Rebellion of a Chalet Girl- Lorraine Wilson HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT WITH GIVEAWAY!

The Blurb

Always the Chalet Girl…

Year round chalet girl Tash doesn’t do attachments—she’s learned the hard way that relationships of any kind never last. But when self-made millionaire and hit TV star Nathaniel Campbell arrives to spend a month at Chalet Repos, she’s tempted to reconsider her no-strings rule…

Tash and Nate may be from different sides of the tracks, but the connection between them is undeniable! And Tash soon realises that one hot night with Nate will never be enough. But can Nate ever think of Tash as more than a fling, especially once the truth about her past comes out?

The Chalet Girls are back! Set in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier, winter playground of the rich and famous, ‘Rebellion of a Chalet Girl’ is the latest addition to the fabulous ‘Chalet Girl’ series.

The Review

I've been a huge fan of the Chalet Girl series since the very beginning and I'd been eagerly awaiting this next instalment-it's been a long old wait!

Any excuse for a pic of Becks in his pants

It felt like revisiting an old friend to be back in Verbier amongst the glamorous guests and the troubled staff-they all have their back stories and this time it's Tash in the spotlight.  I found her struggles really telling- without giving much away it goes some way to explaining why she comes across as hardnosed and why she behaves as she does- and the steamy hot romance between her and wealthy celebrity Nate had my heart racing.  I must admit I had a bit of a thing for Nate...I imagined him as a David Beckham type, but with a less irritating accent. 

There are perhaps less in the way of humorous interludes in this book, which makes it seem that bit more grown up than others in the series.  However, that is in keeping with the plot and allowed it to have an edgier, sexier feel.  On reflection, the Chalet Girl books I've liked best have all had that strong emotional subplot.

Lorraine Wilson is brilliant at what she does- if you're a fan of romantic fiction in a luxurious, swanky location then you have to read these books.  The only problem is that I'm left wanting more-I am a big fan of novellas, but the downside is they are over so quickly!  Hopefully it won't be too long a wait for another sizzler on the slopes...

Rebellion of a Chalet Girl is out now, published by Harper Impulse.

With thanks to the publisher who provided me with a galley copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Plus, Lorraine has kindly provided some fabulous gifts for a giveaway!  Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for the chance to win a signed paperback copy of the first book in the series, Confessions of a Chalet Girl in a fabulous bookbag made by the author herself!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight on Sun Chara- All Wrapped Up in You HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

 

 

Purchase: Amazon US http://amzn.to/Y8yGm0

        Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1qxcBnT

        Amazon worldwide & all other e-retailers

          *Buy direct from publisher harpercollins.co.uk http://bit.ly/Z8QJK6

 

Book Blurb:

The fairytale busted! Their marriage hangs in the balance, but on this wind battered Christmas Eve, a miracle is born…  

When Ellie hooked up with world renowned neurosurgeon, Peter Medeci, aka 'Prince Charming’, she thought her dreams had come true. But the demands of being the model wife to his career triggers a mutiny within her and she decides to ditch the 'royal' life until he sees her as more than his bedroom playmate.

Author Bio:

Sun Chara, a multi-published, JABBIC winner Manhattan Millionaire's Cinderella, keys sexy, hip 'n fun contemporary romance, high adventure historical romance, and any genre that knocks at her imagination. Globetrotting for lore while keeping tabs on Hollywood leads...she loves the challenge of creating stories for book and screen. Designer frappuccinos with whipping cream and sprinkles on top make everyday a celebration! - See more at:
http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/authors?title=s#sthash.JoJ6VbfL.dpuf
https://www.facebook.com/suncharaauthorpage

Twitter: @sunchara3

 

EXCERPT: All Wrapped Up in You

 

CHAPTER ONE

 “Ninety-nine cents.”  Ellie stood outside the Burbank Media Mall showcasing a Christmas broach in her gloved hand to shoppers rushing by. 

 She kept a smile plastered on her face, offsetting desperation rising in her throat, and wiggled her foot, adjusting the cardboard patch over the hole in her boot.

          It had been three weeks since she ditched Prince Charming and the ‘castle’.  Had she made the right decision? 

          She replaced the broach in the basket, and scooped up the coins on the bottom.  Two sales on Christmas Eve, not a good sign. 

The Santa Ana winds sliced through her thin coat, numbing her flesh; a gust swayed the Palm trees lining the boulevard.  She pulled the pink cap lower over her ears, glad she’d also worn the matching scarf.

 

“A dollar ninety-nine.”  Ellie counted the money in her palm and a tremor shot through her.  What could she buy with the pennies in her hand? She rifled through the pockets of her coat to ensure she hadn’t missed any coins.  Nope, she hadn’t.

          She leaned against the street lamppost and heaved a breath.  Air frosted her lips.  Her heart thudded, and she fisted her fingers, the coins grating in her palm.  “I can’t return to the castle…and to him.”  

          But she had to get home…a laugh bubbled inside her, and she bashed it down before it erupted from her in a hysterical sound that’d have people gaping at her.  She dropped the coins in her purse, and with her head slightly bent against the wind; she made her way to the bus stop, but stalled in step when a Porsche pulled up along side of her.

          “Get in,” the driver commanded, his voice sending shimmers of awareness through her.  “You’ll freeze waiting for the bus.”

          “No.”

          “Ellie, don’t be obstinate,” he said, a ripple of impatience in his voice.  “I’ll give you a lift home.”

          An eerie silence ensued in the lull in the wind, and the melody sailed to her from the car radio. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la…’

          She nearly snorted at the lyrics.  Jolly… Huh!

          Peter Medeci, M.D.  The highly sought after neurosurgeon, the man of her dreams.  The man that had given her everything except the one thing she wanted most…and that’s why she skipped out on him.  To get close to him again would be self-destructive, but even as she reasoned, her body hummed with yearning.

          “I’ll make my own way.”  But as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she cringed; she didn’t even have enough for bus fare for the ten-mile ride to her North Hollywood mouse-hole.

          “You will not.”  She heard the car door open, and paused in step.  “Get in before you make a scene.”

…read more of Ch 1 on wattpad . http://tinyurl.com/oh9wkl7

 

 

 

With thanks to Sun for giving permission to post this excerpt in my blog.

 

 

Cocktails in Chelsea- Nikki Moore HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

The Blurb

Nathan Black is on a mission to prove himself. His family may be upper class and his cousin Matt might be a famous music producer, but he's going to make it on his own. So as soon as he has enough money set aside, he's quitting his bar-tending job on the King's Road and opening up his own cocktail bar. He hasn't got time for love, and definitely not with the spoilt Chelsea Princesses who flirt with him shamelessly every night. But is there something a bit different about the pretty blonde who's just walked in?

 

Bournemouth girl Sofia Gold is reluctantly visiting old childhood friends in London for Easter weekend. Keenly aware she's not part of their glamorous world, she's more comfortable riding a surfboard than wearing designer dresses and towering heels… although she's always had a soft spot for cocktails.

 

It's never really bothered Sofia that she's 'one of the boys,' and that her romantic experiences have been amazingly unspectacular, so when she meets gorgeous Nathan, why does she find herself faking an accent and pretending to be a London socialite? It can't be anything to do with impressing him, can it? After all, she's only in the capital for a few days…

 

But one impulsive kiss later, they both find themselves wishing for things they didn't know they wanted.

 

The Review

 

I think it's fair to say I'm a bit of a fangirl when it comes to Nikki Moore and the Love London series is fast becoming one of my favourites.

 

I do love a bit of glitz and glamour (admittedly, most of it comes via books rather than in real life), so the Chelsea setting appealed to me.  Whilst I'm an out and out geek, I love watching Made in Chelsea and seeing all the posh bars and restaurants, and reading about Sofia and her friends heading out to the exclusive spots felt like watching an episode of that- all that was missing was a quirky hipster Proudlock type.  Sigh...I do love a hipster.

 

But, before I get too distracted, back to the book.

 

I liked Sofia from the off.  She's the typical reluctant party girl, going out to keep the peace even though she'd rather be out climbing up large rocks or surfing the waves-in fact, I think she'd rather be pretty much anywhere other than heading out on the town. 

 

There's an immediate frisson between her and barman Nathan.  He's interested in her despite the fact she's the sort of girl he sees all the time- dolled up to the nines and drinking elaborate cocktails.  Somehow though, he can see beyond that and is determined to know more. It is at this point that I warmed to him- until then I thought perhaps he lacked a bit of gumption and was the typical moody barman.  I definitely grew to like him more as the story developed.

 

I found Cocktails in Chelsea a bit saucier than the other Love London books, maybe that's partly because it's set at night, so offers itself to a sexier feel.  It's not really explicit, but it does have more of a NA feel compared to the chicklitty style of the previous books. 

 

If you're looking for a novella or quick read, then you must try Nikki Moore.  I can't wait for the next instalment of Love London!

 

Cocktails in Chelsea is out now, published by Harper Impulse.

 

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

And now, I'm delighted to welcome the fabulous Nikki Moore to Books with Bunny!

Hi  Bunny aka Kate - thanks so much for reviewing Cocktails in Chelsea, and loving the #LoveLondon series so much J

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing every story and am a bit sad that it’ll soon be coming to an end. One of the characters in each of the shorts is linked in some way to either Matt or Zoe, the main characters in Picnics in Hyde Park, the full length novel that will end the series. As much as it’s been fun, it’s also been hard work writing #LoveLondon and there’s a post on the challenges of writing a series on the Women Writers, Women(s) Books website at http://t.co/yjnrD202SS

I visited Chelsea last year after my lovely editor Charlotte commissioned me to write this series and I loved the vibe, although it’s not really, you know... me. My teenage daughter and my sister are devoted Made in Chelsea fans, and I’ve occasionally caught an episode and been amazed by (a) some of the behaviour (Spencer, you know who you are) and (b) how different the world they live in is to anything I’ve ever experienced.

So when I was creating this story I started thinking about people who come from different social classes, and the challenges that might bring to a relationship. The Human League song ‘Don’t You Want Me’ also kept running through my head. You know, the one that starts ‘You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, when I met you...’ I put those things together, turned them on their head, threw in a few surprises, added a little piece of myself (I’m a Bournemouth girl at heart, love the beach, was a bit of a tomboy when I was younger and adored Tom Cruise in Cocktail) and drank a few cocktails (it was a sacrifice, believe me)...

Here’s a pic of a cocktail I particularly enjoyed.

 

I was aiming for a fun, springtime romantic read with Cocktails in Chelsea and from what bloggers and reviewers are saying I may have just about managed it J So I hope readers enjoy it. And it’s a bargain at only 49p!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cocktails-Chelsea-Short-Story-London-ebook/dp/B00MLR2IS2

Strawberries at Wimbledon, the fifth and last short story in the series, is out on 14 May. It’s about Adam and Rayne (university sweethearts) and whether you can ever go back and recapture that first love. It’s on pre-order at various e-tailers including Amazon via http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strawberries-Wimbledon-Short-Story-London-ebook/dp/B00P5V4TAG

 

 

 

Fortune- A Short Story by Erin Lawless HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

Harper Impulse Fortnight is finally here!  And kicking off the fun is the fabulous Erin Lawless (who wrote the wonderful The Best Thing I Never Had) with an exclusive short story. 

FORTUNE by Erin Lawless

Sarah had always had a hearty appetite, and it had always been a point of amusement for Jack. As it was, she had valiantly matched her old friend course for course, serving for serving, right up until dessert, where the thought of deep-fried fruit was finally enough to make her queasy. Seeing her expression Jack hesitated, before closing the menu and asking instead for the bill.

"It's gonna be massive," he whined, slouching in his chair. "Why do you have to eat so much?" he pointed at chopstick at her accusingly. Sarah batted it away with one of her own.

"Me?" she asked, incredulously. "You had practically that entire duck to yourself!"

They were interrupted by the timely arrival of the bill, placed in a conspicuously inconspicuous manner on a plate piled high with gold-wrapped fortune cookies. Jack whipped the bill out from under them, skimmed it quickly before slipping the waitress his bank card.

"What's the damage?" Sarah asked, reaching for her purse as the waitress went to fetch the card machine.

Jack waved the moist towelette he'd just unwrapped dismissively. "You'll get the next one." Sarah made a mental note to make sure that she did; she and Jack had a long-standing dinner date, the first Friday of every month, without fail.

As Jack duly checked the amount and entered his PIN, Sarah opened one of the cookies.

There is no limit to love's forbearance - to its trust, its hope, and its power to endure.

Sarah read it through three times, then sighed and lowered her hands to the table, the small slip of paper folding between them. The waitress wished them a good evening and left with her cash tip. Jack made a grab for a cookie of his own.

Trust your intuition. The universe is guiding your life.

He waved his fortune at her with a smug expression.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. These things don't actually mean anything."

"What does yours say then?"

"It says, "Help! I'm trapped in a fortune cookie factory"," Sarah joked, reaching for another cookie.

Only love lets us see ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

Sarah sighed and a curious Jack pulled the little piece of paper from her fingers. His eyes flicked up to look at his companion. The bridge of her nose was flushed pink and her long fingers were occupied with nervously shredding the golden foil the cookies had come wrapped in. Jack pressed his lips together to suppress a smile. She'd been so edgy these last few months. He'd hoped he'd guessed the reason why. He let the paper flutter down to the tablecloth and reached leisurely for the penultimate cookie.

One who admires you greatly is hidden before your eyes he recited aloud, this time unable to conceal his amusement. Sarah's blush darkened but she maintained an aloof expression, staring into the middle distance.

"These things are just for kids…" she murmured, her agitated fingers plucking and shredding. Jack regarded her in silence for a moment before reaching for the final fortune, extracting it from the cookie and reading it solemnly. Sarah waited for him to announce it in that typical jokey way, but instead he looked up at her, in silence, before folding the small piece of paper in two, sliding it into his wallet and slipping that in turn into his jeans pocket.

He grinned cheerfully at her as he rose from the table.

"C'mon," he said simply, standing at the side of the table and extending a hand to her. "Let's go walk all this food off." Hesitantly Sarah slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her up from her chair. Bidding their farewell and thanks to the waiting staff, they exited the restaurant and set off into the darkened city streets. It was finally the right time. He kept her hand in his.

Jack always kept that little paper fortune tucked in his wallet after that night: Decide what you want and go for it.

 

You can find out more about Erin by visiting her website, facebook or by following her on twitter @rinylou.  Her new novel, Somewhere Only We Know , is available for preorder now.

 

Guest Romy Sommer discusses- 'Should you really write what you know?' HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT LAUNCH POST

Harper Impulse Fortnight officially starts tomorrow, and in typical glitz and glamour style Romy Sommer has swanned down the Books with Bunny red carpet to launch the event with an exclusive post which examines that much-given advice "Write what you know". 

Thanks to Romy for taking the time to pop and share her thoughts (and also for the man candy further down....)

"Write what you know. That advice is often given to aspiring writers. It’s the same advice I would give to aspiring writers. But me taking that advice? Not so much.

When I started out writing, people would ask me why I don’t write about the movie business. After all, movie are so glamorous! Not so much.

No matter what line of work you’re in, unless it’s international espionage, I guarantee you feel your day job is decidedly unglamorous. And when you come home from eight hours (or ten or twelve, as often happens in the movie business) the last thing you feel like doing is sitting down at the laptop to immerse yourself in the same world you’ve just left behind at the office.

So my first attempts at novels, and my first HarperImpulse book, Waking up in Vegas, featured characters who’d never been anywhere near a film set. But somehow the movie business just wouldn’t let me get away with it. When I needed to give Kenzie Cole a reason to be in the Caribbean in The Trouble with Mojitos, guess what? I made her a film location scout. Okay, so I know a few location scouts in my day job, but that’s not exactly Hollywood, is it?

Cue book three, To Catch a Star. Set on a film set. Starring a Hollywood actor.

I think by now you’re seeing the pattern, aren’t you? No matter how I tried to avoid it, what I do in my day job sucked me right back in. Book four, Not a Fairy Tale, is even set in Hollywood. (Kinda. There’s a lot of Venice Beach in there too!) 

By this stage I’ve hopefully intrigued you enough that you’re wondering: so what is Romy’s day job?

I work in Production. That’s the logistical planning, practical side of film-making. We’re the people who balance budgets, do paperwork, and ensure that all the real film-makers have the support they need (like equipment, transport, accommodation).

These days I make TV adverts for a living, but when I was young and didn’t have a family to come home to, I worked on a few TV series and a handful of international feature films shot in South Africa.

I diss the day job quite often, but to be honest it’s taken me to some unusual places, given me some amazing memories, and introduced me to some interesting people. And yes, I am so going to name drop!

On the down side, the kind of movies that often get shot here in South Africa are not big Hollywood blockbusters (though that’s changed a little in recent times). So the kind of international actors I got to work with were usually unknown, has-beens (I won’t name names for fear of causing offence) and a few who had yet to make their come-backs (like Kevin Bacon and Corbin Bernsen).

Only two stand out as being so truly awesome they deserve a mention. When I worked with Taye Diggs on Drum he was already a ‘name’. After Drum he went on to become a household face in Private Practice. In fact, Taye has a few things in common with Christian, my hero in To Catch a Star: (a) gorgeous movie star, (b) down to earth, (c) utterly charming and loved by everyone on set.

The other person who could never, ever be called a has-been or an unknown was Eva Marie Saint, who I met on I Dreamed of Africa. She is the epitome of grace and class, and meeting her and her lovely husband Jeffrey Hayden, even for the briefest moment, was life-changing for me. Not only did they inspire me to want to be a better person, but they showed me that true and lasting love really exists. Kind of an important thing for a romance writer to believe in. 

And so that’s how I came to write what I know. And for anyone who tells me they don’t really believe in Hollywood romances because they don’t last, I have only one thing to say: Eva Marie Saint and Jeffrey Hayden. Married 64 years this year.

And now, just because a blog post wouldn’t be worth reading without it, here’s the eye candy: "

 

 

Not a Fairy Tale by Romy Sommer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And the award goes to…

 

Not Nina Alexander that’s for sure.

With her best gracious loser face firmly in place, Hollywood’s hottest starlet is hoping to end her evening of disappointment with a graceful exit stage left. Only an unexpected proposal and an awkward wardrobe malfunction mean that this is certainly going to be a night to remember… for all the wrong reasons! So what girl would resist the gorgeous Dominic Kelly coming to her rescue?!  Especially when he’s whisking her out of the paparazzi’s prying eyes on the back of his motorbike – and wearing a tux to rival James Bond!

 

Nina soon realizes that the only way to recover from such a scandal is to toughen up and snag the role of the decade in the year’s hottest YA screen adaptation. Who better to train her than her very own professional stuntman? Getting up close and personal with Dom will take Nina well out of her comfort zone – both professionally and in her closely scrutinized private life.  But this A-list couple know only too well that’s it not all happy ever afters in Hollywood…

 

Not a Fairy Tale is published by Harper Impulse, a division of Harper Collins, and is available from the following online retailers:

 

Amazon Smart URL 

Barnes & Noble  

iBooks  

Kobo

eBooks by Sainsburys

All Romance eBooks

 

About the Author:

 

I’ve always written stories for myself, but didn’t even think of being an author until I realised that being over thirty and living in a fantasy world was a little odd. Writing those same stories for other people makes it a lot more acceptable!

By day I dress in cargo pants and boots for my not-so-glamorous job of making movies but at night I come home to my two little Princesses, in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I live, and I get to write Happy Ever Afters. Since I believe every girl is a princess, and every princess deserves a happy ending, what could be more perfect?

 

You can follow Romy on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tsu or on her website/blog.

Romy visited Books with Bunny as part of the celebrations for Harper Impulse Fortnight.  Find out more by searching #HIFortnight on twitter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How I Lost You- Jenny Blackhurst

The Blurb

They told her she killed her son. She served her time. But what if they lied?

I have no memory of what happened but I was told I killed my son. And you believe what your loved ones, your doctor and the police tell you, don't you?

My name is Emma Cartwright. Three years ago I was Susan Webster, and I murdered my twelve-week-old son Dylan. I was sent to Oakdale Psychiatric Institute for my crime, and four weeks ago I was released early on parole with a new identity, address and a chance to rebuild my tattered life.

This morning, I received an envelope addressed to Susan Webster. Inside it was a photograph of a toddler called Dylan. Now I am questioning everything I believe because if I have no memory of the event, how can I truly believe he's dead?

If there was the smallest chance your son was alive, what would you do to get him back?

The Review

I really don't know where to start with this one, and I'm not sure I can convey exactly how this book made me feel, but I'll give it a go.

The early chapters are upsetting, as we are introduced to Emma, or Susan as she was previously known.  As a reader, I was instantly thrown into doubt about how trustworthy a narrator she was, but I empathised with her plight none-the-less, I think any mother will feel a sharp yank on their heartstrings as she tries to deal with the loss of her son Dylan. 

Without spoiling the plot too much, she is questioning her life after receiving a photograph of a child who may or may not be her son.  How I Lost You is the story of her journey to find out the truth, whatever that might be, and it's a dark and twisted road that leads to the epic climax.

There are times when this book lulls you into a false sense of security, there are some sections which are slow and gentle and then BAM!  out of nowhere comes a blow which leaves your blood running cold. 

I'd gone to bed to read 'just one last chapter' (not a rare occurrence, I admit) when I was about half way through, but I was too scared to go to sleep for fear of nightmares!  The result was I was up until gone 1am when I had to be up at 6am the next day...

Startling, shocking and unashamedly dark, this is a thriller that will leave you with an uncomfortable feeling for weeks, but somehow, despite that, I'm absolutely gagging for more...

How I Lost You is out today, published by Headline.

With thanks to Georgina for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The British Book Affair 2015

On Saturday 18th April 2015 I headed down to London's swanky Marriott Hotel just off Grosvenor Square to meet up with some of my favourite authors!  The British Book Affair celebrated the best of steamy erotic fiction and I was delighted to be able to attend and meet the creators of some of my book boyfriends.

 

Firstly I met the lovely Emma Hart, author of The Love Game.  She signed my books and her very sweet hubby took our photo- plus he won the award for best tshirt at the event hands down!

 

 

I was also desperately keen to meet Kitty French as I've known Kitty for ten years now, but the queue to get near her was crazily long- which just goes to show how popular her books are with readers!

 

I did eventually get to give her a good squish though and have a bit of a catch up- albeit short, as her fans were clamouring for an autograph and pictures.  I'm so, so proud of how far she's come, she's hugely inspirational to me.  I can't wait to read Genie!  I'd been waiting for a paper copy rather than buying a kindle version because I knew I wanted it signed, but now there's no stopping me...

 

Another author I just had to meet was Anna Todd, author of the After series.  As a One Direction fan I've been a fan of Anna for a long while and her success is just phenomenal.  She's also genuinely lovely, and I can vouch for her being just as sweet in real life as she is on twitter.  She really does value her readers!  She gave me a huge hug (even though I was all stinky from travelling from Sheffield to London!) and I couldn't believe she knew who little old me was. 

 

Anna has always been keen to encourage others to write and has definitely played a part in helping me to believe that dreams can come true, so it was great to be able to tell her how thrilled I am for her success and that she's spurring me on to reach my own writing related goals.

 

I was also thrilled to meet the glamorous saucepot Abbi Glines.  Seriously, she's one foxy mama!  And I've got most of her back catalogue waiting to be read, so this summer is going to be a Glines-fest, for sure. 

 

I also fangirlled so hard over the lovely Christina Lauren girls!  They are constantly smiling and laughing and both of them appreciate all aspects of the genre (and, ahem, the importance of a gorgeous, half-naked-if-possible man on the cover).  I want a night out with these ladies so badly, because they are hilarious!  And I want to reread all their books, and share my thoughts on the ones I've not yet reviewed.

 

 

 

I also had the pleasure of meeting Samantha Young, Rebecca Donovan and Pamela Ann amongst others, plus the lovely ladies from The Hot Bed. Everyone was great fun and they all seemed to enjoy connecting with readers. 

 

Overall, it was a fabulous event-and it went on long after I had to leave with a fancy evening do running late into the night.

 

How long until BBA16?!  I want to get my ticket...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chalet Girl Plays Cupid- Lorraine Wilson

The Blurb

A match made on the slopes…
After a messy break up that’s left her homeless, jobless and single, temporary chalet girl Emily needs a fresh start! So when best friend Holly asks her to help out before the start of the winter season at the exclusive Chalet Repos in Verbier, Emily jumps at the chance. What broken heart can’t be fixed by après ski cocktails?
Verbier seems like the perfect escape, until Emily meets super-sexy and darkly brooding winter athlete Jake. She’s meant to be avoiding men at all costs, but the spark between her and Jake is sizzling! As she finds herself increasingly left alone with Jake, Emily begins to wonder if Cupid has paid a visit to Chalet Repos…!

The Review

I'm a huge cheerleader for Lorraine Wilson and her Chalet Girl series, so I was really excited about the prospect of a free short story set in Verbier!

I don't want to give too much away, especially as it's only a bitesized version, but it gives a good flavour of Lorraine's writing style and the Chalet Girl books for anyone new to the series, and as freebies go it's one of the best!

It's a quick and easy read that can be read as a standalone, but for fans of the series there's more of familiar characters Holly and Scott-I must admit, that was probably the highlight for me, learning more about their relationship and their personalities. There's not the depth that there is in the other books, but then this is much shorter and full of fun.

A sweet tale for romantics everywhere!

Chalet Girl Plays Cupid is out now, published by Harper Impulse.
Download for FREE here.

Come back on Thursday 30th April for a review of Lorraine Wilson's Rebellion of a Chalet Girl and a fabulous giveaway!

And #HIFortnight is COMING!  Join in the fun...

Valentine's on Primrose Hill- Nikki Moore

The Blurb

The third short story in the fun & flirty #LoveLondon series from exciting new chick lit author Nikki Moore!

For Georgiana Dunn, life changed forever in the devastating moment that the lorry hit her car.

Scarred and scared, she's not left the house in months.Then her mum buys her a puppy, forcing her to face the world again, walking on London's beautiful Primrose Hill. But that doesn't mean she's looking forward to Valentine's Day.

Leo devotes himself to working with children with special educational needs. In fact, he does very little else, and his friends are always telling him to get a (love) life. So when they challenge him to find a date for Valentine's Day, and he meets a lovely but lost girl who looks like she could use a friend, he thinks he's found the perfect solution.

But life has a way of being less than perfect … Will he be left standing on his own on the most romantic day of the year?  

The Review

Uh-oh.  I think I've got myself another book boyfriend.  In Valentine's on Primrose Hill, Nikki Moore has created a sweet, dog-loving, gentle hero in Leo.  He's gorgeously kind and just my type.  Sure,  I like an alpha male too on occasion, but mostly I'm about the shy, lovable type and Leo has that in abundance. 

However, the book's not just about him, it's about Georgiana.  She's been reclusive after a road traffic accident changed her life forever, and as she bravely ventures back into the world her confidence grows.  Meeting Leo on Primrose Hill takes her by surprise and before long they develop a friendship where they regularly text, share their likes and dislikes and they grow closer.

However, the course of true love never does run smooth- after a bump in the path of their relationship leaves Georgiana crushed, will they get together on Primrose Hill on the most romantic day of the year?

This is my favourite in the series so far, an absolute winner full of charm and the type of romance I adore- a love story between two ordinary people.

A gorgeous read.

Valentine's on Primrose Hill is out now, published by Harper Impulse.

The Reckoning- Edith Wharton

The Blurb

'If marriage was the slow life-long acquittal of a debt contracted in ignorance, then marriage was a crime against human nature.'

Two moving stories of love, loss, desire and divorce, from one of the great chroniclers of nineteenth-century New York life.

Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.

Edith Wharton (1862-1937). Wharton's works available in Penguin Classics are Ethan Frome, The Age of Innocence, The Custom of the Country and The House of Mirth.

The Review

I was really excited by the launch of the Penguin Little Black classics books- 80 books to celebrate 80 years of the brand, all for 80p each.  Bargain!  On my recent trip to London I decided to treat myself to a few, and The Reckoning was the one I had my eye on from the off.

I've only read one book by Edith Wharton before, Ethan Frome which I first read many years ago when my husband had it as a set text on his English degree.  It has remained a firm favourite, a dark and haunting tale of deception which stays in the mind long after closing the final page.

The Reckoning is a different genre totally- two unlinked short stories, each with female protagonists with issues.  The first story was my favourite, focussing on the importance of the view from her window to a reclusive widow, but it is the second story which has stayed with me.  I wouldn't say I enjoyed it whilst reading, although the story is told with precision and a deliberate voice, but it is so immensely powerful and exceptionally thought provoking.  Marriage, and divorce, are explored in a controversial fashion in a tight wordcount- and left me with a sour taste and a lump in my throat.

I really need to read more of Wharton's work, because it is moving and controversial and so gorgeously bleak.

The Reckoning is out now, published by Penguin.