Friday 29 May 2015

Book of the Month: May

 
Wellies and Westies
 
by Cressida McLaughlin
 
Catherine ‘Cat’ Palmer realises, too late, that bringing an adorable puppy into work at the local nursery was a bad idea, especially after the ensuing chaos gets her the sack.
Determined to turn a negative into a positive, Cat decides this is the perfect opportunity to get her dog-walking business off the ground with the help of her flatmates, Polly and Joe. After all, Primrose Terrace where she lives, is full of home-alone hounds…
 
*     *     *     *     *
 
Wellies and Westies is the first part of Cressida McLaughlin's Primrose Terrace series - and what a fantastic start to the series it is! The book is warm and fun and I loved the easy writing style that allows you to relax into the words and immerse yourself in Cat's world. There are lots of fantastic characters within the novella, from Cat herself to her housemates Polly and Joe and love interest Mark. And not let's not forget Disco, the adorable puppy.
 
Although this is only a novella and part of a series, it felt like a whole story in its own right. Having said that, I can't wait for the next instalment to see what will happen to Cat next.
 
 
You can see my full review of Wellies and Westies here or view all Books of the Month

Tuesday 26 May 2015

Blog Tour: Catch Me If You Cannes (Part 4) by Lisa Dickenson

As part of the Catch Me If You Cannes blog tour, I'm posting a weekly review of each part. This week I'm sharing my thoughts on the final part!


Best friends Jess and Bryony are in Cannes for the film festival, with Bryony trying to find a story that will help her break away from trashy Sleb magazine and forge a more respectable career. While Bryony is busy sniffing out a big story, Jess has been getting loved up with hunky yacht owner, Leo. But Jess and Leo haven't been entirely truthful about themselves and their tangle of lies are about to unravel themselves.

I've really enjoyed the Catch Me If You Cannes series, so I'm sad that it has to come to an end. The series has been such a fun, quirky read and I'm going to miss the characters, especially Jess and the delicious Leo. Lisa Dickenson has created some fantastic characters, from Jess and Leo to journalist Bryony and stylist Richard. The whole cast has been a joy to get to know!

I really like Lisa Dickenson's style of writing; it's witty and so much fun but it has an ease to it too so you can curl up and feel completely relaxed as her characters go off on their adventures. Each part of Catch Me If You Cannes is the perfect length for settling down in the evening and devouring the pages and I liked that each ended on a cliff-hanger, leaving me itching to find out what would happen next. The whole series was a pleasure to read and I'm looking forward to seeing what Lisa has in store for us in the future.

 
 
About the author
Lisa Dickenson was born in the wrong body. She was definitely meant to be Beyoncé. Despite this hardship, she grew up in Devon attempting to write her own, completely copyright-infringing versions of Sweet Valley High, before giving Wales a go for university, and then London a go for the celeb-spotting potential. She's now back in Devon, living beside the seaside with her husband and forcing cream teas down the mouths of anyone who'll visit. She is sadly still not Beyoncé.
Lisa's first novel, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, won the Novelicious Debut of the Year award. Her second novel, You Had Me at Merlot, was also an instant hit with readers who were won over by her wit, charm and naughty sense of humour. Follow her on Twitter for all her book news and Beyoncé-related chatter: @LisaWritesStuff

Friday 22 May 2015

Cover Stars: The Vintage Guide To Love And Romance by Kirsty Greenwood

Gorgeous covers. Gorgeous covers everywhere
 
The Vintage Guide To
Love And Romance
 
by Kirsty Greenwood
 
 

Jessica Beam is a girl who knows how to party. Only lately she's been forgetting to turn up for work on time. Or in clean clothes. Down on her luck, out of a job and homeless, Jess seeks the help of her long-lost grandmother.

Things aren't going well for Matilda Beam, either. Her 1950s Good Woman guide books are out of print, her mortgage repayments are staggering and her granddaughter wears neon Wonderbras.

When a lifeline from a London publisher arrives, the pair have an opportunity to secure the roof over their heads - by invigorating the Good Woman guides and transforming modern, rebellious Jess into a demure vintage lady.

The true test of their make-over will be to capture the heart of notorious London playboy Leo Frost and prove that Matilda's guides still work. It's going to take commitment, nerves of steel and one seriously pointy bra to pull this off . . .
 
*     *     *     *     *
 
The Vintage Guide To Love And Romance has quite a simple cover, with just the image of Jessica Beam, the title and author name and the tagline but I love all the little details within the image; the vintage red-and-white polka-dotted dress with the modern shoes and mobile phone. The image of Jessica is so striking and the red of her dress and the title really pops against the pale blue background, making this book difficult to miss of the shelf. You can't help being drawn to this cover as it's so eye-catchingly gorgeous!
 
 
You can see my review of A Vintage Guide To Love And Romance here or click to see all Cover Stars
 
 
If there's a cover you're bursting to shout out about, let us know by joining in Cover Stars!
More details here
 

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Blog Tour: Catch Me If You Cannes (Part 3) by Lisa Dickenson

As part of the Catch Me If You Cannes blog tour, I'm posting a weekly review of each part. This week I'm sharing my thoughts on Part 3!


Jess and Bryony are in Cannes. While Bryony is being kept busy as a journalist, Jess is soaking up the sun, eating crepes and spending time with the lovely Leo. Jess is loving hanging out with Leo, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that she doesn't actually know that much about him. Bryony is convinced Leo is involved in some shady dealings, but Jess is determined to prove her best friend wrong.

So far Catch Me If You Cannes has been such a fun and vibrant read with lots of witty dialogue and hilarious escapades. Jess and Bryony have told a few teeny white lies while they've been in Cannes and they're beginning to unravel. I love watching as they try to claw their way back out of each mishap, hoping each time that they'll be able to pull it off.

I've really enjoyed Parts 1 and 2 of Catch Me If You Cannes and Part 3 has proven to be just as fun and intriguing. Just what is Leo up to? And will it wreck the relationship he is building with Jess? I hope not because I adore the relationship between Jess and Leo. They make such a cute couple, but there is definitely something dodgy that Leo isn't telling Jess. I'm itching to get started on Part 4 so that all will be revealed - but I'm also a little sad as its the final part and I don't want the series to end.

 
About the author
 
Lisa Dickenson was born in the wrong body. She was definitely meant to be Beyoncé. Despite this hardship, she grew up in Devon attempting to write her own, completely copyright-infringing versions of Sweet Valley High, before giving Wales a go for university, and then London a go for the celeb-spotting potential. She's now back in Devon, living beside the seaside with her husband and forcing cream teas down the mouths of anyone who'll visit. She is sadly still not Beyoncé.

Lisa's first novel, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, won the Novelicious Debut of the Year award. Her second novel, You Had Me at Merlot, was also an instant hit with readers who were won over by her wit, charm and naughty sense of humour. Follow her on Twitter for all her book news and Beyoncé-related chatter: @LisaWritesStuff


Monday 18 May 2015

#AmWriting A New Book

 
Having finished Book 3, I dived straight into Book 4 - and more quickly than I thought I would. I'm a planner. Some might say an over-planner. When I plan a book, I plan the hell out of it. I start out with an outline and character profiles and end up with chapter plans, with each scene planned and even bits of dialogue. I've found this is what works for me.
 
Until now.
 
Book 4 has been completely different for me. I usually know the story pretty well in my head before I start planning. I've thought about my characters and what they'll get up to (some people may call this daydreaming. And it is. And it's fun) so I have a good idea about the plot before I even start to plan.
 
Not with Book 4. With Book 4 I had a main character and a few friends and family members and I had a title. But that's it. I had no plot. Nothing.
 
So it was time to start brainstorming. Who was Delilah James (apart from my character, that is) and what was her story?
 
 
I spent some time jotting down details about Delilah's life; how old she was, her hobbies, her family, friends and colleagues and slowly ideas for a plot began to form. I wrote these ideas down, expanded on them and suddenly there it was; Delilah's story.
 
With only three measly pages containing a flowchart of the main story (as opposed to the 40-50 pages of chapter outlines), I began typing Chapter One. I hadn't expected to start quite so soon. I thought I had lots more planning to do (chapter outlines, people) but it felt like the right time. So I went with it and now I'm 30,000 words into my new book.
 
I still can't help planning ahead and I've scribbled down ideas on my flowchart as they've come to me but I'm quite liking the freedom of not having a rigid plan in place. This may come back and bit bite me on the arse further down the line, but for now it's working.

Friday 15 May 2015

Blog Tour: The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) by Kate Winter

Today I'm delighted to be taking part in the blog tour of the fabulous The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) with a review of the book
 
 
Rosie Potter wakes one morning with what she assumes is a humongous hangover, but she soon discovers that she isn't hungover at all. She's dead. Her death is suspicious, but Rosie can't remember what happened that night. But she's going to find out.
 
I absolutely loved The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter. It's such a fun, laugh-out-loud read and I found myself giggling away as I read about Rosie's antics. With the main character being dead, it's quite a unique read but it leads to some hilarious moments. Rosie is such a brilliant character and I warmed to her immediately. She's bright and funny and I adored her. Rosie is invisible (being a ghost) so she can let go and really tell people what she thinks of them, which led to some hilarious moments. My favourite part of the book takes place in the local pub and involves Rosie kicking a stool across the room - I'm just glad I wasn't reading in public as I laughed so much!
 
As a ghost, Rosie has access to people and conversations she wouldn't normally have so she gets to see the village she lives in in a new light. There are secrets in Ballycarragh - including Rosie's untimely death - and Rosie is going to unearth them and find out what happened to her. As the secrets begin to unravel, we see that some people aren't what they seemed to begin with and I was itching to find out what was really going on. Rosie's best friend, Jenny hated Rosie's boyfriend and she couldn't understand why. Jack is fun and charming (and gorgeous) but with her new perspective, Rosie can really get to the bottom of the problem between Jenny and Jack. Like Rosie, I too wanted to know what had happened between the pair to create such animosity.
 
With the book ultimately being about death, it could have been quite a maudlin read, but it really wasn't. It's so witty and surprisingly light and romantic. Rosie is quite a mischievous ghost and kept me entertained throughout. My chest was a little bit hurty by the end, but in a good way.
 
 
 
About the Author
 
 Kate Winter is a journalist, novelist and storyteller from the North West of Ireland who was lucky enough to grow up with no TV (though she didn't consider it a lucky break at the time) and lots of books. After graduating from University of Ulster with first class honours and the Ulster Television Award for her BA in Media Studies, Kate promptly forged a glittering career for herself in waitressing. Then one day, beside a swimming pool in Australia, Kate decided it was time to write a book. The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) is Kate's debut novel.

Follow Kate on @KatiCut
 

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Blog Tour: The Italian Wife by Kate Furnivall

Today I'm delighted to be taking part in the blog for The Italian Wife with a Q&A with the author, Kate Furnivall.

Welcome to the blog, Kate!

Hi, it’s great to be here. Thanks for having me.

Can you tell us about your new book?

The Italian Wife is set in Italy 1932 when Benito Mussolini was ruling the country with the iron fist of Fascism. It is an exciting tale full of conflict and ambition, about two people bound together by love and courage who face danger, ruthless ambition and corruption. Isabella Berotti is a young architect who has learned not to trust anyone after her husband was shot ten years earlier. She is working as part of a team building a grandiose new town to the glory of Fascism, when she has an unknown child thrust upon her. She struggles to protect the child, Rosa, from those in power who wish to use her for political intrigue and she enlists the help of the photographer, Roberto Falco. Together they search for the truth behind the secrets and the fear that cast their shadow over the town. It is a complex emotional story full of twists and turns.

What has been your greatest experience of being a published writer?

Without doubt it was my book tour of America. To be honest, I was green and virginal in the ways of authors when my first book, The Russian Concubine, came out in 2007 and shot on to the New York Times Bestseller list. I was stunned. And when I was invited by my wonderful American publisher to do a book tour of the US, it seemed to be the stuff that dreams are made of.

It started with a warm welcome in San Francisco, followed by stylish events in Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, New York and Boston, with a whirlwind of flights and limousines, of handshakes and smiles, of bookstores and restaurants. I was running on adrenaline and praise - it was intoxicating. A totally magical ten days that I will never forget.

What was the first book you ever bought yourself?

I didn’t buy books when I was young. I lived in the library instead. But I remember in my teens buying a book called ‘The Arrangement’ by Elia Kazan and holding it tight in my hands when I’d finished, thinking, ‘This is what I want to do one day. Write a book like this.’

What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was ‘Elizabeth is Missing.’ It is complex and totally compelling story of Maud, a woman with dementia. I was blown away by it. A brilliant debut novel. It is deeply harrowing but wickedly funny at the same time. I shall be looking out for more from Emma Healey.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

There is only one crucial piece of advice I would give:- read, read, read, and then write, write and write. Never stop doing both.

But other tips would be: be ruthless when editing and be prepared to kill off your darling sentences. Analyse what you read and work out what works for you, then go out and find a writing group to join – you’ll need all the support you can get. And ENJOY it!

Finally, what are you working on at the moment?

I confess, I just couldn’t bring myself to leave Italy. Not yet. So I am now deep into the story of Caterina Lombardi who, after her father dies, takes on his master-craftsman business and … No, I must stop there or I’ll say too much. It’ll be out on Kindle at the end of the year.

 

Tuesday 12 May 2015

Blog Tour: Catch Me If You Cannes (Part 2) by Lisa Dickenson

As part of the Catch Me If You Cannes blog tour, I'm posting a weekly review of each part. This week I'm sharing my thoughts on Part 2!
 

In Part 1 of Catch Me If You Cannes, we are introduced to Jess and Bryony, two best friends who are in Cannes for the film festival. Jess and Bryony have concocted a few teeny white lies to fit in with the glamorous new friends they have made and Jess had met the lovely, yacht-owning Leo.

I loved Part 1 of the book as it was a lot of fun - and Part 2 is no different. Jess likes Leo and although they don't know that much about each other (yet), they're having a great time together. I really like the chemistry between Jess and Leo; it's fun and flirty but so natural too. The pair have an ease about them, as though they have known each other forever and I really hope things work out well for them. I get the feeling Leo is keeping something quite significant back from Jess and I'm looking forward to delving into Part 3 to find out what this may be!

As well as the chemistry between Jess and Leo, I'm really enjoying the strong friendship of Jess and Bryony. They're quite different in personality, but they work and obviously care about each other a lot. The have so much fun together (their conversations are so funny!) but you know that if either of them needed a cuddle or a good cry, the other would be there instantly to offer support (and wine).

So far, Catch Me If You Cannes has been an amusing read and I can't wait to find out what happens next!

 
 
About the author
 
Lisa Dickenson was born in the wrong body. She was definitely meant to be Beyoncé. Despite this hardship, she grew up in Devon attempting to write her own, completely copyright-infringing versions of Sweet Valley High, before giving Wales a go for university, and then London a go for the celeb-spotting potential. She's now back in Devon, living beside the seaside with her husband and forcing cream teas down the mouths of anyone who'll visit. She is sadly still not Beyoncé.

Lisa's first novel, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, won the Novelicious Debut of the Year award. Her second novel, You Had Me at Merlot, was also an instant hit with readers who were won over by her wit, charm and naughty sense of humour. Follow her on Twitter for all her book news and Beyoncé-related chatter: @LisaWritesStuff



Monday 11 May 2015

Book Crafts: Glass Lantern

 
Glass Lantern
 
I've seen some pretty glass lanterns recycled from food jars on Pinterest, so I decided to make my own with a bookish theme.
 
 
You will need:
 
An empty, clean glass jar
Double-sided tape
Scissors
Proof pages
String
 
Cut your pages down to size. My jar had a helpful ridge where the label had been so I used this as a guide. I needed two sections as the page wouldn't fit across the middle.
 
Draw a heart-shape on your page, where it will sit in the middle of the jar. Cut out.
 
Stick your page onto the jar.
 
Wind string along the top of the jar, tucking in any loose ends (you can tie it into a bow if you'd like instead).
 
And you're done!
 
 
Of course you can embellish the lantern any way you'd like - swap the string for ribbon or coloured twine, add sequins or buttons or change the design of the cut-out. I decided to add some coloured stick-on jewels around the heart.
 
 
Add a candle (I'm going to use a little battery-operated one to make it easier from now on - no trying to light it in the bottom of the jar!)
 
 
If you don't want to a candle-holder, you can use it to store small items instead.
 
How about a stationery pot?
 
 
There are loads of ways to play around with the jars, from the size of the jar used to your choice of embellishments. If you have a go yourself, I'd love to see what you come up with!
 
 
Click here to see all Book Crafts
 

Saturday 9 May 2015

S Club 7: Bring It All Back 2015

If you've read my book, A Beginner's Guide To Salad, you'll know that Ruth is a big fan of 90s pop and one of her favourites is S Club 7. I am also a massive fan of S Club 7 (hmm, I wonder where Ruth got her taste in music from...?) so I was stupidly excited when they got back together to appear on Children In Need last November and I almost wet myself when they announced they were going on tour. Imagine my self-combusting excitement when I managed to get tickets to see them in Manchester, which is where I went last night (Ruth will be SO JEALOUS).


 
The show was absolutely brilliant and a great trip down memory lane with the group performing their greatest hits, as well as a few non-S Club songs

 
There was such a fantastic atmosphere with everybody singing along. Paul's acoustic version of Reach got a bit hijacked, but in a good way!






 
I had a great night and I just wish I could do it all again!

Friday 8 May 2015

Guest Post: Sharon from Fiction Addiction

 
FICTION ADDICTION - FOUR YEARS ON


Why did I set up my own online writer's group?

Because it was proving difficult for me to find honest opinions about my work from other writers, plus I couldn't afford to pay for professional critiques all the time.

My local writing group didn't focus on commercial short stories and on a creative writing course, the tutor didn't know anything about the women's fiction magazine market either, which was the market I wanted to write for. (In 2015, it still is!)

Back in February 2011, I decided the first thing I needed to do was recruit members. Membership would be free and always open. A lot of online writing groups are closed and don't accept new members.

It's a great pity. From my experience, I think this policy makes a group stale and dull. New members bring a fresh perspective.

I wrote an appeal and asked writer KathMcGurl if she would publish it on her very popular womagwriterblogspot. (This blog spot site is now run by Patsy Collins).

She did do, and writer Sally Jenkins very kindly featured my appeal on her blog in March 2011 too.

I was expecting just one or two enquiries – yet I was delighted and surprised with requests from over 25 people wanting to join!

I was kept very busy for an awful long time!

In fact, I ended up splitting members into 2 groups, which didn't really work – I ended up bringing everyone back together in one big group.

A former group member gave us the name Fiction Addiction.

Because of the daily enquiries, I realised that I needed to keep all the information about the group in one place.

My husband kindly designed a website for me. I created the guidelines and a FAQ page. I wrote all the website text myself as well. To keep costs down, we decided to pick a free website.

The idea behind my online writer's circle is to 'test' your work on FA members before subbing your work out to the magazines. We all offer offer support, feedback, advice, encouragement and motivation.

I do expect members to contribute, even if it's once a month. If I haven't heard from a member in a while, I will ask them to leave (and re-join again when they have more time) because it's not fair on any of us. It's pointless sending chat and work out to someone who isn't going to respond.

Of course, it hasn't all run smoothly!

Feedback - and the over- use of the red pen - has been a problem for some. It's not really a group for academics, intellectuals, professional proof readers or editors, yet we have had some members who like to go through every single document with a fine tooth comb, correcting all the typos, ect

While I appreciate their time and effort, to me, the most important part is what members think of the story itself and its intended market.

Most magazines have fiction guidelines, and members can request these - all are sent free of charge.

Presentation of work is covered there, as different magazines hold different requirements.

For example, a lot of writers insist on using indents in their work, yet the fiction editor of Take a Break's Fiction Feast magazine asks writers to take these out on any accepted work.

Another drawback is waiting for feedback.

I'm usually quite patient and have waited for a response, even though I've been happy to send the story off to a magazine straight away.

There's no guarantee that every member will send comments on every piece of work – members are often away on holiday, moving home, or simply busy with their day- to- day jobs and families.

Christmas, summer, half- term holidays and Easter are naturally quiet times for Fiction Addiction.

Then there's there's technical problems – dodgy broadband connections, server hitches, PC's and laptops giving up the ghost....

It can be very tempting to say to a member 'This is how the story should be written' and give out heaps of advice – even re-draft their piece for them! Yet every writer is different and I expect members to respect this, instead of pointing out faults. A better option is to offer suggestions of plot lines and endings.

My advice is to be kind but honest, which I admit can be tricky!

It's entirely up to the writer what they do with feedback- they don't have to use it.

Most of us has had had fiction published in the womags – I'd say we're all at semi- pro writer level. We're not earning enough to make a living from it, yet we do manage to sell our work, even if it's only a letter in a national magazine!

We look at competition entries and first chapters of novels, too, plus re-drafts of stories.We also share details of fiction competitions and online projects, and any other snippets of interest, such as writing awards and possible new markets.

As time passed, we've had members leave and new members joining. Four years on, it's still lovely to read work and receive warm messages. We can commiserate or congratulate and we all understand our passion to succeed.

We're not on facebook and twitter, because I like to the keep the group on an e-mail basis only.

Fiction Addiction has reached across the world – we've had members based in Singapore, South Africa, China and Australia.

We've had lots of successes when a writer has tweaked a story after receiving feedback from members – and this includes me!

One the first stories I sent round Fiction Addiction was an office girls story called The Game.

After lots of re-drafting, I sent it to PRIMA magazine. It won their short story competition and was published in the May 2013 edition.

Http://fictionaddiction.biz.ly

 
If you would like to appear here on the blog via a guest post, email me at jenniferjoycewrites@gmail.com
More details here

Thursday 7 May 2015

Wellies and Westies (A Novella) by Cressida McLaughlin

 
Cat's day doesn't start off well when she's fired from her job as a nursery assistant. But by the end of the day she's picked herself up and is feeling more positive than she has in quite a while. Cat adores dogs and she enjoys walking through the local park and along the beach, so why not combine the things she loves and start up a business?
 
Wellies and Westies is the first of the four-part Primrose Terrace series. Dogs are always a welcome addition to a book and as this series centres around our four-legged friends, I was looking forward to diving in. With the help of her housemates, Polly and Joe, Cat sets up her dog-walking business and begins to accumulate clients. While she's walking the dogs, Cat starts to learn more about her neighbours on Primrose Terrace and meets the handsome but smug-chinned Mark and famous author Jessica.
 
While Cat is attracted to Mark, she senses there is something going on between him and Jessica, so he's out of bounds until she can find out what is going on. Then there is Joe, her housemate and the brother of her best friend, Polly. Joe is still heartbroken over his recent relationship breakup and this can make him pretty grumpy at times, but there are flashes of a sweet bloke buried beneath all the hurt. I liked that there are two possible candidates for romance for Cat (I do like a good love triangle) and I'm looking forward to finding out how it will all work out during the course of the series.
 
I really enjoyed Cressida's style of writing. It was so warm and inviting and I could completely relax and enjoy the story unfolding before me. Cat is a great central character and I can't wait to find out what adventures she'll get up to in Fairview. The setting of Fairview is perfect - I love the idea of the beach being just around the corner and the park, with its pesky squirrels and pavilion café, sounds delightful. I also love the idea of Primrose Terrace, with its pretty pastel-coloured houses and I'm looking forward to getting to know more of its residents. And then there are the dogs, who I absolutely loved, especially little Disco. I wanted to reach into my kindle to give her a great big cuddle!
 
Wellies and Westies is a fantastic start to this new series and I'm very much looking forward to continuing Cat's story in Sunshine and Spaniels, which is out in June.

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Re-Reading Books

 
I'm a massive fan of re-reading books. There is something so comforting about curling up with a book you know well, where the characters are like old friends. You know the plot, you even know the ending, but it doesn't matter. Like re-watching your Friends box-set on a loop, some books can be read over and over again without the joy ever diminishing.
 
I have a handful of favourites that I've re-read lots of times (I've lost count of the number) and never tire of. They are books that were released around the same time, when I was just beginning to discover chick-lit and I love returning to them. I've even posted 'retro reviews' here on the blog when I've read them again.
 
As a book blogger, I'm sent so many books to review that I don't get much chance to sit down with my old favourites, so when I created a reading challenge for 2015, I made sure I added 're-read a favourite' to my list, to give me a kick up the bum to actually do it. In fact, it's the first item on my list!

For my reading challenge, I've chosen One-Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell. I was 18 when I first read it and I go back to it every few years and of all my favourites, it's the one that I haven't returned to for the longest time. So next week, I'll be picking it from the shelf and rediscovering what happened to Bee Bearhorn. I can't wait!
 
Do you re-read books? And do you have any favourites?

Tuesday 5 May 2015

Blog Tour: Catch Me If You Cannes (Part 1) by Lisa Dickenson

I'm delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Lisa Dickenson's new ebook series, Catch Me If You Cannes. I will be posting my review of each part over the next four weeks!
 
 
When Jess learns that her best friend is travelling to Cannes for the film festival, she asks if she can tag along. While Bryony is busy working as a journalist, Jess can relax in the sunshine and hopefully spot a few celebrities along the way.
 
I was looking forward to starting Catch Me If You Cannes as I've enjoyed Lisa Dickenson's previous serials, The Twelve Dates of Christmas and You Had Me At Merlot. Part 1 of Catch Me If You Cannes introduces us to best friends Jess and Bryony. Bryony has aspirations of becoming a renowned journalist but at the moment she is stuck at Sleb magazine, mainly digging up dirt on celebrities for her horrible, misogynist boss, Mitch. She is in Cannes to cover the festival but with Jess tagging along, the girls can have some fun too. And fun they have! The pair find themselves in a few scrapes and even manage to meet the handsome Leo (who I hope we see more of in Part 2).
 
Part 1 of Catch Me If You Cannes is a fun, sunshiney read. If part 1 is anything to go by, the whole series is going to be a fantastic read with lots of laughs and hilarious escapades. Lisa Dickenson has once again managed to create a fantastic main character who you want to jump into the book so you can hang out with her. Jess is such a vibrant and quirky character and I can't wait to find out what she gets up to next in Part 2 and the rest of the series!
 
 
 
 
About the Author
 
Lisa Dickenson was born in the wrong body. She was definitely meant to be Beyoncé. Despite this hardship, she grew up in Devon attempting to write her own, completely copyright-infringing versions of Sweet Valley High, before giving Wales a go for university, and then London a go for the celeb-spotting potential. She's now back in Devon, living beside the seaside with her husband and forcing cream teas down the mouths of anyone who'll visit. She is sadly still not Beyoncé.

Lisa's first novel, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, won the Novelicious Debut of the Year award. Her second novel, You Had Me at Merlot, was also an instant hit with readers who were won over by her wit, charm and naughty sense of humour. Follow her on Twitter for all her book news and Beyoncé-related chatter: @LisaWritesStuff