The Writing Garnet turns 5! Happy birthday TWG! #blogger #blogbirthday #TWGTurns5 #Awardwinningblogger

The Writing Garnet is officially 5 years old TODAY! When I started my blog back in 2016, I never envisioned it turning out the way that it has. It never even crossed my mind that my blog could turn into a multi award winning blog (yes, multi), nor did it cross my mind that my review quotes would make their way into physical copies of books or even on the cover of some. Without blowing my own trumpet, I am unbelievably proud of all of that. At the very beginning, my blog was created as my way of saying thank you to authors for writing their books which has allowed me to escape via their words, when things in my personal life have been difficult. It wasn’t created as a popularity tool (because clearly I wouldn’t have lasted 5 minutes had that have been the case), nor was it created merely to get free things because, in all honesty, I had no idea that that was even a thing when I first started.

Over the last 5 years I have met a wide variety of authors, met fellow bloggers, other like minded bookish folk, and found myself involved in a world that went beyond just loving books. I had never really had that before. I had never been able to sit and discuss books with people who had read the same book as I, nor would I have ever found the confidence to cart myself off to events such as Edinburgh Book Festival, Aye Write in Glasgow, or even more intimate events such as meeting the Orenda gang in Edinburgh (to name a few), if it wasn’t for a select few of people who, after ‘meeting’ through the online book world, have gone on to becoming real life friends (Jen, Mandie, Kelly, Joanne, Lainy, DC to name a few). Not only that, despite not having met them in real life yet, I have come to know even more people who I consider to be friends now, who one day I would love to be able to give them a hug (COVID permitting, obvs – special shout out to Liz B for being as true as they come). If I named each and every one of the people who I called friends and who I would do anything for, I would be here a while and would no doubt miss someone off so, to put it simply, if we talk, I adore you. Simple as, and I thank you for your kindness and support over the last 5 years.

For me, the highlight so far has got to be meeting Sue Perkins and Tom Fletcher as those were the times where I unintentionally embarrassed my little girl with my high pitched squealing and trampoline bounces. I think I was fair excited……. Would I have been able to meet them had it not been for my blog? Honestly? Probably not as I never knew events like that existed until I became a blogger. I have so many other authors, bloggers, publicists etc, that I would love to meet and I have everything crossed that that will become a reality.

I know blogging isn’t all about stats, but for the first time in ages I had a quick nose at the stats of TWG. In the last 5 years TWG has had:

160,424 views.
84,689 visitors.
1837 blog posts have been posted.

Also, I even worked out roughly how many books I have read over that time…..1270!!! Ermmmmmmmm, say what?

As I may have mentioned previously, 2020 for TWG wasn’t the greatest as, putting it quite bluntly, I was treated like dirt via the bookish community (not all of you, just to clarify), and it hurt me so much that I ended up retreating because I didn’t know what else to do because, as I have also said many times, I’m not the most popular of people and I don’t fit into the tight knit groups. I suppose my face doesn’t fit, so I knew that regardless of what I said and what I did, I wouldn’t have been believed which is unfair and incredibly hurtful. Because of that, my posts within the last year have been few and far between, however I still have been ‘here’ from afar and still able to keep my feet in the door so to speak. Again, I want to thank those who have stood by me, supported me, and been true friends during that time and continue to do so. I see you.

I am super shocked that my little, multi award winning blog turns 5 today. Yes there have been some ups and downs and confidence knocks along the way, and yes, at times I bit off more than I can chew and left myself over stretched. However the joys of anything in life is that you can learn from your mistakes and realise where you went wrong or what needs to change. There is only me running this blog and, even though I like to think that I can do everything, I physically can’t….I just wish it hadn’t taken me 5 years to realise that! Well, in all fairness it’s probably taken me over 20 years to realise that as I recently turned 31 but y’know, semantics.

Creating The Writing Garnet was probably one of the best, on the spur decisions I have ever made and I just want to thank every single author, publisher and publicist who have sent me countless books over the years and trusted me to review your books. I want to thank the organisers of book events of their hard work and dedication in bringing likeminded bookish folk together. I also want to thank each and every person I have come to know and admire for being true to themselves and becoming good friends of mine. I have your backs – you are all awesome. Major shout out to my fellow bloggers, and anyone who is thinking about starting a blog – you’ve got this! Just remember it’s okay to say no….

On that note, happy birthday to TWG! Heres to another year full of weird and wonderful books, intriguing debuts, and a truck load of reviews.

TWG x

#MarriedAtFirstSwipe @FabFrosty @simonschusteruk @teambatc #review

Delighted to be joining the blog tour for ‘Married at First Swipe’ by Claire Frost. As always, thank you to Becca and the team at Simon & Schuster for inviting me to take part and sending a copy my way.

Hannah lives life on the edge. Never one to pass up on a new adventure, she has truly been living her best life. But once the adrenaline wears off, she wishes she had someone to spend the quieter moments with too. Learning that her best friend’s online dating business has taken a hit, she comes up with an idea that just might solve both of their problems…
 
Jess has been with her husband for twenty years. They have a stable marriage, great kids and run their own businesses. But what looks like a perfect life from the outside has its own problems within, and with her business on the brink Jess can’t help but wonder where the spark has gone in her life, and whether settling down is all it’s cracked up to be.
 
When Hannah embarks upon her latest scheme: finding a man using Jess’s dating app and meeting him for the first time at the altar, both women start to realise the grass isn’t always greener. Can Hannah help her friend save her failing business or will Jess stop her from making what could be the biggest mistake of her life?
 
In the modern tech-fuelled world of dating, is it possible to find true love?

What does TWG think?

I’m all for girl power and females supporting others, which is very handy as if the Spice Girls needed two new members, I am sure Hannah and Jess would fit the bill tenfold! Plus, its handy because this novel is full of girl power and strong women! Strong females come in all shapes and sizes. Some find their strength by letting their tears out, whilst others share their strength by using various different coping mechanisms. Or, if you’re anything like Hannah, you’ll find ‘strength’ in asking your best friend of over 20 years to find you the man you’re going to marry….on the day you’re going to get married.  

No, you didn’t read that wrong, Hannah wasn’t going to see or meet her new man until the day of the wedding! I mean REALLY, does anyone really trust someone THAT much? I don’t think i could have done that at all. One, I’m far too nosey. Two, I don’t even know my own dream type, let alone someone else working it out. And three, I dont even want to get married!

Anyway, as completely bonkers as this story is, for the reasons mentioned above, I could NOT wait to find out the details, and whether Hannah actually made it down the aisle, or what happened in the future. It really was such a ‘rub your hands together with glee because you’re about to get some gossip’ type of read, and I was in my element.

Even though Hannah’s love life was the center of attention, Jess’ marriage ended up showing cracks, highlighting the fact that whilst marriage is a wonderful thing for those who want it, its always a work in progress, regardless of how long you’re with the other person for. Even I found Tom, her husband, infuriating because he was a lazy little sphincter. But then again, did Jess have her expectations to high?

Overall I really enjoyed delving into the lives of Hannah and Jess, and I especially love G-Ma – what an absolute character!! At times, however, I did find the character dialogue between the main characters to be a little stilted in the fluidty, and I felt that sometimes the dialogue didn’t have as much oomph in it as the rest of the story had. With that being said, I really did appreciate the distraction that Married At First Swipe gave me, and I throughly enjoyed how fun and totally out there the storyline was – I definitely recommend it for readers who like to know every little detail about someone, as well as readers who like their stories to be outside the box!

Buy ‘Married At First Swipe’ from Amazon.

#IfEverydayWasChristmas by Donna Ashcroft @donnashc @Bookouture #TisTheSeasonToBeJolly

Thank you, as always, to Bookouture for the tour invite and ARC. Here is my review of Donna Ashcroft’s newest novel, ‘If Every Day Was Christmas’.

Snow is falling, fires are crackling merrily, and Lockton tradition has everyone hanging a promise they’re determined to keep this Christmas on the tree in the village square…

Meg Scott has promised to make a success of her first solo Christmas. She runs a year-round Christmas shop in the little Scottish village, and is a fan of all things mulled, sparkly and festive. So when her warring family shows up on her doorstep, ready to spread discord and tension, Meg is determined not to let them ruin her favourite time of the year.

Meanwhile, Christmas-hating Tom Riley-Clark has been called to the Highlands to help his old friend at The Apple Cross Inn. He’s ready to work hard and has no time for mince pies, tinsel or hanging a promise on the tree: the thought of every day being Christmas is his worst nightmare, and you wouldn’t catch him dead buying a bauble. So everyone is surprised when Christmas-loving Meg and grinch Tom start to get cozy under the mistletoe.

But Tom has a big secret about his past, and in a small town like Lockton it’s hard to keep anything hidden for long. Will everything fall apart when Meg discovers who he really is? The pair are about to learn the hard way that some promises are impossible to keep…

What does TWG think?

Oh I wish it could be Christmas, every day….!!!!

Can you imagine it? Would you want it to be Christmas every single day? I wouldn’t, I think it would lose its sparkle! How about if you had a shop that was Christmas themed, so even in the height of summer when people are wandering around with money tucked into their sweaty bikini bottoms/swimming trunks, a shop would be selling snow themed ornaments. Every day would feel like Christmas then, wouldn’t it?

If you’ve ever struggled with ways to describe the festive season, then I suggest you study this book. If, after reading this, people STILL don’t quite get Christmas, then I will eat my hat!

Meg reminded me of Meg Ryan’s character in ‘Youve Got Mail’ – did anyone else think the same? Shes such a warm hearted, free spirited character who definitely has some oomph about her!

I’ve really been struggling with books of late, however I really was in my element with this as Donna Ashcroft never disappoints with her from the heart story telling. I’ve said this once before (or maybe more times than that), however I will happily say it again; Donna Ashcroft really is the Mrs Claus of fiction.

As always, the balance between romance, humour, and the ‘hook’, was absolutely spot on, giving me a little bit of everything whilst also leaving out nothing.

I, hand on heart, cannot fault this novel! Instead of wishing it could be Christmas every day, I cant help but wonder what it would be like If I Read Donna Ashcroft’s Novels Every Day!

A timeless, warm and homely read.

Buy now.

#ThisTimeNextYear by Sophie Cousens @SophieCous @arrowpublishing #LoveShineALight #review

It gives me great pleasure to be kicking off Sophie Cousens’ blog tour for her debut novel, ‘This Time Next Year’! My thanks, as always, go to Rachel and the Arrow team for the tour invite and ARC.

The e-book will be published on the 1st of August, with the paperback to follow in October. Here is my review:

Quinn and Minnie are born on New Year’s Eve, in the same hospital, one minute apart.

Their lives may begin together, but their worlds couldn’t be more different.

Thirty years later they find themselves together again in the same place, at the same time.

What if fate is trying to bring them together?

Maybe it’s time to take a chance on love…

What does TWG think?

Imagine going to a party to find that one of the hosts was born on the same day as you, the same hospital as you literally 1 minute apart, and your mums helped each other in labour. I mean, how crazy would that be, right?

Not as crazy as finding out that your name was never intended to be Minnie Cooper but the same name as your birthday twin…..huh.

Yes, Minnie Cooper. Yes, I snlaughed and no, I do not regret it! As for the fashion choice Minnie’s best friend, Leila, thrust upon on her, well, that was comedy gold! I have no idea how many times I laughed out loud at this book, all I know is that I do not have enough fingers to work it out!

‘This Time Next Year’ doesn’t have a serious undertone in general, however the storyline focuses on mental health and agoraphobia in more of a branching off manner, despite it having an impression on one of the main characters, Quinn. I say ‘impression’ loosely as I don’t want to give any of the storyline away, so please don’t think I am trivialising the importance of mental health because I’m not at all. I, along with millions of others, suffer with anxiety and depression.

Anyway, back to it! I really enjoyed Sophie Cousens’ novel and the humour that was laced throughout the entire read. It was so refreshing to read a book that contained enough humour to make me laugh out loud more times than I have in a while. I thought that the storyline was pure fun, pure indulgence and pure escapism. What more can you ask for?

Minnie’s love story isn’t like the one with Mickey, in fact it is completely different as it involves pie. Thousands of pounds worth of pie to be exact. Oh, and a super fan of Jennifer Aniston! Although to be fair, who ISN’T a super fan of Jennifer Aniston? She’s gorgeous!

I have a very strong feeling that Sophie Cousens’ novel is going to soar and, if an author can create a unique and hilarious love story that just keeps on giving, I absolutely cannot wait to see how Cousens’ puts her own individual spin on other novels in the future.

Minnie Mouse….sorry, Cooper, has a love interest and its not Mickey Mouse! Fun, loving, hilarious, and unique – definitely a catch in my eyes!

Pre-order now! (Ebook published 1st August)

Summer At Rachel’s Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts #PuddingPantry @_caroroberts @fictionpubteam #FoodForTheSoul

It was such an honour to be personally invited onto this blog by Caroline herself. Something I was not missing for the world – thank you for having me! Also thank you to the publisher for the eARC. Here is my review of ‘Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry’, the third book in the series.

The sun is shining as Rachel and her gorgeous beau, Tom, prepare to tie the knot at Primrose Farm.

It takes a village to pull off the perfect country wedding and Rachel couldn’t be more grateful for her friends and family as they roll out the haybales and string up the bunting – all she needs to do is focus on her Happy Ever After.

But no wedding is without drama. A face from the past is looking to stir up trouble in the village and there’s a secret following Rachel all the way up the aisle . . .

With old friends, new promises and a little borrowed time, will Rachel get the wedding of her dreams?

What does TWG think?

Oh my gosh, what great comfort food!

Ahem, sorry, did I say comfort food? I was meant to say comfort read! What a great comfort read! Although, while we are on the subject of food, did anyone else want to jump in the book and snaffle all of the treats? I’m so glad that the author decided to put recipes in there too!

‘Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry’ is book three in the series, and whilst I’m sure there will be a lot of people reading the series in various different orders, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do read the books in order, just so that you can appreciate the natural growth of the bigger picture and the various characters personalities. Trust me – there are a fair few colourful personalities in this book, and they need to be understood in their own way!

I really do love this series! It is such a comforting, homely series, and the addition of the third book kept that heartwarming momentum brilliantly. Despite there being a break between each book, everything flowed seamlessly between each new book, as though there had never been a break.

My only irk about this book was the fisticuffs scene because I felt that the ‘oooh’ and ‘ahhhh’ were a bit pantomime and a teeny bit immature for the situation at the time. You know in a comic when someone gets lumped and there’s a ‘kapow’ in a bubble? It felt a bit like that to me. I’m not saying that the person didn’t deserve being hit, because they did haha.

It was an absolute pleasure to catch up with Rachel and the gang at the Pudding Pantry, and of course ‘seeing’ the animals that had been there since the beginning like Mossy. What a cutie!

Grab a warm drink, a blanket and your comfy clothes, and lose yourself in this tantalising, mouthwatering read that will no doubt leave you warm, comforted, and incredibly hungry. A really, really enjoyable read.

Buy now.

#UnderAStarrySky @laurajanekemp @OrionBooks #Review #empowering

Many thanks to the Orion team for inviting me to take part in Laura Kemp’s blog tour for ‘Under A Starry Sky’, and for the review copy. I’m so excited to be reviewing it today!

Wanda Williams has always dreamed of leaving her wellies behind her and travelling the world! Yet every time she comes close to following her heart, life always seems to get in the way.

So, when her mother ends up in hospital and her sister finds out she’s pregnant with twins, Wanda knows that only she can save the crumbling campsite at the family farm.

Together with her friends in the village, she sets about sprucing up the site, mowing the fields, replanting the allotment and baking homemade goodies for the campers.

But when a long-lost face from her past turns up, Wanda’s world is turned upside-down. And under a starry sky, anything can happen…

What does TWG think?

Beautiful cover, beautiful title, and a story that matches. However it didn’t quite match in the way I was expecting, and I’ll tell you why;

As beautiful as the storyline may be, each chapter seemed to remove a layer like a piece of wrapping paper, ready to showcase what truly lay beneath all of the layers, meaning that there was so much more to the book that meets the eye. Wanda has been dreaming of travelling for many years, yet something seemed to always hinder her plans. That said, I think she can be forgiven for a little grief holding her back…oh and the fact that her sister had some rock and roll in her future.

This storyline made me chuckle and made me gasp in equal measures. I wasn’t expecting the novel to have such a deep, dark undertone to it and, to be perfectly honest, I felt a little uncomfortable at times reading Annie’s situation. Now, don’t take that as a negative, because its not. I mean it in the way that nobody should feel comfortable by the thought of abuse in any form, and I felt that Annie’s story was so realistically portrayed that it didn’t feel like fiction. It felt real. It felt like it was happening right there and then, in front of my very eyes.

Wanda was a little bit of complicated personality. She didn’t seem entirely convinced by her choices in life, and I felt like she wasn’t confident in doing what was best for herself, which was a shame yet on the other hand, a lot of readers will be able to relate to the type of person she is.

I loved the sense of empowerment that was laced through the book, as well as the feeling of hope when things go wrong. All of the characters had been through so much in their own individual lives, yet they all still believed in hope and the ability to search for the stars in the sky to help them on their way.

Empowering, inspirational, moving and incredibly relatable; I know that whenever I look up at the sky, like Wanda, Annie and Lew, the sparkling stars in the sky will be there to give me hope.

Laura Kemp, please hold me!

Buy now!

#TheWaffleHouseOnThePier – Tilly Tennant @TillyTenWriter @Bookouture #Review

I am absolutely delighted to be todays stop on Tilly Tennant’s blog tour for ‘The Waffle House on the Pier’. As always, thank you to Bookouture for inviting me to take part in the blog tour, and for the ARC.

Run away to Sea Salt Bay, where the sand is warm and soft, the sea is a perfect blue, and a candy-coloured waffle house is about to change Sadie’s life…

For as long as she can remember, Sadie’s grandparents have run the waffle house on the pier at Sea Salt Bay. With its pretty painted chairs, sweet smells, and the warm advice of her beloved grandparents, the waffle house is like a second home

But when Sadie’s grandfather dies, leaving her grandmother without an anchor, Sadie must make a difficult decision. She quits her job and moves back home, determined to keep things going. The trouble is, she knows nothing about running a business, and learning at a million miles an hour with a shop full of hungry people isn’t easy. When she nearly burns the waffle house down, she has to admit she needs to get some help.

Her ex-boyfriend Declan promises to be there for her but Sadie worries that getting too close is a mistake – especially as he has a new girlfriend now. And anyway she’s just met newcomer Luke, with his gorgeous suntan and mellow voice…

Sadie’s family have always loved Declan and they’re not too sure about Luke, leaving Sadie unsure which way to turn. A terrible accident at sea forces her to look into her heart, but what if it’s already too late to tell the right man that she loves him?

What does TWG think?

You know what REALLY bugged me?

The fact that I cannot give this book anymore than five stars :(. (Sorry Tilly, you can breathe now haha). If I could reach into the night sky and pluck out every single shining star there was, I would put them onto Amazon and co in a heartbeat. I truly, truly think that this novel is worth its weight in gold – I loved it. This is Tilly Tennant at her finest, and then some.

Why?

Because ‘The Waffle House on the Pier’ isnt just about what toppings you can put on your waffles, nor is it just about keeping memories alive. It’s about being strong enough to know when something in your life isnt right for you, something which Sadie took the guts to change when she realised that she wasnt entirely cut out for the career she had been working towards.

Not only that, this book is about learning not to settle for second best and being true to your heart. Sadie’s love life was questionable, and many of her loved ones felt as though she made the wrong choice by choosing to ‘dump’ Declan. Every man she dated after him was always being compared to him and his personality. Although I was gutted to find that she didnt date an Ant….

Sadie wasnt given enough credit by her mother for the way she conducted her life, which I felt was a shame as, even if parents dont like the choices their children make, surely they should support them in their endeavours regardless? That certainly wasnt the case there and i really did feel as though Sadie was quite a misunderstood character.

For me, the waffle house may have been a sweet family connection, however it was the true heart and soul of the storyline. A real stepping stone, if you will, to allowing Sadie and her family to finally realise their worths.

Like I said before, this was Tilly Tennant at her finest and, despite having read many, MANY of this authors books, I will even go as far to say that ‘The Waffle House on the Pier’ is my most favourite book that Tilly has written so far.

A delectable, heartwarming, generous, free spirited novel that was absolutely spot on.

Buy now.

#APerfectCornishEscape @phillipaashley @AvonBooksUK

Many thanks to Avon for inviting me to take part in Phillipa Ashley’s blog tour today, and for supplying me with an ARC.

Summer in Cornwall is the perfect time for a fresh start…

Seven years ago, Marina Hudson’s husband was lost at sea. She vowed to love him forever – but when kind-hearted Lachlan arrives in Porthmellow, should she deny herself another chance at happiness?

Tiff Trescott was living life to the full as a journalist in London – until her boyfriend’s betrayal brought it all crashing down. Fleeing to her cousin Marina’s cottage, Tiff feels like a fish out of water. And when brooding local Dirk wins a day with her in a charity auction, she’s thrown headfirst into Cornish life.

This summer promises new beginnings for both Tiff and Marina. But are they too good to be true?

What does TWG think?

Life is very uncertain for all of us right now. Meet ups with friends and family in a close knit situation is forbidden. Travelling for a weekend away to a favourite spot can earn us a slap on the wrists. So how can we escape from a locked down world, without breaking the rules?

One word, books. Actually, scrap that.

Two words….Phillipa Ashley. If you arent allowed to go to Cornwall, then this author can bring Cornwall to you.

Romance, friendships, hope; what more could you want? I wasnt too surprised by many of the elements within this story, yet that didnt deter me from enjoying Tiff and Marina’s personalities and their lives. Dirk is a bit of a questionable character for many reasons which become evident the more the storyline progresses, whereas I couldnt help but forge a bit of a soft spot for Lachlan. He seemed to add so much joy to the storyline, a breath of fresh air if you will.

What I loved most about this book was the way it allowed me to getaway and lose myself in the picturesque setting that was being described to me absolutely beautifully. Phillipa Ashley has such an uplifting way with words which made ‘A Perfect Cornish Escape’ a highly enjoyable read.

Buy now.

Tell That To My Heart @ElizaJScott1 #review

Many thanks to Eliza J Scott for providing ARC’s for her new book, and happy publication day!

Jemima Dewberry wears her heart on her sleeve. Her weakness for bad boys, coupled with her track record for making bad decisions has led to endless heartbreak. The only trouble is, she can’t seem to kick the habit.

On top of that, her “dream” job at Yorkshire Portions magazine hasn’t turned out to be what she’d hoped, and she seems to have developed the knack of annoying her boss without even trying. It doesn’t help that the new girl seems to have taken an instant dislike to her. All that’s keeping her there are her best friends Anna-Lisa and Aidey, who have picked up the pieces of her shattered heart more times than they care to remember.

When Jemima’s latest boyfriend turns out to be no better than the rest, the hurt and humiliation is almost unbearable. She declares she’s finally through with love, and swears off men for life. But when charismatic Caspar De Verre walks into the office with his dangerous good looks and mesmerising smile, she’s utterly captivated, and her promises to Anna-Lisa and Aidey not to let her heart rule her head are soon forgotten.

But is Caspar all he seems? Anna-Lisa and Aidey have their doubts. And Herbert, the happy-go-lucky black Labrador Jemima’s looking after, doesn’t seem to like him either.

As Jemima falls for Caspar’s charms she finds herself being forced to confront the struggle between her head and her heart. But which one will prove the most powerful?

And will Jemima get the happy-ever-after she so desperately craves?

What does TWG think?

Yay, a new series! The first book in a new series always gets me excited because it’s the first insight into a bunch of new characters. We get to learn about their families, their history, what makes them tick. Its exciting….especially as I am so nosy. Win win really, don’t you think?

This isnt my first rodeo when it comes to reading Eliza J Scott’s novels and, having really enjoyed what i have previously read, I had very high hopes for ‘Tell That To My Heart’.

To be perfectly honest, I thought I was reading a book that had been written by a completely different author. I’m not too sure whether those feelings of mine were due to it being a new series, a new bunch of characters, and the uncertainty of not knowing where the storyline was going to take readers, however I couldnt seem to feel the usual spark that the author laced her words with.

I’m not saying that those feelings lasted the entire duration of the novel, although they did last until the halfway mark. That was when things began to change for me as a reader.

Honey, Caspar and ‘the boss’, really needed their heads banging together. What utterly aggravating people they were! Saying that, their annoying personalities made for great reading. Yes, horrible characters can add negativity to a storyline, yet they can also make the storyline even more addictive as you want them to get their comeuppance and will continue reading until they get just that.

As I said above, it was the halfway point in the storyline when I began to really get into into throws of the storyline. I also began to feel the authors presence more, as though she had grown in confidence as the storyline progressed. I felt that Eliza J Scott was finally believing in her characters and her storyline, and as a reader I really appreciated that connection to the author.

Romance plays a big part in ‘Tell That To My Heart’, as Jemima struggled to see what was right in front of her, instead letting a good looking, disaster waiting to happen type of man, cloud her judgement. We have all been there though, I’m sure!

Overall I really did enjoy getting to know Mim and her friends, and i am really looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.

Buy now.

#TheNeverHaveIEverClub by Mary Jayne Baker (@MaryJayneBaker) @Aria_fiction

Happy publication day, MJ! I am so excited to be kicking off your blog tour today with a review of ‘The Never Have I Ever Club’. My thanks, as always, go to Aria for inviting me to take part in the tour and for supplying me with an ARC. Let’s get this show on the road then, shall we?

Robyn Bloom thought Ash Barnes was the love of her life – until one day he announced he was leaving her to fly halfway across the world.

Months later, Robyn is struggling to move on – but then she has a brainwave: The Never Have I Ever Club. Her handsome next-door neighbour Will helps her bring their fellow Yorkshire villagers together for some carpe-diem-inspired fun.

From burlesque dancing to Swedish massages, everyone has plenty of bucket-list activities to try, but it doesn’t take long for Robyn to realise what – or who – her heart truly desires: Will.

There’s just one problem: he’s Ash’s twin brother.

Make that two problems: Ash is moving home… and he wants Robyn back.

What does TWG think?

‘Oh, hasn’t he grown?’ – legit the most funniest sentence ever….in context though, clearly! That line had me proper laughing out loud, the timing could not have been better if it tried. Out of context though, that sentence is pretty meh – just trust me on this, ok?!

It’s been a while since I last settled down with a Mary Jayne Baker book, and I have to say that I had really missed reading this authors books. MJB has a mind like a sailor and the humour of Rik Mayall and Michael McIntyre, entwined with her own uniqueness, how could I NOT miss that?!

Now, MJB has a brilliant sense of humour, however after i had read multiple chapters of this book, it dawned on me that MJB’s usual persona wasnt shining through. It felt like she had been told off, put on the naughty step, coming back as good as gold without her usual ‘I’m gonna break out my inner Xtina and get Dirrrrrty’. For me, it felt as though something was holding her back and that’s not the style of MJB I adore.

That said, once the storyline hit the whole love triangle with Robyn, Will and Ash, as well as the Never Have I Ever Club, MJB’s on point, laugh out loud, innuendo filled, sarcastic humour came shining through! I’m sure I even saw little cherubs fly through the air singing ‘Hallelujah’!

Robyn is definitely a marmite character….marmite in the sense that you’re undecided whether you are going to through the jar at her or not. It was abundantly clear that she adored Fliss. It was also abundantly clear that she had no idea what she wanted. Robyn had a nice enough personality, yet her self centred personality really irked me. Will, on the other hand, was an absolute gentleman and so funny! Okay, his martyr moments gave my eyes a bit of excercise, and I wished he would just deck his brother already, but, apart from that, hes a good egg.

The Eurovision element to the storyline was brilliant. It actually made the song contest seem quite fun! Definitely something different to come across, but it really enjoyed it as it just fit with all of the colourful personalities of the characters. I say colourful……rainbows and fireworks. Together. At the same time….

‘The Never Have I Ever Club’ is a humbling, laugh out loud read which, despite starting off on the wrong foot, ended on douze points. With serious and lighthearted situations blending well together, it was the strength of belief and hope which gave this storyline its shining glory. Oh….and the wonder of twins having the same size package or not….

Buy now.