Blog Tour: The Wedding Date by Jennifer Joyce

"Will you…date me?

Delilah James, singleton and smoothie-addict, has six months to find a date for her oldest friend’s wedding. Oh, and to prove to her ex, best man Ben, that she has totally moved on since he dumped her out-of-the-blue nine months, eight days and seventeen hours ago…

So, with her two BFFs playing Cupid, Delilah launches herself into the high-tech, fast-paced and frankly terrifying world of dating. Luckily there’s the hot new guy at work, Adam Sinclair, to practice her flirting on – even if, as a colleague, he’s strictly off-limits!

Yet time’s running out and date after disastrous date forces Delilah to tell a little white lie – and invent a fake boyfriend! But will her secret crush on Adam ruin everything? Does she even care about Ben anymore? And is it too late to untangle her web of lies and take a real date to the wedding…?"

When I was asked to be a part of the Jennifer Joyce blog tour, I was thrilled. She is a witty, brilliant author and I was super excited to get my hands on a copy of her latest novel, The Wedding Date.

The Wedding Date lived up to expectation. It's an immersive, fun novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. The main character, Delilah, is leading a pretty stale life. Working in a boring admin job, living at home with her parents and still not over her break-up from the supposed love of her life, Ben, she's kind of coasting through life. When an old school friend invites Delilah to her wedding and announces Ben is going to be the best man and will be bringing his fiance with him, Deliah is on a mission to find someone to stand by her side during the wedding do.

The plot for The Wedding Date provides the funny and awkward situations you'd expect from it. We see a string of disastrous dates that had me cringing for Delilah and also get to see her come out of her shell a bit. Delilah is a relatable character, you fully understand how she's in the situation she's in and how she's really struggling with the idea of the man she loves not loving her back. Sometimes I did struggle with this aspect though - she's so determined to use her wedding date to make Ben jealous and ultimately win him back, which seems stupid when it's so clear he's just not into her anymore. I wanted her to be excited about the prospect of  a new romance, not using it to reconcile with her stupid ex. However, like I said.. that's a really relatable part of the story as so many people have thoughts and ideas like that when they go through a break-up. 

One of my favourite characters was Adam, the office hottie. He's funny and relaxed and brings normality to Delilah's otherwise crazy workplace. I loved seeing him and Delilah getting along - there's clear chemistry and I was willing for one of them to actually act on it.

The Wedding Date is an entertaining story that just makes you smile. It's addictive - you really want to see how things will turn out for Delilah and will her to do something that makes her happy. I enjoyed seeing her character develop and grow, Jennifer Joyce has a real talent at making loveable yet complex characters who you root for from the very beginning. This is a great easy-going read perfect to curl up with and relax. 

Author bio:

Jennifer Joyce is a writer of romantic comedies who lives in Manchester with her husband and their two daughters. Her latest novel, The Wedding Date is out now.

You can find out more about Jennifer and her books on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniferjoycewrites

Twitter: www.twitter.com/writer_jenn

Blog: www.jenniferjoycewrites.co.uk

Review: The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me

"Sally is an incredible singer but she sings only in her wardrobe where nobody can hear her. She'd rather join a nudist colony than sing in public.
That is until she ventures to New York where a wild and heady summer of love and loss changes her forever. No longer able to hide in the shadows, Sally must return home to London to fulfill a promise she cannot break - to share her voice.
But just as she's about to embark on her new life, a beautiful man turns up on Sally's doorstep bearing a sheepish smile and a mysterious hand-written message.
How did he find her? Why is he here? Does he hold the truth to what happened back in New York? And, with him back on the scene, will she still have the courage to step into the spotlight?"

So, January is now upon us and I'm trying to dispel any pre-Christmas blues by immersing myself in some bloody good books! January is fairly quiet on the blog-tour front, so I'm enjoying being able to work my way through some books that have been shouting at me from my bookshelf for a very long time, as well as reading some amazing proofs for books coming later this month (I feel very lucky!). I decided to read The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me straight after Christmas and I loved it! I had no doubts that I would (Lucy Robinson is a genius!) but I really, really, really loved it. Here's why! 

The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me was released in 2014, so I'm a bit behind the times with this one. If, like me, you haven't had chance to read this delight yet - then please, please, do. Go, now. Now I tell you! It's FAB. 

Lucy Robinson's writing style always brings a smile to my face. It's witty, absorbing but also so genuine. She creates characters that are so real and you really relate to. They have good points, bad points, flaws and strengths and I just love that about her stories. 

Sally, the main character in this story, is no exception to that. She is a great main character that I rooted for from the very start. She's a super-talented singer but has no self belief. Thanks to her unsupportive parents she doesn't act on her amazing skill, instead choosing to sing opera in a wardrobe. Yes, you head that right. A wardrobe. This is such a funny and unique aspect to the story, but also really defines her character. Sally isn't one to take a chance on her dream or do something for herself, she's too busy worrying about others. She's a kind and caring soul, who I hoped would find some confidence and inner strength to follow her dream, rather than everyone else's. 

That's pretty deep, but this is what happens when you read a Lucy Robinson novel! Light 'chick-lit' reading it is not. There are so many layers to her books that make them stand out from the Women's Fiction crowd. 

So anyway, back to the book. The story is split into two time-frames: the past, when Sally and her friends take on some work for an opera company in New York, where they enjoy being in a new country and city, doing what they love, but also get up to all sorts of mischief. Then there's the present, where we see Sally take on the (rather unwanted) challenge of starting opera school, as she promised she would to the person that means the most to her. I liked the switch in times, it kept the story fast-paced and also added a layer of mystery as there are hints at a big drama occurring in New York which you don't find out about towards the end. I also loved that Lucy had made the different chapters 'acts' or 'scenes', to keep within the opera theme. 

The story is jam-packed with wonderful characters. I loved Jan, Sally's larger than life opera school buddy, who had me laughing out loud on many occasions. Barry, her friend who she travels to New York with is also hilarious and then Julian. Oh, Julian. Sally's love interest is quirky but lovely. Their romance had me on tenterhooks, I loved seeing their relationship unfold in the flashbacks to New York, but wanted to know why they weren't together in the present day. I really rooted for it to work out between them as it was obvious they were meant to be together. 

I'm not a big opera person really, but that doesn't matter. There is plenty of detail in the story to show that Lucy has done some great research which brings the setting to life, but doesn't bore you to tears if you're not a fan. A wonderful balance. 

As usual, Lucy Robinson has created a funny, tongue-in-cheek romance story with MUCH more to it. There's plenty of emotion and mystery to go alongside the romance storyline, which makes it stand out from the crowd. This is one of those stories that you'll think about for a long time after finishing, it's so good. You really become invested in the plot and the characters, so much so that it's a weird point of wanting to race through to find out what happens but being sad when it gets to the end. A wonderful all-rounder and an absolute must read! 

2015 book awards: funniest humour

Reading is, for me, a form of escapism. I love getting lost in different worlds and loosing myself in a good story. I also really enjoy funny stories that can instantly change your mood - they can cheer you up, help you forget the bad things happening in real life and can even make you feel more positive. These three stories are the ones that had me genuinely belly-laughing and causing people to look at me strangely when in a public place... oops!

The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance by Kirsty Greenwood

I absolutely loved this story which had me laughing out loud from the very first page. Jessica Beam is an all-round hilarious character, the situations she lands herself in and the way she deals with them is just utterly hilarious. Kirsty Greenwood's writing captured my heart and my imagination and this is a story I well and truly fell for... I still keep thinking about it now and is one of my reading highlights of 2015. Read my full review here 

The Temp by Emily Benet 

This is an absolutely brilliant read that follows Amber, a recent graduate wanting to make her mark on the world. While she works out what to do, she flits from temp job to temp job and also dabbles in art (her passion) as she does so. This is a sharp and witty read and Emily Benet has created a fun, tongue-in-cheek story with fantastic characters.  Read my full review here

The Very Happy Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) by Kate Winter

The idea for this story is so different and entertaining I was absorbed from the first word. The story follows Rosie Potter as she wakes up one day to discover she isn't actually dreaming... but she's dead. We follow Rosie as she sees her loved ones react to her death and tries to work out how she died. It might not sound like the sort of story to have laugh-out-loud moments, but it SO does. Rosie is a funny and witty main character and really takes the whole 'being dead' thing in her stride. She does exactly what you'd want to do if you found out you were dead and I enjoyed following her on her journey. There are some emotional and heart-warming moments too, but for me the humour and wit in this story stood out the most. Read my full review here 

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. 

Links: 

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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! 

Links: 

Buy the book 

Author website 

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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! 

Buy Links: 

Amazon UK 

Amazon. COM

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 

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. 

Links: 

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Author page (Amazon)

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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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Blog Tour: Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt

BLURB:

The USA Today bestselling author presents a heartfelt novel about two sisters struggling toward new lives and loves.

"Welcome to Hartley-by-the-Sea in England’s beautiful Lake District, where two sisters who meet as strangers find small miracles tucked into the corners of every day....

When Lucy Bagshaw’s life in Boston falls apart, thanks to a scathing editorial written by her famous artist mother, she accepts her half sister Juliet’s invitation to stay with her in a charming seaside village in northern England. Lucy is expecting quaint cottages and cream teas, but instead finds that her sister is an aloof host, the weather is wet, windy, and cold, and her new boss, Alex Kincaid, is a disapproving widower who only hired her as a favour to Juliet.

Despite the invitation she offered, Juliet is startled by the way Lucy catapults into her orderly life. As Juliet faces her own struggles with both her distant mother and her desire for a child, her sister’s irrepressible optimism begins to take hold. With the help of quirky villagers, these hesitant rainy day sisters begin to forge a new understanding…and find in each other the love of family that makes all the difference."

The thing that struck me early on with Rainy Day Sisters is that it is the perfect read to welcome Autumn. Picture the scene; snuggled on the sofa, sipping on a cuppa, munching on a biscuit and divulging in an entertaining book set in the raining and cold Lake District. All the talk of fleeces and wet weather paired perfectly with the view from outside my window, but I was warm and snug reading (unlike the characters!) perfect, huh? Pretty much, and that's what I experienced when reading Rainy Day Sisters, a book I really enjoyed and absolutely flew through. 

At the start of the story we are introduced to Lucy, a fairly ditzy yet lovable character who is fleeing her problems in America and going to stay with her estranged older sister, Juliet, in the Lake District. When we meet Juliet it's pretty apparent that although she offered for Lucy to stay with her at a time in need, it isn't all welcome. Juliet is rather bristly and stern, in complete contrast to Lucy's quirky and bubbly personality. Although sisters, the two are very estranged and don't really know each other, which provides some awkward and difficult moments. 

I loved watching the relationship with the two sisters pan out. As it is told from both their viewpoints, you really get to know both the sisters and see why they feel the way they do. Personally, I preferred Lucy as she was so loveable and bubbly, but as the story unfolds you understand why Juliet is as prickly as she is and actually begin to sympathise with her, and hope she manages to lighten up and enjoy herself. 

One of the main highlights of Rainy Day Sisters for me was the location. You all know by now that I'm a big fan of stories set in quaint English villages and so this book was immediately a winner in my eyes. The story unfolds in Hartley-by-the-Sea, a small village nestled in the Lake District. There's a tight-knit community feel to the place which at times proves a challenge to Lucy and Juliet, but as a reader I loved it. Another highlight was seeing Lucy in her new job, as a receptionist at the village school. It not only highlighted the community aspect of the story, but also introduced you to Alex, the stern yet handsome headmaster. He isn't all that impressed with Lucy at first and I enjoyed it as they got to know each other more. 

The plot being centred around a sibling relationship as apposed to romance (although that does play a part too) was a slightly different storyline to my usual reads and one I really liked. The characters are interesting and relatable, the location is brilliant and I loved watching the developing and changing relationships with the different characters in this story. 

So get yourself cosy and snug, out of the Autumnal weather, and get yourself settled with this book. It is a true delight - entertaining, light-hearted and fun it will make you smile - it certainly did me!




BIO:

Kate Hewitt is the author of over 40 novels of women’s fiction and romance. She loves telling an emotional story in a variety of genres, and has been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award twice. An American ex-pat, she lives in the Cotswolds of England with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can follow her adventures in village life on her blog, http://www.acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk.

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Book review: The Love Shack by Jane Costello

"Life's great when you're 29 years old with a gorgeous girlfriend and fulfilling job. Until you have to move back in with your mum .

Dan and Gemma have found their dream first home, but the asking price is the stuff of nightmares. The only way they'll ever save enough for the deposit is by moving in, rent-free, with Dan's mum. 

It's a desperate solution, but it's only for six months. And Gemma's determined to make it work, no matter how bad things get. 

But between Dan's mum's kitchen karaoke, her constant innuendos, irrepressible argumentative streak and - worst of all - her ham and pineapple curries, life back at home would test the patience of two saints. Which Dan and Gemma most definitely are not. 

Then, as they're trying to convince themselves it will all be worth it, Gemma's past comes back to haunt her. And suddenly the foundations of their entire relationship are shaken to their core…"

I picked up The Love Shack when I was looking for a light-hearted, entertaining read that would take my mind off things. It was the perfect fit for this criteria, and is a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story centres around Gemma and Dan, a young couple who are buying their first house together. After a lot of searching they eventually find the perfect house, which they both love. The only problem? It's out of their price range. Deciding that with only a few extra months of saving they'd be able to afford it, the pair move out their rental flat and back home with Dan's mum, to save money while the contract goes through.

The plot was funny and easily relateable to, which I really liked. Having just bought my first house I fully understood the emotions and thought processes of the pair which made this a really realistic and funny story.

The story has a split viewpoint between Gemma and Dan, which I think is one of my favourite things about it. I loved having the mans take on things as well as Gemma's, as it explained some of the scenarios and situations really well. It also provided some funny moments - one chapter ends with Gemma hurting her arm, and is being told from Dans perspective. He explains how she isn't very good with pain and was being pretty dramatic during the whole ordeal. The next chapter is from Gemma's point of view and starts with her saying that it's a good job she can cope with pain well, or it could have been a lot worse. This had me in hysterics as it is just what every couple are like and its realness made me laugh.

Dan is a real sweetie and probably my favourite character in the story. You can really see how much he cares for Gemma and how he just wants to make her happy. He's the ideal boyfriend and I did develop a bit of a soft spot for him as the story unfolded - especially when you see things from his point of view and so can relate to him more. He's quite a sensitive soul which I also thought was good, as its slightly different for a man.

Belinda, his mum is mad as a hatter but very entertaining. She doesn't make things easy for Gemma and Dan living there - she has loud parties and makes very inappropriate comments about their... personal life. I can fully see why they felt uncomfortable about it, but as a reader it's a brilliant addition to the story and you never quite know what she'll do or say next.

The other highlight for me was the attention to detail when it came to Dan's job. He works at a homeless charity, and you can tell Jane has gone to great lengths to ensure she gets the facts about his role correct, and that shines through. Working in the charity and homelessness sector myself, I know the kind of work that happens on a day to day, and the kind of clients that people like Dan would work with. The research had paid off, as it was very true to life and accurately portrayed how his job would be.

Overall, The Love Shack is a brilliant read and I genuinely don't have any niggles or bad points to pick up on. The plot is a bit different and well thought through and Jane (as usual) has a humorous writing style that is funny and engaging. This book is a great form of escapism - it's a light-hearted and fun read that transports you into the world of the characters and allows you to forget real life while you get absorbed into it. Jane's writing talent shines through with this story- a brilliant, funny read that I absolutely loved.

Book review: Please Retweet by Emily Benet

"Social media whizz kid, May Sparks has landed her dream job. Well, not quite, but the salary is great and all May has to do is handle the online profiles of Z – list celebrities who have the tendency to say inappropriate things. Easy, right? #wrong

May’s clients include an ex big brother star (who she's definitely not going to sleep with #neversaynever), a disgraced TV presenter (who wants May to sort out his marriage as well as his Twitter account), and a woman who once flashed her boobs on X-factor. They're all relying on her to turn them into stars. But they're not going to make her job easy.

As May is sucked further and further into her job she begins to lose her grip on real life. Her friends don’t ‘like’ her Facebook posts anymore and even her gorgeous neighbour, who once seemed to be on the same wavelength, criticises her career choice. Worse, May’s clients start getting trolled by an annoying tweep, who May happens to agree with.

Then May’s secret online identity is leaked, causing her to start trending on Twitter. It looks like the status update is over. Unless May can leave the superficial social media word behind and find her own voice again…"

When I found out Emily was releasing a new book, I was so excited. If you read my review of The Temp, you'll know I well and truly fell for Emily's witty writing style and unique ideas. Before I'd even started reading the book, I knew she wouldn't disappoint on the latter. The story revolves around May Sparks, who has a demanding job managing social media accounts for minor celebrities. The concept of the book stood out to me- it's modern, different and would no doubt provide some brilliant scenarios.... and boy does it!

As May embarks on her new career, she begins to feel the pressure. Social media is a 24 hour business, and she doesn't feel like she can ever take a break. She is always scouring for favourites, re-tweets and witty tweets to make her clients accounts shine. With the promise of a bumper pay-rise and a successful career, she works hard to impress her boss and her clients. However, this work-a-holic attitude doesn't impress her friends or her family, and also doesn't really impress her clients... she's very much taken for granted.

At times, I found May's attitude to work frustrating as it was so full-on. Sure, I'm all for working hard, but the job eats into May's whole life. She doesn't ever seem to stop, and I wanted to shout at her to switch off all her electronic devices, grab a drink and chill out, on an evening at least. The world will still spin if a Z list celebrity doesn't tweet for an evening. But this adds to the story - it shows what a dedicated and hardworking person May is, while also ringing true to life, and showing what a big impact Social Media is having on everyones lives - we've become obsessed with liking pictures of peoples dinner or watching the latest viral video. It's absorbing and I think it's easy to not quite realise how much time is spent in a virtual world. (Pretty deep stuff for me, heh?)

When May started loosing friends over her dedication to work and neglectful attitude to them, I began to become infuriated. I wanted to reach into my kindle, grab her by the shoulders and give her a good shake. I won't say this is a negative aspect to the story as it just accentuates how lost May is, but it certainly will draw emotions from you.

As usual with Emily's stories, theres loads of varied characters with a wide range of personalities, which really showcases Emily's skill at creating characters that bring out a range of emotions. Theres funny characters, annoying characters, swoon-worthy characters and even more, which immerses you into the story and has you hooked. I loved seeing how all these different characters engaged with May and how they prised a different reaction from her.

Overall Please Retweet is an interesting, unique plot that is completely different to anything I've ever read before. I really enjoyed it. It isn't quite as laugh-out-loud-funny as The Temp, but I think that's due to it being such a different plot, which is brilliant. Emily's writing just gets better and better and I love the way she brings characters to life and has a knack of stringing together witty, well thought-through sentences. If you haven't already, add Please Retweet to your reading list, it's a corker. #Iheartemilybenet #gobuythisbook #seriouslygogetit (sorry... couldn't resist!)