MANNER culture Hannah's BOOK CLUB

Hi!

I’m Hannah and I’m a biblioholic. My love of reading, and creative writing, is the result of three years spent at Oxford Brookes University where I studied for a degree in publishing. I love a good murder mystery book, but I also regularly read travel, health, action & adventure and science fiction titles.

*****

The Gift Of Happiness

Holly Martin

Christmas has always been Ruby Marlowe’s favourite time of the year. So when she is offered the opportunity to open a year-round Christmas shop in the little village of Happiness, it seems like a dream come true.

Disaster strikes though when the shop sustains some water damage, so she is forced to share temporary premises with the guy she had a fling with in the summer, Jacob Harrington.

Ruby and Jacob must decide whether they can work side-by-side and keep their feelings to themselves or take a chance on one another.

A feel-good romance that’s like a mug of hot chocolate on a winter’s day.

Christmas Shopaholic

Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is given the task of hosting Christmas for the very first time for a group of family and friends. The “perfect” Christmas is never easy, but the many scrapes and sticky situations she finds herself in make for a lot of laughs and OMG moments. From the chaotic vegan turkey dinner to her fight to join a male-only billiard club, Becky never disappoints. This is not your typical Christmas story, but it’s sure to make you laugh this holiday when you need it.

The perfect read for both fans of the Shopaholic series and holiday fiction. *****

***** TWAS THE NIGHTSHIFT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Adam Kay

Best known for his UK bestselling non-fiction title of 2018, This is Going to Hurt, Kay’s festive follow-up is the entertaining story of the life of a junior doctor at the most challenging time of the year. Having worked on Christmas Day six times in the seven years he was a medical doctor, Kay has truly seen it all.

The only reason this isn’t a 5 star is that the book wasn’t long enough! Hilarious, poignant and a reminder of the sacrifices made and the challenges faced by the unsung heroes of the NHS.

JAMES PATTERSON & MAXINE PAETRO 19TH CHRISTMAS: (WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB 19)

While out shopping with her family, Detective Lindsay Boxer encounters a known criminal by the name of Loman, who is planning a ‘big event’ that is set to cause widespread terror to the residents of San Francisco on Christmas morning.

Lindsay takes up the case with the help of the SFPD Homicide team, pushing them in many directions, some red herrings, while others seem to point to a major heist only a few days away.

The usual strong characters you expect from a Patterson novel are fully present in this story, however the plot lines at times feel unbelievable. A quick and easy read that’ll intrigue fans for the next instalment in the series.