Wednesday 21 November 2018

Cover Reveal - The Distance

Today I am delighted to be sharing the new cover for The Distance by Zoe Folbigg
So here it is...

About the book 
Under the midnight sun of Arctic Norway, Cecilie Wiig goes online and stumbles across Hector Herrera in a band fan forum. They start chatting and soon realise they might be more than kindred spirits. But there are two big problems: Hector lives 8,909km away in Mexico. And he's about to get married. 
Can Cecilie, who's anchored to two jobs she loves in the library and a cafe full of colourful characters in the town in which she grew up, overcome the hurdles of having fallen for someone she's never met? Will Hector escape his turbulent past and the temptations of his hectic hedonistic life and make a leap of faith to change the path he's on? 
Zoe Folbigg's latest novel is a story of two people, living two very different lives, and whether they can cross a gulf, ocean, sea and fjord to give their love a chance.

Saturday 17 November 2018

Blog Tour - Who I Am

Publication date 6th November 2018

About the book
I know everything about you

And you know everything about me… except

WHO I AM.

Andi met Camilla at university. Instantly best friends, they shared everything together. Until their long-planned graduation celebration ends in tragedy… 

Years later, Andi is living a seemingly perfect life on the rugged Cornish Coast with her loving husband, happy children and dream home. Yet Andi is haunted by a secret she thought only she knew. Someone out there is bringing Andi’s deepest fears to life. And she knows there’s no escaping the past that has come back to haunt her… 

You trusted me with your secrets, you told me everything, you thought I was your best friend... but you have no idea WHO I AM.

Gripping, unputdownable and packed with twists and turns from the first page to the very last, this stunning psychological thriller will make you question whether we can ever really trust the ones we love. 

Buy links

Follow Aria
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction

About the author
Sarah Simpson has a first-class honours degree in Psychology and has experienced working at a Brain Rehabilitation Hospital. She has spent time as a family consultant for Warwickshire and Oxfordshire solicitors and gained knowledge of the Family Court System. She now lives in Cornwall with her husband, three children and animals.

Follow Sarah
Twitter handle: @sarahrsimpson
Facebook: @sarahsimpsoncornwall

Extract

Falmouth 2017
Andi
It’s only 10.10 when I swing the car through the front gates, pressing the control I keep in the door pocket, they open and I sneak through. Understanding the growing list of tasks I need to address today is enough to persuade me to turn back around and disappear. I’ve still to finish my article for the magazine, with an ideal deadline cutting me off at 16.00 today, I shouldn’t have gone for coffee. I love our home, graced with wonderful outlooks across the Fal Estuary and beyond, my dream home. Perched on top of the banks near our small community of Flushing, we sit in surveillance of the more stretched out town of Falmouth. But more lately, I’m always anxious about being here. That perpetual jittery feeling, at the thought of being home alone.
Unlocking the oiled oak door, I pad in through the airy reception hall. A slight quiver slithers over me as my footsteps echo around the empty silence. I scamper through to the open plan kitchen and dining area, where a 360 degree wood burner is suspended from the ceiling. The dreaded breakfast crockery eyes me from the across the room, piled uncertainly high on the walnut kitchen workbench, am I becoming a slob too? Diverting my gaze away to the glass bi-fold doors, I spot Paul outside, tending to the pool, and a feeling of relief washes over me. I’m not entirely alone. I fold back the doors separating us, and offer him coffee. Anything to avoid what I need to get on with and some non-intrusive human contact, it’s reassurance I’m seeking – everything is normal? Carol has already called me since my abrupt departure from the restaurantI didn’t take the call.
Walking back through the kitchen, I bump into the protruding dining chair, the loose papers for my article float to the floor and I step over them. Originally when I took on the role as a freelance features writer, it was my intention to be based in London but that was before I met Kyle. Back then still in my twenties, Cornwall for me was only ever meant to be somewhere I escaped to, a few months was all it was ever going to be, sufficient time to lay low, clear my mind. Come to terms with the loss of friends and anyone I could refer to as family. But then I decided to top up my English degree with a certificate in journalism. Which is when I met Kyle, who was taking a year out after his graduation with a business marketing degree to pursue his love for recreational photography.
Then, beyond even my hopes, I landed a position with a Health and Beauty Magazine whilst my training and qualifying continued. Apparently, only because of my first class honours degree, impressive work examples and the long list of work placements I achieved in Edinburgh during undergraduate times. Now, my reputation seems to work for itself, I still write for the same magazine and also for a Cornish magazine, focussed on the county’s tourism. In truth, I don’t need to work, Kyle earns sufficient for us all, being a marketing executive for a well known brand name in London.
Absent minded, I make coffee, then saunter back out to the terrace to find Paul. We engage in the usual small town banter before I return to the kitchen to mix myself a small salad, squeeze fresh orange juice and rummage through the drawers for any elusive paracetamol. Where are the blasted things? Surely I haven’t got through four packets in a week? Then I remember I’ve some next to my bed, my breakfast from this morning. This then is my new routine, wake, water, tablets, get up. Children, breakfast, school, kill time, avoid work, children, dinner, bed. I’m stuck on a carousel of life and I wonder sometimes if this is what I intended? Has everything been worth it? Or did what happen change why I did all this in the first place?
I’m pondering this as I tread my way upstairs in pursuit of pain relief, I’ve never been the same, how could I be? Stepping into our bedroom, I realise – Christ, I haven’t made the bed, in fact, I haven’t even opened the blinds. Quickly, I pad over to the outsized window dodging the beating I’m giving myself and press for the blinds to retract. Stepping backwards as the punishing rays penetrate my eyes. It takes a few moments to regain focus before peering out to the estuary, where the tranquil, glistening waters become more of a huge, teal blue tank of water. A small fishing boat rocks gently against a once brightly coloured buoy, now weather and life beaten. I squint to observe the small figure carelessly slung back on the deck, is he trying to escape too, stealing a moments reflection, peace and quiet from the daily white noise, hum of life? Does he feel as alone as I do, despite the people? My family. My husband. Does he have something dark lurking in the shadows?
Turning away, I spot the  at the same time as the silver laptop thrown haphazardly on the unmade iridescent silvery blue sheets. Could it have been a dream in the hazy early hours of this morning? The alcohol, blurring my mind? How many did I guzzle, half a bottle, a bottle, and a half? Subconsciously, I touch my head, overly warm and thumping. Breaking through the foil backing of the pills, I tread back down the spiralling stone steps to the hallway. In the kitchen, I make my way to the fridge to fill a glass with cold water and ice, placing it back on the side next to the orange juice, catching sight of the Sauvignon Blanc from last night. Instantly, I’m hit by a flood of relief. An almost calm, beginning at the top then gently trickling its way through me – it can’t be long to go. I glance at the clockit’s 12.05. I mean, it’s basically lunch time, if I lived on the continent it would be obligatory to partake in a petite something or other; un verre du vin. It even sounds more civilised said like that. The thought of it alone offers a window of respite.

Thursday 15 November 2018

Blog Tour - One New York Christmas

Publication date 15th November 2018

About the book
Will this Christmas romance be just for the holidays?
A fun, festive romantic comedy to curl up with this winter. If you love Josie Silver's One Day in December, you'll love Mandy Baggot's heart-warming festive romance.
Lara Weeks is heading to New York with best friend Susie for the Christmas trip of a lifetime.
A festive break in the snowy Big Apple visiting the tourist hotspots, not to mention the shopping, seems like the perfect way for Lara to get over her ex-boyfriend. Or maybe make him so jealous he begs for a second chance.
Enlisting the help of gorgeous actor, Seth Hunt, doesn't quite go to plan, but there's something about him that has Lara wishing for a different kind of happy ever after...


My Review
I was really looking forward to reading Mandy's Christmas novel as her books are just fantastic, and my goodness this is definitely her best one yet!
I felt like I was whisked away to New York with Lara and the festive vibes got me all excited for Christmas. I just felt so happy when I was reading this - everything about it was perfect, the location, season, the story and the characters! Oh they where brilliant, Lara is easy to like and she is definitely someone I would love to be friends with.  The romance is so beautiful and really puts a smile on your face. I absolutely loved the ending! 

This is the perfect book for this festive season! 



Tuesday 6 November 2018

Blog Tour - Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at The Winter Wonderland

Publication date 1st November 2018
About the book
After calling off her engagement, Hayley, the Wynthorpe Hall housekeeper, wants nothing more than to return to her no-strings fun-loving self, avoiding any chance of future heartbreak. Little does she know, Wynbridge’s latest arrival is about to throw her plan entirely off course . . .
 
Moving into Wynthorpe Hall to escape the town’s gossip, Hayley finds herself immersed in the eccentric Connelly family’s festive activities as they plan to host their first ever Winter Wonderland. But Hayley isn’t the only new resident at the hall. Gabe, a friend of the Connelly’s son Jamie, has also taken up residence, moving into Gatekeeper’s Cottage, and he quickly makes an impression on Wynbridge’s reformed good-girl.
 
As preparations commence for the biggest event of the season, the pair find themselves drawn ever closer to one another, but unbeknownst to Hayley, Gabe, too, has a reason for turning his back on love, one that seems intent on keeping them apart.
 
Under the starry winter skies, will Gabe convince Hayley to open her heart again once more? And in doing so, will he convince himself?
My Review
I was so excited to read this as I am a huge fan of Heidi Swain and her Christmas book always becomes my favourite Christmas read, and my goodness Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at The Winter Wonderland is absolutely fantastic.

I absolutely loved being back at Wynthorpe Hall there is just something so magical about it there. I think its Angus and Catherine, they are such a lovely kind and welcoming couple full of love for each other their family's and everyone close to them, even the staff at the Hall. 

I really enjoyed reading Haley's story, she is a lovely girl and I really felt for her at times, she seems to have no luck. Newcommer Gabe was a great character too, there is something mysterious about him like he is hiding something and its making things hard for him, and I just hoped it would all work out for him. Gabe reminds me of a knight in shinning armour, he always is there when you need him and he would do anything for you.

It is so good to hear about characters from previous books and know that everything is going great for them, I love it! It makes me so happy as they are characters that I have loved to read about before and it is nice to see what they are up to now.

I wish I was able to take my family to the Winter Wonderland this Christmas as it just sounded so perfect. They really do Christmas in style up at the Connelly's.

Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at The Winter Wonderland has got to be my favourite Christmas book this year! It is the perfect read to keep you warm and cosy on these dark nights and get you in the festive mood!