Showing posts with label Guest Post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guest Post. Show all posts

Friday, 3 November 2017

Cover Reveal - A Prosecco Christmas by Sylvia Ashby



Blurb

"Family is where life begins.
And what better time to spend with your family than Christmas week?

Ashley and Giacomo go to Upper Swainswick, a postcard village ten minutes’ drive from Bath, to stay with Ashley’s mum and step-dad. It’s their last visit before the arrival of their first child.
But babies have a habit of being unpredictable.
So when Ashley goes into labour on Christmas Eve, three weeks ahead of schedule, it takes everyone by surprise.
She’s not ready! Her perfect Birth Plan is packed away in her hospital bag two hundred miles away, she has no going home outfit, and she has a live event planned on New Year’s Eve for her YouTube channel, The Sinking Chef. People have been signing up for it for weeks. She can’t possibly disappoint them on the last day of the year. What is she to do?

The tinsel gets even more tangled when Giacomo’s parents decide to fly from Italy to meet their first grandchild. Hotels are fully booked, so everyone has to stay under the same roof.
Would eleven people in the house, not counting the baby, turn out to be simply too much for Ashley?"



Thursday, 2 November 2017

Guest Post - Christmas at Woolworths by Elaine Everest


Christmas at Woolworths
by Elaine Everest



Summary:
Even though there was a war on, the Woolworths girls brought Christmas cheer to their customers

Best friends Sarah, Maisie and Freda are brought together by their jobs at Woolworths. With their loved ones away on the front line, their bonds of friendship strengthen each day. Betty Billington is the manager at Woolworths, and a rock for the girls, having given up on love . . . Until a mysterious stranger turns up one day – could he reignite a spark in Betty?

As the year draws to a close, and Christmas approaches, the girls must rely on each other to navigate the dark days that lie ahead . . . 

With so much change, can their friendship survive the war?

Information about the Book

Title: Christmas at Woolworths
Author: Elaine Everest
Genre: Historical Saga
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Release Date: 2nd November 2017


Guest Post
For Comet Book Babes on Thursday 2nd November 

Ten Favourite Things about Christmas

  1. I was born on Christmas Eve and for me Christmas starts on the 24th of December and what a magical day to be born!
  2. Old films! I love White Christmas and Scrooge (the 1951 version with Alastair Sim) and the festive season is not complete without sitting down on a cold winter’s day and indulging myself in both of these memorable films.
  3. Books! I love to receive gifts of books and when better than at Christmas? It is also the one time of the year when I don’t feel guilty if I read during the daytime. Usually, I get to read before I go to bed unless it is a non-fiction book I’m reading for research for a book I’m writing.
  4. Cooking! I love to cook and there’s no better time than at Christmas. Each year my husband suggests we don’t bother with a turkey and asks me to serve a rib of beef with my special Stilton, port and redcurrant sauce. Each year tucked away in the freezer is… a turkey. Well, it’s tradition isn’t it?
  5. Presents for the dog. We have always owned dogs and currently have just the one although I’m working on having a second. Henry, our chocolate coloured Polish Lowland Sheepdog is spoilt rotten and has his own Christmas stocking packed with gifts. It is a joy to watch him tearing open the bright coloured paper and checking out his toys and sweets. We do have to confiscate the doggy sweets or he’d scoff them all at once.
  6. A good brisk walk. Late afternoon on Christmas Day we head to our local park to stretch our legs and exercise Henry. It’s a joy to see youngsters out with their new bikes and toys and to be able to greet fellow dog walkers.
  7. Having been a freelance writer for the past twenty years I’m relieved not to have to experience the ‘office party’ as I always found it something to endure rather than enjoy. These days I enjoy meeting students from my creative writing classes for our annual meal and also to meet writing colleagues and have a jolly good time.
  8. Memories. Christmas is a time for thinking back to times when we were able to share the festive season with loved one who are no longer with us. Yes, it can be sad but I like to recall the happy times and often wonder what Mum and Dad would think of the achievements of their children.
  9. Greetings and conversations. There’s nothing better than to hear from readers who have been given one of my books as a Christmas present or perhaps treated themselves. I’m happy to chat on Facebook and Twitter with readers who share their memories of Woolworth. So many of us still think fondly of the iconic high street store.
  10. Work! Come Boxing Day I’m itching to open my laptop and get back to work on my latest novel. It may be for just a few hours but it’s never long before the girls are calling me back to Woolies.

Author Information

Elaine Everest, author of Bestselling novel The Woolworths Girls and The Butlins Girls was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her books are set. She has been a freelance writer for twenty years and has written widely for women's magazines and national newspapers, with both short stories and features. Her non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to broadcasting on radio about our four legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many topics on radio from canine subjects to living with a husband under her feet when redundancy looms.

When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school at The Howard Venue in Hextable, Kent and has a long list of published students.

Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent and is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Crime Writers Association, The Society of Women Writers & Journalists and The Society of Authors as well as Slimming World where she can been sitting in the naughty corner.








(Schedule & Banner Below)




Tour Schedule





Monday 23rd Oct

Tuesday 24th Oct

Wednesday 25th Oct

Thursday 26th Oct

Friday 27th Oct

Saturday 28th Oct

Sunday 29th Oct

Monday 30th Oct


Tuesday 31st Oct

Wednesday 1st Nov

Thursday 2nd Nov

Friday 3rd Nov

Saturday 4th Nov

Sunday 5th Nov

Monday 6th Nov

Tuesday 7th Nov


Monday, 30 October 2017

Release Day Blitz - The Hunt by Monica James


MONICA JAMES Release Day Blitz
THE HUNT
Monica James
Order Now:
Kindle: bit.ly/TheHuntKindle 
Amazon Paperback: bit.ly/TheHuntAmazon 
iBooks: bit.ly/TheHuntiBooks 
Nook: bit.ly/TheHuntNook 
Kobo: bit.ly/TheHuntKobo 
Series: A Hard Love Romance  
Book 1: Dirty Dix http://amzn.to/1Fz2WX0
Book 2: Wicked Dix http://amzn.to/1RiiIu7
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.


What I Say:
I would like to thank author Monica James for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Two years ago I was lucky to be one of the first to read Addicted to Sin (now retitled Dirty Dix) and fell in love with bad boys Dixon Matthews and Hunter O'Shea. Don't get me wrong you do not need to have read the previous two books to fall in love with Hunter as he only appears briefly in those books but he appears enough for me to want to read his story from as soon as I met the character.

Hunter is the ultimate love em and leave um bad boy but as soon as he met Mary he could never get her out of his head no matter how many beautiful women he slept with. Mary is no pushover and is more of a match for Hunter, she ultimately the one he wants.

Mary is Dixon's soon to be wife Maddy's best friend and as she has been hurt in the past has trust issues and won't let anyone in.

The chemistry between Hunter and Mary fizzes on every page and the sex scenes will have you reaching for something to cool you down as you read.

What I love about Monica's book is just as you think everything is going to work out she brings everything crashing down!

Another fabulous addition to the Addicted to Sin (Dirty Dix) series and would recommend it even if you haven't read the other books



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:
Instagram: @MonicaJames
Website: monicajamesbooks.blogspot.com.au
Pinterest: pinterest.com/monicajames81

EXCERPT:
Something is happening and I have no idea what. Mary’s eyes drop to my lips before she uneasily licks hers. Her flushed cheeks, dilated pupils, and heavy breathing all point to one thing—but that’s not possible. This woman hates me, all delicious, lithe five-foot-four of her wants me dead.
So why is she not slapping my cheeks and calling me a dirty manwhore when I inch closer to her lips? And why am I not slamming on the brakes because I don’t kiss—ever, but that rule seems to be obsolete when the supplest pair of lips are a hairs breadth away?
I’m rolling in her perfume. Slathering it all over my body and inhaling it like a new drug. She is all goddess, and if I don’t touch her, I’m going to explode.
Placing my palm to her cheek, we both moan at the contact, and when she parts those lips, I’m as good as gone. “Hunter, wh-what are you doing?”
My name has never sounded sweeter. “Shortcake, I don’t know…you tell me.” The ball is in her court. I’m liquefying and my brain turned to mush about fifteen minutes ago, so I’m in no state to be the one calling the shots.
“I…I…” she fumbles, never breaking eye contact.
“You what?” I ask, tugging at the lobe of her ear, before tracing my pointer down her throat. Her pulse is hammering, a sure sign she’s about to either surrender, or flee.
“I…oh god,” she whimpers, biting her lip when I work my finger back up and paint over her jawline in a slow sweep.
“You have three seconds…three seconds to stop me before I part those lips with my tongue, and I won’t be gentle about it.”


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.





Tuesday, 20 June 2017

Blog Tour and Review - The Accidental Honeymoon by Portia MacIntosh



Image result for the accidental honeymoon
The Accidental Honeymoon
by Portia MacIntosh
Released: June 16, 2017
Harper Collins
Blurb:
What happens in Vegas…When Georgie discovers that her fiancé has been cheating on her, only a few days before her cousin’s wedding, her whole world explodes. Facing a romantic trip to Vegas alone, she decides to go out and have some fun…
…but Georgie never expected to wake up wed! And even worse, she can’t remember who to. So when gorgeous Jack reveals himself as her husband, she can’t believe her luck – he’ll act as the perfect wedding date!
Even if it is their very accidental honeymoon, surely the newlyweds can keep their emotions in check for just a few days more?
Don’t miss the laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from Portia MacIntosh, author of It’s Not You, It’s Them. Perfect for fans of Rosie Blake, Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk.

What I Say:

Guest review by Gemma Hughes
I would like to thank HQ Digital for approving me to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


The accidental honeymoon..... fab book from start to finish, loved the story and the fact it was written about a place that's not too far away from me. Reading this book after reading all of Portia's books and it's just what I expected from her, all her books have been brill. 

What happens in Vegas.... poor Georgie never expected her boyfriend to cheat on her but waking up after a night in Vegas to find she is married was truly unexpected..........but who to? Going back home from L.A to her family in Blackpool a family wedding but will her husband reveal himself?? All these questions kept me glued to each page until I had finished the book.  An absolutely amazing fun story.

Only one way to find out, read the book I can assure you, you will not be disappointed! 

Thank you, Portia Macintosh, for another fab read.


Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pWgw8K
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pcUP5d
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-accidental-honeymoon-portia-macintosh/1126244608?type=eBook
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Portia_MacIntosh_The_Accidental_Honeymoon?id=XSQPDgAAQBAJ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34472959-the-accidental-honeymoon
Guest Post
When it comes to actually writing something, and then actually letting other people read it, you realise quite quickly that you’re going to need a very thick skin if you’re going to succeed.
First up, if your work is being published, you’ll have to go through the editorial process, where multiple people will tell you everything that is wrong with that thing you’ve been pouring your heart and soul into for months. And you know it’s part of the job, and you know that these people know what they’re talking about, but it’s still tough to take.
Then your books go to reviewers – another very important part of the process – and for the most part their reviews are fair and they make very valid points. Every now and then though, you will encounter a reader who not only didn’t like your book, but they feel like they need to express this online, and they’re not going to pull any punches. When this happens, you remind yourself that not everyone is going to like your book, just like you haven’t liked every book you’ve ever read, but it’s still hard to read when they’re laying into you plot, your characters, your writing style and sometimes even who you are as a person.
The best way to deal with this is to just accept it, and learn to ignore it. You can’t please everyone and that’s fine. Read reviews if you want, but don’t get upset if they’re not great. They won’t all be great.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I put my book out there and ask for people to tell me what they think, but it’s a bit like asking your boyfriend if your bum looks big – you can’t exactly be upset if he says yes, can you? Actually, scrap that last bit. The answer to questions about how you look never be anything less than be amazing.

Author Info:
Portia MacIntosh has been 'making stuff up' for as long as she can remember - or so she says. Whether it was blaming her siblings for that broken vase when she was growing up, blagging her way backstage during her rock chick phase or, most recently, whatever justification she can fabricate to explain away those lunchtime cocktails, Portia just loves telling tales. After years working as a music journalist, Portia decided it was time to use her powers for good and started writing novels. Taking inspiration from her experiences on tour with bands, the real struggle of dating in your twenties and just trying to survive as an adult human female generally, Portia writes about what it's really like for women who don't find this life stuff as easy as it seems.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Website: http://portiamacintosh.wixsite.com/books
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7021666.Portia_Macintosh

Tour Link: