Is love at first sight too hot to handle?

After a decade in love with dashing Francis, Allegra North thought that the grass was greener on the other side of the fence and they parted. But a year later she returns to the beautiful Devon coast where romance first blossomed, believing she must rekindle the old flame to save her sanity, her family and her career.

But childhood sweetheart Francis has a ravishing new girlfriend, Kizzy, and he only seems interested in faking romance with Allegra to settle family politics. As summer storms circle, the exes juggle badly behaving parents, vengeful family members, and a very reluctant celebrity who holds the key to everybody’s future. When a chance encounter threatens to spark something that could burn bridges as fast as she can build them, Allegra faces a dilemma: Should she rekindle her old flame, or trust in love at first sight . . .?

I really enjoyed Sealed With a Kiss, Fiona Walker’s short story prequel to The Love Letter – it left me wanting to find out what happened next and learn more about main character Allegra (Legs) North and her love life! The Love Letter certainly delivers on that front, giving our heroine not one, not two, but three very different love interests during the course of the novel. This is a big caper of a novel filled with a huge cast of eccentric characters and lots of romance and comedy and despite a slow start, I found it an enjoyable read.

Allegra came across as a fun and funny character. She works for a literary agency and her emails to reclusive super-author Gordon Lapis made me laugh out loud. She’s certainly a lady who says what she thinks! Allegra manages to get herself into a number of awkward situations during the course of the novel, not least having to return to Farcombe, the home of her childhood sweetheart (and recipient of the title love letter) Francis to try to persuade him to allow Gordon to reveal is true identity at the highly selective Farcombe festival.

The story takes off as Allegra arrives in Farcombe with a complex web of family feuds, affairs and double crosses. At times I found it hard to keep all the characters and their histories in my head but the descriptions of the fictional village in which the story is set are lovely and through its varied inhabitants, I felt like I knew the place. I loved the local pub/restaurant/B&B, The Book Inn and thought the literary references throughout the book were nicely done.

At almost 700 pages, there is a lot of plot in The Love Letter and several key story lines. The reveal storyline for Gordon Lapis, author of a bestselling Children’s magical adventure series was my favourite thread and I loved the twists to the tale as his real identity was revealed. The love letter story line also kept me guessing as I wondered who Allegra would eventually end up with and I was surprised by the turns that the romantic side of the book took, especially as the mysterious Mr Byrne entered the frame.

The Love Letter is a fun, lighthearted romp of a read with a gorgeous Devon setting, an entertaining cast of characters and a romantic storyline that will keep you guessing to the end. I was pleased to see in my interview with Fiona earlier that she plans to revisit some of the other characters from Sealed with a Kiss in her next book and I’m looking forward to reading more from Fiona in future.

3/5

You can find out more about Fiona and her books on her website at: http://www.fionawalker.com/

Today One More Page is celebrating the publication of The Love Letter by Fiona Walker. I hope you enjoyed my interview with Fiona earlier. Thanks to fab publisher Sphere I have five copies of The Love Letter to give away to lucky readers.

To enter just leave a ‘pick me’ comment in the box below and I’ll draw five winners using random.org after the closing date.

UK entries only please. Entries will close at midnight on Saturday 5th May.

Is love at first sight too hot to handle?

After a decade in love with dashing Francis, Allegra North thought that the grass was greener on the other side of the fence and they parted. But a year later she returns to the beautiful Devon coast where romance first blossomed, believing she must rekindle the old flame to save her sanity, her family and her career.

But childhood sweetheart Francis has a ravishing new girlfriend, Kizzy, and he only seems interested in faking romance with Allegra to settle family politics. As summer storms circle, the exes juggle badly behaving parents, vengeful family members, and a very reluctant celebrity who holds the key to everybody’s future. When a chance encounter threatens to spark something that could burn bridges as fast as she can build them, Allegra faces a dilemma: Should she rekindle her old flame, or trust in love at first sight . . .?

Today I’m very pleased to welcome Fiona Walker to the interview spot as part of the blog tour for her new novel The Love Letter which was released last week. Welcome Fiona!

The Love Letter is your twelfth novel; how do you keep coming up with new ideas and what was your inspiration for this book?

I’m incurably nosy, and a very active imagination adds fuel – I only have to hear a snatch of overheard conversation to want to fill in all the gaps, whether by fact or fiction. I find stories everywhere, and have more issues trying to limit the number I put into each book than wondering what to write about. I rip pages from magazines and newspapers all the time, bookmark web features or see a new face across a room that I know has to belong to a book character. The initial idea for The Love Letter came from a magazine article about an eccentric and feuding family that runs an arts festival in their stately home, and when I added in the imaginary characters and romantic plot twists that had been queuing up in my head, it took off.

We’ve had a sneak preview of some of the characters in The Love Letter with the release of your first e-book short story, Sealed With A Kiss, which came out in March. Do all of the characters from Sealed With a Kiss feature in The Love Letter?

The star of the story is definitely the main book’s heroine Legs, but as I wrote it, I realised I had the makings of a new novel springboard in there too and two of the minor characters in Sealed With A Kiss actually go on to feature in my next book.  I always love the idea of characters walking from one book to another, which is why I sometimes write in series, although each book always has a stand-alone storyline, and The Love Letter is peopled with entirely new characters. Similarly, Sealed With A Kiss is intended to be a ‘mini bonkbuster’, so while it introduces The Love Letter cast, it has its own world.

Leading lady, Allegra (Legs) North really made me laugh as I was reading. For readers who have yet to meet her, please could you sum her up in five words?

Headstrong, compassionate, inquisitive, romantic and coffee-loving.

I loved eccentric and reclusive author Gordon Lapis and his emails and messages to Allegra made me smile; who was your favourite character to write?

I always relish writing the wild-men, so brooding Jago Byrne and misbehaving roué Hector Protheroe were huge fun to bring on, particularly the latter who was always half naked and carrying a bassoon, an image which cheered me through many a late night writing session.

The coastal Devon setting for The Love Letter is lovely; why did you choose this setting and do the places described actually exist?

Years ago when I was struggling to finish a book in the midst of a house move that was being held up by the Foot and Mouth outbreak, I rented a holiday ‘writing retreat’ cottage very cheaply and discovered the Hartland peninsular, where The Love Letter is set. I wrote by night and walked the dog by day and fell in love with the area. Fictional Farcombe village and its estate and coastline is an amalgamation of several places along that peninsular, but it became totally real in my imagination and I drew maps and sketched the houses to pin around the desk as writing aids.

Allegra sends a love letter explaining her regrets; what’s the most exciting piece of mail you’ve received?!

I have shoeboxes crammed with old letters dating back to university and beyond, and I’d love to say I had a wildly romantic correspondence with a lover, one side of which is still bound up in red ribbon in one of those boxes, but my taste in pragmatic, gung ho men has resulted in lots of postcards from adventurous spots and a few Valentine’s cards featuring gorillas in bras. The most exciting letter I ever received was probably from the (then) literary agent Carol Smith back in pre-email days when she replied to the unsolicited submission of my first novel with a letter that started ‘I LOVE the way you write!’ I must have read it a hundred times before I dared believe it.

What do you like to read when you’re not writing?

I prefer laughing out loud to crying or screaming into the pages, so I love Sadie Jones, Marian Keyes, M C Beaton and Marina Lewycka, and I read an awful lot on recommendation which has led me to discover wonderful writers like Esther Freud and Bella Pollen. I always have a teetering pile of books by my bed (and now that I have a Kindle, I have a stack of downloads queuing up to be read too), and I’m also a devoted re-reader, so a year will never go past when I don’t read a favourite Angela Carter, Jilly Cooper, Georgette Heyer or Tom Sharpe. Since the advent of small children and annual deadlines, I read far less than I used to, which I find hugely frustrating, but I will still stay up all night finishing a good book, and know of nothing to beat that total absorption.

And finally … what can we expect next from Fiona Walker?

My next book has no official title yet although I’ve nick-named it ‘Hot Air’ because it features hot air balloons on steamy summer days. It’s another big-hearted, big-cast romp, this time set between The Chilterns, LA, Andalucia and Kenya, focusing on a group of friends who studied drama together at university twenty years ago and share secrets that start to unravel when a daughter decides to get married. I’ve just delivered the first draft, packed full of eccentric characters, gorgeous Spanish horses and high jinx, and will edit it through summer ready for release next spring.

Many thanks Fiona!

Look out for my review of The Love Letter coming later today. I’ll also be launching a giveaway to win one of five copies of The Love Letter this afternoon so please stay tuned

You can find out more about Fiona and her novels and read an extract from The Love Letter on her website at: http://www.fionawalker.com/

Talli Roland’s latest newsletter included very exciting news about a new novel scheduled for release in November. The Pollyanna Plan sounds like another hit for Talli and I love the title and the cover.

Thirty-something Emma Beckett has always looked down on ‘the glass is half full’ optimists, believing it’s better to be realistic than delusional. But when she loses her high-powered job and fiancé in the same week, even Emma has difficulty keeping calm and carrying on.

With her world spinning out of control and bolstered by a challenge from her best friend, Emma makes a radical decision. For the next year, she’ll behave like Pollyanna: attempting to always see the upside, no matter how dire the situation.

Can adopting a positive attitude give Emma the courage to build a new life, or is finding the good in everything a very bad idea?

Thankfully we don’t have to wait until November for more from Talli. Her new novel, Construct a Couple, the sequel to the excellent Build a Man  is out as an ebook in June!

Find out more about Talli and her books at: http://talliroland.blogspot.co.uk

I’ve had this one on my wish list for a while and couldn’t resist posting the lovely cover. What I Did on My Holidays sounds like a fun and funny summer read and is released on 21st June.

Sophie Petworth can`t wait for her annual summer holiday. Not only will it be a week away from work, it will be a chance to reconnect with her boyfriend Callum.

So this upcoming trip to Majorca is a big deal. Sophie`s spent a lot of time getting ready. She`s bought a new wardrobe. She`s been waxed to within an inch of her life. She`s determined she and Callum will have the best time ever.

Then Callum dumps her, the night before they`re due to leave. In a show of bravery and independence, Sophie says she`ll go to Majorca alone – but in fact, she hides in her London flat. But when her friends, family, and even Callum seem so surprised and delighted at her single girl courage, Sophie decides to go all out and recreate the ultimate `fake break` . . . with hilarious results.

Vivian Lawson’s fantasy of being the perfect 1950s suburban housewife is shattered when an uncontrollable event changes her life forever.

Destitute and left to fend for herself in a man’s world, she searches her New England town unable to find a job. With nowhere to turn, Vivian takes the advice of her wisecracking best friend, Babs, and reluctantly becomes a Tupperware lady.

Vivian struggles with low self-esteem as well as stage fright but with the support of Babs’ lovesick brother, Stew, and the creator of Tupperware’s Home Party Plan system, Brownie Wise, she may just find the strength to conquer her inner demons and take control of her life.

Set in 1950′s suburban America, Leftovers tells the story of Vivian Lawson and the ups and downs of her life. This is the first novel I’ve seen described as a ‘romantic dramedy’ but the description fits perfectly and Leftovers ticked all the right boxes for me by combining elements from my favourite genres to create a memorable story that really stands out.

Initially, Leftovers is a sad tale as we meet the downtrodden Vivian who is trying her best to be a domestic goddess but failing at every turn. Aside from her domestic failings Vivian is desperately trying to please a husband who is less than interested, longing for a child and has a fraught relationship with her own mother. As the story progresses a dramatic turn of events sees Vivian hit rock bottom. It’s at this point that the story really took off for me. I love a good transformation tale and Vivian’s is one of the most entertaining and enchanting that I’ve read. To say that Vivian becomes a Tupperware lady is an understatement as she meets Tupperware goddess Brownie Wise and starts to turn her life around.

I loved the historical detail that Arthur packed into the novel. Wooten is a very visual writer and I could easily see a film or TV series based in Vivian’s 1950′s world. The Tupperware events in particular had me fascinated and I was surprised to find that Brownie Wise and her annual ‘Jubilee’ were actually historical fact. Although Leftovers  is a fairly lighthearted quick read it’s also a nice commentary on the roles and chances that were opening up to women at the time and the changes that have come about in society in the last 60 years.

The characters are well drawn and I loved the contrast between mousy Vivian and her outgoing friend Babs. As well as helping her friend out of an awful situation, it is Babs that brings a lot of the comedy element to the novel. Leftovers also has a quirky romantic side as Vivian flatly refuses to see what’s right in front of her own eyes (both the good and bad) for much of the novel. I thought the ending to the story was really sweet and although not preachy, this is a novel that puts a high value on friendship.

Leftovers is the second of Arthur’s novels that I’ve read and he’s fast becoming one of my favourite indie authors. With wonderful characters and a thoroughly entertaining story, I highly recommend having some Leftovers as soon as possible!

5/5

Leftovers is officially launched today and I’d like to thank Arthur for sending me a copy to review.

You can find out more about Arthur and his writing on his website at: http://www.arthurwooten.com

Take one aspiring cook, one judge, and a spoonful of romance…

When Zoe Harper wins a coveted place in a televised cookery competition she’s thrilled. It’s a chance to cook her way to fame and fortune and the little delicatessen she’s set her heart on.

The first task has hardly begun when she finds herself with rather too much on her plate. Not only has she got to contend with the fiercely competitive and downright devious Cher, but she’s fast developing an inconvenient crush on one of the judges – the truly delicious Gideon Irving.

All too soon there’s more than canapés, cupcakes and cordon bleu at stake. Will Zoe win the competition or is Gideon one temptation too far? And is Zoe really prepared to risk it all for love?

I read my first Katie Fforde book last year and loved Katie’s warm and easy writing style, likeable characters and the lovely summery romance of the story. I’m pleased to say Katie has done it again in Recipe for Love which is a must read for lovers of TV cookery programmes like The Great British Bake Off and Masterchef as it is set during a cookery competition.

The cooking challenges Zoe and her fellow competitors face make an excellent backdrop for the novel giving the plot plenty of variety and pace. I felt like I was being given a behind the scenes look at the contest and its contestants as I read about Zoe and her progress through the competition. Of course , this wouldn’t be a Katie Fforde novel with out the romantic element and this book has it in spades as Zoe finds herself attracted to Gideon Irving, one of the competition judges.

The chemistry between Zoe and Gideon is apparent immediately and there is a wonderful ‘will they/won’t they?’ tension to the book which is compounded by the fact that Zoe could jeopardize her place in the competition by being anything other than strictly professional with Gideon. I loved that Katie kept me guessing right to the end as to how their flirtation would turn out and as the story took some twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, I didn’t want to put the book down!

I liked Zoe very much and although she has a tendency to be helpful to the point of putting her own chances in the competition at risk, she came across as a genuinely likeable and nice person. I found myself rooting for her not just to do well in the competition but also for all the other aspects of her life and her dream of owning a deli to work out too.

The supporting cast are well written and bring a lot of humour to the novel; Zoe’s fellow competitor Cher acts as a wonderfully underhand spanner in the works throughout the story and I loved the sub plot involving Rupert and Fenella, the owners of Somersby House where the main part of the competition is being held; Rupert’s parents in particular are brilliant and scarily believable over the top characters.

Recipe for Love has a wonderful summery feel to it and is the perfect novel to curl up with as the days (hopefully) get warmer and summer approaches. A delicious read and tasty romance – top marks from me!

5/5

Recipe for Love is out in hardback now and I’d like to thank Amelia at Random House for sending me a review copy.

You can read an extract of Recipe for Love and find out more about Katie and her books on her website at: http://www.katiefforde.com/

I really enjoyed Arthur Wooten’s last novel Birthday Pie so was excited to see that he is releaseing a new novel in April. Leftovers is described as a ‘romantic dramedy’. It sounds like a great read and has a fab cover!

Vivian Lawson’s fantasy of being the perfect 1950s suburban housewife is shattered when an uncontrollable event changes her life forever.

Destitute and left to fend for herself in a man’s world, she searches her New England town unable to find a job. With nowhere to turn, Vivian takes the advice of her wisecracking best friend, Babs, and reluctantly becomes a Tupperware lady.

Vivian struggles with low self-esteem as well as stage fright but with the support of Bab’s lovesick brother, Stew, and the creator of Tupperware’s Home Party Plan system, Brownie Wise, she may just find the strength to conquer her inner demons and take control of her life.

Leftovers will be be published on 15th April. If you’re curious to read some of Arthur’s previous work and own a Kindle, Arthur Wooten’s Novels are available for the bargain price of just 77p each at the moment!!

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?

‘Am I dead? I don’t feel dead…’

Sophie cannot leave the people she loves. Her husband, Ollie – a man who once watered a houseplant for a year before realising it was plastic – is lost without her. Their son Freddie is so little. And her friend Jenny? There’s something she desperately needs to know before it’s too late.

Sophie is only thirty-five when she gets hit by a bus on Regent Street, leaving her husband Ollie, six year old son Freddie,  her best friend Jenny and the rest of her family and friends shocked and grieving. But Sophie hasn’t quite left them yet; she’s still floating around, watching over her nearest and dearest.  The Angel at No. 33 is the story of Sophie and her loved ones in the year following her death. You might be forgiven for thinking this would be a real tear-jerker of a novel and of course, in places it is (Sophie’s little boy Freddie got to me every time) but as well as being incredibly moving The Angel at No. 33 is also funny, insightful and ultimately uplifting.

Sophie tells us much of the story herself with heartfelt, often amusing commentary on her life and death that strikes just the right emotional balance. If I met someone like Sophie in real life I’d probably be quite intimidated (gorgeous, amazing husband, life and soul of every party, clever and funny) but as a ghostly presence, Sophie becomes more reflective about her life and what was actually important and I loved the observations that she came up with as she watched over the people she loves most.

Alternating with Sophie’s thoughts, the rest of the novel is told in the third person and focuses on key characters trying to cope without Sophie. Predominantly Ollie and Jenny but also the Muswell Hill mums; Sophie’s quirky, eclectic and slightly frightening local support network. The Muswell Hill mums cover a multitude of mummy categories with Tash, the hot divorcee, Lydia the emotional one and Suze, the ultimate organiser and as they launch into committee mode in a bid to rescue Ollie from self destruction and domestic neglect this storyline brings a lot of the humor to the book! Jenny is also roped into their plans as the person who knows Sophie, Freddie and Ollie best and the coming together of the different friends in Sophie’s life made me think about my own friends and the ways I mix them or don’t!

Jenny has her own set of problems in the form of fiance Sam who is reluctant to set a wedding date and Sophie’s death also makes her step back and evaluate her life. I liked Jenny a lot, perhaps because she seems to be the most ‘normal’ of the female characters in the book but also because she tries so hard to be there for everyone and genuinely cares without going overboard.

As Ollie and Freddie’s lives become open to scrutiny, Williams addresses issues of bereavement, grieving and moving on, truthfully and I only had one small gripe about one of Ollie’s actions as he tries to come to terms with Sophie’s death. I liked the way Sophie is used as the detached observer to bring wry observations and humor to sensitive issues without belittling them.

Well written with engaging characters, I liked Polly William’s style and found The Angel at No. 33 to be a real page turner. Thanks to a mysterious box of hidden letters and a cryptic ‘to do’ list left by Sophie there is also an element of mystery to the plot. Although the subject matter is sad and very moving, it’s not depressing and  The Angel at No. 33 is a bittersweet, romantic and enjoyable read.

4/5

The Angel at No. 33 is Polly’s sixth novel and is out now. You can find out more about Polly and her books at: http://www.pollywilliams.com/