TWG’s Don’t-Snooze-You’ll-Lose Deal Day With….(@suewatsonwriter) @LittleBrownUK

At the weekend I told you that this month would be full of brilliant book deals, I wasn’t lying! Today’s book deal is courtesy of one of my all time favourite authors, and her latest release.
An author who believes that lemon cake fits nicely with love and lies. An author who wanted to channel her inner Mary Berry and bring bake off to a book, with Bella. An author who, next month, will have another scrumptious book for us to read about cake…and Christmas…and cake…

Any guesses who I might mean? Of course, it’s none other than the very talented and wonderful Sue Watson! I LOVE this lady, she has swiftly become one of my good friends. I can personally vouch for this book today as I wrote a review for it when it was released:

Blog Tour! ‘We’ll Always Have Paris’ with Sue Watson!

It is a 99p book ladies and gentlemen!!!!

Blurb.

Does first love deserve a second chance?

When she was almost seventeen, Rosie Draper locked eyes with a charismatic student called Peter during their first week at art college, changing the course of her life forever. Now, on the cusp of sixty-five and recently widowed, Rosie is slowly coming to terms with a new future. And after a chance encounter with Peter, forty-seven years later, they both begin to wonder ‘what if’ . . .

Told with warmth, wit and humour, We’ll Always Have Paris is a charming, moving and uplifting novel about two people; the choices they make, the lives they lead and the love they share.

I probably sound like a worn out record, but, just like the other books that feature on the deal day, all deals are on for a LIMITED TIME ONLY. Unless of course a date is specified. At 99p for such a brilliant read, it is definitely one of my top books of the year (and I have read many already). Please don’t snooze with this one as you will regret it!

Buy ‘We’ll Always Have Paris’ from Amazon UK

If you already have read this book, or any others of Sue’s, please go and support her by writing a review. Don’t think of it like an essay, it can be a wonderfully written, constructive two lined review, at least you have written one! Authors really do thrive on the constructive reviews that they are given. Think of reviews to authors like the Eiffel Tower to Paris….

Book review of The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts by Annie Darling.

The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts by Annie Darling.
Released date for Kindle: 19th May 2016.
Release date for paperback: 25th August 2016.
Published by: HarperCollins.
Available to buy online from: Amazon UK and HarperCollins.

‘Once upon a time in a crumbling London bookshop, Posy Morland spent her life lost in the pages of her favourite romantic novels.
So when Bookend’s eccentric owner, Lavinia, dies and leaves the shop to Posy, she must put down her books and join the real world. Because Posy hasn’t just inherited an ailing business, but also the unwelcome attentions of Lavinia’s grandson, Sebastian, AKA The Rudest Man In London™.
Posy has a cunning plan and six months to transform Bookends into the bookshop of her dreams – if only Sebastian would leave her alone to get on with it. As Posy and her friends fight to save their beloved bookshop, Posy’s drawn into a battle of wills with Sebastian, about whom she’s started to have some rather feverish fantasies…
Like her favourite romantic heroines, will she get her happy ever after too?‘

Do you believe in happy endings? Happily ever after? Or are you a cynic and believe in happy never after?
Woah, woah. I do apologise, I think I’ve gotten ahead of myself already! I nee to ask you a pretty serious question, well, maybe more than one. More serious than my ‘happy ending’ question. You ready? Sure?
……
……
Do you like books?
Romance books?
Cake?
Books?
Um…..what else…..
Books?!?
Bookshops?
BOOKS?!?!

Phew! I thought I was going to have to lay down with a book then if you had said no! I mean, how can you not like books?! Anyway, now we have that serious question sorted, I can go a read this book again and eat cake….can’t I? No? I have to give you more reasons than ‘books’ to read this beauty? Oh. Well aren’t you a spoilsport…..but go on then!

Meet Posy. She loves books, romance novels to be precise. Isn’t too fussed on blood and gore. She has been part of ‘Bookends’ history for as long as she can remember, but never in her wildest dreams did she think she would take over Bookends the bookshop. Neither did anyone else though, especially Sebastian,  a pain in the……bookshelf, so RUDE! But seeing as Posy was left the bookshop by  the previous owner in her will, she is determined to prove everyone wrong. Including herself. Can she turn the failing bookshop into the wonderful bookshop that it once was? Or will the pain in the posterior, Sebastian, prove to be more than a pain in the suit pocket and get in her way?

Why did I choose this book I hear you ask…..because I love books. Did you guess that? Before I go any further I would like to say a MASSIVE thank you to Annie, HarperCollins and Netgalley for allowing me to review this book before the release date!
What an incredibly uplifting, humorous powerful story this is! If you know your romance novels, like Posy, you’re in for a treat. Not only have you got innuendo humour and sarcasm, you have the true beauty of the quotes from classic novels jumping out at you throughout. My heart went out to Posy multiple times in the story because you can tell she is an old soul. A soul that is hopeful for her happy ending, but has been dealt the very short straw so far. Met with multiple issues, in more ways than one, Posy and her colleagues fight for what they believe in. Bookends. You go through the ups and the downs with the Bookends family which made it feel more realistic and relatable, rather than just a boy meets girl, happy ending type story. Annie Darling has written a book with gusto, historical references and the power of determination. At one point during the story, I wanted to climb into my Kindle and give Posy a hug, and let her know that she could do it. Sounds silly really doesn’t it? Or maybe it just means that this book can give you an escape, and that is down to Annie’s writing. It’s not often you can feel the words, but I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of how it all flowed and came together. Especially how loveable most of the characters were as well. I say most, there are two that made me go ‘what the…..bookmark!!!’, but without those two, it wouldn’t have been the heartfelt story it is. Plus, seeing as I am never ashamed to admit this, I did cry!
If you want a book that makes you curl up and feel cosy, that makes you reaching for the cake and an old classic book (after you have finished reading this one of course), then this book is for you. Humour and hugs in one book, what more could you want? Definitely my favourite book of May so far!

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday by A.L.Michael. Book Tour!

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday by A.L.Michael.
Published: 29th April 2016 by Carina UK.
Available to buy from Amazon UK.

The #houseoncamdensquare tour bus has stopped by my blog today! Super excited to be taking part in my very first book tour for such a talented author! First all of all I would like to say a big thank you to A.L.Michael and Sara for keeping me right with the information for this tour! Think it’s time I put A.L.Michael out of her misery and let you all know what I thought of Goodbye Ruby Tuesday! You comfortable? I shall begin…..

‘Ruby, Evie, Mollie and Chelsea were the bad girls at school. But Ruby was the baddest. Evie fought her anger, Mollie fought her mother and Chelsea…well, Chelsea just fought. But Ruby set her sights on a bigger stage. And together, they dreamed of a future where Ruby could sing, Evie could make art, Mollie could bake, Chelsea could dance – and all of them could finally feel at home.A decade later, the girls are reunited for the funeral of Ruby, who took the world – and the charts – by storm, before fading too soon. And Evie doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry when she learns that Ruby has left them a house on Camden Square – the perfect place for them to fulfil their dreams. But does she dare take the plunge, and risk it all for one last shot at the stars?’

Remember having a group of close friends at school? A group of people with extremely different backgrounds and very different personalities? Meet Ruby, Evie, Mollie and Chelsea, four girls each with their own distinct pasts.  Unfortunately, not all of their pasts were as ‘ruby’ as they might have hoped. To be fair, who’s are? After many years of lost contact and growing up, the girls get to reunite in sad circumstances, for Ruby’s final ‘party’. The remaining girls; Evie, Mollie and Chelsea have taken very different paths in their lives, but all paths have led them back to each other. But why? Because of their friend, Ruby. Will Ruby’s death bring the girls closer again? Or will the girls leave their memories and their old friendships in the past?

In a couple of hours I had read 135 pages, I couldn’t put it down! The only thing that forced me to put the kindle away was the fact it was gone midnight and I had to be a grown up. What.a.book! Oh my goodness. A story of four childhood friends, each with their own very different personalities, disliked each other sometimes, but were still best friends no matter what. A.L.Michael, can I join the gang?! Pleaseeeee!! I felt quite sad that they had lost contact over the years though and that it took an unfortunate circumstance to reunite them. I found all of the characters to be very likeable, well, the main ones anyway! That rarely happens. I do have a favourite character though, little Esme. A little girl with on point humour and talks sense. Wait, I’ll rephrase that. She talks. The sort of person you would go to advice about, apart from she’s little and that’s probably not ideal, but you know what I’m saying. Anyway!
Throughout the story you learn about each of the girls individual pasts, and I found that to be such a clever way of writing as you could see for yourself how much they have grown over the years. They always fought for what they believed in, and they might have the opportunity to fight again…in more ways than one! Despite some of the deep subjects within the book, I found it to be such a light-hearted and very entertaining read. It contains humour, stupid mistakes, men, but most importantly, dreams. If you believe in it, it’s worth it.
I hadn’t read A.L.Michael’s previous books (even though I have one in my ‘to read’ pile) and now I am rather sad that I didn’t find her work sooner. That said, she has set the bar quite high with Goodbye Ruby Tuesday. Every page had me wondering what was going to happen, what else were they going to find out, and what one liners will Esme come out with next. For me personally, that makes a brilliant book to read because not only was it captivating, it had me snorting like a pig and laughing like a dolphin at the same time. I especially loved the bookish references throughout. If you’re a book nerd, you will appreciate those even more so!
I am so honoured that I was given the opportunity to read such a relatable and outstanding book. Such high praise for A.L.Michael! Goodbye Ruby Tuesday is definitely a book that I will remember for a long time. One slight critique I do have……..I didn’t want it to end! I wanted more! I cannot wait to see what the girls get up to in the next book of the series, extremely excited already. I definitely recommend this, everyone needs to have a dream, and everyone needs to be able to fight for it. Goodbye Ruby Tuesday shows you how…

A London Affair by Jan Ellis

A London Affair by Jan Ellis.
Published: 12th April 2016 by Endeavour Press.
Available to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US in Kindle format.

‘Turning her back on university, Kate hopes to find an exciting opportunity that will take her away from wellies and wet sheep in the English countryside to the glitz and glamour of London.
However, after a year selling chutney on a chilly market stall, the prospects for a glittering career in the capital are looking increasingly unlikely.
All that changes when Ned, the intriguing buyer from a smart London deli, brings a welcome chance to follow her dream, and Kate finally embarks on a new chapter, leaving behind rural life and ex-boyfriend, Steve, in exchange for six months in the hectic café scene.
In Chelsea, Kate finds a bunch of ready-made friends in her flat-mates and grows close to Clare, Imogen, Freddy and the glamorous Russian heiress, Valentina. Imogen’s many comical attempts to find Kate a boyfriend backfire for Kate, but result in a twist in Immy and Freddy’s relationship.
Friendships deepen and secrets are revealed when Kate accepts an invitation to spend Christmas at the coast with Ned.
Back from the holidays, the flat-mates receive news that changes everything and forces Kate to make some big decisions: stay in London, return home or follow her heart to Cornwall?’

Do you remember what it’s like to have a choice about your life looming over your head? Remember making the big decision to begin your adult life as you choose, regardless of the hurdles, or begin your life the way that someone else wants you to? To be honest though, how many teens/twenty-something actually knew what they wanted to do when they grew up? A plan? I did, but life threw me curveballs. Just like Kate actually. She makes the decision to start her new found freedom the way that she wants, and not what her parents wanted her to do. Risky move? Probably, considering Kate has no idea what she is letting herself in for. She could find herself landing on her feet, or she could find herself regretting every single choice that she makes. Hopefully her new friends she finds herself bonding with, are good influences on her….

A London Affair was only the second novella (short story) that I have read, and it’s the first book of Jan’s that I have read as well! Huge thank you to Jan for giving me the opportunity to read her book! The first half of the book, I found myself realising that I was incredibly nosy as I wanted the characters and their pasts to be delved into a bit more, HOWEVER, as it is a novella, and you’re not going to find out what they had for breakfast in 1994, my nosiness doesn’t make the book bad at all. It just makes me realise that I am infact…..incredibly nosy and curious! By the second half of the book, I didn’t want it to end. I loved following Kate’s life in the story, finding out what choices she made and how her life turned out in the end. Several times whilst reading the book, I found myself feeling rather sorry for a couple of the characters because of the cards that they were dealt! Are people really that ignorant as to who’s around them? A London Affair is very romantic in multiple parts, there is always something that will make you go ‘awwwww!’. Well, if you’re a slush puppy like me that is. You never know! The story was also such a light and refreshing read, full of good intentions, bad choices and a girl trying to live her dream. What’s not to enjoy?