Category: Christmas reads

Recent Reads: The Perfect Christmas Gift by Katie Ginger

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Perfect Christmas Gift by Katie Ginger is a lovely book, that will make you feel super cosy and so much in the Christmas spirit!

Bella is a primary school teacher whose boyfriend leaves her one day in November, completely unexpectedly.  Nick lives next door to Bella, and he’s been trying to keep it all together for his son Freddie, after his wife, Paige, left them both 6 months ago. 

I really enjoyed this Christmas romance, set in a small village, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, there is a lovely community spirit, a lot of Christmas, family and romance.  It is a really lovely read, and one that will make you feel ready for Christmas!

The Perfect Christmas Gift was published on 22nd October 2021, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Katie Ginger on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and on her website.

You can read my reviews of other Katie Ginger books below

The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse

The Little Theatre on the Seafront

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to HQ.

Recent Reads: The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker is about 3 friends, 1 in England, 1 in Australia and 1 in the US who swap their Christmas locations, like in the film The Holiday.

I thought this was a fun read, with added romance, and a lot of Christmas events.  I enjoyed seeing the different ways they celebrated in Australia, Colorado compared to England.

The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker was published on 16th October 2020, and is available to buy from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Sandy Barker on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to One More Chapter.

Recent Reads: Murder in the Snow (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 4) by Verity Bright

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Murder in the Snow (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 4) by Verity Bright is set in 1920, and Lady Eleanor is settling into her role as lady of the manor, and this is her first Christmas.

She is doing the things that they usually do, including hosting an annual fun run in the grounds of the Hall, when someone drops dead of a supposed heart attack, except there is something suspicious about this death.  It’s very like that of her Uncle, whom she inherited the Hall from!

This is the first book in the series that I’ve read, so I’m sure I’ve missed out on some of the character development, but it was an enjoyable cosy murder mystery, all set at Christmas.  

Murder in the Snow (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 4) was published on 19th November 2020, and is available to buy from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.

You can follow Verity Bright on Twitter and Facebook.

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Bookouture.

Recent Reads: A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide by Rachel McMillan

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide by Rachel McMillan is designed to help you find the perfect made for tv (or streaming) Christmas film!  It’s separated into themes, so if you want a film with baking in, it will give you a number of suggestions.  It also gives you some ideas for new traditions with each theme.  There are also activities, such as Christmas film bingo, hot drinks to make, and facts that you probably didn’t know!

It’s a lovely book if you want some inspiration of what to watch next!  There is also a list of other Christmas and holiday films at the back!

A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide was published on 6th October 2020, and is available to buy from Amazon.

You can follow Rachel McMillan on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Harvest House.

Recent Reads: Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss is about Kate Turner, who has gone back to the village where she grew up, to look after her father after her mother left him.  She’s a fabric designer who works for Liberty, and so can work wherever she likes, and as she specialises in nature, this is perfect.

She hasn’t had a lot of luck with love, and so when her friend Laura pesters her into signing up for the Twelve Dates of Christmas, she’s a little bit hopeful.  She’s going to have 12 different dates in different settings, and with different men.  Her friend Matt is worried about her doing this, but she’s confident it’s going to be fine. After all, she might meet the one.

This is a wonderfully festive read, with lots of festive activities, food, drink and snow!  I very much enjoyed reading it, and found it very evocative.  

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss was published on 12th November 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Jenny Bayliss on Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Pan MacMillan.

Recent Reads: A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley is the sweet story of Lottie after her fiancé walks out on her.  She has gotten her life back together, and works at a beautiful manor house that is just opening back up for weddings and other events.  It’s a crucial time, and what would really help is a Christmas wedding!

Which makes it such luck that a couple turns up wanting to have their Christmas wedding there.  Lottie knows before meeting the couple that she’ll do whatever she needs to in order to make this wedding happen.  Then her former fiancé turns out to be the groom.

A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley was published on 19th October 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

I have previously read A Perfect Cornish Christmas, which is also by Phillipa Ashley.

You can follow Phillipa Ashley on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or through her website.

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Avon Books for this book.

Recent Reads: The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine

Posted on by Pam

My review:?

The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine is set in a small village which DI Walker, our main character, has recently moved into.  It’s Christmas, there’s snow predicated, which will isolate the village, and someone is posting Christmas cards threatening to kill 12 people. 

 I found the writing to be very basic, and written with little feeling.  It felt more like a first draft of a novel than of one that is being published.  The beginning was confusing.  It read as though it were book 3 in a series with a recap of what had happened in previous books, except it was trying to set the scene in a rushed manner. I read all of the book, hoping it would get better, but it didn’t.

I had hope for the plot, but I found the identity of the murderer predictable, which is unusual for me! 

In short, not a book I would recommend, even though I’ve seen other reviewers giving it 4 and 5 stars.  I really didn’t enjoy it.

The Christmas Killer was published on 29th October 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones, and your local independent bookshop.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find any links for you to follow Alex Pine!

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Avon Books UK.

Recent Reads: All About Us by Tom Ellen

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

All About Us by Tom Ellen is the story of Ben.  He’s finding life very hard, and is wondering if he made the right choices.  He’s with Daphne, but should he have ended up with Alice?

It’s Christmas Eve, and when he gets given a watch by a mysterious man at the pub, he puts it on, but he doesn’t realise what’s about to happen to him.  When he wakes up the next morning, it’s not Christmas Day, instead it’s 5th December, 15 years before, when he made his choice between Daphne and Alice.

This is a heartwarming, sad, sweet and funny story of Ben’s past, his decisions, and the consequences.  

I really enjoyed the book overall, even if I did find some sections sad and hard to read.  It really is a very good book, and one that has a lot of Christmas in it, if you’re looking for something festive!

All About Us is being published on 15th October 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Tom Ellen on Twitter.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HQ.

Recent Reads: A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

Posted on by Pam

 

My review:????

A Perfect Cornish Christmas is the second book in the series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing too much with the story.

 It’s Christmas in Porthmellow, and Scarlett takes a DNA test, which has unforeseen consequences for her family, tearing them apart.  

Scarlett feels like an outcast from her family for the next year, but starts to reconnect with her sister before the following Christmas, and moves to stay with her down in Porthmellow, where she hunts for someone she is related to, who she is sure is there.

It was a cosy, enjoyable read, perfect for a light Christmas read.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas was published on 31st October 2019, and is available on Amazon and Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Phillipa Ashley on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or through her website.

If you’re interested in light family com, then other books that I’ve read and enjoyed are the Rachel’s pudding pantry by Caroline Roberts:

Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Christmas at Rachels’ Pudding Pantry

Here are some other Christmas books I’ve read and reviewed!

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Avon Books (the publishers) for this book.

Recent Reads: The Christmas Party by Karen Swan

Posted on by Pam

My review: ????

The last knight in Ireland dies suddenly, and leaves  the castle to his youngest daughter (Willow), his eldest daughter (Ottie) gets a camp site and her cottage, and his middle daughter (Pip) gets the stables that she loves, and his wife (Serena) gets the dower house.

Willow has a hard decision to make as she can’t afford to do the repairs that the castle so desperately needs, and so decides to sell the castle, which none of her sisters or mother likes, if only for the fact that they don’t understand why Willow has inherited it, and not Serena, or Ottie.

Everyone has secrets in this book, and they are all going to come out at the Christmas party which is to be held at the castle.

I enjoyed the book, and found some of the secrets obvious, and others a surprise.  It did set the scene well, with the castle feeling like another character in the book!

The Christmas Party was published on 31st October 2019,  and is available to buy on Amazon  and on Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Karen Swan on Twitter.

If you’re interested in family drama  books, then here’s some others I’ve reviewed:

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley ????

The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley ????

Those Who Are Loved by Victoria Hislop ????


The Confession by Jessie Burton ?????

The Perfect Dress by Louisa Leaman ???

Rachel’s Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts ????

Christmas at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts ????

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Pan Macmillan (the publishers) for this book.
Check out my GoodReads profile to see more reviews!