Review: The Mince Pie Mix Up by Jennifer Joyce

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‘I wish I could live your life. I’d happily swap lives with you.’

’Tis the season to be jolly but for Calvin and Judy the usual festive bickering has already begun! Judy’s convinced that her husband has it easy – no glittery wrapping paper, no playground gossip and absolutely no Christmas baking.

Calvin wishes he could trade in his obnoxious boss and dull nine-to-five job to spend more time kicking back with his kids – how hard can Judy’s life really be?

But after a magical mince pie mix-up, one thing’s for certain – by Christmas Day, life for Judy and Calvin will never be the same again. Perhaps the grass isn’t always greener after all…

A hilarious, feel-good festive read, perfect to curl up with this Christmas. Fans of Carole Matthews, Jane Costello and Mandy Baggotwill love this story!

I've just finished reading The Mince Pie Mix Up and have a warm fuzzy feeling inside and a smile across my face.

Why?

Well, not only does this book have a catchy title and adorable cover - just look at the gorgeous colours - it was a utter page turner that had be laughing throughout and brought a heart warming tear to my eye at the end of the book. 

Meet the Neil family - Dad Calvin is a workaholic with an arrogant boss, he is physically incapable of putting his dirty clothes in the laundry basket, loves a kick around and pint with his mates and thinks his wife, Judy, has life easy.

Judy on the other hand is run off her feet with getting up at the crack of dawn to bake for the village cafe, where after she has walked the dog, got the kids (Scott and Charlie) up and ready for school and made pack lunches, works as a waitress. In the evenings she nags the children on their homework, sorts the washing and cooks a family meal... clearly and surely, Calvin must have the easier life?

After an argument their go to bed with a bad taste in their mouths, quite literally as they had eaten a burnt mince pie and made a wish to the Christmas Fairy that they wanted to trade lives... surely its all a dream, right?

Its clear the next morning when they wake that it was no dream and Judy is in Calvin's body and vice versa... one of my favourite lines from the book came from this point where they are discovering their personalities are in the wrong bodies - " Judy! Stop playing with my knob and take this seriously"

As Calvin and Judy spend the next 10 or so days in the run up to Christmas eve as each other they go on an unforgettable journey, realising that not all is as it seems.

When Calvin ends up with numerous blisters and utterly shatter he appreciates just how much of a military operation Judy is running, whilst she blags her way as him through a super important presentation at work and learns to appreciate just how stressful his job can me.

When I started reading The Mince Pie Mix Up, I thought that the book would be confusing but Jennifer Joyce has written this well, the story flowed and highlighted true accounts of a busy family life.

There were moments of hilarity which had me giggling aloud and gaining strange looks from the other half!

The book was jam packed with festive events, school politics and mince pies... lots of mice pies!

A feel good festive book, with a heart warming story to appreciate what we have at this time of year.

I would like to thank the publishers for providing a review copy via NetGalley, this was my honest opinion.

I have read What Happens At Christmas as part of the #CarinaChristmas feature run by Rachels Random Reads. 

For more reviews, please check out the twitter hashtag.

Guest Post: Why I Love Christmas by Rebecca Pugh

Today I'm delighted to be joined by Rebecca Pugh from Beccas Boooks on the blog as part of the #CarinaChristmas week, where she tells us why she adores this time of year - thank you Becca for this fab festive post!

Why I Love Christmas 

Rebecca Pugh 

Christmas truly is the most magical, wonderful time of year for me and my family, but I’ve had a hard time trying to pinpoint exactly why it is that I love it so much. Is it the food? Is it the music? Is it the excitement of giving and receiving gifts? Is it being surrounded by my family? To tell you the truth, I love all of that, but I do believe that it’s the last thing on that list that makes me love it so much. 

I have a massive family. Huge. And being the eldest of seven children means that I’ve been able to watch each of them grow up. We’ve shared many, many Christmases together, crowding the lounge carpet as we unwrap presents with glee, flinging wrapping paper here, there and everywhere. 

Many Christmas dinners have been had too, of course, with a few squabbles thrown into the mix for added measure, because it wouldn’t be us if there weren’t any. 

The years, despite only being twenty-two, seem to have slipped by in the blink of an eye, and as I get older, I’m becoming more and more aware of the fact that one day, those fantastic Christmas mornings will be happening without me, because I’ll be hosting my very own Christmas. 

It makes me so sad to think that there’ll come a Christmas where I won’t be in the throes of it with my brothers and sisters, and perhaps that’s why I make the most of the Christmases we still have together. I’ll still go home of course, to visit everyone on Christmas Day, but I know it won’t be the same. 

Nothing beats waking up at stupid o’clock in the morning and waiting patiently, with a cup of coffee, for my siblings to join me in the present-strewn lounge, one by one, sleepy-eyed and full of yawns. I’m aware that those Christmases will one day become memories that I’ll tell to my own children perhaps, maybe even my grandchildren and so, until it happens, I cling on to these Christmases at home for dear life, because I will miss them so, so much once they’re gone. 

That’s not to say I’m completely dismissing the other reasons as to why Christmas is so fabulously exciting. If you know me at all, you’ll know that I’m incredibly annoying when it comes to the festive season, so much so that I begin to do even my own head in with my childlike glee, excitement and enthusiasm. 

I adore the lead-up to the big day. 

I love seeing the Christmas decorations, writing out my Christmas cards, playing all of my favourite Christmas songs and even buying Christmas-scented air fresheners and candles for the bedroom. There’s something cosy about the frost, if that makes sense? How it bites and nips at your cheeks each time you step outside, as if reminding you of Christmas and its arrival. I love wrapping up warm, mittens and scarf included, and wearing two pairs of socks to keep my toes warm. I love the Christmas books that perch prettily on the shop shelves like Robin red-breasts on a tree branch, and the abundance of festive movies that begin to make their way onto the TV, perfect for any Sunday afternoon with a hot chocolate in hand. 

I’m a sucker for the commercial side of things, but the reason as to why I love Christmas so much really does lie with my family. If it wasn’t for them, my Christmas wouldn’t the same. I can’t even imagine how my Christmas would look without them, the thought actually frightens me if I’m going to be honest. They make my Christmases magical, and so worth the year-long wait. 

So, no matter what you’re doing with yourselves this Christmas, I hope you make some magical memories that you’ll keep safe and snug in your heart. 

I hope your toes stay toasty, your nose doesn’t turn too red, and have yourselves a wonderful Christmas time. 

Becca xox   

Rebecca Pugh grew up in the green county of Shropshire, with a mind full of fairy-tales and happy endings. 

Enchanted by true love and Disney Princesses, she decided that no matter what life threw her way, she’d continue to see the world through a child’s eyes. 

Through the pages of countless books, her adoration of reading blossomed, and it didn’t take long for her to fall under the spell of hundreds of authors’ words. 

Now, Rebecca’s own story has taken a fairy-tale like turn, and at 22, her dream has come true. With her faithful companions: Bonnie the dog, her partner, and her gigantic family by her side, Rebecca is ready to share her stories with readers who enjoy falling in love and losing themselves within beautiful, fictional worlds. 

Rebecca Pugh is the author of women’s fiction and romance, her all-time favourite genres. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good swoon? 

Return to Bluebell Hill, Rebecca’s debut novel, was published 18th June 2015 by Carina UK. Her second novel, A Home in Sunset Bay, follows in February 2016. 

Links for Return to Bluebell Hill - Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Link to pre-order A Home in Sunset Bay - Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Link to Becca’s Books - http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/

I would like to thank Rebecca for taking the time out of her busy schedule to come on the blog today.

This post is part of the #CarinaChristmas event that is being run over on

Rachels Random Reads.

Blog tour: Wish Upon A Christmas Cake by Darcie Boleyn

Today is my stop on the Neverland Blog Tour for Darcie Boleyn's novel, 

Wish Upon A Christmas Cake 

and not only can you find my review below but there is also a giveaway!

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The most wonderful time of the year?

Katie Warham has just one wish this year…to have the best Christmas ever!

If only she could lock herself away in a cloud of flour and sugar at her cosy little tearoom, Crumbtious Cakes, instead of spending the festive season trapped with her judgemental mother, crazy Aunt Gina and loved-up celebrity brother Karl…

But Katie never expected her ex-boyfriend, widower Sam – and his two adorable children – to turn up on her doorstep. She didn’t think that any man could tempt her under the mistletoe this year, but Sam might just prove the exception! And as the snow begins to fall and Katie puts the final touches to her famous Christmas cake, she begins to wonder, could her Christmas wish actually come true?

This holiday season, snuggle up by a roaring fire with a mulled wine and enjoy Darcie Boleyn’s festive winter warmer!

 If your looking for your perfect festive read to curl up to on a Sunday afternoon then I cannot recommend this book enough - I loved it that much I finished it in one sitting, which is rare for me of late as I've been so busy.

Katie Warham is the main character in the book, she comes across as a kind yet sensitive soul, but one that is living her dream running her own cake business, Crumbsious, or so she thinks!

As Christmas approaches, Katie is dreading spending time with her family, particularly as her beloved Granny passed away only two short months ago. She's never felt that she has made her mother proud or lived up to her expectations, especially as her older brother Karl is the golden child with his celeb status, although it is clear he dotes on Katie.

To lighten the mood her best friend, flat mate and business partner Ann tells her to wish upon a piece of their famous Christmas cake, in which Katie does but isn't sure what will come of it.

Katie arrives at the very glamorous Hawthorne Manor in which her and her family are staying for the festive period, only to be fronted by an unexpected face of Christmas past... her ex and one only true love, Sam.

Katie and Sam have history, and appeared happy until events took a turn for the worst, I wont give out too many details as spoil it for you, but Katie pushed Sam away and it's clear as the story unfolds that Katie and Sam still have strong feelings for each other only each are nursing a broken heart with Katie facing her first Christmas minus her Granny and Sam facing the first one alone with his young children, Jack and Holly, since the death of his wife a year a go.

Whilst Wish Upon A Christmas Cake was a fast pace book, and was based from just prior to Christmas to early spring, it wasn't short of detail.
Darcie has a great way of telling a story with in depth details, building up a picture in your own head and making you feel as if you are part of that particular scene.

There were lots of ups and downs to the story as Katie and Sam battle their feelings, as Katie and her mother try to build bridges and they try to move on without Granny in their lives, but ultimately it was a love story based around Christmas and the epilogue which was based on the following Christmas wrapped the story up beautifully - I just loved Katie and Sam's stories.

Wish Upon A Christmas Cake had be smiling throughout, all of the characters had fabulous personalities and the bonds between Katie, Karl, Sam and his children were a joy to read.
The book made me scream and gasp at some of the scenes between Katie and Sam.... They are the type of characters you just know should be together yet find disruptions along the way.

If I had to some this book up in one sentence it would be something like ~ It made me laugh, it made me cry but was wonderfully heartwarming, festive and romantic!

No question that is is awarded 5 flowers!

I would like to thank CarinaUK for supplying a review copy via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: What Happens At Christmas by T A Williams

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For the perfect Christmas…

When career-girl Holly Brice learns that her estranged father has died, she decides to take a trip down memory lane and find out about the man she never knew.

Arriving in the sleepy little Dartmoor village, she’s shocked to discover that she’s inherited the cosy little cottage she remembers so fondly, a whole load of money – and her father’s adorable dog, too!

Head to snow-covered Devon!

And as the first snowflakes begin to fall and Holly bumps into her gorgeous neighbour, Jack Nelson, life gets even more complicated! Men have always been off the cards for high-flying Holly, but there’s something about mysterious writer Jack that has her re-thinking her three-date rule…

What Happens At Christmas is the first novel by T.A. Williams that I have read, and what a lovely, heart warming story it told.

The book starts off with a prologue setting the story up, explaining that holly Brice had been summoned to a solicitors in order for a reading of her fathers will, a father that she hadn't seen or heard from in nearly 20 years.

The first shock for Holly is that he has left her his quaint cottage in a small Devon village, and the second was the rather large sum of money she was to inherit too.

The story is then told over a ten day period, with each chapter being a day leading up to Christmas. As Holly sets about sorting her fathers belongings, ready to sell the cottage, she gets acquainted to the other villagers who have nothing but nice words and high praise for her late father. Holly also becomes close to her neighbour, Jack, as well as forming a tight bond with Sterling, the dog her dad left behind.

Over the course of the week, Holly sorts through her fathers things and discovers a bundle of letters, one for every month since he last saw her, and as she starts to read them she starts to see and understand what happened. There is also a Christmas gift for her for every year that he was absent from her life.

With the bonds forming, Holly has to decide whether to leave her high flying London job and move to the country, or give up the house and dog that gives her such feeling of connection to her dad.

As her and Jack seem to get closer she senses something holding him back and the classic will they wont they you often get in a romace novel takes you right up to the tenth day - Do they get they Christmas wishes? Well you will have to read the book to find out!

What Happens At Christmas was a romantic, festive, feel good book, and although for me personally, the story was a little predictable, it was a nice light read, ideal for reading on a Sunday afternoon after a crazy week!

I would like to thank the publishers for providing a review copy via NetGalley, this was my honest opinion.

I have read What Happens At Christmas as part of the #CarinaChristmas feature run by Rachels Random Reads. 

For more reviews, please check out the twitter hashtag.

Review: My Big Fat Christmas Wedding by Samantha Tonge

I would like to thank Guest Reviewer Nicole for the following post.

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Things don't always run smoothly in the game of love...

Former hot shot city girl Pippa Pattinson loves her new life of rustic simplicity, running. A quaint tea shop on a sleepy Greek island with her hot fiancé, Niko. But it's been a quick change to slow living- and you can't blame a girl for wondering, 'how did I get here?'

As her Christmas wedding approaches, a trip back to snowy England for her ex's engagement party makes her wonder if those are wedding bells she's hearing in her mind, or warning bells. She longs for the excitement of her old London life- the glamour, the regular pedicures. Can she really give that all up to be...a fishwife?

There's nothing for it but to throw herself into bringing a little Christmas magic to the struggling village in the form of a Christmas fair. Somewhere in the amidst the sparkly bauble cakes and stollen scones, she's hoping she'll come to the right decision about where she belongs...fingers crossed in time for the wedding...

This book took a bit of time to get into, but once I read the first few chapters I really did start to enjoy it. I particularly like the real to life subjects that appear such as the recent  downturn in the Greek economy and the migrant situation of them escaping their war torn country to find a better life in Europe.

Pippa gave up her life in London, where she was challenged everyday and got rewarded with what she was good at. 

However, happiness is not all about material things and money, she settled with her Greek God boyfriend Niko, a childhood friend she met from many holidays to Kos. 

She loved the family closeness that they had altogether. 

Henrik her ex-boyfriend couldn't be more different, money-hungry and a workaholic that always tries to convince Pippa that she could be with him again.

This classic love story, has some twists and turns many which come totally unexpected which came as a big surprise and some comical moments. I also cried at a particular point in the book (which I won't spoil for you all) but it was a definitely a hand in mouth moment.

I really enjoyed this book, and will give it 4 stars, I would love to see an epilogue or a follow on from this book to see if the village turns around.

I would like to again thank Nic for reading and reviewing and the publisher, Carina, for providing a copy via NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.

This has been read and reviewed as part of the #CarinaChristmas week hosted by 

Rachels Random Reads!

Promo Post: Search For The Truth by Katherine Freeman

Today I'm bringing you a promo post for Katherine Freeman's novel, 

Search For The Truth, 

which is on its blog tour with Brook Cottage Books.

Below is all the info you need including blurb and buy links.

There is also a competition!

Genre: Contemporary romance

Release Date: 13^th August 2015

Publisher: Choc Lit

Sometimes the truth hurts …

When journalist Tess Johnson takes a job at Helix pharmaceuticals, she has a very specific motive. Tess has reason to believe the company are knowingly producing a potentially harmful drug and, if her suspicions are confirmed, she will stop at nothing to make sure the truth comes out.

Jim Knight is the president of research and development at Helix and is a force to be reckoned with. After a disastrous office affair he’s determined that nothing else will distract him from his vision for the company. Failure is simply not an option.

As Tess and Jim start working together, both have their reasons for wanting to ignore the sexual chemistry that fires between them. But chemistry, like most things in the world of science, isn’t always easy to control

Buy Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.

With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7373990.Kathryn_Freeman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?locale=en_US&trk=profile-preview

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

GIVEAWAY

Win a katherine freeman paperback

(open internationally)

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Blog Tour: Snowed In For Christmas by Claire Sandy

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Claire Sandy's christmas book, Snowed In for Christmas and I'm delighted to be sharing with you her top ten presents not to give!

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Everybody wants it to snow at Christmas... don't they?

Asta's plane touches down in Ireland as the first flakes of snow begin to settle.

As the weather worsens it turns what should be a flying visit in to a snowed in Yuletide with her chaotic family.

Asta fled her childhood village years ago, with a secret hidden deep within her. That secret is now a fiesty sixteen year old - Kitty - who's keen to meet her long lost relatives. It seems there are many family mysteries waiting to be unwrapped, along with the presents under the tree...

Missing the man she left behind in London, yet drawn to a man she meets in Ireland, Asta is caught in an emotional snowstorm.

Maybe this Christmas, Asta will find a cure for her long-broken heart?

Top Ten Presents Not To Give

Christmas is a holly-strewn mine field. As you dash from shop to shop, panic buying and desperately trying to remember just how old your godchild is, take a moment to calmly survey the landscape, so you don't make the mistakes below.

1 'IMPROVING' PRESENTS

Christmas should be about fun and games and too much food; it should not be about preaching to your friends and family. So don't give your best mate a diet book. Don't give your mother a cookery course. And definitely don't hand your other half a DVD of Fifty Shades of Grey with written instructions to fast forward to specific points and take notes...

2 VALUE FOR MONEY PRESENTS

Now is not the time to count the pennies! At least, it's not the time for people to see you counting them. Damaged packaging screams sale bargain just as surely as a diary for last year or felt tip set with missing colours.

3 HOME MADE PRESENTS

Unless you're Nigella, the truffles you make won't look like the picture with the recipe; they'll look like what you find on the floor of a rabbit hutch. Knitted items show you care, but they also show how bad you are at knitting. You could sew initials on a handkerchief, but you'd have to travel back in time to find somebody who uses one.

4 INAPPROPRIATE PRESENTS

Your boss with a drinking problem probably shouldn't take that bottle of single malt. Better not give your newly heartbroken sis a Mr & Mrs board game. Gardening gloves are of little use to the man who lives in the flat above you.

5 RE-GIFTED PRESENTS

If you didn't want them, chances are nobody else will either. That notebook with a cute kitten on the cover won't have improved by spending a year in your loft, and the oversized beads that are more chain store than Chanel won't appeal to your friends any more than they do to you. If you must re-gift, make sure you label the presents you stow away with the name of the giver, in case you find yourself giving that flammable fake fur throw back to the same stingy cousin who originally gave it to you.

6 OUTDATED TECH

The moment you get your paws on the latest gadget it's already half way out of date. This doesn't mean you can hand on your obsolete phones or music systems. Couture ages well, iPhones not so much.

7 LIVESTOCK

A kitten is a fluffy bundle of commitment and even if you know the kids of the house desperately want a cat or a dog or a, umm, terrapin, it doesn't mean the adults are on board with the scheme. Unless you're prepared to go round and walk it/wash it/feed it, don't buy anything that breathes.

8 CLOTHES

Unless you know the recipient very well (i.e. you're related to them or you sleep with them) giving clothes can backfire. Sizing is a minefield - prepare for your best friend to ignore you until February if you guesstimate her as a size fourteen when she's only a twelve.

9 EDUCATIONAL GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

Give 'em a break. It's Christmas Day! The little ones should be off their heads on E numbers, being alternately cuddled and told off as they weep over missing batteries and demolish brand new toys. They should not be hunched over jigsaw puzzles of the British Isles.

10 PRESENTS THAT AREN'T PRESENTS

If you've ever seen the dejection on a teenager's face as they tear open an envelope to find it contains not a cheque but a picture of the goat you've bought on their behalf for an African village you'll know what I mean. Virtuous gifts make you feel good and that's not the point, is it?

Claire Sandy lives in Surrey with her husband and daughter and dogs. Before she wrote books, she made radio jingles and sold wool (not at the same time). Now she has her dream job as a novelist, having already written What Would Mary Berry Do? and A Very Big House in the Country.

Guest Post: My Perfect Christmas by Annie Lyons

Today I'm thrilled to be joined on the blog by Carina author, Annie Lyons, to talk about her perfect Christmas.

My Perfect Christmas

I love Christmas. I mean really love it. There can never be enough tinsel, too many fairy lights or sufficient sausages wrapped in bacon wrapped in sausages and so on for me.

I want it to be perfect too. I want snow to fall, chestnuts to roast on an open fire and there to be peace and goodwill to all people.

Of course, deep down I know that these things won’t happen, that roasted chestnuts are actually a bit dry, that in my forty one years on this earth, it hasn’t snowed once at Christmas and that you only have to turn on the News to see that peace and goodwill are a little way off.

Still, I think it’s important to hope and to believe. 

That’s actually what Christmas is about for me – the excitement is in the build-up, the thrill of expectation before the reality of the actual day – a lovely reality, but not quite like the dream.

With this in mind and for your festive delight, here are the dreams and reality of my own Christmas.

The Dream

The weeks before Christmas are enjoyed at a leisurely pace. I have been making thoughtful home-made presents since September. All the gifts are purchased by the end of November, cards written in the first week of December and everything wrapped by the 10^th.

I attend lots of wonderful Christmas parties wearing a different amazing dress and shoe combination to each one.  I always dance in a stylish and dignified manner and leave at a sensible hour. I never have a hangover.

On Christmas Eve, I watch The Snowman snuggled up with my children and let the Christmas spirit wash over me. In the evening, I watch It’s a Wonderful Life with my husband, weeping over the ending because this is what Christmas is all about. I go to bed early so that I am on sparkling form the next day.

Christmas Day is sheer bliss. The children sleep in until eight, they open their stockings, which are filled with thoughtful and useful presents. We sit on the bed enjoying a family breakfast of croissants and coffee. No crumbs are made or jammy fingerprints left on the duvet.

My husband cooks the most magnificent Christmas dinner and we sink into post-lunch happiness, watching a film, playing games and supping on Champagne.

By the evening we are sleepy, happy and possibly a couple of the other seven dwarves as well. We fall into bed feeling content and very lucky.

The Reality

The weeks before Christmas are endured in a screaming panic. I have been making thoughtful home-made presents since the 18^th of December and the remains of my Christmas Chutney are still welded to the counter-top like the some kind of evil super-glue. I order the last present from Amazon on the 23^rd of December and still refuse to pay for postage, praying to the god of super-saver deliveries for benevolence. The presents are all wrapped by 2 am on Christmas Day.

I have one Christmas party to attend along with a rising panic about what to wear. I do not own any amazing dresses and the last time I wore my posh shoes, I sustained a blister the size of a Jaffa Cake. I am always the first on the dance floor and the last to leave. My hangover lingers for the best part of a week.

On Christmas Eve, I watch The Snowman snuggled up with my children. By the end, we are all sobbing and my son is wailing, ‘Why do you make us watch this EVERY year?’

In the evening, I watch It’s a Wonderful Life with my husband, weeping over the fifty or so presents of varying size and shape still to wrap, and the fact that apparently this is what Christmas is all about. I feel the spirit of a bad back and sore shoulders wash over me as we head to bed around 

2.30 am utterly exhausted.

Christmas Day is weary bliss. The children sleep in until six, they open their stockings filled with lots of plastic and useless presents and we enjoy a hundred weight of sweets, chocolate and coffee for breakfast. There is an alarming brown stain left on the duvet, which I ignore.

My husband cooks the most magnificent Christmas dinner and we sink into post-lunch torpor, watching a film, playing games and supping on Champagne.

By the evening we are sleepy, happy and possibly a couple of the other seven dwarves as well. We fall into bed feeling content and very lucky.

May your Christmas dreams and reality be similarly wonderful. Have a happy one, my friends! 

After leaving university, Annie Lyons decided that she 'rather liked books' and got a job as a bookseller on Charing Cross Road, London. 

Two years later she left the retail world and continued rather liking books during an eleven-year career in publishing. 

Following redundancy in 2009 she realised that she would rather like to write books and having undertaken a creative writing course, lots of reading and a bit of practice she produced Not Quite Perfect. 

She now realises that she loves writing as much as coffee, not as much as her children and a bit more than gardening. 

She has since written another two novels and is about to start work on her fourth. She lives in a house in south-east London with her husband and two children. 

The garden is somewhat overgrown. 

One day she hopes to own a chocolate-brown Labrador named John and have tea with Mary Berry.

Review: Not Quite Perfect Christmas by Annie Lyons

Today is the start of #CarinaChristmas hosted by Rachels Random Reads ~ Over the next week I will be taking part and posting reviews of Christmas books by authors published by Carina. To look for other reviews just search the hashtag.
I'm kicking off the week with a review for Not Quite Perfect Christmas which is brought to you by guest review, Katrina.

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A Christmas fairy tale in New York?

This Christmas, Emma Darcy has decided, is going to be perfect! Not only has she exchanged her glamorous London life to jet out to the even more glitzy New York, but she has her gorgeous boyfriend finally by her side, and her dream job comes with an invite to their super-dazzling Christmas party. Ooooh, what to wear?!

To celebrate, this year she’s planning a Christmas like you see in the movies; her tinsel-topped to-do list includes ice-skating outside Rockefeller Center, strolling around a snow-covered Central Park and Christmas (window) shopping at Tiffany.

That plan goes slightly out the window with news that her Mum, sister and niece Lily will be visiting her – that’s a lot of Darcy women, even in the Big Apple! With family drama and a work disaster to avoid too, this might not quite be the picture-perfect Christmas she’d had in mind…!

A Not Quite Perfect short story.

Having read Not Quite Perfect earlier this year, I just had to catch up with the Darcys.  The Not Quite Perfect Christmas short story revisits Emma and Rachel Darcy at Christmas time as we see how life has changed for the two sisters.

Since the first book, Emma is on a two-year secondment, continuing with her work as an editor in New York. Having left one sly co-worker behind in London, Emma now finds herself suspicious of Wendell who seems unimpressed with her work. 

Her sister Rachel decides to visit her before Christmas, along with Diana (Rachel and Emma's mum) and Lily (Rachel's daughter).  The Darcy women make an impact in New York and everyone has a part to play!

It's difficult to review the book and go into detail without completely spoiling the novella and the original book (if you haven't read it) but what I can say is that it's a lovely short story full of warmth and happiness at Christmas time.  The character of Lily is one of my favourites - she is hilariously written and is wise and bold beyond her years.

Not Quite Perfect Christmas is a short and sweet novella which will leave you wanting more. The Darcy ladies are so well written, I'm sure that Annie Lyons could (and hopefully will) continue their stories in the future.

Review: Dream A Little Christmas Dream by Giovanna Fletcher

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Paperback

Sarah's doing great. Okay, her dreams might still be totally bananas but real life is definitely back on track. She's got a fantastic job, amazing friends and plans to spend all Christmas wrapped up with Brett, her handsome boyfriend.

But after another night of increasingly bizarre dreams, Sarah wakes to find her housemate suddenly announcing she's moving out. And later that day Brett begins to act strangely. He's clearly hiding something - but what? 

Soon Sarah can't help but wonder if she's living in a festive nightmare. Will any of her dreams come true for Christmas?

Giovanna Fletcher has quickly become a favourite author of mine, her novels have progressed with her as she writes more and more and Dream A Little Dream was one of my favourite reads of the summer, so when I heard that Gi was writing a festive novella as a sequel it immediately made my wish list!

Being a novella, Dream A Little Christmas Dream was a quick short read, but packed with great detail and humour, it had easy to follow references to Dream A Little Dream so it could be read as a standalone, although I would thoroughly suggest reading the full novel first.

Sarah, the main character, is enjoying life since we last met her - she's happy in her new job and loved up with Real Brett... that is until her crazy dreams start to come back including one where she falls and loses all her teeth, Brett looks this up as a sign of big change happening but Sarah starts to wonder if that's true - especially after a few big announcements from her circle of friends at their weekly pub quiz meet up and Brett ignoring her 'Where do you think we are going chat?"

Convinced ahes going to be dumped by Christmas, Sarah gets herself into a right pickle and as the last quiz night before Christmas looms closer shes far from feeling festive - that is until Santa, AKA Brett, hosts the quiz and dedicates one round completely to Sarah - shocked and surprised, all the little things she been worrying about soon clicks into place - finally Sarah can have a her happy ever after.

Dream A Little Christmas Dream was delightful read, I loved catching up with Sarah and her group of friends and seeing how their lives have moved on.

Giovanna has a great witty writing style that is full of emotion and takes you from laughing out loud to sighing 'ahh' and smiling right through to the end!

Feature: The Reading Habits Book Tag

 I don't usually do these things on my blog, more for the lack of time than anything else, but having seen a few of them I thought as I had a spare afternoon I would join in.

I haven't been tagged by anyone, ( unless you call being nagged by Aggie and Hayley on twitter!!!) and I won't be tagging it on but if you see this feel free to join in.

You can check out Aggie and Hayley's answers by clicking on their names.

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

Not particularly, it depends on my mood and whether it's an ebook or physical copy. That said, I adore my chair and will be found curled up reading in that most of the time!

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop at the chapter/ certain part of the book?

I'm always interrupted when I'm reading, either by my other half or the phone or that little thing called social media! I've become quite good at memorising where on the page I am haha! 

However... Interruptions are one thing, stopping is another and I always have to leave the book at the end of the chapter!

Multitasking: Music or TV whilst reading?

Music yes - but it has to be as background music so fairly low volume.

I can read and watch TV if it's a programme I'm not overly fussed on, however if it's something that I want to watch then I have to leave my book for a while.

Do you eat or drink whilst reading?

Yes.. always a cuppa or hot chocolate in my giant mug! 

Snacks are ok, but main meals I never read at.

One book at a time or several on the go?

Always one at a time. 

I envy people that can read more than one but I get to confused with characters and plots so would rather give my attention to one at a time,

Read at home or everywhere?

Anywhere and everywhere!

Can you read on the move? Car or train?

I can read on the train but only if I'm travelling forward!

Car is a no -go mainly because I do most of the driving but if I'm a passenger I can read a little on straight roads like motorways but side roads and reading makes me feel quite nauseous.

Read aloud or silently in your head?

Always in my head! 

Its just weird to hear myself reading out loud unless its to my nieces and nephews.

Bookmark or Random piece of paper?

Bookmark! 

I have a few different ones but this one is by far my favourite!

Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

Until I became a blogger and book reviewer I never thought any different - I had a book to read so I read it. However, since my life has been taken over and I've been lucky enough to get ARC's via ebook and physical I've become obsessed with keeping books new. I've got quite a collection now of duplicates - I can read the ebook and keep the physical nice and in tact - just don't tell my other half!!

Do you write in books?

No, never. 

Cover Reveal: Amanda Prowse - Perfect Daughter and Another Love

Today I'm delighted to be helping the lovely Amanda Prowse share not one, but tow cover reveals!

The first is a re-launch for her best selling novel, Perfect Daughter, if you haven't read this yet you can purchase it here!

And the second gorgeous cover is for Amanda's new novel, Another Love, due to be published 16th January 2016 in hardback and ebook.

The new gritty, emotional bestseller from Amanda Prowse.

In the early years of their love affair, Romilly was happy. She had worked hard for her stunning, modern house in one of Bristol's most fashionable suburbs. She adored her gorgeous, gap-toothed daughter and her handsome, kind husband. Sure, life was sometimes exhausting - but nothing that a large glass of wine at the end of the day couldn't fix.

And then a new neighbour arrived and everything unravelled. A glass of wine became a bottle; one bottle became two. Romilly's family were once everything to her. Now, after years of hiding the drinking, she must finally admit that she has found another love...

Another Love is available to Pre-Order now, get your copy here!