Blog Tour! This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell ~ #BlogTour #BookReview #ThisCouldChangeEverything

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour today! I’m delighted to share my review of This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell!

 

This Could Change Everything

by

Jill Mansell

 

 

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…

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

 

Essie Philips has everything she has ever wanted. She has a good job, an intelligent, charming boyfriend and she has finally moved out of the mouldy flat she was stuck in. Life is on the up. With Christmas fast approaching, Essie and friend Scarlett agree to write round robins purely to get things off their chests. But what started out as a simple, harmless bit of fun between friends escalates into something life-changing. Essie’s offensive letter is emailed to the two-hundred people in her contacts list, including her boyfriend Paul and his mother (Essie’s boss.) Feeling wretched, Essie’s life goes from bad to worse when Paul kicks her out and dumps her. With her world in tatters, Essie swiftly realises that when one door closes, another door opens.

 

 

Zillah is eighty-two years old and lives her life to the full. After weeks of hunting for a tenant to take over her attic flat, she is relieved to find a young girl called Essie who needs a place to rent. She is the perfect tenant: straight-talker, quiet eater, helpful and not averse to the odd swear word thrown into conversation. Zillah invites Essie into her life and in no time at all they become firm friends. Essie soon discovers a side to her new landlady that is extremely touching. Her generosity and kind nature offer strangers a new zest for life, a helping hand when no others have offered theirs. She sends the boy with a love of animals a year’s membership to the zoo; the withdrawn girl in the cafe a bite to eat, the dying woman her final wish in renewing her vows. Zillah is kind-hearted, generous and determined character who for me was the star of this book

 

 

Conor McCauley’s life changed on a relatively normal day. After meeting a woman dying of cancer and wanting to make her will, he decided to quit his job as a solicitor working for a cruel boss and start afresh. Now, he has set up his own gardening business and enjoys each and every moment of it. In his spare time, he takes photographs for the local restaurant, Red House on Percival Square. And with his two friends, Zillah and Essie, encouraging him, soon he might find romance on the cards.

 

 

This Could Change Everything is a warm-hearted, touching and often exhilarating new novel from Jill Mansell. Her books get better and better every time. I grabbed the chance to be on this blog tour and I’m so thrilled to share my review of this beautiful story.

 

 

Touching, funny, beautiful.

 

 

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To purchase a copy of the book, you can follow the links below:

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

 

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About Jill Mansell

 

 

 

 

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/.

 

 

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Follow the bloggers on the #ThisCouldChangeEverything blog tour!

 

 

 

 

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Huge thanks to Jess Farrugia, Anne Cater and Headline for my review copy and blog tour invite!

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Book Review: Old Baggage by Lissa Evans ~ #BookReview #OldBaggage

 

 

Old Baggage

by

Lissa Evans

 

 

What do you do next, after you’ve changed the world?

It is 1928. Matilda Simpkin, rooting through a cupboard, comes across a small wooden club – an old possession of hers, unseen for more than a decade.

Mattie is a woman with a thrilling past and a chafingly uneventful present. During the Women’s Suffrage Campaign she was a militant. Jailed five times, she marched, sang, gave speeches, smashed windows and heckled Winston Churchill, and nothing – nothing – since then has had the same depth, the same excitement.

Now in middle age, she is still looking for a fresh mould into which to pour her energies. Giving the wooden club a thoughtful twirl, she is struck by an idea – but what starts as a brilliantly idealistic plan is derailed by a connection with Mattie’s militant past, one which begins to threaten every principle that she stands for.

 

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

 

Suffragette Mattie Simpkins has dedicated her life to fighting for womens’ right to vote. She has tackled politicians, stood at the forefront of protests and inspired and buoyed the hopes and aspirations of so many under her wing. Now her life, which was once pulsing with speeches (her own), fisticuffs (not her own) and the multiple times she spent in prison, is empty. She is at a loss for what do to.

 

 

 

Mattie is shocked by young womens’ lacklustre reactions to subjects such as politics, history, geography, and more. Taking it upon herself to help, Mattie forms a club. Meeting every weekend on Hampstead Heath, girls from the age of twelve to eighteen are invited to join and broaden their horizons on subjects that could propel them into brilliant vocations. But soon, her past will catch up with her. And someone could bring down everything she is striving for.

 

 

 

Mattie is determined to offer the girls knowledge and opportunities that so many others must forgo. The passion and courage she imbues in them reaps many rewards. In no time at all, the handful of members (Amazons, as they are called) has expanded and every weekend, girls come together under Mattie’s watchful eye. But in the course of her new venture, she discovers a secret in her family.

 

 

Health visitor Florrie – The Flea, as she is known – is Mattie’s housemate and is perhaps more reserved than Mattie on the surface but is equally as lovable. You can’t help but cheer on these characters … And also accidentally, excitedly spill your tea when they come up triumphant. Mattie is a force of nature. I loved her for her unassailable courage, commitment, determination and passion.

 

 

 

Old Baggage by Lissa Evans is a rich, tender tale of friendship, love and fighting for what you believe in. Its capacity to move its readers is astounding. I loved it!

 

 

 

Tender. Moving. Beautiful.

 

 

 

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To purchase a copy of this book, you can follow the links below:

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

 

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About Lissa Evans

Lissa Evans grew up in the West Midlands.  She comes from a family of voracious readers and spent most of her adolescence in the local library, thus becoming well read if not wildly popular.

After studying medicine at Newcastle University, she worked as a junior doctor for four years, before deciding to change to a career in which she wasn’t terrified the entire time;  a job in BBC Radio light entertainment followed, and then a switch to television, where she produced and directed series including  ‘Room 101’ and also ‘Father Ted’, for which she won a BAFTA.

Her first book, ‘Spencer’s List’ was published in 2002, and since then she has written four more novels for adults (one of which, ‘Their Finest Hour and a Half’, was filmed in 2017) and three novels for children.  She lives in London with her husband and two daughters.  She still reads voraciously.

 

Follow Lissa on Twitter!

 

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Huge thanks to Anne Cater, Alison Barrow and Doubleday for my review copy!

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Blog Tour! An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim ~ #OceanOfMinutes #BookReview #BlogTour

Welcome to my spot on the blog tour today! I’m thrilled to share my review of An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim!

 

 

 

An Ocean of Minutes

by

Thea Lim

 

 

Polly and Frank are young and in love, a lifetime together before them. But one evening in 1980, as the Texas sun sets over their shoulders, the world is suddenly pulled apart by a deadly virus. Within months, Frank is dying. Polly can save him, but only if she agrees to a radical plan: to time travel to 1993 for a corporation who can fund his life-saving treatment. She can only go forward, she cannot go back. And she must leave everything she loves behind, including Frank.

All they have is the promise of a future together: they will find each other again in twelve years’ time, in Galveston, Texas, where the sea begins.

But when something goes wrong and Polly arrives late, Frank is nowhere to be found. Completely alone, Polly must navigate a terrifying new world to find him, and to discover if their love has endured.

 

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

 

When a terrible pandemic sweeps across America, it leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. Everywhere people are falling ill and dying. Families are broken apart and lives are split through the middle. America is swiftly changing. But a way to time travel has been discovered and for some, it will be their salvation. For Polly and Frank, it the only option. They met and fell in love and dreamed of a future with their fates firmly linked. A house, a baby, a world entwined. But then Frank gets sick. Polly courageously agrees to time-travel twelve years into the future to offer her expertise and in return TimeRaiser will give Frank the health care he needs to survive. They agree on a date and location to meet, clinging to the mutual hope of a future, of life they can resume. For her it is a single step, a weighty sacrifice but a worthy one. For him it is wait that transverses twelve years. But can their love endure it?

 

 

When Polly arrives in the future, she discovers her journey was rerouted and she has been taken further than she planned. Panicked and afraid, she tries desperately to search for Frank and Aunty Donna but all her attempts are scuppered. With Frank by her side, being stranded could turn into an adventure. But now, stuck in an unfamiliar way of life with loneliness snapping at her heart and hope dwindling to nothing, what she is left with is an endless surge of days in a world – and a time – she was not supposed to have come to. Where Frank is – and who he will be – are the answers she needs. Time parts them, love binds them. But will it be enough?

 

 

Alternating between past and present, An Ocean of Minutes is stunningly depicted tale of love, loss, life and self-discovery. Fiercely evocative and extremely poignant, this book will resonate with lots of readers. Watching Polly make her way in a new society was fascinating to follow. Each new challenge she faces gives her a little bit more strength, a little bit more confidence. She felt like a completely different person towards the end. Her journey left a huge impression on me. Thea Lim’s portrait of not only Polly and Frank’s love story but also this new society is a tale you won’t be able to break away from.

 

 

An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim is both devastating and heart-warming. I was glued to this book. As soon as I read the first page, I knew I was going to love it! Some books just grab you from the start and keep you under lock and key until the finish. This one is startlingly beautiful! I adored it!

 

 

Poignant. Brave. Beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To purchase a copy of this book, you can follow the links below:

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

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About Thea Lim

 

 

 

 

Thea Lim’s novel AN OCEAN OF MINUTES is forthcoming in Summer 2018. She holds an MFA from the University of Houston. She has worked as a farmhand, a cocktail server, a souvlaki grill cook, a theatre usher, and an elevator courier; she is now a professor of Creative Writing. She grew up in Singapore and lives in Toronto with her family.

You can find Thea on Twitter here!

 

 

 

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Follow the bloggers on the #OceanOfMinutes blog tour!

 

 

 

 

 

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Huge thanks to Ana McLaughlin & Quercus for my review copy and blog tour invite!

Book Review: The Hour of Separation by Katharine McMahon ~ #TheHourOfSeparation #BookReview

 

 

The Hour of Separation

by

Katharine McMahon

 

 

March 1939

Estelle is the headstrong daughter of Fleur, a Resistance legend who disappeared during the Great War, supposedly killed while helping Allied soldiers to escape.

Christa, an only child, longs to break free from the constraints of London suburbia, and fantasises about the ethereal Belgian heroine who saved her father.

When Estelle comes looking for the truth about the mother she believes deserted her, an intense friendship grows between the two young women. Estelle invites Christa to De Eikenhoeve, her family’s idyllic country estate. There, Christa encounters Estelle’s two brothers – brooding, tempestuous Robbe and dependable, golden-haired Pieter – and during that long hot summer, passions run high. When war breaks out Christa is forced to return home, but not before she has done something she will regret for the rest of her life.

Christa arrives back in England a changed woman, while Estelle decides to follow in her mother’s footsteps and join the Resistance. Little do they dream that Fleur was betrayed by someone close to them, and that the legacy of this betrayal will have heartbreaking consequences for them all.

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

A young girl called Christa Geering finds an old photograph wedged between the pages of a bible and her life shifts under the weight of this new discovery. In the photo, an elegant, enchanting woman looks out and instantly captures her attention. Her name is Fleur Cornelis-Faider and because of a single act of sacrifice and bravery, she saved Christa’s father and in doing do saved her own life. Inspired by this one woman and her rich legacy, she learns French and carefully pens a letter to Fleur’s family, voicing her gratitude and appreciation. In reply, Fleur’s daughter, Estelle, travels to Watford to face her mother’s past and discover for herself who she had really been before she died. Christa and Estelle form a close friendship over the ensuing days, both harbouring a curiosity for their parents’ pasts.

 

 

Estelle is searching for a better understanding of her mother, something that will enable her to draw a clearer portrait of the woman so many admire and love. Fleur was a big part of the Resistance and saved countless lives but Estelle knows there is more to her story than the bare facts she has been given. Fleur died when Estelle was just a baby and her brothers don’t like to speak of her. But Estelle is determined to find out who she truly was. Whilst she is in England, she finds some of the men her mother saved and is surprised by their reluctance to share their memories of her.

 

 

As a girl finding the photo of Fleur in the bible, sparked something in Christa and so when Estelle arrives on her doorstep years later, the moment holds a deep resonance for her. Estelle invites her to De Eikenhoeve, her family home in Belgium and Christa jumps at the chance. She loves her parents but feels shackled by the life that awaits her and meets the prospect of finding her way through a new world and discovering more about the woman she has idolised with excitement and joy. But as she and Estelle discover that there was so much more to Fleur, they also discover a seam of betrayal running through the past.  And Christa’s perception of everything will once again shift.

 

The Hour Of Separation by Katharine McMahon is a tale about love, loss and the power of betrayal. Fabulous!

 

 

Emotional. Intriguing. Intense.

 

 

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To purchase a copy of the book, you can follow the links below:

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

 

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About Katharine McMahon

 

 

 

Katharine McMahon is the author of 10 novels, including the bestselling The Rose of Sebastopol, which was a Richard and Judy pick for 2007.

Her evolving theme is drawing astonishing women from the shadows, and revealing passionate and extraordinary lives, even at times when to be different and powerful risked everything if you were female. All her fictional characters have foundations in real historical characters.

She has experience as a teacher and trainer, and has been fortunate to serve on the Sentencing Council of England and Wales, and the Judicial Appointments Commission, as a magistrate. She has run Guardian Masterclasses on historical fiction, and has newly been appointed Education Projects Manager for the Royal Literary Fund.

She co-wrote a song, performed on Radio Four called Check-out Lil, and writes from a hut in her very small back garden.

 

Katharine’s Website!

 

 

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Huge thanks to Becci Mansell and Rebecca Grey at Orion for my review copy!

Blog Tour! Review of Call of the Curlew by Elizabeth Brooks ~ #CallOfTheCurlew #BookReview #BlogTour #RandomThingsTours

Welcome to my spot on the blog tour today! I’m delighted to share my review of Call Of the Curlew by Elizabeth Brooks!

 

 

Call of the Curlew

by

Elizabeth Brooks

 

 

Virginia Wrathmell has always known she will meet her death on the marsh.

One snowy New Year’s Eve, at the age of eighty-six, Virginia feels the time has finally come.

New Year’s Eve, 1939. Virginia is ten, an orphan arriving to meet her new parents at their mysterious house, Salt Winds. Her new home sits on the edge of a vast marsh, a beautiful but dangerous place. War feels far away out here amongst the birds and shifting sands – until the day a German fighter plane crashes into the marsh. The people at Salt Winds are the only ones to see it.

What happens next is something Virginia will regret for the next seventy-five years, and which will change the whole course of her life.

 

 

 

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My Review:

 

 

It is 1939 and ten-year-old Virginia arrives in her new home on Tollbury Marsh. After spending so long at the cold orphanage, Salt Winds appeals to Virginia, the freedom and space to roam allowing her a new pocket of life to explore. Met with adoptive parents warm, kind-hearted Clem and cool, poised Lorna, Virginia swiftly settles in at Salt Winds, feeling out a new rhythm in life and treasuring the moments of discovery and affection she shares with Clem. But not everything is safe and assured. The marsh is a dangerous, desolate place and she is warned to keep away but Virginia can’t help but feel fascinated by it. When tragedy steals into life at Salt Winds, Virginia finds herself once more on the cusp of change. And everything she holds dear will begin to alter around her.

 

 

2015 and now Virginia is eighty-six-years-old. Lonely and resigned, she keeps to herself and locks out the world. The sign she has been awaiting for most of her adult life finally arrives one day on her doorstep. And here, where it began, it will end. Her demise is something she has imagined and planned countless times. She will say farewell to Salt Winds, pay tribute to the memories of her childhood and evacuate the shambling house to meet her fate. But first she will have to face something she hadn’t expected.

 

 

Elizabeth Brooks weaves a brilliant web of mystery and intrigue with Call of the Curlew. Her evocation of the diverse characters and the grim, eerie location and how it evolves through Virginia’s life is rich in detail. This book goes back and forth between two timelines. I loved following the two narratives as they unfolded. It was fascinating to see such a contrast in Virginia, how events in 1939 mould the woman she is to be in 2015. Max Deering is a cruel man who torments Virginia as a girl and his memory will continue to do so through the years, until it reaches a pinnacle on New Year’s Eve, when the sign she awaits finds its way to her doorstep.

 

 

Call of the Curlew is an atmospheric, haunting and simply stunning novel from Elizabeth Brooks! I was hooked from beginning to end. I grabbed every moment I could to read this book. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

 

 

Chilling. Haunting. Riveting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To purchase a copy of this book, you can follow the links below:

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

 

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About Elizabeth Brooks

 

 

 

ELIZABETH BROOKS grew up in Chester, and read Classics at Cambridge. She lives on the Isle of Man with
her husband and children. Elizabeth describes herself as a “Brontë nerd”; Call of the Curlew is her homage to the
immersive and evocative writing of Charlotte Brontë.
@ManxWriter

 

 

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Follow the bloggers on the #CallOfTheCurlew blog tour!

 

 

 

 

 

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Huge thanks to Anne Cater, Hannah Bright and DoubleDay for my review copy and blog tour invite!

Blog Tour! Review of The Poison Bed by E. C. Fremantle ~ #ThePoisonBed #BookReview #BlogTour

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour today! I’m thrilled to share my review of The Poison Bed by E. C. Fremantle!

 

 

 

 

The Poison Bed

by

E. C. Fremantle

 

 

London, 1615.

Robert and Frances Carr are imprisoned, accused of murder.

Their friend and confidante Thomas Overbury is dead.

And they both have a motive for killing him . . .

Frances, rescued from an abusive marriage, is determined to make a new life for herself . . . and will stop at nothing and no one to make sure she does.

Robert is now one of the most powerful men in the land. But to get to the top he couldn’t help but make enemies.

One of them did it.

But who?

Because one of them will pay with their life.

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

 

It is 1615. Lady Frances Carr is taken into custody for murder and awaits her trail, imprisoned in The Tower with her newborn baby and a wet-nurse. Considered a witch by most, a sly temptress who liaises with the devil himself, Frances was once admired and adored by all, her profound beauty and great wealth and status drawing people to her. As Frances recounts her life with an abusive first husband, a manipulative uncle and the events leading up to her arrest, the layers of her story peel back to reveal a tale shot through with poison. No one is who they present themselves to be. Everyone is playing their own game to win. And none more so than Frances and her husband Robert Carr. But which of them will pay the price?

 

 

 

Robert Carr was a boy born into nothing. No wealth, no connections, no parents. Now he is the King’s favourite and his rise in the higherarchy has been one edged with lies, scheming and coercion. His world is one where friends can just as easily be enemies, honesty can be corrupted and goodness swiftly broken. The bid for the best position is something fought tooth and nail for around him. But Robert will not be pushed out or uprooted from his place beside the King. When he meets Lady Essex, his world instantly revolves around her. She is mysterious, fiercely intelligent and keeps the world firmly under her spell. But that is only the person she lets the world see. And soon Robert will discover who Frances really is. And if he plays his role correctly, he could save her from her abusive marriage and spend the rest of his life by her side.

 

 

 

Told from both Robert’s and Frances’ points of view stretching across the years from the moment they met to the moment they are imprisoned for murder, this book is a sharp, captivating new novel which held me in its vice-like grip all the way through. E. C. Fremantle increases the tension with every page, drawing you in and enmeshing you in the world of Frances and Robert, two characters who will tempt you into reading just one more chapter until you’ve finished the whole book.

 

 

The Poison Bed is a bewitching tale about love, murder, power and the price of truth and lies. Based on fact, Frances Howard, Robert Carr and the scandalous tide of events around them really happened in James I’s reign! Starting this book, I had no idea it was based on fact but what a book this is. Steeped in gorgeous detail, E. C. Fremantle spins a dazzling story around these two people and keeps the suspense and tension coursing through the pages! I love, love this book!

 

 

 

Captivating. Dazzling. Bewitching.

 

 

 

 

 

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To purchase a copy of this book, you can follow the links below

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

 

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About E. C. Fremantle

 

 

 

 

E.C. Fremantle holds a First for her BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck. As Elizabeth Fremantle she is the critically acclaimed author of four Tudor historical novels: Queen’s Gambit, Sisters of Treason, Watch the Lady and The Girl in the Glass Tower. She lives in London and Norfolk.

 

You can follow her on Twitter via this link!

 

 

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Follow the bloggers on #ThePoisonBed blog tour!

 

 

 

 

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Huge thanks to Katie Ashworth and Michael Joseph for my review copy and blog tour invite!

Book Review: The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh ~ #TheManWhoDidntCall #BookReview #Ghosted #EddieAndSarah

 

The Man Who Didn’t Call

by

Rosie Walsh

 

 

 

Imagine you meet a man, spend seven glorious days together, and fall in love. And it’s mutual: you’ve never been so certain of anything.

So when he leaves for a long-booked holiday and promises to call from the airport, you have no cause to doubt him.

But he doesn’t call.

Your friends tell you to forget him, but you know they’re wrong: something must have happened; there must be a reason for his silence.

What do you do when you finally discover you’re right? That there is a reason – and that reason is the one thing you didn’t share with each other?

 

 

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My Review:

 

 

 

When Sarah Harrington meets Eddie David, her life quite literally changes. On a quite lane in rural Gloucestershire, their paths converge and for six glorious days fate conspires to give them something special and rather remarkable. Both hindered by their own struggles in life, a spark of something bright pulses between them and fills them with the confidence to explore it. Over the six days, they shrug of the mantle of strangers and become lovers, their feelings tying together and making them certain that they have quite literally stumbled upon some extraordinary in one another. When they are forced to part, Eddie promises to call.

 

 

But he doesn’t.

 

 

 

Befuddled and hurt, Sarah waits patiently for him to contact her, the days stretching into one another until weeks have passed by. At first she believes the worst, that Eddie is hurt and unable to contact her. Then realisation hits her. He is ignoring her. Only her. Determined to extract the truth from this sudden turn of events, she messages him. But once again he ignores her. Advised by her friends to forget and move on, Sarah is  caught between their logical suggestion and her own feelings. How could Eddie ignore her? How could he have gone from the kind, charming man he was then to the man he is now? Convinced there must be a reason, Sarah perseveres. But will the outcome be worth it in the end? What is he hiding? And if he isn’t the man she thought she knew, who is Eddie David?

 

 

 

 

This book will resonate with many readers, not only for the sense of confusion and hurt Sarah feels with regard to her relationship with Eddie but more prominently, the raw grief and heartbreak following a tragedy in her past. That single event split her life apart and no amount of time has healed the pain, or managed to stitch up her broken heart. That is until she met Eddie and finally she felt a semblance of her old self return. For me, Sarah wasn’t only searching for Eddie in the days following his disappearance but also for that part of herself. A way of forgiving herself and finding happiness. Rosie Walsh captures a broad scope of emotion in these pages and draws the reader in seamlessly. I really enjoyed following Sarah and Eddie’s journey! That twist at the end knocked my socks off. It gave the book an edge that will lodge it firmly in the reader’s mind.

 

 

 

 

The Man Who Didn’t Call is a book about falling in love, the impact of loss, learning to forgive and finding a new way in life. It’s at times uplifting, others devastating. Woven through are strands of humour that will have you giggling away to yourself. Rosie Walsh brings to life a diverse set of characters, each one perfectly imagined and stunningly written. Fantabulous!

 

 

 

Emotional. Twisty. Fantastic!

 

 

 

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To purchase a copy of this book, you can follow the links below:

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

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About Rosie Walsh

 

 

Rosie Walsh has lived and travelled all over the world, working as a documentary producer and writer.
The Man Who Didn’t Call is her first book under her own name.
She lives in Bristol with her partner and son.

You can find Rosie on Twitter here!

 

 

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Huge thanks to Rosie Wilson, Sam Humphreys and Mantle for my review copy!

Blog Tour! Review of One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcroft ~ #OneSummerInItaly #BookReview #BlogTour

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour today! I’m delighted to share my review of One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcroft!

 

 

 

One Summer in Italy

by

Sue Moorcroft

 

 

When Sofia Bianchi’s father Aldo dies, it makes her stop and look at things afresh. Having been his carer for so many years, she knows it’s time for her to live her own life – and to fulfil some promises she made to Aldo in his final days.

So there’s nothing for it but to escape to Italy’s Umbrian mountains where, tucked away in a sleepy Italian village, lie plenty of family secrets waiting to be discovered. There, Sofia also finds Amy who is desperately trying to find her way in life after discovering her dad isn’t her biological father.

Sofia sets about helping Amy through this difficult time, but it’s the handsome Levi who proves to be the biggest distraction for Sofia, as her new life starts to take off…

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

For Sofia Bianchi, life revolves round working to makes ends meet and caring for her beloved father Aldo, who grows weaker by the day. Sofia wants to explore the world and examine new possibilities but she can’t risk losing even a single moment with Aldo. Time is precious. And their time is running out. They spend each day savouring one another’s company, sharing stories and memories. Before Aldo passes away he asks Sofia to make him six promises in a bid to help her find a new path in life once he is gone. Six promises the following year Sofia is determined to keep. Taking life by the reigns she travels to a small village in Italy where her father grew up. With its rich, breathtaking views and slow-pace of life, Sofia finds herself slotting into a new rhythm. Working as a waitress at Il Giardino gifts her an insight into what life was like for her father in this part of the world and it also allows friendship to blossom between her and a young girl called Amy. But when Sofia meets an old Bianchi family friend, she discovers the troubled past her father has kept secret for years.

 

 

Sofia loved, admired and looked up to her father Aldo. They shared a passion for music, food, Italy and nearly always spoke to on another in his native tongue. The bond they shared cemented a strength that kept them close through the years and kept them laughing even through the days of his illness. Sofia’s love for Aldo was very touching. Sue Moorcroft kept a constant stream of emotion coursing through the book. And coupled with her glorious descriptions of Italy, I think I want to visit even more now than when I started reading this book.

 

 

As Sofia starts to settle into life in Montelibertà, her friendship with eighteen-year-old Amy soon reveals why the young girl is so far from her home. After making a discovery that turned her world upside down, Amy fled from her family to come to terms with it. Now, Sofia is the friend she leans on for support and advice. And Sofia is glad to help. When a handsome tourist checks into the hotel, Sofia is drawn to his wit and charm but is a relationship what she needs? And with someone who is obviously keeping something close to his chest. As the two relationships unfold, emotions run high and threaten to change the life of discovery and adventure Sofia had set her sights on.

 

 

One Summer in Italy is a fabulous new novel from Sue Moorcroft, brimming with evocative descriptions and characters who will draw you into a story of love, friendship and Italy. I really enjoyed it! A gorgeous read about self-discovery and second chances – one you won’t want to end!

 

 

Warm. Evocative. Joyous!

 

 

 

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To purchase a copy of the book, you can follow the links below

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

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About Sue Moorcroft

 

 

Award-winning author Sue Moorcroft writes contemporary women’s fiction with occasionally unexpected themes. She’s won a Readers’ Best Romantic Read Award and been nominated for others, including a ‘RoNA’ (Romantic Novel Award). Sue’s a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner, a past vice chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and editor of its two anthologies.

She also writes short stories, serials, articles, writing ‘how to’ and is a creative writing tutor.

The daughter of two soldiers, Sue was born in Germany and went on to spend much of her childhood in Malta and Cyprus. She likes reading, Zumba, FitStep, yoga, and watching Formula 1.

You can follow Sue on Twitter here!

 

 

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Follow the bloggers on the #OneSummerInItaly blog tour!

 

 

 

 

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Huge thanks to Sue Moorcroft, Sabah Kahn and Avon Books for my review copy and blog tour invite!

Blog Tour! Review of The Reading Party by Fenella Gentleman ~ #ReadingParty #RandomThingsTours #Review

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour today! I’m thrilled to share my review of The Reading Party by Fenella Gentleman!

 

 

 

 

The Reading Party

by

Fenella Gentleman

 

 

It is the seventies and the colleges of Oxford are finally opening their doors to women. Sarah Addleshaw, young, spirited and keen to prove her worth, begins term as the first female academic at her college. She is in fact, her college s only female Fellow . Impulsive love affairs with people, places and the ideas in her head beset Sarah throughout her first exhilarating year as a don, but it is the Reading Party, that has the most dramatic impact. Asked to accompany the first mixed group of students on the annual college trip to Cornwall, Sarah finds herself illicitly drawn to one of them, the suave American Tyler. Torn between professional integrity and personal feelings she faces her biggest challenge to date.

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

The Reading Party follows Sarah Addleshaw over the course of her first term at Oxford Collage as she settles into her new position. Times are changing at Oxford. She is the first female academic on the governing body and every day she must fight to prove that she deserves her place there. Frowned upon by many, including some of her students, Sarah is determined to make a success out of her career. And just as they challenge her, she will challenge them. Employing her intelligence, determination and passion to dive into her new life, Sarah is surprised when she is asked to go with a group of students on the annual trip to Cornwall. The Reading Party is a chance for both male and female students to study hard but also enjoy some leisure time, to absorb the atmosphere and culture surrounding them. This year though, the trip is bound to be different.

 

 

 

When Sarah starts work in her new position, she meets handsome, intelligent American Tyler Winston and it’s obvious from the start that there is a lot of chemistry between them. A spark that refuses to go out. As the term progresses, I really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow. There is a fantastic set of characters in this book, each one distinct and brilliantly imagined. Something that made Sarah so easily to connect with are her concerns and self-doubts and seeing how she overcomes them and responds to the troubles she faces in the book.

 

 

 

Life for Sarah is filled with opportunities to make discoveries and pave a way in her new job. But impasses lurk at every turn, barbed remarks are thrown stealthily into conversation and judgment is thrust upon her. She battles it with courage and strength. She is a person you instantly invest in. She’s someone with heaps of intelligence and oodles of character, which grows stronger with every page.

 

 

 

Redolent of the 70s, the atmosphere in this book sizzles with tension and intrigue. The Reading Party is a fabulous escapist read by Fenella Gentleman. I’m really looking forward to reading her next book. And I’m so excited and thrilled to have been included on this blog tour!

 

 

 

Thought-provoking. Intriguing. Fabulous.

 

 

 

 

 

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To purchase a copy, you can follow the links below:

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

 

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About Fenella Gentleman

 

 

Fenella Gentleman studied PPE at Wadham College, Oxford, when it went mixed. She participated in two reading parties in Cornwall. After graduating she worked in publishing, before moving into marketing and communications in the professions. She lives in London and North Norfolk.

 

You can find Fenella on Twitter here!

 

 

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Follow the bloggers on the #ReadingParty blog tour!

 

 

 

 

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Huge thanks to Anne Cater, Anna Pallai and Muswell Press for my review copy and blog tour invite!

Blog Tour! Review of Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom ~ #AloneTime #BookReview #BlogTour #Paris

 

Bienvenue!

 

Welcome to my stop on the Paris portion of the blog tour today! I’m thrilled to kicking off the tour with my review of Alone Time By Stephanie Rosenbloom!

 

 

 

 

Alone Time

by

Stephanie Rosenbloom

 

Travelling with friends and family is usually thought of as a privilege. In theory, anyway. In practice, it’s more often about debating which sights to see, panicking over diminishing phone batteries and bickering over what to eat. Not much joy in that. But alone you can do as you please. You can wander markets, relish silence, go to a park. Go to Paris. Why not?

In Alone Time, New York Times travel columnist Stephanie Rosenbloom travels alone in four seasons to four remarkable cities – Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York – exploring the sensory experience of solitude. Along the way she illuminates the psychological arguments for alone time, revealing that whether you recognize it or not, it’s good to be alone now and then.

This is a book about the pleasures and benefits of savouring the moment, examining things closely, using all your senses to take in your surroundings, whether travelling to faraway places or walking the streets of your own city. Through on-the-ground observations and anecdotes, and drawing on the thinking of artists, writers and innovators who have cherished solitude, Alone Time lays bare the magic of going solo.

 

 

 

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My Review

 

 

 

Alone Time follows journalist and author Stephanie Rosenbloom as she tours four very different cities over the course of four seasons. Exploring myraid cultures and touching on literature, architecture, science, food, religion and how some alone time can benefit so many people for so many reasons, this book is an intimate, thought-provoking and at times witty account of new experiences and positive discovery. I loved it! For so many reasons it is an absloute must-read!

 

 

Combined with fascinating statistics and anecdotes about the importance of having time alone, Stephanie Rosenbloom also offers readers a look into the cultures and everyday life of four cities. The quaint, pulsing streets of Paris, the tables and chairs scattered outside cafes where customers savour sweet treats. The sights and smells of Istanbul, the language and the rhythm of life in Florence, the noise and food of New York. Stephanie Rosenbloom introduces us to new corners of the world, all the while giving us the opportunity to realise just how crucial alone time is. Through so much of this book, I simultaneously wanted to hop on a plane to Paris and raid the fridge in an attempt to replicate some of the Parisian dishes mentioned in this book.

 

 

Inside are brilliant quotes from chefs, actors, scientists, artists and writers you might have never heard before (like me) and never forget. They give another insight into how important time alone can be. It’s a way to open the door to inspiration, creativity, imagination and finding a balance in life. Taking a few moments to absorb and appreciate aspects of life that are usually lost in the rush of day to day activities, is quite full-filling. I really enjoyed this book! Although I have never visited Florence, Istanbul or New York, I did go to Paris as a youngster. And reading this reminded me of having treats from the sweet-smelling Pâtisserie and looking over Paris from the Eiffel Tower!

 

 

Spanning four seasons and four bustling cities including Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York, Alone Time is a fascinating, insightful book that will prompt reflection and an altered outlook on the world around.

 

Insightful. Fascinating. Wonderful!

 

 

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To purchase a copy of this book, you can follow the links below

Amazon UK

Book Depository

 

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A short piece by Stephanie Rosenbloom!

 

5 Things Not To Miss In Paris

–The very best thing to do in Paris? Walk. A short but lovely one is from the quintessential cafes of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, across Ile de la Cité (with a stop at Notre-Dame, bien sur), to the Place des Vosges, where you can picnic in one of the city’s most breathtaking squares, steps from where Victor Hugo lived.
–Go shopping at Merci, the chic lifestyle emporium where you can snap up everything from stickers and stationary to swimsuits and espadrilles. Break for lunch in the lively Haut Marais at the Marché des Enfants Rouges, among the oldest markets in Paris. Afterward, stroll over to Canal Saint-Martin, where you can crisscross footbridges, enjoy a drink, and browse the shops that line the canal, including the design bookstore, Artazart.
–Explore SoPi (South Pigalle), where ancient streets are now home to hipsters; terrific brunch spots; and music, design, and vintage shops.
–Paris has an embarrassment of manicured gardens, parks, and squares, the smallest of which (like the one at Maison de Balzac) can be a revelation. But the sprawling Luxembourg Gardens manages to be whatever you want or need—grand or intimate, bustling or quiet—depending on where you choose to wander.
–Treat yourself to a ballet or opera beneath a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall at the gilded Palais Garnier, then hit the sidewalks for a meal at one of the cafe tables that dot the humming Rue des Martyrs.

 

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About the Author

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Rosenbloom is the staff columnist for the Travel section of The New York Times, where she has been a reporter for various desks (including Styles, Business, and Real Estate) for more than a decade. She has appeared on CNN’s American Morning, NBC’s The Today Show, and NPR’s The Takeaway.

 

Follow Stephanie on Twitter here!

 

 

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Follow the bloggers on the #AloneTime blog tour, stopping at Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York! For your next stop in Paris, it’s over to lovely Kaisha at The Writing Garnet!

 

 

 

 

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Merci Hayley Barnes and Stephanie Rosenbloom for my review copy and blog tour invite!