Sam's Fireside - Cosy Book Reviews & Recommendations

When I first picked up Bone Lake by Stacy Green, I wasn’t aware that it was number eight in a series. I soon discovered that this absolutely doesn’t matter and can totally be read as a standalone novel. Nikki Hunt is an FBI agent and each book in the series covers different cases. Some references are made to what has happened previously, but nothing that means you need to read the others first. I really enjoyed Bone Lake. It was incredibly fast-paced, and I could hardly keep up with what was happening, let alone who I thought the murderer might be! The author cleverly keeps you guessing, right up until the very end, and there were a few times I thought I’d worked it out, only to have something or someone else thrown into the mix! If you enjoy a good thriller which will keep you on your toes, then I would definitely recommend Bone Lake. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I’d love to read more. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and revi...

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...

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres. I love that I’m learning as well as reading at the same time and Irish Eyes was no exception. I loved it from start to finish and it taught me so much about the Irish immigrants at the turn of the twentieth century. Irish Eyes is beautifully written, and in parts, you could almost believe you were reading something written by Austen or Bronte. Initially set in the depths of Ireland, we are quickly transported to America and New York City as Rose, a young girl, falls in love with an American ex-soldier and emigrates to be with Adam in New York.  However, things don’t go to plan and Rose is left alone and penniless with just a carpet bag containing her belongings. Rose is a fighter and as the years progress she goes from strength to strength, albeit with various hurdles along the way. Irish Eyes is up there as one of my top reads for 2023 and I’d recommend this if historical fiction is your thing. Thank you to Lume/Joffe Books and Ins...

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...

Another great read from Madeline Vaughn for the next book in the Emily Fallon series. Storm From Within continues the story of the dodgy US Navy guys who think they are above the law, not stopping to continue with their villainous ways and woe betide anyone who gets in their way. Unfortunately, Emily is already in their way.... I love Emily. She’s a feisty main character who won’t stop until her family is safe and the bad people are on their way to retribution. Plus, who can’t love a character that names their car Katniss - if you’ve read Hunger Games you’ll understand the Katniss thing! Storm From Within is a quick, exciting and rollercoaster of a read and I can’t wait to read the next one. Thank you to Madeline Vaughn for having me on her ARC Street Team. It’s been so much fun and I’m looking forward to doing it all again soon. About the Book Naval Engineer Emily Fallon is still working to uncover secrets surrounding her family, but now with a target on her back. As she gets closer t...

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...