First Thoughts

Christmas At Tiffany’s

KAREN SWAN returns with her third novel about a woman’s journey to discover her real self.

Twenty-year-old Cassie Fraser married her first serious boyfriend, dropping out of university and moving to rural Scotland.

Ten years on, a devastating revelation that her husband has another woman and a child shatters her life.

Heartbroken with no money or a job, Cassie’s three best friends — Kelly, Anouk and Suzy — come up with a year-long plan to help her rebuild her life. For four months at a time, Cassie goes to live and work with each of her friends in New York, Paris and London.

As she immerses herself in their lives and the cultures of each location while developing friendships, Cassie is even more confused about where she belongs.

Will Cassie’s best friends be able to help her find the answer?

A heartwarming read, littered with descriptive insights into three charming cities.

Hotel Vendome

Danielle Steel

Bantam Press;

£18.99

Review: Jo-Anne Rowney

FANS of Danielle Steel will be pleased to know her latest novel is a return to form, teeming with glamour, fantasy and passion.

It follows Heloise, a girl who has grown up in a New York hotel owned by her father. The pair are devoted to each other until a beautiful interior designer catches his eye, putting their relationship at risk of being torn apart by jealously.

Hotel Vendome ticks all the right boxes for an escapist novel — handsome hero, beautiful daughter, glamorous settings, love and betrayal. But the end result is more about the trappings than substance.

Despite spanning 20 years, Hotel Vendome feels too short, not fully exploring the sub-plots and instead focusing on repetitive description.

But dedicated Steel fans will not be disappointed as she yet again provides a window into a world few of us have the chance to experience.

It Started With A Kiss

Miranda Dickinson

HarperCollins;

£6.99

Review: Julie Cheng

THE Fairytale Of New York author returns with a story about a woman’s quest to find her dream man.

During their Christmas shopping trip, Romily Parker confesses to best friend Charlie that she loves him.

However, Charlie does not feel the same. With her emotions in turmoil, Romily flees to the local Christmas market, where she encounters a handsome stranger who gives her an earth-shattering kiss.

When a stunned Romily recovers, she looks for him in the crowd to ask for his name but he has seemingly vanished.

Unable to stop thinking about him, she seeks the advice of her uncle and aunt. Spurred on by their support, Romily embarks on a year-long quest to find him again.

As the days and months roll by, Romily’s newly found confidence gives her the courage to overcome life’s problems. But is time running out for her to find the man of her dreams?

A delightful read.

Season Of Light

Katharine McMahon

iWeidenfeld & Nicolson;

£12.99

Review: Zahra Saeed

SEASON Of Light is Katharine McMahon’s seventh novel. It is the turn of the 19th century and the wheels of the French Revolution are just beginning to rotate.

Asa Ardleigh, young, idealistic and English, is visiting Paris when she falls madly in love with Didier Paulin, a dashing French revolutionary.

When forced to return to England, Asa continues her secret liaison with Didier while trying to ward off her sisters who are desperate to marry her off to the enormously wealthy Harry Shackleford.

When they employ an enigmatic French emigre to help them, it leads to Asa returning back to a dangerous France in the throes of political unrest.

Although the novel’s plot appears to borrow much from Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice it remains a thoroughly gripping period drama.