🌞 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 

🌞Summer Reads ~ Ten Poems from the Lake District

Candlestick Press
July 2025

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this poetry pamphlet 

This addition to Candlestick’s series of UK regional titles brings the drama and beauty of the Lake District landscape into glorious focus. We encounter dry-stone walls, sublime heights, lakes (of course) and experience an evening dip in the cooling waters of a tarn.

The selection wouldn’t be complete without a poem by Wordsworth who captures the tranquillity of a quiet valley in a moment of typically blissful contemplation:

“A soft eye-music of slow-waving boughs,

Powerful almost as vocal harmony

stay the wanderer’s steps and soothe his thoughts.”

from ‘Aira Force Valley’ by William Wordsworth

The double-edged sword of tourism is also present in a sonnet which imagines what this most famous of Lakes Poets would make of the world of postcards and car parks. The poem’s conclusion is a reminder that the sublime will outlive any human interference.

Polly Atkin is a poet who lives and works in the Lake District.

Poems by Polly Atkin, Rachael Bates. Paul Farley, Katie Hale, Matthew Hollis, Eileen Pun, Tom Rawling, Reshma Ruia, William Wordsworth and David Wright.

🌞  My Review..

The brooding nature of the Lake District is never in doubt and as you view the hills and crags an overwhelming sense of majesty abounds. Dark shadows race across the skyline altering the colours from pinks to dark purples, and from green to grey,  as wind and rain sweep across the horizon. It is a place of fickle shadows which can change in the blink of an eye. It is part of my northern landscape, its beauty undimmed by time.

This fine anthology of ten poems capture the magical spirit of the Lake District, bringing its natural beauty to life by the power of expression:

“ Who treads above the mountain-top should die 

Of that pure exultation; he is shriven

By the immaculate wind, the cleansing sky.

From Above Hawkshead by Rachael Bates

The criss cross nature of meandering stone walls are captured in this lovely poem: 

“ See here by the holly tree

Above the highest meadow,

This Eksdale dry stone wall

A warted lichen covered caterpillar

That clasps and humps the how,

Shuffles across the scree’s frost litter

Creeps around the shoulder of the fell,

A line of beauty

Not made to please the eye.”

From Eskdale Dry-Stone Wall by Tom Rawling 

Beautifully written, with a gloriously Illustrated cover, and emotionally evocative of a place caught in time, Ten poems from the Lake District would be a wonderful gift instead of a card for anyone who loves this part of the country or is a perfect introduction to a very special place.

About the Publisher 

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Twitter/X @poetrycandle

Blue Sky @candlestickpress.bsky.social

Website 

🌞 Summer Read ~ River of Stars by Georgina Moore

HQ
3 July 2025

Thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read this book

Jo hasn’t seen Oliver since that magical, life-changing summer when their idyllic island paradise was shattered. Growing up on Walnut Tree Island, they were everything to each other, defying a feud that fractured their families decades before. If first love runs deep, Jo and Oliver’s ran like the river itself, fast and true.

On Walnut Tree Island, love affairs and secrets come and go like the tides. Once the pulse of a flourishing 1960s music scene, it’s where Mary Star fell in love with a young musician about to hit the big time, only to be left with a baby and a broken heart. Mary has made the island a haven for two generations of Star women, raising her daughter and her granddaughter, surrounded by the river, supported by a bohemian, artistic community.

But Oliver’s return to the island after years away throws everyone into a frenzy. The threat of change is coming to paradise. And for Jo, Oliver’s return opens the wounds of a love she thought she had lost for ever…

📖 My Review..

There’s a thriving group of artisans who live in houseboats on the River Thames side by side with Walnut Tree Island. Their living arrangements help to form a tight knit community who guard the place with fierce determination, reluctant for any change to spoil the ambiance of a place locked in time. 

Back in the 1960s Walnut Tree Island was home to a thriving music scene and sixteen year old Mary Star was very much part of this world however, when we meet her, in  the present day, she is old lady with her only her memories of times gone by and a fierce protective instinct towards her fiery granddaughter, Jo. Inevitably, with a new landlord, change must come to the island and for Mary and Jo Star old memories will be stirred and emotions, long buried, will have to be faced.

The novel is slow and steady, exploring the tangled relationships between the boat dwellers, the minutiae of their lives and their desire to keep Walnut Island safe from any changes which might destroy their bohemian way of life. The island, is beautifully described and is so much a character in its own right, that the whole place comes alive, from its heyday in the 1960s, to its rundown modern day appearance. However, as we move forwards and backwards in time so we come to realise the importance of this beautiful place not just to Mary, Jo and the boat dwellers but also to Oliver Greenwood, the new landlord, who has his own emotional connection to Walnut Tree Island. 

With its quirky characters and beautiful setting, River of Stars captured my imagination in a lovely story about love, loss and the value of friendship. 

About the Author

Georgina Moore grew up in London and lives on a houseboat on the River Thames with her partner, two children and Bomber, the Border Terrier.

X @ PublicityBooks #RiverofStars

X @ HQStories

📖 Book Review ~ The Figurine by Victoria Hislop

Headline 
1 August 2024
Paperback

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors - and looters - alike.

When Helena inherits her grandparents' apartment in Athens, she is overwhelmed with memories of the summers she spent there as a child, when Greece was under a brutal military dictatorship. Her remote, cruel grandfather was one of the regime's generals and as she sifts through the dusty rooms, Helena discovers an array of valuable objects and antiquities. How did her grandfather amass such a trove? What human price was paid for them?

Helena's desire to find answers about her heritage dovetails with a growing curiosity for archaeology, ignited by a summer spent with volunteers on a dig on an Aegean island. Their finds fuel her determination to protect the precious fragments recovered from the baked earth - and to understand the origins of her grandfather's collection.

Helena's attempt to make amends for some of her grandfather's actions sees her wrestle with the meaning of 'home', both in relation to looted objects of antiquity ... and herself.

📖  My Review..

In 1968, Helena is eight years old when she travels alone to Greece for the first time to spend a holiday with her maternal grandparents and whilst she adores her grandmother, she finds her grandfather a rather cold and distant figure. Gradually over the time we spend with Helena, both as a child, and later as an adult, we understand more about her grandfather and of the politics which influenced him. We also learn more about the rift between Helena’s mother and her grandparents which adds another interesting dimension to this family drama.

There’s a definite sense of time and place which the author describes so vividly that it feels scarily realistic especially when the volatility of civil unrest in the  nineteen seventies curtails Helena's visits to Greece. The author explains the history of the time well and allowed a picture to emerge of a country at war with itself. For me the story really began when Helena becomes an adult and is able to discover more about her Greek heritage. I found the archaeological aspect of the story interesting, especially in the way that antiquities had once been looted for personal gain. Helena learns some unhappy truths about her family and has to come to terms with the sins of the past.

As always this author delivers a good story, The Figurine is a fascinating glimpse into a forgotten time in history. It’s a great holiday read made even better if you read it on a warm, and beautiful, Greek island.

About the Author

Victoria Hislop is the multi-million copy bestselling author of eight books, including The Island, The Return, The Thread, The Sunrise, Those Who are Loved, The Last Dance and Other Stories and Cartes Postales from Greece. Her books have been translated into forty languages.

The Figurine is out in paperback on the 1st August 2024

X @vichislop

X @headlinepg

📖 Blog Tour ~ A Found Family at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett

Boldwood Books

22 July 2024

Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of this book
and the invitation to the blog tour.

A tragic loss...

Since the death of her beloved father, Isla Marlowe has felt the need to do something to honour his memory; something meaningful that will bring joy to others and repay the kindness of a stranger who changed their lives. She’s got the perfect solution, but she’s worried not everyone will understand.

A precious gift...

Aidan Kennedy and his husband, Jase, are desperate to start a family of their own, but finding the right woman to help them is difficult and some people don’t think they should even try. So when Isla offers them the chance to fulfil their dream, they can’t believe their wish is about to come true.

📖 My Review..

Isla Marlowe wants to remember her late father's memory in a meaningful way and can think of no better people to help than her friends, Aidan and Jase, who are desperate to start a family. When Isla offers to help them achieve their dream it opens up a whole set of circumstances which Isla could never have imagined.

This is now the third book in the Cornish Country Hospital series and each story delivers a perfectly balanced plot combining both happy and serious moments alongside a story-line which also tugs away at the heartstrings. Never afraid to consider some difficult topics the story covers the emotional journey of IVF treatment alongside that of some serious health problems which require specialist treatment. All are covered with an authenticity for medical detail, along with the author's skilful knack of bringing place and people to life. 

I like how the story flowed so beautifully, the author really does have such skill in making all her characters feel like friends so that even though this story focuses mainly on Isla and her journey with Aidan and Jase, it's also lovely to meet up with all those characters, at the hospital, who we have grown to love over the course of this lovely series. Beautifully, and emotionally written, A Found Family at the Cornish Country Hospital reminds us, quite forcibly, that sometimes the concept of family is not always the one we are born into and that sometimes friends are the family we choose to gather around ourselves.  

About the author

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast.

Twitter /  X  @J_B_Writer #AFoundFamilyAtTheCornishCountryHospital

Newsletter BookBub

@BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers

@rararesources

📖 Blog Tour ~ Love at First Sight by Jessica Gilmore

 

Orion
4 July 2024

My thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

She's in love. Just with the wrong man...

Nora is done with dating, but still dreams of finding the one. So when a handsome stranger comes to her rescue one night and vanishes leaving only a business card, it's like a scene out of a movie...

It doesn't take long for the two to 'bump' into each other again, and Nora falls for the perfect-on-paper Gabe. Only a few weeks later, he invites her to Sicily, and she cannot believe her luck!

Until Gabe is forced away for work, leaving her alone with his big and warm family in gorgeous Sicily who welcome her with open arms. Everyone but Luca, his older and distrustful brother, who is always around.

Soon Nora finds herself on a dreamy, romantic getaway-just with the wrong brother..

📖 My Review..

Nora is unlucky in love but never loses sight of finding the perfect partner, so when a handsome stranger comes to her rescue she feels an immediate connection and is determined to give fate a bit of a helping hand.  Gabe is everything Nora wants in a boyfriend and when he whisks her away to Sicily to meet his family she feels like her life is going in the right direction. However, Nora soon discovers that there are flaws in her relationship and has some difficult decisions to make before she can truly be happy. 

I enjoyed the way the story developed, particularly the snippets from a series of letters written by Nora's mother when she too was young and in love for the first time. It's the perfect summer escapism as not only do we get an unashamedly romantic story but we also get to spend time on the beautiful island of Sicily, meeting and making friends with Gabe's wonderful family and spending time in the hot Sicilian sunshine in a gorgeous wine-growing region. Love at First Sight is about finding what is important in life, of learning how to take a chance on what is being offered and of opening your heart to love when the right person comes along. It's a perfect read on the beach sort of story, rich in detail, high on romance,  and a heartwarming ending, what's not to like? 

About the Author

A charity-working, dog-walking, child-wrangling, dust-ignoring bookworm, Jessica lives in the beautiful and historic city of York with one patient husband, one daughter, one very fluffy dog, two dog-loathing cats and a goldfish called Bob.

As day dreaming is her very favourite hobby and she loves a good happy-ever-after Jessica can't believe she's lucky enough to write romance for a living. 

X / Twitter at @yrosered #LoveAtFirstSight

sprigmuslin.blogspot.com

@rararesources

@orionbooks

📖 Blog Tour ~ Thank you, Next by Kathryn Freeman (Giveaway)

 

One More Chapter
30 June 2024

My thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources
for the book and invitation to the blog tour

In this game of hearts, the stakes have never been higher…Molly Harris is used to being left. Parents, boyfriends – she’s the queen of rejection. Her latest boyfriend, gym-fanatic Duncan, dumps her to go on reality dating show The One which sets up hot singletons to date for four weeks before meeting at the altar to say, ‘I do’.

But Duncan was the one who picked Molly up and put her back together the last time her heart got broken, so, determined not to let ‘The One’ get away, she follows Duncan onto the show. If she can prove that they’re meant to be, she might just get the happily ever after of her dreams…

But on the first day of filming, another reminder of her painful history walks into Happily Ever After Ben Knight, her it’s-not-you-it’s-me heartbreaker. The one she loved before Duncan.

In four weeks’ time, who will she meet at the altar? Duncan, the first person who ever made her feel loved, or Ben, the first person who made her feel?

📖 My Review..

I have to own up and say that I don’t watch any of the current TV reality dating programmes and so Thank you, Next has introduced to me to the world of quick fix weddings, which seems a strange concept but the author brings this bizarre idea to life in an entertaining and sizzling rom-com.

Molly Harris is a sweet character who seems to have made some bad life choices, hooking up with the wrong men, so when the opportunity arises for her to go on a reality dating programme, she takes the chance to meet her future marriage partner. Her reasons for doing so are a big part of the story so I won’t spoil it by revealing who she meets there but it’s all done quite tongue in cheek which I rather enjoyed. 

Thank you, Next is an entertaining read which I devoured in the space of one afternoon. It made me laugh out loud in places especially about the intricacies of being filmed whilst building a relationship on television, I can’t imagine why couples would open themselves up to so much public scrutiny. The author brings the characters to life in such a good way that you can well imagine them, some are definitely more likeable than others, of course, I had my favourites and hoped that every thing would work out for them and that, just like the focus of the dating programme, they would also get their happy ever after ending.

Thank you, Next is fun and flirty, with more than a hint of sizzling sexual tension, it’s perfect summer escapism.

About the Author

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to write a book. It may have had something to do with my obsession with reading romance. Real life interfered and I headed off in a different direction – into the world of science, becoming a pharmacist before joining the pharmaceutical industry. I did end up writing, but it was about disease and medicines. Decades later, I’m finally doing what I always wanted to do.

With a husband who asks every Valentine's Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), all the romance in my life is 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.

X @kathrynfreeman1 #ThankYouNext

@0neMoreChapter

Website

@rararesources

Giveaway – Win a Paperback copy of Thank You, Next (Open Internationally).

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

Rafflecopter

📖 Featured Book of the Month ~ The Forgotten Shore by Sarah Maine

Hodder & Stoughton
10 August 2023

My thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read this book

Scotland, 1940. Wounded in action, Archie Maxwell has returned to his family estate of Rosslie. But between the uneasy company of his father's beautiful new wife, and the memories that haunt his nights, he finds the house more of a battleground than a refuge.

Forty years later, Eva Bayne is a journalist looking for a story. Ever since the disappearance of Rosslie's heir during the war, the Maxwells have lived under a shadow - and Eva is drawn to the mystery. Especially when the glimpse of an old photograph stirs up long-buried memories of her childhood in Newfoundland . . .

Could uncovering the truth heal the wounds of Eva's past? And what will it cost for Rosslie to give up its secrets?

📖 My Review..

Wounded whilst on active service in 1940, Archie Maxwell returns to his family home in Scotland to convalesce however, with his nightmares haunting his sleep, Archie finds little solace and is often belligerent with those who seek to help him recuperate. Archie's tempestuous relationship with his father's new wife only adds to the uneasy atmosphere which pervades Rosslie House.

Forty years later, journalist, Eva Bayne finds that her childhood memories of living in Newfoundland have been triggered by a glimpse of an old photograph which brings back memories she thought she had forgotten. Intrigued by these memories Eva is determined to uncover the past which reveals far more long buried secrets.

This beautifully evocative story takes us from the wilds of a Scottish ancestral home, to the cloistered and rather forbidding atmosphere of the Newfoundland coast and does so with a detailed imagining of what it was like to live through two very different time frames.  The author brings both to life so well that I was equally comfortable reading of Archie's recuperation at Rosslie as I was spending time with Eva during her unusual childhood living at Heart's Repose in 1966.

The Forgotten Shore is an emotional and thought provoking read about the long buried hurt which people carry with them and the inevitability of the shedding of secrets which if left too long can fester and destroy. I was captivated by this story which is why I have no hesitation in making it my Featured Book of the Month for September as it's a perfect autumnal read.

 

About the Author

Sarah Maine was born in England and emigrated to Canada with her family at the age of ten. A small northern Ontario community was home for the next two years before the family moved south, and Sarah went to high school in Toronto. She returned to England to study archaeology, stayed on to do research and work, married there and has two sons.

Books were always important. She grew up on a diet of Arthur Ransome and Robert Louis Stevenson but also the classics, Jane Austen and the Brontés and, of course, Daphne du Maurier - but now enjoys a wide range of contemporary fiction.

Twitter@sarahmainebooks #TheForgottenShore

Website

@HodderBooks

☼Summer Reading ~ The Summer Holiday by S E Lynes

Destination  .... SPAIN ☼

Bookouture
9 May 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

One loving couple. One surprise guest. One week to destroy everything…

When the doorbell rings, I take one last look round the villa. The nuts and olives are in bowls; the white wine is chilling in the fridge; everything is ready for my old college friend, the guest I’m dying to impress.

When I open the door, Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, as effortlessly beautiful as ever. But then her face freezes in horror, her mouth falling open. I turn to see my husband Jeff behind me, his eyes wide, his cheeks pale.

After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.

This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it.

But the connection between my friend and my husband isn’t what I thought.

All three of us have something to lose, and something to fight for.

And when the truth comes out, not all of us will survive...

☼ My Review

Kate and Jeff are spending time at their holiday villa on the Costa Blanca. From the outset you get the impression that Kate and Jeff are not really comfortable with the idea of spending time with each other as Jeff is work obsessed which leaves Kate no option but to wander aimlessly with no real focus. When Kate spots Coco Moss, a familiar face from their college days, she decides to surprise Jeff by arranging a surprise visit from Coco, which, as it turns out, opens up a whole can of worms which would have been so much better if left undisturbed.

This is a really clever psychological thriller which turns the minutiae of a marriage inside out and which opens up the past to vicious scrutiny. It was so meticulously plotted that I really couldn't put the book down without wanting to know a little bit more. It is so cleverly plotted that I can well imagine this translating to a compelling TV drama as not only is it set against the backdrop of a beautifully described Spanish coastal resort but it also has an element of suspense which is present from the very start and the twists and turns don't lose pace, or momentum, until this compellingly, addictive story is told. I’m deliberately being vague about the ins and outs of the plot as this really is a story which is better read with no idea of where the plot is heading, that way you will be just as surprised as I was when the whole thing has played out in really vivid detail.

Absolutely fabulous from start to finish, The Summer Holiday is the ultimate holiday read and  just perfect escapism either poolside or relaxing in the garden ☼

About the Author

Formerly a BBC producer, after gaining an MA in Creative Writing, S. E. Lynes became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing.

Twitter @SELynesAuthor #ThatSummerHoliday

@Bookouture

📖 Blog Tour ~ One Last Day of Summer by Shari Low

Boldwood 

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book
and to Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

As a flight to St Lucia leaves the runway, four passengers meet for the first time.

After escaping her controlling husband, Bernadette Manson is taking the first extravagant holiday of her new life. But when her best friend cancels, will she be strong enough to fly solo?

Tadgh Donovan is about to jet off to his destination wedding when he sees a shocking text. Has his bride-to-be written her wedding vows… or already broken them?

Hayley Ford is the wife of a top fertility specialist yet her battle to get pregnant has almost broken her marriage. Can a trip to the sun heal their relationship or should she brace for a crash landing?

Dev Robbins is crossing oceans to track down the woman he fell in love with at first sight. Will it be a one way trip to happy ever after or a return journey to singledom?

📖 My Review..

Firstly, I was drawn to the story by the pretty book cover however, I have really enjoyed getting to know the four main characters who are inadvertently brought together when they are seated next to each other on a long haul flight from London to St. Lucia. Bernadette, Dev, Hayley and Tadgh are all visiting the Caribbean for their own very personal reasons and over the course of the flight we get to be privy to some of their innermost thoughts and feelings. The foursome are all very different and yet they each find something that resonates and which, over the space of a nine hour flight, brings them all together in a special way.

Whilst the story is light, with some genuine laugh out loud moments, it does cover some difficult subjects but this doesn't detract from the general appeal of the story. I enjoyed how each individual chapter gave the characters their own moment in the spotlight and even though some of the peripheral characters who flit into the story are not very likeable their inclusion into the story is important and works well. Every long haul flight needs Stefan, the attentive steward, his liberal generosity with mini bottles of prosecco and pretzels made me smile.

Beautifully written and wonderfully descriptive, The Last Day of Summer is a really lovely holiday read. Perfect for your own long haul flight, or even a sunny afternoon in the garden.

🍷Best read with.. Pretzels and Prosecco 

About the Author

Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 30 novels, including My One Month Marriage and One Summer Sunrise and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow.

Facebook 

Twitter  @sharilow

Instagram 

NewsletterSign Up

Bookbubprofile

@BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers @bookandtonic

@rararesources

📖 The Italian Escape by Catherine Mangan

 

Sphere
28 April 2022

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Niamh Kelly's life hasn't turned out quite as she'd expected. She's thirty-three, still living at home and was recently dumped . . . by her boss. So when her sister invites her to tag along on a work trip to the sun-drenched Italian coast, Niamh jumps at the chance, eager to escape into a world of sparkling prosecco, delicious food, and breath-taking beaches.

Upon her arrival, Niamh immediately falls in love with the beautiful Italian town they're staying in and realises she never wants to leave, deciding instead to stay and open up a quaint coffee shop nestled in charming old town streets - even if she has no idea what she's doing. But when a family tragedy and a tricky tourist season threaten her new business, Niamh isn't so sure she can stick it out.

With help from her new-found Italian friends - and the possibility of romance on the horizon - can she make her new life in the sun a success?

📖 My Review..

Niamh Kelly's personal and professional life has fallen apart so when her older sister invites her to travel to Italy with her, Niamh jumps at the chance of getting away from all her worries. The beautiful Italian town of Santa Margarita is everything that her home town isn't and Niamh, reluctant to go back to Ireland decides to stay in Italy and opens a quirky coffee shop in the town, however, as she discovers, things don't work out in the way she expected them too.

Niamh discovers that her time in Italy is filled with obstacles especially as she doesn't have a grip on the language but her way forward is interesting and with strength of spirit, and a few good friends, Niamh does her best to keep going despite the setbacks which inevitably come her way.

The author writes well and brings time, place and people alive in the imagination and with a nice romantic edge there is more than enough to keep turning the pages to see what happens next for Niamh on her fascinating Italian escape.

The Italian Escape is a lovely immersive story which has all the right ingredients for an escapist summer/holiday read and I can imagine that this story will go really well if you are lounging by the pool or just sitting in your favourite chair in the garden.

🍷Best read with ...an Aperol spritz or a creamy cappuccino.

About the Author

Catherine Mangan gre up in Ireland before embarking on her own Italian escape. She studies languages at University College Cork before moving to Italy (briefly) with friends, which was the start of he life long love affair with the country. She now divides her time between Ireland and Silicon Valley. 

Twitter @Cath_mangan

@BooksSphere

📖 Book Review ~ The Country Village Summer Fête by Cathy Lake

 

Zaffre
10 June 2021

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Emma Patrick's life is spiralling out of control. On the cusp of her 50th birthday, she suddenly realises that she doesn't have many meaningful relationships in her life. She's single, successful, living alone and thinks she's loving it, but being so focussed on work and always online means she's lost any real connection to people.

When Emma gets a call to say her ageing father is becoming increasingly confused, she decides that she should go back home to the countryside to spend some time with him. But returning to Little Bramble, the village she grew up in, after all these years, is filled with complications of its own and people she'd rather avoid.

As Emma starts to settle in to her childhood home, she finds herself loving village life - much to her surprise. When the opportunity to get involved in the running of the summer fete comes her way, before she knows it she's embracing jam making, cake baking and bunting. And with romance brewing, Emma begins to doubt the glamorous life in London that she worked so hard to build.

📖 My thoughts..

If you imagine the quintessential chocolate box English village then Little Bramble would be right up there with the best of them. When Emma Patrick receives a call to say that her elderly father is ill she makes the decision to leave London and head back to her childhood home in Little Bramble. However, once back in the place where she grew up painful memories from her past start to emerge but as Emma is drawn back into village life so she starts to look towards a different sort of future.

I loved my first visit to Little Bramble in The Country Village Christmas Show so I was especially excited to return to this lovely place again, not just to meet up with old friends but also to make new friends, especially Emma, and the lovely Connor.

There's a real summery feel to this story especially as Little Bramble is gearing up to its annual summer fete so some of the story is taken up with the preparation and all the little niggles which go with putting on an event in a small village but also it's about the people who live there, some are more likeable than others but they all add their own individual charm. There are some lovely thoughtful moments between Emma and her father which make the story all the more heartwarming but it is in the will they, won't they relationship between Emma and Connor where the heart of the story lies.

The Country Village Summer Fête is every bit as good as I wanted it to be, light, lovely and deliciously summery. It's the perfect escapist read for a blue sky, fluffy cloud sort of day.

About the Author

Cathy Lake is a women's fiction writer who lives with her family and three dogs in beautiful South Wales. She writes uplifting stories about strong women, family, friendship, love, community and overcoming obstacles.

Twitter @LakeAuthor

@ZaffreBooks

📖Blog Tour ~ You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry

Viking Books
22 July 2021

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of the book
and the invitation to be part of the blog tour.

12 SUMMERS AGO: Poppy and Alex meet. They hate each other, and are pretty confident they'll never speak again.

11 SUMMERS AGO: They're forced to share a ride home from college and by the end of it a friendship is formed. And a pact: every year, one vacation together.

10 SUMMERS AGO: Alex discovers his fear of flying on the way to Vancouver.

Poppy holds his hand the whole way.

7 SUMMERS AGO: They get far too drunk and narrowly avoid getting matching tattoos in New Orleans.

2 SUMMERS AGO: It all goes wrong.

THIS SUMMER: Poppy asks Alex to join her on one last trip. A trip that will determine the rest of their lives.

📖 My thoughts..

Emily Henry captures the essence of the ideal summer read with this story of two best friends, once so close, who seem to have lost their way and in a last ditch attempt to save their friendship Poppy invites Alex to share one last holiday together.

With a friendship that spans years, Poppy and Alex know pretty much everything they need to know about each other but that doesn't stop them from hurting each other and as their combined stories takes us on their shared holidays, from present to past, so we begin to learn more about them as people. I liked them both, Poppy is quirky and fun, whilst Alex is a bit nerdy and serious, and yet is the perfect match for Poppy, the trouble is they need to discover their true feelings and find their emotional connection before it is lost forever.

Emily Henry writes this type of immersive friends, to enemies, to lovers genre really well and as usual brings a quirky sense of fun, interesting drama and a will they, won't they romance to the story. In this difficult time when we are just seeing the light at the end of this long, lockdown tunnel any book which brings a sense of summer fun, hope, and romance is to be welcomed and You and Me on Vacation is right up there with the best of the summer reading genre.

About the Author

Emily Henry studied creative writing at Hope College and the New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. 

Twitter @VikingBooks #YouandMeOnVacation #EmilyHenry

Instagram @emilyhenrywrites

Summer Picnic with Jaffareadstoo ~ Charlotte Betts ☼

☼ Jaffareadstoo is delighted to welcome you all to our Summer Picnic ☼ 

Pull up a deck chair, tie knots in your hanky and roll up your trouser legs!

☼ Summer time is here ☼ 

☼ I'm delighted to welcome author, Charlotte Betts to our picnic ☼

What favourite foods are you bringing to our summer picnic? 

I do love a picnic! Thank you for inviting me to join you. I’ll make my famous salmon tart with asparagus, a minted pea and potato salad and bring lightly salted kettle chips and dill pickles. For a desert that’s simple to transport and is beautifully summery, it has to be Eton Mess made with a raspberries as well as strawberries. And perhaps a nectarine and some shortbread for later. 

Would you like chilled white wine, a flute of Prosecco, a tumbler of Pimms, or a tall glass of sparkling elderflower cordial? 

One glass of chilled white wine with a sparkling elderflower chaser, please. Sun and too much wine give me a headache! 

Where shall we sit, by the pool, in the garden, in the countryside, at the seaside? 

Although I love to be by the sea, it can be windy and it’s always a trial eating with hair and sand blowing in your face. I’d choose to sit in the dappled shade of an ancient oak, preferably beside a stream or river and watch the ducks squabbling over any leftovers. 

Do we have a wicker hamper, tablecloth and cutlery, or is everything in a supermarket carrier bag? 

Definitely a wicker hamper, with a tablecloth and proper cutlery and glasses. The picnic and wine must be chilled and I’d include wet wipes for sticky fingers and a plastic bag to take dirty plates and cutlery home. 

Do you have favourite place to have a summer picnic? 

I visited the Highlands a few years ago and, quite by chance, discovered the Highland Titles Nature Reserve near Druror. We had a wonderful walk through a forest, following a path beside a river. We came to a magical waterfall and found picnic tables under the trees where we could sit and watch the birds bathing in the water. 

Which of your literary heroes are joining us on the picnic today? 

I’d love to chat to Daphne du Maurier and Mary Stewart about their writing. I can read their books again and again and always find something new to intrigue me. Perhaps I might ask them to comment on my plot ideas for future books! 

Which summer read are you bringing with you today? 

I’m bringing Catching the Tide by Judith Lennox. I’ve read almost of all her books and I’m sure I shall like this one, which opens in Italy in 1933 at the Villa Millefiore. 

Headline Review
2011

 

What is your earliest summer memory?

I remember staying with my maternal grandparents while my parents’ new house was being completed. We spent a week in a caravan on top of windy cliffs somewhere near Scarborough, I think. The ice cream cones were wonderful. I was four years old and had taken my pet hamster with me. It escaped and ate its way through the wooden panelling of the caravan and kept us all awake every night while she gnawed at the timber. On the last day, Grandpa lured her out of hiding with a piece of cheese! 

Do you have a favourite summer hideaway? 

Our C17th cottage is situated in woods. I adore walking there with my dog, Hattie, when it’s hot because there’s plenty of shade. We rarely see any people but frequently see deer and sometimes foxes. The birdsong makes it so peaceful. 

Do you have a summer music playlist for reading / writing? And if so will you share with us a favourite song or piece of music that makes you feel summery? 

I had to laugh when I read this question because I dislike music or any other distraction when I’m writing. Occasionally I’ll listen to a Sounds of the Sea recording while I’m writing because it’s very soothing in a ‘white noise’ sort of way. I don’t listen to a lot of music, preferring the spoken word for the radio. One bouncy song from the 70’s that still makes me feel cheerful is In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry. Really showing my age here! 

Do you find that your reading tastes differ between winter and summer? 

I had to think about this but decided my tastes don’t really vary by the season. I like dual time frame stories but also a good mystery to keep me wondering. Although I write historical novels I like to read contemporary stories, too. The most important thing is to find stories that take me somewhere else and make me feel I’m in the character’s heads. 

Charlottes's latest novel is book #1 in the Spindrift Trilogy.

Piatkus
July 2020

1891. Spindrift House, Cornwall.

Talented painter Edith Fairchild is poised to begin a life of newlywed bliss and artistic creation with her charming husband Benedict. He recently inherited Spindrift House near Port Isaac and Edith is inspired by the glorious Cornish light and the wonderful setting overlooking the sea. But then happiness turns to heartbreak. In great distress, Edith turns to an artist friend for comfort and after a bitterly-regretted moment of madness she finds herself pregnant with his child.

Too ashamed to reveal her secret, Edith devotes herself to her art. Joined at Spindrift House by her friends - Clarissa, Dora and Pascal - together they turn the house into a budding artists' community. But despite their dreams of an idyllic way of life creating beauty by the sea, it becomes clear that all is not perfect within their tight-knit community, and that the weight of their secrets could threaten to tear apart their paradise forever.

Charlotte, where can we follow you on social media

Website: www.charlottebetts.co.uk 

Twitter: @CharlotteBetts1 

Facebook: Charlotte Betts – Author 

Instagram: charlottebetts.author 

More about Charlotte

Charlotte Betts is a multi-award-winning author of eight romantic historical novels published by Piatkus. Her books are set in various eras between the Restoration and the Great War and she draws inspiration from the stories of strong women at turning points in history. Careful historical research enriches her writing with an evocative sense of time and place. A member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Society of Authors and The Historical Novel Society, Charlotte lives in a C17th cottage in the woods in Hampshire. She is currently working on Book 3 of the Spindrift trilogy. 

Follow on Twitter 

#SummerPicnicWithJaffareadstoo