#BookReview: I’ll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson
Reviewer: Annie I received a review copy This was a super fun book to read!! Miranda Dickinson is a magnificent story-teller. I am typically not…
In My Mailbox: Week of November 24
Title: Tequila and Tea Bags Author: Laura Barnard Received: Laura Barnard Synopsis: Sent to live with her cousin Elsie in the Yorkshire countryside, Rose has…
Author Interview: Miranda Dickinson
Thank to Miranda Dickinson for taking the time to answer some questions for CLP today! When did you know writing was for you? I wanted…
Book Review: Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda …
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
How far would you go to make a new start? Heart-warming and romantic, Take a Look at Me Now will make you laugh, cry and cheer Nell on from start to finish.
What a difference a day makes…
Nell Sullivan has always been known as ‘Miss Five-Year Plan’. But when she finds herself jobless and newly single on the same day, Nell decides it is time to stop planning and start taking chances.
Nell blows her redundancy cheque on a trip of lifetime to a place where anything is possible – San Francisco. There she meets a host of colourful characters, including the intriguing and gorgeous Max. Very soon the city begins to feel like Nell’s second home.
But when it’s time to return to London, will she leave the ‘new Nell’ behind? And can the magic of San Francisco continue to sparkle thousands of miles away?
Review:
I quite enjoyed this book, though the plot twist left me with mixed feelings. But let me tell you what I really loved about this book first. The San Francisco descriptions have left me begging my husband to let us book a trip there. Really nice work by the author setting the scene and giving us a taste of the wonderful city. It was so great to read about the relationship between cousins. It reminded a bit of my relationship with one of my cousins, someone who has been there for me so many times throughout our lives and I know I can turn to when I need advice or an ear. I did like the plot twist because I really didn’t see it coming, and it gave a good shakeup to what I thought would be a predictable ending. What I didn’t like so much was after the plot twist and the predictability that followed there. It was quite obvious what the reasoning was behind Max’s secret, so Nell came off pretty silly after that. One other thing – I understand the author is British and it would make sense for Nell and even her cousin to use British slang and terms, but everyone did in the book, including those living in San Fran who should not. That bothered me a bit and made it feel a little less realistic. But there was still so much I liked about the book that I can’t help but give it 4 stars!
4 stars
The Christmas Creche
The Christmas Creche
As I’m sure you’ve all heard, some of your favourite writers including Scarlett Bailey, Abby Clements, Victoria Connelly, Miranda Dickinson, Michele Gorman, Belinda Jones, Carole Matthews, Talli Roland and Julia Williams have all given birth to festive little bundles of joy. It’s wonderful when so many friends have book babies around the same time, because that means they can grow up together and be best friends too.
To help the tots cement their friendships (and to get a bit of peace and quiet – those deadlines aren’t getting any easier!), the authors have enrolled them in the Christmas Creche*, where the ultra-capable Miss Dewey will look after them for a few hours a day until the Christmas holidays. And to keep the mothers from pestering her, she has kindly agreed to document what her charges get up to.
Poor Miss Dewey! She doesn’t know what she’s in for – these little ones already know their minds, that’s for sure.
Readers can follow the Christmas Creche short stories over the next six weeks by popping over to the creche now, where Miss Dewey has posted the first story, or by following any of the writers on twitter or Facebook.
Follow the writers to keep up with all the fun…
Scarlett Bailey Twitter: @ScarlettBailey / Facebook: ScarlettBailey
Abby Clements Twitter: @AbbyCBooks / Facebook: Abby ClementsBooks
Victoria Connelly Twitter: @VictoriaDarcy / Facebook: VictoriaConnelly
Miranda Dickinson Twitter: @wurdsmyth / Facebook: Miranda Dickinson Author
Michele Gorman Twitter: @expatdiaries / Michele Gorman Books
Belinda Jones Twitter: @vidabelinda / Facebook: BelindaJones Travel Club
Carole Matthews Twitter: @carolematthews / Facebook: CaroleMatthews
Talli Roland Twitter: @TalliRoland / Facebook: Author TalliRoland
Julia Williams Twitter: @JCCWilliams / Facebook: JuliaWilliams
*That’s nursery in North American!
Author Profile: Miranda Dickinson
Author Name: Miranda Dickinson
Website: http://www.miranda-dickinson.com/index.html
Bio: A writer. A dreamer. A hopelessly romantic, eternal optimist…
And she isn’t bad at singing, either.
Miranda Dickinson has always had a head full of stories. Coming from a creative family where stories and songs were always present, it was perhaps inevitable that she would end up adoring words. A songwriter for over 15 years, Miranda has successfully penned over thirty songs, delivering both live and recorded performances in a range of venues across the UK and Europe. Her first solo project album, About Time is due for release this year. To hear her music, visit www.mirandadickinson.com – and be sure to leave a message if you like it!
Miranda began writing in earnest four years ago with her first novel, Coffee at Kowalski’s – a romantic comedy set in New York’s Upper West Side. This was spotted on HarperCollins’ site for unpublished authors, Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and was released by Avon (part of HC) as Fairytale of New York on 12th November 2009. She has also written several short stories, scripts and novel excerpts, many of which are published on Helium.com. Miranda is also a regular contributor for www.myvillage.com writing a range of local interest articles for the Birmingham area and national film and festival reviews.
Titles: Coffee At Kowalski’s, Fairytale of New York, and Welcome to My World
See my review of Welcome to My World
Bio Retrieved from miranda-dickinson.com
Welcome to My World by Miranda Dickinson
Harriet Langton (Harri) is a travel agent because, why else, she wants to travel the world. Unfortunately for her, something always seems to get in the ways of her travel dreams. Her workaholic boyfriend, Rob, is often promising of a dream vacation, but constantly puts his work first, ruining all the romantic plans. Harri takes to living vicariously through Alex, an old childhood friend who has lived abroad and is filled with enough travel stories and memorabilia to keep Harri happy. But Alex’s mother is unhappy that Alex isn’t settled down with a nice wife yet, and strings Harri into entering Alex into a magazine contest, Bachelor style. Harri goes along with the plan, but has a feeling it could lead her best friendship into a disaster.
Welcome to My World by Miranda Dickinson is a cute romantic story. I related with Harri because I was once a travel agent as well, spurred by my love of travel, and the talks of the foreign lands in this novel was a big plus for me. But other than that aspect, the novel was a little too boring. For the first half of the book, the plot never went anywhere, and I started to get restless with the reading. After the first half, the drama started to pick up, and I started to enjoy the story much more. I wish most of the first half could have been cut out, because then I would have rated this book much higher. I did like the mystery surrounding the boyfriend Rob. I couldn’t figure him out, and when I finally thought I had, I was wrong! That aspect was probably one of my favorite parts of the entire story. I would recommend Welcome to My World, but I have to warn readers on the slow moving first half.
Rating: 3.5/5
In My Mailbox: Week of October 31
In My Mailbox: Week of October 31st
Title: Skipping A Beat
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Received: From Sarah Pekkanen
Synopsis: Sarah Pekkanen’s poignant second novel about marriage, forgiveness, and the things that really matter, which will have readers laughing and crying.
Title: Welcome to My World
Author: Miranda Dickinson
Received: From Charlotte Allen @ Avon Publicity
Synopsis: A travel agent who longs to travel. An intrepid explorer who just wants to find a place to call home. And a Big Idea that changes everything!. When Harri Langton finds herself locked in the Ladies’ loo at Stone Langley Village Hall, she has plenty of time to muse on the events leading up to officially The Worst Night of Her Life! Harri is a travel agent with a shameful secret. Despite possessing extensive knowledge of places around the globe, she’s never set foot outside the UK. Few of Harri’s friends understand her longing to see the world – least of all her boyfriend Rob who still hasn’t proposed after seven years of waiting. But when Alex Brannan arrives in town, Harri finds a kindred spirit. A globe-trotting traveller for the past ten years, Alex’s stories light up Harri’s world, and in return she becomes his confidante, sharing the highs and lows of his awful love life. But everything changes when Alex’s aunt suggests her Big Idea – offering Alex up on a plate to the female readership of It’s My Life magazine. How will Alex feel about being sold off as a prize bull? Will Rob ever step up and propose? And will Harri’s dreams of exploration ever become a reality? An enthralling tale for fans of Harriet Evans and Richard Curtis films from a dazzling star in women’s fiction.
Title: Life After Yes
Author: Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Received: From SheKnows Book Club
Synopsis: This is the story of Quinn—born Prudence Quinn O’Malley—a confused young Manhattan attorney who loses her father on that tragic September morning that changed everything. Now, at an existential crossroads in her life, Quinn must confront impossible questions about commitment and career, love and loss. Her idealistic beau desperately wants a wedding, and whisks her away to Paris just to propose. But then Quinn has a dream featuring judges and handcuffs and Nietzsche and Britney . . . and far too many grooms. Suddenly, her future isn’t so clear. Quinn’s world has become a minefield of men—some living, some gone, and traversing it safely is going to take a lot more than numerous glasses of pinot grigio.
Life After Yes is a blisteringly honest, thoroughly modern tale of life and love in chaos, marking the arrival of a truly exciting new voice in contemporary fiction.
Best Cover Nominees
The nominees for Best Cover:
Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder
Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster
Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club by Maggie Marr
Please vote for your favorite by commenting below. Everyone who votes is entered to win!
