Tani Hanes – BrizzleLass Books

Week in Review – 29 October 2017

I’m away in London this weekend so wrote this a few days ago in preparation, next week I will give you an update of what I got up to in the Capital but rest assured with ComicCon on the agenda I’m up to no good! I’ve gone in particularly excited about seeing Hayley Atwell, the Dark Matter cast, and Dani Filth.

This week I finished my book, all the editing and back and forth with beta readers and one particular very good friend who has answered far more questions than one person should ever have to answer about anything ever. I finally reached a point where I felt happy with my book. Well for now anyway! I’ve signed up for NaNoWriMo this year so next week I will be diving head first into writing book two. Heaven help me!

Here are all my book updates, I look forward to telling you what I got up to London next week…although I’m in London again next weekend for Gollancz Fest so heavens knows when I’ll have time to write this update next week!

Currently Reading

What I’ve Read

Watching Glass Shatter - James J. Cudney

New Books

Bought / Freebies

Book Post

eARCs

Reviews

I kicked off my reviews this week with a review of The Duke’s Temptation by Raven McAllan. I also reviewed Christmas at the Falling-Down Guesthouse by Lilly Bartlett, Squeeze Play by Aven Ellis, Farraway Mist by Tani Hanes, and The Forgotten Room by Ann Troup.

Christmas at the Falling-Down Guesthouse - Lilly Bartlett

Next Week on BrizzleLass Books

The Other Life of Charlotte Evans - Tour Banner

#Review: Farraway Mist by Tani Hanes @TaniHanes

Description

Scout Lawson is fleeing an unhappy past, and thinks she’s run as far as she can from Yale University when she lands a job restoring a library in Cornwall, England for reclusive rock star George Wilder, who dropped out of sight after the death of his beautiful wife the year before. As soon as she arrives at his estate, Farraway Mist, however, strange things start to happen. As the couple’s feelings for each other grow, the events become more harrowing, until everything they hold dear is in peril.

Review

After reading Tani Hanes’ entire UK Crush series in a few months I was over the moon to get the chance to read her new novel in advance of its publication. Farraway Mist is quite different from the UK Crush novels, but Tani Hanes writing is very distinctive and as soon as I started writing I very much felt wrapped in familiarity.

Scout Lawson is ready for a fresh start and has taken a job as a librarian in Cornwall for a reclusive ex-rock star George WIlder. George has been out of commission since his wife died the year before.

Sparks fly between the two almost immediately, although various things get in their way from assumptions they make about each other to strange things that start happening around the house putting them in danger.

I loved the paranormal element to this novel, it added a new level to the novel above the romance, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen or when and just wanted these two characters to fight their way through it. While I loved that they come together and it ramps up the supernatural I found their jump from nothing to trying for a baby a bit odd. It felt like they missed several steps on the relationship ladder, and their families are so cool and relaxed about it.

The climax of the novel is deeply moving, hugely tense and I really didn’t see how it was going to work out at all. There’s a lot that’s not explained but I think with paranormal elements it doesn’t need to be, as readers we can accept that things happen for the reasons we are given and that’s all we need to know.

Overall, an adorable paranormal romance with lovable characters.

Huge thanks to Tani Hanes for sending me the eBook copy which I have read and reviewed honestly.

Rating

Week in Review – 15 October 2017

Huge congratulations to my good friend, James over at This Is My Truth Now who’s debut novel was published this week. It’s called Watching Glass Shatter and will blow your mind. You can pick it up from Amazon UK Amazon US.

My cold I was moaning about last week turned out to be Bronchitis, yeah I hid that well! So I’ve been sick all this week as well, had a pretty bad asthma attack on Tuesday night as well which is a kicker as I’ve not needed any asthma meds for almost two years. So I’m now back on all the inhalers and trying to learn to breathe again and stop coughing!

The plus side to having been so sick is I’ve read loads, I tried reading a fantasy novel but couldn’t concentrate what with all the coughing so I have been blitzing my way through the romance novels on my TBR. Always a silver lining!

Right, here is my bookish update for this week!

Currently Reading

What I’ve Read

Elements of Mischief - C.M. Stunich & Tate James

Biker Rockstar BIllionarie CEO Alpha - Violet Blaze

New Books

Bought / Freebies

The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella

Book Post

eARCs

Reviews

I kicked off my reviews this week with a review of my TBR Topple winner from last month Firestorm by Rachel Caine. I then reviewed Branded by Keary Taylor, Damned by Alexandrea Weiss and Lucas Astor, Now You See Me by Kierney Scott, and Lure by C.M. Stunich.

Next Week on BrizzleLass Books

Week in Review – 1 October 2017

Great week this week (hooray!) Monday was all about the books! I went to the Fantasy Faction Grim Gathering in Bath which turned out to be a blast, big up to Marc at Fantasy Faction for putting on a great event. On the panel was Peter V. Brett, Mark Lawrence, Joe Abercrombie, Peter Newman, and Anna Stephens. A pretty epic line up I have to say. Having just read and reviewed both Anna and Mark’s releases I was keen to get them signed and say Hi to them both.

The panel discussion was great, lots of talk around, what is grimdark, are their books actually grimdark and what does hope contribute to these books. It was a really interesting discussion and the authors were charismatic and funny. It was also interesting to see the breadth of answers between authors, especially around planning where some plan meticulously where others wing it and just write and see where the writing takes them.

Something quite random did happen, I got myself seated for the panel discussion, and someone came along and asked if they could get into the seat next to me. He got seated and started chatting with the guy on the other side and I thought to myself “he looks familiar” and I heard him mention his publisher to the guy he was talking to. So my head is spinning, thinking he can’t be who I think he looks like surely? Once the panel had finished I started talking to him and shock he was Ed McDonald and the guy he was talking to was sci-fi author Tom Toner.

We all ended up around the corner in a local pub and I had a great night chatting with everyone, there were some absolutely hilarious moments and lots of book talk. I got to meet seven authors, and hung out with four of them properly over drinks so an absolutely great night.

On Friday, I joined a few friends at a rock and metal club night. I used to go to this every Friday night back when I was a wee whipper snapper. This is the first time I’ve been out to a club since I stopped drinking so it was an interesting test of the sobriety. Turns out I had a fantastic time, lots of dancing, laughing, singing and drinking far too much lemonade. I was on quite the sugar high when I got home! I think the plan is for us to go to the next one they run just before Halloween which should be good, I might even dress up!

Here’s the bookish update for this week…

Book of the Month

This month’s winner is a no-brainer, I reviewed it this week but my love of the lead character and the fact I’ve been chomping at the bit to read it for almost a full year meant that it was almost guaranteed a slot in book of the month short of it being a complete flop! Raising Fire by James Bennett was actually better than I expected, completely propelling the main character on from the first book and taking the story onto a new level. An absolutely fantastic read!

My review can be found here.

Currently Reading

What I’ve Read

New Books

I’ve actually been reasonably well behaved this week…patting myself on the back!

Bought / Freebies

ARCs

Reviews

This week started with a review of The Sullivans Box Set by Bella Andre. I then reviewed Raising Fire by James Bennett, Thousands of Candles by Tani Hanes, Wicked Grind by J. Kenner, and The Christmas Holiday by Maxine Morrey.

Next Week on BrizzleLass Books

A Season of Hopes and Dreams - Tour Banner

#Review: Thousands of Candles by Tani Hanes @TaniHanes

If you missed my review of the earlier books in this series I’ve linked to them below. Reviews of the rest of the series are to follow, I will keep these as spoiler free as possible but keep in mind if you haven’t read the earlier book(s) that it’s impossible to keep things completely spoiler free!

Book 1 – Living in the Shallows
Book 2 – Diving Deep
Book 3 – Learning To Fly
Book 4 – Before the Tempest
Book 5 – Surviving the Hurricane
Book 6 – I Cried to Dream Again

Description

Birdie has come such a long way from the shy and introverted young woman who met Geth, Ronan, Matthew, and Teddy on that fateful day in Tokyo so long ago. She’s traveled the world, auditioned for music school, gotten engaged on a world-famous landmark, and been happier than she ever imagined she could be. She’s also endured more suffering and misery than she could have imagined existed in the world.

She and Teddy have adjusted and come to terms with the harsh reality dealt to them, and moved on with their lives. Birdie and the boys have, at long last, come to the end of their youth, and are ready to embark on the journey of being adults, of living the rest of their lives.

This is the last installment of the UK Crush series, and it is filled with the usual love and laughter and tears, weddings, and surprises. There are dogs, cats, toddlers, babies, honeymoons, and new romances to explore. Come along with Birdie and Teddy as they are finally able to come together and live in happiness and peace, and find the joy they have sought for so long.

Review

This is the final installment in the UK Crush series and Tani Hanes has done her best to tie everything up with a pretty pink bow. Making sure that all of the loose ends have been tied off and all the sadness from previous books has been slowly erased.

I read this thinking most readers will love the way this book progresses seeing Tinker Bell and Teddy finally tie the knot and truly start their life together. We also see the other boys start to break away and find partners of their own (at last).

For me some of this book was a little surreal and maybe a little too sickly sweet, after the trauma of the last few books I felt we jumped out of reality a little with this one and whilst it was nice to see things end well it went a little too far out of reality and into honeymoon land. I found it difficult to adjust to this new blissful world I was reading.

I did enjoy the book and I’m sorry to see the series end, I feel like these characters have become a part of me over the past few months and I’m hoping that Tani Hanes will revisit the world with the other boys at some point.

A huge thanks to Tani Hanes for sending me the eBook copy which I have read and reviewed honestly.

Rating

Week in Review – 24 September 2017

I don’t even have words for this week. I finally went to the doctor about this depression which has been weighing me down. We put a plan in place to help me deal with it above and beyond what I was already doing and then I went on to have one of the busiest and most stressful weeks in living memory!

On Wednesday I was at City Hall for my health walk leader training, I love City Hall it’s a beautiful building, I tried sneaking some photo’s but it wasn’t appropriate. I now just have to lead a couple of walks supervised and then I can be let loose…this is assuming the political side of me being a walk leader gets sorted, but that’s a whole other blog post!

I can’t remember if I mentioned in my volunteering role we’ve been putting together a big campaign, and prepping for the charities 30th anniversary, well this week saw us launch the campaign with the help of the rather awesome Jonny Benjamin and the anniversary party on Friday. Honestly I haven’t worked this hard since I was working full time.

On Thursday I received a call to ask if I minded doing a radio interview on Friday morning to talk about the social media campaign and my involvement with the charity. So off I trotted arriving at the BBC at 7:30am Friday morning to be on air for 8am, Jonny very kindly joined from London as well. If you want to listen the audio will be online for the next month. My interview is at 1:36:04 for 10 mins you can skip it along to when it starts. Click Here.

The party went well and the campaign was introduced, a film we have been working on was previewed and went down really well (I will share this with you guys once it goes public). I was introduced to members of the board which was completely surreal like I’d been sucked into the inner sanctum, being a volunteer you don’t normally get to meet these people. I also caught up with lots of people I know from my time in various areas of the service the charity provides which was nice.

Friday topped out with me going to the theatre to see The Addams Family musical, but I was so tired I spent most of it dozing and didn’t take it in too well. It was such a long day and I didn’t get home until almost 1am, having left the house at 6:30am!

I haven’t done an awful lot by way of writing this week, only about three chapters worked on although I did manage to get a new chapter I wanted to include written so that’s something. I’m hoping to work on more next week and finish it off so it can go to my lovely beta readers before the end of the week.

The TBR Topple winner for this month has been chosen, thanks to everyone who voted. There were some great books in the mix this month and some I was really keen on reading. The winner was one of those so I’m really pleased to pick it up next week, Firestorm by Rachel Caine. A new mix of options will go up at the beginning of October.

Right, here is my bookish update for this week!

Currently Reading

What I’ve Read

The Summer of Hopes and Dreams - Lynsey James

New Books

Bought / Freebies

The Executive's Decision - Bernatdette Marie

Reviews

This week I’ve reviewed The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C Cherry, The Definition of Icing and Playing Defense by Aven Ellis, and The Sinking Chef by Sylvia Ashby.

The Air He Breathes - Brittainy C Cherry

Pot Love 2 - The Sinking Chef - Sylvia Ashby

Next Week on BrizzleLass Books

Week in Review – 17 September 2017

I posted on Twitter and on my other blog which I’ve now retired, that I would be gradually bringing this one to a close. The response I received, honestly amazed me. Not just the comments on that post, but private messages and emails as well. Thank you to everyone who contacted me, the kind and encouraging words. Also, ironically, the stats on this blog started to go up, and on Friday I received one of those WordPress notifications you occasionally get to tell me my stats were “booming” …go figure!

A couple of people I had some lovely conversations with, they helped me work through what my actual issues are with this blog. Most importantly that I’m spending 4-5 hours a day working on this blog, that my stats had been dwindling to less than 50 visitors per day, when six months ago I was getting several hundred, I’ve invested money in giveaways and not one person has entered them.

The decision I’ve made on the back of my discussions is to transition this into a reviews only blog, and reduce the amount I’m posting. I will keep The Bookshelf, which is still my most popular feature, and this week in review post which I will alter slightly once I’ve worked out a better format.

I have commitments with blog tours and book blitzes between now and January which I will honour so things probably won’t change much before then, but afterwards, I will only do tours with reviews and not loads of them so I’m not quite so overwhelmed.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who contacted me, I really have felt completely deflated by all of this recently and I wasn’t expecting so much support from people when I made the decision to quit. Hopefully this revised decision will alleviate some of the stress.

Finally, don’t forget to vote in my TBR Topple poll if you haven’t already. I will be picking the winner on Wednesday!

To the update…