2015 book awards: best series or serial

I love a great series... there's something comforting about returning back to a favourite set of characters and locations. It feels familiar and homely, especially when the book is based around characters you've really warmed to. A recent trend is 'serialising' stories, which is where one book is split into parts and released as numerous short stories, before being collated into one full story. You can see from my favourites that I'm a big fan of this idea, especially as it has produced some absolutely brilliant stories, but I will admit that I usually wait until the full novel is released as I struggle to wait so long between each novella! So, here you have my top 3 series of 2015... 

Ivy Lane by Cathy Bramley 

I firmly believe Cathy Bramley is the queen of serials - her Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm and Wickham Hall novellas have been hugely popular and as soon as you start reading you can see why. She has a fantastic way of drawing you into a story - you really warm to the characters, root for them to succeed and become absorbed in what's happening to them. I haven't read Wickham Hall yet (I'm waiting until the full novel is out in January) but I LOVED Ivy Lane and Appleby Farm. I've chosen Ivy Lane to go in this shortlist as it was the first story I'd read by Cathy Bramley and is the one that propelled her onto my list of favourite authors. The story is beautifully written, set on an allotment which is an usual and brilliant location and is just a genuinely lovely, heart-warming read. Read my full review here 

DCI Kim Stone Series - Angela Marsons

If you read my crime book award, you'll see I put Silent Scream as one of my favourite crime stories of the year. However, Angela Marsons is making a reappearence in this shortlist, as the books she's released this year are SO hard to pick between. Silent Scream, Evil Games and Lost Girls have all been released in 2015 and follow DCI Kim Stone as she solves various crimes or murders. All of the stories have been gripping, fast-paced and brilliantly written, which is why it is one of my favourite series of the year. I can't wait for more! Read my full reviews of Silent Scream, Evil Games and Lost Girls 

The Primrose Terrace series (full book: A Christmas Tail) by Cressida McLaughlin 

A christmas Tail was originally released as a 4-part E-book series, but I read the story as a whole over Christmas and I completely adored it. Despite it being focussed around dogs (and I'm not really a dog person - sorry!) it wasn't too much... the dogs provided some hilarious situations and also showed off the passions of the main character (ironically named Cat). The setting of a quiet residential street, Primrose Place, was cosy and wonderful and the story is filled with great characters. I really, really enjoyed this series (although I read it as the full novel - A Christmas Tail) and I am already excited for Cressida's next release. 

Book review: Time to Die by Caroline Mitchell

"He will predict your life… and your death.Don’t ever cross his palm with silver.
He will reveal your most shameful secrets.
He will predict your death.
He is hiding a secret.
He is hiding a monster.
And all his predictions come true.

Investigating a series of chilling murders, Detective Jennifer Knight finds herself tracking a mysterious tarot card reader known only as The Raven.

As the death toll rises, Jennifer and her team build a picture of a serial killer on the edge of sanity, driven by dark forces. But these are not random killings. And the method behind the madness could be the most terrifying thing of all …

Especially when it seems the death of one of their own is on the cards." 

Time to Die is the second book in the DC Knight series, and if you read my review of Don't Turn Around you'll know I'm a big fan of Caroline's writing and it's a series I really, really enjoy.  I was so happy that Time to Die is just as good as the first and was equally as thrilling and gripping. 

The book follows the same kind of plot and pace of Don't Turn Around, following DC Jennifer Knight as she investigates a series of unusual murders. I loved being able to catch up with Jennifer. Like before she is bristly and hard-working but you really warm to her as you can see why she is that way, and as a reader you start to see even more of a vulnerable side to her which makes her seem more human. I really enjoyed watching the relationship between her and her colleague, Will, develop further. Will is a great character, probably one of my favourites, as he is so kind and caring. He brings out a great side to Jennifer and I love the interaction between the two of them. 

As usual, the story is told from two view points - Jennifer and the murderer. I think this is such a clever way to see the crimes and mystery unfold first hand, as well as hearing the killer's thought processes. It gives the books a creepy, almost uncomfortable vibe when focusing on the killer and is a part that I really enjoy - it makes it so entertaining. 

Throughout the book Ravens play a key part to the mystery, following both the murderer and Jennifer around. They are eery and give a slight insight into future events - as soon as you see a raven you just know something bad is going to happen. 

Caroline keeps you on your toes throughout the whole story, even when things seem to make sense there's that part of you that still doesn't feel comfortable and it waiting for a twist. That's what I love most about Caroline's writing - the plots are well thought through, unpredictable and so entertaining, even if it is creepily so. There is a HUGE twist at the end of the story that I really didn't see coming and had me reading through the chapter as quickly as I could, I was so eager to find out what happened. The twist actually makes a lot of sense once you know about it, and it makes you think 'ahhhhhh why didn't I see that?!' but I didnt. I had no idea.

I'm so pleased that Time to Die lives up to expectation and is just as good as the first. Caroline's writing style is brilliant - descriptive, fast-paced and gripping and it is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. I'd strongly recommend this to anyone wanting a creepy, gripping crime thriller to sink their teeth into. 

*A huge thank you to the publishers, Bookouture, for providing me with an advance review copy of Time to Die, in exchange for an honest review. 

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Gingerbread Cafe Trilogy Boxset Tour!

Enjoy the warmth, cupcakes and hot chocolate of The Gingerbread Café series, and follow Lil’s journey to happily ever after…

Lil has every recipe down, from gingerbread men to cinnamon muffins. So when gorgeous outsider Damon opens a shop opposite The Gingerbread Café, Lil refuses to let him steal her customers without a fight – no matter how much he makes her heart flutter.

When it comes to love, Lil’s never quite got the method right! But it looks like this time, deviating from the recipe might just lead Lil to the magic ingredient she’s been missing all along…

Don’t miss this delicious series from best-selling author Rebecca Raisin – the ultimate romantic indulgence.

Book One - Christmas At The Gingerbread Cafe

The icing on her Christmas cake! 

Christmas is the season the Gingerbread Café in Ashford, Connecticut was made for…but owner Lily couldn’t be feeling less merry if she tried. She’s spent another year dreaming of being whisked away on a sleigh-ride for two, but she’s facing festive season alone – again. And, just to give her another reason to feel anything other than candy-cane perky, a new shop across the road has opened… Not only is it selling baked goods, but the owner, with his seriously charming smile, has every girl in town swooning. 

But Lily isn’t about to let her business crumble — the Gingerbread Café is the heart of the community, and she’s going to fight for it! This could be the Christmas that maybe, just maybe, all her dreams – even the someone-to-decorate-the-Christmas-tree-with ones – really do come true!

Book Two - Chocolate Dreams At The Gingerbread Cafe

Chocolate…the most irresistible temptation?

The Gingerbread Café is all a buzz! This Easter, Lily and the rest of the town of Ashford, Connecticut are planning a truly decadent Chocolate Festival. Cooking up a storm, CeeCee and Lily are not just baking a batch of their sinfully delicious chocolate-dipped gingerbread men, but an excess of chocolate truffles, squidgy, cinnamony hot cross buns and melt in your mouth chocolate eggs. The Gingerbread Café staff have definitely enjoyed the tasting process!

Add in Damon’s cute-as-a-button seven year old daughter, Charlie, up for a visit and Lily’s perfect Easter may just be around the corner. Until her ex-husband Joel turns up demanding twenty thousand dollars… Suddenly the future of the Gingerbread Café is not so clear…and Lily finds herself eating far more of The Gingerbread Café’s treats than her skinny jeans allow…

Can Lily concoct a brilliant plan to save her beloved café, convince Damon she has no feelings for Joel and still throw a Chocolate Festival the town will be talking about for years? There’s only one way to find out...Welcome back to the warmth, cupcakes and hot chocolate of The Gingerbread Café – your home away from home

Book Three - Christmas Wedding At The Gingerbread CafeYou are invited to the wedding of the year!

Snow is falling thick and fast outside the Gingerbread Café and inside, its owner Lily is planning the wedding of the year. Her wedding! She never dreamt it would happen, but this Christmas, she’ll be marrying the man of her dreams - in a Christmas-card-perfect ceremony!

The gingerbread is baking, the dress is fitted and the mistletoe’s in place – for once, everything’s going to plan. That is until her mother-in-law arrives... Suddenly, Lily’s famous cool is being tested like never before and her dream wedding is crumbling before her eyes.

In the blink of a fairylight, the Gingerbread Café has been thrown into chaos! Lily thought she had this wedding wrapped up, but with so much to do before she says ‘I do’, can Lily get to the church on time – and make this Christmas sparkle after all?

My thoughts: 

This is a series not to be missed, Rebecca's writing is fantastic - fast paced, witty and engrossing, once you pick up book one, you won't want to stop until you finish book 3.

I love the seasonal themes throughout the series, focusing on Christmas and Easter. Reading books one and three made me want to reach for a glass of baileys pronto! 

Rebecca is great at setting a scene and her locations jump of the page, which is one of the highlights for me of the series - I want to go to Ashford so badly! The detail is immaculate and you can tell how much thought has gone into mapping out the brilliant setting for these books. 

The characters in this series are great, Lily is a strong, hard working main character who does all she can for the Cafe. She is relatable and down-to-earth, the best kind of main character. I love her friendship with CeeCee and the close bond they share, it made an already sweet series even more heartwarming! 

If you haven't already, do pick up this series as it's brilliant and one you're sure to fall in love with!  

About The Author  

Rebecca Raisin is a true bibliophile. This love of books morphed into the desire to write them. She's been widely published in short story anthologies, and in fiction magazines. And now she is focusing on writing romance. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true love.
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