Showing posts with label Bookouture. Show all posts

UNCOVERED PICKS: Seven Spring Escapes!

Now that we've slipped into spring, what better way is there to enjoy a sunny weekend with a good book set in an idyllic location? With novels from Holly Martin, Sue Watson, Daisy James and more, there's plenty of choice. Here's a selection of seven newly-released and upcoming reads for you to escape with this season.


The Second Chance Tea Shop by Fay Keenan
Following the tragic death of her beloved husband, Anna Hemingway decides it's time for a fresh start. So Anna and her three-year-old daughter Ellie move to a picture-perfect cottage in the beautiful village of Little Somerby, and when she takes over the running of the village tea shop, Ellie and Anna start to find happiness again.

But things get complicated when Matthew Carter, the owner of the local cider farm, enters their lives. Throughout a whirlwind year of village fetes and ancient wassails, love, laughter, apple pie and new memories, life slowly blossoms again. But when tragedy strikes and history seems to be repeating itself, Anna must find the strength to hold onto the new life she has built.

This beautiful, life-affirming debut novel marks the beginning of the Little Somerby series, and promises to make you smile, cry, reach for a cream tea, and long for a life in the perfect English countryside.

There's Something About Cornwall by Daisy James
Life is far from picture perfect for food photographer, Emilie Roberts. Not only has her ex-boyfriend cheated on her, he’s also stolen her dream assignment to beautiful Venice! Instead, Emilie is heading to the wind-swept Cornish coast...

Emilie doesn’t think it can get any worse – until disaster strikes on the very first day! And there’s only one man to rescue this damsel in distress: extremely hunky surfing instructor, Matt Ashby.

Racing from shoot to shoot in a bright orange vintage camper van, Matt isn’t the conventional knight in shining armour – but can he make all of Emilie’s fairy tale dreams come true?

The Beachside Sweet Shop by Karen Clarke
When Marnie Appleton inherited a sweet shop from her grandfather she was determined to do his legacy proud. The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she’s recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help.

Marnie gets busy redecorating the shop and choosing delicious new sweets to stock, but things are never that simple: new neighbour Isobel, a fame-hungry blogger, is on a crusade against sugar, and she’ll go to any lengths to secure bad publicity for Marnie’s shop.

Marnie fights back with homemade sugar-free treats, but with her best friend Beth heavily pregnant, her grandmother Celia recovering from an operation, and her very recently ex-boyfriend Alex returning to Shipley with a new love, Marnie has a lot on her plate.

And then there’s Josh, with whom Marnie is struggling to keep her relationship strictly professional...Will both the sweet shop and love flourish?


Love in an English Garden by Victoria Connelly
The Jacobs family has lived at Orley Court for generations. But when Vanessa Jacobs’s husband dies and leaves the property to her, she finds costs spiralling out of control. In order to stay in their beloved home, she and her daughters will have to sell part of it off—a decision that drives a wedge between Vanessa and her live-in mother-in-law.

The new owners of the north wing are Laurence Sturridge and his father, Marcus. Laurence wants to escape the constant pressure of his corporate job in London, while Marcus longs to heal from the grief of losing his wife. Could the beauty of Orley Court offer them a fresh outlook on life?

As the two families embark on a challenging new chapter over the course of a glorious English summer, secrets are revealed and relationships tested. But as Orley Court begins to weave its magic over them, will it be love, above all, that brings the two families together?


Spring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin
Bella has always had a sunny outlook and caring nature, despite recently falling on hard times. When she finds a handsome homeless man on her doorstep, her kind heart tells her she must help him. So, she invites Isaac into her cottage and into her life in ways she could never have imagined…

But Isaac is not what he seems. He’s keeping a huge secret from Bella, yet he never expected to fall for this open, generous and charming woman.

Bella can’t ignore the chemistry between her and Isaac, but she’s had her trust badly broken in her past. Will she run when she learns the truth about Isaac, or will he be the one man who can help Bella believe in love again?


Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice Cream by Sue Watson
Dani's on a mission to get her life back on track by the end of the Summer. Running, rowing, aerobics and more, but perhaps all she needs are sweet treats and a second chance?

Twenty years ago, Dani fled Appledore with a broken-heart and a suitcase full of shattered dreams. Only now is she brave enough to put her past behind her and return for a summer selling homemade ice-cream and getting fit by doing sit-ups by the sea. 

But the new-look cafe is filled with old memories of Jude, her teenage sweetheart-turned-sour. She thinks of him every time she swirls warm sauce onto a "chocolate-bockaglory" and even with the help of Chris, her gorgeous personal trainer, the urge to break her diet is everywhere she turns. 

When Jude makes an appearance at the cafe on the eve of Dani's birthday party, history threatens to repeat itself. Is Dani strong enough to say no? And is the love she's been longing for much closer than she thinks?


A Wedding in Italy by Tilly Tennant
Sun, spaghetti and sparkling prosecco. When it comes to finding love, there’s no place like Rome… 

Kate is living the dream with her gorgeous boyfriend Alessandro in his native city, but the reality is sometimes a little less romantic than she’d hoped. Every day in her new home is a fight against leaking pipes, her cantankerous landlord and her less-than-perfect grasp of the Italian lingo. 

All around her there is talk of weddings, but when a secret from her past is thrust out into the open, Kate must fight to prove to Alessandro’s Mamma – and the rest of his formidable family – that she truly is Italian marriage material. 

With the women in Alessandro’s life on a mission to break them apart, the cracks begin to show and Kate starts to question if Alessandro really is the man of her dreams. Can love and the city of romance conquer all, or is that just a fairy-tale?

BOOK NEWS: Don't Stop Me Now by Colleen Coleman

Colleen Coleman is definitely one to watch, having signed with Bookouture last summer! Her novel Don't Stop Me Now will be released in March, and follows ambitious Poppy, who's forced to temporarily take a step back in life when things don't go to plan...

A hilarious feel good read about finding your feet when life pulls the rug out from under you.

Poppy Bloom planned to finish her PhD and walk straight into a job at her university. But here she is, unemployed, unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, and living back at her mum’s in her vampire-themed childhood bedroom.

Not exactly what she was hoping for.

But when Poppy sets her mind to something, nothing can stand in her way. She scores herself an internship at the hottest radio station in town, joins a netball team, and renews her friendship with her oldest friend Leanne. Spending time with Leanne’s gorgeous twin Tom is just a bonus…

But life has a way of tripping you up when you least expect it, and Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie… With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her? 

BOOK REVIEW: Melody Bittersweet and the Girls' Ghostbusting Agency by Kitty French

I'd been waiting to read Melody Bittersweet and the Girls' Ghostbusting Agency since I heard about its release, mainly because I adore chick lit with a paranormal twist. Kitty French is a USA today bestselling author, known for her popular Lucien Knight series, and romantic reads including The Piano Man Project and One Hot Summer. Melody Bittersweet was released at around the same time as the new Ghostbusters movie. And why not? Melody is pretty awesome and hilarious, just like the all-new movie cast.

Okay, so Melody is a ghostbuster - but minus the suits and the specialist equipment, and customised hearse...although Melody's car, Babs, does have a lot of character. Melody is a psychic, hailing from a family all born with the same gift, renowned in their home town for their long-standing business of bringing messages to loved ones from the deceased.

Approaching twenty-seven, single, and still living with her mum and slightly crazy gran, Melody decides it's finally take more control of her life and start a new business. Thus, the Girls' Ghostbusting Agency is created. Joined by best friend Marina and shy new recruit Artie, the agency's goal is to help spirits with unfinished business pass on. It's not long before the crew take on their first project - the stately Scarborough House, which is plagued by three ghosts, unable to leave their family abode until a long-standing murder case has been solved.

But it's not just the ghosts in Melody's way. Also hanging around Scarborough House is Leo Dark, arrogant TV psychic, Melody's ex, and now, her new business rival. And there's journalist Fletcher - a notorious enemy of the Bittersweets who's on a constant mission to disprove anything supernatural. Fletcher proves troublesome not just because of his nosy tendencies, but because he's terribly attractive...

When the owner of Scarborough House agrees to pay whoever gets rid of the ghosts first, Melody and her team set out to solve the mystery. But will they figure it out before Leo?

I have to say, I fell in love with this novel minutes after reading. I hadn't read any of Kitty's books prior to this one, so I didn't know what to expect (I had fallen in love with the premise!) but it really is fantastic. Kitty's writing is funny, punchy and downright hilarious, with a lovable cast of characters. Melody is a geeky, fun, determined woman who I instantly adored - along with her family!  The novel has everything you could want; a fun, positive heroine, great friends, romance and an intriguing, perfectly-paced mystery. Frankly, I found it hard to put down, and I'm hoping that there are more Melody Bittersweet books in the pipeline because a series would be brilliant!

Rating: 5/5

BOOK REVIEW: Love, Lies and Lemon Cake by Sue Watson

Love, Lies and Lemon Cake by the lovely Sue Watson - who joined us for our Q&A recently! - was released on 27th June. I had already heard very good things about this new romantic comedy, so naturally, I couldn't wait to read it.

Forty-something Faye Dobson is getting slightly tired of life. Her sex life is waning, thanks to her plumbing-obsessed husband, and her only daughter is away at uni, living her own life, growing up, and only adding to Faye's loneliness.

Dreaming of a life full of movie-star glamour doesn't exactly help matters, either - when reality kicks in, Faye's fantasies of seeing the world and sharing romantic adventures are dashed. A boring marriage, a regular job (even though her colleagues are hilarious) and a severe lack of passion are NOT what Faye wanted out of her life, and her marriage.

However, things are about to change for Faye when she meets Dan, the gorgeous Australian who has just started working at the deli down the street. He's lovely, adventurous, funny, a very talented baker, and seems to like Faye too...

Despite the ten-year age gap, Faye soon begins to realise that she isn't just being silly; that the tanned, handsome Dan is really interested. After showing off his baking talents with cake-loving Faye, the seemingly mismatched pair instantly take a liking to one another. Cue some wonderfully funny moments with loud-mouthed colleagues, and Faye's daughter who seems to assume, after meeting Dan in the cafe with her mother, that Faye is actually trying to set her up...

Can Faye really get the life of fun and romance that she yearns for? And could she throw away everything she has to be with Dan?

I absolutely loved this book. As previously mentioned, I had already heard good things about it, so I was already expecting a good read. What I didn't expect was to be unable to put it down until I had finished. Sue's witty, hilarious writing style had me hooked from page one, and I adored the cute and clumsy Faye, who is given the choice of living a life she has dreamed of. Sue Watson is a brilliant writer, a wonderful new talent with a fantastic style and lovable characters. I devoured this book in one sitting, and I'm already waiting for Sue's next offering!

Rating: 5/5