Blurb: She's back.

For the three years she's been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night. I was stupid then, but now I'm ready to beat her at her own game . . .

Three years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he's better than me. But I won't be scared away. Or pushed down. I'll call his bluff and fight back. That's what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he'll never know how much he affects me . . .

Review: Rival is the third book of a series, Fall Away, but can be read perfectly as a stand alone novel, as I did. It tells the story of Fallon and Madoc, two teenagers who haven't seen each other for more than two years because Fallon was sent away to a boarding school when their parents discovered that they were sleeping together when they were 16. Fallon comes from a dificult past, an absent father because of his problems with the law, and an un-loving mother who only worries about status and money. So when she marries Madoc's father, the two teenagers find themselves sharing the same roof. Fallon, not used to being wanted, and Madoc, fascinated with the weird girl with tattos and piercings, start an intense relationship that ends abruptly with no good-byes. 

So when she comes back, they both have unsolved business as they both think that they were meaningless to each other. You can tell from the begining though that the chemistry between these two is undeniable and it won't take long until they succumb. From that moment, a fast-paced story with lots of obstacles for them but also with a lot of passion follows. 

I quite enjoyed this book. Both Fallon and Madoc are complex characters with strong personalities and they know how to play with each other's feelings. Plus, I'm guessing that the first book of the series was about Madoc's friends Tate and Jared because during the book you gets glimpses of their story (it looks like theirs was even more complicated). But in this book they play an important role, advising and helping their friends. 

There was a twist though, almost at the end, that kind of disappointed me a bit. No spoilers here but I felt like it was all a bit too much. Apart from that, in my opinion this is a great example of the new adult genre, fast-paced, steamy, flirty with strong characters and lots of conflicts, and I can see why this series has been so successful. Moreover, this is not end of the series, there's a new one coming about Jax, Jason's half brother that will probably feature all the characters again so we get to see how they are doing. 

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Emily Harper is back! The popular chick lit author is bringing fans another of her quirky rom-coms in the form of My Sort-of Kind-of Hero. Celebrating the publication with a blog tour, Emily will be hitting some top book blogs for reviews, a couple of guest posts and a fabulous giveaway, including a Kate Spade organiser!

'Etty Lawrence is a bestselling romance author. At least− she would be if she could just get someone to read her books. Apparently, Amazon doesn’t consider the 500 books purchased by your mother to be ‘bestseller’ material.

When Etty’s given some simple advice from a friend − write what you know − she takes it to heart. But she’s never been in love before, and she doesn’t really have time to fall in love and write a novel at the same time. So, she convinces her slightly unwilling lifelong friend, Travis, to let her follow him around and witness real love, first hand. A third person memoir, if you will. Travis is the perfect hero for her story: he’s funny, smart, and good looking; only there’s one problem. He says all the wrong things. Does any girl really want to talk about the NHL trades? And his jokes would make a kindergarten class roll their eyes.

But the worst part is, Travis’s dates laugh at his corny jokes; the jokes he told Etty first. They touch his sweater; the sweater Etty bought him. And the way these women swoon and gush over him…they obviously aren’t leading lady material.

Now Etty has to take this love thing into her own hands if she has any hope of writing a bestseller that people other than her mother will buy.'

Travis, Etty's brother's best friend, is the real deal: charming, kind, handsome and ready to do anything for Etty (total bookboyfriend material). And the other characters, like Etty's family and friend, give the perfect sparkle to this cute story. I recommend this book and Emily is quickly becoming one of my favourite Chick Lit authors, with fresh stories and lovable characters. I'll keep an eye open for her future work. 

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Click Here To Buy This Book - UK

Click Here To Buy This Book - US

Emily Harper has a passion for writing humorous romance stories where the heroine is not your typical damsel in distress. Throughout her novels you will find love, laughter, and the unexpected!

Originally from England, she currently lives in Canada with her wonderful husband, beautiful daughter, mischievous son, and a very naughty dog.

Emily is also the author of the funny and charming novels White Lies and Checking Inn.

Follow Emily

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***GIVEAWAY***

1st Prize Kate Spade Organiser, Batman Lego Keychain and signed paperbacks of My Sort-of Kind-of Hero, White Lies and Checking Inn

2nd Prize Signed paperback of My Sort-of Kind-of Hero

3rd Prize E-copy of my Sort-of Kind-of Hero

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Giveaway is international. Emily Harper and CandleLit Author Services reserve the right to cancel or amend giveaway details at anytime and without prior notification.

Blurb: New York Times bestselling author Darcie Chan returns to the enchanting town of Mill River in a heartwarming novel of family, self-discovery, and forgiveness. Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy.

Josie DiSanti is starting over. Recently widowed, she has fled her New York City home with her two young daughters—spirited Rose and shy Emily—in tow. She takes refuge in Mill River, Vermont, to live with her only remaining relative, Ivy Collard, the local bookstore owner and a woman Josie barely knows. There, the young mother and her girls build a new life for themselves—until a shocking tragedy tears the sisters apart.

Years later, Josie’s still-estranged daughters return to the quiet town for the reading of their mother’s will, which stipulates that they must work together to locate a hidden key to a safe-deposit box containing their inheritance. Even from the great beyond, it seems Josie will do anything to bring about her daughters’ reconciliation. Having no choice but to go along with their mother’s final wishes, Rose and Emily move back to Mill River for the summer to begin the search—discovering that, in the close-knit community known for magic and miracles, an even greater treasure awaits them.

*First of all, I'd like to thank Clara at Little, Brown for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review and inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour.*

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But it seems Lizzie’s mother has moved on as well. She’s moved her toyboy – a muscle-bound vintner named Cal – into the family home, and given him the run of the land that was meant to be Lizzie’s inheritance!

Cal’s wine business frequently takes him to France, and suddenly wherever Lizzie goes, he’s already there – meddling, giving unsolicited advice, saving her little boy’s life and stealing her heart. But none of this changes the fact that he’s her mother’s lover…

Praise for Karen Aldous

'...you must read this wonderful debut from Karen, absolutely great.' - Cometbabesbooks

'Not since Peter Mayle has anyone captured the essence of Provence and Karen Aldous does it vividly. Settle back with a glass of wine and experience the Vineyard for yourself.' - Elder Park Book Reviews

'A delightful romantic comedy that tales place amidst the beauty of France, with plenty of wine and laughter.' - cayocosta72

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AmazonUK 

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Please click here to read Chapter One

GIVEAWAY
The overall giveaway on tour is £10/$15 Amazon GC plus an ecopy of The Vineyard. 

Blurb: Part 2 of Summer Flings – a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

The girls are off to a beach house to catch some rays – and if they play their cards right – super hot guys!

With drinking games in the name of Gucci, a surprise visit from a very pissed off Zack and hunks galore, Miami is turning into their best stop yet. Not to mention Ciara finally comes up with a way to have her cake and eat it too!

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

Review: After L.A. (read my review here), the girls, Ciara, Elle and Gem, head to the east coast, where there's another mansion from grandpa waiting for them. The girls, especially Elle and Gem, are ready to party again and have a great couple of days in Miami and Ciara, always the cautious one, is ready to throw caution to the wind and is happy to tag along and have some fun too, it's a shame that Elle's gorgeous cousin stayed in L.A. Or maybe not...

Following the style of the first book of the series, Misbehaving in Miami is a fun quick read that will take you to the sunny and glamorous Miami but also to other hidden gems of the city. If you are stuck at home for the summer, this series is the perfect way to see the world. I can't wait now to read about these girls in Paris, our next destination, because they always manage to have the craziest adventures and make me laugh a lot. And I'm also curious to see how Ciara's love story develops. 

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Blurb: Watch everyone. Trust no one.

The war is over, but Berlin is a desolate sea of rubble. There is a shortage of everything: food, clothing, tobacco. The local population is scrabbling to get by. Kasper Meier is one of these Germans, and his solution is to trade on the black market to feed himself and his elderly father. He can find anything that people need, for the right price. Even other people.

When a young woman, Eva, arrives at Kasper's door seeking the whereabouts of a British pilot, he feels a reluctant sympathy for her but won't interfere in military affairs. But Eva is prepared for this. Kasper has secrets, she knows them, and she'll use them to get what she wants. As the threats against him mount, Kasper is drawn into a world of intrigue he could never have anticipated. Why is Eva so insistent that he find the pilot? Who is the shadowy Frau Beckmann and what is her hold over Eva?

Under constant surveillance, Kasper navigates the dangerous streets and secrets of a city still reeling from the horrors of war and defeat. As a net of deceit, lies and betrayal falls around him, Kasper begins to understand that the seemingly random killings of members of the occupying forces are connected to his own situation. He must work out who is behind Eva's demands, and why - while at the same time trying to save himself, his father and Eva.

*First of all, I'd like to thank Emily at Little Brown for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: The Spring of Kasper Meier takes you to a desolated post-war Berlin, where Kasper trades in the black market anything he can to try to keep his old and poorly father and himself alive while blocking any memory of his past, before the war, when he was the happiest with his partner. Surrounded by misery and extrem proverty, he minds his own business and when Eva appears offering him a deal en exchange for finding a British pilot, he is not willing to cooperate. What he doesn't know is that this pretty fragile girl is in the middle of something bigger, darker and more dangerous than he first imagined and maybe there is no way out of it, neither for him nor for her, no matter how hard he tries.

When I first started the book, it took me a while to get into the story but after some chapters, I was hooked. Ben Fergusson writes a gripping thriller that captures you. His thorough descriptions and attention to detail take you to this desolated city where not only can you imagine the streets, the ruins and the atmosphere of dispair but you can actually smell it and feel the terror and hopelessness of the characters.

This novel is packed with action, mistery, historical interest and compelling descriptions. As for the characters, Kasper Meier is a complex man, he seem ruthless and willing to do anything to survive at the beginning but little by little you discover bits of his past, of his real self. Before Eva, he had given up on life, he was just surviving but their friendship brings back his hope of something better. And from all the other characters involved in this dark net, you won't be able to forget the twins. Still kids but with the power to destroy lifes, they follow Kasper around to make him cooperate. Once you become their target, there is no way out.

Well written and enthralling, The Spring of Kasper Meier is an excellent debut for Ben Fergusson, one you don't want to miss. I'll keep my eyes open for his future work.

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Title: Upside Down

Author: Lia Riley

Published: August 5th 2014 by Piatkus

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found 

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying goodbye to painful memories—and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she’ll pretend to be a carefree exchange student. Everything is going to plan until she meets a surly surfer with hypnotic green eyes, and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

*First of all, I would like to thank Clara at Little, Brown for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.*



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Web: www.liariley.com
Twitter: @liarileywrites
FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorliariley

Armed with a degree from Oxford that she doesn’t have a clue what to do with, Ciara Bree convinces her two best friends, Elle and Gem to spend their first summer of freedom backpacking across the globe. Now it’s time to shop, sunbathe, think about boys for a change, and party hard…

First stop: LA!

The girls hit Tinseltown for a few days of shopping, star spotting, and even a movie premiere!

But their plan to sneak into an exclusive celeb party in West Hollywood backfires. Elle’s gorgeous older cousin, Zack, is called to the rescue and despite knowing she should stay away, Ciara just can’t seem to resist him.

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

*I kindly received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: When I first spotted this title in Netgalley, I couldn't resist the gorgeous cover and I loved the idea of a serialed novel for a girls trip around the world. On this first book of the series we meet the girls: the hard-worker Ciara, a total geek who had never had an interest for boys or make up until she met the other two girls in Oxford, Elle and Gem, both from rich families, intelligent and pretty, they love partying and having fun. 

Their first stop is LA and these girls have taken the concept of backpacking to a new level: grandpa's mansion overlooking the city. Two days to enjoy the best of Hollywood: shopping, celebrities, movie premieres, parties... And Elle's gorgeous cousin for Ciara to enjoy. How much action can you fit in two days and a hundred pages? It turns out that a lot. Well written, flirty and naughty, with witty dialogues and a lot of fun, I really enjoyed Aimee's style and I'm sure this series is going to be a great summer read. I can't wait to read the second book, in Miami this time, and find out how the adventure is going with these girls and see if a certain cousin makes an appearance again. 

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Humorous author, Carol E. Wyer has just taken launching a new book to a new level. To coincide with the forthcoming release of her seventh book, Carol will be taking on some unusual challenges including belly dancing, a ‘Bush Tucker’ trial, zorbing and zip lining while playing a kazoo and indoor skydiving. Carol says, “After completing the book I suddenly had an urge to have a go at some of the challenges that the characters face. So, I thought, why not? The inner child in me went crazy with delight and encouraged me to commit to a few mad challenges before I remembered how old I really am. It’s too late to back out now so, we’ll have to see how they work out.” The first challenge is in London at GoApe where she will attempt to zipline while playing a kazoo and try not to land on her publisher who is accompanying her. You can see the results at her blog or YouTube. 

Her latest release, Three Little Birds due out August 15^th is a tale of friendship, self-discovery, romance and topped with lashings of the by now familiar humour we have come to expect from this author.

    

  Three Little Birds If your friend challenged you, would you dare? Charlie Blundell cannot get over the tragic death of her only daughter. She drifts between her job at the Art cafe and her hospital radio show, the only things which give her life purpose. Her best friend, the madcap Mercedes, cajoles Charlie into writing a 'carpe diem' list, but then swaps Charlie's list with her own. Now, each must complete the other's challenges, and the outcomes will astound both of them. The challenges begin as a series of relatively harmless, fun activities. Soon, though, the stakes increase when Charlie has to complete her challenges to save the hospital radio station. As the tasks become more demanding, a handsome stranger takes an interest in her, but he is not what he seems. One challenge causes a secret buried deep within her to surface, which may prove to be her undoing. Three Little Birds is a story of love, friendship and discovery, laced with hilarity and topped by a wickedly funny parrot called Bert. 

Three Little Birds is published by Safkhet Publishing and released August 15^th 

Purchase links on Safkhet website and Amazon UK  

Carol E Wyer is an ex-teacher and linguist who lives in rural Staffordshire. Having written a series of educational yet amusing books for children, she turned her attention to the adult market in 2010 when her son flew from the nest. Her best-selling novels have won several awards for humour and much attention from the media. Since then, she has appeared on over thirty BBC radio stations, several international radio stations, NBC television and BBC Breakfast television discussing age-related subjects such as ‘Irritable Male Syndrome’. Her writing style has been described frequently by the media as 'witty' or 'humorous' and has even been compared to the acerbic wit of Jeremy Clarkson and the humour of Robin Williams. Carol has written articles for and featured in several national women’s magazines including Take A Break, Choice, Woman’s Weekly and Woman's Own who also wrote about her journey to becoming a best-selling author. Last year, she took a crash course in stand-up comedy and has performed her comedy talk Smile While You Still Have Teeth to sell-out audiences in Lichfield, The Black Country and will be on main stage the Isle of Wight Literary Festival in October along with big name celebrities, Alan Titchmarsh, Katie Price, Sheila Hancock and novelist Katie Fford.

Follow Carol on Twitter @carolewyer or Facebook Carol E Wyer

Blurb: Sometimes you find perfect where you least expect it...

Libby Potter has just lost the perfect job, the perfect apartment and the perfect boyfriend. Moving back to the same home town that she couldn’t wait to escape when she was younger was definitely not on her todo list. Especially as it means running into the man whose heart she broke when she left.

Pete Bennett can still make Libby’s world stop with just the sound of his voice – even ten years on. Only now, she is the last person in the world that he wants to see.

As everyone else welcomes Libby home with open arms, she realizes she’s missed that special closeness that comes from lifelong friendship. And, as Libby tries to make amends with Pete, she begins to wonder whether she made the right choice in leaving all those years ago.

When an amazing career opportunity gives her the chance to leave again, Libby will have to decide what her version of perfect is… and where she really belongs.


*First, I would like to thank Kim at Bookouture for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: When all your life you have been told that you need to work harder, aim higher and go farther, I guess that going back home might be stressful to say the least. So imagine Libby, who used to be a city girl with a high profile job and the perfect boyfriend, back at her home town with nothing, where everyone knows her and her story with Pete, her exboyfriend or ex love of her life, where there's no professional succes to achieve, where her posh clothes make her feel from a different world.

I liked Libby, but she was a bit too obsessed with what everyone else might think of her. This is why I loved Pete, he didn't have a care in the world about what others might think, he just cared about his loved ones, wanted them to be happy. He was a hard-worker with a child spirit and he was kind and strong. Perfect book boyfriend material. I loved how he tried to get the young care-free Libby back and how he wasn't afraid of making a fool of himself in front of others.

Jenny writes a cute story about the importance of belonging to a place, the importance of having your loved ones close and about what you are willing to sacrifice to have what you really want. Plus the setting of this book is stunning, I could totally picture the endless beaches, she swing on the tree or the porches where life seems to go by slowly. A perfect summer read.

If you don't believe me, you can read Jenny's Guest Post about why Love Me for Me is the perfect beach read and see some photos of the beautiful setting.

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