Review: Wicked Wives

Author: Anna-Lou Weatherley
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: 18/07/13
Pages: 466
Genre: Contemporary

Synopsis
A tale of intrigue, revenge and excess…

When the ‘Blue Angel’ yacht is found abandoned off the coast of Antigua and Playboy and Casino owner, Tom Black, who was on board is pronounced missing, foul-play is suspected. After all, the serial gambler and womaniser has made plenty of enemies.

As events come to light however, the finger of suspicion points to three women in particular – and the men they’re married to.

Ellie Scott, the beautiful socialite with a dubious past; Loretta Fiorentino, the fame-seeking gold-digger and Victoria Mayfield, the glamorous successful author.

Full of intrigue, revenge and decadence, this is a tale you’ll want to revisit again and again.

Review

After absolutely adoring Anna-Lou Weatherley's first book Chelsea Wives I knew I had to get my hands on this one! Anna has a talent for creating complex intriguing tales that have you hooked from the first page. Her stories are full of powerful women and shady men who live in an elite world we couldn't even dream of...
When serial gambler and Playboy Tom Black disappears off the 'Blue Angel' yacht there are several suspects to contend with. Tom Black has a bad habit of making enemies out of people. His womanising ways have never left him - you know what they say about a woman scorned. Has one of these women finally caught up with him?
Ellie Scott is the ultimate story of rags to riches and has spend her whole life trying to bury her past. Loretta Fiorentino is a cold-hearted gold-digger who will claw her way to the top not caring who she hurts in the process. Victoria Mayfield is a successful author who has made her own fortune but has a secret which is threatening to throw her over the edge. All three women and their husbands have there own axe to grind with Tom Black but could any of them have actually done the dirty deed?
I enjoyed having three main characters to devour in this book. At first the women seem unconnected but as the story develops we get to see how their paths cross. Anna-Lou Weatherley created characters that were so complex and dimensional that I did not see the plot twists coming at all! Ellie, Victoria and Loretta have so many layers that made this book such a mysterious and captivating read.
Ellie is the sweet girl with the humble beginnings who has married into this high-class world. She has worked very hard to keep her past a secret but there are no secrets in a world full of gossiping women with no end to the amount of money they can spend. 
Victoria has made her own fortune but is fighting her demons the whole way. She may have a successful career and a loving husband but she is finding it more and more difficult to keep up her façade and her mask is starting to slip. 
Loretta is just your average money-grabbing, social climbing bitch who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. She has played her way to the top and is under no circumstances going to let anyone bring her back down. Loretta was a character I loved to read about. It was interesting to see what motivates her in her scheming ways.
Anna-Lou Weatherley has given us a mysterious and exciting insight into the secret world of the rich and famous. She has presented us with an array of characters to give us just the right amount of excitement, revenge, sex, money, gorgeous men and enough gossip to keep you going for years! This is one of my favourite books of 2013 so far and I cannot wait for further books from Anna-Lou Weatherley.
5/5 Stars
My Song Choice: Billionaire by Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars

Book Releases: 29th August

Here are a few books being released this week that I am excited about! These books are all published by Harper Impulse and are out 29th August. Click on the covers to be taken to their Amazon UK pages.

Plus One is a Lucky Number by Teresa F. Morgan

Sophie’s going to a wedding where the invite is strictly plus one… but with her single girl status not exactly fitting in with the bridesmaid dress code, and the best man being none other than the ex she would rather forget, Sophie needs a favour and she needs it fast!
Luckily for Sophie, her dreamy but distant co-worker Adam Reid owes their mutual friend James a favour...and his gorgeousness more than fills the role of the ‘Perfect Boyfriend’!

Wing Girl by Nic Tatano

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?

How to Win a Guy in 10 Dates by Jane Linfoot

The 10 Date Challenge

Day 1: Take one loaded commitment-phobe explosives expert, embarking on the impossible–a challenge to have ten dates with one woman.

Day 5: Add in a fiercely independent and feisty burlesque teacher who has sworn off men.

Day 10: She’s so not his type and he’s so not in her life-plan. But the heat is sizzling and the attraction is explosive. And they’re fighting it all the way….

What's a Girl to Do? by Aimee Duffy

The first novella in a thrilling, pulse-racing new erotic romance series, Indecent Proposals. Three best friends, Shey, Eloisa and Georgia take on the most powerful and eligible men of the New York dating scene.

‘I’m not coming over.’ Shey replied confidently.

‘Then maybe you could return the favor now.’

Wait, he didn’t mean…

‘Slide your hand beneath your panties and tell me how ready you are for me.’

Oh my god, he did.

Single Manhattanite Shey Lopez doesn’t do one night stands, or have relationships she can’t control. Especially if giving in to playboy Calvin Jones means losing her heart in the process.

However, Mr Won’t-Take-No-For-An-Answer always gets what he wants and there’s only so many times a girl can resist such a enticing proposal…

Showcase Sunday #11

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. It enables everyone to showcase the books they receive each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! Despite my best efforts I still ended up buying books in the Kindle Summer Sale!

For Review:

Annabelle by Nancy Christie

On My Kindle:

Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown Bad Sisters by Rebecca Chance Temptation Island by Victoria Fox
What have you received this week?

Review: About a Girl

Author: Lindsey Kelk

Publisher: Harper

Release Date: 4/07/13

Pages: 416
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

I’d lost my job. I’d lost the love of my life. My mum wasn’t talking to me. My best friend was epically pissed off. And my flatmate probably had a hit out on me by now. I never meant for things to get so out of hand…

Tess Brookes has always been a Girl with a Plan. But when her carefully constructed Plan goes belly up, she’s forced to reconsider.

After accidently answering her flatmate Vanessa’s phone, she decides that since being Tess isn’t going so well, why shouldn’t she try out being Vanessa? With nothing left to lose, she accepts Vanessa’s photography assignment to Hawaii – she used to be an amateur snapper, how hard can it be? Right?

But Tess is soon in big trouble – she isn’t a photographer, she isn’t Vanessa, and the gorgeous journalist on the shoot with her, who is making it very clear he’d like to get into her pants, is an egotistical monster.

Far from home and in someone else’s shoes, Tess must decide whether to fight on through, or ‘fess up and run…

Review Lindsey is back with a brand new book and a brand new character! Having devoured the I Heart... series I could not wait to embark on Tess Brookes' adventure. I was not disappointed! 
Tess has had her life planned out from a young age. She had spent 7 years carving out her career path to Creative Director when she is sacked unceremoniously with absolutely no warning. To escape the mess that has become of her life, Tess jets off to Hawaii under her flatmate's name and takes on  her photography job. How hard can it be to play the part of Vanessa and take a few pictures? Tess is about to find out!
Tess finds herself in beautiful Hawaii with breathtaking scenery and a new gay best friend - Kekipi, who is the perfect guy to show her the sights. However not all is perfect, she has to work with an arrogant journalist, Nick, who knows exactly what buttons to press to get her riled up. Can Tess resist Nick's advances and stay strictly professional on the job?
I thought Tess was a really great character. I sympathised with her when her life fell apart and I thought it took real guts to take a step away from her life and go to Hawaii - even if she did take her flatmate's place! I laughed when she laughed, I cried when she cried and I felt I was completely involved in her story. She was such a funny character and I found this really refreshing. 
Nick was such an arse! I wanted to punch him at first for being an arrogant pig but in the end who doesn't love a bad boy?! As more and more layers of this gorgeous man are revealed, I warmed to him and I really liked what was inside his steely interior.
Lindsey has created another stunning book. The one liners were hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud in a variety of situations. Hawaii was such a stunning place and I felt that Lindsey described the location amazingly. I could clearly imagine the soft white sand and the turquoise blue sea. A brilliant summer read which I will be recommending to all my friends. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
5/5 Stars
My Song Choice: Get Lucky by Daft Punk No explanation needed ;)

Book News: I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk

It may still be summer but it doesn't stop me looking ahead to the Christmas books! I have been eagerly anticipating this cover reveal and it has not disappointed. The cover really reflects Christmas in New York, I would love to go there myself.
I Heart Christmas is out 21st November and is available to pre-order at Amazon UK now.
Synopsis Angela’s planning her very own fairytale of New York…

• Enormous Christmas tree
• Eggnog
• Eccentric British traditions
• Gorgeous man

But Santa’s throwing her a few curveballs – new job (as if it’s not mental enough already), new baby-craze from her best friend Jenny, and Alex determined they should grow up and settle down. Once friends start turning up uninvited on her doorstep (and leading her astray), can Angela really have a merry little Christmas? So much for happy holidays – something’s got to give…

Review: The White Queen

Author: Philippa Gregory

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Release Date: 18/08/09

Pages: 444

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings the tumult and intrigue of The Wars of the Roses to vivid life through the women of the House of Lancaster and the House of York, beginning with the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. A woman who won the love of a king and ascended to royalty by virtue of her beauty, Elizabeth fought tenaciously for the success of her family -- her daughter who would one day unite the warring dynasties, and her two sons whose eventual fate has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower. An active player in the power struggles that surrounded her, she made hard and courageous choices, always trying to protect those whom she loved. Informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills, Philippa Gregory gives an unforgettable voice to an extraordinary woman at the heart of a devastating conflict.

Review

This is actually the first historical fiction novel I have read and I really enjoyed it. I think Philippa Gregory was the perfect author to introduce me to this genre. The War of the Roses was a fantastic backdrop for this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of England.

When Elizabeth Woodville's husband Sir John Grey dies in battle, she is left with nothing. Her husband's lands are confiscated and her young sons, Thomas and Richard, are left without an inheritance. Elizabeth is a loyal Lancastrian but must approach the Yorkist King Edward IV to retrieve her sons' lands. What Elizabeth does not count on is falling in love with this Yorkist King - her sworn enemy.

It is love at first sight for Edward and Elizabeth. They marry in secret to curb any opposition to their union - it was uncommon in those days to marry for love. Edward was expected to marry a foreign princess, not a commoner like Elizabeth. Elizabeth faces resistance as soon as she is crowned Queen of England - many people believed she bewitched the King to marry her. How will she deal with the challenges that are presented to her during these hard times of the Cousin's War?

I found Elizabeth a likeable narrator, she was a very strong woman and very ambitious. When history is studied, men are the main focus of a historian's research and it is refreshing to see the War of the Roses through a woman's eyes, especially one who I think has been overlooked.

What I found interesting about this book is that Elizabeth and her Mother Jacquetta are portrayed as witches. They were supposedly descended from Melusina the water goddess. Whenever a situation was not falling in Elizabeth's favour, Jacquetta and Elizabeth would turn to their ancestor for some other-worldly help. I enjoyed this aspect of the book, the magic gave the story another dimension.

Philippa Gregory entwines fact and fiction together beautifully. Where historical information was not available, Philippa used her own imagination and knowledge of the characters to add to the story of Elizabeth herself. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series.

5/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Wicked Game by Coves
This is the music used for the TV series The White Queen. It gives me goosebumps listening to it!

Showcase Sunday #10

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. It enables everyone to showcase the books they receive each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! I've had a good week bookwise, I have a range of books to get my teeth into:

For Review:

Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner

On My Kindle:

Sunlounger by Various From The Library:

You Had Me at Hello by Mhairi McFarlane The Sea Sisters by Lucy Clarke Destiny by Louise Bagshawe Perfect Strangers by Tasmina Perry What books have you all received this week?

Book News: Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson

Miranda Dickinson is back with her brand new novel Take a Look at Me Now. The cover was revealed just the other day and I am so excited. Roll on October!

It's out 24th October and available to pre-order at Amazon UK now.

Synopsis

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?

Book Releases: 15th August

Here are some releases that have caught my eye for Thursday August 15th - just click on the book covers to be taken to their Amazon book page. Three Little Words: They mean so much by Jessica Thompson

They are just words but they mean so much.

As a dark evening draws in, the lives of three women are changed forever.

The worlds they have been living in, the people they thought they knew - in an instant it all changes.

But when everything seems to shatter around them, could three little words be enough to help put the pieces back together again?

Coco's Secret by Niamh Greene

Coco Swan has always been embarrassed by her name.

With a name like Coco, she thinks people expect her to be as exotic and glamorous as the famous designer, not an ordinary-looking small-town antiques dealer who could win an award for living cautiously.

But when a vintage Chanel handbag turns up in a box of worthless bric-a-brac, Coco's quiet world is turned upside down. Where did it come from? And is it just coincidence that it's the same bag Coco's late mother always wanted for her?

When Coco discovers a mysterious, decades-old letter hidden in the bag's lining, she sets off on a quest to piece together the story behind it, stumbling across secrets that span three generations as she goes.

Could the beautiful Chanel bag be about to teach Coco more than she wants to learn? Or will it show her just where her heart can take her if she lets it lead the way?

Cover Reveal: Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner

This is the cover of the new book Lying to Meet you by Anna Garner and I must say I love it. It has a good amount of intrigue and romance - who's the mystery man with his phone out? Are the man and woman a couple or are they just holding hands? I can't wait to find out!

Title: Lying to Meet You
Author: Anna Garner
Expected Release Date: September 5, 2013
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit
Age Group: Adult – but it might appeal to YA/NA readers
Cover Designed By: Sue Traynor
Goodreads: Lying to Meet You

Synopsis
Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?

Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However…

Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

About The Author

Born and raised in the Midwest, Anna Garner's adventurous spirit kicked in after graduating from high school, and she's since lived in Boston, NYC and London. For several years, Anna worked in fashion--first as a journalist and then as a shopkeeper, and for a while she dabbled in design. Although chick lit was her first love, Anna started writing quirky romances, and her first one, Fashioning a Romance, was published in May 2012 under the name of Libby Mercer. This was followed by two more quirky romances: Unmasking Maya and The Karmic Connection. Since Lying to Meet You is written in old school chick lit style and isn't a clear cut love story, Anna decided to publish it under her real name. She currently lives in San Francisco and spends most of her time cranking out more stories.

Anna Garner's Facebook Page