Showing posts with label Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky. Show all posts

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky – by Holly Martin


Original Cover
My own copy














The blurb:

This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts…

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away.

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again.

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace.

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home?

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas.

My Opinion:

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

This is the first Christmas book I read this year, I read it at the end of August, so pretty early and I remember sitting outside with 30°, so quite the opposite of the weather in the book. However, I have to say that this is the perfect book to get into the festive spirit.

The story follows Piper Chesterfield, called Pip, who writes hotel reviews and arrives on Juniper Island. Well, there is a surprise in store or her, when she arrives. The hotel boss, is the only love of her life Gabe, who she run away from 12 years ago, when she was 17. Yes, she saw him with another girl and it just happened after the traumatic death of her dad. It’s important to know that Pip was actually adopted and her adopted mum died, so her adopted dad was not really a dad for her, he didn’t want her.

Growing up she had Gabe and his family though. Friendship turned into love, but then it all changed.

12 years later, there they are and they sparks between them fly immediately, the first moment the see each other again, as if nothing has happened. But of course, a lot has changed and there were some misunderstandings as well. Obviously they had a lot to talk about, especially the past. Gabe has a daughter now and his life is on this island with his daughter Wren and his employees, some of whom are his brother, sister and also some friends.

For them it’s weird to see Pip again, so much has happened and they don’t want to see Gabe lose her again. He was heartbroken 12 years ago. Pip is not 100% honest about the reason she is on Juniper Island, I mean she cannot tell them that she is reviewing the hotel, can she?!

I love the fact that their feelings came back so fast and how they got together again, of course still with an uncertainty in the background, she would leave again. Their feelings deepened really quickly and they were both falling for each other again. We got to read about both of them and their feelings, which was fab. I really adored their scenes, I have rarely seen a couple with so much chemistry, they are really made for each other.

And then I couldn’t get enough of Wren, she is such a sweet and cute girl and Gabe was amazing with her. She warmed up to Pip quickly and that was great to see. They shared some wonderful moments together, also with Gabe, but of course there was also some drama and action.
Wren is so adorable, I would say she is the secret star of the book and together with Gabe and Pip she builds a wonderful set of characters.
Pip had a tough time to convince Gabe’s siblings, Neve and … that she is her to stay, Wren is a young girl and doesn’t always follow all the rules.

Holly has this great talent to create unique scenes full of love, passion, heart and atmosphere. Every moment is different and they all build a storyline that flows and is very interesting.

This story is MAGICAL, and on more than one level. The characters are authentic and relatable, the setting and the location are amazing, I wish I could spend my next Christmas on Juniper Island. The igloos, the ice place, the market, the loges, the reindeer and so much more, the perfect combination to get you into the festive mood. I can’t wait to get back to Stardust Lake Hotel in book 2, the ending of this one made me so excited to part two, it’s all about Neve and I actually hope we still get our share of Pip, Gabe and Wren.

Thanks Holly for creating such an amazing, magical, festive, adorable, wonderful and cute story! It0s the perfect story to get into the festive mood and it’s one you cannot put down, the beginning is gripping and exciting, you just want to find out more.

Rating: 5/5

My possible cast:

Pip: Ellie Ottaway


















Gabe: Henry Cavill



















Wren: Madeleine McGraw



















Holly on Twitter: @hollymartin00

Website: https://hollymartinwriter.wordpress.com
Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Friday, 2 September 2016

Book of the Month - August

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The books I read this month:

-       The Sunflower Cottage Breakfast Club– by Lynsey James 4/5
-       Found – by Elle Field 4/5
-       After You – by Jojo Moyes 4/5
-       Green Tea Latte to Go – by Aven Ellis 5/5
-       Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany & Jack Throne 5/5
-       All About the Hype – by Paige Toon 5/5
-       Nice Day For a White Wedding – by A.L. Michael 4/5
-       Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky – by Holly Martin 5/5
-       The Singalong Society for Singletons – by Katey Lovell
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Well, well, I’ve read some great books this month and I picked four this time, but they are all another genre and one of them is a Christmas one, so I thought I’d go for it: 

Green Tea Latte to Go – Aven Ellis

The bit on the back:

Perfect Drink: Green tea latte with coconut milk and raw honey.

Perfect Fashion Icon: The Duchess of Cambridge. Always on point with her fashion, dressing appropriately for every occasion and not afraid to recycle things from her wardrobe, I truly admire her class and style.

Perfect Place: Seattle.

Perfect Activity for Relaxation: Yoga. I’m terrible at it, but I’m determined to perfect downward dog. Someday.

For Seattle blogger Payton James, life is all about trying to achieve perfection. Payton is determined to be her best self in all areas, and she refuses to rest until she achieves it.

However, an imperfect moment in a coffee shop completely changes Payton’s life. When her drink order gets switched by mistake, Payton finds herself face-to-face with a gorgeous British man named Brooks. Payton is instantly attracted to the witty stranger who is quick with his words—and has a beautiful smile.

Brooks is an exotic veterinarian with a huge passion for animals. Heartache in his past has led him to focusing on his career out of fear of getting hurt again. But there’s something about Payton that makes this vet want to know more about the bubbly blogger he has met via fate—and has him reconsidering his stance on love.

But will Brooks ever be free of his fears to truly open his heart? And will Payton’s drive for perfection cost her the one thing she loves most? Or will she learn to embrace imperfections?

And maybe perfect is the one thing Payton doesn’t want after all . . .

My opinion:

I really adored how their relationship developed in this book, the storyline is beautiful and there were some magical moments for sure. Aven’s writing has it all: passion, love, humour, heart, sparks and much more. This book is an AMAZING start to this new series set in Seattle!!!

Aven on Twitter: @AvenEllis
Website/Blog: http://avenellis.com/

All About the Hype – Page Toon

The bit on the back:

The third super hot, super fun Jessie Jefferson novel from internationally bestselling author, Paige Toon.

Is the life of a famous rockstar's daughter all it's cracked up to be? And what about dating your fellow band-member just as you hit the bigtime? 
Jessie is still getting used to being a celebrity, and the daughter of one of the world’s biggest rock stars. With her own music career on the rise, a gorgeous love interest and a fun group of friends, it seems Jessie’s glamorous LA life couldn’t get any better . . . but things are about to get really complicated.

My opinion:

This story is truly magnetic and full of sparks! This story takes you on an exciting roller-coaster ride, full of emotions, excitement and passion. There is a lot going on in this book, but it never got to a point where it was too much. I actually really liked this fact and I think it added even more glimmer to this book. I absolutely adored catching up with Jessie, Johnny, meg and Co. 

Paige Toon on Twitter: @PaigeToonAuthor

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Throne

The bit on the back:

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

My opinion:

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME! I love the fact that it is a script, it’s just as good and leaves so much space for your own imagination. It’s so fab to catch up with Harry, Ron, hermione and Co. And also getting to know the next genreation! There is so much action and drama in this book and also some unexpected events! LOVED IT!


Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky – Holly Martin

The bit on the back:

This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts…

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away. 

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again. 

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace. 

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home? 

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas.

Christmas Under a Starlit Sky out soon.

My opinion:

Juniper Island is such a magical and festive place and so ist he story. I got hooked immediatley, because of how the characters have a history and now meet again. It’s unputdownable and full of wonderful sparks!!!

Holly on Twitter: @hollymartin00