Tag: Festive

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Home Again For Christmas by Emily Stone

Published October 10th, 2024 by Headline Review
Romance Novel, Festive Fiction, Holiday Fiction, Christmas Story

Welcome to my review for December’s SquadPod Book Club pick . Thank you to Ollie at Headline for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

As the snow softly falls on the cobbled streets of Bath, ’tis the season to fall in love…
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Lexie is always on the move, but there is one constant in her life – her ‘wish jar’; the childhood tradition from home that she couldn’t leave behind.

When Lexie’s estranged dad dies, she is shocked to learn that she has inherited half of his travel company in Bath. Her dad’s will stipulates that she must work with Theo, her handsome but bad tempered business partner, for a year.

Once the year is over, Lexie intends to leave. But a work trip to sizzling Spain reveals a chemistry between Lexie and Theo that is impossible to deny.

Will Lexie find a reason to stay in one place? Will she discover the secret her father kept from her, and finally learn the meaning of home?

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MY REVIEW:

Lexie enjoys a nomadic life, living out of a suitcase as she goes from place to place. But when her estranged dad, Richard, dies, she is shocked to learn that he has left her half of his travel company in Bath. Not only that, but she can only sell after working with her business partner Theo for a year. The pair clash instantly but it feels like a small price to pay for selling at the end of the year. But it soon becomes clear that while they can’t stand each other, there is also a sizzling chemistry that they are finding hard to resist.

Home Again For Christmas is a heartwarming enemies-to-lovers festive romance that explores themes of belonging, the meaning of home, and complexities of grief. This was a joy to read over the Christmas period and once I finally got time to just sit with it, I couldn’t put this book down. Emily Stone’s writing is moving and enthralling and I loved the travel aspect of the story; how Stone explored different sights and traditions in other European countries at various times of the year. It was well researched and made me want to experience them for myself. Especially the Fete du Citron in France. 

But what I loved most about this book is its richly drawn and compelling characters. I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, and I was rooting  for Lexie and Theo from the beginning. They had all the wit, chemistry and venom that I enjoy in that trope and enjoyed trying to predict what would happen next. I also enjoyed Lexie’s friendship with Fran and her blossoming relationship with her sister, Rachel. The latter is just one of the more complex issues the story explored, also exploring how Lexie works through her complicated grief and how she dealt with discovering different sides to her father’s personality after his death that don’t fit the box she’d put him in. 

A wonderful feel-good festive romance, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hello, I’m Emily! If you’ve found this page then welcome, and thanks so much for showing an interest in my writing.

I have written three books now, which feels surreal! My latest novel is Love, Holly in the US and The Christmas Letter in the UK. My books always revolve around the Christmas period, but span the course of a whole year and more. They also deal with love – and grief, in one way or another. I think I put a part of me in every book – as I’m sure every author does – and my newest book is no exception. The main character – Holly – often does the wrong thing for the right reasons, and that is a situation I’ve found myself in! And with three sisters myself, writing about the sister love – and difficulties – in this book felt personal at times!

My other two novels are One Last Gift – a story of finding yourself when you feel that’s impossible, and of the love between siblings – and Always, in December. As my debut novel, it will always be one close to my heart. Whilst very different from me, the protagonist, Josie is suffering with a grief that I know all too well – losing a parent/parents at a young age, and having to carry that grief into adulthood, long after it’s supposedly ‘gone away’. I lost my mum when I was seven, and I still think about her even now, in my thirties – and that’s something that Josie and I share. Max, too, is suffering his own kind of grief, and that’s something that he has to learn to deal with. But whilst the novel is about grief, and learning to live with that, it’s also about falling in love, and about learning to be brave, even when your life doesn’t feel quite right yet – even if it feels like it will never quite be right!

I wrote my first two novels in a glorious house in Chepstow, living with my sister and my two nieces. My third book I wrote on the English coastline in Cornwall – so I consider myself very lucky!

If you read any of my novels then thank you, and I really hope you enjoy!

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Upon A Frosted Star by M. A. Kuzniar

Published September 21st, 2023 by HQ
Fairy Tale, Fantasy Ficiton, Romantic Fantasy, Gothic Ficiton, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Historical Fantasy, Festive Fiction

I listened to this dreamy story on Bookbeat. You can get 60 days listening for free with my affiliate link here.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘An enchanting new twist on a classic tale’ Elodie Harper

When the snow falls, she will be free…

The invitations always arrive the same way – without warning, appearing around the city on the first snowfall of the year, simply inscribed with ‘Tonight.’

When struggling artist, Forster, finds an invitation, he’s bewitched by the magic of the evening, swept up in the glamour of this notorious annual party and intrigued as to who is behind them.

Determined to find out more about the mysterious host, Forster discovers an abandoned manor house silent with secrets and a cursed woman who is desperate to be free…

From the bestselling author of Midnight in Everwood, comes another spellbinding literary fairy tale that’s The Great Gatsby meets Swan Lake.

Tropes:
🎄 Finding the magic of Christmas
❤️ True love
☃️ Festive fun!

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MY REVIEW:

When the snow falls, she will be free…

Decadent, dreamlike, moving and original, Upon a Frosted Star is an enchanting tale perfect for the winter days. A reimagining of The Great Gatsby merged with Swan Lake, M. A. Kuzniar transports us to the roaring 1920s for her sophomore novel which tells the story of Forster, a reclusive artist living by the lake and his swan wife, Detta. 

Moving between timelines and perspectives, this unusual romance unfolds slowly, pulling us into their strange world of hedonistic parties, ballet and vanishing performers. It is a story imbued with magic, wonder, yearning, and a menacing edge, staying true to the darkness of the original fairy tale. Kuzniar’s magnificent storytelling and evocative imagery bring the story to life, vividly describing the frigid, frosted landscape, extravagant parties, the ballet and the streets of Paris. But the most vivid of all were the descriptions of Della’s agonising transformations that I felt in my own bones and Forster’s heartbreaking yearning for his love when the ground is no longer dusted with snow. I was transfixed and totally lost myself in this deliciously dark fairytale.

A spellbinding wintery tale, this one is perfect for reading this time of year. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Maria Kuzniar spent six years living in Spain, teaching English and travelling the world which inspired her children’s series The Ship of Shadows. Her adult debut novel Midnight in Everwood was inspired by her love of ballet and love of The Nutcracker. She lives in Nottingham with her husband, where she reads and writes as much as can and bookstagrams.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd

Published October 24th, 2024 by HQ
Cosy Mystery, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Humorous Fiction, Festive Fiction

Welcome to my review for this cosy Christmas crime novel. Thank you to Rachel Quin and HQ for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

It takes an organised mind to solve a well-planned crime …

The perfect new cosy crime novel for fans of Agatha Christie, Nita Prose and Richard Osman!

A Platinum book of the month!

‘Mrs Beeton herself would be proud. A perfect recipe and devoured in one sitting between elevenses and afternoon tea.’ Ian Moore

‘A glorious new addition to the cosy crime genre with recipes which will leave you wanting more.’ Melanie Cantor

❄️❄️❄️

Alice Beeton never meant to wind up single and childless on the wrong side of fifty. Like her distant relative Mrs Beeton – yes, that Mrs Beeton – she had hoped to have her own spic-and-span household by now. In reality, she lives in an immaculate but dingy basement flat in a rather shabby block in Kensington with Agatha, her fiercely intelligent, if rather over-territorial, corgi-Jack Russell cross.

Now Alice runs the Good Household Management Agency, providing discreet domestic staff to extravagant townhouses and sprawling country piles. So when Camille Messent calls in urgent need of a new housekeeper, Miss Beeton sends out new hire Enya. She’s rather forward but she does come with impeccable references and is fluent en français.

But in the early hours of New Year’s Day, Alice is rudely awakened with the news that Enya has been found dead. As the intriguing, if somewhat scruffy, Detective Rigby struggles to drum up an adequate investigation and the wealthy family and their party guests close rank, Miss Beeton takes it upon herself to solve the crime…

❄️❄️❄️

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MY REVIEW:

With an eye-catching cover, modern-day Agatha Christie vibes and a bingeable story, everything about Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency screams ‘cosy Christmas read’. And, I’m happy to say, it doesn’t disappoint. 

Alice Beeton runs the Good Household Management Agency, providing domestic staff for London townhouses and sprawling country mansions. One morning, she receives an urgent request for a new housekeeper and it seems the stars have aligned, because at that moment she is interviewing Enya, a possible new hire. But just a few days into her new post Enya is murdered. So, determined to solve the crime and get justice for her employee, Alice goes undercover to infiltrate her own clients. 

Heartwarming, funny, festive and entertaining, reading this book was like snuggling up in a fuzzy blanket by a warm fire. Evocative imagery conjured cosy, wintery vibes while Josie Lloyd’s masterful storytelling and clever plotting made me lose myself in the story. But one of the highlights for me were the recipes for treats such as lemon biscuits from Alice’s fictional Victorian ancestor, Mrs. Beeton that are sprinkled throughout. 

A cast of quirky and colourful characters populate the pages and the eponymous Miss Beeton is my new queen on the amateur sleuth block. Curious, brave and tenacious, Alice is likeable from the first page. She likes things well-ordered and tidy, something that she discovers is not only perfect for running her agency, but for solving crimes too. There’s a great camaraderie that radiates from her whole team and I loved the friendship and witty banter she had with her best friend, Jinx. Then there’s my new favourite crime-solving side-kick of all time, Alice’s cute and intuitive dog, Agatha (named after who else but Miss Christie). Add in a swoon-worthy detective and you’ve got yourself a recipe for the perfect cast of characters for a fun festive crime story. 

A marvellous cosy crime with a retro vibe, this is a lighthearted, warm and witty story that is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit. I’m hoping this isn’t the only time we will see Miss. Beeton’s crime-solving skills and that Alice and her team will return for more adventures. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Josie Lloyd had been writing novels for twenty years, when in 2017, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine scan. An avid reader, her first instinct was to try and find a novel about what she was going through. She wanted to read something positive, hopeful and uplifting, but she couldn’t find what she was looking for.

It was whilst she was going through treatment that she joined a group of runners, all of whom were also affected by cancer and together they entered and finished the Brighton Marathon 10K. It was amazing experience that inspired her the novel she felt she’d needed when she started her cancer journey. Published as ‘The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club’, in the UK and ‘The Brightside Running Club’ in the United States, the novel has been described as:

‘Amazing, heartbreaking, inspiring,’ Jenny Colgan.

‘A love letter to the power of friendship, honest and uplifting’ Jill Mansell

‘A searingly honest, but fiercely positive story about the importance of friendship and the power of hope told with Josie’s characteristic warmth and humour.’ Mike Gayle

‘What an engaging and life-affirming story! A page-turner, too, with such wonderful characters. I loved it!’ Rachel Hore

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this honest, no-holds-barred story. It is by turns funny, inspiring and incredibly moving.’ Kathryn Hughes

‘Brave, bold Josie Lloyd has written an incredibly important book. I was charmed by her light touch yet fearlessness in dealing with the deeply emotional subject matter. Every woman should read it.’ Veronica Henry

Thanks to the amazing cancer treatment available, Josie is restored to fine health and has become the first patron of the charity Lobular Breast Cancer UK as well as an ambassador for The Sussex Cancer Fund. She hopes to inspire women and to show that it’s possible to not just survive, but to thrive on the other side of cancer.

Mother of three teens and a beloved dog, Ziggy, Josie lives in Brighton in the UK with her husband, Emlyn Rees, with whom she sometimes co-writes. Together they have written seven internationally best-selling novels, including Come Together, which was number one for ten weeks, published in twenty-seven languages and made into a Working Title film. They’ve also written several parodies of their favourite children’s books, including ‘We’re Going On A Bar Hunt’, ‘The Very Hungover Caterpillar’ and ‘The Teenager Who Came To Tea’.

Josie also writes as Joanna Rees, as she likes writing contemporary fiction as well as big, sweeping historical dramas. Her latest ‘Stitch In Time’ trilogy is set in the 1920’s in London, Paris and New York.

When she’s not writing, Josie is a keen sea swimmer and swims all year round no matter what the weather. She also likes walking and is undertaking a challenge to climb mountains named after breasts in Scotland in May 2022.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson

Published November 7th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, Christmas Story, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction

Welcome to my review for this gorgeous festive read. Thank you to SJV for sending me copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the Sunday Times bestselling author, The Mother of All Christmases is a gorgeous read full of love, life, laughter, a few tears – and crackers!

‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson

Eve Glace – co-owner of the theme park Winterworld – is having a baby and her due date is a perfectly timed 25th December. And she’s decided that she and her husband Jacques should renew their wedding vows with all the pomp that was missing the first time. But growing problems at Winterworld keep distracting them … 

Annie Pandoro and her husband Joe own a small Christmas cracker factory, and are well set up and happy together despite life never blessing them with a much-wanted child. But when Annie finds that the changes happening to her body aren’t typical of the menopause but pregnancy, her joy is uncontainable. 

Palma Collins has agreed to act as a surrogate, hoping the money will get her out of the gutter in which she finds herself. But when the couple she is helping split up, is she going to be left carrying a baby she never intended to keep?

Annie, Palma and Eve all meet at the ‘Christmas Pudding Club’, a new directive started by a forward-thinking young doctor to help mums-to-be mingle and share their pregnancy journeys. Will this group help each other to find love, contentment and peace as Christmas approaches?

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MY REVIEW:

Charming, cosy and captivating, The Mother of All Christmases is another winner from the Queen of feel-good fiction. Exquisitely written, this was a delight to read from start to finish, feeling like I’d been wrapped in a warm, soft blanket of festive joy. 

The Mother of All Christmases follows three women: Eve Glace, Annie Pandoro and Palma Collins, who meet at the ‘Christmas Pudding Club’, a group for local mums that are expecting their babies around Christmas. The women strike up friendships, helping each other through not only the ups and downs of pregnancy, but other aspects of their lives. I loved these women. They may be very different people from unique situations, but they found similarities that bonded them and formed genuine friendships. I was rooting for each of them and hope to see more of them in future books. 

This was a festive delight and I never wanted it to end. Funny warm and moving, there’s a wonderful, cosy vibe that radiates from these pages and a fabulous sense of community and friendship that runs through the story. I think the secret to some of that is the setting. Like myself, Milly Johnson is a Yorkshire lass and sets her stories here in the North. This gives them a feeling of home and comfort that I love. And I don’t think you can beat the warmth and friendliness of Northerners, which really shines through in this and her other stories. This merges with Johnson’s magnificent storytelling and compelling characters to create stories that never miss time and again. 

The perfect Christmas pick-me-up. Add this to your TBR now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 21 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (‘The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe’) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 21st novel ‘The Happiest Ever After’ is out now and is about Polly Potter who finds herself living at the seaside with no recollection of how she got there, thinking she is the leading character in a book she is writing. But what happens when Polly – or Sabrina as she believes she is – finds out who she is and has to make a decision whether or not to go back to the lesser life she left behind. Full of sea air, sand, seagulls… and scarecrows.

Do check out Milly’s website – it’s easy to find if you search for her name. She has a monthly newsletter with insider info, competitions and even birthday celebrations.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliopiles xxxx