Showing posts with label Team BATC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Team BATC. Show all posts

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

BLOG TOUR: Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane - Holly Hepburn


Maura has everything she ever wanted from life – a quirky cottage in Edinburgh’s picturesque Dean Village, a thriving career as a potter and a contented relationship with her childhood sweetheart, Jamie. Never mind that the cottage is damp, her pots aren’t selling and Jamie prefers a night down the pub with his rugby mates to an evening in with her.

But everyone wishes things were just a tiny bit better, right?

When Maura reunites with Fraser Bell at a Hogmanay party, she’s instantly transported back to her school days. And when he proposes she makes ceramic ghosts to complement his city ghost tour business, she’s tempted. At first, everything goes smoothly but it’s not long before their new partnership causes problems that ripple through every aspect of Maura’s life. The ghosts go viral, so she has more orders than she can fulfil and Jamie is not thrilled that she’s spending all her time in her studio. But when Edinburgh Castle shows an interest in Maura’s work, things begin to spiral out of control.

Can Maura really have it all or will she regret wishing for more?
 

What did I think?

Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane is just the kind of book you need to warm your heart on a chilly winter's day and I absolutely loved it.  It is wonderfully uplifting and incredibly romantic.

Written with a dual point of view and a past and present timeline, this is Maura and Fraser's story.  Maura and Fraser went to the same school and, although they were aware of each other, their paths barely crossed.  Many years later, Maura is a talented potter and Fraser is an actor who has returned to Edinburgh to run ghost tours of the city.  When they run into each other at a party the chemistry virtually sizzles off the page but neither of them are single, however, it is clear to the reader that they are both with the wrong people.

Oh this is just a gloriously heartwarming book with an entertaining storyline and fabulous characters.  I loved Fraser's idea for Maura to make ghosts for his business and if you thought the scene with with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost was romantic, just wait until you read about Maura teaching Fraser to make a ghost.  Will either of them be brave enough to declare their feelings?  You will have to read the book to find out.

Bursting with romance and filled with charm, I adored Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane from the very first page.  Holly Hepburn always brings locations to life and this is her love letter to Edinburgh.  An unmissable read for fans of romance and very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Cat Share - Angela Jariwala


Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting the boy next door.
 
Jenni lives alone with her cat Oscar – yes, she’s single but, after breaking up with her boyfriend, she’s more than content to be living alone. Sometimes she worries she might be playing things too safe, but she’s had enough of taking risks.
 
Ben is a firefighter and, if he’s honest, he’s finding life hard. The arrival of a small tabby cat, who Ben decides to call Fred, helps him feel less isolated. But then, one day, Ben decides to take a chance. Wanting to reassure Fred’s owner he’s not stealing their cat, he attaches a note to the cat’s collar. 
 
As the two neighbours start corresponding via the cat, their notes to each other reveal the truths they are hiding from even their closest friends, and themselves.
 
The Cat Share is a warm and joyous romantic comedy about two strangers in love with one very greedy cat, inspired by a true story, for fans of The Flat Share, You’ve Got Mail and Rescue Me.
 

What did I think?

Consider my heart officially warmed after reading The Cat Share by Angela Jariwala.  It is so lovely that it really did leave me feeling like I had a visible warm glow around me.

The two main characters, Jenni and Ben, have both had their hearts broken so they're settling into the safety of a single life.  Jenni has her cat Oscar to keep her company although he keeps going missing and unbeknown to Jenni ends up in Ben's house.  Oscar is so greedy, you'd think he had never been fed the way he cries for food and with Jenni and Ben both feeding him, that cat flap is going to be a tight squeeze very soon.

The romance part of the story is so sweet and it really makes you realise that it's a small world as Jenni and Ben seem to be drawn to each other like magnets (stuck on their hearts by Oscar, no doubt).  I can't tell you how many times I laughed at Oscar's antics; I don't have a cat but I could easily visualise some of his strops and manipulations.

Incredibly heartwarming and delightfully romantic, The Cat Share is a very funny feel-good book that I intend to read again.  A very highly recommended read and one not to be missed for rom-com fans.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Monday, 27 October 2025

BLOG TOUR: Let the Bells Ring Out - Milly Johnson


Seven people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…

The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas. 

Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.

This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?
 

What did I think?

I need to apologise to Milly Johnson as I simply cannot write a review that will do justice to this fabulous book, but I'll give it a try.  Also, I need to say sorry (not sorry) to my other Milly Johnson books as Let the Bells Ring Out is my new favourite.

Milly Johnson is one of my favourite authors and her new book is always guaranteed to be a five star read before I've even read the first word.  This might sound blasé but believe me she earns every single star and MORE!

If you could imagine your favourite Christmas movie, your favourite festive read and your favourite Yuletide treat all wrapped up in beautiful paper with a huge bow and lots of love from Milly Johnson then you are close to the feeling I got when I read Let the Bells Ring Out.  I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it now.

Beautifully written, heartwarming and fabulously festive, Let the Bells Ring Out is a truly wonderful novel that is filled with Christmas spirit and bursting with the magic of Christmas.  I intend to read it again over the upcoming festive season and for many years to come.   Five stars just aren't enough for this magnificent book - a very highly recommended read.

I received a beautiful signed hardback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Wednesday, 22 October 2025

BLOG TOUR: Just a Taste - Anise Starre


A Christmas romance featuring a personal chef who is snowed-in with her least favourite client – a sexy but miserable technopreneur.

The only thing personal chef Noelle Jones loves more than cooking is Christmas. She has a roster of extremely wealthy clients, including the elusive and stoic Alexander Hoxton.

When he asks her to cook a last-minute business meal he’s having, offering triple her pay for the short notice, Noelle jumps at the chance. It’s easy money, one of her favourite dishes and she'll still have plenty of time to get to her family’s annual Christmas reunion.

But, when a sudden blizzard leaves Noelle snowed-in with Alexander, she quickly realises he wants absolutely nothing to do with anything festive. Stuck with a veritable grinch, she’s sure this Christmas is about to become one of her worst . . .
 

What did I think?

Wrap up warm when you pick up Just a Taste; you're about to get snowed in with a sexy businessman and his personal chef.  The heating might go on the blink but Alex will get your blood flowing and Noelle will keep you well fed.

I loved both Noelle and Alex.  Noelle is a talented chef who is very family oriented and humble.  Alex is a brooding businessman who makes Mr Darcy look positively cheerful.  The story is written with a dual point of view so the reader knows what's going on in their heads despite their frosty actions towards each other.  

The forced proximity trope is in full force when Noelle gets snowed in with Alex a few days before Christmas.  Noelle just wants to get to her Gran's house to celebrate Christmas with her family and Alex just wants to be by himself to forget that it's even Christmas.  As his reasons for hating Christmas come out, I wanted to reach into the book and give Alex a huge hug but Noelle got there first!

The sexual tension sizzles throughout as neither character wants to cross the employee/employer line but the heart wants what the heart wants!  I definitely saved a few pence on the central heating while I was reading as there's so much heat that the book almost spontaneously combusted in my hands.

Just a Taste is a festive, fun and flirty feast.  It would make a fabulous Christmas movie and I'd love to see it on my screen in the future.  A highly recommended read for the festive season.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Saturday, 4 October 2025

BLOG TOUR: Bea’s Book Wagon - Julie Haworth


Set in the fictional Sussex village of Blossom Heath, and featuring characters you will know and love from Julie Haworth’s RNA Katie Fforde Debut of the Year Always By Your Side and follow up New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café, Bea’s Book Wagon is a cosy, uplifting and comforting romance that tells the story of two love-interest heroes vying for Bea’s heart – her artisan-cheesemaking childhood sweetheart and a knock-you-off-your-feet property developer. 

After impulsively jacking in her dead-end temp job and investing her life savings in a ramshackle old horsebox, Bea sets about turning her dream of running a bookshop into a reality, and opens Bea’s Book Wagon. But it’s not all smooth sailing, and as Bea struggles with the challenges of running her own small business, she can only hope that her love of literature and the power of reading can help transform the lives of her friends, her community and herself in the process.
 

What did I think?

Bea's Book Wagon is my third virtual visit to Blossom Heath and I absolutely loved it.  You don't need to have read Julie Haworth's previous novels to enjoy this one but you will definitely want to read them if this is your first visit to Blossom Heath.

It was lovely to catch up with some familiar faces but this is very much Bea's story.  Bea loves books so I had an immediate affinity with her.  Once the panic subsides after resigning from her job she decides to do something she really loves: sell books and share her love of reading.  An old horsebox may not sound like the ideal bookstore but with a little help from her friends Bea transforms it into something special.

I adored Bea from the very start and she has the most amazing ability to be able to match a person to a book so she's the perfect bookseller.  As well as starting her business, Bea meets Lochlan in a very swoony Mr Darcy moment that had me reaching for my virtual fan, but it was farmer Nathan who I was hoping would win Bea's heart.  You will need to read the book to find out how it all ends though!

Cosier than your favourite pair of slippers, Bea's Book Wagon is a delightful, heartwarming and captivating book.  One not to be missed for book lovers!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Friday, 26 September 2025

BLOG TOUR: Love's a Witch (The Scottish Charms Series) - Tricia O'Malley


She’s hexed. He’s vexed. And for Scotland’s most magical small-town, their feud might just spell disaster.

Sloane MacGregor swore she’d never return to Briarhaven, but with her twenty-fifth birthday looming – the day witches come into their magic – her grandmother summons her and her sisters back for one tiny task: break the centuries-old curse haunting their bloodline.

Knox Douglas, Briarhaven’s grumpy mayor, has worked tirelessly to make his town a haven for magical folk. The last thing he needs is a cursed MacGregor wreaking havoc. It doesn’t matter he once crushed on her. For the sake of Briarhaven, Sloane has to go.

But magic has other plans – and in Briarhaven, love really is a witch.


What did I think?

Love's a Witch is the first book in an exciting new series and I already can't wait to read more after Sloane, Knox and Blue cast their spell on me.

The prologue is set in 1713 and sets the scene of the curse that has befallen the MacGregor family and caused them to be unwelcome in the quaint little Scottish town of Briarhaven.  Unfortunately for Briarhaven, the MacGregor witches are back in town and mayor Knox Douglas doesn't mince his words when he asks them to leave. 

Sloane MacGregor is no pushover and she also has a history with Knox, who was her teenage crush.  Prepare for some blushing and swooning as the sexual tension reaches fever pitch and I was furiously waving my virtual fan on occasion.  The romance is only part of the story though and there's lots of magic, an abundance of cuteness in the form of the various familiars, and a host of entertainment.

I absolutely loved how Briarhaven hides its magic in plain sight, although some of the mishaps caused by Sloane's new magic were a little harder to explain.  Blue the cheese-loving emberwolf really stole my heart and it's no surprise to learn that Tricia O'Malley based him on the memory of her own pet as his character traits are so amusing and a huge amount of love is woven within the beautiful prose.

Bewitching, magical and a bit steamy, Love's a Witch is an incredibly entertaining novel that's just crying out to be made into a TV show.  Please pick this one up, Netflix!  I can't wait to read more of The Scottish Charms books so please write quickly, Tricia!  An easy five stars - I absolutely loved it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Friday, 12 September 2025

BLOG TOUR: Slow Burn - Oti Mabuse


Filled with scenes of sizzling passion, plot beats of swoon-worthy romance, and a cast of Black female characters that you’ll fall in love with, the unputdownable debut novel from Oti Mabuse brims with heat and heart. Perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert, Laura Jane Williams, Tia Williams, Farrah Rochon, Hannah Grace and Bolu Babalola.

For dancer Lira, Latin Ballroom is everything. Whilst her dreams of fame were cut short aged 19, she’s never forgotten the connection she felt dancing with a stranger at the Paris World Championship afterparty 13 years ago.
 
Now, with her younger sisters pursuing their own successful dancing careers, and the responsibility of running the family dance studio falling to her, Lira’s ambitious flame is about to flicker out. Until a chance encounter sees her secretly auditioning for Slow Burn, a new dance show about to embark on a 6-week European tour, and coming face to face with a blast from her past that sends her reeling.
 
Gabriele is the quintessential bad boy of the Latin Ballroom scene. Slim of hip, with long, lean muscles that pop, a chiselled jaw, dark eyes, obscenely long lashes, and a mouth that just won’t give, it's no surprise when he lands the principal male lead role on Slow Burn. But, with just a few weeks to go till the tour starts, he still hasn't found his female co-star. All it takes is one audition to set his world on fire... 
 
On the dance floor they’re smouldering, off it, they’re on fire.
 

What did I think?

Wow!  Slow Burn is a breathtaking debut novel that swept me off my feet and I absolutely loved it.  I only planned on having a quick peek of Slow Burn when it dropped through my letterbox but once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.  If my stomach hadn't rumbled I would have read it in one sitting!

I adored the main characters of Lira and Gabriele who have such sizzling chemistry on the page that I wouldn't have been surprised to find my fingertips burnt (I still wouldn't have put the book down though!).  Lira met Gabriele briefly 13 years and they had a night of passion without knowing each other's full names.  Lira gave up her dancing career due to family responsibilities but fate throws her back into Gabriele's arms.

Oh my goodness, this fabulous book is filled with so much passion, emotion and drama that I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page.  The dancing scenes are so vivid that I could easily visualise them in my mind and the characters are so well-drawn that they danced out of the book and into my heart.  I loved Slow Burn so much that I could have easily read it again the second I turned the final page.

Passionate, evocative and mesmerising, Slow Burn is THE hottest book of the year.  Unputdownable and unmissable.  Oti Mabuse is definitely an author to watch and I will certainly be looking out for her next book.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Thursday, 4 September 2025

BLOG TOUR: All Wrapped Up - Heidi Swain


In Wynbridge, the scent of autumn is on the breeze and love is in the air…
 
Clemmie Bennett has been renovating beautiful Rowan Cottage on the outskirts of the small town of Wynbridge, for eighteen months following a very public heartbreak back in her childhood hometown. The popular Instagram influencer, lost her husband, sold their home, and has been cosied up the Fens and living a very private life, but now she feels it’s time for a change.
 
A chance encounter with co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, the bubbly Lizzie Dixon, pulls her into organizing Wynbridge’s first-ever Autumn Festival, and her once quiet life is soon a distant memory. With the whole town rallying behind the event, she discovers a new sense of purpose.
 
And when local vet Ash falls hard for Clemmie, she begins to wonder if she’s ready to move even further on from her past and fall in love again…
 
This autumn, cosy up with Heidi and this perfect seasonal romance. 
 

What did I think?

There is a Heidi Swain book for all seasons and her twenty-first novel All Wrapped Up is Heidi's first autumn book.  It is filled with colour, fun and community spirit and I adored my visit to the fictional Norfolk town of Wynbridge.

Reading a Heidi Swain novel is like catching up with old friends as there are returning characters from other books as well as an introduction to new characters in the current book.  Every book can be read as a standalone but it's lovely to recognise names from previous books I have read.

Clemmie loves autumn so much that she has an Instagram account dedicated to this colourful season.  After a tragedy in her personal life, she wants to remain anonymous and has moved to Wynbridge to heal at her own pace.  Wynbridge has a way of working its way into your heart and it isn't long before Clemmie becomes a valued member of the community when she is tasked with organising the Autumn Festival with the local vet Ash.

There is amazing chemistry between Clemmie and Ash but Clemmie has her reasons for keeping their relationship a platonic one.  The magic of Wynbridge might have other ideas though and rather than a 'will they/won't they' I got definite 'when will they' vibes.  Well it wouldn't be a Heidi Swain book without a good sprinkling of romance, would it?

Beautiful inside and out, All Wrapped Up is a veritable love letter to the often overlooked season of autumn and it left me with a smile on my face and a warm glow in my heart.  It has certainly made me fall in love with the season more after seeing it through Heidi's pumpkin coloured glasses.  I highly recommend that you snuggle up with Heidi Swain this autumn!  

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Thursday, 7 August 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge - Rachel Hore


Uncovering secrets that span generations, Rachel Hore delivers intriguing, involving and emotive narrative reading group fiction like few other writers can.

Nancy Foster has harboured a devastating secret that shattered her professional and personal life.  On meeting her, journalist Stef Lansdown realizes that she has the power to restore Nancy’s reputation and to heal the wounds, if only Nancy will trust her. But someone else wants to get to the bottom of the story first, someone who doesn’t want it to be told. 

Set in the beautiful environs of the Norfolk Broads in 2010, and in London in the '40s and ‘50s, when life for career-driven women was so different, The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is Sunday Times multi-million copy bestselling author Rachel Hore’s utterly compelling new novel, interweaving the past and the present. 
 

What did I think?

This is the first book by Rachel Hore that I have read and I absolutely loved it so I'm already looking to add more of her books to my TBR.  The writing is exquisite and it completely captivated me from start to finish.

The story revolves around two women: Nancy and Steph.  Steph is writing a book and wants to tell Nancy's story but Nancy and her family are suspicious of Steph's intentions.  There is no hidden agenda to Steph; she simply wants to tell Nancy's story and Nancy soon begins to trust Steph and open up to her.

I loved the Norfolk community spirit that weaves its way through the story; although they aren't quite so welcoming to Steph at first, but then she is a journalist.  There are a lot of intriguing elements to the plot, both past and present, and I couldn't tear my eyes from the page.  

I was halfway through when I felt that it had a distinct ring of truth about it so I wasn't surprised to learn that the author was inspired by a story from her own family.  It's just so infuriating to read how women were treated in the not so distant past.  I mean things just as simple as referring to a woman who has earned the title of 'Doctor' as 'Miss' - it's so patronising and misogynistic.  Nancy definitely needed one of those mugs with "It's Dr, actually" printed on it!

So beautifully written, The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is a powerful, thought-provoking and completely mesmerising novel.  I adored it and would highly recommend it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:




Tuesday, 15 July 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Next Chapter - Rebecca Ryan


Lily Brown is ready to turn the page and see what adventure awaits . . .

Lily Brown prides herself on her organised, surprise-free life. Whether it's charity yoga for polar bears or crafting a ninety-six-piece balloon arch, Lily always goes the extra mile. But when her adoptive father asks her to reconnect with her birth mother, Lola Starr – a legendary pop punk singer who vanished from fame – Lily decides to venture off the well-trodden path.

With her best friend Seb, Lily tracks Lola to her humble hotel on the beautiful Isle of Skye in Scotland, far from the glamorous life she imagined. Hiding the truth, Lily gets to know Lola and finds a kind, free-spirited woman. If life wasn’t complicated enough – she meets Noah, a charming travel writer on a quest to discover hidden gems.  

As Lily takes a chance and embraces new possibilities, she begins to question whether the safe rules she’s built her life around are what she really needs.
 

What did I think?

Oh Rebecca Ryan, if I thought I loved your first two books I positively adored your third!  Good things really do come in threes and The Next Chapter is simply stunning.

Lily has always known she was adopted and, after losing her mum at the tender age of 18, she is devastated to lose her lovely dad.  Her dad's dying wish is that Lily reads a letter he has left her about her birth mother and when she eventually does read it, it throws into doubt everything she thought she knew.

My heart totally went out to Lily as she struggled to cope with both her grief and finding her birth mother, famous singer Lola Starr.  Being a bit of an overthinker myself, it really made me laugh at Lily's thought processes and how well her friends and family know her.  I loved Lily's relationship with her best friend Seb and how they have been friends through thick and thin.

When Lily and Seb head to the Isle of Skye to track down Lola, there's a new twist on the fake dating trope: fake siblings and it's absolutely hilarious.  The lies just spiral out of control and it causes Lily more angst when she falls in love with travel writer Noah.  I can't remember ever laughing so much when reading a romance novel; it is making me smile just thinking about it now.

Beautiful inside and out, The Next Chapter is a fabulous emotional rollercoaster of a book that made me laugh and cry.  With family and friendship at its heart, it's a book that is filled with love and laughter and I can't recommend it highly enough.  An easy five stars!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Friday, 23 May 2025

BLOG TOUR: Slipstream - Madge Maril


“Are you challenging me to win the Grand Prix for your hand, Graywood?”
“If you think winning would be a challenge, I guess not.”
He points at me, a real scowl on his lips. “Put your headphones on and sit where I can find you later, micetta. You’re about to watch the best race of your life.”
 
Lilah never imagined she’d be trading hard-hitting political documentaries for the roar of Formula One engines. Thanks to her boyfriend and co-owner of their film-making business, Max, she’s suddenly thrust into a world she can’t stand.
 
Her hopes sink even lower when she meets Arthur Bianco, an enigmatic reserve driver who flirts his way out of every media crisis. But when Max blindsides her by ending their relationship and stealing the company she built, the last person she expects to help her pick up the pieces is Arthur.
 
Reluctantly, they strike a truce: he’ll help her regain control of her documentary, and in return, she’ll film his epic racing comeback and earn him a spot with his former racing team.
 
The enemy of her enemy is a Formula One driver desperate to break free from his contract. But an unexpected speed bump forces Lilah and Arthur’s partnership to evolve into a fake relationship that feels all too real with sparks flying both on and off the track. Now it seems like her next big story might be more personal than she thought…


 
What did I think?

There are not enough romance books set in the world of Formula One so good on Madge Maril for writing such a fast-paced and pulse-pounding novel filled with action and romance.

Lilah Graywood's neurodiversity means that she prefers to stay hidden behind her camera while she films her subject.  That suits Max, her partner (both business and romantic), just fine as he pushes himself into the limelight as the face of Black & Graywood.  I loved Lilah immediately and at the same time detested Max with a passion.   That dirty rotten snake!

When Max ends their professional and private relationships, Arthur Bianco, the moody and flirty F1 driver who Lilah was filming, decides to keep the cameras rolling on one condition...Lilah is the one behind them.  Take that Max, you sneaky little cheater!  Which coincidentally is something I say when watching F1 in real life!

The romance between Lilah and Arthur starts out as fake in an attempt to release Arthur from his contract but it soon feels pretty real and it doesn't just get hot underneath Arthur's race suit.  There's a bit of steam but nothing cringeworthy and the up close and personal scenes are as well-written as the rest of the book.

Thrilling, entertaining and romantic, buckle up for the ride of your life in Slipstream.  It's a must-read for romance readers who are fans of F1.  I enjoyed every millisecond of it and highly recommend it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour:

Thursday, 8 May 2025

BLOG TOUR: Wild About You - Sophie Loxton


She’s had enough of saying yes. But what if someone drives her wild enough to change her mind…?
 
Anna Whitlock is done being nice.  After a lifetime of saying yes to everything - work deadlines, sponsored runs, impromptu drinks and (especially) her fiancé Sean - everything Anna has worked so hard for falls apart in one terrible afternoon. With a broken heart she heads to the countryside to start again. 
 
The glorious Stonemore Estate in the wilderness of Northumberland holds more than enough distraction for a city girl.  There’s Callum, the gorgeous estate manager, and an enthusiastic beagle called Hugo.  And then there’s Jamie, Stonemore’s sexy but emotionally unavailable owner, who seems to be hell-bent on making Anna’s rewilding job as difficult as possible. 
 
But when romance with Callum begins to flourish is her newfound resolve to stop people-pleasing about to falter? And why can’t she stop thinking about Jamie? Can she really start to put herself first and let herself say yes to the thing which will make her happiest, falling truly madly wildly in love…?
 

What did I think?

I picked up Wild About You based solely on its eye-catching cover so it was a lovely surprise to find that it is based in my neighbouring county of Northumberland.  The rugged landscape provides a stunning backdrop to this heartwarming romance and I absolutely adored it.

Anna Whitlock certainly needs to invest in a big coat when she moves from London to Northumberland to start her new job and to heal her broken heart.  Anna really didn't want to fall in love, especially not with the lord of the manor, so she pushes Jamie away whenever they're in danger of getting too close.  Jamie has buried his feelings his whole life so he keeps his guard up too and there's a wonderful will they/won't they running through the story.

Anna and Jamie's burgeoning romance reminded me a little of my old favourite Cinderella story: The Slipper and the Rose.  It is clear that the pair have feelings for each other but Anna doesn't think she's the right woman for Jamie so she pushes him towards the awful Lucinda, who has her sights set on becoming the lady of the manor and is planning to announce her engagement to Jamie at the ball.

Oh I really wanted to knock Anna and Jamie's heads together!  The heart wants what the heart wants and they are miserable apart but I can understand Anna's reasoning for stepping back from Jamie, although it doesn't mean I have to like it!

Charming, heartwarming and incredibly romantic, Wild About You is a gorgeous novel that was an absolute pleasure to read.  I am adding this to my favourites shelf as I definitely want to virtually visit the beautiful Stonemore Estate again.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:




Follow the tour: