Review of The Winter Wedding by Abby Clements

They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but I most certainly did with this book because the cover is SO gorgeous! 

Blurb

Hazel never set out to be a wedding planner. She was just helping her stressed sister Lila with cakes and décor for her big day. But when Lila and Ollie's summer ceremony is a runaway success, with guests raving about the food and styling at the pretty venue, word about Hazel's expertise soon spreads. 

But Hazel's clients expect the very best - she's promised lawyers Gemma and Eliot a snow-covered castle in the Scottish Highlands, and laidback couple Josh and Sarah a bohemian beach wedding in a Caribbean paradise. But as weather, in-laws and wilful brides conspire against her, can Hazel get two very different couples to walk up two very different aisles to say 'I do'? And will she find her own happy ending if she does?

Review

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good wedding! And just by looking at the cover of this one, I knew I was going to love it!

This is the first book I have read by this author and it was such an easy book to get into and it had a great mixture of characters.

Hazel and her twin sister Lila live together in London, but when Lila moves in with her fiancé Ollie, Hazel is left with the dilemma of finding a lodger but also how to fill the void of missing her sister. When Lila asks Hazel if she will plan her wedding as she is too busy with her career of being a dancer, Hazel jumps at the chance. Her day job isn’t going anywhere thanks to her boss Emma (who selfishly wants to keep Hazel to herself to do all her dirty work!).

Hazel does such a good job with organising Lila’s wedding that she gets asked to do another two! This is where things become complicated!!

This book is a lovely, heart warming read that has everything you will need for a good read – family, love, romance, friendship and even cake!!. I know a couple of my friends read it in one sitting, it is that easy to get into!

It’s a definite thumbs up from me and one I would recommend for a cold winter’s night with a large cuppa and and even larger bar of chocolate!!

Thank you to Hayley McMullan, Simon & Schuster, @Bookminx for sending me a copy to review

Welcome to December and the beginning of Advent! today I am pleased to host The Return of The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan Blog Tour

Blurb

Christmas is just around the corner when Star begins working at Butterburn library, but not everyone is embracing the spirit of the season.

Sixteen-year-old Arianna’s mock exams are looming and she’s feeling under pressure. With her father living abroad and her mother working three jobs, she doesn’t have much support at home.

The bank is threatening to repossess Evan’s house, and he has no idea how he’s going to get through Christmas with two children who are used to getting everything they want.

Patricia’s cliché of a husband, after 23 years of marriage, has announced he’s moving out of the family home, and moving in with his secretary.

Daniel is doing the work of three people in his sales job, as well as looking after his kids and his wife. Pulled in too many different directions, he’s feeling stressed out.

Can Star, the library’s Good Samaritan, help set them on the path to happiness this Christmas?

Review

This is one of those feel good Christmas books that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling once you have finished it!

Star is working in her local library for the festive season, where many of the customers are not looking forward to Christmas in one way or another.

Arianna is studying for her exams and has the added pressure of not seeing much of her mother as she is holding down numerous jobs to keep afloat.

Evan is struggling to make ends meet after losing his job.

Patricia is in shock after her husband tells her he is leaving.

Daniel is also struggling to cope with the day to day life of bringing up 3 children whilst his wife is suffering from depression.

All these people could do with a helping hand, I wonder who would be able to do that and steer them in the right direction? Star has a magical way of putting these people in the right place at the right time!

I liked the mixture of characters in this book. All had believable stories to tell of life getting them down and then getting a “helping hand” to steer them in the right direction to make things better for them.

This was a lovely Christmassy story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I actually felt like the story could have been a bit longer (it’s not often I say that about books!).

Thank you to JB Johnston and Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy to review.

About the Author

Susan Buchanan lives in Central Scotland with her partner, Tony, and their two children. She is the author of four novels: Return of the Christmas Spirit, The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. She is currently working on book five, What If.

Susan is also a proofreader, editor and translator, and when not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows and eating out - not necessarily in that order!

Every Time a Bell Rings by Carmel Harrington

Guest review by Julie Williams

This emotionally charged story is not your run of the mill Christmas read so please don’t expect fun & laughter all the way. 

It is set in Dublin and inspired by the film It’s A Wonderful Life, which I must admit, I have not seen but it will be in my Christmas TV planner this year.

Every Time A Bell Rings tells the story of Belle, a foster child who finally gets her ‘forever home’ with Tess. Her relationship with Jim, another foster child who comes to stay with Tess, seems unbreakable but when he returns to his Mum they lose contact. Years later Jim returns to look for Belle and the bond they once shared is re kindled.

Belle and Jim are kind hearted characters and open their door to foster children of their own, offering them love, security and kindness.

This book like Carmel’s previous two has real depth and you will find yourself both laughing and crying. Carmel deals with fostering, homelessness. Mental health and the loss of a child in pregnancy with accuracy.

Thank God there are people in the world who open their hearts and doors to fostering. Hats off to you all.

Well done Carmel, all your research paid off. Every Time A Bell Rings is a truly beautiful Christmas read. A definite 5 star rating.

About the Author

Carmel always dreamed of being a writer, but as is often the way, life took her in another direction. That is, until four years ago when she quit her job as a Sales and Marketing Manager and began to write full time. Her first book, 'Beyond Grace's Rainbow' was originally self-published in August 2012. Grace's story quickly became a bestseller - fast forward 12 months and Carmel joined the prestigious HarperCollins publishing house, represented by Trace Literary Agency. Beyond Grace's Rainbow was voted Romantic eBook of 2013 and Kindle Book of Year 2013.

Her second novel 'The Life You Left', was published June 2013, was also an eBook bestseller and earned Carmel the nickname, 'Queen of Emotional Writing'. 

Her third novel, 'Every Time A Bell Rings', inspired by the beloved Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life, will be published on 15th October 2015, followed by 'The Road Back Home' in March 2016.

Carmel writes emotional family dramas and they share one common theme - strong characters who find themselves in extraordinary situations. She loves to dig deep and see how they cope, as they grapple with life-changing moments. 

Carmel is a regular on Irish TV as one of the panelists on TV3's Midday Show, as well as being interviewed on RTE1's Today Show, TV3's IrelandAM and TV3's The Morning Show. She has also been interviewed on US TV - Indiana's WNDU. A a regular guest on radio stations, including BBCRadio1 Ulster, RTERadio1, Newstalk, SouthEastRadio, Artyfacts and many more regional stations. A popular freelance writer, she has written features for The Irish Independent, The Daily Mail, The Evening Herald & Woman's Way and USA's acclaimed online blog, Mothering In The Middle. Carmel is also a motivational keynote speaker and has given talks at events in Ireland, UK and US. 

Living with her husband Roger and young children Amelia and Nate in a small coastal village in Wexford, she credits the idyllic setting as a constant source of inspiration.

Follow Carmel on Twitter @HappyMrsH, or become friends with Carmel on Facebook/happymrsh. For more information on Carmel's books see www.carmelharrington.com

Thank you so much Julie for reviewing this book - it is definitely on my Christmas to be read pile for this season!!

Guest review  of Christmas Ever After by Sarah Morgan

I would like to say a huge thank you to Julie Williams, who is a big fan of Sarah Morgan's books, for agreeing to guest review Christmas Ever After for the blog.

Skylar Tempest has never understood Alec Hunter’s appeal. So what if he’s a world-renowned historian? He’s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she’s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright.

Alec has learned the hard way not to trust beautiful women―and Skylar is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But as he watches her throw herself into his family’s festive chaos, Alec realises there is far more to this blonde bombshell than meets the eye.

With Christmas around the corner, Alec and Skylar return to Puffin Island, a tentative bond forged between them. Neither intends to fall in love but as the nights become darker, and the fire between them grows hotter, could this be the chance for Alec and Skylar to find their own happy ending?

Fall in love with the all new Puffin Island series from Sarah Morgan, the bestselling author who brought you Sleigh Bells in the Snow:

Book 1 - First Time in Forever - Out Now!

Book 2 - Some Kind of Wonderful - July 2015

Book 3 - Christmas Ever After - October 2015

Guest Review

Christmas Ever After is the final instalment of the puffin Series trilogy, although it can also be read as a stand alone.

This gorgeous story centres on Skylar Tempest and Alec Hunter who met at Puffin Island the previous summer but are far from being friends. They meet up again but this time in London where Alec finds himself in expectantly rescuing Sky from her controlling boyfriend Richard. As Alec is still emotionally scarred from his divorce with high maintenance Selina, romance is unthinkable.

This wonderful book explores friendships, relationships, dreams and love with warm characters featured in the previous two books of the series as well as some extraordinary new ones.

This Puffin Series has been a delight to read and leaves you with a warm ‘cosiness’ feeling.

Well done Sarah you’ve done it again!

I am a great fan of Sarah’s books and was more than happy to guest review when Julie gave me the book before publication day.

I would like to thank Cara at Mira Books UK for sending me a copy of this books for review.

Today I have a gorgeous cover reveal for 

MEET ME IN MANHATTAN

BY

CLAUDIA CARROLL

In a New York minute, everything can change …

You don’t mess with aspiring journalist Holly Johnson! The man she fell for is not all that he seems – because sometimes dating online doesn’t quite go to plan. She’s decided to fly to the Big Apple to surprise him and to get some answers. And if her plan works she’ll also get the scoop of her career …

But as she steps out of her yellow taxi and the first snowflakes start to fall, it’s Holly who has the surprise of her life.

What should be a dream come true is looking a little like a nightmare. But Holly is determined to get her New York happy ending!

Today I have a super Christmassy cover reveal for..........

MISTLETOE AND MAYHEM

BY

CATHERINE FERGUSON

The new novel from ebook bestseller, Catherine Ferguson. A warm and cosy festive tale you won’t be able to put down.

Lola Plumpton can’t believe her luck.

Christmas is coming and her gorgeous boyfriend, Nathan, has offered up his swanky apartment to host the Plumpton family’s festive celebrations. It looks set to be a Christmas to remember. And it is – but for all the wrong reasons.

As the 25th December draws closer, Lola unexpectedly finds herself missing some key components:

1. A job (but who needs one of those anyway, when you’ve got the ultimate family Christmas to prepare for?)

2. Money (no job equals no money, it turns out.)

3. A boyfriend (yup, Nathan the hunk has said adios to Lola – and in the *most* embarrassing way possible…)

4. Somewhere to host her fabulous family Christmas (because of course, no Nathan means no des res apartment.)

Lola’s at a loss about what to do. But one way or another, she’s going to make this the best Christmas her family’s ever had…

I'm SO excited to reveal the cover for Julia Williams new book Make A Christmas Wish

Last Christmas, when Livvy was knocked down in the supermarket car park, she certainly wasn’t ready to actually be dead! For months now she’s floated on the edge of the afterlife, generally making a nuisance of herself.

And she’s not ready to go just yet! She’s furious about the new woman in her husband’s life and she’s worried about her beloved son who doesn’t seem to be adjusting to life without her at all.

This Christmas, Livvy is given one last magical chance to make everything right. Will she take it and give her family the perfect Christmas?

Perfect for fans of CAROLE MATTHEWS, TRISHA ASHLEY and JENNY COLGAN.

Author bio:

Julia has always made up stories in her head, and until recently she thought everyone else did too. She grew up in London, one of eight children, including a twin sister. She married Dave, a dentist, in 1989, and they have four daughters. After the birth of the second Julia decided to try her hand at writing. Since then she has written 8 hugely popular novels, selling over a quarter of a million copies in the UK alone, and hitting the Sunday Times bestseller list.

'Single All The Way' Elaine Spires ****

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this to read and review as a blog tour is going to start for this book next week. I have not read anything of Elaine's before so wasn't sure if I could read this book as it was the 3rd in a series, but was assured it can be read as a "stand alone book". A great start to my Christmas reading. Lots of characters and to be honest I did get a bit confused at times with some of them, but it came good in the end! What I did love about the characters was that they all had their own stories to tell and personalities but as a lover of taramasalata I will never eat it again without laughing my head off (and squirming a bit as well!!). All in all, a good start to my Christmas season reading!