Blog Blitz: A Review of A Little Christmas Magic by Suzanne Rogerson
Today I am taking part in the Blog Blitz for A Little Christmas Magic by Suzanne Rogerson! Part of the Winter Warmers Series, A Little Christmas Magic is a heart-warming collection of stories with a focus on family, friendship, love and goodwill.
Book Description:
From a much-loved family pet that goes missing to a neighbour in need.
Chance meetings and the kindness of strangers.
Overcoming trauma to help others and being prepared to make sacrifices.
A father rushing to get home to his kids in time for Christmas.
Dive into a short and sweet story to get you in the festive spirit.
Eight Stories included:
Poppy’s Christmas Wish
Last Minute Dash
Driving Home for Christmas
The Honeymoon Period
A Christmas Toast
The Last Train Home
The Wrong Post
Taking Care of Belle
A Little Christmas Magic
Series: #2 in the Winter Warmer Series
Author: Suzanne Rogerson
Narrator: Colette Davies-Kerwin
Published: November 17, 2025
Audiobook: 2 hours 26 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: December 9-10, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Jessica’s Review:
A Little Christmas Magic is the second in the Winter Warmer series and it knows how to get a listener ready for Christmas! Comprised of eight short stories ranging from a few minutes to just over half an hour, you can get this novel finished a quickly as you want or you could spread the cheer out over eight listens (one listen per short story!) Each story brings out a meaning of Christmas and a listener will definitely choose a favorite for their individual preference! My favorite was one of the shorter stories: Last Minute Dash. It just spoke to me more than the others. It shows the kindness of a stranger while also sharing in the joy of Christmas and memories of childhood. Not a bad story in the novel, this was an enjoyable listen that can help get anyone in the Christmas spirit.
The narrator Colette Davies-Kerwin did a great job with her narration in these stories to help spread Christmas cheer!
Many thanks to the author and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy that I could listen to for the Audible blog blitz.
Buy Your Copy Here!
About the Author:
Suzanne lives in Middlesex, England with her husband, two children, a crazy cocker spaniel and a rather aloof cat. Her writing journey began at the age of twelve when she completed her first novel. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave Suzanne the impetus to take her attempts at novel writing beyond the first draft, and she is lucky enough to have a husband who supports her dream.
Now an author of four fantasy novels, including the Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy and a standalone fantasy, Visions of Zarua, Suzanne has recently turned her hand to short stories with four collections published to date.
She loves gardening and has a Hebe (shrub) fetish. She enjoys cooking with ingredients from the garden and regularly feeds unsuspecting guests vegetable-based cakes. Suzanne collects books, is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles and old ruins whilst being immersed in the past. She likes to combine her love of nature and photography on family walks, but most of all she loves to escape with a great film, binge watch TV shows, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book.
Contact Suzanne:
Website
Newsletter
Audible US author page
Audible UK author page
Amazon
Twitter @rogersonsm
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram @suzannemrogerson
Blog Blitz: A Short Story Review of Don’t Forget the Crazy by Lucy Kaufman
Today I am taking part in the Blog Blitz for Don’t Forget the Crazy by Lucy Kaufman! I am sharing my review for this short story. If you are lucky enough to be in the UK, there is a giveaway going on!
Short Story Description:
Her lists are life or death.
“If it’s on the list, I have to do it.”
Milli Morgan lives by her lists. Groceries, goals, organising her boss – nothing escapes being ticked off her ever-growing to-do lists. Order brings her comfort; control keeps the chaos at bay. Everyone can rely on Milli.
Until the day new items start appearing on her list in red ink.
At first, she blames stress. A prank. Someone playing mind-games. But one instruction on the list refuses to be erased and demands to be completed.
A command so terrible she would have to be crazy to tick it off.
Don’t Forget the Crazy is a dark psychological suspense short story about obsession, perfection, and the dangerous pressure of always being “the good girl.” Fans of Gillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell, Patricia Highsmith, and Shirley Jackson will devour this chilling portrait of order unravelling into darkness.
Don’t Forget the Crazy
Author: Lucy Kaufman
Published: November 30, 2025
Kindle: 57 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: December 7-9, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Jessica’s Review:
This was a fun and quick read. Milli Morgan writes down lists. Not on her phone, but on paper in blue ink. She lives by these lists, everything she does is part of a list. Until strange things start showing up on her list. Not in the blue ink she uses, but red ink. These add ons get stranger until one item that appears on her list demands to be done.
I did enjoy this short story. I myself make lists on paper, yet not as extreme as Milli. I have to have physical lists! This short story starts by taking place at Christmastime, and its that time of year currently, so that added to my enjoyment. I did giggle out loud a couple of times, but then we get serious with the very demanding item. Will Millie do this demand? What will happen? And why is there a cat on the cover??!?!! If you read this short story then you will find the answers!
I’m a reader who doesn’t have to have a definitive conclusion, but in the case of this short story a few more pages with a definitive conclusion would have worked best for me. I look forward to seeing what Kaufman writes next.
Many thanks to the author and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy that I could read for the blog blitz.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
UK Giveaway
To enter the Giveaway: All you have to do is follow Lucy Kaufman on Instagram by 24th December 2025 to win an Audrey’s solid milk chocolate Scaredy Cat. *You must live in the UK to win**
Again, WHAT is the deal with cats?!?!? You must read this short story to find out!
About the Author:
Lucy Kaufman is an award-winning author, playwright, audio dramatist and poet. 40 of her plays have been performed professionally around the UK and Australia, to critical acclaim. She has lectured in Playwriting and Screenwriting for Pen to Print and Canterbury Christ Church University and is a mentor at The Writing Coach. Originally from London, she now lives by the sea with her husband, sons, dogs and cats.
Contact Lucy:
IG: @kaufmanlucy
@sepiainkpublishing
Sepia Ink Website
Short Story Sunday: Novella Review: Off Limits by Ember Davis
Off Limits
Series: Stranger Shoot #1
Author: Ember Davis
Published: June 23, 2021
Kindle: 89 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: November 2, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars
Novella Description:
Are you interested in participating in a stranger photo session? It’s a fun way to meet someone new and take part in a unique experience. If you are single and in the Denver area, please fill out the form below. I will pair people as I see fit. All sessions will be free. I will post pictures from each shoot on social media. Each stranger session is different and will depend on the pair.
Maybe your soul mate is just a look away.
~Post on Ellie Banks’ social media
ASPEN
I signed up to be part of Ellie Banks’ stranger sessions because I was swept up in the romanticism of it all. I didn’t think I’d get picked. When the day comes, I’m nervous as hell. Still, I need to find out what all the fuss is about. It’ll be a nice change to my routine which basically involves working at a bookstore.
I don’t know what I was expecting but turning around and meeting Liam was a surprise. He sweeps me off my feet in an instant. Que the swell of swoon worthy background music. The connection between us is undeniable and unstoppable.
What happens when we find out that we’re more connected than we thought? Is it going to stand in our way? Will he fight for me when it matters the most?
LIAM
My business partner encouraged me to sign up for an internet trend, citing that I haven’t been on a date in five years as enough reason. He’s no better than me, devoting all his time and energy to making our IT business what it is now. The hard work has finally paid off.
Five years is long enough to be holed up only worried about the business. That’s the only reason I agree to go through with the photoshoot. Had I known my Sunshine was out there waiting for me in the innocent form of Aspen, I would have looked for her a long time ago. She’s everything that chases away a rainy day; the clouds part for me with one look.
It turns out she should be off limits, but I’m not going to let anything stand in the way of our forever. I’d risk it all, even my business, to make sure she’s the person I fall asleep next to and wake up holding every day for the rest of our lives.
Jessica’s Review:
**This review will have spoilers**
I love the idea of stranger photo sessions (I would go outside of my comfort box and actually do one!) and when I saw this novella, I decided to give it a go. I didn’t realize it was going to be open door bedroom scenes and bit too smutty for me, but I did finish it.
The reader gets to see both Aspen and Liam’s nerves about doing a stranger photo session. And they have an instant connection during the photo shoot. Thy moved it outside of the photo session to a first date.
This is where the ‘romance’ became too much for me: It was extreme insta-love on both sides; it seemed more so for him. Right away he is calling her “His Sunshine” and also extremely jealous of other men. Aspen and Liam find out they have a known person in common which could affect how their ‘relationship’ will progress.
They go on a first date and it gets hot pretty quickly after they watch a game. Aspen decides to tell Liam after she is in just her underwear how inexperienced she is (IE: She’s a virgin) yet they still go all the way. And the internal speak of both was just not for me: How they both wish he would ‘ride her bareback’ and “I want you big and round with my babies”. OMG: You don’t even know each other, it’s not love, it’s 1000% lust! Again, this is just their first date.
Of course there is a HEA, but this novella was just not for me. I will give this series one more try with the second novella to see if it is any better for me. And that is only because it is the stranger photo sessions.
Update: I tried the read the second novella in the series, (First Look) but ended up DNFing it. The second one was seemingly going the same way with the insta-love on both ends, with a slight drama in there. This is NOT FOR ME. And I hated that because I just love the idea of Stranger Photo Sessions (and going out on a bubble, I would totally do one!) but this series is seemingly the only novellas/books to read out there in that ‘subgenre’. I’m very disappointed….
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK