Wednesday 28 February 2018

The Windmill Cafe - Summer Breeze

Publication date 9th March 2018

About the book
The Windmill Cafe is open for business!
As Rosie Barnes serves glasses of tangy lemonade and ice-cold prosecco at her summer garden party, she couldn’t be happier. The Windmill Café, with its peppermint green sails is a roaring success and has given Rosie a chance to escape the heartbreak of her busy life in London.
But then disaster strikes when popstar Suki Richards is taken unexpectedly ill at the party. Now all eyes are on Rosie…have her famous raspberry cupcakes poisoned her most high-profile guest? Or is someone else trying to damage Suki’s chance of stardom?
If Rosie wants to save her picture-perfect life, and the reputation of her beloved Windmill Café, she’s going to have to get to the bottom of the mystery…and fast!

My Review
As soon as I seen the cover for The Windmill Café I had to read it! I haven't read anything by this author before so I was excited. I was very impressed and I really enjoyed the storyline with the big mystery to it and finding out who done it!

There was a big bunch of characters and it was really easy to get to know them all and know who was who.  

The Café itself sounded absolutely gorgeous - a place I would love to visit! 

This is book one in the series so I can't wait to read the next one and find out whats next! 



Saturday 24 February 2018

Blog Tour - Ottercombe Bay 'Gin and Trouble'

Today I am delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for 'Ottercombe Bay Gin and Trouble' I have to say this is one of my favourite cover, it is just gorgeous and I love the choice of colours.

Publication date 22nd February 2018

About the book
Escapte to the Devon coast, with Part Two of a brand-new four-part serial from the author of Willow Cottage.
Daisy Wickens has returned to Ottercombe Bay, the picturesque Devon town where her mother died when she was a girl. She plans to leave as soon as her great uncle's funeral is over, but Great Uncle Reg had other ideas. He's left Daisy a significant inheritance - an old building in a state of disrepair, which could offer exciting possibilities, but to get it she must stay in Ottercombe Bay for twelve whole months.



With the help of a cast of quirky locals, a few gin cocktails and a black pug with plenty of attitude, Daisy might just turn this into something special.  But can she ever hope to be happy among the ghosts of her past?



My Review
I couldn't wait to read this next part as part one ended with a bit of a cliffhanger and oh boy was I glad to read this.

In this part we see Daisy start to settle down in Ottercombe and try and bring her idea for the old train station to life and her idea for it sounds absolutely fantastic and very exciting.
I love the characters in this too they are all loveable and unique. I'm also very intrigued to find out whether love might bloom for Daisy with one of the lads as they spend a lot of time together and if so which one?



Blog Tour - Prosecco and Promises

Publication date 12th February 2018

About the book
Mia's dad has always been her idol.  Now, she faces losing him and he insisting that she leave England to visit her mother's family on the Italian island of Ischia.

Arriving on the island, Mia is embraced by the warm, crazy relatives she hardly knows.  Despite her doubts about the trip, it is in Italy that Mia discovers connections to a part of her life that's been missing, and during the sun-soaked days and steamy nights Mia falls for handsome local Salvatore

But as the day of her departure draws nearer can she risk having her heart broken twice in one summer?

My Review
Oh my goodness I absolutely fell in love with this book! It is so fun and feel good! I felt like I was on holiday with Mia and enjoyed hearing about the gorgeous place Italy! This was incrediably romantic but very emotional! A story that I will not forget it was so beautiful! You will not be disappointed if you pick this book up! You will not be able to put the book down! 




Friday 23 February 2018

Blog Tour - Spring on the Little Cornish Isles

Today it's my turn on the 'Spring on the Little Cornish Isles' Blog Tour and I am thrilled to be sharing an extract from the book with you all! 

Publication date 19th February 2018

About the book
Jess has lived at the idyllic flower farm on the Isles of Scilly her whole life, but when her boyfriend Adam leaves without explanation, Jess discovers that even her little slice of Cornish heaven can be lonely.
For the first time in Will's life, he's met someone he can't stop thinking about. But nothing is simple when the woman of your dreams is working for you.
Gaby is running away from painful memories, and where could be more perfect than a remote island off the Cornish coast? But to put the past behind her, she must keep moving ... however much she might want to stay.
Nothing is simple, even on paradise. Will love bloom for the residents of the little Cornish Isles?

Extract
With a wave to Jess and curious glances at Gabriella, the Bartons scuttled off into the terminal, clutching identical tapestry bags. They’d doubtless be speculating about who the new arrival was all the way to Cornwall and back, thought Jess, but her attention was all for Adam. His tawny eyes lit up when he spotted her and her stomach did a little flip when he walked over and kissed her on the cheek.
He smiled at Gabriella. ‘You found her among the crowds trying to escape then?’ he said to Jess.
‘Of course. Gabriella Carter, meet Adam Pengelly.’
Adam held out a large hand. ‘Welcome to Scilly. There’s no getting away from us now.’
Jess laughed. ‘Not without digging a tunnel to Land’s End.’
‘Or Canada if you want to head in the other direction,’ said Adam as Gabriella took his hand gingerly.
‘But I’m sure you won’t want to do that,’ Jess added hastily, not entirely sure it was true, judging by the doubt in her new recruit’s eyes. She had a feeling that if you’d given Gabriella a spade she’d have started digging right there, but then again, if she couldn’t get used to a bit of banter and teasing, she wouldn’t last five minutes in the close-knit farm team.
Gabriella peered up into Adam’s face. He was at least a foot taller than her and built like the semi-professional rugby player he used to be before he’d moved to Scilly from his native Cumbria. Jess bit her lip, trying not to laugh at the apprehension in Gabriella’s eyes. That imposing physique and height must have been quite intimidating to strangers.
‘Off we go then. Can I help with your bags, Gabriella?’ Adam offered.
‘Thanks … and please, just “Gaby” is absolutely fine. Only my granny ever calls me Gabriella. It’s such a mouthful, isn’t it?’ She smiled again, which lit up her expressive eyes, but there was a touch of steel in her voice that took Jess by surprise. Maybe she might last a month rather than a week.
‘Gaby, it is then,’ said Adam. ‘Your carriage awaits.’
Gaby stared at the golf buggy as if it were a toy car. Maybe she’d been expecting a Rolls-Royce.
Adam grinned. ‘It’s safe … Ish.’
Jess batted Adam on the arm and he mimed an ‘ow’.
‘Ignore him. It’s totally safe. We don’t keep a van on the main island because we’ve no use for it and we use a local firm to collect the flowers from the quay to bring them to the airport. We borrow this buggy off a friend to get around St Mary’s when we need to. You’ll see lots of them about. Lots of tourists use them if they can’t or don’t want to do too much walking.’
‘Jump in,’ said Adam. He picked up Gaby’s case as if it were a handbag and slotted it next to her in the rear of the buggy.
Jess climbed into the front next to him.
‘Hold on tight. The roads are busy,’ said Adam as they drove the buggy down the hill towards the quay. There were about two cars in sight.
‘Will it take long to get to the harbour?’ Gaby asked.
‘Five minutes tops, unless there’s a traffic jam at the quay,’ Adam replied.
‘He’s joking, but it could be busy as the Islander ferry has just docked,’ said Jess. ‘How are the Bartons?’ she asked Adam as he steered the buggy around a large pothole.
‘The ladies are fine, but their guesthouse is in a bit of a state. I just offered to lend them a hand repairing the garden gate. The sheep keep getting into the allotment patch and scoffing the produce. I can fit it in after fire training on Tuesday.’
This was typical of Adam. He’d help anyone and put himself out in the process. He had no ego and although he was sociable with his mates and customers, he was also shy around women. Jess liked him all the more for that even if it meant that it had been over a year after they’d first met before they’d finally got together on a ‘date’



Monday 19 February 2018

The Undercover Mother

Publication date 20th March 2018

About the book 
I used to imagine our new family life as a romantic film montage… the three of us rolling around on the rug together, laughing, or pushing a buggy around the park with my perfect hair flowing in the wind. 

Spoiler alert: it is not like this. For a start, we never lie on the rug together because it’s covered in crumbs from the slice of toast I have been trying to eat since breakfast…

Jenny has too much on her plate: literally – she’s only expecting one child but she’s eating for at least three. Not to mention trying to juggle her nightmare boss, a know-it-all sister, and an infuriatingly laid-back husband. 

She used to be known for her ‘Single Girl About Town’ column. But when her boss gives her job to a younger colleague, Jenny panics and proposes she blogs instead about being a clueless new mum. Surely people will find her new friendship group fascinating? (Even if the only thing they seem to have in common is that they all had sex around the same time 9 months ago...)

And if her readers aren’t quite hooked yet, maybe Jenny will just have to be more liberal with the truth. After all, none of the other mums will read it… will they?

My Review
Oh my goodness this was absolutely hilarious! I just couldn't stop laughing throughout. 

I think this book is a fantastic eye opener to what motherhood is really like and see that its normal to have bad days.

It was great reading the little bits from Jenny's blog where she writes about the Spice Mums this made me chuckle.

This is a fabulous read and I really hope theres another book to follow this.

Thursday 15 February 2018

Blog Tour - Last of the Summer Moet

Publication date 1st February 2018
Amazon UK
About the book
Top reporter Laura Lake has struck journalistic gold.
She's discovered a super-exclusive English village where the rich and famous own weekend retreats. Where film stars, Turner-prize winners and Cabinet ministers park their helicopters outside the gastropub and buy £100 sourdough loaves from the deli.
Outsiders are strictly forbidden. But luckily Laura's best friend Lulu, a logo-obsessed socialite with a heart as huge as her sunglasses, suddenly fancies a quiet life in the country. The door to this enchanted rural idyll opens for Laura. Revealing a great professional opportunity.
Can Laura write an exposé before the villagers suss her true identity? And before the world's poshest pub quiz triggers a political scandal not seen since Profumo?

My Review
This was a really brilliant book, I enjoyed every little page of it.
It was so funny I had tears of laughter so may times.
I really loved the character Laura she was fantastic. 
Once you start reading you will not be able to put this down it is seriously good!

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Blog Tour - A Year of New Adventures

Publication day 5th February 2018
About the book
It’s time for Billie Summers to have an adventure … but it might not be exactly what she expected.
Billie Summers has always been quite content in her little cottage in the Cotswolds. Sure, half the house hasn’t been renovated, but what’s the point when it’s only her? Working part-time at her uncle’s bookshop and planning writer retreats with her best friend allows her to pay the bills. What more could anyone want?
That is until Oliver Forest, the bad boy of the book world, turns up to one of her retreats and points out that Billie hasn’t done anything very adventurous. Couple that with her best friend falling head over heels and beginning to drift away from their Friday night wine and dinner plans, Billie is starting to wonder if it isn’t time she took control of her life.
So she starts a list: get fitted (properly) for a bra, fix up rest of house, find a ‘career’ and well, get a tattoo … Her life might just get the makeover it needs, too bad irritating and far-too-attractive for his own good, Oliver keeps showing up …
My Review
I really enjoyed Maddie's first book so I couldn't wait to read her next and I just absolutely loved this one!  
It was fun and exciting and had plenty of laughter. 
Everything about A Year of New Adventures was just perfect, the cover, story, characters and surroundings.
You will find you just cannot put this book down - It is fabulous! 

Extract from 'A Year of New Adventures'
After he had rudely slammed the door in my face, Oliver Forest and Pippa stayed closeted in his bedroom for the next half-hour.
‘Perhaps they’re having sex?’ Helena whispered at one point, when it had all gone a bit quiet and we couldn’t hear him barking out instructions to the poor woman.
She edged closer to his door, crouched down, and angled her ear towards the keyhole. ‘Perhaps they’re doing it really quietly.’
‘I doubt it!’ I said. ‘I don’t think people like him do anything quietly.’
At that moment Pippa opened the door and stuck her head out. She looked down at Helena and seemed rather startled for a moment.
‘Could we have coffee?’ she said. ‘And I’d love one of those cookies.’
‘Of course,’ Helena said sweetly, pretending she had been about to re-tie her shoelaces, which was the wrong thing to do as she had slippers on. She recovered quickly by picking up a bit of fluff on the floor. I saw her checking to see if Pippa was in any way dishevelled. ‘Just come out when you’re ready.’
‘We’ll have it in here,’ Oliver said loudly.
Pippa gave a weak smile. ‘I’ll pop out in a minute for a tray shall I?’
‘Yes, yes of course,’ Helena said.
The door closed and we exchanged a look.
‘This is going to be a very long week,’ I said.
Helena, as is her way, tried to make the best of the situation. ‘Well let’s try and make sure he has nothing to complain about.’
She went and found a tray and wiped it over before she put out two matching mugs, a sugar bowl, a milk jug, and two polished teaspoons. Then we scrabbled around looking for the cafetière and some real coffee. I selected a pretty plate and put out some cookies before Helena found a nice little wicker basket and tipped them into that instead. Then, we took them all out again and this time lined the basket with a paper napkin. At last, after a bit of artful arranging – because there is only so much one can do with six choc-chip cookies – we took the tray up to the closed door and I knocked.
Pippa came to open it and took the tray from Helena. We both peered round her, trying to see what was going on.
‘Everything OK?’ I said cheerily, craning a little.
I could see Oliver Forest sitting in the armchair next to the window with a large notebook on his knee. He was writing, his dark hair tousled as he ran one hand through it. Almost as though he could feel my gaze on him, he looked up. His eyes really were beautiful, and he stared at me for a moment in that funny way writers do when they are deep in a plot and they aren’t actually seeing you.


Wednesday 7 February 2018

Blog Tour - Spring at Lavender Bay

Delighted today to be part of the Blog Tour for 'Spring at Lavender Bay' by Sarah Bennett. I also have details of a fantastic giveaway!

Publication date 22nd February 2018

About the book
A season for change…?
Beth Reynolds loved growing up close to Eleanor’s Emporium – a bric-a-brac shop full of wonders on Lavender Bay. Devastated to learn that Eleanor has died, she returns home from London immediately and is shocked to discover that the elderly lady has left the shop to her!

Vowing to restore it to its former glory, she only intends to stay until the end of the season. Although the longer she spends in the colourful seaside town, the more she falls back in love with everything she left behind…and quite possibly, with her best friend Eliza’s older brother, local chef Sam Barnes!
Why didn’t she notice he was quite this gorgeous before? And will their spring fling be enough to convince her to stay?

Don’t miss Spring at Lavender Bay, the first book in the enchanting Lavender Bay trilogy! Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

Book 1: Spring at Lavender Bay
Book 2: Summer at Lavender Bay
Book 3: Snowflakes at Lavender Bay

Book Links

My Review
The minute I seen the cover for this book I knew it would be amazing, the cover is so stunning it really makes you want to read this!

I just fell in love with this whole story, the characters and Lavender Bay where just perfect. I really just want to move there it sounds so beautiful and the characters are adorable.  

Beth clearly has a lot of history in Lavender Bay and its nice to see her be excited and fall in love with the place all over again.

The romance in this book was sizzling! Beth and Sam are the perfect couple and I was begging for them to get together! Sam really sounds like the perfect man he is so kind and caring and you can tell how much he loves Beth. 

This was the perfect start for the Lavender Bay series! I LOVED IT! I can't wait for the next part to find out what is next for Beth and Lavender Bay! 

About the Author
Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others. 

Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives. 

When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants. Sarah is the author of the Butterfly Cove trilogy, published by HQ Digital UK. 


Her new series is set in the beautiful seaside town of Lavender Bay, and will follow the lives of three best friends - Beth, Eliza and Libby.







Giveaway

Prize: Kindle Fire 7, Room Diffuser & L'Occitne Hand Cream Set
UK Only


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday 4 February 2018

Blog Tour - If I Fall

Publication date 22nd January 2018
About the book

Four university friends, four devastating secrets.

I’m really sorry for what I’m about to do...
It’s fifteen years since graduation, and Connie, Jonas, JJ and Layla have managed to remain close despite the odds. They’ve supported each other, but are some things too big for friendship?
Connie is desperate to maintain the veneer of perfect family life.
Jonas is feeling the pressure at work.
Layla’s career is unravelling thanks to her ill mother
JJ’s past is catching up with him.
When they stumble and fall, who will be there to catch them?
My Review
Oh boy! I really didn't prepare myself for this very emotional read. From that very first page with the tragic suicide note I had tears in my eyes.
This book is incredibly well written and it features very strong storylines and they are delivered perfectly!
It really opens your eyes into peoples lives and makes you think that their lives may look perfect but they are far from it and really opens your eyes to how things are covered up so no one finds out.
Honestly my heart was broke reading this it is
so so devastating and heart breaking!
A must read, one you will not be able to put down as you just need to know what happens next! 

Follow the tour here

Thursday 1 February 2018

The Cosy Castle on the Loch

Publication date 14th February 

About the book
Nothing in Flora Hamilton’s twenty-two-year existence has ever gone to plan. But when she finds herself whipped up in a whirl of activity at Glenduff Castle to neatly tie up the rest of her life for her, she begins to panic. 
With pressure coming at her from all sides, the easiest option is for Flora to go along with it all. But will the appearance of a handsome stranger at Glenduff provide her with a more attractive alternative? 

This is the first of four short stories in The Cosy Castle on the Loch series. 

Coming next:
Summer
Autumn
Winter

My Review
The cover for this is adorable! Its so perfect for the story itself and helps us imagine just how beautiful the castle on the Loch is.

I really liked the character Flora, she should be the happiest person due to her upcoming wedding in her dream location, but she isnt happy.  I just felt for her she is under pressure as everyone is delighted for her and when she jokes about not going through with it they all laugh at her.

I didnt expect the way this ended as I thought it would go a different way so that was nice.

I am extremely excited for the next part to find out whats next for Flora and if she will finally get a bit of happiness. 

This is a fabulous fresh new series that brings a real joy.

 So perfect to curl up and be cosy with on these cold nights.