Book Review - Bring Me Sunshine by Laura Kemp

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Amazon UK

Title: Bring Me Sunshine

Author: Laura Kemp

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 21st March 2019 

Rating: 5 Stars

Charlotte Bold is nothing like her name - she is shy and timid and just wants a quiet life. When her job doing the traffic news on the radio in London is relocated to Sunshine FM in Mumbles, she jumps at the chance for a new start in Wales.

But when she arrives she discovers that she's not there to do the travel news - she's there to front the graveyard evening show. And she's not sure she can do it.

Thrust into the limelight, she must find her voice and a way to cope. And soon she realises that she's not the only person who finds life hard - out there her listeners are lonely too. And her show is the one keeping them going.

Can Charlotte seize the day and make the most of her new home? And will she be able to breathe new life into the tiny radio station too...?

I loved this story of Charlie Bold, who needs to regain her confidence and kick start her life a bit. She had completely lost her confidence, and for someone working in radio, has stage fright and can't speak on a microphone. 

When her station forces her to relocate to Swansea, and aren't exactly honest about her new role, it is time for her to sink or swim.  With the help of Delme who she has only just met, things start happening for Charlie, slowly at first, and then wow she is one fabulous woman. 

I loved the ideas she had for her evening radio show and generally seeing how she fitted into her new life. I hated her current boyfriend Jonny and just prayed she would see sense with him.  

I loved getting to know Delme's story properly, he is a character I gelled with from the first instance and seeing how he developed over the book was wonderful.  As was Tina's story which kept giving us gasp worthy shocks, once you got to know her. 

It's a story of fresh starts, new beginnings, gains in confidence, the attempt to improve a small radio station, a lovely location, all manner to unexpected directions for the story and some wonderful advice too.  

It's a really great feel good story, that is guaranteed to bring some sunshine into your life. 

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Guest Post - About Vicky Hope by Laura Kemp - Blog Tour

I had to go back in time to write Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope’s Back Up Man? – to the spots of fourteen, life opening up at twenty-one and the fear of what next at thirty. 

Those three ages were formative for me – so that’s where I wanted my characters to be: because by revealing what happened to them in adolescence and their twenties, then I could tell their stories when they are thirty.

The book starts when Vicky, Mikey and Kat are living in the suburbs aged twenty-one. It’s when Vicky, who is wracked by insecurity, asks Mikey, her best mate, to be her back up man. If life doesn’t work out the way she wants it to, then can he be there for her when they’re thirty?

He agrees, just to humour her, because he knows she’s leaving him to travel the world with Kat and he’s wise enough to realise that life hasn’t even started for her yet – he’s a no-hoper who is trapped by a broken home.

Vicky, on the other hand, is ‘normal’, from a stable family, and she yearns to be interesting. Kat, meanwhile, is a high-flyer, destined for a big future, and there’s no question she won’t make it.

Fast-forward nearly nine years and they’ve all lost touch. Out of desperation when she finds herself dumped on her thirtieth birthday, Vicky, now Vee, tracks them down – and gets a shock when she finds out that Kat, now Kate, has failed at life while Mikey, now Murphy, has become hugely successful.

The book follows their reunion - and includes flashbacks from moments in their past which made them who they now are. A troubled Mikey and Vicky’s innocence at fourteen; back-packing in South America, Australia and Thailand which unravelled Kat but made Vicky; and the professional and personal choices they each made in their twenties.

Back in the present day, the three of them have to work out how to pick up their friendship - because they fell out for a reason - and if they want the past to be a part of their futures. Particularly as there’s a big secret involved…

I absolutely loved writing this book - it gave me the chance to experience again what I had felt at all three stages in my life before I had found my way. It was like reliving my youth: yet not in a rose-tinted way, more warts and all. And music – especially Jarvis Cocker – was absolutely vital on my journey. It was a real treat to weave in the tunes of the 90s, Noughties and now. So much so, I’ve created a playlist of the songs which reminded me of suburban teenage angst, insecurity and discovery - you can find Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope’s Back Up Man? on Spotify here http://tinyurl.com/zj4xc7b

Laura Kemp

A tender, funny and haunting coming-of-age novel which asks if the past can ever be part of your future.

Twenty-one and insecure, Vicky Hope comes up with a plan on the eve of travelling the world with her high flying friend, Kat Lloyd: if she isn't married by the time she's thirty, she'll marry her geeky best mate Mikey Murphy.

Fast-forward eight-and-a-bit years, Vicky, now Vee wakes up on her thirtieth birthday in Brighton, expecting a proposal of marriage from her arty boyfriend Jez. Instead he tells her their relationship is over and she has no choice but to return to her parents' home.

Devastated and alone in her childhood bedroom, she decides she has nothing to lose and tracks down her two old mates. With shock, she discovers Mikey, now Murphy, is a successful app designer driven by his tragic upbringing. Kat, or Kate, never made it – but she hides a devastating secret, which threatens the happiness of all three.

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2hJG6Xh
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2gHRtkS
iBooks: http://apple.co/2gHVea5
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2htD0I8

Laura’s previous book, THE LATE BLOSSOMING OF FRANKIE GREEN is available now:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dLKV4N
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2eeITX0
iBooks: http://apple.co/29oe8jt
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2bi0r5o


About Laura Kemp 

Laura lives in Penarth, Cardiff with her supportive husband, gorgeous son, playful dog and ancient cat. Writing is compulsive to Laura. With 15 years journalistic experience and several successful books to her name, writing is her escape and her love.

Follow Laura

Website: http://www.laura-kemp.com/
Facebook: @LauraKempBooks
Twitter: @laurajanekemp

Instagram: @laurajanekemp

Thank you so much Laura for talking to us. Please do keep following along with the rest of the blog tour.

Book Review - Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man? by Laura Kemp - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man?

Author: Laura Kemp

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 1st January 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

A tender, funny and haunting coming-of-age novel which asks if the past can ever be part of your future.

Twenty-one and insecure, Vicky Hope comes up with a plan on the eve of travelling the world with her high flying friend, Kat Lloyd: if she isn't married by the time she's thirty, she'll marry her geeky best mate Mikey Murphy.

Fast-forward eight-and-a-bit years, Vicky, now Vee wakes up on her thirtieth birthday in Brighton, expecting a proposal of marriage from her arty boyfriend Jez. Instead he tells her their relationship is over and she has no choice but to return to her parents' home.

Devastated and alone in her childhood bedroom, she decides she has nothing to lose and tracks down her two old mates. With shock, she discovers Mikey, now Murphy, is a successful app designer driven by his tragic upbringing. Kat, or Kate, never made it – but she hides a devastating secret, which threatens the happiness of all three.

I found it took me a while to warm up to the stories of Vicky Hope, her back up man Mikey Murphy and childhood best friend Kat Lloyd.  Although towards the end I could feel some empathy for their present day selves, what really had me gripped was the assorted flashback to when they were young adults, and the choices they made then. 

This of course may have something to do with my general love of travel, and Vicky and Kat went travelling together after university, although they didn't react to the experience the way they would have expected. It was with all this travelling that the friendship fractures between the three of them grew, and only 8 years later, after Vicky's life takes another change of direction, that she tries to make amends with her oldest friends. 

It was Kat's story that I was most drawn to, despite Vicky being the main character. I could really identify with Kat's issues with her mother, and although she made some questionable decisions in her life, I loved how pivotal she became. Kat plays a big role in both of Vicky and Mikey's stories, and its only in confronting the demons of when she was in her early twenties that she can really move on with the rest of her life. 

Thanks to Vicky's new job in a deli selling artisanal cheese, there are a whole bunch of cheesy jokes in the book, as well as a lot of talk of deli produce, all of which made my stomach rumble. I really couldn't get to grips with Vicky though, as she seemed such an aimless character, who only really wanted to get married and have kids, but when that dream crashed with her current boyfriend, she ran back home and really had no idea what to do with her life. 

Vicky was so scared of being alone that the night before she went travelling she made Mikey her best male friend, promise he would be her back up man, if they were both still single at the ripe old age of 30. It may be that as a young Vicky, thinking 30 was old, that made me dislike her, as it would mean that I'm old already! 

As the story unravels as to just what happened to Kat to make her the way she currently is, and as to what happened to dissolve their friendships, I found myself more and more drawn into the story and was very curious as to what would happen in each chapter. 

What Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man? is a good story, which I enjoyed quite a lot. 

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Guest Post - Frankie Green's Bucket List by Laura Kemp - Blog Tour

You’ll have seen those bucket lists, you know, the ones which say Twenty Places To See Before You Die or Fifty Things To Do Before You’re Thirty.

Well, the heroine of my new novel The Late Blossoming of Frankie Green accidentally comes up with her own version - Ten Sex Education Lessons To Win Back Her Husband. Except, it doesn’t quite turn out like that!

You see, Frankie’s journey begins innocently enough because she’s head-over-sensible-heels married to her childhood sweetheart Jason. But when he produces a pair of black fluffy handcuffs in bed, she freaks out - she had always thought they were a perfect fit. It all comes crashing down when he tells her things have become boring and predictable - and asks for some time out. 

She decides she needs to broaden her horizons to prove to him the grass is greener on her side. While she’s read Fifty Shades of Grey she doesn’t know how to translate the words into action. Step forward the adorable and funny Floyd, the brother of one of her best friends who’ve known one another for years. He helps her get to grips with nudey rudies over ten tender, sweet and yes, embarrassing and awkward, lessons.

Here’s the moment she unveils her bucket list to him - stand by for a cringeworthy bum-clencher which reveals how far she has to go to become the sex kitten she thinks she needs to be… 

****

Frankie cleared her throat as the list shook in her trembling hands.

“So, I’ve called it, um, Frankie Green’s Sex Education and then in brackets I’ve put How Not To Be Boring In Bed,” she said more boldly than she felt.

Floyd nodded encouragingly. “Yes, good. I’m getting a sense of ownership from that. And it’s always handy to make a note of your name should you forget it.”

“Shush!” she said, laughing, despite herself, “I won’t do this if you’re going to take the piss.”

“All right, all right,” he said, laughing, holding his hands up by way of apology, “I’m sorry. Carry on.”

Frankie stared back at the sheet of paper to collect herself. Just treat it like an adult education class, she told herself. Some people learn a language, others do pottery - I’m signing up for lessons in loving, that’s all. And at least I don’t have to drink crap coffee in a drafty classroom full of strangers.

“As I was saying,” she said, “I’ve made a list of 10 things I need to do, that we need to do, um, would you mind closing your eyes or not looking at me because this is embarrassing.”

“Sure, no problem, in fact, why don’t I sit under the table and you can pretend I’m not here?”

“Yes, good idea,” Frankie said, delighted.

“I was joking,” he said before sighing, heaving himself up and squeezing under the table, tucking in legs and arms like a spider playing hide and seek.

“Ready?” she asked as the sound of him shuffling about finally stopped.

“Fire away! By the way, you know this is quite ridiculous because we are going to have to touch one another at some point?” came a voice from below.

“Look, I just need a run-up, that’s all,” she explained. “Right, so here I go. Number one, I’ve called it Not The Missionary and by that I mean I need some direction in positions other than lying flat on my back.”

His hand appeared out from beneath the table to ask a question.

“Yes?”

“Sorry. Can I just check something? Do you mean you’ve only ever done it like that? I’m not judging, I just need to clarify it so I know my starting point.” 

Frankie was crestfallen. Even though she’d anticipated she’d feel like a freak and he was right to ask, it still stung. 

“Well, that’s the only position I am properly familiar with,” she said, utterly grateful she didn’t have to look Floyd in the eye. “We got together young. We tried a few things at the beginning but then after 10 years you sort of fall into a pattern…”

“That’s fine, not a problem,” Floyd said. “Proceed.”

“Okay. Um, number two, that’s the…er…sixty-nine,” she said quietly because it was the rudest number in mathematics. 

“What?” he said.

“The sixty-nine,” she repeated slightly louder.

“The sixty-nine?” he boomed.

“Yes,” she almost shouted, “thank you for making me feel even more mortified, Floyd.”

She heard a snigger and was tempted to boot him when he produced both hands from below in an act of surrender.

“I, um, chose this because I found it very hard to co-ordinate everything while things were going on downstairs. Legs and lips and hands and tongues and…well, I just got all tangled up that time we tried it.”

“That time you tried it? As in once?” 

“You’re making me feel like a fridge, Floyd.”

“Sorry. Again. I’m just making sure, that’s all. The soixante-nerf is like learning to drive.”
She felt a pang of gratitude. Which dissolved quickly as he made references to “floppy gear sticks” and “erect handbrakes”.

She kicked at his body to show her disgust - it was time to move on. But as she drew breath she realised it was like leaping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

“Number three, spanking. I’ve never done this. I can’t really see how hitting someone or being hit would be pleasurable.”

“Righty-ho,” he said, “it is a niche area. It’s all about the spur of the moment, that one.”

That was a much better response, she thought, and it gave her a boost to carry on.

“Number four, something risky. Somewhere where we might get caught. Although even thinking about that makes me scared.”

“Right.”

“Number five, dressing up. But not as a naughty nurse or schoolgirl because that makes me want to throw up. Something else, I’m not sure what exactly.”

“We’ll find something,” he said, all business-like. 

Amazingly, Frankie was beginning to feel empowered getting this off her chest and she was almost enjoying herself.

“Number six, erotica. I don’t mean watching porn because I’ve accidentally clicked on some sites and I don’t think I’ll ever eat cucumber again. But perhaps lap-dancing?”

“Lap is not erotica. It’s a bunch of office lads smirking over their stiffies. Leave it with me. Next?”

“Number seven, it’s talking…dirty.” 

“As in, ‘I can’t believe how filthy the car is’?”

Frankie pursed her lips, knowing he was trying to get her to spell it out. 

“Oh, I get it,” Floyd said, straight-faced, “‘ride me, you slut, and call me horsey’. That sort of thing?”

“Floyd!”

“Sorry! Next?”

“Number eight, um, orgasms because it didn’t really happen…at all…and it was clearly my fault and I was obviously not doing it right.”

“Well, I happen to think the opposite - it’s the man’s job to make sure of it. And really, this shouldn’t be a category by itself because hopefully we can approach it as we go.”

Frankie was stunned - it had never occurred to her that it was a joint concern. She’d thought it was her problem, not that she’d minded because it was all about that connection with Jason. But if there was a possibility every time, well, that would be nice.

“Number nine, sex toys. And I don’t even want to talk about this, it’s so frightening."

“Oh, there’s nothing to worry about. Vibrators, love eggs, cock rings, you name it, I’ve done it. Although no strap-ons, right?”

“Strap-whats?”

“Forget it.”

Then he rubbed his hands as he said: “So what’s number 10? Is it something spectacular? Swinging from the chandeliers?” 

“Not quite,” she said, pausing because this was the one she was most scared of. That’s why she’d left it until the end. 

“It’s the bondage thing,” she said softly. “That was what Jason wanted to do the night he left. He had black fluffy handcuffs and even now, the thought of them makes me want to be sick. They were just so…tacky. But it feels like I need to do it to get over it, and there must be other ways, if you know what I mean. Oh, God. Why did I not just agree to it? Then we’d still be together.”

“Hey,” Floyd said, “don’t go off on one. And that isn’t true anyway,” he reminded her gently 
And his hand was on her knee. “Small steps,” he said. “And whatever happens, we’ll always stick to the lesson plan, always. No add-ons, no deviations - it will give us boundaries and it will keep things professional. We don’t want either of us feeling things have got out of hand.”

His warm touch did something then to her body. There was a strength, a security even, flowing from him to her. Her worry seemed to drain away and for the first time she felt as though this arrangement was entirely possible. Maybe it was because she’d known him for so long - they already had an intimacy, a foundation on which to build.

Suddenly the pressure of his fingers changed. It was a subtle shift, setting off the hairs on the back of her neck, going from safe to…what was it? Sexy?. 

Her breathing changed, it felt shallow from the nerves of anticipation but deep with something physical, a sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time. She shut her eyes and she was floating, swirling and rolling, as if she was underwater. 

“AAARGH!”

“WHAT IS IT?” she shouted, jumping up, dancing around like she was on hot coals.
“I’ve got cramp in my leg, bloody bollocking cocking cramp, aaargh.”

He scrambled out from under the table and began hopping then hugging his limb while Frankie flapped her hands with adrenalin.

Finally, he stopped moaning.

“Well, that was good timing,” he said, sheepishly, ruffling his hair, then coughing and fidgeting with his T-shirt. “Sorry about that…I better, you know…shift it. If that’s okay?”

“Yep, fine,” Frankie said, still in a daze, “Hairdressing to do. Tomorrow. Work, I mean, so, yes, I’ll see you…soon, then.”

“Righti-ho,” he said, walking to the front door.

Frankie’s heart began palpitating. She needed to process what just happened and there was still the goodbye to come. Would he go to kiss her or offer a hug? She sincerely hoped not now, the moment had passed and if he did, she would most certainly die.

Instead, he crossed the threshold, turned back around and put out his hand.

Frankie was so relieved at the inappropriately appropriate offering that she shook it like a rattle.

“Laters,” he said, offering an entirely unnecessary salute. “I’ll be in…er…touch.”

Frankie shut the door and performed a full-on wide-mouthed silent scream.

And that’s just the start of it!

I hope it makes you want to read more and if you do, let me know what you think! I’m on Twitter @laurajanekemp so I can’t wait to hear from you. xxx 

Thank you for sharing with us Laura Kemp. Having read the rest of the book I can assure you all it is as fabulous as the extract above makes it sound, and my review is also live on the blog today.

Amazon UK

Book Review - The Late Blossoming of Frankie Green by Laura Kemp

Amazon UK

Title: The Late Blossoming of Frankie Green

Author: Laura Kemp

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 1st June 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Frankie Green's happy ever after is put on hold when her childhood sweetheart husband complains things are boring in bed.

When he asks for some space, she sets out to win him back by getting herself a sex education.

Little does she know that her hilarious, tender and embarrassing journey of enlightenment is going to change everything...

A story full of humour, heartache and happiness, of friendship, coming of age and overcoming insecurity.

This is the third book I have read by Laura Kemp, and I am very impressed with the increased maturity in her writing skills. This is a very entertaining story, that had me shocked in some places, at just how inexperienced Frankie really is, but the efforts she goes to, to learn more about sex are hilarious. 

She embarks on a journey of sexual awakening, when her husband Jason, walks out as she is apparently boring in bed. Frankie decides she needs to learn how to be better at sex, but as it turns out without actually getting down and doing it with anyone else. The person who steps up to be her teacher, is trying to get over a woman, and  is a fabulous teacher. 

Frankie's teacher manages to continually put her at her ease, while talking through and a"acting" out some of her suxal bucket list. I loved how Frankie grew as a woman during this story, as her confidence and sensuality become more apparent.

In addition we also learn about Frankie's best friends Em, and Letty. Both of which who are overcoming their own challenges in this story. There is a moment with Leyty that has me laughing out lout, as she finally succeeds at something. Em's story is just as good, and she is a lovely friend to have, and I loved seeing how her own possible relationship develops. 

What I really loved was despite Frankie being scared to really try much new at the start, she slowly comes out of her shell with some help from a special friend, and is determined to win her husband back. 

There is an enjoyable sense of humour in this book, and although it didn't have me laugh out loud, it did have me entertained for the whole story. 

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