Tag Romantic Comedy

Uncork My Love by Rich Amooi @RichAmooi @rararesources #romcom #NetGalley #Giveaway #bookreview

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It is no surprise to regular visitors that I do love Rich Amooi‘s books, his latest one, Uncork My Love is a fabulous bit of literary escapism and as always it put a smile on my face.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book.

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Uncork My Love

A sweet romantic comedy set in beautiful Napa Valley!

Ivy needs a miracle and a drink—not necessarily in that order. With a struggling winery, the only hope of keeping her dream alive is snagging a gold medal at the annual wine competition. She’s determined to win, but she can do it without the help of Ted Jacobs, aka Mr. Know-it-All.

Ted wants to catch lightning in a bottle and create the world’s greatest wine, but he’s smart enough to know he can’t do it alone. When he heads to Napa to keep his grandma from ending up in jail (don’t ask), he meets Ivy. She’s as complex and intoxicating as his award-winning cabernet, but as stubborn as the mule next door when she stomps on his offer to collaborate.

Ted knows it’s risky to mix business with pleasure, but if Ivy would only listen, they might just be the toast of the town.

Purchase Links from Amazon UK – US

My Review…

If you like a good romantic comedy, that is full of heart-warming moments and quite a few chuckles then this is the author for you. Rich’s latest book Uncork My Love is set in the Napa region and is about two winery owners.

Now, I am the first to admit that I adore this authors books and this one is another fabulous light-hearted escapism read that is perfect for losing yourself in for a couple of hours or so. I often mention that his novels are a little bit cheesy and tongue in cheek and this is what makes them so good.

Uncork My Love did feel a little different, it did have some of the cheesiness as the two main characters danced around “not liking each other”, but the joy of this story was the hilarious moments of the two, well, I suppose you could call them “interested others”, and I am not saying much about them at all.

Having a business head is all well and good but sometimes you need to step back and take a risk. This is something that Ivy is reluctant to do and the last thing she needs is some no it all man telling her how to do things properly. Ted does know his stuff and wants to help, but he and Ivy clash and are at loggerheads much of the time.

The author uses his magic to create yet another story that had me grinning and also sniggering several times. There is also some detail about wine, mixing, the flavours and these are expertly combined into Ivy and Ted’s story. I like wine, I don’t know much about it apart from if I like it I will drink it!

This is a wonderful rom-com from an author who knows just how to hit all the right notes. A bit cheeky with wonderful characters and an all-round cracking read. I adored it and would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Rich Amooi is a Taleflick Discovery Winner, Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Recipient, Holt Medallion Finalist, and the Amazon Bestselling author of 16 romantic comedies, including It’s Not PMS, It’s You, Dying to Meet You, There’s Something About a Cowboy, and Madam Love, Actually.

A former radio personality and wedding DJ, Rich now writes romantic comedies full-time in San Diego, California, and is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.

Social Media Links – Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Goodreads

There is also a GIVEAWAY as part of the Blog Tour and you can enter HERE for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally). Good Luck xx

Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box 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 then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right 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 this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Wedding Favour by Lily Bartlett #summerreading #romcom #cosyromance #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Wedding Favour by Lily Bartlett. It is a really good book for summer escapism reading.

So, what is it all about then…

When Nelly Roberts is left in the lurch with not just a wedding but also a bridal magazine feature on the line, she has no choice but to substitute one groom for another. The fates align when she’s introduced to the gorgeous Rafael. He’s looking for a way to stay in the UK where he’s built the life he loves.

So they make a pact: act the perfect couple for as long as it takes for Nelly to get her wedding and Rafael to get his visa. The catch? Absolutely nobody can know the truth.

From the charming streets of London to beautiful Cornwall, The Wedding Favour is a fun, feel-good romantic comedy perfect for fans of The Wedding Date and Four Weddings and a Funeral!

Purchase from Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link)

The Wedding Favour was a very enjoyable read as Nellie and Rafael arrange a wedding. The thing is Nellie was due to marry Matt but he got cold feet and “needed space”. For most people it would simply be a case of cancelling everything, but the wedding is part of a magazine shoot and Nellie will not be able to afford to pay back what she has spent already.

So where does Rafael fit into the picture? Well he has been working in the UK but his Visa is about to run out. Nellie has a brainwave that if she and Raphael got married she would fulfil her contract and he could remain in this country.

This was a book that I read over an afternoon, it has a laid back style to it and if you are after a light read then this would fill that gap very nicely indeed. I liked the relationship between Rafael and Nellie, starting as friends but there seems to be a spark.

I did like the will they/ won’t they sort of scenario, especially when Matt makes an appearance back on the scene. He realises he has made a mistake, but will it be enough to convince Nellie to change her plans once again.

There are some nice moments in this book and i have to say that the author nailed the romance from Rafael, a gent who definitely has a way with words and who has a cheeky style to him. The thing with a relationship that is based on a lie is when that relationship then starts to become something more, but is it real or are they still playing the part!

Ideal for readers who like rom-coms and chick lit style reads and one I would recommend.

Image taken from Amazon Author Page

Lilly Bartlett’s cosy comedies are full of laugh out loud moments, quirky characters and guaranteed happily-ever-afters.

Lilly is the pen-name of Sunday Times and USA Today best-selling author, Michele Gorman, who writes best friend-girl power comedies under her own name.

Amazon UK Author Page – there are a lot of books to pick here xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Just Another Silly Love Song by Rich Amooi @RichAmooi @rararesources #romcom #bookreview #Giveaway (Open Int)

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share a review for a favorite author of mine, Just Another Silly Love Song by Rich Amooi is pure reading escapism and I loved it. My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this brilliant book.

Let me show you what it’s about…

Two rival radio personalities. Lori Martin is a positive and upbeat DJ, known for playing love songs and dedications. Ben Baxter dishes out no-nonsense, in-your-face relationship advice. Total opposites. Never in a million years would they want to work together.

Fired for losing her cool after her boyfriend breaks up with her on the air, Lori surprisingly receives a job offer for the coveted morning show at the radio station across town where Ben works. She thinks she’s replacing him, but finds out they want to team up Lori with her archenemy to set the air waves on fire and boost ratings. Financially strapped, she can’t turn down the job.

While their on-air fireworks and explosive chemistry make for great listening, what in the world will happen after work hours?

Purchase Links – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Goodreads

If you are feeling down, the world is getting a bit too much, you want to escape from real-life for 2-3 hours and you are looking for a feel-good, pick-me-up read then look no further than Rich Amooi. His book is the perfect remedy for putting a smile on your face and have you giggling. Just Another Silly Love Song is his latest book and it had me chuckling so many times.

This is about two rival radio talk show hosts. Lori hosts a late-night show and gives sensible advice to women about their relationships, all is ok until her boyfriend breaks up with her live on her show. This results in her being fired.

The only job on offer is for a rival radio show, with Dr Tough Love, aka Ben, I know, I know this sounds so cheesy, but this is where the author absolutely excels. Ben hosts a similar show, but his advice is tough because, well let’s face it, men need telling straight about what they need to do!

So two different opinions on a radio show provides some hilarious reading. Now, I have to say, that as I was reading this I had a certain Mr Gerard Butler in my head from the film The Ugly Truth, and let’s be honest here, having him floating around in my thoughts is not a bad thing at all!!!! My point here is that Ben and Gerard, well the character he played, shared some very interesting qualities, one of them being that there is more to the characters than first meets the eye.

Lori working being Ben is finding this out for herself, and there are others that also see more. Grandma Joyce is an absolute hoot, a sassy 80-year-old with a real zest for life, she is not backwards in coming forwards with advice, and advice is what she gives Lori whenever possible.

This book is pure escapism, in fact, I think I used the same phrase for a review of the last book I read by Rich! It is, however, true, the book is funny, cheesy, well laid out and is addictive. The perfect book to lift your spirits and leave you with a daft grin on your face. Just another Silly Love Song is so heartwarming and I would absolutely recommend it.

Rich Amooi is the Amazon #1 Bestselling author of 15 romantic comedies, including It’s Not PMS, It’s You, Dying to Meet You, There’s Something About a Cowboy, and Madam Love, Actually. 

A former radio personality and wedding DJ, Rich now writes romantic comedies full-time in San Diego, California, and is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.

Social Media Links – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – Website

Check out the Giveaway…

Giveaway to Win $25.00 Amazon Gift Card (Open INT)


*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box 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 then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right 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 this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Willows Wedding Vows by Debbie Viggiano @DebbieViggiano @rararesources #rachelsrandomresources #Bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for Willow’s Wedding Vows by Debbie Viggiano. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this fabulous book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

Wedding vows have never been this personal…

Willow has been living with marriage-shy Charlie for more years than she cares to remember and is old-fashioned enough to want a wedding band and a loads-of-sex honeymoon before stretchmarks and nipple shields.

So when the once-wary Charlie surprisingly goes down on one knee, Willow doesn’t question why her boyfriend is suddenly so keen to rush her into saying “I do”.

The first clue comes as Willow is zipped into her Cinderella dress, the second as she bobs into the wedding car, and the third as the Roller swings towards its fairy-tale destination… leaving a shell-shocked Willow desperately trying to figure out what to do next.

A bride can do anything she wants on her wedding day, but nobody expected her to do this…

Get your own copy at Amazon UK

The synopsis does a good job of laying out the basics for this story and if you are a fan of romance and rom-coms then I think you are going to really enjoy this one. While it does read as a rom-com, there is far more then meets the eye. Meeting the eye, well the least said about that the better, as a roving eye is probably more appropriate! There are certainly some chuckles as well as some eye-opener with this story… I seem to be a little fixated with eyes!!!

So, Willow is a lovable character who has been with long term boyfriend Charlie for several years. They live together and as his job is oh so much more stressful than hers, after all she is a librarian that may occasionally have to deal with disgruntled customers, yeah I wasn’t a fan of him in case you hadn’t realised!

He is successful and often has to attend meetings and is often away for weekends. His best mate Ben has just split up with his other half. Willow’s best mate, Emma has not had much luck in the boyfriend department, and even Emma’s Mum seems to single. It is only Willow and Charlie that seem to be the only couple. Oh, and I almost forgot Kev, well this is a character that had a quite a large part to play in the grand scheme of things.

Now as the story progressed I got to know more about Charlie and Willow, and I have to say the inclusion of the italicised comments are brilliant. They add a humorous tone and are definitely enjoyable.

The story goes through the high’s and lows of Willow and Charlies relationship, things are not as hunky-dory as they appear, but they are a solid couple aren’t they…

I really enjoyed the pace of this story, it had an easy flow and made for effortless reading. In no time I was caught up in the shenanigans of, well mainly Charrlie actually. Yes, this is a story about Willow, but the first half focused more on Charlie. It is later in the book that Willow takes the larger part and for good reason to.

This is not a straight-forward rom com, it has much ore to it and follows a very twisty route. The is a very large secret that I will admit to working out, but I think this was down to the hints that were gradually dropped and led me to follow the breadcrumbs as it were to successfully work it out.

A very enjoyable read and one I would definitely recommend for a lighter read but one that still has serious undertones. It has left me wondering why on earth I have not read any of this authors books before. I have purchased a few of her books and they are still to be read. I know I am not alone when I mention this!

Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy… apart from when they want to raid the fridge, or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Follow her on Twitter

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Love At First Like by Hannah Orenstein #RomCom #BookReview

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I am delighted to share my review today for Love At first Like by Hannah Orenstein. I read this book a few weeks ago and have a slight delay with sharing non-Blog Tour books, so…

Let me show you what it is all about…

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FAKE THE PERFECT LOVE LIFE?

Eliza Roth and her sister Sophie co-own a jewellery shop in Brooklyn. One night, after learning of an ex’s engagement, Eliza accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing a diamond ring on that finger to her Instagram account beloved by 100,000 followers. Sales skyrocket, press rolls in, and Eliza learns that her personal life is good for business. So she has a choice: continue the ruse or clear up the misunderstanding. With mounting financial pressure, Eliza sets off to find a fake fiancé.

Fellow entrepreneur Blake seems like the perfect match on paper, and in real life he shows promise too – if only Eliza didn’t feel also drawn to someone else. But Blake doesn’t know Eliza is ‘engaged’; Sophie asks Eliza for an impossible sum of money; and Eliza’s lies start to spiral out of control. Now she can either stay engaged online – or fall in love in real life.

The synopsis for this book does a good job of setting the scene. Eliza Roth is a jeweller who accidentally posts a photo and caption of her engagement on Instagram. As her private and business profile are one in the same account she finds herself suddenly getting lots of comments. Unfortunately, she isn’t engaged, she only wishes she was. The photo sees an influx of sales and she decides not to correct her viewers.

The story that follows is how she then goes on to find a stand-in, but when she starts to develop feelings for Blake she knows she should say something, but the longer she leaves it the worse it gets. Apart from immediate family and close friends, no one else knows about this, except a local barman called Raj, he is a new friend in her life and becomes a someone she can easily chat to.

While I did like the idea of this story, there was the odd bit that wound me up. While I do get the reasons behind Eliza’s decision not to tell Blake the truth I found that he reluctance to tell him really wound me up. Blake is not a social media user, but I am sure many of his family and friends are, as that is the way of things in this day and age. I was finding this a little strange as I know myself that if something is mentioned about a friend on social media then it will come up at some point in a conversation either at work or in passing. This just felt a little unbelievable for me.

Overall a good story and one that kept me turning pages and a book that I easily read in an afternoon. A book that did keep me hooked because I wanted to know how it would pan out for all concerned and because of that I would recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The New Guy by Kathryn Freeman @KathrynFreeman1 @rararesources #romcom #BookReview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am so delighted to be one of the Book Bloggers on the opening day for Kathryn Freeman‘s new book The New Guy. I have read and really enjoyed a few books that I have read by this author so I was so happy to see that there was a new one on the way. My huge thanks to Rachel for my spot on the Blog Tour and also for arranging my e-copy of The New Guy.

Let me show you what it is all about…

The New Guy

Sam Huxton doesn’t do one-night stands, especially not with men she’s just met! But the hot guy at the bar was hard to resist and their one night together is one she’ll never forget.

But one night is all they share – no names, no numbers, just some much needed fun…

Until the same guy walks into Sam’s life the next day as her new employee.  Sam never mixes business with pleasure and makes it clear an office fling with Ryan is off-limits.  But after-hours…one thing can lead to another. Can Sam trust her heart and her business with the new guy?


Purchase Links – Amazon UK or US

Sam is in a pub, she has just left her Grandfather’s funeral. She is missing him and the time she should be spending with her family, but her business needs her to be back. The guy sat next to her id brooding and not that unattractive and so she starts chatting to him. He eventually listens to her chatting away and one thing leads to another and a one-night-stand. A steamy opening for this book to say the least!!!

Sam arrives to work the next day to meet her newest employee who has been hired while she was away to help with programming her latest app. In walks Mr One-night-stand!

This was such an enjoyable book to read, high on the sultry and the sexual tension to say the least. Sam is reluctant to so start a new relationship as her last one left her with issues of trust. The New Guy, his name is Ryan by the way, it is not exactly a team player. It is not that he is untrustworthy, or unscrupulous, but he is wary of people. He is a loner and you soon get to work out why as the story unfolds.

The story is like a back to front romance, first the sex and the relationship. Now, this is a relationship that neither says they want but the sexual tension between them is definitely there.

The author has done a wonderful job of creating a story that has a good theme of trust and friendship within a working environment, Sam sees her employees not as employees but as trusted friends. Ryan by way of his nature is so different from the rest of the characters and it was great to see him gradually warm to them and engage with them. The banter between them all covers barbed sarcastic comments, innuendos and just general fun.

I really enjoyed this book and what a steamy opening, the story then emerged to be very enjoyable as Sam tries to get her business venture up and running. Sneak peeks into the lives of the other characters was good but the main focus is on Sam and Ryan and I loved it.

A bit of a mix of rom-com and contemporary romance that I was hooked to and found to be a right riveting read and I would definitely recommend it.

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links – Website – Facebook – Twitter

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

My Lemon grove Summer by Jo Thomas #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share my thoughts with you for My Lemon Grove Summer by Jo Thomas. This is the 2nd book I have read by this author, the first being Sunset Over Cherry Orchard. Because I loved her that one so much I was not going to leave this sat on my shelf too long before picking it up.

Let’s see what it’s about…

Could the lemon groves of Sicily be the perfect place to start over? The irresistible new novel from Jo Thomas, the author of Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard, will transport you to the island of mountains and sparkling blue seas.

When life hands you lemons … is it ever too late for a second chance?

Zelda’s impulsive nature has got her precisely nowhere up until now. A fresh start in a beautiful hilltop town in Sicily looking for new residents, together with her best friend Lennie, could be just what she needs. And who better to settle down with than the person who knows her best?

But the sun-filled skies and sparkling seas can’t hide the shadow hanging over Citta d’Ora, which means not everyone is pleased to see their arrival. The dreams Zelda and her fellow new residents had of setting up a new life might be slipping away. But a friendship with restauranteur Luca could be about to unlock the possibilities that lie in the local lemon groves. And there’s a wedding on the horizon that might be just what the town needs to turn it around…

Could a summer in Sicily help Zelda learn to trust her instinct and follow her heart?

Zelda and Lennie are best friends. When they were teens they made a pact. If they were not in a relationship with their respective Mr or Mrs Perfect by the time they were 40, they would marry each other. Both are stuck in a rut and single when Lennie pulls the “pact” agreement out and suggests to Zelda that they up-sticks and move to Sicily. A fresh start, a new adventure beckons.

This is such a wonderful book that I happily lost myself in for an afternoon. The author once again successfully created wonderful imagery with her words. I was able to imagine the village and more importantly the surrounding area and the lemon groves. I have not been to Sicily, but the author made me feel as if I had glimpsed it through her story.

The adventure that Zelda and Lennie sign up for is a dream of local business man, to help -build the community he loves and get the passing tourists to stop rather than just drive past. On arrival though, Zelda and Lennie discover that things have not been planed and sorted as they had expected. They soon discover they are not the only ones who have decided a fresh start is the way to go.

I liked how the author brought in people from different backgrounds and for different reasons together, though she does not excessively dwell on those, she does give enough information about them so I got to know them a little. The main focus is on the key characters, and I have to say there is one I would quite happily focus on!…

Lemons feature in this story and does some fabulous food mentions, I am glad I read this after eating a Sunday roast or my stomach would have been growling. Along with the food, there is also a mentions about lemons, and the growing of them.

This is one of those stories that I think is delightful reading, it is perfect for loosing yourself in and makes you feel good. The author has woven a tale that has friendship, optimism, feuds, family, relationships and drama.

A fabulous summer read that I happily read in one sitting. It’s also one that I would definitely recommend!

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share is always appreciated 🙂 xx

Flying By The Seat Of My Knickers by Eliza Watson #Review

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to vbe sharing my review for Flying by the Seat of My Knickers by Eliza Watson. I saw this title on Facebook and the title definitely caught my eye!

Let’s have a look and see what it is all about…

Why run from your troubles when you can fly instead? 

When Caity Shaw is fired from her first job that doesn’t require an elf uniform, her older sister, Rachel, an event planner, hires her to work a meeting in Dublin. Caity jumps at the opportunity to travel abroad and escape her pathetic life. However, even four thousand miles from home, there’s no avoiding debt collectors, an overbearing mother, and haunting memories of a controlling ex.

While in Dublin, Caity suffers a series of humiliating mishaps, causing her to lose even more faith in herself. Caity struggles to earn Rachel’s respect—and to keep Declan, her hot Irish coworker, at arm’s length. Declan repeatedly saves Caity’s butt and helps boost her self-confidence, making it difficult to keep her distance from the charming womanizer. When Declan helps her research her Irish grandmother, Caity discovers the mysterious past of the courageous woman she barely knew might hold the answers to her future.

This is the first book in The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw. With a title like this, how could I not pick it up?

Caity is full of doubt and low in confidence. This is not helped when she goes to work for her high flying sister, Rachel. Rachel is an event planner and a very successful one at that!

This is a quick and fun read and is one I read in an afternoon. I discovered that there is more to the Caity than meets the eye. She is trying so hard to do a good job, in fact too hard to the point that little mishaps occur along the way.

The reason behind her lack of confidence gradually come out as she helps out on the tour around Ireland.

An interesting and somewhat quirky and fun read. It has a lighthearted and entertaining feel and is one I would recommend. Ideal for a couple of hours of escapism.

This is available on Amazon for kindle and is Free!

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be great 🙂 xx

Aphrodite’s Closet by Suzy Turner @suzy_turner @rararesources #BookReview

yvonnembee

Aphrodite's Closet NEW COVER.jpg

I am absolutely delighted to be sharing my review of Aphrodite’s Closet by Suzy Turner with you all today. Huge thanks to Rachel for the invite onto the Blog Tour for this book and also to Suzy for my e-copy of this book.

Synopsis:

Agatha Trout didn’t even know she had a Great Aunt Petunia, so imagine her surprise when she finds Petunia left her a corner shop in her will. But it’s not just any old corner shop—it’s a corner shop that needs something unique, something the town of Frambleberry has never seen before.

Influenced by her confident best friend, Coco, Agatha is soon convinced that there’s only one way to go: an adults-only sex shop.

While some of the townspeople are clutching their pearls in horror, others are open to the new experiences this shop offers. But not everyone in Frambleberry is convinced. Will the women soldier on in the face of violent threats or will their fears get the best of them—and their new venture—before it even gets off the ground?

Purchase Link – Amazon UK – Amazon US

My Thoughts:

Aggie Trout dresses far older than her years, she is a librarian and certainly fits the old, clichéd stereotype. She is left a shop by her mysterious Great Aunt Petunia. When her flamboyant friend Coco suggests going into business with Aggie, I don’t know who was more flabberghasted when Aggie agreed to open a sex shop. Here begins a story of transformation as the shop will test the girls resolve to some opposition.

Oh my goodness, what an absolute corker of a read, it had me laughing and giggling at so many moments throughout. Aggies family and friends really do compliment her and the story so well and the author has done such a great job creating them. Along with various innuendos there is the mysterious Petunia, yes she is dead but her story and why she is a mystery gradually comes out, like a skeleton from a family closet, along with a few other little titbits.

The descriptions of this classic, old style shop were marvelous and soon had me wishing I had a Great Aunt Petunia loitering around somewhere… though I don’t think an adult only shop would be my choice…

This story is about how important family and friends are. There are several secrets and stories that are teased out through the pages. It is also about how Aggie, who was the quiet, invisible one who has been wrapped up in her comfort blanket too long, finally starts emerge. The devious tactics of Aunt Petunia and the energetic Coco soon pull her out into the world and get her to experience life.

It was an absolute pleasure and delight to read this book, it is such a fun, and humorous story and I absolutely loved the lightheartedness as well as the romance and slightly more serious aspects of it. A book that I would definitely recommend to other readers.

About the Author:

Suzy Turner 2017.png

Born in England and raised in Portugal, Suzy lives with her childhood sweetheart Michael, their two crazy dogs and three cats.

Shortly after completing her studies, Suzy worked as a trainee journalist for a local newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she took the job of assistant editor for the region’s largest English language publisher before becoming editor of a monthly lifestyle magazine. Early in 2010 however, Suzy became a full time author. She has since written several books: Raven, December Moon, The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga), Daisy Madigan’s Paradise, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, The Temporal Stone, Looking for Lucy Jo, We Stand Against Evil (The Morgan Sisters), Forever Fredless, And Then There Was You, Stormy Summer and her latest, Aphrodite’s Closet.

In 2015 she launched her popular 40+ lifestyle blog which continues to go from strength to strength, while just over a year later, she trained to become a yoga instructor. Suzy continues to write, blog and teach yoga in one of Portugal’s loveliest settings – the Algarve.

Social Media Links –

Lifestyle Blog – Instagram – Goodreads – Facebook – Twitter – Pintrest

See what other readers think by following the Blog Tour

Aphrodies Closet Full Tour Banner.jpg

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or a share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Suzy Turner 2017.png

The Little Theatre on the Seafront by Katie Ginger @KatieGAuthor @HQDigitalUK #BookReview

yvonnembee

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Today I am delighted to be sharing my thoughts on The Little Theatre On The Seafront by Katie Ginger. This is available in eBook format now and the paperback is due to be published on 15th November. It is published by HQ Digital and can be purchased or pre-ordered from AMAZON UK

Synopsis:

When Lottie’s Gran dies she leaves one last request; save Greenley Theatre.

Faced with a decaying building, a mayor who most definitely isn’t on board with the project and a group of actors who just can’t get along, Lottie has her hands full, but with best friend Sid by her side she knows she can do it somehow.

But the arrival of Jeremy, a hotshot London developer who sweeps Lottie off her feet, complicates things. Suddenly Sid gets a new girlfriend, the Greenley Players fall apart, and that crumbling building? Well it crumbles a whole lot more. With no one to turn to, Lottie has to find the courage to save the day.

Will Lottie be able to save the theatre and also follow her heart?

My Thoughts:

Lottie is left a last request letter from her Gran Elsie. Elsie was a big supporter of the Greenly Theatre and asks that Lottie take over the role as Chair. Luckily Lottie has her best friend Sid there to give a helping hand. Lottie and Sid have been friends forever and know each others moods, likes and dislikes. Things between them change when new people arrive in their lives.

This story is just an absolute delight. A decrepit theatre in need of buckets full of TLC, characters that are dramatic and maybe a little eccentric, the sense of community and a nice underlying touch of romance, that mixed together bring this story to life.

The antics of the theatres players is absolutely brilliant, some of the over the top attitudes mixed in with those quiet and shy types are just fabulous. Each has a little trait or mannerism that range from a snide remark to a snarky aside is a hilarious addition, and had me grinning several times.

As if Lottie didn’t have enough to deal with as she tries to bring the Theatre back from it’s gloomy and damp ridden existence to a charming, family theatre and community space. She also has to deal with the airs and graces from the actors, the attentions of a property developer and the committee.

The descriptions the author gives for the theatre worked really well for me, giving me wonderful images of it in its shabby state. With not only the visual cues, but the smells that would be associated with a damp building. I have mentioned it before in reviews, that it is the attention to the little details that add so much to a story, and I am glad to say this author has lots of little details squirrelled away in this one.

There are other story-lines that run alongside the renovation of the theatre but I’m not giving you anything on them, you need to read and discover for yourself.

I found this book was quick to get caught up in with fabulous characters, the author made it easy to get to know them and also to remember them and importantly care about them. Yes, I did shed a few happy tears …. and not just once.

So yes, I did love this story a lot, I read it in one sitting and would absolutely recommend it to other readers who like a bit of romance, a whole lot of drama, a touch of humour and a couple of slightly more serious aspects. Go grab a copy it’s great.

About the Author:

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Well, hello there!

I’m Katie, and I’m a writer of romantic fiction and a few cosy mystery short stories. The Little Theatre on the Seafront is my debut novel and I’ve got another rom-com coming out next year, which I hope you’ll also enjoy.

I live in Kent with my hubby, two kids, and our King Charles Spaniel, Wotsit. As I love a good chinwag, do come and say hello over on Twitter or on Facebook. I also blog about random stuff on my Website.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or a share would be amazing 🙂 xx