Christmas at Fox Farm by Helen Pollard

 

At Fox Farm, the village has gathered to decorate the ten-foot tree and carol the night away. Robins dart across frosty hedgerows and holly bushes are covered with ruby-red berries. But this year they will need an extra pinch of festive magic to keep Christmas alive…

Living at Fox Farm, with its cosy café, beautiful pottery studio and charming gift shop, is a dream come true for thirty-one-year-old Daisy. The kindly owner, Jean, and the close-knit village feel like the home and family Daisy has never had. She’s been looking forward to her first magical Christmas in the countryside.

When Jean suddenly falls ill, Daisy is the first to lend a hand. She ropes in Alex – Jean’s handsome but stubborn nephew – to help her. When the pair discover the farm is almost bankrupt, it seems like the annual Christmas celebrations will be cancelled. Alex and Daisy need a plan, and quickly, if they are to pull off Christmas against the odds and save Fox Farm.

From the get-go Daisy and Alex cannot agree on anything, from the mince pie recipe to the colour scheme for the tree. Soon, however, in true Christmas spirit, they find themselves coming together in the face of decorating disasters, tripping over each other at the holiday barn dance and tracking down a missing Santa Claus.

But when Daisy discovers the secret Alex is keeping about the future of Jean’s farm, will she run from the only place that has ever felt like home? Or will she find a way to save Christmas and the farm, and open her heart to a new beginning for her and Alex?

Grab a mug of hot chocolate and a mince pie (or two!) and lose yourself in this utterly charming and romantic holiday tale that proves home is where the heart is. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain and Holly Martin, this is the book that will make your Christmas!

What did I think?

In my mind it is never to early for a festive read or two - and this one was a treat.

This is the first book I have read by Helen although I have read the Miss Moonshine books in which she is a contributor. From the outset the scene is set an on the surface it appears idyllic - but not all is as it seems.

Yes this is a book set during the run up to Christmas it is not overly festive - perhaps more suited to the lead up to Christmas as the book starts in October. I found it an enjoyable and easy read. As I said before I loved the setting and the characters all came across as very believable. 

A perfect book to curl up with on a damp afternoon and escape to Fox Farm.

As a child, Helen had a vivid imagination fuelled by her love of reading (long past her bedtime!) so she started to create her own stories in a notebook.

Now a bestselling author of contemporary romance, she believes that good characterisation is the key to a successful book and loves infusing her writing with humour and heart.

Helen lives in Yorkshire with her husband, two grown-up (in theory) kids and a Jekyll and Hyde cat.

 

https://www.facebook.com/HelenPollardWrites/

https://twitter.com/helenpollard147/

Little Bones by Patricia Gibney

 

She lifted up her granddaughter from the cot, clutched her to her chest and, without looking at her beautiful daughter lying dead on the floor of her bedroom, ran from the house. Only when she was outside did she let a wail escape her lips, frightening the baby who joined in her screams.

When Isabel Gallagher is found murdered on the floor of her baby’s nursery by her mother, it’s a gruelling case for Detective Lottie Parker. Isabel’s pyjamas have been ripped, her throat cut and an old-fashioned razor blade placed in her hand. As Lottie looks at the round blue eyes and perfect chubby cheeks of Isabel’s baby daughter, she can’t understand who would want to hurt this innocent family.

That very same day she receives a call with devastating news. Another young mother, Joyce Breslin, has gone missing, and her four-year-old son Evan has been abducted from daycare. Lottie is sure that the missing mother and son are linked to Isabel’s death, and when she finds a bloody razor blade in their house, her worst fears are confirmed.

Desperate to find little Evan, Lottie leaves no stone unturned as she delves into Isabel and Joyce’s pasts and when she realises the two women have been meeting in secret, she knows she must find out why.

But when Joyce’s body is found in a murky pond and some little bones are found on a windy hillside, it feels as if this merciless killer will stop at nothing. The bones aren’t Evan’s but can they give Lottie the final clue to find the innocent child before more lives are taken?

This absolutely gripping and unputdownable crime thriller from bestselling author Patricia Gibney will leave you gasping for breath. A perfect read for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

What did I think?

I do feel I was late to the party with this series of books - so far I have only read The Missing which was the first book in the series. Do you have to read them in order? I don't think so as this book worked well as a standalone title.

This is the 10th book in the series - I can only compare it to the first - but I think it is just as good and kept my interest from start to finish. I like the character of Lottie Parker - a fiesty woman but likeable with it.

I do think I should move books 2 to 9 further up my rather large to be read pile as I think I have a fair amount to catch up on.

If you like a well written fast paced police procedural then I encourage you to give this series a go.

Patricia is the million-copy bestselling author of the DI Lottie Parker series. She yearned to be a writer after reading Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene and even wanted to be Nancy Drew when she grew up. She has now grown up (she thinks) but the closest she’s come to Nancy Drew is writing crime.In 2009, after her husband died, she retired from her job and started writing seriously. Fascinated by people and their quirky characteristics, she always carries a notebook to scribble down observations.Patricia also loves to paint in watercolour and lives in the Irish midlands with her children.

 

https://patriciagibney.com/

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Will They Won't They by Portia MacIntosh

Will They, Won't They?

When life goes off track sometimes the only thing you can do is go back to where it all began...

Emmy Palmer is the star of Bragadon Forest, the biggest fantasy series on TV; adored by the public, living the life of glamour and luxury in London.

But when scandal strikes, Emmy must escape the city and return to her seaside hometown to lie low and wait for the storm to pass.

Emmy's agent decides it would be a good look to star in the community Christmas pantomime, but who else could be playing her leading man but her ex-boyfriend who she may or may not have ditched to move to London a decade ago...

As the show approaches, love and friendships blossom and the real question is - Will they? Won't they?

What did I think?

My first book by this author. I cannot explain why I haven't read any of her books up until know. All I know is that I have been missing out.

This book was a delightful and delicious romantic comedy and I couldn't get enough of it. Just what I needed after reading several darker books just recently. it was like a breath of fresh air. 

If you want a lighthearted and cute read then this book is for you. I enjoyed the character of Emmy and the setting in Marram Bay.

It's never too early for a festive read - so grab yourself a copy, snuggle up and dive in.

Author Bio –  Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 16 novels, including The Plus One Pact and My Great Ex-Scape. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences.

 

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A Beautiful Spy by Rachel Hore

 

We all have authors who we await their new titles with bated breath and know that we will be reading them before we know what they are about. Well Rachel is one of those authors for me.

Minnie Gray is an ordinary young woman. She is also a spy for the British government.

It all began in the summer of 1928...

Minnie is supposed to find a nice man, get married and have children. The problem is it doesn’t appeal to her at all. She is working as a secretary, but longs to make a difference.

Then, one day, she gets her chance. She is recruited by the British government as a spy. Under strict instructions not to tell anyone, not even her family, she moves to London and begins her mission – to infiltrate the Communist movement. 

What did I think?

I'm really starting to enjoy more and more historical novels and this one intrigued me as it is set in 1928 and it's not a period I know much about. The beauty of this book is that it brought the history of this period to life for me.

What a character Minnie was. What a double life she led. I was totally gripped by the story, by the bravery of the agents and Minnie's courage and determination. I didn't realise till afterwards that the story was based on the real events of Olga Grey who was recruited by MI5 and who worked undercover to gain access to members of the Communist Party. Quite remarkable.

This was a book I really didn't want to put down it was so good.

Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she taught publishing and creative writing at the University of East Anglia until deciding to become a full-time writer. She is the Sunday Times (London) bestselling author of ten novels, including The Love Child. She is married to the writer D.J. Taylor and they have three sons. Visit her at RachelHore.co.uk and connect with her on Twitter @RachelHore.

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Untitled-Rachel-Hore-Pa/dp/1471187217

US - https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Spy-Rachel-Hore-ebook/dp/B08955K1RB

Snowflakes Over the Starfish Cafe by Jessica Redland

 

Welcome to The Starfish Café - where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.

Two broken hearts.

Since she inherited The Starfish Café, Hollie has poured her heart into the business, striving to keep her mother's traditions and warm-hearted spirit alive. But behind closed doors Hollie is searching for true happiness, as she grieves the tragic loss of her family who were once the beating heart of the café...

An unexpected meeting.

Jake lives by two rules: don’t let anyone get close and don’t talk about what happened. Little does he know that a chance meeting at The Starfish Café, facilitated by a fluffy lost dog, is about to turn his world upside down...

The chance to love again.

Can Hollie and Jake break down the barriers that have been holding them back from finding love and happiness, before Christmas comes around? Afterall, with courage, nothing is impossible...

What did I think?

although I have heard so many good things about Jessica Redlands books this is the first one I have actually read.Looks as though I have been missing a trick.

This was such a delightful book - set in Winter and next to the sea - what is there not to like. It is full of emotion, delightful characters and a real sense of community spirit. Gave me a lovely warm feeling by the time I had finished. Got to love a happy ending.

Now all I have to do is to decide which one of Jessica's series of books I'm going to make a start with.

Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

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The Couple Upstairs by Shalini Boland

 

Our new home was supposed to be a chance to leave our past behind. But was moving here the worst mistake of our lives?

All our friends and family were gathered, glasses raised to toast our fresh start. It should have been a night for happiness and celebration. Zac and I had worked so hard for this: our first home together, just minutes from the sea. But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare…

We’d invited our neighbours too. I wanted to make a good impression – to show them we’re exactly the sort of people they want living on their street.

I hadn’t thought about who they might be, the strangers I was letting in.

It was going so well. There was laughter in the air and the wine was flowing. But then I noticed the narrowed eyes, the whispers.

And then the lights went out.

As my heart thumped in my chest, all the little things that had been going wrong since we moved here flashed through my mind: the food poisoning, the arguments, the flood of nasty reviews shaking my business.

Am I going crazy? Or is someone trying to destroy us?

From the USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes an absolutely heart-thumping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.

What did I think?

It's been a while since I read a thriller by this author - and now wondering why I left it so long.

I read this book remarkably quickly for me - mainly because the story had me hooked with plenty of twists to keep my interest and to keep me reading. I'm never very good at second guessing where a story is going to take me and trying to work out the ending - but I really had no clue down which path this book was taking me.

I moved house last Summer - and it has got me thinking......

Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and Jess their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

 

http://someonewotwrites.blogspot.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shaboland/

https://twitter.com/ShaliniBoland

 

Buy Links:

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A Christmas Wedding In The Costswolds by Lucy Coleman

 

A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds

What could be more festive than a winter wedding in the picturesque English countryside? Join us for Christmas in the Cotswolds with the bestselling Lucy Coleman.

Imogen Tolliman and Gray Adams can’t wait to get married after getting engaged the previous year, when they were stranded by snow in a blizzard. Now they are busy planning their wedding, but when the date slips six months because Gray is working on a huge film project, it seems like fate that after their snowy start, they will end up getting married at Christmas.

The couple are living in Immi’s grandfather’s picturesque lock-keeper’s cottage at the Aysbury marina in the Cotswolds, which they are renovating to become their forever family home. As well as building work, full-time jobs and wedding planning, Immi is in charge of raising money to build a children’s playground, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Santa Ahoy Cruises – her grandfather Tollie’s life work.

When Gray is suddenly forced to travel abroad, Immi is left to cope with everything alone, and before long, even the best-laid plans start to wobble. When a terrible betrayal is uncovered, the whole community of Aysbury is left reeling, and Immi is left wondering if there will be a wedding after all…

Let Lucy Coleman transport you away to an unforgettable Cotswolds Christmas full of romance and laughter, friendship and family and much-loved festive traditions. Perfect for all fans of Trisha Ashley, Holly Martin and Sue Moorcroft.

What did I think?

I read Christmas at the Lock Keeper's Cottage by this author earlier in the year (actually I listened to it on audio whilst I was walking during lockdown) and really enjoyed it - so was looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I enjoyed catching up with Immy and Gray again and joining them as they plan their wedding (which was previously delayed due to heavy snowfall) It's a busy time for them as gray is working in London during the week and Immy is still helping at Santa Ahoy Cruises with her Grandfather.

Although this book has Christmas in the title I have to say like the first book it is not overly festive so could be read at any time of the year. The setting in the Cotswolds is idyllic - so pleased to be heading down that way next week.

A delightful story.

–  Lucy Coleman is a #1 bestselling romance writer, whose recent novels include Snowflakes over Holly Cove. She also writes under the name Linn B. Halton. She won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award and lives in the Welsh Valleys.

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The Girl Across The Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews

 

1944, Amersfoort Concentration Camp, Holland. Based on a true story, the unforgettable tale of two young lovers who risked everything to keep hope alive in the very depths of hell.

On a cold, dark day in a tiny Dutch village, Saskia and her boyfriend Frans watch as Nazi soldiers force thousands of prisoners towards Amersfoort Concentration Camp. Their hearts break as they see the desperate faces of innocent men and women and realise that the war is closer to them than it’s ever been before…

Saskia’s father’s shop is raided when the guards suspect that he is Jewish, and Frans is soon forced to enter the concentration camp every day to collect scraps of food as it’s the only way to feed the animals on his family’s farm. But despite the growing fear the couple feel, when a prisoner begs Frans to send a letter to his beloved reassuring her he is alive, they know they must risk everything to help him. They smuggle his letter out, right under the noses of the Nazis. And eventually they ferry hundreds of messages for prisoners, bringing them hope in the darkest moments of their lives.

But every letter Frans gets out of the camp puts him in even more danger.

And every reply Saskia manages to collect is a risk.

And then Saskia is led into Kamp Amersfoort and is forced to wear a yellow star.

Inside, she cannot ignore the pain of the other prisoners, and Frans knows she will be putting herself in more danger to help them – attracting the attention of the guards. The couple know they must act. Everyone says it’s impossible to escape the camp, but it’s the only option they have left. Their love has kept them together but is it enough to help them survive?

A gripping story of love, betrayal and courage. Readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and anything by Fiona Valpy will never forget this heartbreakingly beautiful novel and the great sacrifices Saskia and Frans made to change the fate of the world.

What did I think?

I knew a book set in a concentration camp would be a harrowing read but I wasn't expected to be quite so moved by it.

It is a story of doing what you think is right in the face of adversity, of taking huge risks for the sake of others, a friendships and of love. I became so emotionally investing in the story of Franz ans Saskia and at time I think I held my breath waiting to fond out what had happened to them.

As a novel it is an excellent portrayal of what went on during the war but then I found out it was based on a true story and it became even more poignant. To think that people went through this is heartbreaking.

The author has done an amazing job with this book to stand head and shoulders over other books which focus on the same subject matter - she has found that special something to make it stand out from the crowd.

Imogen Matthews is an Oxford-based, award-winning author and journalist with an interest in forgotten stories from WW2 Holland. Imogen was born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father who moved the family to England when Imogen was very young. All her life, she listened to her mother’s stories about her life in Holland, in particular the hardships she faced during the Hunger Winter in 1944-5, which has had a profound impact on her writing.

Facebook: Imogen Matthews; The Hidden Village (page)

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The Trapped Wife by Samantha Hayes

 

The rain hammers the glass outside. My husband has stoked the wood burner with a fresh supply of logs, and I’ve just put a joint of beef in the oven. It’s the most clichéd Sunday afternoon ever, and it’s the most heavenly one, too. Little do I know that days later, the ash in the fire will be all that remains of us…

My perfect life…

I thought I had it all – a dream job as a doctor in small town, a stunning home and a family I adore – but that illusion shattered the moment my husband Jeremy left on a work trip and vanished without a trace. Now my son and I are all alone in the world.

My missing husband…

My best friend thinks Jeremy had an accident up in the mountains, that I’ll never see him again and need to move on. I know he loves us too much to ever abandon us, but my head is still spinning with the texts I found on his phone before he left. Did I ever really know the man I married?

The night I can’t remember…

Everything changed the night of the medical conference weeks before Jeremy disappeared. I wrack my brains for answers, but my memory goes blank after my first drink. Ever since, I’ve felt like I’m being followed and can’t explain why panic thunders in my chest every time I see my newest patient. If he’s not local to the village, then why does he seem so familiar? And so dangerous?

As I piece together the shards of what really happened that fateful evening, only one thing can possibly be true: everyone is lying, even me…

 

What did I think?

Firstly - what a striking cover. Drew me to the book straight away.

I haven't read a book by this author before so didn't know what to expect. What I go was a well crafted psychological thriller with more twists than you can throw a stick at.

I don't want to give the plot away but this dark story has lots of "strands" and slowly they all start coming together to create an absolute belter of a story. Some excellent writing which has made me want to read more by this author.

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count. When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

 

https://www.samanthahayes.co.uk/

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