Book Releases: 5th December

I cannot believe it is December already! I'm really looking forward to the Christmas holidays, they're definitely my favourite time of year. We have some fabulous books to keep us occupied in in the meantime. Click on the book covers to be taken to their Amazon UK pages.

Christmas at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown

Carrington’s Department store is thrown into a spin when the staff learn that a hot new reality TV show is to be filmed in-store, featuring the formidable retail guru, Kelly Cooper. Georgie Hart, in charge of Luxury Handbags, is reluctant, but quickly realises that the show could give Carrington’s a new lease of life. With Christmas around the corner, she’s also hoping that the season will deliver her the perfect Christmas present, in the form of Tom, the store’s dishy boss.

When the film crew arrive, things start to go wrong. One of Tom’s old flames, Zara, is working on the show and then, to top things off, Tom and Zara are sent off to Paris and New York for a spot of extra filming. When Georgie settles down in front of the box to watch the first show, worse it to come – Georgie is shown in a far from flattering light and she is horrified to learn what Tom has been up to.

Georgie fears this is turning out to be the worst Christmas ever, but Santa might have a got a little surprise in store for her stocking this year – but she’ll just have to wait until Christmas to find out!

The Island Hideaway by Louise Candlish

How far would you follow him before you accept it's over?

Eleanor Blake, distraught after breaking up with her fiance Will, decides to do what most would scarcely dare: secretly follow him to the island hideaway where he's on holiday with the woman who took her place. But on the shimmering, sun-drenched Sicilian island of Panarea, distractions come in many forms - including her fellow hotel guest Lewis, an enigmatic Englishman with secrets of his own to protect. And then there's Frannie, a young Italian actress on the island to prepare for her first film role, who is as charming as she is beautiful. Can she really be so perfect? And shouldn't Eleanor be the first to suspect that things might not be as they seem?

Here's Looking At You by Mhairi McFarlane

Anna Alessi – history expert, possessor of a lot of hair and an occasionally filthy mouth – seeks nice man for intelligent conversation and Mills & Boon moments.

Despite the oddballs that keep turning up on her dates, Anna couldn’t be happier. As a 30-something with a job she loves, life has turned out better than she dared dream.

However, things weren’t always this way, and her years spent as the ‘Italian Galleon’ of an East London comprehensive are ones she’d rather forget.

So when James Fraser – the architect of Anna’s final humiliation at school – walks back into her life, her world is turned upside down.

But James seems a changed man. Polite. Mature. Funny, even. People can change, right? So why does Anna feel like she’s a fool to trust him?

Review: Wing Girl

Author: Nic Tatano
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Release Date: 29th August 2013
Pages: 288
Genre: Chick-Lit

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis

Wing Girl: [wing-gurl] noun
1. A young, single woman frequenting liquor-serving establishments who attracts then later repels eligible men that are eventually picked up by her friends.
2. The essential accessory for dating in Manhattan.

For years guys have cruised bars using the "wing man" as a divide and conquer weapon designed to liberate a gorgeous woman from her not-so-beautiful friend.

Meet Belinda Carson, Wing Girl.

She's a kick-ass, take-no-prisoners investigative reporter fighting for truth, justice and higher ratings. But while her fame draws in the hotties, it’s unfortunate that you can’t buy a new personality at Bloomingdales!

Because up close and personal these unsuspecting suitors get fried by a snarky attitude that's sharp enough to slice a stale bagel… which leaves her grateful friends to swoop in for the delectable leftovers!

Only enough is enough – isn’t it time for Belinda to stop taking one for the team and land her own Mr Right?

Review

Belinda Carson AKA Wing Girl thinks she has it all going on. She's a very successful investigative reporter who does a lot of good for the people of New York City. The only thing missing in her life is a suitable man. With her fierce attitude, she has an awful habit of repelling men, leaving the leftovers to her friends. Is it time to let someone beyond the barriers and find her own happy ending?

I really loved Belinda. She is a strong female character who shows on a daily basis that she can be successful at work and maintain a social life - with a little help from her friends! Ariel, Roxanne and Serena were brilliant and I loved that they had distinct personalities and their own part to play in Belinda's life. In fact, I believe Belinda would be a little bit lost if she didn't have the strong grounding that her friends provide! Although Belinda mostly shows that tough exterior shell, the one that tells people not to mess with her, you can tell that she has a softer side hiding underneath.

I think New York was a fabulous setting for this book. From its wide variety of men to the beautiful backdrop of New York itself, Belinda definitely had a fighting chance of finding the man of her dreams - even if she didn't want to!

The butterflies inside me intensified as I read further into this story. I really did have a giggle as I read what Belinda and Co got up to, but I also felt sad as I read the more poignant moments in the story. The romance gradually builds up as Belinda begins to understand her feelings, although her plight isn't without its twists and turns! Overall, this book is very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a good romantic comedy.

4/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Crazy Love by Michael Bublé

Book Tour: It's Got to be Perfect by Haley Hill + Giveaway!

Author: Haley Hill
Publisher: Matador
Release Date: 16th September 2013
Pages: 264
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

When Ellie Rigby hurls her three-carat engagement ring into the gutter, she is certain of only one thing, that she has yet to know true love.

Following months of disastrous internet dates and conflicting advice from her dysfunctional friends, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Although now, instead of just looking for a man for herself, she's certain her life's purpose is to find deep and meaningful love for all the singles in the world.

Five years on, running the UK's biggest matchmaking agency, and with thousands of engagements to her name, she has all the answers she needs. She knows why eighty-five percent of relationships fail. She knows why twenty-eight is the most eligible age for a woman. She knows that by thirty-five she'll have only a thirty-percent chance of marriage.

Most of all, she knows that no matter what, it has to be perfect. Or does it?

Review
I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this book! Knowing that Haley Hill was a matchmaker herself with a lot of experience under her belt I knew this book would be a realistic account of the matchmaking world.

Ellie Rigby thinks she has the perfect life until she finds herself single and back on the dating scene. After a series of disastrous dates which she'd rather forget and without an eligible bachelor in sight, Ellie decides it must be up to her to bring love to all the singletons in London. Five years later Ellie is running the UK's biggest matchmaking agency and has thousands of successful relationships to her name. She knows all the relationship statistics and can tell any man or woman why, how and when a relationship can fail. But how can she tell her clients about true love when she isn't even sure of what it is herself?

It's Got to be Perfect was a brilliant book to relax with when you need a lift-me-up and a giggle. The array of characters Haley Hill introduced me to had me laughing, scowling and crying with laughter. There was Mandi who was particularly passionate about love. She was always so happy and bouncy and always brought a smile to my face. Then there was Mia who was rather cynical about love but more realistic about the business and where it was going. Mandi and Mia were perfect sidekicks for Ellie who I really adored. Ellie really cared for the people she was matchmaking and put a lot of effort into making sure she matched couples who were likely to make a future together. Altogether, Ellie, Mandi and Mia made a fabulous matchmaking team who brought a lot of people together who otherwise may have not found their special someone.

I could feel that Haley Hill had put her heart and soul into this book. The whole story felt very real and I could imagine the characters and their personalities coming to life. I also enjoyed taking a trip around London hotspots. I could feel that each bar and club had it's own vibe which contributed to the atmosphere. I am so glad Haley took the time to write this book as it was highly enjoyable. It's Got to be Perfect gave me a real insight into the world of dating and how different people have different perceptions of love which I believe is an important message to remember.

4/5 Stars

About the Author

Haley was born in London in 1977, with a big heart, big feet and big ideals. In 2005, she set up what turned out to be the UK's biggest matchmaking agency. She has since sold it and drunk the proceeds. She lives in Battersea with her husband James, a wine merchant and consequent enabler of her habit, their twin girls and a scruffy hound called Rufus. She spends her days chasing her toddlers around the house, trying to write but mostly just messing about on Twitter.

Amazon | Publisher | Blog | Twitter @HaleyHillnow | Facebook Book Page

The 3 lucky winners of the giveaway will win a signed paperback copy of It's Got to be Perfect!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

United Authors of Chick Lit

What is the United Authors of Chick Lit all about?

Fasten your seatbelts and put your tray tables in the upright and locked position. Over the next few days, some of your favourite Chick Lit characters will be jetting across the Atlantic to visit with fictional friends on the other side of the pond.

The event kicks off on Monday, 21st October.

On Tuesday, 22nd October, read about Stella from Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes and Chloe from Lying to Meet You as they travel across the Atlantic to visit each other.

On Wednesday, 23rd October, it’s time to discover what happens when Emma from The Pollyanna Plan and Kim from Blogger Girl meet.

On Thursday, 24th October, Izzy from Izzy’s Cold Feet and Jamie from Finding Lucas will be taking you on a trip alongside their characters.

And on Friday, 25th October, Kate from Sealed with a Kiss and Pilar from In Need of Therapy will be chatting about their overseas experiences.

Here’s a little sneak peek at the fun, frothy books and sassy gals featured in our international promo, all of which are priced at £2.99 or less:

Synopses

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey – Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the ”one who got away.” But are some loves best left behind? 

Available on Amazon.com, Amazon UK and Kobo.

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister – Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day’s work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself? 

Available on Amazon.com, Amazon UK and B&N.

Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner – Overworked New York fashion girl Chloe Lane has no time for a real relationship, but when her childhood pal asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test a theory, she decides to go for it. The lies start piling up and things start getting crazy. Will Chloe be able to keep it together? 

Available on Amazon.com, Amazon UK and B&N.
You can find my review here.

Sealed with a Kiss by Rachael Lucas – Kate breathes a sigh of relief when she's dumped at her best friend's wedding. When she takes a job on the island of Auchenmor, she's determined to have a year off men, but that's before she rescues Flora the seal pup with the help of Roddy, her mysterious new boss... 

Available on Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

The Pollyanna Plan by Talli Roland – Emma Beckett has always looked down on 'the glass is half full' optimists. But when she loses her high-powered job and fiancé, Emma makes a radical decision: from here on in, she'll attempt to see the upside, no matter how dire the situation. Can adopting a positive attitude give Emma the courage to build a new life, or is finding the good in everything a very bad idea? 

Available on Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr – Kimberly Long has two passions: her successful chick lit blog and Nicholas, her handsome colleague down the hall. But when her high school nemesis pops onto the chick lit scene with a hot new book and eyes for Nicholas, Kim has to make some quick revisions to her own life story. 

Available on Amazon.com, Amazon UK, B&N and Apple iTunes.

Izzy’s Cold Feet by Sarah Louise Smith – Izzy is engaged to Greg, who is everything a girl could want. The trouble is – all she can think about is the men she loved before she met him. In the week leading up to her wedding day, Izzy is forced to ask herself who she loves the most. And, given the choice, who would she want to spend her life with? 

Available on Amazon.com, Amazon UK, B&N and UK Nook.

Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes by Sue Watson – TV Producer Stella is over worked, over weight and under fire battling to balance family, career and those weighing scales. In the past she’s always found comfort at the bottom of her mixing bowl but now the most delicious lemon sponge with zesty frosting has no effect. However, life is about to get even tougher... and Stella has to face some truths about herself, her life and her future. 

Available on Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, 22nd October:
Stella will be on Anna Garner’s blog and Chloe will be on Sue Watson’s blog.

Wednesday, 23 October:
Emma will be on Meredith Schorr’s blog and Kim will be on Talli Roland’s blog.

Thursday, 24th October:
Izzy will be on Samantha Stroh Bailey’s blog and Jamie will be on Sarah Louise Smith’s blog.

Friday, 25th October:
Kate will be on Tracie Banister’s blog and Pilar will be on Rachael Lucas’s blog.

I hope you enjoy travelling with these characters!

Book Releases: 24th October

I think the 24th October is a fabulous day for book releases. There is such a beautiful range of books on offer that I don't know where to start! Click on the book covers to go to their Amazon pages.

Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson

How far would you go to make a new start?

When Nell’s on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, losing her job is the last thing she expects.

Heartbroken and unemployed to boot, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to the untested waters of San Francisco.

But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

Christmas Carol by Michele Gorman

One winter wedding, two happy couples, three ex-boyfriends. And a very uncomfortable weekend.

Carol hates Christmas. Being recently dumped, she’s not crazy about weddings either. So her sister Marley’s nuptials, over the Christmas weekend, are making her positively Scrooge-like. When she arrives at the stately home in rural Scotland to find her three ex-boyfriends in attendance, Carol has no choice but to face her ghosts to discover what really happened in those relationships, learning a lot about herself in the process. As the snow falls outside and the fire crackles in the hearth, might one of the wedding guests become the harbinger of Christmases to come?

Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews

 

Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She's soon in huge demand and Cassie's business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born.

Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children so he enlists Cassie's help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her partner Jim to handle the rest of her clients.

When Carter asks Cassie to join them on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn't go. As much as tries, Cassie can't deny how drawn she is to Carter and everything he has to offer, but she still loves her warm-hearted Jim. Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her entire life.

Secrets of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson

Set in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier, the winter playground of the rich and famous, Secrets of a Chalet Girl is the second book in Lorraine Wilson’s fabulous Ski Season series.

A Vintage Christmas by Ali Harris

Evie has the perfect job and the perfect man, but keeping both in her life has become a serious balancing act...

With the sales coming to a close at Hardy's, Evie must source new stock for the season ahead. Her mind is constantly buzzing with ideas and layouts, so much so that she is forgetting all about Sam.
Can she learn to keep her work separate from her home life? Or will she lose everything...

A Gift to Remember by Melissa Hill

Discover the magic of Melissa Hill this Christmas... Darcy Archer works in a small bookstore on Manhattan's Upper West Side. A dreamer who secretly wishes for true love similar to that in her beloved novels, Darcy refuses to settle for anything less than being swept off her feet by the perfect man.

One day, when cycling to work, Darcy accidentally crashes into a sharply dressed man walking his dog. He is knocked unconscious and rushed to the hospital, but his dog gets left behind. Wracked with guilt over the accident, Darcy resolves to care for the dog and reunite him with his owner. But the dog is not the only thing that's been left behind and when she finds a small beautifully wrapped package - suspiciously shaped like a book - she becomes curious. She decides to try and figure out all she can about this man, and make the delivery herself. Darcy gradually becomes drawn into his life; one that she soon discovers is filled with books, travel, adventure and all the wonderful things she's ever dreamt about. It doesn't take long before Darcy builds up a picture of this man's lovely life, and feeling an immediate kinship towards him, tries to make things right.

It might be a challenge but doesn't she owe it to him to try? But does fantasy match reality? And what happens when he finally wakes up?

Review: Christmas Carol

Author: Michele Gorman
Publisher: Notting Hill Press
Release Date: 15th September 2013
Pages: 101
Genre: Christmas
Source: From the publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

One winter wedding, two happy couples, three ex-boyfriends. And a very uncomfortable weekend.

Carol hates Christmas. Being recently dumped, she’s not crazy about weddings either. So her sister Marley’s nuptials, over the Christmas weekend, are making her positively Scrooge-like. When she arrives at the stately home in rural Scotland to find her three ex-boyfriends in attendance, Carol has no choice but to face her ghosts to discover what really happened in those relationships, learning a lot about herself in the process. As the snow falls outside and the fire crackles in the hearth, might one of the wedding guests become the harbinger of Christmases to come?

Review

It may only be October but this Christmas novella has really got me in the festive mood. I have never read a book by Michele Gorman before but I will definitely be adding her backlog to my TBR pile. I was engrossed in this story from the very beginning and I did not want to put it down!

Carol is not overly pleased when her sister Marley insists on having a Christmas wedding. She has never been a big fan of Christmas and having also being dumped recently, this wedding is bound to bring up bad feelings. Proceedings are not made any better when Carol finds out 3 of her ex-boyfriends have been invited to the wedding. This gives Carol a choice: should she embrace the Christmas celebrations and face up to her past or hide away and suppress all her feelings?

I loved the storyline in this book. It was pacey and interesting and I was always wanting to know what would happen next. The link with A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens added an extra level to the story. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between Carol's story and Scrooge's story, they had a lot in common! Both hated Christmas time, both had pushed everyone away that they should have held close, they both needed to learn a lesson! The setting of snowy Scotland was magical! I felt like I was transported to a completely different world. I could imagine the snow falling and the coldness of the snowflakes melting on my skin.

I loved Carol. I know she was having trouble facing up to her past but she made me laugh so much! She had such a sarcastic sense of humour which I could completely understand, being rather sarcastic myself. I was really rooting for her to face up to her past mistakes, she was so set on thinking her ex-boyfriends had made all the mistakes, she'd never taken the time to sit and look at herself and the problems she had created. I also loved all the secondary characters in this story. The ex-boyfriends were actually nice people who enjoyed reading about and Carol's sister Marley was so happy it was just infectious.

Michele Gorman created a story that looked at relationships in a new and refreshing way. I was able to objectively look at Carol's life and look at all the different reasons relationships can go wrong and learn some important lessons along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more books by Michele Gorman!

5/5 Stars 

My Song Choice: Let it Snow by Michael Bublé

Showcase Sunday #18

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its' aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! I hope everyone has had a good week. I've been busy, busy, busy! I'm really enjoying everything I'm doing at the moment; from university to all the books I'm reading, things are pretty great.

eBooks

Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson (for review)

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (for review)

Christmas at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown (for review)

I am sooo excited to read all of these books, they look so amazing! I can't wait to let you all know what I think :)

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx

Book Releases: 17th October

With The Trouble with Mojitos by Romy Sommer, United States of Love by Sue Fortin and Manhattan Millionaire's Cinderella by Sum Chara being published on Thursday 17th October, we are being spoilt by Harper Impulse this week! Click on the book covers to be taken to the Amazon page.

The Trouble with Mojitos by Romy Sommer

Turquoise blue waters. Sandy white beaches. Mojitos... Film location scout Kenzie Cole has found herself in paradise. Working in the Caribbean for a week is just what she needs to escape the long line of exes in her closet. Though the last thing she expects is to be picked up at the resort bar by a disgraced former Prince!

Luckily for Kenzie, exile is suiting the man formerly known as Prince Fredrik very well. And it’s not long before his rugged, pirate charm is proving hard to resist.

But Rik’s been spending his time in paradise exorcising demons of his own and he has danger written all over him. If Kenzie was sensible she’d run a mile instead of lose herself to lust - although, they do say sometimes you have to get lost before you can be found....

United States of Love by Sue Fortin

Since splitting from her husband, single mum Anna Barnes is enjoying her new found freedom and independence.

However, she didn't bank on working for Tex Garcia – or the sparks that fly between them. The gorgeous American chef is getting the locals hot under the collar and not just because of his culinary prowess!

One problem: Tex can't commit and women pass through his life like dishes going out to service! Will it be the same with Anna? One thing’s for sure, this All American man is determined to break her self-imposed rule of never mixing business with pleasure – and add some spice into the mix…

Manhattan Millionaire's Cinderella by Sun Chara

Will their wedding night be a one-night stand or a merger for keeps?
Global real estate mogul, Cade Sloan should've listened to his own advice: trust no one, and never a woman…especially not his 24 hour bride gone AWOL with his millions. Nina, mousy secretary turned sexy vixen, will repay every penny with interest…

When Cade gears up for a takeover, there's sweet hell to pay. Nina owes her husband a wedding night and he’s hell bent on collecting… his way, his time, his pleasure.

Showcase Sunday #17

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its' aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! I hope you've all had brilliant weeks. I have now finished my first full week of university and I am really enjoying being back. I think I'm going to have a lot more work to do this year though!

eBook

There's More to Life Than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan (for review)

My New Kindle

There's More to Life Than Cupcakes looks like a fabulous read, I can't wait to get stuck in. I also couldn't resist buying the new Kindle Paperwhite. I have been relying on my tablet for reading eBooks for a while which hasn't been that great. I am now really happy to have a dedicated eReader!

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx

Author Interview: Sophie King

Today I am happy to welcome Sophie King to the blog. She agreed to take part in an author interview which I hope you enjoy.

You can buy her book Second Time Lucky on Amazon UK now.

Tell me about your latest book, Second Time Lucky.
It’s about four people who start life again: a divorced mother of two; a widow who still ‘sees’ her husband; a home-sick American bride with difficult stepchildren; and a recovering (handsome) alcoholic. They all have apartments in a gorgeous stately home which used to belong to the alcoholic, until he had to sell it to a developer to pay family death duties. There’s lots of humour but also ‘meat’. One magazine described it as ‘a tonic which will also keep you on your toes’.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes. I wrote stories and poems from a very early age. But during my teens, a career counsellor told me that it was ‘very difficult’ to earn a living as an author so I ought to think of something more ‘realistic’. That made me cry. It also made me determined to do it. So I trained as a journalist and then began writing novels much later than I’d intended, after my third child was born.

Do you have a set writing routine? What is a typical day like for you when you are writing?
I like to write first thing in the morning. In the summer, this might be 7am but it tends to be more like 9am in the winter. Sometimes I write half a chapter before running my dog along the beach and then having breakfast. Sometimes, I start writing after breakfast. It rather depends on how eager our dog is to get out. He takes after my youngest son; neither are early risers....

If I’m in the middle of a novel, I will write about 3,000 words before lunch. Then I’ll print it out in the afternoon and read it through, making changes. Afterwards, I’ll check emails. I’m trying to do this just once a day so it doesn’t take over my writing life, but I often find myself still at my screen in the evening. I also play tennis twice a week; do a belly dancing class (great exercise!) and walk about four miles a day.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?
Getting into another world. Meeting people I’ve never thought of before but who must have been lurking. Not having to go into an office every day. (Although I’ve just started as a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Exeter University, two days a week, which I love. My role is to help promote good writing practice which means giving people help with sentence structure etc). I also get a big thrill from seeing my books on a shelf although it always feels rather unreal.

How much research did you do for Second Time Lucky?
The idea came from someone I know who lived in a converted apartment in a stately home. It made me realise that you didn’t have to be fabulously wealthy to live somewhere like that. For research, I went back and also looked at other houses like it. I also spoke to an elderly friend of mine who’s a widow and I talked to someone who was a recovering alcoholic. I was a divorced mother of three at the time and although Louise’s character isn’t me, I do know how she feels!

Have you ever travelled to new places for book research?
All the time. There’s nothing like going somewhere to get inspiration for both setting and plot. Often, you’ll spot something that makes you add another strand to the story. For instance, I visited a village in Oxford to get some inspiration for one of my scenes in SECOND TIME LUCKY and had a picnic lunch by a stream. I used that in the novel. It works the other way too; you’ll go somewhere for fun and find it gives you an idea for another book...

What is your advice for aspiring authors?
Write about something that is niggling you; an idea that won’t go away. Get into your characters so the reader believes in them. Use magazine pictures to describe them visually and inject them with humour and warmth. Write every day and make sure there is a twist at the end of each chapter. Always revise at least twice after you’ve finished. Find an agent through networking : go to writing festivals and join organisations like the Romantic Novelists Association. I’ve written a book on this, called HOW TO WRITE YOUR FIRST NOVEL AND GET PUBLISHED by Sophie King. (How To Books.)

Tell me about your road to publication.
It was a long one! I was a journalist for years until I found time to write my first novel. It was taken on by an agent but didn’t sell. I then wrote ten more (one a year) and had two near misses. But they were both too similar to books which the publisher was about to publish. Then my youngest son went to a new school which gave me the idea for THE SCHOOL RUN. I’d just taken on a new agent and he sold it. As well as this, I’d started writing short stories a few years earlier – something I still do. They saved me because it got my fiction into print before my novels. They made me feel I could be a fiction writer after all.

What is your favourite book of all time?
Impossible question! Usually I say JANE EYRE because I identified with her as a teenager. But I also loved Arthur Ransome’s SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS and Noel Streatfeild’s WHITE BOOTS. If I ever got to Desert Island on Radio 4, I might say Palgrave’s Golden Treasury because it would keep me going – and because in poetry, every word has to count.

What are you reading at the moment?
Sarah Harrisons’s FLOWERS OF THE FIELD. I love the main character; a feisty woman who is drawn to two men on opposing sides during the Second World War.

If Second Time Lucky was made into a film, who would you have play the main characters?
I’m afraid I’m a sucker for Hugh Grant so I’d like him to play the aristocratic alcoholic. I’d like Cameron Diaz to play the homesick American. Helen Mirren would be the widow who ‘sees’ her dead husband. And Rachel Weisz would play Louise. (She was at my old school but we never knew each other!).

Thanks Sophie!

Book Releases: 10th October

So many amazing book releases so little time! From the new Bridget Jones book to the paperback release of Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe there is a lot to choose from! And if it's a short story you're looking for, Alexandra Brown has released Me and Mr Carrington as a prequel to Christmas at Carrington's. Personally, I'm looking forward to Novelicious' new novel There's More to Life Than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan. It looks soooo yummy! Click on the book covers to be taken to their Amazon UK pages :)

Bridget Jones; Mad about The Boy by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jones' Diary, charting the life of a 30-something singleton in London in the 1990s was a huge international bestseller, published in 40 countries and selling over 15 million copies worldwide. Its sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, published soon after was also a major international bestseller. Both were made into films starring Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.

Set in the present, the new novel will explore a different phase in Bridget's life with an entirely new scenario. As Helen Fielding has said: "If people laugh as much reading it as I am while writing it then we'll all be very happy."

Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Issy Randall, proud owner of The Cupcake Cafe, is in love and couldn't be happier. Her new business is thriving and she is surrounded by close friends, even if her cupcake colleagues Pearl and Caroline don't seem quite as upbeat about the upcoming season of snow and merriment. But when her boyfriend Austin is scouted for a possible move to New York, Issy is forced to face up to the prospect of a long-distance romance. And when the Christmas rush at the cafe - with its increased demand for her delectable creations - begins to take its toll, Issy has to decide what she holds most dear.

This December, Issy will have to rely on all her reserves of courage, good nature and cinnamon, to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas, one way or another...

Me and Mr Carrington by Alexandra Brown

A short story from the author of Cupcakes at Carrington’s – and a prequel to Christmas at Carrington’s!

Georgie Hart can’t believe her luck. It looks like Tom, the hunky boss of Carrington’s Department Store, in the picture-postcard town of Mulberry-on-Sea, is as hot for her as she is for him. After a romantic Italian get-together leaves her on Cloud Nine, Georgie is brought back down to earth with a bump when she has to get back behind the counter of the Luxury Handbags section.

But when Georgie is left open-mouthed by a revelation from one of her well-heeled customers, it seems like Tom hasn’t been entirely honest with her. Has Georgie done her usual trick of adding two and two together to make five?

Ever wondered what happened when Georgie first got together with Mr Carrington himself? This deliciously funny short story is perfect for anyone who loved Cupcakes at Carrington’s, and for those discovering the lovable Georgie Hart for the first time. The story also features an exclusive peek at the next book, Christmas at Carrington’s.

There's More to Life Than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan

Ellie Redford has a husband, a job and a home. According to the rest of the world, it’s baby o’clock already. Shame life doesn’t come with a recipe…

Ellie knows that starting a family with lovely husband Pete would be an amazing adventure. Pete would make a brilliant dad and she’d have an excuse to eat shed loads of Cherry Bakewell. But Ellie’s bestie would rather she was up at 3am with a bottle of Malibu, not formula. And with redundancies looming, Ellie’s boss isn’t exactly going to throw her a shower if she disappears for a year, with pay.

While Ellie juggles her feelings (and everyone else’s) as competently as a drunken clown, she finds herself signing up for a baking class, alongside the young, free and sizzling hot Joe. As they work buns and shape tarts, is there more to their friendship than a shared appreciation of Paul Hollywood?

Ellie’s soufflés may be rising, but her personal life is one big soggy mess. If she doesn't make a decision soon, she may just lose everything that matters to her. Maybe it's time to take off the pinny and face up to the truth: there’s more to life than cupcakes...

Showcase Sunday #16

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its' aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! I hope you've all had wonderful weeks, I sure have. I've started back at university for my third and final year so I'm sorry if I've been a bit quiet. I cannot believe I am near the end of my university career, where have the last two years gone?!

eBooks

Second Time Lucky by Sophie King (for review)

Meet me Under the Mistletoe by Abby Clements (bought)

A Jersey Kiss by Georgina Troy (bought)

Physical Books

The Time of my Life by Cecelia Ahern (won)

River by Destiny  Barbara Erskine (won)

About a Girl by Lindsey Kelk (won)

I love the range of books I have received this week. I have a book for every occasion: holidays, christmas, plain chilling out and lots more. Thanks to Harper Impulse for the books they sent me for a competition I won :)

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx

Book Releases: 1st-4th October

I cannot believe it's October already! It means it's time for the Christmas books to start hitting the shelves. I must admit I am excited for these festive books, I love the Christmas season. I love the glittery book covers, the snow, the families coming together! Just click on the book covers to be taken to the Amazon UK pages.

The Cheesemaker's House by Jane Cable

Inspired by a framed will found in her dream Yorkshire house, which had been built at the request of the village cheesemaker in 1726, Jane Cable discovered the historical aspect of her novel. Set near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, The Cheesemaker’s House is a page-turner that will have readers hooked instantly.

The novel follows the life of Alice Hart, who escapes to the North Yorkshire countryside to recover after her husband runs off with his secretary. Battling with loneliness but trying to make the best of her new start, she soon meets her neighbours, including handsome builder Richard Wainwright and kind café owner Owen Maltby. As Alice employs Richard to start renovating the barn next to her house, all is not what it seems. Why does she start seeing Owen when he clearly isn’t there? Where – or when – does the strange crying come from? And if Owen is the village ‘charmer’, what exactly does that mean?

Coming Home for Christmas by Jenny Hale

Christmas is a time for family - isn't it?

Allie Richfield loves Christmas, so when she lands a job as House Manager for the amazing Ashford Estate—which includes organizing the Marley family festivities—she is in her element. With a budget bigger than her life savings and a team of staff, how hard can it be?

As one-by-one she meets the Marleys, she’s about to find out…

Allie’s new boss, Robert, might be gorgeous, but he’s also colder than the snow outside and refuses to come home for Christmas. Robert’s playboy brother, Kip, flirts with her relentlessly; and his sister, Sloane, arrives home with baggage—both the divorce-kind and the Louis Vuitton kind. Their ninety-two year old grandmother, Pippa, spends her day grumbling at everybody from her mobility scooter.

With Robert intending to sell Ashford, it’s the Marley’s last chance to create some happy memories in their family home—and Allie is determined to make it happen… even if it takes a little Christmas magic! With the festive spirit in full swing, she might even discover a little happiness of her own…

Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan

Once upon a time, Christmas was Kayla Green's favorite time of year. Now all the workaholic wants for Christmas is for it to be over—as fast as possible! So when duty calls her to snowy Vermont to close a deal with a new client, Kayla is grateful for an excuse to avoid the holidays for another year.

Jackson O'Neil left a thriving business behind to return home and salvage his family's resort—it's in his blood, and he can't let it fail. Now that he's got marketing whiz Kayla Green working with him to put Snow Crystal on the map, success is on the horizon. The fact they strike enough sparks off each other to power all the Christmas lights in Vermont is just an added bonus.

Kayla might be an expert at her job, but she's out of her depth with Jackson—he makes her crave the happy-ever-after she once dreamed of, and it's terrifying. As the snowflakes continue to swirl, will the woman who doesn't believe in the magic of Christmas finally fall under its spell?

Book News: Step Back In Time by Ali McNamara

A new cover has been released for the upcoming book Step Back In Time by Ali McNamara. The cover looks so pretty, it is like a snapshot of the moment. I am really looking forward to reading this!

Step Back In Time is out 7th November and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis

How many lifetimes would you travel to find a love that lasts for ever?

When single career girl Jo-Jo steps onto a zebra crossing and gets hit by a car, she awakes to find herself in 1964. The fashion, the music, her job, even her romantic life: everything is different. And then it happens three more times, and Jo-Jo finds herself living a completely new life in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The only people she can rely on are Harry and Ellie, two companions from 2013, and George, the owner of a second-hand record store.

If she's ever to return from her travels, Jo-Jo must work out why she's jumping through time like this. And if she does make it back, will her old life ever be the same again?

A to Z Bookish Survey!

It has been YEARS since I've done a survey like this. Back in my MySpace days I used to do them regularly, usually with embarrassing consequences! But I think this one will be fun :)

Author You've Read the Most Books from:

James Patterson. I've read all of his Women's Murder Club books and plenty of the Alex Cross books too! I love the pace of these books, they always get the adrenaline pumping.

Best Sequel Ever:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. At the time I wondered how The Hunger Games story could continue, however Suzanne Collins wowed me from start to finish with this wonderful storyline.

Currently Reading:

Coco's Secret by Niamh Greene

Drink of Choice While Reading:

This is a really boring answer - I apologise! I generally drink water, it keeps me hydrated!

eReader or Physical Book:

At the moment I'd say e-reader as it's just so handy. Also, I have the new Kindle Paperwhite ordered, which should arrive next week!

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Definitely Ron Weasley.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

Hidden Gem Book:

The Sea Sisters by Lucy Clarke

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Reading Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher. It was following the blog tour of this book that led me to discover the book blogging world!

Just Finished:

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan. Amazing!

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

Any religious books.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix by JK Rowling. This one is a whopper but I absolutely adore it!

Major book hangover because of:

Wicked Wives by Anna-Lou Weatherley. I was devastated when I finished this book, I did NOT want it to end! It took me a few days to pick up another book.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Only one at the moment but I'm looking to expand!

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

I have lost count of the amount of times I've read the Harry Potter books. I love to take a few hours out immerse myself in magic!

Preferred Place To Read:

Curled up in my bed!

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:

“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” - JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Reading Regret:

Two that stand out are wasting time on books I know I won't enjoy and judging books by their covers!

Series You Started And Need To Finish:

The Alex Cross series by James Patterson.

Three of Your All-Time Favourite Books:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling

I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Lindsey Kelk!

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk

Worst Bookish Habit:

Buying lots of new books when my TBR pile is already out of control!

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

Your Latest Book Purchase:

Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

You Had Me at Hello by Mhairi McFarlane. Too funny to put down!

Book News: Secrets of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson

I'm so excited to show you the cover for the new book in the Ski Season Series: Secrets of a Chalet Girl! Set in Verbier, what mischief will the chalet staff get up to this time round?

Secrets of a Chalet Girl is out 24th October and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis
Set in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier, the winter playground of the rich and famous, Secrets of a Chalet Girl is the second book in Lorraine Wilson’s fabulous Ski Season series.

Review: Annabelle

Author: Nancy Christie
Publisher: Pixel Hall Press
Release Date: 8th September
Pages: 28
Genre: Literary, Short Story
Source: From the publisher - thank you!

Synopsis

We all have our fantasies—our hopes and dreams of what we want our future to be. But what happens when our fantasies are based on an erroneous interpretation of past events, when our hopes and dreams are so far from reality that they prevent us from having any kind of a normal life? A lonely young woman, all Annabelle wants is to love and be loved. But the twin emotions of fear and guilt, from a passion born on a summer day so many years ago, hold her fast.

Review

This may have been a short story but it had more impact then many full-length novels do. Annabelle is woman who is trapped by her past. Talking to her psychiatrist as an adult, she is torn between revealing her childhood troubles or keeping them a secret, locked up in her heart forever.

Annabelle's parents were more interested in each other then they were in their child. Her father was an artist, her mother his model. They spent a significant amount of time locked up in her father's studio painting and posing, leaving Annabelle alone to muddle her way through her own childhood. Now Annabelle has left her childhood behind, she has found she is struggling to cope with adult life and the time seems to have come where she must release her past.

Annabelle is a dark, traumatic and heart-breaking story of a girl who just wants to be loved. I felt sorry for Annabelle, I wanted to save her from her corrupt childhood and show her what love is. Nancy Christie evoked emotion from me for this lost little girl in such a short space of time. It takes a good writer to give you the detail you need in a short story without slowing the pace down but Nancy Christie did it brilliantly. Nancy Christie may have written a dark and chilling story but there are lessons to be learned and the message is clear: your family is important whether you want them to be or not. Nancy Christie has created a deeply colourful short story that will be thought-provoking to many, many people.

4/5 Stars

Book Releases: 26th September

There are some fabulous book releases this week. Released on Thursday, Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream is published by Quercus and I Came to Say Goodbye by Arrow. You can pre-order both books on Amazon UK now. I am extra excited for Amelia Grey due to LOVING Abby Clements' other book Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop!

Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream by Abby Clements

Amelia has a dream: toasting chestnuts by the fire with her husband Jack in their own cosy cottage. Their real life is another world - a cramped one-bedroom flat in Hackney. But when life takes a surprising turn, removal vans are soon heading to the Kent countryside.

They soon realise the cottage makeover is a far bigger project than they'd anticipated. On top of that, there's Amelia's newly loved-up mum and her tearaway half-sister, Mirabel, to contend with - pushing Amelia and Jack's marriage to breaking point.

Amelia begins to strip back the wallpaper and fittings in the cottage and discovers the story of the cottage's previous owner - and a hidden secret. As Amelia's ideas about love and family change, will her fireside dream finally come true?

I Came to Say Goodbye by Caroline Overington

It was a crime that shocked the world.

The CCTV footage shows a young woman pushing through the hospital doors.

She walks into the nursery, picks up a baby and places her carefully in a shopping bag.

She walks out to the car park, towards an old Ford Corolla. For a moment, she holds the child gently against her breast and, with her eyes closed, she smells her.

Then she clips the baby into the car, gets in and drives off. This is where the footage ends.

What happens next will leave a mother devastated, and a little boy adrift in a world he will never understand.

Book News: Me and Mr Carrington by Alexandra Brown

For those of you that have been waiting for the next instalment of Carrington's department store there is only a couple of weeks to go! Alexandra Brown has written a short story Me and Mr Carrington, which includes a sneak peak at Christmas at Carrington's!

Me and Mr Carrington is out 10th October and is available to preorder from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis
Georgie Hart can’t believe her luck. It looks like Tom, the hunky boss of Carrington’s Department Store, in the picture-postcard town of Mulberry-on-Sea, is as hot for her as she is for him. After a romantic Italian get-together leaves her on Cloud Nine, Georgie is brought back down to earth with a bump when she has to get back behind the counter of the Luxury Handbags section.

But when Georgie is left open-mouthed by a revelation from one of her well-heeled customers, it seems like Tom hasn’t been entirely honest with her. Has Georgie done her usual trick of adding two and two together to make five?

Showcase Sunday #15

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its' aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! I hope you've all had fantastic weeks. I finished reading Wing Girl by Nic Tatano and I was really sad when I'd finished it! It was very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend to people who fancy a romance read with a twist.

eBooks

Meet Me at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan (bought)

Christmas at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan (bought)

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan (bought)

Excess All Areas by Mandy Baggot (won)

Physical Books

Betrayal by Clare Francis (won)

I went a bit Jenny Colgan mad this week! I think it was the gorgeous covers and delicious titles that drew me in. I won Betrayal from Emma over at EmmaIsWriting so a big thank you to her!

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx

Book News: Here's Looking at You by Mhairi McFarlane

Having just finished Mhairi McFarlane's first novel You Had Me at Hello I am so glad I don't have to wait too long until her second. I thoroughly enjoyed You Had Me at Hello and Here's Looking at You looks to be just as good!

Here's Looking at You is out 5th December and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis
“Anna Alessi, professor of history, possessor of excellent hair and an occasionally filthy mouth, seeks nice man with good shoes.”

Despite the weirdos that keep turning up on her dates, Anna couldn’t be happier. As a 30-something with a job she loves, life has turned out better than she ever thought possible.

However, things weren’t always this way, and her years spent as the ‘Italian Galleon’ of an East London Comprehensive are ones she’d rather forget.

So when James Fraser – the architect of Anna’s final humiliation at school – walks back into her life, her world is turned upside down.

But James seems a changed man. Polite. Mature. Funny, even. People can change, right? So why does Anna feel like she’s a fool to trust him?

Review: Cupcakes at Carrington's

Author: Alexandra Brown
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: 17th January 2013
Pages: 401
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

Georgie Hart loves her job – running the luxury handbag concession at Carrington's Department store in the pretty seaside town of Mulberry-On-Sea, and treating herself (once too often!) to a red velvet cupcake with buttercream icing in Carrington's café.

But Georgie is thrown into disarray when Carrington's is plunged into a recession-busting makeover, cueing the arrival of femme fatale Maxine, who wields the axe in her immaculately-manicured hands.

It spells a recipe for disaster for Georgie and soon she is fighting not only for her job, but also for the attentions of her gorgeous boss, James. And when hot newcomer Tom arrives, who may or may not be the best thing since sliced bread, Georgie must decide where her loyalties really lie…


Review Alexandra Brown had me at the word cupcake! From the gorgeous cover to the delicious title, I knew this book was the one for me. I'm partial to a cupcake or 5 so I was looking forward to finding out what Cupcakes at Carrington's had in store.
Georgie feels like the luckiest girl in the world working at Carrington's Department Store. Not only does she spend her days surrounded by designer bags and other luxury items, her best friend Sam runs Carrington's Café, the perfect place to pop in for a red velvet cupcake. Everything is pretty cushty at work until Maxine is forced upon them like a case of the plague. Maxine's job is to make sure Carrington's can weather the recession storm and she doesn't take ANY prisoners.

Now not only does Georgie have to fight to keep her job, she has to compete against her boss James, who may or may not be flirting with her of late. And when the gorgeous new employee Tom is thrown into the mix Georgie is struggling to keep her life under control.

This book was a breath of fresh air from the more 'heavy' books I have been reading lately. Georgie is a likeable main character, she is relatable, kind and a good friend. I also adored Georgie's friends Sam and Eddie! Sam and Georgie have been friends since they were little girls and are still as close as ever. Their friendship felt very real and I could feel how close they were through Alexandra's writing. And Eddie... I need a friend like Eddie! He was the sweetest guy ever and gossip queen of Carrington's - no gossip could get passed his radar.

Alexandra Brown has come up with the perfect recipe. There were great characters, plenty of laughs, delicious cupcakes, a bit of mystery and plenty of romance in the air. But what made this book extra special was that Alexandra incorporated a serious undertone to the story. Georgie has to deal with some rather serious problems in her personal life that are handled with a lot of tact and understanding.

I really enjoyed Cupcakes at Carrington's and I cannot wait for the sequel Christmas at Carrington's which is out 7th November. 

4/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Boys and Girls by Pixie Lott

Cover Reveal: April Fools by Karli Perrin

I am very excited to reveal not just the awesome new cover of Karli Perrin's new book but also the title, April Fools! April Fools is the sequel to April Showers and continues the story of April Adams.

April Fools is expected to be released in December 2013 so keep your eyes peeled. You can find the Goodreads page for this book here.

Synopsis
Love. Hate. Fear. Fate.

All four letter words.

All consuming.

Naked to the eye, they have the power to control the heart and destroy the soul.

April Adams is about to experience them like never before.

When everything in April's life goes up in smoke, she is faced with some life changing decisions.

Join April as she continues her journey of love and loss.

About the Author

Karli Perrin is a 25 year old English Language & Linguistics graduate from Manchester, England. She has always been a big lover of books and is the author of the 'April' series.

She is a big believer of fate and is a sucker for a happy ending. She honestly believes that there is a reason why you are reading this right now (apart from the fact that you are awesome!)

Her ultimate goal in life is to live in a house made entirely out of books with her best friend, who also happens to be her fiancé.

...Hogwarts is plan B.

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