📖 Book Review ~ The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling

Simon &Schuster
August 2025

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

 

Set on the wild edge of Cumbria, close to the Scottish border, The Forest Hideway promises a gorgeously remote and romantic autumn escape, full of hope, friendship and new beginnings.

Saskia is building a home for herself out of the ruins of an old castle. Surrounded by forest, hidden away from everyone and everything, the place is special - it’s the only connection she has left to her father and it’s a hard-won chance to escape from her difficult past and create a new future. She’s spent her whole life trying to find a way to make this project work and finding someone to help her realise her dream has been almost impossible.

When local builder Owen finally signs up to manage the construction, things get off to a very bad start. But forced to find a way to work together, both realise that first impressions aren’t always the right ones, and when Owen discovers the forest is hiding a secret that could bring work to a halt, he realises he’s much more invested in the project – and Saskia – than he thought.

📖My Review..

The beauty of its Cumbrian woodland location sets the scene for a delightful story which introduces us to Saskia who is doing all she can to preserve the integrity of an ancient castle which is surrounded by forest and which is in a sorry state of disrepair. Employing a local builder to oversee the construction and preservation is a daunting task however, Owen is just as committed to the beauty of  Gair and regardless of opposition from local people both he and Saskia continue with the dream of bringing the castle back to life.

This is a lovely story which focuses on the beauty of the landscape, the pitfalls of preserving something so old whilst at the same adhering to all the rules and regulations which are involved with an ancient building. With its air of melancholy, and with a majestic oak tree at the heart of the project, Gair Castle comes alive and as the surrounding forest starts to give up its secrets so we discover that there is far more going on in this forest hideaway than we could have imagined.

I especially enjoyed the relationship, which developed slowly, between Saskia and Owen, each have their own personal problems to work through and there are several difficulties along the way all of which added an interesting dimension to the story. The Forest Hideaway is a well written story about taking a chance when the odds are stacked against you and of finding friendship, love and a fresh start along the way.

About the Author

Sharon started her career as an entertainment journalist, writing non-fiction books about film and television. She is also the author of multiple children's books. Sharon and her husband live in a small village in northern Cumbria. 

X@simonschusterUK #TheForestHideaway

🌞 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 

📖 Book Review ~ Six Poppies by Lisa Carter

 

Penguin
Michael Joseph
30 January 2025

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Afghanistan, 2007. Carl meets Sarah, a nurse, at Camp Bastion and they feel an instant connection. But she’s the girlfriend of his fellow soldier, Danny, so he pledges to keep his distance.

Finally back in England, Carl vows to never forget those who didn't make it home, honouring each of them with a tattoo of a poppy. While many miles away, Sarah tries to forget the man she swore to leave behind.

But when Carl and Sarah are thrown back together, it’s clear that both of them are broken. But do the scars of what they went through run to deep, or is there a chance they can find happiness again, together…

📖 My Review..

There is no doubt that the war in Afghanistan left its mark on those service personnel who fought and died there. Six Poppies is an emotional story which, although fiction, is based on factual experiences and highlights the difficulties of adapting to life when you feel you have lost everything and of the horrors of PTSD, which so often goes untreated.

Carl and Sarah meet at Camp Bastion and although there’s an instant connection between them Sarah is the girl friend of Danny, Carl’s fellow soldier, and is therefore off limits. With emotions running high and danger never far away this group of soldiers bond together like brothers , they feel loss sharply and grieve keenly for those who never make it home. Back in England, Carl picks up the pieces of his life, honouring his lost comrades with a poppy design inked onto his back by a talented tattooist. However, even though his life is returning to some semblance of a new normal, Carl can never forget Sarah and the dream of what might have been…

This beautiful story is told from both Carl and Sarah’s perspective, we find out more about them, their lives going forward and the hurt they each carry within them. And as each beautiful poppy is etched painfully into skin we learn the significance of each one, the memories evoked, and the raw pain of not being able to do more for those who lost their lives. Carl and Sarah’s story broke my heart into a million pieces and as their connection becomes ever more irresistible so we learn more about the harsh reality of living life broken in mind and spirit.

Poignant, beautiful, emotionally charged, this is one love story which will stay with me for a long time.

About the Author

Lisa Carter is a journalist who has worked for The Sun, The Mirror and the Daily Mail where she edited the Femail pages for over ten years. She lives in London with her husband and three sons.

X @MichaellJBooks #SixPoppies

 

📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ A Duke of One's Own by Emma Orchard

Boldwood
22 April 2024

Thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Summer, 1816. A notorious rebel is about to meet her match...

Lady Georgiana Pendlebury is no stranger to breaking the rules of polite society. But when a so-called ‘friend’ invites her to a clandestine party, Georgiana is shocked to discover the event is more scandalous than even she could have imagined. So when a mysterious stranger offers help, she accepts, not realising their encounter will turn her life upside down.

Later that summer, Georgiana is invited to attend a house party at an infamous castle in Yorkshire. The gathering is a loosely veiled effort to arrange a marriage for the Duke of Northriding, who desperately needs an heir. Duke Gabriel Mauleverer has a terrible reputation as a rake, and Georgiana is happy to be a guest purely for the entertainment, but upon arrival, she is shocked to discover that the Duke is none other than the stranger who rescued her weeks earlier.

As the other ladies vie for the Duke’s attention, Georgiana is desperate to avoid their shocking secret getting out. But she finds herself caught, unable to avoid Gabriel’s gaze. Are they a threat to each other? Or could they be the answer to each other’s greatest desires?

My Review..

Lady Georgiana Pendlebury isn't your usual Regency miss, she enjoys a rather unconventional lifestyle which inevitably leads her into trouble. Her meeting, one night, with a mysterious stranger changes the course of both their lives and brings unexpected results. Whilst the Silver Duke has his own rather louche lifestyle, he can't get this beautiful stranger out of his mind and when he meets her again, sparks fly in more ways than one.

This is a lively, and rather spicy, romp through the vagaries of Regency society where there is never a dull moment as we observe as aged roués gather in the jaded decadence of a London salon, to the starkness of a Yorkshire castle where prospective brides are paraded in front of Gabriel Mauleverer, Duke of Northriding, as he attempts to pick out his future wife.  I raced through the story in a couple of afternoons, there's a nice amount of intrigue to keep interest, and lots of sparky passion between the lead characters and whilst the peripheral characters add interest this really is Georgie and Gabriel's story. 

A Duke of One's Own has a hint of a modern day Georgette Heyer, the narrative is authentic, no modernisms to spoil the flow, and whilst it is unashamedly sexy, it is also super duper romantic.

About the Author

Emma Orchard was born in Salford. She studied English Literature at the Universities of Edinburgh and York, before working behind the scenes in publishing and television for many years. Her first job was at Mills & Boon, where she met her husband in a classic enemies-to-lovers romance. She now lives in North London.

X @EmmaOrchardB #ADukeofOnesOwn

@BoldwoodBook

📖 Book Review ~ A Lady to Treasure by Marianne Ratcliffe

Bellows Press
15 October 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Louisa Silverton is the daughter of a wealthy American businessman, brought up to believe a healthy profit is the only route to happiness. With the family company over-leveraged and in need of a capital injection, she travels to England to find a rich husband.

The Honourable Miss Sarah Davenport has no time for romance. The family estate of Kenilborough is mired in debt and only she can save it. Unconventional and outspoken, Sarah is dismayed that somebody as intelligent and attractive as Louisa is willing to sacrifice herself for financial gain.

As Louisa pursues her campaign, Sarah realises her objections to the project run deeper than mere principles. At the same time, Louisa finds herself captivated by Sarah's independent spirit. Yet to indulge their unexpected passion would surely mean the ruin of both their families. Bound by duty, will they ever be free to follow their hearts?

📖 My Review..

An interesting twist to the classic Regency romance which this time focuses on the burgeoning relationship between Louisa, who is the daughter of an American businessman, and Sarah Davenport whose family is in financial difficulties.  Louisa is sent to England by her father in order to save the family’s finances only to discover that Sarah, on a nearby estate, disapproves of Louisa’s quest for a rich husband.  The two women have a rapport from the start and as a gentle romance starts to blossom so we start to learn more about their characters and what they want from life.

There’s much to enjoy in this gentle sapphic romance. I enjoyed getting to know both Louisa and Sarah along with the rest of the characters who flit into, and out of this charming story. The historical aspects are done well, especially the constraints placed, by Regency society, on women who were so often viewed only by their marriageable status. The romantic attraction between Louisa and Sarah is gentle and charming and adds a nice heart-warming element to the story.

Overall, A Lady to Treasure has much to offer in terms of Regency history and family drama with a nice sense of romance thrown into the mix.

About the Author

Marianne Ratcliffe grew up in Lincolnshire. A biochemist by training, she has always found creating new worlds and interesting characters every bit as rewarding as discoveries at a laboratory bench. She has had short stories published in literary magazines and was runner-up in the Guildford Book Festival short story competition in 2010. In 2017, redundancy spurred her to focus on creative writing, and she published her debut novel, The Secret of Matterdale Hall, with Bellows Press in 2022. Marian lives in Cheshire with her wife and two dogs.

Twitter @ratcliffe_mj  #ALadyToTreasure

@BellowsPress

☼ Summer Reading Blog Tour ~ Love on the Island by Jessica Gilmore

 

Destination ... GREECE ☼

Orion
3 August 2023

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

One week.

Two couples.

A holiday they'll never forget...

Indi Drewe is turning thirty and is exactly where she wants to she's on the cusp of a promotion, lives in her gorgeous London flat and is sure her perfect-on-paper boyfriend, Will, is about to propose...

Only, on the night she'd hoped Will would present her with a sparkling diamond ring, she finds out that her younger sister Jade is getting married to a man she's known only for a few weeks!

Worried her sister is about to make a terrible mistake, she immediately flies out to visit her sister in Greece - and is shocked to discover she's sharing her villa with a far-too-handsome (and perpetually shirtless) stranger, Mikhos.

Indi and Mikhos might be each other's worst nightmare, but together, they only have days to stop the wedding before it's too late! Yet with so much love in the air on this paradise island, will they be able to resist falling for each other, too?

📖 My Review..

Indi Drewe is at a crossroads in her life and with her thirtieth birthday looming she decides, on the spur of the moment, to visit her younger sister, Jade, who is working on a privately owned Greek island. Worried that Jade is about to make a huge mistake by becoming engaged to her Greek boyfriend, Indi goes into 'big sister' mode in the hope of saving Jade from rushing into marriage. However, on Agios Iohannis, with its postcard perfect setting and with the warm Greek sunshine and gently lapping sea, Indi discovers that this idyllic Greek island, with its peace and tranquility, may be about to lead her own life in a whole new direction.

Love on the Island is a wonderful staycation read so that even if you’re not travelling to an idyllic Greek island this summer you can still experience all the sights, sounds and summery tastes of this wonderfully romantic story. The Greek setting is just so beautifully described that it makes you feel like you are there, sipping mocktails, with Indi and Jade in the beautiful island bar. The author has done a great job of bringing the story to life and I especially enjoyed the alternate chapters from both Indi and Jade’s perspective but it is in the burgeoning relationship between Indi and, island owner, Mikhos, where the hot summer romance really starts to sizzle.

Love on the Island is the perfect pick me up for a rainy British summer or better still on a Greek island soaking up the sunshine.

About the Author

After several very happy years as a bookseller, Jessica Gilmore moved into the charity sector and now works in the Arts, living out her Noel Streatfeild dreams by walking through the Stage Door every morning. Married with one daughter, two dogs and two dog-loathing cats, she lives in the beautiful Chilterns where she can usually be found with her nose in a book. A lover of a happy-ever-after, Jessica loves to write emotional romance with a hint of humour and a splash of sunshine.

Twitter @yrosered #LoveOnTheIsland

Website

@orionbooks

🎄Festive Read ~ Snowflakes over the Starfish Cafe by Jessica Redland

 

🎄Festive Read 2021🎄

Boldwood Books
2021

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Welcome to The Starfish Café - where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.

Two broken hearts.

Since she inherited The Starfish Café, Hollie has poured her heart into the business, striving to keep her mother's traditions and warm-hearted spirit alive. But behind closed doors Hollie is searching for true happiness as she grieves the tragic loss of her family who were once the beating heart of the café...

An unexpected meeting.

Jake lives by two rules: don’t let anyone get close and don’t talk about what happened. Little does he know that a chance meeting at The Starfish Café, facilitated by a fluffy lost dog, is about to turn his world upside down...

The chance to love again.

Can Hollie and Jake break down the barriers that have been holding them back from finding love and happiness, before Christmas comes around? After all, with courage, nothing is impossible...

My thoughts..

Hollie has had her share of heartache in the past but is determined to make a success of running the Starfish Cafe and making it a warm and welcoming place for all those visitors who come to sample her excellent coffee and cakes. Despite having close friends around her Hollie is lonely and hopes to meet someone who will make her world complete. Jake too has had his share of loneliness and it's only when two very special characters enter his life that he realises just how much he has missed by keeping people away.

Rather like the Starfish cafe, the story has a warm and welcoming feel with extra special characters who enter into your heart right from the start. I especially enjoyed the emotional pull of the story as these two lovely characters start to open up their thoughts and feelings but blimey, the sadness they have endured had me bringing out the tissues on more than one occasion. However, throughout the whole of this emotional story this talented writer brings everything to life in such a lovely way that even the sad bits are beautifully written and thoughtfully expressed. 

I thought Snowflakes over the Starfish Cafe was an absolute joy to read. It's perfect for a cosy afternoon when all the Christmas tasks are done and you can relax in your favourite chair with a cup of tea and a mince pie and immerse yourself in a wonderful story.

About the Author

Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Twitter @JessicaRedland#SnowflakesOverTheStarfishCafe

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Instagram 

Website 

@BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers

🎄Blog Tour ~ A Little Christmas Hope by Kathryn Freeman

🎄

Thrilled to join in on today's final blog tour stop

Independently Published
2020

Thanks to the author and Rachel's Random Resources for my ecopy of the book
and the invitation to join this blog tour today

Newly promoted head teacher Anna Dalton needs a Christmas miracle – and fast! After years of sitting through excruciatingly dull Christmas productions, complete with crying children and sleeping parents, she’s determined Riddlescomb Primary School will put on a Nativity to remember.

Enter bad boy actor Dan Ramsey, recently axed from the lead role in a TV drama and in desperate need of cleaning up his image or he’ll never work again. 

Dan can flash those heart-stopping dimples all he likes, Anna tells herself she isn’t going to fall for them. She knows why he’s decided to volunteer at the school, and it’s for the good of his career…not his soul. 

But as Anna and Dan are forced to work together for the sake of a truly magical Christmas for the children, sparks fly and they can’t help but wonder what will happen once the festive season is over…

What did I think about it...

Anna Dalton is ill-prepared for the effect that Dan Ramsey will have on her life when she lets him into her Primary School to help out with the school Christmas production, for Dan is a volunteer like no other. Recently axed from his long time acting role as the handsome Doctor Tyler in a daytime soap, Dan is more used to making hearts flutter than inspiring young actors. However, as Riddlescomb Primary starts to work its magic on Dan, so a sprinkling of his charismatic allure starts to work its charm on the lovely Anna.

A Little Christmas Hope isn't just about romance, although when that happens it fairly sizzles on the page, but it's also about being lost and a little bit lonely, about being brave enough to take a second chance when it's offered, and about the bonds of friendship when you need someone to listen. 

A Little Christmas Hope is a lovely heartwarming story which is difficult to put down. I started reading the book on a really grey sort of day when the mist and drizzle seemed set in and there was nothing else to do but settle down in my favourite chair with a packet of chocolate cookies and a good story. I really think that during a national lockdown any of Kathryn Freeman's romantic novels should be compulsory reading as they never fail to take me out of a rather dreary situation and place me quite firmly in the land of her imagination, with lovely heroines and hunky heroes, in romantic stories which just make me smile from start to finish.

About the Author

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.

I’ve two sons and husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), so any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Twitter @KathrynFreeman1

Website

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AmazonUK

Publication Day Push ~ A Bachelor's Pledge by Penny Hampson

Pleased to host today's blog tour stop

7 October 2020

My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources
for my ecopy of this book and the invitation to be part of the blog tour

The woman who haunts his dreams

Secret agent Phil Cullen is upset when he discovers that the young woman he rescued from Mrs Newbody’s establishment has absconded from his housekeeper’s care without a word. Thinking he has been deceived, he resolves to forget about her… something easier said than done.

The man she wants to forget.

Sophia Turner is horrified when she is duped into entering a notorious house of ill-repute. Then a handsome stranger comes to her aid. Desperate that no one learns of this scandalous episode, Sophia flees to the one friend she knows she can trust. With luck, she will never see her mysterious rescuer again.

But fate has other plans…

Months later, Phil is on the trail of an elusive French agent and Sophia is a respectable lady’s companion when fate again intervenes, taking their lives on a collision course.

Traitors, spies, and shameful family secrets - will these bring Sophia and Phil together… or drive them apart?

What did I think about it...

When secret agent Phil Cullen rescues a beautiful young woman from the clutches of a local brothel is is ill prepared for the effect that Sophia Turner will have on his peace of mind. Far from being a damsel in distress, Sophia turns out to be a young lady who certainly knows her own mind and yet her forthright spirit will lead her, and Phil, into a whole heap of trouble.

There's a real adventurous spirit to this Regency novel which is filled with several people who all seem to want to lure Sophia away from those who genuinely care about her. As Sophia's early life was devoid of any love or attention she now finds it difficult to trust people, and it is this distrust, and her charming naivety, which will lead her into grave danger. The author explores these feelings beautifully, especially the will they, won't they aspect of the relationship between Sophia and the handsome secret agent which is filled with thrills and spills and more than a hint of danger.

The Recency period is captured beautifully especially the distrust of all things French, as the British are still heavily involved in the Napoleonic wars, and this comes across in the realistic descriptions of the naval comings and goings, at the port, in Falmouth where much of the story is set.

A Bachelor's Pledge is a charming historical novel which is filled with the perfect balance of dangerous intrigue and delicious romance. Just to add that whilst this is also the third book in the Gentlemen series it sits comfortably as a standalone read. 

About the Author

Some time ago Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion for history by studying with the Open University. She graduated withhonours and went on to complete a postgraduate degree.

Penny then landed her dream role, working in an environment where she was surrounded by rare books and historical manuscripts. Flash forward nineteen years, and the opportunity came along to indulge her other main passion writing. Penny joined the New Writers’ Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and three years later published her debut novel,A Gentleman’s Promise,a historical mystery/romance and the first in The Gentlemen Series.An Officer’s Vow soon followed and the latest in the series is A Bachelor’s Pledge. 

But never happy in a rut, Penny also writes contemporary suspense with paranormal and romantic elements. Her first book in this genre is The Unquiet Spirit,published by Darkstroke.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking,swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time)

Author Blog

Facebook

Twitter @penny_hampson

@rachelsrandomresources

Amazon UK

Publication Day Review ~ One Foot in Front of the Other by Sue Woolley

 

Headline Accent
1 October 2020

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Since being widowed, Claire's life has been simple. She drives to work and comes home. She prepares meals for the week ahead. She feeds the cat. She drinks two bottles of wine . . .

But one morning, Claire wakes up with no memory of the night before. What did she do? Even worse, what did she say to Philip - her oldest friend?

Deciding to give up alcohol is easy. However, Claire soon finds that the path to sobriety is an uphill struggle, and when she and Philip embark on the adventure of a lifetime, she soon comes to realise that the end of one road is only the beginning of another . . .

Can Claire learn to trust in love again - and will she ever trust herself?

What did I think about it...

Just in time for Sober October this lovely story looks at the difficulty of giving up alcohol when you know you drink too much and yet don't want to acknowledge that you might have a little bit of a problem.

Claire has faced some real difficulties, learning to adjust to life as a widow, the sadness of being suddenly alone, and finding that a glass of her favourite red wine helps her to get through the lonesomeness but when one glass of red in the evening insidiously becomes a bottle, and then two bottles, Claire's wake up call is both timely and embarrassing.

What then follows is the story of how Claire attempts to give up alcohol and in the process finds out rather more about herself in the process as she discovers that by opening up her life to new challenges she finds that everything, eventually, becomes much clearer.

On Foot in Front of the Other is a lovely story which feels very modern. I especially enjoyed how the author included the help Claire received from joining a Facebook group and how such online support networks can really help. Giving up anything, not just alcohol, isn't easy, and this story shows just what difficulties and challenges Claire faced in the process. There was a Christian feel to the novel as Claire turns towards her church for support and companionship, and this is blended very nicely into the narrative. 

Parts of the story made me smile and I really warmed to Claire's character and wanted everything to work out for her, I was also thrilled to find that Baggins, Claire's cat, has an internal clock rather like Jaffa's, as he too always knows, to the minute, when it's time for a meal 😊

About the Author

Sue Woolley is District Minister for the Unitarian Association, and has written two non-fiction titles: Gems for the Journey and Unitarians: Together in Diversity. One Foot in Front of the Other is her first novel, and she is currently working on the first part of a three-volume fantasy series. In her spare time, she enjoys walking in nature, cross-stitch and crochet. She lives in Northamptonshire.

Twitter @SueWoolley #OneFootinFrontoftheOther

@AccentPress

Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ A Perfect Cornish Escape by Phillipa Ashley ☼

☼ Delighted to host a stop on this summery blog tour ☼

Avon Books
11 June 2020

Porthmellow Harbour series

My thanks to the publishers for my ecopy of this book
and the invitation to be part of this blog tour

Summer in Cornwall is the perfect time for a fresh start…

Seven years ago, Marina Hudson’s husband was lost at sea. She vowed to love him for the rest of her life – but when kind-hearted Lachlan arrives in Porthmellow, should she deny herself another chance at happiness?

Tiff Trescott was living life to the full as a journalist in London – until her boyfriend’s betrayal brought it all crashing down. Fleeing to her cousin Marina’s cottage, Tiff feels like a fish-out-of-water. And when brooding local Dirk wins a day with her in a charity auction, she’s thrown headfirst into Cornish life.

This summer promises new beginnings for both Tiff and Marina. But are they too good to be true?

What did I think about it..

Tiff Trescott's first encounter with the devilishly handsome, Dirk doesn't get off to the best of starts and when she discovers that he lives just a couple of cottages away from where she is staying with her best friend, Marina, well, it's only a matter of time before their paths cross again. Journalist, Tiff is trying to restart her life after a disastrous career mistake in London, and being back in Cornwall with her friend is hopefully going to allow her a new start. Meanwhile, Marina is nursing her own sense of loss, and when she meets the enigmatic, Lachlan, it may just be possible that she can start to put her traumatic past behind her.

This lovely story takes us right back to the gorgeous Cornish town of Porthmellow which we have visited before in previous stories. It's so nice to be back amongst the townsfolk who make this little corner of literary Cornwall their home. I especially enjoyed getting to know this new set of characters who leap onto the page as familiar as friends we have known for a while. The sizzling sexual chemistry between Tiff and Dirk is nicely done, and the quiet impact of Marina's burgeoning relationship with Lachlan adds a gentler, but no less passionate, tone to the story. However, it's not all about romance as the story covers a rather sensitive story which involves something which has happened in Marina's past, and which affects the way she views her relationship with Lachlan.

Beautifully written and a lovely summer read - A Perfect Cornish Escape was just the escape I needed  during this difficult time of lock down.

About the Author

Website

Twitter @PhillipaAshley

@AvonBooks

Blog Tour ~ Season of Second Chances by Aimee Alexander ☼

☼ Delighted to be part of this Summer Blog Tour ☼

April 2020

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

When leaving is just the beginning... 

The long-awaited novel of family, love and learning to be kind to yourself by award-winning, bestselling Irish author, Aimee Alexander.

Grace Sullivan flees Dublin with her two teenage children, returning to the sleepy West Cork village where she grew up. No one in Killrowan knows what Grace is running from - or even that she's running. She'd like to keep it that way.

Taking over from her father, Des, as the village doctor offers a very real chance for Grace to begin again. But will she and the children adapt to life in a small rural community? Can she live up to the doctor that her father was? And will she find the inner strength to face the past when it comes calling?

Season of Second Chances is a heart-warming story of friendship, love and finding the inner strength to face a future that may bring back the past.

Perfect for fans of Call The Midwife, Virgin River, Doc Martin, The Durrells and All Creatures Great and Small. The villagers of Killrowan will steal into your heart and make you want to stay with them forever.

What did I think about it..

Returning to the sleepy Irish village of Killrowan with her teenage children is hardly the homecoming Grace Sullivan wanted but fleeing from a traumatic situation means that Grace has had to make a difficult decision in order to keep her family safe. Taking over as the local GP from her father is never going to be without its challenges, especially when the villagers don’t seem want to give Grace a chance, and insist on calling her ‘young Doctor Sullivan’, regardless of her age and experience.

Whilst this is very much Grace’s story, and also that of her children, Jack and Holly, as they settle into a new way of life, it’s also about Grace’s father, Des, as he reacts to the disruption to his life and his adjustment to all the changes. This is such a wonderful story and the author brings real warmth and understanding to, what is, rather a difficult story-line, and yet,  it tackles the reason for Grace’s move to Killrowan in a sensitive and thought provoking way.

The author writes with wonderful ease, bringing place and people alive, in a story which flows beautifully. There’s never any awkwardness, and all credit to the author for tempering the dark nature of the story with some wonderful light moments which made me smile, and even when parts of the story were a bit tense, I had complete faith in the author to deliver a sympathetic, and compassionate, family drama. I loved the way that the villagers of Killrowan have their own time in the spotlight, enjoying their little quirks and gossipy ways, sitting down with them in The Coffee Cove and relishing the giant chocolate chip cookies, which sound so delicious that even the mention of them caused me to forage for a biscuit of my own.

Beautifully written, Seasons of Second Chances is sympathetic story about new beginnings and second chances, of finding love and friendship in unexpected places, and of taking the opportunity to be brave enough to start again.

About the Author

Aimee Alexander is the pen name of best selling author Denise Deegan who writes contemporary family dramas about ordinary people who become extraordinary in crisis. Her novels have been published by Penguin, Random House and Hachette. Aimee lives in Dublin with her family where she regularly dreams of sunshine, a life without cooking and her novels being made into movies. She has a Masters in Public Relations and has been a college lecturer, nurse, china restorer, pharmaceutical sales rep, public relations executive and entrepreneur.

Twitter @aimeealexbooks #SeasonsofSecondChance

#RandomThingsTours

Website

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Review ~ The Colour of Things Unseen by Annee Lawrence

Aurora Metro

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

When Adi leaves his village in Indonesia to take up an art scholarship in Australia, he arrives in the bewildering Sydney art world, determined to succeed. Following his first solo exhibition at a smart art gallery, Adi dares to reveal his true feelings for his outgoing friend, Lisa, and a passionate relationship unfolds. But will their differing expectations of one another drive them apart?

This is a deeply felt love story between people — of different nations, cultures and religions – and the unseen impact of local and global events on individual lives.

My thoughts about it..

Adi lives in a small village in Idonesia and his life is not without tragedy but fortune favours the brave and Adi finds that his life is about to change when he is given the opportunity to study art, a subject he has an affinity with and undoubted skill.  Adi's love of art takes him far away from his home village and when he reaches Australia he finds a very different sort of world with a morality which takes some getting used too, especially, when it comes to painting nude life models in art classes.

The story of Things Unseen is the story of Adi's time in Australia and of the adjustments he must make in order to fit in with a culture with is completely alien to him, but then, he discovers the power of friendship, and no friendship comes greater than that of Marj, his landlady, who becomes a second mother to him. Throughout his considerable time in Australia, it seems that Adi is always trying to fit in,  and his relationship with his girlfriend Lisa is fraught with troubles.

I've found much to enjoy, in the way the author allows the story to evolve slowly so that it becomes so much more than Adi's life story, and whilst its focus is about about love, relationships and family, it's also about trying to belong in a place where you feel out of step with those around you.

The story of Things Unseen is an interesting first novel and I am sure that the author has more stories to tell, and will continue to go from strength to strength.

About the Author

Annee lives in Australia and has an interest in exploring cross-cultural connection and the way identity shape-shifts in an unfamiliar place and culture. She has close friendship and family ties in Indonesia and was the recipient of an Asialink Arts’ inaugural Tulis Australian-Indonesian Writing Exchange in 2018. As a result, she had a six-week residency at Kommunitas Salihara in Jakarta and was invited to the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.

Prior to becoming a tutor in literary and cultural studies at Western Sydney University in 2014, Annee worked as a writer, editor and community development worker in the areas of women’s health, human rights and social justice. Two of her publications include: I Always Wanted To Be A Tap Dancer: Women With Disabilities and (with Nola Colefax on her memoir) Signs of Change: My Autobiography and History of Australian Theatre of the Deaf 1973–1983. In 1981 she was founding editor of Healthright: A Journal of Women’s Health, Family Planning and Sexuality.

Annee has published articles in New Writing, Griffith Review, Hecate and Cultural Studies Review.

The Colour of Things Unseen is the author's debut novel.

Twitter @AuroraMetro

Summer Read ~ The Spanish Promise by Karen Swan

Pan Macmillan
11 July 2019

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Charlotte, a wealth counsellor who knows from personal experience the complications that a sudden inheritance can bring, helps her clients navigate the emotional side effects of sudden wealth syndrome. When she is asked by Mateo Mendoza, heir to a huge Spanish estate, to fly to Madrid to help resolve an issue in his father's will, she's confident it will be straightforward. The timing isn't great as Charlotte's due to get married the following week, but once her client signs on the dotted line, Charlotte can return to her life in London and her wedding, and live happily ever after. Marrying Stephen might not fill her with excitement, but she doesn't want to live in the fast lane anymore - safe and predictable is good.

But Carlos Mendoza's final bequest opens up a generation of secrets, and Charlotte finds herself compelled to unravel the mystery. As Charlotte digs deeper, she uncovers the story of a family divided by Spain's Civil War, and of a love affair across the battle lines that ended in tragedy.

And while she is consumed in the drama of the Mendozas, Charlotte's own tragic past catches up with her, threatening to overturn everything in her life she's worked so hard to build

What did I think..

The story gets off to a dramatic start and sets the scene for something which happened in Spain in 1937. Moving forwards in time, to 2018, we meet with Charlotte Fairfax, whose role as a personal wealth counsellor sees her involved in an unusual situation in which a mysterious bequest from, the extremely wealthy, Carlos Mendoza is about to change an unknown beneficiary's life forever. Equally, this is not an easy time for Charlotte as she is about to get married and the last thing she needs, with her wedding just a week away, is to be involved in a complicated case.  

The story flips between two time frames and we get to spend time in Spain during the momentous years of the Spanish Civil war, gradually getting to know the Mendoza family and learning of the volatile role they played within the local community. What gradually emerges is a story of long buried family secrets, and of a time when dangerous rivalries and tensions between families ran extremely high. Meanwhile, in the present Charlotte is involved in helping her client come to terms with what is happening, whilst at the same time trying to keep control of her own complicated personal life, which seems about to spiral out of control.

The author writes well with a real sense of history whilst at the same time keeping the interest of a modern day conundrum in which family secrets and hidden passions start to come to life. The Spanish Promise has a dramatic setting in Ronda in Andalusia, and the author does a great job of setting the scene and bringing all of the heat and passion of this part of Spain alive in the imagination. The dual aspect works really well with both time frames equally compelling so that neither one outshines the other.

The Spanish Promise is a great summer read and one which is perfect for lazy afternoon by the pool or a quiet afternoon in the garden.

About the Author

Karen swan is a Sunday Times best selling writer. She is the author of fifteen other novels, although she been a writer all her life. She previously worked as an editor in the fashion industry but she soon realised she was better suited as a novelist. She lives in West Sussex.

Twitter @KarenSwan1 #TheSpanishPromise

@panmacmillan