Book Review - My Sisters and Me by Lisa Dickenson

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Amazon UK

Title: My Sisters and Me

Author: Lisa Dickenson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 23rd August 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

They're fixing up their childhood home. It's going to get messy.

When Willow Lake asks her daughters for help renovating the family home, each has a reason to hesitate about returning to Maplewood . . .

For quiet and bookish Emmy going back to the town that ridiculed her fills her with dread.

The youngest Noelle is perfectly comfortable in herself now, but once wanted to fit in so badly that she walked away from her first love. A first love who still lives in Maplewood.

And outspoken Rae is painfully aware of how much the townspeople hurt her little sisters growing up. She didn't protect them then, but there's no way she'll let history repeat itself.

The sisters agree to go home and make the best of it. After all if they've changed over the years, it's possible the townspeople have too . . . isn't it?

The BRAND NEW feel-good, kick-ass novel about sisterhood and second chances. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk, Mhairi McFarlane and Anna Bell.

I really enjoyed getting to know all 3 of the Lake sisters, Rae, Emmy and Noelle. 

Over the two months spent decorating their childhood home back in their home town of Maplewood they learn as adults how to deal with their awkward childhoods in the town. 

The Lake sisters always had a reputation for being creepy,  they were bullied, one was studious, one was gay and one may have been a bit of a rock chick,  and they lived on the outskirts of town in the woods.

None of them were particularly looking forward to these two months as they knew they may have to face up to all the old unpleasantness. 

Despite them now being successful women, just being back home had them regressing back to their younger selves. 

Filled with 90s nostalgia, this it's a story of righting old wrongs, reconnecting with the past and reforming stronger bonds as sisters.

I loved all three of them with their different personalities,  and all with their own personal goals besides making the house look great. 

This was a very enjoyable book and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Sphere for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Catch Me If You Cannes by Lisa Dickenson

Amazon UK

Title: Catch Me If You Cannes

Author: Lisa Dickenson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 3rd April 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Jess has decided it's time to get out of her comfort zone and live a little. So when her best friend Bryony, a journalist on a gossip magazine, is sent to cover the Cannes Film Festival, Jess decides to seize the day and go along for the ride. Two weeks of sun, glamour and exclusive entry into celeb-filled parties is just the kind of adventure Jess needs.

Reality soon bites though when Jess and Bryony find they're staying in a dingy hotel far away from all the action and Bryony's expenses budget barely covers a glass of local wine. Undeterred, the two women are determined to live like the elite and enjoy one fancy night out to begin their holiday. So what if they have to tell a few white lies along the way? It's just this once. No harm done . . . right?

Full of hilarious one-liners, sparkling blue seas and plenty of romantic moments, Catch Me If You Cannes is the story of two friends, a few white lies and one very sticky situation . . . 

If you are going on holiday this year then pick up a copy of Catch Me If You Cannes as it is perfect summer holiday reading. It's quick witted, hilarious, set during the Canne Film Festival and is generally a delightful story to read. 

It is split into four parts that all follow on from each other, but if you are are just trying to read for a short time, aim to read it part by part...although that may just lead you to reading the book in once sitting due to the mini cliffhangers, that make you want to continue reading regardless of real life pressures. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to try and infiltrate the gliterati at the Cannes Film Festival? Well that is exactly what Jess and Bryone manage with all manner of hilarious outcomes. There are some little white lies, some brilliant parties attended, both of their wallets take a beating, as they attempt to fit in somewhere they arguably shouldn't be. 

Bryony is a journalist and is attempting to dig up some dirt on the festival to try and make a breakthrough int more hard hitting journalism than her work at Sleb lets her. With her investigating and active imagination, it leads to all kinds of assumptions. 

I warmed to Jess from the first sentence of the book, which gave a great insight as to potentially the sort of character she would be.  Not too long into her first day in Cannes she meets a gorgeous man, and I loved seeing how their story developed, along with their addiction to Nutella Crepes! 

With the whole book I really felt as though I was there besides the characters, that I could feel the sun beating down in me in the South of France, as they experience Cannes during the crazy two weeks of the Festival. I loved their day trip to Monaco, and could picture everything so clearly that i thought I was there too. 

Every second of Catch Me If You Cannes had me smiling, feeling so happy that I was able to enjoy this fabulous book. It is such a joyous reading experience, quick paced, the whole story takes place over just two weeks, and what an action packed two weeks it is.   The sense of humour in the book was great, as was everything to do with Catch Me If You Cannes. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sphere for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

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 

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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!

Book Review - Mistletoe on 34th Street by Lisa Dickenson

Amazon UK

Title: Mistletoe on 34th Street

Author: Lisa Dickenson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 3rd October 

Rating: 5 Stars

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!

I have a feeling that by the time I recap my top Christmas books of 2016, that Mistletoe on 34th Street will be right up there. It has everything that epitomises a Christmas novel, including the person who doesn't really get Christmas, New York, snow, flights being cancelled so you have to be stuck somewhere against your will, and a whole host of romantic and comic moments. 

I'm not sure where I should start in discussing this book, there are so many good elements to it, written with a fantastic sense a humour, that just had me engrossed from the beginning to the end. Each chapter is another day closer to Christmas, and it centres around a group of colleagues that have gone to New York for a conference around 10 days before Christmas, and when they are due to fly back there is unusually a complete white out in the UK. 

Olivia is more used to spending Christmas in winter sun destinations along with her family, so has never experiences the quintessential cold, wintery Christmas, with all the regular traditions. However is with a little help from her friends, wanting to learn how to embrace Christmas fully. 

Jon, who is also in New York and has been friends with Olivia for years, is determined to show Olivia a New York Christmas she will remember forever. Elijah who she meets in an airport, who in his opening scenes introduces us to the word "twonklodite" which I love as a word, also wants to show Olivia a good time. 

There are so many funny moments, and the business meeting that Olivia has with Lara during the conference is just fantastic, once you realise what they are both really talking about. Got to love a whole conversation at cross purposes! 

I love Christmas books set in New York and it was great to see the city through someone's eyes who was really only just discovering its magic for the first time. The places they went really show off Christmas at New York to its best, with a few out of the way places too, and the scene in Macys just gave me goose bumps, in a good way! 

I would love to say a lot more about this book but I'd rather not give away any more of its charms, lets just say the whole book is Christmassy, and has a sense of festive magic about it. I can't believe how much enjoyment I got out of this book, even while real life is getting slightly tricky. 

Thank you so much to Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.