My Book Corner | Sally from Sals World of Books

I'm over the moon to be joined by a fellow blogger / book reviewer on today's My Book Corner. 

I'm going to get striaght into it so please welcome Sally from Sal's World of Books!

1)  Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

I read all over the house depending on the time of day.  First thing in the morning while the house is quiet before my two teenagers wake up and start rampaging through the house I read in a corner of the kitchen, at the table. The seat is next to the window and I have a view out into the garden.  Once things become noisier I move into the living room and a corner of the sofa or upstairs to lounge on a bed.  If the weather is sunny enough I will also sit out in the garden.

2) Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

  I prefer to read what is often known as "chicklit"  but also occasionally enjoy thrillers.  

3) Do you have any reading/writing habits?

 I start reading as soon as I am awake pretty much and read over breakfast and carry on as much as I can throughout the day at weekends (in between bouts of housework!).  If I find myself catching the train home from work I will read on the train also as a bonus.  I write sporadically - sometimes I have a fantastic idea and get chance to write it down but at other times I have problems fitting everything else in. 

4) How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

I don't really have a TBR and once I finish one book I look around for the next one I fancy.  Having said that I do have a few books downloaded onto my new kindle which I plan to read and review soon.

5) Can you provide links to your social media handles please?

 My website is www.salsworldofbooks.co.uk and my twitter is @salsworldofbook

Blog Tour ~ Exclusive Extract | Four Weddings and A Fiasco ~ Catherine Ferguson

Today is my stop on the Four Weddings and A Fiasco blog tour and I am delighted to be bringing you part 10 of an exclusive short story that Catherine Ferguson has written just for this blog tour!!

If you haven't read the story so far then the blow image will show you the other blog tour hosts - do check them out!

ONE BRIDE AND A BOMBSHELL

10

Jonathan looked sheepish. ‘No wonder you’re shocked,’ he said. ‘I should have told you in the pub that I was getting married today. I don’t know why I didn’t. Pre-wedding nerves probably.’

I shook my head, in a daze. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

Camilla had arrived and was staring over at me, trying to attract my attention, but my insides were in turmoil. Keesha had obviously told her husband-to-be a pack of barefaced lies, but why?

Camilla’s words came back to me. She’s done so well for herself. Jonathan’s a real catch! He’s a commercial airline pilot.

And Keesha had managed to ensnare him.

Now I thought about it, she always used to brag that she was going to marry someone really important, like an actor or a pop star, so she could have loads of money, go to the Caribbean a lot and live in a mansion.

I had to ask him. ‘Was it – was it you who proposed to Crusher – I mean, Keesha?’

He smiled. ‘No, actually, she asked me.’

I groaned inwardly.

‘It was a brave thing to do,’ he said. ‘Especially since we hadn’t been seeing each other all that long. But then, that’s Keesha all over. Courageous, loving and so incredibly kind. I’m a really lucky man.’

I felt like laughing.

But it was so very far from funny. Jonathan was a nice, decent guy and Crusher Dixon was planning on taking him to the cleaners.

Oh God, what was I supposed to do?

Time was running out.

If I was going to tell Jonathan everything, I’d have to do it right now. Before Crusher herself arrived and the ceremony got under way. Because then it would be way too late.

But what about my trial?

Camilla had instructed me to be invisible . . . wallpaper . . . I definitely wasn’t supposed to have a mind of my own.

I was already over-stepping the mark by turning my back on her increasingly frantic signals, as she tried to attract my attention. If I blew the whistle on the bride, and the groom cancelled the wedding, I’d be sacked, no doubt about it.

Without a wedding, there’d be no album to design. No follow-up orders. And it would all be down to me.

I closed my eyes miserably, seeing all my dreams going up in smoke.

‘Are you okay?’ Jonathan asked.

I opened my eyes and looked into his open, trusting face.

And I made up my mind. ‘Can I have a private word?’

He looked surprised. Then he glanced at Lewis, who didn’t look too pleased, but shrugged as if to say, feel free.

We walked over to the window. I couldn’t believe what I was about to say to him on the morning of his wedding. But I had no choice.

The room was filling up with the excited chatter of wedding guests. The registrar had arrived and the quartet were tuning up their instruments.

I didn’t have much time.

Taking a deep breath, I put my hand on Jonathan’s arm and said there were a few things about his bride-to-be that he really ought to know…

My Book Corner | Christina Philippou

Hello again... another Sunday brings you another look into the lives of a fellow book lover. Today I'm pleased to have author Christina Philippou join me.

1) Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

I wish I had a book corner! Unfortunately, that's not likely any time soon in my house. I do, however, have a writing space (sort of) - it may not look like much but I love having a small secluded space amidst the chaos that is my household. I'm also often inspired by staring at that painting (it's by Perdita Sinclair, a Brighton artist), which has prompted many a jump-start to my writing.

2) Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

Where do I start? I have a lot of bookshelves in my house, organised in rather loose categories of non-fiction, travel, crime/thriller, classics, 'happy', and other. Plus there's my TBR bookshelf, which, now I think about it, is probably my favourite because it's full of yet-to-be-discovered books :-)

3) Do you have any reading/writing habits?

I read when I can - on the commute, before bed, first thing in the morning while CBBies is on in the background and the kids are jumping up and down on our bed while my husband pretends both he and they are all still asleep...

I write when I can too - on the train or any other time I can squeeze more than ten whole uninterrupted consecutive minutes together (a pretty rare thing in my life). 

4) How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

A combination of blog, Goodreads, and brain, though the latter is not quite as sharp as it used to be...

5) Can you provide links to your social media handles please? 

Of course - I'm on my blog, Twitter and Facebook, and my novel, Lost in Static, is available for pre-order direct from the publisher or Amazon UK and US.

Blog Tour ~ Review | A Summer of Secrets (Countryside Dreams, Book 2) ~ Alice Ross

A perfect, feel-good summer read about love, life and family.

One long hot summer. Secrets never stay buried for long…

Portia is determined to restore Buttersley Manor, her family’s crumbling ancestral home, to its former glory. Yet she has a feeling that there are a few forgotten skeletons in the dust-covered cupboards.

Jenny has put her life on hold for far too long. It’s time to finally start living and to dig up those hopes and dreams she’s kept hidden all these years – but is she brave enough?

Rich is happily married with a beautiful wife and lovely daughter. In fact, his world is perfect until a very unexpected consequence of his past walks through the door…

Joe would like nothing more than to travel back in time to when he and Gina were happy. But is it too late to rescue what they once had?

One thing’s for sure, nothing’s ever quite what it seems when it comes to life in the country!

Goodreads | Amazon UK

Today is my stop of the blog tour for A Summer of Secrets by Alice Ross, and I'm going to start this with a huge apology to both Alice and Jenny who runs the tour at Neverland Blog Tours.

You may have seen my recent blog post regarding my lack of reading, if not you can read this here.

Despite this, I did however feel confident that I would be able to finish A Summer of Secrets and have a review to post, yet even waking up at the crack of dawn to finish reading it, it appears that my mojo is somewhat absent, so I can only apologise that this isn't a full review.

I'd like to start by mentioning firstly how gorgeous the cover to this book is. I adore the summery colours and how the manor is a big feature.

I've recently managed to read and review the first book in Alice's Countryside Dreams series, An Autumn Affair (read here) and where as I found the first part of the book slow, I'm powering through A Summer of Secrets much more quickly.

What I've found with A Summer of Secrets is more descriptiveness of the locations and area in which the novels are set, which is giving me a better image of where I am reading about.

I've also enjoyed seeing the paths of the characters cross over much more earlier in this story and I can't wait to finish the last 30% to see what happens.

Once again, my huge apologies this isn't the full review but I shall update this as soon as possible.

About The Author!

Alice Ross used to work in the financial services industry where she wrote riveting, enthralling brochures about pensions and ISAs that everyone read avidly and no one ever put straight into the bin.

One day, when nobody was looking, she managed to escape. Dragging her personal chef (aka her husband) along with her, she headed to Spain, where she began writing witty, sexy, romps designed to amuse slightly more than pension brochures.

Missing Blighty (including the weather - but don't tell anyone), she returned five years later and now works part-time in the tourism industry.

When not writing, she can be found scratching out a tune on her violin, walking her dog in wellies two sizes too big (don't ask!), or standing on her head in a yoga pose.

Twitter | Website

Review | An Autumn Affair (Countryside Dreams, Book 1) ~ Alice Ross

An Autumn Affair

Author: Alice Ross

Publisher: Carina

Published: April 2015

Kindle

Autumn is coming. Anything could happen…

Julia is contemplating an affair with ex-boyfriend Max after a chance meeting in the cereal aisle of the supermarket…and finding that he’s just as gorgeous as ever.

Miranda has got it all: expensive clothes, a huge house and her enormously wealthy husband, Doug. So why does she feel as if something is missing?

Faye is fed up of being treated like a child – she’s a teenager, and knows what she wants! She’s determined to escape her sleepy life at Primrose Cottage…

Three women, each with two options, needing to make one choice. When it comes to affairs of the heart, nothing is ever simple!

A perfect, feel-good read about love, life and family.

Previously published as A Country Affair

~~~~

An Autumn Affair is a really cute story telling the tales of the lives of three women - each with choices to make which will either enhance or hinder their lives.

I found the first half of An Autumn Affair quite slow to get into, and then when I found the pace picked up, the story felt like it was over before it really began.

Julia is mother of twin, Faye being one of them. She is in a lifeless marriage which she kind of fell into after falling pregnant and her career dreams halted. When she meets and ex boyfriend who was the love of her life in the local supermarket she wonders if there is more to life than what she is currently living. Faye is quite rebellious and is short on friends - that is until she is befriended by Josie - daughter of Miranda.

Miranda comes with her own issues - she's just discovered she's pregnant by a man who isn't her husband!

As the three women - Julia, Miranda and Faye make their decisions in their own lives, their paths are crossed and new friendships are made whilst old relationships are dealt.

I enjoyed reading this book, however for me personally I felt that there was something missing - I was waiting for a few fireworks that never came.

That said, if your looking for a really easy going, chilled out book to read then An Autumn Affair is one for you.

Rating 3/5

A Little Message...

Well hello there... Remember me? Ha!

I thought that I would do a brief post to apologise for being MIA in recent weeks.

I'd love to tell you that something exciting has happened. Or that I had been on an exotic holiday. That I'd been to many social event's and not had time to blog... the list of what I'd love to say has been happening is endless.

In truth, I really don't know what's been happening.

Work has been incredibly quite, I've recently had a client pass away too,

My social live has been non existent, I've pretty much done nothing in recent weeks, other than spend last weekend with my beautiful nieces and handsome nephew.

So in short, I've no reason for being MIA, I just have.

I've done nothing, yet had no time to do anything - don't you just had that?

And the biggest thing of all. My reading MoJo... Vanished. Literally. Aghhh!!!

I woke up one morning and just couldn't get into the book I had started. Tried another. And another. 

And then another - and that one has taken me 3 weeks to read.

I'ts been awful. I've not been able to get comfortable to read or concentrate on the words in front of me.

Which has been annoying for two reasons.

1. I got aa new Kindle Paperwhite for my birthday and hardly used it.

2. Some lovely publishers have sent some beauties of books post!

Without reading and blogging, the fall out has been that I've barely been on social media too.

I therefore wanted to take this opportunity to apologise for not sharing posts and reviews - I'm sorry.

Moving forward then...

I have four blog tours coming up this month of which I shall fulfil but I've decided to ease back for a few weeks with blogging and social media. I'll still be around so please feel free to tweet or Facebook me, I just won't be as active in between.

I want to take the pressure off and fall back in to reading again, and hopefully my reading MoJo will return as thew reading will be for love and enjoyment without the pressure.

I hope everyone is well. I'd love to know what your reading currently, or a book you've recently read and loved that you think might help me!

My Book Corner | Katrina Rees

I'm delighted to be joined today by Katrina Rees to share her reading and writing secrets. Katrina is a regular on the blog as she often does guest posts, she also has her own blog for her adventures on which is linked below.

1) Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

I don't tend to keep many books after I finish reading them so I don't have a nice book shelf or anything. I used to keep my books on the table in the lounge but they were just gathering dust so most of them are now in bags in my bedroom, so I delve in whenever I get the chance to read. I always sit on the sofa to read and I keep a few books by my side there too.

As for writing space, I do most of my blogging/writing on my laptop in the dining room. I feel like it's quite a formal setting but most of the time I need it to be like that in order to write. I've tried many times to take my laptop into the lounge and write in front of the TV or something but I just can't do it, I need to be in a controlled environment. I often do a lot of writing by hand too, whether it be jotting down ideas or drafting posts.

2) Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

At the moment, I have a lot of TBR Jill Mansell books in my collection as one of my New Year's Resolutions is to read all of her books by the end of the year. She's my favourite author, and whilst I normally pass on my books or donate them to charity, one book I will keep hold of forever is my signed copy of You and Me, Always from her book launch in January.

3) Do you have any reading/writing habits?

I always read in the lounge, normally with the TV on. I'm not sure why but I don't find it distracting at all unless that I'm struggling to get into a book. I'm always wrapped up in my owl blanket too! When I'm writing, I have to sit in the dining room with some background noise and normally something to eat/drink. I can't work in silence and I get distracted if I put my headphones on, but background music/TV noise is just right haha.

4) How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

I don't! My TBR pile is small compared to most but I don't have the time to read as much as I would like, and instead of clearing my pile, I just keep adding to it. Working in a charity shop doesn't help as I'm always coming across something new that I want to read. When it comes to tackling my TBR pile, I tend to just go for whatever takes my fancy at the time. I do keep a record of what I've read though. I use the notes page on my phone to write down every book I read every year.

5) Can you provide links to your social media handles please?

Twitter: @lifeofkatrina / @welshfangirl

Blog: www.adventuresofawelshfangirl.blogspot.com

My Book Corner | Aimee Bealer

Please welcome another author to the blog today, Aimee Bealer.

      Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

Now that it’s getting warmer, most nice days find me writing on the

deck with my faithful distraction, Rosie, and a cup of chai. When it’s rainy

I’m stuck inside at the family computer, which has a much bigger screen but

is shared with my kids and hubby, so is usually cluttered with Ipods, bills,

toy swords, ballet magazines and whatever the kids are reading for school.

     Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of

your Book Corner?

Some of my favorite books live alongside pictures of my favorite

people and knick-knacks picked up abroad in a re-purposed ‘china cupboard’.

My Austen, Ibsen, Woolf, Hemingway, Tolkien, etc. from college days. Books

that remind me of who I was before kids, before home ownership and yard work

took over my life! Sometimes I’m inspired to crack one open and re-read,

finding a whole new perspective on the text than I had twenty years ago when

I read it for the first time. Age really does alter my experience of a

cherished story, and coming to know and appreciate familiar characters in

new ways is fun.

    Do you have any reading/writing habits?

  Having busy kids kills opportunities for reading and writing!

Because dance and sports rule my afternoon/evenings, I write when the kids

are at school. So that leaves reading for before bed. If I’m really into a

book, I will make sure I have time to snuggle up in bed and read. I’ve

started giving up on books that don’t suck me in right away or feel

obligatory. I don’t need another chore at the end of the day!!

    How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

  To-be-read books do stack up, so I shelve them next to my bed. I

have to be careful what I put there because my 12 year old daughter and 9

year old son will pick up and start reading anything. Books I can’t get into

end up with a neighbor or as a donation to the library. I really need to

break down and buy an e-reader!

  Thank you so much for joining me on the blog today Aimee, finally please can you provide links to your social media handles please?

  Blog: Aimeebealer.wordpress.com

Twitter: @BealerAimee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aimeebealerauthor/?fref=ts

Link to purchase Pronouncing Enzo:

http://www.amazon.com/Pronouncing-Enzo-Aimee-Bealer/dp/1519413033/ref=sr_1_1

?ie=UTF8

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1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459784363&sr=8-1&keywords=pronouncing+enzo>

&qid=1459784363&sr=8-1&keywords=pronouncing+enzo

BIO:

Aimee had a hard time staying in one place after she traveled to France as

an exchange student at seventeen. She has lived in Baltimore, Hartford,

Cincinnati, East Anglia, Seoul, and London. In London she clubbed a hot Brit

over the head and dragged him home to America. Now the mother of two dual

citizens, Aimee lives with her husband and children in Maryland.

Blog Tour ~ Review | Bride Without A Groom ~ Amy Lynch

Bride Without A Groom

Author: Amy Lynch

Published: Maze, May 2015

Amazon Kindle | Paperback

Single, coupled-up or married, this laugh-out-loud summer read is the perfect anecdote for the wedding season!

Rebecca has chosen the most luscious, five tiered, wedding cake. The engagement ring that she has selected is celebrity inspired. The wedding singer is on speed dial. He doesn’t usually do Michael Bolton, but as it’s for a first dance he’ll make an exception. Father Maguire is checking dates for the parish church as we speak. The deposit on the white sand honeymoon is paid for in full on Barry’s card. She has fallen for an ivory lace couture gown that is to die for. The down payment may require her to sell a left kidney, but it will be worth it. Isn’t that why you have two?

There’s one teeny tiny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Says he’s not ready! He can be a bit of a kill joy that way. It’s time to face the harsh reality – Rebecca is a bride without a groom!

I've had Bride Without A Groom sat on my kindle for a while now, when the Author, Amy Lynch, mentioned that she would be running a blog tour to celebrate this book's birthday, I jumped at the chance as it forced my hand in to reading one I've been longing too!

The book tells the story of Rebecca and is in the narrative of the 1st person, with exception of the odd few chapters which are in the third person and looks more at Barry's perspective.

Barry is the long suffering other half of Rebecca, and the story starts with her birthday. Barry has taken for her a swanky meal and right from the start she thinks it's so that he can propose to her - giving us a great insight to how Rebecca's mind works.

She is obsessed, I mean really obsessed, with weddings - followed closely by celebrities and their weddings. She has folders hidden with samples of Vera Wang dresses, venues, cake designs - you name it, she has it planned. 

The small matter here is that Barry has yet to propose and when Rebecca goes a step too far just before he has to travel abroad for work, they have one almighty row.

Whilst apart they have time to think and evaluate their relationship. Rebecca turns in to a bit of a slob, drinking far too much alcohol and eating far too many takeaways whilst constantly ringing in sick to work. Barry on the other hand is trying to fight off his flirty co-worker but when he wakes in the same bed is guilt ridden.

Amy Lynch has written a fun love story full of humour and wit. 

I was chuckling away as I was reading along with gasping at what Rebecca got up to next - every chapter she was up to something and even whilst her and Barry were apart she was still the ultimate Bridezilla!!

I enjoyed reading this book and will be looking out for more of Amy's books.

Rating 4/5