A lovely easy read. Perfect book for curling up with a mug of hot chocolate. I loved the relationship between Christie and her son Finn and the relationship they both had with Christie’s parents. A wonderful read.

Another lovely warm read from Carole Matthews ideal for fans of light fiction with wonderful characters.

Carole Matthews is one of my all time favourite authors and I often recommend her titles to my friends and unsuspecting shoppers in the book aisles and 'Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses' is, in my opinion, one of my top Carole Matthew's novels (along with The Chocolate Lovers series).
'Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses' is also about another of my favourite pastimes, papercrafting and is based loosely upon the real life story of Christine Emerson, a single parent with an ill child, who is given the oppurtunity of a lifetime and a way to earn a living while continuing with a hobby that she loves.
Although I had heard about Christine Emerson before this book and loved her work and have watched her on one of the Craft Shopping channels, I really enjoyed the story and it is a great fiction story even if the reader knew nothing about the lady behind the story. The story has a great character list and there is a lovely love story within as well as a strong woman who has as the saying goes, been dealt lemons, but she definitely makes lemonade and does the best thing she can for both herself and her family.
I really liked the character of Finn, Chrissie's teenage son who is ill, but he is also a strong character who develops throughout the story and encourages his mother to follow her dreams and takes steps to make things happen.
I hope this book introduces lots more new readers to Carole Matthews and also encourages lots of readers to take a step into the papercrafting world. I know that Carole has developed a love for papercrafting and I hope others do too. I really enjoyed reading the book and felt lucky that I could visualise the contents of the boxes of goodies that arrived at Chrissie's house however it is definitely not a necessity of enjoying the book, although if you are a fellow crafter, it may add a few things to your shopping basket.
Thank you to Carole Matthews and the publishers, Little Brown, for inviting me to be part of the blog tour in return for an honest review of this (fabulous) book.

Carole Matthews is one of my favourite authors and this book had me completely lost in the wonderful story with a crafting theme, playing with paper! Christie is a very talented crafter and her hobby gives her the chance to turn her life upside down. I loved all the crafting references and could imagine myself there having such fun. I’d love to be so creative.
I loved the characters- Carole always creates such well rounded and believable characters. Christie is in her 40’s and we learn that you can embrace change at this age .

I loved this book. Could not put it down. Carole Matthews definitely didn't disappoint.

It's been ages since I have read a book from Carole Matthews and I don't really know why that has been the case. I really enjoy her books and there was a time when I first discovered her writing many years ago that I literally gobbled up her books one after the other. Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses, her latest book, has been sat languishing on my Kindle for far too long and so I decided to give it a go. No sooner had I gotten past the first chapter when I was reminded just how much I love Carole's books and why this coming September she will have written 30 books in twenty years and has such a loyal following of fans. This book just embraced me like a warm hug and didn't let me out of its hold until I reluctantly finished the last word. I just got such a good feeling from it and from the main characters that I soon settled quickly into the flow of the story. All the characters were so perfectly written and the sense of a supportive family, of love and friendship and striving to get through the worst of times against all the odds came across so well. It was an uplifting, cosy read with warm loveable characters that had me kicking myself over the fact I left it so long to actually read it.

Christie Chapman is a single parent to 15 year old Finn, having been divorced from Liam for five years. They are a tight unit of two and this togetherness really radiates from the pages. What a joy to read of a mother/son relationship that doesn't involve a grumpy teenager who doesn't connect with their mother at all instead barely uttering two words to her unless to start a fight over going out etc. I was so glad to read of something different and the special bond and relationship shared between Christie and Finn was just beautiful. Finn had such respect for Christie knowing she was on her own and doing the best she could for him. She couldn’t always provide everything he may have wanted but she does what she can and endures the daily two hour commute back and forth to London to work all for him. Christie absolutely adores Finn and I know you'd think of course she would he is her son but the way Carole wrote this story showed Christie would bend over backwards for the light of her life. Finn is what makes her get up at the crack of dawn every morning even though at times she would rather remain huddled under the duvet. Amidst her life of routine and predictability Finn is the one thing Christie knows she can be proud of.

Despite being a single mum Christie had the most fantastic support from her parents. They couldn't do enough to help Finn and herself and in other books it may have come across that Christie was taking advantage of her parents but here it didn't in the slightest. It just felt like the rapport shared between Finn and Christie extended to her parents and it was just so lovely to see. Her Mum and Dad provided plenty of laugh out loud moments and were quite frank in their humour, yet at all times they were there with a kind word for Christie to boost her confidence. They looked after Finn whenever needed and when the worst happens they don't fall apart instead gather themselves together with even more strength of character and love than before and this cemented my feelings that they were just a wonderful couple who always wanted the best for their daughter.

Christie always seemed to be so tired with her commute. There was a brief 'flirtation' as such with a fellow companion on the bus journey but I felt it could have been left out of the book. This was the only slight thing I wasn't overly keen on in the book. She is a PA in a legal firm but can't say she loves her job. It helps pay the bills but is it really what she wants to be doing for the rest of her life especially if it means an endless routine that by the weekend leaves you dog tired and not fit for much else bar sitting on the sofa. Christie's real passion lay with paper crafting an indulgence she shares with her mum. I don't know much about paper crafting bar watching shows on QVC years ago when they used to feature it. So all the terminology was new to me but Carole didn't make it feel like I was getting a lesson in all things paper craft and it became interesting to see how Christie could lose so many hours making beautiful cards and other bits. Christie really came to life when she could spend time creating and crafting. It put to the back of her mind that little niggle of doubt and discontentment that there was things she had always wanted to do but now will never be afforded the chance to do so.

Thanks to the secret actions of her mother opportunity presents itself at her door in the form of handsome American Max Alexander. He runs a crafting business creating all the paper and equipment you could ever need. He wants to branch out into the UK market and employs Christie to create crafts from his materials. Christie can't believe her luck and before she knows it she is whisked away to America for training. Whilst there it's like her dream has come true and life on the bus is but a distant memory. Things on the romantic front take a slight turn for the better too. It was brilliant to see something positive happening for Christie as I felt she was a worrier and carried burdens on her shoulders. She never allowed herself to relax and enjoy the moment and take time for herself. Max on the other hand I didn't know what to make of him, it all just seemed to good to be true that things would happen so quickly for Christie with her crafting. I just had this sense/ feeling about him but I really was foolish to do so. I thought he had ulterior motives and that it would cause nothing but heartbreak on a personal level and real upset on a professional level for Christie. I couldn't have been more off track and felt really guilty for feeling this way and this never happens me with a book. Regrading the situation with Finn, I had my suspicions as to what was going on and was proven correct but this storyline was handled with tact and sensitivity and the way it was dealt with and the emotions that spilled forth were realistic and very apt.

Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses was an absolute pleasure to read from start to finish. I haven't connected with a book so well for a long time and I just fell completely in love with the characters. It is an emotional read at times but is balanced to perfection by the abundance of humour and not to mention all the paper crafting. It was clear how much Carole enjoyed writing this book and I even saw it feature in the top five of her favourite books that she has written. It's definitely a book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommended and despite the fact it took me some time to get around to it, it only means I have a shorter time to wait for her next book as Christmas Cakes and Mistletoe Nights will be with us near the end of October.

Another great read from Carole Matthews, albeit the ending came too soon. It has humour, tears and romance. Good story, quite a few aspects lots of women can relate too. I was just a little disappointed in the ending, it came too quick and was sort of left hanging even tho it came to its conclusion it was too soon! Apart from that this book had me smiling but also had me sniffling too. Loved it.

I have always loved Carole's work and this did not disappoint.

It's not very often that I read a book and wish that I were able to rate it higher than my top rating, but that was certainly the case with Carole Matthew's latest book. Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses is quite possibly my favourite book by Carole so far, no mean feat considering how much I have loved some of her other books, but for me, this was on a whole other level. I loved every page of it, it was compulsive from start to finish, and I have highly recommend it as one of those must-read summer books - simply brilliant, and here's why.

Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses is the story of single mum Chrisie, who lives with her son Finn near to her parents, who often help her out with childcare when the need arises. Christie commutes every day into London to do a job she doesn't necessarily love, but does because it pays well. In her spare time, she loves to craft, and be with her son. So when the opportunity arises to work with a brand new crafting brand, to create some new lines, Christie grabs the chance with both hands. As she makes friends with her new American boss Max, Christie's world is completely turned upside-down, and she finds herself struggling. Will she be able to balance her work life with her home life, or does caring for the person who means the most means she has to give up her dreams?

I don't want to spoil a lot about this story, because a lot of the joy in the book for me was not knowing what was coming, and therefore the storyline certainly hit me harder as it unfolds. I found a lot of similarities in myself and Christie, we're both single mums to boys, both hard workers, both have hobbies that allow us to be at home in our spare time, and are both very family orientated. This is why I think Christie's dilemma hit me so hard, it felt so real, and I felt like I was being put through the emotional wringer as I was reading. Christie's relationship with her son Finn was beautiful to read too, a very close relationship and one that a mother dreams of having with her own son.

Now, I'm not a very crafty person myself, but Christie certainly is in the book. She loves to create things, use lots of embellishments in her work, and many of these are described throughout the book as Christie comes to terms with her new job, inventing exciting new products. I didn't have a clue what half of it meant, to tell you the truth, but I enjoyed imagining in my head my own version of the things that Christie was making! I also enjoyed reading about the friendship between Christie and her new boss, Max, who lives in the USA. I was hopeful perhaps she might open up her heart to him, but it seemed duty was win out with this tough, single mum.

Carole Matthews writing was stunning throughout this book. she tapped perfectly into the psyche of Christie, her duty, her sense of obligation but also the lack of self-belief, and how hard her parents, especially her mother, encourage and believe in her, in whatever she does. To this end, the relationships in this book were so perfectly written, it filled my heart with warmth and joy, it was so nice to read of a family not at war with one another! Carole delves into the serious issues with the book so well, you feel every emotion along with these characters, but I always felt a glittering beacon of hope woven throughout, I was so hopeful everything would end and leave me with a big smile on my face. I don't want to say anymore as I don't want to spoil anything, except to say I cannot recommend this book enough, it is a true gem of a read, and you truly won't want to put it down. Uplifting, emotional, heart-wrenching and joyful all in one, one of my reads of the year, without a doubt.

I am still fairly new to Carole Matthews books and what I have read so far have been good reads. This book was no exception.

Christie Chapman, single mother who commutes two hours each way to London to work as a legal secretary is simply living but not necessarily alive. Everything she does is for her and her son Finn. She has the love and support of her parents who are near by. But life for Christie seems to be one long commute.

When not at work, thanks to her mother she has developed a rather obsessive interest in papercrafts. She makes cards and little gifts for friends and for people at work. She sometimes sells some, but she is really just a good hobbyist whose dreams of doing such a thing as a real job are firmly locked away because of the reality of the life she has.

When her mother entered her designs into a competition and she wins the chance to turn a hobby perhaps into something more. Part of the prize is to go to America to learn more about crafting.

Christie comes back from America with crafting ideas in abundance but also the possibility of love. However reality bites and her son is not very well and she needs to devote her time to him as much as she can.

Can she do this, commute, work, craft and have the possibility of romance? Surely something has to left behind?

Is the decision Christie makes the right one? Is the right decision her happy ending?

This is a joyful novel in parts and sad in others, but through that emotional depth, Carole Matthews has created a story which shows you how people support each other, stick together for a common goal and have faith that the decision you make is the right one for you. Do not let the fact that the novel is about crafting put you off, that is merely the vehicle that is used for expanding Christie's world. I was drawn into the story even if perhaps I knew how it was going to all turn out. But who cares! Not me!

A good read.

Loved this. Well written. Lovely characters. Hadn't read books by this author before but will be from now on.

Carole Matthews books never disappoint and I think this is her best yet. I'm not a great crafter but this book makes me want to start. It's a great read and great reminder that family is everything. Christie's son Finn and her mum and dad are a great unit who pull together in times of stress. Fab read

I loved this book! It was one of those reads which was easy to get into and you felt like you knew the characters straight away. It was a heartwarming story about a single mum struggling with a hideous commute, a teenage boy and trying to break into a new career. It was a feel good story- perfect for a holiday read!

Another great read from this author - a light feelgood read with the obligatory happy ending. Have to say I found Christie a little on the irritating side and being a paper crafter (somewhat lapsed) I wasn't keen on all the Create and Craft similarities and was Max a watered down version of Tim Holtz? Did feel Christie needed a break from all her knock backs and was happy for her by the end of the book. This would make a perfect holiday read. Thank you to Netgalley and Carole for the chance to read this book.

I’ve read quite a few of Carole Matthew’s books, and absolutely adored them. Each one getting better, you know that Carole’s books are comfort reading at it’s finest. Unfortunately this book didn’t quite live to the high hopes that I held for it. I didn’t hate the book. The story was good and the writing was the same cosy style that I didn’t want to put down. What disappointed me with this book was Christie, the main character, who drove me crazy – and I promise it wasn’t just because she drunk red wine out of the fridge!

Christie is 42 and a single mum to 15 year old Finn. She works in London as a PA for a legal firm, commuting an hour each way. Her real passion lies in crafting. I found it really hard to connect and relate to Christie. Is it because she was older so I didn’t understand her? Was it her over reliance on her parents? I don’t know. She just really annoyed me. She was 42, but seemed so much older. She was also so down on herself, apologising for herself. I get she has low self esteem, but it got a bit tiring.
I also get she was busy commuting so had little time in the evenings to cook, so her parents were great to cook for her and Finn all week (plus they do her laundry and ironing), but there is a period where she has a few weeks off, and while I understand she was heavily stressed, I don’t understand why her parents needed to cook for her then too. Sure her parents wanted to help, and as I said she was under a lot of stress, but it would have taken her mind off it, just like crafting did. She was so dependent, I was begging for her to become more independent, to demand more from Liam (Finn’s dad) money wise. To attempt to look for a job closer to her house. She took small steps with her crafting, but even that wasn’t her doing, she was pushed by her parents and Finn. I just wanted her to do something. I get she’s a mother and Finn comes first, but she just frustrated me easily, it was like she was a mother first and a human second. I’m not a parent so maybe that’s the reason I don’t get this, but while it’s understandable maybe in the latter half of the book, I don’t get it for the first half. Especially when she sends an email fairly late into the book ARGH!

Finn on the other hand was great, constantly pushing his mum to step outside her comfort zone, which was much needed. Another person I really liked was Robyn, her boss, they had a really fun relationship. There is also a hilarious date involving Alpacas and it was the funniest scene in the book, hands down.

There was also a plot I felt under developed, It was mentioned Robyn (a lawyer) drafted an official letter to someone about a legal issue, and none of this was never mentioned again. This would have added some great drama.

Overall this book wasn’t bad, I enjoyed the story but it was just disappointing to not get on board with the main character, who usually I really like in Carole’s books.

A nicely written story about a middle aged single mother who works too hard and is addicted to paper crafts. My only complaint is that she's portrayed as such a fuddy-duddy.
I enjoyed this in the most part, the characters were good if not a little one dimensional - think it's an interesting look at paper crafting in the UK.

A nice change to baking, cafes or bookshops. Another wonderful Carole Matthews book

What a great book!!! I am so happy to have read another book by Carole Matthews! Carole is my favorite author for several years now and I was really excited to read her new book. First of all, let's appreciate this beautiful and bright cover! so lovely! Then the story... once again I fell in love with the characters... Carole always write about women who struggle in their everyday life and who do everything they can to have a better one. This time it's about Christie who is a working single mom who tries to juggle between her work, her son who has some health issues, her non-existent love live, and her passion, paper-crafting. She is very talented in paper-crafting and one day she has a huge opportunity opening to herself in that field... What a great story! and of course there is a very handsome man playing a big part in the book... of course! ;-) - What I really liked also is that I felt a lot of different emotions while reading, I felt happy and I also felt sad or even really sad, and feeling stong emotions while reading a book is for me the most important. THank you Carole Matthews for another great book! you really are my favorite author of all times! I hope you will keep writing lovely stories about women for a very long time!

Easily my most favourite Carole Matthews book of all time. I seriously think this may be the best book she has ever written, and given I enjoy almost everything by this author, I think that says somethings.

I have been taken on the most fantastic fictional journey, during the course of the book I have laughed, I have smiled, I have been almost in tears, I have had to google just what crafting dies look like, and die cutting machines (still not sure I get it), I have been incredibly impressed with Finn and what he has to deal with and I have been completely absorbed for most of the second half of the book, and I'm just glad I don't have to get up in the morning, as its really late! - I just didn't notice the time nor care, as I was focused on finding out what happened next.

Quite early into the book I was convinced that I could have predicted every last outcome, as it starts off in the same manner as a lot of similar books that I have read...but then as it continues I am delighted to say that I was completely and utterly wrong. There seems to be a new depth and maturity to the already brilliant story telling abilities of the author,

Although I am not a crafter, I am in awe of those mega creative people that can conjure up magnificent projects from a few materials. Admittedly my lack of crafting knowledge was a slight problem at times, especially while elements of Christie's big break are coming to fruition, where I could have done with googling for a lot of the crafting equipment to fully try to understand (I may just go watch a craft station instead!)

That being said the ideas and projects that were described in great detail, I could get a pretty good idea of in my imagination, so I wasn't completely in the dark.

However my favourite story line was Finn. He is a regular teenager, perhaps a bit of a mummy's boy, but has health problems. Frustratingly although it is clear he is ill, the cause is staying hidden, so Christie and Finn suffer plenty of annoyance at the health care system. I am in awe of Finn and loved the way he developed over the course of the book.

There is so much more I could say, but I'd rather leave you to enjoy this book for yourself, and partly because I am running out of superlatives to describe Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sphere for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.