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 Wisteria Tree Cottage - Holly Martin

 

Get swept away to the sparkling Welsh coast this summer, where the sea glitters in the sunshine and love is in the air. From the bestselling author of The Blossom Tree of Dreams, this is the perfect romantic treat to escape with this summer

Meadow has only ever loved one man – the very gorgeous Bear Brookfield. Ever since they were children she’s dreamed of marrying him under the green canopy of Wishing Wood. But when a teenage kiss that held such promise was followed by a series of misunderstandings, Meadow lost all hope of a future with Bear. Years later, Meadow and Bear remain best friends, despite Meadow marrying and divorcing Bear’s brother Heath. Yet she’s sure there’s no chance they’ll be anything more.

What Meadow doesn’t know is that Bear has only ever loved one woman too. He was heartbroken when Meadow married Heath, certain she chose his brother over him. But there’s more to Meadow and Heath’s marriage than anyone knows...

With both Meadow and Bear convinced they can only ever be friends they set one another a dating challenge – will they meet their perfect match online, as Bear thinks, or in person at a dating event, like Meadow believes? Or will they finally discover that their soul mate has been right there in front of them, secretly loving them, all along?

Once you’ve arrived in Wishing Wood you’ll never want to leave! Treat yourself to a summer of love with this feel-good, heartwarming and deliciously romantic tale. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jill Mansell and Sue Moorcroft

To purchase - click HERE

My Review:

I will always abandon my TBR mountain to read a Holly Martin book first. Never failing to provide us with fantastic characters, brilliant locations and storylines that warm the heart and soul. You may tell I am a big fan of hers, every ‘series’ seems to top the last in which will be my favourite (it’s genuinely hard to pick though!) and ‘The Wisteria Tree Cottage’ is firmly up there with the greats.

Bear and Meadow are characters we came to know and love in ‘ The Blossom Tree of Dreams.’  Although you can read this book as a standalone, I do recommend reading the first – just because it is a lovely story!

We already know these two characters have feelings for each other but for various reasons don’t feel they can act upon them so it was great to see how Holly would actually create their story and allow us to see if they’d get together.

I wasn’t expecting it to be smooth sailing, and it isn’t at all – cue misunderstandings, drama, online dates and connections. There are some very sweet moments, coupled with comedy – I couldn’t stop chuckling at some of the antics and thought Meadow was great for giving things a go.

It was nice to hear more from Meadows daughter Star, who is intent on catching the antics of the wildlife nearby, especially when a wolf may be on the prowl!

I loved catching up with this great group of characters, and I am really looking forward to the next visit. The setting couldn’t be more dreamy if Holly tried; I wish I could take a trip.

A perfect read, especially if you will be relaxing by the pool or on the beach. I cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you to Holly for the opportunity to read and review.  

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/

Opposites Attract - Camilla Isley

First law of magnetism: opposite poles attract.

Single mom Vivian has been burned by love once before, and her job as a divorce lawyer has presented enough evidence to convince her there are no good men left in New York City.

The worst offender is her new neighbour: Dr. Lucas Keller, a couple’s therapist whose piercing blue eyes and flawless dark hair are just as annoying as his bad temper.

But when Luke starts poaching Vivian’s clients by saving their marriages, she makes it her mission to force him out of the building to save her practice. But it’s Luke who gives her the perfect opportunity when he proposes an unexpected bet.

With their offices at stake, Vivian and Luke play the field of love in a fierce battle of wits that quickly turns hot and personal, especially when Vivian’s daughter gets involved. Now, taking down Luke has become more than business for Vivian. It’s become a pleasure—and soon, Vivian and Luke will realize how pointless it is to fight the laws of attraction.

My Review:

Another brilliant book from Camilla. Each one of hers I pick up I enjoy, this is another romantic, fun filled, action packed book.

We meet Vivian and Lucas who from the moment they meet just do not see eye to eye, they go out of their way to wind each other up or gain the upper hand. So, when an opportunity comes that may rid one from the other, they jump on board. Both signing up to a well-known dating agency, who will meet someone suitable first?

Cue a multitude of hilarious dates, it’s every single person’s nightmare repeatedly but this is Camilla Isley at her comedic best – I was laughing out loud at these!

I love when we have a story told from the two characters viewpoints, I think you really get to know them. I warmed to Lucas from the start but it took me a while before I liked Vivian or really understood her.

I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, the ease at which they teased and pushed the other’s buttons. Although there are so quirky, fun lighthearted moments, it does touch on some serious and sensitive issues which are very well done.

A fun, easy read that will entertain for a good few hours. Camilla Isley is an author that never disappoints. 

Purchase Links

Opposites Attract is available for Free!

https://smarturl.it/OppositesAttract143

https://books2read.com/u/mdnvYl

Author Bio: 
Camilla is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.

She’s a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

Social Media Links@

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/camilla-isley

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14135080.Camilla_Isley

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

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/camillaisley

Giveaway to Win 3 x e-copies of the Beach Reads box set (Open Internationally)

*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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Asking For a Friend - Andi Osho

No woman gets left behind

Three best friends are going to solve their relationship woes once and for all

Forty-something Jemima’s life is on track – well, sort of. All she has to do is muster the courage to bat her niggly ex away for good.

Twenty-something Meagan is in the midst of her five-phase plan and is nearly ready for phase three – a relationship.

While thirty-something Simi has had more it’s not yous than any I dos.

Deciding it’s time to play the dating game by their own rules, they’re going to ditch the dating apps and ask people out in real life. The catch? They’re playing matchmaker and can only ask out potential dates for each other because the most important rule is that no woman gets left behind.

Comedian Andi Osho’s hilarious and uplifting debut novel features her trademark wit and is perfect for fans of Candice Carty-Williams, Lucy Diamond and Mhairi McFarlane.

My Review:

Asking for a Friend brings us the wonderful trio of Jemima, Meagan and Simi. These are three friends that have found some successes in their professional lives but are all united in the disaster that is their love lives. All looking for different types of men and differing kinds of relationships, each friend must face the past when looking for their “future.” During a night out the establish The Dating Game – asking out real life men in real life situations but for each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mix of characters, with each woman being unique and bringing something different to the friendship dynamic.  As it is written in third person, each of the characters are given their own voice and we see how each of them develop and grown throughout the book. While the are learning about themselves its interesting to see how they are continuing to learn about each other too. Even after years of friendship it seems they need to work on being the best friend they can be.

 I enjoyed reading this book, I found it amusing and well written. It had great pace, but I found the latter part of the book the best. I did enjoy reading from the different girls’ perspectives. Whilst it is funny, I didn’t find it laugh out loud hilarious, but it was entertaining and I would recommend it for a light, refreshing read.

Although this book is all about the girls finding romance with a man, and that is enjoyable and fun, I enjoyed that the main take away from this was about the strength and importance of friendships, supporting those we hold close and being someone who will be honest, support and understand the decisions of others. 

About the Author:

Andi Osho’s fifteen year career spans film, TV, theatre and stand up. As well as UK TV drama and comedy credits including Holby City, EastEnders and Death In Paradise, Andi played Jenny Donohue in Sky Atlantic’s street-race drama, Curfew, co-starring Sean Bean, Billy Zane, Miranda Richardson and Malachi Kirby. She made her US TV debut in Finding Carter and film projects include Lights Out, Swinging With The Finkels and Shazam!

Other projects include Michaela Coel’s groundbreaking HBO/ BBC drama, I May Destroy You, Ch4/Hulu co-production, National Treasure: Kiri, which became Channel 4’s highest rated drama and Olivier-nominated The Miser – Andi’s West End debut.

Andi has written for print, radio, film and TV for broadcasters such as Fox, BBC and Sky. She wrote and starred in Twin Thing made for Sky Arts with Sharon Horgan’s Merman Films and created her own E4 sketch pilot The Andi O Show. Andi is developing several TV and film projects and her debut novel, Asking For A Friend will be published with Harper Collins in 2021.

The First Date - Zara Stoneley

Right place.
Right time.
Wrong guy …

After breaking up with her childhood sweetheart, clueless dater Rosie has found herself in a boyfriend-drought. So when she finally swipes right on a guy who seems interested, she can’t wait to meet up IRL.

Until she’s left standing alone. In a bar. Ghosted.

Enter Noah. Confident, funny … and a serial first dater. Offering to give Rosie a crash course in seduction, this could be just what she needs. Until her matchmaker turns out to be the best date she’s ever had – and Rosie wonders if she wants the fake dates to be the real ones after all …

A hilarious, heart warming romantic comedy about what happens when the wrong guy turns up at the right time, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Debbie Johnson.

My Review:

A delightful, fun filled book with humour that will have you laughing out loud and giggling at the blunders, miscommunications and tension between our two main characters.

I really enjoyed the blossoming friendship between Rosie and Noah, they had a great chemistry and banter. In my opinion Noah is the easier character to like, he has charm in buckets whereas Rosie is a tad selfish. Rosie grew on me the more I read, I think the more she opened up and the more she acted like a grown up rather than a poor little girl with Daddy issues, the more I liked her. There is a lot of emphasis about the issues her Dad’s ‘extra curricular activity’ and how it has changed her view of men/dating. I think it goes on a bit, I mean she’s not the first nor last it would have been a problem for. Thank goodness for Noah who is not afraid to say what he thinks about her Dad.

Rosie’s Mum was another cool character and taught her daughter some much needed lessons thankfully. I love a crazy character and she is that indeed! It took Mums actions for Rosie to move forward and see she could attempt relationships, or live a little dangerously.

It’s pretty obvious where the story will go but I have no problem at all with that, I was rooting for the romance between them to grow into something more.

It’s well written and amusing, a fantastic read if you are looking for something to put a smile on your face. Highly recommended!

About the Author:

Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date. 

Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.

She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Zara’s bestselling novels include 'The Wedding Date', 'The Holiday Swap', 'Summer with the Country Village Vet', 'Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage' and the popular Tippermere series - 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs' and 'Country Rivals'.