Love, Lies and Lemon Pies- Katy Cannon

The Blurb

Love, Lies and Lemon Pies, the debut YA novel from Katy Cannon, is the perfect summer read for fans of Sarah Dessen and Louise Rennison. With a Bake Club recipe at the start of each chapter, this book perfectly captures the current appetite for all things baking!

Sixteen-year-old Lottie is on a mission to protect her biggest secret, and it’ll take every lie and every baking trick she can muster. Since her dad died, life hasn’t been the same for Lottie. When the school suggests she joins Bake Club to get her back on track, Lottie reluctantly agrees. The alternative – the school paying her mum a home visit – is not an option. But Lottie’s uncertainty about Bake Club melts away as she rekindles her love of baking and gets caught up with Mac, school rebel and another unwilling Bake Club member.

As the end-of-year Bake Off approaches, the tension rises. Can Lottie keep up the façade of her perfect life? And can her bubbling romance with Mac survive the pressure?

The Review

Having read and reviewed Katy Cannon's Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines last month I just had to start Love, Lies and Lemon Pies as soon as humanly possible! 

This is actually the first in the series (I never like to be conventional!) but as both books can be read and enjoyed in their own right it didn't really matter that I'd been a little bit squiffy with the order I'd read them in. 

Lottie is the central character in this one, and she's thrown into Bake Club.  Although she's reluctant at first, she can't deny it's an escape from the realities of life-home, her Mum and the accumulation of 'stuff' which is taking over their house.  Throughout the book she develops as a character, maturing and realising that sometimes in life you do need the love and support of your friends.  The teens in Bake Club are an unlikely group but become a tight unit working towards a common goal and their loyalty towards each other is heartwarming.

Of course, there's a romantic element too when Lottie falls for bad boy Mac.  He's troubled and edgy and has a reputation which everyone around school believes.  But when he's stirring a cake mix or kneeding a dough he's a different person, and Lottie sees that.  It's just a shame that the secrets they're hiding have the potential to end their relationship before it's properly begun...

I admire Katy Cannon greatly for writing contemporary teen romances which don't revolve around sex.  Instead they're built on gently moralistic foundations- the need to be honest, to believe in yourself, to take help when you need it- vital lessons to learn at any age. 

The writing itself is also top notch.  It's well paced, appropriate for the target audience and I loved the dialogue. The added bonus of some simple recipes (without hundreds of ingredients, which is my bug bear when baking) offers something different which sets this apart from other teen romances. 

These books are without doubt some of my favourites in this genre. I'm desperately hoping there are more in the pipeline! 

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

Love, Lies and Lemon Pies is out now, published by Stripes, an imprint of Little Tiger.

Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines- Katy Cannon BLOG TOUR

I am absolutely delighted to be today's stop on Katy Cannon's blog tour for her new release Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines.  This was a lovely read, a fun romance aimed at the teen market, and I'm thrilled to be able to share my review today.

The Blurb

Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines is the companion novel to Katy Cannon's delicious teen read, Love, Lies and Lemon Pies. Grace had a plan for this year - and it didn't involve learning to sew. But when her world is turned upside down by a family secret, everything changes. Grace's family is in need of patching up and she's trying to focus on what really matters. But when new boy Connor appears on the scene, it doesn't make things any easier. She's desperate to prove to him that she's not a drama queen - but why is what Connor thinks so important?

Katy Cannon is a hot new voice in Young Adult fiction, writing contemporary romance that is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Louise Rennison.

The Review

Firstly, although Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines is marketed as a 'companion novel' and it's obvious throughout the book that events in Katy Cannon's previous release are being alluded to, it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone.  I'd not read Love, Lies and Lemon Pies (but I definitely will be!) and I didn't feel remotely short-changed or as though I was missing out on anything I needed to know to appreciate the story.

And the story- it was so sweet!  Katy Cannon has created a humorous, romantic story much like the ones I enjoyed as a teenager.  That's not to say it's in any way dated- it's fresh, contemporary and believable- but it is more a 'will they/won't they', with tensions and fall outs between the characters than some of the other releases out there right now.

Drama-mad protagonist Grace is having a tough time adjusting to changes at home.  She hasn't got the drive to work hard at anything at the moment, not even turning up at the auditions for the school production of Much Ado About Nothing.  But she wants that lead role and in a bid to win over her drama teacher, Grace offers to be the wardrobe manager for the production.  There's just one problem- she can't really sew. 

Grace sets about learning the skills she needs to pull this off, but infuriating-yet-gorgeous Connor is a distraction...plus, he knows she's doing this for her own gain not the good of the drama club.  What follows is a typical love/hate relationship, although I have to admit I was rooting for Grace and Connor from the start. Grace is stubborn and a bit of a princess at times, Connor can be a know-all and thinks he is better than everyone else. I liked that they had these minor flaws.  Neither of them are perfect and they can both be argumentative and at times unpleasant, but as the story progresses it becomes apparent that both characters are finding it hard to adapt to changes within their respective families.  They have more in common than they'd like to think...

This book brought back many happy memories of school drama productions and all the shenanigans that went with them.  I'm not the target audience by any means, but I found myself turning the pages and wanting to know what happened next with their families, the production and of course Grace and Connor's relationship. 

And as a bonus for anyone inspired to become a little bit more crafty (in the best possible way) there are sewing projects throughout the book.  From simple hearts to t-shirt dresses and aprons, if you have an inclination towards the creative, you will be in your element.

I'm sure Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines will appeal to readers in their early teens, especially fans of romance.  It is available now, just in time for Valentine's Day.

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

You can join in the fun on twitter using the hashtag #Grace4Connor

A Whisper of Wolves- Kris Humphrey COVER REVEAL

I am delighted to finally be able to share the cover for Kris Humphrey's  A Whisper of Wolves! I received a copy of this one a while back and it certainly sounds an intriguing read.  Aimed at children aged 8-12, A Whisper of Wolves has been described as a book with a 'fast paced narrative' and is the first in the Guardians of the Wild series.

 

 

And doesn't it have a beautiful cover?

 

To find out more prior to release on March 2nd, search the hashtag #wildguardians or tweet @stripesbooks or @KrisDHumphrey .