Wednesday 31 July 2019

GUEST POST - The Summer House in Santorini: What’s in Anna’s Beach Bag - SAMANTHA PARKS



With great thanks to Samantha Parks for providing this wonderful guest post. Enjoy!


The Summer House in Santorini: What’s in Anna’s Beach Bag

For any romantic novel heroine on a Greek island, a good beach bag is an important accessory. Not only does it look cute, but it makes sure you have everything you could possibly need to find yourself, find love and find a little bit of adventure. For Anna Linton from The Summer House in Santorini, the ultimate beach bag contents look a bit like this:

Two phones: her Greek phone and her US phone
Let’s be honest, Instagram isn’t going to scroll through itself, so the US phone has to be there for any WiFi-enabled downtime. The Greek phone is for calling Nikos to give her rides up and down the hill between the resort and the summer house.

Her camera (plus an extra battery, an extra memory card and sometimes even an extra lens)
For any budding photographer, having equipment on hand for whenever the moment may strike is CRUCIAL. Anna always has her camera ready to go so that she can capture the sunset, or maybe just a photo of Elena posing weirdly on someone’s garden wall.

Her white crocheted bikini
Because Nikos keeps dragging her off on spontaneous adventures, and she’s learned to always be prepared. She could probably find something less ~sexy~ since she’s trying to keep things platonic, but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy the appreciation.

Sunscreen
Because Anna’s pale New England skin is NOT built for the heat of the Aegean sun

A letter from Giorgos to Grace
As much as she wanted to collect her inheritance and leave, Anna’s grandparents gave her a box of her father’s old letters to her mother, and she can’t help but read them over and over, trying to make sense of who her father was and what secrets her mother has kept from her.

Euros
Mostly for buying more bougatsa. If you know, you know.


To read more about what Anna gets up to this summer in Greece, grab The Summer House in Santorini by me, Samantha Parks, just 99p/$2.99, out 7 August!




Purchase Links:





Author Bio
Samantha Parks is the pen name of Sam Gale. Her pen name comes from her late
grandmother Velma Hobbs nee Parks, who was one of Sam's greatest role models. Sam was born in North Carolina but now resides in Bournemouth, UK with her husband Alex. She owns a successful marketing company and is enjoying her slow descent into "crazy plant lady" status.


Social Media Links


Thursday 25 July 2019

Escape to the French Farmhouse - Victoria Brownlee

AVAILABLE HERE
About:
Ella moved to Paris on a whim - and found happily ever after.
But after six months of romantic bliss, living with her French boyfriend, cheesemonger Serge, Ella's new life is thrown off course. An unplanned pregnancy doesn't seem too bad, until Serge unexpectedly decides to move their growing family to a goat farm in the Loire Valley, without consulting Ella.
Can Ella and Serge's relationship survive their relocation to the depths of the French countryside?
My Review:

A first read by this author and what a delightful treat. I didn’t realise that had been a previous book in the series but honestly it didn’t really matter as this worked well as a standalone.

I enjoyed the storyline, it kept me interested and engaged throughout – I have never been to France (only through books) and it did give me a good sense of what life would be like. I also love cheese, so this book had me drooling with some lovely descriptions. Making me peckish! I think it is well written, a nice style and was descriptive.

 I must admit; I didn’t necessarily love the characters; I liked them, and they were nice enough but maybe I would feel more about them if I’d read the first book? It wasn’t but its more I found them slightly annoying at times.

It’s a story with a simple storyline but it’s fun, light-hearted and has enough drama to make it interesting. Their move to the countryside is really when the book gets going for me. I couldn’t imagine being in Ella’s position and would probably be the same… also Serge keeps so much from her and doesn’t discuss plans etc; how frustrating, I wouldn’t put up with it!

I think this is a lovely, enjoyable read – perfect for a summer day read. You can escape to France and be tempted by foods galore.

Thank you to the publishers for the chance to read and review this book honestly.

Friday 19 July 2019

COVER REVEAL: One Christmas Star - Mandy Baggot

Just in case you didn't know by now, I am a massive Mandy Baggot fan. I've been eagerly awaiting more so I am really pleased to be able to share the cover of Mandy's Christmas book - One Christmas Star.

Isn't it gorgeous! I'm happily getting festive vibes this lovely July day.. can't wait to read this one. Here's more about it:


Emily Parker is set to have the worst Christmas ever!

 

Her flatmate's moved out, she's closed her heart to love and she's been put in charge of the school original Christmas show – with zero musical ability.
Disgraced superstar, Ray Stone is in desperate need of a quick PR turnaround. Waking up from a drunken stupor to a class of ten-year-olds snapping pics and Emily looking at him was not what he had in mind.
Ray needs Emily's help to delete the photos, and she needs his with the show. As they learn to work together they may just open their hearts to more than a second chance...

Pre-order links:







About Mandy Baggot:


Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Follow Mandy:   
Twitter: @mandybaggot

Thanks to Aria Fiction:
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction



BLOGTOUR: The Secret Cove in Croatia - Julie Caplin

 

About the book:


Sail away to beautiful Croatia for summer sun, sparkling turquoise seas and a holiday romance that’s forever…

When no-nonsense, down-to-earth Maddie Wilcox is offered the chance to work on a luxury yacht for the summer, she can’t say no. Yes she’ll be waiting on the posh guests… But island-hopping around the Adriatic sea will more than make up for it – especially when Nick, her best friend Nina’s brother, is one of them.

Sparks fly when they meet on board and Maddie can’t believe self-entitled jerk Nick is really related to Nina.
But in a secret, picture-perfect cove, away from the real world, Maddie and Nick discover they might have more in common than they realise…

My Review:

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

I won’t hesitate in the slightest to rave on about how much of a fan I am of Julie Caplin and the Romantic Escapes series. With each one I am transfixed by idyllic settings, great characters, romantic storylines as well as the fun and frolics along the way.
I was beside myself with excitement with the opportunity to read ‘The Secret Cove in Croatia’ and take part in this book tour, I couldn’t wait to see what adventure was in store.

I cannot pick a favourite of this series, but I have to say this one is truly special. I was over the moon to discover our main character was Maddie and couldn’t wait to see what life had in store for her (we’d met her previously as a minor, but extremely ace, character in The Little Paris Patisserie’). I will add Nick (our rather yummy sounding leading man) is also mentioned in that same book but the characters do not meet or have anything to do with one another – their connection is Nicks sister! This book does go into that in some ways – they can all be read independently but honestly, if you haven’t read the previous books this is the perfect chance to give them a go.

Maddie is such a sweetheart, I adored her before, and I’m so pleased she has chance to shine. She hasn’t got confidence in her artistic abilities, so thinking she isn’t good enough and in between jobs the chance to crew the yacht comes at just the right time. It doesn’t start that well and she is looked down upon by members of the party, but she does meet genuinely good people, especially the ‘celebrity’ yacht owner who takes great care of her when she needs it the most. Bill ends up being one of my favourite characters, so down to earth and not at all what you would expect.

Croatia has never been a place that particularly interested me before, I’d genuinely never considered it to be a holiday destination but now I am sold. It sounds beautiful and full of special places; Julie writes about them so well you honestly feel like you are there and enjoying it for yourself.

Life aboard a yacht must be incredible, it sounded so glamourous and how lucky of Maddie to get herself a job aboard. I liked the inclusion of the Captain who added that authentic cultural flair and knowledge, even if at times his actions seemed to be a little suspect. I love learning something about the setting of books I read so enjoyed the scenes about his family, home life.

The range of quirky, fun characters encapsulated on the yacht was such a mix – each added something different throughout the book. Poor old Nick, blatantly being used by someone who had little care for anything other than outward appearance… I couldn’t wait for him to come to his senses and sort himself out, it was easy to see he was meant to be with Maddie.

Julie has done it again, whisked us away for a romantic treat. A gorgeous summer read that will not disappoint. I cannot recommend it enough for you travel, escapism and romance fans. 

Purchase Links:




About the Author:


Jules Wake announced at the age of ten that she planned to be a writer. Along the way she was diverted by the glamorous world of PR and worked on many luxury brands, taking journalists on press trips to awful places like Turin, Milan, Geneva, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam and occasionally losing the odd member of the press in an airport. This proved fabulous training for writing novels as it provided her with the opportunity to eat amazing food, drink free alcohol, hone her writing skills on press releases and to research European cities for her books. She writes best-selling warm-hearted contemporary fiction for HarperImpulse.

Under her pen name, Julie Caplin, her twelfth novel, The Secret Cove in Croatia published in ebook format this July.


Social Media Links –

Monday 15 July 2019

BLOGTOUR: The Secret - Violet's Story: Eliza J Scott



The Secret – Violet’s Story
It’s been two years since glamorous and ambitious Violet Smith fell head-over-heels in love with blacksmith Jimby Fairfax, and moved back home to the North Yorkshire village of Lytell Stangdale to be with him.

Life couldn’t get much sweeter. Their romance is blooming and Romantique - the business she set up with Jimby’s sister Kitty, designing luxurious underwear and burlesque costumes with the odd wedding dress throw in - is thriving.

But on a romantic weekend break, a face from her past triggers a series of events which send Violet into turmoil. She finds herself with no alternative but to reveal a secret she’s buried deep for the past sixteen years. A secret she hasn’t shared with anyone, not even her best friends, Kitty and Molly, and they share everything.

With the revelation forcing a wedge between herself and Jimby, heartbroken Violet fears that he won’t ever be able to think of her in the same way again and won’t want anything more to do with her.

As ever, Kitty and Molly rally round, offering their advice and support but Vi is worried that keeping her secret was just a step too far for Jimby.

Will she succeed in showing him their love is strong enough to overcome it?

The Secret – Violet’s Story is book 3 in the Life on the Moors Series.

My Review:

You are in for a real gem with this book. What a cute, funny and emotional story with the focus on Violet. Her purple world, her gorgeous other half Jimby, wonderful friends and the idyllic community she loves being part of. We realise Violet has a secret that she has kept to herself for a very long time, does she risk everything and come clean? What will happen if those she loves know what she did?


I love Violet, she sounds gorgeous, glamourous and confident. She’s loved and loves in return and I don’t think there is a bad thing about her. When we find out about her secret, although it is awfully sad, we easily see that it wasn’t her fault and she was taken advantage of in a way. My heart broke for her when she did tell Jimby and he didn’t take the news well. I understood him being upset, hurt and wondering why she couldn’t be honest, but I think he handled it very poorly. (Don’t worry he soon sorts himself out!!)

There is a lot of heart and emotion throughout, moments of sadness are eclipsed by such tender, sweet scenes of special bonds between the characters.  There are some comedic moments with Jimby who is one of the most accident-prone characters I’ve ever read; his antics really added some lighter moments.

Eliza has a gorgeous writing style, very descriptive and the story progresses at a nice pace, I didn’t think it was rushed at all nor too slow. I read it quickly because I enjoyed it so much, I love how the stories played out, I loved learning more about these characters and I loved the community of Lytell Stangdale. 

If you haven’t read the first two books, I really think you’ll be absolutely fine, but I’d recommend them anyway. A gorgeous read for fans of a heart-warming romance. 


Thank you Eliza and Rach's Random Resources for the chance to read and review. 


Purchase  Links




Author Bio: 

Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favourite things: tea and cake.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming stories with happy endings.

Social Media Links –
Blog: Eliza J Scott - elizajscott.com
Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1
Instagram: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscott



Saturday 13 July 2019

BLOGTOUR - One Summer in Santorini - Sandy Barker


About 'One Summer in Santorini'
There was something in the air that night. . .

Sarah has had enough of men. It’s time to rekindle her first true love – travel – so she books a sailing trip around the Greek islands with a group of strangers.
The very last thing Sarah wants is to meet someone new… But then a gorgeous American man boards her yacht and she knows she’s in trouble. And when she also encounters a handsome silver fox who promises her the world, she realises that trouble really does come in twos.

Will Sarah dive into a holiday fling, embark on a relationship, or stick to her plan – steer clear of men, continue her love affair with feta, and find her own way after all?
PURCHASE HERE
My Review:
I love a book that can whisk me off to a glorious, sun filled destination and Sandy Barker didn’t let me down.
One Summer in Santorini is a fun story with relationships and friendships at its heart as well as embracing the culture and surroundings of wherever you may roam.  I felt like I’ve been on adventure; Santorini is like a dream destination of mine so getting to hear these well written, idyllic descriptions were fantastic.
Sarah is our leading lady; she is strong and independent and realising she lost a bit of herself within her last relationship she seizes the opportunity to travel again and chooses this 10 day yacht adventure to find herself again.

It took me a little while to get used to Sarah, I can’t put my finger on why… I liked her but I thought she was going to be hard work – I’m glad I wrong, she turns out to be smart, kind and caring, considerate and a wonderful friend to those around her.
She meets and is attracted to a fellow passenger, he is different, younger and her feelings seem pretty instant, she does try to fight them, but I was urging her on. I thought it was a perfect coupling from the start, definitely what she needed. I can appreciate the temptation with the silver fox, but I wasn’t rooting for him at all. He isn’t what she should have been looking for in my opinion.
I loved the beautiful cast of characters, some very quirky, temperamental and I feel I would have loved to explore their stories a little more too. For example, what was Patricia all about, what happened next with her etc?
Sandys passion for Santorini and travelling is abundantly clear and is a real pleasure to read.  I laughed, I ‘arghed’ and I enjoyed. It’s a great read for the summer. 
Author Bio:
Sandy Barker is an Australian writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list and a cheeky sense of humour.
Many of Sandy’s travel adventures have found homes in her writing, including her debut novel, a contemporary romance set in Greece, which was inspired by her true-life love story.
Follow her on Twitter @sandybarker

Friday 12 July 2019

BLOGTOUR: The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows - Jenni Keer






When Maisie Meadows finds herself single and jobless on New Year’s Day, she resolves that this will be the year she focuses on bringing her scattered family back together. Romance is all very well, but it’s the people you grew up with that matter the most.
But a new job working at an auction house puts her in the path of Theo, a gorgeous but unattainable man who she can’t help but be distracted by. As their bond begins to grow, Maisie finds herself struggling to fulfil the promise she made to herself – but the universe has other ideas, and it’s not long before the Meadows family are thrown back together in the most unlikely of circumstances…
Can dealing with other people’s treasures help Maisie to let go of the past, and teach her who she ought to treasure the most?


My Review:


What a magically fun read! An array of characters and wonderful moments that will tug on heartstrings. The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows is enchanting, a great read that gives us Maisie and her quest to reunite a very special tea set. During this search we see how Maisie’s perspective on life changes and how this affects the relationships with those around her.

It’s a story about family, friendships, and love; it encourages you to embrace whatever comes your way, enjoy life and it’s unexpected occurrences. I also love the idea of perfection not being celebrated and that you should welcome all those quirky differences that make people special.

I loved Maisie, she’s gutsy and funny, she makes mistakes and will hold her hands up to them. I loved how she was so caring and considerate; she likes order and everything ‘in it’s rightful place’ so to speak but then we know she has that hidden ‘messy’ side where she can let go and lose control through her art. She evolves throughout the book and it only makes her more endearing, I was rooting for her all the way through – even if cringing at some of the moments of misunderstanding!

Theo is a complete contrast to Maisie, which is nice. He’s a character I instantly liked; his charm leapt from the page and I could totally understand Maisie’s increasing fondness towards him. He brought out the best in Maisie.
There is a whole host of secondary characters you will adore – each with their own quirks they learn to embrace. Each has their own story to tell but all contribute to Maisie’s story in their own way. Honestly watch out for Arthur, he’s brilliant and your heart will just burst for him.

There is just so much going on within this story, so many potentially cringy moments and misunderstandings but that just added some honesty and comedy to the story.
I highly recommend this book and definitely keep a watch out for Jenni Keer in the future!


Purchase Link - http://bit.ly/UnlikelyLife

Author Bio:
Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before settling in the middle of the Suffolk countryside with her antique furniture restorer husband. She has valiantly attempted to master the ancient art of housework but with four teenage boys in the house it remains a mystery. Instead, she spends her time at the keyboard writing women's fiction to combat the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere with her number one fan #Blindcat by her side. Much younger in her head than she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance team.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker was published in January 2019.

The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows is out in July 2019.

Social Media Links –
Twitter @JenniKeer
Instagram jennikeer

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker,  pack of Scratbag notelets,  pretty purple pen and a Maisie bookmark (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.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday 11 July 2019

Publication Day Review - My Lemon Grove Summer - Jo Thomas


About:

Could the lemon groves of Sicily be the perfect place to start over? The irresistible new novel from Jo Thomas, the author of Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard, will transport you to the island of mountains and sparkling blue seas.

When life hands you lemons ... is it ever too late for a second chance?

Zelda's impulsive nature has got her precisely nowhere up until now. A fresh start in a beautiful hilltop town in Sicily looking for new residents, together with her best friend Lennie, could be just what she needs. And who better to settle down with than the person who knows her best?

But the sun-filled skies and sparkling seas can't hide the shadow hanging over Citta d'Ora, which means not everyone is pleased to see their arrival. The dreams Zelda and her fellow new residents had of setting up a new life might be slipping away. But a friendship with restauranteur Luca could be about to unlock the possibilities that lie in the local lemon groves. And there's a wedding on the horizon that might be just what the town needs to turn it around...

Could a summer in Sicily help Zelda learn to trust her instinct and follow her heart?
 

My Review:


It’s only fairly recently I’ve discovered the wonder that is Jo Thomas and her fabulous books. I’ve quickly devoured them all so imagine my absolute excitement to receive an advanced copy of ‘My Lemon Grove Summer’ – Thank you Headline!

This is a glorious summer read, full of idyllic sounding scenery, gorgeous characters and an emotional, heart-warming story that will have you hooked from the start. Jo’s writing always has the knack of taking us away somewhere – leaving behind our real lives and allowing us to be fully immersed in the story. My Lemon Grove Summer took us to Sicily alongside the lovely Zelda and Lennie who are trying to start a brand-new chapter of their lives.
With a fantastic cast of characters, I really enjoyed getting to know them all. I loved the friendship between Lennie and Zelda but I could see that although they did love each other, they weren’t IN love. I liked to see how supportive they were of each other and their ability to make friends and create their own little community when the one they’ve all found themselves in seems intent to turn them away.

When Sicily doesn’t live up to all that was promised, we see that you must fight for what you want in more ways than one. Can Zelda and Lennie have what they really want or are they facing too much opposition? You can bet there are ups, downs, twists and turns along the way that will keep you entertained. As always, the path of true love never runs smooth, but I’d expect nothing less.

Jo Thomas has firmly become one of my ‘always buy’ authors. I know any of her books will put a smile on my face, take me away and give me characters I will adore.

I cannot recommend this book enough - wonderful summer filled treat. 


Thank you to Jo Thomas and Headline for the opportunity to read/review. 

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Sicily-Jo-Thomas/dp/1472246012/

Wednesday 10 July 2019

BLOGTOUR: Foxglove Farm - Christie Barlow




Return to Love Heart Lane for friendship, romance and a community who will be be there for you no matter what…
Isla and Drew Allaway appear to have the perfect life – a strong marriage, two beautiful children and their picture-perfect home, Foxglove Farm.

But, new mum Isla is struggling.  She loves her little family but with Drew working all hours on the farm, Isla’s lonely.
When she discovers that Drew has been keeping secrets from her, Isla has to face losing the home they all love.
Can the Love Heart Lane community pull together once more to help save Foxglove Farm?  And can Isla save her home…and her marriage?

My Review:

I’ll happily tell you I adored ‘Love Heart Lane’ – this first book in this series so I could not wait to read this. Saying that, if you haven’t had chance to read that brilliant book rest assured you can read this as a standalone too.

Foxglove Farm focuses on Isla and Drew, married with a family and their farm; I was a big fan of these characters in Love Heart Lane so was really pleased that they were the focus of this book. What seems to be a perfect relationship and a perfect life slowly starts to unravel around Isla and she must rely on the support and guidance of the community, her friends and family to make sure she doesn’t lose everything.

This is a wonderful story based around a gorgeous sounding, close knit community. It’s so endearing to read this and feel part of a community that rallies around each other, Christie Barlow has created such warm, funny and caring characters that I genuinely cannot wait to read more about them all. (I’m so pleased to hear there will be a return visit!)

I feel like Isla and Drew had a mountain of hurdles to overcome in this one; just when I thought everything was ok there was another sucker punch that threatened everything. Honestly, how much could two people go through in one book. It held my interest and had be gasping, talking out loud at parts. As if my ‘telling off’ Drew would do something. What impressed me was how such serious topics were introduced and handled – encouraging people to talk about problems, reach out for help and trust in the ones who love us.

In this book we meet the crazy but kind, Martha. What a whirlwind she seems and it’s a breath of fresh air that balances some of the tougher parts of the book. I’m glad she came back to the village when she did, Isla needed her and what a rock she turned out to be.
I was totally absorbed by Christie’s wonderful writing, a beautiful style that will fully engage you in this story. I adored Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm is probably even better – I think the more we discover about this place and its characters there more we will enjoy.

I highly recommend this romantic, funny yet sensitive book. Thank you to all involved for the chance to read and review. 

Purchase Links:



Author Bio:

Christie Barlow is the author of A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother, The
Misadventures of a Playground Mother, Kitty's Countryside Dream, Lizzie's Christmas Escape, Evie's Year of Taking Chances, The Cosy Canal Boat Dream, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA & Australia. 


Christie is an ambassador for @ZuriProject raising money/awareness and engaging with impoverished people in Uganda through organisations to improve their well-being.
Twitter @ChristieJBarlow 
Facebook page Christie Barlow author