Summer Fling and Dancing Dreams by Sue Watson

Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams by Sue Watson

Published: 3rd July 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages:308

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

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Blurb

Dance like nobody’s watching. Love like you’ll never get hurt…
Laura Watkin’s heart isn’t broken, she’s just forgotten how to use it.

After years on her own, the highlight of single mum Laura’s week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a large helping of imagination.

With her daughter Sophie going travelling, Laura knows the time is right to do something for herself for a change. One disastrous Zumba class later and Laura ends up at the feet (literally) of gorgeous dance instructor Tony Hernandez.

A natural dancer and inspiring teacher, Tony rekindles in Laura a passion she inherited from her ballroom dancer father – and with it comes a dream… to make him proud.

But when Tony enters them to perform at the National Dance Festival, can Laura’s new-found confidence survive the test? And with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Flamenco in Spain, could Laura truly learn to dance like nobody’s watching… and love like she’ll never get hurt?

A laugh-out-loud, uplifting comedy about finding the courage to be yourself, the importance of dreams, and learning to grab life by the glitter balls.

Review

Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams is the second book by Sue Watson that I have read. After reading and loving Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas cake last Christmas I was eager to read Sue’s next book and was so glad to find I loved it just as much. Sue’s writing style is witty, honest and heart-warming and it brings to life her ordinary characters and makes them feel very real.

Laura is a forty-something single mum who has spent her life trying to give her daughter Sophie everything she never had as a child. As the story starts poor Sophie has been left standing at the alter and is now in tears outside the church, her heart completely crushed by the man she thought would give her the perfect life. Laura, also heart-broken at the prospect at having to pay for the non-wedding after hours of overtime, is crushed even further when Sophie reveals that she doesn’t want to end up like her mother: sad and alone with only the television and a glass of wine for comfort with no ambition in her life. Devastated by the way her daughter views her life Laura vows to add a little bit more spice into her life. After a disastrous Zumba class Laura meets Tony a dance instructor who helps Laura to slowly ignite her passion for dancing and so “Lola” is born.

I found Laura a really easy character to relate to, sometimes we all fall into a rut with the everyday routine of working and bringing up children, so to have all that hard work and effort thrown back in your face is hard to take, especially if it comes from your own daughter.  Some people might sulk and moan about their life but Laura hasn’t she’s just got on with it to help her daughter have the best life possible, so I was pleased when she decided to do something for herself and follow her dancing dreams. As soon as Laura starts to dance the passion she has inside her just oozed off the paged and I just loved Tony for helping her to become the wonderful and outgoing and very brave “Lola” that she deserved to be.

This is a hilarious and uplifting novel full of laughs and comedy moments which had me chuckling all the way through. Although Laura has to endure a little heartache along the way, she ultimately ends up as the stronger more confident women she longs to be and makes her mum and daughter proud of her. It’s a novel which leaves you thinking “I can do that” which I found very inspiring. So if you have hidden dreams let this little gem with its glitter and sequins work its magic and inspire you to follow your dreams just like Laura did.

I’d like to thank Bookouture for sending me an arc copy to review, I loved it and would like to rate it a very sparkly 5/5.

The Bookshop on the Corner by Rebecca Raisim

The Bookshop on the Corner by Rebecca Raisin

Published: 17th June 2014

Publisher: Carina UK

Available on Kindle

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Blurb

Who said that only real heroes could be found in fiction?

Sarah Smith had an addiction – she was addicted to romance novels. The meet-cute, the passion, the drama and the gorgeous men! Now this wouldn’t have been such an issue if she hadn’t been the owner of the only bookshop in Ashford, Connecticut.

Ever since her close friend Lil, from The Gingerbread Café, had become engaged she had been yearning for a little love to turn up in her life. Except Sarah knew a good man was hard to find – especially in a tiny town like Ashford. That was until New York journalist, Ridge Warner stepped into her bookshop…

Love could be just around the corner for Sarah, but will she be able to truly believe that happy-ever-after can happen in real-life too!

Review

The Bookshop on the Corner is another perfect little novella by Rebecca Raisin. In this book we get to find out more about bookshop owner Sarah Smith who has been briefly mentioned in the Gingerbread Café books.

Sarah Smith is probably a character that many of us book bloggers can relate too. She’s slightly introverted and perhaps a little messy, preferring to spend every free minute lost in the pages of her latest book rather than tidy up. I instantly connected with her the way she sheltered herself from conflict and change by burrowing herself in books. Even though she feels she might be missing out of life a little by not having a boyfriend and rushing off to get married, she won’t settle for just anyone. Sarah’s looking for that perfect boyfriend who lives up to the dashing heroes in her romances novels. She wants him to be extremely hot but also kind and caring and someone who will not try and compete with her love of books. Sarah believes she’ll never find him but then one day her dream man walks straight into her bookshop and he seems to be quite keen on her too. Is he too good to be true, Sarah needs to take a risk to find out?

I read this as an introduction to The Little Bookshop on the Seine which is out October 16^th as a way of getting to know Sarah more. I adored The Bookshop Shop on the Corner and devoured it in one afternoon. It’s the perfect little romance story with the adorable Sarah and smoking hot Ridge and it was lovely to read about her letting him into her life and taking a risk.

As with previous books by Rebecca, The Bookshop on the Corner is set in Ashford and I find it so comforting to read about somewhere which is becoming very familiar to me. I also loved that previous characters CeeCee, Lil and Missy are mentioned as it just adds to that cosy feeling Rebecca’s writing seems to bring out in me. I have to give this book 5/5 as everything is just perfect and seamlessly written. Thank you Rebecca for bringing us another lovely read.

The Beachside Guest House by Vanessa Greene

The Beachside Guest House by Vanessa Greene

Published: 10th September 2015

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 336

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

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Blurb

When Rosa and Bee get together in the run-up to Bee's wedding, they reminisce about the holiday they took together as teenagers to the beautiful Greek island of Paros. They remember the sandy coves, the guest house in the converted windmill where they stayed with their friend Iona, and the gorgeous local men. As memories of that long-forgotten holiday resurface, they are forced to confront the turns their lives have taken - and the guilt they both feel about letting Iona slip away from them. When they learn that the windmill guest house is going bust they form a plan: why not go back to the island and take it over themselves? And so begins a life-changing journey - because it turns out that opening a guest house and reliving their teenage dreams isn't that easy ...Full of romance and friendship, love and life, laughter and tears, The Beachside Guest House is an uplifting novel about the magic of starting over with friends by your side.

Review

Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?

This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.

Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.

I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures and new relationships and find true happiness.

Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book. Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there to help you through the difficult times.

The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had.  It’s a book to curl up with and will make you feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished.  I loved everything about this book as it kept me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).

It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.

Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?

This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.

Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.

I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures and new relationships and find true happiness.

Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book. Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there to help you through the difficult times.

The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had.  It’s a book to curl up with and will make you feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished.  I loved everything about this book as it kept me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).

It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. I give The Beachside Guest House 5/5 it was brilliant.Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.

Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm by Rebecca Raisin

Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm by Rebecca Raisin

Published: 17th July 2015

Publisher: Carina UK

Pages: 384

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

Secrets...we all have them.

Clay’s inheritance of Maple Syrup Farm came at the perfect time. Leaving city life behind he headed for maple-tree surrounded Ashford, Connecticut. Getting the farm in working order again might be back breaking work – but it seems to be the only way for Clay to finally forget about the girl who once broke his heart…

Lucy’s had enough of rules and the stress of planning her life down to the very last detail. Looking for an adventure she stumbles upon Maple Syrup Farm and its gorgeously gruff owner. This could be the perfect place to hide out…!

But the tranquillity and warmth of Maple Tree Farm is enough to heal even the most battered of hearts. There are very few problems in life that can’t be cheered up by maple syrup!

Review

Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm is another fabulous read from Rebecca Raisin who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. She has an amazing ability to write magical stories which instantly capture your heart and this one is no exception.

In this book we meet Lucy who has spent the last few years devotedly caring for her ill mother and spending every spare moment working to keep a roof over their heads. Lucy’s mother begs Lucy to go out into the world and experience life for a year, so she can develop her passion of panting and hopefully apply for the prestigious Van Gogh Institute in Paris. Reluctantly Lucy agrees and catches the first bus she finds which takes her to Ashford, that wonderful town Rebecca Raisin fans have all grown to love. Aboard the bus Lucy meets Ashford resident CeeCee who mentions Lucy may be able to earn some money at the local maple syrup farm. At the farm Lucy meets Clay, the mostly silent and brooding handsome owner of the farm. Despite a rough start Lucy begins to fall for the charms of the maple trees, the town of Ashford and a certain gorgeous farmer.

I loved being back in Ashford, it sounds like the perfect little American town with The Gingerbread Café at the heart of it and everything else you might need located within easy reach. The community spirit which flows through this town is overwhelming as everyone seems to get along and pull together when needed, making this book a joy to read. Not mention another festival is celebrated, which I have adored from previous books, the food descriptions are to die for! This time it’s a maple syrup festival to celebrate the new harvest and my goodness the food they cook up sounds utterly delicious!

The dynamic between the lovely caring Lucy and the gruff but extremely hot Clay was brilliant. I just loved how they bickered with each other like a couple of teenagers, pretending to dislike each other but secretly hoping the other person likes them back and something will happen. It was a joy to read and all the way through I was wanting that magical moment to happen…and when it did it was perfect.

The thing I love most about Rebecca’s writing is the way she includes her previous characters into each new book, so while reading it’s just like going on a holiday to catch up with old friends. It was lovely in this book to catch up with Lil, CeeCee, Missy and Becca and find out how they are all doing and new character Lucy just fitted in so well with them.

Secrets of the Maple Syrup Farm is a lovely tale of friendship, community, romance, opportunities and of course finding out all the secrets hidden within the Maple Syrup Farm. I have loved returning to Ashford and all its inhabitants and eagerly await Rebecca’s next novel, where hopefully the characters will return. This book gets a rating of 5/5 easily, it’s just lovely.

Thank you to Carina UK and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.