Book Review: A Christmas Kiss (Life on the Moors #4) by Eliza J. Scott

A Christmas Kiss

Life on the Moors #4

by Eliza J. Scott

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

A sparkling festive romance that will warm your heart this Christmas.

The week before Christmas, GP Zander Gillespie finds his festive plans in tatters. He's supposed to be flying out to his parents' chateau in Carcassonne with his high-maintenance girlfriend, Melissa. But she has other ideas. She wants to spend Christmas in London with her party friends - and he's not invited. The prospect of facing his family, with their questions and their sympathy - not to mention the 'I told you so-s' - just isn't an option. Instead, Zander decides to head to his holiday cottage in the quaint moorland village of Lytell Stangdale, where he intends to hide away with his faithful rescue Labrador Alf.

Eighty miles away, Livvie's world has come crashing down. With plans to cook a romantic meal for her boyfriend, she heads home early and walks in on him in a compromising position with their neighbor. Fed-up of his lies and philandering ways, this is the final straw. With her Christmas plans up in smoke, the thought of spending it with her parents and her smug, married sister with her pompous husband in tow, is enough to bring Livvie out in hives. So, when she fires up her laptop and finds the perfect little holiday cottage in Lytell Stangdale available to rent over the festive period, it seems the perfect solution. Or is it...?

Zander didn't believe in love at first sight until he set eyes on Livvie. Livvie had sworn off men until she met Zander. The pair may be reluctant to give in to temptation, but fate seems to have other ideas...

Join Livvie and Zander - and all the usual characters - for a magical Christmas in Lytell Stangdale.

The perfect cozy read to snuggle up with this Christmas

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:


Zander struggled not to laugh at Mary who was dressed as Madonna complete with a pair of the largest conical breasts he’d ever seen… ‘They’re more like traffic cones.’ ‘Mind where you’re pointing them things, Mary, you’ll have someone’s eye out,’ Jimby said, chuckling. ‘Aye, they’re like a couple of nuclear weapons, Big M,’ said Camm.



‘And who’s this bonny lass here, then?’ Gerald asked, eyeing Livvie up and down. He reached into the pocket of his skin-tight leopard-print leggings and pulled out a pair of false teeth, popping them into his mouth with a rattle. Molly leaned in to Livvie. ‘And there was me thinking he was pleased to see me.’ Livvie did her best to suppress a giggle. ‘Ah, you can always tell when he spots a bonny lass; the teeth go straight in.’ Mary put her hands on her generous hips and rolled her eyes.



‘Granny Aggie.’ ‘Yep, it’s Granny bloody Aggie; up to her usual with the vicar.’ ‘Sounds ominous,’ said Zander. ‘You’ve no idea,’ said Jimby. ‘What’s she said now, Moll?’ Molly sighed. ‘You know how she’s been feeding that stray cat?’ ‘Yes.’ Rosie looked worried. ‘Oh, God, I think I know what’s coming next,’ said Violet. ‘Well, she’s only gone and sent Rev Nev a text telling him that she has a lovely pussy and asked him if he wants to go and stroke it. Told him it purrs if he does it gently.’… ‘Please tell me she’s done that in innocence.’ Molly snorted. ‘Like bugger she has; the wicked old bat knows exactly what she’s doing, pretends it’s innocent though.’

My Review:

This was a delightfully fun and deftly written book with a few absorbing and intriguing dashes of vile and villainous behaviors. The premise was entertaining, the storylines were humorous and impeccably well-crafted, and the nimble writing was easy to fall into yet cunningly perceptive, cleverly witty, and comically detailed. I wore a near-constant and gleeful smirk while reading and barked out a few chuckles and giggle-snorts as well. Eliza J. Scott has discovered the recipe for the secret sauce and has generously applied her savvy word magic throughout this divinely entertaining and effortless read.

Two city dwellers find themselves thrown together in a quaint and quirky little village inhabited by the most supremely odd yet uniquely appealing, thoughtful, humorous, and pleasantly beguiling residents. The extremely likable two main characters were strangers yet they were immediately comfortable with each other. They were both unexpectedly taking a last-minute separate holiday away from their own unpleasant and dissatisfactory relationships, which had reached their expiration date. A computer glitch and inclement weather found them sharing a holiday cottage as well as snow and ice adventures, village holiday fun, dispiriting and cringe-worthy ex moments, a precious rescued Labrador, an instant kinship and rapidly blossoming yet tacit attraction, and a hilarious 80’s theme party with an elderly woman dressed as the conically corseted Madonna. I may now be Ms. Scott’s most fervent and rabid fan for that diabolically clever scene alone.

I found treasure with several exciting new additions for my Brit Word List with aud mucker – old friend; nithered – very cold; and skew-whiff – crocked or twisted to one side.

About The Author


Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favorite things: tea and cake.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heart-warming stories with happy endings.

Social Media Links 

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1
Instagram: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscott
Facebook: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscottauthor
Blog: www.elizajscott.com
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ElizaJScott
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott
Amazon Author Page: UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH
US: www.amazon.com/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

Spotlight: The Secret - Violet's Story by Eliza J. Scott

The Secret – Violet’s Story

Pre-order Links 

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RNLR4M5 

US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RNLR4M5

Publication Date: 8th July

It’s been two years since glamorous and ambitious Violet Smith fell head-over-heels in love with blacksmith Jimby Fairfax, and moved back home to the North Yorkshire village of Lytell Stangdale to be with him.


Life couldn’t get much sweeter. Their romance is blooming and Romantique - the business she set up with Jimby’s sister Kitty, designing luxurious underwear and burlesque costumes with the odd wedding dress throw in - is thriving.


But on a romantic weekend break, a face from her past triggers a series of events which send Violet into turmoil. She finds herself with no alternative but to reveal a secret she’s buried deep for the past sixteen years. A secret she hasn’t shared with anyone, not even her best friends, Kitty and Molly, and they share everything.


With the revelation forcing a wedge between herself and Jimby, heartbroken Violet fears that he won’t ever be able to think of her in the same way again and won’t want anything more to do with her.


As ever, Kitty and Molly rally round, offering their advice and support but Vi is worried that keeping her secret was just a step too far for Jimby.


Will she succeed in showing him their love is strong enough to overcome it?


The Secret – Violet’s Story is book 3 in the Life on the Moors Series.


Author Bio 

Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favourite things: tea and cake.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming stories with happy endings.

Social Media Links 

Blog: Eliza J Scott - elizajscott.com

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscott

Facebook: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscottauthor

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ElizaJScott

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

Book Review, Giveaway: The Talisman - Molly's Story (Life on the Moors Series #2) by Eliza J. Scott

The Talisman - Molly's Story

(Life on the Moors Series #2)

by Eliza J. Scott

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

Molly’s dream of taking over her childhood home at Withrin Hill Farm with husband Pip and their three children has finally come true. And, as they settle into the stunning Georgian farmhouse, with their plans to diversify into glamping nicely taking shape, the family couldn’t be happier.

But tragedy suddenly strikes, and Molly’s world is turned upside down.

Heartbroken and devastated, she struggles to face each day. True to form, her fiercely loyal best friends, Kitty and Violet, rally round offering love and support, but Molly doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to smile again. Until the day a tall, dark stranger with twinkly eyes arrives…

Follow Molly’s story in book 2 of the Life on the Moors Series set in Lytell Stangdale, a picture-perfect village in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors, where life is anything but quiet.

A heart-warming story of love, friendship and hope.


My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

When I get mad, I get absolutely, totally fearless. You should ask my brother, he’s seen me like that loads of times, the annoying toad that he is. Calls me a hellcat.

My Review:

The Talisman is the second book in the series and just as entertaining and skillfully written as the first. Although, while still often humorous and comical, it was a considerably more angsty read than The Letter, due to the untimely death of a beloved character and the subsequent grieving that followed.  I adored all the unique and oddly endearing characters and was sorry to see the demise of the easy-going Pip, yet my heart continues to belong to the captivating Master of Mischief known as Jimby.  Despite the tragedy of Pip, I frequently found myself smirking at their sassy quips and occasionally laughed aloud at their antics while reading. 

Eliza J. Scott is a talented wordsmith and gifted storyteller who deftly laced lush details and cleverly amusing descriptions onto every page.  Her characters were intriguingly quirky, oddly endearing, and individuals I would enjoy spending time with.  Their teasing and exchanges of lively banter were loaded with sharp wit, irreverent humor, and wry innuendo.  Lytell Stangdale appears to be a village generally populated by the eccentric, as most small towns actually are, yet this little village seems to have several extra special sets of the peculiar with an elderly pink haired gentleman who purchased a second-hand set of dentures from eBay and BTW, his carpets matched his drapes.  Also of note was a wrinkly miniskirt wearing cougar with the nickname of Maneater; Lycra Len, who only wore bicycle clothing; the extremely fragrant Freida whose pungent aroma typically announced her arrival before she spoke as, she didn’t waste her time or fortune on soap or any form of hygiene; the fun-loving Jimby and his busy terrorist rooster; Violet the burlesque loving 50’s fashionista; and an obscene texting grandmother who blamed the predictive text setting on her phone for her suggestive messages, which often involved the vicar.  I adored them all and will be eagerly awaiting a return to the village for Violet’s story.  Please hurry, Ms. Scott, I’m renewing my passport just in case. 

I truly scored with bonus Brit vocabulary words which included: croggy – to ride on a bicycle as a passenger; gormless – dull-witted or lacking intelligence; ratbag – an unpleasant or despicable person; ploughman's lunch - according to Wikipedia this is an “English cold meal” with bread, cheese, onions, butter, and some form of pickle with the possible additions of ham, green salad, hard boiled eggs, and apple; grandad shirt – a button up that doesn’t need to be tucked in; diddlin’ – doing (which would have a sexual connotation in the US but not the UK); now then – hello.  However, my most faithful resource, Mr. Google, was unable to assist me with the quaint terminology of knack-naked or skuttle-gob.

Empress DJ

 About the Author:


Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favorite things: tea and cake.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heart-warming stories with happy endings.

Social Media Links 

Blog: Eliza J Scott - elizajscott.com

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscott

Facebook: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscottauthor

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ElizaJScott

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

Giveaway 

Win The Letter – Kitty’s Story, chocolate and a clutch bag (Open Internationally)

The prize is worth over £40 and consists of a paperback copy of the first book in the Life on the Moors Series, The Letter – Kitty’s Story, 3 bars of Love Cocoa chocolate by James and a Caroline Gardner clutch bag.

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for the dispatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Letter - Kitty's Story (Life on the Moors #1) by Eliza J. Scott

The Letter - Kitty's Story

 (Life on the Moors #1) 

by Eliza J. Scott

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

Thirty-four-year-old Kitty Bennett is trapped in a loveless marriage to criminal barrister, Dan, who’s gradually isolated her from her family and friends. Until the day she (literally) bumps into her first love, the handsome and easy-going Ollie Cartwright – someone she’s done her best to avoid for as long as she can remember. Looking into Ollie’s eyes awakens feelings for him she thought she’d buried deep years ago, and he clearly feels the spark, too. As she walks away, Kitty can’t help but wonder what might have been…

Dan senses that his marriage is on shaky ground and knows he needs to win his wife round. He turns on the charm, skilfully using their two children, Lucas and Lily, as bargaining tools. But Kitty’s older brother, Jimby, and her childhood best-friends, Molly and Violet, have decided enough is enough. For years they’ve had to watch from afar as Kitty’s been browbeaten into an unrecognizable version of herself. They vow to make her see Dan for what he really is, but their attempts are no match for his finely-honed courtroom skills and, against her better judgment, Kitty agrees to give her husband one last chance. But, all-too-soon, a series of heart-breaking events and a shocking secret throw her life into turmoil…

Will she stand by Dan, or will Kitty be brave enough to take the leap and follow her heart to Ollie?

Life is anything but peaceful in the chocolate-box pretty village of Lytell Stangdale, where life unravels, and hearts are broken. Full of heart-warming moments, this book with have you crying tears of joy, laughter, and sadness.

My Rating: 

Favorite Quotes:

Trust me, if she was the last woman on earth, that’s all she’d be; I wouldn’t go anywhere near her. The human race would die out.

‘Don’t look at me as if I did it, you farty old bugger. It was your arse that shook the foundations, not mine, so take ownership, Humphrey Fairfax-Bennett.’ Humph’s ears twitched as he held James’s gaze. ‘What the hell have you been feeding him on, Kitty?’

She’s got the potential to eat you for breakfast, suck the meat of your very bones and spit them out by lunchtime.

I think it’s time we turned off the predictive text on Granny Aggie’s phone. It’s causing all sorts of rumours to fly around the village.’ Despite himself, Pip couldn’t help but laugh. Only last week his grandmother had sent a text to her equally antiquarian friend, Nellie, informing her that she’d seen her son, Mike, and Rev Nev in the village shop comparing penises. The communication had caused considerable outrage, followed by a flurry of hastily gathered explanations. The truth was harmless in contrast: she’d seen the pair in the village shop buying pens. There hadn’t been a penis in sight.

‘You’re thinking sex kitten, aren’t you?’ He placed a finger on his mouth and pouted. ‘More like a ropey old hooker with a bad case of trout-pout.’ Vi smirked.

And I’ve just had to have a word with Granny Aggie about a text she’d sent the vicar asking if he liked S and M cos she’d like to whip him. Poor man was terrified. Anyway, turns out she was telling him she’d bought some whipped cream from M and S for the scones she was making for the church coffee morning.’

Mind you, he hardly comes to bed dressed for a night of passion. The other night he excelled himself when he rocked up in a skin-tight tiger-print onesie the twins had bought for him for his birthday —as a joke I hasten to add, but Pip insists on wearing it. And you might imagine he couldn’t look any more ridiculous, but you’d be wrong. What he hadn’t realised was that there was a massive hole in the crotch area and his family jewels, in all their glory, were hanging loose and free. And I can promise you this, gravity has been no friend to Pip in that department.

My Review:

Although it started off with tense and stressful tones, this cleverly written this book was an unexpected delight.  I never would have guessed from the first few tense chapters what a fun and witty tale it was actually going to be, as the character of Dan was thoroughly vile, on edge, and constantly belittling his family.  He was also an arrogant and manipulative peacock who couldn’t keep his favorite toy in his pants. I instantly despised him although I initially didn’t hold much respect for the spineless and overly accommodating Kitty for allowing the heinous philanderer to verbally and emotionally abuse her and their children.  Thankfully, the book soon evened out with juicy tidbits, insightful observations, and wry humor and I became more relaxed as Kitty began to gain awareness and locate her vertebrae.

The overall emotional tone tipped to the scales more heavily toward the comical than the tragic, with humorous anecdotes, cunning observations, and clever levity ruling the day. The engaging storylines were astoundingly well-constructed, shrewdly-paced, absorbing and highly eventful while jam-packed with a village full of colorful characters, hilarious antics, and riveting interactions. I was fully engaged throughout and enjoyed all the secondary characters, although I was more than a bit besotted with Kitty’s brother James.  

Empress DJ

 
About the Author:

Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favorite things: tea and cake.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heart-warming stories with happy endings.

Social Media Links 

Blog: Eliza J Scott - elizajscott.com

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscott

Facebook: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscottauthor

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ElizaJScott

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott