Dear Dad by Giselle Green book review

Dear Dad by Giselle Green, publisher Yule Press, is available in ebook format and part of the kindleunlimited subscription scheme from THURSDAY 31st March 2016.

To pre-order/buy link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Dad-Giselle-Green-ebook/dp/B01D7E5GPY/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459240606&sr=1-3&keywords=dear+dad

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Handsome, 28-year old, Nate Hardman is a frontline reporter with a big problem. Suffering from shell-shock and unable to leave his house, he’s already lost his social life and his girlfriend. Now his career prospects are sinking fast.

9 year-old Adam Boxley who lives alone with his ageing nan, also has big problems. Neglected at home and bullied at school, he’s desperate to reach out to his dad – and that’s when he sends his first letter to Nate. Only Nate’s not who he thinks he is. Will he help? More importantly – can he?

Across town meanwhile, caring but impulsive teacher Jenna Tierney really wants to help Adam – except the feisty redhead has already had enough of teaching. Recently hurt by yet another cheating boyfriend, Jenna’s now set her sights on pursuing a dream career abroad … only she’s about to meet Nate – her dream man who’ll make her re-think everything.

The big question is; can three people desperate to find love, ever find happiness when they’re only connected by one big lie?

This is the first book I’ve read by Giselle Green and I’d like to thank her for the arc in return for an honest review.  Her debut novel Pandora’s Box won the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writer’s Award in 2008. Her third novel, A Sister’s Gift achieved best-selling number one slot on Amazon kindle in 2012. When I heard Giselle and a fellow book blogger talking about this novel, Dear Dad, I was instantly drawn to the storyline.  They were very enthusiastic about the book and I wanted to learn more and join in with this enthusiasm.  Within the first few chapters of the novel I soon started to appreciate their passion for this book.

I loved this very emotive story following three people struggling to cope with what life has thrown at them.  They are by chance brought together by a special young boy called Adam.  Can the mismatch trio fix each other?

Adam is a 9 year boy who has no mother, no idea of the whereabouts of his father and has been left in the care of his grandmother.  Just recently his gran’s health has been failing and Adam has then turned into the carer.  He has been doing his best for his gran but who is doing their best for Adam?

Nate is a frontline war report, following a very traumatic event with his job he has suffered badly.  He is afraid to leave the safety of his home and when he does venture out he has debilitating panic attacks.

Jenna is a qualified teacher and tattoo artist.  She’s recently fled Sicily following a break-up with her boyfriend.  Jenna has history of not dealing with tough situations and tends to run away from them.  She has returned to Rochester to find work and make a new home.

When Nate receives a handwritten note pushed through his letterbox from Adam saying “Dear Dad … Please Help”.  He is automatically drawn to these two words ‘please help’ and wonders how bad a situation can be for someone to write to an unknown asking for help.  As far as Nate is aware he isn’t a father to any child and assumes Adam has mistaken him but when another note arrives and Nate catches Adam in the act of delivering it he starts to find out more about the young lad.

Jenna in the meantime manages to acquire a supply teacher’s post at Adam’s school.  Sadly, although fortuitous for Adam, she catches him being physically and mentally bullied by some older boys.

We follow the lives of Adam, Nate and Jenna unravelling each other’s situations and ultimately helping Adam.

I was instantly drawn to the heartache and plight Nate was suffering with his PTSD.  I felt for him and my emotions could understand and appreciate the torture he was going through.  It was hard to hear but also enlightening and inspiring, I was willing him on to overcome these barriers.  When Adam’s story was revealed my heart felt broken and I also became quite angry that he had been overlooked by many.  I felt a sort of magical quality emerge within him to seek out help from these two adults who also needed fixing and ultimately helping them would be benefitting himself.

This was a beautiful story, well written dealing with some difficult subjects.  Although the storyline was very raw and emotive at times the underlining current was heartwarming, inspiring and full of hope.  I will certainly be checking out Giselle Green’s back catalogue after this brilliant read.  5/5*

To find out more about Giselle Green and her books please visit the following links:

http://gisellegreen.com/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Giselle-Green/e/B0034PMCRC

https://twitter.com/gisellegreenuk

 

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Homecoming by Tanya Bullock book review

Homecoming by Tanya Bullock, publisher Blackbird Digital Books, is available in ebook format from FRIDAY 1st April 2016.

To pre-order/buy link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Homecoming-Quite-Possibly-Strangest-Romance-ebook/dp/B01AIPUDTE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458988630&sr=1-1&keywords=the+homecoming+tanya+bullock

Product Details (as per amazon page)

All that mattered to Rosie, all that had ever really mattered, was that she loved Tom and he loved her

Rosie and Tom belong together.
For too long, war and its devastating aftermath have kept them apart.
Now that Tom has finally returned home, Rosie hopes that they will be able to put the past behind them.
But when a mysterious sequence of events unfolds, their love is put to the test once more
With a shocking secret hanging heavily over their relationship…
With circumstances conspiring against them at every turn…
Rosie and Tom find themselves caught up in the biggest battle of their lives.
Will their demons ultimately consume them?
Or will love conquer all in the end?

I’d like to thank the publishers for an arc in return for an honest review.

I don’t know where to begin with this beautiful love story. This is a short story and I devoured it in one sitting and my heart felt completely shattered afterwards. A short story that packed such an emotive punch.

It’s a very unusual premise for a love story and not one that I’ve read before. It’s set in two time frames: just before the war and at the present day. We hear the story of love blossoming for Rosie and Tom and then we hear about a different love between Rosie and Tom as they are now.

I don’t want to reveal too much about the storyline but the author broached a difficult subject with such sensitivity. From the first few lines I was hooked with the beauty of the author’s writing it was quite simply stunning and poetic. There is a twist in the tale at the end and my heart was aching for the lost love.  5/5*

To find out more about Tanya Bullock and her books please visit the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/tanyabullockwriter/

https://twitter.com/tanyabullock15

The Hurricane by R. J. Prescott book review

The Hurricane by R. J. Prescott, publisher Piatkus, is available NOW in ebook, paperback and audio download format.  P.S.  The paperback contains brand new bonus content.

To buy link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hurricane-1-R-J-Prescott/dp/0349411301/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1458986084&sr=1-1

Product Details (as per amazon page)

A love that’s worth keeping is worth fighting for . . .

Emily McCarthy is living in fear of a dark and dangerous past. A gifted mathematician, she is little more than a hollow, broken shell, trying desperately to make ends meet long enough to finish her degree.

Through an unlikely friendship with the aging, cantankerous owner of an old boxing gym, Em is thrown into the path of the most dangerous man that she has ever met.

Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell is cut, tattooed and dangerous. He is a lethal weapon with no safety and everyone is waiting for the mis-fire. He’s never been knocked out before, but when he meet Em he falls, HARD. Unlike any other girl he’s ever met, she doesn’t want anything from him. Just being around her makes him want to be a better person.

They are polar opposites who were never meant to find each other, but some things are just worth the fight.

I’d like to thank the publishers for an arc in return for an honest review.

I’d also like to thank the publishers introducing me to a new author in R. J. Prescott.  I was totally gripped with this intense, passionate debut novel.  The Hurricane was nominated and was a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards Best Debut.

I was soon engrossed with this debut novel and couldn’t quite believe it was R. J. Prescott’s first book.  The storyline hooked me in with the believable characters of Em/Emily and O’Connell.

Emily is a student far from her ‘so called home’ which held so many dark and terrifying secrets for her.  As soon as she could Emily moved away from a dangerous and terrorising past.  She’s struggling to make ends meet with studying and working in a café.  She has kept herself ‘invisible’ from many social interactions to keep herself safe however, this led her to become very insecure.  Her world was about to change when the friendship she had built up with Danny, the owner of an old boxing gym, had offered her a job doing the accounts for the gym.  Em was soon out of her comfort zone when she entered the gym for the first time and she soon caught the eye of the lads in the gym.  One in particular was Cormac O’Connell, a tough looking giant of a man with good looks and confidence oozing out of him.

O’Connell took an instant and almost possessive liking to Em and wasn’t afraid to show his feelings.  But when it came to Em he was prepared to wait for her, to wait until she wanted him as much as he wanted her.  Em also felt this instant chemistry with O’Connell but her past made her very wary of trusting any man.  O’Connell also has a very troubled past which has worn him down many times.

This story was very intense and passionate but also sweet at times with Em opening up to a whole new world of friends.  I loved all the guy’s camaraderie at the gym they were very funny at times larking about with each other but when a friend was in need they dropped everything and were committed to the cause.

The history of Em’s past was always scarily in the background which made the storyline very dramatic, thrilling and unpredictable.  I’d fallen for the characters of Em and O’Connell and was hoping so much that they had enough fight in them to overcome their battles and to let love find a way into their hearts and souls and heal them.  5/5*

I’d like to share one of my favourite quotes from the novel:

“Of course that was his name.  I felt like I’d been in the path of a hurricane from the day I met him.  Only this one wasn’t tearing me apart.  He was making me whole again”.

To find out more about R. J. Prescott and her writing please visit the following links:

Tweets by rjprescottauth

https://www.facebook.com/rjprescottauthor/

Treasure of the Heart: Polwenna Bay 4 by Ruth Saberton

Treasure of the Heart: Polwenna Bay 4 by Ruth Saberton, publisher Notting Hill Press, is available in ebook format and also in the kindleunlimited subscription scheme from Thursday 24th March 2016.

To buy link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treasure-Heart-Polwenna-Bay-4-ebook/dp/B019RT6B7U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458639778&sr=8-1&keywords=treasures+of+the+heart+ruth+saberton

Product Details (as per amazon page)

The heart is a deep ocean of treasure…

For twenty-two years Issie Tremaine’s wild behaviour has driven her family to distraction. Now, with the future she’d dreamed of in tatters, she’s returned home to try and forget the past. When a huge winter storm and the arrival of a handsome stranger cause upheaval in the village there is an even greater tempest in Issie’s heart. Dare she trust again? Or will she only face more betrayal?

As a professional treasure hunter, American Luke Dawson can’t risk any distractions. With his reputation hanging in the balance he’s staking everything on a major find in England and daren’t let anyone get in his way. Not even the passionate and free spirited girl he can’t stop thinking about.

Alice Tremaine’s world has been her family. Since the death of her daughter-in-law she’s single handedly raised her grandchildren, often at the expense of her own happiness. Now they are grown up, Alice is resigned to a quiet life in Polwenna Bay until her past returns to challenge her and awaken a love she’d thought long lost …

With a stormy start to the New Year, secrets and fears are swept away with the crashing tides and long forgotten truths are laid bare. What treasure lies beneath the ocean and in the hidden depths of hearts? And who will be brave enough to claim it?

I’d like to thank the author for an arc in return for an honest review.

This is the fourth instalment of the Polwenna Bay series and I feel very happy to be going back to Cornwall.  Ruth Saberton has created such an idyllic setting for her Polwenna Bay series, the characters are well balanced, relatable and full or Cornish charm.  It feels like going home when joining the Tremaine’s at their kitchen table in Seaspray.

This story focuses on Issie, one half of the twin siblings in the Tremaine household.  Issie is very likeable, she’s fun, vivacious, impulsive, a beautiful young 22 year old with a head full of dreams and a huge heart.  Issie has recently returned home after quitting her degree course at uni.  Her reasons for quitting are very well guarded and Issue refuses to reveal the truth behind her decision and her current state of behaviour which is starting to go out of control.  When Issie uncovers a secret the village has been hiding for decades the future of the village and villagers is put at risk.

Luke Dawson, a young American, who works alongside his father as a professional treasure hunter by chance sees a news report regarding this great find in Cornwall.  At first he is captivated by the beautiful face of Issie on the TV screen but when he sees the word ‘lost treasure’ on the screen his heart starts beating fast with the expectation of a prospective new hunt for the loot that was lost long ago.  Luke on a whim and with the backing of a wealthy bored American housewife flies to England and lands in Cornwall on a damp, grey, cold January day.

When Luke bumps into Issie in the village he can’t help himself and delve Issie with questions about the find and the history of the village.  A mutual interest in the history brings the youngsters together and chemistry between them soon develops.  Can Issie forget her past and move on with the future or will the prospect of wealth hidden within the village be too much of a draw?

I loved this story it held a magical quality to it; of forgotten folklore involving wonderful characters from long ago and smuggling.  Were these well loved stories of times gone by a myth or fact?  The novel also has some wonderful, beautiful, touching moments with Alice, the hardworking, caring grandmother to the Tremaine siblings.  Alice is the head of the house and has worked hard all her life looking after the family.  It was wonderful to hear more about her and her past.  There is one particular scene that was so beautiful I could feel tingles of emotion comforting me.

Another wonderful story of love and family and believing in your heart and soul.  5/5*

This book can be read as a stand alone novel but to appreciate all the characters I would highly recommend reading all of the Polwenna Bay series:

Runaway Summer: Polwenna Bay 1 (you can find my review here

A Time for Living: Polwenna Bay 2 (you can find my review here

Winter Wishes: Polwenna Bay 3 (you can find my review here

To find out more about Ruth Saberton and her books please visit the following links:

http://www.ruthsaberton.co.uk/

http://www.twitter.com/RuthSaberton

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruth-Saberton-Author/117666788262892

The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan book review

The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan, publisher Sphere is available NOW in ebook, paperback and audio download format.

To buy link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Shop-Happy-Ever-After-Jenny-Colgan/dp/075155393X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457802202&sr=1-1&keywords=the+little+shop+of+happy+ever+after

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Given a back-room computer job when the beloved Birmingham library she works in turns into a downsized retail complex, Nina misses her old role terribly – dealing with people, greeting her regulars, making sure everyone gets the right books for their needs. Then a new business nobody else wants catches her eye: owning a tiny little bookshop bus up in the Scottish highlands. No computers. Shortages. Out all hours in the freezing cold; driving with a tiny stock of books… not to mention how the little community is going to take to her, particularly when she stalls the bus on a level crossing…

I’d like to thank the publishers for an arc  in return for an honest review.

Oh my I absolutely and utterly adored this book.  I didn’t want it to end and now I’ve finished reading it I want to go back to the beginning and devour it all over again.  It was such a warm hearted story full of hope, romance and inspiration.

Nina is a book addict she’s just recently lost her job in a library in Birmingham and is feeling lost without being near and working with books.  For a long time Nina has had a vision of owning her own book shop.  She decides to go one step further when she sees a wonderful, charming van for sale in Scotland and dreams of turning this van into a mobile book shop.  On a whim and a dream this petite young woman from the city up sticks and moves to a tiny village in Scotland to transform a van into her ultimate dream job of a mobile bookshop.

Nina’s dream doesn’t go without hitches.  We follow Nina on her journey of making her dream a reality, of settling in a new country, of making new friends and new loves.

When you open a Jenny Colgan book you are guaranteed a book full of wonderful characters and I adored Nina and her head full of dreams instantly.  I also fell for her grumpy new landlord and loved hearing more about him and the banter Nina and Lennox shared.  Jenny had created such a wonderful setting for this novel, I loved the sound of the Scottish village.  I could picture the vast countryside with changing colours, contours and temperatures.  I felt like I was living out my own dreamworld with this story.  Which book fan doesn’t dream of working with books all day and spreading the love of reading?

I have to also point out the cover of this novel, the illustration on the cover was perfect.  Bright, cheerful, dreamy looking.  I love these illustrated covers of Jenny’s novels and the black and white images interspersed within the pages.

A gorgeous book I could devour again and again.  5/5*

To find out more about Jenny Colgan and her books please visit the following links:

http://www.jennycolgan.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jennycolganbooks

https://twitter.com/jennycolgan

 

Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan book review

Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan, publisher MIRA is available in ebook and paperback format from THURSDAY 10th March 2016.

To buy link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleepless-Manhattan-perfect-York-fairytale-ebook/dp/B015IC42AI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1457340637&sr=1-1&keywords=sleepless+in+manhattan+sarah+morgan

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Great friends. Amazing Apartment. An incredible job. Paige has ticked off every box on perfect New York life checklist. Until disaster strikes and instead of shimming further up the career ladder, Paige is packing up her desk.

Her brother’s best friend Jake might be the only person who can help her put her life back together. He also happens to be the boy she spent her teen years pining after, and Paige is determined not repeat her past mistakes. But the more time she spends with Jake, the more Paige realises the one thing that was missing from her world all along: The perfect New York love story…

I received this book in exchange for an honest review and would very much like to thank the publishers for this arc.

Oh my where do I start with feedback, this story was like your very own award winning romance movie at your fingertips.  It was so romantic and sexy you could feel the heat emanating from the characters from the pages.  The sexy scenes were tastefully done and were true to the characters history and personality.

The story is set around 3 girlfriends, a brother and his best friend.  Paige, Frankie and Eva have been best friends for such a long time and when they managed to get employment within the same company they couldn’t have been happier.  However, when the company they work for is making cutbacks and the girls are left without employment they believe they’ll never share a great working relationship with each other again.  Until however, Jake, Paige’s brother Matt’s best friend, encourages the girls to set up their own business.  The girls with renewed enthusiasm prepare to work as a team.

Jake and Matt have been best friends forever and when Paige spent a few weeks in hospital to have a lifesaving operation Jake was her saviour.  He didn’t mollycoddle her like her brother and parents, he treated her normally and made her smile and forget about her illness.  Paige soon became close with Jake and started to develop strong feelings for him.  After many years since her operation Paige is still close to Jake but not as close as before, she let her feelings control her head back then and Jake became cooler with her.  Paige still finds Jake attractive and her feelings for him haven’t really altered and when the pair start working together on an assignment you can feel the underlying chemistry between them.

The story focuses mainly on Paige and Jake’s journey struggling with the intense chemistry which never fades when they are together.  Can their shared history heal Jake’s past which left him heartbroken and confused about the meaning of love?

I loved all the characters in this novel and am looking forward to hearing Eva’s story, she is so lovable and enthusiastic.  Frankie’s story would be quite different I believe to Eva’s.  Frankie is so anti-men, she is independent and happy with her life at the moment, however, she does share a stronger bond with Paige’s brother than Eva and I am hoping Matt can prove to Frankie that not all men are the same.

Sarah Morgan always creates wonderful, warm characters you can easily relate to and want them as friends.  Her description of the book settings are idyllic she sees beauty in all surroundings.

This story left me feeling very contented and wanting more from Paige, Eva, Frankie, Matt and Jake.  Excited for more from these much loved characters.  5/5*

To find out more about Sarah Morgan and her books please visit the following links:

http://sarahmorgan.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahMorgan

https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_

The Stylist by Rosie Nixon book review

The Stylist by Rosie Nixon, publisher MIRA is available NOW in ebook, hardcover and audio download format.

To buy link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stylist-Rosie-Nixon/dp/184845452X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1457027329&sr=8-1

Product Details (as per amazon page)

When Amber Green, a shop assistant in an exclusive London boutique is plucked from obscurity and mistakenly offered a job working with Mona Armstrong, the infamous, jet-setting ‘stylist to the stars’, she hits the ground running, helping to style some of Hollywood’s hottest (and craziest) starlets.

As awards season spins into action Mona is in hot demand and Amber’s life turned upside down. Suddenly she catching the attention of two very different suitors, TV producer Rob and Hollywood bad boy rising star Liam. How will Amber keep her head? And what the hell will everyone wear?

I’d like to thank the publishers and netgalley for an arc in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book.  I instantly felt transported to the uber glamorous lifestyle of a celebrity stylist.  It was a wonderful, guilty pleasure read that I devoured.  When we see the BAFTAs or the Oscars we can’t help but admire and gape in wonder over the stunning dresses and jewels of the A-listers.  Its easy to get hooked on the glamour of the occasion as it’s so alien to our normal lives.

Amber Green, what a fabulous name, worked in a boutique in London.  When celeb stylist Mona Armstrong desperately needed a new assistant to help her style the stars Amber was in the right place at the right time and agreed to join the roller coaster lifestyle of a celeb stylist for a few weeks.

We follow Amber jetting off to LA and back living the dream, or so she thought.  This was such a fun filled romp of a story with oozes of glamour, fashion and brilliant moments of scandal and humour.  This is the first novel written by Rosie Nixon and I look forward to more wonderful words from her.

Rosie created such fabulous characters with great stories to be told and learned from them all, from our favourite rookie stylist heroine Amber Green to the manic ‘Jekyl and Hyde’ personality of Mona Armstrong to the gorgeous and charming TV guy Rob; Tango Tim; Wannabee Princess Beau Belle and her miniature piggy Pinky.  This book had it all and more, I loved escaping to this wonderful world.  5/5*

About the author (as per amazon page)

Rosie Nixon has been joint Editor of HELLO! magazine for the past five years where she relishes the role of hands-on editor with a love of all things celebrity, royal and fashion-related. She previously held senior positions at glossy women’s magazines including Grazia, Glamour and Red. In her career she has been lucky enough to attend a multitude of glamorous award ceremonies, premieres and showbiz weddings all around the world. Rosie’s experience has undoubtedly enabled her to write her debut novel.

To find out more about Rosie Nixon and her writing please visit the following links:

https://twitter.com/Rosie_Nixon

https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/authors/p3700/Rosie-Nixon

https://www.instagram.com/rosiejnixon/?hl=en