Monthly Archives: August 2018

Review of Rachael Stewart’s The Good Sister

Book Review, One Day Blog Blitz, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Blurb:

HE WASN’T HERS TO LOVE … BUT HER HEART DOESN’T CARE…

When Isla Evans agrees to switch lives with her rising star of a twin for three weeks, she has no idea the move will thrust her into the same bed as her teenage celebrity heartthrob, Bradley King. Trapped there at her sister’s request, she gives her desire free reign and finds herself falling hard and fast.

And she’s not alone.

Bradley wants a wife to tick all the boxes, save for one: love. It’s not part of the deal, never was, never will be. But when he returns home early to find his hopeful-fiancée behaving all sorts of different, he likes it. A lot. Suddenly, he wants a real marriage, with all the trimmings, and he will stop at nothing until he gets it.

But this Hollywood HEA faces one big hurdle—she’s not who he thinks she is…

Genre: Erotic Romance
Published by: Deep Desires Press

My review:

It has been a while since I have read an erotic novel, so when I saw The Good Sister was up for a one-day blog blitz I thought, why not!

The Good Sister is one of those books that has plenty of wow factor in the opening chapter. Rachael Stewart doesn’t mess around when it comes to getting straight in there with the heat, the action and setting up the conflict. It was great and had me hooked from the start.

From then on the pace of the read steadied but the heat continued, as did the drive to solve the central conflict – should she / shouldn’t she and how can this possibly all end well? Bradley King is a likeable male lead with swoon appeal, who you have to feel for a bit as he is unwittingly drawn into the deception orchestrated by the two sisters. There were plenty of racy moments, but intimacy was also built into the story, which made the choices being made more credible.

Overall it was an enjoyable read. It was my first Rachael Stewart novel but won’t be my last.

Links to buy the book: Amazon.com | Amazon UK

About the author:

 

Rachael Stewart adores conjuring up stories for the readers of Harlequin Mills & Boon and Deep Desires Press, with tales varying from the heart-warmingly romantic to the wildly erotic.

Despite a degree in Business Studies and spending many years in the corporate world, the desire to become an author never waned and it’s now her full-time pleasure, a dream come true.

A Welsh lass at heart, she now lives in Yorkshire with her husband and three children, and if she’s not glued to her laptop, she’s wrapped up in them or enjoying the great outdoors seeking out inspiration.

Discover more about Rachael Stewart via her website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaaway – Win an e-copy of The Good Sister by Rachael Stewart (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions – Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days the right is reserved to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for that purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time data will be deleted. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Enter the giveaway here via Rafflecopter. Good luck!

Many thanks to Rachael Stewart for the great read, and thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources for enabling me to be part of this one day blog blitz. My reviews are added to Amazon UK and Goodreads. x

Festivals, Fundraising and Family.

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Supporting Cancer Research UK

Those of you who know me or who have seen my recent social media posts will know that I am currently running a stall for the Chindi Authors, at the Arundel Festival, to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

This is my third year doing this, and I have said it will be my last. I’ve promised my children and husband I won’t be so busy, or absent for ten days of the summer holidays next year. I enjoy running the stall and supporting the charity, but the ten days is a small part of the overall time it takes to prepare and run the event. I will, of course, miss doing it.

The writers who have books on the stall, and who volunteer to man it, donate their profits to the charity. They get to sign books, and to meet readers. When the sun is shining it is a lovely experience, and when it isn’t, it can be slow going but still amazing when people take the time to stop, say hello and support us.

I know most families are or have been touched by cancer in some way. My mum got breast cancer when she was relatively young – it’s now twenty-four years on, and she is as fit as being eighty will allow. I have a niece who had it at a far too young age, who is now living life to the full with her two daughters. And most recently, finishing her radiotherapy just before the festival started, my amazingly strong, eldest sister, Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer.

So this year, Karen is my inspiration for doing the stall. No matter what life has thrown at her, before and during her cancer treatment – and it has really thrown some terrible things her way – Karen somehow stays positive. She is there for the rest of us, she makes us smile and she is an inspiration. Of course, she has her off days, where she feels overwhelmed, but she carries on and, during her own treatment she has encouraged us all to get checked and to go forward for genetic testing due to our family history. In short, she is amazing, and I am lucky to have her as my big sister!

My big sister stopping by to say hello at the Arundel Festival.

So, in conclusion, I’d like to say three things:

If you are in Arundel come along and say hello to the Chindi Authors – we’ll be outside Cancer Research UK every day up to and including 27th August. We’d love to see you.

And always check yourself for lumps, bumps and things out of the ordinary and seek medical advice and treatment if you are concerned. Cancer doesn’t care how old you are, but in many cases, especially now, it can be treated.

Thank you for reading. xx

P.S.: Also, I just realised I am wearing the same t-shirt in all of these pictures, despite the fact the ones at the top are a year old. Well that’s embarrassing! But can I point out I do own two of them – I am an if I like it buy it twice kind of girl! 😉 xx

Review of Arlette’s Story by Angela Barton

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Arlette’s Story by Angela Barton

The Blurb:

An emotional and beautifully written debut you will not want to put down.

One woman’s struggle to fight back against the enemy in order to protect the ones she loves.

When Arlette Blaise sees a German plane fly over the family farm in 1940, she’s comforted by the fact that the occupying forces are far away in the north of the country. Surely the war will not reach her family in the idyllic French countryside near to the small town of Oradour-sur-Glane?

But then Saul Epstein, a young Jewish man driven from his home by the Nazis, arrives at the farm and Arlette begins to realise that her peaceful existence might be gone for good …

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Ruby Fiction an imprint of Choc Lit

My review:

This story of love set in occupied France during WW2 gripped me from the start. It is very well researched and a thoroughly absorbing read.

The landscape is exquisitely brought to life. I fell in love with the characters, cried at their plight and willed them to achieve their hard fought victories. Being partly based on real events, I know Arlette’s Story will always stay with me.

While the author doesn’t shy away from the atrocities of war upon the ordinary people of occupied France, she also crafts a heart-warming love story. There are lighter moments and the real affection portrayed between Arlette and Saul draws you in. They are perfectly matched.

Overall this is a tale of hope and resilience against the worst of odds. A must read for those who enjoy historical fiction and WW2 love stories.

Click to buy the book.

About the author:

Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She is married with three grown up children. Passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction, Angela loves researching for her books and is an avid reader. Having signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Ruby Fiction, Angela is excited to be working alongside such a friendly and supportive publishing team. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Nottingham Writers’ Studio.

Having recently moved to France, Angela (alongside her husband, Paul) is now a lavender farmer, creating products from the oil that’s distilled. Angela says she’s looking forward to spending more time writing in the company of her two spaniels while sitting on her veranda overlooking the breath-taking countryside of Charente.

Discover more about Angela Barton here: Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Ruby Fiction

Thank you for a great read, Angela.

My reviews are added to Amazon UK and Goodreads. x