Saturday 27 October 2018

Book Review: Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress by Vicky Nolan




Synopsis:
You’re a 15-year-old schoolgirl who has big dreams of becoming a pop star, and then one day you get your lucky break. Polydor records sends you to Copenhagen to make pop music - to make you a recording artist. You get back home and your future is looking brighter than ever – until the High Court writ hits the door mat – you’ve fallen out with your management and they have decided to sue. No, this isn’t a dream, this is now Vicky Nolan’s reality and fast becoming a nightmare, and all while still at school at the sweet age of sixteen.

Read about the trial, the family, Hollywood, London town, the glamour, the dog (eh?) and most importantly, the music. Curiouser and curiouser?

We always talk about ‘making it’ and fulfilling your dreams. The question is, what if you don’t? What happens next? Ultimately, this book speaks about life and family; its hopes and disappointments, Its ups and downs. Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress is in some way a story that speaks to us all, because in the end, the best stories are always true.

“I’m living my life as consequence of yesterday.
And all of my choices compliment my life today.
There may have been times I could have gone and lost my way,
I could have, I would have, I should have, I don’t care – I’m here now.”



My Review:
When I was contacted by Vicky Nolan to read and review her book I jumped at the opportunity.  It's been a while since I have read a non-fiction diary type book and it made a lovely change to my normal reads and the book by far passed my expectations.

This book is a well thought out scrap book of a young girls hopes and dreams of being a singer and an inside view of the music business and the highs and lows that follow.  From reading other music autobiography type books I already had an idea of how difficult it can be to be heard and reach stardom but it was interesting to read Vicky's view of it all and how it affected her and her family.

From Manchester to Hollywood to even Essex!  I really enjoyed reading all the descriptions of the places Vicky visited throughout the journey.  Even the visit to Basildon 'Bas Vegas' in Essex made me laugh as only living close by myself I could easily picture the place.  

As the synopsis states the journey isn't all plain sailing and Vicky's management decides to sue.  Before starting this I did think it would have featured more of the court case itself but that didn't spoil anything.  There was a good balance throughout between the court case, Vicky getting closer to her dreams and her childhood memories which I thoroughly enjoyed reading especially that she starred on stars in your eyes, I used to watch that as a child myself religiously so it was great to read.

As well as reading Vicky's journey we get an insight into why the book was written in the first place.  Music! I really liked that some of her song lyrics were featured throughout.  Her lyrics are beautiful and after reading the story you get more of an understanding of the meaning behind the lyrics which then took me to a You Tube binge of watching Vicky perform, her songs are catchy and soulful and Vicky has a truly wonderful voice.

This book is an enjoyable read of an inspirational lady!  I would recommend this book to a YA audience and to people who want to break into music.  Thank you Vicky for sending me a copy to read and review!



Buy the Book!


Blog Tour Book Review: What Happened to Us? By Faith Hogan





Synopsis:
Carrie Nolan is devastated when she is dumped by Kevin Mulvey after more than a decade without even a backwards glance! On reflection, she has sacrificed her own long term happiness establishing their critically acclaimed Dublin restaurant and pandering to his excessive ego.

Meanwhile Kevin can't believe his luck. Valentina, their new waitress is a stunner, the kind of girl that turns heads when she walks in a room and surprise, surprise she has chosen him! He is living the dream!

Carrie seeks solace from a circle of mismatched friends who need her as much as she needs them. Jane, who struggles to run the pub on the opposite side of the street, Luke, who has stopped drifting while his father settles in a nearby nursing home and Teddy, a dog who asks for nothing more than the chance to stay by Carrie's side.

With Christmas just around the corner, all is not quite as it seems and a catastrophic sequence of events leads to the unthinkable...
How far do you need to fall before you learn the true value of family and friends? And is it ever too late to start again...



My Review:

Welcome to my stop on Faith Hogan’s blog tour for her new book ‘What Happened to Us?’ I am so excited to be part of a jam packed tour and share my review with you all!


Thanks to NetGalley and Aria Fiction for allowing me a sneak peek of this wonderful Autumnal story about friendship, family and love. I’m ashamed to say this is my first ever Faith Hogan book and I am sure I have missed out on some great reads. 

The story follows Carrie who has just been dumped by Kevin (we hate him by the way…!) not only has she been dumped without a second thought but Kevin leaves her for a younger woman, here we meet Valentina a Columbian waitress who works at the restaurant Carrie and Kevin co own in Dublin. Awks! 

First off, all of the characters are so well written, I liked them all apart from a few who I really disliked and after reading the synopsis I am sure you will know who I am talking about… ‘cough Kevin cough!!’ Of course my favourite was Carrie who by the way is the most nicest character I have ever met in a book. I really did feel sorry for Carrie when Kevin paraded his new romance in her face and she still had to work with him, how she kept her calm throughout the breakup of their relationship and still kept it business as usual at the restaurant I do not know! I salute you Carrie Nolan!

With Christmas soon approaching Carrie turns to some new friends for support. Jane who owns the pub across the road from the restaurant and also Luke who she happened to meet only by chance one evening. Oh and Teddy, cannot forget to mention Teddy a gorgeous dog who Carrie finds on the street and becomes Carrie’s confidant and shadow. 

Both Jane and Luke have their own troubles which Faith touches on throughout the story. Luke a Historian back in town visiting his dad who has just moved into a nursing home and Jane, elderly and living alone in the pub she shared with her husband who has past; she finds herself feeling vulnerable, sad and very lonely. Thankfully both Carrie and Luke rally round to help fill the void for Jane and bring life back to the pub while learning some surprising secrets along the way. 

I think the three of them came together at such a great time and were huge supports for each other, I really liked reading the scenes where the three of them were together.

Stopping briefly back to Kevin, Faith wrote his character perfectly. He came across as a very weak, pathetic man who actually relied on Carrie more than you first thought. Both characters Kevin and Valentina were portrayed so well that you have this dislike for them while reading which shows how well written they are. I won’t spoil the story for you but I love that Carrie stands up for herself and doesn’t let them run her out of her life and if anything gives her the opportunity to find the time to do all the things she loves in life, one of which is investing more time in her blog. (Love a blog!) 

Ok so the story is a little predictable in parts but I never mind that in a book, a thoroughly enjoyable story from start to finish a book I would recommend to friends and family best read indoors on the sofa in happy clothes under a blanket with a big mug of tea and a constant flow of biscuits! Brilliant!




Make sure to purchase your copy today! 


Kobo | iBooks | Amazon




Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour! 


Author Bio




Faith was born in Ireland and currently lives there with her husband, four children and two fussy cats.  She gained an Honors Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate from University College, Galway.  She was a winner in the 2014 Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair - an international competition for emerging writers.  When she's not writing, she's an enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger.

Follow Faith!
Twitter: @gerhogan

Follow Aria!
Twitter:@aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction


Friday 19 October 2018

Blog Tour Book Review: No One Cancels Christmas by Zara Stoneley





Synopsis:
It’s the most magical time of the year, and for travel agent Sarah it’s also the busiest! But this year one man threatens to ruin Christmas for Sarah’s customers – Mr Grinch, Will Armstrong.

The Shooting Star Mountain resort is a magical place, and Sarah has fond memories of Christmas here as a little girl – visits to Father Christmas, husky rides in the snow and hot chocolate by a roaring fire. But as the resorts new owner, Will refuses to play snowball or to deck the halls with anything remotely resembling tinsel!

With customers complaining their Christmas is ruined, Sarah decides it’s up to her to convince Scroogey Will just how magical Christmas can be….

But getting Will into the Christmas spirit is hopeless – he is Bah Humbug personified! But as Sarah gets to know him better, she realises that underneath all the gloom is a man struggling with a pain of his own.

With the big day approaching, Sarah realises that the magic and sparkle can wait. This year, she’s going to spend Christmas day with someone special her very own Mr Scrooge…



My Review:
Yay! It’s my stop on Zara Stoneley’s ‘No One Cancels Christmas’ Blog Tour. Welcome... Welcome...! I was super excited to be able to join the tour and for an early preview of the much awaited read so huge thanks to Netgalley, Harper Impulse and Rachel Random Resources.

Congratulations Zara on a fabulous festive read! I absolutely Loved it! (I just knew I would!)

The main character is Sarah who works at her Aunt Lynn's travel agents along with her best friend Sam. Now if you have read Zara’s other book ‘The Wedding Date’ (and if you haven’t, then where have you been! You need to order it now it’s soooooo good!!!) but if you have read it you will recognise Sam, I nearly jumped up and down when I saw that Sam was featured. I absolutely adore when authors include past characters, it’s like catching up with an old friend finding out how they are doing and what they are up to.

Now, we all know that no Christmas story is complete without a Scrooge or a Grinch... in walks Will Armstrong, new owner of the Shooting Star Mountain Resort and I must add the hottest Scrooge I’ve ever read about!! After complaints come flooding through, bad reviews of frosty welcomes and Christmas festivities being non existence Sarah decides its her obligation to visit the resort and stay there herself and try to convince Will to bring back the Christmas magic that was once there long ago when Sarah last stayed as a child.

I really enjoyed reading about Sarah, such a fun and outgoing character. Zara always has this ability to create such lovely characters that are realistic and loveable. Characters that feel like life long friends that stay with you even after finishing the book. Even characters that show up briefly or have a small part have a back story that help build the plot. One of my favs has to be Ruth! What a hoot she is!

Getting back to the story, can Sarah hold onto her fond memories of the place and help bring festive cheer to save Christmas for the holiday makers staying at the Shooting Star Mountain Resort, or will he be forever a humbug?!

I loved reading the scenes between Sarah and Will, they both have some hidden secrets from their past that have brought them to the place they are now. I loved the bond that develops between them and how close they become to trust and open up to one another, the humour and sarcastic comments between them were spot on. Look out for some festive Zumba! Ha!

I’ll admit I couldn't guess where the story was heading, With quite a few surprises, twists and turns throughout it certainly kept you on your toes and kept me glued to the book for the last few chapters. Isn’t that just the best thing about reading a good book, being so involved in the story that just for a while it can make you forget the real world, work, chores oh the dreaded ironing can wait!

I really hope there is a follow on or Sarah is featured in another book because I’m nosey and I just want to know what she’s up to now! Ha!


This book is the perfect festive read, lots of fun, humour, family, love and friendship it has everything! It even has M&S mince pies (who leaves home without them!) Well done Zara! It was a pleasure to read 'No One Cancels Christmas'!





Make sure to purchase the book today!
You won't be disappointed! 



Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour!



Author Bio




Born in a small village in Staffordshire, I wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when I grew up. After many years, and many different jobs, my dream of writing a bestseller came true.

I write about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hope that my tales make you cry a little, laugh a lot, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

I now live in a Cheshire village with my family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Where you can find her-

Website: http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter: @ZaraStoneley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarastoneley/





Sunday 14 October 2018

The Year of Taking Chances by Lucy Diamond



Synopsis:
Because love is always worth the risk . . .


It's New Year's Eve, and Gemma and Spencer Bailey are throwing a house party. There's music, dancing, champagne and all their best friends under one roof. It's going to be a night to remember.

Also at the party is Caitlin, who has returned to the village to pack up her much-missed mum's house and to figure out what to do with her life; and Saffron, a PR executive who's keeping a secret which no amount of spin can change. The three women bond over Gemma's dodgy cocktails and fortune cookies, and vow to make this year their best one yet.
But as the months unfold, Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin find themselves tested to their limits by shocking new developments. Family, love, work, home - all the things they've taken for granted are thrown into disarray. Under pressure, they are each forced to rethink their lives and start over. But dare they take a chance on something new?


My Review:

I picked this book up by chance in my local library and I'm pleased I did, after reading a few reviews I knew I had picked a fab read.

The book kicks off at a house party, New Year's Eve and hiding out in the kitchen are three women who have just met for the first time.

Gemma the hostess of the party, happily married to Spencer living in their new house with their two children.
Caitlin an old school friend of Spencer's who has returned to the village to sort her mums house who sadly passed and to figure out what's next in her life.
Saffron a PR executive taking a break from life, staying in the cottage next door to Gemma, with no one to greet her and with no help when the electrics go out decides to pop next door to seek help.

The three women brought together by the party, bond over dodgy cocktails, fortune cookies and making New Year resolutions.

The three main characters were likeable from the start, the storyline too was very easy to get into and believable. We follow the three women throughout the year, each chapter switching to each character. I always enjoy books that are written this way, reading each characters point of view always gives you that extra insight into their mind.

Over the next few months Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin face change and they are forced to adapt to their new situations. Throughout the changes, struggles and opportunities arise for the three women and they are all made to rethink their choices in life.

I felt that the story was to teach us that change although sometimes can be daunting, it can always be a good thing and helps us to learn, be brave and take risks and to take the positive out of any situation.  However much you plan things never go the way they should!

Throughout this review I know I haven't gone into depth about the storyline itself, with a few secrets and twists I would hate to give away any spoilers and ruin it for others. I would class this book as a feel good read, although the story hits some tough times for each character, the close friendship they form is really heart warming and made me think of my own support network and how grateful I am.  Lovely read and I recommend!