she had with her father, and it has brought their relationship closer.
There is also a possibility of a romance brewing for Kate with two very different personality types. There were some laugh out loud moments in the book and some awww moments too.
I also enjoyed learning about some Polish Christmas traditions too and even looked up a few more to learn more about it. A very well received book, I enjoyed it so much!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Author Bio – Jennifer Page wrote her first novel – a book about ponies – when she was eight. These days she prefers to write romance. When she isn’t writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games which are the inspiration for her first novel. She has worked as a television producer, a music teacher and has even run a children’s opera company. She now lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband and his large collection of games.
Today I am delighted to share a cover that I think is so pretty for a new book releasing soon.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A Nightingale in Parkleigh Square
The sparkling NEW Christmas Romance from the author of A Wedding in Cornwall!
Quirky, creative, and dedicated to their work, window dressers Nina and Molly can’t believe the news from the upscale staging and design company which occasionally hires them as extras during the Christmas season: their tiny New York company has just been tapped to create a magical Christmas window and showroom display for London’s newest designer fashion boutique!
With their trusty assistant in tow, they catch a plane across the Pond, making their way to the historic former department store with a unique past in Parkleigh Square—and their once-in-a-lifetime chance to impress the ultimate client, legendary fashion designer Simone Van Stewart.
But a humiliating encounter with the London branch’s new frosty director reveals a tragic truth — the duo was hired by mistake. With time running out before the store’s unveiling, and the best window stagers already booked, however, Nina and Molly have been given a tentative trial period to prove they can do the job – and they’ll need a miracle to survive it. Battling deadlines, a delivery disaster, and their own personal doubts, it seems their dream assignment could soon spiral into their worst nightmare.
Not everybody at the exclusive store for Van Stewart is against them, however. Rugged, handsome fashion designer Vincent is supportive of their chances, and makes Nina’s heart race whenever their paths cross. Can she risk romance with an ocean between their two worlds, and with all her future plans and dreams at stake? Her friend Molly worries she’s getting in over her head—but Molly has her own complications to worry about, both personal and professional, as the dream team from Queens searches for the key to make Parkleigh Square’s newest business come alive with Christmas magic, which may just lie in histories both beloved and forgotten.
Filled with flurries of romance, friendship, humor, and heartwarming revelations, A Nightingale in Parkleigh Square is the must-read new release of the Christmas season.
Author Bio – Laura Briggs is the author of several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or play.
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