Writing About Sexual Violence by Wendy Walker

When I began to write the crime scenes for my thriller, All Is Not Forgotten, I knew I was walking a very fine line. On the one hand, I wanted the reader to understand the severity of the crime my young protagonist survived. On the other hand, I was writing about the one crime that causes extreme discomfort – rape. How do I do this? I struggled with the question. How do I describe the rape of a fifteen-year-old girl? 

A thought came to mind. Maybe I could just say it was a violent rape and let readers fill in the blanks with whatever details they could tolerate. But then another thought came on its heels. Isn’t every rape violent? Why is it we can tolerate extreme depictions of other violent crimes like stabbings, shootings and torture, but not rape? Is it because rape involves the act of sex? Are we still unable to see the wall between sex and sexual violence?

I decided to do more research. I read the stories written by survivors. I read medical reports about injuries, and psychology papers on treatments for PTSD. I also read articles about injustice in rape prosecutions. And I learned as much as I could about what rape is, what it does to a body, what it does to a mind. 

After wrestling with this dilemma, I decided to write about the rape as if my protagonist were stabbed or shot or bludgeoned. I chose to describe her injuries as I would with any violent act. The message from survivors came through loud and clear. All rape is violence. They write in great, descriptive detail of each moment. They use the words vagina and genitals and bruising and brutally thrusting and penetration. They describe the loss of their integrity, their virtue, their identities. And they tell us what they feel when it’s happening and when it’s over, and for years to come. These are the words they want the world to hear, whether they make us uncomfortable or not. 

Maybe we need to get uncomfortable so we never lose sight of that wall between sex and sexual violence – so there is no doubt about what rape is and what rape does.

One in four women know the answer. What does it mean to be raped? I turned to the words written by those who know, and I chose those words so that the rest of us might better understand.

About the book:

Title: All Is Not Forgotten

Author: Wendy Walker

Published: 14th July 2016 by Mira

Amazon | Amazon UK

Today I'm delighted to welcome historical fiction author Clare Harvey to the blog, as part of the Blog Tour for her latest release, The English Agent. 

I have a confession: I never actually studied history at school. As an author of historical fiction this is something I probably shouldn’t be sharing with you…

You see, I had a history teacher who not only was close to retirement and slightly worn out with this teaching lark, but was clearly a frustrated artist. I remember having to draw endless pictures of castles, and being told ‘vertical lines are always vertical’ and ‘remember which side your light is hitting when you do your shading’. Realising that I wasn’t learning much history in history lessons, and thinking that I’d rather learn drawing skills from an actual art teacher, I swapped History for German in my third year of secondary school, and that was that. 

Fast forward thirty-odd years: I decided to write a book about women soldiers in WW2. I’d just discovered that my mother-in-law had been an ack-ack girl in London during the war, and I thought it was a fascinating basis for a story. At the time I was taking an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Nottingham, and I remember my tutor describing my intention to write historical fiction as ‘brave’. I took no notice of his misgivings. After all, didn’t I have parents who’d been alive during the Second World War? I’d grown up reading Carrie’s War and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, and watching Dad’s Army on TV. How hard could it be?

I had a lot to learn.

Anyone who has actually studied History would probably a little more methodical than I was. My approach was to try to get as much information from as many sources as possible, as quickly as possible. I started with Pathe News clips and contemporaneous films such as The Gentle Sex (a wartime propaganda film about women in the army). I scoured Amazon for obscure autobiographies and self-published memoirs. I trawled the Imperial War Museum’s sound archive for interviews. I pored over picture books detailing wartime life, and watched ‘Woeful Second World War’ episodes of Horrible Histories with my children. I visited a WW2 re-enactment day, where I tiptoed about apologetically in the mud, almost too nervous to tell people that I was a writer (I hadn’t been published then, so I worried that nobody would take me seriously – luckily they were all really nice and supportive). I even talked to my mum, who was just a toddler at the outbreak of war, but luckily has an elephantine memory! The more I learned, the more gaps in my knowledge I discovered. I began to think my Creative Writing tutor had a point.

However, my somewhat panicky ‘scattergun’ approach to historical research seemed to work. My debut novel The Gunner Girl won the Joan Hessayon Award in 2016, so I thought I must have been doing something right, despite my lack of academic rigour. I used similar methods when researching my new book, The English Agent, although I added in some ‘optical research’ (a term which makes it sound better than ‘swanning off’, which is what some people seemed to think when I announced I had to visit Paris as it was essential for the book!) 

Optical research is important, and if I possibly have the opportunity I do it (sometimes time and money constraints mean that I have to use the internet and my imagination instead, of course). When you are actually in a location you engage all your five senses and discover practical details: what sound do your shoes make on the ground? What does the horizon look like? How long does it take to walk up a certain street? Etc. All of this really helps to get the texture of a place and is invaluable when writing scenes.

Which brings me back to my old history teacher. When I think about all those lessons drawing castles, considering how they looked when the light hit them, and where the shadows would be – is that so very different from the ‘optical research’ that I find so useful when I’m writing historical fiction? 

Perhaps I should have taken more notice of my old history teacher, after all?

The English Agent is out now in hardback, paperback and e-book.

You can catch up with Clare Harvey here:

Twitter: @ClareHarveyauth

Facebook: ClareHarvey13

Web: http://clareharvey.net

Photos show Clare researching The English Agent in a trip to Paris in 2015.

About the book:

Title: The English Agent 

Author: Clare Harvey

Published: February 23rd 2017 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

The Blogiversary celebrations end today with a Giveaway of Cathy Bramley's lates book, White Lies and Wishes. I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me celebrate. It's been a fun couple of weeks and the response from you guys has been incredible! 

"This story is a big celebration of friendship and also about learning to love yourself. I also think that it will inspire many, included me, to dream and dream big and then, actually go for it."

Read my full review here

Title: White Lies and Wishes

Author: Cathy Bramley

Published: January 26th 2017 by Corgi

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: What happens when what you wish for is only half the story...?

Flirtatious, straight-talking Jo Gold says she’s got no time for love; she’s determined to save her family’s failing footwear business.

New mother Sarah Hudson has cut short her maternity leave to return to work. She says she’ll do whatever it takes to make partner at the accountancy firm.

Bored, over-eating housewife Carrie Radley says she just wants to shift the pounds – she’d love to finally wear a bikini in public.

The unlikely trio meet by chance one winter’s day, and in a moment of ‘Carpe Diem’ madness, embark on a mission to make their wishes come true by September.

Easy. At least it would be, if they hadn’t been just the teensiest bit stingy with the truth…

With hidden issues, hidden talents, and hidden demons to overcome, new friends Jo, Carrie and Sarah must admit to what they really, really want, if they are ever to get their happy endings.

Thanks to Becky, at Transworld, I have 3 paperback copies of White Lies and Wishes to offer to 3 very lucky winners! Don't miss your chance to win this up-lifting and warm novel:

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The Giveaway is open to Europe and the winners will be contacted via email. They will have then 48 hours to claim their prize. Good luck!

The Blogiversary celebrations continue today with a Top Three by book blogger Agi, from On My Bookshelf, and a Giveaway for a book of your choice. I've followed this blog since I started blogging myself and it's been an inspiration for me. It is a firm favourite of mine, so it's an honour to welcome Agi to the blog:

First of all, let me congratulate Alba on her 3rd Blogiversary! The blogging and bookish community wouldn't be the same without her - Alba, you are one of the warmest, nicest person ever and please, never stop blogging!

I was thinking long and hard about what to write about and the last minute idea is to tell you about my favourite books' titles. Earlier I thought that the shorter the title, the better but lately I've started to change my mind and I think the longer the title, the more hilarious/exciting/interesting/hooking it is. Don't you think?

1. It's one of the newest releases and the title is "The Good Girlfriend's Guide to Getting Even" by Anna Bell. I LOVE that almost all the words in this title begins with the same letter and it sounds brilliant when you read it out loud - just try. I think it is called alliteration? Whatever - I love it and this title truly describes what's waiting for us between the cover (that is gorgeous, BTW).

2. Is it cheating when I'm going to mention all titles by one author here? Lucy Robinson - not only is she a lovely, funny woman but also a genius writer and the titles of her books just tell it all: "The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me" (would you guess there is music involved?), "The Greatest Love Story of All Time" (would you guess it is really about THE greatest love story of all time?), "A Passionate Affair with a Total Stranger" (would you guess it is about a passionate affair?). They are brilliant, don't you think?

3. And Lisa Dickenson's titles - so eye - catching and so humorous! "You Had Me at Merlot" - it makes me want to drink wine immediately. "The Twelve Dates of Christmas" - not only do I want to go on a date but hello? Is it Christmas yet? "Catch Me if You Cannes" - don't you want to go on holidays, like, RIGHT NOW? 

Keep them coming, lovely authors :)

Penny Parkes is back with a free short story that takes us back to Larkford, where Out of Practice was set. It is also the perfect filler before the next instalment, Practice Makes Perfect, out on 29th June. Today, I have a Q&A with Penny and also my review for this lovely story:

1) Hi Penny and welcome to Alba in Bookland. First of all, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Fabulous to be here in “Bookland” – sounds like somewhere I would like to live! Having said that, living in The Cotswolds is rather wonderful – you may have heard me mention that I’m happiest when writing, reading a book, or messing around with my dog, The Ginger Ninja, but I also adore browsing around the beautiful towns near where I live. Cirencester and Bath are particular favourites, not least because of their bookshops; I have persuaded the kids that books-and-cake are a winning combo, so that’s become a regular family outing! Before writing books, I used to source film locations, so it’s rather fitting that I now get to write about some of the places where I used to watch other fictional stories play out on film.

2) I adored Out of Practice, your debut novel. Where did the idea come from to set the story in a medical practice?

That’s so wonderful to hear, thank you. Over the years, I have come to have an enormous amount of respect for anyone with the compassion and commitment to work in the healthcare profession. As a family, there have been several occasions where a quick-thinking doctor has saved the day and this really got me thinking about what their lives must be like behind the scenes and how they balance their personal and professional lives. 

3) You have just published Swept Away, a short story that takes us back to the medical practice in Larkford. How did you feel revisiting these characters? 

Being back in Larkford is a gift – I have a sense of coming home whenever I start writing. After all, the town of Larkford is really the love-child of all my favourite places…

4) Swept Away is also a teaser for Practice Makes Perfect, which also continues the story. When you first wrote Out of Practice, did you already know it would have a sequel?

I won’t go so far as to say that I had the whole series mapped out in my head, but certainly The Practice has so many intriguing and interesting characters working there, not to mention those in the Larkford community, my main problem has actually been knowing where to stop! 

5) Why did you decide to set Swept Away around Valentine's Day? Also, I love the idea of celebrating your 21 birthdays every 21 years. Is this something you also do?

Valentine’s Day is a funny one for me – mainly because I believe that real, lasting love isn’t something that should only be celebrated for one prescribed day each year – I’m all about the little daily gestures that show someone you care. It seemed fitting to show the community of Larkford pulling together for the greater good – isn’t that the test of true character?

Likewise, with the 21st birthdays, it seems so liberating to celebrate that way – the Big Zero birthdays are lovely, but actually I think 21, 42, 63 (If you’re lucky, 84) actually mark out the phases of life in a more meaningful way. And this year will be my second 21st and we’re already making exciting plans! 

6) Actually, Elsie, the feisty octogenarian and resident celebrity in Larkford, is definitely my favourite character. What do you think makes her such a special character? Did you have someone in mind, when you created her?

Oh, I do love Elsie! She was actually the first Larkford character that arrived in my head out of nowhere, fully formed and shouting to be heard. I had visions of this fabulously eccentric lady, who simply did not give a s**t, planting daffodils in her evening gown. I often rather wish I had an Elsie…

7) Finally, what can we expect next from the residents of Larkford? Are we getting more stories about Dan, the sexy doctor?

Well, there will be a few additions to the team at The Practice. I have a particular soft spot for Alice Walker, the new GP, who arrives in Larkford complete with Coco, her cocker spaniel. The ‘boys’ – Dan and Taffy – will of course be up to their usual mischief, but as Julia Channing is now a TV doctor, they may have to be on their best behaviour at times… Or at least try to be!

About the book:

Title: Swept Away 

Author: Penny Parkes

Published: February 9th 2017 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

The Blogiversary celebrations continue today with a Top Three by author Katey Lovell and a Giveaway of her debut novel. I really enjoyed Katey's book, so it's an honour to welcome her to the blog. And as it's St Valetine's Day, Katey is sharing her favourite love songs with us:

1) Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me - The Smiths

This might not be considered the most uplifting track as it's about the lack of love within life rather than the pleasure and security of requited love, but it's a song that perfectly captures an overwhelming sense of longing and loneliness. The haunting melody combined with this songs poignant, heartbreaking lyric never fails to stir my emotions and makes it one of my favourite songs of all time.

2) What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction

I considered choosing 'Drag Me Down' or 'Fireproof', but 'What Makes You Beautiful' is such a joyful, bouncy song and that's why I had to include it. People can say it's cheesy (it is, unashamedly!) but I love it anyway. If you've ever been to a One Direction concert you'll know what I mean when I say it's a highlight of their live show. Yes, it's been played to death, but there's something very special about the song that started the phenomenon. 

3) Another Crack in my Heart - Take That

This isn't one of Take That's biggest hits - it's a track hidden away on the Everything Changes album that was never selected as a single and was only ever played live on one tour. Yet from the twinkly refrain of the piano at the beginning of the song to the slightly dodgy lyric of 'I am just one man with just one pair of eyes', this has always been a favourite of mine. The ghostly vocals of the middle eight set against electronic mixing really shouldn't work, but does. I love everything about this song.

***

Thank you so much Katey for sharing your favourite love songs with us. Totally feeling the love now!

And now, here's your chance to win a signed copy of The Singalong Society for Singletons, Katey Lovell debut's novel. The perfect read for musical lovers! 

The Giveaway is open to Europe and the winner will be contacted via email. They will have then 48 hours to claim their prize. Good luck!

The Blogiversary celebrations continue today with a Top Three by rom-com author Catherine Bennetto and a Giveaway of her debut novel. I adored Catherine's book, so it's an honour to welcome her to the blog:

All of the Harry Potter books into all of the Harry Potter movies 

I love them all and still watch them frequently. My children don’t. My seven year old said ‘They’re for little kids, Mum’ with a disdainful glance down his not-yet-lost-the-puppy-fat nose. But that doesn’t stop my sister and I sitting down with Harry, Ron, Hermione and a family sized bag of Maltesers whenever we get the chance. 

My children have moved on to more sophisticated choices, like Richard Attenborough’s animals-eating-other-animals type stuff, but I’m still enraptured by floating candles and a sorting hat.

Bridget Jones’ Diary 

Even my husband will happily watch this movie – if only for the Hugh Grant/Colin Firth fight scene in a Greek restaurant. And when the sequel came out, with yet another posh-boy-kicking, jacket-and-hair-pulling, limb flailing fight in a fountain, he was more than happy to be forced into the wall-less restaurant/bootleg cinema on top of a cliff in India to watch it. And that’s even with Kill Bill: Volume 2 being shown at the open-aired seafood BBQ place with the cheaper Kingfisher beer three ‘doors’ (they didn’t have doors) down. 

The Avengers –Marvel Comics

This really was a toss up between The Notebook and The Avengers but seeing as the last time I shot out of my seat saying ‘GET HIM!’ was not when McAdams stood partially clothed and emotionally conflicted next to a shirtless Gosling, but was actually when Downey Jnr zipped over New York trying to neutralise some weird robot alien eel/dragon things, I realised The Avengers are AWESOME DUDE. 

These Producers really knew what they were doing when they selected their cast: Get the mums on board and you’ll make the CGI budget back in a weekend. You’ve got Robert Downey Junior and Mark Ruffalo for the older mums, Tom Hiddleston for the mid-aged mums and Chris Hemsworth for every single one of us. I’ve been to all variations of the Avenger franchise and my boys can’t quite believe my excitement. I can’t either really. But the films are surprisingly funny, well plotted, brilliantly shot and most of the men are in very tight suits.

***

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The Blogiversary celebrations continue today with a Top Three by book blogger Lili, from Utopia State of Mind, and a Giveaway for a book of your choice. Since discovering this blog, it has become a firm favourite of mine, so it's an honour to welcome Lili to the blog:

If I had to pick my top 3 books, it would be:

Dawn by Octavia Butler. This was the book series that started my obsession with science fiction. It challenged me and I loved it so much I wrote my thesis on that series. It covers so many different issues, not only aliens, but also race and the figure of Lilith. I highly recommend it as a great starter into science fiction.

Sabriel by Garth Nix. I first read this series when I was in high school, and it meant, and still does, so much to me. It inspired me to be a strong woman, to go against what society told me I was capable of and break those walls. I know it seems nostalgic, but when I think of books that I love and would read again, this makes my top. On the subject of books like this, I have to mention the Tamora Pierce novels as well in the same category of "inspiring books for a young feminist without the words to express herself". 

And to update my reading list, my last pick is The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan. I have been trying to come to terms with my cultural identity lately and my recent dive into Asian Fiction has really made me happy. This book portrays some fascinating mother/daughter relationships that I loved reading about! The things we do to our family never ceases to surprise me and this story does it right. It is such a great and complex story that I highly recommend.

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Thank you Lili for sharing your top books with us. I definitely need to add those to my tbr pile!

And now, for a chance to win a book of your choice from Book Depository, enter the following giveaway. Thanks to Lili, from Utopia State of Mind, for offering this generous prize to celebrate my 3rd blogiversary! 

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The Giveaway is open Internationally and the winner will be contacted via email. They will have then 48 hours to claim their prize. Good luck! 

Title: Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything in Between

Author: Lauren Graham

Published: December 6th 2016 by Virago

Amazon | Amazon UK

“This book contains some stories from my life: the awkward growing up years, the confusing dating years, the fulfilling working years, and what it was like to be asked to play one of my favorite characters again. You probably think I’m talking about my incredible achievement as Dolly in Hello, Dolly! as a Langley High School junior, a performance my dad called “you’re so much taller than the other kids.” But no! I’m talking about Lorelai Gilmore, who, back in 2008, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see again. Also included: tales of living on a houseboat, meeting guys at awards shows, and that time I was asked to be a butt model. A hint: all three made me seasick.”—Lauren Graham

The Blogiversary celebrations continue today with a Top Three by historical fiction author Hazel Gaynor and a Giveaway of her latest book. I adore Hazel's books, so it's an honour to welcome her to the blog:

I love historical novels because I’m fascinated by the way people lived in the past, and by the life-changing events that took place over the last century. Often it’s an image from the era, or a person or event I read about that first ignites the creative spark, then I let my imagination take over. My first novel (The Girl Who Came Home) was inspired by the Irish connections to the Titanic, my second (A Memory of Violets) by the flower sellers of Covent Garden in Victorian London, my third (The Girl From The Savoy) by the Great War and 1920s London and my fourth (The Cottingley Secret) by ‘alleged’ photographs of fairies at the bottom of the garden. I’m nothing if not diverse! It is probably no surprise that my book shelves are full of historical novels, and here are just three of my favourites (although I could easily argue the case for many more!)

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - This was my first Philippa Gregory novel and I loved it so much I went on to read all her others. I studied History to A’ Level and thought I knew a lot about the Tudors, especially Henry VIII and his six wives, but this novel challenged the historical assumptions of that period by telling the story from the point of view of the women who had mostly been written out of the history books. Who had ever heard of Mary Boleyn?! I firmly believe this was the novel that led to me write historical fiction because for the first time I could see a way to combine my fascination with history with my desire to write fiction. Philippa Gregory offers a unique insight into a period of history we think we know, and brings it to life through her attention to detail and brilliant storytelling. She writes history in a way that feels almost contemporary in its narrative and voice. Her real skill is in giving the reader the sense that we are always peering over the shoulders of these characters. Far from being separated by centuries, we are right there in the room with them, privy to their innermost thoughts, fears and secrets. I interviewed Philippa Gregory in 2012 and she kindly gave me some wonderful advice as a new writer. Her signed copy of The Other Boleyn Girl sits proudly on the shelf above my desk. 

Restoration and Merivel by Rose Tremain - Robert Merivel, physician and courtier to King Charles II, is one of my favourite fictional characters – historical, or otherwise. His story begins in Tremain’s Booker Prize nominated novel from 1989, Restoration and continues in Merivel. Set in the seventeenth-century, following the gaudy years of the Restoration, Tremain brings humour, pathos, warmth and a huge sense of place and character to these exceptional novels. I cannot remember when I last cried at the end of a book, purely because I was so sad to part company with a character I had fallen in love with. Merivel, and his wonderfully imagined life, are an absolute pleasure to spend time with. Fabulous.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - This beautiful little epistolary novel, set on the island of Guernsey in the aftermath of World War II, is full of wonderful characters, wit and emotion. It opened my eyes to how historical events can be written about in a way that feels far more immediate and personal than a straight historical account and is a book I have re-read many times, and often evangelise about to anyone who will listen! This book also led me to want to understand more about the two world wars. My co-written historical epistolary novel LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, due out later this year, was partly inspired by this wonderful book.

Thank you for inviting me to be part of your third birthday celebrations, and congratulations on reaching this milestone! I’m a big admirer of ‘Alba in Bookland’ and wish you many more happy years of reading and blogging.

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Thank you so much Hazel for stopping by and sharing your love for historical novels with us. I absolutely adore The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society too, such an amazing book! But not as amazing as The Girl from the Savoy, Hazel Gaynor's latest book. And today you can win a signed copy of it. 

"The Girl from the Savoy is a fascinating story with captivating characters and a stunning setting and it went directly to my top read of the 2016. I think there was not a thing I didn't love about this book. Seriously, historical fiction at its best."

Read my full review here

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The Giveaway is open to Europe and the winner will be contacted via email. They will have then 48 hours to claim their prize. Good luck! 

Today, I have a new review for Honeymoon Suite, Wendy Holden's latest release. This is my first book by Wendy Holden, but she has published already 10 books, all top bestsellers.

Title: Honeymoon Suite

Author: Wendy Holden

Published: January 26th by Headline Review

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: When Nell is marooned at the altar, her feisty best friend Rachel says she'll come with her on honeymoon instead. Why waste a week in a posh country hotel?

So the duo, plus Rachel's Agatha Christie-obsessed small daughter Juno, head for the hills and idyllic Edenville, on the edge of the beautiful Pemberton estate. Awaiting them is a cast of colourful characters from Jason the harassed hotel manager to the ruthless Angela, Director of HR. Not to mention the handsome Dylan, a bestselling writer on the run from his past.

Nell doesn't want to go back to London, so when a job on the estate comes up, she's happy to stay. Even if it is arranging weddings in the Big House! As she becomes entangled in the lives of the locals - and they weave their way into her heart - she realises there might be a way to reach the rainbow's end after all

Review: Honeymoon Suite is my first book by Wendy Holden. I know many people who have loved her previous books, so I was really curious to discover her writing. I could tell from the beginning that it was going to be an eventful story with the air of a romantic comedy movie, where many coincidences bring two people together. 

In the first few chapters we get to know the two main characters separately, Nell and Dylan. I really enjoyed this part and found both characters really interesting. Especially Dylan, a writer who is struggling to write his second book after his debut was a huge blockbuster. But once the introductory part was done, the story moved in an incredible fast pace. So many things were happening at once, new characters appeared, played their part and then disappeared in a couple of pages. Then, the impression I got was that this was more a soap opera style novel than a romantic comedy as I had first thought. 

The first part of the story takes places in London but then, after a few chapters, it moves to a hotel in the countryside where the two main characters meet again. The hotel and its staff start then playing quite major roles and we forget for a while about Nell and Dylan and that they had first met in London by chance. I think it was a bit too much for me for a moment there. As I said, I was interested in those two characters and a possible romantic story between them but then, they didn't really get to know each other until we were almost 300 pages in. And some of the new characters were a bit two dimensional to me. 

All in all, I have to say that I had fun reading this story, especially during the first and last chapters, and it kept me in my toes for most of it, as I literally had no idea where it was going to go next. But I also found it a a bit overwhelming. There were a few chapters there, when I couldn't keep up and most things that happened were quite implausible. That's why I think Wendy Holden's style is not for me.

Rating: 3 stars

I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Hello everyone! This weekend marked the 3rd blogiversary of my little blog. When I first started it, I really had no idea what I was doing. I had been following a couple of book blogs, to get recommendations and I thought, what a fun way to share the love for books. I didn't know what a proof was or that NetGalley existed. I just wanted to spread the love. 

To tell you the truth, it's what I still want: to spread the love for books and reading. But I have to say that in the last three years I have discovered that blogging is a lot more fun and social than I had first thought.

So to celebrate another year blogging about books and all things bookish, I have invited several authors and fellow book bloggers to share with us a Top Three of favourite things: books, authors, movie adaptations, genres... Stay tuned for all these guest posts in the next few days!

Today though, I wanted to start the celebration with my own Top Three and a giveaway. My Top Three is all about why I love blogging so much. And there'll be more giveaways in the next days!

Top Three: Why I Love Blogging

1. Interacting with fellow book bloggers and bookworms in general. I had always thought that reading was quite a lonely activity, especially as my close friends when I was a teenager, were not big readers. But thanks to twitter, I have met so many bookworms! I love talking about our latest reads, the releases we are excited about or sharing our enthusiasm for the latest stationary buy!

2. Discovering new books, new authors and new genres. Before blogging I was always waiting for my favourite author's new releases and filled the time in between rereading old favourites. But since then, I have read books I would have never imagined I would have likes, discovered genres I didn't even know existed and basically now my tbr pile is always growing and threatening of falling on my head and bury me in books. Isn't it wonderful?

3. Finally, spreading the love for amazing books! As I said, this is why I started blogging and it's still my favourite part of it. I loved it when I finish a book that took a part of my heart with it and then I shout about it on Twitter, Instagram and the blog and people start telling me they read it too because of my comments! Best feeling ever!

And now, time for the giveaway. Today I'm starting with a cute little one. Lately I've been obsessed with two things: nifflers and magnetic bookmarks. So today I bring you a combination of both: a Fantastic Beasts bookmarks set from the fabulous BeedooTo! I have many of their bookmarks and the quality is amazing. Plus, how cute is this one?

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This Giveaway is open Internationally. The winner will be contacted via email and they will have 48h hours to claim their prize. 

February is gonna be an amazing bookish month. So many amazing books out this month! It was really difficult to pick my top five new releases this time so I went for a top seven and a little extra treat:

Nicola Brown doesn't like to lose control. Her flat is always meticulously tidy and her weekly meals carefully planned; Nicola keeps her life in order. When her carefree colleague Caroline challenges Nicola to find a date for Valentine's Day, it's a surprise to them both when Nicola agrees.

As Nicola's search for a man begins, she is thrown in at the deep end - sometimes quite literally - of the dating scene. From men more likely to sell their mother than open their wallet, to those who are determined to find a girlfriend who shares their passion for extreme sports, Nicola has to run the full gamut of dodgy dates. But as the deadline looms closer, Nicola realises it isn't so bad to lose control. It turns out that trying to get a love life can be rather a lot of fun...

Why so excited: I have loved all three books by Rosie Blake, so I'm really happy that her debut is finally being published in paperback. I enjoyed this story immensely when it was first published a couple of years ago in ebook format. I hope that many new readers will discover this fun story.

Pre-order now!

The Little Teashop of Broken Hearts by Jennifer Joyce - February 8th

From fairy cakes to first dates!

Maddie Lamington’s dreams are crumbling around her. If she doesn’t come up with a plan to save her little teashop on Sweet Street soon, it might be too late…

So when she sees how the perfect apple crumble brings together her lonely father and faithful customer Birdie, inspiration strikes: she’ll set up a dating night involving all her sweetest bakes.

Luckily, seriously gorgeous Caleb is on hand to help sprinkle a little magic – and a lot of sugar! Could one night of scrumptious first dates fix Maddie’s heartbreak and save her beloved teashop, too?

Why so excited: Jennifer Joyce's stories are always filled with lol moments, sweet treats and the perfect touch of drama, so I cannot wait to discover a new one. Plus, how cute is the title and the cover for this one?

Pre-order now!

A Song for Tomorrow by Alice Peterson - February 9th

Why so excited: I got an early review copy of this amazing story and wow! If you only get one book this month, be sure to pick this one. Read my full review here.

Pre-order now!

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella - February 9th

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.

Why so excited: Two words, Sophie and Kinsella. Definitely one of my top and auto-buy authors, every new release from her is a highly anticipated one. Let's see how this new story is! I certainly cannot wait to discover it.

Pre-order now!

The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion - February 9th

The heart warming new novel from Graeme Simsion, the international bestselling author of The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect

Can you define your life by a single song?

Adam Sharp - former pianist in a hip Melbourne bar, now a respectable IT consultant in Norwich - can. And it's 'You're Going to Lose that Girl' . . .

On the cusp of fifty and a happy introvert, Adam is content. He's the music expert at his local pub-quiz and he and his partner Claire rumble along. Life may not be rock n' roll, but neither is it easy listening. Yet something has always felt off-key.

And that's his nostalgia for what might have been, his blazing affair - more than twenty years ago, on the other side of the world - with Angelina Brown, a smart and sexy, strong-willed actress who taught him for the first time, as he played piano and she sang, what it meant to find - and then lose - love. How different might his life be if he hadn't let her walk away?

Then, out of nowhere, Angelina gets in touch. Adam has sung about second chances, but does he have the courage to believe in them?

Why so excited: I absolutely loved The Rosie Project and its sequel The Rosie Effect. Graeme Simsion created such interesting and enjoyable characters, so I'm really looking forward to discover a new story by him.

Pre-order now!

Girl 99 by Andy Jones - February 14th

When Tom’s girlfriend walks out on him the day before Christmas, he feels humiliated but not necessarily heartbroken. Sadie wasn’t, after all, The One. If we’re being precise, she was number eighty-five.

And so, for reasons that are only mostly wrong, Tom embarks on a mission to bring his number of encounters up to a nice neat one hundred.

Over the course of his quest he sleeps with a colleague, a colleague of a friend, a friend of a friend, a friend of a friend’s wife, the estate agent selling his flat and several more besides.

Everything is going, if not well, then at least according to plan…and then Tom meets Verity. Whether she’s The One remains to be seen, but she’s certainly more than just another number.

Why so excited: St Valentine's Day brings us a real treat, a new story by Andy Jones. It's actually his debut, which has been revised and republished. I haven't read it yet but it's on top of my tbr pile already.

Pre-order now!

Before the Rains by Dinah Jefferies - February 23rd