Book Synopsis:

A beautiful and emotional story about grief, the promises we make and finding love in the most unexpected of places.

Woken in the middle of the night by the horrific news that her estranged sister has been killed in a fatal car crash, Sophie abruptly finds herself guardian to a niece, Alana, she never knew existed. The baby gives Sophie a way to cope with her grief, and a new focus to her life, but the unexpected appearance of Samson, Alana’s father, wanting his daughter to now live with him, threatens to destroy Sophie’s newly formed family. Can Sophie and the seemingly feckless Samson, reach a compromise, or will Sophie be forced to give up her sister’s baby?A beautiful page turner perfect for fans of Diane Chamberlian , Amanda Prowse and Imogen Clark.

Her Sister’s Baby is available in ebook now for the bargain price of £1.99. You can get you copy by clicking on the link below.

Extract:

Chapter 2

    Sophie took a deep inhalation; it was hard to concentrate with a baby screaming in her ear. She spotted a high chair in the corner of the kitchen and managed to strap an extremely indisposed Alana into it so she could at least use both hands and not worry about spilling hot water on her niece.

    She almost had the bottle prepared, when Sophie somehow heard the doorbell ring over the sound of the crying. She went to answer it, only remembering as she reached the kitchen door that she couldn’t simply leave the baby alone – goodness knows what could happen! Getting frazzled, she lifted her niece out of the highchair, which bizarrely seemed to make Alana even crosser than she’d been when she was originally put in it.

    The doorbell continued ringing, becoming more insistent, forcing Sophie’s blood pressure to soar even higher. The sheer number of locks and chains on the front door reminded Sophie her sister’s neighbourhood was perhaps not as salubrious as her own. There was no peephole, so she opened the door gingerly, ready to slam it shut quickly if necessary.

    What faced her could have been the god Thor, or perhaps someone from the cast of an Australian soap opera. One who worked out. A lot. At least 6’2’’, lean, very tanned and muscular, with shoulder-length, wavy blond hair. He wore a faded t-shirt and board shorts despite the fact the day hadn’t heated up yet. He, rather incongruously, held a pink teddy bear in his hands. Sophie met his eyes, which were the intense blue of the sea on a cloudless summer’s day. Her examination was brought to an abrupt halt by his wince as the full force of the baby’s crying hit him.

    “Is that Alana?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the baby, which Sophie was quite glad about as she was sure she looked an absolute state.

    “Who are you?” she asked, politely, forcing herself back to the reality of a stranger standing on the doorstep enquiring after her niece, but, bizarrely, not recognising the baby.

    “Is Natasha in?” he responded.

    “Are you a friend of hers?” Sophie questioned. Was it her imagination, or was this guy being deliberately elusive? And why did he seem so fascinated with the screaming child in her arms? – his attention still hadn’t left her.

    “You could say that,” he answered after a pause. “I’m Samson. Alana’s father.”

About The Author:

Emma grew up and lived in London, before falling in love and moving to Wales to marry her own hero. Emma now lives with her husband, 4 children, and many animals a few miles outside of a small Welsh market town. She can often be found in rivers attempting to control two overexcited chocolate labradors. Seven charming romances are currently available from the Amazon bestselling authoress: Number 1 Australian kindle bestseller, ‘His Secret Daughter’, is the heart-rending story of Iris, a woman falling in love with the father of her child. The only problem is she never told him they had a daughter. The beautiful landscape around her home gave Emma the inspiration for ‘The Green Hills of Home’, a tale of love and duty in which country girl Gwen struggles to save her family home and avoid her feelings for her handsome, suave new boss. Is he quite all he seems? ‘Snowed in for her Wedding Day’ is a novella picking up Gwen’s story as her wedding day approaches, but with terrible weather, and an absent groom, will she have the happy ending she so deserves? ‘Just Desserts’ is a novella about confused chef Leah, who’s falling for her handsome French co-worker Jean-Claude, but meant to be marrying to Dan in just a few weeks! Who will she choose? ‘Her Perfect Hero’ was released in July 2015 as ‘I Need a Hero’, it’s a lovely comic romantic read for anyone who’s ever searched for Mr Right (and failed to find him!). Despair of Bronte, a romance writer, incapable of spotting when the perfect man is right next door! Full of horses, country houses and dentists, just beware of the foul-tempered cat Mr Darcy! ‘Starstruck’, proves that falling in love with a rock star is harder than you’d think! When newly divorced Kate finds school friend, now super famous rock star Joseph Wild, on her doorstep, her whole quiet, ordinary life is thrown into disarray. Is the attraction between them enough to make up for all the hurdles they have to cross if they want to be together? Latest release, ‘Her Sister’s Baby’ is a beautiful and emotional story about grief, the promises we make and finding love in the most unexpected of places. Emma likes (in no particular order): cake, books, Cary Grant films, prosecco, chocolate, guinea pigs, knitting, quilting and happily ever afters!

Book Synopsis:

Love is in the Cornish summer air…

Wedding planner Ellie Moon is dreaming up the most beautiful bespoke wedding for Charlie and Daniel, owners of Cornwall’s favourite cream tea bus. Even though her own life has been turned upside down and she’s had to rent out her charming Cornish cottage with its climbing roses and lavender beds, Ellie is determined to give them a day to remember.

Her new tenant, handsome mechanic Jago, keeps popping up around the picture-postcard seaside village of Porthgolow. When they’re thrown together in the effort to help his elderly father get a spring back in his step, she discovers that he is full of surprises. Can romance bloom and give Ellie the fresh start she’s been wishing for?

The Cornish Cream Tea Wedding is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

I’ve been a huge fan of this series from the start so a new installment is always hugely exciting! Once again the author has written an absolutely gorgeous, uplifting book which I really enjoyed.

It was great to be back in Porthgolow a place I wish actually existed as I would definitely be going to visit. The author’s vivid descriptions make you feel like you are actually there, tasting the salty air and seeing the beautiful views. A lot of the old characters make an appearance again which I was absolutely delighted about, especially when The Cornish Tea bus was mentioned. It was so nice to be back there and I happily relaxed into the book as I read.

This book follows Charlie and Daniel on the run up to their wedding and it was so lovely to be able to witness this event having followed their relationship from the start. The story is told from the point of view of Ellie the wedding planner hired to help organise Charlie and Daniel’s big day. I found it interesting to follow her through the book and learn a little more about her. She’s a very hard worker and loves her job which was lovely to read about but she doubts her ability sometimes which made me want to reach into the book and give her a hug. Her blossoming relationship with Jagu was so lovely and I enjoyed watching the two of them grow closer.

Overall I loved this book and raced through it in a couple of days. There was always something happening to keep my interest and I soon found myself lost in the character’s world again. As you can imagine the wedding planning doesn’t go as expected and I enjoyed watching everything play out, hoping everything would work out on the day.

This is the fourth book in the series and while it could probably be read as a standalone it probably is better to read the books in order.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Cressy was born in South East London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. She studied English at the University of East Anglia and now lives in Norwich with her husband David.

When she isn’t writing, Cressy spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.

Book Synopsis:

A young woman’s body floats in the Dubai marina. Her death alters the fates of six people, each one striving for a better life in an unforgiving city.

A young Irish man comes to stay with his sister, keen to erase his troubled past in the heat of the Dubai sun. A Russian sex worker has outsmarted the system so far – but will her luck run out? A Pakistani taxi driver dreams of a future for his daughters. An Emirate man hides the truth about who he really is. An Ethiopian maid tries to carve out a path of her own. From every corner of the globe, Dubai has made promises to them all. Promises of gilded opportunities and bright new horizons, the chance to forget the past and protect long-held secrets.

But Dubai breaks its promises, with deadly consequences. In a city of mirages, how do you find your way out?

Diving For Pearls is published on the 3rd June 2021 in ebook and hardback. You can pre-order your copy using one of the links below.

My Review:

I thought Diving For Pearls was a well written, absorbing read which was very thought provoking.

The book is told from the points of view of six main characters who have all had very different experiences of life in Dubai. We have Siobhan who likes her expat lifestyle and tends to spend a lot of money, her brother who is visiting, their maid Gete who is from Ethiopia, Tahir a taxi driver and Lydia a Russian prostitute. Through these characters the reader starts to understand a bit more about Dubai and to understand that it isn’t as glamorous as it first might appear.

As the story unfolds, we learn more about each of the characters and discover that each of them are trapped in their own way which was quite poignant to read about at times. My heart particularly went out to poor Tahir having to work long shifts in a hot taxi to come home to a shared dorm room with not much food. The fly on the wall glimpse made me feel that I knew the characters personally and I started to feel quite upset with how things were for them. I found myself wishing I could somehow go into the book and help.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which I found hard to put down at times. It was very interesting to get to know the characters and to find out a bit more about Dubai which is a city I’ve always found fascinating, though one I might not be visiting now. The murder mystery side of the story kept me guessing until the end which I always enjoy. The different storylines were very thought-provoking and I have found myself thinking about the story long after I have finished reading the book. It’s definitely made me think about what secrets and people big cities may be hiding. If you are after a book for a book club or would like a great book to enjoy on the beach this summer then I’d definitely recommend this book.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Double Day for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Jamie O’Connell has had short stories highly commended by the Costa Short Story Award and the Irish Book Award Short Story of the Year. He has been longlisted for BBC Radio 4 Opening Lines Short Story Competition and shortlisted for the Maeve Binchy Travel Award and the Sky Arts Futures Fund. He has an MFA and MA in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. He has worked for Penguin Random House, Gill Books and O’Brien Press. Diving for Pearls is his first novel.

Book Synopsis:

Product Description

Titus Llewellyn-Gwlynne, actor/manager of the Red Lion Theatre, has lost a backer who was going to fund a theatrical tour – when unexpected salvation appears.

Their home theatre in the East End of London having been bombed during the war, The Red Lion Touring Company embarks on a tour of Britain to take a play written by their new benefactress into the provinces.

As they make their vagabond, singing way, they remain unaware that they leave behind in London a man consumed with thoughts of revenge. Revenge which follows them obsessively from town to town, ending in its final act before the last curtain.

This charming series transports the reader to a lost post-war world of touring rep theatre and once-grand people who have fallen on harder times, smoggy streets, and shared bonhomie over a steaming kettle.

Love And Miss Harris is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Love And Miss Harris is a delightful and hugely enjoyable book which takes the reader on a nostalgic journey through the 1950s.

The author has written an fantastic book with some unforgettable characters who I enjoyed following throughout the book. I loved the little details the author has added so that the characters really seem to come to life. This was also true of the villains in the book who were very well written and believable.

I don’t think I’ve read a book about a theatre company at this time so I found it very interesting to learn more about what life would have been like. The reader is given an inside glimpse into their lives on the road from where they lived to what they ate which I loved. The other side of things is also shown with descriptions of the gang warfare at the time, including some of the weapons they used which sounded completely terrifying.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more in the series. The 1950s has always been one of my favourite eras so I drank in all the fabulous period details the author included, especially some of the songs that were popular at the time which I thought was a great inclusion to the book. If you are a historical fiction fan and are looking for a great new series or just looking for a fun, enjoyable read then I suggest giving this book a go.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Farrago books for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Peter Maughan’s early career covered many trades, working on building sites, in wholesale markets, on fairground rides and in a circus. He studied at the Actor’s Workshop in London, and worked as an actor in the UK and Ireland, subsequently founding a fringe theatre in Barnes, London. He is married and lives currently in Wales.

Introduction:

SHORT BOOKS AND GREAT STORIES TACKLING THE ADULT LITERACY CRISIS

One in six adults in the UK – approximately 9 million people – find reading difficult, and one in three people do not regularly read for pleasure. Quick Reads, which celebrates its 15^th anniversary this year, plays a vital role in addressing these shocking statistics by inspiring emergent readers, as well as those with little time or who have fallen out of the reading habit, with entertaining and accessible writing from the very best contemporary authors.

OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE: The Baby is Mine (Atlantic)

LOUISE CANDLISH: The Skylight (Simon & Schuster)

KATIE FFORDE: Saving the Day (Arrow)

PETER JAMES: Wish You Were Dead (Macmillan)

CAITLIN MORAN: How to Be a Woman, abridged (Ebury)

Over 5 million Quick Reads have been distributed since the life-changing programme launched in 2006. From 2020 – 2022, the initiative is supported by a philanthropic gift from bestselling author Jojo Moyes. This year, for every book bought until 31 July 2021, another copy will be gifted to help someone discover the joy of reading. ‘Buy one, gift one’ will see thousands of free books given to organisations across the UK to reach less confident readers and those with limited access to books – bring the joy and transformative benefits of reading to new audiences.

Book Synopsis:

They can’t see her, but she can see them…

Simone has a secret. She likes to stand at her bathroom window and spy on the couple downstairs through their kitchen skylight. She knows what they eat for breakfast and who they’ve got over for dinner. She knows what mood they’re in before they even step out the door. There’s nothing wrong with looking, is there?

Until one day Simone sees something through the skylight she is not expecting. Something that upsets her so much she begins to plot a terrible crime…

From the author of Our House, the British Book Awards Crime & Thriller of the Year.

You can now buy all 6 Quick read titles in paperback and ebook for the amazing price of £1. Up until the end of July 2021 every time a book is bought one will be gifted to help more people discover the joy of reading.

Please click on the link below to get your copy or why not visit your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

As most of my friends will tell you I’m a huge advocator of reading. I love discussing and sharing books with people so in my mind the Quick Reads program is an amazing idea, especially as it means I have more people to share my passion with. The main reasons I hear for people not reading are they haven’t got the time or they think they aren’t smart enough, both of which, I feel, are addressed in the Quick Reads selection of books. They are all designed to be easy reads that will appeal to everyone and are all about 100 pages long so can fit into a limited time frame. I chose to review The Skylight as I’m a huge fan of this author so I was intrigued to read a short story from her.

The author does a great job of quickly absorbing the reader into the story and the setting for the book. We are introduced to the interesting main character Simone who seems a bit of an insecure and needy person. My opinion of her changed as the story went on and while I initially felt sorry for her I quickly grew to dislike her. In my opinion none of the characters were very likeable but it was fascinating to learn more about them, especially how they interacted with each other which I thought gave away a lot of their personality.

I must admit that I haven’t read many short stories but I was impressed with how the plot unravelled with the author managing to fit a lot into the pages, including a few flash backs which I thought very clever. The book is gripping from the start and the atmosphere increased until I wasn’t able to put the book down. I found myself both wanting to continue reading as I wanted to find out what happens but also to stop as I was feeling increasingly uneasy about Simone and wasn’t sure I wanted to know what she would do next.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to friends. I’ve actually treated myself to the other Quick Read books which I hope to read soon.

Huge thanks to Hannah Bright from Midas publicity for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Louise Candlish is the Sunday Times bestselling author of fourteen novels. Our House, a #1 bestseller, won the Crime & Thriller Book of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards, was longlisted for the 2019 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and was shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award. It is soon to be a major ITV drama made by Death in Paradise producers Red Planet Pictures. Louise lives in London with her husband and daughter. Visit her at LouiseCandlish.com or connect with her on Twitter @Louise_Candlish.

Book Synopsis:

At the first wedding, there‘s a shock

The second wedding is unexpected

By the third, Delphie thinks nothing could surprise her. But she’s wrong . . .

Delphie is enjoying her brother’s wedding. Her surprise last-minute Plus One has stunned her family – and it’s also stopped any of them asking again why she’s still single. But when she sees all the missed calls that evening, she knows it can’t be good news. And she’s right.

Delphie has been living her best life, loving her job, her friends, her no-strings relationships and her dream house by the sea. Now she has to question everything she believed about who she is and what she wants. Is her mum right – is it time to settle down? Or does she want to keep on trying to have it all?

Each wedding of a glorious summer brings a new surprise. And as everything Delphie thought she had is threatened, she has the chance to reshape her future . . .

Three Weddings and A Proposal is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Three Weddings and A Proposal is an absorbing, uplifting book which was much more than I was expecting it to be.

Firstly I absolutely loved the main character Delfie and I really enjoyed following her through the book. I actually didn’t think I’d like her at the start as she seemed too perfect but as the story went on the reader gets to see what she’s made of and I found my opinion of her changing. It was very inspiring to watch her pick herself up and to see her have the courage to do the things she wants to do.

This book has some very interesting themes in it surrounded gender which I found fascinating to explore. I was very sad to learn certain expectations are still put on women so that they feel they have to choose between their career or having a family. It seems so unfair and I found myself getting frustrated with the situation on Delfie’s behalf. It was interesting to think about these issues as I read and to wonder how I would have dealt with things if I was it the same situation.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which was just the escapist read I needed at the moment. I was expecting it to be a purely romantic book so I was excited to learn there was more to the story then I thought. Whilst I thought this was a fairly easy read it still had plenty of surprises, some darker than expected, which ensured I kept reading. There is a bit of romance but that wasn’t the main focus of the book and helped provide some of the lighter moments, along with Delfie’s fabulous girlfriends.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Sheila O’Flanagan is the author of nearly 30 bestselling novels including The Women Who Ran Away, Her Husband’s Mistake,The Hideaway,What Happened That Night and The Missing Wife. She lives in Dublin with her husband.

Book Synopsis:

WOULD YOU SAVE THE MAN
WHO DESTROYED YOUR LIFE?

When paramedic Megan Lowe is called to the scene of an attempted murder, all she can do is try to save the victim. But as the man is lifted onto a stretcher, she realises she knows him. She despises him. Why should she save his life when he destroyed hers?

Jess Foster is on her way home when she receives a text from Megan. Once best friends, the two women haven’t been close for years, not since the night when they were just the teenage girls whom no-one believed; whose reputations were ruined. All Jess can think is, you had it coming.

Now Megan and Jess are at the centre of a murder investigation. But what secrets are they hiding? Can they trust one another? And who really is the victim?

Perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, Lucy Foley and Lisa Hall, You Had It Coming is a thrilling tale of suspense and dark secrets.

My Review:

You Had It Coming is a intriguing, tense and very twisty thriller from a new author for me.I was quickly absorbed into the story and found the book hard to put down so it’s perhaps best to not start this last thing at night like I did.

The story is told from the point of view of Megan, Jess and Detective Sergeant Bridget Kennedy which helped show the reader all the different sides to the story. The characters are all great creations which who I enjoyed reading about. I liked that the author spends time developing the characters in the first half of the book so that the reader feels they really know them and understanding what makes them tick. I felt very sorry for the two girls Megan and Jess having to relive everything they went through in their past. This story does cover some difficult subjects but the author does this with great sensitivity so it’s never graphic which might cause upset.

The pace of the book gradually increases as the book goes on and the many twists helped keep me guessing. Just when I thought I had figured out who the killer was something would happen to make the story spin off in a completely different direction. All the characters seemed to have a motive and I think I suspected all of them at one point. I found it very enjoyable to follow the case whilst trying to work out who the killer was. This was the first book I’ve read from this author and I’d definitely be interested in reading more from them in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Viper for my copy of this book via netgalley.

About The Author:

B.M. Carroll was born in Blarney, a small village in Ireland. The third child of six, reading was her favourite pastime (and still is!). Ber moved to Sydney in 1995 and spent her early career working in finance. Her work colleagues were speechless when she revealed that she had written a novel that was soon to be published. Ber now writes full-time and is the author of ten novels, including Who We Were, published by Viper in 2019. Find her on Twitter @bmcarrollauthor.