Bena Roberts's Blog, page 16
April 5, 2018
Current Blog Tours for The Forever Night Stand
I currently have two book tours going on at the moment!
The first one from Rachel's Random Resources is here and currently only has four spaces left!
https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/the-forever-night-stand
It runs at the end of May!
The second is from Silver Dagger Tours and runs from April 13 to May 13
Sign up here - http://www.silverdaggertours.com/tour-sign-ups/the-forever-night-stand-tour-sign-ups#
Thank-you so much and I look forward to meeting all of you!!
April 2, 2018
Review - She's Bad News Elle Spellman
She���s Bad News
What would you do if you woke up with super powers?
For Bella Brown, life hasn't gone according to plan. She's almost thirty, still living in her uneventful hometown, and her dreams of becoming an investigative reporter have fallen by the wayside.
That is, until she wakes up one morning to find she's been gifted with some amazing new abilities. What���s a girl to do with heightened senses, super speed and the ability to lift a truck one-handed? Bella quickly discovers that her new powers can easily help her land front-page leads at local newspaper The Hartleybourne Gazette.
Soon Bella's out every night chasing down local criminals for stories, while keeping her powers a secret from everyone besides flatmate Chloe. But when a burglary-gone-wrong accidentally turns her into the mysterious Hartleybourne Heroine, Bella finds herself on the front page for the wrong reasons. Her secret becomes harder to keep as she tries to track down the source of her powers, and especially when crime reporter Matt Gilmore is intent on unmasking the town's new vigilante...
Suddenly, having an extraordinary life is far more dangerous than she ever imagined.
Purchase Links:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0784ZKW1Y
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0784ZKW1Y
Author Bio ��� Elle Spellman is a writer and comic book geek living in Bristol, UK. She's been writing since a very young age, spending her childhood afternoons penning stories about fictional adventures, and illustrating them too.
Now, Elle tends to write contemporary fiction with kick-ass heroines and a little bit of magic. She's Bad News is her debut novel, and she's just finished working on her second. Her other interests include running, wine, red lipstick, the paranormal, and all things Batman.
Social Media Links ���
Twitter: @capesandcorsets
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17378224
Blog: http://ellespellman.blogspot.co.uk/
My Review - She's Bad News
She's Bad News is a fun read and come on ---- who hasn't dreamt of having superpowers at least once! You feel for Bella early on in the office when her ideas fall flat and when she is given the diet pills. The characters are fictional but believable.
The Good
This is feel-good fiction about a girl having sudden new abilities. When she isn't breaking doors, then she can use her powers to bolster her career.
The Bad
The realistic start turned into not so realistic street chasing, Superman fiction. But it wasn't bad, just quirky.
The Ugly.
A couple of cringe parts and I felt my mouth turning into a sucked up lemon face!
Like!!! 4 Stars!
I am on holiday when this review is published and will update Goodreads and Amazon on my return
April 1, 2018
Review - Manipulated Lives by H.A. Leuschel
Manipulated Lives
Five stories ��� Five Lives
Have you ever felt confused or at a loss for words in front of a spouse, colleague or parent, to the extent that you have felt inadequate or, worse, a failure? Do you ever wonder why someone close to you seems to endure humiliation without resistance?
Manipulators are everywhere. At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public ��� tricks to snare their prey ��� but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private. Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim.
In this collection of short novellas, you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual. First you meet Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself, followed by a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Lastly, there is Lisa, who has to face a parent���s biggest regret. All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.
Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/u/49P2MJ
Author Bio ���
Helene Andrea Leuschel grew up in Belgium where she gained a Licentiate in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She now lives with her husband and two children in Portugal and recently acquired a Master of Philosophy with the OU, deepening her passion for the study of the mind. When she is not writing, Helene works as a freelance journalist and teaches Yoga.
Social Media Links ���
https://twitter.com/HALeuschel
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15337013.H_A_Leuschel
Giveaway ��� Win a signed copy of Manipulated Lives by H.A. Leuschel (Open Internationally)
My Review Manipulated Lives
If you like Black Mirror and short reads that make you think then this is the collection of novellas for you!
I could see all of them as films on Channel Four or Netflix. I really could.
The Good.
My favorite novella was My Perfect Child. The author saved the best for last. It speaks volumes to me and any parent. In fact, I felt that it was written for me. I was also an expat mother in a different culture, and it is harder to make strong choices for your children.
The Bad
The Narcissist was so good it was bad. Like all of the stories, I am going to make this into a Michael Jackson "Bad" - where it means good. I love stories that make me think or feel. The Narcissist and Runaway Girl both made me cringe, feel and want to stop reading for a bit. That is good in a wrong way - but still good! I felt so sorry for Holly desperate to leave her home, money stolen by her mother, bad choices with dating - I loved it.
The Ugly.
The Spell was an ugly story, brilliantly written. We all know men like that. There is a pattern, and I have told some friends of mine to read the book because of that story as I know they will relate.
I already wrote a review on Tess and Tattoos.
5 Stories - Four of which I loved and one I liked!
4.5-5 Stars for me GREAT.
March 26, 2018
Review - The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part Two by Audrey Davis
The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part Two
The story continues ��� Hattie is used to her deceased husband Gary dropping in and out of her life. His timing might not always be great, but at least he's still around. Although ��� when Hattie tentatively tries a spot of dating ��� his interference isn't entirely welcome.
Best friend Cat is lapping up her new relationship with teacher Jamie, but ex-husband Stewart isn't prepared to fade into the background.
Hattie's mother Rachel faces a daunting battle, one she doesn't want to burden family and friends with. But there's someone waiting in the wings who might be more than a shoulder to cry on.
Gary still doesn't know what his mission on earth is, and spirit guide Clarence isn't offering any clues? Will an encounter with another provide him with answers, or put Hattie in an impossible situation?
Prepare for more laughs and tears in the second instalment of a trilogy which takes a darkly comic look at life ��� and the afterlife.
Warning: Cliffhanger ending
Purchase from Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunting-Hattie-Hastings-Part-Two-ebook/dp/B079WN5F5G
My Review - The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part Two by Audrey Davis
A book you can read eating cake or drinking prosecco! The story is a fun fast paced read that, can be enjoyed wherever you are. I read it in bed, and thankfully it was not the type of ghost story to give me the jitters!
The Good.
A light fun read that is endearing. I enjoyed the introduction of the boy spirit and the hubby still hanging around. The best part of the story was Gary's appearances when not needed or wanted.
The Bad.
This book is in the three parts. While that is fine as the author writes, I would have preferred one complete read. I am curious to read the last part as the book ends on such a cliffhanger - I could hardly bear it.
The Ugly.
Sorry, the mum got sick. But warm, relatable characters that you will love - so not so ugly!
LIKE A LOT!! Definitely, want to read Part 3!
About Audrey Davis
Audrey Davis survived secondary school on the West coast of Scotland. Rubbish at science but not too bad at English, she originally wanted to be an actress but was persuaded that journalism was a safer option. Probably wise. She studied at Napier College in Edinburgh, the only place in Scotland at that time to offer a journalism course.
Her first foray into the hard-nosed newspaper world was as a junior reporter in Dumfriesshire. Duties included interviewing farmers about the prize-winning heifers to reporting on family tragedies. She persuaded her editor to let her launch an entertainment column which meant meeting the odd celebrity ��� or just the downright odd. From there, she moved to the loftier rank of senior reporter back in her home patch. Slightly more money, less farm animals but a higher crime rate. As Taggart would say: 'There's been a murrrrder!'
After a stint in London on a video magazine ��� yes, she is that old ��� Audrey moved to Singapore with her fianc��. She tried valiantly to embrace the stinking heat, humidity and lack of jobs, although she did work briefly on a magazine which was banned by the government for 'artistic' use of naked men's bottoms.
Next on her adventures was a land Down Under where her main focus was raising Cost Centre One (aka firstborn) and coming to terms with the imminent arrival of Number Two. Still, she loved the Aussie way of life ��� BBQs, beaches and bring your own booze to restaurants ��� so it came as a blow when OH announced a move back to the UK. Not a job between them, the climate a possible deal breaker and an Exorcist-style vomiting infant on the flight home didn't bode well ���
Always a survivor, Audrey sought out similar-minded friends (i.e. slightly bonkers), got the children into a good school and thought about taking up writing again. Sadly, thinking about it was as far as she got, unless you count shopping lists. Then, hubby drops another bombshell. Switzerland. As in ��� it's packing time again. Off to the land of cheese, chocolate, scarily efficient trains and a couple of teeny, tiny issues. Like driving on the 'wrong' side of the road and speaking a foreign language (French). The former was conquered fairly quickly (we'll skip over the wall demolition in week two), the latter remains an ongoing battle of the hopeful against the hopeless. At least she provides amusement for the local workforce.
It wasn't until 2016 that Audrey rediscovered her writing mojo with an online Writing Fiction course. From there, her first novel ��� A Clean Sweep ��� was born, although it took a bit longer than nine months from conception. A short, darker prequel ��� A Clean Break ��� followed, and in November 2017 she published the first in a novella trilogy, The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part One. Part Two is published on 21 March 2018, with the conclusion following in May/June. After which she might have a wee lie down ���
March 21, 2018
Review - The Invisible Hand by James Hartley
The Invisible Hand
The Invisible Hand is about a boy, Sam, who has just started life at a boarding school and finds himself able to travel back in time to medieval Scotland. There he meets a girl, Leana, who can travel to the future, and the two of them become wrapped up in events in Macbeth, the Shakespeare play, and in the daily life of the school. The book is the first part of a series called Shakespeare��s Moon. Each book is set in the same boarding school but focuses on a different Shakespeare play.
Purchase from Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Hand-Shakespeares-Moon-Act-ebook/dp/B01N4R541U
Purchase from Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Hand-Shakespeares-Moon-Act-ebook/dp/B01N4R541U/
Author Bio ��� James was born on the Wirral, England, in 1973 on a rainy Thursday. He shares his birthday with Bono, Sid Vicious and two even nastier pieces of work, John Wilkes Booth and Mark David Chapman.
His mother was a hairdresser with her own business and his father worked in a local refinery which pours filth into the sky over the Mersey to this day. They married young and James was their first child. He has two younger brothers and a still-expanding family in the area. As an Everton fan he suffered years of Liverpool success throughout the seventies and was thrilled when his father took a job in Singapore and the family moved lock, stock and two smoking barrels to Asia.
He spent five fine years growing up in the city state before returning to the rain, storms, comprehensive schools and desolate beauty of the Scottish east coast. Later years took he and his family to baking hot Muscat, in Oman, and a Syria that has since been bombed off the surface of the planet.
James studied journalism in London and later travelled through Ireland, France, Germany and India generally having a good time, before finally settling in Madrid, Spain, where he now lives with his wife and two children.
Social Media Links ���
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesHartleyBooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jameshartleybks
Good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15801088.James_Hartley
Website: www.jameshartleybooks.com
My Review The Invisible Hand by James Hartley
I love Shakespeare.
When I read the description of this book, I was immediately interested. The author has introduced a series of books which aims to present Shakespeare to a young audience in a more accessible and relatable way.
My initial reaction "good luck!" Then I thought this must be some Shakespeare fan fiction. I was surprised!
The Good.
This book does what it is supposed to do. It relates to Shakespeare in a young modern way. Set in a boarding school, it offers a substantial depth of fantasy. The action is fast-paced, and it is easy to read. The introduction of Leana and her arrival at school brings intrigue.
The Bad.
There is little bad to say about this book. I was an English Teacher, now an author -- A Level English Literature, Journalist, avid reader, and book blogger. This book is my kind of read! If I still taught now, I would read this in schools to inspire youth. I have the problem, with my kids that Shakespeare just isn't cool. Mobile apps, games everything else is 'cooler'. This book read at the right age could be a trigger into the marvelous world of literature.
The Ugly.
I think I am a tad jealous that I didn't write this myself! I look forward to reading more and I do hope that these books make their way into the classroom.
5 Stars!
Giveaway ��� Win 5 x Signed copies of The Invisible Hand with special Invisible Hand tactile pens (Open Internationally) *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 I reserve 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 I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize. a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 16, 2018
Review - The Best Boomerville Hotel by Caroline James
Let the shenanigans begin at the Boomerville hotel ���
Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have a vision ��� a holiday retreat in the heart of the Lake District exclusively for guests of ���a certain age��� wishing to stimulate both mind and body with new creative experiences. One hotel refurbishment later and the Best Boomerville Hotel is open for business!
Perhaps not surprisingly Boomerville attracts more than it���s fair share of eccentric clientele: there���s fun loving Sir Henry Mulberry and his brother Hugo; Lucinda Brown, an impoverished artist with more ego than talent; Andy Mack, a charming Porsche-driving James Bond lookalike, as well as Kate Simmons, a woman who made her fortune from an internet dating agency but still hasn���t found ���the One��� herself.
With such an array of colourful individuals there���s bound to be laughs aplenty, but could there be tears and heartbreak too and will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?
���Britain���s answer to the Best Marigold Hotel! Book me in for Sharing with the Shaman and Clairvoyance in mid-life ��� this book is fabulous!���
Nikki Ashton, Amazon best-selling author
Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, consultant and food writer, Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelist���s Association and writes articles and short stories and contributes to many publications.
Her debut novel, Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy & Me is set in North West England, at the time of a famous gypsy horse fair. The book went straight to number three on Amazon and was E-book of the Week in The Sun.
So, You Think You're A Celebrity...Chef? was runner up the Winchester Writers festival for best TV Drama and takes a light-hearted look at the world of celebrity chefs as they battle it out for fame and fortune. Coffee, Tea, The Caribbean & Me was runner up at The Write Stuff, LBF, 2015 and is an Amazon best-seller and top recommended read by Thomson Holidays. Jungle Rock, a romcom novella set in Australia, revolves around a TV game show.
In her spare time, Caroline can be found trekking up a mountain or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.
The Best Boomerville Hotel Links:
Amazon: http://mybook.to/TBBH
Kobo: https://goo.gl/VRh2XT
Ibooks/Google: https://goo.gl/2aq7sz
Itunes: https://apple.co/2lZrl6F
Caroline James Links:
www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk http://www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Twitter:@CarolineJames12 https://twitter.com/CarolineJames12
FaceBook: Caroline James Author https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolineJames/
My Review
The Best Boomerville Hotel is about life at a holiday hotel for older people. Butlins, but not for the kids and including Shaman, drugs, nudity and all sorts! Well written and ideal for fans of the Exotic Marigold Hotel, complete with its own Indian restaurant style drama.
This book is an excellent read for the mature woman. I am not saying; I am not mature.. as I am. But, the fruitcakes in this book were a bit older than me but equally endearing!
The Good!
The twist with Andy, the night in the Indian, the life drawing all made me intrigued and laugh. My mother would love this book and so would my aunties!
The Bad!
I found the start slow. I might have given up reading if this wasn't a book review. I am glad I didn't! I think that the action started when you found out about Andy. That is where the intrigue began.
The Ugly?
Not ugly, but abuse of older people taking advantage, manipulation and all sorts of bad things underline this comedy.
LIKE!!! 4 Stars
March 15, 2018
Review - The Most Special Chosen Rachel De La Fuente
I am delighted to be part of this blog tour! My review is at the bottom of the page.
The Most Special Chosen (Exalted Bloodlines #1)
By Rachel de la Fuente
Genre: Paranormal Drama/ Paranormal Romance
Age category: New Adult/ Adult
Release Date: March 3, 2018
Blurb:
Elysabeth Vance is so determined not to be lost in her obsession that she refuses to see what's right in front of her.
Damien is so afraid of ruining his only chance at happiness that he's blind to Elysabeth's obsession.
Once they open their eyes to what they have, nearly incomprehensible secrets will be revealed. After all, fate happens, even if you don't believe in it.
You can find The Most Special Chosen on Goodreads
You can buy The Most Special Chosen on Amazon
Meet the characters!
The author did some character interviews with her characters on her blog, check them out:
- Selene Delanciennes
- Shawn Dooley
- Damien Delanciennes
- Elysabeth Vance
Video Teasers
And check out these two video teasers on YouTube:
- Video teaser #1
- Video teaser #2
About the Author:
Rachel de la Fuente (meaning of the fountain) lives in Maryland with the love of her life and two furry children that meow. The Most Special Chosen is her first novel, but it's hardly her first story. She's been writing since elementary school, and telling stories since she could speak. She is an avid fountain pen enthusiast with a bit of an ink problem, and often writes book notes and sections of stories by hand.
Rachel was born and raised in southern California, but spent many summers with family in Mexico. Her parents loved traveling, so she also spent many vacations in various locations, soaking up foreign cultures and sights. She still loves to travel, and is committed to crossing all of the locations off her bucket list.
Rachel is a proud Slytherin, and when not writing, spends much of her free time reading, cross stitching, and watching documentaries.
You can find and contact Rachel de la Fuente here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Instagram
- YouTube
- Newsletter
Giveaways
There are two giveaways during the blog tour for The Most Special Chosen! One of the giveaways is US Only and the other one is open International.
US Giveaway
One winner wins the following prizes:
��� A signed copy of The Most Special Chosen
��� An eBook copy of The Most Special Chosen
��� A sheet of Exalted Bloodlines series round stickers
��� An Exalted Bloodlines logo cutout sticker
��� An eBook copy of Elysabeth and Shawn, the Prequel Series
��� A bookmark with The Most Special Chosen tagline
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
International Giveaway
One winner wins the following Prizes:
��� An eBook copy of The Most Special Chosen
��� An eBook copy of Elysabeth and Shawn, the Prequel Series
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
My Review
The Most Special Chosen By Rachel de la Fuente
I love vampires! I used to be a huge Buffy fan twenty years ago. That being said, I am a little bit old for this book, so I have reviewed this book with younger spectacles.
This is a sweet romance with a studious, hard worker Elysabeth Vance and her college years. She lives with her best friend and falls for Damien. I loved the study girl Elysabeth, but the suspenders version seemed strange at the start of the book.
The Good.
This will appeal to the young adult market. It is a sweet romance with a bit of blood and not too much gore. It is easy to read. Ideal for the target market.
The Bad.
The dad overreacting the way he did to the coat was a bit far-fetched.... but as a parent of teenagers that could be the oldie in me coming out.
The Ugly.
Not so ugly... The book started well and then dropped a bit until chapter 14. After that the bonding ceremony and history start..... The darker paranormal bit was great!
LIKE!!!
March 13, 2018
Cover Reveal - Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green
Spring at The Little Duck Pond Caf��
Fleeing from a romance gone wrong, Ellie Farmer arrives in the pretty little village of Sunnybrook, hoping for a brand new start that most definitely does not include love! Following an unscheduled soak in the village duck pond, she meets Sylvia, who runs the nearby Duck Pond Caf��. Renting the little flat above the caf�� seems like the answer to Ellie���s prayers. It���s only for six months, which will give her time to sort out her life, far away from cheating fianc�� Richard.
But is running away from your past ever really the answer?
Clashing with the mysterious and brooding Zak Chamberlain, an author with a bad case of writer���s block, is definitely not what Ellie needs right now. And then there���s Sylvia, who���s clinging so hard to her past, she���s in danger of losing the quaint but run-down Duck Pond Caf�� altogether.
Can Ellie find the answers she desperately needs in Sunnybrook? And will she be able to help save Sylvia���s little Duck Pond Caf�� from closure?
This novella is part of a trilogy:
Spring at The Little Duck Pond Caf��
Summer at The Little Duck Pond Caf��
Winter at The Little Duck Pond Caf��
Publication date: 22nd March 2018
Author Bio
Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ���the baddies���. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.
Rosie���s brand new series of novellas is centred on life in a village caf��. The first, Spring at the Little Duck Pond Caf��, is out on March 22nd 2018.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988
March 12, 2018
Review - Diary of an Adorable Fat Girl by Bernice Bloom
Diary of an Adorable Fat Girl: The Complete, Full-length Novel
Mary Brown is funny, gorgeous and bonkers. She's also about six stone overweight. When she realises she can't cross her legs, has trouble bending over to tie her shoelaces without wheezing like an elderly chain-smoker, and discovers that even her hands and feet look fat, it's time to take action. But what action? She's tried every diet under the sun.
This is the hysterical story of what happens when Mary joins 'Fat Club' where she meets a cast of funny characters and one particular man who catches her eye.
The story is laugh-out-loud funny and will resonate with anyone who has dieted, tried to keep up with any sort of exercise programme or spent 10 minutes in a changing room trying to extricate herself from a way too-small garment that she ambitiously tried on and is now completely stuck in.
Bernice Bloom is the big, new name in comedy writing...this is the first full-length novel after her series of laugh-out-loud mini books.
Purchase from Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Adorable-Fat-Girl-Full-length-ebook/dp/B071P2QW68/
Author Bio ���
Hello, my name is Bernice Bloom and I am a writer (I write light-hearted rom-com style novels and also work as a magazine journalist and advertising copywriter) and jewellery designer. My recent series of novels is called ���Adorable Fat Girl��� and it features a heavily overweight woman called Mary Brown. She is bright, funny, friendly and bonkers. She���s also fat. The books blend the comedy of her efforts to lose weight with a more serious backstory about what happened to her in the past that had led to the issues that make her prone to over-eating. I���m fascinated that there are so few overweight heroines in literature. Women can be manipulative, evil, even murderers in fiction, but not fat! Certainly not fat and beautiful with loads of friends! Then along came Mary and she���s developed quite a fan base of people who love the fact that the heroine is large. She gets lots of letters and I have ended up taking her on lots of adventures!
Social Media Links ���
https://www.facebook.com/BerniceBloombooks/
https://twitter.com/Bernice1Bloom
https://www.instagram.com/bernicebloomwriter/?hl=en
Giveaway ��� Win a Daisy Bracelet and Earring set created by Bernice Bloom (Open Internationally).
*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 I reserve 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 I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
My Book Review - Diary of an Adorable Fat Girl by Bernice Bloom
Mary is an overweight girl who used to be a gymnast. This diary is her story of her joining Fat Club and finding love. A light read that captivates its audience and that can be enjoyed by anyone whatever size or shape they are! So, not just a "fat girl" book, where you feel sorry for the heroine or where change is not forthcoming. The change in Mary is more in her perception of herself.
The Good!
An ambitious novel that I enjoyed. What a lot of fun! This made me giggle. Lovely to see authors having strong female leads with women of all shapes and sizes. Ideal for a long train journey or beach read.
The Bad!
Not really bad, but a tad predictable.
The Ugly?
It is horrible reading about people wanting to commit suicide or become cleaners for men because they want to feel loved. The book touched on these issues - but only lightly.
I received as part of a blog tour and in exchange for an honest review.
LIKE!!
Read an extract from the book below!
Extract from Diary of An Adorable Fat Girl���
Mary Brown is lovely but heavily overweight. In the first chapter she drags herself to Fat Club for the first time after trying and failing to lose weight by herself. Here she muses on how overweight she is, as she persuades herself to go back to Fat Club for the second session.
I used to be elegant, you know. Properly nice, with cheekbones and ankles and things. I used to wear my hair up. That���s a tell-tale sign of a woman with confidence - when she���ll happily pull her fringe back into a clip, or twist the back of her hair up into a chignon. You know what these women are saying? These women are crying ���I can pull my hair back and let you see more of my face because I���m not deeply ashamed of what my face looks like.���
Me? I pull it all forwards over my face, hoping to hide my puffy cheeks and jowly jaw line as much as possible. If I could wear it pulled forward over my face covering it entirely, I would. But then I wouldn���t be able to see and I���d bump into people. Nobody wants a fat woman with hair all over her face bumping into them. So I don���t pull it forward. Do you see how complicated this all is? It���s hard being fat. Don���t get fat. It���s a pain.
It was quite tortuous persuading myself to go back to Fat Club for the second week.
I had left there the week before feeling so inspired, but after my chip disaster, I���d woken up feeling terrible. This is the trouble with reaching out for help - if you make the effort and it doesn't work, you feel worse than ever. I felt crushed; like I���d tried and failed; like nothing could help me.
It wasn���t as if the whole week had been awful or anything, far from it. After that dreadful night, the rest of the week was fine, but I certainly didn���t feel any different as a result of the course. Going into my job in Fosters DIY & Garden Centre, I was as aware as ever of people around me eating food: food in shops and food on posters. Food made me feel nice. Why couldn't I have food?
Then I���d go through the process of reminding myself why��� because my face was slowly drowning in a pool of fat. All my clothes had gone up six sizes and even my shoes. Shoes! What was that all about? Feet don���t get fat. Except mine did. I don���t know whether they were fatter, or whether the pressure exerted on them by the weight of my heavy torso flattened them out. Either way ��� not good. Not to be recommended.
I���d remind myself that I couldn���t bend over since I got fat...not really. That���s a horrible thing. The feeling you get when you reach down to tie up your shoes if horrific...your stomach is in the way and pushes back on your internal organs. You can���t breathe. You feel light-headed, as if you���re about to faint or be sick. As if, to be honest, you���re going to die. I come up from a basic shoe tie or sock on-put with my face the colour of sun-dried tomato, whining and puffing like I���ve just run a marathon dressed as a polar bear.
The day before the second session, Ted sent me a text saying how much he was looking forward to seeing me at Fat Club. "Well this week it's been an absolute bloody disaster for me,��� he said. ���If you want to see what a very fat man looks like when he eats marshmallows all week and gets even fatter, I suggest you come on Tuesday night. Looking forward to seeing you X"
I laughed out loud when I read it and replied to say I was looking forward to seeing him too. I decided to send a text to Janice.
"Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday night," I wrote. "I'll be the really fat one who hasn't managed to stop eating chips all week."
Janice replied: "Your chips are nothing compare to my chocolate cake. See you Tuesday."
They call it gallows humour, don���t they - that grim and ironic humour you find in a desperate or hopeless situation. I suggest we call this Marshmallows Humour...witticisms born out of the desperation of trying to lose weight. Still - at least by replying to everyone I was now committed to going to back to Fat Club.
When I walked in, I saw Ted straight away. He gave me a cheery smile and a wave, and came over to me.
"Thank you for your text," I said. "It really made me laugh."
"You have to laugh about these things, don't you?" he said. "Hard to know what else to do."
"Have you been OK this week?" I asked.
���Kind of terrible," he said. "I just don't seem to be able to sort myself out. I rang Liz in the end because I kept bingeing. Liz said it was only natural, after we���d bared our souls in class we would probably want comforting and our choice of comforting would be food. Today she���s going to talk about other ways to comfort ourselves."
"That makes sense. I couldn���t stop eating either," I said. "I feel like this is such a hopeless battle. I wasn't going to come back until I got your text."
March 8, 2018
Cover Reveal - The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May
The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay
by Nicola May
Praise for Nicola May���s books
���This book will twang your funny bone & your heartstrings��� ��� Milly Johnson
���A fun and flighty read��� the Sun
���A funny and fast-paced romp ��� thoroughly enjoyable!��� WOMAN Magazine
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Rosa Larkin is down on her luck in London, so when she inherits a near-derelict corner shop in a quaint Devon village, her first thought is to sell it for cash and sort out her life. But nothing is straightforward about this legacy. While the identity of her benefactor remains a mystery, he - or she - has left one important legal proviso: that the shop cannot be sold, only passed on to somebody who really deserves it.
Rosa makes up her mind to give it a go: to put everything she has into getting the shop up and running again in the small seaside community of Cockleberry Bay. But can she do it all on her own? And if not, who will help her succeed - and who among the following will work secretly to see her fail?
There is a handsome rugby player, a sexy plumber, a charlatan reporter and a selection of meddling locals. Add in a hit and run incident and the disappearance of a valuable engraved necklace ��� and what you get is a journey of self-discovery and unpredictable events.
With surprising and heartfelt results, Rosa, accompanied at all times by her little sausage dog Hot, will slowly unravel the shadowy secrets of the inheritance, and also bring her own, long-hidden heritage into the light.
Pre-order Link ��� will follow separately hopefully once the book is up for pre-order. This may need to be a last min edit.
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8KML35/
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07B8KML35/
Amazon CA - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07B8KML35/
Amazon AU - https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07B8KML35/
About Nicola May
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Award winning author Nicola May lives in Ascot in Berkshire with her rescue cat Stanley. Her hobbies include watching films that involve a lot of swooning, crabbing in South Devon, eating flapjacks and enjoying a flutter on the horses. Inspired by her favourite authors Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews, Nicola writes what she describes as chicklit with a kick.
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Follow Nicola May
Website - www.nicolamay.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NicolaMayAuthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/nicolamay1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/author_nicola/
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
���Are you sure you���ve got the right person?���
Rosa took off her bright red woolly hat and scratched the back of her head furiously, causing her dark brown curly hair to become even more unruly.
The tall, pinched-faced solicitor nodded. ���Yes, of course we have. Evans, Donald and Simpson do not make mistakes. You, Miss Larkin, are now the official owner of the corner shop in Cockleberry Bay.���
He handed the bewildered twenty-five-year-old a battered leather briefcase and pointed to a small combination padlock on its brass clasp.
���Here. The will stated that you - and only you - can open this, using your date of birth.���
���This is all very strange,��� Rosa said. ���And where exactly is this Cockleberry Bay?���
���Devon, dear, Devon.��� The solicitor looked under his rimless glasses. ���I take it you know where that is?���
���I may have a cockney accent, Mr Donald, but I���m not stupid.���
���Well, open it then.��� The solicitor was shifting from foot to foot in anticipation. He confided, ���We���ve been wanting to know what���s in there for days.���
Showing no emotion, Rosa gazed at him with her striking green eyes and asked coolly: ���Is there anything else I need?���
���Er, no - but are you not going to . . .?���
���I need to get to work.��� Rosa put her hat and scarf back on, zipped up her fur-lined bomber jacket and headed for the door. ���Thank you so much for your help.���
And she was gone.
���Rude!���
The solicitor peered crossly out of the window of the offices in Staple Inn and watched as the young woman, the briefcase in her arms, strode across the frosty cobbled courtyard and out into the bustle of London���s ancient legal quarter.
