To the Stars and Back - Camilla Isley (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

Date of Reading: 30/05/2019

Author: Camilla Isley

Publisher: Pink Bloom Press

Publication Date: April 25, 2019

My Rating: 4.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

When Hollywood’s sexiest bachelor meets the girl next door their relationship doesn’t follow the script…

On-screen, Christian Slade is America’s favourite heartthrob. Off-screen, letting romance into his life isn’t as easy. The women he dates all seem to want a piece of his glamorous life rather than his heart, and trust doesn’t come easy for him.

Then along comes Lana. A beautiful rocket scientist who’s also sweet, smart, sexy, and has absolutely no idea who he is. But what will happen when she finds out?

Will their worlds prove too far apart or could love really be like in the movies?

My Review:

       Camilla Isley has been in my reading radar for some time now. This is the fourth one in her 'First Come Love' series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. An easy, quirky read that will keep you glued to the end even if you are quite sure of the Cinderella trope ending.

      From a storage room meet-cute, there springs an unlikely relationship -- a rocket scientist and a film star -- that involves a lot of laughter and hurdles, of course. Christian's struggles to date a girl who is unaware of his fame (he didn't even have to lie) and Lana's baby steps into a celebrity's life was quite hilarious to read. I especially loved the one about the designer bag, a cliched one, but something that never fails to amuse.

      Nikki and Diego from the previous book also make a brief appearance here and on the whole, this was a total fun read. So what are you waiting for? Grab a copy for the weekend, this is your perfect company for a night in.

Meet the author:

Camilla is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.

She’s a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveller, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

Giveaway to Win a To The Stars and Back Tote Bag (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for the fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lessons in Love - Belinda Missen

Date of Reading: 14/06/2019

Author: Belinda Missen

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: June 11, 2019

Source: NetGalley

My Rating: 4/5

About the book:

Falling in love is never easy… 

Eleanor Manning is finally leaving behind her glittering but empty life in the city (and her soon-to-be-ex-husband) to return to the comfort of her childhood home in Apollo Bay.

She’s landed a lovely new job in her old primary school library and a flatshare with her bubbly best friend, Penny. So yes, she’s well and truly learnt her lesson when it comes to love…

But then she meets gorgeous teacher Marcus Blair and Eleanor’s self-imposed rules fly out of the window! Surely she can resist him long enough to keep this fling no strings attached?

Perfect for fans of Carole Mathews, Mhairi McFarlane and Carrie Hope Fletcher.

My Review:

      The first question that crept into my mind after picking up this book: why do a rebound love tale need 384 pages? The book answered itself after a few pages. When you have just lost your husband to your best friend for no fault of yours, it is hard to fall in love again and that also with someone who shares many qualities with your soon to be ex-husband. There is no guarantee about the way some people change, and that is a risk hard to take (though most of us do).

       This is my third Belinda Missen work, so I am kind of familiar with her style. There is the occasional tinge of humour, slow development of the story and lucid writing that takes you along with the pages. And this is no different. Being set in a school background, the story gave me a much-needed boost to concentrate on the work after a long lazy vacation. The enthusiasm and competitiveness of Marcus and Ellie are infectious. Much to my delight, the author has also included some references to our main characters from 'A Recipe for Disaster'. We don't really meet them (sigh!) but I am so glad to hear that Lucy and Oliver are doing extremely well.

        An emotional and inspiring read that takes you back to your school days and if you are a teacher like me, then this is a definite jump in.

Meet the author:

Author and sometimes foodie, Belinda is a ridiculous romantic who met her husband after being set up by a friend two states away. 

Residing in country Victoria, surrounded by books, cat-fur, and half-eaten cake, Belinda divides her days between writing rom-coms, baking, and indulging her love of comic books.

Oracle's War - David Hair and Cath Mayo

Date of Reading: 27/03/2019

Authors: David Hair and Cath Mayo

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: April 29, 2019

Source: NetGalley

My Rating: 4/5

About the book:

Gods and mortals collide in the thrilling second instalment in the historical Greek fantasy the Olympus Series.

When Prince Odysseus is sent on a quest to recover his family honour, he’s led to Delos where a mysterious new prophecy has captivated the gods. Caught in a tangled web of intrigue, he discovers that this prophecy is tied to his own destiny and the fate of his patron goddess, Athena.

With the future of his people hanging by a thread, Odysseus, the daemon Bria, the hero Diomedes and a small band of loyal Ithacans, must unveil the truth before it’s too late. But opposing them is Tiresias, the greatest seer of the age, who will do anything to burn his own vision onto the face of history.

Caught between the prophecy, the gods and his mortal enemies, Odysseus must start a war: one that may be impossible to win…

Oracle’s War, second in the epic Olympus Series, is perfect for fans of David Gemmell and Madeline Miller. 

My Review:

      I am brushing up my mythology lessons, thanks to this amazing series revolving around Odysseus. I had the pleasure of reading 'Athena's Champion' a few months back and the second instalment doesn't disappoint at all. And this has taken me to previously uncharted territory, the war of the Epigoni against the unpenetrable walls of Thebes. Though I haven't found any reference to Odysseus participating in the war in the original story, this fictional rethinking is nothing but brilliant.
       Finally, we have got a reference to Penelope even with the surprising twist. And the role of Tiresias . . . Oh! It was sad to picture the protagonist of 'Wasteland' as a villain, but isn't that clever? As for Odysseus, we got ample proof for his cunning brilliance in the first book itself, and here we find the teenage boy matured evolving into the ruler and strategist he is known for.
     But how authors are going to wrap this story with a single last book is something I would look forward to. We have a great war to win after all. So gear up folks and don't forget to read these first two books in the series. You will find your mythology taste buds adequately satisfied . . . that is until the coming of the last book 😉

Meet the authors:

David Hair is an award-winning New Zealand YA and Adult fantasy writer, and the author of sixteen novels.  He’s joined his considerable skill and expertise with Cath Mayo to create the Olympus Series, an adult historical fantasy drawing on ancient Greek Mythology, following the adventures of Odysseus as he navigates the dangerous world of the Greek Gods.
@DHairauthor

Cath Mayo is a New Zealand YA, Children and Adult fiction author. Her two published YA historical novels are both set in Ancient Greece and her first novel received a Storylines Notable Book Award for Young Adult Fiction in 2014. She’s joined her considerable skill and expertise with David Hair to create the Olympus Series, an adult historical fantasy drawing on ancient Greek Mythology, following the adventures of Odysseus as he navigates the dangerous world of the Greek Gods. @cathmayoauthor