Blog Tour Book Review: No One Cancels Christmas by Zara Stoneley

Synopsis:
It’s the most magical time of the year, and for travel agent Sarah it’s also the busiest! But this year one man threatens to ruin Christmas for Sarah’s customers – Mr Grinch, Will Armstrong.

The Shooting Star Mountain resort is a magical place, and Sarah has fond memories of Christmas here as a little girl – visits to Father Christmas, husky rides in the snow and hot chocolate by a roaring fire. But as the resorts new owner, Will refuses to play snowball or to deck the halls with anything remotely resembling tinsel!

With customers complaining their Christmas is ruined, Sarah decides it’s up to her to convince Scroogey Will just how magical Christmas can be….

But getting Will into the Christmas spirit is hopeless – he is Bah Humbug personified! But as Sarah gets to know him better, she realises that underneath all the gloom is a man struggling with a pain of his own.

With the big day approaching, Sarah realises that the magic and sparkle can wait. This year, she’s going to spend Christmas day with someone special her very own Mr Scrooge…

My Review:
Yay! It’s my stop on Zara Stoneley’s ‘No One Cancels Christmas’ Blog Tour. Welcome... Welcome...! I was super excited to be able to join the tour and for an early preview of the much awaited read so huge thanks to Netgalley, Harper Impulse and Rachel Random Resources.

Congratulations Zara on a fabulous festive read! I absolutely Loved it! (I just knew I would!)

The main character is Sarah who works at her Aunt Lynn's travel agents along with her best friend Sam. Now if you have read Zara’s other book ‘The Wedding Date’ (and if you haven’t, then where have you been! You need to order it now it’s soooooo good!!!) but if you have read it you will recognise Sam, I nearly jumped up and down when I saw that Sam was featured. I absolutely adore when authors include past characters, it’s like catching up with an old friend finding out how they are doing and what they are up to.

Now, we all know that no Christmas story is complete without a Scrooge or a Grinch... in walks Will Armstrong, new owner of the Shooting Star Mountain Resort and I must add the hottest Scrooge I’ve ever read about!! After complaints come flooding through, bad reviews of frosty welcomes and Christmas festivities being non existence Sarah decides its her obligation to visit the resort and stay there herself and try to convince Will to bring back the Christmas magic that was once there long ago when Sarah last stayed as a child.

I really enjoyed reading about Sarah, such a fun and outgoing character. Zara always has this ability to create such lovely characters that are realistic and loveable. Characters that feel like life long friends that stay with you even after finishing the book. Even characters that show up briefly or have a small part have a back story that help build the plot. One of my favs has to be Ruth! What a hoot she is!

Getting back to the story, can Sarah hold onto her fond memories of the place and help bring festive cheer to save Christmas for the holiday makers staying at the Shooting Star Mountain Resort, or will he be forever a humbug?!

I loved reading the scenes between Sarah and Will, they both have some hidden secrets from their past that have brought them to the place they are now. I loved the bond that develops between them and how close they become to trust and open up to one another, the humour and sarcastic comments between them were spot on. Look out for some festive Zumba! Ha!

I’ll admit I couldn't guess where the story was heading, With quite a few surprises, twists and turns throughout it certainly kept you on your toes and kept me glued to the book for the last few chapters. Isn’t that just the best thing about reading a good book, being so involved in the story that just for a while it can make you forget the real world, work, chores oh the dreaded ironing can wait!

I really hope there is a follow on or Sarah is featured in another book because I’m nosey and I just want to know what she’s up to now! Ha!

This book is the perfect festive read, lots of fun, humour, family, love and friendship it has everything! It even has M&S mince pies (who leaves home without them!) Well done Zara! It was a pleasure to read 'No One Cancels Christmas'!

Make sure to purchase the book today!

You won't be disappointed! 

Amazon UK or Amazon US

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour!

Author Bio

Born in a small village in Staffordshire, I wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when I grew up. After many years, and many different jobs, my dream of writing a bestseller came true.

I write about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hope that my tales make you cry a little, laugh a lot, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

I now live in a Cheshire village with my family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Where you can find her-

Website: http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter: @ZaraStoneley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarastoneley/

Book Review: The Wedding Date by Zara Stoneley

Synopsis:

One ex.

One wedding.

One little white lie.

When Samantha Jenkins is asked to be the maid of honour at her best friend's wedding, she couldn't be happier. There are just three problems...

1) Sam's ex-boyfriend, Liam, will be the best man.

2) His new girlfriend is pregnant

3) Sam might have told people she has a new man when she doesn't (see points 1 and 2 above)

So, Sam does the only sensible thing available to her... and hires a professional to do the job.

Actor Jake Porter is perfect for the role: single, gorgeous and cheap! Sam is certain it's the perfect solution: no strings, no heartbreak and hopefully no chance of being found out.

But spending a week in the Scottish Highlands with Jake is harder than she imagined. He is the perfect boyfriend, charming sexy and the hottest thing in a kilt since Outlander! And his dog Harry is quite possibly the cutest things Sam has ever seen!

As the wedding draws closer, Jake plays his part to perfection and everyone believes he is madly in love with Sam. The problem is, Sam's not sure if Jake is acting anymore.

My Review!

This is one wedding you do not want to miss! I LOVED it! As soon as I saw the book cover (cake... need I say more..!) and the synopsis I just couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and after reading a few reviews I couldn't wait any longer and this book shot up my 'to be read' pile.

This story made me think of the brilliant 2005 film 'The Wedding Date' with Debra Messing and the lovely Dermot Mulroney! How was this film 8 years ago?! - I must re watch this!

This book has to be one of my fav books of 2018 so far, so good I was up till the early hours as I just couldn't put it down.

We meet Sam... good news is that her best friend is getting married, bad news is the best man is her ex boyfriend Liam.. The bad bad news is her ex boyfriend Liam has a new girlfriend and to make matters worse the bad bad bad news is the new girlfriend is pregnant!! Arghhhh!!!

So Sam is the maid of honour to her best friend, Jess. Unfortunately the groom's brother is Sam's ex boyfriend Liam. The wedding is the last place Sam wants to run into Liam but Sam being Sam the most caring and wonderful friend she puts her feelings to one side and plans to attend.

To save loosing face in front of family and friends at the wedding she decides to tell everyone that she has moved on and has a new boyfriend, problem is said boyfriend does not exist. After visiting her hairdresser Tim, she is presented with an idea of an escort or hiring an actor and here she comes away with a business idea that is Jake.. Sam and Jake meet and after hitting it off decide to confirm a contract with rules (rules are for breaking right?!) and off they leave for the wedding in the Scottish Highlands as 'pretend' boyfriend and girlfriend not long after Jake has played the perfect partner at dinner with the 'in laws'. (awww he's a keeper!)

Thank you Zara for Jake, I am sure I am not alone when I say he is the perfect date, such a charmer and I loved him from the first chapter he appeared in. My list of chick lit hotties is rather long (what's a girl to do?!) but I have to say Jake is right up at the top!

I really liked Sam, she was very relatable, and I really wanted nothing but good things for her. I did feel sorry for her in the beginning especially finding out that her ex boyfriend Liam (we hate him by the way) must have done the dirty deed on her but as I read further into the book I envied her for having such a hot date at the wedding of the year! (jammy dodger!!) On a serious note this book was also a self discovery for Sam on what she wanted out of life 'AL' (After Liam!) and I must admit Liam most probably did her a massive favour!

I loved the lead up to the wedding, lots of funny scenes many including Harry, Jake's dog... The most cutest, curious dog ever! I enjoyed reading the chemistry between Sam and Jake, Will Sam fall for Jake and just how good of an actor is Jake?! Arghhh questions.. questions...!

Well done Zara on such a blooming brilliant read, thank you for creating a story that kept me from sleeping, I love when a book does that!

This little beauty is due to be released as eBook 20th April, paperback due out 28th June! BUY BUY BUY!!

Buy the book! 

Book Review: The Holiday Swap by Zara Stoneley

Synopsis:

Two women, two very different lives – one perfect solution to escape festive heartbreak!

Tucked away in the idyllic English countryside, Daisy Fischer’s cosy little cottage has always been her safe haven. But when her completely dependable boyfriend issues her an ultimatum, Daisy realises there’s a whole world out there she’s missing out on.

Florence Cortes’s life couldn’t be better – gorgeous apartment right on the beach, fabulous job and dreamy boyfriend, or so she thought. Suddenly, Flo’s life isn’t so perfect after all.

When the girls house swap for the holidays, it’s not long before Daisy is being distracted by sun, sea and sexy Javier while Flo finds herself snowbound for Christmas with only handsome neighbour Hugo and a house full of animals to keep her company.

Love actually does seem to be all around this Christmas, but in the places Flo and Daisy least expect to find it… 

My Review:

Loved this book! The main reason I wanted to read this was because it reminded me of my favourite movie 'The Holiday' It did not disappoint! This is my first book by Zara Stoneley and I'm happy to say it won't be my last.

We meet Daisy who lives in a cottage in the middle of nowhere (totally Kate Winslet!) her boyfriend proposes to her but Daisy isn't as happy as she should be, she knows Jimmy is not her true love. We then meet Flo who lives in Barcelona, she is hoping her boyfriend will propose when they take a trip to Paris however the trip ends in disaster!

Both Daisy and Flo are unhappy with the way their lives are leading so they decide to swap lives and homes for a few weeks at Christmas.

Each chapter changes from Daisy and Flo's point of view which I really enjoy in a book and both locations are described so well. Both girls are due to return to their homes on Christmas Eve however after Daisy meets Javier in Barcelona and Flo meeting Hugo in Tippermere their lives take an unexpected turn!

Yes the story is a little predictable and unrealistic but that's what I enjoyed about it, it's rom com at it's best!

Buy the Book!