Upcoming Release: 'Match Me If You Can' by Michele Gorman!

Ever thought about recycling your ex?
Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.
Mr. Right hasn't turned up yet, and Mr Right-Now isn't worth booking a wax appointment for. So when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realise that anything could happen...
I've had the pleasure of reading several of Michele Gorman's novels over the past couple of years and I've enjoyed every single one of them. On the 14th of January she is treating us to a new book titled 'Match Me If You Can' and I already can't wait to pick this one up! I have a good feeling, based on the lovely cover and interesting description, that this is going to be another great Michele Gorman read... Definitely one of the new releases I am most looking forward to this month!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

 

Review: 'Appleby Farm' by Cathy Bramley (2015)

Freya Moorcroft has wild red hair, mischievous green eyes, a warm smile and a heart of gold. She’s been happy working at the café round the corner from Ivy Lane allotments and her romance with her new boyfriend is going well, she thinks, but a part of her still misses the beautiful rolling hills of her Cumbrian childhood home: Appleby Farm.
Then a phone call out of the blue and a desperate plea for help change everything…
The farm is in financial trouble, and it’s taking its toll on the aunt and uncle who raised Freya. Heading home to lend a hand, Freya quickly learns that things are worse than she first thought. As she summons up all her creativity and determination to turn things around, Freya is surprised as her own dreams for the future begin to take shape.
Love makes the world go round, according to Freya. Not money. But will saving Appleby Farm and following her heart come at a price?
Doesn’t the book cover of Cathy Bramley’s ‘Appleby Farm’ just make you want to smile? I love the gorgeous and colourful cover and it immediately makes me long for a trip to a small and lovely UK village where I never want to leave again! On August 13th, Corgi released the paperback version of ‘Appleby Farm’ and I was so happy when I found a review copy in my mailbox (which was made even more special when I discovered I was mentioned in the Acknowledgements, thanks so much, Cathy!). The novel was actually already released as an e-book series consisting of 4 separate parts last year, but now the stunning paperback version has also hit the book shop shelves. I just knew I would end up falling head over heels in love with this book as soon as I turned to the very first page, and I definitely did!
Freya Moorcraft has never been able to really settle down. She flies from one project to another; spreading her wings whenever she thinks it's time for something new. While Freya really likes her job at a small cafe in the town of Kingsfield, and is busy falling in love with her lovely boyfriend Charlie, one phone call from her aunt changes all of that. Her uncle has had an accident which means Freya's help is desperately needed at Appleby Farm, the gorgeous place where Freya spent a lot of time when she was younger. It doesn't take long before Freya discovers the farm is in financial trouble and she decides she will do anything it takes to save it. However, this does mean leaving her new life and boyfriend behind and starting over again. Will following her heart bring Freya what she wants and will it be worth risking everything she has?
Cathy Bramley is undoubtedly becoming one of my favourite chick lit authors. After the absolutely lovely 'Ivy Lane', she has now treated us to another amazing read in the form of 'Appleby Farm', which I loved from start to finish. Cathy Bramley really has her own writing style which manages to completely grab the reader and pull them into the story. She knows how to create simply wonderful places, such as Appleby Farm (in the beautiful Lake District), and groups of fascinating and just lovely characters. Protagonist Freya was such a loveable ball of energy and some of you might remember her from 'Ivy Lane', in which she already made an appearance. I loved discovering more about Freya, her past and her dreams. But there are numerous other great characters which I fell in love with straight away, such as Freya's lovely aunt and uncle, her childhood friend Harry, and her new friend Lizzie. 
I personally really loved the storyline, especially that it consisted of numerous aspects that held my attention throughout and resulted in me not wanting to put the book down. I was completely immersed in the world of Appleby Farm and didn't want to leave! There is also a great touch of romance in the story which made my heart beat a bit faster... I don't have anything else but positive things to say about this read! It really had absolutely everything I look for in an entertaining read and it has made me fall in love with Cathy Bramley even more. 'Appleby Farm' is a fabulously feel-good, warm-hearted and simply delightful read which I didn't want to ever end. A must-read for any chick lit/rom com fan and one of my personal favourites of 2015!

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.

Blog Tour: 'Among a Thousand Stars' by Jo Bartlett!

They say you'd do anything for love, but what happens when you don't believe it exists?
When her mother turns up naked and proud during her first term at college, Ashleigh Hayes assumes that life can’t get any more embarrassing. Ten years later, with best friend Stevie at her side, and a successful career as a freelance photographer for monthly magazine Glitz, it looks like she might have finally got the hang of things. Only she seems to have inherited the embarrassment gene from her mother and her every encounter with new boss, Tom Rushworth, looks set to send her career spiralling backwards. Getting past their shaky start, Ashleigh and Tom embark on a relationship that was only ever meant to be a bit of fun. But when life, paparazzi and love-sick Labradors get in the way, they suddenly find themselves caught in a roller coaster ride of emotions.
Jo Bartlett's novel 'Among a Thousand Stars' was released by So Vain Books on the 17th of June and I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for the book today! Over the past couple of months I've had the pleasure of reading several of So Vain Books' romantic comedy releases and I've enjoyed all of them so far, so definitely looked forward to picking up 'Among a Thousand Stars' and giving it a chance! I also have a guest post from Jo Bartlett on the blog today to share with all of you, so be sure to scroll down to read both my review and Jo's own blog post!
Ashleigh Hayes has been friends with eccentric but loveable Stevie for a long time, ever since meeting one another at art school when they immediately hit it off. They now work together as a great team for popular gossip magazine Glitz; Stevie as a stylist and Ashleigh as a photographer. While Ashleigh loves her job, she isn't as lucky when it comes to romance. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her and she's just not sure she will be able to find someone else who's right for her. When Glitz is taken over by PR company Rushworth Associates, Ashleigh and Stevie also get a new boss, the handsome and difficult-to-read Tom Rushworth. The sparks between Ashleigh and Tom are difficult to ignore, but things aren't that easy when careers, gossip, and life in general continue to get in the way...
'Among a Thousand Stars' is an entertaining and fun rom-com read by author Jo Bartlett; a novel which I really enjoyed from start to finish! The author's writing style certainly suits the genre, it flowed well and made it easy to just dive in and enjoy the story. One of the definite strengths of this novel has to be the friendship between protagonist Ashleigh and the flamboyant stylist Stevie. The two have known each other for years and that becomes evident in the way they treat one another. They are really different characters; while Ashleigh is the quiet one, Stevie definitely knows how to get a party started and they just complimented one another really well. 
I liked the storyline of the book and its main setting, the celebrity gossip world. There was a clear division between Ashleigh's working life in London and the peace and quiet at her home in Kent, near the beach. There was a good selection of secondary characters, such as Tom's lovely dog Bertie, his mother Isobel, and the rock singer and playboy Zac. While the story did seem to lose a bit of its pace and story towards the middle/end of the book, it was still a read I personally really enjoyed. Overall, 'Among a Thousand Stars' is an entertaining, fun, light-hearted read that is worth picking up if you're a fan of chick lit. A promising novel by Jo Bartlett and I look forward to hopefully reading more of her work in the future!

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.

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Guest post by Jo Bartlett!

What makes a hero

When I was growing up with a sister two years older, there was a bit of sibling rivalry; especially since my sister got the looks, the figure and the sporting ability and, years later, I’m still trying to work out exactly what I got!  The sibling rivalry has long since passed, but I still find it amazing how we could be brought up side-by-side, with the same genes and yet end up so completely different.  Take our taste in men, for example… I’ve always been a beta girl myself, but my sister was attracted to a far edgier sort of man - the kind who you couldn’t be sure were going to turn up as arranged. There’s some excitement in that I guess, the thrill of the chase never quite going away.

With such differences between the opinion of two sisters, it’s impossible to write a hero who’s going to be every reader’s ideal man.  I didn’t want Tom in ‘Among a Thousand Stars’ to be a chest-beating alpha male but, of course, in a romantic comedy, true love can never be allowed to run too smoothly! So Tom ended up as exactly the sort of beta hero I could fall in love with myself – he cares about the people closest to him and keeps the promises he makes – but he’s complicated, wounded by his past.

That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate an alpha hero.  Back in those days of teenage sibling-rivalry, one of the heroes of commercial fiction who has always stuck with me is Rupert Campbell-Black, from Jilly Cooper’s “Riders”.  Yet, if, like me, you read the whole series of novels, you soon discovered even Rupert had his beta-side and as a reader I completely fell for the romance which eventually saw him tamed by true love.

Some might argue that fiction is the only place where such perfect matches exist – the couples who come together and smooth out one another’s broken edges.  It’s exactly the sort of partnership that Tom seems to need, but just can’t accept, in ‘Among a Thousand Stars’. Although I can’t tell you how that ends, of course. 

I don’t buy into the theory that it only happens in novels, though. I think the best relationships are the ones where a couple balance each other out.  As my sister will tell you, perfection is boring.  Whether your hero is alpha or beta, real or imagined, it’s those broken edges and the conflict they create which keep us turning the pages.

Thanks so much, Jo!

Review & Guest Post: 'Hero or Zero' by Julie Shackman (2014)

A light-hearted, funny romance novel you will adore.

When single mum Chloe Jones wins a magazine competition to have TV heartthrob Ethan Blake live with her for a month, she thinks her dreams have come true. And the presence of the handsome star in her home and small Scottish town certainly causes a stir. But when Chloe begins to see his true colours, will she find the courage to face him, and admit where her heart truly lies?

In September 2014, author Julie Shackman’s second novel ‘Hero or Zero’ was released by Not So Noble Books. Last year, I got the chance to read and review Julie’s debut novel ‘Rock My World’ which was a light-hearted, quirky fun romantic comedy which I really enjoyed (click here to read my review!). So when Julie contacted me about possibly giving her second book a chance as well, I was really excited. ‘Hero or Zero’ promised to be another fun romantic comedy and I looked forward to sitting down with it. I’m also really excited to have a special guest post from Julie herself to share with all of you today, so be sure to scroll down to check it out!

Twenty-something Chloe Jones is a single mum and the most important thing in her life is her young son Danny. However, when she’s not busy taking care of him, she allows herself to dream away every now and again and usually handsome actor Ethan Blake makes an appearance in those dreams. Chloe knows it’s just a silly crush on a TV heartthrob, but she would love to meet Ethan someday and see whether he’s as perfect as she images him to be in her head. When she enters a magazine competition to win a chance of having Ethan Blake himself come and live with you for a month, Chloe never expects to actually win. But that is exactly what happens: Ethan Blake is on his way to her apartment and will stay with her for a whole month. Chloe can’t believe her luck, but will Ethan be able to live up to the image she has created of him or will he turn out to be someone else completely?

The main storyline of ‘Hero or Zero’ is something I think most of us will have dreamed about sometime in our lives: meeting your favourite celebrity and him/her becoming your best friend or perhaps even falling for you. This is exactly what happens to main character Chloe, who ends up winning a competition and having her favourite actor Ethan Blake as her new roommate for a whole month. The storyline was really entertaining and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen when Chloe would finally meet Ethan and whether they’d fall for one another or not. Chloe is a wonderful heroine; she’s down-to-earth, warm, and really easy to relate to and her thoughts had me laughing out loud multiple times while reading the novel. I also really liked the other characters, such as Chloe’s son Danny, her best friend, and Ethan’s agent Sean. 

The story is told from multiple perspectives and the reader gets to see things from different points of view. There are also a few flashbacks, explaining little things that happened in the past, which was great because it provides the reader with a chance to see where the characters come from and why they are who they are and do what they do. It personally took me a bit of time to really get into the novel, but as soon as I was immersed in the story I thought it was a really enjoyable read and I couldn’t wait to see how everything would end for Chloe. Overall, ‘Hero or Zero’ is another fun and enjoyable romantic comedy by Julie Shackman and I look forward to hopefully picking up her next read sometime soon!
Rating:8/10

  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.

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Guest post by Julie Shackman!

My Famous Heroes – And Why!
If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?
That was basically where my idea for my new romcom “Hero or Zero” came from.
For me, Stevie Nicks is one of the most talented singer/songwriters around and I’ve loved her music since I was thirteen years old. The way she creates beautiful imagery with her lyrics is just amazing and her voice is haunting. There are authors I admire too. Writers like Jenny Colgan, Sophie Kinsella and Wendy Holden never fail to enthral me with their talent and ability to draw me into their worlds. I could sit for hours, pouring over their wonderful stories and characters.
And then of course there is the eye candy aspect to it all….er I mean I also do admire them for their fantastic acting abilities. That goes without saying! But you can’t deny that the likes of Richard Armitage, Bradley Cooper and Michael Fassbender are not only pleasing to look at – the three of them also make very captivating leading men!
But should you ever meet your Hero? Whether it’s an artist, an actor or a musician – would you be disappointed? What are the chances they would live up to your ideals and expectations?
This is precisely the dilemma my protagonist Chloe Jones faces when she meets her favourite actor, the handsome TV star Ethan Blake.
For now, I can imagine what meeting Stevie Nicks etc would be like. For Chloe, meeting her “Hero” becomes a reality – with very interesting consequences!

Review: 'Love by Numbers' by Sara Donovan (2014)

What if there was a scientific 7-step formula that triggered your heart into feeling passion? Would you follow it to fall in love with your 'nice guy' bestie - the sensible choice who was actually available?
 Set in the glittering lower north shore of Sydney, Love by Numbers follows the story of April, a successful HR executive who is in the middle of a serious man drought. To deal with her boredom, she fantasises more than she should about her hot, but uninterested-to-say-the-least office crush, Ryan. When April finally gets Ryan to drinks one night and she watches him fall for her flirtatious house-mate, April decides to never again trust her instinctual 'man-picker'. Her only solution is to rewire her brain, and create passion with the one guy she knows she can trust. 
This is a story about how far you can go to control your heart's choices, and what happens when you try.
A few weeks ago I was contacted by author Sara Donovan about possibly reviewing her debut novel ‘Love by Numbers’, which was released on the 1st of July and is described as a ‘romantic comedy about love, lust and neuroscience.’ I have to say the neuroscience bit on the one hand intrigued me but also scared me, because I was curious to see how much of the book would focus on neuroscience, a topic I know absolutely nothing about. However, I love a good romantic comedy, and I instantly really liked the colourful cove of the novel, so I looked forward to giving the book a chance and finding out more about this scientific 7-step formula to feel passion! 
April has had a big crush on her co-worker Ryan for quite some time now. However, all the daydreaming isn’t getting her anywhere, especially since Ryan doesn’t seem to be interested, not even when April is moved from HR to Sales, where Ryan works. April eventually manages to get Ryan to have a drink with her, but unfortunately this leads to him falling for her flirty roommate. April realises she has to get over Ryan, and the psychology course she is taking in her free time provides her with an answer. Apparently she is addicted to love, and if she can learn how to control her feelings, she can make herself fall for another guy. April comes up with a plan of 7 steps that will make her fall in love with the only guy she knows she can trust: her best friend Nathan. But is it smart to experiment with not just your own, but also someone else’s feelings, and will this really solve April’s problems?
The book started a bit slow, which is why I think it took me quite some time to really get into the story. I loved the plotline of the novel, though; a girl who can’t seem to find happiness and continues to fall in love with the wrong guys, who then decides to come up with a 7-step-plan to rewire her brain so she will fall in love with someone suitable, in this case her male best friend. I honestly love this concept and I think it would make a great film as well. As soon as April’s experiment with her best friend Nathan started, I found myself really enjoying the story and I was curious to find out what would happen and who April would eventually end up with. I didn’t end up really warming to April, I guess I just didn’t have a particular click with this protagonist, but I was intrigued by her story and how it would all end.
The book is set in Australia, but it could have been anywhere in the world; I would have liked it if the author had made more use of the location. I’ve heard Australia is a beautiful country, but the book is only set in offices and houses, instead of the outdoors, which I thought was a bit of a waste. The book has a great storyline at its core and some entertaining characters; I just personally think it could have been even more amazing, with some slight changes. Overall, though, ‘Love by Numbers’ is a light-hearted and fun romantic comedy which I think chick lit fans will enjoy! Rating:

8,0/10

  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 Summer to Remember' by Victoria Connelly (2014)

Nina Elliot is tired of her life. She’s not sure how it happened but, somewhere along the way, she lost track of where it was all going.
So one fateful day, she makes a brave decision: she’s going to leave it all behind.
Taking a job deep in the English countryside, Nina does just that. Ensconced at the Old Mill, she settles into daily life with the Milton family, where she works as a researcher for author Dudley.
With endless summer days stretching out ahead of her, Nina couldn’t be happier. But her quiet life is soon interrupted when the handsome Milton boys return home – for they plan to make sure this really is a summer to remember…
Ever since I read Victoria Connelly’s novel ‘A Weekend with Mr. Darcy’ I’ve been a big fan of her work. As a big Jane Austen fan, I love her Austen Addicts series, but her other books are simply amazing as well. So, it’s no big surprise that when I was contacted to review ‘A Summer to Remember’, Victoria’s ninth novel, I couldn’t say ‘yes’ quickly enough (thanks so much, Olivia!). The pretty brightly-coloured cover immediately made me long for summer and I couldn’t wait to sit down with the book and start reading!
It has taken her some time, but Nina has finally found the courage to change her boring and unhappy life. She has ended her relationship, quit her job, and is looking for a new place to live. Nina isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life, but she’s already looking forward to that next step towards something new. While she’s at the supermarket, she unexpectedly bumps into her old boss, Olivia Milton. When she was a teenager, Nina used to babysit Olivia’s two sons Dominic and Alex, and now, after all these years, it appears Olivia would like to make use of Nina’s services again. Her husband Dudley is writing his first novel and could use a secretary to help him. Nina can’t say ‘yes’ fast enough and soon she is welcomed back the Old Mill, the amazing Milton family home. To Nina, this is the start of an exciting summer which includes her new job, the untrained family dog, and the handsome Milton boys...   
Victoria Connelly has done it again; what a thoroughly enjoyable summer read! ‘A Summer to Remember’ has everything a romantic comedy should have: a fascinating cast, a beautiful scene setting, handsome men, and an entertaining storyline. I absolutely adored the setting of this novel. The Norfolk countryside is described in beautiful detail, just like The Old Mill, the Milton family home, and I just wanted to jump into the novel and join Nina on her afternoons spent in the fabulous garden. The book includes a great cast of main and secondary characters. I liked Nina and how she decides to turn everything in her life around and start doing what she wants instead of what she feels she is expected to do. Next to that, the Milton family is a collection of eccentric but easily loveable and individual characters, which definitely made the book even more enjoyable.
The plotline of the novel is perhaps not that unique, but I loved what Victoria Connelly has done with it to give it her own twist. The novel really transported me to another place and made me feel all warm and happy inside; I didn’t want to put it down and I didn’t want the story to end. Overall, ‘A Summer to Remember’ is another brilliant Victoria Connelly read; a sparklingly sunny and gorgeous read that will definitely bring a smile to your face. Perfect holiday reading material! 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.