Sunday Catchup - Week 6

Read This Week:

The Mince Pie Mix-Up - Jennifer Joyce

‘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…

This was a really fun read, that I barely put down, and when I did, it was only so I could scoff a mince pie :D 

Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence

When sisters Nessie and Sam inherit a little pub in a beautiful country village they jump at the chance to escape their messy lives and start afresh. But when they arrive at the Star and Sixpence, it's not quite what they imagined - it's pretty much derelict, ruined by debts, and it's going to be a huge job to get it up and running again.

It's just before Christmas but they are determined to relaunch on New Year's Eve, to bring the new year in with a bang. But with nosy neighbours, miserable locals and no money to contend with, it's not going to be easy.

And when the sisters' past comes back to haunt them, they start to think that the fresh start they needed is very far away indeed…

Curl up with Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence - the perfect novella for those winter nights. 

I adored this book, cannot wait till the other novellas in the series, I'm dying to learn more about Nessie and Sam's past.

Currently Reading:

How to Stuff Up Christmas - 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? 

Started this book yesterday, only managed a couple of chapters, but am hoping to crack on with it today!

Next Week's Reading:

The Darkest Secret - Alex Marwood

Apologies for the general email, but I desperately need your help.

My goddaughter, Coco Jackson, disappeared from her family's holiday home in Bournemouth on the night of Sunday/Monday August 29/30th, the bank holiday weekend just gone. Coco is three years old.

When identical twin Coco goes missing during a family celebration, there is a media frenzy. Her parents are rich and influential, as are the friends they were with at their holiday home by the sea.

But what really happened to Coco?

Over two intense weekends - the first when Coco goes missing and the second fifteen years later at the funeral of her father - the darkest of secrets will gradually be revealed...

Taut, emotive and utterly compelling, an unputdownable 'ripped from the headlines' novel that you will want to talk about with everyone you know.

I've been wanting to read a thriller over the last week, and fancied this one, sounds intriguing!

Why I Love...Mrs Doubtfire

Why I Love...Mrs Doubtfire

Mrs Doubtfire was one of my favourite movies as a child, and remains that way to this day. Firstly. Robin Williams was a great actor and comedian, and he injects such magic into every movie I’ve seen him in, and none more so for me than Mrs Doubtfire.

Whenever I hear either ‘Jump Around’ or ‘Dude Looks Like a Lady’, it bring memories of this great film, and if I’m alone (or if Simon is the only person present) I will sing and dance along to either. This film is just makes me laugh and smile, every time I watch it I can almost guarantee to find a new joke every time, or at least a joke I’ve forgotten about. The humour is just the best, it’s got humour for children and adults with some cultural references.

As a child, my favourite scene was the one above. Everything from how smoothly Robin Willams transitioned from angry guy voice to the delivery of the soft ‘Broke my bag, the bastard’ of Mrs Doubtfire, to the fact Mrs Doubtfire swore had me in stitches. It is just one example of how perfect I think this movie is. Now I’m an adult, I’m more indecisive about my favourite scene, the film is hilarious and heartwarming.

Until a couple of days ago, what I wasn’t aware of that the film was inspired by a book by Anne Fine called ‘Madame Doubtfire’, so I instantly added that to my TBR, if only to see how closely the film follows it, and obviously if there’s anything I need it’s more books.

Recommended Reading:

Madame Doubtfire - Anne Fine

While these aren’t exactly like Mrs Doubtfire, there was some kind of deceit about who they were or what they were doing.

The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella

What I Did On My Holidays - Chrissie Manby

The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance - Kirsty Greenwood

Doubting Abbey - Samantha Tonge

One Wish in Manhattan by Mandy Baggot

Synopsis

The temperature is dropping, snow is on its way and Hayley Walker is heading for New York with one wish… to start over.

With her daughter Angel, Hayley is ready for adventure. But there’s more to New York than twinkly lights and breathtaking skyscrapers. Angel has her own Christmas wish – to find her real dad.

While Hayley tries to fulfil her daughter’s wish, she crosses paths with billionaire Oliver Drummond. Restless and bored with fast living, there’s something intriguing about him that has Hayley hooked.

Can Hayley dare to think her own dreams might come true – could A New York Christmas turn into a New York Forever?

Travel to the Big Apple this Christmas and join Hayley and Oliver as they realise life isn’t just about filling the minutes… it’s about making every moment count.

Review

Earlier this year I read ‘Truly Madly Greekly’ by Mandy, and it was an instant hit with me. I loved the writing and how she made Greece sound as beautiful as I am sure it is in real life, and this time is no different. This time however I know where Mandy is writing about, so I can imagine it all the better, and reading books about New York always takes me back there, and this is definitely up there with the best of the books set in NYC that I’ve read.

Of course it’s not only the location that is fabulous about this book it is everything else that is mixed in with it. The characters, the humour, the chemistry, all bundled up into this little package of 328 pages of perfection. I was so incredibly charmed by all of the characters, well maybe apart from Hayley’s mother.


Angel, Hayley’s daughter was incredibly smart for a 9 year old and you couldn’t help but laugh in most of the scenes she was in, in part to her unique ways, but she was a genuinely funny person. She had a delightful outlook that was resoundingly positive and I can only think  this speaks volumes for Hayley’s parenting skills.

Hayley is also quite a positive person, being that we see the book from her point of view we do see her doubt at time, but she never dwells. She’s quick to speak her mind and famously always wants the last word on everything. She’s the perfect match for Oliver Drummond.

Oliver is handsome, stubborn beyond belief but equally as dreamy. Reading the parts of the book from his perspective were great and you really feel his sadness and worry that is inside of him with the pressure of running the family business and dealing with the loss of his brother and father. Like every dream boyfriend, he is pretty much perfect. Yes, a bit hasty in decisions sometimes, but he devilishly handsome, charming, sensitive and so easy to fall in love with, so I think we can forgive him that little vice.

Now I loved ‘Truly Madly Greekly’, it was a great book, but this one goes beyond that. It is a must read this christmas, or anytime of the year really, but New York and Christmas has that magical combination, so I do recommend you read it this season. Heart-warming, funny with buckets full of charm, you won’t want to put this down

Order on Amazon Now

Published by: Bookouture
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.

Sunday Catchup - Week 5

This week was better than last week, I read 2 books and had Saturday not been busy all day which was unplanned, I think I could have read more, so I feel more happy this week, which is always a good thing!

Read This Week:

What a Girl Wants - Lindsey Kelk

Being arrested in your own bedroom is never a good start to the day. Tess Brookes really needs to sort out her back-stabbing flatmate – and her life.

Should she gamble all on the new photography job she’s landed, or snap up the offer from long-time crush and best friend Charlie to start up on their own – in more ways than one? There’s just one small thing she hasn’t mentioned. Or rather, one tall thing. He’s handsome, infuriating and called Nick…

For the first time, Tess has to choose between the life she always dreamed of and a future she never imagined possible. From London to Milan, with high fashion and low behaviour thrown in, she’s going to have to make up her mind what a girl really wants…

Love this book, I was instantly in love and just devoured it. I had forgotten just how much I love Tess!

A Girl's Best Friend - Lindsey Kelk

After the crazy six months she’s had, if there was a ‘clear history’ button for your life, Tess Brookes would be the first in line to press it.

When the opportunity arises to join her best friend, Amy, in New York for Christmas, Tess jumps at the chance. The only slight hitch is that Nick, the man who broke her heart, lives there. And Charlie, the man she turned down, has just started talking to her again. And she has just four days to take a photo for a competition that could save her career.

But aside from that, everything is going to be great: it’ll be the best Christmas ever. Won’t it?

As soon as I finished I could not wait to start this one! Set in New York around Christmas, it was funny, and lovely and I want more Lindsey Kelk books in my life! This book was my third Christmas book I've read this year, and all three so far have been set in NYC! 

Currently Reading:

The Mince Pie Mix-Up - Jennifer Joyce

‘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…

Carrying on the Christmas Spirit (I don't think I had much last year on my blog at least) I thought I would try this one by fellow blogger and writer Jennifer Joyce. The cover is gorgeous, and intrigued to know what happens! 

Next Week's Reading:

I know I really want to read the books I've mentioned for the last two weeks, but I need to get a shimmy on with Christmas books!

How to Stuff Up Christmas - 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? 

I've not read any books by Rosie before, though her previous book is on my TBR list, but this cover was just too gorgeous to resist! I think more than anything I'm intrigued by the stalking goose!

Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence

When sisters Nessie and Sam inherit a little pub in a beautiful country village they jump at the chance to escape their messy lives and start afresh. But when they arrive at the Star and Sixpence, it's not quite what they imagined - it's pretty much derelict, ruined by debts, and it's going to be a huge job to get it up and running again.

It's just before Christmas but they are determined to relaunch on New Year's Eve, to bring the new year in with a bang. But with nosy neighbours, miserable locals and no money to contend with, it's not going to be easy.

And when the sisters' past comes back to haunt them, they start to think that the fresh start they needed is very far away indeed…

Curl up with Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence - the perfect novella for those winter nights. 

I think a nice novella would be perfect as my 2nd book choice. I adore the synopsis of this and cannot wait to see what happens!

The Piano Man Project by Kat French

This week for my 'Friday First', I am reviewing Kat French's 'The Piano Man Project'. This book took me completely by surprise (in a good way).

Synopsis

Finding love isn’t always black and white…

You: kind, piano-playing sex god
Me: hopelessly romantic charity shop manager

Honeysuckle Jones has a problem, and her best friends Nell and Tash are on a mission to help her solve it. She needs a man – a caring, intelligent, funny man. But most importantly, a man who’s good with his hands…

Luckily Honey’s new neighbour – moody, antisocial ex-chef Hal – fails on almost every count. Even though the chemistry between them is electric, he’s obviously wrong for her in every way.

But when Honey discovers the devastating reason for his moods she decides to give him another chance. And discovers that the best songs aren’t always in tune…

A hilarious, feel-good, sexy romantic comedy for fans of Lucy Diamond, Paige Toon and Giovanna Fletcher.

Review

I’ve never read Kat French’s first book, but it has stared longingly at me from my kindle for a while now. This book attracted me, not only from the beautiful cover, but the name. Simon is learning piano at the moment, so it grabbed my interest immediately upon reading the title.

This book took me completely by surprise. I expected to enjoy it, but I never expected it to be THIS good. This book makes you laugh, smile and a bit sad at times as well. There was nothing about this book that I didn’t like, all the characters were written beautifully and it was a pleasure to read start to finish.

The dual viewpoints were wonderfully written, Honey with her bright and bubbly outlook is a complete contrast to her neighbour Hal, someone who is incredibly moody, for seemingly small reasons. The friendship of sorts that they strike up is beautiful. To hear Hal’s inner turmoil and frustration was upsetting to read at times.

Honey is absolutely fantastic. She’s sweet and kind, but also has a wicked sense of humour. What she does for Hal is fantastic and her inner monologue of her developing feelings were great to read. Hal and Honeys relationship was laugh out loud funny at times, sexy and heart warming. It was just so cute.

Honey’s job at the charity shop was charming and funny, especially Lucille, Mimi, and Billy some of the residents that lived in the care home that the shop was part of. While not your conventional supporting cast, this makes it all the more interesting, especially when there is more drama than first imagined.

This book is utterly fantastic, perfect for someone wanting a good laugh but with a touching story at the same time. It’s hard to put down a book with a fun, feel-good story such as this one.

Order on Amazon Now!

Published by: Avon
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.