Sunshine After The Rain by Daisy James plus Book Voucher Giveaway

About Daisy James:

Daisy James is a Yorkshire girl transplanted to the north east of England. She loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. Her husband and young son were willing samplers of her baking creations which were triple-tested for her debut novel, The Runaway Bridesmaid. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something pink and fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea – china plates and teacups are a must.

Daisy would love to hear from readers via her Facebook page or you can follow her on Twitter 

Facebook: /daisyjamesbooks

Twitter:  @daisyjamesbooks 

Goodreads page here 

Book Blurb: 

A summer that changes everything…

Frazzled workaholic Evie Johnson has finally had enough! When she’s blamed for a publicity disaster at the art gallery she loves, she decides to flee the bright lights of London for the sun-drenched shores of Corfu and turn her life upside-down.

Under the shade of the olive trees, she picks up her dusty paintbrushes and begins to chase the dreams she had put aside for so long. But she never expected to bump into drop-dead-gorgeous Sam Bradbury – and certainly not whilst wrapped only in a towel!

A summer fling is the last thing Evie wanted but a few stolen kisses under the stars might just begin to change her mind…

Sunshine After The Rain by Daisy James is available on AmazonUK and AmazonUS     

Win a £10 Book Voucher !

This is for a £10 book voucher for any high street store that sells books.

UK only. 

Enter via Rafflecopter here

* Author bio, book blurb and giveaway by Neverland Blog Tours @NeverlandBT

~ Katie aka Word Scribbler ~

Why You Should Read Jane Austen

Last week was the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death (16th December 1775 - 18th July 1817) and there have been so many film and tv adaptations made of her books but how many of them have you actually read? Did you read one or all of them years ago but not since?

How many times have you watched Pride and Prejudice? Mr Darcy is a literary icon yet I watched the 1995 adaptation with Colin Firth years before I read the book. I realised shortly before the 2005 film release that I had never read it and needed to asap. I loved it and the film adaptation too.  Who wouldn't want to marry Matthew Macfadyen or Keira Knightley and live happily ever after in a grand stately home in the countryside?

Raise your hand if you've seen and enjoyed the adaptations of Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park or Northanger Abbey, albeit years ago, but never read the books? (err that would be me!).  With so much interest in Jane Austen this year including a display in my local library that jogged my memory of this fact I've come to realise that I need to experience these stories the way they were meant to be enjoyed, through words and imagination not on screen.

Like William Shakespeare, Jane Austen was a big influence on the English language and there are many words and phrases that she was the first to use including :

Brace Yourself
Dinner Party
Door Bell
Dress a salad
Family Portrait
If I've told you once, I've told you 100 times
Nice Looking
Shut up

English is cool :)

Northanger Abbey was the first of Jane Austen's books to get a publishing deal (in 1803) but it was not actually published until after her death. I'm going to read her books in the published order, as follows :

Sense and Sensibility (1811)
Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Mansfield Park (1814)
Emma (1815)
Northanger Abbey (1818)
Persuasion (1818)
Lady Susan (1871)

Other than Pride and Prejudice, which I've rewatched x 10,  it's been years since I've watched an adaptation of one of her books so it's like I'm discovering the characters and stories for the first time.

Have you read all her books? When did you last read the book of a film adaptation and not just rewatched the movie? Has anyone read Lady Susan? Let me know in the comments if you plan to read the books too!

~ Katie aka Word Scribbler ~

source

Blog Tour - Book Review - A Little Of Chantelle Rose by Cristina Hodgson

Book Review : A Little Of Chantelle Rose by Cristina Hodgson

About Christina Hodgson :

Cristina Hodgson, mother of two, born in Wimbledon, London, currently lives in southern Spain. Cristina had a long career in sport, reaching national and international level and still actively participates in Triathlon races and enjoys outdoor activities. In her spare time she also enjoys reading and writing. She won a sports scholarship to Boston College. After a period in Boston, she returned to the UK and graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Sports Science.

A LITTLE OF CHANTELLE ROSE is her debut novel and was be released in May 2017. Amazingly, it has nothing to do with running!

Book Blurb :

At the age of twenty-four, Chantelle Rose has all a city girl can expect: a tiny bed-sit in South London, a lousy poorly-paid job, a tyrannical boss, and quite a few exes added to an ever-growing list.

Desperate for change, she becomes an extra in a seedy crime film. When that leads to the opportunity of a lifetime – a role to play with a million dollars to win and seemingly nothing to lose – she accepts without thinking twice. After all, what could possibly go wrong? In any event, she´ll earn enough to buy her dream home, set up her own business and never worry about money again.

And what about love? Two men have won her heart: Robbie – sultry, silent, mysterious; and Lionel – Hollywood heart-throb, charm, wealth, adventure.

But who can she trust? Who is bent on scaring her away, and why?

There seems to be more at stake than just her heart. Will a million dollars be worth it?

My Review :

First of all, I really liked this book! The main character, Chantelle Rose, is a movie extra and one of my American friends is (shout out to @atlfilmxtra ) which made it fun to read. It's not a job that's in any books I've read before which made this different and worth a read. The story is a little far-fetched but that's what books are for right? It's a perfect escapism story to relax with. 

Chantelle Rose is living in a not so nice London flat with a low paid job she hates and desperate for money, which makes her relatable, then she gets a very lucky break and is flown off to California. She seems naive at the start of the book but endearing by the end. There are lots of colourful and complex characters, mistakes, and misunderstandings which keeps you reading. This isn't a straight forward girl meets boy and they live happily ever after novel. The (shock) ending is abrupt and teases possibility for a sequel. There's romance but also mystery and lots to keep you thinking and guessing.

There's something for everyone, a glamorous film set, a yacht and a red carpet with a Hollywood hunk and a cozy country cottage with a cute charming guy. Books that are described as a 'romantic comedy' are usually more romance and less comedy but A Little Of Chantelle Rose is definitely a comedy with so many funny moments! This is a great book to relax with on holiday in the sun or a rainy British Sunday afternoon.

You can follow Cristina on Twitter @HodgsonCristina and GoodReads 

A Little Of Chantelle Rose is available on AmazonUK and AmazonUS

Giveaway : A Little of Chantelle Rose bookmarks and keyrings

 

~ Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway ~

* I received a copy of this book for an honest review by the awesome Neverland Blog Tours @NeverlandBT

~ Katie aka Word Scribbler ~