Cock and Bull by Laura Barnard

Synopsis:

Who knew that owning a pub would come with so many extras? When Phoebe and Ella Bellerose left England behind to run the Irish pub they’d inherited, it sounded like a great adventure… until they saw for themselves what a wreck they’d been left. With no experience, a severe lack of money, and a rival pub owner threatening to ruin them, the two girls aren’t convinced they can actually make this work. Not until they meet Clooney Breen, who just so happens to be packed with charm, charisma, and barman skills that could help them all survive. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s the son of Cock & Bull’s biggest rival, and he’s desperate to help Ella and Phoebe teach his father a lesson.

But can mysterious Clooney, with his obvious secrets and desire to be their saviour, really be trusted? Or are they being played by this handsome lothario who seems too good to be true? Their problems only seem to grow and grow, until Phoebe discovers a ‘gift’ of her own that changes everything for all of them…

Page Count: 288

Publication Dates:

Kindle Edition: 28th July 2020

My Review:

When I saw Laura had a new book out and was looking for people to review it, I just knew I had to sign up! I read two of her books last year and really enjoyed them so it was guaranteed that this would be a good read and it didn’t let me down!

Where do I start reviewing and summing up my thoughts about this book. I thought at first it would be a bit boring with the girls doing the pub up but it was actually quite interesting and could imagine the pub and how terrible it must of been when they first arrived! 

Not only does Ella has have a pub to do up, be he sensible one out of the sisters and ignoring the rude comments about being English. She has to put up with Clooney - the good looking, ladies man and can use his skills behind the bar as well. Another reason why they should work together - his dad runs the other pub in town: which then sparks a quite amusing payback to teach other, for example: cutting the electrics, planting dead rats and many other things!

Also, I was smiling so hard at the epilogue (four years into the future),m I just loved the ending - I'm now off to go add all of Laura's books onto my wish list - minus the 2 I read last year

Overall, I think if you like books about a small town, enemies to lovers romance or you'll enjoy this and if you're a fan of Olivia Spring books this is defo a book for you!

Here is link to buy it as a Kindle Edition, it's also on kindle unlimited and like mentioned above it's publication date is the 28th July 

The Middle Aged Virgin in Italy by Olivia Spring

Synopsis: 

When Sophia moves to Tuscany to join the hot Italian-stallion she’s fallen head over heels in love with, she dreams of an idyllic life filled with passion, pasta, sunshine and her favourite gelato. But will the reality live up to the fairy-tale? The Middle-Aged Virgin in Italy is a fun, sexy sequel about stepping out of your comfort zone and keeping the spark alive in a relationship. If you like Sophie Kinsella and Sophie Ranald, you’ll love the latest novel in Olivia Spring’s page-turning, romantic comedy series. Can a holiday romance lead to long-term love?

Publication Date: 16th July 2020

My Thoughts:

Olivia Spring is one of my favourite authors and I love every single book that she writes, so I was super happy when she asked me to review this book! I really wanted to know hat would happen to Sophia in Italy and read this book in a matter of a few days!

After I finished The Middle Aged Virgin, I just knew I had to find what happened next to Sophia, the baby and Lorenzo. 

As predicted, I fell back into her life and could just imagine a the little Italian village where she was currently living. The residents are rude and don’t speak english and her mother in law is just as horrible as I imagined her to be. The thing with Olivia’s writing is that I could just picture Martha and her lack on speaking the English language (or can she)?

Honestly I loved the deepening relationship between Lorenzo and Sophia, the surprise trip to Florence and the surprise arrangements during the trip. If I was more confident, I would love to drive around the city on a vespa - how cool would it look?

Sophia is also lonely and struggling learning Italian - so luckily she combines both together and goes to classes and meets some new friends! 

I really could write every single thing that happened in this book, but instead I will just summarise the bits I loved most: the friendships Sophia has - both old and new, the struggle with trying to have the body she reads about in all the beauty magazines, struggling with not only the locals but also the mother in law and lastly the love she has for Lorenzo and how he helps her with all different aspects of her life!

To order the book, I'll attach the link to buy it on Amazon or free if you have kindle unlimited Kindle Book

About the author:

Olivia Spring is a British, London-based writer of contemporary women's fiction, sexy chick lit and romantic comedy. Her uplifting debut novel 'The Middle-Aged Virgin', which was released in July 2018, deals with being newly single in your thirties and beyond, dating, relationships, love, sex and living life to the full.

Olivia published three novels in 2019: 'Only When It's Love', 'Losing My Inhibitions' and 'Love Offline'.

When she's not writing, Olivia can be found making regular trips to Italy to indulge in pasta, pizza and gelato and of course, seeking inspiration for her next book!

Broken Flowers by Kate McQuaile

Synopsis:

Your mother. The one person you trust. What if you're wrong?
Widowed Nan is on her way to her beloved son's wedding. She should be excited, but she is dreading her return to Paradise Place - a small area of Notting Hill that she hasn't dared set foot on for decades. Nan had arrived there as a young girl in the late seventies, desperate for freedom and a career as an artist. But, drawn into a dark obsession that spun out of control, Nan was forced to flee.
And while the only thing seemingly connecting her son's wedding and her old secret life is Paradise Place, Nan quickly gets the impression that someone is watching her every move . . . someone she thought was dead.

Publication Dates:

Kindle Edition: 16th April 2020

Paperback: 9th July 2020

My Review:

I didn’t really like the start the start of the book and I wondered if I would actually enjoy this book? I was around 140 pages in and thought about not finishing it. I think if it wasn’t a book to review, I would have stopped reading by now. 

I decided to plough through this book as I was on a blog tour for it! And I'm glad I did carry on reading as after 200 pages the story actually finally started to make sense and all the characters secrets linked to each other!

I was about pages in when it finally got to the twist - thought there was to much storyline before it! I was right about one of the plots but I didn’t really put together what happens between Alice and Hugo. 

Well I finally got to the plot twist and I must say I wasn’t expecting that, there is two points that I didn’t think of/guessing. A few subtle hints: Eddie and Chris, was not expecting that showdown!

I gave this book a four star rating, as the beginning I really didn’t enjoy it but I really enjoyed the last lot of chapters. And I certainly wasn’t expecting that ending! 

Here is the link to buy on amazon: Kindle Edition

About the Author:

Kate McQuaile’s debut novel, What She Never Told Me, was published by Quercus in March 2016. Her second novel, Without A Word, was released in October 2017. Broken Flowers was published, also by Quercus, in April 2020.

Born in Drogheda on Ireland’s east coast, the setting for much of What She Never Told Me, Kate lives in London, where she worked as a journalist for many years. She has received several international journalism awards for her energy coverage.

Guilty Pleasure byTaryn Leigh Taylor

Synopsis:

A scandalous truth…

When Wes Brennan is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, Vivienne Grant must prove his innocence. The hotshot lawyer is also his ex, and now they’re spending their days―and nights―together. When the investigation unveils new secrets, will their passion survive the fallout?

Publication Date: 25th June 2020

My Review:

I'd first like to say this book is completely out of my normal genres and defiantly would never buy it for myself to read! But I was messaged asking if I would review and I couldn't say no

It’s extremely different to by normal go to genres but I was messaged to ask to review it. And if t I can say it actually had an interesting storyline beside all steamy scenes - and trust me there was lots😂🙈 (from page 20 and onwards) 

This is a book where I want to talk about all thing that have happened but I shan't as it would defo be giving away spoilers!

All I can say is that it involves a lot of over riding security systems, hacking computer software, legal talk and loads of steamy scenes  !!

This was a new author to me, and I can safely say that I will definitely be reading books by her in the future!


Buy it on Amazon here to send it to your kindle: Kindle Edition

About the Author 

Taryn Leigh Taylor likes dinosaurs, bridges and space, both personal and of the final-frontier variety. She shamelessly indulges in cliches, most notably her Starbucks addiction, her shoe hoard and her penchant for falling in lust with fictional men with great abs. She also really loves books, which is what sent her down the crazy path of writing one in the first place. 

Taryn Gets Social 

Website: tarynleightaylor.com

Facebook: facebook.com/tarynltaylor1

Twitter: twitter.com/tarynltaylor