Blog Tour: Love On the Run by Suzie Tullett

With her ex and her kids away, a woman takes up running and meets a new man - but can they make it to the finish line?

Ten years after their divorce, this is the first time Hannah's ex-husband has had the kids for more than a weekend. Her calendar is gloriously blank, ready to be filled with some self-care time.

That is, until Hannah's BFFs push her to join a charity race for which she'll need to start training - after all, she's not doing anything else.

And her mum nags her to have Aunt Dorothy over for a visit.

So much for me-time...

However, Hannah's not in tip-top shape, and running is a challenge to say the least. Maybe Gabe, the nice-looking personal trainer, can help with that? The more Hannah struggles, the more determined she becomes. But then Hannah is tripped up when she finds out Gabe has a shocking secret. Does this mean he'll be out of the running for a place in her heart?

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Run-heart-warming-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B0BV72T48S/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Run-heart-warming-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B0BV72T48S/

Review

Let's be real, to me a 'fun run' sounds like a contradiction - and yet, this book about a single mum in training for a charity 5k has me considering the merits of digging out my running shoes.

Then again, Hannah has a handsome personal trainer, two supportive best friends who have problems of their own but won't let her get away with hiding, teenage twins who have to learn to not take her for granted, and an absolute gem of an Aunt Dorothy. Aunt Dorothy is hands down my favourite character but I loved how everyone got their moment in the spotlight and a bit of character growth. Yes, it's about running, but even more, it's about Hannah remembering her own worth and reclaiming an identity beyond that of 'single mother'. I'm sure many people will resonate with Hannah's realisation that she's not who she thought she'd be - but her story isn't over yet.

This book gave me all the endorphins without any of the exercise, and I call that a win.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Suzie Tullett is an author of contemporary humorous fiction and romantic comedy. She has a Masters Degree in Television & Radio Scriptwriting and worked as a scriptwriter before becoming a full-time novelist. When she's not busy creating her own literary masterpieces, she usually has her head in someone else's.
Suzie lives in a little Irish cottage by the sea, along with her husband and two Greek rescue dogs.

Social Media Links
Suzie Tullett (Author) | Facebook
https://twitter.com/SuzieTullett
https://www.instagram.com/suzie_tullett/

Review: Backpacking Through Bedlam by Seanan McGuire

The twelfth book in the InCrypid series has us follow Grandma Alice Price-Healy and her long-long, now-found husband Thomas, as they readjust to being married. It's been a very long time coming for readers and for characters, but it's well worth the wait. They have had fifty years of trauma and separation, and they need some time to fit their edges back together, but the world doesn't stop and neither do their problems. From those outstanding at the end of book eleven Spelunking Through Hell to threads from granddaughter Verity's adventures in book one Discount Armageddon, everything is coming together. It's extremely satisfying.

As I was reading, I was acutely aware of the intricate way the Incrypid universe fits together. The events of multiple previous books and five generations of short stories (many free on the author's website or available on Patreon) play into this story, these characters, and their interactions. To make things more complicated, time moves oddly when interdimensional travel is involved so not everything is as we - or Alice - left it. It takes a brilliant mind to fit these stories into such a cohesive whole and I love how this continuity grows and builds upon itself more and more. It's definitely best having read the rest of canon.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing characters love and laugh and consider what it means to be family and care for one another - and themselves. If you like light urban fantasy, families who adore knives, and recognition that not all people are human - don't pick up this book. Pick up the first one, and when you've blitzed through them all, come and yell with me about how amazing this series is.

I received a copy of this book NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

Review: End of Story by Kylie Scott

 

New York Times bestselling sensation Kylie Scott's sexy, smart and unconventional opposites-attract love story looks at what happens when fate refuses to give up on what's meant to be...

When Susie Bowen inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she's excited to start living her best HGTV life. But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex's best friend, Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public breakup six months ago—she isn't exactly eager to have anyone around whose alliance is with the enemy. But beggars can't be choosers, and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to embracing singledom.

Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars discovers a divorce certificate hidden in a wall and dated ten years in the future—with both their names on it. It couldn't possibly be real...could it? As Susie and Lars work to unravel the document's origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn't seem so far-fetched. But would a relationship between them be doomed before it's even begun?

  Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3B6I4fC

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/3Q8LwMT

Nook: https://bit.ly/3vztIAZ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3VBybhn

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3jGWZHx

Audible: http://bit.ly/3jPwAI0

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3VRWqbJ

Review

They weren't quite friends. They were hardly enemies, either. But seeing Susie and Lars make it from whatever-they-were to lovers is charming and entertaining. Even as they annoy each other, they share food and desperately try to avoid mention of Lars' best friend who is also Suzie's awful ex as they puzzle out the mystery of a future-dated divorce certificate found in Suzie's wall.

Susie is delightfully practical with enough flaws to make her believable and relatable. Lars might have terrible taste in friends, but he has an awful lot going for him otherwise. Their supporting cast, led by Susie's bestie Cleo and Lars' brother Tore, add just the right level of flavour.

Smoking hot chemistry and witty banter aside, the little character moments are what makes this book shine and Kylie Scott does them so well! From working through grief and having heart to hearts about cheating to solidarity against a grasping sibling and converting Lars into a Romance reader, they make every page an enjoyable ride.

For a great contemporary romance with just a touch of the paranormal, I definitely recommend this book!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Valentine PR; all opinions are my own 

 

Meet Kylie

Kylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning author. She has sold over 2,000,000 books and was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year four times by the Australian Romance Reader's Association. Her books have been translated into fifteen different languages and she is based in Queensland, Australia.

 

Connect with Kylie

Website: www.kyliescott.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6476625.Kylie_Scott

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyliescottwriter

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/599197093487040

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KylieScottbooks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkyliescott

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kylie-scott

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/KylieScott

 

Blog Tour: Finding Refuge in Bellbird Bay by Maggie Christensen

Thirty-five years ago, tragedy forced Bev Cooper to cut short her university studies and seek refuge in her hometown of Bellbird Bay. Today, as the owner of the thriving Pandanus Garden Centre and Café, Bev has moved beyond the past and is happy in her solitary existence.

Following the tragic death of his son’s wife, Iain Grant takes early retirement and moves with his devastated son and granddaughter to the peaceful coastal town of Bellbird Bay hoping it will provide the change of scene they all desperately need.

When Iain’s son accepts a position at Bev’s garden centre, the pair find themselves drawn into each other’s lives. But as they begin to enjoy an unexpected attraction, issues from the past threaten to derail their growing relationship.

Will the healing atmosphere of Bellbird Bay work its magic and provide a second chance in life, or will Bev find it too difficult to put the past behind her and enjoy her own happy ever after?

A heartwarming tale of family, friends, and how a second chance at love can happen when you least expect it.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/FindingRefuge

Review

Feeling tired? Sad? Weighed down? This book is a soothing later-in-life romance set in a charming little coastal town. Yes, it's fifth in the series and chock-full of side characters who have already found their happily ever after, but the focus doesn't waver from Bev and Iain, along with their close family.

It's refreshing to read about two older leads who have led very different lives with griefs and joys of their own. Bev is happy in her solitary life, though the past carries pain that is brought to the surface just before Iain comes to town with his bereaved son and granddaughter. As Bev takes steps to expand her business and open her heart, Iain and his family begin to settle in a new life and put down roots.

It's touching, heartwarming, and a much needed moment of calm.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!

Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/maggiechristensenauthor
https://twitter.com/MaggieChriste33
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120020.Maggie_Christensen
https://www.instagram.com/maggiechriste33/
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maggie-christensen
https://maggiechristensenauthor.com/

Blog Tour: A Notable Omission by Isabella Muir

A 1970s debate on equality is overshadowed by a deadly secret...

Spring 1970. Sussex University is hosting a debate about equality for women. But when one of the debating group goes missing, attention turns away from social injustice to something more sinister.

It seems every one of the group has something to hide, and when a second tragedy occurs, two of the delegates – amateur sleuth Janie Juke, and reporter Libby Frobisher - are prepared to make themselves unpopular to flush out the truth. Who is lying and why?

Alongside the police investigation, Janie and Libby are determined to prise answers from the tight-lipped group, as they find themselves in a race against time to stop another victim being targeted.

In A Notable Omission we meet Janie at the start of a new decade. When we left Janie at the end of The Invisible Case she was enjoying her new found skills and success as an amateur sleuth. Here we meet her a few months later, stealing a few days away from being a wife and mother, attending a local conference on women's liberation to do some soul-searching...

Purchase Link
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Notable-Omission-Janie-Juke-mystery-ebook/dp/B0BQCLRYS6
US - https://www.amazon.com/Notable-Omission-Janie-Juke-mystery-ebook/dp/B0BQCLRYS6

Review

A fascinating little mystery with a likeable protagonist. 

Janie Jukes is a librarian, a mother, and a part time sleuth. She credits her love of Agatha Christie for any of her success, though it seems that this case is solved through solid police work, intuition, and being a good listener. With lots of little clues dropped, I guessed at the solution before the big reveal, but the story was no less for it.

It's an enjoyable read set in the 1970's, bringing second wave feminism to the forefront as Janie and her friends Libby attend a conference on Women's Rights. There are a heap of little references that signal the time period but even more telling are the attitudes! While it took me a little while to warm to reporter Libby (as a librarian, Janie caught my heart easily) I'm genuinely interested to see how things play out next for these two after their brush with Women's Lib.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Isabella is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of family life in southern England in past decades – specifically those years from the Second World War through to the early 1970s. Researching all aspects of life back then has formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. It was during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing when Isabella rekindled her love of writing fiction and since then she has gone on to publish seven novels, six novellas and two short story collections.

This latest novel, A Notable Omission, is the fourth book in her successful Sussex Crime Mystery series, featuring young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. The early books in the series are set in the late 1960s in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, where we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot. Janie uses all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. This latest novel in the series is set along the south coast in Brighton in early 1970, a time when young people were finding their voice and using it to rail against social injustice.

As well as four novels, there are six novellas in the series, set during the Second World War, exploring some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.

Isabella’s love of Italy shines through all her work and, as she is half-Italian, she has enjoyed bringing all her crime novels to an Italian audience with Italian translations, which are very well received.
Isabella has also written a second series of Sussex Crimes, set in the sixties, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi, who is escaping from tragedy in Rome, only to arrive in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to come face-to-face with it once more.
Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.

Find out more about Isabella and her books by visiting her website at: www.isabellamuir.com

Social Media Links
https://isabellamuir.com/
https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaMuirAuthor
https://twitter.com/SussexMysteries

Blog Tour: Berlin Calling by Lilo Moore

The song contest is hotting up, on and off the stage!

Rose writes twee pop, smiles a lot, and believes in magic and rainbows. When the cheesy love song she wrote is chosen for the European Song Contest, her luck seems to be turning around – especially when a chance encounter leads to the hottest one-night stand of her life. It’s almost too bad she’ll never see him again.

But then Rose discovers it wasn’t a chance encounter. The hot German DJ with the sexy deep voice is her rival for song contest glory.

Grumpy Emil is incredibly talented and the song he spins with his sister could be a winner, even if he doesn’t appreciate the playful spirit of the contest. As the continent falls in love with Rose and Emil’s competitive banter on social media, they must hide their history from the press or risk losing credibility – and a future songwriting career.

With an anonymous gossip out to ridicule the colourful contestants and a plot to undermine European public broadcasting bubbling under the shiny surface, Rose must be strong in the face of criticism and stand up for everything the contest means to her.

If this Canadian girl can save the contest, maybe she can believe that her feelings for Emil are the real deal.

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berlin-Calling-Steamy-contest-romantic-ebook/dp/B0BN42SLN9/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Berlin-Calling-Steamy-contest-romantic-ebook/dp/B0BN42SLN9/

Review 

Sexy, funny, heartfelt and fun - this was an absolute blast from start to finish. Rose’s infectious optimism is irresistible both on the page and off, and her chemistry with Emil sparkles off the charts. I want to read more about these characters and wish them every success. Emil’s sister Daria definitely deserves her turn in the spotlight as she keeps stealing this one!

Yes, it’s full of tropes like one night stands, grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers. If you despise fun and look down on people who celebrate the little joys in life, this book may not be for you. However, if you have an interest in bubbly nineties pop, Eurovision (including Germany and the UK sharing a history of the bottom spot), and a clueless white girl doing her best and learning about herself and geopolitical tensions along the way, I think you’ll enjoy this book. I know I did!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel’s Random Resources; all opinions are my own. 

Author Bio

Lilo Moore is the steamy romantic comedy pen name of travel romance author Leonie Mack. She lives among vineyards in Germany, creating fictional worlds and counting down to her next trip.

Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilo.moore.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeonieMAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilo.writes.romance/
Mailing List - http://subscribepage.io/0EjRqT

Blog Tour: The Potter's House by by Hannah Ellis

Sometimes facing up to the past is the only way to create a better future…

Since the tragic death of his father, Lowen Treneary has kept to himself in his pottery studio on the remote island of Bryher.

His quiet life is just the way he likes it.

Until Pippa comes along.

The local café owner plunges his peaceful existence into chaos and brightens his days while she’s at it.

Soon, he has an employee livening up his workplace with her determination to make his studio more profitable… and a growing attraction to Pippa which he’s trying hard to ignore.

Just as he starts to warm to the idea of letting people into his life again, a crisis hits the island, causing old memories to crash to the surface.

Can the events of the present help to heal wounds from the past? And will Pippa still accept Lowen when she learns the secrets he’s been keeping from everyone around him?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/ScillyBook4

Review

Four brothers in, and it feels like the Treneary lads are falling faster and faster, their family growing stronger and stronger after the tragedy that took their father's life and shattered their bonds of brotherhood.

Rather than grumpy/sunshine, for once we have grumpy/grumpy, with reclusive potter Lowen enjoying a quiet life until stressed cafe owner Pippa asks him to give her niece Mia a job. Mia definitely brings the sunshine - and the matchmaking - but life has loaded Lowen and Pippa with too much baggage to be ignored. There's careful handling of the weight of childhood expectations, even well into adulthood, along with the realisation that sometimes it was all in your head - and sometimes you need to let it out.

The delicate dance of two jaded people slowly realising they're falling in love plays out against the backdrop of the Scilly Isles, and it's poetic that they must each be reminded of the beauty right in front of them. I loved seeing the rest of the Treneary brothers (and their respective families), not just because  enjoyed their books but because it showcased the slow repair of the relationship between Lowen and his brothers. I can't wait to read Jago's upcoming book!

Dislaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Hannah spent many years working in childcare before deciding she'd like to write books. When she's not busy writing she likes to read, drink tea and eat chocolate. She also enjoys yoga and jogging.

Social Media Links
FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorhannahellis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksEllis
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/authorhannahellis/