We were on a break - Jo Lovett

We Were on a Break

A summer to remember...

A love to last a lifetime...

Stranded in Rome, with all planes grounded due to volcanic ash, Callum gratefully accepts a lift back to London with a friend-of-a-friend who's on her way home after a European road trip in a campervan.

But when he meets her, his heart plummets - she's Emma, his ex, The ex, and he can't be stuck in a van with her.

 

When Emma sees Callum again, she's horrified. It's taken so many years to heal her heart - she really doesn't want to spend the next few days in close quarters with him.

As they embark on the drive of a lifetime, it begins to feel as though fate might have had a hand in reuniting them. But understanding what happened in the past and coming to terms with the present isn't easy. Can the gift of time - and forced proximity – bring them back together again?

A gorgeous romantic comedy set against the beautiful sights of Italy and France, perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary and Mhairi McFarlane

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/onabreaksocial

My Review:

Cross country travel, forced proximity and a not so fantastic shared history all lend to making this cute rom com a very fun, easy read. 

Callum and Emma didn’t think would ever see each other again, but a pesky Volcano spewing ash leads to planes being cancelled and the only way for Callum to get home is to hitch a ride.. with his ex!

It was clear they had chemistry from the start; I found Callum a bit rude and stand offish and Emma was fun and interesting. As the journey gets underway, we discover more about each of them but also what happened in their past. 

As the days pass the spark between to two ignites, but is it just because of being so close? 

Both characters have things they have overcome, they are very different to the people they once were. I wished we could have delved more into Callum’s history, it was such a big thing for his story. 

Well written and full of fun, laughs and entertaining moments; a must read for rom com lovers, a great summer read! 

Author Bio :

Jo Lovett writes heart-warming, feel-good romcoms. Her latest book, Can You Keep a Secret, published by Boldwood, was released in March 2024. Jo was runner-up in the Good Housekeeping/ Orion First Novel Competition 2018 and shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Award 2019.

Social Media Links

Facebook: @JoLovettAuthor

Twitter: @JoLovettWrites

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jo-lovett

Sunny Days at the Second Chances Sweet Shop - Hannah Lynn

 

A getaway to remember...

It’s Holly’s best friend’s hen do and the plan is a week away in the South of France.

With little Hope still so very young, it’s going to be difficult for Holly to tear herself away, but Ben is the perfect co-parent and her own parents are just down the road, so – Holly decides – there’s really nothing holding her back, is there?

Will the sunshine and sea air help her get back to who she really is? Or will this be the perfect distraction, a chance to have a holiday fling?

Bask in the sunny skies of France with everyone's favourite sweet shop owner - because everyone deserves a break, don't they?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/SunnyDaysSocial

 

My Review:

Sunny Days at the Second Chances Sweet Shop is Book 5 of in this series, although it could be read as a standalone book I think it’s even better if you have read the others too.

I had mixed feelings about book 4. Not in the writing but in I was disappointed that things had not worked out for people I had really been rooting for, more of a personal disappointment rather than issue with the story. Book 5 was like a soothing balm and whilst I’m still gutted that Hollys relationship didn’t work out I can see it was for the best.

Holly is die to go on her best friends hen/stag do in France, it being the first time she’s ;eft her baby Hope. She tried to resist going but knows Ben will keep her updated.

 What an adventure Holly ends up having, her eyes are opened to her situation, what she really is looking for and that feelings can be mistaken. I couldn’t believe which character made an appearance, he is like a bad smell! If you have read it you’ll know which character I am not a fan of!

 A great light hearted read, very enjoyable and fun!

Author Bio: 

Hannah Lynn is the author of over twenty books spanning several genres.

Social Media Links : 

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/HMLynnauthor

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

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

A Taste of Greek Summer - Mandy Baggot

 

Next summer, on the Greek island of Corfu, sparks will fly as dreams come true...

Lydia Broom is living her second-best life. With her dreams of being a chef left in the dust she instead finds solace writing about the dishes she wished she created. When Lydia's sent to Corfu on an assignment, she's excited to see what culinary delights the island has to offer, but nothing seems to tickle her fancy - until she tastes the creations of local cook, Thanos Nicolaidis.

After one sizzling afternoon in the kitchen together, Lydia and Thanos both allow themselves to dream of the futures they desperately want. And as they grow closer, sharing secret ingredients and family recipes, Thanos begins to realise he has to show Lydia the parts of him he's done so well to hide..

My Review:

Just when I needed a sunshine filled escape along comes Mandy to whisk me away to sunny skies at Corfu. Perfect reading by the pool, or for those just wishing they could be. Any book by this author is guaranteed to take you to sun drenched villas, with mouth watering and local food descriptions, atmospheric and exotic – an armchair holiday for all.

Enchanting and a foodies delight, A Taste of Greek Summer was full of comedy, adventure and of course romance.

This book includes an interesting mix of characters, some wonderful and some very frustrating; Lydia is a little bit lost, after losing her mentor and realising she had a relationship built of lies; she has become disillusioned with her passion. Thanos is skilled and could go far as a chef but has certain responsibilities he will not relinquish. He doesn’t know what to do or believe he is able to achieve his dreams. A meeting of minds in many ways their chemistry is instant and leaps from the page.

Follow the rocky ups and downs that come their way. A gorgeous summer read that will entertain and bring the sunshine into grey miserable skies!

An Escape to Remember - T.A. Williams

 

She needed a getaway. What she found was a home.

When Louise surprises her boyfriend by returning early from a work trip, safe to say she wasn’t expecting to see him in flagrante delicto with another woman. Heart-torn and vowing to stay away from men, when Louise’s next project involves restoring an ageing hotel in Italy, she leaps at the chance to get away.

Managed by a crew of sextagenarians, the Grand Hotel del Monferrato needs all the love and care Louise can give it. But it’s hard to stay focused on the job when her thoughts keep straying to Vito, the reclusive and mysterious neighbour.

With his tragic past and her no-romance policy, Louise knows they can’t have a future. Yet something keeps pulling the two together…

A beautiful romance set in the hills of Turin.

My Review:

Oh to be under warm Italian skies right now..

T.A. Williams is a master at whisking readers away to glorious locations; I long to jump on a plane every time I get chance to read of his books. Set just outside Turin, this rural, descriptive setting is a wonderful backdrop for this heartwarming romance.

Our main character, Louise heads to a run down, old hotel with the mission to revive and turn it around. She heads there nursing a broken heart and is looking to find her rightful place in life. She isn’t looking for romance at all but when she is knocked off her feet, quite literally, her heart is soon taken. Leo may just be the key to her rediscovering herself.

Local Vito is living a secluded life, he is content at already finding his true love and he needs nothing or nobody else. Highly sought after in his field, an opportunity arises that he cannot turn down but there is one thing holding him back. Can he find a solution?

Oh I was engrossed from the start, it has all the elements to make a gorgeous, head well and truly stuck in, read. Romance, scenery, mouth-watering food descriptions, characters with heart that are very likeable and a brilliant storyline that will keep you cheering on your favourites and hoping it all turns out for the best.

Perfect for the armchair traveller or those who are looking for a great beach read!

Purchase Link - mybook.to/AnEscape

Author Bio:

I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only seven years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

The fact that I am now writing escapist romance is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations, even if travel to them is currently difficult.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.tawilliamsbooks.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawilliamsbooks

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

Love Lessons in Starcross Valley - Lucy Knott

 

Love Lessons in Starcross Valley

With the recent breakdown of both her ten-year relationship and her parents' marriage, thirty-five-year-old Marnie Barnes no longer believes in love. To give her life the shake-up it so clearly needs, she books a ticket to Canada.

Thousands of miles away from her home and her twin sister, she struggles to have the life-changing experience she dreamt of – until she meets Nova, a dinosaur-loving space nerd with a penchant for living in the moment. After a wonderful day together in Vancouver, they part ways. Though gutted, Marnie thinks it's proof that she's not meant to find love and tries to move on with her life.

But a few months later, back in England, she bumps into someone achingly familiar. As Marnie navigates her new feelings, takes chances and makes the first move for the first time in her life, can she regain her faith in love – and find it for herself?

My Review:

Love Lessons in Starcross Valley is a romantic tale of following your heart, embracing your passions, gaining insight and a little perspective, and overcoming negatives. It’s a great story full of warmth, love, acceptance, and it really shows how family and friendship can survive both disaster and distance.

Marnie needs to take stock following the break down of her relationship and her parents marriage. Escaping to Canada, on a trip of a lifetime, she meets Nova. Spending a wonderful day together, Nova leaves a lasting impression on Marnie, one she carries with her as she returns home.

I was hooked from the start, the instant connection between Marnie and Nova was exciting and I loved hearing about Canada, a place I have always wanted to visit myself. Nova is such a great character; she seems so cool and unapologetic for being herself. Her support is instrumental for Marnie and those around her.

Lucy always writes great characters and Marnie, her twin sister Jovi and best friend Antoni are such likable, friendly ones. As a reader, you get the importance of their relationships and how close they are. You genuinely understand their love for one another, even when they are unhappy with Marnie; Jovi and Antoni’s love for her is clear.

It was very endearing to read how the relationship between Marnie and student Paislee develops, especially as Marnie becomes such a strong advocate for her in the classroom. Inspiring and shows Marnie at her best.

This is not your typical romance story, its much more.

A great read by a very lovely author, I am always a fan of her books and will look forward to the next. 

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Lessons-Starcross-Valley-Knott-ebook/dp/B09FVDSJQ7

US - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Lessons-Starcross-Valley-Knott-ebook/dp/B09FVDSJQ7

Author Bio:
Lucy Knott lives in Manchester England, just around the corner from her childhood home and less than five minutes from her twin sister Kelly and brother in law Chris. She loves spending time with her family in addition to writing, reading and cooking Italian food. When not buried in a book, scribbling in a notebook or having dance parties for one to Harry Styles, she works as a teaching assistant where the majority of her days are spent talking about dinosaurs and making Godzilla out of just about everything, from Blu Tac to cardboard boxes, and she loves every minute.

If she could up and move to the stunning Amalfi Coast, San Francisco or live in a cabin surrounded by fairy lights, she would, but for now she's quite content writing about those magical places. Lucy loves to write uplifting stories that she hopes will put a smile on your face, fill your heart with joy, encourage you to embrace the awesomeness that you are and believe that any dream is possible.

Social Media Links – Instagram: www.instagram.com/theblossomtwins

Twitter: www.twitter.com/theblossomtwins

Giveaway to win an e-copy of Love Lessons in Starcross Valley, a bookmark, sticker of Marnie and Nova, a dinosaur bracelet and a pair of dinosaur earrings! (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.

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Second Chances in Chianti - T.A. Williams

 

Alice thought her future was set in stone, until her past came knocking...

Alice Butler starred in a successful US sitcom until tensions in the cast and crew caused the show to be cancelled. Now, five years later and working towards her dream job in art history, she’s called back for a revival of the show. It can only end in disaster, surely?

Flown to a villa in Chianti to meet with the rest of the cast, Alice must decide where her future lies – with her boyfriend, David, who laps up the Hollywood company, or with the mysterious Matt, who shies away from public attention?

Purchase Link - mybook.to/SecondChancesChianti

My Review:

A charming, escapist read. Given the dreary weather this gorgeous, scenic story set in Tuscany, Chianti whisked me away and let me forget “the real world” for a few hours.

This is a brilliant story – stunning setting, an eclectic mix of characters and a funny, but cute, dog. What more do you need? Oh yes, a fantastic romance and gorgeous male lead!

Alice is quite the woman; having had a successful acting career she is know a Doctor in art history and wanting to pursue this as a career. An opportunity presents itself and she realises she may not have turned her back on fame after all.

I liked Alice a lot, she stuck to her principles and didn’t really suffer any fools. She was an independent, smart woman. She had plenty of male admirers to choose from, but she clearly had a spark with Matthew. It was great to read how they slowly got to know each other, the timings may not have been right but Guinness the dog clearly knew what he was doing, the little matchmaker.

T.A Williams has such a lovely way of writing, I felt I was there with Alice. I didn’t want to put it down at all and I read in one glorious sitting.

Highly recommended for those that enjoy a romantic, scenic escape!

Author Bio:

I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only seven years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

The fact that I am now writing romantic comedy is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations, even if travel to them is currently difficult.

Social Media Links –

Website: www.tawilliamsbooks.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawilliamsbooks

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

The Night We Met - Zoe Folbigg

 The Night We Met

As a man holds his wife's frail hand, he recounts a journey like no other...

Daniel and Olivia are destined to be together. At least, Daniel thinks this the night he sees Olivia across a sea of people. As he backpacks through Australia, Daniel and Liv continue to cross paths, yet never speak. Until one night, Liv joins Daniel for a drink. And that night everything changes.

Back in London, stuck in a monotonous routine, Daniel finds himself daydreaming of the woman with green eyes and fiery hair. Armed with only a name he vows to find her, yet with every passing moment, Daniel's hopes begin to disappear. What if it wasn't meant to be?

But then fate steps in, and Daniel and Olivia’s story can truly begin...

This is a tale of serendipity, missed chances and the power of love.

My Review:

This is an emotive book, with serious and heart-breaking content that may make some readers feel upset or quite sensitive. The Night We Met is a novel about a woman dying from cancer that asks her husband to write their complete love story for their daughters.

Yes the premise of this book is so sad, heart-breaking when we realise there are children who are losing a parent far too young, but it is a book littered with love and the idea that true love will always find a way.

The book is written in the now but also through varying points in the past from multiple locations. It demonstrates the lives the characters have led and how they were always intertwined before they were even together. I quite enjoyed reading things from different perspectives, I think you really get to understand the character this way. It was easy to follow and so well written, you didn’t feel like you were jumping around too much but more like they were snapshots into the past. As our characters travels we are taken from Australia to New Zealand to Milan, London, Switzerland, it’s like we are on our own armchair travels too.

This is a beautiful read, one of those ultimate love stories that show how time and maturity is all that is needed sometimes. Folbigg gives us a read that shows how love can be “at first sight” even if it takes time to realise this.

I loved the characters, Olivia is a sparky, interesting young girl but matures into a passionate woman; Daniel is full of heart and falls completely for her. I loved him and felt so sorry for what they were going through.

This book will hook you in and take you on an emotional rollercoaster, a special tale of love, friendship and of families and the many ways they can be created. 

About the author: 

Zoë Folbigg is author of Amazon number-one bestseller The Note, based on the true story of how she met her husband on her daily commute. Her second novel, The Distance, was released in 2018 and The Postcard – the sequel to The Note – was released summer 2019. Formerly a magazine journalist and digital editor, Zoë started at Cosmopolitan in 2001, was chief sub editor of its teen sister CosmoGIRL! and has since freelanced for titles including Fabulous, Glamour, Cosmo, Good Housekeeping, i newspaper, Healthy, Top Santé, Mother & Baby, ELLE, Sunday Times Style, ASOS and Style.com. Zoë wrote a weekly column in Fabulous magazine documenting her year-long round-the-world trip with ‘Train Man’ – and now lives with him and their two sons in Hertfordshire.

Follow Zoë:

Facebook: @zoefolbiggauthor
Twitter: @zoefolbigg
Instagram: @zoefolbigg

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KJZuI0

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2EXzWno

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2GhKnmj

iBooks: https://apple.co/3sQJ0Pc

bookshop.org:https://bit.ly/3qKoNsM

Waterstones: https://bit.ly/366TbWa

Follow Aria

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

A Summer to Remember in Herring Bay - Angella Britnell

 

A Summer to Remember in Herring Bay

Essy Havers is good at finding things. Her company specialises in helping clients track down anything, from missing china pieces to rare vintage clothing. But now Essy has something more important to find: herself.
Essy has always been curious about her mother’s secret past and her Cornish roots. So, when the opportunity arises, she hops on a plane in Tennessee and ends up in Herring Bay in Cornwall; the village where her mother grew up.
But once there, she’s mystified by the reactions of the villagers when they realise who she is. Was Essy’s decision to visit Cornwall a mistake, or will it lead to a summer she’ll never forget?

My Review:  

A fabulous tale compromising of family secrets, old wounds and larger than life characters. A romance with extra drama and intrigue added, what more do we need? Oh did I mention its set in a small seaside community! Great book for a little bit of escapism!

Colourful character Essy has wanted to know more about her Mums background, she never lets on much about her life in Herring Bay and the reason she left for Tennessee. Grabbing the chance to visit she stays with her Aunt. She soon discovers that her mum is very much remembered by the locals, and she isn’t thought of fondly at all. Essy is determined to find out more.

With some help from an unlikely source, Ruan, they work together to uncover the truth. An opportunity to right old wrongs, mend a community and heal those wounds, this story is heart warming and sentimental.

It was fun to discover secrets from the past, surprised are plentiful and it kept me reading eager to know more. Sometimes our initial ideas and thoughts don’t turn out to be what’s real and I think the same of this book. It isn’t what I originally expected when I started to read but I loved it all the more.

Relatable fun characters, and a community I would like to see again. Highly recommended! 

Purchase Link - https://smarturl.it/ff87oe

Author Bio:

Angela grew up in Cornwall, England and returns frequently from her new home in Nashville, Tennessee to visit family and friends, drink tea and eat far too many Cornish pasties!

 A lifelong love of reading turned into a passion for writing contemporary romance and her novels are usually set in the many places she's visited or lived on her extensive travels. Thanks to over three decades of marriage to her wonderful American husband she's a huge fan of transatlantic romance and always makes sure her characters get their own happy-ever-after.

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, the Romance Writers of America and the Music City Romance Writers. Her first novel ‘Truth and Consequence’ was published in 2006 and she’s now had over 30 novels published internationally and several short stories in women’s magazines.

 If you'd like to find out more of what Angela gets up to (Advance warning: this may include references to wine, dark chocolate, Poldark and the hunky Aidan Turner) check out www.angelabritnellromance.com  or follow her on www.facebook.com/angelabritnell , www.twitter.com/angelabritnell and on Instagram as Angela Golley Britnell.