The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters by Jaimie Admans Review

Blurb

Where dreams come true…?

Wendy Clayton stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. Instead, she has a ‘nice’ life. Nice job. Nice flat. Absolutely no men. Until her life is turned upside-down when her elderly neighbour, Eulalie, passes away and leaves her the Château of Happily Ever Afters!

But there’s a catch: she must share the sprawling French castle with Eulalie’s long-lost nephew, Julian. And no matter how gorgeous he is, or how easily she finds herself falling head over heels, Wendy needs to find a way to get rid of him…

Because surely happily ever afters don’t happen in real life?

Escape to beautiful France this summer with this uplifting romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Kat French, Caroline Roberts, and Holly Martin.

Giveaway!

French-themed stationery goodie bag.

1 x Paperchase Paris notebook and pen

1 x The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters notebook

1 x little Eiffel Tower model

1 x Eiffel Tower bookmark

1 x The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters magnet

1 x Signed postcard

Click here to enter!

Review

This was a charming summer read, perfect for escaping into on a hot day. Wendy has a nice, normal life with no adventures until her neighbour Eulalie leaves her the beautiful Chateau of Happily Ever Afters in France. After unexpectedly becoming its part-owner, Wendy finds the biggest adventure of her life is about to begin. Especially when the other owner turns out to be Eulalie’s nephew Julian.

Jaimie’s style of writing is so easy to read. I was hooked from page one and invested in Wendy’s journey right away. She goes from being someone who’s very comfortable in her life and doesn’t take chances, to someone who readily accepts the challenge of owning a sprawling estate. The chateau and French countryside are richly described and I loved the interaction between her and Julian. Although they’re complete opposites in just about every way you can think of, they also have a sizzling chemistry that develops throughout the story. Their differences make their relationship just as interesting as their similarities.

This book was a warm, funny read that instantly transported me to rural France with two characters I absolutely loved and didn’t want to say goodbye to!

Author Bio

Jaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots.

She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.

She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.

Author links:

http://www.jaimieadmans.com
http://twitter.com/be_the_spark
http://facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks

The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters:

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06Y69QZGP

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y69QZGP

Will also be available from all other ebook retailers.

88 North by J F Kirwan Cover Reveal

I’m so excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for this book! Doesn’t it look gorgeous?

Blurb

Would you kill your loved one to save the world?

 

The world’s most-wanted terrorist is on the loose, and this time the threat is global. To stop him, Nadia infiltrates his organization, from the triads of Hong Kong, to the refugee-smugglers of Sudan, to the Mafia gangs running oil platforms in Sakhalin. But in the end, she must travel to the top of the world and confront her sworn enemy on the Arctic ice, where she will face a terrible choice.

Buy Link

 

Author Bio

J.F. Kirwan is the author of the Nadia Laksheva thriller series for HarperCollins. Having worked in accident investigation and prevention in nuclear, offshore oil and gas and aviation sectors, he uses his experience of how accidents initially build slowly, then race towards a climax, to plot his novels. An instructor in both scuba diving and martial arts, he travels extensively all over the world, and loves to set his novels in exotic locations. He is also an insomniac who writes in the dead of night. His favourite authors include Lee Child, David Baldacci and Andy McNab.

 

Author links:

Website: www.jfkirwan.com

Twitter: @kirwanjf

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

Blood Bank by Zoe Markham Review

 

Blurb

Benjamin is a programmer moonlighting as a security guard at Dystopia, a seedy club that caters to the down-and-outs, the desperates, the addicts. He’s been building his reputation, saving for a way out – but when he rescues a young woman from the nearby estate, he may just have stepped too far out of line…

Lucy is ordinary; a girl with a deadbeat boyfriend, a normal life and college studies. But when her world takes an odd twist, she starts to wonder about the people she’s meeting, the situations she’s in, the odd aversions and attacks happening around her. They’re just coincidences…aren’t they?

And Zack is in deep trouble. He’s losing his girlfriend, drowning in debt, and has dwindling job prospects – and that’s not the worst of it. His debt is to people who won’t ever forget it, and who want the things closest to Zack’s heart: his blood – and his life.

In the heart of Swindon, an ancient order hides in plain sight, spreading their influence through the streets like a disease. But despite their widespread power they are catching up with the modern world: the vampires are going online, and the Order is about to become more powerful than even they would have dreamed…

Review

I really enjoyed Zoe’s previous books, so I was really looking forward to reading her latest one. I loved the way Benjamin, Zack’s and Lucy’s stories were woven together in a mixture of dark fantasy and realism. The characters each leapt off the page and I enjoyed being sucked into their adventures. The story was well-paced, not feeling too fast or slow anywhere. You get to know the characters throughout the story as it unfolds; this is a book that keeps you guessing and wondering what twists and turns might be around the corner. Having loved Zoe’s first two books, I also thoroughly enjoyed this one. It’s a twisty, pacy read that’ll keep you hooked till the end.

Author Bio and Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bank-Zo%C3%AB-Markham-ebook/dp/B071HF81X7/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1496175007&sr=1-1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35154789-blood-bank?ac=1&from_search=true

Author bio: Mild-mannered editor by day, puppet-master of broken souls by night.

Twitter: @ZoeMarkham

Website: www.zoemarkhamwrites.com

Under a Tuscan Sky by Karen Aldous Review

Blurb

Escape to Tuscany this summer with Karen Aldous’s brilliantly uplifting read. Perfect for fans of Erica James and Cathy Kelly.

A summer she’ll never forget…

When Olivia Montague’s grandmother passes away, she decides it’s finally time to make some changes in her own life. So she breaks up with her ‘going nowhere’ boyfriend and embarks on a journey to her Nonna’s home in Tuscany.

Until now, Olivia has always believed that she’s incapable of love, after being abandoned by her parents as a baby. But with each day spent at the gorgeous villa nestled in the rolling Italian hills, she feels her heart begin to flutter…

And when handsome antiques dealer Hugh St. James arrives on the scene, she realises things might be about to change forever!

Review

Summer is the time for gorgeous romance novels with breathtaking settings, and this book certainly delivers on that front. I loved how the main character, Olivia, seized the opportunity to change her life after losing her grandmother. She decides she’s not happy with how things are and sets off to the Italian countryside in search of a new beginning. Olivia was a sparky, likeable protagonist and I loved how she took control of things throughout the story. Who wouldn’t love to have an Italian villa to escape to? Her romance with Hugh sizzled from the beginning and I really rooted for them as a couple. Olivia’s backstory added a sad note to an otherwise feel-good romance, and I loved the sharp contrast between the two. It added depth to the story and I was interested to see how Olivia would explore the issues that her parents’ abandonment had left her with.

Karen Aldous has delivered yet another rich, sumptuous romance for her readers to enjoy. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Giveaway (UK only)

1^st prize: £10 Amazon voucher, eCopy of Under a Tuscan Sky & a signed notebook

2^nd & 3^rd prize: eCopy of Under a Tuscan Sky & a signed notebook

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bf633057121/?

Author Bio

 Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!

Karen gets much of her inspiration from her travels and if she had to choose, France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy and the USA would be her favourites. However, wherever she goes, she discovers a new character emerges in ‘Karen’s World’. She likes to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives – but struggle to control them! And, of course there’s always a gorgeous hunk or two!

Website: http://www.karenaldous.co.uk/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/karenAldous_

A Little of Chantelle Rose by Cristina Hodgson Review

Blurb

At the age of twenty-four, Chantelle Rose has all a city girl can expect: a tiny bed-sit in South London, a lousy poorly-paid job, a tyrannical boss, and quite a few exes added to an ever-growing list.

Desperate for change, she becomes an extra in a seedy crime film. When that leads to the opportunity of a lifetime – a role to play with a million dollars to win and seemingly nothing to lose – she accepts without thinking twice. After all, what could possibly go wrong? In any event, she´ll earn enough to buy her dream home, set up her own business and never worry about money again.

And what about love? Two men have won her heart: Robbie – sultry, silent, mysterious; and Lionel – Hollywood heart-throb, charm, wealth, adventure.

But who can she trust? Who is bent on scaring her away, and why?

There seems to be more at stake than just her heart. Will a million dollars be worth it?

Review

If you’re after a slice of summer escapism, you’re sure to enjoy this book. When she’s asked to be an extra in a ‘seedy crime film’, Chantelle Rose sees the chance to make all her dreams come true. With the million dollars on offer, she can buy a house in a quiet Kent village and have the life she’s always dreamed of. Throw in two hunks – Robbie and Lionel – plus someone trying to scare her off, and you’ve got A Little of Chantelle Rose!

The book, for me, was split into two halves. The first half was light and funny, while the second half had more of a gritty, suspenseful feel. The dramatic change in tone was slightly confusing and jarred for me a little, but I still enjoyed the book. Chantelle herself changed throughout the book too. She was a funny romantic heroine, but seemed to change to fit the more suspenseful feel of the second half. Overall, I liked her as a character. I perhaps would’ve had more questions if someone was offering me a Hollywood role with a million dollars attached though!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that would be perfect for diving into by the poolside.

Giveaway

Win A Little of Chantelle Rose bookmarks and keyrings!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bf633057120/?

Author Bio & Links

Cristina Hodgson, mother of two, born in Wimbledon, London, currently lives in southern Spain. Cristina had a long career in sport, reaching national and international level and still actively participates in Triathlon races and enjoys outdoor activities. In her spare time she also enjoys reading and writing. She won a sports scholarship to Boston College. After a period in Boston, she returned to the UK and graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Sports Science.
A LITTLE OF CHANTELLE ROSE is her debut novel and will be released in May 2017. Amazingly, it has nothing to do with running!

The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters by Jaimie Admans Cover Reveal

Blurb

Wendy Clayton stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. Instead, she has a ‘nice’ life. Nice job. Nice flat. Absolutely no men. Until her life is turned upside-down when her elderly neighbour, Eulalie, passes away and leaves her the Château of Happily Ever Afters!

But there’s a catch: she must share the sprawling French castle with Eulalie’s long-lost nephew, Julian. And no matter how gorgeous he is, or how easily she finds herself falling head over heels, Wendy needs to find a way to get rid of him…

Because surely happily ever afters don’t happen in real life?

Escape to beautiful France this summer with this uplifting romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Kat French, Caroline Roberts and Holly Martin.

 

How gorgeous is this cover? I can’t wait to read this awesome summery read from Jaimie!

Hot Shade by Tamara Lush Review

Blurb

In the tropical Florida heat, a man with deadly secrets falls for a lovely, inquisitive reporter…

After Luca Rossi lost everything to the Italian mafia, he used all his skills to write a stunning expose, and managed to put a key don on trial for his life. But now Luca must hide out on the Florida coast until justice is served in Italy. All is well, until he meets a lovely young American reporter who won’t stop asking questions about who he is. Soon he’s fighting the urge to hush her with a kiss … and much, much more.

Skylar Shaw took a job with a small Florida paper determined to make her mark on the journalistic world. She may spend her days writing up alligator scares and human interest stories, but when she meets a handsome mystery man on the beach, she’s not afraid to dig into his past, and the danger stalking him from across the seas. There’s just one problem … will her efforts help Luca, or bring danger straight to him?

Luca knows all too well the journalistic drive to keep digging. Can he trust his lovely Skylar to keep his secrets, or must he push her away to save both their lives?

Review

I found this book enjoyable, if a little rushed in places. The chemistry between Luca and Skylar was well-developed, but I’d have loved to have seen it be pushed even further to really intensify things between them. That being said, I really enjoyed both characters’ development throughout the story. Although the primary focus was their developing relationship, both Luca and Skylar grew as people and were well-rounded characters. There was plenty of internal and external conflict throughout the story and although the pacing seemed a little rushed at times, the points of conflict were all developed and explored really well. I enjoyed the storyline with Luca’s efforts to take down a mafia don; it was brilliantly portrayed and I could tell the author researched it thoroughly.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has plenty of romance and heat, with lots of interesting subplots to add depth to the story. The two main characters were both likeable with a good amount of chemistry between them.

Universal buy link: https://books.pronoun.com/hot-shade/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34319155-hot-shade

About the author: Tamara Lush was born in California and raised in Vermont. She graduated from Emerson College with a degree in broadcast journalism. For the last several years, she’s worked as a journalist and is currently a correspondent in Florida with The Associated Press. She lives with her Italian husband and two dogs on the Gulf Coast.

She was recently chosen as one of 24 writers for the Amtrak Residency program, and in 2017, she’ll be riding trains and writing romance.

Published in September of 2015, her debut novel HOT SHADE received four stars from RT Book Reviews. Her most recent novel, a five episode serial called TELL ME A STORY, has “an engaging voice, sexy heroes and heroines and a wry sense of humor,” according to New York Times bestselling author Beth Kery.

Tamara is a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, beaches, iPhones, Art Deco, Spanish telenovelas, coloring books, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and newspapers.

Twitter: @tamaralush

Website: http://tamaralush.com/

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

Giveaway

This giveaway is for a $10 Amazon gift card (or equivalent)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bf633057114/?