#FridayReads – If you like #Romance then you might like these…..#AmReading

If you like reading #Romance then I can recommend these books

22038196Bella Abbascia has returned to Seaside Cottages in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as she does every summer. Only this year, Bella has more on her mind than sunbathing and skinny-dipping with her girlfriends. She’s quit her job, put her house on the market, and sworn off relationships while she builds a new life in her favorite place on earth. That is, until good-time Bella’s prank takes a bad turn and a sinfully sexy police officer appears on the scene.

Single father and police officer Caden Grant left Boston with his fourteen-year-old son, Evan, after his partner was killed in the line of duty. He hopes to find a safer life in the small resort town of Wellfleet, and when he meets Bella during a night patrol shift, he realizes he’s found the one thing he’d never allowed himself to hope for—or even realized he was missing.

After fourteen years of focusing solely on his son, Caden cannot resist the intense attraction he feels toward beautiful Bella, and Bella’s powerless to fight the heat of their budding romance. But starting over proves more difficult than either of them imagined, and when Evan gets mixed up with the wrong kids, Caden’s loyalty is put to the test. Will he give up everything to protect his son—even Bella? Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

22845672Twenty-one-year-old Lizzie Adler had everything a young woman could want: she was beautiful, bright, and had both a faithful best friend and a handsome boyfriend with whom she was deeply in love. In one fell swoop, calamity strikes, stripping Lizzie of all that she holds dear. While driving with her best friend, Nan, en route to a party, Lizzie collides with another car.

The results are devastating: Nan doesn’t survive the accident, while Lizzie is forever crippled and disfigured. Lizzie undergoes scores of surgeries and endures ample physical therapy, which ultimately leave her with a face and body she can no longer recognize.

Meanwhile, Daniel has just recently left Lizzie to stay with his ailing grandparents in England. He intended to return to her arms after just one summer. Little did he know that, after months of silence from his beloved, he would receive a cold, curt break-up letter, devoid of explanation.

Unable to bear the pain brought on by memories of who she used to be, Lizzie casts her former identity aside forever and decides to go by the name of Beth.

Fast forward twelve years, and Beth is now an almost-happily-married stay-at-home mom with a five-year-old daughter, Stacy. Boredom and pressure from her husband, Alan prompt Beth to join Stacy’s school’s PTA. There, she meets Noreen: the first woman she is able to connect with since Nan’s death so many years ago. Beth is delighted to have finally found someone with whom to face the travails of womanhood.

Unfortunately, friendship with Noreen comes at an unexpected – and painfully high – price.   Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

22515690Erik “Fish” Fiskare loves the theatre, but he’s more intrigued by the wizardry behind the red curtain than the spectacle center stage. That is, until Daisy Bianco steps into the spotlight. The moment Erik lays eyes on this ballerina, his atoms rearrange and the young stagehand will never be the same.

For two years, the romance thrives within a tight-knit circle of artists and friends. Then, a newcomer arrives—James, a brilliant but erratic dancer with a misguided infatuation and a burning desire to belong. Rejection sets James on a course for destruction and when the smoke clears, Erik’s world is torn apart. He soon discovers that in the face of heartache, grief and betrayal, love is not always enough to make you stay. And sometimes, it’s the only thing that can bring you back.

Spanning fifteen years and following a man’s thrilling emotional journey back to the truth of himself, this award-winning novel has gripped readers and placed Laqueur as one of the most exciting debut authors of 2015. The Man I Love is an epic tale of love and forgiveness that will linger long after the last page is turned. Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

22178905Discover beautiful South Africa in this sweet, heart-warming Cinderella story about a blogger, a billionaire, and one chance meeting.

When it comes to men, if physiotherapist Caitlin Sutherland didn’t have bad luck, she would have no luck at all. To help cope, Caitlin starts blogging in her spare time, about the types of men she meets and the bad dates she goes on.

While on duty during the annual Wines to Whales bicycle race, a gorgeous, sweaty cyclist walks in and sets her hormones dancing. But he is Don Cavallo; one of the four Cavallo brothers — hotel tycoons, famous as much for their business skills as for the number of beauties regularly seen on their arms.

Don Cavallo has his own issues with the other sex. He has yet to find one who is interested in him and not in his money or hotels. But when this sexy physio puts her hands on his back she not only touches his body, but also his heart.

They’ve both been burned before, but neither of them can stop themselves from playing with fire. Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

25849896SCOTCH ON THE ROCKS
Where men are men and women are glad of it!

ISHABEL STUART is at the crossroads of her life.
Her wealthy industrialist father has died unexpectedly, leaving her a half-share in a ruined whisky distillery and the task of scattering his ashes on a Munro. After discovering her fiancé playing away from home, she cancels their lavish Christmas wedding at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh and heads for the only place she feels safe – Eilean na Sgairbh, a windswept island on Scotland’s west coast – where the cormorants outnumber the inhabitants, ten to one.
When she arrives at her family home – now a bed and breakfast managed by her left-wing, firebrand Aunt Esme, she finds a guest in situ – BRODIE. Issy longs for peace and the chance to lick her wounds, but gorgeous, sexy American, Brodie, turns her world upside down.
In spite of her vow to steer clear of men, she grows to rely on Brodie. However, she suspects him of having an ulterior motive for staying at her aunt’s Bed and Breakfast on remote Cormorant Island. Having been let down by the men in her life, will it be third time lucky for Issy? Is she wise to trust a man she knows nothing about – a man who presents her with more questions than answers?
As for Aunt Esme, she has secrets of her own . . . Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

17863305Rose O’Carroll has been single for most of her 40 years. In her search for love she packs up her life in Melbourne and moves to London. Guided by her special friends – her angels, she soon lands a great job, makes great friends and begins her spiritual journey.

It doesn’t take long for Joe DeMarco, the handsome American, to turn Rose’s world upside down and change it forever. Rose intuitively knows she has met her twin soulmate. But how does she cope when he tells her “it’s just the wrong time.”

Everything happens for a reason and soon Rose discovers why she had to meet Joe DeMarco when the timing was wrong. She had someone else to meet first… and it wasn’t only the dishy Dr St. Claire!   Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

16301205Marianne Coltrane is a feisty, award-winning journalist who is far from lucky in love. Taking herself off to the wilds of the west of Ireland to recuperate, she literally runs into Ryan O’Gorman, the most conceited, infuriating man in the world.
He’s an actor who’s just landed the biggest role in movie history and he loathes journalists. One thing they do have in common is they both think their chance of true love has passed them by…but fate has other ideas!
Sexy, moving and funny, this heart-warming duo and cast of colourful characters will stay with you, long after the last page leaves you smiling. Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

22368254Marcus has sworn to avenge his wife’s death—even if it takes an eternity to hunt down the vampire who murdered her. Once a Roman Centurion, Marcus is now immortal and, for the past two thousand years, impervious to human emotions. Until the night he rescues Diana…
Diana knew nothing of the paranormal world until her transformation into a vampling, a newborn vampire entirely reliant for survival upon the distant and seemingly emotionless Centurion, who found her in the throes of changing. Her protector turned her without her consent, but at his untimely death, she becomes the distant and cold immortal’s responsibility.
The entire vampire community is determined to kill Marcus as he protects one of their own. While Marcus and Diana travel the Italian countryside, being chased by their enemies, Marcus must choose between avenging his dead wife or saving Diana from the same vampire who ruined his life. Will the power of love win over his desire for revenge? Bewitched by the Amalfi moon, he soon discovers life might still surprise him. Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

188786611924. The English Shires, after the Great War.
When her jazzing flapper of an aunt dies, Gerardina Mary Chiledexter inherits some silver-topped scent bottles, a wardrobe of love-affair clothes, and astonishingly, a half-share in a million-acre ranch in south-west Texas.
Haunted by a psychic cat and the ghost voice of that aunt Leonie, Gerry feels driven to travel thousands of miles to see the ranch for herself.
Against a background of big sky, cattle barons and oil wells, she is soon engaged in a game of power, pride and ultimately, love, with the Texan who owns the other half.
   Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Beach Reads Blog Tour 2015 Day 11 #BeachBooks @june_kearns

It’s Day 11 of our wonderful book tour holiday, pull up a deck chair and feel the sand between your toes.

June Kearns

Today my guest is June Kearns.

Beach Read Postcard

 

Beach Reads Blog Tour

My ideal holiday spot for relaxing and reading? Cromarty. (From the shipping forecast? Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne and Dogger.) The tiny historic town at the tip of the Black Isle, way up in the north of Scotland has warm seas (Gulf Stream), seals, kites and bottlenose dolphins. The rest of the family can swim, sail, fish, play golf, tennis and everything else that they like to do, while I sit in the sun with a book. Bliss!

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A book I’ve been meaning to read for ages: Love & The Goddess by Mary Elizabeth Coen

I’d already spotted this and admired the cover, but it was the feature on A Woman’s Wisdom Blog that made me fly to the buy button on Kindle. Described as one of those Wonderful Feel Good Books, perfect for a lazy weekend or holiday read, and likened to Sex and the City meets Eat, Pray, Love (I loved both), made it irresistible.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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A book from my favourite genre: The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler

Fabulously funny, sad, sensitive – this book is all of those things. Was it the first Anne Tyler that I read, the one that hooked me in? I just love it, and have several paperback copies in case one is loaned or lost. A storyline about a man whose life goes into a tailspin after his son dies and his marriage breaks up doesn’t sound much fun, but the appearance of frizzy-haired dog-trainer Muriel from the Meow-Bow dog clinic, turns everything around. Gorgeous.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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A book I could truly escape with: The Republic of Love by Carol Shields

This is a book that I really did escape with on my first ever camping trip with family to the south of France. That first night, I lay on my little cot with flies circling overhead and thought: ‘Help! This is just like Tenko! ’ (TV series about a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.) It’s such a wonderful read – a love-story, yes, but so fresh and sparkling and surprising. Love it. (I have 3 paperback copies of this one, too!)

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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A book that interests me from a genre I’ve never read: Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia

Although I have actually read quite a lot of historical fiction, Zoe Saadia’s books sound completely different to anything else. Instinct tells me to start at the beginning of the series and I’ve read some wonderful reviews of this particular book, (‘cracking good story,’ ‘writing flows beautifully’). I read a lot of Native American history when researching my first book and just wish I’d had access to Zoe Saadia’s series at that time, with all the information and history packaged in a really entertaining read. (On my Kindle)

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

18878661

One of my own books?

Well if like me, you’re a sucker for romance, threaded with history and humour – The 20’s Girl might appeal.

Even before the remake of Gatsby and advent of Downton, there was just something in the air about the 1920s – the music, style and fashion. The story was also inspired by a 1920s newspaper headline: ‘A million women too many! 1920 husband hunt!’ – about that generation of surplus women in England after the First World War, who were left with little hope of love or marriage. They were given advice: ‘If you’re hoping for a husband – be warned. Nice young men have no time for jazzing flappers.’

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

And if you’re still looking for some really great holiday reads, let me add the three latest books from my friends and allies in the New Romantics Press, all of which are on Kindle and in paperback.

Scotch on the Rocks by Lizzie Lamb, Secrets of the Heart, Adrienne Vaughan and Twins of a Gazelle, Mags Cullingford.

Happy Reading!

Beach Reads Drift Wood

 

 

 

Good Deeds Challenge Year 2, Week 21

Welcome to my second Year of Good Deeds, a challenge I set myself during April 2013. I decided to do at least one Good Deed a day for a whole year, now I an into my second year.

New Good DeedsDuring my week I’ll also being updating you on My Kindness Challenge which I’m also doing. I read about a new challenge to make the world a better place to live in. “Speak Kind Words, Receive Kind Echoes” see the inspiration on  The Kindness blog . During my learning process I’m donating money to charity for my slip-ups to make me work harder to achieve results. I earn no money from any of my book reviews, so having little to spare should focus my mind.

September 7th – Today it has been the turn of Victoria Steele on the Romancing September tour and her book As My Heart Beats – Beckoning, here is a link to her post http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5E7

I’ve been in to work this morning to catch up on lots of paperwork and to leave the place tidy for my colleague.

September 8th – Cecily Gates promotes her book An Imaginary House by the Sea in todays Romancing September tour. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5Fw

School is back and my Monday helping out at school starts again.

September 9th – It’s Debbie Peterson’s turn today with her book Spirit of the Knight. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5Bq

Dropped of a birthday present to my God Daughter and picked up litter on the way home.

September 10th – June Kearns joins us on the Romancing September tour with her brilliant book The 20’s Girl, the ghost and All That Jazz. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5DA

I’m reading How I changed my Life by Shelley Wilson, this is my September treat read that I recently bought, I always like to give myself a treat after the summer holidays and the rush and stress of the return to school. Shelley tells us about Emotional Freedom tapping, a way to relieve stress particularly, here is a link to a website with a very useful video on tapping. http://eft.mercola.com/

Walked to town to do my shopping it was such a lovely day I detoured through three parks and picked up litter along the way.

September 11th – Today we have some poetry on the Romancing September tour, Pamela Beckford chats about her book Love – Lost and Found. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5xv

Took two big bags full of books to the charity shop and found that several local book shops are having a sale. Who can resist?

September 12th – Adrienne Vaughan talks about her book The Hollow heart in today’s Romancing September. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5Aw

Went back to the book shops, books at 50p were calling to me, staggered out with another 14 books, had the sales assistant helping me out taking books to the till so that I could browse some more. The sale goes on for another 2 weeks, so I intend going back for more. Visited the local country market and bought chutney and a cake.

September 13th – It’s Della Connor’s day today as she tells us more about Spirit Warriors: The Concealing in Romancing September. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5xH

Had a walk out this evening and picked up more litter. Have invited author Shelley Wilson to write a series of posts for October about changing your life for the better.

 

Romancing September #RomancingSeptember – Day 10

rosie1

Welcome to Day 10 of Romancing September Across The World Tour. Today our guest is June Kearns. Catch up with more from June in a few hours with the second part of our tour when Stephanie chats to her.

The 20'sGirl,The Ghost and All That Jazz  - June Kearns

The 20’sGirl,The Ghost and All That Jazz – June Kearns

Where is your home town?

I grew up in Buckinghamshire, but now live in Leicester in the UK.

How long have you been writing romance? 

Since winning a national magazine competition in the 70s, for the first chapter of a romantic novel. My interest in reading it, started at 13 when I came across Jane Eyre, and realised that heroines didn’t have to be beautiful!

What is your favourite sub-genre of romance?

I haven’t got a special favourite. Sometimes, I’m attracted by a period or event, but it’s usually the characters, sparky dialogue and story-telling that hook me in.

When and where is your book set? 

The 20s Girl is set partly in the English Shires, and partly in south-west Texas.

What did Gerry’s aunt leave her? 

To her absolute astonishment, Gerry’s flapper of an aunt, Leonie, left her a half-share in a cattle ranch in south-west Texas.

How long would it take to get to Texas from England in the 1920s?

Hard to say, exactly – certainly weeks and weeks, depending on weather conditions and time of year. Gerry crossed from Liverpool to New York on a Cunarder, with the Atlantic in a very bad mood. Then, hundreds of miles with different railroad companies to get to south-west Texas.

Was Gerry welcomed with open arms to the ranch?

Not exactly! In the Texan’s own words: “The last thing on God’s earth that I need now, is some English lady bountiful, looking for excitement in her boring, small-town life, coming to meet the natives.”

Why was there a lack of eligible men in England in the 1920s?

It was a sad combination of the Great War, where a generation of young men was so cruelly wiped out, and the septic flu epidemic.

When I started writing, I read “Singled Out” by Virginia Nicholson about the sad plight of all those women in England at the time, with almost no hope of finding a husband.

Tell us what you are working on at the moment.

Book Three is set in 1960s London – a sort of hist/fic/romcom! – involving a girl struggling keep her crumbling family home together, while being pursued by a Canadian photographer looking for rolls of film taken by the girl’s mother, during D-Day landings.

Where can readers find out more about you?

June Kearns

 My website is: www.junekearns.com

The website I share with three other writers: www.newromantics4.com

Find a copy of The 20’s Girl, the Ghost and All That Jazz, here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Find out more about June from Stephanie Hurt’s blog and all our Romance writers http://stephanie-hurt.com/

 

Rosie’s Book Review Challenge – Manda reviewed The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns

Reviews from the book review challenge are still coming in and today we have a review from Manda.

Rosie's Book Review Challengers 1

She chose to read The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns.

The 20'sGirl,The Ghost and All That Jazz  - June Kearns

The 20’sGirl,The Ghost and All That Jazz – June Kearns

Here is Manda’a review.

THE 20’S GIRL, THE GHOST AND ALL THAT JAZZ

By June Kearns

Review by Manda Ward

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this. June’s portrayal of a quintessential English girl in the 20s is spot on, and combined with Cooper’s more than laid-back attitude the book had me laughing out loud in certain places.

For me this book ticked all my boxes, a feisty heroine who isn’t afraid of being herself, a hero who is completely the opposite of the heroine that you just want them to get together. Add a few quirky characters to the mix and in my opinion, this is a fantastic read. I particularly enjoyed the banter between them and the thoughts running through her head.

Thoroughly enjoyable and a corker in my book. Definitely a keeper and one to go back to time and time again, especially when you need cheering up.

Find a copy of The 20’s Girl, the Ghost and All That Jazz, here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

 

Rosie’s Book review Challenge – Alison reviews The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns

Welcome to another review from Rosie’s Book Review Challenge. Today we hear from Alison, she blogs at http://alisonwilliamswriting.wordpress.com/

Rosie's Book Review Challengers 1

Alison chose The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns.

The 20'sGirl,The Ghost and All That Jazz  - June Kearns

The 20’sGirl,The Ghost and All That Jazz – June Kearns

Here is Alison’s review.

The 20s Girl, the Ghost and All That Jazz – June Kearns

I loved this book! June Kearns has created a romantic page turner devoid of soppiness but full of heart, laughter and wonderful characters that draw you in to their well-drawn world.

Gerardina Chiledexter is struggling to fund the run-down bookshop that is all she has been left by her extravagant, glamorous aunt (except for a mountain of debts). Just when it seems she has nowhere left to turn, she receives a surprise inheritance – half a cattle ranch in Texas.

We are swept away with Gerry to the wildness and heat of Texas, where she is made less than welcome by co-owner Coop. Confused by her conflicting feelings towards him, Gerry makes some rash decisions that lead her further into debt and seem to pave the way to a life of lonely spinsterhood.

However, there are twists and turns and surprises galore, along with a helping hand from some friendly spirits hoping to guide Gerry towards a brighter future.

The author does a fantastic job of bringing two very different places to life – the contrast between the dry heat of the vast plains of Texas was contrasted beautifully with the cold wet winters of England. I could feel Gerry suffocating as she listened to the rain dripping on to the windows of Prim’s tiny cottage.

The context of the novel was really interesting. The lack of eligible men to marry after the end of WWI was a real problem for women who had few other opportunities in life. Gerry, although a bright, funny and lovely girl, is not immune to this pressure, or to the fear of spinsterhood. I hate it when writers give us feisty female heroines from history who live independent, happy lives immune to social pressures. It’s refreshing to have a realistic heroine who is more than aware of the social constraints that have a very real bearing on what she is and isn’t allowed to do. And the little quotes at the beginning of each chapter offered a real insight into the pressures put on women at the time.

I thoroughly recommend this novel and will definitely be reading more of June Kearns’ work.

Five out of five stars.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Saturday slot – Talking about the book review challenge

2012_0622 rose for rosie  wordpressBook Review Challenge

Saturdays – Glorious – Long lie-ins- late lazy breakfasts- the Weekend newspapers – and still time to sign up for my book review challenge.

So if you only get time to read my blog at the weekend, what have you missed?

This week I launched an idea to highlight the importance of book reviews and to encourage more people to write and post reviews.

Authors have rallied to my call and we have over 60 free copies of books for anyone to read and review. (3 e-copies per book)

All we ask is you read just one book during July and then write a review which I’ll post here.

Starting on Wednesday 25th June we’re starting a series on writing book reviews and their importance to authors, then we’ll be e-mailing e-copies of books to everyone who has signed up to read and review a book.

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More books for the Book Review Challenge

2012_0622 rose for rosie  wordpressBook Review Challenge

Good Morning, Good Morning, come and pull up a seat once again. So how are you feeling? Glad it’s Friday? Come and take the weight off your poor weary limbs and take a relaxing deep breath. In and out, that’s it release the stress. Pull up a pew or find a comfy seat, kick off your shoes, nobody minds here, we’re all friends.

So what have you missed since you last dropped by? We’ve got some more delicious books for you, just whispering to be read…

If this is your first visit or you’ve been too busy to call we have a little book review challenge planned. It’s SO easy to play just a tiny part. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t like books, who doesn’t like a story? We’ve so many to tempt you.

What’s that I hear? It’s too much effort? Not at all. You haven’t got time? What a terrible shame. A whole month to read a book? Could you possible try? Just for me? Please? Pretty please?

I hear you sigh, what to you have to do? It’s JUST SO EASY. Skip on down the page and find a book to tickle your fancy, tweak your eyebrow, or nudge your curiosity.

LIFT your weary limbs and type a few words in the sign up form at the bottom of the page. Now relax and have a cup of tea.

Is that it, you ask? Is that all? W-e-l-l just one more tiny teeny weeny thing….when we send you the book, the one you’ll enjoy, you’ll fly through it in the month of July, I know you will, just one more teeny weeny ever so small….WRITE A REVIEW? WHAT?! I hear you gasp, not a REVIEW surely not? I can’t do that, I don’t know how, they take too long, what if I don’t like the book? Please not a review.

BUT, and my BUT is REALLY important please listen, how’s the tea? BUT when you read a book do you ever talk about it? Do you ever tell others about a good book you’ve read? I see you nod and purse you lips, is that a YES? So couldn’t you possibly, just for me, write down your thoughts on this lovely book, not much, I don’t need an essay, just a few lines. I pause, I see the cracks in your armour you’re beginning to agree, is that a smile and a twinkle in your eye? YIPPEE! I’d grab your hands and we’d dance a little jig but I don’t want you to think I’m more crazy than I am, QUICK, QUICK, QUICK pick a book now. And don’t worry next week we’re doing all sorts of posts about writing that teeny weeny book review that will mean SO MUCH to the authors and me. THANK YOU. Now GO, GO, GO CHOOSE A BOOK.

From July 1st 3 e-copies of the following books will be available FREE for you to choose to read. All we ask is for you to read just 1 and write a review which will then be posted here and other sites where possible. Starting next week on Wednesday 25th June we’ll be posting a series on book reviews to help and advise you.

We’re beginning the book review challenge on Wednesday 25th June with posts from guest book reviewers and authors. There will be book reviewing tips and advice each day in the build up to reading and writing a review.

When books are requested I will confirm by e-mail. Please check your SPAM folder if you think you haven’t heard from me. Similarly when books get sent out by authors they may go into SPAM please do check. I always try to reply within a reasonable time but super efficient spam folders do foil me sometimes.

First come first served.

17447896  Do you fancy an adventure in the forests of Windemere with young warrior Luke Callindor sent to protect the heir of Duke Soloman? REQUEST A COPY OF BEGINNING OF A HERO BY CHARLES E. YALLOWITZ (Fantasy) (2 copies left)

22011018  How about a modern twist on Tudor history? Relive the life of Henry VIII through the eyes of Harry Lanchester and his merry wives. REQUEST A COPY OF KINGS AND QUEENS BY TERRY TYLER (Contemporary) (1 copy left)

16141980  Are you in a romantic mood? How about a romantic Highland fling? REQUEST A COPY OF TALL, DARK AND KILTED BY LIZZIE LAMB (Romance) (2 copies left)

18779783  Or how about a romantic romp with journalists in Norfolk with wedding bells in the air? REQUEST A COPY OF BOOT CAMP BRIDE BY LIZZIE LAMB(Romance) (2 copies left)

18489308  Want to escape your superpowers? Null City is they place to be in this New Adult paranormal fantasy. REQUEST A COPY OF ONE WAY FARE BY BARB AND HANNAH TAUB(Paranormal NA Fantasy) (2 Copies left)

19229825  Perhaps you’ve read One Way Fare? Here’s a chance to read the second book in the series. REQUEST A COPY OF DON’T TOUCH BY BARB TAUB(Paranornal NA Fantasy)

18752098  How about a bit of gruesome history? England 1647, civil war and Matthew Hopkins sweeps through the land as the Witchfinder. REQUEST A COPY OF THE BLACK HOURS BY ALISON WILLIAMS (Historical)

17904468  Could you see yourself at a tournament of Gamesmen as they play a game of Comet? There’s a mystery man and a potion maker in this fantasy. REQUEST A COPY OF THE BIRR ELIXIR BY JO SPARKES (YA Fantasy)

20488718  Love a thriller? Travel with John Cannon as his relaxing leave of absence turns into a nightmare when his boat is attacked by terrorists. REQUEST A COPY OF MY GRL BY JOHN W. HOWELL(Thriller) (1 copy left)

19332056  Can we tempt you with a spiritual quest? Albion, is the oldest name for Britain. Wen and Don take you on a mystical journey through Myths and Legends of these blessed Isles. REQUEST A COPY OF THE HEART OF ALBION BY SUE VINCENT & STUART FRANCE ( A spiritual quest around England) (1 copy left)

13361184  Crime? The first book in the Georgie Connelly crime series. Join feisty documentary film-maker Georgie as she dangerously plans to expose Gentleman’s Clubs. REQUEST A COPY OF BUSINESS AS USUAL BY E.L.LINDLEY(Crime) (2 copies left)

22304215NON-FICTION here’s the chance to get some help promoting your work. REQUEST A COPY OF HOW TO PROMOTE AND MARKET YOUR BOOK BY MADI PREDA (Non-Fiction) (2 copies Left)

16301205  There’s more romance on it’s way.  Marianne Coltrane’s writes an award winning scoop about the sale of babies. Destiny will take her to an island off the wild west coast of Ireland. Love a mix of Ireland and romance? REQUEST A COPY OF THE HOLLOW HEART BY ADREINNE VAUGHAN(Romance) (2 copies left)

16301209  If you’ve read The Hollow Heart by Adrienne Vaughan, here’s your chance to loose yourself in more Irish themed romance with the second book in the series. REQUEST A COPY OF A CHANGE OF HEART BY ADREINNE VAUGHAN (Romance) (2 copies left)

20166986  How about a murder mystery set in a coastal resort in Maine? REQUEST A COPY OF DEATH IN A RED CANVAS CHAIR BY N.A GRANGER (Murder Mystery) (2 copies left)

20451856 Step back in time to Georgia and the deep south for this book, real people struggling to survive with segregation and inequality. This is a fictionalised real story. REQUEST A COPY OF RED CLAY AND ROSES BY S.K. NICHOLLS

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17202249 1867, the American Wild West. British raised girl Annie meets wild man Colt McCall after a stagecoach crash. Fantastic cowboy romance. (UK readers + we’re working on a plan for the rest of the world.) REQUEST A COPY OF AN ENGLISHWOMAN’S GUIDE TO THE COWBOY BY JUNE KEARNS (Historical romance) (1 copy left)

18878661 1924, the English Shires. Jazzing flappers and a half share in a million acre ranch in Texas. (UK readers + we’re working on a plan for the rest of the world.) REQUEST A COPY OF THE 20’S GIRL, THE GHOST AND ALL THAT JAZZ BY JUNE KEARNS (Historical Romance) (2 copies left)

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The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns

The 20's Girl, the ghost, and all that jazzThe 20’s Girl, the ghost, and all that jazz by June Kearns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was delightful, I read it in less than 24 hours. Set in 1924 the book covers two extremely different settings. Firstly the English Shires, lush, green, damp and a place short of men after the War and the Flu epidemic. Secondly Texas, vast, hot and dry, full of rough men and cattle.

Gerardina Chiledexter has been left a bookshop and a heap of debts by her flamboyant aunt. When a complete stranger announces that she has been left half a Texas ranch by a man she’s never heard of, a chance to pay off all her debts looks hopeful. But Aunt Leonie left a letter asking Gerry to visit Texas before she sells her half.

On a whim, Gerry travels thousands of miles to Jericho Wells and the Circle O Ranch. But Coop and everyone there make her feel very unwelcome. She struggles to fit in and when Doc Hyde reveals that Coop can’t pay up, Gerry hot tails it back to England.

With no nest egg and the bookshop falling down around them, it looks like Archie’s offer of marriage is the only way out, unless the ghosts that surround Gerry finally get their way. looking forward to reading more by this author.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

I recently reviewed “An Englishwoman’s Guide to the Cowboy” also by June, here is a link to the post http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-58k

You can also catch up with June’s guest author interview here http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5bO

Finally June and The 20’s Girl, took par in my April A-Z tour, here is a link to that post. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wS

View all my reviews on Goodreads.

Guest Author June Kearns

Today our guest is June Kearns author of yesterday’s book “An Englishwoman’s Guide to the Cowboy” Here is a link to the post if you missed it. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-58k

June Kearns

Let’s find out more about June and her writing.

1)Where is your home town?

I grew up in a little Victorian railway town in Buckinghamshire, England, but have lived in Leicestershire since I first started teaching.

 

2)How long have you been writing?

As a solitary little girl (only child!), I started writing things down almost as soon as I could read. How did the author do that, I remember thinking about certain passages in my first reading books.

 

3)You write historical romance, what period do you like best?

I don’t have a special favourite. For me, a new story is often sparked by attraction to a character, rather than a period – occasionally an anniversary of an event, a film or book. Sometimes, just something in the air!

 

4) “An Englishwoman’s Guide to the Cowboy” is a western. What inspired this book?

Partly a love of that Western genre – from Elmore Leonard stories, and films like The Big Country, where cool, silent, cowboy heroes, bruised by life, bring order west of the Pecos!

Partly too, a fascination with the landscape. Having been brought up in England, with tidy fields and neat hedges, I’m fascinated by the effect that wide, empty land, stretching to the horizon would have on a person.

 

5) Do you have any particular heroes from the Western period?

I’m so predictable! All those rangy, decent-hearted, fictional ones who carry their good looks like old saddle-bags flung over one shoulder.

Rugged, graceful Gregory Peck, in The Big Country.(Sigh.)

The intense and mysterious Clint Eastwood, (Pale Rider).

Paul Newman in Hombre and Butch Cassidy, with that sapphire stare that melts at 50 paces!

I admire the bravery and spirit of Native American heroes, too – like Sitting Bull, who’s said to have studied the tactics of Caesar.

 

6) There are ghostly figures in the background of both books, tell us a little about them.

The ghostly element in “An Englishwoman’s Guide to the Cowboy” was sparked by reading about traditions of myth and magic in Native American tribes, when I was researching.

In “The 20’s Girl” I just wanted to summon up a “Blithe Spirit” feeling, although I couldn’t hope to match Noel Coward, and that fabulous play!

 

7)The 20’s Girl was really fun, what’s your favourite thing about the Jazz era.

I just love the style and fashion! And the music.

When I started writing though, I read “Singled Out” by Virginia Nicholson, describing the plight of those women in England at the time, with little hope of finding a husband. They were given advice! “Never wear extreme fashions. Men prefer a quieter mode of dress.” And, “Try not to have opinions. Rather, learn to cook a good dinner.” Poor things. Can you imagine?

 

8) Can you tell the readers how a man from Texas might be able to rescue Gerry from bankruptcy?

The man from Texas was ready and willing, to buy back the half-share of his cattle ranch that Gerry (to his horror) had inherited, thus saving her from squalor and penury. Unfortunately, she wasn’t prepared to agree quite so readily.

9) What was Gerry’s Aunt’s dying wish?
Leonie’s dying wish was for her niece to go and see the Texan ranch for herself. Why? She didn’t ever explain.

10) I’d love to read Scoot’s tale, do you think a sequel might be on the cards?
A sequel? Oh, that’s interesting. Usually though, when I’ve finished a book, I like to leave the characters alone, let them get on with their lives and move on. But, never say never! We’ll see.
At the moment, I’m researching the 1930’s, initially inspired by Ernest Hemingway, Martha Gellhorn and Robert Capa, and hope to publish a new book, in 2015.

An Englishwoman's Guide to the Cowboy

 

 

 

 

 

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

I’ll be reviewing June’s second book “The 20’s Girl, the ghost and All That Jazz” next week

Here is a quick video, click on the link below or copy and paste this URL into your browser https://vimeo.com/90172390

Meet Author June Kearns

Author Sites: website: www.junekearns.com

Twitter: @june_kearns

 Blog: www.newromantics4.com

Facebook: June Kearns

Come back next week for my review of The 20’s Girl, the ghost and all that Jazz.