Happy New Year!

Have a fabulous New Year – see you on the other side xx

My FAVOURITE books of 2013

If your New Years resolution is to read more books then let me help you out. I've read a LOT of books this year and I've written about a fair few, but I've managed to whittle it down to just 10 that I REALLY loved. 

So if you need books for your 2014 reading wish list I present you: 

Ali Harris - The First Last Kiss  - Sob fest 

Kristin Hannah - Firefly Lane - Heartwarming 

Eowyn Ivey - The Snow Child - Beautiful 

Caitlin Moran - Moranthology - FUNNY 

Lionel Shriver - Big Brother  - Emotional 

Annabel Pitcher - My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece - Moving 

Annabel Pitcher - Ketchup Clouds - Unputdownable

Dawn O'Porter - Paper Aeroplanes - Nostalgic

Matthew Quick - Forgive Me Leonard Peacock - AMAZING

Adele Parks - The State We're In  - Roller coaster read

Go forth and read, read, read - let me know what you think! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! xxx

December Reading

My blog has been going for a year now - A YEAR! A whole year of you reading my ramblings and maybe (hopefully) taking a few of my book suggestions. 

So thank you for sticking with me and giving me a platform to write what I want. Every view is much appreciated!!

Anyway, on to my December read. After reading a lot of Christmassy books, I was desperate to read something non-Christmas related once the day had passed. So on Boxing Day I picked up Tanya Byrne's Follow Me Down - and read it in one sitting whilst eating cheese and biscuits and drinking Champagne. The best way ever to read a book...

In Follow Me Down we meet sixteen-year-old Adamma who has just started at an exclusive boarding school. There she becomes friends with beautiful Scarlett and the two become inseparable. But when then fall for the same guy, the pair stop speaking. Then Scarlett goes missing and big secrets that she was keeping begin to unravel. And one will change their lives for ever…

This book is dark - and utterly brilliant. Each chapter flips between before and after the big event (which I shall not spoil!) meaning every chapter you change your mind about what the outcome is going to be. You really are kept guessing until the very last pages…. 

Have Yourselves a Merry Little Christmas….

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…

So, I'm sorry. I've been a bit AWOL on the blogging front and I only got four book into my 12 Books of Christmas series *hangs head in shame*. 

What can I say? December has been packed full of lots of fun with friends and family and time just seems to have flown by! But I promise once I've eaten that last mince pie and the Celebrations tin is empty I shall be back. Not that that is a resolution. As you know from this post, I hate resolutions...… 

Anyway, the candles are burning, I have a glass of fizz in hand and I'm off to read my favourite Christmas book of all time - 'Twas the night Before Christmas' before Santa comes... 

Have a good one! 

12 Books of Christmas - #4 The Night Before Christmas by Scarlett Bailey

Wow. Eight sleeps before Christmas and I'm only on book number four. Better get a wriggle on! 

Today I bring to you The Night Before Christmas by Scarlett Bailey. I read this in the lead up to Christmas a couple of years ago and really loved it. It's silly and funny and just what you need to take your mind off how many presents you have to wrap and if Grandad Norman is coming to dinner or not… 

The book's main protagonist is Lydia. All she ever wanted was a perfect Christmas so when she and her boyfriend are invited to spend the festive season with her oldest friends she jumps at the chance. 

But what Lydia doesn't expect is her ex and a hunky stranger to be there. And when they're snowed in it doesn't look like it's going to be the most perfect Christmas after all….

12 Books of Christmas - #3 Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris

If you're not feeling festive by now, I'm not really sure what it will take - but maybe reading Miracle on Regent Street will help. 

I become a big fan of Ali Harris the moment I read The First Last Kiss which is one of my favourite books of 2013. Spying she had a Christmas book it went straight on my 'to read' list and it didn't disappoint. 

The story centres around quiet Evie who works in a stockroom at a large London department store. Even though her job isn't very important, she loves it and when she overhears that the store might close she goes on a mission to save it.

In transforming the store she also goes on a personal transformation - but is it all for nothing? And will she ever get noticed…? 

Lovely read for a Sunday to make you feel Christmassy!

12 books of Christmas - #2 Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

With just 16 sleeps until Christmas (gulp) the festive season is well and truly upon us. If you're not feeling festive yet though, I urge you to read Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe. 

I read it when it came out last year and have already read it again this year. It's so sweet and just makes you want to make and eat cupcakes (it includes recipes!) and eat them whilst reading with a hot chocolate (or glass of fizz - why not? It's Christmas!) 

So the book is about Issy Randall. She owns the Cupcake Cafe in Stoke Newington and business is doing well. But when her boyfriend Austin is offered a job in New York she has a difficult decision to make… Will Christmas be ruined? 

A fun, easy read. You can't help but love all of Jenny Colgan's characters. 

John Lewis saved Christmas....

Last weekend I wasn't thinking straight. I blame a hangover and little sleep for the decision I made. It was a stupid one and I quickly regretted what I did. In fact it still makes me feel faint and brings me out in a sweat… 

Ladies and gents, last weekend, the first in December, I decided it was a fabulous idea to head over to Westfield Stratford to 'have a browse' and 'pick up a few bits'. How ridiculous was I? 

Of course, the place was PACKED. And I mean you couldn't move or even walk round a shop properly. I had an argument outside Primark and cried in M&S because the two dine for £10 didn't have the right side dish I really wanted…. Don't judge. I told you I was tired and hungover, OK? 

Needless to say, I got nothing I needed to do done. I gained a few bruises but no actual Christmas shopping. Take this as a warning and don't go out there. 

Luckily John Lewis saved the day as I sought sanctuary in their coffee shop. As well as providing refuge they also provided a damn good scone.

Good old John Lewis. Not only did they help me out of my meltdown and make a bloody good advert, they also sent me a hamper of goodies to review.

I got cute chocolates and  coffee which shall be drank on Christmas morning.

I also got Champagne truffles that, er, have already been scoffed and were absolutely delicious. The bread dipping oils were pretty fabulous too.

Such a pretty little hamper and what a great gift! So instead of facing the crowds in Westfield again I shall be making my own John Lewis hampers from the comfort of my own sofa. Why the hell didn't I think of this before? And I'll be ordering myself  some Champagne too because, well, why wouldn't I?

So thank you John Lewis. You've saved my sanity - as well as Christmas.


* The hamper was sent to me for review but all words are my own, honest opinion. 

12 books of Christmas - #1 I heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk

The aim of December is to recommend 12 books to you that are fabulous to read at this time of year and will without of doubt get you in the festive mood. 

Ready for book recommendation number one? 

I heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk.

It's not a secret that I am a big fan of Lindsey Kelk's I heart series. If you haven't read any, you should. They're bloody funny. 

Anyway, I was v excited to hear that Lindsey was writing I heart Christmas so the moment it landed in my hands I read it in one afternoon - and it didn't disappoint. 

Angela's back and can’t wait for Christmas in New York - her first as a wife. But before she can get involved in the seasonal cheer, she has a new job to deal with, a house move and her UK best friend, who is having marriage problems, turning up on her doorstep. To complicate things further, her US best friend wants to have a baby sans father and her parents invited themselves over for Christmas. Things aren’t going to be easy…. 

This book is hilarious from start to finish and made me desperate to see New York during wintertime! Go forth and read with a mince pie and a hot chocolate. Mine's with extra cream…. 

Bloody Brilliant Blogs #6

Happy December! That came round quickly didn't it? 

We put out tree up today. Or trees I should say. Why have one when you can have two?

I love our trees but I REALLY love Kim's over at Lunacy of Ink's tree? ENVY. 

Food wise I've been mostly lusting after The Awkward Blog's lunch at Foxlow. I am a BIG fan of Hawksmoor so am desperate to try out the new place. The crispy five pepper squid looks amaze. It's no secret I'm a big fan of Honest burger though I'm yet to check out their latest branch in Camden even though it's just round the corner from my office. Cocktails and Caroline's post made me want to go ASAP! 

I identified with all 12 of Laura Haven's Signs You're a Bookworm, especially number five: 'When people proclaim proudly 'i don't read' a part of you dies. As does a small amount of your respect for them.' 

I also really enjoyed fellow bookworm The Cup and Saucer's A Devourer of Books post. I completely agree with her - I just don't understand people who don't read!! 

I loved Life Outside London's's blog post on having a date night with yourself - v important! And finally, Fashion Life London's Monday Motivation post was brilliant - especially this Champagne quote. I'm going to live by this rule!