Coming Soon from Carina UK

As this feature week for Carina UK draws to a close it's time to take a look at a few of the books that they will be publishing in the next few weeks.

From Paris with Love by Samantha Tonge (published 24th July)

Every girl dreams of hearing those four magical words Will you marry me? But no-one tells you what’s supposed to happen next…

Fun-loving Gemma Goodwin knows she should be revelling in her happy-ever-after. Except when her boyfriend Lord Edward popped the question, after a whirlwind romance, although she didn’t say no….she didn’t exactly say yes either!

A month-long cookery course in Paris could be just the place to make sure her heart and her head are on the same page... And however disenchanted with romance Gemma is feeling, the City of Love has plenty to keep her busy; the champagne is decadently quaffable, the croissants almost too delicious, and shopping is a national past-time! In fact, everything in Paris makes her want to say Je t’aime… Except Edward!

But whilst Paris might offer plenty of distractions from wedding planning – including her new friends, mysterious Joe and hot French rockstar Blade - there’s no reason she couldn’t just try one or two couture dresses is there? Just for fun…

Books Read: Annie Lyons - Dear Lizzie

Two sisters. Twelve letters. One year that changes everything.

Lizzie and Bea Harris were always very close. They were sisters and nothing could tear them apart. Until Bea dies at the age of thirty-five, leaving her sister twelve letters and a mission that will change Lizzie’s life forever.

Alone for the first time Lizzie is left trying to pull together the pieces of a life she has for so long ignored. With Bea’s list of last requests, Lizzie has a chance to finally find a place for herself in the world - out from under the shadow of her sister.

Amazon links: Kindle  

Author Interview: Annie Lyons

This afternoon I'm delighted to welcome Annie Lyons for a virtual hang out where we chat about anything and everything, book related of course :-)

What does a typical writing day look like for you?
Once the children are safely tucked up at school I come home, make a large pot of coffee, put on a load of washing (I find the noise conducive to writing) and start to write. I usually carry on until lunchtime (which can be anything between 12 and 2 depending on progress and hunger levels). After lunch, I answer e-mails and delve into the world of social media before the school run.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book Dear Lizzie?
It’s the story of two very different but devoted sisters, Bea and Lizzie Harris. Bea is the confident, accomplished one with a brilliant career, loving husband and young son. Lizzie is lonely and alone, estranged from the rest of her family but still in touch with her big sister, who acts as her guide and confidante through life. When Bea dies, Lizzie is devastated but her sister leaves her a parcel containing twelve letters to be opened, one a month, for the next year. They contain Bea’s final wishes for her sister; wishes which she hopes will make Lizzie happy but which will ultimately change her life forever.

Books Read: Annie Lyons - Not Quite Perfect

Sometimes having it all isn’t enough…

Emma has everything she’s ever wanted. Her boyfriend’s just proposed and her career has finally taken off. And so what if her latest client just happens to be downright gorgeous? She’s getting married. Isn’t she?

Rachel’s married with 2.4 children (well, actually, 3) and life is all about trying to leave the house in a non-stained top. Once it was about skinny cappuccinos, cocktails and dynamic ad agency meetings. She wants her old life back, but can it ever be the same?

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback 

Guest Book Review: Terri Nixon - A Rose in Flanders Fields

Reviewed by Clodagh Phelan

Driving an ambulance through the mud in Flanders, aristocrat Evie Creswell is a long way from home. At Oaklands Manor all she had been expected to do was to look pretty and make a good marriage. But with the arrival of World War One everything changed…

And Evie, to the horror of her family, does not choose a husband from her blue-blooded set; instead she weds artist Will Davies, who works as a butcher’s apprentice. Soon she is struggling nightly to transport the wounded to hospital, avoiding the shells and gas attacks – her privileged home life, and her family’s disappointment at her marriage, a lifetime away.

And while Evie drives an ambulance in Belgium, Will is in the trenches in France. He withdraws from her, the trauma of his experience taking hold. Evie has the courage to deal with her war work, but it breaks her heart to think she is losing Will’s love. Can their marriage survive this terrible war? That is, if they both get out alive…

Amazon Link: Kindle

Guest Post: Inspiration behind The Last Word by A.L Michael

Today as part of my Carina UK feature I have a fab guest post written by author A.L. Michael giving us an insight into the inspiration behind her latest novel The Last Word.

How did The Last Word begin? Well, I distinctly remember scrabbling around for a spoon in my parents’ kitchen and thinking ‘Tabitha Riley- fuck that’s a good name for a character.’ The development of the story was more nuanced and varied. I was single for the first time in a few years, I’d gone off travelling after finishing my masters degree, and I was living in my parents’ house in London. I had thought that travelling around Australia and America would offer up these insights into romance, I’d thought I’d go off and fall in love once a day. And in many ways I did. With someone’s smile, someone’s laugh. I fell asleep on the coach with my earphones in, listening to Adele and thinking ‘yeah, that’s what love is.’

But I wasn’t looking for love, I was looking for a story. And real life love stories never seem to be as interesting. So I came home, recommenced working at Starbucks, and decided to write my own love story. I’d already written a novel the year before, a coming of age drama called Wine Dark, Sea Blue, which ended up being published whilst I was writing The Last Word.

Books Read: Rebecca Raisin - The Bookshop on the Corner

Who said that only real heroes could be found in fiction?

Sarah Smith had an addiction – she was addicted to romance novels. The meet-cute, the passion, the drama and the gorgeous men! Now this wouldn’t have been such an issue if she hadn’t been the owner of the only bookshop in Ashford, Connecticut.

Ever since her close friend Lil, from The Gingerbread Café, had become engaged she had been yearning for a little love to turn up in her life. Except Sarah knew a good man was hard to find – especially in a tiny town like Ashford. That was until New York journalist, Ridge Warner stepped into her bookshop…

Love could be just around the corner for Sarah, but will she be able to truly believe that happy-ever-after can happen in real-life too!

Amazon links: Kindle 

Author Interview: Rebecca Raisin

Today is the start of another publisher feature week, this time for Harlequin's digital imprint Carina UK.

Kicking off the week I'm delighted to welcome Australian author Rebecca Raisin who has been a fabulous supporter to myself and fellow bloggers.

What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I drop my squidlets at school. Return home and survey the mess. And again wonder how two little people can wreak such havoc. Duly ignore said mess and begin writing. The mornings are best for me, I write for about four hours, and then stop because my ‘other’ life takes over. I spend lots of time at night on social media catching up with my book-loving friends. And then rinse and repeat. 

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book The Bookshop on the Corner?
Sarah Smith owns The Bookshop on the Corner in the tiny town of Ashford. She adores romance books and secretly hopes one day to find her own happy ever after. She’s a little quirky in that she believes her books come to life when she’s not in the shop, like they are magical, and have soul. But really, she just thinks books are the answer to everything; she finds them a comfort, like they’re old friends. Her ‘real’ friends want her to step out of her comfort zone and try and find a romance that’s not only on the black and white pages, but Sarah isn’t so sure. She’s an introvert, and she is holding out for the perfect book boyfriend, if he is purely fictional, well then, she’s stuck with that. That is until a reporter who looks like a cover model from a Harlequin book steps into her bookshop...