Deliver us to Dublin...With Care - Aimee Duffy

Deliver us to Dublin...With Care by Aimee Duffy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



The final instalment of Summer Flings - a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

Miserable, lonely and broken hearted, Ciara returns to Dublin on a mission to sort out her life. A job is at the top of the list but a visit to the doctor has surprising repercussions.

She refuses to drift apart from her friends now that real life has begun, struggles to fit new relationships into her life and still has to deal with everything else fate throws her way.

But even Ciara should know that there's always something a little bit special to be found at the end of the rainbow...

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun.





So I have come to the end if the series and I am gutted. Saying that, this final instalment was perfect! I thought it was wrapped up nicely and for me it was the best yet!

Throughout the series I feel I have grown along with Ciara and the girls. I have felt them mature through the books and reach adulthood.

This is by far the best of the seven books I think and what swung it for me was the emails to one another. I am a sucker for emails/ texts/ letters in a book. I embrace the writing style and feel that in today's society bring a bit of realism to stories. I loved reading the emails between the girls.

So in this part, the girls at back home in Dublin and need to grow up and get jobs. Things are still at breaking point between Elle and Ciara, Gem is playing piggy in the middle. Zach is long gone an Ciara can't seem to move on.

Eventually Ciara finds her way and is unsure if she welcomes a distraction ( I don't want to say too much to give it away!)

I thought the storyline concluded brilliantly. Aimee is a talent young writer to look out for in the future. I would love to read not by her and perhaps visit the girls for Christmas one year? I feel their is still so much that Duffy could develop with these characters and I would love to continue on their journey with them.

Although this part of the series is the same length of the others I feel so much was covered in it and it felt a lot longer due to this. To me that was great as I didn't want the series to end.

I recommend everyone to read this series of novellas, it has everything you could possibly want in a series.

I would like to thank Aimee for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Flirting in Florence- Aimee Duffy

Flirting in Florence by Aimee Duffy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Part 6 of Summer Flings - a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

Instead of hitting the designer shops with her friends, Ciara's all about proving Florence can be enjoyed on a budget - and she isn't talking about the sexy Italians Elle and Gem pick up for the duration!

One-on-one with Zack is getting too intense so she plans a grape-squishing trip to a vineyard hoping to leave her problems back in the city. Of course her doomed affair is the least of her worries when her friendship with his cousin is on the line.

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun.





Flirting in Florence is the sixth in the Summer Flings series and things are becoming more serious and dramatic.

I felt the characters were becoming more rounded thanks to the story line and the reader is able to connect to the group more, as things aren't 100% plain sailing. - just like they wouldn't be in real life.

I enjoyed this instalment of the series, I have visited Florence and I was able to identify places the girls were. I really liked how Duffy included a lot of places in Florence. This I felt allowed me to 'visit' the place with the girls. This was a welcome addition.I felt through this part of the story I really saw how different Ciara is from the others.

I liked how in Flirting in Florence, some of the secrets to the mystery we read about in Ibiza are revealed.

I am all geared up now for the final instalment - Deliver us to Dublin!

I would like to thank Aimee for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ibiza Insanity- Aimee Duffy

Ibiza Insanity by Aimee Duffy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Part 5 of Summer Flings - a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

After their not-so-relaxing week in the sun, the girls are off to the clubbing capitol of the world to let off some steam.

Skater boys, Ibiza's Next Top Model competition and skimpy gold bikini's don't compare to the man Ciara's desperate to cheer up. She's beginning to realize her summer fling isn't as uncomplicated as it should be.

To make things worse, she finds out that her best friends are keeping secrets from her that could change everything...

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun.


I have really loved the Summer Flings series so far and this has quickly gone on to be my favourite.

I felt in this part of the series the characters have really developed, I am pretty sad that the series is beginning to come to an end now, and although I think what is going to happy may, I don't mind at all that it's a little predictable. I maybe surprised by the ending anyway.

Elle has been developed in this part of the series and I'm liking he a lot more. She is beginning to show a kinder, more thoughtful side to herself.

I felt this part of the series had more of a story line and one that I loved. I also loved the aspects of mystery we came across.

Secrets at left to be revealed and it felt there was more depth to this novella than the others. Through this novella, you can feel the end is in sight and for me this is a shame as I have enjoyed it so much. I can't believe novella six is next and I only have 2 left! I am not wanting this series to end.

If you are like me and hanging on to the last of the Summer, this is definitely a series you need to pick up!

I would like to thank Aimee for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Point us to Paris - Aimee Duffy

Point us to Paris by Aimee Duffy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Part 3 of Summer Flings - a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

Ciara would rather be anywhere else in the world than Paris. All the gooey eyed couples and handholding are making her miserable.

But Elle doesn't have time for moping - not when she's got the three of them on the guest list of an exclusive club. So Ciara tries her best to enjoy the free champagne, the loft party looking over the Seine and a little harmless sexting - until they realize they've stumbled into a nightmare none of them were prepared for.

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun.


This is the third book in the Summer Flings series. I have really enjoyed travelling a long with the girls on their holiday around the world.

Saying this, unfortunately this was not my favourite novella. Point us to Paris, like the others in the series starts where they left off. This really helps the stories flow and give it potential to create a large book, rather than novellas. Personally I love the novella as they are perfect for commuting or when you have a spare half an hour to really feel you have achieved something.

I have really enjoyed following Ciara, Elle and Gem on their adventure. Paris is.not one of my favourite places though and I was a little disappointed that this was going to be the setting for this episode in the series. I shouldn't have been worried though, we don't get to hear about Paris as in landmarks or life.

During this part of the adventure, k feel I am beginning to know Elle a little better and I am hoping she felt develops as a character as the series progresses.

I found Zack and Ciaras storyline to be a little predictable, but I didn't mind as I am enjoying it so much.

Next stop is Greece and I certainly expect more drama from the girls and can't wait to be whisked away with them again!

I would like to thank Aimee for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Misbehaving in Miami by Aimee Duffy

Misbehaving in Miami by Aimee Duffy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Part 2 of Summer Flings - a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

The girls are off to a beach house to catch some rays - and if they play their cards right - super hot guys!

With drinking games in the name of Gucci, a surprise visit from a very pissed off Zack and hunks galore, Miami is turning into their best stop yet. Not to mention Ciara finally comes up with a way to have her cake and eat it too!

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun.


This is the second in the 'Summer Flings' series and I must say my favourite so far. I felt in this instalment we get to know Ciara really well, and she is still the girl I feel I connect the most with.

This novella starts just as Trouble in Tinseltown finishes. We begin at chapter 4 and continue the journey the girls are on. I am really loving how this story has been broken down into chunks, this is something that I am not normally keen on, I feel though it really suits the story. I enjoy discovering a new place along with the girls in different novellas.

Ciara is a brilliant character, she is likable an d believable. I still feel that I don't kbow Gem and Elle as well as I should. I am hoping that as the series progresses their characters will be developed.

I feel that out of the three girls Ciara is most like me, she is on holiday and although short is enjoying the guys, weather and bars. She also wants to explore these beautiful places. She is also still thinking about Zack, Elle' s very handsome cousin. She cannot believe her luck when he shows up in Miami.

These novellas do have to be read in order, there are spoilers if you reaffirm out of order. It also cannot be read as a stand a lone.

I cannot wait to read the next in the series. I would like to thank Aimee for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Trouble in Tinseltown - Aimee Duffy

Trouble in Tinseltown by Aimee Duffy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 
Part 1 of Summer Flings - a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

Armed with a degree from Oxford that she doesn't have a clue what to do with, Ciara Bree convinces her two best friends, Elle and Gem to spend their first summer of freedom backpacking across the globe. Now it's time to shop, sunbathe, think about boys for a change, and party hard...

First stop: LA!

The girls hit Tinseltown for a few days of shopping, star spotting, and even a movie premiere!
But their plan to sneak into an exclusive celeb party in West Hollywood backfires. Elle's gorgeous older cousin, Zack, is called to the rescue and despite knowing she should stay away, Ciara just can't seem to resist him.

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

Trouble in Tinseltown is the first in the Summer Flings series by Aimee Duffy. This is the first I have read by her and I enjoy her writing style.

This is a very short novella at around 40 pages and made this a perfect read for me travelling. I enjoy novellas that allow me to immerse myself in and I fell like the story has been concluded during a short period. Lately I have become quite busy and it is hard for me to find the time to read a book cover to cover. Novellas I find allow me to do this.

This story is about three girls who are off to travel the world and enjoy life while they are young. Elle has a rich grandfather who has many properties around the world and has allowed Elle and her friends to stay. Ciara is the more down to earth girl and comes from a different background to Gem and Elle.

I would say being so short we really get thrown into the action of the story, which I loved. The downside of this though I felt I didn't know the characters that well, however as the story developed I felt I got a better 'feel' for who the girls are.

This little novella packs a lot in. We have relationships, friendships, brushes with the law,and drama.

As the novella is so short I don't want to say too much about it, other than this is one to have on you for that commute or on holiday. I cannot wait to read the next instalment and follow the girls around the world. (Wishing I was with them!)

I would like to thank Aimee for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Character Guest Post - Jill Knapp

Synopsis:

The question that 23-year old Amalia Hastings wants the answer to is: What happens to men when they move to Manhattan? Life in the city gives Amalia a ride she is not expecting. As she tries to find her way on the little island that never sleeps, she discovers she has a harder time navigating through life then she does the streets of Greenwich Village and finds herself truly lost in the complex world of men, graduate school, money, family, and friendship. She thought she had everything she wanted – a new apartment in Manhattan, a first-rate education at NYU, a group of trusted friends and Nicholas, a boyfriend who she once believed was her soul-mate. But somehow, it isn’t enough. Stumbling through her relationships, Amalia encounters Michael. An attractive classmate who quickly moves from being one of her close friends, to an inconsistent friend-with-benefits. After all, the only thing consistent about New York is its beauty. After getting terribly lost searching for love in all the wrong places, Amalia finds herself torn between the possibility of a relationship, and an adventure she's been planning all along. She eventually realizes that solely chasing love closes her off to all of the other good things life has to offer. Now she must decide – what is worth the chase? Originally self-published and titled Chase, What Happens to Men When They Move To Manhattan is the debut novel from author Jill Knapp and the first in a series of novels. Jill is now published by Harper Impulse, HarperCollins.

Character profile- Amalia Hastings.


My name is Amalia Danette Hastings and I’m 22 years old. Well, 23 next month. I’m 5”5 inches tall, about 115-120 pounds and I have a birds nest of blonde hair on-top of my head. I’m in the middle of my first semester of graduate school at New York University studying human behavior and biological science. I’m not exactly sure what I want to do with my master’s degree when I am finished, but it’s only the first semester so I have plenty of time to decide. Right?

Well enough about my boring school life, let me tell you a little bit about the juicy stuff, my love life. I have a boyfriend, nay a soul-mate, named Nicholas. We’ve been together for a few years now, ever since we both graduated from Rutgers. One night, after years of being “just friends”, he took me in his arms and professed his love for me. We’ve been together ever since.

But even more importantly, let’s talk about where I live. I live in New York City, Manhattan to be specific. Technically the West Village is you want to be even more specific than that! It’s a big change from growing up in Staten Island and going to college in New Jersey. Although Staten Island is still technically part of NYC, I definitely didn’t feel like I was a “city girl” when I lived there. But once I moved here, everything changed.

If we’re being completely honest here, I think I sort of fell apart. I could have leaned on my friends a little more, asked for help when I was having problems. But that’s what they say about hindsight, it’s 20/20. I would have had to recognize the problems I was having to begin asking for help.

Maybe it was the high pressure environment of being in a competitive graduate program in one of the country’s top schools. Or maybe I was overwhelmed by all of the freedom. There were no rules, no RA’s like in college watching your every move. No dress codes, no curfews, no parents. I began to realize that all of those lines we draw for ourselves are merely in our heads. You can cross them at any time, and there’s no one here to stop you.

So that’s what I did, crossed a line. Big time. It was the most exhilarating moment of my life, and there’s no going back.

Sure, I can blame it on my depressive state at the time. I can blame it on the alcohol I had been consuming in the middle of the day, I can even blame it on him. Him, with his piercing brown eyes and soft as heaven lips. I could blame it on anyone and anything because ultimately I wasn’t accountable to anyone. Anyone apart from myself that is.

It’s a strange feeling to have, this loss of control. This seduction. And as much as I wanted to make it stop, I wanted even more for it to continue.


About the Author:

Recently signed by Harper Impulse/ HarperCollins, Jill Knapp is a native New Yorker who is the author of "What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?", a  New Adult series. A former adjunct professor of Psychology at her Alma Mater Kean University, she received a Masters degree in Psychology from the New School For Social Research in Manhattan. A regular contributor to the Huffington Post, Knapp- writes about entertainment, dating and relationships, and the differences between city and suburban lifestyles. You can follow her on Twitter at @JL_Knapp or
check out her Goodreads page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7263734.Jill_Knapp. 

The Roman - Caroline Storer Excerpt and Giveaway!

Promo Tour Excerpt and Giveaway!

Published Harper Impulse

20^th February 2014

ROME AD 79 - The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who betrayed him. And now, the Roman will have his revenge… Marsallas and Justina were young, beautiful and desperately in love once, until a tragic betrayal tore them apart.  Six years have passed since that day and Marsallas has since thrown himself into the deadly world of chariot racing, gaining fortune, fame, and a salacious reputation throughout Rome.  His bed could be kept warm by a different woman each night if he chooses, but his heart remains iced over as the memory of Justina’s betrayal continues to haunts him.  The last thing he expects is to see her again, but when she steps back into his life he sees a chance to avenge his broken heart.  But beneath the hurt, an attraction so intense still burns between the two, and as their fates begin to intertwine once more, their determination to resist one another starts to falter…

Buy Links

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 Excerpt:

Then the shadow spoke.  “Justina.”

                The emotionless tone of the voice caused Justina to shiver, and her heart to beat faster.  There was no mistaking who had said her name.  His voice was indelibly printed on her mind.  But the tone was deeper than it had once been, rough almost.  Yet it had a pleasing quality she couldn’t explain. 

Uninvited, she walked further into the room, his presence drawing her to him like an invisible bond, only stopping when she approached the edge of a small table.  She glanced down at the remains of a meal, then back up to where the shadow stood.  Lifting her head towards him, she said as calmly as she could, “Greetings, Marsallas.”

                Then the shadow stepped forward suddenly becoming human flesh, and Justina gasped, her face losing all colour as she took in the man standing in front of her. 

                There was no doubting it was Marsallas.  But at the same time she couldn’t believe how much he’d changed.  Virtually unrecognisable from the carefree youth she had once known.  Now, in his place stood a virtual stranger, one who looked at her with total indifference on his face. 

                He looked even taller than she remembered, if that were possible.  Broad shoulders tapered down to bare arms, tanned a golden brown.  Arms that were crossed over each other, showing off his powerfully bunched muscles.  Of their own free will her eyes tracked down his body.  Over the impressive width of his chest that couldn't be disguised by the short green tunic he wore, down past the tautness of his flat stomach, to his long, tanned muscular legs.

                Justina felt a quiver of awareness slither down her spine, and like a starving woman she feasted on him.  The hard sculpted face, the piercing blue eyes she remembered so well.  She drank him in, absorbed him, and her fingers actually itched to caress the hard planes of his face, to trace the shape of his eyebrows and the angled hardness of his jaw. 

                She felt his power.  Not just his physical power, but the sheer presence of him.  

Although he had only said one word, his bearing said it all, and it made her stomach clench.  Even now, after all these years, he still had the power to affect her, and without warning a sudden surge of longing, long suppressed, assailed her. 

                She saw his eyes lower to her mouth.  She hadn’t been kissed in years, and she felt desire flare deep inside of her, rising to such an intensity it fairly took her breath away.  She ached for him to draw her nearer, to kiss her, to stroke her body to life once more.

                Then she saw his eyes narrow, harden, and Justina felt a rush of panic hit her.  She was stupid to have come here.

About the Author

I’ve always been a dreamer, thinking up plots for books ever since I was a child.  I actually started writing my first book in 2007, when my husband “popped out for a bit” on New Year’s day and returned home about three hours later with a laptop he’d bought for me in the January sales.  I remember him plonking it down on my lap and saying, “Now you’ve got no excuse.  Start writing that book you’ve been going on about!” 

I work part time as an Environmental Health Officer, and I live on the beautiful (if slightly windy) island of Anglesey in North Wales.  (Anglesey, you may recall was recently home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.)  I live in a small village near the sea with my very own AlphaHero husband – Colin, and my AlphaDog – Bob.

Author Links

You can find me on my blog at - http://carolinestorer.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/caroline.storer.50?ref=tn_tnmn

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CarolineStorer6

Giveaway - International!

For your chance to enter to grab some of the swag in this tour giveaway, follow Caroline on Twitter (@CarolineStorer6) and your answer in the comments to this question:

“Marsallas is a man who hides his warmth under a cold and arrogant front.  Which actor do you think would be suitable to play him in The Roman movie?”

Tell us what you think, and you’ll be entered into the draw.  Winners will be chosen by the author after the giveaway closes on 16^th May.  Don’t forget to leave your Twitter name in the comment too!

Do You Remember? - Mandy Baggot

Do You Remember? Blog Tour. 

Release Date: 25^th July 2013

Harper Impulse

Blurb:

‘First Love. First Loss. Last chance?
2005 was the most traumatic year of Emma Barron’s life. It was the year her mother died and the year she met Guy Duval. Eight years on, she’s an English teacher with a doting boyfriend and a young son. Life’s been hard but now it’s comfortable. She’s settled and content…so why would she risk it all for another chance with the man that broke her heart?
Guy’s an international renowned footballer newly signed to a top UK team. But behind the confident facade is a man determined to drown the horrors from his childhood with fame, success and money.
Unable to confide in her best friend, Ally, Emma tries to hold her life together as her heart is pulled apart. Did she turn her back on love too soon?
Neither of them know what really happened on 5 September 2005 and as events are slowly revealed can anyone cope with the truth?’

My Review:

I would give this book a 4* out of 5*

This was the first of Mandy’s books I have read and I was lucky enough to be part of the blog tour for this book.

This is an emotional romantic story, normally I do not enjoy books that begin with heartache due to relatives/friends passing away as I find them depressing reads and hard to get into. This was not one of these books, right from the start it was a page turner and I did not want to put it down.

The story is set in the past and the present; Baggot cleverly makes the story flow between the two smoothly. This is a love story to stand the test of time; the characters were thought out well and were strong. You had a relationship with the characters and got caught up with their stories.

I loved that this story I didn’t find predictable and as the story developed I became shocked by parts as I didn’t see things coming. I don’t want to say too much about this book as it is so well written you should read it for yourself. It has twists and turns throughout. This is a must read!

About Mandy Baggot:

Mandy Baggot brings you award-winning fiction! In 2012 she won the coveted Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance. Her novel Strings Attached was also short listed for Best Author Published Read!

Mandy writes strong contemporary romance and characters you'll fall in love with. Previously self-published, she was traditionally signed by US publishing house Sapphire Star Publishing in January 2012. Shortly afterwards she became a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association.  She has recently signed a two book deal with Harper Collins’ Romance Imprint, Harper Impulse. 

She regularly writes of writing magazines and blogs and is a regular contributor to online magazine, Loveahappyending Lifestyle.

Mandy lives near Salisbury in Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and two cats called Kravitz and Springsteen.

She is an advocate for women in business and belongs to the networking group Women on Wednesdays.

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