Book Review: Save the Date! by Allie Spencer

"Family weddings can be hell.

...and, marooned in Italy for her cousin's nuptials, Ailsa can be forgiven for thinking that this one is worse than most. With the bride and groom at loggerheads and the guests in uproar, it is a million miles away from the rest and relaxation she'd been hoping for.

And then suddenly, in the middle of the mayhem, she comes face-to-face with Nick, the man she walked out on just a few months earlier.

How can Ailsa help get the wedding back on track when she and Nick can't stop arguing? But if they do, she might remember why she fell in love with him in the first place - and then there really would be trouble."

Rating: 4/5

You can buy Save the Date! as a paperback or an eBook now!

I've read a couple of Allie Spencer's previous novels, and thought that they were great summer reads - light-hearted and fun but with stories you care about. Allie is back this year with another brilliant summer read called Save The Date. I have to say I loved the cover from when I first laid eyes on it, so summery and gorgeous, and the fact it is set almost entirely in Italy is certainly in its favour as well! I am pleased to say that Allie Spencer has certainly delivered with a brilliant novel here, and it's one I definitely recommend for your holiday reading!

If she's honest, Ailsa can't say that she's looking forward to her cousin's wedding in Italy. There's some serious family rifts which means that Ailsa's parents won't be attending, and the bride and groom seem to be arguing non-stop too. It doesn't seem like the dream day is going to go as planned. Just as Ailsa starts getting used to her holiday lifestyle, a blast from the past, her ex Nick suddenly comes back onto the scene. They find that they are put in rooms next door to each other and it's impossible for Ailsa to ignore Nick as she wishes she could. Will Ailsa be able to help the wedding go ahead without a hitch, and be able to make things up with her ex to make both of their lives much easier?

I really liked Ailsa from the beginning of the book. You can tell there's something in her personal life which is upsetting her, and I felt really sorry for her because of it. She's clearly missing Nick, and although she knows it isn't the right thing to get back with him, she's lonely, and misses his company. The book quite quickly moves to Italy, and I really enjoyed that it didn't hang about and got straight to the beautiful location of the wedding, so we could also meet some more characters and get really into the story. There were a few characters I really didn't like, Kitty, Ailsa's sister was one of them, and another was Charles, one of the groom's colleagues. He seemed slimy but I enjoyed waiting to see what was going to happen with these two characters as the book went on!

Spencer writes the scenes in Italy so well, that you can really imagine you're there when you're reading it. The weather sounds perfect, the hotel sounds very glamorous and despite the arguments going on all around Ailsa, it sounds pretty perfect! As well as the fabulous descriptions, I really loved the feel of romance in the book, and also the humour that was littered throughout. It really did make me smile, and I have to say I did fall a little bit in love with Ailsa's new doggy friend Arthur, he certainly created some very funny moments! There was a lot of drama going on in the book along with the laughs, and you do have to concentrate as you're reading to make sure you keep up with what's going on, who is who but I really did enjoy it from start to finish.

Spencer's writing style is incredibly easy to read, and with a heroine that you enjoy reading about and a gorgeous summer setting, I definitely recommend reading Save the Date! this summer. Yes, perhaps the ending was a little bit predictable, but for me, I sometimes like reading and hoping there will be an ending I know will satisfy me and make me happy to finish the book. It'll put a smile on your face, and warm your heart, and is a lovely way to spend the warm summer nights. I think Allie Spencer is getting better with each of her books, and Save the Date! for me is her best book to date. I loved it, and hope you will too.

Book News: The First Time I Said Goodbye by Claire Allan

Irish author Claire Allan is back this summer with a brand new novel, and it sounds fantastic! The First Time I Said Goodbye is due out on 28th August, and I love the cover, it's very pretty and the story sounds wonderful, a real love story. I can't wait to read the book.

You can pre-order The First Time I Said Goodbye as a paperback now.

"Would you hold on tighter if you knew you were saying goodbye forever?

In 1959, factory girl Stella Hegarty finds herself falling unexpectedly for the charms of a handsome US marine based in Derry.

Caught up in a whirlwind of romance which rivals the great love stories in the movies she so loves, Stella finds herself planning a new life in America with her beloved Ray.

But when tragedy steps in, both their lives are thrown into turmoil and they come to realise they may have said their first, and last goodbye.

In 2010, Annabel Jackson, reeling from the loss of her beloved father, agrees to accompany her mother Stella back to Ireland to meet her family for the first time. 

As the pair arrive in Derry - they both start to realise that some times you have to say goodbye to what you thought you always wanted in order to find what you have needed all along."

Book Review: Deep Blue Sea by Tasmina Perry

"Beneath the shimmering surface lies a dark secret...

Diana and Julian Denver have the world at their feet. With a blissful marriage, a darling son and beautiful homes in London and the country, Diana's life, to the outside world, is perfect. But nothing is as it seems... 

When Julian dies suddenly and tragically, Diana is convinced there is more to it than meets the eye. She calls on the one person she had never wanted to see again - her sister, Rachel.

A former tabloid reporter, Rachel appears to be living the dream as a diving instructor on a Thai island. The truth is she's in exile, estranged from her family and driven from her career by Fleet Street's phone-hacking scandal. 

For Rachel, Diana's request opens old wounds. But she is determined to make amends for the past, and embarks on a treacherous journey to uncover the truth - wherever it may lead..."

Rating: 5/5

You can buy Deep Blue Sea as a paperback or an eBook now.

I am a huge fan of Tasmina Perry's books, and have really enjoyed reading her latest few books, which have been perfect summer blockbuster reads. Once again, Perry's publishers haven't disappointed with a gorgeous cover that totally blows you out of the water, and I could not wait to get stuck into the book. It's a rather long one, at nearly 500 pages, but I loved that it was a longer book - I really got my teeth into the story and I wanted to keep reading long into the night, to find out the next revelation and to find out what was going to happen next. As always, Perry didn't disappoint me and I loved the book from start to finish, and it's a must-add to your summer holiday suitcase!

From the outside, it looks like Diana Denver and her husband Julian have it all. Money, gorgeous homes and nice friends, the pair have a lifestyle to be envied. But when Diana suddenly and shockingly finds herself widowed, she's convinced there's more to Julian's death than meets the eye. She doesn't know what to do except to call the last person in the world she thought she ever wanted to talk to again - her sister, Rachel. She's been happily living in Thailand working as a diving instructor, but when Diana calls, Rachel can't resist hopping off on a plane to the other side of the world again, leaving behind her best friend Liam. Will Rachel be able to find out if there's been any foul play in Julian's death, and whether he was hiding any secrets from his loving wife? And will Rachel and Diana be able to end a long-lasting family feud for once and for all?

The book opens with an evening spent with Julian, Diana, and a group of their friends at their latest dinner party. A few facts are revealed, but by the end of the evening, and that chapter, Julian is dead. There's nothing better than a book diving in with the action, and this one certainly delivers on that. I did feel very sorry for Diana in the beginning, there's a lot going on in her personal life and her marriage that we do have to sympathise with, but she is quite a pathetic character really, and I wanted her to grow a bit stronger as the book went on. She did seem to use her sister a bit, her contacts and her journalist skills to find out more about Julian's death, and I did hope that they would be able to heal their rift.

For me, though, Rachel was a far more interesting character. I loved reading about her life and business in Thailand, although that bit was too short for me. I loved Perry's descriptions of the island, Rachel's diving, and how she holds back on what is keeping Rachel from contacting her family and returning home. In fact, it takes a good while for things to come to light in the book, and it really keeps the mystery factor going, making you want to keep reading until you know about it all. The friendship between her and Liam, her business partner, was quite touching too, I enjoyed reading about them. The two sisters are the main characters in the book, we do meet their mother Sylvia who I really didn't like at all, she was horrible to Rachel, and not overly nice to her recently widowed daughter either! Julian is someone we really only meet at the beginning and through other people talking about him, and his brother Adam is also mentioned, although I had my doubts about him and his feelings.

I found this book to be really gripping, and such an exciting read. Perry's writing is fantastic, it really draws you in to the action, and has you flitting around with the story, wondering what shocking revelation will come up next and shock you! I didn't expect some of the things in the book, and I loved the ending too, it seemed very fitting and I was happy as I closed the book for the last time. Yes, Tasmina Perry's novels seem to follow a formula but I don't mind at all - in fact, I love knowing what I'm getting when I start reading her books. They really are escapist reads - usually involving rich people, glamourous locations and an exciting mystery too. I really liked seeing the phone hacking scandal from a journalist's point of view too, it was an interesting look at it, and I liked that Perry included something that was quite recent in her book. Everything about the story was fantastic, and I loved every page of it. Yes, it was a long book but I was up late every night I was reading it as I couldn't put it down. A fantastic summer read, Tasmina Perry has done it again!

Book News: The Flavours of Love by Dorothy Koomson

I am a massive Dorothy Koomson fan - her books often take my breath away, and her writing is just fantastic to read. Dorothy is back this year, on 7th November to be precise, with a brand new book called The Flavours of Love. The new cover is featured on the left, and while I wasn't hugely keen on it at first, it's grown on me as it's very different to anything else out there, and I of course can't wait to read the book, it sounds so intriguing!

You can pre-order The Flavours of Love as a hardback now.

"'I'm looking for that perfect blend of flavours; the taste that used to be you. If I find it, I know you'll come back to me.'

It's been 18 months since my husband was murdered and I've decided to finish writing The Flavours of Love, the cookbook he started before he died. Everyone thinks I'm coping so well without him - they have no idea what I've been hiding or what I do away from prying eyes. But now that my 14-year-old daughter has confessed something so devastating it could destroy our family all over again, and my husband's killer has started to write to me claiming to be innocent, I know it's only a matter of time before the truth about me and what I've done is revealed to the world.

My name is Saffron Mackleroy and this is my story."

Book Review: A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry

"The Orient Express. Luxury. Mystery. Romance.

For one group of passengers settling in to their seats and taking their first sips of champagne, the journey from London to Venice is more than the trip of a lifetime.

A mysterious errand; a promise made to a dying friend; an unexpected proposal; a secret reaching back a lifetime...As the train sweeps on, revelations, confessions and assignations unfold against the most romantic and infamous setting in the world."

Rating: 5/5

You can buy A Night on the Orient Express as a paperback or an eBook now.

I am a massive Veronica Henry fan - I've read almost every book she has written so far in her career, and I always look forward to her latest book because I know it's going to be a treat. Her brand new book is about the infamous Orient Express train. I'll be honest and say I didn't know a huge lot about it before I went into reading this book, so was hoping Henry would be able to fill me in on the glamour and grandeur of the train, as well as a riveting story about the characters who climb aboard it too! The cover is gorgeous, with a stunning scene of Venice, and makes it look like the perfect summer read.

Adele Russell owns an art gallery, but knows that in her later years, she's going to want to relax, and that her grand-daughter who is running it at the moment, Imogen, is ready to move on to bigger and better things. But first, there's something from her past that she has to collect, and sends Imogen on the Orient Express to retrieve the said item from her old friend Jack. There's young farmer Archie who is set up on a blind date with a milliner called Emmie; Stephanie is off on her first proper holiday with partner Simon and his two troubled teenage children, and there's old romantics Sylvie and Riley, who have a tradition of travelling aboard the Express together. This group of passengers are unaware of how much their lives are destined to change on their latest ride from London to Venice on the Orient Express...

I was so eager to get stuck in to this book, that I'll admit I was surprised about the amount of different characters within the story, but as usual, Henry juggles them all with ease and I didn't struggle at all to keep up with who was who, and what their storyline was. Henry introduces them to us bit by bit, telling us about their back story and why they are going on the train, and I really found getting to know these characters to be a really enjoyable experience. They were all very different, at various stages in their lives, and I wondered how many of them would have happy endings. Henry doesn't shy away from writing about some tough subjects within the book, and the way she approaches these in the book makes for really good reading, and certainly had me surprised as things become revealed.

My favourite characters, though, had to be Adele and Jack's story, something which was utterly riveting. We are told about Adele's past through flashback chapters in the book which come quite frequently, but I found myself getting lost in her story, and what she did when she was a young woman. Even though I was totally absorbed with the story aboard the Express, as soon as it switched to Adele's tale, I was enthralled by that - there was something deeply romantic about it, and you're left wondering how it's going to relate to her in the modern day part of the book. I also loved reading about Emmie and Archie, who are set up on a blind date together, and struggle to find any common ground. It was a bit of light relief with poignant overtones thanks to the set-up of their story, and I really enjoyed reading about them.

Now, I can't review the book without talking about the infamous Orient Express train, which is pretty much the centre of the book! It sounds so glamourous, and Henry really brings it alive in your mind with her vivid descriptions, I love reading everything about it, from the opulent dining cars to the cabins, and even the exterior of the train. Even the staff stand out in their own way too, and it sounds like the perfect trip in so many ways. There was something magical about the train, and as the book moved towards it ending, I was hopeful for a pleasing ending for all the characters, even though I really didn't want it to end! Veronica Henry's writing style is so easy to read, you can immerse yourself straight away in her stories, and this book is certainly no exception. It features a likeable cast of characters, lots of love stories and drama too - what more could you ask for?! The perfect summer read :)

Author Article: Veronica Henry

After reading Veronica Henry's amazing new book A Night on the Orient Express, I approached Veronica about writing a piece for my blog, and she came up with the brilliant piece on her own trip aboard the Orient Express... all in the name of research of course! My thanks go to the Veronica for taking the time to write this :)

Ok, so no prizes for originality.  I can't ignore the fact that one of the most successful and best-selling books in the world is Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.  But when I was casting about for the setting for my next novel, I knew I wanted it to be somewhere special.  And one day the idea jpopped into my head out of nowhere and I got the tingly feeling that all writers will be familiar with - when you know you've hit on the device that brings all your characters together: a trip on the Orient Express.

Of course, the one flaw at that point was that I hadn't actually been on the train, and so I steeled myself - ha! - to undergo some rigorous research.  My husband and I arrived at Victoria one Easter weekend, ready to embark on the journey from London to Venice.  I had a stash of notebooks and pens at the ready.  And as soon as I saw the other passengers in the departure lounge, all dressed in their finery, I knew it wouldn't be a question of finding inspiration, it would be knowing when to stop.

Over the next twenty four hours, myriad tales unfolded in front of me.  Everyone on board was there for a reason - whether it was a landmark birthday, an anniversary, a reconciliation, an illicit encounter ... My imagination went into overdrive.

And that was before I had even begun to capture the splendour of the train itself, the sumptuous food, the spectacular scenery.

Writing the book was a dream.  I've explored many different kinds of love: passionate, unrequited, unexpected ...  And the train arrives safely in Venice without a single murder.

Author Interview: Tamar Cohen

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Tamar Cohen to my blog for an author interview! I reviewed Tamar's latest book Someone Else's Wedding yesterday, which was a gripping read that I really loved. Tamar was kind enough to answer some of my questions, so here they are! My thanks go to Tamar for taking the time to answer them for me :)

Q1. Please tell me about your new book 'Someone Else's Wedding'.

Hi Chloe. Well, Someone Else’s Wedding focuses on Fran Friedman, a woman in her mid forties at a crossroads in her life in every sense – marriage, career, family (her daughters have just left home). It is set over a wedding weekend at a country house hotel near Bath where Fran is a guest along with her husband, Saul and their two daughters, Pip and Katy. It quickly becomes obvious that along with everything else that’s worrying her, Fran is also nursing a somewhat unhealthy obsession with the groom! The book has thirty-six chapters, each representing a consecutive hour between 8am on Saturday morning and 8pm on Sunday evening. The rigid structure reflects the claustrophobic mood that long drawn-out weddings often induce.

Q2. I found all of the characters to be quite flawed in the book, I found myself even struggling to like Fran in parts. Do you like writing characters who aren't perfect, and have certainly done things wrong, and how easy is it to make sure they aren't entirely dislikeable so a reader wants to keep reading about them?

There’s a big debate raging at the moment about whether or not it’s valid to talk in terms of characters in a book being ‘likeable’ or ‘unlikeable’. Some people insist they can’t enjoy a book if they don’t like the characters, but I emphatically disagree.  Yes, you have to be interested in the characters, but you don’t necessarily have to like them. To be honest, I don’t know many people who are flawless and haven’t ever put a foot wrong. Well, let’s just say it – I don’t know ANY people like that. The people I know have made plenty of mistakes, and get in bad moods where they say things they shouldn’t, and have upset the people they love, sometimes without knowing it, and on occasion deliberately. They frequently drink too much, and speak without thinking, and wear totally the wrong clothes. But they’re human, and I hope my characters are too. I’ll admit it’s a fine line though, and sometimes after the reaction of my early readers, I’ll go back and think ‘hmmm… maybe that was a little too barbed’.

Q3. I found the book really emotional to read, both from the stand point of Molly, Fran's stillborn daughter, and the other storylines. Do you find it emotionally draining to write stories like this, and do you get upset when you write certain scenes?

Writing the stillborn story thread was very emotional. I did a lot of reading about the subject and found myself sitting at the computer day after day with tears running down my face. It’s the most terrible experience, often made worse because people feel they’re not allowed to talk about it.

Q4. The cover for 'Someone Else's Wedding' is quite shocking - do you like all of your book covers so far, and do you get much of a say in the final design?

I always get sent the design in advance, but by that stage the editors and in particular the sales team have already given it the thumbs up, so they really, REALLY want you to like it. Luckily I’ve loved all my covers, although the cover for The Mistress’s Revenge was very different from the cover I’d had in my head, so it took a little persuading before I came round to it. Of course once it was published, everyone raved about the cover and I realized I know nothing and really I should just leave it up to the experts. Funny, now I absolutely adore that cover. I don’t think the images on the covers are meant to shock, but they need to convey a sense of things not being quite what they seem – the decaying flower with the wasp on it, the ripped wedding dress - because that’s what the books are about; the darkness under the surface of people’s lives.

Q5. This is your third novel - and again it has an element of controversy to part of the storyline. In fact, this is something that's been present in all of your books so far - do you like writing about more unusual topics/stories, and things that will evoke emotion in your reader? I have to say you shocked me with the twist in this particular story!

I honestly don’t set out to be controversial, but I guess I like exploring extraordinary situations where people are taken out of their comfort zones and pushed to extremes – that’s when they reveal who they really are. And that’s something I’m fascinated by – the gap between how people present themselves to the outside world (and even to themselves) and how they really are.

Q6. What is your typical writing day like? How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?

I don’t really have a ‘typical’ writing day. Some days I’ll get up and sit down at my desk and start writing and not look up until lunch time, but more often, I’ll get waylaid by other things that need doing – dogs that need walking, insurance that needs renewing, windows that need staring out of - and I’ll get to the end of the day and have nothing to show for it and be furious with myself. Then I’ll make myself work at night or weekends as penance, even though I ought to know by now writing doesn’t work that way. It’s not about the number of hours you put in, it’s about the number of focused hours. As for how long it takes to write a book – probably as long as the proverbial piece of string. One book took four months, one six and another took a year and a half. There’s no rhyme or reason, they just come at their own pace.

Q7. What are you reading at the moment?

I’m half way through Bring up the Bodies. I loved Wolf Hall but it has taken me ages to get around to reading this second Thomas Cromwell book because it’s just so big! I kept looking at it looming there by the side of the bed, and feeling overwhelmed, and choosing something else instead, something less dense and demanding. Now I’ve started it, I’m really enjoying it, but a little part of my head is still buried in the book I just finished reading – Apple Tree Yard, by Louise Doughty, which was a really rich, tense, totally absorbing literary thriller. I just can’t stop thinking about it.

Q8. Do you enjoy chatting with your readers on social networking, particularly Twitter and Facebook? What are the best and worst bits of social networking for you?

Having readers get in touch on Twitter or Facebook is one of the most rewarding things about being a writer. Knowing that people were affected by your book enough to get in contact is really touching. Often people will want to share how some element of the narrative, or one of the characters or situations reminded them of something in their own lives and I really love that – partly because it shows you’ve made a connection and partly because I’m naturally nosy and relish these glimpses into other people’s lives. For me the best aspect of social networking has been making contact with readers and also with other writers. I’m still astonished that I can read a book I love one night and get in touch with the author the next morning, just by putting their name in a search box. The immediacy of it is unbelievable. The worst thing about it is that the same neuroses that beset my writing, also affect my social networking, so I’ll spend ages trying to think of something to say, and then if I put it out there and get no response, I’m immediately convinced it was the most rubbish, unfunny comment ever, and I just want to crawl under a rock somewhere – preferably one with no wi-fi!

Q9. What are you working on next?

I’m working on a book at the moment that’s quite a departure for me in terms of style, nudging more towards psychological suspense. But it’s like the other books in that it’s looking at the cracks that run under the surface of seemingly ordinary lives – and how all it takes is one shocking event for those cracks to be exposed bringing everything crashing down.

Thank you so much, Tamar!