BLOG TOUR: A Nantucket Fling - Kathryn Freeman

Can a no-strings attached holiday fling really just stay casual?

Olivia is a fiercely independent woman climbing the ladder of corporate finance. But when her family demands she take time off to go to her niece’s bachelorette and wedding in Nantucket, she reluctantly agrees.

On the island, she catches the eye of Connor: a handsome, cocky, playboy type—also ten years her junior. Olivia’s sisters egg her on, encouraging a summer fling, but she’s more interested in catching up on her finance reading. Except…he’s funny and sexy, and doing her ego a world of good.

As their attraction steadily grows, Connor gets Olivia to relax her tightly held control and indulge in the fling she won’t admit she needs. But too soon, the holiday is over and they’re back home, living two very different lives.

And yet, neither can ignore the intense chemistry that didn’t go away after the summer. Are they just a Nantucket fling… or something much more? 

What did I think?

I don't think I will ever get tired of reading a Kathryn Freeman book and I loved my virtual trip to Nantucket in her latest romantic novel, A Nantucket Fling.

Olivia knows what she wants from life and it's to succeed in her career so she doesn't have time for romance and she has barely enough time for her family.  Olivia does book some holiday from her job in London to celebrate her niece's wedding in Nantucket and whilst she's on holiday there's no harm in having a fling.  

Oooh Connor is a bit of an enigma as it looks like he's young and fancy free but he has a completely different life back home in England.  The chemistry between Olivia and Connor virtually sizzles off the page and in an unusual twist at the end of the holiday it's Connor who wants more than just a fling with Olivia.  Olivia stands her ground though and puts her career before her personal happiness once again.  

Olivia's work/life balance is totally overweighted in the work stakes.  It must be something to do with jobs in finance as I was exactly the same back in my youth.  I'm glad Connor persisted, with a little help from Olivia's family, and helped to balance that scale back to where it should be.

Incredibly romantic and heartwarming, A Nantucket Fling is a fun and flirty romance that reminds us that, although careers are important, there really is more to life than work.  

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links 

Twitter: @kathrynfreeman1

Facebook: facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Instagram: kathryn.freeman_author

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk 

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of A Nantucket Fling (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam 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.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Little Grey Cells (The Jessica Sinclair Mysteries Book 2) - Faye Brann

From Comedy Women in Print Prize winner Faye Brann, the gloriously twisty sequel to Kiss, Marry, Murder.

Jessica Sinclair is enjoying a blissfully uneventful summer.

No crime scenes.

No threatening notes.

No murder.

Just a celebratory dinner party for 12 in the picture-perfect Surrey enclave of Chitworth, where manicured lawns, designer kitchens and discreet security gates keep everything – and everyone – neatly in place.

When a dead body is discovered, it quickly becomes clear there is a killer amongst the guests. Celebrity scandal simmers beneath the surface and Jessica is faced with a choice: call in the authorities and risk another media frenzy or quietly investigate before gossip turns to headlines. With loyal sidekicks Darcy and Della by her side, she begins to untangle a web of rivalries, secrets and lies, exposing bruised egos, broken friendships… and several very good reasons for murder.

Witty, fast-paced and deliciously sharp, Little Grey Cells proves that even at the most civilised of dinners, revenge is a dish best served cold.

 

What did I think?

Having recently read the first book in the Jessica Sinclair Mysteries series, Kiss, Marry, Murder, I enjoyed catching up with Jessica, Darcy and Della again in the second book, Little Grey Cells.

I think you could read it as a standalone if you haven't read the first book but there are a lot of characters to get to grips with and I was pleased that I was already familiar with some of them.  I still got a little confused about who was who but that's just my fuzzy brain and not a criticism of the book.

The murder is very intriguing though and it's a bit of a locked room mystery as you know that one of the dinner guests must have done it.  As Jessica and her team start to investigate they find that a few of the guests had the motive for murder but it's not so clear which one had the opportunity to commit the crime.

There are some great additions to the story in the form of handwritten timelines and excerpts from the coroner's report that made me feel part of the investigation.  They did test my eyesight a bit though as they were written in a smaller font to the main prose.  Thank goodness there's an option to enlarge text on Kindle.

Mysterious, intriguing and captivating, Little Grey Cells is a great addition to this witty and fun murder mystery series and I can't wait to read more.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Wonderful - Louise Beech

A Hollywood idol. The Virgin Mary. An everyday girl from Hull.

Three women, three eras, surprising things in common...

On 4th August 1962, the night she should have died, Marilyn Monroe – the biggest star in the world – receives a visitor who changes the course of her destiny. The Virgin Mary appears in her kitchen with a curious message. Inspired, Marilyn abandons her home, her life, her fame, and disappears into the night…

Fifty-four years later, in a Hull kitchen, Flora Baker finds Mary, bathed in light. She has a similar message for the working class woman who is on the poverty line and dreaming of a better life. Flora begins to make changes that impact not only her life but the lives of those around her…

Do Marilyn and Flora have more in common than just Mary’s visit? Are they somehow linked across time? And is Mary’s message for all the women of the world?

Wonderful is about the way women are portrayed in both history and the world of celebrity, about women not being quiet, and about women united by the shared stories that shape them.

 

What did I think?

I do love turning the first page of a Louise Beech book as you just never know what you're going to get and Wonderful is certainly unusual with characters including Marilyn Monroe and The Virgin Mary.  It sounds crazy but it really works and I absolutely loved it.

Louise Beech writes with such warmth, wit and passion as she brings Marilyn Monroe back to life on what would have been the star's centenary year.  I think it's the first time that I have read about Marilyn and not felt such devastation at her early demise as this alternative history is a much better story.

The way the characters link together is nothing short of magnificent as the threads of the story weave a magical 'what if' tale that entertained and delighted me.  Marilyn Monroe is iconic (as is The Virgin Mary, of course) and it was so refreshing to see the side of her that was often hidden from the cameras.

Incredibly powerful and thought-provoking, Wonderful is an unforgettable and unmissable novel.  Louise Beech scoops all the stars again; an easy five stars for this very highly recommended read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: A Fatal Austen Affair (The FitzMorris Family Mysteries Book 4) - Anna A Armstrong

Spring has come to Bath, bringing romance, revelry… and a whisper of danger. When Dee FitzMorris’s beloved vicar falls for a mysterious online suitor, Dee isn’t convinced it’s a fairytale—and she’s determined to uncover the truth behind the romance.

Following Virginia to Bath, with Zara in tow, Dee soon discovers that beneath the elegance of ballgowns and sunlit promenades, something far darker is unfolding. Women are disappearing, all without a trace, and Detective Inspector Nicholas Corman is already on the case. As suspicion grows, so too do matters of the heart: Zara and Nicholas struggle with their feelings, complicated by the return of his formidable ex-wife, while Amelia and the ever-charming Josh circle a romance neither will quite admit.

But when danger strikes closer to home, the FitzMorris family can no longer remain on the sidelines. With time running out and emotions running high, Dee must untangle deception from desire before another woman vanishes… perhaps for good.

 

What did I think?

I didn't realise A Fatal Austen Affair was book four in a series when I first picked it up but, although it is evident that there was some history between the characters, it does read perfectly well as a standalone.

I was completely drawn into the story and felt as if I was walking through the streets of Bath in Regency dress, although it's a dangerous time to be wearing such an outfit when women are going missing.  Dee and Zara find themselves investigating the disappearances when their vicar heads to Bath to meet her very own Mr Darcy.

What a wonderful cast of characters!  Even though Dee, Zara and Nicholas are clearly already acquainted and well-developed, I really enjoyed getting to know them for the first time.  It has certainly made me eager to read the earlier books in the series and I'll have a keen eye out for more.

A Fatal Austen Affair is a fun, entertaining and intriguing cosy crime novel that is filled with charm, mystery and a sprinkling of romance.  A very enjoyable read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The French Vendetta (Charles Holborne Legal Thriller Book 11) - Simon Michael

When London barrister Charles Holborne travels to rural France in 1970, he is hoping for a quiet escape. Instead, he finds a village still ruled by old loyalties, buried secrets, and unresolved guilt. 

A woman has disappeared. Accusations resurface. And the past,shaped by fear and silence during the Nazi occupation, begins to intrude on the present. As Holborne is drawn deeper into a case the village believes it has already judged, he discovers that justice here is fragile – and truth can be more dangerous than lies. 

Moving between wartime France and the uneasy peace decades later, The French Vendetta explores how communities rewrite history to survive, and what happens when moral compromise is mistaken for justice. 

A gripping historical crime novel about memory, prejudice, and the long shadow of war.

 

What did I think?

As a huge fan of the Charles Holborne legal thrillers series, I couldn't wait to read book 11, The French Vendetta, and I was not disappointed.  It's another outstanding instalment in this fantastic series and it also works particularly well as a standalone with it being set in France.

Charles and Sally are newly married and they are taking a well-deserved break in France with their young daughter Leia.  Things don't go quite to plan and when Sally is taken ill Charles contacts his father's old friend who offers his cottage in the countryside to recuperate.  Well this doesn't sound much like a legal thriller, I hear you say, but it wouldn't be a Charles Holborne book without a court case and this very unusual one is well worth waiting for.

The whole village is brought to life through Simon Michael's exquisite descriptive writing and I felt as if I was there with the Holbornes.  Tensions are high in post-war France as friends and neighbours became enemies during the war.  It is difficult to read about anti-Semitism but it's important to be reminded of such horrific prejudice and Simon Michael writes about it with sensitivity, honesty and respect.

I always love catching up with Charles and the balance between his personal and professional life is perfectly weighted as always.  Charles and Sally are characters that I have grown to love over the years and I feel very protective of them, especially when they are put in harm's way and Charles doesn't half get himself into some scrapes!

Bursting with intrigue and suspense, The French Vendetta is an unforgettable, thought-provoking and powerful novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.  To quote myself from book one, The Brief, The French Vendetta is "absolutely unputdownable", as is the whole series.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the online book review tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Her Rising Star (The Gloucestershire Crime Series Book 3) - Rachel Sargeant

 

DI Steph Lewis comes under an unforgiving media spotlight in this twisty locked room mystery, where murder is committed live on air.

While attending a police conference at Cheltenham Town Hall, Steph is summoned to a nearby film studio. A chat show panellist has collapsed during a live broadcast.

At the scene, Steph discovers the man sprawled on the floor. The livestream is still running, other panellists are horrified and the studio is in chaos. Is the death accidental, the result of a severe allergy, or is there more to the fatality than meets the eye?

Despite intrusive press interest in the case, Steph must investigate her suspects: the producer, the studio runner, the cameraman and the diverse cast of panellists.

Nothing about this on-screen death adds up.

Is just one of them a murderer? Or do they all have something to hide?

Her Rising Star is the third book in the Gloucestershire Crime Series, featuring DI Steph Lewis, a spirited, no-nonsense detective with secrets of her own.

What did I think?

I enjoyed catching up again with DI Steph Lewis in the third Gloucester Crime series book, Her Rising Star.  I have read the series in order but you can certainly read each book as a standalone as they contain their own murder mystery case for Steph to investigate.

This case is a bit of a puzzler as there are a lot of suspects when a chat show panellist dies live on air.  As Steph starts to dig into the lives of the victims and the suspects she uncovers lots of buried secrets that give each one of them motive for murder.

There are quite a few characters and I did sometimes get a little confused about who was who but I was reading faster than normal so I think it would be better if I'd taken my time.  I was completely riveted by the mystery plot and didn't have a clue 'whodunnit'.  Rachel Sargeant is an author that I often liken to Agatha Christie and Her Rising Star firmly cements that comparison.

Sharply plotted and filled with secrets begging to be uncovered, Her Rising Star is a compelling instalment in this fantastic series.  

I received a gifted paperback to review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Hobeck Books

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: A is for Amy - Steven Crandell

A is for Amy is a new kind of romance. It's a quick read with a big heart.

Amy Dellaconta Franklin is an independent mother of 3 kids under 5. Her life is often exhausting and isolating. Then, one day, love comes knocking at her front door.

Amy is a sassy, charming, yet lonely young widow who unexpectedly finds herself on the path of finding love again. Surprises overturn expectations at nearly every turn in this novella, which tells the story of how a life that seemed trapped in the too-hard basket became a voyage of romantic discovery.

A is for Amy tells it fast, straight and funny. From negativity to bliss. With no fluff and no wasted words.

Do you like reading but never seem to have enough space to start (or finish) a book? Each chapter in this romance can be enjoyed in the time it takes to drink a good cup of coffee.

This is a great gift for parents or parents-to-be. It looks like an alphabet book for children. But inside, it's a romantic adventure for grown-ups with a surprise ending that will touch your heart. 

What did I think?

A is for Amy is a very quick read with 100 pages and 26 chapters from A to Z.  I love that is designed to resemble a children's book and the chapters are short enough for busy parents to read when they get a spare 5 minutes.  I read it cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it.

It's a lot funnier than I expected and I frequently laughed out loud.  It's very clever the way that it is written to focus on each letter of the alphabet.  Although the alphabet and chosen focus words are on the cover, they don't always make an appearance in that letter's chapter.  For example, the N chapter doesn't mention Nutella (on Wheat Thins) and you have to wait until the Q chapter to find them. I was paying too much attention to the words on the cover rather than enjoying the story so I often thought I'd missed something and had to flick back a few pages.

The romance story is very sweet and heartwarming, especially as I felt like I'd got to know Amy over the course of the book.  She hasn't had the easiest life and she deserves to catch a break so I was really rooting for her to get her happily every after.

A is for Amy is a very amusing and entertaining book that I will definitely be reading again.  It made me laugh and smile so it's a very good pick-me-up type of book that can work its magic in a short space of time.  It's perfect for parents and all readers who enjoy romcoms.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

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