Tuesday, 30 April 2019

A Little Hotel in Cornwall by Laura Briggs


Today I am pleased to share with you my review for this fantastic new novella from Lucy Briggs. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to join this publication day push and for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 


Book Description
Struggling American waitress and aspiring novelist Maisie Clark dreams of becoming a full-time writer — even though in real life she's just lost her chance at an exclusive writer's mentorship program that would give her novel its big break. Desperate, she decides to take a chance and ask her favourite writer, a celebrated but reclusive English novelist, to help her find a second chance. 

When she receives the author's reply in an envelope with a Cornish postmark, Maisie decides not to take the writer's half-hearted 'no' for an answer. With nothing to lose, she takes off for the author's last known location, a beautiful hotel on Cornwall's western coast. But when the hotel mistakes her for the latest applicant for a maid's position, Maisie finds herself given an opportunity too good to lose ... and a chance for a summer adventure far bigger than she ever imagined.

Surrounded by breathtaking Cornwall and working in an elegant hotel, Maisie's world becomes one of secret identities, quirky friends, and unintentional mishaps — and despite reminders of past relationship disasters, a certain handsome, charming local resident Sidney Daniels has her conflicted about her heart's desires, too. 

Will Maisie find the chance she's been waiting for — and a possible new romance — in her perfect Cornish summer?



My Review
This Novella is the perfect start to a new series from Laura Briggs, I was absorbed from start to finish  and I'm really looking forward to reading the next instalment. 
 American, Maisie Clark is a waitress with big dreams of becoming a writer and being able to ditch the job she really hates. She has big dreams of writing full time and has even been studying to become a writer however things don't go to plan as she has been declined a position on the mentorship programme that she was desperate to join. Maisie then decides to get her old job back to find out that it has already been given to someone else. Desperate for a her luck to change Maisie makes the big decision to try and contact her favourite author to see if he can help her out. 
Maisie writes to him and is surprised to find out that he does reply to her. Unfortunately he said he couldn't help her out. This does not put Maisie off and seeing that the postmark on the envelope is from Cornwall in England Maisie makes the bold decision to head to Cornwall and see if she can find him herself. 
Once in Cornwall Maisie heads to the Hotel that was the last location that the English author was known to be in and she arrives at the stunning Penmarrow Hotel which is situated on the South Coast. 
Things however do not got to plan and after being mistaken for someone heading there for a job interview Maisie is given the opportunity to work in the hotel as a maid. Deciding this could jut be the opportunity that she has been looking for Maisie takes the job and decides to see what adventures lay ahead for her. 
What follows is the what happens to Maisie whilst she is working at the hotel and the mishaps and adventures will have you giggling along the way. 
I really enjoyed this book. The way in which is written is brilliant it flows really well and will easily get you hooked in from the beginning. I really liked the character of Maisie, I think she was really brave by trying to follow her dreams and not give up after the first hurdle she comes to. 
I really enjoyed the Idilic setting of Cornwall and you could almost imaging sitting on the beach and enjoying the sunshine. 
This is the first instalment of the new series from Laura Briggs and I really looking forward to reading more of the adventures that Maisie Clark will be having. 







Purchase Links





About the Author

Laura Briggs is the author of several chick lit and romance stories, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller 'A Wedding in Cornwall'. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, caring for her pets, going to movies and plays, and trying new restaurants.



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Sunday, 28 April 2019

Bridesmaids by Zara Stoneley


Today I am so excited to be posting my 100th Blog post and I couldn't be happier that it is for this fantastic and funny read from Zara Stoneley. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting to take part in this tour and Netgalley for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 



Book Description
Meet Rachel, the beautiful bride with BIG plans for the perfect day! The venue is a castle and the dress is designer.  It’s just a shame her husband is a rat.
Maddie and Sally have only one thing in common – they both love the same man!


Beth is a newly single mum with a mystery baby daddy.  Surely the father isn’t someone the girls all know?

And then there’s Jane, the glue holding them all together, but being dumped doesn’t make her the happiest bridesmaid…especially with gorgeous flatmate Freddie complicating things.

Will the bride say, ‘I Do!’?  Or will her bridesmaids save the day…and find love along the way?    
The most hilarious, feel-good rom com of the year!




My Review
Zara Stoneley has done it again with this brilliant and funny read that had me totally absorbed from the first page to the last. I loved it.
Jane is finally feeling like her life is starting to take some sort of order after the chaos of being dumped by her fiancĂ© while she was on her hen night. She had to cancel all of the wedding and find a new place to live. All of this took a lot out of Jane and now she's finally feeling like herself again. That is until a phone call from her nightmare boss Coral changes these plans. Jane is hugely disappointed that her planned trip is cancelled but her flatmate, Freddie comes up with another plan instead. Jane is then further shocked to find out her best friend, Rachel, is getting married. She not marring the man she has known for just a few weeks though she is marrying Michael. The man that Jane knows is a Rat and a cheat but she can't tell Rachel what she saw especially now that she is so happy and planning her wedding. 
Jane is asked to be a bridesmaid along with three other friends of them both that Jane has not been in contact for a long time. The other bridesmaids are Maddie, Sally and Beth. Each of the bridesmaids brings all of their own issues as they have not all been together for a long time and this is not helped by finding out that Jane is now married to the the school sweetheart of Maddie, That Maddie still seems to be in love with. The lives of the girls have not gone how they all planed them and there is tension between them all so Jane's job is to try and keep the piece between them all for the sake of Rachel's perfect day. 
What follows in the story is the build up to the wedding and what happens to the bridesmaids. there are some hilarious moments in the book that really make  you giggle and  laugh out loud. 
This book is written and set over three acts, before the hen night, the hen night, and the big day. It is a great way to set it up and it flows really well. 
I really enjoy the Writing of Zara Stoneley, she has a way of drawing you in and keeping you hooked in the book right up to the very end. 


This book was published on 26th April 2019 by HarperImpulse. 





Purchase Links:
Amazon  iBooks  Waterstones and other good retailers  


About the Author



Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.
Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.
She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.
Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.
Zara’s bestselling novels include 'No One Cancels Christmas', 'The Wedding Date', 'The Holiday Swap', 'Summer with the Country Village Vet', 'Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage' and the popular Tippermere series - 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs' and 'Country Rivals'. 


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Friday, 26 April 2019

Swallowtail Summer by Erica James



Today I am on the blog tour for this brilliant read from Erica James. Thank you to Tracy Fenton from Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part and for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 

Book Description
They thought they were friends for life - until one summer, everything changed . . . 


Linston End on the Norfolk Broads has been the holiday home to three families for many years. The memories of their time there are ingrained in their hearts: picnics on the river, gin and tonics in the pavilion at dusk, hours spent seeking out the local swallowtail butterflies. Everyone together. 

But widower Alastair has been faced with a few of life's surprises recently. Now, he is about to shock his circle of friends with the decisions he has made - and the changes it will mean for them all. For some, it feels like the end. For others, it might just be the beginning . . . 




My Review
Alastair is still grieving after the death of his wife so he travels back to a place that holds many happy memories for him. Since the age of seven, Alastair has been spending this summers at Liston House with his aunt Cora and he was not surprised upon her death to inherit the house. Alastair and his wife lived there for a while too. Liston House is on the Norfolk Broads and is a place where many summers have been enjoyed and some amazing memories have been created.  
He decides to invite some of his friends to Liston End to share with them some news and decisions he has made especially as he feels the decision he has made is going to shock and stun his friends and that's before the mystery guest shows up. What follows is the story of a Summer within Liston House and the Norfolk Broads. 
I really love all of Erica James's books and this was no exception. This was written so well that the story just flows so well and you don't want to put the book down. I found the characters within the book to all be relatable and I really loved learning more about the Norfolk Broads which sound idilic and the perfect place to visit and relax. 
The character of Alastair is very complex and you do understand how he could be feeling after the devastating loss of his wife. I loved reading about the relationship he has with his friends though and I do also understand why they would be so worried and shocked by his latest news. 
I thought this book was highly absorbing and a delight to read and I'm looking forward to seeing what Erica writes next. 





Purchase Link





this book was published on 18th April 2019 by Orion Publishing. 






About the Author
With an insatiable appetite for other people's business, Erica James will readily strike up conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown-up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion.  


The author of many bestselling novels, including GARDENS OF DELIGHT, which won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and her recent Sunday Times top ten bestsellers, SUMMER AT THE LAKE and THE DANDELION YEARS, Erica now divides her time between Suffolk and Lake Como in Italy, where she strikes up conversation with unsuspecting Italians.



Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today and I hope you enjoyed my review. 







Thursday, 25 April 2019

Where the Dead Fall by MJ Lee


I am so excited to be sharing with you today my review of this gripping crime thriller read from MJ Lee. I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you to Tracy Fenton from Compulsive Readers for inviting me on the tour and for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 


Book Description

One chance encounter, one street side murder, will change everything. The extraordinary new Ridpath crime thriller

DI Ridpath is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong.
Driving to meet his daughter, he is caught in a gruesome motorway accident, in which a near-naked man is rundown by a lorry, while fleeing from a lone gunman. As Ridpath closes Manchester’s road network in search of the assailant, one question remains: why did nobody else see him?
Ridpath’s investigations soon unearth a number of inconsistencies, which pulls the police force itself into question, and hint at something sinister to come.
For Manchester is on the brink of a fresh surge of violence unlike anything it has seen in decades, and Ridpath must battle this unprecedented conflict along with his own demons. One thing is for sure. There will be blood on the streets…

My Review
This is an absolutely fantastic read that really had me absorbed from the first page to the last and I could not put it down. 
DI Ridpath is back at work after beating cancer and he is determined to get his life back to how it was before the diagnosis. Unfortunately things do not go to plan. While DI Ridpath is driving home from work he becomes witness to a fatal road accident, however this is not as simple as it seems as he believes he saw something else at the time of the accident but nobody believes him. This sets a chain of events that seem his work life get harder and harder by the day and makes him determined to prove what he saw was right. It makes him determined to fix what has happened but he's going to need all the help he can get as this could end in a gangland war from all of the major gangs within Manchester. This will mean bloodshed and heart ache for many. 
This highly gripping read is the second instalment in the series with DI Ridpath. I have read both books however this could be read as a standalone read as you get enough of the back story of the DI. As you read the book and you do understand why he is so determined to prove he is still up to the job. I really liked the DI as a character, I feel he is very well written and you do feel his difficulties with him, both at work and with his home life.  The way the book is written about the current situation with the police is very accurate and is very well reflected within the story. There are some great characters within the book that are doing their best to help DI Ridpath and some that are there just to win the end game, and to prove that they are the best no matter what the cost to others. I also really enjoyed learning more about the way in which forensic scientists work which really fascinated me. 
This book is gripping and highly addictive it has so many twists and turns that you do not want to put the book down without finding what happens next. 
I am looking forward to reading what lays in store for the DI next. 





Purchase Link
Amazon - 


This book was published by Canelo on 11th April 2019



About the Author
Martin has spent most of his adult life writing in one form or another. As a University researcher in history, he wrote pages of notes on reams of obscure topics. As a social worker with Vietnamese refugees, he wrote memoranda. And, as the creative director of an advertising agency, he has written print and press ads, tv commercials, short films and innumerable backs of cornflake packets and hotel websites.
He has spent 25 years of his life working outside the North of England. In London, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai, winning awards from Cannes, One Show, D&AD, New York and London Festivals, and the United Nations.
When he's not writing, he splits his time between the UK and Asia, taking pleasure in playing with his daughter, researching his family history, single-handedly solving the problem of the French wine lake and wishing he were George Clooney.


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Wednesday, 24 April 2019

Edna and Genevieve Escape from Curmudgeon Avenue by Samantha Henthorn


Today I am excited to share with you my review of this brilliant, fun and quirky read from Samantha Henthorn. I would like to thank Anne Cater of Random Things tours for inviting me to join this tour and for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 


Book Description
When Genevieve Dubois returned to Curmudgeon Avenue, this opened up the opportunity for Edna to realise her long held dream of escaping to France. But as Edna embraces all things European, Genevieve appears to shy away from her French roots. Meanwhile, we return to Curmudgeon Avenue for the third time, the wind had blown in the truth about the tall, handsome stranger and although Harold and Edith had been relieved to discover that he is neither an elephant detective, nor a fraud investigator, Toonan had been a little disappointed that he was not interested in her either. Matteo Dubois was looking for his mother, Genevieve Dubois, and although he did not find her on Curmudgeon Avenue, you have probably guessed that he is about to cause a disturbance- FINALLY! There is hope that the set of nincompoops that live here currently will move out, and leave me in peace! Edna had already escaped with Genevieve to France, which was a real shame for us because Edna was one of the less annoying ones. This delightful comedy romance is the third book in the Curmudgeon Avenue will make you smile.




My Review
This is the third book in the series and this book returns to Curmudgeon Avenue where you read the next instalment in the lives of Edna and Genevieve. 
Both Edna and Genevieve have been given the opportunity to escape to France and have an adventure of their own. Travelling in France is something that Edna has always wanted to do but Genevieve is not so keen on learning more about France and her French roots and is keeping some secrets to herself.
Back in England the fun continues where there is still some mystery surrounding the new stranger to the village but its not long before you find out that this is Matteo Dubois and he is looking for his mother, Genevieve Dubois When he doesn't find her he treats quite a scene that the inhabitants of the village including Harold and Edith are drawn into.
Edna and Genevieve have  great fun on their adventure in France they are both very fun characters and offer up some very individual quirkiness to the story. As you read the book you get a better understanding of why they are in France and you find out just how many secrets they are both hiding.
I really enjoyed that the book was based over two settings, England and France, both the scenes gelled well together and I really enjoyed how fun and interesting all of the different characters  were. They all added a little bit of fun to the book and they were all individual. 
Having not read the first two books in the series I did find it a little harder to get into the book it is written well and as you are reading you  you are given enough of the back story so it all fits into place well.
This book is such a great and funny read that I really enjoyed.  







Paperback: 236 pages

Publisher: Independently published (7 Feb. 2019)Language: English
ISBN-10: 1790417325
ISBN-13: 978-1790417322


Purchase Link




About the Author

Samantha Henthorn was born in 1970something in Bury, England. She has had short stories and poetry published in magazines. Her books include the Curmudgeon Avenue series (The Terraced House Diaries and The Harold and Edith adventures). '1962', 'Quirky Tales to Make Your Day' and 'Piccalilly' 
She has two cats, one dog, one gorgeous grown up daughter and one husband. When not reading or writing, she is listening to heavy metal and would be thrilled to bits if someone read her books. 


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Tuesday, 23 April 2019

One Last Summer by Victoria Connelly






Today I am pleased to share with you my review for this brilliant and heart felt read from Victoria Connelly. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to take part and for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 


Book Description
They have the whole summer ahead of them. Is it enough to rekindle the friendship they once shared?
Harriet Greenleaf dreams of spending the summer in a beautiful ancient priory on the Somerset coast with her two best friends—but her dream is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a chance to reconnect three lives that have drifted apart; on the other, she has a devastating secret to share that will change everything between them forever.
First to arrive is Audrey—the workaholic who’s heading for a heart attack unless she slows down and makes time for herself. Then Lisa, the happy-go-lucky flirt who’s always struggled to commit to anyone—or anything. Ever the optimist, can Harriet remind them of the joy in their lives and the importance of celebrating good friendship before it’s gone?
Through the highs and lows of a long, glorious summer, these three women will rediscover what it means to be there for each other—before they face the hardest of goodbyes.



My Review
This is an absolutely fantastic read that had me absorbed from start to finish and had me reaching for the tissues. 
Harriet has a secret that she is desperate to keep so that she can have one last Summer with her closest friends. So she decides to rent out a beautiful Priory in Somerset for six weeks of the summer so that they can all just spend some quality time together just like they used to when they were all students many years ago. 
The three friends are made up of three very different characters but they all help build and support each other. 
The first friend who appears at the priory is Audrey. She is a massive workaholic and has even brought work with her on the holiday, much to the others disgust, her friends are worried she is working too hard and that she is going to burn out. 
The last of the small group of friend to appear is Lisa. Lisa is a carefree girl with a free spirit that doesn't want to be tied down. 
What follows in the story is what happens with the group of friends as they spend the summer together. They share memories and look back at the past they all share and about how much they have all been through together over the years. But is the friendship strong enough to get through the secret that Harriet is hiding and will they all be strong enough to say goodbye?
This book is so well written. It keeps you absorbed page after page with the memories shared between the three women and each of them have some secrets and struggles that they are all keeping to themselves. I really admired the strength that Harriet displayed within the book and I understood her reason for keeping her secret to try and protect her friends. 
Audrey was a very interesting character to read as you do understand the pressures around her to make her business work but you do worry for her at what cost the will be to her and her family. 
Lisa is a great character to read you and you realise that she may not be s free spirited as you first think and she needs more support from her friends than she thinks. 
The setting of the ancient Priory for this book sounds idilic and brings a much needed injection of sunshine on a cold and dreary day. 
This is the first book I have read by Victoria Connelly but I can assure you that it will not be the last one I read and I am looking forward to what adventures are coming next. 





Purchase Links





About the Author

Victoria Connelly studied English literature at Worcester University, got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and now lives in rural Suffolk with her artist husband, a young springer spaniel and a flock of ex-battery hens.
She is the author of two bestselling series, Austen Addicts and The Book Lovers, as well as many other novels and novellas. Her first published novel, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in 2008 by Ziegler Films in Germany. The Runaway Actress was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Comedy Novel award.
Ms Connelly loves books, films, walking, historic buildings and animals. If she isn’t at her keyboard writing, she can usually be found in her garden, with either a trowel in her hand or a hen on her lap.
Her website is www.victoriaconnelly.com, and readers can follow her on Twitter @VictoriaDarcy and on Instagram @VictoriaConnellyAuthor.


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Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Flying by the seat of my Knickers by Eliza Watson






Today I am excited to share with you my review of this fantastic read from Eliza Watson. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 


Book Description
Why run from your troubles when you can fly instead? 
 

When Caity Shaw is fired from her first job that doesn’t require an elf uniform, her older sister, Rachel, an event planner, hires her to work a meeting in Dublin. Caity jumps at the opportunity to travel abroad and escape her pathetic life. However, even four thousand miles from home, there’s no avoiding debt collectors, an overbearing mother, and haunting memories of a controlling ex.
While in Dublin, Caity suffers a series of humiliating mishaps, causing her to lose even more faith in herself. Caity struggles to earn Rachel’s respect—and to keep Declan, her hot Irish coworker, at arm’s length. Declan repeatedly saves Caity’s butt and helps boost her self-confidence, making it difficult to keep her distance from the charming womanizer. When Declan helps her research her Irish grandmother, Caity discovers the mysterious past of the courageous woman she barely knew might hold the answers to her future.




My Review
This was a brilliant, fun and touching read that I enjoyed from start to finish. 
Caity's life is crumbling around her and the last straw is losing her job. So with some persuasion from their mother, her sister, Rachel has taken her on to work for her at a meeting in Dublin. 
Caity leaves the USA to Dublin to work and is immediately thrown into the deep end. Desperate to make a good impression to her colleagues and build a better relationship with her sister Caity tries her best to make a good impression however, things don't go plan and things are soon going wrong for Caity. Luckily she has built a good relationship with one of her new work colleagues, Declan, and he is soon helping her along the way and helping her to discover more about her past as she finds out some of her relatives came from Ireland. Caity enjoys getting to know more about her family tree as it takes her mind off the troubles she left behind in the USA and helps her to focus on her new job that she is finally getting the hang of. will the job take off and will she be able to shake off her troubles and her past or will the return to haunt her?
This is the first book in the series of The travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw and its a gives you a great insight into the past of Caity and as to why she is now working with her sister, 4four thousand miles from home, and why she is rebuilding her life. I really liked the character of Caity I found she was very relatable and you really feel sorry for her when things do not go to plan. As you read the book it's great to see her confidence growing and at the end of this first instalment yo get a sneak peek at what her next move may be. 
Like I said this is the first instalment and I am really looking forward to reading the next book and finding out the next adventure that Caity will be having. 




Purchase Links


Flying by the Seat of My Knickers will be Free worldwide for the duration of the blog tour
It’s available on all Amazon sites here’s US and UK:









About the Author


 Eliza Watson is a USA Today Bestselling Author. When Eliza isn't traveling for her job as an event planner, or tracing her ancestry roots through Ireland, she's at home working on her next novel, bouncing ideas off her husband, Mark, and her cats Frankie and Sammy. Learn more about Eliza's books at elizawatson.com.


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Giveaway

Win Irish wool blanket from Avoca Mills in Ireland. - International






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Summer at Blue Sands Cove by CP Ward

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for this uplifting summer release from CP Ward. Thank you to Rachel's  Random Resources for inviting m...