I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review and here it is. 

Blurb: If you enjoyed Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, One Day by David Nicholls, or The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks – then make time for Kelly Rimmer’s stunning, heartbreaking new novel Me Without You. A story of how love can break our hearts – and heal them.

A year ago I met the love of my life. For two people who didn’t believe in love at first sight, we came pretty close.

Lilah MacDonald – beautiful, opinionated, stubborn and all kinds of wonderful in ways that words could never quite capture. The woman who taught me to live again. 

My Lilah, who gave me so much, and yet kept from me a secret that she knew would break my heart.

My name is Callum Roberts, and this is our story.

Me Without You is a book to make you smile, bring you to tears and remind you to hold on tightly to those you love.

Review: When I saw this tittle on Netgalley, the blurb sounded very promising and I decided to give it a try. I'm happy that I did, because I really liked this book. It's written from the male character's point of view, Callum, but also with some glances from Lilah's point of view, thanks to the entries on her diary. Which works perfectly because you get to know both characters and understand them better.

You can tell from the blurb that this is not a happy story but it promises smiles too and that it is exactly what it does. Callum and Lilah's love story is beautiful. Lilah is full of life and charisma and makes Callum florish from a grey monotonous life to one full of adventures, laughs and love. I liked them both from the begining but I loved them with each other. 

But don't doubt it, by the end of the story you will be crying like a baby. I was, on the bus (for the second time this week, I'm sure the driver thinks there's something wrong with me by now). It makes you value all the little things you have in your life that you take for granted and makes you wonder if you are enjoying your short life enough. But most importantly, it brings atention to a not well known disease that still needs years and years of research. 

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Today I'm reviewing Escape for the Summer by the lovely Ruth Saberton. I was very excited to read Ruth's new book! First of all I would like to thank Ruth for sending me a copy in exchange of a honest review. Also remind you that you can win a copy of this fab summer read on my Giveaway so don't miss this fantastic oportunity.

Publication: May 22nd 2014 by Notting Hill Press

Can Andi Evans find the strength to start again?

Betrayed and broken-hearted, redundancy is one shock too many for Andi. Suddenly single and in debt, a working holiday in the Cornish seaside town of Rock appears the perfect solution. Determined never to trust again, will a chance meeting with a stranger change her mind?

Disillusioned with useless boyfriends, Angel is set on finding a man who will keep her in style. Heading to Rock, summer playground of the rich and the royals, seems an inspired move until a case of mistaken identity threatens a romance that has started to mean more than she expected...

Actress Gemma is no stranger to diets and disappointments. When the future of her career hangs in the balance, she prays moving to Rock solves her problems. With a new reality TV show being filmed in the idyllic seaside town, surely she can avoid pasties and ice creams for long enough to win a role?

Arriving in beautiful Cornwall, all three girls are hoping for a holiday season to remember. But will this be for the right reasons? Or, as emotions run higher than the tide, will the summer escape turn their lives upside down?

Get Escape for the Summer on Amazon.co.uk

Get Escape for the Summer on Amazon.com

Review: Escape for the Summer is a book you don't want to miss this summer. Full of adventures, laughs, sun and love and brilliantly written. It tells the story of three different girls who are living in London but after a series of unlucky situations, unfair tricks and some cheating find themselves without a penny, a job nor a man on their lives. That's when they decide to spend the summer in Rock, the hot holiday destination in Cornwall, to try and improve their lives (manwise for one, jobwise for the other and famewise for the third one).

Angel is self-centered and image-obesessed. She thinks that good looks are everything that matters and her mission in Rock is clear: find a rich man who can garantee her the luxury life she was born for. Although at first I didn't like Angel, I soon realised that there was more under her fake tan and blond extensions: a big heart and sharp intelligence. She was the perfect spark for the book, she made everything crazier and funnier and it was hilarious to read about all her ideas. Funny how it turned out for her!

Andi is Angel's big sister but they are complete oposites. Andi is a hard-worker who believes in true love and hopes to find her charming prince some day. But after being made redundant at her job and cheated and robbed but her boyfriend... she isn't in the mood for fun parties and love in Rock. I instantly warmed to Andi. She deserved positive things to happen for her!

Finally, Gemma is Angel's flatmate and an aspiring actress. But her agent has told her that she needs to lose weight (a lot) if she wants to fullfill her dreams. She is the one who decides to go to Rock because an ex football star is filming a TV show in which he tries to lose weight. Her perfect oportunity: she can get on the show, get thin and beautiful and appear on TV at the same time. Gemma is so lovable, she is struggling with accepting her image and bakes when she feels down which doesn't help her diet. What she doesn't realise is that she is gorgeous the way she is and that she bakes like a pro.

So the three girls arrive at Rock with very different expectations and needs. From that point they start living the adventure of a lifetime. The book is so packed with action and twists that you just want to keep reading to find out more and more. I could never suspect what was going to happen and had a lot of laughs with Angel's crazy ideas! I really enjoyed how the girls grew to be better persons and how their friendship made them stronger.

But what makes this book so brilliant are the side characters and the stunning setting. During the story the girls meet a series of characters, from the cat food impire heir to the Russian "godfather" that all add a bit of craziness to this hilarious story. And the beaches of Rock are the perfect setting for the girls' advetures. I am, in fact, trying to convince my friends to go to Cornwall this summer! So don't miss this summer must read and enjoy this crazy story that will leave you with a huge smile on your face! 

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Giveaway: 500 followers giveaway

Tour: Escape for the Summer is on tour with Fictionella. Follow the tour and don't miss all the exclusive content. To know more about Ruth Saberton, check out On My Bookshelf's interview. You'll love Ruth's answers.

Giovanna Fletcher has just published her second book You're the One that I Want and twitter has gone crazy about it! Every time I opened it these last couple of weeks there was a mention to her or her new book. I had had Billy and Me on my TBR pile for a while now so I decided to give a try. The cover is just gorgeous and I had read some really good things about it. When I started reading it though, I didn't really connect with the book though. Sophie has had a difficult life and is really insecure. She works in a little tea shop in a little village and there she has created her little bubble. I liked her but I didn't love her. I was intrigued by her secret and wanted to know about her though.

But then Billy appeared. Billy is a Hollywood star, idol to teens who is trying to find more mature roles to separate himself from the teen book adaptation Halo. He arrives at Sophie's village for the filming of Pride and Prejudice and when he meets her he is instantly drawn to her and her normal life. I think that my main problem with the book is that I didn't like Billy, I was always expecting him to betray Sophie and I wasn't sure if we were seeing his true nature.

From that moment though, Sophie and Billy start an intense relationship and try to fight all the problems that are thrown their way, the main one being his fame. In that moment I started to connect more with Sophie. And then something horrible happened which had me in tears (in a bus, surrounded by people who must have thought I was crazy). 

I liked Giovanna's style and I could tell that Sophie and Billy's love story was special although it didn't find its way to my heart. All in all I enjoyed the book although it had something missing for me. I will be checking for sure Giovanna's new book.

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When I spotted Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley on Amazon, I couldn't resist. The cover is so lovely. And the story turned to be as lovely! It tells the story of Sophie, a naive girl who rarely steps out of her confort zone, but who has her own dreams of owning a lovely house. So when she gets an unexpected inheritance for a little cottage and some money from a great aunt she didn't know she had, maybe her dreams are about to come true. There are some conditions though... she has to meet her father, who abandoned her and her mother when she was little...

I instantly warmed to Sophie. I could tell that she was very insecure but that she had a lot of potential and talent inside her. It was so unfair that she had always lived under the shadow of her mother... she so deserved the chance to shine for herself. When she first saw the cottage she instantly saw the potential in there and started sketching ideas. It became her little baby project and she poured all her heart onto it. As I said, she had to meet his father in order to have it. I really didn't know what she would do, it was such a difficult situation but I was very proud of her final decision.

About the two men in Sophie's life, I was totally team Nick, the architect Sophie hires to help her with the cottage. His awkwardness around people made him so cute. It was a bit exasperating though that Sophie couldn't see what a moron Mark was from the begining! 

I really enjoyed Cathy's style. This book will warm your heart and leave you with a smile on your face. I cannot wait to read now Ivy Lane, a serialized novel told in four parts. Part 1 (Spring) is already on Amazon. 

Today I am taking part on the Blog Tour of In The Mirror by Kaira Rouda. First of all I would like to thank Fiction Addiction Book Tours for providing me with an e copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can follow the tour here! And don't miss the giveaway for a signed copy of all of the authors novels, including In the Mirror! It is international! 

~ Tracey Garvis Graves, New York Times bestselling author

Review: After reading the blurb of this book I knew this was obviously not a happy story. Dealing with cancer is one of the hardest thing a person can suffer, especially if your chances of surviving are almost non existant. And this book narrates Jennifer's story beautifully. It is a raw and cruel reality but it is what it is. From the beginning you understand what Jennifer and her family and friends are suffering.

The fact that she has two small children makes it even harder. Everytime her baby daughter refused to be hold by her... my heart broke a little. But who can blame her, only a baby who doesn't understand what is going on and why her mum is never at home. 

Jennifer though makes some questionable decisions that I don't understand. And her love triangle is a bit too much for me. The book was already full of emotions... why complicate it more? I was really hooked with the story until this moment that left me thinking... what is going on? Luckly, the book recovered after that for me.

But apart from this, I enjoyed the book. It made me think a lot about life and what we consider important. We should all notice the small things and enjoy them more. I think the question What choices would you make if you knew you might die soon? is key to this book. Probably, if I knew I might die... my choices would surprise even me. Finally, I want to say that Kaira's style is brutally honest. I will be checking her other books for sure.

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When I spotted this book on Netgalley, I couldn't resist. First, the cover is so sexy. Second, the plot sounded fun and delicious. And third, it was set in Barcelona (the best city of the world). So to say that my expectations were high is an understatement. However, the book did not disappoint! At all! Have a look at the cover first:

Click Here To Buy This Book – UK                  Click Here To Buy This Book – US

Rating: 5 Stars

Today I am taking part on the Blog Tour of Heiress P.I. by Amanda Mahan. First of all I would like to thank GG Book Tours for providing me with an e copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can follow the tour here!

Blurb: Meet Lucy Hansen. She’s the richest teenager in the world – and possibly the shyest. She doesn’t flash her business to the paparazzi as she’s getting out of limos or send selfies while smoking salvia. No, Lucy hides behind her frizzy bangs, environmental causes and organic hemp-blend sweats. Her one true friend (and secret crush) Holden is the poorest kid in Beverly Hills – and probably the scrappiest. He interns for a famous private investigator, and when he asks Lucy to help him crack a case, her life turns from tame to tabloid, from glum to glam, from private to private eye. And when the trail leads directly to her hotel magnate father, it’s up to Lucy to solve the case by infiltrating Hollywood’s most elite and unwelcoming club: Celebutantes. Teens who are famous for, well… being famous. 

Review: I hadn't read a Young Adult for a while but when I saw this fab cover and read the interesting blurb I jumped at the opportunity to read this book. And it did not disappoint. It is a quick read that you can enjoy in one sitting but packed with action, humor and some teen love. The plot is original and well paced and our heroine, Lucy, is eager to take part in the most crazy schemes to help his (only) friend, Holden.

I really enjoyed the transformation that Lucy had to endure to become LuHan, the rich party beast heiress that the press went crazy about. I was quite hooked from the begining and then there were some unexpected twists on the plot that had me turning page after page just wanting to read more and more! I really hope there is more Lucy and Holden to come because the ending is quite open and left me wondering what is going to happen next.

What makes this book special though are the side characters: from Lucy's gran who lives on her own world on her huge mansion but has her own secrets to the Greek god who is supected to be a drug dealer. But including the it girl who just wants to have her photo taken by the press and the crazy stylist. They all create a fun crazy story that will leave you wishing for more!

Buy on Amazon! 

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Winner of Best Indie Book of 2013 and Best Humor Book of 2013 from Rebecca's Reads Choice Awards

She Likes It Rough on Amazon

She Likes It Rough on Smashwords
She Likes It Rough on Barnes & Noble

Review:

First of all I would like to say what a great surprise! This book captured me from page one and I had to read it in two sittings because I just wanted to know more and more! GVR Corcillo writes an hilarious story with a charming very lovable heroine. She has an attitude but a huge heart and she will have you laughing out loud with all her crazy ideas and adventures. The plot is well-paced and very original. The idea of a survivor of a fast food place fall down who wakes up from a coma to find out that her family has ridiculed her making her a national clown, signed an agreement behind her back and kept part of her millions and that she just wants to face her fears and do something good with her new fortune turns out to be genius!

I loved the relationship between Lisa and Jack. When she agreed to be his undercover test dummy I knew that these two were going to hit it off. But what a story they live! Full of up and downs, insecurities, adrenaline-fuelled sex, lies and maybe love? You will be very surprised with the ending! And what an ending! I can truly say that I enjoyed this book till the last page!

GVR Corcillo will now be part of my top chick lit writers. You don't want to miss this sassy crazy romance! You are in for a treat and lots of laughs for sure! 

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About the Author

GVR Corcillo has lived in Pennsylvania, New York, England, Washington D.C., and California. She has worked about a million different jobs, including a ticket-taker at a movie theatre, a sachet-stuffer at a potpourri warehouse, a waitress at a very noisy bar, a radio-show host, a voice-over actress in an award-winning short film, and a high school teacher in South Central Los Angeles. Then, deciding she needed an even tougher job, she decided to become a writer. 

Corcillo won a few writing contests, hit The New York Times Bestseller List with her first short story, and got a B-movie screenplay produced. She Likes It Rough is her first novel. The romantic comedy has won Best Indie Book 2013 and Best Humor Book 2013 from the Rebecca's Reads Choice Awards, and the book has thus far advanced to the Quarter Finals of The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards.

Today Geralyn Vivian Ruane Corcillo lives in Los Angeles with her husband Ron, a guy who's even cooler than Kip Dynamite.

Author Links

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Today I am taking part on the Blog Tour of Not What They Were Expectig by Neal Doran. First of all I would like to thank GG Book Tours for providing me with an e copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can follow the tour here!

Blurb: Life can be complicated. And complications are the last thing you need when a baby’s on the way. But when Rebecca and James announce their joyful news, little do they know the road to baby bliss is far from smooth. Not only has James lost his job, but he can’t find another and can’t tell his wife why. Meanwhile Rebecca’s own family has picked the worst possible time to start to fall apart, and are relying on her to try and fix it.

As secrets begin to permeate their lives Rebecca and James end up wondering are they really ready to be parents after all…

But it’s too late now – and the expectant couple are about to learn that life doesn’t always turn out quite as you expect it.

Review

Not What They Were Expecting tells the story of Rebecca and James, a happy couple who decides to have a child. They have been together for a while now, they love each other, they have good jobs and their friends already have two wonderful kids so why not try for one themselves? Put it that way it seems quite an easy decision but what they were not expecting is that the day of the first scan James would be made redundant in his well-paid job or that Rebecca's dad would get arrested in a public toilet (you can imagine why...) and start a media campaing to defend his rights against police abuse...

But this is only the begining of the pregnancy! Neal Doran takes us in a rollercoster of emotions: happiness, joy, drama, betrayal, disapointment and secrets, lots of secrets. He keeps the reader totally hooked from the first page with his witty sense of humour and all the unexpected twists (there were some that I didn't see coming at all). 

But what makes this book special are the main characters, Rebecca and James feel so real. It is clear that they love each other but they argue and swear (a lot) and drive each other crazy. They also have some problems really talking to each other but I wonder which couple doesn't? And a pregnancy is a really stressfull time, it can become a test for a couple (that I wasn't sure they would pass...)

Some of the side characters were a bit too much for me. A bit too stereotyped even. Especially the in-laws. I didn't like Howards and I didn't really get him. And sometimes the situations were so absurd that I wasn't sure if laughing or crying. I mean they  were really unlucky poor guys! But all in all, I enjoyed this book, I laughed out loud and warmed to the main characters. It is refreshing to read a romcom written by a man and get his point of view. Some of his considerations about the family and having kids left me thinking a lot! Oh man, I bet Neal Doran knows what he is talking about! 

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