Look what I found in Sainsburys

Sainsbury's have got lots of books with this stickered offer - £3 to spend on ebooks at Sainsburys. This book also came with the short story Stolen weekend all for £3.99. So basically you are only paying 99p for a book.

The Doris Day Vintage Film Club - Fiona Harper

Claire Bixby grew up watching Doris Day films at her grandmother’s house and yearned to live in a world like the one on the screen – sunny, colourful and where happy endings with chiselled leading men were guaranteed. But recently Claire’s opportunities for a little ‘pillow talk’ have been thin on the ground. Until she meets mysterious Dominic. Nic is full of secrets but their connection is instant. Could he help Claire finding the Hollywood ending she’s been searching for?Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…

I love reading books that lead to other books or films. Trouble is I then get sidetracked and have even more things I want to read and see.
This is the case with the latest book from Fiona Harper out on 23 April 2015. I never really knew that much about Doris Day and so this book fed me a few interesting nuggets and now I want to know more!

This is such a feel good book - a real curl up and indulge book. It's girly, delightful and quirky.
There are many references to the plot becoming like the Doris Day film Pillow Talk, well it's a long time since I saw that film, but what it did remind me of is my favourite film "You've got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The author then referenced the film (although not by title) towards the end of the book and I felt a little more complete! (of course that film is based on another film "The shop around the corner" with James Stewart - but that is another diversion I've been on).

That's not to say that the book is unrealistic - it's not all day dreamy and wishing she was in a Hollywood film. Claire has her own business and there is also a more serious sub plot involving her father. However, it did have some of the songs from the films going around in my head for some time LOL.

In some was this was a bit of a car crash drama, and by that I mean I couldn't bear it at times as the wires got crossed and confusion reigned. I don't do spoilers, so I will leave it there, but I rushed the end of the book because I just had to know what was going to happen. Was I disappointed? You'll have to read it to find out...........

My thanks go to Mills & Boon and Netgalley for an advance copy of  The Doris Day Vintage Film Club out 23 April 2015.

If We Lived Here - Lindsey J Palmer

Razor-sharp and thought-provoking, Lindsey J. Palmer’s incisive new novel both celebrates and skewers modern relationships and their milestones, offering a witty and wise look at what it takes to commit—to love, to a home, and to the life that’s right for you.

After three years of dating and trading nights at their respective New York City apartments, Emma Feit and Nick O’Hare are moving in together. Or they will be, as soon as they find the right place. For two happily-in-love professionals—Nick’s a teacher, Emma tutors college-bound teens—with good credit and stellar references, how hard can it be? As it turns out, very—in ways that are completely unexpected.

Suddenly Emma is filled with questions about cohabiting, about giving up her freedom—not to mention about who’s going to clean the toilet. And while her best friend plans a dream wedding to her wealthy fiancé, and her older brother settles into suburban bliss, Emma must figure out what home means to her—and how on earth to get there.

I've really enjoyed this book; it’s a real life slice of American life. Sometimes I find American authors have Anglicised a book to appeal to those of us across the pond – however this book felt very American (in a good way). In fact some of the references you may not get it you don’t know a lot about American life. But don’t let that distract from what makes it a “true to life” read.

The hunt for an apartment was very insightful and I real felt for Emma and Nick as they encountered problem after problem, some housing related others personal. I felt the author really got to the underside of living in New York – rather than a “Friends” plasticised view of life.

We also got to see life in the NY suburbs and what happens when the lights literally go out.

I’ve been to New York, but this book made me feel like I’d lived there it was so realistic in the writing. There are so many different strands to this book, which were all brought together seamlessly by the author, making for an enjoyable and intelligent read. This is sooo much more than chick lit!

My thanks go to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for allowing me to read an advance kindle copy of the book.

Saving Saffron Sweeting - Pauline Wiles

Grace Palmer’s British friends all think she’s living the American Dream. But her design business is floundering and when she discovers her husband is cheating with her best client, she panics and flees home to England. The tranquil village of Saffron Sweeting appears to be a good place for Grace to lick her wounds, but the community is battling its own changes. Reluctantly, Grace finds herself helping her new neighbours as they struggle to adjust and save their businesses. However, not everyone has the same opinion on what’s good for the village. The charismatic new man in her life may have one speculative eye on Grace, but the other is firmly on profit. How will she navigate the tricky path between her home and her happiness? With gentle humour and generous helpings of British tea and cake, Saving Saffron Sweeting explores one woman’s need to define herself through her career and community, before she can figure out who should be by her side.

My last review was for Pauline Wiles latest book "Secrets in the Sky" and I ended it my saying her other book "Saving Saffron Sweeting" was now on my to read list. Well - I really wanted to get back to Saffron Sweeting - so I bumped it all the way to the top of that list and here's my review.

This is such an amusing book, I laughed out loud a few times (bit embarrassing on public transport though!) making it a pleasure to read. It prefaces with the quote "Two nations divided by a common language" and if you have ever read any Bill Bryon books you will know all about that. I have American friends and so a lot of the "misunderstandings" in the book rang totally true. It's like the time I explained to an American girl on the train that whilst she was looking for the "coach" class on her ticket - we call all the trains that in England - it's not a class of travel as it is in America. So I really got into all those little nuances in the book.

The idea of Grace landing in Saffron Sweeting and in effect becoming a consultant on how to "appeal to Americans" was a great concept and so well executed. I could really visualise it all in my minds eye and I was eager to get back to the book to find out what would happen next and I wasn't disappointed.

I don't do spoilers - so without giving anything away - Grace has love interests, there is a will she won't she and "how could she be so stupid" moments which help to immerse you in the book. There's transatlantic travel - which having done that journey just exhausted me to read it. But most of all there is Pauline's talent in writing about people and their traits that brings them to life so well.

Secrets in the Sky - Pauline Wiles

No-one ever accused Sophie Campbell of being a coward. From caving trips to rooftop pranks, it appeared nothing could hold her back, especially once she landed a dream job promising travel all over the world. 

But Sophie’s jet-setting lifestyle is not what it seems and she’s been spending more time in the quiet English village of Saffron Sweeting than she cares to admit. When her beloved Great Aunt Wol dies suddenly, Sophie loses one of the few people who truly know her. As friends, family and an old flame gather for the funeral, questions soon follow. Worse, Sophie finds herself increasingly attracted to the man most likely to expose her secrets. Can she manage to guard her past, yet finally follow her long-held dream? 

Featuring both new and familiar characters, this stand-alone romantic comedy is set two years before Kindle best-seller Saving Saffron Sweeting. With side helpings of British tea, cake and wit, Secrets in the Sky explores how finding the courage to be yourself can be the toughest challenge of all

If you want to read an excerpt of this book then please see my last post.

This is a real little gem of a book. This was my first visit to Saffron Sweeting and I loved it from the start. Although the main character Sophie seems quite dizzy and embroiled in a life of lies, as the book unfolds it becomes clear that this is not all about her, and she has valid reasons for her Walter Mitty existence.

We meet lots of village characters as we journey through life with Sophie, and each has their own little story. It's not all tea and cake though, there's a character that really made me squirm and I was routing for Sophie to see through him - but I'll let you read the book to find out more about him.  

The book has a really well thought out story line that keeps you turning the page. The author, Pauline, now lives in the USA, but this book still felt very English in tone and up to date with social references. It even referenced my home town of Nottingham and a good old Melton Mowbray pork pie, so I felt right at home!

I loved it so much I bought Pauline’s other book “Saving Saffron Sweeting” straight after finishing this book,  and it’s on my to read list. Can't wait to get back to Saffron Sweeting.

Thanks to Bliss Book Promotions for allowing me an advance copy of this book to review.

Secrets in the Sky - out 26 February

 Summary

How far should you go to keep a secret?

No-one ever accused Sophie Campbell of being a coward. From caving trips to rooftop pranks, it appeared nothing could hold her back, especially once she landed a dream job promising travel all over the world.

But Sophie’s jet-setting lifestyle is not what it seems and she’s been spending more time in the quiet English village of Saffron Sweeting than she cares to admit. When her beloved Great Aunt Wol dies suddenly, Sophie loses one of the few people who truly know her. As friends, family and an old flame gather for the funeral, questions soon follow. Worse, Sophie finds herself increasingly attracted to the man most likely to expose her secrets. Can she manage to guard her past, yet finally follow her long-held dream?

Featuring both new and familiar characters, this stand-alone romantic comedy is set two years before Saving Saffron Sweeting. With side helpings of British tea, cake and wit, Secrets in the Sky explores how finding the courage to be yourself can be the toughest challenge of all.

Excerpt

Bella looks incredulous, but before she can respond, there’s a brisk knock at the front door.

Bugger, I think, who the hell’s that? Surely not someone trying to sell us solar panels in this weather? Bella’s busy concocting our dinner, so I gather myself and head for the door.

When I open it, I find a tall woman with wavy auburn hair standing with her back to me. She’s wearing a chic navy suit with a peplum jacket, which shows off curves like Jessica Rabbit.

Then she whirls around on one heel and proclaims, ‘At last! You’re the one sleeping in my husband’s bed!’

With that, she steps forward, and thrusts out a hand. Instinctively, I take a step back, but then notice her wide, mischievous smile.

‘I’m so pleased to meet you,’ she says. ‘I’m Amelia.’

I shake her hand cautiously. Her grip is enthusiastic and she’s wearing a huge cocktail ring which winks at me, despite the gloom outside.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say, apologising immediately for something I haven’t done. ‘But I’m not sleeping with your husband.’

But I’m really thinking: Joey – the scumbag – is he married and hasn’t told me?

‘No, darling, not with my husband. Just in his bed, right? And I should have said ex-husband.’

‘Umm…’ I’m still not getting it.

‘You’re house sitting, correct? For Michael Hargraves? You’re wearing his dressing gown, you know.’

Now I get it. Bella’s Uncle Mike. And this is his dressing gown? Ugh. I hope it’s been washed.

‘Well, I’m Amelia Hargraves. I own the estate agency in the village.’

‘Oh,’ I say. The penny drops. I’ve seen her occasionally in the post office and the baker’s, always dressed beautifully and talking in that deep, posh way. ‘Sorry. Yes. Would you like to come in?’

Amelia strides past me happily, not needing, of course, to be shown the way to the living room. I shuffle after her, making sure the belt of Mike’s dressing gown is tied securely.

Amelia’s standing in the middle of the room, head swivelling as she assesses her former home. Even though I am entirely blameless in the sleeping-with-the-husband department, I still feel awkward.

‘Where the bloody hell did that come from?’

She’s looking, of course, at Stanley, who opens both eyes, lifts one clawed foot off his perch and echoes ‘Bloody hell!’ at the top of his voice, adding ‘Feed me!’ for good measure.

‘He’s temporary,’ I say. Great. Now she’s taught Wol’s parrot how to swear. Some guardian I make.

Goodreads Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24691309-secrets-in-the-sky

Buy Links

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T5FK0II/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00T5FK0II/

Author Biography

British by birth, Pauline Wiles moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003. Apart from a yearning for afternoon tea and historic homes, she's never looked back.

Pauline’s writing has been published by House of Fifty, Open Exchange and Alfie Dog Fiction. Her debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, reached the quarter final of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and was a number one Kindle Best Seller.

When not writing, she can be found getting the steps wrong in a Zumba class or calculating how many miles she has to run to justify an extra piece of cake. Her ambition is to sell enough books to cover the cost of flying herself and a reader to London for tea.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://www.paulinewiles.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6952501.Pauline_Wiles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scribinglimey

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulinewiles

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/paulinewiles/

I'm currently reading this book - check back for my review later this week.

A Murder of Magpies - Judith Flanders

It’s just another day at the office for book editor Samantha Clair. Checking jacket copy for howlers, wondering how to break it to her star novelist that her latest effort is utterly unpublishable, lunch scheduled with gossipy author Kit Lowell, whose new book will deliciously dish the dirt on the fashion industry. But little does she know how much trouble Kit’s book is about to cause. Before it even goes to print. When police inspector Field turns up at the venerable offices of Timmins & Ross, asking questions about an undelivered package that was addressed to Sam, she knows something is wrong. The messenger sent to deliver the package was murdered, and then Kit goes missing. Suddenly, Sam's nine-to-five life is turned upside down and she is propelled into a criminal investigation. Someone doesn't want Kit's scandalous manuscript published and unless Sam can put the pieces together in time, they'll do anything to stop it.

This is the first novel from Judith Flanders. I loved the great insight she provides into an otherwise largely unknown (for me) world of publishing. It’s so detailed because as I later found out she has a background in publishing, and so I now do feel that I gained some insight and not just what someone thinks happens.  I really enjoyed this aspect of the book along with the main character she has created, who I really grew to like, so much so that I would love her as a friend if she existed in real life.

Although the book is in essence a whodunit/murder mystery it is in my opinion a great story told very well. There’s also a little romance thrown in and a Mother who always knows best -  and can prove it being a lawyer.

There are a few side stories running also around the publishing theme and authors and I found this aspect particularly interesting.

A great read if you like a mystery with a twist and can identify with a 40 something would be lady sleuth. I'll certainly be looking out for more fiction by this author.

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for supplying me with an advance e-copy of this book to review.