Blog Tour Stop and GIVEAWAY! Q & A with T.A. Williams, author of What Happens in Cornwall

This afternoon I had the pleasure to interview the charming, T.A. Williams!  He is the author of several books you may know, include his newest:

Other books that T.A. has completed in the past:

And:

If you are anything like me, you are IN LOVE with these covers!  They are absolutely gorgeous!  

Trevor, let me begin our chat by thanking you for joining me at One Book At A Time today!  I am thrilled to finally be able to interview, and at such a great time, during your book tour for What Happens in Cornwall!  (Such an amazing book BTW!)

Little background information on THE T.A. Williams himself:

Firstly, my name isn't T A. It's Trevor. I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, "Dirty Minds" one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. If my books can put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador. 

I've been writing since I was 14 and that is half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.

Let me beginning by asking, Trevor, I am in love with What Happens in Cornwall, where did you get the inspiration for this piece?
I’m so glad you like the book. The inspiration for it is difficult to pin down. I live in Devon (the county right alongside Cornwall) and I wanted to write something set in this area. My previous books, When Alice Met Danny and What Happens in Tuscany are both set (at least partly) down here in Devon so I thought I might push this next one a little bit further west. As for the story, I have always been interested in medieval history so making my heroine an archaeologist seemed like a good idea. I lived in Italy for a number of years and know the people quite well so making my paparazzi Italians was an easy choice. From then on, as with all my books, it just sort of happened. I normally start out with a rough idea of what is going to happen but then, if I’m lucky, the book just sort of takes on a life of its own and starts to lead me along. I know it sounds crazy, but that’s the way I work.
 
You know I have to ask this question for my readers, is there another book to look forward to in the works?  Anything you can tell me?
Yes, indeed. My next book will be coming out in the autumn and its title is… What Happens at Christmas. I can’t tell you much apart from the fact that I really love it. I hope my readers do too. It’s set in a tiny Dartmoor village and the heroine is on a voyage of discovery. As for the one after, I have a feeling that’s going to be set in the Italian Alps. We’ll see…

When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do for fun to rest and relax?
I’m a bit of an exercise freak. I do a lot of cycling and I go for a long distance bike ride every September. I play tennis a couple of times a week and walk a lot. For fun, I write. For me it’s not so much a job as a drug. I love it.

You write amazing chick lit/romantic comedy pieces, what do you enjoy reading?
To be honest, I mostly read non-fiction. As I said before, I’ve got a thing about medieval history, so anything to do with that period is great. Also, I’m deeply into the history of the First World War at the moment and have just finished reading a biography of Wilfred Owen, arguably one of the greatest British war poets. I only rarely read chicklit or romcoms, preferring to avoid maybe being influenced by what somebody else writes. 

To finish out our fun chat, do you have any trips or vacations planned coming up?  Will they be inspiration for your next book by any chance?
Like I said before, there’s an annual bike ride. This year we’re going to the wilds of rural Spain in early September for a 400 mile round trip starting and finishing at beautiful old Salamanca. My wife is Italian and we will probably go over to see her family some time in the autumn. As my next book to be written will probably be set in the Italian Alps (near where they live), I’ll take my notepad and my camera and do a bit of research. I actually lived there for 4 years a long time ago (that’s how we met), so it will be more a question of refreshing my memory, rather than learning totally new stuff.

Thanks again for your support!

Trevor

Trevor,  THANK YOU so much for visiting One Book At A Time this afternoon!  I had an fun time catching up with you and helping your readers learn more about the man behind these amazing books!  I look forward to hearing more details about your next book when we chat more!  You will have to stop by and fill my readers in as well!!

 You can find Trevor at the following links:

Twitter 

Facebook 

Amazon 

Blog 

Goodreads 


Have an AMAZING weekend friends!

Bethany 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Stop and GIVEAWAY!!! Review of What Happens in Cornwall by TA Williams

SUMMARY

For a very British summer holiday…
When archaeologist Sam realizes her relationship is as dead as the skeletons she’s exhuming, she knows it’s time to make a change. But with bills to pay her options are limited…until a discovery on Rock Island in Cornwall gives her a reason to escape…
Head to the Cornish coast!
In Cornwall, questions are thrown up at every turn: who is the glamorous owner of Rock Island that the paparazzi are so interested in? How has the irresistible, but impossibly arrogant, history professor James Courtney managed to get so far under Sam’s skin? And will it ever stop raining so Sam can lose the cagoule and sip a cool drink in the sun? One thing’s for sure: there’s never been a holiday quite like this one!
Enjoy a summer of surprises and romance with What Happens in Cornwall…, the perfect retreat for fans of Fern Britton!

MY REVIEW
I was up early this morning finishing yet another amazing book by Trevor!  This story has so many twists and turns, you never know what's going to happen next!  I went into this book thinking one things and was COMPLETELY WRONG till the very end!

The story begins with Sam and Neil.  You can tell right after the bat that this relationship is heading for splittsville and quick!  The signs are there even if Sam fails to realize it or not.

Every day its a new fight and it all ends the same - badly.

Becks and Sam are best friends and PHD Archaeologists going to university together.

Cornwall comes into the picture in the very beginning - Becks is going on a trip and asks Sam along.  She figures why not go?  Her and Neil are on the outs anyway, time away will do wonders for her, she hopes!
This is when the ADVENTURE begins!  It all starts with a simple little boat trip and her life with never be the same!  She gets lost at Sea and then she happens upon Rock Island, thank god and her LIFE is SAVED!
She meets the owner - yet she has no idea who just helped her to the disguise she is wearing...Interesting and mysterious...

Along the way they are twists and turns with locals, stalker professors that won't seem to take no for an answer, best friends who don't know when Mr. Perfect is standing in front of their face and so much more!

Will Sam meet the man of her dreams or will her life be one misadventure after another?  Will Becks keep finding Mr. Wrong and lose Mr. Right?  Will Virginia have the dig she's always imagined?  Will Ann enjoy her life of piece and tranquility or will that be ruined by the paparazzi?

This is the perfect summer beach read to take you away from your crazy life for a little while!  Sick back, relax and drink a glass of wine and enjoy the ride!

WINE SELECTION
Sit back and sip a delicious glass (or bottle) of Strawberry Cornish Wine - perfect for that hot summer day and steamy summer night by the water!

MY RATING 
I give this delicious summer read 5 glasses (or maybe an entire bottle!) - they were too yummy to put down!  You will not want to put this book (or wine) away till the very end!

GIVEAWAY TIME

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Stop and GIVEAWAY!!! A Very Big House In The Country by Claire Sandy

SUMMARY

"Holidays are about surviving the gaps between one meal and another." For one long hot summer in Devon, three families are sharing one very big house in the country. The Herreras: made up of two tired parents, three grumbling children and one promiscuous dog; the Littles: he's loaded (despite two divorces and five kids), she's gorgeous, but maybe the equation for a truly happy marriage is a bit more complicated than that; and the Browns, who seem oddly jumpy around people, but especially each other. By the pool, new friendships blossom; at the aga door, resentments begin to simmer. Secret crushes are formed and secret cigarettes cadged by the teens, as the adults loosen their inhibitions with litres of white wine and start to get perhaps a little too honest ...Mother hen to all, Evie Herreras has a life-changing announcement to make, one that could rock the foundations of her family. But will someone else beat her to it?

 MY REVIEW 
I found this book fun in so many ways!  The characterizations of each family's members are amazing.  To me this home seems to be an escape from reality for everyone staying there.

The Herreras sound like me (although I am a single parent) - I can relate to being tired - 3 crazy children and a pet can seriously do that to anyone!

The Little's - what can I say about them.  I can't believe that he still has money to live off after being divorced 2 times and having 5 children!  What a handful!  I wonder if the third times a charm?  I personally know that divorce is NOT cheap and children keep you paying every day - how does he manage? 

The Brown's - I question what is going on there.  Very interesting situation (and people) to say the least.

During their time at this home, these family form bonds that may never be broken for better or worse.  The pool is the place to congregate and get to know people and I can't agree more - I have formed many a friendship at my apartment complex pool!  But that can also bring drama with it as well! 

The wine begins to flow and you never know what's going to happen - and these parents do not know what their teenagers are up to when they just a little too buzzed themselves!

You will be surprised and engaged at every page turn!

I would love to know what you think when you reach the end of this crazy page turner!

Enjoy!

WINE SELECTION
For this wild and crazy bunch - I would have to pick this Wild Rose - bring on the crazy times!

MY RATING
I would give these families a  4 - a very fun read and it kept me turning the pages!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Going Off Script by Giuliana Rancic

SUMMARY
Giuliana Rancic is best known for interviewing A-listers on the red carpet and E! News, skewering their shocking style choices on Fashion Police, and giving viewers a front row seat to her marriage and family life on her reality show, Giuliana & Bill. What fans may not know is that she learned English from Eddie Murphy, got her American citizenship so she could be a beauty queen, and used to have a bad habit of stealing cars for fun.

Giuliana bares this and so much more in her hilarious, warm, and inspiring memoir, Going Off Script. From a young age she dreamed of being a TV anchorwoman but, because of her inclination toward mischief and away from schoolwork, her path to her dream job was far from straight. After a fateful (and mortifying) encounter with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, she learned that Hollywood news was where she belonged. Thankfully for readers, this epiphany led her to a bounty of LA misadventures (featuring notables such as Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe) and an entertaining behind-the-scenes perspective on what our favorite celebrities are really like.

In spite of her glamorous Hollywood life, however, Giuliana could not escape some rockier times, including her battles with infertility and breast cancer. Here, for the first time, she reveals the whole truth behind her well-publicized struggles, and the highly controversial decisions she had to make. And, of course, at the heart of it all are the two loves of her life who keep her strong through everything, her husband Bill and her son, Duke.

Candid, funny, and poignant, Going Off Script is an autobiography that proves you don’t always have to follow the rules to get the life you’ve always dreamed of.

MY REVIEW
I couldn't have enjoyed a book better if I tried!  I have always thought Giuliana was so much fun when I saw her on TV doing interviews for E! and I was so jealous at the same time!
When I picked up this book to read a few days ago, I could not put it down!  I literally was reading every free second I had!
From the very beginning she grads your attention and brings you into her world as a child and how she grew up in Naples, Italy.  She had an insanely fun and mischievous childhood - from outlandish dreams and CRAZY pranks that she pulled!
She never really took school seriously and just wanted to get through so that she could move on to bigger and better dreams, to be a TV anchor like her idol Barbara Harrison and to be Miss USA. Not high hopes all!
When she was 6 years old her family decided to follow the American Dream and move their family to the United States.  They moved to the Washington DC area.
Through many twist and very funny turns, Giuliana finally graduated high school and made her way through college as well when she realized she really needed to buckle down.
At one point in college she realized Washington D.C. new was not where she was meant to be, she was destined for Hollywood and Entertainment reporting!
Through the next several years she would date some interesting characters, she would live from day to day not knowing where her next job would be and then she landed her dream job with E!
Fashion Police came into the picture sometime down the road as well as meeting the man of her dreams, Bill Rancic!
Life couldn't get anymore perfect, marriage and babies were next on the radar!  Then the unthinkable happens, through testing for IVF she finds out the most devastating news of her life!  CANCER...
She is very candid about her struggles along the way and it really makes you treasure every day that you are alive and well.
She still has to live with taking medication to this day, but she is able to raise her amazing son Duke (another part of her uplifting story you will enjoy) and live the life that she wasn't sure would be possible.  I see more amazing stories from her to come and can't wait to read the next one!
WINE SELECTION
I couldn't think of a more perfect wine selection - then XO - sweet and fun and so many selections to enjoy and the perfect amount for any sitting!  Delish!

MY RATING I with out a douht rate this book - 5 glasses of wine!  I couldn't put it down and enjoyed every moment from beginning to end!  I recommend this book to all!!!

 

Jay Walking by Author Tracy Krimmer

SUMMARY  
Chelsea Wyatt, a single mom trying to build a life for her and her son, is sick of the body she sees in the mirror. A daily diet of Cookie Crisp cereal is not doing wonders for her mood or her figure, and it’s time for a change. Setting out to get fit, she commits herself to a daily walking plan, forcing herself to give up her all-sugar and carb diet, a difficult task at her donut obsessed job.
But her plan goes sideways when a stumble on the ice puts her in the arms of Jay, an attractive young man out on a run. They grab coffee together, and Chelsea finds herself thinking about him long after their short meeting. The thought of dating again hadn’t crossed her mind in years, and she doesn’t even know if Jay is available, or if he would be interested in her despite her unfit body.
Just when she has a handle on her new routine, her past catches up with her, throwing her blossoming relationship with Jay and the rest of her life into chaos. Can Chelsea hold onto the people she loves most, or will a wrong turn set her up for failure?
This is book 2 of the Pastime Pursuits series, and can be read as a stand-alone novel.

MY REVIEW  
After reading Tracy's first book in this series, Caching In, I couldn't wait to see what happened to Miss Chelsea!  The last time I knew she was pregnant with Daniel's and I felt for the poor girl!

Being a single mom myself, it is not an east life to lead!  Lots of odds are stacked against you, but let me tell you how gratifying it is when you BEAT those and you succeed!  It's not an overnight success but each little step really is a HUGE success!

Chelsea is doing everything she can to make sure that her son James has the best life possible!  After all she is the one parent that he has to rely on after his father Daniel walked out of their lives before they ever met!

One day Chelsea decides, what better way to insure a great life for her son, then to start taking care of herself and getting in shape!  She wants to start slow, walking it is!

Then one day she "runs" into a pretty gorgeous guy while out walking, Jay, and sparks fly!

So many questions are running through her head, is she ready to date? Will she tell him about James?  

Then in the midst of her new found happiness - Daniel comes back into her life.  RUN CHELSEA RUN! 

This story has so many twists and turns as well as so many emotional highs and lows, it keeps you coming back for more!  

MY WINE SELECTION 
What perfect way to celebrate a new love, then a picnic in the park and what better to have with a picnic then I nice, refreshing light wine - a crisp Riesling!

MY RATING 
For this AMAZING and STRONG single mom who would do anything for her son! - 5 glasses of wine ( I never wanted the story to end or the wine for that matter!)

Amazon
 

Blog Tour for Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm - Q & A with the lovely Miss Rebecca Raisin

On this slightly overcast Friday afternoon, I had the chance to interview a great friend, Rebecca Raisin!  You all know Rebecca from her amazing stories, here are a few:

And...

As well as...

Just to show a few of the many!

Rebecca, Thank You so much for taking some time out of your crazy schedule to meet with me today!  I am so overjoyed to be able to interview you for my new blog, One Book At A Time!  Welcome!  Let me begin by saying congrats on your newest publication, Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm!

Rebecca, I would like to begin this afternoon by asking, where did your inspiration for Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm come from?  Any specific stars you could see cast as the characters for the book in a movie adaptation?  

I was chatting to a guy who has read all the books set in Ashford, and he googled earthed the real town of Ashford! It’s spacious, and full of rolling meadows and farms, so I thought maybe a story set on the outskirts of town might work! My first thought was maple syrup, and when I researched how the trees were tapped, and how romantic it would be in that lovely snowy weather I was hooked!

For the main characters I instantly pictured a broody Channing Tatum for Clay, and for Lucy, I thought of Jennifer Lawrence! 

I'm sure there is a new book in the works, any details you would like to share with your readers?

I’m almost finished writing The Little Bookshop on the Seine, which is part of the upcoming Little Paris Collection! If you’ve read The Bookshop on the Corner, you’ll recognise Sarah, who is offered a bookshop exchange! It’s been so much fun writing about Paris! 

I would love to learn more about Rebecca now!  When you are not writing, what do you enjoy doing for fun alone?  With the kids?

Thank you! When I write, I write in my office, in silence! I have frequent breaks for social media, and Buzzfeed posts. I’m a huge reader, so if I’m not at the computer, I’m snuggled with a book. With my rambunctious boys, we usually draw, watch movies, or if its summer we head to the beach. It’s winter here at the moment, so we’ve been stuck inside, baking, reading, and making a huge amount of mess.

Are there any exciting trips that you have taken? Want to take in the future?  Is this where you get inspiration for so many of your books, from you travels?

We went to the UK, France, and Italy in one mammoth holiday in March! It was so much fun, and I am desperate to get back. I have plotted out the next six stories (which seems crazy!) and they were a reason I visited certain places. We’re trying to plan the next holiday, and as much as I’d love to go back to the UK, we may be going somewhere a little warmer.

I’m always inspired by a new place, even if it’s just a café down the road. There’s nothing better than soaking up the atmosphere and people watching, and okay…eavesdropping!

Lastly, when you look at the process of writing a book from beginning to end, what do you enjoy the most?  What do you enjoy the least? 

I love the shiny new idea, and the spark of enthusiasm and the way the beginning seems to write itself! Half-way through it becomes a slog, and I just keep going and push all the doubt away, promising myself I can edit slowly. Once the first rough draft is done, and I get structural edits back, that’s probably when I have the most fun. I really enjoy adding layers to it, and polishing it, with the extra comments from my editor, with her fresh perspective!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

Have a lovely day! xxx

Rebecca,  THANK YOU so much for visiting One Book At A Time this afternoon!  I had an fun time catching up with you and helping your readers learn more about the woman behind these amazing books!  I look forward to hearing more details about your next book when we chat more!  You will have to stop by and fill my readers in as well!!

 You can find Rebecca at the following links:

Twitter  

Facebook 

Amazon 

Blog  

Goodreads 

HAVE AN AMAZING WEEKEND FRIENDS!!!

Bethany 

 

Cinderella's Enchanted Night by Amber Daulton

SUMMARY
Annalise Gallagher wanted Elijah Burleigh. Plain and simple. She’d watched him from afar for months, her friends called her ‘his own personal stalker’, and then she made a wish on a magic pendant for a full-body makeover. Transformed into the gorgeous knockout she’d always wanted to be, she asked Elijah out on a date and wore a haute couture gown straight from Paris to his friend’s wedding.
With just twenty-four hours on the clock, her enchanted night faded into the morning hours and everything crashed down around her. Annalise harbored a shameful secret and Elijah demanded the truth with the veil of magic gone.
The truth, however, could destroy her fragile confidence and push him away forever.

MY REVIEW
I enjoyed this modern dale fairytale from beginning to end.  Annalise can really be compared to you or me, she is concerned with body image, has a scare she would rather get rid of then remember the details and wants to fall in love with her Prince Charming and live happily ever after.

She thinks that she has found that specific man at a gallery near by and tries to see him each and every day - attends his tours, watches him leave at night (only slightly stalker-ish - I wouldn't recommend this behavior ladies!) and day dreams about their life together.

Then one day Annalise and her friends have the chance to wish on a pendant and their lives unfold from there - Annalise is transformed into Cinderella for a night, will her dreams become a reality?  What happens at midnight? 

Will 24 hours and a little fairy dust change her life forever?  Will she live happily ever after?


WINE SELECTION 
What better to go with this enchanted fairytale, then a little bit for Once Upon a Vine!  Positively divine!

My Rating 
I give this sweet and sexy fairytale 4 glasses of wine - I enjoyed this tale from beginning to end as well as the wine!