Book Review - Bertie's Gift by Hannah Coates - #CuteChristmas

Amazon UK

Title: Bertie's Gift

Author: Hannah Coates

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 20th October 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

For fans of A Streetcat Named Bob and Buster the Boxer, this is the heart-warming, inspirational story of one cheeky little dog and his beloved sister, two grumpy cats, and a family at Christmas.

Bertie is alone, devastated after his beloved sister and fellow beagle Molly is adopted, leaving him behind. When Bertie is taken in by the Green family, it seems he's finally found a place to call home...

Yet Bertie swiftly realises that the kind and loving Green family is in crisis. After a tragedy two years ago, they've never recovered - and as Christmas approaches, grief is pulling them apart.

Never has a four-legged friend been more in need - and brave, warm-hearted Bertie must rise to the challenge. Can he enlist the help of hostile felines Kitty and Rico to help him find Molly - and can he bring the Green family back together again, all in time for Christmas?

Emotional and adorable I think are the key words to describe Bertie's Gift. Written from Bertie's point of view, we are taken on a harrowing tail of his long term owner's grief, a dog shelter and then his new home...

He has always been close to his sister Molly, but when they are taken to the dog shelter, the two loveable beagles are split up and adopted by two very different families. All Bertie wants is to be reunited with his beloved sister. 

And in trying to find her, he enlists the help of some unlikely friends at his new house. In the mean time his new family are also struggling emotionally, and Bertie is also wishing he could do more to try and get the various family members to talk to each other. 

When I started Bertie's Gift I wasn't expecting for me to be unable to put it down, and for me to lost in the pages for the following three hours while I read this story. It grabbed me from the first pages, and tugged my heart in all angles, to the extent I was pretty much in tears by the end. 

I was so impressed by how much Bertie and his canine and feline friends got under my skin, and I really felt for all of them. Bertie is a young dog, and doesn't mean to get into as much trouble as he seems to, but sometimes just can't quite control his natural doggy instincts. 

Bertie's Gift is a wonderful heartwarming story, about man's (and woman's ) best friend, and just how loyal dogs are to each other and to their humans. This I feel would be a fantastic book to give as a Christmas present to an animal lover, or to anyone that loves brilliant books.

Thank you Hodder and Netgalley for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

If you like the sound of Bertie's Gift, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a copy

Guest Post - Sheryl Browne's Cute Dogs - #CuteChristmas

When Rachel invited me to take part in her cute Christmas feature, how could I resist? People who know me will be aware I write in two genres, sexy heart-wrenching romance and psychological thriller. Apparently, I make a good psychopath. Maybe I just like to explore the dark side? Whatever, I can’t resist writing about love, life and relationships, often looking at family dynamics and what drives people. In my contemporary romance, sometimes I find unexpected characters creeping into the story – and if they didn’t have a starring role in the beginning somehow they end up pivotal to the story by The End.  

PC Mark Evans’ story, for instance, which centres around a single father who has a special needs son therefore a lot riding on any relationships he enters into, couldn’t possibly have been told without little Karl’s assistance dog. Meet Starbuck, the ‘star’ of Somebody to Love. 

And then there’s Donna’s dog, of course. Meet Sadie, the three-legged brave, beautiful girl who stopped policeman Mark in his tracks, distracting him from the noticing the double yellow lines someone had thoughtlessly parked under Donna’s car.  Needless to say, he did notice Donna. 

In The Rest of My Life we have Tobias, a Labrador with hip dysplasia, who is responsible for bringing Adam and Sienna together. Furious though he is at having to leap into icy cold water when Tobias – who can’t swim – falls in, Adam must have some redeeming features to have saved him from drowning, right? Um, no, not at first glance. He’s a bit of a womaniser is our too-hot-to-handle Adam. Can Sienna and Tobias save Adam is the question, by making him realise he’s worth saving? No spoilers, but Adam, Sienna soon realises, does have considerable charms beyond the tousled dark hair, bronzed skin the colour of caramel mocha latte, dark decadent chocolate-brown eyes …

And in Learning to Love … Who could resist Dougal?

You might have realised then that my four legged friends have a habit of worming their way into my heart and my stories. As well as writing, I foster disabled dogs. It’s hard work sometimes, but I wouldn’t me without them.

Thanks so much for featuring my furbabies, Rachel! 

Much love & Merry Christmas everyone! 

You are of course very welcome Sheryl, and thank you for sharing your clear love of dogs with us. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a lot of success for 2017. 

Sheryl Browne (left) & me (right)

Heartache, humour, love, loss & betrayal, Sheryl Browne brings you sassy, sexy, heart-wrenching fiction. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Romantic Novelists’ Association and shortlisted for the Best Romantic e-book Love Stories Award 2015, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where she completed her MA in Creative Writing.

Recommended to the publisher by the WH Smith Travel fiction buyer, Sheryl’s contemporary fiction comes to you from award winning Choc Lit.

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Amazon US | Pinterest

Loveahappyending Lifestyle

Choc Lit | Romantic Novelists’ Association

Guest Post - Christmas Dog by T.A. Williams - #CuteChristmas

There are two question that I keep getting asked. Seeing as there’s always a black Labrador in my books, the questions are:

   Why the Lab?   and

   Which is my favourite Lab?

The answer to the first is easy, the second not so easy. The reason there’s always a Lab is because of good old Merlin. We got him as an abused child and he’d had a horrific first year of his life. He was pitifully thin and the vet told us he might live to 4 or 5. In the end, he managed to stay with us until he reached the ripe old age of 13. He wasn’t just a good dog, he was an exceptional dog and, if you believe in reincarnation, he must have been somebody really, really great. So, slipping a black Lab into my books is my homage to him.

   The answer to the second question isn’t so easy, because all the Labs in my books share certain characteristics.

   In common with all Labs, they all suffer from an eating disorder. When I say disorder, I mean they can’t stop eating. They are always hungry, and food disappears like magic when offered to them.

   They are all very good listeners. Now, I know we men aren’t supposed to be very good listeners and, I suppose I would have to admit that I’m not great. At least, that’s what my wife says. My Labs, on the other hand (or paw), are great listeners. Not great conversationalists, I must admit, but they’ve definitely got the listening thing off pat.

   They all offer solace and support. Merlin was the expert at this. If anybody in the house was feeling a bit down, the big black head would appear at their side. A heavy, hairy chin would rest on their thigh and a pair of soulful brown eyes would look up sympathetically.

   Choosing a favourite isn’t easy. So, here goes, in time-honoured tradition, I’ll give them in reverse order: 

3. In third place, Noah from my first book, Dirty Minds. Apart from an unfortunate tendency towards flatulence, and the fact that he dribbles whenever Chocolate Hobnobs appear on the table, he was a very good dog.

2. In second place, Dante the Italian Lab from What Happens in Tuscany. Dante, as well as the supportive thing and the listening thing, had the uncanny knack of suddenly appearing every time Katie set out on a walk. He never needed a lead, never bit the postman, never ran in front of cars and was always a reliable friend and companion.

1. But, in first place, it has to be Stirling from What Happens at Christmas. The thing I love most about him is his devotion to his dead master, Holly’s dad. Holly finds Stirling lying on an old sweater belonging to her father and it brings a tear to her eye. She takes him to the pub and he leads her to her dad’s favourite table. He forms a real link between her and the father she didn’t really know. 

   I’m a sucker for dogs and I love them all so it’s been a difficult choice. Anyway, if you want a Yuletide Canine fix, I would suggest you give Stirling a try.

   A very happy Christmas to my good friend Rachel and to you all.

And a very Merry Christmas to you too. I love your labradors in all your books, so clearly I need to read Dirty Minds to meet Noah, and Merlin is a cutie too. 

About T.A. Williams

My name is Trevor Williams. I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, "Dirty Minds" one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

 I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it.

 I’m originally from Exeter, and I've lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away down here in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.

 My most recent books, published by Harper Collins, are the What happens… series. What happens in Tuscany reached #1 in the Amazon.uk Romantic Comedy chart recently and What Happens on the Beach, the last in the series, came out in July. I’ve just finished writing two more romcoms, the first one, To Rome with Love, coming out next February and I also have a timeslip romantic thriller, Chasing Shadows, coming out in March, so it’s going to be a busy time for me.

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/trevorwilliamsbooks

Twitter:   www.twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

Website:   www.tawilliamsbooks.com

Amazon page:    https://www.amazon.co.uk/T-A-Williams/e/B00FDVNVMA/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Book Review - Baxter's Christmas Wish by Sharon Booth - #CuteChristmas

Amazon UK

Title: Baxter's Christmas Wish

Author: Sharon Booth

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Fabrian Books

Publication Date: 7th October 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

When Ellie Jackson's marriage unexpectedly ends, she and her young son, Jake, seek refuge with Ellie's cousin, Maddie. But Maddie soon tires of her house guests, including her own boisterous rescue Boxer dog, Baxter. 

A trip to the park proves eventful, when Baxter literally bumps into Dylan. Kind, funny, and not-too-shabby in the looks department, Dylan soon wins Ellie and Jake over, and Ellie dares to dream of a happy ending at last. 

But as the snow starts to fall and Christmas approaches, Ellie realises time is running out for them. Dylan clearly has a secret that may ruin their happiness, Baxter's home is in jeopardy, and she has no way of making Jake's wishes come true. 

Must Ellie give up on her dreams, or can Baxter lead her back to happiness? 

Light the fire, switch on those Christmas tree lights, curl up with a hot chocolate, and enjoy this heart-warming festive story of love, home, and second chances.

Baxter is a loveable Boxer dog. Sure he can be a little naughty but that is when he gets bored, and you really need to feel sorry him, as his last owner gave him away free to a new home. Now that new home just happened to be Maddie. 

Maddie loves a sob story, she had already taken in her cousin Ellie, and her son Jake, when Ellie's marriage falls apart. However she is already starting to find they may be overstaying their welcome, but she still can't resist Baxter's story and takes him in too. 

This is despite her not really knowing anything about dogs, and having a boyfriend who is fed of of Ellie and Jake and doesn't like dogs either. 

Ellie and Jake really take to Baxter luckily and start taking him to the park on walks to try and burn off his energy. Its during one of these walks he bowls over Dylan, and so enters the romantic interest for the book. 

Dylan loves dogs too, but he is clearly hiding things, and I must say at least one of the various things he was hiding, I did guess. However the others although surprising in some respects, I could completely understand too. 

I found Baxter's Christmas Wish to be a very sweet story, with Baxter as the absolute start of the book, and any scene he wasn't in I was still hoping he was ok, as in his young life he really wasn't having much luck with owners and all he, and any dog ever wants is his forever home. 

This is quite a quick story to read, and I read it in a couple of short hours, while loving every moment of it. Some of the scraps that Baxter gets himself into are incredibly funny, and I loved the way he was around not only Jake, but Dylan's dog Tyson, a small yorkshire terrier. I was kept engaged in what was going on at all times, and also quite liked the chapter titles that gave a hint as to what may be about to happen in the immediate future. 

Pleasurable story with the dogs pretty much leading the relationships and romance, while the human stories are also good too! 

Guest Post & Giveaway - Lady P does Christmas by Nicola May - #CuteChristmas

‘Cali big tits, Cali big tits.’ 

‘Lady P! Not today please, there’s too much to do!’ Cali Summers threw a strand of silver tinsel towards her pet’s cage. ‘And, if you dare start saying that in front of my mother on Christmas Day.’ 

‘No, no, no, no, no, no,’ the African grey parrot shrieked and starting diving around her large cage.

Cali laughed. ‘What? Is silver not your colour?’ 

***

So, that’s my owner, Cali Summers;  30’ish, prettyish, kind, caring, straightforward and naive where men are concerned.

 She pretends she’s cross with me most of the time, but I know she loves me really. Fresh food and water every day proves that, and when she’s sad she talks to me too. On and on and on she goes. About her husband leaving her for Bella Bitch, their personal trainer and then boring me about her job as an Events Manager in a hotel.

And, when it’s not that,  I tell you, she  makes my claws curl with some of the things she’s got up to with men in this flat. It’s since she’s been part of this Tinder dating internet lark, you see. She’s gone a bit crazy with it. And, it’s a good job I can use my discretion sometimes and keep me beak shut or her mother would definitely have a funny turn.

 So, despite trying very hard to meet someone to spend Christmas with, it hasn’t happened yet? So, we are spending it this year with her mum, dad, brother, his vile wife Petra and their even viler dog, Snoop, who does nothing but terrorise me for the whole day. I am going to peck his nose off this year so help him, if he dares winds me up.

I don’t like it when she’s sad though. That’s when I have to throw out the ‘I love you Callerina card.’ That makes her smile and when Cali’s happy, I’m happy. 

Ooh she’s unloading her bags now, any cuttle fish in there, love? I mean it is Christmas. Here come the mince pies, she loves mince pies. And, sherry. People laugh at her because she likes sherry. I shout ‘wanker’ if they do that. I don’t like them laughing at her. 

‘Look what I’ve got for you.’ Cali rustled about in the bag.

‘Get ’em out! Get ’em out!’

‘Lady P, I’ve warned you.’

Ha, ha I knew that would wind her up. But look, banana chips and fruit cup jellies. Yes, perlease...

***

Raising a glass of sherry, Cali places a couple of the treats in the bottom of her errant bird’s cage.

‘Cheers, Lady P and Happy Christmas to you.’

The African grey cocks her head to the side nonchalantly. ‘Jingle Balls, jingle balls, jingle all the way.’

You too can read more about Cali and Lady’s P’s antics in Nicola’s eighth novel, Love Me Tinder; available to download now with the Paperback release on Valentine’s Day.

Her Christmas novella, Christmas Evie won an award for the Best Author Read at the 2013 Festival of Romance and is also available to download now.

Follow Nicola on Twitter @nicolamay1 

For more information about Nicola and her other books go to www.nicolamay.com 

Thank you so much Nicola for sharing Lady P's take on Christmas. I love Lady P so much, so heartily recommend reading Love Me Tinder if you haven't already.

Giveaway to win 5 x .mobi copies of Love Me Tinder (Open Internationally)

Nicola is giving away 5 .mobi copies (for Kindle) of Love Me Tinder to five lucky winners. 

Giveaway open internationally, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 3/1/2017. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

Win 5 x .mobi copies of Love Me Tinder (Open Internationally)

Guest Post - Sharon Booth talking Boxers! - #CuteChristmas

My Christmas novella was inspired by a friend's naughty Boxer dog. My friend would come into work every morning and tell us all about his latest mischievous escapade, and it got me thinking, could a boisterous dog like that be responsible for bringing two lonely people together? With Christmas such a romantic time (at least in books!) I thought it would be lovely to turn the story into a festive one, and Baxter's Christmas Wish is the result. 

I've never actually owned a Boxer dog, but I do have a German shepherd called Tessa. She actually features in some of my Kearton Bay books, although that version of Tessa is older, and a great deal
less bouncy! Tessa has—er—what you might call a strong mouth. 


We recently bought her some toys for Christmas, but couldn't resist giving her one to play with straight away. In spite of the fact that it was supposedly toughened for big dogs, it lasted less than two days before she'd pulled the seams apart, and there was stuffing all over the living room floor. I'm just hoping she doesn't destroy her other things as quickly, although I can't say I hold out much hope.

One thing I'd never do—mainly because it wouldn't last five minutes—is try to put any kind of clothing on Tessa. My daughter, however, doesn't have the same problem. Her pets have worn antlers, hoodies, onesies, Santa costumes, tinsel and all sorts of things to celebrate Christmas. Sadly, Rosie, the sweet little Cavalier, is no longer with us, but she was always happy to dress up for the occasion. Jake, the Border collie cross, is incredibly patient, and lets my daughter dress him in anything, but, as you can see from his expression, Brian the cat isn't so impressed! 

On Christmas morning, all our pets will have stockings full of presents to open, and they'll get a version of our Christmas dinner, too.  I fully expect they'll spend the afternoon snoring contentedly, having demolished plenty of turkey, and spent up lots of energy playing with their new toys.

I doubt very much that Baxter would sleep much. He has far too much energy and, besides, he's had quite an eventful run-up to Christmas. I'm pretty sure that he's keeping an eye on things, and congratulating himself on a job very well done. 

Thank you so much Sharon, for sharing all about your pets. They all look gorgeous and I think you will all have a very Happy Christmas. 

Here's the blurb for Baxter's Christmas Wish. 

Amazon UK

When Ellie Jackson's marriage unexpectedly ends, she and her young son, Jake, seek refuge with Ellie's cousin, Maddie. But Maddie soon tires of her house guests, including her own boisterous rescue Boxer dog, Baxter. 

A trip to the park proves eventful, when Baxter literally bumps into Dylan. Kind, funny, and not-too-shabby in the looks department, Dylan soon wins Ellie and Jake over, and Ellie dares to dream of a happy ending at last. 

But as the snow starts to fall and Christmas approaches, Ellie realises time is running out for them. Dylan clearly has a secret that may ruin their happiness, Baxter's home is in jeopardy, and she has no way of making Jake's wishes come true. 

Must Ellie give up on her dreams, or can Baxter lead her back to happiness? 

Light the fire, switch on those Christmas tree lights, curl up with a hot chocolate, and enjoy this heart-warming festive story of love, home, and second chances.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas! xx

About the author

Sharon wrote her first book when she was ten. It was about a boarding school that specialised in ballet, and, given that she'd never been to boarding school and hadn't a clue about ballet, it's probably a good thing that no copy of this masterpiece survives.

She is the author of four other novels, There Must Be an Angel, A Kiss from a Rose, This Other Eden, and Once Upon a Long Ago. She has also written for The People's Friend.

Sharon lives in East Yorkshire, with her husband and their dog. She is one tenth of The Write Romantics, and a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association. 

She has a love/hate relationship with chocolate, is a devoted Whovian, and prone to all-consuming crushes on fictional heroes. The situation has recently become critical since she was given a DVD of Outlander for Christmas.

Find out more about Sharon at http://sharonbooth.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonbooth.writer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sharon_Booth1

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/sharonbooth1/

You can buy Baxter's Christmas Wish at hyperurl.co/baxterschristmaswish

Book Review & Giveaway - The Christmas Guest by Daisy Bell - #CuteChristmas

Amazon UK

Title: The Christmas Guest

Author: Daisy Bell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 20th October 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

A puppy for Christmas. A friend for life. The heartwarming tale of a homeless puppy with a huge heart who healed a family . . .

When Teddy runs away from home a week before Christmas, he's far too excited to worry about what lies ahead. But all too soon Teddy realises just how cold and scary the world really is, and what was supposed to be the perfect adventure now seems like a terrible mistake.

Then Teddy is discovered on a snowy doorstep by the Woods family. With their kind hearts and cosy cottage, Claire, Ben and their daughter Emily are the family Teddy is desperate to have. But Emily is ill, her parents are stressed and, with Christmas around the corner, raising and training a well-meaning but unruly puppy is hardly a priority.

Teddy knows he and little Emily have a once-in-a-lifetime bond, and that he can be the best friend she needs in this dark time. If only he can prove to Ben and Claire how much happier he could make them all, Teddy might just find the family of his dreams this Christmas.

Don't be fooled by the incredibly adorable cover, yes this is a very cute story about a puppy trying to convince a family that they should be his forever home, but there is also a much more serious storyline in the book too which makes it so full of depth its brilliant. 

In fact the cute puppy antics of Teddy, are a real tonic to the worry his new family have over their daughter who has been seriously ill. However she is convinced that Santa sent her Teddy as an early Christmas present, and helps in the campaign for the Woods family to become his owners. 

Teddy is just over 2 months old when he runs away from his first family. He got the feeling he was no longer wanted, and at the first opportunity ran and didn't look back, just over a week before Christmas, when on a trip into the countryside.  He eventually finds a house and it belongs to the Woods, and all he wants is to have a forever home. 

It is so cute and interesting to hear about Christmas from a young puppy's point of view, given he's never experienced it before, and also how he tries to interact with the family cat too. He is trying his hardest to be on his best behaviour to impress the humans, but ultimately has no idea why sometimes its ok to chew or dig, and others it isn't. He isn't really a naughty pup, just trying his best. 

What is beautiful is the relationship he quickly builds with Emily, the daughter of the family, who is trying to regain her strength after a horrific illness. 

I loved the writing in this story, and the pacing, in addition to just how it drew me in and had me gripped. I found myself very much absorbed in the story and was willing Emily to get better. The odds are if you are slightly softer hearted than me, there are elements of the book will have you in tears, I was almost there myself. 

The Christmas Guest is a heart warming Christmas story that will get under your skin and that I loved every second of it. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for my copy of this book. This was my honest opinion. 

Giveaway to win 1 x Hardback copy of The Christmas Guest (UK Only)

Many thanks to Quercus who have donated 1 hardback copy of The Christmas Guest, for this giveaway. 

Giveaway open to UK only, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 3/1/2017. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

Win 1 x Hardback copy of The Christmas Guest (UK Only)

Guest Post - Lisa Dickenson proves Santa is real! - #CuteChristmas

“You know what we should do?  You know what would make us the best damned auntie and uncle in the whole universe?”  I asked Husband Phil, as my sweaty, felt Santa suit hung from my hands.  Or he asked me.  I don’t remember whose genius idea it was, so we’ll just say it was mine.

It was three years ago, and Phil and I had just finished a 5k Santa run through a frosty Exeter city centre.  The suits they gave us were so thin our sweat was rapidly disintegrating them, but we’d just figured out one final use before they went in the rubbish bin*.

We were to be spending Christmas 2013 with Phil’s family, which included his niece and nephew, then aged 5 and 3.  And what better way to blow the effing MINDS of a 5 and 3 year old?  Let them see photo evidence of Father Christmas in their house!  We had it all figured out – we’d wait until they’d gone to bed, then Phil would dress in the Santa costume, beard and all, and I’d take a grainy photo using my iPod Touch which I’d present to them on Christmas morning.  We would then collect our Academy Awards and our Best Auntie and Uncle Ever rosettes, and wallow in pride for the rest of the day.  

Christmas morning came.  The kids were up, the house already a warzone of lego and wrapping paper and new socks.  “Ohmygosh, you guyyyssssss,” I said, super-casually, coming into the room.  (To this day, I still don’t know how to communicate with children).  “You guyssssss, look what I saw last night.  I was downstairs getting a drink of water and I heard a noise and LOOK WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE LIVING ROOM!”

Boom!  In your face, every other Christmas memory!  Auntie Lisa just killllled itttttt.

My niece Eleanor blinked at the photo.  My nephew Peter pushed his glasses up his nose.  Eleanor ate another spoonful of Shreddies.  Peter fiddled with a monster toy stocking-filler thing.  Peter eventually said, “So, is he real then?”

Improv theatre + kids = not my strong suit.  I think I just waved at the photo, like, Well, obvs!

And the conversation moved on, back to cereal and who was going to finish first and whether one child could play with the other child’s new sticker book.  Un grande anti-climax.  Those kids though… savvy little buggers.  They weren’t fooled by Uncle Phil in a Hillary-style red pantsuit.

Although… later that morning we were all milling around after a visit to their local church.  The kids were chatting to their little friends, talk of what they had in their stockings, and how pretty each other’s festive jumpers were.  And what did Phil’s brother overhear?

“He was really in our house!  Auntie Lisa took a photo of him!”

*Actually, there became another use.  My Santa suit is still hanging up on a plastic Halloween skeleton who lives on a coat rack at my workplace.  He is affectionately known as Dead Santa and I forbid anyone to throw him away.

Thank you so much Lisa, I love the lengths you went to to keep the faith and belief of your niece and nephew. 

About Lisa Dickenson

Lisa Dickenson is the pseudonym for Beyoncé. OK, FINE, THAT'S NOT TRUE.


Lisa lives by the Devon seaside, stuffing cream teas in the gobs of anyone who comes to visit, and writing stuff down that she hopes is funny. Her first novel was the copyright-infringing Sweet Valley Twins: The Twins Holiday Horror, which she wrote in primary school and gave up on after five pages. Twenty-ish years later Lisa went on to be a *real author* and wrote the Novelicious Debut of the Year, The Twelve Dates of Christmas. In summer 2016 out popped You Had Me at Merlot. She's now keeping her fingers crossed that everyone will like her third paperback, Mistletoe on 34th Street, and that New York City gives her a free apartment near Central Park as a 'well done'.


Purchase link for Mistletoe:  goo.gl/ZRMRcN 

Media links:
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Olivia has never experienced a snow-covered, 'traditional' Christmas before. Having grown up in a family that chose winter sun over decking the halls, she's not sure what all the fuss is about. So when she and her colleagues are stranded in New York after a work trip, Olivia is perfectly happy spending the holiday season in the Big Apple.

Jon, Olivia's friend, on the other hand is desperate to get home in time for his big family get-together. Nevertheless, determined to make the best out of the situation, he sets out to show Olivia how enchanting Christmas in New York can be. And when handsome New Yorker Elijah is added to the mix, could the magic of the season finally be working its charm on Olivia? As 25 December draws closer, Olivia suddenly finds herself with a decision to make: who does she really want to kiss under the mistletoe this Christmas?

Full of romance and festive magic, Mistletoe on 34th Street is the funniest and most charming love story you will read this Christmas!

Guest Post - Curses, foiled again…by Nic Tatano - #CuteChristmas

Of all the cats I’ve had in my lifetime, and there have been many, our Siamese kitty Pandora was with us the longest. Seventeen years. Which was pretty incredible since she was abandoned by the mother cat when only a few days old and kept alive with an eyedropper and bottle.

Pandora was very attached to me, a true one-person cat, but having been “raised by wolves” she had a ton of quirks, most of them related to food. I could not eat any potato chips with her in the room, as she was determined to eat one and would jump on me and get in my face trying to do so. (Salt isn’t good for cats, by the way.) Grapes were another obsession. Well, not the actual grapes. If you ate a bunch of grapes, left the stems in a bowl, and walked away, you’d return finding Pandora gnawing on them like a dog with a bone.

Then there were the inedible objects, as I once pulled a dress shirt from a laundry basket and found she had eaten every single button on it.

She was also a food critic. Give her a new brand of cat food she didn’t like, and she would turn her back on it and make a “covering it up” movement like it was something unsavory in the litter box.
But the one thing that was a true obsession with Pandora… ham. If she smelled a ham cooking she’d be pacing in the kitchen, back and forth like a caged animal in a zoo, determined to get a bite. If dinner included ham you either had to lock her in another room or stay completely focused on your plate, as she was not shy about jumping on the dinner table and stealing food.

We forgot about this one Christmas.

The holiday dinner had been a typical one; a ham with all the trimmings, lots of great side dishes and desserts. If you’re like most people you like to go back and nibble on the main dish later in the day, so before putting the ham in the fridge we left it on the cooktop and covered it with aluminum foil.
Forgetting about the family member with the ham obsession.

As we’re watching television, we suddenly heard a strange sound from the kitchen. Sort of like something metallic being crumpled up. I thought maybe we had a mouse in the house.
We got up to investigate, turned on the kitchen light, and there was our cat Pandora, standing with all fours on top of the ham, pulling back the foil with her teeth. Basically unwrapping what she considered to be her Christmas gift. Fortunately I was able to grab her before she got very far. I can only imagine that if we had gone out for a walk we would have come back to a ham covered with cat hair. Yum.

So, a word of advice to people with cats that really do not respect boundaries. (Now that I think about it, that’s pretty much every cat.) 

Tupperware makes a great Christmas gift. Because you simply can’t foil a cat.

What a fantastic story Nic, I loved it, and I love Pandora too. Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays.

Amazon UK

The purrfect gift this Christmas…

The night her house catches fire, kick-ass lawyer Tish McKenna’s neatly ordered life is thrown into chaos. At least she’s alive—thanks to her adorable cat, Socks!—and after her near-death experience Tish realises she wants more in her life than late nights and case files…

Professionally speaking, hot-shot attorney, Spencer Capshaw hadn’t realised how far off track he’d come. Sure, he had his reasons originally—saving his dad’s life required more money than the DA’s office paid him—yet helping corrupt corporate bigwigs was not why he became a lawyer…

With a little help from a furry friend, these two lost souls find each other in the heart of Manhattan. But when Tish and Spence are pitted against each other in a trial that pushes them both to their limits, can their budding relationship survive?

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