Week in Review – 28 January 2018

I just don’t have words for this week, so I’m going to just let the books do the talking…

Currently Reading

What I’ve Read

New Books

Bought / Freebies

Pre-Orders

Gifted

eARCs

Reviews

This week I have reviewed:

Four Star: Shadow Walker by Tiffany Shand, and Elements of Mischief by Tate James and C.M. Stunich
Three Star: The Little Theatre by the Sea by Rosanna Ley, and Joshua N’Gon: Last Prince of Alkebulahn by Anthony Hewitt.

Other Posts

This week I featured an excerpt as part of a spotlight for Catherine Green’s new novel Return of the Vampire Hunter. Cheap Trick were my choice for Music Monday this week. I had a guest post from Tate James and C.M. Stunich as part of the Elements of Mischief blog tour. This week I welcomed J Aislynn d’Merricksson onto the bookshelf.

Next Week on BrizzleLass Books

#Review: The Little Theatre by the Sea by Rosanna Ley @RosannaLey @QuercusBooks

Description

Faye has just completed her degree in interior design when she finds herself jobless and boyfriend-less. While debating what to do next she receives a surprise phone call from her old college friend Charlotte who now lives in Sardinia and is married to Italian hotelier, Fabio.

When Charlotte suggests that Faye relocate for a month to house-sit, Faye wonders if a summer break in sunny Sardinia might be the perfect way to recharge her batteries and think about her future.

But then Charlotte tells Faye that there’s something more behind the sudden invitation: her friends Marisa and Alessandro are looking for a designer to renovate a crumbling old theatre they own in the scenic village of Deriu.

The idea certainly sounds appealing to Faye, but little does she know what she’s letting herself in for if she accepts this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity . . .

Review

Faye has taken a chance and changed career directions, having been back to university to complete an interior design degree which she has just completed she is ready to get started in her new career, the only snag she has no work. Her boyfriend left her while she was studying and she is stone cold broke.

When her close friend Charlotte invites her to Sardinia to stay with her and her husband it all sounds too good to be true, so when it turns out the invite comes with strings, house sitting and consulting for some friends who are refurbishing a local theatre style strings Faye has to decide if she is ready to jump into a fire of this size.

I enjoyed the style that Rosanna Ley used to tell the story, Faye’s story being the central string with other characters taking the lead for a chapter here and there, Faye’s parents and characters within the Sardinian village as well. there was a lot of emotional drama and a mystery which slowly unravelled and romance which for me was far too slow to burn and didn’t really fulfil my need to see romance in a novel.

I didn’t really like Faye either, now I know liking a character isn’t essential for enjoying a novel, and for the most part I did enjoy this novel. But I just found Faye really immature, and hard to relate to. I despised her parents, honestly, I couldn’t understand how they got into the mess they did…communication people! I loved our Sardinian characters though, their feisty blunt approach to everything was really refreshing and I had a real soft spot for them particularly Alessandro.

Overall, an enjoyable but slightly slow read with not enough on the romantic side for my liking and a really disagreeable main character.

I have to thank Rosanna Ley and Quercus for the eARC via NetGalley so that I could read and provide my honest opinion.

Rating

Book & Buy Links

Title: The Little Theatre by the Sea
Series: N/A
Author: Rosanna Ley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Travel | Romance | Romantic Suspense | Mystery
Publisher: Quercus
Publication Date: 9 March 2017
Review Format: eBook
Other Formats: Hardcover | Paperback | Audio
Pages: 464
Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones | Foyles | Book Depository | SpeedyHen | Wordery | Audible

Week in Review – 14 January 2018

Welcome to another week in review. Honestly, I have no idea where this week has gone, I have been so busy, and there hasn’t been much time for reading or blogging!

I managed to do some damage to my legs with all the exercise I’ve been doing (oops!) My quads are in a bit of a state so I’m having to be quite careful at the moment and rest a lot more than I want to.

I took on some admin on a voluntary basis for the walking group but starting to look into it this week it’s an absolute mess, so will require a lot more input than I had committed to…not amused.

I’ve got a few things going on/on the back burner I can’t talk about just yet but as soon as I can I definitely will because they are really exciting/interesting.

I’m working on a really interesting marketing plan for a freelance client, it’s going to take me a few weeks to pull the first draft together but I’m digging up some really interesting information for it.

I’ve been beta reading this week so books aren’t showing on my reading list below but they have been read. I’ve been reading for two different authors. Both authors I’ve read for before and know what they want in terms of how I feedback. I also have another beta read coming soon so will be making space for that as soon as it lands. I’ve just jumped back into reading for some tours I have coming up so will be doing that for the next few days.

Happy Sunday everyone and here is my summary…

Currently Reading

What I’ve Read

New Books

Bought / Freebies

 

eARCs

Reviews

This week I have reviewed:

Five Star: Hard Rock Roots Box Set by C.M. Stunich
Four Star: Surviving the Rachel by Aven Ellis, and Fractured by Nikki Landis.
Three Star: Air Guitar and Caviar by Jackie Ladbury

Other Posts

Skid Row were featured on Music Monday this week. I took part in the cover reveal for The Magic of Stars by Jackie Ladbury. Alice Castle stopped by for The Bookshelf this week.

Next Week on BrizzleLass Books

Week in Review – 7 January 2018

Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the festive season and have jumped back into the new year with gusto! Here is my first week in review of 2018!

You will notice I’ve given the blog a makeover! I’ve been planning this for a while and I hope that you like it as much as I do!

I’m currently beta reading two books for author friends so I’ve slowed down on my normal reading a little while I work through those beauties, and beauties they are! I’ve also put my writing on hold while I work through these two books. My first book is also with my wonderful editor now as well and I’ve started working on her marketing strategy for her as part of the skills exchange we agreed to in lieu of financial payment.

I’ve hopefully got my asthma issues on the right path to being fixed now. I’ve been given a new inhaler which I’ve been told is particularly good for people with exercise induced asthma who do a lot of exercise, which apparently I qualify for these days! I’ve only been taking it a few days so we will see how it goes but I’m hopeful. I’m now running every day, and back to my classes, three per week and although the asthma is still kicking my butt I’m pushing through.

Yesterday I went to a taster day at a dance studio in Bristol, trying out things like pole dancing, burlesque, and chair dancing. I have never been good at dance, I have no co-ordination, I’m not flexible, and I have no rhythm at all, so I had no idea what this day would be like. Six classes down I’m aching like you wouldn’t believe and covered in bruises but I had so much fun. I can also confirm that I cannot twerk or pole dance to save my life but I was pretty good at burlesque and chair dancing…who’d have thunk it?!

Right, here are this week’s book updates:

Currently Reading

What I’ve Read

New Books

Bought / Freebies

Pre-Orders

eARCs

Reviews

This week I have reviewed:

Five Star: The Bitter Twins by Jen Williams, The Dragon’s Wing by Tate James, and Patient Zero by Terry Tyler

Other Posts

Most Anticipated Books of 2018 went up this week and the TBR Topple Poll for January went up so don’t miss out on voting for my next read. I announced I’m taking part in the Mount TBR Reading Challenge this year.

James J. Cudney was our featured author on The Bookshelf this week.

Myles Kennedy was featured on Music Monday.

Next Week on BrizzleLass Books

Review: Last Dance in Havana by Rosanna Ley

I’m so pleased to be taking part in the Quercus Blogger Book Club this summer. Last Dance in Havana was my first book for the summer and if it is anything to go by it’s going to be a great summer of reading!

Description:
Cuba, 1958. Elisa is only sixteen years old when she meets Duardo and she knows he’s the love of her life from the moment they first dance the rumba together in downtown Havana. But Duardo is a rebel, determined to fight in Castro’s army, and Elisa is forced to leave behind her homeland and rebuild her life in distant England. But how can she stop longing for the warmth of Havana, when the music of the rumba still calls to her?