Saturday 25 May 2019

Blog Tour Review: Tuscan Enchantment by Kate Zarrelli


Tuscan Echantment by Kate Zarrelli
Published: 18th March 2019
Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
Pages:162
Available on Kindle
Rating: 4/5

Blurb
This was no cold marble—this was a man! Antonia goes to Tuscany to rebuild her life. The last thing she wants to do is fall in love, least of all with rich, arrogant, aristocratic Lorenzo.
Librarian Antonia Gray has fled England for northern Tuscany after an unhappy love affair to work on the archive of a 17th century Italian explorer, a member of a centuries-old aristocratic family. There she meets his descendent, Lorenzo Quattromani, rich, arrogant, handsome—and engaged to the beautiful and ruthless Giselle. The last thing Antonia wants is to fall in love, least of all with someone so dangerous. His engagement, though, is not what it seems, and Lorenzo breaks down Antonia’s resistance. But Giselle has other ideas.

Review
After a disastrous romance, shy librarian Antonia Grey flees England and heads for the Tuscan hills where she has found a job archiving the family history of the Countess Quattromani. Here Antonia finds peace and solace for her broken heart until the Countess’s young nephew Lorenzo arrives with his beautiful but cold fiancĂ©e Giselle.

Attractive, arrogant Lorenzo is used to women falling at his feet, so it piques his interest that Antonia wants nothing to do with him. With underlying desires on both sides its not long before romance blossoms and their both contemplating a whole new future, but scorned Giselle has her own ideas about how things will turn out.

Tuscan Enchantment is the perfect steamy romance set in the glorious Tuscan countryside which has been beautifully brought to life by Kate Zarrelli, her descriptions made me long to go there even more.

I loved the historical element which is threaded throughout this book. The castle at Gavedo sounds like an enchanting and also haunting place when its sad links to World war II are revealed.
Although I liked Antonia and Lorenzo as characters my favourite was the old Countess, she was as sharp as a pin even if she wasn’t too steady on her feet and I loved her snarky comments about Giselle.

If you’re after a lovely summer romance with an interesting back story and a few twists, not to mention a gorgeous Italian Stallion, then Tuscan Enchantment is the book for you.


Thank you so much for the publishers for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.

About the Author

Kate Zarrelli is the romance and erotica pen-name of Katherine Mezzacappa. Kate is Irish but now lives in Carrara in Northern Tuscany, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea, with her Italian husband and two teenage sons. She writes historical, erotic, feel-good and paranormal fiction, set all over Europe, and in her spare time volunteers with a used book charity of which she is a founder member. You can follow her on Facebook at Kate Zarrelli books or on Twitter @katmezzacappa.

Social Media Links –

Purchase Links

Giveaway



Giveaway to Win a Little Carrara Marble Heart Pendant (Open Internationally)
·        Can be engraved with winner’s initials
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Friday 24 May 2019

Blog Tour Review: Edie Browne's Cottage by the Sea by Jane Linfoot


Edie Browne's Cottage by the Sea
Published: 24th May 2019
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Available on Kindle
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
Those who don’t jump will never fly…
Hurtling through the sky was supposed to be Edie Browne’s flight of independence. But when she falls head over champagne bucket while celebrating her successful landing, her life is changed in an instant.

But starting over has its benefits, and as Edie relearns the basics under the watchful eye of her Aunty Josie and an entire Cornish village of new friends and neighbours, she finds love and joy she never could have imagined in the unlikeliest of places… 

Come home to St Aidan and Periwinkle Cottage for a romance full of love, laughter and friends for life!

Review

It’s been a while since I read a book by Jane Linfoot but after just a couple of chapters of Edie Browne’s Cottage by the Sea I was reminded just how good a storyteller she is. I found Edie’s journey to recovery so absorbing that it wasn’t long before I was finished.

After suffering a stroke Edie goes to stay with her Aunt Josie to hopefully aid her recovery. What Edie finds when she arrives is that Josie too needs help and together, they begin to overcome the challenges which daily life throws and them. It’s not long before they’re both fully immersed in the village life of St. Aidan and with the community spirit which surrounds them life has never looked so good.

Edie’s a character who will instantly have your heart, despite her setbacks she hasn’t given in and become self-pitying, she’s working towards regaining her old skills and in the meantime learning a few more. I loved the bond she created with young Cam and how the two seemed to help each other blossom over the simplest of tasks. I loved her awkwardness around handsome Barney which led to some hilarious scenes which lightened up the story which in places does get quite emotional.

Josie was a little harder to warm to as she seemed a bit of a reclusive snob at the start of the book, not venturing into the village for anything and instead taking full advantage of the services of Amazon Prime to deliver her every whim whilst wishing she was back in Harpenden with her cleaner and gardener. Once the story unfolded though she came out of her quirky habits and became a central part of village life.

This is a lovely story about second chance, never giving up and the power of community spirit. It was an absolute joy to read and I adored the village of St. Aiden and all its inhabitants and hope Jane is planning another book based there. Edie Browne’s Cottage by the Sea is the perfect summer read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is wanting a warm and uplifting story.
Thank you so much to the publishers for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel’s Radom Resources for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.

About the Author

Jane Linfoot is a best selling author, who lives in a muddy cottage, up a steep hill in Derbyshire, with her family, their pets, and an astonishing number of spiders. Although she loves seeing cow noses over the garden wall, she’s happy she can walk to a supermarket.
Jane grew up in North Yorkshire where she spent a lot of her childhood avoiding horizontal gales blowing off the sea, and wrote her first book by accident, while working as an architect, and renovating country houses. While she loves to write feelgood books that let readers escape, she’s always surprised to hear her stories make people laugh, admits to (occasionally) crying as she writes, and credits her characters for creating their own story lines.

Jane’s garden would be less brambly if she wasn’t on Facebook and Twitter so often. On days when she wants to be really scared, she rides a tandem.

Her latest books include a series of stand alone novels, based around a seaside wedding shop in Cornwall. Cupcakes and Confetti – The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, Sequins and Snowflakes – Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop, and Bunting and Bouquets – Summer at the Little Wedding Shop, and most recently, The Little Cornish Kitchen. These are all published by Harper Impulse,  an imprint of Harper Collins.

Follow Jane on Twitter @janelinfoot, or find her on her Author Page Facebook or her Personal Page Facebook. She’s also on Instagram, and has lots of Pinterest boards relating to her novels.

Purchase Links:


Wednesday 15 May 2019

Blog Tour Review: Crikey A Bodygurad by Kathryn Freeman


Crikey A Bodyguard by Kathry Freeman
Published: 23rd April 2019
Publisher: Choc Lit UK
Pages: 329
Available on Kindle 
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
She’s got the brains, he’s got the muscle …
When Kelly Bridge’s parents insist on employing a bodyguard for her protection, she’s not happy. Okay, so maybe not every woman is on the cusp of developing a vaccine against a potential biological terrorist attack – but crikey, it’s not like she’s a celebrity!

Ben Jacobs flunked spectacularly out of school, so he knows his new client Dr Kelly Bridge spells trouble for him. But on a conference trip to Rome he finds things are worse than he thought. Not only is he falling for the brilliant scientist, he’s also become horribly aware she’s in grave danger. As they go on the run, dodging bullets and kidnappers, can he resist his feelings and keep her safe?

Review
I’ve read quite a few books by Kathryn Freeman now and what I love most about them is that although they are romances and the endings are inevitable the journey to get there is always interesting. With unique settings, realistic characters and engaging storylines Kathryn freeman’s books are a joy to read. 

In Crikey, A Bodyguard, Ben Jacobs has been hired by the parents of Kelly Bridges to protect her. Kelly is a scientist on the verge of discovering a vaccine against smallpox, a disease which if released back into the world could have devastating consequences. She’s noticed she’s being followed so her parents aren’t taking any chances with the safety of their only daughter and Ben is employed to protect her. Kelly’s not happy with this arrangement at first but after a trip to Italy she realises Ben is easy to talk to, fun to be around and not to mention drop dead gorgeous. When Kelly’s safety comes into question the two of them find themselves thrown together as they try to stay undercover from the guys who want Kelly’s knowledge. The inevitable happens and they both develop feelings for one another but will the follow their hearts or stay away like their heads are telling them too.

I loved Ben and Kelly instantly. Ben with his handsome good looks, strength and confidence and Kelly also gorgeous but aware of it, deeply studious and intelligent and shy in social situations seem very different characters but one thing they share is their love of their work and its this strong work ethic which slowly shows them their not that different after all.

I loved everything about this book, the chemistry between Ben and Kelly most of all but I also loved the unexpected twists in the storyline which kept me wondering who was behind the bad guys. I also loved the ending as I didn’t find it too cliched for a romance, it was more like what would happen in the real world. If you haven’t read any Kathryn Freeman yet, then give this a go its one of her best and if you have then you’ll know what a treat you have in store.

Thank you so much to the publishers for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel’s random Resource’s for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.

About the Author


A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.
With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links –



Giveaway



Giveaway to Win a PB copy of Oh Crumbs (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday 2 May 2019

Blog Tour Review: The Liars by Naomi Joy


The Liars by Naomi Joy
Published: 16th April 2019
Publisher: Aria
Pages: 404
Available on Kindle
Rating: 

Blurb

Two women. One deadly secret. A rivalry that could destroy them.

 

Ava Wells is perfect. She has the boyfriend, the career, the looks. One night changes everything and her life isn't so seamless anymore.
Jade Fernleigh is ambitious. She's worked hard to get where she is. And she's not about to let Ava take the job she rightly deserves.
Both women share a secret that could destroy them, but who will crumble first?

Extract
‘What’s David Stein want with Ava?’ George whispered, turning towards me for just a moment. ‘You think this is ‘cos of the inquest?’
I shrugged, lost for words, and watched as Ava motioned for him to come in, then greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. Well, well, well. Although we were all reeling, Ava didn’t look surprised to see him at all. Had they arranged a meeting? Without me?
My green eyes flashed for the second time in as many minutes – first Josh and now David. My body felt like one of those lightning receptors on top of the Shard or the Empire State Building, just after one billion angry God-like volts had struck. Except I couldn’t survive it. Strike after strike of jealousy coursed through my veins, splitting them open until I was nothing but a heap of clothes on the floor, smoke pouring out of them. ‘Where did she go?’ they’d ask. Would anyone care?
In that moment I made a rash decision: I had to act, I couldn’t just stand on the outside looking in. Ava didn’t own the rights to Olivia’s death, and it wasn’t fair she was using Olivia’s passing to get ahead. Not if I couldn’t use it, too.
I got up from my desk, ignoring Georgette’s bleats – Jade, no, Jade, what are you doing, Jade, come back here! – and pushed forward to her office.
 I hated that she had an office. I’d been at the company for eight years and all David Stein had rewarded me with was an area a few metres apart from the communal bullpen, opposite a woman who dressed like a toddler and painted her face like a clown.
I knocked twice at Ava’s closed door, my angry breath forming furious bullseyes of condensation against the glass, and watched as her face fell when she saw it was me. In that moment, the resentment I had for her swelled and I could scarcely believe what I once saw in her as a friend. We used to have lunch together, talk about the ways we could change the company for the better. We’d been a sisterhood at one point. A unit. A team. But ever since Olivia had died and David had taken Ava under his bony wing, favouring her over me in almost every conceivable way despite her vastly inferior experience, the barriers between us had started to stack up and, rather than help me, she relished in every opportunity to kick me back. To make matters worse, David had put us both up for the same job, a glittering promotion which I deserved tenfold over her: Team Head.
So, here I was. Fighting for my career.
I didn’t wait for her to beckon me in.
‘Is everything OK?’ I asked, pushing my way into their clandestine one-to-one. ‘The news about the inquest was pretty tough reading yesterday,’ I said matter-of-factly, closing the door behind me. ‘Olivia would have hated everything being so public.’
‘Jade, could you give us a moment?’ Ava asked curtly, brushing me off.
There she went again, acting as if there was no way I could possibly have been affected by Olivia’s death. It was like she didn’t even remember what we went through together.
‘It’s just—’
‘We’re fine, thank you Jade,’ she repeated, raising her voice.
Before I could speak again, David spat out a rhetorical question aimed at me.
‘Jade – do you mind?’
His words hit like a punch to the gut and my cheeks blazed. Embarrassment opened its mouth and swallowed me whole. I hadn’t expected David to be so rude. Had Ava been busy poisoning him against me? Nevertheless, I didn’t need telling twice and I left in a hurry, floored once again by how Ava had managed to turn an inquest into a way to get ahead at work. I skulked, defeated, back to my desk.
‘Jade, what were you thinki—’
I cut Georgette off. ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
I sat down, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular, unblinking, thinking. I was supposed to be Team Head this year. That was the plan. That had always been the plan. But since Ava had turned up it was as though my years of loyal servitude to this company had all been for nothing: not now a blonde-haired damsel-in-distress with less experience than a toilet brush and the constitution of a ferret had entered the fray. No, I couldn’t let it happen. I had to do something, I had to stop this situation running away from me, I had to reverse the trend, put myself back into the ring. Play dirty, just the way Ava was with me.



About the Author


Naomi Joy is a pen name of a young PR professional who was formerly an account director at prestigious Storm Communications. Writing from experience, she draws the reader in the darker side of the uptown and glamorous, presenting realism that is life or death, unreliable and thrilling to page-turn.

 Follow Naomi:   
Facebook: N/A
Twitter: @naomijoyauthor

Buy links:
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Hv9vq7


Follow Aria

Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction

Blog Tour Review: The Last Dance by Aimee Brown


The Last Dance by Aimee Brown
Published: 16th April 2019
Publisher: Aria
Pages: 354
Available on Kindle
Rating: 5/5

Blurb

Can you truly forgive and forget?

Ambri and Henry have been best friends forever. They've been through the highs and lows of life with each other by their sides. The worst? When Henry's wife, and Ambri's sister, died. Together, they can face it all. Until one night destroys everything.
Two years after he stepped out of it Henry walks back into Ambri's life and she's more than a little shocked. But as old friends fall into even older habits they need to decide whether they can forget the past and embrace their future.
Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult and Anna Bell.
Review
The Last Dance by Aimee Brown is a book which really surprised me. Not knowing anything about the writer I was expecting just an ordinary romance novel, but this is way beyond that, and I really loved it. The sizzling chemistry between Ambri and Henry is on every page and really makes this a believable romance.

Ambri and Henri have been best friends for eleven years and they’ve grown up knowing everything about each other. When Rory, Ambri’s sister and Henri’s wife dies of cancer everything changes. The two grow closer as they support each other through their own emotional trauma at losing someone so close. One night their relationship takes a dramatic turn which leaves Henry racked with guilt and running off to L.A. and Ambri left heart-broken.

Two years later and Henry’s back in town with his new girlfriend and he knows its time to heal old wounds and try and mend his broken bridges. Ambri’s still angry with Henry, who wouldn’t be, so its going to be tough for Henry to win back her trust but surely when two people belong in each other lives they’ll find away.

I warmed to Ambri instantly, she’s so down to earth and cares about her friends immensely, so much so she loses her job defending one of them. I loved that she adored food and could never make her mind up what to order, I so wish I had enough confidence (and money) to order two meals whenever I went out so I could try more dishes. She felt very real to me as her flaws are shown throughout the book and its obvious, she’s coasting along in life like most of us with no real plan or direction, just doing what feels right.

I wanted to dislike Henry so much, who does what he did to his best friend on her birthday and then leaves her life completely for two years. But Henry’s a likable character and somehow, he won me over. I think this is because Aimee Brown has chosen to write The Last Dance from both Ambri and Henry’s views, so we get their take on each event, which I feel was a clever way of writing this book as it adds to the emotions. Things don’t always go to plan when they’re together and its great to read about what happened from their differing perspectives.

I loved all the interaction in this book, between both Henry and Ambria and their friends Ben and Claire. The have such a close bond realistic bond between the four of them its easy to see they’ve spent a lot of time together as old jokes and memories pass easily between them all.

I have loved reading The Last Dance and discovering Aimee Brown as an author, she has a real talent for creating a believable but also magical romantic tale which I highly recommend to any romance fans out there.


Thank you so much to Aria and Netgalley for sending me a copy to review honestly and inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
About the Author

Aimee Brown is a writer of romantic comedies set in Portland, Oregon, and an avid reader. She spends much of her time writing, raising three teenagers, binge-watching shows on Netflix and obsessively cleaning and redecorating her house. She’s fluent in sarcasm and has been known to utter profanities like she’s competing for a medal. Aimee grew up in Oregon, but is now a transplant living in cold Montana with her husband of twenty years, three teenage children, and far too many pets. She is a lot older than she looks and yes, that is a tattoo across her chest. (In the Portlandia spirit, yes, I lived many years in PDX and I do indeed have a bird tattooed on me (2!)) Aimee is very active on social media. You can find her at any of the networks below. Stop by and say hello!

 Follow Aimee:  
Facebook: @authoraimeebrown
Twitter: @AimeeBWrites

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RwEKAx
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2JwJgR2


Follow Aria

Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction


Wednesday 1 May 2019

Blog Tour Review: Coming Home to Wishington Bay by Maxine Morrey


Coming Home to Wishington Bay by Maxine Morrey
Published: 1st May 2019
Publisher: HQ Digital
Available on Kindle
Rating: 5/5 


Blurb

Home is where the heart is…
Holly doesn’t have time for a holiday this year. But when her job threatens to send her over the brink, her boss insists she take a sabbatical. So she packs her bags and escapes to her beloved grandmother Gigi’s house on Wishington Bay, which has sat empty since Gigi passed away.

But Holly’s dreams of a coastal escape take an unexpected turn. Holly didn’t expect to spend time with any man this summer – let alone an Aussie Adonis…but when she meets her next door neighbour Gabe and his little dog Bryan, it’s clear her quiet summer of strolling along the sand and wandering through the seaside village’s tiny streets on her own will come with a hefty dose of distraction.

With a summer to fill and Gigi’s wonderful and surprising house to sort through, Holly knew it would be a summer packed with old memories. She just didn’t expect to make so many new ones…

Coming Home to Wishington Bay is the new gorgeous uplifting rom-com from Maxine Morrey, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Tilly Tennant!

Review

Coming Home to Wishington Bay is another gem of a book by Maxine Morrey, I love how she never fails to make me smile when reading any of her books and this one is no exception. It may be a predictable romance; but I just loved following Holly on her journey on how to relax and let the romance flow.

Holly is a self-confessed workaholic who hasn’t taken a holiday in years. After her latest panic attack sees her sliding down her bosses’ desk into a heap, she’s forced to take the summer off or she’ll have no job. Reluctantly Holly heads to Wishington Bay to the house she was left by her late grandmother Gigi. Filled with happy memories from her childhood Holly’s overcome with sadness that she didn’t spend as much time with Gigi as she could have. After an unexpected exposĂ© with neighbour Gabe the two strike up a firm friendship that soon has the makings of becoming the romance Gigi was hoping for Holly, but will Holly relax enough to let it happen

This was such a joy to read Holly was a great character with such a great creative streak once she learned to switch off from her job and did thing that made her happy. I loved the easy banter she has with Gabe almost instantly and them chemistry between them sizzles away slowly throughout the book.

We never actually meet Gigi in the book but I loved how through Holly exploring her old belongings and sharing memories with Ned, Carrie and Gabe that we really got a feel for what a wonderful woman she must have been with so much love to give out to those she cared about, she reminded me a lot of my own grandma.

Even though I’m not a dog fan little Bryan was one of the highlights of this book, every-time he was mentioned curling up with Pete the Prawn I just got a huge smile on my face imagining how cute he must have looked…..feel free to run into my house anytime Bryan.

This is a great novel which I highly recommend about letting go of stress and finding out truly what makes you happy in the most perfect of settings….Wishington Bay.


Thank you so much to the publishers for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.

About the Author

Maxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten.

As time went by, she continued to write, but 'normal' work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a local history book on Brighton. However, novels are her first love.

In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK's 'Write Christmas' competition with her first romantic comedy, 'Winter's Fairytale'.

Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read, sew and listen to podcasts. Being a fan of tea and cake, she can (should!) also be found doing something vaguely physical at the gym.

Follow Maxine Morrey
Website           www.scribblermaxi.co.uk
Twitter                 @Scribbler_Maxi
Instagram            @scribbler_maxi
Facebook            www.Facebook.com/MaxineMorreyAuthor
Pinterest              ScribblerMaxi



Giveaway


Giveaway to Win a Wishington Bay notebook, a Wishington Bay canvas shopper bag, and an e copy of the book. (Open to UK only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve 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 I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway