Sam's Fireside - Cosy Book Reviews & Recommendations

"A good cuppa tea can solve most problems, and if it can't, you've probably got bigger issues than a biscuit can fix".  Peter Kay is one of the UK's top comedians 🎤 and he's absolutely hilarious. In my opinion, he's one of the best at observational comedy 😂 in the business. I was lucky enough to see him on tour earlier this year, which was fantastic, and because I adore his Yorkshire accent 😍, I wanted to listen to his new autobiography so I could linger in those dulcet tones. In this one, each chapter focuses on a month of the year 📅 — from January through to December. Peter picks a memory or two for each month and captivates the listener as he shares his humorous take on whatever he's talking about, whether it's summer holidays ☀️, Valentine's Day ❤️, or Christmas 🎄. In his own inimitable way, Peter draws you into his world and makes you feel as though you were right there with him. Never do I laugh so hard as when I'm watching Peter...

'The South West is like a Christmas stocking – all the nuts end up at the bottom .' It's thanks to Sarah, @emeraldreader that I reserved myself an audiobook version of this on Libby and dived right in, as soon as it became available. If it weren't for Sarah, I wouldn't have known this book existed! Sue is probably most famously known as the other half of Mel and Sue, from The Great British Bake-Off. But I was interested in listening to how she got to where she did and the obstacles which she overcame on her journey. Sue is a very funny, hugely popular comedian, born in London at the tail-end of the 1960s. I adored this audiobook from beginning to end. Sue We used to go to the Gower on holiday, every, single, year and Sue talks about beaches that I visited all the time. I loved it! Sue is hilarious, with an incredibly witty, yet dry sense of humour which I guarantee will have you laughing out loud. Although there may be a moment (Pickle) when you might shed a tear. ...

Grace hates a lot of her family - so why not kill them?! Our #BookstaBritsBookClub had mixed reviews for How to Kill Your Family when we discussed it, but I personally loved it. I listened, rather than read this, and perhaps that helped. The dry wit of our female protagonist shone through and Grace Bernard is a complete badass who has done some truly disturbing stuff, but right now she is in jail for a murder that surprisingly she didn't commit.  I enjoyed the back and forth chapters, flipping between when she is in jail and before, and as she kills a million and one members of her family (well maybe not quite that many but enough anyway)! I'm sure I shouldn't like Grace, but I do. There are usually valid reasons why she wants people dead, and let's be honest, we've all felt like that at one time or another. It's just that the majority of us don't go through with it! If you aren't sure about this one, and you like an audiobook, then I would definitely re...

Unusually, it's the woman who is the grump in this one.... I'm a bit late with this review, but I did read it in December when I was feeling Christmassy! The Christmas Tree Farm is the third in the Dream Harbor series and I loved this one, although Cinnamon Bun is still my favourite! Kira is awesome. Despite her tetchy exterior, we soon discover that deep, deep down, beneath all the crotchetiness, she has a heart of gold, and she loves dogs so yep, that's more than enough for me! I adored her dogged determination as she tried to make her farmhouse at least a tiny bit habitable, and little by little she lets Bennett in to help her. Bennett had the patience of a saint, dealing with Kira's mood swings and stubbornness, but of course they get there in the end. As others have mentioned, this would be great as a Christmas rom-com - think The Holiday! I love that movie! I've already read and reviewed The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, so go back and read my review for tha...

Hope sleeps in a hearse - but this is a romantic comedy though, so don't be alarmed!  The storyline of a Catholic priest, (who doesn't want to be a Catholic priest any more), and his new life, as a sacramental photographer is hilarious, as he tries to wend his way through life 'on the outside'. His naivety, and the sheltered life he's led, away from the real world, make for an unconventional read. But who wouldn't want to meet the future love of their life in a cupboard?!!! It would be a funny story to tell the grandkids.  If you enjoy the miscommunication trope, then this is definitely a book for you. I think every relationship in here lacks communication at one point or another, and many a time I wanted to bang their heads together! However, as expected, everything has its 'happy ever after', and I dare you to try not to laugh out loud, at least a few times, as you're reading.  I found this to be a quirky and fun book in the next in Mari Jane Law...

It isn't very often that I re-read a book, however when the opportunity arose for me to read the next two books which Mari Jane Law has written, I just had to go back and re-read her first book which I remembered absolutely loving! Love & Pollination is brilliant. The story is funny, the characters are hilarious, Perdita is quirky and adorable, and in her own, neurodivergent way she creates a whole new set of words for human reproduction, including 'pollination' for pregnancy! I'm sorry Mari Jane Law, but the 'uprooting' reference reminded me of the mandrakes in Professor Sprout's greenhouse - probably not the image you were going for! With a lot of miscommunication, and men who just don't listen, a few busybody villagers and an adorable interfering aunt, if you're in the mood for an uplifting comedy with a massive dose of romance, then I highly recommend this one. I can't wait to start the next book. Thank you to Mari Jane Law and Rachel...

Another belter from Kristen and once again I was laughing out loud, right from the very beginning! We Three Kings was hugely funny, with a fair amount of cuteness and a spritz of romance. I fell in love with the geeky Jasper, Frank, Leo and Maggie, along with all their families. The food made me so hungry, all of the time and in particular the Singaporean wedding food, including the lobster noodles and satay with peanut dipping sauce - yum yum! I loved the IT aspect, how the four make up the IT Department with the company they work for and the banter they share about the rest of the building’s IT mishaps! They also reminded me so much of the amazing IT team that I had the pleasure of knowing when I worked for twenty-plus years in a hospital in the UK. The lads in the book each reminded me of different team members I knew!  We Three Kings is a book full of cosiness, hugs, kindness and families and I loved it. Kristen has made her way to be one of my must-read authors and I can’t wai...

In one of my Instagram book clubs, we decided that January would be non-fiction month, and Dawn French’s The T**t Files was the overwhelming winner when we all voted. As soon as I discovered this was the choice, I thought what could be better than Dawn reading the book herself, in her own inimitable style.  I found the book on Audible and settled down, just after Christmas, to begin listening. What a hilarious journey Dawn takes you on throughout the book as she travels through her illustrious career, sharing with the listener, the mistakes she’s made, the misunderstandings she’s encountered and basically, how she has made a champion t**t of herself (her words - not mine)! I laughed out loud; I shared stories with my husband and I snorted into my tea as I was listening to Dawn’s ramblings. I resonated with so many of her stories, telling her that yes, I too had almost ridden a horse upside down! (Well, it was actually a fat pony - but same difference)! The T**t Files is a perfect e...