Book Review: Chasing Moonbeams in Merriment Bay by Emily Harvale
A lovely welcome back to Emily Harvale and the blog tour for her latest novel in the Merriment Bay series, Chasing Moonbeams in Merriment Bay.
Cat has found true happiness in Merriment Bay. Will a discovery in Devon Villa change that?
Cat Devon is finally with the love of her life – and she couldn’t be happier about that. But discovering the identity of her real dad and the fact she has two half-brothers was a shock. Getting to know her new family is now a priority.
Kyra Devon is only eighteen, but she’s more mature than her mum in many ways and is coping far better with everything that’s happened. Kyra knows what she wants and unlike Cat, she’s not going to let opportunities slip away.
Mary Devon has regained her daughter and her granddaughter, but she’s grieving for her mother, and also for the loss of the love she thought she’d found. Putting on a brave face may not be the best way for Mary to get over it.
When a long-lost painting called Moonbeams Kiss is discovered in a hidden cellar beneath the floorboards in Devon Villa, a story of love, loss and treachery unfolds, bringing with it repercussions for each of the Devon women.
This is book two in the Merriment Bay series and I was so happy and excited to not only be invited onto this blog tour, but to be back with the residents of Merriment Bay. I want to live there. Seriously.
First, this cover. I am in love. It is so dreamy and it immediately allows me to picture the setting.
This book is told mostly from Cat Devon’s point of view. A scene from this novel is closely connected to New Beginnings at Wynter House, the first in the series and the two novels are weaved together very well.
Cat has just found out that she’s related to Rafe and Adam Wynter and that Wynter House is her ancestral home. She is not sure how her half brothers will react to her. She is also in a new relationship with the lovely Amias but she knows that her mother, Mary is not fully happy about the relationship.
Cat is also a little worried about her daughter, Kyra when it becomes obvious that Kyra may have a crush on Francis Raine who, being in his late twenties is ten years older than her daughter.
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Book Extract: My Greek Island Summer by Mandy Baggott
A big lovely welcome to Mandy Baggott and the blog tour for her twentieth novel, My Greek Island Summer.
Two weeks. One unforgettable trip to Corfu. A chance to change her life.
Becky Rose has just landed her dream job house-sitting at a top-end villa on the island of Corfu. What could be better than two weeks laying by an infinity pool overlooking the gorgeous Ionian waters while mending her broken heart.
Elias Mardas is travelling back to Corfu on business whilst dealing with his own personal demons. Late arriving in Athens, Becky and Elias have to spend a night in the Greek capital. When they have to emergency land in Kefalonia, Becky’s got to decide whether to suck up the adventure and this gorgeous companion she seems to have been thrown together with or panic about when she’s going to arrive at Corfu…
Finally reaching the beautiful island, Becky is happy to put Elias behind her and get on with her adventure. Until he turns up at the villa…
To celebrate Mandy’s twentieth book, she and Aria have shared an extract with us today. Grab that coffee/tea and the comfy chair. I am hoping that, like here, the sun is shining and enjoy. #mandybaggott20
(Language warning.)
***** beginning of extract*****
‘She’s going to take everything, isn’t she? Because that’s what they do, isn’t it? It’s all whispered sexual promises and home-cooking at the beginning, and then it’s commands about DIY and M&S meals you have to microwave yourself. And then… then it’s bitter accusations that you’ve been ignoring their needs, when really you’ve been negotiating million-dollar contracts so they can carry on having spa weekends with their friends where they go all-in for facials and Watsu, but complain about how terrible their lives are and how their husbands are nothing but unreasonable bastards who haven’t been able to find their erogenous zones since the honeymoon. Well, Elias, I challenge any man to find Kristina’s erogenous zone when the hedges haven’t been cut for a decade. Do you get what I’m saying? But, of course, it’s all my fault, isn’t it? Everything is always my fault.’
Solicitor Elias Mardas sat back in the hotel meeting room chair and regarded his client, Chad. Hair flecked with silver, wearing a navy suit from Moss London, this businessman would usually be the epitome of calm and controlled. Chad was used to negotiating hard with counterparts across the globe and here the man was, unravelling in a hotel in Central London. Not that Elias was surprised. This was what usually happened. Most of his clients became a shadow of their former selves, when it came to the topic of divorce. And that’s where Elias came in. It was his job to control this whole process, legal and emotional, to ensure that his client dealt with the inevitable fall-out and arrived at Destination Decree Absolute in the best possible position. Matrimonial law might not have been his legal area of choice when he’d first qualified – originally he had intended to deal with property and real estate – but circumstances had changed and he had changed and this was his niche. His company, working alone, picking and choosing his clients. He excelled at it and it was lucrative. What more could you want from a career?
by Book Review: The First Date by Zara Stoneley
After breaking up with her childhood sweetheart, clueless dater Rosie has found herself in a boyfriend-drought. So when she finally swipes right on a guy who seems interested, she can’t wait to meet up in person.
Until she’s left standing alone. In a bar. Stood up.
Enter Noah. Confident, funny … and a serial first dater. Offering to give Rosie a crash course in seduction, this could be just what she needs. Until her matchmaker turns out to be the best date she’s ever had – and Rosie wonders if she wants the fake dates to be the real ones after all …
I am very happy to once again be welcoming Zara Stoneley back to Novel Kicks with the blog tour for her latest novel, The First Date, published today.
Rosie has just split up with her childhood sweetheart so in the dating stakes, she’s a little clueless.
Her first step into online dating is a disaster when she is stood up, sitting at a bar, alone.
This is where she meets Noah. He’s a confident serial first dater and he has offered to give her a crash course in seduction.
But what happens when Rosie wants a date with her matchmaker?
I have become obsessed with Zara’s books and I was looking forward to reading The First Date.
This book for me was a slow burner to start with. It took me a couple of chapters to connect to the characters but as I began to get to know them and the motivations for their actions, I became incredibly fascinated and invested in their story.
Due to her childhood, well, her Dad mostly, Rosie is a little emotionally broken even though she doesn’t want to admit it. Rosie finds Noah at the right time but he needs her as much as she needs him I think.
Noah is a bit of a mystery. I won’t say any more about him as I want to not spoil the story as much as I can.
by Book Review: Brittle’s Academy For The Magically Unstable by Lily Mae Walters
Hello to Lily Mae Walters and the blog tour for Charlie Makes a Discovery, the first book in the Brittle’s Academy for the Magically Unstable series.
It’s Charlie’s first day at high school, his blazer is too big and his shoes are too small, but that’s the least of his worries.
He’s been missed off the class lists and is now enrolled in a new school called Brittle’s Academy with a magical and mysterious head teacher.
But to stay at Brittle’s Charlie must pass one of the tests…otherwise he’ll be sent to Oblivion!
It’s Charlie’s first day at secondary school. He is nervous, his blazer doesn’t fit and he’s terrified that he will ruin his new uniform and upset his Mum.
When he gets to school and the classes are sorted, it appears that he and a few of the other students have been missed off the class lists. Then they hear a voice.
I am very honoured to be involved with the mini blog blitz for this book.
This is the first in a series of books about Brittle Academy. These can be read as a standalone and will feature different characters. However, I do recommend that this one be read first as it introduces all of the characters.
Although I am definitely not the target audience for this book (it’s being marketed at 6+,) I loved it. It’s an endearing introduction to a new magical world that will certainly more than fill the Harry Potter void. I don’t think you can read any book based on magic without it being compared to Potter but this has a different perspective to the learning of magic that I loved.
by Book Review: When Life Gives You Lemons by Fiona Gibson
Sometimes life can be bittersweet . . .
Between tending to the whims of her seven-year-old and the demands of her boss, Viv barely gets a moment to herself. It’s not quite the life she wanted, but she hasn’t run screaming for the hills yet.
But then Viv’s husband Andy makes his mid-life crisis her problem. He’s having an affair with his (infuriatingly age-appropriate) colleague, a woman who – unlike Viv – doesn’t put on weight when she so much as glances at a cream cake.
Viv suddenly finds herself single, with zero desire to mingle. Should she be mourning the end of life as she knows it, or could this be the perfect chance to put herself first?
When life gives you lemons, lemonade just won’t cut it. Bring on the gin!
I am very excited to welcome Fiona Gibson back to Novel Kicks and was so happy to be asked to be involved with the blog tour for her latest novel, When Life Gives You Lemons.
Viv is so busy going between looking after her husband, Andy and their seven-year-old daughter, Izzy that she doesn’t have much time to herself. Add a demanding boss, there are not enough hours.
When she finds out that Andy has been lying to her, she is suddenly single, menopausal and has no interest in finding someone else. Is this the time to put herself first?
One of the main things I loved about this book is that yes, a traditional love story appears in the novel but it’s mostly about the love and respect Viv needs to develop for herself and how important that is, especially with the demands in her life.
This novel is about Viv rediscovering who she is and I adored this aspect. She is a character I think women of all ages can empathise with. Add to this that she is a very likeable woman who ultimately isn’t afraid to be who she is and take risks, and you have a fantastic, well-rounded, inspiring character.
The supporting cast was also great, Penny especially. I would love to see a book based on her life. It sounds fascinating. I could really picture her in my mind.
As I said, a realistic love story is present but I found the plot so much more than that.
by Book Club
