Book Review - Daydream Believer by Lizzie Fayke - Fab Firsts

Fab Firsts is my new regular Sunday feature, that is going to be highlighting books that are firsts. When interviewing authors, it will be about their first book, as well as other firsts in their lives. When reviewing books for this feature, there will be a mix of debuts, first books in a series, the first time I read an author, and possibly other firsts depending on what I can think of!

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

I hope you enjoy this look at a variety of hopefully fabulous firsts, while making some sort of dent in my review and paperback TBRs which are my current main focus!

I was gifted a copy of Daydream Believer not long after my blog started after Lizzie Fayke appeared in a guest post. When I went to look for a paperback to read for this weeks Fab Firsts it finally caught my eye and I remembered I had been meaning to read it for ages!

Amazon UK

Title: Daydream Believer

Author: Lizzie Fayke

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Gift

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 28th July 2015

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sarah Collin's world is about to be changed forever by her imaginary boyfriend.
Her dream world collides with reality when she invents Steve, her rock musician lover, in the hope of adding some much needed glamour to her life, while gaining a little respect from her workmates.
As the lie spirals out of control, she finds herself on the Costa Blanca. Could her chaotic holiday actually make some of her daydreams come true?

Daydream Believer is a wonderful holiday read, with the majority of the book taking place on the Costa Blanca, while Sarah is trying to work out how to pass off Benidorm for the South of France. 

For Sarah lives in a world of daydreams and so as not to loose face in front of her colleagues she has told them all about Steve, her boyfriend, who is a musician and working in the South of France. Just one small problem in that he doesn't exist. So when she announces to the office she is going to visit him, it gets really amusing. 

Sarah has also never really been abroad much before and Benidorm is the best she could afford on her rather non existent budget.  At this point let me just state that this book has reinforced my beliefs that Benidorm is very low down on the list of places I'd like to visit in Spain, as it is completely not my scene! 

As an experienced solo traveller, I was amused at the pitfalls Sarah found herself in, including to succumbing very fast to the local lothario! That wasn't the only thing that made he laugh in the book or in fact the holiday. It really is a story that will have you giggling, or possibly rolling your eyes!

I loved the various people that Sarah meets on holiday but I also love getting to know her dad, and his new girlfriend. They have some rather fun ideas themselves and there are a few groan worthy jokes thrown in too! 

I found Daydream Believer to be a really enjoyable and entertaining debut novel that I didn't want to put down, but did wish I could have been by a pool working on my own tan while reading it. 

Funday Friday - Truth or Lie? - Special Edition with Lizzie Fayke (plus giveaway)

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show. Each Friday, I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

This is almost certainly going to be the last week of Truth or Lie, definitely for 2016, possibly ever. And to celebrate / commiserate this fact, I have a one off special edition for you all. 

So long as you take part and have a guess today, then you will be entered into a special giveaway provided by today's contestant. For more info take a look at the end! 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning contestant, please can you tell me your name and a little bit about yourself?

Hi, I’m Lizzie and I’ve been making stuff up for ages. I spent all my school years writing plays and making my friends perform them and after a few false starts I’m now writing books. 
My first book, Daydream Believer, is available through Amazon and the sequel is coming along nicely. I can’t wait to get it finished as I have great plans for a new series of books after that.

Please to meet you Lizzie, I am really looking forward to reading Daydream Believer when I get the chance. 

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Lizzie hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) Tell me about any really memorable dream or nightmare you have had

I remember sleeping in my parents’ bed while my Dad was away on business. I dreamt I was being chased around a breakfast cereal factory by a monster with a Cornflake packet for a body, he was making the most terrifying noises. I woke up to realise the noises in my dream were my mum snoring.

2) What was your most memorable holiday ever?

This would have to be my Honeymoon to Aruba. It was also my first trip to the Caribbean and it did not disappoint. We stayed at Bucuti Beach Resort and it has to be one of my favourite places of Earth. We are currently saving for our 3rd trip back.

3) If you could be a fruit, what would you be and why?

An Etrog. Not because it’s bitter and lumpy looking, but because it’s highly valued, respected, expensive and largely inedible. Well, I don’t want just anyone eating me….

4) What superpower would you love to have?

Time Travel. I love history and would love to see it first-hand. My first port of call would be the 1920s, then I’d go and give my younger self a talking to.

5) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it?

As a kid I wanted to be an Archaeologist, imagine trying to spell that in Year 1! The working conditions would not suit me though so, of course, I’d have to say an Author, and yes….I’m still trying.

6) Can you describe for me what your perfect day would involve?

Waking up late in a fluffy hotel bed followed by a spa trip to make myself beautiful. Afternoon tea in Claridge’s and some shopping, this would include a handbag purchase. I’d then go back to the spa for a swim and to read a book. Theatre and dinner out followed by watching the TV in bed while eating chocolate and drinking tea. All in the company of Tom Burke!

7) If you could choose anybody famous to star in the story of your life, who would it be?

Penelope Cruz, she is beautiful and funny - although the accent could be a stumbling block.

8) Besides reading, which I am guessing is a given, what other hobbies do you have?

I collect swizzle sticks (cocktail stirrers), the kind you get in fancy hotels and cocktail bars. My favourite is the one I have from the Long Bar, Raffles in Singapore. 

9) What is your best childhood memory?

Getting a Mr Slushy for Christmas and making all my relatives drink disgusting frozen drinks all day, I charged 10p a cup.

10) Did you have an invisible friend as a child? If so please tell me about them. 

I had a little elephant friend who used to sit on the swing in the back garden with me.

11) What would your ideal pet be?

A bulldog. I’d like 3 and I’d call them Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Unfortunately, I’m allergic to most animals. 

12) What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to music? 

When I was writing Daydream Believer I used to listen to Dolly Parton to help me with one of the characters and I must admit I became rather fond of her.

13) Can you let us in on an embarrassing secret?

I was in a Goth band called Poison Spite. I wrote the songs and ‘played’ keyboards. 

14) What are you most scared of?

Fish – I hate them alive or dead. I’ve had hypnotherapy, it didn’t work 100% but at least I can glance at them from a distance now.

Thank you so much Lizzie for these great answers, in just over 6 months I think you are the only person who would like be an etrog!

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? 

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize! 

And check out previous week's Truth or Lie's that you may have missed here

For this week only if you have a guess at the lies, whether right or wrongly you will be entered into a draw to win this lovely prize:

Giveaway - Win this star themed prize bundle (Open Internationally)

If you take part and have a guess at the lies, then you are in a chance of winning this prize - It's a Star Print Scarf, Star Print Desk Organiser and star eraser topped pencil. 

Giveaway open Internationally, all options are voluntary, apart from submitting a comment, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 11/11/2016. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

Win this star themed prize bundle (Open Internationally)

Guest Post & Giveaway - Paris Proposal by Lizzie Fayke - Paris Weekend

I had always wanted to go to Paris since a young child of 5, sitting hours on end watching Gay Purree. For those of you worrying that this sounds like wholly inappropriate viewing material for someone so young, let me put your mind at rest. It’s an animated kids’ film about cute cats seeking their fortunes in Paris.

Taking the initiative I booked a coach trip (I know – but I was on a budget) to the City of Love for me and my boyfriend to span both Valentine’s Day and my birthday;  a double celebration and maybe a hat-trick. I’d been seeing this guy for a couple of years and he’d recently begun hinting about marriage, so I was giving him the perfect opportunity right? I had it all planned in my head, I bet he’d pop the question up the Eiffel Tower – perfect!

The start was less than perfect. As the Port of Dover came into sight, I realised that I had left my purse back at home. I am an obsessive list maker, so you can imagine how my world collapsed at this revelation. I was in full meltdown. My boyfriend did an almost impossible job of calming me down, assuring me that we would still have the best holiday ever and he would pay for everything. He was definitely going to propose, and with this in mind I quickly forgot my pretty pink Ted Baker purse stuffed full of Euros.

Paris was everything I hoped for. Shopping in the splendour of La Fayette; eating sticky crepes from a street vendor; sipping strong coffee from tiny cups in an Art Deco Piano Bar along the Champs Elysees and taking a very chilly cruise along The Seine.

The day of the Eiffel Tower excursion came and I made extra special effort with my appearance. I wanted everything to be perfect and I wanted to look my best for the engagement photos I was planning on posting on Facebook straight after the event.

On the way up the tower my boyfriend looked decidedly nervous, obvious pre-proposal jitters. We wandered around for a bit marvelling at the Paris rooftops but our allocated time up there was running out, and it did. We descended the magnificent structure with no ring in sight. I really thought today was the day, but I didn’t get my perfect Paris proposal at all.

My boyfriend was really amused when I confessed my disappointment on the journey home. He told me that it would have been far too obvious, and when (yes – when!) he asked it would be a complete surprise. 7 months later he proposed in a Chinese restaurant, not quite as romantic as Paris, and not the surprise he wanted either. I found the ring in his coat pocket when I was looking for the car keys, but I never told him that. Oh well, I guess the secret’s out of the bag now.

Giveaway to win Daydream Believer (PB) plus other goodies (Open Internationally)

Lizzie Fayke has put together this lovely prize bundle for one lucky winner. It contains her book Daydream Believer, a notebook, a necklace and a ceramic hanging ornament. 

Giveaway open internationally, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 19/2/2016. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

About Lizzie Fayke

Lizzie has been writing since she could hold a crayon. At school she loved writing poems, plays and dirty limericks to impress the boys. Her English teacher told her she had too much imagination – she accepted it as a compliment
.
Lizzie grew up and got a day job but she still loves writing. Her debut novel, Daydream Believer is out now and the sequel is progressing well.

When she has spare time she spends it gazing at handbags and thinking up names for the 3 bulldogs she aspires to own (oh, and Googling ‘is there a cure yet for pet allergies?’).

Daydream Believer on Amazon UK

Twitter: @LizzieFayke

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14196409.Lizzie_Fayke

Word Press: https://lizziefayke.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lizzie-Fayke-1501776026736999/

Thank you so much Lizzie for sharing your proposal story with us on Valentines Day and that you enjoyed Paris regardless. Thank you also for the lovely prize you have donated. 

Happy Valentines Day everyone.