The Girl from The Savoy

by

Hazel Gaynor

Review

Dolly is a girl with ambition and when an opportunity to work at The Savoy as a maid comes up, she jumps at the chance. Although she doesn’t want to be a maid all her life, she can see the potential of meeting influential people and hopefully realising her dream of becoming a star. She spends her days daydreaming about singing on the stage and becoming a household name.

On the way to the interview she crashes into Perry who is holding a handful of sheet music, which gets thrown onto the wet pavement. Dolly helps to retrieve the dripping sheets but Perry is adamant they are rubbish so Dolly picks them up, but instead of putting them into the rubbish bin as Perry suggests, she keeps them, hoping that one day someone would be able to play the music for her.

Little does she know at the time that Perry is the brother of a famous star of the music halls, Loretta May and when Dolly answers a small ad in the local newspaper for a “Muse”, she doesn’t realise that this will change her life forever.

Both Dolly and Loretta have secrets that they hope will not come to light, but as in all good stories, these are just waiting to be found out!

This is a fabulous story of ambition, love, friendship and memories from the past that threaten the future.

I am a huge fan of Hazel Gaynor and this book did not disappoint. If you are a fan of the roaring 20’s then you will love this book! However the ending will quite possibly leave you sobbing into your tissues!

A beautifully written book that will certainly be one of my favourites of the year!

It's a Wonderful Life

by 

Julia Williams

Blog Tour

Driving home for Christmas, Beth has everything she wants. The kids and the house, the career and the husband. So why is it that when the New Year comes, she can’t stop thinking about her old college boyfriend?

Her husband Daniel is tasked with bringing a struggling school up to scratch, but when family life catches up to him, can he be a good father and a good teacher at the same time?

Beth’s sister Lou has just been dumped…again. Single and childless, she can’t help but be jealous of her sibling’s success. But is the grass really always greener?

Review

We've all had Christmases where we get stressed and worried we are not going to get everything done in time and Beth is no exception.

Married to Daniel with two teenage children, Beth is trying to get her children's book to her publisher by the deadline, when her Mum calls her to ask her what she is doing for Christmas....in August!! This gets Beth thinking, what if things could be different this year instead of the same thing happening every year?

Lou is Beth's sister and has problems of her own to deal with. Living with Jo seemed the ideal situation, but it's not long before cracks appear in their relationship.

The girls' brother Ged is his mother's blue eyed boy and cannot do any wrong, but when he turns up on the door with his pregnant girlfriend in tow, even his Mum is left speechless!

This book has a great selection of characters and I especially loved Beth's Mum. She reminded me of Bridget Jones's Mum!! 

There is a great moral to all the stories in this book and that is that the grass isn't always greener on the other side and even the closest of families have skeletons in their closets (which are sometimes best left there!).

Congratulations to the author on 10 years. Here's to many more!!

Killing Kate

by

Alex Lake

Guest Review 

by

Julie Williams

Review

If you like psychological thrillers then this one is for you. It kept me suspecting everyone in the book until about two thirds of the way in when it became apparent who the serial killer was, and even then there is still plenty to keep you enthralled until the very end. 

Killing Kate is a chilling, blood curdling read with fascinating characters. The serial killer is horrific and had me despising him with real hatred.

The story begins with Kate, a young woman who has just ended her long term relationship with Phil , but Phil is finding it difficult to accept as Kate is the love of his life. When Kate returns from a girlie holiday she is horrified to discover that there is a serial killer in her town whose victims just happen to look like her! She is obviously terrified and becomes paranoid as strange things happen which she can’t put down to coincidence. Fortunately Kate has a good network of friends who really come through for her when she needs them most.

A clever plot that I really enjoyed, as was Alex Lake’s previous novel, After Anna. 

This author is definitely on my list to look out for future books.

Christmas under a Starlit Sky

by

Holly Martin

Guest Review 

by

Julie Williams

Julie Williams does love a Holly Martin book, so I am delighted to give you her review of Christmas under a Starlit Sky. What another gorgeous Christmassy cover this book has! 

Review

Holly has treated us to another fantastic festive read. Two Christmas books this year in A Town Called Christmas series and after reading Christmas Under A Cranberry Sky I couldn’t wait for this one as I wanted, NO needed, to discover Neve and Oakley’s story.

Set on Juniper Island in Scotland, this idyllic winter wonderland place is perfect for love and romance to blossom. 

Christmas Under A Starlit Sky picks up where Christmas Under A Cranberry Sky finishes, although both can be read as standalones. 

If you want to be left full of Christmas spirit then this book is definitely for you. 

I love the chemistry and spark between Neve and Oakley and the difficulties in their turbulent relationship. 

Holly has the wonderful gift of creating warm, loveable and interesting characters, of which there are plenty in this book. 

The passion between not only Neve and Oakley but also Ivy and Adam is beautifully written. There are plenty of ups and downs in their stories but as it’s about families that’s to be expected.

Thanks you Netgalley for this review copy and for Julie for allowing me to guest review on her blog.

Q&A 
with
Carol Rivers

Happy publication day to Carol Rivers for A Promise Between Friends. It's no secret that I love a good family saga and as i'm currently reading this one, it's certainly living up to my expectations!

Carol has very kindly agreed to be my very first Q&A author on the blog and so I hope you enjoy reading all about Carol Rivers..... 

Hi and welcome Carol. 

Thank you so much for agreeing to answer some questions on my blog about your writing.

Thank YOU, Julie. It’s lovely to be here today. I love your blog and often call by to read your posts. I was lucky enough to have my East End saga ‘Lizzie of Langley Street’ reviewed on Boon’s Bookcase!

Firstly, please could you tell readers a little about yourself?

My family were evacuees from the East End during the Blitz. A bomb dropped on Mum’s house, blew the back door in to the front and Mum survived with Grandad, under the kitchen table. When Dad and my uncles were demobbed after the war our big cockney family of dockers, costermongers, seamstresses and crooks left the Isle of Dogs for new horizons. One of them was Margate, another Oxford and of course eventually Dorset, where I now live!

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

More an eves-dropper, really. The East End always runs through your blood. As a child, along with my cousins, we were privy to this chequered family’s secrets, as we sat under the table at parties - and listened. That’s how stories are born and then you link them up with your own life’s experience and emotions. And if you’ve a mind to, you write them down. I never run out of stories and they all have a personal element linked closely with my books.

What did you do as a job before becoming a writer?

You name it! Just anything to make a few bob. The job I enjoyed most was working as a dinner lady at my children’s school. Plenty of research here and character observations on parent day!

How do you carry out the research for your novels?

The research is generally historical. If I’m not sure of a fact, I’ll check it on Google, or interview someone who can tell me. But the plots, as I’ve said, are influenced by cockney culture and - emotions - absolutely vital - for a writer’s characters.

Which aspects of your writing do you find easiest and most difficult?

Without a doubt, sitting down and starting to write is never easy. Life gets in the way! But my one fear is, if I don’t write in a day, will I ever write again? So when I’ve finally glued my pants to the chair and actually start keyboarding - well - when I’ve finished the scene - writing magically becomes easy!

What are your writing routines and where do you do most of your writing?

I have to admit I’d probably write anywhere. As you know, we’ve moved around, so I’ve written in gardens (fav), cupboards and cafes. At the moment I write in a lovely conservatory. It’s only small, but overlooks the trees. I can scoff my muffin, drink my coffee, talk to the birds and work all at the same time. My routines go pear-shaped when I try to stick to them. Mornings are far better, but they are for other people too. So just as long as I get to my compie at some point in the day or night, I’m happy.

When you're not writing, what do you like to read?

I always have a Lena Kennedy to hand - she’s the bees knees of London saga writing. Stella Rimmington takes my fancy, M. C. Beaton, (Agatha Raisin) for a good giggle and a decent crime thriller without gore. I love my Kindle. I save all my paperbacks. I like a daily or nightly dip of audio. There’s so much choice out there. Basically, I’ll give most books a go, often downloading a sample from Amazon first.

How important do you think social media is to authors in today's society?

Social media has taken over from what I knew as a chinwag. You know, when you hot gos about the little things in life! Nowadays, we just have to have a smart phone or compie to enjoy the conversation. Also, reaching more readers helps to garner books reviews with online stores like Amazon. (And thank you so much for your own brilliant review.) We all want to know what people think of the book we are about to buy and whether it’s value for money. Amazon helpfully facilitates the reader and writer. So I consider Amazon a big part of my social media too. It’s lovely to meet and interact with people who have the same things in common. A fine example is today - my paperback publication day. What could be better that hot gossiping with you on your fab blog, Julie?

Could you tell the readers a bit about your latest book?

Ah, Ruby! She’s young, pretty, ambitious, a true 1950’s East Ender, with a heathy appetite for fashion and smoothies. (Not milkshake!) She thinks she’s streetwise. In fact she’s so confident of herself that she’s prepared to sacrifice just about anything for a celebrity career. Sound familiar? Well, this was 1950 and not 2016. But Ruby has just the same problem as any young achiever today. Whether on stage, in music, or the movies, the seduction of the spotlight is irresistible. And Ruby heads straight for it. Oddly enough I’m now writing a wartime story for next year. But every so often Ruby tries to steal back to the limelight. And I have to be very firm and draw the curtain - until it’s her turn to appear on stage again in the sequel to my latest book ‘A Promise Between Friends’.

Which of your characters would you most like to be and why?

I suppose you could say a writer must get into the head (behind the eyes - for viewpoint) in each of his/her characters and when you do, that bond is sealed. A bond not unlike the one you share with your children. Lizzie Flowers is the formidable, no-nonsense heroine from my two series books, ‘Lizzie of Langley Street’ and ‘The Fight for Lizzie Flowers’. I get where she’s coming from. I think she’s got guts. And she also has vision. Unfortunately though, love holds her back. Doesn’t it with all of us at some point in our lives? This is the theme of the books and I’ve yet to write Lizzie number 3, when I hope to discover more about Lizzie and what makes her tick.

Is there anything else you would have liked to be asked?

No, I think that’s great, Julie. Some lovely questions and it’s been a pleasure. 

Thank you so much Carole, I loved reading these answers and I can't wait to finish reading A Promise Between Friends to discover what happens to Ruby! and also Lizzie is a brilliant character and one of my favourites. I can't wait to read more about her and her family. 

You are welcome to join me on Boon's Bookcase anytime.

Single by Christmas 

by 

Rosa Temple

Blog Tour & Giveaway

Guest Review 

by

Julie Williams

#SinglebyChristmas

I must say a huge thank you to Julie Williams for reviewing this book for me and for the author who let me jump on the Blog Tour at such short notice!! Life seems to have taken over a bit lately, so I seem to be leaving things to the last minute! Anyway, thank you to Julie and Rosa and enjoy the review. 

Review

This is the second book I have been asked to read and review by this author and I am a happy to oblige.

Party girl Alex Marshall has been going out with her gorgeous boyfriend Charlie for 11 months, having met on New Years Eve. 

I like the way that their story is told from 1^st December with a countdown to their first anniversary. 

To say that Alex leads a chaotic life is an understatement as she gets herself into all sorts of situations while poor Charlie is often the one who is let down. 

After a secret trip to Scotland to pursue a possible new job opportunity, Alex ends up hopelessly drunk yet again and finds herself caught in a web of lies to cover her tracks.

Misunderstandings plus a bit of stirring from Charlie’s friend Stevo, adds to disaster for Alex and Charlie and consequently their relationship is tested to the limit.

Warm, cosy and Christmassy, this is not, but it’s certainly not doom and gloom either as there is plenty of funny laugh out loud moments to be had.  

Single By Christmas can be enjoyed at any time of the year not just for Christmas. 

A four star rating from me. 

Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LY2MLIH

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY2MLIH

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The Christmas Promise

by

Sue Moorcroft

Blog Tour

I have an extract from another Christmas book for you on the blog today. I really need to get my act together and start on my seasonal books! This is another gorgeous cover. Enjoy....

For Ava Bliss, it’s going to be a Christmas to remember …

On a snowy December evening, Sam Jermyn steps into the life of bespoke hat maker Ava. Sparks fly, and not necessarily the good ones.

Times are tough for Ava – she’s struggling to make ends meet, her ex-boyfriend is a bully, and worst of all, it’s nearly Christmas.

So when Sam commissions Ava to make a hat for someone special, she makes a promise that will change her life. She just doesn’t know it yet…

Curl up with this gorgeous, festive read – the perfect treat for fans of Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews and Trisha Ashley.

Extract

Sam glanced curi­ously at Ava. ‘What don’t you like about Christmas?’

She shrugged. ‘Most things. Except, I agree that the parties can be good.’

A small frown quirked Sam’s brow. ‘What about when you were a child? Did you at least like it then?’

Ava was assailed with a rush of memories of putting up the Christmas trees at Gran’s house, a stately real one in the sitting room and a wonky little silver one in the kitchen. Ava had loved the kitchen tree best, twinkling multi-coloured lights at them as they baked mouth-watering mince pies and gingerbread Santas that smelled of Christmas. Ava’s heart clenched to remember Gran’s red apron with jolly robins on and her grey curls bobbing energetically as she rolled out pastry, laughing because she always managed to sprinkle flour over every surface in the room.

When it was all cleared up and the baking rested on cooling racks, present wrapping at the big kitchen table in a joyful muddle of paper, foil ribbon and sticky tape would take over, while carols played on Radio 4.

On Christmas morning, after present opening, they’d

make dinner together, lighting a fire in the dining room grate to make it a special occasion.

Sometimes one of her parents made it to Gran’s for Christmas dinner, Ava and Gran scheduling the meal to fit in with a shift if necessary. Or else it would be just Ava and Gran pulling crackers and wearing paper hats that were too big, munching succulent turkey and Yorkshire puddings with tiny sausages baked into them.

Ava shook her thoughts back to the present, realising that Sam was waiting for a reply. ‘Yes, when I was very young. But Gran was the one who made Christmas happen in my family and she died when I was thirteen.’ Gran had smilingly seen to the everyday care of Ava while her parents pursued their careers and her loss had left a gaping hole in Ava’s teenaged soul. She avoided Izz’s gaze, not wanting to see reflected there the painful knowledge that Gran had died at Christmas, making Ava feel like hurling the gaily lit Christmas trees to the floor and jumping on them.

‘That must have been hard.’ Sam’s gaze was sympathetic. ‘Didn’t your parents take over?’

‘Not exactly.’ It was no new thing to be regarded with curiosity for not enjoying what everyone else in the country looked forward to all year and Ava had a well-honed explanation. ‘Mum was a doctor, Dad a senior police officer. Mum patched up the drunks in A and E and Dad dealt with the drunks who ended up in the cells. They don’t really believe in Christmas and think it’s a phoney exercise in commercialism. They always volunteered to work so those who valued the season could have time off.’