A Little Hotel in Cornwall by Laura Briggs @PaperDollWrites @rararesources #PublicationDayPush #bookreview #romcom #novella #feelgoodfiction

 

A Little Hotel in Cornwall written and self-published by Laura Briggs is available NOW in ebook format.

To buy link: http://smarturl.it/alittlehotelbook1

Book Blurb
Struggling American waitress and aspiring novelist Maisie Clark dreams of becoming a full-time writer — even though in real life she’s just lost her chance at an exclusive writer’s mentorship program that would give her novel its big break. Desperate, she decides to take a chance and ask her favourite writer, a celebrated but reclusive English novelist, to help her find a second chance.

When she receives the author’s reply in an envelope with a Cornish postmark, Maisie decides not to take the writer’s half-hearted ‘no’ for an answer. With nothing to lose, she takes off for the author’s last known location, a beautiful hotel on Cornwall’s western coast. But when the hotel mistakes her for the latest applicant for a maid’s position, Maisie finds herself given an opportunity too good to lose … and a chance for a summer adventure far bigger than she ever imagined.

Surrounded by breathtaking Cornwall and working in an elegant hotel, Maisie’s world becomes one of secret identities, quirky friends, and unintentional mishaps — and despite reminders of past relationship disasters, a certain handsome, charming local resident Sidney Daniels has her conflicted about her heart’s desires, too.

Will Maisie find the chance she’s been waiting for — and a possible new romance — in her perfect Cornish summer?

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Laura Briggs latest novella: A Little Hotel in Cornwall.  Firstly, I’d like to wish the author Laura Briggs a Happy Publication Day.  Oh my goodness I adored this novella by Laura Briggs and it’s the start of a brand new book series by her.

A Little Hotel in Cornwall filled me with so much joy and comfort but it also left me inspired for what lay ahead for Maisie and her dreams of becoming a novelist.

Maisie is a literary student from the States and when her dreams of mentorship by an accomplished author hit a ‘snag’ she decides to follow her dreams in an unorthodox way and find her own mentor.  Her favourite author, who’s personal life is filled with mystery and secrecy, lives in the UK and the only clue Maisie as of his whereabouts is the name of a hotel in Cornwall.  Maisie feels she has nothing to lose and much to gain with her Atlantic adventure about to start in a small coastal village in Cornwall.

A Little Hotel in Cornwall was such a delightful start to a new book series.  We soon learn to love our leading lady, Maisie, and are championing her dreams of becoming an author.  Experiencing Cornwall for the first time and this elegant hotel on the hill through the eyes of Maisie was charming and there was a lovely feel of idyllic escapism.  From the developing new friendships and the fun start to Maisie’s new adventure the author Laura Briggs has laid the perfect foundations for readers to be eager for more.

Delightfully charming, fun, romantic and full of feel-good vibes.  Can’t wait for book two!

About the Author
Laura Briggs is the author of several chick lit and romance stories, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, caring for her pets, going to movies and plays, and trying new restaurants.

Social Media Links –
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PaperDollWrites
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurabriggs/

Advertisement

The Stars in the Night by Clare Rhoden @ClareER @rararesources #blogtour #bookreview #WWIfiction #HistFic #giveaway

 

The Stars in the Night written by Clare Rhoden, publisher Odyssey Books, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

To buy links: https://amzn.to/2DwD71S

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-stars-in-the-night-clare-rhoden/1130076728

http://odysseybooks.com.au/titles/the-stars-in-the-night-new/

Book Blurb

Harry Fletcher is a confident young man, sure that he will marry Nora, no matter what their families say. He will always protect Eddie, the boy his father saved from the gutters of Port Adelaide.
Only the War to End All Wars might get in the way of Harry’s plans…
From the beaches of Semaphore to the shores of Gallipoli, the mud of Flanders to the red dust of inland South Australia, this is a story of love, brotherhood, and resilience.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Clare Rhoden’s latest novel: The Stars in the Night.  Firstly, I’d like to say I love the play on words for the title, you have to read the book to understand what I mean.

The Stars in the Night was such an insightful historical timeslip novel that deeply moved me.  The author Clare Rhoden’s words of life living within the stench, the noise and the darkness of war felt very real to me.  I could sense the urgency, the fear, the brothers in arms camaraderie but I could also feel the sudden rush of love for the letters from home and also for the simple things in life that we take for granted.

This is a story that starts off in Australia in the 1970’s when Kate is helping her Grandfather Harry clear out her late Grandmother Nora’s personal belongings following her death.  Discovering a pile of letters written by Harry to Nora during his conscription and also a notebook written by her late Great Uncle the author then takes us back in time to 1917 to when Harry and his brother Eddie joined up.

The story continues following the days that led to weeks, months and years following the war from Australia to Egypt to Europe and Passchendaele and France.

This is a fictional story based on real life facts of the true horrors of war but it is also a story of love and of loss.  The loss of comrades and also of the loss of life as it was before war ravaged countries and lives.

The Stars in the Night is a story that was hauntingly beautiful but so tragic at times.  It was a story that fascinated me and evoked many emotions.  I appreciate how authors research historical moments in time and bring them to life with fiction.

About the Author

Clare Rhoden writes historical fiction, sci-fi and fantasy (check her titles at Odyssey Books http://odysseybooks.com.au/). Clare lives in Melbourne Australia with her husband Bill, their super-intelligent poodle-cross Aeryn, a huge and charming parliament of visiting magpies, and a very demanding/addictive garden space.
Clare completed her PhD in Australian WWI literature at the University of Melbourne in 2011, and a Masters of Creative Writing in 2008, in which she investigated the history of her grandparents who emigrated for Europe to Port Adelaide in January 1914. The Stars in the Night is the result of her research.

Social Media Links –
Website: https://clarerhoden.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clareelizabethrhoden/
Instagram: @clarerhodenauthor
Twitter: @ClareER

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of The Stars in the Night, a metal poppy brooch made by a Melbourne craftswoman, and a cross-stitch poppy card. (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 despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494214/

 

 

Between the Regions of Kindness by Alice Jolly @jollyalice @unbounders @annecater #blogtour #bookexcerpt #BetweentheRegionsofKindness

 

Between the Regions of Kindness written by Alice Jolly, publisher Unbound, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

To buy link: https://amzn.to/2IUf1RV

Book Blurb

Coventry, 1941. The morning after one of the worst nights of the Blitz. Twenty-two-year-old Rose enters the remains of a bombed house to find her best friend dead. Shocked and confused, she makes a split-second decision that will reverberate for generations to come. More than fifty years later, in modern-day Brighton, Rose’s granddaughter Lara waits for the return of her eighteen-year-old son Jay. Reckless and idealistic, he has gone to Iraq to stand on a conflict line as an unarmed witness to peace. Lara holds her parents, Mollie and Rufus, partly responsible for Jay’s departure. But in her attempts to explain their thwarted passions, she finds all her assumptions about her own life are called into question. Then into this damaged family come two strangers – Oliver, a former faith healer, and Jemmy, a young woman devastated by the loss of a baby. Together they help to establish a partial peace – but at what cost?

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Alice Jolly’s latest novel: Between the Regions of Kindness.  I have the pleasure of sharing an excerpt:

Before
Rose – Coventry, April 1941

The dawn must come – that’s all that Rose can be certain of now. Fumbling up the steps, pulling Mollie behind her, she sees its band of grey staining the blackness above a jagged line of roofs. She puts a hand against a wall to balance herself, heads for where the gates must be, stops when she gets there, steadies herself once more against their blistered metal. For a moment, the silence is absolute – the streets, the city, breathe out knowing that the night is ending. Rose gulps a deep breath but ash furs her throat, and she gasps, coughs, feels the sting of smoke in her eyes. She puts Mollie down and the child wobbles, clings to Rose’s leg, starts to howl. Rose bends down and buttons Mollie’s coat, then shakes her to keep her quiet.

The street is white with a frost of broken glass. Rose steps forward into the muffled light, her hand gripped around Mollie’s arm. Phantoms start to stumble from the shadows, caked in plaster dust, clinging to one another as though blind. An elderly man comes towards Rose, staggering over broken kerbstones. He has a colander on his head and his bare legs stick out from under his dressing gown. His knotted hands grip the colander and he sings – Nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be, when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

A water main has burst and damp seeps through the soles of Rose’s shoes. She reaches down and picks Mollie up, steps out of the spreading puddles. Ahead of her, through the smoke and drizzle, a fire engine is slanted against the jagged outline of a blackened wall. Above, tangled wires dangle from a drunken telegraph post. The sound of bombs still smashes through Rose’s head, pounds in her chest, and at every imagined blast the street buckles under her feet. Voices ricochet around her. God be praised. Where? Where? No All Clear this morning. Wires blown right out the ground.

People gather around a man standing by the gutter, filling a kettle from a drain and pouring water into glass bottles and mugs. The trouble with the shrapnel is that it does jam the lawn mower. Rose’s teeth chatter against the edge of a tin cup. The water is clouded and tastes of ash and soap but she gulps half of it down, then bends to hold the cup for Mollie. All the stories are at an end. So what now? Where can we go? The questions form in her mind but she considers them without concern. The mystery is that she and Mollie are alive. Of course, the house has gone, she knows that. It was the Bostocks’ house and she’d been staying in the sitting room. At least the Bostocks had left the city and Arthur was out at Division B First Aid. But she’d left her gas mask there, her ration book, her last ten-shilling note. And Frank will, would have…

She turns to a woman standing close by. Shackleton Street? Is this the end of Shackleton Street? Where’s the pub? The woman turns, her eyes vacant. She wears red wool socks and pieces of cardboard are tied under the soles of her shoes. Her head shakes, she turns away.

The end of Shackleton Street? The colander man catches hold of Rose and pulls her around, as though he wants to dance. Rose keeps Mollie gripped tightly against her. The end of the road? It certainly is. Except the end ain’t even here, is it? The bloody end and not even any end. A mountainous woman appears, upholstered into a tweed coat. Taking hold of the colander man, she pushes him away. As the man steps back, his dressing gown falls open, revealing long underpants, a furrow of purple ribs. He pulls the dressing gown back around himself, bursts into tears.

The woman steers Rose and Mollie away. Rose recognises her as Mrs Bartholomew, the butcher’s wife, the woman who sold her a steak as green as grass and called her Mrs Von Mayeford. But now Mrs Bartholomew’s grip is steady on Rose’s arm. You need to get to the Rest Centre, love. At Barkers Butts school. Can you hear me, love? The Rest Centre.

I need to get to the end.

No, Mrs Bartholomew says. No, love. No. Can you hear me? Mrs Bartholomew is pulling Rose and Mollie back towards the College. Here we are. Butt Street. Can you hear me? You know where you are now, love, don’t you? Butt Street. Just keep on going. She pushes Rose and Mollie on.

The morning is arriving now, listless and blank. From an upstairs window an elderly woman shouts at the sky, grips a singed cat. Seen the worst in November. Wasn’t it enough? On and on, not a bleeding brick standing. Outlined against the bruised sky, a school hat, a pair of field glasses and several pairs of smalls dangle from the blackened branches of a tree. A wooden mangle is hooked over a lamp post and a parachute bomb, like a vast iron coffin, is suspended between the gable ends of two houses. Small boys stand under it, leaping and throwing stones, until a warden drives them away.

About the Author

Alice Jolly is a novelist and playwright. Her memoir Dead Babies and Seaside Towns won the PEN Ackerley Prize 2016. She also won the V. S. Pritchett Memorial Prize awarded by the Royal Society of Literature in 2014 for one of her short stories, `Ray the Rottweiler’. She has published three novels previously, What the Eye Doesn’t See, If Only You Knew and Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile. She has also written for the Guardian, Mail on Sunday and the Independent, and broadcast for Radio 4. She lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Twitter:  @jollyalice

Website: http://alicejolly.com/wp/

Baxter’s Requiem by Matthew Crow @matthewcrow @CorsairBooks @annecater #BaxtersRequiem #blogtour #bookreview #contemporaryfiction #romcom #RandomThingsTours

 

Baxter’s Requiem written by Matthew Crow, publisher Corsair (an imprint of Little, Brown Books) is available NOW in ebook, hardcover and paperback format.

The paperback is available from all good book retailers including Waterstones, WHSmith, Foyles and amazon.

To buy link: https://amzn.to/2ZrKu3O

Book Blurb

Mr Baxter is ninety-four years old when he falls down his staircase and finds himself resident at Melrose Gardens Retirement Home.
Baxter is many things – raconteur, retired music teacher, rabble-rouser, bon viveur; but ‘good patient’ he is not. Indeed, Melrose Gardens is his worst nightmare. Then he meets Gregory.
Greg is just nineteen years old, but he has already suffered a loss so heavy that he is in danger of giving up on life before he even gets going. Seeing the boy’s pain, Baxter decides to take him under his wing.
Together they embark on a spirited journey to the war graves of Northern France, for Baxter to pay tribute to the love of his life; the man he waved off to fight in a senseless war; the man who never returned.
As Baxter shares his memories, Gregory starts to see that life need not be a matter of mere endurance; that the world is huge and beautiful; that kindness is strength; and that the only way to honour the dead, is to live every last second we have while we’re here.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of the paperback version of Baxter’s Requiem by Matthew Crow.

Baxter’s Requiem is a precious story, one that needed to be told and one that I won’t forget in a long time.  This is my first introduction to the work of Matthew Crow and I couldn’t get enough of the story and I wanted to continue with the characters journeys.

I fell in love with Baxter, a cantankerous old man who had so much spark and spirit within him.  Baxter had been given a stark warning by his Dr and Baxter knew that it was time to put his mission into action.  A mission that he’s planned for a long time.  For Baxter was harbouring a deep loss within him and he wanted to make a momentous journey to pay his respects and say his farewells.

Greg is a sullen teenager that hasn’t been working at the care home for long.  Greg doesn’t know what he’s doing with his life, he turns up for work and goes home and that’s all he feels capable of.  Baxter has taken a shine to Greg, he sees a kinship in him and wishes to pass on some of the wisdom he has accrued to this young lad.  The kinship they share is of a grief that has evoked many conflicting emotions of anger, despair, loss and sadness.

The author Matthew Crow has created a fabulous character in Baxter, he’s very relatable but there’s something unique and special about him.  There were so many sharp-witted and warm-witted scenes with Baxter that had me hooting with laughter and filled me with joy.  This is quite a talent for an author to talk about loss and sadness but evoke so much love and spirit within the storyline.

Baxter’s Requiem is a remarkable beautiful story that is so tragic and poignant but there is an overwhelming uplifting feel throughout.  I loved it!

About the Author

Matthew Crow was born and raised in Newcastle. Having worked as a freelance journalist since his teens he has contributed to a number of publications including the Independent on Sunday and the Observer. He has written for adults and YA. His book My Dearest Jonah, was nominated for the Dylan Thomas Prize.

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/mattthewcrow

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2Uzy8mR

 

 

Amazing Grace by Kim Nash @KimTheBookworm @HeraBooks @rararesources #blogtour #bookreview #romcom #debutnovel

 

Amazing Grace written by Kim Nash, publisher Hera Books, is available NOW in ebook format.

To buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MIAM7k
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2GeKm0D
Apple: https://apple.co/2MMvJD2

Book Blurb
She’s taking her life back, one step at a time…

Grace thought she had it all. Living in the beautiful village of Little Ollington, along with head teacher husband Mark and gorgeous son, Archie, she devoted herself to being the perfect mum and the perfect wife, her little family giving her everything she ever wanted.

Until that fateful day when she walked in on Mark kissing his secretary – and her perfect life fell apart.

Now she’s a single mum to Archie, trying to find her way in life and keep things together for his sake. Saturday nights consist of a Chinese takeaway eaten in front of the TV clad in greying pyjamas, and she can’t remember the last time she had a kiss from anyone aside from her dog, Becks…

Grace’s life needs a shake up – fast. So when gorgeous gardener Vinnie turns up on her doorstep, his twinkling eyes suggesting that he might be interested in more than just her conifers, she might just have found the answer to her prayers. But as Grace falls deeper for Vinnie, ten-year-old Archie fears that his mum finding love means she’ll never reconcile with the dad he loves.

So when ex-husband Mark begs her for another chance, telling her he’s changed from the man that broke her heart, Grace finds herself with an impossible dilemma. Should she take back Mark and reunite the family that Archie loves? Or risk it all for a new chance of happiness?

A funny, feel good romance about finding your own path and changing your life for the better – readers of Cathy Bramley, Jill Mansell and Josie Silver will love this uplifting read.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Kim Nash’s debut novel: Amazing Grace.

Kim Nash has written a delightful romcom about a single mum, Grace, stepping out of her comfort zone and putting herself first, just a little bit.  I loved Grace’s effervescent friend, Monica, (I think we all need a Monica in our lives), how she initially shook Grace’s life up abit, totally revamping her look and putting her back in the dating game, with very comical results.  I was literally laughing out loud at these scenes that the author had created with some fabulous one-liners that some dates think are perfect to their would-be suitors! 😉

Grace’s morale and self-esteem has taken a little battering since her split from her husband Mark.  With shared custody of their ten year old son, Archie, Grace’s dreams of family life are shattered but Grace tries her best to make her home with her son a happy one.

When Grace opens her heart to let love back in again she’s surprised how different she feels to this new friendship to what she had felt when she was married.  But life is still full of confusing and complicated emotions and Grace’s heart is tested.

I loved how the author added poignant words of wisdom from Grace’s late mother amongst the chapters.  These words were comforting and uplifting.  Having experienced this profound grief myself I totally appreciated the poignancy of these comments and the scenes they were written in.

Amazing Grace is a thoroughly enjoyable story.  It is warm-hearted, fun and so beautifully poignant.

Amazing Grace is such a beautiful, heartfelt debut novel by Kim Nash, I can’t wait to see this author go from strength to strength.

About the Author

Kim Nash lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture and is a book blogger at http://www.kimthebookworm.co.uk.

Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association’s Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can’t quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.

When she’s not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She’s also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.

Amazing Grace is her debut novel with Hera Books and will be out on 10th April 2019.

Connect with Kim on Social Media here:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KimTheBookworm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimTheBookWorm/
Instagram: @Kim_the_bookworm

One Last Summer by Victoria Connelly @VictoriaDarcy @rararesources #blogtour #bookpromo #rararesources #contemporaryfiction

 

One Last Summer written by Victoria Connelly and published by Lake Union is available NOW in ebook, paperback, audiobook and audio CD format.  The ebook is also included in the kindleunlimited scheme.

To buy link: https://amzn.to/2PmujjF

Book Blurb
They have the whole summer ahead of them. Is it enough to rekindle the friendship they once shared?
Harriet Greenleaf dreams of spending the summer in a beautiful ancient priory on the Somerset coast with her two best friends—but her dream is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a chance to reconnect three lives that have drifted apart; on the other, she has a devastating secret to share that will change everything between them forever.
First to arrive is Audrey—the workaholic who’s heading for a heart attack unless she slows down and makes time for herself. Then Lisa, the happy-go-lucky flirt who’s always struggled to commit to anyone—or anything. Ever the optimist, can Harriet remind them of the joy in their lives and the importance of celebrating good friendship before it’s gone?
Through the highs and lows of a long, glorious summer, these three women will rediscover what it means to be there for each other—before they face the hardest of goodbyes.

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour with a promo celebrating and promoting the launch of Victoria Connelly’s latest novel: One Last Summer.

Author Bio
Victoria Connelly studied English literature at Worcester University, got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and now lives in rural Suffolk with her artist husband, a young springer spaniel and a flock of ex-battery hens.
She is the author of two bestselling series, Austen Addicts and The Book Lovers, as well as many other novels and novellas. Her first published novel, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in 2008 by Ziegler Films in Germany. The Runaway Actress was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Comedy Novel award.
Ms Connelly loves books, films, walking, historic buildings and animals. If she isn’t at her keyboard writing, she can usually be found in her garden, with either a trowel in her hand or a hen on her lap.

Her website is http://www.victoriaconnelly.com, and readers can follow her on Twitter @VictoriaDarcy and on Instagram @VictoriaConnellyAuthor.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312085782631729/
Twitter: @VictoriaDarcy
Instagram: @VictoriaConnellyAuthor

 

Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer @carolewyer @canelo_co @ElliePilcher95 #blogtour #bookreview #romcom #SuddenlySingle

 

Suddenly Single written by Carol Wyer, publisher Canelo, is available NOW in ebook format.

To buy link: https://amzn.to/2ZknKCS

Book Blurb 
When bestselling romance author Chloe Piper’s marriage implodes a week before Christmas, she flees her cheating ex and the village gossips for the solitude of the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm and the company of her hapless dog, Ronnie.
But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew – headed up by charming Alex – and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself in a whole new world of chaos…
This enthralling romantic comedy of self-discovery and new beginnings is perfect for fans of Kirsty Greenwood, Colleen Coleman and Marian Keyes.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Carol Wyer’s latest romcom: Suddenly Single.

Once again Carol Wyer has written a fabulous romantic comedy with Suddenly Single.  However, amongst all the fun and warmth emanating from the pages the author has injected a serious subject within the storyline that would resonate with many people and Carol Wyer has dealt with this subject with humanity, honesty and empathy.

Recently single Chloe Piper is starting afresh in a new home at a premier new build estate in the Staffordshire hills.  With her loyal four-legged companion, Ronnie, she soon starts to make friends with the neighbours, Eleanor and Fairfax and Alex the foreman of the building project.  Eleanor and Fairfax run an events programme for singletons and Chloe and Alex find themselves invited along.

Chloe has suffered with debilitating anxiety since experiencing a tragedy as a child and she still suffers being in big crowds so going along to a new club is very daunting for her. However, the club was to prove a step in the right direction for Chloe and she soon starts making new friends and achieving small goals to help her self-esteem and anxiety.  But a reminder from her past is never too far behind her and she soon fears for the control that this person had on her.

I loved that I could totally picture the brilliant team building/ice-breaker games that the club had created.  The author has such a great imagination and I could definitely see this story being screened as a perfect romcom movie.  Suddenly Single is full of fun, romance and plenty of feelgood vibes flowing through the story.

About the Author

As a child Carol Wyer was always moving, and relied on humour to fit in at new schools. A funny short story won her popularity, planting the seed of becoming a writer. Her career spans dry cleaning, running a language teaching company, and boxercise coaching. Now writing full-time, Carol has several books published and journalism in many magazines.
Carol won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015), and can sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carolewyer

Website: http://www.carolwyer.co.uk/

Unlaced by the Highland Duke by Lara Temple @laratemple1 @MillsandBoon #bookreview #LochmoreLegacy #HistoricalRomance

 

Unlaced by the Highland Duke written by Lara Temple, publisher Mills & Boon Historical, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

The paperback is available from all good book retailers including Waterstones, WHSmith, amazon and direct from Mills & Boon website.

To buy link (amazon UK): https://amzn.to/2vbJHWX

To buy link (Mills & Boon): https://bit.ly/2ZmqDmJ

Book Blurb

A plain Regency governess
In bed with the Duke!
Part of The Lochmore Legacy: a Scottish castle through the ages! Unceremoniously packed off to Scotland to care for the Duke of Lochmore’s young son, practical widow Joane Langdale fears she will be ignored—as always. But the deep connection and heated passion that develops between her and Benneit is far more dangerous! When Benneit is expected to propose to another, how can Jo dream of becoming his duchess?

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes.

Unlaced by the Highland Duke is Book 2 in The Lochmore Legacy series.  The Lochmore Legacy is a series of four stories set in different historical eras around a castle in the Scottish highlands and a feud between rival clans.  Each story is written by a different historical romance author and Unlaced by the Highland Duke is written by Lara Temple.  Each story in the series can be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading all the books in the series to gain full enjoyment and appreciation of this gorgeous historical romance series.  You can catch up with my review of Book One here.

Unlaced by the Highland Duke is the story of Duke of Lochmore, Benneit, who is trying to forge a partnership and also help soften the feud with fellow Scotman McCleish.  Since the death of his wife Bella, the Duke has focused all his energies on his four year old son Jamie.  Benneit hopes to secure a future for Jamie so a partnership is essential.  Hiring his late wife’s cousin, Joane (Jo) to help look after Jamie until he marries brings many confused emotions to Benneit and Jo’s minds.

Jo is a widower herself and her first impressions of Benneit six years ago was of an aloof gentleman.  However, now she sees him with his son she can see a softer, almost vulnerable side to him.  Benneit is fiercely protection of his son Jamie and he also has a strong relationship with his help at the castle.  Jo has a wonderful way with children and she soon develops a lovely, warm, trusting relationship with Jamie and Jamie soon begins to show his love and loyalty to her.  Jo is a young woman with so much love, vibrancy and imagination and appears to know just how to appease this young boy who is feeling a little lost at the moment.

Lara Temple has written a gorgeous historical romance that is so charming and beautiful and then has an addictive, sensual side to the storyline.  With the stunning, rugged backdrop of the Scottish highlands The Lochmore Legacy continues to enthral me with it’s mystery, legends and beguiling romances.

The authors involved in The Lochmore Legacy have set up a facebook page all about the series so please pop on over and join in with the historical romance chat:

https://www.facebook.com/LochmoreLegacy/

About the Author

Lara Temple writes strong, sexy regency romances about complex individuals who give no quarter but do so with plenty of passion. After moving around the world for her career as a financial analyst and business consultant she returned to her childhood love of making up stories, and was surprised to discover that other people don’t mind reading them.
She lives with her husband and two children who are very good about her taking over the kitchen table for her writing (so she can look out over the garden and dream while Oscar the dog keeps her feet warm by sitting on them as she works).
The Earl’s Irresistible Challenge (out December 2018) is the first in her Sinful Sinclair series. In May 2019 Unlaced by the Highland Duke, part of a four book series with three other Harlequin Mills & Boon authors will be released.

Social Media Links –
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laratemple1
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/laratemple1
Website: http://www.laratemple.com

The Worth of a Penny by Jess B Moore @authorjessb @rararesources @crookedcatbooks #blogtour #bookpromo #contemporaryromance

 

The Worth of a Penny written by Jess B Moore, publisher Crooked Cat Books, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.  The ebook is also included in the kindleunlimited scheme.

To buy link: https://amzn.to/2ZarDKE

Book Blurb
Sweetheart Penelope Davies is what her daddy calls gullible, right after he told her she was stupid and worthless. With her cheek red from being slapped by him, and her heart trampled by a worthless boyfriend, she packs up and follows her half-brother to Fox River, North Carolina, in need of a fresh start.

Dominic MacKenna is the youngest of five brothers, the friendly one with a killer smile and easy laugh. His brothers are all grown up, and one by one they’re flying the nest, leaving him out of sorts and unsure of his place. Who is he if not the youngest MacKenna?

Penny falls in with the MacKenna brothers, welcomed in as family, and offered the kind of love and support she never knew existed. With a new job and a lot of determination, she is finding out what she’s capable of. The last thing she needs now is to fall in love with the most notorious flirt in town.

Dominic falls for the sweet strong girl with a penchant for random facts and quirky homemade dresses. All he wants is to show Penny how wonderful she is, how smart and funny, and how desired and loved—even if he has to do it as her friend.

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour with a promo celebrating and promoting the launch of Jess B Moore’s latest novel: The Worth of a Penny.

About the Author

Jess B Moore is a writer of love stories. When she’s not writing, she’s busy mothering her talented and stubborn children, reading obscene numbers of books, and knitting scarves she’ll likely never finish.

Jess lives in small town North Carolina with her bluegrass obsessed family. She takes too many pictures of her cats, thinking the Internet loves them as much as she does. She is a firm believer of swapping stories over coffee or wine, and that there should always be dark chocolate involved.

Her novels combine her interests in family, music, and small towns into thoughtful tales of growing up and falling in love.

Social Media Links –
Website: https://jessbmoore.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessb
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorjessb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjessb/

The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris @Joannechocolat @orionbooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #blogtour #bookreview #contemporaryfiction #TheStrawberryThief #ModernDayFairytale

 

The Strawberry Thief written by Joanne Harris, publisher Orion, is available NOW in ebook, hardcover and audiobook format.

Waterstones have a stunning signed edition of the hardcover of the book available which includes an exclusive afterword from the author Joanne Harris and a short story.  To buy this edition please click on the link below:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-strawberry-thief/joanne-harris/9781409192169

Book Blurb

Vianne Rocher has settled down. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the place that once rejected her, has finally become her home. With Rosette, her ‘special’ child, she runs her chocolate shop in the square, talks to her friends on the river, is part of the community. Even Reynaud, the priest, has become a friend.
But when old Narcisse, the florist, dies, leaving a parcel of land to Rosette and a written confession to Reynaud, the life of the sleepy village is once more thrown into disarray.
The arrival of Narcisse’s relatives, the departure of an old friend and the opening of a mysterious new shop in the place of the florist’s across the square – one that mirrors the chocolaterie, and has a strange appeal of its own – all seem to herald some kind of change: a confrontation, a turbulence – even, perhaps, a murder…

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes

I am so pleased and honoured to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Joanne Harris’ latest novel: The Strawberry Thief.

Joanne Harris’ beautiful prose has captured my imagination and Rosette Rocher has stolen my heart.  The Strawberry Thief is my first introduction to the work of Joanne Harris, I haven’t even watched the movie adaptation of Chocolat so I totally read The Strawberry Thief with fresh eyes.  It is 20 years since the author published Chocolat and The Strawberry Thief is the fourth book in the series.  The book can easily be read as a standalone and for brand new fans of Joanne Harris’ work, like myself, you will soon be swept away with the beauty of the storyline however, now I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of reading this novel I am very keen to read all the books in the Chocolat series so for established fans of this authors work you will be in for a treat revisiting Lansquenet-sous-Tannes.

Joanne Harris takes you to a fantasy world within our own.  Rosette and her mother Vianne have an air of mystery and magic about them and you can sense an otherworldly presence.  You never grow old  of fairy tales and make believe and this is such a powerful tool that authors hold when they can whisk you away to the unimaginable but make it still very real and relatable.

The Strawberry Thief is a story like no other but behind all the magic and mystery there is a very relatable story about a woman and her relationship with her children that are growing up and becoming independent.  It’s also a story of grief and of appreciating the true meaning of love.

I found Joanne Harris’ writing so very beautiful and I was totally spellbound by the magical words of wisdom.  Joanne Harris has gained a new fan in me.

Beautiful and symbolic full of fantastical ideas and whims.  You’ll be swept away with the splendour of the story.

To learn more about the author please do visit the following pages:

Website: http://www.joanne-harris.co.uk/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Joannechocolat

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