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! 

Blog Tour: The Broken Hearts Book Club, Lynsey James

Blurb: 

"Secrets never stay buried for long…

Lucy Harper has always been good at one thing: running from her past. But when her beloved Nana Lily passes away she has no choice except to return to the one place in the world she most wants to avoid…

Luna Bay hasn't changed much in the eight years she has spent in London. The little Yorkshire village is still just as beautiful, but the new pub landlord is a gorgeous addition to the scenery!

Lucy only intended to stay for a day, yet when she discovers that Nana Lily has not only left her a cottage but also 'The Broken Hearts Book Club', Lucy is intrigued. Her Nana never have mentioned the club and Lucy can't wait to get started, but walking into her first meeting she is more aware than ever that her past is finally catching up with her.

One way or another, Lucy must finally face the past she left behind – or spend the rest of her life on the run…" 

After reading Lynsey James' fantastic debut novel, Just The Way You Are (read my full review here) she was well and truly on my radar as one to watch, and when I read the blurb (and saw the beeeautiful cover) for The Broken Hearts Book Club, I just knew I would love her latest story.

It's safe to say I wasn't disappointed, this is a heart-warming, fun read full of friendship, love and mystery.

The story follows Lucy Harper, who is back visiting her hometown, Luna Bay, following the death of her Nana. What was supposed to be a quick visit back for a funeral extends to a potentially permanent move, when she learns her Nana Lily asked for her to inherit her beautiful cottage, on the proviso she would take over The Broken Hearts Book Club in her place. At first Lucy is torn whether to stay, but eventually the prospect of chairing the book club means that she decides to stay. I was so relieved she did, as Luna Bay is a brilliant sounding place, and I loved watching her settle back into her hometown. 

Settling back into life in Luna Bay isn't as easy as she thought though, as Lucy is dealing with the aftermath of a massive secret, that is referenced throughout the story. As a reader, the secret is shrouded with mystery until fairly late on in the story, we only really know it involves an accident involving her old best friend. Occasionally I wanted to scream at Lucy to let us know what was going on, but really it was a great aspect to the story as it created suspense and a whole load of intrigue, especially when some residents of the village (and the book club) are downright nasty to Lucy, not wanting her to stay in Luna Bay because of her past, and the accident.  


I loved watching Lucy immerse herself into the book club and start helping some of the members through their grief. Some of her suggestions do backfire, and you really feel for her as you know she is just trying to help. The book club really shows Lucy's kind hearted nature and I loved seeing her create some firm friendships that I thought were lovely.

One of the strongest points of Lynsey's writing style is her ability to create realistic dialogue. Seriously, it was like I was having a conversation with my friends most of the time. It's chatty and believable and really showcases the different personalities running through this book.

I also loved the romance element to the story. Lucy meets Jake, the local barman at the pub and there is an obvious connection from the offset. Although he's a bit of a grumpy bugger I was rooting for them to get together and be happy, as it was obvious from the offset they had a spark and connection. Jake, like Lucy, is also hiding a big secret, which explains his stressed-out, grumpy nature and provides some brilliant elements to the story. (I can't say too much or it'd ruin it!) 

The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a brilliantly written, funny read brimming with down-to-earth characters, difficult situations and strong friendships. It's a feel good, charming read that will leave a big smile on your face. I can't wait for more from Lynsey, she is an absolute gem. 

*A big thank you to the publishers of this book, UK Carina, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Links: 

Buy the book

Lynsey James website

Twitter 

Good reads

Neverland blog tours

Book Review: A Parcel for Anna Browne by Miranda Dickinson

The gift of a lifetime?

Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn't exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. 

But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more . . .

When a parcel addressed to Anna Browne arrives, she has no idea who has sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift - one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries, each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be. As Anna grows in confidence, others begin to notice her - and her life starts to change.

But who is sending the mysterious gifts, and why?

So anyone that's a regular reader of Little Northern Soul knows I'm a HUGE fan of Miranda Dickinson's... she's up there with some of my favourite authors. On the day A Parcel for Anna Browne was released I raced to the shops to get my mitts on a copy. I think I need to mention here that I absolutely adore this cover, It's my favourite of hers so far and looks absolutely beautiful on my bookshelf.

It's always a concern with my favourite authors that their latest book isn't going to live up to expectation or be as good as the previous one. A Parcel For Anna Browne is also Miranda Dickinson's first novel for her new publishing house, Pan MacMillan (her previous novels were published under Avon) I felt those stakes were even higher. However, if anything, the change has been good for Miranda, A Parcel for Anna Browne is a fantastic story that I thoroughly enjoyed, and will be recommending to anyone that will listen for the forseeable future. This story firmly reminds you why Miranda is a bestseller and a firm favourite, not just for me, but for many people across the country, if not the world. (wow, that was fairly dramatic wasn't it!?)

The concept for this story is wonderful, really unique and different. It follows Anna, a woman who lives in London and is pretty happy with her life. She has a home she loves, a job she enjoys and a circle of friends. One day, a parcel arrives for her, unannounced. The mysterious package contains a gift of a beautiful silk scarf. Wearing the scarf increases her confidence, and she begins to wonder who is behind the parcels. More and more parcels arrive, each containing beautiful gifts that boost Anna's confidence and make her reflect on her life... was she as content and happy as she thought?

What I loved about this story is the journey you go on with Anna. She is a lovely, down-to-earth character that you immediately warm to. Although her life is fine, the parcels make her want more, to become ambitious and do what makes her happy. I loved that, seeing her grow and develop and strive for more. I thought it was an unusual element that the changes within her were down to the parcels and the beautiful gifts that were nestled between the wrapping. 

Writing strong, relatable characters is definitely one of Miranda Dickinson's strong points, and A Parcel For Anna Browne is brimming with them. I loved her work colleagues and the team behind the reception desk, who were funny and showed off Anna's kind and friendly personality. My favourite character was her best friend Jonah, who's a real sweetheart. He had such a sparkle to him and I could see why him and Anna were such good friends. 

Then there's Ben, the journalist who Anna gets to know through work shadowing. I didn't warm to him as much as I did Jonah, although it was obvious he was handsome and charming, too. I could see why Anna's interest was peaked and I enjoyed watching the two of them interact. 

The story is told mainly through Anna's viewpoint, although some chapters start from a different character's view-point and then come back round to Anna. I liked this change, as it gives a more detailed insight into some of the other characters and always links to the situation unfolding within that chapter. It's done in such a way that it adds another layer of delight to the story and isn't distracting or confusing.

This story is fantastic, really magical and gripping. To me, it wasn't obvious who the sender was, which had me hooked. I kept guessing but then changing my mind as the story progressed and I never really settled on a culprit at all. I was shocked by the reveal but not disappointed, I felt it was a fitting end to such a wonderful story. 

This is Miranda Dickinson's first book with Pan MacMillan and it certainly has been an exciting change. Her writing style is impeccable as usual, creating engaging characters, 'I want to go there now' locations and a unique storyline that is entertaining and fun. If I had to sum up A Parcel For Anna Browne in one word? Magical. 

I absolutely loved it and can't wait for more!

Links: 
Buy the book (and I certainly would recommend you do!) 
Website
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

8 photos of happiness

I've seen this post a few times, on Sky's Book Corner and Jenny in Neverland's blogs to name a few. I thought it looked like a really fun thing to do and decided to give it a go myself! I loved going though my photos and whittling it down to 8 was actually much more difficult than I thought. Hope you enjoy :) 

This tag was originally created by Ariel’s Little Corner of the Internet and the intention is simple. Share 8 photos that represent a moment, object, place or feeling that makes you happy. Then tag others to share their own photos! So lo and behold, here are my 8 photos.

1. Christmas dinner with the family

This photograph was taken on Christmas Day 2014. It was a brilliant Christmas spent with my family and the OH (My dads not in the picture as he's in the corner, probably pouring wine!). I've picked this one not only because it was a great day, but also because sadly, it turned out to be the last Christmas we'd have with my Grandma, as she passed away in August. This photo now means even more to me than it did before, and stands proudly in a frame in my living room. 

2. Graduation Day

This is from my graduation day in July 2012. It was a great day to celebrate achieving a 2:1 in my degree, and it made me so happy seeing my parents proud. 

3. University Days

On the Graduation theme, this is a photo with my uni girls :) I had some absolutely brilliant times living with these lovely girls, and  I'm so pleased that we're all still in touch.  We don't see each other as often as we'd like as we're spread across the country, but when we do see each other we have just as much fun as we did during our uni days (although maybe not quite as wild as back then haha). This was one of the last photos we had all together before we graduated. 

4. My 21st Birthday

Another photo from 2012 - this time my 21st birthday! Although this photo itself might not be the most meaningful, I fell it represents the day itself which was honestly one of the best days ever. My mum and dad spent ages organising a party for me at their house, with all my family and friends coming to celebrate. The day was filled with laughter, love and champagne and it was THE best party I've ever had, one I'll always remember.

5. My Boys

This is a pretty old photo - I think 2009?! Anyway, these boys here were my best friends though high school and college (and thankfully still are today, including my OH who you can see at the front!). This photo means a lot to me as it was our final night together before we all left the village for uni. As usual with growing up, once we went to uni everything changed, so this really takes me back to those care-free, fun times we spent together. We spent our last night together having food and drinking at Will's house before some teary goodbyes (mainly on my part). I still love this photo!

6.  My Boys no.2 - Reunited!

Yep, here's the boys again! This photo was taken last Summer. As I mentioned above, everything changed when we went to uni. One of those reasons was Will (far left) went travelling and fell in love with the wonderful Jess, from Chicago. Yep, America. He now lives there with his wife and beautiful daughter, so we don't get to see him as much as we used to and really miss him. This night in particular was really special, as Will had come back to England but not told us! We went to our friend Toms thinking it was just for a normal night out, and there was Will, just sat chillin'. I cried, of course, and was the most surprised I've ever been! It was absolutely brilliant & something I'll never forget. 

7. My Girls

This is me and my two best friends, Livi and Jess, on a night out. We're not massive 'party people' any more, but on this night we'd decided to get dressed up for cocktails and dancing. This picture sums us up really - silly, relaxed in each others company and not taking ourselves too seriously! Fun fact: that night Livi got a free drink from a bartender for being 'really polite'. Never mind looking good ladies, manners are clearly where its at! 

8. Our House... (in the middle of our street)

The final picture is of my house! For you regular readers, you'll probably be sick to death of hearing about this but I am SO happy. In June the OH & I moved into our first house together. It's quite a change to renting a flat in the city centre, but we absolutely love it. It's been a fun few months furnishing and settling in, and we're now at the stage where we've got the bulk of the work done and can actually enjoy it. One of my favourite times is Friday nights - coming in from work, blasting some music and cooking together, before snuggling on the sofa with a box set and a glass of wine. Perfect!

So there you have it, 8 pictures that pretty much sum up my life and what makes me happy. Looking at these has made me realise how lucky I am, and how much my loved ones mean to me. Soppy but true! If you've done this tag, post the link below - I'd love to be nosy! :)