Author Interview
A Chat With….Author Charlotte Brentwood @charbrentwood, #Exclusive #AuthorInterview #AChatWith
Hello my lovely readers! Today I have the great pleasure to welcome Charlotte Brentwood; author of The Hearts Of Amberley series to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals for an exclusive chat.
About Charlotte
Charlotte developed serious crushes on a series of men from age fifteen: Darcy, Knightley, Wentworth and Brandon. A bookworm and scribbler for as long as she can remember, Charlotte always dreamed of sharing her stories with the world.
Earning a degree in communication studies, she was seduced by the emerging digital world and has since worked with the web and in marketing. She is a member of the Auckland chapter of RWNZ.
Now mother to an adorable human tornado, Charlotte is trying to find the time for reading, seaside walks, warbling at the piano and quaffing far too many hot chocolates.
Author website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest
Interview
Frankie – Hi, Welcome to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.
Firstly what five words would you use to describe yourself?
Charlotte – Mother, writer, music-lover, speed-walker, fast-talker
Frankie – If you could take a holiday in any era and place, When and where would it be? And Why?
Charlotte – I would love to travel back to Regency England so I could see what it was really like! Was it as elegant and beautiful as the period dramas would have us believe? What was it like to go to a ball or ride through Hyde Park? And did men really look as handsome as our favourite heroes?
Frankie – Can you tell us a little about latest release? This can be your most recent or up-and coming release.
Charlotte – My new release (out April 20th) is GLOVED HEART, a sweet regency romance. This is the second book in the “Hearts of Amberley” series but it can be read as a standalone. As a new mother, I poured my heart into writing about Amy Miller, who is coming to terms with having a newborn in less than ideal circumstances. Now afraid of men, can she open her heart to Henry, who has loved her all along?
Frankie – Who was your childhood hero?
Charlotte – I think the people I looked up to the most were my parents.
Frankie – If you could have one of your books made into a film, which book would it be and who would play your lead characters?
Charlotte – If GLOVED HEART was made into a film, I would have Toby Stephens play the hero Henry, because he’s a redhead and he looks hot in period clothing! The female lead is harder (and not so fun to spend hours dreaming about on Pinterest). I always think she looks like the lady on the book cover.
Frankie – Out of all your work, who is your favourite character and why?
Charlotte – At the moment, my favourite would be my hero Henry. He is so selfless and giving, and he never gives up on Amy, the heroine. Plus he’s a farmer, so he’s big and strong
Frankie – Where does your inspiration for your books come from?
Charlotte – From my imagination! Stories, characters and situations fly into my brain from all kinds of places. It could be when I’m doing some historical research, when I’m watching a movie, or when I overhear a conversation. Quite often ideas come from a mishmash of other things I’ve scene – what would happen if that person had to deal with this other thing?
Frankie – What three tips would you pass on to an aspiring author?
Charlotte – Write what you want to write. Write often. Read widely.
Frankie – If you were hosting a dinner party what three people would you invite? (They can be real/fictional, from any era)
Charlotte – Jane Austen, Jo March, Anne Shirley
Frankie – Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me today, I have just one more cheeky question, just for fun . . . What is your all-time favourite naughty but nice food?
Charlotte – Tiramisu – creamy, chocolatey, spongey and coffee-flavour… what’s not to like?
Mmmm, Yummy! Thank you for chatting with me today, Charlotte.
About the Book
Gloved Heart by Charlotte Brentwood
Can she ever trust again?
Amy Miller is struggling to come to terms with her new life as a mother, while being a reluctant guest in a rigid gentry household. A victim of abuse, she is determined to never trust a man again.
Henry Russell has loved Amy for as long as he can remember, but his family want nothing to do with her. A chance encounter with Amy rekindles a friendship which might save them both.
The discovery of a secret which holds the key to Amy’s past will change them forever, and jeopardise any chance they have for happiness. Can Henry show Amy that true love will give her everything she could ever need?
Note, although this is a ‘sweet’ read, there is some subject matter that may offend sensitive readers, including mention of a rape and very mild violence and coarse language.
Gloved Heart Can be Purchased from Amazon
A Chat With….Author; Penny Hampson @penny_hampson #AChatWith #AuthorInterview
Hello my lovely readers! Today I have the great pleasure to welcome Penny Hampson, author of A Gentleman’s Promise and An Officers Vow to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals. We are talking reading, writing and eating brownies, do take a look.
About the Author
Having worked in various sectors before becoming a full time mum, Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion and studied History with the Open University. One B.A. Honours degree and an MPhil later, Penny found her dream role at a leading academic institution, helping academics, publishers, researchers, and others find the images or text they needed in that institution’s extensive special collections. Flash forward nineteen years, and Penny decided to indulge her other main passion, historical fiction; this time not just reading it, but writing it too. Encouraged by friends, family, and professional writers, three years later Penny published her debut novel A Gentleman’s Promise.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Facebook
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Author Interview
Frankie – Hi, Welcome to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.
Firstly what five word’s would you use to describe yourself?
Penny – Committed — I like to see things through
Inquisitive — I love research and discovering new things, especially about the past
Grumpy — when there isn’t the time to do everything I want to do
Happy — when I’m with my family, especially my two year-old granddaughter
Oblivious — when I’m lost in my writing, I lose track of time
Frankie – If you could take a holiday in any era and place, When and where would it be? And Why?
Penny – This is difficult, there are so many places and times I’d like to witness. I suppose if pushed I’d opt for attending the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball in Brussels on the 15th June 1815, the eve of the Battle of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. It was attended by Wellington, who knew Bonaparte was marching towards him and that a showdown was imminent. Wellington, with his usual sang-froid, gave no indication to the other attendees that he and his army would be engaging the enemy in a matter of hours. I’d love to be able to whisper in his ear ‘Don’t worry, things will be bad, but your allies will turn up and Napoleon will finally be defeated.’
Frankie – Can you tell us a little about latest release? This can be your most recent or up-and coming release.
Penny – An Officer’s Vow tells the story of two people who discover life doesn’t always play out as expected.
Nate is depressed, thinking his life of action is over, thanks to the wound he sustained at the Battle of Talavera. He’s contemplating ending it all when his path is crossed by runaway heiress Lottie Benham. She needs to stay in hiding until she comes into her inheritance, but achieving that is not as easy as she thought.
They join forces, but matters don’t go according to plan…
An Officer’s Vow is the second book in my Regency-set Gentlemen Series, following the exploits and misadventures of a loosely linked group of friends. Some characters will appear in more than one book, but each story can be read as a standalone
Frankie –Who was your childhood hero?
Penny – Peter Pan — I always wanted to fly!
Frankie – If you could have one of your books made into a film, which book would it be and who would play your lead character’s?
Penny – Oooh, I wish! An Officer’s Vow would make a good film, it has intrigue, romance, and lots of interesting locations!
For me, Richard Armitage is Major Nate Crawford and Emma Watson would be a lovely Lottie Benham. The late, great Alan Rickman was the inspiration for my Duke of Wheatley and I always imagine Sean Evans as Francis Heslop.
Frankie – Out of all your work, who is your favourite character and why?
Penny – It has to be the Duke of Wheatley (he appears in both my books). Is he a saint or a sinner? I haven’t made my mind up yet. His character is ambiguous — he’s done bad things, he uses people, but his love for his sister and Francis is very real. I’m building up to giving him his own story, but that will be a long way off!
Frankie – Where does your inspiration for your books come from?
Penny – Lots of places. Watching television programmes or films, I’ll catch myself thinking ‘I’d have done it differently’. Snatches of conversation and phrases in the coffee shop, on the bus, or on the train. Visiting stately homes and wondering what life was like for the people who lived there in the past. Sometimes ideas appear spontaneously from nowhere.
Frankie – What three tip’s would you pass on to an aspiring author?
Penny – It’s good to find time to write everyday, but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t manage it. I’ve had to accept that I won’t always get the time I need to write, I just write when I can.
Always have a notebook handy — you never know when a brilliant idea will occur!
Get an editor. If you are a self-published author, an editor is essential to point out errors and enable you to compete with traditionally published authors.
Frankie – If you were hosting a dinner party what three people would you invite? (They can be real/fictional, from any era)
Penny – Samuel Pepys — he could tell some tales about Restoration England, he enjoyed scandal and was not above being rather scandalous himself on the quiet (of course, I’d have to confess that I knew all his secrets). The Duke of Wellington — calm, cool, and collected, but he enjoyed gossip too, and was very popular with the ladies. Queen Elizabeth I — she ruled alone for nearly forty-five years, avoiding marriage at a time when it was universally believed that a female couldn’t manage without male guidance. She’s keep the other two male guests in order!
Frankie – Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me today, I have just one more cheeky question, just for fun . . . What is your all-time favourite naughty but nice food?
Penny – Cake, no question. Most types, but chocolate cake for preference (I love a chocolate brownie).
Mmm, yumm! Thank you, Penny for chatting with me today!
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About the Book
An Officer’s Vow
The future looks bleak to Major Nate Crawford. Depressed after being sent home from the Peninsular Campaign as unfit for service, he contemplates ending it all. Then an unexpected opportunity for adventure beckons in the shape of a delightfully intriguing runaway heiress. He will prove his worth as an officer and a gentleman by offering his help. He has a plan…
Lottie Benham is desperate. Her life is in danger and she needs a place of safety until her next birthday. The unexpected proposal from this attractive, but intimidating officer could be the answer to her prayers. Not normally a risk-taker, she decides to gamble all by placing her trust in this charismatic gentleman, who she suspects might be more in need of help than she.
But the best laid plans…
Caught up in conflict, danger, and deception, will Lottie and Nate survive to find the perfect solution to their problems?
Purchase book HERE
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Penny’s book A Gentleman’s Promise is currently on offer at 99p over at Amazon UK, why not grab it it while you can, here’s a little about the book.
A Gentleman’s Promise
Emma has struggled across a Europe devastated by Napoleon to get her brother back home, but when she arrives she finds her family all but destroyed.
She meets a stranger who claims the estate now belongs to him. Who is this man? Emma doesn’t know. What she does know is that it would be madness to fall in love and surrender her freedom…
Richard never wanted the title and estate he’s now inherited. He hadn’t even known of his connection to the family until his solicitor revealed it to him. But when Emma and her brother turn up claiming to be the estate’s rightful heirs, he can’t ignore his suspicions. Nor can he ignore his growing feelings towards Emma. Could she be the woman he’s been searching for?
Independent and strong, Emma never wants to marry. Richard is looking for a docile, obedient wife. Can their quest to catch a killer teach them that what they both wish to avoid is exactly what they need?
Purchase book at Amazon UK
Release Day Celebration : #Review The Prince’s Cinderella by Andrea Bolter @andrea_bolter and Exclusive Author Interview #ThePrincesCinderella #TrueLove @HarlequinBooks @MillsandBoon
Hello my lovelies, I have a brilliant post for you all today. I have the very great pleasure to welcome back lovely True Love romance author; Andrea Bolter to Chicks Rogues and Scandals for an exclusive chat about her new book The Prince’s Cinderella – which is released today! And I will be sharing my review of this wonderful book, so grab a cuppa and enjoy.
About Andrea
Andrea Bolter has always been fascinated by matters of the heart. In fact, she’s the one her girlfriends turn to for advice with their love lives. She can’t help but analyze people and imagine what goes on in their brains. A city mouse, she’s the one eavesdropping on you at a café or in the long line for the ladies’ room at a concert.
She grew up scribbling in notebooks with a poem here, a snippet of dialogue there, and an essay in between. Studying both creative and news writing in school, the first words Andrea ever got paid to write were procedure manuals for an insurance company. Not too sexy but, hey, she was off and running! Along the way, she landed as a journalist. After hundreds of articles and a couple of awards, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction, first by publishing short stories.
Even with her soft spot for tales of loves, she credits more than just snooping and romance writing as her influences. She loves travel and music and movies. It might be a romantic comedy she’s seen a hundred times that inspires her forward into a new idea.
Lucky enough to have lived in great cities like New York and San Francisco, Andrea calls her childhood stomping ground of Los Angeles home. She’ll have to write her and her husband’s story into a novel someday. Meeting very young they dated for a few years, then separated for five, but found their way back to each other. Together, they have one marvelous daughter.
Andrea is jumping-up-and-down-thrilled to be part of the romance community! Say hi via email or social media
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon
Exclusive Interview
Frankie Hi Andrea, Welcome back to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals. It’s lovely having you visit again! Your up and coming book is The Prince’s Cinderella, could you tell us a little about it?
Andrea Marie has had a really tough life. She was left orphaned at age 11, and shuffled from one foster home to another. Love, loyalty and happy endings are not in her frame of reference. But through her own spunk and spirit, she’s employed as an event planner in Cannes on the French Riviera. There she meets handsome and noble Prince Zander, no stranger to tragedy either, who’s main concern is a little cutie not but two feet tall. While Marie and Zander attend one glamorous Cannes event after the next, it turns out they might be able to give each other something they didn’t even know they wanted so desperately.
Frankie I love the exotic settings which feature in your books, is there anywhere in the world you haven’t set a book, but which you would love to?
Andrea South Korea. My fascination with South Korea stems from my love of all of the great music that comes from there (it’s sometimes called K-Pop but I think that makes it sound trivial). From what I’ve seen as only an armchair traveler, it looks like Seoul is an electrifying hi-tech city while the countryside is pristine and mysterious. Very romantic.
Frankie Your are very well known for your brilliant ‘True Love’ stories with Mills and Boon, what is it about fairytale romances that capture your interest to write them?
Andrea What appeals to me about True Love specifically is that it’s like you’ve put a zoom lens on your camera and you’re zeroing in on the hero and heroine. I tend to not do complex subplots in these fast, contemporary and fun romances. Our attention is straight on our couple’s rocky road to love.
Frankie Your latest book is called The Prince’s Cinderella, where did the inspiration for this book come from?
Andrea My last book The Italian’s Runaway Princess was my first foray into royalty stories. As an American, their world isn’t something that’s part of our culture, and I was intrigued. So I wanted to follow that book with a prince’s tale. With the question of how much does duty direct their lives, and what happens when personal wants conflict with that?
Frankie May I ask, what is in store for your fans in the future?
Andrea I am absolutely in love with the True Love I’m writing now, which should reach readers by the end of the year. It takes place in the New York fashion world and is a “best friend’s little sister becomes love” story. My gorgeous Chinese American hero Jin makes me swoon every day!
Frankie I have heard a lot of writers have little quirky/superstitious habits while writing, such as not writing by a window, or writing in silence. Do you have any quirky writing habits, that you can share with us?
Andrea It does always amaze me when people say they write to music. I adore music but I wouldn’t be able to concentrate! I’m very straightforward. I do my best writing when I’m at my desk, cup of tea nearby, and probably late morning into early afternoon are my most productive hours. Unless it’s crazy deadline time.
Frankie I am a notorious TV series, box set binger, I can watch a full series in one go without thinking about it, what was the last box set you binged on?
Andrea I don’t watch many TV series. As I’ve been sharing, music is my primary entertainment. So I spend an obscene amount of time on YouTube watching concerts, music videos, documentaries, and all of the marvelous vlogs that lots of musicians make of their travels.
Frankie Thank you, Andrea for taking the time to chat with me today, one last question; are you a savoury or sweet food person?
Andrea It’s a pleasure to chat with you, Frankie. Baked goods are my weakness! Moist cake with an equal amount of frosting, fruit pies, scones. Oh goodness!
Thank you again, Andrea! Xx
About The Book
The Prince’s Cinderella (A Trule Love Story)
From event planner to belle of the ball!
Organising a charity gala on the glamorous French Riviera is a dream come true for event planner Marie. And then she realises she’ll be working with single dad – and handsome prince – Zander!
The Prince’s Cinderella can be found at Amazon
This is a lovely, feel-good, heart-warming story that has a real fairy tale feel to it. This is only the second ‘True Love’ story I have read, the first being by Ms Bolter but there is something eternally charming about these stories, that make you believe in being swept away to a completely different – more glamorous – life.
Marie works as an events planner, she has just been given the dream opportunity to work in the beautiful and wealthy town of Cannes as she organises a charity gala for children who are living in foster care or are orphans. As Marie was once one of these very children, she knows how important it is for these galas to happen. She understand for better then the fancy suit wearing CEO’s of the business. She soon learns she will be working closely with the enigmatic and yet at first mysterious Zander – what is it about this guy?
What Marie doesn’t know – at first – is that Zander is actually a Prince, he is one of the most notorious playboys and most desire bachelor in the Riviera. That is until a certain little lady comes into his life, when once the highlight of his day was which party to attend or which bombshell he would take home, now his main concern is whether his kitchen and garden is baby proof. When Zander first meets Marie he is instantly intrigued by her, she has a certain innocent sweetness about her that he finds utterly charming and then there is the fact that she doesn’t know who he is, which he finds such a refreshing change to be treated like a regular man instead of Royalty.
They begin start working together on the gala, both passionate about the charity and how it benefits young people and soon they fall into a whirlwind lifestyle of glamour and events as they become closer and closer, their mutual passion for the cause soon evolves in a passion for each other. I felt that they were both lonely people who want something in their lives that until they found it staying them straight in the face, they don’t quite know what it is what they want, it is so heart-warming to witness these two adorable people find love.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, it’s heart-warming and fully of glitz and glam, the story is your typical True Love sweet romance story about two gorgeous and powerful people looking for love, but with an added tender and loving twist that makes your heart melt. The writing is as we would expect from the talented Ms Bolter, it flows with a genuine warmth and passion for the story.
This was an Arc from the author in exchange for an honest review, thank you Andrea.
The Prince’s Cinderella is out today and can be found at Amazon.
How to Bake a New Beginning by Lucy Knott : Blog Tour, Review & Exclusive Interview.
I have the very great pleasure to be the first stop on the How to Bake a New Beginning by Lucy Knott (one half of the lovely Blossom Twins) blog tour. I will be sharing my review on this wonderfully, uplifting book and I have an exclusive interview with Lucy.
About Lucy
Lucy is a new author her up-and-coming debut How to Bake a New Beginning is a feel good, heart warming romance about family love and food. She is also a Book, Food, Family and Lifestyle blogger with her twin sister; Kelly who own the charming Blossom Twins Blog.
Website / Twitter @LucyCKnott / Twitter @TheBlossomTwins / Instagram / Goodreads / Facebook / Pinterest
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Interview
Frankie Hi Lucy, Congratulation’s on the book! Welcome to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.
Firstly, what five words would you use to describe yourself?
Lucy Romantic. Sensitive. Passionate. Dreamer. Creative.
Frankie If you could take a holiday in any era and place, When and where would it be? And Why?
Lucy Ooh I would probably go back to The Beat Generation and the streets of San Francisco. I’d love to hang out with Jack Kerouac and experience a San Francisco night talking the night away and listening to music, then find quaint cafés to write in while drinking lots of coffee.
Frankie Can you tell us a little about your latest release? This can be your most recent or up-and coming release.
Lucy My upcoming release is my debut novel. It’s called ‘How to Bake a New Beginning.’ It follows the journey of three sisters; all at different stages in their lives, all dealing with job struggles, boy troubles and finding the courage to take that next step in their lives and follow their hearts. After losing their beloved Grandpa they travel to Italy and events occur where they must start taking ownership of their feelings and of their dreams and their futures.
Frankie It really is a wonderful book, who was your childhood hero?
Lucy My childhood hero was professional wrestler Jeff Hardy, one half of the WWE tag team The Hardy Boyz.
Frankie If you could have one of your books made into a film, which book would it be and who would play your lead character’s?
Lucy Ooh that would be pretty amazing. I’d love it if this book was made into a movie. Let me think:
Amanda: Britt Robertson / Sabrina: Rachel Bilson. / Louisa: Lily Colins.
Dan: Harry Styles. / Levi: Chris Evans. / Luca: Giulio Berruti.
Frankie Wow!! Gorgeous cast, this is a movie I would love to watch. Out of all your work, who is your favourite character and why?
Lucy Hmm, I love all my leading ladies because I feel like they are strong women, yet they have their vulnerable moments. It takes them a minute, but they go after what they want and follow their dreams. They all have good hearts and I love that about them. I do have a soft spot for all my boys too.
Frankie Where does your inspiration for your books come from?
Lucy My inspiration was very much love and my experiences. I’m a hopeless romantic and just wanted to write a romance that was quite simple, not too much drama, not too much back and forth, just something that focused on love conquering all and that fairy tales can exist. Also, my life in general, things that make me happy, things that I love, like Italy and sisterly bonds. I very much enjoyed writing about those things.
Frankie What three tips would you pass on to an aspiring author?
Lucy Always believe in yourself.
Don’t compare yourself/your book to others. No one else can write the book that you are writing. Your book is yours, it is special, and you must love it first and foremost and be proud of yourself for writing it.
Write, write, write.
Frankie If you were hosting a dinner party what three people would you invite? (They can be real/fictional, from any era)
Lucy Harry Styles, Sal Paradise (On the Road) and Angela Clark. (I heart series.)
Frankie Oooh, fabulous! I am a big fan of Angela and Alex. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me today, Lucy. I have just one more cheeky question, just for fun . . . What is your all-time favourite naughty but nice food?
Lucy Eeek I love food, so that’s a tricky one, but probably any and all Italian cakes and biscuits.
Frankie Sound’s good to me, Thank you Lucy!
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About the Book
Three sisters. One trip to Italy. The chance to change their lives.
Amanda has always taken the role of big sister seriously. She has her life in order; a fantastic job in a great restaurant, a wonderful house and a best friend who’s a Rockstar. But, Amanda’s beginning to realise that her life is missing one monumental piece…
Sabrina is living the high life in LA. Her Instagram is full of lavish parties, her tweets are brimming with celebrity names, but in reality she’s stuck behind a desk working for a boss who is determined to make her suffer. Is it time for her to stand up and take charge of her life?
Louisa has always been drowned out by her sister’s successes. As the university drop-out she’s always felt third best. But a chance encounter in a little Italian village may be about to change that…
When their beloved grandfather passes away these sisters are forced to take another look at their lives. These three sisters are about to embark on a journey of self-discovery that could just lead them down a road of romance (with a little help from the kitchen)!
Perfect for fans of Jenny Oliver, Carole Mathews and Lucy Diamond.
How to Bake a New Beginning is to be released on 9th September and can be pre-ordered at Amazon.
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My Review
This is a wonderful debut from a talented new author, who I am positive is going to go far with her writing career. I found Ms Knott’s writing to be fresh, stylish and full of real passion for the story. I was incredibly interested in this book when I first saw the cover, which is cheerful and eye-catching. I know we should never base our opinions on a cover, but on the word’s inside, but for this one, I couldn’t really help it. The cover is as charming as the word’s within.
This is the story of three completely different sisters, who are all at different stages of their lives and who are still trying to find themselves in such a hectic world. Even though two have great careers they are a little lost with the love side of things, as different as Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa are they are all devoted to their family, they may have gone down different path’s but that absolute love for family is the driving force for each of them. Which as someone who is as equally very family focused this really rang a bell with me. When their beloved Grandfather suddenly passes away, the sisters are forced to confront some very personal issues. They decide that to really say goodbye to their grandfather they travel to Italy, their trip turns out to be just as emotional as they expected, but in completely different ways. What started out as a farewell to grandpa trip, ends up with each of the sisters discovering themselves and learning how to take charge of their lives and more importantly how to love.
Each sister is so different, each has their own views and private heartaches, Amanda the eldest is the one with the real passion for cooking, she is doing what she has always wanted to do and is working as a chef, but beneath that stubborn and protective older sister mask there is a heartache, something is missing from her life, now she knows what but can she pluck up the courage to finally grasp it?
Second sister Sabrina is living the high life in LA, to the whole world she is a high-flyer spending night’s out at lavish celebratory parties, her social media is full of enviable pictures. But really, she is stuck in the office with a boss who wants to make her life hell and suffering her own heartache, she is far from the happy-go-lucky socialite that she present’s herself to be.
And finally, baby of the family; Louisa after dropping out of university she has always felt inferior next to her older and much more confident sisters. She is definitely the one most people can relate to, she has lost her way a little. She appears cocky and out spoken but beneath the surface there lies a shy, young woman who is desperate to find her way and I think she has lost a little self-confidence especially while sisters are around.
This trip to Italy is the chance all three of them never expected but also what they needed, but will they have the courage and take control of the lives?
This is a wonderful holiday read, the relationship between the sisters is very real and relatable, the love that they share for their family is the driving force of this story. Ms Knot has done a cracking job at engaging the reader with her relatable character’s, beautiful setting and wonderful storyline. From page one you are immersed into the sister’s lifes, the story and relationships develop and evolve in a natural way and the story moves along at a brilliant pace.
You can real get a sense of how much this book and story means to the author, her heart and passion is evident in every scene, the driving force of the story is absolute family love, this really resonates with me. Another thing I love is how each chapter starts with a recipe, it’s cute and personal and links each chapter together nicely.
This is a delicious book, that you will devour in one bite! (Sorry I couldn’t help the food reference)
This was an ARC copy via the author as apart of this blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
A Chat With….Author Andrea Bolter
I have the great pleasure to welcome contemporary romance author; Andrea Bolter back to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals for an exclusive chat.
About Andrea
Andrea Bolter has always been fascinated by matters of the heart. In fact, she’s the one her girlfriends turn to for advice with their love lives. She can’t help but analyze people and imagine what goes on in their brains. A city mouse, she’s the one eavesdropping on you at a café or in the long line for the ladies’ room at a concert.
She grew up scribbling in notebooks with a poem here, a snippet of dialogue there, and an essay in between. Studying both creative and news writing in school, the first words Andrea ever got paid to write were procedure manuals for an insurance company. Not too sexy but, hey, she was off and running! Along the way, she landed as a journalist. After hundreds of articles and a couple of awards, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction, first by publishing short stories.
Even with her soft spot for tales of loves, she credits more than just snooping and romance writing as her influences. She loves travel and music and movies. It might be a romantic comedy she’s seen a hundred times that inspires her forward into a new idea.
Lucky enough to have lived in great cities like New York and San Francisco, Andrea calls her childhood stomping ground of Los Angeles home. She’ll have to write her and her husband’s story into a novel someday. Meeting very young they dated for a few years, then separated for five, but found their way back to each other. Together, they have one marvelous daughter.
Andrea is jumping-up-and-down-thrilled to be part of the romance community! Say hi via email or social media
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon
Frankie Hi Andrea, Welcome back to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.
Firstly, Can you tell us a little about latest release? This can be your most recent or up-and coming release.
Andrea THE ITALIAN’S RUNAWAY PRINCESS will be released in the end of August/beginning of September (depending what country you live in). I’d been wanting to do some kind of runaway bride story and also to set a book in Florence, Italy. Those two inspirations came together here, with the addition of making the heroine a princess. I gorged on Florence in this one. They visit so many locations in that breathtaking city. If you like being swept into the locale of a book, you’ll like this one.
Frankie If you could take a holiday in any era and place, When and where would it be?
Andrea I may have answered this for you when we’ve chatted in the past, and I said Los Angeles in the 1910s-1920s when the movie business was being established. So this time, I’ll say that same time period but in New York. I love how that was a time of great development and advances, but filled with scandal, corruption and bad behaviour!
Frankie If you could have one of your books made into a film, which book would it be and who would play your lead characters?
Andrea I have a habit of thinking of movie stars who are maybe too old to play the roles now but would have been right when they were younger. For Audrey in HER LAS VEGAS WEDDING I’d see a young Reese Witherspoon, a go-getter with high heels clacking across the room, like the vibe she captured so well in LEGALLY BLONDE. And for Shane, Bradley Cooper because he played the same kind of explosive chef in a movie called BURNT.
Frankie Out of all your work, who is your favourite character and why?
Andrea It’s Gio Grassi from this upcoming book. He’s a hottie tech billionaire, very Alpha while being a sexy nerd type at the same time. He was crystal clear in my head when I was writing him.
Frankie If you ever decided to write a different genre of book, which would it be?
Andrea Romantic Comedy. I find a lot to laugh about in the relations between romantic partners!
Frankie What are you reading at the minute? Or your last book you read?
Andrea The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank. It’s from 1999 and considered a very influential book in the continuum of what got dubbed “chick lit,” which I never exactly understand. (I just Googled that term and got this helpful definition – “literature that appeals mainly to women” LOL!!!!)
Anyway, Girls’ Guide was terrific. It comes in a little after Bridget Jones Diary, which was released in 1996, which I consider to be the crowning achievement and indisputable masterpiece of that era.
Frankie When writing do you plan the full book ahead, or do you just go with the flow?
Andrea I definitely don’t go with the flow. I have a basic plan. I know the setting, the important story points, the conflicts, what’s going to change things, what’s the worst moment for the characters, the ending (HEA, duh!). But I don’t necessarily know how many scenes or chapters I’ll have, or exactly what happens when or how.
Frankie How do you like to relax once you’ve finished writing?
Andrea Seeing friends without any time constraints. When I’m writing, everyone knows I can meet them for a late lunch but having spent the earlier part of the day writing, I have to do laundry and errands for my parents and grocery shopping and make dinner just like every other working mom. Having extra time with my awesome girlfriends is a great reward.
Frankie Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today, Andrea. I have just one more cheeky question, just for fun….
If you were stranded in the middle of nowhere over-night, no civilisation around, with nothing but your backpack what four other things would you have with you?
Andrea Of course the practical things like water, food, flashlight and protective clothing. But in my special stash I’d wish for a way to hear music. Maybe an old-fashioned transistor radio and a big supply of batteries. I can’t go a day without listening to music! In a way, music would be my survival tool to keep me from freaking out. I’d have photographs of my family (wait, this question is making me sad!). I’d have a huge anthology of short stories. To pass the time, in my mind I’d expand each and every one of them into novels or film scripts. And I hope I’d still have my wedding ring to use as a touchstone that keeps me certain I’ll be rescued.
Frankie That sounds wonderful, Thank you!
Andrea Thank you!
About the Book
The Italian’s Runaway Princess
Is life outside the palace walls everything she dreamed of?
When billionaire Gio Grassi rescues a beautiful stranger on the streets of Florence he never imagined she’d be royalty! Princess Luciana’s vivacity intrigues him. With her arranged royal wedding only weeks away, can this chance encounter change their lives forever?
You can purchased The Italian’s Runaway Princess at Amazon.
A Chat With….Author Faye Hall
Today I have the great pleasure to welcome Faye Hall, author of the Sin’s of the Virtuous series to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals for an exclusive chat.
About Faye
Come on a journey with me through 19th century North Queensland, Australia and explore the passions and hardships of unique characters.
There is corruption, deceit and murder, as well as cattle rustlers, slave traders and hell fire clubs. Explore townships of Jarvisfield and Inkerman, as well as Ravenswood and Bowen. One book even incorporates my great grandmother’s cattle station ‘Inkerman Downs Station’.
As well as an author, I am also the most spoilt wife in the world, and a very contented mother.
Come and discover all the passion and drama of North Queensland history with me.
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Amazon / The Romance Reviews
Frankie Hi Faye, Welcome to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today…..If you could take a holiday in any era and place, When and where would it be? And Why?
Faye I would love to go back to anywhere in the British Isles during the late 1800s because I just love that time period and environment.
Frankie Can you tell us a little about latest release? This can be your most recent or up-and coming release.
Faye Latest release is Apathy & Vigor, the fourth book in the Sins of the Virtuous series. It a heart wrenching and passionate tale of two people whose lives are ripped apart by fire and death and the cruelty of one man certain to destroy any chance they have of finding love again.
Frankie Who was your childhood hero?
Faye I always thought my parents were the most heroic people I knew. I still do. After everything they’ve been through and their struggles they’ve been happily married for over 50 years.
Frankie If you could have one of your books made into a film, which book would it be and who would play your lead character’s?
Faye I’d love Heart of Stone to be made into a film, with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts playing the main characters.
Frankie Out of all your work, who is your favourite character and why?
Faye I really loved writing Phoebe Porter from Amorous Redemption. She was based on my great grandmother and she is fiery and stubborn and strong whilst still being so vulnerable.
Frankie Where doe’s your inspiration for your books come from?
Faye A lot comes from the stories I was told as a child about my great grandparents coming to Australia. I always found their struggles heartwrenching and admired the strength of them to survive what they did.
Frankie What three tips would you pass on to an aspiring author?
Faye Write from the heart. Learn to take criticism. And never give up.
Frankie If you were hosting a dinner party what three people would you invite? (They can be real/fictional, from any era)
Faye Sherlock Holmes, Veronica Franco and Agatha Christie.
Frankie Thank you, Faye for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me today, I have just one more cheeky question, just for fun . . . What is your all-time favourite naughty but nice food?
Faye Hot chips with tomato sauce.
Frankie Mmmm! Yumm, Thank you, Faye! 😊
About the Book
Will the love of a woman save him from his own apathy?
Tristen Brone lived a carefree life of wealth and passion – until one day it all came crashing down around him. In only a few days he lost everyone he loved in the world – the woman he loved, his best friend and his parents. The once confident, handsome young man, was now scarred for life and on a quick downward spiral of sorrow and depression. He no longer wanted to live.
When Amalie Fergus arrives on his doorstep, a travel bag in her hand, begging him to take her in, he becomes suspicious. Despite his passionate past with this woman, and the feelings he still had for her, all he could think of was how quickly she abandoned him after the fire that killed her brother and left Tristen physically scarred. So why had she come back into his life after all these months?
Amalie Fergus lost her brother in a fire, her lover had abandoned her upon finding her with child, and now her father had been poisoned, leaving their properties to be repossessed. She had nothing and no one left to turn to. In desperation, she found herself forced to work for a living, trying to do her best as a maid for any rich gentleman who would take her in. What she hadn’t expected was for one of those men to try and force carnal favours from her, or for her now to be on the run for his murder.
Running from the scene of the crime, fearful what was to become of her, Amalie finds herself colliding with a man from her past who offers to hide her from the police on one condition – she return to Tristen and steal some property papers from him.
Trapped by the man from her past, and now forced back into Tristen’s life, Amalie searches for who murdered her brother. She could never have foreseen the cruelty she would discover, or the man she would willingly surrender her heart to.
The One That I Want by Lynne Shelby Blog Tour; Review & Exclusive Interview
Hi Everyone, welcome to my stop on the One That I Want blog tour, I have the great pleasure to welcome contemporary romance author; Lynne Shelby to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals for an exclusive interview plus my own review of this wonderful book.
About Lynne
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing, and my dream was always to be a published author. I write contemporary women’s fiction/romance.
My debut novel ‘French Kissing’ was published in 2015 when it won the Accent Press and Woman magazine Writing Competition – sometimes dreams really do come true 🙂
My second novel, ‘The One That I Want,’ is due to be published in July 2018, and is the first in a series of stand-alone books set in the world of showbusiness.
When I’m not writing or reading, I can usually be found at the theatre or exploring a foreign city – with a writer’s notebook, camera and sketchbook in hand.
I live in north London with my husband and a lot of books, and have three adult children who live nearby.
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads / Amazon
Interview
Frankie Hi Lynne, Welcome to Chicks, Rogues and Scandals! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.
Lynne Hi Frankie, Thank you for having me as a guest on your lovely blog.
Frankie It’s a pleasure having you here. Firstly, Can you tell us a little about latest release? This can be your most recent or up-and coming release.
Lynne My latest release, The One That I Want, is contemporary women’s fiction, set in the world of showbusiness. Its location is in and around London’s Theatreland, which is one of my favourite parts of London. In the book, Lucy Ashford lands a job at a leading theatrical agency – and literally falls into the arms of Hollywood heartthrob Daniel Miller. Handsome, charming and irresistible, Daniel is just what unlucky-in-love Lucy needs, and she is quickly drawn into his glittering celebrity lifestyle. But can she tame the A-list bad boy or is she just one more girl in Daniel’s long line of conquests? And then there’s up-and-coming actor Owen Somers, fiercely talented but as yet uncast in a starring role…
Frankie This is a wonderful book and one I highly recommend. If you could take a holiday in any era and place, when and where would it be?
Lynne That’s a difficult choice to make! I find so many historical eras interesting, but I think I would choose to visit Roman Britain. I enjoy exploring Roman sites like Hadrian’s Wall, and it would be fascinating to go back in time and see them in their heyday, and to meet the people who lived and worked in them. My trip to the past would have to be fairly short though, as I’m sure I’d miss modern technology!
Frankie If you could have one of your books made into a film, which book would it be and who would play your lead characters?
Lynne I’d love my debut novel, French Kissing, to be made into a film – especially if I could visit the cast and crew on location in Paris, where part of the book is set! For my heroine, Anna Mitchel, who is English and lives in London, I’d cast Dianna Agron (Glee, I Am Number Four) – she’s American, but I hope she wouldn‘t mind doing an English accent! For my Parisian hero, Alexandre Tourville, I’d cast French actor, Louis Garrel (The Dreamers, Les Chansons d’Amour).
Frankie Oooh, looks good! Out of all your work, who is your favourite character and why?
Lynne My favourite character tends to change with each WIP to one of the characters that I’m writing about, usually my hero or heroine, I think because they are the characters who I’m spending time with! In The One That I Want, my favourite character is Lucy because although she is suddenly thrust into a glamorous world and lifestyle, she manages to keep her feet on the ground, and remain loyal to her friends, especially her best friend from childhood. The importance of friends and family is one of the themes of the book.
Frankie If you ever decided to write a different genre of book, which would it be?
Lynne It would have to be a historical novel – I know I’d have a lot of fun doing the research.
Frankie What are you reading at the minute? Or your last book you read?
Lynne I’ve just finished reading The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, which is an original and atmospheric re-telling of ancient Greek myth for modern readers. It’s beautifully written, and at the same time, a real page-turner. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical novels.
Frankie When writing do you plan the full book ahead, or do you just go with the flow?
Lynne I know how my books are going to start and how they end, but when I start writing I have very little idea of what happens in the middle. Fortunately, there comes a point when it feels as though the characters have taken over the plot and decide for themselves what’s going to happen to them! When I’m about two-thirds through my story and have a clearer idea of the plot’s twists and turns, I plan future chapters to keep the action on track.
Frankie How do you like to relax once you’ve finished writing?
Lynne I read a lot – my tbr pile is taller than I am. I also very much enjoy visiting the theatre, especially musicals, and go to as many West End shows as I can.
Frankie Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today, Lynne. I have just one more cheeky question, just for fun….
If you were stranded in the middle of nowhere over night, no civilisation around, with nothing but your backpack what four other things would you have with you?
Lynne A pen, a notebook, a torch and a novel.
Frankie Thank you!
Lynne Thank you, Frankie, I enjoyed chatting.
About The Book
The latest sparkling romance from the award-winning author of French Kissing.
When Lucy Ashford lands a top job at a leading theatrical agency in London, work mixes with pleasure, as she literally falls into the arms of Hollywood heartthrob Daniel Miller.
Handsome, charming and irresistible, Daniel is just what unlucky-in-love Lucy needs, and she is quickly drawn into his glittering celebrity lifestyle. But can she tame the A-list bad boy or is she just one more girl in Daniel s long line of conquests?
And then there’s up-and-coming actor Owen Somers, fiercely talented but as yet uncast in a starring role. After she takes him onto the agency’s books, Owen and Lucy’s friendship slowly grows. If she looks closely, Lucy’s leading man might be right before her very eyes…
The One That I Want id available now and can be purchased at Amazon.
My Review
Well this is a wonderfully, romantic story! This is the first book I have read by Ms Shelby and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author. The One That I Want is a fun, entertaining and very romantic. It’s a good old fashioned rom-com, where girl meets boy – or in this case boys – and she goes on a once in a life time journey to find who she is and who has stolen her heart.
When an old school friend who is now a famous children’s tv star, suddenly turn’s up on her doorstep, Lucy’s life changes completely. She is offered the chance of a life time to move to London and make a name for herself. She moves in with her old friend and her not-so-nice PA, t first Lucy is a little rabbit in head lights, everything is new, and the bright lights of London turn her head, but she soon gets over her initial awe of the city when she lands a lucrative job at one of the leading theatrical agencies.
As her career starts moving in the right direction Lucy soon finds herself torn between two completely different men. She meets the agencies leading star and ladies’ man Daniel who turns Lucy’s head with his silky charm and she soon falls head over heels for the charming attention loving Daniel. She is swept along in his fast and glittery lifestyle of showbiz parties and premiers. Then after signing her first client; the hugely talented, yet unknown actor and incredibly down to earth Owen, who has a genuine sparkle in those blue eyes and soon they are growing steadily closer. But which life does she want and more importantly which of our leading men claims Lucy’s heart?
Lucy is such an ordinary, down to earth young woman, who before she took the chance to move to London she was a bit stuck in a rut. She has a great open personality that believes and trust’s everyone she comes into contact with, even though at times I think that she maybe a little too naive when it comes to people as she later comes to learn. I really like the interactions between each of the character’s, they banter, flirt and have fun. There is drama and in each of their lives, that is engaging and keeps you reading.
This is the perfect book for lazing the summer days away, the story is charming and will appeal to all, not matter what you read. The story sweeps you away in a flurry of stardust that will leave you wanting an encore. The One That I Want is a wonderfully, glittery romance that is highly enjoyable and just like it’s lovable characters it’s fun and dazzling and very highly recommended.
This was an ARC copy via the author as apart of this blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
Why not check out the other stops on the tour.
