BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Way Home - Amanda Prowse

What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?

Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.

But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.

As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold―making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new.

Torn between the comfort of the past and the call of progress, Lilly-Bob must decide: is home made of bricks and mortar, or is it a place inside ourselves?

 

What did I think?

Amanda Prowse books are always a guaranteed five star read for me and The Way Home is no exception.  Amanda never fails to make me cry and I thought I had gotten away with it this time as my tears didn't appear until about 80% through.  You got me again, Mrs Prowse!

I had never heard of compulsory purchase orders before and it must be very upsetting to be on the receiving end of one.  That's what happens to Lilly-Bob when she is being forced to leave the only home she has ever known.  All of her memories are in her home and it feels like losing her parents all over again. 

With a past and present timeline, there are flashbacks of heartwarming and heartbreaking events from Lilly-Bob's life in between battles with the developer and her blossoming friendships with her neighbours and a mystery man she meets on the banks of the River Thames.

It really made me think about how much we attach memories to places and things when really the memories are inside ourselves all along.  I completely understood why Lilly-Bob wanted to hang on to her home, but for some people it can be difficult to return to a place after the loss of a loved one as it reminds us that they're not there anymore.  It's also a stark reminder that there are two sides to every story and it was this revelation that made me cry.

Filled with friendship, love and warmth, The Way Home is an incredibly emotional and heartwarming story that lingers long after the final page has been turned.  All the stars once again for Amanda Prowse.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Love Always Lindisfarne - Kimberley Adams

Return to Northumberland where happy ever afters await…

Take a magical trip to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of warmth and joy, it will leave you with a wide smile and a yearning to visit this iconic location in person.

When the almost unbelievable truth about Kittiwake Penaluna’s heritage comes to light, the residents are shocked, but in true island fashion they rally together to protect their fledgling chick as she faces life-changing revelations.

Meanwhile, the island mourns the loss of its beloved village butcher, and the closure of the shop on Main Street leaves a hole at the heart of the community. Then, when other businesses unexpectedly close, rumours begin to circulate about who might be behind the unsettling changes.

As familiar faces depart, new ones arrive, but not everything is as it seems. And when a despised figure from the past returns, old tensions resurface and the island is thrown into further turmoil.

Amid the chaos, Ellie and Zen finally begin preparing for their long-awaited wedding, but as always on the island, nothing goes quite according to plan. With difficult decisions to make and obstacles to overcome, they soon discover that they can weather any storm, because love always endures on Lindisfarne…

 

What did I think?

I absolutely adored my fourth virtual visit to Lindisfarne, a beautiful island that I have been fortunate to visit in real life, in Love Always Lindisfarne.  Although this is book four, each book can be read as a standalone but you will definitely want to read them all (and visit the island) when you discover this outstanding series.

Ellie and Zen are preparing for their wedding but this is Kimberley Adams' Lindisfarne so there's lots going on to keep the reader entertained until the big day.  I absolutely adore Ellie and Zen's love story and the fact that the whole island is involved in it.  If you've ever been to Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island) you will realise that this is very easy to imagine as the community is very tight-knit on this very small and picturesque tidal island.

This is like a soap opera in a book and it's impossible to put down but, unlike your favourite soap, you don't have to wait until the next episode as you can just keep on reading.  I was completely enthralled by the captivating story that was unfolding before my eyes.

There's romance, drama, community spirit and family at its heart to keep the reader entertained from start to finish, with a few villains thrown in for extra amusement.  The beautiful island of Lindisfarne is a character in its own right and Kimberley Adams wonderfully captures and portrays its unique personality through her warm and effusive words. 

Warm, witty and wonderful, I really can't recommend Love Always Lindisfarne highly enough.  There aren't enough stars in the dark skies of Northumberland to award this fabulous book; an easy five stars.  Keep 'em coming, Kim!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Kim was born in Corbridge in Northumberland and still lives in this gorgeous corner of the world. Passionate about the area, Kim tends to set her work in the northeast, and why not considering the wealth of stunning scenery and the warm-hearted locals, both of which constantly give her ideas for future writing endeavours.

Kim’s debut Love Lindisfarne was released October 2023 and from its first cover release on social media gained momentum, taking Kim totally by surprise. Kim had never envisaged writing more than one book, but here we now are at number four, three Lindisfarne book and a Christmas novella called the Christmas Angel of the North which is about a nana and her granddaughter and set in Newcastle.

Kim finds most of her inspiration mooching around cafes across the Northeast where she ‘overhears’ some of the funniest and warmest things that are stored away for future use (anonymously of course!) If you see her, buy her some cake, then she promises never to write about you – unless you want her to of course!

Kim is very proud of her ratings on Amazon and if you want to read reviews for her previous books just pop on and you will be able to see just why Kim gets quite emotional over some of the lovely things that have been said about the books! If you do enjoy the books, please try and leave a rating or review, you don’t even have to have bought the book from Amazon, but each rating helps towards getting the system to recognise Kim and her books.

Social Media Links – 

X Twitter - @kim_adamsWriter

Facebook – Kimberley Adams-Writer

FB Page – Love Lindisfarne

Instagram – love_lindisfarne

Or follow her on Amazon.

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BLOG TOUR: Under Vixens Mere - Kit Fielding

After Harry Jones takes his life in the chilling waters of Vixens Mere, not one body is recovered, but two.

Vixens Mere marina hosts a ragtag houseboat community whose lives are as tangled as their mooring ropes, each trying to escape something.

A marriage damaged by PTSD, a guilty lover, aging hippies with a secret sadness, a newcomer escaping a toxic relationship, and a kindhearted misfit whose loyalty is tested to the limit.

Under Vixens Mere tells the story of these boondock boat dwellers as they unify against investigators, vindictive exes, and anyone else who messes with them.

Step aboard and lose yourself in the complex ties of this small community.

 

What did I think?

Under Vixens Mere is a real hidden gem of a novel as I almost didn't pick it up but I'm so glad that I did.  It is filled with drama and secrets as the reader peeks through the curtains of each houseboat in Vixens Mere marina.  There's a fabulous hand-drawn map in the front of the book too - yay!

The haunting prologue hit me like a sucker punch as Harry Jones steps foot in Vixens Mere to end his life.  Harry's story continues throughout the book and it is so incredibly poignant that it brings tears to my eyes just thinking of it now.  The police are puzzled when they recover Harry's body and find another body beneath him.  What a fabulous mystery!

I loved how each chapter starts with the name of the boat and the characters in the scene.  The houseboat community is very close-knit and they will do anything for each other.  This story sets out exactly what they will do for their friends and it's not just about hiding the bodies.

I was completely riveted from start to finish and once I picked up Under Vixens Mere I couldn't put it down, reading it in two sittings.  I adored the marina setting and the eclectic characters who I really came to care about.

Entertaining, compelling and poignant, Under Vixens Mere is a fabulous book that shocked, surprised and delighted me.  I loved it and think it's well worth a read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

About the author:

Kit Fielding plans and writes his novels in a motorhome at various locations around the country. 

The feeling of impermanence is natural to him due to his mother’s traveller roots and a childhood succession of tied-cottages accommodation in different parts of England. 

Kit Fielding says that there was always a curiosity about what was waiting, or was lurking, just around the corner. This legacy has stayed with him to the present day and it feeds into his work.

Social Media Links:

Insta: @inkspotpub 

FB: Inkspotpublishing

Giveaway

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BLOG TOUR: Christmas at Hollybush Farm - Jo Thomas

Jemima Jones is driving home to her family's magical hill-top farm for Christmas…

And on arrival, she soon learns that her dad has been keeping a secret – all is not as it seems, and Hollybush Farm is struggling to make ends meet! Worried about losing the childhood home she loves, Jemima must pull on her winter wellies and get stuck in.

Amid the chaos of chasing after escaping sheep and organising the Christmas tractor run, Jemima begins documenting her slice of farming life on social media. As she builds a supportive online following, she also forms an offline connection in the shape of charming, retired rugby player Llew, her very own Santa's helper.

With a sprinkle of festive cheer and a dash of goodwill, might the community pull together to help save the farm in time for Christmas?

 

What did I think?

It's been a while since I last read a Jo Thomas book so I was delighted to remedy that by reading her latest novel, Christmas at Hollybush Farm.  As well as being full of charm and community spirit, it highlights the real plight faced by modern-day farmers and really made me see the sale of farm land in a different light.

Jem has stood by her dad through thick and thin and that's not about to change any time soon.  When she returns to her childhood home of Hollybush Farm with her partner Matthew it's both to celebrate Christmas and a potential engagement.  I adored Jem from the start and took an instant dislike to Matthew as he seems to want to control everything in his life, including Jem.  Good luck with that, mate!  Jem is no pushover!

When it becomes clear that Jem has to stay longer than planned, Matthew can't get out of there quick enough.  I thought this would mean that my negativity and dislike towards some of the characters was over but there's more to come.  I'm getting angry just thinking about the annoying dog woman who thinks that because she has a dog she can walk it wherever she likes, including the sheep pens on private property.  I was (and still am) FUMING!  I have the same issue at home with people walking their dogs on my front lawn and using my planter as a toilet but I'm the person in the wrong for banging on the window! 

I applaud Jo Thomas for highlighting a very real issue that all farmers face as supermarkets want their products cheaper and they struggle to make ends meet.  I have noticed the loss of so much farm land in my own area over the last couple of years and there's plans for more to be turned into housing and even a solar farm.  It's not that the farmers are making money from selling their land, it's either sell some of their land or lose their whole farm.  It's so very sad and so very real.

The way the whole community comes together to save not just the farm but the village cafe will melt even the hardest of hearts.  This fabulous novel is so much more than a festive, heartwarming read though; it's relevant, thought-provoking and unforgettable.  Very highly recommended.

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:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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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:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Bad Women (The Brampton Village Mysteries Book 2) - Jennie Ensor

It is a new year and the Covid pandemic is a distant memory for the residents of Wilton Close. If only the sudden death of neighbour Tara Sanderson wasn’t still haunting some of them. But Tara is very much alive in memories, and consciences – in particular, those of friends Ashley Khan, Elspeth Chambers and Clare ‘Bird Woman’ Titchfield.

Then a young woman from a nearby caravan park is found dead in a local quarry. Police conclude it was suicide; she was gravely ill when she died. But is there more to the tragic death than meets the eye?

Attempting to lay ghosts to rest, Ashley becomes obsessed with solving the mystery, finding an unlikely ally in the local police. Her friends insist on helping, too. Clare must make amends after she carelessly let the local vicar snatch her drawing of the scene of Tara’s death. Elspeth seeks atonement for her role in Tara’s unfortunate demise – while doing her best to quell suspicions that the three friends are guilty of a heinous crime.

The trio find themselves trailing the young woman’s suspected killers, pitching them against powerful men determined to keep their own secrets hidden. To stand a chance of defeating their adversaries, the women must find a courage beyond their imagination.

 

What did I think?

I am delighted that Jennie Ensor has written a sequel to The Bad Neighbour as I loved it and I couldn't wait to visit Brampton Village again in The Bad Women.

Elspeth, Ashley and Clare are trying to put the death of their neighbour Tara behind them but Tara is as relentlessly annoying in death as she was in life.  The three women know exactly what happened to Tara and they are never going to have any peace until the threat of discovery no longer hangs over them.  That might be sooner rather than later with a new detective in town...

There are more suspicious deaths in Brampton for the police to investigate with a little help from Brampton's very own bad women.  The writing is exquisite and the plot twists and turns beautifully to keep the reader on their toes.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see how it was all going to pan out (and to discover why there were chillies on the cover) and I absolutely loved it.

The Bad Women is an intelligent and menacing psychological thriller that is completely unputdownable and unmissable.  A very highly recommended read.

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:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Love Forever Lindisfarne - Kimberley Adams

Take a summer break to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of love and laughter, it will leave you yearning to visit this iconic location in person!

When a stranger appears in the middle of a very important celebration, no one can foresee the island connections that will later come to light. Kittiwake Penaluna is drawn to the island at a sad time in her life; she’s broken, but it doesn’t take long for the islanders to rally round and take her under their wing.

Ellie and Zen are busier than they’ve ever been, jumping from task to task with little time for themselves. Will they ever find a moment together away from all the drama that constantly follows them around the island?

The forthcoming arrival of nine new mini animals puts even more pressure on the islanders, but Bert is resolute, and it’s all hands to the pump to prepare for their arrival. The Mini-Fest fundraiser gets off to a great start, until a despised face from the past appears and throws everything into chaos.

Full of heart, Love Forever Lindisfarne is a story steeped in love and community. You'll reunite with beloved characters who feel like old friends and meet a few lively newcomers with big personalities! Each page will pull you deeper into island life and leave you with a wide smile and a warm glow!

 

What did I think?

I love Kimberley Adams' Lindisfarne books and couldn't wait for the tide to go out so I could cross over to my favourite island once again.  Love Forever Lindisfarne is my third virtual visit to Lindisfarne (although I am lucky enough to have previously visited it in real life) and whilst it can be read as a standalone, the whole series is brilliant and it brings so much more to this book when you have read the others.

It's like catching up with old friends when I opened the first page of Love Forever Lindisfarne and how I loved to read about Ellie and Zen, Bert and Meg and the menagerie of animals that is about to grow a lot bigger.  Those 'little hairy coos' on the front cover melted my heart before I even read about them in the book.  I've also got to take a moment to draw your attention to the stunning cover created by Sarah Farooqi and the Northumberland flag on Zen's top is a lovely touch.

Community spirit plays a huge part in the Love Lindisfarne books but it is even stronger and more evident in Love Forever Lindisfarne.  Not only does the community come together to rescue some new animals, but they also open their hearts to a visitor who is feeling very lost and lonely.  Awww man, I just loved Kittiwake and how the villagers all rally round to make her feel welcome and loved.

Love Forever Lindisfarne is the loveliest and most heartfelt love letter to Northumberland you will ever read.  There's lots of love and laughter sprinkled throughout this cracking book like magical Northumberland fairy dust.  I think everyone will want to visit Holy Island after reading these books and I can honestly say that it is as breathtaking as Kimberley Adams paints it with her beautiful words (just watch out for the tides).  Very highly recommended; unforgettable and unmissable!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Kim writes heartwarming romantic comedies which are set in glorious Northumberland on the iconic Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Kim is an award-winning writer and her books are amongst the highest rated romcoms on Amazon. Kim’s beautiful book covers are bespoke artwork by a Northumbrian artist and a representation of a scene within the book!

FACEBOOK Kimberley Adams-Writer or Love Lindisfarne
X kim_adamsWriter
INSTAGRAM love_lindisfarne

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Island Calling (Tuga Trilogy Book 2) - Francesca Segal

What if your mother knows you better than you know yourself?

On remote Tuga de Oro, vet Charlotte Walker has been taken to the islanders’ hearts and, between days on the farms and nights with a new love interest, she’s content to remain in blissful retreat from her real life, in London.

Just for now, obviously.

Until real life hits the island with the force of a tropical storm: Charlotte’s mother arrives.

Lucinda Compton-Neville knows an identity crisis when she sees one, and has come to haul her daughter back on course: back to England, back to her career, back home where she belongs.

Funny, moving, and hope-filled, Island Calling is the joyous second novel in the Tuga Trilogy – about mothers and daughters; about holding on and letting go. 

What did I think?

The tropical island of Tuga is open to readers once again and I couldn't be more delighted to take a virtual trip to see what the characters are up to in part two of the trilogy, Island Calling.

The island may be open to readers but it's not open to visitors, however, one strong-willed woman manages to make it ashore.  Lucinda Compton-Neville has come to bring her daughter home but Charlotte's work studying the island's tortoises is far from over.  In a battle of wills, the mother-daughter relationship is stretched to breaking point in a funny, poignant and heartwarming kind of way. 

I loved picking up with the characters where we left off in Welcome to Glorious Tuga and particularly enjoyed reading about the mother-daughter relationships in the book.  It's very true that although you might argue from time to time, it's quickly forgiven and forgotten as a mother's love really knows no bounds.  I'm not a mother but I am a daughter and I really tested those bounds over the years!

The pacing is gentle but the story is compelling so the pages keep turning effortlessly as we peek into the lives of our favourite islanders.  There's a bit of drama, a sprinkling of romance and a few surprises in store in this instalment and I can't wait to see how it all wraps up in book three.

Grab your virtual passport and take a trip to Francesca Segal's fictional island of Tuga.  It's a place you won't want to leave once you set foot on the colourful and welcoming land.  A very highly recommended read filled with drama, love and a warmth that has made a permanent Tugan-shaped home in my heart.

I received a gifted hardback to take part in the Insta Book Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Welcome to Glorious Tuga (Tuga Trilogy, 1) - Francesca Segal

 

Welcome to glorious Tuga – the world’s most remote island and Charlotte Walker’s new home.

Charlotte has swapped her grey life in London for a year in this tropical paradise. Officially, she’s there for conservation but the reality is far more complicated.

For somewhere on Tuga lies the answer to a truth she’s waited her whole life to learn. If she finds it, then perhaps she might finally find herself too.

What did I think?

I was drawn to Welcome to Glorious Tuga by its stunning cover that just drew me in and begged me to pack my virtual suitcase so I could visit Tuga for a five day readalong.

There's a map and a dramatis personae in the start of the book although Francesca Segal's beautiful words painted the island and the characters in dazzling colours for me as I progressed through the book.  I do love a map and a list of characters though!

Charlotte Walker is sailing to Tuga from London to study tortoises for a year but she has an ulterior motive too and she is looking for something else on the island.  Charlotte meets Dan Zekri on the voyage who is returning home to Tuga to take up a position as the island doctor when his uncle retires.  There is clearly chemistry between Charlotte and Dan but Dan has not been entirely truthful with Charlotte, which made me see him in such a bad light that I am unsure whether he can ever redeem himself.

The island is like one big family with everyone knowing everyone's business.  Eeeek!  It has a great sense of community but the island gossip would test my patience.  I really felt as if I was there and I love being transported to sunny climes in books but without suffering the inevitable sunburn and dehydration.

Whilst the pacing is gentle and there are a lot of characters to get to know, it's a book that captures your attention and refuses to let go.  Much like life itself, there are a lot of ups and downs but plenty of laughs and one or two surprises along the way.

Immersive, compelling and beautifully written, Welcome to Glorious Tuga is pure escapism that transports the reader to the fabulous isolated island of Tuga de Oro.

I received a gifted paperback to take part in the Insta Book Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe - Julie Haworth

New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café tells the story of Tori who, after being dumped and left stranded by her long-term boyfriend Ryan on a trip of a lifetime to Asia, returns home to the sleepy Sussex village of Blossom Heath with her tail between her legs and her dreams shattered. Donning her frilly apron to help her Mum, Joyce, behind the counter at The Cosy Cup Café, Tori starts to believe – with the help of a hunky fireman and a clowder of rescue cats - that perhaps the secret to her future happiness might lie closer to home than she ever thought possible.

 

If you love your romance with a side order of cake, cats and cosy community dynamics, this is the purrfect uplifting, feel-good read from the winner of the RNA Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year 2023.

 

What did I think?

This gorgeous novel is the purrfect pick-me-up that warmed my heart and uplifted my spirits.  It's a fabulous book in its own right and can be read and enjoyed as a standalone but it's even better if you've visited Blossom Heath before in Julie Haworth's delightful debut novel, Always By Your Side.  It was so lovely to see some of the characters I'd met before and it felt like catching up with old friends.

New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café is Tori's story and it's not going quite how she planned.  I was so upset (and mad) for her when her boyfriend Ryan decided he 'wasn't a relationship guy'...perhaps he should have mentioned that a tiny bit earlier during the four years of their relationship.  What a snake!

Tori returns home to Blossom Heath to help her mum in her cafe and her visit to Asia inspires her to change the cafe into a cat cafe.  With the help of the wonderful community, Tori's dreams are sure to become a reality and maybe the man she's really supposed to spend her life with is just around the corner.

There's a lot going on in the book to keep the reader interested and entertained from start to finish.  I think I read it far too fast, devouring every word as if it was the last book I'd ever read, so I do plan to read it again when I next fancy a trip to Blossom Heath.

Uplifting, heartwarming and simply delightful, New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café is a real gem of a book and it is one I will treasure.

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:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Bookshop Ladies - Faith Hogan

Bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, has created another gripping saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.

Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.

She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.

As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the secrets behind her husband's painting grows increasingly challenging. When she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community she's grown to love.

 

What did I think?

Faith Hogan is one of my favourite authors and I didn't think I could love one of her Ballycove books more than I already do and then she goes and writes one set in a bookshop.  As well as books, it is of course filled with drama, secrets and the wonderful Ballycove community spirit.

I had tears in my eyes before I had even finished the dramatic prologue as Joy's life changed forever in the blink of an eye.  Not only does Joy have her own grief to deal with, she is rocked by a confession her husband made with his final breath.  Joy leaves her home in Paris and sets of to Ballycove in Ireland to hand deliver a painting that her husband has bequeathed in his will.

Joy is rightfully angry but her anger vanishes almost instantly the moment she steps inside the bookshop owned by Robyn Tessier.  Robyn assumes that Joy has come to volunteer for work and Joy is too polite (and a little shellshocked) to set Robyn straight.  It's not ideal to start a friendship with secrets and it gets harder to find the right time to be honest as time goes on, but I could tell that Joy's heart was in the right place and that Ballycove had a firm grip of Joy's heart.

The wonderful community of Ballycove once again plays a huge part in the story and it was lovely to see some old faces that I have come to know and love over the years.  The Bookshop Ladies is a standalone novel though, so you don't need to have read any of the other books to enjoy it.

A book set in a bookshop is a book lover's dream and The Bookshop Ladies is a wonderfully heartwarming and engaging read.  There are books aplenty to delight the bookworms among us but it's the characters who leave a lasting impression on the reader in this very highly recommended read.

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:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Philosophy of Love - Rebecca Ryan

What is love? Is it something spiritual or wholly physical? Can our feelings be explained and quantified? Or are we all actually two halves of a whole?

Ask Alice and Luke and you’d receive vastly different answers.

Despite her world having been recently dismantled by a messy break-up, Alice would tell you that love is the most important – albeit ineffable – human experiences. But when she once again crosses paths with her old school nemesis, Luke, he challenges this. Luke is a scientist and he’s certain love can be measured and explained – just like everything else.

So the two decide to make a bet: they’ll each venture back into dating and if one of them falls in love, Alice wins, if not, then Luke does.

But can anyone win when you’re playing with emotions?

 

What did I think?

I absolutely loved Rebecca Ryan's debut novel, My (extra)Ordinary Life, so I was very excited to read her new book, The Philosophy of Love.  Well, just imagine my delight when I found out that it was set just a few miles down the road in Easington Colliery.  What a lovely surprise!

After breaking up with her boyfriend, who was also her boss, Alice suddenly finds herself homeless and unemployed.  So, she packs her meagre belongings and leaves London to live with her parents in a little village in County Durham.  It's not long before Alice bumps into her old schoolfriend Luke and the sexual tension between them virtually sizzles off the page, although neither of them can see it; they're too busy trying to win a bet about love.

The chemistry between Alice and Luke is like a smouldering candle just waiting for a little draught of air to ignite it, but the last place that Alice thinks to look for love is right in front of her.  Of course it would have been a very short story if she had fallen for Luke right away!

As well as the wonderful romance, there's a really strong sense of family and community in the book as the villagers all come together to save their local community centre.  I loved how Alice's family all rallied around her, along with her friends new and old.  Village life in the north-east is depicted beautifully in this book as well as the warmth and friendliness of the people in the region.

Rebecca Ryan admits to using a lot of artistic license to recreate Easington for her readers and her writing is so wonderfully vivid that it really brings the village to life.  Whilst I understand the need to change and embellish some things in the village, it's a shame that the names of a north-east landmark and university were changed.  It didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book at all though, it's just that I get a kick out of seeing places I know in print. 

                  

Funny, flirty and completely captivating, The Philosophy of Love is filled with north-eastern charm and wit and it delighted me from start to finish.  Rebecca Ryan is certainly one to watch and I definitely consider myself a fan.

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

My rating:

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