Book Review: Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher

Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher 3.5/5

Review:

This book is more women’s fiction than the romance I was expecting. The whole premise is about Lizzy, who thinks her boyfriend is about to propose after 10 years, getting dumped. She has to reevaluate, find her footing in her new life, and rediscover who she was before the relationship.

This is definitely a feel good, positive book that focuses on self love and empowerment. It took me a little while to get stuck in, but the ending was the saving grace for me. I’m so glad that Lizzy stayed true to everything she had learnt and discovered about herself throughout the story and didn’t just shack up with the new hunk who shows a fancy to her.

The sub characters are amazingly well written. I think the world building and backstory make this book enjoyable.

In summary, the book is well written, but felt a little slow gaining momentum at first. I’m happy to have read it to the end, as it definitely grows on you.

---

The opinions expressed here are those of K.J. Chapman and no other parties. All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman. K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review.

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

Amazon

Twitter

Instagram

Goodreads

Facebook

Sponsored Post Sponsored Post Menu More Info Learn from the experts: Create a successful blog with our brand new courseThe WordPress.com Blog

WordPress.com is excited to announce our newest offering: a course just for beginning bloggers where you’ll learn everything you need to know about blogging from the most trusted experts in the industry. We have helped millions of blogs get up and running, we know what works, and we want you to to know everything we know. This course provides all the fundamental skills and inspiration you need to get your blog started, an interactive community forum, and content updated annually.

Register now

A Little About Me

I have had quite a few new followers in the last few months, so I wanted to do a little post about me and my books to kick start the New Year.

I’m a 34 year old author of urban fantasy, fantasy, and zombie horror. I’m Cornish born and bred, and I live in Cornwall with my husband and 2 children.

If I’m not writing, I’m reading. You will be sure to find writerly musings and book reviews on my blog. Not forgetting, links to my free promos (the end of every month 28th- 30th).

You can find my books via these links:

EVO Nation Trilogy:

EVO Nation Series : 1,2, &3

Thrown to The Blue

Thrown to The Blue Book 1

Zombie Playlist:

Zombie Playlist

Prompt Me: 150 Writing for Beating the Block

Prompt Me

50 Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

50 Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

A Change to the Schedule

After I had included a monthly Author Toolbox Blog Hop post in my 2021 scheduling post, the founder of the Blog Hop announced that she will no longer be continuing for 2021.

I have decided to stick to the schedule, but replace a blog hop post with some of my writerly musing (that’s basically what Author Tool Box Blog Hop is anyway).

I hope you pop by for those posts. I will aim for the 15th of each month.

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

• Amazon
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Goodreads

My 2021 Blog Plans

Happy New Year! I know, for many, this New Year wasn’t what we expected it to be, but I am trying to keep positive, and one way I do that is to motivate myself. I enjoy setting plans and having a goal.

This post is all about my plans for Writerly Bookish Stuff. I want to be a bit more regular with my book review posts, and I feel the need to set some scheduled posts each month to stay consistent. Here are my plans:

• At least one book review a month
• One Author Toolbox Blog Hop post a month (Jan-Oct)
• An Amazon free book promotion of one of my books advertised every month (28th-30th)

It may not seem like much, but it’s a great start to get me posting regularly on here and my social media platforms. Life and adulting takes over when you have 2 kids (one a toddler), and intermittently having to homeschool.

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

Amazon

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Goodreads

Christmas Book Release Dates

I am always interested in the varying release dates for Christmas books. Some release in October, some at Thanksgiving time, or even early December, and after looking a little more into it, there definitely isn’t a set ‘this release date works best’ formula.

For this post I turned to the fabulous author and reader community of Instagram. I wanted to ask readers themselves what release dates they preferred, and here are the results:

The majority picked that they prefer Christmas books to be released at the end of October- early November, but that option only just beat the end of November release date. I reckon we should say mid November would be best as a compromise, right?

However, judging by these results, a December release is much too late for most readers.

---

I don’t know if you are as fascinated by these types of things as me, but if you are looking to release a book this Christmas, I hope this post may have been of some help when choosing the most effective date.

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

Amazon

Facebook

Goodreads

Instagram

2 in 1 Book Review

How to Survive a Pandemic by John Hudson 3/5

If you want some straight forward facts about Covid 19 without forced opinions, then try this book. I wouldn’t say that this book had much that wasn’t common knowledge, but maybe it can help you build a little on coping strategies if you are suffering from anxiety due to this pandemic.

Minimalism by Jens Boje 3/5

If you are a total beginner to minimalism, then this book may be helpful to you. I am not new to this concept, so I feel that it didn’t offer much more than I already knew, but it does offer some reasoning in what minimalism means to different people and how it isn’t a one size fits all process.

---

The opinions expressed here are those of K.J. Chapman and no other parties. All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman. K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review.

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

Goodreads

Writing Routine (Author Tool Box Blog Hop)

I have decided to write a post on writing routines because I don’t currently have one. Yep, nada. I guess I should have titled this post ‘No Writing Routine’.

I understand the benefits of writing routines and training the brain to know ‘this is writing time’, but sometimes, it’s just not possible. I have 2 children (one is 2), so my main priority is them and writing is something I fit in around them.

It is easy to say, ‘get up a little earlier’ or ‘go bed a little later’. My children have me up at 5.30am, and some nights, I am falling asleep on the sofa after I have put them to bed. Real life and being a mama wins every time because that is how I prioritise.

I used to beat myself up about not having a routine, but now, I realise that writing when I can and as often as I can is enough. As long as words are getting written, I can grab that 30 minutes when the toddler naps, or sit in the garden for 15 minutes when the kids are playing nicely together. I never know when these little pockets of time will arise, but as long as I make the most of them, I won’t have the guilt of not writing.

I guess this post is actually a ‘don’t be hard on yourself and write when you can’ post. You’re doing great whether you have a routine or you don’t.

---

You can check out the other #authortoolboxbloghop participants and their posts here.

---

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

Goodreads

Twitter

2 in 1 Book Review

Allotment Gardening by Jez Abbott 3/5

An easy read with some useful tidbits. I wanted a little more detail on certain areas, but a great book to start with.

The Allotment Book by Andi Clevely 4/5

This book was exactly what I was looking for. A lot more information that is specifically useful for me and my veggie patch. I especially appreciate that this book is a little more detailed and in depth than some others I have purchased.

---

The opinions expressed here are those of K.J. Chapman and no other parties. All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman. K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review.

---

Content belongs to K.J. Chapman

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

Goodreads

3 in 1 Book Review

Wedding Hells by Jennifer Gilby Roberts 3/5

Always the bridesmaid never the bride. Melanie’s younger sister is getting married before her and the family make sure she knows it. I’m not entirely sure if this is a comedy as I feel awful for Melanie all the way through and the ending isn’t much better. At least there is Will.

Before the Garden on Holly Street by Megan Attley 3/5

An introduction to the series, but no real stories with conclusions. I do want stories (even introductions) to have some kind of narrative and conclusion.

However, Attley offers good insight into the various characters and their lifestyles. The rest of the series promises to be good.

Nikola Tesla by Sean Patrick 2/5

I found this a little like a rambling self help book with some biographical content in regards to Nikola Tesla. The majority of the book is about ‘what it takes to be a genius’ rather than about Nikola Tesla.

---

The opinions expressed here are those of K.J. Chapman and no other parties. All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman. K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review.

---

Content belongs to K.J. Chapman

Find me on:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Amazon

Goodreads

Top Tips for Developing a Title (Author Toolbox Blog Hop

The amount of authors I know that struggle with titling (myself included) is incredible. I believe partly, we put too much pressure on ourselves. We have slogged hours and hours, pouring out our guts into our work and we don’t want to let it down with a crummy title. We want the title to be the cherry on the cake.

Over the years, I have developed some strategies to help me develop a title:

• Leave the WIP untitled until you have finished writing it. I find most titles pop out when we least expect them. Finishing your work will give you a better understanding of the theme, feel and tone of your book, and that will help decide an appropriate title.
• Ask your critique partners / beta readers for advice. Throw a few titles at them and ask which ones, if any, they like and believe fit your story.
• Research titles in your genre. Seriously, genres have titles that work with readers and those that don’t. This also links in with the above point about asking critique partners for advice. Readers know what they expect from a genre, and believe it or not, that includes titles.
• Of course, there are no right or wrong titles, but there are certainly titles that stand out to us and feel right. Trusting your gut instinct is my last tip. You know your work best. If it feels right, it probably is.

Do you have any processes for titling your work? Do you find it easy or hard to find the perfect title?

---

You can check out the other #authortoolboxbloghop participants and their posts here.

---

Content belongs to KJ Chapman

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Twitter