Review: Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson.

🔮Blurb: The first in a supernatural new series from the author of Wonderland, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven follows a top secret government department of witches and the deadly threat to the nation that they must confront.

Hidden among us is a secret coven of witches. They are Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. They protect crown and country from magical forces and otherworldly evil. But their greatest enemy will come from within.

There are whisperings of a prophecy that will bring the coven to its knees, and five best friends are about to be caught at the centre. Life as a modern witch was never simple … but now it’s about to get apocalyptic.

Prepare to be bewitched by Juno Dawson’s first adult series. A story of ancient prophecies and modern dating, of sacred sisterhood and demonic frenemies.

🔮My Thoughts: Now I’m a fan of Juno, I won’t lie to you. So I was Very intrigued to have Her Majesty’s Royal Coven as it’s not her usual genre and to be fair, not one I tend to delve into. However, Juno always gives the goods so of course I jumped in.

Juno, Juno, Juno, you clever, clever, CLEVER, bastard!

This is without a single doubt your best work yet. This has by far flew past every book I have ever read and is now my most favourite and best book ever. Honest to god! (Sorry, I mean Gaia).

No, seriously. I don’t have any words that can put together a review that won’t give spoilers but also won’t just be me talking in circles about how good this read actually is.

I do not know how the next book in the series never mind the third is going to top it. However, I do not have any qualms at all about you being able to do so. And I am so fucking excited for the next instalment and back in the sisterhood.

I didn’t want to write it’s about its political side, the social injustice’s and racism it includes. I fear that it may put people off from reading it. You know how people get. ‘Oh be arsed, with a political and proper boring roll-your-eyes kind of book’. But I have to and I have to ask people to not be that way because it’s this that makes it what it is. It’s this that makes it clever. It’s this that gives it its strength and magic. Sometimes I roll my eyes too people and think I can’t deal with something like that right now, but this IS NOT like that. I promise you.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I won’t stop recommending this book enough.

Oh I am in awe and wonder and can do nothing but raise my hands in applause to you Juno. You’re absolutely fucking magical! Bless you, your mind, your struggle, your talent and your love for giving us something so magnificent. Your essence and spirit are in every single part and I can assure you we hear your words. We hear them loudly! Congratulations.

A magical mindfuck of the true meaning of sisterhood.

Wow!

There are no amount of starts good enough for this book.

P.S.. apologies for the complete rambling and overall mess of this pretend review. I haven’t been like this over a book for a VERY long time.

🔮Links to Buy:

Amazon

iBooks

Google Play

Kobo

Waterstones

WH Smith

Book Depository

Audiblehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09J1M1PHP/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1657860940&sr=8-3

🔮Book Details:

Title: Her Majesty’s Royal Coven.

Author: Juno Dawson.

Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy.

Length: 464 Pages.

ISBN-10: 0008478546.

ISBN-13: 978-0008478544.

ASIN: B09J1M1PHP.

Publisher: HarperVoyager.

Publication Date:

Hardback – July 21st 2022.

ebook – July 21st 2022.

Audiobook – July 21st 2022.

Paperback- June 8th 2023.

🔮Author Details:

Juno Dawson is a bestselling novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and a columnist for Attitude Magazine. Juno’s books include the global bestsellers, THIS BOOK IS GAY and CLEAN. She won the 2020 YA Book Prize for MEAT MARKET. Her first adult fantasy trilogy HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL COVEN arrives in 2022.

She also writes for television and has multiple shows in development both in the UK and US. Her debut short film was THE BIRTH OF VENUS (BBC 2020) and she created the first official Doctor Who scripted podcast DOCTOR WHO: REDACTED (BBC Sounds 2022). An occasional actress and model, Juno had a cameo in the BBC’s I MAY DESTROY YOU (2020), a recurring role in HOLBY CITY (BBC 2021) and was the face of Jecca Cosmetics Play Pots campaign.

Juno grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who. She later turned her talent to journalism, interviewing luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten, before writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, The Pool, Dazed and the Guardian. She has appeared on Pointless Celebrities, BBC Women’s Hour, Front Row, ITV News, Channel 5 News, This Morning and Newsnight.

Juno lives in Brighton. She is a part of the queer cabaret collective known as CLUB SILENCIO. In 2014, Juno became a School Role Model for the charity STONEWALL.

You can find Juno at the following socials

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Goodreads

BT – The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh.

Firstly a big massive hiya to you all.

Secondly an even bigger hiya to Rosie Walsh and her latest book The Love of My Life.

I’m absolutely made up to get to share with you a review I wrote a while ago for this book and to be a part of this fantastic tour.

So, let’s go….

💛 Blurb: I have held you every night for ten years and I didn’t even know your name. We have a child together. A dog, a house.
Who are you?

Emma loves her husband Leo and their young daughter Ruby: she’d do anything for them. But almost everything she’s told them about herself is a lie.

And she might just have got away with it, if it weren’t for her husband’s job. Leo is an obituary writer and Emma is a well-known marine biologist, so, when she suffers a serious illness, Leo copes by doing what he knows best – reading and writing about her life. But as he starts to unravel her past, he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t really exist. Even her name is fictitious.

When the very darkest moments of Emma’s past life finally emerge, she must somehow prove to Leo that she really is the woman he always thought she was . . . But first, she must tell him about the love of her other life.

💛 My Thoughts: This is honestly one of the most heart wrenching, gut turning, absolutely devastating books I’ve ever read.

Honestly, the thickening in your throat and the constant dry gulps to try clear it only make trying not to allow the feelings of those words on the pages of TLOML drip down your face.

As a parent, a partner, a daughter, a friend and foe of some; this is a traumatic and life altering dive. You are every single character involved in this story of life. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE! It’s absolutely wondrous. A book of total surprise. Like TOTAL SURPRISE though.

I’ll tell you straight at 85% in it didn’t matter the outcome. It could have gone either way in numerous situations. It would not have mattered. It would not take away the height and depth and utter insight this book has given already. There is no taking away from that. It could only build. I obviously carried on and finished it of course. I couldn’t not have. I still needed to know everything. I still needed the words to drink as if it water and I was absolutely dehydrated.

RW has hit such a fantastic high standard with this. I know it’s going to be one that will be in my favourites forever more.

Truly one for all to read. One you must read in fact. Emotional, compelling, utter brilliance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/5

💛 Links to buy:

Amazon

ibooks.

Google Play

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Audible

💛 Book Details:

Title: The Love of My Life.

Author: Rosie Walsh.

Genre: General Fiction/Women’s Fiction.

Length: 368 Pages.

ISBN-10: 1529020352.

ISBN-13: 978-1529020359.

ASIN: B09DCZZCRF.

Publisher: Macmillan – Imprint: Mantle.

Publication Date: June 23rd 2022.

💛 About the Author:

Rosie Walsh lives on a medieval farm in Devon, UK, with her partner and two young children, after years living and travelling all over the world as a documentary producer and writer.

The Man Who Didn’t Call (UK) / Ghosted (US) was her first book under her own name, and was published around the world in 2018, going on to be a multimillion bestseller.

Prior to writing under her own name she wrote four romantic comedies under the pseudonym Lucy Robinson. When she isn’t parenting or writing, Rosie can be found walking on Dartmoor, growing vegetables and throwing raves for adults and children in leaking barns.

You can learn more about Rosie and her work or catch up on what’s she’s been up to by using the following links:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

So that’s all from me. As always thank you so much for joining me it’s appreciated so much.

Big thank you to the lovely Becca over at Macmillan for inviting me onto the tour. And of course a big thank you to Rosie for giving us a little yellow book of fabulousness.

Love always, N 😘

https://www.panmacmillan.com

https://www.panmacmillan.com/mantle

Review: The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas.

🩸Blurb: There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.

First there was the car accident – two girls dead after hitting a tree on a rainy night.

Then the murders happened – two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it.

Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they’d lost.

That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it’s not that easy.

Her world is starting to unravel. After she discovers the letters in her stepdad’s desk, unearths an ancient phone, and meets a strange new friend at school, Monica can’t just move on.

Whatever happened five years ago isn’t over. People know more than they’re letting on and somehow, Monica is at the center of it all.

There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn’t mean anyone else is safe.

🩸My Thoughts: Ok, I’m going straight in here. I’m split. I mean proper split. On one hand I really enjoyed the book. The plot was good, characters are well thought out and likeable. At times it’s extremely gripping and fast-paced. Overall everything you want in a book right? On the other hand, it didn’t go anywhere fast, I didn’t like that we were given narrative by both Monica and Jen, the Rayburn sisters. This taking us from the present to five years prior with Jen before her death. I honestly thought we would find out more by having Jen with us, but that wasn’t so. To me she was pretty pointless and I soon found myself wanting to skip her and carry on with Monica.

Here’s where it gets tricky. This is a book that any spoilers given would absolutely destroy your enjoyment in reading it. So it’s hard for me to say why I has an issue with a certain “victim”. I don’t know how laws work in the US but in England that book and it’s laws made no sense at all. And I know this is fiction and I shouldn’t let it upset me, but isn’t that what reading is all about? Let’s just say some victims or survivors as I would call them could get a bit or pretty pissed off with that. I know I did. See, very cryptic of me, but I needed to give my full reasons. I will discuss this with anyone who wants to go into with me though. My inbox is always open.

Overall, the book is good. It is one I would actually recommend to you. Like I said good plot, great characters, and the best part about it one fantastic twist that comes out of nowhere with an absolute bang!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5

🩸Links to Buy:

Amazon

iBook

Google Play

Kobo

Waterstones

WH Smith

Book Depository

🩸Book Details:

Title: The Cheerleaders.

Author: Kara Thomas.

Genre: YA/Teen & Young Adult.

Length: 384 Pages.

ASIN: B08CVNJ1T9

ISBN-10: 1529053528

ISBN-13: 9781529053524

Publisher: Macmillan.

Imprint: Macmillan Children’s Books.

Publication Date: 3rd September 2020.

🩸Author Details:

Kara Thomas has written for everything from her high school newspaper to Warner Bros. Television. She is a true-crime addict who lives on Long Island with her husband and rescue cat. She is the author of The Darkest Corners, Little Monsters, and The Cheerleaders. To learn more about Kara and her books, visit her at kara-thomas.com or follow @karatwrites on Twitter, @karathomaswrites on Instagram, goodreads and Facebook.

Books vs Film: All The Bright Things by Jennifer Niven.

As you all know, I’m not one for book adapted films. Some are amazing, but the majority are just absolutely terrible. I always say I am not watching certain ones when they are released if I am a fan or advocate of the book. And I usually don’t. I fucked up big style yesterday though.

I was bored and I’m not much of a TV watcher, but I was in the mood and Netflix was my go-to. First, there in my recommendations was of course All The Bright Places. It was released via Netflix on February 28th 2020 starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith. So, I put it on. I know, I’m stupid, but it was a long time since I’d read the book and I thought they can’t ruin this one. It’s too in-depth and needed in YA life that it can’t be bad. It was. It was worse.

Here is what I wrote when I was watching it: (Just from my notes)

If I didn’t know the characters so well from the book I would not know what was going on.

I understand films need to get the story told quickly, but to lose the relationship build up, the intensity of Finch’s mental health and its effects. The friendship and quotes that have been taken because they became so well-known from the book and just thrown in become worthless.

My heart hurts because I know already. If I didn’t know, I would not be watching and would have already have switched it off.

The book is incredibly deep, thoughtful and needed. The film to me has taken all that away.

The book is needed for this story 100%

The film took half of Finch and his story away from us.

It took half of his heart and for that I am livid.

If I was rating/reviewing it would defo be a 2/5.

⭐️⭐️

So as you can see from that it wasn’t the best for me. I will say though that I did enjoy it, but like my notes state I think it’s only because my connections I already had with the characters. I honestly think I would have been confused others wise.

Anyway, let me take you back to 2014 for a minute, to when a proof of All The Bright Places landed in my hands. I was new to the YA Genre at this point. And I was obviously a bit skeptical being a 30odd year old mum, but I flicked through the first few pages like I would do any book that comes through my door. I honestly, no lie devoured it. It was the first ever book to make me cry, like proper cry though. I do not cry. It hurt me so deep. I was honestly blown away.

Here’s my review from 2015:

If there is ever a book in which the whole world should be reading it is this one. This is a book so delicate and strong is leaves you breathless, heartbroken, but somehow stronger.

The plot is a thick, twisting tale that follows 17 year old Theodore Finch, a boy with only a few friends and dubbed the school freak, who is trapped in his own head after a lifetime of troubles. And, 17 year old Violet Markey, a popular girl who is now lost in herself after the death of her sister Eleanor.

When Finch and Eleanor meet in the school watch tower, something miraculous happens to them both. After this, they are assigned partners in a geography project in which they have to go and look at the offerings their town and surrounding area’s offer. This here is the start of Finch and Violet.

There are no words for me to try and write a review for this book. None of them would be anywhere near good enough for it. I seriously could not write anything that would do this book justice. I have never, and most probably will not, ever read anything so intense, heartbreaking, lovely, romantic and real again. It’s magically breathtaking.

It has a firm focus on the stigma that unfortunately still surrounds mental health today. It also shows just how damaging it can be. This has all been dealt with by author Jennifer Niven with nothing but grace and compassion. She has shown herself to be a clever and meticulous writer, with a huge heart, and a way with words that transforms even the dark and dreary in to light and love. As a debut novel it does not get better than this. I urge you all to read it.

It’s honestly hard to describe the ineffable love I actually have for this book.

YA book of 2015? I think so.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So as you can see from that it was something special and something I pushed as hard as I can. I even got a beautiful message from Jennifer Niven too 😋

Anyway, the point of my post? Go buy the books. Always read the books. Your imagination and the words from the authors are meant to be. There is no other way of getting these stories across properly. You lose so much in a film and sometimes like this one it takes away hugely. Also, to push once again this incredible book. I have my copy out ready to read again, it won’t be today, I need time for the film to leave my mind. It’s there though and if you haven’t read this book I really do think you should.

Blurb: A compelling and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who wants to die.Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the ‘natural wonders’ of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself – a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink. How far will Violet go to save the boy she has come to love?

Links to buy:

Amazon

ibooks

Google Play

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Book Details:

Title: All The Bright Places

Author: Jennifer Niven

Genre: YA & Teens

Length: 432 pages

ISBN-10: 0141357037

ISBN-13: 978-014135703

ASIN: B00LNQ74CM

Publisher: Penguin.

Publication Date: 8th January 2015

Author Details:

Jennifer Niven is the author of the New York Times and international bestsellers All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe. Her books have been translated into 75 languages and have won literary awards around the world. She grew up in Indiana and now divides her time between Georgia and Los Angeles.

Find her at jenniferniven.com and on her social media accounts linked below:

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Goodreads

Enjoy!

N 😘

BT – The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood.

Firstly, hello my fellow book geeks. I have missed you all. How are you all doing?

I know it has been so long since I graced your screens and I thank you all so kindly to those who have continued to support me and who have been checking up on me while I’ve been away. You guys are the actual best!

Secondly, Happy Thursday! I hope you have had a good week so far. Don’t worry we’re nearly at the weekend 🙏🏻🍷😜

Today I am beyond honoured to be finishing off what can only be described as a fantastic tour for the fabulous and one of my absolute favourite authors, Nuala Ellwood, and her latest release, The House on the Lake.

Do you know what makes it even better than that though? Today is publication day for this treasure and I’m sure you’ll all want to go wish Nuala a Happy Publication Day and buy a copy for the weekend ahead. It’s all the time you’ll need in fact. It’s one of those you need to see what’s happening next at every second kind of reads so a weekend is more than enough time.

Shall we get started?

📘Blurb: No matter how far you run . . . He’s never far behind

Lisa needs to disappear. And her friend’s rambling old home in the wilds of Yorkshire seems like the perfect place. It’s miles away from the closest town, and no one there knows her or her little boy, Joe.

But when a woman from the local village comes to visit them, Lisa realizes that she and Joe aren’t as safe as she thought.

What secret has Rowan Isle House – and her friend – kept hidden all these years?

And what will Lisa have to do to survive, when her past finally catches up with her?

📘My Thoughts: As always with an Ellwood read, you are straight away lost in her capability to create drama and unfathomable plots. This leaving you craving more and needing to submerge in every single word on the page on a deep and fascinating level.

The House on the Lake is not what I was expecting for some reason. It was a lot softer than previous books by the author and gave a different vibe. It makes for an easier and faster read, but still gives you the grit and bite you need and want.

One for your 2020 TBR and bookshelf for sure.

It is one eerily beautiful read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/5

📘 Links to buy:

Amazon

ibooks

Google Play

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

📘Book Details:

Title: The House on the Lake.

Author: Nuala Ellwood.

Genre: Crime/Mystery & Thriller.

Length: 320 pages.

ISBN-10: 0241985153.

ISBN-13: 978-024198515

ASIN: B07S77FJNZ

Publisher: Penguin.

Publication Date: February 20th 2020

📘About the Author:

Nuala Ellwood is the author of two bestselling novels: My Sister’s Bones, for which she was selected as one of the Observer’s ‘New Faces of Fiction 2017’, and Day of the Accident. Nuala lives in York with her young son. The House on the Lake is her latest novel.

You can learn more about Nuala and her work by using the following links:

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Goodreads

So that’s all from me I’m afraid. As always thank you so much for joining me. As always it’s appreciated so much.

I really do hope you’ll give this book a try and go send Happy Pub Day love to Nuala.

Big thank you to Ellie over at Penguin for inviting me onto the tour and always keeping me in the Nuala loop. And of course a big thank you and kudos on another fantastic release to Nuala herself. Happy Publication day! You deserve all the wine.

Love always, N 😘

Today’s post is in memory of my gorgeous fats and best mate, Bob. He unfortunately left this world unexpectedly Tuesday morning and I am beyond heartbroken 💔

R.I.P Bobby Dogs 💔

BT – So Lucky by Dawn O’Porter.

Hello you gorgeous lot!

Have you missed me and my big mouth? I definitely missed you lot and the book world.

Anyway, I’m here, and I am repping the fuck out of Dawn O’Porters new release So Lucky.

It’s day number six on the Blog Tour for SO and I am here with all the book deets for you as usual and my thoughts on the book. Now, I ask you before you go to that part to read it all and not just the top bit. I know I get carried away with myself and I know I’m a nuisance, but please do. Thank you.

Right, here we go….

🍩Blurb: IS ANYONE’S LIFE . . .

Beth shows that women really can have it all.

Ruby lives life by her own rules.

And then there’s Lauren, living the dream.

AS PERFECT AS IT LOOKS?

Beth hasn’t had sex in a year.

Ruby feels like she’s failing.

Lauren’s happiness is fake news.

And it just takes one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling out…

🍩My Thoughts: Ok, so erm, I have decided that I will not be doing a review for this book. I don’t want to and it doesn’t deserve one from me. No, no, no, hear me out a sec. That is not a negative comment from me at all, in fact it’s totally the opposite.

I formally known as the Book Geek Wears Pajamas or PajamaBookGirl in the book world, or just Natalie in the normal world, or Mum (none fucking stop) in my kids world, could never ever do So Lucky justice with my words. I don’t have them and I certainly can’t articulate them like they deserve.

So Lucky deserves unlimited praise. It deserves it for making women feel beautiful regardless of their faults/conditions/jobs/thoughts/looks/life. It deserves it for making reality what it is and what it should be. For keeping life real in a fictional world. For making sure that a fictional world created gives back to people in need. People that deserve it. Characters we connect with and want the best for.

It’s a fucking decent read my friends. It’s funny, sad, stupid, diverse, harmonious, sexy, fun and REAL! And we know for sure that right now in this shit world we all need that. We all need the love. And that my fabulous book geeking fabulous friends is what So Lucky is. It’s self love that’s what it is.

Do I recommend? Abso-fucking-lutely!

Do I resonate with the characters given to us by O’Porter in SO? More than you will ever know.

Do I feel better about myself being a hairy bastard who can give my husband and his beard a run for his money? Yes, actually, I do.

Am I embarrassed to be telling you all that and owning up to the fact that I am part of a female world that is silent and ashamed and yeti-like? Well, I’m proper beetroot and overheating writing this so am taking that as a big fat yes!

However, I am writing it and I am telling you all, and that my friends comes down to So Lucky. It helped me in realising that we are all not perfect, we all have problems and issues, but we are not alone even though we feel we are. So Lucky helped me see that and I went searching on Instagram and found hundreds and hundreds of people just like me. And for that tiny bit of confidence it gave me will always be why I can never do this book justice with my words.

Thank you Dawn for SO and for keeping it 109% real always! The world needs that and the world needs your books and love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/5

P.S… I have not and will not be editing this post. Why? Because I wrote it from the top of my head and from my heart. If it’s wrong in any way, I do not care. If it doesn’t make sense or doesn’t flow, oh well! Fuck being right. I like being wrong sometimes 🤷🏻‍♀️

🍩Links to buy:

Amazon

iBooks

Google Play

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

🍩Book Details:

Title: So Lucky.

Author: Dawn O’Porter.

Genre: General Fiction.

Length: 400 Pages.

ISBN-10: 0008126070

ISBN-13: 978-000812607.

ASIN: B07QGNMTKZ.

Publisher: HarperCollins.

Publication Date: October 31st 2019.

🍩About the Author:

DAWN O’PORTER is a Sunday Times bestselling novelist, columnist and broadcaster who lives in Los Angeles with her husband Chris, sons Art and Valentine, cat Lilu and dog Potato. She has made numerous documentaries about all sorts of things: polygamy, childbirth, Geisha, body image, breast cancer and even the movie Dirty Dancing. She is the critically acclaimed author of The Cows, Paper Aeroplanes and Goose.

Dawn also collects vintage clothing, and admits to writing her best work when she is wearing a bonkers seventies dress and her hair is a voluminous bob.

You can learn more about Dawn and her work using the following links:

www.dawnoporter.co.uk

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

That’s me done I’m afraid. Thank you so much for joining me today and letting me just talk a million miles an hour at you. I’m sure you’re all used to it by now though. Also, I am gutted that I had to use a brown fucking doughnut. As if there’s no pink ones in the emoji selection. Sort it out apple! Proper messed me aesthetics up there.

Big massive thank you to Dawn herself and our RB over at HC HQ for inviting me onto the tour and sending me out ARC’s!

Book Geeks, you know what to do here. Go buy this fabulous book. It’s Saturday, you deserve a treat. Plus it’s defo boss with an alcoholic beverage alongside it.

See you all soon.

Love as always, N 😘

Hello Strangers – 2019 Christmas Bookathon.

Hello strangers,

How are you all doing? First of all thank you so so much for all your messages and well wishes while I’ve been poorly. I’m still not where I need to be, but I am back reading and getting ready to start my 2019 Christmas Bookathon.

I have some amazing authors and titles already included and can’t wait to get it together properly. Authors/Publishers if you would like your Christmas/winter titles to be involved please do get in touch. The more the merrier I say.

I’m so excited to be pushing myself forward sooner than anticipated and actually happy to do so. I can’t say I’m back 100% because yeah that’s not what’s happening at all, but with a Bookathon, I can lock myself away and get it done instead of worrying about time limits and release dates. Plus, it keeps me occupied instead of going out of my head with boredom or concentrating on pain.

I’ll of course update the list every time another book is added. So far, though it’s a great list, take a look. A lot are of course are up for pre-sale and are going to be available very soon, but some are available for purchase right now. I’ve also opened the genre up a bit and have welcomed in children’s books and crime/thrillers. Also, books without Christmas in the title but reflect the Christmas/December/Winter period. Still not putting the historical genre in though. I know, I’m terrible, but I can’t, I just cannot get into the genre no matter how hard I try. They have loads of Christmas books upcoming too. Sorry!!!!

Oh and I’ll also link them up for you too. Please be aware that these are not in order of release date. I will put in publication dates underneath for you though. Also, even though these are linked up to Amazon, I am in no way affiliated or making money from these links. I just find most people use kindle for reading if not purchasing the actual book.

Anyway, list so far…

❄️A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 31st October 2019

❄️The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley

Publisher: Transworld.

Publication Date: 1st October 2019.

❄️Let it Snow by Sue Moorcroft

Publisher: Avon.

Publication Date: 26th September 2019.

❄️Single All The Way by Karen King

Publisher: Bookouture.

Publication Date: 28th October 2019.

❄️A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

Publisher: Avon.

Publication Date: 31st October 2019.

❄️One Christmas Star by Mandy Baggot

Publisher: Aria.

Released – 12th September 2019.

❄️Magic Under the Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman

Publisher: Aria.

Released – 5th September 2019.

❄️The Christmas Calendar Girls by Samantha Tonge

Publisher: Aria.

Publication Date: 3rd October 2019.

❄️The Last Day of Winter by Shari Low

Publisher: Aria.

Publication Date: 3rd October 2019.

❄️One Winter Morning by Isabelle Broom

Publisher: Penguin.

Released – 29th August 2019.

❄️Christmas Evie by Nicola May

Publisher: Nowell Publishing.

Publication Date: 4th November 2019.

❄️The Worst Christmas Ever by Kathleen Long Bostrom

Publisher: Flyaway Books.

Released – 17th September 2019.

❄️Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans

Publisher: HQ Digital.

Publication Date: 9th October 2019.

❄️Christmas in Chamonix by Sasha Wagstaff

Publisher: Canelo Escape.

Released – 19th September 2019.

❄️One Day in Winter by Shari Low

Publisher: Aria.

Released – 1st September 2019.

❄️The Garden on Sparrow Street by Tilly Tennant

Publisher: Bookouture.

Publication Date: 9th October 2019.

❄️I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Karen Clarke

Publisher: Bookouture.

Publication Date: 14th October 2019.

❄️Christmas by the Lighthouse by Rebecca Boxall

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing.

Released – 12th September 2019.

❄️The Secret Santa by Trish Harnetiaux

Publisher: Cornerstone Digital.

Publication Date: 1st October 2019.

❄️Mistletoe by Alison Littlewood

Publisher: Quercus.

Publication Date: 10th October 2019.

❄️Wrapped up for Christmas by Katlyn Duncan

Publisher: HQ Digital.

Publication Date: 1st October 2019.

❄️Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage by Katie Ginger

Publisher: HQ Digital.

Publication Date: 11th October 2019.

❄️The Christmas Countdown by Donna Ashcroft

Publisher: Bookouture.

Publication Date: 7th October 2019.

❄️The Little Shop on Silver Lining Street by Emma Davies

Publisher: Bookouture.

Publication Date: 16th October 2019.

❄️We Met in December by Rosie Curtis

Publisher: Avon.

Released – 5th September 2019.

❄️Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters

Publisher: Hera.

Publication Date: 25th September 2019.

How good is that? The few I’ve read so far have been excellent! I can see it’s going to be a tough competition. Those covers are divine too aren’t they?

Like I said previously if you want in or you know of a book you think would be perfect to put in, please do let me know. 2019 releases only of course.

Lots of love as always

N 😘

Rebecca Chance

Not even a book blogger ranting, just a normal reader ranting.

Ok, so yesterday I heard some absolutely devastating news from the book world. The news being that our beloved Queen of the Bonk-Buster, Rebecca Chance, will no longer be writing under that pseudonym or giving us any more of her amazing, original and damn right fucking brilliant reads. Why? Well, I can assure you that’s not on her, it’s on her publishers, Pan Macmillan.

Oh come on. She’s a bestselling novelist and has been for-fucking-ever. She no doubt brings a lot more than some other authors do and to be fair here she should not be penalised for over seas not understanding her humour or should I say our English humour. And it doesn’t matter if she’s the only one, she’s the only one we need and want. It just shows how superior she is.

Bless her so much. I know she’s probably not nearly as arsed as I am like 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

As for the genre in itself though, I do personally class it the same as romance/comedy/chick-lit/rom-com/new adult/contemporary/modern/etc… I know a lot of people do.

I’m livid. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way about our BB Queen not being able to give us our yearly gift of debauchery, scandal and laughs.

Come on PanMac what are you playing at? Yes, we know we still get the brilliance of her pen and mind with Lauren Henderson and the crime genre. Which is also fantastic work, but some people don’t want crime! Some people don’t like crime! In fact, some people fucking hate crime. Especially with that and the psychological thriller genres being packed to the brim right now and being thrown at us every hour on the hour. It’s overwhelming, it’s getting very boring and we need a break away from it. Do you know what would be the perfect break in between that? Rebecca Chance and her uplifting ingenious books that’s what. Don’t get me wrong, I love the crime genre and RC even has crime in her novels, but you get the gist though.

RC, I’m gutted for you my love. I really am. Thank you so much for all the books, all the tears (both sad and happy), all the laughs, all the weird looks from people when you actually laugh out loud in public. All the gasps and smirks and snorting. All the joy and uplifting spirit. All the hard work and passion you’ve given us for the last ten years. You are a queen and a talent like no other that we will all miss desperately.

To anyone who does not know who Rebecca Chance is where the hell have you been? You so better go get your head stuck right into one of her books. Believe me, you will NOT be disappointed at all. I am re-reading from the start again now to make myself feel better. Her books will be available underneath all linked up so you can purchase and piss yourself with pleasure. It’s all glamour and honesty and just absolute reading bliss. She’s something completely off the charts and mesmerising. I sound like a lick-arse here, but I honestly do not give a riding shite. It’s the truth and you know the truth is all I do.

Love as always,

N 💔

P.S… Mile High is currently on offer for 99p on amazon. BARGAIN! So there’s no excuse really not to grab a copy. Goes amazing with a wine you know. Or a gin for that matter. Or a cuppa tea. Or anything really.

P.P.S… You could go check out her other work that’s available under Lauren Henderson too if you want like, but right now I’d stick to RC and read them after 👍🏻

📚RC’s boss book list.

Divas

Amazon

Apple/ibooks

Kobo

Waterstones

Book Depository

Bad Girls

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

Book Depository

Bad Sisters

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

Book Depository

Audiobook

Killer Heels

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Bad Angels

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Killer Queens

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

Book Depository

Bad Brides

Amazon

Book Depository

Mile High

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Killer Diamonds

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Killer Affair

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Audiobook

Bad Twins

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

Audiobook

Naughty Bits

Amazon

Apple/iBooks

Kobo

Rebecca Chance was born in Hampstead to international art dealer parents, and grew up in the exclusive millionaire’s row surroundings of London’s St John’s Wood. Tiring of her cushioned, privileged existence, she ran away to Tuscany to live a wild bohemian life on a wine-making estate, where she lived in a 14th century villa in a Chianti vineyard, partying with artists, learning Italian, and picking grapes. But big city life was calling her, and after staying in Rome and Porto Ercole, she moved to Manhattan, lured by the glamorous single-girl existence and nonstop nightlife. She spent a decade living the Sex and The City dream in SoHo, equally at home in an uptown penthouse on Fifth Avenue overlooking the Metropolitan Museum, or downtown dancing on the bar of the Coyote Ugly for kicks. Eventually, a handsome American husband in tow, she moved back to London to settle down (as much as she can) and finally fictionalize some of her most exciting and glamorous experiences into her bestselling blockbuster novels.

Rebecca’s interests include trapeze, pole-dancing, watching “America’s Next Top Model”, and cocktail-drinking.

Links to RC: (Her Facebook is legendary)

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

Go buy all the books

Proper gutted 💔

BT – A Year of Second Chances by Kendra Smith.

Hello my gorgeous book geeks.

How are we all today?

As you can see I am hosting day number seven on the blog tour for Kendra Smith’s fantastic new release, A Year of Second Chances.

Let’s go…..

💕Blurb: Three women. Three very different lives. One life-changing adventure.

Charlie is a single mum unlucky in life. Her multiple jobs make barely enough to feed the family cat, never mind 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 resolved to their childless life Suzie takes matters into her own hands.

Dawn is about to turn fifty and seems to have misplaced her mojo along with the car keys. But with an interfering mother-in-law and a gaggle of judgemental mums at her children’s school, it’s proving harder to find than a decent fitting bra. Especially after a series of highly embarrassing incidents…

Over the course of a year three lives are about to collide and as they do be prepared to laugh, cry and fall in love with these women as they discover how life can give you a second chance.

💕My Thoughts: What started out as a book I was ready to lash on the CBA pile or the DNR pile as it’s known too most. I decided to stay with it and to be honest I’m glad I did.

A Year of second Chances is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a fast-paced, easy read.

It really is a lovely book, written well with an honest and genuine plot. A cast of characters that to me somehow should not fit together, but do which makes it just that bit more special of a friendship.

It’s catty and funny and dramatic and warm and most of all real. And when something is real, then we feel it more. So to read a book like that is always worthwhile. This one for sure is.

Real life.

Real love.

Real problems.

Real friendships.

Real women.

Real reading!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

3.5/5

💕Links to buy:

Amazon

iBooks

Google Play

Kobo

💕Book Details:

Title: A Year of Second Chances.

Author: Kendra Smith.

Genre: Fiction & Literature/Women’s Fiction.

Length: 288 Pages

ISBN: 1789541875

ISBN-10: 1789541875

ISBN-13: 978-1789541878

ASIN: B07R3C27NP

Publisher: Aria.

Publication Date: June 20th 2019.

💕About the Author:

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.

You can learn more about Kendra and her work by using the following links:

kendrasmith.co.uk

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

So that’s me, I’m afraid. Short and sweet today this one. I know you’ll all go grab a copy of this read especially because it’s currently only £2.45 for the ebook!! I know, right? Bargain! And because it’s Wednesday you’re allowed wine. Perfect combo! Perfect price! Winner!

As always thank you so much for joining me here today on TBGWP! You are all absolutely amazing.

Also huge thanks to Kendra herself and my fairy book mother of Aria, our Vicky for inviting me into the tour.

Love always, N 😘

BT – Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay by Ali McNamara.

Hiya you lot, you all ok?

Thank you as always for joining me here at TBGWP and giving me your support.

Today I am honoured to be co-hosting day number two on the wonderful Ali McNamara’s blog tour for her upcoming release, Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay.

🌈Blurb: The sun is shining on the golden castle on Rainbow Bay – and change is in the air!

Amelia is a single mother, doing her very best to look after her young son, Charlie – but money is tight and times are tough. When she first hears that she is the last descendent of the Chesterford family and that she has inherited a Real-Life Castle by the sea, Amelia can’t quite believe her ears. But it’s true!

She soon finds that owning a castle isn’t quite the ticket to sorting out her money problems that she’d first hoped: she can’t sell, because the terms of the ancient bequest state that any Chesterford who inherits the castle, must live there and work towards the upkeep and maintenance of the family home. So ever-practical Amelia decides to uproot her little family and move to this magnificent castle by the sea.

Living in a castle on the beautiful Northumberland coast is fun at first, but organising the day-to-day running is a lot more complicated than Amelia first imagined. Luckily she has help from the small band of eccentric and unconventional staff that are already employed there – and a mysterious unseen hand that often gives her a push in the right direction just when she needs it most. It’s only when she meets Tom, a furniture restorer who comes to the castle to help repair some antique furniture, that Amelia realises she might get the fairy-tale ending that she and Charlie truly deserve…

🌈My Thoughts: Ali always gives us more than a normal romance read and book ten does not differ.

Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay is a beautiful read. It’s exciting and funny and dramatic and over the top. Everything you want in escapism.

For me though the best thing about the read is the honesty and love that comes from it. The love between the characters and the constant reminder of equality and how much for granted we should not be taking anything in life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5

Full review will be posted after publication day.

🌈Links to buy:

Amazon

iBooks

Google Play

Kobo

Waterstones

WHSmith

Book Depository

🌈Book Details:

Title: Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay.

Author: Ali McNamara.

Genre: Romance.

Length: 384 Pages.

ISBN-10: 0751574325

ISBN-13: 978-0751574326

ASIN: B07M6LB85C

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 27th June 2019.

🌈About the Author:

Ali McNamara attributes her over-active and very vivid imagination to one thing – being an only child. Time spent dreaming up adventures when she was young has left her with a head bursting with stories waiting to be told.

When stories she wrote for fun on Ronan Keating’s website became so popular they were sold as a fundraising project for his cancer awareness charity, Ali realised that not only was writing something she enjoyed doing, but something others enjoyed reading too.

Ali lives in Cambridgeshire with her family and two Labradors. When she isn’t writing, she likes to travel, read, and people-watch, more often than not accompanied by a good cup of coffee. Her dogs and a love of exercise keep her sane!

You can find out more about Ali and her work by visiting her by using the links below.

www.alimcnamara.co.uk

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

So that’s me.

Thank you once again for joining me today and for your constant support.

Big thank you to Ali herself for being a boss in the Romance Genre and giving us ten wonderful books!

And as always huge thank you to the fabulous Clara over at LB for inviting me onto the tour and sending me out ARC’s.

Love always, N 😘