BLOG TOUR: Meantime in Greenwich - Hannah Keens

Can an orphaned astrologer and a widowed astronomer put aside their differences to find love?

After Stella’s parents died, she spent her childhood in an orphanage so she fears loving anyone in case she loses them. Her only solace in life is astrology.

Benedict’s wife died in childbirth, so he raised his son alone. When he meets Stella, he is overwhelmed by guilt. And as a respected professor of astronomy, can he really allow himself to fall in love with an astrologer?

Find out whether love is written in the stars for Stella and Benedict in this English romantic comedy.

What did I think?

I absolutely adored Meantime in Greenwich from its clever play on words title to its charming and heartwarming storyline.  It's no secret that Hannah Keens is a pseudonym of Helen Steadman and as Helen is one of my favourite authors it's no surprise that this gorgeous book is going straight on to my favourites shelf.

I used to go to Greenwich a lot when I visited family in London so it was lovely to virtually revisit this part of London in the book as it was brought to life through the wonderfully vivid and descriptive writing.  If I thought the location was vivid, it pales in comparison to the characters who virtually pop from the page.  I loved Stella but it was her love interest Benedict's son Daniel who stole my heart.

So I mentioned the clever play on words in the title earlier and obviously the location is Greenwich (with Durham playing a small cameo) but the Meantime comes from the spat between astrology and astronomy.  Stella is an astrologer and, as her mother taught her, it keeps her mother's memory alive.  Stella meets astronomer Benedict when she attends his lecture about Saturn and they have an instant connection.  Benedict's snooty astronomy colleagues couldn't bear it if he dated an astrologer!

There is just so much to love about this book and it's perfect escapism to put a smile on your face at the end of the day.  It's fabulous feel-good fiction without being sugar-coated as the characters have their own past heartaches and challenges to overcome.  I warmed to the characters so much that I had a lump in my throat at the end and I'm missing them already.

Romantic, charming and uplifting, Meantime in Greenwich is a fabulous romantic comedy that warmed my heart and cheered my soul.  I will definitely be reading it again to brighten my day; it's like my own personal prescription from Dr Steadman.  Very highly recommended.

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 Amazon

About the author:

Hannah Keens is a contemporary English novelist. She writes sweet romantic comedies that will leave you with a smile in your heart. Welcome to a world of love, laughter and happily ever after.

Website: https://hannahkeens.com/ 

Author note from book: https://hannahkeens.com/visit-mysteries-in-covent-garden

Twitter: https://x.com/HannahKeens 

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

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BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY: From the Sideline (The Wake-Up Series Book 2) - Amy Avanzino

After losing her marriage, life savings, and waistline, Autumn Kovac is terrified of being hit by more heartache. So when her only child decides to try out for the football team, the overprotective, sports-illiterate mom has a near phobic reaction. But Zachary hasn’t smiled since his father left, and she’s desperate to make him happy (and doing nothing and hoping for the best hasn’t been working). She reluctantly enters a new world of youth competitive sports, full of overzealous coaches with Vince Lombardi dreams and fanatical parents trying to achieve vicarious glory.

Unexpectedly, Autumn begins transforming within this strangely addictive new culture, finding her voice, facing her past, tackling her fears…and uncovering the secret that’s been keeping her from her son. After meeting her ideal catch, she finds herself back in the dating game and discovers some fierce competition of her own. Will Autumn make it off the sideline? Can the underdog finally win? 

What did I think?

A bit like Autumn Kovac, I didn't know the first thing about American Football although I certainly got into the excitement of the game through Amy Avanzino's enthusiastic writing.

Autumn is a single-mom just trying to do the best for her son Zachary.  When Zachary shows an interest in joining the football team, Autumn puts on her best cheerleader-mom face and takes him to the trials.  As the list goes up announcing who has been picked for the team, Autumn is all prepared to sympathise with Zachary but somehow he got picked.  Life as she knows it will never be the same for Autumn.

It's so easy to like Autumn.  She's an amazing Mom, doing everything she can to support her son - being both mother and father has taken it's toll and Autumn had, let's face it, let herself go.  As she commits to get fit with Zachary, you can really see her changing and she certainly catches the eye of a few men involved with the football team, but which one will win Autumn's heart and indeed which one wants to win it?

It was lovely to see Zachary gaining confidence as he progressed in the team.  I felt as if he grew up during the duration of the book as he can finally see everything that Autumn has done for him.  It's so hard for children of broken families but sport really helps in making them feel like an important part of team.  As the saying goes: it's not the winning, it's the taking part that counts.

From the Sideline is a really fun and heart-warming read; it's an amazing testament of a mother's love for her son.  Whether a child is from a single or two-parent family, I don't think it's ever really appreciated how much has been sacrificed or how much unconditional love has been given so freely.  From the Sideline isn't simply chick lit, it's empowering chick lit.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Henery Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am releasing my review as part of the blog tour and if you'd like the chance to win an e-book, I have a wonderful giveaway for you at the end of my post, courtesy of Amy Avanzino.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon


About the author:

Amy Avanzino received a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a Master’s from the University of Washington. She is a former special education teacher who has spent the last several years writing and doing extensive hands-on research for her Wake-Up Series, the first of which is Wake-Up Call. She’s a contributing writer of Hap Scotch, a play performed at the 2008 Frigid Festival in New York, which won two Audience Choice Awards. Amy currently lives in the stands above the football fields, basketball courts, and baseball diamonds around Folsom, California with her husband and four children. 

Visit her at www.AmyAvanzino.com.

Amy is very kindly offering 2 e-books of Wake-Up Call and 2 e-books of From the Sideline.

For the chance to win one or both, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.  Open internationally.  Good Luck!

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