Today I am sharing my review for A Wedding at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson. This is the sixth and final installment in the Comfort Food Cafe series, which I have enjoyed immensely:

Title: A Wedding at the Comfort Food Cafe 

Author: Debbie Johnson

Published: March 7th 2019 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Wedding bells ring out in Budbury as the Comfort Food Café and its cosy community of regulars are gearing up for a big celebration…

But Auburn Longville doesn’t have time for that! Between caring for her poorly mum, moving in with her sister and running the local pharmacy, life is busy enough – and it’s about to get busier. Chaos arrives in the form of a figure from her past putting her quaint village life and new relationship with gorgeous Finn Jensen in jeopardy. It’s time for Auburn to face up to some life changing decisions.

Settle in for a slice of wedding cake at the Comfort Food Café – a place where friendships are made for life and nobody ever wants to leave.

Review: I love the Comfort Food Café. I've completely fallen in love with this series, its characters and of course, the cosy setting. Although I am sad that this is the last installment in the series, I think it was the right decision from the author, to end on a high note. Through the series, we have read about 6 amazing women, I have cheered for them and I have shared their joy at finding their own happy endings, and they will for sure keep a little piece of my heart.

But let's talk about this story now. It focuses on Auburn, who moved to Budbury a few month ago to help her sister Willow care for their mother. We don't know much about her, other than she has quite a wild past. I was really curious to find out more about her before Budbury, especially as quite a big secret is revealed quite early in the story. 

This soon creates a lot of problems in her life and affects her new relationship. As we got to know more about this secret, I really had no idea how her story was going to end, as not everything was as black and white as it first looked like. And although I didn't always think that Auburn made the best choices, I liked that she was aware of her faults and always tried to be honest with everyone.

But my favourite part of the story was the wedding (and all the preparations leading up to it) of two of my favorite characters in the series, it was a great example of how lovely and supportive this community is and how they are aways ready to help each other. I loved catching up with all the regular characters. It was the perfect end to a gorgeous series. The Comfort Food Cafe might not be a real location but it has become a haven to escape to for a few hours, where there's always good food and lovely people. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Today I am sharing with you my review for A Gift from the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson. Don’t miss out on the new Comfort Food Cafe novel and return to Budbury for a Christmas to remember.

Title: A Gift from the Comfort Food Café (Comfort Food Cafe #5)

Author: Debbie Johnson

Published: October 18th 2018 by HarperCollins

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Christmas has never been Katie Seddon’s favourite time of year. Whilst everyone else shares memories of families coming together and festive number ones, the soundtrack to Katie’s childhood wasn’t quite so merry.

But since she moved to the village of Budbury on the gorgeous Dorset coast, Katie and her baby son have found a new family. A family who have been brought together by life’s unexpected roads and the healing magic of a slice of cake and a cupful of kindess at the Comfort Food Café.

This year, Katie’s new friends are determined to give her a Christmas to remember, and with a gorgeous newcomer in town, Katie’s Christmas wish for a happy home for her son might just come true.

Review: I love the Comfort Food Café. I've completely fallen in love with this series, its characters and of course, the cosy setting. Like the previous four stories in this series, this book can be perfectly read as a stand-alone as it has its own independent story, but I would highly recommend reading all the books, as each one of them is a real treat. And the big cast of characters can be a bit overwhelming for new readers. 

This time, the focus falls on Katie. She has appeared a bit in previous books, but we just know that she is a single mum to a very active toddler and that she spends some afternoons in the Café. With this story though, we immediately discover Katie's past: coming from a very disrupted family, all her life she has been trying to escape, but she has never been sure of where to escape to.

Now she has something that she has never had before: people to rely on. Budbury's residents are a big family and they are determined to welcome Katie and her son with open arms. Something that might not have the desired effect on Katie herself... 

As usual, author Debbie Johnson balanced the sadder and harder parts in Katie's story with the more humorous scenes perfectly. It's a story that can made you cry in one page and then make you laugh out loud in the following one. And of course, for fans of the series, it's a real treat to catch up with our favourite characters. 

The only thing I didn't enjoy as much as in the previous books was actually the main character. Katie is a difficult character to like, especially at the beginning, as I couldn't understand some of her actions. But as the story unfolded, I also saw her change and evolve, which was very enjoyable. 

But all in all, this turned out to be a magical story and the setting around Christmas was perfect to put me on the a festive mood. Definitely a story to enjoy on the run up to the holidays with a hot chocolate and some Christmas treats!

Rating: 4 stars

I would like thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion. 

Today I am over the moon to share with you my review for Sunshine at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson. This is the fourth installment in the series, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite series ever. And this story is a real treat:

Title: Sunshine at the Comfort Food Café (Comfort Food Café #4)

Author: Debbie Johnson

Published: March 8th 2018 by HarperCollins

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Perched on a windswept cliff on the stunning Dorset coast at what feels like the edge of the world, the café and its warm-hearted community are a haven for lost souls who happen to wander by with a heavy heart and a story to tell.

Serving up the most delicious cream teas; beautifully baked breads, and carefully crafted cupcakes, there’s nothing a cup of tea and a delicious treat won’t fix. For tourists and locals alike, the ramshackle cafe overlooking the beach is a beacon of laughter, companionship, and security – a place like no other; a place that offers friendship as a daily special, and where a hearty welcome is always on the menu.

Review: I love the Comfort Food Café. I've completely fallen in love with this series, its characters and of course, the cosy setting. I am so glad that Willow, who has been a secondary character in all other stories, gets the spotlight in this one. Like the other three, this book can be perfectly read as a stand-alone as it has its own independent story, but I would highly recommend reading all the books, as each one of them is a real treat.

Willow works part-time at the café but also runs her own cleaning business, although this gives her enough flexibility to care for her mother, who suffers from Alzheimers, she doesn't have time to have any kind of social live. A new arrival though makes her question if she really is coping with everything going on as well as she thought.

The relationship between Willow and her mother is portrayed in a very special way. Debbie Johnson paints a very clear picture of what it entails to care for a loved one that more often than not forgets who you are, with all its ups and downs. And as you get to know Willow better, you soon realise what a strong woman she is. 

But she is not alone at all, once again, the tight knitted community of Budbury is always there, ready to help and comfort with tones of delicious food. This means we get to catch up with some old favourites and see how they are doing, which I enjoyed immensely. 

I think that Debbie Johnson gets even better with every new book she releases and Sunshine at the Comfort Food Café might be my new favourite of hers. A beautiful and touching story that will steal many hearts, perfect escapism. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

This year, for my Christmas feature, I've invited several authors and book bloggers for a fun Christmas Interview. My next guest is author Katey Lovell:

Hi Katey and welcome to Alba in Bookland. First of all, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Alba! I'm an author who writes novels about relationships - friendships, families and romance. Joe and Clara's Christmas Countdown is my third full-length novel.

Your latest book, Joe and Clara’s Christmas Countdown, is about a boy who is not a big fan of Christmas and a girl who absolutely loves it. Tell us a bit more about them and what sparked this idea.

I wouldn't say Clara is based on me, but I definitely do love Christmas so maybe there are parts of her that are! Joe has previously been a fan of Christmas, but since the loss of a loved one over the festive period he's found December a struggle. Throughout the book Clara is keen to remind Joe exactly why the season is so special. I wanted to write about an advent countdown and remind readers that amidst the joy of Christmas there are also those struggling - whether that's because of health, bereavement, financial worries... and before long I had the nugget of an idea for the story!

In Joe and Clara’s Christmas Countdown, Clara gives Joe a special Christmas gift every day. From these gifts, which one of the most original or special?

Some of the gifts are very traditional - candy canes and Christmas books - but one of the most original is a fortune telling fish!

Talking about Christmas presents. Which book is on top of your wish list this year?

I became vegan at the start of the year and would love some simple vegan cook books for Christmas - Lucy Watson's looks great! I'd also like the Bodiposipanda book about body confidence because, like many people, there are times I'm unhappy in my own skin. Hopefully that book would help me appreciate how marvellous my body is!

Do you ever make your own gifts for your loved ones?

I have in the past, mainly scarves and tree decorations. These days I'm far less creative - although one friend did specifically ask me for a copy of my book for Christmas!

Any recommendations for presents for bookworms (that are not books)?

There are so many great presents for book lovers, but my recommendation would be clothing from the Out of Print website or bookish candles from Flickerink on etsy!

And finally, if you could spend Christmas with a fictional character, who would you pick?

Ooh, this is a toughie! I think I'll have to say Mrs Weasley because I quite fancy a homemade jumper!

Thank you for having me, Alba, it's always a pleasure. Happy Christmas, everyone!

Thank you so much Kate for stopping by and sharing some Christmas cheer with us! 

Connect with Katey:

Twitter: @Katey5678

Facebook: Katey Lovell

About the Book:

Title: Joe and Clara's Christmas Countdown

Author: Katey Lovell

Published: October 13th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Today's book review is for the festive story Covent Garden in the Snow by Jules Wake. This is definitely the perfect story to read during these dates! Read my thoughts about it here:

Title: Covent Garden in the Snow

Author: Jules Wake

Published: November 16th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Tilly Hunter has fabulous friends, her dream job as a make-up artist with a prestigious opera company and Felix, her kind and caring husband to be. It looks set to be the most perfect Christmas yet!

But when a monumental blunder forces her to work closely with new IT director Marcus Walker, it's not only the roast chestnut stalls on the cobbles of her beloved Covent Garden that cause sparks to fly…

Super serious and brooding, Marcus hasn’t got a creative bone in his sharp-suited body. For technophobe Tilly, it's a match made in hell.

And yet, when Tilly discovers her fiancé isn’t at all what he seems, it's Marcus who's there for her with a hot chocolate and a surprisingly strong shoulder to cry on… He might just be the best Christmas present she’s ever had.

Review: Covent Garden in the Snow is a really fun and festive read. It it is set in an opera house in Convent Garden, which I found fascinating. I know nothing about opera but the author has clearly done a lot of research and she shares with us everything that goes on behind curtains. I found it especially interesting, to read about how everyone researches everything for the productions, and how attentive they are with the little details. Everything needs to be on point to make the audience believe in the magic of the opera. I am definitely booking a trip to the opera next time I'm in London.

And our main character, Tilly, fits just right in this world. She is a make up artist and she loves her job and everything it entails. It doesn't leave her much time for a private life but her fiancé doesn't seem to mind. He's quite the easy going type, but I have to say I didn't like him, especially how Tilly was when he was with him, more subdued. I much preferred her more passionate side, even if it got her into trouble more than once. Especially with the new IT guy. I was really curious about him since the beginning and I found it really fun to read how out of place he was surrounded by artists. 

The whole story is surrounded with Christmas magic, especially when it snows in Covent Garden and everyone goes a bit crazy. Even if some of the twists in the story are quite predictable and some of the drama going on is a bit over the top, it worked really well as a whole and I enjoyed reading it a lot. It is definitely a perfect story to escape to in this time of the year and get lost backstage of such a fascinating world. Also, it was also a really fun story, which made me smile and laugh more non-stop.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Today I am over the moon to share with you my review for Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson. This is the third installment in the series, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite series ever. And this story is a real treat:

Title: Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe (Comfort Food Café #3)

Author: Debbie Johnson

Published: October 7th by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: ‘Full of quirky characters, friendship and humour, you will devour this engaging and heartwarming novel in one sitting’ – Sunday Express

Come home to the Comfort Food Café and cosy up with a mug of hot chocolate and an extra sprinkle of romance!

When Zoe’s best friend Kate dies of breast cancer, her whole world is turned upside down. Within hours, she goes from being the wacky neighbour who can barely keep a houseplant alive to a whole new world of responsibility when she realises she’s guardian to Kate’s 15-year-old daughter, Martha.

Moving to the little village of Budbury, Zoe hopes the fresh Dorset sea breeze and the gentle pace of life will help them heal.

Luckily for them both, the friendly community at the Comfort Food Cafe provide listening ears, sage advice, shoulders to cry on, and some truly excellent carrot cake. And when Martha’s enigmatic, absent father suddenly turns up, confusing not only Martha but Zoe too, the love and friendship of their new friends is the best present they could have asked for…

Review: last year I had the pleasure of reading Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe and Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe and I fell completely in love with this cafe and its lively community. So when Debbie Johnson announced she was writing another full novel set in the cafe, I was over the moon. This time the story has a new cast of characters joining the regulars so if you haven't read the previous parts (why haven't you? They are amazing!), you can easily read this one as it has its own stand-alone story. 

First of all, let me say this, as I didn't think it was possible... but Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe is even better than its predecessors. It's a story full of heart and delivers so much more than you expect. New characters Zoe and Martha are not your conventional family and they have been in a very dark place for a few months, but when they arrive at Budbury, the locals welcome them with open arms and open hearts. 

The more we got to know Zoe and Martha, the more I liked them. They reminded me a bit of the original cast Laura and her moody teen daughter Lizzie and they actually soon became a great support for them. Their story was touching and very sad at times (I might haves shed a few tears while reading about them) but author Debbie Johnson balanced the sadness with the humour perfectly. The story was full of hilarious moments and little by little you could see these two opening up to their new community. A real joy to read. 

There's nothing I didn't like... no wait, scratch that, there's nothing I didn't love in this story. Catching up with this bunch was a treat but getting to know the new characters was even better. I hadn't read a story that had left me with such a great feeling of joy and a such a warm heart in a long while. Debbie Johnson fans, this is her best yet, you cannot miss it! And if you are not familiar with her books, then you have to rectify that. Fast. Pick this up asap!

The setting around Christmas made this story even more magical but I'd say this is a story that can be enjoyed at any time. Even better with a nice hot chocolate to go with. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series (yes, there'll be one next spring *excited face*).

Rating: 5 stars

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

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Katey Lovell's new book, The Café in Fir Tree Park. It was published this past week and to celebrate, Katey stops by today to talk about her running experience:

Keep on Running

by Katey Lovell

I’m not a natural athlete. I never have been. I’m reasonably well co-ordinated, and over the years I’ve had dance lessons, so it’s not that I’m totally unfit. I’ve just never been able to run.

Running is something that Lacey, one of the characters in The Café in Fir Tree Park, struggles with too. She’s desperate to succeed at her first half marathon, because not only have people generously sponsored her, but she’s also running the race in memory of her beloved auntie Marilyn. 

Writing the scenes where Lacey’s training (and turning more and more beetroot-like with every step) brought back a lot of memories of my own. A few years back, I decided to raise money for charities that were close to my heart by taking part in charity runs. The 5k was a challenge (because my previous running experience had been limited to jogging for the bus) but armed with the C25K app and my pig-headedness, I managed to jog my way around the course, albeit slowly.

The first 10k I entered was always going to be a walk/run effort, and I knew my time wasn’t going to challenge any Olympians, but I was delighted to be raising funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital, who had looked after my son Zachary when he was a poorly newborn. It was a sunny September day and the spectators cheering on from the sidelines kept me going. The medal for completing the race was worn with sheer pride and I foolishly thought I was up to the challenge of a half marathon.

HOW WRONG I WAS. I’ve actually completed two half marathons for charity, although to say I ran them would be an outright lie. My blister-covered feet walked as speedily as they could for the majority of them, and I ran (jogged) as much as I could manage. I was seventh from last in one of them, second from last in the other. But 13.1 miles is a long way, and as I said, I am not a natural athlete!

The total moment of madness came when I registered for the Shine walk in London – an overnight walking marathon raising money for Cancer Research. I trained for months, getting up early on weekends to pound the Sheffield streets to try and get my muscles, and my poor feet, prepared. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever put my body through, and I’ve had a 9lb 6oz back-to-back baby with only paracetamol and codeine as pain relief. I cried my way past Buckingham Palace. I sobbed past Big Ben. I was pretty much delirious by the time I reached the O2, 26.2 miles (and ten pain-filled hours) later. 

But I did it. I did it, every time. That’s what I wanted to tell Lacey as I was writing the scenes where her jelly-legs could barely carry her, that I did it, and she could too. Because being pig-headed can go a long way. 26.2 miles, to be precise.

What an inspiring post Katey! And huge congratulations on your achievements. 

About the book:

Title: The Café in Fir Tree Park

Author: Katey Lovell

Published: May 26th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: ‘A delightful heart-warming read…made me want to visit the cafe right now, meet everyone and share Maggie’s delicious cakes’ Phillipa Ashley, author of the bestselling Summer at the Cornish Cafe.

Maggie’s café is at the very heart of Fir Tree Park. Business is booming, her lemon drizzle is the stuff of legend, her children are happy and life is good. But she hasn’t had it easy. When her husband Clint was sent to prison, she had to raise Josh and Kelly alone. But Clint can’t hurt them now, and there’s no denying that Paolo, the Italian football coach she spies every weekend out on the green, is more than easy on the eye.

It may be summer outside, but a new arrival in Fir Tree Park sends an icy chill through the café…

‘Warm-hearted and utterly lovely’ Sunday Times bestseller Miranda Dickinson

I had my daughter, Gracie, (who is generally known on socials as LO) when I was twenty years old. Which meant that I was pregnant at nineteen. Nothing unusual there, I hear you say. Well, funnily enough, I was classed as a ‘teenage parent’. This post links in a little with stereotyping because that’s what happened when I fell pregnant – I was put into the box of ‘teenage parents’ because I was nineTEEN. 

I remember getting leaflets from the healthcare professionals in my parenting packs which had headings such as ‘how to tell your parents you are pregnant’ ‘Coping with being a teenage parent’ and ‘living with your parents and having a baby.’ Whilst these leaflets are undoubtedly incredibly helpful and necessary with some teenage parents – I was not one of them. I was living with my boyfriend (now my husband) and working full -time. We had planned our pregnancy and were over the moon at taking this next step in our relationship. Yet to those who didn’t know me, I was a statistic on a piece of paper and was boxed into the category of ‘teenage parent.’

This aside, my experience of being a first time mum was, as I imagine most people, a rollercoaster of emotions. We were ecstatic about being pregnant but I do remember one evening, just weeks before LO was born, sitting on my husband’s lap (whilst 9 months pregnant – poor hubby!) and sobbing. When he asked why, I replied, “I actually have to give birth to this baby – there’s no other way it’s coming out of me! I can’t do it!” Needless to say, I did. 

When LO was born and we took her home, we spend the whole of the first night dealing with a screaming baby. I couldn’t settle her – I must be a rubbish mum. These were the thoughts going round in my mind. I couldn’t breastfeed her, she wasn’t taking the milk and she just screamed and screamed and screamed… at one point, she was crying, I was crying and my husband was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands and we were thinking, what have we done? As hard as it is to admit that, I now realise that this is totally normal. Parenthood is hard and nothing can prepare you for that first night when you are left to look after the baby with no healthcare professionals around you and you feel like you have NO clue what you’re doing. In all honestly, sometimes I still feel like that now. But things did get better. My husband drove to the hospital at 2am that night to pick up formula and Gracie was fed. Ultimately, she couldn’t latch on so was crying because she was hungry and I couldn’t breast feed her. I didn’t get much support from the hospital so we went onto formula. I don’t want to start a debate on breast and formula feeding because, quite honestly, my child was being fed and that is the main thing. I’m not pro-bottle or pro-breast – I am pro-feed. Babies need to be fed, regardless of where it comes from.

Those first two weeks after having her I cried a lot. My hormones were all over the place and I felt sad and elated at the same time. I was so proud that I had this little baby but equally, what the hell was I doing? I couldn’t look after a little person – this changed everything. 

But after the first two weeks, something clicked. I couldn’t tell you what that was or why, but the crying stopped, the impending sense of fear stopped and I felt great. I looked at this little bundle of joy in my arms and knew that I loved her with all my heart and that she was the most incredible and important thing in my life.

And now, 10 years later, I look at her and think… wow, we made you. 

Blurb: Meet Pippa…

After years of trying and a failed IVF attempt, Pippa is thrilled to see two little lines appear on a pregnancy test. Finally a precious baby to call her own. This is all Pippa has ever wanted…if only husband Jason could show just a little excitement.

Imogen…

A baby is the icing on the cake for Imogen and Alice – proof that their love for each other can overcome any obstacle. But when Imogen starts receiving malicious texts, it's clear that not everyone is thrilled about the girls' good news.

And Ellie…

A drunken one-night stand and Ellie's life is ruined! Pregnant, jobless and the relationship with her best friend, Chris, over- forever. Because Chris just happens to be the father of Ellie's baby…and potentially the love of her life!

For these first time mums the road to motherhood is bumpier than most!

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Meet Me at Wisteria Cottage by HarperImpulse author Teresa F. Morgan. This story is out this Thursday and to celebrate it, Teresa has stopped by to talk about Location:

Location, Location, Location

by Teresa F. Morgan

I’ve been asked if my books are a series and I’ve answered that they are stand alone novels. However, while writing Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage I found a way to link them. I’ve featured the same areas, hence putting them into the same ‘universe’. This idea was inspired by Sue Moorcroft, one of my favourite authors, who writes most of her novels in her made up area of Middledip. 

So how did I do it? 

Plus One is a Lucky Number was set in Cornwall, in a town I made up, called Tinners Bay. It’s based on the seaside town I holidayed frequently at; Polzeath. I used Surrey as the other location, as it’s where I was born and grew up – and this made Cornwall quite a trek, as most Londoners are aware. Thomas Robotics was based on the first company I worked for in Chertsey. I worked in Production Control, and would have to take the parts to the engineers on the shop floor to build the robotics. The ‘oilies’. 

Virginia Water in Surrey is incredibly posh, housing a lot of ‘rich and famous’– it was the perfect location to set Adam’s house.

One Fine Day needed to be a busier location than Cornwall. I wanted a city environment, so I chose Bristol. Also I believed Steve would be able to hide in a city like Bristol, unlike London, where celebrities are spotted frequently. Bristol was ideal as it’s close to me, enabling me to use my own memory or allowed me to research parts I didn’t know so well easily. A friend and I took a nice lunch around Clifton one afternoon. I took this inspiration from the first Jill Mansell book I ever read (Good At Games) which was based in Bristol. I thought, if Jill could use where she lived, so could I!

So, when it came to Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage, I wanted to link it with the other two books. I decided to revisit Tinners Bay, providing it in even more detail which linked it to my first novel. Then, by Maddy’s parents living in Clifton, Bristol, there was a small link to One Fine Day. Even some characters from Plus One is a Lucky Number feature in my third novel. I’ll let you work out who they are.

About the book: 

Title: Meet Me at Wisteria Cottage

Author: Teresa F. Morgan

Published: April 20th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

About the Author

Teresa F Morgan lives in sunny Weston-super-Mare, trying to hold onto her Surrey accent where she originates from.

For years she persevered with boring jobs, until her two boys (and a budgie called Rio) joined her nest. In an attempt to find something to work around them, and to ensure she never endured full time boredom again, Teresa found writing.

Family holidays in Cornwall have lead to the scenic Cornish coastline and the city of Bristol being the back drop for Teresa’s novels.

She’s at her happiest baking cakes, putting proper home cooked dinners on the table (whether the kids eat them or not), reading a good romance, or sitting at her PC emptying her thoughts onto the screen. 

Teresa loves writing contemporary romance, stories with a touch of escapism and creating heroes readers will fall in love with.

Twitter: @Teresa_Morgan10

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresafmorgan12/

Webpage: http://www.teresamorgan.co.uk/

Follow the Blog Tour for more interesting content about Wisteria Cottage:

Today I'm kicking off the Blog Tour for Eve Devon's latest book, The Little Clock House on the Green, which has just been published. To celebrate so, Eve is sharing with us how she chooses the names on her stories: 

The Little Clock House on the Green - What’s in a Name?

Hi Everyone and thank you so much for joining me today.

I have to admit one of my favourite things about plotting a new book, is coming up with the names of characters and places.

From the age of nine, my bestie and I would sit in my room with piles of my mum’s Mills & Boon books and read out all the hero and heroine names and choose our favourites. They were always gorgeously exotic names like Cadence and Carluccio or Farrah and Farouq and somehow I’d form an impression of what the person would be like based on their name. Bit weird or totally know where I’m coming from? Have you ever been introduced to someone and privately thought, ‘Huh! You don’t look like a (insert given name, here)’? 

There’s probably a special science-y name for this to do with ascribing personality traits or looks to sounds, so if any of you out there know what it is, I’d love to know.

When it came to naming characters in The Little Clock House on the Green, I got really lucky. As soon as they started ‘talking’ and as soon as I learned a little more about them, their names made sense.

These are the initial notes I made that helped me find their names:

Kate Somersby – Resourceful, impulsive, determined – and with much to prove to herself and the village. She has long brown hair, emotive eyes, flirtatious smile, and striking bone structure – think Anne Hathaway!

Daniel Westlake – Jaded, proud and looking to bounce back from a failed business venture and start afresh. He is tall, athletic (runner), nut brown hair. Two words: Henry Cavill!

Juliet Brown – (Jules). Shy and unassuming, still waters run deep. She’s arty, creative, sweet-natured, caring. She has luscious red hair, sweetheart shaped face, gentle/sunny/arty look. Think: Emma Stone!

Oscar Matthews – locked down. Quiet. Intense. Huge soulful/puppy-dog eyes. Two Words: Jeremy Renner!

Whispers Wood – a British Stars Hollow. 

I wanted something that would roll off the tongue and make people think of a village where secrets lived. My wonderful editor came up with the name and right away I knew it was perfect. Believe me I researched a lot of names before we arrived at Whispers Wood. The UK has some priceless village names and I’ve listed The Little Clock House on the Green’s favourite’s here:

Thanks so much to Eve for stopping by and sharing such an interesting post with us! I'm always fascinated by names myself so I loved reading what there's behind the choosing of names for characters.

About the book:

Title: The Little Clock House on the Green

Author: Eve Devon

Published: March 27th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: An absolute must-read for fans of Gilmore Girls!

Welcome to Whispers Wood, a cosy little village in the heart of the English countryside, where everybody knows everybody and rumours are spread thicker than jam on a scone…

When a rival village is awarded Best in Bloom, the residents of Whispers Wood are determined to regain their former glory – and with Old Man Isaac finally selling the clock house on the village green, with two potential buyers, operation ‘Summer Fete’ is on!

For Kate Somersby, the very bricks that make up the clock house hold precious memories of her childhood. Now she’s finally returned home after years of running away, she’s here to make Isaac an offer and ensure her and her beloved sister’s dreams come true. Only entrepreneur Daniel Westlake is standing in her way.

To prove they have the village’s interests at heart and in turn become the proud new owner of the clock house, Kate and Daniel must compete to raise funds for the Whispers Wood Summer Fete.

Over one glorious English summer, friendships are forged, secrets are revealed and romance delightfully bursts into bloom.

About the author:

My name’s Eve Devon and I write sexy heroes, sassy heroines and happy ever afters…

I kind of secretly believe it’s not too late for me to train as a professional dancer, MMA expert, or win an Oscar. I know! This is why writing fiction is for me!

Growing up in locations like Botswana and Venezuela gave me a taste for adventure and my love for romances began when my mother shoved one into my hands in a desperate attempt to keep me quiet during TV coverage of the Wimbledon tennis finals. 

When I wasn’t consuming books by the bucket-load, I could be found pretending to be a damsel in distress or running around solving mysteries and writing down my adventures. As a teenager, I wrote countless episodes of TV detective dramas so the hero and heroine would end up together every week. As an adult, I worked in a library to conveniently continue consuming books by the bucket-load, until realising I was destined to write contemporary romance and romantic suspense myself. I live in leafy Surrey in the UK, a book-devouring, slightly melodramatic, romance-writing sassy heroine with my very own sexy hero husband! 

Where you can find me:

Webpage: http://www.evedevon.com/

Twitter: @EveDevon

Facebook: Eve Devon Author

Today I am kicking off the Blog Tour for the novella by author Elsa Wincker, The Whisperer. Eve is sharing with us the inspiration behind this story:

Inspiration for The Whisperer
by Elsa Winckler

I have always been fascinated with the idea that people are able to ‘talk’ to animals. I have to admit, I prefer animals to most humans and I had a dog, a cat and a budgie when growing up.☺ I couldn’t wait to get animals when we got married, but hubby is not a lover of cats, so the compromise was to get a dog. We’ve always lived in town so unfortunately horses were never part of my life. But I love watching them, reading about them, in fact, I think there is a horse whisperer trapped inside me! :)

Somewhere during 2010 I came across an article about an animal communicator in a local magazine. I read every word as she explains how she talks to dogs, horses and even whales. I was hooked. Of course a story started brewing but I knew nothing about communicating with animals or horses and had to get help. So I Googled. 

I found wonderful articles on the internet about ways of training horses and was especially impressed with the Parelli Program. It was on their website I read about ‘horsenality’ – a way you can identify your horse’s innate characteristics and introduce specific strategies to bring out the best in the horse. It makes a huge difference if you know whether your horse is confident or fearful, extroverted or introverted, or motivated by food rather than play. Knowing what makes the horse tick can help you understand him – in other words, it’s very much like understanding humans :)

Trying to find an animal communicator who was willing to communicate with a human, was a bit of a challenge. I tried to get in touch with the person I read about in the article, but I never heard from her. After many attempts, Google and I finally found Kathleen Berard though, an animal communicator from Texas. 

She was so gracious and helped me tremendously. The heroine in The Whisperer, Cilla Stevens has been able to talk to animals since she can remember. She is a teacher and when one of the kids at school sees how she calms down a stray dog he tells his father about the incident. His dad is a manager on Cameron Rall’s farm and they have just bought a stallion, Bravo. But Bravo is unmanageable, at least according to his owner and of course this is when Cilla is called in to help. 

I had to decide why Bravo was behaving badly and this was where Kathleen Berard was such a great help. She sent me email after email with information, answered all my stupid questions and patiently described the whole process to me. 

Another version of this story was published in Afrikaans in 2011 and at the time I sent Kathleen a copy of the book. I promised her that if I ever get a publisher for the story in English, she would be the first one to get a copy. So now I can’t wait for release day so that I can finally send her one.

Connect with Elsa on Twitter.

About the book:

Title: The Whisperer

Author: Elsa Winckler

Published: March 10th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Follow the Blog Tour for more interesting content about The Whisperer:

Today I am kicking off the Blog Tour for the psychological thriller by author Eve Seymour, Vixenhead. Eve is sharing with us books and authors that she enjoys reading:

Books and Authors I Enjoy 

by Eve Seymour 

I have wide tastes in reading. If you were to view my bookcases, you’d notice that historical fiction, spy and commercial women’s fiction sit happily alongside crime, psychological thriller and non-fiction books on forensics and guns. There’s also a smattering of odd titles, which were sent to me as a result of writing book reviews for the Cheltenham Standard before it folded. These include some fabulous novels for children. 

Like a decent dinner, I enjoy contrast so I’ll often switch from one genre to another. If I’m writing, I tend to read non-fiction or a genre well outside my own. The only genres I don’t particularly gel with are, (shame on me) science fiction and fantasy. 

Looking back, it seems that my reading tastes reflect particular stages in my life. Jean Plaidy’s tales of Tudor England, the gorier the better, dominated my chaotic growing up years. I also tanked through Ian Fleming’s ‘James Bond’ novels, and did a fair trek through Agatha Christie. Pan Books of Horror also captured my vivid adolescent imagination. At school, classics were a staple. I loved Dickens, Shakespeare and Webster, and was fascinated by Chaucer – for the sheer sound of the language. This is probably the time I whisper very softly that I’m not a fan of Jane Austen. Some of my best writing mates will kill me for this.

During my student days – which were really short because I dropped out after six months – I had a stint of reading French novels - in translation, I hasten to add. These included Colette, Francois Sagan, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Sounds impressive but, hand on heart, my ‘French phase’ started out as way to impress others, a boyfriend in particular! 

When I had children, unsurprisingly, I read family sagas by writers like Elizabeth Jane Howard. I also tucked into Fay Weldon, Irish Murdoch and Edna O’Brien. I can’t really remember how I fell into reading spy fiction but once I’d gobbled up le Carre, and Frederick Forsyth, I became, and still am, a huge fan of Gerald Seymour (no relation). His later work is as good as his earlier novels and, whenever I read him, I feel as if I’m in a safe pair of hands. Similarly, I love Bernard Cornwell’s Viking series and Conn Iggulden’s novels about Genghis Khan. 

From this, you can accurately deduce that I was a late convert to crime. However, once I got started, that was it. I first dipped my toe in the water with a psychological thriller from the wonderful husband and wife team, Nicci French. ‘Beneath the Skin’ remains one of my all-time favourites. I then graduated to Minette Walters and Val McDermid. Lee Child’s ‘The Killing Floor’ knocked me for six. And then, mercy me, I tuned into crime fiction by US writers. Michael Connelly was my first intro. After that, I devoured as many of his novels as I could lay my hands on. ‘The Poet’, for me, is still one of his best. Others swiftly followed: Harlan Coben, marvellous for his twisty, turny, ‘keep you guessing’ plot lines, and writers like Robert Crais, for whom, initially, I needed a translator to interpret some of his Americanisms, but loved his novels just the same and because of the use of language. And then there are writers like Dennis Lehane, with his epic stories that simply grab you and never let you go. 

Glancing over my bookshelves, it would be remiss not to mention Irish authors like John Connolly, Tana French and Stuart Neville. Often people talk about a writer’s ‘voice,’ and these are easily identifiable by the lyricism of their prose. 

So who and what floats my boat just now? Unsurprisingly, my bedside table groans with ‘Must Reads’ that sometimes turn into ‘No Time to Reads.’ In my defence, as a freelance editor, I read up to four unpublished novels every month. But any novel with a dark family dysfunctional theme will inevitably sneak through. Then I’m as happy as hell! 

About the book:

Title: Vixenhead 

Author: Eve Seymour

Published: March 24th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Follow the Blog Tour for more interesting content: 

Today's review is for the warm and uplifting story The Legacy of Lucy Harte by Emma Heatherington. ‘Sometimes time is all we have with the people we love the most. I ask you to slow down in life. To take your time, but don’t waste it….’

Title: The Legacy of Lucy Harte

Author: Emma Heatherington

Published: January 6th 2017 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Maggie O'Hara knows better than most that life can change in a heartbeat. Eighteen years ago she was given the most precious gift- a second-hand heart, and a second chance at life.

Always thankful, Maggie has never forgotten Lucy Harte – the little girl that saved her life. But as Maggie's own life begins to fall apart, and her heart is broken in love, she loses sight of everything she has to live for…

Until an unexpected letter changes everything and brings Maggie back into the life of Lucy Harte – and a chance for Maggie to get her life back on track once more.

Lucy's final gift to Maggie is much more than the heart that beats inside her. It's a legacy that Maggie must learn to live by. A chance to make her heart skip a beat with every new discovery she makes; a promise to live, laugh, fall in love and heal her broken heart for good.

Because as the keeper of a borrowed heart, Maggie's time is more precious than most and she must make every cherished second count…

Rating: 4 stars

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