Book Review - Beneath the Surface by Heidi Perks

Amazon UK

Title: Beneath the Surface

Author: Heidi Perks

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: RedDoor Publishing

Publication Date: 24th March 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

I donʼt know where you are… 
I donʼt know what Iʼve done… 
Teenager Abigail Ryder is devastated when she gets home from school to find her family gone. 
Nothing makes sense. Things are missing from the house and her stepsistersʼ room is completely empty. But the police think sheʼs trouble, and when grandmother Eleanor tells her to forget them all and move on, thereʼs no choice other than face the future – alone. 
Fourteen years on, Abi and Adam are a happy couple on the verge of parenthood. But when the past comes back to haunt Abi, the only way forward is to go back and uncover the truth – and reveal the dreadful secrets a mother has been hiding all these years.

What sort of mother could possibly disappear one day, taking her twin toddler daughters with her, but leaving behind her teenager? What sort of grandmother tells the teenager to forget about her family and just to move on with life? And how does the teenager ever rebuild her life. 14 years later everything for this family is about to unravel and its a fascinating journey to discover the truth behind that day. 

Well that is what happened to Abigail and the chapters focusing on her story, are written as letters from Abigail to the lost love of her life, as she tries therapy and attempts to get to the bottom at last of what happened when she was younger. 

Then there is Kathryn who is the mother in question, and she has a questionable personality. As we learn about her childhood, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her in places, but yet as an adult I really disliked her. And Kathryn's mother Eleanor is just trouble. She is a woman whose top priority appears to be appearances and what other people would think. 

And then there are the twins, who are definitely the innocent party in all that went on in the past, but its interesting to see how those events have shaped them as teenagers, and just what sort of parent Kathryn has become. 

I was intrigued by the start as like Abigail I was wanting answers as to who could do that to her. I found the book gripped me early on so that I had no idea where abouts on my commute I was, and then as it proceeded I was loving the various twists, turns and secrets that were unveiled. This kept me on my toes and made me want to continue to turn the pages until I ran out of them. 

I found all the characters individually came across very realistically, but the storyline itself could be regarded as a bit far fetched, however when its that interesting, I don't really mind.  Beneath the Surface is an impressive debut novel, and one that I am very glad was brought to my attention. 

Thank you to Heidi Perks for supplying this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Happy Publication day to Heidi. Beneath the Surface is out today. 

Release Day Blitz - Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy by Laura Barnard

Release Blitz

Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy 

Release date: 23rd March 

Hosted by Two Ordinary Girls and their Books 

What is it about turning thirty that sends rational women into a tailspin?

Suddenly going from having all the time in the world, to cringing at the ticking of her biological clock, Poppy is drowning under the strain of trying to get pregnant.

With a dad in the throes of a mid-life crisis, a crazy mother-in-law and time racing towards Lilly's wedding, will she be able to cope with it all...and give Ryan the baby they so desperately want?

Finally able to inherit her dad's porn money, Jazz can't wait to be rich! She can buy a house in Chelsea, go out partying with her old mates and start living how she deserves.

But with Ollie, Jemima and Meryl each clawing at their own little piece of her happiness, will she have to leave behind those closest to her in exchange for it?

The real question is, can Poppy and Jazz rescue their own lives before everything gets ruined, or will their own stubbornness destroy the lives they've created

About Laura Barnard

Laura Barnard lives in Hertfordshire, UK and writes romantic comedy or 'chick lit' as its so often described. In her spare time she enjoys drinking her body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of her face and drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio.

She enjoys wearing yoga pants and reading fitness magazines while sitting on the sofa eating chocolate. She's a real fan of the power nap and of course READING!

She writes not to get rich or famous, but because she LOVES writing. Even if one person tells her they enjoyed her book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Buy Links 

UK - http://amzn.to/22rKbVv

US - http://amzn.com/B01CO08HW6

Book Review - Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel by Jane Costello

Amazon UK

Title: Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel

Author: Jane Costello

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied review copy

Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK

Publication Date: 24th March 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Learn to dance at The Moonlight Hotel, in the most romantic place in Britain…Beginners and singles welcome. 

The Moonlight Hotel sits on the shore of England’s best-loved lake, Windermere, exuding vintage glamour. And in its ballroom weekly dance classes promise evenings filled with music, friends and fancy(ish) footwork.

When Lauren agrees to sign up, it’s because she loves the building so much; it holds the key to her most precious childhood memories and she always dreamed of dancing the night away under its roof. Even her newly single friends Cate and Emily aren’t going for the men, they’re going for the fun – although a little romance wouldn’t hurt …

Then comes the news that the hotel has been sold to a faceless budget chain, which has devastating plans in store. And the revelation that marks the start of a chain of events – both on and off the dance floor – that puts the strength of their friendship to the ultimate test …

Put on your dancing shoes and escape to The Moonlight Hotel with Jane Costello, in her funniest, most uplifting and drama-packed novel yet. 

I've always been a fan of Jane Costello's books, and ever since seeing Summer Nights and the Moonlight Hotel announced, and the glorious cover reveal, my anticipation of reading it had been increasing, and I have to say I was not disappointed. Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel is a delight to read and has many surprising twists and turns as the three friend Lauren, Cate and Emily all try to find true love. 

Lauren is madly in love with fellow teacher, Edwin and when he breaks up with his girlfriend, and then announces he is moving to Singapore, Lauren realises she may have to finally make her move if she is to stand a chance. Lauren has also always wanted to visit Australia and is trying her hardest to save up for her trip of a lifetime. 

Her best friends Cate and Emily are both single and decide that the three of them should join a salsa class at the Moonlight Hotel, mainly for fun but if they happen to meet men then its a bonus. However the Moonlight Hotel has seen better days and then the hotel is sold and closed for renovations, and Lauren isn't too pleased with the new bosses plans for the hotel. 

The salsa classes become a big part of the girls social lives, and we meet all manner of colourful characters who are all learning to dance for various reasons. 

Keep you eyes open for the complete villain of the book Cate's ex boyfriend, as he really is a nasty piece of work, and I couldn't help but feel incredibly sorry for Cate at points. There are also some very sweet scenes in the classroom where Lauren is teaching, and I think one of the children found his way into my heart. 

I was engrossed in this book right from the first few pages, as Jane Costello tells her story in an easy to follow manner, and even with a large amount of characters, due to it all being from Lauren's viewpoint, I wasn't confused at all, which can sometimes happen in books such as this. 

Overall I loved every second of Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel, and there are some fabulous romantic gestures to look out for. 

Thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - All For You by Kristina O'Grady - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: All For You (The Copeland Ranch Trilogy, Book 3)

Author: Kristina O'Grady

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 4th March 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Is it time for a second chance at love?

When Lily left her home town – and the love of her life Wade – 8 years ago to start her acting career she had big plans to make her dream a reality. However, a few dead end jobs and one dead end relationship later she is back to make a fresh start with the only good thing to come out it all – her unborn baby.

Lily soon realises however that the heart wants what the heart wants, and hers clearly still wanted Wade Copeland! Can they overcome the hurt and pain of the past to allow themselves a future?

The third novel in the sizzlingly sexy Copeland Ranch romance trilogy from Kristina O'Grady

All For You is the third book of a trilogy, normally I wouldn't start a trilogy at book 3, but there was something about this that caught my eye about this release and I thought why not. Thankfully it is a standalone, although because of the common setting there were references to the first two books, but not in a way that I felt like I was missing huge parts of the story. 

Lily and Wade are both very likeable people, and from the moment they saw each other again after 8 years, the outcome was pretty much obvious. However its the story in between that I was interested in, as its all about the journey, and this has a good journey. 

Lily has arrived back in town after 8 years, as she is pregnant and can't stay with the father any longer. The problem is she has been lying about what her life is really like to those back home, so she has no idea what her reception will be, and she walked out on Wade too all those years ago. 

There is some clear sexual tension in this book, especially while Lily is in denial about her feelings.  However the will they, won't they aspect of the book does keep you interested as does Lily's best friend Charmaine and her brood of kids. Some of what the children get up to not only has Lily laughing hysterically but had me giggling too. 

I really liked the setting of Copeland Ranch, in Canada, and the road trip at the start of the book took in a very friendly diner that is what I would imagine a diner in that part of the world to be like. 

All For You was very enjoyable, and easy to read story, that felt a bit shorter than I was perhaps expecting it to be. I found it to be a fast read, and I loved the way Lily was referring to her unborn baby at times. 

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

About Kristina O'Grady:

Kristina O’Grady has always loved telling a good story. She took up writing at a young age and spent many hours – when she should have been doing her math homework – scribbling romance stories in a book she hid in her sock drawer.
She grew up on a cattle ranch in Western Canada and loves reminiscing by writing about cowboys and their horses.
In 2000 Kristina met her own knight in shining armour/cowboy who swept her off her feet and across the world to New Zealand, where she now lives on a sheep and beef farm with her amazingly supportive husband, three gorgeous young kids, seven working dogs and one very needy cat.

All for You is her fifth book.

Website: http://www.kristinaogrady.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KristinaOGrady

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8119512.Kristina_O_Grady

All For You Tour Giveaway

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Extract - Mean Sisters by Lindsay Emory - Blog Tour

Having really enjoyed Mean Sisters, I was happy to be selected for the blog tour. So today I'm sharing an extract from the book for your enjoyment. And if you missed it my review can be found here

Safely out of the cell, I turned and looked around the town’s police offices, disappointed by the lack of activity on a Monday night. No detectives were hustling perps out of interview rooms, no skankily dressed undercover cops drank bad coffee out of paper cups. Nope, it was just me and Hatfield, a few desks, some computers and a half-filled water cooler.

It was clear that life as a Sutton police officer was boring as heck. No wonder Hatfield didn't know what to do with me tonight. I was so outside his comfort zone.

‘Can I make my phone call now?’

Hatfield rolled his eyes. ‘You don't get a phone call.’

‘I know my rights.’

‘You're not under arrest.’ He paused, seeming a little uncomfortable. ‘You were accidentally transported here.’

For as long as I can remember, I have never been really, truly speechless. Accidentally transported to a holding cell? Of all the inept, low-rent, unprofessional, amateur-hour moves... I wanted to rail and rip this guy a new one. And remind him again that yes, I knew people and, yes, those people knew people that could maybe, potentially get him fired. But there had been a tragedy tonight and I needed information from Deputy Do-Right.

‘What comes next?’ I asked, ‘For Liza?’

‘Who?’ The exasperation on my face made him self-correct. ‘Oh, Liza. Liza McCarthy. Yes, she'll be checked out and released to her family.’

‘Checked out?’

‘For cause of death.’

‘I'd like to be there.’

‘For an autopsy?’ Hatfield asked, like no one had ever asked that before.

But that wasn't what I was asking. ‘No. To talk to her family.’

Hatfield frowned, deeply. ‘Who are you? Are you family?’

In a sense, yes. ‘She's my sister,’ I said simply. ‘Delta Betas are there for each other.’

Hatfield rubbed a hand over his face like he was super tired. It sounded like he mumbled something like, ‘mother of God,’ but that didn't really make sense.

I decided to spell it out for him. ‘Look, I know you don't get it. But like I said, there are a bunch of traumatised young women back at the chapter house. With Liza gone, I'm going to have to take responsibility for the chapter and I’d appreciate you respecting that.’

‘Right,’ he bit out. ‘And I'd appreciate you respecting the legal authority of this police department as we investigate this matter.’

Okay, fine. He had another decent point. I saw where he was going with that. A Delta Beta woman always respected the law. But as Hatfield drove me back to the Deb house, I wondered why he seemed to think there would be an ongoing investigation of Liza McCarthy's sudden stroke or heart attack.

After a death in the chapter room and a quasi-accidental arrest, my immediate response should have been to call back to Delta Beta headquarters in Atlanta. And I did that. Sort of. I called someone back at HQ, just not my immediate supervisor. Casey Kenner was the Delta Beta Director for public relations and my best friend at HQ.

The hoarse voice that answered told me I may not have called at the best time.

‘Do you know what time it is?’ The growling on the other end of the line was disconcerting.

I looked at my rose gold Michael Kors watch. It had been a present from the UCLA chapter after a particularly difficult semester, grade-wise. I had helped them institute a new study buddy system and regular study hours. After just a semester, the chapter had reached a C average. They had been thrilled. ‘It's not that late in my time zone.’

‘Girl, we’re in the same time zone. North Carolina and Georgia are practically neighbors.’

Love that Casey. Smart as a whip.

I briefly went over the events of the evening and, like I predicted, Casey was all over it since deaths and arrests were kind of sort of related to public relations. ‘You've been there half a day,’ Casey moaned.

‘And isn't it a good thing I was here!’ I exclaimed hotly, thanking Jesus that I was sent to the right place at the right time. ‘The chapter needs me, now more than ever.’

Casey yawned audibly over the phone. I didn't have the heart to point out the incredibly bad manners on display at two in the morning.

‘I have to call Mabel. She'll want an update, too, but I wanted to give you a heads up before things get crazy in the morning.’

‘Thanks.’ The word was a little flat, but like besties always did, Casey came around. ‘Do you need me? Are you okay?’

Once again, for the fifth or five hundredth time that day, my heart nearly burst with love for a true Delta Beta friend. ‘I think I'll be alright,’ I assured myself as much as my friend. ‘Thank you for asking.’

After I got off the phone with Casey, I called Mabel Donahue, the Vice-President of Collegiate Chapters. She also reminded me of the time, but as soon as I explained what was going on, she forgave me. When I told her I had already called Casey, she said that saved her a step. And then, because Mabel is a true Deb, smart and sharp even in the middle of the night, she asked me – ME! – to take over the Chapter Advisor position at Sutton College on a temporary basis, while the whole mess got sorted out.

It was a huge honour. I was not going to let my sisters down.

About Lindsay Emory

As a Texan and recovering sorority girl, Lindsay Emory has strong opinions on college football, nachos, and wearing white after Labor Day. Lindsay started writing when her first grade teacher put her in a closet and told her to write stories, instead of teaching her math. When she's not writing, she's raising two daughters, watching movies with her husband, and reading as many books as possible. She is an active member of the Dallas Area Romance Authors.

Lindsay Emory on Twitter

Book Review - Miss Wrong and Mr Right by Robert Bryndza - Rachel Reads Randomly Book #19

Amazon UK

Title: Miss Wrong and Mr Right

Author: Robert Bryndza

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Team Bryndza Books

Publication Date: 4th May 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Natalie Love has worked hard to have it all: she runs a successful theatre in Soho that's about to host one of Hollywood's leading stars. Her biggest supporter is her eccentric Hungarian Gran, and she even has the 'perfect' yoga teacher boyfriend - Namaste!

Life in the bright lights of London has always been Natalie's escape from her chaotic country family in rural Devon and Jamie, the childhood sweetheart she left at the altar 15 years ago. And then he turns up at her theatre door...

With rivalry clouding old feelings, events in Soho bring Jamie and Natalie together in hilarious ways. Gran is loose in the city once more, it seems to be raining sandwiches and records are broken for Burlesque flash mobs. If she can keep her world together, will Natalie discover who is really Mr Right, and that perhaps she isn't Miss Wrong?

From the prologue to the past page, I found myself smiling continually at the very witty Miss Wrong and Mr Right. Robert Bryndza brings a wonderful turn of phrase to some of this characters, and Natalie's Hungarian gran is a real tonic, and one of my favourite characters. 

Natalie's gran, is written with the Hungarian accent, and some of what she comes out with will have you laughing your head off. She certainly greatly entertained me. 

The other highlight and truly fabulous storyline was between Natalie and Jamie. She leaves him at the altar when they were just 19 years old, and now 15 years later, he sets up a pop up theatre opposite the theatre that Natalie is running. 

The publicity stunts that Jamie is running to get his pop up burlesque show into the public eye are imaginative, and the way that Natalie accidentally sabotages one and the subsequent retaliations are amusing and well thought out. 

And then there is the Hollywood hunk who is playing the lead in MacBeth the new show playing at Natalie's theatre, that has issues of his own, and attracts attention everywhere he goes. 

You know how celebrities sometimes have a habit of coming up with reasonably ridiculous names for their children? Well keep your eyes out for what Micky (Natalie's sister),'s children as they have to be the "best" selection of names I've ever seen! 

There are so many good and positive things to say about this book, but rather than spend ages gushing about how amazing and brilliant it it is, I would suggest you try it for yourself. Miss Wrong and Mr Right is an excellent romantic comedy, and proves to me just how good Robert Bryndza is at not just writing crime, but also comedy. The two books I have now read by him this year, are already moving this talented author into a must read for me. 

Thank you to everyone that selected Miss Wrong and Mr Right this week. It was a clear cut vote and I was delighted with the outcome. You all have amazing taste and I can't wait to see what you pick for me to read over Easter. 

Rachel Reads Randomly - Vote #20

 

Thank you everyone for your input last time. The results of the last vote were:

1 Vote - Hold the Dark by William Giraldi

2 Votes - The CEO Buys In (Wager of Hearts Book 1) by Nancy Harkness

2 Votes - That's Paris: An Anthology by Vicki Lesage

3 Votes -  Dead in the Water by Ann Granger 

8 Votes - Miss Wrong and Mr Right by Robert Bryndza 

Definite majority this week and I really enjoyed reading Miss Wrong and Mr Right so definitely a great result as far as I'm concerned. 

This week I am restricting the choice to a selection I like to call the Former Freebie! These are books that I originally picked up as Kindle freebies, but as I, when I do choose my own books, I tend to go for ones I paid for, these end up neglected on my kindle. A lot of these date back to when I first bought my kindle, and was downloading freebies continually. 

Below is initially my theory for this feature, and then a bit further, what you are all waiting for... This weeks's vote! Enjoy!

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. 

This weeks random numbers are...

And the books these numbers correspond to are...

So the 5 choices with my gut feeling responses are:

17 - One Glass Is Never Enough by Jane Wenham Jones - I read two books by this author many years ago, and then found this one as an Amazon freebie. Should be a romantic comedy

25 - Dad's Christmas Story by Julia Williams - Companion short story to last years Christmas book by Julia Williams

34 - Coconuts and Wonderbras by Lynda Renham- Picked up a handful of votes last time it appeared in this feature. Love the title of the book.

47 - Better Together by Nicola May - Always enjoy reading Nicola May, can't recall much about this book though

53 - The Not So Secret Emails Of Coco Pinchard (Coco Pinchard Series Book 1) by Robert Bryndza - So I've read one of his thrillers, last week you voted to let me read his standalone romantic comedy, this week the randomiser has decided to pull out book one of his Coco Pinchard series.  

Very intriguing selection this week. I genuinely wish I had the time to read all the books on it, but then I would never make any progress on my review piles. Please do have your say, as I love reading all the comments, as they keep me very entertained during the first half of the week at work. 

Pick your favourite or the one you most want me to review, or just the one you are curious about, 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.

The explanation if you haven't seen the feature before. 

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.

Book Review - What Happens in the Alps... by T.A. Williams

Amazon UK

Title: What Happens in the Alps

Author: T.A. Williams 

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina

Publication Date: 21st March 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

UP IN THE MAGICAL, SNOW-KISSED MOUNTAINS…

Two years ago, Annie Brewer’s life was turned upside down when her adrenaline-junkie husband died in a tragic climbing accident. So she’s hoping that moving to the beautiful village of Santorso in the Italian Alps will finally put her life back on track!

…ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!

She might be going into business with her oldest friend – notorious lady-charmer Matt Brown – but men are definitely out of the question for Annie! That is, until she bumps into tall, dark and delicious Alessandro Lago on the ski slopes…and spontaneously says ‘Yes’ to a date!

It must be the crisp, mountain air but suddenly, anything seems possible. The only trouble is, chivalrous Matt is looking more gorgeous than ever…

What Happens in the Alps is easily my favourite book of T.A. Williams' What Happens series and is definitely one of the best he has written.  From the first page I was drawn into the little village of Santorso in the Italian Alps and into Annie's life. 

Two years ago, Annie's husband died in a freak climbing accident, and she is only just starting to piece her own life together again. She has moved to Santorso in order to set up her own English Language school, and is adamant that she is not yet ready, nor looking for a man. 

However as is often the case when you aren't looking for something, two gorgeous men arrive on the scene, and into Annie's heart, as well as one four legged friend, and one slightly older gentleman who Annie sees as a surrogate grandfather type. 

Let's start with the four legged friend, Leo, who is a labrador who we first meet when he runs into a ski-er on one of the runs, and Annie comes to the rescue. However its Leo's next meeting with Annie that is particularly hilarious and memorable. 

There is also Alessandro Lago, whose father owns Leo, and is the owner of the new hotel in the resort. He has the deepest blue eyes and is a smooth talker, and talks Annie into a date. Matt returns to Annie's life, and was her husband's best friend. He is a womaniser, but with a heart of gold, and it is clear he really cares for Annie. 

I loved the setting of the Italian Alps for this story, as well as any time Annie went out for a meal, as food mentions in the restaurants were really getting my stomach rumbling. The various scenes of Annie's skiing were great and exhilarating and despite realistically knowing the sport isn't for me, I really wanted to be up there alongside her, experiencing the thrills. 

Annie is very loveable and easy to empathise with , and I found her clumsy streak to be quite endearing. Throughout the book I couldn't help but wonder at how comfortable I was with all the characters, and just how familiar the writing is, now that I have read so many of T.A. Williams' books. 

If you like snow, skiing, Italy, comedy, labradors or light romance then I would definitely take a look at What Happens in the Alps. Fantastic story by an entertaining author. 

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

Book Review - Bricking It by Nick Spalding

Amazon UK

Title: Bricking It

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 1st December 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

When siblings Dan and Hayley Daley inherit their late grandmother’s derelict Victorian farmhouse, it seems like a dream come true. All they have to do is fix the place up and sell it for a tidy profit!

Except—as anyone who has renovated an old house knows—things are never that easy.

The walls are rapidly crumbling around them, the architect is a certified lunatic, the budget is spiraling…and then there’s the disturbingly intelligent cow to worry about.

On top of all this, the renovation is being featured on a daytime reality TV show, and as soon as Great Locations presenter Gerard O’Keefe catches sight of Hayley’s first-floor balcony, he’s determined to woo her out of her ban on romance, whether she wants him to or not.

Will Dan and Hayley survive and sell up? Or will the whole thing collapse on them like a ton of bricks?

Bricking It is probably the funniest book I have ever read. I can't remember the last time a book had my laughing almost hysterically not just once during the story but twice (and both times I was reading in public too!). There is something about the writing of this story that has touched my funny bone and left me loving every second of the story. 

You know how they say if you are renovating a large property to expect the unexpected, well Dan and Hayley had both heard of the saying and still nothing could have prepared them for what would happen during their renovation journey.  

They hire an eccentric architect, and the builder they are using wouldn't sound out of place in Eastenders. In addition the presenter of a TV Home renovations show hears about what the siblings are trying to achieve with the property and decides to feature it throughout the latest series, including one live broadcast. 

Let's just say this group of people in a house together, with a live television broadcast, and expecting the unexpected still won't prepare you for just how insanely funny this scene is. 

I often reckon a pet with a bit of character can be a standout character in a story, and a special mention has to be made to the animal that sort of thinks this house is its home too. As you may be starting to gather, this is not your normal pet, how it gets to be upstairs in the house is still a mystery to me (and I'm sniggering in recollection of it). All I will say is the animal is named by Dan, and is called Pat. 

I never thought a book that is predominately about house building works, and the people that make up the project would have entertained me and kept me reading to the extent that it did. I am now determined to read more of Nick Spalding's books, as if this is his sense of humour then I know I'll enjoy them. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Guest Post - Catherine Miller's Waiting For You Book Launch

When I ended up with 15 bottles of wine, I knew it was a sign that I should launch my debut novel to the world in style. The only question was where? I could have held it at Southampton Central Library where I was author-in-residence last year, but the room they had available only held thirty and I wasn’t sure if that would allow enough space for what I had planned. So I contacted the fantastic Oasis Down to Earth Farm to see if it was possible to hold it there and IT WAS! 

The only problem was it wouldn’t be possible to serve the wine! That was fine by me as the idea of tea and cake at the farm seemed like a very memorable way to launch a book, but what to do with all the wine? (I know the obvious answer is drink it, but with twin toddlers I need my wits intact pretty much all the time.) Instead, the wine ended up as part of a raffle with all the proceeds from the event going to the farm.

I spent a nervous run up to the
event wondering if anyone was going to come and if they did, would there be enough cake? On the day it all went to plan and all the cake disappeared. There were crafts for the adults and children. The chance to explore the farm and the refreshments were enjoyed by everyone.

In Waiting for You, Fliss is an interior designer and she likes to turn her hand to different types of craft. In her garden there is a peacock mosaic table that she upcycled herself, so the adult craft was making a peacock mosaic with foam squares for the chance to win a bottle of prosecco. There was some very intense competition for that prize.

It was a little bit like having all my acknowledgements in one room: family and friends from all the different parts of my life along with new readers ready to discover Fliss’s story. Overall there were 66 ticket sales and the event raised over £300 for Oasis Down to Earth farm.

Would I do it again? Without a doubt. Everyone said they had a great time and enjoyed the launch. I just need a couple of months to lie down and recover from this one.

I've always enjoyed going to book launches, and I'm a bit envious that I didn't get to go to this one, as it looks like it was loads of fun. The photo of the cakes is makes my tongue tingle with anticipation. I'm glad that you had such a great party and that it looks as though everyone enjoyed themselves. 

Waiting For You

You’d never guess that Fliss Chapron doesn’t have it all

All Fliss wants is to see two blue lines telling her she is pregnant with her much longed for second baby. But as the negative tests stack up, dreams of completing her perfect family feel more hopeless every day.

After years of disappointment, Fliss’s husband Ben is spending more time at the office than in their marital bed, and Fliss finds herself wondering who could be responsible for their inability to conceive another child. Yet, where do you lay the blame when it comes to having a child – and can anyone really be at fault…

As Ben becomes increasingly distant, Fliss begins to question whether her desire for a baby is just a sticking plaster to save her marriage. Because in the end, how well can you ever know another person…even the man you’re married to?

About Catherine Miller

When I became a Mum to twins, I decided my hands weren't full enough so wrote a novel with every spare moment I managed to find. By the time the twins were two, I had a two-book deal with Carina UK. There is a possibility I have aged remarkably in that time. My debut novel, Waiting For You, is out now.

I was a NHS physiotherapist, but for health reasons (Uveitis and Sarcoidosis) I retired early from this career. As I loved my physiotherapy job, I decided if I couldn't do that I would pursue my writing dream. It took a few years and a couple of babies, but in 2015 I won the Katie Fforde bursary, was a finalist in the London Book Fair Write Stuff Competition and highly commended in Woman magazine's writing competition. Soon afterwards I signed with Carina. Soon after that, I collapsed in a heap and was eventually revived by chocolate.

Website -http://www.katylittlelady.com/ 

Twitter - https://twitter.com/katylittlelady