Saturday 30 September 2017

Guest Post and Blog Tour - The Woolly Hat Knitting By Poppy Dolan


What They Say

Finding happiness one stitch at a time

When Dee Blackthorn’s brother, JP, breaks both wrists not only is he in need of a helping hand – or two – but the knitting shop he owns can’t function. Sisterly duties take Dee away from her demanding job and she is unceremoniously fired amidst rumours of inappropriate behaviour. Dee is certain that her hot-shot nemesis, Ben, is behind it all but has no proof.
When Dee bumps into an old friend who is new mum to a premature baby she convinces JP to enlist his knitting pals to make lots of tiny woolly hats. Then Ben turns up denying involvement in Dee’s sacking and she ropes him into helping the knitting cause.
But before long Dee’s good intentions backfire and she risks losing her friends, her family and Ben, who’s turned out to be not so bad after all…
A feel-good romantic comedy about learning what life is really all about, The Woolly Hat Knitting Club is perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Tilly Tennant and Carole Matthews.

Links to Book:

Guest Post
Write as you go…

My average writing day is hard to describe. Because where and when I write has to change so frequently that there is no average and it’s extremely rare I get a whole day to spend at my keyboard. Most often, I write in manic hour-long bursts first thing in the morning before my day job begins, with a steaming cup of tea by my side, and then during my lunch break if I can, trying not to get sandwich filling on my laptop. If I am very very lucky, once a year I book myself into a tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere and write my socks off. The last time I did this I got around 9,000 words down. Rough, first draft words, but still! I felt like I’d run a marathon and only kept myself going by mainlining Maltesers.
This doesn’t sound ideal, I know, but there are actually some real advantages to having to squeeze your writing into a tiny chunk of time. 1) There is NO opportunity for procrastination. When the clock is ticking down on your 60 minutes, you’re much less likely to spend 23 of those of Twitter and another 17 looking for the perfect pair of grey ankle boots with leopard print accents (by the way, if anyone does find those, please let me know). 2) Waffling begone! I have a tendency to lapse into pointless rambling jokes or reflections when given too much rope but with a limited writing session I just want to get on with carving out the story so the plot really shines through. 3) No time for obsessing! It can be really easy to start a writing session by pouring over what you did last time and fiddling with a word here or a comma there. With a countdown hanging over me, I just need to barrel on with the next scene so I’m not guilty of too much constant editing.
I’ve written two books in the last year and I’m still not sure how I managed it around full time work, plus family and friends, but I think weirdly even if I had been writing full time I wouldn’t have been any more productive. I tend to fit the deadline I’m given, however long. And I love that last minute rush of speeding towards the finish line! So that woman you spot in the local cafe at 8.30am, typing like a mad thing, only stopping to slurp back to tea and cram in a bit of toasted tea cake - that’s me. But please don’t say hello just now, because I’m on a deadline.

About The Author

Poppy Dolan self-published her first book, The Bad Boyfriends Bootcamp, in 2012 and was amazed that someone other than her mum bought it. It made the Amazon top 100 and no former boyfriends have since come forward to sue.

Her next book, There's More to Life than Cupcakes, was published in the autumn of 2013. It's about baking, babies and not knowing when to grow up. 

Poppy's third book The Bluebell Bunting Society was a published in 2017 and tells the story of a little community pulling together in their hour of need, and how a little crafting can go a long way.

Book number is The Woolly Hat Knitting Club and is about a brother and sister who need to rescue their family haberdashery before their woolly world unravels...

When she's not glued to her laptop, Poppy loves cooking, reading and getting emotional over reality TV. She is in her mid-thirties and lives just outside London with her husband. She writes in a coffee shop nicknamed Terence and also - when it's not too chilly - in the shed. 

You can get in touch with Poppy on Twitter @poppydwriter and on Facebook at PoppyDolanBooks. She doesn't bite. Unless you are a muffin.





Wednesday 27 September 2017

Release Day Post - Playing Defense - By Aven Ellis


Dallas Demons #5 - can be read as a standalone
238 pages
Publisher - Soul Mate Publishing, LLC
Release Date - 27th September 2017

What They Say:

After a string of bad set-ups and boring dates, Reese Brannon is done with men. She’s focused on her job as a fitness model and blogger. Her life in the city is fun. She’s young. There’s no need to look for a man because she doesn’t want one. Especially when relationships usually end in heartbreak.

Jean-Pierre Rochat—known as JP— is done with women. All this Swiss hockey player has ever wanted is to fall in love, but his relationships never end with a happily ever after. Believing he’s always going to be dealt the friend card, JP is over it. If he’s going to be stuck in the friend zone, he’ll keep things casual for his new endgame.

But will one hot Dallas summer night change everything for Reese and JP?

Because when the two meet again when JP returns for hockey season, Reese finds her attraction to him hasn’t waned since their first meeting. Charming and intelligent, JP is different in all the right ways, but Reese realizes letting him in will make her vulnerable, something that terrifies her. JP never forgot Reese from their initial introduction last winter, and the sparks fly for him even more so the second time. But with Reese, his thoughts are anything but casual . . .

Can JP and Reese let their guards down to take a chance on love? Or will this simply be a game of playing defense?

Links


Excerpt
“JP,” I say, heading over to it. “You got a piano?
“Yeah. My special delivery came today,” JP says, following me over to it. The piano is set up in the corner of his living room, next to the large bank of windows overlooking the city. “I can finally play again, which I’ve been wanting to do.”
“I didn’t know you played,” I say in amazement. “How did I not know this?”
“I love music,” JP says, sitting down on the bench. He pauses for a moment, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt and revealing his powerful, tanned forearms and causing my pulse to burn in response.
I swear there is nothing sexier than powerful forearms.
“I have to keep some things for you to discover about me,” JP says. “I’d hate for you to lose interest.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
“Good,” JP says. “Here, have a seat. I learned something for you today.”
My heart is about to burst as I sit down next to him.
“What?” I ask, amazed.
“It’s a piece in your honor,” JP says, flipping some sheet music.
His fingers begin flying across the keys, and a familiar tune fills the air.
I lose my breath as I realize what it is.
It’s “Under the Sea” from the movie The Little Mermaid.
JP begins to sing the words, his deep baritone filling the air, and I know he learned this song for his mermaid.
Me.
I swallow down tears as I listen to him sing. He’s an accomplished pianist, his fingers moving effortlessly as he plays. JP is a brilliant, amazing man with many gifts to give.
And he’s giving me this song.

About the Author



I live in the Dallas area with my family. I enjoy clipping out recipes I will never get around to trying, working out, and chatting with friends on social media. I’m a hockey nut (Go Stars!) and watch as much as humanly possible. I also love shopping and fashion and admit to being obsessed with whatever the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing. In addition to be obsessed with the Duchess, I’m equally obsessed with any show or cookbook featuring Gordon Ramsay.

Links

Website/Blog - http://avenellis.com/

Tuesday 26 September 2017

Blog Tour and Review - Christmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin

Title: Christmas at Mistletoe Cove

Author:  Holly Martin

Amazon Links:

What They Say:

Christmas has arrived at Hope Island, promising snowflakes, surprises and plenty of seasonal joy. So snuggle up and fall in love at Mistletoe Cove …

Growing up on Hope Island, Eden Lancaster always believed that if you wished hard enough for something, dreams really could come true. But Eden’s greatest wish is also her biggest secret: she has been completely in love with her childhood friend, the charming and attractive Dougie Harrison, for as long as she can remember. And he has no idea. 

When Dougie leaves his successful life in New York to return home to Hope Island for good, Eden can’t escape her feelings. Her heart is full of hope that her romantic dreams are finally, at long last, going to come true…

This Christmas could change everything. But can a lifelong friendship really turn into the perfect romance? And will Eden get the happily ever after she’s always wished for?

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove is like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day. The perfect treat this Christmas for fans of Debbie Johnson, Cathy Bramley and Miranda Dickinson.

What I Say:

I would like to thank Bookouture and Holly Martin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book in the third set in lovely Hope Island series and follows two characters that we have previously met in the series.  Having said that this book can be read as a standalone and it wouldn't affect the enjoyment of the beautiful squishy Christmas story.

What is special about this is that Eden and Dougie have already shared a kiss but are not sure of each others feelings.

The book makes me feel like Christmas is only a week away and I want to be curled up with mulled wine and wrapping Christmas Presents.  As far as I am concerned Holly has managed to capture a beautiful romance and the magic of Christmas all rolled into this book.


Author Bio:

Holly has been writing for 8 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance 2014. She is the bestselling author of 18 books

Author Social Media Links:





Wednesday 13 September 2017

Cover Reveal - The Hunt by Monica James

 


THE HUNT
Monica James

Series: A Hard Love Romance

Book 1: Dirty Dix
http://amzn.to/1Fz2WX0
Book 2: Wicked Dix http://amzn.to/1RiiIu7
Book 3 (Spin-Off): The Hunt
Genre: Rom-Com, Erotica

Release Date: October 30th 2017


WHAT THEY SAY:

My name is Hunter O’Shea and I have a confession to make…I’ve met a girl who consumes me. I know that makes me sound completely whipped, but Mary “Lamb” Mitts has the power to bring me to my knees…it’s just too bad she hates my guts. But that’s okay, because I hate hers, too. The fiery redhead stirs something in me that I can’t explain.

This temporary insanity could be due to the fact my best friend, who used to be a bigger player than me, is getting married. That must be it. I’m caught up in an Oprah moment.

The only solution is to get back in the game and forget she exists. That theory is great—too bad I don’t want anyone else.

I…just…want…her.

I’m so screwed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

AUTHOR LINKS:
Facebook:
facebook.com/authormonicajames
Instagram: @MonicaJames
Website: monicajamesbooks.blogspot.com.au/
Pinterest:
pinterest.com/monicajames81/