Review: Killer Affair by Rebecca Chance

Killer Affair by bestselling author Rebecca Chance explores British reality TV in this gripping thriller. A shocking betrayal deserves a wicked revenge . . . Stunning, charismatic Lexy O’Brien is the reigning queen of British reality TV. Her life in front of the camera is planned and manipulated as successfully as any military assault. But success breeds jealousy. When you’re on top, the only way is down and there’s always someone standing by to give you a shove . . . Dowdy Caroline Evans, a part-time blogger and writer of erotic fiction, is brought in to chronicle Lexy’s life. Being taken under Lexy’s wing is a dream come true for Caroline. But sampling the star’s lifestyle is like tasting the most addictive of drugs, and it’s not long before she is craving what she can’t possibly have – or can she? And as Caroline and Lexy’s lives and loves become increasingly entwined, it’s only a matter of time before the hidden rivalry becomes a powder keg waiting to explode . . .

Review: Oh wow, Rebecca Chance's books are always chock full of drama and this one was no exception. You can tell from the synopsis that this novel is going to be fuelled by the desire of two strong women, two women who may or may not grow to like each other. The word rivalry is mentioned but this rivalry is like none other you've seen before. I loved the fact that this storyline covers fame and family but also the price of fame to yourself and to others. The way the story is told, we get to see things from Lexy's perspective, from Caroline's perspective and a few extracts from the books that Caroline has written/is writing. I loved this structure and it made for a little extra interest. 

These women are both fabulous to read. They both know what they want and are ready to go fro it. They are so different and yet watching them grow and change over the course of the book is really entertaining. Of course we know that Lexy being 'Queen of reality TV' is going to play a certain character but there is definitely more to her than meets the eye. And speaking of more than meets the eye, Caroline really does surprise you as you turn each and every page. I really liked her storyline and the way she dealt with the drama of it all. 

The other thing that I really liked about this book was the insight it gives you into the world of ghostwriting and publicising a book. Just a little of the world of publicity and publishing. I thought that everything rang very true to some of the things I had heard and there was a lot of detail to take in. Some of the detail made it that the book read a little slower than I am used to but it didn't take away from the drama of the storyline at all. There are also some familiar face that pop up in this novel, so if you have read Rebecca's other books, you will be pleased to see a recurring character here!

Overall this was a really good read and definitely up to par with what I have come to expect from this author. The sex scenes were fabulous, as always, and the drama was on point. This is definitely something to read this summer, something to heat up the cold British summer weather!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Persuading Austen by Brigid Coady

It is a truth universally acknowledged that working with an ex is a terrible idea…

Annie Elliot never expected her life to turn out this way: living with her dad, working as an accountant – surely the least glamorous job in Hollywood?! – and dodging her family’s constant bickering.

Landing a job as a producer on a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice seems like the piece of luck she’s been waiting for. Until the cast is announced, and Annie discovers that the actor playing Mr Darcy is Austen Wentworth: the man she’s spent nearly a decade trying to forget.

Not only is Austen her ex – but while Annie’s life has stalled, Austen is Hollywood’s hottest property…and has just been voted World’s Sexiest Man.

With nowhere to hide, there’s just one question. Now the one who got away has come back, should Annie stand by her pride? Or give into Austen’s powers of persuasion?

Review: This book was such a fun read. It was full of family drama, work drama, relationship drama and then some. I love a read that is action-packed and fast paced like this but I need to have a character I can get along with at the heart of it all, someone to keep things a little grounded, and someone to champion and this book had that too. 

I loved getting to know Annie and it really did feel like she was Cinderella at the start of this book so I had to champion her, I didn't have the choice. Her mum is out of the picture, her sisters and her father are making her life a living nightmare and she is trying so hard to be the strong woman that she knows she really can be and say no to them but there are all sorts of family ties holding her back, including that prince charming she lost, the one who got away. I really did feel like Annie was easy to identify with, She was put upon but she had big dreams and I loved that about her, I got to know her right away and we stayed friends throughout the book!

The other characters in the book provide the drama and the comedy value. I loved Annie's boss Cassie and thought she was very grounding for Annie. But her Dad, her two sisters, her sisters in law and her cousin. Wow! So much drama here. If you could imagine it, it would happen to them and Annie was the one who had to sort it out. This is a character packed book and I have to admit that I did struggle to keep track of who was who in the beginning a little, but basically, if it was Annie's family, they were going to cause some sort of issue and that's all I needed to know!

There's a love interest of course, 'The One Who Got Away' and he comes flying back into Annie's life and I loved the romantic tension that this created. There are some classic, 'does he like me does he not?' moments and these were almost too much to handle. There isn't a steamy element to the romance in this book but fear not, there are some sweet sweet moments. 

I loved the fact that this book surrounded a film production and all the difficulties that come with that and it was a great setting for the book too, one that I haven't read enough of recently, so it felt new and fresh and posed problems of its own for poor Annie. Overall this was a really fun read. There are some great nods to Austen here, some funny moments and just the right amount of romance. It is fast-paced and definitely something to add to your beach reading this summer!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Review: The Singles Game by Lauren Weisberger

The new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and Revenge Wears Prada—a dishy tell-all about a beautiful tennis prodigy who, after changing coaches, suddenly makes headlines on and off the court.

Charlotte “Charlie” Silver has always been a good girl. She excelled at tennis early, coached by her father, a former player himself, and soon became one of the top juniors in the world. When she leaves UCLA—and breaks her boyfriend’s heart—to turn pro, Charlie joins the world’s best athletes who travel eleven months a year, competing without mercy for Grand Slam titles and Page Six headlines.

After Charlie suffers a disastrous loss and injury on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, she fires her longtime coach and hires Todd Feltner, a legend of the men’s tour, who is famous for grooming champions. Charlie is his first-ever female player, and he will not let her forget it. He is determined to change her good-girl image—both on the court and off—and transform her into a ruthless competitor who will not only win matches and climb the rankings, but also score magazine covers and seven-figure endorsement deals. Her not-so-secret affair with the hottest male player in the world, sexy Spaniard Marco Vallejo, has people whispering, and it seems like only a matter of time before the tabloids and gossip blogs close in on all the juicy details. Charlie’s ascension to the social throne parallels her rising rank on the women’s tour—but at a major price.

Review: This books drops you right in the middle of the action. We meet Charlie straight away and find out that she is about to go and play a match at Wimbledon, but there's a problem. This book therefore hooks you in right from the  word go and I defy anyone to be able to resist reading on after that start! I really loved the drama that this book contained, and there is a lot of it, there is never a dull moment and it makes for a real page turner because of that. IF you are familiar with this author's other books then you will know how well she writes drama but the storyline for this one has the potential to be a little duller, especially if you are not into tennis (like me) but she keeps you reading and gasping and then reading some more. 

I thought I might not be able to get along with Charlie as a character. She is young tennis superstar. I'm not that into reading about characters who are entitled in some way and I really don't know anything about tennis, but I really got to know her because she has strong morals and values and maintains strong relationships with her friends and family, despite her fame and hectic travel schedule. I rally enjoyed meeting the other characters in the book. They are all fairly extreme characters and so they were definitely easy to picture and easy to assign roles within the story. 

Obviously this story deals with tennis and I really don't know a lot about tennis and neither do I really care about it. This book, though, taught me a lot about it and about the dramas behind each and every grand slam. I didn't know I wanted to know those things about it but because it is all wrapped up so neatly within this storyline, you don't even realise you are following tennis at the same time-how great is that? This book is about so much more than tennis. It is about what happens when you grow up and change but your world doesn't. About relationships, about goals and ambitions. I love this author and so I knew I would probably like this book but I enjoyed every moment of this book and it is definitely one to add to your summer TBR!

To get your copy now, click on the link: US or UK

Review: The Woman At Number 24 by Juliet Ashton

Meet the residents of number 24 in the warm, witty and wonderful new novel from bestselling author Juliet Ashton.

When your marriage falls apart, the last place you'd want your husband to move to is downstairs. Unfortunately for Sarah, up in the eaves at number 24, her ex-husband now lives one floor beneath her with his new wife. Their happiness floats up through the floorboards, taunting her.

A child psychologist, Sarah has picked up great sadness from the little girl, Una, who lives with her careworn mother three floors below, but is Sarah emotionally equipped to reach out?

The Spring brings a new couple to the house. Jane and Tom's zest for life revives the flagging spirits, and Sarah can't deny the instant attraction to handsome Tom. Having seen at first hand what infidelity does to people, she'll never act on it ... but the air fizzes with potential.

The sunshine doesn't reach every corner of number 24, however. Elderly Mavis, tucked away in the basement, has kept the world at bay for decades. She's about to find out that she can't hide forever.

Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love, friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears. Think Cold Feet meets David Nicholls, with a dash of the joy of Jill Mansell added for good measure.

Review: Oh my goodness, everything that could possibly happen inside Number 24 literally does happen. This is a book packed full of twist, turns and dramatic revelations and that made for some fast-paced, Page-turning reading for the entirety of the second half! Number 24 is a house split into flats in Notting Hill and each of the residents, or former residents in these flats each have their own dramatic story lines going on but Sarah, who lives in the flat at the top of the building and is the titular woman, is the lynch pin that holds it altogether. So whilst there are so many dramatic story lines taking place, this is a very character driven book, I loved that about it. 

The novel begins fairly pacey because we are working out who all the residents are and how they relate to one another. each chapter begins with a quote from the calendar from the Chinese takeaway that Sarah uses and is a piece of wisdom that someone in that chapter could definitely use. I loved the little clues that Juliet Ashton left in the form of the wise sayings and other little clues about people throughout the chapters, and just like her last book, i enjoyed working out what everyone's story was and the skeletons in their closet. 

It is fairly hard to pass judgement on many of the characters in this novel because there are so many twists and turns and everyone is not who they seem to be. I loved the relationship that the characters had and developed with one another though. Many people in London do not know their neighbours and this book certainly starts of being that typical set up, with only a couple of exceptions. There are many changes over the course of the book, but I liked seeing how the characters and those changes affected relationships within the doors of Number 24. 

Sarah is a great character to hold the whole story, and the house, together because she is very relatable. She is recently divorced but having to see her husband on a regular basis. Because of the housing situation, in cities in particular, many people are faced with this situation The crisis of her sudden divorce has also made her question her professional capabilities and so we have to go through that with her as well, making her even more easy to sympathise with as a character. She is just a normal woman who is determined to make the best of herself but questions her choices at every turn. I loved the friendships that she forged during this novel and I loved watching her grow and change as a person over the period of time that this story is set. 

The beginning and end of this book (I'd say the first 30% and the final 40%) are very pacey and I read those sections all at once. I couldn't believe some of the twists that this story took on and found myself shouting at the characters to realise what was going on right in front of their eyes. The very middle of the book dragged a little for me, it was focused on one storyline in particular and I just didn't click with that one. Overall though this was a great read and in keeping with what I have now come to expect from this author. This would be a great book to read over the bank holiday weekends that are coming up and if you haven't read any of Juliet's other novels, definitely add those to your TBR too!

To get your copy now, click here!

Review: The One With The Hen Weekend by Erin Lawless

Nora Dervan is ready for her Happy Ever After. With her darling Harry waiting at the altar, and all her family and friends around her. She is certain that her special day will not be forgotten/will be one to remember…

But with her four bridesmaids hiding more secrets, than bottles of champagne. Will her big day be remembered for all the right reasons?

Bea has barely gotten past the fact that her two best friends are dating, and now they’re engaged, whilst cupid’s arrow points in a forbidden direction for Cleo. She is so distracted by her off limits, hot new colleague that she has forgotten Daisy, who has been left dreading the singles table. There’s more romance in the cheesy pick- up lines than Sarah’s own marriage, which hasn’t turned out as she hoped it would be.

Review: firstly, I think I've worked out that one of the things I love best about this a bridesmaids series by Erin Lawless is that, whilst the books are titled, the one with...The Engagement Party/ The Wedding Dress/ The Hen Weekend, there is so much more to the story than just that thing! The novellas are about the characters, they are character drive instalments of one big story and the humour that comes in the run up to a wedding. I love that fact that I can't wait to read more abut Cleo and Gray, about Bea and Eli, about Sarah and Cole, about Daisy and of course bride Nora! 

This instalment was always going to be an explosive one, and boy does it end with a lot of fireworks! The hen weekend always has the potential to be a source of animosity amongst guests and of course bridesmaids, and there are so many little things that niggle in this storyline, so many things I know would get my back up if I were the bride or the bridesmaid! And this author builds them all up so well, a little bitchy moment here, someone taking over moseying they shouldn't here, a costume no one wanted to wear over here and too much to drink there, so subtle but so effective! Whilst this is definitely a quick read and a Short story, we have every aspect of a fully blown novel storyline in here! 

As I mentioned above, this is very much a characters driven story and each of the characters have their own issues that they bring to this third instalment of the bridesmaids series. Each of their storylines is well-developed too. I think we hear a little more from friend, not bridesmaid Claire in this particular episode and we also get a little more insight into the character of Daisy. I'm really warming to Daisy in ways I dint think I would. Of course we get to hear a little more about Cleo and Gray, definitely my favourite storyline to follow, one moment with Cleo actually had me gasp and do a little shiver (no spoilers here!) and there are definitely some tense moments between the characters too! 

I cannot wait for the final instalment in this one, I seriously need to know what happens and how things that were left up in the air at the end of this instalment are finally resolved! I loved this read and if you haven't read any of this series, there's still time to catch up, do it now! Just click here!

Blog Tour: The Singalong Society For Singletons by Katy Lovell

Today is my stop on the singalong society for Singletons blog tour. I'm so excited to be sharing my review for Katy Lovell's debut novel as the first stop on the tour! The links for her twitter account are there on the banner and there's a link below for you to buy the book. Please do add Katy on twitter, she is such an awesome online buddy to have! 

A charming, feel good novel about the healing powers of friendship…and Frozen!

Monique and Issy are teachers, housemates and lovers of musicals! Their Friday night routine consists of snacks, wine and the Frozen DVD. So when Monique’s boyfriend moves to America for a year and her sister Hope moves in because of her own relationship woes, Friday nights get a new name… ‘The Singalong Society for Singletons’!

It’s a chance to get together, sing along to their favourite tracks from the best-loved West End shows, and forget the worries of work, relationships and love (or lack of it). But when Issy shares the details of their little group further afield, they get some unexpected new members who might just change their opinions on singledom for good….

http://amzn.to/29YrHEA

Review: I loved this novel so much! It was seriously so much fun. The fact that this book features a couple of teachers (including a year 6 teacher) and a teaching assistant, as well as a long distance relationship and a ton of fabulous musicals means that it is right up my street. But if you're not into any of those things, or can't relate to any of those things, don't worry, this novel is about so much more too. There is moments of identiy crisis, moments that deal with unrequited love, moments where first aid needs to come into play and so many more issues facing us today in society. 

I really related to all of the characters in this book. I loved Monique and the situation she is in in her life. Although she is a little younger than me, I can relate to her on so many levels. I don't think anyone could not love Mon, she has so much going on but is such a positive and compassionate person who clearly loves her friends and family to the moon and back. Roommate Issy is equally as loveable and I know you will all be able to feel her need for a glass of red bigger than her head on a Friday night, especially given that she is a year 6 teacher with Ofsted and Sats looming! Connie and Hope make up the rest of the cast of girls, and if you forget who's who, there's a cast list at the beginning of the book to keep you'd straight (something which I love!)

The storyline centres around the four girls and their singalong society for singletons. We meet them having just set up the society when Issy invites actors Ray and Liam to join them....you know this makes for some interesting moments! I love the fact that no issue is left untackled here including revealing a same-sex relationship to overly conservative parents. This is the only moment in the book where I wanted just a little bit more than this author gave. I felt there could have been more made of the scene where this May or may not happen (no spoilers) but I still loved this couple all the same! I really liked the long-distance relationship aspect of the book because I can completely empathise with that and of course, all the attention to the detail when it came to the teachers. This author clearly knows her stuff when it comes to working in a primary school and I love her for getting it so right! 

I need to mention the structure of this book as well. Each chapter takes place on Friday night when the group watch and singalong to each musical. You get to know which miss it is and who chose it. I defy anyone not to sing a number or two as they are reading this when their favourite musical comes along. And fear not! If you aren't that into musical, each chapter also has some details abotj the film/show and it's biggest numbers. I found this quite helpful as I totally couldn't Rememebr what songs came from a certain Rogers and Hammerstein film that the cast watched-fabulous. It also sparked an idea in my mind for watching all of this shows mentioned-I need to do it now! 

This book is about so much more than the musicals though, but I've rambled on enough. I urge you to pick up this feel-good bouncy book and discover the joy for yourself, I'm going to go and watch Rocky Horror! 

Guest Review: The Secret Of Orchard Cottage by Alex Brown

So I wasn't as much of a fan of Tindledale & its residents as my mum was so that is why the review of this third book in the series is from her!

April Wilson is wondering what to do next – her life has been turned upside down after the loss of her husband so she’s hoping to piece herself together again with a visit to her elderly great aunt, Edith. 
Arriving in the rural idyll of Tindledale, she’s dismayed to find Edith’s cottage and the orchard behind it in a sorry state of disrepair. Edith seems to have lost interest completely, instead she’s become desperate to find out what happened to her sister, Winnie, who disappeared during WWII.April gets to work immediately, discovering that the orchard still delivers a bumper crop each year, and with the help of some of the villagers – including Matt, the enigmatic Farrier – begins to unravel the mystery of the missing Winnie. Slowly, April can feel things coming to life again – but can Orchard Cottage work its magic on her too?

Review: This is the latest in a series of books by Alex Brown set in the village of Tindledale. However, even if you haven't read the others in the series it shouldn't spoil your enjoyment of this story, although it might make you want to go back and catch up with some of the interesting characters in earlier tales.

The central character in this book is April Wilson, who has relatively recently lost her dear husband to a long and debilitating disease and is finding life very difficult. Her stepdaughter, Nancy, finally convinces April to go and visit her great aunt Edie, who lives in Orchard Cottage in the picturesque and remote village of Tindledale. April spent many childhood summers in the village and is looking forward to returning. However, her visit lasts a lot longer than planned, as she deals with problems that have arisen due to her great aunt's deteriorating mental and physical state. Although this and having to solve the mystery of the fate of another family member she never knew existed are at times distressing, the cottage and the village as a whole gradually work their magic on April, and as she unravels everything, she comes back to life too.

This story deals with some serious matters, but still manages to leave you feeling positive and happy. Some of the zany village characters that we met in earlier books about Tindledale are there again, as well as some new ones. It certainly sounds an interesting village to visit, assuming you can find it of course. 

To get yourself a copy, just click here...

Review: Songs of Love and War by Santa Montefiore

Their lives were mapped out ahead of them. But love and war will change everything…

West Cork, Ireland, 1900. The year marks the start of a new century, and the birth of three very different women: Kitty Deverill, the flame-haired Anglo-Irish daughter of the castle, Bridie Doyle, the daughter of the Irish cook and Celia Deverill, Kitty's flamboyant English cousin.

Together they grow up in the dreamy grounds of the family's grand estate, Castle Deverill. Yet their peaceful way of life is threatened when Ireland's struggle for independence reaches their isolated part of the country.

A bastion of British supremacy, the castle itself is in danger of destruction as the war closes in around it, and Kitty, in love with the rebel Jack O'Leary and enflamed by her own sense of patriotism, is torn between loyalty to her Anglo-Irish family and her deep love of Ireland and Jack.

Wrenched apart by betrayal, their world turned to ash, the girls' friendship seems all but lost as they are swept to different parts of the globe. Yet, they have one thing in common: a fierce and unwavering longing for Castle Deverill and all the memories contained within it. 

Review: this was very different to my usual reading material. Although I have read a few of Santa Montefiore's books previously, none of them have been quite as 'historical' as this one and so I have to admit I struggled to get into this one a little initially. I think that the thing I struggled with the most was keeping track of who all the characters were and how they related together. The structure of the books was that it was divvied into 3 parts. There was also a prologue and a epilogue. I loved the structure of the book and my favourite part, the part that had me really gripped was the third part. I felt, by this point that I had got to knew the characters and really invested in them so from this pint onwards I couldn't stop listening to it! 

The characters were an interesting mix of English and Irish during the time when English weren't really welcome in Ireland and it was a fairly dangerous place to be. We also has a mix of the right families and their servants. These characters went through so much drama and created so much drama, I can't really single any one character out as a favourite. I really liked the journey that maid Bridie went on. I won't give away any spoilers but I'm sure you'll be championing her from the start! 

Of course the setting description in this one was beautiful. The description of the Irish landscape is just breathtaking. Some of the book is set in New York and I could totally picture the scenes as Monterfiore was describing them. There are also so bits set in England and I think that this author really captures the mood at the time in her descriptions. As I say, this book was quite different for me. I enjoyed it overall. I have it in paperback but actually listened to it in audiobook. I'd really quite like the chance to go back to beginning of the book and read the first couple of chapters because the epilogue takes the book full circle, if you read it I would really recommend flicking back to the beginning after you're done! 

Review: Thirtynothing by Lisa Jewell

Ever wondered what happened to your first love?

Imagine bumping into them twelve years later and realizing you still fancy them rotten. That's exactly what happens to Dig Ryan when he sees Delilah again.

Now imagine you're Nadine. You and Dig have been best friends for fifteen years. And you've finally realized that you're in love with him. So when Delilah - who always was your nemesis - returns, you're mad with jealousy and can't help behaving childishly. Like phoning your first love Phil - just to get your own back ...

Thirtynothing is a story of ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends and friends dabbling with yesterday when they really should be thinking about today.

Review: aww it was so nice to be reading some Lisa Jewell again. This is one author where I haven't managed to catch up with her back catalogue yet and so I find myself downloading the audio books of the older novels, or even the ones I have on my shelf waiting to be read, and I absolutely devour them! I loved the fact that I could hear this author's voice even in one of her earlier books, as this is one of my favourite authors, it was reassuring to see that her voice hasn't changed much over the years, even if the kind of novels she writes are now worthy of being part of the Richard and Judy book club!

Dig and Delilah are classic characters. They were once exceptional friends and this could have developed into something more that developed over time and as they grew up, but didn't. There are so many many misunderstandings in this book and this is the major linchpin around which the story takes place. I loved their story. I loved hearing about where they are now and how they used to be then. I particularly like that fact that we get to see things from both of their points of view-I love when a book gives me the opportunity to do that. There are twists and turns a-plenty in this novel and nothing is ever as it seems. There is also some real love and some real drama. There were a couple of painful scenes that I found either difficult to take or found myself deeply cringing as I read them.

I like that fact that we have these two characters as our main subjects. Delilah is a classic female over analyser and worrier. She is brilliant because she really sin't sure what she wants when it comes to life, or when it comes to men but she really knows what she doesn't want. This makes her totally relatable and I really wanted to be able to jump into the book and offer her some advice! Dig is also someone I would have liked to have given a good talking too but in a sit down and listen kind of way. He has his life a little more sorted but it still hung up on a fantasy from hsi younger years that he doesn't seem to realise will never come to fruition. He provides a lot of comedy moments in the book and these come right from the opening chapter so be prepared to laugh and gasp along with Dig's antics!

I so enjoyed this book and it was great to go back and read something that I'd wanted to for a long time! I like the fact that Lisa Jewell has combined real life drama and love with real comedy and OMG moments. Her writing makes sense and is totally relatable whilst still offering some escapism and a world to really get lost in. If, like me, you have some Lisa Jewell back catalogue to catch up on then what are you waiting for?

Guest review: Snowflakes on Silver Cove by Holly Martin

Libby Joseph is famous for her romantic Christmas stories. Every December, readers devour her books of falling in love against the magical backdrop of the Christmas season. If only Libby believed in the magic herself…

Struggling to finish her current novel, Libby turns to her best friend and neighbour George Donaldson to cheer her up. But George also needs a bit of support himself. Nervous about getting back into the dating saddle after splitting from his wife, he and Libby strike a deal. She will teach George how to win over the ladies, and Libby will in turn be inspired to inject her novel with a good dose of romance.

As Libby and George explore the beautiful White Cliff Bay on a series of romantic Christmas-themed dates, Libby finds herself having more fun than she’s had in ages and…discovers feelings that she never knew she had for George.

But is it too late? Will George win someone else’s heart or can Libby act like the heroine in one of her stories and reach for her own love under the mistletoe this Christmas? 

This is book 2 in the White Cliff Bay series by Holly Martin, following on from Christmas at Lilac Cottage. Like the first in the series, the action takes place around Christmas time, but as I'm a sucker for anything Christmassy I don't mind reading something festive at any time of year. White Cliff Bay caught my imagination in the first book, so I was looking forward to returning. 

This tale basically follows the relationships of two couples - the main characters Libby and George, and also Seb and Amy. Libby is a relative newcomer to White Cliff Bay and lives next door to George. She is not planning to stay for long, but is enjoying her time there. The others are all long-time residents of the town. There are of course lots of other players in the story, some of whom I remembered from the previous book. 

Holly Martin has once again written an appealing story which grabs the attention from page one and holds it right to the last page. There was some wonderful humour in this story that had me laughing out loud several times. George's antics as he tries to sort out his love life are at times priceless. He is also mad about Christmas and I loved that he filled his flat and his life with Christmas decorations and customs. Author Libby could be almost equally as zany as him. Seb and Amy's relationship was far more serious and they had to deal with many obstacles that were threatening to come between them. However, some of Amy's costumes she was asked to wear for promotions run by the charity she helped out led to a great deal of mirth as well.

Once agin, this story had me wishing I could go and visit the lovely seaside town of White Cliff Bay and the beach at Silver Cove. The setting and the inhabitants were brought to life so skilfully by Holly. I am really looking forward to the next in the series.

Review: After You by Jojo Moyes

Lou Clark has lots of questions.
Like how it is she's ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places.
Or why the flat she's owned for a year still doesn't feel like home.
Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago.
And will she ever get over the love of her life.
What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change.
Then, one night, it does.

But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for - or just more questions?
Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe.
Open it and she risks everything.
But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she's going to keep it, she has to invite them in . . .



Review: Like most people I know, I was seriously excited about the release of this book. I had an advanced copy but for one reason or another I wasn't able to read it before the release date and so I ended up pre-ordering the audio book so that I could read it as I read the first book, to me this seemed apt. I was hooked into this book right from the word go, it was great to catch up with Louisa again and see how she was faring since we left her (sobbing our hearts out) at the end of Me Before You. I do wish had re-read/listened to Me Before You before picking this one up, not because I necessarily think you need to do that but it would have been wonderful to immerse myself in that world once more!

I was surprised that there wasn't much of 'Will' in this book. Yes he is mentioned but the story really doesn't contain any flashbacks, just a few memories through Lou or his family. I was quite glad of this in a way because it meant that it was definitely Louisa's story and nobody else's. There were some new characters introduced as well but I was glad to see that Louisa's family and Will's family still had a big part to play, as I really enjoyed them as secondary characters in the previous novel.

It's pretty hard to talk much about the storyline without giving away too much of the plot, needless to say there were plenty of twists and turns along the way which meant for some fast paced reading and there was certainly that tragic element that there was to Me Before You, which had me crying on my commute home (thank goodness it wasn't my commute to work) and one particularly major surprise pretty early on in the book, you'll need to get yourself a copy to find out just what that surprise is!

As I mentioned above, you really don't need to have read the first book to know what is going on in this book, or enjoy it immensely, it stands on its own. If you have read Me Before You though, you will love this book as a follow up to the last. I don't think it is quite as good, just because it doesn't have the same level of tension as the other one, but it was still a really good follow up. There are some beautiful lines in the book, just as in the first one and it was a real pleasure to read!

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Review: Summer at Shell Cottage by Lucy Diamond

A seaside holiday at Shell Cottage in Devon has always been the perfect escape for the Tarrant family. Beach fun, barbecues and warm summer evenings with a cocktail or two - who could ask for more?

But this year, everything has changed. Following her husband's recent death, Olivia is struggling to pick up the pieces. Then she makes a shocking discovery that turns her world upside down.

As a busy mum and GP, Freya's used to having her hands full, but a bad day at work has put her career in jeopardy and now she's really feeling the pressure.

Harriet's looking forward to a break with her lovely husband Robert and teenage daughter Molly. But unknown to Harriet, Robert is hiding a secret - and so, for that matter, is Molly . . .




Review: this book is actually quite different from what i expected it to be. Now that isn't always a bad thing and as soon as i got a decent way through this fab novel, I forgot all about what I expected it to be and just enjoyed it for what it was. I really enjoyed this book, as I have every other Lucy Diamond book, and its a wonderful summer release because it just makes you feel like getting away from it all, somewhere for a few days in the UK, perhaps with family, perhaps not. If you can't however, this book will do the trick for you!

The characters in this book were a lot older than I expected them to be. Olivia, the main character and the matriarch of this novel, is a grandmother for instance and the other two main storylines in the book revolve around other mothers. This surprised me initially but overall., it brought the book together nicely and made sure that everything in the book came back to itself. I thought the various storylines running throughout the book were all equally entertaining. I was shocked by a few of the revelations and I particularly enjoyed the drama surrounding young Molly's storyline, that one made me gasp over my breakfast I can tell you!

I can't say i related particularly to Olivia's character, I enjoyed her storyline but I felt she was a little to successful for me to relate to. The two younger women in the novel, and the teenager in question, I got on with a lot more. I really liked the stories they had to tell and the way they were told through the events in the book. Both Freya and Harriet had a lot to cope with., I thought initially that I wouldn't like Freya, because of what she was dealing with but I found myself really championing her in the end!

One of the nicest things about this novel was the relationship between the women in the book, young and old, family and not and even those forged between people who really shouldn't be friends (there is more than one of these in this book!) and that's what really made it for me. Overall it was just a lovely read. A summer setting, strong family values and most definitely girl-power. If this is your first Lucy Diamond novel, you're in for a treat and if it isn't, then the magic is definitely still there is Lucy's latest book. Get your summer reading started with this book!

Review: We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman

Do not miss me, because I will always be with you…I am the air, the moon, the stars. For we are all made of stars, my beloved... Wherever you look, I will be there.

Stella Carey exists in a world of night. Married to a soldier who has returned from Afghanistan injured in body and mind, she leaves the house every evening as Vincent locks himself away, along with the secrets he brought home from the war.

During her nursing shifts, Stella writes letters for her patients to their loved ones - some full of humour, love and practical advice, others steeped in regret or pain – and promises to post these messages after their deaths.

Until one night Stella writes the letter that could give her patient one last chance at redemption, if she delivers it in time…

Review: I engaged with the structure of this novel right away and so it meant that the moment i opened the first page, I was drawn into its depths. It was such a fab way to structure a story-these letters, people's last letters to mark the end of a chapter and the end of that particular characters section of the story. I also loved the fact that the story centres around 3 main characters and storylines and yet they are all linked together, all linked through the main character of the story-a nurse called Stella.

I like Stella as a character because she doesn't make a fuss. She gets on with what she has to do and copes with the tragedies that life throws at her without creating drama and without complaining why me all the time. She definitely made for an easy read. Hugh and Hope are similar, in a way. They too have had a fair amount of drama in their lives and a fair amount of bad stuff happen to them and yet they carry on with their lives too. Hugh could be considered to be the most dramatic of the trio and yet he is just about as unruffled as Stella. Hope was definitely my favourite of the three characters and I loved her storyline from start to finish!

The letters in this novel are just beautiful. The novel doesn't have a magnificent setting or a long time frame but the letter mean that you are taken deeper and deeper into this novel. Some letters are surprising, some are tragic, some are funny but all are beautiful and are so perfectly timed within the novel. They are a joy to read and inspired me to write my own letters! At points, I admit, I did find myself skimming over the letters to find out what was going to happen next to one of the characters, but I think perhaps one could go back and just read each letter separately to find out what each one holds in its own right!

Overall, it took me a while to get through this book but that's partly because I wanted to give it the time and attention that it deserved. I loved the characters, the plot and particularly the structure of this novel. I think it is something that could be picked up at any time of year like a timeless classic and I think the letters could almost be a book in themselves-beautiful!

Review: Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

Review: gosh this book was high drama, high aww factor and a big dose of food description to make you go rushing to the bakers all mixed in together and then baked in a big Cornish Coastal oven! I loved revisiting the Little Bech Street Bakery, this book was always going to make me smile, and not just because I got to see Neil the Puffin again-his story line in this book by the way-amazing! 

It was great to be back with Polly again. She is a great character because she's so optimistic and so hopeful for herself and the people around her. She needs a lot of determination to cope with everything that is thrown at her in this book and boy does she have it in spades! She never gives up and she is a true friend to those around her. Of course I've already mentioned Neil. He is just ace and is a very close runner up for main character in this novel (and the previous one) as a far as I am concerned. I loved the ending that Neil got, it literally couldn't have been more perfect and that's all you need to go. 

In terms of make characters in this book, there is the hero and the villain and they play their parts just beautifully. Our hero does everything he can to make Polly happy, right up until the last page and some of the things he does for everyone around him will literally have you swooning over this novel! The villain in this book is also truly villainous and totally unexpected for a Jenny Colgan novel. He tries to thwart Polly and her happily ever after at every turn and again, does so right up until the final page (or so)!

Again the setting of this novel is fabulous,in really must get down and visit that part of the world and see this beautiful but dangerous coast line and of course take a trip by the puffin sanctuary to see if I can see Neil's mates! The description of the setting is just gorgeous, as is the description of the food. This book will have you jumping in the car to head down to Cornwall via several bakeries and possibly making your own yeast cultures on the way! I really enjoyed this novel, it is a perfect read for summer and definitely something you should be picking up to help you cope with the miserable British weather! 

Review: A Christmas Surprise by Jenny Colgan

Rosie Hopkins, newly engaged, is looking forward to an exciting year in the little sweetshop she owns and runs. But when fate strikes Rosie and her boyfriend, Stephen, a terrible blow, threatening everything they hold dear, it's going to take all their strength and the support of their families and their Lipton friends to hold them together.

After all, don't they say it takes a village to raise a child? 

Review: wow-everything that could possibly happen in this novel did! Seriously, if you're looking for new drama every few pages this book has it all. I have to admit, it was a little too much drama for me in this case but I still enjoyed the novel overall. I wasn't a massive fan of the second book in this trilogy but I preserved and gave this one a go but I really think this serious would have been better remaining as just one book. Rosie Hopkins Sweetshop of Dreams was one of the my favourite novels but the subsequent sequels just didn't really do it for me and I'm not sure they really add anything to the whole Rosie Hopkins story...

The events in this book were all believable in themselves but altogether I'm not sure they could've happened to Rosie Hopkins. I love the storyline with Rosie and Stephen and their little family but the other events in this story really didn't grab me at all.  Rosie is a lovely character and I really admired her strength in the first novel but I felt in this novel she lost herself somewhat, bowing down to what others and Stephen wanted her to be. Stephen also goes back to being the sullen character that he began as in the first novel when he had come so far and I just felt that this was a shame for him! 

There is the issue in this novel of Rosie possibly having to move house and away from the village that has made her so happy and I think that this really took some of the magic out of the whole Rosie Hopkins story because this was the village that really changed her life. There were some real magical moments in the book, like Tina and her impending marriage and some bridges built with Stephen and his family, there are others that were truly lovely but I don't want to include any spoilers! 

Overall I wasn't overwhelmed by this novel but it was still an enjoyable read. It has a great catch-up section at the beginning that means even if you haven't read the other novels in the trilogy, you should be able to jump right into this one and it will work as a standalone, there is certainly enough going on that it could be a trilogy in its own right, I would definitely recommend giving the original novel a go first though if you get the chance! I enjoyed this book but it wasn't particularly Christmasy and it didn't live up the expectations that I have for a Jenny Colgan novel. This won't out me off other books by this author, but if another Rosie Hopkins sequel comes along, I won't be buying it.