Review: 'The House of New Beginnings' by Lucy Diamond (2017)

Number 11, Dukes Square, looks just like the other houses on the Brighton seafront: a Regency terrace with elegant sash windows, a winding staircase, and post piled up in the hall for its tenants. It might be part of the city's history, but it's also a place of brand new beginnings.
Georgie has followed her childhood sweetheart to Brighton but is determined to carve out a career for herself in journalism. Throwing herself into the city's delights is fun and exciting, but before she knows it, she's sliding into all kinds of trouble . . .
Charlotte's in the city for a new start, hoping to keep her head down and somehow get over the heartbreaking loss she's suffered in the past. But Margot, the stylish old lady on the top floor, has other ideas. Like it or not, Charlotte must confront the outside world, and the possibilities it still holds.
A terrible revelation sent Rosa running from London to start again as a sous chef. The work is gruelling and thankless but it's a distraction at least . . . until she comes up against the stroppy teenager next door who challenges her on her lifestyle choices. What if Rosa's passion for food could lead her to more interesting places?
As the three tenants find each other, it's as if a whole new chapter of their lives has begun.
One of the very first review copies I received when I started as a book blogger several years ago was Lucy Diamond's 'Me and Mr. Jones.' I still remember the soft yellow cover and how incredibly excited I was to have received an actual book from a UK publisher to review on my blog. Since then, this author has been kind of special to me, and it helps that I also always thoroughly enjoy her stories. For that reason I am both thankful and excited to be able to share my review of her sparkling new release, 'The House of New Beginnings', with all of you today! I received a review copy of the book and couldn't wait to get started on it. Over the years, Lucy's stories have only gotten better and better and I had good hopes this one wouldn't be any different...!
Georgie, Charlotte and Rosa at first sight appear to have just one thing in common; they are all living in the same Regency terrace on the seafront of Brighton, but all three of them have been dealing with big changes in their lives and are trying their best to start over. Georgie has followed her boyfriend to Brighton but decides it is also a good time for her to work on her ambitions of becoming a journalist. This new job gets her into a few tricky situations, though... Rosa has left her London life behind to start over working as a sous chef in Brighton, but is she really able to move on with her life and what is it she really wants? Charlotte is also running away from her past, but her attempts to stay alone go unnoticed by her elderly upstairs neighbour Margot, who decides Charlotte needs some more excitement in her life. Brighton has quite a bit in store for Georgie, Charlotte and Rosa, whether they're ready for it or not...
I really enjoyed Lucy Diamond's previous novel, 'The Year of Taking Chances', and had my fingers crossed I'd enjoy this new book of hers, 'The House of New Beginnings', just as much, and I'm glad to say I definitely did! 'The House of New Beginnings' is filled with three great storylines featuring three different but just as interesting female characters in the form of Rosa, Georgie and Charlotte. All three of them have been through quite a lot and are now rebuilding their lives at the Brighton seaside. As tenants in the same Regency building, they soon get in touch with one another and face their problems together. I really loved the friendship and courage that's present in this book, and how the story both made me want to cry and smile, sometimes even at the same time!
While I usually prefer to read novels with a lot of dialogue, I really didn't mind the sometimes lengthy descriptions in this novel. Somehow the author just managed to make it all work and I wasn't bored by the story at any time. I just loved warming to and getting to know the characters, following them during this period in their lives and seeing what would eventually happen to all of them. I definitely recommend this novel to any chick lit/rom com/women's fiction fans out there, especially if you're not yet familiar with Lucy Diamond. All in all, 'The House of New Beginnings' is a wonderfully warm and captivating read with fantastic female characters at its core; a read that has made me an even bigger fan of this author (if that was possible...)!

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.

January Release: 'The House of New Beginnings' by Lucy Diamond

Number 11, Dukes Square, looks just like the other houses on the Brighton seafront: a Regency terrace with elegant sash windows, a winding staircase, and post piled up in the hall for its tenants. It might be part of the city's history, but it's also a place of brand new beginnings.
Georgie has followed her childhood sweetheart to Brighton but is determined to carve out a career for herself in journalism. Throwing herself into the city's delights is fun and exciting, but before she knows it, she's sliding into all kinds of trouble...
Charlotte's in the city for a new start, hoping to keep her head down and somehow get over the heartbreaking loss she's suffered in the past. But Margot, the stylish old lady on the top floor, has other ideas. Like it or not, Charlotte must confront the outside world, and the possibilities it still holds.
A terrible revelation sent Rosa running from London to start again as a sous chef. The work is gruelling and thankless but it's a distraction at least...until she comes up against the stroppy teenager next door who challenges her on her lifestyle choices. What if Rosa's passion for food could lead her to more interesting places?
As the three tenants find each other, it's as if a whole new chapter of their lives has begun.
I've had the pleasure of reading several of author Lucy Diamond's novels in the past and I've loved every single one of them. Her stories are always heartwarming and a true joy to read, and I'm incredibly excited that 2017 is starting with a lovely new release by Lucy! I think 'The House of New Beginnings' already sounds like an incredibly promising read and I can't wait to pick it up and check it out myself as soon as possible!

Upcoming Release: 'The Secrets of Happiness' by Lucy Diamond!

Rachel and Becca aren't real sisters, or so they say. They are stepsisters, living far apart, with little in common. Rachel is the successful one: happily married with three children and a big house, plus an impressive career. Artistic Becca, meanwhile, lurches from one dead-end job to another, shares a titchy flat, and has given up on love.

The two of them have lost touch, but when Rachel doesn't come home one night, Becca is called in to help.  Once there, she quickly realizes that her stepsister's life is not so perfect after all: Rachel's handsome husband

has moved out, her children are rebelling, and her glamorous career has taken a nosedive. Worst of all, nobody seems to have a clue where she might be.

As Becca begins to untangle Rachel's secrets, she is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about her own life, and the future seems uncertain.

But sometimes happiness can be found in the most unexpected places... 

On January 28th we are being treated to a new book which I can't wait to pick up! Lucy Diamond's novels always bring a big smile to my face and I haven't read a book of hers which I didn't end up loving. 'The Secrets of Happiness' already sounds like another intriguing read and I have to say I have a feeling this could be one of Lucy's best novels yet. I can't wait to pick up my own copy of the book as soon as possible and hope to share my review with all of you in the near future!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'The Year of Taking Chances' by Lucy Diamond (2015)

It's New Year's Eve, and Gemma and Spencer Bailey are throwing a house party. There's music, dancing, champagne and all their best friends under one roof. It's going to be a night to remember.
Also at the party is Caitlin, who has returned to the village to pack up her much-missed mum's house and to figure out what to do with her life; and Saffron, a PR executive who's keeping a secret which no amount of spin can change. The three women bond over Gemma's dodgy cocktails and fortune cookies, and vow to make this year their best one yet.
But as the following months unfold, Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin find themselves tested to their limits by shocking new developments. Family, love, work, home - all the things they've taken for granted - are thrown into disarray. Under pressure, they are each forced to rethink their lives and start over. But dare they take a chance on something new?
At the end of 2014 I was quite looking forward to the start of the new year and particularly the start of a new set of twelve months, filled with wonderful books to read. I knew the year would be off to a great start with the release of Lucy Diamond's latest novel 'The Year of Taking Chances' which was released on the 1st of January by Pan Macmillan. I love Lucy Diamond; she's a brilliant author whose books I always enjoy, no exceptions. Her novel 'Me and Mr. Jones' was actually one of the very first review copies I received when I started this blog and I remember loving it from start to finish (click here to read my review). So, needless to say, I was incredibly happy when I found a review copy of this new release on my doorstep and couldn't wait to read it!
Gemma Bailey leads a happy life with her husband Spencer and their two children Will and Darcey. They want to share their happiness with others by organising a big New Year's Eve party in their home, and Gemma knows it'll be a night to remember. At the party, she meets Caitlin Fraser who is back in Larkmead after her beloved mother's death. She needs to clean up her mother's house, but without someone by her side to help she is dreading the task. Saffron, a PR executive, needed some peace and quiet in her life to make some important decisions, so decided to rent a holiday cottage in Larkmead for a few days. However, when the electricity stops working, she also finds herself at Gemma's party instead of alone in the cottage. The three women ring in the new year together, hoping it will bring them good things, but all of them will be forced to rethink their lives and make some important decisions, in various ways.
In my opinion, Lucy Diamond is one of the best chick lit authors around at the moment, and definitely one of my personal favourites. While reading 'Me and Mr. Jones' in 2013 I fell in love with her comfortable writing style and warm feel-good stories and I had high hopes for 'The Year of Taking Chances.' Of course, there was no need to worry because this book is once again a simply wonderful read. One of Lucy Diamond's absolute strengths is her ability to portray a cast of incredibly realistic and loveable characters. There are three great main female characters at the core of the story: Gemma, Caitlin and Saffron are fascinating, down-to-earth, normal women and I am sure every reader will manage to relate to at least one of them. There is also a great collection of secondary characters in the novel such as lovely and handsome Harry and crazy and eccentric Bunty, to name just two of them. Combined with a captivating storyline, I just didn't want to stop reading the book for even a second.
I personally loved that there were three separate stories to focus on, all starring a different female character, and how these storylines were also brought together. The book deals with various topics, and especially at the start of the new year I was inspired by how the characters face their struggles and dare to take chances. This novel left me with a big smile on my face and it's just a fantastic read. I can't remember reading a book during the past few months that made me smile like this and filled me with hope. I hope Lucy Diamond will continue to write tons of books, because I can honestly say I don't think I will ever get enough of her stories. Overall, 'The Year of Taking Chances' is a brilliantly well-written, warm, feel-good read which I loved absolutely everything about; a fabulous read to start a new year with, but just as great to pick up any other day of the year!

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.

January 2015 releases! (Part 1)

Happy 2015 everyone! It's the 1st of January which means the start of a new and exciting year, and one hopefully filled with tons of wonderful books to read! The first month of the year already starts with quite a few exciting releases, so be sure to check out the list below (and part 2 of the list which will be posted tomorrow) and start planning your 2015 reading; there's enough for all of us! ;-) 

Lucy Diamond - 'The Year of Taking Chances' (1st January)

Because love is always worth the risk...

It's New Year's Eve, and Gemma and Spencer Bailey are throwing a house party. There's music, dancing, champagne and all their best friends under one roof. It's going to be a night to remember.

Also at the party is Caitlin, who has returned to the village to pack up her much-missed mum's house and to figure out what to do with her life; and Saffron, a PR executive who's keeping a secret which no amount of spin can change. The three women bond over Gemma's dodgy cocktails and fortune cookies, and vow to make this year their best one yet.

But as the months unfold, Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin find themselves tested to their limits by shocking new developments. Family, love, work, home - all the things they've taken for granted are thrown into disarray. Under pressure, they are each forced to rethink their lives and start over. But dare they take a chance on something new?

Why so excited? --> I've been looking forward to this novel for what seems like ages and I can't believe the release day is finally here! I love Lucy Diamond's novels and I just know this one won't disappoint! 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

 

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Colleen Oakley - 'Before I Go' (6th January)

Daisy never asks you to feel sorry for her.

Daisy is 27-years-old and has only months to live. And, each day, she's finding her way through what needs to be done.

Her major worry is what her wonderful, charming husband, Jack, will do without her. She knows that he won't take care of himself so Daisy has to do it for him. As she searches for Jack's next wife, she begins to realise that her plan to ensure Jack's happiness is much more complicated than she expected.

Why so excited? --> This sounds like quite the emotional read, and one that will grip you from the first page until the last. The blurb reminds me a bit of Cecelia Ahern's 'P.S. I Love You', but with a different twist, and I honestly can't wait to check it out!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

 

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Carole Matthews - 'The Cake Shop in the Garden' (8th January)

Fay Merryweather runs her cake shop from her beautiful garden. She whips up airy sponges and scrumptious scones, while her customers enjoy the lovely blossoms and gorgeous blooms. Looking after the cake shop, the garden and her cantankerous mother means Fay is always busy but she accepts her responsibilities because if she doesn't do all this, who will? 

Then Danny Wilde walks into her life and makes Fay question every decision she's ever made. When a sudden tragedy strikes, Fay's entire world is thrown off balance even further and she doesn't know which way to turn. 

Can Fay find the strength to make a life-changing decision - even if it means giving up the thing she loves the most?

Why so excited? --> I love Carole Matthews and I'm so excited it's that time of year again when we have a new Carole Matthews novel to look forward to! 'The Cake Shop in the Garden' sounds like a lovely read that will make us long for those first sunny days of Spring that are still quite some time away! 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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Fiona Walker - 'The Woman Who Fell in Love for a Week' (8th January)

Jenny loves to house-sit, looking after a stranger's enviably perfect home and pretending to be someone else - just for a bit. Her latest booking is a beautiful, disheveled old rectory in the Home Counties owned by the uber-successful Lewis family. Freed of teaching duties for the summer, and her own teenagers spending time with her objectionable ex, Jenny readies herself for a life of walk-in larders and sparkling water taps.

Battling to control the riotous family dog and stay cool in an unrelenting heat-wave, she discovers skeletons in the Lewis closet that further threaten to disrupt her idyll. But then a seductive new friendship offers her a surprise second chance: to open herself up to love again and to finally live life on her own terms.

Why so excited? --> I really like the sound of the blurb of 'The Woman Who Fell in Love for a Week', and it also has a pretty good and original title! Another title that's definitely on my 2015 TBR-list!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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Teresa F. Morgan - 'One Fine Day' (8th January)

Just a boy standing in front of a girl…

Steve Mason returns from Hollywood after 15 years to catch up with his sister, Ruby. He’s miserable because the woman he was planning on marrying has dumped him.

He’s now worried that with his A-list celebrity status he won’t find a woman who genuinely loves him. Ruby devises a plan to disguise Steve, so that he is unrecognisable as the famous Hollywood actor, in a hope to help him find true love. It worked for Clark Kent, right?

As Steve searches for his not-so-perfect woman and has a taste of normality, his relationship develops with his sister. But will he find the right woman before he has to head back to his real life in Hollywood?

Why so excited? --> A pretty cover, a blurb that sounds great, what else is needed to get excited about? I really can't wait to read this because I have a feeling it's going to be a lovely read!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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Chelsey Krause - 'Can't Always Get What You Want' (13th January)

Sophie Richards has been looking forward to a much-needed girls’ night out: a Rolling Stones concert, a few drinks, a distraction from her grueling nursing shifts in acute care. But when her best friend bails, Sophie gets stuck with a blind date.

Although Brett Nicholson may be the hottest carpenter alive, and Sophie may technically be single, she isn’t exactly on the market. Six years ago she found The One. He was everything Sophie dreamed a man could be—and then she lost him. In an instant, her whole life changed, and she forgot all about happily ever after.

But as she gets to know Brett, Sophie starts to wonder about the future for the first time. With a broken heart still clouding her mind, jumping into a new relationship feels impossible. When she’s in his arms, walking away feels even harder. Now Sophie faces an impossible choice: living in the past or choosing love in the here and now.

Why so excited? --> Chelsey is a book reviewer over at Chick Lit Club, just like me, and I'm incredibly excited she will be releasing her debut novel in January! The book sounds like a promising read and I look forward to picking it up!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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Lucy Foley - 'The Book of Lost and Found' (15th January)

It's when life started in earnest 

HERTFORDSHIRE, 1928

The paths of Tom and Alice collide against a haze of youthful, carefree exuberance. There's champagne and excitement, but above all there's the beginning of a love story that finds its feet by a lake one silvery moonlit evening. 

It's when love stories didn't have happy endings 

PARIS, 1939

Alice is living in the city of light, but the pain of the last decade has already left its mark. Against the shadow that sweeps across Europe, she and Thomas Stafford - now a world famous artist - meet once more… 

It's when the story begins 

LONDON, 1986

Bestowed with an old charcoal portrait from her grandmother, Kate Darling can't possibly imagine the secrets that have been lost to time. Kate's journey takes her to Corsica, Paris and beyond, and as time melts away she is catapulted into the heart of a love story as epic as it is life changing… 

Why so excited? --> This looks like such a promising read! I love stories set in different times that are linked one way or another, and I have high hopes for Lucy Foley's release!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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Bree Darcy - 'Don't Mention the Rock Star' (15th January)

They fell in love in an instant … so why have they spent a lifetime apart? 

As a teenager Kellie dated an American boy but circumstances meant they went their separate ways. Now he’s back and she’s so tempted to see him again. But two decades have passed and they are both married with children. 

And the last thing a celebrity reporter like her needs is the world finding out about her past relationship with a rock star. Especially as Kellie’s husband doesn’t even know she once dated AJ Dangerfield, lead singer of legendary band Danger Game. And she has no intention of him finding out. EVER.

As Kellie deals with a demanding boss, a bullied son, an infuriating mother-in-law and a best friend who won’t act her age, she finds herself playing a dangerous game. What will happen if her two worlds collide? And is it possible that first love never fades?

Why so excited? --> Another January release which I'm really looking forward to reading! I've been lucky enough to already have a review copy waiting for me and I can't wait to pick it up!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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Harriet Evans - 'A Place for Us' (15th January)

The day Martha Winter decided to tear apart her family began like any other day.

When Martha, a wife and mother of three, sits down one late summer’s morning to write out the invitations to her eightieth birthday celebration, she knows that what she is planning to reveal at the party could ruin the idyllic life she and her husband David have spent over fifty years building…

But she has to let her family know what she and David have sacrificed. She can’t live a lie any more.

The invitation goes out far and wide, calling her three children and their families back home to Winterfold, their rambling house in the heart of the English countryside. They are Bill, the doctor; Florence, the eccentric academic; and Daisy, the child who never fit in. As the story unfolds, each character reveals the secrets, joys, and tragedies they are wrestling with through the confines of the family. What will happen when Martha finally tells the truth?

Why so excited? --> Harriet Evans' 'A Place for Us' was released last year as an e-book series, but I never got around to actually reading it. Now, the paperback version of the book will be released and I am definitely adding it to my TBR-list for this month. 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

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Michele Gorman - 'The Curvy Girls Club' (15th January)

Pixie, Ellie, Katie and Jane have been best friends since meeting at Slimming Zone. Tired of being judged on the number of calories they consume, they decide to form a different kind of club. The fun evenings they spend together, not worrying about their size, make them happier than they’ve been for years!

But the club doesn’t stop real life from getting in the way and together the girls have to address some much bigger issues than just their weight…

Will Pixie ever be brave enough to leave her abusive husband Trevor? Can Jane ever regain her confidence and go back to work as a TV presenter? Will Katie always carry a torch for the office lothario? And what if Ellie lets her all-consuming jealousy destroy her relationship with ‘The One’?

Why so excited? --> I really enjoyed Michele Gorman's previous work and I actually already read 'The Curvy Girls Club' as well. It's another wonderful chick lit read and one you definitely can't miss!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Be sure to visit the blog tomorrow for more exciting January 2015 releases!

Upcoming release: 'One Night in Italy' by Lucy Diamond

If journalist Anna had to write up the story of her own life, it wouldn’t make for a great headline: Dull Journo Has Dull Boyfriend! The only mystery in Anna’s life is that she’s never known who her dad is but with her mum refusing to tell her more she’s at a dead end. When she accidentally comes across a clue that her father is Italian, it opens up a burning curiosity in Anna. Soon she’s cooking Italian food, signing up for an Italian class and even considering dusting off her passport to go and find her dad in person… 
Sophie is serving gelato to tourists in Italy when she gets the call that her father has had a serious heart attack. In a rush, she grabs her well-worn backpack and heads back to the one place she’s been avoiding for so long – home. Living with her mum again while her dad recuperates, and taking a job teaching Italian to make ends meet, Sophie has to face up to the secrets she’s kept buried in the past. 
Catherine has no idea what the future holds. Her children have left for university, her husband has left her for another woman and her bank account is left empty after dedicating her life to raising her family. She needs a job and an identity all of a sudden. At an Italian evening class she makes a start in finding new friends Anna and Sophie. And she’s going to need good friends when she discovers her husband’s lies run even deeper than his infidelity… 
As Anna embarks on the trip to Italy that could answer all of her questions, will the truth live up to her dreams?
Last year I read my first Lucy Diamond novel, 'Me and Mr. Jones', and I fell in love with her writing style and captivating storytelling. So, it's no wonder that I'm incredibly excited about her next novel, 'One Night in Italy', which will be released on the 5th of June! First of all, the cover is absolutely gorgeous, I love the gold and blue colour combination, and next to that, the three characters Anna, Sophie and Catherine already intrigue me and I can't wait to find out more about them! 
Be sure to pre-order your own copy on Amazon now by clicking here!

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!

Review: 'Me and Mr Jones' by Lucy Diamond (2013)

Is Mr Jones really Mr Right? Meet the women in love with three very different brothers ...

Izzy’s determined to escape her troubled past with a new start by the sea – but flirtatious Charlie Jones is causing complications. Alicia’s been happily married to loyal Hugh for years but secretly craves excitement. Maybe it’s time to spice things up? Emma’s relationship with David was once fun and romantic but trying for a baby has taken its toll. Then temptation comes along...

As the future of the family’s B&B becomes uncertain, Izzy, Alicia and Emma are thrown together unexpectedly. It seems that keeping up with the Joneses is harder than anyone thought...

As soon as I took my review copy of Lucy Diamond’s ‘Me and Mr Jones’ out of its envelope (thank you, Becky!), not only a smile appeared on my face but I also think it lit up the room just a bit! The lovely colours and small pictures on the cover immediately made me think of sunshine, fun times and summer. I hadn’t read any of Lucy Diamond’s novels before this one, but the beaming cover and the blurb (which includes the phrase ‘from the queen of summer reading’) already promised rays of sunshine, which seemed a good and welcome distraction from all the horrible rain we’ve been having the past couple of weeks!

‘Me and Mr Jones’ tells the story of the Jones family. Eddie Jones and his wife Lilian, who have been happily married for several decades, still live in the lovely Mulberry House, where they once started their family. After their three sons Hugh, David and Charlie left home, Lilian and Eddie turned their home into a cozy Bed & Breakfast, but Eddie’s health is slowly deteriorating. Lilian decides it is time for them to retire, but who will take over the business and Mulberry House? Will it be the eldest son, Hugh, who is dealing with a big secret of his own, while his wife Alicia is dreading her upcoming birthday (the big 4-0) and decides to step away from her reputation as the perfect housewife? Or what about David and his wife Emma, who have been trying for a baby for several years, which is slowly driving the two of them further and further apart? Or Charlie, the youngest Jones man and a true charmer who can’t possibly be able to run the family business by himself... Right? What will happen when Charlie falls head over heels for dance teacher Izzy, who has two young daughters and some bad experiences with men? The Jones family seems to not only have to decide about their beloved home, but also deal with some tricky individual troubles along the way... 

I really loved this novel, from the very first chapter. Lucy Diamond’s writing is fabulous, which made me not want to stop reading. From the start, I could easily imagine the beautiful Mulberry House and the town of Lyme Regis, where most of the story takes place. Next to that, the novel includes an amazing set of instantly-captivating characters, which all have their own distinctive personalities. The chapters each focus on a different person and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen each member of the Jones family and their own particular part of the complete storyline. I especially loved Charlie and Izzy (and Izzy’s two adorable daughters) and their tale, but the entire Jones family managed to capture my heart. 

This novel is a delightful, warm read with a real family feeling attached to it. It focuses on the struggles of multiple characters of different ages, and some serious subjects are touched upon. However, Lucy Diamond manages to do this in a perfectly-balanced whole with fun and drama mixed together. ‘Me and Mr Jones’ is a delightful summer read, but also ideal for a rainy afternoon with a cup of tea. I really enjoyed reading about the Jones family, and I am sure I am not the only one secretly hoping we will perhaps be able to visit Mulberry House again in the future in the form of a sequel!

Rating:9,5/10

June 2013 releases to look forward to! (Part 1)

Wow, it seems like the month of May has passed by within the blink of an eye, or is that just me? We've had some fabulous chick lit releases the past couple of weeks, but June definitely has some must-reads in store as well, so here's part 1 (of 2) of some exciting upcoming releases!

Cora Carmack - 'Faking It' (6th of June 2013)

Every girl likes a bad boy...

And Max's current boyfriend is as bad as they come. She knows her family would freak if they saw his tattoos and piercings.

So when her parents turn up unannounced Max grabs the most wholesome guy she can to play her boyfriend.

But Cade Winston is so perfect that Max needs him to keep playing the part. And the more they have to fake their relationship, the harder it gets to just pretend.

Why so excited? --> I haven't read Cora Carmack's novel 'Losing It', but I've heard lots of people talking about it and I'm getting quite curious about Cora Carmack's writing! The cover looks quite steamy, and the blurb sounds good... Can't wait to check it out!

Erin Kaye - 'Always You' (6th of June 2013)

It’s 1992 and Sarah is in love with Cahal, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. As they plan to graduate from university, all seems set for their happily ever after…

Fast forward to 2012 and something’s gone wrong. Cahal is out of the picture and Sarah is divorced from Ian by whom she’s had two children. What happened? As Cahal walks back into Sarah’s life, can they overcome past decisions and surrounding prejudice and make it work a second time around?

Why so excited? --> Okay, what's not to love about this gorgeous cover?! I adore the purple/lilac/pink shades, the cute couple, the trees, the small plane flying away from the title... And luckily, the plot of the story sounds great as well! I've always had a weak spot for first loves losing sight of one another and then finding each other again, so it seems like this novel was made for the hopeless romantics amongst us!

Lucy Diamond - 'Me and Mr Jones' (6th of June 2013)

Is Mr Jones really Mr Right? Meet the women in love with three very different brothers...

Izzy’s determined to escape her troubled past with a new start by the sea – but flirtatious Charlie Jones is causing complications. Alicia’s been happily married to loyal Hugh for years but secretly craves excitement. Maybe it’s time to spice things up? Emma’s relationship with David was once fun and romantic but trying for a baby has taken its toll. Then temptation comes along...

As the future of the family’s B&B becomes uncertain, Izzy, Alicia and Emma are thrown together unexpectedly. It seems that keeping up with the Joneses is harder than anyone thought...

Why so excited? --> I've been lucky enough to have been sent a review copy of this novel, and I can tell you: this is definitely one of the June releases to get really excited about! It's a fabulous summer read; be sure to keep an eye on this blog for a review and interview with Lucy Diamond coming soon!

Fiona Walker - 'The Summer Wedding' (6th of June 2013)

The hotly anticipated wedding of Iris Devonshire, ravishing teenage daughter of celebrity couple Mia and Leo, is to be held in the gardens of their grand Palladian pile alongside the Thames. But Mia and Leo worry that she's rushing into the marriage. Just ask their best friends since college, Simon and Laney de Montmorency, whose relationship is on the rocks again - and they've already married each other twice.

On the big day, Iris's hellraiser fiancé Dougie Everett is not the only one flying high. As Iris rides up the aisle on a white stallion, a hot air balloon appears over the woods, heading straight for the ceremony. Its arrival is about to transform the lives and loves of some of the wedding guests for ever.

Why so excited? --> A highly anticipated wedding and a hot air balloon crashing the festivities...? Fiona Walker's new release sounds like quite the adventure and I'm really curious to find out what will happen to Iris, her fiancé Dougie and their summer wedding!

Helen Chandler - 'Two for Joy' (6th of June 2013)

Julia and Toby have been friends for years, but apart from a couple of drunken snogs in their university days, there's never been anything more than friendship between them. It's only when Toby goes through a dramatic break up with his gorgeous ballerina girlfriend Ruby, that he and Julia realise they're meant to be together.

Then Ruby drops a bombshell - she's pregnant - and though he feels torn in two, Toby feels he has to give their relationship another chance.

Heartbroken Julia is left to lick her wounds in her little Walthamstow home, thinking she has lost Toby forever. But things soon become much more complicated...

Why so excited? --> Once again, a lovely cover (I adore the small bits of London at the bottom!) I simply couldn't resist if I saw it in a bookshop! This is Helen Chandler's debut novel and I'm quite curious to find out what it's like. The blurb sounds good... Got to love a good, complicated love triangle! 

Hester Browne - 'The Runaway Princess' (6th of June 2013)

Amy Wilde is tired of the idiots her glamorous flatmate Jo tries to set her up with - she'd much rather be landscaping a garden with her dog Badger at her side than trying to find the man of her dreams. That is, until she meets Leo Wolfsburg. Handsome, polite, funny, intriguing - Leo is everything Amy could want in a man. Best of all, the attraction seems mutual.

But Leo's lifestyle is a world away from her own. Private planes, charity balls, exclusive members' clubs - Amy begins to realise that her simple existence has been turned upside down. And just where is Leo's home country of Nirona, anyway? Is this all too good to be true?

Why so excited? --> The title of this novel has already drawn me in, 'The Runaway Princess' sounds lovely, don't you think? It all reminds me just a bit of Meg Cabot's 'The Princess Diaries', but I loved that series and I think this sounds like a promising novel as well! 

Be sure to check the blog for part 2 of June 2013's upcoming releases to look forward to!