Books and the City Showcase 2023

On Tuesday 15th November 2022, Simon & Schuster UK opened their doors once more after two years. Sara-Jade Virtue and the Team invited bloggers, librarians and booksellers along to celebrate their fabulous books which are due to be published next year.

As the evenings usually go so quickly Linda Hill and I decided to meet up earlier so we could have a catch up beforehand and we were joined by the lovely Joanne from PortobelloBookBlog who was attending her first TeamBATC showcase. After delicious pastel de natas with raspberries in we made our way to S&S headquarters.

Linda and Joanne

As always the welcome from SJ and the team was warm and lovely and we were led into the room which was filled with goody bags, cocktails, nibbles and fizz and stacks of books with signs telling us to help ourselves.

Once we were settled down, Clare Hey presented Sara-Jade with a beautiful bouquet and a personalised card from the BATC team to congratulate her on her recent Romantic Novelists' Association's win for Publisher and or Editor of the Year 2022. We were then introduced to all the wonderful authors, three of whom were joining us via zoom along with many more bloggers.

After each author read from their books we had a q and a session with prizes given for the best questions, one via zoom and one in the room.

Lucy Vine surrounded by tulips

Lauren Bravo and Rebecca Ryan (L-R)

All of the books sound amazing and I can't wait to read them all, all I can say is all of you book lovers out there are in for a treat, with something for everybody.

Jackie Fraser (1st Left) and Eva Verde (2nd Left) reading from their books.

  

As ever the night goes far too quickly and we are soon racing down Grey's Inn road to get to our trains but not before quick catch ups with our lovely blogger friends including, Kirsty, Hayley, Catriona, Laura and Maureen and a delicious book themed cupcake. 

I started reading Lucy Vine's book, Seven Exes on the way home and already wish that it was on the telly as it is hilarious.

Thanks so much SJ and the Books and the City Team for such an amazing event.

Please see below for the wonderful authors and their amazing books. Click on the titles to order/Pre-order.

In Bloom by Eva Verde

This book is so new that there is no information available yet but while we're waiting here's Eva's previous book Lives Like Mine

Lives Like Mine by Eva Verde

Mother... To three small children, their heritage dual like hers.

Daughter... To a mother who immigrated to make a better life but has been rejected by her chosen country.

Wife... To a man who loves her but who will not defend her to his intolerant family.

Woman…Whose roles now define her and trap her in a life she no longer recognises…

 Meet Monica, the flawed heroine at the heart of LIVES LIKE MINE. 

With her three children in school, Monica finds herself wondering if this is all there is. Despite all the effort and the smiles, in the mirror she sees a woman hollowed out from putting everyone else first, tolerating her in-laws’ intolerance, and wondering if she has a right to complain when she’s living the life that she has created for herself. 

Then along comes Joe, a catalyst for change in the guise of a flirtatious parent on the school run. Though the sudden spark of their affair is hedonistic and oh so cathartic, Joe soon offers a friendship that shows Monica how to resurrect and honour the parts of her identity that she has long suppressed. He is able to do for Monica what Dan has never managed to, enabling her both to face up to a past of guilty secrets and family estrangements, and to redefine her future.

Seven Exes by Lucy Vine

Esther is out with her two friends, bemoaning her lack of relationship, when she finds a magazine from the noughties. Seeking comfort – and a laugh – she turns to the dating advice only to find an article that feels a little too close to home. According to the journalist, there are seven people a woman will date before finding the one:

The First Love, The Work Mistake, The Friend with Benefits, The Overlap, The Missed Chance, The Bastard and The Serious One. 

Her friends laugh but Esther realises each of her exes fits these roles perfectly. Deciding that she’s mistaken her true love in the reject pile she decides to contact each of her exes to find out which is the one that got away...

Maybe Tomorrow by Penny Parkes

What a difference a year could make… 

Jamie Matson had once enjoyed a wonderful life working alongside her best friend, organising adventures for single-parent families, and her son Bo’s artistic flair a source of pride rather than concern.

 She hadn’t been prepared to lose her business, her home, and her friend. Not all in one dreadful year. And now she finds herself reeling - rebuilding her world, with Bo at its heart - swallowing her pride and asking for help. 

Jamie certainly hadn’t expected to find such hope and camaraderie in the queue at her local Food Bank - thrown together with an unlikely and colourful group of people - all of them struggling to get by, yet still determined to reclaim their lost careers and agency over their lives. Even if just choosing their own groceries again is a goal they can all share. 

As their friendships flourish, they quickly find it’s easier to be objective about each other than about themselves, and decide that - when you’re all out of options - it’s okay to bend the rules a little and create your own.

We haven't got an image for Maybe Tomorrow yet so here are the details for Home, instead.

Home by Penny Parkes

A gripping and heartfelt story about overcoming the past and finding where you belong. 

Anna Wilson travels the world as a professional housesitter – stepping into other people’s lives - caring for their homes, pets and sometimes even neighbours. Living vicariously. 

But all Anna has ever really wanted is a home of her own – a proper one, filled with family and love and happy memories. If only she knew where to start. 

Growing up in foster care, she always envied her friends their secure and carefree lives, their certainty and confidence. And, while those same friends may have become her family of choice, Anna is still stuck in that nomadic cycle, looking for answers, trying to find the courage to put down roots and find a place to call home.

Compelling, rich and evocative, Home is Anna’s journey to discovering that it isn’t where you settle down that matters, but the people you have around you when you do. 

The House That Made Us by Alice Kavanaugh

One Day meets Up: The House That Made Us is a love story – and a life story – told through a series of photographs and based on a true story. 

When Mac and Marie marry and find a home of their own, Mac takes a snap of themselves outside their newbuild bungalow, the garden bare and the paint on the front door still wet. It becomes a tradition, this snap, and slowly the photographs build into an album of a fifty-year partnership. 

Every year they take a photo and though things change around them – the garden matures, the fashions change, they grow older – the one constant is their love. Every year, come rain, come shine, from the Seventies through the decades, every photo tells the story of their love. 

Until the last photo, where the couple becomes one, and their story comes to an end…

The Daughter-in-Law by Fanny Blake

When Hope’s only son Paul met and married Elodie, Hope was delighted that he had found love and was settling down to make his own family. Hope has loved bringing up her own child, and is happy to step in and help out now and again – but is always worried about overstepping the line between grandmother and mother.

 

Elodie was hoping that having children with Paul would fulfil her as much as her busy job as a barrister has. But the reality is far from her dream. And with her mother-in-law Hope constantly poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, she finds herself frustrated and alone.

 

Both women could be each other’s greatest ally, but both have secrets that could ruin their relationship. Secrets neither wants Paul to uncover…

Preloved by Lauren Bravo 

Gwen’s life has stalled. She’s in her mid-thirties, perpetually single, her friends are busy procreating in the country and conversations with her parents seem to revolve entirely around herbaceous borders and the council’s wheelie-bin timetable. Above all she’s lonely. But then, isn’t everyone?

 

When Gwen’s made redundant from a job she drifted into a decade ago and never left, she realises it’s time to make a change. Over what might be the best – and most solitary – meal she’s ever eaten, Gwen vows to find something meaningful to do with her life, reconnect with her family and friends – and finally book herself a dentist appointment.

 

Her search for meaning soon leads her to volunteer in a local charity shop where she both literally and metaphorically unloads her emotional baggage. With the help of the weird and wonderful people she meets in the shop and the donated items bursting with untold stories that pass through its doors, Gwen must finally address the events and choices that led her to this point and find a way to move forward with bravery, humanity and more regular dental care.

 

Brimming with life, love and the stories bound up in even the most everyday items, Preloved is a tale about friendship, loss, being true to oneself no matter the expectations – and the enduring power and joy of charity shops.

The Forgotten Garden by Sharon Gosling 

Successful landscape architect Luisa MacGregor has finally got the green light to go ahead with a charity project she’s been working on for years: taking parcels of land in deprived areas and building gardens that can involve the community.

 

Arriving in a rundown seaside town on the north-west coast of Cumbria, she realises that her work is going to be cut out for her. But, along with Cas, a local PE teacher, and Harper, a teen whose life has taken a wrong turn, she is determined to get the garden up and running.

 

So when the community comes together and the garden starts to grow, she feels her luck might have changed. Can she grow good things on this rocky ground? And might love blossom along the way…?

 The Book Lover's Retreat by Heidi Swain

Sometimes a book grabs you by the heart and grows to mean everything to you. That’s what Hope Falls is to friends Emily, Rachel and Tori. So, when they get the chance to spend a whole summer at the cottage in Lakeside where the film adaptation was located, they know it is going to be the holiday of a lifetime.

Spending six weeks away will give them a chance to re-evaluate their life choices. For Emily to decide which way her career will go – the safe route, or the more risky creative option? And for Rachel to decide whether to move in with her partner Jeremy. Then Tori has to drop out at the last moment, and her space is offered to another Hope Falls afficionado, Alex. 

But when Alex turns out not to be who they expected, the holiday takes an unforeseen turn. And as the summer develops, so does their friendship. Could this be where they uncover their future selves, find love in all its forms and where their lives will change course forever…?

My (Extra) Ordinary Life by Rebecca Ryan

Emily's worried she's a little too normal...

but what's wrong with average anyway?

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser

Unfortunately I couldn't find anything for this book yet because it's so new so I'm sharing 

The Bookshop of  Second Chances instead.

Author Q & A with Jenni Keer

A love that seems lost, may still yet be found, for real love always endures.

1890. One summer evening changes everything for Sidney and Leonard Bellingham when their beloved mother disappears from the family home, Halesham Hall. Left with their bitter father, they are taught to trust no one but themselves, with brother pitted against brother to see who is worthy of inheriting the Bellingham Board Games company. But the series of twisted games they are forced to play will have far reaching consequences.

1920. Phoebe Bellingham arrives at Halesham Hall determined to solve the puzzles that will allow her to claim back the Bellingham inheritance. But this legacy involves more than one secret, and soon Phoebe realises that the stakes are higher than she ever could have imagined.

                                    

Title: The Legacy of Halesham Hall

Author: Jenni Keer

Published By: Headline Accent

Publication Date: 15th September 2022

Links: UK:   Amazon 

Waterstones

WHSmith

                                                                   ~~~~~

Author Q & A with Jenni Keer

 Hi Jenni and welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.

Hi Annette. Thank you so much for having me over. It’s always a joy to chat books with a fellow author, and particularly kind of you to invite me now that my fourth book, The Legacy of Halesham Hall, has just been published.

What inspired you to write this book?

This book has possibly been lying dormant inside me for decades, but the initial inspiration was a weird house I came across online, with many peculiar features, including staircases that didn’t lead anywhere. My writer brain immediately conjured up a staircase that led to a permanently locked door, and I wondered what might be behind it. You know how we authors simply can’t stop asking questions! As I started to develop the story, I realised that the tone was being influenced by my love of Du Maurier’s Rebecca, and so I would describe it a light gothic romance. It’s been an absolute joy to write and I hope people enjoy Phoebe’s twisty, turny journey.

Did you always want to be a writer?

Nope, but looking back, it is obvious that this was my calling. It wasn’t until I become mum to four boys in three years, and was reading all the uplit I could get my hands on, that the thought of writing a novel even occurred to me. Once I set off down the road, however, there was simply no turning back.

Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story.

Once I’d decided I was going to write a full length novel (I briefly flirted with short stories but had far too much to say to be limited to 2000 words!) I had a feeling I would eventually be able to get traditionally published, but just didn’t know when. Would it take two years? Or twenty? (Spoiler alert – it actually took nine.) I wrote my first 100k novel over the next couple of years, largely in the evenings when the boys were in bed. I sent it out to agents and received the inevitable rejections. I learned from my mistakes and wrote another novel. And then another. And then another … determined to keep going until I secured that all-elusive publishing deal. Eventually, I sent The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker off to a publisher open submissions and, much to my surprise, I was offered a two book deal. Securing an agent swiftly followed.

What other books have you written?

I had two romcoms out with Harper Collins: The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker and The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows. Then I tweaked my genre slightly and have had two dual-time stories published with Headline Accent: The Secrets of Hawthorn Place (which has done exceptionally well) and The Legacy of Halesham Hall, which came out on Sept 15th.

Have you ever had writer's block?

No, but possibly because I don’t always write chronologically. I tend to hop about and write the scenes I’m inspired by, so when I do get stuck, I just move to another section of the story. I’m a pantser, so rewriting doesn’t faze me.

Where is your favourite place to write? (Can we please have a picture)

Mostly, I write at my desk, which is tucked away in the corridor between the living room and the downstairs loo. But I can write anywhere. I have an extremely busy household (six of us, remember) so sometimes I will escape to a friend’s house or the local library. During the winter, I decamp to the sofa, because it’s closer to the log-burner and therefore warmer. But during the summer, my ABSOLUTE favourite writing place is at the bottom of my garden. I do so love being surrounded by green.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

1. Tell the story that you want to tell. Don’t try to write for the market. Your passion for the story will always shine through.

2. FINISH writing the book, and don’t get distracted by the shiny new idea. It is so important to work though all the rubbish bits (like the sticky middle and the part where you hate the story and wonder why you ever thought it was a good idea) and to learn how to edit an entire book. You will surprise yourself by how much the book improves AFTER you’ve finished that nightmare first draft.

3. Persevere. The only difference between a published author and an unpublished author, is the published author didn’t give up.

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?

I had this question recently at a Waterstones event so I shall repeat what I said to them. I always think of myself as the protagonist (even if she’s four foot tall, ginger and nothing like me!) so I couldn’t possibly cast any of my heroines. I also strongly feel that everyone conjurers up their own image of the characters, so to name actors would invariably disappoint people. I made the mistake of showing someone a photograph of the real life Arts and Craft architect who had inspired the wonderful Percy Gladwell in Hawthorn Place, and they were so horrified that I decided never to do that again… 

What is your next book about?

I’m currently writing a novel set in 1927, and for the first time, the setting is not linked to my beloved East Anglia, but is instead set in an unnamed part of West London. It’s been both a joy and absolute nightmare to write because it has an unusual structure. The roaring twenties were a fascinating period in history and I have some delightful characters, but I’m keeping the plot-line close to my chest because this one has a very different slant…

Jenni at a book signing with author friends
from the RNA Norfolk Chapter

Thank you so much for joining us on the blog Jenni and good luck with the book.

Thank you so much for having me over. I’ve loved answering all your questions and hope that if your readers like the sound of my books, they will connect with me on social media, and come and say Hi. I’m very friendly :) Jenni x

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before settling in the middle of the Suffolk countryside with her antique furniture restorer husband. She has valiantly attempted to master the ancient art of housework but with four teenage boys in the house it remains a mystery. Instead, she spends her time at the keyboard writing commercial women's fiction to combat the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere, with her number one fan #Blindcat by her side. Much younger in her head than she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance team.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker (Jan 2019).

The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows (July 2019).

THE SECRETS OF HAWTHORN PLACE out Oct 2021.

A Christmas Celebration by Heidi Swain

When Paige turns up unannounced at Wynthorpe Hall, she discovers the place she knew when she was growing up has changed beyond all recognition. She’s only planning to stay for a short time, but is quickly pulled into local life.

One night while driving home after delivering library books and shopping to residents she stumbles across an isolated cottage and meets Albert, its elderly and rather grumpy owner. She quickly realises there’s more to Albert than meets the eye and the same can be said for the other man she can’t seem to help running into, handsome but brooding Brodie.

All three of them have a secret and a desire to hide away from the world, but with Christmas on the horizon, is that really the best way to celebrate the season?

Title: A Christmas Celebration

Author: Heidi Swain

Published By: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 13th October 2022

Links:  UK:   Amazon   

Waterstones

WHSmith

Our Review

I have read and loved every one of Heidi Swain's books and this one was just perfect for a cosy evening curled up in front of a warm fire or at least wrapped up in a cosy blanket with a candle as I'm refusing to put put my heating on this winter.

A Christmas Celebration is about Paige who comes back very unsure of herself after volunteering in a refugee camp. She stays with her Godfather Angus and his family at the wonderful Wynthorpe Hall. Whilst there she helps to earn her keep by volunteering to make deliveries to elderly and isolated people. 

One day she walks into an art class and notices everyone looking in awe at a man that she can only see the back of and when he turns round she can see why everyone was enamoured with him. - I must point out that at this stage I thought he was naked and posing for the art class but it turns out he was fully dressed so I did chuckle to myself at that point. Anyway the handsome young man in question is Brodie who seems to have a few problems to deal with and isn't always happy to see Paige.

However they are often thrown in each others' paths so they have to learn to get on with each other.

Paige makes a discovery one evening when she gets lost and finds a lovely old man called Albert who is very much in need of help but very reluctant to accept any. The story follows the relationships between Paige and Albert and Paige and Brodie and I'm so pleased to say that there was a happy ending all round.

It was lovely visiting the Winter Wonderland once more and the Cherry Tree Cafe and seeing how many of the previous characters from Heidi's books are getting on. I really enjoyed the relationship between Archie and Paige as he remembered her as a little girl and still teased her mercilessly and I think that really helped Paige to feel at home straight awayand added another dimension to her character.

This book is as comforting as one of Heidi's delicious winter crumbles covered in custard, it had just about everything you could want from a christmas romance, a love story with a handsome hunk, special friendships, family and a real sense of community with everyone pulling together to make the perfect Christmas celebration.

I loved it and it's really put me in a christmassy mood.

Sincerely

Book Angel x 

 About the Author

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes feel good fiction with heart for Simon and Schuster. She releases two books a year (early summer and winter) and the stories all have a strong sense of community, family and friendship. She is currently writing books set in three different locations - the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast.

Heidi lives in beautiful south Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control!

Heidi loves to chat with her readers and you can get in touch via her website heidiswain.co.uk/ or Twitter @Heidi_Swain

Before I Do - Sophie Cousens

The brand new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Just Haven't Met You Yet and This Time Next Year

'Romantic, wise and LOVELY' Marian Keyes

What would you do if the one that got away turned up the night before your wedding?

Audrey is marrying Josh; steady, dependable Josh, the love of her life. They share a flat and a bank account, and it's the only relationship that Audrey's ever had that feels like something she can put her trust in. But romance should be full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey's found herself wondering if Josh really is 'the one'.

So, when Josh's sister Miranda arrives at their rehearsal dinner with Fred - Audrey's 'What If?' guy, the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with but never saw again - Audrey can't help but see it as a sign.

Surely Fred's appearance the night before Audrey is due to get married can't be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to wonder: could fate be trying to stop her from making a huge mistake?

Title: Before I Do

Author: Sophie Cousens

Published By: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date:  18th August 2022

Links:   UK:   Amazon        US:    Amazon 

Waterstones

Our Review

What a bloody brilliant book, I’ve literally just read it in two sittings and I adored it.

Audrey is a wonderful character, she is as lovable as she is flawed and the supporting cast were so much fun.

With feelings for two hunky men how on earth is Audrey supposed to choose? Is it dependable Josh whom she has been going out with for years and is about to marry or flirty Fred the exciting adventurer who appears back in her life the day before the wedding. I know that my choice for her changed as the book went on and the story delved into the past of both relationships. The guy I wanted for her at the beginning was not the one I eventually wanted her to be with.

I can see this story as a film with Audrey being played by Emilia Clark. There are so many ups and downs but everything is handled with sensitivity and awareness of what I and many women have been subjected to in our lives. That need to be kind and not want to offend really hit home for me as did the thought of horrible stepdads and the close relationship between mother and daughter being affected by selfish men.

Alongside the family trauma there are lots of laughs too and many laugh out loud moments. Granny Parker with her prophesy of doom was hilarious. I really liked how the dynamics of the relationships changed as Audrey pretty much grows up during the story.

Beautifully written, funny, emotive and bursting with love. I simply adored every minute of this book and will be buying the author’s previous books too.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Sophie Cousens started her career in television, where she produced, among other things, The Graham Norton Show, Big Brother, Ant and Dec and Russell Howard’s Good News. Working in TV taught her three things;

1 - Wearing a lanyard makes you look as though you know what you are doing.

2 -The best phrase you can contribute in meetings is "let's action that!"If you say it often enough, hopefully someone else will do your work for you.

3 - If in doubt, find someone wearing a lanyard - they'll know what to do.

Sophie currently lives in Jersey where she now writes full time. She lives with her husband Tim and has two small children who keep her occupied with important questions such as 'but did Cinderella have a toothbrush?' and 'do giraffe's know they have really long necks?' She yearns for a time when she will be able to add a miniature dachshund to the party.

Together Again by Milly Johnson

Sisters Jolene, Marsha and Annis have convened at their beautiful family home, Fox House, following the death of their mother, the tricky Eleanor Vamplew. Born seven years apart, the women are more strangers than sisters.

Jolene, the eldest, is a successful romantic novelist who writes about beautiful relationships even though her own marriage to the handsome and charming Warren is complicated.

Marsha, the neglected middle child, has put all of her energy into her work, hoping money will plug the gap in her life left by the man who broke her young heart.

Annis is the renegade, who left home aged sixteen and never returned, not even for the death of their beloved father Julian. Until now.

So when the sisters discover that their mother has left everything to Annis in her will, it undermines everything they thought they knew. Can saying their final goodbyes to Eleanor bring them together again?

Together, Again is the story of truths uncovered and lies exposed, of secrets told – and kept. It is a novel about sister helping sister to heal from childhood scars and finding in each other support, forgiveness, courage and love.

Title: Together Again

Author: Milly Johnson

Published By: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 29th September 2022

Links:  UK:   

Amazon           

Waterstones

WHSmith

Our Review

I always start my reviews by saying that Milly Johnson is my favourite author so I will first of all reiterate that whilst I try and formulate the words to describe this fabulous book.

Together Again, the title got to me straight away when I first heard it as it holds a promise of an emotive read for me and it certainly lived up to those high expectations.

To put it simply I have fallen in love with three amazing women in this book; Jolene, Marsha and Annis have all been through so much in their childhoods and the repercussions have affected their lives in completely different but harmful ways. A line from the book struck me as they described themselves as three only children because their age differences meant that they had nothing in common with each other and by the time Annis had reached sixteen she had run away from home and only came back for her mother's funeral.

As they spend time in Fox house they get to know each other again and their relationship as sisters slowly begins to grow. The sisters could never quite figure out why their mother couldn't seem to love them but it helps them in a way to become closer to each other. 

This book is a cocktail of shattered dreams, painful secrets, heartbreak, revenge and new beginnings. It takes the reader on a journey through some dark places, interspersed with Milly's trademark humour, then gallops along at a frantic pace where you will be cheering our three heroines on as they reach the next stage of their lives. I loved the twists and tangles of all of their lives, including Sally the neighbour who had been the keeper of one of the devastating secrets. Milly Johnson is a whizz at skilfully weaving the intricacies of the story together. Although the story features very dark themes, this book left me feeling satisfied, uplifted and joyful and I'd love to find out what happens next for these wonderful characters.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 20 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella ('The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe') and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poem and joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 20th novel 'Together, Again' is published in hardback on 29th September and is about three estranged sisters convening after the death of their mother in order to arrange her funeral. Freed from the shadow of the overbearing Eleanor Vamplew, the three women come to realise that they have more in common than they could ever have realised.

Milly's website is www.millyjohnson.co.uk. She is on Twitter as @millyjohnson, Instagram as @themillyjohnson, TikTok as @millyjohnsonauthor and has a Facebook page @MillyJohnsonAuthor. She also has a monthly newsletter www.millyjohnson.co.uk/newsletter with exclusive, news, offers and competitions.

Author Q & A with Ian Wilfred

 

ELENA was leaving Lanzarote and heading to Tenerife after having been promoted to her dream job. Her life was complete, or so she thought.

VERONICA knew her life had to change after losing her husband of 50 years. She needed to carve out a new life for herself, and with a little help from her grandson Mikey, their lives were about to change forever.

FAYNA was off to visit her daughter Elena in Tenerife, the island she should have never left all those years ago.

KARINA was happy with her life, but would she be able to cope with a wonderful opportunity which comes her way?

CARLOS and SALVA are brothers who differ in many ways. However, there is something they both want, but will either succeed in getting it?

Friendships Begin in Tenerife containing secrets, romance and new beginnings, but above all it’s all about friendships

Title: Friendships Begin In Tenerife

Author: Ian Wilfred

Publication Date: 20th September 2022

Links: UK: Amazon

Author Q and A with Ian Wilfred.

Before we get started I'd just like to say that I recently met Ian at the Romantic Novelists' Association's conference and he is just as lovely as he appears on twitter. He is wonderfully supportive to many of us authors and a huge champion of the genre.

Hi Ian and welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.

Thank you so much for inviting me. 

What inspired you to write Friendships Begin In Tenerife?

My inspiration came from seeing a waitress in a hotel, she came to take a drinks order and one of the characters just appeared and although isn’t the main character the story started to unravel in my head. 

Did you always want to be a writer? 

No writing was something other people did, not me, but somehow twelve books later I’m here. How and why it happened I don’t really know, I'm scared to stop and think. 

What other jobs have you had? 

From leaving school I’ve always worked in retail and the hospitality business and lots of stories from those days pop up now and then in my books. 

How did it feel when your first novel was published?

My first novel was all very odd as a short time after it was published my dad died and the now husband  moved to Norfolk so it wasn’t until the second one was published that it all started to sink in and I started to enjoy the experience. 

Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story. 

I’m a self published indie author and am very blessed to have a fabulous team of ladies behind me. Nancy is my editor, Rebecca formats all my work and sorts all the Amazon stuff for me. Maureen proof reads and then Cathy Helms in America designs my book covers and we’ve all been together since book two. 

How does it feel being a male writer in a genre where women are the majority?

I don’t have a problem being in the minority. Once I was advised to use a pen name but no it’s never been an issue plus all my working life I’ve worked more with women then men and the support and encouragement I get from the fabulous female writing community is unbelievable.

 

What other books have you written? 

I’ve written three books set in Greece, three in Spain and two in Norfolk. Also two short stories. Not forgetting one that went from Devon to London, New York and Martha’s Vineyard and now I’m heading off to Tenerife with my next couple.

Have you ever had writer's block? 

Never had writer’s block but I do have a few projects I’ve started and got to 40 thousand words and given up on them but saying that parts of them do end up in other books, nothing is wasted. 

What motivates you to keep writing?

I’m never short of motivation I live in a dream world and the characters in my head are insisting I tell their stories 

Where is your favourite place to write? ( can we please have a picture)

I have a couple of favourite places to write in the lounge on the sofa laptop on my knees I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone that before but I get more words written then if I’m sat at my desk and in the garden again when the weather is good on a sofa. 

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

The best bit of writing advise I heard and it’s stuck with me and I take it into all my writing was from the author Amanda Brookfield. 'Add depth to the characters you have, don’t just add more characters,' and of course what Milly Johnson says, 'Just put your bum on the chair and write the B thing it won’t write itself.'

Which authors inspire you?

So many authors I could give you a list of thousands. 

What are you reading at the moment?

I have trouble reading fiction while I’m writing fiction and I’m looking forward to starting Esme Young’s (Sewing Bee) biography next but also I’m very lucky to have been given an advanced copy of the new Milly Johnson, Together Again. I’m itching to dive in but not for another couple of weeks until I finish writing my 2023 summer book 

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book? 

In Friendships Begin In Tenerife which is published on 20th September there is an older character called Veronica and I can see her being played by the wonderful Alison Steadman  

What is your next book about? 

Like I mentioned I’m working on another book which will be out spring summer next year it’s also set in Tenerife and it all revolves around a luxury villa that is rented out and the different holiday makers that stay in it. After that one I’m not sure, I have so many ideas going on in my head twenty four seven.

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book. 

Thank you so much again for inviting me. 

Sincerely 

Book Angel x 

About the Author

Ian Wilfred's debut novel 'Putting Right The Past' is set on the island of Tenerife and was published in 2013. Since then he has gone on to publish other books set in his beloved Norfolk, the Greek islands and Martha's Vineyard.

In 2020 Ian has chosen a new location for his next feel good read; he's heading off to sunny Spain.

Ian lives on the Norfolk coast with his husband and west highland terrier. He is a member of the Romantic Novelist Association.

You can follow Ian on twitter at @ianwilfred39

A Child of the East End by Jean Fullerton

A brand new uplifting, emotional and sometimes shocking memoir about life in London's oldest suburb, from the Queen of saga fiction Jean Fullerton . . .

*** Featured on WOMAN & HOME and PEOPLE'S FRIEND, and coming soon to BBC RADIO! ***

One of my first East London memories is lying in bed, listening to the low boom of the barges as they nudged each other on the Thames, just half a mile away from our estate . . .

Life in Cockney London was tough in the post-war years. The government's broken promises had led to a chronic housing shortage, rampant crime and families living in squalor. But one thing prevailed: the unbeatable spirit of the East End, a tight-knit community who pulled through the dark times with humour and heart.

Drawing on both family history and her own memories of growing up in the 1950s and '60s, as well as her working life as a district nurse and local police officer, Jean Fullerton vividly depicts this fascinating part of London - from tin baths, to jellied eels, to tigers in a Wapping warehouse.

***Includes a bonus 8-page photo plate section!***

Title: A Child of the East End

Author: Jean Fullerton

Published By: Corvus

Publication Date: 4th August 2022

Link:  UK:  Amazon      US: Amazon

Author Guest Post - Jean Fullerton

Hi Jean and welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.

What inspired you to write your biography? 

Well, I wish I’d asked my granny more, so I felt I should pass on all the Fullerton family stories to my own children.  

Did you always want to be a writer? 

No I didn’t, mainly because I’m dyslexic and always struggled with spelling at school. However, I’ve always been a storyteller for as long as I can remember.   

What other jobs have you had? 

Where do I start? Worked in a chemist, was a Woolworths Girl, a filing clerk, a pattern cutter in the fashion trade, a police officer in London and finally a district nurse and university lecturer.   

How did it feel when your first novel was published?

Absolutely elated and to be honest I still feel the same every time I hold my latest book in my hand.  

Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story?

I started writing twenty years ago after attending an NHS stress management course knowing nothing about writing or publishing. When I finished the book - a medieval romance - I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I studied my craft alongside a day job and writing another six books. Finally, in 2006 my first novel, No Cure for Love, won a literary competition for unpublished authors after which I gained my first agent and two book deal. I haven’t looked back since.    

What other books have you written? 

I’ve written nineteen other books. The Nolan family series set in Victorian East London, the Nurses Millie and Connie series, set in a fictitious East London Nursing Association before the NHS and my current Brogan family series, again set in East London during the dark days of WW2.

Have you ever had writer's block? If so, how did you overcome it?

Thankfully I haven’t but I would think the best way to deal with it would be to continue writing. 

What motivates you to keep writing?

The money’s nice but what brings me to my desk each day is the lovely emails I receive from readers.  

Where is your favourite place to write?

My office at home but I can write on trains, boats and planes when a deadline is looming. 

Do your character’s moods ever affect your mood and vice versa? 

Not as such but if I’m feeling stressed, escaping into my current story lightens my mood instantly.  

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Firstly, accept you’re not an undiscovered literary genius.

Secondly, learn your craft.

Lastly, a published author is only one who never gave up so keep going.  

Which authors inspire you?

That’s a difficult one as there are so many but I’d say Anya Seton, Sharon Penman and Catherine Cookson, all of whom I read voraciously as a young adult.  

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m re-reading Dorothy L. Sayer’s Lord Peter Whimsy series which I read 40 years ago.

If your book was made into a film, what song would you choose for the opening credits?

My Life by The Beatles 

I love that song. Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book? 

Aidan Turner – always.

What is your next book about? 

I can’t tell you too many details, but I can tell you it’s set in East London during WW2 and features a very different family from the Brogans in my Ration Book series. 

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book.  

Sincerely 

Book Angel x 

About the Author

I was born into a large, East End family and grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. The Fullerton family have lived by London docks since the 1830s and all my books are set in and around this area.

East London has changed greatly and many of the old neighbourhoods I knew as a child have changed too, but I endeavour to bring them alive again in my East London stories of love, family and hard times. I feel that it is my background that gives my stories their distinctive authenticity.

I has been shortlisted for and won several awards and regularly undertake writing workshop. I'm fortunate enough to be a guest cruise lecturer and have sailed all around the world talking about East London's vibrant history. I am married to a minister in the Church of England and have three grown-up daughters.

Follow the blog tour here...

My Other Husband by Dorothy Koomson

Someone's trying to frame me for murder. But I can't prove my innocence. Because then I'd have to confess about... my other husband.

Cleo Forsum is a bestselling novelist turned scriptwriter whose TV series, 'The Baking Detective' is a huge success. Writing is all she's ever wanted to do, and baking and murder stories have proved a winning combination.

But now she has decided to walk away from it all - including divorcing her husband, Wallace - before her past secrets catch up with her.

As Cleo drafts the final ever episodes of the series, people she knows start getting hurt. And it's soon clear that someone is trying to frame her for murder.

She thinks she knows why, but Cleo can't tell the police or prove her innocence. Because then she'd have to confess about her other husband . . .

A series of terrifying murders. A set of complex lies.

And a woman with no way to clear her name.

Title: My Other Husband

Author: Dorothy Koomson

Published By:  Review

Publication Date:  18th August

Link:  UK:   Amazon    US:   Amazon

WHSmith

Our Review

Chilling, thrilling and dangerously fulfilling!

There is so much to unpack from this story and as usual after reading a Dorothy Koomson book I'm left a little shell shocked and need a little time to let everything sink in.

The premise of this book was fantastic, the main character Cleo is a writer of a show called the Baking Detective which I think Dorothy really needs to make into a real series. The problem is that when people start being murdered in similar ways to those on the show Cleo becomes a suspect and I would hate that to happen to Dorothy.

The book starts with Cleo preparing to divorce her husband for reasons unknown to us, in fact she still loves him and appears heartbroken so it is very intriguing as to why she would want to end it all. There is no possible reason why she would want to do that. Or is there?

The story then weaves backwards and forwards to when Cleo met her first boyfriend and then gradually we are able to work out why she has to end her marriage. The underlying sense of fear that hangs over Cleo is almost tangible especially when combined with the claustrophobic atmosphere that she finds herself in when her boyfriend becomes obsessed with her. The obsession gets worse as the years go on until Cleo is backed into a corner and her loved ones are threatened with danger.

The sheer terror that Cleo goes through with each dilemma leave her with no alternative than to make some drastic decisions and the book will have your heart pounding as Cleo hits a race against time. Just as your heart returns to its normal pace, the story picks you up and shakes you to your core as you discover just how far Cleo is prepared to go to end this madness.

A story fraught with danger, intrigue and shocking twists that just keep on coming. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Sincerely

Book Angel x 

About the Author

Dorothy Koomson is the award-winning author of 15 novels and has been making up stories since she was 13 when she used to share her stories with her convent school friends. Her published titles include: Tell Me Your Secret, The Brighton Mermaid, The Friend, When I Was Invisible, That Girl From Nowhere, The Flavours of Love, The Woman He Loved Before, Goodnight, Beautiful and The Chocolate Run.

Dorothy’s first novel, The Cupid Effect, was published in 2003 (when she was quite a bit older than 13). Her third book, My Best Friend’s Girl, was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads of 2006 and went on to sell over 500,000 copies. While her fourth novel, Marshmallows For Breakfast, has sold in excess of 250,000 copies. Dorothy’s books, The Ice Cream Girls and The Rose Petal Beach were both shortlisted for the popular fiction category of the British Book Awards in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

Dorothy’s novels have been translated into over 30 languages, and a TV adaptation loosely based on The Ice Cream Girls was shown on ITV1 in 2013. After briefly living in Australia, Dorothy now lives in Brighton.

In 2019 Dorothy was awarded the Image Award by The Black British Business Awards to celebrate and honour her achievements.

For more information on Dorothy Koomson visit www.dorothykoomson.co.uk

Rome for the Summer by Lynne Shelby. A guest post

 

Kate Harper has always loved the painting that has hung in her parents' dining room for years, never suspecting that it is worth a fortune. When her art dealer boyfriend cheats her family out of the proceeds of the painting's sale, she is left devastated and alone.

Kate discovers that two hundred years ago, the girl in the painting, Charlotte Browne, ran off to Rome with the artist who painted her portrait, but her eventual fate is unknown.

Hoping to uncover the mystery of what happened to Charlotte, Kate seizes the chance of a summer job in Rome, where she strikes up a friendship with Jamie Taylor, an English artist. As they explore the city and start to piece together the surprising secrets of Charlotte's life, Kate finds herself wondering if a summer in Rome can mend a broken heart...

Title:  Rome for the Summer

Author: Lynne Shelby

Published By: Headline Accent

Publication Date: 23rd June 2022

Links: Amazon

Lynne Shelby Guest Post

For me, one of the best things about books is that they can take you anywhere in the world – and to other planets, if you’re into science fiction, or to the past, if you read historical novels! I love travelling, and like to set my contemporary romantic novels in a location that I’ve enjoyed visiting. Whether I’m exploring a foreign city like Paris or enjoying a beach holiday on a Greek island, I always make sure I carry my writer’s notebook with me so I that I can make a note if I can see or hear anything that ignites the spark of an idea for a story. Although I take lots of photos when I’m travelling, I find I can recall the atmosphere of a place more vividly if I draw it, so I also take a sketchbook. 

My new book, Rome For The Summer, was originally inspired by a conversation I overheard when my husband and I were returning to our hotel after a day’s sight-seeing in Rome, although I didn’t write the book for several years as I was writing other stories. When I started writing the book, I would have liked to take another trip to Rome to check that I’d remembered the layout of the city correctly, as well as details like whether you can hear the water plashing into the Trevi Fountain before you see it (you can!), but travel restrictions were still in place at the time, so I had to make do with maps, guide books, photos and my drawings to jog my memories.

In the book, my heroine, Kate Harper, has always loved the painting that has hung in her parents' dining room for years, never suspecting that it is worth a fortune. When her art dealer boyfriend cheats her family out of the proceeds of the painting's sale, she is left devastated. Kate discovers that two hundred years ago, the girl in the painting, Charlotte Browne, ran off to Rome with the artist who painted her portrait, but her eventual fate is unknown. Hoping to uncover the mystery of what happened to Charlotte, Kate seizes the chance of a summer job in Rome, a city she has never visited before, where she strikes up a friendship with Jamie Taylor, an English artist . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Rome again through Kate’s eyes, as she and Jamie explore the city together, visiting iconic sites like the Colosseum, and the Spanish Steps – I have drawings of both in my sketchbook – as they start to piece together the story of what happened to Charlotte two hundred years before. I hope that readers of Rome For The Summer will enjoy exploring the city’s narrow cobbled streets, sitting by a fountain in a sunlit piazza to eat a delicious gelato, and gazing at the sunset over the Roman skyline in Kate and Jamie’s company as much as I did.

Thanks so much Lynne for visiting our blog and good luck with the book.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Lynne Shelby writes contemporary women's fiction and romance. Her debut novel, French Kissing, now re-released in e-book as Meet Me In Paris, won the Accent Press and Woman magazine Writing Competition. Her fifth novel, Love On Location, was shortlisted for a Romantic Novelist’s Award. When not writing or reading, Lynne can usually be found at the theatre or exploring a foreign city with her writer's notebook, camera and sketchbook in hand. She lives in London with her husband and has three adult children who live nearby.

Website: www.lynneshelby.com

Twitter: @LynneShelby5

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LynneShelbyWriter

Instagram: lynneshelbywriter