OK this is actually rather exciting for me as I am MORE than ready to start reading Christmas books. I know it's August but let's face it, Autumn is the best time of the year to snuggle up, get cosy with a book and a blanket. So, whilst I eagerly await all this years Christmas titles to arrive I am going through my back-catalogue and reading a few that I haven't gotten around to reading yet. Sometimes we find hidden gems of the past don't we?
Anyway, TODAY I am excited to share with you along with everyone at HarperCollins and the bookblogging community my first Christmas Cover Reveal of 2017!!!
Sue Moorcroft is back with this beauty ...
Publishing in eBook: 9th October
Publishing in Paperback: 2nd November
Publishing in Paperback: 2nd November
The #1 bestseller returns with an irresistibly festive tale that you won’t be able to put down!
Alexia Kennedy – interior decorator extraordinaire – has been tasked with giving the little village of Middledip the community café it’s always dreamed of.
After months of fundraising, the villagers can’t wait to see work get started – but disaster strikes when every last penny is stolen. With Middledip up in arms at how this could have happened, Alexia feels ready to admit defeat.
But help comes in an unlikely form when woodsman, Ben Hardaker and his rescue owl Barney, arrive on the scene. Another lost soul who’s hit rock bottom, Ben and Alexia make an unlikely partnership.
However, they soon realise that a little sprinkling of Christmas magic might just help to bring this village – and their lives – together again…
Settle down with a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine as you devour this irresistibly festive Christmas tale. The perfect read for fans of Carole Matthews and Trisha Ashley.
Hello Lovely,
How are you? Have you been enjoying your summer? I'm still (only just about though) on my summer holiday before heading back to work in September with the kiddies where it will be all mayhem and tears with the little ones on their first day back. But I'll be spending time with each of them and sorting out their first reading book of the academic year. Which brings me nicely onto what I want to share with you here today.
Annie Darling has written another beautiful story about a bookshop (Am I the only one to get ridiculously excited about a story set in a bookshop? - I hope not!) and this time, it's all about true love. In fact, can we just take a moment to gaze adoringly at the book cover please as we take a quick peek at what this books all about?
True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop is written by Annie Darling, and published by the lovely HarperCollins. You can purchase it from Amazon UK in Paperback or eBook.
It's a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good job, four bossy sisters and a needy cat must also have want of her one true love. Or is it?
Another delightful novel from the author of The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts. Perfect for fans of Lucy Diamond and Jenny Colgan
Verity Love – Jane Austen fangirl and an introvert in a world of extroverts – is perfectly happy on her own (thank you very much), and her fictional boyfriend Peter is very useful for getting her out of unwanted social events. But when a case of mistaken identity forces her to introduce a perfect stranger as her boyfriend, Verity’s life suddenly becomes much more complicated.
Johnny could also use a fictional girlfriend. Against Verity’s better judgement, he persuades her to partner up for a summer season of weddings, big number birthdays and garden parties, with just one promise - not to fall in love with each other…
Now doesn't this book just sound amazing? I'm very lucky that I don't often get a book to read/share on a blog tour that doesn't sound amazing - publishers do this amazing job of matching the right books to the right people (a little like a dating agency), and today, I have for you an exclusive and rather exciting extract to share with you from this book. So sit back and enjoy - I know I will.
Verity couldn’t believe that she was
talking about her imaginary boyfriend with a complete stranger. ‘I’m absolutely
one hundred per cent happy being single but I’m having a hard time getting my
friends on board with that.’
Johnny pursed his lips thoughtfully,
which did delightful things to his mouth. ‘Maybe you just haven’t met the right
person.’
‘I don’t want to meet the right person.
I have a busy job, great friends, an extremely needy cat. I don’t need anyone
else in my life.’ Verity clutched her glass tighter. ‘So, what’s your story,
then? Surely you can’t have any trouble meeting women?’
Johnny ducked his head. Verity was sure
it was to hide his pleased but bashful smile. He must have mirrors in his house
so he could see that he was very pleasing aesthetically. ‘No, no trouble
meeting women.’
Of course! It was obvious. Now that she
was no longer crucified on the altar of her own embarrassment, Verity could
process the raw data sitting opposite her. No man could look like that and . .
. ‘Oh, right. You’re gay. OK. And you haven’t told your friends? Really? Well,
it’s none of my business, I suppose.’
‘I’m flattered that you seem to think
that,’ Johnny said, his voice all barbed wire now, instead of velvet vowels.
‘You didn’t even make it a question, just an unequivocal statement, but no,
not gay.’
Verity put her
hands to her crimson cheeks. ‘Sorry. I don’t usually run around outing people .
. . One of my best friends from uni is gay. And two cousins. I’m all about the
LGBT rights. I love the gays!’
‘Well, I’m glad to hear that but I’m
still not gay.’
Johnny’s eyes were a very definite blue
now. Like the sea in winter; frost-tipped and cold. Verity suspected that he
was a Darcy. It was very rare to meet a Darcy.
It probably came from having read Pride and
Prejudice so many times that she knew it off by heart, but on meeting new
people, Verity always found herself assigning them roles in Pride and
Prejudice. She’d met a lot of Jane Bennets and Charles Bingleys, far too
many Mr Collinses, an occasional Wickham, but a Darcy was rarer than a single
man in possession of a good fortune who was in actual want of a wife. And
actually meeting a Darcy wasn’t that much fun.
In fact, it
was unbelievably awkward for a count of ten, then Johnny’s phone beeped. As he
picked it up Verity realised that there was no good reason to stay and suffer.
She said goodbye,
quickly got up, though Johnny was riveted to his phone and gave no
acknowledgement of her hasty departure. ‘Stick both glasses on my tab,’ she
yelped at Luigi who still couldn’t hide his disbelief that Verity had broken
with her usual Friday night routine for the first time in three years. Not only
that, she’d also been seen in the company of a man.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the extract, if you loved it like I did make sure you pick up a copy via the links above and let me know what you think of the book.
Also, if you haven't already, why not head over and visit some of the other blogs that have been taking part in the tour and show them some love.
Hello Lovely,
How are you? I would ask if you are enjoying the weather, but right now here in the UK we're having a typical British Summer that feels very much like Autumn and fears of Summer having abandoned us early are unspoken.
Today however I am stopping by to tell you all about a fabulous story that will have you dreaming of sunshine and escaping for summer from your daily grind. I am grateful to be taking part in the Blog Tour for TA Williams (he's a favourite author of my Mum's) and his new book; To Provence with Love. Shall we take a look?
To Provence with Love is written by TA Williams, and it is published by HQ Digital. You can purchase a copy via Amazon
Escape to the south
of France with this perfect feel-good summer romance!
Anything is
possible…
Struggling writer
Faye Carter just can’t believe her luck. She’s off to Provence to write the autobiography
of a famous film star and she’ll be staying in the stunning chateau!
So when she meets
charming (and completely gorgeous) lavender farmer, Gavin, she knows that she’s
made the right choice – even if glamourous, elderly Anabelle seems to be hiding
something…
But when the sun is
shining, the food is delicious and the air smells of honey, anything seems
possible. Will the magic of Provence help Faye finally find a happy-ever-after
of her own?
At first I admit that reading a story set in France wasn't the top of my list - I'm much more fond of stories set in Italy BUT I'm so glad that I did because I would have missed out on a real gem of a book had I not. To Provence with Love is a beautiful story that had me reminiscing about films I've watched in the past and for this reason I was completely swept away by it.
TA Williams, writes the most beautifully detailed descriptions of the location that I was utterly romanticized by it all and it had me wanting to book a ticket to the French countryside to see these lavender fields first hand (If only I had my passport!). If you think the cover to this story is beautiful, you will be mesmerized by the actual detail found within it.
We meet Faye who I could closely identify with - she's a school teacher who loves her job but is rather fed up with the administration of the school -in particular the head teacher. I can 100% relate to this, and so when Faye is offered the chance to do something different and get paid to do it she jumps at it. Like Faye, I've been given the opportunity to get out of a similar school and work somewhere else - not as exciting as Faye's opportunity - but I still grabbed the opportunity for myself.
Faye heads off to Provence to write an autobiography for a famous old lady who is Hollywood royalty and gets swept away with not only listening to Miss Beech's life story unfold, but her own starts to take a turn. Of course there are two men who Faye meets; Obelix...I'll let you discover that one! and Gavin the hunky dark haired gorgeously handsome farmer...But after Faye having her heart broken by her womanizing ex she's not interested and Gavin has Dominique anyway...doesn't he? So she's thrilled that she can be just friends.
Faye heads off to Provence to write an autobiography for a famous old lady who is Hollywood royalty and gets swept away with not only listening to Miss Beech's life story unfold, but her own starts to take a turn. Of course there are two men who Faye meets; Obelix...I'll let you discover that one! and Gavin the hunky dark haired gorgeously handsome farmer...But after Faye having her heart broken by her womanizing ex she's not interested and Gavin has Dominique anyway...doesn't he? So she's thrilled that she can be just friends.
I'll be honest and say that I haven't quite finished the book yet so even though I would never spoil the story for you - I couldn't anyway because I don't know just yet. I'm enjoying the storyline, and the setting. The characters are warming, honest and enjoyable to read. Even though I've not yet finished, I'm awarding this book 4/5 because it is an amazing story, superbly written and a joy to read.
All About The Author
I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are
read by women. In my first book, "Dirty Minds" one of the (female)
characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much
time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my
wife...
I've
written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm
enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what
we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a
lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. If my books can put a smile
on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my
job.
I‘ve lived
all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked
away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy
lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.
I've been
writing since I was 14 and that is half a century ago. However, underneath this
bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is
convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.
Hi Lovely!
How are you? How was your weekend? I'm just sitting with a nice lemon tea (my favourite beverage) and thought I'd pop in and have a chat with you about a book that I've recently read. This book is not only a real treat to read that actually helped me get out of a reading slump, but it's actually making me feel quite broody! Now my Mr is aware I've been reading the book and he said "the book sounds so good" but I don't think he quite knows the fact that its made me broody haha. So, Mr, if you're ready this on your day off whilst I'm being "Moaning Myrtle" - as in Myrtle Warren (HARRY POTTER DAY!) at work then - .... Surprise haha, Your girlfriend is officially broody!
So, this book is a beautiful looking book that is absolutely a winner in my eyes for being a debut. Let's take a look shall we? The First Time Mums' Club is the debut novel from Lucie Wheeler. HarperImpulse published it and I was fortunate enough to receive an eBook ARC from them (Thank you HarperImpulse).
You can purchase your copy from Amazon here (paperback is out 13th July)
As you can see, the cover is delightful, and you can obsviosuly work out that it's a novel about a group of women who are pregnant - for the first time. Shall we see what the blurb says?
A gorgeous, heartwarming debut for fans of Giovanna Fletcher, Paige Toon and The Unmumsy Mum!
Meet Pippa…
After years of trying and a failed IVF attempt, Pippa is thrilled to see two little lines appear on a pregnancy test. Finally a precious baby to call her own. This is all Pippa has ever wanted…if only husband Jason could show just a little excitement.
Imogen…
A baby is the icing on the cake for Imogen and Alice – proof that their love for each other can overcome any obstacle. But when Imogen starts receiving malicious texts, it's clear that not everyone is thrilled about the girls' good news.
And Ellie…
A drunken one-night stand and Ellie's life is ruined! Pregnant, jobless and the relationship with her best friend, Chris, over- forever. Because Chris just happens to be the father of Ellie's baby…and potentially the love of her life!
For these first time mums the road to motherhood is bumpier than most!
I loved this book from start to finish, I genuinely did. I am very fortunate that 98% of the books I receive are spot on with regards to my interests and this was one of those. I love supporting debut authors because you are potentially holding their dream, their 'book baby' in your hands and they are trusting you to be honest and be gentle with it. This can sometimes scare me as a blogger because I always have to remind myself - that I have nothing of their previous work to compare it to, this is it. This is the first impression going out into the world.
Lucie, I'll put you at ease; as far as I'm concerned you have a beautiful bouncing book baby here and I can't wait to see what you bring us next.
Lucie, I'll put you at ease; as far as I'm concerned you have a beautiful bouncing book baby here and I can't wait to see what you bring us next.
So why did I like it so much?
Well, firstly the topic; new mums. This is something that of course at my age I've thought about and I've talked about - a lot, it is something that I've literally dreamt about on many occasions. Literally. Becoming a mum for the first time as much as it can be joyous, i'm sure that a lot of mums will agree with me here when I say that it can be the most terrifying, emotional, scary yet exhilarating experience ever. I know for myself personally, as much as I a m looking forward to becoming a Mum - and believe me I am - I've got the crochet homemade baby blanket patterns, ideas and booties all ready in my mind, along with the nursery decor, it actually does scare me a little.
Lucie shares this journey with you in The First Time Mums' Club so brilliantly and she weaves in so many possibilities for a first time pregnancy that I am sure there is something that everyone can identify with. We have the couple that's been trying for years, couples who've tried IVF, same sex marriage and parenthood, couples who break up, couples who do the unthinkable, and then we have the "friends with benefits" couple. It's jam packed with gorgeous storylines that you will find it very hard to become bored with the story.
So many important topics came up in this book that I feel I need to mention; same sex marriage and the trials and tribulations that come with it, miscarriage, abortion, decision making, infidelity, twins, juggling motherhood and work. And that's just to share a few.
All I will say, is that the epilogue could have been lengthened and turned into a follow up book because I would have loved to have read about the first year as parents. Other than that, it is a splendid debut, a spectacular storyline and one that I will be recommending for a long time to come. Congratulations Lucie!!!
Therefore I am awarding this book 4.5/5 stars.
Hello Lovely,
I've started to get back into my reading now that University has finished for the year (Yay!). I feel that I haven't been able to fully immerse myself into reading for quite some time but that renewed sense of passion and enjoyment has returned, gladly.
Today I want to share a book with you that I had on my kindle sitting patiently for some time and I managed to read it only through it being required reading for my final university assignment. I believe this book to be one of a kind and one that truly touched me deeply with the topic it centred around. If you've not yet read it then I urge you to do so at the earliest possible time. It will warm your heart and break it utterly and completely.
One is written by Sarah Crossan, published by Bloomsbury Children's, has 192 pages. I read the ebook version that I purchased myself and which you can purchase here
This book won a lot of awards which is why it was a required reading for my children's literature university course. Shall we see what the blurb says?
WINNER OF THE YA BOOK PRIZE 2016
WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2016
WINNER OF THE CBI BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2016
WINNER OF THE CLIPPA POETRY AWARD 2016
Grace and Tippi don't like being stared and sneered at, but they're used to it. They're conjoined twins - united in blood and bone.
What they want is to be looked at in turn, like they truly are two people. They want real friends. And what about love?
But a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead for Tippi and Grace. One that could change their lives more than they ever asked for...
This moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate?
The ONE book you have to read this summer! Incredibly moving and extraordinarily crafted, it explores the unbreakable bond and love between sisters. Winner of The CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2016.
You can see from the blurb that this book sounds brilliant can't you? I have to say that I found this book to be an incredibly easy read and that was for 2 reason's; (1) It was a beautifully gripping storyline that just hooked you in and made you want to keep turning pages and (2) because of the format in which it was set out in. The layout of the text in this book looked a like the way in which one sees poetry written and published.
What I loved about this book was that you could very easily tell that Sarah has researched the storyline with incredible detail, compassion and a level of authentic understanding. As this book is the story of conjoined twins; Tippi and Grace the story is narrated by only one twin. We learn the 'normality' of their life and the fact that they are very much aware of 'those questions' so many want to ask about their daily lives that they dare not to. Questions such as; "Is it hard to shower and see each other naked?" "What's it like when you go to the toilet?" "Will you be able to have children of your own?", "Do you wish that you were normal?". All very valid, and private questions. However what this book does spectacularly well is bring to light the true question; What is "normal"?
But the reality of their life is that during their childhood, as the children growing up today, we live in a very social media focused world. We see it every day with events happening all around the world, in seconds, an event, an accident, or for teenagers today, an embarrassing moment in their life can be streamed live across the world at the touch of a button. Tippi and Grace live in this world which is hard enough for any teenager, but for conjoined twins who are prone to being looked at and treated like a circus act it is understandably difficult.
Tippi and Grace are my sheroes this year. They embrace all of life's 'challenges' and they swat them away without a second thought. However, as we see in this book, being so 'medically challenged' as some would say leaves them open to all sorts of medical challenges. Challenges that not even the medical staff at the top of their game know the answers to. And I for one can completely understand just how terrifying that thought is.
We see that Tippi and Grace are just normal girls, growing up, learning how to navigate their way in life and the trials of being a teenager. Subjects that we take for granted; falling in love, dating, learning to drive, recovering after an illness, and such.
Without spoiling the story, I have to say that the ending utterly broke me. I lay in bed eager to finish this book before falling asleep and I sobbed my heart out. I sobbed because of the true brilliance of Sarah's talent for writing, I sobbed for Tippi, and I sobbed for Grace. But just like in recent weeks here in the UK, at times when things are really horrific and heartbreaking in the most painful of ways, we see figures of the public pull together and show true compassion and humanity. If anything, this book truly shows that no matter just how ripped apart we can be and how life can throw the most cruelest of curveballs of loss, pain, and difficult decisions, it can also bring with it unconditional love, understanding, togetherness and unity.
Truly this book shows that no matter what. We are all ONE. Which is why I easily award this book 5/5 stars.
I would like to dedicate this review to all the victims that have suffered here in the UK in the past few weeks; the victims of the Westminster Attack, the beautiful people who are victims of the Manchester Attack, and the victims of the awful tragedy of Grenfell Tower Fire. Each and every ONE of you are in my heart, faces and names that I promise I will never forget. My love, my thoughts, and my prayers are forever with each and every one of you.
We are all ONE.
I've started to get back into my reading now that University has finished for the year (Yay!). I feel that I haven't been able to fully immerse myself into reading for quite some time but that renewed sense of passion and enjoyment has returned, gladly.
Today I want to share a book with you that I had on my kindle sitting patiently for some time and I managed to read it only through it being required reading for my final university assignment. I believe this book to be one of a kind and one that truly touched me deeply with the topic it centred around. If you've not yet read it then I urge you to do so at the earliest possible time. It will warm your heart and break it utterly and completely.
One is written by Sarah Crossan, published by Bloomsbury Children's, has 192 pages. I read the ebook version that I purchased myself and which you can purchase here
This book won a lot of awards which is why it was a required reading for my children's literature university course. Shall we see what the blurb says?
WINNER OF THE YA BOOK PRIZE 2016
WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2016
WINNER OF THE CBI BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2016
WINNER OF THE CLIPPA POETRY AWARD 2016
Grace and Tippi don't like being stared and sneered at, but they're used to it. They're conjoined twins - united in blood and bone.
What they want is to be looked at in turn, like they truly are two people. They want real friends. And what about love?
But a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead for Tippi and Grace. One that could change their lives more than they ever asked for...
This moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate?
The ONE book you have to read this summer! Incredibly moving and extraordinarily crafted, it explores the unbreakable bond and love between sisters. Winner of The CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2016.
You can see from the blurb that this book sounds brilliant can't you? I have to say that I found this book to be an incredibly easy read and that was for 2 reason's; (1) It was a beautifully gripping storyline that just hooked you in and made you want to keep turning pages and (2) because of the format in which it was set out in. The layout of the text in this book looked a like the way in which one sees poetry written and published.
What I loved about this book was that you could very easily tell that Sarah has researched the storyline with incredible detail, compassion and a level of authentic understanding. As this book is the story of conjoined twins; Tippi and Grace the story is narrated by only one twin. We learn the 'normality' of their life and the fact that they are very much aware of 'those questions' so many want to ask about their daily lives that they dare not to. Questions such as; "Is it hard to shower and see each other naked?" "What's it like when you go to the toilet?" "Will you be able to have children of your own?", "Do you wish that you were normal?". All very valid, and private questions. However what this book does spectacularly well is bring to light the true question; What is "normal"?
But the reality of their life is that during their childhood, as the children growing up today, we live in a very social media focused world. We see it every day with events happening all around the world, in seconds, an event, an accident, or for teenagers today, an embarrassing moment in their life can be streamed live across the world at the touch of a button. Tippi and Grace live in this world which is hard enough for any teenager, but for conjoined twins who are prone to being looked at and treated like a circus act it is understandably difficult.
Tippi and Grace are my sheroes this year. They embrace all of life's 'challenges' and they swat them away without a second thought. However, as we see in this book, being so 'medically challenged' as some would say leaves them open to all sorts of medical challenges. Challenges that not even the medical staff at the top of their game know the answers to. And I for one can completely understand just how terrifying that thought is.
We see that Tippi and Grace are just normal girls, growing up, learning how to navigate their way in life and the trials of being a teenager. Subjects that we take for granted; falling in love, dating, learning to drive, recovering after an illness, and such.
Without spoiling the story, I have to say that the ending utterly broke me. I lay in bed eager to finish this book before falling asleep and I sobbed my heart out. I sobbed because of the true brilliance of Sarah's talent for writing, I sobbed for Tippi, and I sobbed for Grace. But just like in recent weeks here in the UK, at times when things are really horrific and heartbreaking in the most painful of ways, we see figures of the public pull together and show true compassion and humanity. If anything, this book truly shows that no matter just how ripped apart we can be and how life can throw the most cruelest of curveballs of loss, pain, and difficult decisions, it can also bring with it unconditional love, understanding, togetherness and unity.
Truly this book shows that no matter what. We are all ONE. Which is why I easily award this book 5/5 stars.
I would like to dedicate this review to all the victims that have suffered here in the UK in the past few weeks; the victims of the Westminster Attack, the beautiful people who are victims of the Manchester Attack, and the victims of the awful tragedy of Grenfell Tower Fire. Each and every ONE of you are in my heart, faces and names that I promise I will never forget. My love, my thoughts, and my prayers are forever with each and every one of you.
We are all ONE.
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