8Th April – The Book Show on Kim Smith’s Good Afternoon Show at 2pm
WOW! What a show!
Today’s show was all about the Queens of Rom Com!
But firstly, a huge thank you to a small community library in South Wales who invited me to a night of virtual wine and a chat about my Love Heart Lane series over zoom during their Novels@Night chat. A fantastic night was had by all. They are a community run library called Llyfrgell Library and thank you to Emma and Lucy for inviting me to join their book club.
We kicked off The Book Show chatting with the wonderful South Cheshire author Kiley Dunbar who was one of the 6 finalists in the Romantic Comedy Novel Award category with her novel One Winter’s Night, published by Hera Books. The RNA’s awards are the only national literary prizes that recognise excellence in the genre of romantic fiction. In the novel, heroine Kelsey is navigating a long distance love-affair, Mirren’s swearing off men, and Christmas is coming to Shakespeare’s hometown. There’s mystery, new neighbours to meet, a show-stopping theatrical procession, and a missing sapphire ring in this sparkling romcom, full of adventure, romance and family drama.
Huge congratulations to Kiley and we look forward to seeing what she writes next!
A Springtime Affair by Katie FForde.
A little bit about the book
It’s the season of new beginnings for Helena and Gilly.
Gilly runs her own B&B business from her much-loved family home, which she doesn’t want to part with – at any price.
But that’s before she meets handsome estate agent Leo, and soon she begins to wonder whether selling up might not be such a bad idea after all.
Meanwhile Gilly’s daughter Helena has a budding romance of her own. A talented weaver, she’s becoming very close to her new landlord, Jago, who’s offered to help her at an upcoming craft fair.
It’s what friends do, and they are just friends. Aren’t they?
With spring in full bloom, Helena and Gilly begin to ask themselves the same question:
Thank Goodness for Katie FForde is all I can say!
When I hear the name Katie FForde I automatically think of the royal family. I know you may think this sounds daft but I believe the author world is quite a lot like the Royal Family and for me Katie is the Queen of Rom coms, the head of her game, the top of the tree, and my Queen Elizabeth, and I am in absolute awe of this author. Katie is an author that became word famous and world famous by her talent alone before social media was actually a thing. Katie’s ability to tell a story has captured the world and the hearts of all rom-com readers.
About the author
Katie is the president of the Romantic Novelists Association. Her favourite part of the RNA is the New Writers’ Scheme which is where unpublished authors can have their novels assessed by a published novelist. The support follows through and when they achieve publication they become eligible for the Joan Hessayon New Writers Award. The Katie Fforde Bursary is for members of the RNA who have been trying a while and keep being nearly there, but still haven’t achieved publication. That said, because it’s Katie’s award she can give it to anyone she likes. The prize is a place at the Conference and a year’s membership. It does seem to have a magic effect – people so often get published very soon after winning!’
Katie lives in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with her family, and is a country girl at heart.
She started writing when her mother gave her a writing kit for Christmas, and once she started I just couldn’t stop. Living Dangerously was her first novel and since then, she haven’t looked back.
Katie says her ideas for books are everywhere, and she’s constantly inspired by the people and places around her. From watching TV (yes, it is research) to overhearing conversations, she loves how my writing gives her the chance to taste other people’s lives and try all the jobs she never had.
Each of her books explores a different profession or background and her research has helped her to bring these to life. She’s been a porter in an auction house, tried her hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and she’s even been on a Ray Mears survival course.
Katie loves being a writer; to her there isn’t a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. She particularly enjoy writing love stories. She believes falling in love is the best thing in the world, and
Katie loves hearing from all her readers on Twitter @KatieFforde or on Facebook at facebook.com/KatieFforde
Order ‘A Springtime Affair’ here: https://tinyurl.com/enu889zb
And Now You’re Back – Jill Mansell
A little bit about the book.
One magical night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended – and he left without even saying goodbye.
Now, thirteen years on, Shay Mason is back.
The old spark is still there, but Didi’s determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she’s happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn’t staying. He’s made a promise to his father. He’s going to keep it. And then he’ll be gone.
But Shay’s return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It’s time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone’s intention all along . . .
This book is described as the most heart-warming and romantic read of 2021!
About the author
Jill is among the bestselling and most well-known chick-lit authors. She is one of the top 20 British female novelists of the 21st century (in terms of sales) The Daily Telegraph listed Jill Mansell as one of the best-selling authors of the decade. Jill has had 32 books published so far, thee 33rd is finished and will be out next January. She started writing when she was working for the NHS and happed to pick up a magazine from the hospital waiting room – it contained a piece about four women who’d transformed their lives by becoming bestselling novelists, and she decided to give it a go!
Jill’s hobbies include buying stationery, particularly magical new colours of ink for the fountain pen she uses to write all of her books – Jill is one of the few authors who still write their books by hand. Jill also loves people-watching and finding new characters to put in her novels. So when you’re out, make sure to always be on your best behaviour. And beware of beady-eyed authors carrying notebooks . . .
Jill Mansell has such a beautiful writing style- you really engage with the story and characters. You can imagine yourself in the middle of everything. I was swept away with this story! A powerful love story at its best.
Jill keeps in touch with her readers on Twitter – @JillMansell – and Facebook – /OfficialJillMansell
Order ‘And Now You’re Back’ here: https://tinyurl.com/tvnfmw4s
The Spark by Jules Wake
A little bit about the book
Jess is falling for Sam.
Sam is falling for Jess.
But it seems life will do whatever it takes to make them fall apart.
When Jess and Sam lock eyes at a party, a spark ignites. The spark. But love at first sight isn’t like the movies, especially when Sam’s ex, Victoria, is determined to make their honeymoon period a living hell.
Is love at first sight enough?
About the author
Jules Wake’s earliest known declaration that she planned to be a writer came at the age of ten. Along the way she was diverted by the glamorous world of PR and worked on many luxury brands, taking journalists on press trips to awful places like Turin, Milan, Geneva, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam and occasionally losing the odd member of the press in an airport. It gave her the opportunity to eat amazing food, drink free alcohol as well as providing opportunities to hone her writing skills on press releases and to research European cities for her books.
Eventually the voices in her head persuaded her it was time to sit down and write the novel she’d always talked about. Her debut novel in 2014, was quickly followed by the bestselling From Italy With Love, published by One More Chapter, HarperCollins, which reached number 1 in the Amazon Kindle charts.
Jules’ book Covent Garden in the Snow was a Kindle Top 2 bestseller and the follow up book Notting Hill in the Snow was nominated for a Romantic Novel of the Year Award.
She also writes cosy romantic fiction as Julie Caplin and the sixth book in the Romantic Escapes series, The Little Tokyo Teashop was published by One More Chapter in the summer of 2020 and the seventh, The Little Swiss Ski Chalet will be published in January 2021.
This book drew me in from the very first page and I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the depiction of the initial attraction – the spark – and then how that transcended the physical connection between these two characters and became love. This is a deep dive into the complexities of all relationships, not just romantic, and I loved how well the author explored family dynamics and friendship as much as the romance.
At the core is Jess’ journey and this was so well written. I loved how she discovered her inner strength and how to ‘wield it’ with compassion, and how she remained true to herself and her values, yet let herself be vulnerable.
Follow on twitter @juleswake. Or visit her on www.juleswake.co.uk
Jules is one of the loveliest authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, she’s warm, funny and oozes Charisma and she’s sent us a lovely voice message today!
Order ‘The Spark’ here: https://tinyurl.com/3m3v9fz6
Ice Creams at Emerald Cove by Holly Martin
A little bit about the book
Skye Philips and Jesse Hamilton have a complicated relationship. They’ve been neighbours, best friends and even briefly married. But ever since Skye returned to the beautiful shores of Jewel Island to help her sisters Aria and Clover run their family hotel, she doesn’t know where she stands with Jesse.
When they’re together the chemistry between them sizzles, but with Jesse living in Canada and Skye on the Cornish island she calls home, they’ve kept things casual. Till now…
Jesse is coming to Jewel Island for the annual Pudding Parade and Skye knows this is her chance to tell him how she really feels. But putting her heart on the line isn’t easy when it’s been broken in the past. Will Jesse return her love? Or will she lose him for good?
Everything she’s ever wanted can be hers if she’s willing to take the chance, but is Skye brave enough to risk her heart once again?’
I just adore the setting of Jewel Island, and I feel like I know it so well. The two other books set here are well worth a read, Sunrise Over Sapphire Bay and Autumn Skies Over Ruby Falls. The place names are absolutely beautiful.
The three Philips sisters Aria, Clover and Skye own the hotel on the island. We’ve met them all in the previous books. This one can be read as a stand-alone, as it’s a complete story.
The main character in this book is Skye, who looks after ‘Cones at the Cove’….an ice-cream café.
Skye has a troubled past, with two marriages behind her. She feels like she’s already met her true love in her ex Jesse, but it’s quite emotionally complex. Jesse had a troubled past too but his pride and joy is his daughter Bea, who is a delight and much wiser than her years. Jesse and Bea live in Canada, so the long distance relationship is difficult. When they do get together the sex is fantastic, but they both need more than the physical side of things. They are both wary of letting their feelings out.
Syke is resurrecting an old custom on the island, an annual ‘Pudding Parade’. A procession of puddings and cakes, led by a huge rhubarb pie. It’s in two weeks time though, so quite a rush. Jesse and Bea come over from Canada to help.
I love the family vibe running through this story, and in the way the sisters are constantly looking out for each other.
Sylvia O’ Hare, a frequent hotel guest and author of racy novels, returns in this story. She’s always an entertaining character.
An absolute dream to read and I look forward to hearing more stories from this lovely Island.
About the author.
Holly lives in a little white cottage by the sea. She studied media at university which led to a very glitzy career as a hotel receptionist followed by a even more glamorous two years working in a bank. The moment that one of her colleagues received the much coveted carriage clock for fifteen years’ service was the moment when she knew she had to escape. She quit her job and returned to university to train to be a teacher. Three years later, she emerged wide eyed and terrified that she now had responsibility for the development of thirty young minds. She taught for four years and then escaped the classroom to teach history workshops, dressing up as a Viking one day and an Egyptian High Priestess the next. But the long journeys around the UK and many hours sat on the M25 gave her a lot of time to plan out her stories and she now writes full time, doing what she loves.
Holly has been writing for 8 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance. She is the bestselling author of 26 books selling over a million books worldwide. Holly’s books have been translated into French, German, Italian, Dutch, Bulgarian, Estonian, Turkish and Russian.
Follow Holly on Twitter @HollyMAuthor
Holly Martin – one of the most successful Rom Com writers of all time and every time I pick up a book by Holly, I’ve devoured it in hours.
Order ‘Ice Creams at Emerald Cove’ here: https://tinyurl.com/2ktz4j5p
Other must reads in April!
The Dinner Guest by B P Walter (1 April)
The Single Dad’s Handbook by Lynsey James (2 April)
The Best of Friends by Alex Day (9 April)
The House of Hidden Secrets by Caroline England. (14th April)
Finding Home by Kate Field (16 April)
The Night Train to Berlin by Melanie Hudson (22 April)
Dead Secret by Noelle Holten (23 April)
And OF COURSE Primrose Park! 😊 (30 April) BY ME – Christie Barlow!!!!!!!
