Book Review Britannia The Invasion Chronicles By John Waite

It is the Spring of AD43 and a huge fleet carrying over 40,000 Roman soldiers crosses the wild northern sea to seize the mysterious isle of Britannia, for the glory of Rome and their emperor, Claudius. 
Along with the other warriors who come ashore, Marcus Sulpicius Vepitta and his comrades in the XIIII Gemina Legion soon find themselves pitched headlong into a sequence of murderous battles, fighting to conquer a land that has for so long lain beyond the grasp of one of the greatest empires the world has ever known. 
Yet, even before the great invasion armada had left the shores of Gaul, Claudius’ army had already been shaken to its core by the threat of mass mutiny and Vepitta had unwittingly become embroiled in the affairs of others, as a long simmering quest for retribution is finally begun. Amidst the unrelenting savagery of total war, Vepitta comes to find his loyalty and honour tested as never before. And, as the beleaguered Britons begin to crumble before the relentless Roman war machine, he soon learns that he has been sucked deep into the schemes of a young Roman noble woman, who yearns for justice - at any cost.


I was lucky enough to be sent an advance copy of Britannia by John in exchange for an honest review. Reading a Roman fiction novel is a completely new genre to me, as normally I only read chick lit and women's fiction. Britannia has been a refreshing and welcoming change and an experience I have throughly enjoyed. If you enjoy Roman fiction or looking for something a bit different then this is the book for you. Once I'd started reading Britannia, I couldn't put it down- I would say to myself just a couple more pages and before I knew where I was those pages turned into a couple of chapters. Having struggled with advance copies before due to the mistakes in them I was a little worried, but the great thing with John's was that they were no mistakes, and it was a pleasure to read. The story it self reflects the amount of work, time and effort that has gone into the book, and I really would suggest people to purchase Britannia for themselves to enjoy, trust me you won't be disappointed. I'd like to thank John for sending me a copy of Britannia, I have throughly enjoyed the book. Reading Britannia has urged me to be more open to trying other genres in future, that before reading Johns work, I wouldn't normally have entertained. My final statement is even if this isn't normally you kind of genre, give it a go as I think you'll be in for a surprise- I can't recommend this book highly enough.....

My rating: 5Stars!




                                                           . 

Book Review: The Perfect Audition by Kate Forster

Digital download exclusive story: discover brand new starlet, Kate Forster, ahead of her debut novel The Perfect Location.

Three women play their part in the glitter-soaked circus that is Hollywood: Calypso, the naïve innocent; Sapphira, the ambitious action-star, and Rose, an older icon, recovering from a divorce with a celebrity Playboy.

Follow these women as they audition for a Hollywood epic that will lead them to discover the bewitching world of love, fame and scandal and just what it takes to live happily ever after when you are a star.

Since reading Kate's The Perfect Christmas I've been hooked with her work and the characters in the books.

I've now completed her short story The Perfect Audition and now moving on to her novel The Perfect Location, which so far has been brilliant.

I really enjoyed The Perfect Audition, I love how easy the story was to read and how you could connect with the characters. All the characters are likeable and you just want to keep reading to see how the story is going to develop.

I can't believe I've never read any of Kate's books before, because they are absolutely fabulous and if you haven't read any of her books before I couldn't recommend reading them enough.........

My Rating:5Stars!

Book Review: The Perfect Christmas by Kate Forster

A holiday short story that proves that true love is forever, not just for Christmas…

Hollywood movie star Maggie and friend and manager Zoe need an escape from their complicated star-studded lives in LA. With its history and Christmas charm, London feels like the perfect getaway.

But can they truly leave their realities behind?

In their luxurious quarters, the girls meet Holly who is ideal at showing Maggie and Zoe the sumptuous sights and sounds of London in their most glittering light. But behind her bright façade, Holly is hiding a secret: suffering from unrequited love, she’s looking for a Christmas miracle. Desperate to see an unattainable love story for Holly come together, will our LA starlets succeed in providing a Hollywood ending before the dawn of Christmas Day?
Packed to the brim with festive cheer, this is the only story you’ll need this Christmas…

I'm not normally a fan of short stories, but I enjoyed reading The Perfect Christmas in one sitting. It was a real festive treat. 

I really like it when authors include an extract from their next novel, I find it gives us readers something to look forward too. I always pre-order as it gives me something to look forward too. I'm now rather excited and eagerly waiting the arrival of Picture Perfect next year.

This is the first of Kate's work Iv read and I really enjoyed it. I've now downloaded her other books. I loved the settings of the story, you can't beat London at Christmas. 

I'd thoroughly recommend Kate's book to my friends and family, absolutely brilliant and entertaining. Roll on April 2015............

My Rating: 5stars!

Book Review: Married By Midnight: A Christmas Story by Talli Roland

Christmas is coming . . . and so is the biggest day of Kate's life.

While choosing a vintage dress for her Christmas Eve wedding, Kate finds a cryptic note pinned to the inside of a 1930s gown. As doubts about her own ceremony loom, Kate is determined to track down the dress' owner and determine what became of her - and the marriage.

Will Kate find the answers she's seeking to propel her down the aisle, or will her discovery prompt her to call off the wedding for good?

I always get excited when I see Talli has released a new book- especially when I see its a Christmas one.

I was very lucky as Talli gave me a copy of her new novella to review, but I have since now purchased it too, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I discovered Talli's fantastic books when I first brought my kindle- after I read her novel The Hating Game I was hooked and have since read all her other novels and novellas. As soon as hear she's releasing a new book, I preorder as soon as its available.

I really enjoyed Married by Midnight. I loved Kate and her passion for finding the truth. I liked how Bea was completely different to Kate- they had different views on life.

I read the novella in one sitting, I was completely hooked after the first chapter. On the whole I don't tend to read short stories, as I always wish for more! But every year I always read Talli's and love them!

I would recommend Talli's new novella to my friends and family as she truly is an amazing author......

My Rating: 5Stars!

Book Review: The Great Christmas Knit Off by Alexandra Brown

The perfect seasonal tale of how laughter, friends and wacky Christmas jumpers can mend a broken heart. For fans of Trisha Ashley and Jenny Colgan.

Heartbroken after being jilted at the altar, Sybil has been saved from despair by her knitting obsession and now her home is filled to bursting with tea cosies, bobble hats, and jumpers. But, after discovering that she may have perpetrated the cock-up of the century at work, Sybil decides to make a hasty exit and, just weeks before Christmas, runs away to the picturesque village of Tindledale.

There, Sybil discovers Hettie’s House of Haberdashery, an emporium dedicated to the world of knitting and needle craft. But Hettie, the outspoken octogenarian owner, is struggling and now the shop is due for closure. And when Hettie decides that Sybil’s wonderfully wacky Christmas jumpers are just the thing to add a bit of excitement to her window display, something miraculous starts to happen…

Alexandra Brown is one of those authors, whose books you wait for with great anticipation. Since reading Cupcakes at Carringtons and falling in love with Alexandra's writing style- I've always pre-ordered so I get it as soon as it's released.

I was really excited about receiving The Great Christmas Knit Off, that as soon as the book had arrived in the post- I snuggled up to read it and I wasn't disappointed- luckily for me the release date fell on the first day of my weeks holiday from work, not planned at all.

From the end of chapter one, Alexandra had me smiling. Sybil is a really likeable character- she's one of those characters, where you wish you had someone like that in real life. I love the fact Sybil's dog is called Basil and the dog on the front cover is just adorable. I adore Sybil's character, just as much as I do Georgie Hart- from the Carringtons series. I don't know what or how Alexandra does it, but she has this way of making the reader connect with the characters like no other author I've read before.

I've read a lot of books this year, but by far this has been one of the best. Whenever I pick up an Alexandra Brown book, I always get a lot of enjoyment from her writing and always sad when I have to pause to do some chores or I've come to the end.

I would very much recommend The Great Christmas Knit Off to you and if you haven't already read them, her Carringtons series. Alexandra is a brilliant author, who provides you with hours of entertainment and pure contentment. I now wait with great anticipation for the second instalment- fingers crossed it's not to long........

My Rating: 5stars!

Book Review: I will marry George Clooney (by Christmas) by Tracy Bloom

There comes a time in every woman’s life when the only answer is to marry George Clooney.

For Michelle, that time is now.

Slogging her guts out in a chicken factory, whilst single-handedly bringing up a teenager who hates her, is far from the life that 36-year-old Michelle had planned. 

But marrying the most eligible man on the planet by Christmas could change all that, couldn’t it?

Sometimes your only option is to dream the impossible - because you never know where it might take you…

This is a fun, completely fantastical novel featuring George Clooney, and has not been authorised or endorsed by the wondrous man himself.

After reading No-one ever has sex on a Tuesday and Single woman seeks revenge- I couldn't wait to read this and it didn't disappoint.

The character are likeable, you can imagine each of them the more you get to know them throughout the book. The book is a light and easy read- that will definitely get you in the mood for Christmas! It has me :)

Tracy has become one of the Authors that I'll wait in great anticipation to read! Roll on the next book.

I'll be recommending I will marry George Clooney by Christmas to my family and friends......

My rating: 5stars!!

Book Review: Rebbeca Raisin's Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe and Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe.

Christmas is the season the Gingerbread Café in Ashford, Connecticut was made for…but owner Lily couldn’t be feeling less merry if she tried. She’s spent another year dreaming of being whisked away on a sleigh-ride for two, but she’s facing festive season alone – again. And, just to give her another reason to feel anything other than candy-cane perky, a new shop across the road has opened… Not only is it selling baked goods, but the owner, with his seriously charming smile, has every girl in town swooning.

But Lily isn’t about to let her business crumble — the Gingerbread Café is the heart of the community, and she’s going to fight for it! This could be the Christmas that maybe, just maybe, all her dreams – even the someone-to-decorate-the-Christmas-tree-with ones – really do come true!

 

 

 

 

 

The Gingerbread Café is all a buzz! This Easter, Lily and the rest of the town of Ashford, Connecticut are planning a truly decadent Chocolate Festival. Cooking up a storm, CeeCee and Lily are not just baking a batch of their sinfully delicious chocolate-dipped gingerbread men, but an excess of chocolate truffles, squidgy, cinnamony hot cross buns and melt in your mouth chocolate eggs. The Gingerbread Café staff have definitely enjoyed the tasting process!

Add in Damon’s cute-as-a-button seven year old daughter, Charlie, up for a visit and Lily’s perfect Easter may just be around the corner. Until her ex-husband Joel turns up demanding twenty thousand dollars… Suddenly the future of the Gingerbread Café is not so clear…and Lily finds herself eating far more of The Gingerbread Café’s treats than her skinny jeans allow…

Can Lily concoct a brilliant plan to save her beloved café, convince Damon she has no feelings for Joel and still throw a Chocolate Festival the town will be talking about for years? There’s only one way to find out...

 

 

I was lucky enough to get talking to Rebecca, a lovely lady. She very kindly gave me the links to both of her Gingerbread Cafe books for me to review on here, which was a real treat as I’m new to all of this.

I started Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe (book 1) early last night and I couldn’t put it down. Once I’d started reading the first couple of pages, I was addicted, it didn’t matter what else there was to do last night, all I was interested in, was finding out what was going to happen at the cafe.  I can’t believe I’ve had a kindle all this time and never downloaded this book before- kicking myself as it’s the kind of book that I always enjoy and love reading! 

The first character we meet is Lily, the owner of the Gingerbread cafe. You instantly love Lily; she’s a real down to earth character with a big heart. Rebecca has written Lily’s character is such a brilliant way, that as you read the book your able to connect with her and feel her emotions- It’s really easy to put yourself in Lily’s shoes and imagine yourself there in the gingerbread cafe.

The next character we meet is CeeCee, Lily’s employee at the cafe. She’s the mother figure in the book and you can tell she thinks a lot of Lily. CeeCee is one of those characters you just want to hug, she makes you laugh out loud with the different remarks she comes out with, but she always gives sound advice. CeeCee reminds me a lot of my own Nan with the way she always wants to help and support her friends, family and the local community. Every book needs a character like CeeCee.

Then we get to meet the fine looking thing called Damon, who owns the new store opposite the Gingerbread Cafe.  He’s the kind of character every girl dreams off; he’s the perfect fictional boyfriend. Damon’s kind, sexy and sounds as scrumptious as the chocolate does!  The thing I love about him the most is he’s mysterious; it gives us the opportunity to try and guess what secret he’s hiding from Lily. I love that in a book and I think Rebecca done it brilliantly.

I read the book in a couple of hours, only breaking to eat my dinner- all I wanted was to get back to reading more about the Gingerbread cafe. I loved Rebecca’s writing style and how real she made everything sound- when she describes the different things Lily and CeeCee make in the cafe it makes your mouth water. If only we could have our own Gingerbread cafe in Pembroke, I’d be a regular customer.

Once I’d come to the end of Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe, I went straight on to book 2 Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe. The second instalment was just as brilliant as the first with all the same lovely characters. I stayed up till 1am this morning to finish it. The more of the series you read, the more you want.  Reading both the books last night provided me with more entertainment and joy than the television did! Best Saturday night I’ve had in ages. I can’t wait for the next instalment, book 3 A Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe.

I can’t thank Rebecca enough for allowing me the opportunity to review her books. I thoroughly enjoyed both instalments of the Gingerbread Cafe and will be recommending the books to friends and family as she is a brilliant author. I am defiantly going to download Rebecca’s other book, The Bookshop on the corner. If you haven’t read any of Rebecca’s books yet, I truly recommend you do as they both are a real sweet treat. 

My Rating for Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe: 5 Stars!
My Rating for Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe: 5 Stars!