Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn by Tilly Tennant

Read: 23 March 2014
Why: Copy received as part of the Gosling Girls Book Tour

Rating: 4 stars

Brief synopsis:  There’s only one man for Bonnie, and that’s Holden Finn.

The problem is that Holden Finn is a twenty-three-year-old pop megastar with his boy band, Every Which Way, and has no idea she exists. Not only that, but half the women in the world want to be Mrs Finn, including Bonnie’s teenage daughter, Paige. The real men in Bonnie’s life do nothing but let her down, but a man you can’t possibly have can never do that… right? She’s safe inside her fantasy bubble.

Then Paige wins a radio competition to meet Holden and the band, and Bonnie’s carefully-constructed world starts to unravel. She is about to find out that you should be very, very careful what you wish for…

What I thought: This book was a well written, really light-hearted fun read, full of lots of interesting characters.

Personally, I found it very difficult to relate to Bonnie, but I think that’s because my celeb crush was always just a crush. Despite her thirty-five years of age, Bonnie is beyond obsessed with Holden Finn – constantly tweeting him and even Facebook stalking his mother too. Luckily, it didn’t really deter from the storyline as despite it’s title, the book isn’t all about Bonnie’s infatuation with Holden Finn – at the heart of this book is a love story and whatever you think of Bonnie, you can’t help but want her to find true love.

I think the star of the book wasn’t Holden Finn but Bonnie’s mother Jeanie. She was my favourite character by far – I absolutely loved the leather trouser wearing rocker who describes Annie Lennox as ‘amazeballs’ and can be found moshing with her granddaughter to Queen when she’s not at the Blood Festival!

I adored the characters Max and Linda too. Linda is so kind-hearted but mischievous, especially when she’s trying to steer Bonnie’s love life in the right direction whilst Max is charming and so very sweet.

A great choice for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Favourite quote:
“A thirty-five-year-old mother of one teenage nemesis getting together with one of the country’s most sought after young bachelors? It was about as likely as finding a real pea in a Pot Noodle.”

Available to buy now from Amazon

The Guestbook by Holly Martin

Read: 27 January 2014
Why: Copy received as part of the Gosling Girls Book Tour

Rating: 5 stars

Brief synopsis: Welcome to Willow Cottage!

Located on the Norfolk coast, the cottage is ideally situated for long strolls and picnics on the beach plus the odd bit of seal spotting. And if there’s anything else you need, landlady Annie Butterworth is always on hand with tea, sympathy or strong Norfolk cider.

So throw open the shutters, let in the sea breeze and make yourself completely at home. Oh, and please do leave a comment in the Guestbook!

Through the pages of the Guestbook, Annie and her guests that struggle with love, loss, mystery, joy, happiness, guilt…and the odd spot of naked rambling!

What I thought: This book is BLOODY BRILLIANT!

I’ve never read anything like this before – the story is told, not in the traditional novel format, but as the title suggests, through entries in The Guestbook. Some guests use is as a diary during their stay whilst others use it simply to communicate with Annie. But the one thing I’d say they all had in common… they’re all a little more open and honest when hiding behind its pages!

Despite Annie being the central character, I really liked that her story didn’t seem to take over the book as there were some fantastic guest stories. The guest entries really added a lot of variety into the story; some funny, some a little scary and some really quite sad. The author did such a fantastic job of capturing the voice of each character, it really did feel as though the entries were all written by different people.

There were so many amazing characters but I think my favourite had to be young Megan Meecham for her sweet innocence and wisdom beyond her 6.5/7 years!

I can’t wait to see what comes next from this very lovely author.

Favourite quote:
Courtesy of Megan, aged 7 “I SAID THAT MR BUTTERWORTH THE ONE THAT IS STILL ALIVE SHOULD MARRY ANNIE AND MUMMY SAID THAT IT DOESNT WORK LIKE THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET MARRIED BOTH PEOPLE NEED TO LOVE EACH OTHER VERY MUCH. BUT LAST TIME WE WERE HERE MR BUTTERWORTH, THE ALIVE ONE, KEPT GIVING ANNIE LOOKS THE SAME LOOKS THAT DADDY GIVES MUMMY THAT SHOWS THAT DADDY LOVES MUMMY MORE THAN CHOCOLATE. DADDY LOVES CHOCOLATE VERY MUCH.”

Available to buy now from Amazon

Between a Rockstar and a Hard Place by Portia Macintosh

Read: 16 February 2014
Why: Copy received as part of the Gosling Girls Book Tour

Rating: 4 stars

Brief synopsis: Behind the music…

Being best friends with Dylan King, gorgeous lead singer of The Burnouts, can be hard work – once the alcohol hits his blood stream, ‘little Dylan’ takes control!

Now, Nicole has to track down Dylan in time to play a charity gig tomorrow. Half a dozen groupies, a haunted hotel, a tattoo parlour, a reality show runner-up and a crazy bed-hopping, sleepless night later – will she find him before the tour bus leaves town? And when she does, is it time to head home? Or to jump on the tour bus and go along for the ride!

Between a Rockstar and a Hard Place is the fun and fabulous prequel to Portia MacIntosh’s Starstruck due out March 2014.

What I thought: This is a short but fun prequel giving the reader a snippet of Dylan’s rockstar lifestyle.

The story is told from Nicole’s point of view. Nicole is a fun character and it was really easy to like her. I often felt sympathy for her as Dylan’s antics leave his best friend filling the manager role, chasing him all over town.

Dylan is just how I would imagine your stereotypical rockstar – a handful to control and easily distracted, especially when it comes to the ladies!

This book definitely does what it is supposed to… leaves you wanting to read more!

Favourite quote:
“It’s not because he’s homeless that I don’t want him tagging along, it’s because he could be anyone – a murderer, a psycho, a Steps fan – it’s just too much of a risk.”

Available to buy now from Amazon

COMING SOON! The First Time We Met by Pippa Croft

Available from 13th February 2014…

The blurb:

When US Senator’s daughter, Lauren Cusack, arrives at the enchanting Wyckham College of Oxford University she hopes to mend her broken heart by throwing herself into her studies.
But then English aristocrat Alexander Hunt walks into her life and everything changes. Handsome, brooding, and with his own dark past to escape, Alexander is exactly what Lauren doesn’t need – but she finds herself helplessly drawn towards him.

Both Alexander and Lauren know that they should stay away from each other… but sometimes desire is so powerful that it conquers all else.

The Gosling Girls have taken time out from kidnapping the heartbroken Ryan to make another fantastic video. Check out how we first met here:

Extract:
Lauren Cusack is an American student, newly arrived to start her master’s in Art History at Wyckham College, Oxford. As she unloaded her luggage, she glimpsed a strikingly handsome guy, and has wondered ever since who he is…

In spite of my words, my pulse rate spikes as I take in the dark brown hair and those quarterback shoulders. I know him. He’s the guy from the Range Rover.
He can’t be that much older than me, but there’s something behind those eyes that makes me think he’s lived much longer and seen so much more than I ever have or will. He glares down at me as if I’ve committed a crime.
‘You’ve been crying,’ he says.
‘No, I have not.’ But damn, my hand brushes over my cheek as I deny the obvious.
‘Yes, you have. Your eyes look red and your face is wet.’
‘So my contacts are irritating. Is there a law against it?’
His nostrils flare slightly. ‘Of course not. Wait.’ He pulls a clean white square from the pocket of his suit and his voice softens. ‘May I? There’s a lash in the corner of your eye. I don’t want to smudge your mascara any more than it already is. Tilt your head up, please.’
It may be a request but the way he says it, there’s no room for negotiation. I tilt and my heart thumps like a road drill. Reaching out, he dabs at the tear tracks on my cheek with his handkerchief. I know I ought to feel patronised but it’s such an unexpectedly tender gesture from this granite-hewn guy that I don’t want to stop him. As his fingers brush across my damp skin, there’s a tightening low in my belly that I can’t mistake for anger or nerves. As he touches me, my skin prickles all over and not in a bad way.
‘Just relax,’ he orders and I’m in no position to disobey with my gaze turned skyward. I feel the cool of metal softly graze my cheek and realise he has a ring on his little finger. This close, he smells of freshly laundered linen. No cologne, no booze, just cool and clean and composed.
‘That’s it.’
There’s a moment where I don’t think I will ever be able to move again, then I glance down and the eyelash is the tiniest thing on the tip of his little finger. And there’s the ring. A gold signet ring like my grandfather used to wear.
‘Thank you.’
‘A pleasure.’ His expression doesn’t match his words but he adds, ‘That didn’t hurt a bit, did it?’
If he says it doesn’t hurt, I guess it doesn’t. The wind is blowing through the cloisters and has pasted my damp dress to my body like shrink wrap. I feel naked before him and throw my arms around my chest, not that it’s any kind of protection from a gaze that seems to penetrate my flesh and bones.
A smile flickers over his face and for that brief second, his austerely handsome profile is transfused with warmth. My God, he is beautiful. Scary but divine. What is he doing here at Wyckham?
‘Don’t look so scared. I don’t bite.’

The author:

About Pippa: Pippa Croft is the pen name of an award-winning romantic novelist. After studying English at Oxford, she worked as a copywriter and journalist before writing her debut novel, which won the RNA’s New Writers’ award and was later made into a TV movie. She lives in a village in the heart of England with her husband and daughter.

https://twitter.com/PippaCroftBooks
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pippa-Croft/202374169948664?fref=ts
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7752636.Pippa_Croft

How to Get a (Love) Life by Rosie Blake

Read: 28 January 2014
Why: Copy received in exchange for honest review

Rating: 3 stars

Brief synopsis: When Nicola was younger she never imagined that at 29 she’d still be single, living alone and eating the same set menu each week.

Her work colleague Caroline decides it’s time for Nicola to loosen up and get herself a love life. Daring her to find someone before Valentines Day… in just 3 months time.

What I thought: I really liked the idea of this story and wanted to love the book but sadly I was disappointed.

Whilst there were things about the book that were good, unfortunately nothing really jumped out at me as great. The humour seemed very forced in places and for me, there were a few scenes, like the one with the psychic in the office, that didn’t really seem to add anything to the story whilst other parts were rushed or even skipped. There was no depth behind the story of the ultimate love interest and prior to him announcing his boyfriend status, I hadn’t really detected any chemistry between the two characters. It certainly wasn’t a blossoming romance.

Available to buy now from Amazon

COVER REVEAL! The Guestbook by Holly Martin

Available from 14th February 2014…

The blurb:

Welcome to Willow Cottage – throw open the shutters, let in the sea breeze and make yourself completely at home. Oh, and please do leave a comment in the Guestbook!

As landlady of Willow Cottage, the young widow Annie Butterworth is always on hand with tea, sympathy or strong Norfolk cider – whatever her colourful array of guests require. A flick through the messages in the leather-bound cottage guestbook gives a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of everyone who passes through her doors.

This includes Annie herself – especially now celebrity crime writer Oliver Black, is back in town. He might grace the covers of gossip magazines with a different glamorous supermodel draped on his arm every week, but to Annie, he’s always just been Olly, the man who Annie shared her first kiss with.

Through the pages of the Guestbook Annie and Olly, along with all the guests that arrive at the seaside retreat, struggle with love, loss, mystery, joy, happiness, guilt…and the odd spot of naked rambling!

Forget sending postcards saying ‘wish you were here’ – one visit to Willow Cottage and you’ll wish you could stay forever.

The author:

Holly lives in sunny Bedfordshire in a house with round windows. She studied media at university which led to a very glitzy career as a hotel receptionist followed by a even more glamorous two years working in a bank. A colleague receiving the much coveted carriage clock for fifteen years service was the moment when Holly knew she had to escape. Three years later, after returning to university to retrain as a teacher, she emerged wide eyed and terrified of the responsibility for the development of thirty young minds. Holly taught for four years before History Off The Page came to the school to do a Tudor day. She now drives round the country in a little white van, dressing up as a Viking one day and an Egyptian High Priestess the next.

You can contact Holly on hollymartin.writer@gmail.com or follow on Twitter @hollymartin00

COVER REVEAL! Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn by Tilly Tennant

Available from 30th January 2014…

The blurb: There’s only one man for Bonnie, and that’s Holden Finn.

The problem is that Holden Finn is a twenty-three-year-old pop megastar with his boy band, Every Which Way, and has no idea she exists. Not only that, but half the women in the world want to be Mrs Finn, including Bonnie’s teenage daughter, Paige. The real men in Bonnie’s life do nothing but let her down, but a man you can’t possibly have can never do that… right? She’s safe inside her fantasy bubble.

Then Paige wins a radio competition to meet Holden and the band, and Bonnie’s carefully-constructed world starts to unravel. She is about to find out that you should be very, very careful what you wish for…

This cover reveal has been organised by the Gosling Girls and they don’t do things by halves. They’re not just giving us this fantastic cover to reveal – those very talented girls have made this fabulous video too…

The author:

Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset but now lives in Staffordshire with her slightly nutty family. Tilly is married to Mr Tennant (not that one, though a girl can dream). She likes nothing better than curling up in a quiet corner with a glass of wine watching the world go by, but can more usually be found taxiing her daughters to parties or taking them on emergency shopping trips. After a huge list of dismal and disastrous jobs over the years, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing, she began working as a temporary secretary in a hospital to boost her income whilst doing a degree in English and creative writing. This job lasted nine years. Not terribly temporary. But it does mean that she knows just what it’s like to make monumental admin cock-ups, spend the month’s wages in the hospital coffee shop and fall in love with all the doctors. As she’s a smug married, however, it’s fortunate that the doctors in question don’t usually feel the same way.

Get in touch with Tilly:

Website: http://tillytennant.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TillyTenWriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7204286.Tilly_Tennant
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TillyTennant?fref=ts

Competition:

WIN a £10 amazon gift voucher by commenting on Tilly’s blog with your funniest celebrity crush encounter. Good luck to all who enter!

http://tillytennant.com/

Johnny’s Girl by Paige Toon

Read: 7 December 2013
Why: Sequel to Baby Be Mine

Rating: 3 stars

Brief synopsis: Meg’s worst nightmare becomes a reality when Johnny’s rock star past catches up with him.

What I thought: I’m a big fan of Paige Toon’s books but unfortunately I found myself let down again by her ebooks.

Just like One Perfect Christmas, this ebook is too short (half the length of similar ebooks/short stories) and has no real content to the story – we already know about Johnny’s Girl as we were told about her when the Jessie series was announced.

If you’ve not already bought this book, save yourself an hour and £2 with this two line overview: Meg and Johnny are married and have a second son, Phoenix. They move back to LA and find out about Jessie; Johnny’s fifteen year old daughter.

It’s not all bad though – the cover is gorgeous and there didn’t seem to be as much recapping as there was in One Perfect Christmas.

Heart Breaths by K.K. Hendin

Read: 5 November 2013
Why: Copy received in exchange for honest review

Rating: 4.5 stars

Brief synopsis: When Maddie shoved everything she owned into the trunk of her car and set off to an unknown destination, she was hoping to escape the memories of the past three years.

But the past never stays past, and all too soon, Maddie realises she can’t hide from hers. If she can’t put the pieces of her shattered life together this time, she’ll have no hope for a future.

A future she desperately wants.

What I thought: This book was not at all what I expected… it was so much better! It is a wonderful story that really tugs at your heartstrings.

The book is packed full of fabulous characters; Sam and the girls that love to jam whilst wearing their mall bling; sweet little Noie and her hunky single-dad Gabe; young at heart Grandma Evelyn providing sex ed to the cafe customers and last, but certainly not least, Maddie. Right from the start you can’t help but like Maddie, and as her tragic past is revealed, those feelings are well and truly cemented.

There’s an unexpected twist to the story, and whilst I can’t say that is something I’ve ever really believed in, the story is told in such a compelling way you feel like it couldn’t possibly not be true. The beautiful ending is just perfect and gives you a moment to take a heart breath of your own.

Favourite quote:
“‘You need to stop treating your heart like it is a safe box, Maddie,’ she said. ‘You need to treat your heart like it is your lungs. It needs to breathe. It needs to keep on opening itself up, over and over and over. You can’t live without your heart breathing.'”

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1492947970

I Found You by Jane Lark

Read: 31 December 2013
Why: Copy received as part of the Fiction Addiction blog tour

Rating: 4 stars

Brief synopsis: On a cold winter night, Rachel and Jason’s lives collide on Manhattan Bridge. She’s running from life, he’s running toward it. But compassion urges him to help her.

His offer of a place to stay leads to friendship and trouble as the two awkward strangers realise they have lived very different lives.

What I thought: I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It’s a great New Adult debut from Jane Lark and a refreshing change from the quiet girl meets bad boy/rock star storyline that the genre seems to be overrun with.

The story alternates between Jason and Rachel’s perspectives which made it even easier to become caught up in their roller coaster of a relationship. Despite her troubles, Rachel quickly becomes this fun-loving character you can’t help but like and Jason is just adorable. Whilst he might not seem it all the time, he’s strong minded without being overly dominant yet kind and considerate too. A real nice guy with a great body!

Whilst the story does move rather quickly, I thought there were some lovely touches that kept it from being unrealistic and the chemistry that the author creates between Jason and Rachel is fantastic. The ending was my only gripe, but a very small one at that – it was just a little bit too perfect for the story.

This book is definitely a must read for all New Adult fans.

Favourite quote:
“I felt like she was the blood in my veins, like without her I wouldn’t be able to breathe, or my heart wouldn’t beat.”

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GFD7I0G

Giveaway:
As part of the blog tour, Jane Lark is giving away one rucksack printed with the cover of I Found You. For your chance to win click here