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A book Review – The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson

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www.audible.co.uk/pd

I finished this book around the Christmas break but only just got around to writing a review.

This story is lovely but the narrative is a little confusing. It’s set after ‘A Winter Flame’ and all the main characters are there but they are just not the same. Eve is now pregnant and this features heavily in this story but the title suggests that it’s a Christmas story when in fact most of this book is set in summer.

Again the Daily Trumpet posts are ever so funny and probably the best part of these stories with the funny mistakes bordering of hilarious most of the time. It wasn’t really the cosy Christmas story I was hoping for but with the presence of the Winter World theme park throughout I suppose it’s Christmas adjacent.

I wouldn’t rave about this book but I still rate it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hello January

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Now that the madness of Christmas and New Year is done it’s time to start a fresh with the new year to come.

Hi start every month with a doodle on my kitchen chalk board so that when I get my coffee every morning it gives my that little smile to start my day.

Kitchen doodle

This doodle wasn’t my most imaginative I will admit but if like me, you don’t have a whole lot going on in January other than trying to get back into the routine that is everyday life then this is a happy little reminder that yes it’s cold and dark outside but we are faced with the promise of warmer days to come!

That’s pretty much all that gets me through this month is knowing that we are that much closer to spring and the loving embrace that is a nice sunny day!

Hope you are all keeping well and belated New Year wishes to you all!

Book Review – My One Month Marriage by Shari Low

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www.audible.co.uk/pd

At first this book fried my head. It’s starts by listing everyone who is in the story and how they are related. My first thought was ‘oh Christ I’m never going to remember this so I hope they circle back around to it’! Safe to say they did thank god.

The story focuses on the lives of 4 sisters. Each very different in their own way. We have one workaholic party animal, one who works as a nurse but her caring side continues much further than the hospital, one who absolutely has to control everything down to a millisecond and the 4th sister is practically a stranger in her own family. She doesn’t share anything about her life and is so shut off that she doesn’t realise how much that has affected her life.

This story seems that one man can affect this family so much when he gets involved with one of the sisters and whilst this is true the revelation is that all of their behavioural habits stem back to another man in their lives than none of them dare mention.

Once one man is ejected from their lives and they acknowledge the effect that the departure of the other has had on them that they actually start heal, reconcile and realise what each of them has needed all along.

I rate this story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’ve read this book, I would love to hear your opinions.

National Cappuccino Day

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Apparently today is National cappuccino day and I welcome this beautiful day with open arms! I love coffee everyday but a Cappuccino has to be my fave! It’s my go to beverage every morning and a great way to kick start the day.

This time of year a cappuccino is the perfect companion on a cold wet windy day.

Show some appreciation for one I made yesterday 👇

I’ve dubbed this one a Potter Coffee ⚡️

Hope your all enjoying a warm one today whether it is from your desk at the office, at home or with friends.

Here’s wishing you a great day no matter what you’re up to.

Book Review – An Autumn Crush by Millie Johnson

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www.audible.co.uk/pd

I love listening to stories that reflect the time of year we are currently in. This is the third one from this author I have listened to now. It was a nice heartwarming story about new love, old and new friendships and the funny way that life has of surprising us when we least expect it. This story touches on the topic of online dating and now uncertainty this can bring.

The great thing about this book is that there are little autumn quotes between the chapters and I do love a good quote! 🥰

Although I loved this book, I feel that it ended a little too abruptly for my liking but it was still a great story.

I rate this story 4 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy autumn everyone 🍂

Morning Postivity

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Saw this online this morning and thought it might bring some joy to someone’s day to share it.

Always love the things you are passionate about even if it’s not run of the mill or the cool thing to do.

Always be who you are. Don’t ever change for anyone!

Book Review – The Plus One Pact by Portia Mackintosh

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www.audible.co.uk/pd

I absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, relatable and feel good.

I love the character of Cara, nerdy but cool and very single. She has tried the whole dating app thing which has produced a number of undesirable characters. Then just as she is about to give up she meets Millsy in a bar. From here, her whole life changes. Millsy picks her up out of her mundane life and shows her all the things she could be doing. Essentially they become each others plus one to all up and coming events over the summer.

After Clara having a makeover (courtesy of Millsy’s connections) she feels like a whole new woman. More confident, outgoing and daring.

It’s a very will they won’t they situation as Clara clears fancies the pants off Millsy but also doesn’t know if it’s reciprocated and is petrified of ruining their friendship.

Without spoiling the ending I will leave it at all’s well that ends well.

This is probably the best story I have ready in a while. Literally made me laugh out loud at times.

I rate this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review – The Secret to Happiness by Jessica Redland

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www.audible.co.uk/pd

I liked this story especially the friendship element of it and they way that all three women have their own stuff going on and despite the fact that their friendship is very new they make time for each other. I must say that this is a bit of a man bashing story. Whilst I know there are men out there who don’t know how to treat a woman if it kills them this really does shine a magnifying glass up to this. I spend most of this book raging at the mens actions and decisions.

It’s lovely that all 3 women have found someone better suited to them by the end and despite the distance between them they all remain good friends.

I would rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have you read this book? If so I would love your thoughts on it.

🍁 Hello Autumn 🍂

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It’s that time of year again where we bid a reluctant farewell to summer and welcome the warm cosy embrace of autumn. Last night we had thunder storms which meant it got dark real early. I’m not normally a fan of the long nights but I’ve changed the batteries in my candles and string lights. I lit every candle in the house and actually found time to sit and chill on the sofa with Sienna for an hour or so before bed. I must say after weeks on end of sitting in the garden all night it was really nice. I really was in my happy place.

Hallway sign updated – Autumn Vibes

Autumn to me is staying in, lighting candles, watching a series on Netflix and enjoying some family time!

Every year autumn is fast becoming by favourite season. I love the opportunity it brings to bust out your cost sweaters, scarves, hats and gloves.

The shops are full of Halloween deco’s already and I think we will be adding some new stuff to the decorations we already have. I hope to get some bits before the end of this month so that we can decorate from the beginning of October.

I will keep you posted on our shopping extravaganza once we have been.

Hope you are all staying safe. Here’s to enjoying some quality family time and cosy nights!

P.s. I also updated my chalk board sign and just want to add it to this post.

Hello Pumpkin 🎃

Book review – The Secrets of Ivy Garden by Catherine Furguson

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www.audible.co.uk/pd

This was a nice story. Although a little sad at times with reference to the death of Holly’s parent followed by the death of her grand mother Ivy.

Holly, totally alone in the world and deciding to fix up and sell up her grandmothers cottage doesn’t have it easy when she finds that the cottage had flooded and garden which was much loved by her grandmother has been destroyed by recent storms doesn’t let these set backs phase her and gets stuck in wholeheartedly. Following the discovery of her grandmothers diary and the revelation that the man she had always thought was her grandfather discovers that Ivy actually had a secret lover who was in fact her mothers biological father. This sets Holly on a path to discover who the mysterious B is.

Assisted by a friend she begins her search one person at a time. She makes friends with local shop owners daughter who soon discovers Holly grave fear of the wide open countryside which is a natural reaction to the circumstances surrounding her parents death.

Following the first unconventional meeting between Holly and Ben there are feelings that they both share but as with all great love stories this takes time for it to become apparent to each other.

This story has a lovely happy ending where Holly finds that she is no longer alone in the world but she in fact has a whole family that she didn’t know anything about before going to Appleton and with her new relationship with Ben just getting started she has found that the countryside is no longer something to be feared but I may well be a place to call home.

To sum up I would rate this book

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If your looking for a lighthearted read this is the one for you.

Happy reading everyone!