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Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young #Review #CotswoldCuriosityShopMysteriesBook3 #PublicationDay

  I am delighted to feature this cozy crime novel, Death at the Village Christmas Fair  by Debbie Young . It is published today by Boldwood Books on August 16th.   It’s been a busy year for Alice Carroll, with her Curiosity Shop opening for business, and not one but two murders shaking things up in her quaint Cotswold village. She’s looking forward to her first countryside Christmas, complete with traditional Christmas Fair and Santa Run. But her hopes for innocent festive fun are thwarted when one of the Santa Runners steals something from her mum's knitting stall. His festive outfit makes him hard to spot, until he's found fatally injured outside the village hall with the stolen item. Despite what the police say, Alice suspects there's more to his murder than meets the eye. She's determined to solve the mystery - including why, once more, a stranger thought something from her Curiosity Shop was worth killing for. With the help of her charming neighbour Rob...

The Wagging Tails Dogs Home by Sarah Hope #Review #WaggingTailsDogsHomeBook1

 

Sarah Hope's The Wagging Tails Dogs' Home is the first in a new series of uplifting  stories. It was published by Boldwood Books on 31st May.  

Life could not be busier for Ginny and the team at Wagging Tails.

The annual dog show is looming, a crucial event when it comes to fundraising and ensuring the volunteers can continue the brilliant work they do.

But their trusted newspaper reporter, who always includes them in his weekly column, is retiring, only to be replaced with a city-slicker named Darryl. And Darryl, as Ginny soon learns, has no interest in articles he deems 'below him'.

Not one to take no as an answer, Ginny becomes determined to get him to meet the dogs themselves. One look at their cute faces and they'll worm their way into his heart.

But what Ginny doesn't anticipate is that Darryl might be more open-hearted than he seems. And inviting him to the dogs' home might be the best decision she ever made – even if she doesn't realise it at first!


 

My Thoughts

This is an entertaining and lighthearted read, full of adorable dogs and with a god variety of characters. Under the humour and the fun, however, there is a slightly darker message, highlighting how dogs have been abandoned and may be the victim of puppy farming. There are also some anguished owners who have to give up their pets for  different reasons. What shines out is the sincerity of the volunteers at the dogs' home, who go out of their way to make the dogs feel safer and more secure.

    Ginny has had a difficult time in the past and has moved away from London after a messy love affair. Jason, her ex-boyfriend, is arrogant and one to avoid. Ginny's determination  to make the dogs' lives better drives her on and takes her to the local newspaper where she meets Darryl. Trust is something Ginny finds almost impossible and she has to decide if she is able to take a leap into the dark and to start a new relationship. You will find yourself rooting for the dogs and also Ginny to get a happy ever after. There is a lot of potential in the setting with plenty of scope for future stories.

In short: Second chances all round.

    

 

About the Author

Sarah Hope has been dreaming up stories ever since she was a child. She remembers many a family stroll along the beach when she’d daydream about her next adventure story, and dreamt of one day becoming an author. Sarah writes romance novels with a Happy Ever After endings, and her latest series, Wagging Tails Dogs Home is due to be published by Boldwood in 2023. Sarah lives in Central England with her two children, her dog, Lacey and a bunny named Ruby.

You can follow Sarah here: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  

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 Book links  

Thanks to Sarah Hope, Boldwood and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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