#CoverReveal!! SH! An @Aria_Fiction author is back with a brand new book, but WHO? #secret

Getting asked to do the cover reveal for a publisher and its author, is such an honour! I was completely overwhelmed to be asked. Big thank you to Aria for asking me to be involved!

I was under strict instructions to keep this reveal super close to my chest. Well, I was allowed to tease on social media with the above picture, but that was it. Are you curious? I hope so! Today I have the pleasure of revealing the cover of an authors BRAND NEW BOOK. It’s not just ANY author, no siree!

The author in question released their previous novel in July 2016.
Their previous novel is sporting an average of 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon UK.
The author in question lives in Ireland and, as I am sure you have already guessed, is published by Aria (an imprint of Head of Zeus).

Any idea? No?
I’ll give you another hint: Authors first novel.

It gives me great pleasure to reveal to you, the cover of…..

Sian O’Gorman’s upcoming novel, Always and Forever!

A warm, witty, compelling and emotional novel about love, family and coming to terms with your past. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.

How can you find yourself again, when you can’t face what you’ve lost?

Joanna Woulfe is looking to get her life back on track after her husband John leaves their family home. Once a high-flying PR Director, Jo now looks after her son Harry and seeks support only from her mother Marietta and her best friend Nicole. But Nicole’s own marriage is facing its greatest ever crisis, and Marietta, too, is distracted by the reappearance of an old flame, ex-Showband-singer and lothario Patrick Realta.

Soon Jo enrols with a colourful local amateur dramatics group and begins a flirtation with the handsome young Ronan Forest. But is she really ready to move on from her old life – and from her years of marriage to John? And what was it that happened three years ago that sent the couple into free-fall?

Before long Jo will realise that is only by looking back that she will ever truly be able to move forward..

Isn’t it super pretty?! It also sounds rather fab, I CANNOT wait to read it! If, like me, you are rather excited for this novel, you can pre-order it right now from Amazon.
‘Always and Forever’ will be published on the 1st May 2017 by Aria! Can you wait that long?

#BlogTour! #Review – Jessie’s Promise by Rosie Clarke @Aria_Fiction #historicalfiction #aria

‘Monday Monday, so good to me. Monday morning, it was all I hope it would beeee.’
-bops-.
What day is it again?! Ahem! Today I am rather honoured to be kicking off the blog tour for Rosie Clarke’s, ‘Jessie’s Promise’, published by Aria Fiction, with a review. What a way to kick off a brand new week!
My name is TWG and I am an Aria Addict….
Enjoy!

DEVON 1918. When Jessie Hale loses her nursing job at the end of the First

World War, she leaves London to become the nursemaid to the Kendle family in

Devon.

On arrival she finds the family in disarray. Captain Kendle is a loving father but is

traumatised by the war and kept at arm’s length by his frosty wife. When their

elderly Nanny suffers a bad fall, Jessie has to try to bring the household together.

Gradually Jessie finds her place in their lives, becoming devoted to Captain

Kendle’s lively son Jack, his lovely, but quiet daughter Catherine, as well his

invalid Mother.

Jessie soon starts to love her life at Kendlebury Hall, but problems arise when

her feelings for her employer start to change…

What does TWG think?

Set in 1918, lifestyles were incredibly different in terms of finding employment, amongst other things. If you were deemed a ‘well-respected’ member of the work force and irreplaceable, your word was pretty much ‘it’. However, if you were at the lower end of the work force, for example a nurse (deemed replaceable), it would be lucky if anything you said was believed by those higher up. After all, who would you believe; a top-notch, irreplaceable member of the team, or a…nurse? Similar circumstances were featured within the storyline for ‘Jessie’s Promise’; it was as if you needed to keep your friends close, your enemies closer and someone well respected to be your ally. It did shock me I must admit.

When Jessie found a new position as a nursemaid in Devon, she soon realised how much thicker her already thick skin, needed to get. Especially seeing as members of the family she worked for seemed to disagree with every single thing she uttered. In the first few chapters leading up to Jessie’s new job, I did find myself struggling with the overall storyline as I couldn’t find the edge I needed, to hold onto and fully invest in the characters.
I’m not one to give up on books, especially when it sounds so promising and my cup of tea, so I didn’t! Soon enough I found myself three-quarters of the way through the book, without even realising. Somewhere between Jessie’s old job and her new job, a light switched on and I was hooked on the storyline and its fabulous characters. Well, not ALL of the characters were fabulous! Lets just say one in particular was shockingly hateful; everything about this character rubbed me up the wrong way and her actions towards those around her were diabolical. I was impressed with Rosie Clarke’s way with words, especially where THAT character was concerned; hats off to the author for including a character who will be spoken about for a very long time!

Despite having a rocky start with the novel, it proved itself to be such a wholesome, jam-packed and emotional read; I am SO glad that I didn’t give up on it and carried on reading. There were moments of devastating circumstances and eye-opening situations, yet the author kept the momentum one hundred percent; and didn’t falter when it came to continuing the storyline after those events. I really did enjoy ‘Jessie’s Promise’ and I have to say that Catherine was my most favourite character, without a doubt.

A learning curve within a novel, Jessie’s Promise is full of just that, promise. With three-dimensional characters and enough storyline substance to keep you going through until dinner, ‘Jessie’s Promise’ is a book that just HAS to be devoured this year. The first book I have read by Rosie Clarke, I am about to go nab her others!

Thank you Aria!

Buy: Amazon // Kobo // iBooks // Google Play

About the author.

Rosie Clarke was born in Swindon, but moved to Ely in Cambridgeshire at the

age of nine. Married at eighteen, she ran her own hairdressing business for many

years. Rosie started writing in 1976, combining this with helping her husband

run his antique shop. She loves to write for her own enjoyment and to give

pleasure to her millions of fans. Rosie was the well-deserved winner of the 2004

RNA Romance Award and the Betty Neels Trophy.

Website

#Review! My Husband’s Wives by Faith Hogan (@GerHogan) @Aria_Fiction #AriaAddict

Blurb.

One man, three wives, too many secrets. A heart-warming story of love, loss, family and friendship.

Paul Starr, Ireland’s leading cardiologist dies in a car crash with a pregnant young woman by his side. United in their grief and the love of one man, four women are thrown together in an attempt to come to terms with life after Paul. They soon realise they never really knew him at all.

The love they shared for Paul in his life and which incensed a feeling of mistrust and dislike for each other, in his death turns into the very thing that bonds them and their children to each other, forever. As they begin to form unlikely friendships, Paul’s death proves to be the catalyst that enables them to become the people they always wanted to be.

What does TWG think?

How the wife do I even begin this review?! You’ll probably know by now that blurbs and I aren’t always on speaking terms; they usually go on the naughty step unread as I like to find everything out for myself! Faith Hogan’s book was no exception. The only hint of information I took was from the title. I pretty much assumed that a woman’s husband was wanting wives for a rainy day. That said, he could have been competing with Ross Gellar for the most amount of divorces!

The first chapter of the book was a bit like a stepping stone to the storyline, as you get to learn A LOT of information about the main man, Paul, and his love life. I did find it a little tricky to keep up at first, and sometimes I felt as though I was trudging through mud slowly, trying to digest every piece of information. However, the more of the book I read, the quicker the information was filed into its relevant places and things started to make a little more sense.

My first impression of Paul wasn’t exactly a positive one. The way he acted upon things from the moment he appeared in the storyline, got my back up. He came across as a rather possessive natured man, and very self-assured (in a negative way). Don’t get me wrong, it is good to have confidence in your own abilities, but when it turns pompous and up their own bootyshakalakalah that’s when it can become a flaw. I must be one of the few to think that as he wasn’t exactly short on lady friends!

Each one of the ladies involved, have completely different personalities to each other. There was the ‘level headed’ one, the ‘straight to the point, emotional’ one, the ‘glamorous, rich daddy’s girl’ one and lastly, the ‘new ‘kid’ on the block’. I’m not being judgemental, but without giving too much of the storyline away, I’m having to describe the characters differently. I also found that my opinions of the ladies (as above), helped me keep track of the storyline and each of the events.

My Husband’s Wives is certainly full of ‘what the….’ moments, as well as ‘omg! what a dic…tionary’ moments. The storyline is out to shock you, squeeze you for emotions, as well as making you wonder what else is going to crop up!

After my initial mud workout during the first chapter, I managed to go with the flow and found myself rather immersed in their Pandora boxes of life. My advice to you whilst reading Faith’s book though; ensure that you’re completely focused on what’re you’re reading otherwise you won’t pick up on little pieces of information that just may help hit the nail on the head.

A surprising, jam-packed, rollercoaster of a read, ‘My Husband’s Wives’ is a book that will keep you on your toes, as well as realising that people you thought you knew aren’t always as they seem.

Thank you Faith Hogan!

My Husband’s Wives by Faith Hogan, published by Aria Fiction, is available to buy now from Amazon UK | Amazon US

Blog tour Review! Christmas at The Dog and Duck by Jill Steeples (@jillesteeples)@Aria_Fiction

Blurb.

Ellie Browne has left behind her high-flying job in London to return to the charming Buckinghamshire village of Little Leyton. Working shifts at The Dog and Duck and running her own doggy-day-care business, Ellie’s looking for a much simpler way of life and a good old fashioned Christmas.

But Little Leyton’s landscape is changing; Johnny Tay, Ellie’s ex, wants to pick up where they left off; sultry property developer Max Golding, has moved into the village and is ruffling feathers; and rumour has it that the pub, which holds a special place in Ellie’s heart, might be sold. Suddenly, life’s looking a whole lot more complicated…

Can Ellie juggle her emotions and commitments in time to celebrate Christmas?

What does TWG think?

Absolutely thrilled to be taking part in Jill Steeples’ blog tour! -does happy dance- I LOVE her books. Not only is today TWG’s stop on the tour, it is also the last day of it! -sniff-. Don’t worry, all is not lost though, if you buy the book you’ll be able to see the beautiful cover whenever you like! Win win really! I have the joy of bringing you not one, but TWO Jill Steeples delights today in the form of a review and an extract. Hope you enjoy!

Sometimes when life gets a bit too hectic and crowded, all we need to do is take a step back, breathe and focus on our next step. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Ellie seemed to find it simpler than she thought it would thanks to a few four legged friends. Ellie’s life seemed to do a U-turn as she found herself back in her hometown and back working in her local, but she doesn’t quite seem to mind. After all, a random man has seen her looking like a drowned rat with a dog, and was ever so easy on the eye! Could Ellie find her reason for staying in her hometown permanently? Or will the random man turn out to be a wolf in sheep clothing?

When it comes to Ellie and her life, the phrase ‘home is where the heart is’ seems to ring rather true. She strikes me as the type of person that seems to hide behind a mask and tries to keep her emotions bottled up. Because of that, I warmed to her straight away as I am exactly the same. Plus it made for ace reading as I tried to work out whether any decisions she made would be done via her head, or her heart.

I thought that the harrowing topic a lot of the book was based around, was rather humbling. It opened my eyes to the devastating truth which in turn made the storyline stand out. Honestly? I thought Jill was rather brave to incorporate it into her story, as it is a topic that people do have a rather harsh opinion about, especially in the media. During the shift in the storyline, I got to see another side to a few of the characters, some of which have been holding their cards rather close to their chests until then. Lovely to see.

Jill Steeples has written such a refreshing and humbling read that will grab the hearts of the readers in more way than one. A story about staying true to yourself and what you believe in, as well as never giving up without a fight. Such a cosy, inspiring read that can be read time and time again, whatever the time of year.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in return for my honest views.

Christmas at The Dog and Duck, by Jill Steeples, published by Aria is available to buy now from Amazon UK.

Extract.

Taken from Chapter 3 of Christmas at The Dog and Duck by Jill Steeples.

Oh yes, definitely handsome. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Polly

raising an eyebrow at me, her half-smile suggesting that she very much approved of my latest

customer. It was almost as if the Goddess of Dating had been eavesdropping on our

conversation and had sent down a shining ray of hope, in the form of this man, telling us to

keep the faith.

‘Oh, hello,’ he said, with a warm smile of recognition, ‘I’ll have a pint of the special,

please.’

Why were my fingers shaking all of a sudden? I pulled his pint carefully, grateful to fix

my attention on the golden nectar filling the glass, allowing me the opportunity for some

much needed pulling-myself- together time.

‘So,’ he said, after he’d taken a sip from his glass, his tongue searching out the creamy

froth left lingering around his lips, ‘how’s your dog?’

I must have seen that very manoeuvre, the tongue-licking one, performed by dozens of

men newly acquainted with their pint of beer, but suddenly it had taken on a whole new level

of meaning.

‘My dog? Ha ha, oh yes, my dog.’ What was wrong with me? Acting as though I'd never

met a good looking man before! Well, I suppose it had been a long time. ‘She’s fine. I mean,

he’s fine. Milo, you mean?’

The man shrugged and looked at me blankly. Gawd. How could he possibly be expected

to know the name of my dog? And what must he think of me? The first time we met I was

wading about in a river, soaked through, pretending everything was perfectly normal and now

I was a giddy wreck, babbling incoherently.

‘Yes, Milo’s fine,’ I said. ‘Only he’s not actually my dog. I was just looking after him.

That’s what I do for a living, you see. Well, apart from working in here. I look after dogs.

Dog-walking, dog-sitting, that kind of thing. And pouring pints of beer too.’

I was wittering on, divulging far more information than this man probably wanted to hear,

but I couldn’t help myself. I always spoke rubbish when I was nervous.

‘Look here’s my card.’ I pulled one out from my back pocket and handed it to him. He

took it and turned it over in his fingers, a bemused expression on his face.

Blog tour! TWG is getting festive with ‘A Winter Affair’ by Minna Howard (@Adelica) @Aria_Fiction

TWG is getting festive…in September! No time is the wrong time for cosy festivities, especially where Minna Howard and ‘A Winter Affair’ is concerned! I had the honour of being asked by Aria Fiction to review this book on tour, after my review of Minna’s ‘Mothers and daughters’ went live. Truly honoured and thank you for the ARC!

Blurb.

With a recent divorce and empty nest Eloise Brandon is facing Christmas alone until a harried phone call from her godfather changes everything.

Accepting his challenge, Eloise finds herself en-route to Verbier and to her godfathers chalet in the beautiful Swiss Alps to help cater for some seriously rich, high rolling guests.

What ensues makes it a Christmas to remember. A heady alpine mixture of old friends, ex-husbands, mega-rich, super demanding guests, a dishevelled proprietor and Bert the dog.

What does TWG think?

Having just finished reading Minna’s previous book, I was rather excited to read ‘A Winter Affair’. After all, Christmas in the Swiss Alps, how can you not be excited? Easy for me to say I guess, I’m not the one cooking and running around after high-end clientele all day. Luckily (or unluckily) for Eloise, she gets to spend the festive season with other people, and not alone as originally planned. Will Eloise find herself burying her head in the snow if it gets too much? Or will she brave the slopes like a trooper and grab the challenge by the ski-boots?

There is nothing worse than the prospect of a Christmas on your own, unfortunately, Eloise was faced with exactly that. Christmas day would be just Eloise….and her boxes. Or would it?

By the end of the first chapter, I was already curled up on the sofa in my Minnie mouse dressing gown, with my kindle in one hand, and a cuppa in the other. I had no intention of moving from the sofa until the book was completed. There was something quite different about ‘A Winter Affair’, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was. All I knew was that I had to keep reading, the force behind Minna’s writing was too powerful to ignore.

I couldn’t believe how ‘busy’ the storyline became, there seemed to be a constant conveyor belt of situations and turmoil to try to resolve. Usually a storyline like that would be too much in an ‘easy read’ but I felt as though the books true depth came from the intense circumstances and feisty characters. Just like any book that I read, there were characters that I gelled with more than others, and some that had me riled up. I won’t say the names of the characters, but all I will say is that one is male, and the other female! Doesn’t narrow it down at all I know ;).

I LOVED the dog, he is the legend of the book. The things that Bert got up to had me in absolute hysterics. I adore the way Minna described his antics, as well as the responses of the characters around him. Genius. I think he should get his own book to be honest, ‘Bert the dog…and friends’.

The cosy feeling captured me early on in the book, so I was rather hopeful that it would stay with me as I continued reading. Which it did! I consider ‘A Winter Affair’ to be an easy read, a book that doesn’t make me think too much yet is soulful with its words.
The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was the fact the wrap up of the storyline felt a tad hurried.

Minna Howard has written such a soul enriching read which involves you in every aspect of the storyline through her words alone. When certain characters were sad, the book came to a standstill in a good way, it was as though the focus needed to be on that one person and as the reader, I felt as though I connected to the emotions that that one person expressed. It’s incredible that 26 letters of the alphabet create such comprehensive words with intense meanings, tugging at your heart-strings in the process.

‘A Winter Affair’ is a book about going for it, sticking with it and realising your own worth. Nobody can fix everything for you, but they can often give you the tools to help you on your way. Take Eloise for example, if she can grab life by its ski-boots with the help of Minna Howard, then who are we to judge? Another fantastic read from the talented Minna Howard. If you have to unwrap something this festive season, make sure it is this book. It will give you your own kiss under the mistletoe this Christmas.

A Winter Affair by Minna Howard, published by Aria, is available to buy now from Amazon UK.