Release Day Round-Up #19

Welcome to a bumper release week, there is something for everyone this week:

A Home in Sunset Bay by Rebecca Pugh

Published: 9th February 2016

Publisher: Carina UK

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

There’s no place like home…

Enough is enough! The always perfect Laurie Chapman had jumped in her car and raced as fast as she could from London heading to Sunset Bay and (she hopes!) the open arms of her estranged sister…

Mia Chapman loves running Dolly’s Diner in the picture-perfect coastal Cornish town of Sunset Bay. Now that her and Grandma Dolly’s dream is finally a reality Mia has never been prouder! Until Laurie suddenly turns up on her doorstep… How can she forgive the sister who walked away?

Once upon a time Mia and Laurie were best friends. Back together after so long, the time has come for the sisters to figure out what went so wrong all those years ago – and whether they can ever put it right!

I love the sound of this book, I just love uncovering family mysteries. This is Rebecca's second novel, sadly I haven't yet read her first one Return to Bluebell Hill but its on my list. If her writing is anything like her lovely book reviews it will be a delight to read.

Time to Say Goodbye by S. D. Robertson

Published: 11th February 2016

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 352

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Is there ever a right time to let go?

HOW DO YOU LEAVE THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE MOST?

Will Curtis’s six-year-old daughter, Ella, knows her father will never leave her. After all, he promised her so when her mother died. And he’s going to do everything he can to keep his word.

What Will doesn’t know is that the promise he made to his little girl might be harder to keep than he imagined. When he’s faced with an impossible decision, Will finds that the most obvious choice might not be the right one.

But the future is full of unexpected surprises. And father and daughter are about to embark on an unforgettable journey together . . .

I just finished reading this last night and it was stunning. It has some incredibly heart-wrenching moments in it which will make you cry. I found it a very original read as I've not read anything like it before and it really made me think about  life in a new way. This is going to be one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished it as I know it will me. Thank you S. D. Robertson for such a wonderful book. This is a must-read 2016.

Song of the Sea Maid by Rebecca Mascull

Published: 11th February 2016

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages:  312

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

As a child living on the streets of London, then in an orphanage, Dawnay Price grows up determined not to let her background stand in the way of her ambitions.

In an era where women rarely travel alone, especially for scientific study, Dawnay sets sail aboard The Prospect to the beautiful Iberian Peninsula. Amid rumours of mermaids in the sparkling waters, she makes some unexpected discoveries, including what it means to fall in love.

Having fought hard against convention, Dawnay is determined to put her career above all else. Yet as war approaches she finds herself divided by feelings she cannot control. 

I'm about a third of the way through this book and so far I'm enjoying it. Dawney may be a character who has not had the best start in life but she is on a constant mission to improve herself and I love that. The writing is very detailed and delivers a real sense of place which is a joy to read. Looking forward to following Dawnay's journey more.

So that's my three favourites from this week, are you going to read any of them? Check out my release dates page for links to other books released this week.

Fix You by Carrie Elks

Fix You by Carrie Elks

Published: 4th February 2016

Publisher: Corvus

Pages: 355

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

On New Year's Eve, 1999, Hanna and Richard meet. She is a born and bred Londoner with plans for a career in journalism. He is the son of a wealthy New Yorker and destined for Wall Street. As Hanna and Richard go back to their own worlds they keep in touch, and when Hanna has her heart broken it's Richard she turns to. They reunite and fall deeply, madly in love.


But they can't possibly imagine the ways their love will be tested. Fifteen years after they first meet, neither can bear to hear the other's name spoken. Then one day Hanna walks into Richard's office and reveals a shocking secret. Richard must decide if he can forgive her. And both need to choose whether to take a second chance on happiness, or if their love is beyond repair?

Review

Fix You by Carrie Elks is the love story of Richard and Hanna spanning over twelve years. Richard and Hanna first meet on New Year’s Eve 1999 when Hanna is filling in as a waitress for her mother at Richards’s stepmother’s party, as soon as the pair first lock eyes with each other it’s obvious that these two have chemistry. Initially they stay just friends as Hanna spends more time with Richard’s younger sister Ruby. Until Hanna gets her heart broken and Richard steps in to comfort her and finally they get together, or so you think but as the distance between them and a series of tragic events occurs Ruby bails out on the relationship leaving Richard heartbroken. As the years pass their paths cross again and again but will they ever find their happily ever after.

The initial chapter begins in 2012 when Hanna visits Richard in New York and drops a massive bombshell on him, which had me gripped as when someone drops the “we have a baby” line drama usually follows. We’re then taken back to 1999 where Richard and Hanna first meet. They seem an unlikely match the goth-clothed, snappy British teenager and the all-America clean cut business student but they have an instant chemistry which oozes off the page. They form a friendship over email and through various family gatherings but I was just longing for them both to get together as a couple. When they finally did I was so happy as these two belong together. But the happiness was short lived and then torn apart again.

I did feel that the middle part of this did drag a little bit, there’s so many things that get in the way of them being together that I did start to get a bit annoyed. I also felt annoyed by the ending as I felt the story came to a natural ending a couple of chapters before the end of the book and I’m not sure what these chapters added to the story.

I loved how real life events were captured in the book, such as the beginnings of social media sites which we take for granted today and the devastating impact which 9/11 had on the world.  Without these influences we wouldn’t have seen just how self-sacrificing Richard had to be when he joined the family business and gave up his dream and also how tough it must have been for Hanna to walk away from him again.

If you’ve read “One Day” by David Nicholls then you may enjoy this book as the set-up is similar with us dipping in and out of Richard and Hanna’s lives over the years. I did find this a more enjoyable read. I laughed and cried at various points in this book and was overall more emotionally connected to the characters.

One last point, I did find the sex scenes in this book are quite detailed and lengthy so if you’re not a fan of that then be warned.

Overall I found Fix You to be an enjoyable and emotional read which for the majority of the book kept me gripped with what was going to happen next between Richard and Hanna. I’d like to give this book a rating of 4/5 as it wasn’t quite perfect for me. I’d also like to thank the publishers for sending me this copy to review.

You and Me, Always by Jill Mansell

You and Me, Always

Published: 28th January 2016

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 368

Available in Hardcover and on Kindle

  Order now from Amazon

Blurb

On the morning of Lily's twenty-fifth birthday, it's time to open the very last letter written to her by her beloved mother, who died when she was eight.

Learning more about the first and only real love of her mum's life is a revelation. On the same day, Lily also meets Eddie Tessler, a man fleeing fame who just might have the ability to change her world in unimaginable ways. But her childhood friend Dan has his own reasons for not wanting Lily to get too carried away by Eddie's attentions.

Before long, secrets begin to emerge and Lily's friends and family become involved. In the beautiful Cotswold village of Stanton Langley, nothing will ever be the same again...

Review

You and Me, Always is only the second book I’ve read by Jill Mansell but already her writing style has added her onto my must-read list. Luckily she has an extensive back catalogue for me to read so I look forward to many hours of enjoyment from this authors books.

At the start of You and Me, Always we meet Lily on her twenty-fifth birthday just as she is about to read the last letter written to her by her mother, who died when Lily was eight. This was a very bittersweet opening for me as you could feel the lost love between mother and daughter and this made me a shed a little tear but as the chapter progresses Lily is given some joy when she finally learns the full name of her mother’s true love Declan Madison and decides she wants to contact him and find out just why he was so special to her mother. Later that day Lily gets another birthday surprise when she meets film star Eddie Tessler sitting in her friend Patsy’s kitchen, after which Lily’s life becomes a little more hectic.

As Jill introduced the other characters into the story I felt like I had become part of their little gang and had a sense of belonging as I watched Patsy go on yet another comical and disastrous date, as Coral struggles with having feelings for a new man for the first time since her husband Nick died and as Lily and Dan playfully avoid their true feelings. Lily is the main character in this book but I loved how the other characters all have things going on in their lives too, making the village of Stanton Langley feel very real and somewhere I loved reading about.

When newcomers Declan and Eddie arrive in the village Lily’s world is turned upside down. Declan helps Lily to remember her mum and she feels a real connection to him, probably wishing he was a real dad. Film star Eddie falls for Lily and introduces her to a life of film premiers and red-carpet treatment, but is this the life she really wants or does she just want a quiet life back in Stanton Langley with that special someone. One thing is for sure she’s not prepared for facing her past and things that have been kept secret for far too long.

You and Me, Always is a novel which is jammed packed with drama from the start, with many likable characters, all set in the scenic village of Stanton Langley and I loved reading every page. It’s a novel about friendship, love, loss and just how to deal with secrets that are maybe best kept hidden. It’s a novel I thoroughly enjoyed  and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a drama filled read which will make you laugh and cry (or that could be just me) and overall leave you with a warm cosy glow when you’ve finished. A well-deserved 5 out of 5 and I cannot wait to read Jill’s next one.

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley who provided me with a copy for review purposes.

Release Day Round-Up #18

Here are my picks this week to kick off February's releases:

Fix You by Carrie Elks

Published: 4th February 2016

Publisher: Corvus

Pages: 355

Available on Kindle and in Paperback

Order now from Amazon

On New Year's Eve, 1999, Hanna and Richard meet. She is a born and bred Londoner with plans for a career in journalism. He is the son of a wealthy New Yorker and destined for Wall Street. As Hanna and Richard go back to their own worlds they keep in touch, and when Hanna has her heart broken it's Richard she turns to. They reunite and fall deeply, madly in love.


But they can't possibly imagine the ways their love will be tested. Fifteen years after they first meet, neither can bear to hear the other's name spoken. Then one day Hanna walks into Richard's office and reveals a shocking secret. Richard must decide if he can forgive her. And both need to choose whether to take a second chance on happiness, or if their love is beyond repair?

I was lucky enough to be sent a review copy of this (thank you Corvus)  and all I can say is go and read it, its such a heart-breaking tale of missed opportunities and right place wrong time or wrong place right time. You'll read this and long for these two to be together because they are just perfect together. Check back later for my full review of this wonderful book.

Reader, I Dumped Him.. by Lorelei Mathias

Published: 4th February 2016

Publisher: Maze

Pages: 375

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

This story is a celebration of the people that bring you back to life when your world closes in: your mates.
Relationships come and go, but the Break-up Club membership never truly expires.

Holly Braithwaite and loveable loser Lawrence have been together for five years. But the obvious cracks in their relationship can no longer be ignored and Holly soon finds herself saying ‘it’s not you, it’s me.’

In the shock aftermath of their break up, Holly finds unlikely companions in Olivia, Harry and Bella. Together, they form the Break-up Club, as they support each other through their mutual melancholy and find ways to love, laugh and function as human beings again.

Break-up Club meets every Sunday. Each week, as the comedy and drama unfolds, they discover a new BUC ‘rule’. And, one by one, the rules become vital markers on their journey to recovery . . .

‘BREAK-UP CLUB’
To our members, we’re the first emergency service

I think this sounds like it could be a really funny read and perfect for those of us who tend to avoid Valentine's Day and all the loved-up couples that go with it.

The Ex by Alafair Burke

Published: 2nd February 2016

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Pages: 309

Available in Hardback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Widower Jack Harris has resisted the dating scene since the shooting of his wife by a fifteen-year-old boy three years ago. An early morning run along the Hudson River changes that when he spots a woman who eerily but thrillingly echoes his past. Eager to help Jack find love again, his best friend posts a "Missed Moment" item online and days later, a woman responds...
Olivia Randall is one of New York City's best criminal defence lawyers. When she gets the phone call informing her that her former fiancé, Jack Harris, has been arrested for a triple homicide there is no doubt in her mind as to his innocence. The only question is who would go to such great lengths to frame him - and why?
For Olivia, representing Jack is a way to make up for past regrets, and the hurt she caused him, but as the evidence against him mounts, she is forced to confront her doubts. The man she knew could not have done this. But what if she never really knew him?

I'm really intrigued by this as its such a long time since I read any courtroom dramas and after reading the blurb I'm already thinking how and why?

So there are my picks for this week, do you want to read any of these? Are there any other reads you've noticed being released this week? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Monthly Wrap-Up January 2016

Wow, I can't believe its February already! January seems to have flown by, but I'm glad its out of the way as its my least favourite month as I hate the short days and the cold damp weather. Bring on spring! Anyway back to books I was really surprised to find out I read seven books in January, probably because of the horrible weather. Here's what I've read:

     

Here's what else I've been sent from publishers:
     

Most of these are new to me authors which I'm really excited about reading so thank you so much to the publishers who have kindly sent me copies.

I've also had a big splurge on Netgalley and have been accepted for most books I requested which is super exciting and very unexpected given my current feedback score ( I'm working on it I promise!):

           

Told you it was a splurge, good job I have lots of time waiting for school buses! But don't they all look amazing, there are some real treats heading our way in book land.

I'm currently reading this little beauty:

and I'm really enjoying it, they may be characters which are a little over the top but it just had me laughing all they way through, just what I needed to combat the January blues.

My book of the month for January has to be

I loved this book and all its twists and turns, I just didn't know what was going to happen next, for my full review check here. So that was my month in books and here is a little snippet of life in the real world...sadly he didn't last too long.

Release Day Round-Up #18

Today is a great day for me in publishing world as a few of my favourite authors are releasing new books today and it has been hard to pick my three favourites.

You and Me, Always

Published: 28th January 2016

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 368

Available in Hardcover and on Kindle

  Order now from Amazon

On the morning of Lily's twenty-fifth birthday, it's time to open the very last letter written to her by her beloved mother, who died when she was eight.

Learning more about the first and only real love of her mum's life is a revelation. On the same day, Lily also meets Eddie Tessler, a man fleeing fame who just might have the ability to change her world in unimaginable ways. But her childhood friend Dan has his own reasons for not wanting Lily to get too carried away by Eddie's attentions.

Before long, secrets begin to emerge and Lily's friends and family become involved. In the beautiful Cotswold village of Stanton Langley, nothing will ever be the same again...

I'm about 90% finished with this book and although I'm pretty certain how it will end I have loved it, the characters are all lovely...well mostly. The plot has enough twists to make it interesting and Jill's writing is humorous, light-hearted and comforting with an added sprinkle of romance which has made this a joy to read. I will have a full review of this book tomorrow so pop back if you like the sound of it.

The Secrets of Happiness by Lucy Diamond

Published: 28th January 2016

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 352

Available in Hardback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

The best things in life . . . can be just around the corner

Rachel and Becca aren't real sisters, or so they say. They are stepsisters, living far apart, with little in common. Rachel is the successful one: happily married with three children and a big house, plus an impressive career. Artistic Becca, meanwhile, lurches from one dead-end job to another, shares a titchy flat, and has given up on love.

The two of them have lost touch, but when Rachel doesn't come home one night, Becca is called in to help.
Once there, she quickly realizes that her stepsister's life is not so perfect after all: Rachel's handsome husband
has moved out, her children are rebelling, and her glamorous career has taken a nosedive. Worst of all,
nobody seems to have a clue where she might be.

As Becca begins to untangle Rachel's secrets, she is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about
her own life, and the future seems uncertain.

But sometimes happiness can be found in the most unexpected places . . .

I'm a huge Lucy Diamond fan so any new release of hers automatically goes on the must read pile and this is no exception it sounds like another great read. I love how her characters always have really interesting background stories just waiting to be discovered and I can't wait to find out more about Rachel and Becca.

The Birthday That Changed Everything by Debbie Johnson

Published: 28th January 2016

Publisher: HarperImpulse

Pages: 400

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

She wanted a birthday surprise, just not the one she got…

The last thing Sally Summers expected from her husband on her special day was that he’d leave her for a Latvian lap dancer half her age. So with her world in tatters, Sally jets off to Turkey for some sun, sea and sanctuary.

The Blue Bay resort brings new friends and the perfect balm for Sally’s broken heart in gorgeous Dubliner James. He’s just the birthday present she needs. And when the chemistry between them continues to spark as the holiday ends, Sally wonders if this is more than just a summer fling.

But James has scars of his own and Sally isn’t quite ready to turn her back on her marriage. This birthday might have changed everything, but what will the next one bring?

Debbie's writing is always full of fun so I'm really looking forward to reading this one over the weekend, pop back next week for a full review.

So that's my top three for this week but there are loads of brilliant books being published today. A few more that sound good are: Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty,  Our Song by Dani Atkins, We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman . So I suggest you pop down to your local bookshop and treat yourself  to one of these lovely books.

Rebound by Aga Lesiewicz

Rebound by Aga Lesiewicz

Published: 14th January 2016

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Available in Hardback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

I'm not a bad person, but maybe I did a bad thing . . .
Life is good for Anna Wright. She's a successful media executive working for one of the UK's largest TV corporations. She's got a great boyfriend, some close friends and a lovely home. She adores her dog, Wispa, and she loves to run to help her de-stress.
But Anna's perfect life starts to crumble from the moment when, out jogging on the Heath one day, she meets a handsome stranger. She takes a route into unfamiliar territory, and then she has to face the consequences.
There's a dark, growing creepiness as the atmosphere becomes unsettled and, as Anna's professional life becomes increasingly pressured and poisonous, her obsession with the intriguing stranger intensifies.

Review

Rebound by Aga Lesiewicz captured my interest from the start with the tag line “I’m not a bad person, but maybe I did a bad thing...” it conjured up all kinds of things in my head and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this book.

It begins when Anna dumps boyfriend of three years James because he just felt “too safe” for her. Then Anna meets a mysterious and handsome stranger whom she names “Dior Man” while out jogging with her dog Wispa on Hampstead Heath. Anna engages in some elicit behaviour with the “Dior Man” without knowing anything about him. After this, mysterious things begin to happen to Anna, such as things moving and acts of vandalism randomly occurring, more seriously women have been raped on the heath. Are all these events connected and how does Anna fit into everything?

Although Anna wasn’t a bad person I didn’t like her. I felt she was far too selfish and by indulging in her risky behaviour and keeping secrets a lot of things happened that could have been prevented. I also felt she didn’t really care about her friends feelings at all just calling them up to make herself feel better but not really interested in their own lives. The only thing she really seemed to care about was her dog Wispa, who was just lovely and I can imagine had those big brown dog eyes that make you just melt.

I loved all the clues that Aga has left for the reader throughout the novel, at one point I think I had five possible suspects and I loved this as it made the story so engrossing. With so many tangents created throughout the novel I was expecting a brilliant ending and I’m a little disappointed the way things were left as I still have many questions about why things happened and  how it all connected., maybe I just didn’t fit all the clues together.

Rebound is a good psychological thriller which I enjoyed reading and would definitely read more by this author. Overall I would give Rebound by Aga Lesiewicz 4 out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.