Publication Day Push with an Author Guest Post: The Single Mum's Book Club by Victoria Cooke

Writing Through Lockdown

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that trying to ignite a creative spark during lockdown was akin to trying to start a bonfire with a pile of soggy leaves. Yes, there were the banana bread makers, the crocheting newbies and the DIYers but I wasn’t in the right place for any of that. There was so much uncertainty about the virus and on top of that, financial worry and concern for my children’s wellbeing. With all of that going on in my head, there wasn’t much room for dreaming up a perfectly flawed hunk and happily ever after. The first few weeks of lockdown 2020 is now a hazy blur of sunbathing, BBQs and afternoon cocktails with the daily walk thrown in to boot.

As I write this, I realise it sounds much better than it was. The truth is, we were muddling through. I went through a phase of wanting to watch dark things on TV and binged thrillers and anything remotely pandemic based. I was definitely not in the right frame of mind for anything warm, cosy and humorous. Having said that, we tried to make the most of it and enjoy our time together. We had water fights, did jigsaws and knocked out some pretty terrible cakes once we got our hands on a bag of flour. Sitting down to write wasn’t an option early on. My children are at an age where they’re too young for phones but old enough to know that Boris banning them from seeing their pals is pretty serious stuff. Once Zoom school kicked in, they were happy and occupied so it was time to start tapping out some words. If they worked, I worked and it was as simple as that. As lockdown went on and we all adapted to the change, we started to find little elements of joy, new places to walk, a new takeaway to try or family party nights. We had several weekly Zoom quizzes and the mood lifted a little. That’s when spending all of that time with my children sparked an idea.

I’d never written a heroine with children before. Charlotte in Who Needs Men Anyway? had a baby towards the end of the book and Ethan in A Summer to Remember had a daughter but I’ve never had a warts-and-all, thrown into the thick of it ‘mum’ as a main character before and it’s an experience I know well and many people can relate to so that made writing this book quite good fun. I even dedicated The Single Mums’ Book Club to my children which they won’t know until they’re older (and will probably hate it).

Anyway, writing through lockdown was a challenge and it took a while to find my mojo — as it turned out, I’d been feeding and cleaning up after my mojo for the best part of nine years!

The Single Mums’ Book Club by Victoria Cooke

Three friends, three single mums, one quest to find love…

It’s 8:30am and I’m already utterly exhausted. My son has lost his football boots, my daughter is ready for school dressed only in her vest and knickers, and of course, my 1-year-old has filled his nappy for what feels like the tenth time this morning.

As for my husband? He’s decided marriage doesn’t suit him, and well… buggered off.

All hope of ‘me time’ has but dwindled to sipping half a glass of wine whilst shouting after the kids. But everything is about to change.

I’m taking control of my life! I’ve joined… a book club.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Wow… live a little.’ But my fellow book clubbers, Amanda and Janey, are my lifelines. They understand the daily struggle because they’re mothers too.

And in between the prosecco, Doritos and googling everything about Mr Darcy on SparkNotes, they’ve convinced me to go on a date with my boss.

A single mum of three looking for romance… what could possibly go wrong?

A gloriously funny and relatable read for anyone who just needs a little more ‘me time’. Fans of Why Mummy Drinks and Has Anyone Seen my Sex Life? will snort with laughter at this utterly hilarious and heart-warming read.

US: https://www.amazon.com/Single-Mums-Book-Club-hilarious-ebook/dp/B08Z7WM5P5

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-Mums-Book-Club-hilarious-ebook/dp/B08Z7WM5P5

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of a career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she's not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she's always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers' courses before completing her first novel, 'The Secret to Falling in Love,' in 2016.

Her third novel, Who Needs Men Anyway? became a digital bestseller in 2018 and her debut, The Secret fo Falling in Love was optioned in 2020.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16345710.Victoria_Cooke

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaCookeAuthor/

https://twitter.com/VictoriaCooke10

https://www.instagram.com/victoriacookewriter/

Spotlight and Review: It Started with A Note by Victoria Cooke

It Started With A Note by Victoria Cooke

One lost letter. A chance to change her life!

Superhero single mum Cath always puts other people first. But now that she’s seen her son safely off to university (phew!), life seems a little, well…empty.

So when Cath unexpectedly discovers some letters written by her great-grandfather during the First World War, she decides to take herself on an adventure to France to retrace his footsteps.

Cath expects to spend her holiday visiting famous battlefields and testing out her French phrase book. What she doesn’t anticipate is that her tour guide, the handsome Olivier, will be quite so charming! Soon Cath isn’t simply unearthing the stories of the past – she’s writing a brand new one of her own, which might end up taking her in a very unexpected direction…

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This is the second novel I have read by Ms Cooke within the past month and she's definitely become an author worthy of a 'must-read' tag.

When lady-luck shines down as an unexpectedly large work bonus for single mum, Cath, she can't decide what to do with her windfall. With her son at university, she has an almost empty nest...except for her hopeless layabout brother. It's a time in her life she should focus on herself and not put others first. With an interest in WW1 history, she's fascinated by the letters her great-grandfather sent to his wife and daughter and decides to head off to France to retrace his steps. With the funds to cover the trip, she's nervous and excited about what she'll uncover. Not anticipating the decision to venture abroad alone will change the direction of her own life.

Both Cath and Olivier are likeable and relatable as we get to know them better. Cath's apprehension about dealing with new situations really struck a chord with me. I could feel her anxiety when confronting something new and applauded her for overcoming what seemed to her as tricky issues. Likewise, Olivier is a good looking man who appears to have everything but the girl. Therefore, when his past is revealed, it's hard not to commend him for turning his life around.

Culturally, the protagonists' backgrounds are dissimilar, yet both have had their fair share of heartache. Their friendship begins with their mutual interest in WW1 history which helps to cement their tentative relationship. As time goes by, this slowly evolves into a romance and I liked it wasn't rushed, especially due to the setting and circumstances to which the pair meet. It's less predictable and the anticipation as Cath and Olivier gets closer is tantalising as the chemistry of attraction sizzles between them. The ending is far from unpredictable and ventures in a direction I didn't foresee.

The dialogue is fun, light and laugh-out-loud funny reflecting the overall feel of this page-turner. The author delivers content which kept my attention for the duration of the novel.

"I could be a poster girl for 'Agent Preventer', the lesser known underwear-brand-slash-birth-control guaranteed to put off even the most amorous of men."

Additionally, the narrative includes highly emotionally charged moments when dealing with the WW1 memories from this poignant time in history. The emotions shared by both Cath and Olivier are palpable and sobering for those of us who don't have such close links to stories of heroism and sacrifice from the past. To keep the atmosphere cheery and fun, some delightful secondary characters adding gossipy humour to the proceedings.

To sum up, an enlightening story with an insightful blend of WW1 history with a contemporary romance woven around it, creating a satisfying happy ever after.

***review copy generously received courtesy of HQ Digital via NetGalley***

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of her career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in her hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first romantic comedy novel, 'The Secret to Falling in Love,' in 2016. 

Cooke's third novel, Who Needs Men Anyway? became a digital bestseller in 2018.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16345710.Victoria_Cooke

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaCookeAuthor/

https://twitter.com/VictoriaCooke10

https://www.instagram.com/victoriacookewriter/

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of It Started With A Note (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 passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for 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.

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Book Birthday Blitz & Review: The Secret to Falling in Love by Victoria Cooke

The Secret to Falling in Love by Victoria Cooke

Lifestyle journalist and thirty-something singleton Melissa hashtags, insta's and snapchats her supposedly fabulous life on every social media platform there is.

That is until she wakes up on her birthday, another year older and still alone, wondering if for all her internet dates, love really can be found online? The challenge: go technology free for a whole month!

Forced to confront the reality of her life without its perfect filters, Melissa knows she needs to make some changes. But when she bumps into not one, but two gorgeous men, without the use of an app, she believes there could be hope for love offline.

If only there was a way to choose the right guy for her…

getBook.at/TheSecrettoFallinginLove

Social media dominates journalist Melissa's lifestyle as her phone is her constant companion, a problem which highlights her current dilemma on her birthday; she's single and thirty-five years old with no dates lines up. When her phone disappears and she can't log into her work PC at the office, her editor tells her she has to write about the experience. She's sceptical but accepts the challenge and finds the rewards outweigh the inconvenience.

I loved the idea of the heroine going without social media. It's a thought-provoking plot-line which makes the reader think beyond the narrative and how their own lives shape up compared to Melissa when comparing social media usage. It definitely gave me food for thought even though my background and circumstances are vastly different to hers. However, it's foolish to think this novel is serious, far from it. The humorous dialogue flows throughout this refreshing and entertaining romance and definitely kept my attention for the duration.

I know some readers will be thinking this is a love triangle, based on the promotional blurb. Yes, two guys are interested in Melissa, but you'll just have to trust my word and read this novel yourself to find out how they both happened to be in the heroine's orbit simultaneously because it's definitely a fascinating take on the events taking place. It's a lesson on how other peoples actions can impact, either coincidentally or deliberately.

Light-hearted, with relatable characters, The Secret to Falling in Love is a delightful introduction to Ms Cooke's writing. The words flow along with amusing dialogue from everyone from the main protagonists, down to the smallest of secondary characters. It's fun, yet gives the reader food for thought about how they manage and maintain their own lives in the twenty-first century.

***review copy received courtesy of HQ Digital via Rachel's Random Resources***

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of a career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first novel, 'The Secret to Falling in Love,' in 2016.

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaCookeAuthor

https://twitter.com/victoriacooke10

https://www.instagram.com/victoriacookewriter

Giveaway – Win an ARC of The Secret to Falling in Love and a box of Belgian Truffles (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 passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for 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