The Garden on Sparrow Street – by Tilly Tennant

The blurb: 

As the cold winter nights draw in, escape to the sleepy town of Wrenwick, where the streets sparkle with snow and a lonely young widow is about to find that true love really can strike twice… 

As Christmas cheer fills Sparrow Street with excitement, grieving widow Nina is having a hard time. December is always a difficult month to face without her beloved husband Gray, the days feel long and bleak, and to cap it all, she’s just lost her job. 

So when Nina hears that Sparrow Street’s Community Garden, one of Gray’s favourite places, is to be put up for sale she knows she must do something. Filled with purpose, she gathers the residents of Sparrow Street around her to turn the neglected patch of land into a Garden of Memories. 

Working with her neighbours, single mum Kelly and eighty-year-old Ada, Nina soon finds that she’s not the only lonely soul on Sparrow Street. And as the community comes together and the garden flourishes, Nina can’t help but be drawn to Irish gardener Colm with his sparkling blue eyes and kind heart, finding herself confiding in him about all her recent troubles. 

But just as Colm and Nina grow closer and he opens up to her about his own secret loss, Colm’s estranged wife returns from Scotland, wanting to try again. Nina knows she should let the man she’s falling for go – it’s the right thing to do. But what if fate has other plans in store? Will the beautiful garden on Sparrow Street have brought two people together only for Nina’s cautious heart to push them apart? 

If you love an uplifting, moving love story, then The Garden on Sparrow Street is the perfect romantic read to curl up with on a winter’s afternoon. Fans of Josie Silver and Carole Matthews will love this book! 

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

In this story we follow Nina, who has lost her husband and it’s always especially difficult during Christmas time. The community garden one one of her husband’s favourite places and when it’s put up for sale, she knows, she hast o do something. 

The whole comminity comes together to create a garden of memories. Nina is drawn to gardener Colm and they slowly grew closer. When things get serious, his wife comes back to town, which complicates things of course. 

Nina has a great friend in Robyn, who has lost her husband as well. I loved these two women being there for each other and we got to read about Robyn’s story as well. 

Tilly Tennant created a beautiful atmosphere and ambiance, her writing is fresh and sweet. 

A lovely and wonderful story full of heart and love!

Rating:

Tilly Tennant on Twitter: @TillyTenWriter

Website: https://tillytennant.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

The Gift of Happiness – by Holly Martin

The blurb: 

Christmas has arrived in the little village of Happiness, promising snowflakes, hot chocolate and plenty of seasonal romance. So snuggle up and fall in love with the gorgeously cosy new story from the bestselling author of Christmas at Lilac Cottage…

Christmas has always been such an important part of Ruby Marlowe’s life and at a time of year that always holds so many memories, Ruby likes to throw herself into the magic of the season head first. So when she is offered the opportunity to open a year-round Christmas shop in the little village of Happiness it seems like a dream come true.

Accepting the offer has absolutely nothing to do with sexy Jacob Harrington, the sculptor she had a fling with in the village during the summer.

After all, Jacob is known to love the ladies and has never had a commitment. Ruby, on the other hand, made the ultimate vow of love and suffered heart-wrenching loss in return. She vows she will never be committed to a man again.

But when fate throws Ruby and Jacob together in this town in the most magical of seasons, will more than snowflakes fall? As the Christmas celebrations get underway and Ruby tries to spread her own Christmas magic over the little village, can love sparkle and come back to life.

A glorious, feel-good romance that’s like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day. An unputdownable festive treat for lovers of Sarah Morgan, Miranda Dickinson and Lucy Diamond.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

We are back in the lovely village of Happiness and I couldn't be more excited.

The main character in this book is Ruby Marlowe, who goes to Happiness to sell her Christmas things. Her store is not ready yet, so she has to share with a guy called Phoenix Blade. Well, it turns out she knows him. It's Jacob Harrington, her summer fling, you could call it. Apparently, the chemistry was really there, but she definitely doesn't want more. 

Ruby's best friend Willow is also still in Happiness and of course still together with the lovely Andrew. Jacob is Andrew's brother. It was so lovely to read about them again. Their story develops as well in this book, which is just great. 

Let's get back to Ruby and Jacob now. Sharing the same store, evidently means spending a lot of time together. Well, one thing leads to another of course, but Ruby just shoves away her feelings. She went through a lot in her past and it's hard for her to move on, even though she clearly feels attracted to him. Jacob is absolutely adorable to her, cares for her, helps her and does everything for her, even if it's his greatest fear. 

Their scenes and special moments are captured beautifully and it feels very intimate. Holly Martin's descriptive, deep and emotional writing is on point and very gripping. The characters go through a lot emotionally and have lots of people Round them, caring for them. The book is set around Christmas time and that adds a lot of magic to it. Happiness is the perfect festive town and all the festivities and events are lovely. The setting of this book is absolutely perfect and unique. 

I fell in love with the characters and the story immediately. The storyline is very exciting and full of ups and downs, Holly Martin's writing is beautiful and full of feelings and passion!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!

Rating:

  

Outscored – by Aven Ellis

The blurb: 

One bubbly seasonal decorator. One fiery hockey captain. And a wagon full of gnomes who play matchmaker better than Cupid…

When seasonal stylist Whitney Green heads to a Denver flea market to find gnomes for a client’s upcoming party, she thinks she has hit the jackpot when she discovers a slew of them.
Little does she know that gnomes aren’t going to be the only thing she picks up that Saturday.

When fate throws Whitney and hockey superstar Gavin Tremblay together, she finds herself questioning her policy of staying on the bench when it comes to romance. She came to the Rockies to escape the pain of a broken heart. Not to date. Especially when she knows she is due to return to Seattle in four months and she can’t figure out what went wrong in her last relationship…
The captain isn’t looking for love, either. Battered and bruised by not only a broken romance but a devastating leg injury, he’s focused on getting his game back. The last time he trusted his heart it gutted him. He refuses to go down that path again.
But the chemistry between Gavin and Whitney is too hot to deny and falling in love is the only option. However, when personal fears come to the surface and cause problems between them, can a relationship prevail? Or will defense outscore offense in this game of love?

Outscored is a laugh out loud, swoony romance with a good-boy hero and a hilarious heroine. Flamingos, gnomes, and a happily ever after are guaranteed in this book. 

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

We are finally back in Denver with the Mountain Lions and captain Gavin Tremblay gets his story. 

The leading lady in this book is Whitney Green, she is a seasonal decorator and is only in Boulder on a temporary basis. Interior design really is her thing and that's why she finds herself on flee markets quite regularly. That's where she bumps into her friend Skye (yes, we all know her and Maxime), they are on a double date with Gavin and a friend of Skye’s, but she doesn't seem to be his type. When Gavin and Whitney start speaking, they hit it off immediately. They get on so well that the go in a date the next day. 

It's a beautiful date in the Denver National Park area and they really have the best time. It's clear that they are made for each other and sparks fly between them. Of course things have to develop first, but the chemistry is there for sure and Aven Ellis captures it beautifully. 

I really adored their scenes and moments, it was like watching a movie. Gavin had a terrible injury at the end of last season and when the new season starts, he struggles. Whitney tries to be there for him, but it's not as easy as it seems. She fights to stay in Boulder and that is also easier said than done. He encourages her as well and is always there for her, now he just needs to let her in as well. All this leads to an exciting and dramatic storyline with lots of ups and downs.

Whitney's best friend Lila plays a very important role as well. Friendship is a key point in this story anyways and I really loved that aspect of it. Of course the other thing I really enjoyed is the hockey and it was interesting to see a struggling player for once. 

Aven Ellis has done it again, a wonderful story! I can't wait for the next one. 

Rating:

Aven Ellis on Twitter: @AvenEllis

Website: http://avenellis.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Cover Reveal - Just a Kiss by Carrie Elks

Title: Just A Kiss

Author: Carrie Elks

Release Date: November 1, 2019

AMAZON UNIVERSAL LINK: http://mybook.to/JustAKiss

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47908604-just-a-kiss

BLURB:

Beautiful, perfect and everything he needs.

Caitie Russell's big brother is getting married! As the proud owner of Holiday Magic, Caitie is the obvious choice to organise the perfect Christmas wedding. Piece of cake, right?

If it weren't for one gorgeous man-shaped problem...

Her brother's best friend, Brecken Miller.

First crush

First kiss

First broken heart...

Brecken Miller. Modern-day Scrooge. Confirmed bachelor.

He’d rather pull his nails out than celebrate Christmas.

Until he sees Caitie again. 

Like a moth to a flame he’s drawn to her.

But there’s one problem with fire. It always leaves a scar.

AMAZON US LINK: https://amzn.to/2mNZzOr

AMAZON UK LINK: https://amzn.to/2mp25KB

AMAZON UNIVERSAL LINK: http://mybook.to/JustAKiss

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47908604-just-a-kiss

BEGIN THE SERIES WITH LET ME BURN (Angel Sands Book 1) for FREE in KU: mybook.to/LetMeBurn