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After the crazy six months she’s had, if there was a ‘clear history’ button for your life, Tess Brookes would be the first in line to press it.

When the opportunity arises to join her best friend, Amy, in New York for Christmas, Tess jumps at the chance. The only slight hitch is that Nick, the man who broke her heart, lives there. And Charlie, the man she turned down, has just started talking to her again. And she has just four days to take a photo for a competition that could save her career.

But aside from that, everything is going to be great: it’ll be the best Christmas ever. Won’t it?

Imagine that the casts of your two favourite TV shows met up and filmed an amazing Christmas Special; that’s what it felt like reading A Girl’s Best Friend. This is the third book in Lindsey Kelk’s ‘Girl‘ series but also features some fantastic ‘special guest appearances’ from the characters in Lindsey’s other bestselling ‘I Heart …‘ Series.

Don’t worry if you haven’t read any of Lindsey’s other books (I’ll confess I haven’t read all of them). Any back story that you need to know is cleverly filled in and if you’ve read the earlier books this one will have you reminiscing about crazy times gone by or if you’re new to Lindsey’s writing will make you want to go out and read all of her back catalogue (you really should!)

A Girl’s Best Friend sees heroine Tess head to New York to meet up with her best friend Amy for Christmas. Tess is down on her luck as the story begins – her attempts to break into a career in photography are faltering and her love life is a mess! A change of scene is just what’s needed and where better than New York – a magical city where it feels like anything can happen. It was so lovely to be back in New York; Lindsey lived there for a number of years and her knowledge of the city and love for it city really do shine through in her writing.

Once in New York Lindsey creates a crazy, emotional and above all funny adventure for Tess and her friends. I loved Tess and Amy’s banter and learned a whole new colourful vocab whilst reading this book. Bringing Angela and Jenny from the ‘I Heart …‘ series in on the fun was the icing on the cake for me and I did not know what to expect next! But despite all the drama and craziness Lindsey also weaves in a romance element that would melt even the iciest of hearts. No spoilers but there’s a part of the book written by one of the male characters that really did bring tears to my eyes. Sooooo romantic!!

Although set at Christmas this isn’t an overtly Christmassy story, focusing more on what’s happening in Tess’s life that just happens to be taking place at Christmas. It’s the perfect book to read at this time of year as the Christmas excitement is just starting to build and despite being set in New York, will have you craving all those very British Christmas treats like Quality Street and Chocolate Orange!

As the title and gorgeous sparkly cover depict, this is a story about friendship, soul mates and without getting too soppy, makes the point that friendships go through ups and downs and true friends will always find a way through. Lindsey rounds off the story perfectly with a little epilogue (I always need to know what happend next!) and I really hope that we catch up with Tess and all of her friends again soon.

5/5

A Girl’s Best Friend is out now in paperback and ebook formats.

Find out more about Lindsey and her writing at: http://lindseykelk.com/

I’d like to thank HarperCollins for providing a review copy of this novel.

This weekend Harper Collins and a host of other excellent romance publishers and authors will be hosting the UK’s first digital romance festival! The brilliant news is that it is free to attend and you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home

The full line up has just been announced and has a whole host of sessions and events for both authors and readers including a Twitter interview with Sheila O’Flanagan, a Google Hangout with Lindsey Kelk and a ‘Romance in YA’ discussion hosted by Liz De Jager!

Head on over to: http://www.romance-festival.com/ for more details and to register.

I’ll look forward to seeing you there!

Earlier today the fabulous Lindsey Kelk revealed the cover for her next book over on her blog! If this doesn’t get you in the mood for summer I don’t know what will – I think it’s my favourite of Lindsey’s covers yet! I loved the first book in this series, About A Girl and I can’t wait to find out what Tess gets up to next. What A Girl Wants will be released on 17th July and is available to pre-order now!

Tess Brookes was the girl with a plan.

Now she’s the girl with a choice.

Should she stay in London and start her own advertising agency with her best friend and potential boyfriend Charlie? Or should she head to exciting Milan to pursue both a new career as a photographer and a new man, the enigmatic and elusive (and highly irritating) Nick?

For the first time, Tess has to choose between the life she always dreamed of and a future she never imagined possible. With her heart and her head pulling her in different directions, Tess has to make a life-changing decision about What a Girl Wants.

I thought I’d do something a little different this year from the usual round up of Christmas novels or gifts for book lovers. So this year I’ve combined the two! I’ve chosen five of this year’s gorgeous Christmas books and picked gifts for book lovers to go with them – just a little fun but I’d be happy to have any of these under the tree on Christmas morning if Santa is listening

Christmas at Carrington’s by Alexander Brown

Georgie Hart loves Christmas time at Carrington’s Department store. Running the luxury handbag department, Georgie adores helping customers in the hunt for the perfect gift for the perfect someone. And this year is no exception – now she has the hunky Tom, Mr Carrington himself, to spend the special day with.

But when Tom springs a surprise, Georgie’s plans are thrown into chaos. Carrington’s is getting a fresh lease of life in a hot new reality TV show, featuring formidable retail guru, Kelly Cooper.

As the first show airs, Georgie is shown in a far from flattering light. Worse is to come when Kelly’s vile daughter appears to get her claws into Tom. Georgie fears this will be the worst Christmas ever, but Santa still has a little surprise for her stocking this year – she’ll just have to wait until Christmas to find out… 

Leading lady Georgie runs the luxury handbag department at Carringtons so the gift to go with this lovely book is this fabulous bag from The Literary Gift Company

Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews

Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She’s soon in huge demand and Cassie’s business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born.

Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children, so he enlists Cassie’s help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her loving partner Jim to handle the rest of her clients.

When millionaire Carter asks Cassie to join his family on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn’t go . . . Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her entire life.

 I love this bookish Christmas decoration from the Bodleian Library – perfect for the Mr or Mrs Christmas in your life!

 

I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk 

Angela’s planning her very own fairytale of New York…

• Enormous Christmas tree
• Eggnog
• Eccentric British traditions
• Gorgeous man

But Santa’s throwing her a few curveballs – new job (as if it’s not mental enough already), new baby-craze from her best friend Jenny, and Alex determined they should grow up and settle down. Once friends start turning up uninvited on her doorstep (and leading her astray), can Angela really have a merry little Christmas? So much for happy holidays – something’s got to give…

So the ideal gift with this book would be tickets to New York but being just a little bit more realistic I’d settle for these fab New York book ends by Susan Bradley!

Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan

Rosie Hopkins is looking forward to Christmas in the little Derbyshire village of Lipton, buried under a thick blanket of snow. Her sweetshop is festooned with striped candy canes, large tempting piles of Turkish Delight, crinkling selection boxes and happy, sticky children. She’s going to be spending it with her boyfriend, Stephen, and her family, flying in from Australia. She can’t wait.

 But when a tragedy strikes at the heart of their little community, all of Rosie’s plans for the future seem to be blown apart. Can she build a life in Lipton? And is what’s best for the sweetshop also what’s best for Rosie?

A big box of retro sweets would be fab with this delicious novel or how about this for the perfect combination of literature and chocolate from The Chocolate Library?!

 

Wish Upon A Star by Trisha Ashley

Single mum Cally’s life is all about her little girl Stella. She’s resigned to the fact that the only romance she’s going to get is from the rom-coms she watches and with her busy job and her daughter; she doesn’t have time to even think about love.But when Stella gets sick, and Cally is forced to move in with her mother in the remote village of Sticklepond, to save money for Stella’s operation, Cally realizes how tough it can be to go it alone. Still, the last thing Cally wants to do is fall in love. All she wants is a Christmas miracle to save Stella. Can laid-back, charming Jago unlock Cally’s frozen heart and show her that the best gifts aren’t always found under the tree?

You can never have too many books or bookmarks and this cute personalised star one by Acorn Attic from Not on the High Street, would be the perfect accompaniment to this lovely book!

 

 So that’s my Christmas wish list sorted! What books are you hoping to find under the tree this year?

 

Today I’m jumping up and down with excitement at being the first stop on Lindsey Kelk’s About a Girl blog tour. I’m a huge fan of Lindsey’s books so was very pleased to hear that this book is the start of a new series. Those lovely people over at Harper Collins have given me the first chapter of the book to share with you today but I warn you if you read it you’ll probably want to know what happens next It’s an addictive read! Just click on the cover image below to open the extract pdf.

Tess Brookes has always been a Girl with a Plan. But when the Plan goes belly up, she’s forced to reconsider.

After accidently answering her flatmate Vanessa’s phone, she decides that since being Tess isn’t going so well, she might try being Vanessa. With nothing left to lose, she accepts Vanessa’s photography assignment to Hawaii – she used to be an amateur snapper, how hard can it be? Right?

But Tess is soon in big trouble. And the gorgeous journalist on the shoot with her, who is making it very clear he’d like to get into her pants, is an egotistical monster. Far from home and in someone else’s shoes, Tess must decide whether to fight on through, or ‘fess up and run…

Lindsey Kelk was a children’s book editor and is now a magazine columnist and author of I Heart New York, I Heart Hollywood, I Heart Paris, I Heart Vegas and The Single Girl’s To-Do List. When she isn’t writing, reading, listening to music or watching more TV than is healthy, Lindsey likes to wear shoes, shop for shoes and judge the shoes of others. She loves living in New York but misses Sherbet Fountains, London, and drinking Gin & Elderflower cocktails with her friends. Not necessarily in that order. You can find out more about Lindsey and her books at: http://lindseykelk.com/

About a Girl is out now in paperback and ebook formats.

Whether you’re jetting off to an exotic location this summer or just relaxing in the back garden, here are ten new summer books just perfect to escape with!

Bay of Secrets by Rosanna Ley (Canary Islands) Out now!

Spain, 1939.

Following the wishes of her parents to keep her safe during the war, a young girl, Julia, enters a convent in Barcelona. Looking for a way to maintain her links to the outside world, she volunteers to help in a maternity clinic. But worrying adoption practices in the clinic force Sister Julia to decide how far she will go to help those placed in her care.

England, 2011.

Six months after her parents’ shocking death, 34-year-old journalist and jazz enthusiast Ruby Rae has finally found the strength to pack away their possessions and sell the family home. But as she does so, she unearths a devastating secret her parents, Vivien and Tom, had kept from her all her life.

Sinfully Summer by Aimee Duffy (Marbella) Out Now! 

SUN, SEA AND SCANDAL

Notorious heiress Alexa Green has certainly been enjoying her most recent girls-holiday in Marbella. Just as we thought, she’s been knocking back the cocktails and showing off her fabulous bikini body on the beach… but rumour has it she’s also been spotted sneaking out of Enrique Castillo’s penthouse in the early hours of this morning – in nothing but her underwear! Our question is, doesn’t this fiercely private billionaire know what he’s letting himself in for?

He’s got the millions… and she knows how to spend them! So lie back on your sun lounger and get comfortable, because this summer fling is going to be a sizzler!

Sunlounger by the Belinda Jones Travel Club (Worldwide) released 1st July

A bumper chick lit anthology of short stories from an amazing group of fabulous authors including Belinda Jones, Miranda Dickinson, Alxandra Brown, Julia Williams and Kate Harrison!

Around the World in 40 Stories – accompanied by your favourite women’s fiction authors.

The big dilemma this summer is which adventure to choose first: Boarding a milliionaire’s yacht in St Tropez? Slipping into a Sheikh’s palace in Dubai? Attending a movie premiere in Venice? Or contemplating your life on an idyllic Thai beach?

WIth so many stories to choose from, there is as much range in the writing styles as the destinations – we’ve got ones to make you chuckle, ones to make you swoon, ones to make you well up or perhaps decide to be a little bit bolder with your life…

The beauty of it is that you don’t even have to pass through security to board Sunlounger Airways! No loading your shoes/belt/keys in a plastic tray, no pat-downs, no bleepers, no suitcase-wrangling, no hassle – just RECLINE, RELAX & READ!

Check out the brilliant website to accompany the book with loads of extras at: http://www.va-va-vacation.com/

About A Girl by Lindsey Kelk (Hawaii) released 4th July

Tess Brookes has always been a Girl with a Plan. But when the Plan goes belly up, she’s forced to reconsider.

After accidently answering her flatmate Vanessa’s phone, she decides that since being Tess isn’t going so well, she might try being Vanessa. With nothing left to lose, she accepts Vanessa’s photography assignment to Hawaii – she used to be an amateur snapper, how hard can it be? Right?

But Tess is soon in big trouble. And the gorgeous journalist on the shoot with her, who is making it very clear he’d like to get into her pants, is an egotistical monster. Far from home and in someone else’s shoes, Tess must decide whether to fight on through, or ‘fess up and run…

In the Summer Time by Judy Astley (Cornwall) released 4th July

It’s twenty years since Miranda, then sixteen, holidayed in Cornwall and her life changed forever. Now she’s back again – with her mother Clare and the ashes of her stepfather Jack, whose wish was to be scattered on the sea overlooked by their one-time holiday home.

The picturesque cove seems just the same as ever, but the people are different – more smart incomers,fewer locals, more luxury yachts in the harbour. But Miranda and Clare both find some strangely familiar faces, and revisit the emotions they both thought had disappeared.

A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry (London to Venice) released 4th July

The Orient Express. Luxury. Mystery. Romance.

For one group of passengers settling in to their seats and taking their first sips of champagne, the journey from London to Venice is more than the trip of a lifetime.

A mysterious errand; a promise made to a dying friend; an unexpected proposal; a secret reaching back a lifetime…As the train sweeps on, revelations, confessions and assignations unfold against the most romantic and infamous setting in the world.

The French for Love by Fiona Valpy (Bordeaux) released 12th July

Can Happy-Ever-After get lost in translation?

Gina has lost her perfect job, her boyfriendand her favourite aunt all within the space ofa few months.So when she inherits her aunt’s ramshackleFrench house, Gina decides to pack her bagsfor the Bordeaux countryside – swappingthe miserable English weather for blue skies,sunshine, great wine and a fresh start.What she hasn’t factored in is a hole in theroof, the
most embarrassing language faux pas, and discovering family secrets that shewas never supposed to know.Suddenly feeling a long way from home,Gina will have to rely on new found friends,her own hard work – and Cédric – her charming, mysterious and très handsome new stonemason. But whilst desire needs no translation, love is a different matter.

Can Gina overcome the language barrier to make her French dream come true?

Swimming Pool Summer by Rebecca Farnworth (Greece) released 18th July

Frankie hasn’t had a proper relationship for years. But though she tells everyone this is how she wants it, but secretly she’s in love with her best friend Patrick.

Tor didn’t think she could have a baby, but now she is pregnant by her younger lover. Could this mean the end of a romance that has started to mean more to her than she expected?

Leila seems to have it all – a happy marriage, a beautiful daughter and a successful career. But Leila is harbouring a secret that could destroy her marriage forever.

On an idyllic Greek island, the three women try to keep their secrets hidden. But emotions are running high, and when an unexpected guest arrives, events start to spin out of control.

Wicked Wives by Anna-Lou Weatherly (Antigua, London, Ibiza, Capri, Las Vegas, Paris and more!) released 18th July

When the ‘Blue Angel’ yacht is found abandoned off the coast of Antigua and Playboy and Casino owner, Tom Black, who was on board is pronounced missing, foul-play is suspected. After all, the serial gambler and womaniser has made plenty of enemies.

As events come to light however, the finger of suspicion points to three women in particular – and the men they’re married to.

Ellie Scott, the beautiful socialite with a dubious past; Loretta Fiorentino, the fame-seeking gold-digger and Victoria Mayfield, the glamorous successful author.

Full of intrigue, revenge and decadence, this is a tale you’ll want to revisit again and again.

Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky (Maine, USA) released 18th July 

Can the bonds of friendship weather a betrayal? Charlotte and Nicole were once best friends, spending long, idyllic summers together in Nicole’s family home on the island of Quinnipeague, but they have since grown apart. After ten years, their writing careers brings them back together – to write a cookbook about island food in their childhood haven. When both women reunite, it becomes clear that they are both guarding secrets of the years spent apart. But when Charlotte learns that her secret is the key to saving Nicole’s husband’s life, she must face her painful past and risk the consequences that honesty might bring …

 

Where are you looking forward to escaping to this summer?

 

Angela Clark loves her life in New York. She a Brit who’s conquered the Big Apple. Unfortunately, she’s also a Brit who’s lost her job. And when, just a couple of weeks before Christmas, the immigration department gets wind of this, Angela needs to find a new job urgently. Or a husband. And she doesn’t think her boyfriend Alex will be keen.

A girls’ weekend in Vegas with her best friend Jenny seems the perfect way to forget her troubles. From the minute they arrive Angela is swept up in a whirl of cocktails, outrageous outfits, late nights and brushes with the chapel of love. But rather than escaping trouble, Angela is up to her neck in it….

But what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – right?

Vegas is topical at the moment thanks to Prince Harry so I thought I’d pop up a quick review of the fab I Heart Vegas by Lindsey Kelk. I Heart Vegas is book number four in the I Heart … series and continues the adventures of  one of my favourite chick lit heroines; Angela Clarke. It’s difficult to review the fourth book in a series without giving spoilers but I’ll keep this short and try not to give anything away!

Our favourite characters are all back for I Heart Vegas, particularly Angela’s crazy best friend Jenny and hot boy-in-a-band boyfriend, Alex As the book opens, things are looking good for Angela but as we’ve come to expect, that doesn’t last for long! Threatened with the possibility that she might have to leave New York if she can’t find a job soon, Angela reacts in true form by burying her head in the sand, not explaining herself properly and running away from the problem … for a girls’ weekend in Vegas.

I’ve said before that I think Angela is the luckiest girl on earth in that things always work out for her but I have to admit that Lindsey Kelk gave me pause for thought during this book and really did keep me guessing with some brilliant plot twists! I’ve loved Alex and Angela’s romance from the start and it’s certainly had its ups and downs but Angela’s possible deportation really brings their relationship into focus and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what the outcome would be.

One of the reasons I love this series is that I get to travel vicariously through Angela and I really enjoyed reading the descriptions of Sin City with its out of this world hotels, casinos and of course the wedding chapels … The fact that the story is set at Christmas was the icing on the cake for me, although the story isn’t overtly Christmassy I found myself getting excited for winter in the middle of July!

Lindsey Kelk’s books are wonderful escapist chick lit and among the novels I always turn to when I need cheering up. I’ve had I Heart Vegas on my bookshelf for quite a while and it was the first book I turned to when I was feeling fed up with all the rainy weather we had last month. I read it in a weekend and couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait to read I Heart London next!

5/5

You can find out more about Lindsey Kelk and her writing at: http://lindseykelk.wordpress.com/

You can find out more about the I Heart Vegas and the rest of the series at: http://www.iheartvegas.co.uk/

 

Last month I wrote a list of the ten ‘chick lit’ books that  I can’t wait to read this year. Lindsey Kelk’s summer release I Heart London was on the list so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that the cover has been released. I’ve loved all of the covers in this series and this one is gorgeous too – I can’t wait to find out what happens to Angela when she’s back on home turf!

Home is where the heart is. Right?

Angela Clark has fallen in love with America – and it’s starting to love her back.

Throw one expired visa into the mix, and things quickly take a turn for the worse.

She might love her life as a Brit in New York, but now she has no choice but to return to London. Not only does she leave behind her gorgeous boyfriend Alex – she must also face unfinished business back on home turf.

There’s the ex-boyfriend – who she moved to New York to get away from.

Then there’s her best friend, with her perfect new baby.

And there’s her mum.

Now, there’s another wedding in the offing – and everyone remembers how well the last one went . . .

Last year I chose my five most anticipated chick lit reads. This year I’ve gone for bigger and better with ten titles I can’t wait to read – there are so many great books coming out in 2012! Some of the later books don’t have much detail yet but I’ll update this post as and when more information becomes available.

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella (Bantam February)

After reading all of the Shopaholic books as a blogging challenge a couple of years ago, I’m a big fan of Sophie’s books. I’m looking forward to meeting new characters in her latest standalone novel.

I’ve lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive!!

A couple of glasses of bubbly with the girls at a charity do and Poppy’s life has gone into meltdown. Not only has she lost her engagement ring, but in the panic that followed, she’s lost her phone too. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number with the hotel staff. It was meant to be!

Except the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back, and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, phone messages and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents, can things get any more tangled?

The Out of Office Girl by Nicola Doherty (Headline, March)

This sounds like a fun debut and perfect summer read!

From London ….

Alice Roberts is having a rubbish summer. She’s terrified of her boss, her career is stalling, and she’s just been dumped – by text message. But things are about to change …

… to Italy

When her boss Olivia is taken ill, Alice is sent on the work trip of a lifetime: to a villa in Sicily, to edit the autobiography of Hollywood bad boy Luther Carson. But it’s not all yachts, nightclubs and Camparis. Luther’s arrogant agent Sam wants him to ditch the book. Luther himself is gorgeous, charming and impossible to read. There only seems to be one way to get his attention, and it definitely involves mixing business with pleasure. Alice is out of the office, and into deep trouble …

… with love

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan (Sphere March)

I love the cover for this book and it sounds like a lovely story.

Rosie Hopkins is about to face major upheaval. Her elderly aunt Lilian – feisty, independent Aunt Lily who never talked about her past – needs her help, so Rosie is moving to the depths of the countryside for a few months to look after her. Plus Rosie will be away from Gerard, the man she hopes to settle down with soon, and they’ll miss each other dreadfully . . . won’t they? Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton’s village sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to sell up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets. And the longer Rosie and Lilian spend together, the more they realise they can learn from each other . . .

White Wedding by Milly Johnson (Simon and Schuster, April)

I read my first Milly Johnson book last year and loved it so am very much looking forward to her next offering!

It’s the day they’ve always dreamed about. But will it turn out to be a nightmare …?

Bel is in the midst of planning her perfect wedding when disaster strikes and everything she thought she knew is turned on its head. Can she hold it all together and, with the help of her friends, and a mysterious man she meets unexpectedly, turn disaster into triumph?

Bel’s best friend, ice-cream parlour owner Violet, is engaged to Glyn, who is besotted by her although Violet fell out of love with him long ago. But however trapped she feels in the relationship, she can’t quite say the words, ‘I don’t want to marry you anymore.’ Then, just when she’s about to give up and resign herself to married life, she finds love in the most surprising of places. Will duty rule her heart or will she allow herself to be swept off her feet?

Their childhood friend Max was planning a quick registry office do with her fiance Stuart until she sees a TV programme about traveller brides and becomes determined to have the most extravagantly glitzy wedding ever. But in all the excitement has she lost sight of what’s really important? Does she want the wedding more than she wants the groom?

And as all three friends find the dress of their dreams at the White Wedding bridal shop, its owner, the lovely Freya, guarantees that her gowns will bring them happiness – though maybe not quite in the way they expected …

The Charm Bracelet by Melissa Hill (Hodder, May)

I have a charm bracelet that I add charms to, to mark important events in my life so I love the premise for this story – it sounds like another gripping read from Melissa.

Every charm bracelet tells a story and Holly O’Neill knows this better than most.

Years ago, at a difficult time in her life, a silver bracelet in a pretty wrapped box was delivered anonymously to her, a single charm attached. Some time later, another mysterious charm appeared, and the same thing happened many times over the years. Each charm proved to be significant in her life, as if her unnamed benefactor understood she needed some kind of talisman to help her through challenging times.

Since then, she has added her own charms – special reminders of the most important events in her life. Her bracelet makes memories tangible – spelling out the nuances of cherished moments through the shorthand of each tiny charm. For this reason, Holly’s charm bracelet is her most prized possession.

So when one day, she stumbles across a bracelet that somebody else has lost, she recognises a lifetime spelt out through the very different charms, and knows she must try to reunite it with its owner. In order to try and track this person down, she uses each charm to help discover more about them.

But as Holly gradually begins to piece together the details of this person’s life, her quest leads her somewhere she never expected.

One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon (Simon and Schuster May)

My favourite chick lit author – can’t wait to get my hands on this book!

‘Do you still love him?’ Every second of every minute of every hour of every day…Alice is18 and about to start university while Joe’s life is seemingly going nowhere. A Dorset summer, a chance meeting, and the two of them fall into step as if they have known each other forever. But their idyll is shattered, suddenly, unexpectedly. Alice heads off to Cambridge and slowly picks up the pieces of her broken heart. Joe is gone; she cannot find him. When she catches the attention of Lukas – gorgeous, gifted, rich boy Lukas – she is carried along by his charm, swept up in his ambitious plans for a future together. Then Joe is there, once more, but out of reach in a way that Alice could never have imagined. Life has moved on, the divide between them is now so great. Surely it is far too late to relive those perfect summer days of long ago?

Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews (Sphere, May)

This really appeals to me as someone who is always trying to juggle family, work and a million other things!

What if you had always dreamed of something more…? Nell McNamara has a happy life: her boyfriend Olly adores her, their four-year-old daughter Petal is the centre of their world and Nell has a steady job in the local chip shop. When the chippy needs a makeover, Nell jumps at the chance to unleash the creativity fizzing inside her. Inspired by what she can achieve – and encouraged by the best friends a girl can have – Nell is determined to try something new and starts making her own line of must-have handbags, which are soon flying off the shelves! It seems Nell’s dreams are finally coming true, but her success doesn’t come without a price. Before too long, Nell has to ask herself if it’s really possible to have it all… Full of fun, love and laughter, soak up the sunshine with Summer Daydreams.

I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk (Harper, June)

The fifth in the I Heart Series sees Angela back in London!

Angela’s visa has expired and it looks as though she’s going to have to set foot again on home turf where further romantic trouble awaits. She has to face the ex-boyfriend she ran out on, her best friend’s new baby, and her mum. Is she now a New York girl through and through or can London win her heart again?

When I Fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson (Avon, November)

No synopsis for this one yet but I’ve loved all of Miranda’s book so far and am eagerly anticipating this one!

From Notting Hill to New York… Actually by Ali McNamara (Sphere, November)

Scarlett goes to New York – yay!!

Are your favourite authors on my list? Which books are you looking forward to reading this year?

Today I’m very excited to be interviewing the fabulous Lindsey Kelk, author of the ‘I Heart…’ series and The Single Girl’s To-Do List. Lindsey is originally from England but now lives in New York. Not only does she write excellent books but she also has a column for Marie Claire UK, a beauty blog (http://beautymecca.blogspot.com/) and edits children’s books! Today sees the publication of her fifth novel, so please join me in wishing Lindsey a very happy Publication Day!

Your latest novel, I Heart Vegas is set at Christmas but to have a book released at this time of year you must be writing/editing during the summer months; how do you get yourself in the festive spirit when writing out of season?

I love Christmas. Seriously. From January 6th when the tree comes comes down, I count down the days until I can put up my tree, so it wasn’t a hardship. I am constantly in the festive spirit. It’s harder to put yourself in a Vegas spirit when you’re not there, so obviously, I had to go.

What is your top tip for surviving the festive season?

Pace yourself. It’s always been a hectic time for me as my parents divorced when I was little so I’m used to spending a lot of the holiday period in a car. Now I’m in the US, it’s even more crazy, and if that wasn’t enough, I’m usually working on a book at this time. Try not to spread yourself too thin, make some time for yourself and prepare early. Online shopping helps, drink lots of water in between parties and remember, it’s a fun time of year!

What is or would be the best book-related Christmas gift that Santa could deliver to you?

I love the elves to have finished I Heart London for me. Last year I was so busy working on The Single Girl’s To-Do List, I literally took Christmas Day and Boxing Day off. I even stayed in and worked New Years Eve. I’d like that not to happen this year…

You live in New York; what’s your favourite thing about the city at Christmas?

Everything. Everyone is in such a good mood and we really take advantage of the city at this time of year – ice skating at Rockefeller, Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, all the store windows on Fifth Avenue… it makes me SO happy.

Which Christmas tune would be your choice for Karaoke?

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses. I like to challenge myself.

Imagine you are settling down with a lovely Christmas read … what is your perfect Christmas reading setting/scenario?

This year it’ll be snuggled up on a plane, heading back to the UK, my head buried in all the books I’ve missed over the year – I’ve had The Tiger’s Wife to read, forever. I actually don’t get a lot of reading done at this time of year because I’m out and about so much.

Who is your favourite Christmas book character and why?

I used to work on Dr Seuss when I was in publishing so it’s got to be The Grinch. Love.

And finally … what can readers look forward to next from Lindsey Kelk?

If I ever get it finished, I Heart London! I’m also working away on my Marie Claire column which should tide you over between books and then… lots of exciting new projects on the horizon…

Thanks Lindsey – have a great Christmas!

You can find out more about Lindsey and her books on her website: http://lindseykelk.com/and at: http://www.iheartnewyork.co.uk/