2015 book awards: best seasonal stories (Summer & Christmas)

There's something really fun and comforting about reading a book about the season you're in. Over Christmas, I love settling down with a festive book to get me in the Christmas spirit and in the Summer, I enjoy reading books jam-packed with summery activities and good weather. These are my picks of the best Summer and Christmas-themed books from 2015. 

Summer

Summer at Shell Cottage by Lucy Diamond

Lucy Diamond novels always bring a smile to my face. She manages to create a vivid fictional world that pulls you in and absorbs you from the first page until the very end and Summer at Shell Cottage is no exception. This story follows the Tarrant family on their annual trip to Devon. I loved the different situations the characters were in and finding out what the cottage meant to them. Setting the novel in Devon during the Summer was blissful and made for perfect Summer reading... pass me a cocktail please! You can read my full review here.

A Seaside Affair by Fern Britton

This was the first story by Fern Britton I've read and I really enjoyed it. Set in a seaside town, it was a fantastic location to be set in for this season and sent my imagination into overdrive. Filled with a variety of different characters all working together to save the local theatre that's set to be bought out by a high-street coffee chain, the plot for this story really resinated with me and felt very true to life. You can read my full review here.

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan 

I LOVED this story - absolutely everything about it was great... the characters, the setting, the plot. The seaside location of this book perfectly suited the season, which was so well described and brought to life by Jenny. With the gorgeous sounding food from the bakery and the beautiful location, this story was a perfect Summer read that I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read my full review here

Christmas

How to Stuff Up Christmas by Rosie Blake

First of all just look at that sparkly, festive cover. I knew from the offset this would be a brilliant book to get me in the festive spirit, and I wasn't wrong! This is a great book that I absolutely adored. Rosie Blake's writing style is fantastically unique and I can't wait to read more from her. It's a fun, festive read perfect for dark winter nights. You can read my full review here

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson

This story had me laughing out loud from the first page - it's a witty, hilarious read jam-packed with funny situations, likeable characters and lots and lots of festiveness. It's the prefect easy read for Christmas time and one that got me in the mood for celebrating. I'm already looking forward to reading it again next year! You can read my full review here.

Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin 

Romance writing at it's finest, Holly Martin once again creates an addictive story filled with romance and sexual tension. I was willing for the main characters, Penny and Henry to act on their feeling for each other and just get it to together already! Aside from that, there's lots of festive sparkle in the story too which I loved. A brilliant all-rounder that I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read my full review here. 

A Very Merry Christmas...

Hi Everyone! 

I can't quite believe that it's Christmas Eve! I'm now feeling super-festive and excited to spend the next few days with my loved ones. As my last Christmassy post of this year (sob!) I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite things about The Big Day.

Picture source

Food

I mean... you think of Christmas, you think food, right? I think for me Christmassy food begins a few weeks before Christmas when I'll start eating mince pies and chocolates. I love mince pies (especially homemade doused in piping hot custard) and gingerbread, Christmas chocolates (it's not Christmas unless you've had some Quality Street) and twiglets. Then it's the big day itself and the delicious Christmas dinner... turkey, lashings of graving, crunchy roast potatoes.... god, I'm drooling just thinking about it! I think this time of year is the one time when I indulge without thinking of the consequences - the gym will be there in January! 

Time to relax

I'll apologise now if you work in retail, hospitality, at a hospital or anywhere else that requires you to work just as hard over Christmas as any other time, but for me, Christmas is about taking time out of work to properly unwind and relax. I think whenever you have any time off at other times in the year, such as Summer,  you're usually busy doing things - going on holiday, enjoying the sunshine, seeing people and catching up etc. Christmas is the one holiday where I really take time out to have some 'me' time, to properly relax and refelct on the past year. Granted, it's also busy spent seeing family and friends, but I love chilling out. December is the only time of year where I'll spend a whole day on the sofa, watching films (they don't even have to be Christmas films, really!), in my Pjs and munching on chocolate. It's FAB. 

Festive themed... everything

Jumpers. Candles. Chocolates. Alcohol. Decorations. Cheeseboards. The list goes on. 

I love that during this time of year everything links to Christmas. There's the usual stuff (like I've mentioned above), but there's also those things that become festive themed and I don't really get why. Festive loo paper's one. Why do you need toilet paper with Christmas trees on? My Mum gets it every year - I don't think she thinks it's Christmas until you've wiped your bum with Christmas tree loo roll - but it just seems a little too far. It does make me laugh though, I love walking round the supermarkets and shops at this time of year and seeing all the ridiculous things that are festive, as well as the more usual and normal items that get me in the Christmas mood.

Films, Music, Books

As soon as December hits I am onto the Christmas themed music, books and films. This year I've discovered the joys of the Smooth Christmas radio station (if you haven't checked it out then go go go!) which has had me bellowing along to my fave songs for this time of year.
I've read some fab Christmas books this year (there's plenty of reviews for you to catch up on if you haven't already) but two of my faves have to be How to Stuff Up Christmas by Rosie Blake and The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson - they are both hilarious, witty and filled with festiveness. I absolutely loved them and they got me in the festive spirit!
Film-wise, I love all the Christmassy classics - Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, Santa Clause, Home Alone... but I also love watching childhood favourites. I don't know why exactly, but this time of year it always seems okay to watch films I used to love when I was younger. So far this month I've watched Anastasia (a classic), Mary Poppins (my fave), Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Cinderella. I have no regrets. 

Spending time with the people you love

That's what it's all about really, isn't it? Sure the presents are good, the food is insaneee and the decorations are beautiful, but without the people you love surrounding you those things wouldn't matter. I think Christmas is a time to appreciate those you love, and spend quality time with them. It's also a time where you can't help but reflect on people you are missing. This is our first Christmas without our Grandma and I know that it will be strange and sad, especially for my Dad, but we're trying to look at the positives and still make the day a good one. So over the next few days tell the ones you love what they mean to you, give them an extra hug and squeeze and just be happy with the ones that mean the most to you :)

I hope you have a Very Merry Christmas. I'll be posting between Christmas and New Year, but in the meantime there's plenty of reviews to catch up with. 

Merrrryyy Christmas! 

Little Northern Christmas: Book Review - Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin

"Welcome to the charming seaside town of White Cliff Bay, where Christmas is magical and love is in the air…

Penny Meadows loves her home – a cosy cottage decorated with pretty twinkling fairy lights and stunning views over the town of White Cliff Bay. She also loves her job as an ice-carver, creating breathtaking sculptures. Yet her personal life seems frozen. 

When Henry and daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage to rent the annex, Penny is determined to make them feel welcome. But while Daisy is friendly, Henry seems guarded. 

As Penny gets to know Henry, she realises there is more to him than meets the eye. And the connection between them is too strong to ignore … 

While the spirit of the season sprinkles its magic over the seaside town and preparations for the ice sculpting competition and Christmas eve ball are in full swing, can Penny melt the ice and allow love in her heart? And will this finally be the perfect Christmas she’s been dreaming of? 

Like a creamy hot chocolate with marshmallows, you won’t want to put this deliciously heartwarming novel down."

I have seen so many great things being said about the White Cliff Bay series, and I can completely see why now I've finished the first in the series, Christmas at Lilac Cottage.

Holly Martin has a real talent at creating vivid, realistic characters and locations that jump off the page at you and this book is no exception to that. The story follows Penny, as she rents out the annex in her beautiful cottage to Henry and Daisy. Their relationship builds and we follow them as they get to know each other and as Henry and Daisy settle into White Cliff Bay. 

The three main characters are all brilliant. Penny is a kind, warm-hearted, yet lonely character who you immediately root for and hope that she finds the happiness that she deserves. Henry is very, very handsome - as usual Holly Martin has created a swoon-worthy male lead, described so well that you have an amazing picture of him in your head as you read the story. Daisy is also a great character - she's your typical teenage girl, but with a loveable twist. I loved watching the three of them get to know one another and become close, like a family unit. 

Now, whenever you pick up a Holly Martin book, you expect there to be a romance storyline - she is absolutely brilliant at creating sexual tension and chemistry. Christmas at Lilac Cottage more than lives up to expectation. The spark between Penny and Henry is electric and has you on edge from the beginning, willing that they act on their feelings and become a couple. 

White Cliff Bay is an absolutely amazing setting and I really fell for this location. The seaside town itself sounds lovely, with a real community feel (even if some of the residents are possibly a little too nosy!). But, it was Lilac Cottage that really captured my heart. Penny's cottage sounds so amazingly homely and cosy and, thanks to Holly's detailed descriptions of it, I felt like I'd been transported there. I built up a real picture in my head of what it would look like, and I just think it's cruel that I can't immediately pack up and move there myself! 

I absolutely loved Christmas at Lilac Cottage. It's an absorbing read that has you hooked from the first page. I enjoyed finding out more about the brilliant characters and watching their relationships play out. White Cliff Bay is a beautiful location and made me feel all cosy and Christmassy as I read. I also loved Penny's unusual career choice as an ice carver - it added another interesting layer to the story, and you can tell that Holly put in a lot of work to make sure she got the details right. 

If you're looking for a cosy, cute Christmas story to snuggle up with on the run-up to the big day, then look no further... Christmas at Lilac Cottage is the book for you! It'll be sure to make you feel festive and warm your heart. I'm now going to make a start on Snowflakes at Silver Cove, the second  book in this fab series! 

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Little Northern Christmas: Book Review - The Chocolate Lover's Christmas by Carole Matthews

"Christmas is just around the corner, but the women of The Chocolate Lovers’ Club have more to worry about than present shopping …

Lucy loves running Chocolate Heaven but she hasn't spent time with her boyfriend, Aiden in weeks. And then her ex-fiance turns up and things become even more complicated! Nadia hasn’t let herself get close to a man in a long time, yet she can’t help feeling drawn to Jacob. will he be her last chance for a happy ending? Chantal and her husband, Ted , are besotted with their baby daughter Lana – but Chantal isn’t sure that’s enough to base a marriage on. Autumn is dealing with a tragedy that has hit too close to home. But when she doesn’t get the support she needs from her fiance, will she look elsewhere for comfort?"

The Chocolate Lover's Christmas is a follow on from Carole's hugely successful books, The Chocolate Lovers Club and The Chocolate Lover's Diet. Now, although I've read a few of Carole Matthew's books (and really enjoyed them) I hadn't read these two, so I was a newcomer to the Chocolate Lover's Club... and boy am I glad I've finally found them! 

The Chocolate Lover's Christmas perfectly combines some fantastic story elements - chocolate, friendship & Christmas. It's pages of festive perfection snuggled in-between a beautiful cover. 

You don't need to have read the first two books in the series to be able to follow and understand whats happening in The Chocolate Lover's Christmas. Carole makes sure that the character's situations are explained as they are introduced, either to inform new readers (like me) or remind returning readers. 

The story follows the members of The Chocolate Lover's Club - Lucy, Nadia, Chantal & Autumn as they go through different challenges and events. I am a big fan of stories that are focussed on more than one character viewpoint, so this ticked the boxes for me. The story is told from the first person view for Lucy, but in the third person for the other characters. For the first few chapters this confused me slightly, but after a while I got used to this format and actually, really liked it. It was a different way to tell a multiple-character story, and I think it worked well. I will also mention here that I did occasionally get a little mixed up between Nadia, Chantal & Autumn as four characters, all with very busy lives, is quite a lot to keep up with and occasionally I'd begin a chapter thinking they were someone else, but after a few sentences I was quickly reminded of who's who and immersed myself in their stories. 

My favourite character was definitely Lucy. I don't know if it's because we're told her story from her point of view, or because I feel we get to know her slightly better than the others, but she was brilliant. Slightly ditzy, bubbly and immensely positive she was a character that you just immediately warmed to and rooted for. I loved hearing about her working in Chocolate Heaven (which I'll get to in a minute) and really felt for her when some of her 'big ideas' didn't quite go to plan. (I won't spoil it, but there was one scene with chocolate body paint that had me laughing out loud.) When her slimy ex-boyfriend makes a reappearance, I hoped she'd not fall for his ways and remain happy with her new boyfriend (nicknamed 'crush').  There were times I felt like shouting to her to not fall for his tricks - she's too trusting, and a little naive, for her own good. 

Now, I don't feel I can write this review without talking about Chocolate Heaven, the cafe that is at the centre of the story. It's where the women mainly get together, and plays a big part in all of their lives. The cafe itself sounds absolutely amazing, and I'm gutted that it doesn't actually exist anywhere near me (although, maybe that's a good thing for my waistline!) as it is filled with delicious sounding chocolatey treats. Think your usual cafe and then add LOTS of chocolate to the sweet treats and drinks on offer. Amazing. You can see why the women love it so much, and why Lucy is in her element working there, and it had my stomach rumbling on more than one occasion. These women sure can eat chocolate, I think in every chapter they were tucking into a different treat, but it is the driving force of the story and I loved it. 

Towards the end, they celebrate Christmas and they spend it in the most perfect way - in a remote, beautiful village in an amazing cottage, all together with plenty of drink & food (and chocolate, of course). It was a lovely way to bring the Christmassy element to the story, and had me reaching for a tin of Quality Street to feel like I was there with them. 

The Chocolate Lover's Christmas is a lovely, lovely read. It's got plenty of great characters, a fantastic sounding cafe, and lots and lots of chocolate. I mean, do you need anything else?! If you're wanting to cosy up with a good book in the run-up to Christmas, this is the one for you. It's guaranteed to pull you in and keep you thinking about it, as well as making your stomach rumble for some delicious sounding chocolate. This is one of those stories that leaves you with a happy, content feeling when you put it down and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

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Little Northern Christmas: Book Review - Bella's Christmas Bake Off by Sue Watson

"Bella Bradley is the queen of television baking – a national treasure. Her Christmas specials have been topping the ratings for years and her marriage to Peter ‘Silver Fox’ Bradley is the stuff of Hello magazine specials. 

But this year things are going to be different. 

For Amy Lane, Bella’s best friend from school, life hasn’t held quite the same sparkle. And when Amy’s husband walks out three weeks from Christmas, it seems their lives are further apart than ever. 

Amy has watched Bella’s rise to fame fondly, despite the fact Bella was always a terrible cook. But when she realises that Bella’s latest Christmas book is made up entirely of Amy’s mother’s recipes, the gloves are off… 

After winning a competition to appear on Bella’s TV show, Amy is going to make sure that for Bella and her viewers, this will definitely be a Christmas to remember… "

My festive reading is picking up quite a pace and I'm loving reading stories that are filled with Christmassy food, traditions and great characters. Bella's Christmas Bake Off more than fits into that category, it's a great Christmassy read! 

The story follows Amy as she embarks on her first Christmas alone... her husband has just left her for a younger woman, and her grown-up children are all embarking on their own Christmas adventures. Settling down for a Christmas in-front of the TV, Amy flicks on Bella's Christmas Bake-Off - a cookery programme run by the lavish and gorgeous Bella, who is actually Amy's former best friend. 

It turns out that Bella's recipes aren't hers at all, but actually Amy''s Mum's. Annoyed that Bella could so easily claim them as her own, Amy tries to make contact and ends up entering a competition to win a Christmas Day meal cooked by Bella. Deciding it would be one way to out her as a fraud, Amy goes ahead with the prize, preparing for an unusual Christmas spent cooking on TV with her former best friend, revealing to the nation how she stole her Mum's recipes. However, this doesn't go to plan when the two women meet back up and reminisce on their past friendship. 

Overall, I found this a really enjoyable and easy read. My favourite part was definitely finding out all about the TV programme, Bella's Christmas Bake Off - I loved when they were filming for Christmas Day and you got a snapshot of how busy and frantic it can be to prepare a live show, as well as getting a peek at all the different, flamboyant characters that exist in TV Land. Sue Watson explains in her 'about me' that she used to work in TV, and her experience and knowledge shines through and creates a wonderful setting for this story. 

I must say, I didn't really shine to Bella. I found her pompous and a little deluded. Even as the two women start building bridges and becoming friends again, I still didn't warm to her as much as I did Amy. When the big secret is revealed, I think it perhaps was meant to sightly explain Bella's attitude and way of life, but it didn't quite work with me. I didn't really feel sorry for her and felt the same as I had from the start. However, I actually think this is a good thing - the characters are so realistic and vivid that it means you form very clear opinions of them, so I think my dislike for Bella is an indication to Sue Watson's talent for writing brilliant stories with dominating, jump-off-the-page characters. 

I thought the plot worked really well, I liked that the story was centred around friendship rather than romance, and seeing the two women interact with each other after such a long time brought great drama. It's obvious from the off-set that something dramatic happened to stop the two being friends, Amy hints at the secret they kept and the bad thing she did, so I was eager to discover what it was. I'll admit I'd sort of guessed what the secret could be, so it didn't come as a massive shock, but I thought it added to the plot anyway and worked well. 

The pace of this story was a bit up and down for me. I found the beginning really absorbing and interesting, but towards the middle it slowed down a bit and I willed it to liven up again. Thankfully, it does and I raced through the last few chapters as I found it so funny and engaging. 

If you're looking for a fun, festive read that focuses more on friendship than romance, this is the story for you. I enjoyed that Bella's Christmas Bake Off explored the relationship between Amy and Bella, rather than being another Christmas romance novel. It made a nice change and is a breath of fresh air. It's laugh-out-loud funny at times, serious at times, but filled with drool-inducing food all the time. Perfect! 

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Blog Tour: The Accidental Guest by Tilly Tennant

"Soulmates don’t just fall from the sky… do they? 

Hannah Meadows doesn’t believe in fate or destiny, or any of the other things people reach for when they lose control of their lives. That is, until a man arrives on her doorstep on Christmas Day begging for help. Hannah’s not the sort of woman to turn her back on someone in need, but this isn’t what compels her to aid the handsome stranger, nor is it his intense dark eyes, or the inexplicable feelings she quickly develops for him. Something magical is coming her way, something that will turn her life completely upside down. 

Hannah Meadows may not believe in fate or destiny, but they seem to have other ideas…"

The Accidental Guest is a perfect festive read, bursting with bold, funny characters, delicious Christmas food and a budding romance. What more could you need? 

The story begins with Hannah, her sister Gina and Gina's teenage daughter Jess celebrating Christmas. They're opening gifts, arguing about which festive soap to watch first and preparing snowballs to be drunk while preparing the dinner. Tilly beautifully captures the essence and excitement of Christmas morning and made me SO EXCITED for the day to arrive! 

Soon, their day takes an unexpected turn as a man knocks on the door, his head covered in blood and with no memory as to why he's there. He can't remember his name, where he's from, why he got there... nothing. Although hesitant at first, the girls know he needs help so let him in and wait for an ambulance, while trying to work out who he is (and, at Jess' insistence, keep going with Christmas dinner!).  I really enjoyed seeing the different reactions to his arrival as it brilliantly showcased the various personalities between the women. 

Speaking of which, I really warmed to all the characters in this story. From the offset you gain a real insight into Hannah, Gina and Jess' relationship and the family banter between them all is so real. Most of the story is told through conversation, which pulls you in and grips you - I read this is one sitting as I was hooked! Then there's the obvious chemistry between Hannah and the stranger (who they name Tom). Hannah has a crush on him almost instantly, but this builds up, and looks to be reciprocated, throughout the story. It's made complicated by the fact he has no memory what so ever, not exactly the perfect setting for a new romance, but I still wanted to shout at them to just get on with it and kiss already!

As The Accidental Guest is the first book in the Once Upon a Winter series, it's a fairly short story. This means that the ending isn't all wrapped up as it will continue into book 2. I must admit this was the only downside to the book as I'm very impatient and was eager to find out more instantly! I'd become so invested in the characters and their journeys that I wanted to know straight away how things turn out for them. Still, I have no doubt the wait for book 2 will be worth it.. I'm already looking forward to it! 

Overall, I'd say The Accidental Guest is the perfect read for Christmas time. It's festive, funny and filled with fabulous characters - as well as an intriguing storyline. It's a vibrant and bubbly read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Bring on book 2! 

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ABOUT TILLY TENNANT

Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing, graduating in 2009 with first class honours. She wrote her first novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them. Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014 it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. It was followed by Mishaps and Mistletoe and The Man Who Can't Be Moved. 

Find out more about Tilly and how to join her mailing list for news and exclusives on her website, twitter  & Facebook 

#HarperXmas - Carmel Harrington's top 10 Christmas songs!

Today I'm delighted to welcome the fabulous Carmel Harrington back to Little Northern Soul, this time to talk all things festive! (You can read my previous interview with Carmel here). As part of #HarperXmas Carmel has shared with me her Top 10 Christmas songs... if these don't get you in the festive mood, I don't know what will! 

My Top 10 Christmas Songs

Here’s the thing, I’d love to be a broadway star. Or a popstar, a proper diva that would give Beyonce a run for her money. Maybe I could have been the 6th Spice Girl. Bookish Spice. Never mind girl power, it’s writerly power! One big problem though. My talents don’t quite back up my ambition. Now, I can hold a note or two, can even do the odd party piece which sounds decent, once a few drinks have been consumed by all listening. But I know my limits.

There’s no better time to practise your vocal acrobatics than at Christmas. I switch on Christmas FM and listen to it 24/7. Well, maybe not all night, but you get the drift. 

I adore classic anthems that make me feel warm and fuzzy and full of love for my fellow mankind. The lyrics and melodies tap into my memory bank and bang, I’m back in one of my happy places. Then there’s the big dance songs that make me jump up and throw my best moves around the kitchen table. Some of these are novelty songs, the sillier the better really, that should grate on my nerves, but somehow or other, at Christmas they work! And lastly, there’s the carols, those wonderful songs that make me feel the spirit of Christmas with every note.

Choosing my top ten for you all has been a horrendous task. I could have done a top 100. But I’ve taken it all very seriously. I’ve listened to my short list over and over, whittling it down to 19. I’ve had to drink wine and eat mince pies, to help get me through it all, but I’m ever the trooper.

Are you ready? Right, in no particular order ….

Last Christmas

I’ll admit it, I was a huge Wham fan when I was a young wan’! And this song, brings me right back to my teenage years, where I was crushing big time on Andrew Ridgely. Last Christmas is one that stands the test of time and sounds as good today as it did back then. I love that music video too, of them all frolicking in the snow. I have been a fan of the Christmas jumper and wooly festive hats and scarves ever since. Yesterday, Amelia was singing this very song at home. Another generation already a fan.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

I don’t mind who sings this. Buble, Crosby, Bennett, Hastie, I’ll take any of them. When I hear it, I remember all the years I lived away from home. I counted down the days till Christmas Eve till I got to go home.

FairyTale Of New York

The lyrics are genius. The melody unforgettable. And the chorus one of those that everybody has to sing along to. When I hear this, I think of all the Christmas parties where at the end of the night, everyone is up on the dancefloor, arms wrapped around each other, swaying and bopping to this.

O Holy Night

I think that no matter what our religious beliefs, this carol just connects us in an emotional festive wave. Did you know that it was adapted from a French poem in 1855? I always well up when I hear this song. I’m an awful boohooer, won’t lie. So it doesn’t take much to set me off, but this song, moves me deeply. I love Mariah’s rendition. When I wrote Every Time A Bell Rings, EVERY DAY, before I started to write, I listened to this, to put me in the right frame of mind.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

For me, it has to be Judy Garland’s version. One note in, and I’m back to the 1980’s, in my sitting room, on a Sunday afternoon, with Mam, Dad and my brother and sisters, watching Meet Me in St Louis. Pure nostaliga.

The Christmas Shoes

Now I know that some will argue that this is one of the worst songs ever, but I say bah, humbug scrooge to those! It’s pure cheese on toast, sweet, smaltzy with over the top sentiment. But I ADORE it!

First time I heard it, I was in the car with Mr H and it came on and I literally went into the ugly cry. Now, okay, I was pregnant and hormonal at the time, but still, that little boy just wanted to buy shoes to make his dying mama look beautiful. Oh sweet divine, I am not able. Someone buy those sparkling shoes, someone hug that little boy, someone find a cure for that dying mama! Ah here, now I’m off boohooing again. You see? Told you, I’m a disaster!

Merry Christmas Everybody

Now come on, Slade = It’s Christmas! I can still remember watching Top of the Pops as a kid and seeing these guys belting this out. And in party season, it’s one of those songs that gets us all up on the dance floor, doesn’t it? (Not that I need an excuse. I love a good bop.)

Silver Bells

Ring aling, hear them sing … sigh, I’ll admit it, I could listen to Michael Buble singing Rock a Bye Baby and it would make me, well sigh, but I adore this song. I love Dean Martin’s version and Bing Crosby’s, as they were the ones that mam always played. This song is the one I sing the most at home, when I’m just mooching about.

Do They Know It’s Christmas

I still get chills when I hear this song. I know many versions have been tried, but the original Band Aid one is the ONLY one I’m interested in. I know all the lyrics by heart, can tell you who sang which part and can remember where I was and who I was with, the first time I heard it. Which incidentally was mam and dads sitting room with John, Fiona and Shelley, my siblings. I can still remember dad in the background telling us to turn that rubbish down. And mam telling him to be quiet! Ha!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

The only version of this I want to hear, is the one by this really cute double act called Amelia and Nate. Some might say I’m biased, but as far as I’m concerned it’s pure magic when they belt this number out. And by the way, I believe. Do you?

Wishing you all the merriest of Christmasses, full of love, joy and song!

Love,

Carmel

Little Northern Christmas: Book Review - The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson

"At thirty, Claudia's life is stale and the romance with long-term boyfriend, Seth, has disappeared. Determined to inject some festive spark back into their love life, Claudia and Seth go on their first date in a very long time. But when the night ends in disaster, Claudia suddenly finds herself facing life - and Christmas - alone.

Life alone is exciting, scary and full of soon-forgotten exercise regimes and ill-advised attempts at crafting sexy underwear. It's also filling up with dates, surprisingly. With best friends Penny and Nick at her side, a surplus of festive markets, mulled wine and Christmas tunes, Claudia attempts to face all this change with gusto. One thing's for certain: this year, Christmas is going to be very different . . .

This is the story of Claudia and her twelve dates of Christmas. Hilarious, uplifting and romantic, it's a story about losing love, finding love, and discovering what's been there all along. Expect Christmas sparkle, butterflies-in-your-stomach romance and a lot of very funny moments in The Twelve Dates of Christmas."

From following Lisa Dickenson on Twitter, I've come to see just how outgoing, witty and downright fabulous she is. I haven't read any of her books before, but I was hoping that her charm and hilariousness would filter through into her writing. I'm SO pleased to tell you that it absolutely, 100%, totally does. The Twelve Dates of Christmas is a funny, witty read with an unusual take on the build-up to Christmas. It was originally released last year, but has been re-designed with a pretty, sparkly cover and brought out in paperback, and I think it's safe to say it proving pretty popular.  

The story centers Claudia, who finds her long-term relationship with her (excuse my language) dickhead boyfriend Seth come to an abrupt end, after a pretty hilarious situation causes them to have an argument (I won't give the game away too much but I was laugjing out loud when they were in the toilet with his, ahem, parts, on display!) The Twelve Dates of Christmas then pretty much does what it says - we follow Claudia as she goes on twelve different dates in the run-up to Christmas. 

The story is downright hilarious. It's not often I actually laugh out loud from a book, but this one had me in stitches (and put me on the receiving end of some veryyy confused looks from the OH!) I loved the format of The Twelve Dates of Christmas - each chapter forms a different date and I loved seeing the different antics Claudia get's up to, not to mention meeting a whole host of men - some perfect, some handsome, some delirious and arrogant. It really showcased Lisa's talents for creating such a wide range of different characters and personalities, but every single one being realistic. 

It's clear from the offset that there is major chemistry between Claudia and her 'best friend' Nick. (I'm putting best friend in marks because it's just slap-you-in-the-face obvious that they are so much more than that, even if they won't admit it). Because of the clear attraction between the two of them I loved watching them interact and become even closer. I was willing for them to turn into more than friends and enjoyed seeing their story play out. 

She also has a great friendship with the other member of the trio, Penny. At times I felt for Claudia as Penny is living out Claudia's dream of being a ballerina, but thankfully there's no hard feelings and they have a hilarious close friendship that I loved. At times, there are issues and I really hoped they'd work through them and remain close - after all, isn't that a sign of true friendship? 

I also can't write this review without quickly mentioning Claudia's adorable Dad... he just made my heart warm! He is so cute and caring and just wants the best for his daughter. He's a truly wonderful character, possibly the nicest ever, and I loved seeing him and Claudia spend Christmas together. 

Now, The Twelve Dates of Christmas is obviously a festive read and I LOVED this element of the story. It is done so so well... it makes you excited for Christmas but it isn't too in your face -there's just plenty of lovely, subtle hints at the holiday season. Think gingerbread lattes, ice skating, snow and Christmas songs. All these fab elements incorporated together to make me feel really happy and festive. 

One of my favorite scenes in the whole story has to be the Christmas Day, which comes towards the end of the book. There's been a lot of build up to this day, not just because of Christmas but also because of the events leading up to the day (with a lot of drama occurring on Christmas Eve - FYI) so I was eager to see what would happen. I don't want to spoil it so let's just say the drama is resolved and Claudia's Christmas sounds like the perfect way to celebrate. She is surrounded by those she loves, indulges in some drool-worthy sounding food and relaxes in front of a film with her family. It reminded me so much of my Christmas Day's that it got me really excited for it! 

The Twelve Dates of Christmas is a fab festive read that I utterly adored. Brimming with funny, down-to-earth characters, some hilarious situations and plenty of delicious sounding food, it's the perfect read to get you into the Christmassy spirit. Lisa Dickenson is one to watch and I can't wait to make my way through her other stories - she is just brilliant. I feel I've become a bit of a fan girl for her as I sing her praises (not quite literally, but I'll say them very excitedly!) to anyone that will listen. I'd strongly suggest grabbing a gingerbread latte, mince pie and this book and you're in for a real treat. I love, love lovedddd it! 

*A big thank you to the publishers of The Twelve Dates of Christmas for an advance copy of the story via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. 

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Little Northern Christmas - Book Review: The Boy Under The Mistletoe by Katey Lovell

"Every Happily Ever After began with a Once Upon a Time…

After working a busy Christmas Eve shift at her family's flower shop, Chelsea can barely keep her eyes open for her Gran's annual festive get-together. Can her Christmas dreams come true under the mistletoe?"

Katey Lovell released the first in the Meet Cute series in October and I think I can safely say they've gone down a storm. They are a collection of short stories, designed to read in a quick ten minute break, and they look at the meeting of two people. The stories so far have been full of chemistry and romance, as well as intriguing characters, and the latest story, The Boy Under The Mistletoe is no different. 

It's hard to go into detail about the stories as they are so short, so if I tell you what I know then I'd be pretty much telling you the whole story (if that makes sense?!) so I'll just say this one looks at two characters who meet under the mistletoe. As usual with the Meet Cute series, the two characters jump off the page thanks to the great description about them- which isn't easy to do with such a limited word count available - and left me wanting to know more. More about them, about their meeting, about their future. I WANT MORE! Dammit! 

I love the Meet Cute series. They are perfect short stories packed with romance. I read this one on the train home from work and I found it relaxed me, made me feel all Christmassy and festive and just left me with a smile on my face. 

I'm immensely proud of Kate. This sounds super-soppy, I know, but I met her at a blogger's event earlier in the year and I remember her telling me about her writing. Now, to actually be reading one of her books, is a fab feeling and I'm so chuffed she's doing well. I can't wait for more! 

If you have a few minutes spare over the festive period I'd really recommend you get this book. It can be read in the time it takes to sip on some Bailey's and eat a slice of Christmas Cake, so it's the perfect excuse for a quick ten minute break! 

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Book Review: How to Stuff up Christmas by Rosie Blake

'Tis the season to be jolly. Unless you've found an intimate picture of another woman on your fiance's phone...

Eve is heartbroken after discovering her fiance is cheating on her. Being surrounded by the joys of Christmas is more than Eve can bear, so she chooses to avoid the festivities by spending Christmas alone on a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve gets gets an unexpected seasonal surprise when handsome local vet Greg comes to her rescue one day, and continues to visit Eve's boat on a mission to transform her from Kitchen Disaster Zone to Culinary Queen.

But where does Greg keep disappearing to? What does Eve's best friend Daisy know that she isn't telling? And why is there an angry goose stalking Eve's boat?

As soon as I saw the beautiful, sparkly cover for How to Stuff up Christmas, I was sold. It's so festive and twinkly.. I love it. The title also made me laugh (and even got a seal of approval from my Dad, who picked it up from the coffee table with a quizzical look, followed by a belly laugh!)

Because of these things, I had high hopes for How To Stuff Up Christmas.... and my goodness did it deliver. This is a funny and emotional read, perfect to indulge in over the festive period (made even better by the delicious recipes between chapters). 

Firstly, I was amazed by Rosie Blake's writing style. I don't want that to sound like a bad thing, as it's not, it's just that I was taken aback by just how brilliant it is - she is so talented. Honest, witty and really well thought through, her writing  keeps you engaged from the very first page until the end of the book.

The main character Eve is brilliant - very real, down-to-earth and relatable - I loved her immediately. She's clearly hurting after finding out her fiance was cheating on her, but she ultimately does well moving on from him, and I was so glad - he's irritating, arrogant and fury-inducing. Deciding to escape Christmas and the memories attached to it (she was proposed to on the previous Christmas Day) she rents out a river-boat and, along with her dog Marmite, has some peace and quiet while she starts to mend her broken heart. 

While on the river boat (which I'll get to in a minute) she meets hunky local vet Greg. He's a wonderful character - kind, caring and funny - the complete opposite of her ex - and from their first meeting I was rooting for them to get together. He sees Eve in some hilarious circumstances (part of her charm is how clumsy she is, with a real ability to get herself in the most awkward situations. I won't say what they are as don't want to ruin some fantastic, laugh-out-loud moments for you, but you'll know them when you read them!) yet he is still intrigued and drawn to her. This led me to feeling soppy and romantic and yelling at a book for them to just GET TOGETHER ALREADY! (note to self: they can't hear you, as much as you want them to)

There's other brilliant characters in How to Stuff up Christmas as well as Eve, her sister and brother-in-law were particular favourites of mine as they provided some more hilarious situations. I loved their relaxed interaction with each other with Eve, and the way they support her throughout. Daisy, Eve's best friend is also great - she's funny and I loved their easy-going friendship. I also can't forget Marmite- he's the star of the show and all-round wonder. Although a pet, he brings a lot to the story and it wouldn't be the same without him. 

Now, I have to talk about this riverboat. My lord what a wonderful setting for a story! The boat sounded so cosy and homely, the perfect escapism. I want to go sit by the woodburner and drink mulled wine and cuddle Marmite (or Greg, I'm not picky). Anyway, it made for a great setting and Rosie describes it so brilliantly it's like you've actually been transported there. I love it when authors get creative with their locations and this one certainly delivers - it's fab!

One of the other things I loved about this story is the little added extras nestled between the chapters. At the start of some of the chapters there are recipes for the foods about to be consumed in that next scene. Not only did this give you a sneaky hint as to what the characters would be devouring in the upcoming chapter, it's also a way to get your stomach grumbling as many of the recipes are drool-worthy. They are mainly festive and all sound delicious, some of which I am planning to make as I can't miss out on these delights.

How To Stuff Up Christmas is absolutely bloomin' brilliant. I LOVED it. It had me smiling from the start and I couldn't wait to see what was in store for Eve - I hoped desperately that things would turn out in her favour. It's a fun and festive read, perfect to snuggle up with on a winter evening. This is certainly a festive read that will become a Christmas tradition for me- I'm already looking forward to reading it again next Christmas! I'd strongly suggest you grab a mince pie, some mulled wine and enjoy this Christmassy delight. 

*A Big thank you to the publishers of How to Stuff up Christmas, Corvus, for advance copy of the book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review

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