Secret Santa by Scarlett Bailey

Secret Santa by Scarlett Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A self-confessed Christmas queen, Sue Montaigne prides herself on organising the annual nativity pageant in her small Cornish village of Poldore.

But this year, what with having to deal with the repairs on Castle House after it was wrecked by a terrible storm, training a new – and frankly flighty – Virgin Mary and managing a Joseph who is allergic to sheep, she is distinctly lacking a little bit of ‘me time’.

And then there are the auditions for the new Santa. But nothing prepares her for the beautiful man who turns up, a twinkle in his eye and a promise to make her Christmas dreams come true…

I absolutely loved 'Just for Christmas' and 'Two weddings and a baby' last year, so when I heard Scarlett Bailey was back with Secret Santa also set in Poldore, I needed to read it.

This story centres around Sue, Sue inherited a large castle in the village, that had been passed down to her by her ancestors. She has got big financial problems and some with her husband. Sue is really in the heart of the community, she decides to really throw herself into the festivities this year, things are not plain sailing for her, especially when the long running Santa pulls out this year. Sue only has a few days to try and get a new Santa in time for Christmas!

There is a new visitor in the village this year, a famous actor, who Sue has taken a shine to. (Actually I think we all did!)

Although the story is set with the run up to Christmas, there are many issues in it that you can almost be forgiven for forgetting when it is set. A major them in this novella is the break down of Sue' s marriage and the effect she feels this will have on her children. Money worries and the stress this can cause is also a big theme.

I love the mysterious Nick and how his character can really change the dynamics and feelings of the story.

I really loved this short story and has become one of my favourites I have read so far. I am so glad I discovered Scarlett Bailey last year and I hope we will be getting more instalments from Poldore in the future.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Two Weddings and a Baby - Scarlett Bailey

Two Weddings and a Baby by Scarlett Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Tamsyn Thorne has not been back to her home town of Poldore for five long years.

But now her brother, Ruan, is about to get married and she has no excuses left.

Her plans to arrive in Cornwall looking chic and successful are dashed when a huge storm turns her from fashion goddess to a drowned rat. Worse, she ends up insulting the local hunky vicar – and then finds a tiny baby abandoned in his churchyard…'


I was so excited when I heard Scarlett Bailey was going to be releasing another book set in Poldore. I enjoyed Just for Christmas so much and Poldore, as I discovered then actually has a very special place in my heart and I was delighted to be able to be transported back to the small Cornish village.

Tasmyn lives in Paris and has worked hard to gain her position in the fashion industry. On hearing about her brother Ruan’s wedding to Alex, and her mother’s insistence she heads back to her home village of Poldore. Nothing goes smoothly for Tasmyn and little after her arrival the village is hit by a huge storm and suddenly everything looks like it is not heading in the direction that Tasmyn hoped for.

Alex and Ruan are characters that we previously met in Just for Christmas; however they are not the central characters in this story. This I feel makes it easier and still and enjoyable book if you have not previously read Just for Christmas, saying that though you must read Just for Christmas as it is such a brilliant book and I feel you would have a richer reading experience by reading that previously. It was nice to catch up on previous characters and I also enjoyed reading about Poldore in a different season.

Tasmyn I feel is not likable at the beginning of the story, however many things happen to her during her time in Poldore and this ‘softens’ her and she begins to change, your thoughts and feelings towards her also change I feel as the story progresses.

Jed is a wonderful character, one with a past and secrets that seem to emerge the more you read the story. He is not your typical vicar! Every village I feel needs a vicar who looks like Jed and he may actually be becoming one of my favourite book boyfriends!!! Of course there are also other familiar characters in the story, Buoy makes an appearance just a little older but still full of spirit.

This is a story that surprised me and to be honest from looking at the cover and reading the blub it was very unexpected, you are thrown right into all the drama from the first few pages and the pace of the story is good. This story is a lot about family but also friendship, love and how a community can come together and support each other.

I loved the fact that Scarlett has been able to include humour into what seems a dreadful situation for the community to be in and there are some wonderful one liners which have you giggling throughout the book.

I really enjoyed this book and didn’t find it predictable at all, there are moments you have no idea which way the story is going to go, even down to Ruan and Alex getting married as there are so many obstacles in their way. Scarlett’s use of description is brilliant throughout the book and once again I felt I was there in Poldore with all the characters routing for everything to be O.K. and turn out well in the end.

Once again I want to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would urge everyone to read it, even if you haven’t read Just for Christmas, you are going to love it, its full of surprises and not your typical summer read (due to the weather). Scarlett has done a brilliant job with Poldore and I hope there is more to come! There is certainly enough material for characters to be developed.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Just for Christmas - Scarlett Bailey

Just For Christmas by Scarlett Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Her best friend's wedding...

When Alex Munro learns that the love of her life is getting married to another girl, all she wants is to be alone - and as far away from Edinburgh as possible.

Moving to a Cornish cottage, which comes complete with the world's scruffiest dog, Alex finds that her new neighbours are determined to involve her in their madcap Christmas festivities.


Then she meets her sexy neighbour Ruan - and somehow Alex doesn't want to be alone this Christmas after all. But having lost one fianc�, Ruan has no intention of letting anyone get close to him again...'



I have never read a Scarlett Bailey novel before and I am not quite sure how I have missed them! First of all I would like to say what a fabulous cover this is and it comes complete with glitter even on the spine of the book!

This story is about Alex, she lives in Scotland but is left heartbroken by her best friend who announces he is getting married and has fallen out with her dad. Mum left years ago and she doesn't have any other family, so she decides to apply for a job in Poldore, Cornwall.

Now this to me has a very personal connection, Poldore, which I quickly found out was a fictional place, however many features of the description of the place triggered my memory. My grandparents lived down in Cornwall and owned a B&B for years, I gradually discovered that Poldore was actually based on the village that my grandparents lived in. I could not believe it, and tweeted Scarlett who confirmed my suspicion! This to me then made me love the story even more as I could picture where Alex was and it bought back happy memories for me.

Anyway back to the story, Alex applied for a harbor master position in Poldore and got the job, which come along with a cottage in the village and a dog that came with the cottage ha ha! This was something Alex was not keen on, however over time in the story she came to love the dog - Bouy. This is a brilliant tale of an outsider being accepted into a village community and feeling like part of the family that the village is.

Alex moved down to Poldore in the running up to Christmas, so the book features Christmas aspects and the warmness of the villagers really get you into the Christmas spirit.

I found the book to not be a straight forward romance chick lit book, which I enjoyed as it has you guessing aspects of it and leaves a little to the imagination. This book has everything, it takes you through emotions which will have you laughing to crying. I found this an easy Christmas read which was very enjoyable. I would recommend every one to add it to their Christmas book wish list. I would like to thank the publisher for sending it to me.