So This is Christmas by Helen Rolfe

 

So This Is Christmas

Care assistant Sophie loves the holidays, and nothing makes her feel more festive than helping 82-year-old resident Bea keep in touch with her old friend Greta. In their Christmas letters, the women update each other on their lives – Bea’s in the quiet residential home in London, Greta’s in the heart of Vienna and the grand Wynter Hotel.

But everything changes when Bea passes away before Sophie’s had a chance to post this year’s letter. Devastated, Sophie struggles to imagine this Christmas without her dear friend. But then Sophie finds one last note from Bea – and this time, it’s not addressed to Greta. It’s to Sophie, telling her to go to Austria.

Which is how Sophie finds herself in Vienna at Christmas, with the snow falling, and an important delivery to make… But when Sophie reaches the Wynter Hotel, there are surprises in store, and before she returns to England, her life will have changed in ways she could never have imagined…

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/ThisIsChristmas

What did I think?

Too early for festive reads???

I am currently in the throws of moving home. I can't imagine what next week is going to be like let alone Christmas! But one thing I do know is that this Christmas is going to be very different from the last few. I might even dare to say that I might actually be looking forward to the festive season this year - just a little bit.

I loved the premise of the two generations. I deliver library books to half a dozen housebound readers in my area for the library. Have to say it is one of my highlights of the month. They are all elderly and I love chatting to them - having a laugh and listening to their stories. Like Bea I can feel I'm beginning to get attached to them.

I'm not going to give anything away about the story except to say I found it was beautifully written, very heartfelt. It is magical and cozy and left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

In one way I'm sad that I have read it now as I'm thinking it would be a perfect December read. In my new flat, cozy and warm, curtains closed and snow falling (I do live in Scotland!) curled up on my new sofa reading.

Highly recommend.

Author Bio –

Helen Rolfe is the author of many bestselling contemporary women's fiction titles, set in different locations from the Cotswolds to New York. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.

Social Media Links – 

Facebook: @HelenRolfeAuthor

Instagram: @helen_j_rolfe

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/HelenRolfeNews

Bookbub profile: @helenrolfe

Fight or Flirt on the Scenic Route by Margaret Amatt

 

 

Fight or Flirt on the Scenic Route

She’s about to take him on a journey he never saw coming

After a couple of dreadful years, Elise Reid has finally found success working for a coach tour operator in Glasgow. But when she’s sent back to her hometown of Glenbriar to cover for a sick colleague, she finds herself stuck on a coach with her ex-fiancé… plus his new wife, his stroppy little sister, and his best friend – a man who’s always hated her.

Burnt out and searching for a break, eco-blogger and environmental activist Gabe Wilder decides a coach tour with his best friend would be a good way to unwind and reset. But when the tour guide shows up, Gabe can’t believe his bad luck. He and Elise have never got on, and after what she did to his best friend, he’s kept her at arm’s length, despite a simmering attraction he’s never confessed to anyone – even himself.

Unfortunately, neither Elise nor Gabe’s resistance to each other got the memo, and the more time they spend together, the more their chemistry sizzles. But between the watchful eyes of the group and the knowledge that this trip has an expiry date, giving in to temptation is a mistake waiting to happen. If they want a real chance at happiness, they must stop looking back, take a risk, and trust that sometimes, the best detours lead exactly where they’re meant to be.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/fightorflirt

What did I think?

Still on a mission to find my reading mojo. I have read most of the books in the Glenbriar series but not all of them although I would need to go back and check. Saying that although the books are all connected to each other I do think that they work well as stand alone titles.

When I started Fight or Flirt it felt like I was returning to a favourite holiday location. It sort of felt like coming home. Probably helps that the series is set in The Highlands - which is just down the road from where I live.

I loved the enemies to friends feel about the story. Got to love a bit of animosity to spark the intrigue and then see how the relationship changes and develops. 

This is the 14th book in the series and I found it a delightful and quick read. This is down to Margaret's lovely writing style - it is just so easy to read and lose track of time.

My next job is to go back and find the books I might or might not have missed and play catch up.

 

Author Bio –

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

 

Social Media Links –

https://www.margaretamatt.com/subscribe

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretAmattAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/margaret_amatt_author

https://ko-fi.com/margaretamattauthor

 

Will You Stay Another Day by Samantha Tonge

 Will You Stay Another Day?

If you could spend just one more day with someone, who would it be?

When Lili sends a jokey ‘knock-knock’ message to her best friend Em, she doesn’t expect to hear back. Because – as Lili notices the chill in the air, and the little robin in her garden – she realises Christmas must be just around the corner once again. A whole year since she last saw Em.

But then this time someone replies. ‘Who’s there?’ It can’t possibly be Em, but Lili wants to believe it could be, and she hastily suggests meeting.

However when she gets to the meeting place, there only one other person there waiting. A man. And not just any man. The most handsome man Lili’s ever seen, Dylan… And he is also waiting for someone he’s been missing.

As the days get shorter and Autumn turns to Winter, will two lonely hearts spend another Christmas without their loved ones? Or can they welcome an unexpected friendship? Or maybe even more, if they can just help each other to focus on not what they’ve lost, but what they’ve found…

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/StayAnotherDay

What did I think?

My reading slump knows no bounds just now. Maybe it's the good weather. Maybe its my social life has taken a turn for the better. Or maybe it is my impending house move. The stress is real and reading has taken a back seat. My go to place for reading was in bed - but as soon as I go to bed my mind goes into overtime.

But I always love Samantha's books and thought maybe this will be the bit of light relief I need to help my brain switch off.

And it was.

Reading a festive story during some of the warmest weather Scotland has seen for quite some time was a little surreal! 

This story does cover loss and grief but for me the overwhelming emotion whilst reading was one of hope. That you can deal with grief but also find glimmers of happiness and hopefulness - and that we will all come through the other side.

I found both the story and the characters relatable. It made me smile. And it made me think.

The last few years have been tough for me but I am coming out of it. Christmas has been the one time of year I haven't particularly looked forward too. But this year I actually am - and that is down to the people who have come into my life.

My goal when I move into my new flat is to create a little reading corner - so I can enjoy more books like this one.

Author Bio –

Samantha Tonge is the bestselling and award-winning author of over fifteen romantic fiction titles. Her books for Boldwood mark a broadening of her writing into multi-generational woman’s fiction. She lives in Manchester with her family.

 

Social Media Links

Facebook: @SamanthaTongeAuthor

Twitter: @SamTongeWriter

Instagram: @samanthatongeauthor

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SamanthaTongeNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-tonge