Rae reads... B-Side by Elle Field

About the book:

Etta Millhouse has always had big musical ambitions to match her big voice, but she’s also got three very big problems - the addiction she won’t admit to, her godmother’s illness she can no longer ignore, and her godmother’s useless business partner (who she wishes she could ignore). 

Keeping an eye on Arielle’s bad business decisions is the last thing Etta wants to do when she’s offered the chance to record a demo with a top producer. But, a promise is a promise, even if it has her reaching for another pick-me-up... And then another. And then one more. 

When the secret she must keep for her godmother, Felicity, sends her drug habit spiralling out of control, can Etta battle her demons in time and make her dream happen? Or, will her music career be over before it’s even begun?

My thoughts:

I have really enjoyed reading the Arielle Lockley book series. B-Side is book 2.5 and instead of following Arielle we get to know Etta who is the goddaughter of Felicity. I really enjoyed getting to know Etta, she is pretty messed up and to be honest not very nice at times. However her character has hidden depths and is well written. 

Her past is revealed throughout the book and she has had a difficult life. Although I wouldn't use that as a reason to excuse her behaviour. I liked the fact that I didn't love all aspects of the main characters personality. It was good to find a way to appreciate her character even with her flaws. This didn't mean I couldn't enjoy B-Side in fact I think it helped me like it even more.

The story moved quickly and kept my attention. I really enjoyed how we got to see things from the point of view of Etta. I could understand at times where she was coming from and why she was so spiky with Arielle.

B-Side is different from the other books in the Arielle Lockley series. However I quite enjoyed the change in direction. The tone of the book is darker with an overall heavier and emotional theme.

Overall:

Another brilliant book from Elle Field that has a well written and complex character. I can't wait to continue reading the remaining books in the series.

B-Side is engaging, emotive with a strong character!

Five stars from me!

Thank you to Elle Field who kindly sent me a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About Elle Field 

Elle Field writes coming of age romantic comedies, and is the author of the Arielle Lockley series and Geli Voyante's Hot or Not. She grew up in Yorkshire, then moved to Scotland to study International Relations and Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews.

Elle now lives in London with her boyfriend and their cat. She's a massive fan of sunshine, giraffes, The Killers, Audrey Hepburn movies, playing Scrabble and tea. Oh, and reading, of course! 

Find out more about Elle by reading her blog - http://www.ellefield.co.uk - or by following her on Twitter: @ellefie

Amazon UK links for Arielle Lockley series 

Kept (Arielle Lockley series book 1)

Lost (Arielle Lockley series book 2)

B-Side (Arielle Lockley series book 2.5)

Found (Arielle Lockley series book 3)

Related Posts:

Rae reads... Kept by Elle Field

Rae reads... Lost by Elle Field

Cover Reveal and Q&A - Found (Arielle Lockley series book 3) by Elle Field

Blog Tour - Breakfast Under a Cornish Sun by Samantha Tonge

About the book:

Kate Golightly needs to move forward and what better way to do that then with a trip to the Cornish coast with best friend and boss, Izzy.

The sea wind is just what Kate needs to finally relax and begin to let go of her past. Except she’s suddenly got one big reason to panic! She RSVP’d ‘yes’ to the Queen Bee of her high school’s wedding saying she’s bringing her boyfriend (she doesn’t have one) who looks just like Ross Poldark!

With only two weeks to find the Poldark look-alike of her dreams Kate is under a lot of pressure for the Cornish coast to deliver…

Pre-order/Buy here

My thoughts:

As soon as I saw the front cover I thought it was lovely and after reading the description I knew I had to request a copy.

The story grabbed my attention from the first page and before you say it's because of the Poldark reference. It really isn't, oh who am I kidding of course it is!

From there descriptions of yummy donuts which definitely made me wish that Donuts and Daiquiris was a real place.

I got attached to Kate as a character she had a great personality and I was hoping she got her happy ever after. Tremaine and Lucas were interesting characters too. The issues that the characters were dealing with were well written and I felt like I got to know them pretty well.

Cornwall is one of the places that I have always wanted to visit and after reading this book I know I will definitely have to go now. Samantha Tonge describes the area beautifully and I almost felt as if I was there as I was reading. The story flowed well and at a good pace not really losing momentum.

Overall:

I will definitely be reading more books by Samantha Tonge.

Breakfast Under A Cornish Sun is a perfect summer read that leaves you with a smile!

Five stars from me!

Thank you to Carina UK & Netgalley for my copy this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Follow along with the tour

Rae reads... Trust Me I Lie by Louise Marley

About the book:

Book Title: Trust Me I Lie

Author: Louise Marley

Pages: 350 pages

Genres: Murder Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Humour

Publication Date: 20^th June 2016

Series: No

When Milla Graham arrives in the picture-perfect village of Buckley she tells everyone she’s investigating the murder of her mother, who died eighteen years ago. But there’s already one Milla Graham buried in the churchyard and another about to be found dead in the derelict family mansion.

Obviously she’s lying.

Detective Inspector Ben Taylor has no life outside the police force. Even his own colleagues think he’s a boring stick-in-the-mud. But now he’s met Milla and his safe, comfortable life has been turned upside down. She’s crashed his car, emptied his wallet and is about to get him fired.

He knows she’s a liar because she cheerfully told him so.

Unless she’s lying about that too …

Book Links:

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Goodreads

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My thoughts:

The characters in this book are well developed and entertaining. Milla was very intriguing and she was well written. She was witty, feisty and she kept me on my toes. At times I wondered if what she was saying was the truth, lie or a half truth. I thought Ben was great, I loved their interactions together. He was solid, strong and determined. 

I loved the mystery running throughout the book it kept me wondering and questioning things. I didn't know what to believe half the time. I kept trying to guess how it would all end and this was half the fun. It was suspenseful at times and I was nearly on the edge of my seat at one point. The story kept my interest and I thought everything came together brilliantly. Bits and pieces are revealed along the way that kept me hooked!

Overall:

I am so happy that I got the chance to read this book. There is a little bit of everything to enjoy - mystery, suspense and a bit of romance. I will definitely be reading more books by Louise Marley. 

Trust Me I Lie has great characters and is full of mystery!

Five stars from me!
(If I could give more stars I would)

Thank you to Louise Marley who kindly sent me a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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About Louise Marley

Louise Marley writes murder mysteries and romantic comedies. She lives in Wales, surrounded by fields of sheep, and has a beautiful view of Snowdon from her window.

Her first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg’s ‘Write a Bestseller’ competition. She has also written articles for the Irish press and short stories for UK women’s magazines such as Take a Break and My Weekly.

Her latest novel is Trust Me I Lie.

Social Media:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Blog Tour - Q&A, Review & Giveaway - What Happens at the Beach by T. A. Williams

I am very happy to be a part of the blog tour with Karan Eleni’s #KEPRTours for What Happens at the Beach by T. A. Williams. What Happens in the Alps was the first book that I read by T. A. Williams and I thought it was great. Once I had finished I knew I had to read more of his books. So I jumped at the chance to not only read and review his next book but to also take part in the blog tour. 

Book Information:

Title: What Happens at the Beach...

Author: T. A. Williams

Series: What Happens in...

Release Date: July 11, 2016

Genres: Chick Lit
Publisher: HarperCollins/Carina UK

It’s finally time for Natalie Dryden to decide what she really wants! After ditching her sparkling engagement ring, and her ghastly fiancé, she jets off for the sun-kissed shores of Southern France – the only place that has ever truly felt like home. For the first time ever, Natalie is determined to forget all about men and follow her dreams!

…head to the French coast!

Only, avoiding the male population isn’t quite so easy, especially when she meets smooth-talking Philippe and gorgeous fisherman, Remy! But then Natalie, quite literally, bumps into brooding millionaire Mark whilst swimming in the glittering azure-blue bay – and her life is turned upside-down.

Love might be off the cards for Natalie, yet suddenly she finds herself in her dream job and working with her dream man! But is it all too good to be true…?

Book Links:

Amazon US |  Amazon UK | Goodreads

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Review

My thoughts:

Natalie is a lovely character that I instantly liked. I think all of the characters in this book added a special something to the story, especially Charlie/Barney. I thought it was a good thing to have multiple love interests for Natalie. It made it a little bit more interesting to read and to find out who would suit her best.

The plot moved at a brisk pace and I enjoyed the interactions between Natalie and the other characters. I loved the history aspect of this book as at school it was my favourite subject. No matter where I travel I am always interested in the local history. So this was in my opinion a definite plus side to the book as it added extra depth. The writing was descriptive and at times I could really imagine I was there in France with Natalie, her grandmother and friends. The attention to detail is perfect and really helps set the scene.

T. A. Williams has wrote another hit with some lovely characters and a really engaging story.

Overall:

This story has a little bit of everything romance, history and lots of charm. I am already looking forward to reading more books by T. A. Williams.

What Happens at the Beach is a thoroughly enjoyable romance that left me with a smile!

Five stars from me!

Thank you for my copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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About T. A. Williams:

Firstly, my name isn't T A. It's Trevor. I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, "Dirty Minds" one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. If my books can put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador. 

I've been writing since I was 14 and that is half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.

Social Networking Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author

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Q&A with T. A. Williams

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I exercise like a madman. I cycle and I walk every day. Well, to be honest, not absolutely every day as I hate the rain. I had a Labrador like that - he hated the rain and water in general. Giving him a bath involved a pool outside on the lawn and me in swimming things. Every now and then I do a bit of property development - buying and renovating an old house and then selling it again. I converted an old school into a house last year. That was fun.

If you were stranded on a desert island what three books would you want with you?

A book called "Survival on a Desert Island" would be useful, or "How to Make your own Girl Friday". Apart from such practical volumes, I would have to go for: "Tai Pan" by James Clavell (a fabulous saga of the early days of Hong Kong which is something like 1400 pages long), the Complete Works of Shakespeare (I'm trying to work through them this year and, boy, did he write a lot of words) and finally, a really good history of the world.

Can you choose three words that best describe your personality?

Optimistic (I'm a glass full to overflowing sort of man), imaginative (I've been telling stories since I was a little kid), thin-skinned (this hasn't improved with age. If I get a 1 star review, it spoils my day!)

What was the last book you read?

A weird book called "Q". It's set around the same time as Hilary Mantell's wonderful "Wolf Hall" and it's all about the wars of religion in Europe in the sixteenth century. It should have finished three quarters of the way through, but it was fascinating.

What did you enjoy most about writing What Happens at the Beach?

Remembering the place. Although the beach itself is imaginary, we used to go for our holidays every year to that wonderful, sunny part of France and I really enjoyed remembering what it was like. I wrote it over the winter, so it was a real delight to plunge into a warm, sunny environment when the weather outside my window was grey, cold and damp.

Of all the characters you have created, can you pick a favorite and why?

Humm, difficult question. The easy answer is any one of the Labradors (by the way, the next book will for the first time be Labrador-free - I hope my readers will forgive me). As far as people are concerned, I rather like Mark in What Happens at the Beach... He's an understated sort of guy, nursing some pretty damaging emotional baggage. I liked him. I also fall in love to some extent with all my girls, from the lovely Alice in When Alice Met Danny to Natalie in her bikini on the beach.

Many thanks to Trevor for taking part in the Q&A!

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Giveaway

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Related Posts:

Rae reads... What Happens in the Alps by T. A. Williams
Release Day Blitz - What Happens at the Beach - T. A. Williams

Book Blitz - Extract & Giveaway - New England Dreams by Pia Fenton

NEW ENGLAND DREAMS

BY PIA FENTON

Genre:  YA contemporary romance (US high school setting, UK heroine)

Release Date:  25^th July 2016

Book 4 of the Northbrooke High series (can be read as a standalone)

When opposites attract, can dreams come true?

Staying in New England for a few months is just what Sienna Randall needs after all the family problems she's been dealing with at home in London. Romance is the last thing she's expecting, so it's a total surprise when she ends up kissing a guy she meets on the flight.

Kyle Everett is Sienna's complete opposite –  he’s clean-cut and preppy, she has piercings and pink dreads. But he can’t resist making out with her. He is, after all, Northbrooke High’s number one player. Except Sienna's different from other girls. He’s definitely expecting to see her again – until they're separated by irate airline officials before he can get her number.

Then fate throws them together once more, but when Sienna turns up in Kyle's home room, neither admits to having met before. The chemistry between them is still there though – should they let it have free rein or should the attraction stay in their dreams?

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EXTRACT

Kyle smiled and changed the subject. ‘You got any more piercings then? You know, hidden ones?’He wiggled his eyebrows at her and it looked so stupid she couldn’t help but smile back.

‘None of your business,’ she told him.

‘Oh, so you do? Now I’m curious.’

‘I do not. And even if I did, I wouldn’t show you.’

‘Oh, yeah? Hmm. So tell me, how does it feel to kiss with snake bites?’ He was suddenly staring at her mouth intently and Sienna felt a shiver run through her. God, but he was hot. Seriously hot. And he was so close. She was very tempted to just reach over and grab him.

And why not? No one would ever know.

She shook herself mentally, but some devil made her smile again. She looked up at him from under her lashes, the way she’d seen other girls do when they were flirting. She’d never managed it because she was too shy, but for some reason, she had no trouble doing it now. ‘You tell me,’ she said, the challenge clear in her voice.

His eyes opened wide and he drew in a sharp breath. Then he grinned. ‘Okay, you’re on.’

The next thing she knew, he had bent his head slightly to the side and captured her mouth with his in a long, slow kiss that almost melted her bones. He ran his tongue over the snake bites, nipping at one playfully, then kissed her again, properly, deeply. When he stopped he brought up a hand to cup her cheek. ‘I like it,’ he whispered. ‘A lot.’

So did Sienna, but she didn’t get a chance to reply, because he started kissing her again and this time he didn’t stop. Which was just as well, since she didn’t want him to. In fact, she didn’t come to her senses until some air steward pulled Kyle off her and she realised with flaming cheeks they’d ended up lying across all four middle seats, making out thirty thousand feet up in the sky.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ the crewman hissed, looking from one to the other.

Sienna wondered the same thing. She must have lost her mind.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON UK | AMAZON US

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ABOUT PIA FENTON

Pia Fenton (who also writes as Christina Courtenay) is a chocoholic and confirmed couch potato, allergic to exercise of any kind (except maybe swimming).  Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden so she was a bit of a mixed up kid. When she was a teenager, she moved with her family to Japan.  From there she had the opportunity to travel in the Far East and other parts of the world, which was great fun.  She also got to go to an American high school in Tokyo, together with kids of 138 other nationalities, and had the best time of her life!

Pia loves:  reading and writing (YA obviously, but also anything historical, time slip and paranormal), dogs, genealogy, listening to rock music and doing various craft projects very badly.  (It’s the trying that counts, right?)

Pia’s first YA novel New England Rocks (published by Choc Lit, Aug 2013) was short listed for The Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Award for Best Romantic Young Adult novel 2014.  She’s also won some awards for her adult historical books.

Facebook | Twitter | Group Twitter |  Goodreads | Instagram | Christina Courtenay Blog | 

Paisley Piranha Blog | Christina Courtenay website | Paisley Piranha website

Pinterest

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Giveaway

To win a signed paperback copy of the book PLUS a £20 Amazon voucher! 

(open internationally) enter below

A Rafflecopter giveaway

Rae reads... Breakfast Under A Cornish Sun by Samantha Tonge

About the book:

Kate Golightly needs to move forward and what better way to do that then with a trip to the Cornish coast with best friend and boss, Izzy.

The sea wind is just what Kate needs to finally relax and begin to let go of her past. Except she’s suddenly got one big reason to panic! She RSVP’d ‘yes’ to the Queen Bee of her high school’s wedding saying she’s bringing her boyfriend (she doesn’t have one) who looks just like Ross Poldark!

With only two weeks to find the Poldark look-alike of her dreams Kate is under a lot of pressure for the Cornish coast to deliver…

My thoughts:

As soon as I saw the front cover I thought it was lovely and after reading the description I knew I had to request a copy.

The story grabbed my attention from the first page and before you say it's because of the Poldark reference. It really isn't, oh who am I kidding of course it is!

From there descriptions of yummy donuts which definitely made me wish that Donuts and Daiquiris was a real place.

I got attached to Kate as a character she had a great personality and I was hoping she got her happy ever after. Tremaine and Lucas were interesting characters too. The issues that the characters were dealing with were well written and I felt like I got to know them pretty well.

Cornwall is one of the places that I have always wanted to visit and after reading this book I know I will definitely have to go now. Samantha Tonge describes the area beautifully and I almost felt as if I was there as I was reading. The story flowed well and at a good pace not really losing momentum.

Overall:

I will definitely be reading more books by Samantha Tonge.

Breakfast Under A Cornish Sun is a perfect summer read that leaves you with a smile!

Five stars from me!

Thank you to Carina UK & Netgalley for my copy this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Pre-order/Buy here

Release Day Blast - The Playboy’s Proposal by Ashlee Mallory

Title: The Playboy’s Proposal 

Author: Ashlee Mallory

Release Date: July 25, 2016

About the Book:

Doctor Benny Sorensen has had it up to here with her party-throwing playboy neighbor. She’s declaring war. She doesn't care how gorgeous or charming he is, he's going down. That is until he proposes something she's not sure she can say no to...

Wealthy ad man Henry Ellison lives an uncomplicated life that revolves around work, women, and partying. In that order. Until Benny storms into his life. To placate his attractive but hotheaded neighbor, Henry offers to help her land a date with the man of her dreams. Only as Henry makes her over and coaches her on the fine art of flirting, he realizes that the idea of this woman in any other man’s arms but his own is unacceptable. But Benny's a forever kind of girl and forever might just be the one commitment he can't make.

Links:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads

About the Author:

Ashlee Mallory is a USA Today Bestselling author of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Thrillers. A recovering attorney, she currently resides in Utah with her husband and two kids. She aspires to one day include running, hiking and traveling to exotic destinations in her list of things she enjoys, but currently settles for enjoying a good book and a glass of wine from the comfort of her couch.

Social Media Links 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway info:

Rafflecopter Link