Book Review Christmas at the Cat Cafe by Jessica Redland #romance

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

Well, this book just wowed me. I have to say it was probably one of the best books I read in 2025, though technically I finished it at the beginning of 2006.

Blurb

It’s the most wonderful time of the year on Castle Street, and there’s a paw-some new business opening….

It had always been Tabby’s dream to work with cats and an inheritance from her beloved nanna has finally made that a reality. Idyllic Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay couldn’t be a better place for pastry chef Tabby to open a cat café with her boyfriend, Leon.

But when Leon leaves her in the lurch, the pressure mounts for Tabby. With Christmas fast approaching, she has to open the café on her own – a daunting prospect, especially when she’s been hiding her health issues from the ones she loves.

Faced with local resistance to the café – and somebody seemingly determined that she won’t succeed – Tabby will need her friends, family and cats more than ever to recover her broken Christmas spirit and pull together for a Christmas miracle.

Will the cat café bring the festive joy to Castle Street as Tabby had hoped or will it be a cat-astrophe? And can the magic of Christmas on Castle Street mend Tabby’s broken heart as well as her business?

My Mini Review

I loved every moment spent with Tabby and her trials with both her health, heartache and opening a very special cat cafe. The slow burn romance, friends to lovers trope and lots of furry friends made for the purrfect festive reading!

I really enjoyed the friendship and chemistry between Tabby and Tom, and loved their cute nicknames for each other; Tabby-cat and Tom-cat. The cats were all stars of the story as well.

Learning about Tabby’s chronic heath condition was interesting and felt completely believable and integral to the storyline. At no point did I find it too much, it made the story more interesting and made the relationship between Tom and Tabby even more special. I loved their connection. I shed tears quite a few times reading this book, Jessica is a master at getting to you feel the character’s emotions.

It really was a top read for me and I highly recommend it.

Check it out on Amazon.

Book Review A Mistletoe Miracle Emma Jackson #romance #romcom

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I know it’s not Christmas time anymore, but I still enjoyed reading this festive story. Well, actually I loved this book and it led to some late nights staying up reading.

Blurb

A Mistletoe Miracle is the cosy festive romance from best-selling author, Emma Jackson, guaranteed to have readers feeling the joy amidst the chaos of Christmas, and the heady rush of falling in love.

Heartwarming and hilarious, get ready for a generous sprinkling of snowflakes, mayhem and kisses…

Nestled in the sleepy, snow-covered village of Holinton, the Everdene Hotel should be the ideal setting for a perfect Christmas… But for Beth, returning to her childhood home looking for a chance to heal in peace after a disastrous break-up, it’s more of a fiasco than a festive fantasy.

With her mum stranded in a blizzard and most of the hotel staff off sick, Beth is forced to take the reins, impress a mystery hotel reviewer, and figure out if her attraction to Nick, the very grumpy – and very gorgeous – pilot who is staying for the holidays, is the real deal or a rebound headed for disaster.

Between mince pie emergencies, deadly decorations, and two dozen disgruntled guests, Beth needs to find a miracle under the mistletoe if she’s going to survive this Christmas…

Perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore, Heidi Swain and Tarah DeWitt.

Mini Review

I loved the story of Beth and Nick, from the way they literally bumped into each other, right up to their last moment on the page together.

Beth has to cope with running the hotel when her mother is stranded miles away because of the snow. She does an amazing job of juggling a dozen tasks at once and still somehow manages to find the time to fall for one of her grumpy guests.

The festive feel to the story lifts your spirits any time of year. And as the blurb states so perfectly, there are plenty of mishaps to keep everyone, especially Beth, on their toes.

I’m pleased to find out there will be a sequel following two of the other guests, though I shall miss the Everdene Hotel and all of Beth’s antics.

This is my first read by Emma Jackson and it won’t be my last!

5 star read!

Check it on Amazon here.

New Year Plans 2026 #indieauthor

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

We’re already over halfway through January, so I’m a bit late with my New Year plans. I don’t like to waste an opportunity, so I’ve made myself a brief list of tasks that will help me reach the big goal – publishing The Mermaid Hotel Series in 2026. I have a rough publishing schedule in my head, though I’m not ready to announce it yet. Instead, I’m focusing on the steps I need to follow to reach my goals.

Book 1 – Get a cover, proofread, start the publishing journey including blog tours, ARC copies etc.

Book 2 – Get feedback from my critique partner, edit, get cover, send to my editor, edit, proof read, prepare to publish.

Book 3 – Read and edit prior to sending to a professional reader within the New Writers Scheme as part of my Romantic Novelist Association membership. Then the usual, edit, critique route as per book 2.

Book 4 – Send monthly installments to my writing group, edit and get a critique / edit etc.

Book 5 and beyond – Plan the books and prepare to write them as soon as possible.

Winter Warmers series – Write 8 to 10 cosy Christmas stories and publish in October / November.

Back catalogue – I want to go through all my published books and update the content, ensuring they all have links to my other books, social media etc.

Author profile – I need to improve my author presence on social media, work on my website and restart my newsletter. I’ve looked at Substack and want to figure out how it works before I start posting there.

I plan to attend some in person events this year, including ALLi Indie Author Lab in March and the Romantic Novelist Association bi-annual conference in July. I’m signing up to plenty of online webinars as well, trying to increase my knowledge of current indie publishing trends and marketing opportunities.

I’m hoping to have more time this year to dedicate to all things writing. I need it if I’m going to achieve this huge list. As much as I just want to write stories, I know I need to get a business head on and think about reaching readers. I hope to share more of this journey here.

Any tips will be greatly appreciated!

Have you set any resolutions or goals for 2026, realistic or otherwise?

Audiobook tour wrap up for A Little Christmas Magic #shortstories

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

Yesterday was the last day of the Audiobook tour run by Love Book Tours. It’s been great to read the reviews and pick out little snippets to share here. I’ve loved seeing how my stories have resonated with people and how reviewers have picked different favourites for their own reasons. With a book of 8 stories, it shows me that I’m doing something right!

Book A Holic 17 “I loved the different themes within this collection – although all festive – each one showed what the festive period really means to different people in different situations – reminding us to think of others at this time of year too.”

caits reading nook “I enjoyed the hopeful themes of each of these stories and how they feature multiple generations.”

amornia carlton “This was an incredibly beautiful listen for the holiday season! The title is absolutely perfect and fitting. The collection of short stories really is an examination of different kinds of ways that Christmas – or life in general, but during the holiday – can be magical.”

East Yorkshire bookworm “The audiobook contained stories of love, family, hope and reunions. I think my favourite was Poppy’s Christmas Wish.”

Pixies book blog “The voice actor if these stories really pulled you in, a very soothing voice. It caught me hookline and sinker!”

bookwormwhitlock86 “…a beautiful selection of fun, magical, festive and unique short stories perfect for Christmas.”

For the last time this year I get to share the blurb for A Little Christmas Magic.

From a much-loved family pet that goes missing to a neighbour in need.
Chance meetings and the kindness of strangers.
Overcoming trauma to help others and being prepared to make sacrifices.
A father rushing to get home to his kids in time for Christmas.

Dive into a short and sweet story to get you in the festive spirit.

Eight Stories

Poppy’s Christmas Wish
Last Minute Dash
Driving Home for Christmas
The Honeymoon Period
A Christmas Toast
The Last Train Home
The Wrong Post
Taking Care of Belle

Available as audiobook, ebook, paperback and hardback on Amazon.

If you’re struggling on Christmas Eve, why not stick on the audiobook and let Colette’s soothing voice help you through your preparations.

Have a good one, everyone.

Check out my socials on Linktree

Review catch up for A Little Christmas Magic and the #Audiobook tour

Posted on December 20, 2025 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I’ve been so busy at work with the end of the year preparations, but I’m finally able to share the latest review snippets of the audiobook – A Little Christmas Magic;

Simplyburiedinbooks says “It’s filled with emotion and empathy, and each story feels relatable and endearing…”

Sherleysreadingcorner “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 was my absolute favorite of the eight short stories. Elliot and Athena’s story was the sweetest. I really hope they get a full-length novel someday. Their love story would make the best romance read.”

Piggindani_reads shared a mini review of each story and finished with “Overall rating ~ 4.6 rounded up to 5 because it was a wonderful experience and the narration was perfect.”

Melisbookreviews “…cozy Christmas short stories that are perfect for the season to read, or in my case listen to, with a cup of steaming hot chocolate.”

livinginmyownprivateworldwithbooks “The narrators were perfect for the stories as they added depth to the characters, really brought the different personalities of the people featured throughout all the stories and made me emotional as I listened, even laughing out loud at some points and shredding tears at another. Overall, it was a wonderful mix of magical Christmas moments, and I would recommend it to everyone.

Cypruscornerreads “All the stories show warmth and kindness, but some also grief and other difficult issues, but all are written sensitively and show the very best of human nature. Definitely one to listen to while preparing for Christmas time.”

jrw1904 – Booky Charm “…I have to say, this collection of stories couldn’t have a better name! I’ve had my faith in Christmas restored as each story is a like a big hug followed by a warm mince pie.”

Dave Chats Books shared some really great feedback about the narrator. “Narrator Colette Davis-Kerwin delivers a beautifully measured performance that enhances the charm of the story and brings the book to life. Her narration is expressive, and warm, giving each character a distinct voice while maintaining a comforting, storybook tone and it’s this that gives each story it’s unique character and keeps you listening throughout. In my personal opinion the perfect choice for narrator of this book.”

Dave also says “You can’t help but smile as you’re listening to this and that smile will stay long after you finish, if you need an injection of Christmas spirit then this audiobook is the injection you need.”

There are some great graphics shared with these reviews on Instagram as well, so it’s worth clicking the link and checking them out.

***

My thoughts – I knew Colette was the perfect narrator right from the first sentence of her audition. I’m really pleased she agreed to work with me on this project.

These lovely reviews really help me remember why I do this crazy thing called writing and sink so much of my time, heart and soul into it!

I’m still catching up with reviews, so I’ll be back soon!

A Little Christmas Magic

Audio sample for A Little Christmas Magic

A Little Christmas Magic final stops on the #audiobook blog blitz

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

Happy Sunday. I hope you’re feeling festive!

I’m back with the last of the reviews from my blog blitz tour for A Little Christmas Magic.

Yesterday it was great to see the reviews coming in and to hear how much reviewers are enjoying the audiobook while they’re getting ready for Christmas or having a well earned break from preparations.

Here are the latest review snippets I have to share.

“The narrator truly brought the stories alive, filling them with emotion.” Plumbobmummy

“…Colette Davies-Kerwin, was wonderful. The recording was clear, read well and I didn’t want this book to end to be honest. …Over all, this book was fantastic. It has me completely feeling the Christmas cheer.” Novel Kicks

“The audio narration by Colette Davies-Kerwin brings an added layer of charm and cosiness, making this collection a joy to listen to on wintry evenings.” My books and crafts

“This is a cute set of 8 short stories that total less than 3 hours listening time with a focus on family, friends, love and peace and goodwill. I think my fav was the Last Minute Dash but they’re all great for listening to while you’re wrapping gifts or any of the other millions of holiday chores you have to accomplish in the next few days.” The loppy knot on instagram

I hope you’ve enjoyed these little snippets and have had a chance to check out the full reviews on the blogs and Instagram. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for hosting this Blog Blitz.

If you want to hear a sample for yourself, click this link – Audio sample for A Little Christmas Magic.

And if you want to start feeling Christmassy, you can pick up both books in series in ebook, paperback, audiobook and hardback. They’d make a great Christmas present or stocking filler for the readers in your life.

Winter Warmers Collection

Thanks for joining in the blog blitz. I’ll be back in a few days with more.

You can check our my socials here Linktree.

#Audiobook Blog Blitz for A Little Christmas Magic #christmasstories

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

Today is the day where I get to share the audio version of my book with some lovely reviewers and you. This tour has been hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

Part of the Winter Warmers Series, A Little Christmas Magic is a heart-warming collection of eight stories with a focus on family, friendship, love and goodwill.

Here are some quotes from reviewers…

“Guaranteed to give you all the fuzzies and feels…” Stacywh_17 on Instagram

“This is a lovely collection of short stories, full of festive cheer and a healthy dollop of human kindness.” Sarah K Reads on Instagram

“If you are looking for a lovely, quick, uplifting read, pick up this anthology, A Little Christmas Magic.” Carla Loves to Read

“In short: festive treats” Pam Robertson Books, Life and everything

“Each story brings out a meaning of Christmas and a listener will definitely choose a favorite for their individual preference! My favorite was one of the shorter stories: Last Minute Dash. It just spoke to me more than the others. It shows the kindness of a stranger while also sharing in the joy of Christmas and memories of childhood.” Jessica at Jessica’s Reading Room

“I really like the narrator, Colette Davies Kerwin. She was really animated in the stories and easy to like. The stories are written exceedingly well. The author Suzanna Rogerson has written a beautiful story that’s full of magic and heartwarming for Christmas. If you love Christmas books, this is for you. 5 stars!” Tea leaves and book leaves

I’m looking forward to sharing some more review snippets later on.

I’ve been trying to embed a sample of the audiobook into this post, but for some reason wordpress isn’t letting me. (huge sigh!)

So, if you’d like to read or listen to a sample, use this link to check out the Winter Warmers Series on Amazon.

2024 Year in Review – writing successes

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

It has become a ritual to look back at the year and check in on my achievements.

It doesn’t feel as if much happened in 2024 as I didn’t meet many of the goals for the year that I set rather optimistically in 2023. However, plenty of other things did happen, so it’s important to focus on the positive.

Writing

I published a new short story collection called A Little Christmas Magic on 28th November 2024.

I also made the decision to make a series of Christmas stories – Winter Warmers. This now includes my previous Christmas collection – A Christmas Wish.

Both books had a book tour on Instagram in December which I enjoyed immensely. There’s nothing better than seeing what reviewers think of the heart-warming stories I’ve created. And it was great to be able to share so many review snippets and posts on Instagram throughout the month. Both were run by Love Books Tours and went very smoothly. Highly recommended service if you are wanting a book tour next year.

Aside from writing, I attended several writing events in 2024. There was a weekend event just outside of Stratford Upon Avon hosted by Alison May and Janet Gover. A whole weekend of food, writing workshops and talking writing with fellow writers. Plus some excellent 1-2-1’s that helped me move my ideas forward. I would recommend both Janet and Alison for the services they offer to writers, and they also run the Debut Author Club together.

The Romantic Novelist Association conference was held 10 minutes for my home at The Royal Holloway College, so I couldn’t resist attending the whole weekend event. At times I found it a struggle socially as I didn’t know anyone, but it was a wonderful opportunity to mix with both aspiring and published writers. The workshops were great as well.

I kept up with my monthly writing sessions at my local library, and attended several author events in libraries and Waterstones.

The not so successful side of 2024….

Fantasy genre

I made the decision to park my new fantasy series Starlight Prophecy for a while. I need to go back to the planning stage and really get to know the world and the history before I commit to working on the half completed trilogy.

I also toyed with the idea of writing a collection of short stories in the world of my Silent Sea Chronicles, but I think it’s a hard one to pull off. I want to provide extra content for readers who’ve enjoyed the series and also entice new readers without giving too much of the various storylines away. Maybe I will revisit this idea in 2025.

Romance genre

I’ve made great headway with The Mermaid Hotel Series (news I will share in a New Year’s post). However, 2024 has seen a lot of work editing and re-editing the story, reshaping major points of the character arcs etc. I’m almost happy with the way it is now, so I’ll share more about that very soon.

Reading

I met my Goodreads goal of 24 books. That seems like a sensible amount, though of course I’d love the time to read more. I did not however get around to reviewing many books, which I am not pleased about. I enjoying reviewing books on my blog and see it as a way to score some good karma points! Hopefully people will review my books more in 2025. Fingers crossed!

I would love to put a post together celebrating my favourite reads of 2024, but will have to see if time allows.

Other

I love the little graphic I made to show off my books. It will need to be changed soon because it is very festive, but I will enjoy it for now.

And that is about it for 2024. It’s had its ups and downs, but I’m confident 2025 will be a bigger and better year!

Happy New Year everyone.

Stay safe and have fun!

Book review Bella’s Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston #romance #RespectRomFic @ClaraVal

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I loved Bella and Jack’s story, from the moment they meet over a falling Christmas tree in a church, right up to the last page. It was a very entertaining read for any time of year.

Bella was a great character to follow. She has a big heart and puts family above everything else. This causes a few issues in her life, the biggest losing touch with Jack after a magical few hours together. I was desperate to read on to see if the couple would get their happy ever after.

I enjoyed being back at Halleybrook, and getting little glimpses into characters lives from the previous books in the series. This can be read as a standalone without an issues, though I highly recommend all the books, whichever order you read them. Oh, and I just found out last night that Claire’s book ‘Clues to You’ won the book bloggers novel of the year 2024 competition. I loved that story and think you should definitely check out all of Claire Huston’s books.

Finally, the cover has a really festive feel.

Check it out on Amazon.

Blurb

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.

Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.

But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …

This standalone festive romance is set in the village of Haileybrook. The Haileybrook stories can be read in any order.

***

Happy Christmas everyone.

And happy reading!

Book Review snippets for A Little Christmas Magic #festivestories #christmasstories #shortstories #christmasfiction

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I’m back with my favourite thing – more quotes from reviewers!

This is a continuation of the book tour taking place on Instagram for A Little Christmas Magic.

Day 3 reviews

planteachread ‘…It brings so much to the table and at the heart of the stories a connection between people, brought to the fore at Christmas time. A couple of stories brought me to tears, which is pretty impressive for a tale told on a few pages…’

CosyMidlifeBookNook ‘This festive collection is a delight! …it feels like unwrapping a bookish gift wrapped in a big red bow. In just 80 pages, you’ll find heartwarming tales of missing pets, the kindness of strangers, overcoming trauma, and a father racing home for Christmas. Each story tugged at my heartstrings and left me satisfied.’

Plumbobmummy ‘They are uplifting stories that capture how Christmas is truly a time when people come together as a community and help others. Some of the stories deal with current topics and feel relevant to us all. My favourite short story in the book is Last Minute Dash about a mum struggling to pay for her food shopping on top of Christmas – something I’m sure many people will be struggling with this year.’

Katieluvstoread ‘This is the second collection of short stories that I have read by this author and I loved them all. This one had all of the fur babies that my little heart could take and making sure they were all included in the Christmas cheer. I want more and could have read longer versions of the stories as well. I will be adding this author to an auto read list for me.’

Day 4

Dorianhellfire ‘Here’s another wonderful collection of holiday shorts to uplift us and bring in the spirit of Christmas. Tales to show that people can come together as family and as a community.’

nadz_sargent ‘Another brilliant set of little tales of love, compassion and community. Neighbourly spirit was strong in a couple of these and served to remind us to check on those around us.’

book_a_holic_17 ‘I loved the different themes within this collection – although all festive – each one showed what the festive period really means to different people in different situations – reminding us to think of others at this time of year too.’

Day 5

bookswithstacie ‘I can’t choose my favourite but the cat one, I loved I have a cat myself and if she ever went missing I would cry.
Whichever story becomes your favourite you’ll find that they all pull on your heart strings.
Perfect for Christmas lovers.’

I’ve be sharing more snippets at the weekend. Please take a look at the reviews above and if you’re looking for a way to get festive, you could try one of the Winter Warmers collection.