Guest Post - Finding the Idea for Picture Mr. Perfect by Laura Briggs

What if you became a celebrity overnight? If suddenly, your face was the one everyone recognized on the street, and people rushed to get your autograph—or perhaps your phone number instead?

That was the question my co-author Sarah Burgess and I used as a springboard for our romantic comedy novel, Picture Mr. Perfect. Specifically the idea of someone whose claim to fame is appearing on the cover of a popular romance novel. Everyone is familiar with Fabio, of course, but what about the many other  people who make their living posing as fictional heroes? Are they famous? Aspiring models? Or just ordinary people trying to make some extra income?

From there, it was easy to picture the premise of our novel: ordinary guy turns overnight celebrity when a temporary modelling gig lands him on the cover of a best-selling romance book. The character of Jason is more or less the boy-next-door type—cute, kind, and less-than-confident when it comes to members of the opposite sex. He doesn't think of himself as model material, much less the next famous face in romance. But that’s exactly what happens when fans began to associate him with the sexy and brooding ‘Lord Damon’ from the popular novel.

At first glance, this seems a dream come true. Women notice Jason everywhere he goes, flirting with him as though he were really the hero from their new favourite book. More publishers and authors clamour for Jason to appear on their up-coming book covers in roles that range from a swashbuckling pirate to the infamous Mr. Darcy.

But none of this is very helpful to Jason as he struggles to finish his master’s degree in psychology. Or to catch the attention of Emily, a waitress and fellow grad student at Jason’s university. Emily doesn't think much of the handsome Lord Damon—or his real life counterpart. Can Jason show her there’s more to him then some fake literary persona? Or will he find himself swept further into a world of photography shoots and fame?

Picture Mr. Perfect is a clean romance, with lots of laughter and heart. It was fun to explore the idea of an 'ordinary' person becoming suddenly famous, and how they might handle all the pressure and responsibility that comes with it. Thanks so much to Rachel for letting us share about the book with all her lovely readers. We hope some of you will check it out!

Thank you Laura for coming onto Rachel's Random Reads. It is very much appreciated. The book sounds like it has a great premise.

Picture Mr. Perfect

Jason Barry’s no hero, although he does hope to change the world one day by helping people once he finally earns his master’s degree in psychology. When his scholarship is unexpectedly revoked, however, Jason takes on a temporary modeling gig for money to help pay the bills, never dreaming it’ll land him on the cover of a best-selling romance novel – and transform him from the boy-next-door to a hot literary hunk almost overnight. 

Suddenly, women recognize Jason as the face of sexy ‘Lord Damon’ everywhere he goes, making him the envy and admiration of his male friends. But as covers featuring him as everything from a swashbuckling hero to Mr. Darcy himself causes his celebrity status to explode, Jason struggles to balance his academic pursuits, as well as his deepening attraction for Emily, a waitress and part-time student at his university. 


Emily is definitely unimpressed by Jason’s literary alter-ego. But can the real Jason convince her there’s more to him than meets the eye? Or will bigger issues prevent their happy-ever-after, when certain truths between them challenge the definition of a real hero? 

Purchase/Kindle Unlimited Link for Amazon US | Purchase/Kindle Unlimited Link for Amazon UK


Author Bio:

Laura Briggs’s first published work was Only in Novels, a short romance story from Pelican Book Group that garnered a CAPA award nomination. She has since published several other titles with the same company, all featuring an Inspirational Romance theme. Among her independently published works are a series of wedding-themed romances and Jane Austen-inspired fiction. Laura is also the co-author of a series of Grimm-esque fantasy-themed fairytale retellings known as The Dark Woods.




Social Media Links:

Blog:  http://paperdollwrites.blogspot.com/
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Book Review - The Little Kiosk by the Sea by Jennifer Bohnet

Amazon UK

Title: The Little Kiosk by the Sea

Author: Jennifer Bohnet

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 18th August 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

One summer they’ll never forget…

Meet Sabine, desperately fighting to save her little kiosk from closure whilst turning down her friend Owen’s proposals, time and time again.

Cue Harriet, returning to Dartmouth after thirty years, haunted by the scandal that drove her away and shocked by a legacy that threatens her relationship with her journalist daughter.

Enter Rachel, the mysterious newcomer who has an unexpected chemistry with a local widower, and who sets in motion a chain of events she could never have predicted…

One thing’s for sure, as the autumn tide turns, there’ll be more than one secret laid bare!

I am very sorry to say that Jennifer Bohnet has been on my pile of authors books that I have building up on my kindle, that I haven't read until this one. I can't believe I haven't read Jennifer's previous books as this one was a lovely read that I really enjoyed. I will definitely be delving into the depths of my kindle to read more by Jennifer soon. 

There is a great cast of characters which although as I was being introduced to them, I was getting a bit confused, it didn't take long to work out who is who, and who may have links to each other. Each chapter focuses on 1 character, in the 3rd person, with the character name at the top, so you always know who you are reading about. 

There is Sabine who runs the little kiosk by the sea, which is possibly under threat from the council, she is proposed to regularly by an old friend, but never takes him seriously. Johnnie is Sabine's brother, and regularly goes between France and England, delivering boats. During one visit on France, he gets a big surprise which changes his life. 

There is also Harriet, who hasn't been to Dartmouth for years, but is left an unexpected legacy in a will, which if she accepts means she will have to reveal parts of her past, to her daughter Ellie, that she would have rather kept hidden. 

Rachel has moved to Dartmouth, but is clearly hiding something, and there is also B.B. who is an American, over for the summer to try and find some long lost English relatives. 

There are loads of family secrets that are set to be unravelled during this story, and there are some connections between most of the characters, some old and some new. This book is set over just one summer, and it just goes to show that as the tide ebbs and flows, so do people's feelings, and big life choices are made. 

I really liked all the characters, Sabine and Harriet really stood out as central to the story, and two lovely ladies with a lot of heart. 

Until I read this book I had never given a kiosk or who works in one, a second thought. I was aware they appear over the British seaside summerscape scenery, but the specifics had never crossed my mind. Was definitely a different perspective and role for Sabine, which gave an interesting view as to what its like to work in a kiosk. 

I really enjoyed this book, and thought it was a great story. Lots of secrets to be revealed, as well as a few instances of love starting to bloom. 

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

Book Review - Next of Kin by Sue Welfare

Amazon UK

Title: Next of Kin

Author: Sue Welfare

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: Castle Yard Publishing

Publication Date: 1st July 2015

Rating: 4.5 Stars

He seemed like the perfect tenant . . . 
Home should be where the heart is, but for Sarah, it becomes a place of fear, menace and terrifying choices. 
Her new lodger seems like the dream tenant for the rambling Cambridge town house that Sarah shares with her brother, Ryan. 
But before long it’s clear that their guest has his own chilling plans for all of them. 
When Ryan finds himself in deep water, Sarah faces losing all her hopes, dreams and any chance of a happy ever after. 
Just how far will she go to protect the people she loves? And will even the ultimate sacrifice be enough to save them… 

I was surprised but delighted when I had a message from Sue Welfare asking me if I wanted to review a copy of her new psychological thriller, Next of Kin. I had previously read a few of her rom-coms and enjoyed them, so jumped at the chance to read her first attempt at a new genre. 

I was definitely not disappointed. This is a fantastic attempt at a psychological thriller. Right from the start, my mind was wandering back to the story, while I was at work, and I found the writing flowed very well. The narrative is a mix of first person, Sarah, as she explains her story to the police, as well as third person mainly focusing on Sarah, but also giving more indepth on her brother Ryan, her lodger Woody and her love interest Josh. 

From the start you know something has happened, but what starts as a quite gentle story, a story of siblings, and of the unconditional love you have of a family member, soon starts to get a bit more serious. 

I found I was suspecting some things, only to be wrong, and other times as the story progressed I could sort of see some of it coming, but not the entirety of it. 

Although I was completely gripped by the book and found it becoming almost impossible to put down, I didn't feel as immersed in the story as perhaps I have been by other books of the genre in the past. I feel this would be a great book for anyone just starting to read this genre, as although it does ramp up your adrenalin, and the intrigue is definitely there, it didn't completely terrify me, which made a pleasant change. 

Due to the nature of this book, being one where the story telling is linear in timeframe, and I feel if you were to re-read it there were probably hints very early in the book, as to certain aspects of the villain, I can't really say too much about story specifics. 

I did find the villain to be incredibly clever, and once you sort of twig various things, you see just how smart he is, with things he says to people, clearly laying a foundation for his future plans. 

Very addictive reading, and I really hope this isn't the last time that Sue Welfare turns to her dark side. 

Thank you to Sue Welfare for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - The Riviera by Karen Aldous - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title:  The Riviera

Author: Karen Aldous

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina 

Publication Date: 10th July 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

The journey is only as good as its end…

It’s been a hard journey, but Lizzie Lambert’s life is a Provençal dream come true. Her business is wildly successful, and with her little boy and the love of her life, Cal, she is making a beautiful home on the vineyard for their blended family.

But when Cal goes to America to support his son through a teenage crisis, it becomes clear the kid’s not the only one with some growing up to do: Cal’s glamorous ex-wife wants to get her claws in him again. As Cal spends longer and longer away, Lizzie wonders, was it all too good to be true?

The Riviera is a lovely follow up to The Vineyard, continuing Lizzie Lambert and Cal's story. Although I had read The Vineyard only a few months ago, I'm ashamed to say I couldn't remember enough of it, to initially make feel instantly at home in the Riviera. I was continually wracking my brains for bits of story that felt familiar, but couldn't quite recall. However that didn't make this any less of an enjoyable read, and I have a weird feeling this may not be the last we see of these characters. 

I loved seeing Lizzie's relationship with Thierry, her 3 and half year old son, he is a real character and a joy to read about. I also loved the relationship between Cal and his 16 year old son Jack. It is a relationship that has been hard on them, with The Atlantic being between them, but when Jack asks for Cal's help, Cal steps up to the plate admirably. 

Jack was adamant he didn't want to go back to school in Nantucket, and that he wanted to move in with his friend Robbie, in London. Obviously his parents had other ideas, and with how strongly Jack was feeling on this subject, all sorts of horrible scenarios were playing out in my mind, as to what could be causing it, and none were correct. 

Cal though has to spend an extended time out in America, while he helps Jack get through this situation, and Lizzie who struggles to trust men, has a tough time with him away, convinced that Cal will be unfaithful with his ex-wife, Jack's mother. 

There are various threads of story, a lot of them revolving around family. I loved Jack, just all around loved him, he is brilliant with Thierry, and also the level of maturity he starts to show, with regards his future. 

The Riviera was predominantly set in the French Riviera, Cannes to be precise, and the descriptions of the area are wonderful.  I would love to visit Cannes again, but having been exhausted by reading about Lizzie's workload during the Film Festival, I would probably stay clear of the area in May!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is a lovely story, which I found to be very quick to read. I really hope we get another Lizzie and Cal book, as I really want to see more of these characters, and I feel with the way the book ended that it could be open to more.

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

Author Bio

Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!


Karen gets much of her inspiration from her travels and if she had to choose, France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy and Lake Tahoe in US would be her favourites. However, wherever she goes, she discovers a new character emerges in 'Karen's World'. She likes to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives - but struggle to control them! And, of course there's always a gorgeous hunk or two!

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Promo Post - Racing Heart by June Moonbridge - Blog Tour

RACING HEART

BY JUNE MOONBRIDGE

Desiree Hart in desperate search for her kidnapped son, does everything in her power possible to find him. Due to a letter she receives after official search was closed, she changes everything; her appearance, her hometown and even her name.

When she meets Lorcan Shore, the Five Times F1 World Campion, their encounter is everything but ordinary. Out of pure fear for her life, she loses her temper and spits over everything he is absolutely certain he can do the best; how to drive.

Leaving him alone on Grand Corniche she is certain she would never see him again. But the next morning proves her being totally wrong. He was no quitter and no matter how she tries to run and hide, her heart desires at the end come back to the surface…

Will the man of her dreams be able to fulfil them all? Including the most important will he help her find her missing son?

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

About June Moonbridge

The person behind the name of June Moonbridge, has many names and many faces too. Although living in the same area, she was born and raised in one country  and now living in another.

She studied economics, and quickly realised she hated it. Afterwards, she found herself working in mainly male businesses; at first in automotive and later - steel products productions. She can choose for you the best steel you need, but don't, please don't, ask her which lipstick to use.

She started to write in her high school and was negatively criticised by her teacher. Stubborn as she is that didn't stop her. Under different pen names for her stories she tried to get some independent opinions, which came back as good reviews in magazines and later she published three books.

Giving birth to two children, and learning that her second child has Autism, she married the father of them and continued to work. All that together took all of her free time. But the desire to write didn't die. When life somehow sorted itself out, she decided to write her novel in English and her first submission to Safkhet was rejected… 

For what happened later… read third paragraph, second sentence.

https://www.facebook.com/JMoonbridge

www.junemoonbridge.com

https://twitter.com/JMoonbridge

@JMoonbridge

https://si.linkedin.com/in/jmoonbridge

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Book Review - Letting You Go by Anouska Knight

Amazon UK

Title: Letting You Go

Author: Anouska Knight

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied review copy

Publisher: MIRA

Publication Date: 10th September 2015

Rating: 4.5 Stars

What if a tragedy occurred and you only had yourself to blame? How do you move on from the past?

Alex Foster lives a quiet life, avoiding the home she hasn’t visited in eight years. Then her sister Jaime calls. Their mother is sick, and Alex must return. Suddenly she’s plunged back into the past she’s been trying to escape.

Returning to her hometown, memories of the tragic accident that has haunted her and her family are impossible to ignore. Alex still blames herself for what happened to her brother and it’s soon clear that her father holds her responsible too. As Alex struggles to cope, can she ever escape the ghosts of the past?

Letting You Go is a moving and emotional tale of heartbreak, grief, forgiveness, with a good quantity of secrets thrown in too. 

Alex Foster hasn't been back to Eilidh Falls  in eight years, she has never forgiven herself for the death of her younger brother, and she believes her father has never forgiven her either. And then she gets a call from Jem, her younger sister, telling her their mother is ill and in hospital.

As scared as Alex is to return home, she loves mum Blythe more than anything and rushes to her bedside, and promises to stay until Blythe is able to return home. In returning to the small town, she stirs up a lot of memories for not just her family, but plenty of other families in town too. 

This includes Finn, who was her boyfriend all those years ago, and who has always loved her, no matter what Alex has done. 

Alex's father Ted struggles to show his feelings, but very slowly he starts to accept Alex being around a bit more, even if he isn't happy with who his daughters are hanging about with. 

Is is soon apparent that Jem is hiding at least one secret if not more, and so are other members of the family. There is a twisted web of lies and half lies, until everything becomes apparent. Some of the secrets I guessed at, and others were a bit more shocking. 

There are little light hearted moments dotted amongst the book, including things "dog" does, the little puppy the family have, but haven't named yet. 

Alex is as obstinate as her father but is it too late to repair their very fractured relationship? Will Jem and Alex ever admit to being in love? And just what happened on the day that their brother died? Answers to this and to other questions the book brings up, will be answered just by reading. 

I really enjoyed reading Letting You Go, its a more serious, heavier book than  a lot of the books I do read, but it is a fabulous story,  by  an author that seems to be getting better and better with each book. I have a feeling this book will be staying with me for some time. 

Thank you so much to Cara at MIRA for this ARC. This was my honest review and opinion. 

Rachel Reads Randomly - Vote #1

A few months before this blog had even been created, I thought of a feature that I would love to include if I ever did create a blog. And this is that feature, let me explain...

...As a blogger I am finding that I am tending to mainly focus on my review books, plus any community challenges I am taking part in. This is often leading me to neglect what was already a very large TBR list, of books I have purchased or acquired over the last few years, and it continually grows. 

I am also awful at deciding what book to read next, as I often have about 10 titles or authors jumping into my brain at any time, shouting at me to read them, and I tend to worry I have made the wrong decision while reading a perfectly good book. I am hoping this will save me having to make at least 1 choice a week, while possibly providing a review to the site of a book you all either love or are curious about yourselves. 

So what I am proposing, is my lovely loyal readers of Rachel's Random Reads, select one book for me to read a week, and I will post the review the following week. 

How is this going to work?

Every Monday, I am going to have a post like this, which is going to have some choices on it. I am planning on using random.org to select 7 random numbers, to coincide with my spreadsheet of unread books.  

I will from that produce a list of hopefully 5 books, I reserve the right to veto any books, and will give reasons for them, if it occurs.

I will take screenshots and post them, of the chosen books, and also give you my instinctive reactions to the choices (without checking blurbs or any other info about them, which could be interesting as there are probably many forgotten about books on my spreadsheet!). 

Your task is to post a comment on this post, with the book you would like me to read this week. At midnight on Wednesday I will take a tally of the votes and the book with the most, I will read and review for the following Monday, where you will also get a new choice post. 

In the event of a tie, I will chose which one appeals most, for the Monday review, and possibly try and read and review the other to appear when I can. 

I am hoping this will provide some variety to the books appearing, and will let me potentially read or discover some great authors that I have wanted to read but not got around to yet. 

On the assumption that some of this makes sense, I will without further ado, load up the randomiser and see what the options are for this week. 

This weeks random numbers are...

And the books these numbers correspond to are...

Letters From My Sister by Alice Peterson - I love the author and am surprised I haven't read this one yet
Further Confessions of a GP by Benjamin Daniels - I read Confessions of a GP and enjoyed so bought the follow up to leave it on the Kindle!
Take Mum Out by Fiona Gibson - Another author I love, believe this book just slipped through my fingers when it was released
April's Busman Holiday (Maxwell Mysteries Book 1) by Kerry Frith - I'm guessing this is the first of some sort of mystery series, but don't recall anything else from when I purchased this!
In The Woods (Dublin Murder Squad series Book 1) by Tana French - Loved The Secret Place which I read last year and is book 5, so couldn't resist buying this when I saw it in a sale!

Well there you have it, 5 fairly different sounding books, including 1 non fiction (as I do purchase it occasionally). Pick your favourite or the one you most want me to review, and leave me a comment below, before midnight on Wednesday. 

I look forward to seeing what I will be reading over the weekend, courtesy of you all. 

What I read on my holiday...

I have just had a lovely relaxing two week break on my holiday, For the first week I was all over the place, on a Mediterranean cruise, and then the second week, I took it easy in Sicily. If I get a chance I will write a separate blog post about my holidays, but that may need to wait a week or so.

However this being a book blog, and me being a faster reader than normal when I'm on holiday, thought I would share with you all what I have been reading over the past two weeks, with some quick thoughts on each book.

Ninety Steps to Summerhill (Goldebury Bay Book 2)  by Emily Harvale - 5 Stars - Second book in the fabulous Goldebury Bay book. This book features a mystery of feuding families dating back years, and a great host of characters. I loved this book and am looking forward to next book in this series. This can be read as a standalone. 

Calculated Justice (Justice Series Book 12) by M.A. Comley - 5 Stars - Easily one of the best books released in this series for years. This is Mel Comley back to her best, in a fast paced and chilling thriller. This book probably works better if you have read some of the earlier books in the series. 

The Love Detective by Alexandra Potter - 5 Stars - A story that was set in India, really good pacing, and a cracking storyline. And I know the sequel is out soon. I love books set in exotic locations and this had a great story, and was very enjoyable. 

Luxury by Jessica Ruston -  3 Stars - I found this very slow to get into, but once it got going, I was loving it. Some fabulous descriptions of an exotic island getaway, and a good story of revenge. 

Marriage to Measure  (Serenity Holland Book 3) by Talli Roland - 4 Stars - Enjoyable continuation of this series, that was amusing in places. I felt that Serenity was a bit harder to like in this book, but it was still a good story. 

The Guestbook by Holly Martin - 5 Stars - The Guestbook is such a unique way of telling a story, with it being a series of entries into a guestbook, at Willow Cottage. Every guest has a different voice, and the guests often held conversations with each other through the book, as well as with Annie Butterworth, the owner of Willow Cottage. You soon see that some of the guests are return visitors and you slowly get to know a whole variety of people, as well as insights into Annie's life.

This is a different but very effective way of story telling, that I loved every second of. Every time I read a Holly Martin book, I become more in awe of the variety of ways she can tell a story. 

Trinity by Nigel May - 5 Stars - A trio of friends who used to be the best of friends, and now their lives are moving in different directions. They are all rich to an extent and are known people, but yet none of them are truly happy. This is another fabulous sexy scandalous story, but the king of bonkbusters. Some cracking and memorable characters, and with some fantastic story telling, this was perfect poolside reading. 

Goodness, Grace and Me by Julie Houston - 4 Stars - Initially I found this very hard to get into, and felt confused by the sheer amount of characters. Thankfully I persevered, as there are some hilarious scenes in this, including various incidents involving a potting shed!

Look Behind You by Sibel Hodge - 5 Stars - Chilling psychological thriller that has me scared and completely gripped. Page-turning goodness.

The One Saving Grace by Julie Houston - 4 Stars - This is the direct sequel, which I enjoyed even more than the first, possibly because I knew the characters already. In amongst the humour of this story, there is a serious storyline going on, featuring Grace. 

Love Like the Movies by Victoria Ban Tiem - 5 Stars - I can't believe I have had this book for over a year without reading this. This was a pleasure to read, and I had a smile on my face the whole way through, and so many of the movie moments mentioned, are from films I love. Very romantic story, and I found myself rooting for Shane the whole time. I found myself reliving various sections of films in my head, along with the characters. Definitely a book that fans of Rom-coms will love.

Forever Autumn by Christina Jones - 5 Stars - Short novella, but due to being a huge fan of Christina Jones, I found I read it within 2 hours, on a miserable rainy day. I barely noticed the time passing, and really enjoyed it. 

The Accident by C.L. Taylor - 4 Stars - Immersive psychological thriller where I kept wanting to know just why Charlotte was in a coma, or whether it really was an accident. During the book I suspected I knew the outcome, but the individual twists and turns I was not expecting. 

A Jersey Kiss by Georgina Troy - 4 Stars - Slow to start, but ultimately a story the I enjoyed. Loved the setting of Jersey, and hope to find the time to read more of this series. 

Summer at Shell Cottage by Lucy Diamond - 4 Stars - Lovely setting of Devon, family holiday, but missing one key family member, And then suddenly the secrets start unravelling, and there is a lot more to this than meets the eye. 

Wild and Free by Wendy Holden - 5 Stars - Rich cast of characters, some of which know each other, but all have one thing in common the festival Wild and Free.Some of the stories, I cared about more than others, some were very funny, and others just enjoyable. Very enjoyable experience of a festival, with all the types of people that attend.  

Taking Hollywood by Shari King - 4 Stars - Fabulous summer beach read, with a hidden mystery at the heart of it. Unravelling exactly what happened 20 years ago is harrowing, but enthralling too. 

It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane - 4 Stars - Entertaining story, of which my favourite character went by the name of Peshwari Naan. Some great comic strip drawing in this too, which are relevant to the story. 

A Most Desirable Marriage by Hilary Boyd - 5 Stars - Always great to read a book with slightly older main characters. The question is can a marriage of 30 years, survive one indiscretion. And do Lawrence and Jo still want to be together despite everything, or will they go their separate ways. Interesting tale of a long standing marriage and the difficulties that can occur.  

Summer at Tiffany's by Karen Swan - 5 Stars - Definitely can be read as a standalone, although missing out on Henry's original lists, would be a shame. Brilliant sequel that I thoroughly enjoyed with some great new characters introduced. 

The Definition of Icing by Aven Ellis - 5 Stars - Every time I read a book by Aven, I fall in love with the leading man, and this was no exception. Nate is my current book boyfriend and dream guy, not only that but I loved Kenley too, and her Confection Consultations business too. If you have read Waiting for Prince Harry, you will be glad to know that Harrison and Kylie make a return in this book, as Harrison and Nate are best friends. This book was the perfect way to end a brilliant holiday, and to entertain me completely on the flight home.




If you are still with me, I applaud you. This post may have gone on a bit longer than I was originally anticipating. I hope this gives you an insight as to the sorts of books I tend to enjoy on my holidays, as well as perhaps a few ideas for your next read.

There are some absolute cracking reads in this post, some of which I have had lurking on my kindle for ages, so just shows you sometimes need to dig into the depths and see what you can find.

And thank you so much to everyone that visited the blog while I was away, it means a lot to me that there were people still looking at what I have posted, even without new content for a couple of weeks. 

Book Review - Five Go Glamping by Liz Tipping - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: Five Go Glamping

Author: Liz Tipping

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 27th August 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

Glamping Check list

Festival tickets
Double check best Instagram filter
Avoid thinking about work/Connor/five year plan!!

A four day break from her hectic life to relax in the countryside and hang out at a local festival (for free!) is just what Fiona Delaney needs. With her best friends, great tunes and a cool looking hat her Instagram shots are going to look A-Mazing!

Until suddenly glamping starts to feel a lot more like camping and Fiona’s in desperate search of a comfy chair, wi-fi and a chilled glass of wine. But when she finally makes it to the local pub she discovers this trip could be more than just a holiday, it might just change her life forever…

Fiona is a planner, she loves having a 5 year plan with her boyfriend Connor, she spends all her time saving, and planning to save etc... So a few days relaxing in the countryside doesn't fully appeal to her sense of structure. 

But when things go wrong at work, and she and Connor are barely having time to see each other any more. Her friends persuade her to go along with their bank holiday mini break, glamping, at a new-age festival. Which happens to be in the same town that Connor will be working at a music festival that same weekend. 

What you end up having is a hilarious novella, with a group of close friends, staying in yurts, making the best of their surreal circumstances. There are so many fun moments, and situations that make you laugh, it's brilliant. 

The setting of the festival sounded very picturesque, even if the journey to get there wasnt as simple as perhaps thought. 

Besides Fiona, and the handsome hero in the local pub who keeps being in the right place at the right time, my favourite character had to be Brian Harvey. In this case Brian Harvey is not the boyband star of the 90s, but actually a very cute dog, which is full of character and playfulness. 

I found Five Go Glamping to be a very entertaining book, just the right level of light heartedness. It's the sort of book that could cheer you up. Fantastic debut from Liz Tipping, and I'll be interested in seeing what she writes next. 

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

Thank you again to Carina for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for Five Go Glamping, it was my absolute pleasure to take part.