My Spanish Romance: Falling For My Brother’s Best Friend…
Dating her brother’s best friend is against the rules. But some rules are meant to be broken…
After discovering her cheating ex’s plans to move into her building, accountant Lily jets off on a sabbatical to Marbella. When she unexpectedly bumps into her brother’s best friend, hot Spanish DJ Carlos—the guy she’s had a crush on since forever—sparks fly. But Carlos promised Lily’s brother he’d never mess with his little sister. Breaking the bro code would end their friendship. Lily knows that Casanova Carlos doesn’t do relationships, so all he could offer is a steamy holiday fling. And after wanting him for so long, if they spent the night together, Lily’s heart and body might never recover. She tries to suppress her feelings, but when Carlos takes Lily to his favourite places in Spain, the attraction becomes harder to resist. With her brother hundreds of miles away, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt, right? Should Lily throw caution to the wind and risk heartbreak by enjoying a sizzling Spanish romance? And if she does, will it lead to long-term love? Order this fun, steamy, brother’s-best-friend, forbidden love romcom now and join Lily in Spain to find out!
Read as a standalone novel or as part of the My Ten-Year Crush series.
Olivia Spring is a British, London-based writer of contemporary women’s fiction, sexy chick lit and romantic comedy. Her uplifting debut novel The Middle-Aged Virgin, which was released in 2018, deals with being newly single in your thirties and beyond, dating, relationships, love, sex and living life to the full.
In addition to The Middle-Aged Virgin, Olivia has published The Middle-Aged Virgin in Italy, Love Offline, Losing My Inhibitions, Only When It’s Love and the sequel When’s The Wedding?My Ten-Year Crush, Olivia’s seventh novel, marked the start of a new series in 2021. My Lucky Night and My Paris Romance followed soon afterwards and book four, My Spanish Romance will be published in January 2023.
When she’s not writing, Olivia can be found enjoying cupcakes and cocktails and of course, seeking inspiration for her next book!
Like any good Scottish product, be it whiskey, shortbread or an Aberdeen Angus steak, a double portion is better than one. The same goes for a cover reveal where the Scottish theme continues. Starting with:
A Scottish Country Escape
Escape to the Scottish Highlands with a brand new spring romance from bestselling author, Julie Shackman
*Julie Shackman’s brand new romance The Cottage in the Highlands is exclusively available on First Reads for November*
Determined to overcome a family tragedy, Elle Cassidy decides to reopen her late mother’s ailing newsagent as a stationery shop in the quiet Scottish town of Fir Haven.
But when the arrogant yet handsome crime writer Dexter Grayling almost runs over Elle in his beast of a sports car, the town is thrown into a tailspin – especially when Dexter claims that local resident Linda Carlucci has put a curse on him and he is no longer able to write.
Can Elle put aside her dislike for the self-absorbed writer and help Dexter uncover what is really going on with the Carlucci family? And in the process will Elle realise that there’s a lot more to her beloved Fir Haven than she first thought…
For fans of Donna Ashcroft, Jane Linfoot and Rachael Lucas.
And here comes cover number two, and with it a change of season. Time to get festive!
The Christmas Highland Lodge
The brand new Christmas romance filled with love and second-chances
Fall in love with the Christmas romance of the year, full of love and second chances!
Lottie Grant loves the festive season so much that she works at the incredibly successful Christmas shop, Christmas Crackers, in her pretty Scottish home town of Craig Brae. But when the shop is sold, her world is turned upside down, leaving her wondering what she will do next.
Just as she’s about to give up hope on finding a new dream job, an offer comes that she can’t refuse, managing a set of luxury wooden cabins… and opening just in time for Christmas!
As she gets to work decorating the cabins, and hanging lights on the fir trees, Lottie can’t believe her luck. That is until the arrival of Blake Dempster, a moody but handsome hiking expert, who threatens to bring down her festive joy. But never one to shy away from a challenge, Lottie is determined to change Blake’s mind about all things festive.
And as the snow falls and the fairy lights sparkle, will work-obsessed Lottie and frozen-hearted Blake make their Christmas wishes come true?
Author Bio – Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance. As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies.
She admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags and has an impressive pile of gorgeous To Be Read novels she is wading her way through.
She is married, has two sons and a Romanian rescue puppy, Cooper. A Scottish Country Escape and The Christmas Highland Lodge are Julie’s eighth and ninth novels respectively.
She can’t abide Christmas. He’s not sure what it’s all about. Together they’re in for a festive surprise.
Ambitious software developer Holly may have a festive name but the connection ends there. She despises the holiday season and decides to flee to the remote island of Mull in a bid to escape from it.
Syrian refugee Farid has made a new home in Scotland but he’s lonely. Understanding Nessie and Irn Bru is one thing, but when glittery reindeer and tinsel hit the shelves, he’s completely bemused. Determined to understand a new culture, he asks his new neighbour to educate him on all things Christmas.
When Holly reluctantly agrees, he realises there’s more to her hatred of mince pies and mulled wine than meets the eye. Farid makes it his mission to inject some joy into Hollys’ life but falling for her is an unexpected gift that was never on his list.
As their attraction sparkles, can Christmas work its magic on Holly and Farid, or will their spark fizzle out with the end of December?
Margaret is a writer, mummy, wife and chocolate eater (in any order you care to choose). She lives in highland Perthshire in a little house close to the woods where she often sees red squirrels, deer and other such tremendously Scottish wildlife… Though not normally haggises or even men in kilts!
She has published nine books and written many more. Margaret won a short story writing competition in 2012 and her winning entry was performed live to an audience at Pitlochry Festival Theatre as part of their Winter Words Event. This spring boarded Margaret’s journey from writing for fun to novel writing – though she still enjoys every minute of it.
Margaret is also a keen amateur photographer, who enjoys drawing, reading, and talking about books.
Christmas means different things to different people, and to some it means absolutely nothing at all. Holly verges on the “let’s get it over and done with” side, while Farid is bemused by the whole thing. So you’d think Christmas would be a non-event when Holly moves into the cabin next door to escape the madness of the festivities. Farid, however, really wants to fit in having made his home in Scotland, and everyone – but everyone else – is preparing to celebrate in style.
His curiosity forces Holly to take part in carol-singing, cake-making, and even present-buying – things she has not expected to do this year. In fact, she plans on working through the holidays …but there is something charismatic and engaging about Farid’s curiosity than even she cannot ignore.
Farid is such a sweet guy, and Holly definitely bears the prickles of the plant after which she’s named at first. Seeing them come together is enchanting, but surely it can only be temporary?
I’ll admit to worrying about Farid falling head over heels in love with Holly, his chats with his family prove exactly how deep he has fallen, all while Holly is working on her next project. The uncertainty of their relationship status kept me reading on, willing a happy ending for Farid and a chance for Holly to reflect and start over with fewer misgivings about love.
A Festive Surprise tells of a heart-warming romance that, at first sight, seems short-lived. Yet the strength of their feelings suggests that this is no “holiday romance”, and the Christmas backdrop provides the necessary magic to enthral and captivate the reader while working its charm on Farid and Holly. The outcome is a surprise that neither expected, and possibly the greatest gift of all.
The feel-good, life-affirming story of love, friendship, family, and new beginnings!
Changes are coming to the riverside town of Ryemouth, and while some of the community are excited by new beginnings, others are finding it hard to let go of the past.
A new 14-episode audio soap with a cast of loveable characters you’ll want to laugh and cry along with.
Susan and her boyfriend Dave can’t wait to open their new café and deli, The Old Engine Room. But Susan’s dad, George, is not so thrilled. He’s never approved of Dave, who used to hang out with the wrong crowd. Can the happy young couple win George round?
Mary and Ruby have been friends since the first day of infant school, even though their lives have turned out very differently. Mary has a contented family life with husband George and daughter Susan. Poor Ruby has never been so lucky in love. Then she meets her teenage crush in surprising circumstances. Mary has her doubts about the charming Paul. Will Ruby finally get her own happy ever after?
Dave wants to put his past behind him. His dream is to make a success of the business, and one day be a good husband and father, like his own dad, Mike. Yet, he’s forced to keep a secret from everyone he loves. Who should he turn to for help out of a tricky situation?
When the community comes under threat from developers, can everyone put their differences to one side to defend the town they love?
Riverside is full of romance, heartbreak and secrets, as well as gentle wit and humour.
The Riverside audiobook drama is based on the popular weekly magazine serial written and created by Glenda Young.
Ian Skillicorn is a publisher, producer and writer. He has written the script for the Riverside audiobook drama based on Glenda’s stories and characters.
He also directed and produced the audiobook. Ian’s publishing imprint, Wyndham Books, publishes best-selling fiction by some of the best-loved novelists in the UK and Australia.
He was a podcasting trailblazer, producing streaming audio programmes in the early 2000s well before the podcast revolution.
Glenda Young is a best-selling author and award-winning writer. She’s written Riverside, a weekly soap opera published in The People’s Friend magazine since 2016.
Meanwhile, she is the author of two successful book series – gritty sagas set in a northeast mining village in 1919, and cosy crimes set in modern-day Scarborough.
She has also written official TV tie-in books for ITV’s Coronation Street.
Dave McClelland has enjoyed a busy career in Film, TV, theatre and radio, in both the UK and Canada. Recent television credits include Coronation St, Emmerdale, Doctors, Broken, and Compulsion, and he’s recently worked in the horror movie Black Daruma, to be released later this year. Dave worked as a radio host with CBC whilst living in Canada, and since returning to the UK, he’s put his voice to work in radio dramas, audiobooks, and voiceovers.
Melanie Crawley is an actor and voice artist. She recently produced and performed in the political theatre project ‘Next Left: Test Track Trace’ at Theatre Deli Sheffield, the northern UK tour of ‘Tannie & Tannie’ by Claudine Bennent and in various ‘All Female Shakespeare’ productions at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. She has narrated around 50 audiobooks from her studio in Sheffield where she also works as a corporate and commercial voice artist and as an actor for radio / audio comedy and drama. Her most recent audio projects include ‘The Age of Love’ a podcast for ‘Festival of the Mind’ by Christopher Green, ‘Sketch Up’ a series of comedy radio sketches which she also performed at Leicester Comedy Festival. For screen, Melanie’s recent projects include ‘Truck’ part of the Council Culture Online TV series and ‘Tea and Cake’ one of the ‘Monarchy Monologues’ for Act Your Age. She writes, performs and produces the narrated audio-drama podcast: Low Light.
Lisa Armytage is an experienced actor in film, tv and theatre, and an established audiobook narrator. After a season with the National Youth Theatre, she trained at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, soon afterwards emigrating to Australia. She is best known as Dr Beverley Marshall in the iconic Aussie soap, ‘Neighbours’, and the lead female role in the Australian romantic movie ‘Cool Change’. Also in Australia, Lisa was a main cast member in the TV mini-series ‘The Lancaster-Miller Affair’ and ‘Miraculous Mellops’ and took guest roles in ‘’Cop Shop’, ‘Cell Block H’, ‘The Flying Doctors’, ‘Police Rescue 2’, ‘A Country Practice’, ‘Sky Trackers’, ‘Heartbreak High’ and ‘All Saints’. Since returning to the U.K in 2003 Lisa returned to working in theatre before narrating a wide range of audiobook genres. She has recently completed her third audiobook for best-selling British-Australian novelist Anna Jacobs, and has voiced animations and dramas, of which ‘Riverside’ is the latest.
As a Voiceover Artist, Gerard Fletcher can be heard currently voicing ads on TV and commercial radio stations worldwide (as well as major supermarkets) and has narrated 2 audio books and documentaries for BBC, ITV, Channel 5, Paramount and History Channel.
He is also the calming onhold voice of many major companies including DPD, The National Trust and Halfords and The Sheffield Tram!
He’s a musician and has published works for commercial sound libraries and theatre.
Trained at LAMDA. TV includes “The Crown” Series 5 (Netflix), “Sherwood” (BBC), “Get Even” (BBC/Netflix), “Emmerdale” (ITV),”Girlfriends” (ITV), “Happy Valley” (BBC), “Coronation Street”(ITV), “In the Club” (ITV), “The Accused” (BBC) “The Street” (BBC), “Shameless” (BBC). Feature Film: “Gold” (2018), “The Messenger”.
Gerard has performed in radio drama (BBC Radio 3, 4 and 4 Extra and Wyndham Books) and presented Screwfix’s YouTube channel for 2 years!
Glen McCready trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art where he graduated with honours. Screen credits include Signor in Years and Years (BBC), Henry Bowater in Hotel Portofino (Britbox Original) and Jack in the indie feature Above the Clouds. Stage credits include Eddie in Blood Brothers and Sgt Trotter in The Mousetrap (both in the West End). Glen works extensively as a voice actor with numerous credits in animation (including Granitface in the animated feature Dragon Rider), video games (including Maximillian in Evil Genius 2 World Domination), audiobooks (including Conan Doyle’s The Lost World), audio drama and radio drama.
As an award winning voice artist and actress, Penelope Rawlins is known for her work in animation, audio drama, narration, video games, audiobooks, theatre, radio and television.
Known for her authentic children’s voices – Penelope can be heard on Netflix in Rainbow Rangers (voice of Lavender and Indigo), in Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, voicing Jackson Jet on the Kartoon Channel, CBBC in Ninja Express, Amazon Prime in Uma & Devan Namaste! and the title role of Mini Wolf. Other animation includes Mighty Smighties, Captain Virat, Pomi & Nar, Hubert & Takako, The Amazing Adventures of Kika & Bob, Lulu Zipadoo and the voices of Princess Rhea and Princess Hera in the popular series SpacePops.
Penelope has voiced over 300 audiobooks and was nominated by Audible for Narrator of the Year. Favourite titles include; Gorillas in the Mist, Journey to the River Sea, The Turn of the Screw, Homeland: Carrie’s Run, Homeland: Saul’s Game (based on the CBS television series).
An extensive list of computer games and Warhammer titles, Penelope voiced Maleneth in series 1 and 2 of Realmslayer, opposite Brian Blessed’s Gotrek. As a stage actress for many years in regional and national theatre, Penelope played opposite Tommy Steele in Chaplin: The Musical. National tours include: Brief Encounter, Butterflies Are Free, Present Laughter, The Railway Children, The Lady Vanishes and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Radio dramas for the BBC include: Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, The Professor, The American Senator and Portrait of a Lady.
She wrote and produced her first play Pigeons in 2019 which sold out at the Hen & Chickens Theatre, London to 5 star reviews.
Becky Wright is best known for her many years on The Archers, playing Nic Grundy.
Toby Laurence is Freddie Pargetter in The Archers.
*Terms and Conditions –UK/US entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter link above. 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.
My Review
Oh my, this is the perfect combination of a soap opera style drama, a close-knit community with its own cosy mystery, and an addictive radio play with proper dialects. Kudos to the narrators for bringing this marvellous cast of characters to life. It’s episodic format makes it so easy to dip into, although one episode is never enough.
A believable community centring on a couple of families, the younger generation taking on a new venture with their café/deli, aptly named The Old Engine Room, the story hinges on their relationship with each other and their respective parents. It combines a nostalgic look back at Ryemouth’s ship-building past with the development of luxury apartments overlooking the river: the past bleeding into the future of the community.
Family conflicts are put aside when trouble from the past threatens the café’s future – and possibly even relationships – and it’s heart-warming to see the hero of the day coming from a most unexpected source.
Add into the mix the enduring friendship of Mary and Ruby. When an (old) newcomer tips the apple cart and seems to ruin things for Ruby, Mary is on hand to help her friend, but another upset awaits and the two women have to reflect on their past to prove the solidity of their friendship.
An engaging, funny, and charming story in which community spirit, friendship and romance steers the residents of Ryemouth through choppy waters to a happy ending. I would happily listen to more of these episodes … please!
Sometimes, the dream we think we don’t deserve is the one that’s trying to come true…
Esme Blythe has led a nomadic existence for the last ten years, never thinking she fits anywhere, and never feeling she’s earned the right to. But when she moves in above Percival’s, the charming old toy shop in Market Square, Pebblestow, it seems the village is about to weave its signature fairy-tale magic.
Surrounded by wooden toy soldiers, rocking horses, and vintage doll’s houses, not to mention the locals who seem determined to be part of her life – from her endearing grumpy uncle, to warm-hearted co-worker Blodwyn, and smouldering single dad Seth – Esme has to face up to everything she’s been missing, or turn her back on an incredible opportunity.
New friends, formidable foes, and the thrill of a budding romance, conspire to make this the most bittersweet December ever. But when she finally learns the truth about the toy shop’s owner, her elusive benefactor, the mysterious Mr Percival, is it already too late for Esme to change her mind… and heal her heart?
Lottie Cardew writes uplifting, contemporary romcoms set around the picturesque village of Pebblestow, and is an advocate for diversity in fiction.
Regarded as the bossy one at Novelistas Ink, Lottie often subdues the other members if they misbehave (they don’t really) including the popular authors Trisha Ashley and Sophie Claire. She is a longstanding member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, scooping their New Writer’s Award in her twenties under a different pen-name. More recently, Lottie also joined the Society of Authors where as an active participant in the ADCI group (Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses) she interviewed bestselling author Holly Smale in 2021 for the first ever Disability Issue of The Bookseller.
Lottie is diagnosed autistic with suspected ADHD. Her home in North Wales is overrun by husband, not-very-small children, and a ball of fluff masquerading as a Pomeranian, so Lottie frequently takes refuge at her desk.
Giveaway to Win a Festive Bundle of goodies (Open to UK Only)
Prize includes:
A handy winter-themed reusable shopping bag with pouch; a notebook to organise Christmas gifts and to-do lists; and a Scandi-style Christmas stocking.
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter link above. 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.
My Review
How can a story be so entertaining and yet challenging and powerful? I don’t know the answer, but I do know that with One Last Dream for December, Lottie Cardew has created just that.
Let me explain myself: starting with entertaining (which is why most readers pick up a work of fiction). The village of Pebblestow is charming, its resident warm and welcoming (Blodwyn, I’m talking about you), all of which should put Esme at ease when she finds herself living and working at Percival’s toy shop. Yet it’s not that simple. Why? That, you’ll have to wait and read for yourself.
The shop is quintessentially old-fashioned and traditional, and the workshop below stairs where Mr Percival used to craft his toys is a veritable treasure trove of finished and unfinished toys. With Mr Percival now ill and unable to continue making toys, there’s a sense of trepidation that the end is nigh for the toyshop. With Esme believing her time there is only temporary, that foreboding only gets stronger.
However, there are those (Esme’s uncle & Mr Percival) who see something else in Esme’s future, and an end to her nomadic lifestyle. They know – and they convinced me too – that Esme belongs in Pebblestow. It’s just a matter of persuading Esme now. Cue Seth and his daughter Tamika. Having lived through some traumatic times, Seth is also new to Pebblestow, having moved there to allow his daughter to see her grandparents more often. He is as lost as Esme, and their paths seem inevitably entwined – if only Esme can accept she fits in in Pebblestow. Their friendship is thorny at first, and you start to wonder if there will be a happy ending, but persevere as the delights and magic of Christmas are on hand to make dreams come true.
If seeing how that romance develops is not enough for you, then there are some lovely subplots with Blodwyn and a young man, Piotr, which will warm your heart too.
I’ll admit to finding the start to this story somewhat challenging in that I didn’t take to Esme at first, and I found her to be quite negative about everything. Of course, as I saw her character develop, I understood her better, and that’s what made this such a powerful read for me. The author didn’t instantly label Esme as neurodivergent, she showed how Esme viewed the world and her place in it. It all began to make sense when I saw things from her perspective. As someone who has been pigeon-holed since birth, this approach really made me think and reflect. Sometimes it’s too easy to label an individual; it’s much better all round to try to understand them.
A beautiful story on so many levels, and I’m convinced Mr Percival is related to Santa as well 😉
An heiress to a fortune, Ren’s home-from-home is the Ritz, while the handsome and brooding Sacha has grown up in Paris’s less salubrious suburbs. So when an accident brings them together, romance seems an unlikely outcome.
When Ren’s society engagement reaches a very public end, Irena’s over-protective grandmother wants her home in London. Ren needs an excuse to stay in Paris, and so after some persuasion, Sacha agrees to pose as her new boyfriend. But only for the twenty-one days Ren’s grandmother has allowed her to nurse her broken heart before heading home to face the music.
Over the course of three weeks, Ren realises the world outside her exclusive bubble is more beautiful than she could have imagined. While Sacha reluctantly begins to see the goodness of the woman behind the wealth. When their time is up, will Ren want to return to her gilded cage, and will Sacha be able to let go of the woman he’s been ‘pretending’ to fall in love with…
Imagine the impossible, that you’ve never heard of Paris. Well, then, you’re in the right place for the author’s depiction of The City of Light is delightful, captivating and also balanced. As with most cities, Paris has its lesser known arrondissements, the places tourists don’t see and probably don’t even believe exist. So, taking a young man from the very poorest (financially speaking) part of the city and matching him up with an heiress whose knowledge of Paris revolves around The Ritz is quite the paradox. Ren (Irena), raised by her grandmother, is until recently engaged to marry the son of another wealthy family. That their forthcoming marriage will also seal a lucrative business deal is neither here nor there 😉 Until that relationship falls apart and Ren can’t face the public glare nor the wrath of her grandmother. She decides to extend her visit to Paris and promises to stay under the radar, which for a social media star will not be easy. Quite literally running into Sacha and spending time in his world is the perfect solution. Who would ever expect to find her so far away from The Ritz? Sacha is refreshingly unassuming, he cares not for material wealth or the trappings of fame that accompany Ren. It’s very easy to like Sacha, but it’s harder to warm to Ren who is a victim of her privileged upbringing …and it shows! Ren quickly learns that hanging out with Sacha and his family and friends is very different to her own relationships, and the fact that her grandmother does not approve only seems to spur her on. But a fake relationship? Eek – at this point I start to worry. Meddling with people’s feelings is a dangerous path, even when they both insist they know what they’re doing. Because, of course, the laws of romance state otherwise. While this is not really a Christmas story, it does take place during the run-up to the festive season, so it’s pretty normal to expect there to be some magic in the air. Isn’t it? There are many scenes in which Ren and Sacha convince themselves that nothing can come of their relationship, maybe too many scenes of that kind (the lady doth protest too much, comes to mind) but the inevitable cannot be ignored forever. Fate has spoken, and the more time they spend together, the better we understand them, and well, when you know, you know … ❤
Escape to France with this warm, witty romantic read.
After ten years of loyal service Daisy Butterworth has been made redundant. Like any clever woman, she knows the cure to redundancy is a little too much wine and her best friend.
Only the next morning, Daisy has more than a hangover . . . she has a whole new house – in France!
Seeing this as an opportunity instead of a disaster, she’s excited about finally moving to France, just as she and her husband always dreamed of. However, Daisy is in for another surprise. Despite planning to move there for over 20 years, her husband never actually intended to go.
So begins a year in France, alone, renovating the gorgeous old farmhouse that is held together by wallpaper and wishes.
Will a year at the French farmhouse be just what Daisy needs? Or could it be the previous owner, Frederique, that is the answer to Daisy’s dreams?
I think I’ve spent more time in France with books this year than anywhere else… and I’ve loved it 🙂
Stunned to find herself redundant, Lily concludes that maybe those plans she and husband, Ben, have been making for years might now just come true. Their son is off to university, so what is stopping them from following their dream and moving to France? One thing: Ben. He doesn’t want to go, thinks the time is not right – but that’s what he’s been saying for years now. Lily realises that maybe he never intended to follow through on what is essentially her dream since she was a young girl. She’s forced to acknowledge that he always had a reason to prevaricate, and he’s not even willing to talk about it now. Cue the red wine and a drunken foray onto the internet, browsing all those wonderful places that will never now be hers, be theirs. Or so she thinks, until the next morning, replete with hangover, an email informs her of a purchase she made the previous evening. Lily has bought a farmhouse in France. Surely, Ben will see now that it’s meant to be, that fate has stepped in to guide them across the channel to a new life. Or maybe not?
Lily is stumped – there’s a house literally with her name on it (or potentially on the deeds in a few weeks) and still Ben won’t budge. She can’t possibly let this chance escape her, can she? Mais, non! And so, off to France she goes, alone, nervous yet excited, probably still reeling from the shock that has numbed her emotions temporarily.
What awaits her is daunting, amusing, sweet, scary and hugely entertaining. From a squirrel infestation to an overly-romantic mayor, some nightmare “expats” (I can say that as one myself – and I can vouch for the flat-earthers too!) Lily does find great friends, warm-hearted people who welcome her with gusto, but there’s something missing. While she convinces herself that she can do this alone – or even with a new partner – she cannot quite shrug off her marital status. Unfortunately, Ben doesn’t seem to want to be with her as much as she wants to be with him – or so she believes.
I love how this played out in the end, and I particularly enjoyed seeing Lily grow into herself as a stronger, more self-assured woman. It became clear that whatever happened, she would survive… but I admit to having my fingers crossed for a happy ending.
When kind-hearted archaeologist Rhona Lamond has her precious research stolen, she returns home to the Isle of Mull, lost and frustrated. An island project that tugs at Rhona’s soul comes up, and she’s desperate to take it on. But there’s a major problem.
Property developer Calum Matheson has a longstanding feud with the Lamond family. After a plot of land he owns is discovered to be a site of historical importance, his plans are thrown into disarray and building work put on hold. Calum doesn’t think things can get any worse, until archaeologist Rhona turns up. Not only is she a Lamond, but she’s all grown up, and even stubbornly unromantic Calum can’t fail to notice her – or the effect she has on him.
Their attraction ignites but how can they overcome years of hate between their families? Both must decide what’s more important, family or love.
Margaret is a writer, mummy, wife and chocolate eater (in any order you care to choose). She lives in highland Perthshire in a little house close to the woods where she often sees red squirrels, deer and other such tremendously Scottish wildlife… Though not normally haggises or even men in kilts!
She has published nine books and written many more. Margaret won a short story writing competition in 2012 and her winning entry was performed live to an audience at Pitlochry Festival Theatre as part of their Winter Words Event. This spring boarded Margaret’s journey from writing for fun to novel writing – though she still enjoys every minute of it.
Margaret is also a keen amateur photographer, who enjoys drawing, reading, and talking about books.
Firstly, I want to thank Margaret for answering my questions, especially during a busy book launch. So, settle down, and get to know Margaret’s writing life better 🙂
Tell me about your book / series? What do you want readers to most remember after reading it/them?
My series is set on the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides and so many people message me and say reading my books makes them want to visit it! I was even approached by the owner of a bookshop on the island who had heard of my books and wanted to stock them as he thought they’d do well for the shop. He recently messaged me again to say they’d sold out already which was very exciting! I’m not sure that was my aim when I started writing them but I’m really pleased about it.
One reader said she loved the fact that every character had something she could identify with and relate to straight away – I definitely aim for that, so it’s lovely to hear.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Usually it energises me and I really love doing it!
Have you ever got reader’s block? What’s your favourite genre to read?
I love reading romance books. I love to find romance everywhere and if I read a book where there isn’t any inkling of a possible romance, I generally don’t enjoy it! Give me all the romance!!
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Be brave!! Get people to read your books and accept constructive criticism. It’s the best way to grow.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
A wolf – not sure exactly why, it just seems to fit.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
One book remaining in this series which will be out in October and I have three first drafts for books in a new series for next year. I always like to be way ahead with my drafts so I have plenty of time for editing.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
It depends how much I know about a subject beforehand. For this book, I spent a lot of time researching archaeology and the work of an archaeologist. I really enjoy learning about history so I found the research very interesting. In my previous book, the lead character was a footballer. I’m not much into football but my husband is, so my research consisted of asking him lots of questions at all hours of the day (and night – sorry hubby!)
How many hours a day do you write?
I have two writing days when I’m not at my day job. I try to write for six hours both days while my son is at school. On a good day, I can get a lot of words down, when I’m really in the zone.
What did you edit out of this book that you really wanted to keep? Will you reuse it at a later stage?
Nothing – this book flowed from start to finish and was one of my easiest to write (what a joy).
How do you select the names of your characters?
I tend to choose names I like and that I think suits the image I have of them. I try not to make them too unusual or hard to pronounce as I know a lot of readers dislike that.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
Sometimes I read them. I try to look on bad ones with an objective eye. At least the person read the book and it evoked enough of a reaction for them to leave a review – obviously not the reaction I hoped for but a reaction nonetheless. I also know you can’t please everyone all the time and it’s pointless to try.
What comes first for you, character or plot?
The two leads and their main conflict is always where I start and build the plot around that.
What was your hardest scene to write? Why?
In this book I think it was the memory scenes where Calum thinks back to his school days and remembers something awful that happened. I was bullied at school so I could relate to his feelings and some of it was hard to dredge up.
What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?
My other job! If I could afford to.
If you could speak to any author – past or present – who would you like to meet and what would you ask them?
J.R.R. Tolkien – because he invented such an incredible and enduring universe
What are you writing now?
The fourth book for my new series – I can’t give too much away but it’s set in a pink hotel near a loch!
That went well, didn’t it? What fabulous answers, and a great insight into the life of an author. Thanks again, Margaret, and good luck with future books and sales. That pink hotel near a loch is very intriguing.
‘Tis the season for finding love… and the perfect book
With just two weeks until Christmas, everything in Clove Lore should be perfect. But the latest holidaymaker to the Borrow a Bookshop is feeling far from festive…
Icelandic ex-bookseller Magnús Sturluson might be surrounded by love stories in the Bookshop, but he’s nursing a sadness that not even fiction can fix.
When Alexandra Robinson finds herself stranded in Clove Lore, she finds a safe place to hide from heartbreak. After all, all that’s waiting for her at home is a cheater boyfriend and the memories of her parents. As Alex finds herself embraced by the quirky village community, she finds her tough exterior thawing – and as she grows closer to Magnús, she finds an equally soft heart under his gruff shell.
It seems that Clove Lore is working its magic once again – until a great flood on Christmas Eve brings devastation in its wake. It’s up to Magnús and Alex to batten down the hatches and help bring the village back together again, while also introducing the locals to the Icelandic tradition of the jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together.
But can Magnús and Alex truly rescue the ruins of the village, and salvage their Christmas spirit? Or is there another complication lurking even closer than they thought?
Kiley Dunbar writes heart-warming, escapist, romantic fiction set in beautiful places, with One Winter’s Night being shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel Award 2021.
Kiley’s five novels include: The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday (May 2021), One Winter’s Night (September 2020), Summer at the Highland Coral Beach (2020), Christmas at Frozen Falls (2019) and One Summer’s Night (2019).
The premise of this series is simply too wonderful for a booklover to ignore, and I have to admit to dreaming about running a bookshop, which makes this a must read. Book one introduced us to the village of Clove Lore in the summer, with its quirky villagers and the perfect ending for the “borrowers” of that story. Now, it’s winter, close to Christmas, and the “borrower” in question is not as excited as you might expect. Magnús once ran a bookshop in Iceland, but is disillusioned by the business that he was forced to close down. He hasn’t yet come to terms with what went wrong with his dream bookshop and figures he’s only going to fail again – so why bother hanging around?
When a river cruiser gets into trouble during a storm, the skipper Alex hunkers down in secrecy, refusing to give away even the barest details of her life. Fleeing a broken relationship, she’s convinced no one will be worrying about her anyway – so what’s the point of letting people in?
Two people struggling, holding in all their insecurities, fearful of failing at life and love. Well, doesn’t that just make Clove Lore the perfect place for them? Of course, it seems inevitable that they will find each other … but it’s not going to be easy. They will be tested, challenged and scrutinised by the villagers and the weather. Will the allure of Clove Lore and the bookshop work is magic at this most festive time of year?
With Magnús’s “baking”, the New Year’s eve tradition of Jolabokafloo, there’s a nod to Iceland that blends perfectly with a wintry bookshop, but it is the characters who power this story. Quirky villagers return to consolidate the village vibe of supporting each other and a “all hands to the deck” attitude during times of trouble. It’s sweet and idyllic, charming and heart-warming, yet also filled with poignant moments of how these secondary characters also develop and move on with their lives. The subplots strengthen the main plot and combine for a magical read that will make me a repeat visitor to Clove Lore for the duration of this series.
Some people are romantics. Some aren’t. When Sophie and Maddie are summoned to a mysterious, top-secret meeting by their best friend Kate’s partner, and told that he’s planning to whisk Kate away for a surprise wedding in Gibraltar, it’s immediately clear that bubbly florist Sophie is a total romantic. And that freewheeling, purple-haired Maddie is not.
Soon, Maddie finds herself reluctantly organising venues, planners and ceremonies; trying not to think of her own memories of Andalucia, and those she’s lost touch with there. Meanwhile Sophie’s hoping this dreamy gesture might spur on her own boyfriend to similar plans . . . and absolutely not thinking at all about Kate’s gorgeous brother-in-law-to-be.
But Kate’s got no idea what’s going on. And as the stress piles up and the group jet off to the sunny south, it seems it’s not just Kate who might get a surprise in Spain – one that could change everything . . .
Karen King is a multi-published author of both adult and children’s books. She has had eleven romantic novels published, two psychological thrillers with another two in the process of publication, 120 children’s books, two young adult novels, and several short stories for women’s magazines. Her romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea became an international bestseller, reaching the top one hundred in the Kindle charts in both the UK and Australia. Karen is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Karen now lives in Spain where she loves to spend her non-writing time exploring the quaint local towns with her husband, Dave, when she isn’t sunbathing or swimming in the pool, that is.
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Time to buy a hat! However, bride-to-be Kate doesn’t know she’s getting married. Her boyfriend, Steve, plans to surprise her with a proposal during their summer holiday in Spain. But he’s leaving it until they get there – she always tells him he is never spontaneous, so he’s decided to plan a wedding too. Eek! Surely he can’t do it alone? Of course not. He ropes in his brother and Kate’s two best friends (who end up doing the bulk of the organising really) and swears them to secrecy. Trouble is, he wants Kate to have the wedding of her dreams so her input is vital. They simply need a creative way of planning Kate’s wedding with Kate but without her realising it. Simples! Or not. Cue Sophie (best friend 1) pretending she’s going to be getting married and so wants Kate and Maddie (best friend 2) to be her bridesmaids. Sophie asks Kate for her opinion on dresses, cakes, colour schemes and in so doing she gets a clear picture of what Kate would like by telling her she really doesn’t want her ‘dream’ dress but would prefer something more elegant, something Kate would choose. It’s a plan with lots of potential to go wrong, and that doesn’t even take into consideration what Sophie’s boyfriend, Glenn, thinks of the whole thing. Still Sophie thinks what Steve is doing is romantic, even though his brother Josh and Maddie have a feeling Kate is going to be furious that Steve has done all this without her involvement let alone her agreement to marry him.
It’s the perfect scenario for a disaster and there are further calamities that threaten to scupper the holiday-engagement-wedding, all of which make for a fun read, with a fabulous Spanish setting and the will-they/won’t they tension right up until the end.
Wedding aside, there are some wonderful subplots surrounding Sophie’s future with Glenn as well as her job, Maddie reuniting with her Spanish family, and a realisation for Josh that a past love was never meant to be. The writing is fun, breezy, realistic though a tad repetitive on the “going grey with all this planning” imagery. Nonetheless, a great summer read. Thanks to Netgalley and Headline Accent for my copy which I’ve reviewed freely and fairly.
Just 4 My Books 