#Review: Are We Nearly There Yet? by Lucy Vine @Lecv @orionbooks @PoppyStimpson #AreWeNearlyThereYet28/6/2019  Release date - 27th June 2019
Book length - 352 pages Publisher - Orion Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Poppy from www.orionbooks.co.uk for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Alice is turning thirty and is stuck in a rut. Her friends are all coupling up and settling down, while she's still working as a temp, trying (and failing) not to shag her terrible ex, getting thrown out of clubs, and accidentally sexting her boss... She decides to throw caution to the wind and jets off on a round-the-world adventure to #FindTheFun and find herself. Of course, she's no more likely to find the answer to true happiness on the beach in Thailand than she is at the electric beach in Tooting, but at least in Thailand there's paddleboard yoga. Can Alice find happiness on her travels? Or is she more likely to lose herself all over again...? MY REVIEW This book is AMAZING!!!!!! Funny, relatable, and with characters that feel like they could be your best friend, ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET? by Lucy Vine is the smashing summer read that you have all been waiting for. Alice turns thirty and her life falls apart. She gets ridiculously drunk at her boring birthday party that her friends have thrown for her and mistakenly texts her boss which means she no longer has a job. She keeps going back to her useless ex, and her best friend in the whole world, Eva, has just announced that she is pregnant so obviously Alice will have to move out of their flat to make room for Eva's brand new world that won't include her anymore. On top of that, her stepdad has taken ill but she doesn't want to deal with that considering she hasn't spoken to him or her mother in years, no matter how hard her brother has tried to get them to reconnect. So, yeah, this birthday isn't exactly starting off well. But Alice has a plan. She will travel, write one of those blogs that everyone seems crazy for, and find that spiritual enlightenment moment somewhere along the way where she will realise what she wants to do for the rest of her life. First stop is America - let the adventure begin ... Yes, this book is absolutely hilarious (and I don't say that lightly!) but it is also very real. As Alice travels and meets lots of new people, she is searching for an epiphany moment but it is only when she lets down her guard and faces her problems from her past head on, that she can feel again and move on into her future. There are moments of tenderness and connection, and I really enjoyed getting to know Alice and all of the characters that she comes across along the way. And the laughs are truly one of a kind!!! Alice is a kick-ass woman who doesn't apologise for who she is and when she realises her own self-worth, nothing can stop this strong woman, which is inspiring. ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET? by Lucy Vine is the kind of story that grabs you by the ... (ahem) throat and makes you pay attention and I loved every single second of this wonderful story. I cannot wait to read more from this super-talented author! AUTHOR BIO Lucy Vine is a freelance journalist based in London, who regularly writes and edits for the likes of Grazia, Heat, Cosmo, Stylist and Marie Claire. She also writes a weekly newsy column for GraziaDaily. Her debut novel Hot Mess was an eBook Number One bestseller. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/Lecv Instagram - www.instagram.com/lecv/
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 Release date - 27th June 2019 Book length - 512 pages Publisher - Wildfire Books Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Tracy from www.compulsivereaders.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Roper, the Black Lord of the north, may have vanquished the Suthern army at the Battle of Harstathur. But the greatest threat to his people lies in the hands of more shadowy forces. In the south, the disgraced Bellamus bides his time. Learning that the young Lord Roper is planning to invade the southern lands, Bellamus conspires with his Queen to unleash a weapon so deadly it could wipe out Roper's kind altogether. And at a time when Roper needs his friends more than ever, treachery from within puts the lives of those he loves in mortal danger . . . MY REVIEW Continuing on the story from The Wolf, THE SPIDER by Leo Carew, did not disappoint as I was sucked back into a unique world where treachery hides behind every corner and war is just a way of life. As the war continues to rage between the Anakim and the Sutherners, Lord Roper cannot stop to enjoy his victory as his people are in more danger than ever. But can he trust those that he needs to depend on, and will he be able to protect those that matter most to him as his enemies plans take on an even deadlier edge? As always with Leo Carew's writing, the imagery is majestic as every battle scene, every conversation, every scene jumps to life off the page and comes alive like a movie in front of your eyes. The characters and their relationships felt more developed in this book and I became even more invested in what would happen and who could be trusted. This is definitely a large story but there is not an unnecessary word used and every page holds your attention from beginning to end. THE SPIDER by Leo Carew puts the epic into epic fantasy and deserves to be on the bookshelves with the best of the genre because it is simply that good. A must for fantasy fans everywhere. AUTHOR BIO The third of four children, Leo Carew grew up in the centre of London, in the shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Inspired by audiobooks, he developed a late interest in reading and began trying his hand at writing soon afterwards. It was at this time that he also developed a sneaking suspicion that the city was not for him and spent as much time as possible exploring remote areas. After school, this led to two formative months spent on expedition in the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Three years followed reading Biological Anthropology at Cambridge University, most of which was spent staring out of the window, dreaming about colder climates. Obligatory time with serious studying done, Leo returned to Svalbard – Old Norse for “The Cold Edge” - where he lived in a tent for a year training and working as an Arctic guide. During this time, he revisited a novel he had begun at the age of 12 and began reassembling it in the considerable space offered by 24hr darkness. A reluctant return to London to train as a doctor and pursue a career as an army medic followed, during which time he completed his first novel, The Wolf. Leo currently lives in London, writing, studying medicine and breaking off as often as possible for an adventure somewhere cold and wild. For more information: Website - leocarew.com Twitter - twitter.com/leocarew1 Facebook - www.facebook.com/leocarew1/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/leocarew/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!   Available Now
Book length - 400 pages Publisher - Hachette Books Ireland Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Elaine from Hachette Ireland for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Two very different families ... One is loud, eccentric, rich and confident. The other is less sure of their place in life. On holidays in Portugal, a near-drowning brings the ten-year-old daughters, Jamie and Sarah, together and a friendship is formed. As the bond between the girls grows deeper, so too do the ties between their families and an unsettling closeness develops between two of the adults. Then, as Jamie begins to feel suffocated by the intensity of Sarah's friendship, cracks begin to show. What will it take to shatter the façade of friendship? The affair? The obsessive crush? And which family will be left whole? The Outsider is the compelling and unforgettable story of the complexity of friendship, marriage, hidden passions and teenage desire. MY REVIEW I wasn't sure what to expect when I started THE OUTSIDERS by Emily Hourican and I'm delighted to say I was instantly gripped by this character-driven story of friendship, family, and intense relationships. On a holiday in Portugal, two young girls accidentally meet in the pool and their lives will become entwined in such a way that it will have ripple effects for years to come for everyone in their families. Sarah is shy and insecure, an only child, who is the complete opposite of Jamie who is boisterous and confident with three older brothers, but Sarah is over the moon to finally have a friend. Both girls and their families live in Dublin but while this holiday is a once-off for Sarah's parents where money is always tight, Jamie's wealthy family are always travelling and experiencing new things. Sarah's parents love her deeply but after trying so hard to have a child, they struggle with letting Sarah breathe and are always waiting for the sky to fall in on top of their family, while Jamie's parents are loud and laid-back, giving their children independence at every turn. They certainly make an unusual group but it works and when the families return to Ireland, the friendship continues, much to the delight of Sarah's parents who worry about her constantly. As the years and summers pass, the intense relationship that exists between the girls and their families ebbs and flows, with secrets and betrayals beginning to make their mark on all involved. And when the dynamic alters irrevocably will it mark the end of so much more than a friendship? Compelling, almost hypnotic in its storytelling, THE OUTSIDER by Emily Hourican was the first book that I have ever read by this author but it will certainly not be my last. This drama that centred on friendship and relationships really sucked me in from the very beginning and I could not put it down. There is a dark edge to this novel which I did not expect but which I certainly enjoyed and while the characters are all equally compelling, I would find it hard to say they were likeable which makes this story all the more relatable. With plenty to sink your teeth into, THE OUTSIDER by Emily Hourican is a haunting story about friendship, relationships, and the pressure to be something to everyone, and I highly recommend it. AUTHOR BIO Emily Hourican is a journalist and author. She has written features for the Sunday Independent for fifteen years, as well as Image magazine, Conde Nast Traveler and Woman and Home. She was also editor of The Dubliner Magazine. Emily's first book, a memoir titled How To (Really) Be A Mother was published in 2013. She is also the author of novels The Privileged, White Villa and The Blamed. She lives in Dublin with her family. For more information: Website - emilyhourican.com Twitter - twitter.com/EmilyH71  Release date - 25th June 2019 Book length - 312 pages Publisher - St. Martin's Press Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Kelly from St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK Sometimes it takes a new beginning Caroline Carruthers thinks she buried her dreams along with the love of her life…until a stranger named Celeste dares her to chase a dream all on her own. Moving to Redemption, Texas, is chapter one in Caroline’s new life story. Opening a bookstore is the next. Finding love is the last thing on her mind as she settles into this new place called home. But when she meets a handsome, soulful man who’s also starting over, all bets are off. to reach a happily-ever-after Jackson McBride came to Redemption looking only to find himself, not someone to love. Ever since his marriage ended, he’s been bitter. Sure, he used to believe in love—he even has the old song lyrics to prove it—but the Jackson of today is all business. That is, until a beautiful young widow who’s moved to town inspires a change of heart. Could it be that the myth of Redemption’s healing magic is true…and Jackson and Caroline can find a second chance at a happy ending after all? MY REVIEW If you are looking for an emotional tale about two wounded souls looking for a fresh start, then JACKSON by Emily March is perfect for you. Caroline Carruthers needs something different and moving to the small town of Redemption and opening a bookstore seems like the perfect answer. Grief has made her heart and soul heavy but this close-knit community may just open her up to the possibility of happiness once more and then there is Jackson McBride who makes her heart flutter when they are together. Jackson McBride is determined to make something new for himself but love is the last thing he wants. His ex has made sure that that part of his life is gone forever. But as he falls into a friendship with Caroline is it possible that Redemption has brought them together for a deeper reason? JACKSON by Emily March is very much a story about community, friendship, and new beginnings and while there are heartbreaking moments, Emily March's books always leave me with a feeling of hope and warm thoughts. The characters are likeable and I enjoyed watching Caroline and Jackson's friendship evolve and their journey as they both try to find their feet in Redemption and with their own feelings. JACKSON by Emily March is sure to please fans of small-town reads and romance fans and I found it easy and enjoyable to read. AUTHOR BIO Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a "master of delightful banter," and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America. For more information: Website - www.emilymarch.com Twitter - twitter.com/emilymarchbooks Facebook - www.facebook.com/emilymarchbooks   Available Now Book length - 256 pages Publisher - Black & White Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Alastair from blackandwhitepublishing.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK 'Tu es belle – wow! Look at you!' It should be the perfect moment. A sunny day at Vintage Brides, and Ava O'Hara is twirling in her wedding dress. Super-hot Stefan likes what he sees... But Stefan won't be the one standing at the altar. It'll be Simon, Ava's wannabe rockstar fiancé. Or will it? Simon says he loves her, but he's got a funny way of showing it. When his indiscretions go viral on the big day, Ava suddenly becomes a bride-NOT-to-be. She needs her Bride Squad, and fast. It's time for a runaway! But will Ava come home from her wild Irish roadtrip? And if she does, will it be to love, loss or something entirely different? MY REVIEW A fun take on friendship and life, BRIDE SQUAD RUNAWAY by Caroline Grace-Cassidy & Lisa C. Carey is sure to have you giggling all the way through this enjoyable tale. For the past ten years, Ava O'Hara has given up her own artistic pursuits to support her fiancè Simon's dream of making it big with his band. She works hard at the art gallery with her friend Stefan, who sometimes seems to understand her better than anyone. But all of her sacrifices will be worth it because now she is getting married and thanks to her inheritance from her mother, she has a little cottage in the countryside to look forward to, which Simon has been busy renovating. So when Ava discovers on her wedding day that not only has Simon been cheating on her but also swindling her money from the renovation, she needs to escape. And at a time like this, a girl needs her besties, no matter how far apart they may have grown. What ensues, is an adventure that will have you laughing out loud and feeling nostalgic as these three women whose lives have changed so much, reconnect and begin to realise that nobody's life is ever as perfect as it seems. And sometimes all you need to do is take a chance. A little slow to start, it wasn't long before I was completely caught up in the madness and mayhem of Ava's wild road trip and I couldn't put it down. The characters are loveable and completely relatable and there were so many times that I burst out laughing that I lost count. BRIDE SQUAD RUNAWAY by Caroline Grace-Cassidy & Lisa C. Carey is a wonderful story that is sure to warm your heart. So what are you waiting for? Get buying and enjoy. AUTHOR BIO Irish writer and actress Caroline Grace-Cassidy is the author of 7 novels. She and her husband own Park Pictures, a film and TV production company, with whom she has written and directed 7 short films. Caroline has been a panelist for The Elaine Show on Virgin Media One since 2012 and a contributor for Women's Way, Irish Country and Weekender Magazine. She lives in Dublin with her family. Caroline and Lisa have been best friends for over 30 years, despite an incident at secondary school involving a nun and the showgirl they called Lola. Lisa C. Carey has been a copywriter, creative director, celebrity handler, screenwriter, Eurovision jury member, and a green card lottery winner. She has also escaped a hurricane, survived earthquakes, dug her way through a glacier, and lived on a remote island in Fiji. Born and raised in Dublin, Lisa currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Bride Squad Runaway is her debut novel. For more information: Website - www.carolinegracecassidy.com Twitter - twitter.com/cgracecassidy twitter.com/LisaCCarey1 Facebook - www.facebook.com/Author-Caroline-Grace-Cassidy Instagram - www.instagram.com/c_grace_cassidy/ www.instagram.com/carey30/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!!   Release date - 20th June 2019 Publisher - Aria (Head of Zeus) Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Vicky from Aria Fiction for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK Three women. Three very different lives. One life changing adventure. Charlie is a single mum unlucky in life. She's working multiple jobs just to try and put food on the table. She dreams of being able to give her son the life he deserves. So when an opportunity to make a lot of cash comes along, she simply has to take it. Suzie has always wanted to be a mother. But fate has been cruel and now time is running out. Soon her final frozen egg will be destroyed and her last chance of having a baby will go with it. With her husband resigned to their childless lives Suzie will take matters into her own hands. Dawn has hit a midlife crisis. Soon to be fifty she's trying to inject the fun back into her life. But with an interfering mother-in-law and judgemental mums at her children's school it's proving harder than it looks. Over the course of a year three lives are about to collide and as they do, friendships blossom and new beginnings emerge. MY REVIEW If you like an entertaining story that has plenty of fun while also dealing with sensitive topics, A YEAR OF SECOND CHANCES by Kendra Smith is the right book for you. Three strangers with three very different lifestyles and very different problems, suddenly find their lives converging at the strangest of times which results in an adventure that just might change their lives. Charlie is struggling to keep things together for herself and her teenage son and, with debt collectors at the door, she knows that things can only get worse. So when an opportunity arises, she has to take it, right? All Suzie wants is to be a mother and she is angry, so angry, that this has been denied to her. With time running out, she knows that she has to do something drastic and fast. And then there is Dawn who seems to have a lovely settled life with her relaxed husband and her children. But she feels a little lost and with her 'perfect' mother-in-law always there to tell her how she could do things better, Dawn feels like she needs to broaden her horizons before she explodes. With plenty of drama, laughs, and emotion, A YEAR OF SECOND CHANCES by Kendra Smith is a gentle story that is sure to charm you, and while the characters and their antics are not always realistic, they are engaging and I enjoyed this story. AUTHOR BIO Kendra Smith has been a journalist, wife, mother, aerobics teacher, qualified diver and very bad cake baker. She started her career in Sydney selling advertising space but quickly made the leap to editorial -and went on to work on several women’s magazines in both Sydney and London. With dual Australian-British nationality, she currently lives in Surrey with her husband and three children. For more information: Website - kendrasmith.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/KendraAuthor Facebook - www.facebook.com/kendrasmithauthor DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!   Release date - 13th June 2019 Book length - 302 pages Publisher - Orion Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Tracy from www.compulsivereaders.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK NOW.. My name is Matthew McConnell. You've probably heard my story. I took five of my friends on a boat through the longest canal tunnel in England. YOU... It takes two hours and twenty-six minutes to travel through that tunnel. Six of us entered that tunnel but I was the only one to come out. DON'T... It was pitch black in there - I don't know what happened to them. But I'm the only suspect. And if I don't find out how they disappeared, I'll be sentenced to murder. MY REVIEW Intriguing, fresh, and eerily tense, NOW YOU SEE ME by Chris McGeorge is the perfect read to curl up on the couch with on a dark evening and get lost in the mystery. Matthew McConnell is in trouble. Himself and his friends went into a tunnel but only Matthew emerged. The police and the town are convinced that Matthew is a killer even though there seem to be so many unanswered questions. Matthew needs help so he reaches out to Robin, an author whose wife disappeared three years ago. A man whom he was told that he could trust. Robin's book may be a success but he is struggling with life ever since his beautiful wife disappeared. When he receives a phone call from Matthew begging for his help, he is ready to ignore it as a crank call. Until Matthew mentions Sam, his wife. How does this stranger know so much about Sam? Could he be the missing link in finding her? And as Robin delves into Matthew's case who knows what secrets may come to the surface. NOW YOU SEE ME by Chris McGeorge is the kind of story that lures you into the mystery and gets you fascinated with the characters just as quickly. With some twists and turns along the way, the drama and questions are deftly handled and I enjoyed the journey of the story even though I wasn't always surprised by it. NOW YOU SEE ME by Chris McGeorge is an appealing thriller and I found it entertaining from start to finish. AUTHOR BIO Chris lives in Durham and is a recent graduate of the Creative Writing (Crime/Thriller) MA at City University. He loves film and acting in an amateur theatre group. For more information: Website - festivalofblood.wordpress.com Twitter - twitter.com/crmcgeorge DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!   Release date - 13th June 2019 (Paperback) Book length - 352 pages Publisher - Aria (Head of Zeus) Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Vicky from Aria Fiction for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Times are hard for all on Mulberry Lane as the war rages into yet another year. Desperate times push people into dangerous situations, and the residents of Mulberry Lane are not exempt. Menacing shadows lurk on dark street corners, threatening the safety of those who are alone and vulnerable. When Peggy's twins are born early Maureen and Nellie are there to lend a helping hand. The mothers of Mulberry Lane stick together despite the grim conditions of war torn London and a shadowy fear that stalks their lives. Neighbours and friends look out for each other and new life brings hope and joy to the Lane. MY REVIEW Step back in time with MULBERRY LANE BABIES by Rosie Clarke and you are sure to be enthralled from beginning to end. The war is still raging and the people of Mulberry Lane are continuing to pull together and be there for each other as much as possible. But they are living in dangerous times and not everyone will escape unscathed. But among the darkness, there is always light in the shape of true friendship and love, and when a community comes together it can be a force to be reckoned with. While MULBERRY LANE BABIES is the third book in this series, it can easily be read as a standalone which is what I have done. The characters quickly came to life and all of their individual worries and fears, as well as laughter and friendship, soon had my eyes glued to the page. There were some unexpected moments which surprised me and the overall feeling of community really warmed my heart at times. The setting and historical detail is compelling and is sure to appeal to historical fiction fans everywhere. MULBERRY LANE BABIES by Rosie Clarke is an emotional and engaging story and I am sure we have not heard the last from the residents of Mulberry Lane. AUTHOR BIO Rosie is happily married and lives in a quiet village in East Anglia. Writing books is a passion for Rosie, she also likes to read, watch good films and enjoys holidays in the sunshine. She loves shoes and adores animals, especially squirrels and dogs. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/AnneHerries DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!  |
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