Festive Guest Post: Xmas Q&A....with Blogger Kim Nash

I have run my successful book blog ‘Kim the Bookworm’ for over four years, and have read and reviewed thousands of books for publishers and authors and also have been fortunate to interview authors and meet some of my favourite authors too. 

After working in sales and marketing for a number of years, which I thoroughly enjoyed I have finally realised that working with books and helping authors is what I love to do best and using my great admin and fabulous organisational skills, I am now living my dream!

I now work with publishers and authors helping them to promote their books, raise their profiles, organise blog tours and reviews, assist with social media activity, send out newsletters and arrange events.   I work predominantly with an amazing digital and print on demand publisher Bookouture and am delighted to be working with a talented team of authors and publishing experts in a company that I know will be extremely successful.

I also review family friendly products, venues and attractions and travel at my blog Nash Reviews .  I’ve been writing for a family friendly travel site for the last four years as well as an online lifestyle magazine and am keen to develop my love for family life.  

Being a mom to 7 year old Ollie is the other job in my life and is absolutely the best job I’ve ever had! 

Combining these amazing jobs really is a dream come true for me

www.kimthebookworm.co.uk 

www.twitter.com/kimthebookworm 

www.facebook.com/KimTheBookWorm

http://nashreviews.wordpress.com/

Q) When do you normally get in the Festive spirit?

I don't normally even think about Christmas before 1st December but this year working for Bookouture and reading all the Christmas books earlier this year has made me think about it much earlier and look forward to it so much more than normal. 

Q) What is a family tradition you like to have or do at Christmas?

When we were kids, we were always allowed to open my GodMother's present on Christmas Eve, I always allow Ollie to open one of his on Christmas Eve too!

Q) Favourite past Christmas?

Now that my Mom and Dad aren't here anymore, I'd probably choose one of our family Christmases when they were and we were all together.  We lost Mom just over 8 years ago and Dad 1 and a half years ago and we always make sure we have a toast to "absent friends and family" and my sister and I share a moment as we raise our glasses!     You don't realise that one day they'll be over and I wish I'd cherished those lovely Christmases more when I had the opportunity!

Q) Do you love buying/wrapping gifts and seeing everybodys face's on Christmas Day?

Yeah, I'm one of those annoying people who want everyone else to open their presents first.  I could sit and watch everyone else for hours before I'm made to open mine!

Q) Favourite Christmas Book?

Far too many to mention but I do love a Carole Matthews festive treat!

Q) What is it like on Christmas Day for you & your family?

This year, Ollie and I will wake up and open our presents, then he will go to his Dad's for a couple of hours, while I start to prepare the food as I'm cooking this year for my sister and her family and my aunty.  Then when he comes back, all the family will be here and we may have a little Christmas tipple or two before dinner.  Love my family around me!

Q) When do you normally put your Christmas tree up?

Normally around two weeks before Christmas.  Not too early!

Q) Favourite Christmas Movie?

Miracle on 34th Street (Latest version).  I remember going to see this at the cinema with my mom when I was about 25 and we both came out knowing that Santa Claus is real after all! A wonderful film that gives me a very special time of spending time with my darling Mom!

Festive Guest Post: Xmas Q&A with ....Author Paige Toon

Paige Toon was born in 1975 and grew up between England, Australia and America. A philosophy graduate, she worked at teen, film and women’s magazines, before ending up at Heat magazine as Reviews Editor. Paige is married, has two small children and lives in Cambridge.

The Longest Holiday is her seventh book.
Thirteen Weddings & The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson are out now!!
Twitter - Facebook 

Q) When do you normally get in the Festive spirit?

As soon as it's 1 December, the Christmas songs come out and the decorations go up! I resist doing it any earlier – prior to this we've had Halloween and bonfire night to contend with...

Q) What is a family tradition you like to have or do at Christmas?

If we're in Australia with my parents and extended family, we always go for a walk in the park. It's usually very hot! The last time we were in England, we took the kids to a local nativity play – I'm sure it will be family tradition from now on.

Q) Favourite past Christmas?

I think it might have been a couple of years ago, which was the last one we spent in England. Six of my Aussie rellies – parents, brother and sister-in-law, uncle and partner all came over from Australia. We went to a nativity play where the youngest child in the village played Jesus, there were Christmas carols and even a donkey! On Boxing Day we went to Granchester to watch the barrel rolling - bizarre but so much fun!

Q) Do you love buying/wrapping gifts and seeing everybodys face's on Christmas Day?

Buying and wrapping presents can be pretty stressful – especially as I'm usually on deadline around this time of year. But for once, I've been pretty organised and I've already got a bunch. Still have to wrap them, but it'll be fine... I absolutely love seeing people's faces though – it makes it all worthwhile.

Q) Favourite Christmas Book?

We've got loads on the shelf. My kids' favourite is currently How Santa Really Works - it's a pop-up book and shows you behind the scenes stuff like the elves making the pressies. Very cute.

Q) What is it like on Christmas Day for you & your family?

Very traditional, whether we're in Australia with my parents or here in the UK with my husband's family. We always wake up, open presents, help in the kitchen and then sit down to a traditional turkey roast. Afterwards it's Christmas telly and general lazing around and boozing!

Q) When do you normally put your Christmas tree up?

Usually in the first week of December, although sometimes we get a tree in the last weekend of November, and then we have to pretend that it's not dead when Christmas rolls around...

Q) Favourite Christmas Movie?

Bad Santa cracked me up, and I liked Elf, too. It's not one I'd watch with my kids, though! They really enjoyed Arthur Christmas - I'd watch that again.



!!Festive Giveaway Time!!
Lovely Paige Toon is offering a signed copy of The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson

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Festive-Blog-Athon Day Twenty: Xmas Book Review A Christmas To Remember by Jenny Hale

What couldn't be better than a Xmas book review as part of Festive-Blog-Athon?

So Here is my Xmas book review for today..

Title: A Christmas to Remember

Author: Jenny Hale

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 10th Oct 2014

Blurb
A beautiful story about the magic of childhood Christmas memories, the strength of family and falling in love when you least expect it.
Everyone loves Christmas – don’t they?
Carrie Blake loves her job as a nanny but, while her friends are settling down, all of Carrie’s spare time is spent with other people’s families. Though it breaks her heart, her New Year’s resolution is to embark on a new career and fix her love life.
As Carrie starts her last job, she’s sure she’ll be going out on a high – the house is amazing , the kids are adorable, and she’s in charge of decorating the tree! 
The only problem could be her boss… single-dad Adam Fletcher might be both handsome and successful, but he’s always working. Doesn’t he realise he’s missing out on precious moments with his son and daughter?

As Adam’s family arrive for Christmas including his sensitive sister, Sharon, and his fun-loving elderly Grandpa, Walter, Carrie realises that she might just have found the perfect allies in her quest to persuade Adam to loosen up. There’s still time for Carrie to make this the best Christmas ever… after all, Christmas is the time for miracles, isn’t it? Let the festivities begin!



This is the first book I have ever read by Jenny Hale and I loved it!
I am always a big fan of a good Christmas book and this was a superb one! The cover caught my eye straight away on my Kindle, its beautiful with lots of Snow.

We Meet Carrie Blake who is a nanny and she loves her job very much. All her friends are settling down but Carrie's spare time is spent with other peoples families. It breaks her heart and she set's herself a New Year's resolution to embark on a new career and find a new love..But when Carrie starts her last job she wants to go out on a high, house is amazing, kids cute but the problem is her boss single Dad Adam Fletcher...

This book is so magical and so festive too! What isn't too love about a Christmas book around this time eh? Why i have never read a book by Jenny before now is beyond me! I know i'll be buying all her other books now and snuggle down this Christmas with them. 

My Favourite part of this book was everything! I don't think I could fault anything at all, all the characters are written so perfectly that while reading you really feel you are getting to know the characters. By the end of the story I felt all fuzzy, warm and was grinning so much as I enjoyed the ending. Jenny has written this book so perfect that definitely grabs the readers attentions and keeps you hooked with the story.
I don't want to give too much away with this book, but I would say it's definitely one book to read this Christmas and to cherise yourself. 

A Christmas to Remember deserves 5 Pretty Christmas Presents

Festive Guest Post: Xmas Q&A with....Blogger Paris Baker

Paris Baker is a 24-year-old bookworm from Jersey, in the Channel Islands. She writes reviews on her book blog, Paris Baker’s Book Nook, and is currently working on her first novel. She also loves penguins, pugs and rose wine.
http://parisbakerwriting.wordpress.com/

Q) When do you normally get in the Festive spirit?

A) I’m one of those horribly annoying (or awesome) people who just love it and can’t get there fast enough! My birthday is exactly 5 weeks before Christmas, so once that’s gone I normally go full-blown festive.

Q) What is a family tradition you like to have or do at Christmas?

A) We usually do a little Secret Santa which we open on Christmas Eve, which is always good fun. A few years a go, my Step-mum’s sister was proposed to as part of her Secret Santa gift, which was pretty amazing.

Q) Favourite past Christmas?

A) It’s hard to pick one, but I always love Christmasses spent with my Stepmum’s family in Southampton. There’s loads of us, we all make camp in her Mum’s house, and the atmosphere is always just amazing, the house just buzzes with festive spirit! The lounge floor literally becomes a sea of presents on Christmas day, and we play silly games and dress up in funny hats, onesies or jumpers.

Q) Do you love buying/wrapping gifts and seeing everybody's face's on Christmas Day?

A) It’s my favourite part! I really like to try and get thoughtful and personal gifts, so I love seeing people’s reaction. It’s a wonderful feeling if you can make someone happy.

Q) Favourite Christmas Book?

A) This year has seen a new favourite with Jenny Hale’s A Christmas to Remember - it’s just beautiful. I also love When I Fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson.

Q) What is it like on Christmas Day for you & your family?

A) Busy! My Mr and I have 4 sets of families to get round between us, so it varies each year. We’re usually with one set in the morning, and another in the evening, then more on boxing day! So it really differs, but it’s always fun and filled with love, and who doesn’t want four Christmasses?

Q) When do you normally put your Christmas tree up?

A) December 1st at the latest, but any time after my birthday (Nov 20th) depending when I can convince my Mr to do it!

Q) Favourite Christmas Movie?

A) Miracle on 34th Street. Richard Attenborough is the perfect Santa, and always will be. It’s a beautiful film.

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!

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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!

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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.

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