The Torn Up Marriage- Caroline Roberts, review and guest post HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

The Blurb
A memory: golden-tipped sand dunes, early June heat waves blurring the Northumberland coastline. Michael racing towards the shore, Emily on his shoulders, their laughter ringing out against the crash of the rolling waves. A family together.

Two years later, and the landscape of Kate’s marriage has changed irrevocably. When Michael came home one evening and dealt the fateful blow to their marriage, neither could have imagined the heart-wrenching journey stretching before them.

Her happy home with Michael and their two beautiful girls has been washed away like footprints in the sand.

As he tries to build a new home from home, Michael’s about to learn just how precious his family is. Kate’s left dealing with the consequences but can you ever forgive such a betrayal? And when your marriage is torn apart, all hope hanging by a thread, what will it take to stitch it back together?

The Review
This is not your typical romance- in fact, it's more of a story of survival than the hearts and flowers you might expect from the genre.  However, it's this realism which makes The Torn Up Marriage a captivating, if not heartbreaking, read. 

From the moment Kate finds out about Michael's infidelity their world is spun on it's head and life is irrevocably changed forever.  It impacts on everyone around them, the ripples of their break-up affecting their young daughters, their parents, their friends.  The novel builds on this, reminding the reader that your actions do not just affect you. 

I did get distracted at times as there were many coincidental similarities to my own life in terms of names and events, which was rather spooky!  Surely it's not just me that empathises more when a character shares my name? (I'd love to know your thoughts on this in the comments section!)  It was quite disconcerting at times and I definitely felt pity for Kate, particularly at the start of the book.

The writing was smashing, the tension seeping off the page right to the end.  Caroline Roberts has a strong voice and I feel many readers, particularly women, will be moved by her story telling. I expect there are lots of people out there who will relate the plot to their own experiences and draw parallels between Kate and Michael's story and their own.

Personally, I was disappointed by the overall outcome, but the story itself- a winner. I'll be looking out for more books by this author as she tells a powerful and emotional story. 

The Torn Up Marriage was an insightful and emotional read, not what I would have expected from a Harper Impulse book.  It was so very thought provoking and almost painful to read in parts, and a reminder that all relationships, not just marriage, require work and commitment. 

I'm not ashamed to say that this one made me cry like a baby!

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

 

As a special treat, Caroline Roberts has written a short piece about how The Torn Up Marriage explores warts and all love, exclusively for Books with Bunny. 

Messy love – warts and all!
by Caroline Roberts

“The Torn Up Marriage” isn’t your usual Romance novel - some readers have been surprised at how gritty the subject matter is; dealing with betrayal, complacency, making mistakes - but it is definitely about love.

I’ve always wanted to write about real-life love, warts and all. Life can be hard and love is messy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real love. I wanted to show how everyone involved would feel, the betrayer as well as the betrayed, the children, the grandparents; the idea just grew. I have had close friends who have been through affairs and break-ups, and in any long term relationship there are ups and downs. I remember the early years when my children were young being a difficult time. There are so many other factors involved, work, the demands of young children, feeling knackered most of the time, and suddenly you’ve been thrown from being a couple, with time and energy just for each other, into a whole new world.

Yet, I also wanted to show light and hope, and how love even when battered and bruised can survive. It’s definitely an emotional read. To sink myself right into the emotions of the story, I talked with friends and I also did lots of research on real life blogs – it’s amazing what appears when you google “affairs” and “betrayal”. People are so honest and the emotions they describe so raw, it really helped me to understand and empathize with both sides of the story, including the male point of view. I loved writing both sides of the drama, and wanted the reader to question what they might do in a similar situation. Would you stay or would you go? Could you ever forgive, or betray?

“The Torn Up Marriage” is about love at every level, it’s about family, friends, and trying to hold everything together when your world is crumbling. Warning - you may need a box of tissues handy; apparently I made one reader cry in the hairdressers!

Thanks Kate, for featuring me on the HarperImpulse fortnight!

 

 

Spotlight on D.R.Graham HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

The Blurb
The best bucking bulls are rank... and so are the cowboys who ride them.
Cole grabbed my arm. “You don’t need to do this. I got myself into this mess. I’ll live with the consequences.”

I exhaled and slid Shae-Lynn’s pink armband over my forearm. I kissed it, then did a prayer before climbing into the chute. “This isn’t about you anymore. I got something to prove.”

Rodeo is all Billy Ryan and his brother Cole have ever known — until one deadly wreck changes everything. With their mom requiring full-time care and Cole dealing with his own demons, Billy needs to step up to take care of his family. So he walks away from his future as a champion bull rider. Convincing himself he didn’t quit because he lost his nerve…

Barrel racer Shae-Lynn, the sweet good-girl-next-door, grew up with the boys on the rodeo circuit. She’s the only person who knows Billy better than he knows himself. She could help him get back in the ring, but there’s a limit to how many times she’ll watch him make the same mistakes. Especially when it comes to her heart.

When Cole’s gambling debts get out of control and the bills at home pile up, Billy has no choice but to enter a winner takes all bull riding event. He needs Shae-Lynn by his side, but that isn’t going to happen unless he figures out a way to cowboy up and prove he’s good enough for a woman like her.

Intense, emotional and complex, this is Friday Night Lights meets Nicholas Sparks’ The Longest Ride… with edge!

AUTHOR BIO:

D.R. Graham is the author of Young Adult and New Adult novels for HarperCollins and Entangled Publishing. She worked as a social worker with at-risk youth for seven years before becoming a therapist in private practice. The clients she works with are children and teenagers and the novels she writes deal with issues relevant to young and new adults in love, transition, or crisis. She is also an award winning columnist for the Richmond News. She currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband.

D.R. Graham's novels are edgy and reflect the emotional rawness of the young adult psyche. The novels contain coarse language and mature subject matter. They are intended for mature young and new adult readers.

Find out more at www.drgrahambooks.com      

  

BUY LINKS:
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rank/id968439825?mt=11&uo=4
Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/Rank-D-R-Graham-ebook/dp/B00TO3RHXM/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1424884082&sr=1-2
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rank-3
NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rank-d-r-graham/1121228283?ean=9780008140083

 

Caroline Storer, author of The Roman, talking about her hero... HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

Caroline Storer is today's guest on Books with Bunny as part of Harper Impulse fortnight!  She's talking about her hero and her book The Roman...



Caroline Storer

Firstly, thank you Kate for having me on your Blog.  I thought I would give a little background into how I came to choose the hero for my debut book – “The Roman”.   

 

I’ve always been fascinated by Roman history, which has been with me since childhood when we learnt all about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire at primary school.  Watching films such as Quo Vardis, Spartacus, The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur as a teenager cemented that love of all things “Roman”.  In recent years the mini-series Rome and Spartacus re-ignited that love. 

 

But if I have to pick one film that made an impact, then it would have to be The Gladiator; or more specifically General Maximus Decimus Meridius – a.k.a Russell Crowe in The Gladiator.  I’ve watched this film about 10 tens now and I’m still bowled over by his gorgeousness!  He is the typical alpha male Roman hero IMHO.  And it was Russell Crowe’s magnificent performance in that film that inspired my hero Marsallas in my debut book “The Roman”.  When I was writing Marsallas’s story I had a picture of Russell Crowe taped to the side of my PC.  A quick glance every now and again was all I needed to get back into Marsallas’s skin and write his story.  A tortured hero – lovely!

 

A bit about me:  I live on the beautiful (if slightly windy) island of Anglesey in North Wales.  I’m happily married to my own Alpha Hero, Colin, and have one step-son and grandson.  By day I’m an Environmental Health Officer for the local Council.  My work can be quite challenging to say the least, and no one day is the same.  I find escaping into a good book (either reading or writing one) a great way of relaxing once I’ve finished work. 

The Roman – Famous charioteer, Aulus Epidius Marsallas wants revenge against Justina Philipus - the only woman he’s ever loved, but who’d betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress.  Forced to meet Marsallas for the first time in six years, Justina is shocked at the changes she sees in him.  Gone is the carefree youth she once loved, now replaced by a hard muscular stranger.  But there is no denying the attraction that still flows between them, and when his uncle dies, Marsallas offers sculptress Justina a challenge – a bronze stature of himself, and his four horse chariot, to be displayed at the Circus Maximus.  Justina knows that this commission is just what she needs to make a name for herself, and give her the freedom she covets, so she accepts Marsallas’s challenge.  However, Justina is unprepared when Marsallas states one further condition – she must become his mistress.  But Justina has a secret, she’s still a virgin, she just hasn’t told Marsallas yet...

Book Links

On Amazon.com - http://ow.ly/tPGTX 

On Amazon.co.uk - http://ow.ly/tPHfJ

On Barnes and Noble - http://ow.ly/tPHvY

On Kobo - http://ow.ly/tPI1N

Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Caroline_Storer_The_Roman_HarperImpulse_Historical?id=aR-hAgAAQBAJ

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/roman-harperimpulse-historical/id804712321?mt=11

 

You can also find me on my blog at - http://carolinestorer.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/caroline.storer.50?ref=tn_tnmn

Twitter = https://twitter.com/CarolineStorer6

Thanks again, Kate for having me.  It’s been a blast!  Caroline x

 

Wendy Lou Jones Q and A HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

 

Hi Wendy, welcome to Books with Bunny. I wondered, can you tell me a bit about your writing journey?

By My Side was my second novel published with HarperImpulse. My first, The Songbird and the Soldier, is a story of love across the miles and an emotional story about the difficulties of managing a relationship in war time. It was set against the back drop of the conflict in Afghanistan and much research had to go into that one, I can tell you.

Songbird took about 6 months to write. It was the first book I wrote straight onto the screen. Previously I had written in long hand and then typed it up after I finished, taking twice as long. It was, however, the fourth book I’d written and sent out. I'd all but given up on getting anywhere, had self-published on my own and then saw the call from HarperImpulse to send in romance manuscripts and so I sent it in, not giving it another thought- until a couple of months later, when I got a reply!

By My Side has been so well received by readers, and I believe the sequel is out soon.  What can you tell me about it?

The sequel to By My Side is due out towards the end of June  - it has only a tentative title as yet and no cover.

I wrote in 3 months, my quickest book ever! It's Peter Florin's story, so it answers a few questions about the origins of the By My Side plot, but mostly concentrates on what happened next, between Peter and one of Kate's friends. 

 

Are you a reader of romance and well as a writer of it?

I did not grow up much of a reader, but since discovering my passion for writing, I read lots. Mostly romance and the occasional women’s fiction, I enjoy historical and contemporary mainly. I'm active on Goodreads, where I post all my reviews, but have recently taken a bit of a break to read text books as I get to grips with some different elements of story telling.

Wendy, thank you so much for visiting Books with Bunny today as part of Harper Impulse Fortnight!

 

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.

 

Exclusive cover reveal for Pippa's Cornish Dream- Debbie Johnson HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

I'm cock-a-hoop excited about this one!

 

Debbie Johnson is the author of bestseller Cold Feet at Christmas which topped the Amazon Christmas charts, reached the Amazon Top 10 and was the 2014 Christmas number one on iTunes Books.  And today, she's very kindly allowed me to exclusively reveal the cover for her summer release Pippa's Cornish Dream! 

 

I'm sure you'll agree it's absolutely beautiful!  It reminds me of the Lyon's Maid ice cream adverts of my childhood and the delicate colours will be perfect against the backdrop of summer evenings and lazy weekends.  I know Pippa's Cornish Dream is going to be a runaway success, and you can find out more, including how to preorder your copy, below.

 

So without further ado, let me share this beauty!!!

 

 

The Blurb
Every summer has a story…

Since Pippa Harte was forced to take over her parent’s farm, she’s barely had time to shave her legs let alone make time for love. Now she’s more likely to be getting down and dirty mucking out the pigs – and avoiding those of the human male variety.

 

When Ben Retallick walks out of her childhood and back into her present it seems that perhaps Pippa has more time than she thought. All Poldark smoulders and easy-going charm, Ben’s definitely worth whipping her wellies off for!

 

But Ben is a man with his own past and his own issues and as much as she’s enjoying having him around, she’s got to get a grip. After all life isn’t always a beach … even if you are in Cornwall.  Set on the gorgeous Cornish coast at the height of summer, this is the perfect romance to take on your hols!

 

Pippa's Cornish Dream will be released on 2nd July 2015 in kindle format and in paperback on 10th September 2015, published by Harper Impulse.

 

Preorder Pippa's Cornish Dream now on Amazon UK .

 

 

Guest vlog Q and A with Carmel Harrington! HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

I'm very fortunate to have the lovely Carmel Harrington on my blog today as part of #HIFortnight.  She's recorded a very special vlog interview just for Books with Bunny!  Find out how writing can affect her mood, what's coming up for Carmel and why she's thinking about her Christmas tree already...

 

Question- Does writing big emotional scenes affect your own mood/outlook?

 

 

Question- How does it feel to be compared to Jodi Picoult and JoJo Moyes?

 

 

Question- What is next for you?

 

 

Thanks so much to Carmel for taking the time to answer my questions!  What a lovely, as well as talented, lady!

 

Carmel Harrington is the author of Beyond Grace's Rainbow and The Life You Left, both published by Harper Impulse.  Her books are described as 'emotional and contemporary fiction.'

 

You can find out more about Carmel on her website, and buy her emotionally charged books here.