Tag Archives: Festive

The Garden On Sparrow Street by Tilly Tennant ~ Contemporary Festive #Romance @TillyTenWriter @bookouture #FridayReads

Posted in Book Review, Contemporary Fiction, Family Drama, Festive, Romance by

Author: Tilly Tennant

Published: October 2019 by Bookouture

Category: Contemporary Fiction, Festive, Romance, Book Review

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As the cold winter nights draw in, escape to the sleepy town of Wrenwick, where the streets sparkle with snow and a lonely young widow is about to find that true love really can strike twice… 

As Christmas cheer fills Sparrow Street with excitement, grieving widow Nina is having a hard time. December is always a difficult month to face without her beloved husband Gray, the days feel long and bleak, and to cap it all, she’s just lost her job. 

Nina and her good friend Robyn, both work in the local hospice’s charity shop in Wrenwick. Both their husbands were cared for there until they lost their battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Working there, and her friendship with Robyn, have been Nina’s lifeline since Gray passed away, but now the shop is about to close down due to an increase in rent. Without the support and help offered by the hospice in the form of voluntary work, Nina didn’t know how she would have coped. She would probably never have met Robyn either so she had much to thank the hospice for.

When it becomes known developers want to build on the Sparrow Street community garden, Nasser, one of the residents organises a meeting. Nina ropes Robyn into attending. 

He could be a tad officious and it was true that if ever there was a crisis on the street — real or otherwise — it was a pretty safe bet that he’d be getting involved somehow. He thought of himself as the street’s unelected representative in all things civic, but while some people found him irritating because of that, Nina had no issues with him at all.

Nina’s idea to transform the unloved space into a remembrance garden was met with enthusiasm and most of the neighbours pledged their support willingly. Things didn’t go quite as planned and when their first effort was trashed by vandals a landscape gardener offered his services. Colm, with his good looks and Irish charm, causes hearts to flutter.

Set in the run up to Christmas, The Garden On Sparrow Street has a wintery feel but isn’t overly festive. The community aspect is at the heart of the story and illustrates how a group of diverse neighbours who know little about each other, come to realise they are not the only ones struggling or lonely or have family problems. Everyone has issues and not all are as they seem, regardless of appearances.

The relationships are lovely, depicted well and played out realistically—Colm and his daughter, Nina and Robyn, Nina and her father—and there’s a satisfying feeling of community as the residents take the time to get to know each other.

The Garden on Sparrow Street is a character driven and engaging tale of friendships, grief, loss, moving on and new beginnings. Nina’s doubts and feelings of guilt are convincing, grief is a personal process and everyone navigates through it in their own way and at their own pace.

Book links ~ Amazon UK | Amazon US | Hive | Book Depository

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, graduating in 2009 with first class honours. She wrote her first 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.

Author links ~ Website | Twitter | Facebook 

#BlogBlitz ~ #Spotlight + #Giveaway ~ Eve’s Christmas by Julie Butterfield @juliebeewriter @rararesources

Posted in Blog Blitz, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Giveaway by

Welcome to the one day blog blitz for Eve’s Christmas, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources.

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#Spotlight + #Giveaway ~ Eve’s Christmas by Julie Butterfield @juliebeewriter @rararesources

Posted in Blog Blitz, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Giveaway by

Welcome to the one day blog blitz for Eve’s Christmas, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources

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#Spotlight + #Giveaway ~ Christmas at the Chateau by Lorraine Wilson #BlogBlitz @Romanceminx @rararesources

Posted in Blog Blitz, Christmas, Contemporary, Giveaway, Romance by

Welcome to the blog blitz for Christmas at the Chateau, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources.

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☃️❄️Christmas at Frozen Falls ❄️☃️ by Kiley Dunbar ~ A cosy, heart-warming #romcom to curl up with @KileyDunbar

Posted in Book Review, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy by

Author: Kiley Dunbar

Published: September 2019 by Hera

Category: Festive, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Book Review

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Sylvie Magnusson is going to be lonely this Christmas. Instead of jetting off for her honeymoon, she’s freezing at home in Cheshire. Guess that’s what happens when your fiancé dumps you a week before your wedding…

I reckon Sylvie had a lucky escape when Cole dumped her a week before their wedding. I’m not sure how she stuck with him during their ten year engagement, to be honest, especially given his behaviour and with what would have been the mother-in-law from hell. But still, Sylvie didn’t relish the prospect of a miserable Christmas alone instead of honeymooning in newly wedded bliss on Mauritius.

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Magic Under The Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman #BlogTour #BookReview #Giveaway @rararesources @LucyColemanAuth

Posted in Blog Tour, Book Review, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction by

It’s a pleasure to be joining the blog tour for Lucy Coleman’s Magic Under The Mistletoe, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources.

My Thoughts

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Price Drop #Promo ~ The Christmas Calendar Girls by @SamTongeWriter @rararesources @Aria_Fiction #TheChristmasCalendarGirls

Posted in Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Promo, Romantic Comedy by

Heart-warming, cosy and charming, get The Christmas Calendar Girls for just 99p for a limited period!

About the Book

This Christmas fall in love with the town of Chesterwood…

Christmas is meant to be a time of giving, so with Chesterwood food bank under risk of closure Fern knows just what to do to save it. She’s going to get the town to create a living advent calendar.

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The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan Contemporary #RomanticFiction @susan_buchanan

Posted in Book Review, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Romance by

Author: Susan Buchanan

Published: November 2013 by Susan Buchanan

Category: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Book Review

Christmas is coming, but not everyone is looking forward to it.

The enigmatic Natalie Hope takes over the reins at the Sugar and Spice bakery and café in an attempt to spread some festive cheer and restore Christmas spirit, but will she succeed?

Natalie Hope’s job only lasts a month each year, beginning on the 1st December and ending on the 24th. This year she is in Scotland and has chosen to help four people who are not looking forward to Christmas for one reason and another. 

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Spirits of Christmas & Fairytale in New York ~ Nicky Wells

Posted in Contemporary Fiction, Paranormal by
  • SpiritsChristmas_NW_Cover_500Author: Nicky Wells
  • Published: October 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Category: Paranormal, Contemporary
  • four-half-stars

At one time, up-and-coming rock singer Jude had it all: a great band, a platinum record, a loving girlfriend. This Christmas, however, he is well down the road towards spontaneous self-destruction.

Spirits of Christmas is a modern-day rock’n’roll adaption of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. This novella will enchant romance readers, rock lovers, fans of ghost stories, and everybody who adores the festive season.

My thanks to Nicky Wells and Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy.

A perfect seasonal read – a novella with a modern twist on an old classic, with the traditional theme of reformation and possible outcomes.

Jude Shaw is the lead singer of the rock band The Blood Roses. They had it made with a platinum album, but have lost their way due in no small part to Jude’s overbearing and selfish attitude. Their downward slide in popularity has been slow but steady and when eventually they are booed off stage Jude predictably blames his band mates, Darren, Tom and Rob.  And to cap it all his girlfriend, Carrie, has left him. Jude can only see misery and loneliness in his future. 

That night Jude is visited by the Ghost of Forewarning, who has a very crucial message. He is followed by three more apparitions, all rock legends, who take Jude on incredible journeys to revisit his past, present and his possible future. Jude couldn’t see how antagonistic and indifferent he had become to those closest to him. This was a wake up call like no other. Jude determines to change his ways and devises a plan which he hopes will bring everyone back together. 

I loved this very creative, evocative story with the paranormal aspect, which was written extremely well.  The rock ghost references are inventive and fun. Very enjoyable, believable and well defined characters. 
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  • 4 - FTNY_CoverAuthor: Nicky Wells
  • Published: November 2014 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Category: Contemporary Fiction
  • four-half-stars

New York. A restaurant near Park Avenue. It’s early evening, and dusk is falling. So is the snow. Jude and Carrie are only killing time while they wait for their flight to London. They don’t know yet that their life will never be the same.

Twelve months on from Jude’s transformational Christmas he and the band, along with Carrie and baby Maya, have just finished a successful US tour. Jude and his family are scheduled to fly home from New York. While waiting in line at the airport check in they swap flights with a man needing desperately to get to London. What’s another day? Unless, of course, one day turns into more. As a white out hits the city and all planes are grounded Jude, Carrie and Maya are stranded. 

The hotel they’ve just left is full and no rooms are available anywhere. Jude, Carrie and Maya are facing a dismal and lonely Christmas. Or are they? A chance meeting changes everything. Little did either Jude or Carrie realise their good deed would result in an enchanting Christmas and totally unforeseen long-term benefits for them all.

A story full of Christmas spirit and joy of the season. A magical city covered in snow, making special friends, giving sick children in hospital a very special Christmas and an impromptu wedding. I love the perception that Christmas isn’t about how much you have and the commercialism but more to do with love, kindness and the benefits from helping other people.

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About the author

3 - NickyWellsUltimate rock chick author Nicky Wells writes romance with rock stars—because there’s no better romantic hero than a golden-voiced bad boy with a secret soft heart and a magical stage presence!

Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous romance with rock stars—imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity, you’ll connect with Nicky’s heroes and their leading ladies.

Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor at Siren 107.3 FM with her own monthly show. Rock on!

Nicky’s books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas

| Fallen for Rock | Fairy Tale in New York

Join Nicky: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+

Did you know? There’s a single out now by Nicky’s fictional rock band Tuscq come to life! “Love Me Better” is available for download from Amazon, iTunes and many other places.