My Pear Shaped Lfe by Carmel Harrington

Meet Greta.

She’s funny.

She’s flawed.

She’s hiding so much behind her big smile she’s forgotten who she is.

But Greta is about to discover that the key to being happy is…being yourself.

Greta Gale has played the part of the funny fat one her entire life, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile. But size doesn’t matter when you can laugh at yourself, right?
Until Greta realises she’s the only one not laughing. And deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever laugh again.

But Greta is about to discover that sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped…

Title:  My Pear Shaped Life

Author: Carmel Harrington

Published By: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 1st March 2020

Links:  UK: Amazon    US: Amazon

Our Review

You know that lovely cosy feeling you get when you kick off your shoes at the end of the day and curl up with a hot drink and a bar of chocolate to watch a Christmas movie? Well that's exactly how I felt when I finished reading this book.  I absolutely loved it. 

I saw Carmel being interviewed by the fabulous Kim Nash and was completely struck by how bubbly she was and I immediately pre-ordered the book just from the conversation. I'm so glad I did because her bubbly personality really comes through in the writing.

Greta was a girl after my own heart, she was lovely but couldn't see herself how other people saw her. She was from an athletic family which made her feel like the odd one out because she was the curvy one. Sometimes her dad was a bit hard on her but there is no doubt that her family loved her, they just didn't really understand her. Unfortunately Greta found herself with a serious problem and her life spiralled out of control. During her recovery, her uncle, with whom she has always had a special bond, came up with the perfect solution. A road trip across America to see her favourite life coach quickly ensues and Greta has the time of her life. Whilst travelling she learns quite a lot about herself and helps her uncle with a journey that he has found himself on too. I loved hearing about the unusual places they travelled to and the connections to Greta's family's favourite film.

Greta's journey opened her eyes to so many things but the most important one was that she was worthy, her story was told with sadness and heartbreak but lots of humour too that made me laugh out loud. The book is really fast paced as we are carried along on Greta's life changing trip which is made even more fun when a couple of other characters tag along.

I really enjoyed the close relationship that Greta had with her uncle and the fact that when no one else understood her, he always did and he believed in her from beginning to end, even when she didn't believe in herself.

Funny, captivating and uplifting throughout.

Sincerely

Book Angelx

About the Author

International bestseller CARMEL HARRINGTON writes uplifting and inspiring books that have captured the hearts of readers worldwide. They have been translated into eight languages and published in eleven countries to date. Her latest novel, My Pear-Shaped Life goes on sale in April 2020. Previous novels include A Thousand Roads Home, The Woman at 72 Derry Lane and Cold Feet, The Lost Years, the official ITV original novel to accompany the hit TV series. Carmel was shortlisted for an Irish Book Award in 2016 and 2017 and won the Kindle Book of the Year and Romantic eBook of the Year in 2014 for her debut novel, Beyond Grace’s Rainbow. Carmel is also a regular on Irish TV as a panellist on Virgin Media’s Elaine show. She lives with her family and rescue dog in a small village in Wexford.
Carmel loves hearing from readers, so please feel free to connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, @HappyMrsH. You can sign up for Carmel’s newsletter on her website www.carmelharrington.com or join The Carmel Harrington Reading Room on Facebook, where readers discuss their favourite reads and take part in bookish challenges.
Carmel is represented by Rowan Lawton of The Soho Agency, London. 

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The Secret Admirer by Carol Wyer

‘I tried to talk to you today but you snubbed me and walked away. It wasn’t wise to give me the brush-off, Gemma. I can be a truly good friend but I also make the perfect enemy.’

Sasha’s eighteen-year-old daughter Gemma was all she had in the world. Sasha fell pregnant with Gemma when she was still at school, and the two are as close as sisters. So when Gemma’s burned and broken body is found, Sasha’s world ends. What kind of person would want her beautiful daughter dead?

Leading the case is Detective Natalie Ward, scarred by her own recent tragedy. When she finds a note in Gemma’s diary from ‘a secret admirer’, she moves quickly, determined to un-mask them. But interviews with Gemma’s devastated ex-boyfriend, and her charismatic teacher, who has been seen embracing his student far away from the classroom, don’t give Natalie the answers she’d hoped for…

And then the case takes a devastating, personal twist. CCTV footage reveals Natalie’s estranged husband David followed Gemma home every evening the week before she died.

Natalie is forced to put personal feelings aside and follow procedure, even though she can’t believe David could be guilty. But when Gemma’s housemate is found murdered, Natalie thinks the killer could still be at large. Is she right to trust her instincts about David and can she discover the truth before another precious life is taken?

Grippingly fast and nail-bitingly tense, The Secret Admirer will have you flying through the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter. 

Title: The Secret Admirer

Author: Carol Wyer

Publication Date: 2nd April 2020

Publishes By: Bookouture

Links:  UK:  Amazon  US  Amazon

Our Review

This is the sixth in the Natalie Ward series and wow Carol Wyer certainly puts her characters through their paces as Natalie faces her toughest case yet.

If ever a book shows that actions have consequences then this is it.

The book starts with an horrific attack on a young girl called Gemma and quickly escalates to more bodies being found.

Natalie and her team are under immense pressure to find the killer before they strike again.

As always the momentum of Carol’s books carry you along so fast and really make you feel part of the investigation and I’d say that from midway until the end my heart was pounding as I teetered on the edge of my seat as various channels of investigation were exposed.

What I’ve enjoyed most about this series is watching how Natalie has evolved as a person as each book takes her to a different stage of her personal life. When she speaks to Gemma’s mum she is able to communicate with her on a completely different level because of sharing the same type of loss.

Natalie is constantly being pulled in so many different directions as she tries to be the best detective, mother, wife and eventually lover but she never ever gets a chance to find out who she is as she never has time to herself. Natalie has always been a flawed character from the beginning but I think she’s learned a lot from what’s happened to her and in some ways although heartbroken for ever she seems to have found some sort of peace. I really think she deserves a holiday somewhere exotic that she can unwind and as she lives in a fictional world, unlike us, she should be able to do so.

I’ve completely loved this series and although the case is solved I think Natalie's private life has been left on bit of a cliff-hanger so I'll be waiting with baited breath until book seven comes out in July.

Well done Carol Wyer this series has been incredibly heart-breaking, gripping and left me with a sense of hope that Natalie can pick up the pieces of her life and move on to a happier future.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author


Carol Wyer garnered a loyal following as an author of romantic comedies, and won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015). In 2017 she stepped from comedy to the “dark side” and embarked on a series of thrillers, featuring the popular DI Robyn Carter, which earned her recognition as a crime writer.

The Staffordshire-based writer now has more crime novels in the pipeline, although she can still sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

https://www.carolwyer.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolEWyer/

https://twitter.com/carolewyer

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14925467.Carol_Wyer 

Clover Cottage by Christie Barlow

A page-turning new cosy novel in the bestselling Love Heart Lane series – perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Phillipa Ashley and Milly Johnson!

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what.

When Vet Rory Scott inherits ramshackle Clover Cottage in the quaint village of Heartcross, Allie MacDonald just knows this is their happy ever after. A place to call home with the man she loves – it’s her dream come true!

Until Rory drops a bombshell. He loves Allie but he has dreams of his own to follow – to live and work in Africa. Clover Cottage will have to wait just a little longer…

Allie can’t imagine life without Rory, but she loves him too much to hold him back. And as he embarks on his adventure, Allie begins to rethink her own plans. She loves Rory and knows she wants him in her life, but maybe she can follow her own dreams too?

And always there, nestled in the beautiful village of Heartcross, surrounded by the people she loves, will be the place that will always bring them back to each other. Their forever home, Clover Cottage.

Title: Clover Cottage

Author: Christie Barlow

Published By: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 20th March 2020

Links: UK  Amazon   US  Amazon

Our Review

Clover Cottage is the third instalment of the Heartcross Series of books set in the Scottish Highlands, complete with mountainous views, herds of Alpaca's and cosy country pubs and tearooms. Allie and Rory are a happy couple who still live apart . She in her parents' pub where she helps out and he is a cottage his parents own. When an opportunity arises for them to make the next step of moving in together Allie is very shocked to find that Rory is not as enthusiastic as she is.

When the famous Zach moves in to a glamping site temporarily for a break in filming he opens a whole can of worms and shows Rory a glimpse of what his life could be like in the public eye. 

An overwhelming sense of warmth and cosiness envelops me when I read a Christie Barlow book and no matter what happens I feel safe in the knowledge that it will all end well. There is such a thriving community in Heartcross and it is easy to feel as though I know all the characters as they do become a part of your life. 

This was a story with a difference as it wasn't two characters meeting for the first time, Allie and Rory were in a loving relationship and Clover Cottage basically tested their relationship to the limit. Their problems were the sort that happen in real life and this story of a couple working through their differences is just as enjoyable as one where they first meet. There were lots of sad moments but I was left feeling completely uplifted by how touching the acts of the community were to a character who was going through so much. There were also plenty of those moments that made me laugh out loud too. Along with family secrets what more could anyone possibly want from a book?

I thoroughly enjoyed the warmth and coming together of the people at Heartcross and Mop the Alpaca is so cute I really want to meet them. A cosy blend of escapism, heartache and humour.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Author  Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother, The Misadventures of a Playground Mother, Kitty's Countryside Dream, Lizzie's Christmas Escape, Evie's Year of Taking Chances, The Cosy Canal Boat Dream, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada & Australia.

Christie is an ambassador for @ZuriProject raising money/awareness and engaging with impoverished people in Uganda through organisations to improve their well-being.



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