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31 March 2016

April 2016 Releases! (Part 1)

March has been a great month filled with some wonderful releases, some of which I was lucky enough to be able to read and check out! However, April is almost upon us and if we thought March was filled with a lot of new releases, well, just wait to see what's coming! Hopefully the upcoming month will bring us a few of those early Spring days on which you can go outside and read in the sunshine for a bit <3 If that's the case, we'll definitely have some promising reads to dig into and I personally can't wait! 

Which releases are you excited about? I'd love to hear from you! If you'd like me to include your book release in this list, feel free to contact me via e-mail or Twitter! :)

Cathy Bramley - 'The Plumberry School of Comfort Food (Part 2)' (5 April)

Despite the drama of the opening day, Verity and the rest of the team are determined to tighten up their apron strings and make a success of the cookery school – even their previously hot-tempered chef is showing his soft side and getting stuck in. 

The charming village of Plumberry is working its magic on Verity too, and as Verity's plans for a major event at the cookery school come together, the whole community starts to get involved... 

But as friendships bubble and a sprinkling of romance is added to the mix, will Verity get her fingers burnt just when things were looking peachy? 

The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts - following the adventures of Verity Bloom in love, friendship and cooking. This is Part Two. 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Alison Sweeney - 'Opportunity Knocks' (5 April)

Alex Cleary lands a dream job doing make-up for Hillary P.--a culinary star with a million-dollar lifestyle empire and reputation for being very challenging. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and provides a steady paycheck.

But when Alex inadvertently violates the confidentiality clause of her contract, her dream opportunity turns to dust: She's on the hook for a million bucks--unless she can squash the problem within 72 hours. With help from a Hollywood heartthrob, Alex concocts an elaborate scheme that just might get her off the hook. But everything will have to run precisely to plan, and the clock is already ticking.

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Lisa Beazley - 'Keep Me Posted' (5 April)

Sisters Cassie and Sid Sunday have not done a bang-up job of keeping in touch. In their defense, it hasn’t been easy: life veered in sharply different directions for the once-close sisters. Today, beautiful and big-hearted Sid lives an expat’s life of leisure in far-off Singapore, while harried, iPhone-clutching Cassie can’t seem to make it work as a wife and a mom to twin toddlers in Manhattan.

It doesn't help that Sid spurns all social media while Cassie is addicted to Facebook. So when Sid issues a challenge to reconnect the old-fashioned way—through real, handwritten letters—Cassie figures, why not? 

The experiment exceeds both of their expectations, and the letters become a kind of mutual confessional that have real and soul-satisfying effects. And they just might have the power to help Cassie save her marriage, and give Sid the strength to get her life back on track.

But first, one of Cassie’s infamous lapses in judgment comes back to bite her, and all of the letters wind up the one place you’d never, ever want to see them: the Internet... 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Emily Liebert - 'Some Women' (5 April)

Annabel Ford has everything under control, devoting her time to her twin boys and keeping her household running smoothly. But when her husband of a decade announces that he’s leaving, she’s blind-sided. And suddenly her world begins to unravel.

Piper Whitley has always done her best to balance it all—raising her daughter Fern by herself while advancing her career as a crime reporter. Only now that she’s finally met the man of her dreams, Fern’s absentee father shows up, throwing everything into a tailspin.

Married to the heir of a thriving media conglomerate, Mackenzie Mead has many reasons to count her blessings. But with an imperious mother-in-law—who’s also her boss—and a husband with whom she can no longer seem to connect, something has to give.

On the surface, these three women may not have much in common, but just when they each need someone to lean on, their lives are thrust together, forming unlikely friendships that help each woman navigate her new reality.

 


Anna McPartlin - 'Somewhere Inside of Happy' (7 April)

'And just like that my boy was gone.'

Maisie Brennan is standing on a podium on the twentieth anniversary of the death of her son, trying to find the first breath that will help her start talking to a room full of strangers. A daunting task at the best of times, but she's also menopausal and one hot flush away from totally losing it.

But as Maisie begins her story, she soon relaxes and word by word disappears into her past, back to 1st January 1995 – the day when one misunderstood action led to a chain of events that changed her life for ever.

 


Paige Nick - 'Like a Virgin' (7 April)

Grace Hendriks has led a pretty sheltered life. So when her sister Natalie begs Grace to take her place as a Rihanna impersonator at a seedy club in Amsterdam, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for... until she ends up onstage with only a pole for support and her lacy knickers in a knot!

Thrown into strip-club life, and forced to share an apartment with an exotic troupe of impersonating divas with Lady Gaga-sized egos, Grace has to learn some hard lessons fast. One: living with Marilyn Monroe and Madonna isn’t easy. And two: transformations don’t happen overnight – especially when your bra is determined to sabotage your dance routine.

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Mhairi McFarlane - 'Who's That Girl?' (7 April)

When Edie is caught in a compromising position at her colleagues’ wedding, all the blame falls on her – turns out that personal popularity in the office is not that different from your schooldays. Shamed online and ostracised by everyone she knows, Edie’s forced to take an extended sabbatical – ghostwriting an autobiography for hot new acting talent, Elliot Owen. Easy, right?

Wrong. Banished back to her home town of Nottingham, Edie is not only dealing with a man who probably hasn’t heard the word ‘no’ in a decade, but also suffering an excruciating regression to her teenage years as she moves back in with her widowed father and judgy, layabout sister.

When the world is asking who you are, it’s hard not to question yourself. Who’s that girl? Edie is ready to find out. 

 


Fiona Harper - 'The Summer We Danced' (7 April)

Shall we dance?

After a humiliating divorce and watching her former rock star husband leave her for a model live on reality TV, Pippa is determined to disappear. So she returns to the small Kent village where she grew up to make a fresh start.

Little did she know that would mean saving her beloved childhood dance school or falling for her old school crush Tom too! 

 


Victoria Walters - 'The Second Love of My Life' (7 April)

In the Cornish town of Talting, everyone is famous for something.

Until recently Rose was known for many things: her infectious positivity; her unique artistic talent; and her devotion to childhood sweetheart Lucas.

But two years ago that changed in one unthinkable moment. Now, Rose is known for being the young woman who became a widow aged just twenty-four.

Though Rose knows that life must go on, the thought of carving out a new future for herself is one she can barely entertain. Until a newcomer, Robert, arrives in Talting for the summer...

 


Marcie Steele - 'The Second Chance Shoe Shop' (8 April)

All Riley Flynn wants is to meet someone who makes her happy. But attracting the right kind of man is not easy, and with her heart still hurting from her last break-up, Riley believes she’ll never find love again.

A year ago, Sadie Stewart’s whole world was shattered when her husband, Ross, died. She has struggled to keep herself together for the sake of their young daughter, but with the anniversary of his death approaching, Sadie finds herself overwhelmed by grief.

Sadie and Riley work at Chandlers shoe shop, in the charming town of Hedworth. But when Chandlers is threatened with closure, the friends are confronted with the loss of not only their jobs, but also their support network - the glue that holds them together when they are close to breaking.

As they put together a plan to save their beloved shop, Sadie realises that she might just be learning to live again. Could it be that new beginnings are just round the corner? The campaign also finds Riley unexpectedly crossing paths with charming photographer, Ethan. Maybe her second chance at love is right under her feet … 

 


Aimee Duff - 'The Summer Flings Travel Club' (17 April)

Armed with a degree that she doesn't have a clue what to do with, Ciara Bree convinces her two best friends, Elle and Gem to spend their first summer of freedom backpacking across the globe. Now it's time to shop, sunbathe, think about boys for a change, and party hard…

LA, Miami, Paris, Santorini, Ibiza, Florence and Dublin…these fabulous jet-setters are in for the summer of their lives.

From crashing celebrity parties in Tinseltown to grape-squishing in Florence, Ciara globetrots her way to happiness with her friends Elle and Gem by her side.

But Elle’s gorgeous cousin Zack keeps showing up, and while Ciara can think of a few ways to have fun with him, she starts to realise that her summer fling isn’t as uncomplicated as it should be…


 


Kayte Nunn - 'Rose's Vintage' (18 April)

With her heart in tatters after a relationship break-up, Rose Bennett swaps her hometown of London for the sunny shores of Australia – but she arrives to find the Shingle Valley shrouded in winter.

As the weather improves, Rose starts to unlock the secrets of the valley – from bonfire ceremonies and wine-making traditions to eccentric locals and their histories.

Despite herself, Rose starts to fall in love: with the valley, the wines, the two children she’s helping to look after – and with the handsome and brilliant Mark Cameron, owner of the troubled Kalkari Wines estate.

What will happen when Mark’s estranged wife, the tempestuous Isabella, returns? Will Rose find a future in the Shingle Valley, or will she be forced to leave?

 


Nora Zelevansky - 'Will You Won't You Want Me?' (19 April)

Marjorie Plum never meant to peak in high school. She was Queen Bee. Now, 10 years later, she's lost her sparkle. At her bleakest moment, she’s surprised by renewed interest from a questionable childhood crush, and the bickering with her cranky boss—at a potentially game-changing new job—grows increasingly like flirtatious banter. 

Suddenly, she’s faced with a choice between the life she always dreamed of and one she never thought to imagine. With the help of a precocious 11-year-old tutee, who unknowingly becomes the Ghost of Marjorie Past, and a musician roommate, who looks like a pixie and talks like the Dalai Lama, Marjorie struggles with the ultimate question: Who does she want to be?

 











30 March 2016

Review: 'A Better Man' by Leah McLaren (2015)

Maya wants Nick to be less of a workaholic, to come home earlier, to spend some time with his children. Nick wants a divorce. With his mind made up, Nick is determined to leave quickly and with dignity, but it comes as an unpleasant shock to realise how much it will cost him to walk away. As a stay-at-home mum, Maya is entitled to everything. Nick is resolute, so when an unlikely solution presents itself he gives it everything he's got. If Nick becomes a better husband and father, if he encourages his wife to rediscover herself, the more self-sufficient Maya will become: and the cheaper Nick's pay-out. But as Nick pretends to be a better man he becomes one. He remembers his connection with Maya, their ability to be a couple and not just parents who share a house. Everything seems to be back on track. Until Maya finds out exactly what Nick has been planning...

Canadian author Leah McLaren's second novel 'A Better Man' was released in August 2015 and received several positive book reviews which I found when I did a bit of online research on the author. I wasn't familiar with Leah McLaren before I was contacted about 'A Better Man' and hadn't heard of her debut novel 'The Continuity Girl.' However, I was curious to check out this new author and I was quite intrigued by the description of the book. It promised to be a captivating tale about marriage and I looked forward to giving it a chance and be introduced to Leah McLaren's writing at the same time!

Nick and Maya Wakefield seem to be a great couple to the outside world. Nick has a good job which he loves, they have a beautiful home, and adorable twins which Maya takes care of as a stay-at-home mum. But Nick isn't happy; hasn't been happy in quite some time and has decided he wants a divorce. However, when he confides in his old friend Adam Grey, a family lawyer working at one of the biggest firms in the city, Nick discovers the divorce will cost him a lot of money, mainly because Maya is completely dependent on him and takes care of the kids. In order to get a better divorce deal, Nick will need to become a better husband and help Maya find herself again so she becomes more independent. Nick decides to take on this challenge and everything seems to go really well, until Maya finds out what Nick has been doing all along...

‘A Better Man’ focuses on couple Nick and Maya Wakefield who fell in love with each other while they were both at university, but several years later there doesn’t seem to be any trace of their love left at first sight. After the birth of their twins, Maya became a stay-at-home mum and Nick became even more of a workaholic, resulting in the two of them leading almost separate lives. Nick decides he wants a divorce, but he will need to become a better husband first in order to get a less expensive divorce deal. I was intrigued by the plotline of this novel and quite curious to see what the author would do with it within the almost 300 pages of the book. While I did enjoy the book, I didn’t really connect with the characters and felt as if there was just something missing.

There are a lot of descriptive passages in the book with just a bit of dialogue, which wasn’t really to my personal taste. I really missed the characters conversing with one another, which is perhaps also why I didn’t really warm to either Nick or Maya, who are the two main characters. I found it quite difficult to get into the book, but this is definitely one of those books that get better and better as the story progresses. By the end, I was quite enjoying it, but that feeling came a bit too late. I am curious to see what else author Leah McLaren has to offer us, so wouldn’t hesitate to pick up one of her other reads in the future, but unfortunately ‘A Better Man’ just didn’t check all the boxes for me. I am, however, sure there will be numerous women’s fiction fans out there who will enjoy this novel a lot more than I did, so please don’t hesitate to pick it up and give it a chance if you like the sound of it!
Rating:7,5/10
 
For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

29 March 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads

'Top Ten Tuesday' is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. I love making lists, so this feature fits me perfectly! If you also take part in this feature or have any additions to my lists, please get in touch; I'd love to hear from you!
 
 
10 of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads

Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's Top Ten Tuesday list focuses on some of the books I've read recently which I enjoyed the most. Back in the day I almost never gave a 5 star rating to a book because I was looking for that perfect read, but over the years I've become a bit easier with giving out 5 star ratings. If I love everything about a book, such as the storyline, characters, setting, romance element; it deserves a 5 star rating in my opinion! Below you'll find the 10 books I have most recently given a 5 star rating; if you haven't read any of these titles, be sure to pick them up because they're definitely worth it! :)

Be sure to share your own TTT's in the comments section below; I'd love to hear from you! 



1. 'The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart' by Anna Bell


I love Anna Bell; her writing is great and so far I think I've given all of her novels a 5 star rating and they definitely deserve it; chick lit at its best!



2. 'Sleepless in Manhattan' by Sarah Morgan


Another author who hasn't so far disappointed me with her novels. Sarah Morgan's romance trilogies are the best, such fantastic reads <3



3. 'The Trouble with Emma' by Katie Oliver


It had been quite a time since I read a Jane Austen adaptation and Katie Oliver's 'The Trouble with Emma' certainly didn't disappoint. I loved it from start to finish and am really looking forward to reading more of Katie Oliver's work.



4. 'Blogger Girl' by Meredith Schorr


I was surprised by how much I ended up loving this novel. Once again a brilliant example of chick lit; a read I definitely recommend to any romantic comedy fans!



5. 'Wickham Hall' by Cathy Bramley


Only love for Cathy Bramley and her novels! <3



6. 'The Birthday That Changed Everything' by Debbie Johnson


I had been waiting for Debbie Johnson's first full-length novel to be released and when it did, I was so happy I loved it from start to finish; a great read!



7. 'No-One Ever Has Sex in the Suburbs' by Tracy Bloom


It doesn't happen often that a sequel to a book is actually just as great or even better than the first part, but this was definitely the case with Tracy Bloom's 'No-One Ever Has Sex in the Suburbs'. I can't remember the last book that made me laugh as much while reading as this one.



8. 'The Girl's Guide to Getting Hitched' by Sophie Hart


Sophie Hart is another author whose novels I always love. 'The Girl's Guide to Getting Hitched' was another one of her great reads, all about weddings.



9. 'Fooling Around with Cinderella' by Stacy Juba


Another novel which I stumbled upon when I was asked to review and it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable read; already can't wait for Stacy Juba's next one!



10. 'Twin Piques' by Tracie Banister


And the same goes for Tracie Banister's 'Twin Piques'; without a doubt one of my favourite chick lit reads I've read during the past year or so!

28 March 2016

Review: 'The Wedding Date' by Jennifer Joyce (2016)

Delilah James, singleton and smoothie-addict, has six months to find a date for her oldest friend’s wedding. Oh, and to prove to her ex, best man Ben, that she has totally moved on since he dumped her out-of-the-blue nine months, eight days and seventeen hours ago…

So, with her two BFFs playing Cupid, Delilah launches herself into the high-tech, fast-paced and frankly terrifying world of dating. Luckily there’s the hot new guy at work, Adam Sinclair, to practice her flirting on – even if, as a colleague, he’s strictly off-limits!

Yet time’s running out and date after disastrous date forces Delilah to tell a little white lie – and invent a fake boyfriend! But will her secret crush on Adam ruin everything? Does she even care about Ben anymore? And is it too late to untangle her web of lies and take a real date to the wedding…?

Happy publication day to author Jennifer Joyce, whose latest novel 'The Wedding Date' is released today, March 28th! I got incredibly excited when I was approved on NetGalley to review this book; I fell in love with the gorgeous cover as soon as I saw it and the blurb sounded great as well. I've had the pleasure of reading several of Carina UK's releases the past couple of months and I have to say they are definitely becoming one of my favourite publishers of the moment with their fun and simply great romance reads. I couldn't wait to get started on 'The Wedding Date' and hoped I'd end up enjoying it!

Twenty-something Delilah James can't get her ex-boyfriend Ben out of her head and really wants to get him back. However, when she discovers he has already moved on by getting engaged to someone else, Delilah is determined to prove to the world that she has forgotten all about Ben as well. She needs to find a handsome date to a friend's wedding where Ben will be the best man, and luckily her two best friends Ryan and Lauren are ready to help her out. Delilah soon finds herself on a wild goose chase, going on one horrible date after another. Until she discovers the man of her dreams might have been right under her nose all along... The question is; does Delilah really know what it is she wants and has she really moved on as much as she is claiming to be?

Another thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy from publisher Carina UK and a great new-to-me author in the form of Jennifer Joyce! I couldn't get enough of 'The Wedding Date' and was quite sad when I'd reached the end of the novel; I really enjoyed every single page. The book has a relatable and easy-to-love heroine at its centre, Delilah, with a wonderful and memorable group of secondary characters as well (such as her best friends Ryan and Lauren, her colleagues at the biscuit factory where she works, and her family consisting of her parents and brother and sister). The plotline of the story is quite basic, but Jennifer Joyce really managed to make things interesting and the book held my attention at all times, keeping me curious.

I especially loved the author's writing style and the pace of the book. It was incredibly easy to get lost in the story and the book itself and the chapters both had the perfect length, in my opinion. Each chapter started with a short fun text message conversation, which I also thought was a nice touch that had me laugh out loud several times. I guess this book just really managed to tick all of my boxes for a great and entertaining read and it's a novel I highly recommend to any chick lit/romance fan looking for their next read. 'The Wedding Date' is an uplifting and light-hearted romantic comedy about moving on after a break-up; a brilliant read which I loved from start to finish!
Rating:9,5/10
 
For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

27 March 2016

Review: 'If I Could Turn Back in Time' by Beth Harbison (2015)

Thirty-seven year old Ramie Phillips has led a very successful life. She made her fortune and now she hob nobs with the very rich and occasionally the semi-famous, and she enjoys luxuries she only dreamed of as a middle-class kid growing up in Potomac, Maryland. But despite it all, she can't ignore the fact that she isn't necessarily happy. In fact, lately Ramie has begun to feel more than a little empty.

On a boat with friends off the Florida coast, she tries to fight her feelings of discontent with steel will and hard liquor. No one even notices as she gets up and goes to the diving board and dives off...

Suddenly Ramie is waking up, straining to understand a voice calling in the distance...It's her mother: "Wake up! You're going to be late for school again. I'm not writing a note this time..."

Ramie finds herself back on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, with a second chance to see the people she's lost and change the choices she regrets. How did she get back here? Has she gone off the deep end? Is she really back in time? Above all, she'll have to answer the question that no one else can: What it is that she really wants from the past, and for her future?

Wouldn't it be great to be able to go back in time and perhaps change some decisions you made or experience certain days again? I know I would definitely take the chance if it was given to me, and I love books in which characters get to travel through time, for whatever reason. So, when I was approved to receive a review copy of Beth Harbison's 'If I Could Turn Back Time', which was originally released in July 2015, I was really excited. Not only because of the topic of the novel, but also because I had already heard numerous positive things about author Beth Harbison and her books, and I looked forward to finally reading one of her novels myself!

Ramie Phillips is thirty-seven and quite proud of what she has accomplished in her life so far. However, when she's at a luxurious party on a yacht and one of her friends announces her pregnancy, Ramie can't help but feel sad about the absence of love in her life; where's her chance to start her own family? As her questions and the alcohol take over, she suddenly decides to jump off the yacht, hitting her head on the way down. To her complete surprise, Ramie doesn't wake up in the hospital but in her teenage bedroom and within the body of her 18-year-old self. Suddenly Ramie is given the chance to rethink some of the decisions she made when she was a teenager and to do things over. The question is: what is it she really wants for herself?

I was immediately intrigued by the promising storyline of Beth Harbison's 2015 release 'If I Could Turn Back Time.' Yes, it's a storyline that has been done many times before (heroine is unhappy with her life and suddenly finds herself travelling back in time to rethink some of her past decisions and actions), but I always love seeing how authors interpret it in their own way. In the book, main character Ramie is transported back to when she was 18 and given the chance of a do-over. I quite liked Ramie and the secondary characters in the novel and was curious to find out what would happen to all of them and how Ramie's decisions would influence everything.

Unfortunately, I couldn't help but feel as if the story just didn't live up to its potential. I didn't warm to Ramie as much as I wanted to and especially the middle part of the book seemed to drag a bit, with not too much going on. I wanted to finish the novel and see how everything would eventually work out, but I wasn't as engrossed by the story as I hoped I would be. I did enjoy Beth Harbison's writing style and definitely look forward to giving one of her other books a try in the future. Overall, 'If I Could Turn Back Time' is a light-hearted and enjoyable novel which I'm sure certain readers will really enjoy, but it was unfortunately not the great read I was personally hoping it would be. 
Rating:7,5/10
 
For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.