Christmas Q&A with Caroline Roberts!

I'm delighted to welcome Caroline Roberts to the blog today for a Q&A session. 

Hello Kate, thanks so much for featuring me and The Cosy Christmas Teashop on your blog!

The Cosy Christmas Teashop is a follow up to your previous novel The Cosy Teashop in the Castle. Did the fact that it's a sequel make a difference to your writing process? How long did it take to write?

In a way, it was easier to write as I already had the main characters and setting in mind. But I also wanted to freshen it all up, so I added some new characters and situations. I had fun with it, as well as exploring the more difficult times they had to face. I felt I knew everyone so well by the end, like the castle team had really become firm friends.

It took me four months to write The Cosy Christmas Teashop. A bit of a miracle as the first book took over a year. But I had a deadline to meet, so got my head down and kept going. It was hard work, but also fun.

2) This is your first festive novel. Do you envisage writing another in the future?

Yes, I enjoyed writing about Christmas and all the lovely festive build up to that – Christmas markets, craft fairs, snow, tinsel, Christmas trees, Christmas cupcakes, mince pies and more. I’d happily write another Christmas-themed novel. In fact, I might be working on that right now!

3) What are your favourite Christmassy reads?

I loved Debbie Johnson’s romantic comedy “Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper”.  It was a warm and funny story, unique and rather sexy.

And, on Christmas Eve, I always used to read to my children “Twas the Night Before Christmas” in a fabulous pop-up version, and we also loved The Jolly Christmas Postman.

4) What are your own plans for Christmas? Do you have any special family traditions?

I love the tradition of Christmas stockings, hanging them up by the fire, and then them “magically” being filled – I still have them for my grown-up children even now! And we always have a real tree, it looks so pretty all decorated and twinkly, and you get that gorgeous smell of pine.

On Christmas day, we have a glass of champagne around ten am (mid-parcel opening) with cheese and ham croissants, a fresh fruit platter, or chocolate if you fancy, after all, anything goes - it’s Christmas! Then there’s the traditional Turkey Roast. I’m chef as I enjoy cooking, though I have to be well prepared as after a couple of champagnes and a G&T, it can all get a bit out of sync!

For me, Christmas is all about family and friends and having a lovely, sociable time with some fabulous food and drink.

5) What can your readers look forward to next?

I have a summer book coming out around April/May time. A gorgeous and poignant love story  about hurt and healing and making the most of those simple special moments in life. It’s set on beautiful Bamburgh beach in my home county of Northumberland (one of my favourite places to walk the dog). In fact, the family might have a wander down on the beach there on Boxing Day!

And by this time next year, there may well be another Cosy Christmas novel! Watch this space…

Have a really lovely Christmas everyone!

The Cosy Christmas Tea Shop is out now, published by Harper Impulse.

The 2015 Catch Up -Part Four!

 

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!

Santa Maybe - Scarlett Bailey

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.

A Miracle at Macy's - Lynn Marie Hulsman

The Blurb

One lost dog. Two lonely hearts. A Manhattan Christmas full of magic.

Shy homebody Charlotte is planning her usual quiet Christmas celebration: Turkey for two for her and her beloved pet dog Hudson. Only, this year, little Hudson decides to take matters into his own paws and give his favourite human a holiday adventure she’ll never forget.

When Hudson runs away the week before Christmas, Charlotte is devastated. She’d rescued him from the trash years before and gave him a place in her home – and her heart. But with the help of uptight Englishman Henry, Charlotte ends up on a magical treasure hunt around Manhattan to find her furry, four-legged bestie.

Spotted in Central Park as one of Santa's Little Helpers, or last seen in the arms of a supermodel in Times Square, Hudson leads Charlotte and Henry on a very merry dance around the Big Apple, where love, (or should that be Christmas?!) actually is all around.

The Review

As soon as I saw the cover for  A Miracle at Macy's I knew I had to read it.  Christmas, New York, a cute as a button puppy - it looked like the perfect Christmas read.

Once I started reading, I knew I'd enjoy the story.  I immediately warmed to Charlotte, the quiet protagonist, and fell head over heels in love with her mischievous pup Hudson.  His personality shone through as much as that of any of the human characters and made me care about the major plotline - finding Hudson when he goes missing just before Christmas. 

What followed was a madcap campaign to reunite Charlotte and Hudson, made all the more high profile by Charlotte's event organiser aunt Miranda gaining celebrity supporters and designating the gorgeous Henry to keep the search in the limelight.  The New York backdrop was a perfect winter setting and Hulsman showcases what the city has to offer throughout the novel.  Her first hand experience of the city over the holidays is evident and had me longing to be there!

There was so much tension between Charlotte and Henry, I loved how their relationship sizzled!  It was an old fashioned romance with a new twist.  There need to be more nice guys like Henry in romantic fiction!

Humorous, touching and oh-so festive, A Miracle at Macy's is a feel-good read to banish the winter blues. 

A Miracle at Macy's is out now in ebook format and paperback on December 17th, published by Harper Impulse. 

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Emily Benet's Advent Calendar!

Emily's Advent Calendar of Christmas Goodness

As families grow, the pattern of Christmas changes. Us little kids are now big kids. Some of us have our own kids. We take it in turns to see different sides of our extended families and our traditions adapt and evolve. Although Christmas isn't as breathlessly exciting as it was when I was little, there are still plenty of things I love and look forward to. Here's my advent calendar of the best bits. I hope I've included at least one of yours:

1. Spontaneous Carol Singing - (you can always rely on my British family to burst into song at the dinner table. Classics include 'Who Killed Cock Robin?' and 'I am the music man'. My Colombian family sing too, though a little less in tune. Meanwhile my Spanish family have yet to make their carol singing debut.)

2. Mince pies and double cream - (to be eaten for breakfast in the days running up to Christmas.)

3. Lighting the Christmas pudding - (more fun than eating it.)

 

4. Midnight Mass - (with my Mum pointing out the nativity she finished late at night on the kitchen floor.)

5. My Grampa - (with his big smile. You'll be greatly missed this year.)

6. Cheese, crackers and port - (appearing when you think you can't eat any more...)

7. Bad jokes in Crackers - (Knock knock who's there? The same joke as last year!)

8. Stockings - (nothing is as exciting as feeling the crackle of a stocking at the end of your bed. If I ever have kids, I'll love making them one.)

 

9. Christmas Dinner - (thanks auntie, I don't know how you do it year in year out.)

10. Christmas Tree Smell - (reminds me of a special village in the Pyrenees, my childhood paradise)  

11. Fairy Lights - (twinkly white ones please)

12. Mulled Wine - (Oh, go on then.)

 

13. Mulled Cider - (to be drunk outside, with a hog roast)

14. Charcoal smell in the air - ( just pretend you know what I mean)

15. Cousins - (especially looking forward to seeing the one who went off to live in Nepal!)

16. Sherry - (Crofts for my auntie, Tio Pepe for me and my grandma)

17. Baubles - (big, glass ones.)

 

18. Downton Abbey Grand Finale - (there's always some finale or other to be watched on telly.)

19. Siblings Unite - (I haven't celebrated Christmas with my brother for 3 years. Funniest guy ever. Can't wait!)

20. Mimosas in the morning - (a tradition yet to be made but I'm working on it.)

21. Kids - (without them, all the adults tend to doze off watching the telly.)

22. Wrapping paper - (little or big, a present isn't a present if it isn't wrapped up!)

 

23. Games - (charades, Cranium, Lego... there's got to be at least one game.)

24. Family - (more than presents, what I look forward to at Christmas is spending time with the people I love! Soppy? Maybe. But it's true!)

I'm writing this from Bogota, Colombia, where there are no seasons. It's neither cold nor hot and I have no sense of Christmas yet. I know it's around the corner though and soon it will smell of oranges and cinnamon. Writing this has made me excited. I hope it has put you in a festive mood too. Wherever you are, whatever your traditions, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Emily Benet is the author of Harper Impulse titles The Temp and #PleaseRetweet.

Author Bio-
Emily Benet is an award winning blogger and author. Her new novel #PleaseRetweet is out now and is all about society's obsession with social media, a subject close to her heart!

Her debut book, Shop Girl Diaries, began as a blog about working in her Mum's chaotic chandelier shop. It was commissioned as a book by Salt Publishing and later turned into a short film starring Katy Wix which was shown at The London Short Film Festival 2014.

Her second book, The Temp, began as a serialised novel on Wattpad. It racked up two million hits, leading her to sign a two book deal with Harper Collins.

Emily runs Blogging and Social Networking workshops, lectures at Universities and has contributed to numerous publications including Publishing Talk, Mslexia and Writers & Artists. Her guidebook Blogging for Beginners is available as an ebook.

Check our her weekly blog, join her Facebook Author Page or check out her Tweets. She can't promise to be serious though.

 

5 Insider Tips for Christmas in New York by Lynn Marie Hulsman

If you’re lucky enough to spend the run-up to Christmas, or the magical day itself, in New York City, you’ll likely want to experience all of the events you’ve seen in the movies and on television. And you should! There’s nothing like seeing a couple get engaged on the ice at Rockefeller Center while Santa Claus looks on. Or walking along 5^th Avenue to see the iconic window displays. And you wouldn’t want to miss a trip to Macy’s flagship store on 34^th Street to visit Santaland and make your own miracles and memories.

But don’t skip the off-the-beaten path offerings my fair city has to offer up during the festive season. Here are a list of five of my favorite less heralded “must-dos” for the holidays in New York:

The Holiday Train Show, New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx

 

 

If you’ve never been to the New York Botanical Garden, you are in for a treat. The grounds are breathtaking in any season, and the ride up on Metro North is pleasant and relaxing. There’s always a holiday thrill in this air during this event, and it’ll whet your appetite for the big day. The trains themselves are glorious, and the bonus is that all the train displays are made out of barks, leaves, fruit, nuts, branches, and twigs!

Panna II Indian Restaurant, East Village

 

There is a strip in the East Village called Indian Row, dotted with dozens of curry-heavy restaurants. I have been going to this one for decades. Warning: It shares a staircase and tiny landing with a competitor, and the minute they see you coming, the wooing begins. Hold your ground and go to Panna, where you’ll be welcomed in a matter-of-fact way by the owner, Mr. Khan. The Christmassy part? All the lights and sparkles and foil decorations make the tiny eatery look like it got bombed by Santa. Plus, it’s open on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

The Arch at Washington Square Park, West Village

Washington Square Park enjoys a rich literary history with connections to Louisa May Alcott, Edgar Allan Poe, William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, and others. It’s in the historic New York University neighborhood, and is a pleasant place to walk and people watch. On December 9th at 6 p.m. they will light the giant tree, which will be followed by caroling.  And on Christmas Eve, enjoy more carols (led by a brass quartet) at the Arch, and sing along with l the locals who stay in New York for the holidays. 

The Big Apple Circus, on the Campus of Lincoln Center, Upper West Side

 

This wonderful show, which changes themes each year, relies less on animals and more on human fats of skill, acrobatics, and showmanship. It’s so fun to be under the Big Top smack in the middle of Manhattan. It feels like taking a trip! And when the circus is over, wander out onto the plaza at Lincoln Center and take photos by the famous fountain and lighted steps. The tree will be lit, and you’ll glimpse the buildings that house the world’s most famous opera and ballet companies.

Grand Central Station’s Holiday Fair, Midtown East

 

Not only can you shop for unique gifts here during the holiday season, there are events such as art installations and music concerts to immerse yourself in. There are trains every year, and if you get hungry, you can grab a bite at the food court, or if you want to splash out, have a meal at The Oyster Bar. Sit at the counter and watch the ancient, hard-boiled New York waiters and cooks prepare your stew to order in the one-of-a-kind countertop kettles. And on your way out, stop at one of New York’s best-kept secrets: The Whispering Arch. Physics makes it possible for you to stand meters away from a friend and hear the message that he or she speaks, even with a turned back.

Lynn Marie Hulsman lives in New York.  Her Christmas novel A Miracle at Macy's is out now, published by Harper Impulse.

 

Amazon UK

Amazon US
 

Website: http://www.lynnmariehulsman.com

Twitter: @lynnmariesays

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lynn-Marie-Hulsman-Author-591579824213840/

 

Every Time a Bell Rings - Carmel Harrington

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.

http://www.tripfiction.com/

 

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. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1466353170351020/

 

Waiting on Wednesday- Lily and the Christmas Wish- Keris Stainton

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.

Waiting on Wednesday- Every Time a Bell Rings - Carmel Harrington

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.

Skating at Somerset House- Nikki Moore

The Blurb

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.

 

The Little Christmas Kitchen- Jenny Oliver

 

 

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.

Jenny’s latest novel THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS KITCHEN is out now.

 

Hungry for more? Try  THE VINTAGE SUMMER WEDDING and THE PARISIAN CHRISTMAS BAKE-OFF, which are also available in paperback.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a galley copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

 

On Strike for Christmas- Sheila Roberts

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.