Searching for a Silver Lining - Miranda Dickinson

The Blurb
It began with a promise . . .

Matilda Bell is left heartbroken when she falls out with her beloved grandfather just before he dies. Haunted by regret, she makes a promise that will soon change everything . . .

When spirited former singing star Reenie Silver enters her life, Mattie seizes the opportunity to make amends. Together, Mattie and Reenie embark on an incredible journey that will find lost friends, uncover secrets from the glamorous 1950s and put right a sixty-year wrong.

Touchingly funny, warm and life-affirming, this is a sparkling story of second chances. Perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern, Searching for a Silver Lining will take you on a trip you'll never forget.

The Review
As a huge fan of Miranda Dickinson's writing, I was delighted to be sent an early copy of Searching for a Silver Lining to review.  I always love how Miranda is able to create warm characters that I root for from the off, and Mattie Bell is yet another wonderful protagonist - I immediately took her to my heart.

Mattie is grieving for her grandfather.  She throws herself headfirst into an adventure when she meets the wonderful livewire octogenarian Reenie Silver, a former starlet and performer with popular 50s band The Silver Five who were also a favourite of her grandfather 'back in the day'.  What follows is a crazy quest for one last hoorah which involves amongst other things a campervan, a memorable performance of Wheatus' Teenage Dirtbag and the rather lovely club owner Gil...

This book is a reminder that age is irrelevant when there's a bond between two people, and as positive friendships/relationships across the generations is something which is still relatively unexplored in fiction it was lovely to see this portrayed so well.  Reenie and Mattie were a perfect and believable duo and I was willing them on to their own happy endings.  Reenie's stories were an absolute highlight of this book, she was like Tom Jones on an episode of The Voice with her continual name dropping!

I also loved how each chapter was given a 'soundtrack', a song from the 1950s that linked into the themes explored in that section of the book.  It brings another element to the story and introduced me to some new tunes along the way.

Most of all Searching for a Silver Lining is heart-warming and charming and oozing with everything that makes friendship such a beautiful, beautiful gift. 

I can't recommend this book highly enough.  It's Miranda Dickinson's best yet.

Searching for a Silver Lining is out now in ebook and paperback format.

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

Recently I've Read - September 2016

I'm incredibly late posting this monthly round up and that's mainly because September was a pretty fruitful month when it came to reading.  It's fair to say I was looking for love in my September reads, with lots of commercial romantic fiction, but I also enjoyed a fair amount of manga too, which I'll wrote about in a separate post. 

Step Back in Time - Ali McNamara

 

 

The Blurb
How many lifetimes would you travel to find a love that lasts for ever?
When single career girl Jo-Jo steps onto a zebra crossing and gets hit by a car, she awakes to find herself in 1963. The fashion, the music, her job, even her romantic life: everything is different. And then it happens three more times, and Jo-Jo finds herself living a completely new life in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The only people she can rely on are Harry and Ellie, two companions from 2013, and George, the owner of a second-hand record store.
If she's ever to return from her travels, Jo-Jo must work out why she's jumping through time like this. And if she does make it back, will her old life ever be the same again?

My Thoughts
A great read with romance, time travel and a whole lot of Beatles references! 
This was a fun and original story which had me chuckling along as protagonist Jo-Jo found herself leaping between the decades.  The attention to detail in each era made this perfect for book for anyone with a nostalgic bone in their body, and I absolutely adored record shop owner George.
My first Ali McNamara book, but certainly not my last!

Read Me Like a Book - Liz Kessler

 



The Blurb
The first YA novel from bestselling author Liz Kessler, Read Me Like A Book is a brave, honest and vital coming-out story that follows one girl's exploration of love, identity and sexuality.
Ashleigh Walker is having a difficult year. She's struggling at school, and coming home to parents who are on the verge of divorce. She knows she should be happy spending time with her boyfriend - but, for some reason, being around him just makes her worry more. It's only in her English teacher, Miss Murray, that she feels she's found a kindred spirit. Miss Murray helps Ashleigh develop her writing skills and her confidence - but what happens when boundaries begin to blur? What will the repercussions be for Ashleigh? And how will she navigate her own sexuality?

My Thoughts
An engaging and relevant coming of age story which will appeal to both YA and adult readership. This was an extremely readable tale and I rooted for Ashleigh as she explored her own sexuality.  There have been more LGBT+ books published again lately, and if they are all of this quality then I'm sure they'll be a welcome addition to bookshelves everywhere.

Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner - Helen Cox

 

 

 

The Blurb

Esther Knight is sharp, sarcastic – and hiding something. She waitresses at The Starlight Diner: a retro eatery where Fifties tunes stream out of the jukebox long into the night, and the tastiest milkshakes in New York are served.

Nobody at the diner knows why Esther left London for America – or why she repeatedly resists the charms of their newest regular, actor Jack Faber.

Esther is desperate to start a new life in the land of the free, but despite the warm welcome from the close-knit diner crowd, something from her past is holding her back. Can she ever learn to love and live again?

Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner is a witty, romantic, New York-inspired novel.

 

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner.  The cover and the blurb and mainly cheery and uplifting, but don't be fooled, this isn't all ice cream sundaes and eggs sunny side up.  Esther is a far more enigmatic character than that.

I loved how this book tackled some darker plot lines whilst still having a warm humour to add a delightful balance to the novel.

This is the first book in a series and I'm very much looking forward to the next.  Service please!

 

 

Keeping Her Secret - Sarah Nicholas

 

 

The Blurb

The last person Riya Johnson expected to run into at her new summer camp is Courtney Chastain—her childhood best friend and the girl who broke her heart after a secret, mind-blowing, life-altering kiss. She definitely didn’t expect to be sharing a bunk bed with her for four long weeks.

Courtney has what every girl wants—she’s beautiful, rich, and the object of every boy’s desire at Camp Pine Ridge. Too bad none of them make her feel an iota of what Riya’s kiss did all those years ago. But Courtney needs to uphold appearances at all costs—even if it means instigating an all-out prank war with Riya as her main target.
Neither girl can stop thinking about the other…but that doesn’t mean they can give up past hurts and take a chance on a future together.

 

My Thoughts

Riya and Courtney used to be friends. Then they kissed and everything changed. Now their paths have crossed at camp and it's time to assess if they are friends or if there's something more between them...
Full of angst, camp pranks and f/f romance, this is a cute book from Entangled, but I'd have liked more of the romance and 'aww' of the later sections earlier on.                   

Miss You - Kate Eberlen

 

 

 

The Blurb

Tess and Gus are meant to be. They just haven't met properly yet. And perhaps they never will . . .
Today is the first day of the rest of your life is the motto on a plate in the kitchen at home, and Tess can't get it out of her head, even though she's in Florence for a final, idyllic holiday before university. Her life is about to change forever - but not in the way she expects.
Gus and his parents are also on holiday in Florence. Their lives have already changed suddenly and dramatically. Gus tries to be a dutiful son, but longs to escape and discover what sort of person he is going to be.
For one day, the paths of an eighteen-year-old girl and boy criss-cross before they each return to England.
Over the course of the next sixteen years, life and love will offer them very different challenges. Separated by distance and fate, there's no way the two of them are ever going to meet each other properly . . . or is there?

My Thoughts
I adored this book!  The near-misses of Tess and Gus had me hooked from the very first page.  Kate Eberlen has created two characters that I genuinely cared about, with a supporting cast of interesting periphery characters to back them up.  None of them were two dimensional, they were real and flawed and utterly believable.
As well as wonderfully rich characters, this book had me longing to be back in the beautiful city of Florence, encapsulating the magic of place perfectly.
I've recommended this book to everyone I know - if you love a love story (and I absolutely do) then you really must read Miss You.  One of my favourite books of 2016, hands down.

 

The Honey Trap - Mary Jayne Baker

 

 

 

The Blurb

The trap is set – but which one of them is the bait?
Journalist Angel Blackthorne is looking for her next big scoop. When her sleazy editor asks her to use her charms on super successful – and married – film director Sebastian Wilchester for a juicy exposé, Angel thinks what the hell? There’s a staff job on the horizon, and, let’s be honest, no one can make a cheater cheat if they don’t want to, right?
After the scandal breaks, Angel tries to put the story – and Seb – behind her, but fate seems to have other ideas. A near miss at a premiere after-party and a shared love of vintage film brings the honey closer to the trap.
But what happens when pretence leads to passion, and a ‘kiss and tell’ becomes something real?

 

My Thoughts

Fun, flirty and at points downright filthy, The Honey Trap is the story of Angel, who works for a tabloid newspaper, and big name film producer Seb. When Angel's boss asks her to act as a 'honey trap' in order to get compromising photos and a sensationalist headline, sparks begin to fly between the two of them...
What I loved most about this was the balance between humour and sexiness - it was a red hot read in places! There were also tender moments and little twists which made me eager to keep reading. Although to be honest I fell a little bit in love with Seb along the way too, and once I love a hero I'm always hooked. If this book is anything to go by Mary Jayne Baker definitely knows how to write a delicious male lead! I'm looking forward to what's to come next from this debut author.
If you've loved the balance of wit and sex in Debbie Johnson's books, you'll adore this one.

 

The One with the Wedding Dress - Erin Lawless

 

 

 

The Blurb

For fans of romantic comedies like Bridesmaids and Four Weddings & a Funeral, and bestselling authors Mhairi McFarlane and Jenny Oliver, this is a hilarious new romantic comedy series about one bride and her four best friends.

 

My thoughts

Following on from The One with the Engagement Party, The One with the Wedding Dress reintroduces bride to be Nora and her flock of bridesmaids as they head to the Cotswolds in search of the perfect wedding day attire. Of course, in true romcom fashion there are hitches along the way and that combined with the wit and pun-tastic humour I've come to expect from Erin Lawless makes for a fun second instalment of the Bridesmaids series.
I love books that are centred around a group of friends and these girls have totally captured my heart - I can't help noticing flickers of my own pals in their character traits and I'm wondering which of the wedding party I myself have most in common with!
I'm loving watching these characters develop and can't wait to find out what happens in part three!  

 

Recently I've Read...A Whole Lot of Romance

I've read some fantastic romance lately!  Here are the books that have set my heart aflutter - perfect love stories for long summer nights.

 

The One with the Engagement Party - Erin Lawless

 

 

Nora and Harry have just got engaged and so of course, it's time to celebrate! With their friends by their side they can start planning for the big day, but they each have their own hurdles to overcome. Perfect summer reading which left me gagging for more. Heartwarming and humorous, The One with the Engagement Party is Erin Lawless at her best.

The Sunshine and Biscotti Club - Jenny Oliver

 

 

Jenny Oliver whisked me away to the sun with this story of a group of friends helping to set up a baking holiday resort. As ever Oliver's descriptions of the food - aroma, taste, texture - are fantastic. Each character grows as the story progresses which makes this a satisfying romantic read. The only reason I didn't give this 5* is that it took me a long time to differentiate between the characters, especially the males, which meant I was referring back to make sure I wasn't getting muddled. All in all, a delightful summer read.

The Little Bookshop on the Seine - Rebecca Raisin

 

 

I loved this book! A story of self discovery and long distance romance set in a Paris bookshop. Rebecca writes setting and description beautifully - and creates characters that are easy to relate to through common themes of friendship, love and trust. A comforting read which I quickly became engrossed in - Rebecca Raisin has come up trumps again!  

 

Give them a try - they're the perfect blend of uplifting fun and love-riddled angst.  They're all available NOW.                 

Recently Read...

I'm falling behind with my reviews at the moment, mainly because I'm pretty busy at the moment with my own books!  Most of you probably know the first three stories in my Meet Cute series have been released in the last month, and with the fourth instalment due out on December 17th there's been little let up!  You can find out more about my writing exploits at my author blog.

Rather than miss a huge chunk of my reading off the blog, I thought I'd do a quick round up of recent reads.


I borrowed All my Friends are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman from a work colleague.  She didn't exactly sell it to me, saying she hadn't been a big fan, but I wanted to give it a go because I'd heard Carrie Hope Fletcher talking about how much she loved it. It'd be fair to say I fell somewhere in the middle.  Whilst I thought it was a really clever concept, using attributes to name characters such as 'the Perfectionist', 'the Hypnotist' and 'the Broken Heart', I found it quite difficult to engage with and at times found it bordered on the pretentious.  There were, however, some really sweet lines which kept me reading, and as it was only a short read (around 100 pages) I'm glad I persevered.  Fans of quirky fiction will no doubt love it, but for me it fell a bit short.


Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher had been on my wishlist for a while, but I finally started reading it this month.  I've enjoyed Giovanna's other books and this one was no exception.  When Sarah starts dreaming about old friend Brett, she doesn't expect him to turn up as the new member of staff at the company she works for!  The Brett of her dreams isn't the same as real-life Brett, but as he and Sarah work together to plan an innovative TV show, their relationship blossoms.  With a fabulous supporting cast of friends, this is a fast-paced book with lots of laughs.  There were heart felt moments and realistic portrayals of friendship through the ups and downs of life and Fletcher's writing style is highly readable reminding me of one of my other favourite contemporary novelists, Erin Lawless.  I enjoyed it so much that I went straight on to the companion novella!






Dream a Little Christmas Dream is the follow-up novella to Dream a little Dream and tells the story of Sarah and Brett's Christmas.  With the same supporting characters and the familiar pub quiz backdrop, this was an enjoyable short read.  There were times in this one where Sarah seemed blind to what I felt was obvious, but overall it was a sweet and romantic follow up with a sprinkling of humour.  I'm looking forward to seeing what Giovanna Fletcher comes up with next!






The Art of Being Normal has been one of the big hitting YA reads of the year.  Nominated for awards left, right and centre, it follows David Piper, a girl born in a boy's body.  In many ways this can be classed as a coming of age novel, a story of self-discovery and self-acceptance.  But Lisa Williamson has made David so utterly relatable, and in giving him Leo as a friend has created a unique bond which leaps off the page and into the reader's heart.  There is wonderful imagery throughout, particularly during the seaside scenes, and this touching novel deserved every ounce of the acclaim it's receiving.  I know I'll be coming back to it again, and my copy is proudly stood on the shelf of 'keepers' - books I want to reread and recommend and lend to anyone who'll listen.  Brilliant.


I'm hoping to do one more round up post before the end of the month to catch up! 

Q and A with Lisa Dickenson to celebrate the paperback release of The Twelve Dates of Christmas

 

 

Back in December 2013 when I was still finding my blogging feet, I was asked to review The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson.  It sounded like a fun read so I jumped at the chance, and you can read my glowing review (plus a short guest post from Lisa) here.

 

Fast forward to the present day and The Twelve Dates of Christmas has had a revamp being released in a stunningly gorgeous paperback and Lisa has kindly taken the time to answer some questions...

 

 



·         The dates in the book are hilarious- are they entirely fictional, or are they based on your own experiences?  I’m happy to say that for the most part they are entirely fictional – I’ve been to the locations, drunk the mulled wine, watched The Nutcracker and smooched at a winter wedding (my husband, at my own), but touch-wood I’ve never had some of the experiences poor Claudia goes through.  I do envy the yummy ones though…

·         What are you most looking forward to about Christmas 2015?  My pre-Christmas holiday!  I’m going to New York (which I haven’t been to since my honeymoon) and Vermont (which I’ve never been to) so I’m looking forward to nurturing that festive feeling nose-deep in thick snow and dazzling Christmas lights.

·         How does it feel now The Twelve Dates of Christmas is finally out in paperback?   How do you think the readership will differ from those who read it in ebook first time around?  It feels AMAZING; so exciting and a little bit emotional (and a huge dollop of scary, as well!).  This time people might stumble across it in shops, and if I’m lucky they’ll pick this as the Christmas book for them, whereas most of my readership currently is very reliant on lovely bloggers spreading the word to their visitors, or the kindness of other authors and the Little Book Café crew helping me break through.  

·         When did you first see your gorgeous new cover, and did you have any input into the design?  I first saw a batch of about twelve cover options in the spring, and I passed back my thoughts on my favourite elements of all of them.  So yes, Sphere are always great at asking for my input and taking into account my thoughts as much as possible.  Ultimately they know best about what’s the most appealing to readers.  I saw the final version of the cover a couple of months ago and I love it – especially the title font!

·         What's next for Lisa Dickenson?  A lovely, snow-dusted fairytale of New York – a Christmas book set in the fabulous NYC (hence the research trip later in the year).

·         And finally, (besides your own) do you have a favourite Christmas read?  100% A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  There are many, many great Christmas tales out there and all of them help evoke that warm, festive feeling, but Scrooge is my go-to fireside read on the night before Christmas.

 

The Twelve Dates of Christmas is out now, published by Sphere.

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Just the Way You Are- Lynsey James

The Blurb

Dear Ava, How do you start writing a letter to someone, six years after breaking their heart? 

Ava is unlucky in love as well as in life. The new office bitch has landed the dating column Ava wanted, and she can't remember the last time she had a second date. It's a good thing she has best friends Max and Gwen to pick up the pieces.

Deep down, Ava knows the reason why one date never turns into two - she's in love with someone else. Someone she's never even met.
It all started six years ago, with a letter from a secret admirer, Mr Writer... but then they suddenly stopped and Ava was heartbroken.

Now the letters have started again and Ava knows it could mean winning back the dating column at work. This time she's determined to unmask Mr Writer... and find out once and for all if he's Mr Right or Mr Very Definitely Wrong!

 

The Review

I've 'known' Lynsey on twitter for a few years now through the book blogger community and was thrilled to hear she'd been offered a book deal with Carina!  She'd mentioned her writing before and I loved the idea of a mysterious admirer sending old-fashioned love letters - after all, you can't get much more romantic than that.

Just the Way You Are is Ava's story. There's her work life, where she's desperate to write a barn-storming article to win the dating column from her arch-rival.  Her tight friendships with Gwen and Max, people she hopes will always have her back.  The relationship she builds with Ivy, a lady she strikes up a bond with and decides to make it her mission to reunite her with lost love Leo.  And of course, the letters from Mr Writer...

That's the one part of the book I was less keen on, the secret admirer.  The idea itself was great, but I just didn't feel there were enough contenders for the role of Mr Writer.  There wasn't any mystery for me and I'd expected to be wondering who was wooing Ava for far longer than I actually was.  This book is marketed as a romantic puzzle but for me the subplots were far more appealing, mainly because unlike the Mr Writer storyline, I genuinely wasn't sure how they'd play out.  Personally, I was more drawn to Ivy and Leo's story than Ava's and I'd have loved them to be the central characters in this book.  Their story had such bitter-sweet history and with Ava determined to reunite them I was willing a happy ending for this older couple.  Ivy was definitely my favourite character - wise, but with a sense of fun. 

I'm looking forward to seeing what Lynsey does next when her second novel, The Broken Hearts Book Club is released next week. 

Just the Way You Are is out now, published by Carina UK.

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

The Guestbook - Holly Martin

 

The Blurb
Welcome to Willow Cottage – throw open the shutters, let in the sea breeze and make yourself completely at home. Oh, and please do leave a comment in the Guestbook!

As landlady of Willow Cottage, the young widow Annie Butterworth is always on hand with tea, sympathy or strong Norfolk cider - whatever her colourful array of guests require. A flick through the messages in the leather-bound cottage guestbook gives a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of everyone who passes through her doors.

This includes Annie herself - especially now celebrity crime writer Oliver Black, is back in town. He might grace the covers of gossip magazines with a different glamorous supermodel draped on his arm every week, but to Annie, he’s always just been Olly, the man who Annie shared her first kiss with.

Through the pages of the Guestbook Annie and Olly, along with all the guests that arrive at the seaside retreat, struggle with love, loss, mystery, joy, happiness, guilt…and the odd spot of naked rambling!

Forget sending postcards saying wish you were here - one visit to Willow Cottage and you’ll wish you could stay forever.

The Review

I love it when an author looks for a new, unique way to tell a story and in The Guestbook Holly Martin has done just that.  I imagine it was a challenge to develop a plot in the way Holly has here (through a series of entries in the guest book for Annie Butterworth's holiday cottage) but it works incredibly well, giving the reader the opportunity to see the story from multiple viewpoints. Each character has an entertaining voice and the humour I've come to expect from this author is generously sprinkled throughout the book.

However, although there are moments I laughed out loud, it's not all plain sailing for protagonist Annie.  Since her husband Nick died she's thrown herself into running Willow Cottage as a holiday retreat.  She's given her heart and soul yet for some people that will never be enough.  There's also the added complication of the return of Olly, Annie's old flame...

Through the pages of the guest book, which is more like a diary of notes between Annie, Olly, Sophia (who cleans the cottage) and the guests, we are introduced to an array of colourful characters and are able to watch the relationship between Annie and Olly develop.  The plot naturally shifts with each change in characters, but that kept me interested - the mini subplots kept my interest up, and that along with the chatty writing style made this a very readable book.

The only problem for me was the cliffhanger ending - you can't leave it like that, especially when there's no follow up/sequel!  I'm hoping the author will share what happened next because I'm desperate to know!

This was a fun, fresh read which might appeal to fans of humorous women's fiction.

The Guestbook is out now, published by Carina.

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

Geek Drama- Holly Smale

The Blurb

“My name is Harriet Manners and I am a geek.”

Harriet Manners knows that the hottest observed place on earth is Furnace Creek in Death Valley. She knows that dolphins shed the top layer of their skin every two hours. And she knows just how badly auditions can go, especially when you’re a model. But she has no idea what to do when her arch-nemesis decides the school play is the perfect opportunity to humiliate her…

Can GEEK GIRL survive the bright lights of the stage?

The Review

I read the first two Geek Girl books last year when I was in hospital and they were such a tonic-  YA books full to the brim with slapstick humour and an entertaining plot.  They covered friendship (and bullying), first love, family and were crammed full of strange and interesting facts which Harriet shares with anyone who'll listen. 

Geek Drama is book 2.5 of the series and was released for World Book Day.  It's not a full length book, but these 128 pages squeeze in a lot of story.  There are the same hilarious characters throughout- Harriet and her family, Harriet's best friend Nat (who always wanted to be a model- and then Harriet inadvertently stole her dream), arch enemy Alexa and stalker Toby.  I loved getting to find out more about them in this novella length read.

As Nat decides she's ready to pursue her new dream of being an actress, the girls audition for parts in the school production of Hamlet.  It's an unconventional adaptation of the play in every sense, but that only enriches the entertainment value provided- I wouldn't expect anything less than slightly madcap in a Geek Girl book!  The moment when Nat realises her role isn't quite what she expected was laugh out loud funny-I could see it so clearly in my mind.  I want these books to be made into films SOOOOOO badly.

These books are fabulously funny yet also convey the importance of friendship, being true to yourself and developing resilience.  I love how Holly Smale strikes that balance between comedy and issues that are important to teens (and beyond.  I'm in my mid thirties and still need to work on developing a thicker skin). 

I can't wait to read the third and fourth books in the series- I'm a Geek Girl fangirl and proud of it!

Geek Drama is out now published by Harper Collins Children's Books.

Sunshine and Spaniels- Cressida McLaughlin

The Blurb
Hilarious, touching and fun, Primrose Terrace will appeal to dog lovers everywhere and fans of Lucy Diamond, Cathy Bramley and Trisha Ashley.

Cat Palmer’s dog-walking business, Pooch Promenade is taking off. It hasn’t been plain sailing but with the help of her flatmate Joe, she’s taken on some more new clients from Primrose Terrace. But when she meets boisterous puppy Olaf, who is owned by harassed single mum Frankie, she wonders if she has bitten off more than she can chew! Cat’s also getting to know her sexy neighbour Mark and his Collie, Chips, a little better, but is there more to him than meets the eye? Perhaps sorting out her best friend Polly’s love life will be easier than her own…

Sunshine and Spaniels is the second part of a serialized novel told in four parts – all set in Primrose Terrace.

The Review

I read and reviewed part one of the Primrose Terrace series earlier this year- you can see that review here.  I mentioned then how I wasn't always a fan of serialised novels, and that still holds true.  Personally, I find it takes a while to reengage with the characters when there's been a while between release dates, and then the first few pages are spent reintroducing the protagonists and the setting.  However, that's just my taste, and although I still feel I'd rather be reading this in one lovely chunky book than in shorter novella-style snippets, I can only review on what's in front of me at the time.

And what was in front of me was some fabulous writing!  Cressida McLaughlin has created such a warm and friendly place in Primrose Terrace, somewhere it is a delight to visit, even if that is only through the pages of a book. 

Cat, the cheery optimist who runs a dog-walking business, organises a puppy picnic at the local park.  Here we are introduced to lively puppy Olaf and his family, and Cat, always keen to help, offers her support to struggling young Mum, Frankie.  I loved this storyline.  It had the cosy, community feel I always adore, and without giving too much away, never have I so coveted a fictional bedroom!

I liked that Cat's friend Polly was given her own love interest this time around too- as a veterinary nurse with a kind, caring nature, she deserves some happiness.  I hope that by the next instalment things will still be on an upward trajectory for her (and her beau has the most perfect job!)

The love triangle for Cat still smoulders on- should she pick enigmatic Mark or her reliable housemate Joe? (Pick Joe, pick Joe!)  I have less of a bad feeling about Mark after this one, but there's still an element of distrust.  He's just so unreliable, which is never good.  Plus Joe sounds so lovely- if she doesn't end up with him, he can be my next book boyfriend instead.  Some of the things he does are incredibly thoughtful and that always makes me swoon.

Overall, I really enjoyed reacquainting myself with these characters.  I hope Cressida McLaughlin is writing fast, because I'm gagging for a full length novel full of the heart and humour that this series has.  Sunshine and Spaniels is another winner!

Sunshine and Spaniels is out now, published by Harper Collins.

With thanks to the publisher who gave me a copy of this book in return for my unbiased opinion.

The Making of Us- Erin Lawless

The Blurb
HarperImpulse are delighted to introduce brilliant debut author Erin Lawless… perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Katy Regan and David Nicholls!

A free teaser of Erin Lawless’s fabulous debut The Best Thing I Never Had, complete with extra scenes and character biographies.

The Review

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Erin Lawless.  I absolutely raved about The Best Thing I Never Had back in 2013 and this summer's wonderful Somewhere Only We Know was better still.  I'd somehow missed that there was this freebie teaser for Erin's debut title, so I was delighted when I stumbled across it on Amazon.  More stories from one of my favourite authors!

The Making of Us is a collection of short snapshot moments using characters from The Best Thing I Never Had.   I love the banter between the students in the stories and particularly enjoyed the story of a forfeit following a lost bet!  There's also character profiles which reveal additional information about the friendship group.

If you've not read anything by Erin Lawless, this is a great way to get acquainted with her humorous, easy style and if you read and enjoyed her debut you'll enjoy the opportunity to know a bit more about her characters. 

It made me long for more!

The Making of Us is free and available to download from Amazon.  Published by Harper Impulse.

I read this as part of #HIReadathon 2015.  To get involved, follow the hashtag.

Say It With Sequins: The Charleston- Georgia Hill

The Blurb

For fans of reality dance shows, this series is strictly irresistible!

Into the last stage of ‘Who Dares Dances’ blasts Meredith Denning, a tour de force! She’s a voluptuous, beautiful Oxford grad looking for a direction in life.

Merry is partnered with professional dancer Daniel, who is still nurturing feelings for a newly engaged Julia. Though it’s not long before these two take their incredible chemistry from ballroom… to bedroom!

With Daniel on her arm and the trophy within reach, Merry finds herself in danger of breaking the habit of a lifetime as she falls heavily for Daniel.

Find out how it all ends the final part of the flirty, fun and FAB-U-LOUS series, Say it with Sequins!

The Review

When I read the first Say It with Sequins book The Rumba back at the start of 2014, I fell in love.  Firstly, because there was going to be a romance series based around a dancing show- how brilliant a discovery that was for a Strictly addict!  But secondly, I came across a character I totally fell head over heels for- the gorgeous Welsh sweetheart Harri.  I'd enjoyed the plot, but found there were a lot of characters introduced in quick succession. 

By the time the second book in the series came out (The Waltz) I was ready to be reacquainted to the characters.  Max and Lucy's 'will they/won't they' was another enjoyable read with a hunky hero to boot.

But it's The Charleston which finishes this series with a bang.  The doubts I'd had about surplus characters in the first two books were wiped away, with short cameos from those with big personalities (the judge who is obviously based on Craig Revel-Horwood for example- genius!) lightening the mood whilst we're also reunited with protagonists from previous books (yes, I mean the lovely Harri, who's preparing to tie the knot).

Merry, a failed comedian, is drafted into the show as a last minute replacement.  Feeling conscious of her height and weight and generally out of her depth, she's paired up with Daniel, the professional dancer who's still lusting after Julia, Harri's wife to be.  The couple work hard and Merry is the surprise favourite to win the show.  However, the show's vile producer Bob has thrown down the gauntlet by forcing the contestants to face their fears.  As Merry bravely tackles a long-held phobia Daniel's loving nature and strong moral standing are revealed.    I loved this moment!  It's the equivalent of when Clark Kent becomes Superman- my heart fluttered wildly and I wanted to cheer for his forceful belief in what's right.  What a hero!

Without wanting to reveal the nature of the plot too much because that's this book's strength, I can only say it's touching and swoonsome with plenty of humour.  Romantic, satirical and wonderfully written, this is the glitterball-worthy performance in the show that has been Say It With Sequins.  Fantastic!

The Charleston is out now (as both an individual title and as part of the Say it With Sequins complete series), published by Harper Impulse.

I read this book as part of the #HIReadathon 2015.  For more information, search the hashtag on Twitter or Facebook.

Access All Areas- Charlotte Phillips

The Blurb

Sexy, addictive and just pure fun, don’t miss the next instalment in the Do Not Disturb series!
After losing her elderly parents, portrait photographer Anna will do anything to avoid losing the family home – the only thing she has left of her perfect childhood.

When a friend who works at the exclusive boutique hotel, The Lavington, provides a hot tip – an A list film star is staying there with her rumored toyboy lover – Anna comes up with a plan. A photo of them together could be the answer to all Anna’s money problems.

Unfortunately, she’s the worst paparazzi photographer on the planet and Jack, the hotel’s new head of security, back in England after globetrotting as bodyguard to the stars, isn’t about to allow a picture on his watch. No matter how cute the photographer might be…

The Review

I've been patiently waiting for #HIReadathon to come around because Access All Areas was one of the titles I had earmarked to read during the fortnight.  As soon as I woke up on August 1st I had this book up on my kindle ready to read.  I'd waited long enough!

Having enjoyed the previous three books in the Do Not Disturb series, I was very much looking forward to discovering what the Lavington hotel had in store this time.  As it turns out, it's a desperate Anna, smuggled into the hotel by her best friend Lucy, who's trying to get the big money shot of a big name celebrity couple.  However, she's caught in the act by the hotel's security manager Jack, who just happens to be pretty darn hot. 

I loved the balance between humour and mishaps as Anna tries to snap the elusive photo and romance between her and Jack.  How Charlotte Phillips manages to get this just right baffles me every time- it's not quite romantic comedy, yet there are laugh out loud funny moments.  It's by no means erotic fiction, but there's a few sizzling scenes.  It's not out and out emotional fiction, yet Anna's reasons for needing the money the photo will bring tugged hard on my heartstrings.  It's perfection in the form of contemporary romance. 

I'll be left with a few lasting images from this one (without giving too much away, Anna wearing clothes that are too small for her- I could see this so clearly in my mind!), and that is testament to the authors well-crafted descriptions. 

In my opinion, Harper Impulse have the best selection of romantic novellas on the market, and Access All Areas (and the whole Do Not Disturb series) are at the heart of that.  I loved it so, so much.  This is ideal summer reading and had me clamouring for the fifth and final Lavington book- Charlotte Phillips is just fantastic!

Access All Areas is out now, published by Harper Impulse.

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

I read this book as part of the #HIReadathon.  Find out more about to get involved here.

Fairytale Beginnings- Holly Martin BLOG TOUR

 

The Blurb

Love is an open door…except when it keeps slamming in your face

Hopeless romantic Milly Rose has had her fair share of heartbreak. Obsessed with all things Disney, she refuses to give up on finding her Prince Charming – he’s out there somewhere, isn’t he?

When Milly is given a job to investigate the origins of a historical building in the village of Clover's Rest, she’s not sure what to expect. What she discovers takes her breath away - a beautiful real life Cinderella castle, complete with turrets, a magnificent drawbridge AND a very handsome owner…Cameron Heartstone.

As Milly and Cameron begin to unearth the secrets of Clover Castle, they can’t ignore the intense chemistry building between them. But they’ve both been hurt badly before. Can they take a big leap of faith and find their own happily-ever-after?

A deliciously enchanting read that will delight fans of Rachael Lucas, Lucy Diamond and Miranda Dickinson or anyone who has ever blubbed at a Disney movie. Who says real life can’t be a fairytale?

The Review

 

I have read and enjoyed some of Holly Martin's previous releases and now, as Fairytale Beginnings makes its way into the world, I'm thrilled to be part of the blog tour.  I do enjoy a full-on escapist read and from the blurb alone I knew this book would fit the bill!

 

The story itself is a feel good romance- Milly, who is scared of getting hurt, and Cameron, who's been taken advantage of, are both quietly vulnerable beings and are surprised when Cupid's arrow strikes.  They fall hard, fast and deep, and with the magical castle setting as a backdrop, Milly feels like a princess in one of the Disney films she so adores. 

 

However, there are obstacles.  Boy, are there obstacles.  The unwelcoming villagers, Cameron's personal assistant Olivia, and Milly's desire to remain fully professional as she surveys the castle all threaten to damp down the fire between them.  And then there's the mysterious past of the building itself- the mishmash of eras and design styles are baffling enough, but the legends attached to Clover Castle are even more confusing. 

 

Surprisingly, the elements of suspense were what grabbed me the most.  Normally it's the romance that wins me over, but although I liked Milly and Cameron there were times I wanted to throttle them!  They were both quite egocentric and it was only when one of them went out on a limb to try and rescue something that was important to the other that I really believed what they shared could be more than lust.

 

Clover Castle was another character in itself, full of intrigue and secrets.  I loved all the passageways and turrets, the dungeons and drawbridge.  It was great fun imagining Cameron's eccentric Uncle Boris running riot as he added feature after feature to build a Disney-esque castle!

 

There were times during the book where I felt things moved on too fast-not so much in terms of Milly and Cameron's relationship, more that there were scenes I'd have liked to have known more about to firmly fix the setting and characters in my mind.  However, because Holly Martin writes in such an open, chatty style (with quite a few swear words thrown in!), Fairytale Beginnings had me turning the pages at breakneck speed. 

 

Witty and silly, romantic and mysterious- if you're after a fun, fresh holiday read, this could be just what you're looking for.  It reminded me a bit of Milly Johnson's It's Raining Men- you need to remember it's fiction, allow yourself to believe in the unknown and get washed away with the magic and humour of the story.  

 

I have a feeling Fairytale Beginnings could be the book that propels Holly Martin from 'bloggers favourite' to 'one to watch'.  And I really hope it is, because it's what she deserves.

 

Fairytale Beginnings is out now, published by Bookouture.  To 'try before you buy', you can read a sample chapter here.

 

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

 

 

Connect with Holly on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hollymartinauthor

Connect with Holly on Twitter : www.twitter.com/hollymartin00

Holly’s website link is https://hollymartinwriter.wordpress.com

 

Waiting on Wednesday...I Knew You Were Trouble- Paige Toon

Is it really Wednesday again already?! It must be time for Waiting on Wednesday...

 

Having read and loved The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson last year, I am jigging about like an excited bumblebee for the next instalment! Paige Toon has a loyal fan base for her women's fiction titles, but she's now building a name for herself as an author of YA too.  I love the bright, summery cover-so very different to the first Jessie book, but equally as eye catching. 

 

I can't wait to read this one, it feels like I've been waiting for it for AGES!

 

The Blurb

Life as the undercover daughter of a rock god isn't going to be easy. How will Jessie adjust to her old boring life again after spending her summer living it up with her dad in LA? With tough decisions ahead (and not just choosing between two hot boys), can she cope juggling her two very different lives?

Summer may be over, but Jessie's story is just beginning…

I Knew You Were Trouble is released on 30th July 2015 and available for preorder now.

No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham- Brigid Coady

You may remember that Books with Bunny was the first place in the world that you could see the gorgeous cover for Brigid Coady's first full length release No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham. 

 

Well today I'm delighted to go one better by sharing the first review of this gem of a book!

 

 

 

The Blurb

 



What the Dickens is going on?

Edie Dickens is a shark of a divorce lawyer. She doesn’t believe in love and she scoffs at happily ever afters, however she’s agreed to be maid of honour for her oldest friend, Mel in two weeks and she still has the hen night to endure. But she has even more to endure when she’s visited by Jessica Marley’s ghost and finds out she must change her ways or end up being damned to an eternity watching other people’s happiness. Edie is visited by the Ghosts of Weddings Past, Present and Future, every Friday night until the day of the wedding. Can she learn from her mistakes in time? And did the ghosts send the hunky new lawyer, Jack Twist, to distract her?

The Review

When I first read the blurb for No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham I wasn't sure what to think.  I'd loved Brigid's 'Kiss' short stories and this sounded like something way out of leftfield in comparison.  Romance stories with ghosts are a bit hit and miss for me, and anything paranormal is out of my comfort zone.  This, however, is a work of genius.  The ghostly elements are humorous (leaving trails of pink glitter in their wake) as well as giving the reader an opportunity to find out about Edie's background by visiting weddings of the past, present and future.

I really liked Edie's dry and cynical outlook, especially when compared to the romantic viewpoint of everyone else in the book and it was highly believable that she'd feel that way when her own experience of relationships is less than perfect.  She's somehow both bright and ditzy, and although she has a reputation for being hard nosed, her personality changes as the book progresses.  She's unlike most romantic heroines, that's for sure.

Now onto Jack.  Jack Twist was a great character.  Rugby player and local hero, he works with Edie at a law firm.  He's strong in every sense and a no-nonsense kind of guy.  However, he's warm-hearted and always seems to be the one helping Edie out of all the messes she gets herself into.  There's one scene where Edie longs for her feet to be on solid ground and Jack's there beside her, offering support.  My heart was all aflutter right then and I could have done with the smelling salts. I was full on swooning, I'm telling you now.

If laughs are your thing, then Coady's observations will have you chuckling- there are some hilarious portrayals of characters (Edie's boss in particular!), cringeworthy weddings and alcohol induced embarrassments. I think I'm going to be looking closely at suit linings for the foreseeable future as a result of this book...

Overall, it's a well written and touching debut which strikes the balance between humour and heart.  If you're looking for an original romance with a quirky twist, look no further- Brigid Coady has stepped up to the helm. 

No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham may appeal to fans of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and Carmen Reid.

 

Enormous thanks to Brigid Coady for allowing me to be one of the first people to read No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham.

It is available to preorder now, prior to ebook release on May 28th 2015 and paperback release on August 13th 2015. 

Angela Campbell talks romance GUEST POST HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

Before I write another word, I’d like to give a huge thanks to Books with Bunny for the opportunity to help celebrate the wonderful books Harper Impulse has published. I’ve read many of them myself and haven’t yet read one I didn’t like. Need any recommendations? Ask me and I’ll be happy to direct you toward some great reads. To name only a handful, I’ve read books by Nic Tatano, Romy Sommer, Rae Rivers, Lori Connelly, Aubrie Dionne, Vonnie Davis, and Lynn Marie Hulsman and would highly recommend them all.

And since I have the opportunity, let me introduce you to my series published by Harper Impulse, who insists my books are “perfect for fans of the Sookie Stackhouse and Stephanie Plum books.” 

What do you get when you combine sexy private investigators with psychic abilities, pets, ghosts, serial killers and romance? Some really fun reads, that’s what. It doesn’t officially have a series name, but I refer to my series as the psychic detectives series. 

The first book is ‘On the Scent,’ which is about a tough P.I. who falls in love with a pretty nurse after she hires him to protect her millionaire cat and dog. The sexy hero is psychic and can communicate with the pets, Abbott and Costello, and much hilarity ensues as a result. Plus, I modelled Zachary Collins after Henry Cavill in the looks department, so there. Here’s what people have said about “On the Scent”:

"That blurb alone (as well as being a romance) was enough for me to download this book. I loved the characters, Hannah and Zach, but especially Abbot and Costello. I had several laugh out loud moments and just enjoyed the book." ✯✯✯✯✯ 

"Angela Campbell is definitely a reader’s best friend. This is one fantastic adventure." - Night Owl Reviews - A Top Pick!

The second book is ‘Something Wicked,’ about a psychic medium who helps the police solve a serial killing in one of the most haunted cities in America. The hero is a skeptical cop, and the brother of the sexy P.I. from book one, and sparks fly between him and Alexandra King, the sassy and smart heroine. Here’s what people have said about “Something Wicked,” a 2014 Readers' Crown finalist:

"The author kept it interesting with the banter and flirtation between the main characters and the supporting cast (specifically the Charleston ghosts) was also very entertaining. It wasn’t too dark, was steamy but not raunchy and had a good amount of action." ✯✯✯✯ 

“I was expecting what most writers churn out in the paranormal or cozy crap these days. Instead I was pleasantly surprised. … It's one of the better books I've read of this genre and for someone who really does like the genre, I'm saying a lot there.” ✯✯✯✯✯

The third book, “Spirited Away,” features the agency’s adorkable non-psychic cyber security specialist attempting to solve a paranormal mystery on her own while petsitting the animals from the first book and trying to impress the hot guy next door. Chaos and hilarity ensue. It’s awesome. Here’s what people have said about “Spirited Away,” a Crowned Heart for Excellence recipient from InD’Tale magazine:

“I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, a good comedy, and just enough para-normality added in to keep you turning the pages deep into the wee hours of the night to see what is going to happen next.” ✯✯✯✯✯ 

“Every now and then I’ll come across a book which reminds me exactly why I love reviewing so much – and Spirited Away was one of them.” ✯✯✯✯✯

Each book in the series can be read as a stand alone, or they can be read together. There are no major cliffhangers and lots of happily-ever-afters. Pets are a recurring theme because, well, I love animals and can’t imagine a good story without at least one in it. Can you?

***

Angela Campbell is the author of the psychic detectives series from Harper Impulse. Learn more about her and her books at www.AngelaCampbellOnline.com.

 

No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham - Brigid Coady COVER REVEAL

So here it is- the exclusive cover reveal for Brigid Coady's novel No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham! 

 

Isn't it super pretty?!

 

After loving Brigid's Kiss stories (you can read my reviews here ) I'm delighted that there's finally a full length novel on the way, due for release on June 11th- just in time for some summer reading.

I''ll pass you over to Brigid, who is obviously thrilled to be able to share news of her 'baby' with all the lovely readers out there. 

"I'm so excited to be revealing the cover of my first full length novel, 'No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham' here with Bunny Lovell. Thank you!

This book has had a long gestation, the first chapter was written back in 2008 as an entry for the Elizabeth Goudge trophy at the RNA Conference. In time it became a novella called 'Bah Humbug!" and then a short novel called 'Wedding Spirits' which HarperImpulse bought last summer. Since then it has had a bit of an overhaul. It's doubled in size and has a new name!

The cover is amazing and the only thing that could make it better would be pink glitter (something that comes up a lot in the book). I can't wait until June when it will be out in the wild."

And if all that wasn't enough of a tease, I'm also able to share the blurb with you all- eek!

What the Dickens is going on?

Edie Dickens is a shark of a divorce lawyer.  She doesn't believe in love and she scoffs at happily ever afters, however she's agreed to be maid of honour for her oldest friend, Mel in two weeks and she still has the hen do to endure.  But she has even more to endure when she's visited by Jessica Marley's ghost and finds out she must change her ways or end up being damned to an eternity watching other people's happiness.  Edie is visited by the Ghosts of Weddings Past, Present and Future every Friday night until the day of the wedding.  Can she learn from her mistakes in time?  And did the ghosts send hunky new lawyer, Jack Twist, to distract her?

Appetite well and truly whetted? You can interact with Brigid (do it! She's hilarious!) on twitter @beecee and via her facebook page.  You can also find out more about her work on the Harper Impulse website.
http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/authors/brigid-coady

Roll on June!