Review of Dreaming of Venice by T A Williams - Five **

My turn for the blog tour of this amazing book!!


Blurb:

Find love, friendship and prosecco – in the magical city of Venice

Life is tough for Penny. A dead end job in a London café, a boyfriend in Australia (what could go wrong?) and an art career going nowhere. But then Penny is approached with an extraordinary proposition.

It isn’t going to be easy but, if she can pull it off, she will turn her life around and at long last see the fulfilment of her dream – to visit Venice. And, just maybe, find true happiness with the handsome man of her dreams.

But can dreams come true?

Review

"And such are fairytales made of". 

This is a modern day Cinderella story with some wonderful twists. A random accident and the consequential news coverage sends Caroline to Penny's doorstep with a very unusual job offer. She can't refuse, as it means she gets to visit the city of her dreams - Venice. 

It really is a very unusual story but written with Trevor's usual humour and wonderful descriptive style. The characters develop well, as does Penny's friendship with Caroline.

How he thought this one up. I have no idea, but I'm very glad he did! I've never visited Venice, but now feel as if I know it well. 

Lovely book - thank you Trevor :)

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon UK - £1.99

Review of The A-Z of Everything by Debbie Johnson - Five**


Blurb:

P is for Paris where it all began. J is for Jealousy where it all came undone. But the most important letter is F. F is for Forgiveness, the hardest of all.

Sisters Poppy and Rose used to be as close as two sisters could be, but it’s been over a decade since they last spoke. Until they both receive a call that tells them their mother has gone – without ever having the chance to see her daughters reunited.

Andrea, though, wasn’t the kind of woman to let a little thing like death stand in the way of her plans. Knowing her daughters better than they know themselves, she has left behind one very special last gift – the A-Z of Everything.

Review:

This is the most wonderful book. So emotional and affirming. As many of you know, I am a great fan of Rowan Coleman, and Debbie has similarly dug deep into the psyches of her characters, particularly Rose and Poppy, to bring us a glorious book about families and forgiveness. 

The letters/videos/tapes from Andrea are so powerful, I cried buckets. Actually I cried buckets all the way through - but they were good tears. Tissues are definitely needed for this one!

I've always enjoyed Debbie's books, but this one is on a whole new level. It must have been torture to write and I'm definitely giving her a standing ovation! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon UK - £1.99

COVER REVEAL!!!

Here is the wonderful cover for the new book by Margaret James from Choc Lit 

Girl in Red Velvet - Release Date 25th April

Will loving two men tear your heart apart?

It’s the 1960s and Lily Denham is about to begin her studies at Oxford University.

On her first day she meets Harry Gale and Max Farley, two fellow undergraduates who are both full of mischievous charm. The three of them become firm great friends and enjoy exploring everything Oxford has to offer, from riotous parties to punting up the river on sunny afternoons.

However, something threatens to disrupt the fun, because Lily soon realises she’s falling for both of her new-found friends, men who might offer her two very different futures  – but who will she pick? Harry is generous and kind, reliable and trustworthy. Max embodies the spirit of the sixties; adventurous and rebellious, but possibly a little bit dangerous as well.

As university ends and Lily struggles to make her mark on the vibrant fashion scene, she must make a decision. But she soon becomes aware that the wrong decision could have devastating consequences for her own future and for Max’s and Harry’s futures, too … 

Girl in Red Velvet is book 6 in the Charton Minster Series (The Silver Locket, The Golden Chain, The Penny Bangle, The Wedding Diary & Magic Sometimes Happens). 

Out today!!! An amazing story by Lynda Stacey called "Tell Me No Secrets" from Choc Lit
                                        
                                           Five **


Blurb

Can a secret be worse than a lie?

Every time Kate Duggan looks in a mirror she is confronted by her guilt; a long, red scar reminding her that she was ‘the one to walk away’ from the car accident. Not everyone was so lucky …

On the surface her fiancé Rob is supportive – but the reality is different. He’s controlling, manipulative and, if the phone call Kate overhears is anything to go by, he has a secret. But just how dangerous is that secret?

When Kate begins work at a firm of private investigators, she meets Ben Parker. His strong and silent persona is intriguing but it’s also a cover – because something devastating happened to Ben, something he can’t get over.

As Kate and Ben begin their first assignment, they become close. But, what they don’t realise is how close to home the investigation will bring them, or who will be hurt in the process …

Review

Where do I start? It's got everything! Romance, suspense, dealing with the past, humour......you name it, it's in there!

The characters are all well developed, especially Kate & Ben, and I love the hints of mystery that appear every so often. It kept me reading well into the night (you must stop doing this to me Choc Lit!)  Scars take many different forms, physical and mental and this novel examines that really well. 

Rob is horrible - that's all, just horrible!

I love how this novel moves, you are literally swept along with it. 

Thank you to Choc Lit for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. You did it yet again!

Amazon UK