Blog Tour Review: Snowflakes Over Moondance Cottage by Rosie Green

Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage

Pages: 240

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

When Jess Thornton’s dad was lost at sea, the family coped in different ways, alone in their grief. Now, her mum seems to be going off the rails and her sister, Isla, who moved to France, is now back and determined to get their old family home on the market. But the last thing Jess wants this Christmas is for renovations to start on the house. It’s sure to stir up all sorts of memories she’s desperate to avoid. And to make things worse, Isla appears to have hired the most obnoxious builder in the world to do the work. Jess could ignore the fact that women seem to be putty in his hands. But what she finds harder to ignore is the frisson she gets every time she squeezes past him in the mess that is now their beloved old home! Can the family finally start talking and find a way to move on from the past this Christmas?

Review

I’ve not previously read any of Rosie Green’s novella’s and after reading Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage I’m thinking that is something which needs rectifying immediately because I absolutely loved this book and its exactly what I want to read at this time of year…or anytime actually.

Jess Rigby has not been a fan of Christmas since she lost her dad a few years ago and this year its made extra hard when sister Isla returns from France and drops the bombshell that she wants to sell their family home Moondance Cottage.  As builder Seb starts renovations on the house a whole host of feelings are stirred up in Jess as she struggles to cope with her emotions. The lives of Jess, Isla and their Mother all seem to be on a collision course as they deal with their grief, but can a little Christmas magic pull this family back together.

Jess, Isla and the rest of the cast of characters are easy to like to as they all seem to be dealing with their own everyday struggles which makes them so relatable.

This is a novel which has it all romance, heartbreak, moments of humour and an ending which will take your breath away. It’s a wonderful festive read with plenty of drama to keep you entertained and one which I highly recommend as I loved every single page.

Thank you so much to the author and publishers for sending me copy to review and to Rachel’s random Resources for inviting me to be part of this blog tour. 

About the Author

Rosie has been scribbling stories ever since she was little.

Back then, they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by 'the baddies'.

Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all - unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie's brand new series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. The latest, 'Bonfires & Hot Chocolate at the Little Duck Pond Cafe', is out now.

Watch out for 'A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe', which will be published Christmas 2019.

Rosie is also writing a full-length, standalone book for Christmas 2019, entitled 'Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage'.

Follow Rosie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snowflakes-over-Moondance-Cottage-sparkling-ebook/dp/B07XGDZ4Z2

US - https://www.amazon.com/Snowflakes-over-Moondance-Cottage-sparkling-ebook/dp/B07XGDZ4Z2

Blog Tour Review: Amazing Grace by Kim Nash

Amaxing Grace by Kim Nash

Published: 9th April 2019

Publisher: Hera Books

Pages: 257

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5 

Blurb

Grace thought she had it all. Living in the beautiful village of Little Ollington, along with head teacher husband Mark and gorgeous son, Archie, she devoted herself to being the perfect mum and the perfect wife, her little family giving her everything she ever wanted. 

Until that fateful day when she walked in on Mark kissing his secretary - and her perfect life fell apart.

Now she's a single mum to Archie, trying to find her way in life and keep things together for his sake. Saturday nights consist of a Chinese takeaway eaten in front of the TV clad in greying pyjamas, and she can’t remember the last time she had a kiss from anyone aside from her dog, Becks… 

Grace’s life needs a shake up – fast. So when gorgeous gardener Vinnie turns up on her doorstep, his twinkling eyes suggesting that he might be interested in more than just her conifers, she might just have found the answer to her prayers. But as Grace falls deeper for Vinnie, ten-year-old Archie fears that his mum finding love means she’ll never reconcile with the dad he loves. 

So when ex-husband Mark begs her for another chance, telling her he’s changed from the man that broke her heart, Grace finds herself with an impossible dilemma. Should she take back Mark and reunite the family that Archie loves? Or risk it all for a new chance of happiness? 

A funny, feel good romance about finding your own path and changing your life for the better – readers of Cathy Bramley, Jill Mansell and Josie Silver will love this uplifting read.

Review

Amazing Grace is Kim Nash’s debut novel and for me it was like a great big hug which leaves you all warm and fuzzy. Grace is one of those characters who you just instantly adore, she’s kind caring and puts everyone’s happiness before her own.

Her son Archie is her absolute world so she feels guilty she ended the marriage with his father Mark after she found out he was having an affair, whenever Archie’s not around Grace spends her time wallowing and letting life pass her by.

Eventually best friend Maria decides its time for Grace to start being amazing again and put herself first for a change. After a make-over and a few dodgy blind dates Grace meets Vinnie and things in her life are all starting to fall into place and its looks like Grace has finally found what she was looking for, until Mark decides he wants his family back together again. Grace is torn should she do what’s best for Archie or herself?

This is a wonderful uplifting book which is sure to bring a smile and the odd tear to most readers. Grace’s love for Archie pours of every page and it’s obvious that she is a fantastic mum right from the start, as she does everything in her power to make her son happy, even considering giving up gorgeous Vinnie. Her close bond with her son was so heart-warming and something very special which most parents will relate to. 

Family bonding and closeness is at the very core of this novel, not just with Archie and Grace but all the main characters are very family orientated. Grace is also very close to her father and sister Hannah even though she’s in the U.S. Vinnie too is close to his sister Ruth and her family as they share a tragic family past. The most uplifting and heart-felt moments of this book for me come from the “letters” to Grace from her deceased mother, the are so touching and inspiring that at times I did have tears as poignant moments are shared between Grace and her mother.

I also loved the humour in this book which makes this a well-rounded and delightful read which I’m sure most readers will thoroughly enjoy. I adored this book and everything about it, it’s a cracking debut which is sure to leave you with a smile on your face and off to go in search of what makes you truly happy.

Thank you to the publishers, Kim Nash and Rachel’s Random Resources for sending me a copy to review and inviting me to be part of this blog tour. 

About the Author

Kim Nash lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk. 

Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can't quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA. 

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs. 

Amazing Grace is her debut novel with Hera Books and will be out on 10th April 2019

Connect with Kim on Social Media here:
Twitter: (@KimTheBookworm) https://twitter.com/KimTheBookworm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimTheBookWorm/
Instagram: @Kim_the_bookworm

Purchase Links

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MIAM7k

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2GeKm0D

Apple: https://apple.co/2MMvJD2

Blog Tour Review and Extract: Confessions of a First Time Mum by Poppy Dolan

Confessions of a First Time Mum by Poppy Dolan

Published: 25th June 2018

Publisher: Canelo

Pages: 266

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

Stevie’s life has changed beyond recognition since having her first baby.

Stevie loves being a mum, but between the isolation and being vomited on five times a day, she really wishes she had someone to talk to.

With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.

In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realise that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything. But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…

A perfect laugh-out-loud read for fans of The Unmumsy Mum, Gill Sims and Emma Robinson.

Review

Poppy Dolan’s latest novel Confessions of a First-Time Mum is a book which has really resonated with me, she’s totally nailed the insecurities of motherhood and put them in a funny and inspiring read.

Stevie’s a first-time mum to Cherry, a baby who knows exactly what she wants, her mum all the time with added crying and bouts of milky sick for good measure. Stevie loves Cherry with all her heart but she’s finding motherhood hard and lonely as husband Ted doesn’t get a look in where Cherry is concerned. Feeling lonely Stevie clings to health visitors just so she can have an adult conversation as the mum-mums all around her are far too intimidating. Then one-day she strikes gold and meets Nelle and Will and the three form a solid bond.

One night the sleep deprivation gets too much for Stevie and she starts a blog and becomes First Time Mum, a blogger who becomes an overnight sensation, after speaking out about her true feelings about being a mum. The new-found confidence from blogging, along with her new friends slowly help Stevie to see she can do the parenting thing pretty well…until husband Ted drops a bombshell which leads to one blog-post too far.

I think every mum should read this book, as it’s a book any mum can relate to as we’ve all had moments of insecurity and worrying if we’re doing the right thing. In Stevie, Poppy Dolan has created a mum who is a hero and shown us that every mum is the hero of her own life. Being a mum is hard work, you’re responsible for another human being and you don’t get a manual so trial and error is the only way to go. Sometimes things will work out and sometimes they won’t, but that’s okay. Stevie has shown us its okay to have a meltdown every now and then, its okay not to be perfectly dressed, its okay to reach for the ready meals (it’s maybe not okay to leave your baby in the library) and it doesn’t make you any less a mum or love your baby any less.  I loved Stevie, in my eyes she’s the perfect mum. It’s obvious she adores Cherry and will do anything for her, including being caught on camera looking rough in the rush to get her to the doctor and being covered in sick at every social event going; but she also has her flaws, her main one being not expressing her emotions enough which leads her into trouble.

Confession of a First Time Mum is a realistic portrayal of the mum-life but written in a way which makes those stressful, insecure moments funny. Poppy Dolan has shown us there is a funny side to your baby being the one that has a poop explosion in the ball pool and shuts down the soft -play centre. We’ve all had those cringe-worthy moments where we want the ground to swallow us up but remember it happens to all of us and one-day it WILL be funny. I’ve read many “mum” books like this but this one is my favourite and I highly recommend it to any mum and every mum.

Extract

Chapter 7

From: Sarah Rimmer

To: Steviebutnotabloke@hotmail.co.uk

Subject: Hey yoooou

Hello lovely,

How are things? I realised I didn’t hear back from you on that other email and then that sent me into a shame spiral that I shouldn’t be sending you work stuff in your cuddly mummy bonding time. I’m sorry! Do you hate me? Have you dobbed me in? Dear IT guys: if you are monitoring my emails right now for a disciplinary, please know that I have photographic evidence of one of you pole dancing at the Christmas party. And I WILL fight dirty if it comes to it.

Anyway, I just wanted to say: I miss you. So much. Can I come out and see you soon, for a weekend lunch? Are you allowed to drink again these days? Shall I bring three bottles of cava or should I REALLY go to town?!

Can’t wait to see how life goes down in the sleepy burbs… Do you have a pinny? Do you make your own pastry? The mind boggles!

Love you,

Sarah x

Sleepy burbs. If only Sarah knew. While I’ve been reading her email and simultaneously tickling Cherry under the chin to keep her happy in the Hobbycraft shopping trolley seat, I have had four more Facebook notifications ping through on my phone. Three friend requests for First-Time Mum, one more comment on my reply to Gin and Sippy Cups. And that’s just in the last twenty minutes. Since I created the profile three days ago, I’ve made 3,267 ‘friends’ and had a gazillion notifications of Likes, replies and mentions. I have that head-swimmy feeling that I’ve just resurfaced from a scuba dive the whole, entire time.

I should turn off the notifications, really, and just check them at healthy intervals – say, twice a day, rather than between every two mouthfuls of porridge, like I did this morning. But I can’t stop myself. It’s like the dream I keep trying to wake myself up from. I need proof. Proof that this is all real. That this is happening to Stevie Cameron and not someone with a flat stomach and yet also guts, and a winning social media presence as well as a killer business plan. How can it have happened to the bumbling reality that is me?! I can’t find the nous to answer back to a snarky cashier in Co-op but somehow the righteous things my alter ego has typed in the dim light of my bedroom at 4am have really hit home. And people want to hear more. I’ve copied all my old blogs over to the Facebook page now, but I’m aware I need to write something new. And whatever it is had better be bloody good.

When I was just writing for me, I didn’t have this melon-twisting notion. I just let all the mad, dark, stupid, silly, ungrateful, soppy things fall straight from my brain onto the screen. And that was that. I’d give it a cursory reread for typos or anything that could cause offence and away I would go, publishing without a backwards glance. But now I’m a bit… Well, to put it into terminology from my pregnant days, I’m constipated. I’m bunged up with ideas and half-ideas and thoughts I really want to get out, but I don’t seem to have the strength to just do it and commit. And no one has invented prune juice for blogs just yet. So my notes folder has a list with a baffling collection of middle-of-the-night thoughts running away with itself:

●      I have a theory that Sudocrem is impossible to wash off so the government can easily track the shuffling movements of new parents, in case they crack and hold up their local John Lewis with a sharpened butter knife. It’s like that ink that explodes over money when you rob a bank: there is NO getting it off again.

●      The world of Bing is MESSED UP. Where are the parents?! Why has an animated sock puppet the size and heft of a guinea pig been left in charge?! There’s a talking rabbit, panda and elephant, but mysteriously a tiny cat that is… just a cat. It’s too much.

●      Stephen King should set his next horror novel in the fetid neck folds of Big Baby.

●      I would kill for a really crisp Caesar salad that I don’t have to make myself and can eat in a silent room, totally alone. Over four hours.

●      Top tips for arguing in code over Big Baby’s head. It’s not enough to be passive-aggressive and speak in the third person about ‘What Daddy’s Done Now’. You have to whisper everything, too.

Blog Tour Review: The Single Mum's Mansion by Janet Hoggarth

The Single Mum's Mansion by Janet Hoggarth

Published: 1st June 2018

Publisher: Aria

Pages: 300

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Blurb

For all fans of Motherland, Allison Pearson and Hurrah for Gin.

Amanda Wilkie unexpectedly finds herself alone with three children under five in a rambling Victorian house in London, after her husband walks leaves them claiming he’s just ‘lost the love’, like one might carelessly lose a glove.

A few months later, Amanda’s heavily pregnant friend, Ali, crashes into her kitchen announcing her partner is also about to abscond. Once Ali's baby Grace is born, Amanda encourages them to move in. When Jacqui, a long-lost friend and fellow single mum, starts dropping by daily, the household is complete.

Getting divorced is no walk in the park, but the three friends refuse to be defined by it. And, as they slowly emerge out of the wreckage like a trio of sequin-clad Gloria Gaynors singing ‘I Will Survive’, they realise that anything is possible. Even loving again…

Review

The Single Mum’s Mansion by Janet Hoggarth is a book which explores the deep bond between women. Three newly single mum’s share this bond in this book as they navigate life after divorces and watch their ex-partners move on with their lives.

Amanda, owner of a large Victorian mansion which becomes the Single Mum’s, has recently been left by husband Sam for a younger tv chef Carrie and she not coping well. With three young kids everything gets out of control and the four of them spend most of the time crying or yelling at each other. So, when best friend Ali announces she’s pregnant and things with partner Jim are not great Amanda offers her the loft in her home to live in. It’s not long before Ali and baby daughter Grace are fully installed with Amanda and when Amanda bumps into an old friend from toddler group newly single Jacqui the trio are complete. What follows is a hilarious ride working through their anger, frustrations and trials of being a single mum until maybe one day they can all move on and forgive their selfish exes for ruining their lives.

One of the most enjoyable things about this book is how real the three main characters and particularly Amanda felt. They are not perfect by a long way and that made me love them. They are women that are not afraid to cry uncontrollable and shout at their children even when deep down they know they should just hug them instead, they feel overwhelming jealously towards their ex’s new partners which leads to some crazy actions and probably too much alcohol and drug consumption, but overall, they’re incredibly local to their friends and protective of anyone else hurting their children.  All of this leads to some incredibly funny scenes, my favourite involving sponges, wedding dresses and dry humping.

One of my favourite characters in this book was young Isla, she may only be young but that girl has a very astute way of looking at life. I loved the way she instead Amanda should get a new boyfriend because they needed a “Space Man” in the house, so cute.

There were a couple of places where I felt the story started to drag a little and that’s why I’ve only awarded four stars. The Single Mum’s Mansion is an enjoyable read which will make you laugh, make you cry and make you very thankful you have female friends.

Thank you so much to Aria for sending me a copy to review and for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Janet Hoggarth has worked on a chicken farm, as a bookseller, children’s book editor and DJ with her best friend (under the name of Whitney and Britney). She has published several children’s books, the most recent ones written under the pseudonym of Jess Bright. Her first adult novel, The Single Mums’ Mansion is based on her experiences of living communally as a single parent.

 Follow Janet

Twitter: @janethauthor

Facebook: @JanetHoggarthAuthor

Buy links:

Amazon: mybook.to/SingleMumsMansion

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Is5n62

iBooks: https://apple.co/2L9PK49

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2IZOcxg

Follow Aria

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

Blog Tour Review: Together Forever by Sian O' Gorman

Together Forever by Sian O'Gorman

Published: 1st April 2018

Publisher: Aria

Pages: 444

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 4/5 

Blurb

When life demands that you make a choice, how do you know yo

u are making the

right one? A beautiful family drama, full of love, life and d

estiny. Perfect for the fans

of Alice Peterson and Dani Atkins. 

Tabitha Thomas gave up on a happy family life with Michael her

absent, high-flying

husband long ago. Instead she concentrated her energies on the

ir daughter, Rosie,

and her career as head teacher at a local primary school. However

trouble looms on

the horizon

...

While Rosie struggles with the most important exams of her lif

e, Tabitha

’

s eco

–

warrior mother is protesting outside the school gates to

save some trees from the

bulldozer. And best friend, Clodagh, a top TV news broadcast

er, is self-soothing with

Baileys, as she

’

s edged out of a job by an ambitious flame-haired weathergirl.

Finally,

with the return of an old flame and a political expose to dea

l with, Tabitha is forced

to confront a decision she made a long time ago and e li

fe-changing

consequences she has lived with ever since.

When life demands that you make a choice, how do you know you are making the right one? A beautiful family drama, full of love, life and destiny. Perfect for the fans of Alice Peterson and Dani Atkins.

Tabitha Thomas gave up on a happy family life with Michael her absent, high-flying husband long ago. Instead she concentrated her energies on their daughter, Rosie, and her career as head teacher at a local primary school. However trouble looms on the horizon…

While Rosie struggles with the most important exams of her life, Tabitha’s eco –warrior mother is protesting outside the school gates to save some trees from the bulldozer. And best friend, Clodagh, a top TV news broadcaster, is self-soothing with Baileys, as she’s edged out of a job by an ambitious flame-haired weathergirl. Finally, with the return of an old flame and a political expose to deal with, Tabitha is forced to confront a decision she made a long time ago and face the life-changing consequences she has lived with ever since.

Review

Together Forever is a lovely heart-warming novel which highlights the strength of female relationships and the importance of following our hearts.

Tabitha Thomas has been married to politician Michael for eighteen years and has long since given up any hope of affection from him, instead she pours her love into daughter Rosie and the children at her primary school Star of the Sea.  She’s happy enough with her life until her old flame Redford Power returns to Dalkey. Memories of how happy she used to be make Tabitha question if she really did make the right decision all those years ago.

Tabitha was a lovely character, totally dependable and willing to help anyone she’s the perfect example of a headmistress and politicians wife. Her love and concern for daughter Rosie shines throughout the novel. Quite how she put up with Michael for so many years is beyond me, he was just awful. He had no idea what was going on in Rosie’s life or how she felt about her looming exams and college life. His use of the word “Mammy” was also incredibly disturbing.

I loved the obvious chemistry between Tabitha and Red, especially when reading the short flashbacks throughout the novel and felt sorry that their relationship had not worked out as its quite clear to anyone reading this that he’s far more suitable for her than Michael.  

I really loved that there was such a mix of characters in this book which added to the community feel of the novel. Some of my favourites were Bridgit, Flinty and Mary as well as gorgeous Red.

This is a novel which covers a variety of themes from romance, family relationships, exam pressure, environmental activism, politics and journalism all of which have been portrayed in a realistic way to make this a very enjoyable read which is relatable. It’s a book which despite its more serious themes also has moments of comedy which add to the enjoyment, Michael and his milk obsession being a big part of this for me.

Together Forever is a wonderful novel which celebrates the true bonds between families and teaches us to be true to our own principles and to follow your heart.

Thank you so much to Aria and Netgalley for sending me a copy to review honestly and for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Sian was born in Ireland, is an RTÉ radio producer and lives in the seaside suburb of Dalkey, Dublin with her seven nearly-eight-year-old daughter, Ruby.

Follow Siân O’Gorman

Website: http://sianogorman.com/

Twitter: @msogorman

Facebook:

Follow Aria

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Facebook: @ariafiction

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

NetGalley: http://bit.ly/2lkKB0e

Sign up to the Aria newsletter: http://bit.ly/2jQxVtV

Links to buy

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GqEWA2

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2I5YDuj

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2pLAKkb

iBooks: https://apple.co/2ITdFEP