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See the Stars by Eleanor Ray #Review

  See the Stars by Eleanor Ray will be  published on February 5th 2026 by Piatkus .  Do you ever feel that life isn't going to plan?   When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.  Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?  Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel...

Christmas in Chamonix by Sasha Wagstaff #Review

We are deep into festive reading country now and here's another winner: Christmas in Chamonix by Sasha Wagstaff. 


When life goes downhill... head to the snow-capped Alps for roaring fires, apres-ski and festive romance.

Lily Jackson loves Christmas. She also loves her childhood friend Jamie, but when her plan to kick-start their romance goes drastically wrong and her job gets her down, Lily decides it’s time to make changes. A job opens up in snowy Chamonix and egged on by her best friend Imogen, Lily decides to go for it.

As Lily settles in with the eccentric Devereux family at their gorgeous boutique ski hotel, she starts to confront her past. But when she meets handsome ski instructor Luc, who hates Christmas, Lily might have taken on more than she can handle.

Can Lily make a new life – with or without skis? And can she get Luc to see how truly romantic Christmas can be?

A heart-warming, feel-good romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Carole Matthews and Tilly Tennant.


                                                                                     My Thoughts
 

This is a festive romance with a stunning setting. The snow sparkles, the candles are lit and the fondue is heating up. Lily is a relatable and likeable central character but she is backed up with a cast of characters who all add to the story. With the emphasis on family, friendship, love, growing up and starting over, there are some poignant secrets in the background. Just the heartwarming read you need as Christmas approaches.

    I also like the fact that though there are many characters in the story who are relatable and entertaining, there is at least one who at first sight, appears to be prickly and unsympathetic. However, as the story unfolds, you realise that there are reasons for this and that there is a history to the lives that are being lived. The star of the show of course is Chamonix and I loved the descriptions of the daily life and the skiingup on the slopes. 

In short: Delightful setting and warm, lovely characters wrapped in a festive haze. 

                                                                              About the Author



Sasha Wagstaff learned foreign languages, and imagined she might eventually get a glamorous job speaking French. After climbing her way up the banking ladder, Sasha started idly mapping out the beginnings of a novel on an old laptop. When she realised her characters were more real to her than dividends and corporate actions ever could be, she left her job to become a writer. She also writes under the pseudonym of Ella Harper.

You can follow Sasha here: Twitter Canelo   |  Twitter   |  Facebook

Book links: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Sasha Wagstaff, Canelo and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Catch up with the rest of the tour!  

  

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