Great, fun read. I’d recommend this book. I don’t normally go for this sort of genre but this took me out of a reading slump and was a great read.

Savvy hasn't had a lucky life. First her mom abandoned her and then her rat of a boyfriend, who she financed, left. She is, however, one who has good friends and the possibility of love in Milo. What happens when her mother shows up? You'll like Savvy,.

A beautiful book about following your dreams and finding friendship and love as well as learning to love yourself. Savannah Curtis is the daughter of singer Persephone Black but has been bought up since age 7 by her aunt.

Thoughtful, polite and too "nice" for some, Savannah, or Savvy as those who know her best call her, longs for a dream, a change. But is she strong enough to get there? Already a bartender at The Martini Club in London, she loves the club vibe, has an imaginative eye for a cocktail and gets on with the other girls who work there.

But she still wants more.

When circumstances have her looking for additional work and she lands a job as a restaurant and bar critic, she suddenly finds herself on the other side of the bar.

Milo suddenly seems interested in her, but can she trust him? Is she ready for romance? As the cocktail recipes are added to with his creations, he leads her to imagine other dreams and fight for them.

But does she have what it takes? Also, her fame as Persephone Black's daughter follows her and she cannot escape her past.

Does she have it in her to be who she always dreamed and let go of people's preconceived opinions of her and her life, or is she ready to wow them and show them the true Savannah?


A novel that shows you have to fight for what you want if you truly want to change your life. Happy, but at times sad and raw. But always with a side of London glitz and glam. And of course, delicious food and cocktails. They were absolutely mouthwatering and the atmosphere of each restaurant and bar was truly unique.

I loved the description of The Martini Club, too.

A must for lovers of cocktails, London nightlife and Sex and the City type tales with added grit and heart. And of course any foodie will love this novel too- I adored the fact tapas were mentioned (I love Spanish food).

The vibrant, cocktail shaker cover is fantastic-I LOVE it!

An utterly perfect book for cocktail lovers like myself.

Thanks to A.L. Michael and Canelo for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. 5 sparkling stars!

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Savvy works at a burlesque club as a bartender and she’s just been dumped by her boyfriend because he found somebody else. Savvy’s life hasn’t been the easiest, her rockstar mother left her when she was a child and she was raised by her aunt. The break up from her boyfriend did actually good for her, because it made her come out of her comfort zone, she wants to take risks and try new things. She decides to take a chance and flirt with another bartender. While dealing with all that, her estranged mother crashes back into her life.

I enjoyed the setting at burlesque club, it was such a unique idea. The characters were lovely and the writing flowed well. I liked the idea of going after your dreams and making them true, being in a comfort zone is comfortable, but doesn’t offer as much possibilities. All in all I quite enjoyed the book.

This is just one of those sweet, feel-good stories, and I really enjoyed it! My only regret is it took me this long to read it!

Whenever I read a book by AL Michael I get cross. No, not with AL Michael but with myself. You see, every book I have read by AL Michael I have enjoyed. I don’t know why I leave it so long in between reading them.

This was the exact thought I had after I finished Cocktails and Dreams.

The story focuses on Savvy. Now Savvy does anything for an easy existence. She stayed with her boyfriend because it was easy. She worked temp jobs because it was easier than figuring out what or who she wanted to be. Add into the mix a flaky musician mum and you can’t help but sympathise with Savvy and her want for a simple kind of life.

However, her world turns upside down when she is dumped by her boyfriend and everything that she thought she knew about herself starts to unravel. But is it for the best?

I genuinely loved Cocktails and Dreams. I couldn’t put it down and it is one of those books that feels like it is over too quickly because you haven’t been able to stop turning the pages. Savvy is a likable lead character and you really root for her throughout.

Another fine job, A.L. Michael. Well done!

Cocktails and Dreams by A.L. Michael is available now.

For more information regarding A.L. Michael (@ALMichael_) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Canelo (@canelo_co) please visit www.canelo.co.

I was offered to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This started off really good with how Savannah Curtis was left with her aunt as her mother was this big singing star who dumped her when she was 7 years old, she's about to walk out on a man who's taken 10 years of her life. Has a job she loves, but just stays in the background.

What happens when she meets a bartender who mixes these drinks and she starts feeling her life could be more. What happens when her mother wants to come into her life after 20 years. Find out what happens between Savannah, Clare aka Persphone Black and Milo (the bartender) in this exciting 1st series of Martini Club.

Loved this book,it's a must read if you like romantic books

I absolutely adored this book! I'm so glad I gave it a go as it has been such a pleasant surprise.

Savvy's mum is a rock star (a very selfish one) and spends her time on tour with her. Savvy just wants to have a normal life and so her mum drops her off with her Aunt and has had very little contact with her mum ever since.

Now that Savvy is all grown up things aren't going so well since she has been dumped by her long term boyfriend. She decides she must figure out what it is she wants to do with her life and we start to see her as a very good cook and cocktail maker.

She starts writing reviews about restaurants she has visited and this is how she gets to meet the lovely Milo and the story really begins.

I shall spoil nothing but I will say this is a book worth picking up as it just fab!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts with the end of her relationship with her boyfriend of nine years but moves on from potential heartbreak to new experiences and a world of possibilities. Having been taken on tour with her rock star mother for most of her life, when she is seven years old Savvy asks for a normal life and her Mum literally dumps her with her aunt. The two have had little interaction since then. Now Savvy works at a burlesque club with some fantastic characters who encourage her to develop her own cooking and cocktail making skills, especially after meeting Milo, a bartender at a different club. As she puts her sensitive palate to the test she learns more about life, love, friends and family - though the return of her Mum puts everything under threat . . . or does it really give her another opportunity?

The growth and development of many of the characters in this story is superb. The novel has a heartwarming plot brought to life in the first book in a new series by this highly talented author. I enjoyed her ventures into checking out other venues, her relationships with others and her developing strength and resolve.  I found it a moving, funny and entertaining novel and I can’t wait to read more in this series in future and, hopefully, to discover how life progresses for Savvy in the process! I have no hesitation in highly recommending this delightful read to anyone who enjoys well crafted contemporary romance with great character development and even a cocktail recipe to indulge yourself with!

I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

A fantastic start to a new, exciting serious. We follow Savvy on her journey from mousy and timid to feisty and strong. Such wonderful characters, delicious drinks and food, and a wonderful backdrop of London.

Savvy is the daughter of an international rockstar and at the age of 7 realised that she wanted a normal life......be careful what you wish for as her mother then dumped her with an aunt and left.

Now being dumped again by her long term boyfriend Savvy wants to do something with her life - she is a real foodie and loves making cocktails - can she do something with that and as Milo an American bartender comes into her life she starts to think maybe she can!

Great book - I loved the character of Savvy and the way she grew into herself working at the Martini Club and am definitely looking forward the to future books in the series

I normally read thrillers so this was a complete change for me. I wasn't sure at first but a couple of chapters in I was really enjoying it, it's light it's fun but there's a bit of drama that kept my attention.
A very enjoyable read would definitely recommend for a chillaxing holiday read.

You can't help but have empathy with Savannah, the central character, from the very first sentence. You can feel where her insecurities might come from and how betrayed she feels by her mother. You are rooting for her from the start and willing her to shake the past off and follow her dreams. But of course, the past and her childhood are powerful pulls on her self confidence.

The story is a lovely mixture of humour and the serious side of life- being abandoned and where you get your security from. Savvy wants to create a safe place for herself, worlds away from the upheaval of her early days with her mother. Snappily written with believable dialogue, I enjoyed going on a journey with Savvy and would actually like to meet her again.

Thanks to publishers for a copy of the book

Cocktails and Dreams was an enjoyable book to read, I loved reading about all the characters I was hooked.
We meet Saffy, who is dumped by her 'wanna be' famous boyfriend and due to this decides to make something of her life. A few delightful characters join her on this journey.
A great book, here's hoping there's a part two as I'm not ready to give Saffy up yet.

This is so much fun! I usually shy away from romance, but I'm so glad I gave this one a chance. Sometimes you just need a book that'll make you feel good. It's very sweet, entertaining, heartfelt, and even funny. The romance doesn't even start really start to gain speed until about the halfway mark. This is every inch a feel-good novel. I loved Savvy. I loved all of the characters. Reading this novel was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. I think it's a nice quick read that will make you smile. It earned a 4.5 with its charm.

The beginning of Cocktails and Dreams starts with an ending... of a dead end relationship. Savannah's boyfriend of nine years unceremoniously dumps her and insinuates he's met someone else. Her friends and family don't think it's a big loss, but she's distraught. Her loved ones point out that he was simply a DJ who occasionally made it into the tabloids who was living off her. She worked two jobs so he could chase his dream. He was a mooch. But to Savvy, he was comfortable... always there, keeping her steady. It's hard to imagine her life without him, but she has to.

Savvy works at a burlesque club... but not on stage. Oh, no... that's for the sparkly women, the beautiful sirens. She's content to blend in. She works as a bartender, and she does it very well. She has a great knack for putting together flavors and keeping her customers happy and coming back for me. When she is recruited to help in the kitchen one night, we also learn that gift extends to food. She may not know her way around a professional kitchen, but she has a natural ability to create delicious food.

Her breakup actually ends up opening Savvy up to new experiences. Suddenly she wants to find her passion. Suddenly she's willing to take risks... even flirt with the bartender she feels a spark with. He encourages her to change her life, and so do her friends and family. In the last decade she's only felt comfortable. It's time to lose the thoughts telling her she just wants to be normal and average. It's time for excitement.

"Just because you don’t shout the loudest or demand everyone’s attention the minute you enter a room does not mean you’re not tough. Tough can be quiet. Being strong is a long-time gig, sweetheart, and you’ve been doing it your whole life."

As if she doesn't have enough on her plate, her estranged mother reappears. Raised by her aunt since she was seven, Savvy wants nothing to do with dear old mom... who is actually a rock star who used her problems with parenting as inspiration for some of her biggest hits. Life is changing though, and perhaps it's time for mother and daughter to hash things out.

I was given an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Canelo, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to admit it was kinda fun. I'll definitely be looking forward to more from this author. I think what I liked the most was that the main character was human. I know it is not science fiction what I meant was that he was normal, with all the flaws you and I have. You could actually relate to him.

Savannah Curtis is the main character. She is just coming out of a long term relationship and you know how that is, yeah she is understandably a bit screwed up. However everyone else thinks its the best thing for her. While she is trying to sort her life out her mother Persephonie Black pop up. Hey when it rains it pours right? But with the help of family and friends she makes it through.

This book is showing as all the pitifuls of fame. If this was a movie I would put it in the chickflic category. Not my normal kind of book but I will admit it had its good parts. I gave it 3.5 stars because there was a hell of a lot of food and a load of cocktails. yeah I know its in the title. You will understand if you read it. Also check out the cocktail at the end :).

Would I recommend this? Yeah it is a fun read. I think you would enjoy it sitting on the beach with a nice cocktail. Enjoy!



*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2080212328

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R10AI4F108XM6C/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This is a clear, uncomplicated, fun-loving read! The perfect accompaniment for a cocktail by the pool. It is nice to have a book every now and again where you don’t have to really concentrate on what you are reading – you know, a real good “chick-lit” or “women’s fiction” as it is now known. I straight away knew that I was going to enjoy this book and could tell that a lot of fun had been had by A. L. Michael whilst creating the imaginary life of Savvy.

Savvy is the daughter of an international singing sensation, and her childhood has shaped her into who she is today; a girl that is always being let down by those she loves the most. Apart from her Aunty Jen of course, who has practically raised her, as her own mother just didn’t seem to have the time. Jen has always given Savvy the stability she needs.

Savvy’s boyfriend of nine years has just walked out on her. Bit of a cheek really as she has has been the one who has paid for everything all this time, the rent and the bills, whilst Rob was trying to “make it” as a professional DJ. So now that he is apparently a celebrity, a z-list one I am sure, he has gone and left. Savvy has put her game face on though and will not show weakness – forget him!

This newfound opportunity is the time for Savvy to restart her life with a clean slate and find out what truly makes her happy… It was a lovely journey to go on with her as she is such an adorable character, and when a hunky cocktail waiter catches her eye, you can only guess what happens next… will her dreams come true?!

I read this cute little book in one sitting and enjoyed every second of it. Canelo Publishers and Netgalley kindly provided me with an ebook copy in return for my opinion – thank you so much to them!

Oh and I cannot wait to try that cheeky little cocktail at the end – sounds divine!

My final word: Delicious!

I am not so into cocktails. Heck, I am not so into alcohol, except maybe for a glass or two of Prosecco. So I can hear you asking, duh, what did you want from a book titled “Cocktails and Dreams”? True – but it was again the synopsis and the lovely bright yellow cover that captured my attention and I just wanted to read this story that turned out to be a great journey of discovering your own dreams and following them.
Though, I must admit, when I started reading the book I started to have this very unsettling feeling that this story is going to be much heavier than I thought it’s going to be and while the serious tone stayed, the writing style has loosen it and there were some funny moments as well.

The story introduces us to Savvy, who is a daughter of a very famous pop star, but also they haven’t been in touch for a very long time and Savvy was brought up by her aunt. But now she’s an adult, moreover, an adult dumped by her boyfriend, and it’s time for her to realize what it is she wants to do with her life. Well, there is a thing she’s really good at – making cocktails, as well as her cooking skills and tastes, which leads to her writing reviews of restaurants – but not normal reviews, oh no! There is a special club…

I really liked the descriptions of the Martini Club where Savvy was working her magic with cocktails. Let’s be honest, it is an unusual place for a heroine to work at, no? But it sounded great, and the group of people working there, especially the boss, were brilliantly supporting. Actually, all the characters were very well portrayed, and I especially liked Savvy’s father and the relationship they had. Savvy herself was down – to – earth girl from your neighbourhood. She loved her job in the bar and she loved creating cocktails and some of them sounded really interesting – even though I am not into cocktails, I’d make exception to try them.

The romance in the story was absolutely believable and I liked how it developed – not too quickly, not too slowly, and it just sounded realistic, with the ups and downs and troubles in paradise. The writing style is also a great advantage, it is sharp and quick and I really enjoyed it.

Altogether, “Cocktails and Dreams” was a fast – paced and multi – layered story describing a journey to self – realisation. It tackled many different aspects and issues, of fame, family and secrets. Fast – paced, with interesting characters that blended well into the scenes and events and were jumping off the pages. It is also the first book in the series and I will be for sure reading the next one. In the meantime, I do recommend this book to you.