Blot Tour: A Good Match for the Major by Josie Bonham

Pride meets prejudice – can love blossom?
 
Beautiful young widow, Lady Eliza Wyndham, is determined never to remarry after a disastrous first marriage. The undeniable attraction that fizzes between her and Major Nathaniel Overton terrifies her. She rejects his advances.

With his pride badly dented, Nat vows to forget Eliza until he finds her in danger from an old adversary of his army days. His protective instincts are stirred and he steps back into her life, but will Eliza be prepared to accept his help?

Purchase Link - http://mybook.to/agoodmatchforthemajor


Review

Meet-ugly turns out better than either party expected

I definitely got Pride and Prejudice vibes from this book, though the Darcy archetype is shared. Eliza is reserved like Darcy but this stems more from fear than arrogance. Despite being heir to a barony, Nat has a chip on his shoulder from his mother's family being in trade, so in his pride considers Eliza prejudiced against him. Fortunately, they have good people around them to help them get past their inauspicious beginnings.

Seeing Eliza and Nat move from frosty adversaries to reluctant acquaintances to mutual pining made for an entertaining read. Practically everyone they know is playing matchmaker - family, friends, even the servants! It's clear it's all with the best of intentions, and though I appreciate how Eliza's family resolved to give her time, I wish this had been explored a little more. Eliza's traumatised from her first marriage and grieving for her mother, so it would have been nice to see them take things slow. It's no surprise Eliza jumps to conclusions, especially as Nat has severe foot-in-mouth syndrome at times.

I did get thrown out of the story a bit by the sometimes misapplied naming conventions - a Duchess is never Lady so-and-so and it didn't sit right for Eliza to be both Lady Eliza and Lady Wyndham (either she maintained her title as Lady Eliza or she took her husband's as Lady Wyndham, not both). If this is also a pet peeve of yours, beware!

Despite my quibbles, this is a fine story about retired solder and a grown-up horse girl (no, really, horses of quality are an ongoing theme which is actually quite cool) falling in love and pretending they haven't.

Four stars

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

Author Bio

Josie lives in the English midlands, surrounded by towns full of history such as Evesham, Stratford-Upon- Avon, Warwick and Worcester. Which is perhaps why her favourite reads are historical. Out of all the periods to choose from the Regency Era stirs her imagination the most. The true Regency lasted from 1811 until 1820 but dates as wide as 1789 to 1837 have been included in the extended Regency period. For Josie the true flavour of this period emerges after the iniquitous hair powder tax of 1795, unsurprisingly, scuppered the fashion for hair powder almost overnight.

Josie has always dabbled in stories but it took the combined efforts of her sister and eldest niece to set her on the path to writing novels. Her Regency romances, with a dash of adventure and intrigue, are the result.

There is more information on her website at www.josiebonhamauthor.com

Social Media Links
Twitter @BonhamJosie
Facebook  www.facebook.com/josiebonhamauthor/

Blog Tour: Starting Over at the Vineyard in Alsace by Julie Stock

It’s springtime at The Vineyard in Alsace, a new season and a new beginning
 
After being abandoned by her partner when she falls pregnant, Lottie Schell goes home to live on the Vineyard in Alsace, where she has started a new relationship with the estate’s winemaker, Thierry. Now about to give birth, Lottie’s determined to raise her child and to provide for them both on her own without having to depend on anyone else.

Thierry Bernard is still dealing with his grief and guilt following the death of his wife two years earlier, for which he blames himself. When he meets Lottie, the instant attraction he feels towards her gives him hope that he can move on from the tragedy of his past, as long as he can tell Lottie the truth of what happened.

When circumstances force Lottie and Thierry closer together, they both find it hard to compromise – she’s proudly independent and he’s fiercely protective – and they’re both wary about trusting someone new with their heart.

Can Lottie and Thierry take a chance on each other, move on from their pasts and start over?

Escape to The Vineyard in Alsace once again with this romantic read set in the heart of Alsace’s wine country.

Purchase Link - Amazon

Review

A dual journey of fresh starts and self-discovery

Our story starts almost in media res, as heavily-pregnant Lottie must decide whether to take a change on new boyfriend Thierry, after her baby daddy heard the test results and ran for the hills. Indeed, it's a choice she must make again and again as she faces life with a newborn.

Thierry, for his part, has his own share of baggage in his closet - not least of which is his guilt around the death of his wife less than two years before. He loves Lottie - that much is sure - but can he live with her, and her with him?

It's this thorny question that weaves its way through this book. Over and over, Lottie and Thierry clash as they face up to their pasts, their problems, and the biggest challenge of all: communication.

You though I was going to say parenthood, didn't you? Well, no, because Lottie's baby is adorable. As is Lottie's step-niece Chloe. There are a whole family (both blood-related and choice-related) ready to gather around them, many fresh off their own book (Fran and Didier) or ready to start (Ellie and Henri). Not only that, but the vineyard is almost a character in itself, even though I know nothing about wine or its making.

Back to the communication. It's such a relief when Lottie and Thierry finally acknowledge their problems - to each other, no less - and work to face them. For instance, I'm incredibly proud of Thierry for going to a counsellor. He even addressed the stigma and went anyway. And it helped. There's so many little details, little character moments that made me go "oh, there you are, thank you".

I will note that the conversation seemed a little formal - a lot of the dialogue came off stilted and overly wordy. There's so much emotion in many of these conversations but it can become lost in the verbiage.

Overall, a solid read about two strong people learning to bend.

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

Author Bio

Julie Stock writes contemporary feel-good romance from around the world: novels, novellas and short stories. She published her debut novel, From Here to Nashville, in 2015, after starting to write as an escape from the demands of her day job as a teacher. Starting Over at the Vineyard in Alsace is her ninth book, and the second in the Domaine des Montagnes series set on a vineyard.

Julie is now a full-time author, and loves every minute of her writing life. When not writing, she can be found reading, her favourite past-time, running, a new hobby, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen, glass of wine in hand.

Julie is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and The Society of Authors. She is married and lives with her family in Bedfordshire in the UK.

Social Media Links
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Blog Tour: The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts by Alison Sherlock

A feel-good story of new beginnings set in a gorgeous country village, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson.

After losing her job in New York, Amber Green isn’t looking forward to visiting her godmother in the sleepy village of Cranbridge. With its empty lanes and rundown shops, it’s hardly a place to mend her lonely heart.

But when Amber discovers that Cranbridge Stores, owned by her godmother Cathy and son Josh, is under threat of financial ruin, she realises that her skills as a window dresser might just be able to help save the struggling shop.

When disaster strikes, Amber and Josh must unite to save both the shop and the village from flooding.

Can Cranbridge Stores become the heart of the village once more?

And as the village begins to come back to life, perhaps Amber will discover a reason to stay…

Purchase Links https://amzn.to/2VPGfzh

Review

At a loose end after being made redundant from her fancy job in New York, Amber agrees to visit her godmother in the quiet village of Cranbridge. It's only meant to be a stop on her way to live with her parents, newly emigrated to New Zealand. Her godmother's general store is overstocked and struggling, and the entire village has a feeling of desolation, but it might be the perfect place for Amber to get back on her feet.

Amber and Josh were adorable. From a rather unfortunate meet-cute to shenanigans renovating the store and mutual pining, I loved the way they saw the best in each other and gave the other a reason to be their best selves. They each start the story deeply unhappy but find happiness and fulfilment in the life they build together. It's incredibly wholesome.

There are so many things I really liked in this book: the friendships Amber made with Belle and Molly, the growing sense of community in Cranbridge, the snarky side characters all with a heart of gold, and the thought and care put into the shop renovations. It did feel a tad tell-not-show at the start and end, but that's a minor quibble in a lovely book. I can't help but hope we return to Cranbridge soon.

Five stars, because this book made me happy.

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

Author Bio
 
Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree Hall books. Alison enjoyed reading and writing stories from an early age and gave up office life to follow her dream. Her new series for Boldwood is set in a fictional Cotswold Village and the first title will be published in July 2020.

Social Media Links
Twitter https://twitter.com/AlisonSherlock
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alison.sherlock.73
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alison-sherlock

Blog Tour: Cornish Dreams at Cockleshell Cottage by Liz Hurley

Sitting alongside the beach and just up from the gently lapping waves, sat a perfect cottage. She had found where she was going to live. Her own little cockleshell cove.

Ever since the Byrne sisters – Ariana, Aster, Clem, Paddy and Nic – discovered they were heiresses to the vast Hiverton fortune, their lives have never been the same. No longer living in poverty in London, they now own an estate in Norfolk, a castle in Scotland and a picturesque village in Cornwall.

When sensitive Paddy, the baby of the family despite her successful career as a model, swaps the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week for the cobbled lanes of Tregisky on the beautiful Cornish coast, it’s time for her to stand on her own two feet.

Soon, she’s settled in her new home of Cockleshell Cottage overlooking the wild surf, the seals her closest companions.

And when she meets ex-soldier Hal, she’s instantly smitten. Funny, considerate, and not to mention drop dead gorgeous, he’s perfect in every way apart from one – he’s engaged. But after a misunderstanding brings the two together in ways they couldn’t have imagined, it seems like they might just change each other’s lives.

Will Paddy fall in love with more than just the glorious blue skies of Cornwall? Or are there storm clouds gathering ahead?

Escape to the Cornish coast this summer with this completely uplifting romcom – perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Phillipa Ashley and Milly Johnson.

Purchase Links
AMZ: https://amzn.to/3gG1NXy
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3eD1j2x
Apple: https://apple.co/3dpq1Dn

 Review

The follow-up to the charming A New Life for Ariana Byrne, Cornish Dreams at Cockleshell Cottage follows Ariana's younger sister Paddy as she investigates the Cornish village her family inherited (along with a title, a fortune, and a whole host of other properties). Poor Paddy might be a successful model but her older sisters still treat her like the baby of the family so she jumps at the chance to prove she can handle family responsibility. Meeting Hal seems like the icing on the cake, until she discovers he's engaged, and Paddy must decide if this Cornwall plan is really her future.

I enjoyed reading this book. It's sweet and funny, even if it never quite makes it as the 'rom-com' it is marketed as. It's a coming of age crossed with a romance and topped with a series of unfortunate events. The de Foix/Byrne sisters are delightful - all different, but the love between them shines brightly. Paddy wears her heart on her sleeve and her kind sincerity helps her make friendships wherever she goes. I especially liked old Beryl.

I do wish the book hadn't swapped POV so much, sometimes without warning. Rather than fleshing out the supporting cast, it made everything a bit disjointed and opened a lot of character arcs that were left unfulfilled. There was also a lot of telling not showing, describing a conversation rather than letting the characters speak.

I also can't review this book without a mention of infidelity. I expected a love triangle and mutual pining. I didn't expect the main romance to begin with cheating, which really doesn't endear Hal to me at all. He's obviously caught in a bad situation, but he makes a lot of poor choices before he gets his happy ending. Some people might be okay with those choices, but they weren't for me.

Come spend some time with the de Foix sisters - and I'm especially looking forward to Nick's story!

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

Author Bio – Heroines with grit, gumption and good old-fashioned gorgeousness!

Liz Hurley writes exciting and heart warming stories that will make you cheer and laugh.

Social Media Links
https://www.lizhurleywrites.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theotherlizhurley/
https://twitter.com/hello_hurley

Blog Tour: Homeward Bound by Richard Smith

Homeward Bound features 79-year-old grandfather George, who didn’t quite make it as a rock star in the ‘60s. He’s expected to be in retirement but in truth he’s not ready to close the lid on his dreams and will do anything for a last chance. When he finds himself on a tour of retirement homes instead of a cream tea at the seaside his family has promised, it seems his story might prematurely be over.
 
He finds the answer by inviting Tara, his 18-year-old granddaughter, to share his house, along with his memories and vast collection of records. She is an aspiring musician as well, although her idea of music is not George’s. What unfolds are clashes and unlikely parallels between the generations – neither knows nor cares how to use a dishwasher – as they both chase their ambitions.
 
Purchase Links
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/homeward-bound-richard-smith/1136313433?ean=2940163088645
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Homeward-Bound-Richard-Smith/dp/1838591591/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
https://www.waterstones.com/book/homeward-bound/richard-smith/9781838591595
https://www.ink84bookshop.co.uk/product-page/homeward-bound-by-richard-smith

Review
This is a story about the timelessness of music. It's a bittersweet story about the inevitability of old age and the importance of choices. Most of all, this is the story of George: nearly eighty, newly widowed, and worried his best days are far behind him with nothing to show for his grand dreams but a room full of vinyl records. When granddaughter Tara moves to London for uni, George invites her to live with him. Their shared love of music - albeit from very different generations - draws them together even as they struggle with their own uncertain futures.

This is a book for music lovers, especially those old time rock and rollers but even newer music references are woven through the text. George's introspection, while sometimes maudlin and meandering, is also charming and heartbreaking as he reminisces on times gone by. Tara has her on distinct voice (though at 18, she is most certainly not a millennial) as she looks to forge a path of her own, with or without long-term boyfriend Mark.

If you are looking for a story about family, intergenerational friendship, and the power of music, turn your face Homeward Bound. Four stars.

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


Author Bio
Richard Smith is a writer and storyteller for sponsored films and commercials, with subjects as varied as caring for the elderly, teenage pregnancies, communities in the Niger delta, anti- drug campaigns and fighting organised crime. Their aim has been to make a positive difference, but, worryingly, two commercials he worked on featured in a British Library exhibition, ‘Propaganda’.

@RichardWrites2   

richardsmithwrites.com
 

To Catch an Earl by Kate Bowman

A case of secret identities finds reunited lovers on opposite sides of the law in this fun, flirty Regency romance.

There's only one case Bow Street agent Alex Harland, Earl of Melton, hasn't cracked: the identity of the mysterious woman who stole a kiss from him before he left for war. He's neither forgotten--nor forgiven--her for leaving him wanting. When he starts investigating the Nightjar, an elusive London jewel thief, he keeps running into the alluring Emmy Danvers, who stirs feelings he hasn't felt in years.

Even though Emmy's loved Alex for years, she can't risk revealing her heart, or her identity as the Nightjar. With Alex on her case, Emmy knows that her secrets are in danger of being discovered. Their cat and mouse game heats up with every interaction, but when Emmy's reputation--and life--is at risk, will Alex realize that some rules are made to be broken for love?

Review
A romantic cat and mouse chase through Regency London

Emmy Danvers never intended on taking up her father's mantle of the Nightjar. She'd much rather a life that didn't involve scaling walls and sneaking around. Unfortunately, a blackmailer won't let her fade into normality and forces her to pick up where her father left off.

Back from the Napoleonic wars, Alex Harland is assigned to track down the Nightjar. He can't believe it when his investigation leads him to Emmy again and again. There's something about her that captures his heart, but his honour won't let him ignore his duty, even though a captured Nightjar would be sent to the gallows.

This was a really fun concept between two interesting characters. I absolutely loved Emmy's wit and her family of thieves/accomplices, especially her grandmother Camille, who steals every scene she's in. Alex's wartime experiences have left him cynical and jaded, but Emmy helps him to hope again, and though he makes some pig-headed blunders, he apologises sincerely enough that both I and Emmy forgive him. I would've liked them to team up a bit earlier, to be honest.

I was less impressed by Emmy using her personal, unique perfume before heists and then somehow being surprised when it comes back to bite her. Master thief she most certainly is not. If Alex hadn't fallen in love with her, she would have had a far shorter career (and life) than her father. Also, their first night together is under dubious circumstances so ridiculous I threw my hands up with a "well, I guess that might as well happen!"

For a great concept with interesting characters and bumpy execution, four stars.

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

Blog Tour: Finding Love in Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland

Can love really be found when you stop looking for it...?

As Samantha Wishaw watches the love of her life marry another woman, she’s ready to give up hope of finding her happy ever after.

But when a chance encounter leads Sam to find friendship in Thomas - a lonely, grumpy elderly widower living at derelict Hedgehog Hollow - her life is about to change forever.

Glad to have a distraction from family feuds and match-making, Sam vows to fulfill Thomas and his wife, Gwendoline's, dreams of restoring Hedgehog Hollow to its former glory, and to open a hedgehog rescue centre.

Throwing herself into the task at hand, little does Sam realise that the keys to love and happiness may also be found at Hedgehog Hollow, when she least expects it...

Escape to Hedgehog Hollow this summer with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for the perfect uplifting, feel-good read.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/2xrmxAo

Review

Wow, that was quite the rollercoaster ride!

Sam is not having a good time. Bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin and her ex, she gets lost on the way to the reception and meets Thomas, a grumpy old widower. As her personal life spirals out of control, her friendship with Thomas gives her the courage to set proper boundaries in her relationships and live life on her own terms.


I loved Sam. Despite life (and her family) knocking her down again and again, she persisted in kindness and optimism. She was saved from doormat status by standing up to the people who hurt her in some immensely satisfying pieces of prose. I was rooting for her happiness from the get go, even as her troubles were only just getting started.


There's a generous cast of characters here - some who support Sam, some not so much. I enjoyed seeing them grow and change (as did their relationship with Sam) over the course of the book, and for those who wronged her and realised it, I appreciated the conversations (and the grovelling) that preceded her forgiveness. Family rifts always hurt, and forgiveness seems hollow when the pain isn't acknowledged on both sides, but this was not the case here. Things don't go back to how they were, and that's okay.


The romance here feels a little shoehorned in. The love interest (and I could spot him from a mile off, despite an inauspicious first meeting) doesn't make an appearance until about halfway through the book. They then make up for it by getting together after their fifth meeting (and their first positive one). I simply couldn't buy into their relationship due to the speed at which it progressed. It's not bad, it's just not my favourite part of the book. Perhaps if they'd met earlier or had more positive interactions before the tipping point it would've won me over.

If you're looking for a story about family, friendship, forgiveness, and hedgehogs, pick up this book and grab a tissue or two.

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

Author Bio

Jessica Redland is the author of nine novels, including The Secret to Happiness, which are all set around the fictional location of Whitsborough Bay. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.
 
Social Media Links

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/
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Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/
Own website - https://www.jessicaredland.com/
Blog - https://jessicaredlandwriter.wordpress.com/
Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland
Mailing list sign up - http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter