Month: April 2019

Blog Tour: A Little Hotel in Cornwall


Today I will be sharing an extract for my spot on the blog tour for the novella A Little Hotel in Cornwall by Laura Briggs. This is a short one at 120 pages and available TODAY!  Happy Publication Day!!!

Book Description:

Struggling American waitress and aspiring novelist Maisie Clark dreams of becoming a full-time writer — even though in real life she’s just lost her chance at an exclusive writer’s mentorship program that would give her novel its big break. Desperate, she decides to take a chance and ask her favourite writer, a celebrated but reclusive English novelist, to help her find a second chance.

When she receives the author’s reply in an envelope with a Cornish postmark, Maisie decides not to take the writer’s half-hearted ‘no’ for an answer. With nothing to lose, she takes off for the author’s last known location, a beautiful hotel on Cornwall’s western coast. But when the hotel mistakes her for the latest applicant for a maid’s position, Maisie finds herself given an opportunity too good to lose … and a chance for a summer adventure far bigger than she ever imagined.

Surrounded by breathtaking Cornwall and working in an elegant hotel, Maisie’s world becomes one of secret identities, quirky friends, and unintentional mishaps — and despite reminders of past relationship disasters, a certain handsome, charming local resident Sidney Daniels has her conflicted about her heart’s desires, too.

Will Maisie find the chance she’s been waiting for — and a possible new romance — in her perfect Cornish summer?

Buy A Little Hotel in Cornwall here.


Thanks so much to Jessica for allowing me to share an extract from my new novella, A Little Hotel in Cornwall. This scene shows the heroine Maisie’s first impression of the quaint Cornish village she has traveled to in search of an elusive—and famous—English novelist who may just hold the key to her dream of becoming a great writer.

I set down my suitcase and shoulder bag and looked around. The bright sunlight was reflected on the water of the ocean in the distance, like a current of diamonds on its surface. I waited for the realization to sink in that this view of the sea below and the village above belonged to a foreign country.

I had spent part of my precious savings to come here, to find the dot on the map that represented the hotel Penmarrow. I knew it was highly possible that Alistair Davies was already gone, but it was still the best chance I had of meeting him. If he would read only a few chapters with his red pencil in hand, I would once again qualify for the Ink and Inspiration. Granted, alone and without a mentor to guide me through the rest of its process, but with a definite chance of salvaging my dream.

Port Hewer welcomes you, said the sign, with words below it in Cornish. A nice wooden sign with a seascape painted in one corner. I could see a quaint village waiting for visitors in the distance — on my map, it had been a tiny red dot between legendary places of west and south county, like Penzance and St. Michael’s Mount. I could see a grand building perched high above the sea and the village, as if watching over them both. That was the Penmarrow, I imagined, from the description on its website and its photos.

Cornwall. Until now, it had only been a place in a geography book, and in books I had read. I had seen Doc Martin and Poldark on PBS, of course. I had read Rebecca dozens of times. But the scenery was more beautiful in person than I had imagined when it was only words on paper or pictures on a television screen. With the balmy breeze on my cheek, palm trees in the distance, and the sand glittering in the sun, I almost felt a little at home, even standing on the threshold of the Celtic Sea.

I lifted my suitcase again, the one containing most of my important stuff — my books, my tablet computer, and my clothes, along with all my assignments from the Tucker class, and Mr. Bubbles, too. I didn’t have much to pack, or much to leave behind. Since I didn’t know how long I was going to be here, I didn’t know what to bring.

Somehow I’ll bet this wasn’t quite what Wallace Scott pictured when he told me to take a chance for my dream.


About the Author:

Laura Briggs is the author of several chick lit and romance stories, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, caring for her pets, going to movies and plays, and trying new restaurants.

Contact Laura:
Twitter
@PaperDollWrites

It’s my Birthday!

It’s my birthday and I am 39 today!  How did that happen?!?!? At least I am off: It’s a  3 day weekend for me!!!

The 30’s have a been a good decade, definitely better than the 20’s. Here are just some highlights:

  • Celebrated my 30th with a BIG trip to the Northern USA and Canada
  • I met and married my husband
  • My first big move into my hubby’s house
  • We adopted two twin kitties that are perfect for us
  • I became an admin of the Bookies Facebook page
  • I started this site and am part of the ‘book world’ and have met  a lot of great people
  • I have a current book club who are not just great friends, they are family!

Let’s see how long I can keep up with doing my book reviewing and site.  It takes up nearly all of my free time, but I really enjoy doing it!  It’s all about the book love! 

Despite some issues going on long-term that will hopefully end soon and with a positive ending,  I will look forward to this last year of my 30’s and seeing what comes next! You never know what God has in store for you. It’s all in HIS plans, and we are all along for the ride.

And I really hope I don’t have issues with reaching the big 4-0 next year… Though right now I think I might…..

 

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Sunday Series Review: Everless Duology

Today Kim is reviewing the Everless Duology by Sara Holland. She read Everless last year not realizing (like usual! 😉 ) that it was part of a series. Her review for Everless is below along with the picture she took:

Kim’s review for Everless.


Books in the Duology:
Everless
Evermore

Everless
Published: January 2, 2018
368 pages

In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries. No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever. But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

Evermore
Published: December 31, 2018
368 Pages

Jules Ember was raised hearing legends of the ancient magic of the wicked Alchemist and the good Sorceress. But she has just learned the truth: not only are the stories true, but she herself is the Alchemist, and Caro—a woman who single-handedly murdered the Queen and Jules’s first love, Roan, in cold blood—is the Sorceress.

The whole kingdom believes that Jules is responsible for the murders, and a hefty bounty has been placed on her head. And Caro is intent on destroying Jules, who stole her heart twelve lifetimes ago. Jules must delve into the stories that she now recognizes are accounts of her own past. For it is only by piecing together the mysteries of her lives that Jules will be able to save the person who has captured her own heart in this one.


Kim’s Rating of the Series: 4 Stars

Kim’s Review:

This duology is great! I read Everless last year, without realizing it was part of a series. Thankfully, Evermore came out without too much delay and I was so excited to read the series again and find out what happens. I was not disappointed. Jules Ember is an excellent protagonist that I enjoyed rooting for. Her attitude about men gets a little ridiculous sounding in Everless, when she seems to put her feelings for Roan above everything else. Of course, I admit, I preferred Liam the whole time anyways. That’s the only reason I’m giving this series 4 stars.

The story is unique and easy to follow. These are the books that you read thru 50 pages without realizing it. Everless sounds like a beautiful place to live and I liked seeing the connections between it and the characters. Jules managed to separate Everless and its owners. She loved Everless and always felt that it was her home, no matter who else was there. I can’t say too much about Evermore, because I don’t want to give anything away . . . In fact, I probably shouldn’t say much more anyway, y’all just need to read it!

The story is great, the characters are believable and mostly likable, the setting is beautiful, the covers of both books are gorgeous, and I think this duology is completely appropriate for teens. I definitely recommend it to those who like fantasy!

Purchase Links for the Duology:
The differences in the US and UK editions are HUGE!!
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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