Sunday, September 13, 2026

Christmas, Actually Review




 

Welcome to Hollythorpe, a quaint village in the Cotswolds, where the locals are stringing lights around their village tree. And meet Clara as she pulls her suitcase through the snow, hoping for a new start…

This isn’t the Christmas that Clara was hoping for. Twenty-four hours ago, she was engaged, a shiny diamond on her wedding finger and a gorgeous husband-to-be by her side. Only now, the ring is gone and so is he. She’s almost given up on Christmas magic completely – until she arrives in Hollythorpe.

Clara waits outside of her kindly Aunt Eleanor’s red front door, knowing that a warm welcome will help heal her aching heart. Snowflakes are falling gently on her long dark hair when a car sprays her with slush and then, unexpectedly, stops to help. Clara lays eyes on Liam stepping out of his car, six feet of gorgeousness. She realises maybe there could be upsides to a cosy Cotswolds Christmas…

Except Liam is closed off to everyone and Clara knows she should be protecting her heart too, so she tries to put him out of her mind. When the village’s usual Mrs Christmas calls in sick before Hollythorpe’s winter fair, Clara steps into the role to help Aunt Eleanor. Only, she hasn’t realiszed who Mr Christmas is… none other than Liam himself.

As the two are thrown together to bring Christmas to Hollythorpe, Liam’s icy exterior starts to thaw. And Clara can’t deny she’s falling for him. But then the past comes back to haunt them, changing everything…

Will Clara and Liam end up lonely this Christmas? Or can the most wonderful time of the year bring them together, actually?

Fans of One Day in December, Philippa Ashley, Sarah Morgan and Jenny Colgan will adore this totally uplifting and page-turning novel of finding that love really is all around.

My thoughts:

This is a lovely Christmas romance, and definitely will get you in the spirit and ready for some festive lights and snow! Clara has walked away from her too perfect (but also a loser) fiance after catching him with someone else, and has nowhere to go, since they live together and he's her boss. So she sets out across the Atlantic to her godmother's house in England, looking for a break to lick her wounds.
 
While waiting outside Eleanor's shop, she's sprayed with mud by a handsome man's truck, and her day just keeps getting worse. She agrees to play as Mrs. Christmas for the upcoming holidays in town (a town that takes Christmas VERY seriously by the way!), only to discover that the handsome Liam is her "husband."
 
They're both closed off to love and relationships, but can a Christmas miracle heal their hearts?
 
While this book was a bit expected, there are plenty of things that make this story special. Figgy's obsession with fabrics, the bunny escape artist, and mischievous elves all make this story a wonderful holiday read!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

 

What readers are saying about Donna Ashcroft:

I loved every minute… I laughed out loud so many times!!… All of the Christmas feels and then some. Just adored this!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Delightful… A joy to read… So hilarious I couldn’t help but laugh out loud… perfectly sets the stage for the Christmas season… Truly captivating… I loved every aspect of this’ Page Turners, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Exceptional, witty and heart-warming… tons of sparkle, cheer, charm and romance… I adored this… Off the charts!… Lots of friction and sparks!… Good for the heart and medicine for the soul… Bursting with enchanting chemistry… A red hot captivating Christmas story!’ 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄’ Cindy L Spear, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The ultimate cozy holiday escape! Imagine crackling fires, snow-dusted highlands, and a story filled with charm, romance, and festive magic. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to curl up with a blanket, sip hot cocoa, and believe in happily-ever-afters all over again. If you’re looking for a heartwarming read to get you in the Christmas spirit, this one is a must!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read in one sitting… Laugh out loud moments, lots of twists, a beautiful love story.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautiful festive read that filled my heart with pure joy! I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much! A real page turner! Finished it in a few hours.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
 
Author Bio
Donna has had sixteen books published in total. Four have been in the Amazon top 100 and one even made it to number seven in the UK and US Kindle charts, another made it to number one in the UK, US and AU free Kindle charts. She was also shortlisted for the RNA Debut Romantic Novel of the Year in 2019.
She lives in Hertfordshire, with her own romantic hero, two grown up kids who pop in occasionally and two grumpy cats. She loves a happy ending and is never happier than when she’s escaping into a romance novel or movie.


 








Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Could You Be Mine Review


Could You Be Mine?

Vancity Fire

Sophie L. Henderson

 

She’s the boss of the Vancity Tide lacrosse team. He’s the team captain—and the firefighter who’s never failed anyone. There are a hundred reasons why their steamy encounter has to stay a secret. But number one? Her dad owns the team…

Seren is on the brink of career disaster. The general manager job she’s worked her entire life for is about to slip away. The season is unraveling and she’s been given an ultimatum—make it to the playoffs or lose her dream job forever. But keeping her head in the game would be so much easier if she wasn’t falling for her star player. And he hadn’t told her he was falling too…

Brad Holt is the team captain. Nicknamed ‘Fixer’, he holds everything together, whether it’s on the lacrosse floor, at the fire hall or at home with his family. Being steady was his whole identity—until the night things crossed the line with Seren. Now he’s in a tailspin, failing in every arena that matters. All because she’s the one problem he can’t fix. And the one person who might actually break him for good.

As the final games of the season loom over Seren and Brad, and a clip of a heated kiss goes viral, their carefully crafted defence crumbles around them. With seconds left on the clock, a win could change everything. But if they lose, they lose it all…

A completely swoon-worthy and steamy forbidden love sports romance that fans of Hannah Grace, Stephanie Archer and Amy Daws will totally fall for.

Perfect for fans of:

🖤 Forbidden romance 🖤

💋 He’s already fallen 💋

🎇 Forced proximity 🎇

💖 Sports romance 💖

🔥Spicy slow burn🔥

My thoughts:

This is a fun, light romance novel with just enough tension and danger to make it interesting.
 
Seren and Brad have been interested in each other for months, but have done virtually nothing because of their jobs. Brad is the captain for Seren's lacrosse team, and is know as a fixer, both on and off the field. Yet he never allows anyone to help him, no matter how much he's hurt or in the weeds. 
 
Seren is desperately trying to accomplish her goals and show her father that she can manage a professional lacrosse team, and hopefully make him proud of her at the same time. But will a chance at happiness with Brad burn it all down? 
 
This story is part of a series, which I didn't know when I started it, but I felt like I didn't need to read the previous books in order to understand this one. It was a bit sportier than I would normally read, so that was a stretch for me, but the descriptions are well done, so I didn't feel like I was missing out on understanding what was happening.
 
Overall a solid, enjoyable read that will have me coming back to read more of her books! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

 

Readers love Could You Be Mine?:

“An absolute, glowing 5-star review!… delicious, highly addictive incredible heat straight to your Kindle screen!… an absolute masterpiece! I honestly could not put it down completely hooked from the very first page to the last… pure perfection!… incredible, high-heat spice absolute top-tier. It delivers everything a contemporary romance fan could ever ask for.” thelitwhisperer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ohhh, this book! 😍🔥… Exactly the kind of steamy, forbidden, slow-burn sports romance that had me completely hooked!… watching these two try to resist each other was EVERYTHING! 😍🔥 The chemistry between Seren and Brad was absolutely sizzling 🔥 … Addictive… fun, swoon-worthy and seriously spicy romance You absolutely need this on your TBR!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HOT, HOT, HOT! 🔥 The chemistry between Seren and Brad was incredible… A steamy, addictive romance that kept my turning the pages!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I am obsessed completely stole my heart!… 🔥 Oh, the chemistry is unmatched… seriously hot read this immediately!” Mvlreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I absolutely adored this!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was completely hooked and from that point in, I was wanting to read more and more.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I read this book from cover to cover and stayed up to finish it!… I loved it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was hooked from the first page right to the end… a gripping read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Love, love, loved this.” Amsjadee.reads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
Author Bio
Sophie L. Henderson writes steamy romcoms full of chaos, heart, and characters who swear a little too much to be considered polite. Originally from a tiny village in England, she spent seventeen years wrangling jazz hands as a drama teacher before finally listening to the voice in her head (the one telling her to write, not the one asking for another snack). She now lives in Vancouver with her husband, where she’s embraced views of snowcapped mountains from the beach, over-invests in the hockey, and talks to hummingbirds like they’re her best friends.