Alba in bookland

Another year down, can you believe it? And what a fantastic year it has been. After a couple of low months, on the end of the year I picked up my reading and have managed to read 134 book no less! This year I am really glad that I have tried new genres and new authors and I've had some really good surprises. It's been very difficult to pick my top ten as there were a least 15 or 17 books that deserved to be there but finally I have decanted myself for these (in no particular order):

A Girl Best Friend by Lindsey Kelk. This year Lindsey Kelk has spoiled us with two fantastic books. She published the stand-alone Always the Bridesmaid which I absolutely loved and was a firm contender for this list but when I read the new A Girl installment, A Girl's Best Friend, I decided to include this one instead because it's pure Lindsey Kelk. Everything I love in a book is in this book.

The Vintage Guide of Love and Romance by Kirsty Greenwood. Funniest book I’ve read in a long while. I loved Jessica Beam and her adventures following her grandma’s vintage guides. If you are in need of cheering up, definitely go for this one, genius!

Mobile Library by David Whitehouse. David takes us on a magic road trip on a mobile library. The story is beautifully written with a unique narrative and a mixture of adventure, fantasy, love and friendship but also with some darker details. A real gem of a book.

Asking For It by Louise O'neill. The last addition to my list has been this brave and controversial read. It tackles some really important topics and portrays the reality we live in. It made me angry and it made me reconsider a lot of things. Really worth a read.

I Followed the Rules by Joanna Bolouri. There was not a thing in this novel that I didn't love. Cat was one of the best leading roles I have read in a while. Unexpected, quirky and hilarious, I can assure that it will leave you will a content heart and some more eye wrinkles after all the laughing!

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons. This will be the year of D.I. Kim Stone. We met her on Silent Scream and her determination to catch the bad guys and her secrets captivated me. With the second and third books (as good as the first) of the series already out, this is the perfect one of crime lovers.

The Silent Hours by Cerca Major. Set in France during the Second World War and based on a historical event, it tells a powerful and moving story about life during war. With different points of views, I felt like I was part of the story too.

Appleby Farm by Cathy Bramley. This year I have completely fallen in love with Cathy Bramley's style and her cosy and beautiful books. I loved Ivy Lane too but I finally decided Appleby Farm had to be the one in this list because it has such a positive vibe around it.

And finally, if I had to choose a book of the year, it would be a tie between these two books. These are the books I'm still thinking about all these moths afterwards:

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson. Lucy’s talent just keeps surprising us. With her latest book, she fooled us all and took our breath away. A clever story with a twist you won’t forget in a long time.

Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey. An epic love story that made me cry a lot (in public places). This will probably be the debut of the year for me, so beautifully written and such a moving story. Also, it would make such a fantastic movie.

So here they are. The best books I have read this year. I can't wait to see what the next year bring. I'm already excited with the new releases I've seen.

Title: How to Get Ahead in Television
Author: Sophie Cousens
Published: September 3rd 2015 by Corvus
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Poppy Penfold desperately wants a career in television. After months of dead-end applications, she gets her big break with a temporary job as a runner for RealiTV. But to land a permanent role, Poppy will need to go head-to-head with fellow runner Rhidian: arrogant, highly competitive - and ridiculously good looking.

Poppy goes all out to impress, but somehow things don't go to plan. Whether failing to prevent a washed-up soap star from becoming roaring drunk during Scottish game show Last Clan Standing, or managing to scare the horses during the filming of Strictly Come Prancing, Poppy gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. With highly strung presenters and distractingly handsome producers in the mix, it's Poppy's determination that will see her win or lose her dream job, and maybe her dream man too...

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I always love reading debuts because you never know what to expect but sometimes it surprises you greatly. And this is the case of How to Get Ahead in Television. I haven't laughed that much reading a book in a while. What a fantastic read! I loved everything from this book. I found the idea of dividing it in 50 Steps (instead of chapters) of what you should do to find a job and make it in television so clever! Some of the steps were just hilarious.

And Poppy, our heroine, was like a breath of fresh air. She was down to earth and naive enough to make you like her and root for her. But her perseverance to follow her dream was admirable. I'm quite sure I'm not tough enough to make it in television! Seriously, I loved reading about what is going on behind the scenes. You always imagine some of the "reality" is staged but you never know how far they are ready to go to make a show work.

Sophie Cousens creates some fictional programs and formats during the story and even if some were just (hilariously) absurd, some others were not that far fetched. I'm sure some tv person will get some interesting ideas from this story! But really, they all transported you to the crazy world of the telly.

As I said, Poppy was a fantastic character but let's not forget about the other ones. Starting with her mother. What a crazy lady. But you could tell she just wanted the best for her daughters. Then there was gorgeous Rhidian. He had me confused a little at the beginning as he is competing with Poppy for the same job in TV but as the story progressed and we saw more of him, I started to like him (a lot). And then there's a whole cast of secondary characters, from sexy but bossy producers, envious co-workers, friends with crazy ideas and acquaintances with sensible jobs that make this story just perfect. Really worth a read.

How to Get Ahead in Television is crazyly fantastic. Sophie's style is witty and fast paced and the lol moments are non-stop!

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Title: A Christmas Tail (Primrose Terrace Series #1-4)
Author: Cressida McLaughlin
Published: November 5th 2015 by Harper
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: This book was first published as an e-serial Primrose Terrace Parts 1-4. Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Lucy Dillon and Debbie Johnson.

Catherine ‘Cat’ Palmer realizes that bringing an adorable puppy into work is a bad idea, especially when it gets her the sack. Deciding it’s the perfect opportunity to launch her dog-walking business, Cat enlists the help of flatmates Polly and Joe. After all Primrose Terrace, the street where they live, is full of home-alone hounds.

Getting to know the owners and their precious pooches isn’t all plain sailing, but soon Cat is making friends, particularly with sexy Mark and his Collie, Chips. But is he the right man for her?

With her talent for misadventure, Cat’s new life starts to show some cracks, and when one of the street’s loveable schnauzers gets ill, it looks like this Christmas could be turning into a dog’s dinner. But Cat has never given up on anything in her life – and this is one Christmas that’s definitely worth saving…

Review: A Christmas Tail was first published as a serialised enovel earlier this year. I read the first part and enjoyed it a lot but, when it was announced that it was going to be published as a whole in paperback, I decided to wait and enjoy it all at once. I am glad that I did because, first, the paperback is gorgeous with its glittery cover and, second, because the story is just great.

The idea behind the book is really original. Cat, our heroine, after losing her job decides to build her own business as a dog walker. Soon she starts meeting all the dogs and their owners in the beautiful neighbourhood around Primrose Terrace. I really enjoyed reading about all the dogs, they were fantastic characters on their own and each one of them had its own treats and unique personality. And then, there were their owners, who all had their own problems and complications and made for a really fun and varied story.

The story takes place during almost a whole year and as the seasons pass, Cat keeps gaining confidence on her new business. However, her curiousity makes her be a tiny bit too interested in her clients' lives. This creates some problems in the community but soon we realise that Cat always acts from her heart and just wants to help whenever she can. She really is a fantastic character.

Also very interesting is the love triangle between Cat, her sexy but mysterious neighbour and dog owner, and her new roommate. I had a favourite from the beginning and I was glad to read how the triangle ended how I hoped!

As I said, the story takes place during the year but as Christmas approaches, the story builds up for a great ending. The last part of the book, that cover the festive period, was definitely my favourite one. The whole community work together to make this time special and it left me in the perfect festive mood.

A Christmas Tail is a fantastic that I can only recommend. It's perfect for the holidays but also for any time of the year as the story is full of surprises and great characters. All dog lovers will absolutely love it and I'm sure that anyone else will also enjoy it greatly.

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Title: A Christmas Kiss
Author: Vicky Pattison
Published: October 22nd 2015 by Sphere
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Amber Raey is working all the hours God sends as assistant to one of the country's top fashion designers, and her boss is a complete nightmare. Amber's dream is to launch her own fashion line one day so, for the time being, she just has to grin and bear it. And then opportunity comes knocking and Amber's suddenly on the fast track to the top.

The parties, the glamour, a whirlwind romance - Amber loves every second of her new life. But there's more to this world than its glossy exterior suggests, and when a face from Amber's past reappears, she finds herself in real trouble. With Christmas fast approaching, Amber is drifting further and further away from her family and friends. Can she get her life back on track before it's too late for a merry Christmas?

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Earlier this year I read Vicky's debut, All That Glitters, which I really enjoyed. So I picked up A Chrismtas Kiss ready for lots of fun, humour, love and great characters and I was not disappointed. Similarly to her debut, Vicky writes about a quite down to earth girl, Amber, and catapults her to fame and fortune. But if All That Glitter was all about hairdressing, A Christmas Kiss is all about fashion. Amber is an assistant to a famous designer but her tasks are basically dog sitting and carrying coffee, so when a major fashion house approaches her with a real designer job she is over the moon.

But all that glitters is not gold. Soon she finds herself as the star of all gossip magazines and blogs and her live spirals a bit out of control. Luckly, Amber is not alone in this journey. I certainly liked her roommates and good friends Jess and Tom. They added such a fun spark to the story and you could tell their bond was strong. Also at work Amber found some allies, especially her new boss Alejandro. He was wise and kind and had infinite patience with her.

I really enjoyed reading about all the glamorous locations in the story, especially about New York fashion week. That must be really frantic and crazy and I think Vicky Pattison did a great job describing it all. And then there's the romance line in the story. A mega famous American sweeps Amber off her feet with grand gestures and trips to the most romantic places but what is real and what is not in such a crazy world?

The only thing that disappointed me a little about this novel was that I was expecting something a bit more festive but the story takes place during a whole year and only a small part over the holidays. But this didn't stop me from enjoying the story. It certainly guarantees lots of laughs, romance and great doses of friendship. So if you are looking for a cute quick story to enjoy during the holidays, A Christmas Kiss might be perfect for you!

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Title: Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper
Author: Debbie Johnson
Published: November 5th 2015 by Harper Impulse
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: You’ve seen Mark Darcy in the reindeer jumper his mother gave him, now meet Marco Cavelli in this season’s Christmas knit!

For single mum Maggie, Christmas has always been a family occasion – her daughter Ellen filling the house with her bubbly warmth and mistletoe, her dad Paddy having one too many festive tipples, and the traditional family Christmas tree looking like a drunken elf vomited a rainbow all over it.

But this year, with both Ellen and Paddy away for the holidays, Maggie’s facing a truly blue Christmas – alone with nothing but a bottle of Baileys and an M&S turkey dinner.

Until walking the snowy streets of Oxford, Marco Cavelli quite literally crashes into her life – and, complete with broken leg, becomes her unexpected houseguest. All dreamy brown eyes and 6’5” of gorgeousness, the man is hotter and more delicious than a freshly baked mince pie.

Though Maggie always thought it’s a truth universally acknowledged that you never kiss a man in a Christmas jumper?

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: The first thing that caught my eye of Never Kiss a Man with a Christmas Jumper was the fun and colourful cover. And also, the fab title. After reading the blurb, I knew it was the kind of book perfect to enjoy in a cold afternoon with a hot chocolate and with my best Christmas Jumper and I was not wrong. It's such a fun and cute story! I devoured it in one sitting and it left me with a huge grin on my face after finishing it.

Maggie is a lovely character. After having a daughter when she was 16, she has always focused on her and her work (making the most wonderful wedding dresses) so when she spots a gorgeous dad with a silly Christmas jumper on the park all she allows herself is to dream about him a bit. But circumstances (and a bike accident) force them to spend a lot of time together. The hot dad turns out to be a hot uncle and we soon discober that he is sweet, considerate and all round a good guy. Maybe perfect for lonely Maggie?

One of the things I most enjoyed of the story was its setting. Imagine the lovely city of Oxford covered in Snow and looking beautiful for Christmas. I could totally picture it all while reading and wished I lived closer to go and stroll by the river, just like Maggie and Marco.

As I said, both Maggie and Marco are fantastic characters. You quickly warm to them and enjoy their banter. Wishing the best for both of them, pushing them to share their true feelings. Plus, their respective famílies are also cute and fun.

Never Kiss a Man with a Christmas Jumper is a sweet story with emotional moments that warm you inside and also with lots of laughter and banter. I can only recommend it for the holidays. And maybe kissing a man with a Christmas Jumper is not such a bad idea?

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Title: Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island #3)

Author: Sarah Mogan

Published: October 22nd 2015 by MIRA

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Skylar Tempest has never understood Alec Hunter’s appeal. So what if he’s a world-renowned historian? He’s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she’s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright.

Alec has learned the hard way not to trust beautiful women—and Skylar is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But as he watches her throw herself into his family’s festive chaos, Alec realises there is far more to this blonde bombshell than meets the eye.

With Christmas around the corner, Alec and Skylar return to Puffin Island, a tentative bond forged between them. Neither intends to fall in love but as the nights become darker, and the fire between them grows hotter, could this be the chance for Alec and Skylar to find their own happy ending?

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I love Sarah Morgan's Christmas books. They always put me on the perfect festive mood. So when I was offered her latest to review, I couldn't resist. I have to admit though that I haven't read the first two books of the series, but I was told that it could perfectly be read as a stand-alone. And the truth is that I had no problems in immersing myself in the story. Some of the characters had their own stories in the previous books but it only made me want to pick up the others books more. Puffin Island certainly sounds like a fantastic place, even covered in metres of Snow. I can only imagine how cool it must be in summer.

Now to the story. Skylar is a fantastic character. So strong and determined to make her own life and her dreams come tue. Even if her family disaprove. I loved that her story and Alec's started in beautiful London. Alec definitely wasn't Sky's biggest fan at the beginning but soon you could feel the chemistry between these too was too obvious to avoid. I also enjoyed a lot their visit to Alec's family. They were such a lovely bunch. And their traditional Christmas was perfect.

As Alec and Sky's story progressed and they grew closer, I could only root for them. They made such a perfect coulpe and it was so infuriating that they woulnd't see it. It definitely had me turning pages non-stop to know more and more about them. Luckily, their lovely friends in Puffin Island could see it and pushed a bit in the right direction.

If you are looking for a fantastic and romantic read to put you on the mood for the holidays then I highly recommend you pick Christmas Ever After. It has all the elements that make a festive read great: family, romance, cute dogs, lots of food, great friends and some bad weather that make you seek refuge in a warm and cosy place. What else can you ask for?

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