Friday 30 August 2013

Book Review: Save The Date! by Allie Spencer

Title: Save The Date!
Author: Allie Spencer
Publisher: Arrow
Publication Date: 20th June 2013

Family weddings can be hell.


...and, marooned in Italy for her cousin's nuptials, Ailsa can be forgiven for thinking that this one is worse than most. With the bride and groom at loggerheads and the guests in uproar, it is a million miles away from the rest and relaxation she'd been hoping for.
And then suddenly, in the middle of the mayhem, she comes face-to-face with Nick, the man she walked out on just a few months earlier.
How can Ailsa help get the wedding back on track when she and Nick can't stop arguing? But if they do, she might remember why she fell in love with him in the first place - and then there really would be trouble.

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I am a huge fan of Allie Spencer's book, So I knew I would love this one! Which I certainly did, I finished it in a day hehe!
So we meet Ailsa who has been invited to her cousin's wedding in Italy which is perfect timing to get away from things after being newly single but however is being bridesmaid to her cousin's wedding really a good idea?
Ailsa gets caught up in the middle of the mayhem when she arrives at the hotel in Italy when she suddenly comes face to face with Nick, the man she walked out on just a few months earlier..... #awkward!
Will Ailsa be able to get the wedding back on track and stop herself from arguing nonstop with Nick.

Save The Date is really truly a summer read, The cover is so beautiful and grabs any reader's attention. I loved this book so much, was hooked so much even finished it in a day!
I loved the main character Ailsa, she is just a normal laid back kinda girl and I felt sorry for her a bit and I just kept wishing for her happy ending.

For big fans of Allie Spencer's are going to love this book, it is a must summer read in the beautiful Italy which will have you wanting to book a flight to Italy straight away.

Friday 23 August 2013

Book Review: Deep Blue Sea by Tasmina Perry


Title: Deep Blue Sea
Author: Tasmina Perry
Publisher: Headline
Publication Date: 18th July 2013


Passionate. Explosive. Impossible to put down. Tasmina Perry is back with her most spectacular novel yet.

Beneath the shimmering surface lies a dark secret...

Diana and Julian Denver have the world at their feet. With a blissful marriage, a darling son and beautiful homes in London and the country, Diana's life, to the outside world, is perfect. But nothing is as it seems...
When Julian dies suddenly and tragically, Diana is convinced there is more to it than meets the eye. She calls on the one person she had never wanted to see again - her sister, Rachel.
A former tabloid reporter, Rachel appears to be living the dream as a diving instructor on a Thai island. The truth is she's in exile, estranged from her family and driven from her career by Fleet Street's phone-hacking scandal.
For Rachel, Diana's request opens old wounds. But she is determined to make amends for the past, and embarks on a treacherous journey to uncover the truth - wherever it may lead...

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This would be the first time I have ever read a Tasmina Perry book before, It was recommend by someone from work that I should start reading her books because she is a fab writer, So I thought hey ho I'd give it a go.

I love all the covers of her most recent books because they are just truly beautiful with the lovely colours of sunsets, or sunrises with a beach. Truly amazing covers that will grab any readers attention.

I'v got to say I adored this so much, I was a bit worried that I may not like and I'll admit I was comparing Her books to Jackie Collins, However Tasmina, You are the better author ;) tehe!
Deep Blue Sea is very fast pacing with plenty of things going on the chapters, I wasn't sure whether I would be able to keep up with the book with the chapters always flicking back and forth with each character, However It was very easy to be drawn in with this book and get so involved with the characters as though you knew them in person.

I'll certainly read more of Tasmina Perry's book in future, superb read for sure! I never knew what the ending could be like I just hoped Diana & Rachel made up but also found their own happy endings. I don't want to give too much away as I feel that with books every one can experience the book themselves.

To sum Deep Blue Sea in words I would say dark secrets, mystery, love && Passion. It is a fantastic read which will have you hooked in minutes!

Paperback                   Kindle

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Book Review: The Gravity of Birds by Tracy Guzeman

Title: The Gravity of birds
Author: Tracy Guzeman
Publisher: Harpercollins UK
Publication Date: 15th August 2013

A haunting debut of love in all its forms, The Gravity of Birds perfectly
captures the devastating consequences betrayal can have through the decades, echoing right through to the present day.

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Maggie O’Farrell.

Sisters Alice and Natalie were once close, but adolescence has wrenched them apart. Alice is a dreamer who loves books and birds; Natalie is headstrong, manipulative – and beautiful. On their lakeside family holiday, Alice falls under the thrall of a struggling young painter,Thomas Bayber. Natalie, however, seems strangely unmoved, tolerating sittings for a family portrait with surprising indifference. But by the end of the summer, three lives are shattered.

Decades later, Thomas, now a world-renowned artist, reveals the existence of a portrait of himself with Alice and Natalie from that fateful summer. The sisters themselves have disappeared without a trace. And Thomas is torn between taking the secrets of the girls to the grave, or using the painting to resurrect the past before it closes up on them all for good…

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I was sent this book by Rosie from Harpercollins, Thank you! I'll admit when I received it I was a bit nervous about starting this incase I didn't like it and It wasn't my cup of tea, However I was totally wrong! It was amazing and written so beautifully, I just adored every moment reading it especially as I finished it in two days and even after finishing I still can't get it out of my mind.

We meet sisters Alice and Natalie on a summer family holiday on their lakeside, they were once close however when Alice fell in love with a struggling young painter Thomas Bayber, Natalie in years to come was jealous of Alice. By the end of that summer, Three lives were shattered.
Now decades later Thomas, now a well known artist, reveals a portrait of himself with Alice & Natalie from that summer but the sisters themselves are hidden away. Thomas employees the help of two guys to help find the missing paintings and the sisters Alice & Natalie too.

Tracy Guzeman has done a terrific job of writing this book so beautifully and adorably. I did adore it so much, I loved the way each chapter flicked between different dates but you can easily follow each chapter with what is unfolding in every chapter.

I loved warming up to the characters especially Alice, I felt kinda sorry for her in a way especially because of the way her sister Natalie betrayed her and could do such a nasty thing like that..not going to do any spoilers though hehe!

I feel this book is one to cherish on your own and not to be spoiled. I adored and will be passing on the books to all my friends & family. Certainly deserved the 5/5* rating.

Book Review: Killer Queens by Rebecca Chance


Title: Killer Queens
Author: Rebecca Chance
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 1st August 2013

Every little girl grows up dreaming of marrying a prince - but what if the fairy tale turns into a right royal nightmare? Scheming kings, killer queens, evil princes, far-from innocent princesses, secret weddings, runaway brides, illicit affairs, death plots and lashings of steamy sex - it's just another day in the lives of the world's most powerful families. Find out what REALLY goes on behind closed palace doors…

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I am so shocked I have never ever read a Rebecca Chance book before until now, Yes I know hang my head in shame :( lol! What a fantastic bonk-buster read 2013, will sure to catch up with all her other books now.


 we meet three women powerful and have everything going on in their lives, Chloe fiance to Hugo soon to be Prince & Princess of Cambridge.
Belinda is mother to Hugo & Sophie, Used to be Queen but faked her own death to get away from her life and protect her children, but now misses her two children and will do anything to be reunited with them once again.
Lori an Olympic athlete who has fallen heads over heels in love in wit Prince Jaochim of a very wealthy European state.  All three women have different lives but are all going through the same situations, I loved that you can easy warm to the characters as each chapter was one of the three women and you got to know the women a lot in the first couple of chapters. I did actually feel quite sorry for them in a way.

I loved the royalty story line it had in the book, I actually kept picturing Duke William & Duchess Kate as Prince Hugo & Princess Chloe. Belinda reminded me of Princess Diana although she isn't around anymore. I enjoyed this book so much, for my first time reading a book by Rebecca Chance I Loved it!

It is a superb read and for readers who have never read are going to love this book, It is definitely one not to miss this summer! Rebecca chance does write superb Bonk-busters books and you cannot miss out with Killer Queens but yes it is racy with lots of sex scenes but you end up being so hooked in the chapters that you will find your self all day/night reading Killer Queens until the very end.

A must bonk-buster summer read 2013!!


Paperback                Kindle  

Friday 16 August 2013

Book Review: The Desperate Wife's Survival Plan by Alison Sherlock

Title: The Desperate Wife's Survival Plan
Author: Alison Sherlock
Publisher: Arrow
Publication Date: 9th May 2013


Charley Summers doesn’t have a care in the world as she hands her gold-plated credit card over at the hair salon, where her wild curls have been transformed into a gleaming satin curtain. She lives in the lap of luxury, supported by a rich, successful husband and surrounded by a loyal group of friends.

Alarm bells don’t even start to ring when her card is declined twice. Some silly mistake, she thinks – and pays in cash. But it is no mistake. Charley’s world is about to collapse, as the business goes bust, the bank forecloses and bailiffs move in to take every one of their disposable possessions. Even her marriage cannot survive.

Charley has nothing – no house, no money, no qualifications. Just shame and sorrow – and the knowledge that she must get a job. Any job. And she must find somewhere to live – no matter how squalid and depressing. Then she must start repaying some of the money which her husband has so recklessly squandered.

But how on earth is she to do that?

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I loved Alison Sherlock's debut book The desperate bride's diet club so I knew with this Im sure I could love this book just as much.

So we meet Charley summers who spends money like its going out of fashion and lives in luxury until her successful husband loses everything and all her cards get declined and her glamourous lifestyle is about to come crashing down. Charley has nothing, no house, no money, no qualifications just embarrassment and that she needs to get a job straight away, to help with this puddle of a mess...

I loved this book so much, it certainly brought some truth in what some people suffer in life at the moment and to fall right down in the scrap heap and start from scratch and grow back to a lovely person who doesn't care about money & glamour-ness after all.
I loved seeing how Charley ended up with nothing but by the end had a great life and not caring about being glamourous anymore. It showed how she was a nice person deep down without all the cash & glamour to be able to hide behind.

For huge fans of Alison Sherlock need a bit of this in there lifes right now! 

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Book Review: It's Raining Men by Milly Johnson

Title: It's Raining Men
Author: Milly Johnson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 1st August 2013


Best friends May, Lara and Clare are desperate for a holiday. They have been dreaming of a little cottage in the middle of nowhere, long walks in the country and just a bit of time away from it all. But when they arrive in Ren Dullem, a small Yorkshire seaside town, it seems it is not the place they thought it was... May can't wait to get away from men after being cruelly deceived. Then in Dullem she falls hook line and sinker at first glance for one of the inhabitants - but he's already taken...

Lara is living with James and his awful step-children who taunt her with tales of his younger, prettier ex whom they adored - the woman who Lara walks in to find James in bed with despite all his protestations that he wouldn't touch her again with a barge pole. Reeling from the hurt, she needs the sea air of Dullem to heal her. What she doesn't need is to be constantly in battle with the owner of the holiday cottage - a man who is every bit as bitter and resentful and untrusting of the other sex as she is.

Clare's kind, steady boyfriend Lud wants her to go and live abroad with him for two years, but she's just been offered the promotion of a lifetime. It gives her the excuse she needs to end the relationship and find some single excitement which happens to turn up in the form of a very bad boy who is everything Lud isn't - impulsive, wild and dangerous.

Will this holiday be the break they all need? Or will the odd little town with all its secrets bring them all to breaking point...?



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Firstly I have got to say that Milly Johnson is a fantastic author who has written some amazing reads she never fails to make her readers laugh, smile and even cry with her books but best of all her readers hate to finish the last page knowing that they need more of a Milly Johnson book fix as soon as.

I have a huge thank you to say for Alice Murphy at Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy. I was highly excited when I found out Milly was bringing a new book out, The title of the book is superb, I just keep visioning lots of Gerrard Butlers falling in the sky haha!

So we meet May, Lara and Clare Best of friends who work for the same company but are in desperate needs of a holiday as they never get a lot of time to see each other and catch up, so Lara decides to book them into a luxury hotel with a spa but when wires get crossed when booking and they end up in Ren Dullem instead of Wellum, Everything doesn't seem right to the girls, hardly any women in the village just lots of men..how very strange...!

What a fantastic read this was! I was pretty much hooked from the beginning, I loved reading about the three main characters May, Lara & Clare they were all going through similar things in life but was keeping it away from each other, which is not what friends should do. The characters are very much easily able to loveable and friendly, It was nice to see how each of their lives easily changed once they had stayed in Ren Dullem.

The story had plenty of romance and was very heart-warming.  Ren Dullem seemed to be such a mysterious little village with always plenty of goings on to try and ruin the girls holiday especially with miss busy body Daisy.

For huge fans of Milly Johnson's book then they are going to love this book! It is a must read for sure.
I loved it and so will you! A Deserved 5 out of 5 stars from me!

Paperback                  Kindle  

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Book Review: Wicked Wives by Anna-Lou Weatherley


Title: Wicked Wives
Author: Anna-Lou Weatherley
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 18th July 2013

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.

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I adored Anna-Lou's first book 'The Chelsea Wives' so when I was so overjoyed when I heard Anna was bringing another book out 'Wicked Wives', I couldn't wait to start!
The cover doesn't give much away but just has a glamourous lady so in a way you know the book is going to be very glamour & glitz.

'Wicked Wives' is certainly a book to remember this year. So we meet Tom Black Playboy, Casino Owner and a serial gambler he disappears after being on a yacht found abandoned off the coast of Antigua. Nobody knows where he's gone just that shots were heard.. What ever happened to Tom Black?
Three women under the lime light for killing Tom Black, Ellie Scott; beautiful socialite with a dubious past, Loretta Fiorentino; Glamourous fame-seeking gold-digger and Victoria Mayfield; glamourous successful author. Who has the motive to kill Tom Black and why?

This is one power hungry book that will have you staying up late at night like I certainly was most nights. Each Chapter is a different character but you so easily warm to the characters and you soon get hooked with the story line. I really did enjoy this so much.
Anna-Lou certainly knows how to get her readers hooked and enjoy her books so much. 'Wicked Wives' is written superb and I couldn't fault it one bit.
I don't want to give the plot away because I feel you may want to enjoy reading it yourself.
It is certainly not one to miss this year for sure.
Totally hook worthy book! A fabulous holiday read for 2013 which will have you turning the page so quick!!

Grab now Ladies, You do not want to miss out!!

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Rowan Coleman Woman Walks into a Bar Press Release

WOULD YOU LIKE TO #SUPPORTAFRIEND AND HELP US TO RAISE £10,000 FOR REFUGE**no running or bungee jumping involved, just a great read!
On 10th September 2013, author Rowan Coleman is inviting women everywhere to #supportafriend and get involved in her mission to raise £10,000 for Refuge.On this date Rowan will release her novella WOMAN WALKS INTO A BAR as an eBook and 100% of her royalties will go to the charity Refuge.All readers have to do is to download WOMAN WALKS INTO A BAR from Amazon … and encourage as many women as they can to do the same. Simple!
When Rowan Coleman began work on her tenth novel she asked her 1500 Facebook fans if they would be willing to share their personal experiences of domestic abuse. She was shocked to discover 204 emails waiting in her inbox the following day.So began the process of writing DEAREST ROSE, featuring a character inspired by the women Rowan spoke to. Rose, with the help of her friends, gradually finds the strength and courage to escape an abusive marriage along with her seven-year-old daughter.DEAREST ROSE went on to win the Festival of Romance Best Romantic Read 2012, the RoNA Epic Romance Novel of the Year 2013 and was also shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year 2013.
To support publication and to spread the word Rowan is launching a campaign, #supportafriend, on Twitter and Facebook, encouraging women everywhere to tell us how they will support a friend on September 10th.If there’s one thing women do well, it’s friendship. Whether they bake a stressed-out work colleague a cake, give a long-distance friend a call to see how they are, or help a mum with a buggy off the bus, we’re asking the public to tweet their ideas and pictures, on the day, and to get involved with competitions and giveaways.
As a member of the press, you are in a unique position to help Rowan spread the word about #supportafriend and to encourage as many of us as possible to buy WOMAN WALKS INTO A BAR. We’d love you to review the book on your blog, on Amazon, on Goodreads and do anything else you can think of to help to raise the profile of the event via social media!We are encouraging everyone to use #supportafriend and #womanwalks to try to focus activity on sales of WOMAN WALKS INTO A BAR, which is the quickest way to raise money for Refuge.And of course the easiest way for you to support the #supportafriend campaign is to buy the book…buy two!
WOMAN WALKS INTO A BAR by Rowan Coleman
Published September 10th 2013; £1.59
Available for pre-order from Amazon — get yours today!
Make contact with Rowan at the following:
Twitter: @rowancoleman
using the hashtags #supportafriend and #womanwalks
For a review copy please contact Laura West at digital@davidhigham.co.uk

Thursday 1 August 2013

COMPETITION TIME!!! Chance to win a signed copy of Milly Johnson's It's Raining Men & bag of Goodies!!


HAPPPY PUBLICATION DAY TO MILLY JOHNSON!

FANCY A CHANCE TO WIN SIGNED COPY OF IT'S RAINING MEN & BAG OF GOODIES??


The ever so lovely & wonderful author Milly Johnson has given me the great pleasure to be able to hold this competition for a signed copy of It's raining men & bag of goodies.

How to enter is follow the rafflecopter rules & also answer the question in the comment section below..


Q) OUT OF ALL THE BOOKS MILLY HAS PUBLISHED, WHICH ONE DID YOU LOVE THE MOST & WHY?

The competition will end midnight on Thursday 8th August!
GOOD LUCK!
XOX



















Five-foot-tall Milly Johnson is a half Barnsley, half Glaswegian writer of greetings cards, novels and shopping lists featuring gin and buns. When not writing she is either reading, learning Italian, mixing with the Yorkshire glitterati, getting up the council's nose about a Dodworth Road Pedestrian Crossing or ironing school clothes. She lives with her two boys and a quartet of mad animals near her Mam and Dad in the middle of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is also the Sunday Times top ten bestseller and has published 9 books and It's Raining Men being the most recent in 2013.