Thursday, 25 June 2020

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




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


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

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


Wednesday, 24 June 2020

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay - Katie Ginger


Grab your strawberries and cream and get ready to return to the beautiful Swallowtail Bay!

Summer is in full swing and the locals are getting excited for the launch of the Swallowtail Bay strawberry food festival. But will all run smoothly when festival organiser Hetty’s heart is torn between lord of the manor John Thornhill and successful bakery owner Ben?
Purchase Links
UK Amazon ebook: https://amzn.to/3bGn0yi
US Amazon ebook: https://amzn.to/2KuIdPf

My Review:


This is the second book in a gorgeous new series from Katie Ginger (who I am a big fan of). The first visit to Swallowtail Bay – ‘Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay’ was a delight so I jumped at the chance of reading this next book, ‘Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay’.

Although it does mention characters, we have grown to love from the first book, this is written so that it can be read as a standalone book.

With this trip to Swallowtail Bay, Hetty wants to reinvigorate the strawberry festival famed but comes up against an extremely reluctant Lord of the Manor. Will she make turn her plans into a success and help the failing Thornhill Manor and will her love for ex-boyfriend Ben be reignited?

This is an adorable love story that will leave you with a smile on your face and characters that have a place in your heart. The characters of Hetty and John are brilliant and the relationship they have is fantastic; she is bright, confident and does not back down easily and he needs that kind of firecracker to break down his defences.

I love books with a strong sense of community and supporting each other and this book has it in droves. The setting is so well written, I can clearly imagine the whole town as well as the Manor and from the beautiful descriptions I wish I could live there! It sounds a gorgeous place to be.

This book is an absolute charm, I laughed along, I smiled and felt every emotion for Hetty, by the end I was so happy for everyone. I read it in no time, I just didn’t want to put it down but then I was gutted to finish it and not be able to go on being part of that community anymore.

I have enjoyed everything Katie Ginger has written but this series is something very special.


About the Author:

KATIE GINGER lives in the South East of England, by the sea, and she really wouldn't want
to be anywhere else. Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay is her fifth novel. The first, Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay is available now. Her debut novel The Little Theatre on the Seafront was shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award, and her stand- alone Christmas novel Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage was a US Amazon bestseller.

When she's not writing, Katie spends her time drinking gin, or with her husband, trying to keep alive their two children, Ellie and Sam. And there's also their adorable King Charles Spaniel, Wotsit (yes, he is named after the crisps!).

For more about Katie you can visit her website: www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor

Instagram: @katie_ginger_author


Sunday, 14 June 2020

Summer in the City - Emma Jackson


The heartwarming new holiday read from the bestselling author of A Mistletoe Miracle


Sometimes the one thing you're looking for is right in front of you...

Stephen is on a very personal mission to find his father as per the wishes in their mother's will. But he has no idea where to start, not that he's going to tell anyone that... When Noelle, native New Yorker, daughter of a detective and desperate for a distraction from the novel she's been struggling to write, offers to help, it feels like the perfect solution.

Except the last time she spoke to Stephen he thought they'd be seeing the New Year in together and instead she stood him up and sold him out! Stephen's big enough and been around the block enough times to understand that all is fair in love and war, isn't he? But when Stephen accepts her offer and they begin their search across the city, it soon becomes clear that the weather isn't the only thing that's heating up.

A heartwarming summer romance perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Sarah Morgan and Holly Martin.


My Review:

Summer in the City is such an enjoyable, fun summer read. I enjoy books set in New York, there are many but I never tire of hearing about this wonderful city, Emma Jackson really does give us great descriptions of various locations around the City as the main characters go off on their adventures.
Stephen is searching for his Dad; not having contact since he was small, he isn’t wanting or expecting a positive reunion.
Noelle is surrounded by family; in fact, she sometimes feels like they are a bit too involved with her (love) life. She is a writer who urgently needs to work on some edits to make a deadline.
Our two independent, stubborn, and fiery characters have history and at first it seems a recipe for disaster but as they open up and search for Stephens Dad, they start to see things from the other’s point of view.
The story is told from both Stephens and Noelles viewpoint, which I don’t mind. I sometimes get frustrated with the back and forward, but I think it works well to see what each character really feels. They did change midway through chapters and this threw me at first.
I think this is a really lovely read, the characters are what really makes it – they are likable and interesting. I love Noelle’s family; they are fun and provide some light-hearted moments.
Overall, I would recommend for a sweet, summer read. 



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



Author Bio:
Author of the Best Selling A MISTLETOE MIRACLE, published in 2019 by Orion Dash, Emma has been a devoted bookworm and secret-story-scribbler since she was 6 years old. When she’s not running around after her two daughters and trying to complete her current work-in-progress, Emma loves to read, bake, catch up on binge-watching TV programmes with her partner and plan lots of craft projects that will inevitably end up unfinished. Her next romantic comedy, SUMMER IN THE CITY, is due for release in June 2020.

Emma also writes historical and speculative romantic fiction as Emma S Jackson. THE DEVIL'S BRIDE will be published by DarkStroke in February 2020.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @ESJackson1

Instagram: @emma_s_jackson


Saturday, 13 June 2020

The Summer Island Swap - Samantha Tonge


About the book

Sometimes the best holidays are the ones you least expect...

After a long and turbulent year, Sarah is dreaming of the five-star getaway her sister has booked them on. White sands, cocktails, massages, the Caribbean is calling to them.

But the sisters turn up to tatty beaches, basic wooden shacks, a compost toilet and outdoor cold water showers. It turns out that at the last minute Amy decided a conservation project would be much more fun than a luxury resort.

So now Sarah's battling mosquitos, trying to stomach fish soup and praying for a swift escape. Life on a desert island though isn't all doom and gloom. They're at one with nature, learning about each other and making new friends. And Sarah is distracted by the dishy, yet incredibly moody, island leader she's sure is hiding a secret.

Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Mandy Baggot and Heidi Swain.

My Review:


Summer Island Swap is an easy to read story about Sarah, who is dreaming of the perfect relaxing get-away with her sister. In a twist, she is not going on the all-inclusive, glamourous getaway but instead she is on a conservation trip for the whole month (her sister secretly swapped trips before they were set to go

Will Sarah stick at it or will she decide that it really isn’t her thing and head home?

I have to admit, it took me a good while to get into this one… I found it a bit slow at first but once we really got into the project on the island, I was all in. To be honest I was angry for Sarah and would have been fully supportive if she’d had upped and left, by the end though I was so glad she stays to suffer it out.

With a whole cast of interesting characters, all with their own wonderful backgrounds and story, you will laugh out loud, by sympathetic and even be annoyed by people at various parts of the story. Keep an eye out for the fantastic, fun and entertaining Chatty though – my favourite character.

The Summer Island Swap is a sweet book to read and was enjoyable, I definitely saw things from a new point of view. It’s well written and had me dreaming of the next time I can go on holiday!

About the Author

Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK with her husband and children. She studied

German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely.
When not writing she passes her days cycling, baking and drinking coffee. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women's magazines. 
She is represented by the Darley Anderson literary agency. In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014, her bestselling debut, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction best Ebook award. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category. In 2018 Forgive Me Not, heralded a new direction into darker women's fiction with publisher Canelo. In 2019 she was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association romantic comedy award




Follow Samantha

Website: http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Twitter: @SamTongeWriter




Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2AklZNU

Kobo: https://bit.ly/333XuPn

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2IuyI1q



Thursday, 11 June 2020

The Little Teashop in Tokyo - Julie Caplin


The Little Teashop in Tokyo

Grab your passport and escape to a land of dazzling skycrapers, steaming bowls of comforting noodles, and a page-turning love story that will make you swoon!

For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses paid trip, it looks like her dreams are coming true.

Until she arrives in vibrant, bustling Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.

Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, can Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently?

Purchase Links



My Review:
I am always happiest when I get to be whisked away to another fantastic location by Julie Caplin. This series of books is a wonderful mood booster, a great source of happiness and the stories are always fun and full of heart. This latest book, The Little Teashop in Tokyo, lives up the same wonderful standard as it’s predecessors. If you haven’t read any of the others in this series, do not worry. They can all be standalone books; the characters sometimes appear in other places, but the stories are different. (Please do go and read the others though - they are fab!)
Here we have Fiona, who wins the chance to go to Tokyo and experience the Japanese culture whilst being mentored by a top photographer. Cue some changes and she find herself in the very capable (but familiar) hands of famed photographer Gabe. The sparks fly from the off between these two characters and it was fun to see how they pushed each other’s buttons.  I have to hand it to Fiona, she certainly gave as good as she got in many ways!
Each location is beautifully described, as I read sat out in the sunshine, I could imagine myself in Fiona’s shoes; gazing at the cherry blossom or being wowed by Mount Fuji. I have never really had any interest in Japan/Tokyo, but I found myself being pulled into wanting to know more about the culture and traditions and Julie incorporates so much of this into the story.

Haruka is possibly one of my favourite characters; fiery yet calm, smart and sensitive – not one to cross, as Gabe found out. If I was to go to Japan, she is exactly the type of person I would like to meet.
This is a story of self-discovery, moving forward from the past and embracing what is meant for you. It shows how to see things from new perspectives, and I think it is a wonderful way to escape the current anxieties and worries.

I cannot recommend this one enough!! Author Bio
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 thirteenth novel, The Little Teashop in Tokyo will be published in ebook and paperback this June.
Social Media Links :
www.twitter.com/juliecaplin
@Juleswake
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JulieCaplinAuthor

Thursday, 28 May 2020

The Babysitter - Phoebe Morgan

On the hottest day of the year, Caroline Harvey is found dead in Suffolk. Her body is left draped over a cot – but the baby she was looking after is missing.  
Hundreds of miles away, Siobhan Dillon is on a luxurious family holiday in France when her husband, Callum, is arrested by French police on suspicion of murder.

As Siobhan’s perfect family is torn apart by the media in the nation’s frantic search for the missing baby, she desperately tries to piece together how Callum knew Caroline.
What happened that night? Was Caroline as innocent as she seemed – or was she hiding a secret of her own?
The thrilling new book from the number one digital bestselling author of The Doll House and The Girl Next Door.
My Review:After reading Phoebe Morgan’s previous books I have become a firm fan and was very excited about this release.

Caroline is found murdered and the baby she was watching has disappeared. Prime suspect is Callum who had been having an affair with her. Callum and his family have just arrived in France on holiday when the police call to arrest him. Wife, Siobhan, daughter Emma and sister-in-law Maria are astounded and return home under pressure from people demanding answers. It soon becomes clear that everyone has their own secrets, some are just more deadly than others.

The story is told from several viewpoints, which I like as you get to see things from different perspectives and points of view, makes it quite exciting. You also get to know what happened in the run up to her death as well as the aftermath. There are clues as you read through, but you only get an inkling of what really happened – the twists in this were unexpected.
I was adamant I knew who had killed Caroline and what had happened to the baby, but I did keep changing my mind throughout.

The book is very well written and nicely paced, you don’t feel as though it is being rushed nor goes too slow. Phoebe Morgan has a great writing style, with stories that thrill and keep you hooked from start to finish. 

I highly recommend The Babysitter for fans of thrilling, dramatic reads. 

About the Author:Phoebe Morgan is an author and editor. She studied English at Leeds University after growing up in the Suffolk countryside. She has previously worked as a journalist and now edits crime and women’s fiction for a publishing house during the day, and writes her own books in the evenings. She lives in London and you can follow her on Twitter @Phoebe_A_Morgan.

Tuesday, 26 May 2020

A Cornish Summer Holiday -Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green


The Little Duck Pond Cafe girls are looking forward to a well-earned break in the Cornish seaside town of Pengully Sands, where Sylvia’s sister, Aggie, owns a holiday home. With the glorious golden sands, sparkling azure sea and an ice-cream parlour only yards away, it seems like the perfect location to relax and watch the surfers riding the waves (and maybe even have a go themselves). But when they arrive, the girls find it’s not quite the seaside idyll they were expecting. The house is less ‘holiday home’ and more ‘creepy, dilapidated haunted house.’ Gracie, who runs the ice-cream parlour, has problems of her own and the last thing she needs is a bunch of high-spirited girls arriving to disturb the peace and isolation she craves. And when a handsome stranger looks set to destroy her livelihood, it seems like the last straw. Will Gracie get her happy ending - and maybe even make friends with the girls next-door? This wasn’t the relaxing break the Little Duck Pond Cafe girls were expecting, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be the holiday of a lifetime!


Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/

My Review:

I adore this series; I have raved about it with every new release, but it’s the truth. It always shoots straight to the top of my reading pile.

A Cornish Summer Holiday at the Little Duck Pond Café is the tenth book on the series (wow!) and it is just as special as the others. If you haven’t read any of the series so far, you can read this as a standalone very easily, but I do recommend you catch up with the others. This is the first in the series that is not set in our favourite little community -the girls have decided to take a holiday.

Pengully, Cornwall is our setting and we are introduced to Gracie. The story is told from her point of view as well as the Little Duck Pond Café Ladies, which I really enjoyed.

Gracie is going through a difficult time and, as many of the ladies from the café have had to do in the past, she needs to figure out who she is and what she needs to do moving forward. Things have not been easy for her and the arrival of the café ladies is not a welcome addition.

As the story progresses, we see our favourite ladies do their best to renovate their holiday home, look after each other through problems as well as befriending and supporting Gracie.

I love the different characters we have grown so used to over the series, each are different yet complement each other – forming a formidable friendship group who stick together throughout anything.

Rosie Green writes in such a lovely way, we connect with each character, laugh along with their fun but really feel their pain too. Easy to read, with fun and heart-warming moments throughout.
I already look forward to the next in the series – long may it continue!! 



Author Bio:


Rosie has been scribbling stories ever since she was little.

Back then, they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by 'the baddies'.

Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all - unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Her series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. The latest, ‘Lemon Drizzle Mondays at the Little Duck Pond Cafe', is out now.

Rosie is currently writing a full-length book, ‘Lucy’s Great Cornish Escape’, which – in a fun twist – will feature favourite characters from the Little Duck Pond Café series.


Follow Rosie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988