Tag: ContemporaryRomance

Book Review on: The Love Shack by Jane Costello

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Photo of The Love Shack by Jane Costello

About the author (as seen in the book)

Jane CostelloJane Costello was a newspaper journalist before she became an author, working on the Liverpool Echo, the Daily Mail, and the Liverpool Daily Post, where she was Editor. Jane’s first novel Bridesmaids, was an instant bestseller and her subsequent novels have been shortlisted for a number of prizes, including The Melissa Nathan Award for Romantic Comedy and the Romantic Novelists Association Romantic Comedy Award, which she won in 2010 with The Nearly Weds. Jane lives in Liverpool with her fiancé Mark and three young sons.

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Publication date: 25th April 2015

Publisher: Simon & Shuster UK

ISBN: Paperback 978-1-47112-927-8

Ebook 978-1-47112-928-5

Also available in Audiobook and Audio CD

Pages: 496 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen in the back cover)

Life’s great when you’re 29 years old with a gorgeous girlfriend and fulfilling job. Until you have to move back in with your mum…

Dan and Gemma have found their dreams first home, but the asking price is the stuff of nightmares.

The only way they’ll ever save enough for the deposit is by moving in, rent free, with Dan’s mum.

It’s a desperate solution, but it’s only for six months. And Gemma’s determined to make it work, no matter how bad things get.

But between Dan’s mum’s kitchen karaoke, her constant inuendos, irrepressible argumentative streak. and worst of all her ham and pineapple curries, life back at home would test the patience of two saints. Which Dan and Gemma most definitely are not.

Then, as they’re trying to convince themselves it will all be worth it, Gemma’s past comes back to haunt her. And suddenly the foundation of their entire relationship are shaken to their core…

My Review

front cover for The Love Shack by jane costelloAs soon as I saw this front cover I fell in love… It’s got a sweet and charming feel about it. The salmon pink backing is bright and eye catching. A little cottage in need of some TLC with a ‘For Sale’ singe in front of it and is situated at the top right hand side. A couple embracing each other with tool’s poking out of their pockets. Under that the title is in white and in the word ‘Love’ the ‘o’ has a love heart in the canter, how cute is that? Then Jane’s name is coloured in black and has a tin of paint with a paint brush sticking out! All in all I think this is a perfectly designed front cover.

In The Love Shack we meet Gemma and Dan two people madly in love. They’ve been dating for just over a year, sharing a rented flat. But now they think it’s time to put their money into their own place, and want to buy. As they start their search for their dream pad, it soon becomes apparent that the house prices are well out of their reach. They both have job’s Dan work’s for a homeless charity and Gemma an advertising agency, but their wages aren’t crazy amounts of money.

On realising this Gemma comes up with a plan to help them save for a deposit for when they find the right house and that is to move in with Dan’s mother in the big converted barn; rent free! Not only that to sell their car for a cheaper one. Dan’s not over joyed to be moving back home he is independent man; but like Gemma he can seen on other way.

Dan’s mother is over joyed to have her son and his girlfriend as guests. But it soon becomes apparent her life and interfering could become a problem. Their plan is to stay their for 6 months, saving hard for their deposit; which Dan’s mother has offered to pay and Dan refuses. Dan come’s back with their new car; which is not what Gemma was expecting; it’s rusty and back fires but needs must! Dan and Gemma soon find out that getting a single moment alone together is impossible what with his mother’s kitchen Karaoke amongst other things!!!!

On one of their search’s they come across Pebble cottage which instantly steels their hearts. It’s in need of a lot of repairs but they are certain it’s their dream home and are prepared the extra cash to secure it. Will Dan and Gemma ever get a moment to themselves? Will Gemma be able to deal with Dan’s mother’s interference? and will it put seeds of doughty into her mind? Can they save enough money in time? Will they be at Dan’s mothers for longer than planed? Can Dan and Gemma’s relationship cope with the stress? or will they lose the house and go their separate ways?

I have to say this book was a joy to read and I felt totally immersed in the story as it unfolded. It’s has hilarious romance and has more than a few rocky moments. Dan’s mother gave me more than a few giggles!!! And Dan and Gemma were characters you just fall in love with, they are relatable and real down to earth!

I have read a few of Jane’s book’s now and love her comical style of writing. What a talented lady!

The Love Shack is charming and a lovely easy read. It’s defiantly a must read!!!!

                                                      Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                                  The Love Shack by Jane Costello

                                                               5 Sparkly Stars
5starsAll my reviews are my own thoughts and feelings on a book and have in no way been influenced in any way.

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Book Review On: The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus Plus Q&A

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About the authors (as seen in the book)

Ali Berg and Michelle KalusAli Berg and Michelle Kalus have been best friends for life and share a burning passion for books and writing. Together they began Books On The Rail in Melbourne and their network is now Australian-wide. Ali is Creative Director and Co-founder of Hedgehog Agency, Melbourne, and Michelle is a primary school teacher.

 

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Goodreads: Ali and Michelle

Publication date: Australian edition 1st June 2018 and UK edition 9th August 2018

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Simon & Schuster Australia

ISBN: Paperback (Australia edition) 978-19-2564-029-8

Paperback (UK edition) 978-1471177163

Also available in Ebook and Audio CD format

Pages: (Australia paperback) 337pages, (UK paperback) 352 pages and Ebook 352pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Australian edition paperback

Copy provided by: My own perchance

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

Sometimes love means having to broaden your literary horizons.

Frankie Rose is desperate for love. Or a relationship. Or just a date with a semi-normal person will do.

It’s not that she hasn’t tried. She’s the queen of dating. But enough is enough. Inspired by her job at The Little Brunswick Street Bookshop, Frankie decides to take fate into her own hands and embarks on the ultimate love experiment.

Her plan? Plant her favourite books on the trains inscribed with her contact details in a bid to lure the sophisticated, charming and wee-read man of her dreams.

Enters Sunny, and one spontaneous kiss later, Frankie begins to fall for him. But there’s just one problem Frankie is strictly a classics kind of gal and Sunny is really into Young Adult. Like really.

My Review

Ok bookworms, I have a confession to make… as you know I adore a good-looking front cover, and as soon as I saw the Australian front cove for this book, I know I had to buy it! Because just look at it!!!! (on the left is the Australian cover and on the right the UK cover) I think it’s the ninja star’s and the way the two silhouette’s of a man and woman both reading that are perched on the word ‘Book’ of the title. It just has much more appeal to me than the UK version. As you can see from the above photo I took of the front cover, I even had a go at making my own ninja stars. I didn’t do to bad when I got the hang of it!!!!!! I would at this point like to thank Ali Berg for pointing me in the right direction to perchance the Australian edition!

 

Frankie is very single and has been looking of her dream man but failing terribly. She work’s at The Little Brunswick Street Bookshop in Melbourne city, for her best friends( Cat’s)knitting enthusiast husband Claud. She adores every second of her time there surrounded by books and being able to spend time working alongside her best mate. Frankie is also an author but after a few bad review’s she stopped writing although Cat is always getting on at her to start-up again. Cat and Frankie have been friends since their school days and share everything that’s going on in their life’s. But does Cat tell her everything? Has she been keeping something from Frankie?

Fed up with failed date after failed date, Frankie and Cat come up with the idea of a dating experiment that could find Frankie her perfect and well read guy. Frankie proposes to pace book’s on the train’s and tram’s of Melbourne city with her contact details inside. So that’s exactly what she does, and also decides to document her journey on a blog under the name of Scarlett ‘O’. How many date’s will she have to go on to find her dream guy? How will the blog go? Will she get her writing mojo back from starting her blog? What books will she choose to drop on the rails?

Mean while on a normal day at the shop in walks Sunny a very handsome, and catches Frankie’s eye’s only when he goes straight to the Young Adult genre her heart sinks. However her disagreement to his chosen genre intrigues Sunny no end and he start’s to make a regular appearance in Frankie’s life. Could Sunny be the guy she has been looking for? If he is will she carry on with her dating experiment?

 

The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus, is just the most wonderful book inspired story to read. I was totally hooked from the very first page. So much so I’ve read it twice!!!!!!! I really felt enchanted by Frankie’s idea to find her dream guy by leaving her favourite books of the rail Melbourne, it was very entertaining in deed!!!! I adored Cat and Frankie’s friendship; the way they are always there for one another, and the way the are there to tell them when they are being a plonker! They gave me many giggles through out my read! Some of Frankie’s date’s were just hilarious but I  did find myself willing Sunny and Frankie to get together, as it transpires they are perfect of one another.

The story is written in a mixture of story, emails, blog posts and text messages which I have to say was really refreshing to read a novel in this way. Ali and Michelle’s writing couldn’t be more perfect, and they certainly have a talent for writing. I think it’s very fair to say I thought this book was and is fantastic and a book I know will become a well read book for me as I plan on re-reading again at some point. I highly recommend The Book Ninja, it’s defiantly a must read in my eye’s

                                                       Marie’s Book Boutique give’s 

                                     The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus

                           A Perfect 5 Sparkly Stars (I wish I could give it more!!!!)

5starsNext up I would like to welcome Ali and Michelle to my blog today for a Q and A!

1. When did you guys come up with the idea for The Book Ninja?                                       Our book was born out of a somewhat unlikely tale. In 2016, we founded our community initiative Books on the Rail. As part of this project, we set books loose on public transport around Australia for people to find, read and then return for somebody else to enjoy. Through Books on the Rail, we were most fortunate to collaborate with a host of creative and dynamic publishers and authors, who too embraced our littler traveling library. One such publisher, was Simon & Schuster who would later publish The Book Ninja.

In October 2016, we met with Anna O’Grady, the publicity director at publishers Simon and Schuster. We discussed how by using social media, we were able to track each book’s journey and were delighted to know that many people were making lifelong friendships through Books on the Rail. However, much to our dismay, no romances had develop via our initiative… yet. We had always dreamed of Books on the Rail bringing two unsuspecting souls together (what could be more uniting than a good book, after all?) who would then fall head over heels in love. It wasn’t happening in real life, so we thought we should make it happen in the fictional world. And so, The Book Ninja was born.
2. How does the writing process work when there’s two of you?
Having never co-authored (or authored anything, in the case of Michelle), there was a bit of experimenting in the beginning. We began, piano style, writing side by side, but quickly realised that this was entirely inefficient and far too complicated. So, we worked really hard on developing a detailed plot map, working out chapter by chapter the key events that would take place. We then divided up the chapters, and would each write one or two a week. We would then go back and forth, editing each other’s work so that both of our voices and ideas were interwoven into each chapter. After a few months of this, we slowly merged into one mind and our writing style has come to be one that is halfway between our two voices. Now, when reading back over the book, it’s hard for us to tell who actually wrote what!
3. Do you think the whole writing process is easier with two?
For us, yes!! Having been best friends for just about our entire lives, we have such fun brainstorming ideas together and bringing to life our characters. Plus, while the other one is sleeping, holidaying, moving house, getting married, overwhelmed with our other jobs and unable to write, miraculously, the book continues to be written!
4. If you could each choose a character to be you favourite… who would it be and why?
We have a real soft spot for Claud, Cat’s husband. We went on such a long journey to make him likeable – he started off as quite brash and totally the opposite of what you would expect of the husband of the vivacious Cat. After many rewrites, we decided we would have to give him some kind of endearing quirk or hobby to make him more three dimensional. So, at the eleventh hour, we gave him his obsession with
knitting! We got a lot of joy out of adding this to the story and imagining this burly, ridiculously good looking man knee-deep in knitted onesies and scarves!

We also adore Seb. His youth, wit and infatuation with Frankie really warms our heart. We loved writing him, and he may or may not return as a cameo in our second book 😉
5. Have you both read all the book titles mentioned in the book?
Between the two of us, just about! We did include a few books that have been on our TBR pile, but had heard tremendous things. Like most bookworms, we suffer from the old adage – so many books, so little time.
6. Do you think this could catch on and be a new way to date?
We hope so! For us, there’s no greater romance than finding that person who too loves our favourite read. And in our own lives, we have seen how a good book can bring people together. So we would absolutely love to see people vetting their dating partners based on their reading tastes.
7. Where is your perfect reading spot?
A hammock. Or a beach! Or by a fireplace. Or just curled up in bed with a cup of tea. Or on the tram to work. Okay, okay, you got us, everywhere is the perfect reading spot!
8. What other activities do you like to do? apart from reading and writing!
Eating, spending time with friends and family, seeing plays at the Melbourne Theatre Company, netball, enjoying the various pop-up festivals in Melbourne, eating, heading down the the Mornington Peninsula to swim or visit wineries, walking our dogs, eating. Really anything that involves eating.
9. We in the UK-London have a similar thing as Books On The Rails there called Book Fairy’s How did it all come about? We love Books on the Underground! In fact, when Ali lived in London, she met Hollie, Books on the Underground founder. While there, Ali worked with Hollie Fraser to spread the bookish love. Then, when she came back to Melbourne, she approached Michelle and launched Books on the Rail. We began by distributing our own books and ones purchased from second-hand bookstores on Melbourne trains and trams. Since then, we have developed a passionate and thriving following and now collaborate with publishers and authors, distributing their notable and up-and-coming books. Thanks to our growing team of over 1000 Book Ninjas, who place their own books on their local trains, trams and buses, with a Books on the Rail sticker attached to it, we have over 5000 books traveling around Australia.

10. Would you like to see this type of thing catch on all over the world? Wouldn’t that be great?
Definitely! And it is! The amazing Hollie launched Books on the Move Global (https://www.booksonthemoveglobal.com/) and you can now found Book Ninjas doing the rounds from anywhere from Stokholm, to Madrid, to Miami, Buenos Aires, to Delhi, to Indonesia and many more.
11. What are you currently reading?
Michelle is currently reading An Anonymous Girl by fellow co-authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen – she can’t get enough of them after falling in love with them after reading The Wife Between Us. And Ali is reading Say Hello by Carly Findlay – one of our friends from Melbourne who just released her first book.

Thank you so much for joining me today lady’s it’s been a joy!

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Why I Read Different Genre’s

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Hello fellow bookworms,

In today’s post I’m talking about why I personally choose to read different genre’s. Now reading different genre’s isn’t for everyone, I get that and there is nothing wrong with sticking to one particular genre.

But for me personally, when I look back at my reading journal, I can see this is something I’ve always done. It’s also something I can’t imagine not doing to be honest. Don’t get me wrong there are certainly time’s when I have a binge on a particular genre; which I suppose all depends what kind of mood I in. For example if I’m having a hard time I like to read something light and not to heavy, if I’m feeling ok I don’t mind something like a crime thriller.

As a rule I quite enjoy mixing my reading up a bit, call it broadening my reading horizons if you will! I feel that I get so much from doing this in general like; learning new words (always love adding a new word to my vocabulary!!!!),  understanding different job role’s, encountering country’s all over the world or experiencing a wide range of emotions along with the characters and much more besides!

There are some genre’s that really don’t interest me, I mean you can’t like everything right?

Here’s a list of genre’s I tend to read:

*Romantic/Comedy/Chick Lit

*Contemporary Romance/Fiction

*Writing References

*Autobiography’s/Biography’s

*Non-Fiction

*Mental Health

*Classic’s

*Fantasy (at a push!)

Reading different genre’s has defiantly enriched my reading journey and I hope will continue to do so!

Do you stick to one genre? Or Do you mix it up a bit? What are you reasons? As always my lovely’s I adore reading your comments and interacting with you! 

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Book Review On: The Plumberry School of Comfort Food by Cathy Bramley

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About the author (as seen on Amazon)

Cathy Bramley

Cathy Bramley is the Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author of THE LEMON TREE CAFE. Her other romantic comedies include Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall, Conditional Love, The Plumberry School of Comfort Food and White Lies and Wishes. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog.

Cathy turned to writing after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. She has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!

Website: http://www.cathybramley.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CathyBramley

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/CathyBramley

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CathyBramleyWritesBooks

Publication date: 30 June 2016

Publisher: Corgi

ISBN: Paperback: 9780552172080

Also available in Ebook and Audiobook

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: My own brought

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

Verity Bloom hasn’t been interested in cooking anything more complicated than the perfect fish finger sandwich, ever since she lost her best friend and baking companion two years ago.

But an opportunity to help a friend lands her right back in the heart of the kitchen. The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is due to open in a few weeks’ time and needs the kind of great ideas that only Verity could cook up. And with new friendships bubbling and a sprinkling of romance in the mix, Verity finally begins to feel like she’s home.

But when tragedy strikes at the very heart of the cookery school, can Verity find the magic ingredient for Plumberry while still writing her own recipe for happiness?

My Review

The Plumberry school of comfort food by cathy bramely front cover

This front cover is just glorious and delightful in so many ways: firstly I really like the swirly writing used for Cathy’s name in white and the title in a lovely deep plum colour this looks great against the blue backing of the sky. A king fisher rests on the end of the author’s name (How cute is that?). moving back to the title a few cooking instruments are scattering around it, two branches creep in to the cover and then your eye’s meet the winding hills, stream and the village blow. A lady is walking down a path gazing at the village in front of her. All in all I think this is a delicious looking front cover!(see what I did there, with the  food related reference!!!!!!!)

I’ve become a fan of Cathy’s stories since I read Appleby Farm ( you can read my review for that Here

Verity Bloom, loosed her best friend; Mimi and baking companion two years ago. Still caught up in her grief; nothing makes her happy anymore not even her friend and roommate can put a smile on her face.  Mimi leaves behind a husband and their little son Noah.

So when Verity get’s a panicked phone call from Mimi’s mother who is about to open a cookery school. She has also just finished her relationship with her jobless and cheating boyfriend so agrees to help her for a while. What a wait’s her? Can Verity bring herself to start cooking again or is it to painful? Will she find her own happiness when she’s there? How will she deal with the whole team? Is it going to be plain sailing/cooking?

The Plumberry School of Comfort Food by Cathy Bramley is a cosy, warm story that’s, funny, witty and full of excitement. It’s also not without a few sad bit; which I always’ think keeps the story true to life. Cathy really has an exquisite writing style that I have just fallen in love with. She provides lovely description that produce image after image in my mind while reading, kind of like a slide show. There are quite a few up’s and down’s throughout the book-keeping me intrigued and entertained. I really didn’t want this story to end and was pretty bummed when I did!

This story also has many bit’s that I could relate to for me personally and could sympathise with Verity’s character at points; which is probably why I couldn’t put it down to be honest. I adored reading all the yummy food’s that get cooked; so having said that I would advise you have something yummy to hand if you get to read this great book.

At the end of the book I was delighted to discover some of the lovely recipes in the story; which I will try to give a go at some point. I thought this was a really nice touch!

If you adore cooking, baking with the added drops of romance and drama, then this story is for you! I really recommend it!

                                                 Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                       The Plumberry School of comfort Food by Cathy Bramley

                                                    An awesome 5 Sparkly Stars

5stars

 

Book Review On: Wedding Season by Katie Fforde

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About the author (as seen in the book)

katie ffordeKatie Fforde lives in Gloucestershire with her husband and some of her three children. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. Wedding Season is her fourteenth novel.

 

 

Website: http://www.katiefforde.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katiefforde

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KatieFforde

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ffordekatie

Publication date: 12th March 2009

Publisher: Arrow Books

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk/publishers/cornerstone/arrow

ISBN: Paperback 9780099502128

Hardback 9781846050916

Also available in eBook format.

Pages: 480 Pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

Sarah Stratford is a wedding planner hiding a rather inconvenient truth – she doesn’t believe in love. Or not for herself, anyway. But as the confetti flutters away on the June breeze of yet another successful wedding she somehow finds herself agreeing to organise two more, on the same day and only two months away.

Luckily Sarah has two tried and tested friends on hand to help her. Elsa, an accomplished dress designer who likes to keep a very low profile, and Bron, a multi-talented hairdresser who lives with her unreconstructed boyfriend and who’d like to go solo in more ways than one.

As the big day draws near, all three women find that patience is definitely a virtue in the marriage game. And as all their working hours are spent preparing for the weddings of the year, they certainly haven’t got any time to even think about love. Or have they?

My Review

front cover of Wedding SeasonI truly adore the dreamy feel the front cover for Wedding Season has. The backing is a pale pink, which works great with the dark blue of the author’s name and the redness of the title. An elegant looking lady has a dreamy look on her face, with a relaxed posture. Her read hat, handbag, dress and  lip colour ties in with the title. The floating rose petals floating down the cover really adds to the dreaminess of this cover. Perfect!

Katie Fforde just so happens to be one of my many favourite authors. I’m slowly working my way through her collection, and as soon as a friend suggested it;  I jumped at the chance to borrow Wedding Season, as it was on I hadn’t yet read!!!!!

Sarah is a super hard-working wedding planner; who work her magic to make her clients wedding day go with out a hitch! Been heartbroken herself really doesn’t really believe in weddings; which is ironic considering her line of work. Sarah works a lot to mask her pain that she feel’s, and is not remotely interested in finding her forever man. But is there someone out there for her? and if there is can he convince her to take a chance? or will she not even notice because she’s so busy with work.

Sarah has a good team behind her to help her produce the perfect wedding for the bride and groom. Elsa is a bit of a loaner and a dressmaker; who produces the most exquisite wedding dresses. Bron who is in an unhappy relationship with a guy who doesn’t support her idea to go freelance. But creates some great hair doo’s. Hugo the very handsome photographer and produces perfect wedding photos for his clients to enjoy for a life time! Will Elsa find her own happiness? Is Bron going to stay in an unhappy relationship? And will she find someone who appreciates and encourages her carer. Who has Hugo got his eye’s on?

When a Hollywood celebrity couple come to Sarah for her to create their perfect wedding day, She jumps at the chance to land her biggest job yet!!!!! But with the bride having very strict filming schedule Sarah and her team have their work cut out!  This is not the only wedding planning stress she is about to have land on her because her sister announces she is getting married, and wants Sarah to plan the wedding. The only problem is she has a very strict budget and it’s on the same day as the big celebrity wedding. Sarah consults her team and they agree to help her sister where they can. But is this way to much presser to put on not only herself but her team; who have quickly become her friends. Can they pull both weddings off? Or will the big celebrity wedding fail at the first hurdle? Is Sarah’s sister’s day going to go with out a hitch? Can Sarah really leave her team to deal with the biggest job of there lives while she is at her sister’s wedding? or is it to much for them to cope with without Sarah by their side?

Wow what a roller-coaster of a story! I found myself glued to this book from start to finish! The storyline is fantastic, and kept me entertained every page I turned. There’s plenty of up’s and down’s for the characters in the book, but I found it nice how they evolved through the story, and I have to say Sarah team are just adorable and so loveable. I read Wedding Season relatively quickly for me; which is a pretty good indication of a perfect read!!!! Katie Fforde has produce a truly wonderful book here, one which has had me crying, laughing and everything emotion in between.

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde has a great plot, flow, setting and characters and I can’t recommend this book enough!

                                                          Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                                     Wedding Season by Katie Fforde

                                                      5 Wonderful Sparkly Stars!!!!!

5stars

 

 

 

Book Review On: The Greatest Love Story of All Time… by Lucy Robinson

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About the author (as seen in the book)

Lucy Robinson

The Greatest Love Story of All Time… is Lucy Robinson’s debut novel. Prior to writing Lucy earned her crust in West End theatre production and then factual television, working on documentaries for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five. Her writing career began when she started a dating blog for marieclaire.co.uk where she entertained readers with frank tales from her laughable unsuccessful foray into the world of internet dating. Lucy was brought up in Gloucestershire surrounded by various stupid animals. She recently conducted an early mi-life crisis in South America where she met The man who, while nice did rather ruin the ‘dating’ part of her dating blog. Lucy now lives with him in South London. She is writing her next novel while working on various television projects and plotting a return to academia.

Website: http://www.lucy-robinson.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucyrobinsonwriter

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Lucy_Robinson

Publication date: 12th April 2012

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN: Paperback 978-0241952986

Available in eBook, Audiobook and AudioCD

Pages: 512 Pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

It’s Fran’s thirtieth birthday and things are good.

She’s bluffed her way into a Very Posh job and her outlandishly handsome and talented boyfriend Michael is escorting her to the Ritz with a bulge the shape of a ring box in his pocket.

But something has gone wrong. Very wrong. By the end of the evening Fran is howling in bed with a bottle of cheap brandy and one of Michael’s old socks.

In her quest to figure out, why her life has suddenly gone down the pan, Fran comes up with a fail safe plan: Live like a badger, stalk a stranger called Nellie and cancel her beloved Gin Thursdays in favour of drinking gin every night. But then Fran’s friends force a very different plan on her and it’s nowhere near as fun. How could eight dates possibly make her feel better?

My Review

the greatest love story of all time front coverI really like the simplicity of this cover, from the cream backing to the black colour of the title and pale blue of the author’s name. The lady on the sofa, look’s heart-broken in her PJ’s, with tear drenched tissues littering the floor beside a bottle of gin and a tub of ice cream. A missives looking cat sits on the back of the sofa watching his train wreck of an owner.

Lucy Robinson is a new author to me, and I kind of knew I would like her work especially after reading the blurb.

Fran, has just had her heart-broken on no other night than her 30th birthday by Michael; who she thought was about to pop the question. He say’s they need a break, and have 3 month’s apart, to work out what they really want.

Fran, falls apart by lucky for her she has good friends to pull her through, they all see this as a time for Fran to find out what she really want’s out of life and love. Dave, Leonnie and Stefania think’s she should get back out there, and challenge her to have eight dates in the three month’s she is apart from Michael and after all that if she still wants Michael back that’s up to her. Fran reluctantly agrees, if only to get her friends off her back. And Fran’s dating profile is born!

In the mist of all the dates Fran has a growing suspicion that Michael is with another woman; which drives her to great lengths to find out who she is? But what will she find out? if anything? Has she got the right end of the stick? Is Michael really with another woman? What length’s will she go to? What do her friend’s think of her behaviour?

Also while this is all going on Fran has to deal with her alcoholic mother; who’s been having an 17 year affair with an up and coming Conservative. Fran pleas with her mother to stop her drinking, only for it to fall on deaf ears. Will her mother’s affair continue the more and more the married man comes in the lime light? Can Fran get her mother to see she has to stop drink?

Dave and Fran work together in Journalism, both incredibly good at their roles. But since her split with Michael, she has let her work slide some what and doesn’t go unnoticed but her boss. Then to put they bitter cherry on the cake, her employers employ Michael’s best friend; who steps in while Fran was away. Will she be able to work with her ex’s best friend? What is Dave’s response to her work slipping? Can Fran keep a job she has worked so hard for?

The Greatest Love Story of all time by Lucy Robinson, is a book that has me laughing so much I had tears rolling down my face, had me crying with sad tears and there were a lot of Oo’s and Ahhh’s. What a truly eventful book Lucy has certainly packed it all in there, which I thoughly enjoyed. I really struggled to put it down if I’m honest, it was only when my hand was hurting that I put it down; which is a testament to Lucy’s writing!!!

Fran’s character, reminded me a bit like Bridget Jones, but a bit more scatter and madder! She let’s her imagination run away with her quit a lot in the book, which was comical. I adore her all her close friends, they were all so eclectically different.

Seriously people, give this book a go, it is a hoot! I can’t wait to discover more of her books to devour!

                                                    Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                       The Greatest Love Story of All Time… by Lucy Robinson

                                                       Super 5 Sparkly Stars
5stars

Book Review On: The Last Piece of My Heart by Paige Toon

mariesbookboutique3 Comments

 
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About the author (as seen in the book)

paige toonPaige Toon grew up between England, Australia and America and has been writing books set in sun-drenched locations around the world since 2007. She has written eleven women’s fiction novels and a three part-spin-off series for young adults. Her novels have sold over a million copies worldwide.

In 2014, Paige set up a club. The Hidden Paige, in order to share free short stories and extra content with her readers.

Website: http://www.paigetoon.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaigeToonAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PaigeToonAuthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/paigetoonauthor

Publication date: 18th May 2017

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

http://www.simonandschuster.co.uk

http://www.simonandschuster.au

http://www.simonandschuster.co.in

ISBN: Paperback 987-1-4711-6255-8

Ebook 978-1-4711-6257-2

Also available in Audiobook

Pages: 432 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: a book I won

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

When Life feels like a puzzle, sometimes it’s the small pieces that make up the bigger picture…

A successful travel journalist, Bridget has ambitions to turn her quirky relationship blog into a book. But then a different proposition catches her eye.

Nicole Dupre died leaving behind a bestselling novel and an incomplete sequel. Tasked with finishing the book, Bridget is thankful to have a chance to show what she can do, even if it means relocating to Cornwall and answering to Nicole’s grieving husband, Charlie. But as she gets to know the family Nicole left behind, and the woman behind the words, Bridget’s priorities begin to change…

My Review

(I was so lucky to win this book last year amongst other’s)

The last piece of my Heart has a truly spectacular front cover. The green backing with the salute of a woman in white while walking on at tropical looking beach. And fern leaves with tropical looking flowers on them. It feel’s kind of peaceful and dreamy feel to it. The title which is pink, and shimmers in the light (always love those kind’s of touches on a front cover.) Paige’s name is in white standing out beautifully!

I am undoubtedly a fan of Paige’s book’s, she tells a great stories; which always seem to touch me heart in some way of another, and leaves me with a book hangover at the finish!!!!!

Bridget is a travel writer and dream’s of compiling her blog into a book, when she get’s offered an amazing job offer. The job is to be a ghost writer to finish a book that was started by bestselling novelist Nicole Dupre after her death. Nicole leaves behind a husband Charlie and their child April.

Bridget, knows this is an opportunity that she just can pass up, and relocates to Cornwall. She now has the task of reading all Nicole’s note book’s and journals to make sense of where Nicole was going with her book. Bridget has to tread carefully with Charlie and April and with her not really a child person finds it challenging at times. Why does Bridget not get on with children? Will she make any head way with Nicole’s notes? How will she get on with Charlie? Can she complete the job? Will she come across anything to keep her in Cornwall?

At time’s The Last Piece of my Heart brought a tear to my eye! (so have a tissue handy) Paige really has built very strong and individual characters, which you just can’t help but fall in love with. I adored April, she made me chuckle a few times, for her truth talking and innocence. It was also interesting to see how April and Bridget’s friendship develops through the story. The setting was described beautifully which gave me a picture perfect image in my mind while I read. Just superb!

This book is a heart warming, at times heart wrenching and charming story which adds up to a wonderful read! In my eyes Paige Toon has produced another top-notch book, that is a true pleasure to read and one that I will be defiantly returning to in the future!

                                                Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                 The Last Piece of my Heart by Paige Toon

                                             A Superb 5 sparkly stars

5stars

 

 

 

Book Review On: Appleby Farm by Cathy Bramley

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appleby farm by cathy bramley

About the author (as seen in the book)

Cathy Bramley

Cathy Bramley is the author of the bestselling romantic comedies Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall and Conditional Love. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her husband, two daughters and a dog.

Her recent career as a full- time writer of light- hearted, romantic fiction has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending the last eighteen years running her own marketing agency. However, she has always been an avid reader, hiding her books under the duvet and reading by torchlight. Luckily her husband has now bought her a kindle with a light, so that’s the end of that palaver.

Website: http://www.cathybramley.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CathyBramley

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cathybramley

Publication date: 13th August 2015

Publisher: Corgi

ISBN: Paperback 9870552171595

Also available in Ebook and Audiobook formats

Pages: 480 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

Freya Moorcroft has wild red hair, mischievous green eyes and a heart of gold. She’s working at the café round the corner from Ivy Lane allotments, 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 foe help changes everything…

The farm is in financial trouble, and it’s taking its toll on the aunt and uncle who raised Freya. As Freya heads home to lend a hand, she 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?

My Review

front cover for Appleby Farm

What a fantastic front cover! And is perfect for this book. I feel that I could just walk right into this scene, with the trees creeping around the cover making me feel like I’m peering through them. The farm is surrounded by winding hills and a lady is walking up the drive to the farm. There is beautiful wild flowers and swishy grass at the bottom of the cover adding to the countryside feel to this great front cover. The title is coloured red and bunting hangs from the top of the A to the L, which is cute. But what I find even cuter is the little bird perched on top of the R in farm!!!! I love the verity of colour used in this cover making it very eye-catching.

This is a book I was itching to read, as I’ve read so many good things about it! Plus it’s set in a place that I love!

Freya Moorcroft, has never had a steady career and seems to drift from job to job. However now she can turn her hand to almost anything. Freya find herself in Kingsfild working at her friend’s mother’s café, while her mother; Shirley recovers from a broken ankle. In this time Freya has transformed the menu and organised Wi-Fi for their customers. Shirley is amazed at the transformation Freya has bestowed on her café in only 6 months. Also in this 6 moths Freya has found herself a bit of romance with handsome, divorced dad Charlie. Freya has recently met Charlie’s young daughter to the reluctance of Charlie! But is she really happy in Kingsfild?

So when she receives a call from her aunt asking her if she would come and help out at Appleby farm because her uncle has had an accident in the tractor, she goes straight away. She promises Charlie and his daughter that she will be back soon, so they can spend more time together.

As Freya makes her way to the farm, she realises how much she loves the place, where she spent so much of her childhood. Her aunt and uncle are over joyed to see her, however her uncle is being a bit cagey about his accident. What is he hiding about the accident?

Freya get’s stuck in to farm life and helps Appleby Farm’s Farm hand Eddie. In doing this she realises how hard it must be for her elderly aunt and uncle to keep running the family farm.

When her uncle has got back on his feet, and she is satisfied he is ok, Freya returns to Charlie in Kingsfild. However Kingsfild feel’s less and less like home for her. After being back a while Freya’s aunt ring’s up again, to see if she could come back to Appleby Farm and take the strain; as her uncle has suffered a heart attack. Charlie isn’t pleased when she tells him the news in her rush to get to the farm.

In holding the fort of Appleby Farm Freya learns about the farm’s  money troubles, and now there is the added pressure of their herd of cow’s that might have TB. In a desperate attempt to find some money to help the family farm she goes to her parents in Paris. They have always disapproved of the way she has no career and their relationship has always been strained. In this time Freya’s older brother Julian turn’s up after getting wind of Appleby farm’s predicament; offering his help in selling the farm so his aunt and uncle can retire. Is Julian being honest with them? Will her father stump up the money to keep the bailiffs at bay? Can Freya think of ways to save the family farm?

And with all this going on Freya get’s a blast from her past from her childhood friend Henry; who now run’s his family farm next door. Henry stirs up old feelings for her. Which make’s her question her and Charlie’s future, and the life she wants. Will it be Charlie and Kingsfild or Henry in Cumbria?

I thoughly enjoyed Appleby Farm, it was charming and so delightful in every way. From the characters, story line to the setting the author has provided perfect escapism right here!!!! There were many up’s and down’s in the story which provide much anticipation of will Freya save the farm? to which yummy guy does she choose? I felt totally engaged with the characters and the setting as a whole; which held my attention to the very last page!!!!

Cathy is a new author to me and boy can this lady write!!!! I can’t wait to discover more of her books and is an author I highly recommend as I do with this book it’s self!!!!!! Appleby Farm is a refreshing, delightful read and is beautifully written.

                                                      Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                                    Appleby Farm by Cathy Bramley

                                                      A wonderful 5 sparkly stars

5stars

Book Review On: Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage by Heidi Swain

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About the author (as seen in the book)

Heidi Swain new pic

Heidi Swain lives in Norfolk with her husband, two allegedly grown-up children and a mischievous black cat called Storm. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside and collects vintage paraphernalia. Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage is her fourth novel.

 

 

 

Blog: heidiswain.blogspot.co.uk

Website: heidiswain.co.uk

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/heidi_swain

Publication date: 13th July 2017

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

http://www.simonandschuster.co.uk

http://www.simonandschuster.com.au

http://www.simonandschuster.co.in

ISBN: Paperback 978-1-4711-4728-9

eBook 978-1-4711-4730-2

Pages: 480 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

When Lottie Foster’s old family friend die’s, she inherits the lovely Cuckoo cottage. But it seems that beneath it’s charm the cottage is slowly but surely falling apart. Luckily Matt, the local builder, is always on hand to help with the problems that somehow seem to keep cropping up. But is he just a bit too good to be true? Certainly Will, Lotties closest neighbour, seems to think so…

With plans to set up her own business renovating vintage caravans, Lottie and her new friend Jemma from The Cherry Tree Café cock up a top secret plan. But before she can finally enjoy living with her Legacy she must uncover who she can trust, and who to avoid at all costs! And with two me vying for her attention, can Lottie find love in her new home…?

My Review

coming home to cuckoo cottage by heidi swain cover.jpg

The cover of Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage is a vibrant summery scene lied out before your very eye’s! From the gorgeous sunset sky, the lushes green trees and hills,  the cute little caravan to the village in the distance; is delightfulness of your very eye’s! I could stare at this cover all day long! I blooming adore like the plants creeping around the cover, some of which are coloured gold and shimmer in the light, as does Heidi’s name! Gosh I do lover a cover that shimmers!!!!!!!!!!

I have had the pleasure of reading one of Heidi’s other books; Summer at Skylark farm which you can check out Here I really enjoyed every single page I turned of that book and Heidi’s whole writing style!

The story begins as Lottie’s grandmother’s friend Gwen passes away and Lottie travels to Wybridge to attend her funeral. Afterword’s she get’s a shock, when David (the solicitor dealing with Gwen’s will) informs her that she has inherited Gwen’s legacy of Cuckoo Cottage, all the barns and a substantial amount of money. But this legacy comes with a stipulations; which Gwen has gone into great detail. Gwen wish for Lottie to stay at Cuckoo Cottage for a year and after that year she can do as she wishes with the place. Gwen know that Lottie was just drifting in life, having no real roots and that had to change!

So an overwhelmed, Lottie pack’s up her life and job doing up campervans, to start her year at Cuckoo Cottage. She has many lovely memories of many happy summers spent with Gwen and her grandmother as she was growing up, and adored the cottage even then. But why has Gwen left it all to her? What was Gwen’s plan’s of Lottie? Will Lottie work it all out? What is in all of the barns?

But what she find’s is that the cottage need’s some  TLC and get’s the delivery of Gwen’s dog; Minnie! The local builder Matt seems more than happy to help her out by doing the work. However as he stars work he seems to find more thing’s that need doing. But is he being truthful with Lottie? Has Matt got an arterial motive in being around Lottie and the cottage? How will the locals react to her?

Her neighbour and the very handsome looking vet; Will get off on the wrong foot, but there is a vital attraction between these two. But will they find they have a mutual interest? Will Lottie work out what Gwen was thinking for her? Will she find her own romance? Lottlie find a friend in Jemma; who runs The Cherry Tree Cafe, and they put there heads together for idea’s! And what is it that Lottie and Jemma are little idea?

Heidi has really done it again for me with this book! It has everything you could want in a book, individual characters, drama, romance, mystery, fabulous scenery and a great plot! See told you it has everything!!!!!!  Heidi I think gives the reader just enough information to entice the reader to read on, building on the excitement to the dramas that unfold. I was sad when I got to the last page; not because it was a sad ending because it wasn’t, it was just I didn’t want it to end!(I felt like I was in a book bubble and didn’t want it to pop!!!!!!) Needless to say I’m so going to be reading many more of Heidi’s books. Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage is the most wonderful summery delight that will surely have you hooked from the very first page like me!!!!!

                                                          Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                       Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage by Heidi Swain

                                                             A Super 5 Sparkly Stars

5stars

 

Book Review On: The Little Flower shop by the sea by Ali Mc Namara

mariesbookboutique1 Comment

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About the author (as seen in the book)

Ali McNamara

Ali Mc Namara attributes her over- active imagination to one thing- being an only child. Time spent dreaming up adventures when she was young, has left her with a head constantly bursting with stories waiting to be told. When stories she wrote for fun on Ronan Keating’s website became so popular they were sold as a fundraising project for his cancer awareness charity. Ali realised that not only was writing something she enjoyed doing, but something others enjoyed reading too. Ali lives in Cambridgeshire with her family and two Labradors. When she isn’t writing, she likes to travel, read and people- watch, more often than not accompanied by a good cup of coffee. Her dogs and love of exercise keep her sane!

Blog: alimcnamara.blogsopt.co.uk

Website: http://www.alimcnamara.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AliMcNamara.official

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AliMcNamara

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/alimcnamara

Publication date: 30th July 2015

Publisher: Sphere

http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/Sphere

ISBN: Paperback 978-0-7515-5861-6

also available in eBook and Audio book

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

The blossom is out in the little Cornish harbour town of St Felix.

But Poppy Carmichael’s spirits aren’t lifted by the pretty West country spring. Inheriting her grandmother’s flower shop has forced her to return to Cornwall, a place that holds to many memories.

Poppy is determined to do her best for the sake of her adored grandmother, but she struggles with the responsibility of the more- shabby-than-chic shop. And with the added complication of Jake, the gruff but gorgeous local flower grower, Poppy is tempted to run away…

The pretty little town has a few surprises in store for Poppy. With new friends to help her and romance blooming, it’s time for Poppy to open her heart to St Felix and to the special magic of a little flower shop by the sea!

My review

the flower shop by the sea book cover

Oh my gosh this front cover really makes me feel like I want to jump right into the scene. It watercolour effect is charming and has something quite endearing about it. From the side town with sandy beach, boats which are anchored on the shore line, green sweeping hills, seagulls swooping around the harbour to the sun set sky.

I love the sweeping and swirling out the book title adding a little bit more charm and romantic-ness to the whole vibe of this front cover. A few summery looking flowers are creeping around the sides

All in all I really, really like this cover and had it not been recommended by a friend, this would definitely be part of the reason I would have picked this book out for myself. (and the blurb of course!!!!!)

I haven’t ever had the pleasure to read Ali’s book’s before but as I said a minute ago, it was recommended to me and I know me and my friend have similar tastes in book’s. So as you can imagine I was eager to start to read, I had a blooming feeling it’s gonna be a good  one!!!!!!!!!!!

Poppy, has never settled in her work or in her love life. Drifting from job to job not really knowing what she wants to do in life. She inherits her grandmothers flower shop in the small seaside town of St Felix. Poppy is shocked her grandmother would leave her the shop; with her grandmother knowing how Poppy feel’s about the place. Needles to say this doesn’t go down to well with her auntie as she doesn’t believe in Poppy at all. The Carmichaels have a string of flower shops all over, with this shop being where it all began. The only trouble is flowers doesn’t really run through Poppy’s blood as the rest of her family. With her parent’s living over in the states, Poppy is all on her own. As memories seeping back as she arrived, memoir’s of her and her brother spending hot summers her when they were children.

The lady’s of the Women’s Guild have been temporarily volunteering to keep the shop open until Poppy arrives. She seems to get the impression everyone seems to know her and not only that Poppy get’s off on the wrong foot with the handsome local flower grower. It seam’s her mother has been on the phone informing them of Poppy’s arrival. How ever everyone seems mighty concerned as to what she will be doing with the shop.

She makes up her mind to give it a go, even though she’s not really that sure and re-open the flower shop if not for her than for her grandmother, to the delight of the rest of St Felix. There’s so much work to do to get the shop back to being loved again, so her mother sends over her assistant Amber to say and help. I felt that these two characters need each other in more ways than they think, which adds so much mystery to the story. It would seem that Jake has rallied the rest of the troop’s in order to help Poppy and Amber bring the shop back to life. which I really love when the community comes together in a story proving solidarity to the person in need at the time. When pulling up floorboards for repair they find some really old ledgers.

These ledgers hold information on the myth that Poppy’s ancestors were doing special thing for their customers; during hard times through flowers. Poppy isn’t that sure she believes in it all, but Amber seam’s to think there’s something in it. What is this sadness that Poppy, Amber and Jake carry around with them? Will the shop be a success or will Caroline; who has some problem with the Carmichaels? What is with the ledgers?

I really couldn’t put this amazing book down for long let me tell you. I was a pure delight to read and discover all the different and entering characters, even the moody one’s in a funny kinda way! They have relatable problems that I’m sure any reader can relate too. Poppy is undoubtedly my favourite character from this story, because she grew throughout the progression of the story.

I felt the author Ali has incorporated beautiful and enchanting description through out story, making me totally feel like I’ve been there myself all from the comfort of my home!!!!! I adored Ali’s writing style and can see more of her books being added to my TBP!!!! I adored the flower myth element, making the story feel mysterious and intriguing, adding a lovely touch to the story.

The Little Flower Shop by the Sea is full of up’s and down’s, myth’s, grief, community, romance, new friendships and lots of gorgeous flowers!!!!! It’s a great read which will fill you with joy while you read!

                                               Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                      The Little Flower Shop by the Sea

                                             5 sparkly stars 

5stars

Review on: The Birds and the Bees by Milly Johnson

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IMG_2958About the author (as seen on Amazon)

Milly Johnson

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. As well as being an author of 13 published novels, 2 short story books and 2 novellas, she is also a copywriter for the greetings card industry, a joke-writer, a columnist, after dinner speaker, poet, BBC newspaper reviewer, and a sometimes BBC radio presenter.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016 and the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015.

 

She writes about love, life, friendships and that little bit of the magic that sometimes crops up in real life. She likes owls, cats, meringues, handbags and literary gifts – but hates marzipan. She is very short.

Website: http://www.millyjohnson.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MillyJohnsonAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/millyjohnson

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/themillyjohnson

Publication date: 1st February 2008

Publisher: Pocket Books

ISBN:   Paperback 9781416525912

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

Romance writer and single mum Stevie Honeywell has only weeks to go to her wedding when her fiance Matthew runs off with her glamorous new friend Jo MacLean. It feels like history repeating itself for Stevie, but this time she is determined to win back her man. She isn’t going to act as he might expect. She isn’t going to wail and dig her heels in, she is simply going to pretend to let him go whilst she pursues a mad course of dieting, exercising and self-improvement. And it feels like history is repeating itself for Adam MacLean too, who is also determined to win his lady, Jo, back with the same basic psychological tactics. Then he is going to initiate his master plan: Getting together with Stevie to drive Jo wild with jealousy. So, like the Scottish country jig ‘The Birds and the Bees’, the couples all change partners and learn some revealing truths about each other along the way. But what happens when Adam’s master plan actually starts to work? And just who will Stevie be dancing with when the music stops?

My Review

The Birds and the Bees by Milly Johnson front cover

I so dig this cover! It’s bold red’s and pinks and works well against the contrast of the pale blue in the centre and the pale pink at the top of the cover. The beautiful pink blossom with a robin just taken off, gives of a very gentle feel; which added with the romance from the couple embracing, makes for a great feeling front cover. I equally like the way the title and Milly’s name has been done in different fonts; which really draws you eye’s to the cover. I adore the cute salute  of a dog sitting just above the author’s name. I think this cover work’s really well, from the simplicity to the colours  used.

A friend recommended this book to me after she had read it and she enjoyed it very much. So she thought I might enjoy it too!!!!!!!

In The Birds & the Bees we meet single mum and romance writer Stevie, she has an up coming wedding to the lovely loyal Matthew. The couple would listen to Matthews co work; Jo as she tells them about her husband Adam. However when Stevie finds a message from Jo, making it obvious of their relationship together. Matthew leave’s Stevie to start a relationship with stunning Jo and she is completely broken-hearted.

So she comes up with a plan to try to win him back by going on a strict diet, regular exercise; to try and polish herself up, from frumpy writer to a sexy writer. In this time she bumps into Adam, they both blame the other for their relationships breaking down. So when Adam suggests that they work together to win their partners back, she think’s he’s crazy. But will she? and if she does will they succeed in their plan? How will Matthew and Jo react? How will Adam and Stevie cope with having to spend time together? or Is it all to late for that?

I couldn’t put this book down much while I was reading, I have to say! It was typical Milly’s style with lots of romance, drama, beautiful described setting with a happy ending! I was thoughly entertained all the way through the story, and felt that this helped for an easy and enjoyable read. It’s very easy to read, put down and read again not that I had many breaks when I read!!!!!!!!!!

The Birds and the Bees couldn’t come highly recommend enough from me, it’s defiantly a must read in my eye’s!!!!!!!

                                                     Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                           The Birds and the Bees by Milly Johnson

                                                       A Super 5 Sparkly Stars

5stars

Review on: A Summer At Sea by Katie Fforde

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summer at sea by katie Fforde new

About the author (as seen in the book)

katie fforde

 

I live in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with my family, and I’m a country girl at heart.

I first started writing when my mother gave me a writing kit for Christmas, and once I started I just couldn’t stop. Living Dangerously was my first novel and since then, I haven’t looked back.

Ideas for books are everywhere, and I’m constantly inspired by the people and places around me. From watching TV (yes, it is research) to overhearing conversations, I love how my writing gives me the chance to taste other people’s lives and try all the jobs I’ve never had.

Each of my books explores a different profession or background and my research has helped me bring these to life. I’ve been a porter in an auction house, tried my hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and I’ve even been on a Ray Mears survival course.

I love being a writer; to me there isn’t a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. I particularly enjoy writing love stories. I believe falling in love is the best thing in the world, and I want all my characters to experience it, and my readers to share their stories.

Website: http://www.katiefforde.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KatieFforde

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KatieFforde

Publication date: 11th February 2016

Publisher: Centuary

ISBN: Hardback 978-1780890852

Paperback 978-0099579328

Pages: 368 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Hardback

Copy provided by: my own

Blurb (as seen on the book)

Emily is happy with her life just as it is.

She has a career as a midwife that she loves and enjoys her independence. But she also feels it’s time for a change and spot of sea air.

So when her best friend Rebecca asks whether she’d like to spend the summer cooking on a ‘Puffer’ steam boat just off the Scottish coast, she jumps at the chance.

But she barely has time to get to grips with the galley before she finds herself with a lot on her plate.

Rebecca has a baby on the way and is thrilled to have her friend on board doing most of the work. Then there’s Emily’s competitive kitchen assistant who thinks she should be head, cook, not Emily.

And there’s Alasdair, the handsome local doctor, who Emily is desperately trying not to notice. Because if she falls in love with him, as he appears to be falling for her, will she ever want her old life back again?

My Review

a summer at sea front cover

I just adore this front cover… it’s so summary! I love the pale blue of the backing and the other pale yellows and red’s. A row of quaint looking houses can be seen in the distance, with a steam boat, moored up at the quay. A lady is walking on the sea saw, with the wind in her hair, caring at blue and white stripped bag full of grocery’s and looks great with the other colours in the cover.  I adore the bunting at the top of the cover it just adds to the overall beautiful summery feel.

The author’s name is in large handwritten like in white making it stand out against the blue sky. The title is in red which ties in with the red stripes of the lady’s top. Very eye-catching indeed!!!!!

edited a summer at sea map

 

When I opened the book I was greeted by this cute map, showing the route the Puffer takes to the house that the characters live in. What a really lovely touch to add to the book. I love it!

We meet Emily a single and very independent lady. She enjoys her job as a midwife, however she is over worked and becoming more stressed by the day. So when her best friend Rebecca calls, to ask her if she fancied doing her a massive favour and cook on their Puffer steam boat for the summer on the Scottish coast, she see’s this as an opportunity to take some time off from work.

Rebecca and her husband James run a puffer steam boat hotel and with Rebecca being pregnant she feels she can’t manage her part, plus it’s a good chance to catch up with her best friend!

Emily’s arrives and is met by James’s brother Alistair; a local widowed doctor who has a daughter. James is pretty cold and silent with Emily and her first impressions of him isn’t great.

Then there’s Billie, Rebecca’s assistant and she really isn’t happy to see Emily. Billie gives Emily quit a hard time, but that really doesn’t phase Emily and she throws her self right in to the job. Emily has a wonderful way of dealing with the eclectic clients that are staying on the puffer. She is caring, very accommodating and deals with the obstacles that comes her way. Will Billie give Emily a break and accept her as a co-worker? Why is Billie so miffed?

Alistair pops up when the puffer come’s back to pick up a new set of guests with his daughter Kate; who really takes a shine to Emily as does her father it would seem. Will Alistair let Emily into his heart? Does Emily feel the same? How will Kate feel?

There are many obstacles and dramas as the story develops from a really bad storm, a visit from Rebecca’s mother, possible romance, and a birth to contend with.

A Summer At Sea is a really nice story full of all the elements of pure Katie Fforde  style. The description of the scenery and the puffer boat was great giving me a crystal clear image in my mind! I also found this story to be really relaxing to read, I soaked up the lovely array of characters and there quirky characteristics. Emily was my favourite because she is amazing in a crisis, and deals with whatever comes her way.

                                                    Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                                 A Summer at Sea by Katie Fforde

                                                                  4 Sparkly Stars

4 stars

 

 

Review on: The Picture House By the Sea by Holly Hepburn

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IMG_2974About the author (as seen in the book)

Holly HepburnHolly Hepburn has wanted to write books for as long as she can remember but she was too scared to try. One day she decided to be brave and dipped a toe into the bubble bath of romantic fiction with her first novella, Cupidity and she’s never looked back. She often tries to be funny, except when faced with traffic wardens and border control staff. Her favourite things are making people smile and Aidan Turner.

She’s tried many jobs over the years, from barmaid to market researcher and she even had a brief flirtation with modelling. These days she is mostly found writing.

She lives near London with her grey tabby cat, Portia. They both have an unhealthy obsession with Marmite.

Website: hollyhepburn.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HollyH_Author

Instagram: http://www.instergram.com/hollyh_author

Publication date: 10th August 2017

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

http://www.simonandschuster.co.uk

http://www.simonandschuster.com.au

http://www.simonandschuster.co.in

ISBN: Paperback 978-1-4711-6171-1

eBook  978-1-4711-6290-9

Pages: 464 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

The picture house by the sea is the Palace at Polwhipple – a lovely art deco cinema, nestled in front of azure Cornish seas. But it is long past its heyday now, and its only saving grace is Ferrelli’s, the family run ice-cream concession in the foyer, which is widely known as the best ice-cream for miles.

So when Ferdie, the owner of Ferrelli’s, breaks his leg, his granddaughter Gina drops everything to come and help out. But when she arrives she is dismayed by the state of the cinema, which she remembers fondly from summer holidays when she was little, and she is determined to give it the makeover it deserves. Along with local renovation expert Ben, she sets about reviving the Palace to its former glory.
But the cinema needs more than a lick of paint. Its very future is under threat from a developer with greed in his eyes. Can Gina save the place before it is too late?

My Review

The Picture House by the Sea has jus the glorious summery delight right there! The blueness of the sky which ties into the trim around the art deco style picture house. I adore the cute little ice cream stand at the front of the service hatch. The yellow colour of the title is a really nice contrast against the blue sky! I simply could just jump in there!

I was very excited to get reading this book not only because the blurb sounds so great but also because I’ve heard so many lovely things about Holly’s story’s!

Gina; work’s in events in London, and has been called on to lend a hand at her grandfathers gelato business in Polwhipple as he has broken his leg. She leaves behind her boyfriend Max a busy property developer, and thing’s aren’t so rosy between the two, making this visit to her grandparents welcome. Her Italian grandfather is a stubborn man and is not liking being told to rest or that change is only round the corner. On Gina’s arrival she is shocked by how the old cinema is in such a state and not at all how she remember it. She has so many fond memories of her spending a lot of time at the picture house; with her friend Ben Pascoe.

The events management in Gina can only see the potential of the picture house as she spends time at the ice cream stand; ways to make the cinema back to being the heart of the community like it used to. In turn would bring some much-needed custom to her grandparents gelato business and keep the cinema open. Gina unexpectedly bumps into Ben, bring a whirl wind of memories!!!! The both relies how much they love the picture house and can’t just stand by and let it no longer being the hub of the community. In a quest to help her grandparents Gina; with the help of the community, organises special film viewings to bring some much needed money in for repairs and to keep it open.

Gina’s show’s shear grit and determination in both her role with her grandparents and with the cinema. She doesn’t let any obstacle stand in her way and works her way round the many that come her way. However what is she really distracting herself from? Is there something between Ben and Gina? Will her grandfather be ok with the change? What will happen when it’s time to go back to the city? Will Max stick around?

Gosh what a book, it’s got all you need in great read, from drama to romance. The setting is just wonderful as are the characters. Gina has to be my favourite I admired the way she juggles it all and her determination through out. I loved the way the book was in sections with the title of the film they were showing, really nice touch. I have to say how very much I enjoyed Holly’s writing style and very much matches what I look for in a book. I will be going out of my way to find and read more of Holly’s story’s in the very near future for sure!!!!!

                                                   Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                  The Picture House by the Sea by Holly Hepburn

                                                              5 Sparkly Stars

5stars

Review on Holiday in the Hamptons by Sarah Morgan

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holiday in the hamtons by sarah morganAbout the author (as seen in the book)

sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan writes warm contemporary women’s fiction with her trademark humour which has gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London with her husband and children, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on holiday so she can forget the house needs tidying.

 

 

Website: http://www.sarahmorgan.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahMorgan

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SarahMorgan_

Instagram: http://www.instagram/Sarahmorganwrites

Publication date: 15th June 2017

Publisher: HQ

ISBN: Paperback 978-1-848-45666-2

Pages: 384 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Borrowed

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

She’s moved on…


Felicity Knight loves New York. But when she spots her ex-husband in the city, Fliss is desperate to escape!


He’s moved back…


Vet Set Carlyle is back from California to establish his own practice and settle down. When he learns that his ex Fliss still lives close by, that future is looking a whole lot brighter…


Will a perfect escape bring them back together?


With the help of his adorable dog Lulu, and a sprinkling of beachside magic, Seth is determined to make Fliss see he’s never stopped loving her!

My Review

sarah morgan Holiday in the Hamptons

What a great, summary front cover!!!! This cover has all the components for a perfect scene from, the palm trees creeping on both sides of the cover, birds gliding in the dreamy sun set sky, the lighthouse on the edge of rocks, the wooden railings, walkway and lifeguards looking tower to the lady walking barefoot with a golden retriever at her side. The author’s name it bold font and coloured in white which looks great against the sky backing. The title is done in a hand like written font with swirly loops, which adds elegance to the cover.  I bloody love this cover and could stare at it all day!!!!!!! (but I won’t because then I would never get this review written!!!!!!!!)

Twins Harriet and Felicity run their own dog walking business The Bark Rangers. The sisters and their elder brother David has a pretty tough family life; which has resorted in them all being close. Their father was always grumpy and more than quite angry, saying an augmentation of nasty things when they were little especially to Felicity. Harriet developed a stutter when she was little and because of that Felicity felt she had and has to stick up for her sister in any way she can. Their mother never seemed to stand up to her husband always trying to please him, which she never seemed to do right which then resulted in a row.

Summer time at their grandmothers in the Hamptons was a haven for all of them including their mother, because they could all finally relax without their father around. One summer her came with them and him and Felicity have a row and she runs off down to the beach. She is followed by Seth and their holiday romance is started, they end up getting married but not to a good end as they divorce. Felicity is a closed book and doesn’t really share the feelings with anyone, which included Seth.

At this point in the story I felt really pulled into the story because I sensed there was much more to come in what would be full of raw emotion.

The twins share a flat in the city, and when they meet up with their brother he tells Felicity that her has seen Seth in town. Which shock’s her and she seam’s to have a melt down, Harriet thinks she should go and see him to get out what they both needed to, regarding the past in order to move on. Felicity try’s to go see him, but wimp’s out, back at the flat Harriet’s phone ring’s so Felicity answers it. Her grandmother asks who she thinks is Harriet, but is really Felicity, to come and help her out by staying for a bit as she has had a fall. Felicity doesn’t correct her on her taking the call and not Harriet and sees this a an opportunity to get away and put as much space between her and Seth as possible.

Needless to say Harriet isn’t happy about deceiving their grandmother, and tell Felicity she must tell her grandmother right away. On driving in to Hamptons a dog runs out in the road and  laying in front of the car. She panic’s as she think she’s hit a dog when she hears a voice behind her, it’s Seth he then goes on to tell her the dog is fine that he is a retired stunt dog!!! But Felicity keep’s up the pretence that she is her sister. Can Felicity keep running away from her past of pain? Will she be able to keep up the pretence that she is her sister? What is it with her past with Seth that’s so painful? Will her grandmother work out that it’s really Felicity and not Harriet?

I was extremely hooked from the very first page of Holiday in the Hamptons. I think it’s perfectly written with plenty of emotion and care. I must admit that I love the way Sarah has brought some other characters from previous books. I’m actually not reading them in order and it really doesn’t make a difference really in my eye’s; because of the way Sarah has written it. I also really enjoyed they way all the characters developed and grew throughout the story in one way or another. Another thing I enjoyed was the sense of community which fill’s you heart with joy, from the pure kindness and love that brings to the story.

All in all I enjoyed this book so very much as much as I did with Miracle at 5th Avenue (You can read this review Here) I would really recommend this book and I truly can’t wait to discover more of Sarah’s books.

                                                  Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                                    Holiday in the Hamptons

                                                    A Superb 5 Sparkly Stars

5stars

Blog Tour Book Review on The Best Boomerville Hotel by Caroline James

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The Best Boomerville Hotel Cover

About the author (as provided in the blog tour pack)caroline james

Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, consultant and food writer, Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association and writes articles and short stories and contributes to many publications.

Her debut novel, Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy & Me is set in North West England, at the time of a famous gypsy horse fair. The book went straight to number three on Amazon and was E-book of the Week in The Sun.

So, You Think You’re A Celebrity…Chef? was runner up the Winchester Writers festival for best TV Drama and takes a lighthearted look at the world of celebrity chefs as they battle it out for fame and fortune. Coffee, Tea, The Caribbean & Me was runner up at The Write Stuff, LBF, 2015 and is an Amazon bestseller and top recommended read by Thomson Holidays. Jungle Rock, a romcom novella set in Australia, revolves around a TV game show.

In her spare time, Caroline can be found trekking up a mountain or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

Website: http://www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolineJames/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CarolineJames12

Publication date: 13th March 2018

Publisher: Ruby Fiction

http://www.rubyfiction.com

ISBN: Ebook 978-1-91255-000-5

Amazon: http://mybook.to/TBBH

Kobo: https://goo.gl/VRh2XT

Ibooks/Google: https://goo.gl/2aq7sz

Itunes: https://apple.co/2lZrl6F

Pages: approx. 320 pages

Genre: Contemporary romantic/ comedy

Format reading: ARC Ebook

Copy provided by: Rachel from Random Resources

Blurb (as provided in the blog tour pack)

Let the shenanigans begin at the Boomerville hotel …

Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have a vision – a holiday retreat in the heart of the Lake District exclusively for guests of ‘a certain age’ wishing to stimulate both mind and body with new creative experiences. One hotel refurbishment later and the Best Boomerville Hotel is open for business!
Perhaps not surprisingly Boomerville attracts more than it’s fair share of eccentric clientele: there’s fun loving Sir Henry Mulberry and his brother Hugo; Lucinda Brown, an impoverished artist with more ego than talent; Andy Mack, a charming Porsche-driving James Bond lookalike, as well as Kate Simmons, a woman who made her fortune from an internet dating agency but still hasn’t found ‘the One’ herself.
With such an array of colourful individuals there’s bound to be laughs aplenty, but could there be tears and heartbreak too and will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?
‘Britain’s answer to the Best Marigold Hotel! Book me in for Sharing with the Shaman and Clairvoyance in mid-life – this book is fabulous!’
Nikki Ashton, Amazon best-selling author

My Review

Today I’m one of the stop’s on this wonderful blog tour. I would like to say a massive thank you to Rachel from Random Resources for asking me to take part in The Best Boomerville Hotel blog tour and for providing me with a copy to read and give an honest review.

the best boomerville hotel book coverWhat a fun cartoon style front cover, with the bus taxi trundling down the winding drive way from the Boomerville Hotel itself. The Hotel is surrounded by greenery and mountains the background, which I think give’s the cover depth. The title is coloured in Red and situated beside the taxi bus. Caroline’s name is in black and really stands out very well. There are a few daisy like flowers on the lawn’s of the hotel giving it a nice feel. I love this cover for it’s fun feel!!!!

I stumbled across Caroline’s books a few years ago now. As soon as I read Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy & Me and Coffee, Tea, The Caribbean & Me I was kinda hooked on her very unique style of writing. I often return to those books for a re-read simply because they are packed to the rafters of drama, romance, friendships, beautiful settings and comedy; which will have you giggling while you read. (what’s not to like!!!)

The Best Boomerville Hotel, is a standalone book, but if you have read Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy & Me and Coffee, Tea, The Caribbean & Me some of the characters will be familiar with the some added new quirky characters to we your appetite.

Jo Docherty the owner of the new refurbished hotel and her best friend and manager Hattie have re-branded the hotel as a Boomerville hotel. The guest’s of between 50- 69; who find themselves alone at this stage in their life and are looking for a bit of companionship. The hotel is not like any hotel around as it offers a wide range of courses which they can take part in such as; writing pottery, computer, clairvoyance in an authentic gypsy waggon and there’s even a Sherman in a tee-pee. (I’m not even in this age bracket and I want to go there!!!!!! sound’s fun doesn’t it?)

Amongst the first guest’s at The Boomerville Hotel are: Kate; who has loosed both of her parent’s and find’s her self single and alone and made her money from inventing and selling a dating app, Lucinda a bohemian artist who try’s to convince Jo and Hattie to let her run an art class at the hotel, Andy a very attractive newly widowed and retired driving around in a ‘James Bond’ car and then there’s Sir Henry and his brother Hugo; who are previous client’s of the hotel. (These two gave me the giggles the most and I adored them!)

There is lots of drama in this story that will have you entertained to the very end. They have the worst rain storm, beautiful dinner party’s and some strange going’s on! They also have a con person amounts them, but who is it? And will they realise in time for there are venerable guest’s in the con-person’s mist?

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed The Best Boomerville Hotel by Caroline James, this has to be one of my favourite books this year, and on that I will undoubtedly be revisiting again for sure!!!! All the characters are quirky and interesting; making the story really enjoyable read. I adored Jo and Hattie’s friendship and the way they work well as a team and support each other. Caroline’s description of the Lake District is perfect, and took me back to a place I love to visit! It reminded me of holiday’s I used to have there as child.

I guess you can tell I thougly enjoyed this story from the very first page to the very last. It’s so well constructed with a really great pace that suites the story perfectly. I urge you to read this heart-warming and drama packed with quirky characters to boot, what more could you wish for!

                                                  Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                The Best Boomerville Hotel by Caroline James

                                                    An epic 5 Sparkly Star’s

5stars