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Christmas in Castleby - A christmas romantic suspense novel: A Christmas special of the Castleby series
When Tess Dutton arrives in Castleby to help in her sister’s restaurant for the Christmas period her worst nightmare awaits. Tess finds her sister unconscious at the bottom of her stairs, and a restaurant fully booked until Christmas.
Ex-Navy chef Griffin Jones returns to his late mother’s house trying to put his past behind him. He can’t forgive himself for what he did, and someone from his past won’t let him forget either.
Griffin steps in to help Tess in the restaurant, but he is haunted by his past. As he grows closer to Tess and their attraction blossoms, Tess receives a visit from an ex-lover, who wants to rekindle their romance.
Tess struggles when she finds out about Griffin’s past.
But he’s being persecuted.
And then Tess’s life is threatened.
Someone is so full of hate and so intent on revenge, that the only solution is to kill.
Revenge, betrayal, suspense and romance continue in this Christmas special of the Castleby series
Ex-Navy chef Griffin Jones returns to his late mother’s house trying to put his past behind him. He can’t forgive himself for what he did, and someone from his past won’t let him forget either.
Griffin steps in to help Tess in the restaurant, but he is haunted by his past. As he grows closer to Tess and their attraction blossoms, Tess receives a visit from an ex-lover, who wants to rekindle their romance.
Tess struggles when she finds out about Griffin’s past.
But he’s being persecuted.
And then Tess’s life is threatened.
Someone is so full of hate and so intent on revenge, that the only solution is to kill.
Revenge, betrayal, suspense and romance continue in this Christmas special of the Castleby series
286 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 1, 2024
This was a good read. I liked the characters and the setting. Imagine being imprisoned, then when your finally paroled, someone wants to kill you.
March 21, 2026
Christmas stories are always appealing, and with a tagline like “Coming home can be deadly”, how could I resist?
Griff has all the necessary requirements for a romantic lead. Good looking, funny, kind, selfless, good at cooking, protective, and a little tortured by a traumatic past.
Tess is beautiful, a former emergency nurse, has a talent for decoration and an innate ability to turn a flagging restaurant into a thriving business. She’s also a bit snippy, goes weak at the knees at the sight of an attractive man, and easily distracted.
Castleby is written about with affection, and it is easy to imagine the beautiful beach, little shops and restaurants that exist within the town. I’m sure most readers will have visited such locations at least once in their lives.
The book has a slow pace and a cosy feel that allows the romance to take centre stage. The passages about Griff’s culinary inventions are engaging.
While the suspense elements are very serious when they do appear, they are dealt with quickly and with minimal drama.
The strengths of this book lie in the town of Castleby, the cast of charming characters that call it home, and the lovely canine characters of Frank, the pug, and German shepherd, Solo.
The main weakness of this book is the contrivance of two accidents at the start that get rid of Tess’s sister and take Tess out of action for a while.
An easy to read romance with likable characters and some Christmas set dressing that is sure to thrill fans of romance and the author’s Castleby series.
Congratulations to the author for coming 11th in BBNYA 2025. Thank you to The Write Reads and the author for providing me with a review copy.
Griff has all the necessary requirements for a romantic lead. Good looking, funny, kind, selfless, good at cooking, protective, and a little tortured by a traumatic past.
Tess is beautiful, a former emergency nurse, has a talent for decoration and an innate ability to turn a flagging restaurant into a thriving business. She’s also a bit snippy, goes weak at the knees at the sight of an attractive man, and easily distracted.
Castleby is written about with affection, and it is easy to imagine the beautiful beach, little shops and restaurants that exist within the town. I’m sure most readers will have visited such locations at least once in their lives.
The book has a slow pace and a cosy feel that allows the romance to take centre stage. The passages about Griff’s culinary inventions are engaging.
While the suspense elements are very serious when they do appear, they are dealt with quickly and with minimal drama.
The strengths of this book lie in the town of Castleby, the cast of charming characters that call it home, and the lovely canine characters of Frank, the pug, and German shepherd, Solo.
The main weakness of this book is the contrivance of two accidents at the start that get rid of Tess’s sister and take Tess out of action for a while.
An easy to read romance with likable characters and some Christmas set dressing that is sure to thrill fans of romance and the author’s Castleby series.
Congratulations to the author for coming 11th in BBNYA 2025. Thank you to The Write Reads and the author for providing me with a review copy.
March 24, 2026
It would appear I've a lot of catching up to do...Christmas in Castleby is part of a series...but it's the first one I've read! However, it did easily read as a standalone but for more character context I think I'd like to start from the beginning.
Pacing was perfect and it had me hooked from the off. It very quickly turned into an easily enjoyable binge.
Having never been to Castleby before I had no idea what to expect. I needn't have worried, it was lovely there. Everyone was so friendly and their community spirit immediately gave me a sense of belonging.
Pacing was perfect and it had me hooked from the off. It very quickly turned into an easily enjoyable binge.
Having never been to Castleby before I had no idea what to expect. I needn't have worried, it was lovely there. Everyone was so friendly and their community spirit immediately gave me a sense of belonging.
November 18, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Review for 'Christmas In Castleby' by J.M Simpson.
I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this STUNNING MUST READ book and series, the characters, the storyline and just absolutely everything about the stunning Castleby series!!! Congratulations Jo on another absolute stunning masterpiece!!! To return to Castleby at Christmas is all I could ask for for Christmas. This serious is in my top 3 crime series and considering how many I read that is saying a lot!! It does not matter what I am reading when Jo drops a book I drop everything to read it! Sod reading the synopsis when I know I will absolutely LOVE it!! If you are looking for a Christmas story filled with crime, mince pies, hot characters, stunning settings, festivities and so, SO much more stuff wasting your time reading what I have written when you can be reading so much better in this series and book!! This book is part of the absolutely stunning 'The Castleby Series' but is a standalone Christmas special so no excuse not to grab it now!!
Well, what can I say!!! This book is yet another absolutely gorgeous, addictive and explosive addition to this stunning must read series! However, I cannot say I am surprised as I have absolutely loved each book I have read in this series. I do not even bother reading the synopsis of Jo's books before I start reading as I know I will love it whatever the back says!! i absolutely fell in love with the characters, the stunning settings, the storyline and just absolutely everything about this series when I read 'Sea Shaken' and although I would never have thought it possible each book is better and better than the last. I mean, seriously Jo!! How do you even make an absolutely amazing series even better than the previous book when I love each of them so much!! Every time I grab a book in this series it genuinely feels like am returning to a much loved holiday destination that is filled with friends that I have made and where I make more every time I arrive. It is just like cuddling up under my favourite blanket being warmed by everything I love and know!! Words are not even enough to express how much I love these books and how devastated I am to come to the end of each one and have to say Goodbye to these amazing friends. The one thing that I am extremely grateful for is that for some unbeknown reason I still have not gotten around to reading book 1 in this series which is called 'Sea State' and book 2 in this series which is called 'Sea Change'. As I previously mentioned, it really does not matter where you start in this series you will understand what is going on and fall in love with Castleby! I am not normally a fan of reading book series out of order but there is a silver lining and that is that while you are very impatiently waiting for Jo to bring her next book out you can get stuck in to the previous books!! I can also guarantee you will end up reading them all at one point just like I am! In this gorgeous Christmas special we meet new character Griffin Jones and I believe this is the first time we meet Lorraine's sister Tess Dutton. 38 year old Tess comes to Castleby to help Lorraine out at her restaurant but when she arrives it is to a collapsed Lorraine at the bottom of her stairs. Lorraine is taken to hospital and Tess has to take over the running of the restaurant. She had left her job and has just split up with her boyfriend of 3 years Vincent so has plenty of time to help out. However, she soon realises it will be harder than she first realised when she discovers that they also need a new chef after theirs had quit. If that wasn't enough she also has her sisters dog Frank to look after!!! Griff has returned to Castleby after the loss of his mother and his job in the Navy and is trying to get away from his past. When he arrives at Castleby his first meeting is with the lovely Maggie who runs the café. Maggie needs a temporary chef and Griff is happy to help. Tess and Griff end up meeting after Frank decides to take off on a walk. After several similar meetings Griff starts working as a chef for Tess. However, Griff starts receiving threats and worse. Griff needs to tell Tess about his past but every time he tries something happens and he doesn't get a chance. Will Griff be able to tell Tess before it is to late? Will Tess turn her back on Griff? Are they all in danger? Grab your copy of this absolutely stunning page turner to find out the answers to these questions and much more today! I promise that you will not regret it and you will also find yourself a new favourite author at the same time!! With a storyline filled with an absolutely stunning locations, characters that will become friends, loads of gorgeous food, Christmas vibes, an amazing community, mystery, suspense, twists and turns, romance, friendship, family and everything, anything and much more that you could ask for in a true page turner what on Earth are you waiting for?? This amazing book has shot to my favourite book of the year and when you read it I am sure you will feel the same. I could go on forever about this amazing book and series but you just HAVE to read this EPIC page turner yourself!!! An emotionally packed page turner which will have you angry, fearful, on edge, festive, laughing, happy, sad and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while watching crime, heartache, romance, twists and turns and everything you could ask for in an action packed thriller!!! Jo does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the multiple protagonists storylines together at just the perfect time to not give anything away while giving the reader a bigger picture of what is going on. The fact that Jo truly does care for these amazing characters leaps out of the pages in their incredible character development and Jo's evocative descriptions!! You truly cannot ask for a better book filled with exceptional characters!! Jo does an incredible job of weaving difficult topics such as cheating, stalking and death into an incredible storyline and treating each topic sensitivity while still highlighting the difficulties of each. The twist at the end left me absolutely gob smacked, I mean my jaw was hitting the floor!!! There was no way on Earth I would ever seen that one coming!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Jo!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me after reading hundreds of thrillers and crime books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I also want to say that even though there is so much going on at no point did I get confused which is an absolute credit to Jo's fantastic writing skills but she also wrapped everything up perfectly in the end. It is a huge annoyance when authors mentions something in books but then seem to forget about it and I never found out what happened to x,y or z but I never have this problem with Jo's books thankfully!! One of the other things I love about this book and series is that although they are predominantly crime thrillers is the fact that Jo literally had me spitting out my tea laughing so many times I lost count!!! It is always nice to have humour thrown into books filled with darkness to lighten the atmosphere and Jo has the balance perfectly. I mean honestly the interactions between several of the characters just had me in absolute stitches!!!! The location , characters, descriptions are all just absolutely perfect with Jo's evocative writing skills bringing absolutely everything and everyone to life right in front of the readers eyes!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. The descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself hearing the waves, smelling the sea air and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, crime, romance, festivities, trauma, death, romance, fun, laughter, friendship, community and filled with twists and turns. The storyline is realistic and unique and I absolutely LOVED the stunning atmosphere at Castleby!! There was so much going on in this book that it doesn't give you a minute to get bored, or able you to put the book down!!! I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!! Jo manages to weave the story lines of all the characters romantic, criminal, stressful, fun and action packed lives together ensuring the reader can go from what one character is doing to another without any worry of confusion. I am still waiting and wishing that this stunning book series gets turned into a TV series although it already plays like one in my head every time I return!!
This may be part of a series but I would have had no problems reading it as a standalone. Any relationships, friendships and past cases mentioned are explained in just the right amount of detail so new readers of this gripping series understand what's happened previously but not too much that previous readers get bored by repetition. This is an absolutely unputdownable page turner and I cannot wait to read the previous and future books in what is promising to be an addictive series.
I love that there are so many amazing, unique and colourful characters in Castleby and I became completely invested in each and every one of their lives in Sea Shaken and have absolutely loved meeting them all again along with many more new characters. I loved getting to know more about the previous ones as well as discovering all the new ones. When it came to previous characters it was like embracing good friends and I enjoyed making new ones too, of course there was also a pinch of not so nice characters, thrown in but I am already missing the majority of them. I cannot wait to go back to read the first two books in this absolutely amazing series as well as any more that come out!! I absolutely loved meeting previous friends Foxy and Solo, Maggie, Rudi again along with getting to make new friends and seeing new faces of Tess, Griff and Frank. The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow. There was the perfect amount of romance sprinkled throughout to ensure some light-hearted moments in between the crime and darker times. It is an addictive book filled with romance, crime, mystery, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a stunning page turner! If you want to know more you need to grab your copy today. I love the strong female role models, the hunky men and the stunning atmosphere, I just love everything about Castleby and am missing it already!! There are just so many amazing and memorable characters that I really could go on and on but if you've made it this far as it is I will say congratulations and end it very shortly for you by saying if you haven't met these amazing people yet then you really do want to grab a copy of this or any of the other beautiful books in this series and get ready to make some amazing new friends today!!! Congratulations Jo on creating such an amazing group of larger than life, amazing and unforgettable characters!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are on my favourite 3 author list and this is one of my top 3 book series!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall YET AGAIN, another absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller in this absolutely explosive and addictive series that will keep you up all night. Thank you so much for letting me explore Castleby at Christmas!!!
@JMSimpson @JMSimpsonAuthor
#ChristmasInCastleby #CastlebySeries #JMSimpson #JMSimpsonAuthor
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Review for 'Christmas In Castleby' by J.M Simpson.
I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this STUNNING MUST READ book and series, the characters, the storyline and just absolutely everything about the stunning Castleby series!!! Congratulations Jo on another absolute stunning masterpiece!!! To return to Castleby at Christmas is all I could ask for for Christmas. This serious is in my top 3 crime series and considering how many I read that is saying a lot!! It does not matter what I am reading when Jo drops a book I drop everything to read it! Sod reading the synopsis when I know I will absolutely LOVE it!! If you are looking for a Christmas story filled with crime, mince pies, hot characters, stunning settings, festivities and so, SO much more stuff wasting your time reading what I have written when you can be reading so much better in this series and book!! This book is part of the absolutely stunning 'The Castleby Series' but is a standalone Christmas special so no excuse not to grab it now!!
Well, what can I say!!! This book is yet another absolutely gorgeous, addictive and explosive addition to this stunning must read series! However, I cannot say I am surprised as I have absolutely loved each book I have read in this series. I do not even bother reading the synopsis of Jo's books before I start reading as I know I will love it whatever the back says!! i absolutely fell in love with the characters, the stunning settings, the storyline and just absolutely everything about this series when I read 'Sea Shaken' and although I would never have thought it possible each book is better and better than the last. I mean, seriously Jo!! How do you even make an absolutely amazing series even better than the previous book when I love each of them so much!! Every time I grab a book in this series it genuinely feels like am returning to a much loved holiday destination that is filled with friends that I have made and where I make more every time I arrive. It is just like cuddling up under my favourite blanket being warmed by everything I love and know!! Words are not even enough to express how much I love these books and how devastated I am to come to the end of each one and have to say Goodbye to these amazing friends. The one thing that I am extremely grateful for is that for some unbeknown reason I still have not gotten around to reading book 1 in this series which is called 'Sea State' and book 2 in this series which is called 'Sea Change'. As I previously mentioned, it really does not matter where you start in this series you will understand what is going on and fall in love with Castleby! I am not normally a fan of reading book series out of order but there is a silver lining and that is that while you are very impatiently waiting for Jo to bring her next book out you can get stuck in to the previous books!! I can also guarantee you will end up reading them all at one point just like I am! In this gorgeous Christmas special we meet new character Griffin Jones and I believe this is the first time we meet Lorraine's sister Tess Dutton. 38 year old Tess comes to Castleby to help Lorraine out at her restaurant but when she arrives it is to a collapsed Lorraine at the bottom of her stairs. Lorraine is taken to hospital and Tess has to take over the running of the restaurant. She had left her job and has just split up with her boyfriend of 3 years Vincent so has plenty of time to help out. However, she soon realises it will be harder than she first realised when she discovers that they also need a new chef after theirs had quit. If that wasn't enough she also has her sisters dog Frank to look after!!! Griff has returned to Castleby after the loss of his mother and his job in the Navy and is trying to get away from his past. When he arrives at Castleby his first meeting is with the lovely Maggie who runs the café. Maggie needs a temporary chef and Griff is happy to help. Tess and Griff end up meeting after Frank decides to take off on a walk. After several similar meetings Griff starts working as a chef for Tess. However, Griff starts receiving threats and worse. Griff needs to tell Tess about his past but every time he tries something happens and he doesn't get a chance. Will Griff be able to tell Tess before it is to late? Will Tess turn her back on Griff? Are they all in danger? Grab your copy of this absolutely stunning page turner to find out the answers to these questions and much more today! I promise that you will not regret it and you will also find yourself a new favourite author at the same time!! With a storyline filled with an absolutely stunning locations, characters that will become friends, loads of gorgeous food, Christmas vibes, an amazing community, mystery, suspense, twists and turns, romance, friendship, family and everything, anything and much more that you could ask for in a true page turner what on Earth are you waiting for?? This amazing book has shot to my favourite book of the year and when you read it I am sure you will feel the same. I could go on forever about this amazing book and series but you just HAVE to read this EPIC page turner yourself!!! An emotionally packed page turner which will have you angry, fearful, on edge, festive, laughing, happy, sad and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while watching crime, heartache, romance, twists and turns and everything you could ask for in an action packed thriller!!! Jo does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the multiple protagonists storylines together at just the perfect time to not give anything away while giving the reader a bigger picture of what is going on. The fact that Jo truly does care for these amazing characters leaps out of the pages in their incredible character development and Jo's evocative descriptions!! You truly cannot ask for a better book filled with exceptional characters!! Jo does an incredible job of weaving difficult topics such as cheating, stalking and death into an incredible storyline and treating each topic sensitivity while still highlighting the difficulties of each. The twist at the end left me absolutely gob smacked, I mean my jaw was hitting the floor!!! There was no way on Earth I would ever seen that one coming!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Jo!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me after reading hundreds of thrillers and crime books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I also want to say that even though there is so much going on at no point did I get confused which is an absolute credit to Jo's fantastic writing skills but she also wrapped everything up perfectly in the end. It is a huge annoyance when authors mentions something in books but then seem to forget about it and I never found out what happened to x,y or z but I never have this problem with Jo's books thankfully!! One of the other things I love about this book and series is that although they are predominantly crime thrillers is the fact that Jo literally had me spitting out my tea laughing so many times I lost count!!! It is always nice to have humour thrown into books filled with darkness to lighten the atmosphere and Jo has the balance perfectly. I mean honestly the interactions between several of the characters just had me in absolute stitches!!!! The location , characters, descriptions are all just absolutely perfect with Jo's evocative writing skills bringing absolutely everything and everyone to life right in front of the readers eyes!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. The descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself hearing the waves, smelling the sea air and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, crime, romance, festivities, trauma, death, romance, fun, laughter, friendship, community and filled with twists and turns. The storyline is realistic and unique and I absolutely LOVED the stunning atmosphere at Castleby!! There was so much going on in this book that it doesn't give you a minute to get bored, or able you to put the book down!!! I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!! Jo manages to weave the story lines of all the characters romantic, criminal, stressful, fun and action packed lives together ensuring the reader can go from what one character is doing to another without any worry of confusion. I am still waiting and wishing that this stunning book series gets turned into a TV series although it already plays like one in my head every time I return!!
This may be part of a series but I would have had no problems reading it as a standalone. Any relationships, friendships and past cases mentioned are explained in just the right amount of detail so new readers of this gripping series understand what's happened previously but not too much that previous readers get bored by repetition. This is an absolutely unputdownable page turner and I cannot wait to read the previous and future books in what is promising to be an addictive series.
I love that there are so many amazing, unique and colourful characters in Castleby and I became completely invested in each and every one of their lives in Sea Shaken and have absolutely loved meeting them all again along with many more new characters. I loved getting to know more about the previous ones as well as discovering all the new ones. When it came to previous characters it was like embracing good friends and I enjoyed making new ones too, of course there was also a pinch of not so nice characters, thrown in but I am already missing the majority of them. I cannot wait to go back to read the first two books in this absolutely amazing series as well as any more that come out!! I absolutely loved meeting previous friends Foxy and Solo, Maggie, Rudi again along with getting to make new friends and seeing new faces of Tess, Griff and Frank. The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow. There was the perfect amount of romance sprinkled throughout to ensure some light-hearted moments in between the crime and darker times. It is an addictive book filled with romance, crime, mystery, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a stunning page turner! If you want to know more you need to grab your copy today. I love the strong female role models, the hunky men and the stunning atmosphere, I just love everything about Castleby and am missing it already!! There are just so many amazing and memorable characters that I really could go on and on but if you've made it this far as it is I will say congratulations and end it very shortly for you by saying if you haven't met these amazing people yet then you really do want to grab a copy of this or any of the other beautiful books in this series and get ready to make some amazing new friends today!!! Congratulations Jo on creating such an amazing group of larger than life, amazing and unforgettable characters!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are on my favourite 3 author list and this is one of my top 3 book series!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall YET AGAIN, another absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller in this absolutely explosive and addictive series that will keep you up all night. Thank you so much for letting me explore Castleby at Christmas!!!
@JMSimpson @JMSimpsonAuthor
#ChristmasInCastleby #CastlebySeries #JMSimpson #JMSimpsonAuthor
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March 22, 2026
Blurb
When Tess Dutton arrives in Castleby to help in her sister’s restaurant for the Christmas period her worst nightmare awaits. Tess finds her sister unconscious at the bottom of her stairs, and a restaurant fully booked until Christmas.
Ex-Navy chef Griffin Jones returns to his late mother’s house trying to put his past behind him. He can’t forgive himself for what he did, and someone from his past won’t let him forget either.
Griffin steps in to help Tess in the restaurant, but he is haunted by his past. As he grows closer to Tess and their attraction blossoms, Tess receives a visit from an ex-lover, who wants to rekindle their romance.
Tess struggles when she finds out about Griffin’s past.
But he’s being persecuted.
And then Tess’s life is threatened.
Someone is so full of hate and so intent on revenge, that the only solution is to kill.
Revenge, betrayal, suspense and romance continue in this Christmas special of the Castleby series
Review
This was the first book I had read in this series, and in fact the first book I had read by this author. Having said that this did not affect the enjoyment of my book at all - in fact it felt very much like a standalone .
Tess arrived in Castleby to help her sister in her restaurant in the run up to its busy time at Christmas, little knowing due to an accident she would have to take up the running of it at a time when the chef had left. Tess herself was still dealing with a failed relationship, and not knowing what she wanted to do having left her job as an A+E nurse, following the affect of the COVID Pandemic.
Griff had just come out of prison following an accident that had caused someone’s death, whilst he tried to deal with the family home following this mother’s death. Little did he know he was about to start receiving death messages from someone, presumably linked to the accident.
Griff and Tess met in rescuing a dog and to say they didn’t hit it off at first would not be an exaggeration, but following his rescuing her from an attack they started to see each other through new eyes.
I liked the easy going style of this book, and following a busy and difficult week it was just the book I needed. It would most probably be described as romantic suspense. The central theme of the book was the developing relationship between the two main characters, but underneath this you had the mystery element in relation to those seeking to target Griff.
I really enjoyed and ended up liking the two main characters and it was a real pleasure to spend time with them, even if at times they did annoy me. There were moments where their lack of communication made me want to head off to Castleby and bang their heads together and say talk to each other. Around the central characters there were a number of other likeable characters, that I assumed had appeared in other books in the series. All round the book and the community had a really nice feel about it, and almost felt like a character of its own. There was one character, however, that if it had been a pantomime we would have booed every time he appeared in the book.
I felt there was very good pacing in the book and it kept me wanting to read on, and not put it down; in fact I read it in a day. It did build up to a good ending, and the book did a good job of building up tension towards this point. I do however feel it all ended a bit too quickly for me, and some of the themes could have been developed more.
That said though I really enjoyed the book, and thoroughly recommend the book, especially if you enjoy a good romance, with some light mystery thrown in. I certainly will be reading more from this author and I will be going back to read the other books in the series.
Book Details
Christmas in Castleby was the 11th place BBNYA 2025 finalist!
Page Count: 288 Pages
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Age Category: Adult
Date Published: November 1, 2024
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/dkKEWPO (Canada) https://a.co/d/ckahE2h (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/izwSUZK (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/e...
About the Author
J.M. Simpson was born in Essex, but was raised primarily in the West Country, never far from a rugged coastline, a sandy beach, or harbour. With a degree and PhD, much of Jo’s working career has been spent undertaking research in a variety of subjects; most notably in construction and development where her expertise lies.
Staying in the Welsh town of Tenby some years ago and watching the local lifeboat launch one stormy winter night, gave Jo the beginnings of an idea for a book. She was fascinated with the idea of the crew risking everything they know and love to plunge into a stormy sea to rescue a stranger. She wondered who these people were and what their lives were like. And so, the Castleby series was born.
Jo’s Castleby series; Sea State, Sea Change Sea Shaken, Sea Haven and Sea Rift are suspense thrillers set against the backdrop of the lifeboat crew in a coastal town. There is a Christmas Special due in November and there are further books in the series to come.
Jo lives in Kent, with her two (occasionally stroppy) teenage daughters, her extremely long-suffering husband and her rescue Border Collie Merlin. She also runs a successful research consultancy, but dreams of becoming a full-time writer. In early 2025, Jo will release the first in a new series based in the Scottish Highlands called The Ophelia Murders – First in The Whistlers Peak Series.
In what little spare time Jo has, she spends writing, walking the dogs, seeking out live music (except difficult jazz), being an armchair movie critic, dreaming of Scotland or the Pembrokeshire coast; drinking endless coffee’s in various local café’s (on the pretence of writing) or drinking copious amounts of wine in her most favourite pub with friends, (where no writing occurs whatsoever).
About BBNYA
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.
When Tess Dutton arrives in Castleby to help in her sister’s restaurant for the Christmas period her worst nightmare awaits. Tess finds her sister unconscious at the bottom of her stairs, and a restaurant fully booked until Christmas.
Ex-Navy chef Griffin Jones returns to his late mother’s house trying to put his past behind him. He can’t forgive himself for what he did, and someone from his past won’t let him forget either.
Griffin steps in to help Tess in the restaurant, but he is haunted by his past. As he grows closer to Tess and their attraction blossoms, Tess receives a visit from an ex-lover, who wants to rekindle their romance.
Tess struggles when she finds out about Griffin’s past.
But he’s being persecuted.
And then Tess’s life is threatened.
Someone is so full of hate and so intent on revenge, that the only solution is to kill.
Revenge, betrayal, suspense and romance continue in this Christmas special of the Castleby series
Review
This was the first book I had read in this series, and in fact the first book I had read by this author. Having said that this did not affect the enjoyment of my book at all - in fact it felt very much like a standalone .
Tess arrived in Castleby to help her sister in her restaurant in the run up to its busy time at Christmas, little knowing due to an accident she would have to take up the running of it at a time when the chef had left. Tess herself was still dealing with a failed relationship, and not knowing what she wanted to do having left her job as an A+E nurse, following the affect of the COVID Pandemic.
Griff had just come out of prison following an accident that had caused someone’s death, whilst he tried to deal with the family home following this mother’s death. Little did he know he was about to start receiving death messages from someone, presumably linked to the accident.
Griff and Tess met in rescuing a dog and to say they didn’t hit it off at first would not be an exaggeration, but following his rescuing her from an attack they started to see each other through new eyes.
I liked the easy going style of this book, and following a busy and difficult week it was just the book I needed. It would most probably be described as romantic suspense. The central theme of the book was the developing relationship between the two main characters, but underneath this you had the mystery element in relation to those seeking to target Griff.
I really enjoyed and ended up liking the two main characters and it was a real pleasure to spend time with them, even if at times they did annoy me. There were moments where their lack of communication made me want to head off to Castleby and bang their heads together and say talk to each other. Around the central characters there were a number of other likeable characters, that I assumed had appeared in other books in the series. All round the book and the community had a really nice feel about it, and almost felt like a character of its own. There was one character, however, that if it had been a pantomime we would have booed every time he appeared in the book.
I felt there was very good pacing in the book and it kept me wanting to read on, and not put it down; in fact I read it in a day. It did build up to a good ending, and the book did a good job of building up tension towards this point. I do however feel it all ended a bit too quickly for me, and some of the themes could have been developed more.
That said though I really enjoyed the book, and thoroughly recommend the book, especially if you enjoy a good romance, with some light mystery thrown in. I certainly will be reading more from this author and I will be going back to read the other books in the series.
Book Details
Christmas in Castleby was the 11th place BBNYA 2025 finalist!
Page Count: 288 Pages
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Age Category: Adult
Date Published: November 1, 2024
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/dkKEWPO (Canada) https://a.co/d/ckahE2h (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/izwSUZK (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/e...
About the Author
J.M. Simpson was born in Essex, but was raised primarily in the West Country, never far from a rugged coastline, a sandy beach, or harbour. With a degree and PhD, much of Jo’s working career has been spent undertaking research in a variety of subjects; most notably in construction and development where her expertise lies.
Staying in the Welsh town of Tenby some years ago and watching the local lifeboat launch one stormy winter night, gave Jo the beginnings of an idea for a book. She was fascinated with the idea of the crew risking everything they know and love to plunge into a stormy sea to rescue a stranger. She wondered who these people were and what their lives were like. And so, the Castleby series was born.
Jo’s Castleby series; Sea State, Sea Change Sea Shaken, Sea Haven and Sea Rift are suspense thrillers set against the backdrop of the lifeboat crew in a coastal town. There is a Christmas Special due in November and there are further books in the series to come.
Jo lives in Kent, with her two (occasionally stroppy) teenage daughters, her extremely long-suffering husband and her rescue Border Collie Merlin. She also runs a successful research consultancy, but dreams of becoming a full-time writer. In early 2025, Jo will release the first in a new series based in the Scottish Highlands called The Ophelia Murders – First in The Whistlers Peak Series.
In what little spare time Jo has, she spends writing, walking the dogs, seeking out live music (except difficult jazz), being an armchair movie critic, dreaming of Scotland or the Pembrokeshire coast; drinking endless coffee’s in various local café’s (on the pretence of writing) or drinking copious amounts of wine in her most favourite pub with friends, (where no writing occurs whatsoever).
About BBNYA
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.
March 22, 2026
Such a fabulous read: equal part thriller; equal part romance. I was invested in the central characters and their back stories. it felt believable and i definitely felt involved in their journey. A well deserved finalist of BBNYA 2025, and one of my favourite reads of the contest.
December 3, 2024
Book 6/6 I’ve been following this author for sometime great characters and storyline #KindleUnlimited
November 18, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Review for 'Christmas In Castleby' by J.M Simpson.
I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this STUNNING MUST READ book and series, the characters, the storyline and just absolutely everything about the stunning Castleby series!!! Congratulations Jo on another absolute stunning masterpiece!!! To return to Castleby at Christmas is all I could ask for for Christmas. This serious is in my top 3 crime series and considering how many I read that is saying a lot!! It does not matter what I am reading when Jo drops a book I drop everything to read it! Sod reading the synopsis when I know I will absolutely LOVE it!! If you are looking for a Christmas story filled with crime, mince pies, hot characters, stunning settings, festivities and so, SO much more stuff wasting your time reading what I have written when you can be reading so much better in this series and book!! This book is part of the absolutely stunning 'The Castleby Series' but is a standalone Christmas special so no excuse not to grab it now!!
Well, what can I say!!! This book is yet another absolutely gorgeous, addictive and explosive addition to this stunning must read series! However, I cannot say I am surprised as I have absolutely loved each book I have read in this series. I do not even bother reading the synopsis of Jo's books before I start reading as I know I will love it whatever the back says!! i absolutely fell in love with the characters, the stunning settings, the storyline and just absolutely everything about this series when I read 'Sea Shaken' and although I would never have thought it possible each book is better and better than the last. I mean, seriously Jo!! How do you even make an absolutely amazing series even better than the previous book when I love each of them so much!! Every time I grab a book in this series it genuinely feels like am returning to a much loved holiday destination that is filled with friends that I have made and where I make more every time I arrive. It is just like cuddling up under my favourite blanket being warmed by everything I love and know!! Words are not even enough to express how much I love these books and how devastated I am to come to the end of each one and have to say Goodbye to these amazing friends. The one thing that I am extremely grateful for is that for some unbeknown reason I still have not gotten around to reading book 1 in this series which is called 'Sea State' and book 2 in this series which is called 'Sea Change'. As I previously mentioned, it really does not matter where you start in this series you will understand what is going on and fall in love with Castleby! I am not normally a fan of reading book series out of order but there is a silver lining and that is that while you are very impatiently waiting for Jo to bring her next book out you can get stuck in to the previous books!! I can also guarantee you will end up reading them all at one point just like I am! In this gorgeous Christmas special we meet new character Griffin Jones and I believe this is the first time we meet Lorraine's sister Tess Dutton. 38 year old Tess comes to Castleby to help Lorraine out at her restaurant but when she arrives it is to a collapsed Lorraine at the bottom of her stairs. Lorraine is taken to hospital and Tess has to take over the running of the restaurant. She had left her job and has just split up with her boyfriend of 3 years Vincent so has plenty of time to help out. However, she soon realises it will be harder than she first realised when she discovers that they also need a new chef after theirs had quit. If that wasn't enough she also has her sisters dog Frank to look after!!! Griff has returned to Castleby after the loss of his mother and his job in the Navy and is trying to get away from his past. When he arrives at Castleby his first meeting is with the lovely Maggie who runs the café. Maggie needs a temporary chef and Griff is happy to help. Tess and Griff end up meeting after Frank decides to take off on a walk. After several similar meetings Griff starts working as a chef for Tess. However, Griff starts receiving threats and worse. Griff needs to tell Tess about his past but every time he tries something happens and he doesn't get a chance. Will Griff be able to tell Tess before it is to late? Will Tess turn her back on Griff? Are they all in danger? Grab your copy of this absolutely stunning page turner to find out the answers to these questions and much more today! I promise that you will not regret it and you will also find yourself a new favourite author at the same time!! With a storyline filled with an absolutely stunning locations, characters that will become friends, loads of gorgeous food, Christmas vibes, an amazing community, mystery, suspense, twists and turns, romance, friendship, family and everything, anything and much more that you could ask for in a true page turner what on Earth are you waiting for?? This amazing book has shot to my favourite book of the year and when you read it I am sure you will feel the same. I could go on forever about this amazing book and series but you just HAVE to read this EPIC page turner yourself!!! An emotionally packed page turner which will have you angry, fearful, on edge, festive, laughing, happy, sad and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while watching crime, heartache, romance, twists and turns and everything you could ask for in an action packed thriller!!! Jo does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the multiple protagonists storylines together at just the perfect time to not give anything away while giving the reader a bigger picture of what is going on. The fact that Jo truly does care for these amazing characters leaps out of the pages in their incredible character development and Jo's evocative descriptions!! You truly cannot ask for a better book filled with exceptional characters!! Jo does an incredible job of weaving difficult topics such as cheating, stalking and death into an incredible storyline and treating each topic sensitivity while still highlighting the difficulties of each. The twist at the end left me absolutely gob smacked, I mean my jaw was hitting the floor!!! There was no way on Earth I would ever seen that one coming!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Jo!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me after reading hundreds of thrillers and crime books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I also want to say that even though there is so much going on at no point did I get confused which is an absolute credit to Jo's fantastic writing skills but she also wrapped everything up perfectly in the end. It is a huge annoyance when authors mentions something in books but then seem to forget about it and I never found out what happened to x,y or z but I never have this problem with Jo's books thankfully!! One of the other things I love about this book and series is that although they are predominantly crime thrillers is the fact that Jo literally had me spitting out my tea laughing so many times I lost count!!! It is always nice to have humour thrown into books filled with darkness to lighten the atmosphere and Jo has the balance perfectly. I mean honestly the interactions between several of the characters just had me in absolute stitches!!!! The location , characters, descriptions are all just absolutely perfect with Jo's evocative writing skills bringing absolutely everything and everyone to life right in front of the readers eyes!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. The descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself hearing the waves, smelling the sea air and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, crime, romance, festivities, trauma, death, romance, fun, laughter, friendship, community and filled with twists and turns. The storyline is realistic and unique and I absolutely LOVED the stunning atmosphere at Castleby!! There was so much going on in this book that it doesn't give you a minute to get bored, or able you to put the book down!!! I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!! Jo manages to weave the story lines of all the characters romantic, criminal, stressful, fun and action packed lives together ensuring the reader can go from what one character is doing to another without any worry of confusion. I am still waiting and wishing that this stunning book series gets turned into a TV series although it already plays like one in my head every time I return!!
This may be part of a series but I would have had no problems reading it as a standalone. Any relationships, friendships and past cases mentioned are explained in just the right amount of detail so new readers of this gripping series understand what's happened previously but not too much that previous readers get bored by repetition. This is an absolutely unputdownable page turner and I cannot wait to read the previous and future books in what is promising to be an addictive series.
I love that there are so many amazing, unique and colourful characters in Castleby and I became completely invested in each and every one of their lives in Sea Shaken and have absolutely loved meeting them all again along with many more new characters. I loved getting to know more about the previous ones as well as discovering all the new ones. When it came to previous characters it was like embracing good friends and I enjoyed making new ones too, of course there was also a pinch of not so nice characters, thrown in but I am already missing the majority of them. I cannot wait to go back to read the first two books in this absolutely amazing series as well as any more that come out!! I absolutely loved meeting previous friends Foxy and Solo, Maggie, Rudi again along with getting to make new friends and seeing new faces of Tess, Griff and Frank. The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow. There was the perfect amount of romance sprinkled throughout to ensure some light-hearted moments in between the crime and darker times. It is an addictive book filled with romance, crime, mystery, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a stunning page turner! If you want to know more you need to grab your copy today. I love the strong female role models, the hunky men and the stunning atmosphere, I just love everything about Castleby and am missing it already!! There are just so many amazing and memorable characters that I really could go on and on but if you've made it this far as it is I will say congratulations and end it very shortly for you by saying if you haven't met these amazing people yet then you really do want to grab a copy of this or any of the other beautiful books in this series and get ready to make some amazing new friends today!!! Congratulations Jo on creating such an amazing group of larger than life, amazing and unforgettable characters!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are on my favourite 3 author list and this is one of my top 3 book series!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall YET AGAIN, another absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller in this absolutely explosive and addictive series that will keep you up all night. Thank you so much for letting me explore Castleby at Christmas!!!
@JMSimpson @JMSimpsonAuthor
#ChristmasInCastleby #CastlebySeries #JMSimpson #JMSimpsonAuthor
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Review for 'Christmas In Castleby' by J.M Simpson.
I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this STUNNING MUST READ book and series, the characters, the storyline and just absolutely everything about the stunning Castleby series!!! Congratulations Jo on another absolute stunning masterpiece!!! To return to Castleby at Christmas is all I could ask for for Christmas. This serious is in my top 3 crime series and considering how many I read that is saying a lot!! It does not matter what I am reading when Jo drops a book I drop everything to read it! Sod reading the synopsis when I know I will absolutely LOVE it!! If you are looking for a Christmas story filled with crime, mince pies, hot characters, stunning settings, festivities and so, SO much more stuff wasting your time reading what I have written when you can be reading so much better in this series and book!! This book is part of the absolutely stunning 'The Castleby Series' but is a standalone Christmas special so no excuse not to grab it now!!
Well, what can I say!!! This book is yet another absolutely gorgeous, addictive and explosive addition to this stunning must read series! However, I cannot say I am surprised as I have absolutely loved each book I have read in this series. I do not even bother reading the synopsis of Jo's books before I start reading as I know I will love it whatever the back says!! i absolutely fell in love with the characters, the stunning settings, the storyline and just absolutely everything about this series when I read 'Sea Shaken' and although I would never have thought it possible each book is better and better than the last. I mean, seriously Jo!! How do you even make an absolutely amazing series even better than the previous book when I love each of them so much!! Every time I grab a book in this series it genuinely feels like am returning to a much loved holiday destination that is filled with friends that I have made and where I make more every time I arrive. It is just like cuddling up under my favourite blanket being warmed by everything I love and know!! Words are not even enough to express how much I love these books and how devastated I am to come to the end of each one and have to say Goodbye to these amazing friends. The one thing that I am extremely grateful for is that for some unbeknown reason I still have not gotten around to reading book 1 in this series which is called 'Sea State' and book 2 in this series which is called 'Sea Change'. As I previously mentioned, it really does not matter where you start in this series you will understand what is going on and fall in love with Castleby! I am not normally a fan of reading book series out of order but there is a silver lining and that is that while you are very impatiently waiting for Jo to bring her next book out you can get stuck in to the previous books!! I can also guarantee you will end up reading them all at one point just like I am! In this gorgeous Christmas special we meet new character Griffin Jones and I believe this is the first time we meet Lorraine's sister Tess Dutton. 38 year old Tess comes to Castleby to help Lorraine out at her restaurant but when she arrives it is to a collapsed Lorraine at the bottom of her stairs. Lorraine is taken to hospital and Tess has to take over the running of the restaurant. She had left her job and has just split up with her boyfriend of 3 years Vincent so has plenty of time to help out. However, she soon realises it will be harder than she first realised when she discovers that they also need a new chef after theirs had quit. If that wasn't enough she also has her sisters dog Frank to look after!!! Griff has returned to Castleby after the loss of his mother and his job in the Navy and is trying to get away from his past. When he arrives at Castleby his first meeting is with the lovely Maggie who runs the café. Maggie needs a temporary chef and Griff is happy to help. Tess and Griff end up meeting after Frank decides to take off on a walk. After several similar meetings Griff starts working as a chef for Tess. However, Griff starts receiving threats and worse. Griff needs to tell Tess about his past but every time he tries something happens and he doesn't get a chance. Will Griff be able to tell Tess before it is to late? Will Tess turn her back on Griff? Are they all in danger? Grab your copy of this absolutely stunning page turner to find out the answers to these questions and much more today! I promise that you will not regret it and you will also find yourself a new favourite author at the same time!! With a storyline filled with an absolutely stunning locations, characters that will become friends, loads of gorgeous food, Christmas vibes, an amazing community, mystery, suspense, twists and turns, romance, friendship, family and everything, anything and much more that you could ask for in a true page turner what on Earth are you waiting for?? This amazing book has shot to my favourite book of the year and when you read it I am sure you will feel the same. I could go on forever about this amazing book and series but you just HAVE to read this EPIC page turner yourself!!! An emotionally packed page turner which will have you angry, fearful, on edge, festive, laughing, happy, sad and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while watching crime, heartache, romance, twists and turns and everything you could ask for in an action packed thriller!!! Jo does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the multiple protagonists storylines together at just the perfect time to not give anything away while giving the reader a bigger picture of what is going on. The fact that Jo truly does care for these amazing characters leaps out of the pages in their incredible character development and Jo's evocative descriptions!! You truly cannot ask for a better book filled with exceptional characters!! Jo does an incredible job of weaving difficult topics such as cheating, stalking and death into an incredible storyline and treating each topic sensitivity while still highlighting the difficulties of each. The twist at the end left me absolutely gob smacked, I mean my jaw was hitting the floor!!! There was no way on Earth I would ever seen that one coming!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Jo!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me after reading hundreds of thrillers and crime books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I also want to say that even though there is so much going on at no point did I get confused which is an absolute credit to Jo's fantastic writing skills but she also wrapped everything up perfectly in the end. It is a huge annoyance when authors mentions something in books but then seem to forget about it and I never found out what happened to x,y or z but I never have this problem with Jo's books thankfully!! One of the other things I love about this book and series is that although they are predominantly crime thrillers is the fact that Jo literally had me spitting out my tea laughing so many times I lost count!!! It is always nice to have humour thrown into books filled with darkness to lighten the atmosphere and Jo has the balance perfectly. I mean honestly the interactions between several of the characters just had me in absolute stitches!!!! The location , characters, descriptions are all just absolutely perfect with Jo's evocative writing skills bringing absolutely everything and everyone to life right in front of the readers eyes!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. The descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself hearing the waves, smelling the sea air and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, crime, romance, festivities, trauma, death, romance, fun, laughter, friendship, community and filled with twists and turns. The storyline is realistic and unique and I absolutely LOVED the stunning atmosphere at Castleby!! There was so much going on in this book that it doesn't give you a minute to get bored, or able you to put the book down!!! I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!! Jo manages to weave the story lines of all the characters romantic, criminal, stressful, fun and action packed lives together ensuring the reader can go from what one character is doing to another without any worry of confusion. I am still waiting and wishing that this stunning book series gets turned into a TV series although it already plays like one in my head every time I return!!
This may be part of a series but I would have had no problems reading it as a standalone. Any relationships, friendships and past cases mentioned are explained in just the right amount of detail so new readers of this gripping series understand what's happened previously but not too much that previous readers get bored by repetition. This is an absolutely unputdownable page turner and I cannot wait to read the previous and future books in what is promising to be an addictive series.
I love that there are so many amazing, unique and colourful characters in Castleby and I became completely invested in each and every one of their lives in Sea Shaken and have absolutely loved meeting them all again along with many more new characters. I loved getting to know more about the previous ones as well as discovering all the new ones. When it came to previous characters it was like embracing good friends and I enjoyed making new ones too, of course there was also a pinch of not so nice characters, thrown in but I am already missing the majority of them. I cannot wait to go back to read the first two books in this absolutely amazing series as well as any more that come out!! I absolutely loved meeting previous friends Foxy and Solo, Maggie, Rudi again along with getting to make new friends and seeing new faces of Tess, Griff and Frank. The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow. There was the perfect amount of romance sprinkled throughout to ensure some light-hearted moments in between the crime and darker times. It is an addictive book filled with romance, crime, mystery, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a stunning page turner! If you want to know more you need to grab your copy today. I love the strong female role models, the hunky men and the stunning atmosphere, I just love everything about Castleby and am missing it already!! There are just so many amazing and memorable characters that I really could go on and on but if you've made it this far as it is I will say congratulations and end it very shortly for you by saying if you haven't met these amazing people yet then you really do want to grab a copy of this or any of the other beautiful books in this series and get ready to make some amazing new friends today!!! Congratulations Jo on creating such an amazing group of larger than life, amazing and unforgettable characters!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are on my favourite 3 author list and this is one of my top 3 book series!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall YET AGAIN, another absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller in this absolutely explosive and addictive series that will keep you up all night. Thank you so much for letting me explore Castleby at Christmas!!!
@JMSimpson @JMSimpsonAuthor
#ChristmasInCastleby #CastlebySeries #JMSimpson #JMSimpsonAuthor
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March 20, 2026
I don't normally read holiday books off-season, but I'm glad I didn't turn this one away just because it's not Christmas or July (I will make a Christmas in July exception sometimes.) Because this was a special book, and a really special community - one I'm glad there are already five other books to explore, and the promise of others to come.
Yes, the main story here is amazing. A strong romantic suspense, a will-they-wont-they pull. A gorgeous collection of background characters, which is what keeps me coming back. And I suspect I'm not alone. I suspect that sense of community is what makes series like this last. Much like how I don't suspect we're all queuing up to watch any of the numerous murder shows 200 times for the puzzle (though I know we enjoy those), but for the beauty of the strong bonds, village of people, love stories, and communities that build up around the main couple of people that solve the cases. And, while I normally have a hard time getting into a book at No. 6 in a series, I keep accidentally picking them up (it's one of my red flag behaviors, heh), this one pulled me right in! Perhaps because it was a holiday special, which is frequently used to pull in new readers/viewers, it was written somewhat apart from things. But I didn't feel as lost as I normally would. I also felt the series could be one of those that are interconnected stand-alones - where characters float in and out of each other's tales. And I'm actually a big fan of those, especially in romance.
The characters were well written - with good flaws, some moral ambiguity, and a good bit of growth. There was the kind of beautiful Christmas sparkles you always want to see. In fact, for a romantic suspense at Christmas, there was the most actual Christmas I've seen in one, and I really enjoyed it. Fitting so much of both in seems challenging from this side, and the author did a great job! Most I've seen had allusions to Christmas, but somewhat dropped it when the suspense took over.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it if you're a fan of romantic suspense and enjoy more than just a fluffy read at the holidays. Maybe add it to your Christmas in July list.
Content Warnings: This is a non-exhaustive list of topics included in this book that readers may distress some readers, including, but not limited to, Violence, Attempted Murder, Grief, Stalking, Fire, Death Threats, Dead Animals, Assault (inc. SA), Loss of Loved One (inc. Fetus), Infidelity, Pregnancy, Moderate Discussion of Military and Prison/Probation Life.
Yes, the main story here is amazing. A strong romantic suspense, a will-they-wont-they pull. A gorgeous collection of background characters, which is what keeps me coming back. And I suspect I'm not alone. I suspect that sense of community is what makes series like this last. Much like how I don't suspect we're all queuing up to watch any of the numerous murder shows 200 times for the puzzle (though I know we enjoy those), but for the beauty of the strong bonds, village of people, love stories, and communities that build up around the main couple of people that solve the cases. And, while I normally have a hard time getting into a book at No. 6 in a series, I keep accidentally picking them up (it's one of my red flag behaviors, heh), this one pulled me right in! Perhaps because it was a holiday special, which is frequently used to pull in new readers/viewers, it was written somewhat apart from things. But I didn't feel as lost as I normally would. I also felt the series could be one of those that are interconnected stand-alones - where characters float in and out of each other's tales. And I'm actually a big fan of those, especially in romance.
The characters were well written - with good flaws, some moral ambiguity, and a good bit of growth. There was the kind of beautiful Christmas sparkles you always want to see. In fact, for a romantic suspense at Christmas, there was the most actual Christmas I've seen in one, and I really enjoyed it. Fitting so much of both in seems challenging from this side, and the author did a great job! Most I've seen had allusions to Christmas, but somewhat dropped it when the suspense took over.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it if you're a fan of romantic suspense and enjoy more than just a fluffy read at the holidays. Maybe add it to your Christmas in July list.
Content Warnings: This is a non-exhaustive list of topics included in this book that readers may distress some readers, including, but not limited to, Violence, Attempted Murder, Grief, Stalking, Fire, Death Threats, Dead Animals, Assault (inc. SA), Loss of Loved One (inc. Fetus), Infidelity, Pregnancy, Moderate Discussion of Military and Prison/Probation Life.
February 12, 2026
I’ve literally just finished book six, and now I have to wait for the next one! I already know I’m going to have withdrawals from Castleby and my fictional family.
This may well be one of my favourites of the series. We see a few of the normal characters, the sexy “Foxy” and the lovely kind Maggie, and new police officer Ben, giving Detective Steve Miller a break after book 5 I think he needs it.
We meet Tess Dutton, who returns to Castleby to help her sister Lorraine run the restaurant over Christmas. After working in A&E and suffering heartbreak, she’s rethinking her future. Helping out is meant to give her breathing space, but when Lorraine is suddenly out of action, Tess finds herself fully in charge. Add in staff changes, unexpected complications, and an ex Vincent, who wants her back (despite cheating on her), and things quickly become far from simple.
Griffin has also returned to Castleby after inheriting his late mum’s house. A former Navy chef who’s travelled the world, he’s carrying a heavy secret, and now someone is sending him threatening messages saying they’re going to kill him. As the threats escalate and the police get involved, the tension builds beautifully.
The banter between Tess and Griffin when they first meet, instantly rubbing each other up the wrong way, is brilliant. Their dynamic had me smiling so much, and as their relationship evolves, the humour just gets better.
This book has everything: action, suspense, mystery, crime, family, friendship, delicious festive food (yes, mince pies!), and a twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how it would all end.
It can be read as a standalone, but I always recommend starting from book one so you can fully appreciate the wonderful characters and the community feel of Castleby.
Another addictive, fast-paced, unputdownable read. I stayed up until 2am because I just had to finish it, and I regret nothing! Grab yourself this series, you will not regret it.
This may well be one of my favourites of the series. We see a few of the normal characters, the sexy “Foxy” and the lovely kind Maggie, and new police officer Ben, giving Detective Steve Miller a break after book 5 I think he needs it.
We meet Tess Dutton, who returns to Castleby to help her sister Lorraine run the restaurant over Christmas. After working in A&E and suffering heartbreak, she’s rethinking her future. Helping out is meant to give her breathing space, but when Lorraine is suddenly out of action, Tess finds herself fully in charge. Add in staff changes, unexpected complications, and an ex Vincent, who wants her back (despite cheating on her), and things quickly become far from simple.
Griffin has also returned to Castleby after inheriting his late mum’s house. A former Navy chef who’s travelled the world, he’s carrying a heavy secret, and now someone is sending him threatening messages saying they’re going to kill him. As the threats escalate and the police get involved, the tension builds beautifully.
The banter between Tess and Griffin when they first meet, instantly rubbing each other up the wrong way, is brilliant. Their dynamic had me smiling so much, and as their relationship evolves, the humour just gets better.
This book has everything: action, suspense, mystery, crime, family, friendship, delicious festive food (yes, mince pies!), and a twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how it would all end.
It can be read as a standalone, but I always recommend starting from book one so you can fully appreciate the wonderful characters and the community feel of Castleby.
Another addictive, fast-paced, unputdownable read. I stayed up until 2am because I just had to finish it, and I regret nothing! Grab yourself this series, you will not regret it.
November 2, 2024
🎄 Christmas In Castleby • JM Simpson 🎄
★★★★
Read if you enjoy:
🎄 Mystery/crime/thrillers
🎄 Romantic suspense
🎄 Christmas vibes
🎄 A strong community
🎄 A mysterious threat
🎄 Hospitality in books
Tess arrives in Castleby to an unconscious sister who runs the local restaurant. Stepping into the role her sister occupies, Tess navigates a fully booked restaurant over the Christmas period. Griff is an ex-navy chef also new to Castleby. He’s just spent time in prison and is looking for a fresh start, which is how he ends up becoming Tess’ new restaurant chef. However, Griff is being hunted by somebody who knows all about his past, and in a tale of revenge and obsession, attempts to find happiness in a small seaside town so focused on murder.
Once again, Simpson creates the best close knit community feel in a book. Returning to the Castleby world is like returning to a well-loved holiday destination where you know and love all the locals. Except my holidays typically don’t include murder, stalking, and threats to kill.
I read this so quickly I actually completely forgot to add it to my goodreads 😂 if that isn’t the sign of a good book I don’t know what is. However, Simpson has finally created a character I didn’t actually like! Tess was too self-centered for me, but I still wanted her and Griff to get together because Griff should be protected at all costs and deserves happiness.
This is the kind of book series where you open it for the murder, and stay for the found family.
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★★★★
Read if you enjoy:
🎄 Mystery/crime/thrillers
🎄 Romantic suspense
🎄 Christmas vibes
🎄 A strong community
🎄 A mysterious threat
🎄 Hospitality in books
Tess arrives in Castleby to an unconscious sister who runs the local restaurant. Stepping into the role her sister occupies, Tess navigates a fully booked restaurant over the Christmas period. Griff is an ex-navy chef also new to Castleby. He’s just spent time in prison and is looking for a fresh start, which is how he ends up becoming Tess’ new restaurant chef. However, Griff is being hunted by somebody who knows all about his past, and in a tale of revenge and obsession, attempts to find happiness in a small seaside town so focused on murder.
Once again, Simpson creates the best close knit community feel in a book. Returning to the Castleby world is like returning to a well-loved holiday destination where you know and love all the locals. Except my holidays typically don’t include murder, stalking, and threats to kill.
I read this so quickly I actually completely forgot to add it to my goodreads 😂 if that isn’t the sign of a good book I don’t know what is. However, Simpson has finally created a character I didn’t actually like! Tess was too self-centered for me, but I still wanted her and Griff to get together because Griff should be protected at all costs and deserves happiness.
This is the kind of book series where you open it for the murder, and stay for the found family.
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November 3, 2024
Did I read this book in less than a day? Yes, yes I did. I just couldn't put it down!
This is the sixth book in the Castleby series and I have loved every one of them, so when I heard there was a Christmas one coming, I was very excited. I would recommend going back and reading the other books in the series because they are fantastic.
Griff Jones is returning to the seaside town of Castleby, following his mother's death. Griff has had a tough few years and is looking to start over. At the same time, Tess has been roped into coming to help her sister Lorraine at her restaurant over the busy Christmas period. Tess has had a couple of heartbreaks recently, plus leaving her stressful job as a nurse.
The two cross paths when Tess takes over the restaurant for an injured Lorraine and is in need of a chef. Enter, Griff. But when Griff starts receiving threatening texts and letters about something that happened in his past, culminating in attacks both on him and his house, he realises he needs to tell Tess, but how will she react?
One thing I love about the Castleby series, is that going back to them feels so comforting. Griff and Tess are new characters but are very much welcomed by the locals who we came to love in the previous books (I'm looking at you Foxy and Maggie!).
This is a shorter book than the rest but I always enjoy the pacing, tension and guessing that Simpson delivers. I just love the mix of small town vibes with some crime that keeps you on your toes!
This is the sixth book in the Castleby series and I have loved every one of them, so when I heard there was a Christmas one coming, I was very excited. I would recommend going back and reading the other books in the series because they are fantastic.
Griff Jones is returning to the seaside town of Castleby, following his mother's death. Griff has had a tough few years and is looking to start over. At the same time, Tess has been roped into coming to help her sister Lorraine at her restaurant over the busy Christmas period. Tess has had a couple of heartbreaks recently, plus leaving her stressful job as a nurse.
The two cross paths when Tess takes over the restaurant for an injured Lorraine and is in need of a chef. Enter, Griff. But when Griff starts receiving threatening texts and letters about something that happened in his past, culminating in attacks both on him and his house, he realises he needs to tell Tess, but how will she react?
One thing I love about the Castleby series, is that going back to them feels so comforting. Griff and Tess are new characters but are very much welcomed by the locals who we came to love in the previous books (I'm looking at you Foxy and Maggie!).
This is a shorter book than the rest but I always enjoy the pacing, tension and guessing that Simpson delivers. I just love the mix of small town vibes with some crime that keeps you on your toes!
March 18, 2026
I heard about Christmas in Castleby by JM Simpson when it became a finalist in The Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award. I grabbed a copy for the resultant book tour and I absolutely devoured it!
Simpson does such a good job capturing everything I love about holiday reads while keeping you on your toes. Tess Dutton heads to the charming coastal town of Castleby to lend a hand at her sister's restaurant over the Christmas season, hoping for a peaceful break from her high-pressure nursing life. But as soon as she arrives, her "worst nightmare" steps out of the shadows, pulling her straight into suspense, secrets, and unexpected danger. What starts as a cozy small-town Christmas quickly turns into a page-turning mix of romance, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists that had me racing through the chapters.
The writing is crisp and tight and I also loved the touch of romance. I can’t fault it. Fantastic read.
Simpson does such a good job capturing everything I love about holiday reads while keeping you on your toes. Tess Dutton heads to the charming coastal town of Castleby to lend a hand at her sister's restaurant over the Christmas season, hoping for a peaceful break from her high-pressure nursing life. But as soon as she arrives, her "worst nightmare" steps out of the shadows, pulling her straight into suspense, secrets, and unexpected danger. What starts as a cozy small-town Christmas quickly turns into a page-turning mix of romance, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists that had me racing through the chapters.
The writing is crisp and tight and I also loved the touch of romance. I can’t fault it. Fantastic read.
October 10, 2024
Here is my review:
Tess Dutton has returned home to Castleby to help run The Fat Gannett for Christmas. She discovers her sister, Lorraine, has had an accident and she will now be laid up for a few weeks. Griffin Jones returns home to begin a new chapter of his life after leaving the Navy, where he had been a chef and all Griff wants now is to recover from an incident from his past. However, someone is out there taunting him and refusing Griff to live his new life. Tess needs a chef and Griff steps in to help her, Linden and Beth. The book is full of laugh out loud moments, suspense, revenge, friends choosing to make their own family, full of festive cheer, and drama aplenty! It was lovely to catch up with Mags, Foxy, Solo, Rudi, and new friends, Tess, Griff, Frank the pug, and Peter. It's full of twists and turns and is a rollercoaster of a read.
Tess Dutton has returned home to Castleby to help run The Fat Gannett for Christmas. She discovers her sister, Lorraine, has had an accident and she will now be laid up for a few weeks. Griffin Jones returns home to begin a new chapter of his life after leaving the Navy, where he had been a chef and all Griff wants now is to recover from an incident from his past. However, someone is out there taunting him and refusing Griff to live his new life. Tess needs a chef and Griff steps in to help her, Linden and Beth. The book is full of laugh out loud moments, suspense, revenge, friends choosing to make their own family, full of festive cheer, and drama aplenty! It was lovely to catch up with Mags, Foxy, Solo, Rudi, and new friends, Tess, Griff, Frank the pug, and Peter. It's full of twists and turns and is a rollercoaster of a read.
November 1, 2024
Gripping, twisty, unputdownable and full of suspense. Don't forget your snacks, it'll make you hungry too!
There are some authors who's books/series I would drop everything for and JM Simpson and the Castleby series is one of the few. I have so much love for this series and jumped on the opportunity to read an early copy of Christmas in Castleby, a new festive special, in exchange for a review - a huge thank you to Jo for the opportunity!
Christmas In Castleby brings us back with friends, old and new, to the beautiful coastal village at the most wonderful time of the year. Tess arrives in Castleby to help her sister, Lorraine, with her restaurant over the busy festive period but an accident puts Tess at the forefront of the entire business. Griffin Jones (an ex-Navy chef) returns to Castleby to his late mother's house, intent on putting his past behind him and fixing up the house. As ever with the community of Castleby, the residents all pull together to assist each other and Griff becomes a huge support to Tess with the restaurant, but someone from Griff's past won't let him move on and someone from Tess' past can't help but interfere with her new happiness.
I can always count on J M Simpson to write a book that I can't put down. I always say I'm going to pace myself and then I get fully invested and must know more. I devoured this book in about two sittings, much the same as the rest of the series and I fell well and truly in love with the Castleby community all over again. Speaking of devoured, all the talk of food made me wish I was in Castleby eating with them!!
J M Simpson has a special way of writing these books that makes you unable to stop at just a few chapters. She peels away each layer of the characters to reveal more at just the right pace and every guess you've made is normally wrong. Every direction you think it's going to take, she quickly pulls you another way with the perfect blend of genres.
A wholesome community, romance, betrayal, tons of suspense and some jaw dropping twists along the way, Christmas in Castleby is a fantastic read that should be top of your Christmas reads list.
To be back with Maggie, Foxy and the gang at the most wonderful, festive time of the year is truly a great Christmas present. I can't wait to see what JM Simpson creates for us next and whether it be another Castleby addition or the new series, The Whistlers Peak, it will be top of my list.
There are some authors who's books/series I would drop everything for and JM Simpson and the Castleby series is one of the few. I have so much love for this series and jumped on the opportunity to read an early copy of Christmas in Castleby, a new festive special, in exchange for a review - a huge thank you to Jo for the opportunity!
Christmas In Castleby brings us back with friends, old and new, to the beautiful coastal village at the most wonderful time of the year. Tess arrives in Castleby to help her sister, Lorraine, with her restaurant over the busy festive period but an accident puts Tess at the forefront of the entire business. Griffin Jones (an ex-Navy chef) returns to Castleby to his late mother's house, intent on putting his past behind him and fixing up the house. As ever with the community of Castleby, the residents all pull together to assist each other and Griff becomes a huge support to Tess with the restaurant, but someone from Griff's past won't let him move on and someone from Tess' past can't help but interfere with her new happiness.
I can always count on J M Simpson to write a book that I can't put down. I always say I'm going to pace myself and then I get fully invested and must know more. I devoured this book in about two sittings, much the same as the rest of the series and I fell well and truly in love with the Castleby community all over again. Speaking of devoured, all the talk of food made me wish I was in Castleby eating with them!!
J M Simpson has a special way of writing these books that makes you unable to stop at just a few chapters. She peels away each layer of the characters to reveal more at just the right pace and every guess you've made is normally wrong. Every direction you think it's going to take, she quickly pulls you another way with the perfect blend of genres.
A wholesome community, romance, betrayal, tons of suspense and some jaw dropping twists along the way, Christmas in Castleby is a fantastic read that should be top of your Christmas reads list.
To be back with Maggie, Foxy and the gang at the most wonderful, festive time of the year is truly a great Christmas present. I can't wait to see what JM Simpson creates for us next and whether it be another Castleby addition or the new series, The Whistlers Peak, it will be top of my list.
November 1, 2024
Such an easy 5⭐️
This was an excellent xmas special from J M Simpson. The Castleby series is top stuff, and this book serves to cement that.
More characters to love as well as old favourites and another venue to centre around, this time a restaurant. Be warned, though. Reading this book will make you hungry, both for food and for more Castleby!
This was an excellent xmas special from J M Simpson. The Castleby series is top stuff, and this book serves to cement that.
More characters to love as well as old favourites and another venue to centre around, this time a restaurant. Be warned, though. Reading this book will make you hungry, both for food and for more Castleby!
November 2, 2024
As always I was hooked from the first page, the suspense and intrigue draws you in straightaway.
Even though this story introduces you to new characters and their story in Castleby it still felt like coming home because of the authors unique writing style that wraps you in a warm hug.
The story is laced with mystery, heartbreak, romance and a little humour which is the perfect mix for this emotionally gripping read.
This latest instalment first perfectly with the rest of The Castleby Series and it makes you feel so festive.
I wish more people knew about this series and it got the recognition it deserves.
You can read this as a standalone but if you read it and enjoy it please go back and read the whole series.
Even though this story introduces you to new characters and their story in Castleby it still felt like coming home because of the authors unique writing style that wraps you in a warm hug.
The story is laced with mystery, heartbreak, romance and a little humour which is the perfect mix for this emotionally gripping read.
This latest instalment first perfectly with the rest of The Castleby Series and it makes you feel so festive.
I wish more people knew about this series and it got the recognition it deserves.
You can read this as a standalone but if you read it and enjoy it please go back and read the whole series.
December 24, 2024
I'm so pleased and WAS VERY EXCITED when I heard we could all go to Castleby at Christmas time and it was as thrilling and as gripping as ever.
Christmas at Castleby works as a stand alone with introductions to new characters.
If you haven't read the series don't let this stop you from reading this one, its a great read that had me completely gripped from start to finish.
Jo has created a community everyone wants to be a part of. With the fantastic mix of thrilling story lines with a touch of romance you soon find yourself drawn in and right at the heart of the lives of those who live or visit Castleby.
Love the series and love this stand alone.
Thanks Jo for creating such brilliantly addictive reads that are superb page turners and absolutely unputdownable
Christmas at Castleby works as a stand alone with introductions to new characters.
If you haven't read the series don't let this stop you from reading this one, its a great read that had me completely gripped from start to finish.
Jo has created a community everyone wants to be a part of. With the fantastic mix of thrilling story lines with a touch of romance you soon find yourself drawn in and right at the heart of the lives of those who live or visit Castleby.
Love the series and love this stand alone.
Thanks Jo for creating such brilliantly addictive reads that are superb page turners and absolutely unputdownable
February 14, 2026
great story with a Christmas hint and lots of suspense
Brilliant story with some lovable characters and a hint of Christmas to carry the story along. Lots of excitement and suspense as they wind their way through the story. Fab.
Brilliant story with some lovable characters and a hint of Christmas to carry the story along. Lots of excitement and suspense as they wind their way through the story. Fab.
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