Archive for July, 2011

The Promise of Happiness by Erin Kaye
Publisher: AVON (A division of HarperCollins)
Release Date: 28th July 2011 (paperback)
Rating: 2.5/5
Source: Received from the publisher for review.
Amazon Summary:

Louise McNeill arrives home to the idyllic Irish town of Ballyfergus, hoping that it will provide the sanctuary she desperately craves. Starting again with her three-year-old son Oli, Louise’s heart is full of apprehension. To make matters worse, Louise’s sister Joanne seems far from happy as she watches Louise’s little family blossom. But as Joanne grapples with her ‘perfect’ marriage, is everything as idyllic as it seems? Meanwhile Louise’s youngest sister Sian has decided she doesn’t want children and wants to dedicate her life to ecological living with husband Andy. But is this a mask to disguise a bigger issue? And is Andy ready to sacrifice parenthood? Join the McNeill family as they attempt to come together to provide the love and support that they all need — whether they know it or not

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A Rural Affair by Catherine Alliott
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Release Date: 21st July 2011
Rating: 2/5
Source: Received from the publisher for review
Amazon Summary:

Newly widowed Poppy Shilling should be feeling distraught at the death of her husband, Phil. But, instead, she can’t help feeling relieved. No longer will she have to endure Phil’s iron fist ruling over her and their two young children, or his unfortunate penchant for lycra cycling wear.

What’s more, when a secret is revealed after his death, Poppy’s memories of their life together are turned upside down.

Freed from the shackles of her loveless marriage, Poppy is determined not to make the same mistakes again. Fully embracing village life, she becomes the object of the local menfolk’s affections- from Bob, the resident odd ball, to Luke, the sexy church organist. But it’s just her luck that the one man who catches her eye can’t seem to let go of his glamorous ex wife…

Will Poppy have the courage to follow her heart and refuse to settle for second best? It’s time for a new beginning, and a chance to discover what real love feels like…

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We’re not really posting about 2012 releases, but as I was browsing the Curtis Brown website I came across a new Marian Keyes book! Saved By Cake is a non-fiction book and according to her agents website, is due for release in March 2012. I’m so pleased to see something new from Marian, even if it’s not a fiction novel! I for one can’t wait to read it, I’ve enjoyed Marian’s previous non-fiction books and I look forward to this one, especially as I remember reading on her blog about her newfound love of baking! After so long without a blog or any news from Marian, it’s nice to see she’s been able to put pen to paper and we’ll have a new book from her.

From one of the best-loved novelists in Britain comes a book for all of us who love to bake (or would love to learn).

After a difficult period in her life, Marian Keyes found solace in baking. The precision of the measurements, the light spring of a well-baked cake, the prettiness of the frosting and decorations: the whole process was soothing. She immersed herself in the world of recipes and piping bags and silicone cake moulds, baking for friends, family and (when they couldn’t eat another bite) total strangers. In short, she fell in love with baking.

Saved By Cake is a dose of pure Marian. Funny and charming as ever, Marian guides you through the world of baking in her own inimitable way. It’s perfect for novice bakers, with plenty of advice for beginners, but the recipes are delicious and unique enough to appeal to even the most seasoned of bakers. From Slightly Sinister Star Anise cupcakes to Blokey Snickers Loaf Cheesecake, from Lemon and Thyme biscuits to the Ultimate Chocolate Cake, Marian has something for everyone’s taste buds. And with her as your guide, this is baking as it’s meant to be: pure, unadulterated fun!

Only Mine by Susan Mallery
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: July 26, 2025
Rating: 4/5
Source: Publisher via NetGalley, thank you!
Publishers Summary:

Her town’s lack of men may make headlines, but it isn’t news to Dakota Hendrix. The beautiful blonde has bigger problems to deal with, such as overseeing the romance reality competition filming in Fool’s Gold. Screening eligible bachelors is a difficult enough task, but Dakota hits an unexpected snag when a sexy stranger comes to town.

Finn Anderssen will do anything to keep his twin brothers—the perfect contestants—off the show. Despite Dakota’s better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious outsider. Like her, Finn knows about heartbreak and how a family can fall apart, so she doesn’t dare to hope for anything more than a fling. After all, even in the Land of Happy Endings, finding true love is never as easy as it looks on TV.

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In the last few days I’ve been scouring the new releases for August when I came upon the new cover for Karen McQuestion’s Easily Amused. Having originally been a self-published novel, it’s now been picked up by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt with an August 23rd release date and subsequently given a bright shiny new cover. I’m thrilled with what they put together for it! Though I definitely loved the original, this new cover gives it a light feeling and one I think will appeal to more readers in general, especially when browsing in their local bookstores.

When twenty-nine-year-old Lola Watson unexpectedly inherits a rambling house in the suburbs, she thinks it just may be the cherry on a banner year. After all, she’s happily single, with fabulous friends and her dream job working at a popular magazine. Life is perfect—until her new neighbors make her their new “project,” a heartbroken high school friend crashes indefinitely at her house, and her younger sister announces she’s getting married…on Lola’s thirtieth birthday. Suddenly Lola’s not so keen on her newfound domestic bliss. But when she meets handsome, mysterious Ryan Moriarty, Lola dares to hope she’s found the perfect guy to one-up her sister and add a little spice back into her life.

This light-hearted romantic comedy from Karen McQuestion is headlined by a charming cast of characters, led by the self-deprecatingly funny Lola. Breezy and fun, Easily Amused serves as a gentle, often amusing reminder that love can often be found in the place we least expect—under our very noses.

What do you think? Will you be picking up, or perhaps have you already picked up Karen’s novel, Easily Amused?

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
Publisher: Penguin USA
Release Date: April 28, 2026
Rating: 2/5
Source: Author, thank you!
Publishers Summary:

What’s worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you’ve been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan - the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah - unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan’s former-best-friend Noah.

Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy’s story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent.

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Today, we have the chance to giveaway a wonderful looking novel called The Whole Package. It’s Cynthia Ellingsen’s debut novel and it sounds great. All you need to do to enter is to fill in the form below! The giveaway is open to US/Canada residents only and will close on August 7th with only one entry allowed per household. Good luck!

It’s a man’s world-but in this outrageous debut, the girls aren’t playing by the rules. For lifelong friends Jackie, Cheryl, and Doris, life hasn’t turned out according to plan. But after a drunken night sampling the delights at a strip club for women, the ladies stumble upon an ingenious idea and open up The Whole Package-the world’s first restaurant staffed exclusively by very attractive men. Mixing business with pleasure can be risky, but for these three best friends, getting a little bit outrageous just might be what it takes to make their mark in the world.

Lola Jaye’s new novel is actually being published in the USA before it’s coming out over here, so we thought we’d bring the news to you now. Being Lara is due out in 2012, and a portion of the synopsis has been released, with Lola saying on Facebook that more is to come!

“‘Fans of commercial women’s fiction will be drawn to this moving tale of three women—mother, birth mother, and daughter—the choices they make, and the fragile family bond they try to create across time and continents’”