Book Review – Annie in Paris

If you love Emily in Paris, you will love this BRAND NEW book in the Annie Valentine series from bestselling author Carmen Reid. Personal shopper Annie Valentine is back! Older and bolder!

Fashion guru Annie is struggling to cope with her hectic life. With the demands of two older children, plus four-year-old twins, her marriage to Ed is in a romance-free rut and she’s clinging by a couture thread to her job as the nation’s favourite fashion fixer.

And where is Svetlana, her multi-millionaire friend, when Annie needs her? Busy with an expensive mid-life crisis, that’s where!

When Ed gets the chance to teach in Paris, Annie thinks time apart could be the answer. Wrong!

In Paris, Ed transforms into a debonair silver fox, attracting the attentions of stylish siren Sylvie.

Annie can’t lose her man or the job she loves, so bundling her bags, her babies and a reluctant Svetlana onto the Eurostar, she sets off to the rescue. But can the City of Love deliver the ooh la la that her marriage, and her fashion series, so desperately needs?

Another brilliant laugh out loud emotional read, perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Tracy Bloom and Sophie Ranald!

Praise for Carmen

“Annie Valentine is a wonderful character – I want her to burst into my life and sort out my wardrobe for me!” Bestselling author, Jill Mansell

“You will enjoy getting to know Annie Valentine; laughing with her and crying with her. You may even fall in love with her . . . I have! A fantastic read!”⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader review

“Fantastic read, couldn’t put it down” ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader review

“Can’t wait to read the next one!” ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader review

Annie in Paris: A brilliant, laugh-out-loud book club pick from Carmen Reid for 2024 by Carmen Reid

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and as it was my first “Annie Valentine” book, I have plenty to catch up on. It can easily be read as a standalone, though, I imagine that if you’re new to the series, you’ll quickly become enamoured with Annie and her family and friends.
Annie is so likeable, very believable and so “normal”. She walks the tightrope of life as a busy mum, knowledgeable career woman, loving wife and caring friend in precariously high high heels. It’s not easy being everything to everyone and sometimes she makes matters worse but always with the best of intentions.
Being as far removed from a fashionista myself as it’s possible to be, I loved how each chapter opened with advice from the fabulous MM; she and Annie were destined to meet.
A hugely entertaining read, one I didn’t want to put down. This was a funny, optimistic, heart-warming and incredibly relatable story and I’m looking forward to reading up on Annie Valentine’s life.

As always,

Book Review – Agnes, Treading Water by Charlotte French

Love is blind. Lies come easy. Secrets can sink a wedding.

Thanks to her late mother’s trust fund, Agnes Andersson is financially secure. She’s insecure about pretty much everything else. Since last week she’s also disillusioned due to a washout trip to Australia and a holiday crush that’s left her heart broken. Returned to Sweden, Agnes is determined to mend it. Despite her best friend’s protests, she agrees to an impromptu wedding, settling for the man she’s dated on and off for years.

At least he’s honest. 

However, when his hostile daughter spills a few beans about her father, it’s clear Agnes doesn’t know her groom as well as she thinks. More importantly, does she know herself? In a few scant hours, can Agnes get to the bottom of his lies and her truth before she takes the proverbial plunge?

A watershed tale about falling in love, facing your fears, and finding your (cold) feet.

About the author

It took a migration across continents, half a century, and everything from dish pig to boutique owner before Charlotte faced her deepest fear of pursuing her enduring passion. The year was 2018 when she stopped procrastinating. She completed a course in creative writing, and another in short stories with Writer’s Studio in Sydney. Winning a short story competition followed. Having every intention to focus on flash fiction and short stories, Charlotte instead had an idea—for a novel. She finished it and shelved it. Then she wrote Agnes Treading Water.

Charlotte writes contemporary domestic drama about everyday people and their conundrums, focusing on character, theme, and plot. She writes to entertain readers who want lighthearted escape with sprinkles of dark.

Charlotte lives on the east coast of Australia with her husband, in the house they’ve built, not far from the beach where they first met. The children have left the nest, Banjo—the spanador—has successfully planted his speckled paws inside the door, and attached his exuberant personality to their hearts.

When not writing, Charlotte goes about her daily life pretending not to be thinking about writing and obsessing about anything and everything story. She’s editing her next novel.

My thoughts

I loved the blurb for Agnes and was excited to read an advanced copy. I wasn’t disappointed.
It was so good and heart-warming to watch Agnes’s transformation throughout the story from the vulnerable and self-doubting young woman almost hiding away from life, making her bears, to the much stronger, grounded and determined woman we see at the end. I couldn’t help but root for her and to see her becoming empowered, standing up for herself, no longer going with the flow for an easy life, it made me want her to have the happy ending she deserved.

The story is one of nurturing friendships, particularly with Niina (who is amazing) and the old woman in Sweden, but also a story of her finally feeling free and comfortable in her own skin with Guy in Australia. And despite all the obstacles and disappointments she faces, she finds the strength to do what she knows in her heart is right. Her personal growth aside, the story reflects the value of good friends and being true to yourself. Agnes is creative, intelligent and caring – worthy of more than she seemed ready to settle for, so the resolution of her story is all the more satisfying (but watch out for the added mystery that brings clarity to her family history and which she handles with grace and integrity, not expecting to benefit from its outcome).
A most enjoyable debut novel and a new author for me to follow.

Catch up with Charlotte on her website, or add the book to your Goodreads pile.

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – An Italian Island Summer

An Italian Island Summer

Will one summer in Sicily change her life for ever?

After her marriage falls apart, Ursula Quinn is offered the chance to spend the summer working at a hotel on a beautiful island off the coast of Sicily, Italy. Excited by a new adventure, she sets off at once.

At Residenza dei Tringali, Ursula receives a warm welcome from everyone except Alfio, son of the Tringali family. He gave up his life in Barcelona to help his mother Agata with the ailing business, and is frustrated with Ursula’s interference – and she in turn is less than impressed with his attitude. As they spend more time together, though, they begin to see each other in a different light.

But what with Ursula’s ex-husband on her tail, family secrets surfacing and an unexpected offer that makes Alfio question his whole life, there’s plenty to distract them from one another. Can she face her past and he his future, and together make the most of their Sicilian summer?

Purchase Links

Amazon UK EB https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Italian-Island-Summer-gorgeous-romance-ebook/dp/B0B986B7D1/

Amazon UK PB https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Italian-Island-Summer-gorgeous-romance/dp/0008525706/

Kobo UK EB https://www.kobo.com/za/en/ebook/an-italian-island-summer-1

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Island-Summer-gorgeous-romance-ebook/dp/B0B986B7D1

Author Bio

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author, #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US and Canada. She writes two books a year for publishing giant HarperCollins and has won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary.

Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses appear around the world.

Social Media Links

Website [www.suemoorcroft.com]

Blog [http://suemoorcroft.wordpress.com]

Facebook profile [Sue.Moorcroft.3]

Facebook author page [https://www.facebook.com/SueMoorcroftAuthor

Twitter  [@suemoorcroft]

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/suemoorcroftauthor/] @SueMoorcroftAuthor

LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/suemoorcroft]

Newsletter sign-up https://www.suemoorcroft.com/page_2.php?pgenme=eric&signup=2

Street Team https://www.suemoorcroft.com/page_15.php?pgenme=street-team&nav_group=all

My Review

I loved this – loved Ursula, Alfio, grumpy Fabio and even Ursula’s mam (who, if truth be told, brought a lot of what happened upon herself but finally seemed willing to take some responsibility for that … ooh, I’ve digressed!)

So, back to the story – aside from two very lovely and typical families (one in Ireland, the other in Sicily) there was little that might have connected them until Ursula’s uncle “thought” he was helping by getting his niece somewhere to stay and work while she put her life back together again after a tough time. Bless him, but then again, he wasn’t wrong – as you’ll find out when you get pulled into this story as I was.

Beautiful Sicily, characters you’ll want to root for (apart from Stephan) and a charming blend of artisanship, family loyalties and what it means to be part of something that is bigger than yourself.

Thwarted romance, lost opportunities, old grievances and a chance to start afresh are what this story brings to the reader, proof if ever it were needed that there is something to be said for taking that leap of faith, trusting in yourself and sometimes letting your heart rule your head. I enjoyed how the author kept hurling obstacles at her characters, she didn’t make their choices easy, but she did make them believable … and compelling reading to boot. And if you’d never wanted to visit Sicily before, you will after reading this, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to read more from this author too.

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – The Golden Oldies Book Club

The Golden Oldies Book Club

Deep in the Somerset countryside, the Combe Pomeroy village library hosts a monthly book club.

Ruth the librarian fears she’s too old to find love, but a discussion about Lady Chatterley’s Lover makes her think again.

Aurora doesn’t feel seventy-two and longs to relive the excitement of her youth, while Verity is getting increasingly tired of her husband Mark’s grumpiness and wonders if their son’s imminent flight from the nest might be just the moment for her to fly too. And Danielle is fed up with her cheating husband. Surely life has more in store for her than to settle for second best?

The glue that holds Combe Pomeroy together is Jeannie. Doyenne of the local cider farm and heartbeat of her family and community, no one has noticed that Jeannie needs some looking after too. Has the moment for her to retire finally arrived, and if so, what does her future hold?

From a book club French exchange trip, to many celebrations at the farm, this is the year that everything changes, that lifelong friendships are tested, and for some of the women, they finally get the love they deserve.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3SEaggJ

Author Bio

Judy Leigh is the USA Today bestselling author of The Old Girls’ Network and Five French Hens and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction.

She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005568258864

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/JudyLeighWriter

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

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judy-leigh

My Review

I was looking forward to reading this story in which a group of older women shine, supporting each other and living life to its fullest. For some of those women – Ruth and Aurora – this proved to be true as both seem to come to life when they realised what they really wanted out of life. Jeannie, the main character, was more difficult to root for; it was as if she’d already resigned herself to a boring, safe existence, as if giving up running the cider business made her not only redundant in the orchards but in life as well. She had many opportunities come her way, but it felt like she was more reluctant to enjoy herself. For a woman who’d run a business for so long, she didn’t seem to want to choose her own destiny but rather let it simply happen.

What I did enjoy about this story was the seasonal element of the apple trees, from the wassailing in January, to the new growth of spring, the explosion of summer blossom and fruit, and finally the autumn harvest before winter set in once again. I felt this cycle was complimented by the multi-generational cast. The older characters are looking to wind down (some more than others) whilst the younger characters bring new ideas and enthusiasm to the business and the village.

For me, the story is heavy on description, and as beautiful as the subsequent village scenes are, I felt it had the effect of slowing the story down too much. The book club aspect of the plot formed a consistent backdrop to the changing fates of the characters, though I think it was the visit to France that finally made most of the women see the direction in which their lives were heading, and as such decided to control their future for themselves.

Aside from Jeannie, Ruth, Aurora, Verity and Danielle, stand-out characters for me were Violet (Jeannie’s mum) – but, oh, those jokes were soooooo bad, and Barney, whose down-to-earth, matter-of-fact honesty made me laugh out loud. The younger characters, too, were very real and pitched in to help. The French trip was a hoot – the sand-yachting hilarious – and the new arrivals to the village (primarily Anthony & his brother, Mikey) not only spiced up the village gossip but also helped inspire the younger members of the book club – Verity & Danielle – to take control of their lives and invest in themselves and their futures.

Overall, an engaging read about family, friends and community, and the realisation that life is for living, no matter your age.

For more news and reviews,

As always,

Book Review – The Forever Cruise

An uplifting page-turner of travel and second chances.

When Halcyon Seas, a luxury alternative to retirement living, sets sail on her maiden voyage, three women on board dream of a better future.

Will Captain Marianne Moore prove herself capable in her new role? Her career depends on it.

Will Cabin maid Olivia Rose be able to keep her secret and her job? Her impoverished family relies on her wages.

And will pensioner Alice Wagstaff finally find the courage to live the life she wants?

When the cruise ship veers off course, the future is uncertain and dangerous.
Can the three women embrace this new direction, or will the journey of a lifetime turn into a living nightmare?

Purchase Link – Amazon UK

About the author

Deborah has worked as an occupational therapist, a health service manager, a freelance journalist, and management consultant in health and social care.

Deborah writes page-turning, uplifting stories about friendship, community, and emotional courage. Her novels, The Borrowed Boy, and Just Bea have won multi-international awards. She lives on the Essex coast, where she loves to walk by the sea or the surrounding countryside filling her pockets with shells, and acorns, and her head with stories.

 Visit her on her website at www.abrakdeborah.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter @DeborahKlee

My Review

Having read and enjoyed another of the author’s books – The Borrowed Boy – I was delighted to be invited to read her latest book – The Forever Cruise – with its concept of a cruising as a lifestyle choice for retirees. I could totally understand why widow Alice, the MC, seized the opportunity when her daughter was all for selling the family home and moving Alice nearby. Like Alice, I felt sure that a retirement home was just around the corner for her. Instead, Alice stood her ground and opted for a life at sea, visiting new places and meeting new people.

At the helm of Halcyon Seas is the newly appointed captain, Marianne Moore, who has been waiting for this moment for many years, constantly feeling overlooked for the most senior position in favour of her male colleagues. She hopes that by safely and successfully steering the ship on its maiden voyage (or at least the first year or so of its itinerary), the powers that be will finally grant her the captaincy of a regular cruise ship where passengers come and go rather than the permanency of the “residents” of Halcyon Seas. As much as she enjoys getting to know those on board, seeing the same faces for the duration of her tenure is not all it’s cracked up to be.

The early weeks of the cruise seem to prove its idyllic nature, and Alice is loving the stop-offs at cities she’d never visited before. She even makes plans to visit her son when the ship makes its way to Australia. That said, being catered for all the time and never having to lift a finger to keep her cabin clean soon takes it toll, and when she befriends her regular maid, Olive, it’s not long before she and a few other like-minded passengers decide to help lighten the maid’s workload by tidying up for themselves. Alice does have an ulterior motive and enjoys hearing about Olive’s family who are relying on her wage back in Madagascar. But there’s more to Olive’s story than that, and when she can no longer hide her secret, Alice and her friends come up with an extraordinary plot that subsequently changes the ship’s itinerary for good. That change in the ship’s circumstances brings Halcyon Seas into the glare of the public eye. For the management, this is not a good thing, but for the passengers – who are now a little bored of life at sea – their new situation brings out the best in many of them and truly offers them the change in lifestyle they were seeking when they first boarded the ship.

I loved how the passengers came together when faced with their new predicament and how they treated Olive’s family, friends and neighbours with such respect, a respect that was returned many times over. The author creates a stunning image of Madagascar, and you can completely understand why some passengers make the choices they do. Many have formed enduring friendships that they don’t want to walk away from at this point in their lives; they’ve been energised and stimulated in ways that they never imagined, and their forever cruise has turned into something so much more important to them.

Following Alice, Marianne and Olive, the story reflects different perspectives and challenges that combine to tell a heart-warming story of second chances, of romance, and of eternal friendships.

The Forever Cruise is inspirational in rewarding passengers like Alice for taking a risk later in life; it highlights the struggles of Marianne in her career path and how much she has given up personally to reach the top, and finally it is enlightening in showing how different cultures live and heart-warming in proving how those differences can be overcome with respect, kindness and compassion.

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – The Hat Girl’s Heartbreak

The Hat Girl’s Heartbreak

Will it be tears or triumph for the Hat Girl from Silver Street?

It’s been five years since Ella Bancroft lost the love of her life, Harper Fortescue, and despite her friends’ encouragement, she’s still not been able to move on. The one thing keeping Ella smiling is the success of her hat shop, Ivella.  Her beautiful designs and fabulous creations are the first choice for the fashionable Edwardian ladies of Walsall, and her fame is spreading far and wide.

Darcie Newland won’t ever forgive Ella for stealing her fiancé and ruining her life, even though Harper was never really hers in his heart.  After being exiled by her parents to Scotland after yet another scandal, Darcie is now back in Birmingham and set on revenge.

As her hat shop flourishes, and the possibility of a new love appears when she least expects it, Ella finally dares to hope for a happy future. But storm clouds are gathering over the Black Country, and life might have other plans for the hat girl from Silver Street.

The Queen of the Black Country sagas is back with this page-turning story of friendship and fun, love and second chances. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3RvKmLJ

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3RvKmLJ

Author Bio

Lindsey Hutchinson is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children.

She was born and raised in Wednesbury, and was always destined to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the multi-million selling Meg Hutchinson.

Social Media Links

Facebook: Lindsey Hutchinson | Facebook

Twitter: Lindsey Hutchinson (@LHutchAuthor) / Twitter

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

Bookbub profile: Lindsey Hutchinson Books – BookBub

My Review

This is a wonderful story, and while it can easily be read as a standalone book, I really want to read the first in the series too, just to catch up with the early years of Ella Bancroft.
As a Midlander, I revel in books set in my neck of the woods, and those using the local dialect hold a special place on my bookshelf. Clearly, I wasn’t around during the period of this story but references to places I’m familiar with – like the Rag Market – take me back so effectively to my hometown.
Now, the story …well, where to begin? It’s jam-packed with drama and yet is so full of heart and warmth that you can’t help but be drawn in. Ella and Ivy are co-owners of the hat shop Ivella, yet theirs is a trying relationship. Once rivals, they’ve now joined forces and their business has grown exponentially. It’s mainly down to Ella’s creativity, since Ivy’s designs are still stuck in bygone times, but nonetheless the two of them are enjoying a boom in business, and Ella is fast becoming known as the only place to buy a hat. Trouble is, this creates a little friction, and Ivy is a tad jealous. Ella manages to ignore the curt responses from Ivy and is hugely generous towards the older woman. Such is Ella’s character that she treats others well, but even she has noticed a change in Ivy, and when others in their workforce voice similar concerns, Ella seeks out advice to help Ivy. What follows is a heart-warming yet tragic foray into Ivy’s degenerating health as dementia sets in and causes her to forget things and get very frustrated with herself and others. The outcome is heartbreaking and so beautifully and sensitively handled by the author.
With all this on her plate (increased fame, rampant sales, and caring for Ivy) you might think romance would take a back seat. After all, Ella has suffered her fair share of loss already, and fear of being hurt again has prevented her from risking her heart. The romance subplot fully respects her fears and concerns yet sweetly blossoms towards the inevitable. Ella is apprehensive about moving on, and her visits to a “medium” to get permission from her dearly departed love to do so brings her back into contact with an old face, someone who bears Ella a grudge like no other. The desire for revenge is strong and action is imminent to threaten Ella’s livelihood.

It was so refreshing to read about women succeeding in their own businesses during those years when they were often treated like second-class citizens. I loved the mash-up of conflicts facing Ella, and how she handled them. There’s a lot of tension in the revenge subplot in particular and that had me racing through the book to see how it unfolded. However, I did feel that specific storyline fell a bit flat in its resolution and was a little too perfect / convenient an outcome. Nonetheless, I was totally pulled into Ella’s world, and once I’ve caught up with the first book in the series I hope there will be more to discover about The Hat Girl 🙂

For more news and reviews,

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – A Year at the French Farmhouse

A Year at the French Farmhouse

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?

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3NZA7fA

Author Bio

Gillian Harvey is a freelance journalist and the author of two well-reviewed women’s fiction novels published by Orion.

She has lived in Limousin, France for the past twelve years, from where she derives the inspiration and settings for her books.

Her first title for Boldwood, A Year at the French Farmhouse, will be published in September 2022.

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GillPlusFive

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gillian-harvey

My Review

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.

Thank you Netgalley & Boldwood books for my copy.

For more news and reviews,

As always,

Merci d’avoir lu 😉

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – Janet Jackson’s Yorkshire B&B (plus a giveway – UK only)

Janet Jackson’s Yorkshire B&B

Yorkshire lass and dental receptionist Janet Jackson has just taken a big risk. Using all her savings, she’s turned her spacious garage into a Bed and Breakfast, slapped a sign on it and without any experience at all, is now awaiting her very first guests.

With a moody teenage daughter and a crazy sister to contend with she’s already got her work cut out. The trouble she soon discovers, is that guests have undesirable habits, annoying pets and endless demands. ‘Is it bloody worth it?’ she asks herself a dozen times a day. Janet gradually learns her trade – but not without being tested to her limits. The question is: will she come through the experience with her bank balance, cottage and her sanity intact?

Hugely entertaining but a word of warning: if ever you’ve thought of running a B&B, read this hilarious debut novel first– you might want to think again!

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janet-Jacksons-Yorkshire-B-ebook/dp/B0B77SK3QK/

US – https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Jacksons-Yorkshire-B-ebook/dp/B0B77SK3QK/

Author Bio

Becky Papworth has spent 20 years making people laugh as a TV Producer on shows like Have I Got News For you, Rab. C. Nesbitt and Citizen Khan.

She’s hoping to entertain some readers with this account of running a B&B, much of it based on her actual experience, she’s not saying which bits…

Social Media Links

https://twitter.com/beckypapworth1

https://www.instagram.com/beckypapworth/

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494521/?

Giveaway to Win a Lottie Shaw’s Seriously Good Hamper (Open to UK only)

For full information and extra photos of this hamper please look at https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/lottieshaws/product/fabulous-treat-hamper

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link under the above graphic.  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

When Janet Jackson decides to convert the “garage/annexe” into a B&B, she does so without any of the usual research most people would do, and she has no idea what awaits her. She soon learns it’s much more work than painting a few walls, and adding some matching cushions, rugs and knick-knacks. Her first guest opens her eyes to everything she has overlooked, and from that point on she is playing catch-up to find out what running a B&B is all about.
Daughter Chloe helps out with building a website and online profile for the B&B and … whoosh, the bookings take off. Janet has to squeeze the cleaning of the room between changeovers with her job at the dentist’s. There are never enough hours in the day, but somehow she manages to pull it off.
The diary aspect of this story means that there’s quite a lot of repetition as she struggles to get everything ready. For me, this slows the pace down considerably as it seems like a never-ending loop of client-clean-client-clean. That said, the clients are diverse and each one teaches Janet another lesson about her growing business.
I really grew to like Janet when her awful neighbour, Laura, objects to her running the B&B and reports her to the council. Fortunately, Sharon at the council (my favourite character by a country mile) takes it all in her stride and guides Janet through the minefield of planning rights and permissions.
Janet’s sister, Maureen (Mitzi), adds a humorous touch with her poetry nights out and her steady stream of men friends. Her laissez-faire attitude rubs off on Janet and she finally puts her divorce behind her and has some fun – in between cleaning, of course.
Overall, it’s a fun read, and watching Janet grow into her new role is amusing, sometimes sad, occasionally repetitive (but that’s just life) but always engaging.

For more news and reviews,

As always,

Blog Blitz – A Scandinavian Summer

A Scandinavian Summer

It’s the right time for love, but is it the wrong place?

After the tragic, premature death of her husband Anthony, Martha has spent all her time focused on her teenage daughter Rosie in their small Welsh village.

But with Rosie leaving the nest, and Martha’s own job on the line, it feels that life is passing her by.

Inspired by her love for Scandi-noir dramas, Martha impulsively books a trip to Denmark, determined to push herself out of her comfort zone – even if the thought terrifies her…

Her trip to the tiny island of Fano becomes something much more: in the form of handsome stranger, Lars. Can Martha find love under the Scandinavian skies… but more importantly, can she find herself?

A romantic, warm and uplifting read, guaranteed to leave you smiling. Fans of Jenny Colgan and Kathryn Freeman will adore this feelgood read!

Purchase Links

AMZ: amzn.to/3JdMRO6

Kobo: bit.ly/3J5FyrT

Apple: apple.co/35X1tDk

Hive: bit.ly/3GHtlJn

Author Bio

Helga Jensen is an award-winning British/Danish best-selling author and journalist. Her debut novel was a winning entry in the 2017 Montegrappa First Fiction competition at Dubai’s Emirates Literary Festival. Her debut was also a contender for the coveted 2021 Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. Helga’s second romantic comedy, A Scandinavian Summer, went straight to number one on the Amazon Kindle charts for Danish travel on its publication day. Helga holds a BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing, along with a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. She is currently working on a PhD.

Social Media Links

Twitter – https://twitter.com/HelgaJensenF

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/Helgajensenauthor/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/helgajensenfordeauthor/

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – Old Friends Reunited

Old Friends Reunited

Divorced and on a deadline, bestselling novelist Bea Pinkerton has a serious case of writer’s block. With her agent breathing down her neck, Bea will do ANYTHING to avoid writing another word.

So an invite to a reunion with her old school friends at a beautiful chateau in France, is Bea’s perfect chance to escape. Surely here, relaxing with old friends and drinking cold fizz, Bea will find inspiration?

But as soon as Bea arrives, she realises this is not going to be the peaceful getaway she anticipated. Her old school friends Gin and Audrie are in various states of marital distress and to top it off a camera crew has arrived to film the goings on at Chateau De St Cyr.Far from being calm, the trip is total chaos!

Thank goodness for Bea’s new French neighbour Laurent Sinclair – handsome, charming and perhaps exactly the romantic muse she needs to get her mojo back.

But is Bea brave enough to take a second chance at love at her age?

Perhaps with a little help from her friends…

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3KQVpL9

Author Bio

Maddie Please is the #1 bestselling author of novels including The Old Ducks’ Club and Sisters Behaving Badly. Having had a career as a dentist and now lives in rural Devon where she enjoys box sets, red wine and Christmas. She will be taking a new direction in her writing for Boldwood with joyous tales of older women.

Social Media Links

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

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/MaddiePlease1

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maddieplease1/

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maddie-please

My Review

I seem to be travelling around France with this author, having recently read and enjoyed Sisters Behaving Badly, and I’m not complaining for one minute! If anything, I enjoyed Old Friends Reunited even more.
What’s not to love about three women in their sixties getting together again, reminiscing and reflecting … and having a ball doing so. Writer, Bea and newly-divorced (again) Gin visit their old school friend Audrie (the owner of the château). Since school, their lives have taken them on very different journeys. Reuniting allows them to look back fondly on those years whilst also putting their current lives in perspective. The three women are funny, endearing, quirky and definitely have lots more adventures left to live.
Misunderstandings and uninvited guests lead to shocks and surprises, some funny, others heartwarming. For Bea, through whom the story is told, there comes a delightful new romance and a realisation that old friendships are worth nurturing especially when they can so dramatically turn your world upside down (in the best way).
The perfect way to escape everyday life and live out dreams of pastures new if only for a few hours.

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