25,000 views giveaway

When I started Little Northern Soul I'll admit, I wasn't quite sure what I was doing. I loved the idea of having my little space on the internet to talk about books, writing and authors, but I had no idea if anyone would read it. During the spring the blog started picking up momentum and I was pleased to see people were reading my posts and connecting with my reviews. 

One of the biggest surprises, in the nicest possible way, has been how genuine and lovely fellow book bloggers, authors and publishers are. I still have to pinch myself when one of my favourite authors said they read, and liked, a review. Eek! Most authors I've interacted with genuinely care about bloggers, appreciate reviews and are happy to chat. It's brilliant. I'm loving being involved in this new community and it makes what could be deemed as a 'hobby' so much more. 

At the weekend I hit a pretty memorable number of readers - my blog had 25,000 views! I'm not sure how that compares to others and, frankly, I don't really want to. For me, that is a huge number and made me so happy!  A huge thank you to readers old, new, regular or one-off for visiting Little Northern Soul! 

As a thank you, I'm running a giveaway to celebrate. I'm giving away a copy of Appleby Farm by Cathy Bramley (a truly gorgeous story with an equally gorgeous cover), I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson (the first book I ever reviewed) and some stationary. To enter, just use the rafflecopter below. 

Good luck! 

L x  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Misadventures of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow

"New term. New dramas. New friendships. And that’s just the parents…

After a year of country living, Rachel Young is finally getting into the swing of things. Her four kids are happy and content at the village school, and she’s managed to navigate the choppy (shark-infested) waters of the playground mafia. 

Or… so she thought. 

When playground mum Penelope Kensington moves herself and her kids into Rachel’s home, after discovering husband Rupert has been having an affair, Rachel knows she must ask them politely to leave. The problem is, Penelope never takes no for an answer. 

As Rachel tries to deal with Penelope, she also meets new school mum Melanie. Melanie is a breath of fresh air, but her arrival sends ripples of gossip through the playground. Melanie has a few secrets in her closet, and it seems she’s not the only one…"

So I must admit that the first story in this series, A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother passed me by. But I saw the cover for the second in the series, Misadventures of a Playground Mother, and I was immediately drawn in - it was bright and colourful and once I read the blurb, I knew it was a book I wanted to read. 

The story follows Rachel, who lives in a small village where no piece of gossip is left unheard. Everyone knows everyone, and the village playground is at the centre of the gossip - if anything happens, then you're sure to find out about it at the school gates. You don't need to have read the first book of the series to understand what's going on in this one (I hadn't, and it all made perfect sense.) It could be read as part of the series or a stand-alone and work both ways. 

Rachel is a great main character to follow, she was so down to earth and normal. Actually, the whole story just has a realistic vibe, its the kind of book you read but you forget you're reading, you just feel like you're transported into their world and sat having a cuppa with friends. 

Speaking of friends, one of the other characters in the book, Penelope, made me soooo frustrated! She certainly provoked a reaction from me, I wanted to scream at Rachel to tell her to go away and leave her alone, especially in certain situations, like when her and her family gatecrash their holiday. 

On occasion, I found the dialogue slightly stilted and very formal, it sometimes didn't seem like an actual conversation. Considering how well written the characters are, and how normal they seem, the super-formal language kind of contradicted their character. It wasn't the case throughout the whole book though, so it didn't bother me too much.

A lot happens during the story, the plot is fast paced with a lot of key events. I won't say too many, as I think it's what makes the story so entertaining, but it certainly covers a lot of situations. If I'm completely honest, I didn't think the events of the last few chapters were needed, as it seemed quite rushed. I don't want to spoil it, but I will say that unless its leading somewhere, I don't really see the need. Although there's some brief build-up to it, it didn't  get the focus it deserved - I really think that should be a book in itself. (Maybe, just maybe.... it will be?! - I have no idea by the way, just speculating!) 

I was hooked by the story from the offset and found it so true to life and entertaining. Overall, The Misadventures of a Playground Mother is a really fun, light-hearted read that I really enjoyed. I'm so glad I've been introduced to Christie's writing, it's engaging and well thought-through, and provides a funny take on village life. 

Book Review: Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell

"Hallie has a secret. She's in love. He's perfect for her in every way, but he's seriously out of bounds. And her friends aren't going to help her because what they do know is that Hallie doesn't have long to live. Time is running out...Flo has a dilemma. She really likes Zander. But his scary sister won't be even faintly amused if she thinks Zander and Flo are becoming friends - let alone anything more.
Tasha has a problem. Her new boyfriend is the adventurous type. And she's afraid one of his adventures will go badly wrong.

THREE AMAZING THINGS ABOUT YOU begins as Hallie goes on a journey. A donor has been found and she's about to be given new lungs. But whose?"

My review:

Jill Mansell is one of my favourite authors because I just know that whenever I pick up one of her books I'm going to enjoy it. Her writing style is always engaging, humorous and descriptive and I find myself catapulted into a world of wonderful characters, idyllic villages and intriguing story lines. There's something really comforting about picking up a Jill Mansell novel, and Three Amazing Things About You doesn't disappoint.

True to Jill's usual writing style, the book follows three different main characters - Tasha, Hallie and Flo who lead separate lives at first, but are linked without realising it towards the end. I'll say now that I really wish I could tell you who my favourite character was and why, but its an impossible task. Each of the main characters have some brilliant traits that make them so realistic and likable that it's hard to choose who I preferred. Tasha may just pip the others to the post just because she is introduced as 'bin girl', which is a hilarious first scene that is referenced to throughout the story and kept making me laugh.

The supporting characters are also brilliant, they have clear identities and are just as realistic and brilliant as the main characters. A few of my favourites were Rory's best friend, Joe, who is cheeky and funny but with a kind heart. The older people who Flo looks after in the care home are also great, providing interesting anecdotes and stories of their past. Jeremy, the cat that Flo is left to look after adds to the story and is brought to life by Jill's talent for making characters (even cats!) jump off a page and seem so real its hard to believe they are nestled in amongst the pages of a story. Even Lena, Zander's sister is so selfish and infuriating you grow to really dislike her, but she is still an integral part to the story, and I always believe that any character that provokes emotion is brilliant, even if they are annoying!

From the very start of the book and from the blurb you know that this is going to be an emotional story, but I must admit that I wasn't quite prepared for the twists and turns that would lead us to the end. I don't want to spoil anything but I will say that it leads to a pretty shocking turn of events that had me biting my lip so I didn't cry. Jill has created a story that provokes all sorts of emotion and will stay with you for a long time after reading.

Three Amazing Things About You doesn't disappoint - Jill Mansell just keeps getting better and better! If, somehow, this book has passed you by then what are you waiting for? Go grab a copy and become engrossed in a story full of emotion, brilliant characters and difficult decisions.

Book review: Fairytale Beginnings by Holly Martin

"Love is an open door…except when it keeps slamming in your face
Hopeless romantic Milly Rose has had her fair share of heartbreak. Obsessed with all things Disney, she refuses to give up on finding her Prince Charming – he’s out there somewhere, isn’t he? 

When Milly is given a job to investigate the origins of a historical building in the village of Clover's Rest, she’s not sure what to expect. What she discovers takes her breath away - a beautiful real life Cinderella castle, complete with turrets, a magnificent drawbridge AND a very handsome owner…Cameron Heartstone. 

As Milly and Cameron begin to unearth the secrets of Clover Castle, they can’t ignore the intense chemistry building between them. But they’ve both been hurt badly before. Can they take a big leap of faith and find their own happily-ever-after? "




To be honest, any story that centers around Disney, fairytales and a beautiful castle is going to be a winner for me. Fairytale Beginnings delivers on all these points- it is a sweet, romantic story that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

I must admit, this is the first book I've read by Holly, but since I started blogging earlier this year I have realised what an absolute gem she is - always eager to engage and interact with bloggers and works bloody hard to produce some brilliant stories! After reading this, I'm hooked and have downloaded One Hundred Proposals and The Guestbook to my kindle to eagerly read soon! So, I'd best get on with actually providing a review for Fairytale Beginnings. 

This is a romantic, 'will-they-won't-they' story that focuses on two of my favourite things - Disney and romance. The story follows Millie, who heads to Clover castle to see if it can be granted funding to help with the restorations of the place. (Can I have her job please?! It sounds so much fun!) As she gets there, she discovers the rather odd villagers and then literally bumps into Cameron, the owner of the castle. Millie is a fab main character, she's girly, funny and a major history buff. At times, she did seem slightly immature with some of the thoughts and feelings she has, but I looked past that and focused on the fact she wears sparkly converse and is a lovely, honest main character. 

I loved reading about the castle, it was so mysterious as well as beautiful. The turrets, ghosts and secret passageways made it sound fantastic and you become as absorbed as Millie does with its history, really hoping that it will be old enough to be given the funding it needs to make it even better. 

While doing these investigations, she gets to know the owner, Cameron. The tension between the two of them is electric and on-going, at times I felt like shaking them both and yelling 'come on! just get together'. Cameron is a swoon-worthy hero who I fell in love with. He's handsome, funny and just the perfect leading man. He's pretty guarded as he's been hurt before but Millie manages to break down that wall and open him up again. I loved seeing their relationship develop over time and they are both very realistic and open characters which made this story so easy and enjoyable to read.  

The only thing I didn't understand was the Summer Solstice celebration. I don't want to ruin anything so I can't go into it too much, but Millie and Cameron are involved in part of the celebration and I really don't see why it's necessary. It doesn't really add much to the story and, to me, just seemed slightly bizzare. The plus side of this though is that it gives us readers a chance to find out more about the villagers, who are hilarious and add another great layer to this story. 

So, Fairytale Beginnings is a fabulous, sparkly story that I really enjoyed. It's introduced me to what a great author Holly Martin is, but if you're already familiar with her then I'm pretty sure this won't disappoint. If you want a romantic, gorgeous read then this is certainly the story for you. 

If you want a sneak peak of Fairytale Beginnings, you can read chapter one here 

Blog Tour: Learn to Love Again, Ellen Faith

"Living in a small seaside village can have its perks, but after the death of her husband, Lillie Gilbert finds the people she grew up with turning against her faster than the tide rolls out.As she grieves for the life they planned, the life they’ll never live, she leans on her best friend for support and tries to come to terms with the fact that one day, she may have to open up her heart to a new life and new love.

After losing her childhood sweetheart, can Lillie really learn to love again?"

First of all I want to say a big thank you to Tay at Chicks That Read for organising the blog tour for this wonderful book! 

My review 

I really, really enjoyed this novel. Ellen Faith is a brilliant writer- it’s an engaging and all-encompassing story that sucks you in to their world.

Learn to Love again is an emotional story that goes through all the different stages of grief. Lillie is grieving after the sudden death of her husband, Nick. She lives in a small seaside town, where everyone knows everyone - including what she is going through. Some even blame her for his death. Her and Nick's best Friend Sam returns to the town from America, to look after her and help her through the grief. 

The detail Ellen goes to describe Lillie's heartbreak is intricate and very personal. I really felt for her throughout as you follow her on a journey of loss, grief and acceptance and you can really see how much pain she is in. There are some lovely flashbacks throughout which give you a glimpse into the past and their marriage, and show just how happy they were. It also shows you the history of Nick and Sams friendship, which really explains why he would be so determined to make her feel better and support her through such a difficult time. The story builds you up to really see why the loss of Nick would be so devisating, he is a wonderful character that was a big part of both their lives. 

The description of the location throughout Learn to Love Again is fantastic. Straightaway I was transported to the small seaside town and immersed in the small village that is such a big part of Lillie's life.

There are a wide range of different characters in the story which keeps it really interesting. My favourite characters in the story were Lillie's parents, they are both so different from each other – her dad is quiet, yet supportive and protective of her and her mum is slightly overbearing with a constant need to be in charge, which is her way of dealing with her daughter’s heartbreak and her own grief. They both do all they can to support her through a difficult time and are just a genuinely lovely couple.  Sam is also a wonderful character, he genuinely cares for Lillie and is a fantastic beacon of support to her at a moment in need. 

The book is quite short and I was surprised when I reached the end so quickly.  It isn't rushed at all, but it just seems shorter than your standard novel. It didn't need to be any longer as it’s a solid, engaging story – I was just sad when I got to the end! (but I would have been no matter what the page length!)

This is a great book that I would recommend highly. It explores friendship, loss and grief in an engaging and beautiful way that I really enjoyed. Ellen Faith is now firmly on my radar, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us in the future. 

About The Author

Ellen lives in the wonderful county of Yorkshire, England where she spends most of her time baking, eating, baking, and eating. Occasionally she does leave the house to go to the cinema or do some food shopping though. 

After spending years with an overactive imagination, she decided to put all the magic in her head to some good use and put finger to laptop where The Story of Us was born and became her debut novel. She loves to travel, her favourite destinations so far have all been in America, hence the love of all things, and all people, American. The food rocks pretty hard too, she ate until her jeans begged her to stop whilst she was there. True fact. Aside from daydreaming and eating, Ellen is a sucker for a lolcat, penguins and monkeys - she has never claimed to be normal. 

Author Links

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

BUY THE BOOK

AMAZON UK 

AMAZON US

TRAILER LINK

Book Review: Game of Scones by Samantha Tonge

A deliciously summery read you won't want to miss!

"A story of icing and flour…and how love doesn’t always go to plan!

Growing up, Pippa Pattinson’s summers were spent in the idyllic Greek island fishing village of Taxos. There she spent many long hazy days determinedly ignoring thoughts of the life her parents had mapped out for her (a dreary-but-secure accounting job and obligatory sensible husband!) Instead she daydreamed of running her own tea shop – serving the perfect scones – with mocha-eyed childhood friend Niklaus by her side…

Arriving back in Taxos for the first time in years, with suave boyfriend Henrik, Pippa barely recognises the tired little town – but is relieved to catch glimpses of the quaint, charming village she’s always loved. Together Niklaus and Pippa put together a proposal to save Taxos from tourist-tastic ruin, and at the heart of their plan is Pippa’s dream project: The Tastiest Little Tea Shop in Taxos. It’s time for Pippa to leave her London life behind and dust off her scone recipe that’s guaranteed to win over both locals and visitors. And amidst the rolling pins and raisins, it seems romance is blossoming where she’s least expecting it…"

My review: 

Firstly, a very happy publication day to Samantha for this fab book! It is a summary, addictive read that transports you to a Greek seaside village you won't want to return from!

The book follows Pippa, who returns to the Greek village Taxos with her 'dutch titan boyfriend' Henrik. Taxos holds plenty of childhood memories and relationships for Pippa and is somewhere she feels passionate about. The reappearance of her childhood friend Niko casts further doubt onto her already unsure feelings for Henrik. The doubts are further heightened when Henrik's company, ThinkBig, come up with some unappealing ways to make Taxos a tourist resort as it needs an economic boost - people are struggling for work and money but the proposals make it commercial and take the heart out of Taxos. The village, led by Pippa, fight the proposals which further deepens Pippa's love for the greek village and its residents.

Pippa is a great main character. Being honest, she's pretty flawed and there's times where I felt like screaming MAKE UP YOUR MIND! when she's debating about whether to be with Henrik or not. But, as a reader, you get it. You can understand why she is torn with her feelings. Henrik isn't a bad man, he may make some silly decisions during the story, but he isn't bad. It's also clear that he loves Pippa in his own way. It might not be fireworks and flowers but, for him, it's love, and I think that's what Pippa struggles to deal with. However, it's pretty obvious that deep down she doesn't want to be with him and on occasion I just wished she'd get on with it and end it.

There are some other fantastic characters in Game of Scones. Grandma is a pillar of village life and, despite being very ill, is still feisty and opinionated. Leila, Niko's fiancee is a dreamer - flamboyant and unusual in a charming, friendly way. Finally there's Niko, who captures Pippa's heart once again. He is kind, hardworking and, on occasion, grumpy (which is explained at the end of the story). They are all yet another reason to fall in love with Taxos.

Which brings me nicely to the location of this book, which is just brilliant. Taxos is a small community in Greece that you are immediately transported into. You can smell the sea breeze, feel the sand between your toes and the sun shining on your skin. There's a great sense of community, everyone works together to do the best for Taxos and there are strong bonds of friendship, and romance, throughout the village.

Obviously I've got to talk about Scones as they play a large part of this story. Firstly, who knew there were so many potential flavours of this delicious treat?! When I started reading Game of Scones I must admit I was cynical, thinking the constant eating of currant scones with cream and jam could be a bit repetitive. How wrong was I! Fig and walnut, lemon and yogurt and roast pepper and feta are just some of the delightful flavours that Pippa makes to share with the residents of Taxos. My mouth was positively watering at some of the delicious variations she makes!

Game of Scones is the perfect summer read- sunny, addictive and romantic- I would recommend it to anyone. Samantha is a funny, talented writer that makes the words jump off the page and pull you in. 

If you missed it before, I did an author Q&A with Samantha that talks about Game of Scones and her writing experience, why not have a look?

Book review: Ivy Lane by Cathy Bramley

I've just come up for air after being engrossed in Ivy Lane - a fabulous read that literally suits all seasons!

Firstly can I just mention the absolutely BEAUTIFUL cover? It truly is one of my favourites so far this year, it's so pretty. I just couldn't help but keep looking at it as it sat on my coffee table on the (very few) occasions it wasn't in my hands!

Ivy Lane was originally released for Kindle as a 4 book series, covering all seasons. It was so popular (and I can see why!) that in February it was released as a full book, pulling all the seasons together. I read the full book rather than the separate kindle versions and really, I'm quite pleased I did, as I don't think I'd have been able to wait between the seasons!

The book follows Tilly, who moves to a new village and takes on an allotment plot following the unexpected death of her Husband, James. In the small allotment community she finds a whole host of different personalities - there's Christine, the pushy but enthusiastic committee chair, Gemma - a loud & funny character who shares a plot with Tilly and Charlie - a handsome, quiet man who develops a soft spot for Tilly. That's just to name a few! The characters jump off the page and you become engrossed in their world - it made me want to pick up a trowel and shovel and join in the Ivy Lane community- they have such fun! I really have a soft spot for Tilly - I sympathised with her and willed her to make a start at a new, pain-free life. I find myself missing her already, she is an engaging, caring character that I really enjoyed finding out about.

My only hesitation when I picked up this book was that it would be too gardening-focused. I'm not very green fingered and didn't really want to read all about the best technique for growing potatoes or picking sweet peas. But actually, the gardening element really shows off Cathy's brilliance - there is enough detail to give you a great picture of the allotment, to know how Tilly struggles at first but then gets into it, and to build up a picture in your head of all the different fruits and vegetables brightening up the allotment (especially in the summer), but it isn't at all overwhelming. The story focuses more on the friendships and relationships throughout the allotment and the gardening plays an important part of that, but isn't drawn out or boring - I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed reading about carrots and apples!

The split-season element is brilliant and makes the story fast-paced, it's definitely one of my favourite things about this book and reflects Cathy's unique style. I love how the book literally transports you into the season you're reading. As I was reading Ivy Lane, it was Easter weekend and when I read the 'Spring' section of the book, I felt just like real life - Easter egg hunts were happening in my life AND in Ivy Lane and it made it engaging and realistic. Saying that, later on I was reading about a halloween party and then the annual Ivy Lane Christmas party, all whilst the sun was shining on the book as I read. Despite this, I still felt a part of the Christmas celebrations and it gave me a craving for a mince pie and glass of Baileys! Again, this really shows Cathy's brilliance in making a story and characters come alive.

There had been a lot of hype surrounding Ivy Lane and I can COMPLETELY see why. It is a fantastic read that has you drawn in from Spring to Winter! Cathy's latest series, Appleby Farm, is also split into 4 e-books (the first 3 are available to buy on amazon for a bargain 99p each!) This time I couldn't wait for the full book to be released - I've already downloaded the first three to my kindle to read and am eagerly awaiting part 4, which is out on May 4th.

Ivy Lane is a brilliant read whatever the season with an engaging host of characters and a wonderful location. I absolutely loved it, and it has firmly put Cathy on my radar and up there as one of my favourite authors - she is witty, creative and downright talented. 

Book review: A Seaside Affair by Fern Britton

"When the residents of the Cornish seaside town of Trevay discover that their much-loved theatre is about to be taken over by coffee chain, Café au Lait, they are up in arms. It is up to Penny Leighton, hotshot producer and now happily married Cornish resident, to come up with a rescue plan. Armed with only her mobile phone and her contacts book, she starts to pull in some serious favours. 

The town is soon deluged by actors, all keen to show their support and take part in a charity season at the theatre. One of the arrivals is Jess Tate, girlfriend to TV heartthrob Ryan Hearst. His career is on the rise while hers remains resolutely in the doldrums. But when opportunity comes calling, it isn’t just her career prospects that are about to change. Trevay is about to put on the show of its life – but can the villagers, and Jess, hold on to the thing they love the most?"

This is the first book I've read by Fern Britton and I'm glad I've introduced myself to this wonderful author. I was first attracted to A Seaside Affair from the summary, pretty cover that stood out to me from the shelf. When I read it, it was raining and murky outside but it suddenly transported me into a sunny, summery seaside world. 

I'm a village girl at heart, so I engaged straightaway with the storyline - saving a rundown theatre from being taken over by a large coffee chain. It's the kind of thing that does happen in small villages, where communities work together to stand up for what they believe in - I felt at home reading this. 

There are many characters in the story but, thankfully, it doesn't get confusing. They have clearly defined personalities and are all really different from one another which provides interesting variety and some unusual but heart-warming friendships. I also liked the different and rather unusual take on famous people in the story - rather than being mega-famous, wonderful superstars they are actually portrayed as what I believe they would be like in real life- some are self-indulgent and arrogant and some are just not really on this planet. Take Red for example- a world-famous singer who is definitely not in our reality- her head is firmly in diamond encrusted clouds. In particular I enjoyed reading about Ryan Hearst, a TV superstar who is, frankly, a bit of a tool. He frustrated me throughout the story with his arrogance and I felt like screaming at his girlfriend Jess, 'LEAVE HIM! you can do so much better!!' he provided another fascinating layer to the story. 

My favourite character was Penny, recently married to Trevay's vicar, but not by any means your usual vicars wife - a hard-working, determined TV producer with a little black book chocker full of A-list contacts, she pulls together the SToP (Save the Pavillon) campaign and works hard to try and stop Cafe Au Lait, the large coffee chain, from taking over the run down theatre.  

The only element I wasn't as keen on in the book was that real-life celebrities are used as contacts to promote the SToP campaign. The main characters in the book are all fictitious and their level of fame and wealth clearly defined so that you know where they stand in the fame pecking order. Ryan Hearst is a well-known TV superstar and Red, a mega famous singer seems to be on the same scale as  Katy Perry or Taylor Swift. Personally, I'd have preferred it if this fictitious theme was kept running throughout the story and Penny's black book was full of make-believe superstars that could join in the promotion of the pavilions. Instead, real-life celebrities such as the Downton Abbey cast, Richard Gere and Richard Curtis are used. To me, it blurred the lines of fictitious story with real life too much, and broke that line of escapism that I love books for creating. I presume that Fern chose to include real-life celebrities to highlight the interest the SToP campaign creates, and how really well-known celebrities are keen to back the campaign but, personally for me, it didn't work. 

Despite that (and it is just me, I know some people might prefer the personal, real-life element to the story) the rest of the book is an absolute treat. The characters are bold and vibrant and you are sucked into their worlds. The location is beautiful and I could see myself sitting on the clifftop tucking into fresh fish and chips with the rest of the characters. It really is a wonderful, absorbing read that I'd recommend, especially to read on a sunny day in the garden while sipping on a glass of something cold!