Festive Fun: My Fantasy Christmas Dinner Party

Tonight I'm kicking off what I'm hoping will be a fun feature that I will be hosting every night in the run up to Christmas.

The idea for this My Fantasy Christmas Dinner feature came about as over the last couple of years our company decided to have site based Christmas parties, with just a couple of free drinks and a buffet on offer, rather than the sit-down team meals that they used to pay for.  As I haven't had a traditional family Christmas for quite some time, I always love the chance to have a good catch up with friends over a meal and drinks especially if it's the chance for someone else to cook for me, so decided to host a virtual dinner party instead.

For this feature which I hope everyone will enjoy reading, I invited bloggers and authors to take part in hosting their own Fantasy Christmas Dinner party. My initial thoughts were for them to come up with 5 authors, dead or alive, who they would invite to the party and why they chose them. Then for an added challenge I suggested that maybe this could be expanded to include fictional characters and maybe plan the perfect menu or after dinner entertainment! So here's my feeble attempt as I'm definitely a reader and not a writer...

My first guest won't be a surprise for some of my friends as she wrote one of my all-time favourite books Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. I've lost count how many times I've read this book since my teens and my lovely blogger friend Linda Hill gifted me this gorgeous Macmillan Collector's Library edition for my birthday a couple of years ago.

The second guest is an author I would have loved to have met in person, but sadly I never got the chance to meet her although she was always so lovely to interact with on social media and had been a guest on the blog many times, Emma Hannigan. Emma was an inspirational women who sadly died last year after a long battle with cancer. Her final book The Gift of Friends is still sat in my TBR as I know that once I've read there will be no more new books coming from her but think I might bite the bullet and read it during my time off over Christmas.

Emma's Review: The Gift of Friends by Emma Hannigan

Reviewed by Emma Crowley 

Kingfisher Road - a leafy, peaceful street in the town of Vayhill. But there are whispers behind closed doors. Who is moving into Number 10?

Engaged to handsome, wealthy Justin Johnston, Danielle appears to her new neighbours to have the perfect, glossy life. But not everything is as it seems...

In fact, each of the other four women who live close by has a secret, and each is nursing their own private heartache.

But could a gift be waiting on their doorsteps? And, by opening their front doors, and their hearts, to each other, could the women of Kingfisher Road discover all the help they need?

Amazon Affiliate Links: Kindle or Paperback

Books Read: The Perfect Gift by Emma Hannigan

Happy Birthday, darling girl...

Ever since she can remember, Roisin has received a birthday card in the post. Signed with love from the birth mother she has never met.

Brought up by her adoptive parents, Keeley and Doug, Roisin has wanted for nothing. But on her thirtieth birthday a letter comes that shakes her world.

For Keeley, who's raised Roisin as her own, the letter reminds her of a secret she's been holding for thirty years.

And for Nell, keeping watch in the lighthouse, the past is a place she rarely goes. Until a young runaway arrives seeking shelter, and unwraps the gift of hope for them all...

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback 

Books Read: Emma Hannigan - The Heart of Winter

Holly Craig's family have lived happily in Huntersbrook for generations but when times grow hard, even she must admit defeat and sell off their once-successful stables. 

The three Craig children, Lainey, Joey and Pippa find themselves locked in a fight to keep their beloved Huntersbrook; dare they transform it into one of Ireland's most sought after countryside venues? 

Renovation work is well underway when life rears its ugly head and everything stops in its tracks. The Craig family is forced to reassess what matters and although they no longer live at Huntersbrook, can the house work its magic even so ... and lead them into the light once more?

Amazon links Kindle or Paperback

Books Read: Emma Hannigan - The Summer Guest

A little magic is about to come to sleepy Caracove Bay... 

Lexie and her husband Sam have spent years lovingly restoring No. 3 Cashel Square to its former glory. So imagine Lexie's delight when a stranger knocks on the door, asking to see the house she was born in over sixty years ago. 

Kathleen is visiting from America, longing to see her childhood home... and longing for distraction from the grief of losing her husband. 

And as Lexie and Sam battle over whether or not to have a baby and Kathleen struggles with her loss, the two women realise their unexpected friendship will touch them in ways neither could have imagined. 

In Caracove, there's more than a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback 

Guest Book Review: Emma Hannigan - The Secrets We Share

Reviewed by Emma Crowley 

Clara Conway is a woman with secrets. 

But consequently, Clara's family is falling apart. Her son Max emigrated to the US years ago and she has yet to meet her teenage granddaughter, Nathalie...because Max and his mother no longer speak.

Meanwhile Clara's daughter Ava is fighting for a piece of happiness. When Clara unexpectedly reaches out to Nathalie and her niece comes to visit, Ava's thoughts turn to Max, the brother she loved and lost. The brother whose abrupt disappearance left the Conway family heartbroken. 

When Nathalie finds a pile of torn, faded letters, she unlocks the door to Clara's past. Can Nathalie's time with her grandmother start to right some very old wrongs? And can Clara find a way to reach out to Max and thereby begin to heal the whole family once more? 

After all, some secrets are meant to be shared...

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback

Cover Reveal: The Secrets We Share by Emma Hannigan

This afternoon I am honoured to have been asked to do the cover reveal for Emma Hannigan's new novel The Secrets We Share which is being published on 9th April. 

I'm so in love with this cover, the designers have done a fabulous job as it's definitely my favourite to date of Emma's covers so without further ado let me present to you this stunning beauty...

Clara Conway is a woman with secrets. 

But consequently Clara's family is in the process of falling apart. Her son Max emigrated to the US with his young family years ago and she has yet to meet her teenage granddaughter, Nathalie ... because Max and his mother no longer speak. 

Blog Tour: Exclusive extract from The Summer Guest by Emma Hannigan

Today I am delighted to be kicking off the blog tour for Emma Hannigan's latest novel The Summer Guest, which is published next Thursday, with an exclusive extract to get us in the mood for what I am sure is going to be another bestseller. 

Chapter 1

LEXIE GLANCED AT HER WATCH, MAKING SURE SHE had enough time for another cup of coffee. The remnants of breakfast festooned the table. She smiled to herself. Her husband, Sam, was such a creature of habit. As regular as clockwork, he stacked his coffee mug on top of his toast plate, with the knife neatly tucked alongside, but it never occurred to him to transport the pile across the kitchen to the dishwasher.

This was Lexie’s favourite moment of the day. She flicked off the radio, posted a capsule into the Nespresso machine, placed her already used cup under the spout and pressed the brew button. She and Sam liked to hear the news headlines followed by the round-up of that day’s newspapers, and after that, Lexie relished a few minutes of silence. She felt it set her up for the day ahead. 

As she crossed the kitchen to the bay window seat, her leather-soled ballerina pumps made a satisfying sound as they connected with the waxed wooden floorboards. She perched on the long, spongy cushion and gazed out into the oval railed-in park opposite. The late May sunshine flooded the neatly kept communal space. Although each of the houses in Cashel Square had fine-sized gardens, the residents all made use of the wooden benches in the park. They took turns to tend the flowerbeds and keep the place clean. It was too small to appeal to gangs of youths and the absence of swings or play equipment meant it rarely attracted non-resident families.

Lexie sipped her coffee and closed her eyes to savour it. It was just the right temperature, black and strong with no sugar and a delectable covering of crema.

Coming soon from Headline & Tinder Press

This Summer is certainly turning out to be a busy one for book lovers as there are so many fab books being published, today I've decided to feature a few of the books that Headline Review and Tinder Press will be publishing this July and August.  Which ones will you be adding to your wishlist?

Season to Taste or How to Eat Your Husband by Natalie Young (published 3rd July)

Always let the meat rest under foil for at least ten minutes before carving...

Meet Lizzie Prain. Ordinary housewife. Fifty-something. Lives in a cottage in the woods, with her dog Rita. Likes cooking, avoids the neighbours. Runs a little business making cakes.

No one has seen Lizzie's husband, Jacob, for a few days. That's because last Monday, on impulse, Lizzie caved in the back of his head with a spade. And if she's going to embark on the new life she feels she deserves after thirty years in Jacob's shadow, she needs to dispose of his body. Her method appeals to all her practical instincts, though it's not for the faint-hearted. Will Lizzie have the strength to follow it through?

Strange Girls and Ordinary Women by Morgan McCarthy (published 3rd July)

They say you know instinctively who to trust.

Alice is normal; she'd never do anything rash. But when she sees her husband one day with a younger girl, she knows at once that he's having an affair. And it must be stopped.

Vic loves her friend Michael, more than he knows. He wants happiness, and thinks he's found it with the magnetic Estella. But Vic feels sure she can't be trusted - and she needs to make Michael see that too.

They don't know Kaya; her life is tougher than they can imagine. But Kaya's a survivor, and she's determined to find a way out of her miserable world.

Three women, three lives that come crashing together in this dark, lyrical and utterly enthralling story of warped perceptions, female intuition and 'the other woman'.

Books Read: Emma Hannigan - Perfect Wives

When actress Jodi Ludlum returns to the Dublin village of Bakers Valley to raise her young son, she's determined to shield him from the media glare that follows her in LA. But coming home means leaving her husband behind - and waking old ghosts... Francine Hennessy was born and raised in Bakers Valley. To all appearances, she is the model wife, mother, home-maker and career woman. But, behind closed doors, Francine's life is crumbling around her. As Jodi struggles to conceal her secrets and Francine faces some shocking news, the two become unlikely confidants. Suddenly having the perfect life seems less important than finding friendship, and the perfect place to belong...

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback

Countdown to Christmas Day 6: Home made gift ideas by Emma Hannigan plus a fabulous giveaway

Today Countdown to Christmas feature is a guest post by multi-talented author Emma Hannigan talking about how home made marvels make magnificent presents! 

Short of cash? Need something to keep the little ones busy on cold gloomy afternoon? Maybe you want to give your friends or colleagues something a little bit different this Christmas. Why not make some decorations and gifts! Everyone adores and appreciates the thought and effort of a hand crafted present.

I love to bake so every year I make trays of brownies mince pies and all the traditional fare. But if you’re not the next Nigella and don’t have a bakers touch, why not try a crafty option? If you’re not creatively inclined my third option might suit you better! 

I cannot stress how much friends appreciate a gift that’s unique. My pressies usually include a book but one of these ideas might appeal too!

Author Interview & Giveaway: Emma Hannigan

Today I'm joined on the blog for a chat by bestselling author Emma Hannigan to celebrate the publication of her latest book Driving Home for Christmas which is out in the UK today.

Can you tell us a little bit about Driving Home for Christmas?
It’s a curl up and read in front of the fire type of book. Obviously from the title it encompasses all things Christmassy, but my main aim was to create a warm story around characters who come to realise the true meaning of family. 

Whether you love or loath Christmas this time of year evokes all sorts of emotions and I wanted to channel that sense of nostalgia and the longing that most of us have to be with our nearest and dearest at this time of year.

How hard is it to write a Christmas themed book when it’s not Christmastime?
Sadly, I am utterly addicted to Christmas. I would gladly have Christmas several times a year. So it gave me a wonderful excuse to listen to Wham’s, Last Christmas well into spring time. I genuinely adore Christmas and have great childhood memories to draw upon, so it’s actually incredibly comforting for me to be in a position to prolong the whole thing – even if it’s only fictional! 

Irish Fiction Month Sneak Peek: Emma Hannigan - Perfect Wives & Keeping Mum

Emma Hannigan is an author whose books I've started reading in the last couple of years.  Whilst browsing on Amazon I've seen that she's got a new book, Perfect Wives, being published as a Trade Paperback on.  I love the sound of it so will add it to my wishlist to order when it's published as a regular paperback.

When actress Jodi Ludlum returns home to Ireland to raise her young so in the leafy South Dublin village of Bakers Valley, she's determined to shield him from the media spotlight that has dogged her throughout her glittering career. Even if coming home means leaving her husband - and waking old ghosts.

Meanwhile, Francine Hennessy, queen of the coffee mornings, was born and raised in Bakers Valley. She takes pride in juggling her children, her beautiful home and her high-powered career. But behind closed doors, Francine's life is crumbling around her.

As Jodi struggles to keep her secrets to herself, and Francine comes to terms with some life-changing news, the two become unlikely friends. When they do, they quickly discover that there's no such thing as the perfect wife, or the perfect life - but sometimes it's better to be happy than to be perfect.

Books Read: Emma Hannigan - Driving Home for Christmas

Christmas at Huntersbrook House has always been a family tradition - log fires, long walks through the snowy fields and evenings spent in the local pub. And this year the three grown-up Craig children are looking forward to the holidays more than ever. Pippa to escape her partying lifestyle and mounting debts in Dublin; Joey the demands of his gorgeous girlfriend who seems intent on coming between him and his family; and Lainey to forget about her controlling ex and his recent engagement to another woman.

But with the family livery yard in financial trouble, this Christmas could be the Craig family's last at Huntersbrook as they face the prospect of selling the ancestral house.
 
As the holiday season gets underway, the family need to come up with a way to save their home, and face the problems they've been running away from in Dublin. And what better way to figure things out than around the fire at Huntersbrook House.

Books Read: Emma Hannigan - Talk to the Headscarf

Source - Bought (Amazon)

Imagine you're thirty-two, married with two small children, and you find out you're carrying a deadly cancer gene?  That was me in August 2005 when I discovered I had the BRCA1 Gene.  I chose to have a double masectomy and both ovaries removed, which reduced my risk to 5%.

I was just dressing in my victory dance outfit when my worst fears were realised.  Cancer struck anyway.  I've now battled and slayed cancer six times.  Talk to the Head Scarf is my story about how I lived, laughed and overcame some of the toughest times in my life.

If you know someone affected by cancer, or if you are a fellow 'cancer club member' I know you are scared, I was too. But you are not alone.  I am still here.  I am living proof that, against all odds, life can and does carry one. 

The score so far - Emma 6 - Cancer 0