Today I’m excited to share my review on a new book called The Big Little Festival and share an exclusive interview with the author Kellie Hailes! Did I mention there’s a fun giveaway to enter? <3
The Big Little Festival by Kellie Hailes
My Review:
The Big Little Festival is the second book in the Rabbit’s Leap series by Kellie Hailes, though from my experience it can easily be read as a standalone novel. I enjoyed watching Christian’s character change and begin to consider that success can mean different things to different people. It was sad that his parents were so cold and unloving and it brought up an interesting theme of poor parenting and the affects it can have on children. There’s often lasting consequences on a person’s emotional sense of self when there’s a lack of love and attention, especially when there’s a lack of pride and connection.
The novel touched upon the notion that trying to protect yourself and your heart can often lead you to become cold and closed off. Sometimes it takes finding the right person to open your eyes to your flaws and falling in love to opening yourself to possibilities of a life filled with love and meaning. I loved the way the book ended and I’m interested to know what happened in the first novel.
The book was filled with interesting characters that lent quite a humorous tone despite the sad nature of some of the character’s pasts. I enjoyed this book and would be interested in reading more by the author.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
I received a complimentary review copy via the author. All reviews 100% reflect my honest opinion.
Q & A with the Author – Kellie Hailes
What inspired you to write The Big Little Festival?
When I began writing the first book in the Rabbits Leap series, The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises, Jody came to chat to her brother Tony early in the story, and there was this determination and strength that radiated from her character, as well as a sense of sadness. I knew then and there she had a story to tell, and if I didn’t tell it she’d haunt me ‘til my end of days.
What character do you relate most to and why?
Jody, for sure. I look back on previous relationships and I think I wasn’t particularly good at love, and had a habit of pushing people away, especially when they were lovely, especially when I had big feelings towards them. You see Jody doing this to Christian in The Big Little Festival – and she’s not always nice in the way she does it. But then I think for some people, my more youthful self included, this is a natural reaction to fearing your feelings, or those who inspire such feelings within you – even if they’re technically good feelings. But if you believe they’ll lead to pain, or the potential for it, you push, hard. But sometimes, you just have to push through that, and that’s when wonderful things can happen in love, and life. As I learned, eventually.
What inspired you to start writing and what continues to inspire you?
Writing is all I’ve ever wanted to do. When I was a young wee thing I loved bringing ideas and characters to life. Now that I’m older the real reward, and that which continues to inspire me, comes from knowing my books leave people feeling happy, warm and fuzzy on the inside. If a person can leave my book feeling more joyful than when they first started it then I consider my job done.
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
“Keep going.” Doesn’t matter whether it’s applied to writing or walking through a mall with a child in full tantrum meltdown mode. Keep going.
What are the things you can’t live without in your makeup bag?
Blusher – I’m a ghost without it. Mascara – because it makes the peepers pop. And Bobbi Brown Skin Glow Nourishing Foundation – it makes my skin look like mine, but way better. Oh, and bronzer for warmth. Highlighter for more glow. Eyeshadow because it’s fun to play with. Concealer for adult acne – ugh. Can you tell I like makeup? Half my office is dedicated to it.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Walking around the small sort-of island I live on and taking in the scents and sounds. Grabbing a coffee and people watching. Refreshing Twitter over and over and over again while telling myself there must be something more important I could be doing, then coming up empty handed and refreshing again. And again. And again.
A few of your favorites…
Season – Summer. Always.
Movie – Star Wars IV.
Author – Louisa George, Sarah Bennett, Jill Mansell, Marian Keyes. And Stephen King.
Color – Bright orange.
Food – All of it – except for mushrooms. Oh, and anything that sounds like it came from an organ in my body.
Location – Kaikoura, New Zealand.
Holiday – Rarotonga.
Dogs or cats? I should say cats because we have one, and I love him, but I can’t walk by a dog without getting in there and showing it some love.
Red or white wine? White in summer. Red in winter. Rose when it’s warmer. Bubbles, always.
Coffee or tea? Coffee when I’m feeling great. Tea when I’m poorly.
About the Book
Title: The Big Little Festival
Author: Kellie Hailes
Published: July 19, 2017
Book Blurb:
Love happens when you least expect it…
Jodi is panicking. It’s only weeks until her little village in Devon holds its first ever festival and everything is falling apart.
Desperate to avoid disaster, she brings in notorious party planner Christian to save the day. Although she wasn’t prepared for just how gorgeous he would be!
Men are off the cards for Jody and surely Christian is the last man she would ever date? But with tensions rising – along with the bunting and home-made scones – she’s about to find out…
Book Links: Amazon US ebook
About the Author – Kellie Hailes
Author Links: Facebook | Twitter
Author Bio:
At the age of five Kellie Hailes declared she was going write books when she grew up. It took a while for her to get there, with a career as a radio copywriter, freelance copywriter and web writer filling the dream-hole, until now. Kellie lives on an island-that’s-not-really-an-island in New Zealand with her patient husband, funny little human and neurotic cat. When the characters in her head aren’t dictating their story to her, she can be found taking short walks, eating good cheese and hankering for her next coffee fix.
Enter the Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of the book & a ferris wheel charm
Giveaway open Internationally
the link HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
Social Media Short-Link: http://wp.me/p4F2Uk-mG3
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Thank you so much for hosting me – and for the absolutely fabulous review X Kellie