Blog Tour: The Flame Within by Liz Harris

From award-winning author of The Dark Horizon, Liz Harris, comes the second in a sweeping saga set between the wars, which tells the story of the Linfords, a family simmering with secrets, lies and betrayal.

London, 1923

Alice Linford stands on the pavement and stares up at the large Victorian house set back from the road—the house that is to be her new home.

But it isn’t her house. It belongs to someone else—to a Mrs Violet Osborne. A woman who was no more than a name at the end of an advertisement for a companion that had caught her eye three weeks earlier.

More precisely, it wasn’t Mrs Osborne’s name that had caught her eye—it was seeing that Mrs Osborne lived in Belsize Park, a short distance only from Kentish Town. Kentish Town, the place where Alice had lived when she’d been Mrs Thomas Linford.

Thomas Linford—the man she still loves, but through her own stupidity, has lost. The man for whom she’s left the small Lancashire town in which she was born to come down to London again. The man she’s determined to fight for.

The Flame Within is perfect for readers of The Thorn Birds and the Cazalet Chronicles, and the novels of Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore.

Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Within-gripping-between-Linford-ebook/dp/B08GQB97NF  
US - https://www.amazon.com/Flame-Within-gripping-between-Linford-ebook/dp/B08GQB97NF

Review:

This was a lovely book though I didn't know what to expect from it. While the blurb describes where the story starts - Alice, determined to reclaim her husband - the majority of the book is made up of flashbacks leading to this point. We see Alice's childhood ambition to escape the life her parents lead, her time as a nurse, her marriage to Thomas, and the troubles that came with it, and how their story eventually resolves.

It's a gorgeous period piece that deals with mental health and the toll it takes on others. It's also a reminder than love needs attention and effort to thrive - if you don't feed it, it will die. While I wouldn't call this a romance, it does have a happy ending, even if it's not the one I would've preferred - let's be real, there's one character who did not get the ending they deserved (no spoilers, though warning for infidelity).

Despite being second in a saga, it stands well on its own, neither needing the first book nor spoiling it, so if the inter-war period or family dramas tweak your interest, pick this one up!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are my own.

Author Bio:

Liz’s first six novels were published by Choc Lit. The Road Back was the US Coffee Time and Romance Book of the Year, A Bargain Struck was RoNA-shortlisted for Best Historical Novel, and they and The Lost Girl, Evie Undercover, The Art of Deception and A Western Heart were shortlisted by the Festival of Romantic Fiction in their respective categories. Liz’s latest historical novel, The Dark Horizon, Book 1 of The Linford Series, which is set between the wars, was released in May 2020. She has also had short stories published in several anthologies and in magazines.
Liz is an active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and also of the Historical Novel Society. She regularly gives talks and workshops at conferences, and is an approved speaker for organisations such as the WI and U3A. Her hobbies are theatre, reading, travel, cryptic crosswords. You can visit her website at www.lizharrisauthor.com

Social Media Links:
Website:    www.lizharrisauthor.com
Twitter:    @lizharrisauthor
Facebook Author Page:    https://www.facebook.com/lizharrisauthor
Instagram:    liz.harris.52206

Love Song by Kylie Scott

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…

There’s always the one that got away. Or kicked you out...

The new darling of rock n’ roll, Adam Dillon, is ready to show his ex-girlfriend, Jill Schwartz, what a mistake she made kicking him to the curb. So maybe he wasn’t the best of boyfriends. Writing great songs and climbing to the top of the charts isn’t easy. Only problem is, he's fast finding out that success isn't everything.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Download your copy today exclusively on Amazon!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/36lJJx4
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/lovesongks
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2A18UZM
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3cR7saZ 

Review

Once again, it's an absolute pleasure to step back into the Stage Dive world and to see how old faces are coming along. Relationships are stronger than ever, families are growing, and there's always a bit more romance on the horizon.

Or in the case of Jill and Adam, in the past. Because Adam was a terrible boyfriend and now he's making bank telling the world how she steamrolled his heart. Jill is 100% over him, for sure, but she has a few things she wants to say to him before she moves on entirely.

It's an incredibly cathartic scene. The entire confrontation is great, peppered with humour, but when Jill totally blows her top, I'm hooked. And of course, once the hurt is in the open and cards are on the table, that's when Jill realises she's still got feelings.

I really enjoyed the reconciliation and the pep talk Jill gets from the rest of the Stage Dive ladies (always great to check in with them!). It did feel very short; I think the one thing that could've made it better would be a bit more on how Adam has grown in the things that led to Jill kicking him out.

If you love Stage Dive, you'll love this extra peek into their world - if you haven't met them yet, it's a great place to start!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Social Butterfly PR; all opinions are my own

Tempting the Scoundrel by Tracy Sumner

Below stairs is where the romance begins..

As the most distinguished watchmaker in England, Christian Bainbridge believes in accurate timepieces, not love. He secretly offered his heart years ago, and he’s never gotten it back. When Raine Mowbray stumbles into his life again, Christian realizes the woman he’s worshiped from afar is still the woman he desires above all others.

Raine Mowbray needs solitude and employment, not love. A housemaid forced to flee a loathsome earl’s grasp, the last thing she’s seeking is a man’s amorous attention. When she finds herself unexpectantly paired with a gorgeous watchmaker in need of an assistant, she’s unnerved by his wit, kindness—and clandestine devotion to her.

If you like spirited heroines who fight falling in love and charmingly arrogant heroes who think they know best, then this is the book for you! Snuggle up with Tempting the Scoundrel, a steamy second chance, love-at-first-sight Regency Romance!

This is a Downton Abbey-ish novella at 98 pages and 25K words.

Review

Most Regency romances focus on the ton. It's refreshing to read a romance below stairs - sort of. Christian considers himself as somewhere in the middle - a self-made man who is cousin to an earl. While staying with said earl, he spies a beautiful maid reading by lamplight and falls in love instantly. Too young and shy to even introduce himself, he leaves the next morning to begin an apprenticeship as a watchmaker.

Ten years later, he's the famous guest of a duke and she is the newest maid. Sparks fly - but can Christian convince Raine that the gap between them is not so impossible to bridge?

I really loved these two together - Christian is smart and determined, but terrible with expressing his long-held feelings. Raine is well-educated for a maid but is understandably wary of men of the nobility. There's an interesting theme of class - it's not exactly front of mind for us today, but back then there was a strong feeling about staying in your class and not looking above one's station. 

I'm not a huge fan of insta-love and think this would have been better if it had been expanded, perhaps over a longer timeframe for initial crushes to grow into a deeper love.

If you're looking for a short and steamy Regency read with a different hero and and heroine, give this a try.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Blog Tour: Boomerville at Ballymegille by Caroline James

Boomerville is back! 

Join Hattie and Jo as they head to Southern Ireland to open Boomerville Manor, a holiday retreat for guests of ‘a certain age’. There’s Irish craic and shenanigans aplenty for the colourful cast of characters as everyone gathers for the grand opening.

Meet Melissa, an ex-cabaret singer running from her abusive husband, and Bill, a bachelor bullied from beyond the grave by the ghostly voice of his mother. Along with local bobby Harry the Helmet, ageing aquatic team the Boomerville Babes, eccentric artist Lucinda Gray, and heartthrob Finbar Murphy, they gather in Ireland and the fun begins. But murder is in the air and there’s mischief afoot. Will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?

Set in the beautiful Irish countryside, ‘Boomerville at Ballymegille’ is a heart-warming story of friendship, fears and new beginnings.

Review

Boomerville at Ballymegille is the follow-up to the Best Boomerville Hotel, though it stands well on its own. It starts at a funeral, somewhat overriding that the previous book's happy ending but setting up a new set of shenanigans as Jo and Hattie open a second Boomerville in an old Manor in Ireland.

Chock full of memorable characters both old and new, this a rollercoaster of laugh out loud ups and downs with more near-drownings than perhaps advisable. Along with Jo and Hattie, we follow Melissa (on the run from her physically abusive husband) and Bill (haunted by the voice of his emotionally abusive mother) as they discover a new lease of life at Boomerville, joined by a cast of eccentrics.

Though many events are played for laughs, this book also tackles a few more complex subjects - abuse, addiction, and especially loss. While there are happy endings in store, we are reminded that the only way a story truly ends is with death - and life goes on for everyone else. 

Sometimes hilarious, sometimes ridiculous - in the end I found Boomerville at Ballymegille good fun.

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

Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boomerville-Ballymegille-Feel-good-heartwarming-perfect-ebook/dp/B08GTZD7GG   
US - https://www.amazon.com/Boomerville-Ballymegille-Feel-good-heartwarming-perfect-ebook/dp/B08GTZD7GG

About the author:

Best-selling author of women’s fiction, Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that often features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. 

A public speaker, which includes talks and lectures on cruise ships world-wide, Caroline is also a consultant and food writer. She is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association, the Society of Women’s Writer’s & Journalists and the Society of Authors and writes articles and short stories, contributing to many publications. Caroline also runs writing workshops. 

In her spare time, Caroline can be found walking up a mountain with her two Westie dogs, sipping raspberry gin or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

Books by Caroline James:
Hattie Goes to Hollywood
The Best Boomerville Hotel
Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me
Coffee Tea the Chef & Me
Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me
Jungle Rock

Contact:
www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Twitter: @CarolineJames12
Facebook: Caroline James Author
Amazon Author Page

Publication Day Push: A Bachelor's Pledge

The woman who haunts his dreams 

Secret agent Phil Cullen is upset when he discovers that the young woman he rescued from Mrs Newbody’s establishment has absconded from his housekeeper’s care without a word. Thinking he has been deceived, he resolves to forget about her… something easier said than done.

The man she wants to forget

Sophia Turner is horrified when she is duped into entering a notorious house of ill-repute. Then a handsome stranger comes to her aid. Desperate that no one learns of this scandalous episode, Sophia flees to the one friend she knows she can trust. With luck, she will never see her mysterious rescuer again.

But fate has other plans…

Months later, Phil is on the trail of an elusive French agent and Sophia is a respectable lady’s companion when fate again intervenes, taking their lives on a collision course.

Traitors, spies, and shameful family secrets - will these bring Sophia and Phil together… or drive them apart?

Review

Phil Cullen and Sophia Turner meet in a singularly compromising situation - with Phil rescuing Sophia from the brothel in which she has been imprisoned. Misunderstandings and miscommunications abound until neither can quite think of the other without some irritation. It takes pure chance, meddlesome friends, and deadly peril for that irritation to change into something quite different. There's this moment about 43% of the way through when both Phil and Sophia reflect on their actions and reactions, reassessing their first impressions - and steadfastly not looking too hard at their own feelings... 

I do love a good moment of self-reflection.

Phil started off quite stuffy and overbearing, but you can tell he means well and learns to express that in a gentler fashion. I admired Sophia's determination and could understand her reluctance to trust, though she did have a TSTL moment that made me groan in frustration. I do wish she had a bit more agency in the plot as well.

Overall I enjoyed this read and liked the characters. If you're looking for a clean historical romance with more than a dash of action, pick this one up.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Purchase Link - mybook.to/ABachelorsPledge

Author Bio

Some time ago Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion for history by studying with the Open University. She graduated with honours and went on to complete a post-graduate degree.
Penny then landed her dream role, working in an environment where she was surrounded by rare books and historical manuscripts. Flash forward nineteen years, and the opportunity came along to indulge her other main passion – writing. Penny joined the New Writers’ Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and  three years later published her debut novel, A Gentleman’s Promise, a historical mystery/romance and the first in The Gentlemen Series. An Officer’s Vow soon followed and the latest in the series is A Bachelor’s Pledge.
But never happy in a rut, Penny also writes contemporary suspense with paranormal and romantic elements. Her first book in this genre is The Unquiet Spirit, published by Darkstroke.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

For more on Penny’s writing, visit her blog: https://pennyhampson.co.uk/blog/
Twitter: @penny_hampson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyhampsonauthor

Blog Tour: The Cottage of New Beginnings by Suzanne Snow

One crumbling cottage. One broken heart. A chance to start over?

When Annie returns to Thorndale, the village where she spent much of her childhood, she’s looking for a new start. All she wants to do is fix up the cottage her godmother left her, and fix up her broken heart.
When she clashes with local hero, Jon, Annie can’t help but wonder if coming back to Thorndale was a mistake. The village has clearly changed and the last thing she needs is more drama. But avoiding the distractingly handsome Jon is proving impossible, especially when Thorndale seems to be conspiring to throw them together…

Annie is looking for a fresh start with zero romance – but what if the only way to learn to trust again is to take a risk on love?

The perfect cosy romance for fans of Julie Houston, Victoria Walters and Trisha Ashley.

Review

A sweet and charming village romance

While there are a few big-city-girl returns-to-small-town-after-heartbreak romances out there - and don't get me wrong, it's a very comforting genre to read - there are a few that make this one stand out for me. First, there are the myriad relationships in the village that give life and depth to the main characters - not just family or girlfriends, but a city teenager looking for direction in his life and the old guy who comes to mow the lawns. Second, there's a clear theme of faith and its importance in the main characters' lives - without being evangelising. It's refreshing to see faith being a positive force in a romance rather than an impediment to growth

The obstacles that keep the main two apart are mainly mental but this is justified in-text as we see the relationship through Annie's hesitant eyes. I do like the times that she edges out on a limb to be honest about her feelings. Jon, for his part, is nearly too good to be true!

While the ending felt a little rushed - I would perhaps have liked a bit more thought towards the future - this was overall a light and enjoyable read.

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

Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BTPJ1L5/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BTPJ1L5/ 

Author Bio

Suzanne lives in Lancashire with her family and loves to read. Amongst her favourite books are historical crime fiction and writers’ biographies. Suzanne enjoys cooking, walking, especially in the Lake District, and developing and planting gardens. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors.

Social Media Links  
https://twitter.com/SnowProse;
https://www.facebook.com/SnowProse