Trisha Ashley

Cassandra Leigh is a gothic horror writer and a long-time mistress to college professor Max. Max is currently in the States with his disabled wife on sabbatical which leaves Cass time to review their situation. He's always promised to leave his wife for her, but that was a long time ago and she would like a child. Other men on offer are her best mate Jason who's estranged wife is 'missing' and the mysterious Dante who just moved into the local haunted mansion.
I struggled with Cass a lot show more throughout this book. She's a wonderful character in so many ways, but how she was so oblivious to Max's bad intentions made me slightly crazed. Dante is lovely and perfect for her. This is a fun read, just vintage Trisha Ashley. show less

Carey Revell and Angel Arrowsmith are old friends from college, but not that their lives are at a crossroads, they find it expedient to team up, both to work on the old estate that Carey inherited and to start her own stained glass studio on the grounds in the building that once housed the same for a Victorian artist. Various other friends and new acquaintances make appearances, some desired and some not-so-much.
This is a true friends-to-lovers romance for a lovely couple. Carey's been show more burned in the past with a girlfriend who dumped him when his TV home improvement show went topsy-turvy and Angel lost her older lover when he became ill and died, leaving everything to his nasty son. It's a great story with some very funny bits and a secondary mystery regarding the Victorian artist that's very interesting. There's also a great education of stained glass making which may not be for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed. This is the first Trisha Ashley book I've read, but I've already picked up several more as I loved this story. show less

Chocolate Wishes by Trisha Ashley is first and foremost a romance novel, but along the way, there are tarot cards, Mayan charms, guardian angels, an eccentric family – and chocolate, plenty of chocolate. Chloe, who is now in her mid-thirties lives with her younger half-brother Jake and her grandfather, Grumps, who is an author and a practising warlock. They have a colorful housekeeper called Zillah and are moving to the fictional village of Sticklepond. Grumps plans on opening a museum of show more Pagan History while Chloe is about to expand her business of making chocolate wishes, sort of a fortune cookie but consisting of chocolate shells with little printed messages inside.

Chloe has been disappointed with life and love in the past, her mother abandoned her, she’s uncertain as to who her father was, and her heart was broken by Raffy Sinclair who had a brief career as a rock star while Chloe was responsible for bringing up her younger brother. She learns that the village is excited about the new vicar who it turns out is ex-rock star Raffy Sinclair.

Written in a light and breezy style, the village of Sticklepond forms the heart of the story along with its many varied inhabitants. Chloe is satisfied with her life and her successful business but running into her ex-boyfriend, who was the love of her life, brings up many old feelings and resentments from the past. It was pretty easy to see where this story was going, but the author delivers the story with a great deal of charm and this, along with its cozy rural setting, made Chocolate Wishes an enjoyable read. show less

Although these Christmas stories have a standard plot - heroine, (who needs bringing back into a social life in some way), and hero start by disliking each other, but by different ways of getting there fall into each others' arms by the end - just what I need in the run-up to Christmas!