Bella's Christmas Bake Off - by Sue Watson

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

Two best friends. One big lie. The best bake off EVER. Bella Bradley is the queen of television baking - a national treasure. Her Christmas specials have been topping the ratings for years and her marriage to Peter 'Silver Fox' Bradley is the stuff of Hello magazine specials. But this year things are going to be different. For Amy Lane, Bella's best friend from school, life hasn't held quite the same sparkle. And when Amy's husband walks out three weeks from Christmas, it seems their lives are further apart than ever. Amy has watched Bella's rise to fame fondly, despite the fact Bella was always a terrible cook. But when she realises that Bella's latest Christmas book is made up entirely of Amy's mother's recipes, the gloves are off... After winning a competition to appear on Bella's TV show, Amy is going to make sure that for Bella and her viewers, this will definitely be a Christmas to remember... A hilarious, heart-breaking and feel good read about best friends, baking and the magic of Christmas. 

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The story follows Amy, who is alone now, without husband, just before Christmas, he cheated on her. It's hard for her to cope with the situation and then there is Bella's Christmas Bake Off, with Bella, the big star, taking credit for Amy's mum's recipes.

Bella and Amy are old friends, but they lost touch and now Amy sees a chance to contact Bella through her TV show. The two women end up meeting each other and get to talk a lot. At first the atmosphere is icy and cold. Amy blaming Bella and Bella defending herself. Only after a while their old friendship shines through and both women seem to change.

I have to be honest here, it took me quite a while to get into the story, I only started enjoying at more after half the book. Somehow I found it hard to relate to Bella or Amy and their behavior and actions sometimes just didn't make scene at all. 

Spending time together meant for both women to reflect their lives, think about the past and opening up about everything that happened. Quiet a few secrets are revealed and they both learned a lot. I liked the women they developed into and towards the ending there were some very cute and adorable scenes. 

So all in all, I think it's a great story that is written beautifully. I love the idea behind it. 

Rating:

My possible cast:

Amy: Tina Fey

Bella: Amy Poehler

Sue on Twitter: @suewatsonwriter
Website: http://www.suewatsonbooks.com
Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

This review marks the end of #SkysChristmasCorner. Thanks for joining me and Merry Christmas!!!

The Twelve Words of Christmas - Decorations by Elle Field

Decorations

by Elle Field

Gone are the days when December would roll round and I would get to make Christmas decorations at school which my parents would dutifully hang up in the house, even if they weren’t the prettiest or neatest things! My efforts would join the more crafted decorations, which would go up without fail on December 12th and would always be packed away by January 6th.

As a small child Christmas decorations were all about Christmas cards hung across the wall on yarn in seasonal colours, giant Santa faces and snowmen pinned to the walls, snow globes and Santa statues dotted along the mantelpiece next to the fancy china, whilst stars and colourful foil decorations hung down from the ceiling. Then, of course, there was the tree.

Decorating the tree was a serious business, and it had to look just right before the golden angel could be solemnly placed at the top of it. Wooden ornaments and striped glittery candy canes sat on the branches next to cheerful ceramic snowmen and glamorous baubles, then the tree was all wrapped up with twinkling colourful fairy lights and some strategically-placed tinsel ready for the presents to be placed at the foot of the tree.

Nowadays the only Christmas decorations I put up in my home is a tree. But, what a tree it is. Each year on December 1st we pick up a real six foot Christmas tree – ideally with the height of our ceilings, an eight foot tree would be preferable but there are only so many trees on offer that are within walking distance; important when you live in Central London and don’t have a car – and we decorate it immediately.

As for those decorations, it’s split fifty-fifty, though we don’t have a tree topper. The very first  year we bought our tree decorations, every tree topper we liked was either sold out or staggeringly expensive. We took that as a sign, and the top of our tree has remained bare every since. As for the tree branches, half of the decorations are ones we’ve bought – our own family collection, you could call it – but dotted around the tree, the other half, are my favourite tree decorations from when I was a child.

I hope that one day when I have children and they are all grown up that they will want to do the same thing – that they will ask for their favourite decorations from their childhood Christmas tree so that their own adult tree will be filled with their happy childhood Christmas decorations and memories, just like mine is today.

 

About Elle:

Elle Field lives in London with her boyfriend and their cat. She's a massive fan of sunshine, giraffes, The Killers, Audrey Hepburn movies, playing Scrabble and tea. Oh, and reading, of course!

Lost, the second book in the Arielle Lockley series, is out now. The final book in the series, Found, is out in Spring 2016, and will be available to pre-order soon. Buy the series here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B011M9BTQQ

Follow Elle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellefie

Read her blog: http://www.ellefield.co.uk

One Wish in Manhattan - by Mandy Baggot

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

Christmas: it's the most wonderful time of the year...to fall in love The temperature is dropping, snow is on its way and Hayley Walker is heading for New York with one wish... to start over. With her daughter Angel, Hayley is ready for adventure. But there's more to New York than twinkly lights and breathtaking skyscrapers. Angel has her own Christmas wish - to find her real dad. While Hayley tries to fulfil her daughter's wish, she crosses paths with billionaire Oliver Drummond. Restless and bored with fast living, there's something intriguing about him that has Hayley hooked. Can Hayley dare to think her own dreams might come true - could A New York Christmas turn into a New York Forever? Travel to the Big Apple this Christmas and join Hayley and Oliver as they realise life isn't just about filling the minutes... it's about making every moment count.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A wonderful and perfect title for this book and I have to say I expected something else, but I am really happy with what the story turned out to be.

The story follows Hayley Walker and her daughter Angel, who go to New York to see Hayley’s brother Dean. Hayley needs a new and fresh start and she wants to fulfil her daughter’s Christmas wish: to meet her dad.

That wish is not easy to fulfil, especially when it’s really hard to track her dad down. Hayley fights for it though and with a little help she finds him. Angel meets her dad…

Throughout this journey Hayley meets billionaire Oliver Drummond. They have a special connection from the start, but he is carrying around some issues himself, about his family and about his health. Can Hayley crack that shell?!

I loved how the story was very well structured and all the characters had their own space to share their story. We got to know Hayley and Oliver really well and Angel was just so special and adorable. The relation between mother and daughter came across really well and in a very beautiful way.

Oliver def added in another spark, he is sexy and successful, but is also surrounded by some mystery, which made the storyline more exciting.

I loved following the characters around and the setting is just wonderful, I mean New York City during Christmas time, what do you want more?!

A festive, adorable and cute story, beautifully written and perfect for Christmas time!

Rating:

My possible cast:

Hayley: Jaimie Alexander

Angel: Kristina Pakarina

Oliver: Peter Facinelli

Mandy on Twitter: @mandybaggot Website: http://mandybaggot.com Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US  

The Twelve Words of Christmas - Nativity Scene by Alba

Nativity Scene

by Alba

First of all, I'd like to thank Simona for hosting me in her Christmas Feature. When she first told me about her idea for her feature "12 Words of Christmas" I found it a fantastic idea. But what word could I choose to focus on? Obviously, when you think of Christmas a lot of words come to mind, starting with family, joy, decorations, lights, presents, food... But I wanted to choose one a bit more special for me and then's when the word (words in this case) "Nativity Scene" came up to me. I don't know popular these scenes are in the UK or in Switzerland but here in Catalonia they are quite a big thing. Everyone has one in their home and some are just ginormous. There are contests you can enter or some people even let you go into their homes so you can admire their creations.

But for me it has a more special meaning. In my home we have always set up a Nativity Scene in our living room. Since I was little I remember that the first weekend of December was always reserved for this task. I would help (and play) with all the figurines, we would go fetch some plants and earth to add the the scene and then we would admire our work and take lots of pictures with it. Over the years the scene just got bigger and bigger. We would go to Christmas Markets (it was a tradition to go to the biggest one in Barcelona at least once) and buy more figurines. I remember one year my dad decided we needed a Roman army in our scene so we got some Roman soldiers and the army has been growing since. 

Even when I moved out of my parents' place. I would almost every year return some weekend in December to help my mum and sister setting the scene up with hot chocolates and cookies near us. At our place we only have a small wooden set my grandma got me some years ago but I'm sure that when we have kids we'll set the most wonderful one with them!

So here is why I picked this word, because of all the memories it evokes in me but also because it's a tradition we enjoy every year at our home. It brings together our family and we always enjoy going to places to check their scenes. 

Alba on Twitter: @albainbookland Alba's Blog:  http://www.albainbookland.com

Meet Me in Manhattan - by Claudia Carroll

My own copy

Original Cover 

The blurb:

In a New York minute, everything can change …

You don’t mess with aspiring journalist Holly Johnson! The man she fell for is not all that he seems – because sometimes dating online doesn’t quite go to plan. She’s decided to fly to the Big Apple to surprise him and to get some answers. And if her plan works she’ll also get the scoop of her career …

But as she steps out of her yellow taxi and the first snowflakes start to fall, it’s Holly who has the surprise of her life.

What should be a dream come true is looking a little like a nightmare. But Holly is determined to get her New York happy ending!

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

So, I actually can’t really believe it myself, but Meet Me in Manhattan is the first book by Claudia Carroll I’ve read. It will certainly not be the last one, because I totally fell in love with her writing.

This beautiful and deep story follows aspiring journalist Holly Johnson. She is really passionate about her job. With Christmas coming closer she gets quiet and introverted. Online however she is different, especially since she met Andy, a Delta airline pilot from Atlanta. She falls for him, but he almost seems to be too good to be true. The arrange a few dates, but he always cancels.

This got me so hooked! I just wanted for him to finally make an appearance, I was so curious about it all.

Just then her friends locate the sender of all these messages, he’s located in New York City. She flys to New York and discovers the person behind it! Afterwards the story develops in an unexpected way, which was great. The whole thing is full of twists and turns. A lot of surprises, which make the story really exciting and unputdownable!!!

Holly gets to experience New York City around Christmas and New Years Eve and through all of this she gets to know a family, that will warm her heart. Holly also goes through the process of dealing with her past, her origin and she learns to forgive and forget. I think this book covers many sensitive topics and it all comes together in a wonderful way in this book.

All the characters in this book are really unique and special. Their personalities come across really well and together they create a wonderful little group, playing together so well. The atmosphere is unbeatable and full of everything. There are funny moments, sweet ones, emotional ones and also shocking ones.

I actually didn’t want to leave the characters in the end, I feel like there is more in store for them. I wish I could tell you more here, but that would ruin the story for you, just read it yourself!!!!

Claudia makes New York feel so alive and describes all these places in a fantastic way. It just makes you want to go to New York immediately. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s gripping, touching and covers several topics, that make it more than just a chick-lit novel. Claudia is a very talented author, who makes a story incredible with her writing. This book is BRILLIANT!!!!! I definitely have to read more of Claudia’s books.

Rating:

 

My possible cast:

Holly: Melanie Laurent

Claudia on Twitter: @carrollclaudia

Website: http://claudia-carroll.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US