Keep You Safe by Melissa Hill. Review and Giveaway.

As the HPV vaccination debate heats up in Ireland, there is a very timely new release from Irish author, Melissa Hill. Every parent has their own views on vaccines and no matter which side of the debate you are on, this is a novel that will drag you in to its story and may even introduce doubts that you never had. The MMR vaccine has saved million of lives and introduced the concept of herd immunity. But what happens when your child is not vaccinated and then contracts measles? Hill explores this idea in Keep You Safe, and it is a page-turning experience.

 I have five copies of this book, in a hat trick of giveaways: Two copies here on the blog (just leave a comment below); Two copies on twitter @margaretbmadden (see pinned tweet) and a copy over on the facebook page of Bleach House Library, (see pinned post). The giveaways end on 1st October and are open INT. Good Luck!

Photo from @MelissaHillBks

My Review

(originally posted in The Sunday Independent, 11 Sep 2017)

Kate's five-year-old daughter Rosie could not be vaccinated because of an intolerance to the gelatine used in live vaccines. Her classmate Clara was not vaccinated either - her mother Madeleine chose not to, fearful of its side-effects. Neither women anticipated the outcome of their decision, and Melissa Hill's new novel examines how both their worlds are turned upside down when their children are hit by the measles virus.

It is not against the law to refuse the childhood vaccination programme in Ireland, and Madeleine and her husband Tom genuinely believe they are protecting their daughter by refusing it: "They'd been hugely uncomfortable about the vaccine's link to autism, and while the original research paper suggesting the connection had long been discredited, it was very difficult to ignore the multitude of real-life anecdotal experiences that were so prevalent". On the other hand, nurse Kate, who thoroughly researched her decision, would gladly have vaccinated Rosie were it not for her allergy. While she is now widowed, her husband had approved her decision: "We had no choice but to opt Rosie out of the standard childhood vaccination programme and hope against hope that herd immunity would prevail".

Kate finds herself in a terrifying situation when Rosie is hospitalised. Meanwhile, Clara recovers from her illness but parenting blogger Madeleine is feeling the pressure in another way: "The public loved to express an opinion - never more so than on the internet - and right now, the full force of those primarily negative opinions was heading directly her way". The two women find themselves embroiled in a legal battle which seeks to assign blame. The media are having a field day with sympathy leaning toward Kate and Rosie while Madeleine and Tom are not being afforded the same respect: "It wasn't just her and Tom's decision on vaccination that was on trial here - it was their parenting".

Kate is homely, medically trained and dealing with the long-term effects of her daughter's illness; Madeleine - wealthy and media-savvy, is judged more for her personality than for her decision. Told from both mothers' perspectives, Keep You Safe is both astute and divisive and Hill (pictured left) has addressed the vaccine debate in a fictional tale of fear, judgement and choice. A topical, timely read.


Keep You Safe is published by HQ and is available in HB, TPB and ebook format. You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

Exclusive Cover Reveal - 'Our Little Secret' by Claudia Carroll.

I am so honoured to be the first to reveal the cover of the latest release from Bestselling author, Claudia Carroll. Published in TPB in Ireland (ebook version in the UK) on 23rd March. It is a sparkling story about what happens when you let someone into your life… but they turn out to want more than you’d bargained for.  I also have a little giveaway, to celebrate. Every girl deserves a treat, right? Details at the end of the page...

THE BLURB

Sarah Keyes has the perfect life. A high-flying job in a law firm, a beautiful daughter and a house to die for. So how does she find herself looking in through the kitchen window while another woman enjoys it all? When Sarah takes pity on a struggling young graduate who can’t get a job, she thinks she’s doing the right thing. She’s being kind, generous and helpful to others, as she always is. But as Sarah allows the younger woman into her home, her law firm and even her family, is there more to this pretty youngster than meets the eye? And could this be a good deed that goes further than expected? Claudia Carroll does it again with a sparkling new novel about what happens when your life becomes up for grabs…

PRAISE FOR CLAUDIA CARROLL

 ‘Claudia Carroll is a master of creating a great story . . . A brilliantly readable, funny novel. Highly recommended’ Fabulous magazine

‘An emotional roller-coaster . . . asks some probing questions about relationships and keeps the reader wondering until the very end’ Irish Independent

‘I’ve just spent a gloriously sunny weekend delving into Tess Taylor and Kate King’s lives and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m a massive fan of Claudia and her books and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. It was modern, warm, insightful and filled with characters that felt like friends at the end.’ Emma Hannigan

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Claudia Carroll is a number one bestselling author in Ireland and a top ten bestseller in the UK,  She was born in Dublin where she still lives and where she has worked extensively both as a theatre and stage actress. She now writes full-time. Her 2013 novel ME AND YOU was shortlisted for the Bord Gais Popular Choice Irish Book Award. Her previous novel ALL SHE EVER WISHED FOR spent 12 weeks at the top of the Irish charts

Our Little Secret is published by Harper Collins in TPB on 23rd March 2017 and will also be available in ebook format. You can pre-order your ebook HERE.

Exclusive Cover-Reveal Giveaway

There is a chance to win this mini-pampering package, including travel-sized luxury face mask, hand cream, bath and shower gel, moisturiser and hair mask, on facebook.com/bleachhouselibrary or twitter.com/margaretbmadden 

Just see pinned post/tweet for entry details. Giveaway ends on Fri 3rd February. Good Luck!

Exclusive Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway - "The Girl From The Savoy" by Hazel Gaynor.

I am so honoured to share the UK/IRL cover of Hazel Gaynor's upcoming novel, The Girl From The Savoy.   New York Times Bestselling author, Hazel, is one of the queens of Historical Fiction, drawing the reader back into the world of her protagonists.  Not only do I have the cover to share with you, but I also have the Prologue!  There is a letter from Hazel, to her readers, and an Elizabeth Arden gift set to giveaway in celebration of the reveal!  I know, I know, I spoil you...

The Girl From The Savoy is now available for pre-order, with its ebook publication date 9th June 2016 and the paper back publication date 8th September 2016.

Readers,  Voila!! 

The Blurb

The new rich and compelling novel from the author of The Girl Who Came Home. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore. 

Dolly Lane is a dreamer; a downtrodden maid who longs to dance on the London stage, but the outbreak of war takes everything from her: Teddy, the man she loves – and her hopes of a better life. When she secures employment as a chambermaid at London’s grandest hotel, The Savoy,

 Dolly’s proximity to the dazzling guests makes her yearn for a life beyond the grey drudgery she was born into. Her fortunes take an unexpected turn when she responds to an unusual newspaper advert and finds herself thrust into the heady atmosphere of London’s glittering theatre scene and into the sphere of the celebrated actress, Loretta May, and her brother, Perry. All three are searching for something, yet the aftermath of war has cast a dark shadow over them all. A brighter future is tantalisingly close – but can a girl like Dolly ever truly leave her past behind?

Letter from Hazel Gaynor

Dear reader,

I’m very excited to introduce you to my forthcoming novel THE GIRL FROM THE SAVOY, and to share the beautiful cover for the Ireland/UK edition!

Set in London in the early 1920s, this was such a fascinating novel to research and write, taking me ‘downstairs’ with my character Dolly Lane, a chambermaid at one of London’s most iconic hotels, and onto the West End stage with Loretta May, a renowned actress. Following the aftermath of the Great War, the novel also took me to the battlefields of France, and into the minds of the men and women still struggling to come to terms with their experience of war.

Through the contrasting lifestyles of my leading ladies, through their leading men, Teddy and Perry, and through the cast of supporting characters, I hope to have written a novel rich in emotion and passion; a novel that will take you back in time, to London in the 1920s.

The book will be available in Ireland on 9^th June in ebook and paperback. In the meantime, here’s a little taste of what’s to come!

Best wishes,

Hazel

X

 Exclusive extract from The Girl From The Savoy

Lancashire, England

March 1916

In my heart, I always knew he would go; that they would all go, in the end. Now the dreaded day has arrived. Teddy is going to war and there is nothing I can do to prevent it.

Everything is a blur. I don’t remember eating breakfast. I don’t remember laying the fires or doing any of my usual chores. I don’t remember hanging up my apron or putting on my coat and hat. I’m not even sure I closed the door behind me as I set off for the station, but I must have done all these things because somehow I am here, standing on the platform, and he is pressing a bunch of daffodils into my hands. Somehow, he is really leaving.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he says, brushing a tear from my cheek. “They won’t know what’s hit them when we arrive. Look at us. Tough as old boots!” I glance along the platform. The assembled conscripts look like frightened young boys. Not soldiers. Not tough at all. “I’ll be back for your birthday and I’ll take you to the village dance, just like last year. You’ll hardly notice I’m gone before I’m back.”

I want to believe him, but we all know the truth. Nobody comes back. The thought breaks my heart and I gasp to catch my breath through my tears.

Mam had warned me not to be getting all maudlin and sobbing on his shoulder. “You’re to be strong, Dorothy. Tell him how brave he is and how proud you are. No sniveling and wailing.” And here I am, doing everything she told me not to. I can’t help it. I don’t want to be proud. I don’t want to tell him how brave he is. I want to sink to my knees and wrap my arms around his ankles so that he can’t go anywhere. Not without me.

“We’ll be married in the summer and we’ll have little ’uns running around our feet and everything will be back to normal, Dolly. Just you and me and a quiet simple life. Just like we’ve always wanted.”

I nod and press my cheek to the thick fabric of his coat. A quiet simple life. Just like we’ve always wanted. I try to ignore the voice in my head that whispers to me of more than a quiet simple life, the voice that speaks of rowdy adventures waiting far away from here. “Head full of nonsense.” That’s what our Sarah says. She’s probably right. She usually is.

A loud hiss of steam pierces the subdued quiet of the platform, drowning out the muffled sobs. Doors start to slam as the men step into the carriages. Embraces end. Hands are prized agonizingly apart. It is time to let go.

I reach up onto my tiptoes and our lips meet in a last kiss. It isn’t lingering and passionate as I’ve imagined, but rushed and interrupted by my wretched sobs and the urgency of others telling Teddy to hurry along now. We part too soon and he is walking away from me. I can hardly see his face through the blur of my tears.

The shrill blast of the station master’s whistle makes me jump. Mothers and daughters cling to each other. Wives clutch their children to their chests as they bravely wave their daddy good-bye. Great clouds of smoke billow around us and I cover my mouth with my handkerchief as the pistons yawn into life and begin turning on their cranks. The carriages jolt to attention, and he is going.

I start to move, my feet falling in time with the motion of the train, slow at first, and then a brisk walk. All along the platform, women and children reach out, clinging for all they are worth to prolong the very last touch of a coat sleeve, a fingertip, the last flutter of a white handkerchief. And I am jogging and then running, faster and faster, until I can’t keep up and he is gone.

He is gone.

He is gone.

I slow to a walk and stand among the suffocating smoke as my heart cracks into a thousand shards of helpless despair. Everything has changed. Everything will be different now.

I put my hands in my coat pockets, my fingers finding the piece of folded paper in each. I glance at the hastily scribbled note from Teddy in my right hand: Darling Little Thing, Don’t be sad. When the war is over, I’ll come back to you, back to Mawdesley. With you beside me, this is all the world I will ever need. I glance at the page in my left hand, ripped from the morning paper as I lay the fire in Madam’s bedroom. Society darling and brave nurse virginia clements revealed as west end star loretta may! I look at her beautiful face and elegant clothes, the perfect image to accompany the glowing report of Cochran’s latest dazzling production and the enchanting new star of his chorus. I stare at the two pieces of paper. The life I know in one hand. The life I dream of in the other.

The church bells chime the hour. Time to go back to the Monday wash and the predictable routines that carve out the hours of a maid-of-all-work like me. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I fold the pages and return them to my pockets. I turn my back on the distant puffs of smoke from Teddy’s train and walk along the platform. The surface is icy and I go cautiously, my footing unsure. I slip a little, steady myself, and keep going. Crossing the tracks, I step onto the frosted grass verge that crunches satisfyingly beneath my boots. On firmer ground, my strides lengthen and I walk faster, and all the while the question nags and nags in my mind: Am I walking away from my future, or walking toward it?

I don’t have an answer. It is not mine to give.

War holds all the answers now.

About The Author

Hazel Gaynor is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME and A MEMORY OF VIOLETS. She was selected by US Library Journal as one of ‘Ten Big Breakout Authors’ for 2015 and received the 2015 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year award for THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME. A MEMORY OF VIOLETS was a WHSmith ‘Fresh Talent’ pick. As features writer for writing.ie she has interviewed Philippa Gregory, Sebastian Faulks, Kate Mosse, Jojo Moyes and Cheryl Strayed, among others. Hazel has called Ireland home for the past fourteen years. She lives in County Kildare with her husband and two children.

Giveaway

 To celebrate the cover reveal of The Girl From The Savoy, I  have an Elizabeth Arden gift set to giveaway.  A small clutch, containing four lipglosses, this is sure to appeal to lovers of all things glam!  Just enter via rafflecopter link below.  Giveaway is open INT. Good Luck!

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3000 twitter followers #Giveaway - "The Lie" by C.L. Taylor

I have reached another milestone in my book blogging 'career' and, as a thank you, I have a couple of giveaways planned this weekend.  First up is a paperback copy of The Lie by C. L. Taylor, which is my thriller of the year.  You can read my review of this amazing novel here.

To enter, just click on the rafflecopter link below.  Open INT and closes 31 May 2015.  Best of luck!

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Check back for more giveaways this weekend...

#IrishFictionFortnight - Day 1 - Giveaway of Clodagh Murphy's 'Some Girls Do'

#IRISHFICTIONFORTNIGHT

Day 1 - Giveaway 2

I am delighted to have another giveaway today, thanks to the author, Clodagh Murphy.

Here's the blurb ....

Claire Kennedy, aka internet sensation NiceGirl, is the anonymous author of a steamy sex blog. She's an expert at writing about sex, but little do her fans know that bookish Claire isn't quite as experienced in the bedroom as her online persona. But everyone makes stuff up on the internet, right?

Except that NiceGirl attracts the attention of London publisher Mark Bell. Handsome, charming and successful, Mark is offering Claire the life she's always dreamed of - a steady relationship, the literary world of London and a hot book deal.

But when Claire enlists the help of brooding artist Luca to brush up on her sex skills before she's discovered for a fraud, things begin to get complicated...

Great sex, friendship AND love - can't a girl have it all?

Some Girls Do is published by Hachette Ireland and is available in paperback and ebook format.

Enter via Rafflecopter below for a chance to win this flirty and fun Irish fiction...

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#IrishFictionFortnight 16th - 30th Jan 2015

In celebration of Irish Fiction, I have decided to host an online event to help bring some amazing Irish authors to the forefront of reader's minds.  

There will be a fortnight of Tweets, FB posts, recommended reads, author's favourite novels and some challenges.  Also watch out for some great bookish giveaways over the two weeks.  I will look back to previous decades, as well as current reads, and hope to bring some names to your attention that you may have  overlooked previously. 

Any authors, or readers, wishing to write a few words about your favourite Irish novels, or maybe a memory you have associated with a certain Irish book, please email me at BleachHouseLibrary@gmail.com.  I am hoping to get some great books as part of the event, so all donations grateful received! 

I am really looking forward to this #IrishFictionFortnight and spreading my love of Irish writing...

UPDATE: Some fantastic authors and publishers have expressed interest in participating in the #IrishFictionFortnight, which means some great giveaways and banter.  Getting excited!  

"If You Were Me" by Sheila O'Flanagan. Guest review & Giveaway!

Thanks to Bookbridgr.com for sending the review and giveaway copies... Enter via Rafflecopter link below. This is a hardback 1st edition of this title!! Open INT.

Review by Meabh Nic Raghnaill.

You're engaged to a good-looking, successful man who adores you. You're on a countdown to the wedding day. Your family and friends are delighted, and excited.

You've long ago stopped thinking about your first love. The boy you never kissed. Even though he stole you heart and disappeared. You've grown up since then. You've put the past behind you. Love is more than a racing pulse and reckless passion.

But what happens if, even for a moment, that's what you feel?

Carlotta O'Keefe is about to - and soon she'll be facing the biggest decision of her life.

This is the first novel by Sheila O'Flanagan that I have read and I found it a light-hearted, enjoyable read. It is a real "what if" book which I'm sure the majority of women can identify with. What if I'd kissed that boy all those years ago? What if we hadn't lost touch? No matter how successful and happy a person is, everybody has a "what if?" I really connected with this book as it made me think of my own what ifs and remember things I had thought long forgotten.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the different locations throughout the book especially the Spanish locations. At points I could almost imagine myself in Seville sipping sangria and eating tapas. The Spanish influence is felt throughout the book with each chapter title being a song title in Spanish. I didn't go so far as searching for these songs but I think it's a great idea to supply a soundtrack and if I ever reread this book I will be playing them to see how (and if) they compliment the story.

I found the characters realistic in that they were all flawed to some extent. Carlotta in particular I wanted to kick at multiple points as I found her incredibly irritating with her indecisiveness. I found it a bit incongruous that a very successful woman would dither so much. At the same time, this did make her more lifelike which is a good thing so even though I didn't like the main character, the characters are well represented. Also, who doesn't like a character like Luke - handsome, kind, generous with a hint of bad boy mystery!

If You Were Me is a well-written and enjoyable novel. It is quite predictable but there are enough little complications and twists to keep it interesting and the characters are well portrayed... I think my favourite is Chris's mother with her snide comments. I'd recommend this to anybody who wants a light read on a rainy Sunday curled up by the fireplace.

My rating:3.5/5

If You Were Me is published by Headline Review and is available in Hardback and ebook format.

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Hide and Seek by Amy Bird. Part 1. Review and e-book giveaway

I am delighted to be part of the blog tour for Amy Bird's Hide And Seek.  Split into three parts, with the first installment free, it is the story of secrets, discovery and risk. I have read Part One and here is a little about it:   

I knew nothing about this title and went in completely open-minded.  Part One concentrates on introducing the two main characters, Will and Ellie, as they prepare for the arrival of their first born child.  The twenty week scan is complete and all is well.  Ellie is up to no good though.  She thinks she has uncovered a secret in Will's family and is determined to uncover it, at any cost.  

I had mixed feelings about this.  On the one hand, I liked Will and the Ellie that he describes.  A normal couple, excited about the pregnancy and getting the nursery ready.  Then things take a turn as we read from Ellie's perspective.  She is sneaky and underhanded and seems hell bent on causing trouble for Will and his family.  It is a case of clever marketing, as I can't wait to read what happens next, and while I have access to parts two and three of this title, readers will have a little wait for theirs.  Very affordable, and ideal for a read in one sitting,  this should be bought by everyone with an e-reader.

As an added bonus, here is the Book Trailer....

Hide and Seek Part 1 is published by Carina UK and available now. 

Part 2 will be available on 18th Sep and Part 3 will be available on 25th Sep.

The Giveaway of an e-copy of Hide and Seek is open internationally.  Please click on the Rafflecopter link to enter for your chance to win a copy of this great novel...

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Bird was born in Hampstead, North London, and returned there to live with her husband after moving all around the UK as a child. Her work includes short stories, plays and novels. Her debut 'Yours is Mine', part of a three-book deal with Harlequin digital imprint, Carina UK, reached No. 1 on the Amazon.com Women's Crime chart, and her second book 'Three Steps Behind You' received glowing praise. Part 1 of her new book, 'Hide and Seek', is released for free on 11 September. Amy's favourite issue to write about is identity.

Evie Blake Erotic Fiction Giveaway

The Desires Unlocked Trilogy is an erotic fiction series by Evie Blake, inspired by the graphic novels, Valentina by Guido Crepax.   She is aware I never review this genre but we thought that some of my followers may be interesting in discovering this collection.
The author has kindly agreed to donate a paperback copy of  Surrender Yourself, the last in the series, and to enter, just click on the Rafflecopter link below.  The three books are available as ebooks and here is the blurb for each one ...

For fans of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and BARED TO YOU comes LIBERATE YOURSELF, the first in an erotic, emotionally charged and addictive romance trilogy.

Valentina lives with her lover, Theo Steen, in Milan. They have an explosive sexual connection... but are they in love? As Valentina questions her true feelings for Theo, she finds herself drawn into Milan's shadowy, sensuous underworld - one which allows her to explore her deepest desires.

In Venice in 1929, Belle is trapped in an unhappy marriage and plays out her most erotic fantasies by living a secret life as a courtesan. Yet she is only truly free when she falls wildly, passionately in love. 

Valentina and Belle are two women living in different times, each poised on the brink of a passionate, all-consuming love affair.

**********

In LIBERATE YOURSELF, Valentina Rosselli realised that Theo Steen is the only
man she's ever loved. Now, in LOSE YOURSELF, she travels to London to win Theo back - and to continue their relationship from where they left off. But has she left it too late, and lost him forever?


In London in 1948, virginal Maria falls in love for the first time, and is drawn into a passionate, intensely erotic relationship with the charismatic Felix Leduc. Maria is soon overwhelmed with desire - and finds that love induces her to behave in ways she never thought possible.


As Valentina uncovers Maria's story and its ties to her own, she is tipped headlong back into her romance with Theo - passionate, intense and powerful.

**********

Valentina Rosselli is heartbroken - she has lost Theo, her true love, seemingly forever. Yet, with the help of good friend Leonardo, Valentina gradually rediscovers her liberated sexual self, unlocking her deepest erotic desires and reaching a level of passion she'd never thought possible. And then a shock from the past sends her reeling...

In Berlin in 1984, Tina Rosselli risks everything for a steamy, highly charged romance with a charismatic young cellist. Their brief but explosive affair will affect Tina for the rest of her life.


As the stories of the two women converge in the trilogy's thrilling and intensely passionate conclusion, both must surrender themselves: to desire, and to love.

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The Desires Unlocked Trilogy is published by Headline and is available now

NetGalley Month with great Giveaways!

As a blogger, I have access to some amazing titles from publishers all over the world.  In exchange for an honest review, I can request a title, even before it is published, and pass on my thoughts to the relevant publishers and authors.  This is a huge honour and can even be a scary experience for a blogger, as sometimes we have become friends with the author and need to give constructive criticism without hurting feelings.  Since I have started to dabble in writing a bit, I can totally understand how a piece of work is a very personal thing and the idea of the book or story being the author's "baby" is very true.  However, I have been asked for honest reviews and feel it is my duty to give the readers the truth.  If I do not like a book, I  will say why and if I love it, I will point out the reasons why it appealed to me so much.

 I am a huge fan of Netgalley.com as it gives bloggers the opportunity to test drive the books before they hit the main market and sometimes our quotes are even used either on the cover of the title, or inside, along with some of the broadsheets reviews.  This is a pretty awesome feeling and I always get giddy when I see my name in print!

Thanks so much to Taylor @ChicksThat Read for getting #NetGalleyMonth up and running as it has made me get through some of my requested titles, and hopefully will bring my approved to read ratio up to a more bearable level.

Here are some of the titles I hope to review this month................

The Rosie Effect - Graeme Simpsion

Trust In Me - Sophie Hannah

Each and Everyone - Rachael English

All fall Down - Jennifer Weiner

A Matter of Mercy - Lynn Hugo

I will continue to review hard copies and will dip into my Netgalley haul all throughout the month.  So keep checking in, as there will be giveaway link at the end of each post, starting today!  Just scroll down to enter.

There are some amazing reviewers joining in, so there will be no shortage of recommended reads this September.....

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Welcome to ThePageGirls.Com. Giveaway

I am all for new ventures and when I heard about this one, I volunteered to spread the word. Who doesn't want to read an online magazine about books, cocktails and friendship? Enter the fab giveaway below and help welcome the girls to the world of books!!  Keep saving those cocktail recipes, I shall expect an invitation to come and try some out :)

About The Page Girls

The Page Girls (www.thepagegirls.com) is a new online mag with an emphasis on books, cocktails, and female friendships. Each week, they publish a themed issue containing short stories, book reviews, personal and funny essays, videos, cocktail recipes, and more. Some sample issues include The Craziest Thing I Did For Love and LYLAS (Love You Like a Sister).

From July 21-25, The Page Girls is celebrating its first official “birthday week,” which means a giveaway every day plus other goodies. 

Sign up for The Page Girls’ weekly newsletter to get notified about new issues, and be sure to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

HERE IS THE GIVEAWAY

An ebook copy of An Imaginary House By The Sea by Cecily Gates (Contemporary Romance)

“Love is a messy thing. That hopelessly devoted, deep-in-your-bones kind of love we used to dream about when we were kids—it turns out that it’s hard. It aches. It takes time. Like a house that weathers the ages, it must be built, brick by brick.”
Snarky and ambitious Dawn Campbell almost had it all: a job producing lavish celebrity events, a hip downtown apartment, and a studmuffin of a boyfriend. But after losing all three in one fell swoop, Dawn finds herself resorting to the unimaginable: returning home to Bridgeport, an oceanside town where the air smells sweet but not much happens.
When a chance encounter brings her into the sturdy arms of John Brown, her childhood best friend, old feelings come rushing back. As the sparks fly, life finally starts to look up for Dawn...until she meets his wife. 
Marguerite Brown has everything that Dawn doesn’t: a killer fashion sense, a breathtaking beauty, and a French accent—oh, and the kind of temperament that makes great white sharks seem docile in comparison. Determined to release John from an unhappy marriage, Dawn turns on the charm and makes a plan to finally win back her one-that-got-away.
But after Dawn stumbles upon a secret that, up until now, Marguerite has meticulously kept hidden, the two women are thrust into an unexpected friendship. An Imaginary House by the Sea follows Dawn’s journey towards self-rediscovery, finding purpose, and building a more complex, steadfast kind of love than she could have ever imagined.

"Cecily's writing reads like a snarky Nicholas Sparks. An Imaginary House by the Sea is an emotional rollercoaster grounded by her uniquely wry voice." - India Lee, author of HDU and the Hidden Gem series

To enter this great giveaway, just leave a blog post below, telling me where would you place your imaginary house by the sea?  

This is an international giveaway so wishing you all the best, wherever you live !!

3 Celebration Giveaways. Open INT. My way of saying thanks to my 1500 followers!

I started this blog less than a year ago and have met the most wonderful people who, like me, adore books.  Having reached 1500 followers on Twitter, I thought the best way to say thank you would be having a giveaway.  Three separate giveaways, in fact.   Each bundle consists of a paperback copy of some amazing Irish authors work and a little notebook.  The giveaways are open INT and you can enter all three if you like.  I buy my own books rather than ask authors or publishers, so three is all I could manage this time.  Just click on Rafflecopter links below and best of luck to you all!!!

The first giveaway up for grabs contains Claire Allen's It's got to be perfect along with a cute cupcake notebook. Here's the blurb : 

All Annie Delaney really wants is her happy ever after. A big dress. A big day. A big commitment. She even has a scrap book filled to bursting with ideas for her dream day, her dream home and – of course – her dream man.

Only problem is, the current man on her arm isn’t so much of a dream as a nightmare and as for the man currently in her bed… that’s a whole other disaster in the making.
With her relationship, and her life, heading into a tailspin Annie realises she has to re-examine just what can make her happy, while trying (and failing) not to make things worse.
But it’s never going to be easy – especially when she sees her friend Fionn heading straight towards her own big day with her Mr Right. But then Annie misjudges the difficulties Fionn faces with Mr Right’s very own Little Miss, not to mention the ex waiting in the wings.
Turning to her sister, Darcy, for support Annie has her eyes opened to just what can make you happy – or indeed make you sad. And she ponders that age old question – is there ever such a thing as the perfect relationship?

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Next up is Anna McPartlin's  The one I love and a tulips notebook. Here's the blurb:

Once Jane and Alexandra were inseparable - sharing adventures, secrets and big dreams for the future. But when Jane got pregnant at seventeen, they drifted apart.

Seventeen years later, Jane discovers Alexandra has disappeared and she sets about helping Alexandra's broken-hearted husband, Tom, to find his wife.

But in searching for Alexandra Jane is about to confront some big questions about herself. Like, what happened to the high-spirited seventeen-year-old she once was? What will happen if she stops trying to control the world? And does love really mean letting people go?

Two fractured people come together accidentally and in one another they find strength, friendship - and even the beginnings of hope ...

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The last giveaway is for a copy of Ciara Geraghty's Lifesaving for beginners and a rose cupcake notebook. Here's the blurb:

Kat Kavanagh is not in love. She has lots of friends, an ordinary job, and she never ever thinks about her past. This is Kat's story. None of it is true. Milo McIntyre loves his mam, the peanut-butter-and-banana muffins at the Funky Banana cafe, and the lifesaving class he does after school. He never thinks about his future, until the day it changes forever. This is Milo's story. All of it is true. And then there is the other story. The one with a twist of fate which somehow brings together a boy from Brighton and a woman in Dublin, and uncovers the truth once and for all. This is the story that's just about to begin . . .


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Again, thanks to everyone who has clicked onto BleachHouseLibrary over the past year and for making me feel so welcome in the book blogging community. Big kisses to you all, from Ireland.  Feel free to leave a comment or tweet me anytime @margaretbmadden.

June Random Recommendation Giveaway - "Silver Bay" by JoJo Moynes

OPEN INTERNATIONALLY

It's Random recommendation time again and this month I have chosen a book by an author that I'm sure you have all read by now.  However, this little gem is often overlooked.  I have no idea why, as I really enjoyed it!

Originally released in 2007, it has had different covers and this is the current one.  Here is the blurb.....

Liza McCullen will never escape her past. But the unspoilt beaches and tight-knit community of Silver Bay offer the freedom and safety she craves - if not for herself, then for her young daughter, Hannah.

Until Mike Dormer arrives as a guest in her aunt's hotel, and the peace of Silver Bay is shattered. The mild-mannered Englishman with his too-smart clothes and disturbing eyes could destroy everything Liza has worked so hard to protect: not only the family business and the bay that harbours her beloved whales, but also her conviction that she will never love - never deserve to love - again.

If you would like a chance to win this lovely paperback edition, just enter via rafflecopter link below.  I have opened it internationally as will post via Bookdepository.  Good luck to you all !!!!


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Happy Publication Day to Carmel Harrington! Review and INT Giveaway of "The Life You Left".

THE LIFE YOU LEFT 

Carmel Harrington 

3rd July 2014 | PB £8.99 | EB £1.99 

“Sarah, I’m not coming home tonight.
If you love me, you will give me the space I need…
Tell the children I love them.
- Paul”

A story of redemption and the strength of love from the author of BEYOND GRACE’S RAINBOW,
perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Cecelia Ahern.

It started out like any other day for Sarah Lawler; getting the kids ready for school, making the packed lunches
and juggling baby Ella’s feeds. There was no way of knowing that her husband, Paul, would leave for work
that morning and simply not come home.

Now the questions are piling up quicker than the unpaid bills and, unable to answer her children’s questions
about where their Daddy is, Sarah is getting desperate. But it turns out she isn’t quite as alone as she thought
she was. When her beloved childhood friend, Edward, comes back into her life, Sarah thinks she’s finally been
thrown a life line.

There’s just one problem with Edward: no one else can see him.

Edward is an angel. And he has a message for Sarah that will change her life and the lives of others forever.
For it is only in the most difficult of times that Sarah can discover how strong she truly is.

PRAISE FOR BEYOND GRACE’S RAINBOW:

‘It will pull you in, make you laugh and break your heart’ – USA Today Bestselling Author Abby Green

‘A bittersweet, quietly brilliant novel that will make you cry, laugh and cry all over again’ – Female First

‘Funny, poignant and bursting with heartfelt humour’ – I Heart… Chick Lit

‘You will laugh, you will cry, you might even get angry. One thing is for sure – this, thanks to
the warmth of writing and the level of feeling Harrington obviously has for her characters,
is a story you will never forget’ – After The Final Chapters

‘I can hand on my heart honestly say that this book has blown me away. Treat yourself to it. It's not just for us chick-lit
ladies. It's for everyone who enjoys a good read and a brilliant book. It's sensational’ – Pajama Book Girl

ABOUT CARMEL HARRINGTON: 

Carmel Harrington is the author of BEYOND GRACE’S RAINBOW, which was awarded Kindle Book of the Year 

2013 by the Peoples Book Awards, Best Romantic Read eBook 2013 at the UK’s Festival of Romance, and was 

an iTunes number one bestseller. She has appeared across national television and radio in her native Ireland, 

talking about the success of her first book. 

Carmel is published by HarperImpulse, an award-winning digital romance imprint of HarperFiction. She lives 

in Ireland with her husband Roger and her two young children, Nate and Amelia. With publication of BEYOND 

GRACE’S RAINBOW, Carmel fulfilled a lifelong ambition to become a published author. She is also a 

playwright. She is available to interview and to write features. 

carmelharrington.com

********************************************************

My Review

Sarah Lawlor receives an e-mail that may change her life.  Her husband has decided he needs space and has left no details as to his whereabouts or his intentions.  Left to manage on her own with three young children, she contacts her twin brother, James, with the news that not only is her husband gone AWOL, but that a visitor from her past has turned up unexpectedly.  When James hears the name Edward, he rushes to his sister's aide as the memories of Edward's previous visits are not all good.

Edward is a guardian angel and only Sarah can see him.  He caused some trauma for Sarah during her childhood and she is very shaken up by his return.  It seems he is there with some messages for her and her dreams begin to fill with images connected to the murder of a local primary school teacher.  What is she meant to do with all this information? How can she help? Where is her husband?  The story guides us through the surreal world that Sarah is living and makes us question if we all have someone watching over us.......

Having read Carmel Harrington's debut novel, "Beyond Grace's Rainbow", I was lucky enough to host an author evening with her, here at Bleach House.  We got on like a house on fire and have remained friends since.  I have been dying to get my hands on a copy of this new novel and the day arrived last week.  I was a bit nervous to start with as often a second novel can disappoint and I really didn't want this to be the case.  I need not have worried.  Carmel has once again used her talent as a women's fiction writer, with a heart, and created another wonderful set of characters in this unusual tale.  Sarah has had a lot of s**t thrown at her, over a short period of time, and she manages to hold things together while still being there for her children.  Her husband, Paul, is a man I cannot identify with.  I'm sure there are many couples out there who are struggling but for a man to just head off, with no warning, leaving his three kids with not even a goodbye, is just the lowest of the low.  However, Sarah's twin brother, James is her rock.  He is there for her from the start and understands her more than anyone, having witnessed the fallout from Edward's visits years earlier.  He is funny, charming and great with the kids.  Everyone should have a James!  Edward does not play as big a role as I had anticipated and it is more Sarah's dreams that lead the story.  A host of cute characters included along the way are endearing and compliment Sarah's overall good nature.  Carmel's love and understanding of young children is evident as she creates very sweet sections devoted to Sarah's children, just as she did in her previous novel.  

The Life You Left is a warm, uplifting novel about change, trust and instinct.  A cross between Celia Ahern and an episode of Medium, it will have you looking over your shoulder to see if there's someone watching your back..........

A perfect summer read, grab the sun hat, a glass of wine, get out into the garden and enjoy!

As today is publication day for the ebook edition of "The Life You Left", I have a copy of this to give away to one lucky reader! Just enter via rafflecopter below for your chance to win......

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