🌞 Summer Read ~ Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson

Simon and Schuster 

27 February 2025

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Welcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest venture, Ray’s Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week over a cup of something warming.

Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine?

Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners’ hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits.

Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again.

Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers once a week? 

Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk?

Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage, support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out…

🌞My Review..

For the past couple of afternoons I have spent time with a group of women who could so easily have been my best friends and thanks to this lovely story they remain with me long after I closed the book with a satisfied sigh. There is something really special about this author’s stories and it’s not just the amount of heart and soul she pours into them, or about the snorts of laughter which erupt as I’m reading them, it’s that she just gets inside characters, and brings to the page their hopes and fears, their faults and flaws, their small joys and their whopping big insecurities. They’re all there on the page, relatable people who steal their way into your heart, well the good guys do, the seriously bad ones tend to get their comeuppance in the most perfect of ways.

Same Time Next Week focuses on the lives of five women who each have their share of life’s problems. Finding friendship and support at a weekly meeting, pouring their hearts out to each other over copious amounts of coffee and plates of delicious cookies. They learn how to be strong, how to take a long hard look at their lives and be brave enough to take that second chance when it’s offered especially when they realise that they should never settle for anything less, especially when they deserve so much more. 

Beautifully written, with great dollops of northern humour and laugh out loud funny bits, but also with some really poignant moments which made me shed a little tear. Same Time Next Week is a perfect read for anytime of year but even more so when the sun is shining, we’re in the middle of a heatwave and I have a long cold drink close to hand.

About the Author

Milly Johnson was born raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. A Sunday Times bestseller, she is one of the top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, and with millions of copies of her books sold across the world, Milly’s star continues to rise. Milly writes from the heart about what she knows and highlights the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate love, friendship, and the possibility of second chances. She is an exceptional writer who puts her heart and soul into every book she  writes and every character she creates.

X @millyjohnson #SameTimeNextWeek

X@simonschusterUK 

📖 Pick a shelf Book Review ~ Waiting to Begin by Amanda Prowse

 

It's my mission to read the books which have been left undisturbed on my book shelf for several years, however, with so many current reads dropping through the door or landing on my e-reader, it's not always possible.

Determined to rectify this I have adopted the pick a shelf, seven books along theory and this time my eye spotted the distinctive cover of Waiting to Begin by Amanda Prowse...

Lake Union
2021

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

1984. Bessie is a confident sixteen-year-old girl with the world at her feet, dreaming of what life will bring and what she’ll bring to this life. Then everything comes crashing down. Her bright and trusting smile is lost, banished by shame—and a secret she’ll carry with her for the rest of her life.

2021. The last thirty-seven years have not been easy for Bess. At fifty-three she is visibly weary, and her marriage to Mario is in tatters. Watching her son in newlywed bliss—the hope, the trust, the joy—Bess knows it is time to face her own demons, and try to save her relationship. But she’ll have to throw off the burden of shame if she is to honour that sixteen-year-old girl whose dreams lie frozen in time.

Can Bess face her past, finally come clean to Mario, and claim the love she has longed to fully experience all these years?

📖 My Review..

We meet first meet Bessie when she is on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday when she has the whole world ahead of her and plans for a sparkling future however, the fickle finger of fate shows just how tenuous this ambition can be. When we next meet Bess she is again celebrating a birthday but this time she is is turning fifty-three, married to Mario and her life seems to have been something of a disappointment to her. Over the course of this lovely story we delve into Bessie's past, learn about her mistakes and discover the secret she has kept hidden for such a long time.

I was very quickly emotionally involved in the story and enjoyed the dual timeline. Going back to 1984 when Bessie was a naive and impressionable teenager is done with great insight into what it was like to be filled with a zest for life only to have it knocked away by life's circumstances. Equally the author brings the rather jaded fifty-three year Bess to life, filled with remorse, self doubt and guilt over past secrets. I read the book quickly as it soon becomes one of those lovely immersive stories which really grabs your attention and I wanted to see how this complicated family drama would play out. I wasn't disappointed and closed the book with a great deal of satisfaction of a story well told.

This talented author never fails to disappoint and I have no idea why this lovely story has languished on my book shelf for such a long time as it deserved to have been read long before now. 

About the Author

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose novels, non-fiction titles and  novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today.

Website

Twitter @MrsAmandaProwse #WaitingToBegin

Publication Day Book Review ~ Dad by Steven Manchester

 

 The Story Plant
14 September 2021

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

Three generations of dads, playing traditional roles in each other's lives, arrive simultaneously at significant crossroads. The decisions they make and the actions they take will directly - and eternally - affect each other. After a life of hard work and raising children, Robert is enjoying his well-deserved retirement when he discovers that he has an illness he might not be able to beat. 

At 19, Jonah is sprinting across the threshold of adulthood when he learns, stunningly, that he's going to become a father. And Oliver - Robert's son and Jonah's dad - has entered middle age and is paying its demanding price. While reconciling the time and effort it has taken him to reach an unfulfilling career and an even less satisfying marriage, he realizes that it's imperative that he keep it all together for the two men who mean everything to him. 

When different perspectives lead to misunderstandings that remain unspoken - sometimes for years - it takes great strength and even more love to travel beyond the resentment. Dad: A Novel chronicles the sacred legacy of fatherhood.

Manchester intended for the novel to “pull back the curtain and reveal the inner-workings of male relationships within the family unit.” Since many men have difficulty expressing their emotions, he wanted to change the narrative. Manchester has “endeavored to chronicle the sacred legacy of fatherhood, while capturing the why for many men.”

Raymond A. Levy, founder and director of the Fatherhood Project, said “Dad: A Novel demonstrates the psychological power and importance of fatherhood and a father’s love. This is a welcome addition to the culture’s growing interest in and appreciation for fathers’ emotional engagement with their family.” USA Today bestselling author Robert Dugoni called it, “A must read for men of all ages.” And Greg Bishop, founder of Daddy Boot Camp, said “Few fathers know how important they are to their kids and Steven Manchester's, Dad: A Novel has the potential to show them. Mothers may appreciate it even more.”

My Thoughts..

In Dad we meet three generations of the Earle family, all have different attitudes, hopes and expectations but what draws these three men irrevocably together is that they have a common bond of fatherhood. A grandfather, father and son, all take their specific place in this absorbing story of just what it means to be, quite simply, a dad, and as the old adage goes, any man be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad.

Each of them have their own specific worries which impacts on the story in a meaningful way. Patriarch, Robert, now retired, is facing some distressing health worries and is caught between looking back at his life, and his hopes for the future for his son and grandson. Caught in the middle is Oliver who is at a sort of crossroads and is left worrying about the meaning of his life as a father caught up in an unsatisfactory marriage, whilst his son, Jonah, at just nineteen, with his life drifting ahead of him, discovers that, unexpectedly, he is going to be a dad for the first time. As these three very different men face up to the challenges of their lives, they each learn something important about themselves, and each other, in the process.

As always this talented author gets right into the heart of family life and brings meaning and understanding to these important cross generational dilemmas and shows how, with love and kindness, one generation can help those who are following in their footsteps. If we are honest with ourselves all family relationships are complicated and perhaps none more so than for dads who wear so many different guises through the course of their lives, and I think this story shows their vulnerability, along with their strengths.

Dad is a heartwarming, and rather poignant, multi-generational story about the poignancy of ever changing family dynamics, the bonds of fatherhood and the choice of learning from mistakes and going forward into a new understanding of what it means to be , quite simply, a dad.

About the Author

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin’ Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoe boxes; the multi award-winning novel, Goodnight Brian; and the beloved holiday podcast drama, The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show and BET’s Nightly News.

Twitter @authorSteveM

Website

@TheStoryPlant

Amazon

📖 Blog Tour ~ The Girl in the Picture by Melissa Wiesner

 

  Thrilled to be on this blog tour today

Bookouture
23 August 2021

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book
and the invitation to the blog tour

You can run from your past, but your secrets will always follow…

Growing up, Tegan’s big brother Jamie did whatever he could to protect her from their troubled parents. But now he’s sick, and Tegan knows his only hope of recovery is taking him far away from the family secrets that still haunt them both. She packs her bags and begins searching for a safe place for them to go.

Trusting other people has only ever lead to pain, but down to her last dollar, Tegan shares a ride with fellow traveler Jack. Just like her, he won’t talk about his home: and as the miles fly by, the unlikely pair grow close.

Arriving in a remote town in the mountains where no one knows her name, Tegan starts to breathe easy. She’ll bring Jamie here, and they’ll finally start over. But then she notices the photos and newspaper clippings in the trunk of Jack’s car. Who is the woman in every frame? And why does she look so familiar…?

Tegan knows the only way to protect herself, and keep her dark family history locked away, is to discover more about the woman in Jack’s photos. But when she does, will the truth help her and Jamie build a new life, or will it tear them apart forever?

An absolutely heartbreaking and powerful novel about the lies we tell ourselves, how far we’d go to protect the ones we love, and what it means to be lost. Perfect for fans of Kerry Fisher, Diane Chamberlain, and Kerry Lonsdale.

📖 My thoughts..

The Girl in the Picture begins with a chance encounter at a roadside diner but for Jack and Tegan the meeting is not without its problems as both of them are escaping painful memories. With not much in common, Jack and Tegan are thrown together on a road trip across some beautiful parts of America, and with overnight stops at tiny run down motels and in picturesque small towns, Jack and Tegan eventually start to open up to each other, but with some pretty heavy stuff going on in both their lives, the odds of a successful relationship between them seems little more than a pipe dream.

What then follows is a lovely story which gradually reveals how these two lonely people have become so damaged. It would appear that both Jack and Tegan are searching for something special but neither of them realise the power of what they have until it's too late. The author writes with a lovely light touch with scenes which made me smile however, I think what makes this story all the more poignant  is that there are some important aspects of the story which deal compassionately with grief and loss. Throughout The Girl in the Picture I felt an emotional connection to both of the characters and as their individual stories are gradually revealed, I only wanted what was best for both Jack and Tegan.

With wonderful characters who move quietly into your heart, and filled with all the charm of small town America, The Girl in the Picture is a lovely, warm-hearted story which delights from start to finish.

About the Author

Melissa Wiesner is a night-owl who began writing novels about five years ago when her early-to-bed family retired for the evening. In 2019, she won the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® Award in the Mainstream Fiction Category for her first novel. Melissa holds two Master’s Degrees in Public Health and Community Agency Counseling. Her day job is in Social Work where she often encounters people knocked down by hard times but who pick themselves up and keep going, just like the characters of her novels. Melissa lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her charming husband and two adorable children.

Twitter @Melissa_Wiesner  #TheGirlInThePicture

 @bookouture #BooksonTour

Website

Amazon

📖 Book Review ~ Will This House Last Forever? by Xanthi Barker

 

Tinder Press
24 June 2021

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

When Xanthi Barker's father died when she was in her mid twenties, she could make no sense of her grief for a man who had been absent for most of her life. Her father, poet Sebastian Barker, had left Xanthi, her mother and her brother to pursue writing and a new relationship, when Xanthi was a baby. Growing up she had always struggled to reconcile his extravagant affection - a rocking horse crafted from scavenged wood, the endless stream of poems and drawings and letters, conversations that spiralled from the structure of starlight to philosophy to Bruce Springsteen - with the fact that he could not be depended upon for more everyday things. Though theirs was a relationship defined by departures, he always returned, so why should this farewell be any different, or more final?

Will This House Last Forever? is a heartfelt and wholly original memoir about the pain of having to come to terms with a parent's mortality, the way grief so utterly defies logic, and about learning to see the flaws in those that we love, and let them go.

📖 My thoughts..

In this expressive memoir, Xanthi Barker explores her thoughts and feelings after the death of her father, Sebastian Barker, in 2014. That her poet father was such an important figure in her life is obvious and though she never doubted his love for her there's also a sense of disappointment as by her own admission he was something of an absent father. 

From the beginning of the book, Xanthi is filled with a longing for father not to be dead and yet it is very much about the effect that his death has had on her, not only in coming to terms with the complexity of the grieving process, but also in the rawness and immediacy of her loss. 

Will this House Last Forever? is a very personal account of the author's search for meaning, her yearning to understand more about the complex nature of her relationship with her father, and of her devastation when he was no longer present in her life. 

I found Will This House Last Forever? to be a poignant, and very honest look at a complex father-daughter relationship especially when that relationship has been flawed by disappointments and indifference. However, for all its strong message that loss endures, by the end of the book, there is also a sense of love, and the life-affirming hope that Xanthi's future, without her father, and regardless of his faults and failings, is undeniably intact.

About the Author

Xanthi Barker was born in London where she lives, and works in education. Her stories have been published in magazines including Litro and Mslexia, have been performed at Liar’s League, and have been shortlisted for the Fish Prize. She won the 2017 The Short Story Prize and her piece ‘Paradoxical’ was highly commended in the 2018 Spread the Word Life Writing Prize. Her novelette One Thing was published by Open Pen.

Twitter @xanthibarker #WillThisHouse

@tinderpress

Blog Tour ~ When the Music Stops by Joe Heap

  

Thrilled to host one of today's Blog Tour stops 

Harper Collins
29 October 2020

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book
and the invitation from Random Things Tours to join in with this blog tour

This is the story of Ella. And Robert. And of all the things they should have said, but never did.

‘What have you been up to?’ 

I shrug, ‘Just existing, I guess.’ 

‘Looks like more than just existing.’ 

Robert gestures at the baby, the lifeboat, the ocean. 

‘All right, not existing. Surviving.’ 

He laughs, not unkindly. ‘Sounds grim.’

 ‘It wasn’t so bad, really. 

But I wish you’d been there.’ 

Ella has known Robert all her life. Through seven key moments and seven key people their journey intertwines. From the streets of Glasgow during WW2 to the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll of London in the 60s and beyond, this is a story of love and near misses. Of those who come in to our lives and leave it too soon. And of those who stay with you forever…

What did I think about it..

When the Music Stops is a fascinating look through all the myriad facets which make up the minutiae of a life. From childhood, through to the infirmity of old age, we follow the story of Ella and Robert from their school days in wartime Glasgow, through to the London of the swinging sixties, and beyond, and each time their lives intertwine so little pieces of themselves are left behind.

Through seven important key points and with a continuous love for music, Ella's life is explored in detail, gently examining those moments which have been so important to her. Moving as it does between time frames, we begin to understand more about Ella, not just her past, but also her present, her regrets, and her successes, all of which give credence to her world which, in her eighties, has begun to be confusing to her.

I enjoyed following Ella's journey through her fascinating life and the interesting way the story evolves helps to keep everything flowing in a thought-provoking way. Ella's colourful life as a musician comes to life, in particular through the music scores which are scattered like jewels throughout the more pertinent moments of her life.

Taking inspiration from his own grandparents story, the author has written a beautifully, described look at love, loss, regrets and, ultimately, the treasure of keeping alive the memory of those people who capture our heart forever.

About the Author

Joe Heap was born in 1986 and grew up in Bradford, the son of two teachers. His debut novel The Rules of Seeing won Best Debut at the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards in 2019 and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Reader Awards. Joe lives in London with his girlfriend, their two sons and a cat who wishes they would get out of the house more often.

Twitter @Joe_Heap_ #When the MusicStops

@fictionpubteam

@RandomTTours

Featured Book of the Month ~ You and Me by Nicola Rayner

Avon 
1 October 2020

My thanks to the publishers for my ecopy of this book

 

Watching sunrises together should have been romantic.But you were always inside with your wife, and I sat in your garden, in the shadows. I thought you’d never know how I felt about you.

Until one night, I witnessed a terrible crime.

I wanted it to bring us closer together. But now the secrets are tumbling out.

And they could tear everything apart…

What did I think about it..

You and Me is a creepy little story which takes the meaning of stalking to a whole new level. Fran has been obsessed with Charles Fry since they were at school. Now in her mid-thirties, Fran is reluctant to live her lonely life without some sort of contact with Charles as she really believes that they were meant to be together. However, Charles is married, with a beautiful wife, and twin daughters, and by comparison, Fran is frumpy, old before her time, and doesn't compare favourably. 

What then follows is a well put together study in toxic relationships as not only does the book focus on Fran's obsession with Charles but it also features a mystery concerning the whereabouts of  Ellie, Fran's younger sister, and her niece, Rose, who she can only contact sporadically, via Facebook.

The story is quite dark in places and opens up several terrible secrets from Fran's past all of which come to light when she witnesses something catastrophic on the London Underground. This dreadful situation acts as a catalyst for how the rest of the story eventually plays out. The characterisation throughout is excellent and even though you know Fran's obsession borders on the dangerous, she is never vindictive or cruel, in fact she's rather a sad and lost figure, I really came to like her and could understand why she acted in the way that she did. However,throughout the story there's definitely a creeping sort of menace which the author uses to great advantage and which fills you with a sense of dread as the story progresses. 

It's not often I don't figure out what's going on well before the final denouement but in You and Me I really didn't see what was coming and that is what makes this story such a compulsive and addictive sort of read and it's why I'm delighted to have it as my Featured Book of the Month 😊

About the Author

Nicola Rayner was born in Abergavenny, south Wales, and works as a freelance journalist, specialising in dance and travel. The Girl Before You, her debut novel, was runner-up in the Cheltenham First Novel Competition in 2018. She lives in London with her husband and Jack Russell.

Twitter @Nico1aRayner #YouandMe

@AvonBooksUK

Blog Tour ~ The Girl You Forgot by Giselle Green

 

Boldwood Books
11 August 2020

My thanks to the author, publisher and Rachel's Random Resources
for my ecopy of this book and the invitation to the blog tour

Does the heart never really forget?

When Ava’s partner Will is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, the doctors give Will one chance to survive - an operation which means he will lose his recent memory. Ava begs him to take the chance, sure that she can cope with Will forgetting her. After all, they have something very special to live for.

But they are also keeping a heart-breaking secret, and if Will loses his memory, Ava will have to carry that secret alone.

Can they rebuild their love from scratch or will their secrets and past come between them? Will Ava really be a stranger when Will wakes up – or does the heart never really forget…

What did I think about it..

Memories make us who we are and create an anchor point for both the important and the mundane activities of our lives. To have those memories removed so that they are gone forever is the worrying situation facing Ava's partner, Will, who after surgery on a brain tumour, knows that a chunk of his recent memory will have gone. He no longer remembers his life with Ava and other than she is pretty and kind, Will has no knowledge of their three year relationship.

What then follows is a thoughtful story which puts into focus all those little nuances that go into the making of a relationship. That there are secrets in Ava and Will's life is obvious from the start, so it was interesting to see just how their individual dilemmas unfolded, as each have so much to lose, and so much to gain by being as honest as they can with each other. And that of course is where the difficulty lies, as how can you be honest when you can't or don't want to remember?

The story flows well and I enjoyed reading the chapters from both Ava and Will's point of view,  I think that the author succeeds in bringing their different personalities alive. There were times when I struggled to like both of them but I think that is what makes this story so relatable, after all, we can't all be nice all the time! I enjoyed meeting the other characters who flit into and out of the story as they each add their own personalities, and different strengths, to the story as it unfolds.

I have now read several of this author's work, so I know that she does these relationship stories very well and The Girl You Forgot is another good example of taking a difficult subject, something this author doesn't shy away from, and delivering a story about life, love and loss in a relatable and meaningful way.

About the Author

Giselle Green is an award winning, bestselling contemporary women's fiction author. Mum to six boys (half of whom have flown the nest) and owner of one bright orange and cinnamon canary who hopefully never will, Giselle enjoys creating emotionally gripping storylines about family and relationships.

Twitter @gisellegreenuk

Facebook

BookBub

Newsletter Sign Up

Amazon UK

Featured Book ~ Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan

🌠 It's the first of the month and my featured book is Little Disasters 🌠 

Simon & Schuster
2 April 2020
My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

You think you have the perfect family.

But everything can be broken.

Liz and Jess have been friends for ten years, ever since they both started a family. But how well do they really know each other?

When Jess arrives at hospital with a story that doesn’t add up, Liz is the doctor on call.

Jess has devoted her life to family and home. But she is holding so many secrets.

As the truth begins to emerge, Liz is forced to question everything she thought she knew: about Jess, and about herself. 

When something feels so personal, how do you stay professional? 

What did I think about it..

Liz's work as a hospital paediatric doctor brings her into contact with different levels of trauma, some of which are caused accidentally, whilst others need more investigation, however, they all leave Liz with a feeling of professional unease, but she knows, deep down, that whatever her personal feelings, her responsibility always has to be in the best interest of her young patients.  When her friend, Jess arrives at the hospital with her baby, 10 month old Betsey, Liz is caught between professional duty and genuine concern about what has happened to both Betsey and Jess.

Beautifully described in emotional detail what follows is a multi layered and complex story which looks minutely at the overwhelming notion of complicated motherhood, especially when the nurturing instinct is controlled by feelings of anxiety which threaten to spiral out of control.

Emotionally taut and desperately sad in places, Little Disasters, is a real roller coaster of a read which leaves you wanting to reach into the page and hug the characters close but even as you watch the jigsaw puzzle pieces start to slot together you can't help but wonder if there is more to this story than is being revealed and, of course, this talented author doesn't disappoint or shy away from describing difficult subjects. The torment of maternal culpability, the sheer anxiety of knowing something is wrong and not being able to fix it, and the awful dilemma of a doctor whose professional duty goes far beyond the bounds of friendship.

Little Disasters is another absolute triumph from this talented author whose writing just goes from strength to strength with each succeeding novel.  I wasn't sure how she would top the excellent Anatomy of a Scandal but Little Disasters is a worthy addition to her collection of exceptional stories. 

About the Author

©Phil Mynott

Sarah Vaughan is a former journalist who now lives in Cambridge with her family. This is her third novel.

Twitter @SVaughanAuthor #LittleDisasters

Website

@simonschusteruk

Waterstones

Amazon UK

Book Review ~ The Marseille Millionaire by Kaya Quinsey Holt

Coco Rose Books
January 2020

My thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book

While selling a million-dollar home in Marseille, will Elise Laird cash in at her chance at love?

From Ashfield, USA, to Marseille in the South of France – this is a romance not to be forgotten! The first in a new series following ambitious Elise Laird in her struggle to achieve more than she ever imagined for herself… all in the heart of the South of France!

Elise Laird has just sold the most expensive home in the history of Ashfield, USA, at $4.2 million dollars. The French multimillionaire whose home she sold is thrilled – so much so that he recommends her to a fellow French friend. And when Luc Dubonier steps off of his private jet with the intention of investing in some of Ashfield’s best properties, Elise is shocked to find that the successful tycoon is single.

At least, until she gets to know him. In a series of blunders, Elise learns that Luc may be tough in business, but couldn’t imagine anyone’s personal life being more of a mess. After she impresses him with her sales pitches, Luc asks her to do one more sale for him – his $88 million home in Marseille, France. 

When Elise arrives in France, she learns that there is more to the house, and Luc, than meets the eye. If she sells the house, the commission check will be more than her lifetime salaries combined. But after learning why he is selling it, Elise finds herself conflicted, wanting to convince Luc to keep it. 

Will Elise choose between her bank account or her heart? And while selling million-dollar homes, will Elise cash in her chance at love?

What did I think about it..

What a lovely time I have had escaping into the sunshine of this story which moves effortlessly from its lovely beginning in the USA, to the beautiful French resort of Marseille.

Elise Laird is in real estate and enjoys selling high end properties to the rich, so when she is recommended by a wealthy French client to help out with a property search for a friend of his, Elise is only too pleased to try and help out and is especially intrigued when she learns that her handsome new client, Luc Dubonier, is deliciously single. Elise is intrigued when Luc asks her not only to find him an exclusive property in the US, but also to sell a fabulous property, which is worth millions of dollars. The only complication is that Luc's property is situated in far away, Marseilles, France.

What then follows is a delightful story which is both sweetly romantic and unashamedly feel good and the author does a great job of keeping the story alive with some great characterisation along with a story which brings the delightful allure of Marseilles into the narrative. The author writes well and keeps the momentum of the story intriguing so that I enjoyed spending time with both Elise and Luc as they discover more about themselves, life and ultimately, love.

I found the The Marseille Millionaire to be the perfect antidote for the troubled times which we are currently experiencing.

About the Author

Kaya Quinsey Holt writes romantic comedies. She holds her undergraduate and masters degree in psychology. Her first novel, Paris Mends Broken Hearts, was released in April 2018. Since then, her books have sold in seven countries. They have been translated into multiple languages and been formatted into audiobooks. Kaya's passion for culture, travel, and psychology intertwine for books that are romantic and full of surprises.

Website

Twitter @kayaquinseyholt

Amazon.com

Blog Tour ~ How to Carry Fire by Christina Thatcher

✯ Delighted to open this Poetry Blog Tour ✯

Parthian Books
1 April 2020

My thanks to Isabelle Kenyon and the publishers for my ecopy of these poems
and  the invitation to be part of the tour

How to Carry Fire was born from the ashes of family addiction. Beginning with the burning down of her childhood home, Thatcher explores how fire can both destroy and cleanse. Her work recognises embers everywhere: in farmhouses, heroin needles, poisonous salamanders. Thatcher reveals how fire is internalised and disclosed through anxiety, addiction, passion and love. Underneath and among the flames runs the American and Welsh landscapes – locations which, like fire itself, offer up experiences which mesmerise, burn and purify. This poignant second collection reminds us of how the most dangerous and volatile fires can forge us – even long after the flames have died down.

What did I think about it..

How to Carry Fire is a very interesting collection of poetry which explores the meaning of family memories and personal anxieties in a different and thought provoking way.

In turn both stark and unforgiving the idea of ritual cleansing through fire seems to be the recurring theme which cuts like a knife, and as the poet seeks to expunge personal memories which threaten at times to engulf her, so we travel through her thoughts and, at times, rather raw feelings.

Beautifully written with an expressionism which reiterates the strength of feeling and motivation, I was quite mesmerised by the poignant simplicity of some of the poems which are nicely juxtaposed alongside the strength of  the poet's personal observations.

Poetry can either comfort  or challenge, and on reflection after reading this collection, I would be inclined to place How to Carry Fire in the latter category. Daring, stimulating but also, at the same time, inspiring,  How to Carry Fire is a thought provoking collection, from start to finish.

About the Author

Shortlisted for the Bare Fiction Debut Poetry Collection Competition in 2015 and a winner in the Terry Hetherington Award for Young Writers in 2016, Christina Thatcher’s poetry and short stories have featured in over 40 publications including The London Magazine, Planet Magazine, And Other Poems, Acumen and The Interpreter’s House. Her first collection, More than you were, was published by Parthian Books in 2017.

Twitter @WRITETOEMPOWER #HOWTOCARRYFIRE

@PARTHIANBOOKS

Blog Tour ~ The First Time I Saw You by Emma Cooper

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to be part of this blog tour

Headline Review
9 January 2020

My thanks to the publishers and Random Things Tours for my copy of this book
and the invitation to be part of the blog tour

Lost: Six-foot-two Irish man who answers to the name Samuel McLaughlin. Has weak shins and enjoys show tunes. If found, please return to Sophie Williams. Before Sophie met Samuel she saw the world in grey. 

Before Samuel met Sophie, he never believed in love at first sight. When they first meet, something tells them they are meant to be. But fate has other ideas. Now they have lost each other and can't see a way back. But they've already changed each other's lives in more ways than they ever expected...

What did I think about it..

Sophie Williams is a business woman par excellence, she is undoubtedly good at what she does and certainly does in everything in both her work and home life to the best of her ability. Her time spent on business in New York is never wasted but Sophie rarely spends any free time there, that is until a handsome stranger catches her eye and changes her world forever.

Samuel McLaughlin takes life as it comes, he’s happy and gregarious, full of Irish charm and banter and completely blown away by his first sight of the beautiful Sophie Williams. A perfect week spent together in the glorious setting of New York is the stuff of dreams. However, fate has a funny way of interfering, and life can, and often does, change in a heart beat.

What then follows is one of the most wonderful stories I’ve read in a long time. It’s funny and sad, heartbreaking and heartwarming, filled with love and loaded with angst and so believably real that I half expected to see both Sophie and Sam sitting in my living room as I read their individual stories.

There’s no way I’m going to spoil this story by telling you anything about it as it really does deserve to be read without any idea of where the story is going, so, all I’ll say is that you should pick an afternoon when your diary is empty, brew a large pot of your favourite tea or coffee, open a family size packet of chocolate digestives and immerse yourself in the beautiful world this talented author has created, and oh, yes, have a giant size box of tissues handy, as believe me, you’ll need them!

I don’t often find a candidate for my ‘book of the year’ list in the first week of the year but The First Time I Saw You is most definitely already on my list.

About the Author

Emma Cooper is a former teaching assistant, who lives in Shropshire with her partner and four children. She spends her spare time writing novels, drinking wine and watching box-sets with her partner of twenty-four years, who still makes her smile every day. Emma has always wanted to be a writer - ever since childhood, she’s been inventing characters (her favourite being her imaginary friend ‘Boot’) and is thrilled that she now gets to use this imagination to bring to life all of her creations.

 Twitter @ItsEmmacooper  #TheFirstTimeISawYou

Instagram at @itsemmacooper

@headlinepg

#RandomThingsTours

Book Review ~ Home Truths by Tina Seskis

Lake Union Publishing
1 December 2019

My thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book

A strong marriage can cope with the unexpected. But can it survive the unimaginable?

American nanny Eleanor was never meant to meet Alex. But when she walks into his London police station to report a stalker, everything changes for them both. He’s convinced he can protect her from anything and anyone. She hopes her darkest days are behind her.

As they settle into their life together, two hundred miles away another young couple faces an uncertain future. Christie knows Paul is a decent man, but she can’t shake a clairvoyant’s warning: ‘Never trust your husband . . .’ When a work trip tests their bond, will she overcome her fears for the sake of her family?

Ten years later, both couples are still together, for better or worse. But as doubts and resentments begin bubbling steadily to the surface, all four of them start to question the choices they’ve made.

What did I think about it..

When Eleanor walks into a London Police Station she is unaware of just how her life is about to change when she meets the charismatic young police officer who takes her complaint of having a stalker seriously. What then follows is a cleverly plotted psychological thriller which keeps the story moving along at a suspenseful pace.

Intertwining two complex stories is no mean feat and yet, the author does a great job of building a rapport between the reader and the main characters so that an emotional bond is formed with all of them. On the surface we have two very different families who, seemingly, have no relationship whatsoever, and yet as things start to be revealed so the tension in the story gets tighter.

I can't say too much about the main focus of the plot as that would really give the game away and this is a complex story which is definitely best read with no preconceived idea of the direction it is heading.  I so enjoyed the challenge of trying to piece together all the pieces of the puzzle and, most unusually, for me, I didn't see the twist coming, so that when it hit me I enjoyed thinking over the cleverness of the overall plot.

I've now read several of this author's work and each successive story seems to get stronger, with I think, Home Truths being one of my favourites to date.

About the Author

Tina Seskis grew up in Hampshire , and after graduating from the University of Bath spent over twenty years working in marketing and advertising.She is the author of two other novels, One Step Too Far and A Serpentine Affair. Tina lives in London with her husband and son.

Website

Twitter @tinaseskis #HomeTruths

@AmazonPub

Home Truth is is available to buy from Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ A Cornish Affair by Jo Lambert

☀ It's great to be involved in this summer blog tour ☀

Choc Lit
18 June 2019

My thanks to the author, publisher, and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of this book
and the invitation to be part of this summer blog tour

In the close-knit community of Carrenporth in Cornwall everyone knows everyone else’s business. Luke Carrack is only too aware of this. He’s been away for two years but nothing has changed – from the town gossips who can’t see past the scandal of his childhood, to the cold way he is treated by some of his so-called family.

The only person who seems to understand is local hotelier’s daughter Cat Trevelyan, although even Luke’s new friendship with her could set tongues wagging.

But Carrenporth is about to experience far bigger scandals than the return of Luke Carrack – and the secrets unearthed in the process will shake the sleepy seaside town to its core.

What did I think about it..

I've spent an enjoyable couple of afternoons in the beautiful Cornish town of Carrenporth, getting to know Cat Trevelyan, whose family owns one of the local hotels, and the blissfully handsome, Luke Carrack, whose return to the town, after an absence, is causing something of a  consternation amongst the ladies.

Throughout A Cornish Affair there's a real sense of community, and the little Cornish town comes alive with all of its quirky characters. I especially enjoyed getting to know Cat and her family, and of the role they play in the local community, and in particular, the antics of Aunt 'Em' and her friends made me smile, and yet, it is in Cat's burgeoning relationship with the enigmatic, Luke Carrack where the story starts to get a more complicated romantic edge.

Whilst the story is undoubtedly about love and relationships, and believe me, Cat and Luke don't make things easy for themselves, it's also about family, friendship, and the ties of  loyalty and of the deep and, sometimes, complicated secrets which can so often linger if left unchallenged for far too long.

I enjoyed the way the author immerses the reader and makes everything feel so believable, so that the pages almost turn themselves. I was really sorry to say goodbye to all of the characters, especially Cat and Luke, but I guess that's the sign of a good story which has been well told.

A Cornish Affair is a lovely summer story which is such a joy to read on a lazy afternoon. So tuck yourself away in your favourite shady spot, with a glass of something ice cold to hand, and escape to the Cornwall of this talented author's imagination.

About the Author

Jo Lambert lives on the eastern edge of Bath with her husband, one small grey feline called Mollie and a green MGB GT. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. She has been writing since 2008. Her first five books, a set of linked romantic sagas following the lives of several families in West Somerset, was followed in 2015 by Summer Moved On, a contemporary romance set in South Devon. A sequel, Watercolours in the Rain followed in 2017, 

In June 2018 Jo signed to Choc Lit and her debut A Cornish Affair, set in North Cornwall, has just been published. Jo is currently working on another coastal romance, this time set in South Cornwall.

When she isn't writing she reads and reviews. She also has an active blog. Jo loves travel, red wine and rock music and she often takes the odd photograph or two.

 Blog

Facebook 

Twitter @jolambertwriter

@rararesources

@choclituk

Purchase Link