Coming Home to Winter Island by Jo Thomas @jo_thomas01 @headlinepg @annecater #blogtour #bookreview #festiveread #ComingHometoWinterIsland

Coming Home to Winter Island written by Jo Thomas, publisher Review, is available in ebook format from 31st October 2019 and is due for release in paperback and audiobook format in December.

To pre-order/buy link:  https://amzn.to/2JtkEpF

Book Blurb

Wrap up warm and explore the breath-taking beauty of a remote Scottish island and an old house waiting to unlock enchanting family secrets.
Fans of Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will love this irresistible new winter novel from Jo Thomas.
Do you need to find out where you’ve come from before you can know what the future holds?
Ruby’s singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover.
But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It’s time to go and see the grandfather she’s never met.
City girl Ruby knows she will be happy to leave the windswept beaches behind as quickly as she can, especially as a years-old family rift means she knows she won’t be welcome at Teach Mhor.
But as she arrives at the big house overlooking the bay, she finds things are not as straightforward as she might have thought.
There’s an unexpected guest in the house and he’s not planning on going anywhere any time soon …

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 Jo Thomas’ latest novel: Coming Home to Winter Island.

Coming Home to Winter Island by Jo Thomas is a beautiful, poignant story about stepping away from our wished for path and looking back to how your journey started.

Ruby Mac was at an exciting stage in her singing career; all the years of hardwork and practice have all come down to this one point when the band she sings in is due to perform at an event attended by music producers.  However, life was to play a cruel twist in her singing career bringing Ruby crashing down to a career of uncertainty.  Ruby needs to rest and recouperate but she hadn’t intended on an unexpected visit to a remote Scottish island.  Ruby was about to visit the grandfather she has never met and also the island and home her father grew up from.  Ruby knew that a family rift went on many years ago leading to her father leaving the island and never returning home but she didn’t know what this dispute was about.  Leaving her band, boyfriend and the city to visit an elderly relative she’s never met is a daunting task.  But Ruby had more than her elderly grandfather to win over, she also had a local man who had undertaken the task of caring for Ruby’s grandfather.

Jo Thomas’ words have drawn you into the wilderness of the past and of the present on a remote island affectionately known as Winter Island.  The storyline is very touching with Ruby discovering more about her heritage bringing back the grief from the loss of her father and also the loss of what could have been if she’d been given the chance to get to know her grandparents.   I fell in love with Winter Island it’s local inhabitants, wildlife and fauna and could totally appreciate the spirit within such a close-knit community.  I also appreciated the back to basics of nature in it’s true form and of life working with what is freely around you.

Sometimes the key for your future can be found at right back to where you started.  Letting your heart and soul be free by learning from your heritage can be refreshing and enlightening and be just the direction needed to fulfil your dreams.

Coming Home to Winter Island is a satisfying festive read that is beautifully heart-warming and poignant.

About the Author

Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before moving on to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 2’s The Steve Wright Show. In 2013 Jo won the RNA Katie Fforde Bursary. Her debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller in ebook and was awarded the 2014 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the 2014 Festival of Romance Best Ebook Award. Jo lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband and three children.

Website: https://jothomasauthor.com/

Twitter:  @jo_thomas01

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

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A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall by Jane Linfoot @janelinfoot @0neMoreChapter_ @rararesources #blogtour #bookreview #festiveread

A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall written by Jane Linfoot, publisher One More Chapter (digital division of Harper Collins UK), is available NOW in ebook format.  The paperback is due for release in December.

Purchase Links
UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cosy-Christmas-Cornwall-heartwarming-Cornish-ebook/dp/B07TVZ8VYV
US – http://www.amazon.com/Cosy-Christmas-Cornwall-heartwarming-Cornish-ebook/dp/B07TVZ8VYV

Book Blurb
A December to remember…
Christmas in a Cornish castle? Sign Ivy Starforth up! Hired to kit out the holiday rental as the world’s most Instagramable festive dreamland, there’s only one thing standing in the way of her hefty paycheque – the lord of the manor.
Bill Markham could give Scrooge a run for his money but Ivy is firmly #TeamChristmas…even if her handsome host seems to be doing everything he can to sabotage her staging. Maybe she shouldn’t have stumbled in on him starkers in the hot tub?
As the temperature outside cools, things inside the castle heat up. It’s been a long time since Ivy allowed herself to give in to temptation…surely one little kiss under the mistletoe won’t hurt?

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 Jane Linfoot’s latest novel: A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall.

Jane Linfoot has a great recipe for success for gorgeous feelgood romcoms all set in idyllic settings.  A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall is a wonderful romp of a read set just on the outskirts of the lovely fictional coastal village of St Aidan.  It is centred around friends and their families getting away from everyday life and having the perfect insta-worthy Christmas in Cornwall.

Ivy Starforth has agreed to tag along with her friends Libby and Fliss with their extended family to a Christmas getaway in Cornwall.  Libby is an insta-influencer and Ivy is the perfect partner to make this festive holiday ‘gram perfect’!  However, when Ivy arrives at their holiday let a few days early on her own to prepare she is a little shocked to see how different the property looks from their ‘google image’ search.  Ivy is also shocked to learn she knows the caretaker of the refurbished castle; a man she met six years ago and has never quite forgotten him.

Once Ivy gets over the double shock of the minimalist interiors of the castle and of seeing Bill again she enlist his help in turning a cold looking castle into a warm, cosy induced castle that oozes festive vibes.

Bill is not feeling very festive as Christmas hits a vulnerable spot for him but knows he has to turn this castle into the holiday tenant’s dream posts or he’s going to have a mutiny on his hands.

Once the hoard of guests arrive we are met with a myriad of characters all with their own personality quirks.  There’s plenty of festive, fun and frolics and heartfelt inspiring moments with this gorgeous romcom.  I loved it all and didn’t want it to end, I hope Jane Linfoot returns to the characters we’ve discovered at the castle in a future new story.

About the Author

Jane Linfoot is a best selling author, who lives in a cottage on a Derbyshire hillside with her family and their pets. Although she loves seeing cow noses over the garden wall, she’s happy she can walk to a supermarket.

Jane grew up in North Yorkshire where she spent a lot of her childhood avoiding horizontal gales blowing off the sea and wrote her first book by accident. While she loves to write feel good books that let readers escape, she’s always surprised to hear her stories make people laugh, admits to (occasionally) crying as she writes, and credits her characters for creating their own story lines.

Jane’s garden would be less brambly if she wasn’t on Facebook and Twitter so often. On days when she wants to be really scared, she rides a tandem.

Her recent stand alone novels are all set in and around the (imaginary) seaside village of St Aidan in Cornwall. They are: A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall, Edie’s Browne’s Cottage by the Sea, The Little Cornish Kitchen. Her four book Little Wedding Shop series are standalone stories, also set in St Aidan. They are: The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop, Summer at the Little Wedding Shop and Christmas Promises at the Little Wedding Shop. They are all published by the Harper Impulse and One More Chapter imprints of Harper Collins.

Follow Jane on Twitter @janelinfoot, or find her on her Author Page Facebook or her
Personal Page Facebook. She’s also on Instagram, and has lots of Pinterest boards relating to her novels.

Giveaway to Win a signed Jane Linfoot Book and some chocolate (Open INT)
*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/33c69494290/

The Summer Springsteen’s Songs Saved Me by Barbara Quinn @BarbaraQuinn @rarareasources #blogtour #bookextract

The Summer Springsteen’s Songs Saved Me written by Barbara Quinn, publisher Lakewater Press, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

Purchase Links
Amazon.com:   http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Springsteens-Songs-Saved-Inspiring-ebook/dp/B0764KZP34

Amazon.co.uk:   http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0994451253

Barnes & Noble:   https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-summer-springsteens-songs-saved-me-barbara-quinn/1127124454?ean=9780994451248

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36221316-the-summer-springsteen-s-songs-saved-me?ac=1&from_search=true

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-summer-springsteens-songs-saved-me/barbara-quinn/9780994451255

Book Blurb

Coming home to catch her husband with his face between the long, silky legs of another woman is the last thing Sofia expects—and on today of all days. So, after scratching an expletive into his Porsche and setting the cheating bastard’s clothes on fire, she cranks up her beloved Bruce and flees, vowing never to look back.

Seeking solace in the peaceful beachside town of Bradley Beach, NJ, Sof is determined to start over. And, with the help of best friends, new acquaintances, a sexy neighbor, and the powerful songs of Springsteen, this may be the place where her wounds can heal. But, as if she hasn’t faced her share of life’s challenges, a final flurry of obstacles awaits.

In order to head courageously toward the future, Sofia must first let go of her past, find freedom, and mend her broken soul.

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating two years since the launch of Barbara Quinn’s novel: The Summer Springsteen’s Songs Saved Me.  I have the pleasure of sharing an extract with you.

I open the front door, and my husband steps back, hiding from the eyes of the neighbors.
“Sof, where are you going? Wait.”
I call over my shoulder, “You’re an asshole, Jerome. You always were.”
I haul the barbecue from the garage and dump Jerome’s and Mandy’s clothes onto the grill, dousing them with lighter fluid and striking a match. Flames shoot into the air. The fire smells good.
Scrutinizing the neat houses of the neighborhood, I’m irritated by how no one stirs behind the well-maintained structures. Without a doubt they watch and listen. I barely recognize the neighbors. They stay away and rebuff all attempts at socialization. Maybe they know something I don’t. Maybe one of the things they know is that Jerome brings women home in my absence.
I fling the door of my Camry wide and retrieve the keys in my purse. I toss the bag that holds my things into the back seat.
Jerome calls out from behind the half-open door. “If I’m so bad, why the hell did you marry me?”
“Because I was an even bigger asshole than you.” I pause. “It’s taken me years to figure this out. You’ve been a dog for as long as I can remember. It’s good to finally admit it.”

 

About the Author

Barbara Quinn is an award-winning short story writer and author of a variety of novels.

Her travels have taken her to forty-seven states and five continents where she’s encountered fascinating settings and inspiring people that populate her work.

Her many past jobs include lawyer, record shop owner, reporter, process server, lingerie sales clerk, waitress, and postal worker. She’s a native New Yorker with roots in the Bronx, Long Island, and Westchester. She currently resides with her husband in Bradley Beach, NJ and Holmes Beach, FL. She enjoys spending time with her son and his family and planning her next adventure. She wants to remind everyone that when you meet her, SHE’S NOT SHOUTING, SHE’S ITALIAN.

Social Media Links –

Website: http://baquinn.wixsite.com/barbaraquinn

Twitter: wwwtwitter.com/BarbaraQuinn

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BarbaraQuinnAuthor

 

The Family Gift by Cathy Kelly @cathykellybooks @orionbooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #blogtour #bookreview #TheFamilyGift #contemporaryfiction

The Family Gift written by Cathy Kelly, publisher Orion, is available NOW in ebook, hardcover, audiobook and paperback format.

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

Book Blurb

Freya Abalone has a big, messy, wonderful family, a fantastic career, and a new house.

But that’s on the outside.
On the inside, she’s got Mildred – the name she’s given to that nagging inner critic who tells us all we’re not good enough.
And now Freya’s beloved blended family is under threat. Dan’s first wife Elisa, the glamorous, manipulative woman who happily abandoned her daughter to Freya and Dan’s care and left the country, has elbowed her way back into their lives.
But Freya knows that when life gives you lemons, you throw them right back.
Can Freya put her family – and herself – back together? Find out in Cathy Kelly’s warmest, wisest and funniest book yet…

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 the release of the paperback of Cathy Kelly’s latest novel: The Family Gift.  It’s an honour to be one of the 20 bloggers celebrating Cathy Kelly’s 20th book.

The Family Gift is a wonderful family drama for the modern world we live in now.  Freya is a wife, mother, daughter, top celebrity chef but she’s also a victim to many hurdles in life that have been thrown her way.  This last year so much tragedy, trauma, heartache and strain has been dumped onto Freya and her family but Freya has tried to shoulder all the worries, concerns and struggles by herself but it’s now catching up with her.

Moving house was hopefully the fresh start she needed but with her life in a chaotic shambles of a multitude of boxes Freya soon loses sight of her focus.  However, the move has given her the gift of new friends with the owners of a local café providing much needed solace and a dear elderly lady customer of the café proves to be of great comfort to Freya.

However, when someone from the past starts to reintegrate back in their lives Freya starts to feel threatened and is afraid her family structure she’s so lovingly built will be broken.

Cathy Kelly writes wonderful, heartfelt stories about people and their everyday lives.  She has a real skill of getting to know the intricacies of peoples minds and personalities and she weaves her words to create a magical, heartfelt, honest family saga.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Family Gift, Freya’s story resonated with me on so many levels.  Cathy Kelly’s characters are written with warmth and charm and you will feel a connection to them sympathising and acknowledging their plights.  Warm-hearted, charming and very real.

About the Author

Cathy Kelly is published around the world, with millions of books in print. Cathy is the bestselling author of The Honey Queen, Once in a Lifetime and Between Sisters, and is a No.1 bestseller in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Her trademark is warm and witty Irish storytelling about modern life, always with an uplifting message, a sense of community and strong female characters at the heart.
She lives with her family and their three dogs in County Wicklow, Ireland. She is also an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland, raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDS

Website: http://www.cathykelly.com/

Twitter:  @cathykellybooks

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

 

Anything For Love written by Gracie Bond @gracie_author @rararesources #blogtour #bookpromo

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Gracie Bond’s debut novel: Anything For Love. I have the pleasure of sharing the book promo details.

Anything For Love written and self-published by Gracie Bond is available NOW in ebook format.  The ebook is also included in the kindleunlimited scheme.

Purchase Links
UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anything-Love-Gracie-Bond-ebook/dp/B07XCQBGF1/
US – http://www.amazon.com/Anything-Love-Gracie-Bond-ebook/dp/B07XCQBGF1/

Book Blurb
Leah Jensen, Yorkshire lass born and bred, needs money and she’ll do anything – yes, anything – to get it. Her Grandad Thomas is in pain and the cost of an operation on his bad knee is way beyond the family’s means. Leah tries everything to earn the fee – but in the end, and like so many before her, she turns to the world’s oldest profession.
Madam Butterfly’s exclusive escort agency in London is a different world to where Leah comes from. In Whitby, the sea air is sweet, and legends of Dracula jostle with jet-mining and whaling history; it’s a place where dog lovers meet and tourists come to marvel at the views.
Leah may be out of her comfort zone, but one daring, brief encounter will bring many surprises in this memorable romantic comedy full of pithy Yorkshire humour.

About the Author

Gracie Bond loves a good romantic comedy, either to read or to watch on Netflix. Her favourite go-to novel is (Pride and Prejudice)- and she’s always happy to watch ( Bridgett Jones) any time of the day. Among Gracie’s interests are Newfoundland dogs, horses, and handsome Yorkshire men. Her idea of fun would be to ride a spirited horse along a Northumberland beach, followed by a pack of her favourite dogs.
Gracie lives in Yorkshire with her partner John and she has close connections with Whitby, the setting for this novel.

Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/graciebondauthor/
http://www.twitter.com/gracie_author
https://www.instagram.com/graciebondauthor22/

 

Christmas at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble @RachelBrimble @Aria_Fiction @rararesources #blogtour #bookreview #HistoricalFiction

Christmas at Pennington’s written by Rachel Brimble, publisher Aria, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.  The ebook is also included in the kindleunlimited scheme.

Purchase Links
UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-at-Penningtons-Rachel-Brimble-ebook/dp/B07RC9R3JK
US – http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-at-Penningtons-Rachel-Brimble-ebook/dp/B07RC9R3JK

Book Blurb

Gripping drama as Pennington’s department store prepares for a glittering Christmas in 1911, but a killer stalks the women of Bath.

Christmas sees Pennington’s at its most glorious, thronged with shoppers, its grand staircase and balcony adorned with holly, mistletoe, tinsel and lights. It should be the happiest time, but dramas are seething beneath the surface.

For Cornelia Culford, in charge of jewellery, a divorce hearing looms, where she could lose custody of her young sons to her overbearing and unfaithful husband.

For Stephen Gower, being head of security at Pennington’s is the perfect refuge from a tragic past at Scotland Yard. But soon the past will call him back, as Joseph Carter and Elizabeth Pennington beg him to help solve the murder of Joseph’s first wife, now that it seems as if the killer has struck again.

For Joseph and Elizabeth, their marriage depends on exorcising the past. But can it ever be laid to rest?

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 Book Three in The Pennington’s series: Christmas at Pennington’s.

The Pennington’s series is fast becoming one of my all time favourites; it has everything and more in a story. We have strong female lead characters, troubled pasts, struggles for independence, family drama, glitz and glamour of the early 1900’s, political uprising, danger, mystery and above all else romance.

Christmas at Pennington’s is Book 3 in the series and although each story can be read as a standalone the characters lives do follow on in their journeys in each story and it’s wonderful to read this progression so I would highly recommend reading all the books in the series in order.

Two people who have recently suffered a loss are left guilty with the repercussions from this. When fate plays it’s hand at putting these two people together can the strength from one give confidence to the other?

Cornelia Culford has left the family home with her two young boys and is seeking solace with her brother Lawrence and his wife Esther following the break-up of her marriage. Cornelia is concerned about the divorce court hearing and is afraid the judge will rule in her ex-husband’s favour. Cornelia has enjoyed the growing confidence and independence of earning her own keep whilst she’s been living in Bath but her mind is unsettled as to whether she can continue this as well as be the sole carer for her children.

Stephen Gower is a sergeant at Scotland Yard and is temporary taking time out from a very challenging, emotionally charged case. He’s decided to take a job at Pennington’s in Bath. With Stephen’s job he’s found it best to keep himself to himself but when Cornelia decides to befriend him he’s taken out of his comfort zone. Also thinking he will have an easy time working and living in Bath he’s faced with helping his new employer Joseph Carter in finding the culprit for his late wife’s murder. Memories from his life in London are forced back to the top of his mind and he has no option but to face them.

The author Rachel Brimble has created another great instalment in the Pennington’s series you will be kept on edge in a race to end years of mental torment for a murder cold case. We are also introduced to new characters which blend beautifully with the ensemble of ladies and gentleman of Bath we’ve learned to love from the previous stories. A story that is intense and dramatic at times but also hasn’t missed out any of the romantic charm.

About the Author 

Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath, England. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.

In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018, A Rebel At Pennington’s February 2019 and Christmas At Pennington’s September 2019.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America and has thousands of social media followers all over the world. To sign up for her quarterly and new release newsletter, click here to go to her website: https://rachelbrimble.com/

Social Media Links –

Blog: https://rachelbrimble.blogspot.com/

Twitter:  @RachelBrimble

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrimbleauthor/?hl=en

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Brimble/e/B007829ZRM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1490948101&sr=8-1

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rachel-brimble

Giveaway to Win a £15 Amazon Gift Card (UK Only)

*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/33c69494291/

 

 

 

 

 

Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage by Katie Ginger @KatieGAuthor @HQDigitalUK @rararesources #festiveread #romcom #SnowflakesatMistletoeCottage #blogtour #bookreview

Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage written by Katie Ginger, publisher HQ Digital, is available NOW in ebook format and is due for release in paperback in November.

Purchase Links
Amazon UK ebook: https://amzn.to/2NL7fhq
Amazon UK paperbook: https://amzn.to/2Y51uPP
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2LP8Ujm
Amazon US ebook: https://amzn.to/2XHxFR1

Book Blurb
On a grey, London day, Esme’s world crumbles around her when she loses her glitzy job on a top TV programme, her gorgeous, city-slicker boyfriend and her stunning apartment, all in one fell swoop just before Christmas.
Esme is forced suddenly to move back to her sleepy hometown of Sandchester, and despite the snow blanketing the roof and the fairy lights that twinkle in her rustic little cottage, everything is looking bleak. That is until she reconnects with an old crush and finds herself unexpectedly getting swept away.
But Joe, handsome and charming as he is, is not all he seems. Esme soon realises that he has a tragic past which he just might not be able to overcome…
Surrounded by her loving, if harebrained, family and with the support of her hilarious friends, Esme is determined to have a go at forging her own path, even if it all comes to nothing. But one question still lingers in her mind: will she find someone to kiss under the mistletoe this Christmas?

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 Katie Ginger’s latest novel: Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage.

Oh my goodness I adored this novel by Katie Ginger and I’m not sure why I haven’t read any of her work before as her writing style connected with me on so many levels.  Katie Ginger is definitely on my radar now and has a firm place in my favourite romcom author list.

Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage is a gorgeous festive feast of a read that I quickly devoured.  I loved it so much I wanted the storyline and characters to be real so I could connect with them and learn more about their antics and foodie delights.

Esme is a Food Tech for one of the current top foodie TV shows but when she discovers that the glamorous host of the show has double crossed her she decides enough is enough and voices her grievances but sadly her voice isn’t as important as her nemesis and she is left with an ultimatum.

When Esme thought her day couldn’t get any worse her boyfriend decides to dump her.  So jobless, broken-hearted and now homeless Esme heads home to her parents.  Esme’s parents are crazy but fabulous and are just the tonic she needs and with the encouragement of her friends Esme sets up a blog to share her love of cooking and of the memories she had cooking with her dear grandma.

Joe moved back to his hometown a few years ago but has been secretly struggling with emotions of the heart.  His mind and heart is still in turmoil but when he meets up with his old school friend Esme he starts to see another purpose in life.  Can these two lost souls who have returned to their home town learn to let love in again?

Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage is such a fabulously funny read and it’s filled with so much warmth it leaves you with a satisfied cosy glow.  However, with all the delicious sounding recipes that Esme creates you’ll be left with a hunger for her food and a desire to get cooking.

A delicious cosy read that will fill you with a satisfied glow.

About the Author
KATIE GINGER lives in the South East of England, by the sea, and apart from holidays to very hot places where you can sit by a pool and drink cocktails as big your head, she wouldn’t really want to be anywhere else. Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage is her third novel. She is also author of the Seafront series – The Little Theatre on the Seafront, shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award, and Summer Season on the Seafront.

When she’s not writing, Katie spends her time drinking gin, or with her husband, trying to keep alive her two children: Ellie, who believes everything in life should be performed like a musical number from a West End show; and Sam, who is basically a monkey with a boy’s face. And there’s also their adorable King Charles Spaniel, Wotsit (yes, he is named after the crisps!).

For more about Katie you can visit her website: http://www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor.

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden @arden_katherine @EburyPublishing @annecater #TheWinterOfTheWitch #bookreview #historicalfantasy

The Winter of the Witch written by Katherine Arden, publisher Del Rey, is available NOW in ebook, audiobook, hardback and paperback format.

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

To buy link: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-winter-of-the-witch/katherine-arden/9781785039737

Book Blurb

One girl can make a difference…

Moscow is in flames, leaving its people searching for answers – and someone to blame. Vasilisa, a girl with extraordinary gifts, must flee for her life, pursued by those who blame their misfortune on her magic.

Then a vengeful demon returns, stronger than ever. Determined to engulf the world in chaos, he finds allies among men and spirits. Mankind and magical creatures alike find their fates resting on Vasya’s shoulders.

But she may not be able to save them all.

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 paperback launch of the final instalment in The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden: The Winter of the Witch.

Before my review I’d first like to give praise to the stunning book covers of all three novels in the trilogy.  I was initially drawn to the cover of book one before I even read the synopsis and I’m so glad I took a chance on a genre that I don’t regularly read.  The book covers are stunning but inside is a beautifully written story.

The author Katherine Arden has written a vivid trilogy that opens your eyes to a world of magic, myth, light and darkness.  A world that has wonder, a world that loves devotedly but also a world that suffers grief.

I don’t read many fantasy novels but back in 2017 when I read The Bear and The Nightingale (Book One in the trilogy) I became enchanted with this story and with each new instalment I’ve been eager to read on.  You can catch up with my reviews of Book One here and of Book Two here

The Winter of The Witch carries on from book two and Moscow is in flames and all eyes are on one young girl that has extra-ordinary bravery and powers; Vasya.  However, Vasya is now fighting for her own survival, she must escape and regain her strength before she can help those she loves dearly; her family and her Moscow.

There are moments in this story that will take your breath away with the tenderness of love.  But then your heart will be racing with the dramatic scenes of battle unfolding.

I would highly recommend readers to open their hearts and minds to a historical trilogy with a difference.  The mythical, ethereal beauty to this story will bewitch you.

Katherine Arden has skilfully written a beautiful fairy-tale retelling of a pivotal moment in Russia’s history.  I still stand by my words in my review of book one that The Winternight Trilogy would look impressive with a big movie budget bringing all the characters and creatures to life, a blockbuster in the making.

About the Author

Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent her junior year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrolment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature. After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crêpes to serving as a personal tour guide. After a year on the island, she moved to Briançon, France, and spent nine months teaching. She then returned to Maui, stayed for nearly a year, then left again to wander. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know. She is the author of The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower. These novels make up the first two parts of The Winternight Trilogy.

Website: http://www.katherinearden.com/
Twitter: @arden_katherine
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherineardenauthor

 

The Perfect Dress by Louisa Leaman @louisaleaman @TransworldBooks @katiecregg #blogtour #bookreview #ThePerfectDress #contemporaryromance #vintagevibes

The Perfect Dress written by Louisa Leaman, publisher Transworld (an imprint of Penguin Random House) is available in ebook from 17th October 2019.  The paperback is due for release in February 2020.

To pre-order: https://amzn.to/32dZDqz

Book Blurb

Fran’s wedding dress shop isn’t like any other. A treasure trove of history, filled with gowns from every decade for every type of bride. But not as you’d expect.

Something bold for the shy and retiring.
Something simple for the woman who is unafraid to stand out.
And something dazzling for the bride who wouldn’t normally dare to be different.

No matter your expectations, you’d never guess your own perfect dress. But Fran knows… she feels the wisdom woven into every gown, a gift from the previous owner waiting to be handed down to the next bride.
When Fran finds a dress that seems to be perfect for her she can’t wait to know its complex history which starts with her getting to know the son of the previous owner…

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 Louisa Leaman’s debut novel: The Perfect Dress.

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance by Louisa Leaman it had an almost ethereal quality to the storyline but when the past from both Fran and Raphael’s lives catch up with them can they let go of the hurt and heartache and learn to let love in again?

The storyline had a magical feel to it centred around the owner of a vintage wedding dress shop in London.  Fran has been around vintage inspired clothing since she was a young girl to when she helped her mother who was a dressmaker for a theatre company.  Loving the history surrounding the clothes Fran felt compelled to share her love and opened up her own wedding dress emporium called The Whispering Dress.

Fran specialised in finding vintage dresses from house clearances, auction houses and sometimes they were just donated to her.  Fran brought the dresses back to life by repairing any damage, cleaning and she sought great pleasure in researching the history of the last wearer of the dress.  Fran believed the dresses could talk and release their own energy, she tried to match this vibe to the next bride-to-be bringing a totally bespoke, unique service to her brides.

However, when Fran came upon a rare 1950’s designer dress in a house clearance she felt a darkness within the dress but also felt drawn to it’s energy.  There was also something about the son of the late owner of the dress and Fran couldn’t stop thinking about him, even though their first introduction didn’t go as well as hoped.

Raphael Colt was the heir to a philanthropist family who now had the position of responsibility for the foundation that his grandfather and father had built up.  There was a sadness and anger within Raphael and when he saw Fran with his mother’s dress he saw a glimpse of the past he’d tried so hard to keep hidden.

I loved reading about the history of the dress design and also the previous owner of the outfit it was quite fascinating to learn about the provenance of why a certain style of dress was perfect for the wearer and occasion.  I appreciated the author’s interest in the arts and in particular collections and exhibitions from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, it left me with a thirst to visit this museum and see for myself some of the designer dresses from long ago.  The Perfect Dress is a romantic contemporary story that fills you with a Disney-esque feelgood glow.  I can’t wait for more from Louisa Leaman.

About the Author

Louisa Leaman was born, raised and now lives near Epping Forest. She studied Art History at Leeds University before becoming a teacher working with children with special needs. After winning the Times Education Supplement’s New Writer’s Award, she turned her hand to writing books for children. Louisa currently writes content for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, but has also been published in the Guardian, the Observer, the Independent and The Times Educational Supplement. Her interest in the arts is often inspiration for her plots and her first book, The Perfect Dress, was inspired by the V&As large wedding dress collection and fulfils her dream of writing romantic fiction. When she isn’t busy writing or rearing her three lively children, she paints portraits, takes long walks and spends far too long browsing vintage clothing shops.

Website: https://www.louisaleaman.com/

Twitter:  @louisaleaman

The Orange Grove by Kate Murdoch @KateMurdoch3 @RegalHouse1 #bookreview #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #18thcenturyfiction

The Orange Grove written by Kate Murdoch, publisher Regal House Publishing, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

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

Book Blurb

Blois, 1705. The château of Duc Hugo d’Amboise simmers with rivalry and intrigue. Henriette d’Augustin, one of five mistresses of the duc, lives at the chateau with her daughter. When the duc’s wife, Duchesse Charlotte, maliciously undermines a new mistress, Letitia, Henriette is forced to choose between position and morality. She fights to maintain her status whilst targeted by the duchesse who will do anything to harm her enemies. The arrival of charismatic tarot reader, Romain de Villiers, further escalates tensions as rivals in love and domestic politics strive for supremacy. In a society where status is a matter of life and death, Henriette must stay true to herself, her daughter, and her heart, all the while hiding a painful secret of her own.

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.

Firstly, I’d like to wish the author Kate Murdoch a Happy Publication Day for The Orange Grove which is her second published novel.

The Orange Grove is a seductive tale; a story of love and lust in the early 18th century, at a time when ladies of court would vie for the attentions of the wealthiest suitor for survival.  It was a seductive game of chess with sly devious moves all in the intention for their own gain.  A game of love that requires you to tread carefully in order to cling on to the life you feel you deserve.

Kate Murdoch’s words took the reader to opulent surroundings to beautiful chateaus in France and also to the magnificent palace of Versailles.  Life was very luxurious for the aristocratic French people and their self-indulgences with cravings for more and better were commonplace and it wasn’t unheard of for men to accommodate a mistress or two within the walls of their family home.

This is the story of one such family whose marriage had become entangled with a handful of mistresses and when the Duc took on a new younger mistress he soon became besotted with her.  The Duchesse, Charlotte, struggled constantly with her emotions of this latest addition to their lives and she almost felt consumed with jealousy, loathing, longing and anger and her life’s intention from hereon was to rid the existence of this young woman.

The Orange Grove is captivating with it’s game of one-upmanship, the callous actions of others and the lengths to what someone would go to fulfil their own needs.  When the story takes on a darker turn there’s no way back for the souls of those involved and they pay the ultimate price with devastating consequences.

About the Author

Kate Murdoch exhibited widely as a painter both in Australia and internationally before turning her hand to writing.
Her short-form fiction has been published in various literary journals in Australia, UK, US and Canada.
Stone Circle, a historical fantasy novel set in Renaissance Italy, was released by Fireship Press in December 2017. Stone Circle was a First in Category winner in the Chaucer Awards 2018 for pre-1750’s historical fiction.
Kate was awarded a KSP Fellowship at the KSP Writers’ Centre in 2019 to develop her third novel, The Glasshouse.
Her novel, The Orange Grove, about the passions and intrigues of court mistresses in 18th century France, will be published by Regal House Publishing in October 2019.

Website: https://katemurdochauthor.com/

Twitter:  @KateMurdoch3

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemurdoch2/

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