Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Barn - Jessica Redland

 

Welcome to Bumblebee Barn, home to wonderful animals, stunning views and spectacular sunsets - and resident young farmer, Barney.

While Barney loves his life at Bumblebee Barn - a farm that has been in his family for generations - he's struggling to find someone to share it with. The early mornings quad biking through muddy fields and the long hours looking after the crops and animals are proving to be a deterrent to finding love.

So when his sister, Fizz - desperate for Barney to find his soulmate - sees an advert for Love on a Farm, a new reality TV show to help farmers find love, he has nothing to lose by applying. Afterall, he isn't meeting anyone suitable down the traditional route and surely he won't be picked anyway...?

Thrown into the chaos of reality TV, Barney could never have expected that his whole life would be turned upside down, with buried secrets to be uncovered and his heart on the line. With his family and friends rooting for him, could the magic of Bumblebee Barn heal his broken heart and help him find love on the farm?

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3Nq8mOD

My Review:

A new book by Jessica Redland? COUNT ME IN! As a fan of her books I couldn’t wait to meet some fantastic new characters but was thrilled at a sneaky cameo from some old favourites too! 

 

Typical of any book by Jessica Redland, this story pulled me in, dented my heart a little but fully restored it by the end. A full range of emotions, lots of ups and downs within this tale of looking for love and following your heart. With some great, lovable characters and some who are just downright awful, there’s a mixture of heart warming romance, comedy moments, along with sadness and righting old wrongs.  

 

Barney is such a great character, lovable, true to himself  and getting to know him better was a joy. Fans of Hedgehog Hollow may recognise him as the brother of Fizz. Looking for love on a TV show isn’t what you’d typically expect of a farmer and this doesn’t end up being your typical dating show.

 

Amber is TV producer extraordinaire, who is confident and takes no fools.Having to work with people who have caused trouble in the past is a challenge, but one she takes on. Her chemistry with Barney is instant but she wants to concentrate on finding him love with a contestant that is more his type.

 

A charming story, full of heart and emotion, everything I have come to expect from a Jessica Redland book. I couldn’t put it down and think for fans, it’ll be like picking up a favourite, cosy blanket. For readers new to Jessica, you have a glorious selection of books to discover after this!

 

Highly recommended! 

Author Bio:

Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Social Media Links 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland

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

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland

The Dating Game - Sandy Barker

 

‘Hilarious and highly original’

Julie Houston, bestselling author of A Village Affair

Once upon a time, twelve women joined the hottest reality TV show looking for love. Except one had a secret identity . . .

Abby Jones is a serious writer. Or at least she will be, one day. Right now, she spends her time writing recaps of reality television under a secret identity.

When a recap for The Stag – the must-watch dating show – goes viral, her editor thinks she should be on set, writing the drama as it happens. The good news: the next season will be filmed in Sydney. Sun, sea and a glamorous trip abroad, this could be Abby’s big break.

The bad news: the producers don’t just want Abby to write the recaps, they want her to be on the show. Abby can’t think of anything worse than being undercover and followed around by cameras. But her career depends on it, and when she meets gorgeous producer Jack, Abby begins to wonder if this job might not be so bad after all . . .

My Review:
Sandy Barker always gives us such interesting, fun reads. They are brilliant!

Abby, writer and scathing critic of a reality dating show finds herself as a contestant on that very programme so to ensure her witty reviews score even more publicity for the show. Reluctant is not the word to describe how she feels about this but we see her take it on and fair play she handles everything far better than I would.

Her hilarious recaps of the show are what really kept me entertained throughout. I enjoyed seeing how Abby developed as a character, unsure at first the more she settled into the more she seemed to discover herself.

What a bunch of characters though; some to love and some most certainly to hate. They are all very well written and part of the fun!

I liked how the romance element was slow and steady, who would have thought in this nightmare scenario she would end up falling up for one of the show’s producers. Could love to put a spanner in her dream career plans?

Full of fun, wit and laughter. A great read, very well written. Highly recommended. 

Purchase Links

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dating-Game-romantic-comedy-Santorini-ebook/dp/B096TBRT6B/

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-dating-game/id1571261358

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sandy_Barker_The_Dating_Game?id=iwQyEAAAQBAJ

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dating-game-sandy-barker/1139650830

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/the-dating-game-30

Author Bio

Sandy is a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list, and many of her travel adventures have found homes in her novels. She’s also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob. She lives in Melbourne Australia with her partner, Ben, who she met while travelling in Greece. Their real-life love story inspired Sandy’s debut novel One Summer in Santorini, the first in the Holiday Romance series with One More Chapter, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Follow Sandy:

https://twitter.com/sandybarker

https://www.facebook.com/sandybarkerauthor

https://sandybarker.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sandybarkerauthor/

Bubblegum and Blazers - Isabella May

 

When Ali, Blake, Charlotte, and Grant sign contracts to star in a Back to School reality TV show, LOVE is the very last thing on their minds:

Ali flies to the UK from New Zealand, intrigued by the golden opportunity to advance her amateur social media influencer career.

Blake carpe diems the moment with both hands after a constant flurry of bad luck.

Charlotte jumps at the chance to relive her sporting glories of the past - and take a hiatus from her humdrum marriage.

And Grant is just relieved to get away from his failing second-hand music shop.

But once the advances hit their bank accounts, it soon becomes apparent that producer Jock’s Pied Piper-style offer to change their lives is distinctly lacking in sherbet fizz!

In fact, the only sweet thing about this gig for the former students and the rest of their Bubblegum and Blazers competitors, may just be the packet of candy in their pockets.

Re-enacting their past is a rollercoaster of revelations, retaliation, and unlikely romance in a gold-fish bowl of mayhem where Raphael (Agony Uncle of the school sweet shop) and his rhubarb and custards reign supreme...

Purchase Link – mybook.to/bubblegumandblazers

My Review:

What a nostalgic treat! This book took me right back to a time where reality TV was huge, I remember sun filled summers loving the 24 hour feeds to Big Brother etc and being heavily invested in the contestants lives in this television spectacle. Bubblegum and Blazers is a trip down memory lane with Isabella May’s witty, fun filled story of former school mates reuniting.

This ‘Back to School’ style TV show is a first for me, and something I could really imagine taking place. In fact, lets all watch this space and see how long it takes! A cast of characters that provide laugh out loud moments with their antics as well as shock at the revelation of long-held secrets, with drama and a fall from grace for those who truly deserve it. Long over-due consequences are dealt to certain students who expected the glory of their former school days to be repeated this time around.  

There were a lot of characters, each with their own story/background, at first it was difficult to keep track but as the story progressed, I was able to keep track; although reminiscent of Big Brother etc; I never could get fully invested until they’d ousted a few!

Must warn you though – stock up on the sweets for when you read this because your mouth will be watering for old school retro treats.

A fun read, I got through it quickly as I was swept away by the fun and shenanigans. Perfect for those who would like a trip back in time.

Author Bio:

Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalusia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the mountains and the sea. Having grown up on Glastonbury's ley lines however, she's unable to completely shake off her spiritual inner child, and is a Law of Attraction fanatic, as well as a Pranic Healer.

After a degree in Modern Languages and European Studies at UWE, Bristol (and a year working abroad in Bordeaux and Stuttgart), Isabella bagged an extremely jammy and fascinating job in children's publishing... selling foreign rights for novelty, board, pop-up and non-fiction books all over the world; in every language from Icelandic to Korean, Bahasa Indonesian to Papiamento!

All of which has fuelled her curiosity and love of international food and travel - both feature extensively in her cross-genre novels, fused with a dollop of romcom, and a sprinkle of magical realism.

Social Media Links:

www.isabellamayauthor.com

Twitter - @IsabellaMayBks

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaMayAuthor/

Instagram - @isabella_may_author

Our Story - Miranda Dickinson

 An epic and modern love story for our times, this isn’t a will-they-won’t they story. It’s a why won’t they? Perfect for fans of Lucy Dillon and Rosie Walsh.

Otty has just landed her dream job. She's about to join the writing team of one of the most respected showrunners in TV. And then the night before her first day, she's evicted from her flat.

Joe has been working with Russell for years. He's the best writer on his team, but lately something has been off. He's trying to get his mojo back, but when his flatmate moves out without warning he has other things to worry about.

Otty moving into Joe's house seems like the most obvious solution to both their problems, but neither is prepared for what happens next. Paired together in the writing room, their obvious chemistry sparks from the page and they are the writing duo to beat. But their relationship off the page is an entirely different story, and neither of them can figure out why.

And suddenly the question isn't, will they, or won't they? It's why won't they?

An epic and modern love story for our times, we will all see ourselves reflected in Otty and Joe. We are our own biggest barriers and this novel explores what happens when we get out of our own way. And it is glorious

My Review:

This is Miranda Dickinson at her very best. What an absolute delight ‘Our Story’ is; well written, fun, dramatic and with charming, endearing characters. This is the kind of book that ‘played’ in mind like a film as I read, I could picture it up on the big screen… I just wonder who would play our brilliant Otty and Joe.

Their story is powerful but not in an over the top, hearts, and flowers predictable way. Both characters have faults and problems, both aren’t entirely truthful with the other, both learn as the story develops and seeing how it plays out is captivating. I wanted them to find what they were looking for whether that meant they could be in each other’s lives or not. I was hoping both would be happy and especially happy for the other character. I couldn’t put the book down; I was all in just because both characters got under my skin and meant so much to me. By the end I was gutted it was over and had a book hangover, I couldn’t touch another book for a couple of days.  

I was fascinated by the inner workings of the writers room of a popular TV show, it had a very fly on the wall sense about it, I could imagine this was how all our TV favourites come into fruition. I don’t want to go too much into the story or how it all ends, as I think it’s always best to find out for yourself, but I was entertained and unsure of how it would end all the way through.

Miranda Dickinson creates such gorgeous characters that you take to your heart. The story is well paced and written in a great style typical to the author. I love that it isn’t just a romance story, it’s about finding yourself and following your own dreams.

I want to read more, I wish I could follow Otty and Joe’s story…

I cannot recommend this highly enough. One of my absolute favourite reads of the year.

PURCHASE HERE

Clover Cottage - Christie Barlow

A page-turning new cosy novel in the bestselling Love Heart Lane series – perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Phillipa Ashley and Milly Johnson!

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what.

When Vet Rory Scott inherits ramshackle Clover Cottage in the quaint village of Heartcross, Allie MacDonald just knows this is their happy ever after. A place to call home with the man she loves – it’s her dream come true!

Until Rory drops a bombshell. He loves Allie but he has dreams of his own to follow – to live and work in Africa. Clover Cottage will have to wait just a little longer…

Allie can’t imagine life without Rory, but she loves him too much to hold him back. And as he embarks on his adventure, Allie begins to rethink her own plans. She loves Rory and knows she wants him in her life, but maybe she can follow her own dreams too?

And always there, nestled in the beautiful village of Heartcross, surrounded by the people she loves, will be the place that will always bring them back to each other. Their forever home, Clover Cottage.

My Review:


I absolutely love this book series. From the moment I first read about the wonderful Heartcross community I was hooked so it’s great to be back for another visit. A great chance to catch up with the familiar friends we have already read so much about.


This time we concentrate on Allie and Rory. Rory is a vet, working with his father and Allie works at her parents pub. Rory’s parents decide to sell the house he currently lives in and gift the couple Clover Cottage. This is the start of a very emotional journey that leaves Allie and Rory looking at the future in very different ways.


Christie has given us a community full of heart – it is one I would love to be part of. The characters are so well written, with strong personalities that leap from the page. I always get so absorbed by their lives, I feel their pain and hurt, I am sad when they are sad, and I celebrate their happiness and successes.


Clover Cottage is a story about working together, communicating and supporting those we love even if it hurts us to do so. It shows that a little bit of selflessness goes a long way and for the greater good, sometimes you need to just let go.


I cannot recommend this enough, romantic yet full of depth and emotion it is so much more than a fluffy rom-com or anything like that. You don’t have to start at the beginning but I highly recommend reading the other books too, you will love this community as much as we do.


Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07S7TBKP2/

US -  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S7TBKP2/


Author Bio: 

Christie Barlow is the international bestselling 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, Canada & Australia.

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


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

Website www.christiebarlow.com 

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow 

Facebook page Christie Barlow author