Wednesday 10 May 2017

A Fabulous Cover Reveal From Author Suzy Turner

Aphrodite's Closet

Agatha Trout didn’t even know she had a Great Aunt Petunia, so imagine her surprise when she finds Petunia left her a corner shop in her will. But it’s not just any old corner shop—it’s a corner shop that needs something unique, something the town of Frambleberry has never seen before. Influenced by her confident best friend, Coco, Agatha is soon convinced that there’s only one way to go: an adults-only sex shop.

While some of the townspeople are clutching their pearls in horror, others are open to the new experiences this shop offers. But not everyone in Frambleberry is convinced. Will the women soldier on in the face of violent threats or will their fears get the best of them—and their new venture—before it even gets off the ground? 


 

About the author
Born in England and raised in Portugal, Suzy lives with her childhood sweetheart Michael, two crazy dogs and a cat.
Shortly after completing her studies, Suzy worked as a trainee journalist for a local newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she took the job of assistant editor for the region's largest English language publisher before becoming editor of a monthly lifestyle magazine. Early in 2010 however, Suzy became a full time author. She has since written several books: Raven, December Moon, The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga), Daisy Madigan's Paradise, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, The Temporal Stone, Looking for Lucy Jo, We Stand Against Evil (The Morgan Sisters), Forever Fredless,  And Then There Was You, Stormy Summer and her latest, Aphrodite’s Closet.
In 2015 she launched her popular 40+ lifestyle blog which continues to go from strength to strength, while just over a year later, she trained to become a yoga instructor. Suzy continues to write, blog and teach yoga in one of Portugal’s loveliest settings - the Algarve.



Lifestyle Blog: www.suzyturner.com 

Monday 8 May 2017

A Fabulous Cover Reveal From Author Linn B. Halton

The Secrets of Villa Rosso:
Escape to Italy for a summer romance to remember
When Ellie Maddison is sent on a business trip to Southern Italy, she's reminded why she loves her job – set amongst rolling vineyards and rich olive groves, the beautiful Villa Rosso is the perfect escape from her life back home. But what Ellie isn't prepared for is the instant connection she feels to the estate's director Max Johnson, or the secrets they share that are as intertwined as the rambling vines that cover Villa Rosso.

It's not long before Ellie finds herself entangled in the history of the place, trying to understand the undeniable effect Max is having on her. As their relationship grows, what will Ellie discover about this idyllic villa and those who have walked through its doors?

What started as a simple work trip will change Ellie's life forever.

Available to pre-order now in eformat and paperback
eformat release date: 21 July 2017; paperback 5 October 2017
Published by: Harper Impulse


Author bio:
Bristol-born Linn B Halton lives in the Forest of Dean, in the UK.
"I'm a hopeless romantic, self-confessed chocaholic, and lover of strong coffee. For me, life is about family, friends, writing ... and house renovation! Oh, and the occasional glass of White Grenache..."
An Amazon UK Top 100 best-selling author with A Cottage in the Country in November 2015, Under the Stars and A Little Sugar, A Lot of Love also became best-sellers in 2016 & 2017. Linn's novels have been short-listed in the UK's Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award.
Linn writes chick lit, women's contemporary fiction and psychic romance for Harper Impulse, Choc Lit and Endeavour Press.

Excerpt:

It isn’t just the sunshine and the electric blue sky, but the musical calls of the countryside that reach out to me. A chorus of low-level sounds play like a soft melody in the background. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and I feel like I’m watching a re-run of a favourite film. I could stand here for a long time simply taking in the detail and with each sweep of my eyes noticing something new.
Spinning around I look back at the villa, taking in the rustic beauty of the stonework and the pale orange-red hue of the sun-bleached roof tiles. This is, quite simply, unreal. It’s a little piece of heaven and, so far removed from my daily life that it’s hard to believe this is on the same planet. The sheer scale of the landscape literally steals your breath away. I’m a mere speck, small and insignificant in the grand scheme nature is presenting to me. But rather bizarrely, it doesn’t feel alien in anyway at all. The vastness isn’t overwhelming, but strangely comforting.
I walk back to a cluster of wooden tables surrounding a small fountain and take a seat. As I dive into my bag to extract some sunglasses, I hear a polite cough and look up at the face staring down at me.
‘Mrs Maddison? I’m Max, Max Johnson. Welcome to Villa Rosso.’
I stand, automatically plastering a pleasant smile on my surprised face as recognition kicks in. I know this man, I mean, I’ve met him before. At least I think I have, but there’s nothing similar reflected back at me, only a warm smile. The sort of smile that radiates out from mysteriously deep, hazel eyes. We shake hands. He’s younger than I expected, probably in his early forties and tall. Six foot something that’s for sure, because I feel he’s towering over me, but then I am seated.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you. I just wanted you to know that I’m here at your disposal whenever you are ready to begin. Would you like me to fetch you a coffee so you can sit for a while and enjoy the view?’
Although I knew he was British, his tan and elegant demeanour lend an air of cosmopolitan sophistication. I would not have been at all surprised if he had been Italian. He’s hovering politely and I still haven’t answered him…


Friday 5 May 2017

May 2017


Hi all

 What a busy month it is in the book world, lots of new books and parties to attend. I am just climbing back into my much needed reading chair after having to take a short break to deal with the real world. It's funny what life can throw at us when we least expect it. Sometimes the shock of a change can take some getting over, especially when it can so badly affect a person we really care about. But we are fighting back now and it does make me very sad to think this whole situation was caused by a lack of communication. I cannot tell you how frustrating that is for someone like me who deals day in day out with words.

It so wonderful when authors who go on to MAKE IT BIG still keep in touch with little old us. We do like a good catch up over coffee every now and again. It's also great to keep working with the same authors and build up friendship and acquaintances over the years. Always great to meet new authors and writers too. I love being a part of the book community and being part of the buzz of a new book.

Over the passed few weeks I have also been away writing. I have also been working on a new children's book with my daughter Chloe. She is eighteen now and a keen artist. We have been storyboarding some ideas and she is enjoying the process of watching her ideas take shape. I know she will finish in her own time and produce something really good.

My son Liam is now writing... Politics are his thing and he is very much in the know. Unlike me who needs to read up on this subject. Cannot let my boy down! So proud hhe now too is a published writer. Well done son!

So the weather is getting hotter... We all hope and I know you all like to read in the sun, so hopefully in the next few weeks we will be able to add some good books into your to read pile.

Keep smiling

Nikki and the team at BOOKS4U




Crime in the Second World War: Spivs, Scoundrels, Rogues and Worse by Penny Legg

An excellent and intriguing collection of true life stories of the crimes that went on during World War II. Using photographs and well researched information, from small petty crimes, to murder and many more, author Penny Legg captures in detail the crime cases, the people involved and how they were solved. We see the dark side of the war with crime rate up by fifty-seven percent between 1939-1945, with blackouts and air raids providing the spivs, scoundrels, rouges and worse, the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the situation, for them to carry out their crimes. The book can be used for reference purposes to dip in and out of, or if you are like me and find this a fascinating subject, you will have read it cover to cover before you know it! A great and knowledgeable source of information, that I learnt so much from.