The Dog's Bollocks by Lynda Renham
Harriet Lawson's day really doesn't turn out quite as she expected. Coming home to a wrecked flat and a missing boyfriend wasn't her idea of a good day! Harriet soon finds out that her boyfriend has one or two secrets that involve money owed to a gangster family and she has the responsibility to get the money owed before her boyfriend loses body parts! An offer from a wealthy man may just offer Harriet the opportunity to pay off her debts and get her life back on track! All she has to do is get engaged to him in order for him to inherit a large sum of money! What could possibly go wrong!? Famous last words! Harriet's life is soon spiraling out of control and suddenly her nice simple arrangement becomes the most cringe-worthy and difficult situation that takes Harriet well out of her comfort zone. As if things couldn't get any more complicated, cue one handsome doctor who gets Harriet's heart racing and Harriet's own nutty family!
Let me first start this review by saying that I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Its totally hilarious and the story is amazing! The characters are all likeable in their own way, even the 'baddies' and at times the book went in directions I was just not expecting! All this plus romance too! What more could you ask for?! There were lots of 'laugh out loud' moments throughout and I just love Harriet. She is brave, bolshy and her life is like a carry on movie! A fantastically written book. This is one of those books that you just know would make a fantastic movie! I couldn't put it down. There were incidents in the story that had me cringing with embarrassment for Harriet, and times when I wanted to punch a few of the smarmy characters. I'd highly recommend this book. I think I am now a Lynda Renham fan!!
*This book was previously titled - The Valentine Present and Other Diabolical Liberties.
Jane Lark - Guest Post - I Found You Blog tour
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to welcome Jane Lark to the blog today with a guest post as part of the 'I Found You' blog tour.
Getting into the mind of a character
The first thing I do when I come up with a story idea is
develop the characters. I have to really understand who they are and what
motivates them before I even begin to work out where their story is going to
go, and the story for I Found You
came from a single image of Rachel standing on a bridge. I didn’t just see her
standing in the electric light, I felt her pain, so then I had to unravel that
and give her a back story and a personality before I began to write.
I’ll be honest, I
Found You, wasn’t the easiest story to write. I don’t want to write
characters you’ll find everywhere, and the New Adult genre is flooded with bad
guy verse good girl. In I Found You,
it’s Rachel who’s a mess. Don’t get me wrong Jason has issues of a different sort
- but Rachel is the bad one. Where people tolerate a guy who has a dodgy back
story though, they are less tolerant of a girl, so the story weaves a fine
line, trying to draw out empathy for Rachel when she’s lived a fast life.
But there are reasons for her messed up mind and bad
judgments which come out later. Those reasons do pile on complexity though
because there are times, as a reader, you just won’t get her, at the same
moments Jason doesn’t get what the hell is going on either. That’s because she
is not a stereotypical person, only a small percentage of people would truly
understand Rachel…
But in my day job, part of what I work on, is developing
diversity, I promote accepting the differences in people and reducing judgement
and so I deliberately wrote this to stretch people’s minds and challenge
attitudes, and encourage acceptance of those who don’t fit in the usual round
peg hole. That’s Rachel…
Publisher Harper Impulse
Publishing date: 5th
December 2013
Tomorrow is
for regrets. Tonight is for being together.
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. There’s his fiancée back
home in Oregon and a family who just don’t trust this girl from the wrong side
of the tracks.
But when
the connection between them is so electric, so right… everyone else must be
wrong. And as the snow begins to settle on the Hudson, there’s nothing but the possibility
of what could be – of this, right here, right now. Them.
About the Author
Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate
and emotional Historical and New Adult Romances.
She began her first novel at sixteen, but a life full of difficulty
derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis.
When she finally
completed a novel it was because she was determined to be able to say I’m a
writer.
Now Jane is
thrilled to be giving her characters life in others’ imaginations at last.
Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development, and uses her knowledge of psychology to bring her characters to life.
Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development, and uses her knowledge of psychology to bring her characters to life.
‘Basically I’m a
sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love and it’s
wonderful to be able to do it time and time again in fiction, plus my
understanding of people helps me write the really intense relationships I enjoy
creating.’
Website http://www.janelark.co.uk
Twitter https://twitter.com/JaneLnabooks
Extraordinary Retribution - Erec Stebbins Blog Tour
Welcome to the Extraordinary Retribution tour!
Find out all the information on Erec Stebbins' new political thriller that readers are calling 'dark' and 'engrossing', plus enter the tour giveaway for the chance to win yourself a signed copy of this chilling novel.
What they say:
'Sometimes evil is not born of madness, but madness of evil."
Know Yourself Before the Fire
Guest Post by Erec Stebbins
The fragility of trying to be someone you are not is rarely a point mentioned in the ever-growing modern discussions of “being yourself.” Most of these “life-coach” talks concentrate on how trying to be someone you are not, living for the ideas others have or wish for you, or running from one’s true nature, damage the “psyche”, stunt emotional growth, impair deep relationships, hinder life fulfillment, etc.
In other words, these discussions are all about how you can be happier/better/free when you embrace your inner You.
Of course, if that inner You is a sadist or murderer, the strategy reveals certain limitations. And while those may seem extreme examples, the reality is that human beings are on a broad spectrum from Hannibal Lector to Gandhi. Therefore, it is rarely simply an “either/or” regarding “being yourself.” We all have aspects of our personalities that for various reasons we may or may not want to deny and live as if we did not have them.
However, there are some people, perhaps many, who turn their backs in a dramatic way on core, deep elements of themselves. Regardless of whether this is good or bad for the individual and society, the often-ignored reality is that it is a very fragile equilibrium.
When such personalities are truly tested in the fire of life events, the layers of acting and self-coaching often melt first. Then they begin to think and act outside of those designed constraints, more effortlessly, more immediately, more honestly, and more true to themselves. For good and ill.
In my new thriller, Extraordinary Retribution, Father Francisco Lopez is one such person. All his life he has contrasted himself to his brother who was a sports and military hero. He eschewed retaliation, turned his back on the inherent violence and action in himself, and sought to become a man freed from those things. He turned to God, to emulate Christ, to turn the other cheek and pray for his enemies.
Until his brother was viciously murdered.
When Father Lopez stumbled upon the mutilated remains of his brother in his family’s cabin, all those layers of saintliness that he had sheltered himself within began to shatter. A long suppressed personality began to stir and overwhelm him. When he partners with a rogue CIA agent to investigate the murder, as they begin to uncover a conspiracy in the United States government that seems to have no bottom, and as those dark forces push the pair to the edge of survival and sanity, he undergoes a transformation that all his years of restraint cannot prevent.
In the end, the two-sides of his personality – his empathy and decency, his anger and ability to commit violence – confront each other before an adversity that has brought the CIA to its knees. His choices will determine the bloody climax of the novel, and shape the remainder of his life.
And his dilemma poses a question for all of us: when the impossible test comes, who will we turn out to be?
:
Erec Stebbins is a biomedical researcher who writes political and international thrillers, science fiction, narrated storybooks, and more.
WATCH THE TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIjyGcU8rOw
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
More books by Erec Stebbins
Promo Post - Emma: There's No Turning Back by Linda Mitchelmore
Publisher: Choc Lit
It isn’t easy to look forward when the past is so close behind
you
Life hasn’t always been kind to Emma Le Goff. She has had her fair
share of hardship and now finally, her life appears to be looking up. She
and her childhood sweetheart, Seth Jago, are set to marry and both believe that
an idyllic existence, free from heartache, awaits them.
However, when they discover that the past is more difficult to
forget than they could have ever imagines, Emma continues to be haunted by the
mysterious circumstances surrounding her family, and Seth is hounded by a
jealous ex-lover set on revenge.
Seth plans for their escape to Canada, but when the charismatic
Matthew Caunter returns to Devon, Emma finds herself uncertain of whether a move
to Canada is really what she wants...
About the Author
Linda Mitchelmore was born in Devon and still lives there with her husband
of over forty years, Roger. She has two adult children. When viral damage robbed
her of her hearing she took up writing for something to do as she could no
longer enjoy radio/music/television/theatre. Short story publications started to
mount up – she’s now had 300 or so published worldwide – so she decided to try
writing novels. It took a while, but eventually Choc Lit offered her a contract.
TO TURN FULL CIRCLE was published in June 2012, and its sequel, EMMA: There’s No
Turning Back is out as an ebook now and will be in paperback on 7th January
2014. HOPE FOR HANNAH and GRAND DESIGNS (both novellas) have also been published
by Choc Lit as ebooks. She is currently working on the third in her EMMA
trilogy. But she escapes from the keyboard sometimes! Gardening has always been
a love, as has a good, long, walk in good company. And now added to the mix are
two grandchildren, Alex and Emily, to keep her on her toes and indulge herself
reading them bedtime stories when they come to stay.
@lindamitchelmor (no 'e' on the end)
Sunlounger by Belinda Jones - Short stories by 40+ favourite authors!
I know this seems like an unusual time of year to be posting a review about a book that is perfect beach reading. However, given that the weather is horrible, wet and miserable I thought a book with stories set in warm, far flung places would be perfect to cheer the soul!
Each of the stories, written by a variety of very talented authors is set in different countries and allows the reader to disappear off to exotic places with interesting people, all who find themselves in some unusual situations.
Reading the book reminded me why I love short stories so much. Its the perfect book to dip in and out of whenever you need a bit of escapism. Even now I sometimes get the book out and disappear into a world of sun kissed beaches and swarthy handsome young men! So far I haven't found a story that I didn't enjoy! Each one is incredibly well written. This book gives you the perfect opportunity to get to read the work of some new authors and would certainly encourage me to look for more of their work. Highly recommended. Well done to all the authors for their contributions to this great anthology.
The Ruby Slippers by Keir Alexander
The
Ruby Slippers is the type of book I absolutely love. It’s a story where all the
characters end up connected in some way or another and each individual story is
told, concluding with some connection to another character. Michael is a grocer
who is almost nearing retirement age. His aunt Rosa is a social pariah who is
seen as the smelly old bag lady, which is exactly how she looks. However, an
accident soon reveals Aunt Rosa’s secrets; in particular a pair of ruby
slippers.
The book takes us on a journey of exploration in relation to the
slippers and we discover their amazing history. Michael himself is taken on a
journey of self-discovery finding out more about Aunt Rosa than he could ever
have imagined and struggling with the trauma of his childhood during the war.
Soon the slippers become prominent in the lives of James, who has just lost his
partner Paulo and Harrison who desires the ruby slippers in a very dangerous
way. The Ruby Slippers shape the lives of many characters in the book, taking
them on a roller-coaster of emotions and difficult decisions to make.
This
book was very enjoyable and extremely well written. Sad and poignant at times,
the story also offers hope and a promise of a better life. The story doesn’t
speed along but takes the reader on a gentle saunter through the lives of many
interesting characters, each flawed but all likeable and interesting. Highly
recommended. The book is due for release on 20th March so add it to your wishlist or pre-order from Lovereading site or Amazon. Published through Constable and Robinson.
*This review will also appear on Lovereading.co.uk as I am a member of the Reviewer panel. I received an advanced copy in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.
Happy New Year from Brook Cottage Books!
Well lovely blog followers, another year has dawned and I have a feeling its going to be a good one! There are lots of fantastic books on my towering TBR pile and I once again thank everyone for their patience in waiting for me to get to their books. I have lots planned for the blog in 2014 and I hope you continue to enjoy all the features and reviews. If you check out the blog diary regularly there will be a list of what to expect each month on the blog.
As you are all aware, I had been hoping to get to 100 followers for the new year and I am pleased to say that I reached the target and the blog now has 101 followers! I appreciate everyone's support and I am very pleased to tell you all that we have a winner for the £10 Amazon voucher. The winner was picked in a very scientific way - my daughter picked by closing her eyes and putting a sticker on the screen list of followers! It was a bit like an electronic version of pin the tail on the donkey! Anyway, without further ado............(drum roll).......The Winner is......................
SARAH BROADHURST!
Congratulations to Sarah! Thank you to everyone who took part. Happy New Year! xxx
