Review: All My Love by Miranda Dickinson

 Sometimes love can be staring you in the face . . . and you don’t even know it

By day, Archie works tirelessly as assistant to the editor of a local newspaper.

By night, Esther works after hours cleaning the rows of office desks with the help of her trusty sidekick, Fred the trolley.

Their paths have never crossed, until one discarded Post-it note unexpectedly brings them together.

Because they share one thing in common . . . they’re both secretly in love with someone else.

And they might just be the two people who can help each other find the courage to confess their feelings and write the perfect love letter.

But what if they’re falling for the wrong person?

Review: the way this book starts...it just hooks you in and you are instantly connected to these 2 characters, you want to know them, you want them to know each other and you are just so drawn into their stories, separately and the thing that ties them together. I love any kind of dual narrative when I'm reading, but one that starts in post-its back and forth. It was giving me flatshare vibes and it was giving me Jojo Moyes Cecelia Ahern vibes. I just loved this book from the word go. 

Archie and Esther are two very different people, they are on different tracks in life and yet somehow they very tenuous share the same workspace and this is what connects them. The other thing that connects them though is their love for love. Romantic love and family love and I just loved that about them. Both our main characters are at a bit of a crossroads both personally and professionally and so they have this in common too but they feel very differently about their own personal crossroads. I love Esther's spirit, she doesn't let anything break her, She has her goals in mind and she will do what it takes to get there. Archie on the other hand is very malleable and soft-centred and so definitely needs a push in the right direction to assert himself in any areas of his life. 

One thing that Miiranda Dickinson always has in her novels is music, particularly live music and this book is no exception. There is a playlist at the end of the book but most importantly there is also a band. A band made up of mostly old men. A band who are not very good at playing music but form the heart of this book. This band is so pivotal to so many major scenes in this book. It has heart and it is the grounding force for both Archie and eventually Esther too and so make sure you pay close attention when the band of the old guys comes up because you know that something is about to be revealed or some drama is going to unfold!

There is such heart and such love in this book I could literally feel it warming my heart. I wanted to keep turning the pages right from the beginning and I loved getting to know Archie, Esther, their workmates, their families and of course, the band, so much over the course of the book. It's one of those books that you didn't want to end and the only thing I can hope for now is a sequel or at the very least, a novella of an epilogue!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Review: The Start of Something by Miranda Dickinson

Two lonely people.

One note in the window.

And what happens when they reach out…

Lachlan Wallace is stuck at home after a car accident stalled his army career. With months of physiotherapy still to endure and only his rescue dog and cat for company, he’s taken to gazing out of the window, watching the world spin on without him. And then he notices a vase of flowers on the windowsill of the apartment opposite his. Drawn to their hope and colour, he decides to reach out and sticks a message in his window…

Bethan Gwynne is a stranger in a new town. Bringing up her son Noah by herself, she is slowly rebuilding her life, but loneliness is one obstacle she has yet to overcome. She’s intrigued by a glimpse of her neighbour in the apartment across from hers – and then, one evening, she sees a message in his window just for her:

WHAT ARE THOSE FLOWERS CALLED?

And so begins a love story of two people reaching out, daring to trust a stranger…

Review: This book was everything I needed to read right now. It is full of hope and feeling and positivity and all of that comes from a place of zero judgement so I just loved it. 

This book is told from the perspective of Lachie and Bethan. I love a dual narrative, but I love it even more when there's the chance that those two narratives are going to cross paths and fall in love and you get the feeling that might just happen in this case right from the word go. This book is also the slowest possible burn. All the information we get about these two amazing people is just so slowly drip fed to us, they are so intriguing and so you just have to keep turning the pages!

Lachie is living in his flat with his cat and dog, we know he has been injured but we don't know how and we don't know what the fallout from that is going to be. Bethan has just moved into the flats across the street and we know that she has experienced some unhappiness but again we don't know what. It is almost infuriating waiting for details about these two and what impact that is going to have on the storyline. Of course being a dual narrative, as soon as we do get some key details, we switch back to the other side of the hedge-just so clever. 

As mentioned above, this is full of the trademark Miranda Dickinson positivity. We know these two characters obviously have it tough but they are trying to make the most of it, trying to find the beauty in life and trying to work as hard as they can to ensure their own stamp on the world but they are also honest about how they're feeling, even if they don't always share that until the last minute. I love how we get to see Lachie open up at times. So often in this genre men don't share their emotions and don't talk about their insecurities, there's a stereotype for the male lead and being emotional isn't part of that so it was so refreshing that even though this book is full of hope, there are real human emotions shown from both our leading characters here. We see Bethan struggling with being a single mum and the pressure that society puts on mums and we see Lachie struggling with the grief of being separated from his usual personal and professional routine and the toll that that can take on a person. 

I adored this story, the romance was so sweet and yet so intense and the storyline was unlike anything I've read before. I loved getting to know Bethan and Lachie. I loved the familiar North Yorkshire setting and I even loved learning a little bit about the inner workings of a garden centre. I highly recommend this book and I truly believe it is the book you need to read right now!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Our Story by Miranda Dickinson

Otty has just landed her dream job. She's about to join the writing team of one of the most respected showrunners in TV. And then the night before her first day, she's evicted from her flat.

Joe has been working with Russell for years. He's the best writer on his team, but lately something has been off. He's trying to get his mojo back, but when his flatmate moves out without warning he has other things to worry about.

Otty moving into Joe's house seems like the perfect solution to both their problems, but neither is prepared for what happens next. Paired together in the writing room, their obvious chemistry sparks from the page and they are the writing duo to beat. But their relationship off the page is an entirely different story, and neither of them can figure out why.

And suddenly the question isn't, will they, or won't they? It's why won't they?

An epic and modern love story for our times, we will all see ourselves reflected in Otty and Joe. We are our own biggest barriers and this novel explores what happens when we get out of our own way. And it is glorious.

Review: This was one of those books that played out in front of my eyes like a movie. Not only was it based in that industry but it really did feel like I was binge watching The Bold Type or 30 Rock, I loved it and it felt like a very special book because of the way it was formatted. 

This book has all of Miranda Dickinson's trademark warmth and humour. It has some fabulous Midlands phrases in there, it's set in and around Birmingham and of course it has a frustratingly slow burn romance in there. But this book is just such a great example of what can happen when you follow your dreams, not matter how many people around you may doubt you or try and discourage you. I loved this message of going for what you want, having confidence in yourself and being an independent person even when other try to hold you back. 

It was such a pleasure to meet Joe and Otty. I love Otty's name I have to say. As someone with an unusual name myself I always do a little cheer when someone else in a book has an unusual name because we are a dying breed! The opening of Otty's story reminded me a lot of the movie While You Were Sleeping and then from there on in I pictured her a the heroine of her own comeback story. I love that Otty has a past but that she is following her dreams and making it happen later into her life. 

Joe is a really interesting character. I liked that he seems like a typical writer in the industry, a male-dominated industry, but we discover hidden depths to our Joe. In many ways I felt like Joe was more the underdog of this story than Otty was, someone which is unusual to find in a romcom. He is such a complex fellow and I know you're going to love getting to know him. 

There are some seriously frustrating moments in this book when it comes to characters realising things, whether that's their true potential or whether that is what is right in front of their faces but boy does that make you keep turning the pages. I know you're going to love this story. It really is a modern classic that I know I will revisit again in the future. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: The Day We Meet Again by Miranda Dickinson

Their love story started with goodbye…

The brand-new novel from The Sunday Times bestselling author, Miranda Dickinson.

‘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…

Review: Oh my goodness I loved this book so much. This has very much the same kind of tone and mood of It Started with a Kiss and I fell in love with the characters in the same was as I did with Fairytale of New York. I loved it. 

I love that fact that we meet Sam and Phoebe and then they go their separate ways, off to have life adventures and agree to meet again in exactly as year. They are really quite different from each other and so reading their respective sides of the story made for a page turning novel. You want to find out where Phoebe is going to be heading next and which of Sam's friend's he is going to encounter next. I also love the fact that we got a novel set in parts of Scotland I love but haven't really read about much before. I did do a little swoon when Sam steps out of Glasgow Central station for the first time because I could just picture myself right there. 

Obviously Phoebe's travel to Europe means lots of food and lots of coffee so make sure you have both to hand when you're reading this one. I loved the description of all the different ways you can serve and eat fried dough and I really had to go out and make another coffee just to get me through. 

In terms of a love story this one if so frustrating, you can't help but fall in love with It yourself. There is the long distance thing, the chance they might meet other people, what is going to happen when they meet again, the list of things that could go wrong is endless and so it keeps you reading on and on because you have to find out what obstacle is going to be thrown at them next. 

I loved this read, it was compelling and so utterly romantic. I loved the characters, I loved the settings and of course I loved the food. I highly recommend but just make sure you clear your schedule because you're not going to want to put it down!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Somewhere Beyond The Sea by Miranda Dickinson

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?

Review:  Ok, I loved this book. I knew I was going to but there is so much I loved about it this might be a little bit of a gushy review but I'm not sorry! So firstly I loved the way this book was structured, this is the thing that first impressed me once I started reading. I love a dual narrative novel so that was a massive plus point for me and I love a book with short chapters, another massive plus point. In the case of this book its like each chapter teases you with a little bit of Jack and Seren's story and then you switch to the other character and then you have to keep reading so this was a really really quick read for me. A quick read not because it lacked in any substance, very much the opposite, but Miranda kept teasing me with details and conversations and actions and then I HAD TO KEEP READING!

Obviously the setting for this book is absolutely beautiful. I've never been there but I feel like I have now because of all of the gorgeous descriptions of the beaches and the town and the shop and the school. I love the fact that we had an introduction to this place at Christmas time and now we're seeing it in a different seasons. If you want to see some of the places that are described in the book and inspired the novel then I suggest you check out Miranda's YouTube channel because she has an awesome video with the settings in there. I watched it right after I finished to take me back to those beaches again!

We also got introduced to some of the characters in Christmas in St Ives and the characters in this novel are just another thing that I love about it. I loved Aggi from the moment I met her and her coffee hut, but I love the calming influence she has on tense situations in this book. She comes in, says what she thinks not leaving out any words in the way of censorship and suddenly everything seems just a little bit better. Cerrie was a great character from the novella so I was pleased to see her playing her own special part in Jack and Seren's story. 

Jack and Seren are obviously the main characters here and I love the fact that they both have their flaws. This makes them so relatable and so easy to sympathise and empathise with. Jack is a single Dad who is always looking for more work as a site manager so that he can support himself and Nessie. He has all these worries but he still manages to be a decent human being. Seren also has financial worries and other hardships that she has to face, but she muddles on and works incredibly hard to support her family as well. Nessie is a great character, she is Jack's daughter and her relationship with her father is just beautiful. She is another character that provides some comic relief and also just someone you will instantly fall in love with. 

Seren's dad Mark is another key character in this novel. He has recently passed away but there is so much of him in this novel and this felt really personal to the author whilst reading it. I loved the little nods to him on almost every page and the way his honour is upheld the way we would all want to remember someone we loved very much whom we have lost. There are some really touching moments where characters other than Seren remember him in their own ways and show their respect to him and this is where the heart of the novel really is. 

Of course there is beautiful romance in this novel as well as solidified love that comes from years of friendship. The romance is very much of the slow burn variety, and the back and forth felt very much like I was watching Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in either Sleepless in Seattle or You've got Mail although the characters here are very much on an equal footing-just another thing I loved about this book. 

I honestly can't think of a single thing that I would change about this book it had everything for me. I swooned, I cheered, I cried and it taught me a lot about sea glass and astronomy as well-how cool is that? Definitely pop this on in your basket (virtual or real life) and read it as soon as you can because once you start I guarantee you will fall in love with these characters, this setting and the amount of love and feeling that has been poured into and pours out of this novel. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Christmas in St Ives by Miranda Dickinson

A wonderfully festive ebook short that will get you excited for the Christmas season, by the author of the bestselling Fairytale of New York.

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. Available for preorder now! Just click the link: UK or US

Review: ok this was just the perfect start to the festive season for me. I am now ready to drink peppermint mochas, mulled wine and snowballs, watch all the christmas films and wrap my presents. And all this from one novella. I decided not to gobble up this festive offering in one go but to take it in slowly and savour it so I read it in 3 sittings. I really feel like i got to know the characters this way and I can't wait to meet them again in Somewhere Beyond the Sea in June 2018!

I think that Cerrie was my favourite character but that is because she is a kick-ass teacher and just a kick-ass woman in general. Miranda did such a good job writing about what it is like to be a teacher putting on a christmas production and got all the little important details spot on! I loved Aggie too and I know I would loved to visit her coffee hut after a long day at school as well. Of course I know we are going to find out more about Seren in Somewhere Beyond The Sea, and I really hope I get to see all of these characters get their happy endings in that book next year. 

This works really well as a novella because it is getting us ready for christmas, but also getting us ready for this novel next year. I love the fact that we have been introduced to these characters, we know some of their back story and their relationships to each other. But also we get to know about their lives and their town. It was great getting to know how the community works so we candice right in when the novel is out next year. 

The Christmas level in this novel is on high and it really does celebrate all the little things that we take for granted during the festive season. there isn't so much talk pop christmas trees, christmas dinner and the presents, but the events like the school play and the shop windows being dressed. `the first festive drink of the season and people breaking up from school for the holidays. I know these things are so important to me and reading about them made me feel so ready for the holidays. 

This book was a bargain and could definitely be a quick read if you decided to devour it all at once. Whether you are planning to read the follow up novel or not, I would definitely recommend picking this one up to get you in the festive mood and make you feel all warm and sparkly this winter!

Author Event with Lindsey Kelk and Miranda Dickinson

On Tuesday night I was lucky enough to snag tickets to the sold out event with Lindsey Kelk and Miranda Dickinson in Waterstones Birmingham. I was really pleased that I got my tickets well enough in advance and also really pleased that I was in the country when two of my favourite authors were doing an event within driving distance. My Mum and I drove down to Birmingham for the event (it was a very excited car I can tell you) and we loved every minute of it!

The event was a discussion between these two fabulous authors and saw them chatting about their writing spaces, the worst gifts they've ever been given, parties they have attended together  and of course, their books!

Once they had fully set the world to rights and amused us all greatly, they opened it up to questions. This is when things got really interesting with them discussing which of the characters from the I Heart series they would like to kill off, whether they have written revenge on anyone in their books and also covered things like how people react when they find out they're a writer. 

These two lovely authors stayed late into the night so that they could sign books and meet their fans and I got to give them both big hugs. The staff in Waterstones were so accommodating and stayed open late for this event. It was such a fun evening and if you haven't read anything by either of these authors then you should definitely make a point to go now and do that, I'll leave links below!

These are two of my favourite authors and it so was great to see them both again and have a bonus evening of entertainment from them. Thanks to everyone involved and now I'm going to go and finish reading my signed copy of I Heart Forever!

Click here to order your copy of I Heart Forever by Lindsey Kelk: UK or US

Click here to order your copy of Searching for a Silver Lining by Miranda Dickinson: UK or US

Click here to see my Miranda Dickinson reviews!

Click here to see my Lindsey Kelk reviews!

Review: A Parcel for Anna Browne by Miranda Dickinson

The gift of a lifetime?


Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn't exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more . . .

When a parcel addressed to Anna Browne arrives, she has no idea who has sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift - one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries, each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be. As Anna grows in confidence, others begin to notice her - and her life starts to change.

But who is sending the mysterious gifts, and why?

Review: everyone knows that I am a massive Miranda Dickinson fan so I'm really not sure why it took me so long to read this book. I actually ended up dipping in and out of it for about 3 months! In the end, I abandoned my paperback and downloaded the audiobook so I could enjoy Miranda's beautiful writing on my commute to and from work. there were a couple of issues with the audiobook repeating chunks of text but apart from that, I loved having this story read to me, it actually felt all the better that the mornings and evenings are a bit dark and miserable at the moment because I was cosy in my car with Anna Browne and her mysterious parcels!

I really warmed to Anna as a character. I loved watching her transformation over the course of the book, this was the best bit for me. She starts off as a shy and retiring character, happy with her lot in life but then she becomes so much more than this. Where she was at the beginning of the book and where she was at the end of the book are both totally relatable and that is definitely one thing I love about Miranda's characters. There are some fab friendships in this book as well, the Yorkshire guy who lives in her building, the friend at work who she gossips with and many more, so definitely something for everyone here. I did love the little Yorkshire additions to the book because of the Yorkshire friend, I have to say, but then I am biased!

I liked the fact that this book was set in London but also featured details about other places in the UK. Sometimes when books focus on London, they miss out the rest of this diverse country entirely and so I really liked that. And on to the mystery of the parcels. I have to say, i wasn't entirely convinced by the parcels, I did try to put on my whimsical head but I kept having this feeling that if I were on the reception desk of a major building in London and i received a mysterious package, I would assume it was dangerous. If the parcels continued, I think I would be calling the police. As time went on, however, I did warm to the mystery sender, and when that sender was revealed, everything made sense. I did love the big reveal i have to say-you're in for a treat there! My favourite package was obviously the shoes!

All in all this was an enjoyable read. It is a hefty book and so it was much easier when i switched to the audiobook version! If you're looking for something to snuggle up with this winter, this is definitely a heart warming read. if you're a fan of a shorter books then this one may be a bit much for you but if you're a Miranda fan already then you definitely have to give this a go. Now I have an overwhelming desire to send some parcels and make someone happy!

To order your copy, click here!

Review: I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson

Have you ever given up on love?

When her boyfriend lets her down for the last time, Brooklyn bookshop owner Bea James makes a decision – no more. No more men, no more heartbreak, and no more pain.

Psychiatrist Jake Steinmann is making a new start too, leaving his broken marriage behind in San Francisco. From now on there'll just be one love in his life: New York.

At a party where they seem to be the only two singletons, Bea and Jake meet, and decide there’s just one thing for it. They will make a pact: no more relationships.

But the city has other plans . . .

Review: this book was everything I hoped it would be and more. I am a massive fan of Miranda's first novel, Fairytale of New York and so when I found out there was going to be a spin off novel/sequel to that I could barely contain my excitement, then when it popped through my letterbox, even more excitement and then to know that I'm actually in a scene in the book-wow, heaven! But seriously, this is an awesome book and I read it cover to cover in one sitting because I was so caught up in the world, the characters, the storyline and the the places that it took me to! 

It was really great visiting New York with this same bunch of characters again but this time having some fabulous new characters lead the way. I love Bea and I love the fact that she works in a book shop. Like a lot of Miranda's characters she is incredibly optimistic and just someone you would want to hang out with and have a coffee with. Jake is also a lovely lovely person. He turned out to be more grown up than I initially expected him to be, having really strong family values, despite going through a marriage break-up and having to relocate his business. 

Of course the usual Kawolski's gang return which was awesome and it was lovely to catch up with all the old faces and see what was going on. You definitely don't have to have read the first novel to enjoy this one (although the 2 make for a perfect weekend of reading together) the characters stand on their own, as does the storyline. There is a fab hen party scene with some lovely characters too, just saying! 

I was very impressed that this book has a different voice to Fairytale. The same characters as were in Fairytale of New York are featured in this novel and yet they are not the stars, so it must have been very difficult not to write using Rosie's voice and stick to Bea's voice, or write as Jake and not as Ed, even harder considering the fact that they are cousins! This book is written a chapter at a time from Ed or Rosie's perspective and i think that this worked really well for telling the story, seeing things from both their points of view. It also meant that the novel flowed incredibly easily, making it a pacy read which is saying something for a book that weighs in at nearly 500 pages! Definitely don't let the size put you off, I read this in hours! 

Of course I loved the setting of the novel, back in NYC, with a bit of Brooklyn thrown in for some diversity, again I can't get my head around the fact that this author has never been to the big apple, it's as if she lives there everything is so vividly and beutifully described! Bea's bookstore is a great setting in itself, who wouldn't want to read about books and working in a bookstore and they have coffee in the bookshop too? What more could you possibly want? The coffee does come with a small warning though-coffee products and coffee shops are mentioned over 100 times in this book and so if you're as suggestible as I am, and love coffee as much as I do, you may just have the shakes when you finish drinking your coffee along with this novel! 

This book is just such a lovely read for this time of year, it's not particularly Christmasey, although there is a winter wedding and some lovely frosted scenes but it's just so heart-warming and lovely and cosy! it couldn't be better to snuggle up with at this time of year and enjoy with a gingerbread latte! It's got great characters, a compelling storyline and a gorgeous gorgeous setting. There are twists and turns along the way that will keep you turning those page and whether this is your first Miranda novel, or you're a fan, like me, I'm sure you're going to love this book. Make it your next read! 

Review: Fairytale Of New York by Miranda Dickinson

Are happy-ever-afters made in Manhattan? Find out in this gorgeous debut, perfect for cold winter nights. Once upon a time an English girl went to New York to live out her very own fairytale! Florist Rosie Duncan's life couldn't be better, she has a flourishing business on New York's Upper West Side and fantastic friends. Moving to Manhattan feels like the best decision she ever made. Even though at the time, it was her escape route from heartbreak ...For the past six years Rosie has kept her heart under lock and key, despite the protests of her closest friends - charming, commitment-phobic Ed, unlucky in love Marnie and the one-woman tornado that is Celia. Then a blossoming friendship with publishing hot-shot Nate begins to shake Rosie's resolve at the same time as her brother arrives in the Big Apple, hiding a secret. But a chance meeting brings Rosie face to face with her past, unravelling the mystery behind her arrival in New York. Rosie is forced to confront questions she has long been trying to ignore, including will she ever get her very own happy-ever-after? A sparkling, romantic comedy about an English girl who finds herself in the city where dreams can come true - or so she thinks!

Review: it was only when I was reading this book for the second time that I realised that this is one of my all time favourite books and yet I've never actually reviewed it, having read it pre-blogging times! I love this book and it was amazing to read it again 5 years later and still love it. There were parts of the books I'd completely forgotten I loved and so it was amazing to recapture that joy from the very first time all over again! 

Obviously the setting of this book is amazing, I could've imagined that Miranda was a native New Yorker when I read this and indeed when I first read it, I assumed that she was. This lives out a lot of people's dreams, moving from the UK and ending up having a fabulous life I the big apple, every detail is described beautifully, you can smell the smells, see the sights and really feel all the action right there in the pages of the novel. 

The characters in thei book are what really make it come alive though. Rosie is lovely, completely believable and completely likeable. Her trust issues and her inability to let others in it totally relatable and yet I really love her for it. Ed is hilarious and a real player, but he really cares for his friends and I completely admire him for that. Celia and Marnie are just the perfect side kicks for Rosie. I want Marnie to be my best friend and I would totally love to read about her as well. Coffee is also a major player in the novel. The coffee machine in the florist, the coffee houses for New York and the healing cups of coffees that thing things into the open and heal emotional wounds-just fab, I can smell it now! 

The storyline of this novel is just so heartwarming and so compelling, it will have you turning pages at a rate and a half and I defy anyone not to audibly aww at at least one part in the novel, thank goodness I read this when I was alone in my house, that's also I can say. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to be there hanging out with all of them-just a lovely book and I just want so badly to find out what happens next! 

Miranda Mondays Exclusive Playlist from I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson

Its my turn to host a Miranda Monday this week and you guys are very lucky because I have an exclusive for you today. I have the songs that Miranda Dickinson used to inspire her as she wrote the fabulous I'll Take New York which is out on 4th December. I suggest you have a listen to these songs before, during or after reading the book and don't forget to click the link at the bottom to pre-order your book now!



For every book I write, I put together a playlist to inspire me. For I'll Take New York, these are the songs I listened to:

1.      World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
2.      Tourist - Athlete
3.      Fall for You (Single Mix) - The Whitlams
4.      Sing - Travis
5.      Amsterdam - Imagine Dragons
6.      Every Little Thing - Delirious?
7.      My Waltz - Bailey Tzuke
8.      U + Me = - Dan Black
9.      Stars - Dubstar
10.     Pulling Teeth - Newton Faulkner
11.     Audience of Souls - Emily Smith
12.     Caught Up In Circles - Chesney Hawkes
13.     Loud and Clear - Olly Murs
14.     Umbrella - Scott Simons
15.     Where to Go from Here - Teddy Thompson
16.     You Can Close Your Eyes - Carole King & James Taylor
17.     Someone You Need - Howard Jones
18.     Panic Cord - Gabrielle Aplin
19.     Ashes On Your Eyes - Deb Talan
20.     The Last Song (Acoustic) - Ben Carrigan

Thanks so much to Miranda for this playlist, I know I'll be heading to Spotify to give it a listen now. If you'd like to read Fairytale of New York (Miranda's first novel) before returning to that same world in I'll Take New York, I'm going to be doing a readalong leading up to the release date of I'll Take New York. So keep your eyes peeled for that. 

Click here to get your copy of I'll Take New York

Click here to grab a copy of her first novel Fairytale of New York

Write Foxy Inspiration Day with Miranda Dickinson

On Sunday I was lucky enough to attend a fabulous writers' inspiration day hosted by the wonderful Miranda Dickinson-Write Foxy. The structure of the day was various inspirational talks by some fabulous published authors with breaks for coffee, cake, writing, more cake, more food, maybe a bit more writing in between. 

The event took place in The Village hotel in Dudley and featured a group of writers hoping for some inspiration and to learn what it's means to Write Foxy. 

We were treated to goody bags as well which included notebooks and pens, of course, sweets, of course, and we were also given notes on the various speakers and notes from them too on things such a structure, plotting and editing. All very helpful stuff!  

The writers speaking to us are all fabulous ladies who each have a different style of writing and are all wonderful in their own writes. First up was Hannah Beckerman, author of the dead wife's handbook. She spoke to us about plotting and planning and definitely inspired me to get my plan out of my head and onto some paper, or perhaps a spreadsheet-no excuses not to write then! She gave us lots of other pearls of wisdom and was also a joy to chat to! 

Cally Taylor was next to speak, she spoke to us about the editing process. I found this very interesting as I haven't actually done any of this yet and her structured way of editing will prove to be very useful in the near future I am sure. Calmly has written in various different genres. One of her rom Coms is about to be made into a film, Home For Christmas and she also brought us copies of The Accident which was signed and is one of my very favourite books this year, as you will know! It was wonderful to meet Cally at last! 

Tamsyn Murray was next to speak to us. She spoke about the structure of novels and how to plan a structure and check the balance of tension in our writing. This was very interesting and she used a very familiar picture book in order to illustrate her point. Her session was fast-paced and really engaging. Her children's books are fab and she also writes Rom Coms under a different name! 

Finally Miranda Dickinson spoke to us. She talked about what write foxy is and what being a writer means. Her talk was very inspirational and you can totally see why she has 5 best-selling novels under her belt and an awesome new one coming out in December! 

I also got to meet lots of other lovely writers who, in themselves, were a real inspiration. It was great to se so many people at different stages of their writing career and people with different ideas and worries just like me! This was a great way to kick of NaNoWriMo for me and I'm sure the inspiration will help me hit the 50000 words and then some! 

Thank you to Miranda for organising the event and thanks to the other lovely authors for inspiring us with their words. The next Write Foxy event is in February and I couldn't recommend it strongly enough. Not matter what stage of your writing career you are at, this workshop is truly inspirational and an excellent way to spend the day! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/write-foxy-writers-inspiration-day-february-2015-tickets-11388516359?aff=eorg 

Introducing... Miranda Mondays!

I'm here to let you know that I am part of #TeamBea and therefore I am going to be featured on Miranda Mondays over the next few weeks in the run up to the release of Miranda Dickinson's fab new novel I'll Take New York!

Miranda will be appearing on the blog of all of us in #TeamBea bringing you exclusive content, perhaps a sneak preview, perhaps an interview or even a giveaway-how exciting! So kep your eyes peeled for my Miranda Monday very soon and also look out for me talking more about I'll Take New York in the run up to the release in December! Take a look below at what you can look forward to and keep an eye on twitter to see who is featuring Miranda Monday this week! 

Happy Miranda Monday!