Just Date and See - Portia MacIntosh

 

Billie is looking forward to a quiet, man-free Christmas. It’s just a shame her family doesn't feel the same way…

With a house full of unexpected (and unwanted) guests, Billie needs to find the perfect escape to get away from the chaos.

So when her dating app recommends a week of singles nights in her area, Billie decides that braving these events has to be better than making conversation with her dad’s new wife, dealing with her mum's mid-life crisis or witnessing her sister flirting with her insufferably arrogant next-door neighbour.

While this is definitely not the festive season she had planned, between disco bowling and boozy bingo, little does Billie know that she may find love this year after all - she'll just have to date and see...

Fall in love with the perfect laugh-out-loud festive read from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3NgWHjA

My Review: 

As a big fan of Portia’s books, Just Date and See did not let me down. It was highly entertaining, funny, interesting and a eclectic mix of characters; some you love, some you instantly dislike.

Main character Billie is looking forward to a calm, man-free Christmas, looking forward to some peace and quiet in her house over the festive period. Poor Billie has no chance! As her house fills up with (un)invited guests (each with various bad habits) her dream of that Christmas slowly turns into a nightmare.

To escape Billie takes drastic action by signing up to every singles event she can. Meeting another like-minded soul, she is soon having fun and adventures of her own. But are things too good to be true? What secrets are being kept and why?

I loved It from start to finish. I loved Billies character and really felt for her, she is taking advantage of by just about everyone in her life. Luckily she has support in the unlikeliest of places.

Another hit that is perfect reading this upcoming festive season. 

Author Bio:

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 romantic comedy novels. From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh

The Summer Fair - Heidi Swain

 

Join Heidi Swain back in Nightingale Square for a sunshine and celebration filled summer....

Beth loves her job working in a care home, looking after its elderly residents, but she doesn’t love the cramped and dirty house-share she currently lives in. So, when she gets the opportunity to move to Nightingale Square, sharing a house with the lovely Eli, she jumps at the chance.

The community at Nightingale Square welcomes Beth with open arms, and when she needs help to organise a fundraiser for the care home they rally round. Then she discovers The Arches, a local creative arts centre, has closed and the venture to replace it needs their help too – but this opens old wounds and past secrets for Beth.

Music was always an important part of her life, but now she has closed the door on all that. Will her friends at the care home and the people of Nightingale Square help her find a way to learn to love it once more.?

My Review:

Heidi Swain stole my book heart many moons ago with her fantastic characters, wonderful communities and stories that warm even the coldest of hearts. With each book we fall more in love with one of her fictional settings and have another character to adore.

A little biased you may presume, but honestly, Heidi never delivers a book I don’t love. I know exactly how I feel by the end – like I’ve spent time with a really good friend.

The Summer Fair is fantastic, another trip to Nightingale Square and back to catch up with friends of old. We also meet Beth, who has shut her beloved music out of her life as it is too painful to hear. She is a broken woman who is desperate to forget her passion for music because it brings back memories. She wants to move on from the past but her arrival in Nightingale Square might mean that is going to be more difficult than she ever thought.

Oh how I felt for Beth, I was willing her on at every opportunity – at work, getting away from awful housemates and once she settled into Nightingale Square. I could empathise with her aversion to shut out parts of her past, but she didn’t make it easy for herself at all.

As Beth works in a care home (you may recognise a certain someone there) and what a brilliant, often funny, inclusion – full of funny, quirky characters. This is also where we see Beth come into her own and blossom.

Eli is a great character and although he had his own thing going on, he helps Beth more than he realises ay first. He is an important part of helping Beth heal and believe in herself again.

Music is such a powerful and emotional tool in terms of mental health. It can break us down or build us up and this is a theme that is woven into this story.

Heartwarming, charming and probably one of Heidi’s best, I cannot recommend The Summer Fair enough. What a treat!

Until next time Nightingale Square….

Treat yourself with a copy of 'The Summer Fair' - Available - HERE!

 

Away with the Penguins - Hazel Prior

Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary.  And she’s never seen without her ruby-red lipstick, although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.


She can be found either collecting litter from the beach (‘people who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses (‘someone must have moved them’) or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’). Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway . . .  And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.


But today . . . today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this. She is going on an intrepid journey - to save the penguins.

My Review:


A delightful read that will tug on heart strings. I didn’t know what to expect at all but I was surprised by how emotional the book made me.


We are presented with such an interesting and completely unique character in Veronica. It took me a little while to get accustomed to her eccentricity; she is your typical cantankerous old woman who is determined and won’t let anything get in the way. Everything starts with the rediscovery of old diaries, from this we learn the sentimental, special story of Veronica and learn what made her become the stoic lady she is.


We learn of the losses she has endured, the hard times that she has lived through and was hardened by. I think this really cements our love for her and makes her journey to discovering friends and family even better.


Veronica stumbles upon a TV programme about penguins, and after learning about those who want to save them she starts to look at her own life and the lack of relationships within it. Veronica discovers a grandson, Patrick, who at first meeting is not interested in her and she most definitely is not impressed by him especially after he learns of her wealth.


When we meet Patrick he doesn’t have much going for him, he doesn’t like people and doesn’t seem bothered by that. I admit I was not at all fond of him at all. His boring life trundles on as we see Veronica’s head in a very interesting direction.


Veronica decides that she will leave her money to those researchers looking out for the penguins but first she will be going to stay with them, and of course this isn’t a request.

I loved the penguins. I’ve always quite liked them but now I think I’m a bit in love. How clever of this author to raise awareness through her work. This book is so well written, very engaging and I read this very quickly because I felt so involved with their adventures.

A very charming read that I recommend wholeheartedly.



HAZEL PRIOR lives on Exmoor. 

As well as writing, she works as a freelance harpist.