Novelicious

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 Novelicious will be back in December.

Happy Reading!

 xx

Review - Should I Stay or Should I Go by Jessica Adams

Reviewed by Laura Stanning

 

Alice Templeton is fed up.  She’s fed up of rainy old England (especially the pigeons), fed up of being utterly broke, and definitely fed up of reading self help books to try and remember why she loves Nash, her domineering boyfriend.  In a last-ditch attempt to improve their lives and save their relationship, Nash and Alice decide to emigrate to Australia.  Which seems like a great plan until just before they leave, when Alice discovers that Nash has been unfaithful.  Taking her life (and her beloved sewing-machine) in her hands, Alice gets on the plane alone and heads to Bondi Beach to stay with her cousins.   As she discovers a new (and sunnier) way of life, Alice realises there are still questions to be answered: will she ever get her own clothing range, Vintage Alice, up and running?  What on earth is “mateship”?  And can she keep her hands off Joel, her gorgeous Australian cousin?

This is a sweet book.  It’s quite unusual for a novel nowadays not to follow the standard formula of there being some big drama/misunderstanding between the hero and heroine before true love can conquer all.  Instead, this is a book that just tells a story, and it’s a very nice one.  The start is a bit wobbly: the poverty in which Alice and Nash live seems exaggerated, and it’s pretty hard to believe that anyone would really resort to reading self-help books in front of their partner to work out whether the relationship’s working or not.  But despite this, Alice is an endearing character who you can’t help but feel protective of, and it’s well worth reading on. 

Cloth Bound Classic Book Covers at Penguin

I love these! I think they're designed by Coralie Bickford Smith who also did these ones.

The collection includes such classics as Wuthering Heights, Pride and Predjudice and Jane Eyre. I want them.

To find out more info, or to buy these beauties just click here!

Novel News - Naked Truths by Jo Carnegie

I do like the sound of this - the second novel from Jo Carnegie, which is released on the 9th October.

They synopsis reads -

Newly-weds Caro and Benedict have swapped country life in Churchminster for an exclusive London mews. It's blissful ...until Benedict's sister arrives, bringing with her a dangerous secret. Fashionable socialite Saffron lives next door. She always thought the countryside was boring, but when she's invited to Churchminster she's shocked to learn just how dirty rural life can get. Saffron's boss, workaholic editor Catherine, is fighting to save her ailing magazine. But her scandalous past threatens to destroy everything, especially when rugged builder John Milton strides into her life. Following a sexy, colourful cast through city and country, "Naked Truths" is an addictive, funny, feel-good romantic romp.

Pre Order

Naked Truths

Fantastic Chick Lit Writer Interviews

Reading about the writing journeys of other authors is possibly my favourite tool of procrastination (after Twitter and googling Hugh Laurie). But by reading author interviews it's possible to pick up some fabulous tips on writing a novel and getting published.    

We have a growing collection of great author interviews (see navigation bar at the top of the page) that you can have a look at, but one of the best collections I've seen in the chick lit genre is the author interview section of chicklitbooks.com .

Do pop over and have a look. It may take a while to get through them, but I promise there are some fantastic bits of advice in there!  

Novelicious Undiscovered - Sorry Charlie by Kimberly Murphy

Hello and welcome to another writers' Tuesday, and of course another showcase excerpt from an aspiring women's fiction writer! This week the excerpt comes from Kimberly Murphy!

Please do comment as the writer's of these pieces really do appreciate the feedback!

About Kimberly Murphy

Born in Virginia Beach, VA, raised in Raleigh, NC, and now residing in Myrtle Beach, SC, Kimberly Murphy is an abundance of personalities wrapped into one: a doting mother, hopeful writer, exasperated real estate agent, loyal mate and encouraging friend.  She spends her days working in the world of land and monetary investments, and her nights with her family or friends, drawing joy, anger, comedy and dispair from her own real life experiences as parallels for her work.

 

About the Book

Sorry Charlie is about an ambitious 30-something, fearless in her accomplishments, but terrified of relationships.  However, after being dubbed “a serial dater” by her two closest gals, past experience and future engagements make her realize the opportunities she’s thrown to the wayside and she prepares for the challenge of her life: falling in love.  Will she ever be able to commit?  Or will every relationship end with those infamous last words, Sorry! Charlie?

 

Excerpt

Sorry Charlie by Kimberly Murphy

 

CHAPTER ONE – THE LAST TIME

    Charlotte Monroe raced up the steps to her house, fumbling deep inside her oversized Chanel purse for her house keys.  What she once considered her favorite accessory now resembled a black hole rather than last year’s “must have” bag.  She felt her fingers graze over a wallet, a squeeze tube of lip gloss, several pens, chap stick, her make-up bag(which she realized was unzipped), her bronzer compact(that was supposed to be in said make-up bag) a few napkins and tissues, either a candy bar or energy bar(she couldn’t remember) but no keys.  She felt her chest grow tighter and heard her own breaths racing in time with her escalating pulse.  Had she taken them out of her purse at LT’s place?  NO! She told herself, you can’t possibly have left them there…that would mean going back and having to TALK to him because now he’s probably awake!  It was the last thing she wanted to do.  She had left him sleeping soundly, with nothing more than a note on the pillow.  No explanation, no waking him up to say goodbye, just a note. Would he even talk to me? Would he do something with my keys?!  She imagined him waking to find she had vanished, replaced by a note on her pillow that read simply, “Sorry! Charlie xo.” 

Book Covers - The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

I've seen quite a few covers rolling around for this highly anticipated book (released 29th October 2009). I can't decide which is my fave. Am flipping between the navy blue and the pale pink. What do you think?

 

This week on the other Lovely Blogs...

Five Minutes Peace reviews Stephenie Meyer's Twilight

Pretty Vintage creates a Cath Kidston Wish List

Chicklish has a fab interview with Simon Cheshire - author of Five Seconds to Doomsday

Bridal Express finds an affordable version of Carrie Bradshaw's blue feather hairpiece (from her wedding to Big!)

Have a gander at these brilliant blogs and add them to your reading list!