Book Review - The Last Days of Summer by Sophie Pembroke - Back Catalogue Books

Back Catalogue Books is my new regular Saturday feature, focusing on books that are not the latest releases. There is going to be a mix of Q&As and also reviews, depending on what I have the space for. 

If you are an author wanting to take part in Back Catalogue Books then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you. 

I hope everyone enjoys this weekly look back at some of the slightly older books that are about but still great, and that I eventually make a dent in my TBRs as a result of it!

Amazon UK

Title: The Last Days of Summer

Author: Sophie Pembroke

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 9th June 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Escape to the beautiful world of Rosewood this summer
The only feel good summer read you’ll need, The Last Days of Summer is perfect for fans of Harriet Evans, Debbie Johnson and Lucy Diamond.

Saskia has always loved Rosewood. It was her family home, her sanctuary and her memories of it are vividly alive even after two years of being absent. Never did she think she would be standing in the rose garden afraid to cross the threshold and own up to the past she had run away from.

So much about Rosewood hasn’t changed, everyone still dresses for dinner, sips cocktails on the terrace, her father cooks every delicious meal and her beloved grandfather still tells spellbinding stories. But the cold reception from her grandmother, Ellie’s complete avoidance of her and the judgmental gaze of Edward, her grandfather’s new assistant (who seems to know more than enough about her past), are all new to Kia.

All Kia needs to do is attend her grandparent’s Golden Wedding Party and make it to the train station without her secret coming out. What could possible go wrong in just one weekend?

It was the announcement of a book called Christmas at Rosewood which triggered me to buy and then read The Last Days of Summer. You see I love Sophie Pembroke's Christmas titles, so clearly want to read the newly announced book, but given its the sequel to The Last Days of Summer, and I had some time on my hands I thought I may as well play catch up and read this. 

All I can say is don't wait for your own trigger, just go out and read this book, it turns out that the author is not just a very accomplished festive story teller, but can write a big summer story too. I was shocked multiple times during the story at the way the plot was progressing. This is definitely an unpredictable book. 

I felt the story started off not slow, per se, but perhaps sedately while you learn just who Saskia is, why she hasn't been back to the family home for two years and why she still may not be entirely welcome. We also learn just who the full family is, all three generations of them. 

When Nathaniel, Saskia's beloved grandfather makes an announcement during the Gold Wedding Party the cat is thrown amongst the pigeons, but just what are all the members of the family hiding that will case them to react the ways they do. 

After the announcement, I found the book became utterly addictive and I just couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see how it would all work out and trust me when I say there are a lot of turns you probably won't see coming and a lot of nice touches. 

The Last Days of Summer is a fantastic story of family, or intrigue and of those skeletons in the family closet you generally wish had been forgotten about. There is a romance element in there too, as well as a strong storyline of forgiveness. It is the story of Kia's relationship of those around her, and how although having an imagination is fantastic, its great to be able to see "the truth in fiction". 

I will certainly be reading more books by the author, and not just at Christmas time, and I definitely can't wait to return to Rosewood, which is the marvellous family home, and all its lovely grounds, in the winter. 

Book Review - Celebrations and Confetti At Cedarwood Lodge by Rebecca Raisin - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: Celebrations and Confetti At Cedarwood Lodge

Author: Rebecca Raisin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 24th October 2016

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Clio Winters is finally fulfilling her childhood dream of renovating the gorgeous old Cedarwood Lodge in Evergreen. Turning it into the perfect destination for big celebrations, weddings and parties has brought her back home, but Cedarwood Lodge is in need of a lot of tender loving care.

Perhaps all the work will be the perfect distraction from the real reason she had to leave her glamorous New York life behind.

Will coming home be the best decision of her life… or her biggest regret?

Cedarwood Lodge is a delectable romance told in three parts - following Clio Winters journey back to her hometown of Evergreen. This is Part One.

This is an impressive start to the Cedarwood Lodge series, as part one of three, we get a really good introduction to the the Lodge and its renovations, and what appears to be the team in charge of putting everything together. 

We have Clio Winters, the new owner of the lodge, and is returning to Evergreen in a blaze of hidden controversy based on how her last job in New York ended. Her mother doesn't seem to keen on Clio owning Cedarwood Lodge, but it looks like this will be an ongoing point of intrigue during the series, as we try to find out exactly what her mum is hiding. 

Then there is Clio's best friend Micah who just happens to have taken a fancy to new gardener Isla. They are both incredibly sweet characters but whether they will actually get together is something that will keep you reading. 

Kai is an Australian surfer dude who is overseeing all the various teams of builders and workmen, and her certainly caught Clio's eye. They are incredibly different and I loved seeing him push her into various more active pursuits. 

Cedarwood Lodge is at the heart of this novella, and Clio's plans for the building are ambitious but if pulled off could be very profitable. Their first challenge is renovating enough to hold a 50th Wedding Anniversary party in a 6 week time frame, for Edgar and Imelda, who were married at the lodge 50 years ago. It is a tough ask, but Clio is determined to make this party memorable. 

As you may expect from a Rebecca Raisin book, this encompasses all the cosiness of a small village feel into the story, and I am already eager to see how everything progresses in parts 2 and 3.  As a first part, I can say it does work a a standalone novella, and I was not left frustrated at the end of it..although of course I'd rather jump straight into the next part sooner rather than later!

Thank you so much to Rebecca Raisin for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Google Play | Goodreads

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2exYINl

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2b4Q04O

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celebrations-and-confetti-at-cedarwood-lodge-rebecca-raisin/1124580558?ean=9781474058414

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rebecca_Raisin_Celebrations_and_Confetti_At_Cedarw?id=bGPJDAAAQBAJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31423830-celebrations-and-confetti-at-cedarwood-lodge?from_search=true

Author Info:

Rebecca Raisin is a true bibliophile. This love of books morphed into the desire to write them. She’s been published in various short story anthologies and in in fiction magazines, and is now focusing on writing romance.

Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships, and most importantly believe in true love.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Website: http://rebeccaraisin.com/

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915386.Rebecca_Raisin

Book Review - A Winter's Wish by Alice Ross

Amazon UK

Title:  A Winter's Wish

Author: Alice Ross

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 10th October 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Amelia is at breaking point. She’s just lost her job and Doug, the love of her life, still hasn’t broken up with his girlfriend. Surely a trip to the quiet countryside is just what she needs?

Phil is about to leave beautiful Buttersley for the other side of the world! The sunny shores of Australia will mean a new life with his girlfriend, but something is holding him back…

Ella has never felt this way before – Jake O’Donnell is the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. And the more time she spends babysitting his kids, the more her feelings grow!

Stan should be happy. He loves his wife and their adorable baby girl more than anything! So why, when everything’s finally going right, are they arguing more than ever?

One thing’s for sure, even when Buttersley’s first snowflakes begin to fall, it’s never too cold for love to blossom…

It is always a pleasure to return to Buttersley, and the village in the winter in fact gains in its charms. There are some familiar characters in the mix, but the focal characters we switch between are all brand new. Hence although this is book 3 of the Countryside Dreams, it can easily be read as a standalone book. 

I really enjoyed all four characters storylines, and although I could see a few plot twists a mile out, it was finding the story surrounding them so much that I wasn't too bothered. 

Amelia is Annie's sister, and when she comes to visit her sister and Buttersley for the first time she is surprised by the village and how it makes her feel. Amelia is considerably younger than Annie, and has worked hard all her life, so she is finding the news of her redundancy hard to deal with. Add in not much of a personal life, and a very messy love affair and she finds herself seeking solace with her family. 

Amelia though needs to win them all over, as she is fairly estranged, and seeing her attempt to connect with Annie's children is amusing, if a bit painful. 

Phil is meant to be moving to Australia for good, giving up his pub and his home, to be with girlfriend Rachel. But he is starting to have second thoughts, and who can blame him after meeting the potential new pub landlords, who wanted to rip out the heart of this pub. 

Ella has very low self-esteem and a huge crush on a married man, but her story takes on a lovely turn as she starts to have a bit more confidence in what she can do. Finally there is Stan, although it was hard to be sympathetic to him at first, given he seems to spend more time at work than with his young baby. However as the story progresses , I found myself warming to him more and more. 

A Winter's Wish just had a lovely small village book feel to it, and its always quite comforting as a reader to return to a place, that you are starting to know quite well. It almost felt like a homecoming, and with the various ups and downs in the village, it was a very pleasurable read. 

Thank you so much to Carina and Netgalley for this review copy. This is my honest opinion. 

Book Review - Destination Chile by Katy Colins

Amazon UK

Title: Destination Chile

Author: Katy Colins

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Midas PR

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 22nd September 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Georgia Green’s extraordinary year has seen her travel the world – from mending her broken heart in Thailand, to jetting off to India, Spain, Greece and Morocco for her new travel and tour agency ‘The Lonely Hearts Travel Club’. Next on Georgia’s bucket list is Chile, but this time she’s not going alone…

Once in a while a series will come along that just gets under your skin, hits all the marks you are subconsciously looking for in a book, and they are books you become very excited to see the next one is finally ready for publication. For me The Lonely Hearts Travel Club is a series like that, I love the travel elements, I love the relationship elements, and I really do enjoy reading Georgia' s story. 

Having never read anything set in Chile, nor having ever really given the country much thought, I have no idea how factually correct the elements of this book are, but I did get a real feel for just what a country of contrasts it is, from the Atacama to Patagonia, with Santiago adding the city feel. 

The reasons the Georgia is in Chile and this time with Ben, is certainly a different departure from her last two adventures, this time there is a television show involved, and the holiday is expenses paid, but they four couples on it, all have to do various challenges around Chile, in order to compete to win some prize money. 

This holiday is a real test for Ben and Georgia as things just don't go too smoothly, and even what is probably one of most people's top holiday nightmares is dealt with, with the correct amount of despair and humour. 

As such a huge fan of the series, it is hard to make a judgment on whether this works as a standalone, but I feel it should do as all the key relationship and friendship points are mentioned in just enough detail so that you get an idea of what has gone on before. 

There is just a quality to Katy Colins writing that means once I picked up Destination Chile I had a hard job putting it down, and I was almost resentful of a theatre show I had booked which interrupted my reading of this book! 

Destination Chile is a worthy addition to the Lonely Hearts Travel Club series, it moves all the key storylines along, and we keep updated with Georgia's best friends too, even if they aren't given huge amounts of "air time". As always when finishing a book in this series, I am already eagerly anticipating the next installment, and can't wait to go down under next with Georgia! 

Thank you to Midas PR for this review copy of Destination Chile. This was my honest opinion. 

Guest Post - Writing Cloudy by Fiona Collins

Amazon UK

It’s interesting writing a second book whilst you have a first out and doing quite well (‘interesting’ may be a euphemism here...!). My first book, A Year of Being Single has been more successful than I ever imagined. It was my third attempt at being published, after a lot of rejection, and I never expected it to do so well. It has reached the giddy heights of both number 7 in the Amazon kindle charts and number 1 in iBooks (although maybe it’s me who’s the giddy one...) I’ve really enjoyed seeing the Amazon ‘Bestseller’ orange flag, I may have screenshotted it’s chart position on more than one occasion, and I have pinched myself so many times I have bruises. 

I’m mindful of Tricky Second Book Syndrome, the close personal friend of Difficult Second Album Syndrome - you know, when a band have a successful debut album and then have to follow it, somehow. Us authors (I can call myself that now, right?) concentrate all our efforts on making sure our first book is as brilliant as can be, then we realise we have to keep on going, which is scary! The second book has to be as good as, if not better than the first. 

Publishing a book is like putting a message in a bottle and chucking it in the sea… you don’t know where it’s going to end up, you don’t know how it’s going to be received, but you hope for the best. You hope that a lovely person will decide to open it, read it, enjoy it and maybe even laugh out loud a couple of times. I’m about to throw my second book – Cloudy with a Chance of Love - out there and run up the beach, squealing my head off.  

Cloudy with a Chance of Love is a book I just got on with writing. I don’t get writers’ block, particularly; I just plough on, even if it’s complete gibberish until at least the third draft. I’ve felt a certain amount of pressure in the last few weeks, while editing it, but I’ve tried to ignore that pressure; you have to let former books go and concentrate on the one in hand. You also have to wave goodbye to all the characters you’ve known and loved and re-acquaint yourself with a whole new gang. Luckily, I love my new gang, and my new story. 

Cloudy with a Chance of Love is about a recently divorced, forty-something weather presenter who’s told, via a love forecast app on her friend’s phone, that she has a 99% chance of falling in love by this Friday. She’s not sure she wants love at all, but she is up for fun and dating, and encouraged by her friend, Sam, she embarks on a week of men and mayhem… There are men galore, laughs and dilemmas for Daryl as the week progresses. I hope readers can connect to Daryl, like they did to Imogen, Frankie and Grace in A Year of Being Single. I have everything crossed. 

So, as release date approaches, I’m about to enthusiastically wave goodbye to my second set of characters and send Cloudy with a Chance of Love on its way. Actually, I’m not going to run squealing up the beach. I’m going to stand still and watch my message in a bottle bob off on the waves. Then I’m going to head into a beach hut with a laptop, a flask of orange squash and some sweaty sandwiches, as I’ve got a third book to write and I do believe I can spy some bridesmaids on the horizon… 

Thank you Fiona for that great post about writing your latest book. Don't forget to check out my 5 Star review of Cloudy with a Chance of Love

About Fiona Collins

Fiona Collins lives in the Essex countryside with her husband and three children, but also finds time for a loving relationship with a Kindle. She likes to write feisty, funny novels about slightly (ahem) more mature heroines. Fiona studied Film & Literature at Warwick University and has had many former careers including TV presenting in Hong Kong; talking about roadworks on the M25 on the radio; and being a film and television extra. She has kissed Gerard Butler and once had her hand delightfully close to George Clooney’s bum. When not writing, Fiona enjoys watching old movies and embarrassing her children. You can follow Fiona on Twitter @FionaJaneBooks


www.facebook.com/fionacollinsauthor

Book Review - Nice Day For A White Wedding by A.L. Michael

Amazon UK

Title: Nice Day For A White Wedding

Author: A.L. Michael

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 22nd August 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Sometimes, Happy Ever After is where the real trouble begins…

Chelsea Donnolly wasn’t supposed to amount to anything. But if there’s one thing the bad girl from the estate liked better than trouble, it was a challenge. So, to the amusement of her best friends Evie, Mollie and Ruby – and the disbelief of her teachers – this bad girl turned good.

These days, Chelsea is the kind of girl people are proud to know – and, after a surprise trip to Venice, she has a ring on her finger to prove it. But to get there, she’s had to learn to keep her deepest secrets from everyone – even her fiancé. And when wedding preparations threaten to blow her cover, Chelsea can’t help but wonder: in her battle to the top, might she have left the best parts of herself behind?

Nice Day For A White Wedding is the newest book in The House on Camden Square series, and a wonderful second book for the series. It can easily be read as a standalone, and this time features Chelsea as the starring character. 

Chelsea is Badgley's success story - girl from the estate, made good, she escaped the town and now works in London in a successful job, but keeps her past hidden from everyone including her long term boyfriend. 

However when Kit, surprises her with a trip to Venice, and follows it up with a proposal, things slowly come to a head, as Chelsea and Kit travel to Lake Garda to meet Kit's parents. It is very clear just what a huge difference there is between them, but will Chelsea survive, and will she ever reveal her hidden past. 

Like Chelsea, I took a pretty much instant dislike to the majority of Kit's family. They are rich and snobbish, and look down on Chelsea from the start, and the mother Jemima is the worst...although as the book progresses it could be a tie between the two mother's as Chelsea's Carly seems awful in a different way. 

Ruby Tuesday who was a key focus for the first book, is still at the heart of this story, and we get regular flashbacks to Ruby and Chelsea's childhood to key points that shows you just why Chelsea is the way she is now. 

The other girls for their childhood quartet, Evie and Mollie are still present, but not in a particularly large way for the majority of the story, relegated a bit more towards support characters, but they are Chelsea's support system, and their presence is comforting when required. 

Nice Day For A White Wedding may not be the book  I would have expected from the title, but in fact its even better, and far more real. It is a brilliantly engaging story, that is for a large part set to an Italian back drop, and really highlights social class differences that can still exist in England.   I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Carina for this review copy. This was my honest opinion, 

Book Review - When Only Cupcakes Will Do by Daisy James

Amazon UK

Title: When Only Cupcakes Will Do

Author: Daisy James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 4th August

Rating: 5 Stars

When life gives you lemons, make lemon-drizzle cupcakes…

Lucie thought that proposing to her boyfriend in Tiffany’s would be the best day of her life. Until he said no. In just a few seconds, her whole world is turned upside-down! And when she accidentally switches cocoa powder for chilli powder at work, she finds herself out of a job, too…

Baking has always made life better in the past, but can Lucie really bake her way to happiness? Starting her own company, selling cupcakes out of an old ice cream van might just be the second chance that Lucie needs!

Of course, she never expected to find love along the way…

It would be remiss of me if I didn't start by stating what a simply gorgeous cover this book has, and with the mention of cupcakes in the title too, I was already put straight into the mindset of this should be a fabulously tasty story.  I'm delighted to say that the icing does complete justice to the filling of this book, offering us some delicious morsels of humour, cakes, re-finding joy with your family, and an Italian man of note! 

After Lucie, proposes to her boyfriend, and getting a less than favourable reaction, she goes into a slight meltdown and makes a huge error at work, mixing up cocoa powder and chilli powder, on a dish for a food critic. When she meets the critic the exchange they have ends up going viral and Lucia needs to re-evaluate her life. 

However Lucie's passion is desserts and she has always wanted to more with cupcakes, so what better than a Travelling Cupcake Company with her sister who is also a talented baker. Between them they start a fabulous sounding business,and I was I had been in kitchen alongside them at all times, as well as present at the various parties they put on. 

I loved the various scrumptious flavours of the cupcakes, as well the level of creativity in the cake pops, I had to google cake pop animals at one point, just so I could fully appreciate what was being made, as I don't think I've seen any properly before. There is a huge light heartedness, that runs through the whole book, especially with Lucie's renewed friendship with an unexpected man. 

I loved how Lucie's character evolved over the course of this easy to follow, summery story that I would recommend as a great weekend read. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Carina for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - If The Dress Fits by Daisy James - Back Catalogue Books

Back Catalogue Books is my new regular Saturday feature, focusing on books that are not the latest releases. There is going to be a mix of Q&As and also reviews, depending on what I have the space for. 

If you are an author wanting to take part in Back Catalogue Books then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you. 

I hope everyone enjoys this weekly look back at some of the slightly older books that are about but still great, and that I eventually make a dent in my TBRs as a result of it! 

Today I have a review of Daisy James' second book If The Dress Fits, with a review of her latest book When Only Cupcakes Will Do will be posted tomorrow.

Amazon UK

Title: If The Dress Fits

Author: Daisy James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 12th May 2016

Rating: 4.5 Stars

She might be the most famous person in the country, but no one even knows her name…

Callie’s exquisite, glittering silk gown has been shortlisted for the celebrity wedding of the year. But just as all her dreams are coming true, disaster strikes!

Leaving behind the bright lights of London, Callie is forced to return home to sleepy Althorpe. And there’s one man she hopes to avoid – the childhood sweetheart who turned her life upside down. But now she’s back, is it finally time to stop running?

Yet, as Callie faces her past, a Cinderella-like hunt begins for that perfect, pearl-embroidered dress, mysteriously submitted without a name…

If The Dress Fits has the feel of a modern fairy tale to it. There is a clear take on the glass slipper story from Cinderella, along with fairy tale feel to the wedding dress creations, and all the other fashion items created. The romance element is a bit rocky, but its clear from the prologue that Callie has only ever had one true love...but true love never did run smooth even in some fairy stories. 

Daisy James has weaved her magic into what feels like a timeless story, that was a joy to read. Initially I wasn't really sure how much I liked Callie, but that didn't take too long to change, as tragedy strikes, and she drops everything to rush back to her home town. 

However it was with the reading of a will, that her life changes even more, when she inherits an unexpected haberdashery shop, which she used to love in childhood. As an adult though, she is running her own successful wedding dress design boutique in London, and really could do without a shop in Yorkshire to take of too. 

Callie finds herself torn regularly with regards what she should do, as she rediscovers old friends, makes new ones in her home town, including the most amazing baker, while she also receives fabulous news from London too. 

There are mouth watering descriptions of the French Patisserie that the local baker is capable of producing, as well as exquisite detailed descriptions of the wedding gowns, and also the small shop with its incredibly cosy feel. 

I am very quickly learning that I am liking Daisy James' writing more and more with each book, as she continues to write easy to read, light hearted, pleasurable stories to devour. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Carina for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - Cloudy with a Chance of Love by Fiona Collins

Amazon UK

Title: Cloudy with a Chance of Love

Author: Fiona Collins

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date:  21st July 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Every cloud has a silver lining when it comes to love…

Daryl Williams never minded the fact that she had a big bottom. It’s always been behind her. In fact, it was one of the things that her husband loved about her. Until he ran off with her best friend, Gabby.

Daryl knows that she needs to get back in the dating game, she just doesn’t know how. So when her friend suggests taking a fortune forecast, she reluctantly agrees. And it looks like Daryl’s luck is in, by Friday she has a 99% chance of falling in love!

Only, even when it’s written in the stars, finding the one after the one is never easy…

My first thoughts when I came across this book besides being very glad there was a new Fiona Collins, was that the title keeps reminding me of the animated film Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs. Well there is only one word difference, but what a difference it makes, however yet there are some similarities too, both a pretty funny, and both also feature a weather girl! 

In fact I was laughing from the opening pages, where Daryl was waxing lyrical about how pleased she is with her rather large behind, and how on trend it is now to be well endowed in that region. We then move onto her throwing her wedding ring into a fountain at Trafalgar Square and best friend Sam using a fortune telling app. 

The app states categorically that Daryl has a 99% of falling in love by Friday...it was Sunday when the book starts. So what proceeds is Sam getting Darryl to do speed dating amongst other things to try and get a date a day to increase her chances of falling in love. 

Darryl who is only just divorced, goes along with it, and the speed dating event they go to is one of the best I have read about in chick lit. It's hilarious, full of people who have dressed up, and an MC who is big on the cringe factor, and has sorted out 3 different rounds for the speed dating! 

Sam also persuades Darryl to a singles cooking event, where the quality of men they meet was arguably better, and again was a fun event to read about. 

I pretty much loved all the character descriptions in this book, I had a real feel for their personalities, even if I didn't like the character, the writing was done well. 

What I am quickly discovering is that Fiona Collins is a fresh new voice in romantic comedy writing, I really enjoyed her previous book and this one is even better. I found myself smiling my way through this book, and this is the first book I've read during the Olympics, where the sport hasn't been a bigger draw than the book! Anything that can keep my attention while I'm trying to multi task with top level sport, definitely is a winner in my eyes! 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Carina for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - A Summer of Secrets by Alice Ross

Amazon UK

Title: A Summer of Secrets

Author: Alice Ross

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 9th May 2016

Rating: 4.5 Stars

One long hot summer. Secrets never stay buried for long…

Portia is determined to restore Buttersley Manor, her family’s crumbling ancestral home, to its former glory. Yet she has a feeling that there are a few forgotten skeletons in the dust-covered cupboards.

Jenny has put her life on hold for far too long. It’s time to finally start living and to dig up those hopes and dreams she’s kept hidden all these years – but is she brave enough?

Rich is happily married with a beautiful wife and lovely daughter. In fact, his world is perfect until a very unexpected consequence of his past walks through the door…

Joe would like nothing more than to travel back in time to when he and Gina were happy. But is it too late to rescue what they once had?

One thing’s for sure, nothing’s ever quite what it seems when it comes to life in the country!

This is my second and definitely won't be my last visit to Buttersley. I really loved the way the four main storylines wove around each other, and the main characters in this I found a lot easy to get to know than the ones in the previous book in this series. 

Although it is book 2 in the Countryside Dreams series, it can easily be read as a standalone as all the focus are on people that are new to the reader, the book just happens to be set in the location. 

A couple of the storylines were a lot stronger than the others, in fact although Portia is a main character, and is heir to Buttersley Manor, it felt like she had the smallest amount of book dedicated to her, but she still had a budding romance in the offing. 

Jenny is a lot more interesting, she has lived with her domineering mother for her whole life, and has barely done anything with her own life. Finally at the age of 50 she is slowly starting to show a rebellious streak which is wonderful to see, and did make me think that if I don't change my own life I may end up like Jenny in the future. 

Rich's story is a bit more complex when a blast from the past shows up, but at the same time shows us his family situation, and work situation and I really liked his whole family. 

And then there is Joe, he is a young twenty something, working as a window cleaner that offers additional services, but is heartbroken, until things slowly start to change, and he has real adult decisions to make which will affect his future. 

The narrative switches between the various characters fairly often, but instead of feeling confused, it didn't take long to get used to it, and to know who was who. I really enjoyed the way the four main strands would interact, even if I couldn't work it out to start with. 

My only slight niggle with the book was the it felt like rather an abrupt ending, but I hope that just means we will get glimpses of these characters in the next book, to find out what is going on with their lives. 

A Summer of Secrets is  a very enjoyable glimpse into the lives of some of Buttersley's residents, and I can't wait to see what happens next in this charming series.

Thanks to Carina and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Guest Post - How to Write a Swoon-worthy Hero by Samantha Tonge

Breakfast Under a Cornish Sun has two swoon-worthy heroes – if I do say so myself. Poldark- lookalike Lucas, with his brooding moods, his shoulder-length raven curls and dark, dangerous eyes. And then there is Tremain with his strong build and demeanour with eyes that hint at a tragic back story... I adore writing heroes and nothing pleases me more than when a reader falls in love with them as much as I have.

So how do you write a hero that is seriously swoon-worthy? Well... looks come and go and the appearance of all the heroes in my books varies greatly, so I would say, first and foremost, it is personality that counts. And to have your reader really connecting with your character, I’d say you have to write from the heart. What turns you on about a man and makes you want to get to know him better?

For me, firstly, it is crinkly eyes that look as if they are affectionately laughing at you, whilst you talk.  I find that unbelievably sexy and it goes hand in hand with a man who can find humour in the world and himself. It shows he is confident. Perhaps a little cocky, which is fine in good measure. It reveals a man who is happy with whom he is and that self-assurance is so appealing. I also like a vulnerable side which takes me by surprise as I get to know him better. The killer combination for me is superman/Clarke Kent - a hero who is strong and determined and forthright – but who also has a sensitivity which makes him a gentle giant.

So once you have established characters traits to woo and ensnare your readers’ heart , think about appearance. I ran a very interesting thread on my Facebook page once, asking friends to tell me what they found attractive in a man. I was amazed that forearms came top! I suppose they hint at strength and capability – and hugs. Large hands were also popular – personally I find that a little scary! And shoulder-length hair. Tattoos. Plus a big nose. It was a long discussion AND NOT ONCE did a six-pack or V-muscle come up. So this moves me onto my next point: flaws.

To be truly swoon-worthy, I honestly believe a hero needs flaws. I mean, in real life I wouldn’t want to date Peter Perfect. And imagine dating a model? I’d be forever obsessing about my bikini line and muffin top! Plus flaws go back to the vulnerability – a bit like Poldark’s scar. Flaws hint at a back story; perhaps something challenging that the strong hero has overcome.

Finally, remember to explore all the senses to turn your reader on. During my Facebook discussion a man’s smell came up quite often. I personally like nothing better than a musky aftershave. Plus sound – deep voices are attractive. Or what about a Cornish accent like Tremain has in Breakfast Under a Cornish Sun? And then touch – how does he make the heroine feel  as he just brushes up against her or gives her a hug? Does her pulse race? Her cheeks blush? Showing her reactions, in detail, will add to the hero’s kudos and therefore swoon-worthiness.

Thank you so much Samantha for another wonderful post and for coming back yet again to feature on Rachel's Random Reads!  I do love your swoon-worthy heroes!


About Samantha Tonge

Samantha lives in Cheshire with her lovely family and a cat that thinks it's a dog. Along with writing, her days are spent cycling, willing cakes to rise and avoiding housework. A love of fiction developed as a child, when she was known for reading Enid Blyton books in the bath. A desire to write bubbled away in the background whilst she pursued other careers, including a fun stint working at Disneyland Paris. Formally trained as a linguist, Samantha now likes nothing more than holing herself up in the spare room, in front of the keyboard. Writing romantic comedy novels is her passion.

Samantha has sold over 80 short stories to mainstream women's magazines. Her debut romantic comedy novel from HarperCollins (CarinaUK), bestselling "Doubting Abbey", was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction Best Romantic Ebook award, 2014. The bestselling summer novel, Game of Scones, won the Love Stories Awards 2015 Best Romantic Ebook category. Her new novel, Breakfast Under a Cornish Sun is out July 2016!

https://twitter.com/SamTongeWriter
https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaTongeAuthor/
http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Breakfast Under A Cornish Sun is published in paperback today! Happy publication day! 

Amazon UK

Dreaming of the perfect man?
Kate Golightly needs to move forward and what better way to do that then with a trip to the Cornish coast with best friend and boss, Izzy.

The sea wind is just what Kate needs to finally relax and begin to let go of her past. Except she’s suddenly got one big reason to panic! She RSVP’d ‘yes’ to the Queen Bee of her high school’s wedding saying she’s bringing her boyfriend (she doesn’t have one) who looks just like Ross Poldark!

With only two weeks to find the Poldark look-alike of her dreams Kate is under a lot of pressure for the Cornish coast to deliver…