We are in the middle of August, the holiday month. The lucky ones are getting ready for a fantastic holiday on the beach where all they'll have to worry about is reading and drinking cocktails, or they are even enjoying it already. But what happens to the unlucky ones who are stuck at home, working during August? Do not worry, I have the solution: travelling through books. Get your things ready we are going to the hottest spots of the planet and all you need is a comfy couch and a cool dring. 

Follow the route with my top holiday reads: 

1)  Escape for the Summer: Cornwall

Our first stop is Rock, the holiday destination in Cornwall. Ruth Saberton tells the story of three girls who tired of London and their life there decide to spend the summer in this small town on the coast. They live some crazy adventures there while enjoying some of the most beautiful beaches of the UK. This is a summer read you don't want to miss. 

Here is my 5* review: Escape for the Summer 

2) I Heart Paris: Paris

Our second stop in Europe is Paris. The I Heart Series by Lindsey Kelk is one of my favourite series, not only do we read about Angela's love problems and stories but also we follow her around the world. Some of her destinations are New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles or London. But my favourite one is Paris. In the city of Love, Angela discovers some beautiful caffés and shops while enjoying the top tourist attractions and some mouth-watering croissants. Don't doubt it, if you are looking for some romance and gorgeous views, Paris is your destination.

4) Wedding Night: Greek Islands

Sophie Kinsella takes us to our 4rth stop, Greece. In her last novel, Sophie tells us the story of Lottie, who after being dumped by her boyfriends reconnects with an old lover and they rush down the aisle. Their honey moon takes them to the paradisiac island in Greece but they won't enjoy their trip as much as newly weds should. Follow their crazy adventures in the perfect summer destination, you will want to hop on the first plane to Greece!

                

We leave Europe to land in Australia. Paige Toon takes us to Adelaide with Lily, a teenager who doesn't want to leave London. But once she discovers the beauties of her new town (including the natural park with the cutest koalas and kagaroos and a certain worker named Ben), she starts to fall in love with her new country. We follow her later in life when she moves to Sydney, where she enjoys a nice live but something, or should I say someone, is missing. 

6) About a Girl: Hawaii                                
Our next destination is in the middle of the Pacific. Lindsey Kelk (again, I know, I just love her and her books so much) takes us to the (as she says) Ryan Gosling of destinations, it has no bad angle. There, we enjoy some of the most impressive sunsets with Tess and the hilarious Keipipi takes us to the hot spots of the islands. Oh, and I almost forgot! The sexy Nick (#TeamNick forever) shows us one of the most romantic scenaries: a secluded waterfall.                                                    
Read my 5* review of  About a Girl here.

 

7) Take a Look at Me Now: San Francisco

Our 7th stop is San Francisco, California. I have always wanted to visit this amazing city, I think it all started with Full House (I loved that TV series and wanted to live in their house), so every time I see a book set in this city I can't resist. Take a Look at Me Now was the first book I read by Miranda Dickinson (and won't be the last, for sure). Nell has just lost her job and decides to spend some weeks with her cousin in San Francisco. She discovers all the amazing secrets of this city with the help of her new friends but also a new passion that will change her life.

Thanks for travelling with me, I hope you had a great time, I sure did. Do you have any favourite holidays reads yourself? 

Blurb: You Had Me at Merlot is the kind of love story that will have you crying with laughter one moment and nodding your head in agreement the next. Full of sultry summer nights, hilarious moments and plenty of wine, it will warm even the most cynical of hearts and have you believing in the magic of romance… and of course, the power of a decent glass of Merlot. 

Elle and Laurie are the last ones standing: they're single, they're not having babies any time soon and their weekends aren't filled with joyful meetings about mortgages. For Elle, this is fine - she likes her independent life, she loves her job, and she has no desire to walk down the aisle anytime soon. But Laurie wants love and she wants it now. 

So when Laurie begs Elle to come with her on a singles holiday to a beautiful vineyard in Tuscany, Elle is reluctant. You Had Me at Merlot Holidays promises crisp sunshine, fun and a chance to stir up some sizzling romance. Elle has no intention of swapping her perfectly lovely life for someone else's idea of her Mr Perfect, but ten days under the Italian sun with her best friend and lashings of wine? How bad could that be?

*I received this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review*

Review: This is such a cute story, I adored it. Thank God I got sent the four parts because I devoured the whole book in a couple of days. Elle, our heroine, is such a cute girl, and so funny. She doesn't want love, she doesn't need a man in her life, when would she have time to perfect her dance routines if she had a boyfriend? But she is a great friend and agrees to go with Lauria to a singles holiday in Tuscany. As I said, such a good friend! I mean, who would leave work behind and go on a holiday in Tuscany just to help a friend... OK, I would. And you would too. But you get the picture, she is cute and nice. 

What she doesn't expect is to find so many options for love in Tuscany: there's George, the loaded American womanizer ready to become Elle's sugar daddy, and there's Jamie, the gorgeous Italian wine-maker. If you want to know who is going to win Elle's heart you'll have to read the book but I know who won mine: Tuscany. The setting is so perfect, and Lisa describes it so richly. I could totally picture myself in a bathtub, looking through the windows to the sun setting on the vineyards while a gorgeous Italian works from sun to sun. Okay, maybe Jamie won my heart a little bit too...

All in all, You Had Me at Merlot is the perfect summer read: hilarious and heart-warming. It has this feel-good sparkle than will have you turning page after page and will leave you with a huge smile in your face. So, don't doubt it, get it right now and enjoy the sun and magic of Tuscany. You are in for a real treat. Lisa is one of the funniest and wittiest writers you can find and I'm sure big things are coming her way. 

About the author: 

Blurb: Call Brook Ogden a matchmaker-in-reverse. Let others bring people together; Brook, licensed mental health counselor, picks up the pieces after things come apart. When her own therapy practice collapses, she maintains perfect control: landing on her feet with a weekly advice-to-the-lovelorn column and a successful consulting service as the Breakup Doctor: on call to help you shape up after you breakup.

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: When we first meet Brook, she is a woman in control, she is losing her practice but this is not going to get her down. Her knowledge of what to do when your heart has been broken quickly becomes in high demand and a lot of patients start contacting her for her help and support. At the same time though, she is dumped with no clear explanation and she kind of goes bonkers. She starts behaving like a lunatic: stalking her ex, getting drunk and making calls and writing emails, even getting violent and other stupid stuff. Only if her patients knew the real Brook... they would not seek her advice at all...

I was a bit exceptic about all this crazy behaviour at first, I thought she was a huge fraud and should come clean. But then, at the same time, it was really funny reading about it all. I guess, we are all humans and break-ups are hard. Even if we are the wisest person in the world, we all have the right to act without thinking. And that is the main idea of this book.

I didn't warm to Brook, I did to Sasha though. That's the kind of friend we all want, crazy and with a huge heart. Together they are a good team and they made me laugh a lot. The Breakup Doctor is a good summer read, funny, light and quick. You'll have a nice time reading it and maybe you'll see yourself reflexed in some of Brook's patients or even in Brook (then maybe you need a Doctor yourself). 

Rating: 

 

Blurb: Sarah, I’m not coming home tonight.If you love me, you will give me the space I need…

Tell the children I love them.

Paul

It started out like any other day for Sarah Lawler; getting the kids ready for school, making the pack lunches and juggling baby Ella’s feeds.

There was no way of knowing that her husband, Paul, would leave for work that morning and simply not come home.

Now the questions are piling up quicker than the unpaid bills and, unable to answer her children’s questions about where their Daddy is, Sarah is getting desperate.

But it turns out she isn’t quite as alone as she thought she was. When her beloved childhood friend, Edward, comes back into her life, Sarah thinks she’s finally been thrown a life line.

There’s just one problem with Edward: no one else can see him.

Edward is an angel. And he has a message for Sarah that will change her life and the lives of others forever. For it is only in the most difficult of times that Sarah can discover how strong

she truly is.

Review: Early this year I read Carmel's debut novel, Beyond Grace's Rainbow, and I loved it. So I was very excited when I was approved on Netgalley for her second book, The Life You Left. I started it with great expectations but it took me a while to get into the story of Sarah. 

Sarah has been abandoned by her husband and is struggling both emotionally and financially with her three kids. And to top it all, she is seeing her guardian angel again, something she cannot tell her loved ones in fear that they might think she is crazy. The plot is very unique and I enjoyed the mistery surrounding Sarah's dreams and visions. Plus, I really liked James, Sarah's twin brother, and how he worked closely with Sarah to try to solve the misteries.

As I said though, it took me a while to get into the story because there were some things that weren't adding up to me. I think that I found it hard to believe that everyone was either extremely nice, like Sarah's kids or the postman, or extremely rude, like Paul's new friend. But all in all, I enjoyed the book and was very intrigued by it. It surprised me by the end and had a couple of great evening reading it. I'll be sure to keep an eye on Carmel's future books because she has a special way with words. 

Rating: 

Today I'm very excited to reveal the cover for Aven Ellis' latest book, Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista:

Recent college graduate Avery Andrews is ready to begin a new life in the big city. She’s landed an apartment in Chicago’s famed Lincoln Park neighborhood–and has her eye on the cute commodities trader just a floor above.

If Premier Airlines knew about her fear of flying, they never would have hired her to be their marketing assistant—but it’s not like Avery wants a lifelong career. Right now she simply wants a job to pay her bills…and fund a few little shopping excursions, too. 

Her new lifestyle comes with a price tag, as Avery is not only faced with paying a ridiculous rent but finds she’s perceived as one of the vacant, husband-hunting fashionistas who live in the area. Avery resents this stereotype—so she doesn’t want a lifelong career, and she loves fashions she can’t afford, but that doesn’t mean she is empty-headed and spoiled, does it? 

When an opportunity to participate in a documentary at work arises, Avery finds a two-fold solution to her problems. She’ll earn extra money for it, and the documentary will show her as a serious career woman, enabling her to shed that husband-hunting fashionista label for good. 

When the camera is on, Avery attempts to be a motivated professional woman. But when she is challenged by Deacon Ryan, the videographer assigned to cover her story, Avery finds herself wanting things she was never supposed to want—like a lasting career—and Deacon. And Avery might just gain more from the experience than a perfect career image and extra cash to put in her Tory Burch wallet…

About the Author: 

Aven Ellis has been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency.

But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel. Waiting For Prince Harry was published in April 2014. 

Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.

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