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

Where we belong - Sarah Bennett

 

On paper, Hope Travers has an idyllic life.

Living in a bustling farmhouse with her mum, aunt and uncles, cousin and too many dogs to count, surrounded by the breath-taking Cotswolds countryside, she knows she is privileged and protected.

But all families have secrets, and the Travers family are no exception. Their farmhouse sits in the grounds of the Juniper Meadows estate, passed down through the generations and now being made to pay its own way with a myriad of businesses and projects. When a construction crew uncover what appear to be historical ruins, the history of the Travers family is put under ever closer scrutiny as a dig gets underway.

Hope may have found a blossoming romance with local archaeologist Cameron Ferguson who is running the dig, but when things start to go wrong around the estate and family secrets begin to be revealed, Hope wonders if she’s made a big mistake in digging up the past.

My Review:

I had high hopes for this new series from Sarah Bennett and this is a brilliant start. I adored Mermaids Point so was excited to see where we would be next. Juniper Meadows sounds great, I love the idea of some big estate and already can sense there is so much to explore and discover. There are some lovely characters (and already one I could happily not see again) that have created some interesting relationships I am keen to see develop. I wonder what will play out, who will find love etc. 
With family secrets, historic finds, romance and drama; I feel like there is much more to come and I couldn’t be happier. I am already intrigued and love the quirky characters. 
A nicely paced, calm read that pulls you in from the start, I loved the historic element and wonder if more will come from that. I have high hopes for Cameron and Hope, will there romance be a short term or something long lasting? Will any further secrets be uncovered affecting the lives of the family?
A lovely read, realistic and with characters that are believable and interesting. I will look forward to the next!

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3jQEYqg

Author Bio:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas. 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: Sarah Bennett Author | Facebook

Twitter: Sarah Bennett (@Sarahlou_writes) / Twitter

Instagram: Sarah Bennett (@sarahlbennettauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

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

Bookbub profile: Sarah Bennett Books - BookBub

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/.

Coming Home to Puddleduck Farm - Della Galton

 

When your heart's broken, all roads lead home...

London City Vet, Phoebe Dashwood, finds her partner Hugh and their boss in a passionate clinch beneath the mistletoe at their works Christmas party.

Heartbroken, she bolts to the New Forest, her childhood home to regroup and soul search.

Being home gives Phoebe the chance to reconnect with friends and family and especially with her fiercely independent gran, widower Maggie Crowther, owner of Puddleduck Farm, and makeshift animal shelter New Forest Neddies.

Deciding not to return to London, Phoebe hunts for work locally, hoping she can also help Maggie, who’s clearly swamped and not coping. But will Maggie accept Phoebe’s help?

Her quest is hampered by stubborn grandmothers, meddling mums, an attractive childhood friend, a real-life Lord, a remorseful ex, and a best friend who’s determined to play matchmaker.

Can Phoebe find happiness professionally and personally in the place she calls home, surrounded by those she loves or does fate have other plans for Phoebe?

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

My Review:

A charming read, especially for animal and romance fans. It was great to read the first in a new series by Della Galton, and a new setting in the scenic New Forest. Puddleduck Farm is run by Phoebe’s Grandmother (Maggie) and is a rescue for a wide range of animals, who each have their own personalities and quirks. Phoebe notices a change in Maggie and starts to worry that things are not going well and that her grandmother may be overdoing things.

Phoebe is back after a heartbreak and I enjoyed getting to know her, understand her way of thinking and meet the people she has in her life, hopefully characters we will be in the future. We see the friendships she can rely on, the potential for romance – even in surprising places - and I thought it was interesting how the character wasn’t rushed into a new romance for the sake of it, much better to see how the character settles to such big life upheavals and that she wants to focus on herself.

There is a lot happening within this book, including many themes that are being carefully woven into one story but this is done well by the author. I enjoyed the animal antics and will look forward to hearing more about some of the characters. A must read for many, I highly recommend.

Author Bio:

Della Galton writes short stories, teaches writing groups and is Agony Aunt for Writers Forum Magazine. She lives in Dorset.

Social Media Links:

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/DellaGalton

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

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/DellaGaltonNewsletter 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/della-galton

Life's A Beach - Portia MacIntosh

 

Sun, sea and inescapable exes...

Peach is excited to hear that her sister, Di, is getting married. Of course, she would have preferred her little sister to be engaged to someone she's known longer than a week - and the fact that his name is Charles doesn't bode well - but who is she to judge?! Afterall, her own love life is non-existent, and who doesn't love a destination wedding...?

Whisked away to the gorgeous Italian coast, Peach assumes her role as chief bridesmaid and, despite her reservations about the groom, she tries to ensure everything goes to plan.

But weddings are never straightforward affairs... throw in some unexpected guests in the form of ex-boyfriends and one night stands, and soon enough there is more drama than a reality tv show.

Can Peach keep the show on the road, or might she end up in a whirlwind romance of her own...?

Escape to the stunning Italian coast with bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald and Mhairi MacFarlane.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3aRO92I

My Review:

I’m a long-time fan of books by Portia MacIntosh and I always look forward to the next release. I thoroughly enjoy her writing style, there is comedy, emotion, drama, and romance everything unfolds at a good pace. MacIntosh always provides a fun, easy read that will entertain. The characters in Portia’s books are always realistic, loveable characters and this time is no exception. I think Peach is brilliant, and Matt sounds like a dream! They were both strong characters but completely likeable – even when you think Matt is no good. I really liked Van, although I grew quite uncertain of her motives at points. I didn’t think I would grow to like Charles at all, I disliked him but by the end I found myself quite charmed by him. It might be interesting to see how he (and everyone) would react if all the secrets of the past had come to light There was an awful lot crammed into this story, entertaining but at times it was quite full on. A lot of characters in one place with secrets and twists, a couple of things never seemed to be resolved and a couple of characters just seemed to fade away by the end. I would have been interested to see what happened if a couple of other scenarios played out. This book has brilliant characters and fun storylines, it was highly entertaining, and I would recommend for an easy, relaxing read. Thank you to Boldwood Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Author Bio:

Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 16 novels, including The Plus One Pact and My Great Ex-Scape. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real-life experiences.

 

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh

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

Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh

A Christmas Wedding at the Castle - Eliza J Scott

 

Do you believe in fate? Livvie Weatherill does…

This time last year, if anyone had told Livvie Weatherill she’d have fallen in love and would be making plans for her Christmas wedding to Zander Gillespie, she would have laughed in their face. If they’d gone on to say they’d be planning to have their wedding at the imposing Danskelfe Castle, she’d have laughed even louder!

But it would seem fate had plans for her…

Since moving to the pretty moorland village of Lytell Stangdale Livvie is happier than she’s ever been. She’s living with Zander and she’s working at her dream job as a wedding dress designer at Romantique with her friends, Kitty and Violet. It’s fair to say, she’s enjoying immersing herself in village life, from romantic walks in the countryside, to meeting friends at the quaint Sunne Inne. And she can’t think of anything better than rounding off the day cosying up with Zander.

Life is sweet.

Her blossoming friendship with Freda Easton, the endearing but reclusive elderly lady who lives down the lane, has taken everyone by surprise. But Freda has a secret and, in a turn of events no one could predict, she finds herself grateful for Livvie’s fierce loyalty, cementing their friendship further.

Just when things seem to be running smoothly, a face from the past arrives on the doorstep casting a shadow over Livvie’s wedding plans. Adding to the drama, an icy blast of Arctic air brings heavy snowfall to the village, covering the moors in a thick blanket of snow.

Is their love strong enough to withstand the challenges thrown at them? Will they get their magical Christmas wedding?

Join Livvie and Zander – and all the usual characters – for a sparkling Christmas full of love and laughter in Lytell Stangdale.

My Review:

It’s an absolute pleasure to be back in Lytell Stangdale with some of our favourites. Lovely to see old friends but nice to focus on Livvie and Zander’s wedding.

Yet again, we are whisked to the Yorkshire Moors to a village full of community spirit, where everyone is keen to support, love and help each other. If you haven’t read any of the previous books, they can be read as standalones, but you’d be in for a real treat if you did read them too.

I thoroughly enjoyed catching up on this gorgeous romance. The book takes us through from proposal to hen night to planning all the finer details. Livvie has her heart set on the beautiful castle but does an on-going problem involving her friend cause an issue that can’t be rectified?

Will Livvie settle for second best for her wedding or will she persevere in planning the dream wedding?

It’s wonderful to read this cosy story, a treat to wrap up warm and enjoy. It’s set at Christmas but it is not Christmas heavy, a sprinkling of festive feeling of course – just enough! Livvie sets about supporting the village recluse, her friend and in helping her discovers more than ever bargained for.

A gorgeous, romantic tale of love, friendship and looking beyond what is in front of you. With characters you will take to your heart,  I highly recommend this and any other read by Eliza J Scott. 

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Wedding-Castle-heartwarming-feel-good-ebook/dp/B08M48P9BB

US - https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Wedding-Castle-heartwarming-feel-good-ebook/dp/B08M48P9BB

Author Bio:

Eliza is proud to be a member of the RNA. She lives 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

Q&A with Christina Courtenay

    Welcome to The Comfy Chair blog... Christina Courtenay, author of 'The Runes of Destiny.'

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014).  The Runes of Destiny (time travel published by Headline 10^th December 2020) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

1.      What was your favourite childhood book/author?
The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton – I read all 21 of them and wished there were more! (Loved all her other stories too).

2.      What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point?
I started writing when my first child was born because I needed a job I could do from home so I could be a stay-at-home mum. It wasn’t as easy as I thought though and I didn’t get published until the week after she left home aged 21! But by the time I realised how difficult it was going to be, I’d been bitten by the writing bug and haven’t stopped since.

3.      Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos?
That depends – I usually work in ordered chaos, but I have occasional tidying up sprees when I get fed up with the mess and I do like order in general.

4.      What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 
The easiest part is the writing – just letting your imagination flow. I’m always really excited when I start a new project and I love writing the first draft. The hardest part is self-promotion and balancing the time spent on writing with that taken up by social media.

5.      Which other authors are you influenced by?
All my fellow timeslip/time travel authors, particularly Barbara Erskine, Susanna Kearsley and Nicola Cornick. They are all mistresses of their genre and write wonderful books! Early on I was also influenced by Johanna Lindsey because she had a way of leaving her readers feeling massively satisfied, and she was great at creating literary families readers want to return to over and over again.

6.      What does literary success “look” like to you?
I suppose all authors want to be bestsellers and I’m no different, but the best thing is when readers truly enjoy your stories and tell you so. And when you hear that you have cheered someone up or helped them over a difficult period in their lives perhaps.

7.      How do you select the names of your characters?
I keep a list of great names and whenever I hear one I like I add it to that. I also scour the internet for suitable names and can spend ages looking for the right one. As I’m writing Viking stories at the moment, I have a list of Old Norse names and I’m always happy to be able to add more.

8.      If your book was to be made into a film/TV programme, which actors would play which role?
Chris Hemsworth would make a great Viking hero (as he does in his role as Thor) but I take inspiration for my characters from random photos on the internet who “become” my hero/heroine and mostly those people aren’t actors or actresses so can’t play those roles. If my books were to be made into a film I think it would be great to cast unknown actors/actresses from Iceland or Scandinavia. I’d love to be allowed to help choose them!

9.   What do you hope your readers take away from your book?
Entertainment and a feeling that all is right with the world, that good always triumphs over evil and that love is stronger than anything else.

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book? 

 

I’m a chocoholic so a bar of Bourneville or some Ferrero Rocher chocolates would be my preferred option. Swedish cinnamon buns could also work! (I have a great recipe if anyone wants :-D)

The Runes of Destiny
Release date: - 10^th December 2020

Separated by time. Brought together by fate. When helping out at an archaeological dig, Linnea uncovers an exquisite brooch, but blacks out after reading the runic inscription. She wakes up surrounded by men in Viking costume, who seem to take re-enactment very seriously. Lost and confused, she finds herself in the power of Hrafn, a Viking warrior who claims her as his thrall and takes her on a journey across the seas to sell her for profit. Setting sail, she confronts the unthinkable: she has travelled back to the 9^th century. Linnea is determined to find a way back to her own time, but there’s a connection forming with Hrafn. Can she resist the call of the runes and accept her destiny lies here …

Buy Links:-

Amazon UK 
Amazon US

Social Media:-

http://www.christinacourtenay.com

https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/PiaCCourtenay

https://www.instagram.com/ChristinaCourtenayAuthor/