WIN A COPY OF LOST YOU BY HAYLEN BECK

The very lovely team at Harvill Secker got in touch to tell me about their new publication, Lost You by Haylen Beck. Here's the synopsis to whet your appetite:

When a little boy goes missing, his mother desperately wants to find him . . . before someone else does. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena and Cara Hunter.

Libby would do anything for her three-year-old son Ethan. And after all they’ve been through, a holiday seems the perfect antidote for them both. Their hotel is peaceful, safe and friendly, yet Libby can’t help feeling that someone is watching her. Watching Ethan. Because, for years, Libby has lived with a secret.
Just days into their holiday, when Libby is starting to relax, Ethan steps into an elevator on his own, and the doors close before Libby can stop them. Moments later, Ethan is gone.
Libby thought she had been through the worst, but her nightmare is only just beginning. And in a desperate hunt for her son, it becomes clear she’s not the only one looking for him.
Who will find him first?

Sounds good doesn't it! Harvill Secker have kindly offered to send a reader of Dot Scribbles a paperback copy of the book so you can enjoy it yourself. This is open to UK residents only, simply leave a comment below and I shall pick a random winner. Entry closes midnight on Thursday 4th July! 

BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: The Night Manager by John le Carre

Penguin kindly invited me to take part in their blog tour celebrating the fact that on 27th September, Penguin Modern Classics will have published the entire works of John le Carre which will make him the living author with the greatest body of work to be awarded Classic status.
Le Carre also has a new book, The Little Drummer Girl which is set within the conflict in the Middle East. The BBC will be presenting a six-part adaptation in October featuring Alexander Skarsgard and Florence Pugh and it is being produced by the same team behind the award winning The Night Manager. Penguin are extremely excited about bringing the work of John le Carre to an even wider audience. They sent me a copy of The Night Manager to read and review:

At the start of it all, Johnathan Pine is merely the night manager at a luxury hotel. But when a single attempt to pass on information to the British authorities- about an international businessman at the hotel with suspicious dealings- backfires terribly, and people close to Pine begin to die, he commits himself to a battle against powerful forces he cannot begin to imagine.
In a chilling tale of corrupt intelligence agencies, billion-dollar price tags and the truth of the brutal arms trade, John le Carre creates a claustrophobic world in which no one can be trusted. 

Publisher: Penguin Modern Classics

Pages: 473

As so many people did, I loved the BBC adaptation of The Night Manager and binge watched the whole lot with my husband who for once did not moan too much about having to explain the plot to me. I was a little daunted to read the book but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It did take me while to get into it and work out out how everyone fitted together but once I'd got a handle on it all I felt as though I could keep up.
Johnathan Pine holds the story together, he is the night manager at a luxury hotel but he becomes embroiled in a dark and corrupt criminal world when he goes undercover to seek vengeance for events in the past. He is after Richard Roper, a billionaire arms and drug dealer; what Johnathan doesn't know is that Roper has ties to MI6 and soon P
ine has no idea who the good guys are. Throw into this Pine falling in love with Jed, Roper's mistress and you have a very tangled and dangerous web.
My favourite character was actually Major Corkoran who is Roper's front man, he is in no way a likeable character but I did feel sorry for him as he is convinced that Pine is undercover  but no-one believes him. He is like a little ticking time-bomb within the story.
I've not read any of John le Carre's other books but I have heard many people say that this is the most accessible so it could be a good place to start if you have been thinking of trying some of his books.

Penguin also very kindly gave me a copy of The Night Manager to give away, all you have to do is leave a comment below this post and I will pick a winner at random. You have until midnight on Tuesday 2nd October and this competition is open to UK residents only! 

BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: Macbeth by Jo Nesbo

I'm very excited to be on the blog tour today for Macbeth by Jo Nesbo plus I have a copy to giveaway too! Macbeth is being published by Harvill Secker and is part of the Hogarth Project which sees Shakespeare's works retold by acclaimed and bestselling novelists of today, so far the project has published novels including The Tempest by Margaret Attwood, Tracy Chevalier's retelling of Othello and The Winter's Tale rewritten by Jeanette Winterson. I think Jo Nesbo is the perfect fit for Macbeth, he is one of the world's best crime writers, his writing is gritty and realistic. His approach to Macbeth is modern and relevant:

He's the best cop they've got.
When a drug bust turns into a bloodbath it's up to Inspector Macbeth and his team to clean up the mess.
He's also an ex-drug addict with a troubled past.
He's rewarded for his success. Power. Money. Respect. They're all within reach.
But a man like him won't get to the top...
Plagued by hallucinations and paranoia, Macbeth starts to unravel. He's convinced he won't get what is rightfully his.
...unless he kills for it

Publisher: Harvill Secker

Pages: 611

I have really enjoyed Jo Nesbo's books in the past and I was intrigued to see how he would adapt Macbeth for a modern audience. Making Macbeth a troubled police Inspector was a fantastic idea as it allows Nesbo to include so much within the character. I think that Nesbo perfectly captured the ruthless and desperate nature of Macbeth's character, there is an edge of madness to him along with a dogged determination to get what he wants. I always found Macbeth to have quite a claustrophobic atmosphere and Nesbo recreates this in the four districts he sets the book in; everyone has an agenda and is watching what others are doing, it is quite an oppressive state to live in.
You could easily read this book without having read Macbeth. I found myself trying to interpret it too much at first, trying to match characters and scenes but once I had abandoned that I actually found it more enjoyable so don't be put off, you do not need to have read the original to appreciate this one.

Harvill Secker have kindly said that I can offer a UK reader the chance to win a copy of the book, simply leave a comment below and I will pick a random winner, this competition is open until midnight on 29th September.

Many thanks to Mia at Vintage for inviting me to take part in the blog tour, do check out the other stops too! Macbeth by Jo Nesbo is available to buy now from Amazon, click here to sign up to the official monthly Jo Nesbo emails with exclusive content, news and competitions!

BOOK REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: The Witchfinder's Sister by Beth Underdown

‘Do you believe in the Devil?
I see you smile.
But I have sat down with him to dine.’
1645. Alice Hopkins returns in disgrace, husbandless and pregnant, to her brother Matthew’s house in the small Essex town of Manningtree.
When she left, Matthew was an awkward boy, bullied for the scars that disfigure his face. But the brother Alice has come back to is like a different person. Now Matthew has powerful friends and mysterious business that takes him out late into the night.
Then the rumours begin: whispers of witchcraft and of a great book, in which Matthew is gathering names.
Just how far will Matthew’s obsession drive him? And what choice will Alice make when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 373

I could not stop reading this book! Even my husband commented on how I couldn’t put it down and he’s used to me nearly always having my head buried in a book rather than listening to what he’s saying!

Beth Underdown has written a fictional book based on Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General. I remember learning about this period of history at school and it really is fascinating. The author brings the time period alive with her vivid descriptions; the details are well researched, from what people wore to the way they spoke.

Alice Hopkins has been recently widowed and left with no option but to return to her brother Matthew’s house. He had not approved of her marriage so she is expecting little sympathy. She could not have imagined what she would be returning to though. Matthew has quickly gained authority and power and seems to be on a quest to hunt down women he has claimed are witches. Alice can hardly believe what her brother has become capable of; local women he has known for many years have not been spared; he has them all tried and ultimately their fate will be death.

Alice is trapped, she does not agree with her brother but she has nowhere else to go, she is entirely dependent on him. The more she observes, the more she becomes scared of him and what he would be capable of.

I found The Witchfinder’s Sister fascinating and completely captivating. The details were so rich that it was easy to imagine the events the author described. Beth Underdown shows the awful plight of these women; the trials they endured and punishments they received. The author shows how it was almost dangerous to be a woman in the 1600’s, especially a widow or spinster. It was not men who were pursued but vulnerable women. Alice’s position as a female also makes her vulnerable and she is exploited by her own brother as he knows she has no other means to live. This all added to an almost claustrophobic feel to the book; at certain points I felt like Matthew Hopkins was unstoppable and you can feel the terror of the women in his way.

The Witchfinder’s Sister is as relevant today as it was in the 1600’s. People often had personal reasons for accusing women of witchcraft, hearsay completely out of control. Often it was because they may have looked different or behaved a little out of the ordinary. Mob rule still happens today in different forms but it is just as terrifying and immoral.

It’s only March but I already know that this will be one of my favourite books of 2017. I cannot stop thinking about Alice and her brother and it has made me want to know more about what happened. I love it when a book leaves you wanting more and I didn’t want this one to end.

Many thanks to Penguin for sending me a copy of this book to review.

I have a proof copy of this book to give away! The competition is open to UK residents, simply leave a comment on this blog post by Midnight on Sunday 12th March and I shall pick a name out of the hat! 

GUEST BLOG- Donna Douglas, Author of The Nightingale Nurses Discusses her Writing Process PLUS GIVEAWAY!

Today we are joined by the very lovely author, Donna Douglas, her latest book, The Nightingale Nurses is available now. Here Donna is talking about the writing process which is a lovely insight, especially if, like me, you are incredibly nosey!!

Hello, I’m Donna Douglas, author of the Nightingale novels, a series of stories set in an East End hospital in the 1930s. My latest, The Nightingale Nurses, was recently published. Dot has kindly invited me to talk about my writing, and how I set about putting a book together from the first idea to deadline day. So here goes…

I love starting a new novel. It always reminds me of the first day in the new school year, when everything is a blank canvas, full of possibilities, not to mention lots of shiny new notebooks waiting to be filled!

But it’s not that blank a canvas. By the time I sit down to start a novel, the ideas have been bubbling away on the back burner of my brain for quite a while. I just have to decide whose story I want to tell!

In The Nightingale Nurses, I’m concentrating on Dora, Helen and Millie, the three trainee nurses I introduced in The Nightingale Girls and The Nightingale Sisters. I find three or four main viewpoints is just about right for a novel – too many more and readers start getting confused! I then roughly plan out their ‘journeys’ over the course of the novel, making sure I include lots of highlights and low points, twists and turns. I’m a great plotter. I know some people like to sit down at their screens and just wait to see what happens next, but to me that’s like setting off on a long journey without a map. Even if I do end up taking a few detours on the way, I like to have a rough idea of where I’m going to end up!

Once I’ve worked out each character’s story, I sketch out their major scenes on index cards, using a different coloured set of cards for each character. This means I can keep track of the characters easily, and also indulges my passion for stationery!

Then I start putting them all together. At this point I’m making sure that one character doesn’t hog the stage for too long, and also that their stories don’t all reach their crisis point at the same time. I always have the future reader in my mind when I’m planning – I want to keep them turning the pages, but without giving them a headache!

As soon as the plot is roughed out, I write my first draft. This is where I find out if my multi coloured scene order really works. Usually it doesn’t, and I find myself moving some scenes around and ditching others to make a more cohesive story.

Then it’s on to the second draft, which is where the story really takes shape. This is when the characters start taking on a life of their own and doing some surprising things! For instance, The Nightingale Nurses reaches its climax with the battle of Cable Street, a confrontation which took place in 1936 when the Eastenders took to the streets to prevent a march by Sir Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts. One of my characters, Dora, finds herself in the middle of the battle. I’d originally planned that she would try to stay out of it as much as possible, but Dora had other ideas. I should have known she wouldn’t be a girl  to stand on the sidelines!

The third and final draft is really just polishing and line editing to make sure it all makes sense, Unless, of course, I have another brainwave and decide to change the ending, which has been known! I reckon I could make this third draft stage last forever, but my editor drags the manuscript out of my hands on deadline day!

And then, of course, there’s time for a quick celebratory G & T before it’s out with another shiny new notebook and the whole thing starts again!

The Nightingale Nurses is published by Arrow. It’s available from bookshops and supermarkets, and also from Amazon –

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightingale-Nurses-Nightingales-Donna-Douglas/dp/0099585146/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381764628&sr=8-1&keywords=the+nightingale+nurses

You can find out more about Donna Douglas by visiting her website – www.donnadouglas.co.uk

Many thanks to Donna for this great guest post, I am really looking forward to reading The Nightingale Nurses!  I have an extra copy to give away so to win, simply leave a comment before midnight on Monday 11th November and I shall pick one out the hat! Only open to UK residents.

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

The winner of my giveaway of The Silent Wife is:

Sonya Kemp

Congratulations! Can you please email me with your address so that I can pass it on to the lovely Ben at Headline Review.

Giveaway: The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison

There is  a lot of hype at the moment about The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison:

A chilling psychological thriller portraying the disintegration of a relationship down to the deadliest point when murdering your husband suddenly makes perfect sense.
Todd Gilbert and Jodie Brett are in a bad place in their relationship. They've been together for twenty-eight years, and with no children to worry about there has been little to disrupt their affluent Chicago lifestyle. But there has also been little to hold it together, and beneath the surface lie ever-widening cracks. HE is a committed cheater. SHE lives and breathes denial. HE exists in dual worlds. SHE likes to settle scores. HE decides to play for keeps. SHE has nothing left to lose. When it becomes clear that their precarious world could disintegrate at any moment, Jodie knows she stands to lose everything. It's only now she will discover just how much she's truly capable of...

The very lovely and generous Ben at Headline Review has kindly offered one copy of The Silent Wife to be given away on Dot Scribbles. Simply leave a comment and I shall pick a winner at random, this giveaway is only open to UK residents and you have until midnight on Thursday 20th June to enter!

Good luck!

Book Review: Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews plus author interview plus GIVEAWAY!!

What if you had always dreamed of something more...?
Nell McNamara has a happy life: her boyfriend Olly adores her, their four-year-old daughter Petal is the centre of their world and Nell has a steady job in the local chip shop. When the chippy needs a makeover, Nell jumps at the chance to unleash the creativity fizzing inside her.
Inspired by what she can achieve- and encouraged by the very best friends that a girl can have- Nell is determined to try something new. Waving goodbye to the chip shop, she starts up a new business making her own line of must-have handbags, which are soon flying off the shelves.
It seems Nell's dreams are finally coming true, but her success doesn't come without a price. Before too long, Nell has to ask herself if it's really possible to have it all...

I always enjoy Carole Matthews's books as they always have something new to offer but out of those that I have read, Summer Daydreams is definitely my favourite.
Nell McNamara is a brilliant character, she changes so much during the story but her sole aim remains to do the best for her family and their future. I loved reading about Nell's daydreams at the beginning of the book  and then seeing them develop into reality. The reality is that Nell puts her all into the business; it takes over their whole lives and soon Nell is left wondering if it is all really worth it, can she really have her dream career and still be there enough for Petal and Olly? I felt as though I really identified with Nell, having my own business myself with a young daughter, I totally understood the juggling process of being a working mum and the huge amount of guilt that it often involves.
The character of Petal was one of my favourite parts of the book. There were so many moments where I laughed out loud at what she did or said; I think that Carole always manages to inject her books with a lot of humour which just makes them even more enjoyable.
I was really interested to discover that Nell McNamara is actually based on Carole's friend and real-life handbag designer, Helen Rochfort. I would have enjoyed Nell's story anyway but it just added something extra to know that Carole was so inspired by Helen that she wrote this lovely book.
Summer Daydreams is such an enjoyable read and pretty inspiring too. I know that it may sound corny but it really made me feel that you should pursue your dreams; yes it may be hard work along the way but if you really want something then you have to go after it.

Dot Scribbles Rating 5/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Sphere for sending me a copy of Summer Daydreams to review.

I was lucky enough to interview Carole recently, here's what the lovely lady herself had to say:

1. I thought it was really interesting that Summer Daydreams was inspired by your friend Helen Rochfort, how did you two meet?

We met a few years ago on Facebook. Helen’s status picture at the time was Barbara Cartland and I thought she must be a romance writer. That’s when I found her wonderful handbags. We messaged each other back and forth and, over time became friends. Then my publisher decided to commission a handbag design for The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and we approached Helen. Our friendship progressed to lunch out and the occasional curry with our other halves. That’s how I learned about Helen’s amazing story of how she became an accomplished and successful handbag designer. It was a book just waiting to be written. 

2. Nell pursues her dream career of becoming a handbag designer. Was being an author always your dream career or did you have any ambitions to do something else?

I was always an avid reader, but never imagined that I could become a writer. I thought I might be a teacher or a travel guide or a hairdresser. I even toyed with becoming an Air Traffic Controller - though I have absolutely no idea why. I spent several years working in an office, then several more years as a Beauty Therapist before taking my first steps to becoming a writer. It gave me a lot of good material for my eventual career! 

3. I know that you often visit the locations that you write about. Paris, Miami and China feature in Summer Daydreams, did you manage any research trips?

I didn’t do any specific research trips for Summer Daydreams - other than to Hitchin where the book is set! Which I feel is very remiss of me. But I do travel a lot and I keep a filing cabinet full of maps, photos and videos of everywhere I go. I have been to Paris, Miami - only in passing - and China in the past so I was able to draw on that experience. The weird thing is that now you can do so much on Google Street View. The motel and television studio that Olly visits in the book were both researched on there. But, if I can, I don’t think there’s anything better than going to the place that you’re writing about as it often throws up plots points that you haven’t even thought about.  

4. You have a big on-line presence with your website, facebook and Twitter, do you think that it is important for authors to connect with their readers in that way?

I think it is, but only if you enjoy it. I love Twitter and Facebook, but it is very time-consuming. There’s no better was to get in touch with your readers and find out exactly what they like. The trouble is that there’s always something very distracting to look at, but we do have a lot of fun on there. And some of it may even be useful for work! No, really.

5. The first three chapters of your new book, With Love at Christmas are included at the end of Summer Daydreams. For those who haven't had the chance to read them yet, can you tell us a little bit about the new book?

I do one summer and one Christmas book each year now and my next book is due out in October. It’s called With Love at Christmas and it’s about a warm, chaotic family Christmas. Haven’t we all had them? It features the Joyce family who I first wrote about in my book, That Loving Feeling. It’s not a sequel, as such. We just catch up with them two years later. It’s funny and heartbreaking. Get the tissues ready!


Many thanks to Carole for taking the time to answer my questions.


Finally, I have a copy of Summer Daydreams to give away, to win all you have to do is leave a comment before midnight on 29th May and I will pick a random winner, Good luck! 

Many thanks to Carole for taking the time to answer my questions.

Finally I have a copy of Summer Daydreams to give away, all you have to do is leave a comment by midnight on Tuesday 29th May and I will pick a random winner. Good luck everyone! 

Book Review: An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson + GIVEAWAY!!!!

In the heart of the windy season, four friends are about to get swept off their feet...
Newly single after a bruising divorce, Juliet Miller moves into a place of her own and advertises for a flatmate, little believing that, in her mid-thirties, she'll find anyone suitable. Then, just as she's about to give up hope, along comes self-employed copywriter Floz, and the two women hit it off straight away.
When Juliet's gentle giant of a twin brother, Guy, meets Floz, he falls head over heels. But as hard as he tries to charm her, his foot seems to be permanently in his mouth. Meanwhile, Guy's best friend Steve has always had a secret crush on Juliet- one which could not be more unrequited if it tried...
As Floz and Juliet's friendship deepens and Floz becomes a part of the Miller family, can guy turn her affections into something more- into love for him? And what will happen to Steve's heart when Juliet eventually catches the eye of Piers- the man of her dreams?

Milly Johnson has written such a lovely book to get you in the mood for the Autumn months. Friendship is key to this story as it is in most of Milly's books; Juliet and Floz have only just met each other but it becomes obvious very quickly that they have found a friendship for life.
Juliet is the more out-going of the two women, she has a huge crush on her boss, Piers Winstanley-Black and dreams that one day he will sweep her off her feet and carry her into the sunset. She is completely oblivious to Steve, her brother's best friend who has always had a thing for her. Juliet doesn't have a good thing to say about Steve, but has this just become a habit rather than true feelings?
Floz is an extremely likable character but she is the one with skeletons in her cupboard. She reveals she has an ex-husband and a more recent broken relationship but she won't divulge any more details. As the book goes on, Floz becomes quieter and Juliet decides that she must find out what is upsetting her new best friend. Meanwhile. Juliet's brother Guy is completely taken with Floz but a mixture of bad timing and misunderstandings means that the two are never likely to get it on.
I have enjoyed all of Milly Johnson's books that I have read, they are always filled with warm and likable characters and a lot of humour. If you are looking for a good book to curl up with on the sofa as the nights draw in then give An Autumn Crush a go!

Dot Scribbles rating 4/5

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now!

I have one copy of An Autumn Crush to give away so you can enjoy it for yourself! Autumn is my favourite time of the year (mainly because it is when my birthday takes place!) to win this copy just tell me what your favourite thing about Autumn is, along with your comment please leave your email address so that I can contact the winner! This competition will stay open until midnight on Tuesday 25th October and is open to UK residents only- Good Luck! 


The ever-lovely Milly Johnson saw my competition yesterday and has kindly said that she will also send the winner a signed book plate, a book bag and an autumn bookmark!! Now that would make a lovely prize wouldn't it! 

GIVEAWAY!! Getting Away With It by Julie Cohen

I read the hardback copy of Getting Away With it by Julie Cohen last year and it is published in paperback by Headline today. If you click here then it will take you to my review but here's a little bit about the book:

'Wherever there's trouble, there's Liza Haven...' That's what the villagers of Stoneguard used to say. But when your identical twin sister's the local golden girl, sometimes it's more fun to be the bad twin. 

Now working in LA as a stuntwoman, Liza can be as wild as she wants. But when she loses her job, and almost her life, she's forced to return home. 

Only, things have changed in Stonegaurd and her sister Lee has gone, deserting their difficult mother, a flagging family business and a dangerously attractive boyfriend. What's more the whole village thinks that Liza is Lee.

Can Liza get away with pretending to be the good twin? Or is it finally time to discover who she really is?

I have a paperback copy of Getting Away With It it to give away within the UK. All you have to do is leave your email address in the comment section and tell me what your dream flavour of ice-cream would be (it will make sense once you've read the book!). This competition will close at midnight on Thursday 24th March and I shall pick a winner! Good luck!

The Poisoned House Giveaway Winner

Thank you to all you lovely people who entered giveaway to win a copy of The Poisoned House by Michael Ford, names were put in a hat and Mr S did the honours! So the winner is.......

The Book Worm Chronicles

I shall email you and get your postal address and get this out to you at the weekend! Congratulations!!

Book Review: The Poisoned House by Michael Ford + GIVEAWAY!!

Abi is servant at Greave Hall, a stately London home. She runs away, but is soon recaptured, to suffer once more under the tyrannical rule of Mrs Cotton, the housekeeper. The house though, has a darker secret. Something ghostly inhabits the corridors leading Abi to the very truth someone has tried so hard to bury. The more she discovers, the more her life is in danger, as she begins to unravel the mystery within the poisoned house.

I saw this book in the Bloomsbury catalogue a while ago and I was really looking forward to receiving a copy to review. The blurb sounded very mysterious and I like the spooky cover too.
The whole story revolves around Abi and her life at Greave Hall; we know from the very first page that she is desperate to leave as we watch her attempt at a midnight escape. Her failed escape introduces the reader to the extremely sinister Mrs Cotton; she is the housekeeper but also the sister-in-law of the widowed Lord Greave. She is very much a Mrs Danvers character, always watching and listening to everything while hatching some malicious plan.
It is the spooky events in Greave Hall that lead Abi to question those around her. Michael Ford builds the tension gradually and you have to add to it that Abi is completely isolated during these terrifying events, she has no-one to turn to.
The last few chapters are particularly fast paced as Abi comes to clearly understand that her life is in danger. There are many twists and turns and you do not know until the very end whether Abi will survive the poisoned house or not.
I would highly recommend this highly atmospheric book to both young adult and adult readers, it is a spine tingling page turner. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book.

Luckily for readers of Dot Scribbles I received two copies of The Poisoned House so I am offering one of them as a giveaway. To enter simply leave a comment containing your email address, this is open worldwide and entries will be accepted until midnight on Friday, August 27th, good luck!

GIVEAWAY!!

I have a copy of the brilliant What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty to giveaway! I reviewed this book at the start of the month, you can read my review HERE.

All you have to do is leave me a comment on this giveaway post, I am going to leave this open until midnight on Sunday  27th June and then I shall pick a winner. I am happy to post this worldwide so you are all free to enter! It really is a great book so good luck!!

Giveaway Winner

The winner of Kissing Mr Wrong by Sarah Duncan is.....

Talli Roland

Congratulations!! Can you either email on the address in my profile or DM me your address on twitter and I shall get the book posted to you at the weekend!

Book Review: Kissing Mr Wrong By Sarah Duncan PLUS a giveaway!!!

Lu Edwards believes in travelling light, with not even a goldfish to tie her down. She'd like a Mr Right, and on meeting gorgeous, successful Marcus at a party, she can see him fitting into her streamlined life: if only he wasn't moving to America.
Lu's grandmother is also looking for a man: a soldier from her mysterious past. Lu turns to help from Nick, a military history expert with more baggage than Heathrow, right down to the kids, the ex-wife and hamster. Playing the wicked stepmother was never Lu's plan, so why is she getting so hung up on Mr-Couldn't-Be-More-Wrong? As Nick helps Lu trace her family history, she finds herself falling for his chaotic charms. What will she do when Marcus comes home?

This is the first book by Sarah Duncan that I have read and I thought it was very good. Lu is a very talented illustrator in search of Mr Right and also trying to get her creative mojo back. She is a very interesting character and I instantly liked her. Her work as an illustrator is fascinating and it is obvious that Sarah Duncan has heavily researched the industry.
Lu's grandmother, Delia is a lovely creation too, she pretty much brought Lu up as Pixie, Lu's unconventional mother was still growing up herself. Delia provides the mystery at the heart of the story, she has a photo of a man called Jack who she believes may have been her father (she was adopted). Lu agrees to help Delia find out more about her biological parents and this leads her to the lovely but baggage laden Nick. I identified quite a lot with Lu and Nick's relationship as he helped her to research the military side of her family history. My husband is a little like Nick; he studied the Second World War for his first degree and he is very knowledgeable on it and is always keen to stress that it is an event that should never be forgotten. Sarah Duncan clearly shares some of these feelings and I think that they were expressed very well in her book.
I found Kissing Mr Wrong to be a very good read. It has a little bit of mystery and a lot of romance, you can't help but keep turning the pages.

The lovely, lovely people at Headline have given me an extra copy of Kissing Mr Wrong to give away here on Dot Scribbles. To enter, just leave a comment below, competition open to UK Bloggers and you have until midnight on Sunday 30th May!!