The Day We Meet Again – by Miranda Dickinson

The blurb: 

‘We’ll meet again at St Pancras station, a year from today. If we’re meant to be together, we’ll both be there. If we’re not, it was never meant to be . . .’

Phoebe and Sam meet by chance at St Pancras station. Heading in opposite directions, both seeking their own adventures, meeting the love of their lives wasn’t part of the plan. So they make a promise: to meet again in the same place in twelve months' time if they still want to be together.

But is life ever as simple as that?

This is a story of what-ifs and maybes – and how one decision can change your life forever…

My Opinion:

The concept and the idea of this story are absolutely brilliant, well done Miranda Dickinson!!!

Two people meet at the train station, when all trains are delayed. They spend some time together and really hit it off. Sparks between them fly immediately. However, they go to two very opposite directions and have plans of staying there for a year. One year later they want to meet again in the same spot. If it's meant to be they will, otherwise not.

Lucy and Sam talk to each other on the phone during that year, they text a lot and write postcards. Their feelings intensify and get deep, but what will happen a year later?! 

I will of course not tell you more, but as a reader you are just eagerly waiting for that day one year later. The story is full of surprises and the ending seemed a bit unnatural for me, I still enjoyed it very much. Miranda Dickinson's style is gripping, emotional, funny, exciting and so much more. She really knows how to get her readers hooked and creates this special, wonderful and unique story. The storyline is amazing, especially in the beginning.

A wonderful story based around two great characters, who discover themselves and start to build a new life, just brilliant!!! 

Rating:

Miranda Dickinson on Twitter: @wurdsmyth

Website: https://miranda-dickinson.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Book of the Month - July

The books I read this month:

-      The Forgotten Guide to Happiness –by Sophie Jenkins 3/5

-      A Summer Scandal– by Kat French  5/5

-      One in a Million – by Lindsey Kelk 5/5

-      Somewhere Beyond the Sea –by Miranda Dickinson 5/5

-      The Book Ninja –Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus 3/5

-      Happily Never After –by Emma Robinson 4.5/5

-      My Very Italian Holiday –by Sue Roberts 3/5

Two of these books really stood out to me: 

One in A Million – Lindsey Kelk

The bit on the back:

Everyone wants that special someone….

Annie Higgins has given up on love: she’s too busy trying to get her tiny business off the ground. Infuriated by the advertising agency across the hall making fun of her job, Annie accepts their crazy challenge – to make a random stranger Instagram-famous in just thirty days.

And even when they choose Dr Samuel Page PhD, historian and hater of social media, as her target, Annie’s determined to win the bet – whether Sam likes it or not.

But getting to know Sam means getting to know more about herself. And before the thirty days are out, Annie has to make a decision about what’s really important…

Funny, real and heart-meltingly romantic, Annie and Sam’s story is My Fair Lady for the social media age – and the perfect feel-good read.

My opinion:

Lindsey Kelk's writing is absosultey hilarious, romantic, passionte and just fantastic. She really understands how to engage a reader. 11 out of 10 points for this book for sure!!!!!BRILLIANT!!!

Full review: http://simonascornerofdreams.blogspot.com/2018/07/one-in-million-by-lindsey-kelk.html

Lindsey Kelk on Twitter: @LindseyKelk

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Somewhere Beyond the Sea – Miranda Dickinson

The bit on the back:

Can you fall in love with someone before you’ve even met?

Seren MacArthur is living a life she never intended. Trying to save the Cornish seaside business her late father built – while grieving for his loss – she has put her own dreams on hold and is struggling. Until she discovers a half-finished seaglass star on her favourite beach during an early morning walk. When she completes the star, she sets into motion a chain of events that will steal her heart and challenge everything she believes.

Jack Dixon is trying to secure a better life for daughter Nessie and himself. Left a widower and homeless when his wife died, he’s just about keeping their heads above water. Finding seaglass stars completed on Gwithian beach is a bright spark that slowly rekindles his hope.

Seren and Jack are searching for their missing pieces. But when they meet in real life, it’s on the opposing sides of a battle. Jack is managing the redevelopment of a local landmark, and Seren is leading the community campaign to save it.

Both have reason to fight – Seren for the cause her father believed in, Jack for his livelihood. But only one can win. With so much at stake, will they ever find what they are really looking for?

Miranda Dickinson's Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a sparkling tale of love, life and finding magic where you least expect it.

My opinion:

The setting is magnificent, Miranda Dickinson’s descriptions are on point, I felt like being there with the characters. The book is about love, hope, loss, grief, friendship and much more. Miranda Dickinson put a lot of passion and love into it and I really hope we will see these characters again. 

Review: http://simonascornerofdreams.blogspot.com/2018/07/somewhere-beyond-sea-by-miranda.html

Miranda Dickinson on Twitter: @wurdsmyth

Website: https://miranda-dickinson.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Somewhere Beyond the Sea - by Miranda Dicksinson

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb: 

Can you fall in love with someone before you’ve even met?

Seren MacArthur is living a life she never intended. Trying to save the Cornish seaside business her late father built – while grieving for his loss – she has put her own dreams on hold and is struggling. Until she discovers a half-finished seaglass star on her favourite beach during an early morning walk. When she completes the star, she sets into motion a chain of events that will steal her heart and challenge everything she believes.

Jack Dixon is trying to secure a better life for daughter Nessie and himself. Left a widower and homeless when his wife died, he’s just about keeping their heads above water. Finding seaglass stars completed on Gwithian beach is a bright spark that slowly rekindles his hope.

Seren and Jack are searching for their missing pieces. But when they meet in real life, it’s on the opposing sides of a battle. Jack is managing the redevelopment of a local landmark, and Seren is leading the community campaign to save it.

Both have reason to fight – Seren for the cause her father believed in, Jack for his livelihood. But only one can win. With so much at stake, will they ever find what they are really looking for?

Miranda Dickinson's Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a sparkling tale of love, life and finding magic where you least expect it.

My Opinion:

This book is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!

We follow Seren and Jack, who both recently lost someone in their lives and they are trying to live with the grief and with what was left to them. 

Seren MacArthur is trying to save her father’s business. He died a few months ago and of course she is still very sad. Things are not easy, she has to help her mum and she also had to put her own dreams on hold. The only hope and light she finds at the beach, when she discovers a half-finished seaglass star. She starts building them and kind of exchanging messages with the other person. 

Jack Dixon is a widower, who lost everything when his wife died. Fortunately, he has his sweet daughter Nessie. He does everything to find job, but it’s not easy. Together with Nessie he starts building these seaglass stars. 

Both Seren and Jack feel a connection to the other star maker, but when they meet in real life, things are different. They are on opposing sides, fighting for their life. They don’t know yet, who the other star maker is. The question now: Can they find, what they really want under these circumstances?!

I absolutely loved the main characters in this book. Seren is wonderful, passionate and full of energy. I think I fell in love with Jack a little bit as well, especially, because of the way he was with Nessie. Nessie is so cute and adorable, she brought some young and fresh liveliness into the story. 

The setting is magnificent, Miranda Dickinson’s descriptions are on point, I felt like being there with the characters. 

Jack and Seren take turns telling the story, which was perfect for the plot. It made the reader understand them both and it also brought their feelings closer. They both go through a lot in this story and Miranda Dickinson captured that beautifully. 

The book is about love, hope, loss, grief, friendship and much more. Miranda Dickinson put a lot of passion and love into it and I really hope we will see these characters again. 

Rating:

Miranda Dickinson on Twitter: @wurdsmyth Website: https://miranda-dickinson.com Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Book of the Month - December

The books I read this month:

-       It Had to be You – by Keris Stainton 4/5

-       Christmas at the Candied Apple Café – by Katherine Garbera 4.5/5

-       Christmas in St Ives – by Miranda Dickinson 5/5

-       A Winter’s Wish Come True – by Lynsey James 4/5

-       The Office Christmas Party – by Aimee Duffy 3/5

-       One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill – by Mandy Baggot 4.5/5

-       Covent Garden in the Snow – by Jules Wake 4.5/5

-       It Started With a Tweet – by Anna Bell 4.5/5

-       Eventually Julie - by Anthea Syrokou *started*

We have a clear winner here:

Christmas in St Ives – Miranda Dickinson

The bit on the back:

Heartbroken Cerrie Austin is doing her best to hold it together in the run up to Christmas. Not easy when her cheating ex works in the same school and everyone’s eyes are on her. The last thing she needs is a new teacher meddling in her beloved nativity play, even if he is charming, handsome and a talented musician. The Christmas performance is her pride and joy, and she won’t be undermined.

Seren McArthur has recently returned to her Cornish hometown and is enjoying being close to her family and her oldest friends again. St Ives is at its most magical at Christmas, with fairy lights and tinsel in every shop window, tempting locals and holidaymakers alike as they pick up gifts. But an exciting opportunity is just around the corner: will she stay or will she go? 

Meanwhile, the St Ives Christmas celebrations are in crisis: plans for a giant lantern parade through the starlit streets have ground to a halt. As the snow starts to fall, can Cerrie, Seren and their friends Kieran and Aggie rally around in time to save the big day? 

Christmas in St Ives is a charming novella that introduces you to the characters from Miranda Dickinson’s upcoming novel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. 

My opinion:

I absolutely adore Miranda Dickinson’s writing. It’s warm, passionate, full of details and just magical. I loved every second of this book!

The story covers topics like love, family, relationships, friendship, trust, honesty and much more. The setting is absolutely beautiful and of course it includes a lot of christmassy elements, which is just fantastic. Read my review here: Christmas in ST Ives - Review

JUST MAGICAL!!!

Miranda Dickinson on Twitter: @wurdsmyth

Website: https://miranda-dickinson.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US