It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

What I read last week.

What I'm reading now.

What I'm going to read next.

Blog Tour - Liz Fenwick

The Pigeonhole - MJ Greenwood

Readaolong - Libby Page, Jodi Picoult

Audio - Tilly Tennant

Book Club - Mel Giedroyc

The Girl Who Couldn't Leave by Catherine Miller

 

She’s too afraid to leave her house. But is she brave enough to let someone in?

Fiona Dexter hasn’t gone outside in five years.

She knows she’ll never sit on a beach to watch the sunset,
or share a meal with her family at the friendly café around the corner,
or even fall in love.

Then one day, her neighbour, single mother Bethany, shows up on her doorstep holding two-year-old Evie.

Bethany needs help and soon Fiona starts to remember how it feels to be close to other people. Once she’s felt the warmth of Evie’s hugs and danced her socks off with Bethany, can Fiona face the secrets of her past and live again?

This hopeful and heart-warming read will remind you that life continues no matter where you are, and opening the door is the first step on the way back to happiness. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain will love this emotional and uplifting story.

What did I think?

First up - what an enticing cover. I am afraid I am one of those folk who is swayed by an attractive cover. You might have written the most amazing book - but if the cover doesn't grab me then I am far less likely to pick it up.

The blurb sounded intriguing - was interested to know why Fiona couldn't or wouldn't leave her won house.

This was a delightful heartwarming story - one that matched the lovely cover. It was a story of love, of friendship and of overcoming obstacles that are put in our way. An emotional but light read that I would recommend.

My puzzle is why have I not heard of this author before. I had a quick squizz on Fantastic Fiction and to my surprise saw some familiar titles. Looks like I have some catching up to do.

Author Bio:

 

When Catherine Miller became a mum to twins, she decided her hands weren’t full enough so wrote a novel with every spare moment she managed to find. By the time the twins were two, Catherine had a two-book deal with Carina UK. Her debut novel, Waiting For You, came out in March 2016. 

Catherine was a NHS physiotherapist, but for health reasons she retired early from this career. As she loved her physiotherapy job, she decided if she couldn’t do that she would pursue her writing dream. It took a few years and a couple of babies, but in 2015 she won the Katie Fforde bursary, was a finalist in the London Book Fair Write Stuff Competition and highly commended in Woman magazine’s writing competition. Since then she’s had four novels published.

 

https://www.instagram.com/katylittlelady/

https://twitter.com/katylittlelady

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3gHr3gS

Apple: https://apple.co/3f28PWy

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2QSpg

Google: https://bit.ly/3uxeY3C   

He's Cancelled by Sophie Ranald

 

When he proposed, I had to pinch myself. Up until then, his most romantic gesture was buying me a 128-piece tool kit.

It’s normal to get cold feet, right? But what about a case of frozen get-me-the-heck-out-of-here feet?
When Natalie’s boyfriend gets down on one knee (even if it’s because he trips and drops the ring) it’s meant to be the start of their happy ever after. But planning a wedding to Archie feels like she’s competing in the Hunger Games…
She’s up against a mother-in-law who enforces a pre-wedding diet with portions you need a microscope for.
She’s cornered by a bridesmaid-zilla sister-in-law who forces her old wedding dress on Nat, featuring satin bows, way too much tulle and a bodice that Nat doesn’t even have the boobs for.
She fends off a best man who tries to kiss her by kneeing him in the crotch.
And she has to defeat a pushy wedding planner who insists on peacocks, doves and pink flamingos at the ceremony.
Nat would wear her battle scars with pride if Archie was by her side. But her fiancé is missing in action, refusing to help her deal with his diva family and going AWOL on the stag do. With just weeks to go, she might have to do the unthinkable… Is it too late to cancel? And if she’s not Archie’s bride-to-be then who on earth is she?

A totally addictive romantic comedy for anyone who has a phobia of bridezillas and who makes the happiest memories during Happy Hour. Fans of rom coms by Sophie Kinsella, Shari Low and Mhairi McFarlane, and TV shows like Emily in Paris will be glued to the pages of this feel-good page-turner.

What did I think?

This is my first book by this author. All her covers seem so bright and cheerful. Plus I can see why she is called the romantic comedy queen.

If you are after a light read which will make you laugh out loud then this book is for you. I have no experience of bridezillas etc but I still found it an amusing read.

A perfect piece of escapism reading and a fine change from some of the psychological thrillers I have been reading recently.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid-20s. As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she'd never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full-time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister's Boyfriend (Wouldn't It?) seemed to write itself, and six more novels have followed. Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion, finance and fitness. She lives in south-east London with her amazing partner Hopi and their two adorable cats.

To find out about Sophie's forthcoming releases and get access to free books and special offers, sign up to her newsletter at sophieranald.com or www.facebook.com/SophieRanald

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieRanald

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophieranald/

BUY LINKS 

Amazon: https://geni.us/B091348SF3social 

Apple: http://ow.ly/pY0F50E97qS

Kobo: http://ow.ly/5w5L50E8ifO 

Google: http://ow.ly/hEPT50E9lcj

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Publication Day - The Orange Grove by Rosanna Ley

 

Holly loves making marmalade. Now she has a chance to leave her stressful city job and pursue her dream - of returning to the Dorset landscape of her childhood to open Bitter Orange, a shop celebrating the fruit that first inspired her.

Holly's mother Ella has always loved Seville. So why is she reluctant to go back there with Holly to source products for the shop? What is she frightened of - and does it have anything to do with the old Spanish recipe for Seville orange and almond cake that Ella keeps hidden from her family?

In Seville, where she was once forced to make the hardest decision of her life, Ella must finally face up to the past, while Holly meets someone who poses a threat to all her plans. Seville is a city full of sunshine and oranges. But it can also be bittersweet. Will love survive the secrets of the orange grove?

Have you ever read one of Rosanna book? if not - why not?

If you want to be transported to some foreign land, with sunshine, romance and some feel good vibes then these are the books for you.

I haven't read all of her books (yet) but her latest release is out today and you can grab yourself a kindle copy or a paperback version to tuck into your holiday bag (even if your holiday is a staycation in your back garden this year) You won't be disappointed.

The Butterfly Garden by Sophie Anderson

 

I blamed my son for the death of my daughter…

When twenty-five-year-old Erin loses the man she loves, she flees London for Cornwall and takes a job at Hookes End, a huge house clinging precariously to the Cornish cliffs. The owner, frail reclusive novelist and butterfly enthusiast Maggie, has kept the curtains of her dusty house drawn for many years. But as she and Erin spend evenings together by the fireside, sharing stories of the past, Erin feels her shattered heart begin to heal. In return, Erin agrees to help Maggie find her long lost family before it is too late.

Years ago, Maggie’s son Lucas ran away to the other side of the world after the death of her daughter ripped the family apart. Maggie is desperate to see Lucas again – there is something she needs him to know.

Erin wants to help Maggie find peace so she vows to track down her lost son. But when at last she finds Lucas, in a far- away place of searing heat and pearly sands, it becomes clear that he is hiding something too.

As Erin grows closer to Lucas and unravels the webs of deceit entangling mother and son, she learns about the terrible tragedy that changed their lives forever: the night when a little girl in a fairy nightdress went missing. But with Maggie’s time fast running out, is it too late for them to find the forgiveness they need to move on?

A heart-wrenching page-turner about a family ripped apart by guilt and lies. Set against the storms of the Cornish coast and silvery tropical sands of a distant paradise, The Butterfly Garden is a story of love, loss and letting go. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Harriet Evans and Lucinda Riley will be gripped.

 

What did I think?

The cover reminded me of some other books I have seen by well known authors - so I was hoping this book would be just as good. Have to say I do like a book set in Cornwall - onto a winner straight away.

The pairing of Maggie and Erin seems quite unlikely at first but I enjoyed they way their relationship developed, their back stories emerged and the story unfolded (I don't want to give anything away)

To me this book seems to be written from the heart - the whole time I was reading the story felt very realistic - the characters make mistakes, keep secrets and try to do better.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Short chapters make sneaking in a few chapters too easy and the descriptions were beautiful.

Once I had finished I had to find out if Sophie has written any other books but I don't think she has as I couldn't find anything on Goodreads. If this is her debut book then I cannot wait to read her next book.

Author Bio:

 

Sophie Anderson enjoyed a career in TV production in London before working with her husband to set up an online software business where she wrote the marketing content. But neither scratched that creative itch to tell a story, so she enrolled on a writing course and wrote her first novel The Butterfly Garden. She lives in Sussex with her husband, four children, a cocker spaniel and two cats.

https://www.facebook.com/sophieandersonfiction

https://twitter.com/MSophieanderson 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3iIoT3c

Apple: https://apple.co/2OY3Q08

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3lKrEke

Google: https://bit.ly/2NME1zE

The English Girl by Sarah Mitchell

 

He is German. She is English. Their countries are enemies. Can love bring them together? Inspired by an incredible true story, this is a sweeping tale about the power of hope in the face of war and the legacy of an impossible choice.

1946, Norfolk, England: Grief and fear spill over in Fran’s small village when German prisoners of war are sent to the nearby camp. After the death of her beloved brother on the front lines, Fran cannot see the new arrivals as anything but his killers.

When one of the mines the Germans are clearing from the beach explodes, Fran is thrown into the path of prisoner Thomas as they rush to help the wounded. Thomas’s kind, artistic nature and his bravery, putting himself in danger to save others, changes everything for Fran. She realises he is a boy just like her brother and was forced to fight in a war he never believed in.

From that day on, there is something powerful and unspoken connecting Fran and Thomas. But as battle lines are drawn across Europe and tensions within the village reach breaking point, they could be about to unleash something neither of them can control…

1989, Berlin: Tiffany arrives in Berlin from London, just as the wall that divided a nation finally falls. With only a few words of German, she celebrates with strangers in the streets, and crosses the border between West and East. In her pocket is a crumpled letter addressed to her grandmother, yellowed with age, that has led her in search of a wartime secret with the power to change her future…

A book that you will carry with you long after having turned the final page. Fans of Fiona Valpy, The Forgotten Village and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will be absolutely gripped from the very beginning until the final, heart-stopping conclusion of this unforgettable wartime story.

What did I think?

I'm really enjoying books set in and around the WW2 era - in fact the last 2 books I finished were just that. Straight away I knew I wanted to read this book by a new to me author.

This book was just a little bit different as it involved a love story between the English girl of the title and a German prisoner of war who was camped close to her home. A love affair that would never have a happy ending maybe?

Fast forward to 1989 and the English girls granddaughter is in Berlin - with a letter. War time secrets are to be uncovered?

I love a dual timeline story like this one - adds an extra something for me when I'm reading.

I didn't know till after I had finished this book that it was based on a true story - how wonderful.

I really enjoyed this book - I can see that she has written a couple of other books which I will be investigating.

Author Bio:

 

Sarah grew up in Norfolk and studied law at Cambridge University which led to a career as a barrister, working mainly in the field of human rights. After nearly twenty years she was tempted off-track by a creative writing course at the Open University and fell in love with making up stories instead of constructing arguments. Three years later she completed, with distinction, an MA in Creative Writing – Prose Fiction at the UEA. 

Now she lives in Norfolk again, this time with her husband and three almost-grown-up children, where she combines writing with some legal work – and thanking her enormous number of lucky stars.

 

https://twitter.com/SarahM_writer

 

Buy LInks:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3giG4Wi

Apple: https://apple.co/3akHxsW

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3eiJveN

Google: https://bit.ly/3duyGXF

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

 

 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

What I Read Last Week.

What I'm Reading Now.

What I'm Reading Next.

The Pigeonhole - Sarah Sultoon and MJ Greenwood

Blog Tour - Liz Fenwick

Readalong - Jodi Picoult and Libby Page

Audio - Tilly Tennant

Secrets of Magpie Cove by Kennedy Kerr

 

Lila had a favourite rock to sit on towards the back of the cove, where she often ate her breakfast, gazing out at the tumbling Cornish sea. As the sun rose that morning, Lila wished with all her heart that the grey-green waves could wash away her old life. That Magpie Cove would help her move on, and to forget…

When aspiring pastry chef Lila Bridges flees her life in the city after a heartbreaking tragedy, she finds herself working behind the counter at Magpie Cove’s most beloved local establishment – Serafina’s Café. The sweet, buttery aroma of freshly baked chocolate croissants, the cheerful gossip of the regulars and the elderly owner Serafina’s feisty humour are a much-needed balm to Lila’s broken heart. For the first time since it happened, Lila is beginning to laugh again…

But when Serafina unexpectedly passes away, the future of the café looks bleak. Nathan Da Costa, Serafina’s estranged son, inherits, and returns to Magpie Cove determined to inject some big-city glamour into the place. To Lila, it seems impossible that dour, money-obsessed Nathan could be related to dear Serafina. He may have his mother’s mop of curly dark hair and deep brown eyes, but he has none of her warmth or heart.

Lila needs this job and the sense of peace the town has brought her, so she’s determined to make it work with Nathan as her new boss. But her resolution is tested when the secret Lila has been keeping about what brought her to the cove begins to unravel, just as she discovers an unexpected, sweeter side to Nathan. Will trusting Nathan Da Costa with her long-held secret be Lila’s new beginning in Magpie Cove, or her emotional undoing?

Be totally transported to the windswept beaches of Cornwall with this heart-warming and unputdownable story that will leave a huge smile on your face. Perfect for fans of Shari Low, Veronica Henry and Heidi Swain.

What did I think?

When I read this book I didn't realise it was the second book in a series.  But when I checked my kindle I discovered that I had bought the first book back in November last year - but hadn't read it!! saying that I found this book worked well as a standalone title - but I will be going back to read the first one.

This is a delightful story set in a beautiful small seaside community. I felt to sorry for Lila and all that she had been through and this book sensitively dealt with the issues of miscarriage and death.

Lila and Nathan (her bosses son) have a certain chemistry between them which is central to the story. But there are lots of other characters in the village - and their stories all dovetail in nicely with the main story.

This book was a delightful summery feel good read and I would definitely recommend it.

Author Bio:

Kennedy Kerr is a British fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle's nap schedule one day.

Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she's not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she'd eat it, anyway

Author Social Media Links

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kennedykerrauthor/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KennedyKerr5

Buy LINK  
Amazon: https://geni.us/B08XY1W61Psocial
Apple: http://ow.ly/vlFF50DPVb7
Kobo:  http://ow.ly/o0c750DPV6m
Google:  http://ow.ly/zAXb50DQTeB

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

What I Read Last week.

What I'm Reading Now.

What I'm Going To Read Next.

The Beach House by Jenny Hale

 

An absolutely gorgeous and heartwarming read about finding love where you least expect it, new beginnings, and how family is always with you, no matter where you are. Fans of Susan Mallery, Pamela Kelley, and Mary Alice Monroe will adore this romantic page-turner.

When her gram passes away, Melanie Simpson feels utterly lost. But her grandmother’s will gives her a purpose: an inheritance to buy a crumbling house in Rosemary Bay. They used to visit the village every summer, sit by the sparkling water on a beach the color of pearl, and daydream about turning the place on the corner into a bed and breakfast.

On her first night in her new hometown, Melanie meets local contractor and landowner Josh Claiborne, whose eyes match the dazzling sea. Melanie plans to restore the beach house to its original glory, and Josh is the perfect person to help renovate the wrap-around porch weathered by the coastal breeze and the peeling white paint faded by the sun.

But hiding in a closet is a yellowing stack of letters that could change everything. The looping handwriting reveals the mystery of the rickety house—a buried history that touches everyone in Rosemary Bay. Will its secrets bring Melanie and Josh together or tear them apart?

What Did I Think.

A gorgeous cover don't you think?

I'm not usually a fan of contemporary romance books set in the US - I cannot really explain why - so I started this book with a touch of trepidation.

But it was unfounded. This was a delightful book following Melanie as she moves to a small beach front town in Florida to renovate a house left to her by her grandmother. Whilst she is there she discovers family secrets and is then on a mission to solve the mysteries of the past. along the way she meets Josh who provides a love interest and helps her with her investigations. 

This was quite a delightful book - heartwarming and uplifting which is just what we all need right now. I will certainly be reading more by this author.

Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies.

She was included in Oprah Magazine's "19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away" and Southern Living's "30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now." Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers.

When she isn't writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures--her favorite pastime.

 

Author Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.itsjennyhale.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jhaleauthor

BUY LINKS

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09169WS24social

Apple: http://ow.ly/WlVQ50EaUuo

Kobo: http://ow.ly/j9g950EaUnw

Google: http://ow.ly/Mwhr50EaUy6