Review: Christmas at Carrington's

Author: Alexandra Brown
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: 5th December 2013
Pages: 365
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

Carrington’s Department store is thrown into a spin when the staff learn that a hot new reality TV show is to be filmed in-store, featuring the formidable retail guru, Kelly Cooper. Georgie Hart, in charge of Luxury Handbags, is reluctant, but quickly realises that the show could give Carrington’s a new lease of life. With Christmas around the corner, she’s also hoping that the season will deliver her the perfect Christmas present, in the form of Tom, the store’s dishy boss.

When the film crew arrive, things start to go wrong. One of Tom’s old flames, Zara, is working on the show and then, to top things off, Tom and Zara are sent off to Paris and New York for a spot of extra filming. When Georgie settles down in front of the box to watch the first show, worse it to come – Georgie is shown in a far from flattering light and she is horrified to learn what Tom has been up to.

Georgie fears this is turning out to be the worst Christmas ever, but Santa might have a got a little surprise in store for her stocking this year – but she’ll just have to wait until Christmas to find out!

Review

Georgie loves her job at Carrington's department store and being in charge of the Luxury Handbags section. It's Christmas time and her and Carrington's boss Tom are continuing to hit it off, what could possibly go wrong? What she's not banking on is TV show ‘Kelly Cooper Comes Instore’ taking over Carrington's and giving it a makeover that Georgie is not comfortable with. To top it all off Tom is romantically linked with Zara, the daughter of Kelly Cooper. Will Georgie get the perfect Christmas she's dreamed of or will Santa have something else in store for her this year?

I am delighted to be back with Georgie Hart in the lovely town of Mulberry-on-Sea. Carrington's department store always sounds so amazing, I'd love to take a trip there myself. Georgie is back with her best friend Sam and the hilarious Eddie, both who fill this book with charm and lots of laughter. 

I love how Alexandra Brown has thrown a whole host of new characters into the mix. Kelly and Zara really ruffle some feathers in Carrington's and it's fab to see how everyone reacts. Christmas is such a magical time, especially in a department store, I think Alexandra captured the magic beautifully.

There is a big sense of community in Carrington's, the employees tend to stick together and support each other no matter what. It is interesting to see how attitudes change as the employees learn to except the TV show as part of their daily lives albeit dramas still ensue!

Alexandra has written an absolutely fabulous sequel to Cupcakes at Carrington's. I believe that Christmas at Carrington's is a book that can be enjoyed at any time of year. I am also excited for Ice Cream at Carrington's which is due out on 5th June. If you can't wait till then you can catch up with Georgie on twitter right now: @GeorgieHart.

5/5 Stars

My Song Choice: My Favourite Things by Julie Andrews

Review: Me and Mr Carrington

Author: Alexandra Brown
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: 10th October 2013
Pages: 40
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

Georgie Hart can’t believe her luck. It looks like Tom, the hunky boss of Carrington’s Department Store, in the picture-postcard town of Mulberry-on-Sea, is as hot for her as she is for him. After a romantic Italian get-together leaves her on Cloud Nine, Georgie is brought back down to earth with a bump when she has to get back behind the counter of the Luxury Handbags section.

But when Georgie is left open-mouthed by a revelation from one of her well-heeled customers, it seems like Tom hasn’t been entirely honest with her. Has Georgie done her usual trick of adding two and two together to make five?

Review
Georgie Hart is a very happy girl. Having bagged herself the hottest man in Mulberry-on-Sea, Mr Tom Carrington, she feels like the luckiest girl in the world. But leaving Tom behind in Italy on business after their romantic rendezvous might be harder than Georgie realises. When her customers come in gossiping about Tom and his Italian adventures, Georgie becomes more than a bit worried. Has Georgie overstepped the mark and presumed too much about her and Tom's relationship? Will all be well when Tom returns home?

Me and Mr Carrington was a welcome treat from Alexandra Brown. It was the perfect way to break up the time between Cupcakes at Carrington's and Christmas at Carrington's. This short story was a fun and easy read with some fantastic returning characters. Georgie is a relatable main character and for that reason this story has extra charm that you don't find in all books. Even though Me and Mr Carrington was a short story I didn't feel like anything was missing. It was a perfectly contained story all by itself.

This book is great for a catch up with Georgie and the gang. Eddie is funny and quick with his remarks and Sam is there to support Georgie whatever happens. I also really loved one of Carrington's customers, the Countess. She was hilarious without even meaning to be! I will definitely be recommending this book to all fans of the Carrington's series.

5/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Summer Boy by Lady GaGa

Book Releases: 5th December

I cannot believe it is December already! I'm really looking forward to the Christmas holidays, they're definitely my favourite time of year. We have some fabulous books to keep us occupied in in the meantime. Click on the book covers to be taken to their Amazon UK pages.

Christmas at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown

Carrington’s Department store is thrown into a spin when the staff learn that a hot new reality TV show is to be filmed in-store, featuring the formidable retail guru, Kelly Cooper. Georgie Hart, in charge of Luxury Handbags, is reluctant, but quickly realises that the show could give Carrington’s a new lease of life. With Christmas around the corner, she’s also hoping that the season will deliver her the perfect Christmas present, in the form of Tom, the store’s dishy boss.

When the film crew arrive, things start to go wrong. One of Tom’s old flames, Zara, is working on the show and then, to top things off, Tom and Zara are sent off to Paris and New York for a spot of extra filming. When Georgie settles down in front of the box to watch the first show, worse it to come – Georgie is shown in a far from flattering light and she is horrified to learn what Tom has been up to.

Georgie fears this is turning out to be the worst Christmas ever, but Santa might have a got a little surprise in store for her stocking this year – but she’ll just have to wait until Christmas to find out!

The Island Hideaway by Louise Candlish

How far would you follow him before you accept it's over?

Eleanor Blake, distraught after breaking up with her fiance Will, decides to do what most would scarcely dare: secretly follow him to the island hideaway where he's on holiday with the woman who took her place. But on the shimmering, sun-drenched Sicilian island of Panarea, distractions come in many forms - including her fellow hotel guest Lewis, an enigmatic Englishman with secrets of his own to protect. And then there's Frannie, a young Italian actress on the island to prepare for her first film role, who is as charming as she is beautiful. Can she really be so perfect? And shouldn't Eleanor be the first to suspect that things might not be as they seem?

Here's Looking At You by Mhairi McFarlane

Anna Alessi – history expert, possessor of a lot of hair and an occasionally filthy mouth – seeks nice man for intelligent conversation and Mills & Boon moments.

Despite the oddballs that keep turning up on her dates, Anna couldn’t be happier. As a 30-something with a job she loves, life has turned out better than she dared dream.

However, things weren’t always this way, and her years spent as the ‘Italian Galleon’ of an East London comprehensive are ones she’d rather forget.

So when James Fraser – the architect of Anna’s final humiliation at school – walks back into her life, her world is turned upside down.

But James seems a changed man. Polite. Mature. Funny, even. People can change, right? So why does Anna feel like she’s a fool to trust him?

Showcase Sunday #18

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its' aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! I hope everyone has had a good week. I've been busy, busy, busy! I'm really enjoying everything I'm doing at the moment; from university to all the books I'm reading, things are pretty great.

eBooks

Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson (for review)

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (for review)

Christmas at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown (for review)

I am sooo excited to read all of these books, they look so amazing! I can't wait to let you all know what I think :)

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx

Book Releases: 10th October

So many amazing book releases so little time! From the new Bridget Jones book to the paperback release of Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe there is a lot to choose from! And if it's a short story you're looking for, Alexandra Brown has released Me and Mr Carrington as a prequel to Christmas at Carrington's. Personally, I'm looking forward to Novelicious' new novel There's More to Life Than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan. It looks soooo yummy! Click on the book covers to be taken to their Amazon UK pages :)

Bridget Jones; Mad about The Boy by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jones' Diary, charting the life of a 30-something singleton in London in the 1990s was a huge international bestseller, published in 40 countries and selling over 15 million copies worldwide. Its sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, published soon after was also a major international bestseller. Both were made into films starring Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.

Set in the present, the new novel will explore a different phase in Bridget's life with an entirely new scenario. As Helen Fielding has said: "If people laugh as much reading it as I am while writing it then we'll all be very happy."

Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Issy Randall, proud owner of The Cupcake Cafe, is in love and couldn't be happier. Her new business is thriving and she is surrounded by close friends, even if her cupcake colleagues Pearl and Caroline don't seem quite as upbeat about the upcoming season of snow and merriment. But when her boyfriend Austin is scouted for a possible move to New York, Issy is forced to face up to the prospect of a long-distance romance. And when the Christmas rush at the cafe - with its increased demand for her delectable creations - begins to take its toll, Issy has to decide what she holds most dear.

This December, Issy will have to rely on all her reserves of courage, good nature and cinnamon, to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas, one way or another...

Me and Mr Carrington by Alexandra Brown

A short story from the author of Cupcakes at Carrington’s – and a prequel to Christmas at Carrington’s!

Georgie Hart can’t believe her luck. It looks like Tom, the hunky boss of Carrington’s Department Store, in the picture-postcard town of Mulberry-on-Sea, is as hot for her as she is for him. After a romantic Italian get-together leaves her on Cloud Nine, Georgie is brought back down to earth with a bump when she has to get back behind the counter of the Luxury Handbags section.

But when Georgie is left open-mouthed by a revelation from one of her well-heeled customers, it seems like Tom hasn’t been entirely honest with her. Has Georgie done her usual trick of adding two and two together to make five?

Ever wondered what happened when Georgie first got together with Mr Carrington himself? This deliciously funny short story is perfect for anyone who loved Cupcakes at Carrington’s, and for those discovering the lovable Georgie Hart for the first time. The story also features an exclusive peek at the next book, Christmas at Carrington’s.

There's More to Life Than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan

Ellie Redford has a husband, a job and a home. According to the rest of the world, it’s baby o’clock already. Shame life doesn’t come with a recipe…

Ellie knows that starting a family with lovely husband Pete would be an amazing adventure. Pete would make a brilliant dad and she’d have an excuse to eat shed loads of Cherry Bakewell. But Ellie’s bestie would rather she was up at 3am with a bottle of Malibu, not formula. And with redundancies looming, Ellie’s boss isn’t exactly going to throw her a shower if she disappears for a year, with pay.

While Ellie juggles her feelings (and everyone else’s) as competently as a drunken clown, she finds herself signing up for a baking class, alongside the young, free and sizzling hot Joe. As they work buns and shape tarts, is there more to their friendship than a shared appreciation of Paul Hollywood?

Ellie’s soufflés may be rising, but her personal life is one big soggy mess. If she doesn't make a decision soon, she may just lose everything that matters to her. Maybe it's time to take off the pinny and face up to the truth: there’s more to life than cupcakes...

Book News: Me and Mr Carrington by Alexandra Brown

For those of you that have been waiting for the next instalment of Carrington's department store there is only a couple of weeks to go! Alexandra Brown has written a short story Me and Mr Carrington, which includes a sneak peak at Christmas at Carrington's!

Me and Mr Carrington is out 10th October and is available to preorder from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis
Georgie Hart can’t believe her luck. It looks like Tom, the hunky boss of Carrington’s Department Store, in the picture-postcard town of Mulberry-on-Sea, is as hot for her as she is for him. After a romantic Italian get-together leaves her on Cloud Nine, Georgie is brought back down to earth with a bump when she has to get back behind the counter of the Luxury Handbags section.

But when Georgie is left open-mouthed by a revelation from one of her well-heeled customers, it seems like Tom hasn’t been entirely honest with her. Has Georgie done her usual trick of adding two and two together to make five?

Review: Cupcakes at Carrington's

Author: Alexandra Brown
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: 17th January 2013
Pages: 401
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

Georgie Hart loves her job – running the luxury handbag concession at Carrington's Department store in the pretty seaside town of Mulberry-On-Sea, and treating herself (once too often!) to a red velvet cupcake with buttercream icing in Carrington's café.

But Georgie is thrown into disarray when Carrington's is plunged into a recession-busting makeover, cueing the arrival of femme fatale Maxine, who wields the axe in her immaculately-manicured hands.

It spells a recipe for disaster for Georgie and soon she is fighting not only for her job, but also for the attentions of her gorgeous boss, James. And when hot newcomer Tom arrives, who may or may not be the best thing since sliced bread, Georgie must decide where her loyalties really lie…


Review Alexandra Brown had me at the word cupcake! From the gorgeous cover to the delicious title, I knew this book was the one for me. I'm partial to a cupcake or 5 so I was looking forward to finding out what Cupcakes at Carrington's had in store.
Georgie feels like the luckiest girl in the world working at Carrington's Department Store. Not only does she spend her days surrounded by designer bags and other luxury items, her best friend Sam runs Carrington's Café, the perfect place to pop in for a red velvet cupcake. Everything is pretty cushty at work until Maxine is forced upon them like a case of the plague. Maxine's job is to make sure Carrington's can weather the recession storm and she doesn't take ANY prisoners.

Now not only does Georgie have to fight to keep her job, she has to compete against her boss James, who may or may not be flirting with her of late. And when the gorgeous new employee Tom is thrown into the mix Georgie is struggling to keep her life under control.

This book was a breath of fresh air from the more 'heavy' books I have been reading lately. Georgie is a likeable main character, she is relatable, kind and a good friend. I also adored Georgie's friends Sam and Eddie! Sam and Georgie have been friends since they were little girls and are still as close as ever. Their friendship felt very real and I could feel how close they were through Alexandra's writing. And Eddie... I need a friend like Eddie! He was the sweetest guy ever and gossip queen of Carrington's - no gossip could get passed his radar.

Alexandra Brown has come up with the perfect recipe. There were great characters, plenty of laughs, delicious cupcakes, a bit of mystery and plenty of romance in the air. But what made this book extra special was that Alexandra incorporated a serious undertone to the story. Georgie has to deal with some rather serious problems in her personal life that are handled with a lot of tact and understanding.

I really enjoyed Cupcakes at Carrington's and I cannot wait for the sequel Christmas at Carrington's which is out 7th November. 

4/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Boys and Girls by Pixie Lott

Showcase Sunday #11

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. It enables everyone to showcase the books they receive each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! Despite my best efforts I still ended up buying books in the Kindle Summer Sale!

For Review:

Annabelle by Nancy Christie

On My Kindle:

Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown Bad Sisters by Rebecca Chance Temptation Island by Victoria Fox
What have you received this week?