Blog Tour - Murder on the Green by H V Coombs

Today I am pleased to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the publication of 'Murder on the Green' by H V Coombs.

Midsomer Murders meets The Great British Bake Off in this foodie delight with murder at its heart.

Hampden Green has been quiet for months, allowing Ben Hunter to concentrate on running The Old Forge Café. That is until celebrity chef Justin McCleish announces he is opening a pop-up restaurant at the local opera festival and wants Ben to help out.

Ben couldn’t be more flattered, until he discovers he hasn’t been hired for his cooking abilities… Justin is being blackmailed and needs help to crack the case. That is, until extortion turns deadly!

Now Ben must do whatever it takes to find the killer before they strike again…

Reading Murder on the Green reminded me of all I love about Midsummer Murders. It is a great cosy crime novel, set in an idyllic setting, with a believable cast of characters all bought together for a big event, in this case, an opera festival, and in an location that I would love to visit for a weekend away (without all the added drama of a blackmail and murder).

There are also a number of additional issues which sneak into the book, one being the difficult subject of anger issues and the subsequent management of these. There are also drug and alcohol addiction which all add to the impact.

I found the book slow to get going at first, however I was soon engrossed and really enjoyed the story. The ending was unexpected and has left me wanting to read more from H V Coombs in the future. 

I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers and Net Galley in return for an  honest review.

Blog Tour - The Forgotten Guide to Happiness by Sophie Jenkins

Today I am pleased to welcome Sophie Jenkins to my blog to celebrate the publication of her debut novel 'The Forgotten Guide to Happiness'. 

Twenty-eight-year-old Lana Green has never been good at making friends. She's perfectly happy to be left alone with her books. Or at least, that's what she tells herself.

Nancy Ellis Hall was once a celebrated writer. Now eighty, she lives alone in her North London house, and thinks she's doing just fine. But dementia is loosening Nancy's grip on the world.

When Lana and Nancy become unconventional house mates, their lives will change in ways they never expected. But can an unusual friendship rescue two women who don't realise they need to be saved?

An irresistible story of love, memory and the power of friendship that readers of The Keeper of Lost Things and The Lido will adore.

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780008281809 

I really enjoyed Sophie's debut novel, it was an easy read that I devoured in a weekend. It is one of those books that makes you laugh out loud and the cast of characters are all believable and ones which I could identify as being part of my circle of friends. I really liked the writing class scenes, giving me an insight into the literary world. I am already looking forward to Sophie's next book.

The publishers, Avon Books, have given me an extract to share with my blog readers …...

Heading towards Camden Town, I decided to avoid the markets and the tourists by calling in the York and Albany for a drink. If you feel drunk and you drink, it makes you feel less drunk, like homeopathy. But I realised it was exactly the kind of place that Kitty might be going to for lunch. A bit further on, just off Delancey Street, is the Edinboro Castle, a place she would never set foot in, so I walked on and went into the bar, swinging my heavy Tesco bag. It was so dark it was like being momentarily blinded.

I took my wine out into the glare of the beer garden and sat at a table all to myself under a silver birch where I could think up a plan with no distractions.

A shadow fell over me. ‘Is this seat taken?’

‘Yes,’ I said automatically. Looking up, I saw a guy wearing a bright orange Nike sweatshirt and faded jeans. He had messy dark hair but, despite being unshaven, he had a friendly, open face with straight dark eyebrows and clear grey eyes. Realising I was being ‘difficult’, as my parents liked to put it, I quickly apologised. ‘Sorry, that was rude.’ Suddenly, having company wasn’t such a bad idea, even if it was with a stranger. ‘No. Help yourself.’

‘Cheers.’ He smiled, sat down and put his lager in front of him.

His smile looked like the smile of a man who has had an easy life, which is a good foundation for a warm character. People who have an easy life assume the best and tend to be generous and optimistic – I haven’t Googled this or anything; it’s just my opinion, based on experience.

Thank you to Avon Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour in return for an honest review. 

Blog Blitz - The Bakery at Seashell Cove by Karen Clarke

A warm welcome and delicious chocolate gateau are always on the menu at the Bakery at Seashell Cove – and this summer, romance is in the air…

Meg Larson thought she had everything she wanted: she works in the local bakery, she’s months away from marrying her high-school sweetheart, and home is beautiful, sunny Seashell Cove, where the sky is blue, the sea is turquoise and the sand is golden.

Except that the bakery is up for sale and her fiancé Sam’s more interested in bikes than their relationship. When Meg receives shocking news about her family, he’s on a cycling tour and ignoring her calls – and posting selfies on Facebook with a female cyclist he looks far too cosy with...

Luckily the bakery’s estate agent, Nathan, is understanding and funny, and as the summer goes on an unexpected friendship blossoms. When the bakery is given a second lease of life under a mysterious new owner, Meg realises a change might be exactly what she needs too.

Will Meg find the happy-ever-after she dreams of in Seashell Cove? 

An uplifting, laugh-out-loud rom com that will make you dream of romantic days at the beach. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Jenny Oliver. 

I was really pleased to be invited to take part in Bookouture's Blog Blitz to celebrate the publication of Karen Clarke's new release 'The Bakery at Seashell Cove'. 

Karen Clarke introduced us, the readers, to Seashell Cove in her previous book earlier this year, The Café at Seashell Cove, and it was great to revisit the coastal town and its inhabitants in this book. I really enjoy books which are based in a fictional town or village, where the author writes a series of books, with each introducing and concentrating on a different character and Karen has continued life at Seashell Cove with the Café becoming a hub for the town's life and linking storylines and characters seamlessly.

I would recommend this book, and the author, Karen Clarke, to all my blog readers. It is a part of a series, however it also reads well as a standalone book. It is  a book that readers can loose themselves in on a sun lounger somewhere hot or in the garden over a summer weekend. 

Karen Clarke has also written another trilogy of books that are based in another coastal town, The Beachside Sweet Shop, The Beachside Flower Stall and The Beachside Christmas which I also recommend as a great series to read.

Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.

Blog Tour - One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcroft

Today I am really pleased to welcome Sue Moorcroft to my blog to celebrate the publication of her latest paperback, One Summer in Italy.

When Sofia Bianchi’s father Aldo dies, it makes her stop and look at things afresh. Having been his carer for so many years, she knows it’s time for her to live her own life – and to fulfil some promises she made to Aldo in his final days.

So there’s nothing for it but to escape to Italy’s Umbrian mountains where, tucked away in a sleepy Italian village, lie plenty of family secrets waiting to be discovered. There, Sofia also finds Amy who is desperately trying to find her way in life after discovering her dad isn’t her biological father.

Sofia sets about helping Amy through this difficult time, but it’s the handsome Levi who proves to be the biggest distraction for Sofia, as her new life starts to take off…

I have read all of Sue's previous books and I know that when I pick up her latest release I am in for a great read. The day is cleared of any other plans and I relax and escape to the locations within the book and meet a whole new cast of characters, who's lives I am following and who I would love to meet.

One Summer in Italy is no exception to this rule. Transported, through Sue's excellent writing, to the mountains of Italy I was able to imagine a land to which I never visited but would love to see. The reader is able to follow Sofia and Amy as they travel to try and find Amy's relatives and to uncover the family secrets that have been hidden away for a number of years.

I have really enjoyed this book and as with all of Sue's previous reads, the scenery is beautiful, the characters are a great cast and the storylines are believable and really well written.

I would recommend this to all of my blog readers, It is the perfect book to read on a beach, next to a pool or just in the garden. The publishers, Avon Books have given me an extract to share with my readers which I hope you all enjoy and that many of you go and get your own copy of One Summer in Italy to enjoy this summer.

Via Virgilio was busy with cars, vans, the occasional lorry and a swarm of motorbikes and scooters. Sofia didn’t rush down the hill towards the centre. Apart from the sun already being a significant presence at just turned eleven o’clock there were enough pedestrians occupying the pavements

to make hurrying an effort and she enjoyed gazing around at the buildings, stone or rendered and painted.

She’d seen a little of the town in whatever part of each day she wasn’t on shift but it was surprising how much of the past two weeks had been taken up with settling in.

Her first couple of days had passed in a whirl of unpacking, orientation, getting sorted with uniform and a hunt for toiletries at a nearby kiosk that seemed to sell everything. Sofia had also found herself helping Amy through orientation and uniform. Sofia had missed out on siblings and was enjoying the novelty of the big-sister role in which Amy seemed to have cast her.

But, right now, with two joyous days of freedom to enjoy in Montelibertà, she was seized by a ridiculous urge to jig around singing, ‘I’m here, I’m here, I’m really here!’

Instead, she strolled decorously past shops that sold shiny ceramics decorated with splashy yellow sunflowers and succulent purple grapes. In between the shops came pavement cafés, their parasols the same shade of ivory as those at Il Giardino. On this upper part of the hill the commercial ventures were interspersed with houses and apartments, lavishly ornamented with window boxes in

full flower and lavender tumbling from the tops of garden walls. She thought the scent of lavender would ever onwards remind her of her feeling of euphoria.

Thank you to Sue Moorcroft and Avon Books for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and for a copy of the ebook in return for an honest review.

Knit your own dolls by Fiona Goble

Create your own knitted dolls, full of personality and fun to make.

Everyone loves dolls with character, and Fiona Goble has designed 25 knitted toys with real appeal. As well as boy and girl dolls, there are animal dolls, and a whole wardrobe of clothes and accessories. The dolls are all the same size, so outfits can be swapped between the dolls, and you can change hairstyles and colouring as well to create a personalised gift for a child (or an adult!) As well as the dolls and their clothes, there are more than 10 added extras such as pet cats and dogs, a mini teddy bear, and beach gear, making more than 35 patterns in total. Whether you want to knit Ben the Surfer Dude, Vintage Rosie, Marion the Mermaid, or Superhero Stan, you will find easy-to-follow patterns, and instructions on everything from knitting techniques to creating the all-important finishing touches.

Publisher: Ryland, Peters & Small Ltd
ISBN: 9781782495635 

This is the perfect book for parents or grand parents who have young children who love dolls or who love to participate in imaginary play  or for someone who needs a special friend to take on a journey or scary adventure.

There are 25 individual patterns for dolls and anumals within the book which cover a variety of themes including sportmen/women, scientist, bakers, ballerina, mermaid, gymnast, superhero, pirate, skier and surfer.

The book starts off with a pattern for a basic doll which forms the template for most of the designs in the book. The doll is made in sections: body and  head, arms and legs meaning it is relatively easy to construct in manageable pieces. It is made using stocking stitch. The subsequent patterns include clothes and accessories to be worn by the basic doll for children to swap and change as desired. There are also patterns for a poodle, a unicorn dressing up, a fox, a teddy bear, rabbit and a range of outfits to suit any occasion.

The patterns are written in clear, manageable sections and there is also a very clear, easy to follow techniques section for knitting techniques. My only negative to this book is that although there are detailed written instructions for how to make up clothing and dolls there are no pictorial instructions. However, there are fantastic colour photographs of each finished doll which shows the dolls in all their finery. 

The dolls in this book all look great and would make great characters in a children's picture story book

Thank you to the publishers, Cico Books, for sending me the book in return for an honest review,

Learn to Crochet Granny Squares and Flower Motifs by Nicki Trench

q

Granny squares are the perfect crochet project for beginners. They are easy to learn and quick to complete.

With full instructions for all the techniques you will need at the start, followed by 25 lovely patterns to put your newly-learned skills to use, Learn to Crochet Granny Squares and Flower Motifs is the perfect book for beginners, and near-beginners who want to expand their repertoire. The repetition of stitches and patterns within granny squares is perfect for mastering the basics, and the squares can then be made up into all sorts of useful and beautiful things, from scarves and blankets to bags and cushion covers. Once you've got the hang of squares, branch out into hexagons and triangles, and then into flower motifs - the combinations of shape, colour and pattern are almost endless. Best of all, you can use up all sorts of yarn from your stash as you practise until your squares are perfect.

Publisher: Ryland, Peters & Small Ltd
ISBN: 9781782495673 

 I have used a number of Nicki Trench's crochet books and I am always really excited to see what new designs and finishing ideas Nicki has come up with to entice me to pick up my crochet hook and   a suitable yarn and get crocheting. 

Learn to Crochet Granny Squares and Flower Motifs is split into three sections: For the Home; To Wear and To Carry and Cover. There are lots of great ideas for beginners but also for the more advanced there are loads of patterns which can be adapted to suit any project or techniques and projects which can be adapted to use a crocheter's favourite square or design. All projects include a quick introduction to it, a really useful quick overview of the skills needed to complete the project, a suggested yarn (patterns use a wide variety of yarns including double knit, aran, merino and cotton yarn), an equipment list, suggested tension and finished project measurements. There is a colour photograph of the finished project along with a close up photograph of the design used.

This book would be suitable for beginners, intermediates and advanced crocheter's. There is a basic overview of equipment needed, suggested additional equipment which may be useful and a explanatory section on the stitches and techniques used when crocheting. This section is really easy to follow and techniques are explained using text and fantastic pictorial guides. Although I consider myself quite an advanced crocheter I found this section really useful in reminding me of things that I haven't done for a while and new finishing techniques.

This is a book that I will be recommending to all my crochet friends. It will be a great addition to any crocheter's library and will be a go to book for project ideas and scrap buster projects.

I received this  book from the publishers, Cico Books, in return for an honest review.

Blog Blitz - Summer at the Castle Cafe by Donna Ashcroft

IF YOU ONLY READ ONE BOOK THIS SUMMER, MAKE IT SUMMER AT THE CASTLE CAFÉ…

When Alice Appleton escapes to the beautiful seaside town of Castle Cove it’s the change of scenery she didn’t even realise she needed. Taking up a job in the charming Castle Café, Alice finds herself surrounded by cream teas, chocolate cake and quirky characters. Could this be the perfect place for Alice to embrace the summer?

Mysterious and handsome Jay O’Donnell has lived in picturesque Castle Cove since he was a child. As a volunteer on the lifeboats, his days by the sea are far from predictable. Haunted by a tragedy from his past, he’s on a mission to save as many people as possible. But when Alice Appleton walks into his life - and turns his world upside down - he begins to realise that perhaps it might just be his turn to be rescued…

As Alice and Jay find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other, will they learn the importance of letting go to make way for second chances? And will Alice find the life she’s always dreamed of in Castle Cove?

Heart-warming, hilarious and utterly romantic, Summer at the Castle Café is perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Lucy Diamond and Phillipa Ashley.

The perfect book to relax with over the summer months - a love story which unfolds over the duration of the book as if in real time. I am sure that many people can relate to Alice and Jay's relationship within the book, many will have friends who have been through the same and I am sure, as I was, there were times during the book when I wanted to intercept and give them both a good talking to and make them see what is happening.

The front cover is a great advert for the book - I would love to visit Castle Cove and take in the scenery. Donna's book is the perfect summer read while relaxing in the summer sun.

Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me to take part in the blog blitz in return for an honest review