Book Review: Little Beach Street Bakery, by Jenny Colgan

Sometimes, bread really is life . . . And Polly is about to reclaim hers.

Polly Waterford is recovering from a toxic relationship. Unable to afford their townhouse, she has to move miles away from everyone, to the sleepy little seaside resort of Polbearne, where she lives alone above an abandoned shop.

And so Polly takes out her frustrations on her favourite hobby: making bread. But what was previously a weekend diversion suddenly becomes far more important as she pours her emotions into kneading and pounding the dough, and each loaf becomes better and better. With nuts and seeds, olives and chorizo, with local honey (courtesy of local bee keeper, Huckle), and with reserves of determination and creativity Polly never knew she had, she bakes and bakes and bakes . . . And people start to hear about it.

Sometimes, bread really is life . . . And Polly is about to reclaim hers.

Blog Tour Book Review: Catching Lightning, by Katie Stephens

Is there ever a right time and place for love?
Can one ever tell when or where it will strike?
Can the love of a man win over the loathing of his country?

You never know where or when lightning will strike, but when it happens on a trip back to Kenya to bury your parents you know the timing isn’t great.

Mel has spent the past 14 years resenting her parents for abandoning her at a boarding school in England while they went back to Kenya, a country she had come to hate, to run an orphanage and school for their charity. A tragic accident forces her to return to Kamuti for her parents’ funeral, forcing her to face her fear of flying and hatred for the place which has now stolen her parents from her for good. But meeting the people who meant so much to her parents and above all the gorgeous, England-educated Sam was not part of the plan.

Finding her mother’s diaries reveals a lot of unanswered questions and the discovery of a detailed itinerary of a trip round Kenya that her parents dreamed of making with her makes Mel realise that maybe she has had things wrong all these years.

Will taking the trip help her find her answers? Will visiting the most beautiful and memorable locations of the land make her fall in love with the man, the country, neither or both?

When Mel discovers the ultimate painful secret about her past and loses her job as a teacher at a posh girls’ school, she has one final choice to make – as they say lightening only strikes once.

Rebecca Raisin Valentines Interview

Rebecca Raisin is joining me today for a love-themed interview as part of my Valentines celebrations! Rebecca’s Gingerbread Cafe books are some of the loveliest, sweetest books I read last year, and I can’t wait for her to release Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm next month!

• What’s your dream date?
  Hmmm, good question! I adore Paris, so when I think of a dream date it would have to be there! A stroll along the cobbled streets, a meander around the iconic bookshop Shakespeare and Co, before dinner somewhere romantic, and maybe a show? Just being in Paris would be gorgeous!
• What’s the worst/most embarrassing date you’ve ever been on?
  When Ashley met me at a hotel in the City I stepped out of the elevator and strode to the busy bar where he was waiting. As I walked in, the skirt I was wearing, sort of a fancy sarong, came untied so I was standing with just my knickers on. Not cool. Not cool at all!
• What’s your favourite Valentine’s gift you’ve ever received?
  A memorable one was Ash coming home with some gorgeous presents, and said to get dressed up because we were going out for dinner. Once I was all ready to go I walked outside to find a sparkly silver limousine parked there! We were driven up to King’s Park where you can see the view of the city at night-time and of course there was some nice cold bubbles on hand to toast with! It was a great night!
• What’s your favourite thing about love?
  My favourite thing is having that one person who knows everything about you. They’re the first person you run to when you’re happy, sad, and everything in between. I love that, especially now that I’ve had children, to share that kind of love, like we’re a team, is really special.
• Can you describe what love means to you in three words?
  Love is everything.
• What is your favourite memory of your wedding day OR what would be a detail of your dream wedding?
  We’re happily living in sin, but my dream wedding would be in Vegas, being either married by Dolly Parton herself or an impersonator! I heart Dolly! And it would be so much fun!
• What is your favourite romance novel?
  Chocolat by Joanne Harris…Roux, oh God I loved him!
• Who is your favourite romance author?
  Kristan Higgins
• What is your favourite romantic film?
  Love Actually
• What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
  The happy ever after! I adore that we can write about a world where we get what we want, and while there are ups and downs, love always wins!

      

Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm is out next month, and you can pre-order now!

Amazon US – Amazon UK – Goodreads

Secrets…we all have them.

Clay’s inheritance of Maple Syrup Farm came at the perfect time. Leaving city life behind he headed for maple-tree surrounded Ashford, Connecticut. Getting the farm in working order again might be back breaking work – but it seems to be the only way for Clay to finally forget about the girl who once broke his heart…

Lucy’s had enough of rules and the stress of planning her life down to the very last detail. Looking for an adventure she stumbles upon Maple Syrup Farm and its gorgeously gruff owner. This could be the perfect place to hide out…!

But the tranquillity and warmth of Maple Tree Farm is enough to heal even the most battered of hearts. There are very few problems in life that can’t be cheered up by maple syrup!

     

Rebecca writes romantic comedies for Carina UK.

Connect With Rebecca

Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads – Website – Amazon UK – Amazon US

Blog Tour Book Review: My So-Called Love Life, by A.L. Michael

Meet Tigerlily James: romance cynic, North Londoner and die-hard margarita fan.

Tigerlily James has been a member of the Young and Bitter Club ever since she was dumped on Valentine’s day. By her fiancé.

Surviving on a diet of cynicism and margarita-fuelled ‘Misery Dinners’ with her best friends, she’s become a romance free zone…and that’s the way she likes it. Until an invitation for The Ex’s wedding arrives. Suddenly in need of a plus one, Tig has little choice but to bin the takeaways, ditch the greying underwear collection…and start pretending to view the opposite sex as something other than target practise.

Then, she meets Ollie – ie. the perfect solution. No sex. No strings. Fake boyfriend. The only catch is that she has to pretend to be his girlfriend for three whole months.

Dating without the heartbreak: the best idea Tig’s ever had, right? Wrong!

Fiona Gibson Valentines Interview

Avon UK have SPOILED us by releasing 10 gorgeous short story’s for Valentines Day!

I’m very excited to welcome Fiona Gibson onto the blog today. Fiona is one of Avon’s lovely romance authors, who wrote their Love…Maybe? story ‘The Valentine-Free Zone,’ The Funny One.

• What’s your dream date?
  I was madly in love with the Brat Pack actor Andrew McCarthy all through my late teens and twenties and I still have a thing about him now. A date with Andrew would make my life complete!
• What’s the worst/most embarrassing date you’ve ever been on?
  It was an early date with Jimmy, my husband, who I’ve been with for 20 years. I thought I’d wear foxy hold-up stockings instead of tights. We were in the pub, and I was up at the bar getting our drinks when I realised the stockings had flumped down to my ankles. Turned out they weren’t hold-ups at all – they had no elasticky bits at the tops. They were just normal stockings and I spent all night holding them up!
• What’s your favourite Valentine’s gift you’ve ever received?
  Gorgeous lingerie, a book of love poetry, a necklace of tiny pink crystals… it’s impossible to choose!
• What’s your favourite thing about love?
  Sharing my life with a wonderful person
• Can you describe what love means to you in one sentence?
  Feeling warm, fuzzy and crazily happy
• What is your favourite memory of your wedding day?
  One of our rather sozzled guests climbing over a wall into a graveyard, and curling up on a gravestone for a little nap.
• What is your favourite romance novel?
  I loved One Day and Us, both by David Nicholls. Not strictly romance but completely moving and brilliant.
• Who is your favourite romance author?
  I’m not sure she’d class herself as a romance author – but Lisa Jewell.
• What is your favourite romantic film?
  Brief Encounter.
• What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
  I’m fascinated by how people relate, and the inner workings of relationships. I’m quite an emotional person and the whole, bonkers thing of falling (and staying) in love fascinates me.

        

  

  Amazon US – Amazon UK – Goodreads

        

  
  Fiona’s Bio

  Fiona is an author and journalist who has written for many UK publications including The Observer, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Red, New Woman, Top Sante and Elle. She writes a monthly column for Sainsbury’s magazine and is a Contributing Editor at Red magazine.

  Fiona lives in Scotland with her husband, their twin sons and daughter. She likes to draw, run 10k races, play her saxophone and lie in the bath with a big glass of wine, although not all at once.

  Connect With Fiona

  Twitter – Goodreads – Website

Amelia Thorne Valentines Feature

A big, warm welcome to Amelia Thorne who is joining me on the Book Nook for Valentines Day – an extra special day for Amelia as it also sees the release of her new book, Tied Up With Love. Today she’s written an interview with Izzy and Ethan, the lead characters. This interview takes place after the book, so it’s a bit of a spoiler interview, but I think we already know when to expect a happy ending in chick lit!

Love, Always magazine interviews Ethan Chase and Izzy Franklin

How did you two meet?
Both look at each other and laugh
Izzy: Well, Ethan kidnapped me.
Ethan: Technically, I didn’t kidnap you, my brothers did.
Izzy: It’s your company, you need to take responsibility for your actions.
Ethan, laughing and shaking his head: My company kidnapped her by mistake. We offer a kidnapping service to couples who want to spice up their sex life. Izzy was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Izzy: And once he explained his error I then blackmailed him into giving me a job.

Sounds like you two didn’t have the most conventional start to a relationship?
Ethan: Nothing about our relationship was conventional, we never dated, I never bought her gifts…
Izzy: That’s not true, you bought me a kitten after my cat died.
Ethan: That’s true, I wanted to make you smile, but we weren’t in a relationship then.
Izzy: We danced in a rooftop bar under the stars. That was very romantic.
Ethan: Yes, one of my favourite moments, but we weren’t even together then.
Izzy: And you looked after me when I was sick.
Ethan: I just wanted to make sure you were ok.

So there was some romance in the early days of your relationship, was it love at first sight?
Izzy: No
Ethan: Yes.
Izzy, laughing. You’re such a liar, you couldn’t stand me when I first started working for you.
Ethan: I was in love with you but I didn’t want to be, I may have been a bit difficult to work with at the start when I tried to push you away.
Izzy: He was grumpy, moody, found fault in everything I did.
Ethan: Don’t tell me you weren’t in love with me. She declared her undying love for me two days after we first got together.
Izzy: I fell in love with you after one day of working with you, despite all the grumpiness.
Ethan: One day? (Smiles and takes her hand)
Izzy: Yes, I think when you showed me round the house, I knew then that I was falling for you.
Ethan: That night, when you came to my house for dinner, I think I fell for you too.

Once you fell for each other, was it all plain sailing after that?
Izzy, laughing: He tied me up four, no five times before we got married.
Ethan, laughing: You make me sound really kinky, it was all to do with work, well most of them.
Izzy: He broke up with me twice.
Ethan: You’re not painting me in a good light here.
Izzy: He did rescue me from a real kidnapping.
Ethan: Yes I was very heroic.
Izzy giggles.

Sounds like it was quite an adventure?
Ethan: I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Izzy smiling: Me neither.

How long have you been married?
Ethan: A little over a year.

Can you tell us what you love about the other person?
Izzy leans into Ethan’s side and he puts his arm round her.
Ethan: I love that she fell in love with me even with all my faults, that she saw a good in me that I didn’t even see in myself. I love her feistiness. I love her kindness and that she loves my family almost as much as I do. I love her passion and her ideas to improve our company. She makes me smile, a lot and I love that. And her kisses, I love kissing her very much.
Izzy smiles. I love that he saw past my scars and fell in love with the person on the inside, I love how safe I feel with him. I love how much he makes me laugh. I love… making love to him. And I love how he is the father of my unborn child.

Ethan’s face drops: You’re pregnant?
Izzy nods: We’re pregnant.
Ethan grins: We’re going to be parents. I’m going to be a dad?
Izzy nods, smiling and crying.
Ethan: And you decide to tell me here?
Izzy, laughing: Why did you think I was so keen to come to the interview?
Ethan laughs and rests his hand on her stomach: We’re going to have a baby.
Ethan kisses her and our interviewer diplomatically leaves them to celebrate alone.

From everyone here at Love, Always magazine, Congratulations Ethan and Izzy xx

      

Tied Up With Love is out today!

Amazon US – Amazon UK – Goodreads

      

Amelia’s Bio

Amelia is a writer of sexy chick lit with Carina. Her twitter profile mysteriously tells us she may have a secret identity. Intriguing!

Connect With Amelia

Twitter – Goodreads

My Favourite Romances & Valentines Giveaway!

Generally speaking, I can class my two favourite types of romances into two categories: the old classics, and the heart breakers. I absolutely love old-fashioned romances, and Jane Austen has been my firm favourite since I first discovered Pride & Prejudice at a young age. I’ve religiously read her 6 novels countless times, and so blossomed a love of regency romances. I’m also a sucker for punishment when it comes to love stories, and will judge how amazing a book is by how many tears I shed. The more the better, for my twisted love of heartache.

Pride & Prejudice, by Jane Austen

A timeless classic, and one that I will never grow tired of reading over, and over, and over again. I love everything about this book, and about Austen’s writing. It will always be my go-to in times of comfort and need, and the film adaptations have provided equal solace in many desperate times. (Matthew Macfadyen or Colin Firth, I’m not picky!)

 

 

 

The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffeneggar

This falls into the second category of rip-my-hear-out-and-crush-it-between-your-pages kind of book. The first time I read it, I actually had to stop and put it down for about 15 minutes until my sobbing subsided, my eyes stopped stinging and I could finally breathe and see again. It is just beautiful, in the most agonising way.

 

 

 

Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes

Another one that shattered my heart into thousands of tiny pieces, and also one of the most stunning books I’ve ever read. I can’t even think about it without feeling my chest tighten. If you haven’t read this book, you simply must. It’s a game-changer.

 

 

 

If You Could See Me Now, by Cecelia Ahern

It’s difficult to pick out my favourite Cecelia book, as I absolutely love them, and at least five would probaby be on this list in all honesty. PS I Love You, deserves a mention as the first of hers I read, which has started a long term love, but I just adored If You Could See Me Now. Infused with magic and the wonder of believing, this book just takes you on such a beautiful journey.

 

 

The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green

You probably don’t need telling which category this one falls into! John Green is an evil genius, who’s life mission appears to be breaking hearts across the globe. The film was wonderful, but it just can’t really touch on the beauty and pain found between the pages of the book. Warning: you will be reduced to a snivelling, disgusting mess. Curse you, John Green.

 

 

 

Love Me For Me, by Jenny Hale

I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it, but I kinda love this book!! I think you’ve probably heard me say it enough times, so I won’t go on to much, but Love Me For Me is one of the loveliest, pure and simple romance stories I’ve ever read.

 

 

 

 

As a Valentines gift from me to you, I’m giving TWO lovely people the chance to win their choice of my favourite romances, listed above. Happy Valentines Day!

Claudia Carroll Valentines Interview

Avon UK have SPOILED us by releasing 10 gorgeous short story’s for Valentines Day!

I’m thrilled to welcome Claudia Carroll onto the blog today. Claudia is one of Avon’s fabulous romance authors, who wrote ‘The Feel-Good One’ for the Love…Maybe collection, Single, Forty & Fabulous!

• What’s your dream date?
  Ooh, good question! I know a lot of people say it’s a posh dinner followed by champagne sipped in his private jet on your way to Rio…but for me it’s something a lot more humdrum. I love a date where it’s just something very casual like coffee or a quick drink after work, but then you just end up having so much in common and so much to say to each other that next thing it’s 2a.m. and it feels like you’ve only been there for about ten minutes.
• What’s the worst/most embarrassing date you’ve ever been on?
  Oh God, it happened years ago and I’m still cringing. It was a blind date and he was so mind-boggingly boring and so up himself that I ran to the loo, then came back and pretended that I’d just had a phone call saying I was needed back home urgently. He drove me home and of course no sooner had I got rid of him then I scooted down to our local to meet up my pals. And bumped into him there, doing exactly the same thing…
• What’s your favourite Valentine’s gift you’ve ever received?
  Well, here I’ve a confession to make here. Thing is, February 14th is my birthday, so whatever about the love/romance element to the whole day, I can always count on getting an iTunes voucher from my Dad and an anti-ageing cream from my mother. A subtle hint, methinks.
• What’s your favourite thing about love?
  Well I’ve been single for so long that it’s hard to remember, but hauling myself through the fug of time, I’d say; laughter. After all if you can’t have a laugh with a potential partner, then there’s no hope, is there?
• Can you describe what love means to you in three words?
  Companionship. Giggles. And long lazy dinners where you chat and talk late into the night, taking the whole world apart and putting it all back to together again. Sorry, I think I exceeded the 3 word limit…
• What is your favourite memory of your wedding day OR what would be a detail of your dream wedding?
  Well, I’m not married, but I know exactly where my dream wedding would be. On a beach. In the Caribbean. At sunset. With both of us in our bare feet and only close family and pals with us. No Bridezilla carry on; in fact I think I’d wear just a little sundress from Topshop to really emphasize the point.
• What is your favourite romance novel?
  Without a doubt, Pride and Prejudice. And to think that Jane Austen wrote it at twenty-one? Astonishing.
• Who is your favourite romance author?
  Oh, I’ve so many! Jane leads the pack though, I think, she’s the mother of all women’s commercial fiction, if you ask me. but I also love and adore Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Phillippa Gregory and Trisha Scanlan too.
• What is your favourite romantic film?
  Casablanca. It’s got everything. It’s a heartrending love story, a thriller, a musical and a war movie all rolled into one. When they made it, they had no idea who’d win the war, which I think it makes it not just the most romantic movie ever, but also one of the bravest.
• What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
  Anything and everything really. seeing a couple kiss passionately on a bridge in the lashing rain in the middle of January and wondering what their story is. Or seeing a couple clinging to each other with one of them in floods of tears at the airport departure gates. Because we all have love stories to tell, don’t we?

      

Amazon US – Amazon UK – Goodreads

      

Claudia’s Bio

Claudia was born in Dublin and is a graduate of UCD, the College of Music and of the Gaiety School of Acting. Since then she has worked extensively as an actress on the Irish stage, but is probably best known for her role as TV’s Nicola Prendergast in the long running Dublin soap opera, ‘Fair City.’

Connect With Claudia

Twitter – Goodreads – Website

Jenny Hale Valentines Interview

The gorgeous Jenny Hale is on the Book Nook today. If you follow my blog you may know I have a slight obsession with Jenny and her books, which are the most beautiful, wonderful, loveliest, just PERFECT romances ever so, yeah, you need to go read them. Now. Or maybe after you read Jenny’s interview, I guess…

• What’s your dream date?
  I’m really happy anywhere, but my favorite place to go would be a city that I don’t get to visit much, or a pub. Or both! I prefer a quieter atmosphere versus loud bars or dancing. I like to be in a place where I can spend long hours talking to the person I’m with.
• What’s the worst/most embarrassing date you’ve ever been on?
  I’ve never had one, thank goodness! All good dates here!
• What’s your favourite Valentine’s gift you’ve ever received?
  I was in college, and the man who is now my husband surprised me by taking me to Charlottesville, Virginia to go to a nice dinner, and then we did a pub crawl–just the two of us–around town, sampling different beers. (I have a particular fondness for beer and he knew that.) When we got back to the hotel where we were staying, I remember he was upset because there were supposed to be roses waiting for me and they hadn’t been delivered. I didn’t care at all because I was just as happy knowing he’d thought to do it than actually receiving the flowers. Maybe somebody else got a gorgeous surprise vase of roses that night. Who knows?
• What’s your favourite thing about love?
  My favorite thing about love is the excitement of it. Sure, it’s fun in the beginning, but that thrill does last with the right person. Even after fourteen years of marriage, I’m excited when my husband comes home, and I can’t wait to see him.
• Can you describe what love means to you in three words/one sentence? (Take your pick, I’ll delete as appropriate.)
  Love means being with someone who knows me better than I know myself, and loves what he knows.
• What is your favourite memory of your wedding day OR what would be a detail of your dream wedding?
  For the reception, all my family and friends were together in an old plantation-style house with candles lit, fresh Christmas greenery on all the railings, and fires in the fireplaces. That ambience, with all my favorite people there, is a good memory.
• What is your favourite romance novel?
  Oof. There are so many! I prefer romances that have other pieces to the story. I love the fun romances in Jill Mansell’s novels and I also really love anything by Harriet Evans.
• What is your favourite romantic film?
  Again, any/all. If I had to pick, my favorites are Sweet Home Alabama, Notting Hill, Sleepless in Seattle, and Love Actually. (I’m already feeling anxious having to narrow it down to four, don’t make me pick just one.) 🙂
• What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
  I think we all can relate to the feelings we get around someone we love, and that journey–for everyone–is a story in itself. I enjoy telling about the journey, and exploring all the emotions that come along with that journey.

I would just like to take this moment to point out that Jenny and I totally have the same favourite films, and this further reiterates my beliefs that we should be BFFs and watch chick flicks together. #JustSaying

If you need any more convincing to read Jenny’s books (you shouldn’t, just trust me) then you can here me gush even more in my reviews for Love Me For Me and A Christmas to Remember.

   

Jenny’s Bio

When I graduated college, one of my friends said, “Look out for this one; she’s going to be an author one day.” Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn’t until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to me.

Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can’t.

While I didn’t start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children, and hundreds of thousands of words later, I completed a novel that I felt was worthy of publication. The result is Coming Home for Christmas, a heart-warming story about friends, family, and the magic of love at Christmas.

I released my second book, Love Me for Me, this past summer, and my next novel, A Christmas to Remember is out now.

When I’m not writing, I’m a District Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, a mother of two boys, and a wife to a very supportive husband.

Connect with Jenny

Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads – Website

Jennifer Gilby Roberts Valentines Guest Post

I’m married and we have a toddler, so romance isn’t abundant these days. I was married at 27, which came as something of a surprise. At 20, I fully expected to still be single at the age I am now (32). Not in a self-pitying way, but partly because I was quite happy being single and partly because I was completely useless at dating.

First of all, I had a deep inability to tell when a man was interested in me. Even if everybody else knew, until I heard the words, “I fancy you” or “Will you go out with me?” I had no idea. It probably put a few guys off, because they thought I was uninterested when really I was oblivious.

Second, I had no flirting ability. I can’t do hair-tossing, leg-crossing or coy looks without looking like I’ve got a neurological condition (for a visual representation, watch this video of comedienne Sarah Millican, who is similarly afflicted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C40b8zO5mE), so I had precious little chance of making the first move in a subtle way. I’ve asked two guys out in my life (both said yes), because that seemed my only chance of making progress.

Fortunately, my husband is an old-fashioned type of guy. Having decided – apparently at first sight – that he was interested, he set about pursuing me. And it only took four years to get me down the aisle. Well, there wasn’t an aisle because we got married onstage at our local theatre, but the effect was the same. He sang for me at our wedding – how romantic is that?

    

 FREE FOR ALL EREADERS! 

A collection of ten contemporary chick lit short stories set around Valentine’s Day.

Stories by Geralyn Corcillo, Julie Farrell, Jean Oram, Amy Gettinger, Celia Kennedy, Kathryn R. Biel, Karen E. Martin, Lisa Bambrick, CeCe Osgood and Jennifer Gilby Roberts.

http://www.jennifergilbyroberts.com/mybooks/cupid-loose-anthology/

    

Jennifer’s Bio

Jennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so a career writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies.

Connect with Jennifer

Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads – Website