Book Review - It Started With A Secret by Jill Mansell - #HolidayReading Mexico - Blog Tour

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: It Started With a Secret

Author: Jill Mansell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Random Things Blog Tours

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 23rd January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

The trouble with secrets is that you can't guess what the consequences will be . . .

Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she's living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired - if far-from-retiring - actor and organising his charming but chaotic family. It's definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret.

At least Lainey isn't looking for love. It's time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor's grandson, really is rather attractive. There's growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn't been honest with him?

Lainey's not the only one with a secret, though. Seth has one of his own. And everything's about to start unravelling . . .

It is always a pleasure to sit down and read a brand new Jill Mansell book, and this was no exception. 

I was drawn into the story immediately, and couldn't help bu keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. 

The book returns to a familiar sounding area of Cornwall for Jill Mansell fans, St. Carys, which is made up of some bays that I definitely recall seeing as settings before. However if you have never read a book from the author don't fear it truly is 100% a standalone, I've never met any of these characters before. 

Lainey and Kit are good friends but pose as a couple to get a new job looking after a large family which includes a famous older relative, a single mother,  teenage twin girls, an 11 year old son and a gorgeous adult step brother - who need organisation, odd jobs and generally managing. 

I loved all the members of this family, some of which get far more of of a story than others, but I loved Richard and how he doesn't or does treat his fans!  And I loved Kit and Lainey for various reasons and actually well all of the characters . 

All had their upsides to them, well apart from some of the people Majella tries dating!

I loved every moment of this, including the couple of family secrets, the way Lainey is with everyone especially when helping Seth out on a couple of key occasions. 

A truly enjoyable story that only upset me because I reached the end and would have happily kept on reading for a lot longer. Means I'll probably ave to wait another year for the next book from one of my all time favourite authors, which is just far too long, but great stories do take time to write, so I'm happy to try to be patient!!

Thank you to Anne Cater for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Please follow along with the rest of the blog tour to hear more about this fabulous book

Book Review - Maybe This Time by Jill Mansell - Blog Tour

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Maybe This Time

Author: Jill Mansell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 24th January 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Mimi isn't looking for love when she spends a weekend in Goosebrook, the Cotswolds village her dad has moved to. And her first encounter with Cal, who lives there too, is nothing like a scene in a romantic movie - although she can't help noticing how charismatic he is. But Cal's in no position to be any more than a friend, and Mimi heads back to her busy London life.

When they meet again four years later, it's still not to be. Cal is focusing on his family, and Mimi on her career. Then Cal dives into a potentially perfect new romance whilst Mimi's busy fixing other people's relationships.

It seems as if something, or someone else, always gets in their way. Will it ever be the right time for both of them?

I spent a large majority of the book wondering if Mimi was ever going to get together with the man she blatantly has a massive crush on. After all her timings with him whenever they meet are always off.  Either there is another relationship, or they aren't even in the same country let alone anything else. 

However before we even get to that, we are introduced to Goosebrook in the Cotswolds with Mimi attempting to visit her dad there for the first time, and not realising just how rural it would be.   The first few chapters are her first visits to the village and her getting to know in passing the various locals. 

In fact there is quite a bit of drama in the first quarter of the book, and it sets the rest of the story up really nicely. 

What I loved was for a period of time Mimi was working in Puerto Pollensa in Mallorca. I lived there for a few months 9 years ago, and since that time I have barely ever heard the town mentioned anywhere ever, so imagine my shock to see a second mention of it in two weeks for me already this year.  

From what I recall of the town, Jill's descriptions match up, I recall the big square, and also the Wednesday market, as I had to walk past it to get the bus to work.  It all really rang true to me, and I enjoyed Mimi working for CJ the big thriller writer.  

I really enjoyed this latest book from one of my auto read, drop everything for authors and although I found this to be a very enjoyable book, I thought it was missing perhaps a spark that some of her others recently have had.  It's still a very good story, great writing,  and I was always keen to return to the book to see what happened next.  

Maybe This Time left me with a smile on my face, but not before giving you assorted highs and lows, some real depth to some of the characters, and some fabulous settings.  

Thank you to Headline and Anne Cater for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Please do follow along with the rest of the stops on this blog tour

Book Review - This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell - Blog Tour

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: This Could Change Everything

Author: Jill Mansell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 12th July 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

On the one hand, if Essie hadn't written that letter - the one that only her best friend was meant to see - then she'd still be living like an actual proper grown-up, tucked up with Paul in his picture-perfect cottage, maybe even planning their wedding...

On the other hand (if her true feelings hadn't accidentally taken the internet by storm, that is) she wouldn't have moved into the attic flat on the square. She would never have met Conor. Or got to know Lucas...

And she wouldn't have found herself falling in love with someone she really, really shouldn't fall in love with...

Easily this is Jill Mansell at her uplifting and heartwarming book, in this tale of fate and chance.  As it is a series of chance meetings and incidents that leads to Conor, Zillah and Essie all sharing a house, and Essie meeting Lucas. 

And its thanks to Zillah's enigmatic personality that you realise what a special lady she is.  Yes I know the blurb may imply that Essie is the main character but to me Zillah is the heart and soul of this book. 

She in her 80s, and is prone to random unexpected acts of kindness to complete strangers and also organises last wishes for people with not long left to live in the local hospice.  By trying to re-create their happiest day of their lives. 

If only there were more people like her in real life, the world would be a far better place.  In the opening chapter I was instantly drawn to her, without knowing why in one of the more unlikely opening chapters I have read. 

Essie's introduction, with her best friend Scarlett is just as memorable and leads of Essie being plastered all over the media after an email she had written ended up being sent to everyone.   It lead to her life changing and at the time not for the better.  

Scarlett is a breath of fresh air, and we continually discover she has hidden depths about her, and I found myself amused by her and loving her more and more as the book progresses. 

Connor lives in Percival Square with Zillah, and it is the section where we learn what lead to him changing his life and career, which shows what a lovely gentleman he is.   

There are many storylines that keep your interest all wrapped up in Jill Mansell's wonderful ability to tell a story, to draw you in and keep you entertained.  This a book that could make you think, as so much of the story focuses on actions and their effects on others for the best or worst.   

All the characters are really believable and there are some really slow burning romances in here. All the back stories are interesting, and overall it is just a wonderful book. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jill Mansell is the author of over twenty Sunday Times bestsellers including THE ONE YOU REALLY WANT, TO THE MOON AND BACK, YOU AND ME, ALWAYS and MEET ME AT BEACHCOMBER BAY. TAKE A CHANCE ON ME won the RNA's Romantic Comedy Prize, and in 2015 the RNA presented Jill with an outstanding achievement award.

Jill's personal favourite amongst her novels is THREE AMAZING THINGS ABOUT YOU, which is about cystic fibrosis and organ donation; to her great delight, many people have joined the organ donor register as a direct result of reading this novel.

Jill started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after she read a magazine article that inspired her to join a local creative writing class. Her first book was published in 1991 and she is now a full-time novelist. She is one of the few who still write their books by hand, like a leftover from the dark ages. She lives in Bristol with her family.

Jill keeps in touch with her readers on Twitter - @JillMansell - and Facebook - /OfficialJillMansell. You can also visit her website http://www.jillmansell.co.uk/.

Don't forget to follow all the other blogs on this tour for more Jill Mansell greatness! 

Book Review - Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay by Jill Mansell

Amazon UK

Title: Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay

Author: Jill Mansell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 12th January 2017

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Love is in the air in St Carys, but you'd never know it - the people of this seaside town are very good at keeping secrets...

The man Clemency loves belongs to someone else. She has to hide her true feelings - but when she ropes in an unsuspecting friend to help, wires start to get crossed.

For the first time in Ronan's life his charm has failed him in winning over the woman he wants. Loving her from afar appears to be his only option.

Belle seems to have the perfect boyfriend, but something isn't quite right. And now a long-buried secret is slowly rising to the surface.

The truth has a funny way of revealing itself, and when it does St Carys will be a very different place indeed...

Three different main characters, all of them just wanting to meet their true love. In at least two of their situations they may have already met the person already, but circumstances are conspiring against them. When you then add in a fake relationship, a few huge life altering announcements from some of the characters, and a gorgeous beachside location, you know you have all the makings of a classic Jill Mansell book. Which is of course what Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay is. 

Clemency and Belle are step sisters, that have a long standing pact in place to never go after the same man, Belle also used to have a crush on Ronan, but Ronan is struggling to get the woman he really wants, so is happy to fall into a fake relationship with Clemency, when Belle reappears in Cornwall, with her new boyfriend Sam. Oh and Sam and Clemency have met before, not that either of them are willing to tell Belle that. 

That is just the beginning of what happens in this wonderful story where the deep hidden secrets are revealed at a steady pace, and just as you start to get used to whatever the new normal is, something else happens and your mind is blown a bit more. 

All the while, the book is written in Jill Mansell's typical warm hearted, entertaining style, which is quick and easy to read, and draws you into the the story, until you don't want to leave it. I loved getting to know the various people, as well as in Ronan's case his whole family. 

I loved the whole story, and although Belle is a bit tricky to really get to know, and I did guess part way through what it was she may be hiding, there is a point where you can really understand her properly, which was good. Clemency is a lovely person, who seems quite content in her life, and although she is present in a large amount of the book, she seems to be more a supporting sort of person, than star.  

Whereas Ronan I think I was just a bit in love with, and all of his actions were of someone who is a fabulous friend, but also madly in love with someone else. He is also one of the main male characters, the other being the dashing Sam, who I also fell just slightly in love with. They are both fictionally perfect men, who deserve true love. 

This isn't my favourite Jill Mansell book of all time, but its definitely a fantastic story, and will give you a good fix of Jill Mansell's talented writing, great descriptions, and the all around good sense of warmth I always get when I read one of her books. 

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

My Eventful January

One of the perks of book blogging, is being invited to various events, where you can meet and talk to authors that you admire, and also to meet up with your blogging friends, who you may otherwise only talk to online.

Since around September I have been lucky enough to get invites to occasional book launches and parties, all of which I have enjoyed... but if my January is any indicator of the year ahead, then 2016 is going to be an absolutely brilliant year.

I don't generally blog about the events, mainly as I don't want to spend the evening either making notes, or trying to remember everything to tell you all about, I just want to enjoy every last minute. Most of the time I don't even remember to take my own camera, or take my own photos, as I'm so caught up talking.  (On that note, the pictures I'm about to display, I really hope those lovely people that took them, of me, don't mind their usage on here).

Date: Friday 8th January 2016
Location: Avon HQ, London
Event: Afternoon Tea with Claudia Carroll

With Claudia Carroll

I was on holiday when I was invited to an exclusive afternoon tea with Claudia Carroll. I have been reading Claudia's books for many years now, so the second I had a stable enough wifi connection, I had replied saying I would be delighted to attend. What I didn't expect was when they said exclusive, it was myself, Laura (from Laura's Little Book Blog) and Heidi (Cosmochicklitan), and a large amount of the Avon team, a lot of whom I have talked to online before.

Claudia Carroll (centre), Heidi (right) and Me

They put on the most magnificent afternoon tea for us, complete with sandwiches, mini chocolate eclairs, scones (with clotted cream and jan), mini tarts etc... In fact there was far more food than we were ever going to eat.

I was sitting next to Claudia, who is incredibly down to earth, and a pleasure to talk to, and was hearing all about her holiday to Mexico over Christmas, and just had an amazing afternoon. Even left with a lovely signed copy of Meet Me in Manhattan, which I had reviewed over Christmas, and will treasure.




Date: Saturday 23rd January 2016
Location: Bacchus Bar, Birmingham
Event: Blogger / Author Meet Up

C.L Taylor (Left), Mel Sharrat (centre), Christie Barlow (right)
& Me (front centre as I'm short)

This was the second blogger/author meetup that I had attended, both in Birmingham and organised by Kim Nash. If you are an author or blogger you are more than welcome to attend these events, that Kim appears to be organising regularly, and they are a fabulous way to meet and chat with large amounts of people that clearly all have at least one love in common..of books.

Having enjoyed the one in November, I wasn't too nervous at walking into the bar myself, instantly found those that were there already, and within perhaps 30 mins the area was packed, with more people than I was ever going to have a chance to talk to.

Aimee Horton and me!

There were many people that I spent a length of time talking to either, that I had met previously or for the first time. Amongst the authors were Christie Barlow (I promise I will read your new book very soon),C.L. Taylor (author of The Lie), Sheryl Browne (who has appeared on the blog quite a few times in recent weeks), Linn B Halton (she's an angel, and gifted me a copy of Falling Angels Among Us - so thank you). Aimee Horton (easily one of the most lovely people I have ever met), Sue Moorcroft (I've been a long time admirer of her books), Phillipa Ashley (I really need to read some of Phillipa's books especially after meeting her), Alison May (fab Choc Lit author), Elaine Spires (who has written a fabulous trilogy about Singles on holidays) and Holly Martin (who its always a pleasure to meet).

With Shell Baker

I also had the great pleasure to met up with some of my blogging friends, including Noelle, Sharon, Linda Hill, Bookaholic Holly, Shell Baker.

There was food, and drink, and lots of fun and laughter and an amazing afternoon of fun was had by all. Just remind me next time not to book a train back home full of drunken noisy football fans and police presence!



Date: Thursday 28th January 2016
Location: Headline Offices
Event: Jill Mansell Launch Party

I met Jill Mansell!

The second I saw on twitter that other bloggers were mentioning that there was a Jill Mansell launch party, and to attend all you needed to do was purchase a ticket, I knew I would be going (and thankfully I was free).

I have been reading Jill Mansell's books from the second I graduated from reading mass Mills & Boon books, to full thickness, grown up books, and have read all of her books. I don't think there is a Jill Mansell book that I haven't loved, so knew I was going to be a bit on the over awed side at being in a room with one of my favourite all time authors.

What I didn't realise until I was there, was that Jill wasn't going to be the only author I was going to go all fan girly on last night.

View of London, from the huge roof top terrace

But before the main mingling, there was an entertaining interview, between Claire Frost, and Jill. From the interview we hear about Jill's love of writing her novels in long hand, for her daughter, Lydia, to type up, even for one book, Jill was taking photos on the ipad of her words, to email her daughter who was living in France for the year. Now that is either dedication, sheer genius or madness! We also hear about Jill's love of ebay, stationery and that she really doesn't like the being asked what her book is about!

I met Jenny Colgan!

After the interview, we were then invited to stay for the more party bit of the evening, so after queueing for a while to get my nice shiny new hardcover of You and Me, Always signed, I joined a huddle of bloggers that I knew. Just from listening to them, I started to realise just what a good party this was going to be, as they were recognising a lot of the other guests.

Of the authors I was aware of being there that I didn't get a chance to talk to, either through shyness, or not having a clue until later of their presence, were Jojo Moyes, Chrissie Manby, Holly Hepburn, Brigid Coady, Miranda Dickinson and Lucy Robinson. 

I met Katie Fforde

However, once I got over some nerves, and I did meet some other absolutely amazing authors, including Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan, Rowan Coleman, Julie Cohen, Jo Thomas, Liz Fenwick (who introduced me to Jenny), Janet Gover (who introduced me to Jo Thomas), Katie Fforde, Fanny Blake, Jane Wenham Jones, Bella Osbourne, Sue Moorcroft, Phillipa Ashley and Alison May.

Jane Wenham-Jones (Left),
Jo Thomas (Right)

The last few of those had of course also been at Birmingham just
days before. If anyone had told me that I would meet Jill Mansell, Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan and Katie Fforde all at one event, with them all being easily classed amongst my favourite all time authors, I would not have believed them.

Bloggers with Carole Matthews

It was also great to again meet up with a large amount of bloggers that had made the effort to come along, including Laura, Sharon, Paris , Sophie, Julie Williams, Julie Boon, Karen Cocking, Anne Williams and Gingercat.

What amazed me was how many of these fabulous women had given up their time to celebrate with Jill, and just how happy they were to talk with fans, even though it wasn't their own event.

All I can say is about 24 hours later I am still buzzing from the most amazing book launch party ever. Thank you so much to the whole of the Headline team, for putting on a such a wonderful event, and if this is the start of 2016, 

Bring on the rest of the year!

Book Review - You and Me, Always by Jill Mansell

Amazon UK

Title: You and Me, Always

Author: Jill Mansell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Reviewer

Publication Date: 28th January 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

On the morning of Lily's twenty-fifth birthday, it's time to open the very last letter written to her by her beloved mother, who died when she was eight.

Learning more about the first and only real love of her mum's life is a revelation. On the same day, Lily also meets Eddie Tessler, a man fleeing fame who just might have the ability to change her world in unimaginable ways. But her childhood friend Dan has his own reasons for not wanting Lily to get too carried away by Eddie's attentions.

Before long, secrets begin to emerge and Lily's friends and family become involved. In the beautiful Cotswold village of Stanton Langley, nothing will ever be the same again...

I have been a huge fan of Jill Mansell for far more years than I care to count, and I am so glad that I am. Pretty much every single book she releases is brilliant, and You and Me, Always is no exception,. 

As You and Me, Always started I was a slightly apprehensive that it would be a very sad book (which isn't what I was in the mood for), but it couldn't have been any further from that. It is a wonderful romantic comedy, the key elements of it come into play on Lily's 25th birthday. 

Each year on her birthday, she gets a letter from her mother, who passed away when she was only eight years old. This years letter is the last one, and with it there is a present and her mother talks about her first love. 

From this letter we get a great introduction to the main characters who feature in the book, and on the same day Lily meets a famous actor, who is hiding out in her friend's cottage. Dan however doesn't like Eddie (the star), and tries to put Lily off. 

We get to see all of Patsy's disastrous online dating efforts, watch out for a moment on a tandem bike, and also discover Coral starting to feel a bit more ready to start dating again, two years after the death of her husband.  

There are many close knit friendships that was get to observe in the village of Stanton Langley, and some of the surrounding area is stunning.  I loved seeing what was going on in the village and the way the characters clearly care about each other. 

You and Me, Always was a pleasure to read, and I loved every second of it. It is a great introduction to Jill Mansell's books if you have never read any of them before. 

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

Happy Publication day to Jill Mansell. You and Me, Always is out today, in ebook and hardcover.