Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues

When Tansy needs to start again, she heads to her home village of Sticklepond (from Chocolate Wishes) to set up her dream shoe shop Cinderella's Slippers. She gets caught up in listening to the recordings of the life story of her great-aunt, uncovering long-lost family secrets. With moody actor Ivo Hawksley, and her two evil step-sisters meddling in her life, Tansy wonders if she'll ever get her own happy-ever-after. This was a nice, easy, light-hearted read. You immediately bond with Tansy and feel the warmth of her great-aunt Nancy. But for me, the story of Justin her ex doesn't work and it let the book down. (AB)

Twelve Days of Christmas (2010)

Ever since Holly Brown lost her husband, Alan, she's been avoiding Christmas time. It's just too hard for her to celebrate when he is no longer with her. And the festive season becomes even harder for Holly to bear when she loses her gran just before the holiday. So, when the chance comes up to housesit an isolated stately home during Christmas, Holly jumps at the chance. However, there are many things about the job that Holly didn't expect. First off, the house is huge, far too big for one person to take care of alone, and there is also a horse to care for, which Holly has no experience with. But, she's not going to give up that easily. Even the homeowner, famous sculptor Jude Martland, who is difficult to deal with, can't put her off of doing the job. Things change though, when Jude is forced to return unexpectedly and some nasty blizzards set in. If Holly and Jude were looking to avoid Christmas ... they sure are in the wrong place! In this wonderfully heartfelt story, Holly and Jude are forced to come to terms with all of the pains of the past and begin a new future, whether they'll do it together or separately is entirely up to them. While reading, you may find yourself looking for a cozy blanket and a warm mug of hot chocolate so that you can let yourself be completely absorbed by this touching story. (AS)

Happy Endings (2008)

Romantic novelist Tina has published several books but makes her real money from critiquing others' manuscripts. With her ex husband Tim the Suit taking over the list at her publisher, Salubrious Press, Tina is threatened with being dropped if her latest erotic gardening story Dark, Passionate Earth doesn't sell well. Meanwhile she is seeing her occasional lover, former Russian ballet dancer Sergei, who is plagued by rumours that he's actually gay. This is a short novel - less than 200 pages in my edition. Read it for the hilarious letters to and from aspiring authors.

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