ieemee's Reviews (360)

I read this book as an advent calendar book as it was designed. I really enjoyed the idea of reading one piece each day. Each Chapter ends on a cliffhanger , so I was genuinely interested in what happens next.

The horror story id describe as Lifetime TV movie horror/thriller.

What I loved 💕:
💕 The advent chapter / Calendar style of the book
💕chapters lengths were short. (Easy to stick to the reading pacing for advent calendar)
💕The estranged sisters 
💕The invitation to a secluded place trope 
💕The way family & partner dynamics played off against the horror / thriller 


What was not my cuppa ☕️:
☕️ The motivation for murder wasn’t grounded in strong theory.
☕️ I personally would have liked the thriller dial turned up slightly.
☕️Ideally I would have liked each chapter sealed for actually opening like I’ve seen other book advent calendars do.
☕️Because of the nature of the book & cliff hangers not really reread material 
 
Ideal Reader:
✨Someone looking for a Christmas read that is  thriller instead of romance 
✨Someone keen to try a book chapter adventure calendar 
✨Some on who likes a HEA thriller/horror

A holiday novella in which Molly the maid & her love Juan. Juan is focused on making Molly Christmas insta-perfect but Mollys looking at what drives a man to such a curated Christmas.  This slice of life lead up to Christmas is giving paranoia & jealousy.
💕Loves:
💕 Slice of life lead up to Xmas
💕 homage to ‘The gift of the Magi’
💕it’s a sweet Christmas miscommunication
☕️ Not my Cuppa:
☕️ Described as a standalone but I feel the experience novella isn’t fully realised without reading ‘The Maid’ first
☕️ over used corporate and motivational sayings sprinkled throughout
☕️ no shocking twist or revalation
✨ Ideal Reader:
✨Someone who loves the characters from The Maid and wants them to have a cozy christmas after all

I think this book is a 4/ 4.5 
I really enjoyed this novella

“The quote about once you go red 🌶️😍. If you know you know 😉😘

This Sapphic book gives ethical nonmonogomy (F/F/M), bi-girl vibes💙🩷& The only one for you ( F/F)

This is the first book I’ve read in the pocket rocket series and can’t wait to read the other two which I have just purchased.

What I loved:
💕a great combo of 🌶️, forever love ❤️
💕characterisations are on point 
💕Banter of the characters 
💕 Couples security within each other 

What was not my Cuppa ☕️:
☕️ I wanted to know more about the main sapphic couple - as it’s a Christmas novella of 74 it’s just not possible. 

Readers who 💕:
💕Fans of Rachel Lacey
💕Fans of the Ms. Right series
💕Someone looking for a Christmas Romance novella
💕 A great intro Sapphic Romance

3.5
Tropes:
🔵Slow burn
🔵Office flirtation- MCs her boss
🔵Take her home for Christmas novella


A spicy 🌶️ read for Christmas
Loved:
💕self-acceptance journeys of the FMC & MMC
💕Accurate DV representation
💕How welcoming the Mother in Law was
💕That MMC was a creative that designs tattoos
💕Strong Single mother representation
💕Great epilogue
💕 Tattoo artists and the geek


Not my Cuppa:
☕️ 🌶️ days dreams ( I think it’s just not my thing- rather have real slice or just tension but the spice dreams  not really a big fan of )
☕️The tattoo taboo - This might be because I live in one of the most tattooed populations in world.
☕️ I never truely fell in love with them as a couple -  I  didn’t see enough banter and cuteness to really ship them as couple.
☕️ FMC disclosure that she’s a tattoo virgin but not a 🌶️ virgin. I don’t need the magic number of the characters- I assume they’re not virgins unless it’s stated
☕️defining the FMC as a geek because she likes to read
Ideal Reader:

guy can love a million women. But a man, a man loves one woman a million ways.'

A Christmas read I recommend to all…
Overview:
Asa is spending his Christmas Eve like so many of us do–enjoying cookies, carols, and dreaming of presents awaiting him under the tree. But an accidental stumble into a world of vulnerable children leaves Asa with a new perspective and a mission to see the joy of Christmas experienced by everyone.

Special to me:
As someone who has spent a few Christmas in hospital not being able to eat I really loved seeing that community & Christmas captures.

Loved: 
The thoughtful representation of children with illness and disabilities it shows each person celebrating Christmas in their way including eating “green pea mash because he couldn’t safely swallow his Christmas treat stash.”

Ideal Reader:
Everyone. It’s a truly heartwarming inclusive read. Target age group is children & #62 on Amazon for Physically Disabled Education.

Keywords: Heartwarming Christmas tale; Diverse Christmas story; Children with illness; Christmas inclusivity; Physical Disability

I enjoy Tessa Baileys stories but this unfortunately didn’t live up to the hype of a Tessa Bailey book in my opinion.

💕Likes💕:
💕Feisty, self-assured FMC
💕 he falls firsts vibes
💕how the single motherhood is only a small portion of her identity, she’s a creative & designer & sexy as hell

☕️Not my cuppa ☕️:
☕️This book is overall focused at times on him not having pants that fit. 
☕️ I found the dirty talk was cringe at times like “ what’s this little dress called “ “Get the straps down and show me them tits”

🎤Narrators🎤:
Summer Morton & Connor Crais - they were great and really embodied the characterisation given.

🏆Tropes🏆:
🏆Single mother
🏆He falls first
🏆Insta love story 

Which reader will love this:
I think if you enjoy the style of dirty talk - which is a big part of the book you will overall enjoy this book.

I wasn’t aware of the non consensual sexual activity. I wasn’t aware of the content  warnings and wish they were at the beginning of the audiobook.

Thank you to Verity Bright, the publisher, & NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for a fair & honest review.
Personally I don’t think there’s anything better than reading a murder mystery over the festive season. A Midwinter Murder, a 1920s Christmas mystery, Lady Eleanor Swift’s 20th murder case to be exact. This 1920s heroine is helping her fiance solve the murder of Mr Porritt - whom was found dead in the storeroom clasping a golden pendant in the shape of a 🌹rose.

I personally missed the traditional sleuth detective and actually authority tension. In this book Lady Eleanor Swift is working with her policeman fiancé. 

Narrator:
Karen Cass give this murder mystery a very British twist. Cass is easy to listen to and captures a range of character tones which makes for engaging listening.

Ideal Reader:
Someone who likes a ‘murder she wrote’ or a ‘miss marple’ mystery set against a historical backdrop.
Fans of a classic murder mystery - set inside the home,  filled with town gossip, and a civic problem-solver. A reader who’s looking for a couple detective duo.

Keywords: Civic Sleuth, Classic British Murder Mystery, 1920s Detective,Murder mystery audiobook, Christmas murder mystery