Blog Tour: Love, Secret Santa by SA Domingo *AD Gifted

Hodder Children's Books sent me a review copy of Love, Secret Santa by SA Domingo ahead of the blog tour.

What Inspired Me to Write the Book

Winter – and Christmas especially – is a time of year that is almost inherently romantic. It’s perfect for snuggling up together, for confessing true feelings and it’s also a time of year for giving. So, it seemed like the ideal setting for a romantic story! I was very interested in showcasing a young black girl as the main character, and Angel’s academic side is something I could relate to. I was really keen to write about someone like her. It was also important to me to show a romantic relationship between two black kids in general, and I love the idea of former friends having drifted apart and then finding that actually they’re meant to be together. So all of these ingredients combined to make Love, Secret Santa a story that I was really glad to have the chance to bring to life!

It's nearly Christmas, but Angel Green isn't celebrating - she's too busy studying for a scholarship exam. On top of that, she's organising her school's charity fundraising campaign to help a local hospice. Unfortunately, her fundraising partner is Caspar Johnson: handsome, creative and fun, but TOTALLY unreliable.

Thank goodness for her Secret Santa who keeps leaving her amazing presents, including an intriguing hand-made advent calendar! Angel is dying to find out who her secret admirer is...

As they spend time together planning festive events, Angel realises that Caspar has hidden depths - and a secret that he's hiding behind his easy-going facade. Her advent calendar encourages Angel to take risks and open her heart - but has she left it too late to tell Caspar how she really feels?

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Source: Blog Tour | Review Copy

5 Words: Friendship, family, hard-work, Christmas, respect.

You could probably tell from my Book Beginnings last week that I very much enjoyed this book from the first page. I even love the cover, it's perfectly festive and I love the fonts and the fairylights. 

Love, Secret Santa was a fantastic quick read that put me right in the mood for Christmas and had me reaching for a hot drink. It's a cosy slow-burn that warms your heart, with characters that you can't help but care about. I love the little dramas and the insecurities and Angel's amazing freaking Hufflepuff heart.

The story itself is sweet, exploring themes of grief and friendship and respect and taking care of yourself. It examines boundaries and challenging yourself to step outside your comfort zone and putting your trust in someone else. I loved the way it all came together, even if there were points where I wanted to cry.

I do have to say that I had a whole lot of second hand embarrassment for Angel. I physically cringed at times like yikes girl take a step back. But I absolutely loved her as a character, and I cared about her and I wanted to see what was going to happen next.

Love, Secret Santa is the perfect antidote to the stresses of the festive season. I really want to see it as a Netflix film, because it's so full of cheese and cheer.

Ten Quick Reads to Smash Your Goodreads Challenge

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and is a chance for everyone to get to know fellow bloggers and share lists. I love lists. Every week is a different list.

This week is Top Ten 

Quick Reads to Smash Your Goodreads Challenge

It's that time of year where you look at your Goodreads challenge total and do a little Eek. Because time is almost up. But not to fear! Check out these quick reads and smash your challenge target.

It's a mix of graphic novels, comic bind ups, short stories, poetry collections, and books that were so amazing I couldn't help but race through them. And I loved every one.

• Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
• Not Hungry by Kate Karyus Quinn
• Letting Go by Cat Clarke
• Blackbird, Vol. 1 by Sam Humphries, Jen Bartel, Triona Farrell
• The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake by Sif Sigmarsdóttir
• The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie
• The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One by Amanda Lovelace
• Stay A Little Longer by Bali Rai
• The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge
• Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

What are you reading to finish up your challenge?

The 2019 UKYA Quiz

I wanted to do something to celebrate the amazing books I've read this year, and I wanted it to be fun. So here's a wee informal UKYA quiz featuring some of my favourite 2019 releases, there are no prizes (sorry, I'm skint!). I'd been debating whether to post this now or leave it for the post-Christmas lull, but I have no patience and Twitter decided for me so here it is.

Link to The 2019 UKYA Quiz

If you leave your Twitter handle then I'll let you know your scores, and I'll post the full answers in the New Year,

Huge thanks to Charlotte at Charlotte, Somewhere and Nicola at Fantastic Book Dragon for volunteering to test this quiz and give me some feedback.

How do you think you did?

Blog Tour: Book Review: A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan *AD Gifted

HQ sent me a free review copy of A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan ahead of the blog tour.

In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie's whirlwind Christmas wedding.

First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret about their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland.

Rosie’s older sister Katie is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself. If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans...

Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiance but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived – how can she tell them she's not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget.

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Source: Blog Tour | Review Copy

5 Words: Christmas, family, expectations, love, change.

Sarah Morgan can do no wrong, especially when it comes to Christmas. This is a perfect cosy family drama and charming romance, and I loved it.

I think my favourite thing about A Wedding in December was the setting. It was so real and I felt like I was there. And it was COLD. But even though we've barely had ice, I could almost see snow every time I looked up from this book and out of the window.

I felt so sorry for Maggie at times. Her life is falling apart and she feels like she's missing out on Rosie's life a bit, and everything is slipping from her and she feels so uninvolved. It tugged at my heartstrings so much.

I loved the relationship between Rosie and Katie. There was something so real about it, the small ways in which they thought they knew each other better than themselves, and thought that they each knew best. Rosie is the "impulsive one" but I think Katie is too at heart, and I loved how fiercely protective she was of her sister.

Actually, A Wedding in December explores a lot of relationships. It really delves down in to them, picks them apart with surprising consequences, and I loved the way it all played out.

Now I can't wait for Christmas!

Fantasy Dorothy Perkins Haul

I'm bored, I'm skint, I'm going window shopping!

Today I'm scouring the Dorothy Perkins website and putting together an outfit that I would love for present shopping, mooching around markets, and walking under the Christmas light displays. I'm looking for comfort and practicality, and things that can easily be integrated into other outfits.

So yeah, here's my imaginary Dorothy Perkins haul!

First up this gorgeous jumper. I'm a sucker for cobalt blue, it brings out the green in my eyes and the red in my hair, and it's probably the only really bright colour I'll wear year round. The knit is really pretty and I love the shape of the collar. I think this also looks pretty smart so it'll join my work wardrobe.

I think I was about ten the last time I wore corduroy, but I'm feeling a bit nostalgic and I remember it being quite warm. And it's winter so I need warm. Especially when I'm outside braving the elements between shops and sitting on unheated buses and metros. Being corduroy I don't think I'd wear them for anything other than generally nipping around the shops, but they're really pretty.

I love a pair of boots, and the more like walking boots they look the better. I actually already have about five pairs of boots that look really similar to these, but they're in various shades of brown and stages of wear because I have a problem and if I like something I won't stop buying it. I feel like these would work well on a dog walk too, they have a good tread.

So far I feel like my outfit is pretty tame in terms of shades, so I thought I'd add some colour and personality. I love this checked scarf and how it has So Many Colours. I've started wearing my hair in a knot on the back of my head, so I no longer benefit from my own hair knitting around my neck like a scarf and keeping me warm. Actual scarf to the rescue!

Basically I really bloody badly need a new coat and have done since I put my last one away in the spring. This probably wouldn't be the warmest, but paired with the outfit I think it'd be really stylish and if I swapped the corduroys for leather look trousers and the boots for a pair of stilettos I think it'd make this a perfect Christmas Drinks ensemble.

So there we have it, my attempts to put together something that isn't cotton tees and skinny jeans! I think I might be getting there when it come style. Ha.

OK so I accidentally actually bought that jumper oops. I guess I better actually wear it while I'm Christmas shopping! 

Book Beginnings: Love, Secret Santa by SA Domingo

For Book Beginnings, Rose City Reader invites us to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

For Friday 56, Freda's Voice asks you to turn to Page 56 in your book or 56% on your e-reader and pick a sentence.

I am currently reading Love, Secret Santa by S.A. Domingo.

Fat, soft flakes of snow swirled down towards the concourse below as Angel Green gazed out of the café window. Finally. It was really starting to feel like Christmas was around the corner, even if she had so much to cram in between now and the end of term.

I love these first lines, they're getting me right in the mood for Christmas! I love the cover, it's perfectly festive and I love the fonts and the fairylights

I'm on the blog tour for Love, Secret Santa by S.A. Domingo next week so I'm getting started on it this weekend.

"But... But nobody actually chooses the liver and onions..."

Angel chewed, swallowed, then grimaced, watching Ola and Izzy's horrified faces across the canteen table at lunchtime.

This book is perfect for cheering you up and making you smile. Angel is a little bit cringe and the second hand embarrassment is Real, but wow it's a tonic for stress. I can't wait to see how the rest of the story pans out because I am loving it so far.

What are you reading this week?

What I'm Looking Forward To This Month

2019 started out as an honestly terrible year. Everything pretty much fell apart and I was at one of the lowest points of my life, but things have turned right around and I am seeing the year out on a high.

I am so grateful to all of my friends who have let me rant and moan and bitch and be utterly selfish (because lets face it I've been a pretty self involved person this year) because now I'm not only back to being Me, but I think I'm a slightly better me.

Today I'm going to be sharing some of the things I'm looking forward to before the year is out

• Cuddles with my Baby Nephew
• Reading Festive Books (and rereading some favourites)
• Oldest Pubs Pub-Crawl
• Watching Cheesy Christmas Films (like these)
• Edinburgh Weekend Break
• Christmas at the Botanics
• Christmas Markets
• Finishing the Triwizardathon (team Durmstrang represent!)
• Feeding the Deer at Whitworth Hall (again)
• Enchanted Belsay
• Wrapping Presents
• Christmas Dinner
• Playing with my Nephew's Doll House

What are you looking forward to?