BLOG TOUR: The Secret Bridesmaid - Katy Birchall

 

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the year . . .

Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she's made it her full-time job.

As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is hired by brides to be their right-hand woman, posing as a friend but working behind the scenes to ensure their big day goes off without a hitch. From wrangling rowdy hen dos to navigating last minute portaloo cancellations and family dramas, there's no problem she can't solve.

So when she's hired by an actual Marchioness to help plan the society wedding of the year, it should be a chance for Sophie to prove just how talented she is.

Of course, it's not ideal that the bride, Cordelia Swann, is an absolute diva and determined to make Sophie's life a nightmare. It's also a bit inconvenient that Sophie finds herself drawn to Cordelia's posh older brother, who is absolutely off limits. And when a rival society wedding is announced, things start to get rather complicated...

Can Sophie pull off the biggest challenge of her career, win over a reluctant bride, and catch the eye of handsome Lord Swann - all while keeping her true identity a secret, and her dignity intact?

Heart-warming and hilarious, The Secret Bridesmaid celebrates the joys (and foibles) of weddings, the nuances of female friendship, and the redeeming power of love in its many, unexpected forms.

What did I think?

Well this was just the perfect change of pace I was looking for; now and again I like to escape the darkness of crime thrillers by plunging into the sunny world of chick lit and romcoms.  The Secret Bridesmaid is such a fabulous romcom that it had me laughing out loud on many occasions and I absolutely adored the main character of Sophie Breeze.

Sophie is a professional bridesmaid who takes the stress of wedding planning away from the bride to ensure that they can enjoy their big day without worrying about things going wrong.  Posing as a friend of the bride, the guests are unaware that Sophie is a wedding planner extraordinaire.  Sophie really does throw her all into the role and many of the brides are considered real friends when the wedding day is over.

When Sophie is hired by Lady Meade to help plan her daughter's wedding, it should be a dream come true for Sophie, however, the bride wants nothing to do with her.  Cordelia is a right bridezilla and sets impossible tasks in the hope that Sophie will quit but Sophie is made of much stronger stuff and Cordelia can't get rid of her that easily.

This book was an absolute joy to read; we all need a friend like Sophie in our lives!  It was so delightful to watch friendships grow throughout the book and absolutely hilarious to read emails between Sophie and her suppliers.  Whilst some of the brides' requests may seem far-fetched I bet there have been more outlandish requests in real life making those in the book appear tame in comparison.

Uplifting and hilarious, it's impossible to read The Secret Bridesmaid without a huge smile on your face.  I'm definitely putting Katy Birchall on my 'authors to watch' list and I'll have my eyes peeled for news about her next book.

I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Katy Birchall is the author of several young adult novels including The It Girl series, the Hotel Royale series and Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch. She is the co-author of the middle grade Lightning Girl series and Star Switch with Alesha Dixon, and the Find the Girl teen series with YouTube stars Lucy and Lydia Connell. Katy was proud to be the author of a retelling of Jane Austen's Emma for the Awesomely Austen series, a collection of Austen's novels retold for younger readers. She has also written a non-fiction book, How to be a Princess: Real-Life Fairy Tales for Modern Heroines. The Secret Bridesmaid is her first adult novel.

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BLOG TOUR: Christmas at the Cornish Confetti Agency - Daisy James

I absolutely love Daisy James books so I'm thrilled to be one of the bloggers opening the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour for Christmas at the Cornish Confetti Agency, the third book in the fabulous Cornish Confetti Agency series.  Read on to find out more about the book and what I thought about it.

It's Christmas at The Cornish Confetti Agency!

When Lexie Harrington is asked to choreograph Phoebe and Sam’s Christmas-themed wedding, she can’t wait to create the perfect winter wonderland - elegantly dressed fir trees, glossy garlands of holly and mistletoe, baskets of yule logs and pine cones, and the mouth-watering fragrance of gingerbread, cinnamon sticks and warm mulled wine floating through the air.

With handsome wedding columnist-cum-fledgling scriptwriter Theo Barker at her side, she’s confident that she can create the perfect festive ambience the bride and groom have been dreaming of since their engagement in the Swiss Alps; no rampant hosepipes, no mechanical mice, no confetti-filled hairdryers.

But this is The Cornish Confetti Agency, and the words ‘plain-sailing’ and ‘hassle-free’ do not feature in the promotional brochure. So, when a much-loved portrait of the groom’s father is adorned with pirate eye-patches and black plastic moustaches, and his expensive cologne is switched for toilet cleaner, Lexie and Theo must once again don their metaphorical deerstalkers and unravel the mystery before the wedding dissolves into Christmas-themed chaos and calamity.

A perfect Christmas wedding?

Is there such a thing for The Cornish Confetti Agency?

A glittery, feel-good story perfect for the festive season, and the third book in The Cornish Confetti Agency series.

What did I think?

As much as I like to read books in order, I jumped into the Cornish Confetti Agency series at book two in Summertime at the Cornish Confetti Agency.  I don't usually like starting mid-series but Daisy James writes so brilliantly that all of her books can be read as a standalone, so don't be put off if you haven't read the earlier books as I still haven't read the first one.  

Lexie is temporarily at the helm of the Cornish Confetti Agency whilst its owner is working in America.  Lexie may not own the business but she lives and breathes it, constantly striving to plan the perfect wedding for the brides who request her services.  Striving for perfection means that there's always something that goes wrong, although Lexie does seem to have more than her fair share of mishaps that result in her and her lovely boyfriend Theo doing some amateur sleuthing.

There are some wonderful character stories to read about from among the wedding guests and Lexie's friends.  I particularly enjoyed reading about Lexie's friend Freya and her wedding dress show that has been a life long dream for the two friends.  Lexie really makes it hard for herself by arranging a fashion show at the same time as organising a Christmas wedding, but it shows off her amazing organisational skills and quick thinking.  It's certainly double trouble and opportunity for more things to go wrong, which they inevitably do.

Christmas at the Cornish Confetti Agency is so festive that I felt I should have been having an eggnog and a sweet mince pie whilst reading it.  Daisy James’ writing is a feast for the senses; portraying all of the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Cornwall.  I often found my mouth watering as various baked goodies were mentioned, especially the gingerbread that sounded so yummy.  I think I put on a pound in weight just reading about it!

I absolutely adore Daisy James' writing and there's always something in her books that stands out and stays with me.  As much as I loved the sleep fairies in the previous book, I loved the reference to Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams and son of the god of sleep, Hypnos.  Travelling down Morpheus' highway is such a beautiful phrase for falling asleep and perfectly encapsulates the immense talent of Daisy James.

Fabulously festive, charming and entertaining, Christmas at the Cornish Confetti Agency is tremendously heart-warming.  It's the perfect book to read as the cold, dark nights are drawing in to add a bit of sparkle to your day.  It's wonderfully uplifting and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

I received a gifted ebook for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Daisy James loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. She especially likes to create sunshine-filled settings in exotic locations - the Caribbean, Tuscany, Cornwall, Provence - so she can spend her time envisioning her characters enjoying the fabulous scenery and sampling the local food and drink.

When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must.

Social Media Links – 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/daisyjamesbooks

Twitter - https://twitter.com/daisyjamesbooks

Instagram - @daisyjamesbooks

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BLOG TOUR: Summertime at the Cornish Confetti Agency - Daisy James

I'm absolutely delighted to be taking part in the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour for Summertime at the Cornish Confetti Agency by Daisy James.  Read on to find out about the book and scroll down for my review.

It’s Summertime at The Cornish Confetti Agency!

When Lexie Harrington is asked to co-ordinate Kat and Dylan’s ‘English village fête’ wedding, she’s determined that this time everything will go according to her carefully laid plans; no ice bucket challenges, no whoopee cushions, and absolutely no googly eyes attached to everything in sight!

With gorgeous journalist-cum-wedding columnist Theo Barker to offer a helping hand, Lexie is optimistic that she can deliver the fairy tale wedding her clients have always dreamed of…. until the best man Noah is targeted by a loose hosepipe, the wedding rings go walk-about, and his beloved scarlet Porsche takes on a distinctly unpleasant aroma.

Can Lexie and Theo uncover what’s behind the mysterious goings on, or will the Cornish Confetti Agency be forced to close its doors to the future brides and grooms of glorious Cornwall?

What did I think?

I seem to make a habit of reading Daisy James books mid-series, but they're so easy to read that you can always catch up with the characters' histories and fully enjoy the fabulous story.  Summertime at the Cornish Confetti Agency is the second book in the Cornish Confetti Agency series and it can definitely be read as a standalone.  I haven't read the first book in the series but Daisy James paints a multi-coloured picture of events in the first book to ensure that readers picking up a book mid-series are not disadvantaged.

After losing her job, Lexie is looking after the Cornish Confetti Agency while its owner is away.  The first wedding didn't quite go to plan so Lexie is hoping to redeem herself by making sure that the village fete wedding she's planning for the vicar's daughter goes without a hitch.   Of course, some things are out of Lexie's control and when someone starts playing pranks on the best man, Lexie needs to identify the culprit before the wedding is ruined.

I think I put on a few pounds when reading this as Daisy James describes all of the mouthwatering cakes and pastries made by Scarlet, the local baker.  Daisy James has a real talent for describing sweet treats in the most delicious way; I was almost drooling at the thought of biting into a freshly baked croissant and experiencing the scrumptious flaky buttery pastry.  Daisy's delectable words describe the sights, sounds and smells so vividly that they leave little to the imagination and if you're really lucky you'll experience the most amazing smell hallucinations, like I did.  

I also have to mention the magical sleep fairies that Daisy James introduced me to in this book; the thought of chasing the sleep fairies when you're unable to sleep or being captured by them as you drift off is perfectly delightful.  I love this idea; saying that you've been chasing the sleep fairies is much better than simply saying you couldn't sleep - what beautiful unforgettable words from Daisy.

With a sprinkling of mystery and a dollop of romance, Summertime at the Cornish Confetti Agency is a fabulously entertaining book.  Daisy James writes with such exuberance and charm that you feel enveloped in the book as if it's a huge hug.  Summertime at the Cornish Confetti Agency is my favourite Daisy James book so far and I plan to read the first book in the series while I wait for the next fabulously festive instalment.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US




About the author:

Daisy James loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. She especially likes to create sunshine-filled settings in exotic locations - the Caribbean, Tuscany, Cornwall, Provence - so she can spend her time envisioning her characters enjoying the fabulous scenery and sampling the local food and drink.

When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009889775019

Twitter @daisyjamesbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisyjamesstories/

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BLOG TOUR: The Night She Died - Jenny Blackhurst

On her own wedding night, beautiful and complicated Evie White leaps off a cliff to her death.  

What drove her to commit this terrible act? It's left to her best friend and her husband to unravel the sinister mystery.  

Following a twisted trail of clues leading to Evie's darkest secrets, they begin to realize they never knew the real Evie at all... 

What did I think?

I have loved Jenny Blackhurst novels since reading her debut, How I Lost You, when I first started blogging so I was VERY excited to read her new book, The Night She Died.  I actually think this is her best novel yet; it had me on the edge of my seat, my heart in my mouth and my brain in a tizz as I hurtled through this terrific rollercoaster of a book.

Oh I do love a good prologue and that is precisely what Jenny Blackhurst delivers in The Night She Died.  You can't fail to be hooked by a bride jumping off a cliff on her wedding day, so put on your seatbelt and buckle up as Jenny Blackhurst has quite a bumpy ride in store for us.  The story is mainly told from two points of view: that of Evie, the bride, and Rebecca, her friend, with an odd chapter giving us the point of view of Richard, the bereft groom.

It quickly becomes clear that this isn't a normal friendship as Rebecca is so desperate to please Evie that she will do anything for her.  Evie has had a privileged upbringing so you can't help but wonder if she is taking advantage of Rebecca...but to what end?  Digging into Evie's past helps to explain some of her reckless behaviour and it just goes to prove that money can't buy happiness.  No matter how hard she tries, Evie can't deviate from the path that fate has chosen for her...and that path is leading her to the edge of a cliff.

I cannot even begin to describe how amazingly brilliant this book is; it is a dark, twisty, gripping and addictive rollercoaster of a book.  I really couldn't read fast enough to find out why Evie jumped off the cliff and because of the super-talent of misdirection that Ms. Blackhurst has, every scenario I had in my head was proven to be wrong.  That's always a good thing when reading a book; because I was SO wrong, The Night I Died is well worthy of the 5 stars I have awarded it.  It makes me think that I should have a secret 6th star for exceptional books such as this.  The Night I Died is a top notch psychological thriller that I really can't recommend highly enough.  

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




About the author:

JENNY BLACKHURST grew up in Shropshire where she still lives with her husband and children. Growing up she spent hours reading and talking about crime novels - writing her own seemed like natural progression. The night she died is Jenny's fourth novel. 

Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. 



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Book Birthday Blog Tour - Bride Without a Groom

I read Bride Without a Groom in September 2015, after picking it up from Amazon.  It is an absolutely hilarious laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that I remember with fond affection, almost as if Rebecca was an old friend.  You can read my review here.

I am really excited to be part of the Book Birthday Blog Tour and I have an extract from Bride Without a Groom to share with you.

The Priest in the Living Room

Our conversation is cut short. There’s someone at the door. The bell rings again and Barry stands.

‘Whoever it is,’ I bark, ‘tell them to kindly shove off!’

‘Father Maguire!’ Barry cannot hide his surprise. The conversation at the front door is muffled, and I’m ear-wigging like my life depends on it.

‘Won’t you please come in?’

Oh no!

The miniature priest is standing in our living room. I’m feeling decidedly queasy.

‘Ah, Rebecca. Thank you for your email last week. I was just passing, so I thought I’d pop in quickly. Hope it’s not a bad time?

‘Eh…’

How’s your mother?’

‘I… eh… she’s… please have a seat.’ I scooch Jess from the couch and he hisses at me.

I’m staring at the priest blankly and Barry is making a puzzled face behind him. The penny drops. My email! Last week!

‘Thank you,’ the priest receives the tea that Barry has brought in on a tray.

‘Biscuit?’ Barry offers.

‘Yes, please. Well, now. First of all, congratulations.’

Sweet mothering divine Jesus H Christ our Lord and Saviour.

I pray that the ground will open up and swallow me. God declines my request. I have lied. To an actual priest! I’ve told porkies right into his sweet innocent Catholic face. I’ll surely burn for all eternity. Barry’s eyebrows are raised and his eyes are piercing mine, but I stay silent.

‘So. You were requesting dates for the church.’ Father Maguire flicks through his black pocket diary.

‘Well, I…we…’ I’m unable to form the words.

‘Aha. Yes. You’re in luck. Now, it’s usually booked well in advance. Especially the Saturdays. But we do have a cancellation for February. What date were you thinking?’

I’ve never seen that particular shade of purple on Barry’s face before. The power of speech has eluded me. I’ve been caught red handed, it seems. Lock me up and throw away the key.

‘Pencil us in for June,’ Barry’s face is like thunder.

‘Right. So, there’s Saturday the twentieth? Two o’clock?’ his pencil hovers over the date.

‘Fine.’ Barry refuses to look at me.

‘OK, then…’ the priest is unable to understand. He has missed the punch line of the sick joke.

‘Please excuse me, Father. I’m off on a business trip this evening, so I need to get packing. Thanks for stopping by.’

Barry shakes his hand and leaves the room without glancing in my direction.

‘Eh, more tea?’ There is a tremor in my voice and the teapot lid is rattling.

‘Thank you, Rebecca, but no.’

Father Maguire is on his feet and moving in the direction of the front door.

‘Must be off. I’m on my way to see another parishioner. Just recovering from a stroke, poor dear. God bless. I’ll be in touch.’

My hands are glued over my mouth and nose as Barry returns to the room.

‘Listen, I can explain…’

Happy Book Birthday!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Single, coupled-up or married, this laugh-out-loud summer read is the perfect anecdote for the wedding season!

Rebecca has chosen the most luscious, five tiered, wedding cake. The engagement ring that she has selected is celebrity inspired. The wedding singer is on speed dial. He doesn’t usually do Michael Bolton, but as it’s for a first dance he’ll make an exception. Father Maguire is checking dates for the parish church as we speak. The deposit on the white sand honeymoon is paid for in full on Barry’s card. She has fallen for an ivory lace couture gown that is to die for. The down payment may require her to sell a left kidney, but it will be worth it. Isn’t that why you have two?

There’s one teeny tiny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Says he’s not ready! He can be a bit of a kill joy that way. In fact, he's gone away on a business trip and says that he needs some space. Meanwhile, Barry's tie loosens, the Tiger beer is flowing, and his colleague Shelley is providing more than a shoulder to cry on. Back in Dublin, Rebecca worries, putting Operation Win Back Barry into action. But who is the mysterious dark haired woman that is so keen to talk to her, and what is it that Barry wants to get off his chest? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Lynch is an Irish author of humorous romantic women’s fiction, but not always with fairy tale endings! She has been working in the charity sector for many years, is married and has two young children. When she is not writing, she can be found juggling school runs, packing lunch boxes, tackling the laundry mountain and walking two large rescue dogs who stare at her until she walks them. Talk about multi-tasking!

Her debut novel ‘Bride Without a Groom’ is a laugh out loud Bridezilla comedy, was published by Avon, Harper Collins in May 2015. 

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Bride Without a Groom - Amy Lynch

Rebecca has chosen the most luscious, five tiered, wedding cake. The engagement ring that she has selected is celebrity inspired. The wedding singer is on speed dial. He doesn't usually do Michael Bolton, but as it’s for a first dance he’ll make an exception. Father Maguire is checking dates for the parish church as we speak. The deposit on the white sand honeymoon is paid for in full on Barry’s card. She has fallen for an ivory lace couture gown that is to die for. The down payment may require her to sell a left kidney, but it will be worth it. Isn't that why you have two?

There’s one teeny tiny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Says he’s not ready! He can be a bit of a kill joy that way. It’s time to face the harsh reality – Rebecca is a bride without a groom!

What did I think?

What an absolutely laugh-out-loud, light-hearted read - chock full of trademark Irish humour and an amazing debut from Amy Lynch. This is a book to lose yourself in and not take too seriously as I can see that Rebecca could annoy a lot of people, but I thought she was hilarious.  This book would make a great film!

Rebecca and Barry seem completely mis-matched but that is the beauty of their relationship as their individual traits complete one (slightly crazy) whole.  Rebecca reminds me a bit of Elle, Reese Witherspoon's character, in Legally Blonde - she is so pink and bubbly and her heart is in the right place, even though her hand is in Barry's wallet.  Rebecca is completely harmless but so superficial and selfish - as highlighted by Barry's business trip when she has no idea where he has gone, the location changes whenever she mentions it and I never got tired of it - I laughed every time!

It did sometimes wonder whether Rebecca really loved Barry or just wanted to be a bride.  I think perhaps she got there in the end when she finally showed that she cared more about her relationship than her appearance.

All in all, this book was real good fun and I felt an important message came across - weddings can be elaborate and expensive but it's the marriage that's important.  I'm really looking forward to more books by Amy Lynch.

I picked this up from Amazon when it was on promotion for free.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon