📖 Blog Tour ~ The Nile Cruise by Caroline James

Avon for Harper Collins
30 July 2026
Cruise Escapes #2

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book
and to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

Hattie Mulberry is exhausted. Worn out from the demands of everyone around her, she’s long overdue a break. So, she decides to take a holiday – the adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of her literary hero, Agatha Christie.

Before Hattie knows it, she’s embarking on a glamorous Nile cruise. Not only a voyage steeped in history and world-famous sights, but one where the passengers are almost as fascinating as the views from her luxurious cabin…

As the eclectic band of travellers journey between ancient temples and legendary tombs, guided by handsome Egyptologist Sam, secrets surface, desires awaken, and tensions simmer beneath the Egyptian sun.

Will the magic of moonlit nights on the Nile bring romance and renewal? Or will the infamous curse of Tutankhamun cast a shadow when least expected?

📖 My Review…

Following in the footsteps of her literary hero, and inspired by Agatha Christie’s famous novel Death on the Nile, Hattie Mulberry decides, on an impulse, to book herself onto a Nile cruise where she joins a disparate group of people who are all intent on exploring the delights of a cultural tour along this esteemed river. Hattie’s indomitable spirit naturally draws people to her and she soon starts to make friends, especially with Sylvie and her son, Ezra but it is with the lovely Gerald where Hattie experiences the most connection as he too enjoys the stories of Agatha Christie. This is such a lovely joyous story that I found that I was constantly looking forward to spending time with them, from the glorious descriptions of the excursions Hattie and her fellow passengers embarked upon, to the quiet observation of each character’s special personality, there is always something interesting to enjoy. 

Beautifully crafted and with a fine eye for even the smallest of detail, I can only assume that the author has enjoyed a similar cruising holiday along River Nile as her observations appear to be spot on and ensure that you become quickly drawn into the experience of cruising down the Nile. There were some genuinely funny moments which made me laugh out loud especially Hattie’s interactions with some of the less than likeable characters, Hattie’s gentle humour is interspersed with candid observations of the vagaries of human nature.

There’s a glorious sense of escapism aboard the SS Nefertari which, combined with Hattie’s delightful personality, her strength of spirit and her natural ability to see the good in everyone, helps to make The Nile Cruise into a really special story. I loved it and look forward to the next one .

About the Author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, earning its reputation as Girl Power for the Over-Sixties! Her eagerly anticipated follow-up cruise novels, include THE CRUISE CLUB, and THE ARCTIC CRUISE both hitting the Amazon Top 100 Kindle charts.

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and writing and plotting her next novels in her Scottish retreat. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a passionate advocate for the written word and a champion of life-long creativity.

​

Follow Caroline James

www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author

Insta: Caroline James Author 

📖 Blog Tour ~ Catherine : A Retelling of Wuthering Heights by Essie Fox

Orenda Books
12 February 2026

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

The greatest tragic love story ever told – but this time, Catherine tells it herself. In Catherine, Essie Fox breathes new life into Wuthering Heights, transforming a gothic masterpiece into a haunting confession of obsession, madness and love that even death cannot end.

With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow – until Mr Earnshaw’s death leaves Hindley, Catherine’s brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.

Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty – but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.

Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and seek redemption.

📖 My Review..

Catherine is told from Catherine Earnshaw’s point of view, firstly as a child, then a young teenager on the cusp of womanhood and finally as a ghost following her untimely death.  Both Heathcliff and Catherine come forcefully to life and as we experience the intensity of their ill-fated relationship so we gain an insight into the unpredictable nature of their characters and the cause and effect of their upbringing at Wuthering Heights. 

By no stretch of the imagination is this a comfortable tale and there’s certainly no guarantee of a happy ever after ending but the sheer lyricism of the writing brings the whole of this tragic story to life. It compares really well with Emily Brontë’s original and offers a different perspective and one which is no less powerful than the 1847 classic. This retelling encapsulates the very essence of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw’s fateful relationship, a relationship which was tormented and filled with passionate intensity which spiralled into a dark and dangerous world of sadness, grief and desperate obsession.

There’s a certain amount of trepidation in reading a retelling of a much loved classic however, if anyone can retell Cathy and Heathcliff’s story, and do the book justice, it is Essie Fox whose work I love to read. As I settled down on a rather grey, wintery afternoon, so the stark beauty of this timeless story began to take shape and I was back on the high moors with Cathy and Heathcliff as they whisper together in the shadow of Penistone Crags, leaving their tokens in the Fairy Cave and dreaming of an uncertain future.

🍳 Best read with…Nelly Dean’s buttered eggs..

About the Author

Essie Fox is the Sunday Times bestselling author of seven historical novels, including The Somnambulist, shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and The Fascination, an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Her work has twice been selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month, most recently for her gothic mystery Dangerous. She appears regularly at literary festivals and cultural institutions and is the host of the podcast Talking the Gothic. She lives in Windsor.

X@essiefox #Catherine

X@ OrendaBooks

X@RandomTTours

📖 BlogTour ~ The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

Avon
15 January 2026
My thanks to the publisher for the copy of the book
And to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

Will the Arctic wonderland work its magic this winter?

Joy never imagined stepping aboard a cruise ship without her husband, Tom. Now widowed, Joy wonders what her voyage on the Emerald Dream will hold – and as it glides through breathtaking Norwegian fjords, she longs to believe in happiness again. However, she carries a secret that could unravel her fragile hopes if it ever came to light…

Elsewhere on deck, as the sun dips below the horizon and the polar night sets in, Henry, a lifelong bachelor, is living his dream of seeing the Northern Lights. Having long since given up on love, he now dedicates himself to his passion for photography. But when he meets Joy, is it more than the aurora borealis that catches his eye?

As they embark on a snow-dusted adventure which takes them from bustling ports to reindeer-drawn sleigh rides, will Joy and Henry find the courage to embrace love again? Or will hidden truths sink the possibility of a new beginning?

📖 My Review..

Recently widowed and still coming to terms with her husband’s untimely death Joy embarks on a solo cruise to Norway. It’s a bittersweet journey as she should have travelled with her husband but summoning all her courage Joy gradually settles into the cruise way of life and starts to make friends amongst the other passengers. Likewise, Henry is also embarking on a solo trip and worries that he is a bit of a loner and might not have enough in common with the other passengers however, fate intervenes and his burgeoning friendship with Joy becomes a rather special and unexpected delight.

This is a beautifully written story which looks at the sadness of being alone and yet offers hope that second chances can be possible if you allow yourself to live a little. I’ve throughly enjoyed getting to know the passengers on board the Emerald Dream, some, it must be said, are more likeable than others but they all bring their own special charm to the story. There is a lovely warmth to the story and some genuinely funny bits which had me laughing out loud and a ship full of fascinating characters who all make cruising aboard the Emerald Dream such fun. 

The Arctic Cruise is another wonderful story by this talented writer who knows how to bring her characters alive and who writes her warm-hearted stories with such passion. Sailing into Norway was such a treat and so well described that I really felt as though I was on board ship, experiencing the all exciting sights of a winter cruise, on a fabulous ship, and with the delicious chill of a romantic Arctic adventure.

🍾  Best read with : A sparkly glass of bubbly under the spectacular beauty of the Northern Lights

About the Author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, and her eagerly anticipated follow-up novel, THE CRUISE CLUB, is out now.

Her best selling novel ATTICUS ARNOTT’S GREAT ADVENTURE is described as “A heartwarming and uplifting read where the characters shine from the page.”

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing in her cosy writing retreat, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and refreshing swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a champion of lifelong creativity.

Social Media links

www.carolinejames.co.uk

X @carolinejames12

Blue Sky @carolinejames1.bluesky.social

Facebook carolinejamesauthor

X@AvonBooksUK

X@rararesources

📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop by Jessica Redland

Boldwood
9 September 2025

My thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to review this book

Nestled amongst the comforting shelves of her beloved Bay Books, Lily Appleton finds the peace and quiet she needs. But with Christmas just around the corner, Lily has to find an extra pair of hands to help her share the bookish magic.

After selling his business, Lars Jóhannsson is feeling lost. A job at Bay Books would give him the space he needs to contemplate his next move, but returning would mean confronting a painful past he's been avoiding. He’s also fairly sure he’s the one person Lily would never want to see again.

Lily is torn. Lars could be the perfect fit for Bay Books, but he once rejected her friendship and the hurt still lingers. But working together, Lily discovers a vulnerability that Lars has kept hidden away, along with a few surprising secrets. And as the Christmas season sprinkles its magic, Lily discovers the warmth of renewed friendship and the joy of heartwarming traditions from Lars’s Icelandic roots.

Surrounded by the quiet magic of the season and the soft glow of festive lights, perhaps there’s even the possibility of finding a love as enchanting as the Northern Lights on a winter's night.

📖 My Review

With the autumn nights starting to draw in, now is the perfect time to get cosy with a book and Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop is the perfect way to spend an evening. As comforting as a cup of hot chocolate, the story wraps itself around you, and as you enter into Lily’s book shop, you immediately let your worries slip away.

With Christmas approaching, Lily needs an extra pair of hands in the book shop to help with the busy festive season but when Lars Jóhannsson’s job application arrives in her inbox Lily is undecided as she and Lars have something of a history together. However, as the right person for the job, Lars soon begins to make a difference in the book shop and Lily gradually discovers that there is more to Lars than she could have, at first, have imagined.

Beautifully written, as all this author’s stories are, and with a magical setting, I mean what’s not to love about a story set in a delicious book shop. The warmth of the story wraps around you like a warm hug and as the friendship between Lars and Lily starts to blossom so the magic of books and reading is allowed to work its magic . I loved all the bookish references, especially to one of my own favourite stories, and could picture the book shop in my mind as I read on through this lovely, romantic story, escaping into an imagined world this author  recreates so beautifully.

Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop is a welcome return to the Whitsborough Bay series of cosy romances and is the perfect read for a chilly winter night.

About the Author

Jessica Redland is the million-copy bestselling author of novels, including the Hedgehog Hollow and Escape to the Lakes series. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough and the Lake District, she writes uplifting women’s fiction of love, friendship and community.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaredlandauthor/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNews
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📖 Book Review ~ The Secret Love of a Gentleman by Jane Lark

Boldwood Books
30 June 2025

Marlow Family Secrets #3

 

A past scandal and a broken heart have left Lady Caroline Kilbride hiding away from the world, in the safety of her brother’s home. But when a devilishly handsome newcomer arrives for the summer, she finds herself surprisingly drawn to him.

Rob Marlow, a man determined to carve his own path in life, never expected to be intrigued by his brother-in-law’s dependent sister. Yet in Caro he sees courage, intelligence and a spark of the woman she once was.

Friendship blossoms into something more passionate, but when the truth of Caro’s painful history resurfaces, will she retreat into the shadows or fight for her happy ever after?

📖 My Review

Whilst Robert Marlow is spending the summer with his sister and brother-in-law, he meets the enigmatic, Lady Caroline Kilbride. That Caroline is frightened of something and hiding away in the country is obvious and Robert, intrigued by this beautiful young woman, is determined to bring her out of her shell and bring some warmth back into her life.. This is a beautifully described romantic novel with just enough spice to keep the passion alive. It's story of intrigue and danger, sly gossip and innuendo and yet is fuelled by a love story which will not be defeated by those who think that Robert and Caroline don't belong together.

This is the third book in the Marlow Family Secrets series and whilst it is possible to read as a standalone story, those readers of the previous books will be delighted to become reacquainted with the characters we have already met. It was especially interesting to meet with Andrew and Mary Marlow who featured so strongly in The Dangerous Love of a Rogue. I have enjoyed stepping once again into this Regency world which the author recreates so well and The Secret Love of  a Gentleman is a delightful romantic read and a great continuation of the series.

Since its original publication in 2015 the book has now been recently re-published by Boldwood Books, with a delightful new cover.

About the Author

Jane Lark is an internationally bestselling author of both historical fiction and psychological thrillers. She has twice been shortlisted for the RNA Awards. The first in her new wartime saga series, The Great Western Railway Girls, will be published in February 2025.

Facebook: @Janelarkauthor

Twitter: @JaneLark 

Instagram: jane.lark

Bookbub profile: @janelark

X@BoldwoodBooks 

📖 Blog Tour ~ Over the Sea to Skye by Sue Moorcroft (Giveaway)

Avon/ HarperCollins
5 June 2025

Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to the tour
and the cooy of the book

 

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…

Valentina Taylor's life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.

But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another.

Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.

Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?

📖 My Review..

Valentina Taylor is returning, with her seven year old son Barney, to the beautiful Isle of Skye where they are to spend the summer at their newly renovated cottage. With her emotions running high Valentina is trying to cope with the break up of her marraige whilst at the same time protecting Barney from the inevitable fallout. As always her sisters, Ezzie and Thea, are there to support them but it is Valentina’s unexpected friendship with Xander Courage where the heart of the story lies. 

This is an emotional read in many ways as not only do we witness the complications in Valentina’s life but we also get to share in her joy and heartbreak when life doesn’t go as planned. There’s a lovely theme of friendship running throughout along with a strong sense of the three sisters once again pulling together to protect those they love. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Ezzie, Thea and Valentina and their individual stories have shown just what strength of character they all have and the author has explored these so beautifully in each of the stories in the trilogy. Valentina’s story was always going to be an emotional read and it doesn’t disappoint and whilst she was, perhaps, the sister we knew least about it has been such a treat to follow her story, from marriage breakup, to finding romance, and also a tentative reach out to the secrets of her past.

Whilst each of the books can be read as a standalone story, I do think it is better if you read the trilogy in order as that way you will get to know and love the characters which the author has created with such warmth, and of course, you get to spend time on the beautiful Isle of Skye, which is very much another character in the story.  It’s been such a pleasure to follow the lives of Ezzie, Thea and Valentina and Over the Sea to Skye concludes the series beautifully.

About The Author

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her novels have been #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada, Germany and Italy. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award, two HOLT Medallions and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She’s the president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.

Social Media Links 

Amazon page: Sue Moorcroft

Audible page: Sue Moorcroft

Website: www.suemoorcroft.com

Facebook author page SueMoorcroftAuthor

Twitter: @SueMoorcroft

Instagram: @SueMoorcroftAuthor

Linked in: Sue Moorcroft

Link Tree: linktr.ee/SueMoorcroft

Bookbub: SueMoorcroft1

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Over The Sea to Skye, bookmark and pen (Open to UK Only)

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