Showing posts with label Giveaway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giveaway. Show all posts

Wednesday, 24 December 2014

Festive Guest Post: Xmas Quiz with the HarperCollins Avon Team ++ Festive Giveaway


The Lovely Harpercollins Avon Team clubbed together and answered a few festive Questions and have offered a special giveaway too!!


What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
KL: Decorating the tree
HH: I’m a traditionalist, so it’s got to be midnight mass – I love seeing in Christmas with carols and candles a-plenty.
ED: Making my whole family (of adults) watch THE SNOWMAN cartoon after going to a carol service at Chester cathedral on Christmas Eve
PK: Decorating the Christmas tree very quickly became my job (I’m a serious perfectionist). It’s now become tradition to watch me do it, and try to change it when I’m not looking.
RN: Xmas eve lunch with the family then to the pub with my friends!
JD: The carol service at my local church, anything for a bit of Christmas music! 



What books will you be reading this Christmas?
KL: Re-reading Jane Eyre
HH: The Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb – I haven’t read any of her books before but keep hearing how amazing she is. I can’t wait to get cracking.
ED: LAMENTATION by C.J. Sansom (been waiting years for it!) and THE TAXIDERMIST’S DAUGHTER by Kate Mosse 
PK: I read The Hobbit every year, so that, and probably Wuthering Heights again.
RN: I still haven’t read Wolf Hall and Bringing Up The Bodies and feeling ever more guilty about it, so probably those two. 
JD: Either Robin Hobb’s Fools Assassin, or the Silmarillion… maybe this year!



What’s your worst ever Christmas present?
KL: A clothes dryer (gran I hope you're not reading this…)
HH: Monogramed towels. I mean, really.
ED: Anti-aging eye cream from my Mum. Thanks Mum. 
PK: Make-up wipes and shampoo. Oh and Man-U socks…. I support Liverpool.
RN: I’m pretty pleased with most presents I get to be honest, though one year I got a ‘Lynx for Girls’ set. That shouldn’t even be a thing, let alone a present! 
JD: A candle in the shape of a Spaniel…. 



How last minute do you leave your Christmas shopping?
KL: Normally a couple of weeks before - I'm not too bad, but I am quite lazy and do it all online.
HH: I try to shop a month ahead but always have at least two false starts where I leave the shops without any present, but plenty of things for myself.
ED: I’m usually done by mid-December. My ex used to drive me mad by doing his on Xmas eve!
PK: I’m almost last minute. I start with 3 weeks to go but often get things on Xmas eve too!
RN: I’m generally pretty good and finish with a week to go but I’m always terrible at wrapping them…that’s almost certainly an Xmas eve job. 
JD: I always have it ready to go before mid-December!



Mistletoe or mince pies?
KL: Ooh depends on the man...
HH: Mince pies – basically anything food related at Christmas.
ED: Mistletoe – so romantic
PK: Neither. Give me a glass of mulled wine, a blanket, and a good book!
RN: Mince pies. They should be sold all year round. 
JD: Brandy Butter. It’s not an option, so I’ll make it one!







!! Festive
Giveaway Time !!

The lovely Harpercollins Avon Team are offering two lucky winners a book bundle of these books each; 
- Alfie the doorstep cat
- Coming Home for Christmas by Julia Williams
- I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson
Enter Here:


Festive-Blog-Athon Day Twenty Four: Xmas Throwback & Traditions ++ Special Festive Giveaway


Today is the last post for Festive-Blog-Athon! Feel kind of sad ending this today! I've had so much fun these past 24 days.. however will talk more of that later.
 First is my post about my Xmas Traditions from the past when I was growing up.
 


Our First Tradition is on Christmas Eve for me and my younger Lois when we was younger was we used to get new pjs, put them on and then would snuggle up on the sofa to watch a couple of Christmas Films to bring in the Christmas and then would run upstairs excited for Christmas Day to arrive and would try and listen out for Father Christmas..which one year when I was younger I did hear bells and got all excited that he was here!As me and my sister are getting older we now have a tradition every Christmas Eve is the four of us go for a meal at the local pub and get all a bit festive and bring the Christmas cheer in after having a hard week at work with working in retail.


Christmas Day when me and Lois were younger was the exciting part being up at crack of dawn would run into our mum and dad's room and we weren't allowed downstairs until my dad checked if "he had been" only then could we run down stairs and see our presents!




Christmas Day morning after the presents on the couch are opened we have Bucks Fizz and a cooked breakfast which is always so yummy! Then after that we all open all the presents under the Christmas tree.







 My mum is always the one who cooks the Christmas Dinner and she makes it oh so perfect! Turkey and all the trimmings ( Sprouts, Parsnips, Roast Potatoes, Mash, Carrots.. yum yum)


I can’t believe this is the final post in the Festive-Blog-Athon and I just want to say thank you for everyone that has made this such a success. Thanks to everyone that has read, shared and participated, and a huge thank you to all of the people that kindly did a festive guest post. We’re truly honoured and thankful.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas however you choose to celebrate it, and I’d like to send you all the best wishes for 2015! I’ll see you all then.

Oh wait, I need to tell you all about the final giveaway for Festive-Blog-Athon!




!! Festive Giveaway Time !!
Katie and I are giving away a £10 Waterstones gift card to one of you lucky people. This giveaway is UK only unfortunately. We hope you find something lovely in the sales!
Enter Here:



AND SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT!!


THE WINNER OF THE FESTIVE PHOTO CHALLENGE IS….

@lynseybfarmer

Congratulations Lynsey! DM one of us on twitter and we’ll get the prize to you!

Monday, 22 December 2014

Festive Guest Post: Christmas Accessories by Author Lisa Dickenson



Lisa is a former child actress and singer who appeared on the West End in 1948, and made her Broadway debut in a 1954 production of The Boy Friend, and rose to prominence starring in musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, both of which earned her Tony Award nominations...

Or that might be Julie Andrews... whatever.

Twitter: @LisaWritesStuff 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.dickenson.
Website: http://www.lisadickenson.com/
Quick! Decorate yourself!

So you’ve finished work, you’ve (nearly ish) done your Christmas shopping, you’ve decorated your tree and your house and your dog, but something doesn’t quite feel right… O Holy Night, you’ve forgotten to decorate yourself!  Hopefully you’re at least decked out in the finest of Christmas jumpers (if not, hop over to Abbey’s Xmas jumper-themed festive-blog-athon post here for inspiration
http://missbookworm23.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/festive-blog-athon-day-six-xmas-jumpers.html but now’s the time to really deck the halls (you) with boughs of holly (or anything else you find).


Here are my picks for last-minute adornment…
Falling star collar necklace from Accessorize – £12


OMG SANTA! boy pants from Topshop – £4.50


False nails, Christmas jumper themed from River Island – £8


Turkey Hat from Amazon – £6.99


Reindeer glasses from Accessorize – £3


Christmas pudding slippers from New Look – £5


Tinsel bow headband from ASOS – £5.50


10 Christmas stud earrings from Accessorize – £3


Glitter tights from H&M – £7.99



!! Festive Giveaway Time !!

Lovely Lisa Dickenson is offering one lucky winner a copy of her book in Ecopy on itunes!
Enter Here:

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Festive Guest Post: Christmas for One by Amanda Prowse + Giveaway



The Lovely Author, Amanda Prowse is here with a festive post about her new book out now Christmas for One (which is a great read btw!) 


Can you believe it? That time of year already! I think it comes around quicker the older I get. At this rate, in my sixties and seventies I’ll just about finish the washing up from Christmas dinner and it’ll be time to start peeling sprouts again! ‘Christmas for One’ is a special book for me. I’m known for writing about subjects that are often gritty and thought provoking. But Christmas is the one time of year I allow myself to write fairy stories for grown ups! 

Drawing on my own experiences of being a single mum, I wanted to explore the dilemma of meeting a man who sets your pulse raising and your heart thumping, but it’s hard to allow yourself to dive in when you have a child to consider and what is best for them always comes first.

When you are a mum, as many of my readers can testify, what you look for in a man is vastly different to what you looked for before. No longer are you interested in what kind of dancer he’ll be and whether he’ll still love you without your make-up (although these continue to be considerations!) instead you are wondering how he will gel with your children, is he kind, patient, can he build tents and make a car out of Lego? More importantly, does he understand that spontaneous means a month of planning, organising babysitters and leaving emergency numbers just in case!

Megan is a young widow with a small boy who is her whole world and just like the old saying goes, love comes along when she least expects it. 

This is a fast paced ‘will they won’t they’ love story that has all my usual twists and turns with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. It is set in London and New York and shows the city through Megan’s eyes as she visits for the very first time. As she walks in Central Park, skates at the Rockefeller Centre and dances in the snow at the top of the Empire State building, you feel yourself cocooned in a festive glow sprinkled with romance and anticipation.  The man she meets seems too good to be true and maybe he is; only time will tell. One thing is for sure, when you learn what Megan has been through, you will be rooting for her, hoping she gets the fairytale ending that she deserves. 

As for my own fairytale ending? Well, I did dive in and over a decade later it just gets better and better. And as for worrying about my son and my new man gelling? They are now a team and it’s me that has to find a way to fit in! Oh and he’s not too bad at dancing and doesn’t seem to mind me without my make-up. Phew. 

I hope this Christmas brings you peace, health and happiness. May 2015 be a fabulous year. I wish for you lots of wonderful things, and to quote from Christmas for One ‘You have to live this life and if that means following your heart and taking a risk, then that’s what you should do. If you don’t, you will regret it forever…’ so go on dive in! 
With love
Amanda x



!! Festive Giveaway Time
 !!
The lovely Amanda is offering a signed copy of Christmas for One up for grabs!

Festive-Blog-Athon Day Eighteen: Things To Do - Xmas Markets + Giveaway


Hello! Today's post is about Xmas Markets which is one of my favourite things to do in December. I always go every year to the Manchester Markets with my best friend, her mum and mum's friend. We started an annual thing about going to the markets & for lunch about 5years ago and I get excited about it every year!

 The Variety of different stalls always appeals to me and is great ideas for Christmas presents for family and friends. The Food is delicious too and smells amazing! Definitely got to see it for your self!


Here are some pictures I took of the markets this year..












 






 

This year I was lucky and i've been able to go twice to the Manchester Markets! I always like to collect the mugs. I would definitely recommend going to visit the Markets.
Manchester Markets run from middle of Nov (14th ish) till 21st Dec.



Don't forget to keep up to date with other festive-blog-athon post by heading over to Katie's blog : Here!



!! Festive
Giveaway Time !!

I couldn't buy anything fragile for a giveaway as was worried about breaking when posting so I picked some yummy German Sweets instead. 
UK Only Giveaway!

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

Festive-Blog-Athon Day Sixteen: Xmas Book Review: The Great Christmas Knit Off by Alexandra Brown ++ Giveaway


Today's on Festive-Blog-Athon is a Xmas Book Review which fits in perfect with all these great christmas books out this year. 


Title: The Great Christmas Knit off

Author: Alexandra Brown
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 6th Nov 2014




This book is great! I am such a big fan of Alexandra Brown's books, I was a little gutted when she ended the Carrington's series but got really excited about a new Village Series.

We meet heartbroken Sybil after she got jilted at the altar but she is saved from despair by her love for knitting. Her home is now bursting with tea cosies, bobble hats and jumpers but after releasing she cocked up at work, she decides to make a quick exit just weeks before Christmas and runs away to the a cute picturesque village of Tindledale.
Sybil discovers Hettie's House of Haberdashery the best for a knit lover to find and ends up helping Hettie out after she finds Hettie is struggling and the shop is due to close...


The Great Christmas Knit Off is just an amazing book! I thought with me not a lover of knitting I wouldn't like the book very much but I am soo wrong! I have never knitted in my life but reading this book with Sybil and the little cute village called Tindledale had me thinking about starting Knitting which I think would be cool!

If your big fan's of Alexandra Brown then your going to love this new book. The little village of Tindledale sounds so cute and all the villagers sound so nice too apart from the nasty Adam from the bookshop to begin with is quite nasty with Sybs! I loved reading about Hettie what a dear she is. Laurence is just so amazing! please can he be my best friend? (Hehe)


One thing I always love reading about Cute villages is how people always come together in bad situations and they all pull through together as one and not leave anyone out. I'm excited to read from Sybil and Tindledale in the future! Hurry writing Alex! (Hehe)
I'm rating The Great Christmas Knit Off  - 5 Twinkling Christmas Lights!


!! Festive Giveaway Time !!
As I loved this book so much, I am offering one lucky winner a copy for grabs!
Due to delivery charges this Giveaway is UK ONLY, Sorry.

Friday, 12 December 2014

Festive Guest Post: My Favourite Thing About Christmas – FairyLights! By Belinda Jones



My Favourite Thing About Christmas - Fairy Lights by Belinda Jones


It’s been a while since I had a really Christmassy-Christmas. I live 5,000 miles from home and a world away from crackers and mince pies and pom-pom hats. It never snows here. My big pair of faux-fur-lined boots are boxed in storage because it’s still flip-flop weather in winter. Which of course is nothing to complain about and there are many things to love about a Californian Christmas – like my first December 25th in the blazing sunshine when I drove to Santa Monica Beach for the day, stopped into a coffee shop and found Al Pacino having a cappuccino with his Dad. (So of course I now say ‘I spent Christmas with Al Pacino!’) It’s just hard to really get into the festive spirit without mittens and roaring fires and family gatherings! At least it is by day. By night it’s a different story…
That’s when all the fairylights come on. In my apartment building there’s every kind of winking bulb on display – rainbow sparkles, clusters of glittering white snowflakes, long strands of electric blue, pulsing like dripping icicles… On neighbouring doorsteps lights are bound around forms shaped like Santa and his reindeer, there’s even an array of far-from-home snowmen! I love walking the dog after dark now because it feels like I’m exploring a magical wonderland and I get filled with kiddy glee – the world seems like a less scary place and all things seems possible…
It’s not really practical to send big squishy presents across the Atlantic (although I did just discover a company called Pyjamagram offering ‘matching pyjamas for all the family – including the dog!’ They even have a print called Christmas Lights with rib-knit cuffs! So cosy!) so instead I ask people what they want me to wish for for them, to have happen in the upcoming year…
I know one friend wants to have her own little shop selling scented candles and designer tea-towels while another wants to discover her spiritual side in India. (My personal travel wish is to see the polar bears making their shaggy-pawed pilgrimage across the frozen tundra in Manitoba!) And then all I have to do is find the biggest Christmas tree with the brightest tangle of lights and a shimmering fairy at the top to make all those Christmas wishes come true!
I’ll make a wish for you too – just close your eyes and think of what your heart most desires for 2015 and beam it across to me!



Belinda’s snow-spangled novel WINTER WONDERLAND (set during the magical Quebec Winter Carnival) is now available on Apple iTunes for just £1.99, which will also nudge the price down on Amazon etc!


!! Festive Giveaway Time !!
We also have two free copies of the paperback edition (worth £6.99) to give away
Enter Here:


And there’s more! Belinda wants to bring you some sunshine this Christmas by making you a gift of SUNLOUNGER 2 – BEACH READ BLISS - a jet set chick lit anthology featuring sun-kissed stories from Molly Johnson, Alexandra Potter, Jo Carnegie, CL Taylor and 40 more fabulous names in Women’s Fiction! From now until December 15th you can download the ebook from Amazon completely for FREE! Enjoy!
Discover more at www.sunloungerstories.com