During December I took part in the Happy Harper Christmas event, an online celebration of Harper Impulse' festive reads. As part of the event, I took part in the '3dathon', a very manageable readathon because, as the name suggests, the aim was to read three books!
Firstly, I read Brigid Coady's short story collection A Stocking Full of Romance. Containing seven stories to satisfy romance readers of every type, each story had it's own unique flavour. The first two stories which were more traditional in style were my favourites, but there were quirkier reads that will appeal to anyone looking for something fresh. If you enjoy short stories, give this one a try!
Next I went for something totally different, Loving Winter Nights, Love Romance. This perma-free story was written in a round robin style by a number of Harper Impulse authors and as a writer I loved the idea of reading a collaborative project written without a plan. Without giving away the plot, this was full of tense scenes that made me wonder where it was heading, with a thread of romance interwoven for good measure. I really loved the interview with the authors at the end, where they all spoke of their experience taking part in the project. An interesting idea and well written, but at times, unsurprisingly when you consider the way it was written, the plot veered off on unnecessary tangents.
Finally, I read Cold Feet at Christmas, which had been a huge success for Debbie Johnson back in 2014. It was even Christmas number 1 in the iTunes book chart! It took me a while to get into this one - I'd made the mistake of judging a book by its cover and had been expecting 'chicklit' (this was a pretty hot romance). I'd also taken the cold feet to mean a nervous bride, rather than one who'd been jilted - the cold feet of the title were literal, rather than metaphorical. The first section was built mainly around the sexual attraction between the two lead characters, with hints at the secrets of their pasts dropped in. I definitely found the second half of the book 'meatier' and as I found out more about the characters and their lives it explained some of their choices and behaviours. I also loved the Chicago scenes and reliving my own night up the Hancock Tower. Why more books aren't set there I don't know, because it really is a city with everything going for it. I'm looking forward to reading more Debbie Johnson now, and hear great things about her most recent release, Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper.
Did you take part in the event? If so, I'd love to hear what you read!
The Blurb
Amy Tucker is single. So single in fact she hasn’t had a man in her room for three years and her idea of a good time is buying new kitchenware at Ikea. So when she wakes up on Christmas Eve to find a strange man at the end of her bed, she is more than surprised.
Least of all, when the beautiful man claims to be Santa and has sexy stubble to rival George Clooney.
Santa whisks Amy on an exciting and unforgettable journey around the world through time and space. But can he really make Amy's Christmas dreams come true?
The Review
This novella's been sat unread on my kindle for a long time. That's not because I didn't want to read it, because I did. But I just can't get my head around reading overtly Christmassy fiction outside of the festive season, and as there are so many new seasonal releases each year I seem to end up with a backlog each year.
I'm really glad I decided to read this one. Scarlett Bailey (alterego for Rowan Coleman) writes with a verve and energy that make me desperate to turn the pages at breakneck speed. Santa Maybe was no exception. With elements of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this is a fun read about life, love and family.
When Amy finds Santa in her bedroom, she doesn't know what's going on. Is she dreaming? Hallucinating? Or could the man in red really be the love of her life? She's taken on a magical journey through time and space, visiting faraway lands and mixing with Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, and as Christmas draws nearer she's faced with the ultimate choice - family or true love?
There were times I had to suspend my disbelief as this is essentially a festive fairytale for adults, but that's the beauty of fiction - anything can happen! And in Santa Maybe it probably does...
A read to whisk you away from the Christmas mayhem to a place where anything can happen.
Santa Maybe is out now, published by Ebury Digital.
Today's review is part of the Around the World blog tour organised by Book Connectors in partnership with Trip Fiction and I'm delighted to be one of the first to share my thoughts on Carmel Harrington's new release Every Time a Bell Rings.
The Blurb
Belle has taken all the Christmas decorations down. This year they won’t be celebrating. As foster parents, Belle and Jim have given many children the chance of a happier start in life. They’ve loved them as if they were their own. They shouldn’t have favourites but little Lauren has touched their hearts. And now her mother is well enough to take her back and Belle can’t bear the loss.
Hence, Christmas is cancelled.
So when Jim crashes his car one icy December night, after an argument about Lauren, Belle can only blame herself. Everything she loves is lost. And Belle finds herself standing on The Ha’Penny Bridge wishing she had never been born.
But what happens to a Christmas wish when an angel is listening…
Will Belle realise, before it’s too late, that her life is the most wonderful life of all?
Inspired by the timeless tale of beloved Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, Carmel Harrington’s next book tells the story of Belle, a young woman and foster carer from Dublin who faces the hardest decision of her life this Christmas on The Ha’Penny Bridge.
Full of Irish charm, magic, and the warmth of the festive season this is an emotional, heartwarming story that will stay with you long after you’ve reached ‘The End’. Perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern & Jojo Moyes.
Carmel is the bestselling author of The Life You Left & Beyond Grace’s Rainbow, voted Romantic eBook of the Year 2013.
The Review Oh why is it so hard to review a book you really loved? It should be so incredibly effortless to string together a run of superlatives and reiterate the key points in a book in just the right way to create a review that encourages everyone who reads it that this is a book they must read.
But for me these reviews are the most difficult to write, maybe because of some inner pressure to do the book justice or because you don't want to spoil the story for anyone who does decide to pick it up. As a book reviewer, I review books. The clue is in the name. So I'm just going to have to do my best and hope that it's enough. Here goes nothing...
At first glance Every Time a Bell Rings is a Christmas book. It's got a cover reminiscent of a classic Christmas card, a title taken directly from one of the most popular festive films of all-time and has plenty of references to the pop songs which are played on loop from the end of October through til New Year's Eve.
However, this book is so much more than a Christmas romance.
Set in Dublin, Every Time a Bell Rings is the story of Belle Bailey and Jim 'the big ride' Looney's relationship. It follows their lives together from their childhood in foster care through to their reunion, marriage and their own parenting journey.
Neither Belle nor Jim had an easy start in life and my heart broke for them as they came to terms with life in a foster family, but it's not all doom and gloom. Carmel Harrington manages to fill even the most bleak scenes with a distant sense of hope and that's why this book has made such a lasting impression on me. There are some upsetting moments, such as when Belle struggles with her mother's response to her letters, and another storyline later in the book had me sobbing uncontrollably.
But overall the powerful message woven into every page of this story is that every life is important. Every person has something to offer. Your actions impact on others. What you do, however small, has the potential to change the world, whether that's directly or indirectly. You matter.
Belle and Jim's story is heartfelt and beautiful, gorgeously written in a way that tugged hard on my heartstrings. Don't be fooled by the Christmassy exterior - Every Time a Bell Rings is a novel that can help you reassess your place in the world at any time of year. The famous quotes at the start of each chapter give even more food for thought.
I'm certain this is going to be another bestseller for Carmel Harrington. Buy it. You won't regret it.
Every Time a Bell Rings is released on October 15th in ebook format and November 19th in paperback, published by Harper Impulse. Pre order here.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
The Around The World Blog Tour is a partnership between TripFiction and #BookConnectors ~ bloggers and authors, travelling the world through fiction.
TripFiction was created to make it easy to match a location with a book and help you select good literature that is most pertinent and relevant to your trip. A resource for armchair and actual travellers, it is a unique way of exploring a place through the eyes of an author. We blog, and chat books and travel across Social Media, and love to meet authors and bloggers as we take our literary journey.
Book Connectors was created as a place on Facebook for Bloggers, authors and small publishers to share their news.
We encourage book promotions; information about competitions and giveaways; news of events, including launch events, signings, talks or courses. Talk about new signings, about film deals .... anything really.
Book Connectors is a friendly group, there are no rules or guidelines - just be polite and respectful to each other.
It's been a while since I've read a Judy Astley book, but I love the look of this one! Christmas and weddings are two of my favourite things, and combined it's enough to make my little heart whoop with joy. I'm looking forward to reading this one closer to Christmas, but it's released on October 8th, published by Transworld.
The Blurb
It is almost a year since Sean and Thea met and it's been a roller-coaster ride: they're getting married on Christmas Day!
Neither Thea or Sean want a big fuss - a simple wedding, with Christmas lights and just a few sprigs of mistletoe for decoration is all they need. But before they know it, things begin to get complicated. Trying to manage a long-distance relationship in the build-up to their Christmas wedding is one thing, but as one challenge after another comes their way, the happy couple begin to wonder if they'll ever make it down the aisle . . .
With unforgettable characters, charming romance and lots of laughter, A Merry Mistletoe Wedding is a gorgeous Christmas read - perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Milly Johnson.
As it's Hot Key Books week on my blog, I had to choose one of their upcoming releases as my Waiting on Wednesday! I love Christmassy books and Lily and the Christmas Wish looks like the perfect heart-warming seasonal read.
The Blurb
When a town's Christmas wishes get mixed-up, can one little girl and her dog put them right? The little town of Beechwood can't wait for Christmas this year. They're going to celebrate by putting up a giant Christmas tree in the town square, and asking all the townspeople to hang a Christmas wish on its branches. Everyone is feeling very festive - everyone except for nine-year-old Lily. She's only got one thing she wants for Christmas this year, and she's not sure it can ever come true. But she's determined to try - and so when she sees a shooting star just as she hangs her wish, she wishes as hard as she possibly can...and wakes up the next morning to a bit of a surprise. Bug, her adorable pug puppy, can talk! It's magic - and a wish come true! But it's not Lily's wish...Lily and her little brother James soon discover that something happened last night at the wishing tree - the wishes have been granted, but to the wrong people! They'll have to work out which wish belongs to who, and sort everything out before Christmas Day - otherwise no one will get what they want for Christmas.
Lily and the Christmas Wish is released on November 5th, published by Hot Key Books.
This is a Waiting on Wednesday first for me- there's not even a temporary cover for the book I've chosen yet, so I've used a still from the film it's inspired by! As it's the #HIReadathon, I decided to go for a Harper Impulse book. I love a festive read and am already excited about my annual Advent-ures in Fiction feature that runs here on Books with Bunny throughout December- and one I'll definitely be including is Carmel Harrington's Every Time a Bell Rings.
The Blurb
An angel gets its wings…
Belle has taken all the Christmas decorations down. This year they won’t be celebrating.
As foster parents, Belle and Jim have given many children the chance of a happier start in life. They’ve loved them as if they were their own. They shouldn’t have favourites but little Lauren has touched their hearts. And now her mother is well enough to take her back and Belle can’t bear the loss.
Hence, Christmas is cancelled.
So when Jim crashes his car one icy December night, after an argument about Lauren, Belle can only blame herself. Everything she loves is lost. And Belle finds herself standing on The Ha’Penny Bridge wishing she had never been born.
But what happens to a Christmas wish when an angel is listening…
Will Belle realise, before it’s too late, that her life is the most wonderful life of all?
Inspired by the timeless tale of beloved Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, Carmel Harrington’s next book tells the story of Belle, a young woman and foster carer from Dublin who faces the hardest decision of her life this Christmas on The Ha’Penny Bridge.
Full of Irish charm, magic, and the warmth of the festive season this is an emotional, heartwarming story that will stay with you long after you’ve reached ‘The End’. Perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern & Jojo Moyes.
Every Time a Bell Rings is due for release on 15th October 2015, published by Harper Impulse.
The Blurb
The second short story in the fun & flirty #LoveLondon series from exciting new chick lit author Nikki Moore!
New Year, New Love… or Old Love, New Start?
Everyone keeps telling Frankie Taylor that a new year is a time for new beginnings. She's not so sure. Single for six months, she's been more than happy on her own, thanks very much!
At least, that's what she thinks until she receives a note on New Year’s Eve inviting her to follow the clues, and her heart, across Knightsbridge.
But who's behind the romantic adventure? Old flame Christian who she loved for years and was always there for her, or new admirer and work colleague Zack, who has the habit of turning up in all sorts of unexpected places?
There's only one way she's going to find out…
The Review
I've got to start by saying this series was made for me. I absolutely adore London, romance and quick reads, so I must be right up there as Nikki Moore's target market. I read the first book in the series (although the link is the London setting- the stories themselves are stand alone) Skating at Somerset House last month and couldn't wait to read New Year at the Ritz. I'd pressed 'buy now' on the Kindle as soon as I'd finished book one.
This time we meet Frankie. She's had a tough time since her Mum died what with the break down of her long term relationship and the impact of an accident on her life. Add to that that she lives above a stinking kebab shop and it's fair to say she feels pretty down on her luck.
All that changes when she's sent a New Year's Eve note from a secret admirer. Frankie is baffled by the attention, but most of all she's intrigued. Could it be her wealthy ex Christian trying to win her back? Or the lovely, kindhearted Zack who's been there for her in her darkest time?
I loved the idea of a romantic trail of clues leading to a glamorous start to the new year, and it made for a quirky romantic novella. Frankie is the epitome of a woman who is stronger than she thinks and I found her easy to relate to throughout (although it's fair to say no man has ever treated me to the level of pampering she gets in the run up to meeting her date!).
The fireworks over London as Big Ben strikes midnight is a big part of NYE for many people, and these final scenes where the romance frantically unfurled were satisfying in the extreme. Although I'm left wanting so much more- please let there be an update on all the characters at some point! I need to know if they got their 'happily ever after's'!
Whilst I enjoyed the first in the series more, New Year at the Ritz has the potential to sweep you off your feet and whisk you away to an opulent, indulgent place.
Go on, spoil yourself. Because Nikki Moore is going to be big, and when she is, you can say 'I read her when...'
New Year at the Ritz is out now, published by Harper Impulse, an imprint of Harper Collins publishers.
The first short story in the fun & flirty #LoveLondon series from exciting new chick lit author Nikki Moore!
There’s nothing Holly Winterlake loves more than Christmas and skating, so working as an Ice Marshall at London's Somerset House is a dream come true.
Noel Summerford hates the festive season and is a disaster on the ice, so taking his godson to Somerset House is his idea of the nightmare before Christmas!
Things are bound to get interesting when these two collide…
With a forty foot Christmas tree, an assortment of well meaning friends and relatives, and a mad chocolate Labrador, will this festive season be one to remember … or forget?
The Review
I first heard of Nikki Moore when I read the Be My Valentine short story collection last year. I was immediately a huge fan of her writing (you can read what I thought here ), and was thrilled to hear Harper Impulse were publishing a collection of her novellas. The Love London series starts with Skating at Somerset House and it's fair to say this first instalment was worth the wait. Nikki Moore writes books I find really easy to read, her style is natural and flowing with a fast paced dialogue.
Noel, the male lead, is a bit of a grumpy Grinch-reluctantly taking his godson ice skating at the beautiful Somerset House in the run up to Christmas. However, it doesn't take long for him to notice Holly Winterlake, a lover of all things festive. Formerly a star skater, now a marshall on the ice rink, Holly is also attracted to Noel. They might not share a love of Christmas, but as they get to know each other better over luxury hot chocolates it's obviously the start of something special.
The story is a bit of a When Harry Met Sally- the reader knows love is blooming before the characters do- and despite the frosty, winter setting it's a cosy read that left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I wasn't feeling well when I read this and it gave me a boost-so much so that I had to tweet the author to say thank you for perking me up! Personally, I wasn't keen on both the main characters having wintery names, but other than that it was pretty darn perfect.
This is a fun, festive read that has definitely whetted my appetite for the rest of the series!
I received a galley copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Christmas might be over but there's some final wrapping up to do at Books with Bunny...
I've had a rollercoaster year health-wise as some of you know, and as 2014 drew to a close I found myself with answers as to why I've been feeling rubbish for so long. After a hospital admission, an ECG, X-Rays, a flexi-scope, a colonoscopy and biopsies taken, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease just before Christmas- where the digestive tract becomes inflamed. Crohn's manifests itself in lots of different and unpleasant ways, and not everyone with IBD (the umbrella term which covers both Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) has the same symptoms and signs- mine are abdominal pain, diarrhoea (sometimes with blood/mucus), achy joints, extreme fatigue and feeling feverish. It is a disease which has no cure, but it can go into long term remission. That's my main goal for 2015-to get it under control so there's less chance of me needing harsh treatments or surgery. I'm currently taking a high dose of steroids to try and reduce the inflammation that's spread through my colon, awaiting a very sci-fi sounding capsule test which will see if there's inflammation elsewhere and have numerous appointments at the hospital with specialists to assess the best medication for me.
With all this going on, my blog has naturally had to take a back seat for a while.
I'm not going to get the chance to catch up with writing the reviews I missed out on when I was at my most poorly, so, just for a sense of finality, here are the other books I've read this year that I haven't had chance to review. I'm planning on 2015 being a new slate in many, many ways, so it's time to wrap 2014 up!
I read and enjoyed-
The Wrong Knickers- Bryony Gordon
Geek Girl 2- Holly Smale
Beautiful Bastard- Christina Lauren
Beautiful Stranger- Christina Lauren
Beautiful Player- Christina Lauren
The Christmas Bake Off- Abby Clements
The Little Stranger- Sarah Waters
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes- Anna McPartlin (review coming in January, as it is released in paperback on New Years Day)
The Girl on the Train- Paula Hawkins (review coming on January 15th 2015, as this one isn't actually released yet)
I read and wasn't so keen on-
All I Want for Christmas- Claudia Carroll
I was nowhere near my target of 250 books read in 2014, but I enjoyed my reading, blogging and the wonderful friendships I made and built on with other bloggers, authors and publicists throughout the year.
I loved Jenny Oliver's last Christmassy offering. The Parisian Christmas Bake Off was sweet, fun and festive (you can read my review) and it's fair to say I was very excited to find out what she'd be bringing to the table this year.
The Blurb
Christmas at the Davenports’ house was always about one thing: food!
But when sisters Ella and Maddy were split up, Ella to live in London with their Dad, and Maddy staying in Greece with their Mum, mince pies lost their magic. Now, a cheating husband has thrown Ella a curved snowball…and for the first time in years, all she wants is her mum. So she heads back to Greece, where her family’s taverna holds all the promise of home. Meanwhile, waitress Maddy’s dreams of a white Christmas lead her back to London…and her Dad. But a big fat festive life-swap isn’t as easy as it sounds! And as the sisters trade one kitchen for another, it suddenly seems that among the cinnamon, cranberries and icing sugar, their recipes for a perfect Christmas might be missing a crucial ingredient: each other.
The Review
The Little Christmas Kitchen started off with a bang as Ella ran from her problems in London and hot tailed it to Greece- I was immediately interested in her story. We are led to believe she had a nigh on perfect life until finding out her husband has been cheating on her with one of 'the girls' and I would perhaps have liked this to have been shown a bit more of their relationship before things went belly up. However, I loved the imagery and doubt of her 'taxi scene' and the thought of her hapless cheat balancing a ten or twelve foot tree precariously as she walks from their flat.
Maddy on the other hand-well, I struggled to warm to her at first -I'm not sure if it was because in the early chapters she was portrayed as self centred and jealous of her sister's London lifestyle (although I did always admire Maddy's drive and the pursuit of following her dreams to sing).
Being honest, this story didn't grab me in the same way The Parisian Christmas Bake Off did. I loved the wonderfully descriptive writing and zippy dialogue, yet there were occasions in the first 25% where I skimmed over the text. I suppose it was a bit of a slow burner for me. However, by the end I was well and truly won over, enjoyed finding out how life changed for both sisters, and when it came to the descriptions of the food ... wow. Just wow. I think I actually physically drooled.
Overall, this is an easy chick lit read about the difficulties families and relationships face, with festive undertones and a foodie flavour. If, like me, you aren't immediately hooked, it is well worth persevering. My opinion definitely changed as the story developed and characters I was convinced I didn't give two hoots about won me over and had me hoping for resolutions and a hopeful future. The Little Christmas Kitchen is a charming read.
This looks like such a fun read for those long winter nights! I can't wait to get stuck in!
Out on 4th December
Book 1, #LoveLondon Series; Skating at Somerset House by
Nikki Moore
There’s nothing Holly Winterlake loves more than
Christmas and skating, so working as an Ice Marshall at London's Somerset House
is a dream come true.
Noel Summerford hates the festive season and is
a disaster on the ice, so taking his godson to Somerset House is his idea of
the nightmare before Christmas!
Things are bound to get interesting when these
two collide…
With a forty foot Christmas tree, an assortment
of well meaning friends and relatives, and a mad chocolate Labrador, will this
festive season be one to remember … or forget?
It's time for more Advent-ures in Fiction! Today I'm talking about Shelia Roberts' festive offering On Strike for Christmas.
The Blurb
It's time for the men to take over . . . NYT Bestselling author Sheila Roberts gives the best gift of all in this funny, heartwarming story that touches the very core of Christmas spirit.
At Christmas time, it seems as though a woman's work is never done. Trimming the tree, mailing the cards, schlepping to the mall, the endless wrapping - bah humbug! So this year, Joy and Laura and the rest of their knitting group decide to go on strike. If their husbands and families want a nice holiday filled with parties, decorations, and presents - well, they'll just have to do it themselves.
The boycott soon takes on a life of its own when a reporter picks up the story and more women join in. But as Christmas Day approaches, Joy, Laura, and their husbands confront larger issues in their marriages and discover that a little holiday magic is exactly what they need to come together.
Sheila Roberts makes me laugh. I read her books and come away inspired, hopeful, and happy. - Debbie Macomber
The Review
This is the first Sheila Roberts book I've read, and she's not an author I'm familiar with at all. I haven't heard of her in the book blogging community or on the bookish forums; I haven't seen people tagging her books as 'to read' on Goodreads. And after reading On Strike for Christmas, frankly I'm surprised. There are other authors out there of a similar ilk who are better known but that in my opinion don't write with as much verve and insight.
This is a gentle book really, examining gender roles and Christmas tradition in a jovial way. I could certainly relate to Joy! When she's dashing about trying to create a festive environment for her family and conjure up a Christmas to remember, her husband Bob seems rather miserable about the whole affair. And she soon realises her household isn't the only one like that and there's a revolution on their hands! Can the men take up the reins? And can the women give up their control?
At times this book was a little bit twee, but overall it is a warm and cosy read to unwind with after you've been battling the crowds on the high street or slaving over a hot stove at home. You don't need to concentrate to enjoy the writing style which is conversational and flows at a steady pace.
It might be a little bit too gentle for me, but for fans of writers such as Debbie Macomber and Cecelia Ahern, I can imagine this is a perfect Christmas treat.
It's the final day of Advent-ures in Fiction 2013! It's Chriiiiiiiiisssssstmmmaaaassssss! (In Noddy Holder style).
Today I am fortunate enough to have an exclusive piece by Trisha Ashley and a review of her most recent book Wish Upon a Star.
Blurb
The perfect gift isn’t always under the tree…
Single mum Cally’s life is
all about her little girl Stella. She’s resigned to the fact that the only
romance she’s going to get is from the rom-coms she watches, and with her busy
job and her daughter, she doesn’t have time to even think about love.
But
life gets very tough when Stella gets sick. Balancing her job as a recipe writer
and looking after Stella is all consuming, so when Cally meets handsome baker
Jago the last thing she wants to do is fall in love, especially when she’s been
badly burned by a Prince Charming from her past.
Can laid-back, charming Jago
unlock Cally’s frozen heart and help her find true love and magic under the
mistletoe?
Come home for Christmas with this gorgeous festive treat,
perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell.
Review
Trisha Ashley writes cosy books which appeal to a slightly older chicklit audience. This is another heart warming read about the village of Sticklepond, somewhere that community spirit still reigns and the same families have lived for generations. I found it really uplifting how the village pulled together to raise money for Stella to have a much needed operation. It is especially poignant at Christmas when so much pressure to consume and 'have' is all around- a reminder that all the fuss is unimportant and what really matters is family, hope and love.
I really like Cally as a character, she is easy to relate to and I expect all mothers will be able to see aspects of themselves in her. The desire to help her daughter in whatever way possible and provide for her as well as possible shines out from the pages and I loved the romance between her and Jago. Infact, I think Jago was just about perfect as a romantic hero and developed a bit of a book crush on him myself!
This isn't an out and out Christmas book, but it is a touching, emotive read that warms the heart.
Wish Upon a Star is out now, published by Avon.
8/10
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Trisha very kindly agreed to share some of the special gifts she has received in Christmases past...
When I was young and just married
and we were hard-up, my ex husband always seemed to buy me practical woolly
hats, gloves and scarves, when what my heart craved was something pretty,
sparkly or frivolous.Much later he
redeemed himself with the inspired gift of the unabridged audiobook of Natalie
Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones read by the author, which I still have.
My son chooses the most wonderful gifts –
quirky, lovely, amusing – and, knowing my tastes so well, usually puts in some
chocolate violet creams and Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans – in fact, I now
associate the smell of freshly ground Blue Mountain coffee with Christmas!
A Christmas Wish is a festive ebook short released by Carole this month. At the time of writing it is free to download on Amazon and also gives a sample chapter of Carole's latest novel, Calling Mrs Christmas (being reviewed on Books with Bunny very soon!)
A Christmas Wish is written in a first person narrative, giving us an insight into broken hearted Hannah's feeling. She is revisiting Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland, a place which holds memories of a date with he ex Mitchell.
The absolute highlight is how wonderfully the carousel is described. All it's magical glory is described vividly-the colour, the speed, the escapism. I am a bit of a fan of traditional fairground rides anyway, but Carole Matthews really reminded me why. They are aesthetically beautiful, allow for nostalgic reflection and enable us adults to regress to a time of life where we had fewer cares.
It is a really lovely read, beautifully written and well worth a download. It gives a flavour of what Carole has to offer in her novels (which are fantastic-I particularly recommend some of her more recent releases).
A Christmas Wish is out now in ebook format.
8/10
Carole very kindly agreed to take part in a festive Question and Answer with me and here is what she had to say.... Do you have any festive traditions that are important to you at Christmas?
I love spending time decorating the house. Inside and out. We put the cheesy Christmas tunes on - thank you, Michael Buble - break out the wine and the mince pies and spend most of the day knee-deep in glitter.
Would you like a white Christmas this year?
Yes! I’m one of the few people who love snow. I think it comes from working from home and not having to go out in it except to play. We always build a snowman.
What are you hoping for under your tree this Christmas?
Ugg boots. It’s a dead cert as I went and bought them myself to make sure!
What is your favourite Christmas carol?
I’m not a big one for carols, but my favourite song is Judy Garland singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. Has me in bits every time I hear it.
If you were a Christmas Elf what would your name be?
‘This was where her dreams drifted to if she didn’t blot her nights out
with drink; this was where her thoughts settled if she didn’t fill her days with
chat. She remembered this tiny, remote foreign village on a molecular level and
the sight of it soaked into her like water into sand, because this was where her
old life had ended and her new one had begun.’ Portobello – home to the
world-famous street market, Notting Hill Carnival and Clem Alderton. She’s the
queen of the scene, the girl everyone wants to be or be with. But beneath the
morning-after makeup, Clem is keeping a secret, and when she goes too far one
reckless night she endangers everything – her home, her job and even her adored
brother’s love. Portofino – a place of wild beauty and old-school glamour, and
where a neglected villa has been bought by a handsome stranger. He wants Clem to
restore it for him and it seems like the answer to all her problems – except
that Clem has been there once before and vowed, for her own protection, never to
return . . .
I'd heard really good things about Karen Swan's previous books and was very keen to read Christmas at Claridge's. I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it was in the chicklit/women's fiction genre, but Didn't know if it would be out and out humour, fairly serious, chock full of romance, borderline farce... It is actually very much a book about relationships. Friendships, work relationships, siblings, work colleagues-all of them are explored in Christmas at Claridge's. It has attitude without losing heart, which is what most appealed to me.
Like a few of the other books in my Advent-ures in Fiction project, it isn't a full on Christmas read. I'd gone into it thinking it would be very much about a shop in the run up to Christmas (purely going on the title), yet in reality it isn't that festive. This will make it readable at any time of year (I know lots of people who don't want to read a Christmas book when lying on a sunlounger in Majorca in July).
I really liked Clem, the protagonist and found her easy to relate to. I especially enjoyed finding out more about her close relationship with her brother Tom, loving how their bond was examined throughout the book.
I did find it took maybe 80 pages to get really interested in this book, but once I had found out a bit about the characters and their history I was engrossed. I'll definitely be looking out for Karen Swan's other books as I found Christmas at Claridge's a warm, entertaining read.
Christmas at Claridge's is out now, published by Pan.
7.5/10
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Blurb
Angela’s planning her very own fairytale of New York…
• Enormous Christmas tree
• Eggnog
• Eccentric British traditions
•
Gorgeous man
But Santa’s throwing her a few curveballs – new job (as if it’s not mental
enough already), new baby-craze from her best friend Jenny, and Alex determined
they should grow up and settle down. Once friends start turning up uninvited on
her doorstep (and leading her astray), can Angela really have a merry little
Christmas? So much for happy holidays – something’s got to
give…
Review
Just incase you've been living under a rock for the past few years, I need to start by saying I Heart Christmas is part of a series. You could read it as a stand alone novel, but it would be much better to start at the very beginning to get to see the characters develop and find out how they are interlinked. Lindsey Kelk's writing style is fun, fresh and particularly appealing for a new adult/20s-30s female audience.
It was lovely to catch up with Angela, Alex and friends as they juggle life, love and Christmas mayhem in New York City. Let's face it, it is a perfect place at Christmas. *insert gratuitous, yet grainy picture of me and hubby at Rock Center in New York on our honeymoon, Christmas 2005*
Despite the title, I Heart Christmas is not overly festive. There are Christmassy references but these aren't dished out every other sentence, which will make this novel readable whatever the weather outside. Personally, I had hoped for slightly more festivity as I was reading it the week before Christmas and tinsel, fairy lights and wrapping paper were taking up every other aspect of my life!
I Heart Christmas is full of the trademark humour Kelk is famous for, the quick one liners and larger than life characters. If you've read the other books in the series this is very much of the same ilk-a warm, entertaining read. If you haven't read any before then think the fun of Sophie Kinsella with a bit more edginess and you won't be far off the mark.
I think it's time for me to do some rereading of books by the Kelkster and I'm making plans to run a Lindsey Kelk week here on Books with Bunny during 2014!
I Heart Christmas is out now.
8.5/10
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Lindsey very kindly agreed to write an exclusive piece for us about Christmas, in her own inimitable style....
I have been in love
with Christmas for as long as I can remember and yet, when I think back, there
were so very many traumatising Christmases that really should have challenged
my devotion. One of my very earliest Christmas memories involved a particularly
unpleasant illness that resulted on me laying on the settee all day when I was
about five, wrapped up in a very attractive quilted dressing gown, and
whimpering pathetically until I threw up all over said attractive quilted
dressing gown, my teddy bear and the settee.
A couple of years
later, when I was a very mature six years old and had totally grown out of
quilted dressing gowns, I remember sitting on the same settee (it had been
cleaned) watching my mum dress the Christmas tree. I remember being utterly
consumed by a desperate need to help put the baubles on the tree. Seriously, I
can’t even begin to describe to you how badly I wanted it. As an adult, the
only vaguely comparable yearning I can compare it to, would be waking up to
find Michael Fassbender naked in your bed, holding a Chanel 2.55 in one hand, a
pair of Louboutins in the other and dangling a Tiffany diamond necklace from
his peen and not knowing where to start. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Pete’s
Dragon was on the telly. Pete’s Dragon is a really emotional film. Anyway, it
was 1986, I was probably very badly dressed and I wanted to hang one bloody
bauble on that bloody tree. But my mum wasn’t having any of it. And so I did
what any right-minded young lady would have done. I had a complete and utter
emotional breakdown. Screaming, crying, hiccupping, the works. Of course, my
mum responded as any right-minded young mother would. She turned, raised an
eyebrow and calmly explained that behaviour such as this was the reason I was
not allowed to help dress the tree.
The Blurb
As the snow starts to fall on Manhattan, PA Dory Mackenzie is a long way from home, far from the comforts and cheer of her cozy family Christmases back in Liverpool.
So when her boss Tyler Alexander offers to pay her pricey ticket home for New Year, Dory just can’t say no… even if she has to pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays!
Tyler may be hiding the real reason he needs a girlfriend-of-convenience but that’s the least of Dory’s worries when she’s up against the disapproval of his high society mother, and the suspicions of his gorgeous older brother Lucas, the black sheep of the family.
There’s no fooling Lucas, and it’s not just the truth he wants to get closer to… So before the bells have even rung out for Christmas day, Dory finds herself caught up in the Alexander family’s dramas – and sharing more than just a few kisses under the mistletoe!
Lose yourself in this gorgeously romantic and heart-warming novella this holiday season.
Review
I really enjoyed this humorous Christmas read from Sophie Pembroke. As a Brit myself I appreciated the references to a typical British Christmas (it just wouldn't be the same without a bit of Cliff, would it?), but also the escapism of the high flying New York lifestyle and the opulent living of the wealthy Alexander family.
The characters were great-I really warmed to Dory in particular. She seemed very 'real', the type of girl you could easily come across at work or sitting across from you in a pub. I also liked the Alexander family- from typical protective, cynical mother Felicia to the wild cannon of Tyler they were almost caricatures, which made them highly amusing to read about! The relationship between brothers Tyler and Lucas and how they were viewed by their parents was also really interesting and made me contemplate how children are perceived by their parents. Family and Christmas...not always as easy as it looks in the movies!
This was a really easy read that I seemed to speed through at a rapid pace, always the sign of a good story! The tension built well as the story progressed, and I was desperate to know how it would end.
The Kiss Before Christmas is out now, published by Harper Impulse.
8.5/10
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novella in return for an honest review.
Jessie Collins is going to Lapland. It's somewhere she's always wanted to go, particularly at Christmas. But her trip isn't going to be how she'd imagined it. Her beloved husband Jase passed away and Jessie will be making the trip with her brother and his friends. Can the magic of Lapland help her face her loss, allowing her to move forward with her own life?
The First Christmas Without You is not an out-and-out Christmas romance as it also tackles bereavement and loss. It did take me a while to become fully immersed in the story, but once I did I really wanted happiness and peace for Jessie. One thing I especially liked about this book is that at 42 the protagonist is a bit older than in many romances, which will perhaps add appeal for a slightly older readership.
The setting was absolutely perfect, dreamlike imagery of Lapland and the snow-covered landscape added to the romantic feel of the book.
Tender and poignant, if you are looking for a book that will touch your heart this Christmas, you may just have found it.
The First Christmas Without You is out now, published by Harper Impulse.
7.5/10
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
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When chalet girl Amy Wright finds her ex’s name on Chalet Repos’ guest list
she sees her chance to get back at him – Josh Carter, the guy who broke her
heart. Getting revenge without losing her job will be tricky but luckily the
other chalet girls are on hand to offer their support. Pretty soon she’s in too
deep and realises she doesn’t want to hurt him anymore. She wants him back.
There’s just one teeny complication… Review Revenge of a Chalet Girl is the third instalment of Lorraine Wilson's wintery romance novellas set in glorious Verbier. They could be read as stand alone books, but I'd definitely recommend reading them in order to get the full impact and learn the chalet girls' backstories. The first in the series is Confessions of a Chalet Girl (read my review here ), followed by Secrets of a Chalet Girl (you can find my review here ).
Revenge of a Chalet Girl didn't disappoint. I always enjoy stories about what happens when exes meet up, and Josh and Amy's story was no exception- the tension was intense! The ski resort as a setting is full of romance- snow, hot tubs, smouldering fires-everything you would expect from a wintery romance.
Lorraine Wilson also touched me with her description of depression, something I have been struggling with myself. She managed to put into words the extreme fear, loneliness and overwhelming apathy that can eat you alive. Anyone who says that authors of romance can't deal with difficult issues should read this- it is one of the most realistic portrayals of the illness I have come across in fiction.
However, it isn't all doom and gloom. Revenge of a Chalet Girl is full of girly humour and has one character (I won't give away who, but if you read it'll be obvious!) who I loved to hate. Honestly, one of my favourite book baddies of the year!
It did take me a bit longer to get into than the previous Chalet Girl books, but then I was immersed, hook, line and sinker. An escapist, wintery novella to devour in one go.
Revenge of a Chalet Girl is released tomorrow, published by Harper Impulse.
8/10
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book.
Lorraine Wilson very kindly agreed to write a short piece about why Revenge of a Chalet Girl is the book she is most proud of writing...
Being asked to pick your favourite book as an author feels a little like being asked to pick a favourite child. But I have to say my Christmas release, 'Revenge of a Chalet Girl' is my favourite so far. Partly because it was such fun to write - at no point did I curse it, feel the urge to hit delete or feel stuck - but also because I included the Christmas markets at Montreux, Switzerland, in the story. I love the festive markets on the lakeshore of Lac Leman and while the market in Salzburg, Austria is more impressive (even curing my other half of his Scrooge-like tendencies!) the Montreux markets are special for me. The lakeshore at Montreux with its views of Evian and the French Alps is one of my favourite places in the world at any time of the year.
But at Christmas the decorations are gorgeous, the food scrumptious, the gifts to buy entirely unique and lots of the handbags I've made and sold have been created from Indian fabric purchased at one of the stalls. Chateau Chillon even holds its own medieval Christmas market and you can take the cog railway up the mountain past snow-laden fir trees to see Père Noël - http://www.montreuxnoel.com/en-site-1-christmas-market.html
I will be there again this year (for which I blame my editor ;-) If you can't make it for real why not go along with my heroine Amy?
The Nativity- The Story of Baby Jesus is a perfect introduction to the Christmas story for the very young. It contains all the facts and isn't too simplistic yet the sentences are short and accessible, offering the opportunity for questions and discussion throughout.
The illustrations are mesmerising, particularly one beautiful image of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The artwork wouldn't be out of place on a Christmas card, stunning and appropriate.
The Nativity-The Story of Baby Jesus is out now.
9/10
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
