The Winter Wedding by Abby Clements
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Hazel never set out to be a wedding planner. She was just helping her stressed sister Lila with cakes and décor for her big day. But when Lila and Ollie's summer ceremony is a runaway success, with guests raving about the food and styling at the pretty venue, word about Hazel's expertise soon spreads.
But Hazel's clients expect the very best - she's promised lawyers Gemma and Eliot a snow-covered castle in the Scottish Highlands, and laidback couple Josh and Sarah a bohemian beach wedding in a Caribbean paradise. But as weather, in-laws and wilful brides conspire against her, can Hazel get two very different couples to walk up two very different aisles to say 'I do'?
Having taken on planning her sisters wedding when the original wedding planner cancelled, Hazel finds herself with a success on her hands. Many guests at the wedding congratulate her on an excellent job and through this she manages to get a couple more bookings.
Hazels full time job is a set designer but she is constantly passed over and her ideas stolen by others for their own gain. She is nervous about organising her sister Lila's wedding but approaches it like set design and soon finds she has a flair for it. Tasked to organise a Scottish Highlands wedding complete with a snow covered castle and a Caribbean beach wedding Hazel at times thinks she has taken on more than she can handle. Add bridezillas and unpredictable weather along with a confusing love life and you have a recipe for a pleasant chic lit novel.
Good balanced rounded characters if somewhat flawed gave this a realistic feel and a little dose of humour kept it going. Perfect for holiday reading or round the fire at Christmas - feel good factor novel. 4 stars
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream by Abby Clements
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
'Amelia has a dream: toasting chestnuts by the fire with her husband Jack in their own cosy cottage. Their real life is another world - a cramped one-bedroom flat in Hackney. But when life takes a surprising turn, removal vans are soon heading to the Kent countryside.
They soon realise the cottage makeover is a far bigger project than they'd anticipated. On top of that, there's Amelia's newly loved-up mum and her tearaway half-sister, Mirabel, to contend with - pushing Amelia and Jack's marriage to breaking point.
Amelia begins to strip back the wallpaper and fittings in the cottage and discovers the story of the cottage's previous owner - and a hidden secret. As Amelia's ideas about love and family change, will her fireside dream finally come true?'
I was so excited when this was sent to me to review. I first discovered Abby Clements earlier this year when I read Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop and I absolutely loved it. I find Abby Clement's books very easy to read and she is very quickly becoming one of my favourite chick lit authors.
Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream is a fantastic addition to Abby's novels and is about Amelia, she is a teacher at a busy inner city school. Amelia is approaching thirty fast and is re-evaluating her life, she realises she wants more from her life. Her husband, Jack and her are looking for a new house and Amelia decides that maybe they should be looking further afield as they would get more for their money.
Jack is unsure at first but begins to come round to Amelia's way of thinking and start to house hunt in Kent.
Life is not plain sailing for them, this story identifies the stress a move can cause and how it can have an effect on your relationship. It also covers natural progression in life, Amelia's friend Suni is pregnant and it is assumed that Amelia won't be too far behind. (She is married, they have a mortgage, moving to a bigger property...)There are ups and downs in the story which keep it fast paced and interesting.
This is a wonderful story for this time of year, I can visually see the story panning out and I feel that I am with Amelia in her house, while renovations are taking place. Abby Clements writes in a way that is smooth and the plot develops smoothly. Although I have a lot I want to say about this book because it is so good, I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it yet.
This is a perfect book for anyone who has ever moved, redecorated/renovated or just wants a wonderful story leading up to Christmas. I read this story very quickly and only wish it was longer, I cannot wait to read more from Abby Clements I enjoyed this story immensely and would like to thank the publisher for sending me a review copy.
I have decided that as I am going away in 8 days on holiday, I would create a list of summer themed/travel books. So I have decided that these are books that I have read or are on my TBR and that include some type of travel, or in a holiday destination.
I feel that my holiday cannot come soon enough - I have been waiting ALL summer and our summer vanished long ago. (I am currently sitting typing this in jeans!)
These books are not in any order, just ones that come to mind - If i have left any out or you that thought of better (perhaps I haven't read them, please comment - I need a holiday read :D)
1. Shopaholic Abroad - Sophie Kinsella
2. I heart New York - Lindsey Kelk
3. About a Girl - Lindsey Kelk
4. Save the Date - Allie Spencer
5. Sleeping Arrangements - Madeleine Wickham
6. L'Amour Actually - Melanie Jones
7. SOS! I love you - Katina Jones
8. One Perfect Summer - Paige Toon
9. Postcard Killers - James Patterson
10. Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop - Abby Clements
