Review of Flirty Dancing

Synopsis

Bea Hogg is shy but fiery inside. When national dance competition Starwars comes to her school looking for talent, she wants to sign up. It's just a shame her best friend agreed to enter with school super-cow Pearl Harris. Bea will fight back! But when school hottie, Ollie Matthews, who also happens to be Pearl’s boyfriend, decides to enter the competition with Bea, she will have more than a fight on her hands.

This warm, nuanced, hilarious story about friendship, fortitude . . . and dancing is impossible not to fall in love with. Jenny’s voice is fresh and convincing, and she handles both darker and lighter elements of the story with equal panache.

Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Review

Warning - Do not read this book in public unless you enjoy looking like a giggling lunatic.

I enjoyed this book so much! It is a short, light-hearted read that will have you laughing out loud. Flirty Dancing reminded me of the Georgia Nicholson series which were my favourite books throughout my teen years as it has a similar feel to it. Other than the feel (and the main character having a crazy younger sister, oh and a dad who is abroad for a significant amount of the story) the books are very different and Bea is a fresh, unique character.

The storyline revolves around a dance competition and Bea becoming confident and happy about who she is. There are some very small amounts of romance but the main focus on the book is Bea's growth. Bea comes across as such a realistic character, she is smart, funny and sassy but at school she is too shy to show who she truly is and instead tries to blend in.

The dance element - Jive! - was such a great addition to the story and it made it unique. Other elements of the book such as bullying and the ex-best friend queen bee type were the same as what you see in most books like this but the dance competition (against both the ex-best friend bully and current best friend who has abandoned Bea to dance with the bully) was a great twist on a traditional storyline.

Flirty Dancing is the perfect book for the younger teen or pre-teen as well as the older crowd who want a light-hearted, funny read. I can't wait to read more books by Jenny McLachlan and am looking forwards to seeing what she will bring to the table next.

Try it for yourself! Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Laura

Review of Between A Rockstar And A Hard Place

Synopsis

Behind the music...

Being best friends with a mega-star has its perks and Nicole Wilde, music journalist, laps them up. But when said friend, Dylan King, gorgeous lead singer of The Burnouts, has zero sense of self-preservation - once a drop of alcohol hits his blood stream ? and an inability to keep 'little Dylan' in his pants, it also comes with responsibilities.

Now, Nicole has to track down Dylan in time to play a charity gig tomorrow. Half a dozen groupies, a haunted hotel, a tattoo parlour, a reality show runner-up and a crazy bed-hopping, sleepless night later - will she find him before the tour bus leaves town? And when she does, is it time to head home? Or to jump on the tour bus and go along for the ride!

Between a Rockstar and a Hard Place is the fun and fabulous prequel to Portia MacIntosh's Starstruck. Look out for it March 2014.

Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Review

This was a fun novella following a music journalist’s evening trying to track down her reckless friend before he managed to destroy his career.  There were a couple of things that stood out to me, the first being that she undertook this mission by choice.  She isn’t some hapless PR person or some manager whose career is tied up with that of the errant rock star.  She is simply a ridiculously good friend who is willing to go to some serious extremes to protect her friend.  There were some humorous parts and I really enjoyed the fact that she found a fun diversion amidst her selfless efforts but I had a couple of minor issues with the story. 

 

The biggest concern I had was that I didn’t really see how the rock star was deserving of such a friend.  He has a wild night of reckless bed hopping while she jumps through every hoop imaginable to follow his trail.  I found myself quite frustrated a few times as the story progressed as I didn’t really see why he deserved to be bailed out.  The mindless sex and drugs also made me a little uncomfortable but I suppose it fits the stereotypical mold for a reckless rock star.  What I ultimately enjoyed about the story, however, was the humor.  It really was rather comical and quirky.  I enjoyed the pretty boy sidekick she acquires on her journey and it ended up being a fun read overall.

Try it for yourself! Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Katie

Feature Friday - Interview with Samantha Tonge

Feature Friday is a new item on Bookish Treasures. Every Friday I will be featuring an author through either an interview or a guest post. If you are interested in taking part please send me an email.

This week I am featuring Samantha Tonge who is the author of the recently released Romantic Comedy novel Doubting Abbey.

Doubting Abbey by Samantha Tonge

Synopsis

Swapping downstairs for upstairs… How hard can it be!?

Look up the phrase ordinary girl and you’ll see a picture of me, Gemma Goodwin – I only look half-decent after applying the entire contents of my make-up bag, and my dating track-record includes a man who treated me to dinner…at a kebab shop. No joke!

The only extraordinary thing about me is that I look EXACTLY like my BFF, Abbey Croxley. Oh, and that for reasons I can’t explain, I’ve agreed to swap identities and pretend be her to star in the TV show about her aristocratic family’s country estate, Million Dollar Mansion.

So now it’s not just my tan I’m faking – it’s Kate Middleton style demure hemlines and lady-like manners too. And amongst the hundreds of fusty etiquette rules I’m trying to cram into my head, there are two I really must remember; 1) No-one can ever find out that I’m just Gemma, who’d be more at home in the servants quarters. And 2) There can be absolutely no flirting with Abbey’s dishy but buttoned-up cousin, Lord Edward.
Aaargh, this is going to be harder than I thought…

Try it For Yourself (unbelievably cheap)! Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK 

Interview with Samantha Tonge

Why did you decide to become an author?

It sounds corny, but I always knew I would write. During my twenties I made a half-hearted attempt at writing a novel about EuroDisney, where I used to work. I didn’t settle down seriously to the craft until my youngest started school, when I was in my late thirties. And it just felt right – finally I was doing what I felt I was always meant to.

How do you balance writing with other things in your life?

It’s difficult! I guess I am lucky in that I can write full-time, but having said that, my family are the priority.  So, family first, writing second and everything else I used to do, before my writing took off a little – like sport, socializing – has taken a back seat. For the sake of my health and sanity I need to make a few changes in the New Year!

What is your favourite thing about being an author?

Spending the day doing something I love and getting paid for it. Especially at the moment as I have started a sequel to Doubting Abbey. Gemma is such a fun, totally bonkers character and her latest antics provide me with a lot of giggles during the day.

What are your favourite books?

I love Sophie Kinsella, but have also recently have discovered a plethora of great romcom novellas by Rowan Coleman, Rebecca Raisin, Carole Matthews…  It’s my new favourite genre and one that seems to be expanding, if you look at the Amazon bestselling lists.

Are there any books/authors that inspired you to write?

I’ve always found Sophie Kinsella very inspiring as my aim, as an author, has always been to entertain and make people laugh. If I can achieve that then I’m happy. But, as a child, I loved Enid Blyton and she probably shaped my ambition of wanting to create feel-good fiction.

Describe your book in one sentence.

Pizza waitress Gemma must pass herself off as aristocratic Abbey to help run-down Applebridge Hall win a reality show – without blowing her cover or falling for gorgeous, but impossibly stubborn, Lord Edward.

Where did you get the idea for Doubting Abbey, did anything inspire you to write it?

The TV series Downton Abbey inspired me to write it – I was fascinated by the public’s obsession with a period drama and wondered how a thoroughly modern gal would cope if she was thrust into such a stuffy, aristocratic  environment.

What made you decide to write a romantic comedy?

I’ve written several novels (now sitting under my bed) and the first wasn’t a comedy – but somehow it didn’t flow properly and the next one I started putting humour in and one-liners and it just felt right. As a person I am quite jokey and – on the outside – light-hearted and I think this is my true writing voice. Having said that, I do write more serious, feel-good fiction for the People’s Friend magazine, but there is usually a touch of humour in there.

What would you say makes your book unique and worth reading?

I’d say it’s a fun modern read but with a historical twist – I researched how difficult it is for modern aristocratic families to maintain their family estates and hopefully Doubting Abbey reflects the inner turmoil this leads to for them. There’s a huge pressure not to let the ancestors down and living in a big house, on a fancy estate, isn’t all it appears to be – and hasn’t been, for a while.

Is there any specific message you wanted to convey in the book?

Yes – that it doesn’t matter what people’s backgrounds are, love can conquer all. Plus I wanted to explore the importance of having goals in life and how, as a youngster, it eventually becomes important not to keeping living in the moment – tomorrow does come and you need to look to the future.

What are your plans for future books?

A sequel to Doubting Abbey which I’ve already started and should be huge fun!

Do you have any hobbies and Interests unrelated to books?

I used to swim a lot – must get back to that – and I love baking, plus hiking.

Would you ever consider putting these into any of your books?

Baking and food do seem to regularly feature in my books!

FUN STUFF

If you could meet any one author (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

Jane Austen, to tell her how significant her work still is, all these decades later.

Tell us one interesting fact about yourself.

I speak French with a Belgian accent!

What is your favourite food?

Pizza.

What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?

Worked as part of the Opening Crew for EuroDisney in my twenties – it was CRAZY.

If you could be any supernatural creature which would you choose?

I am a huge fan of Twilight and the Vampire Diaries, so it would have to be a super-quick, super-strong vampire who could compel people to fulfil her desires…!

 

About the Author

Samantha lives in Cheshire with her lovely family and two cats who think they are dogs. Along with writing, her days are spent willing cakes to rise and avoiding housework. Formally trained as a linguist, Samantha now likes nothing more than holing herself up in the spare room, in front of the keyboard. Writing romantic comedy novels is her passion along with creating short stories – she has sold over 80 to mainstream women's magazines.

 

 

Website: http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Novel: http://doubtingabbey.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

Blogaversary Celebrations - Win a copy of Hope Breaks

Hope Breaks by Alice Bello

 

Synopsis

 Hope Jones has two problems: one is new, the other is depressingly old.

The new problem: the bestselling author the publisher she shoots romance novel covers for hates her newest batch of covers. She has until the end of the week to come up with a breathtaking shot or she’ll be replaced. And there’s a sudden model shortage; they’re out of season.

The old, depressing problem: she hasn’t had a date, sex or a relationship in over two years.

She also has one hell of a headache.

Hope finds the cures for her two problems during a search through Wal-Mart for a painkiller to kill her headache.

Turns out the aisles of the retail giant are rampant with hot young model worthy specimens. And when her trusty Ford Taurus breaks down in the parking lot, a hunky mechanic in the Tire and Lube Express department fixes more than just her car.

Seemingly her troubles are good as gone…but then her new, fabulous cover is rejected, and in a desperate moment she has to choose between keeping her job and keeping the man she’s just starting to fall in love with.

Try it for yourself: Amazon | Amazon UK

Not Scarlet

by Alice Bello

A few months back I was inspired by a novella by Raine Miller called Naked. Not the actual story, because I lost interest when the heroine started fainting from low blood sugar. I gave it ten more pages before I just had to stop.

But the story of Raine’s inspiration for the book stayed with me.

Raine found this amazing photo of a nude woman during one of her searches for a cover image for another book. The photo lit a fire in her mind, and the story of Naked just came tumbling out of her fingers.

So, since I’d always wanted to graduate from writing short stories to writing novels, I decided to try a novella.

I searched the internet, Istock.com, RTF.com… the usual photo emporiums, until I came across a truly gorgeous image of a naked woman sprawled elegantly across a black couch. It was all tinted in a lovely caramel light. I downloaded the picture and let my imagination run rampant.

I wanted something evocative and stunning, a story of power, of sensuality…another Fifty Shades rip off in the making, I guess.

The thing was, I hated every character I wrote, and I loathed the story lines.

So I opened a new word file, closed my eyes and waited for something to happen.

And then I heard it: a woman calling out the name Scarlet.

Scarlet…

Oh, I really liked that name. So very Gone with the Wind and the absolute opposite of Grey (or gray.)

I heard that woman calling out my heroine’s name over and over, impatiently… through an answering machine.

And from there my heroine came to life, her story forming in my mind’s eye, her newly blossoming career circling the drain as her boss demanded a new cover for her biggest selling author—the last one having just been unceremoniously rejected by said author.

I wrote it all very quickly, and came in about five thousand words over the word count I’d been aiming for. I put it aside for about two weeks before I started to rewrite it.

About the third time I read through it I got this terrible feeling, though. At first I couldn’t put my finger on it…and then I started my fourth read through.

It was her name. Scarlet is a fantastic name, an iconic name, a name to savor and relish and rejoice.

It just wasn’t my heroine’s name.

This stymied me. I’d already made a cover out of the original image. I’d already given it a title.

But I had to come to grips with it—the title, the cover, my heroine’s name just didn’t fit the book I’d written.

Arrrrrrrrgh!!!!!!!!!

I raged in impotent… rage. It just sucked.

But then again I had a book I had loved writing, that I giggled every time I reread it, and I couldn’t wait to get published.

So I sat at my laptop, again, the beginning of my novella before me, “Scarlet?”deleted.

And I listened.

I thought of everything that was going to happen to her, everything she felt, everything she would do… and would decide to do.

Hope.

That was the name that came to me. Simple. Strong. Something that without it life would be unbearable.

Plus I could so hear her pushy boss yelling it through the answering machine.

Hope it was.

The name just fit her perfectly. And before I could even think about it, I knew what the title would be. Hope Breaks. And then came the other two titles. Hope Entangles and Hope Rises.

I searched—again—through RTF.com and Istock.com and finally found a series of images that, though they didn’t exactly match what I saw my characters looking like in my head, they did fit the story… and they had that look I was going for.

So I sent my story to the best-editor-for hire in the business, Stephanie T Lott (aka Bibliophile).

I Smashworded a cool looking ebook to send out to reviewers, and then started writing the next novella in the series.

I love Hope. Her story isn’t what I’d thought it would be. It’s not about some Sadistic CEO handing out spanks and roundabout romance to a woman bent over his desk.

Hope Breaks is about a young woman trying to hold onto the career she just began. It’s about the newness of love, and how easily it can break. It's about the past, good friends, good food and laughter.

I hope you like it too.

Giveaway

In celebration of my blogaversary Alice has given me some ecopies of Hope Breaks to give to you! They aren't your average copy either. At the back are a few exclusive posts and teasers just for you! Isn't that exciting? Enter in the rafflecoptor to win one of 10 ecopies of Hope Breaks. All my normal giveaway rules apply.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves / Showcase Sunday # 19

Showcase Sunday is hosted by Vicky @Books, Biscuits, and Tea and Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and they both give bloggers the opportunity to share the books they have received in the past week.

I have received a few books over the past week as well as a few other things because it was my birthday! I also have several giveaways going on at the moment for you to stack your own shelves which can all be found on my giveaway page. As usual if you click on the book's image you will be taken to its amazon page.

Birthday Stuff

I received a couple of things of family for my birthday this week only one of which was a book as apparently "I have too many already". My favourite items were from my boyfriend as they were presented in the best way possible. I only have a final picture but it was as follows - a giant box which when I opened contained a smaller box and a bunch of bags of my favourite (and really hard to get sweets). That box then contained ANOTHER BOX as well as a gift card to Nando's (my favourite food place) and a paperback copy of Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky # 2). The final box was filled with rose petals and a really romantic letter; oh and we are going on holiday at the end of summer :D

Other things I got included a purse, chocolate and an amazon gift card.

Review

Shudder is the sequel to Stitch which is one of my favourite books so far this year.



I also received an unsolicited review copy of Missing Ellenfrom The O'Brien Press. It sounds pretty good and is really short so I will probably read it.

Bought

One of the books I bought Bane is now free along with all of the books in the series. You should get them as they are all awesome (I got two of the others gifted this week); the first book is Cursed. Reborn is a pre-order so I will not actually get it until July. Siege and Storm is a paperback and was bought with some of my birthday money.



Freebies



Won

I won a book from Nadia @ Total Book Nerd but as it was not available for the UK I was allowed to choose a book or two of my choice up to the same amount. I chose these as I loved the first 2 books in the series and they are both now free along with all the other books in the series.



Miscellaneous



Recently the amazing Cora Carmack visited England and whilst she was here she did an event with lots of bloggers. Unfortunately I could not attend but the lovely Debbie @ Snuggling On The Sofa offered to get my copy of Losing It signed for me. When I got it back there was also a signed copy of Faking It for me which was incredibly awesome.

So what do you think? Are there any books you have read or plan to read? Feel free to link to your Stacking the Shelves or equivalent post in the comments.

Stacking the Shelves / Showcase Sunday #13

Showcase Sunday is hosted by Vicky @Books, Biscuits, and Tea and Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and they both give bloggers the opportunity to share the books they have received in the past week.

It has been 2 weeks since i last did one of because i was on hiatus last week due to my exams. All my exams have now finished and i now have time to read again! Here are the lovely books i received over the past 2 weeks.

For Review



Shadow and Bone

*Paperback*

Shadow and Bone was released in the UK last year under the title The Gathering Dark. Now that it has been optioned for a film it is being re-released with the same title as in the US. I am really looking forwards to reading it as i have been interested for a long time.

Thank you to Nina from Indigo/Orion for the review copy.





Enemy Within

Last year i fell in love with a book called Descended By Blood the sequel is now finally out and i am unbelievable excited to read it though i may give the first book a reread before reading the second.

Thank you to the author Angeline Kace for the review copy








Untouched

Untouched is the novella length prequel to Unbroken (which is currently on sale on Amazon). I haven't yet read Unbroken but both books sound really interesting and they are New Adult novel which you all know i love.

Thank you to the author Melody Grace for the review copy.








More Than You Know

I am part of a blog tour for this book next week. It sounds really good and i am also in love with the cover though i don't fully understand why. I think it is the simplistic beauty.

Thank you to CBL book tours for the review copy.








Always Remember

Emma Hart is an amazing (and British!) New Adult author. I have loved all her books and have reviewed several of them on my blog including the previous books in this series Never Forget and Holding On. I am part of a blog tour for this book soon.

Thank you to the author Emma Hart and Dani Morales who is the lovely blog tour organiser for all of Emma's books for the review copy.





Secret For a Song

Secret For A Song is a New Adult novel that deals with some very serious and dark issues. It sounds really different to the standard NA novel and i can't wait to read it. I am part of the blog tour for this book in June. This author is also getting involved with my blogaversary next month so expect a chance to win a copy :)

Thank you to Giselle @ Xpresso book tours for the review copy.





The Forgotten Ones

I have been wanting this book for a while, and i do mean a while! It caught my attention ages ago and it sounds great. I can't wait to read it and yet again this is for a blog tour i am part of.

Thank you to AToMR tours for the review copy.








Eversea

I was contacted by the author months ago about reviewing this book once she had it ready. I now have it and can't wait to start reading. Also isn't this cover lovely? The author had some issues surrounding the original cover but i think this one is even nicer.







Netgalley/Edelweiss

Thank you to the publishers for accepting my requests to read these books; Harper Collins/William Morrow books, Atria and Curiosity Quills Press. You have no idea how much it means to me (especially this week. I could kiss whoever accepted me to read Stealing Harper).


Stealing Harper

Most of you know how much i loved Taking Chances, if not you can check out my review here. Even though part of me didn't want to (you'll understand if you have read the first book) i simply HAD to read Stealing Harper which is Taking Chances from Chase's point of view. I have already read it and it is amazing but also one of the saddest books i have read in my life. I think i now need therapy to feel happy again.

I NEED more of Molly McAdams books. The next is coming in October and I can not wait :)




This Girl

I loved Slammed and so far I have really enjoyed the two alternative pov books I have read (Walking Disaster and Stealing Harper) so i am very hopeful that This Girl will be incredible.










Faking It

Losing It was such a funny, feel good awkward romance and i can't wait to see what Cora is going to bring with Faking It. I'm loving the sound of it and i can't wait to start reading.










Kiya

I don't read much historical romance but this one really grabbed my attention. It sounds incredible and it is always nice to broaden your horizons by reading a genre you normally avoid. This definitely seems like the right book to try to expand my love of historical novels.







Bought



Between The Lines

*Paperback*

I have been wanting to start this series by Tammara Webber for a while and after seeing it in a bookshop after my exams had finished i decided to treat myself.








The Fault in Our Stars

*Paperback*

I actually bought this as a gift for my boyfriend but i know i will probably end up borrowing it to read myself at some point. I have heard amazing things about this apparently deeply emotional and moving novel.








Taking chances

*Paperback*

As i  have mentioned many times before (including previously in this post) i love Taking Chances and it is one of my favourite NA books. I received an amazon.com gift card a while ago and i decided to use it to buy myself this in paperback even though i already have it on my kindle.







Angelfall

*Paperback*

This is another book i got from amazon with the gift card. I have it on my kindle also and it is amazing. Also for anyone who is interested it is ridiculously cheap on amazon.








Selling Scarlett

This is a New Adult romance that has a strong mystery element. It is very good and not what i was expecting. It is much less erotic than you might guess from the title, cover and synopsis.








Amazon Freebies

I got some great freebies this week. Some are books i have been wanting for awhile so i was very happy to discover them for free.



Ember X



Lucien's Hell Bound Angel



The Crimson Hunt



A Beautiful Struggle

So what do you think of the books i received this week? Are there any that you have read or are interested in? Feel free to link to your own Stacking the Shelves or equivalent post in the comments.