Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Blog Tour Guest Post: Becasue Mummy Said So by Shari Low


Because Mummy Said So by Shari Low
Published: 18th September 2018
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Pages: 352
Available on Kindle
Order now from Amazon


Blurb
The era of the yummy mummy has finally gone.

To celebrate this, Shari Low has taken a baby wipe to the glossy veneer of the school of perfect parenting and written Because I Said So to show us the truth about motherhood in all of its sleep-deprived, frazzled glory.

This is a book that every experienced, new or soon-to-be parent will relate to – well, hallelujah and praise be those who worship at the temple of Febreze. For over a decade, Shari wrote a hugely popular weekly newspaper column documenting the ups, downs and bio-hazardous laundry baskets of family life.

Because Mummy Said So is a collection of her favourite stories of parenting, featuring superheroes in pull up pants, embarrassing mistakes, disastrous summer holidays, childhood milestones, tear-jerking nativity plays, eight bouts of chickenpox and many, many discussions that were finished with the ultimate parental sticky situation get-out clause…

Guest Post by Shari Low
In some ways, I feel that the publication of Because Mummy Says So brings my life around full circle.
Way, way back in 2000, when I’d just broached my thirties and still had anatomy that had yet to landslide in a southerly direction, I took an uncharacteristic day off work because I was feeling sick and miserable.
That whole of the previous year had been a bit of a slog. After what seemed like endless rounds of fertility treatments, we were still no closer to having a family. And although I’d finally managed to find an agent, it looked like my first attempt at writing a book was going to languish in the bottom drawers of the publishing world until the end of time. It was definitely an all-time low point.
Late afternoon, I was under my duvet with a packet of Hob Nobs when the phone rang, and I heard my agent announce that an offer had come in for my novel. I was so ecstatic, I’d have done a lap of honour of the room if I hadn’t been feeling so damn nauseous. Instead, on some crazy, hoping-my-luck-had-changed hunch, I did a pregnancy test and there it was – that little line in the ‘positive’ box.
In the space of twenty minutes, my whole life changed and what a brilliant moment that was.
A couple of years later, I was asked to write a weekly newspaper column documenting the funny, embarrassing and very real mayhem of family life.
Time flew by in a chaotic juggle of raising two boys, sharing the funny stuff in newspapers and magazines, and writing twenty two novels about love, loss and friendship. And there were biscuits. Lots of biscuits.
It’s been a blast. And an exercise in sleep deprivation.
Last year, at the age of 16, my eldest left home, trotting off to play basketball in a college down south.
It seemed like the perfect time to look back on all my favourite parenting moments and the result is Because Mummy Said So. All the motherhood milestones are in there, from pregnancy to empty nest. The nursery days. The first days at school. The holiday disasters. The Christmas joys. And every embarrassing, funny, and downright mortifying thing that ever happened to us along the way. I’m not delivering a spoiler when I say that way too many of them include superhero impersonations and incidents involving pants.
The book is a collection of hilarious, toe curling and sometimes tear-jerking tales that I hope everyone from expectant and new mothers to empty nesters will love.
It’s the perfect excuse every mum needs to stop for half an hour, put the feet up, and have a giggle.
Oh and if you’re having a bad day you might take solace in the profound, intellectual lessons I’ve learned along the way: everything can change in one moment, no parent has it all worked out, and there’s no situation that can be improved with a chocolate Hob Nob.

About the Author



Shari Low has published eighteen books under her own name and pseudonyms Millie Conway and Ronni Cooper. She is also one half of the writing duo, Shari King. She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two teenagers and a labradoodle. www.sharilow.com



Follow



Twitter: @sharilow

Facebook: @sharilowbooks

Buy links:

iBooks: https://apple.co/2x7x27T
Google play: http://bit.ly/2p0LdYZ


Follow Aria

Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction
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Monday, 1 October 2018

Blog Tour Review: Belonging by Rhonda Baxter


Belonging by Rhoda Baxter
Published: 17th September 2018
Publisher; Rhonda Baxter
Pages: 140
Available on Kindle
Order now from Amazon
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
She’s grieving her lost love. He’s searching for his lost niece. Can attraction overcome family loyalty in this enemies to lovers romance?
Hiding away in a tiny Yorkshire village, Harriet is grieving for her lost love. His family won’t talk to her and she can’t move on from from his death. All this changes when his daughter, Niamh, turns up on her doorstep, needing a sympathetic ear.
Tim thinks Harriet broke up his sister’s marriage all those years ago. His sister’s enemies are his enemies. When his niece runs away to Harriet’s house, he knows he has to get her back before his sister finds out. But that means talking with Harriet.
As they work together to console Niamh and get her home safely, Tim and Harriet become increasingly attracted to each other.

But with attraction comes guilt.

Can they overcome their respective loyalties and give in to love?

Review

Belonging is my first experience reading something written by Rhonda Baxter and it was very enjoyable read despite the main theme of the book and it fits quite a lot of story into its 140 pages.
Niamh is grieving for her father Richard and is finding it hard to comes to terms with his death because no one will talk about him no more. Her mother Mel didn’t have anything good to say about Richard when he was alive so Niamh’s feeling even further apart from her mother. When the opportunity strikes Niamh heads to Yorkshire to find Harriet, the only other person Niamh knows will be missing Richard.
There’s an instant bond between the two women and even Niamh’s uncle Tim who has come to bring her home can’t help but be attracted to Harriet and her soft easy-going caring nature. A complete contrast to his over-bearing selfish sister, Tim can see what his brother in law saw Harriet and that makes him feel incredibly guilty.
I think the title of this novella is so fitting as all three of our main characters are seemingly alone and searching for somewhere and something to belong to and the little town of Trewton Royd seems to work its magic and help them all find away to heal and move on with their lives.
Despite the grief running through both Harriet and Niamh I did find this quite an uplifting story which shows its best to open up and share your grief and deal with in head on rather than hiding away from everything hoping its not really happening.
I love that Rhonda Baxter has manged to fill this short book with so many details of the characters backgrounds which really added depth and colour to the story and I’m now on the hunt for more books in this series.
Thank you so much to Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this blog tour and sending me a copy of Belonging to review.

About the Author


Rhoda Baxter writes contemporary romances with heart and a touch of cynicism. She has had several novels published by the award winning publisher Choc Lit. Writing under her other pen name, Jeevani Charika, she has been published by Bonnier Zaffre. Her books have been shortlisted for awards such as the RoNA Romantic Comedy of the Year (in 2017), Love Stories Award (in 2015) and the Joan Hessayon Award (2012).

Rhoda started off as a microbiologist and then drifted out of research and into technology transfer. When choosing a penname, she was hit by a fit of nostalgia and named herself after the bacterium she studied during her PhD. She has lived in a variety of places including Sri Lanka, Yap (it’s a real place), Halifax, Oxford and Didcot (also a real place). She tends to judge the standard of living by the quality and availability of tea and cake. She now lives with her young family in East Yorkshire, where the tea and cake provision is excellent.

You can find her wittering on about cake and science and other random things on her website (http://www.rhodabaxter.com), on Facebook, or on Twitter (@rhodabaxter). Please do say hello if you’re passing.

You can get a free copy of one of her books by joining her reader newsletter.

Social Media Links –
Twitter (@rhodabaxter)


The universal buy link for the book is: www.books2read.com/u/bzPAZq




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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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