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.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book News: There's More to Life Than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan

I am so excited for the release of There's More to Life Than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan. And the cover... wow! The cupcake looks so delicious. There's More to Life Than Cupcakes is published by Novelicious Books on 10th October and looks like a must read this Autumn.
Synopsis 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...

Book Release: 17th September

Nicholas Sparks fans everywhere have been eagerly anticipating the release of his newest book The Longest Ride and the day is almost upon us! The eBook is released tomorrow and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now. Click on the book cover to be taken to the Amazon UK page.

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

The Book Blogger Test

The Rules You must answer all of these questions truthfully and once you've completed this tag, tag 5 other book bloggers to answer the questions next.

My Answers

1. My top three book pet hates are stained library book pages, bent spines and folded page corners.
2. My perfect reading spot is curled up in bed where it's warm!
3. My three book confessions are: I enjoy the messages that the Classics bring but I personally struggle to read them, I have been guilty of watching a film version before reading the book but I try not to and the first 'grown up' book I read in school was The Da Vinci Code.
4. The last time I cried at a book was whilst I was reading The Sea Sisters by Lucy Clarke.
5. There are 3 books on my bedside table.
6. My favourite snacks whilst reading are chocolate digestive biscuits.
7. Three books I'd recommend to everyone are Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern, the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling and Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.
8.                            
   
9. A comforting escape.
10. My biggest reading secret is I used to pretend to be Harry Potter and do my homework under the bedsheets. I even made a Marauders Map! 

I Tag Amanda @ Go Book Yourself Emma @ EmmaIsWriting Laura @ What's Hot? Alex @ My Thoughts on... Sarah @ One Girl And Her Books

Showcase Sunday #14

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 people! I think this week has been an exciting week for new releases. I have my eye on a lot of new books at the moment. Shame my TBR pile is so large!
eBooks

Wing Girl by Nic Tatano (for review) Christmas Carol by Michele Gorman (for review)
Physical Books

A Wag Abroad by Alison Kervin (bought)

Lucy in the Sky by Paige Toon (bought)

I bought my two paperbacks from a charity book shop, I love a good bargain! And I've been looking for Lucy in the Sky for ages to complete my Paige Toon collection.

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx

Review: The Sea Sisters

Author: Lucy Clarke

Publisher: Harper

Release Date: 9th May 2013

Pages: 400

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

Synopsis

Two sisters, one life-changing journey…

There are some currents in the relationship between sisters that run so dark and so deep, it’s better for the people swimming on the surface never to know what’s beneath . . .

Katie’s carefully structured world is shattered by the news that her headstrong younger sister, Mia, has been found dead in Bali – and the police claim it was suicide.

With only the entries of Mia’s travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister’s life, and – page by page, country by country – begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death.

What she discovers changes everything. But will her search for the truth push their sisterly bond – and Katie – to breaking point?

Review

When I picked this book up from my local library, I did not know what to expect. I had heard very good things so I was expecting something great but I don't think I realised what a fantastic story I had fallen upon at the time.

Katie is devastated when her sister Mia is found dead in Bali, and to make things worse the police claim it was suicide. Now everything Katie believed she knew about her sister is thrown into question - had life become so bad for Mia that she felt she had to commit suicide? Katie decides to leave her carefully planned life behind and go searching for answers. Following Mia's travel journal, Katie travels to some of the most beautiful places in the world. But what murky mysteries lie in wait for Katie as she traces through the last few months of Mia's life?

This book literally blew me away. Lucy Clarke truly amazed me with her depth and understanding of family relationships. Katie is the responsible sister, she is sensible, thoughtful and never dives head first into anything without a plan. Mia is a risk-taker, she goes wherever the wind takes her and seizes any opportunity thrown her way - she is a free spirit at heart. Katie and Mia may seem like polar opposites but Lucy Clarke gradually reveals their true feelings and brings some clarity to the complex relationship that Katie and Mia have.

Not only do we follow Katie's journey in this story but Mia's travels are also recounted. The narrative flowed seamlessly between Mia and Katie in a way that made the story extra special. I really enjoyed taking a tour of all the locations Lucy Clarke took me to. Her descriptions were colourful and vivid, she painted the picture of each specific place fantastically. Each place had its' own specific vibe, and Lucy caught these vibes with such authenticity I felt I was there following my own journey.

Lucy Clarke sent me on an emotional roller coaster that both broke my heart and warmed my soul. It will be a journey I will never forget. If this book teaches you anything it is that you should confront your emotions and always listen to your heart. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be taken on an emotional and fulfilling ride in the comfort of your own home.

5/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Hey, Soul Sister by Train

Book Releases: 12th September

I think this week is a fabulous week for book releases. Tempting Fate is the newest book from Jane Green and The Guest List is being published as a paperback for the first time. Click on their covers to be taken to their Amazon UK pages. Tempting Fate by Jane Green

When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?


The Guest List by Melissa Hill

When funny, kind and gorgeous Shane proposes, Cara is over the moon, and can't wait to share the news of their engagement with all their friends and family.

Excitement, however, quickly turns to apprehension when it seems that everyone has a fixed idea of the perfect wedding and offers to 'help' with the planning. With tussles over the ceremony and the size of the guest list, sibling rivalry and insistent in-laws-to-be, Cara can see the vision she has of her big day being ripped to shreds.

So she and Shane determine to make a stand and do things their way. But when they announce their plans for a beach wedding on a beautiful Caribbean island, there is uproar. Threats are made, family secrets are revealed, and things turn decidedly stormy.

Will Cara and Shane manage to overcome all obstacles? Or will their dream wedding turn into a nightmare?

The Park Bench Test by Sarah Lefebve

How do you know when you’ve found Mr Right?

Aspiring journalist Becky Harper loves her boyfriend Alex, but she doesn’t think he’s Mr Right.

Her best friend Emma doesn’t believe in Mr Right – she’s just looking for a man who will stick around longer than her dad did.

Katie has found her Mr Right and is planning her September wedding with her two best friends.

Debut author Sarah Lefebve asked her own friends and family how they knew they had found the elusive Mr Right and then turned their honest – and often surprising – answers into this charming, emotional and downright funny romance about three friends and their search for Mr Right – if he even exists that is…

Beyond Grace's Rainbow by Carmel Harrington

Beyond Grace’s Rainbow is the deeply emotional and poignant story of young single mother Grace Devlin.
When Grace is diagnosed with cancer her best chance of survival is to find a bone marrow transplant from a family member. Only Grace is adopted and her one previous attempt to connect with her birth mother resulted in bitter disappointment.

But with her young son, Jack, to think about, and the return of her ex Liam, Jack’s father, reminding her of feelings she’d thought she’d buried long ago, Grace refuses to give up hope just yet. With the help of her friends she bravely embarks on a journey of discovery.

This search will bring her from her home in vibrant Dublin to the unspoilt beauty of Wexford where she must unravel a web of lies and deceit that has spanned over thirty years.

With a wonderful cast of supporting characters and plenty of charm, this will have you laughing and crying at the turn of a page.

Book News: Johnny's Girl by Paige Toon

Paige Toon is back with an exclusive eBook short story Johnny's Girl! Following on from Johnny be Good and Baby Be Mine we are dropping back in to see how Meg is getting on!
Johnny's Girl is out 7th November and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.
Synopsis Meg's life has taken a turn for the perfect. She is the envy of millions with her drop dead gorgeous husband, their two beautiful sons and her new mansion in Henley. Her celebrity PA days are over. But desperate to keep up with her rock star husband, Johnny Jefferson, she uproots her perfect family and moves back to LA. 

Meg has to learn to live with her new celebrity status and the insecurities of her old life, which keep reappearing. Under the paparazzi flash of an A-List party, complete with red carpet, champagne and canapés, Johnny's rock star past catches up with him and Meg's worst nightmare becomes a reality…

Showcase Sunday #13

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 hope you all have had wonderful weeks :) Until yesterday I had only bought one book this week, then it all changed:

eBooks

It's Got To Be Perfect by Haley Hill (for review) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (bought) Confessions of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson (bought)
As a huge JK Rowling fan, I'm surprised at myself for holding off from buying The Cuckoo's Calling for so long. I'm hugely excited to start reading it though! Confessions of a Chalet Girl was only 99p on Amazon UK, bargain!

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx

Book News: Woman Walks into a Bar by Rowan Coleman

Woman Walks into a Bar is a new eBook by Rowan Coleman. Rowan has generously decided to donate 100% of the proceeds to the charity Refuge. Refuge is a charity set up to help women and children escape the grasp of domestic violence. Rowan's aim is to raise £10000 for Refuge from the sales of this eBook. And YOU can help!
For £1.59 you can buy this eBook and help Rowan to raise money for this important charity. There's also a chance to get your hands on some great prizes. Just tweet or Facebook your Amazon purchase with the hashtags #womanwalks and #supportafriend to be in with a chance of winning some fabulous prizes.
You can buy Woman Walks into a Bar from 10th September and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.
Synopsis A night out with the girls changes Sam’s life forever…

28-year-old single mother Sam spends her days working in the local supermarket and her Friday nights out with her friends letting her hair down at the White Horse. Life hasn’t been easy for Sam and her daughter, Beth (who always looks on the bright side) but she’s always hoped that one day she’ll break free from her past and meet The One.

But after a series of terrible dates with men she’s met through an internet dating site, that have all been as awful as her daughter's terrible jokes, she’s starting to lose heart - until her friends tell her they’ve set her up on a blind date. Sam’s horrified but finally she agrees to go. After all you never know when you might meet the man of your dreams; just maybe Sam’s happy ending is just about to begin….

But will Sam have to face up to her past before she can find a new future?

Cover Reveal: Collared by Zoe Dawson

Here is the cover for the new Going to the Dogs book Collared by Zoe Dawson. I'm loving the dog! This is a dog which seems to look cute and sophisticated. I'm looking forward to seeing what Zoe Dawson has in store for us.

Title: Collared (Going to the Dogs, #4)
Author: Zoe Dawson
Expected release: October 14, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery
Age Group: Adult
Cover designed by: Robin Ludwig 
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours 
Goodreads: Collared

Synopsis Diamonds are a dog’s best friend.

Harper Sinclair discovers that her champion, award-winning standard poodle, Ch. Edgewood Sky High Blue is missing her $50,000 diamond dog collar that was given to her by Harper's eccentric, indulging grandmother along with valuable pieces of jewelry. Harper calls the robbery division of the NYPD and reports the thefts. The detective they send is surly and tough with a pair of brown eyes that make even this calm, cool socialite's lungs claw for air.

Rough and tumble Detective Caleb Shaw has better things to do than run over to the penthouse of a frigging socialite to find a frigging collar for a frigging pampered poodle---award winning or not. He has real cases to solve, but when he gets a load of the poodle's owner, his interest in the case...heats up. Satin sheets or not, he wants Harper. But there is more to this robbery than the dog collar. Has someone close to Harper pulled an inside job?

Can a lovely socialite collar a hard-boiled detective or are they worlds apart?

About the Author Zoe Dawson is the alter ego of Karen Anders, award winning, multi-published author. Her writing journey started with poetry and branched out into fiction. With a couple of college English courses under her belt, she penned a historical, then moved onto contemporary romance fiction. Today, she is happy producing romantic suspense, romantic mystery, urban fantasy and paranormal novels. The words feed her soul and the happily ever afters feed her heart.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter

Review: Lying to Meet You

Author: Anna Garner
Release Date: 5/09/13
Pages: 328
Genre: Chick-Lit
Source: Review Copy from Anna Garner

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?


Review This is Anna Garner's first book under her own name and I love it. Having previously used her pen name of Libby Mercer she decided to revert to her real name for this longer, grittier chick-lit novel. And what a fabulous story she has created!
Meet Chloe Lane. Between fashion designing and running her boutique, there is little time for finding a suitable man. And why does it always seem like men are only interested in the chase? Enter Ethan Webster. When Ethan comes up with a plan to enter into a fake relationship Chloe decides to play along. She doesn't have a particular target right now but going on dates with her childhood friend sounds like fun.
Enter William Shannon. When Chloe is asked to feature as a judge on  reality show she is over the moon at the opportunity. However it's not just stage fright that's playing on her nerves. William Shannon, her fellow judge is ultra rich and amazingly hot - what is a girl to do?! Chloe now had to juggle the boutique, friends, her fake relationship as well as working on William Shannon, can Chloe cope with all the new additions in her life?
This was such an amazing storyline. It often seems like men are interested in unavailable women so I was interested to see how Chloe and Ethan's experiment would play out. I really loved Chloe. She was hard-working, down to earth and easy to empathise with, which made her a wonderful main character. Ethan was such a lovely man, I wanted him to be my boyfriend - fake or otherwise!
The detail Anna Garner put into this book was fabulous. I got a real insight into the world of fashion and with the descriptions Anna gave I could 100% see the designs Chloe created. I love a girl who's in fashion so Chloe was the perfect character to take me on a tour of New York! This book was unputdownable, especially towards the end, I could not wait to find out what was in store for Chloe and Ethan. I believe this book really showcased Anna Garner's talent and  I will be seeking out Anna's books in the future!
4/5 Stars
My Song Choice: Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

Richard and Judy Book Club - Autumn 2013

Richard and Judy are back with their Autumn Book Club! As always there are 8 wonderful books in the book club from a range of genres. First on my list is The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes. She has come up with such an original storyline for her book and I cannot wait to find out what other surprises she has up her sleeve!

You can visit the official Book Club page here. You can find lots of bonus content including author interviews and the Richard and Judy Podcasts.

Autumn Book Club Books

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell Heartbreak Hotel by Deborah Moggach Never Coming Back by Tim Weaver The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier The Twins by Saskia Sarginson The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus
I would love for you to let me know if you have read any other these books and what you think of them! Beckie xxx

Book Release: 6th September

I am so excited for Glittering Fortunes by Victoria Fox. Published by Mills and Boon, Glittering Fortunes promises a tale of scandal and family rivalries. Click on the cover to be taken to the Amazon UK page. Glittering Fortunes is out 6th September. Glittering Fortunes by Victoria Fox
Two brothers. Two rivals.
One huge family secret.
Scandal is just waiting to happen…

Charlie Lomax hasn’t seen his brother in years. Cato’s been too busy living the A-list Hollywood dream to bother with the likes of a small Cornish town. But now he’s back. Hollywood and British aristocracy are about to clash, as Cato sets out to claim the Lomax legacy he believes is his birthright.

Unsuspecting Olivia needs a job after spectacularly failing to make a life for herself in London. Forced back to Cornwall, she has no idea what she's letting herself in for by becoming a gardener at the crumbling but beautiful Usherwood estate.

She certainly didn’t bargain on becoming embroiled in the biggest scandal of the year, and not least because the brooding Charlie is a man she can’t seem to stay away from…

Review: Midsummer Magic

Author: Julia Williams

Publisher: Avon
Release Date: 6/06/13

Pages: 353
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

Recently engaged Josie is visiting her parents in Cornwall with best friend Diane, fiancée Harry and his pal Ant. Josie can’t wait to start wedding planning, if only Harry was more interested, and Diane and Ant weren’t at war with each other.

As the four make amends over a drink in the local pub, they meet Freddie Puck, a well known TV hypnotist and find themselves agreeing to a dare – to stay out all night on the hills by the standing stones.

Local mythology says a young married couple will find true happiness if they can last a whole night there on Midsummer’s Eve. But as night time falls, not everyone seems to have remembered the boundaries of love…

Review
I was immediately drawn in by the cover of this book! I know they always say don't judge a book by its' cover but wow this one is just so pretty. I have heard good things about Julia Williams' books so I was looking forward to reading Midsummer Magic.

Josie is over the moon when her boyfriend Harry proposes. She cannot wait to dive head first into wedding planning with the help of her best friend Diane. To celebrate, Josie, Harry, Diane and Harry's friend Ant decide to visit Josie's parents in Cornwall to partake in pre-wedding celebrations. Josie just wants to settle down in the countryside, spend some time with her family and friends and plan her dream wedding but it's not that easy. Harry doesn't seem as keen to get married as he once did and Diane and Ant have a secret that is causing them to fight like cats and dogs.

When the gang decide to take some time out and go to the local pub they bump into celebrity TV hypnotist Freddie Puck. After some gentle persuasion the four of them are persuaded to take part in a Midsummer Night's dare. Will they find true happiness and ever-lasting love or will their lives change forever for all the wrong reasons?

I enjoyed having multiple narrators in this book. It meant I could really see what motivated the main characters. I think Diane was my favourite character of them all. She was very honest and a very good friend. I could empathise with her more than any of the others as she was so likeable.

The subject of hypnotism is very fascinating to me. The thought of someone being able to influence the mind without the owner's permission is scary but interesting. The way Julia Williams approached this subject was thought-provoking but still kept an air of mysteriousness. It made me wonder how I would react if I had been hypnotised!

I loved that Midsummer Magic had a Shakespeare tie-in. Having studied A Midsummer Night's Dream in school I loved analysing the juxtaposition of storylines. It was fun to draw comparisons between the two works and decide which of Julia Williams' characters represented Shakespeare's characters.

Julia Williams described the Cornwall countryside so vividly I felt like I was there with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her descriptions, it sounded like a beautiful area to set this book in and it is a place I am now determined to visit.

Showcase Sunday #12

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 people! I've had a lovely week this week full of some wonderful books. I've read Wicked Wives and The Sea Sisters which are both great books in completely different ways. I highly recommend both of them.

Physical Books

Killer Queens by Rebecca Chance (bought) Coco's Secret by Niamh Greene (bought) The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman (won)

eBooks

The Cheesemaker's House by Jane Cable (for review)
Thanks to Laura from Laura's Little Book Blog for my copy of The Life List which I won in her competition earlier this week. I've had my eye on The Life List for a while so I was absolutely thrilled to have won a copy. I'm looking forward to reading The Cheesemaker's House, a book set in North Yorkshire. As a Yorkshire girl myself it's nice to read books that are set in my area.
What have you received this week? Beckie xxx