On My TV This Christmas by Jennifer Gilby Roberts

I love shows that get me in the mood for Christmas.  Here are my personal favourites from the multitude available, that really bring out the Christmas spirit.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Vital.  My husband wooed me with The Muppets.  He invited me round to his house to watch them.  The overture at our wedding (it was held in a theatre) was an instrumental version of the theme song.  The Christmas Carol is a classic by anyone’s standards, but this version is definitely the best.

While You Were Sleeping

Not precisely a Christmas movie, but set at Christmas and all about the importance of family.  Lucy saves a man’s life and is mistaken for his fiancée at the hospital.  While he lies in a coma, she goes from all alone to part of a large, warm - if slightly mad - family, and can’t bring herself to tell them the truth.  Then she starts to fall for his brother and things get really complicated.

The Vicar of Dibley: The Christmas Lunch Incident

The Vicar of Dibley is a long-running UK show about a female vicar (played by Dawn French) sent to a small, conservative village where the inhabitants are all mad real characters.  In this episode, she agrees to have three Christmas lunches to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings.  One for everyone who’s ever over-indulged at Christmas dinner.

Miranda: The Perfect Christmas

Miranda and her friends think Christmas would be far better if they spent the day together instead of with their families.  They’re wrong.

Miranda reminds me a lot of my heroine from The Dr Pepper Prophecies, especially in episodes like this where everything is going wrong for her.

Harry Potter

Hands up everyone who wants to spend Christmas at Hogwarts?  From the never-ending feast to the massive tree to the fact that they always have snow, the Christmas scenes in the Harry Potter movies are fantastically Christmassy.  And given that someone’s put them on YouTube, I don’t think I’m the only one who thinks so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8vxuZ3bjrA

What films and TV shows make you feel the most Christmassy?

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Jennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so a career writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies.

Her books include The Dr Pepper Prophecies, After Wimbledon, Early Daze and But I Said Forever.

Find Jennifer at her blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

But I Said Forever – by Jennifer Gilby Roberts

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

Expect little, forgive much?

After a whirlwind courtship, Brittany Beresford married her Prince Charming and looked forward to living happily ever after. Five years later, she’s been reduced to a not-quite-desperate housewife, with a husband who spends more time flossing his teeth than holding meaningful conversations with her. 

She braves his disapproval by turning working mother and, other than feeling far more drawn to a handsome baker she works with than him, things seem to be looking up. But then Brittany discovers that her husband’s “hobbies” include something even worse than golf - and he expects her to put up and shut up. 

Fairy tale illusions shattered, but still believing marriage is for life and wanting the best for her son, Brittany has a choice to make: should she follow her heart, or her conscience?

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

23, married and mother of a son, doesn't this sound wonderful?! Well, not for Brittany, she doesn't like being a home alone mum and the relationship with her husband Philipp seems to be cold. When she finds a job, he doesn't like the idea of her working. She cuts her hair and he doesn't want her to walk around like that... It's embarrassing. Additionally, he barley spends time with her or their son James. Oh and this tone, rude and really unfriendly. Let's just say I didn't like him at all and I just wanted her o leave him.

They married when Brittany was 18. They were in love back then, but now...

I admired that she finally went for a job and she finally thought about herself, slowly realising that her husband and their marriage, wasn't real anymore! With the help from her two nannies she also found out what he was hiding and that made her finally leave him and filing for divorce. But Philipp wouldn't be Philipp without fighting! I was just hoping for her not to listen to him. I got really scared at one point, but I won't tell you more here. 

Starting to work at this bakery made her see the world with other eyes and she met some awesome people there. They became really important for her, especially Zach, gorgeous Zach. I would have lived to rad more about the two of them together, so maybe book2?!

Jennifer's writing is fresh, young and authentic. She has a great voice and makes the reader feel part of the story!

Rating:

My possible cast:

Brittany: Emma Watson

Jennifer on Twitter: @GilbyRoberts

Website: http://www.jennifergilbyroberts.com

This book is out on November 15, pre-order it here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1502798662/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1502798662/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23355556-but-i-said-forever

Guest post on After Wimbledon by Jennifer Gilby Roberts

In tennis scoring, nothing isn't called zero or nil, but "love".  So, a love story set around a grand slam tournament is starting at a bit of a disadvantage.  But it happens, despite the obstacles.

Separation is the biggest problem.  Tennis pros are touring roughly ten months of the year, so relationships are long distance unless you can persuade your significant other to travel with you (which scuppers most career plans).  And it's not much easier if your sweetheart is another player.  The men's and women's tours are separate and only meet up for the grand slams and a handful of other events.

Lack of time and energy are also a factor.  In After Wimbledon, Lucy's romantic plans are postponed more than once due to sheer exhaustion.  Between matches, fitness training, practice sessions, body conditioning and all the rest, there aren't a lot of free hours to devote to a relationship.  Which is one reason why retirement seems like the only way Lucy's going to forge a serious connection with someone.

And we can't forget the media.  The top players have a lot of fans, especially in their home countries, and rank as minor celebrities.  The press can be cruel when they uncover a scandal, as Lucy and Sam both find out.

After Wimbledon was actually inspired by a trip to the Australian Open.  I will have to shock you with the news that I have still not been to the Wimbledon Championships.  It's appalling, especially since I used to live only 15 miles or so from the All England Club.  You never get round to doing what's right on your doorstep, do you?  Maybe next year I'll leave my husband to look after the toddler and take my mum and mum-in-law to Henman Hill.  Or Bennett Bump - a name which Lucy dislikes intensely.

I was very into tennis when I wrote it; following the tours avidly online.  My backpacking trip around Australia was scheduled around getting to Melbourne for the second week of the slam.  Cue a week spent sitting in Federation Square, watching the action on the big screen.  All except one day, when I treated myself to a ticket for the Rod Laver Arena (the equivalent of Centre Court) and got to see the big names live.  Since I was travelling alone, I managed to grab a stray seat right at the front.  I was close enough to hear Roger Federer say the S word.  It's amazing how much larger the court looks when you're really there.  And how much faster the ball seems to move.  To be honest, if one of those came at me, I think I'd just duck.  I like my teeth in my head, thank you very much.

What After Wimbledon is really about, though, is finding the courage to move on to a new phase of your life.  Lucy is struggling with whether it's time to give up her dream of winning Wimbledon and embrace ordinary life.  I had just finished my degree and ended a relationship and was trying to make a plan for the rest of my twenties.  As it was, things turned out quite differently to how I expected.  But isn't that what makes life fun?

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Jennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so a career writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies.

Find Jennifer at her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo and iBooks

Q&A with Jennifer Gilby Roberts + GIVEAWAY

I'm so honored to welcome Jennifer Gilby Robert on Sky's Book Corner today. She agreed to answer my questions, which made me really happy. Then this wonderful author asked me to be part of her one year anniversary tour for The Dr Pepper Prophecies, so here we are. Thank you so much lovely Jenny, xxx.

Bio

Jennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so a career writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in Richmond, North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies.

Taking care of her daughter is now her main job, but previously she worked many thrilling jobs in administration.  In these she learned the real truth of business: that every successful executive would be lost without their PA.

She can also be found getting red-faced at zumba class, reading historical porn (as her husband calls it – Regency romance to the rest of us) and humming nursery rhymes while going round Tesco.  Her current obsessions include toffee crisp bars, Costa fruit coolers and the TV show Torchwood.

JGR writes chick lit novels and short stories featuring sweet (occasionally sexy) romance, dry humour and things going tits-up.  They will especially appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes and Jane Costello.

Interview

1.     Did you always dream of being a writer?

A dancer, actually, but my knees weren’t up to that.  I always planned to write a novel, though.

2.    Wedding Hells is the prequel to The Dr Pepper Prophecies in the Chocoholic Series. Can you tell us a little more about them?

TDPP is a modern version of Jane Austen’s Emma.  It’s about Mel, who sets out to help others – whether they like it or not – while making a complete hash of her own life.  Things just go tits up for her – she’s like Bridget Jones in that respect.

Wedding Hells is a short story I wrote as an introduction to TDPP.  I offer it free on most Amazon sites, so people can meet Mel and try out my style.  It takes place a few years before TDPP, at Mel’s sister’s wedding.

3.     What does your family think about you being a writer?

My husband hopes I’ll become wildly successful so he can retire.

4.     What inspires you most when you’re writing?

Usually some form of sugar.

5.     What inspired you to write After Wimbledon and what’s the story about?

A trip to the Australian Open.  It’s about Lucy, a pro tennis player in a casual relationship, who’s struggling with whether it’s time to retire and go for real life and love.  It has less humour than TDPP, but more romance.

6.     What are you working on right now?

A spin-off from TDPP about Mel’s sister, Brittany.

7.     Where and when do you write your stories?

Home and baby group.  Whenever I get the chance, basically!  I have a toddler, so I’m lacking in time and energy.

8.     You also write short stories, how is that different from writing a normal novel?

I think short stories are harder to write, because you have to explore the characters and get a complete story into a few thousand words.  It’s easier to write them about characters that have already appeared in novels.  Then you can just cover isolated events in their lives and you don’t have to cram in so much information.

Early Daze is technically a novella, but it’s 40,000 words so there was room to do a whole story.  I may well write more of that length.

9.     Can you tell us more about the short stories you already wrote and are still in a working progress?

Wedding Hells is about Mel’s adventures as a bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding.  Flights of Nancy is a stand-alone story about a woman who’s been told she’ll meet Mr. Right on a certain day.  Early Daze is written from my own experience of becoming a mother to a premature baby.

10.  What do you do and enjoy when you’re not writing?

Amateur dramatics, walking, Zumba, comedy and a bit of reading.

11.   The covers for your books are really bubbly, colourful and creative. How were they developed?

I ran a design competition on 99 Designs for the current cover of The Dr Pepper Prophecies and chose JelenaM as the winner.  She then went on to design the covers for After Wimbledon and Wedding Hells.  I provided character descriptions, colour schemes and some ideas and she actually made them look good!  For Flights of Nancy and Early Daze I did my own with stock pictures.

12.  What is the best thing about being a writer?

Making people feel good.

13.  Who is your favourite author and why?

I like books that bring you into another world.  Two favourites for this are Stephanie Laurens and Erich Segal.

14.  If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what 3 books would you want with you?

The SAS Survival Handbook, something inspirational and a large blank book to write in.

15.  If you could plan the perfect holiday, what would it be?

I would have a transporter to get there, to avoid the need for travel sickness pills.  Sunshine, but not too hot because I’d want to get out and do things.  It would include beautiful scenery, beaches and a babysitter.

16.  Coffee or tea?

Don’t like either.

17.  Paperback or e-reader?

E-readers are great, but paperbacks are still necessary for reading in the bath.

18.  Mountains or the sea?

Sea.

19.  Summer or winter?

Summer

20.  Sweet or salty?

Usually sweet.

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To celebrate The Dr Pepper Prophecies’ one-year anniversary since publication, Jennifer Gilby Roberts is giving away one paperback and five ebook copies!  Enter on Rafflecopter.

Find out about her other great celebration offers, giveaways and extras on her blog.

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25-year-old Mel Parker has a few tiny problems:

• Her job is terrible
• She's been dumped yet again
• Her ex is now her boss
• Her parents think she's a loser compared to her perfect younger sister
• All her efforts to improve her life seem doomed to failure
• Her best friend, Will, is in grave danger of being stolen away by his evil girlfriend
• There just isn’t enough chocolate in the world to make up for the above.

So what do you do when you've pretty much given up on your own life? Help others, of course!

After all, what's the worst that can happen?

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Buy for Kindle or in paperback on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and other Amazon sites.  The paperback is also available from Barnes & Noble.