Book News and Author Interviews Archives

Like Beach Romances? A Change Would Do You Better Is Coming!

Posted on November 6, 2022 Written by Pinar Tarhan

What better to announce a sequel to a surfer romance novel than a badass surfer picture?

I’ve finally finished A Change Would Do You Better, a beach rom-com drama that is the sequel to A Change Would Do You Good.

I’m currently proofing it, so the launch’s getting closer. (Which will be in January. Stay tuned for the cover reveal and the exact launch date announcement.)

Both can be read as standalones, but the second book starts from where we left the characters in book one. Obviously, I’m biased, and I’d prefer you read them chronologically, but it’s up to you. 🙂

In case you want to check out the cover for the first book in the series. 🙂

A Few Fun Facts About A Change Would Do You Better

Janie and Kevin are still the main couple, followed by Linda and Rick.
Janie’s close friends, married couple Andy and Sarah move back to the States, causing some solid conflicts.
Fun role reversal: Just as Greg went on a mission to change Linda’s life for the better in the first book, Linda will take up the mantle. No, Greg doesn’t get a say in this.
Model and fashion designer Ben is still one of the main characters. And this time, changes are coming for him too.
The book ends HEA, but there will be a third book (and probably final book — which will also be — you guessed it, HEA).
There are new meet-cutes and interesting new characters.
You’ll also reunite with Denise, Michelle, Ian, Tom, and Sam.

One clue about one of the new meet-cutes. There is a cute dog and water’s involved. Just picture a Golden Retriever instead. 🙂

Be advised, the following blurb kind of spoils the first book.

But then again, it doesn’t tell you anything about the how and why, which is what makes romcoms fun in the first place. And let’s face it, you knew Janie and Kevin would get together.

What is A Change Would Do You Better about?

About a year ago, Janie moved to San Diego for a fresh start after a devastating loss. And the big changes she made paid off: She’s happily dating her hunky surfer neighbor Kevin, who turned out to be a better boyfriend than anyone could have imagined.

Linda loves being a fitness trainer and not even a long tour couldn’t mess up her budding relationship with rock frontman Rick.

Therapist Greg is happy working for Janie’s boss Ellen and running his own clinic.

Janie’s old friends Andy and Sarah have moved back, and they have a lot to catch up on.

Things are going great, except….

Kevin’s new student is hellbent on seducing him.

Andy and Sarah are keeping a massive secret from Janie that might ruin their friendship forever.

Rick is about to co-star in a steamy video with one of America’s sexiest women, and Greg is dating the wrong person yet again.

Finding love is hard. Making the relationship work is even harder. Will your favorite couples make it?

And Change is coming for them all…

Want to read the book before the launch? Email me at pinartarhan@windowslive.com, and let me know you want ARCS in the subject line.

Want to read the first one first? You can read it for free through Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon here.

Interview with Author Lizzie Chantree and Her Newest Book Launch News

Posted on May 6, 2021 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, you don’t pay anything extra, and I make a little something.

One of my favorite author friends, Lizzie Chantree has a new book out today!!

I’ve recently covered Lizzie’s previous release The little ice cream shop by the sea so check it out if you haven’t already.

Today, we are celebrating the launch of Shh… It’s Our Secret, another delightful romantic comedy.

I’ll include a blurb for the book below, and then we’ll head straight to my interview with Lizzie.

Shh… It’s Our Secret Blurb

Violet has a secret that could change the lives of everyone she knows and loves, especially the regulars at the run-down café bar where she works. After losing her parents at a young age, they are the closest thing she has to a family and she feels responsible for them.

Kai is a jaded music producer who has just moved outside of town. Seeking solitude from the stress of his job, he’s looking for seclusion. The only problem is he can’t seem to escape the band members and songwriters who keep showing up at his house.

When Kai wanders into the bar and Violet’s life, he accidentally discovers her closely guarded secret. Can Kai help her rediscover her self-confidence or should some secrets remain undiscovered?

Interview with Lizzie Chantree

Can you share with us the first story you ever created?

My first story is about a shy entrepreneur who is thrust into the spotlight when her business becomes famous. Someone is trying to sabotage her business, Babe Driven, and she takes her sisters and friends to an exotic island, away from prying eyes, to try and find out who the culprit is. She doesn’t bank on a group of sexy rock stars who are staying in the villa next door, or a resort owner who is set on taking over her business and her life!

When and how did you become a writer?

I ran my own retail and wholesale businesses, selling products I designed for over fifteen years, but my daughter became unwell (she’s fine now), which meant I wanted to be at home with her. I started writing my first book to keep myself awake at night and then I hid the manuscript for five years until her health began to improve. I published my first book, Babe Driven, about a chauffeur company with gorgeous drivers, when I was forty. I believe in chasing your dreams and when you catch them, creating new ones.

How do you find inspiration for your stories?

My stories are all about entrepreneurs, so it might be an idea from running a business in the past, or by seeing how people interact with each other. It can be as simple as a few words spoken or a fleeting glimpse of a gesture. With my book, The little ice cream shop by the sea, the story grew from seeing an elderly lady crying in a café and a young waitress helping her. After the older lady had left, I asked the waitress if her friend was ok. The waitress said they’d never met before that day. It made me think about the kindness of strangers and the whole story grew from there. In my book, Genie and Ada are strangers at the start of the story, but despite their age difference and backgrounds, they become each other’s lifeline.

Do you have favorite brainstorming and/or productivity tips you’d like to share with us?

I would advise setting out separate writing and marketing time so that they don’t overwhelm you. Writing time has to come first and setting boundaries can be really helpful with that. Simple tick lists for social media planning can also simplify tasks that can at first seem daunting.

What’s your favorite genre to write? Why?

I love romance and women’s fiction. If I was standing in front of a packed bookcase, I’d always turn to the romance books first. They are so uplifting and they ease stress and help us relax for a while.

What genres do you like to read or watch? Can you share some examples?

I read all sorts of genres. I’m lucky to have met lots of authors in my writing career, both in-person and online and I really enjoy jumping into one of their books for a good read. I don’t mind the genre and I will read anything from magical realism to mysteries.

What’s your favorite novel that you wrote?

I don’t have a favourite, but my first novel, Babe Driven, is very special to me. Writing the book helped me through very dark times. I filled the book with exotic locations and sizzling men and women, to try and balance the worry and anxiety I was feeling. I also hoped that the book might also make another person smile one day and help them find some lightness and laughter too.

My other most recent book, The little ice cream shop by the sea, is set in Essex, which is where I’m from. That was a lot of fun to write too.

What are some of your favorite books from other authors?

I love books by Heidi Catherine, who writes magical stories. I am always drawn to books by Katie Fforde, Jill Mansell, Heidi Swain, and Isabella May.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on the second book in a three-book romance series. It’s about four friends from school and three devilishly attractive brothers who used to live across the street.

Where can we follow you on social media?

Website: www.lizziechantree.com

Author page: https://www.viewAuthor.at/LizzieChantree

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizzieChantree/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391757.Lizzie_Chantree

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_chantree/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/LizzieChantree/pins/

FB Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/647115202160536/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lizzie-chantree

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lizziechantreeauthor

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnCop-RlAcGqggZG3JfE-Mw

Lizzie Chantree Author Bio

International bestselling author Lizzie Chantree started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, about women with unusual businesses, who are stronger than they realise.

Universal Book Purchase Link for Shh…It’s Our Secret: mybook.to/ItsOurSecret

Lizzie Chantree’s The little ice cream shop by the sea Is Out Today!

Posted on February 19, 2021 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Novelist Lizzie Chantree’s new book The little ice cream shop by the sea is out!

I’m currently reading Chantree’s If you love me, I’m yours and quite enjoying it. You might also remember my review for her book Networking for Writers.

Without further ado:

The little ice cream shop by the sea blurb:

Genie’s family is in crisis. Their seafront business is failing with the loss of Genie’s grandmother and her legendary ice cream flavours. Genie is determined to be the one to save her family’s heritage, but suddenly her mother wants to sell to developers and leave their shared history behind.

Buying the business and taking on a sixty-eight year old business partner, Ada, with a mysterious past and a gorgeous but distracting grandson, Genie sets out to prove her parents wrong.

Ada’s grandson, Cal, wants to protect his gran from ‘pensioner persuader’, Genie, but soon realises that living in a little seaside town and away from the paparazzi in Hollywood can actually give him time to heal. Hiding in a seafront business with its fiery owner and working as kitchen staff, is the only way he can think of to keep his ex-Hollywood glamour-puss, gran from harm. But his meddling might also ruin Ada’s second chance at love.

Hiring a private detective and learning about Genie’s parent’s past makes Cal regret his own impulsiveness. The information he has unearthed could destroy their blossoming romance and turn Genie’s world upside down.

Genie soon discovers that friends can become enemies and your closest family can have lied to you for your whole life.

In Lizzie Chantree’s own words:

Tell us the basic premise of your novel.

The little ice cream shop by the sea is about a close family who run a seaside business buried in tradition, but a sudden incident throws them into turmoil and they all try to cope with the repercussions in their own way. The main character Genie doesn’t know why her family suddenly decides to sell the family business that she’s worked in since before she left school, but she’s determined that they won’t throw away her heritage so easily and fights to make them stay.

The friendship between Genie and pensioner Ada, who starts as a customer, becomes a lifeline for both women. Throw in some dashing locals who set their heart on helping Genie and a furious grandson who is out to protect his grandmother, and you have a sizzling story full of sunshine, secrets and finding love when you least expect it.

What is at the heart of the book?

At the heart of the book is the blossoming friendship between Genie, who runs the ice cream shop with her family and customer, Ada. Ada has a secret past and a celebrity grandson who decides to fly in from America to meddle in his grandmother’s life. This has consequences for both Genie and Ada. The story follows their journey and they realise that love can appear in the most unexpected places.

This book will be at a special price of 99p/99c for 7 days only, from launch day. It will then be £2.99 again after that.

More About the Author

International bestselling author Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, about women with unusual businesses, who are stronger than they realise.

You can connect with her here:

Website: www.lizziechantree.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree