Ginny, aged 17, is left 13 little blue envelopes by her free-spirited young Aunt Peg. Little does she know just how much they will change her life…• Inside envelope No 1 is money and instructions to buy a plane ticket.• Inside envelope No 2 are directions to a specific London flat• Inside envelope No 3 a note to Ginny says: Find a starving artist.• And because of envelope No 4 Ginny and a man called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous – though utterly romantic – results.

This book was recommended to me by a friend on Twitter and is the first book by Maureen Johnson that I’ve read. Right from the start, I thought the premise for 13 Little Blue Envelopes was really original. Virginia (Ginny) is sent a package by her eccentric Aunt Peg which includes thirteen envelopes and some instructions. The instructions are that Ginny must get herself a passport, a plane ticket and a backpack and prepare to go on a journey. She isn’t allowed to take any maps, guidebooks or money and must do what the letters say. Ginny does as she is told and finds herself on her way to London where her adventures really begin!

I have to say that I admired Ginny immediately for being up for the challenge set by her aunt. It takes a lot to pack up a bag and jet off under normal circumstances, but with the added complications that you don’t know where you’re going to be staying or who with and are only allowed to contact your family and friends by letter or postcard, I personally would find it challenging!! Ginny rises to the occasion brilliantly and this made me love her straight away.

Maureen Johnson captures the feeling of arriving in a new country and the strangeness even when the language is familiar very well. The descriptions of Ginny’s first forays into London were absolutely spot on and brilliantly written. I also loved the pace of the book and the fact that, as a reader, I was in the same situation as Ginny in not knowing where the story was going to go next. Peg sets Ginny a series of challenges which result in her meeting a wonderfully eclectic cast of characters and visiting a host of European countries. The descriptions of people and places really appealed to my sense of wanderlust.

At it’s heart though this is a book about love, loss and growing up. As Ginny works her way through the envelopes she finds herself in situations that really push her to her limits, and she learns a lot about herself and her wayward aunt. There is a quirky and truly romantic element to the book that I really enjoyed as Ginny meets student Keith and their paths cross in unlikely ways.

As the book reaches the last few envelopes there are a number of twists to the story that I wasn’t expecting and Johnson retains an element of secrecy and suspense right to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it as an excellent read for young adult and adult readers alike. A sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope will be out in April 2011 and I can’t wait!

5/5

You can find out more about Maureen Johnson and her books at: www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com

Miranda Dickinson’s debut novel Fairytale of New York was  released in November last year and became an instatnt hit. It was a Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller and was shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2010.  I reviewed Miranda”s second novel, Welcome to my World, when it was released last month and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

So, being a huge fan of Miranda’s work and the nosy person that I am, I was delighted when she agreed to let me interview her for One More Page - she is one busy lady and has also just released her debut album! Miranda and has very generously offered two signed copies of Welcome to my World together with two copies of the album About Time to lucky readers. Full details of how to enter are at the end of this post.

Amanda: In Welcome to my World, Harri advertises her best friend Alex in a ‘Free to a good home’ column in a magazine saying, “Alex is gorgeous, talented and caring. Any girl would be lucky to call him hers”. If you had to write a similar snippet for Welcome to my World, what would it say?

Miranda: Welcome to My World is warm, funny and totally addictive. If you’re looking for the perfect winter read, this is it!

Amanda: You are a singer and songwriter as well as an author; which three songs should be on the soundtrack to Welcome to my World?

Miranda: Excellent question! I actually put together a soundtrack list while I was writing the book – it helps me to get into the feel of the story. So three tracks that would definitely be on there would be: Dream Catch Me by Newton Faulkner, All This Time (Pick-Me-Up Song) by Maria Mena and Gary Go’s Wonderful as the credits roll after the last scene!

Amanda: Harri really loves Venice and dreams of visiting there. Why did you choose Venice as the city of Harri’s dreams and where is your dream holiday destination?

Miranda: Venice is one of those destinations that has always been on my list of cities to see. My mum adores anything to do with Venice, so I think I inherited a lot of my enthusiasm for it from her. As for my dream holiday destination, it has to be New York – it’s my first love and always will be.

Amanda: I developed a major crush as soon as I read about Alex – for those who haven’t met him yet, describe him in five words.

Miranda: Spontaneous, positive, cheeky, fun, gorgeous!

Amanda: The village of Stone Yardley, where the majority of the book is set is full of quirky characters; who were your favourites to write and why?

Miranda: There are so many! I loved the ladies from Stone Yardley W.I who are all adrenalin junkies – I had a fantastic scene where Harri gives her talk to them, but it unfortunately didn’t make the final edit. I’d love to revisit them at some
point. I loved Mrs Bincham, with her dubious culinary improvisation and I adored writing Merv, Alex’s mum’s boyfriend, because he’s a really larger- than-life character.

Amanda: In Welcome to my World, Alex has lots of souvenirs from his travels; what is the strangest item you’ve picked up on your travels (or received as a holiday gift)?

Miranda: For about eight years, I travelled to Belarus on humanitarian aid missions and we always were given the oddest presents when we visited. One time I was given a hand-carved stork ornament – about 30cm high – at a local Orthodox priest’s home. I thanked him politely and he said, ‘I am so pleased you will have many children now!” Turns out it was a fertility symbol – and he proceeded to inform me, ‘the couch where you received this gift is where our five children were all conceived’! Eek!

Amanda: The descriptions of food in Welcome to my World had my mouth watering, where did you get your inspiration for all the delicious dishes described from?

Miranda: I’m very fortunate that in my day job I have to write about food all day, so a lot of the inspiration came from the new cuisines and flavours I research for work. I also asked lots of my friends to share their favourite food memories from their travels – you’ll see in the acknowledgements where a lot of the dishes came from.

Amanda: Your first book focused on magical New York; Welcome to my World describes exotic locations around the world. Will your next book have a travel theme too?

Miranda: My next book is actually staying in the UK, but will be absolutely filled to bursting with gorgeous places you’ll want to visit. Romily, the main character, is a singer in a wedding band, so the story follows her and her friends as
they play at all manner of weddings – from steam railway stations to country houses, stately homes and even a palace!

Thanks Miranda and good luck with book three -  It Started with a Kiss which will be out in 2011!

Welcome to my World is out now and you can find out more about Miranda, her writing and music at: http://www.miranda-dickinson.com/

Giveaway details:

Two lucky readers will win a signed copy of Welcome to my World and a copy of Miranda’s debut album About Time. To enter, leave a ‘pick me’ comment below and I’ll draw two names at random after the closing date. UK entries only for this giveaway please. The closing date is midnight on Wednesday 15th December. Good luck!

(From the back cover)
Close your eyes and imagine the world is your oyster…

And now imagine never seeing it. Welcome to Harriet Langton’s world. All her life she’s dreamt of travelling the globe – fate always got in the way.

Working as a travel agent, the closest Harri comes to her dream destination of Venice is booking the trip for someone else. But everything changes when travel fanatic Alex drops in.

With her boyfriend Rob tied up with work, Harri is persuaded to help Alex in his quest for love. But in her attempts to help, Harri soon discovers a whole new set of problems. Now Harri is locked in a ladies loo cubicle at the village hall drowning her sorrows.

Desperate to leave her life behind, will her dreams finally come true? Or will Harri’s leap of faith be her biggest mistake yet?

Welcome to my World is Miranda Dickinson’s second novel. Her debut, Fairytale of New York was one of my favourite books of 2009 (and a Sunday Times bestseller!) and I have been looking forward to reading this book since I read the sample chapter of it at the end of Fairytale last year. The novel starts with  Harri locked in a toilet cubicle in the village hall, hiding from the world, convinced that her life is over. It then flashes back to Harri agreeing to help her friend Viv find a love interest for her son (and Harri’s best friend), Alex.

I liked the structure of the novel a lot; each chapter starts with Harri (still locked in the loo) reflecting on what has happened to lead to the disastrous events that have resulted in her hiding away from everyone she knows and loves. The chapters flow from Harri’s reflections really nicely and as the novel progresses a picture builds of Harri, her friends and family and her life in Stone Yardley. The truth about Harri’s distress is finally revealed in the penultimate chapter after some clever twists to the plot – this made the book a real page turner for me as I was dying to know what had happened to upset Harri so much!

As the lead character in Welcome to my World, I really liked Harri. She is very down to earth and the type of person I’d have as a friend. Harri has had a tough time of things, losing both her parents to cancer and she misses her family dreadfully but her life is looking up. Her gorgeous boyfriend Rob is hinting at ‘the future’ in a very positive way, she’s getting on well with her job as a travel agent and with her Auntie Rosemary, Viv and best friends Alex and Stella on hand, she is content.  I did think Harri was a bit too nice sometimes but I had a lot of sympathy for her as she has a lot of very persuasive friends and sometimes it’s just not easy to say ‘no’! She is a complete romantic at heart and when  faced with a very determined Viv, agrees against her better judgement to help her sort out Alex’s love life.

Alex is a totally drool-worthy character in my opinion and I developed a huge book crush as soon as I read about him with his surfer looks and exotic travel tales. Alex has recently returned to Stone Yardley to settle down and run a coffee shop after ten years of travelling and he and Harri immediately strike up a friendship based on their mutual love of far-flung places.  In many ways, Alex is the opposite of Harri. He’s spontaneous, adventurous and relaxed whereas Harri is a worrier, likes the security of life in Stone Yardley and fears being alone. She is an armchair traveller having found a miriad of excuses not to leave the safety of her familiar surroundings.

Miranda has created a fantastic set of  quirky characters in the occupants of Stone Yardley and I loved the way that the supporting characters all had detailed back stories which gave me as reader a sense of being part of the community. I could certainly see why Harri would be reluctant to leave the place! At it’s heart though, this is a story about facing your fears for the things/people you love. As the book progresses Harri has to deal with a series of complications and dissapointments as she introduces both Stella and Alex to the partners of their dreams. As her friends find romance, Harri’s relationship with Rob suffers due to Rob’s obsession with his job.

So, does Harri get her happy ending and her dream trip to Venice with the man of her dreams? I’m not telling! You’ll just have to read it and find out but I will say that Welcome to my World is a fabulous book filled with heartwarming charcters, mouthwatering food and lots of romance and it will make you want to book your next holiday right now!

Welcome to my World is out is out now and I’d like to thank Harper Collins for sending me a copy of this book to review.

5/5

You can find out more about Miranda and her novels at: http://www.miranda-dickinson.com/

(From the back cover) Fashion historian Holly Ross often wishes she lived in a simpler time when the clothes were glamorous, the men debonair and the endings happy. But, about to be married and with a big promotion promised, her own happily-ever-after seems assured.

So where does it all go wrong? How, is it that in one day Holly finds herself homeless, jobless, penniless – and fiance-less? Why is she cruising on the ultra-luxurious Tiffany Star in pursuit of  dashing property tycoon Denis King? And how come she’s trying to track down a suitcase full of priceless Audrey Hepburn gowns before Interpol tracks her down?

With the sparkling Mediterranean and the eternal city of Rome as the backdrop, this romantic fashion caper starring calamity-prone Holly is filled with intrigue, comedy and plot twists galore. But it takes a major crisis for Holly to realize that a real-life dream can be more exciting than any fairytale.

Before I write anything about this book you should know that I am a very big fan of Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favourite films (and very good book) to the extent that I walked down the aisle at my wedding to ‘Moon River’! So the cover illustration of a Holly Golightly style figure coupled with the promise of fashion history, Audrey Hepburn gowns and Mediterranean locations had me almost guaranteed to enjoy Holly Would Dream before I’d even read a page.

And enjoy it I did!  If you are a fan of classic movies (particularly those starring Audrey Hepburn or Carry Grant) this is a must read for you. The story is packed full of references to their films and I had great fun spotting them. Holly is a fashion historian and there are lots of interesting fashion and film facts throughout the book.  I also loved that the chapter titles are all songs from the 50′s and 60′s and cleverly help to set the tone of the book – I found I had the songs going through my head as I was reading.

The plot is whimsical and funny and captures the feel of those old romantic movies where the leading lady has to deal with no end of mishaps, confusion and setbacks before all is put right in the world and she gets her man. Holly certainly has to face an ever increasing mountain of setbacks and failures throughout the book and I have to admit to wondering at one point what more could be thrown at the poor girl. Her fiance dumps her, she doesn’t get the promotion she was promised, she goes on a cruise as guest lecturer with a caseload of priceless Audrey Hepburn costumes and loses them, she almost gets arrested and when she does finally track down the final gown something unimaginable has happened to it! The plot twists and turns go on and on but Holly deals with it all with calamitous hilarity. This isn’t a realistic book – it’s not meant to be. It is 420 pages of pure escapism and fun. Karen Quinn creates a sparkling glamorous world with lots of larger than life characters. Holly’s Dad ‘Pops’ and uber-rich high-society Texan widow Carleen Panthollow with their inappropriate comments were my favourite characters and really made me laugh.

Holly Would Dream was released in 2008 and is the first of Karen Quinn’s books that I’ve read. I will now be adding her others to my wish-list. Fun and lighthearted, it is an ideal choice for reading on the beach or by the pool and as the majority of it is set on a luxurious Mediterranean cruise it will definitely put you in the holiday mood!

You can find out more about Karen Quinn and her other novels at http://karenquinn.net/

4/5

Nina, her son Christopher in tow, flies to Malta for one last visit with her aging parents.

Her previous attempt to see them ended in tears. Disowned for falling pregnant while at university in England, she was not allowed into the house.

This will be her final chance to make her peace with them.

But Malta holds more secrets and surprises than Nina could possibly imagine. What she finds is not the land of her youth, a place full of memories and happiness. Instead she meets dead people. Lots of them.

Malta, it transpires, is a transit lounge for recently deceased spirits and somehow Christopher enables her to see them, speak with them and help them.

And, in return, they help Nina come to terms with her own loss. One so great that she has yet to admit it to herself.

Like Bees to Honey is a story of family, redemption and ghosts. It is a magical tale that will live with you long after you finish reading.

I first heard about Like Bees to Honey on Twitter and thought I might give it a go but it was when I saw it in the bookshop that I knew I had to read it. The cover is just lovely and with its muted colours and scrapbook style illustrations it really stood out as something different. The layout of the book is also part of the story and gives the book a really poetic feel at times.

Like Bees to Honey tells the story of Nina – a mum of two who is battling overwhelming grief and guilt and trying to come to terms with the loss of her identity and family after she was disowned by her parents for leaving Malta and falling pregnant at university. Nina travels to Malta to heal her wounds and try to reconcile with her family. In Malta, Nina finds that she can see spirits and discovers that the island is where spirits go to heal as they make their journey onwards. Nina meets a number of ghosts and with their help begins to come to terms with her losses.

As you can see from my brief summary, the book has a number of dark themes and Caroline Smailes is not afraid to tackle them head on. I’ll admit that at first I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or if it would be too upsetting and harrowing. I’m pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The thoughts and actions of the characters are at times shocking but as the threads of the book weave together I understood why characters took the actions they did and wanted them to forgive themselves.

Like Bees is an amazing story, beautifully written and although it made me cry, it was in a good way. I particularly liked the perspective this book gave on the afterlife – it certainly challenged the way I think and the explanations of life and death put forward appealed to me and were comforting. The story weaves Nina’s journey with those of the ghosts she meets but each ghost also has their own story to tell. Elena and Tilly in particular were so touching.

I’d really like to visit Malta now – Smailes seems to have captured the spirit of the island, its traditions, history and customs. This is a beautiful book that will really make you think but is easy to read and flows effortlessly. It is story about ghosts but it is equally a story about living and making the most of the life we have and I would definitely recommend it.

You can find out more about Caroline and her other books at: http://www.carolinesmailes.co.uk/

5/5

Angela is in the city of love – but romance is taking a nose-dive…

When Angela Clark’s boyfriend Alex suggests a trip to Paris at the same time as hip fashion mag Belle asks her to write a piece, she jumps at the chance.

But even as she’s falling for the joie de vivre of Paris, someone’s conspiring to sabotage her big break. And when she spots Alex having a tête-à-tête with his ex in a local bar, Angela’s dreams of Parisian passion all start crashing down around her.

With London and her old life only a train journey away, Angela can’t decide if should stay and face the music or run away home…

Lindsey Kelk is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.  Her two previous novels in the  ‘I Heart…’ series have been brilliant chick lit reads and Paris continues the trend – I’d even go as far as to say it’s her best book yet. But before I get any further into this review, I have to take a moment to say how much I love the cover of this book – it is gorgeous and sums the book up perfectly.

I Heart Paris is the third book in the series, but I don’t think you need to have read the other two to enjoy it, although if you haven’t read I Heart New York or I Heart Hollywood yet I’d highly recommend them too. (For those of you on the look out for a bargain, there is a free copy of I Heart New York with the August edition of Glamour Magazine.)

The series follows Brit chick Angela Clarke as she creates a new life for herself in New York and tells of her adventures as she writes her blog for ‘The Look’ magazine.  Angela is hugely likeable and her antics often make me laugh out loud as I’m reading. I’m having trouble deciding if she is the luckiest or unluckiest character I’ve ever met – on the one hand, she has a fab job, lives in my favourite city, has a sexy indie band boyfriend and one of her best friends is a stylist; on the other, she’s clumsy, can’t let things go, attracts bad luck and seems to get herself into the most awkward situations imaginable. All of this just makes her character more enjoyable but my favourite thing about Angela? She shares my love of Marc Jacobs bags!

I Heart Paris sees Angela’s boyfriend Alex invite her to Paris for a week. At the same time Angela is offered the opportunity to write for the uber-cool Belle magazine (see what I mean about being lucky?!). Angela clearly loves Paris and as with the other books in the series, this is part novel, part insider travel guide. There is a section at the back called ‘Angela’s Guide to Paris’ which lists recommendations for hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. It’s a long time since I’ve been to Paris but the descriptions of people and places seemed very real and the book made me want to hop on the Eurostar and do some serious shopping!

In true Angela style, all is going swimmingly until she gets off the plane in Paris. Someone tries to sabotage her article for Belle and things go from bad to worse as Alex’s ex-girlfriend appears on the scene and makes it clear that she doesn’t just want to be friends with him. The book is full of snappy dialogue and it moves at such a pace that you just have to keep turning the pages. As everything falls apart, Angela finds herself, one year on from her move to New York, questioning all of her decisions so far. I loved the way the book put Angela in a similar situation to the original plot in I Heart New York and seeing how she reacts compared to a year ago. This novel has a very sweet message about where ‘home’ really is and I’d highly recommend adding it to your summer reading list.

You can read more about Angela and her adventures at: www.iheartparis.co.uk

5/5

Carmen has been feeling the need to break free for Too Darn Long. So when her equally frustrated friend Beth suggests the ultimate escape – dancing their way through a series of scorchingly-hot countries – she can’t resist!

There’s just one catch… they can only go on this adventure if they participate in a reality TV show, one intent on teaching them the mournful tango in Argentina, the feisty flamenco in Spain and the sassy, celebratory salsa in Cuba!

As they travel from Buenos Aires to Seville and ultimately steamy Havana, each dance has a profound effect on the girls – and indeed the sexy gauchos, matadors and dirty dancers who partner them…

But, when the sun goes down, do they have what it takes to go beyond the steps and free their hearts for love?

I loved this book;  Belinda Jones has certainly done her research and her background as a travel writer shows. Her descriptions of Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana had me wanting to jump on a plane and the combination of exotic locations and characters that you really root for kept me gripped until the end. Throw in a dash of romance; a reality TV show; a little tango, salsa and flamenco and a large helping of Girl Power and you have a perfect feel good summer read.

The two main characters are girls I’d like to have as friends and their adventures really did make me laugh out loud. The book starts  with a snapshot of Beth and Carmen aged 8. Both girls escape the realities of their less than perfect lives with a weekly dose of Come Dancing. Beth’s ambition is to be a dancer and Carmen wants to be a costume designer. Over twenty years later, life is still less than perfect for both of them; Beth is a dancer but her big break has proved elusive and Carmen is a costume designer but is having trouble letting go of her abusive and controlling ex-boyfriend. As they commiserate one night Beth comes across an advert for a reality TV series looking for women to learn three dances in their countries of origin. Cue hilarious antics as, with Carmen’s help, Beth reinvents herself to be the ideal reality TV star and both girls embark on a worldwide adventure that teaches them much more than just how to dance.

Underneath the fun and frolics with sexy dancers, the book deals with the serious topic of Carmen’s abusive relationship in a sensitive and truthful way.  Following Carmen as she overcomes her fears and addresses the damage done by her previous relationships really made me care about the outcome for her character.  I loved how Carmen changed as she learned about the dances and their meanings and despite the seriousness of the topic, this is a really positive and life affirming read.

As someone with two left feet, who knows very little about dance, I initially wondered if this book was really for me but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was fascinated by the history of the dances covered and the emotions and meanings of the steps described. I loved the perspective that Carmen as a non dancer gave and the supporting characters (including Matadors,  Gauchos and the TV crew) were varied and interesting too, each adding to the story in a particular way.

This is chick lit at its best and I highly recommend adding it to the top of your holiday reading list. You can read an extract from the book on Belinda’s website at: http://www.belindajones.com/

5/5

The final five books in my summer reads list are:

I heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

Angela is in the city of love – but romance is taking a nose-dive…

When Angela Clark’s boyfriend Alex suggests a trip to Paris at the same time as hip fashion mag Belle asks her to write a piece, she jumps at the chance.

But even as she’s falling for the joie de vivre of Paris, someone’s conspiring to sabotage her big break. And when she spots Alex having a tête-à-tête with his ex in a local bar, Angela’s dreams of Parisian passion all start crashing down around her.

With London and her old life only a train journey away, Angela can’t decide if should stay and face the music or run away home…

Wish Upon A Star by Olivia Goldsmith

Life in the city isn’t all about sex, shopping and Cosmopolitans! For Claire, a secretary from Staten Island who takes the ferry each morning into Manhattan, it’s spent working 9 to 5 at a law firm, listening to her friend’s disastrous love life and reading romantic novels, desperately wishing that her life could be as full of excitement as the heroines featured. The only highlight is catching an occasional glimpse of devastingly sexy law partner Michael. Until the day Michael offers her the chance of a trip to London — all expenses paid. When Claire sets foot on British soil she falls head over heels in love — with a country. From red double-deckers to afternoon tea, she’s finally found her home. Friends, family and even Michael are abandoned as she rents a room and sets out to make a whole new life as an American in London. But she reckons without the obstructive efforts of a very strait laced Englishman!

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Meet Valentine, an unforgettable and passionate woman with a heart and a dream as big as New York City. Her dream? To design the perfect pair of shoes …The Angelini Shoe Company, makers of exquisite wedding shoes since 1903, is one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village. Now, in the twenty-first century, the company run so devotedly by Valentine and her grandmother Teodora faces financial ruin. Juggling a romantic relationship with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design competition for a prestigious department store, Valentine accompanies her grandmother to Italy in the hope of finding inspiration. There, in Tuscany and on the Isle of Capri, she discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life around in ways she never expected.

Chasing Daisy by Paige Toon

If you fall too fast, you just might crash…Daisy has been dumped, unceremoniously jilted. Not by any ordinary guy, no…Daisy has a secret in her past that she won’t even tell her best friend, Holly. She’s given up on men – and on her own family. But life still has to be lived and where better to recover than as far away from home as possible. Grabbing a chance to see the world, Daisy packs her bags and joins the team catering to the world’s highest-paid, supercharged racing drivers on the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. From Brazil to Italy, from Melbourne to Monte Carlo, life passes in a dizzying whirlwind. But nothing – and no one – can stop Daisy from falling again…this time for a man who is prepared to risk his life, and his heart, for the sake of speed, danger and ultimate success.

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

Heartbreak, headlines and Hermes – welcome to Brooke’s new world…

Brooke and Julian live a happy life in New York – she’s the breadwinner working two jobs and he’s the struggling musician husband. Then Julian is discovered by a Sony exec and becomes an overnight success – and their life changes for ever.

Soon they are moving in exclusive circles, dining at the glitziest restaurants, attending the most outrageous parties in town and jetting off to the trendiest hotspots in LA.

But Julian’s new-found fame means that Brooke must face the savage attentions of the ruthless paparazzi. And when a scandalous picture hits the front pages, Brooke’s world is turned upside down. Can her marriage survive the events of that fateful night at Chateau Marmont? It’s time for Brooke to decide if she’s going to sink or swim…

So that’s my summer reading sorted; an assortment of old and new titles to sooth my wanderlust. I’m hoping to review one a week and complete the challenge by 31st August so drop by to see how I get on and let me know what your summer reads are.

When Michael tells Natalie that he ‘needs space’, she’s devastated. She thought he was the love of her life but now Michael’s found himself a new girlfriend. So much for space. Natalie tries speed-dating, but how could she move on when she’s still yearning for Michael? One of her speedy dates is Guy and, despite the lack of chemistry, at least she’s now got a date for her best friend’s wedding. But past indiscretions are about to come to light. Natalie needs to escape. Guy happens to own a flat she can borrow… in Rome! There Natalie makes some fabulous new friends and discovers who puts the Rome into Romeo. She’s falling in love – but is it with Rome, or with someone she finds there?

The cover of this book really drew me in. I thought it was elegant and pretty and I love the use of blues to create a dusky evening in Rome.  The red roses set it off perfectly.  The love birds and roses on the front hint at romance and I just wanted to sit back on that balcony and enjoy the view!

Rome is at the top of my list of places to visit so I was looking forward to getting a feel for the sights and sounds through the book and I wasn’t disappointed. Sarah Duncan conjures up not only sights and sounds but smells and tastes and people and a real sense of place.  I loved seeing Rome through Natalie and Guy’s eyes and the different perspectives brought by the other characters in the book.  The only slight disappointment was that the build up to Natalie going to Rome was a little long and drawn out and I found the beginning of the book a bit slow.  But from chapter seven , as Natalie sets foot in the Eternal City I was gripped and didn’t put the book down until I’d finished it.

The variety of characters in Single to Rome is excellent, from Claudio, the classic Roman male to Natalie’s best friend Jax who tells it like it is (and was my favourite character), Teresa who speaks the language of food and Guy, who I thought was just lovely. I have to admit, I didn’t warm to Natalie at first and wanted to give her a good talking to while she was mooning over Michael but the book very cleverly takes you through the changes in Natalie as she moves on and I loved the way her character developed.

This book will appeal to many readers, it has history, travel facts, a bit of mystery and even a ghost or two not to mention romance and love in buckets. And the ending was perfect!

This is the first book I’ve read by Sarah and I will definitely be adding her others to my wish list. You can find out more about Sarah and her books at:  www.sarahduncan.co.uk

4/5

Bournemouth is the exotic location for my summer holiday this year and while I’m sure it will be fab I thought I’d widen my horizons with my summer reading challenge. I’ve picked ten books themed around travel and summer from my ‘to read’ pile and ‘wish list’ and will aim to read and review them by the end of the summer.

My first five summer reads are:

A Single to Rome by Sarah Duncan

When Michael tells Natalie that he ‘needs space’, she’s devastated. She thought he was the love of her life but now Michael’s found himself a new girlfriend. So much for space. Natalie tries speed-dating, but how could she move on when she’s still yearning for Michael? One of her speedy dates is Guy and, despite the lack of chemistry, at least she’s now got a date for her best friend’s wedding. But past indiscretions are about to come to light. Natalie needs to escape. Guy happens to own a flat she can borrow… in Rome! There Natalie makes some fabulous new friends and discovers who puts the Rome into Romeo. She’s falling in love – but is it with Rome, or with someone she finds there?

Living la Vida Loca by Belinda Jones

Carmen has been feeling the need to break free for Too Darn Long. So when her equally frustrated friend Beth suggests the ultimate escape – dancing their way through a series of scorchingly-hot countries – she can’t resist!

There’s just one catch… they can only go on this adventure if they participate in a reality TV show, one intent on teaching them the mournful tango in Argentina, the feisty flamenco in Spain and the sassy, celebratory salsa in Cuba!

As they travel from Buenos Aires to Seville and ultimately steamy Havana, each dance has a profound effect on the girls – and indeed the sexy gauchos, matadors and dirty dancers who partner them…

But, when the sun goes down, do they have what it takes to go beyond the steps and free their hearts for love?

Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn

Fashion historian Holly Ross often wishes she lived in a simpler time when the clothes were beautiful, the men debonair and the endings happy. But, about to be married and with a big promotion promised, her life seems finally to resemble the movie stars she idolizes. So where did it all go wrong? How, in the space of one day, does Holly find herself homeless, jobless, penniless – and fiance-less? Why is she cruising the Mediterranean in pursuit of property tycoon Denis King? And how come she’s trying to track down a suitcase full of stolen Audrey Hepburn gowns before Interpol tracks her down? The madcap adventures of the endearingly accident-prone Holly make for a fast-paced, feel-good and wickedly funny read. Will she get the promotion she deserves – or will she get thrown in jail? Will she capture the heart of Denis King before he marries society girl, Sydney Bass? And will she ever be able to stop saying ‘if only’ and accept herself for who she really is?

A Summer Fling by Milly Johnson

When dynamic, power-dressing Christie blows in like a warm wind to take over their department, five very different women find themselves thrown together at work. But none of them could have predicted the fierce bond of friendship that her leadership would inspire…Anna, 39, is reeling from the loss of her fiance, who ran off with a much younger woman. Her pride in tatters, these days Anna finds it difficult to leave the house. So when a handsome, mysterious stranger takes an interest in her, she’s not sure whether she can learn to trust again? Then there’s Grace, in her fifties, trapped in a loveless marriage with a man she married because, unable to have children of her own, she fell in love with his motherless brood. Grace worries that Dawn is about to make the same mistake: orphaned as a child, engaged to love-rat Calum, is Dawn more interested in the security that comes with his tight-knit, boisterous family? When a sexy, footloose rock singer catches her eye, will Dawn have the courage to follow her heart? At 28, Raychel is the youngest member of their little gang. And with a loving husband, Ben, and a cosy little nest for two, she would seem to be the happiest. But what dark secrets are lurking behind this perfect facade, that make sweet, pretty Raychel so guarded and unwilling to open up? Under Christie’s warm hand, the girls soon realise they have some difficult choices to make. Indeed, none of them quite realised how much they needed the sense of fun, laughter, and loyalty that abounds when five women become friends. It’s one for all, and all for one!

Shopaholic Abroad by Sophie Kinsella

Will travel broaden the mind…or loosen the purse strings?
For Rebecca Bloomwood, life is peachy. She has a job on morning TV, her bank manager is actually being nice to her, and when it comes to spending money, her new motto is Buy Only What You Need – and she’s really (sort of) sticking to it. The icing on the brioche is that she’s been offered a chance to work in New York.
New York! The Museum of Modern Art! The Guggenheim! The Metropolitan Opera House! And Becky does mean to go to them all. Honestly. It’s just that it seems silly not to check out a few other places first. Like Saks. And Bloomingdales. And Barneys. And one of those fantastic sample sales where you can get a Prada dress for $10. Or was it $100? Is Becky too dazzled to care?

Shopaholic Abroad – for the biggest culture shop of your life.

So that’s Rome, Buenos Aires, Seville, Havana, The Med, Barnsley and New York covered on our world tour.  Come back tomorrow for my first review and on Friday for part two of my summer reading challenge with books covering Paris, LA, London, Tuscany, Isle of Capri, New York (again), Melbourne, Monte Carlo and Brazil!