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Festive Reads - Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market

My second Festive Read, yes I know it's still technically September, was Heidi Swain's Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market.   Released in October 2016, this book is part of the Wynbridge series, in this story we are introduced to Ruby who has recently dropped out of university and is heading home to run a market stall for the Cherry Tree Cafe in order to save some money to go travelling. Her dad is not happy that his daughter whom he seems to want to live vicariously through is working as a market trader.  It soon turns out there maybe more to his concerns about her working on the market than it first seemed.  Not only is Ruby faced with dealing with her dad and his strange behaviour but she is working on the stall next to her childhood sweet heart who after three years she still hasn't got over.  Throwing herself in to making this the best Christmas market ever Ruby is determined to being back the community feeling and turn Wynbridge's Christmas mar

Festive Reads - A Christmas Tale

I'm a Christmas-a-holic, I freely admit it.  I love the lights, the weather, the feeling.  Most of all I love curling up with a roaring fire, a mug of tea and a Christmas themed novel.  As an indie author I spend most of my time when not in my day job writing so this is the way I relax. As it's now September, the weather is growing colder, the trees are changing to their beautiful autumnal crowns of glory I'm getting started on my pile of festive romance and cosy mystery books. The first on my pile is the charming A Christmas Tale by Cressida McLaughlin, The story focuses on Cat Palmer who takes a young puppy named Disco with her to work at the local nursery.  She soon discovers this was a bad idea when Disco escapes from her bag much to the children's delight and her boss's annoyance.  Fired from her job she decides to start her own business as a dog walker.  Securing clients from her beloved Primrose Terrace where she lives with her friend Polly, he

Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square by Heidi Swain - Book Review

Heidi Swain has done it again,  Welcome to Nightingale Square, a welcoming community who want to improve their local area by creating a community garden, not only to improve their health but to grow produce for everyone living around the Victorian Mansion at the heart of their little square. Meet Kate, on the run from a failed marriage she wants to hide away in her newly purchased home on the square and adjust to life without the fairytale she thought her marriage would be.  Life has a habit of poking it's nose in to your business and giving you opportunities you didn't know you wanted or needed.  Moving in to her new home Kate is confronted by new neighbour Lisa who quickly recruits her in to the community's crusade to build their communal garden.  But with the mansion up for sale and prospective developers eyeing up the site could her ideal little world be wiped out before it gets started. Heidi weaves a wonderful tale of finding out the fairy tale may not a

Movie Night - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I have not blogged for a while, l have been focusing on developing and plotting my forth novel.     Also I haven’t really felt there’s been so much going on that would interest any reader, but last night was movie night, yes I know that’s not something massively out of the ordinary but the film I saw was beautifully inspiring and I really felt pushed to write a little review.     The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a film I have been looking forward to for a while.  I am a fan of Lily James, I think she is a brilliant actor probably one of the best up can coming stars in the UK.  I am also a huge fan of period drama and have a personal interest in WW2 based fiction and fact.   Based on Annie Barrows book of the same name, currently and amazon bestseller, the film follows writer Juliet Ashton in post war England suffering writer’s block while working on a book of English Foibles and touring the country giving talks on her last publication under the pen

My Year in Books Christmas Reads

I am an Autumn/Winter person, give me cold, give me rain, give me snow, I’m much happier with that than summer sun.   From the end of September onwards I start reading festive novels,  there nothing more ’Hygge’ to me than sitting on an autumn afternoon kor evening with a good book, a cosy fire, a hot tea or coffe and slice of cake.   Christmas themed books are my favourites as they add to the overall feel of the season for me - which I am guilty of dragging out as long as possible!  These are the first of my Christmas reads this year:  Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair - Heidi Swain  I was hooked from the beginning of this book.  Anna doesn’t celebrate Christmas for reasons I personally identify with to some extent.  Choosing to take employment as a companion over Christmas she arrives at Wynthrope hall and meets a cast of characters from the enthusiastic and bountiful Angus, his loving and dedicated but more sensible wife Catherine and the res

My Year in Books Part 3

For some reason I feel like my reading has slowed down a little lately but hopefully as we head in to summer I'll be back on track. My Sweet Revenge - Jane Fallon Jane Fallon is a new author to me and this is the first of her works I've read.  It's the story of Paula who decides after finding out her husband is cheating on her to make him fall back in love with her so that she can then break his heart. I liked Paula, she was fun relatable and strong in ways which at first were not obvious.  Her journey is one of rediscovery of herself, what she wants in life and how to live it. This is a fun frolic with a few twists and turns to keep you going till the end. Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate - MC Beaton I like Agatha she's and fun, she's a strong flawed woman who stumbles in to cases and while she can figure out a murder she can't figure out her love life for toffee. Although she's sworn off men, again, she is enraptured when the new c

My Year In Books Part 2

I write books, I love writing books and the flip side to that is I love reading books.  So here's the second update on the books I've read so far this year;  1. Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts  - Lucy Dillon  Rachel has inherited her aunt's house and attached Rescue Kennel as well as Gem her aunt's beloved border collie.  It's come at a bad time in Rachel's life as she's also just lost her job, her boyfriend and her London apartment.  While trying to come to terms with all her losses and decide what to do with her life Rachel also has the added pressure of sorting out the probate on her aunt's property and find homes for the abandoned dogs.   Matching dogs to potential new parents was a skill her aunt had and after a while it seems maybe Rachel does too, if she can just let go of her past and decide on her  future.   I love dogs, I have a huge cuddly Golden Retriever so any books about dogs pulls at my heart strings.  I liked Rachel and felt for her,

My Year in Books Part 1

I write books, I love writing books and the flip side to that is I love reading books.  So I thought I'd do a little post on the books I've read so far this year and what I thought of them; 1. The Stylist - Rosie Nixon  Follow Amber Green as she is catapulted from her designer retail store job in to the world of celebrity stylists.  Hired to assist Mona Armstrong the top celebrity stylist through a jam packed awards season.  The ultimate dream job becomes more of a roller coaster drama with designer wardrobe.   This book is at its heart a finding yourself story.  Not unhappy with her life but not truly satisfied Amber's luck is in when she makes a slight mistake which brings her to the attention of Hollywood's go to stylist, whose life on the outside is nothing short of amazing.  It's the ultimate look at a the greener grass and finding out all is not what it seems.   Amber grows as a person and becomes more confident in her ability and who she is.  She

Sales Shopping

Everybody loves a good sale, there's some kind of chemical reaction that gives you pleasure when you find a bargain.    Sales are starting earlier nowadays, you no longer have to wait with bated breath for 26 December to dawn and go rushing out at silly o'clock in the morning to be first in line to grab your deals.  Believe me having worked a couple of Boxing Day sales and having seen people queue from 2am on Boxing Day until stores would open at 5am, I am never surprised by peoples interest in grabbing a bargain. However, this year I would say I have been a selective sale shopper.  I haven't purchased any clothes mainly because I did buy a few bits in pre Christmas sales and so didn't need anything.  I also made a promise to myself to be more careful with my pennies in 2017.   That being said I have purchased a couple of items;  Jewellery  My style when it comes to Jewellery is more classic and sparkly.  I can be a bit of a jewellery magpie I'm attr