2015, What a year………

Well in February 2015 I finally did something I had been thinking about for a couple of years………..I started a Blog! And I can honestly say, I haven’t looked back! I have had teething troubles, laptop’s dying and general feelings of the blog not looking professional enough, but I have had nearly 10,000 page views and for me that is absolutely brilliant!!

I have been to book launches, events, signings and have met many amazing people including, authors, publishers, tour hosts and fellow bloggers. Some of whom have become personal friends and for that I can only say a humble thank you. If it wasn’t for these people I wouldn’t have been able to get things off the ground! My Son also deserves a huge mention, as he was the one who one January night this year said “Come on Mum, let’s set you up with a Blog”!! and that was that!

I am not a fast reader and working full time does take it’s toll on my reading  but I have read more books this year than ever and can honestly count on one hand the number of not very good ones! I will be doing a top 10, but this is proving much more difficult to put together than I hoped!!

As I said earlier, I have met some great people this year, but I think there were two highlights for me personally and the first was when I got to meet the late, great, Jackie Collins on 8^th September at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London. Little did we all know then that a mere eleven days later she would succumb to breast cancer. What an amazing lady she was and a true legend. She was funny, feisty, but most of all a damn lovely lady who ooooozed elegance. Thank you Jackie for shaking my hand and putting me at ease. Who’d have thought little old me would ever get to meet a Hollywood Superstar!! The second one was when one of my favourite authors, Kate Rhodes, said I had been mentioned in the acknowledgements of her book River of Souls (Alice Quentin series). I actually squeeled when I found out!!

So on to 2016 – I already have some Blog Tours booked into my diary for January and will be going to a book event and meeting Jill Mansell. An exciting time ahead looms for Boon’s Bookcase. I hope you will join me and come along for the ride!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow book buddy, Julie Williams, who has done many guest reviews on my blog (and who is a much faster reader than me!!). Without her, I wouldn't have been able to put half of the reviews on the blog that I wanted to! Thank you Julie, you are amazing!!

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I wish you health, wealth and happiness in the coming year. 

God Bless. 

Julie

xxxx

My Top 10 reads of 2015

It’s been an absolute nightmare trying to choose my top 10 reads of the year, but I have finally done it and without intentionally hurting any author’s feelings, here goes……

1. A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor – I read this whilst I was on holiday in August and can honestly say it brought me to tears. Written beautifully with a gorgeous cover and the text inside is the best I have seen in a paperback with lovely drawings at the top of the pages and throughout. Utterly stunning read that will leave you wanting more!

2. The Island by Victoria Hislop – I had this book on my bookshelf for more years than I care to divulge, but again, when I went on holiday my good friend recommended I take this one. This book made me cry more than once, but it is so beautifully written that I can’t wait to read more of Victoria’s work and I hope to get to an event to finally meet her as I couldn’t make the ones this year!

3. River of Souls by Kate Rhodes – It’s not a secret that I am Kate’s number one fan and this book is the fourth in the Alice Quentin series (and in my humble opinion, her best!). It has nothing to do with the fact that my name is mentioned in the acknowledgements!!

4. All The Dark Secrets by Jennie Felton – I loved this book so much and am determined to read the second instalment soon as I just adore family sagas! I loved the characters and the way their lives turn around in the face of tragedy. I just loved it!

5. The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die by Marnie Riches – I hosted the first book on my blog as my very first Blog Tour but I think this second book in the George Mackenzie series is even better (I think this might be a trend, so can’t wait for the next instalment!!).

6. No Place for A Lady by Gill Paul – This is an historical wartime novel, again which I love! It came out during the year and one of the battles was in Gallipoli, which was very poignant as it was the anniversary of the battle in WWI.

7. The Day we Disappeared by Lucy Robinson – There is a twist, that’s all I’m saying!! Loved it and can’t wait for the next one!

8. The Piano Man Project by Kat French – This was a great read. Very funny and Hal is a character who just stays with you (mostly for all of the wrong reasons!!!).

9. Rings of Smoke by Diane O’Toole - this one scared the pants out of me with a very creepy main character, but a book that I couldn't put down!

10. Make a Christmas Wish by Julia Williams - This was the first Christmas book I read this year and by far my favourite! I will read this one again and again! Made me laugh one page and then cry like a baby on the next page! Loved it!

I just want to take this opportunity to send you a little Christmas message (I sound like the Queen). It's been one heck of a year for me since starting my blog in February! I have a lot of things lined up for the new year including competitions, book events, reviews, blog tours etc. 

Thank you to all the publishers who very kindly sent me books to review and also to the lovely Bloggers, who without their help and friendship, I would not have been able to get as far on my Blog as I have! and finally to my very dear book friend Julie Williams, who has saved my bacon on more than one occasion by reading and reviewing books when I just can't fit it in! Thank you. I look forward to our trips to book launches together and our monthly meet up to discuss all things books!! 

It just leaves me to say I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, I hope Santa brings you everything you want (hopefully a few more books!!). 

God Bless. 

Julie 
X X

Cover reveal for London Calling by Helen Carey

I do love a family saga, so I am really excited about this book coming soon.  Fingers crossed I get a chance to read it as the cover looks great! I also love the title (being a Londoner!) and the cover is just gorgeous! 

Blurb

It will take more than Hitler's Luftwaffe to break the spirit of the residents of Lavender Road. If courage, resilience and a shared sense of humour could win wars, the conflict would already be over.

It's not all harmony, though. Nurse Molly Coogan and would-be actress Jen Carter certainly don't see eye to eye. Molly, despite hating the strict discipline of wartime hospital life, is unimpressed by flighty Jen's prima donna ways. While pretty Jen, unaware of Molly's secret heartache, can't resist taking her own personal frustrations out on Molly. It's probably just as well that no one knows what challenges lie ahead...

From stolen glasses in the Flag and Garter to fancy dinners in the heart of the West End, from a desperate battle for survival on a hospital ward to a torpedo hitting its target in the Mediterranean Sea, LONDON CALLING takes readers into a world of ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

The hardback is out on 25th February 2016, and the main edition, which is the paperback, is out on 6th October 2016.

Review of The Winter Wedding by Abby Clements

They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but I most certainly did with this book because the cover is SO gorgeous! 

Blurb

Hazel never set out to be a wedding planner. She was just helping her stressed sister Lila with cakes and décor for her big day. But when Lila and Ollie's summer ceremony is a runaway success, with guests raving about the food and styling at the pretty venue, word about Hazel's expertise soon spreads. 

But Hazel's clients expect the very best - she's promised lawyers Gemma and Eliot a snow-covered castle in the Scottish Highlands, and laidback couple Josh and Sarah a bohemian beach wedding in a Caribbean paradise. But as weather, in-laws and wilful brides conspire against her, can Hazel get two very different couples to walk up two very different aisles to say 'I do'? And will she find her own happy ending if she does?

Review

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good wedding! And just by looking at the cover of this one, I knew I was going to love it!

This is the first book I have read by this author and it was such an easy book to get into and it had a great mixture of characters.

Hazel and her twin sister Lila live together in London, but when Lila moves in with her fiancé Ollie, Hazel is left with the dilemma of finding a lodger but also how to fill the void of missing her sister. When Lila asks Hazel if she will plan her wedding as she is too busy with her career of being a dancer, Hazel jumps at the chance. Her day job isn’t going anywhere thanks to her boss Emma (who selfishly wants to keep Hazel to herself to do all her dirty work!).

Hazel does such a good job with organising Lila’s wedding that she gets asked to do another two! This is where things become complicated!!

This book is a lovely, heart warming read that has everything you will need for a good read – family, love, romance, friendship and even cake!!. I know a couple of my friends read it in one sitting, it is that easy to get into!

It’s a definite thumbs up from me and one I would recommend for a cold winter’s night with a large cuppa and and even larger bar of chocolate!!

Thank you to Hayley McMullan, Simon & Schuster, @Bookminx for sending me a copy to review

Cover reveal for Match me if you Can by Michelle Gorman

UK or US cover?

I don't know whether I can call this one! Which one do you prefer?

Let us know on Twitter what you think and which one you like the best!

@MicheleGormanUK

@AvonBooksUK

Extract for Follow Me by Angela Clarke

I have heard so much about this book and can't wait to read it! but in the meantime I have enclosed an extract for you.

BFF – Best Friends Forever

05:36

Saturday 31 October

Dropping down to the ground from the back of the police van,

Nasreen tucked the flask of tea into her hoodie pocket and headed

back. Sent for the DCI’s tea again. This wasn’t what she’d had in mind

when she’d requested to be assigned to Detective Chief Inspector

Moast’s team. She wanted to prove herself on a major investigation,

not fetch beverages. Perhaps there’d be a chance to make a real

difference on this case. It was a particularly grim one. The body of

Alun Mardling, slumped over his computer with his throat cut, had

been found by his mother at around 4.30am, when she had returned

from her night shift at St Thomas’ Hospital. Mrs Lucy Mardling had

a job cleaning surgical instruments, but Nasreen couldn’t imagine

any amount of blood and tissue would prepare you for this.

Closing her eyes, she was back in the hallway with DCI Moast,

breathless from suiting up before the others. She replayed the

scene in her mind.

‘Sergeant Nasreen Cudmore, this is Dr Jim Fisher.’ DCI Moast,

his blue puffa jacket and jeans covered by his protective full body

suit, signalled at the pathologist. ‘Nasreen is new to the team.

Fresh blood.’

She nodded as Dr Fisher stood back to let them enter the room.

At just over six foot, he was taller than Nasreen and the DCI, with

smiling crinkly eyes behind thin wire glasses, and thick grey hair

she could glimpse under his hood.

‘Glad to see you’ve finally got someone who knows what correct

practice is, Ed.’ The doctor pointed at the disposable face mask

Nasreen was wearing. She blushed. She didn’t want to get the DCI

in trouble.

‘I’ve got my shoes and my bonce covered, Jim, what more do

you want?’ The DCI’s grizzled jaw broke into a white grin. With

his hood up over his cropped hair, he resembled a cotton bud.

‘You bods are finished anyway,’ he continued. ‘I just want to see

the body in situ.’ They stepped into the small bedroom at the front

of the house. ‘My, my, this is a mess isn’t it? You going to be all

right with this, Sergeant Cudmore?’

Nasreen steeled herself to assess the scene. ‘Yes, sir. I’ve worked

homicides before.’

‘Righto.’ DCI Moast pulled his notebook from his pocket. ‘The

victim is Alun Mardling, aged forty-eight, a local bank manager

at Canary Wharf.’

With her own suit hood up, Nasreen had to turn her head to take

in the small room. The blue seventies-style curtains were drawn.

The orange glow of the street lamp outside could be seen through

them. A dusty lampshade with faded red and yellow cars on it hung

from above. There was a desk, a chair and a computer, at which

the body was slumped. The victim’s blood was splattered up and

over the wall. Nasreen felt her gut contract and tears threaten at

the back of her eyes. She reminded herself to stay clinical. Break

it down into small manageable sections. The best thing she could

do for the victim and his mother was help find who did this.

Callie's Christmas Countdown

by

Julie Ryan

Callie is an event planner, organising weddings and corporate parties. What she'd really love however, is to organise the perfect Christmas. How difficult can it be after all? She simply needs to get her divorced parents talking to each other, sort out a Christmas Eve wedding for the daughter of a millionaire and wait for her hunky, rich boyfriend to propose. What could possibly go wrong?

EXTRACT - Callie's Christmas Countdown

Now I was in a complete panic. I wasn’t supposed to be seeing Nathan today. He was working, or so I thought, and couldn’t get any time off. So why the hell was he here unannounced? I must look a right mess with my bedhead, no make up on and oh my God, I was still in my PJs and slippers. Well, I wasn’t expecting anyone to see me and horror of horrors they weren’t the sexy type that I wore for him, these were Winnie the Pooh ones.  I know that they are hardly the image you want to give out but I’ve always had a thing about Pooh – my childhood hero. These PJs were like a comfort blanket. Most definitely not high up the glamour stakes. In fact, the only other fashion item less flattering would be a furry onesie with sheep on it. Before you ask, I do happen to own that particular garment as well!

I really didn’t want Nathan to see me looking like this so I guessed that if I hurried I could just about make it to the shower before he got up the stairs and then he could make himself a coffee while I got dressed. Too late, before I’d finished opening the door, Nathan was outside and was looking at me askance.

“Give me too ticks and I’ll be ready. You could put the kettle on if you like.”

I’ve never seen anyone move so fast. It was as if he wanted to get the picture of his sexy sophisticated girlfriend looking like she’d got bottom place in a fancy dress competition well and truly out of his mind.

“Dress up,” he said, “We’re going for lunch at Antonio’s.”

Now if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to get me poshed up, it’s Antonio’s. It’s quite exclusive and you have to book weeks in advance as a rule. Nathan must have called in a few favours, which meant that this was a special lunch. My heart was fluttering wildly. We hadn’t been going out that long and I was so thrilled when he’d first asked me out; I couldn’t believe my luck. He was always spoiling me, buying me clothes and perfume. I was so lucky. It helped of course that Nathan was loaded—or rather his family was. I hadn’t met them yet. He kept saying that he wanted it all to be perfect when we met at the family pile. In some ways we were just right for each other. We both planned things carefully and I loved that about him. He didn’t mock like other people did. He really understood.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON UK

AMAZON.COM

About the Author

Julie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and two cats, a rescue cat and a dippy cat with half a tail.  She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance, as she can’t bear to get rid of any! They have been attempting to renovate their home for the last ten years.

She is the author of the Greek Island Mystery series, Jenna’s Journey, Sophia’s Secret and Pandora’s Prophecy, each of which can be read as a standalone. She considers Greece to be her spiritual home and visits as often as she can.

www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor

Twitter  @julieryan18

Blogsite www.allthingsbookie.com

www.juliesworldofbooks.blogspot.co.uk

The Accidental Guest by Tilly Tennant Blog Tour

Blurb

From the author of the much-loved, best-selling Mishaps in Millrise, a brand new four-novella-part series, Once Upon a Winter- come and fall in love this Christmas! 

'...a wonderful read with a bubbly, unique and fresh style of writing' Sky’s Book Corner
'Tilly makes her characters so relatable that you can’t help but fall in love with them'Starcrossed Reviews 

Soulmates don’t just fall from the sky… do they? 

Hannah Meadows doesn’t believe in fate or destiny, or any of the other things people reach for when they lose control of their lives. That is, until a man arrives on her doorstep on Christmas Day begging for help. Hannah’s not the sort of woman to turn her back on someone in need, but this isn’t what compels her to aid the handsome stranger, nor is it his intense dark eyes, or the inexplicable feelings she quickly develops for him. 

Something magical is coming her way, something that will turn her life completely upside down. Hannah Meadows may not believe in fate or destiny, but they seem to have other ideas… 

Review

I loved reading the Mishaps in Millrise series so when I found out Tilly Tennant was doing a Christmas novella I just had to read it! I love Tilly’s writing as she manages to put serious issues as well as laughter into her stories so I really look forward to reading them.

Hannah is anticipating  a quiet Christmas at home with her sister Gina and her daughter Jess in a little cottage in the country when there is a knock on the door on Christmas morning and standing there in a bloodied and dazed state is a man, not any man, but quite a handsome one, but one who can’t remember his own name!!

They decide to call him Tom and as he has quite a gash to his head, an ambulance is called to check him out. It has been snowing so this makes things difficult and the emergency services take an age to get there, so in the meantime the girls try and quiz “Tom” into finding out who he is, but obviously the knock on the head has left him with amnesia and he can’t remember a thing!

The story gets very comical, not least that it seems to take them all day to cook the Christmas dinner and with other calamities happening in the meantime, this is a really lovely, funny story.

I must admit, I was getting near the end of the novella and was wondering how it was going to end, only to find out that this was the first of another four part series!! Yippee!! I loved this story and can’t wait for the next instalment!

Thank you to Tilly Tennant and JB Johnston at Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy of this novella for review.

Out of Control by T.A. Belshaw Blog Tour

Blurb

It began with a trivial moment of carelessness, but the shockwaves that reverberate from this seemingly insignificant incident, spread far and wide. 

Ed and his heavily pregnant wife Mary are on an errand for Ed’s ailing father before the pair depart for warmer climes. But the winter of 1962 comes early and one innocuous event and a hastily taken decision will have devastating consequences for the family of young Rose Gorton. Mary’s already fragile mental state is put under further stress while Ed tries to make sense of events that are spiralling massively, Out of Control. 

Review

Set in 1962 this story starts with Ed and Mary who are on their way to Ed’s Father’s house to collect a bottle of wine as his Father is dying and it is one of his last requests to have a decent bottle of wine from his cellar. Not an unusual request you might say, but as Ed hates going into the cellar since he was a child, it is something he is not looking forward to doing.

Ed’s wife Mary is demanding, selfish, pregnant (and still smokes and drinks, but then again it is 1962!!) and has no time for anyone but herself, so when Ed skids on the road in bad weather and clips a car which ends up over the edge of the road, Mary tries her hardest to persuade Ed to leave the scene of the crime and not report it! Poor Ed is bullied into driving off and leaving the driver hanging out of the door, lifeless……..

Once they arrive at Ed’s Father’s place strange things start to happen. Ed still has to deal with going into the cellar to retrieve the bottle of wine and Mary starts acting very oddly!

I can honestly say, this story scared the pants out of me!! I didn’t realise it was a bit of a “ghost” story as well as a thriller. I loved it and can imagine it becoming a play on tv. Very clever storyline and the fact that I didn’t like the character of Mary, is the sign of a good author, as she wasn’t meant to be liked!!

I loved this story and I think the cover is fab as well. Well done Trevor!

Thank you to Trevor Belshaw and JB Johnston at Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy of this novella to review.

About the Author

T A Belshaw is from Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Trevor writes for both children and adults. He is the author of Tracy's Hot Mail. (Crooked Cat Publishing 2012) His latest book, Tracy's Celebrity Hot Mail was released on August 12th 2014 by Crooked Cat Publishing. (www.crookedcatpublishing.com) Trevor's latest book, a noir, suspense novella, Out Of Control, was released in August 2015.

His short stories have been published in various anthologies including 100 Stories for Haiti, 50 Stories for Pakistan, Another Haircut, Shambelurkling and Other Stories, Deck The Halls, 100 Stories for Queensland and The Cafe Lit anthology 2011, 2012 and 2013. He also has two pieces in Shambelurklers Return. 2014

Trevor is also the author of 13 children's books written under the name of Trevor Forest. The latest. Magic Molly The Murky Marshes will be released in August 2015

His children's poem, Clicking Gran, was long listed for the Plough prize (children's section ) in 2009 and his short poem, My Mistake, was rated Highly Commended and published in an anthology of the best entries in the Farringdon Poetry Competition.

Trevor's articles have been published in magazines as diverse as Ireland's Own, The Best of British and First Edition. He is a regular contributor to The Pages E-Zine.

Trevor is currently working on his new web serial The Diary of an Aspiring Adulteress and the third book in the Tracy series; Tracy's Euro Hot Mail.

http://www.trevorbelshaw.com

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #1

Hi all and welcome to December. I will be having some giveaways this month and first of all I have a copy of Make a Christmas Wish by Julia Williams (which I have read and absolutely loved!!), along with some seasonal scented tea lights and Fortnum & Mason teabags. I will also be sending the winner some chocolate to complete the prize. Book, candles, tea, chocolate - sounds like a perfect night in to me!! 

So get entering, you have a week to get your entries in (sorry but UK only). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to December and the beginning of Advent! today I am pleased to host The Return of The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan Blog Tour

Blurb

Christmas is just around the corner when Star begins working at Butterburn library, but not everyone is embracing the spirit of the season.

Sixteen-year-old Arianna’s mock exams are looming and she’s feeling under pressure. With her father living abroad and her mother working three jobs, she doesn’t have much support at home.

The bank is threatening to repossess Evan’s house, and he has no idea how he’s going to get through Christmas with two children who are used to getting everything they want.

Patricia’s cliché of a husband, after 23 years of marriage, has announced he’s moving out of the family home, and moving in with his secretary.

Daniel is doing the work of three people in his sales job, as well as looking after his kids and his wife. Pulled in too many different directions, he’s feeling stressed out.

Can Star, the library’s Good Samaritan, help set them on the path to happiness this Christmas?

Review

This is one of those feel good Christmas books that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling once you have finished it!

Star is working in her local library for the festive season, where many of the customers are not looking forward to Christmas in one way or another.

Arianna is studying for her exams and has the added pressure of not seeing much of her mother as she is holding down numerous jobs to keep afloat.

Evan is struggling to make ends meet after losing his job.

Patricia is in shock after her husband tells her he is leaving.

Daniel is also struggling to cope with the day to day life of bringing up 3 children whilst his wife is suffering from depression.

All these people could do with a helping hand, I wonder who would be able to do that and steer them in the right direction? Star has a magical way of putting these people in the right place at the right time!

I liked the mixture of characters in this book. All had believable stories to tell of life getting them down and then getting a “helping hand” to steer them in the right direction to make things better for them.

This was a lovely Christmassy story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I actually felt like the story could have been a bit longer (it’s not often I say that about books!).

Thank you to JB Johnston and Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy to review.

About the Author

Susan Buchanan lives in Central Scotland with her partner, Tony, and their two children. She is the author of four novels: Return of the Christmas Spirit, The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. She is currently working on book five, What If.

Susan is also a proofreader, editor and translator, and when not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows and eating out - not necessarily in that order!