One Hundred Proposals by Holly Martin is released today in paperback! You can find it at The Works. To celebrate, I wanted to make a special post for you all. This books was one of my favourite reads of last year. I totally fell in love with the story and its characters and if you haven't read in yet, I highly recommend you get yourself a copy right now!

When I was last in London, I couldn't resist visiting one place that has a very special meaning in the story: St Dunstan-in-the-East. This abandoned church in the middle of London is the place where Suzie goes to hide or think about her life in the story and it quickly becomes hers and Harry's spot. 

When I saw it in real life, I instantly loved its atmosphere. I was surprise to see how quiet it was, even in such a busy part of the city. 

I really think that Suzie and Harry couldn't have chosen a better place as their special spot. 

Blurb: ‘Is there really such a thing as a perfect proposal? Over the next hundred days I intend to find out. I will find one hundred ways to propose to our Chief Proposer Suzie McKenzie and post the results here for your enjoyment. One thing’s for sure, not one of my proposals will be on top of the Eiffel Tower with a dozen red roses.’ 

Best friends Suzie and Harry are partners in romance. That is, they run the.PerfectProposal.com, coming to the aid of would-be grooms to create the ultimate marriage proposal. But when Harry decides to catapult the business into the big leagues with a PR stunt all Suzie can see is a hundred days of heartbreak stretching ahead of her. But however exotic the location, or breath-takingly romantic the setting, Suzie has to keep remembering that ‘Marry Me?’ is the one question she can’t say yes to. 

This business proposal should come with one hundred broken heart warnings... One hundred proposals, one hundred chances to say yes.

Now available in paperback at The Works.

August is almost here and it looks like it is going to be another fantastic month for books. Here are the ones I am most excited about: 

Blurb: Appleby Farm is a charming, funny and romantic story for anyone looking for a feel-good, light-hearted read, from the author of bestselling Ivy Lane. 

Freya Moorcroft has wild red hair, mischievous green eyes, a warm smile and a heart of gold. She’s been happy working at the café round the corner from Ivy Lane allotments and her romance with her new boyfriend is going well, she thinks, but a part of her still misses the beautiful rolling hills of her Cumbrian childhood home: Appleby Farm.

Then a phone call out of the blue and a desperate plea for help change everything…

The farm is in financial trouble, and it’s taking its toll on the aunt and uncle who raised Freya. Heading home to lend a hand, Freya quickly learns that things are worse than she first thought. As she summons up all her creativity and determination to turn things around, Freya is surprised as her own dreams for the future begin to take shape.

Love makes the world go round, according to Freya. Not money. But will saving Appleby Farm and following her heart come at a price?

Blurb: There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and, sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fill a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved.

In 1966, Kathleen Eaden, cookery writer and wife of a supermarket magnate, published The Art of Baking, her guide to nurturing a family by creating the most exquisite pastries, biscuits and cakes.

Now, five amateur bakers are competing to become the New Mrs Eaden. There's Jenny, facing an empty nest now her family has flown; Claire, who has sacrificed her dreams for her daughter; Mike, trying to parent his two kids after his wife's death; Vicki, who has dropped everything to be at home with her baby boy; and Karen, perfect Karen, who knows what it's like to have nothing and is determined her façade shouldn't slip.

As unlikely alliances are forged and secrets rise to the surface, making the choicest choux bun seems the least of the contestants' problems. For they will learn - as Mrs Eaden did before them - that while perfection is possible in the kitchen, it's very much harder in life.

Blurb: Everything you’ve built your life on is a lie

Willow’s memories of her parents are sun-drenched and full of smiles, love and laughter. But a mysterious invitation to a photographic exhibition exposes a secret that’s been buried since a tragic accident years ago.

Willow is forced to question everything she knew about Charity, her late mother, and Hope, the aunt she’s lived with since she was a child.

How was the enigmatic photographer connected to Willow’s parents? Why will Hope not break her silence?

Willow cannot move forward in her life without answers. But who can she really trust? Because no one has been telling the truth for a very long time.

ADDICTIVE, GRIPPING and EMOTIONALLY POWERFUL, this is the perfect read for your summer holiday escape.

What Milo Saw by Virginia Macgregor - August 18th


Why so excited: I'm sure this one will be one of those special stories that will stay with me for a long time. It sounds amazing. 

Blurb: Full of mouth-watering flavours, sunshine and escapist adventure, The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop will delight fans of Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop as well as drawing in new readers with a taste for sweet treats and romance. Anna and her husband Matteo are preparing to embark on a delicious Italian adventure. After a year and a half running their ice cream shop on Brighton beach and raising their baby Isabella, Matteo is starting to miss Italy. A shared passion for ices means it's easy to settle on a new business idea - they'll open a sorbet shop on the town's cobbled square, a short walk from the sparkling blue sea. For a while, life is sweet; but then Matteo's overbearing family get involved…

Anna's younger sister Imogen has settled in Brighton running Vivien's Ice Cream Shop with boyfriend Finn, and for the first time in her life, she's enjoying putting down some roots. But then, late in the summer, things start to change and her willpower is put to the test…

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop follows on from Abby Clements' previous book, Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop. However, I really don't think you need to have read the first book to fully enjoy it, as the author easily fills in any gaps there could be, and soon, you find yourself immersed in the story and the characters as if you had known them all your life. 

I always enjoy stories that tell you what happened after the happy ever after and this one is exactly that. Anna, the eldest sister has just had a daughter with her gorgeous Italian boyfriend and they are learning to manage their successful ice cream shop in Brighton with the stressing life of new parents. And then, Imogen, the youngest sister thinks he has found the perfect partner to settle but her wanderlust only grows the longer she stays at home. As you can see, both sisters are in completely different moments of their lives but their love and support for each other is stronger than ever. I really enjoyed reading the sisters' interactions and seeing their bond grow.

The story from here is easy to follow and highly entertaining with more than a fair bit of family drama. Soon, the sisters find themselves in new situations and new places and you feel like you are one more in the story. When the story takes us to Sorrento I could so easily picture the stunning Italian scenery! Abby Clements has a way of transporting you far far away from home, and make you enjoy the most delicious treats too. Her descriptions of ice cream and other delicious sweet creations are so detailed and scrumptious that left me with no other choice than consume great quantities of ice cream while enjoying this summery read.

I was surprised of how much this novel made me think about my own life too. I recognized a bit of myself in Imogen, I've always wanted to see the world before settling and I take every opportunity to travel (I still need to find a job that allows me to travel more though) so I could really relate to her. I really wanted the best for her, and struggled with her when she started feeling lost, not really knowing what she is supposed to do, as I've been there myself. She is a characters that is going to stay for me for a long while. 

I am sure old and new fans of Abby Clements will fall in love with this story and its characters. It definitely has all the ingredients for the perfect summer read. 

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I spotted this tag on Sky's Book Corner and also on Jenny in Neverland and I couldn't resist joining in with the fun. I loved their answers and as a major Disney fan, I found the idea of matching Disney characters with books according to their treats and characters fantastic! 

One day, Rosie Potter wakes up with what might be the world's worst hangover, until she discovers that she's actually dead... But Rosie has no idea how to be a ghost. Is she supposed to haunt her killer? But who killed her? 

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson. 

Ivy Lane by Cathy Bramley.

This sweet story takes place in the allotment of Ivy Lane, where a lively and friendly community shares not only a place to grow their plants but also products, tips on how-to and friendship. With the lovely Tilly as the main character, we get to know all the members: from Charlie, the sexy fireman, the talkative Gemma and her persuasive mother, to the sweet old Alf, they all welcome her to their family. 

There are so many fantastic characters in this book and they all add their own spark to the story! 

4) Sleeping Beauty: A book that put you to sleep

One Thousand and One Nights
I remember that my mum got me this book in my teen years and said to me, this one is gonna take you a while to finish (it was huge). But I just couldn't get into the stories. Some I already knew and enjoyed but some where just too boring. It's one of the few books I have never finished and it's still sitting in my room at my parents'. Maybe one day I'll give it another try, now I'm older and wiser (ehem...).

It has been a while since a book had made such a strong impression on me. Girl at War is an extraordinary tale about war, loss and grief but also about love and hope and the need to find your place in the world. With two main story lines, Girl at War tells the story of Ana, a Croatian girl who survived a cruel and violent war but lost almost everything in it, even a part of herself. We follow a ten-year-old Ana in Zagreb, in the midst of the civil war, and a twenty-year-old Ana in New York, on her third year of university.

6) Beauty and the Beast: A beast of a book that you were intimidated by but found to be beautiful

I flew through the story in no time at all. It's such a well written story with so much heart in it, just like Belle!


7) Aladdin: A character that gets their wish granted, for better or for worse

With the imminent publication of I Knew You Were Trouble, the second book on the Jessie Jefferson Series, I have been thinking a lot about Jessie. She would be the perfect Aladdin, she wished with all her heart to know who her father was. Imagine her surprise when her father turned out to be a huge rock star! I cannot wait to see how her relationship with him develops in the second book. 

8) Mulan: A character who pretends to be someone or something they’re not

In this one not only one but two characters pretend to be someone they are not. Renée, the concierge, conforms to every stereotype of the concierge: fat, cantankerous, addicted to television. Yet, Renée is a cultured autodidact who adores art, philosophy, music, and Japanese culture. 

Then there's Paloma, a twelve-year-old genius. She behaves as everyone expects her to behave: a mediocre pre-teen high on adolescent subculture, a good but not an outstanding student, an obedient if obstinate daughter.

Where's my letter? I'm still waiting for my letter...

Do I need to say anything else? 

10) Disney Descendants – your favourite villain or morally ambiguous character

Well, that was a lot of fun! If you want to do this tag yourself, feel free! I’d love to see more of these around, bring the magic of Disney to the blogosfera! 

Today I have a very special post from Shari's Berries to share with you. The team behind Shari's Berries have created this fantastic visualization of 20 desserts inspired by some of our favourite books. I can't wait to try some of these, as they all look fantastic!

There are few things more satisfying than settling in and getting completely immersed by a great book. A well-written novel can literally transport your mind into another world! One of the great parts of a novel are the highly-detailed descriptions of desserts eaten by one or more of the characters. Sometimes these desserts are real — like the tiramisu from Eat, Pray, Love. Sometimes fictional — like the Butterbeer from Harry Potter (but can still be purchased or made at home!).

Shari’s Berries created a simple graphic that pairs 20 great books with their iconic desserts. Whether you go for Alice in Wonderland's tea biscuits with jam, or the fimi milk custard from The Kite Runner, we think that you’ll find a whole new way to appreciate novels!

Blurb: Kenley Hunter finally has everything sorted out. Fresh from studying chocolate making in Europe, she's gambling everything on her new business, Confection Consultations.

All Kenley wants in life is people to take her seriously, to see the person on the inside rather than the blonde beauty on the outside. While pursuing her passion of chocolate, Kenley discovered people seek her knowledge. They see past the exterior and fall for the chocolate delights in front of them.

So with work as her focus, Kenley is ready to start her career in Dallas. Men are out of her recipe, because she fears that once they get past her looks, they’ll be disappointed in what they find. Kenley decides she's all about the chocolate now.

Or is she?

Because a chance meeting with new Dallas Demon hockey star Nate Johansson might change everything. Sent to Dallas in a blockbuster trade, Nate is somewhere he doesn't want to be, for reasons that have caused him heartbreak on multiple levels. Nate knows he will never trust a woman again after what happened to him in Minnesota.

But when he meets a woman with an intriguing name and a passion for chocolate, Nate isn't so sure about his theory. And he might just learn a definition of icing other than the one used in hockey with Kenley as his guide...

First of all I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: The Dallas Demons are back! One of my favourite books last year was the first book in the series, Waiting for Prince Harry, and when Aven Ellis announced that she was writing more about this hockey team's players, I was over the moon. Obviously, the part I was awaiting the most was checking on Harrison Flynn again. Luckily for us, Aven doesn't make us wait too much and he and his new wife, the lovely Kylie, have a big role in the new story (yes!).

The Definition of Icing is all about Kenley, who has the best job in the world: she's an expert in chocolate! Seriously though, where do I have to sign to have this job? So Aven gives us scrumptious descriptions of the most fascinating chocolates and chocolate based desserts and dishes. Just for this, you need to check this book. Really, I actually went to a gourmet shop to check their chocolates because you won't be able to resist chocolate while reading it. 

And then there's Nate, the hockey player. Gorgeous, sexy and a good guy (he's no Harrison but I wouldn't mind settle with him). He had his own story and secrets but you could clearly see how he was falling for Kenley (and her chocolate). I have to admit though that I think that Kenley is not my favourite female character from Aven. I found her a bit too insecure of herself and her talent and she doubted too much. Luckily for her, Nate was the perfect match for her, and brought the best out of her.

The Definition of Icing is another extremely cute and lovely story from Aven Ellis. One I enjoyed immensely. She always pays so much attention to the details of the story that she makes you feel like you are part of it. All I have left to say is: chocolate lovers around the world, pick this book! Oh! and I cannot wait to read more about hockey (and hockey players) in Aven's next books.

Rating: 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This week is all about books that celebrate diversity, that includes books that feature minority/religious minority, socioeconomic diversity, disabled MC, neurotypical character, LGBTQ etc. When I first say this week's topic, I thought it was going to be difficult to pick then books and I was not wrong, I wanted to include so many books! But I have finally decided on these ten for the impact they've had on me:

Blurb: Evoking the same small town charm with the same great eye for character, the co-author of Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society finds her own voice in this debut novel about a young debutante working for the Federal Writer's Project whose arrival in Macedonia, West Virginia changes the course of history for a prominent family who has been sitting on a secret for decades. The Romeyn family is a fixture in the town, their identity tied to its knotty history. Layla enters their lives and lights a match to the family veneer and a truth comes to light that will change each of their lives forever.

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And I have to tell you that I am really happy with my pick. In the last couple of months my life has been really chaotic with the new job and babysitting my three baby nieces whenever I could, so I didn't have a lot of time to just sit and colour but whenever I did, it's true that I felt better afterwards. And time certainly flew while colouring!

I have also enjoyed experimenting a bit with colouring with different pens, black and white, following the rainbow... and I can't wait to keep experimenting. My next one, will probably be with water colours. 

Also, the drawings by Johanna Basford are just beautiful. They are so detailed and the more you look at them, more little details you see. I'm really fascinated. 

I think one good thing about these books is that you don't need any art knowledge, you just get some colours and create your own masterpieces however you want. Your imagination is your limit.

So what do you think about adult colouring? Have you tried it? Have you enjoyed it? I would love to hear your opinion on these books!

And if you want to get Enchanted Forest, which I highly recommend, here are the links:

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Love is an open door…except when it keeps slamming in your face.

Hopeless romantic Milly Rose has had her fair share of heartbreak. Obsessed with all things Disney, she refuses to give up on finding her Prince Charming – he’s out there somewhere, isn’t he?

When Milly is given a job to investigate the origins of an historical building in the village of Clovers Rest, she’s not sure what to expect. What she discovers takes her breath away - a beautiful real life Cinderella castle, complete with turrets, a magnificent drawbridge AND a very handsome owner…Cameron Heartstone.

As Milly and Cameron begin to unearth the secrets of Clover Castle, they can’t ignore the intense chemistry building between them. But they’ve both been hurt badly before. Can they take a big leap of faith and find their own happily-ever-after?

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I am a big fan of Disney and fairytales in general so when Holly Martin announced her next book was going to be all about fairytales and magic I was over the moon. Plus knowing that Holly writes the most romantic stories, I knew Fairytale Beginnings was going to be fantastic. I'm really happy to say that I was not wrong. The story couldn't be more magical and Holly has managed to sweep off my feet once again with her new story.

Fairytale beginnings has all the elements a hopeless romantic like me loves: a stunning setting in a fairytale Castle (I need a castle like Clover Castle in my life), a dashing prince charming, some magical creatures (yes, there are ghosts and witches in the story, isn't that the coolest?) and of course, a fantastic heroine that I loved from the first page, Milly Rose. When she first arrives at Clover Castle, she is sure her company is not going to be interested in renovating it and is about to turn and go home until she meets the gorgeous Lord Hearstone and decides to give it go. Soon, she starts falling in love with the place and the chemistry between them is undeniable. I loved reading their interactions, how they opened up to each other and how they respected each other so much.

I always enjoy when a story is told from both main characters' points of view, so we can know what they are thinking and I feel like I know them better. As I said, Milly Rose was a fantastic character and I loved her enthusiasm with life and how she always tried to stay positive. And then there was Cameron, the Lord of the castle. He was the kind of hero I love (*swoons*). Even if his choice of women had not been the best in the past...

An aspect of the story I really enjoyed reading about was all the mysteries that the castle held. From secrets passageways to hidden treasures, I couldn't help getting more and more excited as the story unfolded and we discovered more bits. Also, Holly added lots of fairytale references and the castle has its own legend which I think was a fantastic touch. 

I can express enough how much I loved this story and all the special and magical touches that Holly added to it. I'm sure that any Disney and Fairytales fan will fall completely in love with this story too. I highly recommend you put some magic to your life this summer with this gorgeous story. 

Rating: 

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Blurb: Lola Grant is the hottest pop star in Britain and she's about to go global. But behind the music, her addiction to bad boys is taking her personal life in a dangerous direction. When it comes to men, Lola just can't stay away from trouble - and her self-control is pushed to the limit when she meets her handsome new drummer Jake Hunter. 

Looking out for Lola is her best friend and manager Harvey Sparks. But Harvey's fighting his own demons and can only watch from the sidelines as the star he helped create begins to fall. When Lola seeks comfort in a life of wild partying, she meets good-hearted showbiz reporter Freddy Jones, a man who may just be able to offer her a way out.

But as she starts rehearsals for her Trouble tour, Lola finds herself faced with an even bigger threat. And unless someone can get through to her before opening night, she's in danger of losing everything she fought so hard for - in full view of the whole world. 

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Have you ever wondered what goes behind the scenes in the glamorous music world? If so, this is the book for you. Lola Grant is about to become a major star and is promoting her album non-stop around Europe before she starts her mega tour that will catapult her where she never dreamed, among the BIG stars. But  her wild partying and her weakness for bad boys could jeopardize it all. As we follow her through her adventure, we soon discover what a complex character she is. Coming from a broken home, she is not your average pop star. She is always honest, says what she thinks and is full of insecurities. Which makes you root for her since the beginning.

But the story is not all about Lola, she always has people around her who try to make everything run smoothly for her, like her manager Harvey. He has his own story to tell and is probably my favourite character from the book, together with Freddy, the journalist who is supposed to expose Lola whenever he can but has a soft spot for her. I really loved reading about them and couldn't help cheering them. But not all of the characters surrounding Lola are there to support her, between her entourage, we soon discover the rivalry and jealousy also play main roles in the story and more than one would like to see Lola fall. And are ready to make everything in their hands to achieve it.

With the wide range of characters that Matt Cain presents in Nothing But Trouble, you certainly will find someone to love but also someone to hate. For me, it was Lola's new drummer, he was one of those characters you love hating, the ultimate womanizer, his tales about his latest conquests made my blood boil.

Apparently the saying Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'Roll totally applies to Lola's world. And it makes for a very entertaining, sexy and sassy story. Perfect to enjoy during a summer holiday, you'll wish you were part of her world too, at least for a couple of days because I wouldn't recommend this level of craziness for too long. Only the ferocious and great Lola can handle it!

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