Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer! I bloody love Carol and her books! If you haven't read this, or any of her work, do so now! You won't be sorry, she's brilliant!
What They Say:
When bestselling romance author Chloe Piper’s marriage implodes a week before Christmas, she flees her cheating ex and the village gossips for the solitude of the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm and the company of her hapless dog, Ronnie.
But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew – headed up by charming Alex – and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself in a whole new world of chaos…
This enthralling romantic comedy of self-discovery and new beginnings is perfect for fans of Kirsty Greenwood, Colleen Coleman and Marian Keyes.
Exclusive Extract from Suddenly Single
After an afternoon spent adorning the tree with new shiny globes and attaching pinecone garlands on the sitting rooms beams, Chloe was feeling an even greater sense of belonging. She collected her mobile phone and Ronnie’s lead, intending to walk around the reservoir and then settle down to some writing. A vague idea, like a transparent-winged butterfly, kept flitting across her mind but departed before settling. A walk might be the catalyst she needed to anchor it. Four months had passed since she’d signed the contract with Upfront Publishing and she hadn’t come up with anything concrete for the new book. The original plan had been to base it around village gossip supplied by William, much like she had her first book. The local pub was a mine of information but without William in her life, it couldn’t happen.
The repetitive hammering coming from the building where she’d first met Alex indicated the men were hard at work. A collection of vehicles scattered haphazardly on the terrain outside the building confirmed there were at least eight men on site. Squinting, she made out two figures stretched out at frightening angles across a bare-timbered roof, and decided they must have either a head for heights or no fear. Chloe wasn’t keen on going up stepladders, let alone hanging off a wooden platform attaching slate tiles seventy or eighty feet up. The house was beginning to take shape quickly. Only two days had passed since it had seemed to be little more than a tumbledown cowshed, yet now it was closer to resembling the final result, another smart addition to the development. She wondered who might move in, and hoped they’d be as easy to get along with as Eleanor and Fairfax.
Her phone rang. It was Faith.
‘I’m making sure you haven’t been eaten by wolves.’ Judging by the clinking of glass and modern music in the background Faith was in a trendy bar.
Chloe laughed. ‘There aren’t any wolves up here.’
‘You know what I mean. How’s it going?’
‘I spent last evening with Eleanor and her husband, Fairfax. They got me blind drunk, and I mean completely plastered.’
Faith released a light chuckle. ‘You’re really funny when you’re drunk. What did you get up to? Did you play hopscotch in their kitchen, using a bar of soap to mark out the numbers on the tiled floor?’
‘That was years ago,’ Chloe protested, wincing at the memory. She and Faith had had a girl’s night in while William was away and it had ended with them playing the ridiculous game.
‘Only three.’
‘Seems like a lifetime ago. It was mad, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes, but enjoyable. I hadn’t seen you like that before. You should let your hair down more often.’
The comment stung even though Chloe knew her friend was right. She could be too intense for some people. It wasn’t deliberate. She merely had trouble loosening up unless she had a few drinks.
‘When’s your bloody internet going to be connected, by the way? I hate this old-fashioned way of communicating. You know I prefer to chat face-to-face, and I wouldn’t mind you getting that dishy carpenter over to say hello either.’
‘The engineer’s due Friday. He has to connect a line from a cable somewhere in the development into the house.’
‘Not a minute too soon. That development is like the land time forgot. Beautiful and wild but I could barely get a signal on my mobile let alone any 4G when I was there.’
‘It’s a dead zone,’ Chloe explained.
‘Trust you to move to a flipping dead zone. Are you deliberately trying to stay out of contact with everyone?’
‘Not at all. I’ll be online again soon and we’ll chat properly.’
‘Good because I miss you.’ Faith’s words touched Chloe.
Without being able to talk online, she’d have felt even lonelier over the last few months. Faith had insisted on regular Skype video calls and helped her through the dreadful period after she’d first found out about William when she was unable to even saunter out for a walk with Ronnie; she’d let him run loose in the garden instead, shutting the door as soon as he returned. Faith had been by her side, albeit virtually through the internet, and had prevented her losing her way completely. She’d be grateful to be connected to the online world and talk to Faith again while actually seeing her face. She preferred the cyber world to the real world at times. Besides, she needed to get some ideas for her book and as Faith had commented, the 4G signal was next to useless on the hill. She’d been so absorbed talking to Faith, she hadn’t heard the faint crunching of gravel behind her or the sound of a running engine. She jumped when a voice called out her name. It was Alex leaning out of his Land Rover window, one arm on the steering wheel.
‘Chloe, I’m in a hurry. Have to get to the suppliers before they shut.’
She tugged Ronnie out of the path of the vehicle immediately, cheeks on fire. Alex didn’t look best pleased at her holding him up and she’d no idea how long he’d been waiting for her to finish talking.
‘Sorry,’ she mumbled. He didn’t wait for her apology and instead wound up the window before racing off down the track, leaving her with the impression she’d annoyed him.
‘What’s going on? You lost your signal.’
‘No. Alex is cheesed off with me for blocking the road,’ said Chloe.
‘The good-looking one who you fell for – literally!’ Faith stifled a snigger.
‘Ha! I won’t be falling for him again. He has a way of making me feel…’
‘What? Sexy?’
Chloe sputtered. ‘No. Not at all. In truth I feel awkward and inferior.’
‘For crying out loud. You barely know him.’
‘It’s only a feeling.’
‘Well, bury it. Give the guy a chance. His wife chatted to you yet?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Shame he’s married. He’s gorgeous.’
‘He’s not my type.’
‘What is your type? Remind me again? The stuck-up-their-own-arse type?’
‘Faith, you know what I mean.’
‘Yes, and you know what I think about all of this. I know you’re not divorced yet, but you are separated and you need to have a little fun. You’ve been behaving like a hermit for far too long. I understand you have issues meeting people but as your number one cheerleader it’s my duty to encourage you to make the effort.’ She burst into a nonsensical cheerleader chant that ended with the words, ‘Go Chloe…Go Chloe… Go!’
‘Very good. It’s worked. I’m going out tomorrow with a group of single people.’ There, she’d said it and committed herself further to the event. There’d be no pulling out now. Faith would want to know every single detail of it.
‘Shut the front door!’
Chloe had no idea where her friend had picked up such an expression or what it actually meant. ‘I don’t know where we’re going.’
‘This is major. How did Eleanor convince you? Torture you until you agreed?’
‘I was drunk.’
‘Ah. And now you regret it and will back out. I know you, Chloe Piper. You will find some excuse.’
‘No, I’ll go.’ The clawing in her stomach said otherwise.
Faith’s voice became softer. ‘Try, hun. I know how hard it is for you but Eleanor will be there, and you don’t have to stay if you don’t like it. But it might be just what you need right now.’
They chatted for a few minutes longer and Chloe filled in Faith with her news as best she could.
‘Maybe this is even the spark you need for the new book,’ said Faith. ‘Not that I’m pushing you to get it written. I’ve got your back on this but sometimes, distraction can help clear your mind and with all the crap you’ve been through the last few weeks, you need that.’
Chloe pulled a face. The problem was unlikely to be fixed by hanging out with a bunch of people she didn’t know but she understood Faith was only looking out for her and wanted her to be happy. She was going to explain she had truly hit a writing block that might never be lifted when Faith suddenly said,
‘Shit, I have to go. Client’s just walked in. Love you.’
Chloe shoved the mobile back in her pocket, thoughts turning to the irritated look on Alex’s face.
‘Well, if ever I find my muse,’ she said to Ronnie, ‘I won’t be modelling any of my male characters on Alex.’
Author Bio:
As a child Carol Wyer was always moving, and relied on humour to fit in at new schools. A funny short story won her popularity, planting the seed of becoming a writer. Her career spans dry cleaning, running a language teaching company, and boxercise coaching. Now writing full-time, Carol has several books published and journalism in many magazines.
Carol won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015), and can sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.
Twitter: @carolewyer
I read this book in one sitting! It is soooo good!
Chloe is a great character! She's genuine and real. She struggles with some mental health issues but is trying not to let the dictate her life. All she wants is a quiet life where she can rebuild after her traumatic break up. She escapes with her adorable dog, Ronnie and tries to find peace and maybe even write her next book.
The only person who knows where she is, is her best friend and publicist, Faith. Faith is a wonderful friend to Chloe and such a great, fun character!
The motley crew that Chloe meets in her new home is full of life, trouble and friendship. They are a great mix of people and make this book so easy to read and fall in love with.
The way Carol has dealt with Chloe's mental health issues is amazing. Sensitively, with humour and in a way that makes it relatable yet not triggering. It takes a great writer to do this, without it being made into a farce.
Carol is one of my go-to authors, she never disappoints. Suddenly Single is a strong contender for Book of the Year and it's only April!! 11/10
Follow the last few tour stops here!
Thanks to Ellie at Canelo for allowing me to read an early copy of the book in exchange for participation in this tour!
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