Guest Post: Rachel Naples

Getting divorced was the inspiration behind my book ‘Dirty Laundry.’ I was married to ‘the man of my dreams.’ Now, that phrase makes me cringe! Clearly, I would not make a good a romance novelist!

My divorce was nasty and worse, it felt like the whole world was watching. Okay, so I sometimes have a flair for the dramatic. The whole world wasn’t watching, but hey, it felt that way as our dirty laundry got hung out to dry. It left me feeling betrayed and angry and when the dust began to settle, I wondered how I could create something of value out of something that had been so painful. 

But it wasn’t just my divorce that led me to writing my book; it was looking back a decade or so later that made me realize how lucky I was NOT to be married to him anymore. I felt so much gratitude that I literally got on my knees and thanked the Universe. From where I stood, that was a story that needed to be told because I know a lot of women (and men) who are still upset, feeling like they got the short end of the stick in their divorces. Here’s the kicker; my ex husband gave me more by leaving than he ever did by staying. 

I’m a comedy writer but my secret weapon is transformation; and at the end of the day, that’s what matters to me. I believe we learn best when we don’t know we’re learning (thank you Tony Robbins) and story is a powerful way to do that. So what if I could help someone suddenly feel grateful instead of pissed off? Like, Oh God, I’m getting divorced, but thank God I don’t have to tolerate his emotional unavailability anymore. Now that’s something to think about, yes? And definitely something to be grateful for!

I’d just finished a chick flick for Paramount called ‘Shopping for Boys.’ We had our director and actresses in place. We were ready to go, when it all fell apart. To say it was soul crushing could not begin to describe how I felt. When I picked up myself off the floor (yes, I was really on the floor and not on my knees thanking the Universe), I decided I’d take matters into my own hands and write a book; and the best part? Nobody could tell me I couldn’t. And ’Dirty Laundry’ was born.  

 

Dirty Laundry is available from Amazon now

 

You can find Rachel on Twitter @RachelNaples1 or email dirtylaundrybook@gmail.com

 

 

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

More details here

Blog Tour: Humbugs and Heartstrings by Catherine Ferguson

Today I'm pleased to be taking part in the blog tour of Catherine Ferguson's Humbugs and Heartstrings with a review.

 

Bobbie hates working for her miserly boss, Carol. They were once best friends but now Carol is bad-tempered and ruthless when it comes to her cleaning business, Spit and Polish. Bobbie and Carol were once so close and Bobbie hopes that one day they can mend their fractured friendship but that doesn't seem possible, especially when they meet Charlie, a charming hotelier who they both take an interest in.

 

Humbugs and Heartstrings is a humorous festive tale of love and friendship that had me giggling almost immediately. Bobbie isn't very happy with her life. She feels stuck in her job, she has no real social life and she needs to scrimp and save to pay for an operation for her little brother. She couldn't be more different to Carol who is bossy and mean-spirited. Despite Carol's unpleasantness, I thought she was a fantastic character and I loved her penny-pinching ways. I also really liked Charlie and the bond he quickly forms with Bobbie.

 

There are so many great characters in the book, from Bobbie, Carol and Charlie to Bobbie's slightly flaky mum and her friend, Bunty. The book isn't overly festive but it is full of warmth and charm and a hefty dose of fun and humour. I was interested to find out what had happened between Bobbie and Carol to destroy their once close friendship and I wondered whether they would ever be able to put their past aside and get back to the friends they had once been. I liked the little references to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol which are sprinkled throughout the novel and hoped that this would mean Carol would see the errors of her way and change for the better!

 

I thought Humbugs and Heartstrings was a lovely, heart warming romantic comedy and I enjoyed it very much.

 



Everything Changes But You: Introducing Clementine & Martine

Clementine isn’t your average character – she isn’t a human being for a start. Clementine is a magical guardian-angel-type-being who grants wishes. While Clementine can be sweet, she also has a wicked sense of humour and likes to tease. She’s pretty new to the granting wishes game, so things don’t always go to plan.

Her skin was unearthly in its paleness but she had bright blue eyes, ruddy cheeks and ruby lips, which were stretched into a smile as she observed Ally from the middle of the sitting room. Her strawberry blonde hair was twisted into a thick plait that reached the base of her spine.

Martine is a human being, but she isn’t always a pleasant one. She is vain and vacuous and quite often vindictive. Martine likes to drink, dance and flirt above all else and doesn’t feel complete unless she is with a man. To Martine, life is all about appearances. She knows what she wants and will do anything to get it, no matter who gets hurt in the process.

Martine pulled a face as she plonked herself back down on the sofa. ‘I know. It sucks, doesn’t it? Can you imagine if we did get together? I’d be a stepmother.’ She gave a shudder. ‘Gross. And we’d never get rid of his wife. She’d always be hanging around, wouldn’t she?’

‘It’s the sacrifice you have to make when you go after married men.’ Ally was being sarcastic but Martine gave a sage nod.

‘That’s true. But he’ll be worth it, won’t he?’

Ally is about to meet both Clementine and Martine and when she does, her life will never be the same again...

Be careful what you wish for...

Ally Richmond is dreading turning thirty and bidding farewell to her youth. And when her husband says he wants to start a family, she begins to panic.

Is this all that life has to offer from now on? Popping out babies and growing old gracefully? She wants a life crammed with glamour and spontaneous adventure, not one full of dirty nappies and night feeds.

When Ally makes a silly birthday wish for a new, exciting life, her wish is granted.

But when Ally is presented with the freedom and opportunities she craves, she soon realises this new life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and that there really is no place like home. But can she find her way back - or is she stuck in this new reality forever?

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Calling All Festive Book Lovers!

 

 

I know, I know, it's only October but next month I'll be starting a new feature - My Festive Reads - and I'd love it if some other book bloggers (or simply book lovers) or authors took part too! I'd love to hear about your favourite festive reads or, if you're an author, all about your Christmassy books with a guest post.

 

Guest post topics can include:

• Your favourite festive read
• The festive reads you're looking forward to this year
• Your festive reading list
• Your top 5 or even top 10 festive reads of all time
• Your favourite festive covers
• Your favourite place to read during the winter months

Or feel free to be creative with your own ideas. As long as it's festive and involves books - I want to hear about it!

 

If you're an author and you have a festive book out or one about to be released, get in touch too! You can share the inspiration behind your story or why you chose to write a festive tale or any research for your book. Again, feel free to be creative!

 

I'm going to be running the feature from November through to Christmas, so do get in touch if you'd like a slot.

 

What to do:

• send your guest post to me at jenniferjoycewrites@gmail.com
• include any images you'd like to go with the post
• don't forget to include any links to you and your social media that you'd like adding
• if you like, you can add a short bio to go at the end of post along with your links

We can then arrange a date for posting!

 

If you'd like to join in but would rather not write a guest post, I can send some festive-themed questions for you to answer instead. Just let me know you're interested in taking part with a Q&A at jenniferjoycewrites@gmail.com and I'll email them over.

 

 

Click here to view all My Festive Reads posts

 



Cover Stars: Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon

 

Every month I choose my favourite cover from my TBR pile. Feel free to comment or add your own suggestions for ‘Cover Stars’.

 

 

Sometimes you have to step out of the light to see clearly again…

Bronte never expected to see Alex after their one night together, but she never stopped thinking of him. So when she arrives at work one day to find that Alex is a new colleague, she is secretly thrilled. The only problem is that Alex is now engaged to Zara, the girl he was on a break from the night they met.

 Determined to move on with life, Bronte becomes a part-time wedding photographer, alongside her day job. Surrounded by loving couples, warring couples, tearful bridesmaids, mischievous pageboys and interfering mothers-in-law, she tries to navigate her way through wedding after wedding while her heart is being torn apart. 

 As Alex's own wedding day draws ever nearer, Bronte and Alex's chemistry becomes harder to ignore, and Bronte must decide whether to fight for the man she loves, or to let him go forever.

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

I like when books have a brand so that you can tell just by having a quick glance at the cover who they are by and Paige Toon's books are the perfect example. Each cover is different but has the same style.

 

Thirteen Weddings has such a lovely, romantic feel to it with the confetti falling from the top and the church in the background. I like how the colour of the confetti mirrors the flowers in the bottom corners of book, creating a gorgeous frame of pinks, blues and oranges. The cover is so pretty, it has me itching to pick the book up and discover the tale inside!

 

 

Click here to see all 'Cover Stars' 

 

Twin Truths by Shelan Rodger

Language teacher Jenny's life is seemingly on a self-destruct mission after the death of her twin sister, Pippa. Jenny and Pippa were so close growing up, always knowing what the other was thinking and relying on each other to get through life with their alcoholic mother. Jenny feels lost without Pippa, feeling like part of her is missing. She moves away from her home in London to start a new life in Argentina but she can't escape from the gaping loss she feels without her twin.

It took me a long time to get into Twin Truths. The book is divided into three parts, the first taking place as we get to know Jenny as she struggles through the life she has created for herself in Argentina. I didn't warm to Jenny at all in this first part as she tells so many lies to everybody, from her fellow language teachers to her therapist. The style of the writing jarred with me too so I didn't think I was going to enjoy the book at all. But then I moved onto the second part of the book and the style and voice changed. Although it didn't always make for a comfortable read, I began to get drawn into the book and we find out why Jenny is the way she is.

Jenny and Pippa are very different in the way that they handle situations, with Pippa being the quieter, more studious of the two while Jenny is provocative and daring but both are strong in their own ways and weaker in others. I started off not liking Jenny very much at all but I could understand how damaged she had become from the events of her past. It was difficult to witness how the girls' lives were devastated and how they tried to deal with everyday afterwards and how it shaped the women they would become. I don't want to give any more of the plot away as it would spoil what turned out to be a great read. The book is heartbreaking with such a tangled, mesmerising plot. For me, I thought the ending of the book was a little abrupt. I'd have liked a neater conclusion and there was a loose thread that was niggling at me but overall I did enjoy the book.

Giveaway Winner: Handmade Felt Bookmark

 

Thank you to everyone who entered and/or tweeted about the giveaway. Rafflecopter has selected a winner at random, who has been contacted by email.

 

The winner is

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your prize!