2015 book awards: best seasonal stories (Summer & Christmas)

There's something really fun and comforting about reading a book about the season you're in. Over Christmas, I love settling down with a festive book to get me in the Christmas spirit and in the Summer, I enjoy reading books jam-packed with summery activities and good weather. These are my picks of the best Summer and Christmas-themed books from 2015. 

Summer

Summer at Shell Cottage by Lucy Diamond

Lucy Diamond novels always bring a smile to my face. She manages to create a vivid fictional world that pulls you in and absorbs you from the first page until the very end and Summer at Shell Cottage is no exception. This story follows the Tarrant family on their annual trip to Devon. I loved the different situations the characters were in and finding out what the cottage meant to them. Setting the novel in Devon during the Summer was blissful and made for perfect Summer reading... pass me a cocktail please! You can read my full review here.

A Seaside Affair by Fern Britton

This was the first story by Fern Britton I've read and I really enjoyed it. Set in a seaside town, it was a fantastic location to be set in for this season and sent my imagination into overdrive. Filled with a variety of different characters all working together to save the local theatre that's set to be bought out by a high-street coffee chain, the plot for this story really resinated with me and felt very true to life. You can read my full review here.

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan 

I LOVED this story - absolutely everything about it was great... the characters, the setting, the plot. The seaside location of this book perfectly suited the season, which was so well described and brought to life by Jenny. With the gorgeous sounding food from the bakery and the beautiful location, this story was a perfect Summer read that I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read my full review here

Christmas

How to Stuff Up Christmas by Rosie Blake

First of all just look at that sparkly, festive cover. I knew from the offset this would be a brilliant book to get me in the festive spirit, and I wasn't wrong! This is a great book that I absolutely adored. Rosie Blake's writing style is fantastically unique and I can't wait to read more from her. It's a fun, festive read perfect for dark winter nights. You can read my full review here

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson

This story had me laughing out loud from the first page - it's a witty, hilarious read jam-packed with funny situations, likeable characters and lots and lots of festiveness. It's the prefect easy read for Christmas time and one that got me in the mood for celebrating. I'm already looking forward to reading it again next year! You can read my full review here.

Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin 

Romance writing at it's finest, Holly Martin once again creates an addictive story filled with romance and sexual tension. I was willing for the main characters, Penny and Henry to act on their feeling for each other and just get it to together already! Aside from that, there's lots of festive sparkle in the story too which I loved. A brilliant all-rounder that I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read my full review here. 

Book review: Pleasure Island by Anna-Lou Weatherley

"Secrets. Scandal. Betrayal. In Paradise, pleasure comes at a dangerously high price... 
Three couples each receive an exclusive invitation to the fantasy holiday destination of a lifetime...

The host: Martin McKenzie, global billionaire and media mogul. Charismatic, powerful and always gets what he wants.
The location: A breathtakingly beautiful undiscovered island, nestled in the Aegean Sea. Private, secluded and not quite as it seems.
The details: Seven days of pure hedonism, five-star luxury tailored to every desire, also includes... secrets, lies, and infidelity. As the guests begin to enjoy everything the luxury island has to offer, cracks begin to surface between the three couples. But that is not all. Someone is watching them."

So, I'm going to confess I was drawn to Pleasure Island from the cover. I thought it looked really summery and the perfect book to read when I was relaxing in the sun (granted, not on Holiday, but still.) The blurb intrigued me and then I saw fellow bloggers tweeting about how much they'd enjoyed it,  I decided I couldn't wait any longer and started to read it. 

I'm so, so glad I did as it is bloody brilliant. 

This is the first book in a fair while that's hooked me in, in an all-consuming way. When I wasn't reading it, it was all I could think about, and I'd sneak as much time as possible to read (even if it was just a few pages) so that I could keep going, as I just HAD to know what happened. 

The story follows media mogul Martin McKenzie, who invites three couples to his luxury, private island for a holiday. What they don't realise is that the entire island is rigged with secret cameras and they are being watched by a select group - 'the super 8', who have all paid good money to be involved in the 'experiment', which forces the holiday-goers into situations to see how they react, all the while them not knowing they are being filmed. While most enjoy the endless glasses of champagne, luxury spa and free designer clothes certain guests begin to suspect not is all as it seems on the island - and they have a right to be worried. They have been hand-picked by Martin McKenzie because in some way, they have done him wrong. As a reader, you begin to see what they have done to 'deserve' a place on the island, and how they are all connected to each other. 

The characters in Pleasure Island are brilliant - all completely differ from one an other and add another layer to this fantastic storyline. Some are pretty extreme like Martin McKenzie, who is downright evil and quite frankly is a little bit mad. He is a force to be reckoned with and we begin to see just how far he will go to ensure things go his way. Then there's Billy-Jo who is fame-hungry, willing to do anything to become a 'big star', with the wealth to go along with it.  She was an irritating character and the extent of her greed was unbelievable at times, but she certainly stood out in the story. When you hear about her difficult upbringing it kind of makes it more understandable, but still didn't detract from her outright selfishness. 

Over all I think my favourite character was Nate, the former footballer. He was kind and genuine and not up himself like a lot of the 'cast'. He is trapped in a marriage to Billy-Jo that he didn't really want to be in, and overall I just hoped that by the end of the story he'd end up happy. I enjoyed seeing how he reacted to certain situations throughout the story, and he becomes good friends with Angelika, another guest on the island who is, like Nate, level-headed and nice - a contradiction to some of the other guests on the island. 

My one concern was that due to the title of the story, the book would be filled with sex scenes and not much else, but that wasn't the case at all. There's the odd one or two as part of the scenarios the 'cast' are put through, but they actually weren't as detailed as I'd expected and so didn't detract from the main plot line. 

I loved the plot of Pleasure Island, it's just brilliant- unique, gripping and original and I really enjoyed reading it. There's such a mysterious edge to the story, you never quite know what's going to happen and there's plenty of twists and turns that keep you on our toes.  Pleasure Island is the perfect beach read - make sure you have some spare time on your hands when you start this though, as you won't want to put it down! If you haven't purchased this already, I'd highly recommend it - it's not to be missed! 

A big thank you to Bookouture for providing an advance copy via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. 

Book review: The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop by Abby Clements

"Anna and her husband Matteo are ready to embark a delicious Italian adventure. After a year and a half running their ice cream shop on Brighton beach and raising their baby Isabella, Matteo is starting to miss Italy. A shared passion for ices means it's easy to settle on a new business idea - they'll open a shop in the town's cobbled square, a short walk from the sparkling blue sea. For a while, life is sweet; but then Matteo's overbearing family get involved...

Anna's younger sister Imogen feels like things are finally coming together - she's living with boyfriend Finn in a beach house in Brighton, and her photography is taking off. Then her career stalls, and the lure of Capri - and a man from her past - prove difficult to resist. 

Join Anna and Imogen and share a summer on the Amalfi Coast that you'll never forget."

Okay so I start this review with a word of caution.... this book will, without a doubt, give you a craving for ice-cream. Whether it be orange sorbet, creamy chocolate gelatto or a delicious sounding hot chocolate ice cream (which I seriously need the recipe for) this book will leave you drooling... I know that I'm certainly hankering a craving for an ice cold sweet treat that I didn't have before! 

So, on to the actual book. The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop is a sequel to Vivian's Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop but you don't need to have read that story to understand what's going on in this book, the characters are introduced and their situations explained well enough for it to be a stand-alone novel itself. 

The story follows Anna and her partner Matteo who are living in Brighton, running a successful ice cream shop and raising their little girl, Bella. Although they are close to Anna's parents and sister Imogen, they are far away from Matteo's Italian family, who he misses. The story begins with it being clear that Matteo would like to move back to Italy for some time, and although Anna struggles with the idea of leaving her childhood home and tight-knit family behind, as well as being closer to Mateeo's overbearing and rather rude mother, she agrees to move to Italy for the summer, where they take over an already well-known ice cream shop and successfully make it their own. 

Anna's sister Imogen is suffering from major wander-lust. She is happy in her relationship with Finn, but she craves travel and adventure. When she is promised a photography job in Africa, she is really excited to get away for a while and follow her passion. The trip is soon cancelled and Imogen is really disappointed and looks for something to fill the gap... 
It's pretty obvious from the offset that Finn is a great guy and loving boyfriend, and Imogen isn't nasty or mean in wanting some distance, she just isn't sure how to handle such a commitment. I wanted to give her a good shake and tell her all would be okay, but I still really enjoyed following her journey and see how it would pan out with Finn. 

I think there are two major pulling points to this story - the food and the location. Let's start with the food. I mean, any book that has the word 'ice cream' in the title is obviously going to be a winner. The different flavours and types of ice cream had me drooling. It isn't ice cream overkill though, its not a repetitive or boring element to the story, there's just the right balance and it definitely created a rumble in my stomach! 

Then there's the location. Half set in Brighton and also in Italy, both the locations are brilliant. I loved the community feel of the pier in Brighton, how Anna has family roots there and all the shop owners all work together and get on with each other. It was the epitome of an idyllic seaside holiday and I really enjoyed the characters based there. Italy was also a great setting, it had an exotic, relaxed atmosphere that you could see rubbed off on the characters. It also just heightened the brilliant ice cream business they run, and I enjoyed it when Imogen and other characters went to visit in Italy. 

My only niggle is that some of the scenarios seemed a little rushed and weren't given the time I wanted, but that's probably a reflection of how much I loved this story - I just wanted to read as much as I could about all of the brilliant characters. The book spans a period of about six months, so I know there's an awful lot to cram in and there's a need to prioritise, but on some occasions a situation was only given a paragraph when I would have loved to have read a whole chapter. An example is when Evie goes over to Italy. I won't go into why (as I don't want to spoil anything) but really I'd have loved to have read about her trip there, but we don't - there's just a quick paragraph where she catches up with Imogen following the trip.

However, don't let that fairly minor detail put you off. Abby is a really talented writer and I absolutely loved this story. There's everything you need for the perfect summer read - fab characters, exotic sunny location, awesome food and plenty of great friendships and romance! If you need a poolside read for your holiday (or an escape from the horrible rainy English weather) then this is the book you need!

Buy the book 

Book review: The Great Village Show by Alexandra Brown

"Tindledale is in a tizzy...

The Village Show competition is coming around again and after last year’s spectacular failure, the villagers are determined to win. Meg, teacher at the local school, is keen to help and to impose some much-needed order.

After a terse encounter with a newcomer to the village, Meg discovers that it is celebrity chef and culinary bad boy, Dan Wright. Meg thinks he is arrogant and rude but rumour has it that Dan is opening a new restaurant in the village which could really put Tindledale on the map.

As things come together, villagers old and new all start to come out of the woodwork, including new arrival Jessie who seems to have it all. But first impressions can be deceptive and Meg discovers that when it comes to Tindledale – and Dan – nothing is ever quite as it seems..."

My review: 

I had been waiting for what seemed like ages for The Great Village Show to come out, as it sounded like the perfect story for me-  I love anything set in a small village, as it pleases my inner Country Bumpkin. Finally, the kindle version came out earlier this month (with the paperback due out on 30th July) and I hurriedly downloaded it, reading it straight away. I'm pleased to say that the story did not disappoint at all, I loved it.

The story follows the villagers of Tindledale as they plan the village show, hoping it will be popular and woo the school inspectors that are currently threatening to shut down the school. Led by the 'country bumpkin' villager Meg, acting Head Teacher of the school, she sets out to make it the best village show ever. 

My favourite part of the story was definitely the location. Tindledale village sounds wonderful and somewhere I could quite happily live. I loved the 'everyone knows everyone' feel that it has, it reminded me of the village I grew up in and so, for me, was actually a comforting part of the story. Tindledale is like a warm blanket on a frosty morning. I know that might seem an odd way to describe it, but but it's true and if you read this story, I'm sure you'll see what I mean.  There's a sense of belonging and comfort within the village that had me smiling from ear to ear. 

If I'm entirely honest, I will say that I feel the story started off fairly slowly and I didn't engage with Meg as much as I thought I should in the first chapter. I was slightly worried that I would struggle with the rest of the book but I didn't - after the first few chapters something clicked into place and I was hooked, needing to know how the village show would turn out, what would happen to Tindledale school and what would happen to the villagers. There's some great characters - Megs mum is a personal favourite, she's loud, inappropriate and not exactly tactful, which was hilarious. I loved watching Meg develop and see her engage with the other villagers, embark on a possible romance and set out to make the show one to remember- which it definitely is. 

The Great Village Show is  a quaint, lovely story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It has a thrilling mixture of village life (and drama!) and bold characters all centered around the show. This is the perfect story to read for some escape from everyday life, to transport yourself to a completely different location. I loved it! 

Six in Six, 2015 - my year in books so far...

I stumbled across the Six in Six 2015 meme over on The Book Jotter's blog and thought it looked like a great way to summarise my year in books so far. Jo has a few suggestions for different categories or you can make your own - I did a mixture of the two. My answers are below, with links to any books that I've reviewed. If you have a go, send me a link to your post below, I'd love to read it, and also remember to post back to The Book Jotter.

Six books I have enjoyed the most: (This was so difficult!)

1. Ivy Lane, Cathy Bramley 
2. I Let You Go, Clare Mackintosh
3. Summer at Shell Cottage, Lucy Diamond 
4. The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance, Kirsty Greenwood
5. The Broken, Tammy Cohen
6. Silent Scream, Angela Marsons

Six books by authors I've never read before: 

1. Learn to Love Again, Ellen Faith
2. The Very Happy Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP), Kate Winter

3. Fairytale Beginnings, Holly Martin
4. Don't Turn Around, Caroline Mitchell
5. The Temp, Emily Benet
6. The Great Village Show, Alexandra Brown

Six book covers I love:






1. Ivy Lane, Cathy Bramley
2. Appleby Farm, Cathy Bramley (can I just put all of Cathy Bramley's books?!)
3. The Day We Disappeared, Lucy Robinson
4. Just The Way You Are, Lynsey  James
5. His Other Life, Beth Thomas

6. Pippa's Cornish Dream, Debbie Johnson

Foodie stories I enjoyed:

1. The Dish, Stella Newman

2. The Cake Shop in the Garden, Carole Matthews
3. Game of Scones, Samantha Tonge
4. Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery, Jenny Colgan 

5. The Gingerbread Cafe Trilogy, Rebecca Raisin
6. Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe, Milly Johnson

Six books from some of my favourite authors:

1. The Year of Taking Chances, Lucy Diamond
2. Three Amazing Things About You, Jill Mansell 

3. Always the Bridesmaid, Lindsey Kelk
4. Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery, Jenny Colgan 

5. I'll Take New York, Miranda Dickinson

6. Village Fortunes, Rebecca Shaw

Six books that are on my bookshelf, shouting out to be read 

1. The Love Shack, Jane Costello 

2. Trouble at the Little Village School, Gervase Phinn

3. The Dead Wife's Handbook, Hannah Beckerman
4. The Memory Book, Rowan Coleman 

5. The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins

6. Yours Truly, Kirsty Greenwood

Book review: Dream A Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher

"Sarah is doing just fine. Sure she's been single for the last five years, and has to spend an uncomfortable amount of time around her ex-boyfriend, his perfect new girlfriend and all their mutual friends. And yes, her job as a PA to one of the most disgusting men in London is mind-numbingly tedious and her career is a constant disappointment to her mother. But it's really okay. She's happy (ish).

So it's not surprising that when Sarah starts dreaming about a handsome stranger, she begins to look forward to falling asleep every night. Reality isn't nearly as exciting. That is until her dream-stranger makes an unexpected real-life appearance, leaving Sarah questioning everything she thought she wanted.

Because no one ever really finds the person of their dreams... do they?"

Now, first of all I have a confession to make... I'm fairly new to the Giovanna Fletcher fan club as I only read You're The One That I Want a few months ago (you can read my review here). However, reading that made me a firm fan of hers, I fell in love with her descriptive and imaginative writing style and ability to create unique and lovable characters. As soon as Dream A Little Dream hit the shelves I dashed out to grab a copy, eager to throw myself into another of Giovanna's fantastic creations.

Dream A Little Dream follows Sarah, who is in a pretty weird situation. She is in a tight-knit friendship group with her old uni mates, which sounds nice doesn't it? except that one of those 'friends' is actually her ex-boyfriend, and another is his new, perfect girlfriend who he ended their seven year relationship for. Not so nice.

Now, at first I thought 'why would she stay in that group and put up with seeing the two of them flash their wonderful relationship in front of her?' but the more I thought about it and read more, learning about Sarah, I understood why. The group of friends are really close and the other members of the group are great - supportive, sympathetic to the situation and really funny. Their weekly stints at the highly competitive pub quiz had me in hysterics and I really want to head down to the pub with them! 

Sarah's job as a PA within a TV production company isn't quite what she had in mind. She wants to go further within the role and actually do something more creative, so when she gets the opportunity to 'step up' and become part of the planning team she is ecstatic. This is a part of the story I really enjoyed as it was full of imagination and really showed off Giovanna's writing strength - the ability to form entertaining situations. I loved the different and creative ideas that were batted around, and Sarah's idea, 'Grannies go Wild' had me smiling from ear to ear.

Of course the story centers around romance and dreams. Sarah begins dreaming about Brett, a man she once met for a short time at a party but didn't see again. She isn't sure why she starts dreaming about him, but she begins to look forward to falling asleep just so she can see where her next dream takes her. When he starts working alongside Sarah she is thrown by having to separate dream Brett to normal, real-life Brett and there are some funny moments when she mentions something to the real Brett that actually involves dream Brett, creating a confusing atmosphere that really made me laugh. I loved watching their working and personal relationship develop and see how she coped with this strange set of events. Brett is a great character - handsome, slightly cocky (but not too much so) and funny. I really willed for them to get together as the tension between the two of them from the start is electric. 

Giovanna's imagination never fails to amaze me. Each chapter begins with a detailed dream and some of them are so quirky or ridiculous they had me laughing out loud. I also loved the connections she brings from her real life to the book - 'Tom from McFly' makes an appearance in one dream, and you meet a granny who's ambitions are to be like Nanny Pat from The Only Way is Essex, a TV programme her brother actually appears in. The dreams 

Although I felt the start was quite slow, the book picks up a few chapters in and draws you to it, making you desperate to read more. As usual, Giovanna excels with her ability to create romance, humour and interesting scenarios. This book is an absolute dream to read (sorry I couldn't resist!) - if you haven't already, be sure to grab yourself a copy! 

Book review: Summer at Shell Cottage

Blurb: 

"A seaside holiday at Shell Cottage in Devon has always been the perfect escape for the Tarrant family. Beach fun, barbecues and warm summer evenings with a cocktail or two - who could ask for more?

But this year, everything has changed. Following her husband's recent death, Olivia is struggling to pick up the pieces. Then she makes a shocking discovery that turns her world upside down.

As a busy mum and GP, Freya's used to having her hands full, but a bad day at work has put her career in jeopardy and now she's really feeling the pressure.

Harriet's looking forward to a break with her lovely husband Robert and teenage daughter Molly. But unknown to Harriet, Robert is hiding a secret - and so, for that matter, is Molly . . ."

My Review: 

I am a HUGE fan of Lucy Diamond and have been eagerly awaiting this new release so I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint at all and is another brilliant story from one of my favourite writers.

The story follows the Tarrant family during their annual family holiday to Shell Cottage in Devon.  As usual, Lucy manages to create intriguing separate story lines for all the different characters, but also link them all seamlessly together. 

Olivia is dreading returning to Shell Cottage for the first time since her husbands death. Usually the summer trips are full of laughter and fun, but this time there will be a big empty gap where Alec used to be. However, she soon discovers a big secret her husband had kept from her for years, which adds a whole new dimension to her grief and how she spends her holiday.  Then there's her daughter Freya, who has turned to alcohol as she struggles to deal with her fathers death, a huge mistake at work and an ever-distant husband. In complete contrast, everything in Heather's world is, apparently, running smoothly (minus a flakey ex who barely sees their teenage daughter, Molly) her husband Robert has  just signed a massive book deal, following in his famous late-fathers writing footsteps. However, her perfect world starts to unravel and she realises all is not as it seems... 

The large Tarrant family mean that this book is crammed with loads of characters but each one brings something extra to the table. One of my favourites was Olivia, who goes on a really emotional journey and I found it so interesting to see how she coped. Sadness, anger, happiness, loss - all these emotions play a huge part of her story and really reflect the different stages of grief. I absolutely loved it when she befriended her new cleaner Gloria, as she is absolutely hilarious! Somewhat more wild than prim and proper Olivia, Gloria really brings out the reckless side of Olivia - soon she's skinny dipping, smoking and even contemplating a tattoo. 

One of the story lines I also really enjoyed was Molly's, Heather's daughter. I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a huge twist of events with that story that had me gasping in shock as I really hadn't guessed it. Lucy accurately portrays a mother and teenage daughter relationship with Molly and Heather - you can tell Molly is trying to be cool and is quite embarrassed by her mum sometimes but, really, nothing beats the safety of a cuddle with your mum. 

What I loved about this story is there's a lot going on, but it's not hard to keep up at all and isn't overly complicated. I was worried that as there are so many characters the story could have been in danger of going too far and resembling your favourite soap. However Lucy (as usual) finds the perfect balance between dramatic story lines and a leisurely read, meaning that even when all the events combine they don't seem too far fetched and are actually pivotal parts of the story. 

Lucy's books are always so absorbing and transport you to another world. The location in this story is wonderful, set at the sunny Devon seaside, I could practically feel the sea breeze tickling my shoulders and the sun bouncing down on my skin and eating wonderful food to accompany the good weather. 

Full of sunshine, secrets and splendid characters,  Summer at Shell Cottage is a fantastic read that I really, really enjoyed. If you love Lucy Diamond already, this lives up to expectation and if, for some reason you haven't read anything by her before, go buy this now! go! (and then stock up with her back catalogue while you're at it!) 

Buy the book

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I've decided to start a rating system for my reviews, as it makes it easier to distinguish my feelings of a book. I'm delighted that the first review I'm doing scores top points - 5 Yorkshire roses go to this wonderful story. 

Blog tour: Castaway in the Caribbean by Janice Horton

Castaway in the Caribbean
More fun than you’ll find in any travel brochure…

 "Vacationing on the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua, Janey Sinclair is persuaded by her magazine editor boss to do a quick island hop in order to supervise an impromptu photo-shoot for the front cover. With no flights immediately available, Janey is directed to the harbour.

Captain Travis Mathews hates tourists, although he’s not above making a bit of money off a prissy and sharp tongued young British girl when she’s desperate to get to the neighbouring island of Tortola.

After striking a deal, they set off together in Travis’s weather-beaten old boat. When the vessel comes to a sudden full stop in the sea, the mismatched pair end up as castaways on an uninhabited island.

In this fast moving romantic adventure about a vacation that turns into a tropical nightmare there’s more fun than you’ll find in any travel brochure.…"

My review:

Castaway in the Caribbean is a perfect summary read. Grab a cool drink, sit in the sunshine and devour this tropical romance. If I'm honest, I didn't expect the book to be so jam-packed with adventure, I thought it would be more a 'boy-meets-girl-will-they-fall-in-love' type story (which, to some extent it is) but I was surprised by just how much of the storyline is focused on adventure, not just romance, which made for an interesting and exciting story.

The characters in the story are great, especially Travis. Oh, Travis. He is gruff, handsome and just wonderful. I loved seeing his thoughts and feelings towards Janey develop and change as they got to know each other. Following Travis and Janey on their adventures on the island is really special, and I love seeing how different they are and how the island and goings-on changes them from how they were at the start of the story, to how they are at the end.

Of course, I can't talk about this book without mentioning the location which is absolutely brilliant. You can really tell how much research Janice conducted to ensure the description of the place is perfect, and it really pays off. Straight away you're transported to a hot, beautiful island that sounds idyllic (maybe minus the pirates!) It's left me craving a holiday and some sunshine!

Overall this is a great, enjoyable book that is perfect for summer reading. If you haven't already, definitely get a copy and prepare to be transported to to the sunny climes of the Caribbean.

Message from the Author

I was incredibly fortunate to spend the summer of 2014 in the Caribbean, writing and researching this novel. I found it challenging only in the respect of being continually distracted from the manuscript by the tropical sunshine, the white sand beaches, the warm aquamarine sea, rum cocktails, and the fabulous social scene on offer. Many of these distractions are well documented on my website, blog and Facebook page, if you are interested in reading the details and seeing the photos!

For the purposes of proper research for Castaway in the Caribbean, I travelled to and explored many Caribbean islands and, despite my tendency for sea sickness, I also spent a lot of time in boats. I even got to sail around Tortola, the larger of the British Virgin Islands, in a restored schooner that had been used in the filming of the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

The Virgin Islands inspired me with the modern day setting for Castaway in the Caribbean because, of this chain of around 90 small islands, islets, cays and rocks in the Caribbean Sea, many are uninhabited. 

I eventually settled down to write this romantic adventure story on the Caribbean island of Utila, the smaller of the Bay Islands, just off the coast of Honduras. Likened to the Key West of long ago, Utila is a quaint, unspoilt and laid-back little island. Sitting on the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, it is also a paradise for scuba diving, which is exactly was what my husband was doing every day while I was busy writing this story.

Research is a valuable tool for a writer, so I do hope all the fun and adventure I had in the Caribbean has found its way into the pages of Castaway in the Caribbean. 

Janice  xx

Janice Horton writes contemporary romantic fiction with a dash of humour and a sense of adventure. Look out for Janice’s new release for 2015 ‘Castaway in the Caribbean’ and her Amazon Kindle bestselling books 'Bagpipes and Bullshot' and 'Reaching for the Stars' and her fun ‘Voodoo Romance’ series of novellas. Her nonfiction guide to online promotion 'How To Party Online' is recommended reading for all authors and writers by publishers. Janice is a regular blogger from her website at janicehorton.co.uk and you'll also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

LINKS

My Author Website & Blog at janicehorton.co.uk

Follow me on Twitter: @JaniceHorton

Friend me on Facebook Page

Link to my Amazon Author Page

Check out my page on Goodreads

My LLm Bookshelf

Senior Editor at: Loveahappyending Lifestyle Mag

COMPETITION 

Prizes:

1^st Prize Mermaid Necklace (UK only)

2^nd Prize – ecopy of the book (international)

2^nd Prize Shell box (UK only)

3^rd Prize Caribbean spices Necklace (UK only)

4^th  Prize  Purse & pen (UK only)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301770/?

Book review: Truly, Madly, Greekly by Mandy Baggot

"Sun, sea and a sexy stranger - a whole lot of fun just got a lot more complicated.
Capable, confident and career-driven, Ellen had her dream job and a marriage proposal from boyfriend Ross. Life was good, her future set. Until it wasn’t and everything fell apart… 
Whisked off to the beautiful island of Corfu to plan her sister Lacey’s big, fat, Greek wedding, Ellen is hoping some time out will help clear her head and heal her heart. But letting go of her past is not going to be easy. 
With Lacey in full on Bridezilla mode, Ellen is soon distracted from her own problems. And when the all-inclusive treats on offer at hotel Blue Vue include one gorgeous, brooding Adonis – Yan – Ellen finds him difficult to resist. 
But Ellen isn’t looking for love or lust, or anything involving too much ouzo…or is she? 
Fans of Lucy Diamond, Miranda Dickinson and Lindsey Kelk will want to escape to Corfu with Mandy Baggot this summer." 

My review: 


Truly, Madly, Greekly is a delicious, summery read! If you're going on holiday soon and are seeeking that perfect 'beach read' then look no further - you've found it right here! 

Straight away I was immersed into the sunny, relaxing climates of Corfu. Mandy's ability to describe a location is brilliant - I really felt like I was there. It made me crave for a holiday - cocktails, the pool, handsome workers... agh! I want to go to Hotel Blue Vue now! 

The story skips between the viewpoint of the two main characters, Ellen and Yan. Ellen is a work-a-holic accountant struggling to take a break and enjoy what Corfu has to offer, instead worrying about the office. It turns out, she isn't just worrying about the office itself though, she's harbouring a big secret. One that she hopes no-one will discover while she's gone.... mysterious, huh?! 

Then onto Yan. Oh Yan. How do I put into words what a delight he is?! Handsome, romantic but yet flawed, Yan is wonderful, swoon-worthy character and I enjoyed his journey throughout the story. He is a Bulgarian who has come over to Corfu to escape his rough past and hopefully, get a chance to succeed and do what he wants in life. I loved finding out all about him and his dreams. 

During the story we also meet Ellen's younger sister, Lacey. The point of the trip is to check out the hotel Blue Vue for Lacey's potential wedding venue, except things don't quite go according to plan. Lacey is a spoilt, selfish girl who had me wanting to scream at my book. At 23 she is younger than Ellen and so her selfish ways are put down to immaturity. But at 24 myself, I can say that it isn't the age - it's just her personality. She is a crucial and interesting element to Truly, Madly, Greekly and one that provoked a reaction from me (frustration!) Poor Ellen has an awful lot to put up with. 

Mandy is known for her romance writing and this book doesn't fail to deliver. Much like the blurb says it is 'sizzling summer reading' - and not because of the hot climate of Corfu! The tension between Ellen and Yan is noticeable from the off-set and as you follow them on their journey together it becomes even more electrifying. 

I really enjoyed Truly, Madly, Greekly - it is certainly a summer must read. So grab an apricot cooler, sit somewhere warm and sunny and devour this romantic, sunny read! 

About the author: 

Mandy Baggot is an award-winning romantic fiction author, writing hot heroes and emotional reads. She is represented by Kate Nash of The Kate Nash Literary Agency.

In 2012 she won the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance and has since scooped Top Ten Reads/Book of the Year places from a number of UK book bloggers.

Traditionally published by US publisher Sapphire Star, Harper Collins' digital first romance imprint, Harper Impulse, and most recently, digital fiction specialists, Bookouture, a great story is never far from her fingertips!

A contributor to writing blogs and short story anthologies, Mandy is also a regular speaker at literary festivals, events and women's networking groups.

Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, World's Strongest Man, travel and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1's Who Dares Sings and auditioned for The X-Factor.

Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.

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