Monday 13 May 2013

Carol E Wyer - Cover Reveal - How Not To Murder Your Grumpy

COVER REVEAL
 


I am over the moon to be taking part in the Fiction Addiction Book Tours Cover Revel for How Not To Murder Your Grumpy by Carol E Wyer today. Carol is a lovely lady and a brilliant author and her books are always guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Thanks so much for joining me today Carol. It's an absolute pleasure to have you as my guest. 

 

This is what Carol said about her Grumpy
 
Grumpy old men are fractious and irritating at times, but they are also hilarious. Mine comes out with some wonderful lines that crack me up.
 
Last week we were sitting outside a cafe when a group of rather fit looking male cyclists pulled up and sat at the table in front of us. Mr G continued to enjoy the warmth of the sun that was beating down on his face and kept one beady eye on me. I was gawping at the men, of course.
 
One of the men, dressed in appropriate lycra had some sponsorship writing on his cycling kit - Derby Mercury.
 
Mr G cast a look in my direction:
 
“More Freddie than Derby,” he commented wryly. “He should also have ‘I Want to Break Free’ written on the front of his tight leggings.”
 
What can you say? Mr G turned away smiling quietly at his own wit and let the sun play on his face. I sniggered like a silly schoolgirl. The men, oblivious to our comments ate flapjacks and talked about the thrill of racing.
 
What lines has your Grumpy come out with recently that has earned him a guffaw from you? He can’t be all misery.
 
To celebrate the cover reveal for How Not to Murder Your Grumpy and win him a Grumpy Badge along with a copy of the book for you, share your own Grumpy’s best lines in the comments at the foot of this page. 

Giveaway

Carol is giving away lots of nice little “Grumpy” goodies. To be in with a chance to win please click on the following link and follow the instructions. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the book

Is your Grumpy Old Man getting under your feet? Is he wrestling with retirement? Are you wondering if you should bundle him up and entrust him to basket-weaving classes? Then this book could be the answer to your prayers. This light hearted guide is packed full of lively ideas, anecdotes and quips. Not only does it set out to provide laughs, but offers over 700 ideas and ways to keep a Grumpy Old Man occupied.

From collecting airline sick bags to zorbing, you will be sure to find an absorbing pastime for your beloved curmudgeon. There are examples of those who have faced extraordinary challenges in older age, fascinating facts to interest a reluctant partner and innovative ideas drizzled, of course, with a large dollop of humour.

Written tongue-in-cheek, this book succeeds in proving that getting older doesn’t mean the end of life or having fun. It provides amusing answers to the question, “How on Earth will my husband fill in his time in his retirement?” It offers suggestions on what might, or most certainly might not, amuse him. Ideal for trivia buffs, those approaching retirement, (or just at a loose end) and frustrated women who have an irritable male on their hands, this book will lighten any mood and may even prevent the odd murder.

About the Author

After completing a degree in French and English, Carol E Wyer became a language teacher. She actually began her working life abroad, in Casablanca, Morocco, where she taught English as a Foreign Language in an American Language school. It was soon discovered that she could speak French rather well, and she became a translator and teacher to large organisations and companies such as ‘Regie de Tabac’, Morocco’s largest cigarette company, and the Mediterranean Shipping Company.

After a few years she was ‘head-hunted ‘to run the English as a Foreign Language department of a private school in the UK. (Imagine Hogwarts without the wizardry.)

Carol taught English up to, and including ‘A’ Level, along with English as a Foreign Language. She also qualified to teach pupils with Dyslexia and became Head of English for Special Needs.

In 1988, Carol set up her own language company called Language 2000 Ltd and worked in schools and for companies. She taught a variety of languages, including basic Japanese, to all ages and translated documents.

A recurrence of spinal difficulties that began when she was a teenager, forced her to give up teaching and choose a new direction. In order to deal with her health problems, Carol attended a fitness course (Premier), took the qualifications to become a fitness instructor and became a personal trainer. That led her to become a trainer for others, particularly for older people who, like herself, had undergone major surgery.

Thanks to older age, Carol now no longer trains people, but she is currently writing a series of novels, articles and books which takes a humorous look at getting older. It is her hope that they will educate through laughter and help others appreciate life.

Carol has written several short stories over the years, including humorous books for children which served to teach them French. She was not able to fulfil her desire to be a full-time author until two years ago when her son flew from the nest, leaving his bedroom which Carol turned into her office.

Since then, she has written two novels, Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines and Surfing in Stilettos, both of which have enjoyed media attention and success, becoming best sellers and winning awards.

Carol writes regularly for author websites and she has recently become a contributing author on a help guide entitled Tutorials and Tools for Prospering in a Digital Age.

Author links

Amazon UK Author Page       

Amazon US Author Page           

FeedARead (Paperback version)  Surfing in Stilettos

FeedARead (Paperback version) Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines            

Website           

loveahappyending.com

Thornberry Publishing           

Safkhet Publishing              

Blog             

Facebook            

Twitter               

Goodreads

Website             

Member of Romantic Novelists Association

Don't forget the giveaway! 

Carol is giving away lots of nice little “Grumpy” goodies. To be in with a chance to win please click on the following link and follow the instructions. Good luck!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Wish You Were Here by Victoria Connelly


Just got back from a fabulous week on the stunning island of Kethos. That’s what it feels like anyway and I feel like right away.

Alice Archer is a plain Jane in a dreary dead-end job with a dull and boring life.  Nobody in her life listens to her or notices her except for her father who is in a care home.  When her demanding sister Stella offers her a place on a week’s holiday to the Greek island of Kethos, it sounds like just what she needs just as long as she can put up with Stella and her difficult ways. 

When she arrives, she leaves Stella by the pool working on her tan and visits the gardens at Villa Argenti, where she meets handsome gardener Milo who tells her that people wish upon the statue of Aphrodite.  Though she doesn’t believe in this myth, she takes the opportunity to make a wish that men notice her.  When Milo offers to take her out for a day, she decides it’s about time she started to enjoy herself and accepts his offer.  Men suddenly start to notice her and wondering whether it is co-incidence or whether her wish has come true.  Is this just a holiday romance or is it true love? Is Milo what he seems to be or is he hiding a secret from Alice?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it on a particularly rainy afternoon which made the island of Kethos even more appealing for me.  I easily imagined the villa that Stella and Alice stayed in and wanted to stay there myself.  I could picture myself on the back of Milo’s bike, with the wind in my hair seeing the spectacular views and could definitely see myself wandering around and smelling the amazing aromas coming from the flowers in the gardens of Villa Argenti.

Victoria’s style of writing is so descriptive, expressive and colourful and it is these qualities which make her books so easy to read.  This story flows really well and you become very quickly deeply immersed in the world that she writes about.  This is a book that shuts you away from everything that is going on in your life and you are transported to the island of Kethos enjoying all the delights that Alice experiences. 

This morning, I'm still thinking about Kethos.  I feel like booking a holiday to this gorgeous island and exploring it myself.  I will definitely be looking out for Milo and Alice around every corner.  I think most of the ladies who read this book might just fall a little bit in love with Milo!
 
I always look forward to reading a Victoria Connelly novel, she is a wonderful author who totally and utterly brings her books to life! This is such a feel-good romance novel that I would definitely recommend to brighten up your life. 
Victoria Connelly grew up in Norfolk.  After graduating, she worked her way through a number of jobs before becoming a teacher in North Yorkshire.  In 2000, she got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and moved to London.  After writing articles and short stories, a bidding war between five publishers in Germany resulted in a book deal and the first of three novels published there was made into a film.

Her first novel to be published in the UK was Molly’s Millions (2009) and was a top ten ebook bestseller.  Victoria has also written a trilogy about Jane Austin addicts.  Victoria and her husband recently left London for a cottage in rural Suffolk, where she lives with a springer spaniel and a brood of rescued battery hens. 
 
 
To find out more about Victoria, check out her website here