The cover for this book caught my eye when it was mentioned on Twitter recently – isn’t it cute? The Jane Austen Marriage Manual is Kim Izzo’s debut novel and will be published by Hodder & Stoughton on 12th April. It sounds like a fab fun read and as an Austen fan it went straight on my wish list!

It`s a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen knew more about marriage than anyone else. `Never mind that she never got married herself…`

It`s in the midst of the recession when Kate, a freelance journalist and self-professed Jane Austen addict, finds herself single, unemployed and soon-to-be homeless `not to mention about to turn 40`.

In desperation she accepts a writing assignment to prove a theory that in the toughest economic times a wealthy man is the only must-have accessory. So, with just Jane Austen`s advice for company, she sets off to see if Mr Rich can ever become Mr Right.

Her mission takes her to Palm Beach, St Moritz and London. Where, in keeping company with the elite, she meets billionaires, oil tycoons, and generally men who make Mr Darcy look like an amateur. But will rubbing shoulders with men of good fortune ever actually lead her to love?

Does every relationship deserve a second chance?

When chief romantic Rose Delaney scores her dream job at London’s quirkiest new attraction, The Museum of Broken Hearts, she thinks she’s got it made. Sure, it’s a little depressing dealing with relics of failed relationships each day, but Rose is determined not to let it break her ‘love conquers all’ spirit. After discovering the museum’s handsome curator is nursing a broken heart of his own, Rose steps in to fix it. Can Rose heal the rift, or will this happy ending go awry?

Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of Talli Roland’s novels so whilst I’m waiting eagerly for her next book to be released, I thought I’d read her novella Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts. For those who haven’t read any of Talli’s writing yet, this novella is the perfect opportunity to get a feel for her books. The story is full of Talli’s trademark warmth, humour and romance and I thought the idea of a Museum of Broken Hearts was quirky and original.

Rose is a hopeless romantic and very much an optimist and was a girl after my own heart from the beginning. As we meet her she’s working in the basement of the British Museum and thoroughly fed up with her fossil cataloguing job so when she sees the advert for a job at The Museum of Broken Hearts she has to apply! Despite the protestations of her best friend Mel who tells it like it is, Rose heads into the job full of enthusiasm and quickly decides that she needs to help her new (and very handsome) boss mend his own broken heart. Talli has created two lovely characters in Rose and Heath and the story is a clever take on both relationships and love with a couple of fab twists in the tale.

Some short stories are just that – a nice quick read but not much to them but I was impressed by the substance of this one. It’s an excellent read and very much worth the pennies that it cost to download.

*STOP PRESS* Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts is FREE to download on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com today so grab it quick!

You can find out more abou Talli and her books at: http://talliroland.blogspot.com/

After the break up of a long-term relationship Lisa escapes to the remote Isles of Scilly, twenty eight miles off the coast of Cornwall, for a new year reunion with old college friends. But as winter weather sweeps across Britain the airports close and only two people make it: Lisa and Dominic. She always thought him attractive and he still is, but he doesn’t even seem to remember her.

Kate Allan’s romantic short e-book novella Snowbound on the Island was released last week and is a very appropriate read for the current UK weather!

Lisa finds herself thrown together with handsome Dominic as they await the arrival of the rest of their university friends (who have been stranded in the snow) for a new year celebration on the Isles of Scilly. I thought this story was a fab quick romantic read with a plausible plot and two likeable characters in Lisa and Dominic. Despite this being a short story, Kate Allan really brings out her two characters’ personalities. I loved that Dominic hadn’t really noticed Lisa in the past which created a great tension between them. As the two make the best of the situation sparks begin to fly making Snowbound on the Island a romantic winter warmer!

You can find out more about Kate and her writing on her website at: http://kateallan.com/

The lovely Choc Lit gang revealed the cover for Jane Lovering’s next novel Vampire State of Mind over on their Facebook page the other day. Isn’t it gorgeous? And such a fab title too. Described as “Choc Lit’s version of Buffy”, I can’t wait to read this one. Vampire State of Mind is out in August – perfect timing for your beach reading list!

Check out One More Page’s Facebook page for more book news and gossip!

Slave to the rich and the rude, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she’s a high-flying tabloid reporter. When she meets Jeremy Ritchie — the hang-dog man determined to be Britain’s Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between — Serenity knows she’s got a story no editor could resist.

With London’s biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy’s progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success. But when Jeremy’s surgery goes drastically wrong and she’s ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, Serenity must decide how far she really will go for her dream job.

Build A Man is Talli Roland’s third novel and although I’ve enjoyed them all, this is my favourite so far! I said in a previous review that I thought Talli had really found her niche in writing chick lit with an edge that is fun, modern and romantic and Build A Man is another brilliant example of this; the plot is original and fun but still manages to make you think, the hero and heroine are well developed and genuinely likeable but by no means perfect and the romance is spot on and actually believable.

I think Talli’s novels feel very ‘of the moment’ because they look at trends such as reality TV (The Hating Game), YouTube and the cult of celebrity (Watching Willow Watts) and Build A Man continues the theme by focusing on the tabliod press and cosmetic surgery. Leading lady Serenity Holland is the link between the two; she’s desperate to break into tabloid journalism and is handed the perfect story whilst working as a receptionist at the ‘Transforma Harley Street Clinic’.

When Jeremy Richie walks into the clinic determined to turn himself into a prize catch by changing everything about his appearance, Serenity leaps at the chance to make her tabloid dreams come true and unbeknown to Jeremy a tabloid star is born. The lengths Serenity goes to to keep Jeremy and her cosmetic surgeon boyfriend, Peter in the dark whilst gathering her story and juggling her clinic job and her new reporter role are inspired and make for a lot of humour in the early parts of the novel. Coupled with Serenity’s caustic thoughts on the clients at the clinic, Build a Man is a very funny novel.

But as well as fun and humour, there is a serious and as the novel progresses, dramatic darker side to the story. Talli balances the two perfectly resulting in a story that entertains and makes you think. As the drama unfolds, the romantic element to the story steps up a gear too and I found myself completely gripped wondering what the outcome would be. Both Serenity and Jeremy are very believable characters and I genuinely wanted a good outcome for both of them. Talli has also created an excellent supporting cast and the secondary storyline involving Talli’s best friend Kirsty had me just as engrossed as the main plot.

With Build A Man, Talli has firmly established herself as one of my ‘must read’ authors and I’m very much looking forward to the sequel Construct A Couple.

5/5

I’d like to thank Talli for providing a copy of Build A Man for review.

You can find out more about Talli and her novels at: http://www.talliroland.com/

London, 1914. Belle Reilly finally has the life she’s dreamed of thanks to a devoted husband in Jimmy and the hat shop she’s wanted to own since she was a child. But as the storm clouds of World War One begin to gather, Belle’s already turbulent life is to change in ways she never imagined possible.

When Jimmy enlists in the army and leaves for the battlefields of Ypres, her world is shattered and she realises she can no longer stand by and watch, she must volunteer to help the wounded. But her work as a Red Cross ambulance driver in France throws her into the path of Etienne, the enigmatic man who played a significant role in her childhood, and Belle finds herself torn agonisingly between forbidden passion and loyalty to a good man.

But the past returns to haunt her present in other – more unpleasant – ways and Belle’s character is put to the test like never before. Can she survive this most brutal of wars with her spirit intact? And will destiny finally lead her to lasting happiness even while war rages all around?

The Promise is Lesley Pearse’s twentieth novel and sequel to her number one bestseller Belle. Firstly, I’d like to say, don’t worry if you haven’t read Belle – I haven’t and The Promise works perfectly well as a standalone novel. There are plenty of references to the past, but any blanks are filled in as the story is told. I certainly don’t feel I suffered for not having read Belle but because I enjoyed The Promise so much I’ve already downloaded Belle to my Kindle!

The Promise tells the story of Belle Reilly’s life from 1914-1919, set against the backdrop of the First World War and had me gripped from start to finish. This is the first of Lesley’s books that I’ve read and I can’t believe it’s taken me until now to discover her! I love sagas like this and in Belle, Lesley has created a character that I liked and cared about immediately. From the beginning it’s clear that Belle hasn’t had the easiest of starts in life but as the novel opens we find that she’s happily married with her own business and a well thought of member of the community in Blackheath where she lives. Circumstances soon conspire to thwart Belle’s happiness and she displays amazing strength and perseverance as she copes with the hand she’s been dealt and this was one of the traits that I liked most about her as a character.

At over five hundred pages, this is a substantial read that will draw you in to Belle’s world and leave you sad to say goodbye at the end but despite the length, I found it a quick and engrossing read. Pearse is a skilled storyteller and The Promise is an emotional read with some surprising plot twists. I loved the historical aspect to the book and the experiences of Belle, Jimmy and the rest of the cast of characters made the impact of the war and the changes in society because of it feel very real and personal. I’m not a fan of battle scenes in books but there was just the right amount of detail to gain my empathy and understanding and I found Belle’s experiences as a volunteer ambulance driver fascinating.

The Promise is very much a love story and alongside a lot of heartbreak there are plenty of romantic moments in the book and I loved the romantic sub-stories – especially Belle’s friend Miranda’s. As the war ends and the novel draws to a close Belle is still only in her early twenties which leaves plenty of scope for Lesley Pearse to revisit the character in future and I very much hope she does as I’d love to know what happens to Belle next.

4/5

The Promise is released today and I’d like to thank Emma at ed public relations for sending me a review copy.

You can find out more about Lesley Pearse and her books at: http://www.lesleypearse.com/

Tarquin, the powerful Duke of Sconce, knows perfectly well that the decorous and fashionably slender Georgiana Lytton will make him a proper duchess. So why can’t he stop thinking about her twin sister, the curvy, headstrong, and altogether unconventional Olivia? Not only is Olivia betrothed to another man, but their improper – albeit intoxicating – flirtation makes her unsuitability all the more clear. Determined to make a perfect match, he methodically cuts Olivia from his thoughts, allowing logic and duty to triumph over passion . . . until, in his darkest hour, Tarquin begins to question whether perfection has anything to do with love. To win Olivia’s hand he would have to give up all the beliefs he holds most dear, and surrender heart, body and soul – but it may already be too late.

The Duke is Mine is the third book in Eloisa James’s Happy Ever After Series; a set of Regency romances based on popular fairytales. I read and enjoyed the first book in the series, A Kiss at Midnight last year and The Duke is Mine continues the series in style.

The fairy tale in question this time is The Princess and the Pea which was a childhood favourite of mine so I was intrigued to see how the story would be presented as a 400 page Regency romance novel. In this case, the fairytale is followed more in principal than detail; the story focuses on twin sisters Olivia and Georgiana who have been raised by their parents to be duchesses one day. Both sisters are intelligent and beautiful but that is where the similarity ends. Georgiana has taken her training to heart, moulding herself in to the perfect Duchess in waiting. Olivia on the other hand has learned her lessons as well as Georgiana but takes great pleasure in disregarding them completely to the point of impropriety!

The pair finds themselves invited to the estate of the Duke of Sconce where his mother hopes to choose a suitable wife for him. Olivia, who is already betrothed is sent along as companion for Georgiana but as their carriage is overturned and she meets the Duke soaked from head to foot (just like the princess in the fairytale), it soon becomes clear that the relationships in the novel are not going to be clear cut.

As with A Kiss Midnight there is a lot of humor in the novel and I love Eloisa James’s fun lighthearted writing style. In Olivia she has excelled herself at creating a feisty and funny leading lady, not afraid to throw caution to the wind.  The supporting cast also provide for much amusement although this novel does also have several sad and serious undertones, for example, Olivia is betrothed to Rupert Blakemore, the future Duke of Canterwick who suffered brain damage at a young age. Her jests on his behalf actually made for uncomfortable reading at times but thankfully Olivia does grow up during the book and I was pleased to see that her thoughts, comments and actions changed as the story progressed.

As a character, Olivia tied me in knots as her actions and comments aren’t always agreeable but on the other hand she is such a fun and loving character that I couldn’t help like her. As I finished reading, I did find myself wishing that there was more on the fate of her sister Georgiana as the epilogue at the end of the book gives just a couple of tantalising details and I’m one of those readers who likes to know what happens next to everyone! Overall, I found this an enjoyable escapist read with plenty of witty dialogue, hot romance and a lively story.

4/5

The Duke is Mine is out now and I’d like to thank Madeleine at Little Brown for sending me a review copy.

You can find out more about Eloisa James and her novels at:  http://www.eloisajames.com/

Penniless and 34th in line to the throne, Georgiana Rannoch finds herself in a truly draining state of affairs. To escape her hateful brother, Georgie accepts an invitation from the Queen to represent the royals at a wedding in Transylvania. But at the macabre-looking castle, Georgie finds the bride with blood running down her chin and a wedding guest poisoned. Now it’s up to Georgie to save the festivities before the couple’s vows become ‘to love and to cherish, till undeath do we part’.

One of my many New Year reading resolutions is to try to vary my reading and try some new genres so I was pleased when this book came my way. Royal Blood is the fourth book in the Royal Spyness Mystery Series and combines two of my favourite genres (historical fiction and romance) with something new for me; crime and mystery and I found it a very enjoyable read.

The story is told in the first person from the point of view of Lady Georgiana, cousin to the King of Engand and 34th in line to the throne. I liked Georgiana immediately; she’s lighthearted and fun and I loved her take on both her situation and the people around her. Georgiana is twenty-two; her family are desperate for her to marry and make a good match and she’s a lovely mix of slightly scatty, confidence and occasional bursts of insight.

I loved the 1930′s setting and I was surprised how little of the story actually focussed on the murder which doesn’t actually happen until around half way through the book. Royal Blood is as much about Georgiana and her life as it is about her attendance at a royal wedding in Transylvania. The story starts in depression-era London and moves on to a remote and spooky castle in Romania. Lady Georgiana finds herself faced with a host of strange goings on at the spooky castle and the vampire references added a fun twist to the story.

As this is the fourth book in the series I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t be able to pick up the story but it reads perfectly well as a standalone novel. I would like to go back and read the rest of the series now though as I’d love to get to know Georgiana, her friends and family better, particularly Georgiana’s love interest, the mysterious Darcy O’Mara. I also love the gorgeous illustrated covers for this series and think the whole collection would look lovely on my bookshelf!

I’m not normally one for murder mysteries but there was plenty in this novel to hold my attention and the book is much more than I would have imagined a murder mystey to be! At just over 300 pages, Royal Blood is a quick read and from what I’ve seen, this is the ideal mystery series for chick lit fans as Lady Georgiana makes a fun and amusing heroine as she tries to find the right man and escape her overbearing relatives. I liked the glam 1930′s setting and the humour and I will definitely read more of the series.

3/5

Royal Blood is published on 5th January by Prime Crime and I’d like to thank Ellie at Turnaround for sending me a review copy.

This year I read 76 books  – that’s two more than last year! To end the year, I’ve chosen my ten favourite books that were published in 2011 and have provided links to my reviews where possible. I found it really hard to narrow my choice down to just ten books this year and even more impossible to pick an absolute favourite as I enjoyed different novels at different times for very different reasons. This year I’ve expanded on the top ten with some ‘favourites’ categories and a ‘readers’ choice’ section for the most popular (most visited) reviews this year. So without further ado, my books of the year, in release date order are:

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (published in January by Headline)

Vampires, witches and daemons; a magical manuscript, rich historical detail and fascinating characters. This was a brilliant paranormal romance to start the year with and  I can’t wait for the follow up Shadow of the Night to be released in July 2012.

The Taker by Alma Katsu (published by Century in April)

A dark and gripping paranormal romance with no vampires! The Taker is a very original take on the immortal love story with the driving force behind most of the action being unrequited love. I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel The Reckoning in June.

The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord-Brown (published by Corvus in April)

I love the title for this book which was the nickname given by fighter pilots to the women who volunteered to fly planes like Spitfires from factories to British airfields during World War Two. In The Beauty Chorus Kate Lord Brown skillfully combines the true historical facts (166 women joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) risking their lives to ferry planes across the country) with the fictional story of three very different women to create a thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking novel.

From London With Love by Jemma Forte (published by Penguin in July)

A fun summer chick lit read that had me gripped and one of my favourite covers of the year too. The Bond theme adds a touch of A-list glamour to the story and as Jessica ties herself in knots trying to keep her identity a secret, From London with Love has a great message about not judging a book by its over and being who you really are.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield (published by Harper in July)

Jenny Wingfield’s debut is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve read it and 11 year old Swan Lake is one of my favourite characters of the year. Set in 1950′s Arkansas, the story is heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures and beautifully written following the trials and tribulations of the wonderful Moses clan. My full review will be coming in January.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline ( published in August by Century)

A suprise hit for me! Ernest Cline has created a brilliantly thought out and detailed future dystopian world; combined it with a fantastic virtual reality treasure hunt based on music, film and gaming nostalgia from the 1980′s and underlined it all with (the biggest surprise for me as I read) a really sweet coming of age love story.

Netherwood by Jane Sanderson (published in September by Sphere)

Netherwood is a thoroughly enjoyable historical saga and a fantastic debut from Jane Sanderson. I was completely drawn in to the world that Jane has created, loving both the historical detail and the variety and depth of characters that populate this book.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (published by Harvill Secker in September)

A gorgeous book and an amazing debut from Erin Morgenstern. I loved the story of the mysterious black and white Circus which only opens at night. The book is packed with magic and intrigue. I’ve only just finished reading this one but it shot straight into my top ten!

Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris (published in October by Simon and Schuster)

Another of my favourite covers of the year. A classy story filled with vintage glamour. Miracle on Regent Street is Ali Harris’s debut novel and what a debut. Heartfelt, warm, romantic and a lovely Christmassy story too.

It Started with a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson (published by Avon in November)

Last but by no means least, Miranda Dickinson’s third novel is Chick lit perfection from the sparkly pink cover to the brilliantly romantic ending and I thoroughly enjoyed every page in between as Romily Parker goes on a year long search for the handsome hero who kissed her and vanished!

2011 Favourites …

The whole package: The Night Circus

Although I love my Kindle, it will never replace physical books for me and books like this are the reason why. I splashed out on the gorgeous hard back when it was published and I love the book design as much as the story!

Cover love: Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris

The cover for this book is really striking and picks up the tone of the book perfectly.

Heroine: Gracie Flowers from (Un)like a Virgin by Lucy-Anne Holmes

Gracie had me smiling from the first page with her wry observations on her job, her boyfriend, friends and family and she’s one of my favourite leading chick it ladies of all time!

Hero: Prince Richard from To Marry a Prince by Sophie Page

I thought this book was a real gem of a romantic comedy and I loved Prince Richard who comes across as a fab leading man – by no means perfect, he has some brilliantly funny and romantic scenes but never seems over the top.

Support: Uncle Dudley and Auntie Mags from It Started With a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson

Dispensers of love, wisdom and support from their narrow-boat home to Romily as she undertakes her quest. They are instrumental in keeping Romily going but are also responsible for much of the book’s warm humour and I loved Aunty Mags’ ‘Cake Therapy’!

The perfect ending: Breakfast At Darcy’s by Ali McNamara

Ali McNamara retains her crown for queen of the romantic ending with a beautiful finale to her latest novel that left me with a big smile on my face.

Readers’ choice: Top five most read reviews of 2011

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2. To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell

3. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

4. The Taker by Alma Katsu

5. Beautiful Creatures by Lulu Taylor

So that’s my year in books; are your favourites on the list? I’m looking forward to sharing many more reviews with you during 2012 and wish you all a very happy and bookish New Year! x

I’ve been settling down by the Christmas tree with some festive short stories this week. If you don’t want to read a full on Christmas novel or don’t have the time, there are a some great e-book Christmas short stories out now. Here are my favourites:

Tinseltown by Victoria Fox

Dom Judd is the hottest man in Hollywood. He’ll do anything to get out of being a sexy Santa in Hollywood’s famous Tinseltown parade…but can he persuade his brother to take the reins? Waitress Clare has just been dumped. Playing Rudolph is hardly going to help her single status – until she sees how drop-dead gorgeous Father Christmas is! Laney Allen has shot to fame, but hates the limelight – and it seems only Santa can help her overcome her stage-fright… As the snow falls and sleigh bells ring, whose Tinseltown dreams will come true?

I loved Victoria’s debut Hollywood Sinners when it came out earlier this year and Tinseltown is a fun Christmas treat with plenty of Hollywood scandal. Add this one to your list if you want to experience the festivities LA style with a hot Santa and a superstar who is scared of Christmas! This ebook also includes an extract from Victoria’s next book Temptation Island and is free to download from Amazon.

A Cornish Christmas by Nell Dixon

Adam wants Meg to be more than a friend but Meg has her reasons for not wanting to move their relationship forward. It takes a stray dog, an emergency at sea and a touch of Christmas to show Meg her true feelings.

This is a really sweet short romantic read and I didn’t want it to end. Despite only having a short time to get to know them, I thought the characters were excellent and the will they/won’t they aspect to Meg and Adam’s relationship had me gripped. The story takes place during the New Bay Winter Carnival weekend and the festive descriptions are lovely making this a gem to cosy up with and a quick read to get you in the Christmas spirit. A Cornish Christmas is the third in the series of ‘Short and Sweet’ New Bay stories following on from Making Waves and September Song. You don’t need to have read the others to enjoy this story but I had to download them after enjoying A Cornish Christmas so much!

Christmas the Following Year by Carole Matthews

When I finish a book, I always wonder what happened next and Carole Matthews has provided a lovely treat for fans of her latest book Wrapped up in You with a short story that takes place at the Christmas after Wrapped up in You ends. I loved reading what happened next to Janie, Dominic, Mike, Nina and the residents of Nashley. To get your hands on this free download just sign up to Carole’s newsletter on her website: http://www.carolematthews.com/sign-up-to-my-newsletter/

Santa, Maybe by Scarlett Bailey

When 31 year old Amy Tucker wakes up on Christmas Eve to find an attractive man dressed in a Santa suit in her bedroom the shock is nothing compared to her disbelief when he tells her he is actually Santa, produces an Elf outfit and tells her that if she wants her Christmas wish to come true, she must become his ‘little-ish’ helper for the night. Certain she must be dreaming, Amy agrees and sets off on the adventure of a life time, taking her on a magical journey and showing her the secret to making her dreams comes true is more incredible than she could have imagined..

I posted about this short story a couple of weeks ago; Scarlett Bailey is releasing part of it each day until December 24th as an advent calendar but I just had to mention it again here as it just so much fun! Scarlett did a little Twitter competition last week to win the chance to have a character named after you in one of the episodes and I won! My star appearance was yesterday and totally made my day. Catch up with the story so far at: http://adventcalendr.com/scarlettbailey/

Six Geese A-Laying by Sophie Kinsella

Christmas is approaching, and Ginny is looking forward to the birth of her first baby. It’s a pity her partner Dan is so useless, and she has to keep reminding him where he’s going wrong. Luckily she’s enrolled into the most exclusive antenatal class going – all the highest achieving, smartest mothers-to-be aspire to be taught by the legendary Petal Harmon. Like the other five women in the class, Ginny already knows exactly what she wants, and how she’s going to handle motherhood.But when they turn up for the final class it isn’t quite what they expect. As Ginny discovers what parenthood is really going to be like, she begins to realize the things that really matter…

This mini-short story is a quick fun read which gives a nod to the Christmas classic A Christmas Carol. The download also includes the first chapter of Sophie’s next book I’ve Got Your Number. It’s free to download from Amazon