Summer at Forget-Me-Not Cottage - Helen Rolfe

 

Welcome back to Little Woodville.

Visit old friends and new in this super, summer escapist read.

Morgan Rosewood finds herself at a crossroads in her life after returning home to Forget-Me-Not Cottage to care for her ailing mother. She and boyfriend Ronan, had plans, big plans, but all these hopes and dreams are put on hold when Morgan's mum suddenly dies.

Morgan’s emotions are in turmoil but she sets about the task of clearing the house and running her late mother’s vintage market stall.

Nate Greene has his own reasons for staying away from Little Woodville. Nate needs to reconcile his past and tackle the long overdue task of decluttering the place he once loved - his abandoned wood workshop, filled to the brim with his creations.

He secures a stall at the local market to showcase his wares and it isn't long before the workshop reignites the passion he once shared with a special person.

Thrown together Morgan and Nate have their own personal battles to overcome.

Can the beautiful little Cotswold village teach two lost souls what matters,

and more importantly, will it give them each something they didn't come here for? Love...

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

My Review:

Helen Rolfe is one of my absolutely, must-read authors; every book is a joy to read. I loved the first book in this series so getting the chance to read and review Summer at Forget Me Not cottage, well I obviously jumped for joy!

Locations can really make me fall in love with a book/series and this idyllic setting (and its locals) just make me want to bag my bags. Helen describes the homes and surroundings so beautifully; you really do feel like you are right there.

Morgan moves back home to support her ailing Mother, leaving her partner to move to Scotland without her - for now. She fully intends on joining him as soon as possible, but months after her Mum’s death she is still there and doesn’t seem to be making any plans on joining Ronan. Morgans sister joins her, to sort through the cottage and suggests Morgan may actually like to stay there for a while longer, live there and figure out what it is that she wants to do.

Nate is back to visit his Dad, Trevor. Having lived in Wales for some time he is concerned that his Dad is struggling and would like to convince him to move to Wales too. Nate struggles being back, he feels guilty and is still coping with the loss of his Mother.

Thrown together at the local market by having to share a stall, Nate and Morgan are both working through struggles, both hurting and not quite sure of what to do for the best.

The prefect cosy read and a wonderful escape, a story about letting go; of hurt, of the past and allowing yourself to be happy again. Finding new beginnings in old haunts.

A great summer read, I can never recommend Helens books enough!

Author Bio:

Helen Rolfe is the author of many bestselling contemporary women’s fiction titles, set in different locations from the Cotswolds to New York. Most recently published by Orion, she is bringing sixteen titles to Boldwood – a mixture of new series and well-established backlist. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.

Social Media Links: 

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/HJRolfe

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

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/helen-rolfe

Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall - Victoria Walters

 

Lorna is following her dreams. But can she follow her heart?

Lorna Ferguson has dreamt of opening her own bed and breakfast in the village of Glendale for as long as she'd pictured falling in love. While her love life remains frankly hopeless, Lorna is determined to secure Dove House - the home she imagined living in as a child - to start this new venture with her family.

Along with brother Adam, Lorna starts restoring the house to its Art Deco glory, but faced with a whole host of renovation problems and their money fast running out, they worry that Dove House will never be ready to open in the New Year.

When a mystery man turns up, needing to fulfil a promise he made to his dying father and find the object he left at Dove House many years ago, Lorna's heart goes out to him. But what they find there is going to change both of their lives forever.

Facing problems at every turn, and distracted by her heart, Lorna is going to need all the magic that her beloved Glendale can supply to make all her dreams come true..

Purchase Links

AMZ: http://amzn.to/3Q90hin

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3NZfAbr

Apple: http://apple.co/3Nz562X

Hive: http://bit.ly/3QjuawG

My Review:

I have been looking forward to a return to Glendale, seems an age since the last book but this was definitely worth the wait. Back to a wonderful setting with familiar characters and a chance to catch up with their lives. We do focus on Lorna, although she had appeared before, this book is the chance to really get to know her and the rest of her family.

I enjoyed getting to learn about Lorna’s dreams, her aspirations to open her own B&B but also having the perfect location in mind that has sentimental reasons. Her relationship with her brother (who shares the dream to open the B&B) is great to read and they balance each other out well. It’s a great family, with the slight exception of their older sister who isn’t always as positive as Lorna would like her to be.

When fate and opportunity aligns, the time is right for them to take a leap and follow their dream. But.. even when dreams come true, things don’t go smoothly and both have to learn to take risks – with the B&B but also their hearts.

I love Victoria’s writing, cosy and familiar so as soon I started the first page, I felt content and happy just to snuggle up and savour every word.

A fantastic return to Glendale, a story of following your heart, understanding the past and learning to move forwards, believing in yourself but allowing other people in to help.

Dreams can come true, it may not be a smooth ride and you made have to have a whole lot of faith as well as determination but with those you love and care for around you, you can achieve all you want.

I cannot recommend anything by Victoria enough but this is a great Autumn read.

Author Bio:

Victoria Walters is a full-time author living in Surrey. Victoria writes cosy books including the bestselling uplifting and romantic series GLENDALE HALL and the new gripping and charming crime novel MURDER AT THE HOUSE ON THE HILL. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for two RNA awards. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star.

Find out more about Victoria by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters, on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at:https://victoria-writes.com/.

Tell That to My Heart - Eliza J Scott

Tell That To My Heart (Heartshaped Book 1)

Jemima Dewberry wears her heart on her sleeve. Her weakness for bad boys, coupled with her track record for making bad decisions has led to endless heartbreak. The only trouble is, she can’t seem to kick the habit.

On top of that, her “dream” job at Yorkshire Portions magazine hasn’t turned out to be what she’d hoped, and she seems to have developed the knack of annoying her boss without even trying. It doesn’t help that the new girl seems to have taken an instant dislike to her. All that’s keeping her there are her best friends Anna-Lisa and Aidey, who have picked up the pieces of her shattered heart more times than they care to remember.

When Jemima’s latest boyfriend turns out to be no better than the rest, the hurt and humiliation is almost unbearable. She declares she’s finally through with love, and swears off men for life. But when charismatic Caspar De Verre walks into the office with his dangerous good looks and mesmerising smile, she’s utterly captivated, and her promises to Anna-Lisa and Aidey not to let her heart rule her head are soon forgotten.

But is Caspar all he seems? Anna-Lisa and Aidey have their doubts. And Herbert, the happy-go-lucky black Labrador Jemima’s looking after, doesn’t seem to like him either.

As Jemima falls for Caspar’s charms she finds herself being forced to confront the struggle between her head and her heart. But which one will prove the most powerful?

And will Jemima get the happy-ever-after she so desperately craves?

My Review:


As a fan of this authors previous series of books I was very excited to discover the start of this new ‘Heartshaped’ series with ‘Tell That to my Heart.’

Eliza J Scott creates wonderful characters that you take to your heart almost immediately; brilliant community settings that are well described and make you want to take. Her books are always full of heart, love, kindness, and compassion.

I love that Eliza always gives us a key group of strong characters who have brilliantly, supportive friendships. Mim is our main character in this book but she is always fully supported by great friends, Anna Lise, Aidey and Carly. They have such fun when they are all together and it comes across so nicely in Eliza’s writing. Also, I must mention Herbert – he is one to judge people quickly!

Mim is working well at Yorkshire Portions magazine, it is a good job and she gets to spend time with her close friends. This all starts to unravel with the arrival of a couple of new arrivals. One gets Mim’s heart racing and the other gets on her nerves. Quite quickly strange things start happening around the office and it becomes clear that someone has it in for Mim.

With her heart and her job both at risk, can Mim figure out the truth before everything gets out of hand?

This is an absolute corker. I adored every moment of reading this one, I could not put it down. I laughed, I was surprised and shocked, I could have quite happily booed along pantomime style with some parts. It a fantastic read and I cannot wait for the next in the series!


Purchase Links

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B084VQHQDL 

US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084VQHQDL

About the Author:

Eliza is proud to be a member of the RNA. She lives in a 17th-century cottage in 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, fighting a losing battle against the weeds.

When she's not reading or gardening, 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.

Her biggest weakness is ginger biscuits dunked in tea.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming romance stories with relatable female characters. She enjoys exploring the dynamics of female friendship, with a key feature of her books being how women pull together and support one another when things get tough.

Eliza's novels will always have happy endings.
Social Media Links –

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscott

Facebook: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscottauthor

Blog: www.elizajscott.com

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

Amazon Author Page: UK:  www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

                                        US: www.amazon.com/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

The Secret Seaside Escape - Heidi Swain

Escape to the seaside with the brand new novel from Heidi Swain, the Sunday Times bestselling author of feel-good women’s fiction!
 
Tess Tyler needs a break. Weighed down by her high-pressure job and her demanding father, she’s left little time to take care of herself. But after a shocking discovery sends her spiralling, she flees to Wynmouth, the seaside town she fell in love with as a child, to escape it all.

With its sandy beaches, stunning rock pools and welcoming community, Tess feels like she can finally breathe again. And as she grows ever closer to local barman Sam, she dares to dream that she might never return to her real life. But when a familiar face returns to town, Tess realises that there are secrets in Wynmouth too, and that her own past may be about to catch up with her . . .   The Secret Seaside Escape  is the perfect read this summer, promising sandy beaches, stunning rockpools and breath-taking romance. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews and Sarah Morgan.

My Review:


I’m a #swainette through and through...
This fantastic new book from Heidi Swain is perfect for a mental break away, given current circumstances this is the perfect read if you want to escape for a little while.
After reading (devouring) the book I just wanted to go and escape to the seaside myself (I wish), I’d love to fall into a community with characters like Heidi creates. All of Heidi’s books have such wonderful communities – as you may know if you’ve read any of Heidi’s other books – but this is a brand new one with wonderful new people who feel like friends by the end.
Tess is fed up working hard for her father and not getting the appreciation she needs. She takes herself away to the seaside, Wynmouth, the place she spent so much time growing up. Awakening old memories and secrets, Tess has decisions to make about her future but will the heart rule the head, especially when she realises her feelings for a certain local.
I love Tess. She’s sweet, kind and gets involved in the community straight away which I like. She soon settles into place and its clear she feels at home there with some brilliant friendships made early on. A great character! There is a whole host of supporting characters who add to the fun, George and his meddling, Sophie, Hope, Joe and of course, Sam.
Easy to be charmed by the amazing writing and descriptions, you will feel like you are part of the idyllic seaside neighbourhood. I loved the development, the twists that were unexpected but interesting. It’s a wonderful tale of friendships, community spirit, forgiving the past and learning to accept what is meant to be. Romance is as always a theme running throughout the book, but it isn’t the main focus, personal development and fixing relationships is in my opinion – although in my opinion a little bit of romance is always welcome.

I cannot recommend this enough, as I would any Heidi Swain book. A feel good, cosy read that will entice you in and leave you wanting more. Treat yourself to a trip to Wynmouth, you won’t be disappointed. Fingers crossed for a return trip!!
Available to purchase NOW: Amazon

About the Author:

Sunday Times Best-selling author with a passion for vintage, hearth & home.

Creating wonderful communities and characters. Find out more -

Website: https://heidiswain.co.uk/

Check out the blog: http://heidiswain.blogspot.com/

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

 

Coming Home to Winter Island by Jo Thomas

Wrap up warm and prepare to explore the breath-taking beauty of a remote Scottish island and an old house waiting to unlock enchanting family secrets.
Ruby's singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover. But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It's time to go and see the grandfather she's never met. City girl Ruby knows she will be happy to leave the windswept beaches behind as quickly as she can, especially as a years-old family rift means she knows she won't be welcome at Teach Mhor. But as she arrives at the big house overlooking the bay, she finds things are not as straightforward as she might have thought. There's an unexpected guest in the house and he's not planning on going anywhere any time soon ...

Purchase Here

My Review:

Another of my absolute favourites, Jo Thomas always delivers a fantastic read that will transport you to amazing places with wonderful characters and brilliant story lines.

Ruby, unable to do what she loves and sing, finds herself on a journey of discovery – of how to make a very special gin but also in discovering who she really is, where she came from and importantly what she is capable of.

I adored the picturesque sounding Winter Island, described so well by Jo, I could really picture every aspect of the close-knit community. Yet another fantastic location for this book, which has become synonymous with every Jo Thomas book.

Aside from Ruby, who is a fantastic character and her rollercoaster relationship with Lachlan, I adored Hector and thought the inclusion of how he was suffering from Alzheimer’s but had periods of lucidity through music was absolutely breath taking and so emotional. As someone who has watched loved ones suffer, this hit home hard but thought it was written in the most tender, touching ways plus Hector is quite the mischievous character and added some extra heart to the story.

Such an eclectic bunch of characters within the community, moments of hilarity and then a rollercoaster of emotions. There are some interesting surprises and little twists that I didn’t expect, I think Jo Thomas is an absolute diamond for telling a story with such heart and soul, always with something delicious to tempt us with.

I couldn’t put this book down, as with every one I read from Jo. I couldn’t recommend this one any more to everyone that loves a great story with lovable characters, perfect to cosy up with.

The Survivors - Kate Furnivall

Available here

Goodreads Blurb:

'Directly I saw him, I knew he had to die.’ Germany, 1945. Klara Janowska and her daughter Alicja have walked for weeks to get to Graufeld Displaced Persons camp. In the cramped, dirty, dangerous conditions they, along with 3,200 others, are the lucky ones. They have survived and will do anything to find a way back home.

But when Klara recognises a man in the camp from her past, a deadly game of cat and mouse begins. He knows exactly what she did during the war to save her daughter. She knows his real identity. What will be the price of silence? And will either make it out of the camp alive?

My Review:

This is the first time I've read a book by Kate Furnivall and what a wonderful experience it has been. Kate has written a beautiful, fiercely captivating tale of unwavering love and the bond between mother and child as well as the steely determination to do whatever is needed to survive.  A story of the survivors of war, it is spellbinding and I found it difficult to put down.

I always know a book has had a long lasting effect on me, as I think about it for days afterwards and replay different parts in my mind.  I like to think of it as a 'book hangover' and that's what I feel here. I am fairly ashamed to say I didn't know too much about the DPs Camps but this book has vividly painted a picture, Kate's writing draws you in and makes you feel like you are really there, watching all that takes place.

I felt each characters spirit, they were well written to evoke various emotions - love, despair, fear and even hate. Klara - the lionness protecting her cub. A mother willing to do anything in order to find, protect and free her child, wanting to make the life ahead better -she may have to do and experience truly awful things, but she is such a fantastic character. I loved her attitude, her approach  and intelligence in any situation and I was completely on her side from the moment I started reading. I think the flashbacks to Klara's emphasised what she was capable of, what she was willing to endure and served as a reminder of how far she had come.
 

If I thought Klara was feisty then her daughter, Alicja, is something else! What a testament to Klara; the lengths her daughter would go so to protect her Mum too. True fighting spirit from both women, who feel the need to right a wrong, seek revenge and get what they deserve. 

The delicate relationship between Klara and Davide, a symbol of the fragility of all survivors - their friendship and blossoming romance throughout was a beautiful addition to the story.

An emotional journey of love and survival, showing humanity at it's worst but also at its most special. 

First but definitely not the last book by Kate Furnivall, I highly recommend for all historical fiction fans but if you're looking for something different - this is worth the step out of your comfort zone. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍