Cover Reveal: Gorgeous new covers for Belinda Jones backlist

I have been a huge fan of Belinda Jones ever since I picked up a copy of her debut novel Diva Las Vegas many years ago and I always look forward to picking up a copy of her latest novel each year. So as you can imagine I was in fangirl element (can a 40 something woman be a fangirl!) to be invited by Belinda to meet her and her fellow Sunlounger 2 authors in person at an event in London last year and I can confirm that she's just as friendly and welcoming in person as she is online.

As January is typically a gloomy month, post Christmas and weatherwise, certainly here in the UK anyway, Belinda has decided to give her eBook backlist a bit of a makeover with some bright new gorgeous covers designed by Jarmila Takač.

Books Read: Belinda Jones - The Travelling Tea Shop

A delectable tale of love, friendship and cake...

Laurie loves a challenge. Especially if it involves tea-time and travel. So when British baking treasure Pamela Lambert-Leigh needs a guide on a research trip for her new cookbook, she jumps at the chance.

The brief:
Laurie and Pamela - along with Pamela's sassy mother and stroppy daughter - will board a vintage London bus for a deliciously unusual tour of the USA's East Coast, cruising from New York to Vermont.

Their mission: 
To trade recipes for home-grown classics like Victoria Sponge and Battenburg for American favourites like Red Velvet Cake and Whoopie Pie.

All the women have their secrets and heartaches to heal. As well cupcakes galore, there's also the chance for romance...

But will making Whoopie lead to love?

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback

Giveaway: Win a signed copy of The Travelling Tea Shop by Belinda Jones

Last week I had an amazing day out in London attending the joint launch party for Belinda Jones' latest novel The Travelling Tea Shop and Sunlounger 2, a fabulous collection of short stories by some of the best fiction writers around which is being published soon.

I had already been planning a giveaway for a copy of The Travelling Tea Shop as part of this Hodder & Stoughton feature week but as I was meeting Belinda in person I was able to get her to sign the book for the lucky winner ;)

A delectable tale of love, friendship and cake...

Laurie loves a challenge. Especially if it involves tea-time and travel. So when British baking treasure Pamela Lambert-Leigh needs a guide on a research trip for her new cookbook, she jumps at the chance.

Books Read: Sunlounger

Take a trip around the world with 44 of the hottest writers in Women's fiction.

This collection of sun-kissed short stories will have you boarding a millionaire's yacht in St Tropez, exploring a sheik's palace in Dubai, swimming with dolphins in Australia, partying in Ibiza, surfing in Hawaii, exploring ancient ruins in Turkey and Cambodia and sipping Limoncello in Italy! 

Whether you read it on your favourite beach (Sunlounger features golden sands from Greece to Thailand) or on your daily commute or coffee break you will be spirited away on a variety of adventures - some will make you chuckle, some will make your heart pang, others will inspire you to live your life to the max!

 Amazon link: Kindle

My top 5 books read this Summer

This week I've decided to run another feature week on the blog and the theme I decided on was to do a review of books that myself, other bloggers and authors have enjoyed reading over the Summer months.

I've been lucky to have been sent so many fantastic books to read, some that I probably would not have read otherwise, so it was extremely difficult to narrow it down to just 5 books but in the end this was the selection I came up with.

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

North Carolina, 1960. Newlywed Jane Forrester, fresh out of university, is seeking what most other women have shunned: a career. But life as a social worker is far from what she expected. Out amongst the rural Tobacco fields of Grace County, Jane encounters a world of extreme poverty that is far removed from the middle-class life she has grown up with. But worse is still to come. Working with the Hart family and their fifteen-year-old daughter Ivy, it’s not long before Jane uncovers a shocking secret, and is thrust into a moral dilemma that puts her career on the line, threatens to dissolve her marriage, and ultimately, determines the fate of Ivy and her family forever. Soon Jane is forced to take drastic action, and before long, there is no turning back.

My first pick was easy as Diane Chamberlain has become one of my favourite authors in recent years and Necessary Lies didn't disappoint.  I've recommended this book to many friends and family and it's certainly prompted some interesting discussions afterwards as to the ethics of the topic that this book is about!

Introducing Sunlounger... a fab collection of short stories

One of the books I'm most looking forward to reading this Summer is Sunlounger,  a fabulous collection of short stories by more than 30+ authors, which is being published on 1st July. 

The stories promise to take us across the globe so for those of us not having a summer holiday this year we can read and dream about some of the beautiful destinations, Dubai, St. Tropez, Australia... to name a few, and pretend that it's us on these journeys.

The website was launched this weekend and I love it.  There's so much info on there to discover, authors taking part and the destination they wrote about, travel tips, as well as the chance for you to win a diamante-studded suitcase fall of signed books.  

Books Read: Belinda Jones - Winter Wonderland

Imagine waking up in a snow globe. . . 

That's how travel journalist Krista feels when she arrives in magical Quebec to report on Canada's glittering Winter Carnival.

Over ten sub-zero days Krista's formerly frozen heart begins to melt as she discovers an enchanting world of ice palaces, husky dog-sledding and maple-syrup treats galore. And then she meets Jacques, a man as handsome and rugged as he is mysterious. . .

The two share a secret that could bond them forever, but can they find a way to break through the protective layers around their hearts to warm up this winter wonderland?

. . . let the snow-spangled adventure begin

Winner announced in Winter Wonderland giveaway

The deadline has just passed for my latest giveaway to win a copy of Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones.  The winner entry as selected by Random.org was number 11, Sam C, I've just emailed you for your postal details so that I can pass this to Belinda's publicist to post the book to you.

If you were not lucky this time don't forget there's still a chance to win a signed copy of When I Fall In Love by Miranda Dickinson in my other current giveaway here.

Author Interview: Belinda Jones plus chance to win a copy of Winter Wonderland

Today's special guest on the blog is author Belinda Jones.  Having read all of Belinda's previous books I'm looking forward to reading her next book, Winter Wonderland, which is due to be published next week so I'm delighted that she agreed to answer a few questions ... OK maybe more than a few!  Thanks Belinda x   

Can you describe Winter Wonderland in 20 words or less?

Imagine stepping into an enchanted snow globe world and meeting a man so gorgeous all your former heartaches vanish!

Which comes first, the plot for your book or the destination where its going to be set?

The destination!! Which I realise sounds totally backwards but really, the destination is my inspiration. It is what triggers all the ideas for the plot and even the careers of the leading characters - it's not every setting that could have a dog-sledding champion as a leading man! And then the emotional themes typically come from whatever is gnawing at me at the time. 

Your books have taken us all over the world, which was your favourite destination?

Let's face it, none of them have been too shabby - Tahiti, Costa Rica, Cuba! But I truly fell head-over-heels in love with Quebec. I remember when I first saw the snow-spangled city from up high in an observation lounge, I felt this childlike wonder and literally got tingles. It was just so magical and beautiful, I wanted everyone to see it for themselves. That sense of amazement stayed with me the whole week I was there. So many new experiences, half of them up to your armpits in snow! And don't get me started on the maple syrup pie!

Are you able to give us a hint about what your next novel is about? And when is it likely to be published?

THE TRAVELLING TEA SHOP is a cake-themed caper around New England in a red London bus! Lots of yummy recipes for American favourites like Red Velvet Cake and Boston Creme Pie! It will be published Autumn 2013. (Or should I say Fall since it's set in the US!)