Is That You, Beth Cherry?

Lucy Dillon

EVERYONE deserves a second chance at love! Step into the troubled world of Beth Cherry and join her as she digs deep into her hidden reserves to take her life by the scruff of its neck… and become the hero of her own story. Is That You, Beth Cherry? is the latest warm, wise and witty romance from Lucy Dillon (pictured below) who grew up in Cumbria and is now the bestselling author of eleven novels set in the fictional market town of Longhampton.

Beth’s life, like the unfinished screenplay on her laptop, is stuck between chapters. Since her break-up with Fraser – which was not part of the script – she has retreated into a lonely working from home world of sweatpants, disordered hours and comfort eating. The one luminous constant in her life is her love for her rescue dog, Tomsk, and his for her.

When Beth’s house-share falls apart, she is thrown a lifeline by the least likely person… Fraser’s mother Martine who offers Beth and Tomsk a temporary space above her garage in which to start over.

Returning to Longhampton, scene of her happiest memories with Fraser and his family, feels like a second chance… might this be a sign that she and Fraser are meant to be?

But when Beth is recruited as a writer for a project called The Story of Your Life, she starts to gain more perspective on her own life. Run by the local retirement community, some of the stories she hears are heartwarming, some are heartbreaking. All of them, Beth notes, reveal a little more than the teller realises. And when she is sent an anonymous story of first love that threatens to destroy more than one family’s identity, Beth has to decide… is it sometimes better to keep a secret than reveal the truth? With its enchanting premise, a leading lady whose self-loathing cannot help but tug at the heartstrings, and a story of love and hope that crosses the generation divide, this gentle, insightful and thoroughly uplifting story will leave readers with the warmest of glows.
(Hodder & Stoughton, hardback, £20)

The French Guesthouse

Isabelle Broom

AS winter tightens its grip, take an unforgettable journey to sun-soaked France with this epic and drama-packed romance from Isabelle Broom (pictured below), acclaimed author of The Orange House. 

An emotive and richly compelling tale of complex relationships, generational trauma and the cathartic nature of forgiveness, The French Guesthouse features a vibrant cast of characters and a backdrop that will transport you into the beating heart of summertime.

On the night Fliss loses everything – her beloved hotel ravaged by fire and fiancé exposed as a cheat – she receives devastating news… her estranged mother has died. They hadn’t spoken for fifteen years and Fliss has stayed away for her own self-preservation.

Summoned to a dilapidated guesthouse in France for the reading of the will, Fliss is stunned to discover she has been left all her mother’s possessions. But the inheritance comes at a price… both literal and emotional. 

Sharing the house is Etienne, her mother's grief-stricken, wine-soaked partner, and his guarded yet magnetic nephew, Benoit.

As Fliss begins restoring the guesthouse, she unearths long-buried secrets about her mother, their past and the true cost of her long absence. But to move forward, cure her guilt and claim the love and happiness she has never thought she deserves, Fliss must first reckon with the hardest question of all… can she forgive?

Sometimes the only way to rebuild the future is to face the past you tried to escape and that is the message that speaks loudly and clearly in Broom’s heartfelt, wise and beautiful story which is guaranteed to uplift the soul and add warmth and colour to your winter blues.
(Hodder & Stoughton, paperback, £10.99)

Christmas at the Home Farm Vets

Suzanne Snow

CAN a young vet’s broken heart be mended amidst a snowy winter in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales? Spend Christmas in rural splendour as Lancashire-based author Suzanne Snow delivers a fun, festive and heartwarming romance set in her fictional Hartfell Village. 

Loved for her contemporary and uplifting novels which come with a vibrant sense of setting and community and connect the lives of her characters, Snow (pictured below) is inspired by her passion for landscape, romance and rural life.

Here we meet Erin Hardy who, ten years ago, had her heart broken by fellow vet student Oli Sterling. Now, he has returned on locum at Home Farm Vets and she is his landlord. 

All Erin wants is independence and security. All Oli does is travel the world in between working as locum at practices for a few months. So when he comes back into Erin's life, she knows it’s temporary, no matter the lingering looks he gives her.

With Christmas approaching, the vet practice is busier than ever, and Erin is surprised at how well she and Oli work together to help the animals of Hartfell. From sharing meals in her cramped cottage to meandering to the village fayre, the wall Erin has built around her heart begins to crumble.

But Oli’s contract is coming to an end and he has shown no sign of wanting to stay. Has she set herself up for another broken heart by the only man she has ever loved? Or will she realise that being independent sometimes means relying on others, and security comes with taking risks?

With a cast of both human and animal characters to enjoy, a picture perfect wintertime setting, a slow-burn romance, and themes of family, single parenthood and rural life, this is escapist reading with a warm heart and a wise head.
(Canelo Romance, paperback, £8.99)

Chef’s Kiss at the Chalet

Sookie Snow

TUCK into one of the tastiest Christmas treats you’ll find this festive season as Sookie Snow – the queen of small-town, seasonal romance and self-confessed lover of all things cosy, sweet and spiced – dishes up a fabulous feast of food and fun. 

Chef’s Kiss at the Chalet follows an ambitious young chef’s journey from London to the snow-covered charms of Maplewood Creek in America… only to find herself falling in love and torn between two worlds.

When Elle Evans lands a spot at London’s most prestigious culinary school, her dreams finally feel within reach. Desperate to scrape together the cash for her tuition, she accepts a last-minute agency position as a chalet girl, a job which whisks her away to Maplewood Creek, a quaint town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Hired by the affluent Hawthorne family, Elle finds herself in a world of wealth, luxury and big egos, far removed from her humdrum everyday life. As she navigates the challenges of her new job, mastering gourmet dishes and catering to the whims of her discerning employers, she realises there’s something she hadn’t accounted for… Charles Hawthorne, the family’s charming and undeniably sexy eldest son.

Charles soon becomes an unexpected distraction for Elle… she can’t deny the sizzling chemistry between them. But, with Elle’s career aspirations hanging in the balance and Charles’s carefree lifestyle and family expectations putting a strain on their blossoming relationship, can this unlikely duo survive the season?

Slow-cook romance is the number one ingredient in this Christmas cracker which puts love on the menu and guarantees the feelgood factor from first course right through to the delicious dessert!
(Pan, paperback, £9.99)

Just a Taste

Anise Starre

SERVING up those much-loved flavours of the Christmas season is a fun, fresh and flirty kitchen romance from Anise Starre, best known for love stories with a seductive hint of steam and spice.

The only thing personal chef Noelle Jones loves more than cooking is Christmas. She has a roster of extremely wealthy clients, including the elusive and stoic Alexander Hoxton, the kind of man women dream about… but who shatters the daydream when he opens his mouth. 

When he asks her to cook a last-minute business meal he’s having, offering triple her pay for the short notice, Noelle jumps at the chance. It’s easy money, one of her favourite dishes and she'll still have plenty of time to get to her family’s annual Christmas reunion. 

But, when a sudden blizzard leaves Noelle snowed in with Alexander, she quickly realises he wants absolutely nothing to do with anything festive. Stuck with a veritable grinch, she’s sure this Christmas is about to become one of her worst… With delicious dialogue, a large serving of angst, and heaps of sizzling seasonal skirmishes, feelings are definitely boiling over in this hot Christmas romance… and you wouldn’t want to miss it!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)

The Cat Share

Angela Jariwala

CAT lovers will be purring with delight when they meet up with greedy feline Oscar, star player in a warm and joyful rom-com from author Angela Jariwala (pictured below) who sadly died in December of 2021 before finishing this novel. 

Her legacy is this delightful tale, inspired by a true story, of two neighbours – strangers to each other – who find love courtesy of one sassy cat.

Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting the boy next door. Jenni lives alone with her cat Oscar – yes, she’s single but, after breaking up with her boyfriend, she’s more than content to be living alone. 

Sometimes she worries she might be playing things too safe but she’s had enough of taking risks. Ben is a firefighter and, if he’s honest, he’s finding life hard. 

The arrival of a small tabby cat, who Ben decides to call Fred, helps him feel less isolated. But then, one day, Ben decides to take a chance. Wanting to reassure Fred’s owner he’s not stealing their cat, he attaches a note to the cat’s collar. 

As the two neighbours start corresponding via the cat, their notes to each other reveal the truths they are hiding from even their closest friends… and themselves.

With themes of mental health and the healing power of love and friendship, this romantic feel-good romp is a perfect winter warmer. 
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)