Upcoming Release: 'Searching for a Silver Lining' by Miranda Dickinson

It began with a promise...

Matilda Bell is left heartbroken when she falls out with her beloved grandfather just before he dies. Haunted by regret, she makes a promise that will soon change everything...

When spirited former singing star Reenie Silver enters her life, Mattie seizes the opportunity to make amends. Together, Mattie and Reenie embark on an incredible journey that will find lost friends, uncover secrets from the glamorous 1950s and put right a sixty-year wrong.

On 20 October we are all being treated to something quite special; and it's something I am personally really excited about. I love Miranda Dickinson; she has been one of my favourite authors for years and I always pick up anything with her name on it. 'Search for a Silver Lining' already sounds like another magical and simply stunning read and it's definitely one of the Autumn 2016 releases I am most excited about reading. I can't wait to get my own copy and highly recommend any chick lit fan out there to add this to their wishlist straight away!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Upcoming release: 'A Parcel for Anna Browne' by Miranda Dickinson

The gift of a lifetime?

Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn't exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more...

When a parcel addressed to Anna Browne arrives, she has no idea who has sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift - one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries, each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be. As Anna grows in confidence, others begin to notice her - and her life starts to change.

But who is sending the mysterious gifts, and why?

Miranda Dickinson's romantic comedy novels are always worth getting excited about and 'A Parcel for Anna Browne', which will be released on the 24th of September, is no exception! I always love love love Miranda's books, so I just know this will probably turn out to be one of my favourite reads of September, if not of the whole year. Fingers crossed!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Miranda Mondays!

A few weeks ago I told you all about this incredibly exciting Miranda Dickinson-related project I am a part of called Team Bea! Team Bea is basically the promotional team for Miranda Dickinson's upcoming wonderful new novel 'I'll Take New York' and several bloggers have hosted Miranda Mondays the past couple of weeks, sharing exciting giveaways and fun facts about the new book. Today, I have such a great post to share with all of you, namely Miranda's own guide to Christmas New York! 

 

1. Visit a Christmas Market

Visit the Grand Central Station Holiday Fair (87 East 42^nd Street) in the Vanderbilt Hall – what an amazing setting for a market! Jake and Bea visit Grand Central during one of their New York sightseeing trips (it’s one of Jake’s favourite places) and although they don’t visit during the Christmas season, you can bet it’s somewhere they would love. For a fab outdoor market, head to the Union Square Holiday Market (14^th Street to 17^th Street, between Broadway and University Place, Manhattan), which has over 100 red-and-white stalls selling everything you could possibly want for Christmas… Or be like Bea and head to the Christmas Brooklyn Flea (at Skylight One Hanson, 1 Hanson Place, Fort Greene, Williamsburg) – much beloved of Bea and Rosie, a quirky market that moves indoors at Christmas with three floors and over 100 sellers, perfect for unusual gifts and unique Brooklyn chutzpah.

2. Skate on a Christmas ice rink

It’s a classic New York sight and there are several places you can have a festive skate, including the Rockefeller Center (overlooked by the famous Christmas tree), Prospect Park and the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Of course, Bea’s favourite place to skate is the Wollman Rink in the centre of Central Park. It’s also known as the Trump Rink, but Bea can’t bring herself to call it that! She has long dreamed of skating on the rink after watching the film Serendipity too many times, but until she meets Jake she’s never experienced it. What happens when they venture out onto the ice surrounded by New York’s most beautiful park is one of my favourite scenes in I’ll Take New York…

3. Visit a Christmas toyshop

It has to be done! You can design your own Muppet, see the giant piano Tom Hanks made famous in the film Big! and revel in the huge Christmas toy displays at FAO Schwarz (767 Fifth Avenue) or stock up on your superhero supplies at Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co (372 Fifth Avenue, between 5^th Street and 6^th Street, Brooklyn) which not only is one of the coolest places in New York but also gives all profits to Dave Eggers’ amazing 826NYC charity that teaches creative writing to children.

4. Head to an Outdoor Event

New York comes alive at Christmas and the best thing to do is to wrap up warm, head out into the snow and get stuck in to the fun! Watch the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree (Rockefeller Plaza, West 48^th Street to West 51^st Street, between 5^th and 6^th Avenues, Manhattan) – a classic New York festive sight with twinkly lights, the ice rink, famous guests and a Swarovski-star-topped Christmas Tree. Or go to a neighbourhood event like Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square (Lincoln Square, Manhattan) – with live music, tree lighting in Dante Park, street performers, ice sculptures and an amazing choice of food from local restaurants.

5. Grab a Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity3

Bea James would choose this in a heartbeat! While you can get hot chocolate all over New York during the festive season, there is something really special about having one of Serendipity3’s famous beverages  (225 East 60^th Street). Whether you go for their classic ‘Frrrozen’ Hot Chocolate or the hot ‘Serendipitous Hot Chocolate (with whipped cream, grated Valley orange, cinnamon and shaved French chocolate), sitting in the café made famous by Bea’s favourite film, gazing out at the snow-covered Manhattan street, has to be a truly special New York Christmas experience!

  

I’ll Take New York is published on 4^th December by Avon (HarperCollins) in sparkly paperback, ebook and audio versions.

Miranda Mondays!

I can't even begin to describe how INCREDIBLY excited I am to share something special with all of you today! Last year, I was lucky enough to be part of Team Nell, the promotion team for Miranda Dickinson's amazingly fabulous novel 'Take a Look At Me Now'. Miranda is treating us to a new book before the end of 2014 titled 'I'll Take New York' and I already know this is going to be one of the best chick lit releases of this year! This year I was asked to be part of Team Bea and I couldn't say 'YES' quick enough! So, be sure to keep an eye on your favourite book blogs the upcoming weeks for 'Miranda Mondays' in order to be kept up-to-date on the exciting release of 'I'll Take New York' and the chance to win some amazing prizes!

  Have you ever given up on love?
When her boyfriend lets her down for the last time, Brooklyn bookshop owner Bea James makes a decision – no more. No more men, no more heartbreak, and no more pain.
Psychiatrist Jake Steinmann is making a new start too, leaving his broken marriage behind in San Francisco. From now on there'll just be one love in his life: New York.
At a party where they seem to be the only two singletons, Bea and Jake meet, and decide there’s just one thing for it. They will make a pact: no more relationships.
But the city has other plans...

Weekly Feature: Once Upon a Story...

 'Once Upon a Story' is a weekly feature in which we go back in time and focus  on a specific novel that was released in the same month we're in right now (in this case May), but a few years back! It can be a women's fiction classic from the 1990's or perhaps a great chick lit read from 2011. I thought it would be nice to not just focus on recent releases, but also take the chance to jump back in time once a week and look back at wonderful reads that have been released over the years!

This week, we're travelling not so far back to October 2013 to look back at...

How far would you go to make a new start?   When Nell’s on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, losing her job is the last thing she expects.   Heartbroken and unemployed to boot, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to the untested waters of San Francisco.   But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

Miranda Dickinson is one of my favourite chick lit authors and her 2013 release 'Take a Look At Me Now' was one of my favourite reads of last year. Nell's life isn't going the way she planned it and she decides to leave it all behind and go to San Francisco for a couple of weeks. Nell is a great protagonist and I loved joining her on her journey towards finding herself, but also to the wonderful city of San Francisco! I've never been there, but this novel definitely made me add it to my places-to-visit list. Miranda Dickinson's novels are a true joy to read and I can never get enough of her stories. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable and uplifting read; you won't be disappointed!

Be sure to visit the blog next week for another blast from chick lit past with 'Once Upon a Story...'!

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten All Time Favourite Books in Chick Lit

'Top Ten Tuesday' is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Lately I've seen some other book bloggers being quite enthusiastic about this weekly meme, so I decided to join in with the fun and try it out myself as well!  

  Top Ten All Time Favourite Books in Chick Lit   Today's Top Ten Tuesday had to be a top 10 of your all time favourite books within a particular genre. Well, the genre wasn't too difficult for me because I mainly read chick lit and I could probably make a top 100 of my favourite chick lit reads to share with all of you. It's quite a challenge to only pick 10 favourites, but I'll try my best! 

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1. Emily Giffin - 'Something Borrowed' (2004)

I know this is a chick lit classic loved by numerous readers and it definitely had to be part of my list as well. I actually saw the film version starring Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin before I read the book, and I immediately fell in love with the story and the characters. The novel definitely didn't disappoint and since then I've been recommending it to others. Undoubtedly a must-read for any chick lit fan!

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2. Sophie Kinsella - 'The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic' (2000)

I think a lot of people will automatically think of the immensely popular Shopaholic series when you ask them to name a chick lit novel. The first part of Sophie Kinsella's wonderful best-selling series, 'The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic' introduces us to the funny and loveable Becky Bloomwood who has a serious shopping addiction which gets her into all kinds of trouble. A chick-lit classic!  

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3. Cecelia Ahern - 'Where Rainbows End' (2004)

 Cecelia Ahern is one of my favourite authors; she really has her own amazingly captivating and magical writing style and I love all of her work. However, if I have to pick just one of her novels it has to be her second book, 'Where Rainbows End.' It tells the story of the continuously changing relationship between close friends Rosie and Alex, and all of this is done in the form of letters, e-mails and short messages. It's a great love story and I can't wait to see the film version of it which will be released later this year. 

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4. Lisa Jewell - 'Vince and Joy' (2005)

When I was in my teens I started reading my first chick lit books and for a long time, Lisa Jewell's 'Vince and Joy' was my absolute favourite. The book tells the story of teenagers Vince and Joy who fall in love in the 1980s, but their relationship ends abruptly. Twenty years later, both of them are starting to wonder whether that long-ago romance might have been much more than just a teenage infatuation. The book still means a lot to me which is why it definitely has to be a part of this top 10!

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5. Lindsey Kelk - 'I Heart New York' (2009)

Lindsey Kelk is one of the most popular and well-loved chick lit authors of the past few years and her 'I Heart... series' is one of the main reasons for that. The first part titled 'I Heart New York' introduces the reader to Angela Clark who decides to escape from her entire life in England, including her cheating boyfriend, and buys a one-way ticket to New York City. The book is incredibly funny and a feel-good read, and just the beginning of Angela's entertaining adventures which I personally can't get enough of!

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6. Miranda Dickinson - 'When I Fall in Love' (2012)

Miranda Dickinson's stories never fail to make me smile (and shed a tear every now and again!) and it was quite tricky to pick just one of her novels for this list. In the end, I decided to go for 'When I Fall in Love' because it is a book that really made an impression on me and which I absolutely loved from the very first page. Elsie Maynard's story is an amazing one, and in my personal opinion one of Miranda's absolute best.

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7. Lauren Weisberger - 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2003)

Another classic that deserves a place on this top 10! I actually hadn't heard about this book until I was asked to read and review it within three days because of the upcoming film release (starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway). I ended up enjoying the book much more than I expected I would and it became one of my all-time favourites. Last year a sequel was released, 'Revenge Wears Prada', and I'm curious to see whether it lives up to the first part!

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8. Alexandra Brown - 'Cupcakes at Carrington's' (2013)

The most recent release on this list and a book I can't recommend enough to chick lit fans. 'Cupcakes at Carrington's' tells the story of Georgie Hart (such a fabulous name!) who loves her job working at the luxury handbag concession at Carrington's department store in small town Mulberry-On-Sea. Not only is Carrington's a fabulous setting, but the book also includes a brilliant cast of characters including Georgie's GBF Eddie. A Christmas sequel was released at the end of last year and a third part will follow this summer; can't wait!

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9. Meg Cabot - 'Size 12 Is Not Fat' (2005)

I used to devour every single Meg Cabot book when I was younger (I loved 'The Princess Diaries' series and continuously wished someone would come up and tell me I was actually also secretly a princess) and I'm still a big fan of her work, especially this particular series of which 'Size 12 Is Not Fat' is the first part. Heather Wells is a former popstar who now works as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. When one of the students is found dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft, Heather decides to solve the mystery herself. This book is extremely funny and thoroughly enjoyable; Meg Cabot's writing is simply brilliant and I'm sure she will continue to be one of my favourite authors for years to come.  

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10. Olivia Goldsmith - 'Wish Upon a Star' (2004)

Olivia Goldsmith is most well-known for her novel 'The First Wives Club.' However, it is one of her other books, 'Wish Upon a Star', that managed to capture my heart several years ago. This romantic comedy tells the story of secretary Claire, who desperately wishes her life could be as exciting as the books she reads. When she is offered an all-expenses-paid trip to London, she can't say 'yes' quickly enough, which is the start of a wonderful British adventure. One of the first chick lit books I read and which made me fall in love with the genre, which is why it needs to be a part of this list! 
If I've left out any of your favourite chick lit novels, please let me know! Or perhaps you would have gone for a different genre? I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Favourite Books of 2013!

'Top Ten Tuesday' is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Lately I've seen some other book bloggers being quite enthusiastic about this weekly meme, so I decided to join in with the fun and try it out myself as well!  

  Top Ten Favourite Books of 2013   For Today's Top Ten Tuesday all bloggers got the chance to pick one of the previous Top Ten topics we'd like to do again or may have missed. Since I joined the Top Ten Tuesday club just a few weeks ago, there are quite a lot of fun and challenging lists to choose from. However, I decided to go for my 10 favourite books of 2013! I never got around to making a list of my favourite books of last year, and this is the perfect chance to do this, even though I might be about two months late, oops! 

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Giovanna Fletcher - 'Billy and Me'

 
Giovanna Fletcher released her debut novel 'Billy and Me' in May 2014 and it was a release I was really looking forward to. As soon as I read the title and the blurb and saw the cover of the book, I knew this would be chick lit I'd instantly fall in love with, and that is exactly what happened when I read the book. I can't wait to read Giovanna's second novel, 'You're The One That I Want', which will be released in May 2014!

Click here to read my review of 'Billy and Me'!

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Lindsey Kelk - 'About a Girl'

Lindsey Kelk is without a doubt one of my favourite chick lit authors. Her 'I Love...' series is an absolute must-read for any chick lit fan, but 2013 introduced us to a new Lindsey Kelk series! 'About a Girl' tells the story of new heroine Tess, and was everything I had hoped for: thoroughly entertaining, incredibly funny, and simply sparkling! In 2014 the second part of the series will be published, 'What a Girl Wants', and I can't wait to pick it up!

Click here to read my review of 'About a Girl'!

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Kirsty Greenwood - 'Yours Truly'

Kirsty Greenwood's debut novel 'Yours Truly' was one of the best chick lit debuts of 2013 and I couldn't simply not mention it on this list. 'Yours Truly' tells the story of Natalie Butterworth who manages to get hypnotized, which completely turns her life around. The novel's not just funny and a definite page-turner, but also has a lovely handsome male character at its core... I'm looking forward to reading more of Kirsty's work in 2014!

Click here to read my review of 'Yours Truly'!

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Diane Chamberlain - 'Necessary Lies'

I unexpectedly received a review copy of Diane Chamberlain's novel 'Necessary Lies' and was completely blown away by it. The book is set in America in the 1960's and tells the story of Ivy and Jane, who both lead completely different lives but are brought together, which results in a simply wonderful tale. Diane Chamberlain is an amazing author and I definitely plan on reading more of her work in 2014. 

Click here to read my review of 'Necessary Lies'!

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Kim Izzo - 'My Life in Black and White'

Kim Izzo is another author I was introduced to in 2013, and I really fell in love with her novel 'My Life in Black and White.' I can honestly say it's a book unlike anything else I read before, and I simply did not want to put it down. The book is a time-travel romantic comedy, in which the reader is transported from the present day to the 1950's, and is suitable for any reader, not just fans of chick lit. A read I still recommend to others every chance I get!

Click here to read my review of 'My Life in Black and White'!

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Miranda Dickinson - 'Take a Look at Me Now'

One of the queens of chick lit, Miranda Dickinson, treated us to another brilliant read in 2013 in the shape of 'Take a Look at Me Now.' I love love love Miranda Dickinson's novels, they are always filled with amazing characters, a wonderful storyline, and a good dose of romance. This one definitely did not disappoint; Nell's story is one I thoroughly enjoyed and the book earned a well-deserved place on my favourites list!

Click here to read my review of 'Take a Look at Me Now'!

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 Emily Liebert - 'You Knew Me When'

 

Next to 'A Spoonful of Happy Endings', I'm also a book blogger for Chick Lit Club and that is how I got into touch with a publisher about Emily Liebert's 'You Knew Me When.' Sometimes you read a book and just after a few pages you already know you've fallen in love and don't want the book to end. That's exactly what I felt when I read this novel. I loved absolutely everything about it, and it is undoubtedly one of my favourite reads of the past year.

Click here to read my review of 'You Knew Me When'!

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Charity Norman - 'The Son-in-Law'

 

Another book I was asked to review and was completely blown away by. Charity Norman's 'The Son-in-Law' is an incredibly emotional and realistic read; a story that has stayed with me up until this day. It's a book that looks at a rather serious topic from two different points of view, which really captivated me and proved once again that there are always two sides to every story. A must-read!

Click here to read my review of 'The Son-in-Law'!

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Alexandra Brown - 'Christmas at Carrington's'

 

 

 At the start of 2013, I read Alexandra Brown's novel 'Cupcakes at Carrington's' and I instantly loved the storyline and the characters at its centre. At the end of last year we were treated to the Christmas-themed sequel, 'Christmas at Carrington's' which was definitely one of my favourite Christmas releases of 2013! I loved travelling back to the world of heroine Georgie Hart and Carrington's department store. A wonderfully festive novel, and I'm already really looking forward to the third part in the series which will be released this year!

Click here to read my review of 'Christmas at Carrington's'!

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Lisa Dickenson - 'The Twelve Dates of Christmas'

Another Christmas read which I enjoyed SO much it had to be the one to end this list with! Lisa Dickenson's 'The Twelve Dates of Christmas' was released at the end of 2013 as an e-book series, with 6 different parts focusing on 2 of the 12 dates as mentioned in the title. The story is incredibly funny, magical, and simply brilliant, and I honestly can't wait to see what else Lisa has in store for us. Even if it means I have to start a petition in order to have more of her work published!

Click here to read my review of 'The Twelve Dates of Christmas'!

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I'd love to hear what YOUR favourite reads of 2013 were!

Review: 'Take a Look at Me Now' by Miranda Dickinson (2013)

What a difference a day makes…

Nell Sullivan has always been known as ‘Miss Five-Year Plan’. But when she finds herself jobless and newly single on the same day, Nell decides it is time to stop planning and start taking chances.

Nell blows her redundancy cheque on a trip of lifetime to a place where anything is possible – San Francisco. There she meets a host of colourful characters, including the intriguing and gorgeous Max. Very soon the city begins to feel like Nell’s second home.

But when it’s time to return to London, will she leave the ‘new Nell’ behind? And can the magic of San Francisco continue to sparkle thousands of miles away?

Miranda Dickinson is, without a doubt, one of my favourite authors. The first novel I read of hers was ‘Welcome to My World’ and I was immediately taken in by her captivating writing style and amazing romantic stories. The past few years I’ve devoured her other works (‘When I Fall in Love’, ‘Fairytale of New York’ and ‘It Started with a Kiss’) and I’ve been looking forward to the release of her fifth novel ever since I heard she was busy writing it. I was lucky enough to be picked by the lovely people at Avon as one of the book bloggers to become a part of Miranda’s promotion team for this novel, Team Nell, which meant I received a review copy of ‘Take a Look at Me Now’ before it’s official release on the 24th of October! As soon as I found it in my mailbox, I put everything else aside and started reading, not being able to wait any longer to dive into Nell’s world!

To Nell Sullivan it seems like just any ordinary day at the office, but a simple post-it note stuck to her computer screen suddenly changes her entire life. Within just a couple of hours, she has lost her job and the chance of getting together with her ex-boyfriend Aiden. On a whim, she decides to use her redundancy cheque to book a flight to a destination far away from England, to get away from it all. Soon, Nell finds herself in San Francisco where she is staying with her cousin Lizzie for 8 weeks. Nell falls in love with the city and can’t imagine going home, back to the job hunt and her ex-boyfriend... But can Nell step back into her old life like that, or is it time to embrace the new Nell and the dreams that come with that?

I don’t even know where to start with this novel, except by stating the fact that Miranda Dickinson has done it again; what a brilliant and captivating read! I straight away fell in love with the heroine of this novel, Nell. I felt for her, because of how she unexpectedly loses her job and hopes to get back with her ex which then doesn’t happen, but I also admired her, for taking the plunge and booking that plane ticket to San Francisco, forgetting about everything else and simply doing what she wants. Throughout the novel, Nell experiences so many things and develops as a person, and I continued to root for her, secretly wishing I could be a bit more like her, taking control of my own life and following my dreams. Nell is such a loveable character, and I am sure lots of readers will adore and relate to her, just like I did.

The scene setting of the novel is fantastic. I discovered San Francisco when I read Niamh Greene’s ‘A Message to your Heart’ earlier this year, and Miranda Dickinson only managed to convince me even more that this is a city I definitely need to visit at least once in my life. The descriptions of all the different neighbourhoods, the tourist attractions, and the basic atmosphere of the entire city sparked of the page, making me feel like I was walking besides Nell, experiencing everything with her. I fell in love with everything about this novel, and I highly recommend it to any lover of romantic comedies or chick lit out there: you don’t want to miss this one! ‘Take a Look at Me Now’ is a fabulously enchanting and inspiring novel that will sweep you off your feet and convince you to not let go of your dreams, whatever might be thrown at you.

Rating:10/10 

October 2013 releases to look forward to! (Part 2)

Yesterday I already told all of you about the exciting releases that are coming up the first half of October (click here to see the overview). However, the second half of the upcoming month definitely has some amazing books in store for us as well, including some of my favourite chick lit authors and some festive Christmas novels! Check out the list below; it might give you some early ideas for your own Christmas wish list!

Sue Watson - 'Younger, Thinner, Blonder' (17th of October 2013)

Tough talking, ball busting, TV talk show host Tanya Travis is at the top of her game. For fifteen years she has steered The Truth With Tanya Travis to be a ratings winner, solving the problems of Britain's great drug taking, shagging, DNA testing unwashed. But underneath the designer exterior, Tanya's life isn't so rosy. She is hounded by the press, who are desperate to prove her boyfriend's infidelity, and her closest relationships are with her crazy Brooklyn agent and her sweet faced (but foul mouthed) cleaner. When reality TV show Celebrity Spa Trek comes knocking, Tanya turns them down flat, believing that her image and credentials as the Darling of Daytime raise her above participating. However, she may be forced to re-think when her carefully constructed life starts to come apart at the seams. With her relationship in crisis, her career on the line, and her finances in dire straits she may have to join the desperate gaggle of C-List wannabes trekking round Nepal after all....

Why so excited? --> I'm not familiar with Sue Watson and haven't read her best-selling novel 'Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes.' 'Younger, Thinner, Blonder' tells the story of Tanya, a famous talk show host, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down, resulting in her joining the cast of a reality TV show called 'Celebrity Spa Trek.' I love the idea behind this novel, and I'm quite curious to read more about this reality TV show and how Tanya will cope with everything (including trekking round Nepal with a group of C-list celebs)!

Melissa Hill - 'A Gift to Remember' (24th of October 2013)

Darcy Archer works in a small bookstore in Manhattan. A daydream believer, she refuses to settle for anything less than being swept off her feet by the perfect man… literally.

One day, when cycling to work, Darcy accidentally crashes into a sharply dressed gentleman walking his dog. He is knocked out cold, rushed to hospital and the poor pup gets left behind.

Wracked with guilt, Darcy takes the dog and makes plans to reunite him with owner, Aidan. As she discovers the mysterious stranger's world of books, travel, adventure and all the wonderful things she's ever dreamt about, Darcy builds a picture of this man and wonders if he could be THE ONE…

But does fantasy match reality? What happens when Prince Charming wakes up? Will Aidan be the happy ever after she's always imagined?

Why so excited? --> I'm a really big fan of Melissa Hill; her books are amazing and I have a feeling 'A Gift to Remember' won't be anything less! First of all, the cover is definitely one of the prettiest I have seen in 2013. I adore everything about it: from the font and colour of the title, to the little couple and trees coming out of the pages of a book... It's simply stunning! Next to that, the blurb promises a brilliant story with a touch of Christmas to it. Definitely a novel any chick lit fan will want to add to their wish list!

Miranda Dickinson - 'Take a Look at Me Now' (24th of October 2013)

Nell Sullivan is having the worst day ever…

Nell has always been known as ‘Miss Five-Year Plan’. But when she’s dumped and made redundant on the same day, Nell wonders if it’s time to stop planning and start taking chances.

Nell blows her redundancy cheque on a trip of lifetime to a place where anything can happen – San Francisco. Nell meets a host of colourful characters, including an intriguing new love interest, Max, and soon San Fran begins to feel like a second home.

But when Nell is forced to return home, will she leave the ‘new Nell’ behind? And can the magic of San Francisco continue to sparkle thousands of miles away?

Why so excited? --> Miranda Dickinson's novels are always filled with brilliant stories that never fail to make me smile, which is why I have been looking forward to the release of 'Take a Look at me Now' for quite some time already! I know for certain this novel won't disappoint and I can't wait to read more about Nell and her adventures in the city of San Francisco!

Carole Matthews - 'Calling Mrs. Christmas' (24th of October 2013)

Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She's soon in huge demand and Cassie's business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born.

Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children, so he enlists Cassie's help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her loving partner Jim to handle the rest of her clients.

When millionaire Carter asks Cassie to join his family on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn't go . . . Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her entire life.
 
Why so excited? --> The hardcover of 'Calling Mrs. Christmas' was released last month, but the paperback version of Carole Matthews' latest release will be available from the 24th of October. I love the Christmassy cover, and the story promises a festive tale, perfect for the colder days that are coming up. I know Carole's novels never disappoint, so I'll definitely pick up my own copy of this as soon as possible!

Nicola Doherty - 'If I Could Turn Back Time' (24th of October 2013)

What if you found The One, then lost him again? 

Or not so much lost him as became the neurotic, needy girlfriend from hell. The girl who tried to make him choose between her and his job, and got seriously paranoid about his relationship with his female best friend... 

Zoë Kennedy knows she doesn't deserve another chance with David Fitzgerald. But if there's the tiniest possibility of making things right, she'll snatch it. Even if it means breaking the laws of physics to do so...

Why so excited? --> I haven't read Nicola Doherty's debut novel, 'The Out of Office Girl', but I've heard many great things about it. Next to that, I've heard that if you love Lindsey Kelk's novels (which I really do), you definitely have to pick up 'If I Could Turn Back Time' (which has an amazing cover, if you ask me)! The blurb promises a great story about wishing you could go back in time to change your actions, and I think this is something every single one of us can relate to in one way or another. I look forward to reading this and finding out more about Nicola Doherty's novels!

Ali Harris - 'A Vintage Christmas' (24th of October 2013)

Evie has the perfect job and the perfect man, but keeping both in her life has become a serious balancing act...

With the sales coming to a close at Hardy's, Evie must source new stock for the season ahead. Her mind is constantly buzzing with ideas and layouts, so much so that she is forgetting all about Sam.

Can she learn to keep her work separate from her home life? Or will she lose everything...

Why so excited? --> Just like Alexandra Brown, Ali Harris is treating us to a short story eBook exclusive this October, based on her best-selling novel 'Miracle on Regent Street.' Evie is back, and I look forward to seeing how things are going between her and Sam at Hardy's. A brillian short story to get in the Christmas mood!

Be sure to pre-order your own copies of these upcoming October releases on Amazon now! :)

October 2013 release: 'Take a Look at Me Now' by Miranda Dickinson

How far would you go to make a new start?

 

When Nell’s on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, losing her job is the last thing she expects.

 

Heartbroken and unemployed to boot, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to the untested waters of San Francisco.

But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

Like many other chick lit fans out there, I absolutely love Miranda Dickinson's novels! I fell in love with the cover of 'Welcome to my World' when I saw it lying in a book shop a couple of years ago, and ever since I read it I've been a huge fan of Miranda's novels. She has a wonderful writing style and her books always inspire me. So, obviously, I can't wait until her next novel, which will be released in October! Last week the cover of 'Take a Look at Me Now' was revealed, and it has managed to get me even more excited about this upcoming release! October can't come soon enough!

Click here to pre-order your own copy on Amazon now!

Review: 'When I Fall in Love' by Miranda Dickinson (2012)

What happens when your happy ever after is suddenly and painfully taken away from you?

Elsie Maynard has a whole new life she never expected to have. From inadvertently founding a choir like no other with former 80s rock star Woody Jensen, to daring to date again, Elsie steps out into an unknown future – a future that could include gorgeous designer Olly Hogarth, a man who seems intent on winning her heart. Overcoming problems, challenges and the occasional frustration – namely overconfident Torin Stewart who seems to be everywhere – Elsie believes she is making the most of her life. But then a heartfelt request brings her to Paris – and the last item on a very important List.

Can Elsie take the final step and lay her past to rest? Join Elsie as she battles to start again, with the help of a disastrous, newly-formed singing group and her father and sister armed with dating hopefuls.

Whenever I’m in a shop and looking for a lovely new book to take home with me, Miranda Dickinson’s covers always catch my eye. The first of her novels that I read was ‘It Started With a Kiss’ and since then every time I see one of her recognisable book covers I get excited. I didn’t just pick up ‘When I Fall in Love’ because of the lovely sense of winter on the cover, the Eiffel Tower hidden in the background, the bit of sparkle and lovely pink title, but also because I know a Miranda Dickinson tale is the perfect story to snuggle up with on the couch, with a cup of tea and a couple of free hours. And this particular book certainly didn’t disappoint!

This novel tells the story of Elsie Maynard, who has just had the roughest eighteen months of her life. She works at an ice-cream parlour (with the most yummy flavours of ice-cream a girl can dream of; serously, just that is worth reading the book for, trust me!) in Brighton with her good friend and boss Cher, and lives close to her father Jim, and her two sisters Daisy and Guin. One day, Elsie is convinced to give a spontaneous piano performance in a cafe and she meets 80’s rock star Woody, who wants to start a choir with her. Elsie decides to give it a go and it doesn’t take long before The Sundaes are born; a choir consisting of all kinds of Brighton citizens, from slightly bitchy Sasha, to the friendly and kind-hearted elderly woman Irene and the two young lovers, Danny and Aoife (a couple you can't help but fall in love with). Next to this new development in her life, Elsie has started dating again with graphic designer Oliver and she can’t seem to stop bumping into the slightly annoying Torin... After everything that has happened and the changes that are going on in her life, it is now time for Elsie to have a good look around and start rediscovering herself to ultimately decide what she wants to get out of life and what steps she needs to take to find happiness again.

The heroine of this novel, Elsie, is instantly loveable and you can’t help but start rooting for her from the very first pages of the novel. However, not only Elsie, but all the characters in this book have been worked out in detail and all add their own personal touch to what happens in Elsie’s life. I really liked the fact that the story kept on developing itself with each chapter, and that not everything was given away at the start of the novel. Elsie’s tale is heart-warming and it made me laugh, but also shed a few tears at times. I had high hopes for this book and Miranda Dickinson certainly didn’t let me down. I know they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but if in this case a chick-lit fan decides to pick up this book simply because of the sparkle and pretty letters, I’m almost certain they won’t be disappointed!

Rating: 

9/10