Sunday 23 March 2014

**Lust or Love Review**

Lust or Love Part 1: The Beginning by H Barlow.

Earlier on in the week, I was lucky enough to take part in the Lust or Love Blog Tour where I got to interview the wonderful H Barlow. It's always good to get into the mind of other authors and find out what makes them tick. It also got me wanting to read Lust or Love!

In Brief ~

Lust or Love is a three part series which follows Heather and Kian and their lust or love for each other. Part 1 the beginning sends us back six years to when Heather and Kian met and Heather's struggle of being a young single mother whilst living with her parents and working in a night club.


The Blurb ~ 

LUST OR LOVE IS ONLY FOR ADULTS 18 + WHO ARE NOT EASILY OFFENDED BY SOME SWEARING AND SOME SEXUAL CONTENT. 

Lust or love is set in South Yorkshire,town Doncaster, UK .The speech and thoughts of the characters is set in the south Yorkshire accent and Doncaster's pronunciation of words. 

Lust or Love is the first in a 3 part series.

 
What do you do when the one who is very wrong for you keeps coming back into your life? Single mum Heather is turning 30 and evaluating her life. Set in 2011 in a small town in Yorkshire England. Look back into Heather's past and follow her to the present. Heather has for 6 years been torn between her feelings for the destructive Kian and the harsh truth that they probably wont ever be together. Over 6 years life has took them both in different directions, however Heather can never seem to get Kian out of her mind and sometimes at the most unexpected points in her life Kian always seems to reappear. If it isn't really love then is the lust worth the pain of the heartache and can Heather ever let Kian go for good.


My Review ~

From the second I started reading this book, Hayley had me hooked. She reeled me in and kept me there. I did not want to put the book down. I was totally addicted and wanted to know what happened next. I had it finished in no time, one because I needed to know what happened next and two because it is a fairly short quick read. 

When I started reading it, I wasn't sure what to expect but it wasn't what I got. It's wrote in an easy to read way, which kept it light and very entertaining. It was very different to what I have previously read and this is a good thing. It's what makes it stand out. I hate the fact that I now have to wait to find out what happens next but it also gives me something to look forward to. I will definitely have my finger at the ready to download part 2 BUT when will that be? 

If you'd like to read something a little different that will leave you wanting more, then I recommend you download this author's debut novel. 

Links ~


Friday 21 March 2014

***It Had To Be You Review***

Lynda Renham has only gone and bloody done it again! Croissants & Jam was my favourite by this talented author but now I think I may have a new one... It Had To Be You is wonderfully predictable that leaves you all warm and fuzzy!



In Brief  ~ 

Binki's Christmas doesn't go quite to plan. She imagined her wonderful boyfriend Oliver proposing to her over the Christmas Turkey so then she could spend the new year organising the wedding of the year. Instead she finds herself propositioned by her boss's Christmas bonus and unfortunately it doesn't involve money. Her Christmas Eve goes from bad to worse when a traffic warden that has less Christmas spirit then her issues her faithful KA with a parking ticket, a not very nice Christmas tree stabs her in the eye and worse still, ends with finding said wonderful boyfriend drunkenly humping his boss in their bed!

My Review ~ 

This book will surely have you smile and occasionally giggle as Binki starts to rebuild her life. The new year looks promising when she inherits her auntie's beautiful house but there's just one problem ~ it already has a resident and it turns out her aunt left it to them both! A new house, a new job, even it isn't her preferred choice and new best friend has Binki all in a spin and sparks starts to fly!  

Binki is such a likeable character and I share her passion for m&m's and the chocolate teapot. In fact I am investing in one! William is an absolute gem. A true gentleman, good looking with a sense of humour and loaded to boot. Lynda had me questioning would they, won't they and screaming no not Oliver! I really wasn't disappointed so thank you Lynda for another fabulous read. I cannot wait for the next one...

 If you would like to read it, here's the blurb and links. Enjoy!

Blurb ~


When 29-year-old Binki Grayson is offered Christmas bonus by her boss at the office party she didn't imagine he meant a quickie over his desk. Things for Binki just go from bad to worse and by Christmas Day she is not only jobless but boyfriend-less, so when she discovers her late Aunt Vera has left her something in her will she thinks things can only get better. What she doesn't realise is that her inheritance comes with a complication by the name of William Ellis.

A mishmash of misunderstandings, sex-shop escapades, high finance and a blooming romance make It Had to Be You another hilarious romantic comedy by the uproarious Lynda Renham.


Links ~ 




Other books by Lynda  ~ 


 

Thursday 20 March 2014

***Lust Or Love Blog Tour***


Welcome to Lust or Love Blog Tour by the wonderful H. Barlow.

It's my pleasure to be part of this blog tour and to help promote H. Barlow's debut novel Lust or Love part 1 ~ The Beginning. As part of the blog tour, I got to interview the wonderful author herself, Hayley Barlow.

LUST OR LOVE IS ONLY FOR ADULTS 18 + WHO ARE NOT EASILY OFFENDED BY SOME SWEARING AND SOME SEXUAL CONTENT.

Lust or Love is set in South Yorkshire, town Doncaster, UK .The speech and thoughts of the characters is set in the south Yorkshire accent and Doncaster's pronunciation of words.

Lust or Love is the first in a 3 part series.

What do you do when the one who is very wrong for you keeps coming back into your life? Single mum Heather is turning 30 and evaluating her life. Set in 2011 in a small town in Yorkshire England. Look back into Heather's past and follow her to the present. Heather has for 6 years been torn between her feelings for the destructive Kian and the harsh truth that they probably wont ever be together. Over 6 years life has took them both in different directions,however heather can never seem to get Kian out of her mind and sometimes at the most unexpected points in her life Kian always seems to reappear. If it isn't really love then is the lust worth the pain of the heartache and can Heather ever let Kian go for good.

Hello Hayley and welcome to my blog. It's great to have you here and be apart of this blog tour. Right, let's get started...

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I used to love to write when I was in high school. When I was around 14 I think that I really got into my English work, writing story’s and reports for class. After I left school I never had the confidence to take it any further, work and life took over until I was 31. I decided to make some live changes and do things that I love to do and writing again was one of them.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Lust or love is my first novel and took over a year to write . It was going to be a stand alone until few months ago I decided that  there was more that  could be added to the book, I decided  it could split it into three parts and I'm still working on changing parts two and three. 

What is your work schedule like when you're writing? 

Hectic it is hard to stick to a schedule, I am still learning to do that one. 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? 

I would hope that my characters are ever day people that can be easily related two, also my south Yorkshire accent is in there as my home Doncaster is were my book and characters are from. 

How do you plan to publish? (self or publisher)

I have been signed by a small publishing company Nocturnal Press Publications. 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? 

Slightly from my own experience’s, honestly I have had some rubbish relationship’s and I'm still single now. I know what it’s like to be a single mum and I can relate in some ways with Heather. 

When did you write your first book and how old were you? 

Lust or love is my first book and I was 31 when I started the story. 

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

Other then spending quality time with my daughter,family and friends, I enjoy my job as a self employed massage and holistic therapist, and I enjoy curling up with a good book. 

What does your family think of your writing? 

Friends have read the book and love it my family support me in anything they do but cant read it purely because of the sexual content ,my sister said she wouldn't be able to determine Its just a character. 

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? 

The massive support system that I have gained just on Facebook by opening my own page and being in many book groups there has been a lot of Inspirational people supporting me from the very start of me writing the story. 

How many books have you written? Which is your favourite? 

Lust or love is only one so far However by turning it into a three part series I think just love lust or love Part 2 is going to be my Favourite. 

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they? 

I would always say to anybody who wants to write to do it or if you real that you are  in a slump don’t give up keep on  going, don’t ever think you can’t do anything  because you can, follow your dreams not anybody else’s. 

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say? 

I do from a few which most have said that the characters are easy to relate to,that the story flows well,I know some have had a bit of difficulty with the Doncaster slang but for some they have not been but of by it as they story is really good and they can not wait till part 2. 

Do you like to create books for adults? 

I really do enjoy writing, it doesn't all have to be just about the sex but it is fun to fit it into a story and I like that now in this day of age that writers can to do so. 

What do you think makes a good story? 

For me as I like to read anything,the characters have got to be easy to relate to and to like (even if I  love to hate them) . The story has to grip me and helps if I feel a mix of emotions from start to the end of any story.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher, then in my teens I wanted to be a writer then late teens to early adult hood I wanted to own my own bar. Now I love being a mum I would to own my own holistic salon and to keep on writing. 

Thank you so much for joining me today Hayley! You can contact Hayley on the following link ~





If you would like to read Lust or Love part 1 ~ The Beginning, you can purchase it in paperback or eCopy from Amazon here ~ 





Friday 7 March 2014

***Release Date Announcement***

At the beginning of the week I let you in on my best kept secret, in the shape of my new up and coming book series, The Maxwell Mysteries. I hope it was the news you were all waiting for and you're now like a cat on hot bricks waiting for the next big announcement. I know I am...





Now, if you like something that makes you laugh out loud whilst sitting in the corner with your nose in a book and your family thinking you've gone stark raving mad, then I think you may be in luck. This new series has a good mystery for you to sink your teeth into and hopefully keep you hooked as well as making you laugh and of course you can't have a good comedy without a romance. This new book has all three!

So here it is.... drum roll please.... 





April's Busman Holiday will hit your Kindles on Monday 21st April 2014. 

To celebrate the release of my first ever mystery book, we have decided to go all and will be holding a special event on Sunday 20th April. Prizes will include:

~ PDF file of April's Busman Holiday
~ Book cover keyrings
~ Signed book cover prints
~ Chocolates!

To take part, join up ~ April's Busman Holiday ~ Release Party for your chance to win!





I am also looking for bloggers willing to take part in my first ever blog tour. If you are interested, please sign up here ~ Blog Tour I would love to hear from you!





Monday 3 March 2014

The Maxwell Mysteries

I'm sure most of you are aware I have been busy working on something new. I have kept it close to my chest because I wasn't sure where it would lead but I am so happy with the progress. It has developed more than I ever imagined and I absolutely love it. It's something out of my comfort zone and I wasn't sure if I could pull it off BUT I am hoping I have. I have enjoyed it so much, the story practically wrote itself.

April's Busman Holiday is book one in the series The Maxwell Mysteries. The series follows DI April Maxwell who works for Shoreditch CID unit in East London. She makes it her mission to solve crime whilst having the slight distraction of chocolate, wine and sexy men. I'm not sure how many books the series will include at this stage because right now I am bursting with ideas!

OK, so here it is ~ 




The Blurb:

DI April Maxwell is like a dog with a bone especially when there’s a case to solve or a criminal to catch. She lives for her job and she’s bloody good at it so when she is forced to take leave she can’t think of anything worse. After the first day, she’s bored and it seems her one and only solution is to, well, actually take a holiday.

April packs a bag and heads to the New Forest to visit her family but when a boy band member turns up murdered, it isn’t long before she’s on the case. April makes it her personal mission to find out who killed Kai Williams whilst dealing with her over opinionated mother, a grieving teenage niece and gorgeous ex-boyfriend living next door.

As she closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her and the rivalry between April and her perfect little brother heats up. It becomes survival of the fittest but there’s just one problem – April has never been very fit but she hasn’t let a thing beat her yet.

Accents and British spelling are used for this book.





Here are 15 random facts about The Maxwell Mysteries

1. I have never written a murder mystery before. This is my first and I have loved it.

2. The main character, April is a 35 year old divorcee.

3. April is originally from Hampshire but now lives in East London where I am from.

4. My husband and I visited April’s home town of Fordingbridge in 2012 for our wedding anniversary.

5. April has an elder sister and a younger brother. She has been known to suffer from middle child syndrome.

6. April drives my dream car ~ an Audi A4 convertible.

7. I must say a lot of April’s personality is based on my own. It’s really hard to not include your own traits, thoughts and feelings into a character. It just comes naturally.

8. April is a workaholic and doesn’t have time for much else. She lives and breathes for her job.

9. April enjoys black coffee with no sugar.

10. April isn’t an animal person and she swears the cat next door is stalking her.

11. This is a series but I haven’t decided how many books will make up the series. I guess it’ll be when I run out of ideas, which to be fair, could be a long time. I am always bursting with ideas.

12. Not every book will be based on a murder. It’ll also include thieves, con men, and kidnappers.

13. This series isn’t a love story but it does include love interests. Whilst my previous work has had one hero, I’m going to enjoy creating a few different ones for April to sink her teeth into.

14. Book 1, April’s Busman Holiday only took a month to complete. Once I started it, it just came together without any effort. It practically wrote itself. 

15. My mum designed the book covers.   


Keep up to date with release dates, teasers and more via my Facebook page.