Six for Sunday – characters who I would like to be like…

I’m such a fan of the Six for Sunday prompt and seeing as I have so much time on my hands I should be more organised to participate more. You have to look at the positives during this strange time we are living in.

Today’s prompt is characters who I’d like to be like. Seeing as me and Catriona are almost halfway through our Paige Toon read-along I thought I would attempt to answer this prompt with her characters. From the books I’ve been reading so far…

Meg….

I had met Meg in the first Jessie Jefferson novel but in reading Johnny Be Good, Baby Be Mine and Johnny’s Girl I now feel like I know her a lot more. Meg is gutsy, fun and knows what she wants.

Lockie

In re-listening to Thirteen Weddings I was once again bowled over by Lockie’s confidence and zest for life. It’s inspiring especially during these crazy times we’re living in right now.

Alice

Alice’s love story is one that I long for, its full of passion and the intensity blew my mind. I also loved how she knew deep down that her love was real and that what is meant to be will be.

Bridget…

Bridget pops up in a number of books and was my first leading lady as the first Paige Toon book that I read was The Last Piece of my Heart. In this read-along I’ve read her in this and in Thirteen Weddings I’m looking forward to re-reading my first Paige novel as she seems like a different person to the confident and in some was brash good friend and party girl. I really want to be a lot more like Bridget.

Lily….
Her passion for photography and her love got him.

Lily might be young but she knows what she wants. Her passion for life, her eye for photography and her love for Ben had me from the off.

Bronte….

Bronte is adorable yet frustrating. I love how she’s real and how she likes to stick to her guns to a point. I also love how career driven she is even if her head is a jumble in the love triangle she has got herself into.

Q&A with Ian Wilfred

Yesterday afternoon I had a massive headache and I’ve been a bit better today but I haven’t read physically only through listening to an audiobook. I’m catching up on a Netflix series at the moment trying to give my mind different things to focus on.

In thinking about blog posts and content I realised that I hadn’t posted this Q&A that I done with Ian a while ago I’ve included the links to Ian’s latest read.

1. Your latest novel Time To Move On will be the first one I read. I’m excited but what can I expect? Also what should I read next?

My last two books were set on the Greek island of Holkamos (which is a mixture of several Greek islands) my new one Time To Move On is here in Norfolk where I live Saltmarsh Quay which doesn’t exist only on in my head the story starts off with one of the main characters opening a parcel I don’t want to give this away but this actually happened thirty years ago a friend of mine sent a parcel and then received the phone call.

2. When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

I first started writing when I was my dads full time carer back in 2011 and that resulted in my first book Putting Right The past which was published in 2013.

3. What made you become such a champion of other authors and bloggers? 

When my second book The Little Terrace Of Friendships came out in 2017 I could not get over how many lovely author bloggers and reader wished we well on the publication day and I thought everyone who has a book out should feel like that so that’s why every Saturday morning I go through all the books coming out the following week and tweet the links.

4. Describe to me your average writing day?

My day starts very early around 5.30 with lots of coffee and Twitter checking on blog tour publication days for other author seeing who’s going to have a cover reveal then it’s off to the beach with the dog once back a check on Twitter and then down to the writing lunch Twitter writing I will say come 5pm I’m useless at writing I end up asleep finding things to do anything but write.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everywhere I do seem to come up with ideas when I’m about three quarters of the way through a first draft I make notes and come back to it months years later.

6. What’s your earliest memory with books?

Janet and John books but then in my teenage years mills and boon and also short stories in the reader digest magazines.

7. What’s your proudest moment of being a published author?

Lots of proud moments but one has to be getting the Amazon orange bestseller flag for my last book My Perfect Summer In Greece that was very special I don’t think it will happen again but it would be nice.

8. What are you working on now?

At the moment I’m 80 thousand words through the first draft of next years summer book and I’m enjoying it I just want to write the end so I can go back and start cutting adding everything and rewriting a lot of the things that are already there.

9. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I get asked this a lot and I give the same two answers write everyday even if it’s just a few hundred words and the second bit of advise is read everything and watch every video Milly Johnson has ever done on writing tips she is the BEST.

10. If you could have written one book by someone else what is it and why?

This is difficult there are so many books I’ve loved but I’m not sure I would have wanted to have written any of them one book that means so much to me is by the lovely author Emylia Hall – The Book of Summers is has a special place in my heart for lots of different reasons.

Ian’s latest novel is

It’s a free read for those of you using Kindle Unlimited. Or it’s 99p to purchase right now and you can do so Here.

If you’re an author or even a blogger and fancy guesting on my blog do get in touch. I can’t wait to hear from you….

Book Review: If I Never Met You By Mhari McFarlane

Blurb: If faking love is this easy… how do you know when it’s real?

The brand new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane

Laurie and Jamie have the perfect office romance

(They set the rules via email)

Everyone can see they’re head over heels

(They staged the photos)

This must be true love

(They’re faking it)

When Laurie is dumped by her partner of eighteen years, she’s blindsided. Not only does she feel humiliated, they still have to work together.

So when she gets stuck in the lift with handsome colleague Jamie, they hatch a plan to stage the perfect romance. Revenge will be sweet…

But this fauxmance is about to get complicated. You can’t break your heart in a fake relationship – can you?

Review: Mhari McFarlane literally had me at Hello….ever since devouring that novel I’ve been such a fan. Sometimes life and book blogger problems have got in the way but whenever I delve into a Mhari novel I know I will be sucked in from the off. I remember pre-ordering this as soon as I had read the blurb. It took me a little longer than expected to get to it and to devour it but it was everything I needed and more.

From the off I loved Laurie and I really love the fact she’s a high flying woman of colour. I am not a woman of colour but there isn’t enough books like this. I also loved how Mhari has brought across how most of us ladies do not realise our own value in ourself. It took Laurie feeling downtrodden via her long-standing boyfriend in dumping her to realise her worth. She’s an intelligent woman who is highly thought of at her law firm but for so long she’s pushed Dan to be the one chasing promotions when realistically she should have been looking in the mirror.

I just adore Mhari’s way of writing her descriptions are witty and relatable there were so many moments that I could 100% relate or that had me simply laughing out loud. I won’t be delving into the main aspects of the story as that would simply take the joy away from reading another fantastic Mhari McFarlane novel.

As I stated I loved Laurie from the off and her office pals. Jamie had me on the edge of my seat I just didn’t know what to make of him. Although I did call a few of the outcomes before they happened.

I have to mention Laurie’s best friend Emily I always adore the friendships in these novels and these two are a team to contend with. They wholeheartedly have each other’s backs even if they don’t always agree with the other.

If you are looking to loose yourself in a book that will have you constantly turning the pages then look no further the queen of wit and relatable reading has done it again. If you have never read a Mhari novel this isn’t a bad place to start.

Book Review: The Other Passenger By Louise Candlish

Blurb: You’re feeling pretty smug about your commute to work by riverboat. No more traffic gridlock or getting stuck on the tube in tunnels (you’re claustrophobic). Now you’ve got fresh air, an iconic Thames view, a whole lifestyle upgrade. You’ve made new friends on board — led by your hedonistic young neighbour, Kit — and just had your first official ‘water rats’ get-together.

The day after the drinks, Kit isn’t on the morning boat. The river landmarks are all the same, but something’s off. When you disembark, the police are waiting. Kit’s wife, Melia, has reported him missing and another passenger saw you arguing on the last boat home after your drinks. Police say you had a reason to lash out at him. To threaten him.

You protest. You and Kit are friends — ask Melia, she’ll vouch for you. And who exactly is pointing the finger? What do they know about your private lives?

No, whatever coincidences might have occurred last night, you are innocent, totally innocent.

Aren’t you?

Review: Now this is going to be the hardest review to write as there is so much I cannot say, but wow! Louise has been one of my favourite authors since I devoured The Swimming Pool. I can’t say I’ve read all of her books but the ones I have have been amazing. The Other Passenger may well be her very best. Now in a number of Louise’s books you don’t necessarily like the characters because she has a knack for creating real life nasty people, yet in their times of need you are made to feel for them.

Louise writes local to me, right now due to the virus that we are all sick of hearing about I’m not at my place of work. For those who are reading my blog for the first time I work at The O2 and currently work is non existent. I’ve never took the Thames Clipper riverboat as my journey rather than a tube but it’s something I know which also had a relevance to me. Although now I do want to take the riverboat just to see what Jamie, Kit and co saw on their daily commute.

Phobias are never written about where they show the impact on your everyday life. So in hearing Jamie’s fear I really did feel for him, I’ve never been scared of tubes or trains even after 7/7 and 9/11 but during these times I’ve felt an anxiety I had never experienced. So books are really pulling me through and this one has come at just the right time.

I found when I got to about 60% in the story started to free fall little did I know that the queen on I really didn’t see it coming would throw twist after twist. There is so much I want to say but I honestly want every other bookworm to get the rush that I got from reading this tale. This story has a lot packed into it it’s a tale of love, lust, friendship, loneliness, greed, want, ambition to name a few. I honestly want to say OMG but….but I honestly cannot a whirlwind read that I needed during these crazy times. As ever another bestseller from the queen that is Louise Candlish.

I often feel like a really rubbish blogger as half the time I have all the intentions but not enough time. Right now my passion for reading is pulling me through and I’ve already started prepping my what I read in March post…March really did change in the blink of an eye. Come the weekend I should be occupying my mind with a temporary position don’t get me wrong my books will still be pulling me through.

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for yet again letting me read an absolute treat before publication this beauty will be released on 25th June. I will do my utmost to share this post again around then. You can get it Here

Cover Reveal: Another Us By Kirsten Hesketh

Following a call out on Twitter I am pleased to share with you a simply gorgeous cover reveal for Kirsten Hesketh’s Another Us. When I received the email with the copy I was intrigued and my how pretty the cover is.

What if Emma isn’t the person she thought she was?
Her younger son has just been diagnosed with autism.

She’s accidentally quit her job.

The marriage she was dedicated to suddenly seems like a sham.

She’s pretty sure that she is going to have an affair with a hot new dad at the school.

The only thing that stays the same is everyone else. Emma realises it’s not them – it’s her. But if she’s not who she thought she was, can her old life fit in with the new Emma?

Compassionate, funny and poignant, Another Us is perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Fiona Gibson.Link to buy: lrd.to/AdTnWyFBhp

What do you think??? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you Canelo for letting me take part in this reveal.

Book Review: The Longest Holiday By Paige Toon

Blurb: Laura has been married to the man of her dreams for seven months. But, she now discovers, a week before the wedding Matthew made a terrible mistake …

Escaping the heartache and humiliation, Laura is whisked off to Florida’s Key West by her best friend Marty. A carefree holiday full of cocktails and fun, surrounded by gorgeous, tanned men, is exactly what the doctor ordered. Distraction comes in the form of sexy Cuban scuba diver Leo. As the end of the holiday approaches, Laura doesn’t want to go home. Is it time to face the music? Or is there more to Key West than a holiday romance?

Review: The Longest Holiday Really did have a totally different feel to that of most of Paiges reads. It just felt different somehow not in a bad way just a change of writing and tact in the way Laura spoke.

Laura has to be one of the most free spirited ladies who speaks exactly how she feels. What I did love about this story was seeing how different Laura, Marty and Bridget are. Now I had already met Laura and Bridget from different books but seeing what joined them together was a totally different feel. As the book begins Laura is feeling a multitude of emotions following Matthew’s heartbreaking mistake. You can see why Laura is feeling the way she is and I believe Paige showed the emotions that any woman would be going through. At the start of the holiday Laura is going through the motions but she’s not truly thinking about what she wants and deserves not really. She’s grateful to the girls for taking her away from it all but when push comes to shove she’s not ready to go back to her reality. Her reality is that of nightmares and her heart isn’t ready to face what awaits her in London or what she would leave in Key West. I don’t want to say too much but that scene at the airport I had my heart in my mouth….

When Laura returns to London her thoughts are a million miles away across the pond. Watching her agonise over her situation was heartbreaking and hard to read. Now I 100% can’t say much more but woah Paige I wasn’t expecting what happened that raw emotion of Laura, her friends, her parents, Matthew and Leo meant I lapped up the final pages full of eager and intensity.

Another gorgeous tale from Paige Toon which right now you can download for 99p. What are you waiting for?

Book Review: One Perfect Summer By Paige Toon

Alice & Joe have well and truly stolen my heart.

Blurb: Do you still love him?’ Every second of every minute of every hour of every day…Alice is 18 and about to start university while Joe’s life is seemingly going nowhere. A Dorset summer, a chance meeting, and the two of them fall into step as if they have known each other forever. But their idyll is shattered, suddenly, unexpectedly. Alice heads off to Cambridge and slowly picks up the pieces of her broken heart. Joe is gone; she cannot find him. When she catches the attention of Lukas – gorgeous, gifted, rich boy Lukas – she is carried along by his charm, swept up in his ambitious plans for a future together. Then Joe is there, once more, but out of reach in a way that Alice could never have imagined. Life has moved on, the divide between them is now so great. Surely it is far too late to relive those perfect summer days of long ago?

Review: I’ve said it before and I will say it again I got into Paige Toon seriously late with The Last Piece of My Heart being the first of her books that I read. But I’m not saying that was a bad thing I loved the heart and soul of that read and I remember finishing it in the early hours of the morning with a tear stained face but with an extremely happy heart and from that moment on I was a fan and was eager to lap up anything and everything Paige had written.

So in doing this read along with Catriona I’ve loved delving into her back catalogue. I have met Joe and Alice before in previous books but I hadn’t read their own story. Oh my….how has this beauty been on my shelf and on my kindle for ages although I totally forgot I also had the digital version. That could have sped up my reading time…

This book is in a few sections with The Summer, six months later and then a few years on and on. The Summer in Dorset where Joe and Alice meet is intense and all consuming. The chapters are quite short so it’s easy to be like just one more just one more…It never felt false or rushed their love story blossomed quickly and intensely, it swept me along and consumed me, which was exactly what I needed with the world going crazy right now.

When it got to six months later I found myself frustrated not by Alice or her emotions but by the lack of Joe. It brought me back to reading Eclipse enjoying the pages but longing for Edward to return to Bella. I loved meeting Jessie and the punting gang I had forgotten that I had also met him before in the One Perfect Christmas collection – after this I did re-read that with such love and a new found understanding for all the characters, and for their individual stories.

Which then brings me onto Lukas – there were elements of Lukas that I found sweet but I never warmed to him. I found him controlling in the weirdest of ways… even though in some ways he was good for Alice at that part of her life but I like Alice was still longing for Joe.

I shan’t be ruining the ins and outs of the story but I must say this read did give me a rollercoaster of emotions and left me with a bit of a book hangover and longing for a cuddle. I do love seeing how all these characters intertwine it’s like reuniting with old friends comfortable and like a warm hug.

If you want a Paige Toon to start with One Perfect Summer is a gorgeous introduction to an author who covers many real-life aspects in a way that keeps you informed and let’s you escape. I’m totally loving this read along with one of my closest friends even though she’s across the pond and one of my most favourite authors.

Six for Sunday…

I literally love this prompt and it’s been a while since I got on board with it. In these strange times I’m having a lot more time to spend reading and to blog so hopefully there will be many more posts on here.

This weeks prompt is six characters I’d love to go on a date with. Now for those of you who know me will know that I love a book boyfriend and in these trying times I’m turning more and more to these boys.

One of my recent book boyfriends the adorable Sam who literally swept me off my feet during this anxious time.

Another recent one the adorable Joesph Strike OMG I’m literally so full of love for him.

Ed featured in both this and Fairytale of New York he has to be one of my most fave book boys. I miss him a lot.

Leon stole my heart in the strangest of ways I will always remember this book with the fondest of memories

Hmmm now I can’t forget Sam

Edward will always have a special place in my heart.

This was hard and there are sooo many boys I’ve missed.

Book Review: The Cornish Cream Tea Summer – part two- Beauty & the yeast By Cressida McLaughlin

Blurb: Charlie, Delilah and their adorable cream tea bus have found themselves caught up in the filming of a lavish period drama on the Cornish coast and it isn’t long before Lila finds herself drawn to the handsome male lead.
But Lila has made a habit of making rash decisions and it’s one of the reasons she’s hiding out in Cornwall. Could this be one impulsive step too far for her, or is there the promise of something wonderful on the sea air…?

Review: Part two pinged through to my kindle at the right time. A much needed and welcome distraction to the craziness that is the corona virus. None of us could have predicted how this would effect and change our lives. For me this came through on day two with no work schedule, I love reading and having time to dedicate to my blog and to sit with family but I’m desperately missing the routine and day to day that work brings to my life.

In part two Lila is flying solo with the Cornish Cream Tea bus and she’s doing a smashing job of looking after the bus and fulfilling the needs of the cast and crew of Estelle. In this latest instalment Lila’s friendship with Keeley starts to flourish with the pair of them opening up over their separate worries.

Now I have to mention Sam – that sandy haired blue eyed beauty really does need to be on my doorstep especially on days like today. I found myself wholeheartedly embracing the romance of it all. I love how he can seem like two different people the confident actor and the shy guy. I loved seeing him cosy up to a certain someone it seemed to develop slowing but I was embracing it and full of such love – fully immersed in the story.

I don’t want to say too much about the story there is very little of Charlie and Daniel as they are off exploring San Francisco whilst Lila is switching up the coffees and embracing new ideas on the bus. She does get to do some cool stuff with the loveable Sam and Toby and seeing her friendships blossom with the cast and crew.

As her relationships are changing Lila thinks more and more about her fraught friendship with best mate Clara and in a conversation with Keeley she starts doubting herself. I love that the catalyst of that conversation has Lila desperate to prove she’s changed and learnt from her impulsive mistakes can she Sam and Charlie help change the fate of Estelle and the Cornish Cream Tea Bus.

I wasn’t particularly happy with how it ended as I just want to continue reading about the Cornish coast and their gorgeous residents. Part two was a welcome distraction that should have been read quite quickly but it allowed me to delve in and out of real life – during a time when I wanted and needed to escape. I’ve made another book boyfriend giving me unrealistic ideals but I can’t wait for Sam to come back into my life in part three.

Thank you Cressida for being the light in such an unpredictable time for of uncertainty.

Book Review: The Cornish Cream Tea Summer: part one All You Knead is Love By Cressida McLaughlin

Blurb:Everyone’s favourite bus goes on a summer adventure full of sunshine and the promise of romance…

Charlie has a new helper on her bus, her free-spirited and loveable cousin, Delilah, who’s paid a visit to the charming Cornish village of Porthgolow and is helping out on Charlie’s adorable cream tea bus.
When the Director of a new TV series filming further along the coast tells Delilah that the bus would be the perfect addition to their onsite catering, she takes him a bit too literally, and before long she and the bus have taken a rather unexpected journey…

Review: So if you’re not new to the blog you will remember I was hooked on the first Cornish experience – where I first met Charlie. Who instantly stole my heart and then alongside Charlie I also fell wholeheartedly for Daniel. The rollercoaster ride of the will they won’t they had me itching for the next instalment.

So when Cressida said she would be returning to the Cornish coast, my interest was already piqued. It’s great to have Charlie and the gang back although in this first instalment we meet her loveable cousin Delilah Lila to her friends.

Today is publication day of the second instalment of this story and for me it’s a much needed distraction in a crazy world right now. I loved going back and I’m loving seeing Lila open up to Charlie and in seeing her confidence change. I’m also loving seeing the story of the TV show and in the blossoming friends and romances. I can’t lie it’s also good to have the loveable Daniel back…..

Right without further ado I believe it’s time to put my current book down and to get back to the bus and see what Lila is up to right now….if you’re lucky I maybe back with another review shortly.