Tag Archives: fiction

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

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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.

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Happy Christmas everyone.

And happy reading!

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

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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.

Readers Favourite 5 star review for The Lost Sentinel #fantasy #bookreview and book trailer on #youtube

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Yesterday I received a 5 star review from a reviewer on Readers’ Favourite, and earned this shiny badge to show off!

It’s been a while since I finished publishing the Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy, so its wonderful to revisit the book and characters and see what reviewers think. Here is the review posted on the Readers’ Favourite website…

Reviewed by Ronél Steyn for Readers’ Favorite

Suzanne Rogerson brings us epic fantasy in the first book of the Silent Sea Chronicles: The Lost Sentinel. In Kalaya, the Assembly aims to eradicate anyone with even a hint of magic. New laws are passed almost weekly. So, when Tei’s father makes them leave their home in Seatown to reach the sanctuary of the Turrak mountains, she knows her life will change. Tei is now an exile. With her special talents, Tei is tasked with finding the next Sentinel, the one person who can save Kalaya from total decay. Danger lurks in every town and even in the Astral Plains, the only place Tei has ever contacted the Sentinel. Will Tei be able to accept the help of her new friends and complete her mission before the Masked Riders find the new Sentinel first?

Author Suzanne Rogerson has created a world with magic at its core. Written in the third-person narrative mostly from the perspective of the protagonist, readers are privy to her inner thoughts, desires, and fears. With epic journeys filled with sensory stimulation, readers are easily transported to a world where good and evil are constantly at war. The fight scenes are honed with precision. The characters are likable and undeniably relatable. With a steady pace and a magnificent plot, readers won’t want to put this book down. The Lost Sentinel is suitable for younger readers as well as avid fans of fantasy. The end of this book leaves ample opportunity to continue the next adventure in the new life of this mystic.

Here’s the review page on Reader’s Favourite

The review inspired me to post the book trailer my narrator and his wife made back when the audiobook came out. Here it is.

You can pick up a copy of the book in ebook, audio and paperback on Amazon.

Review snippets from the #Booktour for A Little Christmas Magic #festivestories

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So far on the book tour for my new festive collection of short stories I’ve been loving the reviews coming in. It’s always fun to share a few of my favourite quotes with you. Please click the link for the full review on instagram.

weebelfastbookshelf ‘…Each story was perfect for an easy, cosy read at this time of year 🎄 the author has beautifully captured what this time of year is really about, even in such short stories. I found them all to be believable & relatable – I didn’t want them to end!’

Daisyhollands ‘…What a charming little collection of stories this is. If you are looking for something quick and stress free to read over the festive period, it should be this. Each story is different to the one before but there is Christmas magic weaved through all of them, like a glittery thread…’

afelton6212 ‘…this book just has all the Christmas magic I may be an adult but I fully believe In the magic!!’

currently_readingx ‘…Every story has a meaning behind it. From helping others to making sacrifices. When I was reading this book it made me feel so lucky to be surrounded by people I love…’

mommy_and_books ‘A perfect Christmas and winter anthology. The stories are short, enveloping, and everyone will find something for themselves here. An additional asset is the wonderful cover that catches the eye.’

lozzieloves ‘This is my first read by Suzanne Rogerson and it was a thoroughly enjoyable one. A collection of festive short stories which cover all the Christmas themes of love, kindness, family and friendship.’

bianca_reads_books ‘The underlying theme across all of these is kindness. They vary in length from a couple of pages to 18 pages, so they are very easy to race through.
It’s a great read to curl up with your christmas cuppa and enjoy.’

Thank you to all the reviewers who’ve posted so far. As you can see from the list below, there are still plenty more to come.

In case you’re interested in this festive read, or want to get a gift for a friend or family member, below is the all important link. You can still order the paperbacks / hardbacks in time for Christmas or even gift an ebook to someone special.

Winter Warmer Short Story Series

Thanks very much for following the book tour with me.

Audiobook reviews for the Silent Sea Chronicles books 1 and 2 #fantasy #audio

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I love to read reviews and it seems to be much harder to get reviews on audiobooks. These reviews on Audible made my day.

Book 1 – The Lost Sentinel

‘Everything about it was awesome. From the narrator to the sound effects. The storyline was very intriguing. I would definitely recommend this book’

Book 2 – The Sentinel’s Reign

‘What did I like? I liked everything about this book. Yes, there is some hardships, and friends lost. There is also strong ties as well. Trust me when I say. These books make you want to see them on a big screen’

The idea of seeing my books on the big scene has always been a dream of mine. I’m film obsessed and in more recent years I’ve fallen in love with binge watching series on Netflix and Prime, in particular fantasy. There just aren’t enough fantasy programmes made.

These are comments from audiobook reviewer Tess, who received a reviewer’s copy of each book and choose to share her honest review. I’m hoping the last book in the trilogy is as well received.

Perhaps these reviews have inspired you to check out the books for yourself.

Here are the links to my audiobook page

For a look at all my book offerings here the link to my Amazon author page

Blurb

Tei has magic in a world where people like her are persecuted and forced into exile. Whilst fleeing their home, her father is attacked and his deathbed confession reveals a dangerous secret that will change Tei’s life forever.

Tei’s homeland, the magical island of Kalaya, is dying and without a Sentinel to restore the magic, it’s only a matter of time before all life is wiped out.

She must join the exiles in the search for the lost Sentinel, but they are not the only ones after the missing guardian. Sinister Masked Riders are on their trail and time is running out.

Tei must risk everything she loves to save Kalaya, but is she ready to make that sacrifice?

1396 pages of magic, adventure and intrigue.

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Whether you prefer reading or listening, I hope you enjoy the trilogy.