The Canal Boat Café Christmas: Port Out by Cressida Maclaughin - November 1st

A Christmas special continuing the charming and heart-warming story of The Canal Boat Café, the runaway bestseller.

Summer and Mason take their upbeat and feelgood Canal Boat Café to London for Christmas, with unexpected results.

Port Out – Summer is so in love with her boyfriend Mason and dreams of taking the next step with him, but is Mason ready too? When her friend Claire offers Summer a chance to come to London with her canal boat, Summer thinks this will give them a chance to find out, and they embark on a magical journey on the canal all the way to the scenic beauty of Little Venice. But will it be plain sailing all the way?

Why so excited: I really enjoyed The Canal Boat Café last year, so I cannot wait to catch up with these characters and see what they are up to. Plus, I love canal boats, so books set in them are always a treat.

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Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse - November 2nd

The last person who called me ‘Sweetpea’ ended up dead…

I haven’t killed anyone for three years and I thought that when it happened again I’d feel bad. Like an alcholic taking a sip of whisky. But no. Nothing. I had a blissful night’s sleep. Didn’t wake up at all. And for once, no bad dream either. This morning I feel balanced. Almost sane, for once.

Rhiannon is your average girl next door, settled with her boyfriend and little dog…but she’s got a killer secret.

Although her childhood was haunted by a famous crime, Rhinannon’s life is normal now that her celebrity has dwindled. By day her job as an editorial assistant is demeaning and unsatisfying. By evening she dutifully listens to her friend’s plans for marriage and babies whilst secretly making a list.

A kill list.

From the man on the Lidl checkout who always mishandles her apples, to the driver who cuts her off on her way to work, to the people who have got it coming, Rhiannon’s ready to get her revenge.

Because the girl everyone overlooks might be able to get away with murder…

Why so excited: I discovered S.J. Skuse last year with The Deviants and I was fascinated with her clever writing and dark setting, and this one sounds just as good.

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Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell - November 2nd

Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell is a beautiful gift edition containing two wintery short stories, decorated throughout for the first time with gorgeous black and white illustrations by Simini Blocker.

Midnights is the story of Noel and Mags, who meet at the same New Year's Eve party every year and fall a little more in love each time...

Kindred Spirits is about Elena, who decides to queue to see the new Star Wars movie and meets Gabe, a fellow fan.

Midnights was previously published as part of the My True Love Gave to Me anthology, edited by Stephanie Perkins and Kindred Spirits was previously published as a World Book Day title.

Why so excited: two reasons: first, decorated with illustrations and second, glittery cover. This would certainly make a gorgeous Christmas present... for myself :)

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A Christmas Wedding by Paige Toon - November 16th

The short story eBook sequel to Thirteen Weddings, from bestselling author Paige Toon. 

Four years ago, following that fated thirteenth wedding, Bronte fled the UK and has been happily burying her head in the sand ever since. But when an email lands in her inbox from Alex, it seems her past might be about to catch up with her right here in Sydney. Is it time for Bronte to finally face her demons?

With links to The Last Piece of My Heart, Lucy in the Sky and One Perfect Summer, this short story ebook sequel to Thirteen Weddings is a must for all fans of Paige Toon.

Get ready for Christmas with a heartwarming short story from Paige Toon, perfect for fans of Giovanna Fletcher and Adele Parks.

Why so excited: I love Paige Toon's books, so a story with links to several of her books is the best news I could get. I especially want to find out how Bronte is doing, as the ending of Thirteen Weddings has always had me a bit in two minds.

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Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher - November 16th

When the love of your life says you're not The One, who are you?

Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since the first week of university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they're about to get engaged.

Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiancé and no future.

Lizzy is heartbroken - but through the tears, she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she's been missing while playing Ian's ideal 'better half'.

But how much has Ian changed her, and who should she be without him?

Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before - and, in the meantime, have a little fun...

Why so excited: I've slowly fallen in love with Giovanna Fletcher's writing and this one sounds like the perfect fun and warm story to curl up this autumn!

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The Place We Met by Isabelle Broom - November 30th 

Heartbreak, humour and romance set in Italy's beautiful and dramatic Lake Como. Under dazzling New Year's Eve fireworks, two women hope for new beginnings... 

'Utterly romantic' Adele Parks, bestselling author of The Image of You

Taggie is only a few months into her job as a tour guide in Lake Como. She's rushed off her feet, but distraction is what she needs to forget why she left England.

Lucy arrives at Lake Como with her perfect new boyfriend, Pete. Falling fast in love, she's sure that life is about to start for her, it feels so right with him.

But as New Year's Eve approaches and the women meet by chance, it becomes clear this isn't the perfect place of new beginnings. While Lucy is willing to do anything to keep hold of Pete, the past Taggie so desperately wanted to escape is catching up with her...

Why so excited: Isabelle Broom's books are the perfect getaway, I've discovered and fallen in love  with a beautiful island in Greece, Prague and the south of Spain already with her stories and I am so looking forward to discovering Lake Como this time! 

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Blurb: Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay's dazzling depiction of the wizarding world and much loved characters in this full-colour illustrated hardback edition of the nation's favourite children's book - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Brimming with rich detail and humour that perfectly complements J.K. Rowling's timeless classic, Jim Kay's glorious illustrations will captivate fans and new readers alike.

When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he's the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord's curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers, which could be valuable, dangerous - or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

Why so excited: It's Harry Potter! Illustrated! I mean, aren't you excited? Already on pre-order. 

Dream a Little Christmas Dream by Giovanna Fletcher - October 10th

Every Time a Bell Rings by Carmel Harrington - October 15th

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella - October 22nd

Blurb: Becky Bloomwood and a hilarious cast of beloved family and friends (plus one enemy!) set off in a van to find her missing father, last heard from in Las Vegas.

Becky’s father Graham and her best friend’s husband, Tarquin, have disappeared from Los Angeles saying simply they have “something to take care of.”

But Tarquin’s wife Suze who is Becky’s best friend, and Becky’s mother Jane, are convinced the two men are hiding something and are in danger—their imaginations run wild. They must track them down!

Hijinks ensue as husband Luke drives Becky, daughter Minnie, Jane, Suze and other favorite Kinsella characters across country from LA to Las Vegas in search of the missing men.

Becky feels deeply guilty about ignoring her father while he was in LA, in addition Becky feels her enemy Alicia is threatening her friendship with Suze.

Why so excited: Becky is back! One of my all time favourite characters is back to save the day (I hope), after the cliff hanger from the last book, I can't wait to find out what happens next.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson - October 22nd

Why so excited: The Twelve Dates of Christmas has all you can ask for in a Christmas book. It's absolutely fantastic and I am over the moon to that it's being published as a paperback this month. One not to miss!

Well, these are my top 5 but I wanted to add that the third Cormoran Strike's novel, Career of Evil, is out on the 20th. I've only read the first one of this series written by J K Rowling, writing as Roberts Galbraith, but I'm quite sure I'll myself a copy of this one. 

Blurb: Sarah is doing just fine. Sure she's been single for the last five years, and has to spend an uncomfortable amount of time around her ex-boyfriend, his perfect new girlfriend and all their mutual friends. And yes, her job as a PA to one of the most disgusting men in London is mind-numbingly tedious and her career is a constant disappointment to her mother. But it's really okay. She's happy (ish).

But it's not surprising that when Sarah starts dreaming about a handsome stranger, she begins to look forward to falling asleep every night. Reality isn't nearly as exciting. That is until her dream-stranger makes an unexpected real-life appearance, leaving Sarah questioning everything she thought she wanted.

Because no one ever really finds the person of their dreams... do they?

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I have to admit that I was not a big fan of Giovanna Fletcher's debut, Billy and Me, and I never got around to read her second novel, You're the One That I Want. But when I spotted this beautiful cover and read the blurb of her new book, it picked my curiosity. It sounded really interesting and I decided to give it a go. And oh man! I can't tell you how glad I am that I did. Dream a Little Dream is such a cute, fun and perfect novel. I loved the concept, I loved Sarah and her gang of friends and I fell completely in love with Giovanna's writing.

The idea behind the story is such a clever one. Imagine you start dreaming about someone from your past that you haven't thought about in years. Little by little that someone starts becoming the center of your dreamland, and you spend almost your whole (boring) day wanting to go back to sleep to catch up with that someone. And then bam! That someone makes an appearance in your real life! That's exactly what happens to Sarah when Brett, an old university acquaintance takes centre stage in both her real and dream life. Obviously, real Brett and dream Brett are slightly different but Sarah can't help thinking about their night adventures (yes, there are sexy dreams involved) in front of real Brett, which leads to real fun situations. And some of the dreams are hilarious, with celebrities guest appearances and that crazy vibe dreams are made of.

Sarah is a really lovable character with whom we can relate easily. She feels like everyone around her is making progress both personally and professionally. But she is stuck in the same tedious job she got when she left uni. Also, her ex boyfriend (who is still in her group of friends) is getting married, no less! I think we all, as we approach the scary 30 (why are you supposed to have all your life mapped out at that age?) start feeling like a bit like Sarah. So it was really cool to read how she started believing more in herself and started taking her life back in control. Because dreams are there to follow, aren't they?

A special mention to Sarah's group of friends, which were a lovely bunch and reminded me how important friendship is. They had their stories to share, and one of them really got me.

Dream a Little Dream really is a fantastic book that I can't recommend enough. It touches many familiar topics and gives a clear positive message that will stay with for a long time. I am so glad I picked this book and gave Giovanna's writing a second chance. I can't wait to read her second book now. 

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Giovanna Fletcher has just published her second book You're the One that I Want and twitter has gone crazy about it! Every time I opened it these last couple of weeks there was a mention to her or her new book. I had had Billy and Me on my TBR pile for a while now so I decided to give a try. The cover is just gorgeous and I had read some really good things about it. When I started reading it though, I didn't really connect with the book though. Sophie has had a difficult life and is really insecure. She works in a little tea shop in a little village and there she has created her little bubble. I liked her but I didn't love her. I was intrigued by her secret and wanted to know about her though.

But then Billy appeared. Billy is a Hollywood star, idol to teens who is trying to find more mature roles to separate himself from the teen book adaptation Halo. He arrives at Sophie's village for the filming of Pride and Prejudice and when he meets her he is instantly drawn to her and her normal life. I think that my main problem with the book is that I didn't like Billy, I was always expecting him to betray Sophie and I wasn't sure if we were seeing his true nature.

From that moment though, Sophie and Billy start an intense relationship and try to fight all the problems that are thrown their way, the main one being his fame. In that moment I started to connect more with Sophie. And then something horrible happened which had me in tears (in a bus, surrounded by people who must have thought I was crazy). 

I liked Giovanna's style and I could tell that Sophie and Billy's love story was special although it didn't find its way to my heart. All in all I enjoyed the book although it had something missing for me. I will be checking for sure Giovanna's new book.

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