Blog Tour: 'His Other Life' by Beth Thomas!

He was hiding a terrible secret...
Grace’s new husband Adam seems like the perfect package. Good looking, great job, completely charming – almost too good to be true...
So when Adam suddenly disappears from Grace’s life, she is left bewildered and heartbroken. And with a lot of unanswered questions.
As she tries desperately to find him, Grace opens a Pandora’s Box of secrets and lies – and starts to learn that Adam wasn't so perfect after all.
What shameful secrets was her husband hiding? Is Grace in danger? And can she survive the truth? However terrible it may be...
I’m really excited to be part of quite an exciting blog tour organised by Avon today, namely for author Beth Thomas’ second novel ‘His Other Life’! The book was released on the 26th of March and for me it has been one of the March 2015 releases I’ve been most looking forward to. Last year I got the chance to read and review Beth’s debut novel ‘Carry You’, which I loved (click here to read my review), and I couldn’t wait to see what she would come up with next. ‘His Other Life’ promised to be quite the captivating read, judged by its synopsis, so I was really happy when I found a review copy on my doormat and couldn’t wait to get stuck in!
Grace has been happily married to her husband Adam for one year and she still can’t quite believe she managed to get together with a guy like Adam. He's good-looking, charming, has a good job… What more could a girl wish for, right? But then Adam suddenly disappears from Grace's life when he is supposed to get some Indian takeaway, but never returns home. Grace is left behind heartbroken and doesn't know what to do, besides try and find Adam. What happened? Did someone do this to Adam or was it free will? The questions keep on coming, and Grace has no idea what to think or to believe. It doesn’t take long before she starts to realise Adam maybe wasn’t the perfect charming guy she thought he was, and that this is just beginning of all the secrets and lies.
Before I picked up ‘His Other Life’, I was already fascinated by the short description of the book and its alluring cover, but I was also a bit in doubt about what genre to expect exactly. While the cover has an almost magical touch to it, the plot also has elements of chick lit and crime, so I had no idea what to expect exactly. However, whatever genre the book fits into, Beth Thomas once again engaged me with her addictive, funny and comfortable-to-read writing style and I ended up really enjoying this read. She really has a great narrative voice and managed to hold my attention from the first chapter until the last.
The main protagonist Grace was really easy to like, even though she is incredibly naïve. Her character really develops throughout the novel, which is not that strange considering everything she goes through after her husband suddenly disappears. I also really liked the secondary characters, such as Grace’s best friend Ginger (who cracked me up) and Grace’s family. While I do think the cover and synopsis do not reflect the story inside of this novel 100%, Beth Thomas is a promising voice and I already can’t wait to read her next novel. Overall, ‘His Other Life’ is an addictive, captivating and entertaining mix of chick-lit, drama and crime, and a novel that is certainly worth picking up!  

Rating:8,5/10

  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.

Blog Tour: 'Carry You' by Beth Thomas (2014)

Daisy has lost her mum to breast cancer. She’s at rock bottom and doesn’t think she’ll ever get back up again. Her best friend Abi has other ideas – she tells it like it is and she’s determined to make Daisy remember the person she used to be.
What Daisy doesn’t know is that, thanks to Abi, her life is about to take an unexpected turn, when she signs them up to do a charity walk. Added to which, someone is about to burst into Daisy’s world in a riot of colour reminding her that life can be full of surprises.
I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of the blog tour for Beth Thomas’ debut novel ‘Carry You’, which was released on the 24th of April, today. Not only did I immediately fall in love with the book as soon as I saw the cover (I love the pastel colours, the silhouettes of the couple standing next to the tree, the by-line... Simply gorgeous!), but I was also touched and fascinated by the blurb. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, and thankfully, she is one of the women who managed to beat the disease. The topic of the novel is something that means a lot to me, and I was curious to see what the book would be like. As a part of the blog tour, I also received the chance to interview author Beth Thomas, so be sure to scroll down to read more about Beth, her inspiration for this book, and her future plans as an author!
After the death of her mother, Daisy is finding it incredibly hard to cope with every-day life. Even getting up from the couch or her bed and going outside seems like simply too much. Her best friend Abi wants to do anything she can to help Daisy get back on her feet and become the same old Daisy again. She decides to sign both of them up to do a charity walk at night to raise money for cancer research. Daisy has to start training for the walk, which gets her into all kinds of situations and is the start to her finding her way again, learning how to deal with everything that life throws our way.  
I honestly adored everything about this novel: from the pretty cover to the inspiring storyline to the fun characters and the captivating style of writing. I loved Daisy, the protagonist. It was incredibly easy to warm to her and I quickly find myself rooting for her to get back on her feet and try to make the best of things. Daisy’s really funny and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her develop as a person throughout the story. Next to Daisy, there are some brilliant secondary characters, like her amazing best friend Abi and neighbour Felix, who becomes Daisy’s walking buddy. 
Trying to deal with a loss and finding yourself again is something almost everyone has to deal with at a certain point in their lives, and I think Beth Thomas managed to turn this experience into words in a beautiful way. Her writing is fabulous, in my opinion, and I am already excited about her future releases. ‘Carry You’ is a read I can’t recommend enough to others; it’s warm, touching and truly inspiring and one of my favourite books of 2014 so far.
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.  

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Author Interview with Beth Thomas

 

Can you tell us something about your novel, ‘Carry You’? I’d love to. Carry You is the story of Daisy who is dealing with bereavement and feeling very down. She’s in a real rut, with no job, no home and no motivation. But luckily for her she has an inspirational best friend, Abby, who literally gets Daisy moving again by signing them both up to do The Moonwalk together – a 26 mile power walk round London, at night, in aid of breast cancer research. Little by little, Daisy gets back on her feet, until by the end of the book… Ah, but that would give it all away!
Where did you find the inspiration for ‘Carry You’? Is it in any way based on your own personal experiences? Yes, in many ways it is. My own mum died just over 11 years ago, and for anyone who’s lost someone, the feelings stay with you for a very long time – probably forever. I drew on my experience there to try to capture how Daisy was feeling at the start of the book. Also I have now completed the London Moonwalk three times, and it remains one of the most surreal, fantastic and inspirational things I have ever done.
Have you ever participated in a charity run yourself? Why did you decide to write about it? Ah, yes, sorry, I’ve kind of answered that one already! For anyone who feels like they’d like a challenge but maybe can’t imagine being able to run a marathon, I’d thoroughly recommend The Moonwalk. It still takes training, a lot of it, so it’s very time-consuming, but the end result is to get fit and raise money – win-win!
What about the protagonist of the novel, Daisy. Can you tell us a bit more about her and how she became your main character? That’s a tricky one. I started off with the idea of someone grieving, and how that might have an effect on everything in that person’s life. Anyone who’s been through something difficult will know that it can bring your life to a complete standstill for a while. So I wanted to show that, and how grief can make you selfish and thoughtless too. Daisy’s character was also an important way to demonstrate Abby’s personality – that no matter how apparently lazy and self-centred Daisy was being, Abby knew it was the grief and remained understanding and loving. In a ‘tough love’ kind of way.
There’s a great mix of support characters in the novel. Which character did you most enjoy writing about and why? Ooh you can’t ask me that! If I say I have a favourite, the others will be upset! (*whispers* Felix).
Can you perhaps tell us something about your future plans as an author? Are you already working on a next novel? Yes, I’m working on my second book. In fact the first draft is almost done, and then I have to rewrite, but I’m looking forward to that. It’s a bit like pimping it up – the main story is there, I just have to add a little frosting, which is always good fun.
Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? The main thing I would say is don’t give up! And when I say that I mean don’t stop writing. If you get knocked back by a publisher, just keep going. I know of so many people who want to be writers but never actually finish what they’re writing. It’s lengthy and time consuming and hard work but you must simply keep going. And if you feel that what you’ve written is poor, don’t worry. Get the story down first – you can always go back and improve things once you’ve cleared your head a bit.
What is the last book you read that you’d like to recommend to others? I haven’t read anything for ages – so difficult to find the time. But I did read Life of Pi last year, which was incredible. Thoroughly recommend that.
Which book could you not live without? I know it’s a terribly old and clichéd answer, but I would have to say Pride and Prejudice. I think what Jane Austen did back then was ground-breaking. She invented chick-lit! Every writer could learn from her subtle character depiction. I love it.
And last but not least, if you had to describe ‘Carry You’ in just three words, which words would you pick? Love. Friendship. Hope. Or maybe MY FIRST NOVEL!
Thanks so much, Beth!

April 2014 releases!

The end of March is here which means two things: Spring has finally arrived (I think most of us have already experienced some lovely sunny afternoons!) and it's almost the start of April, a month filled with some fabulous book releases! Which books are you looking forward to reading? I'd love to hear about the releases you are most excited about!  

Riosin Meaney - 'After the Wedding' (3rd of April)

It's the beginning of May on the island of Roone, two years after Nell Mulcahy called off her wedding to the handsome Tim. Now she's preparing for another wedding - to Tim's brother - but as she sets off for an old church in County Clare, a disappearance on Roone throws the island into turmoil.

As the days pass and the search continues, the islanders cope as best they can - Nell adjusting to life as a married woman, Imelda and Hugh discovering the trials of fostering, Laura pregnant and under pressure and teenage Andy finding his first love.

Every summer on the island is eventful, but this year brings challenges that test everyone's courage. Will happiness be restored before autumn comes, or will Roone's magic finally run out?

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Zoe Fishman - 'Driving Lessons' (8th of April)

Sometimes life's most fulfilling journeys begin without a map.

An executive at a New York cosmetics firm, Sarah has had her fill of the interminable hustle of the big city. When her husband, Josh, is offered a new job in suburban Virginia, it feels like the perfect chance to shift gears.

While Josh quickly adapts to their new life, Sarah discovers that having time on her hands is a mixed blessing. Without her everyday urban struggles, who is she? And how can she explain to Josh, who assumes they are on the same page, her ambivalence about starting a family?

It doesn't help that the idea of getting behind the wheel—an absolute necessity of her new life—makes it hard for Sarah to breathe. It's been almost twenty years since she's driven, and just the thought of merging is enough to make her teeth chatter with anxiety. When she signs up for lessons, she begins to feel a bit more like her old self again, but she's still unsure of where she wants to go.

Then a crisis involving her best friend lands Sarah back in New York—a trip to the past filled with unexpected truths about herself, her dear friend, and her seemingly perfect sister-in-law... and an astonishing surprise that will help her see the way ahead.

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Joanna Bolouri - 'The List' (10th of April)

Phoebe Henderson may be single but she sure doesn't feel fabulous. It's been a year since she found her boyfriend Alex in bed with another woman, and multiple cases of wine and extensive relationship analysis with best friend Lucy have done nothing to help. Faced with a new year but no new love, Phoebe concocts a different kind of resolution.

The List: ten things she's always wanted to do in bed but has never had the chance (or the courage!) to try. A bucket list for between the sheets. One year of pleasure, no strings attached. Simple, right?

Factor in meddlesome colleagues, friends with benefits, getting frisky al fresco and maybe, possibly, true love and Phoebe's got her work cut out for her.

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Carole Matthews - 'A Place to Call Home' (10th of April)

In the dead of night, Ayesha takes her daughter, Sabina, and slips quietly from her home, leaving behind a life of full of pain. Boarding a coach to London, all Ayesha wants is a fresh start. 

Hayden, a former popstar, has kept himself hidden away for years. He's only opened up his home to two people - Crystal, a professional dancer with a heart of gold, and Joy, an ill-tempered retiree with a soft spot for waifs and strays. 

When Crystal asks Hayden if Ayesha and Sabina can stay with them, he reluctantly agrees and, as different as they may be, they quickly form an unlikely bond. So when enemies threaten their peaceful home, they will do all they can to save it and each other. 

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Nicola Doherty - 'If I Could Turn Back Time' (10th of April)

What if you found The One, then lost him again?

Or not so much lost him as became the neurotic, needy girlfriend from hell. The girl who tried to make him choose between her and his job, and got seriously paranoid about his relationship with his female best friend...

Zoë Kennedy knows she doesn't deserve another chance with David Fitzgerald. But if there's the tiniest possibility of making things right, she'll snatch it. Even if it means breaking the laws of physics to do so...

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Cecelia Ahern - 'How to Fall in Love' (10th of April)

She has just two weeks. Two weeks to teach him how to fall in love – with his own life.

Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Halfpenny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump. Adam is desperate – but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him she can show him that life is worth living before then. 

Despite her determination, Christine knows what a dangerous promise she’s made. Against the ticking of the clock, the two of them embark on wild escapades, grand romantic gestures and some unlikely late-night outings. Slowly, Christine thinks Adam is starting to fall back in love with his life. 

But has she done enough to change his mind for good? And is that all that’s starting to happen?

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Lynn Montagano - 'Catch My Breath' (17th of April)

Lia Meyers’ plan for a relaxing Scottish vacation is short-lived when one uncharacteristic moment of clumsiness lands her in the arms of a dangerously attractive Englishman…

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Beth Thomas - 'Carry You' (24th of April)

Daisy has lost her mum to breast cancer. She’s at rock bottom and doesn’t think she’ll ever get back up again. Her best friend Abi has other ideas – she tells it like it is and she’s determined to make Daisy remember the person she used to be.

What Daisy doesn’t know is that, thanks to Abi, her life is about to take an unexpected turn, when she signs them up to do a charity walk. Added to which, someone is about to burst into Daisy’s world in a riot of colour reminding her that life can be full of surprises.

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Fern Britton - 'A Seaside Affair' (24th of April)

When the residents of the Cornish seaside town of Trevay discover that their ramshackle but much-loved theatre is about to be taken over by a global coffee chain, Café au Lait, they are up in arms.

It is up to Penny Leighton, hotshot Producer and now happily married Cornish resident, to come up with a plan to save it. Armed with her only her mobile phone and her enviable contacts book, she starts to pull in some serious favours. Trevay soon finds itself at the centre of the universe when more A-listers than you can shake a stick at arrive to take part in a charity season at the theatre.

The play throws out a chance to Jess Tate, girlfriend to TV heartthrob Ryan Roberts. His career is on the rise while hers remains resolutely in the doldrums. But when opportunity comes calling, it isn’t just her career prospects that are about to change.

Tevay is about to put on the show of its life – but can the villagers, and Jess, hold on to the thing they love the most?

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Tracey Garvis Graves - 'Covet' (24th of April)

Claire Canton is at a crossroads in her marriage. Her husband Chris has recently taken some knocks from life, pushing him to retreat to a dark place where no one can reach him, not even Claire. She feels alone and with nowhere to turn...

Then Claire is pulled over by police officer Daniel Rush, a man with a tragic past. And a random encounter blossoms into a friendship, which brings much needed light into both their lives.

As their relationship intensifies it's not long before Claire and Daniel are in way over their heads and skating close to a line that Claire has sworn she'll never cross...

But is it too late to go back? And does she even want to?

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Tracy Bloom - 'Nobody Ever Has Sex On a Thursday' (24th of April)

Never has a late-night stand led to such chaos!

Childhood sweethearts Matthew and Katy agree they must never see each other ever again after they end up in bed together following a school re-union.

So all is forgotten...until eight months later when a shock meeting at an antenatal class forces them to confront the fact that Matthew could be the father of Katy's baby. Oblivious to the mayhem unfolding, Matthews highly strung wife frets over giving birth to twins and Katy's much younger boyfriend refuses to take fatherhood seriously.

Love and life are messy but Katy and Matthew take things to a whole new level as deep emotions begin to resurface and hormones run riot.

How will they navigate their way through this almighty pick-up?

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Nikki Moore - 'Crazy, Undercover, Love' (24th of April)

Uber-feisty career girl Charley Caswell-Wright travels to Barcelona for a weekend assignment as PA to the gorgeous Alex Demetrio, CEO of Demetrio International.

But she's there under entirely false pretenses: to get her life back on track. Having lost the job she worked so hard to earn, she’s determined not to give it up so easily, especially when she didn’t deserve to lose it in the first place.

Mr Dreamy CEO is her only chance of clawing back her career – and her reputation. So she has to keep things strictly professional… boy, is she in trouble!

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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Samantha Birch - 'The High Street Bride's Guide' (24th of April)

Brides-to-be, this one’s for you!

You can say your vows in a catwalk gown so beautiful it reduces your mum to tears (and not because she paid for it).

You can style a reception so stunning your guests won’t believe you didn’t hire an A-list planner.

And you can sprinkle the day with personal touches that make everyone feel like you gave them special attention before they even got there. Without spending a house deposit on it. Honest.

Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

Which releases are you looking forward to? I'd love to hear from you!

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books On My Spring 2014 TBR List

'Top Ten Tuesday' is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Lately I've seen some other book bloggers being quite enthusiastic about this weekly meme, so I decided to join in with the fun and try it out myself as well!  

  Top Ten Books On My Spring 2014 To-Be-Read List   Today's Top Ten Tuesday gives me the chance to tell all of you about the 10 books that are on my Spring 2014 to-be-read list! I have to admit, my to-be-read list usually consists of tons of books and I only end up reading a few of them because there's just not enough time to read all of them! So, I decided to go with a top 10 of books I will definitely read before the start of the summer, either because they're already lying on my bookshelf, waiting to be picked up, or because I am 100% sure I'll buy a copy of the book as soon as it is released because I am so excited about it. Here we go!

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1. 'If I Could Turn Back Time' - Nicola Doherty (April 2014)

The paperback version of Nicola Doherty's latest release 'If I Could Turn Back Time' will be released in April, and I was lucky enough to receive an early review copy from the publisher. The book has been lying on my bookshelf for quite some time now, because I was asked to review it around the release of the paperback version, and I really can't wait to finally read it this Spring!    

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2. 'A Special Delivery' - Clare Dowling (February 2014)

The lovely Clare Dowling herself provided me with a copy of her most recent release, 'A Special Delivery.' After my first experience with Clare Dowling's work earlier this year (click here to read my review of 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'), I really look forward to reading more of her work which is why 'A Special Delivery' is at the top of my to-read-list for the upcoming months. 

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3. 'The Little Beach Street Bakery' - Jenny Colgan (March 2014)

Jenny Colgan is an amazing writer and her books never disappoint. 'The Little Beach Street Bakery' was released last week and tells the story of main character Polly who is forced to move to Cornwall where she opens her own bakery. The combination of all kinds of yummy treats and Jenny Colgan's writing is enough reason for me to straight away add this book to my to-read-list!

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4. 'One Night in Italy' - Lucy Diamond (June 2014)

The next Lucy Diamond novel will be released at the start of June, which is still Spring, so it means I can add it to this top 10! I adore Lucy's work and I loved loved loved her previous novel 'Me and Mr. Jones' (click here to read my review). I have high hopes for 'One Night in Italy', but I am sure I won't be disappointed!

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5. 'Carry You' - Beth Thomas (April 2014)

I just received a review copy of 'Carry You' yesterday, because I was asked to be a part of the blog tour for Beth Thomas' upcoming release. I straight away loved the pretty cover of the book, and the blurb promises a captivating story about a young woman named Daisy who has just lost her mother to cancer and is now trying to find a way to go on with her life. Another promising Spring read!

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6. 'Thirteen Weddings' - Paige Toon (May 2014)

I've never met a chick lit fan who doesn't love Paige Toon's work, so it's no wonder the entire chick lit community is excited about Paige's upcoming release, 'Thirteen Weddings.' The book promises another charming and bittersweet story, has a gorgeous cover, and the fact that weddings play a key role have convinced me that this is a read I do not want to miss!

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7. 'The Time of Our Lives' - Jane Costello (March 2014)

Another popular chick lit author is treating us to a new and exciting release this Spring, namely Jane Costello. Her novel 'The Time of Our Lives' will be released at the end of March and I can't wait to read another one of her feel-good and heart-warming novels! 

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8. 'You're the One That I Want' - Giovanna Fletcher (May 2014)

Giovanna Fletcher released her debut novel 'Billy and Me' last year and it was one of my favourite reads of 2013 (click here to read my review). At the end of May her second novel 'You're the One That I Want' will be released and I really look forward to reading it! The cover is absolutely stunning and the blurb promises a fabulous romantic story... A book I have high hopes for and I have a feeling I will probably love it as much as I loved 'Billy and Me'! 

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9. 'The One and Only' - Emily Giffin (May 2014)

One of my all-time favourite chick lit novels is Emily Giffin's classic 'Something Borrowed', so I can't help but get excited whenever a new Emily Giffin novel is released. 'The One and Only' tells the story of Shea Rigsby who has always lived in her beloved hometown in Texas, until an unexpected tragedy forces her to confront her fears and secrets. It definitely sounds intriguing and I look forward to picking up my own copy of the book this Spring!

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10. 'The Best Thing That Never Happened To Me' - Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice (April 2014)

Lots of bloggers have been talking about this April release by Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice and it has made me quite curious! The cover is lovely and the blurb sounds like a great story I think I could easily fall in love with. I usually really enjoy novels written from both a male and a female perspective, so 'The Best Thing That Never Happened To Me' sounds like a great read to end this Top 10 with! 

Which novels are you looking forward to this Spring? I'd love to hear from you!