Sunday 28 October 2012

The Wedding Diaries by Sam Binnie



When Kiki Carlow’s boyfriend Thom proposes to her, a happy and delighted Kiki decides to write a diary of the run up to the wedding including all the planning and preparation for a keepsake for her and Thom. Thinking that the entire organisation will be easy, Kiki soon finds out that planning the perfect wedding, will be far more difficult than she ever thought.

Written in a lively and fun way The Wedding Diaries is an entertaining read with good humour. A nice easy read that fans of Chick Lit will enjoy. This is the debut novel from Sam Binnie and I look forward to reading the next in this series which is called The Baby Diaries.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK) click here: http://goo.gl/r27cm

To buy this book from Amazon (US) click here: http://goo.gl/U499D


Monday 22 October 2012

I would like to welcome, a very special guest on my blog, author Nicky Wells



A Peek into the office of Nicky Wells, author

It’s always fascinating to see where people work, and I guess authors are no exceptions. So here’s a peek into my world. I am very lucky these days to have a proper, dedicated office again; for the longest time, I wrote in the dining room but since our recent house move, I have bagged a proper authorly space for me to spread out… and stay spread out.

Rather than going into lengthy descriptions, I’ve taken a few pictures for you. What’s that they say? A picture says more than a thousand words? That means you’ve just saved yourself four thousand words worth of reading!

A note on the décor though. It’s not mine. I inherited it from the previous owner. Yes, it was a deliberate choice; it was convenient, easy and ready-made. But I wouldn’t normally choose dark brown furniture, nor would I willingly install green-and-brown coloured blinds (I don’t think they show up in the photo too well, thank goodness: you’d think I’m mad). Over time, I plan to fix the colour of the blinds and probably will paint the walls too. But these are superficial details and in the meantime I find that the masculine feel (for a man’s office it was, once upon a time) kind of inspires me to get into the head of my male lead. Must be all the residual male vibes in the workspace air…

So without further ado, I give you: my office!



First, the view as you open the door:



 
 
Next, the view outside (such as it is; sadly, there’s no lush valleys or seaside vistas here… just the drive way and, if I turn, the front door, haw haw haw. I usually wave to the postman!)


 
To compensate for the lacklustre view of the outside, I’ve got a little bit of a glitz-and-glamour corner going on. Oh yes, I’m a regular party girl. (Well, I was, once). J


And last, my WIP wall.

 
Yup, and that’s it. What do you think? Does it match your expectations of a romantic novelists’ workspace?

About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!


Rock On! Nicky Wells writes fun and glamorous contemporary romance featuring a rock star and the girl next door.  She recently signed her work with U.S. publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing.  Nicky loves rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters.  When she’s not writing, Nicky is a wife, mother, and occasional teaching assistant.

Originally born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993, and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys.  In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C.

Visit Nicky on her blog where you can find articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course, an ongoing update on her work in progress, the second and third parts of the Rock Star Romance Trilogy.  You can also follow Nicky on Twitter and find her on Facebook.  Nicky is a featured author on the innovative reader/author project, loveahappyending.com and has joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Nicky also has author pages at Sapphire Star Publishing and, of course, Goodreads.


About Sophie’s Turn

Slapper.  Slut.  Adulteress.  These are hardly words that Sophie Penhalligan would normally use to describe herself.  Yet this is exactly how she is behaving, all things considered, even if she isn’t quite married to Tim yet.  And it’s all happening because her past is coming to tempt her!  Nine years ago, she met her teenage idol and rock star extraordinaire, Dan, up close and personal.  Well, almost.  Now Dan has crash-landed back in her life.  How could Tim ever stand a chance against the charming, handsome singer?  How could she?

Sophie, now twenty-eight and a budding newspaper journalist, is happily embroiled in a relationship with Tim, her boyfriend of two years.  Until recently, she was confident that Tim would eventually propose—probably as soon as he could get his act together.  But just as Tim’s persistent inaction is beginning to cast a cloud over their relationship, Dan’s sudden reappearance turns Sophie’s world upside down.  Thus unfolds a roller-coaster of events including an ill-fated trip to Paris with Tim, a night of unfulfilled romance with Dan, Sophie and Tim’s engagement party gate-crashed by Dan, and Sophie’s professional secondment to accompany Dan’s band on their revival tour—at Dan’s special request and very much against her will. 

And then, one fine day in Paris, Sophie suddenly finds herself engaged to Dan while her erstwhile fiancé Tim is...  well, doing whatever it is Tim does back in London.   What is she to do now?  Who wouldn’t give anything to meet their favorite star, let alone marry him? 

Find out how Sophie gets into this impossible situation, and how she turns it around, in Sophie’s Turn, the honest, funny and sometimes bittersweet story of one woman’s entanglement with a rock star.


Sophie’s Turn is available in Kindle edition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk and many other Amazon sites. The paperback edition is also available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. In addition, you can obtain Sophie’s Turn from Barnes & Noble.





 

Sunday 21 October 2012

A Court Affair by Emily Purdy



The scandalous love triangle between Queen Elizabeth I, Robert Dudley and his wife Amy, makes interesting reading in this fascinating novel by Emily Purdy.

Set from the time that Elizabeth is imprisoned in the Tower of London accused of conspiring to steal the throne, by her half-sister Queen Mary and where her affair with Robert is said to have begun, through to her early reign on the throne as Queen of England and Amy’s mysterious death. This is a truly brilliant portrait of a significant time in Tudor history. If you enjoy reading Philippa Gregory books, then you will find this book is in the same league of historic story telling, of mixing historic fact, with fiction to create a remarkable read.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK), click here: http://goo.gl/QtJkU

To buy this book from Amazon (US), click here: http://goo.gl/EKDvK

Tuesday 16 October 2012

The Perfect Location by Kate Forster



Three successful Hollywood actresses, Rose Nightingale named most eligible girl by English magazine Tatler, Sapphira De Mont a beautiful leading lady with a secret addiction and a broken heart and Calypso Gable a young and ambitious star trying to break free from her pushy mother.

One big Hollywood film, which all three actresses are to star in, is called The Italian Dream. When all three glamorous actresses arrive on set during filming, friendships will be formed and there will be drama, scandal, heartbreak, love and romance and that is just in their private lives.

All the magic of the movies, this is a fabulous read. If you are into the lives of celebrities and the rich and the famous, then you will find this book to be an enjoyable and entertaining read. All the characters are likable, and this makes a change, lots of Hollywood characters are portrayed as Divas and difficult, in this book you really feel for the leading characters as the story shows that behind all the façade and fabulous that these celebrities are normal people, that are just as vulnerable as the rest of us.

Kate Forster lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two children and can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and talking on the phone, usually all at once. Kate is an avid follower of fashion, fame and all things pop culture and is an excellent dinner party guest who always brings gossip and champagne.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK) click here: http://goo.gl/oI5uT

To buy this book from Amazon (US) click here: http://goo.gl/YJ02Q


Monday 15 October 2012

Second Time Around by Erin Kaye



Jennifer is a forty-four year old successful business woman, divorced with two children who have just flown the nest. Jennifer is now at the stage in her life that she should be able to live her life just for herself and to do exactly what she wants to do with her life. When she finds herself attracted to a much younger man Ben, after all the time she has given to her family, can she now spend her time doing what she wants to do regardless of what her family may think of her?

This is a great romance story, not about an older woman or cougar preying on a much younger man, but about two people who genuinely love and care for each other and the woman just happens to be older. The story is not just about Jennifer and Ben’s relationship, it is also about the relationships they have with different family members too.  A modern day romance with a good story that is true to life. This is a book that is well worth the read.

Erin Kaye was born in 1966 in Larne, Co Antrim to a Polish-American father and an Anglo-Irish mother. She pursued a successful career in finance before becoming a writer. Her previous bestselling novels include Mothers and Daughters, Choices, Second Chances, Closer to Home, My Husband’s Lover, The Art of Friendship and The Promise of Happiness. She lives in North Berwick on the east coast of Scotland with her husband Mervyn, two sons and Murphy the dog.

To but this book from Amazon (UK) click here: http://goo.gl/D3gDu

To but this book from Amazon (US) click here: http://goo.gl/LgQQs


Sunday 14 October 2012

Ruby by Marie Maxwell



Ruby Blakeley had been living a happy life for the past five years in Cambridgeshire, with the host family she had been sent to live with during the war, when she was evacuated from London’s East End. The couple loved Ruby like their own daughter.

One day Ruby’s older brother Ray turns up to take her back to her family. Now fifteen Ruby does not want to go and her new family do not want that either. Ruby’s real family are very cold and uncaring towards her and Ruby had grown accustomed to being loved and cared for.

Back home with her family Ruby is treated badly by her family and wants to return back to her life in Cambridgeshire. She meets Johnnie and thinks she has found a friend, but when she gets pregnant to him, she knows he is no good for her and it is her host parents she turns to for help. The loving couple come up with what they think will be the perfect solution. But will Ruby ever escape from her past?

I really enjoyed reading Ruby’s story. It is a real life drama, set after the Second World War. Ruby is a girl who gets a chance to escape from her past, a girl who learns she does not have to settle with what she had in life and is given a chance to make something better with her life, but at the same time have her past catch up with her and try and pull her back.

Marie Maxwell was born in London and, after living here, there and everywhere now lives happily by the sea in Essex.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK), click here http://goo.gl/ciNDE

To buy this book from Amazon (US), click here http://goo.gl/GI5vJ

Saturday 13 October 2012

The Palaver Tree by Wendy Unsworth



Ellie Hathaway and Diane Henderson are close friends, who live in the village of Berriwood in Cornwall. Diane enjoys doing community and charity work. She holds charity lunches to promote a charity called The Hope Foundation. The charity is run by a man called Gabriel Cole and the charity provides sponsors for children to attend a school in Africa that the charity runs. Tiffany is Gabriel’s girlfriend and she helps run the charity’s office in London.

After a family tragedy Ellie decides to go out and work at the school in Africa teaching to help out the charity. Promise is a young girl who works at the school and is close to Gabriel.  

Four women with one charity and one man in common. But is the seemingly, good and exceptional Gabriel Cole all he claims to be?

The Palaver Tree is a compelling and remarkable story about four women who have tried to do a good deed through charity work, only to find bad. Corruption, betrayal and pain and murder will enter their lives. The story is really well written to a very high standard that keeps the reader gripped and engrossed from beginning to end. The story is told from all of the four women’s view points, building the story up to a powerful and moving ending.  This is one of those great books that you just can not put down. I look forward to reading more books by Wendy Unsworth.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK), click here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1477655549

To buy this book from Amazon (US), click here: http://amzn.com/1477655549


Thursday 11 October 2012

Kingdom of the Snark: The Quest for the Sword by Melanie Hatfield


This is the first book in the trilogy.

Renee the Righteous must set out as a quester on a Quest to find the Sword of Power. It is the only way to save her people. When Renee locates the sword in a secret underground Labyrinth and just when she thinks she has claimed the sword, she finds out that she needs a partner before she can free the sword. Guy Smokes agrees to help her. But will it be an easy Quest to claim the sword?

I was instantly pulled into this story by the warm wit and sense of humour of the author of this story and this is what makes this book a very entertaining and amusing read. That is full high jinks. The tale is told in a lively narration and at times this story is pure madness, utterly bonkers and yet I found myself not able to stop reading. Like when someone tickles you and you don’t like it but you can’t help laughing that is the sort of feeling I felt myself having when reading this story.  A crazy read that at times is funny and comical and at other times will have you crying out in frustration of what will happen next and I know I am just going to have to read the next instalment of this wacky book to find out what happens next.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK) click here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008DGH8HG

To buy this book from Amazon (US) click here: http://amzn.com/B008DGH8HG


Monday 8 October 2012

The Newfoundland Vampire by Charles O’Keefe



Joseph is what some would call a nerd,  a student who is into Star Trek and Dungeons and Dragons. Joseph has never had a girlfriend, he lacked confidence and he could not form meaningful relationships with others. He  has always felt different.

When Joseph is approached in a bar by a gorgeous red-head called Cassandra, he can not believe his luck. Things like this never happened to him. Why would this beautiful woman approach him now? Joseph and Cassandra end up spending the night together and not long after that vegetarian Joseph starts having strong cravings for blood. Just who exactly is the mysterious Cassandra? She can’t be a vampire can she, because vampires don’t exist, do they?

There are some really fresh and great ideas in this vampire story. This is what is now needed in such stories to make them not Twilight copies. The book would not just fall into the fantasy/horror genre because the story also contains romance, mystery and action. All in all a nice story about a recently turned vampire, who is coming to terms with becoming a vampire and having vampire abilities. The book has adult content so would be more suited to adults than YA readers.

Charles O’Keefe lives in the beautiful province of Newfoundland, Canada, with his wife and two feline ‘children’ Jude and Esther. He works as an inventory manager and enjoys many hobbies and activities that include writing, reading, watching fantasy/science-fiction movies and television shows, gaming, poker, walking, Pilates, and of course fantasizing about vampires.

To buy this book from Amazon.co.uk, click here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1935563858

To buy this book from Amazon.com, click here: http://amzn.com/1935563858


Thursday 4 October 2012

Surrender the Stars by Cynthia Wright



Set during a war between America and Britain in the early nineteenth century.

When the President needs an American family, he knows he can trust to live in London and who can mix in the highest circles of society. He asks Andre and Devon Raveneau. They agree to help because it is for their country, to help find the person who has been helping the British by leaking valuable information, giving the British an advantage. The president wants Devon and Andre to take their two grown up children with them too. Lindsay is a bookish girl who teaches at the school house. When not teaching she is always lost in a book reading. Nathan is handsome, intelligent and would quickly win a place in London society. The problem is that Nathan is currently in the West Indies so it is up to Sea Captain Ryan Coleraine to step into Nathan’s shoes and pretend to be him. Ryan is a tall, lean and strong Irishman who has just returned from sea.

When Lindsay meets Ryan she takes an instant dislike to him. She thinks he is uneducated, cocky, ill-mannered rouge and a ladies man. During the voyage to England Lindsay and Ryan find that they do have things in common and for Lindsay the adventure of self discovery has just begun.

Will Lindsay and Ryan be able to pass as brother and sister, when they must hide their true feelings for each other, love or hate?

Can the family blend in with British society and find the traitor who is telling the British secrets and helping them.

This is another superb historical romance novel by Cynthia Wright. The plot of the story ties together really well and I really enjoyed the story. What an adventure the two leading characters have, making a really good love story. The good news is that I still have a lot more books that I can read from this fantastic author and I can’t wait to get started on them.

To buy this book from Amazon.co.uk, click here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005I7J4DE

To buy this book from Amazon.com, click here: http://amzn.com/B005I7J4DE