Book Review - Geli Voyante's Hot or Not by Elle Field - 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! 

Want to know more about Elle Field's books, then make sure you check out my interview with her also today.

Amazon UK

Title: Geli Voyante's Hot or Not

Author: Elle Field

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 15th October 2013

Rating: 4 Stars

Geli Voyante is bored of being the Hot or Not girl, even if it has the perk of sitting next to Theo, the newspaper's very Hot political columnist. She's also getting a little lonely being single.

When her arch-nemesis Tiggy Boodles gets engaged, and other loved ones start to settle down, it's time for Geli to convince Theo that she's not as shallow as her column suggests and, more importantly, she's the one for him. Geli should remember though that there are always two sides to every story, and that applies to people too...

Geli Voyante is the sort of character that will potentially polarise view points, some will think she is utterly hilarious, others incredibly shallow, some people will marvel at the masses of ways she can pass a day at work (not working), and in the case of myself, I thought all of that and a lot more, although I was never sure I liked her, she is an entertaining main character, which has to count for something! 

I really enjoyed hating Tiggy Boodles though, Geli's arch-nemesis, and step-sister, The two really seem to have massive problems with each other that are explained, and date back many years. Tiggy seems like she will stop at nothing to destroy Geli's happiness. 

What amazed me was how much of the start of the book took place over the course of a single day, as every last thought that Geli had was expressed, seemed to be mentioned, but since it wasn't a run of the mill day, it did give great insights into Geli's personality, and her life in general. 

This is the first book I have read by Elle Field, having had it waiting patiently on my kindle for a few years, and if her main series is anywhere near as enjoyable as this story, then I'm sure I will become a huge fan.  

Without giving anything anyway, I spent most of the book wondering just what various people's angles, or secrets were, not that they were necessarily huge, but just from a gut feeling of "something isn't quite as it seems" point of view. By the point everything comes to a head until the end, the book became unputdownable, and I found myself completely hooked trying to get my poor brain around the conclusions and the action as it all played out. 

Geli Voyante's Hot or Not is a very enjoyable way to spend some your had earned free time, and has certainly made me more curious about the rest of this author's work. 

Back Catalogue Books - Q&A with Elle Field

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 would like to welcome Elle Field to the sofa, to be questioned on her back catalogue.

Hi, my name’s Elle. I’m 31, and I live in central London with my boyfriend and our cat, Compy. I write chick lit/romantic comedy novels, and I enjoy travelling, reading, musicals and being a bit of a foodie.

1. Please tell me about your first book, and what started you writing in the first place

Kept is the first book that I wrote that has been published, though the first full book that I ever finished writing was a book called Torn. I’d like to think that one day I’ll revisit that manuscript and edit it up to scratch! I started writing it in the summer I was meant to be working on my dissertation. I’d had quite an intense semester (boy-wise) before I broke up for the holidays, and I found writing to be very cathartic. Though Torn isn’t published, readers of my published books would recognise two names in it – Tabitha and Lottie were actually my very first chick lit characters! A year later, once I’d graduated, I wrote Kept. I’ve always scribbled down stories, and becoming an author was a childhood dream.

2. How many books have you written and what are they?

I have five books that have been published. Four are in the Arielle Lockley series (Kept, Lost, B-Side and Found), and I’ve also written a stand-alone book called Geli Voyante’s Hot or Not. They are all chick lit/new adult books.

3. Which book are you most proud of writing?

I’m super proud of my third book, Lost, the second book in the Arielle series. I was quite apprehensive about writing it because, originally, the first book (Kept) was a stand-alone novel. Although Kept was published in 2013, I actually wrote it back in 2007 and never intended for there to be a sequel. After publishing Kept, however, readers wanted to know what happened next! Sitting down seven years later to write Lost I panicked that I wouldn’t be able to replicate Arielle’s voice well enough for the sequel. I’m super proud that I was able to.

4. Which book was your favourite to write?

Definitely Geli Voyante’s Hot or Not. I wrote the first draft by hand – a staggering 80,000 words – in an intense 20 days because I was that desperate to get the story down. I’ve never come close to that level of productivity since, and I no longer write first drafts by hand: I still have a slight indentation on my finger from writing it!

5. Who are your favourite characters from your books and why?

I adore Tiggy from Geli Voyante’s Hot or Not because she’s so mean! She does what she likes, she says what she likes, but she’s as fragile as any of us – her attitude hides who she really is, and that she just wants to be accepted and feel a part of something. From the Arielle series, I love Obélix. He’s Arielle’s best friend, and he absolutely has her back. He’s a little pervy, very funny, and a big softie, really – the perfect book bestie.  

6. If you could go back and change anything from any of your books, what would it be, and why?

I’d go back to Kept, my debut novel, and tweak a few things. My writing is a lot different now to how it was in 2007 when Kept was written. I’d make the plot a little stronger and the editing a little tighter, though readers, thankfully, do love it how it is. 

7. Which of your covers if your favourite and why?

The cover of my latest book Found is probably my favourite - I love the wedding cake and the pretty pink colour, and it sits perfectly with the rest of my covers.

8. Have you ever thought about changing genres, if so what else would you like to write?

I have a few opening chapters written of both a dystopian YA novel and a crime thriller set in 1920’s New York City. I have so many book ideas, and I wish I had time to write them all! I also have half of a children’s book that I started writing when I was fifteen years old. Maybe if I give up sleep I could finish my books in other genres!

9. Looking forward can you let us know what you are working on next?

I don’t have a title or the name of my main character yet, but I’m currently writing a book that is set in Brixton, London. My heroine is down-to-earth, but a little too trusting… and that’s why her calamities begin. She’s also an estate agent, but we mustn’t hold that against her!

10. I dare not ask for a favourite author, but is there any author’s back catalogue you admire and why?

Yes! I admire Adele Park’s back catalogue because all the books in it are amazing! (As are her more recent ones.)

11. Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your back catalogue of books?

It’s definitely worth going back to the start and reading from the very first book in the Arielle Lockley series. Now the series is complete you can have a good binge read without having to wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you so much Elle, I really should read more of Adele Parks' books as like many they are building on my kindle and I also love the cover of your latest book Found.

Author bio:

Elle Field writes coming of age romantic comedies, and is the author of the Arielle Lockley series and Geli Voyante's Hot or Not. She grew up in Yorkshire, then moved to Scotland to study International Relations and Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews.

Elle now lives in London with her boyfriend and their cat. She's a massive fan of sunshine, giraffes, The Killers, Audrey Hepburn movies, playing Scrabble and tea. Oh, and reading, of course! 

You can buy Elle’s books here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00CHIC1GE 

Visit her website: http://www.ellefield.co.uk 

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellefie 

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellefieldauthor 

Follow her on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7060681.Elle_Field
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellefieauthor
Follow on Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/ellefie  

Geli Voyante’s Hot or Not:

"I think I will always be known as the Hot or Not girl, defined by it for the rest of my career. Even my tombstone will read: Angelica "Geli" Voyante, beloved trendsetter. Death? Not Hot.

Yet, it doesn't sound right. Why won't anyone realise that there is more to me than this fickle persona I have inadvertently become?"

Geli Voyante is bored of being the Hot or Not girl, even if it has the perk of sitting next to Theo, the newspaper's very Hot political columnist. She's also getting a little lonely being single.

When her arch-nemesis Tiggy Boodles gets engaged, and other loved ones start to settle down, it's time for Geli to convince Theo that she's not as shallow as her column suggests and, more importantly, she's the one for him. Geli should remember though that there are always two sides to every story, and that applies to people too...


Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Geli-Voyantes-Hot-Not-ebook/dp/B00FY12QUM 

Guest Post - Top ten things to do in New York City by Elle Field - Blog Tour

The latest and final book in the Arielle Lockley series, Found, takes place in New York, so I’m thrilled to share Arielle’s top ten things to do in New York City on Rachel’s Random Reads today: 

1. OK, you have to go and see New York from up high. I don’t care whether it’s from the Top of the Rock, aka the Rockefeller Center, or from the Empire State Building’s viewing platform – you can only truly appreciate New York from above.

2. If you find yourself in New York and, say, the airline has lost your luggage... or not! Head to Macy’s. The iconic store is one of my favourites, though the cellar is where Piers tends to hang out whilst I’m trying on clothes. If you’re a foodie like him, head downstairs.

3. If someone told me to visit Paddington train station in London, I’d look at them like they were a little strange, but trust me when I say that a visit to Grand Central Terminal is well worth it. It’s not just trains there. You’ll find market stalls, restaurants and bars tucked away in this historic building that was saved by Jacqueline Kennedy. Yes, that Jacqueline Kennedy.

4. Piers, my other half, loves a good musical – I won’t even tell you how many times we’ve seen The Lion King on the West End – so, if you’re also a fan, you must see a show on Broadway. School of Rock is at the top of our to-see list.

5. If you don’t make it to a show, head to Ellen’s Stardust Diner instead – it’s a fun fifties diner where the super talented waiters all sing Broadway numbers. I recommend the chocolate chip pancakes!

6. I’ve always been a bit weird about Central Park because I see it all the time on TV shows and in movies – Gossip Girl, Enchanted, Cruel Intentions and Home Alone II, to name a few of my favourites – but after spending quite a bit of time there this summer, it’s now one of my favourite places in New York. Don’t forget to visit the zoo!

7. Cruising down the River Thames has nothing on cruising across to Liberty Island to visit the Statue of Liberty. It’s worth braving the stairs and going up to Lady Luck’s crown for the view, but maybe give that climb a miss if you’re scared of heights or don’t like tight spaces.

8. Fancy feeling like a teenager again? Hop on the D, Q, F or N train and head to Luna Park at Coney Island and make yourself sick by mixing the rickety rides with lashings of wispy pink candy floss and mustardy onion-laced hotdogs. 

9. The High Line is an elevated park on an old train track that offers both awesome views and greenery as you walk along it. It’s pretty cool and brings you out near the Whitney Museum of American Art – the perfect gallery to visit if you like modern art.

10. Finally, if you’re in the city in the summer and fancy getting away from the sweltering heat without leaving the state of New York, hop on the Cannonball train. It will get you to the Hamptons in around 90 minutes. It’s well worth the journey to soak up the sunshine in these quaint colonial seaside towns.

If you’ve been to the Big Apple, do you agree with Arielle? If not, where are your favourite places to go in New York?


Thank you so much Elle for this fabulous guide to New York. I would love to visit so many of these places, when I get to New York one day. 

"How did people even come up with the idea of these dizzying skyscrapers, let alone work out how to make them possible? Whoever built the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, their legacy will live on forever. What sort of a difference will I ever make?"

Who knew one flight could change everything? When Arielle Lockley stepped on the plane at Heathrow, she never realised how different her life would be when she touched down in New York City. Now she's dealing with that aftermath, as well as trying to find common ground with Etta, her new and unexpected business partner. 

But, trying to sort out business in London whilst her fiancé, Piers, recovers from surgery in New York, is starting to take its toll on their relationship. Can Arielle and Etta work together to continue Felicity's legacy without destroying it, and will Arielle and Piers even make it down the aisle to say "I do"?

Find out whether Arielle gets her happily ever after in the final part of the warm and wonderful Arielle Lockley series.

Amazon.co.uk link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Found-Arielle-Lockley-Book-3-ebook/dp/B01FG38NKE 

Amazon.com link: https://www.amazon.com/Found-Arielle-Lockley-Book-3-ebook/dp/B01FG38NKE 

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25483958-found 

Author profile:

Elle Field writes coming of age romantic comedies, and is the author of the Arielle Lockley series and Geli Voyante's Hot or Not. She grew up in Yorkshire, then moved to Scotland to study International Relations and Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews.

Elle now lives in London with her boyfriend and their cat. She's a massive fan of sunshine, giraffes, The Killers, Audrey Hepburn movies, playing Scrabble, musicals and tea. Oh, and reading, of course! 

You can buy Elle’s books here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00CHIC1GE 
Visit her website: http://www.ellefield.co.uk 
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellefie 
Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellefieldauthor 

Giveaway:

To celebrate the publication of Found, I’m running a giveaway. Prizes are an Amazon voucher, paperback copies of B-Side and Found, plus two handmade necklaces from Vaux Street.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post - Elle & Etta's Top Five Songs by Elle Field - Blog Tour

I'm thrilled to be on Rachel's Random Reads today sharing not only my top favourite music tracks, but Etta's. Etta is the antiheroine of B-Side, which is out now; as an aspiring jazz singer, music is what she lives and breathes.

Elle's top five songs:

OK, this is hard. I have a "Favourites" playlist on Spotify which has 682 songs on it, and it increases every week... Asking me to pick a mere five favourite songs is ridiculously difficult. I mean, I'm missing so many artists off my list: No Doubt. Pet Shop Boys. My Chemical Romance. Pulp. Gah, this is too tough, but here I go: 

1. The Killers – For Reasons Unknown
2. Queen and David Bowie – Under Pressure  
3. Lady Gaga – Poker Face
4. KISS – God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II
5. Weezer – Pork and Beans

OK, it’s possibly these five songs. I'm allowed to change my mind, right?

Etta's top five songs:

Tough? Elle doesn't know what she's talking about. OK, I'll give her “Under Pressure” as an awesome choice, but it doesn't change my mind about her. Anyone who can't rattle off their favourite five music tracks in thirty seconds is not a music lover. She probably picked KISS to try and look cool as well. Anyway, enough about someone who clearly doesn't appreciate true music, here are my top five tracks: 

1. Etta James – Something's Got A Hold On Me 
2. Lena Horne – Willow Weep For Me
3. Radiohead – Creep
4. Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf
5. Beyoncé – If

There. Simple. No dithering about it, and I don't need to explain them. Y'know, Elle reminds me of someone... We wouldn't get on.

B-Side (Arielle Lockley Series Book 2.5) blurb:

"What do I honestly know about the music industry? I'm just another idiot with a dream who is naive enough to hope that I might be the next big star."

Etta Millhouse has always had big musical ambitions to match her big voice, but she's also got three very big problems - the addiction she won't admit to, her godmother's illness that she can no longer ignore, and her godmother's useless business partner (who she wishes she could ignore).

Keeping an eye on Arielle's poor business decisions is the last thing Etta wants to do when she's offered the chance to record a demo with a top producer. But, a promise is a promise, even if it has her reaching for another pick-me-up... And then another. And then one more.

When the secret she must keep for her godmother, Felicity, sends her drug habit spiralling out of control, can Etta battle her demons in time and make her dream happen? Or, will her music career be over before it's even begun?

B-Side sits between Lost (out now) and Found (out summer 2016) in the Arielle Lockley series - read Etta's version of events in this gritty Lost spin-off.

Amazon.co.uk link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01E8YYFFY 
Amazon.com link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E8YYFFY 
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29542411-b-side 

Author profile:

Elle Field writes romantic comedies, and is the author of the Arielle Lockley series and Geli Voyante's Hot or Not. She grew up in Yorkshire, then moved to Scotland to study International Relations and Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews. Elle now lives in London with her boyfriend and their cat. She's a massive fan of sunshine, giraffes, The Killers, Audrey Hepburn movies, playing Scrabble and tea. Oh, and reading, of course! 

You can buy Elle's books here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00CHIC1GE
Visit her website: http://www.ellefield.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellefie
Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellefieldauthor

Giveaway:
To celebrate the publication of B-Side, I’m running a giveaway. Prizes are Amazon vouchers, a paperback set of the full Arielle Lockley series (Kept, Lost and B-Side), and a set of vinyl coasters. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thank you so much Elle for this post, not sure all those songs would be in my top 5, but those are some great choices. 

Cover Reveal - Found by Elle Field

A couple of weeks ago, I was pleased to reveal the cover for B-Side, Elle Fields new novella, and today it is my great pleasure to reveal the cover for Found, book 3 in the Arielle Lockley series.

One death. Two weddings. Three months in New York City.

Who knew one flight could change everything? When Arielle Lockley stepped on the plane at Heathrow, she never realised how different her life would be when she touched down in New York. Now she's dealing with that aftermath, as well as trying to find common ground with Etta, her new and unwanted business partner.

But, trying to sort out her shop in London whilst Piers is stuck in New York is starting to take its toll on their relationship, and Arielle isn't the only one with an important decision to make... Can Arielle and Etta continue Felicity's legacy without destroying it, and will Arielle and Piers manage to make it down the aisle to say "I do"?

Find out what happens in the final part of the warm and wonderful Arielle Lockley series - out this August.

UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Found-Arielle-Lockley-Book-3-ebook/dp/B01FG38NKE

US link: https://www.amazon.com/Found-Arielle-Lockley-Book-3-ebook/dp/B01FG38NKE 

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25483958-found 

What a gorgeous cover and just in time for wedding season and the summer. Having revealed two of these lovely covers now, I feel I really should get around to reading this lovely looking series. 

Cover Reveal - B-Side by Elle Field

Today I am happy to be involved in the cover reveal for B Side the new novella in the Arielle Lockley series by Elle Field.

"What do I honestly know about the music industry? I'm just another idiot with a dream who is naive enough to hope that I might be the next big star."

Etta Millhouse has always had big musical ambitions to match her big voice, but she's also got three very big problems - the addiction she won't admit to, her godmother's illness that she can no longer ignore, and her godmother's useless business partner (who she wishes she could ignore).

Keeping an eye on Arielle's poor business decisions is the last thing Etta wants to do when she's offered the chance to record a demo with a top producer. But, a promise is a promise, even if it has her reaching for another pick-me-up... And then another. And then one more.

When the secret she must keep for her godmother, Felicity, sends her drug habit spiralling out of control, can Etta battle her demons in time and make her dream happen? Or, will her music career be over before it's even begun?

B-Side will be published on 17th May

UK Amazon link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/B-Side-Arielle-Lockley-Book-2-5-ebook/dp/B01E8YYFFY

US Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/B-Side-Arielle-Lockley-Book-2-5-ebook/dp/B01E8YYFFY

Add on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29542411-b-side

I really look forward to the day where I have time to start reading this series, as it sounds fantastic.