2018 - Falling back in love

As we are at the end of 2018 I wanted to reflect. Instead of listing my favourite books this year, I want to celebrate falling back in love with books and finding a community that I feel I'm hopefully becoming part of and absolutely loving! 

On the evening of January 1st 2018  I set myself some aims for the year ahead. Some I have not quite achieved, others I believe should be a continuous aim no matter the year but for me, the most important was what I put at number 4.

4. Read at least one book a month. 

Falling back in love with books :

One of my earliest memories is going to the library, my small chubby little hands selecting books and taking them home to read. I read to my Mum, I read to my nursery teachers but mainly, I read by myself. I was always at my happiest with a book in hand.  When my sister and I were young we shared a bedroom, we'd be sent to be at 7.30pm and out would come my book (working my way through childhood classics, Nancy Drew and then onto my Mum's Catherine Cookson books amongst many more). Hours later, I would still be reading when Dad came up to bed himself; I'd quickly hide my book under the covers as he came into turn off the light. I always thought I'd got away with it and he didn't have a clue. Looking back, he probably did know just never said anything.

Years ago I went through a very low and unhappy time, I lost my husband, Adrian, suddenly and unexpectedly. I became a widow at 27 years old and was totally shattered. The day before my husband died I had read a book by an author I loved, I won't say who or name the book, but the story centred around the character losing her husband suddenly and I remember being completely unable to comprehend how that would feel, I enjoyed the book but was unable to really connect with that character - little did I know less than 24 hours later I would. 

I know this will sound ridiculous but I blamed the book. How idiotic was I... to think that me reading a book caused something to happen, as though me contemplating such a devastating event had actually brought it into reality. I know this was just shock, grief and my own kind of crazy at play but I did think it, if only at my lowest, darkest times (when sleep deprivation was everything!) - I do realise how ridiculous it sounds, honest.

Grief broke me and for a long, long time I felt as though I was existing in a bubble. Nothing  held my interest anymore. I felt completely alien to myself, the things I had always found enjoyment in no longer did so, my ability to concentrate disappeared and my love for books just seemed to fade.  The one constant in my life, since being tiny, was my passion for books and reading but now I was not interested anymore and didn't feel I would be again. 

Fast forward a little. It's been years now.. my husband died in 2011 but it has taken me a really long time to get back to a version of myself I truly recognise. That's why this year has been so special. I have started reading again and I mean properly reading; the kind I always did, where books absorbed my interest and concentration so much the world around me disappeared. I began spending time in the library and finding comfort in books I have previously loved, authors I have adored. 2018 has been the year a massive part of the old me came back with a vengeance. 

It started with a visit to the library in July. I don't always pay attention to what books I'm picking up - I grab an armful and check out then I enjoy taking my time to look at my selections. This time I'd unknowingly selected a couple of authors I'd never read before. To say I devoured these books is an understatement, I'd read and placed holds on everything else I could find of theirs in the library by the end of the night.  From this I had an idea - what if I started a little blog so I could write up what I thought of the books I read? I didn't really have a clue what to do but jumped in and started this blog (I am still learning really... ) I started a twitter account (@thecomfychair2)  dedicated to the blog and with the hope of connecting with like-minded people and finding new authors.  

The rest is pretty apparent via this blog. I've read and reviewed more books this year than any year since my husband died. I have a TBR pile that is bigger than I've ever had been and it excites me to think about adding more. I'm discovering new authors all the time, I'm trying genres I wouldn't necessarily go near before. 
Plus I smashed my reading challenge on Goodreads (not started until way into the year!) Connecting with people on Twitter has been a highlight of the year. So many wonderful people, discussing books, promoting authors, supporting each other. I know realistically that I'm a little pebble in the ocean of great bloggers, book lovers etc but I enjoy the connections I have made so far and going into 2019 I am excited by what is to come. I can't wait to hear about new books, find more authors I haven't read before and hopefully make more like-minded 'friends.' 

I have two authors to THANK for being that spark back in July, that reignited my love of all things books (although plenty more have now helped to reinstall my passion for reading). I hope they don't mind me saying so and I don't want to embarrass them but I wanted to acknowledge their work, to show how their hard work does have an impact in ways they may not have realised.  Heidi Swain and Jane Linfoot - Thank you.  

Please check out their books and follow them on Twitter:
Heidi Swain - https://twitter.com/Heidi_Swain 
Jane Linfoot - https://twitter.com/janelinfoot

I have fallen back in love with reading, with books and I can't wait for the reads that 2019 will bring.

"Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light."

–Vera Nazarian

x

The Christmas Spirit - Susan Buchanan

The Christmas Spirit - Blurb

Christmas is coming, but not everyone is looking forward to it.
Rebecca has just been dumped and the prospect of spending the holiday period with her parents is less than appealing. Eighty- two-year-old Stanley lost his beloved wife, Edie, to cancer. How will he cope with his first Christmas without her? Jacob’s university degree hasn’t helped him get a job, and it looks like he’ll still be signing on come New Year. Workaholic Meredith would rather spend December 25th at home alone with a ready meal and a DVD box set. Can anything make her embrace the spirit of the season?

The enigmatic Natalie Hope takes over the reins at the Sugar and Spice bakery and café in an attempt to spread some festive cheer and restore Christmas spirit, but will she succeed?

Available to buy here:  http://amzn.to/1gcpTrc (UK) & http://amzn.to/KUArMU (US)

My Review:

If you are looking for a feel-good festive treat look no further. It is a heartwarming tale, an utterly charming story that will give you the warm and fuzzy feeling that is plentiful at Christmas time. 

With a lovely selection of well written characters you are drawn into each of their stories - they all face some sadness or problem but its a pleasure to read how they are interwoven into each others lives and how a special someone ensures they have a happier Christmas they thought possibly.

You can tell how unique Natalie is throughout and how she is instrumental in spreading her own Christmas magic for all the characters we grow find of.  I feel more could have been made of Natalie - she is so important to this story and although I like what I read of her, especially at the end, I feel like I wanted to know more. 

This book has it all - romance, humour and that special festive magic. It's a nice read, with a great pace. The descriptions of all Natalies special cakes will have you dreaming of cake; I'm definitely tempted to search for recipes of some! 

Looking for a quick read that will leave you with a warm feeling? Then I recommend The Christmas Spirit. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍
Thank you to Rachels Random Resources for the opportunity to review this book.

About the Author:

Susan Buchanan lives in Scotland with her husband and their two children. She is the author of four novels: Return of the Christmas Spirit, The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. She is currently working on books five and six: The Proposal and Just One Day.

Susan is also a proofreader, editor and translator, and when not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows and eating out – not necessarily in that order!

Facebook – www.facebook.com/susan.buchanan.author

Twitter – susan_buchanan

Blog – Sooz’s journal – www.susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk

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One Day in December - Josie Silver

Available on Amazon here 

Goodreads Blurb: A love story about what happens after you meet, or rather, don't meet the one. Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist.But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic...and then her bus drives away.

Assured they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year searching for him. She doesn't find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend introduces her new boyfriend, Jack. 

What follows is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered.

Review:

One Day in December is one of those books that you start and within a couple of chapters you know you will not be putting it down - not for anything! The further into the book I read, the more involved I got and there was just no way I would, or could,  stop until the very last word.   

The story of Laurie and those she loves is engaging, frustrating yet heartwarming. You can identify the many ways one person can love and be loved - evident through the different relationships developed in this story. If you haven't had one 100% true love yet, or you have had several, if you have lost love or those that you love - you will identify with Laurie at some point in this book and that's what makes it utterly fantastic and will appeal to so many. This is not your typical love story; it isn't as simple as girl meets boy, they fall in love, something happens to break them but within a couple of chapters the book ends with them reconciled. One Day in December is full of love, all consuming and life-changing love but broken down with an interwoven tale of angst, heart break and loss.

I enjoyed the characters and though the focus is really on the situations they put themselves in, the characters are relatable and interesting, with none really pushing my buttons and annoying me like some can in other books. You grow with these characters, the time span of the story is over a decade - an emotional rollercoaster from the perspectives of Laurie and Jack.  You are given their inner most thoughts and feelings and entrusted with their heartbreaking secrets; you know they care deeply for each other as well as the other characters. 

Josie Silver balances angsty, emotional story lines with scenes of humour and light; some quirky moments alongside the ones that have you reaching for the tissues. It's a fairly short read, but it is perfect for a cold day in December; you can get cosy and enjoy the book.

I was happy with how the book ended, but I think I wanted more. I'm only being greedy (often happens when I enjoy a book)... I felt that I had come so far with the characters so the ending just wasn't quite enough , I longed to know how it all worked out - maybe fast forward a year and be given an epilogue of sorts. Maybe it's been left open for a return visit to these characters in the future?

"You tread lightly through life, but you leave deep footprints that are hard for other people to fill.

Thank you Josie Silver for giving us such a gorgeous book, full of heart and soul. I loved reading every word. It was emotional and definitely gave me moments where I could reflect on my own life and events within it that enabled a strong connection with the main character that I haven't had in many books this year. It is no surprise that Reece Witherspoons book club pick for December is One Day in December. It's truly deserved and I can only throw in my support and recommend this as one you definitely need to read.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍