Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Home for Christmas by Camilla Isley, one of my favourite authors.

My thoughts:
It's never too late or too early for a good Christmas romcom, especially when it comes from one of my favourite authors- Camilla Isley! Sweet and sassy protagonists, great, easy-to-read writing style, and plenty of lovely Christmas spirit, what's more can a girl ask for?
If you're a fan of forced cloze proximity and enemies-to-lovers tropes, you'll love this one. Riven Clark is going through a messy divorce, but, no, no, he isn't hiding from his family in a snow cabin in a ski resort in Utah. He is desperately trying to meet a deadline for his latest adventure book. Alas! words don't come easy...
Wendy Nichols is a successful playwright who just can't get it right with any of her relationships. She is gorgeous, smart, loyal, and yet, her investment banker boyfriend wouldn't even call her back, let alone agree to spend the Christmas week with her family...in a cabin  in a ski resort in Utah. Which just happens to be doublebooked.
If you've read In a Holidaze, you know there will be  snow angels and mistletoe kisses, but this time the families sharing the cabin aren't lifelong friends, they are total strangers. So can you blame Riven for being a bit put out about having to share his sanctuary with fifteen other people? Can you blame Wendy for playing a few pranks on him? oh, wait a second, pranks come from both sides...
I love Camilla's sense of humour and romantic spirit. Yes, sometimes love surprises you, but more often than not, you have to be ready for it, ready to appreciate the other person beyond their good looks or fame, ready for commitment beyond a few days' fun. I have to say I was on the side of one of the characters, if only they communicated their reasons a bit better.
Looking for a quick, entertaining, clean romance? Home for Christmas is waiting for you....

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Author Bio –
Camilla is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.
She's a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She's a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn't want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

Social Media Links

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14135080.Camilla_Isley
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/camilla-isley
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/camillaisley/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@camilla.isley
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/camillaisley/
Twitter https://twitter.com/camillaisley

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The Village Inn of Secret Dreams

Brand NEW from the bestselling author of The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts.

After escaping her parents’ unhappy marriage to sleepy Cranbridge a long time ago, Belle Clarke dreams of staying at The Black Swan Inn forever.But with the rundown Inn threatened with closure, Belle may be forced to leave, unless a buyer can be found … quickly. So, when her oldest friend Pete Kennedy returns from working abroad with a plan to save the Inn, Belle should be overjoyed. The trouble is, Pete has some rather radical ideas for the renovation which Belle disagrees with. But when a snow storm hits, Belle and Pete are forced to put aside their differences and work together to help the village.
Can Belle realise her dreams to stay in Cranbridge and can Pete ever stop running from his past?

As they try to save The Black Swan Inn, secrets are revealed and just maybe they’ll finally find out how they really feel about each other.

Purchase

My thoughts:
A sweet and relaxing clean romance with a focus on community spirit and friendships!

First of all, I adore the title and the cover-lovely and atmospheric, they do set you in the right mood for reading this  book. The Vilage Inn of Secret Dreams is the third book in the Riverside Lane series which focuses on four friends (Amber, Lucy, Belle and Molly) who live in a picturesque village of Cranbridge. If you have read the previous stories, you will be delighted to see the familiar faces. If not,don't worry, it can be easily read as a standalone.

This time it's Belle Clarke's turn to find her own happily-ever-after in her beloved Cranbridge. Belle has a propensity for wearing dark colours as if she doesn't want to draw any attention to herself and once you get to know her family story, it's easy to understand. She was sent away by her parents to live with her uncle and aunt, the owners of the only pub in the village. The Black Swan is in a desperate need of renovation and, to be honest, a new chef, as Belle's aunt can't cook to save her own life. The financial situation is so desperate that it looks like the pub will have  to be sold. What will Belle do then and where will she live?  Pete Kennedy, Amber's future brother-in-law and Belle's childhood friend,  comes back home from Singapore and offers to buy the inn out, but he and Belle may have slightly different ideas about the inn's future...

I really enjoyed the setting and the heart-warming focus on the community this book has. Alison Sherlock touches upon some heavy topics-e.g. loneliness in the old age, youth unemployment, marital strife- but she does it with a light hand and sensitivity.

The protagonists were sweet and it was very easy to root for them. Belle, perhaps, was a bit quick to jump to conclusions, but otherwise, their romance developed naturally and realistically. I really sympathised with the main characters-Belle for her desire to live in a safe, friendly place she calls her home and give her best to the community, and Pete for his courage to try something new and then being able to learn from his mistakes (he is really a very likeable character!). You can't write a book about a village without a large cast of secondary characters, but it didn't feel overwhelming or confusing at any point- quite the opposite. Grandma Tilly and Amber are probably my favourite, but it was a hard choice to name just a few.

Can't wait to come back to Cranbridge for the next story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

 Author Bio –  Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree Hall books. Alison enjoyed reading and writing stories from an early age and gave up office life to follow her dream. Her new series for Boldwood is set in a fictional Cotswold village and the first title was published in July 2020.
 

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Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for this magic Christmas read!

Christmas at the Marshmallow Café

When downtrodden checkout assistant Bonnie Green receives a letter from a mysterious uncle, she can hardly believe her eyes.

Gifted a hundred-year lease on a famous cafe situated in the middle of a mythical theme park, Bonnie sets off with her best friend Debbie on an adventure to a hidden valley in the Lake District where they will find new friendship, love, and happiness, all set against the magic of Christmas ... and more marshmallows than they can possibly eat....

Purchase link

Only 99p/c until 20th December!

My thoughts:

Absolutely magical! One of those books that immediately puts you in a festive mood and makes you wish Christmas was all year round. I am quietly humming Jingle Bells, while I am writing this...just can't help myself, sorry!
Fifty-year-old Bonnie is a checkout assistant at a supermarket. Her husband left her for another woman, her grown-up children don't want to do anything with her, convinced that it was her fault, all her savings are gone together with her player of a husband...the only thing she has is a mortgage on her tiny house and an unusual best friend. Debbie is young enough to be her daughter, has a penchant for wearing black leather, looking like a Goth and falling in love with unsuitable guys. She is also kind, enthusiastic, and great with the Internet.
When Bonnie gets a letter from a solicitor informing her of her uncle Mervin's death, Debbie is immediately transported to the only time she remembers meeting him. She was twelve and had just lost her father, who used to tell her marvellous stories about a wonderful place caled Christmas Land. Well, Bonnie gets a surprise of her life when she finds out that this place really exists and this is where her uncle Mervin's shop is located. The shop which she has inherited. Only she can't sell it as it is a 100-year lease, and it is in the Lake District which means she won't be able to move there and keep her supermarket job...Luckily, Debbie doesn't think that far, she simply suggests checking it out, a few days off aren't going to hurt anyone and Bonnie needs to reconnect with her childhood memories.
What happens next is so full of adventure and wonderful discoveries, that I really don't want to spoil the pleasure of reading this book. Like lots of other people I adore marshmallows, so finding out that they don't always come straight from a packet, but can be home-made was such a treat! The location is beautiful and there is such a great cast of characters. The best thing for me is that Bonnie goes through an amazing transformation in this book and we all need a gentle reminder that life is wonderful and full of possibilities whatever our age or status is.
Wholeheartedly recommended. Make yourself a cup of hot chocolate and curl up with this joy of a book.

Thank you to Rachel and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

 
Author Bio – CP Ward is an author from Cornwall in the UK.

Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/groups/510678469409835

Thank you for reading this post! Have a great Monday!

Book & Author Details:

Christmas Actually: Bite-sized sweet holiday romance reads
Publication date: December 1st 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Christmas actually is all around…

Join eleven best-selling and award-winning authors under the mistletoe as they share bite-sized holiday romances celebrating the joy and romcom sweetness of the Christmas season!

The Christmas Wedding Date by Shirley Jump

When Holly McDaniels gets roped into attending her hometown Christmas ball, she convinces her handsome neighbor, workaholic Nick Corvino, to play the part of husband, giving the bah humbug bachelor a taste of Christmas magic that just might lead to a very real holiday happy-ever-after.

Gingerbread and Jingle Bells by Caro Carson

A big-city businesswoman answers her grandma’s plea for holiday-rush help at the family bakery, only to find herself apologizing to the small town’s handsome veterinarian each time she thwarts her grandma’s matchmaking schemes—until she discovers the mastermind behind all the romantic plans wasn’t her grandma, after all.

A Merry Aussie Christmas by Stefanie London

Their relationship is so fake it comes with costumes… Will spending a whole month as Patterson’s Bluff’s official Mr. and Mrs. Claus give a golden girl and the town outcast a second chance at love?

Mission: Merry Christmas by Nancy Naigle

A physical therapist finds her client bah-humbugging the Christmas spirit out of everyone and decides to focus on getting him back on the nice list.

Christmas In Sweetland by Lacey Baker

A restless hometown girl strikes a deal with the uptight guy next door to win a neighborhood holiday decorating contest—but they’ll both need a little Christmas magic to survive missing cupcakes, broken twinkle lights and falling in love.

The Matchmaking Christmas Spirit by Lindsay Emory

An event planner and a handsome handyman keep getting thrown together by a matchmaking Christmas spirit who won’t stop meddling in matters of the heart.

Christmas Eve at the USO by Tif Marcelo

When former college sweethearts and Army soldiers reunite at the Dallas Airport USO during a Christmas Eve snowstorm, they try to ignore the love they lost—until the Christmas spirit decides to play Cupid, leaving them with no choice but to go after the love wished they still had.

A Midnight Clear by Victoria Schade
A dog sitter booked to spend the Christmas holiday caring for a client’s new puppy is surprised to discover that an approaching snowstorm has trapped her with the handsome man of the house.

Love Letters for Christmas by Sasha Summers
When a soldier decides it’s time to meet his long-time teacher pen pal, his visit to her classroom brings all sort of surprises—and might just give them their greatest Christmas gift ever: love.

A Snow Maiden for Christmas by Sariah Wilson
Christina and Jack were high school sweethearts until he left her behind to follow his dreams. Now he’s back and their meddling mothers are determined to give Christina and Jack’s former romance a second chance by forcing them to play roles opposite one another in their local winter festival.

A Merry Royal Layover by Teri Wilson
When a veterinarian traveling to a remote European village to volunteer at an animal shelter during the Christmas holidays gets an unexpected first-class upgrade, she meets a charming stranger in the airport lounge who may or may not be the country’s crown prince.

Goodreads

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Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for this lovely Christmas story.

You Make It Feel Like Christmas

The only thing preventing Beth’s perfect family Christmas? Her family!
Television presenter Agatha Holly has built her career on telling viewers how to have the perfect Christmas. A Holly Jolly Christmas has been screened every December for twenty years and her entire family are involved, including her daughter Beth—the unwilling star of a thousand memes and gifs. But Beth has finally had enough of public ridicule. All she’s ever wanted is a traditional family Christmas away from the television cameras. If she can’t persuade her family to change, should she consider celebrating Christmas without them?

Purchase Links
Amazon UK  /  Amazon  US

My thoughts:
Wow! This was such an enjoyable read! Just what the doctor prescribed on a rainy October day when it is definitely too early for putting up Christmas lights, but you already feel ready for holidays.

Beth Holly grew up featured in countless Christmas memes thanks to their Mum's TV show, A Holly Jolly Christmas, and having mischiviously creative and undoubtfully bossy Lucy Holly for an older sister. Now Beth works in publishing and, although she believes in her authors, things might not be perfect on the bookselling front. Could a few quiet days help her reflect on what she is doing professionally and get over her nostalgia for her ex, Aidan Holly? Quiet might be a tall order, if her family is involved, but perhaps she can get away from them this year.

Aidan and Nick Hall lost their parents in a car accident on an icy road to their family home Myra Abbey. Aidan took over their father's construction business and has earned millions with his hard work and determination, while Nick has become a fashion model. Now, at twenty-four, Nick still lives in their parents' medioeval home and does everything possible to keep it afloat, including floor repairs and fixing the roof. Do you know how much money these old homes eat away? Aodan does and that is why he would like to sell it to hotel developers making Nick and their staff ( the housekeeper Ophelia and her daughter Chloe) homeless. He is on his way to tell them the big news, notwithstanding the upcoming holidays. Can he get more Scrooge-like? Chloe has a great solution: help him get back together with his lovely ex-girlfriend Beth who is incidentally looking for a hotel to stay in over Christmas. Could they perhaps pass the Abbey for a charming, albeit quirky, five-star-hotel?

If you think, you know where it is going, you haven't counted in a few other factors...Such as Lucy and Agatha Holly. Anyway, it is much better to discover the story as you read it. It is a perfect Christmas story where the main characters discover what really makes you feel the holidays have arrived. Is it the decorations, carefully wrapped and kept for generations, the dinner, the film (if you've been reading my latest spree of Christmas reviews, you know in my family It's a Wonderful Life makes its appearance every year), mistletoe...? No, it's people, of course!

Heart-warming, sweet, and immensely entertaining, this book should definitely be made into a Hallmark movie. As it is, it totally deserves five-stars for readability and fun factor. If you are into family-oriented Christamas romances, pick it up, I'm sure it won't disappoint you.

Thank you to Rachel, the author and the publisher for the gifted copy provided in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

About Louise Marley

Louise Marley writes murder mysteries and romantic comedies. She is lucky enough to live in a village where there is a famous library and TWO ruined castles. (Her husband still thinks they moved there by accident).
Her first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg's 'Write a Bestseller' competition. She has also written articles for the Irish press and short stories for women's magazines such as Take a Break and My Weekly. Previously, Louise worked as a civilian administrative officer for the police.

Louise's books have spent a total of 7 months in the Amazon Top 100 (UK). Three of her books have been #1 bestsellers in Romantic Suspense and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes was #1 in Romance.

Social Media Links
Website   /  Amazon  Author Page (UK)  /  Amazon  Author  Page (USA)


Twitter  /  Blog  / Facebook / Facebook (author) / Instagram / Goodreads  /  Pinterest

Thank you for stopping by and reading this review! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

If you would like to know what other bloggers thought of You Make Me Feel Like Christmas, here is the full blog tour schedule:

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the Publication day celebration of Samantha Tonge's book The Winter We Met.

Synopsis:

The Winter We Met

When charming, mysterious Nik sits next to Jess on a plane home from a Christmas toy trade fair, she never could have imagined the impact he'd have on her life. As they touch down in London, Jess is hesitant to let Nik walk away, and before she knows it, she's invited him to visit.

As the two take in the delights of the toy store where she works, Jess gets an upsetting phone call. Willow Court, her grandmother's care home, is to close before Christmas. Jess is determined to find the perfect new home for her Gran – and throw the best Christmas party Willow Court has ever seen!
But time is running out with the closure looming and Jess becomes increasingly drawn to enigmatic Nik who joins forces with her and best friend Oliver to realise those plans.

Will a chance encounter on an aeroplane bring love to Jess's life or is this Christmas miracle too good to be true?

Purchase Link - getbook.at/WinterWeMet

My thoughts:
This was such a sweet and original story, full of the traditional elements we associate with Christmas, but with an unusual, equally important focus.

Jess Jagger, a twenty nine year old toy shop manager, is coming back home from a toy fair in Germany. When she changes seats on plane and ends up meeting charming, easy-to-talk-to Australian Nik Talvi, she has no idea how important this chance meeting will be. Nik's family own a toy making business and Jess, ever thoughtful and kind-hearted as she is, invites him to come and see her shop and the little quaint village it is situated in. He does, but during the conversation Jess gets a call from her grandmother Alice who is telling her that her care home has been bought by a redevelopment company and is slated to be closed and turned into a hotel. The current residents and their families will have just 6 weeks to find new places to live, which isn't easy at such short notice. Nik comes along during Jess's next visit to Alice's home and charms everybody straightawy. He offers his help in organising the last Christmas party for the residents. It will be a great chance to celebrate their friendship and all the good times they spent together. Nik is simply wonderful. So why does Oliver, Jess's flatmate and best friend, with whom she has been enjoying a quiet comfortable life, feel suspicious of Nik? Is Nik really way too good to be true? And what about Oliver himself- sweet, solid, dependable Oliver and his place in Jess's life?

I absolutely adored the way the book focused on the elderly and their importance in our lives. The residents of Willow Court are all unique and drawn with so much love and care. I really appreciated their concerns about having to face such a big change  and how the  staff did everything they could to ensure their next home would be a good place.

I also loved reading about the toy shop with its unique atmosphere. It gives me hope that people think about designing new toys to teach children about environment and taking care of our planet.
A heart-warming and sincere story, easy to read and full of sweet, memorable characters, the Winter We Met is a bit more than just a regular Christmas romance and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Thank you to Rachel, the publisher and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

                                                                            Author Bio






Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK and studied German and French at university. She has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris, and has travelled widely.
When not writing she loves family time, reading and baking. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women's magazines.
In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014 her bestselling debut, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction Best Ebook Award.
In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category.
In 2019 she was shortlisted for the RNA’s Romantic Comedy Award.
In 2020 she won the RNA’s Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller Award with her novel Knowing You, from publisher Canelo.
 
Social Media Links –  Twitter: @SamTongeWriter
Instagram: @samanthatongeauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaTongeAuthor/

Title: Christmas Charms
Author: Teri Wilson
Published by: Hallmark Publishing
Publication date: October 6th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance






Synopsis:

She never dreamed her holiday would include her hometown, a dog, or a firefighter.
But a mysterious charm bracelet  predicted it all…

Ashley’s supposed to be having the Christmas of her dreams. After four years of working at an upscale jewelry store in Manhattan, she’s finally going to get a little velvet box of her own—from her boyfriend Jeremy, who’s taking her on a romantic trip to Paris. What could go wrong? 
Well, everything. 
Ashley heads home to Owl Lake instead, falling asleep on the train ride there…and waking up with a beautiful antique charm bracelet on her wrist. Soon, she realizes that each silver charm predicts an event that happens in real life. What does this mean for her and Jeremy…or her and Aidan, her former high school boyfriend, who’s now a local firefighter? Is there still a chance that she could have the perfect Christmas?

This small town Christmas romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Spiced Walnut Crust Cookies with Chocolate Ganache and Sea Salt.

Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon  /  B&N   /  I-books  /  Kobo

                                       AUTHOR BIO:







Teri Wilson is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of heartwarming, whimsical contemporary romance. Three of Teri's books have been adapted into Hallmark Channel Original Movies by Crown Media, including UNLEASHING MR. DARCY (plus its sequel MARRYING MR. DARCY), THE ART OF US and NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel THE BACHELOR'S BABY SURPRISE. Teri has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses and Audrey Hepburn films, and she loves following the British royal family. Visit her at www.teriwilson.net or on Twitter @TeriWilsonauthr.

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Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog blitz for this charming collection of Christmas novellas.

Tudor Christmas Tidings

Make Merry at Court
…with three Tudor Christmas stories!

In Christmas at Court Sir John Talbot and Lady Alice’s secret betrothal must wait until Henry Tudor claims the throne. Next in Secrets of the Queen's Lady the lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves is unexpectedly reunited with a handsome—younger—diplomat at the palace’s festivities! And in His Mistletoe Lady Catherine seeks help from a mysterious Spaniard to free her father in time for Christmas!
 
Purchase Links
Amazon UK  / Amazon. com  / B&N  / Kobo

My thoughts:
This was a truly delightful collection of Christmas stories written by three very talented and experienced romance authors. All three stories are set in the Tudor times. I loved all of them and would find it difficult to choose a favourite- they all deal with slightly different aspects and challenges a couple deeply in love would have faced in those times.

In Christmas at Court seventeen-year-old Lady Alice knows her time to get married has come, but it can only be done in line with her family wishes and the permission of King RichardIII. Her parents married for love and had a wonderful life together. How she would have liked a marriage like this for herself, even though when her mother falls ill and dies, her father's grief is almost unbearable. Lady Alice lives in very uncertain and dangerous times and must keep her wits about her, if she wants to survive. When the Dowager Queen tells her she is to be bethrothed to a young nobleman from the North, a son of one of King Richard's most loyal supporters, Lady Alice wonders what kind of game she is being made a part of. And it is a political game with very high stakes for all involved. By their betrothalSir John and Lady Alice's families promise to support young Henry Tudor in his attempts to take the throne and marry Princess Elizabeth York, the daughter of former King. This way Lancasters and Yorks will be united. It was fascinating to read about the betrothal customs and its significance in those times. Sir John and Lady Alice obey their families wishes, but can they trust each other? and could it be that in this political game where their feelings shouldn't matter at all, they can find true love?

Secrets of the Queen's Lady takes us to the times of King Henry VIII and the court of his 'discarded' wife Anne of Cleves. Their marriage was annulled by the King who had alredy met and quite probably fallen in love (or lust) with his next wife Catherine Howard. Despite the very public humiliation of being judged and found too plain for the King's affections, Anne of Cleves might have had a lucky escape- she did outlive all of his wives, after all. Lady Philippa is one of the few English ladies who was the Queen Anne's lady-in-waiting and did not abandon her service after the marrriage was annulled. She is sweet, kind, intelligent, and dutiful. Her family chose her husband for her when she was but a child. Unfortunately, the marriage was very unhappy, something Lady Philippa has been hiding from the world for years. Even after her husband's death, she protects his reputation. When Sir Christopher (Kit) comes to spend Christmas festivities at the palace of Anne of Cleves and reminds her that they met before, Lady Philippa unexpectedly feels attracted to this young and handsome diplomat. Their feelings are mutual, but his family, like hers in the past, would like him to put the family duty first and marry another noble lady. I loved the fact that Lady Pippa was older than Kit. The old saying that love knows no age has never been truer than in this story of the two dutiful soulmates who deserve their own happiness and happily ever after. I didn't know that Christmas trees was a German, not English tradition at the time, so setting the story at the court of Anne of Cleves allowed this much beloved element of Christmas decorations make its appearance.

His Mistletoe Lady was such a compelling read- I raced through the pages keen to find out how the story of Lady Catherine Greaves, daughter of a Spanish lady-in-waiting at the court of Queen Catherine of Aragorn who married an English nobleman, and Senor Diego de Vasquez, a handsome Spanish widower who cames to the court of Queen Mary and King Phillip and has a secret mission of his own. It was such an interesting mix of the two cultures and how they sometimes blended, sometimes clashed at the court.

I truly admire the research and thought that the authors put in in order to let us experience Christmas festivities in Tudor times -with all their feasts, games, music, dances, and sometimes mischief, and let us feel the joy this festive season brought in those uncertain times. And love? Well, love truly knows no age and no borders, but is based on trust and mutual respect, something Blythe Gifford, Jenni Fletcher and Amanda McCabe wonderfully show in this entertaining collection.




About the authors:

About Jenni Fletcher
Jenni Fletcher is from the north coast of Scotland and now lives in Yorkshire where she writes historical romance novels. She studied English at Cambridge University before doing a PhD on Edwardian literature & psychology at Hull. She has been nominated for 4 RoNA awards and won for Short Romantic Fiction in 2020. In her spare time she loves baking and, of course, reading.
Social Media Links 

twitter @JenniAuthor  / facebook   

About Amanda McCabe

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)

She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion.  She lives in Santa Fe with a Poodle, a cat, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections. 

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook. 

Amanda also writes as Laurel McKee for Grand Central Publishing, the Elizabethan Mystery Series as Amanda Carmack, and the Manor Cat Mystery Series as Eliza Casey.



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Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in this tour. This is my first book by Portia MacIntosh, but now that I've discovered this wonderful author, it won't be the last.

Sadie Stuck On You 
Synopsis:
Could a post-it note really lead to love...?
Sadie doesn't have time for finding love. She's too busy as PA for famous artist Damian Banks. When she's not arranging exhibitions, she's organising his dry cleaning or dumping his never ending stream of girlfriends.

But when she strikes up an unusual friendship with her desk share buddy, she finds a confidante and a new potential love interest. Problem is, they've never actually met...

With Christmas just around the corner, can Sadie put herself first for a change and find what she's been looking for all along?
The brand new romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald, Mhairi McFarlane and Zara Stoneley.

Purchase Link



My thoughts:

Wow! This was such an enjoyable read! Sweet, funny, family-oriented, romantic, it has everything a great Christmas book should have and I definitely see myself re-reading it again in the future!

Thirtytthree year old Sadie Kirke came to London hoping to find work in the art world. After a series of dead-end jobs, she became a PA to Damian Banks, a famous photographer. What she didn't know is that the job would literally involve organising Damian's life, including picking up his laundry, buying Christmas presents for his family, flathunting, arranging photoshoots with an alleged serial killer, and even breaking up gently with his girlfriend of the month (It's him, it isn't you!). Sadie is indispensible to Damian who isn't particularly liked by his employees (neither is Sadie, too close to the boss, better stay away from this one). The only moment of joy in her life is post-it notes from Adam, the guy she shares her office. Adam and Sadie are there on different days, so she's never actually met him. All she knows is that he is witty and thoughtful, and understands what a nightmare working for Damian is. To be fair, Damian is one of those super creative, cool artists who is definitely suffering from a creative slump, which can make even the most angelic of bosses insufferable.

When Sadie applies for and gets her dream job of an art curator in a museum, she knows the person she is going to miss the most is going to be Adam. Should she take her chances and invite him out to see if their connection is real? and then there is a little problem of giving her notice to a man who has grown totally dependent on her to the extent of inviting himself to stay with her family over Christmas. Have you ever heard of anybody bringing her boss to meet her family during the holidays? Little does Damian know how seriously the Kirke family takes Christmas traditions....

I absolutely adored Sadie. She never takes herself too seriously, but actually she is one of those super-dependable people you would be lucky to be friends with. Kind-hearted, sweet, and funny, Sadie is the girl next door who always tries to understand and help other people. There is a moment back in her home town when she meets her childhood friend who is about to get married, open her business and start family, while Sadie is stuck in her single life with no time for herself. and yet, she doesn't complain when Damian tags along, she just tries to make him feel welcome or at least not too shocked by her family traditions. I won't give away any of them. Suffice it to say, for me, they are the best part of the book, elves' ears, Dickens Day or what not. Having said that, I really can't imagine Christmas Day without watching 'It's a Wonderful Life', so seriously, Damian, how come you've never seen it?!? Although it is hard to imagine, but Damian does grow on you in the course of the book, while Adam...well he's a kind of a miracle...

 Great secondary characters, lovely settings, witty banter, and absolutely no negativity. There is a lie (or two) by omission, but boy, do they feel guilty about not having come clean sooner rather than later. Sadie is not a hapless heroine who manages to get herself into cringeworthy situations. She is capable and confident, has a great sense of humour and strong family values, and, most importantly, her heart is in the right place, and it will tall her what to do when the right moment comes...

I had such a great time reading it, that I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good, can't-stop-smiling Christmas rom-com that will definitely put you in a festive mood.

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources, NetGalley and Boldwood books for the review copy. All  opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

About the author:

Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 12 novels, including It's Not You, It's Them and Honeymoon For One. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences.

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Thank you for stopping by and reading this review. If you would like to know what other bloggers thought of the book, here is the full blog tour schedule:

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to become a part of this feel good Christmas love story!

Synopsis:

My Christmas Number One
There’s nothing quite like a Christmas love story, to get you in the mood for celebrating…Cara doesn’t do sexy and she only does ‘Happy Christmas’ under duress. She is, after all, a serious musician, and her stubborn streak is born from her struggle to recover from a serious injury.

Javi lives for escapist fun - in his music, and in his life - especially since he’s always failed at life’s more serious challenges, including marriage and fatherhood.

Javi and Cara are forced to record a Christmas single together, but neither of them have plans to spend any more time with each other than they absolutely have to. With Christmas traditions that couldn’t be more different, and outlooks on life that are worlds apart, the chemistry just shouldn’t work. But the magic of Christmas can bring even opposites together…

From the snowy beauty of London at Christmas, to the candle-lit magic of Javi’s traditional family celebrations, let Leonie Mack whisk you away on a memorable festive adventure. Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Mandy Baggot and Holly Martin.

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My thoughts:

My first Christmas story this year and it turned out to be quite an unusual one but with all the right feels!
Cara Poignton is a rising rock star from Bristol. She is a trained musician with a degree in music from a prestigious university. Ten years ago, when Cara was just eighteen, she lost her mother and her brother in a car accident which left her with a physical disability and a severe anxiety disorder. She is a serious person, determined not to let her traumatic past rob her of her present and future, but she accepts that there are some things that are more difficult for her than for other people. Music is her salvation and she takes it extremely seriously. When her record company asks her to colloborate on a Christmas song with a Latin music pop star, Cara does her best to add her unique musical vision to the project. Cara and Javi, the Colombian-American songwriter, make a beautiful dance video to go with the song, and although it is recorded on the Trafalgar Square in London in August, it has all the sparkles and Christmas spirit. The song becomes a hit and Cara gets involved with the usual promotion activities. The more time she spends with Javi, the more it becomes clear that there is more to him than what his reputation of a Latin playboy/irresponsible musician would suggest. He poured all his soul in the song which is quite a departure from his usual style. Cara gets to see his vulnerable side and tries to understand what exactly javi meant by the mysterious lyrics. She also meets Bea, javi's twelve year old daughter, Susi, his ex-wife, and even embarks on a journey to Javi's home town in Colombia, all of this with a clear intent to stay away from a romantic relationship, but can she do it or rather should she stay in her own safe bubble and leave the excitement of love and adventure for other people?
The story has a very simple plotline- it is basically the promotion of Javi and Cara's song and the push-pull of a romantic attraction beween two very different protagonists, both of which have traumatic past. Music is what makes it stand out from other Christmas stories. I was amazed how well Leonie Mack could describe the way a professional musician's mind sees the world. For me the best scenes in the book are Cara's performances- they are so vivid and full of adrenaline and energy! Cara goes through a lot of growth and experiences many things she has been denying herself. I really appreciate the the fact that the author was very methodical in her research of the disorder Cara has and very sensitive in how she described Cara's thoughts and feelings. 
I loved the settings and the contrast and newly-created harmony between the different cultures and traditions Javi and Cara come from. I didn't know much about Colombia before reading this book and had to look up the places and customs the author describes, and I must say this virtual journey was just wonderful.
 I got into the story really quickly, but then the pace slowed down, as the characters were going through their development. The inclusion of the secondary characters of Bea, Javi's daughter, and Gordon, Cara's father, was very welcome as I believe the story would have been a but too intense otherwise. It also added a bit more realism in showing the role of family relationships, our children and parents are in determining our priorities and the way we live our life. You have to be ready and open in your heart for a new stage of your life, whether it is a professional opportunity or a romantic relationship.
If you love music or just looking for a Christmas read which doesn't follow the familiar formula, try this debut story with a beautiful cover and unique protagonists.

Thank you to Rachel for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy. All opinions are my own and weren't influenced in any way.

About the author:

Leonie Mack is a debut romantic novelist. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings!

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