Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: September 26, 2017

Publisher: Atria Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

“Where did they come from? Why did they fall? The question would be asked a thousand times…

Until, of course, more important question arose, at which time everyone promptly forgot that a thousand birds fell on the town of Mount Oanoke at all.”

In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a thousand dead starlings fall onto a high school baseball field, unleashing a horrifying and unexpected chain of events that will rock the close-knit community.

Beloved baseball coach and teacher Nate Winters and his wife, Alicia, are well respected throughout town. That is, until one of the many reporters investigating the bizarre bird phenomenon catches Nate embracing a wayward student, Lucia Hamm, in front of a sleazy motel. Lucia soon buoys the scandal by claiming that she and Nate are engaged in an affair, throwing the town into an uproar…and leaving Alicia to wonder if her husband has a second life.

And when Lucia suddenly disappears, the police only to have one suspect: Nate.

Nate’s coworker and sole supporter, Bridget Harris, Lucia’s creative writing teacher, is determined to prove his innocence. She has Lucia’s class journal, and while some of the entries appear particularly damning to Nate’s case, others just don’t add up. Bridget knows the key to Nate’s exoneration and the truth of Lucia’s disappearance lie within the walls of the school and in the pages of that journal.

Told from the alternating points of view of Alicia, Nate, Lucia, and Bridget, The Blackbird Season is a haunting, psychologically nuanced suspense, filled with Kate Moretti’s signature “chillingly satisfying” (Publishers Weekly) twists and turns. 

Review:

The Blackbird Season is one of those books that had me gripped from the first page, there was something mesmerizing about this one, I was completely caught up in the lives of the residents of Mount Oanoke, Pennsylvania. I was so curious about the starlings and wondered how this bizarre event would tie into the story, almost as much as I was wondering what happened to Lucia…

This is told from four different perspectives and shifts back and forth over a few weeks. I don’t think any of the lead characters are super likable and their reliability is questionable, but I found myself relating wholeheartedly to Alicia. Her five year old son is autistic and I found myself nodding my head vigorously anytime she talked about her hopes, fears and worries for her son. Being a special needs mom to a kiddo with autism is the biggest challenge (and biggest gift!) I’ve ever faced in my life and Moretti captured the constant daily struggles absolutely perfectly, a truly accurate portrayal, bravo! While I made have had the strongest connection with Alicia all of the characters are extremely well crafted with strong, distinct voices. 

The setting and overall mood is fantastic, there is a mystical, otherworldly vibe right from the start. There is an ominous feeling surrounding this bleak town creating an atmosphere that was haunting and even sinister at times. Mount Oanoke is a small town full of secrets and that will always grab my attention, and on top of that Moretti is a really outstanding writer. This has a slower pace with a steady buildup and while it doesn’t have many edge of your seat moments, the ending did ramp up the tension and intrigue, I was very engrossed.  The Blackbird Season is an intelligent mystery with an eerie energy, this would be a fun one to add to your October TBR, it’s totally perfect for a fall read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

Kate Moretti is the New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year, Thought I Knew You, and Binds That Tie. She lives in eastern Pennsylvania with her husband and kids. Find out more at katemoretti.com.

Facebook|Twitter|Instagram

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 5, 2017

Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb:

PI Vincent Delaney thought he was done with the NOPD until a string of seemingly unrelated child murders brings an unexpected invitation from the FBI, and his old boss. 

A serial killer is roaming the South, preying on children appearing in pageants, and the police want him to go undercover using his own family. Accepting would mean lying to people he loves and maybe even putting them in harm’s way. 

In Baton Rouge, a violent criminal has escaped and is seeking revenge for the brother Delaney shot dead. But Delaney isn’t going anywhere. He has unfinished business. Meanwhile, north of the French Quarter, shopkeepers are being extorted and ask for Delaney’s help. Extortion is a matter for the police. 

But what do you do when those responsible are the police? Delaney has his work cut out and he’ll be lucky if he makes it out of this alive…

I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Delaney, And So It Began today!

Review:

I’ve been a fan of Mullen’s Charlie Cameron series for awhile now and when I heard he was releasing the first book in a new series, I was thrilled! I love that it’s in a new location this time, NOLA and that once again it follows a PI that isn’t bound by the law. There’s something about a character that’s able to go rogue that really intrigues me. This is such a fantastic start to what I’m hoping is a long series!

Delaney has a really fascinating history, he was a detective but hasn’t been one for seven years. When the police and the FBI discover a serial killer is targeting young kids that enter beauty pageants Delaney is asked to consult on the case. The reasons behind his choice to quit working for the NOPD don’t become clear right away, there are flashbacks going back seven years that were tense and insightful. Delaney is just the type of lead character that appeals to me, he’s savvy and sharp but also has that great dry wit that’s a signature in Mullen’s books.

There is a lot going on here, Delaney is helping to track down the pageant killer but he also has two other cases ongoing. First, he’s hired by a group of locals that are being extorted by the cops and that is a huge can of worms in itself. Then, a madman from his past has escaped from police custody and is hell bent on revenge causing Delaney to always be looking over his shoulder. All of these separate plot threads made this an exciting read, there was never a dull moment. 

If you’re already a fan of Mullen you’ll love this one and if you haven’t read him before this is a great place to start. This is definitely his best book to date in my opinion, there is something about his style that I really enjoy.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author: 

OWEN MULLEN’S debut novel Games People Play has been long-listed for Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Crime Book Of The Year 2017

School was a waste of time for me. Or rather, I wasted time; my own and every teacher’s who tried to get me to work. It took twenty years to appreciate what they were telling me. Life has rules. They aren’t written down but they exist nevertheless. I got that. Eventually. But by then I was thirty five.

Along the way I missed an important clue. At ten I won a national primary schools short story competition – and didn’t write anything else for forty years.

SMART BOY WANTED APPLY WITHIN

As a teenager my big obsession was music. Early on I realised if I was successful I would probably be rich and famous and pull lots of girls. 

So how did that turn out? 

Well, you haven’t heard of me, have you? And this morning I caught myself worrying about the electricity bill. So the short answer is: one out of three ain’t bad. 

Running around the country in a Transit van with your mates is fun. It’s your very own gang. You against the world. Until you fall out and the dream lies bleeding on the dressing-room floor. 

When that happened I went to London [everybody from Scotland goes to London, it’s like first footing at New Year, or ten pints of lager and a vindaloo on a Friday night; a sacred tradition] and became a session singer. I also started gigging with different bands on the circuit. 

Back in Scotland – most of us come back with wild tales of great success, none of them true – I wondered what I should do with myself and didn’t have to wait long for the answer. Her name was Christine. We got married, I went to Strathclyde Uni and got a bunch of letters after my name, and toughing it out at Shotts Miner’s Welfare, or dodging flying beer cans at the Café Club in Baillieston, was in the past. The long hair was short now, I wore a suit and pretended to like people I didn’t like because we were ‘colleagues’.

After many adventures I started my own marketing and design business and did alright. Christine and I were very happy, we travelled all over the place; India, Brazil, Botswana, Nepal, Borneo, Japan. One day I suggested we move. To the Greek islands. So we did. We bought land and built a beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean. Then the pan global financial crash happened, years of fiscal carelessness finally caught up with Greece; the exchange rate dived and the cost of living in Paradise went through the roof. 

I had to do something. Then I remembered the short story competition. I had been good at writing, hadn’t I? 

I wrote another short story called The King Is Dead…the first thing I’d written since primary school. When I typed the last word [Christine taught me to type] I held the pages in my hand then started to read. An hour and a half, rooted to the chair unable to believe what was in front of my eyes. For four decades I had shunned a god given gift. And as I read I started to understand why. It was awful. Not just bad. Bloody terrible.

But I kept going.

And now, eight years and seven books later, three literary agents plus two I turned down [they were reading a different book] I am a writer. My books are on Amazon. People buy them and come back for more. 

One seasoned London agent has predicted I am destined to be ‘a major new force in British crime fiction.’

Yeah!

So is the moral: follow my example, find something you’re good at and stick with it. Hardly. I didn’t, did I? Do it your own way; it’s your life.

Amazon|Twitter|Facebook|Instagram

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 6, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance

Blurb:

On the beautiful coast of Cornwall lies the idyllic Salt Bay, where Christmas is the perfect time for bringing family and friends together…

Annie Trebarwith is happily settled in Salt Bay with her beloved great-aunt Alice and gorgeous boyfriend Josh Pasco. Snow is in the air, and Christmas is just around the corner.

But when the father she’s never met, aging rock god Barry, turns up with the half-sister Annie didn’t know existed, life suddenly gets complicated. Barry and Storm are soon clashing with the entire village, and their antics are even driving a wedge between Annie and Josh.

Can Annie prevent her new family ruining the festivities and repair things with Josh in time for a cosy Christmas? Or will their relationship end up as frosty as the Salt Bay air?

Annie’s Christmas by the Sea is a hilarious and heart-warming story about family, friends and the magic of Christmas, perfect for fans of Lily Graham, Holly Martin and Phillipa Ashley.

I’m thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for Annie’s Christmas by the Sea today! 

Review: 

A few months ago I had the pleasure of reading the first book in this lovely series, Annie’s Holiday by the Sea and totally fell in love with the characters, Eeles writing style and the gorgeous setting. It was great to be reacquainted with the residents of Salt Bay and as there was a pretty big secret revealed at the end of the first book, I was eager to see that aspect explored further. You could read this as a standalone but they’re such fun and entertaining reads that you really should start with the first book. 

The characters in this book are so lovable and realistic, from Annie the introverted and sweet protagonist to her boyfriend Josh the brooding hunk to spunky Kayla, Annie’s Australian mate. There are many more, far too many to list, but they are all charming and unique in their own way and I loved getting to know more about each of them. The addition of Annie’s father Barry and sister Storm added some humor and snark and plenty of awkward moments and I really did feel for poor Annie dealing with not one, but TWO family members showing up at her door unannounced. No thank you! 

Though technically this is a Christmas book as it’s set during the holidays it really doesn’t play a huge role in the storyline and could easily be read at anytime of the year. There is something about Eeles style that really appeals to me, it’s easy, light and warms the heart leaving you with a cozy feeling. I highly recommend this sweet, adorable series to anyone who needs a pick me up!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

Liz began her writing career as a journalist and press officer before deciding that she’d rather have the freedom of making things up as a novelist. 

Being short-listed in the Corvus ‘Love at First Write’ competition and the Novelicious search for a new women’s fiction star gave Liz the push she needed to keep putting pen to paper …. and ‘Annie’s Holiday by the Sea’ (her first published novel) is the result. 

Liz lives on the South Coast with her family and, when she’s not writing, likes to spend time walking by the sea, and trying to meditate. Her ambition is to be serene one day …. she’s still got a long way to go.

Facebook|Twitter|Instagram

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 1, 2017

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

A childhood accident robs Vincent of his memories, causing him to become sensitive and anxious around others. His differences attract bullies, and he comes to rely heavily on the support of his family.

After the devastating loss of his parents, a remarkable woman teaches him to embrace life, and, little by little, he realises the world is far more forgiving than he imagined. When fragments of his memory return, he begins to unravel his past.

Who was his mother? What kind of man was his brother, Frank? And why does death surround him?

Fate is cruel. History is dark. Things are not as they seem.

Perhaps he should’ve stayed at home.
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Fifty Years of Fear! 

Review:

This was my second Greenwood book and what struck me in the first one still resonated here, he has a knack for writing highly unique novels that fall under the umbrella of crime fiction but are not your typical read at all. There is no one killer or one police officer hunting down a maniac. His books aren’t action packed or super exciting and thrilling, BUT they are still very engaging and will take you on a very emotional journey.

This is told solely from Vincent’s point of view and begins when he is fourteen and follows him until he’s fifty. He has no memories from before he was seven and in many ways his young life was tragic. His parents are both dead while he’s still pretty young and his brother, Frank is not exactly dependable, so he’s basically on his own. For the first half, I wasn’t sure where things were headed, as much as Vincent had his struggles he had a decent life to start. Then, things took an unexpected turn and while I wouldn’t call it shocking per se, it was definitely heartbreaking. 

This was a heavy read, incredibly sad, even depressing in parts. I don’t want to stop anyone from reading this though because Greenwood is a really fantastic writer, but it has heavy themes and feels dark and full of despair throughout, there isn’t a shred of hope to be seen. It’s heavily character driven and relies on that angle more than a crazy plot line to hook you and it worked for me. Refreshingly unique and emotionally charged, grab this one for something fresh. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

About the Author:

Ross Greenwood was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until he was 20, attending The King’s School in the city. He then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

Ross found himself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually, so he says “when things had gone wrong.” It was on one of these occasions that he met his partner about 100 metres from his back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. And, according to Ross, he is “still a little stunned by the pace of it now.”

Lazy Blood book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then four years as a prison officer got in the way. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave the author the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep he completed it in the early morning hours.

Ross Greenwood’s second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by Bloodhound Books, and now, Fifty Years of Fear, is out. All his books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour.

Ross Greenwood hopes you enjoy reading them. 

Please feel free to get in touch on http://www.rossgreenwoodauthor.com

Website|Facebook|Twitter

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 4, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

You think you know the truth about the people you love. 

But one discovery can change everything… 

Eight-year-old Billy goes missing one day, out flying his kite with his sister Rose. Two days later, he is found dead. 

Sixteen years on, Rose still blames herself for Billy’s death. How could she have failed to protect her little brother? 

Rose has never fully recovered from the trauma, and one of the few people she trusts is her neighbour Ronnie, who she has known all her life. But one day Ronnie falls ill, and Rose goes next door to help him… and what she finds in his attic room turns her world upside down.

Rose thought she knew the truth about what happened to Billy. She thought she knew her neighbour. Now the only thing she knows is that she is in danger… 

Happy publication day to K. L. Slater!! I’m so thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for The Mistake today!

Review:

Over the past year or so I’ve become a HUGE fan of Slater, she writes dark, twisty tales with complicated but realistic characters in frightening situations that make them SUCH addictive reads. I’ve said it before, but her books really should come with a warning label so you know that once you start one you will not be able to put it down until you’ve discovered the truth. 

This is told from Rose’s point of view in the present day and sixteen years prior. Her little brother Billy, was murdered and her life was forever and irrevocably changed. The details of his death aren’t totally revealed until close to the end, but there is so much more explored throughout than Billy’s death alone. Rose in only eighteen in the flashbacks and she begins dating an older man named Gareth and is totally besotted. By the time she realizes he’s a controlling manipulator he has already begun grooming her and dictating her entire life. I felt so much sympathy for this sweet young woman, and though she has healed in some ways, sixteen years on and she still has many issues. When  she discovers something shocking from the past in her neighbor Ronnie’s attic she begins to doubt everything she thought she knew and everyone she thought she knew and could trust.

Slater’s signature style of injecting a heavy sense of dread and uneasiness is back again and she leads the reader down a tangled path of lies and misdirection that will leave your head spinning. The plot is strong and very well developed and the ending was a surprise, she sure knows how to end things on a killer twist. If you like psychological thrillers and haven’t read Slater yet you MUST, she’s a fantastic author!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

Kim is the bestselling author of psychological crime thrillers ‘Safe With Me,’ ‘Blink’ and, the soon to be released, ‘Liar.’

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents and collected a stack of rejection slips. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating in 2012, she received five offers of representation from London literary agents and a book deal which was, as Kim says, ‘a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer and lives in Nottingham with her husband, Mac.

She also writes award-winning YA fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books, writing as Kim Slater.

Website

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA

Blurb: 

Lena Wise is always looking forward to tomorrow, especially at the start of her senior year. She’s ready to pack in as much friend time as possible, to finish college applications and to maybe let her childhood best friend Sebastian know how she really feels about him. For Lena, the upcoming year is going to be epic—one of opportunities and chances. 

Until one choice, one moment, destroys everything. 

Now Lena isn’t looking forward to tomorrow. Not when friend time may never be the same. Not when college applications feel all but impossible. Not when Sebastian might never forgive her for what happened. 

For what she let happen. 

With the guilt growing each day, Lena knows that her only hope is to move on. But how can she move on when her and her friends’ entire existences have been redefined? How can she move on when tomorrow isn’t even guaranteed?

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Lie to Me! If you want to follow along with the tour check out TLC Book Tours for the full schedule.

Review: 

This was my first experience reading an Arementrout book and everything I’ve heard about her books is true, she will crush your heart in the best possible way, similar to Colleen Hoover. Her writing is raw, highly emotional and so relevant and important. This will be put in my small stack of books to have my kids read when they get older, it’s a must. 

Books about vulnerable teens always get me right in the feels and this was no exception. It’s told solely from Lena’s perspective and broken into yesterday, today and tomorrow. It’s not told over the course of just three days in her life but rather the time before a major event, during and the time afterwards. I just loved Lena, she’s a bookworm who would rather spend a Saturday night tucked in with a Sarah J. Maas book than out at a party with friends, but she’s not a total loner. She has a tight knit group of friends and a best friend, Sebastian who was quite possibly the sweetest, most endearing kid I’ve read about in a long time. After a devastating tragedy, her and her friends are shaken to their very core and she must find a way to look forward to tomorrow. 

There was such an authenticity to this book, both in the scarily believable plot and the behavior of these teens. The dialogue was dead on, these kids were genuine and wholly realistic, I feel like if I had been eavesdropping on a group of teenaged friends their mannerisms and conversations would’ve been exactly like the ones portrayed in this book. 

I do want to mention that it gets off to a pretty slow start, but if you hang in there after the first third it gets better. Once it picks up the pace it’s full steam ahead and turns into something beautiful and powerful that took me on quite the journey. Much of it was absolutely gut wrenching but extremely poignant and touching, again every teen should read this the lessons inside are unforgettable and vitally important. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to TLC Book Tours and the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in West Virginia.

When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write. She shares her home with her husband, his K-9 partner named Diesel and her hyper Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent her time writing short stories, therefore explaining her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes Young Adult Contemporary, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal and Romance. She writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J.Lynn.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press) the Lux Series (Entangled Teen) and the upcoming YA Don’t Look Back (2014) and untitled YA (Fall 2014) from Disney/Hyperion. She is also published with Harlequin Teen and HarperCollins.

Website|Facebook|Twitter

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: September 29, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Romance

Blurb: 

An enchanting story about the magic of Christmas, the importance of family, and the joy of falling in love during the most romantic season of the year…

Christmas has always been a special time for Noelle Parker. Winter evenings spent with family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies at her family’s cozy bakery have shaped her love for all things festive. But this year everything is changing…

The beloved bakery is facing closure and Noelle needs a miracle to save Christmas.

Determined to raise funds for the family business, Noelle sets about revamping the bakery while juggling a surprise new job, caring for the elderly and cantankerous William Harrington in his luxurious, sprawling mansion.

As Noelle melts the frostiness of the house with cake baking, snowball fights and glittering decorations, she helps William to reconnect with a romance that has spanned decades and unexpectedly finds herself falling for his grandson – the gorgeous but mysterious Alexander Harrington…

In the countdown to Christmas, can Noelle save the bakery, reunite a family and create some magical memories of her own along the way?

Unwrap the feeling of Christmas in this beautiful novel celebrating friendship, family and love that lasts a lifetime. We’ll Always Have Christmas is the perfect treat for fans of Karen Swan, Susan Mallery and Sue Moorcroft.

I’m so pleased to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for We’ll Always Have Christmas!

Review: 

So now that it’s October first I don’t feel as bad about all my Christmas book reviews. Halloween schmalloween, bring on turkey day and Christmas decorations!! I’ve had the pleasure of reading some really gorgeous holiday books but I think I may have found my new favorite, this was such a delightful read! 

Noelle, sweet Noelle is at a crossroads in her life, she wants nothing more than to create an idyllic home for her and her son Lucas but she’s struggling. Her family bakery is about to close and it’s very dear to her as it was her grandmothers pride and joy and she recently passed away. She does not need any complications in her love life but there’s something about Alex she can’t resist, and seriously I don’t blame her, the man is pretty amazing sounding. While this is firmly a romance it’s also about family, long ago lost love and the holiday spirit and the true meaning of Christmas.

The characters in this book were fabulous, I loved Noelle’s family and her friends were pretty terrific as well but her son Lucas was the star of the show for me. His and Noelle’s bond was so beautiful, he was the cutest little guy, I just adored him. Cranky William wasn’t so pleasant at first but as Noelle slowly broke down his barriers I fell a little bit in love with him. (I think she did too!) And Alex was everything you want in a book boyfriend, he’s charming, successful, smart, romantic and generous. 

This was a swoon worthy Christmassy romance, heavy on the festive holiday feeling and giving spirit. It was cozy and warm and by the last few chapters I was giddy with happiness and ready to break out the mistletoe and dance to some Christmas music myself! I can’t recommend this one highly enough for fans of Christmas romances, it’s truly a wonderful and special book. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

Jenny Hale is a USA Today and Amazon best-selling author of romantic women’s fiction. The film adaptation of her novel Coming Home for Christmas will air on the Hallmark Channel this year. Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family.  

Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Website

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: September 28, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Romance

Blurb: 

The fairy lights are up and shoppers are flooding the snowy seaside promenade. It’s going to be a busy month at Forget-Me-Not Vintage, a magical shop with a warm heart where every item has a story to be told.

With bright red hair and an infectious smile, Dodie is a hopeless romantic and absolutely one of a kind, just like the pieces in her shop. 

When Dodie finds a love letter in the pocket of an old woollen coat, she makes it her mission to deliver it to its rightful owner. Following the address, she manages to persuade the handsome but reluctant new tenant, Edward, to help her with her search.

As the story of the letter unfolds, Dodie is there, as always, to pick up the pieces and make things right. But who will be there for her when her own love story needs a helping hand? 

Is it too much to dream of a happy ending like the ones in the black and white movies she adores? 

If you’re looking for a sweep-you-off-your-feet romance that will warm you through and through then the door to Forget-Me-Not Vintage is always open. Perfect for fans of Jane Linfoot, Debbie Johnson and Jenny Colgan.

 

 I’m so delighted to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for A Very Vintage Christmas today! 

Review:

Tilly Tennant is quickly becoming one of my go to authors when I’m looking for a lighthearted read that I can really escape into. I loved her From Italy with Love series and was so excited when I found out she was releasing a Christmas book! I know many of you think I’m a bit insane for already being all Christmas crazy but though this is set during the holidays, it’s not overwhelmingly Christmassy. It’s sort of there in the background and does play a part, but it’s not in your face, so any Grinches out there, don’t ignore this one because it has Christmas in the title, grab it because it’s such a fun, feel good book!

Sweet Dodie is the main character and I just adored her, she marches to the beat of a different drum but she was adorably charming and so kind. She’s an enormously giving individual and her small acts of kindness warned my heart. Her gran was an absolutely lovely addition to the story, she’s flaky and flighty but has a heart of gold. Isla is Dodie’s best friend and though her part was small, I really enjoyed their friendship and am so happy she’s getting her own book as the next installment in this little gem of a series. There are also some delicious male characters to swoon over which is always a treat. 

I loved the little bit of a historical vibe this book had between Dodie owning a vintage store and the letter she finds that was written during World War Two, there was a throwback to a different time even though this was set in the present day. This was a sparkly, festive magical read with wonderful characters and an engaging plot. Tennant always manages to sweep me away to a new place and I loved the charming town where this was set and could easily picture it all clearly thanks to her vivid descriptions and vibrant writing style. Add this one to your Christmas reading list and keep your eye out for book two next month! 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author 

Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing. She wrote a novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them.
Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014 it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. In 2016 she signed to the hugely successful Bookouture and is currently working on her tenth Tilly Tennant novel. She also writes as Sharon Sant, where she explores the darker side of life, and Poppy Galbraith, where things get a little crazier. Find out more about Tilly and how to join her mailing list for news and exclusives at http://www.tillytennant.com

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: September 21, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb: 

When Evelyn Dooley married her high-school sweetheart, James, she thought she was set for life. Now she’s twenty-eight, single, and fleeing to Dublin from her hometown to avoid the gossip surrounding their break-up. And all because of a test-your-relationship board game.

This was not in her five-year plan.

Then a chance encounter with gorgeous musician Danny leads to an unlikely friendship, and soon the pair are running music nights together in one of the oldest pubs in Dublin. For the first time Evelyn is following her dreams rather than someone else’s – and sparks are beginning to fly between her and Danny…

But when her savings run out and home beckons, Evelyn has to choose. The safe, comfortable life she left behind, or a new adventure with Danny? Will Evelyn flee back to the familiarity of her ex, or reach for the stars and take a leap into the unknown?

A laugh-out-loud, feel-good story of friendship, second chances, and romance, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Lindsey Kelk and Marian Keyes.

I’m delighted to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Reach for the Stars! 

Review:

A few months ago I had the pleasure of reading Coleman’s debut, Don’t Stop Me Now and absolutely loved it’s overall message of hope and empowerment. This time around I once again loved the themes of resilience, positivity and getting back up after getting knocked down, Coleman has a real knack for writing engaging, uplifting stories with the loveliest characters. 

I just adored Evelyn right from the start, she was the type of character that you want to befriend. Coleman creates the most gorgeously relatable characters, Evelyn had me laughing and smiling so many times, she was just so sweet and I really wanted her to find her niche in the world. Her transformation from the beginning to the end of the book was amazing, she really found her groove and had such a fantastic attitude. Danny is her maybe love interest and he was adorable and their interactions were heartwarming and swoon worthy. 

Often times chick lit can be slightly predictable, which is fine but this wasn’t at all which was SO refreshing. Evelyn has many curveballs thrown her way (again and again) so figuring out what would happen next was impossible. This book is perfect to pick up on a day when you’re down in the dumps, it will most assuredly put a smile on your face and make you want to go out and seize the day, it was a delightful read. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author:

Colleen Coleman is an Irish-Canadian novelist. She is the winner of the much-coveted Novelicious Undiscovered People’s Choice Award launched to find the next ‘chick-lit star’. She spent over ten years working as a teacher of English and Philosophy before finally taking a deep breath, scrunching her eyes shut, putting her pen to paper and vowing not to lift it again until she wrote the words The End. As a result, her first novel was born. Colleen lives between London, Ireland and Cyprus with her very patient husband and very, very chatty twin daughters. Don’t Stop Me Now, her first book was released in March 2017. 

 Facebook|Twitter|Instagram