Extremely well written and lovely story
935186
Don't let the zero price fool you, this beautiful piece is a wonderful read.  I love the tone of everything she writes, subtle, expressive, nuanced, and yet full of emotion and a kind of poetic grandeur of soul.
1953378
When I bought this book I was not sure I would enjoy it. I had never read anything by this author before. I thought I would wait until next month when I could use my Prime free borrow. Being bored, I decided not to wait and to give this book a try. I am so glad that I did. This is a beautiful, very well written story. It speaks of tolerance, promotes peace, acceptance of differences, and loyalty. I don't know how to describe it. I would absolutely recommend this book and will I am sure read it many more times. Great job Ms. Burke.
2891525
I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. While there were a few times I wanted to skip, and did skim, a page or so, it was very well written. There were also a few times when I was exasperated with one of the main characters, but somehow, in the end, it didn't matter. I ended up profoundly touched by this story. The author draws you into the heart and soul of the story and the characters with her beautiful descriptions and words that are just enough, and never too much or too many. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and I know I will read this book again.
1614351
Susan Mallery's newest book "The Girls of Mischief Bay" is beautifully written and possibly one of the most enchanting books I've ever read. The way Ms. Mallery was able to transition from storyline to storyline was wonderfully well done. The story itself was in turns heart warming and wrenchingly sad, and from one minute to the next it was impossible to tell if I would be laughing or crying. It is my fondest wish that this novel will turn into a series, as I feel there is so much more story left to tell for these characters.
2757253
I so enjoyed Letting In Light, Emma Davies' first (and best selling) novel, when I read it earlier this year that I was really looking forward to reading her new novella Merry Mistletoe. I like novellas at Christmas, I'm a bit of a fan of Emma's writing after that first encounter - and this really was a thoroughly lovely read. It's always interesting to see how an author's skills translate to a short story or novella: this one's just 92 pages long, and I have to say that this author's skills translate absolutely perfectly.

It's a great story - Freya struggling with grief at the recent loss of her father and desperately trying (and failing) to keep Appleyard Farm going as Christmas approaches. Her boyfriend Gareth has moved in but offers her no help of any kind, and her only option seems to be to sell the farm. She clearly has some history with the Henderson brothers who want to buy, but she really has no options left. She's an excellent character, who you warm to immediately - she can be obstinate and difficult, but I really found myself entirely in her corner, just hoping everything worked out for her.

Emma creates wonderful characters. We never get a really clear physical description of drifter Amos beyond his bright red Doc Martins, but we certainly feel the depth of how he cares for Freya, helping her out, giving her sound advice, comforting her when she's hurting.  I'd really rather like an Amos of my own. The Henderson brothers are so well drawn too - the "pig-headed arrogant sod" Stephen and his brother Sam with the more genuine smile. I also loved her friend Merry - there are some lovely exchanges including one particular phone call I thought was quite brilliantly done. And as for detestable Gareth...

One of the strengths of Letting In Light was the wonderful descriptions, and there are some lovely ones here too that draw you right in. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the mistletoe sales, the orchards Freya loves with the dew shining on the cobwebs - and I've rarely before come across such wonderful descriptions of bacon and egg sandwiches that made me want to get the frying pan out. There were some lovely little details too - the white feathers really touched my heart.

The structure is excellent - I liked the 29 day countdown, and the feeling that it was more than just Christmas that was relentlessly approaching. The secrets at the story's heart were a real surprise, and so well handled. And as well as a beautiful human interest and love story, the author has successfully made this a real page-turner - I really wanted to know what happened, and whether Freya would find the happiness she deserved.

Can you believe that all this fits into 92 pages? Neither could I. And yet there's nothing rushed about the writing - it's smooth and flowing, and quite lovely to read. When I visited Rowan Hill in Letting In Light, I said I felt I'd been part of the community - and I equally loved my time at Appleyard Farm.  I really, really enjoyed it. And those final lines - well, they're absolutely perfect, and I sighed and smiled too...
1368060
It does not matter how many reviews you and I read, or how many people we speak to about this book - this is one of those books you have to experience for yourself.  I was quite nervous to start reading the book as the subject is not one I would normally read, but I am so glad I did.

It is a beautifully written story, it is written with compassion and love which makes this very difficult subject easier to absorb.  It touched me deeply, and I hope I walked away from the experience a little wiser to what goes on behind closed doors, but it also makes me wonder how many of the women we come into contact with on a daily basis are hiding a secret they cannot share - because they are either too afraid to, or they are too ashamed to.

I loved this story.  It may be a story about abuse and the awful repercussions of that abuse, but it is also a story about hope.  It is about the kindness of strangers, and it is about love, and the realization that you are not alone, and that you are worthy.  It is a truly uplifting book.

One of Elle Casey's many strengths is her ability to create characters with depth that we can relate to, and as usual she has written a book with some truly awesome characters.  Elle has a special way with young children and her little Liam is especially adorable.  Even `John The Abuser' is so well portrayed that I wished I could storm into the book and do him some serious damage - I hated that man, and that is not a word I use very often.

I highly recommend this book, it is beautiful love story that is guaranteed to touch your soul.

After every book Elle publishes, I wonder how on earth she can ever top that, but with each subsequent release, she does exactly that.  This is Elle Casey at her very best.
4152066
I LOVED this book. I loved it from the amazingly beautiful cover to the very end. This was such a lovely story. The characters were richly drawn and the drama was tempered with moments of brightness. The primary characters were real and well matched. The secondary characters were also very strong. I would actually love to have a sequel with her lovely, but slightly mysterious, friend. With a sequel we could have the possibility of having a little window into the world of this couple. This was a story that also had a strong presence of this house and its neighborhood. I also loved that our gal had a little time with her family who could also serve as characters for the future. I was sad to see this book end but it was satisfying. I would also say that this story was made even more wonderful with this beautiful cover art. Staci should be very proud of this work. It is my first book by her and clearly will not be the last. Thank you for this wonderful read! denise bailey
4220693
This was one of the most heartwarming, touching, most precious stories I've ever read. What I loved most about it(apart from the lovely and poetical way of writing), was how Aldrich wrote the story of Abby's whole life, and not just the romance era like most authors do. I never would have considered that old people are never really old, it's just that they have outgrown what the rest of us are still waiting to grow into; that they once had lives with romance and accomplishments and thing of their own, had I not read this book. Well, anyways, the story goes like this:
Abby Mackenzie is eight years old when she moves to a little community with her family, and meets Will Deal. Well, all her young life, Abby has been told the story of her aristocratic father married her peasant mother, putting the rest of the family into peasantry. Her dream is to be like her aristocratic grandmother, Isabel Anders-Mackenzie, who has a portrait which Abby has only seen in her imagination.
 Well, when Abby grows older, she is courted by the dashing young doctor, Ed Mathews, who proposes while her friend Will is off at war. She thinks that if she marries him, she will have the chance to pursue all the dreams of being a fine lady, especially enriching her lovely singing voice. But, then Will comes home, and Abby marries  him, realizing that he was the one she really loved. So, the newly weds pioneer-on-over to Nebraska Territory, where they raise a family.
 The rest of the story tells of their life on the prairie, and how Abby is able to live her dreams through her children instead of herself. The book goes on until she dies in her eighties. I loved it with all of my heart, and absolutely COULD NOT have imagined a sweeter ending than the one Aldrich gave. Read this book!
107423
A lovely story that could only be written where it was.
862053
received an ARC of "Magnolia Nights" and I'm so grateful to have been able to enjoy this lovely story! I was drawn in from the very beginning and am a sucker for a book where there's a house that is a character too. I was intrigued with Ellie's story and liked how it went back-and-forth between her childhood, learning about her mother and dealing with the consequences of everything she found out as a result of reading her mother's diaries. All because of the death of her horrible grandmother. She evolved from not really knowing how she wanted to handle the situation to finding long-lost family, falling in love and dealing beautifully with a difficult situation. Oh, I also really liked her relationship with Maddie and how she was a bridge between now and then. I really enjoyed the charming descriptions of Charleston and highly recommend this book.
3208808
This is an extremely well written story. It's editing is wonderful (which is unfortunately hard to find). The main characters are believable and the author really makes you feel what they feel. The story is a little on the short side, however I don't think I would change that because the story moves along at a nice pace, no extraneous stuff that makes me start skimming. This is a stand alone book, no nasty cliffhanger.
1658315
This was seriously cute.  I'm in my 30's and still found this a truly wonderful story.  Zoe is the product of bullying and has changed herself to fit it. Which is so sad. High school can be such an awful place.

This was also extremely well written and edited.  It flowed smoothly I was able to visualize with ease. I laughed at references of Zoe's hands shaking so hard she could mix a paint can I cried with them when she had a heart to heart with Dad and felt my heart squeeze when Zak explained why he could never hate her.

Just a nice clean happy story. But one also packed with a very important message about self worth, peer pressure, bullying and more.  Please read this.
300318
A beautiful story ,the friendship of this special boy and this very old/young woman is so well crafted and beautifully written. The characters are perfectly defined ,one feels for them.
747178
The Maid of Milan is quite simply an extremely well written book.  Beverley Eikli's characterisation is excellent. The reader is allowed to share the emotional journey of the characters in a very human way.  Adelaide is everything a heroine should be but with added interest of not being perfect and the heroes are wonderfully different.  I truly didn't know how this plot would resolve itself until almost the end and yet t does!  If you want a highly absorbing book that offers more than just a romance story then I highly recommend you read The Maid of Milan!!
4412119
I love this book. It is a very well written story by an immensely talented author. I've highly recommended it to quite a few people, and will continue to do so. It is very easy to become completely wrapped up in the characters, particularly Isla and her life. It reminds me a lot of Pride and Prejudice without being too much like it. The author does a great job making the characters relateable while making the story fun and interesting. It's a story I would gladly read repeatedly.
2449967
Megan's Way by Melissa Foster is one of the most wonderfully written and lovely books that I have read! A beautiful and heart warming story of a Mother and her Daughter and the extraordinary relationship they have. A story about life long and real friendships that defy time. Megan's Way will make you laugh and cry and be amazed all at the same time. I fell in love with all the characters and the way their lives intermingle with each other is beautiful.

I loved this book and would recommend it to all readers, you will not be able to put it down. Thank you Melissa Foster for writing such a captivating and lovely book!!
3291067
Choc Lit and their reading panel do have a bit of a talent for spotting something special that their readers will enjoy, and they've done it again with this lovely book. The story's partly the stuff of every girl's fantasies (and several rather older women's too...!) - meeting a famous footballer on a weekend break, living the high life for a while, and finding that he's not only gorgeous but also a really, really nice guy. But it's not just the stuff of fantasy - Rebecca's marriage is on the rocks, her plans for a family forgotten, while her husband Greg relentlessly pursues his career (and a few other things he really shouldn't be pursuing).

I really liked the way Rebecca's friendship with Abi was drawn - Abi's quite a character, but also one of the most genuine and supportive friends anyone could wish for. I also liked the twists and turns of Abi's own relationship with Nick, and the fallout from the stag do in Spain. Rebecca is a real well developed character - your heart aches for her, knowing what Greg is up to while she continues trying to discuss things with him. Jan's very good at depicting friendship actually - I also thought Alex's relationship with larger than life friend Kenny was really well handled. I do know some reviewers have felt that the portrayal of Greg left a little bit to be desired, but I don't really agree - people do change, particularly when circumstances change and a couple don't have anything in common any more. Thank goodness for Abi - but thank goodness for Alex Heath too.

This was a lovely story, really well told - just to be nitpicky, I did think the Hawksley Manor stay, particularly the night at the club, were maybe a little more drawn out than they could have been, but the scenes in the restaurant were extremely funny (what horrendous people!) and really well written. I really look forward to seeing what Jan does next. OK, I do look forward to getting to know Alex better too - but this is a really good read from a first-time author well worth watching.