Wednesday 26 September 2018

Blog Tour Review: Snowflakes Over Holly Cove by Lucy Coleman


Snowflakes over Holly Cove by Lucy Coleman
Published: 18th September 2018
Publisher: Aria
Pages: 426
Available on Kindle
Order now from Amazon
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
As the snowflakes start to fall, Holly Cove welcomes a new tenant to the beautiful old cottage on the beach...

For lifestyle magazine journalist Tia Armstrong, relationships, as well as Christmas, have lost all their magic. Yet Tia is up against a Christmas deadline for her latest article 'Love is, actually, all around...'

So, Tia heads to Holly Cove where the restorative sea air and rugged stranger, Nic, slowly but surely start mending her broken heart. Tia didn't expect a white Christmas, and she certainly never dared dream that all her Christmas wishes might just come true...

Set in Caswell Bay on the stunningly beautiful Gower Coast, the cottage nestles amid the limestone cliffs and the woodlands, where the emotions run as turbulently as the wind-swept sea.

As cosy as a marshmallow-topped mug of cocoa, fall in love with a heart-warming festive story from the bestselling author of The French Adventure.


Review

I adored Lucy Coleman’s last novel The French Adventure, so knew it was in for another treat with Snowflakes over Holly Cove. How can not want to read this book with such a gorgeous cover which just evokes Christmas cosiness. I loved how despite being a Christmas novel this book could be read at any time of year as the story is spread over several months starting in springtime. The Christmas scenes were probably my favourites through.
After losing her mother, the person closest to her Tia is heartbroken and after a few weeks off work she’s unsure whether she’s ready to face life back in London as a lifestyle journalist. Her boss Claudia offers Tia the chance to spend three months in a quiet cottage in Holly Cove while she works on a report about what makes a good relationship. Being a topic Tia has little experience in she’s not thrilled at the idea but when she arrives at the cottage by the sea she feels safe and comfortable. 
Some of the local residents welcome Tia with open arms like the loving and full of life Olwen who immediately takes Tia under her wing and explains life is Caswell Bay to her. Other residents are more reserved such as local taxi driver Nic and the lonely old man living on the beach Max. But as Tia gets to know these characters her warm and loving nature helps them to open up and tell her their troubles. The longer Tia stays in Holly Cove the easier her heartache becomes and its not just her own heartbreak that begins to mend.
I loved this book so much, its such a beautiful tale of heartbreak, forgiveness and learning to love again and I think Lucy Coleman has done a wonderful job with it. The plot moves along at a steady pace slowing over-covering more secrets about our characters and moves towards an emotional and quite dramatic finale.  
Lucy Coleman’s writing really brings to life the sights and sounds of Caswell Bay and Holly Cove and its residents and I would love to have a stay in that gorgeous cottage myself. There is nothing I would change about this book and I’m really looking forward to what Lucy Coleman writes next.
Thank you to the publishers Aria for sending me a copy to review and for inviting me to be part of the blog tlour.

About the Author


Lucy lives in the Forest of Dean with her husband and Bengal cat, Ziggy. Her novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. She won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction Award. When she’s not writing, Lucy can be found in the garden weeding or with a paint brush in her hand.

Twitter- @LucyColemanAuth

Buy links


Follow Aria
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction



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Tuesday 25 September 2018

Blog Tour Review: A House Divided by Rachel McLean


A House Divided (#1 The Division Bell Trilogy) by Rachel McLean
Published: 24th September 2018
Publisher: Catawapus Press
Pages: 327
Available on Kindle
Order now from Amazon
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
Jennifer Sinclair is many things: loyal government minister, loving wife and devoted mother.

But when a terror attack threatens her family, her world is turned upside down. When the government she has served targets her Muslim husband and sons, her loyalties are tested. And when her family is about to be torn apart, she must take drastic action to protect them.

A House Divided is a tense and timely thriller about political extremism and divided loyalties, and their impact on one woman.



Review

A House Divided is quite unlike any other book I’ve ever read, focusing on politics, racism and family loyalty it’s a very intense and dark read, but one which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Jennifer Sinclair is a loyal Labour government minister working in the Home Office, a loving wife and devoted mother to her two boys. The aftermath of a terrorist attack in Westminster slowly starts to turn her world upside down as she battles to be loyal to her government but also to protect her Muslim family. Jennifer is torn in two as she battles with government policy to overcome racial attacks but also to protect her family who are affected by the hate crimes and unrest emerging throughout the country. Jennifer must decide if she supports the government or her family in this intense and thrilling read.
Set in the present day and moving towards our future this was very chilling in places to read as events in this could so easily be our reality, if they’re not already and I found that quite unnerving to read about. I found this book an incredibly gripping book which has been well thought out and moves at fast pace, gradually gaining momentum as it came to a very climatic ending, leaving me desperate to find out what happens to Jennifer and her family next.
I can highly recommend A House Divided as an intense and chilling read which you will not be able to put down. It’s opened my eyes to many things and left me with many thoughts and questions. Thank you Rachel McLean for introducing me to a new genre of writing, I can’t wait for your next book.
I’d also like to thank Rachel’s random Resources for sending me this copy to read and invite me to be part of the blog tour.
About the Author


I'm Rachel McLean and I write thrillers and speculative fiction.

I'm told that the world wants upbeat, cheerful stories - well, I'm sorry but I can't help. My stories have an uncanny habit of predicting future events (and not the good ones). They're inspired by my work at the Environment Agency and the Labour Party and explore issues like climate change, Islamophobia, the refugee crisis and sexism in high places. All with a focus on how these impact individual people and families.

You can find out more about my writing, get access to deals and exclusive stories or become part of my advance reader team by joining my book club at rachelmclean.com/bookclub.
Social Media Links –


Purchase Links





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Tuesday 18 September 2018

Blog Tour Review: Love at the Northern Lights by Darcie Boleyn


Love at the Northern Lights by Darcie Boleyn
Published: 17th September 2018
Publisher: Canelo
Available on Kindle
Order now from Amazon
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
‘Climbing out the window in her dress and tiara wasn’t exactly how Frankie imagined her wedding day…’
Runaway bride Frankie Ashford hops a plane to Norway with one goal in mind - find her estranged mother and make peace with the past. But when a slip on the ice in Oslo lands her directly in Jonas Thorsen’s viking-strong arms, her single-minded focus drifts away in the winter winds.
When it comes to romance Jonas knows that anything he and Frankie share has an expiration date - the British heiress has a life to return to in London that’s a world away from his own. But family is everything to Jonas and, as the one man who can help Frankie find the answers she’s seeking, he’ll do whatever it takes to help her reunite with her mother.
Now, as Christmas draws closer and the northern lights work their magic Frankie and Jonas will have to make a choice...play it safe or risk heartbreak to take a chance on love.


Review
Love at the Northern Lights is the first book I’ve read by Darcie Boleyn. I’ve always thought her books sound lovely but have never managed to pick them up, the cover of her latest one had me intrigued as its so beautiful and just seemed the perfect book to start my Christmas reading for 2018. It turned out to be the perfect book for this time too as it’s a story which for me oozed love and cosiness throughout.
I loved the way this book starts with Frankie running away from her wedding to stuffy sounding Rolo Bellamy. Frankie’s been surrounded by money her whole life and marrying Rolo would have meant wealth and security for the rest of her days but what Frankie is really craving is love. So when she rips her four thousand pound dress on her escape route and finds her would-be husband hiding in the bushes with possibly another woman she’s not bothered, on a whim she decided its time to find her mother and ask her why she left Frankie as a baby all those year ago.
Frankie finds herself alone in Oslo with a suitcase full of very precarious clothes she’s never felt freer and more in control in her whole life. Soon she falls quite literally into the arms of Jonas, who’s rugged and gentle and everything Frankie thought she didn’t want but can’t seem to stop thinking about. Jonas helps her unlock the secrets of the past and begins to show her what its like to really feel loved. Can he help her put her family back together?
Frankie and Jonas’s blossoming romance was a joy to read about despite a few bumps along the way, I love the way Jonas’ life way solely focused on his family and experiences and not on the material trappings that the men Frankie usually dated seemed to be interested in. I also love the other romance that develops in this book which shows sometimes there really only is one true love for some people.
This book has everything I love in a story, a lovely developing romance, family secrets uncovered, adventures to new places and most of all I loved the funny scenes which really brought the story alive for me. After reading Love at the Northern Lights I can’t wait to read more from Darcie Boleyn as her story-telling is magical.
Thank you so much to the publishers Canelo for sending me a copy to review and be part of this blog tour, Love at the Northern Lights gets a full five stars from me.

About the Author

Darcie Boleyn has a huge heart and is a real softy. She never fails to cry at books and movies, whether the ending is happy or not. Darcie is in possession of an overactive imagination that often keeps her awake at night. Her childhood dream was to become a Jedi but she hasn’t yet found suitable transport to take her to a galaxy far, far away. She also has reservations about how she’d look in a gold bikini, as she rather enjoys red wine, cheese and loves anything with ginger or cherries in it – especially chocolate. Darcie fell in love in New York, got married in the snow, rescues uncoordinated greyhounds and can usually be found reading or typing away on her laptop.





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Friday 7 September 2018

Cover Reveal: The Foyles Bookshop Girls at War by Elaine Roberts

Today I have the pleasure of sharing the cover of Elaine Roberts' new book The Foyles Bookshop Girls at War. A book which I'm very much looking forward to reading after devouring her first book in this series The Foyles Bookshop Girls back in June, check out my review here if you haven't read that yet. Just like the previous book this one has a very evocative cover and makes me want to learn more about Molly's story. So here is the cover:


Here's more information about the book: 

Swapping books for the bomb factory takes courage – and could be dangerous.

Working at the Foyles bookshop was Molly Cooper’s dream job. But with the country at war she’s determined to do her bit. So Molly gathers her courage, and sets off for the East End and her first day working at Silvertown munitions factory…

It’s hard manual labour, and Molly must face the trials and tribulations of being the ‘new girl’ at the munitions factory, as well as the relentless physical work. The happy-ever-afters Molly read about in the pages of her beloved books have been lost to the war. And yet the munitions girls unite through their sense of duty and friendships that blossom in the most unlikely of settings…

Perfect for fans of Elaine Everest, Daisy Styles and Rosie Hendry.

'A delightful story of friendship, love and hope during the dark days of WW1. Elaine Roberts is a bright new star in the world of sagas.' Elaine Everest


And a little about the author Elaine Roberts:

About the author

Elaine Roberts had a dream to write for a living. She completed her first novel in her twenties and received her first very nice rejection. Life then got in the way until she picked up her dream again in 2010 and shortly afterwards had her first short story published. Elaine and her patient husband, Dave, have five children who have flown the nest. Home is in Dartford, Kent and is always busy with their children, grandchildren, grand dogs and cats visiting.
Follow Elaine:
Twitter: @RobertsElaine11
Website: writemindswriteplace.wordpress.com


Buy links:

mybook.to/FoylesBookshop-War


Follow Aria

Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction


The Foyles Bookshop Girls at War will be released in January 2019.

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