The Bridesmaid's Brother by Olivia Lockhart #Author Guest Post #Giveaway

 

I am delighted to welcome Olivia Lockhart, the author of The Bridesmaid's Brother, to the blog today. I also have a great giveaway for you. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. Before we meet Olivia, here's a little about The Bridesmaid's Brother. 

 

For Penny Archer, dating after forty has proved to be less ‘silver foxes and romantic dinners’, and more ‘last chance bargain bin’. She’s met every liar and cheater in the dating pool, and after one heartbreak too many, she is officially sworn off men.

A strong, single mum, she doesn’t need a partner, and besides, the family planner is crammed with work commitments, school meetings, puppy classes, chores for her ageing parents and, of course, her beloved book club. Although a cuddle now and then wouldn’t go amiss…

Penny jumps at the chance to let her hair down at a friend’s wedding, blissfully unaware that she’s about to crash into a stranger’s life in the most mortifying manner.

Can something that begins in disaster ever end in happiness, or is it all too good to be true? Will Penny ever turn the pages of her own book towards that happy ever after?

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And now, over to Olivia who is going to give us her thoughts on being a woman over 40.

                I’ve seen a lot of negativity focused towards women over forty, and worryingly, the majority of it has come from other women of a younger age. It made me think about how I feel now I’m in my forties, and I can honestly say, it’s fantastic. Twenty something me would never have imagined it – but twenty something me also didn’t know how naïve she was, how much she needed to learn.

                I’m not in any way going to ‘bash’ younger women, not my aim, I’m not playing that game. Instead, I’d just like to talk about why my forties are the best.

                I spent my younger years agonising over the bits of me I didn’t like, wishing they were different, envying other women. Then somewhere along the line, things changed. Maybe it was seeing my features in my children, maybe just self-acceptance, but it felt safe to acknowledge that I love my eyes, I think I have great cheekbones, and yes, I’d happily confirm that I think I’m pretty. I wouldn’t have a clue how to contour, but neither do I want to!

                I have a niece in her twenties who won’t leave the house without a full face of makeup and styled hair, she won’t even open the door for a parcel, it really stresses her out. I couldn’t live like that. I’ll do the school run make up free and messy bunned, then turn up to the PTA event dressed to the nines, in clothes that actually suit me, and are well made, instead of the disposable fashion that so often dominated my younger years.

                I have the smallest circle of friends I’ve ever had, divorce will do that, but they are absolutely loyal and true, and I love every single one of them. There’s no falseness, no fake friends, no bitching, or jealousy. We are each other’s cheerleaders, confidantes, and drinking buddies. I wouldn’t swap them for the world.

                I’ve worked tirelessly on my career, starting right at the bottom, straight out of college. I couldn’t afford to go university; I’ve worked my socks off to get to where I am now. So, I enjoy the autonomy my position gives me, the flexibility, and of course the income. Twenty something me couldn’t even pay her credit card bills.

                Then there’s my babies – watching them grow into young adults with dreams and passions, it’s incredible. They’re exhausting and worrying, draining and sleep depriving… but equally awe inspiring, I can’t even describe the joy they bring me.

                I know what I like now, and I don’t make excuses for it. I don’t pretend to like the most popular band, tv show, or person, I am confident being me. It took me a long time to get to that place, but I breathe so much deeper now I’m here.

                Confidence is the key to this. I don’t mean that outward confidence that creates a great public speaker, or an extroverted performer. I mean that quiet, inner confidence. To be at home with yourself, to have faith in your decisions and pathways. To accept that things go askew at times, but you can make it through, you can put it right.

                 For things have gone wrong before for me, badly, I’ve been as low as I could have imagined, but I made it through. Every scar on my heart, body and mind proves that, and I embrace them, I don’t hide them, for I wouldn’t be the me I am today without them.

                Relationships. Sex. My interest in them hasn’t waned as I’ve aged, and I doubt it will disappear as I turn fifty, or sixty, or more. I’m a better person to be in a relationship with now, far more secure, far more open. I’ll say what I want, not skirt around the subject nervously. I’m also happy to end things, if I see red flags I am out, no more second chances or hoping he’ll change.

                So, that’s my forties… and from the women I’ve spoken to this week, it’s only going to get better. Women over forty are amazing. Let’s stop the sneering.

                I have stretch marks and wrinkles and parts of me that wobble so much more than is polite. But equally I have confidence, poise, self-awareness, and a sexual appetite that younger me would be aghast at!

                Take it or leave it, I’m unapologetic. However, I might cook you breakfast to say sorry for keeping you up all night.

Thank you so much, Olivia. Hear, hear! 

About the Author

 

Olivia Lockhart (Livvie to her friends) is an English author who can't quite decide if she wants to write contemporary romance or paranormal romance. Either way, it HAS to be romance.

She loves to write about the underdog, the one who got away, the bits of love stories we can all relate to.

When not writing she can be found drinking wine, cuddling her beloved pooch or with her head buried in a book. 

You can follow Olivia here: X (Twitter)   |  Instagram  |  Tiktok  |  medium.com/@booksbylivvie  |  Goodreads    

Giveaway (International)

 

 

Giveaway to win a signed copy of The Bridesmaid's Brother and a signed copy of Liar (Open INT). To enter, just follow the link below and good luck!

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide 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.