Digital Reads Reviews

Happy Publication Day!!

Ah, another cosy read which made want to forget my thrillers and stay within the warmth of Christmas and love.

And this time we have Nina, our feisty heroine, jilted by a louse of a fiancé, stuck in the crossroads of life and love, where everyone knew what she wanted, more than her. Escape to the pleasant locale of Chamillon in France into the arms of Aunt Dolly, her life soon changed. And entered Ryan our hero, in search of inspiration for his novel. Their first meeting was a hilarious meet-cute. And then sparks flew…

A new series by Karen Clarke wherein the characters were bold and sparkly. They were real and funny. They showed emotions and brought out mine. Her writing flowed effortlessly like a gentle breeze, slowly enveloping me and reminding me to never give up hope.

The description of locale and the quirky Aunt Dolly with her matchmaking skills had me longing to delete Nina and plop myself right in the middle of things, in her stead. But alas, I had to make do with my imagination.

The two characters grew in strength as the pages flew, their love finding the depths. Charming characters, beautiful landscapes, snow and hot chocolate, pastry and love, humor and romance. What more could I ever want in a Christmas book?!! A fun read in October, indeed.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and publisher, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.

All my reviews can be read here

I live in Buckinghamshire with my husband and three grown-up children where I write romantic comedy novels published by Bookouture.

Over the years I’ve been a secretary/bookkeeper, a wedding photographer, a pub manager, I’ve worked in a supermarket, a newsagent’s, and as a librarian – all good for story ideas.

I now write full-time, and when I’m not writing I read a lot, enjoy walking – which is good for plot-wrangling and ideas – watching boxsets (Killing Eve, Ozark and Animal Kingdom are current favourites) baking and eating cakes. And then more walking to work off the cakes.

Last Christmas, Nina gave away her heart – only to have it broken. But this year, at her family’s cosy café, could she find a second chance at love with someone special under the mistletoe?

Nina Bailey loves Christmas. Except this year she doesn’t. Because it turns out that her husband-to-be has been cheating on her – and her beautiful wedding ceremony in the snow is cancelled.

She’s not really in the mood to be jolly, sing carols, or go anywhere near gingerbread men – in fact, what Nina wants is to avoid the whole thing. So she’s come to stay at her Aunt Dolly’s cosy café to nurse her broken heart.

Nina is determined to get through Christmas with no tinsel, no fuss – and definitely no flirting. So when she arrives and meets infuriatingly handsome Ryan Sadler, with his gorgeous forest-green eyes, she is not best pleased. And when Nina overhears him making fun of her, she is furious. (There might have been an incident with a koala onesie and a spilled bottle of milk, but that really wasn’t her fault!) So despite the spark between them, and the fact that he can whip up a fabulous dinner faster than she can say Michelin star, romance and Christmas are off the menu this year.

Unfortunately, Aunt Dolly hasn’t quite got the message, going to great lengths to provide a proper British Christmas for her beloved niece: a true home away from home. With sparkling lights adorning every wall and a tree to equal the Rockefeller Center’s and, yes, mistletoe above every doorway, can Nina resist the magic of Christmas – and stick to her no-romance rule?

Publication Date: 14th October 2019

Publisher: Bookouture