Blog Tour: 'Catch Me If You Cannes' by Lisa Dickenson!

Today I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for the amazing Lisa Dickenson's latest novel 'Catch Me If You Cannes'! I've been a big fan of Lisa's novels ever since I got the chance to read and review her Christmas-themed book 'The Twelve Dates of Christmas' several years ago, and I can highly recommend any of her novels to any chick lit fans out there. Be sure to scroll down to read my review of 'Catch Me If You Cannes', and also to check out the blog tour poster so you can visit some of the other book blogs taking part in this tour!
Jess and Bryony have been best friends since they were little girls; back then it was them against the world and that still seems to be the case. Jess owns her own cafe but feels it's time to do something to spice up her life a bit. Bryony works as a journalist for a gossip magazine and is sent to France to find some juicy stories at the Cannes Film Festival. Jess immediately spots a chance for an adventure and decides to go with Bryony. However, their hopes for a glamorous holiday are quickly shattered; their average hotel is far away from all the action and they don't have anywhere near enough money to be able to party with all the celebrities. Jess and Bryony decide they will make the best of things, they're in Cannes after all! So, telling a few lies here and there won't hurt anyone and will help them have a good time... Or not?
It's relatively easy to write a review of one of Lisa Dickenson's novels because I just seem to love every sentence that she gets onto paper, and 'Catch Me If You Cannes' is no exception to that! It has an entertaining storyline, great characters, a fabulous setting, and it's really funny. Lisa Dickenson really has her own distinctive writing style; a style that's easy to get lost in and one that even seems to be a bit addictive, because I didn't want to put the book down (but also didn't want it to end!). It's also perfect for the chick lit genre and I dare to say that anyone who is a chick lit fan will love this e-book series. 
Bryony and Jess are great characters. I loved their friendship; the two are each other's opposites which is probably what makes them work together so well. From the first chapter I was already rooting for them and just wanted to jump into the novel and join them on their Cannes adventure. Of course there's also enough man-candy to swoon over and a captivating plotline that made me both laugh and wonder what was going to happen next. I personally got to read this as a novel, instead of having to wait for the next part to be released, which resulted in me being really immersed in the story. Overall, 'Catch Me If You Cannes' is another chick lit hit for Lisa Dickenson; a feel-good, thoroughly funny, and amazingly entertaining romantic comedy which you need to add to your suitcase right now. Your summer holiday won't be complete without 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.

Blog Tour: 'Laura Lake and the Hipster Weddings' by Wendy Holden

She'll need a triple-barrelled name for the castle one. She'll need a gallon of glitter for the woodland one. She'll need a lobster-shaped hat for the Shoreditch one.
Laura Lake longs to be a journalist. Instead she's an unpaid intern at a glossy magazine – sleeping in the fashion cupboard and living on canapés. But she's just got her first big break: infiltrate three society weddings and write a juicy exposé.
Security will be tighter than a bodycon dress, but how hard can it be? Cue disappearing brides, demanding socialites – and a jealous office enemy who will do anything to bring her down...
Today I am really excited to be part of the blog tour for author Wendy Holden's latest novel, 'Laura Lake and the Hipster Weddings'! I had been quite curious to check out this book ever since I stumbled upon the lovely bright cover several months ago, so when I was invited to be part of this tour I didn’t even have to think about it. And, which was actually even quite a surprise to myself, this also happened to be my first Wendy Holden novel! No idea why it has taken me so long to finally pick up a book by this author, but I am glad I finally got the chance to do just that. Be sure to check out my review of the novel below, and visit some of the other blogs that are taking part in the tour by taking a look at the blog tour poster!
Laura Lake has always wanted to step into her father's footsteps and become a journalist. However, her actual life is slightly different from that particular dream as she is living in Paris, taking care of her grandmother Mimi, and trying to get by with her job working for an estate agency. When she is unexpectedly given the chance to start working as an intern for popular magazine Society, Laura knows she cannot possibly say no and moves to London to show what she can do. With the assignment to write an article about three different modern-day weddings, Laura suddenly finds herself in all kinds of challenging situations. Throw in her secondary school arch-enemy, and Laura has more than enough to deal with while trying to prove being a journalist is what she was meant to do... No matter what it might take.
I’m glad to say that my personal first experience with author Wendy Holden was an entertaining one in the form of ‘Laura Lake and the Hipster Weddings’, which was a lovely break from reality and a thoroughly enjoyable novel. I have to say I was already quite excited to pick up this read after having just seen the cover and the book description; I love fun chick lit reads, and I love books about weddings, so I already had a feeling this was going to be a winner. Laura is a great heroine, and from the first few chapters I already felt myself rooting for her and hoping she’d be able to achieve her dream of becoming a journalist, and stepping into her father’s footsteps. Next to Laura, the novel has some fun and interesting characters at its core, adding their own touch to the story.
The novel kind of reminded me of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ in places; I loved that book, so I really enjoyed the resemblances, even though I have to give Wendy Holden credit, because this is definitely an original novel and not just a knock-off of another one. She does have quite a distinctive way of writing; this is, of course, a good thing as an author, but I personally found it a bit tricky at times and didn’t 100% get into it. However, the story and the characters convinced me, and that’s also why this book deserves the high rating I’m giving it. ‘Laura Lake and the Hipster Weddings’ is a very colourful, quirky and wonderful novel, unlike anything else I’ve read, and quite simply a great chick lit 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.

Win free signed copies of Laura Lake And The Hipster Weddings by sharing your own hilarious wedding stories with me! I can't wait to read them! They might even inspire another novel! Please go to https://goo.gl/forms/xYaoaGCgxPpNR23g1  Thank you.  Love Wendy xx

Blog Tour: 'The Witchfinder's Sister' by Beth Underdown (2017)

The number of women my brother Matthew killed, so far as I can reckon it, is one hundred and six...
1645. When Alice Hopkins' husband dies in a tragic accident, she has no choice but to return to the small Essex town of Manningtree, where her brother Matthew still lives.
But home is no longer a place of safety. Matthew has changed, and there are rumours spreading through the town: whispers of witches, and of a great book, in which her brother is gathering women's names.
To what lengths will her brother's obsession drive him?  And what choice will Alice make, when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?
Today I’m really excited to be part of the blog tour for a very promising historical fiction debut, namely Beth Underdown’s ‘The Witchfinder’s Sister’! I was one of the lucky readers who received a review copy before the book’s official release date, which happens to be today, and was also asked to be part of the blog tour. I love diving into a historical fiction read every now and again and especially this novel’s topic, witch hunts/trials, is a topic I’ve always been interested in. I still remember how much research I tried to do when I gave a presentation on witch trials when I was at primary school and it’s something that has always stayed with me. Needless to say, I was keen to give this read a try! If you’d like to learn more about the novel, make sure to also visit some of the other blogs on the tour; you can find all links on the blog tour poster!
Set in 1645, ‘The Witchfinder’s Sister’ tells the story of Alice Hopkins, who has just lost her husband and finds herself pregnant, so without any option besides travelling back to her hometown of Manningtree, where her half-brother Matthew still lives. Matthew was always unlike others, but Alice is surprised when she discovers how secretive and vengeful he has become. She can’t help but pick up the rumours about Matthew’s name being connected to the hunt for witches, and Alice quickly finds out she, even as his half-sister, isn’t safe from him and could be just as much in danger as other women around her.
Beth Underdown has treated us to a dark and convincing debut novel in the form of ‘The Witchfinder’s Sister’, and a story that has definitely made an impression on me. The novel is set in seventeenth century England and is actually based on real historical events. A ‘M. Hopkins’ was connected to many witch crimes in that time, and Beth Underdown took it upon herself to turn these facts into a fictional character, Matthew Hopkins, and created an entire story around it, which is narrated by Matthew’s half-sister Alice. I’ve personally always been fascinated by the witch hunts in the UK and the USA, so I really enjoyed the topic of this novel and was keen to read it. The first few chapters dragged me into the story, and I have to say it kept me curious until the end. 
While at the core of this novel there is definitely an intriguing storyline and a fascinating collection of characters, I can’t help but feel it could have been even better than it was. At times I thought the story was quite slow-paced, especially in the second half of the book, and I wished there had been perhaps been another secondary storyline, or more information on the witch hunting itself. However, this being said, I do feel this is a convincing debut novel by Beth Underdown and I’m pretty sure we can expect great things from her in the future. All in all, ‘The Witchfinder’s Sister’ is a gripping, dark, and fascinating read about the historic witch trials; a historical fiction novel I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely got me wanting more…!

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.

Blog Tour: 'The Orphan's Tale' by Pam Jenoff

I'm both honoured and excited to be part of the blog tour for author Pam Jenoff's new novel 'The Orphan's Tale' today to celebrate its recent release! 
Below you can find a special guest post from Pam herself, so be sure to check it out!

Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Times: Why I Love Historical Fiction Picture your life as it is right now.  Perhaps family and job, relatively stable with a reasonable expectation of continuing on much the same path.  Then suddenly you are cast from your home, separated from your lived ones and forced to survive in circumstances for which you are not remotely prepared. Welcome to historical fiction. This is the situation most of protagonists face.  I generally write about women in the first half of the twentieth century, usually sometime around the Second World War.  Whether in a rural or urban setting, working or upper class, these woman faced much more rigid social conventions than we do today.  They were generally expected to get married, raise a family and live not far from where they grew up.  But then, something happens.  That something is what makes for great story. In my books, I get to take a woman out of her traditional role and turn her feet from the expected path in an entirely new direction.  Take, for example, one of my two protagonists in The Orphan’s Tale.  Noa is a sixteen year-old who has been cast out of her parents’ home after becoming pregnant by a German solider.  She’s barely surviving living over a train station when she finds a boxcar full of unknown infants headed for the concentration camps, steals one of the infants and flees.  Now she has to take care of herself and the baby without a home.  The circus provides refuge but she has to learn the aerialist act to blend in.  This is hardly the path she expected in her life.  She’s ill-prepared for the challenges and at first she fails mightily.  But in taking on the new role, she is pushed and grows in ways that she would have never suspected.  It’s the hero’s journey, on steroids. And that is what I love about writing historical fiction.  I love to take women out of their traditional roles and thrust them into circumstances they could have never imagined but for war or other external catastrophe.  To test their metal and hold my breath to see if they succeed.  Ultimately this test is about you, the reader.  Because my goal in writing is to put you, the reader, in the shoes of my protagonist, to have you feel the fear and discomfort.  To face the test and ask yourself, what would I have done?  To have you stand at the praecipe with my protagonist, to stand at the doorway and question whether or not to step through. I hope the answer is yes. Thanks, Pam!

Blog Tour: 'The Button Maker's Daughter' by Merryn Allingham

May, 1914. Nestled in Sussex, the Summerhayes mansion seems the perfect country idyll. But with a long-running feud in the Summers family and tensions in Europe deepening, Summerhayes’ peaceful days are numbered.
For Elizabeth Summer, the lazy quiet of her home has become stifling. A chance meeting with Aiden Kellaway, an architect’s assistant, offers the secret promise of escape. But to secure her family’s future, Elizabeth must marry well. A man of trade falls far from her father’s uncompromising standards.
As the sweltering heat of 1914 builds to a storm, Elizabeth faces a choice between family loyalty and an uncertain future with the man she loves.
One thing is definite: this summer will change everything.
This is a blogging week with quite a number of great blog tours I'm so excited to be a part of, and today it's time for author Merryn Allingham's latest historical fiction novel: 'The Button Maker's Daughter.' The book will be released this month and it's actually my first time checking out a book written by this particular author. I really enjoy reading historical fiction every now and again and I was curious to check out this novel and hoped I'd enjoy it! I also have some exclusive content from Merryn Allingham to share with all of you, so be sure to scroll down in order to not miss it!
Set in Sussex in 1914, 'The Button Maker's Daughter' tells the story of the Summers family who lead a good life in their beautiful family mansion, Summerhayes. But behind closed doors not everything is as peaceful as it may seem on the outside. Not only is war looming in the real world, but there are also battles being fought within the Summers family, and daughter Elizabeth finds herself in the middle of it. Her father wants her to marry a suitable husband, but Elizabeth can't get Aiden Kellaway, the assistant of the architect of their new garden, out of her head. Elizabeth will need to make some important decisions; decisions that will not only influence her own life, but also her entire family.
I have to admit it took me a bit of time to really get into this novel; it has quite a slow start and a lot of description instead of dialogue, but after a few chapters the characters managed to really intrigue me and I ended up thoroughly enjoying the story until the very last page. This was my first Merryn Allingham read and I loved how she managed to convey the feeling of 1914 England in her writing and link all the different characters and emotions together without things getting tricky or unreadable at any time. I straight away warmed to Elizabeth, but also really enjoyed that there were more storylines to focus on, such as her brother William, their parents, and some of the servants in the house.
Something that also struck me after having finished this novel is how the author managed to somehow make me feel for all of the characters. I could understand everyone's behaviour and reasoning to do specific things, even if I didn't necessarily agree with it. I am really quite impressed with Merryn Allingham after having read this novel and I hope to be given the chance to read more of her work sometime in the near future. On the whole, 'The Button Maker's Daughter' is a convincing and fascinating piece of historical fiction; a novel I am pretty sure any historical fiction/drama fans will not regret picking up.

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Exclusive extract from Merryn Allingham

I'm both honoured and excited to be part of the blog tour for 'The Button Maker's Daughter' today! Especially for the tour, Merryn has written an exclusive diary entry from one of the characters at a pivotal moment in the plot of the book. Be sure to check it out below!

Extract from Aiden’s diary:
Tonight I asked Elizabeth to marry me. I knelt beside her and gripped her hands so tightly, we became almost one. I had to make her understand that I cannot stay here, or my life will be over. I begged her to take a chance, to brave a leap in the dark. 
I know I can make a good life for us both. I’ve the skill and the energy to be the best of architects. But she has led a privileged life, never wanting for anything. And if she marries me, she will be disobeying her family. I’m the last bridegroom they want to see. They’ve a true gentleman in their sights for that - certainly not an Irish orphan at a time when the very word ‘Irish’ is held in disdain. Even worse, I’m an Irishman that plans to emigrate. The day after I finish my work here, I’ll travel to Southampton and book the first available passage to New York. Then from New York, I can make arrangements to travel on to Ontario. I want her with me on that journey. I need her with me. But am I asking too much? Is it fair to urge her to travel thousands of miles from home and family? I know too well how wretched it is to lose one’s family.
But Canada is where I must go. It’s a pioneer land and it won’t matter there who I am or where I come from. It will be craftsmanship that wins the day and I can build a secure future for us both. She won’t live as lavishly as she does here, but she will have every comfort I can give her. And once we’re settled, we can work as a team. I’ll design the buildings and she must paint the pictures for their walls. She’ll be the professional woman she’s always wanted to be. When I said that to her, she looked as though she thought it an impossible dream. It is a dream, I admit, but it’s not impossible.
If only she can gather the courage to leave. As I write this, I’m fearful her ties to Summerhayes will prove too strong. But surely they won’t. Surely she’ll come. She loves me truly, I know she does. And I love her more than I can put into words. But I cannot stay.
The Buttonmaker’s Daughter by Merryn Allingham is published on 12th January (HQ, £7.99) If you would like to keep in touch with Merryn, sign up for her newsletter at www.merrynallingham.com

Blog Tour: 'Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man?' by Laura Kemp

Twenty-one and insecure, Vicky Hope comes up with a plan on the eve of travelling the world with her high flying friend, Kat Lloyd: if she isn't married by the time she's thirty, she'll marry her geeky best mate Mikey Murphy.
Fast-forward eight-and-a-bit years, Vicky, now Vee wakes up on her thirtieth birthday in Brighton, expecting a proposal of marriage from her arty boyfriend Jez. Instead he tells her their relationship is over and she has no choice but to return to her parents' home.
Devastated and alone in her childhood bedroom, she decides she has nothing to lose and tracks down her two old mates. With shock, she discovers Mikey, now Murphy, is a successful app designer driven by his tragic upbringing. Kat, or Kate, never made it - but she hides a devastating secret, which threatens the happiness of all three.
Quite some time ago I was asked to read and review author Laura Kemp's novel 'Mums on Strike' (click here to read my review). I enjoyed the novel but never really got the chance to read another one of the author's works, until recently! Laura Kemp's latest book, 'Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man' was released at the start of this month by publisher Aria and I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for the novel today. I liked the book cover and the description promised an interesting chick lit story, so I was both curious and excited to check it out. If you want to know more about the book, scroll down to read my review, an extract from the novel and visit some of the other blogs taking part in the tour; the blog names can be found on the blog tour poster!
Vicky Hope, Kat Lloyd and Mikey Murphy used to be the best of friends when they were in their early twenties. After university, Vicky and Kat decide to go travelling together, but at the other side of the world things slowly start to go wrong and it ultimately leads to all three of them going their separate ways. Now, at the age of thirty, Vicky (now known as Vee), seems to be back at the starting line: no job, no relationship and back at her parents' house. With nothing to lose, she decides to reach out to Kat and Mikey, in the hope of figuring out what happened all those years ago and perhaps rebuilding their friendship. But things are a bit more complicated than expected, especially when some big secrets and misunderstandings come to the surface and change everything...
'Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man?' is another enjoyable read by author Laura Kemp; one that focuses on and is told from the perspective of three different characters: Vicky, Kat and Mikey, who used to be the best of friends, but due to specific circumstances they've not seen each other for years. I always enjoy stories told from multiple POVs, because this usually means there is more than enough going on to keep the reader guessing and interested. I easily warmed to Vicky and Kat's story was definitely my favourite; Mikey didn't really do a lot for me, but put together it definitely resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable story mainly focused on friendship and romance, but dealing with some other issues at the same time. 
The book is divided in quite long chapters that focus on both the present and flashbacks to when Vicky, Kat and Mikey were younger. This provides the reader with insight into the history between the three friends, which I really liked. While I did enjoy the author's writing style I did feel that there was a lot of description and not enough dialogue, which made reading the book a bit tiresome to me personally at times. Overall, though, I'm glad I got the chance to check out another Laura Kemp novel and 'Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man?' is a light-hearted and warm romantic comedy read that I'm sure many readers will enjoy!

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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Extract from the novel!

Prologue Roath, Cardiff, September 2007
Lying flat on her back, Vicky Hope screwed up one eye and waited for the orangey night sky to stop spinning.
When it didn’t, she groaned, reached out across her parents’ manicured lawn for Mikey Murphy’s hand and squeezed it hard.
‘Ow! What in the name of Britney Spears was that for?’ he said, yanking back his arm.
‘Everything’s whirling and I can’t stop it,’ she wailed as the street light in the top right of her vision pogoed up and down. This was not how she had wanted to look back on the farewell barbecue held in her honour for family and neighbours the night before she left home and travelled the world. She’d intended to behave seeing as Mum had pulled out the stops, having bought the posh burgers from the supermarket.
‘That’s five hours of sinking everything in your Dad’s drinks cabinet, that is,’ he smirked, splayed out beside her, blowing smoke rings into the for-once still Indian summer air. ‘Maybe you shouldn’t have had that last one. The green concoction that tasted of melon with an umbrella and a glacé cherry. That made you sick. That ended the party.’
‘Not helping,’ she gulped, panicking at the prospect of her six-month tour with their friend Kat Lloyd, beginning with boarding British Airways flight 548 from Heathrow to La Paz, Bolivia via Miami at 11.25 a.m. tomorrow. Twenty-one hours in transit – not including Dad’s painfully sensible driving from Cardiff to the airport – was bad enough when you’d never gone further than the Mediterranean but with a hangover? Vicky felt panty and light-headed at the thought of Kat in bed already after a tame family supper. ‘And I’ve got to get up in about four hours and Kat says she’s taking far less than me and that I’ve overpacked. But I think five pairs of shoes is fine, don’t you?’
Mikey gave a loud snort.
‘What?’ Vicky said, turning her head to face him.
Mikey, being Mikey, deliberately kept looking upwards, his face expressionless, the profile of his heavy brow, strong nose and defiant lips as inscrutable as Snowdon.
But having been best mates with him for eight years, Vicky knew exactly what he was thinking: she was ridiculous. So she elbowed his skinny ribcage. ‘Oi!’ he barked, making to sit up before giving in to gravity and collapsing alongside her. Vicky watched as he stretched to stub out the last burning embers of his fag on the edge of the patio. Knowing the drill, he pocketed the butt – funny how he followed the rules here at Mum and Dad’s but nowhere else.
‘It’s not enough to leave me – yet again. Oh no, you have to go and duff me up,’ he said, pouting for effect, which sent Vicky wild.
‘You were invited!’ she screeched. ‘Me and Kat always said we’d go travelling after uni and we always asked you to come.’
Vicky’s indignation evaporated then when she realized it was no longer an idea but an actual happening. She was frightened of the food, the toilets, the language barrier – and of being The Plain Friend. Vicky loved Kat dearly: they’d wished they were twins in primary and that the corridors would swallow them up in secondary. With Vicky’s ginger hair and puppy fat and Kat’s towering height and thick specs, they’d stood out in Cardiff High for all the wrong reasons. Then when Mikey had turned up from a rough estate in Llanedeyrn with long black hair in Year Nine he’d had no other choice but to join their gang.
Now though, Kat wasn’t the square in glasses anymore. She had contact lenses, a thigh gap, perky boobs and glossy Angelina Jolie hair as well as a first-class degree and a career in banking waiting for her when they got back. With her pale podge, ‘strawberry’ blonde hair, a 2:2 and that clueless gawp if asked what she was going to do for a job, Vicky was still hoping to have her ta-da moment of transformation.
Whenever Vicky admired her friend’s new looks, Kat would make sure she returned the compliment: Kat knew what it was like to feel unattractive. But that didn’t change the fact that Vicky was going to spend the next six months in Kat’s shadow.
If only Mikey was coming, he always made her feel special. Sort of interesting, funny, clever, kind and not the big idiot she considered herself to be. Oh, God, she thought, shutting her eyes, she was going to miss him madly. He was her constant, her ally and her teammate – even more so than Kat, who’d been put in a different form and was whisked off at home-time to her smart semi overlooking the park for after-school tuition, leaving Vicky and Mikey to deal with the bullies alone.
He’d been moved by his mum and dad from the ‘interfering’ catholic school at a time when she was having one of what Mikey called her ‘mad attacks’. With drainpipe school trousers and both ears pierced, he stood out a mile and from day one he was ‘a poof’ and ‘a queer’. A mouse of a student who, at best, was called a plodder, Vicky had no hope: hanging out with him meant she was tainted by association.
When everyone else had been sorting themselves into their tribes, whether they were indie kids or trendies, she and him had been on the periphery, united by not being like everyone else. They paired up because no one would sit next to them. That was when they bonded; over their pencil cases scrawled with Pulp and the Manic Street Preachers; class war; and their hatred of Tony ‘Tory’ Blair. Being singled out as weird, they took it and turned it on its head, thriving on their otherness: there was comfort in their in-jokes, secret codes, latest activist causes and understanding that they were different. Kat, or Katherine back then, flitted in and out of their world when she had a second away from her heavily scheduled ‘free’ time of music and maths. Everyone else followed the crowd: the girls all had Rachel from Friends haircuts while the boys tried to look like Baywatch extras with blond highlights.
Those clones had no hope: Mikey and Vicky however were destined to make it, whatever ‘it’ was. Vicky would listen enraptured, her heart beating wildly, as Mikey talked of the future, desperate to get away from his drunk of a dad: how he’d tread the roofs of the identical new-build estates like stepping stones and pick his way to London, paving the way for a better life. The others, he’d scoffed, could only see as far as ten minutes up the A48.
Vicky didn’t have the same motivation – unlike Mikey, her family was boringly normal. The weekly shop was always done on a Wednesday. Dad drove an executive Ford. Mum dreamed of having a side-return extension to their Victorian terrace round the corner from Roath Park. And her big brother Gavin was scaling the grades in the finance department of the National Assembly for Wales.
But that was precisely why Vicky yearned to fly. Because she was so ordinary, she had an emotional need to make herself stand out, be accepted, be someone. To be interesting.

Blog Tour: 'The Phantom Tree' by Nicola Cornick!

“My name is Mary Seymour and I am the daughter of one queen and the niece of another.”
Browsing antiques shops in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait – supposedly of Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better… The woman is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 as an unwanted orphan and presumed dead after going missing as a child.
The painting is more than just a beautiful object from Alison’s past – it holds the key to her future, unlocking the mystery surrounding Mary’s disappearance, and the enigma of Alison’s son.
But Alison’s quest soon takes a dark and foreboding turn, as a meeting place called the Phantom Tree harbours secrets in its shadows…
I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for author Nicola Cornick's latest release 'The Phantom Tree' today! I had the pleasure of reading her novel 'House of Shadows' last year, which was a really intriguing and enjoyable time-slip novel set in the 17th and 19th century and present day. Back then I was already keen to read more of Nicola's work, so I was really glad when I was asked to be part of this blog tour and said 'yes' straight away. I also have a great guest post from Nicola herself to share with all of you, so be sure to scroll down to also check that out, as well as the links of all the other blogs taking part in this tour, in case you'd like to read a bit more about the book!
Alison Bannister has been searching for her lost son Arthur for a long time already, but her time and place are making it quite difficult for her to trace him. Alison grew up during the sixteenth century, but now finds herself trapped in modern times, with no idea how to get herself back. Then she stumbles upon a portrait of what is said to be Anne Boleyn, but Alison immediately recognises as her cousin Mary Seymour. Mary promised to help Alison with the search for her son, so the portrait might include some clues to help Alison in the right direction. But will Alison be able to be helped by Mary, despite the time difference, and can she finally find what she has been looking for all this time and go back to where she believes she belongs...?
I love reading a good historical fiction book every now and again and I have to say Nicola Cornick is becoming one of my historical fiction authors to turn to. Her 2016 novel 'House of Shadows' was a great read and her latest release, 'The Phantom Tree', is another intriguing and well-written novel I thoroughly enjoyed. Time travel takes on an important role in this book, and while this is a topic that has always fascinated me, it's also a topic that needs to be approached in a particular way for it to be done well and convincingly. Nicola Cornick definitely managed to do that, and Alison's story grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it until the last page. There was quite a bit going on in the story; more than enough to keep me guessing about the details and what would happen to all the characters.
I'm not a particular fan of the Tudor age, but this story really fascinated me. I love how the author actually used an existing person, Mary Seymour, to play a significant role in this book and decided to fill in some of the gaps herself. It really gave the story that special touch, if you ask me. If I have to give one point of critique I'd admit I didn't really warm to Alison that much, but perhaps this also has to do with the struggles she's facing which reflect on her behaviour and actions. However, overall, Nicola Cornick has definitely convinced me once again with her writing and I already can't wait for her next novel. 'The Phantom Tree' is a well-written, intriguing and convincing historical fiction novel, and definitely one I can recommend to anyone looking for their next 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.

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Guest Post by Nicola Cornick

I'm both honoured and excited to welcome Nicola Cornick herself to the blog today to celebrate the release of her latest novel, 'The Phantom Tree'! Below you can find a special guest post from Nicola herself in which she tells us a bit more about one of the main characters in her novel, Mary Seymour!

The Theories, Myths and Stories surrounding Mary Seymour
Mary Seymour is the ultimate mysterious historical heroine. The known facts of her life are so few that she is a gift for an author who enjoys filling the gaps in research with historical imagination. I was drawn to tell Mary’s story because lesser-known historical women appeal to me. I want to bring them into the light.
Mary Seymour was born in August 1548 at Sudeley Castle. That much we do know. She was the daughter and only child of Thomas, Baron Seymour, brother of the more famous Jane, and Katherine Parr, the sixth wife and widow of King Henry VIII, who had married the previous year. Katherine died only five days later as a result of complications arising from childbirth leaving all her fortune to her husband. Less than a year after that, Thomas was executed for treason and his estates confiscated, leaving Mary a penniless orphan before the age of one.
It is a curious thing that no one in either of Mary’s extended families, the Seymours or the Parrs, was prepared to give her a home. Instead she went to live with the Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, who had been a close friend of her mother. However the destitute Mary was a drain on the Duchess’s financial resources and one of the few references we have to her is when Katherine complained that she received no payment for looking after the “late Queen’s child.”
Mary disappeared from the historical record in 1550 and after that, myths and theories abound as to her fate. Author Agnes Strickland claimed that Mary had survived into adulthood and married Sir Edward Bushell, a courtier in the household of Queen Anne of Denmark. However, no evidence has been found to support this. Similarly, the idea that Mary was sent to Ireland to live with a family called Hart, a band of pirates who had known her father, is colourful but not proven. An epitaph in a book written by Katherine Parr’s chaplain in 1573 could refer to Mary but no grave has ever been found. She remains an intriguing mystery.
The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick is out now (£7.99, HQ) 

Blog Tour: 'The Food of Love' by Amanda Prowse (2016)

A loving mother. A perfect family. A shock wave that could shatter everything.
Freya Braithwaite knows she is lucky. Nineteen years of marriage to a man who still warms her soul and two beautiful teenage daughters to show for it: confident Charlotte and thoughtful Lexi. Her home is filled with love and laughter.
But when Lexi’s struggles with weight take control of her life, everything Freya once took for granted falls apart, leaving the whole family with a sense of helplessness that can only be confronted with understanding, unity and, above all, love.
I don't even know where to begin to share my enthusiasm over the fact that there's a new Amanda Prowse novel and that I'm actually part of the blog tour today (with a big thank you to both Amanda and Simeon), celebrating that new release titled 'The Food of Love'! Ever since I picked up my first Amanda Prowse read, 'Will You Remember Me?', several years ago I've been a big fan of her work, and so far I've read several of her novels, such as 'My Husband's Wife', 'Another Love', and 'Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats', and have never been disappointed. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to giving this latest book of hers a chance! Be sure to scroll down to read my review of the novel and check out the blog poster to visit more blogs taking part in the blog tour.
Freya Braithwaite is one of the lucky ones. She's still crazy about her husband Lockie after nineteen years of marriage, they have steady incomes and a beautiful home, and, most importantly, their two amazing teenage daughters Charlotte and Lexi. But the bubble of Freya's perfect family life is rudely burst when they unexpectedly discover fourteen-year-old Lexi has been struggling with some serious weight issues, something she has hidden from her family for months. Before Freya and Lockie know it they are in the middle of a difficult and challenging battle; one that requires a lot of love, understanding, and strength in order to reach that one goal: saving Lexi, no matter what.
If you're a women's fiction fan and not yet familiar with Amanda Prowse, I kindly urge you to go out and pick up one of her novels. I can guarantee you there's a good chance you'll discover an author that will make you feel all kinds of things with her books, and read some stories that will certainly make an impression. I've been a fan of Amanda for a few years now and with 'The Food of Love' she has once again confirmed why I always look forward to her reads and why I'll basically read anything with her name on the cover without even having to check the blurb. This latest release is another emotional, realistic and heart-wrenching read that had me in its grips from start to end, and a read that made me both smile and shed a few tears. 
The novels tells the captivating story of the Braithwaite family who suddenly need to fight a challenging battle against an eating disorder. The book provides a realistic portrayal of this and shows how a disease like that cannot just affect one person's life, but an entire family. I especially appreciate how realistic Amanda Prowse has made this story, because Freya and Lockie are not perfect, and the way they respond to and deal with things also isn't perfect. What parents would know exactly what to do in this situation, and what is right and what is wrong? It'd be a challenge for all of us, and that challenge is put into beautiful words and makes for a read I won't quickly forget. With 'The Food of Love' Amanda Prowse has once again brought us a captivating, compelling and touching read; she's without a doubt one of the best UK women's fiction authors around at this moment, so I can't recommend this book enough; without a doubt worth the read.

Rating:10/10

  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.

Blog Tour: 'Christmas at the Cornish Cafe' by Phillipa Ashley!

I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for Phillipa Ashley's holiday-themed release 'Christmas at the Cornish Cafe' today! Be sure to check out the exclusive extract I am allowed to share with all of you today by scrolling down and visit some of the other blogs that are part of the tour if you're curious to read more about the novel; the links can be found on the blog tour poster below!

Christmas will be slightly less turbulent than summer, won’t it? Demi certainly hopes so.
She and Cal are keeping their fledgling relationship under wraps for now. But then Kit Bannen, a hunky, blond – and somewhat mysterious – writer arrives at Kilhallon Resort, and not everyone is charmed. Cal is sure that Kit is hiding something. But is he the only one guarding a secret?
Demi is busy baking festive treats for the newly opened Demelza’s cafe, but when Cal’s ex Isla arrives to shoot scenes for her new drama, Demi can’t help but worry that things aren’t quite over between them. Kit flirts with both women, fuelling Cal’s suspicions that Kit has hidden motives for staying on at Kilhallon. Then Cal has to go to London, leaving Demi and Kit to decorate the cafe for Christmas . . . all by themselves.
A storm is brewing in more ways than one. As surprises unfold and truths are uncovered, can Demi and Cal finally open up to each other about their feelings?
This second novel in the bestselling Cornish Cafe series is the perfect book to curl up with this Christmas.

Chapter Two
Demi
‘All I want for Christmas … is youuuuuu!’
Humming along to Mariah Carey, I do a little jig in front of the Aga in Kilhallon House, waiting for the kitchen timer to ping. A few more minutes should just about do it.
I came straight back to my baking after I’d shown Mr Bannen – sorry, Kit – the basics of Enys Cottage. Enys is our cosiest cottage, perfect for two or, in his case, one – so my first guest tour didn’t take too long. I left him not exactly smiling, but opening a bottle of wine and about to tuck in to the quiche. I’m glad that my boss, Cal, and Polly his PA will be taking over management of the park after Thursday, leaving me to concentrate on my main passion, the cafe and its food, of course. 
Cal texted me while I showed Kit to his cottage. He was about to greet a group from Surrey who have rented some of our glamping yurts. If Kit’s journey was anything to go by, they’ll be tired and frazzled too. The field is thick with mud after the storm so I don’t envy him having to meet them, although hopefully this sunshine will lift their mood, not to mention the welcome hamper of treats that awaits them in their yurts. 
Once all my mince pies are cooked and cooled, I need to set up some shots that I can upload to my Demelza’s blog and use on social media to promote the seasonal menus. The more bookings we can get for lunches and events, the better. I need to repay Cal’s faith in me, not to mention his investment in my cafe. It was my idea, after all.
A peek outside the kitchen door confirms to me that the weather is definitely warming up again, and there is now more blue in the sky than clouds. A late burst of sunshine is just what we need to attract customers to Demelza’s Cafe; I hope it lasts for our opening day on Thursday, and over the weekend. We might get some last-minute bookings for Cal’s cottages and yurts too. 
And after the tough time we’ve both had lately, we’re surely due a run of good luck now, right? 
‘All I want for Christmas is youoooooo!’
As Mariah hits an impossibly high note, the kitchen timer finally pings. The moment I open the Aga door, a wave of heat blasts my face, instantly followed by the overwhelming aroma of spices and dried fruit. The pies are a perfect shade of light golden brown, the honeyed blond of a surf dude’s tint. The Viennese biscuit topping was a little time-consuming, if I’m honest, so I’m not sure if I’ll add that to the cafe menu, but they look very pretty and smell gorgeous, so we’ll see. Carefully, because the oven mitts in the kitchen of Kilhallon House have seen some action lately and need replacing, I extricate the pies from the oven, knowing I’m about seven seconds from scorched fingers. I straighten up, clutching the tray in one hand, while closing the door with the other. 
‘Phew, it’s roasting in here.’ 
A familiar voice behind me makes my pies wobble alarmingly. Just in time, I save them from sliding onto the quarry-tiled floor where my dog, Mitch, looks on hopefully from his bed by the back door.
If I thought Kit was wet, Cal looks like Mitch after he’s had a dip in the sea. Water drips from his coat.
‘How was he, then, this Mr Bannen?’ he asks, peeling off his waxed jacket.
‘Oh, you mean Kit?’
Cal raises an eyebrow. ‘First name terms, already, eh? And Kit? Sounds like a dog’s name … or a hamster’s.’
‘I promise you there’s nothing cute and furry about Mr Bannen, and the Kit is short for Christopher. He was stressed out, tired and pissed off about the cafe not being open, but he seemed happy enough when I showed him into Enys Cottage and gave him some free mince pies.’
‘Funny that he’s on his own for two whole weeks.’ Cal holds up his jacket with a grimace. The rain has seeped down his collar to his T-shirt, leaving a large damp patch over the chest. The grey cotton is plastered across his broad shoulders and pecs, and his nipples are like tight little currants. A taut-yet-melty feeling stirs low in my stomach. 
Did I say Cal was my boss and more than a friend? That might have only been part of the truth …
‘What’s up?’ he asks.
The second batch of pies will definitely be burned if I let on to him how turned on I am. ‘Nothing. Just thinking how wet you are, that’s all.’
He glares at me, but even his glares are sexy. ‘It’s not funny.’
‘I think you looking like a drowned rat – or hamster – is very funny.’
With another stern look that turns me into a puddle, he bends down to take off his Hunters. ‘Any more cheek, Ms Jones, and I may have to sack you.’
The mention of cheek makes me think of his gorgeous bottom, not to mention the warmth of his hand on mine. His arse is thrust into the air as he pulls off his wellies, grunting with the effort. I scoop up his jacket from the tiles and add it to the others hanging in the vestibule that separates the reception area from the main Kilhallon House. Cal pops his mud-spattered Hunters in the drip tray by the kitchen door. 
‘I wonder if there’s a Mrs Bannen somewhere,’ he says.
‘He didn’t mention one.’
‘No girlfriend or boyfriend? Both?’ His espresso-coloured eyes hold a hint of mischief.
‘He did say “everyone calls me Kit” so he must have some friends and family. He definitely didn’t want to talk about his work though, so I think he’s had a stressful time in London.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Cal says, standing on the tiles in his woolly hiking socks with a grimace on his tanned face. Even the sight of those rugged socks are turning me on which must mean I’ve got it very bad. At least he doesn’t know quite how bad. Cal and I have been rubbing along in this relationship for the past few weeks. It’s as rocky and twisty-turny as the coastal path, and as uncertain as the weather in our part of the county. One day there are storms between us, the next clear blue skies – and sometimes four seasons in one day. There’s no formal arrangement between us and I have no intention of moving into Kilhallon House itself, but while Polly is away, we sneak nights together in his bed. 
You see, Cal may be more than a boss but he’s also not entirely mine. Not that he’s actually sleeping with anyone else, but only part of him belongs to me. His socks, perhaps … if I’m lucky. You see, I still suspect his heart lies with his ex, even though he said that I’d made a mark on him and he begged me to stay just a few weeks ago. 
My stomach clenches at the reminder of how new and fragile our relationship is.
 I remind myself not to start getting any stupid ideas about Cal that involve hearts and flowers, let alone love and marriage.