Blog Tour: 'A Year of Being Single' by Fiona Collins!

BEST FRIENDS IMOGEN, FRANKIE AND GRACE DECIDE TO TEST WHETHER THE GRASS REALLY IS GREENER ON THE SINGLE SIDE OF THE FENCE…
IMOGEN is supposed to be on the most romantic weekend of her life and instead she’s quickly realised that her current boyfriend definitely isn’t ‘The One’ and actually One Big Mistake.
FRANKIE is fed up. Fed up of her good-for-nothing husband and her four, unappreciative children. Well, they hardly notice her anyway, maybe it’s time to shake it up a little…
GRACE thought she had the perfect life. Gorgeous little boy and perfect, hardworking husband. Or rather, she did, until she realised her husband was shagging his ‘work’.
It’s time for a change – and to ditch the men who are dragging them down! It’s time for A Year of Being Single. Swearing off men, these single ladies don’t need to put a ring on it…right?
Today I am part of the blog tour for Fiona Collins' new novel, 'A Year of Being Single', which was released by Carina UK on April 21st, and it's a tour I am really excited about! The book is actually author Fiona Collins' debut novel and it's a book I straight away loved the sound of. I read it promised to be a great read for fans of Jane Costello and Fiona Gibson, which was already enough reason for me to want to give the book a chance. Next to my review I also have a special Spotify playlist from Fiona herself to share with all of you today, so be sure to click here to check it out and have a look and also visit some of the other blogs on the tour for more exclusive content! 
Frankie, Imogen and Grace are the best of friends who happen to have one thing in common with each other; they are fed up with the men in their lives. Frankie is sick and tired of continually cleaning up after her husband and four kids, so she decides it's time to throw him out of the house. Imogen is dating another big mistake, one in a row of many, and decides she might be better off alone. Grace unexpectedly finds herself alone as well after she catches her husband James cheating on her. The three women decide it's time to stay single for an entire year; no more man problems and just the focus on themselves for a change. But a year can be quite long; question is, can Imogen, Frankie and Grace really stick to their pact or will it be a bigger challenge than they expected...?
'A Year of Being Single' is a fun and enjoyable chick lit read and a promising debut novel by new author Fiona Collins. The book is told from the points of view of three different female characters, Imogen, Frankie and Grace, who all decide to spend a year without men. Each of the women has her own interesting and captivating story to tell and I specifically enjoyed how different the women were, each of them with her own personality and own ideas of what she wants from the men in her life. If I have to pick one favourite character it's probably Grace; she really develops throughout the story and I really liked what the author decided to do with her storyline.
I was a bit surprised by some elements of the ending of the book; not everything I'd hoped for happened, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, of course. The novel is quite a quick read with around 260 pages and chapters of a good length; not too long and not too short. I really enjoyed Fiona Collins' debut and think it's a promising start to her author career; I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next next! Overall, 'A Year of Being Single' is a thoroughly enjoyable, light-hearted and fun read I can recommend to any women's fiction or chick lit fan looking for their next read, and another great read by publisher Carina UK!

Rating:9/10

  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.

Review: 'An Autumn Affair' by Alice Ross (2016)

IS THE GRASS REALLY ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE?
Bored housewife and mother of twins JULIA is contemplating an affair with ex-boyfriend Max after a chance meeting in the supermarket. The cereal aisle no less.
Trophy wife MIRANDA has got it all – expensive clothes, a huge house, and her wealthy husband Doug. So why does she feel like something is missing?
Teenager FAYE hates being treated like a child. She wants glamour and excitement – anything to get away from her mundane family life.
THREE women, each with TWO options, needing to make ONE choice.
Over the past few months or so I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing several thoroughly enjoyable novels released by publisher Carina UK. I managed to get review copies via NetGalley and I have to admit I can't get enough of their stories, so whenever I spot a new book that will be released by them on the NetGalley website these days, I just can't stop myself from requesting a review copy! Today, I've got a review of Alice Ross' 'An Autumn Affair' to share with all of you, which is the first part of her 'Countryside Dreams' series. I read somewhere that this is actually a previously released book that has now been separated into four different e-books, and I immediately really liked the sound of 'An Autumn Affair', so looked forward to giving it a chance!
'An Autumn Affair' focuses on three different women living in the same town, all dealing with their own issues. Julia has been married to Paul for years and they have two children together. But when she bumps into her ex-boyfriend Max during her Friday afternoon shopping trip, she can't think about anything else but Max anymore. Julia's teenage daughter Faye wants nothing more than to be treated as the adult she feels she is, and the chance to walk away from her boring small town life. Miranda is married to a wealthy man, lives in a wonderful home and has a great daughter, but what appears quite perfect from the outside, is actually quite broken from the inside, and Miranda is struggling to find a solution that will make her problems go away...
'An Autumn Affair' is the first instalment of the new four-part series 'Countryside Dreams' by author Alice Ross, and a very promising start indeed! I straight away really liked the pretty cover of the book and am glad to say the story inside definitely matched it. The novella focuses on three female characters, Miranda, Julia and Faye, who are all dealing with their own issues. Numerous topics are explored within the pages of the book, including friendship, lost love, family, and betrayal. Because of the three storylines and the various topics tackled in the different stories, I wanted to keep on reading and didn't get bored at any time by the characters and/or the storylines.
Alice Ross' writing really fits the chick lit genre; a great mix of both description and dialogue, and with convincing, relatable and likeable characters at its core. I am already curious to see what the second part of the series, 'A Summer of Secrets', has in store for us and I have high hopes I will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed this first instalment. Overall, I thought 'An Autumn Affair' was another great read by publisher Carina UK and a, for me personally, wonderful introduction to Alice Ross' writing; an entertaining and easy-to-read novella which I am positive many women's fiction/chick lit fans will enjoy as much as I did!

Rating:9/10

  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.

Review: 'The Chic Boutique on Baker Street' by Rachel Dove (2016)

Amanda is making the idyllic escape to the countryside to find a new life. Ben is picking up the pieces of his life after his wife left. Could a chance encounter outside Amanda's 'chic boutique' set them on the road to renewed happiness? Shop owner Amanda leaves London behind for life in the country and find's love with local vet Ben in this fun, addictive winner of the Prima Flirty Fiction competition.
Don't you just want to run away to the countryside when you see the book cover of Rachel Dove's 'The Chic Boutique on Baker Street'? I love everything about this colourful book cover and after having read the description of the story I knew this was going to be one of the April 2016 releases I definitely wanted to check out. Luckily, I was contacted by the publisher and found a lovely shiny paperback review copy of the book in my mailbox a few weeks ago! Spring is the perfect time for lovely and fun romance novels that leave you with a smile on your face, and I already had a good feeling that is exactly what 'The Chic Boutique on Baker Street' would turn out to be!
After catching her boyfriend and colleague Marcus in the arms of his secretary, Amanda Perry decides to leave her life as a successful lawyer in London behind to start afresh in the countryside. She ends up in the small town of Westfield where she starts her own boutique, called ‘A New Lease of Life.’ Next door to her store there’s a dog grooming business which is where Amanda first meets local vet Ben Evans. Ben mainly tries to focus on himself, trying to get over the divorce from his wife, but he can’t ignore the sparks between him and Amanda. Amanda definitely isn’t looking for new love, but it quickly turns out the inhabitants of Westfield have other plans in store for both Ben and Amanda…
After having read ‘The Chic Boutique on Baker Street’ I completely understand why author Rachel Dove was the winner of the Prima Flirty Fiction competition with this title, because it is a fun and light-hearted romance read which I enjoyed from start to finish. I’m a sucker for the basic storyline of a heroine leaving her city life behind to start anew in a small town in the countryside, but Rachel Dove really managed to give it her own twist and turned it into a read I didn’t want to put down. The characters in this book are wonderful; I easily warmed to leading lady Amanda and her possible love interest Ben, and there was a great collection of secondary characters as well. With stories set in small towns I love it when the write can convey that town feeling of everyone knowing and looking out for each other, and that feeling was definitely there in Westfield!
The book is quite a short read with precisely 300 pages and the writing is fast-paced, which resulted in me racing through the pages, perhaps even quicker than I actually wanted! I think this really is the perfect Spring read because it has that feel of new love and sunshine and lovely Spring days, and it is a great read to pick up when you have a few hours for yourself. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Rachel Dove’s work in the future and hope she will treat us to another romance read as soon as possible. Overall, I personally really enjoyed ‘The Chic Boutique on Baker Street’; it’s a light-hearted and fun romance read that I enjoyed from start to finish and can highly recommend to any romance/chick lit fan out there looking for their next read!

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.

Review: 'Who Needs Mr Willoughby' by Katie Oliver (2016)

What should rule - your head, or your heart?
When sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are forced to leave their family home to live in a rural Northumberland cottage, Marianne is convinced her social life is over. Somehow, she can’t see kitten heels coping well in the countryside – and being stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from London, sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Not to mention her arrogant new boss, Dr Brandon, who doesn’t seem to think much of her city ways.
When she meets the gallant, charming and handsome Mr Willoughby, Marianne begins to think that country life might not be so bad after all…especially when he suggests that marriage might be on the cards. But the countryside still has a few tricks up its sleeve for Marianne…after all, love rarely turns blossoms in the most convenient places!
On the 24th of March the third part of Katie Oliver's latest book series, The Jane Austen Factor, was released by publisher Carina UK. 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is a retelling of Jane Austen's classic 'Sense and Sensibility', which I'm sure people who know the book already managed to get out of the title. A few weeks ago I read and reviewed the second part of the series, 'The Trouble with Emma' (click here to read my review), which I really loved and is a modern-day retelling of Austen's 'Emma.' I couldn't wait to check out this last part as well, even though I have to be honest and admit I'm quite sad to see this so far great series finish!
The lives of the Dashwood family, consisting of sisters Marianne and Elinor and their mother, are suddenly changed when they are forced to leave their home and move to a cottage in rural Northumberland instead. Marianne feels there's nothing positive the countryside could possibly bring her and finds it difficult to settle in. She manages to find a job at the local veterinary office, but her new boss Mr. Brandon is quite a challenge to please. When Marianne meets the handsome Mr. Willoughby, she is over the moon; finally something to keep her distracted from her rather boring new life. But as they embark on a romance, Marianne has no idea the countryside still has quite a few unexpected events in store for her...
I still don't exactly know why it took me so long to finally pick up one of Katie Oliver's novels, but after having read this second one of hers I am convinced her books are definite must-reads for any Jane Austen fan out there! 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is a modern-day retelling of Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility' and Katie Oliver decided to go with a mix of elements from both modern times and Austen's original stories. The story is told from the perspective of Marianne, the younger of the two Dashwood sisters, and I loved how the author portrayed a more modern version of the character while also staying true to her original personality (especially Marianne's love for drama!). I have to say I've always been more of an Elinor fan myself and would have liked it if a bit more focus had been put on her as well, but it didn't make me enjoy Marianne's story any less.
You don't need to be familiar with the other parts of this book series or Austen's original novel in order to understand what's going on in the book; it can definitely be read and picked up as a stand-alone. Katie Oliver's writing is really great, in my opinion. The book is well-paced and the chapters are of a good length, not too long and not too short. I am really quite sad to see this series come to an end and can only keep my fingers crossed and hope Katie Oliver will decide to turn Austen's remaining three novels into modern-day retellings as well! Overall, 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is another entertaining, well-written and simply great modern retelling of an Austen classic; definitely worth picking up for any Austen or chick lit fan!

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.

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.

Upcoming Release: 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby?' by Katie Oliver!

What should rule - your head, or your heart?

When sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are forced to leave their family home to live in a rural Northumberland cottage, Marianne is convinced her social life is over. Somehow, she can’t see kitten heels coping well in the countryside – and being stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from London, sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Not to mention her arrogant new boss, Dr Brandon, who doesn’t seem to think much of her city ways.

When she meets the gallant, charming and handsome Mr Willoughby, Marianne begins to think that country life might not be so bad after all…especially when he suggests that marriage might be on the cards. But the countryside still has a few tricks up its sleeve for Marianne…after all, love rarely turns blossoms in the most convenient places!

On the 24th of March the third part of Katie Oliver's 'The Jane Austen Factor' series will be released and it's a release I can't wait to read! 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby?' is a retelling of Jane Austen's classic 'Sense and Sensibility' and I am really excited to see what author Katie Oliver has done with the story. I loved 'The Trouble with Emma', part two of this book series, and I have a good feeling I'll enjoy this third part just as much, if not even more!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'The Trouble with Emma' by Katie Oliver (2016)

There’s a fine line between matchmaking and meddling…
Stuck in a boring job, living at home with her parents and without even a glimmer of romance on the horizon, Emma Bennet’s life isn’t turning out how she planned. And since hit reality show Mind Your Manors started being filmed at the Bennet household, she’s felt more like a spare part than ever.
Matchmaking her assistant, Martine, is just the distraction Emma needs – and, whether Martine likes it or not, Emma is determined to see her coupled up before long! But when she meets Mark Knightley, the genius behind Mind Your Manors, Emma finds her own heart on the line...
Mark is everything Emma isn’t: quiet, reserved…and forever minding his own business! And suddenly, Emma is determined to prove to Mark that she’s ready to stop thinking about other people’s love lives – and focus on her own.
Ever since I read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ when I was in secondary school, I’ve been in love with Jane Austen and her novels. I’ll give any adaptation or retelling of her works at least a try (yes, I’ve also read ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ and am still not quite sure what to think of it…), so when I discovered author Katie Oliver was releasing a new series titled ‘The Jane Austen Factor’, to be published by author Carina UK, I immediately got excited. To be honest, I have no idea why it has taken me so long to finally check out one of Katie Oliver’s books, because she’s a big Austen fan as well and this comes back in many of her works. However, I luckily managed to get a review copy of ‘The Trouble with Emma’, which is quite a new release, and I was really excited to start reading!
Emma Bennet’s life definitely isn’t as exciting as she would like it to be. She still lives at home together with her father and younger sister, there’s no special man in her life, and she has no fantastic job to keep her occupied. So, when she sees a great opportunity for matchmaking the in-house help Martine, Emma immediately considers it her new project. However, other things are about to turn Emma's life upside down when her family home is chosen to be the next country house featured on TV show 'Mind Your Manors.' When she meets Mark Knightley, who works behind the scenes of the show, Emma can't help but be intrigued and start wondering whether it might be time to start focussing on her own love life instead that of others...
I've read hardly any modern-day adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novel 'Emma', but Katie Oliver's 'The Trouble with Emma' is definitely my favourite so far. I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary retelling from start to finish and didn't want to put it down. Of course I was already familiar with the basic plotline of the book, but author Katie Oliver really added some great modern elements and twists to the story, making it not just a great read for Austen fans but for chick lit fans as well. It's quite a challenge to have a main character who is on the one hand quite frustrating and difficult to warm to, but on the other hand you can't help but find yourself rooting for her. That's one of the strengths of Austen's original novel, in my opinion, and in this retelling the author has done a wonderful job with this as well, because I did really like Emma (but wanted to slap her in the face every now and again as well!).
The secondary characters in the novel, such as Mark Knightley, Emma's father and younger sister, and Martine, really had the author's own touch and interpretation and I loved what she did with them and how she made everything fit together. I really found myself flying through the pages of this book. Katie Oliver's writing style is fantastic; the chapters were of a perfect length and it was just a well-paced and comfortable read which I didn't want to put down. I also want to quickly mention the book covers of this series which I love; they're a great combination of modern and historical times, which suits the series really well. I'm so glad I finally got to read one of Katie Oliver's books and already can't wait to pick up the first and third instalments of her 'The Jane Austen Factor' series. 'The Trouble with Emma' is a brilliant read; a captivating and thoroughly entertaining retelling of a Jane Austen classic; I loved it!

Rating:10/10

  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.

Review: 'How to Get Hitched in Ten Days' by Samantha Tonge (2016)

Meet Mikey, every girl’s best friend – he bakes the creamiest cheesecake, loves movie nights and is a great dance partner.
For Jasmine, Mikey is the perfect flatmate – he owns a 50s diner that turns out the best food around, gives the best bear hugs and amazing romance advice – after all they’re scoping out the same hot guys! So when her boyfriend proposes in the worst possible way, Jazz knows her best friend will be there to pick up the pieces with gourmet popcorn, Pinot sleepovers and a shoulder to lean on.
But Mikey isn’t about to let Jasmine give up on love, and he’s ready to do whatever it takes to mend her broken heart – even if it means helping the one person who sees him as the enemy…
Because at the end of the day, all’s fair in the pursuit of true love… right?
If there’s a chick lit/rom com author who I continue to come across on Twitter, other book blogs, Goodreads and Amazon but whose books I somehow haven’t read yet, it’s Samantha Tonge. I’ve seen the lovely covers and read the descriptions for some of her novels like ‘Doubting Abbey’, ‘From Paris with Love’ and ‘Game of Scones’, and I have a good feeling I would really enjoy her work. So, when Carina UK approved my Netgalley request to review her latest release, ‘How to Get Hitched in Ten Days’, which was released on February 11th, I was really excited. Finally the chance to be introduced to Samantha’s work and discover her stories myself!
Mikey and Jasmine are flatmates and the best of friends. Mikey serves the most delicious comfort food at his own 50s-style American diner and is always there to help Jasmine when she needs a shoulder to cry on or advice on her love life. So, when her long-term boyfriend Dave drunkenly asks Jasmine to marry him after a few drinks too many, Jasmine definitely needs Mikey’s listening ear. While Jasmine is confused and needs to think about her future with Dave, Mikey decides to help Dave win Jasmine’s heart back, even though Dave doesn’t appear to be his biggest fan…
I was a bit surprised when I discovered ‘How to Get Hitched in Ten Days’ is actually a novella instead of a full-length novel, but this definitely didn’t ruin the reading experience. I’m really glad I finally managed to check out one of Samantha Tonge’s works, because she has an entertaining writing style that suits the chick lit/romantic comedy genre really well. The story is told from the perspectives of leading characters Mikey and Jasmine, who are the best of friends. It was incredibly easy to warm to Mikey, I honestly thought he was a great character and would love to read more about him. His friendship with Jasmine is a great one, even though I have to admit I didn’t particularly like Jasmine. Perhaps it also has to do with the fact that this is a novella and there’s not a lot of space to really get to know characters in-depth, but I just didn’t really connect with Jasmine on any level, unfortunately.
I don’t want to give too much away about the story, but I really enjoyed the plotline of the book and think it would have definitely made a great full-length novel as well, especially with the room to expand more on the characters and their backgrounds. However, this has definitely provided me with the chance to be introduced to Samantha Tonge’s work and I already can’t wait to read one of her other books. So, overall, ‘How to Get Hitched in Ten Days’ is a light-hearted, cute, quick read with a good dose of romance; a great novella to pick up when you’re looking for a fast-paced and quick read!        

Rating:8/10

  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.

Review: 'A Home in Sunset Bay' by Rebecca Pugh (2016)

Enough is enough! The always perfect Laurie Chapman had jumped in her car and raced as fast as she could from London heading to Sunset Bay and (she hopes!) the open arms of her estranged sister…
Mia Chapman loves running Dolly’s Diner in the picture-perfect coastal Cornish town of Sunset Bay. Now that her and Grandma Dolly’s dream is finally a reality Mia has never been prouder! Until Laurie suddenly turns up on her doorstep… How can she forgive the sister who walked away?
Once upon a time Mia and Laurie were best friends. Back together after so long, the time has come for the sisters to figure out what went so wrong all those years ago – and whether they can ever put it right!
Ever since the release of her debut novel ‘Return to Bluebell Hill’ last year I’ve been waiting for the chance to finally check out Rebecca Pugh’s writing. Rebecca is a book blogger herself (be sure to check out her fantastic blog Becca’s Books by clicking here) who got a book deal with publisher Carina UK. I didn’t manage to read her debut, but was lucky enough to get a review copy of her second novel ‘A Home in Sunset Bay.’ Rebecca loves chick lit as much as I do, so I already had a pretty good feeling I would end up enjoying her novels, so I couldn’t wait to finally really check out one of her books!
Ever since the death of her beloved grandmother, Mia Chapman has run Dolly's Diner, the 50s style diner her grandmother started and loved with all her heart, in the lovely Cornish town of Sunset Bay. Mia has developed the same kind of passion for the diner and couldn't imagine living or working anywhere else. But Mia's life is suddenly disturbed when her older sister Laurie, whom she has hardly spoken to in years, arrives in town, looking for her. Laurie has been through quite a rough patch; no longer enjoying her London life, including her job and a cheating boyfriend. So, she decides to flee to Sunset Bay, hoping Mia will be able to help her out, even if it's just for a few weeks. However, Mia is still angry with her sister and not quite yet ready to forgive for something that happened in the past... Will they be able to work it out or will Laurie be forced to return back to where she came from?
It's always great to discover new authors whose stories leave me with a smile on my face and that's definitely what Rebecca Pugh's recently released 'A Home in Sunset Bay' did! This was the first book of Rebecca's that I've read, but it definitely won't be the last. If you're looking for a warm, lovely, captivating chick lit/romance read; look no further! 'A Home in Sunset Bay' focuses on the lives of sisters Mia and Laurie and is set in the small Cornish town of Sunset Bay. The setting is wonderful; it's cosy and just the typical type of small town where the people know and watch out for one another; I loved it and wish I could visit Dolly's Diner myself for a delicious piece of pie! It was easy to warm to both main characters Mia and Laurie and their stories were interesting, especially with the addition of secondary characters such as cooks Cal and Marco and waitress Polyanna.
The novel is quite fast-paced, which I really enjoyed. It doesn't focus on a few days but several months, giving the reader the chance to really see the characters develop and experience different things. I do think just a few extra twists could have been added to the storyline here and there, but I still really enjoyed it and was sad to leave the characters behind at the ending of the book. I already really look forward to checking out more of Rebecca's work and think she's a promising new voice within the genre! Overall, 'A Home in Sunset Bay' is a cosy, warm and uplifting story about family and friendship; a simply lovely read!

Rating:9/10

  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.

Review: 'The Lonely Hearts Club - Destination Thailand' by Katy Collins (2016)

What if you had a second chance… to find yourself?

Instead of slipping on her something borrowed and tripping up the aisle to wedded bliss, Georgia spends her big day crying into a warm Sex-on-the-Beach, wondering where it all went wrong.

Forced to make a bucket list of her new life goals by best friend Marie, it’s not long before travel-virgin Georgia’s packing her bags for a long-haul adventure to Thailand.

Yet, Georgia’s big adventure doesn’t seem to be going to plan. From strange sights, smells and falling for every rookie traveller scam in the book Georgia has never felt more alone.

But the good thing about falling apart is that you can put yourself back together any way you please. And new Georgia might just be someone she can finally be proud of…

Today I've got a review of the first part of a new book series to share with all of you and it's a new series I am quite excited about! I first heard about 'The Lonely Hearts Travel Club' a few weeks ago, I think, and immediately loved the sound of the series. 'Destination Thailand' is the title of the first novel which is released by Carina today, January 21st. Author Katy Colins is known for her personal blog, 'Not Wed or Dead', and she has based part of her first novel on her own experiences of travelling around the world after having been jilted by her fiancee a month before her wedding. I already admired Katy after reading bits and pieces from her blog and was really curious to check out her book!

Georgia Green was supposed to get married to her long-term boyfriend, but instead life threw her a few curve balls and now she finds herself on a quick trip to Turkey, lying on the beach with her best friend Marie while crying her eyes out. When she also gets fired from her job, Georgia realises she desperately needs a break from everything, preferably as far away as possible. With a bucket list of things she wants to do, she decides to go on a six-week tour through Thailand. Georgia can't wait to leave Manchester behind and discover this strange land and meet some new people; it's an adventure she desperately needs. But as the trip seems to only go from worse to worse, Georgia starts to doubt whether she was really made to travel and perhaps this wasn't such a brilliant idea after all...

What a great and promising start to a new book series! Author Katy Colins used part of her own experiences to write 'The Lonely Hearts Travel Club: Destination Thailand' and this resulted in a fabulous chick lit novel I am sure a lot of readers will enjoy just as much as I did. Personally, I am not the kind of girl who has always dreamed of travelling to the other side of the world and if I'm honest the word 'backpacking' already makes me want to hide under my desk, but even if you're not a fan, main character Georgia will easily warm your heart and make you want to continue reading. She really is a great and admirable protagonist; a bit too naive at times, but that makes her real and flawed, just like all of us. I loved joining her on her adventure to Thailand and the storyline held my interest throughout the entire novel, especially since there were quite a few unpredictable things happening which I didn't see coming. 

Katy Colins' writing style is great; there's just the right amount of detail, dialogue, setting descriptions, and it's really well-paced. Next to Georgia, there is a fascinating group of secondary characters; a lot of them just make small appearances but still really add their own touch to the story. I particularly liked Georgia's parents and her best friend Marie, and the fact that there were also some characters to really dislike (I'm not going to mention names since I don't want to spoil anything!). The next part of the series is set in India and I already can't wait to read it. 'The Lonely Hearts Travel Club: Destination Thailand' is a feel-good, well-written and enthralling novel which I enjoyed from start to finish; the perfect escape to a bit of sunshine during these cold winter days!
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.

Review: 'Prime Deception' by Carys Jones (2014)

When Lorna Thomas is found dead in her car everyone believes she killed herself. But the day after her death Lorna was set to sell a scandalous story to one of Britain’s biggest tabloid papers. For six months she had been the Deputy Prime Minister’s mistress.

Will Lorna’s secret die with her? While her family try to move on and come to terms with her death one person refuses to believe that Lorna killed herself. Her twin sister, Laurie is convinced that Lorna was murdered and she’ll stop at nothing to prove it, even if that means teaming up the very man her sister had been having an affair with…
During the summer I was contacted by author Carys Jones about possibly reviewing her novel 'Prime Deception.' Carina has released quite some exciting and interesting titles over the past few months and 'Prime Deception' is definitely one of them. The blurb of the book promises a captivating story that appears to be a mix of both romance and thriller/mystery; a mix I was immediately curious to check out. I can really enjoy a good detective story every now and again and I looked forward to be introduced to Carys Jones' writing!
Charles Lloyd is the Deputy Prime Minister of England and quite unhappy with his life. His job doesn't give him much pleasure anymore and he's stuck in a loveless marriage to his wife Elaine. The only thing that still managed to make him smile was his Downing Street intern Lorna, who was his mistress for six blissful months until she was found dead in her car. Everyone suspects it to have been suicide, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding Lorna's death. Both Charles and Lorna's family try to pick up their lives again without Lorna, except for one person: Lorna's twin sister Laurie, who is convinced her sister would never have committed suicide. To prove Lorna was actually murdered, she decides she needs to follow in her sister's footsteps, which means becoming the Deputy Prime Minister's intern while trying to find the missing pieces of the puzzle.
I thought the plotline of this novel was really promising. The blurb and the first few chapters managed to attract my attention quite easily and I was really curious to find out more about the characters and, most importantly, Lorna's death. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, because with books like this one it can be quite easy to ruin the story for others, which is something I definitely don't want to do with this review. There was a fascinating mix of well-rounded characters and intriguing relationships, and Carys Jones' writing is easy to read and enjoyable. 
Yet, I wouldn't describe this as a real suspenseful read; I missed that touch of excitement while I was reading the book. The beginning and the ending were really intriguing and especially the ending had me on the edge of my seat, but the middle part of the story was a bit slow-paced and focused more on the emotions of the characters than the actual murder case. Of course, readers have different tastes; some might really enjoy the specific focus on the characters and their feelings and thoughts, but in this case I personally wished there had been more suspense. Having said that, I did really enjoy Carys Jones' writing and will definitely pick up some of her other work in the future. 'Prime Deception' is an interesting and quite enjoyable mix of romance and thriller, but it didn't turn out to be the addictive read I was hoping it would be. Rating:

7,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Reveal: 'The Guestbook' by Holly Martin

I'm excited to be part of the big cover reveal for Holly Martin's upcoming release 'The Guestbook' today!  

  Welcome to Willow Cottage – throw open the shutters, let in the sea breeze and make yourself completely at home. Oh, and please do leave a comment in the Guestbook!
As landlady of Willow Cottage, the young widow Annie Butterworth is always on hand with tea, sympathy or strong Norfolk cider - whatever her colourful array of guests require.  A flick through the messages in the leather-bound cottage guestbook gives a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of everyone who passes through her doors.
This includes Annie herself - especially now celebrity crime writer Oliver Black, is back in town. He might grace the covers of gossip magazines with a different glamorous supermodel draped on his arm every week, but to Annie, he’s always just been Olly, the man who Annie shared her first kiss with.
Through the pages of the Guestbook Annie and Olly, along with all the guests that arrive at the seaside retreat, struggle with love, loss, mystery, joy, happiness, guilt…and the odd spot of naked rambling! 
Forget sending postcards saying 'wish you were here' - one visit to Willow Cottage and you’ll wish you could stay forever.   'The Guestbook' will be released on Valentine's Day (the 14th of February), so be sure to pre-order your own copy now by clicking here!