Book Review: The Twelve Wishes of Christmas by Ruby Basu
I am pleased to welcoming Ruby Basu to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the book birthday blitz tour for her novel, The Twelve Wishes of Christmas.
She’s here for the perfect Christmas escape…
When Sharmila discovers her late friend, Thomas, has gifted her the holiday of her dreams, she can’t pack her bags fast enough. Arriving in Pineford, it’s everything she’d ever hoped for and more.
But she’s in for another surprise, because Thomas has left her with one last request: if she completes his Christmas wish list of festive activities, her chosen charity will receive a big donation. Or so Sharmila thinks.
…He’s there to reclaim his family’s legacy
Little does she know, she’s set to inherit Thomas’s estate too, much to his nephew Zach’s disbelief. Determined not to see his family’s legacy left to a stranger, he’s come to Pineford to do whatever it takes to stop Sharmila from fulfilling that list.
When Sharmila and Zach meet, neither are prepared for sparks to fly. For Sharmila’s sworn off love, and Zach doesn’t trust her. But with every passing wish they find themselves growing closer. And amongst the twinkling town lights and fallen snow, Sharmila can feel her heart opening up to Zach. But when she learns he’s been keeping a secret from her, can Sharmila forgive him and get the happy-ever-after she’s always wished for this Christmas?
****
When Sharmila finds out that she’s been gifted a holiday by her late friend, Thomas, she can’t wait to pack her bags and experience an American Christmas. Thomas has set her festive themed challenges. If she completes them, she gets money to donate to charity. What she doesn’t know is that she is also set to inherit Thomas’s estate, something his nephew Zach wants to stop. Can Christmas work its magic and bring a happy ending?
I was so pleased to be invited onto the tour for The Twelve Wishes of Christmas.
I really fell in love with the premise of this novel. It felt so romantic plus the cover is so lovely.
As I adore Christmas, I want to be Sharmila in this novel in that, I want to be able to experience a Christmas with all these activities and experiences. It sounds like a dream.
by 
Book Review: The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper by Zoë Folbigg
I am pleased to be welcoming Zoë Folbigg to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her new novel, The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper.
As the crowds gather for charming and charismatic Seb Cooper’s funeral, three women sit in the congregation, mourning his loss.
First there is Clair, Seb’s wife and partner of twenty years, and mother of his two children. Furious at Seb for dying and leaving their children without a father, Clair isn’t sure of her place, and has been left baffled and bemused by the conflicting stories of Seb’s last days.
Then there’s Desiree, the woman Seb left Clair for. Heartbroken, self-conscious, and wondering if she made a mistake coming today.
And the third and noisiest mourner of all is Noemie – Seb’s lover and the last woman to see him alive.
Three women who loved Seb in their own different ways.
Three women whose lives have changed forever.
But only one woman knows what really happened at the end…and only one truly had his heart…
*****
People gather at the funeral of Sebastian Cooper.
Three women in particular mourn for him.
Clair, the woman he had known since childhood, the mother of his children.
Desiree, the woman he left Clair for.
Noemie, the last woman to see him alive.
The premise for this novel intrigued me. Three women who had loved one man. The story packs a punch from the first page, starting with the funeral. How did they all get to that point? I just had to know. As a result, I couldn’t put the book down.
All the main characters are interesting in their own ways. All are complicated and flawed.
by Book Review: When The Children Fight Back by Barry Kirwan
I am so pleased to welcome Barry Kirwan back to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his book, When the Children Fight Back.
In the near future, Artificial Intelligences will be smarter than us. Is that a good thing?
“Really entertaining, a brilliant balance between action and emotion.”
“A wonderful story. So much imagination!”
A mega-AI known as the Eye is intent on purifying the galaxy, by annihilating all ‘organics’. Humanity, itself already decimated after an attack by the Eye, must join eleven other species in the final battle at Orion’s Gate to stop their nemesis. Led by Sally, humans have a secret weapon: Ares, the last AI from a dead alien race. But can they really trust Ares? And as the battle rages in the heart of a star nursery nebula, Sally realises that one of the other species is about to betray them all…
The thrilling climax to the Children of the Eye series…
*****
The eye is intent on wiping out all ‘organics’ from the galaxy. What is left of humanity must join other species in the final battle against their nemesis.
Sally must lead them into battle. Plus, they still have Ares but can they trust him? Is someone about to betray them all?
I had enjoyed the first two books in this series so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for When the Children Fight Back.
As I have said in previous reviews of this series, I’m not always the one to immediately gravitate to novels in this genre but there is something about this series that draws me in. These novels are not just sci-fi, they have a high thriller theme and this book packs quite an emotional punch.
As with its predecessors, I was completely drawn in from page one.
I like that it’s told from the point of view of multiple characters. It gives you a real, well-rounded idea of what everyone is feeling and thinking.
by Book Review: Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters
I am pleased to be welcoming Victoria Walters to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall.
Lorna is following her dreams. But can she follow her heart?
Lorna Ferguson has dreamt of opening her own bed and breakfast in the village of Glendale for as long as she’d pictured falling in love. While her love life remains frankly hopeless, Lorna is determined to secure Dove House – the home she imagined living in as a child – to start this new venture with her family.
Along with brother Adam, Lorna starts restoring the house to its Art Deco glory, but faced with a whole host of renovation problems and their money fast running out, they worry that Dove House will never be ready to open in the New Year.
When a mystery man turns up, needing to fulfil a promise he made to his dying father and find the object he left at Dove House many years ago, Lorna’s heart goes out to him. But what they find there is going to change both of their lives forever.
Facing problems at every turn, and distracted by her heart, Lorna is going to need all the magic that her beloved Glendale can supply to make all her dreams come true..
*****
Lorna and her brother, Adam have always dreamed of buying Dove House in Glendale, restoring it to its former glory and making it into a B&B.
When it comes up for sale, they decide that now is the time to try and make their dream into a reality. When their bid is successful, that is when the hard work begins.
Can Glendale once again work its magic? Can they finally make their dream into a reality?
Having previously read Always and Forever at Glendale Hall I was looking forward to heading back to Glendale in the Scottish Highlands. Even though this is book five of the Glendale series, this can be read as a standalone. I am hoping to read the others in the series though as these books and the characters within are just wonderful. It was a delight to catch up with everyone.
This novel focuses on Lorna as she and her brother renovate Dove House and from the get go, I wanted them to succeed.
Lorna is a relatable, likeable character who is an inspiration. Despite the fact that she’s scared at making this big change and commitment, she goes for it and I admire that.
Adam is also wonderful and I wanted him to succeed just as much. I wanted to jump into the page and tell him and Grace that they belonged together.
by Book Review: In The Mood by M W Arnold
I am so excited to be welcoming M W Arnold back to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his new novel, In the Mood.
During a hectic couple of weeks in February 1944, the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club must face devastating personal loss amongst their number. A member of an illegal faction blackmails Betty, whilst a mystery at Mary’s ancestral home threatens to cause more trouble than anyone thought possible.
In the midst of what should be the happiest of times, the portents seem to be catching up and little is what it seems to be.
Can the girls find the strength to battle forces both internal and external, yet still maintain their dignity and friendship?
*****
It’s 1944 and after loosing one of their own, another member of the ATA mystery club finds herself being blackmailed whilst another finds herself in a mystery surrounding her honeymoon. Can these ladies solve the puzzles and keep themselves out of danger?
I was so pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for In The Mood, the latest book in the Broken Wings series as it meant I was reunited once again with the ladies from the ATA.
Four books in and it really feels like I’m catching up with old friends. There is not one of these characters I don’t like but I do have a soft spot for Doris and with what Bobby the dog goes through, I wanted to jump into the book and hurt the villains responsible and I’m not usually a violent person.
This fourth instalment is just as gripping as its three predecessors. Although there were some heartbreaking moments in this book, overall there is such a wonderful feeling of warmth, friendship, love and humour weaved into the heart of this novel. The characters really feel like one big family.
by Book Club
