Month: December 2016

Review: I Take You by Eliza Kennedy 

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: May 24, 2016

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Genre: Chick Lit 

Blurb: 

Meet Lily Wilder: New Yorker, lawyer extraordinaire, blushing bride. And totally incapable of being faithful to one man.


Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and has no business getting married. Lily likes Will, but does she love him? Will loves Lily, but does he know her? As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet.


Unapologetically sexy with the ribald humor of Bridesmaids, this joyously provocative debut introduces a self-assured protagonist you won’t soon forget. 

Review: 

My initial impression after reading only a few pages of this book was that I was going to hate it. Lily is engaged and getting married in one week and cheats on her fiancé, Will constantly. Soon enough I was surprised because I had fallen under Lily’s spell, much like most of the men that she meets. She’s charming, self effacing, bold, and unapologetic. I definitely do not condone her appalling behavior, cheating sucks no matter how much you dress it up and make it look pretty. But I found that I didn’t have to agree with her actions to enjoy her story.

As if Lily isn’t outrageous enough, the supporting cast of characters puts her to shame. Her best friend Freddy is smart and hilarious and the dialogue between the two was sarcastic and snappy. They are WILD and are always down to party. Sex is fun for them and they are unashamed. Will is a somewhat nerdy goofball, but his quirks made him pretty interesting. Then there is Lily’s family; her father has been married five times and is a lovable lothario, her mother and her two stepmothers are oddly close, even though they have been through hell and back, and her grandma is also a lawyer and a meddling old lady. They are all delightfully wicked and up to no good, it’s no wonder where Lily gets it from.

This is not a book to take seriously, it’s a playful romp, however it does touch on some interesting social issues. There’s talk of the double standard between men and women, mainly regarding sex. Why are women who are promiscuous labeled in a derogatory manner while men are considered casanovas? It also touches on monogamy, and feminism. Often it is also brash and vulgar, so it definitely won’t be for everyone, but if you can handle strong language and some sexiness, you may like this one. I am clearly in the minority here though as the average rating on Goodreads is very low. But despite my initial hesitations, I did warm to Lily and crew and appreciated the refreshing take on a standard Chick Lit heroine. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Crown Publishing and Blogging For Books for my review copy. 

Review: You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott

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Release date: July 26, 2016

Publisher: Little Brown

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

Katie and Eric Knox have dedicated their lives to their fifteen-year-old daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful. But when a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community just weeks before an all-important competition, everything the Knoxes have worked so hard for feels suddenly at risk. As rumors swirl among the other parents, revealing hidden plots and allegiances, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself drawn, irresistibly, to the crime itself, and the dark corners it threatens to illuminate. From a writer with “exceptional gifts for making nerves jangle and skin crawl,” (Janet Maslin) You Will Know Me is a breathless rollercoaster of a novel about the desperate limits of desire, jealousy, and ambition. 

Review: 

Much like Abbott’s previous novel, Dare Me this book explores the world of teenage girls, but this time instead of cheerleading, it’s the cutthroat world of gymnastics. I’ve always been totally intrigued by gymnastics, though it’s nothing I’ve ever attempted myself, and though I thought I knew just how brutal this industry can be, You Will Know Me was an real eye opener for me. 

Katie and Eric’s daughter, Devon is the rare type of gymnast that only comes along once in awhile. She could be an Olympian one day and her parents have dedicated their entire lives to ensure her success. Things are told from Katie’s point of view, which is a bit different for Abbott, but for the most part I liked this approach. The strain and pressure that Devon is under to be such an elite athlete is crazy, but her parents are bearing the weight of the world on their shoulders as well. There is a heavy financial strain, countless hours lost driving to practice and meets, fellow parents that are intense and jealous, and the worst part of all (for me at least) is that Devon’s younger brother, Drew is pretty much forgotten about. 

My favorite part of this book was the look into this insane world. The families at the gym Devon is a part of were morbidly fascinating. Everyone is very close, it’s a tight knit community, but at the same time everyone is uber competitive. You have families that are literally sacrificing everything for their daughters, at any and every expense you can dream of. When someone closely related to the gym is killed, things ramp up even more and the tension is palpable.

The mystery aspect here didn’t work so great for me, I found it a tad predictable. Had I not been so caught up by the gymnastics, I probably would’ve been more disappointed.I wasn’t very satisfied by the ending either, and as a whole I would’ve liked to see a little more depth in the characters, maybe this is due to everything being told from Katie’s perspective, I’m not sure. I wasn’t a big fan of the majority of the characters either, Devon especially was so cold, she always had a laser like focus even when she was at home and school. I had a huge soft spot for poor little Drew though.

 Abbott’s writing style is razor sharp and intense and there was an underlying sense of dread throughout, which undoubtedly made me give her a pass for a so so “twist”. If you’re already a fan of Abbott’s then you’ll enjoy this I think. Or if you want to read a very dark book about the competitive world of gymnastics, give this a try. But if you want a surprising mystery, this isn’t it.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to Little and Brown for my review copy.

Blog Tour: Cocktails, Rock Tales & Betrayals by Julie Archer @hellochicklit @julieoceanuk

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Cocktails, Rock Tales & Betrayals Book Tour
By author Julie Archer
Tour Dates: November 27th – December 6th, 2016


Blurb:

A bar, a band and a Thorne between two roses…

Caro and Nate are perfect for each other. Trouble is, Nate is really Alik Thorne lead singer of the Next Big Thing in rock music and his girlfriend, Edie, isn’t really prepared to share him…

Caro Flynn leaves behind the sultry nights of Mallorca to open her own bar back home. Romance wasn’t high on her list of priorities, but a last minute fling makes her think again…

Edie Spencer-Newman always gets what she wants. But when she sets her sights on something a little too close to home, she’s about to stir up a whole heap of trouble…

When the consequences of a tragic accident cause relationships to crumble, will anyone find a happy ending?

Buy the Book:

AmazonUS
AmazonUK

About the Author:

13775397_1782395012016252_8199013915506013679_nJulie Archer

Bio:

Julie Archer grew up in Hampshire and lived in Reading before moving to the beautiful riverside town of Dartmouth in Devon. She still feels like she’s on holiday.

Julie trained as a journalist, then went into teaching (kept meeting the sixth form students in the pub, awkward!). After that she ‘fell’ into recruitment, spending more years there than she cares to mention, where the most creative thing she did was to create a sexy top line for job adverts! Since moving to Devon, she set up her own business offering virtual administration and recruitment services, worked for an accommodation company and is currently moonlighting in the local bookshop…

Also, COYS, Cats, Metal. Underneath this preppy exterior beats the heart of a rock chick.

Excerpt 

“Edie Spencer-Newman shuddered as she sipped on her glass of slightly-too-warm Chardonnay. It had been years since she had drunk anything quite so distasteful, but The Vegas wasn’t exactly a venue renowned for its wine list. The beer-and-shots bar definitely wasn’t high on her list of venues to frequent. But when Alik had suggested that she see him play live, she hadn’t exactly been able to say no. So far into their relationship she had managed to avoid places like this, making sure that she took Alik to dinner or met him in a wine bar she felt comfortable in, or inviting him to parties at friends’ houses. She was eternally grateful that she had managed to persuade the team at Pretty Rich Things not to film her that evening. This definitely wasn’t the way she wanted her glamorous life to be portrayed. The reality TV programme followed a cluster of both self-made and inherited wealthy young men and women who were trying to make their own way in the business world. In Edie’s case, this was the opening of her own designer boutique, The Magpie. The little vintage boudoir-inspired shop had taken up a great deal of her time, as she sourced the chicest, most feminine, and, most of all, most expensive items that would appeal to her target market. Despite being pretty lazy when it came to work, she had thoroughly enjoyed scouring the internet and visiting suppliers to source the products and garments that would create the exclusive theme of the shop. Hanging out in seedy rock bars was not something that would resonate with her fans.

She looked around – taking in the clientele – seeing mostly leather and tattoos, and held her Prada clutch more tightly. Not a designer label in sight, except for her Pucci-inspired print shift dress, which still made her stand out from the crowd despite it being one of the more subdued garments in her extensive wardrobe. However, it was a wardrobe that wasn’t built for the rock scene. Perched uneasily on a bar stool, Edie wondered how much longer she would have to wait. Alik had just texted her to say he was backstage, which hopefully meant they would be starting soon.

“Hey, you didn’t tell me you were coming tonight.”

Like a beacon of light, Olivia Cole appeared beside her. She had been helping Edie with the PR for The Magpie and had become a firm friend over the last few months. Olivia’s work had been amazing, already creating a buzz about the place, and anticipation was high.

Edie smiled. “Alik invited me, but I’m not sure this place is for me.” She noticed Olivia was dressed similarly to her and was comforted by that fact. After all, Olivia was definitely more PR than rock, even though she would be working with Alik and the band. A couple of women walked past, heading towards the mosh pit close to the stage, clad head to toe in black, with matching pierced noses and heavily-studded ears. They cast a suspicious glance in Edie’s direction.

“The lead singer is my boyfriend,” Edie said, making sure they heard her.

One of them laughed. “Yeah, whatever, as if Alik Thorne would look at someone like you. I reckon he’ll be seeing more of me later.”

Edie watched in horror as the two women headed off towards the front. There was a flurry of activity as they heard a couple of guitars being tuned up

Olivia grabbed Edie’s arm and pulled her closer towards the stage. “You’ll be fine, their bark is usually worse than their bite.”

All of a sudden, there was noise, in Edie’s opinion anyway, and Alik appeared on the stage, bathed in a single spotlight.

“Good evening Vegas!” he roared. Edie thought it sounded as if he was pretending to play Las Vegas rather than North Ridge. “Thanks for coming down tonight. This is ‘In It For The Craic’.” She watched as he whirled across the stage, microphone in hand, with the guitar, bass, and drums crashing around him.

As the set progressed, Edie started to enjoy herself. Despite the fact that the music was so far away from being her sort of thing, she couldn’t help but be enthralled by Alik and how he could hold the audience in the palm of his hand. She hadn’t really known how talented he was, not to mention how popular the band were. She realised she would probably have to fend off all sorts of female attention for her man.”

GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Visit all the stops on the Tour:

November 27th

Blog on the Run – Promo Post
My Comfy Reading Corner – Book Review
He Said Books or Me – Author Guest Post

November 28th

Steamy Book Momma – Book Excerpt
Judging More Than Just The Cover – Author Q&A

November 29th

Rachel Brimble Romance – Author Q&A
Living Life With Joy – Author Guest Post

November 30th

Book Lover in Florida – Book Excerpt

December 1st

Chick Lit Central – Author Guest Post

December 2nd

Authors & Readers Book Corner – Book Excerpt

December 3rd

Hello…Chick Lit – Book Excerpt

December 4th

Novel Gossip – Book Promo/Excerpt

December 5th

Rae Reads – Book Excerpt

December 6th

Grass Monster – Amazon Book Review

Tour arranged by: HCL Author Services & Book Tours
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Review: All The Breaking Waves by @kerrylonsdale

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: December 6, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb: 

From the bestselling author of Everything We Keep comes a gripping tale of long-buried secrets, the strength of forgiveness, and the healing power of returning home for good.


After a harrowing accident tore her family apart, Molly Brennan fled from the man she loved and the tragic mistake she made.


Twelve years later, Molly has created a new life for herself and her eight-year-old daughter, Cassie. The art history professor crafts jewelry as unique and weathered as the surf-tumbled sea glass she collects, while raising her daughter in a safe and loving environment—something Molly never had. But when Cassie is plagued by horrific visions and debilitating nightmares, Molly is forced to return to the one place she swore she’d never move back to—home to Pacific Grove.


A riveting exploration of love, secrets, and motherhood, All the Breaking Waves is the poignant story of a woman who discovers she must confront her past, let go of her guilt, and summon everything in her power to save her daughter. 

Review: 

I absolutely loved Lonsdale’s debut novel Everything We Keep and after reading her follow up All The Breaking Waves I am now an even bigger fan. This book had all the same wonderful elements that shone so beautifully in EWK; polished writing, a gripping plot and characters that leave a lasting impression.

Molly was a character that I could relate to on all levels. She’s a mom who loves her eight year old daughter, Cassie and will do anything to protect her. I have an eight year old daughter as well, so this definitely struck a chord with me. All of the women in their family have special gifts in the form of premonitions and while this sounds inherently amazing, there are definitely downfalls. Molly struggles to let Cassie live the life of a normal little girl despite her special gifts. I can’t imagine trying to explain paranormal abilities to a child when they don’t even make sense to most adults. 

This is so much more than a typical women’s fiction novel, it seamlessly blends genres in a style that is uniquely Lonsdale’s own. There is suspense, magical realism, drama, deep family histories,  and romance. Somehow this all works perfectly and even though I don’t normally read much with a paranormal aspect, it added something special to the story here.

There were some nice twists here, which for some reason I didn’t expect, I’m not sure why, I should have known better after all the turns in EWK! Lonsdale has a spellbinding quality to her writing that make her books real page turners. There are also several themes present here and some great discussions could stem from the topics, perfect for a book club.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Lake Union for my review copy.

Blog Tour/Guest Post: The Hidden Island by @angelaWcorner @Bloodhoundbook 

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I’m delighted to be a stop on the tour for Hidden Island by Angela Corner today! Read on for more information about the book and a fabulous guest post from the author.

About the book: 


Sex. Drugs. Murder.


Hidden behind the crystal seas and beautiful beaches of a Greek Island dark and dangerous secrets lurk. Beckett has had his fill of adrenaline fuelled criminal investigation and with a broken body and damaged career goes to the Greek Island of Farou to head up the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Serious crime is rare, the weather is great and the beer is cold but his ‘retirement’ is cut short when a pagan cult resurrects and bodies start showing up.


With doubts about his mental and physical ability to do the job, a British police detective is sent to help with the investigation. DI Lee Harper is everything Beckett is not – young, ambitious and by the book.


As well as tackling the new case Beckett must overcome the demons from his past.


Family loyalty, power and money are at the source of the investigation where appearance is everything and nothing is what is seems.


Can Beckett and Harper work together to find justice for the victims?
Will the idyllic island ever be the same again?


Sometimes paradise can be hell.

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK

Guest Post: 

Scriptwriting v novel writing



The Hidden Island is my first venture into novel writing – apart from a Hollyoaks spin off novel I did a few years ago – but I spent nearly ten years writing scripts for soap operas, Hollyoaks mainly and a handful for Eastenders.


So how different is it writing for television and writing a novel?


Scriptwriting for a long running series obviously gives you less creative freedom and input than writing a novel. You are writing about pre-existing characters, their back stories already invented, and sending them down story avenues that you and perhaps twenty other writers have discussed, argued about and eventually agreed over (or not as the case maybe). You can be asked to write about characters you don’t enjoy writing for and to make characters do things you don’t think they would do. But also when you’ve worked on a TV show for a few years there will be characters you have created yourself and storylines that you gave birth to that you and the other writers have developed and breathed life into over many months. There is a huge sense of satisfaction at seeing your ideas explode onto the TV screen as well as frustration if the team decides the story should go in a different direction to the one you intended. There are also practical restrictions when writing for most TV series. You might want to send ten characters on holiday to Barbados for an adventure but finances will only allow you three characters (many actors are only paid per the number of episodes they appear in) on a day trip to Rhyl and they might not be the three characters you want to write about because of actor’s holidays. You also have to contend with censorship – particularly on a pre-watershed show – many words and acts are out of bounds, and the interpretation of the director and the actors. Every TV show is the result of a massive team of people, not always with the same vision as the writer.  


Writing a novel could not be more different. You have total freedom. There are no budget restrictions. Your characters can live and travel anywhere. You can have a cast of thousands – not necessarily a good idea unless you are incredibly good at planning and organising and want to write a 500 pager. You are playing god with a world entirely of your own creation. But this freedom is incredibly scary. Every story needs its own rules and boundaries to make sense. Writing on a TV show means you have other writers to consult, other episodes to fit in around, script editors giving their input every couple of weeks, producers giving notes and asking for changes, and immovable deadlines that you have to hit. Writing for a TV show is a team sport. Writing a novel is like a solo voyage around the world. Exciting, scary, full of potential disasters but incredibly rewarding when you get to the end. Writing on a TV show there isn’t ever an end, though your part in it might finish, there is always someone else to carry it on. It can never be solely yours whereas a novel is the writer’s child. For good and for bad.

Check out the other stops on the tour!

Review: A Suitable Lie by @michaelJmalone1 @OrendaBooks

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website

Release date: January 1, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Andy Boyd thinks he is the luckiest man alive. Widowed with a young child, after his wife dies in childbirth, he is certain that he will never again experience true love. Then he meets Anna. Feisty, fun and beautiful, she’s his perfect match, and she loves his son like he is her own. When Andy ends up in the hospital on his wedding night, he receives his first clue that Anna is not all that she seems. Desperate for that happy-ever-after, he ignores it—a dangerous mistake that could cost him everything. 

Review: 

Remember a few months back when I was raving everywhere I possibly could about Behind Closed Doors? I even said it was domestic noir at its finest. I still adore that book, but A Suitable Lie is edging it out of it’s spot now. This book really gets under your skin, it consumes you and I mean that in the best possible way. 

I don’t think this is a huge spoiler, but just in case here is your warning. Andy and Anna are in a abusive relationship, but the unique twist here is that Anna is the abuser and Andy is the victim. There are loads of books about domestic violence where women are being abused, but there are not many with a male victim. Malone sheds some light on an important issue in a profound and harrowing manner. 

I totally fell in love with Andy right from the start. He’s bold, funny, vivacious, strong, and loving. He’s a single father as his first wife, Patricia passed away. When he meets Anna, he’s immediately drawn to her and as they fall in love he feels like the happiest man alive. As soon as the marriage begins, Anna reveals a side of herself that is ugly and cold. As the story progresses, watching the breakdown of Andy truly broke my heart. Seeing him shrink and wither away before my eyes was both upsetting and unsettling. He became a shell of his own self and was almost completely unrecognizable. The beauty of this unraveling is that as a reader I was able to experience the awful transformation of Andy right along with him. This brought up so many different feelings that by the end, I was emotionally spent. I don’t mean that in a negative way, it was quite the experience and it left a lasting impression with me that I won’t soon forget.

A Suitable Lie is exquisitely crafted and tightly plotted. Watching a dysfunctional relationship was much like watching a car accident in that I couldn’t look away even if it was painful to watch. This book is truly special and unforgettable, I was moved to tears more than once but there were also moments of joy and laughter. I can’t recommend it more highly and I only hope that my review conveyed how highly I regard both this novel and the author. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my review copy.

November Wrap Up

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I enjoyed this one, great start to the month.


This one didn’t work for me.

This was a creepy psychological thriller.

This was outstanding.

I really liked this one about a stalker.

I had high hopes for this one, but ultimately I wasn’t totally satisfied.

This was so fun!

This one was absolutely stunning and unique.

This was mediocre for me.

This was interesting and touched on some important social issues.

This was a really emotional and epic story of one woman’s life.

This was a lovely holiday read.

This was a great read.

I loved this one and was thrilled to participate in the blog tour.


I was part of the blog tour for this one and really liked it.

This was a really great read.

I listened to this one and the narration was fantastic.

This was an emotional read.

I just love this series and this was my favorite book thus far.

I’m really liking this series.

This one was ok for me, pretty middle of the road.

I liked this one, a solid mystery.


I love this series!

This was really good, one of my favorite reads lately.


I liked this character driven mystery.

I was on the blog tour for this one and really liked it!

Another blog tour for this one and I really loved it! 

This was bad. Just no.

I continued my Saturday Shoutout series as well.

Craig Hart Q & A
Amanda Laneley Q & A
Helene Leuschel Q & A 
Overall I had a fantastic month and only a couple of disappointments, I can’t complain! 

How was your November? Feel free to link me to your own wrap up as well!

Review: Tall Oaks by @WhittyAuthor @BonnierZaffre

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Goodreads|Amazon|Amazon UK
Release date: September 8, 2016

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

For fans of Twin Peaks and The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair, this brilliant debut is dark yet hilarious, suspenseful and sad.


Everyone has a secret in Tall Oaks . . .


When three-year-old Harry goes missing, the whole of America turns its attention to one small town.


Everyone is eager to help. Everyone is a suspect.


Desperate mother Jess, whose grief is driving her to extreme measures.


Newcomer Jared, with an easy charm and a string of broken hearts in his wake.


Photographer Jerry, who’s determined to break away from his controlling mother once and for all.


And, investigating them all, a police chief with a hidden obsession of his own . . .


In Chris Whitaker’s brilliant and original debut novel, missing persons, secret identities and dangerous lies abound in a town as idiosyncratic as its inhabitants. 

Review: 

My last read was a massive disappointment so I decided to pick up Tall Oaks after it had come highly recommended from both Annie at The Misstery and Renee at It’s Book Talk. I am so glad that they brought this gem of a book to my attention as it has a firm spot in my top reads of the year!

I’m sure we’ve all seen and read plenty of books that claim that everyone has secrets, then you read it and are left wondering, that was the big secret? The opposite happens here, everyone really does have a secret and they are all mind blowing and surprising. Three year old Harry has been missing for months and many residents of Tall Oaks are affected by his disappearance. Things like this just don’t happen in the town, which by the way, the town is a character in itself. I’m not sure if small town America has ever been portrayed so brilliantly before.

The characters in this book make it stand out above others. They are all complex, well developed and they make you feel something. You may love them, hate them, feel unsettled and uncomfortable by them, but you won’t forget them easily. Jessica is Harry’s mom and she’s been in a downward spiral ever since her son vanished. Jim is the chief of police and this is the case that will always haunt him. Jerry works at the local photo shop and he stole a piece of my heart. Jared is a mysterious outsider and his secret is a huge one. Then, my favorite was Manny. This kid was one of the best characters I’ve come across in quite awhile (and I read a lot, 243 books so far this year). He’s politically incorrect, and unapologetic about it, he has the mouth of a sailor, he’s crude, and most of what comes out of his mouth is for the shock value alone. But underneath all the false bravado he’s sensitive and smart. He is so funny, he fancies himself an old school gangster and tries to shake down local businesses. I had tears from laughing so hard, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tickled while reading a thriller before!

As much as the mystery plays a central role here, this is so much more than your typical thriller. It’s one of those books that makes you feel every emotion imaginable. It has appeal to any reader, there’s even a sweet romance developing between Manny and Furat for the YA crowd. 

I don’t often feel compelled to reread a book but I really want to here. This really needs to be a movie, these characters deserve to be brought to life. I’ll miss every single one of them and will think of them often. The ending and beginning of this book was utterly perfect, it had one of the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. And the twists were unexpected and totally unpredictable. I can’t recommend this one enough and I can’t wait to read what Whitaker comes up with next.

Overall rating: 5/5