Laura Bambrey's Blog

Hi gang!

Happy Sunday! Today I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome the wonderful Annette Hannah to the blog as part of her tour celebrating the release of her debut novel, Wedding Bells at the Signal Box Cafe. I'm absolutely thrilled for Annette - we've known each other as bloggers for maaaaannnnyyyy years, so for us both to have our debut out in the same month is awesome! And when you've hung out with Annette here, she's interviewing me over at her place today too - come visit! Ladies and gents. I give you - drumroll - Annette Hannah!


I have been a book blogger for about five years now and one of the best things about it is the chance to meet and mingle with my favourite authors. Between the fabulous Sara-Jade Virtue at Simon and Schuster, the amazing Kim Nash at Bookouture and so many individual authors, I’ve been invited to some absolutely fantastic events. From afternoon teas at the Grosvenor House Hotel to cocktail laden book launches and parties and brainstorming brunches. I even got the chance to meet the fabulous Jackie Collins too.

The other fantastic thing about being a book blogger is meeting other absolutely amazing book bloggers, I often hear authors exclaiming about how wonderful book bloggers are. They shout from the rooftops about their favourite books and expect nothing in return just for the love of books. The perks of course are sometimes receiving Advanced Reading Copies or ARCS but that doesn’t always happen because bloggers also still buy so many books. It’s such an amazing feeling to read an author’s book before it comes out and then help them to share it, it’s being part of something so huge, a wonderful secret.

Kim Nash has organised many fantastic events up and down the country, they’re called Shenanigans and they are such good fun. Kim and I became close very quickly and I don’t even remember how, we just seemed to know each other straight away. We’ve shared our secret ambition to write over the years and I was so happy last year when Kim was published, and she’s now just released her third book and of course I was on her blog tour and she’s going to be on mine.

It was at one of those Shenanigans in London that I met the lovely Laura Bambrey and it was when I was holding tightly onto my secret that I’d signed a two book deal with Orion Dash that Simon and Schuster announced that they’d signed Laura. I couldn’t be happier for Laura as a fellow blogger/author it’s amazing news and that’s why we agreed to do a blog swap today. So do pop over to SincerelyBookAngels.blogspot.com and see her being interviewed by us.

My blogger friends are so important to me, the lovely Linda Hill and I often meet up before an event for tea and cake and a good long chat as we know once we are at the event it’s like a whirlwind. Talking of whirlwinds that’s how it’s felt ever since I was offered my contract. It really is a dream come true for me and I do want to say to all of you writers out there who think it will never happen, just keep going because one of these days your manuscript will land on the desk of someone who gets you. I really didn’t think it would ever happen to me but it did.

I’m so happy to now be starting my publishing journey and that is how I found out for myself just how amazing and supportive the blogging community is, THEY ARE SO PROUD OF, AND HAPPY FOR ME! I began to share my news to my lovely friends and within a couple of hours I had at least ten people offering to help with my cover reveal and almost twenty on my blog tour, and it was really short notice. I couldn’t actually believe it was my cover being shared and it felt like I was retweeting for somebody else. The love I felt on twitter was unbelievable and actually quite overwhelming. So I would like to give a huge thank you to all my fabulous friends for helping me out, you’ll never know how much it meant to me and I can’t wait to see you all at future events.

Thank you Laura for having me on your fabulous blog and good luck with your amazing book.

The Blurb:
Here comes the bride...

Lucy Woods has always dreamed of running her very own wedding venue. After moving her eight-year-old son to the countryside she's surprised to find the perfect location and her best friend, Abbie, eager to help make that dream a reality! Too bad Abbie's older brother Dominic isn't keen on Lucy or their big idea!

As a divorce lawyer Dominic doesn't believe in love at first sight or wedding vows, he's seen them broken more times than he can count. But when Lucy arrives back in town, his hardened heart begins to crack.

Making her dream come true is a huge undertaking, but Lucy knows that The Signal Box Café is her chance to finally make something of her life. If only the irritating (and oh-so-gorgeous) Dom didn't make her imagine wearing a white dress and walking down the aisle...

Can Lucy and Dominic find a way to each other this summer or will the wedding bells chime for another couple?

Grab your copy here: UK or US


About the Author
Annette Hannah is a Liver Bird who relocated to leafy Hertfordshire in the 80's and now lives near a river with her husband, two of their three grown up children and a crazy black cocker spaniel. She writes Romantic comedies in settings inspired by the beautiful countryside around her and always with a nod to her hometown.

She worked in Marketing for many years as a qualified Marketeer which she loved as it tapped into her creative side.

As an avid reader, she began to review the books she read, became a book blogger and eventually plucked up the courage to fulfil her life long dream of writing a book.

For four years she was a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association's new writers' scheme, during which time she wrote a book a year.

After signing a two book deal with Orion Dash in 2020 she graduated to full member of the organisation and is also their Press Officer.

She loves long walks along the river, travelling to far flung places, the odd glass of Pinot Blush and spending time with her friends and family.

You can follow her on twitter @annettehannahwww.sincerelybookangels.blogspot.comwww.annettehannah.com

Hello gang!

Long time no blog... but I’m here with lots of news. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.
Actually, where to begin? I guess... at the beginning?

As you might know, I’ve been a book blogger for about a decade now - writing about and reviewing books from a range of genres - but mainly commercial women's fiction. It has been the such a rewarding journey, and I’ve met some incredible people along the way - other readers, authors and industry folk.

All this time, I’ve dreamt of writing my own books.

At the beginning of 2019, I finally decided to take that dream seriously. I sat down to spend time with Tori, a character who’d been pottering around my head for quite a while. Tori slowly started to open up and share her story with me. As her mad cast of supporting characters appeared one after the other, Tori’s story quickly became The Beginner’s Guide To Loneliness .

I was only half way through writing it when I spotted Books and The City’s #DigitalOriginals #OneDay open submission day. I’d promised myself that I would do everything in my power to take my writing seriously, so on the 15th of July 2019, I crossed my fingers and hit “send” on my submission.

Two days later, I couldn’t stop squealing when an email landed from Sara-Jade Virtue at Books and the City requesting the rest of the manuscript. I was still only half way through so, taking a deep breath, I sent a highly excitable email back begging for an extra 6 weeks to complete the draft. Much more squealing followed when she very kindly agreed!

Now, let’s fast forward a couple of months, during which much fevered writing, editing and waiting to hear back from them happened (I'll fill you in on all the nitty-gritty details at a later date!). At last, I got an email that sent my excitement sky-rocketing - an invitation to the Simon and Schuster offices to discuss the book.

For me, that meeting was life-changing. Chatting with Sara-Jade and my editor about The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, I couldn’t get over the fact that these two amazing people were talking about my characters as if they’d known them forever. When I got back to my hotel that night, I was floating. I couldn’t settle to anything much - the meeting just kept re-playing in my head. The lovely bar staff took pity on me and plied me with pink wine and cheese until I calmed down a bit!

Back at home in Devon, I embarked on a round of structural edits in the hands of the Books and the City team. I delivered the new draft early in January - and then the nail-biting waiting-game started again (it really wasn’t very long, but boy - time is all relative, isn’t it?!)

And then came the news - Books and the City would like to publish The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness . I had my first ever book contract!

But wait - there’s another twist in this tale!
The book was originally slated for release in January 2021. Of course I was super-excited, and couldn’t wait to tell everyone about it - but we agreed to wait and announce it when the cover was ready. Then, of course, lockdown kicked in, and the world around us changed. But nothing keeps the publishing wizards at Simon and Schuster down. Just over three weeks ago, I got the first peek at my beautiful cover.

And here comes the twist. The day the final cover art was confirmed, I got another exciting email asking me how I’d feel about the publication date being brought forward... to July! Well, I'm guessing you can imagine the happy dance I did!

So, there's my #OneDay #DigitalOriginals submission story - from taking my dream seriously, to seeing it coming true less than a year later. I can’t thank the Books and the City team enough for believing in Tori - she couldn’t have found a better home.

The Beginner's Guide to Loneliness
You might feel lonely – spoiler alert: you’re not alone! – but sometimes all you need is a helping hand . . .

The perfect feel-good read from an exciting new voice in women’s fiction, for fans of Heidi Swain, Cathy Bramley and Jenny Colgan

Tori Williamson is alone. After a tragic event left her isolated from her loved ones, she’s been struggling to find her way back to, well – herself. That’s why she set up her blog, The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, as a way of – anonymously – connecting with the outside world and reaching others who just need a little help sometimes.

When she’s offered a free spot on a wellbeing retreat in exchange for a review on her blog, Tori is anxious about opening herself up to new surroundings. But after her three closest friends – who she talks to online but has never actually met – convince her it’ll do her some good, she reluctantly agrees and heads off for three weeks in the wild (well, a farm in Wales).

From the moment she arrives, Tori is sceptical and quickly finds herself drawn to fellow sceptic Than, the retreat’s dark and mysterious latecomer. But as the beauty of The Farm slowly comes to light she realizes that opening herself up might not be the worst thing. And sharing a yurt with fellow retreater Bay definitely isn’t.

Will the retreat be able to fix Tori? Or will she finally learn that being lonely doesn’t mean she’s broken . . .

Welcome to The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness! Where you can learn to move mountains by picking up the smallest of stones…
Available for Pre-Order Now - Out 28th July
Over To You
Want to know the best bit about this story? This amazing opportunity is open again this year - and on more that one date! You don't need an agent. You don't need to know someone who knows someone who knows someone. All you need is an amazing story and the courage to hit that "send" button on the right date!
Here are the details for this year's #OneDay #DigitalOriginals open submission days. Do come back and let me know if you enter - good luck!

It's my pleasure to be one of today's stops on the blogtour for The Two Hearts of Elisa Bloom by Beth Miller. Thanks to Bookouture for the ARC.
Let me start by saying that this book was an unexpectedly gripping read. It unfolds with quiet drama, exploring the clashing and merging of two very different cultures via one particularly rebellious character, Eliza.
Told across two time-lines, we see Eliza right at the beginning of her relationship in one, and then at least a decade into her marriage with the other – offering an intriguing juxtaposition of how her circumstances have altered – as well as highlighting those that remain exactly the same.
The writing is deft and detailed, and though this book was a bit of a departure for me in terms of its story, I felt in the safest hands with this clever storyteller. The characters are fully rounded and complex – lots to love and admire there, but also many aspects that were fairly unsavoury, even within our heroine. This is what made the book so special. This was no straight forward story told in black and white- but an entire kaleidoscope of shades came together to make for a brilliant read.
Grab Your Copy:
Kindle:                    Paperback:             Audiobook:
       



The Blurb:
She followed her heart to change her life, but she didn’t realise how much she left behind…

Eliza Bloom has a list of rules: long, blue skirt on Thursdays, dinner with mother on Fridays, and never give your heart away to the wrong person. Nothing is out of place in her ordered life…

Then she met someone who she was never supposed to speak to. And he introduced her to a whole world of new lists:
New foods to try – oysters and sushi
Great movies to watch – Bambi and Some Like It Hot
Things I love about Eliza Bloom

Eliza left everything she knew behind for him, but sometimes love just isn’t enough. Especially when he opens a hidden shoebox and starts asking a lot of questions about her past life. As the walls Eliza has carefully constructed threaten to come crashing down, will she find a way to keep hold of everyone she loves, and maybe, just maybe, bring the two sides of her heart together at last?

I’ve always found it fascinating how a screenwriter (or team of screenwriters) can take the many hundreds of a pages of a book, with all its complex innings and outings and twistings and turnings of plot and character- and turn them into a film that makes sense. And if you’re lucky, a film that not only tells the same story as the book, but is able to remain true to the original spirit of the story- somehow distilling the essence of hours of reading down into and hour or two of watching.
When I agreed to do a comparison review of book versus film to celebrate the DVD release of THE WIFE - I was expecting to have reams and reams of differences between the two to discuss... but, it turns out, this is one of those rare beasts where the film really does capture the characters and sentiments of the book beautifully.
This is no mean feat in a story that relies almost entirely on the nuances of two characters - Joan Castleman, the eponymous wife - and Joe, her husband. Without giving any spoilers, let’s take a little look at the few differences there are between the two.
In terms of plotting, there are probably two main changes. Firstly - the Helsinki literary prize which Joe is honoured with in the book is changed to the Nobel prize for the film. Though making very little difference in terms of the ebb and flow of the plot, it does change a nuance to Joe’s character. In the book - he knows that the Nobel is beyond his reach, this is as far as he is likely to reach.
The second main change, and actually something that has a larger effect on the overall telling of the story- is that in the book, Joe and Joan travel to the prize giving without any of their three children in tow. In the film, the couple’s adult son, David, accompanies them, and much of the minutiae of the plot is taken up with him seeking his famous father’s approval for his own writing attempts. In the book, David’s character is revealed in flashbacks- and proves to be just as needy, but a lot darker and more troubled.
In terms of character portrayal, I felt Jonathan Price captured the immature, needy, self absorbed Joe to a tee. Harry Lloyd as the younger Joe also excelled as the ambitious, narcissistic young writer.
Glen Close as Joan? Oh Glen, you are amazing, what can I say? She played Joan beautifully. The slight difference in the direction the film took was that the Joan of the film seemed to be more understanding, and slower to come to the turning point of having enough of putting up with her husband’s many indiscretions, annoying self-absorption and of course, living with their shared secret. The Joan of the book is already at that turning point, but in the film, we see her discover it on the screen.
I highly recommend both the book, for its dense story about two lives that would have been so vastly different if lived separately, and the film for its beautiful and sensitive portrayal of such complex characters, and the cracks in marriage after so many years. This is an incredible story that spans just a few days, as well as telling the history of two lifetimes.
I have a book, DVD and bookmark bundle to give away - if you’d like to win, please enter using the raffle copter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out this wonderful package I was sent to celebrate today's DVD release of The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society... I'm feeling very spoiled by the lovely team at Organic- thank you guys!
What's that? Yep, that's a bottle of Wheadons' delicious Rock Samphire and Pink Grapefruit Gin, a massive block of Guernsey Cream Fudge and of course, a copy of the DVD and the book.
Have you read the book? It has been out for about 10 years, and is what I would call a modern classic... as in, it's one of those books that everyone was talking about... and is STILL talking about. In typical backward Laura fashion, I haven't read it yet! Stubborn, moi?
So as soon as this little lot arrived in celebration of the DVD release of The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, I dived straight into the watching the DVD. And I LOVED it- a beautiful story which both made me giggle and reduced me to tears. It's a part of our history that I know so little about- the German occupation of Guernsey during the second world war, and its lasting effects on the inhabitants after the end of the war. The cast is exquisite, and I'm just a little bit in love with Katherine Parkinson as Isola - and of course, Lilly James was breathtaking as Juliet! I can highly recommend the film.
I'm now delving into the book, keen to compare the film with the original. The book is an epistolary novel - i.e. written entirely in the form of letters between the characters. I'm already completely hooked - and it is a huge compliment to the film cast that they are exactly how I imagine the characters as I read about them in the book.
So - grab yourself a bank holiday treat. You can nab yourself a copy of the film from Amazon here - and if you've been a stubborn so-and-so living under a rock like me, you can also get yourself a copy of the novel here.
I'll leave you with the the glorious cast of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Enjoy!

 

Morning all! Today it's my pleasure to be taking part in the blogtour for Steve McHugh's A Flicker Of Steel - the second book in his urban fantasy series, The Avalon Chronicles.

A Flicker Of Steel is a fast-paced action packed riot of magic, myths and legends on the rampage. Prepare yourself to meet familiar legends in a whole new guise as characters held oh-so-dear are given a murderous makeover, whilst others with names much-maligned battle to restore some semblance of balance to the world.

McHugh has a light touch with his language, steering clear of the heavy wording of much epic-fantasy and favouring an urban flavour which I think must make him a favourite of a younger readership as well as long-standing fantasy stalwarts. Oh- and let's talk about his sense of humour. Murder, mayhem and distruction there may well be, but there were several moments where I snorted my coffee as I read a little pointed aside by one of the characters where you could clearly see the author's wicked sense of humour shining through.

I did find the first chapter or so a little slow as the scene was set, but this was obviously necessary for so many characters to enter the stage. From there on - it was wall-to-wall action, so prepare yourself!

The mixture of familiar myths in new settings, and the clever layers of magic make for a fascinating read, where pretty much anything feels possible.

This is the second book in the series and I have not read book one. I really wouldn't recommend this book as a standalone. Yes- you can jump into the story and play catch up with the characters, the myths and the magic as you go along, but the action is so fast-paced, and the magic and story-so-far are integral to everything that is happening. I felt like I was only getting half the benefit of the novel - which is a massive shame, as I connected quickly with the characters, and I particularly loved Layla and Remy. So, if this book appeals to you and you haven't read the first instalment in the series, I recommend you reading A Glimmer of Hope first.

A Flicker of Steel is everything you love about fantasy, told with a fun and fresh voice, with plenty of action to keep you turning the pages.



Grab your copy here:Kindle:                       Paperback:              Audible:
          
 The Blurb Avalon stands revealed, but the war is far from over. For Layla Cassidy, it has only just begun.

Thrust into a new world full of magic and monsters, Layla has finally come to terms with her supernatural powers—and left her old life behind. But her enemies are relentless.

Sixteen months after her life changed forever, Layla and her team are besieged during a rescue attempt gone awry and must fight their way through to freedom. It turns out that Avalon has only grown since their last encounter, adding fresh villains to its horde. Meanwhile, revelations abound as Layla confronts twists and betrayals in her own life, with each new detail adding to the shadow that looms over her.

As Layla fights against the forces of evil, her powers begin to increase—and she discovers more about the darkness that lies in her past. As this same darkness threatens her future, will she be ready to fight for everything she holds dear?

Morning book lovers!

I’m thrilled to be today’s stop on the blogtour for Mad by Chloe Esposito. How to start talking about this book? How do you fancy spending time with one of the most dangerous characters out there? Alvina Knightly is a truly loathsome character from the get-go. Spending time inside her head is oh-so-addictive and incredibly disturbing.

Written in first person from Alvie’s point of view, be prepared to be plunged into the deranged logic of a seriously depraved individual. She starts out as a dislikeable drop-kick, but very quickly you come to realise that Alvie is far more dangerous than that. Her dislike for her twin sister, Beth, quickly reveals itself to be at the heart of something far darker than your average sibling rivalry.

As I read, there were certain points where I felt I was coming to understand Alvie a little. There are things she mentions, like little bread-crumb clues, that might point to why she is like she is. Perhaps she isn’t the villain of the piece- or at least, perhaps she wasn’t the villain to begin with. And then I gave myself a little shake and a little shudder – after all, reading Mad, you only have Alvie’s word for what’s going on, and what has happened in the past – and this girl is FAR from a reliable narrator. She’s a complete sociopath.

Mad is a gripping read- I loved it- but it’s not for the faint-hearted or squeamish. Glamour, sex, gore and murder a-plenty!

Grab your copy here:Kindle:                             Hardback:                    Paperback:                   Audible Audiobook:              


The Blurb:What if you could take the life you'd always wanted?Alvie has always been in the shadow of her glamorous sister Beth.So when she's invited to her identical twin's luxurious Sicilian villa, Alvie accepts.Who wouldn't want seven days in the sun?With Beth's hot husband, the cute baby, the fast car and of course, the money.The thing is it's all too good to let go . . . and her sister Beth isn't the golden girl she appears.It's Alvie's chance to steal the life that she deserves.If she can get away with it.

‘President Trump’ opens the most famous office in the world for commuters at Waterloo Station
On Monday 4th June, commuters will be given the chance to be President for the day and take their seat in a replica Oval Office, to celebrate the summer’s most talked-about book, The President Is Missing.

Commuters passing through London’s Waterloo Station on Monday 4th June may end up being late for work, when a different type of office catches their eye – The Oval Office. Taking inspiration from the plot of the book, and co-author Bill Clinton’s 1993 - 2001 presidential terms, the surprise pop-up at one of London’s busiest stations will mark the launch of The President Is Missing, the new novel written by former President Bill Clinton and the world’s bestselling thriller writer, James Patterson.

To mark the global release of the book, Penguin Random House will be unveiling The Oval Office at 8:30am, with the fully interactive set being accessible to the public until 8:30pm. Not only will thousands of commuters be able to sit behind a replica of the famous Resolute desk, a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes, they may also find themselves sharing a moment in time with their very own (faux) President Trump.

The President Is Missing has already been signed by Showtime for a multi-part TV drama. The novel’s plot follows an American President whose sudden disappearance shocks the world, as the reason behind it is far worse than anyone could ever imagine...

'President Trump’ opens the most famous office in the world for commuters at Waterloo Station With details only a President could know, paired with the genius of the thriller writer who has sold more than 375 million copies of his books, readers won’t be able to stop turning the pages of Clinton and Patterson’s book.

Former President Bill Clinton said: “James Patterson and I have come up with three of the most frightening
days in the history of the presidency. And it could really happen.”
Susan Sandon, MD of Cornerstone, Penguin Random House, has said, “Re-creating The Oval Office for commuters at one of London’s busiest stations seemed a fun and fitting way to mark the global publication of Bill Clinton and James Patterson’s superb thriller,  The President Is Missing .”
The Oval Office will be at London’s Waterloo station on Monday 4th June between 8:30am and 8:30pm, with President Trump available between 9am and 11am.
THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING IS OUT IN HARDBACK, EBOOK AND AUDIO FROM MONDAY 4TH JUNE FROM CENTURY #PresidentIsMissing
Grab Your Copy Here:
Kindle:                             Hardback:                      Audiobook: .     .    

The Blurb:THE THRILLER ONLY A PRESIDENT COULD WRITE
Former President Bill Clinton and global thriller master James Patterson have joined forces to create the most anticipated book of 2018.
The President is Missing.
Amid an international crisis, the impossible has happened. A sitting U.S. President has disappeared.
What follows is the most dramatic three days any president has ever faced - and maybe the most dramatic three days in American history.
And it could all really happen.
Full of details only a president could know, Bill Clinton and James Patterson have written the most authentic - and gripping - presidential thriller ever.

I'm thrilled to welcome the lovely TA Williams to the blog today as a part of his blogtour. Trevor is going to tell us about his latest book, Dreaming of St-Tropez, and why he believes it’s not a romance, but a love story.

So what’s the difference? What is romance and what is love?
The Cambridge English Dictionary definition raises an interesting question. In fact, I was very surprised to read this.
Romance – a close , usually short relationship of love between two people .Usually short…? So are we to interpret this definition as romance being something fleeting that can come along and go again just as quickly? If that’s true, then I’m definitely not writing romance. When my characters fall in love, they fall in love. I’m not writing about short-lived infatuation. 
What does the same dictionary say about love? Love – to like another adultvery much and be romanticallyand sexuallyattractedto them, or to have strongfeelingsof likinga friendor personin yourfamily.
Between you and me, I’m not crazy about this definition either. How about “I love doughnuts” or “I love puppies”? But, putting my niggles aside, let’s try to compare love and romance. You hear people talk about “putting the romance back into a relationship” as if, by simply chucking in a few bunches of flowers and a few boxes of chocolates, you can rekindle something that shouldn’t have died out in the first place. When I get to the end of any of my books, I don’t see the budding romance between the main protagonists as something transitory. In my head at least, I see it going the distance.
At this point, I’m afraid I need to get personal. I have had the great good fortune to experience love in my life. Apart from my parents, my daughter and my beloved Labradors, I had the great good luck almost fifty years ago (you have to remember, I am very old) to meet and fall in love with my wife. I was working in Italy, teaching adults English in the evenings and I fell foul of the occupational hazard of adult education – I fell in love with one of my students. Fortunately, she fell in love with me at the same time. This summer we will have been married for 43 years and that has to prove something. I can’t remember the last time I bought her flowers or chocolates – or vice versa – but that stuff is just superficial, the icing on the cake. Without a good solid cake underneath, there would be nowhere to put the icing.
Now I’m not claiming that 43 years of marriage makes me an expert on the subject, but just as I would never dream of sending the characters in my books skiing or windsurfing without having tried it myself, I would never presume to make them fall in love without having experienced it myself. Write about what you know.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking romance. If Valentine’s Day cards and Prosecco are your thing, then I’m with you all the way. All I would say is that the romance in my books is definitely intended to go the distance – and that, in my estimation at least, means love.
Thanks so much Trevor for taking the time to visit us here today!

You gan grab your copy of Dreaming of St-Tropez here:

Kindle:
The Blurb:The perfect summer escape on the French Riviera. Sun, sea and secrets…After a disagreement with a billionaire, architect Jess Milton is ‘let go’ from her job. However fortune intervenes – an elderly client asks Jess to dog-sit overweight, but loveable dog Brutus in St. Tropez.
Fed up with the mega-rich, Jess is reluctant to visit the playground of billionaires, but an all-expenses-paid trip and the promise of sunshine seals the deal.
Little does Jess know how much time she’ll be spending with the family living in St. Tropez. The sullen, but very good-looking David and his millionaire father are both welcoming but guarded, haunted by their pasts…
Can Jess bring some sunshine back into their lives – and, just maybe, find love in the process?
A heart-warming, funny and emotional journey for fans of Holly Martin, Tilly Tennant and Jenny Oliver.
About TA Williams I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, "Dirty Minds" one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. If my books can put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador. 
I've been writing since I was 14 and that is half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 120%; }p.western { font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.cjk { font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.ctl { font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; }a:link { color: rgb(0, 0, 255); }

I’m thrilled to be today’s stop on the blogtour for Oh My God, What a Complete Ailsling (OMGWACA) by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen.

What’s the easiest way to sum up how I felt about this book? I loved it. Yay for taking the golden age of the romcom and bringing it bang up to date. I know someone has already said this- but I second it- Aisling is the millennial’s answer to Bridget Jones.

OMGWACA follows the trials and tribulations of Aisling – and celebrates every single girl-next-door, practical, no-nonsense, uncool tendency which actually makes her unashamedly… well… cool. Aisling takes everything in her stride, from scandal at work, to brand-new big-city living with her glam flat mates, to tragedy and heartbreak in her personal life. She’s my brand new book-best-friend.

Full of gentle humour, you’ll enjoy rolling your eyes at every scrape she gets into – and her rather rural take on how to deal with life. I loved spending time with Aisling and the girls. I laughed a lot and I did cry a bit too. The only thing I’ll say is that I ended up rooting for a guy who didn’t end up getting the girl. I won’t say any more than that, as a spoiler on this book would be a sackable offence for a reviewer… but I can’t tell you how much I would love a sequel. I haven’t had my fill of our Aisling just yet.

Gentle, sunny, sweet and incredibly funny, this book has a huge heart and is an absolute joy to read.

Grab your copy here:Kindle:                         Hardback:
   



The Blurb:THE FUNNIEST BOOK YOU'LL READ THIS YEAR - ALREADY THE NO. 1 IRISH BESTSELLER...

'There aren't enough words for how much I love it' Marian Keyes

Twenty-something Aisling - that's pronounced Ashling - is the sensible sort.

She wears kitten heels for the sake of her arches.

And a great night out is knowing the immersion heater at home is securely switched off.

In other words, country girl Aisling likes to play it safe in the big city.

But that hasn't helped get her man John to hurry up and pop the question.

Throwing caution to the wind an impatient Aisling tries to encourage him, only for her whole life to come crashing down.

Now no umbrella, electric blanket, nor sensibly sized heel can save her.

What's a complete Aisling to do?