festive fictions: holiday book reviews

After finishing NaNoWriMo a week early (yay!) I decided that it was high time to dive into a few holiday novels. I read three darling festive fictions over the holiday weekend and thought I'd share my opinions on them with you. I've also got a few other recommendations that I read last year and plan to dig out again for a reread if I have time before the holidays are over...

Call Me Mrs. Miracle Debbie Macomber This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner's son. For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him—and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat. Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it. Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking! This Christmas will be different. For all of them.

Debbie Macomber is, as it says on the back of this book, the official storyteller of Christmas. A multiple New York Times bestselling author, Debbie weaves tales of family, friendship, romance and the simple things in life. If you ever thought your Happy Place could be inside of a book, chances are you'll find it in a Debbie Macomber novel. This is a stand-alone sequel to her previous holiday story, Mrs. Miracle, which follows the delightful elderly spitfire Emily Merkle - nicknamed Mrs. Miracle - as she waltzes into the lives of others and drastically alters their Christmas plans. I actually enjoyed this story a bit more than the previous one, perhaps because it takes place amidst the bustling streets of New York City (it's Mrs. Miracle on 34th Street!) and there's no place more magical than Manhattan at Christmastime. This year circumstances brought me a very unconventional Thanksgiving, but curling up with this book made for a memorable and very festive holiday. It was such a joy to read. Call Me Mrs. Miracle was also made into a television movie for the Hallmark channel this year! It premiered on Saturday night and it was completely adorable, although quite different from the book. It will be airing throughout the month on Hallmark so keep your eyes open for it!

A Christmas Promise Mary Balogh Weddings are supposed to be joyous occasions—especially when a couple seems as well matched as Randolph Pierce, Earl of Falloden, and his bride-to-be, Eleanor Transome. Ellie brings to the marriage a vast dowry, while Falloden, though distant, is handsome, tremendously desirable, and possessed of a title most young ladies can only dream of sharing. Yet Ellie is not most young ladies. She knows that she must honor her dear father’s dying wish for her to wed the proud earl, but she dreads a lifetime in a union without love—and how can Falloden claim to love her when he married her only for her fortune? As Christmas descends upon the Falloden manor, the warmth of the season may yet melt away the trappings of duty and wealth, leaving behind only a man and a woman destined for each other’s arms.

I first heard about this novel through Gabrielle of Pink Tuesdays - thanks, Gabbie! - and you can check out her review of it over here. Like Gabbie, I had never read anything by Mary Balogh before this and now I'm wondering just why that was. This was a terrifically charming book with a very cozy winter setting. The verbal sparring between the two main characters reminded me of Darcy and Lizzy, sparking with chemistry and obstinacy on both sides. In a way similar to Pride and Prejudice the main characters of this book spend a lot of time at odds with each other and the misunderstandings seem to pile higher and higher as the story goes on...but the way the characters are able to overcome so much is quite endearing. I think if it had been a longer read the misunderstandings could have led to a good deal of frustration for the reader, but as it is it's a perfect read for a cozy weekend by the fire.

A Wallflower Christmas Lisa Kleypas It's Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady-in-waiting, and if it weren't for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.

I loved this book! I think I read it in a day's time, staying up until the wee small hours (3am, to be exact) to finish because I simply couldn't leave these lovely characters for a moment. I've never read Lisa Kleypas before, and I intend to read much more right away. This is the fifth and final book in Lisa's Wallflower series, but it stands on its own. To my understanding, the previous Wallflower books must be read in order, but here the previous four heroines - The Wallflowers, as they call themselves - are secondary characters and it actually served as a fun introduction to all of them. I'm quite excited to go back and read each girl's individual story now, but here they all had me biting my lip to keep from laughing outright. I was reminded of the spunky villagers from Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford in a few scenes. The romantic leads - Rafe and Hannah - were strong characters with fantastic chemistry. There were readings of A Christmas Carol, a holiday ball, a Christmas tree decorating party (complete with an incident involving a toupee and a catapult - you must read this book!), sleigh rides, match-making, love letters, a rendezvous in the library...all manner of things that come together to make for a delightful holiday Regency romance.


Other recommendations...

Mrs. Miracle Debbie Macomber Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family togethe...he needs a miracle. And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle"—and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who's been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith—and with a little help from a children's Christmas pageant and a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle—Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love.

The Perfect Christmas Debbie Macomber What would make your Christmas perfect? For Cassie Beaumont, it’s meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing’s worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance. What’s left? A professional matchmaker. He’s Simon Dodson, and he’s very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she’s astonished when he accepts her as a client. Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa’s elf at a children’s party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all—and she’s finally ready to meet her match. But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise!

The original Mrs. Miracle - which was also made into a Hallmark movie, and I should add that Emily Merkle is portrayed in both films by the wonderful Doris Roberts of Everybody Loves Raymond - is a heartwarming little Christmas story. It's a "You'll laugh, you'll cry" sort of novel, as many are that we label "heartwarming", but it maintains a light feel, due I'm sure to the bouncy Emily Merkle and the shenanigans of two young twin boys.
The Perfect Christmas is a romantic comedy of a novel. It was my introduction to Debbie Macomber and remains my favorite of her books. The main characters and their budding romance are all so unconventional, which makes for a fun and refreshing read. Although I read it last December I can still recall some scenes with perfect clarity; the whole thing played out much in the way of a Lifetime (or, dare I say it, a Hallmark) movie. It's lovely, festive and - as with any Debbie Macomber novel - full of warm wishes, valuable lessons and happy endings.

And there you have it, a rather lengthy compilation of books that will undoubtedly warm your heart and surround you with the delight of the holiday season. If anyone happens to read any of these on my recommendation do let me know what you think!

weekend reads: five beautiful blogs

Here's something a little different for this week's weekend reads: I thought I'd shine the spotlight on five of the most beautiful blogs, in design and content, that you may not yet be reading. Take a look...


http://blog.caseybrowndesigns.com/
Casey's Elegant Musings
We have the same name (albeit spelled differently!) and we share a love of all things vintage, so it's rather a wonder that I only just came across the lovely Casey's Elegant Musings just this week. Five minutes spent viewing Casey's blog had me completely enthralled. Her outfit posts and her insights into the world of vintage, sewing, cooking and crafting are a true delight. Her blog is also incredibly pleasing from an aesthetic standpoint as well. Beautiful quality photographs and graphics and a perfectly customized layout make the space so bright, fresh and organized. Just lovely.


http://indiefixx.com/
Indie Fixx
Another blog I found just this week, Indie Fixx is a complete joy. In case you couldn't tell by the title, the girl behind the blog, Jen, is an indie darling. She shares some of the most delightful recipes, DIYs, links, interviews, decor inspiration and all manner of other wonderful things. There's something incredibly substantial about Indie Fixx; each entry is expertly compiled, filled with information and beautiful photos to accompany. Indie Fixx is so cool it even has its own book club!


http://www.ohhellofriendblog.com/
Oh, Hello Friend
I've mentioned Oh, Hello Friend many times before so I'm sure if you weren't reading it before my little blog you're certainly reading it now. Danni is a beautiful and incredibly talented artist and designista, filling her blog with all manner of creativity. She has absolutely the best eye for aesthetics. I mean, just look at that layout! It's even beyond that - somehow her photos and the graphics in her entries always fit so perfectly into the soft color scheme of her blog. The minute you visit Oh, Hello Friend you feel a cozy sense of belonging. Her sweet personality shines through her writing, too, inviting you into each and every lovely post.


http://secretsofabutterfly.typepad.com/
Secrets of a Butterfly
As Kathryn describes it, Secrets of a Butterfly is "the blog of a girl who loves: wildflowers, red squirrels, camomile tea, glistening rivers, listening to the honeytrees, believing in peace, seeing beauty & recieving white feathers." It's also a truly serene and peaceful blog-reading experience. You can almost hear The Honey Trees playing softly as you browse the endless pages of inspiration. This is the happy place to steal away to when life gets too busy, too loud or just too overwhelming. Secrets of a Butterfly is like a little secret garden, perfectly magical.


http://wolfandwillowblog.com/
Wolf and Willow
Wolf and Willow was love at first sight. The design of this blog is completely out of this world! I was so struck by Nancy's pretty header upon my first visit a few months ago, and as soon as I moved down the page I was caught by the lovely icons, graphics and photos used throughout the layout and entries. The content is just as wonderful and organized; Nancy offers plenty of fun themes such as Fashion Fancies, Vintage Icons, Peachy Prints and - my favorite - Yummy Delicious, because what's a pretty blog without pictures of pretty food? I've also found countless Etsy shops through her Etsy Love series. This is one of those blogs you could literally spend hours on.

Some truly stunning blogs, aren't they? I hope I've managed to introduce you to a new discovery with this post. If you have any favorite inspiration blogs that pop into your mind, I'd love for you to share the links! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

I Heart Dujour

Happy Thanksgiving to all my lovely Stateside friends! I hope you're all having a beautiful holiday. And to everyone else in the world, I hope you're having a beautiful Thursday! If you can stand a little more beauty check out this grand, free preview of the new Handmade Issue from Dujour Magazine! I especially love the interview with Katrina of Pugly Pixel. I adore this girl, her blog, her dogs and her stellar freebies. Learning that she's self-taught in all of her graphic design endeavors was quite a surprise to me. Proof that determination and hard work can help you achieve truly great things, huh?

Be sure to check out the Dujour blog as well, where you'll find all manner of lovely and beautiful things!

wishpot wednesday: dorothy perkins

I recently made my very first purchase from Dorothy Perkins overseas, the lovely lilac tree print jersey tunic. It's perfection! After the size conversion I ended up getting a size smaller than I tend to wear, but it fit perfectly. That is a very good feeling going into the holiday season, ha. And now I'm rather in raptures over the shop! I went on a Wishpot frenzy over the weekend. Here's what I've added...


Rust Military Button Cape; £65 | Grey Long Ruched Gloves; £7 | Tan Knee High Boots; £55
The site suggested pairing these bits together, and I thought it was such an adorable look. So I added the whole thing! I'm not sure I approve of the "Wear it with" feature because whoever at DP is responsible for styling the pieces is far too talented. I suddenly start daydreaming about the outfits they put together and suddenly each piece just isn't "complete" without the rest of the ensemble!


Rust Georgette Sleeve Top £25
I'm crazy about the sleeves on this top - and also the color. It's a rather elegant color, isn't it? I love the shape of it and especially the length. I always think longer tops have some sort of extra elegance, oddly enough. I like that it's softly sheath-like so the looser sleeves don't make it too overpowering and peasant-ish.


Khaki Lace Insert Top £26
Most people know that I love a good empire waist, as I've probably said it on here a few times already. Certain things I find when I'm shopping online are so "me" that I feel like I already own them. This is one of those! I love everything about it; the detailing and the buttons and the color...


Mink Palazzo Trousers £32
I'm sorry, but what's not to love about palazzo pants? They make such a statement in a minimalist way. I think these are darling, with the little sash belt. I also love the color, I feel like there's so many possible ways to wear it.


Black Round Toe Mid Heel Shoes £25
These were suggested with the palazzo pants, but sadly they're not available in my size. Just the same, I had to add them to the Wishpot because they're so darling. I love the little vintage look, and the button detail is too cute!

What have you been wishing for this week?

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Wishpot.com is an easy-to-use site that lets you create an online wishlist from products you find all over the web. A button added on to your browser lets you add to your Wishpot as you shop. Check it out, and feel free to add me as a friend!

etsy love: holly knitlightly

Shop Holly Knitlightly on Etsy

Very recently, the author of one of the fabulous blogs I follow, Holly Knitlightly, opened her very own Etsy shop under the same name! And it's gorgeous. I know quite a few people who are shopping Etsy for their holiday gifts and I thought now would be a lovely time to spread the word about Holly's amazing knits. Some favorites of mine are the Buttercup Cowl, the Ginkgo Scarf and the Blueberry Hat (cutest ever!). Holly gives great details and insights on each of her items, which makes the shopping even more personal. Go check it out, and be sure to visit her blog!

style profile: imelda may

For my second edition of Style Profile I thought I'd take a leap into the 21st century with a small feature on one of my favorite musicians of late. Take one Irish beauty, factor in some wailing vocals, add a punch of rockabilly style and you have the lovely and incredibly talented Imelda May. Raised on the music of Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and other greats, the Dublin-born songstress discovered rockabilly at the age of thirteen and fell madly in love. Its influence is clear in both her music and her style - and she totally knows how to rock it in both elements.


I consider her style to have a similar effect to that of everyone's favorite burlesque diva, Dita von Teese. Vintage, but with an edge all her own, Imelda's look is fiercely iconic and utterly memorable. I admire her fearless red lips, unstoppable curves and the overall boldness of her style. I'm always inspired when women really take strides to create their own personal image, and when you feel hit by their style from just one look...well, that's fascinating to me. I love a style that demands attention like that.


There's a great sense of completeness to her look as well; a very polished element that really illuminates her in a way. The way she maintains a lot of the traditional qualities of rockabilly style while simultaneously making you feel like she created the whole thing on her own is a tribute, I think, to her confidence. It's more than just the clothes and the hair and the make-up with Imelda May - you get the feeling that she is rockabilly. The way she carries herself and the way she talks (not to mention the way she sings her songs) makes you feel like she's somehow a time-traveler from a bygone era.


"No matter how you're feeling, red lipstick will always make you look and feel good."
Imelda is my make-up soul sister. She creates my favorite look - the black winged eyeliner and the piercing, brilliant red lips - with nary a flaw. Watching videos of her, I often get distracted checking out how she did her eyeliner. Speaking of videos, seeing her rock the vintage look in pictures is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg; watching her perform her fabulous songs takes you straight back in time. Check it out...


Imelda May - "Johnny Got a Boom Boom" Official Video
Those of us in the States haven't had the chance to see much of Imelda, though you may remember her performance at the Grammy Awards in January of this year. If you didn't know her before, I hope I've managed to provide a decent introduction to the fabulous Imelda May and her fierce, fearless and fabulously vintage style.

If you want more Imelda, here are a few extra videos I love:
Walking After Midnight
Big Bad Handsome Man
Tainted Love (Acoustic Cover) (love her striped trench!)

Previously on Style Profile: Audrey Hepburn
image sources via Google

mr. suomi, mountain views and weekend reads

I realize I've gotten into the habit lately of sharing a song every Friday along with my weekend reads. My love for music probably matches my love for fashion (and books, and movies...) and I've always enjoyed introducing people to knew, obscure or up-and-coming artists. Usually these songs have been accompanied by an appropriately matching image of some sort, but today I decided to post the original video because it's quite spectacular. This is a lovely fellow named Damion Suomi (pronounced sue-me), who traveled to the breathtaking North Georgia mountains with some friends to perform several live songs from his self-titled album. His music is of the acoustic folk variety (and, as Wikipedia states, it falls under the genre of "Drinking Songs" - ha). This is my favorite song from the album, "Archer Woman", and I think his sound so perfectly suits the scenery of the mountains. It's also refreshing to see a talented musician/vocalist performing so naturally. If you have three minutes and forty-six seconds to spare, I recommend cranking up the volume and checking out this lovely video.

Christian Louboutin Releases 'Piece of Shoe' at Little Girl, Big World
Sweet Nothings at The Chirpy Bird
Friend Friday: Copying isn't a form of flattery, it's stealing at Beautifully Invisible
(Also check out B's Tom Ford-related posts, one and two.)
Photography: Raceytay on Etsy at Pink Tuesdays
Cinderbellas Giveaway at SHE (remember my previous Etsy love post about Cinderbella's?)
Girls and Holiday Guide: Cards at A Spot of Whimsy
Christmas Holiday Centerpiece You Can Make in 15 Minutes at Between Naps on the Porch
17 bookmark-worthy worthy Tumblrs I (only) discovered this week at Table Tonic
Inspired by: Pretty, Pretty, Pink at Here's Looking At Me, Kid
Gift package inspiration at the Unicorn/dream Magazine blog
My Favorite Used Bookstore at The English Muse
Studio tour / valdirose at Oh, Hello Friend

I hope you enjoy those posts as much as I did! Have a lovely weekend, everyone. I'll be attempting to tackle my to-do list and my big project for the weekend: finishing NaNoWriMo! Wish me luck!

for the love of frankie

A peak through Frankie Magazine, Issue #28 (March/April 2009). I bought this issue on eBay and it arrived yesterday - my very first issue of Frankie! I love it so much. It's incredibly fun to flip through a magazine and see names like Greg Kurstin (of The Bird and the Bee), Ben Kweller, Ben Lee and Josh Pyke. These are all musicians that I've known and loved for years, but somehow (aside from, say, a TV promo for Grey's Anatomy) they just don't seem to be talked about in the States. It also has lots of beautiful illustrations by Sarah McNeil (flickr, blog), whose work I also adore - including a pull-out poster which will certainly be making my walls a little more whimsical very soon. And of course there's the little bit on Audrey, which is one of the reasons I wanted this particular back issue. It's really for the reader who happens to be uneducated in Audrey Hepburn films, but it's still a charming little bit and the artwork is completely adorable!

If you didn't already know, Frankie is a bi-monthly Australian magazine dedicated to fashion, art, photography, music, crafts, culture and all things vintage. Learn more about it at frankie.com.au.

wishpot wednesday: all I want for christmas...

Last week I fawned over my would-be designer favorites, and this week I'm taking a more sensible approach to Wishpot Wednesday. (Sensible, yes, but still fun! Just you wait.) The holidays are here - yes, halfway through November is now The Holiday Season - and that means it's time for a rather gratuitous list of things I wouldn't mind finding under the Christmas tree...


Audrey 100 by Ellen Fontana; $25.82, Barnes & Noble
Audrey 100 is a new photography book focusing on - you guessed it - Audrey Hepburn. I doubt it's possible to fathom the amount of Audrey photo books that are in print, but this one is extra special. All one hundred of the photos were selected by Audrey's family and friends, particularly her sons Sean Ferrer and Luca Dotti. Sean especially has devoted a great deal of time, love and hard work to preserving the memory of his mother; anything relating to Audrey that bears Sean's name is guaranteed to be an honest tribute and a lovingly compiled piece.


the debriefing handbag in taupe; $57.99, Ruche
This bag is lovingly reminiscent of the designer bag of my dreams which I mentioned last week - except that Ruche's Debriefing Bag is vegan-friendly and a fraction of the price. Actually, it's more like a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the price. I love that it comes with an optional shoulder strap, as well.


212 Carolina Herrera Eau de Toilette (2.0 oz); $65, ULTA
I was given a sample of Carolina Herrera's new scent several months ago and I rather fell in love with it. I mentioned in my Fall Style Wishpot Wednesday that I had yet to find the Perfect Scent. I do believe this is it! 212 is a very fresh, floral scent, but it doesn't reek of flower power. It's musky, but it's light. It's noticeable in the best possible way. I'm not very good at translating scents to words (obviously), but it's really a gem!


Gunn's Golden Rules by Tim Gunn, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson; $8.86 - $15.18, Barnes & Noble
Of course, books! These are a few that I've been wanting for some time. I haven't caught much of Project Runway, but it's impossible not to become acquainted with Tim Gunn when you're interested in the fashion world. He seems to be the classiest personality in the industry, so full of insight and genuine good humor. Who wouldn't want to immerse themselves in a book by such a talent? The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand are acclaimed fictional novels and perfect examples of my unusual tendency to be drawn toward novels with long names. And colorful covers, apparently!


Emma, Northanger Abbey, Little Dorrit; $20.74 - $41.49, Barnes & Noble
I have a rather sizable collection of period drama DVDs from the BBC/ITV/PBS, but these are a few that I'm missing. I'm not one for Dickens usually, but I loved the Little Dorrit miniseries which premiered on PBS's Masterpiece Classic just last year. The performances are all superb (and hey, Mr. Darcy is in it!). Of course Emma and Northanger Abbey are two of my Austen delights. What's not to love about a good costume drama miniseries?

There you have it, my holiday wishlist, all full of geekery and good times. Perhaps next week we'll dabble in some glam to add to the mix? What wonderful things are you wishing for this holiday?
_______________________________

Wishpot.com is an easy-to-use site that lets you create an online wishlist from products you find all over the web. A button added on to your browser lets you add to your Wishpot as you shop. Check it out, and feel free to add me as a friend!

the princess diary

Edita Vikeviciute by Walter Pfieffer for Vogue China January 2010

One of the great things about the internet is the way it gives us access to media and culture from all over the world. I'm so tremendously glad for it, because I'm convinced that Vogue China has the most spectacular, glamorous and decadent editorials in existence. Back in August I raved about Liu Wen's shoot by Paolo Roversi and now I'm here again with Walter Pfieffer's stunning piece, featuring Edita Vikeviciute. Nothing in this shoot seems to be overlooked. The clothes are phenomenal, but I have to say that what I'm loving the most are the settings. Those massive damask wallpapers and the floral print carpets! The way those elements work with the clothes rather than overpowering them is true art. I really want to live in these photographs.

image credit: fakingfashion