Book Review - Christmas Evie by Karen Naylor

Books Read in 2026 - No. 1

Greetings Fellow Readers.

Well I've read my first book of the year already! Although it took me longer than I'd hoped as I started it on Christmas Day and was hoping to finish before the 12 days after Christmas was over. Hopefully I won't get any more bad luck this year.

Karen Naylor is not only the author of this book but a friend and founder of Cleckheaton Writing Group.  A writing group I used to attend regular a couple of years ago.  Sadly due to timings with work and Library opening times I don't get to go.

So in a way I've read Karen's work before in the past.  Most were fantasy, crime and supernatural stories.  So when Karen said she'd written romance and got it published I was shocked.  It wasn't, until now, a genre I saw her writing.  It's also a genre I never thought I'd read.  Though it's said you're best reading out of your comfort zone some times.

The story centres on Evie, the owner of a florist. Her friend, Rosalie, owns the coffee house opposite her shop.  Rosalie is trying to set Evie up with one of her Italian brothers.  Although Evie fancies one of her customers, who ends up helping Rosalie out when she's in hospital.  Will Evie end up with the handsome Romano or Rosalie's brother?

Will Evie also fulfil the clause in her Grandma's will to be married by Christmas to receive the inheritance?

That is all I will say, as I don't want to spoil the story too much!

Overall - the story follows the main POV of Evie and also Romano.  Here we see their inner struggles as they negotiate the dating and romance world.  They instantly fall in love with one another.  The other brother Luca is also quite a big part of the story as that is where the misunderstandings and humour come from.  

As a debut novel, Karen has done well with the characters and the story as a whole.  Although I think there could have been more towards the end when there is a break up as it feels slightly rushed at the end.

Karen has certainly done her research on the Italian language and the Island of Capri.

I've already said I haven't read any comedy romance before and wasn't sure what I'd get into. 

I have to admit when I started reading Christmas Evie I wasn't sure it was for me.  It probably didn't help earlier in the morning I'd just finished a gory Alien novel, then started this, so the tones and genres were totally different.

I'm glad to say I continued on and chuckled quite a bit through the novel.  Especially Evie's disaster dates, almost killing a date paint balling.

The prose and action are fast paced and when I read it, flew through it in big chunks, especially towards the end to see how the misunderstandings were resolved.

What shocked me, knowing Karen, were the intimate sex scenes in the novel. I had to blush a few times!

Whilst reading I realised the hunky protagonist and love interest Romano seemed very familiar with his chocolate brown eyes and toned body.  Then it dawned on me.  When I first started Karen's writing group that is what I looked like before I put a bit of weight on.  I'm sure Karen took inspiration from me?

One thing that bugged me about the novel was the layout but that's just Amazon printing for you.

Published by the small indie publisher Champagne Book Group I felt they have done well by Karen.  There seems to be a lot of small indie publishers printing via Amazon now which is a good thing as it gets more out.

Finally, I really enjoyed dipping my toes into romantic comedy as Christmas Evie was a fast paced fun romp.  I look forward to the sequels Karen has promised in her novel.

Score  -  10/10

Goodreads Score  -  5/5

 

2026 - My MBR - May Be Read

 

Next Book I'm going to Read!

Greetings Book Nerds!

In 2026 I'm doing things differently.  The last 2 years I've tried and failed on the Goodreads challenges.  Last year I signed up for the 25 books in 2025 but only managed 2 books.

So this year I'll be hopefully reading what was left over on that challenge and added a few other books too.

The difference is they aren't TBR - To Be Read but MBR - May Be Read so less pressure of reading them.

Here are the books I definitely hope to read in 2026.  Including the above book pictured.

As you can see there is a lot of David Gemmell content and books in 2026.  Hopefully in 2026 I'll be attending GemmellFest in February.

If I get through those books, here are a few more I want to get to in 2026 - if possible!

Wish me luck!

So what are your reads for 2026?

Neil x

Plans for 2026!

 

Happy New Year!

So we're in 2026 already.  This has come around fast again.  Quite a special year for me as I hit the big half century! 50!

So what plans have I for this year other than staying alive?

Reading - As I only read 2 books in 2025 I want to step it up this year.  I was doing the Goodreads 25 books in 2025 challenge.  So for me this year I hope to read the 23 books I didn't get to plus might throw some books on the 2026 TBR pile as mood reads.

I will do a 2026 TBR post soon.

Writing - As with reading I virtually did no writing.  I think I wrote a half chapter.  In 2026 I'm going to make sure I write at least a few times a week.  This is why in January I have joined the online writing group, Write Magic on their January challenge. This year it's called Alice in Wonderland Accountability Challenge and there are 4 teams based on card decks.  I am in the Clubs camp. On the first day I haven't started but hope to Monday or Tuesday.  

Then continuing on, I hope to write a few hours a week throughout 2026.

Health -  I'm badly out of shape and overweight.  I'm hoping once all the Christmas goodies have run out I'll cut down on sweets and chocolate and eat more fruit and vegetables.  I plan to walk more and eventually get back to the gym but taking it slowly.

Photos of my canal walk on January 2nd.

Work - At the moment I'm still working temporarily in Bradford in office work.  The job keeps rolling over and I will keep alert to any changes going forward.  If so, I'll have to get applying for other jobs.

Other - Last year I hardly went to any new Waterstones.  So money permitting I want to start visiting new Waterstones stores plus any other Independent Book Shops I find along the way.

As well as Edge-Lit in September I'm hoping to go to more events and travel to more places around the UK and maybe abroad.

So what are your plans for 2026?

Neil x

A Quick Review of 2025!

 

Hello Geeks!

So what can I say about 2025?

It was a very mixed year with a couple of highs and very low lows.

2025 started out shit.  Firstly I was in a call centre job I hated and my mental health was really bad.  I had high stress and anxiety.

Then my girlfriend Jane died suddenly and in a tragic way that knocked me for six and still haunts me now.  It will still take a long time to recover.  Happy Heavenly New Year Jane.

I also lost my Aunt Anne this year.  She had a great send off though.

I started looking for a new job and in April was offered a temporary job in Bradford for HMRC and took it up and quit the call centre job.

So far I'm loving the new job.  It's quite easy and stress free.

From May 2025 the year started to get better.  I was in a better job.  I also started going out more and on more trips.

I had a great weekend at Warwick with my daughter in May and a highlight of the year.

In September I also returned to Derby to see new and old friends at Edge-Lit.  Plus see some amazing authors.

I went out with my friends more around my town of Brighouse and even went to Holmfirth a couple of times to see a Madness tribute act and a Blondie tribute act.

Writing wise in 2025 was a no show.  I think I wrote a chapter of The Cubby Hole.

Reading in 2025 was also a disaster and I'm only on my third book of the year which will probably go into 2026 now.

I'll post my plans for 2026 in a separate blog post.

So Happy New Year Everyone xx

Happy Heavenly Birthday Dad x

Neil x

Book Review - Alien: Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon

 

Books Read in 2025 - No.2

Hey Book Nerds!

I've finally finished the excellent Alien: Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon.

I started it all the way on 6th September.  The same day I went to Edge-Lit in Derby and met the author Tim Lebbon.

I'm annoyed it's took so long to read as it's only over 350 pages and fast paced.

I also wish I'd watched Alien before reading as it's set between Alien and Aliens and sees the return of Sigorney Weaver's Ripley.

Luckily I remembered most of it.

This book was also the first in the Alien books I bought way back in 2016.

The novel starts on the mining space station the Marion orbiting  the planet LV-178. Trouble starts in the first couple of pages when miners in shuttle ships speed up from the planet crashing into the station causing catastrophic damage. One of the shuttle ships docks and they see the crew being attacked by Aliens.

Just after this event another ship, the Nostromo arrives and docks. Onboard they find the sleeping Ripley.  Her ship has been taken over by the AI of Ash.  The android who killed some of her old crew and wants to get an Alien to send to his masters at Weyland-Yutani.

With an Alien onboard the station and the station falling out of orbit into the atmosphere below, the only option is to get some emergency fuel cells from the mines below and take Ripley's ship.

But what is waiting for them down there.

Overall - this book is action packed, with scares and gory horror.  Tim Lebbon's writing is excellent and he could easily become one of my favourite authors.

The characters are well developed. This is probably because there is a small cast of characters who have their own personalities. From Lachance, the French pilot who has the wise cracks to the two main characters of engineer Hooper and Ripley herself.

The two points of views were from Hooper and Ripley too.  Hooper at first being out of his depth to take charge, to Ripley being confused and having dreams of the daughter she left on Earth.

There are also report updates from Ash who has planned some of what has gone on, to obtain an Alien embryo.

The book also cleverly ties up how Ripley doesn't remember the adventure and is back on her own in stasis for the Alien sequel Aliens.

Score  -   10/10

Goodreads Score  -  5/5

New Authors for me in 2026

Hi Book Nerds

Below are a few authors I haven't read that I want to try reading in 2026.

I have all their books but haven't got to them yet. 

I also won't be doing a 26 books to read in 2026 TBR challenge as I drastically failed the 2025 one. Even more than the 2024 challenge.

I will be posting my TBR books of 2026 books soon but not putting pressure on myself to read them all. Some I may add as mood reads.

So here are a selection of authors I want to read soon.

Neil x