When Polly Met Olly by Zoe May @zoe_writes @HQstories @rararesources #blogblitz #bookreview #romcom

When Polly Met Olly written by Zoe May, publisher HQ Digital, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

Book Blurb
Polly and Olly were never supposed to meet…
Polly might spend her days searching for eligible matches for her elite list of clients at her New York dating agency, but her own love life is starting to go up in smoke.
Even worse, she can’t stop thinking about the very person she’s meant to be setting her latest client up with… surely it can’t get any worse!
But then Polly bumps into oh-so-handsome Olly, who heads up a rival agency, and realizes that perhaps all really is fair in love and dating war…
Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Debbie Viggiano.

Purchase Links:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07F8N76KG/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F8N76KG/
https://books.apple.com/gb/book/when-polly-met-olly/id1412331682
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Zoe_May_When_Polly_Met_Olly_A_fantastically_uplift?id=UypkDwAAQBAJ
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/when-polly-met-olly-a-fantastically-uplifting-romantic-comedy-for-2019

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 mini blog blitz celebrating and promoting Zoe May’s romantic comedy When Polly Met Olly.

This was such a cute, fun romcom.  When Polly Met Olly is my first introduction to Zoe May’s work and it ticked all the boxes for me.

British born Polly has dreamed of living in New York since she was a young girl so as soon as she left school she set her sights on further education in New York.  Now her studies have finished, qualifying as a Photographer, she is struggling to gain fulltime employment within her chosen skillset so when a job vacancy crops up at a dating agency she things ‘why not’ as it’s better than the bar work she is currently doing.

Polly’s new job at the dating agency proves to be entertaining, although a little odd as she has to send messages acting on behalf of a boy/girl looking for the perfect partner.  However, when her boss Derek asks her to spy on a rival dating agency Polly’s life becomes a little more confusing when Polly is introduced to Olly, the owner of the rival company.

Olly isn’t at all what Polly expected and a frisson of chemistry is felt between them.  As Polly continues developing her matchmaking skills she inadvertently keeps bumping into Olly and revelations are discovered.

When Polly Met Olly is such a lovely, cute, fun romcom that will charm and entertain you.  My only criticism (although it’s not really a criticism) is that I wanted the story to go on and learn how life fairs for our matchmakers and for a few of the sub-characters.  A fabulous introduction to a new romcom author for me.

Author Bio
Zoe May lives in London and writes romantic comedies. Zoe has dreamt of being a novelist since she was a teenager. She spent her twenties living in London, where she worked in journalism and copywriting before writing her debut novel, Perfect Match. Having experienced the London dating scene first hand, Zoe could not resist writing a novel about dating, since it seems to supply endless amounts of weird and wonderful material!

Perfect Match was one of Apple’s top-selling books of 2018. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hessayon Award, with judges describing it as ‘a laugh out loud look at love and self-discovery – fresh and very funny’.

As well as writing, Zoe enjoys walking her dog, painting and, of course, reading.

Social Media Links:
Twitter:  @zoe_writes
https://instagram.com/zoe_writes
https://www.facebook.com/zoemayauthor/

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When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman @suzkelman @bookouture #blogtour #bookreview #historicalfiction #WW2fiction

When We Were Brave written by Suzanne Kelman, publisher Bookouture, is available NOW in ebook, audiobook and paperback format.

Book Description:

The face of the woman in the photograph was tilted upwards, as if enjoying the sunshine just for a moment, even as the wreckage of the bombed-out street lay behind her…

1944, Cornwall: Blinded by love, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi prisoner-of-war, never to be seen again. A disgrace to her family, her name would not be mentioned by any of her relatives for over 75 years.

Present day, London: When Sophie discovers a photograph of her great aunt Vivi from World War Two, it throws her into a world of confusion. Because, as she learns about this secret relative, she quickly realises that the photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story. It shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London – a place she had no reason to be – and it is dated right before she disappeared.

Meanwhile Sophie’s own life feels as blasted and bombed as the blitzed city in the photograph she’s looking at. Her beautiful daughter – as full of joy and wild energy as Vivi had apparently once been – is gone; and Sophie’s heart has been left broken into pieces.

Retreating to the family home in rural Cornwall to seek solace from her pain and the feelings of guilt that she could have done more to protect her daughter, Sophie finds herself becoming obsessed with Vivi’s life.

But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to uncover – the story of a woman who risked everything for the person she loved the most; and a secret family history that could be the key to Sophie’s own future.

A powerful, haunting and unforgettable read about love, heartbreak and betrayal set in Second World War Britain and France. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Under a Scarlet Sky and My Name is Eva.

Buying Links:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/2V2Z9Ts
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2P8YtIs
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2Pc2QSZ
Google Play: http://bit.ly/32afOGh

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 Suzanne Kelman’s latest novel: When We Were Brave.

This is my first introduction to the work of Suzanne Kelman and her writing blew me away, I’ve subsequently downloaded her bestselling novel A View Across the Rooftops as I need more of her words to satisfy my thirst for her work.

When We Were Brave is a totally captivating historical time slip novel about the bravery of the silent heroes of WWII, the secret agents who intercepted codes and messages.  When We Were Brave was truly brilliant storytelling by Suzanne Kelman and her words broke me.

I find historical novels set around the two wars fascinating, I especially like to read and learn about the impact it had on people, those not on the frontline but equally displaying a bravery for the task they’d chosen to help with the war effort.

When We Were Brave is a time slip novel were the present day learns something about a relative who lived during WW2.  This relative’s life has been lived in a shadow of accusation and for many years their existence had been banished to a cupboard never to be spoken of again.  Until Sophie discovers a photograph of her Great Aunt Vivi taken during WW2.  This photograph opens up a conversation that Sophie’s elderly relatives wish to shy away from but Sophie feels compelled to seek the truth about her Great Aunt.  Sophie goes on a journey of painstakingly researching through many war records across London, Cornwall, Paris and Berlin.

The story then slips back to 1943 to when a young woman who is headstrong and a little reckless makes the decision to be trained as a SOE and risk her life in the name of wartime espionage, the silent and invisible heroes of conflict.

Both sides of this story entranced me; Sophie unearthing more and more about her Great Aunt and piecing together a completely different picture to what Vivi was remembered as.  I was also equally fascinated by this brave young woman Vivi who was all alone in a world of unrest and danger but there was a human element to her new role that Vivi found herself making new friends and falling in love.

The author has written such a wonderful, compelling story that will grip you to the very end, it will break your heart but it will also leave you with a sense of gratitude for these selfless individuals.  I can’t stop thinking about this story.

Author Bio:

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.

https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com/

@suzkelman

Her Dark Knight’s Redemption by Nicole Locke @NicoleLockeNews @MillsandBoon @rararesources #blogtour #guestpost #HistoricalRomance

Her Dark Knight’s Redemption written by Nicole Locke, publisher Mills & Boon Historical, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

Book Blurb

“This man was shadow and night. He was Darkness.”

Homeless Aliette is saved from punishment for stealing by a mysterious knight. To stay alive, she’s informed by this stranger that she must claim his child as her own. She should fear the dark knight’s power, yet it’s clear there’s more good to this man than he’s prepared to show. Can she break down the barriers of the tortured knight she calls Darkness?

Purchase Links

–Harlequin

–Amazon

–Barnes & Noble

–Mills & Boon

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Nicole Locke’s latest novel: Her Dark Knight’s Redemption.  I have the pleasure of sharing a guest post from the author.

Top Five things About Aliette from Her Dark Knight’s Redemption:

1. She’s the absolute opposite of the hero, Reynold of Warstone. Why? Because he’s been a villain and deserves all the complications she brings him.
2. How opposite is she? He’s educated; she’s not. He has a family who’s out to murder him…so he really doesn’t want to do anything with them; she’s busy adopting people from the streets to care for them. He’s wealthy; she’s from the streets. He sits and waits and watches and likes to play games; she cannot stand waiting. Who has time for dilly dallying or games?
3. Aliette doesn’t know how to read when the story starts, but she learns right quick. Why? Well, Reynold keeps picking up this one book in his collection and setting it down. He looks tortured by that book and she wants to know what’s inside. Funnily enough, it’s all about this hero who yearns for someone who loves him. The story: Tales of Odysseus.
4. She doesn’t mind the cold, she really really doesn’t (especially when there’s kisses involved).
5. Oh, and despite Reynold being a villain and all tough and everything? She saves his life (he kind of deserves that, too).
Nicole Locke

Author Bio

Nicole is the author of Harlequin’s Lovers and Legends and The Lochmore Legacy series. If she isn’t working on the next book, she can be reached at NicoleLocke.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Social Media Links –

https://www.nicolelocke.com

https://www.instagram.com/nicolelockeauthor

https://www.facebook.com/NicoleLockeAuthor

Twitter:  @NicoleLockeNews

Giveaway to Win 5 x PB copies of Her Dark Knight’s Redemption (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/33c69494353/

 

 

 

The Cottage on Wildflower Lane by Liz Davies @lizdaviesauthor @rararesources #blogtour #bookreview #romcom

The Cottage on Wildflower Lane written and self-published by Liz Davies is available NOW in ebook, kindleunlimited and paperback format.

Book Blurb

Esther’s life isn’t perfect (whose is?) – but she’s happy enough living in her little flat with her boyfriend, Josh.

But that’s about to change.

Bored out of her mind in work, she wishes that something, anything, would happen to liven her life up.

Unfortunately, her wish comes true when Josh calls her from the airport to tell her he’s going to work in a bar in Spain, and she’s not invited, Esther is devastated, and her unhappiness is compounded when she discovers she can actually view the bar via a webcam link and watch him chatting up other girls.

But when she inadvertently clicks on a link to another webcam which shows a pretty cottage and the rather hunky man who lives in it, her interest is piqued and she wishes she could get to know him.

Wishes don’t really come true, though – do they…?

Purchase links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083QRXBW9

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083QRXBW9

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 Liz Davies latest novel: The Cottage on Wildflower Lane.

What a blooming lovely story!  I fell in love with this romantic comedy from the start, it was sweet and effervescent just like the wild blooms left to shine in a meadow.  The Cottage on Wildflower Lane is the second book I’ve read by Liz Davies and the author has charmed and delighted me on both occasions.

Esther is heartbroken when she learns that her boyfriend of two years has dumped her and is off to work in a bar in Malaga.  She is shocked by this sudden change of events so googles the bar and stumbles across a live webcam of said bar that her ex is now working in.  Esther starts an unhealthy obsession of watching the webcam waiting for her ex to appear.  Whilst waiting for Josh to appear on screen so she can silently torture herself Esther comes across another live webcam of a charming cottage in the countryside adorned with pretty flowers and when she spots the occupant of the cottage she’s transfixed.

Esther learns to forget about her ex by mesmerising over the mystery guy and the delightful cottage.  She dreams of what it must be like to live in such idyllic settings.  When she starts her new job there’s something familiar about one of the business owners and a nearby cottage looks familiar.  Where has she seen them before?

The Cottage on Wildflower Lane is such a gorgeous romcom that will set your heart a flutter and will leave you dreaming of summer days surrounded by the natural beauty of flora and fauna.

Author Bio –

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humour, and a great deal of love.

She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t very good at it, and loves to eat – she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days.

She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper van and travel the world in it.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://lizdaviesauthor.wixsite.com/home

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizDaviesAuthor1

Twitter:  @lizdaviesauthor

 

 

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds by Nick Albert @Nickalbertautho @rararesources #blogtour #bookextract #memoir

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds written by Nick Albert, publisher Ant Press, is available NOW in ebook, kindleunlimited, audiobook and paperback format.

Book Blurb
Nick and Lesley Albert yearn to leave the noise, stress and pollution of modern Britain and move to the countryside, where the living is good, the air sweet, with space for their dogs to run free. Suddenly out of work and soon to be homeless, they set off in search of a new life in Ireland, a country they had never visited. As their adventure began to unfold, not everything went according to plan. If finding their dream house was difficult, buying it seemed almost impossible. How would they cope with banks that didn’t want customers, builders who didn’t need work, or the complex issue of where to buy some chickens?

Purchase Links –
UK
Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NY9BNN/
Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1977611605
Audible: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1977611605
USA
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NY9BNN/
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1977611605
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1977611605

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting Nick Albert’s debut novel: Fresh Eggs & Dog Beds.  I have the pleasure of sharing an extract.

An exclusive excerpt from Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds book 1 for Kraftireader.

This scene occurred a few days after we moved to our new home in Ireland. It involves our little Lhasa Apso dog Romany.

Shortly after moving into Glenmadrie, we realised there was a problem with our drains. The water flowed slowly from the bath and sinks, and there was a pervading smell of bad eggs whenever we ran a tap. I soon figured out there was a blockage somewhere in the confusion of old drainpipes that took the wastewater from the bathroom, via the kitchen sink, and out through the wall towards the cesspit.
Even though I had plans to replace the pipework as a part of the renovations, that task was still many months away and in the meantime, we needed to get rid of the blockage. A drain auger would not work as the pipe was 40 feet long with several branches. We had tried using a toilet plunger without success, and even the strongest drain cleaning chemicals had done nothing more than add to the smell. However, a little research and a trip to the hardware superstore in Limerick resulted in me purchasing an air-bust drain cleaner. This handy toy is a tall can of compressed air, with an attachment rather like a sink plunger, which sends a rapid blast of carbon dioxide gas down the drain, instantly clearing any obstruction. To ensure the gas drives the blockage safely outside, and not back up the nearest sink, all intermediate plugholes and overflows must be firmly sealed before letting fly with the explosive blast.
Early the next morning, Lesley and I began preparations for our drain clearing extravaganza. It was a lovely morning, warm and sunny, so Romany soon lost interest in what we were doing. In an effort to keep out from under our feet, she wandered off into the garden to do some sunbathing.
With a little twisting, a skinned knuckle, and the careful application of some swear words, I removed the downwards section of the outside drainpipe, to permit the blockage an unrestricted path to freedom. Indoors, I had used duct tape to cover all of the overflows and all but two of the plugholes. Lesley would block one with half a tennis ball and the other would be the recipient for the air-blast. Hopefully, the violent rush of gas would follow the path of least resistance, along the 40 feet of drainpipe and out through the wall, taking along with it the foul crud that had accumulated during the previous 50 years.
After a final check to ensure everything was sealed, we moved to our allotted stations. I was in the upstairs bathroom ready to fire the gas down the bathtub plughole and Lesley was blocking the kitchen sink plughole, by leaning as hard as possible on her half-tennis ball. I shouted down to check she was ready, and, after an overly dramatic countdown, I braced myself and released the gas.
At my end the results were disappointingly anticlimactic. In the space of two seconds, the gas went down the plughole with a sound like a geriatric steam engine whispering, ‘CHEW’. Further along the pipe, Lesley heard something that sounded like a subway train rushing by. She was delighted when it continued along the drainpipe, rather than attempting to escape around her half-tennis ball. A moment later, we both heard what sounded like an overfed elephant with dysentery, failing to make it to the toilet in time. I ran some water into the sink and was delighted to see it disappear down the plughole, without the usual smell or sluggishness. Downstairs, I proudly gave Lesley a high-five. Result! Or so we thought.
A few moments later, as I stepped outside ready to sweep up the mess, I was mortified to discover our once-white dog, sitting miserably in a pool of foul water and covered in the most obnoxious grey filth one can imagine. Unfortunately, Romany had heard the approaching commotion and decided to investigate the source of the noise by sticking her nose into the open drainpipe – which was conveniently situated at exactly the right height for our little dog. A moment later, her curiosity was rewarded when she was hit by the full contents of the 50 year old blocked drain, containing a combination of toothpaste, lost hair, toenail clippings, kitchen grease, and God knows what else. The dirt and smell was almost unbearable, but it soon washed away. However, for many weeks after, Romany continued to glower at me in the unwavering certainty I had deliberately showered her in filth.

Author Bio –
Nick Albert was born in England and raised in a Royal Air Force family. After leaving College he worked in retail management for several years before moving into financial services where he quickly progressed through the ranks to become a training consultant. As a very passionate and reasonably talented sportsman, Nick had always wanted to use his training skills towards creating a parallel career, so in the mid 1980’s he qualified and began coaching sport professionally. After a health scare in 2003 and in search of a simpler life, he and his wife Lesley, cashed in their investments, sold their home and bought a rundown farmhouse in the rural west of Ireland – a country they had never before even visited. With little money or experience and armed only with a do-it-yourself manual, they set about renovating their new home, where they now live happily alongside a flock of chickens, two ducks and several unruly, but delightful dogs.
In 2017 Nick was signed to Ant Press to write a series of humorous memoirs about his life in rural Ireland. Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds (book one) was published in September 2017 and soon became an Amazon bestseller. Book two in the series was published on 1st June 2018 and book 3 in August 2019. Book four is due out in early 2020.
Nick is also the author of the twisty thriller, Wrecking Crew, the first in a series of books featuring reluctant hero Eric Stone.

Social Media Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Nick-Albert/e/B00B0126PU/
https://www.facebook.com/author.nick.albert
https://www.facebook.com/NickAlbertAuthor/
https://www.nickalbert.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/nickalbertauthor/

Twitter:  @Nickalbertautho
http://nickalbert.allauthor.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6886008.Nick_Albert
https://nickalbertauthor.blogspot.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJbnDhXu73jaDz4vqIpK0w/

The Cottage in a Cornish Cove by Cass Grafton @CassGrafton @rararesources #blogtour #bookpromo

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour with a promo celebrating the launch of Cass Grafton’s latest novel: The Cottage in a Cornish Cove.  Here are all the important details:

Title:  The Cottage in a Cornish Cove

Author:  Cass Grafton

Publisher:  Tabby Cow Press

Format:  eBook and paperback

Release Day:  February 2020

Book Blurb

A heart-warming tale of discovering all you never wanted is exactly what you needed.

Orphaned as a baby and raised by indifferent relatives, much of Anna Redding’s happiness as a child came from the long summer holidays spent with an elderly family friend, Aunt Meg, in the quaint village of Polkerran.

With Aunt Meg’s passing, Anna is drawn back to the West Country, relocating to the Cornish cove where she was once so happy. Filled with memories, she hopes to perhaps open a B&B—and perhaps cross paths with Alex Tremayne again, a local boy she used to have a major crush on and who only had to walk past Anna to make her heart flutter.

Settling into her new life, and enjoying her work for the older, reclusive and—to be honest—often exasperating Oliver Seymour, Anna is delighted when Alex reappears in Polkerran and sweeps her off her feet.

The stars are finally aligned, but just as Anna thinks all she’s ever wished for is within reach, a shock discovery brings everything under threat, and she finds herself living a dream that isn’t hers.

Can Anna rescue the new life she has made for herself and, when the testing moment comes, who will be there to hold her hand?

The Cottage in a Cornish Cove is the first in an uplifting series of romances from Cass Grafton. Get to know the locals, wallow in the quaintness of Polkerran, and fall in love with romance all over again.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083H2Q5V9/
US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083H2Q5V9
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/ch/en/ebook/the-cottage-in-a-cornish-cove
Barnes & Noble Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cottage-in-a-cornish-cove-cass-grafton/1135981147?ean=2940163435333
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/998605

About the Author

An avid bookworm since childhood, Cass Grafton writes the sort of stories she loves to read – heart-warming, character driven and strong on location. Having moved around extensively and lived in three countries, she finds places inspiring and the setting of her novels often becomes as much a part of the story as her characters.
She leans heavily towards the upbeat and insists on a happy ever after. As one of her favourite authors, Jane Austen, once wrote, ‘let other pens dwell on guilt and misery’.
Cass loves travelling, words, cats and wine but never in the same glass. She has two grown up children and currently splits her time between Switzerland, where she lives with her husband and imaginary cats, and England, where she lives with her characters.

Blogs
http://www.cassandragrafton.com
http://www.tabbycow.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/cassie.grafton
Twitter
@CassGrafton
Instagram
@cassgraftonauthor

Giveaway to Win 3 x Paperback Copies of The Cottage in a Cornish Cove (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/33c69494345/

 

Moonlight Over Mayfair by Anton Du Beke @TheAntonDuBeke @ZaffreBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #blogtour #bookreview #historicalfiction #MoonlightOverMayfair

Moonlight Over Mayfair written by Anton Du Beke, publisher Zaffre, is available NOW in ebook, hardcover, audiobook and available in paperback from Thursday 20th February 2020.

To buy links:

amazon UK: https://amzn.to/37tgNSW

amazon US: https://amzn.to/2UV3N5N

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/moonlight-over-mayfair/anton-du-beke/9781785767814

Book Blurb

London, 1937.

With a new king in place, tensions are rising in London and across Europe. Shaken by the Great Depression and with talk of another war coming, the Buckingham Hotel is trying to regain some stability.

Upstairs, Vivienne Edgerton is desperate to do something worthwhile with her time and her stepfather’s money, rather than spending it on frivolity and debauchery – but will this land her in even more trouble?

And downstairs, chambermaid Nancy Nettleton is finally starting to feel more settled at the Buckingham, and hopes her brother will soon call London home, too. But she misses the man she loves, demonstration dancer Raymond de Guise, who is noticeably absent from the Grand Ballroom dance floor.

The staff and guests of the Buckingham soon discover that in a hotel full of secrets, there’s always someone listening . . .

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 paperback launch of Anton Du Beke’s second novel: Moonlight Over Mayfair.  Although this is Anton Du Beke’s second novel it is my first introduction to his work and I loved it, his words waltzed me away to a time gone by to a story filled with drama, society glitz and glamour, working class trials and tribulations and a swoon-worthy romance.

Moonlight Over Mayfair is such a wonderful read; the authors words twirled me to the dance floor of a prestigious hotel in London but there is so much more to this story to captivate you and leave you wanting more.  For me the beauty of this novel was the stories of the people living and working within the walls of the Buckingham Hotel.  It’s 1937, a time when the world is feeling a little unsure of what’s around the corner with the talks of unease in Europe.  It is also a time when women were starting to think of their dreams and aspirations and there are two such young women in this story that are stepping out of the mould they were born in and looking to do more with their lives and specifically helping with the crisis on the dark streets of London.

I haven’t read One Enchanted Evening, book one in the Buckingham series, so I have no prior history of any of the characters or the hotel but Anton Du Beke’s words describing the era, place, setting and the glorious array of characters charmed and entertained me.  Moonlight Over Mayfair is a story of two sides to the social balance of London were working class meets the privileged and they harmonize each other.  This novel to me has it all; it’s a saga, a historical romance, it’s filled with political unrest, drama and intrigue, unlikely friendships and blossoming romances.  I felt charmed by the nostalgia and captivated by the elegance of the ballroom but also felt inspired by the new opportunities that a few of the characters were seeking.  Mr Du Beke definitely has a new fan in me of his historical fiction.

About the Author (taken from amazon author page)

Anton Du Beke – the King of Ballroom, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ royalty, and household name – is truly making his mark as one of this generation’s all-round entertainers. Hot on the heels of his debut album ‘From The Top’, Anton now realises his boyhood ambition and will be publishing his first novel, ‘One Enchanted Evening’, later this year.

The consummate storyteller, adept at captivating audiences will now captivate readers as he whisks them away to worlds of dance, intrigue, high society and scandal… bringing the golden age of dance to life, page by page.

As Strictly’s longest running professional dancer, achieving a remarkable decade in dance on tour with his professional partner Erin Boag, and as a much sought-after personality and presenter, Anton is the perfect author to lead the reader to the dancefloor as never before.

Twitter: @TheAntonDuBeke

Website: https://www.antondubeke.tv/

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From Here to Nashville by Julie Stock @wood_beez48 @rararesources #bookbirthdayblitz #fromheretonashville #bookreview #countrymusic #romance

 

From Here to Nashville written by Julie Stock, publisher Clued Up Publishing, is available NOW in ebook, kindleunlimited and paperback format.

To buy link: mybook.to/FromHeretoNashville

Book Blurb

Two worlds, 4,000 miles apart. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?

Rachel Hardy dreams of being a successful country music singer in Nashville’s Music City, four thousand miles away from her lonely life in Dorset. When Jackson Phillips, an independent record label owner, encourages her band to audition for a nationwide ‘Open Mic’ competition, she decides they have nothing to lose.

But when she starts to fall in love with Jackson, the stakes suddenly get higher and she finds herself with a great big dilemma on her hands. Should she abandon her dream and take the easy way out or should she leave the life she has always known behind and take a gamble on a man who has personal demons of his own?

Follow Rachel and Jackson as they learn to trust in love again to see whether their music really can unite them.

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 on the book birthday blitz celebrating five years since the launch of Julie Stock’s first instalment in the From Here to You book series: From Here to Nashville.

Ever since the hit TV drama Nashville graced our screens back in 2012 I instantly became a fan of the show.  The melodrama surrounding the characters entertained you but the music was what kept me tuning in.  It’s been nearly two years since the end of the TV show so when I was introduced to this contemporary romance series written by Julie Stock I knew I would love it and I have!  It’s filled a hole in my heart and satisfied my country blues!

From Here to Nashville is book one in the From Here to You 3 book series.  It is also my first introduction to the work of Julie Stock.  After reading book one I am now keen to read the other books in the series.

Rachel Hardy lives and works in Dorset as a singing tutor in the day and she performs with her band in the evening.  Rachel loves to sing especially her own lyrics and dreams of one day performing in Nashville the heart of country music.

Jackson Phillips lives and works in Nashville he is visiting Dorset for a family wedding and by chance he gets to see and hear Rachel’s band.  Instantly he recognises talent and he approaches Rachel and encourages her to sign up for an ‘Open Mic’ competition.  Not only is it Rachel’s voice Jackson has fallen for he also starts to feel a chemistry building between the pair.

As Rachel and Jackson spend more and more time together their attraction for each other grows but can love bloom so fast when history from both of their pasts keeps causing upset?

A gorgeous fast flowing romance that takes you on a journey of love overcoming hurdles with the sweet sounds of country music as the perfect theme tune!

I would wholeheartedly recommend reading the books in the series in order to fully appreciate and enjoy the reading experience.  The books in the series are:

• From Here to Nashville (Rachel’s story)
• Over You (Sam’s story)
• Finding You (Jenna’s story)

 

About the Author

Julie Stock writes contemporary feel-good romance from around the world: novels, novellas and short stories. She published her debut novel, From Here to Nashville, in February 2015 and her second novel, The Vineyard in Alsace in March 2017. Over You (Sam’s Story) and Finding You (Jenna’s Story), her follow-up novellas to From Here to Nashville were published in 2018, making the From Here to You series complete. She has also published a boxed set of the From Here to You trilogy of books.

The Bistro by Watersmeet Bridge was published in August 2019, followed by Bittersweet, a collection of 12 Short Stories for Modern Life in September 2019.

Julie is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

Julie is married and lives with her family in Bedfordshire in the UK.

Social Media Links –
Website – http://www.julie-stock.co.uk
Twitter – www,twitter.com/wood_beez48
Facebook Author Page – http://www.facebook.com/JulieStockAuthor
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/julie.stockauthor/

Giveaway to Win a signed paperback copy of From Here to Nashville, a bookmark and a guitar magnet (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK 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/33c69494348/

 

 

Five Wakes and a Wedding by Karen Ross @ComedyKaren @0neMoreChapter_ @rararesources #guestpost #romcom

Five Wakes And A Wedding written by Karen Ross, publisher 0ne More Chapter, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

Book Blurb

Undertaker Nina Sherwood is full of good advice. For example, never wear lip gloss when you’re scattering ashes.

Nina is your average 30-year-old with a steady job, a nice home – and dead bodies in her basement. As an undertaker, she often prefers the company of the dead to the living – they’re obliging, good listeners and take secrets to the grave.

Nina is on a one-woman mission to persuade her peers that passing on is just another part of life. But the residents of Primrose Hill are adamant that a funeral parlour is the last thing they need… and they will stop at nothing to close down her dearly beloved shop.

When Nina’s ‘big break’ funeral turns out to be a prank, it seems like it’s the final nail in the coffin for her new business. That is, until a (tall, dark and) mysterious investor shows up out of the blue, and she decides to take a leap of faith.

Because, after all, it’s her funeral…

The perfect antidote to all those books about weddings, this book will make you laugh until you cry, perfect for fans of Zara Stoneley’s Bridesmaids, Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Good Place.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Wakes-Wedding-Karen-Ross-ebook/dp/B07NXYXFSB

US – https://www.amazon.com/Five-Wakes-Wedding-Karen-Ross-ebook/dp/B07NXYXFSB

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Five Wakes and a Wedding by Karen Ross.  I have the pleasure of sharing a guest post from the author:

As a novelist, the question I get asked most often is, ‘Where do your story ideas come from?’
My new romantic comedy noir, Five Wakes and a Wedding owes its existence to the rise and rise of online shopping, which in turn is leading to the death of so many local high streets.
Here’s an excerpt from one of the early chapters about a shop that’s gone past its sell-by date:
Noggsie’s General Hardware Store had been a local landmark for longer than Gloria could remember. As the years passed, his business had survived and thrived. Car showrooms, coal merchants, computer shops, curry houses, coffee shops . . . butchers, bakers, bookshops, betting shops, builders’ merchants . . . dry cleaners and drapers . . . fish-and-chip shops, furniture shops, florists . . . laundromats and lending libraries . . . glaziers, greengrocers, Apple Stores . . . Their custodians came and went, but the General Hardware Store was a permanent fixture, a family business that continued undaunted by the changes happening around it, rather like Ian Beale in EastEnders, which was one of Gloria’s many guilty pleasures.
This time last year, Noggsie’s shop was still a much-loved anachronism, its green-tiled façade a shabby yet proud island in the present sea of Michelin-starred restaurants, cupcake shops, art galleries, pampering places, frock shops, interior designers, more cupcake shops (mostly gluten-free; some of them also vegan), wine bars and – briefly – a pop-up shop that specialised in miniature replicas of fairground attractions whose price tags might reasonably have been thought sufficient for the full-size originals.
Now Noggsie was gone and the General Hardware Store along with him. It had been shut for several months, and was one of several shops in the high street that continued to stand empty. It had come as an unwelcome surprise to many of the locals – Gloria included – to discover that even Primrose Hill was not immune from the toxic effects of hard times, greedy freeholders, ridiculous business rates, and the residents’ own growing tendency to go shopping without ever leaving home.

I wrote this not long after I’d been chatting with friends about the growing number of empty shops in our neighbourhood. We started crunching numbers to try to work out what sort of a business could operate profitably, and decided it would need to be a pole dancing club. One idea led to another and we were soon thinking about other businesses that could make money, but wouldn’t go down well with our neighbours. A funeral parlour seemed like a natural fit . . . people don’t want to have death staring them in the face when they’ve just popped out for a pint of (non-dairy) milk!

So there was half an idea. Then a week or two later I read in a local newspaper about a group of residents who were organising a petition to protest about plans to covert a disused church on a busy street into a funeral home and mortuary. I got myself online, discovered several similar cases, and duly started writing what turned out to be the first draft of Five Wakes and a Wedding.
A story was born, but there was still a long way to go. I knew my protagonist, Nina Sherwood, was going to have a tough time of it, and I knew I’d need to tread a careful line between death and comedy, which is my brand of fiction. The eventual result – the book I hope your readers will take a look at and perhaps buy – was described by an early reader as ‘Romantic Comedy Noir’.
Five Wakes and a Wedding is more about living – and living well – than it is about death. A lot of the feedback I’ve had is that once they’ve finished reading, people have started thinking about the sort of send-off they’d like for themselves . . . did you know it’s possible to have your ashes made into a vinyl record? Or even perfume . . .
If you decide to take a look, I’d love to know what you think: karen@karenross.online

Author Bio – As a former journalist, broadcaster and advertising copywriter, Karen Ross has followed a fairly traditional path into writing fiction.   Five Wakes and a Wedding is her fourth book, and like its predecessors, the novel has two common threads: the setting is London’s Primrose Hill – Karen’s own neighbourhood – and one of the characters is a dog . . . this time he’s called Chopper and he’s almost the same size as a Shetland Pony

Karen has been self-employed for many years, and continues to work as a marketing consultant, in the absence of an offer to manage Tottenham Hotspur. By way of credentials, her other ‘job’ is trading profitably on the world’s first football stockmarket, a platform called Football Index, where you buy and sell players with real money.

 Social Media Links – @ComedyKaren

https://karenross.online/

 

 

 

Walking Back to Happiness by Penelope Swithinbank @minstriesbydsgn @malcolmdown @LoveBooksGroup #lovebookstours #bookextract #walkingbacktohappiness

Walking Back to Happiness written by Penelope Swithinbank, publisher Sarah Grace Publishing, is available NOW in ebook, kindleunlimited and paperback format.

Buy Link
https://amzn.to/2RHu6KW

Book Blurb

Two vicars, their marriage in tatters with wounds reaching far back into the past, set out on a journey to find healing and restoration. Their route will take them from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, but will it help them find their way home? Along the 320-mile route across rural France, burdened by backpacks and blisters, Kim and Penelope stumble across fresh truths, some ordinary, others extraordinary. But will they be defeated by the road ahead or triumph over the pain of the past? Is there a chance they’ll find themselves in France and walk back to happiness? In this simple but enchanting book, part travelogue and part pilgrimage, Penelope invites you to walk with her and her husband on their epic journey as they encounter new faces and new experiences, and reconnect with each other and with God. Every step of the way, you’ll discover more about yourself and what’s really important to you.

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Walking Back to Happiness by Penelope Swithinbank.  I have the pleasure of sharing an extract with you:

Preamble A Great Walk
‘Portugal? Portugal? You want to go to Portugal by taxi?’
The taxi driver outside the airport at Béziers in south-west France is incredulous. He summons his fellow drivers around him to repeat our destination and they howl with laughter at our mispronunciation of Portiragnes. My husband, Kim, repeats it authoritatively in French:
‘Non, non, Portiragnes. Portiragnes-plage, s’il vous plaît,’ he says again. ‘We want to go to Portiragnes Beach, please.’
It is the start of our Big Adventure: to walk from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic across France, from the Languedoc through Midi-Pyrenees and then Aquitaine. It is a mere 530 km, more or less. 330 miles. 20,908,800 inches. We will feel every single one. But it will change us in ways we could never have imagined.
The Great Walk – la Grande Randonnée – has been on my bucket list for nearly thirty years after reading Miles Moreland’s book recounting his own grand marathon across the south-west of France. And I love walking, especially with a dog.
It began with dog walks when I was a ten-year-old, getting up early on summer mornings to sneak out of the house with our family Springer Spaniel and walk her with a friend in the woods near our homes. And as a teenager, when we had moved to live near the sea, there was nothing better than tramping across the fields to the beach, black Labrador in tow, and usually by myself. The freedom and the fresh air were life-giving to a rather solitary teenager. Later, with a clergy husband and a home and family of my own, I walked the streets of Norwich pushing my ‘stately pram of England’, a baby asleep in the pram, a toddler on the seat on top and an older toddler on the shopping tray underneath, my own dog, a golden Cocker Spaniel, trotting along beside me. We walked to the shops and the shopping was stowed all around the children; we walked to the park and the children played on the swings; we walked to nursery school.
Then, after another move close to my parents-in-law, we walked to prep school near Bath. We moved to Stamford, for twelve happy years in

The Rectory, and the children walked by themselves to school and I took the yellow Labrador Ollie on long rambles across the fields or by the river. And when the children grew up and left home, my husband and I began walking together on weeklong holidays in Italy – Casteluccia to Spoleto, Todi to Assisi, the Amalfi Coast; together we led pilgrimages on the Via Francigena, from San Gimignano to Siena oron to Montalcino. I organised pilgrimages on the Cotswold Way for groups of women, doing the 100 miles from Chipping Campden to Bath in six days and discovering the difference it makes physically, spiritually, emotionally, to walk for days on end, leaving the stress of normal everyday life for a while, concentrating on the countryside and the peace and the sheer rhythm of
placing one foot in front of another.
And how the silence and the solitude leave more space for the still small voice of God.
One day, my husband Kim and I promised ourselves, one day we will walk together across France from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
And here we are. Sitting in a taxi on our way from the airport to the Mediterranean, excited, scared – and, if we are honest, a little lost in our marriage and our lives.

‘For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it’s always ourself we find in the sea.’ (e.e. cummings) 

Will we really walk from sea to sea? And will we find ourselves and each other again in France?

About the Author

Penelope is an avid walker and spends a lot of her time stomping in the hills and valleys near her home outside Bath. She is a chaplain at Bath Abbey and a spiritual therapist and counsellor for clergy (and some normal people too). Since becoming a vicar nearly 20 years ago, she has worked in churches in the UK and the USA, and has led pilgrimages in the UK and in Europe. She and her husband Kim have been married for more than 40 years and have three children and six grandchildren. Penelope rarely sits down, loathes gardening and relaxes by reading, going to the theatre or playing the piano. She is the author of two books, Women by Design and Walking Back to Happiness and is currently working on her third, due out in 2020: Scent of Water, a devotional for times of spiritual bewilderment and grief.