#BlogTour Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Sue Shepherd @thatsueshepherd @CorazonBooks #GuestPost

A moving and funny story about sisters, secrets and second chances.

Today I join Sue Shepherd on tour with her latest book, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.

Just published with Corazon Books, it is described as an ‘entertaining page-turner  – where things, and people, are not always as they first appear!’. 

I am delighted to bring you all a guest post written by Sue entitled ‘Sisters’, which also includes a short extract from the book, so I do hope you all enjoy…

 

Book Info:

Twin sisters Beth and Lisa do everything together, so what will happen now they both want a life of their own?

Beth has a secret she’s kept from everyone except her sister. But it’s time to get on with her life. Could a seductive Italian, a smooth-talking charmer or backpacking around Australia be the answer?

Lisa feels she’s always lived in her sister’s shadow. Maybe now it’s her turn for some fun, whatever the consequences. But will her drunken antics land Beth in trouble?

And when it comes to the crunch, will one sister have to give up what she wants so the other can have what she needs?

Purchase Link ~ Can’t Get You Out of My Head

Sisters

by Sue Shepherd

My third novel, ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head,’ was published yesterday, and I’m still giddy with excitement. There’s not much that compares to the joy and fear of releasing one of your book babies into the world.

I’d like to thank Mairead at Swirl and Thread for joining my blog tour. Firstly, can I tell you a little about the book?

It’s a funny, moving and heart-warming romantic comedy about twin sisters, Beth and Lisa. They have always shared everything, so when Beth wants a life of her own, Lisa makes it clear she won’t go quietly!

Beth feels guilty about a secret she’s kept from everyone except her sister. But now she has to get on with her life. Perhaps a seductive Italian or a backpacking trip around Australia could be the answer?

Lisa feels jealous because her sister has the life she’s always wanted. Then she decides it’s time to come out of her twin’s shadow. Why not put herself first and live a little dangerously? But what if it’s Beth who suffers the consequences?

They’ve always been together, so can they really live without each other?

Throughout the story, Beth and Lisa’s relationship is intense. In fact, it’s probably about the closest connection there is. On many occasions, they simply don’t get on. But when it comes to the crunch, will one sister have to give up what she wants so the other can have what she needs?

In my kitchen, I have a little plaque, which reads – “I smile because you’re my sister, I laugh because there’s nothing you can do about it.” It is, of course, from my sister, Helen. There have been so many times over the last *cough* five decades when I have wanted to smile because she is my sister. I am proud of her, as she is of me, and we are fiercely defensive of each other. But I would be lying if I said there were not also times when I could despair of her, and she of me. That’s the part where the ‘laughing because there’s nothing to be done about it’ comes in.

Beth and Lisa are also defensive of each other, but it’s far more subtle. Their love for each other is not always obvious. Lisa’s sarcasm and exasperation towards Beth may seem cruel and heartless, but given her situation, perhaps they are understandable.

I’d like to share with you a short conversation between the twins, which takes place when they are sixteen –

Lisa was less than impressed with Beth’s choice of hair salon. ‘Of all the places you could’ve worked, you’ve gone for a boring hairdressers in a quiet parade of shops. Why the hell have you picked Daphne’s?’

‘Nanna knows the manageress. She sorted it out for me.’

‘Christ, you are dull. I would’ve chosen one of those flashy places in town.’

‘You know how I am around fashionable people. It’s awkward. Those people scare the hell out of me.’

Lisa’s disappointment was obvious. ‘Fashionable people! Listen to you. You could be fashionable too. Why do you let everybody intimidate you?’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘So you should be. You’re going to be stuck in there, day in and day out. Forever!’

‘It’s a nice place.’

‘It’s a shit-heap.’

‘You say potato, I say potahto.’ It was a song, Beth had heard Nanna sing.

‘Nobody says potahto, you idiot!’

‘I guess not. Sorry, Lisa.’

Her sister wasn’t done yet. ‘That place is awful. With all the trendy hairdressers in town, you’ve managed to end up with a job in the “little old lady poodle parlour” around the corner.’

‘It’ll be good for me. Those other places are too flashy. Nanna says I’ll learn my craft from the bottom up.’

‘Learn your craft? Learn your craft! You’ll be washing old ladies’ hair and sweeping the floor.’

‘Why do you keep doing this?’

‘Doing what?’

‘Making me feel bad about myself. Why can’t you just be happy for me? Like you were when we were kids. You used to be supportive and nice …’

‘And where did that get me?’

You can be forgiven for thinking that Lisa is not a great sister to Beth, but there is so much more to their relationship than first meets the eye. I hear you shouting at Beth to stand up to her twin and take control of her life. But, maybe, Beth will find that when she does try to take charge of her destiny, there could be one important thing that only Lisa can do for her.

I really hope you’ll enjoy, ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head.’ I’ve dedicated it to my own sister. Not because she’s anything at all like Lisa or Beth, but because she’s known me since the start.

About Sue:

Born in Harrow, Sue went on to spend several years living in Hertfordshire before selling up and taking a leap of faith across The Solent. She now resides on the picturesque Isle of Wight with her husband, two sons and a standard poodle. Her passions in life are: her family, writing, the seaside and all the beautiful purple things her sons have bought her over the years. Happiest when hunched over her laptop with a cup of tea on the go, Sue loves to create stories with plenty of heart and laughs, but she makes sure to include a bit of naughtiness too. Ask Sue to plan too far in advance and you’ll give her the heebie-jeebies and she’d prefer you not to mention Christmas until at least November!

Website  ~ www.sueshepherdwrites.co.uk

Twitter ~ @thatsueshepherd