Christmas was a quiet one this year in the Kilford household. With my father passing away in April, it was just me and my mum, but we made sure to keep up the Christmas cheer.
I wanted to take the time to say that I hope you all had a splendid festive period regardless of whether you celebrate it or not, or whether you spent it alone or surrounded by loved ones. You all deserve a break to relax and be merry!
This is just a little post to let you know what exciting things will be happening on blog once the New Year commences as I've been a very busy bee towards the end of 2016. I also wanted to take the time to say thank you to everyone who has stuck with me and my blogging ventures despite the dry spell. The supportive messages from the book blogging community across social media have been lovely!
So what can you expect in early 2017?
- The Dry Blog Tour - Jane Harper's thriller is Little, Brown's lead debut for 2017 and I've been fortunate enough to receive a copy to review as part of the novel's blog tour. You can read my review on Monday 9th January.
- A Boy Made Of Blocks Blog Tour - Again, the team at Little, Brown were lovely enough to invite me to be a part of the blog tour for Keith Stuart's moving novel about autism. You can read my review on the Friday 20th January tour stop.
- Travel posts - Ah, yes, that old chestnut. Having tried my hand at travel posts before, I figured it's time I finally share the beautiful snaps that I took earlier in March of this year during my trip to the Philippines. Keep your eyes peeled for these posts... and maybe subscribe by adding your e-mail in the handy widget at the bottom of the blog. That way you'll never miss an update!
- 11.22.63 Review - I recently finished Stephen King's 11.22.63 (Hurrah!
About bloody time!). Without giving too much of the final review away, it was absolutely incredible. A full review should be up on the blog in a few weeks time once I've picked my jaw off the floor and can comprehend all the awesomeness.
January is already shaping up to be a packed month of posts! If you'd like me to participate in blog tours for novels that'll be published in 2017, please do make sure that the tour takes place after February.
I also want to remind everyone that Stephanie Garber's phenomenal novel Caraval is released on January 31st and that you should definitely pre-order it if you haven't already! Honestly, I'm not getting paid to say this, I just think it's seriously incredible and am such a fan! You can read my review of Caraval here.
Once again, I hope you had a fabulous and happy holidays filled of love, laughter and books! If you have any recommendations for books that you'd like to see me review in the New Year, then the comments, my inbox on GoodReads and my Twitter are always open to receiving suggestions!
All the best,
Until next time,
Samantha
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| Happy Holidays from the Kilfords! x |
24 December 2016
What I'm Reading This Christmas ('All I Want For Christmas' and 'A Christmas Cracker' Review)
Continuing with blog tradition, it's time for my annual 'What I'm Reading This Christmas' post and trust me when I say that I have gone all out this year as I have two festive themed reads that I've been indulging in over the past few weeks to share with you!
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS BY JENNY HALE
But there's a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn't heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her.
Now David is all grown up. He's gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house. They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he's starting to feel it too. Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan's advice to them both about living life without regrets... and take a chance on true love?
Now, I tend to quite enjoy following the exploits of slightly arrogant characters if they're written in a humorous, cheeky and likeable manner. Heck, Christian Grey, as cold as he is, did display some hilarious banter in the phenomenon that was Fifty Shades of Grey. However, Randal is just a straight up twat. He's boring, uncharismatic and unnecessarily rude to the point where I wanted to smack him in the face. I just couldn't comprehend why Tabitha, who despised him just as much, was snogging him and agreeing to marry him within the space of a hundred pages. It made no sense!
Christmas comes once a year... But true love comes once in a lifetime.
Snowflakes are falling, there's carol singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother's majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won't be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.
But there's a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn't heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her. Now David is all grown up. He's gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house. They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he's starting to feel it too. Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan's advice to them both about living life without regrets... and take a chance on true love?
"I'd like to buy you out."
While quite sappy, I found All I Want For Christmas to be a charming read and unlike the other Christmas novel that I'll talk about next, Hale's book really did do its job and put me in the festive mood.
It's a heartwarming tale that captures - what I believe to be - the true essence of Christmas and that is gathering together with friends and family and reminiscing on the good old days. There is plenty of that in this novel with Leah and David looking back at fond memories from their childhood. Thankfully, none of the romance between them felt forced or rushed which can be the case in some Christmas novels.
All I Want For Christmas is a tender, emotional story that is brought to life with Hale's vivid writing.
A CHRISTMAS CRACKER BY TRISHA ASHLEY
This Christmas is about to go off with a bang!
Things can't possibly get worse for Tabby. Framed for a crime she didn't commit, she suddenly finds herself without a job. Then to make matters worse, Tabby's boyfriend dumps her and gives her cat away to a shelter.
But rescue comes in the form of kindly Mercy. A master of saving waifs and strays, Mercy wants Tabby to breathe new flair into her ailing cracker business. Together, they'll save Marwood’s Magical Christmas Crackers.
But someone has other ideas. Mercy's nephew Randal thinks Tabby's a fraudster. Stubborn, difficult and very attractive, her future depends upon winning him round. But it's that time of the year when miracles really can happen. Standing under the mistletoe, Tabby's Christmas is set to be one that she will never forget.
But rescue comes in the form of kindly Mercy. A master of saving waifs and strays, Mercy wants Tabby to breathe new flair into her ailing cracker business. Together, they'll save Marwood’s Magical Christmas Crackers.
But someone has other ideas. Mercy's nephew Randal thinks Tabby's a fraudster. Stubborn, difficult and very attractive, her future depends upon winning him round. But it's that time of the year when miracles really can happen. Standing under the mistletoe, Tabby's Christmas is set to be one that she will never forget.
"Knock knock. Who's there? Holly. Holly who? Holly-days are here again!"
I hate it when a book doesn't live up to expectations - especially at Christmas. I hate to say it, but A Christmas Cracker was an absolute disappointment from start to finish and I'm glad that it was only £2 from The Works' Christmas book sale because if I'd had to pay the full retail price of £7.99 for this, I would've been fuming.
This novel shouldn't have been marketed as a Christmas read at all, because it's not. There's very little festive spirit in this supposed 'Christmas novel' and any Christmas cheer that does occur is towards the end and very short-lived.
From the get-go I knew I would have problems with A Christmas Cracker. The instant I saw that there were changes in the point-of-view (something longtime blog readers will know is a pet peeve of mine) my heart sank. Both Tabitha and Randal's view points were quite dull, but Tabby takes the cake for having about four chapters revolving around her bloody cat.
If I ever have to read the name 'Pye' again, I think I might cry. A Christmas Cracker very nearly ended up in my 'Did Not Finish' pile, and while I did skip a lot of chunks of the book, I generally powered through for the sake of trying to understand the point and in foolish hope that the romance I had been promised would suddenly blossom. No such luck. It's insta-love with zero to no connection being formed between Tabby and Randal.
If I ever have to read the name 'Pye' again, I think I might cry. A Christmas Cracker very nearly ended up in my 'Did Not Finish' pile, and while I did skip a lot of chunks of the book, I generally powered through for the sake of trying to understand the point and in foolish hope that the romance I had been promised would suddenly blossom. No such luck. It's insta-love with zero to no connection being formed between Tabby and Randal.
Now, I tend to quite enjoy following the exploits of slightly arrogant characters if they're written in a humorous, cheeky and likeable manner. Heck, Christian Grey, as cold as he is, did display some hilarious banter in the phenomenon that was Fifty Shades of Grey. However, Randal is just a straight up twat. He's boring, uncharismatic and unnecessarily rude to the point where I wanted to smack him in the face. I just couldn't comprehend why Tabitha, who despised him just as much, was snogging him and agreeing to marry him within the space of a hundred pages. It made no sense!
Is this the most savage I've been towards a book I didn't like? Possibly, but it's not without reason. Neither the story itself nor the writing could compel and convince me which is normally something I accept because not everything I pick up is going to be my cup of tea. However, I'm a bit miffed that I was promised this 'cracking Christmas read' and it didn't deliver what was said on the tin...or rather blurb. Had it been marketed without any mentions of a big festive romance then I'd have steered clear.
I've never read anything else by Trisha Ashley, so I can't comment on whether this is typical of her novels or not. I also won't be rushing to be read anything else by Ashley as I found A Christmas Cracker to be the most lacklustre and entirely disappointing book I've read this year.
If you're looking for a book full of seasonal fun and Christmas spirit, you're better off giving this one a miss.
Happy Christmas and I'll see you for more book related talk in the New Year!
At the end of the day, there's one genre that I always come back to and that is romance. No matter how many intense psychological, action-packed thrillers I read, to me, nothing is quite as engrossing as the drama of love. A consumer of both classical novels and more modern literature, I'll be focusing on leading literary men from the olden times today. Fear not, a post with some up-to-date more recent literary 'lads' (as we'd call them nowadays) will follow in due course.
Swoon and sigh at the sauve and chivalrous sirs on this list and feel free to share your own favourite literary loves!
Swoon and sigh at the sauve and chivalrous sirs on this list and feel free to share your own favourite literary loves!
FITZWILLIAM DARCY
"You must know… surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I’d scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."
The leading man on this list and the leading man in my heart, Pride and Prejudice's Mr Darcy is the dream.
I am slightly biased because of my love for Colin Firth and that infamous wet shirt scene, but it's Darcy's enigmatic dark and brooding persona that has captured the hearts of Austen fans everywhere - including yours truly!
He is the epitome of the ideal romantic character with his gentleman-like behaviour and his willingness to go against the social pressures and tradition.
Hear me out! Though weak-willed and easily browbeaten by others, Pierre, who is very much the anti-hero of Tolstoy's War and Peace, is actually quite captivating.
PIERRE BEZUKHOV
"Pierre was the most dear, kind, intelligent, merry and magnanimous of eccentrics, absentminded and warm-hearted, a Russian squire of the old stamp. His purse was always empty, because it was open to everyone."
Hear me out! Though weak-willed and easily browbeaten by others, Pierre, who is very much the anti-hero of Tolstoy's War and Peace, is actually quite captivating.
Perhaps it was Paul Dano's portrayal of the embarrassingly awkward illegitimate son of a wealthy Count that I fell in love with. However, the character himself is endearing with his overenthusiastic attitude towards politics and his good nature in going off to war and saving the lives of a French officer and a little girl.
Everyone loves an underdog and Pierre is certainly that. He does go on to win the heart of Natasha Rostova after all.
An outsider to the Russian upper classes, Pierre's emotional directness makes him increasingly likeable when compared with the artificiality of fakes like the Kuragins. The attendees at Anna Pavlovna's parties may think of Pierre as uncouth and awkward, but his generosity towards his friends and his intelligence has earned himself a place in my heart at least.
Heathcliff could teach the youth a thing or two about what it means to be emo, as he was the definition before the word had ever even existed.
Vengeful, tormented and passionate, his loyalty to Catherine is paramount and that certainly is admirable.
Much like a few others on list, Heathcliff is the embodiment of the literary Byronic hero. Mad, bad and dangerous - an illicit yet alluring and exciting combination.
I think Shmoop put it best when they summed him up as "lonerish and [a] little demonic... but he's definitely hawt".
Both envied and desired, F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby is considered the quintessential American icon.
Everyone loves an underdog and Pierre is certainly that. He does go on to win the heart of Natasha Rostova after all.
An outsider to the Russian upper classes, Pierre's emotional directness makes him increasingly likeable when compared with the artificiality of fakes like the Kuragins. The attendees at Anna Pavlovna's parties may think of Pierre as uncouth and awkward, but his generosity towards his friends and his intelligence has earned himself a place in my heart at least.
EDWARD ROCHESTER
"My bride is here, because my equal is here, and my likeness."
Here's to you, Mr Rochester.
Another dark and broody character, Rochester of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre ticks all the boxes of old school romance. Torn between a harrowing sense of responsibility to look after his crazy wife he locked in the attic (Those who haven't yet read Jane Eyre, it's not as terrible as it sounds!), custody of a young French girl who isn't even his biological child, having to uphold his name and Thornfield Hall, and an increasing love for his employee Jane, one can safely say that Rochester's got a lot on his plate.
Another dark and broody character, Rochester of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre ticks all the boxes of old school romance. Torn between a harrowing sense of responsibility to look after his crazy wife he locked in the attic (Those who haven't yet read Jane Eyre, it's not as terrible as it sounds!), custody of a young French girl who isn't even his biological child, having to uphold his name and Thornfield Hall, and an increasing love for his employee Jane, one can safely say that Rochester's got a lot on his plate.
His unconventional looks paired with his air of mystery and constant attempts to do the right thing, even though it risks his life, makes it hard for the reader to not fall in love with this tortured soul.
HEATHCLIFF
"If he loved with all the powers of his puny being, he couldn't love as much in eighty years, as I could in a day."
Heathcliff could teach the youth a thing or two about what it means to be emo, as he was the definition before the word had ever even existed.Vengeful, tormented and passionate, his loyalty to Catherine is paramount and that certainly is admirable.
Much like a few others on list, Heathcliff is the embodiment of the literary Byronic hero. Mad, bad and dangerous - an illicit yet alluring and exciting combination.
I think Shmoop put it best when they summed him up as "lonerish and [a] little demonic... but he's definitely hawt".
JAY GATSBY
"I keep it always full of interesting people, night and day. People who do interesting things. Celebrated people."
A self-made man living in the United States during the Jazz Age, Gatsby hopes that his new found wealth and power will win the heart of Daisy.
His neat dress sense paired with his alluring charm and excellent hosting skills make Jay the life of every party there is.
ROMEO MONTAGUE
I'm guessing this is going to be quite a controversial choice for the list, but never was a story of more woe than that of Juliet and her Romeo.
I could be here for days listing all my favourite literary crushes, but I figured I'd limit myself to seven otherwise this post would be length of War and Peace. Alas, do not fret, I will be sharing more 'Literary Loves' soon.
In the meantime, why not share some of your favourite dashing male characters from literature via the comments below or you can tweet them to me @samanthakilford.
"Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again."
You'd have be hiding under a rock not to know about the romance between Romeo and Juliet. It's one of the best known love stories of all time which is exactly why I'm including Romeo here.
Handsome, intelligent and sensitive, all this Montague cares about is love. And though he is impulsive and arguably immature, there's something quite likeable in his idealism and passion.
I went to watch Kenneth Branagh's production of the famous Shakespeare play at the Garrick in August. Big applause to Lily James and Freddie Fox, who was the last-minute Romeo replacement for Richard Madden, for doing such a brilliant job in making me really want to root for the young and besotted pair despite the fact we all know how it ends.
Although, I do love to complain about how rash and silly Romeo and Juliet are as characters and how Friar Lawrence shouldn't have given the damn letter to Friar John, who ends up getting delayed due to people thinking he has the plague and sticking him in quarantine, there was something quite magical about seeing it live. Shakespeare's play captures the essence of being youthful and in love and tragic love is almost always associated with Romeo and his Juliet.
Let's round this list off with the strong and swoon-some leader of the student revolution from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.
ENJOLRAS
"He was Antinous, wild. You would have said, seeing the thoughtful reflection of his eye, that he had already, in some preceding existence, been through the revolutionary apocalypse. He knew its tradition like an eyewitness. He knew every little detail of that great thing. A pontifical and warrior nature, strange in a youth. He was officiating and militant; from the immediate point of view, a soldier of democracy; above the movement of the time, a priest of the ideal."
Let's round this list off with the strong and swoon-some leader of the student revolution from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.
Who needs Marius when you have the charismatic and passionate Enjolras? Just the mere mention of him is enough to get me to want to quit everything I'm doing and fight for France!
A man after my own heart, Enjolras is firm in his belief for democracy and equality that even the most cynical of those participating in the revolution describe him as "a greek god". I feel the same, cynical dudes.
Ever the admirable hero, he ends up as a martyr for the cause and we all weep. His conviction and fierce attitude will never be forgotten by me. Vive la France!
I could be here for days listing all my favourite literary crushes, but I figured I'd limit myself to seven otherwise this post would be length of War and Peace. Alas, do not fret, I will be sharing more 'Literary Loves' soon.
In the meantime, why not share some of your favourite dashing male characters from literature via the comments below or you can tweet them to me @samanthakilford.
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