BOOK REVIEW: The Day We Meet Again by Miranda Dickinson

Their love story started with goodbye…‘We’ll meet again at St Pancras station, a year from today. If we’re meant to be together, we’ll both be there. If we’re not, it was never meant to be…’Phoebe and Sam meet by chance at St Pancras station. Heading in opposite directions, both seeking their own adventures, meeting the love of their lives wasn’t part of the plan. So they make a promise: to meet again in the same place in twelve months time if they still want to be together.
But is life ever as simple as that?
This is a story of what-if’s and maybes- and how one decision can change your life forever…

Publisher: HQ

Pages: 392

I am a big fan of Miranda Dickinson and her latest book, The Day We Meet Again does not disappoint. Phoebe and Sam have a chance encounter at St Pancras station, Phoebe is about to go off for a year to tour Europe and Sam is heading home to Mull in search of answers about his father who walked out in his childhood. The connection between them is instant and cannot be ignored, they have very little time together but agree to meet up in a years time at the same spot they met. If it is meant to be then they will both be there. We then follow them both on their separate journeys and are privy to their messages, emails and phone-calls. On the one hand they are so sure of their feelings for each other but on the other hand there are niggling doubts, is it crazy to think they can be together after just one short encounter?

The Day We Meet Again is romantic, captivating and a joy to read. I loved how we visited so many locations within the book, Mull, Edinburgh, Paris, Puglia, Cornwall to name but a few, Miranda really gives you a good feel of them with her wonderful descriptions and you feel like you are going along for the journey.

Sam and Phoebe are both extremely likeable characters, they both make mistakes within the story but I was willing for them to be together by the end of the book. Dickinson makes the idea of love at first sight entirely believable, the way Sam and Phoebe interact with each other and the feelings they divulge make their connection realistic and as a reader you can envisage them having a future together.

I enjoyed the back story of Sam looking for his father, it shows how our past can often hold back our future. Sam knows he has to deal with this issue before he can move forward, he wants to be with Phoebe but he can’t give himself completely until he has resolved this issue. 

I can highly recommend The Day We Meet Again, it is a great book to lose yourself in for a few hours. 

BOOK REVIEW: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by Miranda Dickinson

Seren MacArthur is living a life she never intended. While grieving for the loss of her late father, and trying to save the Cornish seaside business he built, she has put her own dreams on hold and is struggling- until she discovers a half finished seaglass star on her favourite beach during an early morning walk. When she completes the star, she sets into motion a chain of events that will steal her heart and challenge everything she believes. Jack Dixon is trying to secure a better life for daughter Nessie and himself. Left a widower and homeless when his wife died, he’s just about keeping their heads above water. Finding seaglass stars completed on Gwithian Beach is a bright spark that slowly rekindles his hope.Seren and Jack are searching for their missing pieces. But when they meet in real life, it’s on the opposing sides of a battle. Jack is managing the redevelopment of a local landmark- and Seren is leading the community campaign to save it. Both have reasons to fight- Seren for the cause her father believed in, Jack for his livelihood. But only one can win. With so much at stake, will they ever find what they are really looking for?

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 496

I completely loved this book! Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a delight from beginning to end. I have a huge desire to visit Cornwall but Miranda Dickinson created such vivid images with her descriptions that I feel like I have already been. 

Seren MacArthur is trying to keep her father’s ailing art gallery going after his death but it is a huge struggle. Jack Dixon is struggling too, he has lost his wife and is doing everything he can to support his young daughter Nessie. He and Nessie begin to make beautiful stars on the beach made from seaglass. Seren finds them and begins adding to them. For both parties it becomes the highlight of their day and they have no idea about each other. 

Seren and Jack’s paths cross when he is the lead on a new building project that Seren and the community are opposing. They are on such different pages yet there is an undeniable connection between them. Can it ever come right and is there a solution that would make them both happy?

Miranda Dickinson gets the tone just right within the book. I loved the romantic element but she makes it realistic too by exploring the many issues that Seren and Jack have independently.

The Cornish setting is beautiful and lends itself perfectly to the story. I really enjoyed reading about the community that Seren lives in and how it has both helped and hindered her. 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea made me smile and feel hopeful for life changes and new opportunities, it’s a lovely read. 

BLOG TOUR: Searching for a Silver Lining by Miranda Dickinson

It's my birthday today!! What better way to celebrate than hosting a stop on the blog tour for Miranda Dickinson's latest book, Searching for a Silver Lining. Here's the idea behind the book:

Matilda Bell is left heartbroken when she falls out with her beloved grandfather just before he dies. Haunted by regret, she makes a promise that will soon change everything . . .

When spirited former singing star Reenie Silver enters her life, Mattie seizes the opportunity to make amends. Together, Mattie and Reenie embark on an incredible journey that will find lost friends, uncover secrets from the glamorous 1950s and put right a sixty-year wrong.

Touchingly funny, warm and life-affirming, this is a sparkling story of second chances. Perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern, Searching for a Silver Lining will take you on a trip you'll never forget.

Miranda's books are simply brilliant and she is so enthusiastic about interacting with her readers, today she has kindly written a piece about what her hopes are for Searching for a Silver Lining:

Every author hopes the stories they write will resonate with readers. I’m no exception! I want my readers to have an absolute blast of a ride while reading Searching for a Silver Lining. I would love to make them laugh, cry, gasp and fall in love with the characters I’ve created. I think the hardest part of writing a book – apart from the actual physically demanding job of getting the story from my head to the paper – is letting it go when it’s finished. Trusting that this story will find its readers and that other people (most of whom I’ve never met) will take it to their hearts is the biggest challenge to me as a writer. I have no control over anyone else’s opinion, so the only thing I can do is to work hard to make my books the best they can be. I hope the story touches people who read it. Searching for a Silver Lining is about second chances and the power of forgiveness – even after a lifetime of hurt. It’s about the amazing places life can take you, if you’re willing to take the risk. I hope my book will make people laugh. Let’s face it, there hasn’t been much to laugh about in recent months. I think my readers deserve something warm and funny, touching and life-affirming to help combat the gloom we seem to be surrounded by right now. People often dismiss comedy as flippant and unimportant, but I think it’s essential to help us make sense of the world we live in. Lastly, I hope readers feel like I wrote this story just for them. Because I did. Thanks so much for reading this blog exclusive! For more, follow my Searching for a Silver Lining blog tour. I really hope you enjoy Mattie’s story!

Thank you to Miranda for writing this lovely piece, make sure you buy the book!!! I'm off to eat Birthday cake now! 

BLOG TOUR: A Parcel for Anna Browne by Miranda Dickinson

I am delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for Miranda Dickinson's latest book, A Parcel for Anna Browne, another fantastic book from this very talented author!

Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn't exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more.
When a parcel addressed to Anna arrives, she has no idea who sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift- one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries; each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be.
As Anna grows in confidence others begin to notice her and her life starts to change. But who is sending the mysterious gifts and why?

Publisher: Pan 

Pages: 516

I have always enjoyed Miranda Dickinson's books and A Parcel for Anna Browne is one of her best. Anna moved from Cornwall to start a new life in London. She has a very normal life in the city, working as a receptionist at a big newspaper. Things get more exciting though when a parcel arrives for Anna at work. It contains a beautiful gift that has been especially chosen for Anna. There is no card with the gift though, Anna is overjoyed by the beautiful and thoughtful gift but she doesn't have anybody to thank. As more beautiful gifts arrive, Anna becomes more and more interested in who might be sending them. Each gift leads Anna to being more confident and they make her question whether she wants more from life.
I really liked Anna Browne as a character; she is clearly one of life's good people. I felt that at times she had very high expectations of those around her which on one hand was endearing but on the other was also slightly naive. Those around her seem to recognise that about Anna and are therefore quite protective of her.
A Parcel for Anna Browne made me th
ink a little of the early books of Cecilia Aherne. The gifts bring a magical element to the book. They bring a lovely sense of anticipation to the story as you wonder what each one will contain; how it will effect Anna and most importantly who is sending them?
I think that Miranda is always very good at describing the locations within her story, she manages to really bring them alive. I loved the description of the newspaper office and the types of people coming in and out. Having worked in a very similar building, I felt that Miranda got it spot on.
The supporting characters are all very good, each brings something to the story and some brought a great deal of humour which really lifted the story.
A Parcel for Anna Browne is a lovely book and it would make an excellent gift if you are already thinking about your Christmas shopping. Miranda Dickinson writes with warmth, humour and a little sparkle of magic in this book and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to the lovely people at Pan for inviting me to take part in the blog tour! 

Fabulous Fridays: Chick Lit

I have been thinking about this post for a while but have been putting it off as I hate, hate, hate the term Chick lit! I think it has far too many derogatory connotations yet it is one of my favourite genres to read. So off I went to get a definition of what Chick Lit is and I found this:

Chick Lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood...

This still isn't great as it still sounds a bit feminist and bra burning to me but I interpret it as books about women! I am a woman and therefore it is likely that I am going to enjoy reading books about other women, I hold my hands up to the fact that I very rarely read books with a male lead character or written by a man. I think this is a subconscious choice, I do have a few male authors who I enjoy but it is mainly books by female authors sitting on my TBR pile.

So sorry for the preamble but here is a list of some of my favourite chick-lit books and inadvertently this list also includes all of my favourite chick-lit authors. These are the writers I go to when I want a great story, likeable characters, a bit of drama and the odd happy ending. These are the authors that I get excited about having a new book out as I just know that I am guaranteed a treat! 

I apologise right now if you don't agree with my definition of Chick Lit but I hope that some of these books might be of interest to you, just click on the title to read my review!

Have a lovely weekend

Dot
xxx 

The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster, 492 pages) Life is full of second chances...if only you keep your heart open for them.
Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. And at its centre is Leni Merryman's Teashop on the Corner, a place where three people will find a friend to lean on.
Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. But now she must learn to put her marriage behind her and move forward.
Molly Jones' ex-husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years, wanting to put right the wrongs of the past before it's too late.
And Will Linton's business has gone bust and his wife has left him to pick up the pieces. Now he needs to gather the strength to start again.
Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in The Teashop on the Corner? And as their hearts are slowly mended by Leni, can they return the favour when she needs in the most?

Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon (Simon & Schuster, 422 pages) Sometimes you just have to step out of the light to see clearly again...

Bronte never expected to see Alex after their one night together, but she never stopped thinking of him. So when she arrives at work one day to find that Alex is a new colleague, she is secretly thrilled. The only problem is that Alex is now engaged to the girl he was on a break from the night they met.
Determined to move on, Bronte becomes a part-time wedding photographer, alongside her day job. Surrounded by loving couples, tearful bridesmaids, mischievous  pageboys and interfering mother-in-laws, she struggles through wedding after wedding whilst he heart is slowly torn apart.
As Alex's own wedding day draws ever nearer, their chemistry becomes harder to ignore. Bronte must decide whether to fight for the man she loves, or to let him go forever. 

You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher (Penguin, 400 pages) Maddy, Ben and Robert have been inseparable since they met in the school playground. They've stuck together through thick and thin, feeling safe in the knowledge that they have each other.
So when Ben falls hopelessly in love with Maddy, he decides to keep it quiet for the sake of their friendship. Until Robert swoops in and kisses Maddy- irrevocably fracturing things between them as the kiss turns to love.
But when Robert and Maddy's love turns sour, can Ben continue to say nothing? And can Maddy choose between her two best friends?

Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson (Avon, 416 pages) When Nell's on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, the last thing she expects is to lose her job. Heartbroken and unemployed, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to San Francisco. But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews (Sphere, 448 pages) Grace had always been best friends with Ella and Flick. The late night chats, shared heartaches and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time.
When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband.
Then Flick arrives: lovable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah.
This is going to be one week that will change all of their lives forever...

The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes (Penguin, 624 pages) Helen Walsh doesn't believe in fear- it's just a thing invented by man to get all the money and good  jobs- and yet she's sinking . Her work as a private investigator has dried up, her flat has been repossessed and now some old demons have resurfaced.
Not least in the form of her charming but dodgy ex-boyfriend Jay Parker, who shows up with a missing person case/ Money is tight- so tight Helen's had to move back with her elderly parents- and Jay is awash with cash. The missing person is Wayne Diffney, the 'wacky one' from boyband Laddz.
He's vanished from his house in Mercy Close and it's vital that he's found- Laddz have a sell-out comeback gig in five days time.
Things ended messily with Jay. And she's never going back there. Besides she has a new boyfriend now, the very sexy detective Artie Devlin and it's all going well, even though his ex-wife isn't quite 'ex' enough and his teenage son hates her. But the reappearance of Jay is stirring up all kinds of stuff she thought she'd left behind.
Playing by her own rules, Helen is drawn into a dark and glamorous world, where her worst enemy is her own head and where increasingly she feels connected to Wayne, a man she's never even met. 

To The Moon and Back by Jill Mansell (Headline, 416 pages) When Ellie Kendall loses her husband Jamie in an accident she feels her world has come to an end. But life has to go on and eventually she's ready for a new start- at work, that is. She definitely doesn't need a new man, not while she has a certain secret visitor to keep her company...
Entrepreneur Zack McLaren seems to have it all, but the girl he can't stop thinking about won't give him a second glance. Why can't she pay him the kind of attention she lavishes on Elmo, his time share dog?
Having moved  to an exclusive flat in North London, Ellie becomes friendly with neighbour Roo who's harbouring a secret of her own. Between them, can both girls sort out their lives? Guilt is a powerful emotion, but a lot can happen in a year in Primrose Hill...

Book Review: Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson

When Nell's on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, the last thing she expects is to lose her job. Heartbroken and unemployed, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to San Francisco. But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

I have enjoyed Miranda Dickinson's latest book so much. Take a Look at Me Now is a lovely, aspirational, entertaining and warm read. The only problem I had with it is that I now want to live in San Francisco!
Nell has lost her job, the shock made even worse by it being her on-off boyfriend firing her. Armed with her redundancy pay-out, Nell heads off to San Francisco where her cousin Lizzie is based. 8 weeks should be long enough to come up with a plan of action but the problem may be that she won't want to come back.
I have enjoyed all of the books I have read by Miranda Dickinson. Nell, like Miranda's other female characters is well, rounded, likeable and
more importantly, believable. Nell is worried about losing her job but she is not desperate to carry on in the same career. She has always wanted to run her own American diner so where better to do some research then one of the greatest American cities?
My favourite part of the book was San Francisco . Miranda's enthusiasm and in-depth research was clear to see. I felt that she really brought the city alive in the book and I found myself researching the places that explores during her visit.
I would highly recommend Take a Look at Me Now. Miranda Dickinson's writing is up-lifting and entertaining; I think she brings a breath of fresh air to this genre and I'm already excited about her future books.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Pages: 416

Publisher: Avon

Take a Look at Me Now is out October 24th!!!

Book Review: When I Fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson

Elsie Maynard never expected to be starting again.
But eighteen months on fron the biggest challenge of her life, she is doing just that- because she made a promise to the person who believed in her the most.
Determined to step into her uncertain future, Elsie meets handsome Oliver Hogarth who seems intent on winning her heart and inadvertently founds a choir.
Then a heartfelt request brings her to Paris- and the final item on 'The List' she never dared complete. Can Elsie follow her heart and put her past to rest?

I have read Miranda Dickinson's previous books so I knew I was in for a treat when this one arrived.
When I Fall in Love is a lovely, romantic read. Elsie Maynard is moving on with her life, her new project is a choir, she is going to be the female equivalent to Gareth Malone. Her love life is also taking a new turn in the form of Oliver Hogarth, he is happy to take things slowly but will Elsie ever be ready to love again? Add to this mix Torrin Stewart who inadvertently keeps on coming to Elsie's rescue yet she cannot bear to be in the same room as him.
I love the humour that Miranda Dickinson injects into her books, I found the character of Woody particularly funny. The ageing rocker spurs Elsie on, he is not afraid to take risks and live life to the full, which is exactly what Elsie needs.
The final part of the book takes part in Paris so you obviously can't get any more romantic. Elsie takes the trip to fulfil someone else's dream but her time there is a big turning point, it allows her to leave the past behind and face the future.
I have to say that I liked the character of Oliver but I loved the brooding character of Torin Stewart, he is like a brooding Mr Darcy and for me that is always a welcome element to a book.
When I Fall in Love is such an enjoyable read, it has plenty of humour and romance and I was truly moved by Elsie's story. Miranda Dickinson has delivered another great book and I highly recommend that you take a look.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Avon for sending me this book to review, When I Fall in Love is out now! Also I meant to say that the cover may have people thinking that this is a Christmas time book but it actually has nothing to do with Christmas and would be lovely to read any time of the year!

Book Review: Welcome to my World by Miranda Dickinson

Close your eyes and imagine the world is your oyster...
And now imagine never seeing it. Welcome to Harriet Langton's world. All her life she's dreamt of travelling the globe, but fate always got in the way.
Working as a travel agent, the closest Harri comes to her dream destination of Venice is booking the trip for someone else. But everything changes when travel fanatic Alex drops in.
With boyfriend Rob tied up with work, Harris is persuaded to help Alex in his quest for love. But in her attempts to help, Harri is soon discovers a whole new set of problems. Now Harri is locked in a ladies loo cubicle at the village hall drowning in her sorrows.
Desperate to leave her life behind, will her dreams finally come true? Or will Harri's leap of faith be her biggest mistake yet?

I missed Miranda Dickinson's first book, Fairytale of New York so I didn't really know what to expect when I was sent Welcome to my World to review. What I got though was a lovely book that I couldn't put down. The book starts with Harri hiding in the toilet cubicle at the village hall, believing her life is over. We then see her recollections of what has happened in the past to lead up to this point. I love structures like this as you know that something dramatic has happened so of course you want to find out more.
There is a lot of irony in this book; Harri is a travel agent with an obsession with travel books and programmes, yet she has never left the country to actually explore the exotic destinations that she dreams about. Then we have her quest to find her friend Alex a girlfriend when her own relationship appears to be falling apart. However I did like her as a character; she is genuinely nice and goes out of her way to help several people in the book.
Alex is a great character too and it is evident from the beginning just how much he cares for Harri and just wants the very best for her. Along with Alex's mum, Viv and her aunt Rosemary, Harri has plenty of people looking our for her.
Miranda Dickinson explores how scary it can sometimes be to follow your dreams and what happens when you realise that what you really want has been right in front of you all along. It's hard to review this book without giving too much away and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Welcome to my World is a great read though, extremely entertaining and romantic.


Welcome to my World is in shops now, may thanks to the lovely Charlotte at Harper Collins / Avon for sending me a copy to review.