🎄 Festive Book Review ~ A Christmas Wish on Arran by Ellie Henderson

 

Joffe Books
22 October 2024

Scottish Romance #4

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book 

When Beth Ferguson’s dream of a career in journalism in London ends in tatters, she’s offered a new start as the local reporter on the Isle of Arran.

The only problem? Returning to the place she first met Callum. Her first love. And the man who broke her heart.

It’s been 25 years since ‘that day’. Surely he’s no longer there.

But Callum is still in Arran. Still gorgeous. Still making Beth’s heart flutter.

Despite the time apart, the more they try to ignore their chemistry, the more it reignites the flame between them.

As the close-knit island prepares for Christmas, Beth reconnects with Arran’s magic. But it’s Callum who pulls at her heartstrings. And when tragedy strikes, it’s Callum who shows Beth that time and distance can’t change what the heart really wants.

🎄 My Review..

I hadn’t realised when I picked up this book that it was part of a series of stories set on the Scottish Isle of Arran but whilst I suspect that there are reappearing characters in each of the books, not knowing much about their back story didn’t detract from the delight of spending time on Arran with Beth and Callum.

Beth is newly returned to Scotland after spending much of her adult life in London. Her arrival on Arran as the new reporter on the local newspaper allows her to take stock of her life, leaving her troubles behind and starting afresh in a place which is familiar as she spent some of her teenage years on the island, working and falling in love. When Beth accidentally bumps into Callum, now a grown up version of the boy she loved twenty-five years ago. However, Beth is torn between guarding her secrets or allowing life to offer her and Callum a second chance at happiness. This is such a lovely story as not only does the beautiful Isle of Arran comes alive but we also get to spend time with a lovely array of characters who bring a real heartwarming empathy to this delightful will they, won’t they story. The coziness of living in a small town comes to life and shows how supportive small communities can be when people need help.

Wonderfully festive, with oodles of charm, and a heartwarming love story at its heart, A Christmas Wish on Arran had everything I wanted from a festive read. It’s as comforting as a delicious hot chocolate sprinkled with cream and marshmallows and is perfect escapism from the Christmas rush.

About the Author

Ellie Henderson lives near the sea on the east coast of Scotland and is a regular visitor to the Isle of Arran on the west coast of Scotland. When she's not writing she runs creative workshops in the community.

Twitter / X @EllieHbooks #AChristmasWishOnArran

Twitter / X @JoffeBooks

🎄 Book Review ~ A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft

 

Avon Books Uk
7 November 2024
Skye Sisters #2

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Under the winter stars, anything is possible…

Ezzie Wynter can’t wait for Christmas on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Her island home sparkles at this time of year thanks to the snow-capped mountains and frosty winter walks, topped off with family gatherings with those she loves the most.

But her peaceful Christmas idyll is upended when she hears that the Larson family – the owners of Rothach Hall – are flying in from Sweden for the festivities. As Manager of their grand Scottish manor house, Ezzie suddenly has decorations to hang, food to source and itineraries to organise.

Life only becomes more difficult when Mats Larson turns up. The owners’ handsome, self-assured son is used to doing things his own way – and he is only another headache to add to her overflowing list.

Yet when unexpected visitors arrive looking for Ezzie, nothing else matters as she is left questioning everything she ever knew about herself. But amidst the Christmas chaos, she might also discover that, when all is lost, it’s sometimes those we least expect who come to our aid...

🎄My Review…

This wonderfully festive story gets my Christmas reads off to a fine start as returning to the beautiful Isle of Skye in this second novel of the Skye Sisters trilogy has been a real delight.  

This novel focuses on Ezzie Wynter who is the newly appointed manager of Rothach Hall and together with her sister, Thea, the head gardener, we get a glimpse into the running of this delightful Scottish manor. When Ezzie receives the news that the Larsons, the Swedish owners of the property, are arriving earlier than expected for Christmas Ezzie is determined to prove to them just how efficiently she is managing everything but with the family’s arrival comes a set of problems for Ezzie and also the arrival of some unexpected visitors causes Ezzie to reconsider events from her past.

Whilst it would be perfectly possible to read this second book as a standalone, it does make sense to read Thea’s story in the first book as that way you get to understand the Wynter sisters and discover more about the owners of Rothach Hall and their place within the story. This one introduces us to Mats Larson, the eldest son of the family who, newly divorced, seems to have quite a lot going on in his personal life, which is in danger of spilling over into his time at Rothach Hall. There’s a nice blend of family time spent with the Larsons, along with delightful visits to places on the island and yet it is the burgeoning romantic relationship at its heart which makes this into something rather special. 

Both heartwarming, and heartfelt, A Skye Full of Stars is such a lovely read that I was quite disappointed when the story ended as I would have quite liked to have stayed at Rothach Hall for a wonderfully festive holiday. However, there is the tantalising delight of the third book in the trilogy to look forward to, when we will discover more about Valentina, the third of the Wynter sisters, who will definitely have another fascinating story to tell us. Can’t wait to read it…

About the Author

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author, and her novels have been #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada and Italy. She writes two books a year for publishing giant HarperCollins and has won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award, a HOLT Medallion and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She’s the president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.

🎄 Featured Book of the Month ~ Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Harper Collins
21 November 2021

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

December, 1952

As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to deliver her first Christmas speech, staff work behind the scenes to get ready for the festivities at Sandringham Estate. Among them are Jack and Olive – old friends who are surprised to be reunited after seven years apart.

While Olive works for the BBC reporting on the royal family, and Jack is employed in the queen’s kitchens, their bond deepens – until a secret threatens to tear them apart. When the truth comes to light, it could change Olive and Jack's lives forever.

But maybe Christmas has one last gift to deliver…

🎄My Review..

As I start this month of festive reads I can think of no better story to have as my featured book of the month in December than Christmas with the Queen. Right from the very start of this lovely story, which covers the years 1952-1957, I was taken back in time to the early years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, watching her grow in confidence as she takes on the daunting task of broadcasting her first Christmas speech to the nation and commonwealth.

Not only is this a fascinating look at how the Queen’s Christmas Day broadcasts developed, but it also gives us the chance get to know the two lovely lead characters who hold the story together in such a special way. Olive Carter is a fledgling journalist working at the BBC and hoping to become a royal correspondent and American, Jack Devereux, a talented chef, who gets the opportunity to work in the royal kitchens at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham and Balmoral. Told in individual chapter we learn more about Olive and Jack, and also about Queen Elizabeth herself which makes for a fascinating glimpse into this royal world. However, running alongside is the story of Jack and Olive’s friendship which began in 1945 at the end of WWII and of a secret which, once discovered, will test Olive and Jack’s will they, won’t they relationship to the limit.

Beautifully written, with such a heartwarming message, Christmas with the Queen captured my imagination from the start. It sweeps you from post war London, to the elegant beauty of the Royal estate at Sandringham and gives a tantalising glimpse into life there however,  it is with Olive and Jack where the heart of the story lies, and it is their story running alongside that of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip which makes this into such a special festive read.

About the Authors

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author know fir her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining moments of the 20th century. A recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical novel of the year award. Hazel’s wotk has been translated into twenty languages and is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.

Heather Webb is the award winning and bestselling author of ten historical novels. To date her books have been translated into eighteen languages. She lives in Connecticut with her family and two mischievous cats.

Hazel and Heather’s co-written historical novels include:

Last Christmas in Paris

Meet me in Monaco 

Three Words for Goodbye 

Christmas with the Queen

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Heather’s Website

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Blue Sky @msheatherwebb.bsky.social

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