BOOK NEWS: Bad Bridesmaid by Portia Macintosh

We're pretty excited about Bad Bridesmaid by Portia Macintosh (author of How Not to be Starstruck), which is out later this month. Mia has been landed with the role of chief bridesmaid at her sister's wedding. If only things would go to plan...

‘My wedding is ruined and my marriage is going to fail. And it’s all your fault!'

LA romcom writer Mia Valentina has it all; money, success, a tanned and toned body, golden blonde hair and a string of sexy lovers. She’s almost forgotten her previous self: plain old Mia Harrison. Until a wedding invitation arrives requesting (demanding!) her presence as chief bridesmaid at her younger sister Belle’s upcoming nuptials.

Mia’s barely been back in England before she’s accidentally injured the groom, unintentionally ‘cursed’ the wedding and been caught in a compromising position with her sister’s soon to be brother-in-law!

With the wedding of the year going dangerously off the rails, Mia has no time to waste – especially with sexy fireman and best man Leo on hand to help… Will she use all of her expert romance knowledge to save the day or will she just walk away? No one ever said a bad girl had to turn good…

CUTE COVERS: I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson

One of the many lovely things about a Miranda Dickinson novel is the cover - they're always so perfect! (Check out Fairytale of New York, It Started With a Kiss and When I Fall in Love!) Miranda's latest book looks just as gorgeous. I'll Take New York is released in December, and focuses on two city singletons, Bea and Jake.

Have you ever given up on love? When her boyfriend lets her down for the last time, Brooklyn bookshop owner Bea James makes a decision - no more. No more men, no more heartbreak, and no more pain. Psychiatrist Jake Steinmann is making a new start too, leaving his broken marriage behind in San Francisco. From now on there'll just be one love in his life: New York. At a party where they seem to be the only two singletons, Bea and Jake meet, and decide there's just one thing for it. They will make a pact: no more relationships. But the city has other plans ...

UNCOVERED INTERVIEW: Samantha Tonge

Joining us for the Q&A this week is Samantha Tonge, bestselling author of fabulous novel Doubting Abbey, and new book From Paris With Love, which sees heroine Gemma take a trip to Paris after an engagement she's rather unsure of...

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
A story about Paris, food and hot guys – starring fun-loving Gemma and gorgeous Lord Edward.

What inspired you to write From Paris With Love?
As a young woman, I lived in Paris for a while and clichéd as it is, I really do think it the most romantic city in the world. Plus I couldn’t resist creating more antics for bonkers Gemma, in the French capital, which include her being stalked by a mysterious James Bond look-a-like and forming a close friendship with a hot rockstar.

Where do you do most of your writing?
In the spare room at a TINY desk which pushes back into a wardrobe, at the end of the day.

What is your favourite book?
I haven’t read it for a while, but it has to be Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. We’re all still drooling over Mr Darcy decades after the author created him.

Which part of  From Paris With Love did you enjoy writing the most?
I loved all the parts where I got to revisit my favourite haunts in Paris, like the majestic Sacre Coeur church, the atmospheric Père Lachaise cemetary and the bustling flea market at Porte de Clignancourt.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Bridget Jones. I can relate to her as I am always getting myself into awkward and embarrassing situations. Plus I like wine and cake.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Don’t ever give up. In my opinion, perseverance and determination count for more than talent. Also, get involved with the online writing community – fellow writers offer much-needed support to get you through the rejections and all the advice and feedback will greatly improve your work and chances of getting published.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
Ooh, a fun Christmas story! I am yet to have it officially accepted by CarinaUK, but it features celebrities, a hunky handyman and a suspected ghost.

Thanks, Samantha!

To find out more about Samantha and her novels, visit her website and Facebook, or follow her on Twitter. You can also check out the Doubting Abbey blog.

From Paris With Love by Samantha Tonge
Every girl dreams of hearing those four magical words - Will you marry me? But no-one tells you what’s supposed to happen next…

Fun-loving Gemma Goodwin knows she should be revelling in her happy-ever-after. Except when her boyfriend Lord Edward popped the question, after a whirlwind romance, although she didn’t say no….she didn’t exactly say yes either!

A month-long cookery course in Paris could be just the place to make sure her heart and her head are on the same page… And however disenchanted with romance Gemma is feeling, the City of Love has plenty to keep her busy; the champagne is decadently quaffable, the croissants almost too delicious, and shopping is a national past-time! In fact, everything in Paris makes her want to say Je t’aime… Except Edward!

But whilst Paris might offer plenty of distractions from wedding planning – including her new friends, mysterious Joe and hot French rockstar Blade - there’s no reason she couldn’t just try one or two couture dresses is there? Just for fun…

CUTE COVERS: The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna Van Praag

We're in love with the cover for The Dress Shop of Dreams, the new novel by Menna Van Praag. Released in December, the novel is said to be a charming tale perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Adriana Trigiani.

Since her parents’ mysterious deaths many years ago, scientist Cora Sparks has spent her days in the safety of her university lab or at her grandmother Etta’s dress shop. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta’s charming tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but the colorfully vibrant racks of beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets: With just a few stitches from Etta’s needle, these gorgeous gowns have the power to free a woman’s deepest desires.

Etta’s dearest wish is to work her magic on her granddaughter. Cora’s studious, unromantic eye has overlooked Walt, the shy bookseller who has been in love with her forever. Determined not to allow Cora to miss her chance at happiness, Etta sews a tiny stitch into Walt’s collar, hoping to give him the courage to confess his feelings to Cora. But magic spells—like true love—can go awry. After Walt is spurred into action, Etta realizes she’s set in motion a series of astonishing events that will transform Cora’s life in extraordinary and unexpected ways.

NEW RELEASE: A Girl Walks Into a Wedding by Helena S Paige

If you like the idea of a novel that allows you to choose your own destiny, then you might enjoy Helena Paige's recently-released novel A Girl Walks Into a Wedding - an interactive story that contains plenty of twists and turns...

Your best friend is getting married. You're going to be her bridesmaid so you have a lot to deal with - the hen party, pre-wedding nerves, your dress, the men . . . So many men. And you have to choose between them. Maybe you'll end up having fun at this wedding after all.

* The priest is definitely heaven-sent but he's off limits, isn't he?

* Or perhaps you'll pick the best man. He's very attractive but the best man and the bridesmaid is such a cliché. Right?

* And then there's the rugged pilot - his offer of a brief encounter might have surprising consequences...

Whichever way you decide to go, each twist and turn will lead to an unforgettable encounter. Can you choose the ultimate sensual experience? Remember: if your first choice doesn't hit the spot, then start over and try something (and someone) new. The power is entirely yours in this fully interactive, choose your own destiny novel.

UNCOVERED PICKS: Five new releases for August

There are plenty of new chick-lit books being released throughout August, from authors including Alison Lucy, Dani Atkins and a paranormal tale from Kate Winter. Here's our selection of August reads...

The Story of Us by Dani Atkins
A gripping love story from the bestselling author of Fractured. 

Emma Marshall can't wait to marry her childhood sweetheart, Richard. But then a tragic accident changes everything, and introduces a stranger, Jack, into her life. Gorgeous and mysterious, Jack is like no-one Emma has met before. But Richard is the man she loves... 

Two different men. 

Two different destinies. 

How will Emma end her story? 

Lovestruck by Julia Llewellyn
Do you trust the ones you love?

Jake and Rosie fell in love fast. Before they knew it they were married with kids, and happily living in a cramped flat in London. All the while Jake struggled to make it as an actor - waiting for that big, lucky break.

When he got it - courtesy of his agent, Christy, who also happens to be Rosie's best friend - everything changed. Suddenly Jake was hardly there, working hard, always in demand - a rising star. 

But as fame and fortune reveals a side to Jake that Rosie's not sure she likes, she begins to wonder just how well she knows the man she married. And soon enough she's questioning how far she can trust the woman always at his side - her best friend Christy...

It Had to Be You by Ellie Adams
The worst break-up ever...Could be the best thing that has ever happened to her. Lizzy Spellman has been dumped. At a party. While wearing a Henry VIII costume. By the man she thought was The One. Someone even filmed it, so now she's a massive YouTube hit sensation too. Just when she thinks things can't get any worse, she meets the rudest, most cynical man in the world, and gets a new mission in life. To prove him wrong. Love does exist, and she's going to find it...


The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter by Kate Winter
Falling in love is never simple. Especially when you're dead. 

When Rosie Potter wakes up one morning with what she assumes is the world's worst hangover, the last thing she expects is to discover that she's actually dead. With a frustrating case of amnesia, suspicious circumstances surrounding her untimely demise, and stuck wearing her ugliest flannel PJs, Rosie must figure out not only what happened last night, but why on earth she's still here.

Slowly the mystery unravels, but there are many other secrets buried in the quiet Irish village of Ballycarragh, and nobody is as innocent as they first appear. Aided by the unlikeliest of allies in her investigation, Rosie discovers that life after death isn't all it's cracked up to be, particularly when you might just be falling in love . . .

In this hilarious, life-affirming and romantic journey through Rosie Potter's afterlife, she shares the ghostly tale of how she lived, she died, and she loved (in that order). 

The Runaways by Alison Lucy
It should be the perfect wedding... A blushing bride, an American hero. Rachel has the happy ending she always wanted. So what's holding her back from saying 'I do'?

Rachel ran away once before, just after her father died. This time she's washed up in sunny California and she's blissfully in love. But before she can marry Judd, there's a chapter of her past that she needs to resolve. A chapter that goes by the name of Seth.

Janey, Rachel's godmother, is a successful New York high-flyer but being single in her mid-thirties is starting to make her feel like a failure. When her goddaughter asks her to find an old friend called Seth and make sure he comes to her California wedding, she agrees to help her out.

Can a road trip with a stranger help steer Janey in the path to love? And will Rachel realise that when it comes to escape plans, is getting married ever a good idea?

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Anna Bell

We absolutely loved Anna Bell's new novel Don't Tell The Boss, in which Penny Robinson (lovable heroine of 2013 book Don't Tell The Groom) returns for more secrets and shenanigans, this time turning her hand to professional wedding planning (rather accidentally!). Having been unable to put the book down, we just had to put our weekly questions to Anna to find out more about the Don't Tell series and what's coming next!

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Penny accidentally moonlights as a wedding planner, putting her day job in jeopardy.

What inspired you to write Don't Tell the Boss?
I loved writing Don’t Tell the Groom. The main character Penny was so much fun and when I tried to write another book it was her I kept imagining. Once I’d decided I was going to write a sequel it was a matter of trying to work out what else Penny would keep secret, all I knew at first was that it had to be wedding related.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I’m lucky enough to have my own writing room, although I've not been able to use it yet. We’re having our house renovated and because no one has to sleep in my office it seems to get used as the dumping room for the contents of whatever room is being worked on. When I finally do get to use it, it will be great. It has bright yellow walls, a lovely big desk and a comfy sofa. I've got canvases on my book covers hanging on the wall to inspire me, along with photos from my traveling adventures.

What have you been reading recently?
I've been reading a lot of thrillers lately. Dan Brown, David Baldacci and Scott Mariani. Looking after a small baby means I don’t get a lot of time for reading (or writing) and so I've been trying to steer clear of reading rom-coms whilst I work on my latest book. I’m about to have two months off writing over the summer, and on my to be read pile are Ali Harris First Last Kiss and Dorothy Koomson's Flavours of Love.

Which part of Don't Tell the Boss did you enjoy writing the most?
My favourite scene is where the main characters go out to a restaurant and Lou, Penny’s best friend, causes all sorts of mayhem after a case of mistaken identity. I love it when you write a scene where there’s lots of characters that play off one another.

Do you have any writing tips you can share?
I always think writing a quick and dirty first draft is good to get the creative juices flowing. There’s plenty of time to finesse and polish what you've written in the editing stages. I always think that the longer time you spend on the first draft, the more self doubt and writers block you get.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I’m working on the third part in the ‘Don’t Tell’ series. Penny’s back and she’s got another big secret. I can’t tell you too much as it might ruin Don’t Tell the Boss, but except more bridezillas and a maybe the pitter patter of tiny feet!

Thanks, Anna!

You can find out more about Anna Bell and her books by visiting her website and following her on Twitter.

Don't Tell the Boss by Anna Bell

When newlywed Penny turns her hand to some casual wedding planning she only wants to help other women afford the big day of their dreams.

But taming bridezillas turns out to be a full-time occupation, and what began as a hobby becomes a personal and professional nightmare.

Soon Penny is struggling to keep her day job and prevent her own marriage from collapsing under the strain: tired, stressed and knee-deep in ivory satin, is Penny's life and livelihood hanging by a thread?