Her latest novel The Wake-Up Call is out now and follows two hotel receptionists–and arch-rivals–who find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way.

For me, the perfect holiday read will transport you to Christmassy cosiness even if you’re reading in the height of summertime. It’s all about the essence of this time of year: the feeling of keeping warm indoors when it’s bitingly cold outside; the taste of cream-laced hot chocolate or spicy mulled wine; the heart-warming reminder that people can be incredibly kind and generous when we’re at our best.

I loved filling my latest novel, The Wake-Up Call, with all kinds of festive goodness, and the old-fashioned hotel where the story is set was the ideal location for it. Think grand staircases, roaring open fireplaces festooned with firs, and lots of sexual tension to keep things warm…

These five romances all give me that same lovely festive feeling.

One Day in December by Josie Silver

This book is just so romantic. Our main character, Laurie, spots a man through the bus window who she forms an instant connection with – only for the bus to drive away and leave them as strangers. But fate has other plans, and this gorgeous love story follows Laurie and her Bus Boy through ten years of love and heartbreak. Snowy, sweet and moving, this one captured my heart.

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

I adore Jasmine Guillory’s books. This novel has not only a beautiful festive setting but also a royal family (what is it about royals that just feels Christmassy, somehow?) Expect simmering sexual tension and lots of flirtatious banter between our protagonist Vivian and the formal, upstanding Brit Malcolm, who is private secretary to the Queen.

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Set in stunning Edinburgh, Scotland, this cosy Christmas read is definitely a romance, but it’s also a love story between sisters. Carmen moves in with her sister Sofia after losing her job, and it’s beautiful to read the slow rebuilding of their relationship. We also follow Carmen’s adventures working in a quirky bookshop in the city, which is at real risk of having to shut down – another trope I absolutely love for a Christmas read.

The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk

Have you ever wished it was Christmas every day? You might change your mind after reading this hilarious, heart-warming rom com from Lindsey Kelk, who never fails to make me smile with her books. It’s a Groundhog Day story – so Christmas literally happens every day, over and over. Gwen Baker has to try to break the cycle while also finding herself rekindling her crush on the seriously distracting boy-next-door, now all grown up…

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas

Historical romance is my go-to genre for when I want to cosy in under a blanket and relax (maybe because it’s not what I write myself, which makes it easier for me to switch off!) Lisa Kleypas is one of my favourites, and her Wallflower series is such a brilliant place to start with her books. This festive treat brings back the four stars of that series, but you can definitely read it as a gorgeous Christmas standalone too.

The post Beth O’Leary’s Favourite Holiday Romance Reads appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Jenny, over the course of the last 25 years, you’ve written more than 30 books under your name, and several under two pseudonyms.  How did you begin your writing career? Did you ever imagine you’d become an international sensation?

Goodness no, I didn’t even think I’d get published. Well, I’d muse, you know, the same way you think, what if I was a pop star, or an ice dancer. I worked a day job and went to lots of evening classes and sent away chapters to agents and just got lucky. This was pre-internet. I had to print out everything at work and send actual paper manuscripts.  I was always leaving bits of novels on the photocopier and getting into trouble.

How do you describe your new novel, AN ISLAND WEDDING? Were you excited to revisit your characters from Mure?

AN ISLAND WEDDING is about three couples, and about a race to get married on Midsummer Eve. It is always fun to go back to Mure. In the summer in the far North of Scotland it never really gets dark at all so that’s kind of lovely and fun.

You set your books in different locations in the UK. What is the significance of place in developing your characters and themes?

They’re places I know well and absolutely love and I really hope that comes across to the reader. When people get in touch and tell me it feels like they’re there when they read me, that’s a huge compliment. I change the names of towns, though, people hate it if you write about their town and get even a tiny thing wrong!

You’re a prolific writer—publishing 2 novels a year, while writing 2 novels a year—you’re a wife, mother of three, how do you do it, what’s your secret?

Oh, I have help of course! I hate it when people pretend they don’t and can do everything themselves! Especially women! When the children were little, I had a lovely lady who looked after them and now I have Laraine, who takes care of the house. She’s brilliant. I have someone who helps out with my paperwork and social media, and my husband is a marine engineer, which means he goes to sea, but when he comes home, he’s at home all the time so he can, and does, do everything while I get on with writing.  He did all the home-schooling during lockdown.  He was just fantastic. Honestly all those ‘I get up at 4am and drink a green smoothie’ Hollywood ladies who pretend they do everything themselves are not helping women at all! 

Is it true you live in a Castle?

We do! Well, it’s kind of a fake castle. It was built by two men after the war with stones from an old ruined castle. When we were looking for a place to live the realtors sent us the details and I was like, ‘look at this, it’s ridiculous’, but my brother said, ‘oh at least have a look at it’ and it’s just magical. Also, I love its history. The two men who built it together pretended to be friends, as homosexuality was illegal then, but they were of course a couple who built this amazing home together and lived happily for decades. Then they sold it to the famous painter Jack Vettriano. Some of the seas you see in his paintings are right outside our window. Then a famous footballer bought it and played football with his children in the garden. And now it belongs to me.  It’s a happy place.

Your books are romantic comedies, but you don’t shy away from exploring complicated relationships, and examining issues of gender, class, xenophobia in your fiction. When you sit down to write, do you have in mind the theme you hope to touch on? 

I don’t, I have stories I want to tell. But issues are universal, we all live in a world full of them. I hope I’m not heavy handed, because the character and the stories are more important. But they don’t live in a perfect fairyland.

Speaking of writing, what’s your work routine?

I wake early, mess about on the internet, get the kids to school, walk the dogs, then settle down with a big sandwich about 11am and plough on through till the afternoon. 2000-2500 words depending on where I am on the schedule. I like to take one of the dogs to a coffee shop. One is well-behaved and one is naughty so the good one gets a lot more outings.

What are some of your hobbies, your favorite food, and what do you read for pleasure?

I play the piano quite seriously. I mean, I’m terrible, but I’m on the good end of terrible. Every second I’m not writing or out or doing stuff, I’m at one of the pianos. (I own more pianos that is strictly appropriate. If you know a middle-aged man who drools over cars, well I’m a bit like that but with pianos). I have a wonderful teacher and once a year I go to France to a piano boot camp where we start doing piano yoga at 7am, have lessons all morning, practice all afternoon then perform at night for a week. I absolutely love it. I also have a harp, but I’m not very good at it.

I like to eat almost anything, but I think if I was to be totally honest with what I really, really love eating, it would be my morning cup of coffee with an everything bagel and cream cheese.

Like most library-raised children my tastes in books are catholic in the extreme. I love Jon Ronson, Sophie Kinsella, John Irving, Colson Whitehead. I know he takes a lot of flak, but I thought Jonathan Franzen’s last book was superb. I’ve also just read North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell for the first time—I loved it! I’m currently reading Monica Dicken’s WWII memoir about nursing which is hilarious and incredibly rude.

The post Q&A: Jenny Colgan, Author of ‘An Island Wedding’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We had the pleasure of chatting to author Jenny Colgan all about her new novel Christmas At The Island Hotel, book recommendations, and much more!

Hi, Jenny! Tell us a bit about yourself!

Hello! Well, I’m a novelist, I live with my husband, three kids and two dogs in Scotland, and I love to write romantic comedies about my home country, as well as some sci-fi and I write a bit for Doctor Who.

With the current state of the world, what are you doing to cope with the changes we’ve had to make with our day-to-day? 

Well, we’re all just trying to keep positive. Thankfully our schools are still open so the children are all right. The masks and so on I don’t mind at all, but I really really miss going to the cinema and I cannot WAIT to throw a party again. God I do love a party.  Fortunately, I work on my own from home anyway so that didn’t change too much. Sending love to all your readers though, it’s tough.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

My mother used to say my primary 1 (kindergarten) teacher said I was a writer from the first thing I ever wrote but I don’t know if that is true or not. But I always loved reading, was always addicted to books.

Your new novel, Christmas At The Island Hotel, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Funny, glittering, winter holiday romance!

Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?

Well it takes place on the remote Scottish island of Mure, where the inhabitants are trying to open a wonderful hotel in time for Christmas, with a very grumpy french chef and a Scandinavian pot boy who doesn’t seem to have ever been inside a kitchen before…. lots of high jinks ensue.  

What inspired you to write this novel?

Funnily enough, my daughter. She loves those Netflix Christmas movies and we watch them together every year and she said, ‘can you write something like that’, and I said, well, probably not exactly like that, but the hero is a rich Norwegian who has been banished for misbehaving and has to redeem himself, so it’s quite good fun in that way.

Did you face any difficulties while writing, such as writing a scene or conducting research? If so, how did you overcome them?

I had to construct a large art work on the island and without giving too much away, that was as much of a headache to arrange for me as it was for the characters in the novel but I think we got there in the end.

With Christmas At The Island Hotel obviously being set during the holidays, do you have any favourite holiday-themed books or movies?

Oh yes, I just love The Dark is Rising, which is my absolute favourite Christmas book; I am not as crazy about Elf as everyone else but I have a massive soft spot for Scrooged as my late mother just loved it and anything Bill Murray was in, and I love Sleepless in Seattle which I know is not exactly a Christmas movie but I think counts. And Die Hard of course.

What is your writing process like? 

Banal and tedious from the outside I should think! I go to a coffee shop, stare into the middle distance, type for two hours then eat a sandwich. I’m a fast typist so I just kind of watch the movie in my head and type it out.

You’ve published numerous novels over the last 20 years. What would you say is the most important thing you have learned when it comes to writing and publishing?

Get your words done without worrying what it’s like. If you’ve got 90,000 words, you can fix them. If you haven’t because you’re worried they’re not good enough, a book will never happen. Also  don’t think about how long a book is because they’re REALLY long. Don’t think, I have to write 90,000 words. Just think, today I have to write 2000, or whatever your word count is. Then do it again the next day. Oh, and back up. Please back up your work. For me, please.

What’s next for you? 

I have finished my new novel, about a girl who is in search of peace and quiet, and accidentally moves in next door to the world’s noisiest person. It’s fun, I hope!

Lastly, are you currently reading anything, and do you have any book recommendations for our readers? 

Oh yes, I’m always reading. Currently I’m reading Girl A which I think is going to be a big book next year, it’s like Room. And Who They Was which is a ferocious novel about London gang culture by Gabriel Krauze. My favourite book this year was Piranesi by Susannah Clarke, it’s like a half-remembered dream.

Will you be picking up Christmas At The Island Hotel? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jenny Colgan, Author of ‘Christmas At The Island Hotel’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

As bookish people, there is one place we all feel at home: the bookshop. The outside world doesn’t even matter anymore as long as we are surrounded by our favourite books and stories yet to be discovered. Most of us use the bookshop as far more than just a place to meet our needs, which is to get new reading material. We see it as a place to meet our friends, a place of comfort full of like-minded people and yes, even a place to reward or console ourselves after an accomplishment or an especially hard day (on that subject, check out fellow Nerd Daily contributor Tracy’s article on impulse book buying here). 

Now, you’re probably wondering why I just told you all of that when these are facts you know perfectly well yourself. I simply want you to be reminded of how you feel when entering a bookshop; either on a planned trip on a spontaneous visit to your favourite store. I get the exact same feeling whenever I read a story set in a bookshop, don’t you?

Luckily for us, a lot of authors choose to set their stories in a bookshop. These stories exist in every genre and for every age group and are like the comfort of a bookshop you can carry around with you and take home.

Surely, you’ve already read some stories which involve our favourite place to shop and you might even have a favourite fictional bookshop (Flourish and Blotts, anyone?) but just in case you haven’t or you’re in need of new reading material, here are five of my favourite fictional bookshops:

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

For some reason, this romance novel has two titles. The American version, as it is listed here and the original British title, which is The Little Shop of Happy Ever After. This is a story about a young woman breaking free of (some) social conventions, relocating from the bustling city of Birmingham to the countryside of Scotland and falling in love. And she does all of this by impulsively buying a van and turning it into a bookshop on wheels.

If you are looking for a love story in which the protagonist not only falls in love with a man but with life, books, and most importantly herself, then this is the book for you.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

A. J. Fikry is a bookshop owner who has seen better days. In fact, both he and the bookshop have. He starts isolating himself from everyone he knows and even withdraws from what has been giving him pleasure throughout his life so far: his books. That is until a small package arrives at the shop and changes everything.

 This is a story for you if you like contemporary fiction full of emotion because this book is a whirlwind of feelings of every kind.

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

In this cute YA novel, Dash and Lily meet through dares which Lily has left in a notebook at her favourite bookshop in order to find the right guy for her. They keep talking via the cleverly hidden notebook before starting to wonder whether they would get on just as well in real life as they do on paper.

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan are a dream pairing when it comes to writing romances. Some of you might remember Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist – either the book or the film version starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares is an absolute delight for everyone who loves bookshops, an identity reveal and YA.

You by Caroline Kepnes

In this thriller, a bookseller Googles a customer’s name and starts cyberstalking her, before taking his stalking to an ‘IRL’ level. He slowly sneaks into her life and tries to eliminate every obstacle between them and their happy ever after, even if he crosses some lines.

You is an exploration of manipulation and trust (or lack of it) in our digital age, especially considering the power of social media and the enticing promise of ‘likes’. Many of you will probably already know the Netflix adaption starring Penn Badgley, but even so, the book is definitely worth a read as the story is so intense, the pages practically turn themselves!

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

The world is about to end. However, the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley have been living on earth since the very beginning (separately of course, except for when they run into each other which is bound to turn into lunch). They are too comfortable enjoying everything they are offered on this planet to look forward to the apocalypse. And then somehow, they lose sight of the Anti-Christ, which is a whole new level of dilemma…

This heartfelt and funny fantasy adventure is a true masterpiece. As for the bookshop setting, Aziraphale lives in a bookshop which serves as a meeting point for the angel and the demon on multiple occasions.

Here we have yet another book that has been adapted for the screen. What can I say; there is a reason that people want more of these stories after reading them. The Amazon Prime adaption of Good Omens has many beloved British actors in it, including David Tennant starring as Crowley and Michael Sheen as Aziraphale. If you love the show already, perfect, you will love the book just as much. If you haven’t consumed either, you’re in luck as both a perfect book and a perfect series await!

These are only five examples from a big pond of bookshop fiction and I hope that these examples can be an incentive for you to dive right in and to find as much comfort in fictional bookshops as I am assuming you do in your favourite real-life shop.

Now we would like to hear from you! What are your favourite fictional bookshops? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 5 Books Featuring Fictional Bookshops appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Summertime has always felt like peak reading season for me. Work is slower, the days are longer, and nothing feels better than sitting outside and reading a great book. So I’ve put together a list of books perfect for summer reading. Even if you don’t have a beach near you, you can pick up one of these and head out to the pool and pretend!

Whether you’re in need of a page-turning thriller or an adorable romance, there is something for everyone on this summer reading list!

1. A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell | Goodreads
2. The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory | Goodreads
3. The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson | Goodreads
4. Breathe In, Cash Out by Madeleine Henry | Goodreads
5. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim | Goodreads

6. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman | Goodreads
7. Layover by David Bell | Goodreads
8. Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer | Goodreads
9. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan | Goodreads
10. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo | Goodreads

11. Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food and Love Anthology | Goodreads
12. The Last Guest House by Megan Miranda | Goodreads
13. The Last Resort by Marissa Stapley | Goodreads
14. Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner | Goodreads
15. Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey | Goodreads

16. Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune by Roselle Lim | Goodreads
17. Man of the Year by Caroline Lousie Walker | Goodreads
18. Honestly We Meant Well by Grant Ginder | Goodreads
19. The Perfect Date by Evelyn Lozada & Holly Lorincz | Goodreads
20. Providence by Caroline Kepnes | Goodreads

21. Screen Queens by Lori Goldstein | Goodreads
22. Naturally Tan by Tan France | Goodreads
23. When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri | Goodreads
24. The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen | Goodreads
25. If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann | Goodreads

26. Mine by Courtney Cole | Goodreads
27. The Royal Secret by Lucinda Riley | Goodreads
28. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren | Goodreads
29. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Goodreads
30. The Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey | Goodreads

Will you be adding any of these to your list? Or do you have any others you would recommend? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 30 Perfect Summer Beach Reads For 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Little Shop Of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan, which is also known as The Bookshop On The Corner, is a story of love, hope, independence, and courage that will render readers unable to put the book down from the minute they start reading!

The Little Shop of Happy Ever After follows twenty-nine year old Nina Redmond who, following the closure of her beloved library, is left jobless and at a loss as to what she should do next. Her luck changes when she sees the opportunity to own her very own van which she plans to turn into a mobile library. Leaving her old life in Birmingham, Nina moves to the Scottish Highlands in an attempt to pursue her dream. However, reality is no fairy-tale and Nina encounters very real struggles in her attempts to create a new life in the middle-of-nowhere. Luckily for her, whilst this may be the real world, Knights-In-Shining-Armour could very well exist…

Perhaps you’re still not convinced that this is the book for you… Well, here’s a few reasons that may convince you otherwise!

Setting

The thing about reading is that most people use books as a means of escaping their own everyday lives, which can be forgotten about with every turn of a page. Usually, the books they choose as a refuge are ones which take place in some far off land. Well, why not just choose one that offers that same sense of escapism but is set within the same reality? The Little Shop of Happy Ever After provides just that for its readers and it has a strange ability to reawaken the magic and wonder which exists within the reality in which we all live. Colgan’s writing throughout the novel, and though the use of Nina’s character, lets the story offer a fresh perspective on a country whose beauty is often dulled, allowing it to shine.

Plot

The tale of Nina’s adventure and the chance to witness her gain both independence and confidence gives the story a ‘coming-of-age’ feel to it, despite how the main character is already an adult. However, even this alone has something comforting in it, especially when now-a-days within reality, people are expected to have settled by that time and their time for adventure is deemed over.

The Characters

Whilst many characters are mentioned throughout this novel and play a part in the tale, there are four whom stand out more so than all others: Nina, Surinder, Marek, and Lennox. Kudos must be given to the author for her creation of such relatable and realistic characters. All four are completely lovable despite their individual flaws and even the side characters within the story are likely to hold a place in your heart by the time you finish the book!

Romance

The thing about love is that the concept itself is a complicated one: there are so many types of love and, even more importantly, love is unpredictable. That is a theme which is quite prominent throughout the course of this story and if that wasn’t enough to get you racing to the library to borrow a copy or the nearest shop to purchase your own then don’t worry, there’s more. For who doesn’t love a story in which the main character is torn between two others. Of course, it’s something which occurs in nearly every romance novel, but the question of whom Nina chooses really is one which is asked throughout the story, even when you think you know the answer!

Life Lessons

What is a good story unless it successfully teaches valuable life lessons? In The Little Shop Of Happy Ever After, many valuable lessons can be learned. Throughout the book, readers journey alongside Nina and share with her the experiences she has and the consequences she faces. Along with Nina, readers are able to learn the importance of always being yourself, witness how it one should always dare to dream and follow those dreams… More importantly, Nina and the readers alike are able to come to terms with how love is never where you may originally look and that everyone has a story. For, as stated in chapter 24:

There was a universe inside every human being every bit as big as the universe outside them.

A solemn reminder that each and every one of us is as different as we are the same, and that is something which we should all respect.

Curious about reading the novel now? Then why not give it a try, then maybe even have a read at Jenny Colgan’s other novels – all of which can be found on her website.

The Little Shop of Happy Ever After is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Have you read this book? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Given a back-room computer job when the beloved Birmingham library she works in turns into a downsized retail complex, Nina misses her old role terribly – dealing with people, greeting her regulars, making sure everyone gets the right books for their needs. Then a new business nobody else wants catches her eye: owning a tiny little bookshop bus up in the Scottish highlands. No computers. Shortages. Out all hours in the freezing cold; driving with a tiny stock of books… not to mention how the little community is going to take to her, particularly when she stalls the bus on a level crossing…

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