Sam's Fireside - Cosy Book Reviews & Recommendations

If I’m honest, I’ve always loved the idea of upping sticks and moving to a different country. In reality, probably not so much, but I admire the people who do just that. A French Adventure follows the stories of three women, Vivienne, Maxine and Olivia, and how their lives progress over the space of a few months as they discover new and old friends and go through some life-changing circumstances. I loved all three women and, of course, I was willing for their journeys to take them in the direction in which they wanted to go. Jennifer Bohnet shows us how we can overcome the challenges that life can throw at us and how very often we will come out better and stronger on the other side.  I’ve never visited the French Riviera, but after immersing myself in the lives of these three women, I think I could quite happily live there, in a small cottage with the Mediterranean sparkling in the distance. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity t...

The perfect enemies-to-lovers romance and perfect for anyone who is a diehard romantic. The Love Interest just oozes romance from beginning to end, whether within the pages of the novel Liv is writing or on her perfect date - which has yet to happen! The Love Interest is another brilliant novel by Victoria Walters and as soon as I got wind of it, I knew I had to read it. Liv is working in the university library and to her horror, her brother’s best friend and her arch-enemy, is coming to work at the university too, and even worse, he’s moving in with her and her brother, albeit temporarily.  Any book that has books as one of its subject matters is always a win for me and this doesn’t disappoint. With lots of Mr Darcy and Pride and Prejudice references, The Love Interest kept me entertained during the first drab few days of February. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review The Love Interest by Victoria Walters. Abou...

The Keeper of the Irish Secret is the first book in a new series - the Magnolia Manor series - and looks set to be just as much fun as Susanne’s previous books. Magnolia Manor, in Dingle, County Kerry, has been in the Fleury family for generations but has fallen into disrepair. The three granddaughters, Lily, Rose and Violet, have grand plans for the large Georgian house, but first, they need to persuade their grandmother that it’s a good idea! I loved all the characters in Susanne’s new book. From the outset, both Lily and Dominic had a place in my heart and I was rooting for them the whole way through. In particular, I really want to go and live in Dominic’s house on the beach with its great view of the Atlantic Ocean! I enjoyed the quirky, eccentricity of Wolfie’s character and I think he’d be such a fun man to work for! I love reading books set in Ireland and as I’m reading them; I try to do the accent in my head! I’m looking forward to the next book in the Magnolia Manor series, ...

Jaimie is fast becoming one of my must-read authors and I definitely need to start reading her back catalogue and soon! An Enchanted Moment on  Ever After Street is just lovely and is set in a bookshop - what more could a book need? Jaimie has me as soon as I open one of her books and when the characters start talking about one of my favourite books from childhood (and still one of my favourites if I’m honest), The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton then I’ve called under Jaimie’s spell, hook, line and sinker. Marnie and Darcy are just two wonderful main characters and I adore Marnie’s cat, Mrs Potts. So much of this book is based on Beauty and the Beast. There is nothing not to love. I didn’t realise that this was part of a series, but no matter, it can absolutely be read as a standalone, but I can promise you that I will be going back and reading the rest. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review An Enchanted Momen...

Over the Garden Fence was just such a beautiful story. As well as being utterly hilarious, it was warm and happy, and by the end of it, I guarantee you will feel as though you are best friends with Molly and Janice. The premise of the story is that these two elderly ladies got together during lockdown, each sitting in their own gardens, social distancing, but enjoying each other’s company at a time when they didn’t really have anyone else to talk to. Now lockdown is over and social distancing is no longer a thing, but Molly and Janice keep up their daily meet-ups.  I loved that the whole story was like having a conversation with your best mates, just passing the time of day discussing the TV programmes you’ve watched and what’s happening in the news. Everything Molly and Janice talk about is real as well. Everything they discuss are things that have happened, whether it be a news item or who won Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve never experienced anything like this in a book before and I...

My first review of 2024, and I’ve started the year on a high! I loved this book, which was written from multiple points of view. We have Odette - a soap star nearing the end of her career, Keli - a nurse on an elderly care ward, Noah - a paediatric doctor, and Tress - a set designer on the soap that Odette stars in. They all live in Glasgow and are all linked in one way or another. One Year After You is set over 24 hours and boy, a lot happens in those 24 hours. We have birthdays, scandals, break-ups and hook-ups. There are a few tear-jerking moments and a lot of comedy - mainly from Nancy and Val, two of the most delightful characters I’ve read about in a long time. They deserve their own story and if there was one, then I’m sure I’d be laughing out loud! If you want a good old rom-com to start your year and block out the miserable January weather, then I’d recommend getting yourself a copy of One Year After You by Shari Low. She is fast becoming one of my must-buy authors. Thank you...

I really enjoyed this one, and it was escapism at its finest. It was funny, sad, and full of romance - at each page turn there was new, old, and second-chance romance. If you like your books with a romance overload, then this is for you. The Hotel Room Mix-Up allowed me time to escape into Callum and Ella’s Cornish world for a few days when my life is just busy and my head is a scrambled mess of lists and too many things to do! The Hotel Room Mix-Up is predominantly told from alternating viewpoints, that of Callum and Ella, both of whom meet in Cornwall whilst attending separate weddings (not their own, I hasten to add)! There are a lot of ‘will they, won’t they’ moments - and I mean a lot! My head was spinning, wondering whether they were going to get their happily ever after! Grab this book if you enjoy a story containing whirlwind romances, beaches, the ocean, puppies, laughter and lots of fun! Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunit...

Think ‘Love Actually’, ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ or ‘Notting Hill’, which sum up this fantastic Christmas book from the amazing Kristen Bailey. It’s hilarious, romantic, a bit mad and just that little bit sad. Don’t worry though, you won’t be crying, well not tears of sadness anyway. I laughed out loud a lot at this book. Joe and Eve need to rectify a ring delivery which went to the wrong place. Five rings, five destinations and just a couple of days in which to ensure happy outcomes. Our two protagonists tell their story in alternating chapters, and I promise you’ll be rooting for this couple until the very end, which comes all too quickly. I could have carried on reading about their adventures throughout London for a lot longer. This would be amazing as a movie, and I honestly hope that someone picks this up for the big screen with some big-time actors. It would be good to see this out in time for Christmas 2024! I wonder if Richard Curtis is busy at the moment! Thank you to NetG...

I always enjoy a good old-fashioned story, particularly if it’s set around the Second World War. The Library Girls of the East End was no exception. It’s full of (mostly) wonderful characters, from all walks of life, ranging from the very posh and well-off to the cockney people from the depths of the East End. You know the ones I mean, the people who have to work for a living, who don’t have any airs and graces and actually appreciate everything they’ve earned for themselves. Cordelia has managed to snag a dream job for her and despite being one of the ‘posh-uns’, she actually wants to get her hands dirty and muck-in. She sets about putting her mark on Silver Town Library and increasing the amount of borrowers it gets. She has a task on her hands as she changes everything that has come before whilst keeping her staff happy and all with bombs dropping on their heads! An easy read that’ll while away an afternoon or two as the days become much colder. So snuggle up in front of the fire...

I really enjoyed The Last Train Home. It was an easygoing, cute read that made me feel all warm and cosy the more I read. Abbie and Tom are great main characters and Elle tells the story from both points of view, flipping from one to the other. Meeting on a train late one evening, their lives are thrown together in the worst way possible and from there, things get better, then worse, then better again with loads of life-changing events happening to both of them over the next seven years. I loved all the characters - most of the time - in this book. Teddy made me laugh and Natasha is just the perfect best friend to have. A book about bad timing, and historical events that actually happened, but mostly it’s about love and romance and how everything will always work out in the end. If you love well-written contemporary fiction, with some curve balls thrown in, then I’d recommend adding this book to your TBR. Thank you to Penguin Random House UK and Century Books for the opportunity to rea...

Snowed In is a cute, fun, wintery read, set in Ireland. I read most of the book, snuggled up in front of a wood burner, whilst Storm Ciaran was battering the UK. The snow, a cabin in the woods and festive Christmas cheer were much more fun than what was going on outside the window at home, so I imagined myself there instead. I loved Megan and Christian, our two protagonists, who bantered their way into my heart very quickly. They were so good together, right from the beginning I knew they’d hit it off. Megan made a rapid exit from her wedding four years ago and has never been back to her home village since - until now. Full of love, romance and family loyalties, Snowed In is a beautiful read and will leave you wanting to spend some time on Christian’s family’s farm with the newborn lambs in knitted hats! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review Snowed In by Catherine Walsh. About the Book  Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the ...