Author: bookafterbook

Publication: 28th November 2025 (eBook); 4th December 2025 (paperback)

1812 London

Up-and-coming novelist Jane Austen joins forces with London’s most esteemed investigative duo – the infamous Dora Fitz-Pennington and disgraced son of a Viscount, Jacob Sandys – to solve the brutal murder of a French count and his opera singer wife. The killer took his own life immediately after the crime – but who sent him and why?

As they find themselves swept up in London’s shadowy underworld, can Dora and Jacob uncover the truth without jeopardising national security, and with the promises they made to each other still intact? And will their unique love story end up in the pages of one of Austen’s novels?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

In the year we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, there are more book adaptations of her novels than ever and I can’t get enough. However, the reason I picked up The Austen Intrigue by Julia Golding is not because it features my favourite author in the role of an amateur detective, but because, having read the author’s previous novel, The Wordsworth Key, I couldn’t wait to see what new adventures were waiting for Dora and Jacob.

The Austen Intrigue is the fourth book in the fantastic Regency Secrets series featuring former actress Dora Fitz-Pennington and Dr. Jacob Sandys. Partners both in life and work, Dora and Jacob have many challenges to face in this new gripping novel.

On the personal side, Jacob’s aristocratic family is still trying to interfere in his relationship with Dora, but he is determined to marry her, despite even her reluctance. On the professional side, their investigative agency is thrown into the investigation of a double murder which could have diplomatic and international repercussions. Dora and Jacob are hired by Henry Austen and his bank to investigate the murder of a French comte and his wife. They know who the killer is, but they want to know the reason behind the murders and to help them find it, Henry’s favourite sister, Jane, joins them in the investigation.

The Austen Intrigue features engaging characters, witty dialogue, a suspenseful mystery, and political espionage and I loved how the author blended historical facts in the story (the Napoleonic wars are an important part of the plot) as well as themes of class differences and the role of women. I read this novel in two days and I can’t wait for the next one!

A huge thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Julia Golding is a multi-award winning writer for children and young adults. She also writes under the pen names of Joss Stirling and Eve Edwards. Well over half a million of her books have been sold worldwide in more than twenty different languages.

Publication: 25th November 2025 – Kensington Books

This latest Regency-era mystery from USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly finds Jane Austen’s clever Emma Knightley (nee Woodhouse) as an amateur sleuth, navigating shocking changes in her family—while meeting her match in a deadly adversary . . .

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

AMAZON

I was delighted to return to this wonderful series that sees Emma Knightley turning into an amateur detective to solve mysterious murders. I do love Jane Austen, I do love cozy mysteries, and the author manages to create intriguing and engaging plots that keep me so engrossed that I usually read these novels in one sitting.

In Murder in Donwell Abbey, the second book in the series, Mr. Woodhouse manages to shock his entire family when he announces his engagement to the family’s long-time friend, Miss Bates. And even more shocking, he wants to throw an engagement party at Donwell Abbey. However, the party ends in tragedy when a young maid, well-loved by everyone, is found dead. While the local constable is convinced that it’s a suicide, Emma is sure that the young woman was murdered and finds an unexpected ally in Miss Bates.

Murder in Donwell Abbey is another witty, charming, and entertaining novel and I enjoyed it even more than the first book in the series, Murder in Highbury. We see Emma both struggling with the fact that she will no longer be the mistress of Hartfield and excited that she and Mr. Knightley can now move to Donwell Abbey permanently. And while the peace of Highbury is disrupted by the presence of smugglers and Emma is busy helping Miss Bates organizing the wedding, she is determined to find out the truth about what really happened to her maid.

Murder in Donwell features the right dose of mystery and humor with a pinch of romance (between Emma and Mr. Knightley which I found adorable). The story is well-written and well-developed and the characters are familiar and intriguing. I can’t wait for the next novel!

A huge thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Vanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several in the Ph.D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband. Visit her at VanessaKellyAuthor.com.

Publication: 6th November 2025 – HarperCollins UK

Is a new beginning waiting for her this Christmas?

When Imogen leaves her fiancé at the altar and escapes to her grandmother’s cottage by the sea, the only thing she wants to do is disappear.

But in a village curious about their new arrival, Imogen finds hiding out harder than expected, especially with the charming local baker Dexter around to distract her.

As secrets unravel and the festive season draws near, Imogen wonders if she’s been running from the wrong things all along.

Will the runaway bride find her happy ever after under the mistletoe?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

I do love a good Christmas romance and Cressida McLaughlin knows how to write a wonderful one (I am a huge fan!). The Secret Mistletoe Promise brings us back to Mistingham, the seaside village on the Norfolk coast where the author’s previous Christmas novel, The Secret Christmas Bookshop, was also set and I was delighted to see characters whose stories kept me already entertained and see what they were up to.

The Secret Mistletoe Promise features a runaway bride, a lovely and charming hero and his adorable daughter, a goat on the loose that keeps everyone on their toes, a Christmas show, new friends and strong community connections, new beginnings and promises made under the mistletoe. The runaway bride is Imogen who, after realising that she can’t go ahead with her wedding ceremony right when she is about to walk down the aisle, she leaves everything and everyone behind and boards a train to the only person who never judged or tried to change her: her grandmother Birdie. Arriving in the beautiful Mistingham wearing a wedding dress and with a suitcase full of clothes suitable for a honeymoon in Mauritius, the first person she meets is 10-year-old Lucy and her dog, Artichoke, quickly followed by Lucy’s handsome father, Dexter, the local baker. As Imogen tries to figure out what she wants to do with her life, whether to return to her unhappy life in London or start to finally put herself first, she will also have to face her growing feelings not only for Dexter, but also for the community who has welcomed her in the village.

The Secret Mistletoe Promise is a fantastic heartwarming, festive, and romantic Christmas read. I love Cressida McLaughlin’s writing style and she always creates likable and engaging characters and beautiful stories that keep me immersed from start to finish.

A huge thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.

Cressida McLaughlin is a bestselling author of contemporary romance who has sold over a million copies of her books. Her feel-good, escapist fiction, featuring unforgettable characters who find their happy place, has established her as a firm favourite among readers and fellow authors alike.

Cressida lives in Norwich with her husband David and when not writing her bestsellers, spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.

Publication: 13th November 2025 – MichaelJoseph

The festive season is fast approaching.

Jane Austen fears that without her siblings at home, there won’t be much Christmas cheer in the Austen household this year.

But when she uncovers a skeleton in the cellar of Deane Rectory, Jane soon forgets her woes. Who needs merriment, when there’s a mystery to solve?

Her investigation leads her to the legend of a young bride who’s long been thought to haunt the woods nearby. After fleeing her wedding breakfast, the bride was never seen again.

Has Jane found her at last? Or is there more to this mystery than meets the eye?

Tis the season for Jane to embark upon festive delights, making merry, and solving murders…

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Jessica Bull splendidly put together two of my favourite things: Jane Austen and Christmas. The Austen Christmas Murders is a fantastic addition to a wonderful series, but it’s shorter than the first two books, more of a novella, the perfect Christmas read to enjoy in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate in your hands.

Contrary to all expectations, it’s going to be a chaotic Christmas in the Austen family. A decaying body is found in the cellar of Deane Rectory, the home of Jane’s brother James and his wife Mary, who just gave birth to a baby, leading them to relocate to the Steventon family home. And while the house is crowded with unexpected guests and Jane’s mother is in a perpetual contest with Mary, Jane is obsessed with the gruesome discovery. Her imagination runs wild and her relentless curiosity incurs even the anger of her father, but Jane is determined to find out the truth.

I enjoyed the mystery as much as the entertaining family scenes around the house and I loved the letters from Jane’s brothers which added hilarity to the story. The characters are well-developed and well-portrayed and the mystery is intense and full of twists that come perfectly together at the end. Witty, intriguing, and engaging, The Austen Christmas Murders can easily be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend the entire Miss Austen Investigates series, not only to Jane Austen fans, but also to those who love a well-written and immersive mystery.

A huge thank you to MichaelJoseph and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Jessica Bull grew up in South East London, where she still lives with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began work as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, has sold in eighteen territories and counting. A Fortune Most Fatal is the highly-anticipated second book in the series.

Publication: 21st October 2025 (paperback); 10th November 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

The snow falls, carollers sing, and a killer plots his next move…

London, 1928. Marius Quin and Lady Bella Montague are ready for a quiet Christmas when they learn that Bella’s beloved Aunt Adele has met a shocking end in her picture-perfect cottage. Immediately heading for Holly Village, the enclave of retired aristocrats and eccentric pensioners where Adele lived, they discover that her death was far from natural.

The dead woman’s priceless Manet painting has vanished, and a cryptic note she left hints at scandalous goings-on among her neighbours. When another resident is murdered during the village Christmas party, it’s clear that a devious killer is preying on the sleepy community. Marius and Bella must navigate a web of village intrigue, false identities, and long-buried scandals to stop this from being a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons…

AMAZON

It’s Christmas time in the sixth book in the Marius Quin Mystery series. After the events of the previous books, crime author and sleuth Marius Quin and his first love/partner in detection/best friend (who he is still in love with) Lady Bella Montague are celebrating Christmas at Bella’s family house where he has a weird meeting with her honorary aunt Adele which takes a more sinister turn when they find out that she had died shortly after returning home from the party. Still uneasy about his encounter with Adele and not at all convinced that her death was natural, Marius and Bella decide to investigate, by visiting her home at Holly Village in Highgate. Described as “the very definition of picturesque”, Holly Village is a closed and exclusive community, a “village within a town within a city”, but its inhabitants are hiding something and Marius and Bella are determined to find out what. 

The Holly Village Murders takes a break from the mysteries still unsolved from the previous books for a brand new mystery, so it can easily be read as a stand-alone, a Christmas cozy mystery. Marius and Bella are a resolute and remarkable duo of detectives. While the police don’t believe that Adele’s murder is suspicious, they are convinced that something strange is going on in the idyllic Holly Village, with its quirky pensioners, their secrets and their false identities.

The Holly Village Murders is yet another witty, engaging, and immersive mystery from Benedict Brown, an intriguing mystery that kept me glued to the pages and made me look forward to the next Marius and Bella’s sleuthing adventure!

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this intriguing mystery

I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain, with my French-Spanish wife and our two young children.

Writing has always been my passion. It was my favourite half-an-hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing.

I grew up in a crime-fiction-mad family and had made a few clumsy attempts at writing one over the years before coming up with the idea for my contemporary whodunits “The Izzy Palmer Mysteries”. My second series, the 1920s-set “Lord Edgington Investigates…”, has been a great success, with each of the books becoming a bestseller. I have a new series called “The Marius Quin Mysteries” coming in November 2023.

If you’d like to tell me what you think about my detectives, my writing or the world at large, I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to get in touch at www.benedictbrown.net where you can also download my free mystery novellas and join my readers’ club.

Publication: 9th October 2025 (paperback); 6th November 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

Dawn Cross sits motionless in her recliner, her eyes staring sightlessly at the television screen. Death is no stranger to Silver Fern House… but when Detective Lauren Pengelly arrives at the scene, it’s clear she’s got a cold-blooded murder on her hands.

What should have been a routine investigation at a care home for former entertainers quickly becomes Lauren’s most complex case yet. When a second resident is found dead and then a third is targeted, Detective Lauren Pengelly knows she’s hunting a killer with a twisted agenda. Each death is different, but there’s a pattern emerging that chills her to the bone.

As Lauren and DS Matt Price dig deeper into the famous residents’ pasts, they uncover secrets that some would kill to keep buried. In a building full of people who’ve spent their lives playing roles, everyone is a suspect and anyone could be the killer’s next victim…

Get ready to be totally hooked! From the bestselling author of the Cavendish & Walker series, you won’t be able to put this murder mystery down. Fans of LJ Ross, Rachel McLean and J M Dalgliesh will love it.

AMAZON

The Marazion Murders is the sixth book in the Cornwall Mystery series and, not having read the first five books, I can tell you that it can be easily read as a standalone. Along the way, we get a bit of back story about the main characters and the story is easy to follow.

The protagonists of the series are Detective Lauren Pengelly and DS Matt Price who, in this sixth book, investigate a series of murders in a care home. After the death of his wife a few years back, Matt is raising his younger daughter with the help of his parents, although he is looking forward to moving into his own home, even if it’s just down the road. From what I gathered, Matt arrived at Penzance just a few years back and had a bit of a slow start with Detective Pengelly as his second in command, but they are now close friends. I found Detective Lauren Pengelly a smart and determined woman and we get a good look into her private life that I found as interesting as the murder mystery.

Laurel and Matt are investigating the death of an elderly woman in Silver Fern House, an exclusive care home for entertainers. What was initially thought to be a natural death quickly became a murder and it’s not going to be the only one, but it’s not easy to find the killer when each murder is different and you don’t know who the next victim could be. Every resident is both a suspect and a potential victim as Laurel and her team try to figure out what is going on…

I really enjoyed The Marazion Murders: a riveting and twisty mystery, intriguing and engaging characters, and the beautiful Cornish setting… I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series!

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, UK. After leaving university she worked in magazines and radio before finally embarking on a career lecturing in both further and higher education. Sally has always had the travel bug and after living in Manchester and London moved overseas with her family to New Zealand, which she considers to be one of the most beautiful place in the world. Sally now lives in Winchester, UK. Sally is the author of the acclaimed Cavendish and Walker series, the Detective Sebastian Clifford series, and the Cornwall Murder Mystery series. In collaboration with another author, Amanda Ashby, she also writes psychological thrillers. Sally has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers. Check out her website for a FREE prequel story.

Publication: 26th October 2025 – Boldwood Books

Hannah Merrill is about to marry the love of her life…

The couple are determined their low-key celebration will go without a hitch, but there can’t be an ‘I do’ while the vicar is missing. And when he’s found dead – a victim of a poisoning – in the crypt behind the church, Hannah knows only she and Aunt Violet can find out who did it.

Hannah’s beloved thinks she shouldn’t interfere. But if he fails to remember that an independent woman in 1916 doesn’t do what she’s told to by a man, the dead vicar may be the least of his worries…

Then the vicar’s own fiancé appears on the scene, even though nobody knew he was engaged. And suddenly it becomes clear someone has a secret, one shocking enough to kill for.

Will the intrepid pair of amateur sleuths catch the murderer before they kill again? Or will it be til death parts them all?

https://mybook.to/MurderattheWedding

Happy Halloween! Today, I am excited to take part in the blog tour for a fantastic new cozy mystery, Murder at the Wedding by Anita Davison.

I do love cozy historical mystery novels, and the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries is one of my favourite and in this fifth book it’s time for a wedding.

It’s wedding day for Hannah Merrill and her fiancé Darius Clifford. After waiting for the war to end and for Darius’s job in the government to give them time to get married, their day has finally arrived. The day is not off to a good start when they can’t find the vicar, but, fortunately, they find a substitute. And when Hannah and Darius find some time alone for themselves, they discover why the vicar was missing. His body is found inside the tomb of Hannah’s best friend leaving Hannah to wonder who would want him dead and why. With Darius already back at his job at the War Office and Hannah finding it strange to adapt to her role as a wife and mistress of the house, she and her aunt Violet embark in yet another investigation, determined to find out the truth. 

I do love this series. Set in England in 1918, with WWI in the backdrop, it features strong and independent female characters, intriguing mysteries, and also lots of humor. I love the author’s attention to historical details which perfectly blends with the mystery to solve. Hannah and Violet are two wonderful and authentic characters, always determined to discover the truth, and I loved getting an insight into Aunt Violet’s quite eventful past. Well-written, engaging, and compelling, Murder at the Wedding is the perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries and, even though it is the fifth book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone!

A huge thank you to Rachel and Boldwood Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

Anita Davison is the author of the successful Flora Maguire historical mystery series.

Twitter: @AnitaSDavison

Instagram: @anitadavison3740

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AnitaDavisonNews

Bookbub profile: @AnitaDavison

Publication: 30th October 2025 – Viking

Cornwall, 1910. On a remote tidal island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absorbed in feverish preparations for the apocalypse that he believes will accompany the passing of Halley’s Comet. The Hall must be sealed from top to bottom – every window, chimney and keyhole closed off before night falls. But what the pompous, dishonest Viscount has failed to take into account is the danger that lies within… By morning, he will be dead in his sealed study, murdered by his own ancestral crossbow.

All eyes turn to Stephen Pike, Tithe Hall’s newest under-butler. Fresh out of Borstal for a crime he didn’t commit, he is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? Miss Decima Stockingham, the foul-mouthed, sharp as a tack, 80-year-old family matriarch. Fearless and unconventional, she relishes chaos and puzzles alike, and a murder is just the thrill she’s been waiting for.

Together, this mismatched duo must navigate secret passages, buried grudges and rising terror to unmask the killer before it’s too late…

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

I can’t recommend this book enough! The Murder at World’s End is such a fun and intriguing story, I read it one sitting, completely entertained by the characters and immersed in the story.

The Murder at World’s End is set in a remote island off the coast of Cornwall in April 1910, when the comet Halley passed over the earth and was visible to the naked eye. After a difficult upbringing, the protagonist, Stephen Pike, thinks to have finally found his luck in landing a job as an under-butler at Tithe Hall, the home of the eccentric Viscount, Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt, who is convinced that the passing of the comet will bring the end of the world and that by sealing themselves into the house, they will be able to survive and start a new world. Stephen’s job, during the night, is to keep an eye on Miss Decima Stockingham, the offensive and difficult lady relegated to a distant room of the house, who no one wants to deal with, but Stephen seems to get along with. In the morning, the world is still there, but as everyone unseals their own rooms, they find Lord Conrad murdered in his study, the room locked from the inside. As the members of the family start thinking about the inheritance and an inept detective of Scotland Yard is determined to accuse Stephen of the murder, because of his past in prison, Stephen and Miss Decima team up to investigate on their own.

I really enjoyed this novel. There is a gripping locked-room murder mystery, lots of humor and twists, and original and quirky characters. I really liked the character of Stephen, a young man raised in East London who ended up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and now he is trying to start afresh. Miss Decima Stockingham is a fascinating character: astute and feisty, she loves to enter a room, create chaos among her family, and then leave. The Murder at World’s End was such an excellent and addictive read and I was delighted to learn that it’s the first in a series. I can’t wait for more of Stephen and Miss Decima’s adventures!

A huge thank you to Viking and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this brilliant novel.

Ross Montgomery is the author of award-winning books for children. His novels have been twice shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book of the Year and twice selected for the Waterstones’ Children’s Book of the Month, as well as chosen for the Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Modern Children’s Classics’. His latest, I Am Rebel, was an immediate bestseller, chosen by Waterstones as their Children’s Book of the Year 2024.

He lives in London with his wife, a baby, and a cat named Fun Bobby. The Murder at World’s End is his first adult novel.

Publication: 6th November 2025 – One More Chapter

It’s Christmas in Penstowan, and local amateur dramatics group the Penstowan Players are putting on their annual pantomime.

This year it’s ‘Aladdin’, and half the town have been drafted in to help, including Shirley Parker, who only has a small part in the chorus but will no doubt upstage everybody, and Tony Penhaligon, who’s treading the boards as the baddie, Abanazar. Ex-Metropolitan police officer turned caterer Jodie Parker has managed to get away with not appearing, but only if she agrees to cater the opening night party.

But it’s not just terrible jokes, quick costume changes and backstage chaos that wait in the wings… When the Widow Twankey (otherwise known as Tim, the mayor’s husband) trips over a corpse lying next to Aladdin’s bloodstained magic lamp, it’s time for Jodie and her partner, DCI Nathan Withers, to find the killer.

Was it the genie of the lamp or an overly harsh theatre critic? Or does someone in the Penstowan Players have a dark secret they will do anything to protect?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

The Nosey Parker series is one of my favourite cozy mystery series so I was really excited for a Christmas mystery and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s the first Christmas for Jodie and DCI Nathan Withers as a married couple and almost the entire family is involved in the community pantomime, also known as Panto: her feisty mother Shirley is in the play, her daughter Daisy helped writing the play, and Jodie is catering the event. The opening night is a success and everyone is having fun until a body turns up. DCI Withers is in charge of the investigation, but, of course, Jodie, a former Met detective turned caterer, can’t keep her nose out of it.

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder was my first Christmas novel of the year and I read it in one evening, not able to go to bed until I finished the last page. There is a murder with a list of suspects all in possession of an alibi and no motive; there are red herrings and old secrets that keep you glued to the pages; and a Christmas to prepare when Jodie is not busy investigating the murder. I love the characters and the relationships in this series because they feel authentic and there are talks of culture, sex and contraception, and menopause. There are mystery and tension, but also a lot of humor, especially between Jodie and her mother, that lightens the mood as the murder investigation progresses, and a Christmas atmosphere to get you in the mood.

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder is yet another engaging cozy mystery in this fantastic series and I can’t wait for more.

A huge thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Fiona Leitch is a novelist and screenwriter with a chequered past. She’s written for footballing and motoring magazines, childbirth videos and mail order catalogues; DJ’ed at illegal raves in London, been told off by a children’s TV presenter during a studio debate; and was the Australasian face of a series of TV commercials for a cleaning product. All of which has given her a thorough grounding in the ridiculous, and helped her to write funny stuff.

Publication: 23rd October 2025 – Aria

A slow-burn romance fifteen years in the making…

Hattie has spent half her life secretly crushing on Freddie – her best friend Sam’s irresistibly gorgeous older brother. But Freddie? He’s barely spared a glance for Hattie, the girl Sam befriended one fateful New Years’ Eve when they discovered they were birthday twins.

Fast-forward to now: Hattie finds herself single for the first time in years – just before the holidays. Enter Sam, who, in classic best-friend fashion, whisks her away to a remote cabin in the Forest of Dean to cheer her up. Snowy woodland views? Check. A crackling fire and a steamy hot tub? Check. Zero cell service, ravenous wild boars, and an incoming snowstorm of apocalyptic proportions? Also check.

And to make matters even more intense, Freddie joins them, unexpectedly. Still infuriatingly gorgeous, and still ridiculously off-limits. Except this time, he’s actually noticing Hattie. But then again, maybe he’s been noticing her all along.

Fifteen years of longing. One night to change everything. This New Year’s Eve, they’re playing with fire.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Back in April, I loved the author’s debut novel, Work Trip, but after reading House Party, Chloe Ford has become one of my favourite authors. I was completely addicted to this novel: the slow-burn romance and the chemistry, the snowed-in remote cabin, the close friendships, and the wonderful cast of characters.

The protagonist, Hattie, is funny and smart and I found her relatable and authentic. Single for the first time after a relationship of nine years, she wants to focus her last year in her twenties on herself and do all the things she couldn’t do before. First on the list is to organize a New Year’s Party to celebrate also her birthday and that of her best friend Sam, born one day apart. I loved the easy friendship between Hattie and Sam. They met on New Year’s Eve when they were fourteen years old and Hattie promised to hate his brother Freddie as much as he did and they have been friends ever since, going to the same school and university and even living together. However, as we see through flashbacks, it wasn’t that simple for Hattie to hate the handsome and arrogant Freddie. And now, Freddie has joined them on their New Year’s house party, determined to repair his relationship with his brother and, between confessions in hot tubs, sudden blackouts that leaves them alone in the dark, squeezing in a closet during a game of hide-and-seek, and snow-ball fights, they will face not only their feelings for each other, but also their past.

I couldn’t put down this well-written, witty, swoony, and immersive novel and I can’t wait for the author’s next novel!!!

A huge thank you to Aria and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

Chloe Ford grew up in rural Sussex but is now based in South Gloucestershire. She has an affinity with all things country, from riding horses to muddy walks. Her love for writing began at secondary school when her English teacher would set a writing task for the whole hour. An avid reader, she started sneaking Mills & Boon books out from under her mum’s bed as a teenager and hasn’t stopped devouring romance books ever since.