I hope 2012 brings you health, happiness, success and dreams filled with the heir to Downton Abbey getting down on one knee to propose. Or a real life scenario where your Other Half gets down on one knee and promises to do the ironing for the next year.

Whatever floats your boat, I hope it comes your way.

Now, my blog has been quiet of late, partly because of the ‘holidays’. In the UK, the Christmas break lasts, oh, from about mid-December to today. Lots of things grind to a halt while we eat, drink, party and lie around the house, exhausted after a year of Euro-crises, Royal Weddings and working long hours in the dark.

So although I have a new book out, I decided not to spend the last couple of weeks shouting about it at every opportunity because:

1. Personally, once Christmas is here I think people – that’s me and you – need a rest.
2. I wanted to spend the time with my family, not online – and I bet you did too.
3. I’m British. I keep trying to shout a lot, in a gracious way, I suspect I’m annoying the hell out of people in the process but I just can’t keep it up all the time.
4. I have heard of the passing of four people – all loved ones of friends of mine. Two of them were younger than me and although I didn’t know them well myself, I knew the people they were dear to. After that, I just didn’t feel like shouting about my latest book. Sometimes, you need space and quiet to reflect on what really counts.

To be honest, I still don’t feel like squeeing but that would be to ignore some good news and the hard work and generosity of the publicity team at Sourcebooks and the many book bloggers who have kindly read my book over the holidays.

So on a happy note, I am truly thrilled to have had some fabulous reviews for Carrie Goes off the Map – which was previously released in the UK as It Should Have Been Me.

It has been named one of the Books of 2011 by Becky at One Literature Nut who said:

My final choice this year was a delightful British Chick Lit. novel, Carrie Goes Off the Map by Phillipa Ashley that I recently read and reviewed. This is now my third by Ashley, and I really have grown to love the escapist nature of her novels. When I need a bit of a reprieve from my own busy life, Ashley’s novels with their strong female characters and romantic tension really fit the bill.

Royal Reviews gave Carrie Five Crowns and nominated it as a Royal Read – their highest award.

Books Like Breathing also gave it five stars with a very funny review that made me laugh out loud. The reviewer said: I love love love Phillipa Ashley’s books. She is one of those very rare authors who can do absolutely no wrong for me. Seriously, I love her books. I fangirl her. I’m a bit pathetic.

Here’s a four-star one from Laura at Laura’s Reviews.

Marthas’s Bookshelf also gave it four stars. http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-and-arc-giveaway-carrie.html

Life in the Thumb gave it four stars and did a gorgeous feature on South West England, the setting for the book.

SOS Aloha – from Hawaii no less – also gave it four stars.

Plus Carrie was Featured Starred Review to trade and readers at Shelf Awareness.

And there are nine four and five star reviews on amazon.com.

Carrie isn’t a ‘conventional’ romance. Other partners are involved, the hero and heroine make a lot of mistakes and have a very rocky journey to their HEA. It’s not going to suit everyone but I loved writing it, I put my heart and soul into it and I stand by it now. As Meg Cabot might have said (according to my daughter) you’re not a 100-dollar bill, not everyone is going to love you… but on balance, I’ve had a very happy time with Carrie so far.

Thanks for indulging me. Happy 2012.

I also have some news about my next Sourcebooks release which I’ll share later this week. And I’ve every digit crossed for a brand new book this year. Please keep all your bits crossed too.

Tonight, I’m staying home with Mr B and a bottle of Champagne.:)

So, wherever you are in the world, I hope you have a very Happy New Year and a healthy and successful 2012!

PS I’ve had some really lovely reviews for Carrie goes off the Map including a Five Star Royal Read award from Royal Reviews, but I’ll share them all next week. Until then, party on!

Mist over Rydal Water, Lake District

So it’s Christmas Eve’ Eve and I hope your preparations are going well. I’ve sent all the cards, wrapped most of the presents and got most of the food for Christmas Day. We’re spending the day with both sets of parents and Miss Bennet. Ms B has just made a huge tray of dark chocolate florentines which are irresistible but oh, my expanding waistline!

The reason I’ve been absent for over a week is that we’ve been decorating my daughter’s room. She’s in her twenties now and mainly lives away at university – and I’m afraid to admit her room still had ballet dancer wallpaper from many many years ago. Now it’s a nice shade of Sea Breeze (aka slightly bluey white) with teal Next linen and curtains.

We also spent a few days in the Lake District at ‘Emma’s Apartment’. There was snow on the fells and we were lucky enough to spot this red squirrel – there are only a thousand or so in England now so that was a real treat.

Meanwhile, I’ve had a lot of really great reviews for Carrie Goes off the Map – thank you to all the book bloggers who have been reviewing it and running features. As it’s Christmas and we’re all busy, I’ll flag them up in the New Year.

Finally, here’s a photo of the beautiful Chapel at King’s College, Cambridge – scene of the BBC’s annual Carols from King’s concert on Christmas Eve. We visited a few weeks and the choristers were all having their Christmas photos taken.

I hope you all have a peaceful and fun holiday and look forward to being back in 2012!