Book Review - Costa Del Churros by Isabella May

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Amazon UK

Title: Costa del Churros

Author: Isabella May

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Ebook 

Publisher: Crooked Cat Books

Publication Date: 19th September 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

The rain in Spain doesn't mainly fall on the plain…

Brits abroad Belinda, Julia, Laura and Georgina need more than the sweetness of churros with chocolate dipping sauce to save them from their unsavoury states of affairs.

Cue Carmen Maria Abril de la Fuente Ferrera, the town's flamboyant flamenco teacher! But can she really be the answer to their prayers?

One thing's for sure: the Costa del Sol will never be the same again.

I think I may just have a craving for Churros after reading this, although I have less desire to go live on the Costa Del Sol, having seen what life is like there, warts and all. 

The story centres around the lives of 4 women, who on meeting them for the first time I wasn't really sure how much I would like the book as they didn't seem that relateable too. 

However as the story progressed all four of them grew on me significantly especially after we find out what really made them all tick, and what they are struggling with in their lives, for none of them are living the dream that it appears they may be. 

It takes a flamenco class run by Carmen to cement the ladies friendships and with Carmen's interesting take on flamenco lessons, they all learn a whole lot more besides.  I'm not a huge fan of flamenco, so was loving the way it was portrayed in this book - more to do with the philosophies behind it, than too much of the specifics.  For Carmen is a rather different sort of instructor, but fabulous with it. 

You definitely get a good glimpse at the life of an ex-pat in the Costas,  at the privilege or not that people live in.   What I would say is appearances can really be deceiving, but I did grow to enjoy all elements of this book. 

In fact I read it in two sittings, and when I wasn't reading I was thinking about the characters.   This was for me  a bit of a slow burner, but once I was used to the characters, I found myself whizzing through the pages completely gripped in the various storylines. 

This is the first book I have read by it certainly won't be my last, I have the others already on my kindle waiting to be read.  I really did enjoy Costa del Churros and think that if you enjoy books with multiple view points, many characters and their families, excellent writing and storytelling then this is definitely a book worth considering. 

Thank you to Isabella May for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Author Spotlight on Isabella May - Blog Tour

Today I have an interview between Emma Mitchell from EmmaTheLittleBookworm and Isabella May, author of The Cocktail Bar.   Enjoy!

Years Ago – what was your childhood like? 

School

I went to a fabulous village primary school and I think this was the best start my parents could have given me in so many ways. Everything about it was quite Enid Blyton and lovely. I have nothing but happy memories of the friends I made there, the teachers and the lessons. 

Unfortunately, high school was more than peppered with bullying, but I am eternally grateful all the same. The lessons learned there amongst my peers fuelled a determination to succeed, which may never have happened had I been a popular, beautiful, un-kooky kid. Nevertheless, I did pretty well academically, although my shyness meant I was never really on any of the teachers’ radars.
Friends

I always hung out with the unconventional ones and we had The Best Fun!

Family

All of my family memories are a vast swirl of hygge-like happiness… marred only by the odd recollection of Santa bringing my sister the Barbie and me the Sindy – grr.

Are you married? 

Yes, nine years ago I married my lovely husband in a whirlwind, fun-packed day at Cheltenham’s Pittville Park surrounded by our family and friends. Lucky him!

Children?

I have three children. A ten year old (going on thirteen year old) daughter, who shares many of my characteristics, a seven year old son, who is super laid back and balances us all out. And then there is my beloved baby daughter who was born sleeping nine years ago. But I will always be mum to three children, whether they are all with me, here in the physical, or not. 

Pets?

Unfortunately not. Life is so busy with two young children, and I know from my own bunny-obsessed childhood, it’s rarely the kids who do the cleaning out and feeding…

Work

What did you do before you became a writer (if you are a full-time writer that is!) What other job do you have now? 

Before I became a full-time writer I ran a part-time, boutique Literary Agency… before that I worked in children’s publishing for over a decade. My whole working life to date has definitely been about books in one form or another!

But nowadays I am 100% an author… This opportunity doesn’t come along every day and so I intend to embrace it wholeheartedly.

Hobbies

Other than writing, what else you love? 

Travel, travel and more travel. But hey, I also love baking, reading, cocktailing and trampoline jogging to high vibe music (the latter has kind of tailed off over Christmas, I must confess!). 
Law of Attraction is another big area of fascination. I can spend days getting lost in books and teachings on the many tangents of this subject. I am also a Level 3 Pranic Healer. It’s a super empowering form of energy healing which works alongside medicine, but also blows the mind (in a good way)!

Future

What plans do you have for your writing? 

I have a list of future potential novels as long as my arm… but one day at a time. I think so often we get wrapped up in the destination, but actually, it’s the journey that’s the most thrilling part. And I plan to stay on this writing journey for quite a while, drinking in some *hopefully* pretty amazing views!

Work? 

See, I don’t think of any of this writing game as work (even the marketing side of things). For me it feels like play. And that’s how I know it’s the right path. I just intend to keep doing what I do creatively until the ideas run out…

Family? 

There are heaps of places I would love to go back to with my family, to see that place afresh, from a totally different perspective. But I think that the most important thing for any family is to try to get the work/life balance right. I think we have it sussed.

Bucket list? 

I’ve never been the world’s greatest fan of this term… but I DO love the idea of putting travel at the top of any list, preferably to somewhere where they serve up fabulous cocktails and cake.

Amazon UK

Rock star, River Jackson, is back in his hometown of Glastonbury to open a cocktail bar… and the locals aren’t impressed.

Seductive Georgina is proving too hot to handle; band mate, Angelic Alice, is messing with his heart and his head; his mum is a hippie-dippy liability; his school friends have resorted to violence – oh, and his band manager, Lennie, AND the media are on his trail.

But River is armed with a magical Mexican elixir which will change the lives of the Three Chosen Ones. Once the Mexican wave of joy takes a hold of the town, he’s glad he didn’t lose his proverbial bottle.

Pity he hasn’t taken better care of the real one…

About Isabella May

Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalucia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the sea and the mountains. When she isn’t having her cake and eating it, sampling a new cocktail on the beach, or ferrying her children to and from after school activities, she can usually be found writing.

As a Co-founder and a former contributing writer for the popular online women’s magazine, The Glass House Girls - www.theglasshousegirls.com - she has also been lucky enough to subject the digital world to her other favourite pastimes, travel, the Law of Attraction, and Prince (The Purple One).

She has recently become a Book Fairy, and is having lots of fun with her imaginative 'drops'!

Oh! What a Pavlova is her debut novel... and her second novel has already been submitted to her publishers: watch this space...

Guest Post & Giveaway - Take a look at Jennifer Wilson's Chance - Chances Fortnight

Hi Rachel, and thank you for inviting me to join your blog today.

I’m not always good at taking chances. I’m a bit of a ‘stay safe’ sort of person, but in late 2014, I decided to give chances a go, and threw my name in the hat for a Very Important Ballot. Very important to me, at any rate.

I am a Ricardian. That is, I am a supporter of King Richard III of England, and, I confess, this has sometimes edged just slightly into obsession.

It’s an odd thing to ‘lose’ a King of England, but for over 500 years, that’s what had happened to Richard, after his defeat and hurried, undignified burial in Greyfriars Priory Church at Leicester, following the Battle of Bosworth. People knew where the church had been, but with centuries of building and development, the site of the actual burial had been lost, until a campaign led to an archaeological dig in 2012.

I was hooked to the press conference on 4^th February 2013, when they announced that a skeleton discovered the previous September was indeed that of Richard III. The scene was set for a magnificent reburial, with plans finally announced that the location would be Leicester Cathedral.

And so to that chance in December 2014. A ballot was announced, giving 600 ordinary people the chance to be part of the three services which formed the reburial week. How could I not take part? I just wanted to say I had been part of it, and fast forward to January 2015, when the gold-rimmed envelope appeared in my letterbox, I just assumed it was to tell me I hadn’t been successful. On reflection, opening said envelope on the busy Metro during my morning commute wasn’t the smartest idea… I was invited to Compline! Ok, so I had to instantly Google Compline to check what it actually was, but in that moment, I didn’t honestly care – I was off to Leicester!

The weekend of 21/22 March 2015 was magical for me. A Saturday of lectures, then on the Sunday, the official unveiling of Richard’s coffin, following his hearse along the first part of his journey, then sitting in the cathedral (front row!), watching that same coffin being carried in for the first time. Filtering past it at the end of the service is something I’ll never forget.

It was an inspiring day, and later that evening, sat in the Travelodge (apparently built on the site of the inn where Richard spent his final night before travelling to Bosworth), I started scribbling, and by the end of the night I had three poems (none particularly great, but never mind), and finally, the motivation to finish editing the draft novel I had completed during the previous November’s NaNoWriMo.

Within the month, it was finished, polished and preened, and then came another decision to take a chance. To submit, or not to submit – that was the question. My mum provided the answer, advising me, kindly, to “stop faffing about and submit it.” So I did. To the wonderful Crooked Cat Books, and in October 2015, only six months after sitting in Leicester Cathedral, there was my debut novel, up on Amazon, for all the world to see (and, hopefully, buy!).

Two chances, which I am so glad I took, mainly because they made me a heck of a lot braver and willing to take more.

And the latest? Hitting ‘send’ and submitting what has since become my second novel, due for release in June 2017.

Giveaway to Win an e-copy of Kindred Spirits: Tower of London (Open Internationally)
Jennifer Wilson is very kindly giving my followers a chance to win an e-copy of Kindred Spirits: Tower of London

Giveaway open internationally, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 13/06/2017. 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 an e-copy of Kindred Spirits: Tower of London (Open Internationally)

About Jennifer

Jennifer is a marine biologist by training, who spent much of her childhood stalking Mary, Queen of Scots (initially accidentally, but then with intention). She completed her BSc and MSc at the University of Hull, and has worked as a marine environmental consulting since graduating. Enrolling on an adult education workshop on her return to the north-east reignited Jennifer’s pastime of creative writing, and she has been filling notebooks ever since. In 2014, Jennifer won the Story Tyne short story competition, and also continues to develop her poetic voice, reading at a number of events, and with several pieces available online. She is also part of The Next Page, running workshops and other literary events in North Tyneside.

Jennifer’s debut novel, Kindred Spirits: Tower of London, was released by Crooked Cat Books in October 2015, and Kindred Spirits: Royal Mile is coming June 2017. She can be found online at her blog, on Twitter and Facebook, as well as at The Next Page’s blog. 

Promo Post - Dougal's Diary by Sarah Stephenson - Blog Tour

Genre: a dog tale/ humour

Release Date: 14th Jan 2016

Publisher:  Crooked Cat Publishing

Has he chosen well and landed on his paws? Dougal the Labradoodle puppy, a complete hypochondriac and Boris Johnson’s No1 fan, arrives in Greenwich with great expectations.

He longs to travel the world on Virgin Atlantic, dine at royal banquets and become; either a superstar and party the night away or work as a doorman at the Savoy.

Behaviour classes were never on his wish list, neither were cliff-hanging experiences on the Thames, booze cruises to Calais or obsessions for eating socks.

Can he survive life with a chaotic owner and her eccentric friends? Can he deal with his jealousy when a foster puppy comes to stay? And as for his dreams, will they ever come true?

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

ABOUT SARAH STEPHENSON

Sarah, who grew up in Bristol, now lives in South East London with two dogs, the occasional grandchild and a lot of mess. She’s had a chequered career as ballet dancer, cook, cleaning lady, salesgirl of outsize underwear in Littlewoods and actor. As an actor she worked mostly in the theatre: plays ranging from Shakespeare to improvised, both comedy and tragedy.

Cooking combines two of her passions; travel and people. She’s catered on barges in Burgundy, private houses in America, many stately homes in England, run a delicatessen, a stall in a farmer’s market and been a judge on the Great Taste Food Awards. Good opportunities for hearing about the lives of others.

Her need to write began with letters; sending home news of her adventures. At seventeen: travelling alone on the Trans-Siberian Railway and across the Sea of Japan. In Greece as a drama student, when the van blew up at the Springs of Daphne and they explored the mainland, riding on bread vans and tractors before selling their blood for a fiver and hitch-hiking home on a lorry. Or in Morocco on a solo trip, in pre-mobile phone days, when she was chucked off a bus in the desert and found herself surrounded by hundreds of camels and similar numbers of men, all in local dress.

Since then Sarah hasn’t stopped scribbling and joining the Write Place, a writing class in Dartford, encouraged her to put the contents of numerous exercise books into something more concrete.
These days Sarah chooses less adventurous holidays but might well send one of her characters off on a trek she doesn’t feel brave enough to make.

Dougal’s Diary is Sarah’s first book.

Facebook: Sarah www.facebook.com/Sarah Stephenson798

Dougal: www.facebook.com/dougal.stephenson

Twitter: Sarah: @SvsStephenson

Dougal : @DougalDiary

Blog: dougaldogsdiary.blogspot.co.uk

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