The Butlins Girls by @ElaineEverest ~ A Feel Good Summer Read - Book Review & Giveaway

TITLE - The Butlins Girls

AUTHOR - Elaine Everest 

PUBLISHER - Pan Macmillan

PUBLICATION DATE - 4th May 2017

BUY LINK - Amazon UK // Amazon US // Waterstones //    W H Smith

PAGES - 421

SYNOPSIS -

A warm and comforting read, set against the nation's favourite holiday camp, from bestselling author of The Woolworths Girls

'Molly Missons gazed around in awe. So this was Butlin's. Whitewashed buildings, bordered by rhododendrons, gave a cheerful feeling to a world still recovering from six years of war. The Skegness holiday camp covered a vast area, much larger than Molly expected to see.'

Molly Missons hasn't had the best of times recently. Having lost her parents, now some dubious long-lost family have darkened her door - attempting to steal her home and livelihood...

After a horrendous ordeal, Molly applies for a job as a Butlin's Aunty. When she receives news that she has got the job, she immediately leaves her small home town - in search of a new life in Skegness.

Molly finds true friendship in Freda, Bunty and Plum. But the biggest shock is discovering that star of the silver screen, Johnny Johnson, is working at Butlin's as head of the entertainment team. Johnny takes an instant liking to Molly and she begins to shed the shackles of her recent traumas. Will Johnny be just the distraction Molly needs - or is he too good be to be true?

Every now and again, a book comes along that makes you think about it ages after you've finished reading it. This is what The Butlins Girls did to me. I couldn't stop talking about it to anyone who would listen. The funny thing is that this is not my usual reading genre either, as I am a crime thriller girl on the whole.

I fell in love with all the Butlins Girls; what good fun they sounded. I just wanted to be there with them. Maybe I've missed my calling! Maybe I should have been a "Redcoat". I loved the character Johnny too, picturing him as the dreamy Liam Hemsworth (look him up and you'll see what I mean!). 

The background stories that came with each of the girls (all of them having some baggage), were very well written. They were all such interesting people with captivating lives. It was great that they each came from a different world to each other but the author managed to make them such good friends.

In fact I loved everything about this book! I even enjoyed the nasty characters, as they were portrayed in such great detail. 

This is the authors new book and I have just bought her first book, The Woolworths Girls, currently on offer for the Kindle. I will also be pre-ordering her book "Christmas at Woolworths" due out on the 2nd November 2017. 

If you want a great holiday read, then you need to add this to your list. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and the Author for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Elaine Everest lives in Kent and is in the author of bestseller, The Woolworths Girls. She has written widely for various women's magazines and when she isn't writing, she runs The Write Place creative writing school in Dartford, Kent, and the blog for the Romantic Novelists' Association.

Author links -
Twitter // Facebook // Website // Goodreads

INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY

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Book Review - Wonder Cruise by Ursula Bloom

TITLE - Wonder Cruise

AUTHOR - Ursula Bloom

GENRE - Romantic Fiction 

Get a copy - Amazon UK

Synopsis from Goodreads.

Ann Clements is thirty-five and single, and believes nothing exciting will ever happen to her. Then, she wins a large sum of money in a sweepstake and suddenly can dare to dream of a more adventurous life. She buys a ticket for a Mediterranean cruise, against the wishes of her stern brother, the Rev. Cuthbert, who has other ideas about how she should spend her windfall. Ann steps out of the shadows of her mundane life into the heat of the Mediterranean sun. Travelling to Gibraltar, Marseilles, Naples, Malta and Venice, Ann’s eyes are opened to people and experiences far removed from her sheltered existence in the offices at Henrietta Street, and Mrs. Puddock’s lodging house. As Ann blossoms, discovering love and passion for the very first time, the biggest question is, can there be any going back?

MY REVIEW 

Ann comes across a lot older than her years and a bit prim and proper. It doesn't help that her Brother Cuthbert wants her to remain a singleton; a spinster, so his Daughter will inherit everything she owns. He and his wife are so old fashioned. Ann's life was very structured and routine. She goes to work as a typist, goes home to her rented room and then repeats it all over again. 

Ann just had one dream; to travel; see the world; see the churches, cathedrals and cities that were featured in Mr Thomas Cooks holiday brochures. Imagine her delight when this became a possibility.

I initially found the book a bit slow and just couldn't see where it was heading. Too much of it focused on her mundane life. There seemed to be some naivety to the writing. However not to be one to give up, I continued reading. I enjoyed how the author had made Ann a naive 30 something, unsure of the ways of the world, and then allowed her to bloom and become the young woman she still was, in the prime of her life.

There was a comedic element to the book too, especially within the description of her fellow travellers. the pictures you form in your mind make you smile. Some of the story-line I found a bit unbelievable for the time period it was written in, however it was a fairly fun read.

The book was building up to the climax and the much anticipated ending, and then........ it was all over. I feel it needed to have a more structured and lengthy ending and some parts of the story needed to be elaborated on more. I was left disappointed. It did make me smile in parts but it just needed more substance.

Thank you to the author for the chance to read and review her book.

A Welcome Chat with the Author of "The Wedding Proposal" ~ Sue Moorcroft ~ E-book giveaway!

Today I'd like to welcome to my blog, Sue Moorcroft, Author of the The Wedding Proposal. Out now on e-book and paperback due out 8th September!

Welcome Sue. Just a few questions to find out more about you.

At what age did you realise you had an aptitude for writing and that you wanted to be an author?

In my last year of primary school. I had a crazy teacher, probably related to Tasmanian Devils. He used to frighten the life out of me but he told me that I could write and that one day there would be novels on the shelf with ‘Sue Moorcroft’ on the spine. I was amazed that I could get on the right side of him by making things up.

What drove you to go down the romantic fiction path and not into another genre? Is it because you’re a romantic?

I think I am a romantic, yes. I love romantic fiction, anyway. The best of it leaves me wishing that I were in that relationship with the couple. I suppose I must like the feeling of falling in love and romantic novels allow me to do that every few days!

Writing a love affair is the same feeling only much more intense. It gives me the opportunity to explore why relationships work or don’t work and what complex creatures human beings are.

Choosing a life partner is one of the most important decisions we make so it’s no wonder that we like to read about it.

If your friends read all of your books would they see themselves in any of your characters?

I hope not … I try very hard not to let that happen and I’m a bit disappointed if somebody tells me that a particular heroine is like me. My characters are mean to be individuals who only exist in my head and on the pages.

There are a couple of people who are not my friends in my books. But that’s fair game, right?

You lived for some time in Malta and your new book “The Wedding Proposal” is based in Malta. Do you think your surroundings inspire you and improve the flow of your writing?

Yes. I like to write at home, in silence. That’s not always possible and I do write on trains, planes and in hotel rooms, too, with real life taking place around me at a terrific volume, but I find it harder. I was really tempted to go to Malta for a week just to write a segment of The Wedding Proposal as it would have been an awesome experience. I couldn’t really justify the time, sadly.

But in terms of research, actually visiting the places in my books is much more satisfactory and satisfying than doing the research via books or the internet.

As well as being a successful novelist, you run writing courses in beautiful locations like the south of France and Umbria in Italy. What sort of people attend your courses? Does any reader have it in them to write?

All kinds of people attend my courses abroad, writing all sorts of fiction or even their autobiography. I’ve had complete beginners, those moving from short stories to novels, getting back into writing after a break, just wanting to spend time with other writers or published writers working on a new novel. There’s something freeing about being away from work and home responsibilities.

I don’t suppose every reader has it in them to write or have the desire to do so. There are plenty who have both, though. A reader is already used to inhabiting the world of fiction so writing can be a natural development for them.

What did it feel like to win the “Best Romantic Read Award” in 2011 for “Love and Freedom”?

Wow, that was amazing. There was a bestselling author on the shortlist so I had made up my mind that she would win. I was genuinely staggered when they read out my name and I just stood there. Someone had to shove me up to accept the award. I was in a daze for the rest of the evening but it was a time of euphoria. The award sits on the windowsill next to my chair in the sitting room.

 Being romantic fiction your books attract thousands of female fans. Have you ever been contacted by male fans saying they’ve loved your books?

I have. Sometimes they read my stuff because they know me through Twitter, Facebook, workshops etc and they buy a book out of solidarity or curiosity and send me messages saying that they’re surprised how much they enjoyed it. But I do get male readers who have no other contact with me, too. Interestingly, my books in translation seem to attract as many messages from men as from women.

And I have a male friend who is single and says reading my books on the Tube earns him a lot of interested looks from females. I’m trying to work out how I can make that benefit me in marketing terms.

Being a novelist, what is the one thing you couldn’t live without?

Aside from the obvious, such as air, water and food, I’d say my computer. We’re surgically attached.

 I’ve heard you’re a lover of Formula 1 racing. That seems the polar opposite to being a romantic novelist. What draws you to Formula 1?

I’ve never known. I’m just absolutely riveted by it – not just the races but the practices and qualifying and every bit of gossip and news I can access. I’m sure I must irritate other people! I come from a family who like sport but I thought I had avoided the fanatic gene until I saw a race about twenty years ago. I was hooked and haven’t missed many races since then.

Now, Sue Moorcroft, what do you do to relax when you’re not writing, apart from watching Formula 1?

I read, do Zumba, yoga, FitStep and piano classes. The occasional weekend at a spa is very welcome and I like to travel - the nice safe kind of travel, though, not the hiking through war zones kind!

Thanks for inviting me on to Bookalicious.

The Wedding Proposal

Can a runaway bride stop running?

Elle Jamieson is an unusually private person, in relationships as well as at work – and for good reason. But when she’s made redundant, with no ties to hold her, Elle heads off to a new life in sunny Malta.

Lucas Rose hates secrets – he prides himself on his ability to lay his cards on the table and he expects nothing less from others. He’s furious when his summer working as a divemaster is interrupted by the arrival of Elle, his ex, all thanks to his Uncle Simon’s misguided attempts at matchmaking.

Forced to live in close proximity, it’s hard to ignore what they had shared before Lucas’s wedding proposal ended everything they had. But then an unexpected phone call from England allows Lucas a rare glimpse of the true Elle. Can he deal with Elle’s hidden past when it finally comes to light?

Sue Moorcroft writes romantic novels of dauntless heroines and irresistible heroes. Is this Love? was nominated for the Readers’ Best Romantic Read Award. Love & Freedom won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 and Dream a Little Dream was nominated for a RoNA in 2013. Sue received three nominations at the Festival of Romance 2012, and is a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner. She’s a past vice chair of the RNA and editor of its two anthologies.

Sue also writes short stories, serials, articles, writing ‘how to’ and is a competition judge and creative writing tutor.

Sue’s latest book The Wedding Proposal is available as an ebook from 4 August 2014 and as a paperback from 8 September.

Website www.suemoorcroft.com. 

Blog http://suemoorcroft.wordpress.com/ 

Facebook sue.moorcroft.3 and https://www.facebook.com/SueMoorcroftAuthor

Twitter @suemoorcroft

Thank you for joining us today Sue. I wish you every success with your new novel "The Wedding Proposal".

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Book Review - The Wedding Diary by Margaret James

Title - The Wedding Diary

 

Author - Margaret James

 

Publisher - Choc Lit Publishing

 

Published date - 07th May 2013

 

Purchase from - Amazon UK // Amazon US // Choc Lit

 

Blurb from Amazon -

 

Where's a Fairy Godmother when you need one? If you won a fairy-tale wedding in a luxury hotel, you'd be delighted - right? But what if you didn't have anyone to marry? Cat Aston did have a fiance, but now it looks like her Prince Charming has done a runner.
Adam Lawley was left devastated when his girlfriend turned down his heartfelt proposal. He's made a vow never to fall in love again.
So - when Cat and Adam meet, they shouldn't even consider falling in love. After all, they're both broken hearted. But for some reason they can't stop thinking about each other. Is this their second chance for happiness, or are some things just too good to be true?

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This book attracted me from the start with its cover. Until I found this publisher, Choc Lit publishing, I wasn’t really a chic lit kind of reader. I have to say so far I’ve not been disappointed with any of the authors I’ve come across and this book was no exception.

Cat Aston, entered a competition in a magazine and won her dream wedding, in a luxury country hotel with all the trimmings and a magazine photographic deal. Who wouldn’t want that? Only problem is that her fiancé has done a runner and despite her trying desperately to contact him, he hasn’t got in touch with her. He’s gone to find himself!

Elsewhere, Adam Lawley’s girlfriend has left him after he proposed. He feels that life is at an end. Two lost souls. In a way from reading this you feel that the book is going to be a bit predictable, however there are so many obstacles placed in their way, that the predictability soon fades!

I loved the flow of this book and how the chapters seamlessly led into each other. It was a light hearted read with some wonderful characters. Cat comes across as a well balanced girl on the outside, but then you want to shake her when she says stupid things about her loser of a fiancée as she is blinded by love.  I totally immersed myself in the story.

Adam seems like every girls dream; Kind, good looking and a real gentleman. It makes you wonder why his girlfriend turned down his proposal in favouring of going off travelling. I fell in love with him straight away! I started trying to picture who would play him in a rom com version of the book.

The authors’ description of people and places really brought them to life, and you just romanticised as you read through the book. This is another book that I read in two sittings. I have now bought the next book by Margaret James, The Silver Locket, which is part of a trilogy and I can’t wait to get started on it.

Thoroughly recommend this as another “curl up on the sofa” book.

 

 

About the Author - courtesy of Amazon author page.

 

Margaret James was born in Hereford, a beautiful cathedral city in the English Midlands.

She started writing fiction when her children were very small, and published her first novel A Touch of Earth in 1988. Since then, she has expanded her range of writing-related activities to take in journalism, short story writing, teaching creative writing, and editing other people's books.

She was delighted when her novel Elegy for a Queen was featured in the UK's Woman and Home magazine in a selection of the five best time slip novels. The fact that Margaret's own favourite time slip novel The House on the Strand was also featured put a big grin on her face!

Since becoming a novelist, Margaret has realised that having a name like Margaret James leads to lots of confusion, and in her next life she intends to have a name that she shares with absolutely nobody else.

When she's not writing, Margaret loves walking, reading anything and everything, gossiping, gardening and eating chocolate. She quite often manages to eat chocolate and write at the same time, which occasionally makes for a somewhat sticky keyboard, but also makes for happy writing.

Just for the record - this Margaret James wrote: A Touch of Earth, Fortune's Favourite Child, The Treasures of Existence, The Snake Stone, A Green Bay Tree, The Ash Grove, A Special Inheritance, The Final Reckoning, Hallowed Ground, The Morning Promise, The Long Way Home, The Penny Bangle, Elegy for a Queen, The Silver Locket, The Golden Chain, and she contributed to the anthology Loves Me, Loves Me Not. Margaret's latest novel The Wedding Diary is published in 2013.

She was thrilled when The Silver Locket won a prestigious Cataromance Single Titles Award in 2010, and when the cover of The Golden Chain was chosen to feature on the design of a KLM airliner in 2011.
 



 

This book was given to me as a review copy. This did not influence my review in any way and I was not paid for my review.