Blurb: 'LEARN TO SALSA DANCE,' the card in the shop window read. 'Experience the red-hot vibes of Latin America right here in the Lake District. Beginners and singles welcome.' 

Lauren Scott lives in 'The most romantic place in Britain', but her love life is about as successful as her mountain climbing skills. The man she's obsessed over for two years has proposed to someone else - and her only solution is to save up for six months to go travelling, so she never has to set eyes on him again. 

But when her friends sign her up for a dance class - in the same historic hotel where her beloved dad worked and her most precious childhood memories were formed - Lauren makes a horrifying discovery. It's been sold to a faceless budget chain, which has depressing plans in store. Worse, the entrepreneur behind it all turns out to be among a group of guys her friend Cate roped in to join the very same salsa class they've signed up for.... 

Jane Costello's funniest book yet - a story of love, friendship and some serious hip action . . . Get in the mood to mambo!

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

Review: Is it just me or are Jane Costello's books getting better and better with every new release? I mean, I have always loved her stories, they guarantee romance, lovable characters and lots of laughs but with every new book we get a bit more. I especially enjoyed her previous one, The Love Shack, as it was about so much more that a love story. But I think Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel might be even better.

During the first half of the story I was laughing non-stop. Lauren is such a charming character. She is prone to awkward situations and basically making a fool of herself, but you can't help loving her. Her love interest, Edwin, seems quite a nice guy, smart, great with kids and all in all a good guy. Shame he is taken. So Lauren's idea to save up for a while to be able to travel to Australia where her father was from and live her life a little seems like quite a good idea. But soon things start to get complicated. Edwin is leaving to work in Singapore and has actually asked Lauren to go with him!

But this is not the only dilemma going on in Lauren's life. When she takes up Salsa dancing with her best girlfriends, Emily and Cat, the last thing Lauren expects is one, Salsa is actually fun, and two, her beloved Moonlight Hotel, where the lessons take place, is being sold to some company who has no idea of the sentimental meaning it has for the community and Lauren herself. So she is ready to fight for it with all her heart... until she discovers the new owner is actually one of her new Salsa buddies, quite a gorgeous one for that.

As the story unfolds, it starts getting more serious as Lauren and her friends have to fight quite some fronts. Both Emily and Cate have their own stories and I ended up caring a lot for them too, especially Cate, who goes through a rough and really unfair patch. I was rooting for them until the end and it was hard to say good-bye. I am sure I'm going to miss them.

For me, Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel is Jane Costello's best book so far. It completely captured my heart and I think there wasn't a thing I didn't love. It is equally hilarious and fun as it is warm and moving. Highly recommended to enjoy during a warm summer night and dust off your dancing shoes, I'm sure you'll want to try Salsa after this read!

Rating: 

1952, French Indochina. Since her mother's death, eighteen-year-old half-French, half-Vietnamese Nicole has been living in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Sylvie. When Sylvie is handed control of the family silk business, Nicole is given an abandoned silk shop in the Vietnamese quarter of Hanoi. But the area is teeming with militant rebels who want to end French rule, by any means possible. For the first time, Nicole is awakened to the corruption of colonial rule - and her own family's involvement shocks her to the core... 

Tran, a notorious Vietnamese insurgent, seems to offer the perfect escape from her troubles, while Mark, a charming American trader, is the man she's always dreamed of. But who can she trust in this world where no one is what they seem? 

The Silk Merchant's Daughter is a captivating tale of dark secrets, sisterly rivalry and love against the odds, enchantingly set in colonial era Vietnam.

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

Review: The Silk Merchant's Daughter is my first book by Dinah Jefferies and it won't be the last for sure. What an amazing and captivating story it is. I love the kind of books that transport you to another place, to another time (one you have no idea about) and make you part of it. And this is one of these reads. In fact, one thing I love about historical fiction is learning about the past, our past, and with this story I learned a lot.

The book is set in Hanoi, Vietnam, in the early 50s and focuses on Nicole and her struggles with identity and belonging. With a French father and a (late) Vietnamese mother, Nicole has inherited her mother's looks so she is often called "métisse", something that makes her feel uncomfortable and out of place. Her older sister though has their father's looks and seems to be the preferred daughter. Nicole's self doubts only increase as the story unfolds and Vietnam becomes a very dangerous place. The French government is loosing its power as the nationalist Vietminh gain power and support. And soon, Nicole finds herself having to decide which side she is going to support.

Between all this turmoil, there's also space for romance. Early in the story, Nicole meets a dashing American that makes her heart flutter. But he seems to have many secrets and a special connection with her sister. So when an enthusiastic and persuasive young Vietnamese enters her life, she must decide, once more, which life she is going to choose. An extremely difficult decision when you no longer knows who's your friend and who's your enemy. The story surprised me more than once and I certainly had no idea how it was going to unfold. Something that kept me glued to its pages for hours.

Something that Dinah Jefferies perfectly accomplishes with this novel is transporting you to Vietnam in those difficult years. She has a way with words that make you feel part of the place she is describing. Her attention to detail is incredible, with generous descriptions of the surroundings, the buildings, the food and the smells, even the touch. I felt like I could almost touch the silk rolls and hear the old buildings cracking under my feet.

The Silk Merchant's Daughter is a story with many layers. There's war but also love, betrayal but also forgiveness, doubts but also certainties. It captures perfectly what it means being part of two completely different cultures but not belonging to either. It's something that has made me think a lot and I'm sure this story will stay with me for a long time. A novel I highly recommend.

Rating: 

Blurb: What if the person who broke your heart, is the only one who can help you find your future?

Great friends. Amazing Apartment. An incredible job. Paige has ticked off every box on perfect New York life checklist. Until disaster strikes and instead of shimming further up the career ladder, Paige is packing up her desk.

Her brother’s best friend Jake might be the only person who can help her put her life back together. He also happens to be the boy she spent her teen years pining after, and Paige is determined not repeat her past mistakes. But the more time she spends with Jake, the more Paige realises the one thing that was missing from her world all along. The perfect New York love story…

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

Review: When you pick a novel by Sarah Morgan, you more or less know what to expect: friendship, banter, sexy scenes and lots of romance. But, somehow, with every story she always manages to surprise me. In the first book in her new trilogy, we travel to New York to meet best friends Paige, Frankie and Eva. They work and live together so when their company make the three of them redundant, they find themselves in quite a difficult situation. In this first book, the star of the story is Paige. She is driven and hard working and is determined to turn this situation around so with a bit of encouragement, she decides to set their own events company. 

The encouragement comes from Paige's brother, lovely Matt, and his best friend, gorgeous and dangerous Jake. As you can image, sparks fly every time Paige and Jake meet. But Paige learnt her lesson, when she confessed her love for him when she was a teenager and he politely but firmly refused her. Plus, Jake dates a new girl every week. It shouldn't be a problem for them to work together, should it? But the tension between them just kept escalating and I kept wishing they could see they were made for each. Lucky for us, all this sexual tension lead to some really sexy scenes with these two.

As much as I enjoyed Paige and Jake's story, I also had a great time getting to know dreamy Eva and tough Frankie and, of course, protective and all in all good guy Matt. Sarah Morgan's trilogies always introduce us to a trio of characters and then each book focuses on each of them and I can hardly wait to read all about Eva's and Frankie's stories. Plus, I had the feeling that Matt might be interested in one of them... 

Another thing that made me fall in love with this novel was the setting. I love New York, I've been there twice and I'm already looking forward to going back. With this story I could totally picture myself there, from cool and trendy Brooklyn to posh and lively Manhattan. The life and shine of the city really got through the story and it felt like it was one more character in the story. Plus, the setting gave the novel a movie feeling (the ending also helped with this, what an ending!). I'd definitely love to see this story in the big screen.

All in all, Sleepless in Manhattan is Sarah Morgan at her best. She brings us a romantic story that ticks all the boxes with lovable characters and a stunning setting. What else can you ask for?

Rating: 

I only discovered the existence of World Book Day a couple of years ago. After I had started blogging, in fact. In Catalonia, we celebrate Book Day on April 23rd and it has always been one of my favourite days of the year. So I decided to join in with all the fun of sharing my love for reading and books on March 3rd too. Because book deserve more than one day (they actually deserve all the days in the year). They are such a key part of my life. They are my place to escape real life and live adventures, visit the most amazing places and basically have a great time. So today I've decided to write about one of my favourite books as a kid, Le Petit Prince.

Le Petit Prince is also one of my mother's favourite books so she used to read it to me quite often when I was a kid. I'm quite sure I didn't really understand the story but I certainly enjoyed it, visiting all the planets with the little prince and meeting such bizarre characters! For my 8th birthday I go the original French version and made my mom read it non-stop for weeks (she's French) until I was sure I understood everything (not that I didn't know the story by heart by then).

But Le Petit Prince has been a story I have found myself going back to frequently as the years passed. I really think you learn something new every time you read it. Especially as you get older. It's a truly fascinating story and people from all ages should read it. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend you do it. I'm sure it will not disappoint and you will have a new friend for life.

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of going to a musical of Le Petit Prince and I had so much fun! To see my beloved characters in real life was such a treat! And, this year they are releasing a movie, to say that I am over the moon about it is quite an understatement. 

Anyway, to celebrate World Book Day I have decided to run a little giveaway. The winner will win a bookmark of their choice from Aureate + Argent. I think these bookmarks are truly magical. The owner of the shop, Lauren, already runs Bookworm Boutique (and has the most amazing bookish designs) and has recently opened this shop to sell these amazing bookmarks. The giveaway is open Worldwide and the winner will be contacted via email. They will have 48h to claim their prize and choose one of these 5 designs. Good luck everyone and Happy World Book Day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is Part One in a brand-new serial from bestselling author Cathy Bramley.

Verity Bloom hasn't been interested in cooking anything more complicated than the perfect fish finger sandwich, ever since she lost her best friend and baking companion two years ago. 

But an opportunity to help a friend is about to land her right back in the heart of the kitchen! The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is due to open in a few weeks’ time and has rather gone off the boil. It needs the kind of great ideas that only Verity could cook up . . .

But as Verity tries to balance stirring up publicity, keeping their top chef sweet and soothing her aching heart, will her move to Plumberry prove to be a sheer delight . . . or a recipe for disaster?

The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts – following the adventures of Verity Bloom in love, friendship and cooking. This is the first part.

Why so excited: Cathy Bramley has become one of my favourite authors. I have loved everything she has written so far and I'm sure this one will be no different. The questions is, do I start reading the parts or do I wait until the whole book is out later this year?

Secrets of the Sewing Bee by Kate Thompson - March 10th

Orphan Flossy Brown arrives at Trout's garment factory in Bethnal Green amidst the uncertainty of the Second World War. In 1940s London, each cobbled street is strewn with ghosts of soldiers past, all struggling to make ends meet. For the women of the East End, their battles are on the home front.

Flossy is quickly embraced by the colourful mix of characters working at Trout's, who have turned their sewing expertise to vital war work. They fast become the family that Flossy has always longed for. Dolly Doolaney, darling of the East End, and infamous tea lady, gives her a particularly warm welcome and helps Flossy settle into wartime life.

Things aren't so easy for Peggy Piper, another new recruit at the factory. She's used to the high life working as a nippie in the West End, and is not best pleased to find herself bent over a sewing machine. But war has the ability to break down all sorts of class barriers and soon Peggy finds the generosity and spirit of her fellow workers difficult to resist.

Dolly sets up a sewing circle and the ladies at Trout's play their part in defending the frontline as they arm themselves with their needles and set about stitching their way to victory. But as the full force of the Blitz hits London, the sewing bee are forced to shelter in the underground tube stations on a nightly basis.

In such close quarters, can Dolly manage to contain the secret that binds them all? And how will Peggy and Flossy cope as their lives are shaped and moved by forces outside of their control?

Why so excited: Last year I read Kate Thompson's debut, Secrets of the Singer Girls, also set in London during the Second World War and I found it really interesting and beautifully written. So I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has come up with.

Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan - March 10th

Great friends. Amazing Apartment. An incredible job. Paige has ticked off every box on perfect New York life checklist. Until disaster strikes…

What if the person who broke your heart, is the only one who can help you find your future?

Great friends. Amazing Apartment. An incredible job. Paige has ticked off every box on perfect New York life checklist. Until disaster strikes and instead of shimming further up the career ladder, Paige is packing up her desk.

Her brother’s best friend Jake might be the only person who can help her put her life back together. He also happens to be the boy she spent her teen years pining after, and Paige is determined not repeat her past mistakes. But the more time she spends with Jake, the more Paige realises the one thing that was missing from her world all along. The perfect New York love story…

Why so excited: who doesn't love a story by Sarah Morgan? I have just finished reading this one and I adored it. 

Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel by Jane Costello - March 24th

'LEARN TO SALSA DANCE,' the card in the shop window read. 'Experience the red-hot vibes of Latin America right here in the Lake District. Beginners and singles welcome.' 

Lauren Scott lives in 'The most romantic place in Britain', but her love life is about as successful as her mountain climbing skills. The man she's obsessed over for two years has proposed to someone else - and her only solution is to save up for six months to go travelling, so she never has to set eyes on him again. 

But when her friends sign her up for a dance class - in the same historic hotel where her beloved dad worked and her most precious childhood memories were formed - Lauren makes a horrifying discovery. It's been sold to a faceless budget chain, which has depressing plans in store. Worse, the entrepreneur behind it all turns out to be among a group of guys her friend Cate roped in to join the very same salsa class they've signed up for.... 

Jane Costello's funniest book yet - a story of love, friendship and some serious hip action . . . Get in the mood to mambo!

Why so excited: Another of my favourite authors! I was lucky enough to receive a proof of this fantastic story and I can tell you that it's Jane's best for me. 

Destination India by Katy Colins - March 25th

Let yourself go…

Georgia Green is about to board a plane to India, alone – again. Things were supposed to be different this time, but Georgia backpacked solo to Thailand and survived, what could possibly go wrong?

Only she is about to find out that when in India the country calls the shots – not you.

The new favourite series for fans of The Curvy Girls Club, theShopaholic series and Eat, Pray, Love.

Join Georgia Green for her next big adventure in Bollywood!

Why so excited: I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Destination Thailand, so I am over the moon that the second book is out this month already. New author Katy Colins has such a fun and fresh style, I can't wait to discover India with her.