Coco Swan has always been embarrassed by her name.
With a name like Coco, she thinks people expect her to be as exotic and glamorous as the famous designer, not an ordinary-looking small-town antiques dealer who could win an award for living cautiously.
But when a vintage Chanel handbag turns up in a box of worthless bric-a-brac, Coco's quiet world is turned upside down. Where did it come from? And is it just coincidence that it's the same bag Coco's late mother always wanted for her?
When Coco discovers a mysterious, decades-old letter hidden in the bag's lining, she sets off on a quest to piece together the story behind it, stumbling across secrets that span three generations as she goes.
Could the beautiful Chanel bag be about to teach Coco more than she wants to learn? Or will it show her just where her heart can take her if she lets it lead the way?
Why so excited? --> Earlier this year I read Niamh Greene's novel 'A Message to Your Heart', which I would definitely recommend to any chick lit fan. I've been looking forward to 'Coco's Secret' for quite some time, because I can't wait to read another Niamh Greene novel and because the blurb has simply captivated me. I already love Coco, the fact that she is an antiques dealer, the mysterious old letter hidden in a Chanel bag... Sounds like a great recipe for a lovely novel!
Grace Surtees has everything carefully under control - her work life, her home life and her love life - especially her love life.
But then her boss hires Tate Saunders, a brash American, to spice up the gallery tours his company provides. Messy and fond of breaking rules, Tate explodes into her tidy existence like a paintball, and Grace hates everything about him...
...doesn't she?
Because, for Grace, the alternative would be simply too terrifying to contemplate: to love Tate rather than hate him would mean leaping out of her comfort zone, and Grace's devotion to order hides some long-kept secrets... secrets she's sure someone like Tate Saunders could never accept or understand.
Why so excited? --> Okay, am I the only one who can already almost breathe in the chemistry between Tate and Grace? I am really curious to read more about these two, especially because of Grace's intriguing past. What are the secrets she is hiding? And will she be able to keep them hidden? This novel has definitely caught my attention, what about yours?
Manhattan lawyer Ellen Branford is going to fulfill her grandmother's dying wish - to find the hometown boy she once loved and give him her last letter. Beacon, Maine, home to blueberry fields and eccentric locals, is the last place she wants to go so close to her upcoming wedding. Hoping to be in and out in 24 hours, Ellen ends up the talk of the town when a tumble into the ocean introduces her to Roy Cummings, the carpenter who saves her life. Roy happens to be the nephew of Ellen's grandmother's lost love, and the one person who can bring closure to her quest. But as Ellen learns what Beacon has to offer and what her grandmother left behind, she may find that a 24 hour visit will never be enough...
Why so excited? --> As some of you might know, I'm a sucker for books that have to do with cupcakes, cookies, ice cream parlours, tea houses... So the fact that the title includes the words 'blueberry bakeshop' is already enough to get me interested! I also like the sound of this love story; a bride-to-be travelling to a small town, trying to find the boy her grandmother loved and wants to give her last letter too, meeting a carpenter in that town... I read that fans of Nicholas Sparks will love this, and since I adore his novels, I can't wait to start with this one!
Lynn Stephens' life has been tough recently, thanks to Vincent Boland, the manager at the four-star hotel where she works. But, after standing up to him, she is delighted when she is vindicated.
Lynn loved her job and she was good at it and now, with the support and love of her partner, parents and friends, she can put this terrible time behind her and find a job in another hotel.
But the consequences of Vincent's actions are more far-reaching than Lynn knows and the after-effects are still being felt throughout the small town. The Boland family is powerful and influential and it's not long before Lynn realizes that this man still has the capacity to destroy her and all she holds dear.
Why so excited? --> Anyone else who already wants to hit this Vincent character in the face? The description of Lynn Stephens and what has happened to her has grabbed my attention, and I'm quite curious to find out what it is exactly that happened and how she is going to deal with everything coming her way. Colette Caddle's novels haven't disappointed me before, so I'm looking forward to picking up this one!
Eva Patterson's life is forever altered by the devastating discovery of her mother, Flora, dead in the bath leaving only a note: 'Forgive Me'.
Until Flora's suicide, Eva's world had been secure - but overnight everything changes. For when Flora leaves Eva a London artist's studio in her will, she finds her mother had a secret past.
In the studio's attic are Flora's paintings and diaries, and Eva learns her mother was a popular artist in the swinging sixties. Eva's hunt for answers uncovers clues to a shocking crime which led Flora to hide her past.
But will discovering the truth destroy Eva's belief in everything she holds dear? And will this journey lead her and those she loves into danger?
Why so excited? --> I received a review copy of 'Forgive Me', the latest release by bestselling author Lesley Pearse, an author I'm not familiar with. The blurb sounds fascinating, though, and it's always good to check out new authors! I'm looking forward to reading more about Eva's journey and her discoveries related to her mother's past.
Jamie McAlister has resigned herself to the fact that in this job market, her painfully expensive degree might only get her a position at Starbucks, when she suddenly lands a prestigious internship at the White House. Although she doesn’t hit it off with the other interns—lockjaws who come from so much money that ten weeks without a paycheck doesn’t faze them—she is eager to work hard and make the best of the opportunity while it lasts.
An unexpected encounter late one evening with the charismatic President Gregory Rutland seems like just a fleeting flirtation, but when he orchestrates clandestine meetings and late-night phone calls, their relationship quickly escalates. Jamie knows what she is doing is wrong: he’s married, he has kids, he’s the President. Yet each time she tries to extricate herself, Greg pulls her back in.
With the conflicted desires of the most powerful man in the world driving her to her breaking point, Jamie can’t help but divulge intimate details to those closest to her. But she must have confided in the wrong person, because she soon finds herself, and everyone she cares about, facing calculated public destruction at the hands of Greg’s political enemies, and—perhaps no matter how much he cares about her—at the hands of Greg himself.
Why so excited? --> Most chick lit lovers will know Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus from their bestselling novel 'The Nanny Diaries.' Well, they're back with a new book, and I love the sound of it! An internship at the White House sounds fantastic, and the main character Jamie having an affair with the actual president... Sounds like an entertaining read to me!
Cecilia Fitzpatrick, devoted mother, successful Tupperware business owner and efficient P&C President, has found a letter from her husband.
'For my wife, Cecilia Fitzpatrick
To be opened in the event of my death'
but Cecilia's husband isn't dead, he's on a business trip. And when she questions him about it on the phone, Cecilia senses something she hasn't experienced before, John-Paul is lying.
What happens next changes Cecilia's formerly blissful suburban existence forever, and the consequences will be life-changing for the most unexpected people.
Why so excited? --> I've heard so many good things about this novel, which will be released in the UK this August. The cover is stunning and even though the blurb doesn't give too much away, it has already convinced me that this is a book I can't and don't want to miss out on!
Be sure to pick up your own copies of these August releases, coming to stores near you soon!
These all look very exciting Jody!! Hahaha you made me laugh out loud when I read that you enjoyed books that include cookies, bakeries, or other sweets. I can totally relate to that!
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