#BlogBlitz Angel of the Lost Treasure by Marie Laval

 It’s my turn on the BlogBlitz Angel of the Lost Treasure by Marie Laval.

About the Author

Originally from Lyon in France, Marie has lived in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire for the past few years. She writes both contemporary and historical romance. Her novels include best selling contemporary romantic suspense novels Little Pink Taxi and Escape to the Little Chateau, which was shortlisted for the 2021 RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Awards, as well as A Paris Fairy Tale and Bluebell’s Christmas Magic. 

Her latest novel, Angel of the Lost Treasure, was released in February 2021. Marie also contributes to the best selling Miss Moonshine’s Emporium anthologies together with eight author friends from Authors on the Edge. Follow @MarieLaval1 on Twitter, on Facebook

About the book

An ancient secret hidden within a mother’s song … When young widow, Marie-Ange Norton is invited to Beauregard in France by the mysterious Monsieur Malleval to collect an inheritance, she has no choice but to accept.

But when she embarks on the voyage with her fiery-tempered travelling companion Capitaine Hugo Saintclair, little does she know what waits for her across the sea in turbulent nineteenth-century France on the eve of Napoleon’s return from exile. When she arrives, she is taken aback by Malleval’s fascination with her family – seemingly inspired by his belief they are connected to a sacred relic he’s read about in coded manuscripts by the Knights Templar.

As it becomes clear that Malleval’s obsession has driven him to madness, Marie-Ange is horrified to realise she is more the man’s prisoner than his guest. Not only that, but Hugo is the only person who might be able to help her, and he could represent a different kind of danger.

Review

Marie-Ange has a certain degree of naïve innocence that makes her susceptible to anyone who tries to take advantage of her, and there seems to be plenty of them. She is being escorted to France to learn more about her mother, her roots and her inheritance. Hugo Saintclair is a dashing man who becomes her rescuer in many situations.

The two of them represent the division in France, the royalist and the Bonapartist. One enamoured by her mother’s heritage and the other very much aware of the differences between the two of them. As Marie-Ange slowly realises how much danger she is in she relies on Saintclair to help her, but are his loyalties divided between the beautiful stranger and the man who has the power to destroy him.

I don’t think Laval left out anything when it comes to this story. It has sort of dual timeline, romance, magical realism and a pinch of the supernatural, and the historical fiction element has an 80s regency vibe, but put together it may seem like a bit chaotic – it works though.

It’s historical fiction that goes all the way back the Knights Templar, to unexplained powers and the possibility of immortality. It’s certainly a creative read.

Buy Angel of the Lost Treasure at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎ Choc Lit pub date 23 Feb. 2021. Buy at Amazon com. At Kobo.

#BlogTour A Summer of Second Chances by Carol Thomas

 It’s my turn on the BlogTour A Summer of Second Chances by Carol Thomas.

About the Author

Carol Thomas lives on the south coast of England with her husband, four children and lively Labrador. She has been a primary school teacher for over twenty years and has a passion for reading, writing and people watching. When she is not in school, chasing after her children, or stopping her dog from eating things he shouldn’t, she can be found loitering in cafes drinking too much tea and working on her next book.  

Follow https://twitter.com/carol_thomas2 on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, Visit carol-thomas.co.uk/blog

About the book

Does first love deserve a second chance? Ava Flynn sometimes feels like the clothes donated to her charity shop have seen more life than her, but ‘maximum dedication for a minimal wage’ is what it takes to keep her mother’s beloved wildlife charity, All Critters Great and Small, running – especially in the village of Dapplebury, where business is certainly not booming.

But when Ava’s first love, Henry Bramlington, returns to the village, suddenly life becomes a little too eventful. Henry escaped Dapplebury many years before, but now he has the power to make or break the village he left behind – All Critters Great and Small included. Can Ava trust the boy who ran away to give both her and her charity a second chance? 

Review

The return of the boy who made Ava’s heart beat just a wee bit faster seems like a token gesture from the heavens at first, until she realises he has business in mind. The kind of decision making that could put her mother’s legacy at risk. Can she really keep attraction and business separated when it comes to Henry or will he use their connection to get what he wants?

Second Chance love stories are a bit of conundrum, because they are usually built on this fantasy of what would have been and has been denied. Having years or decades to pine over the apparently perfect partner one has been denied through fate or circumstance, well it gives the legend a chance to be fleshed out and sold to the people in question and to those around them.

Is the Henry we know now still the Henry who was ripped unceremoniously from Ava’s grasp? I very much doubt it and the same goes for Ava. Is the attraction based solely on nostalgia and imagined missed opportunities? Or do the two of them have a genuine connection that has lasted throughout the years, despite the intervention of others. 

I guess that is very much the core of this story, which is then combined with a colourful cast of characters, a tug-of-war of emotions and quaint surroundings as a backdrop to the tale. It’s the perfect escapism read.

Buy A Summer of Second Chances at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Choc Lit pub date 27 April 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Hanukkah at the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery by Sharon Ibbotson

It’s the start of the BlogTour Hanukkah at the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery by Sharon Ibbotson.

About the Author

Sharon was born in Sydney, Australia but now lives in London with her husband, two small children and two black cats named for desserts. She started writing ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ fanfiction aged 15, which eventually transformed into the historical romance novels she writes today. She has two novels published by Choc Lit, and when not writing, can be found baking cakes badly or drinking wine well.

Follow @seibbotson on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit sharonibbotson.com, Buy Hanukkah at the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery

About the book

Cohen Ford is a man who could do with a little bit of sweetening up. It’s no surprise that when he walks into The Great Greenwich Ice Creamery on a typically gloomy London day before Christmas, he insists on a black coffee rather than his childhood favourite – strawberry ice cream.

But then he meets River de Luca, the woman behind the flavours. After their first encounter, Cohen begins visiting the ice creamery every Tuesday, gradually learning more about the intriguing River. Could her influence encourage cynical Cohen to become the man who embraces Christmas, Hanukkah and even strawberry ice cream?Hanukkah days, Christmas nights and strawberry ice cream …

Review

Cohen is on an errand. The kind of annoying errand only a parent can send you on, so he certainly isn’t expecting to walk into an Ice Creamery and make the kind of visceral connection that is very rare. An instant attraction – the knowledge that somehow you are meant to connect with a specific person that just happens to walk into your life.

The way Cohen talks about River to Rushi, and vice versa, in the first few chapters and in general – I found it uncomfortable. It’s as if everyone in her vicinity infantilises River, because of her deafness. Talking about her over her head, making decisions about her and for her as if she were a child. It wasn’t concern for her well-being, but rather an attempt to control in the name of concern.

Romanticising the behaviour felt wrong, and in a way I think the author calls attention to the attitude and behaviour of the hearing in regards to the deaf by doing this. The ignorance and arrogance that accompanies the treatment of the deaf when those who can hear find themselves in a position to have to move beyond their usual methods of communication.

The author also makes a point about how men are taught to curb and discount certain talents and things they enjoy merely because they could be seen as effeminate. Cohen is taught to feel shame and embarrassment for hobbies that bring him pleasure.

It’s romance that crosses the boundaries of the senses and communication to allow love to blossom. Ibbotson combines the early blush of attraction with the physical feelings of desire, which culminate in two people acknowledging a deep connection between the two of them.

On a side note: I think sign language, obviously which kind depends on the country, should be a made a compulsory part of curriculum to create an even playing field for all individuals both hearing and non-hearing.

Buy Hannukkah at the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Choc Lit; pub date 4 Dec. 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Reach For A Star by Kathryn Freeman

Today it’s  my turn on the BlogTour Reach For a Star by Kathryn Freeman.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win a PB copy of Oh Crumbs by Kathryn Freeman (Open INT)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.

Follow @KathrynFreeman1 on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon,  kathrynfreeman.co.uk, Buy Reach For a Star

About the book

What if your dreams were so close you could reach out and touch them?

How could anyone resist Michael Tennant, with his hypnotic blue eyes and voice like molten chocolate? Jessie Simmons certainly can’t. But Jessie’s a single mum who can’t sing to save her life – there’s no way she’ll ever cross paths with the star tenor.

At least that’s what she thinks until she’s unexpectedly invited to take part in a new reality TV show. The premise? Professional singers teach hopeless amateurs how to sing. The surprise? Jessie’s partner is none other than Michael Tennant!

As she becomes better acquainted with the man behind the voice, will Jessie find out the hard way that you should never meet your idols? Or will she get more than she bargained for?Review

Jessie’s sons think they are doing their mother a favour by applying to a reality show.  Giving her a chance to sing with her idol, the singer Michael Tennant, in front of the whole world. She may sound like a rusty pipe with drainage issues, but what’s a little lack of singing talent matter in a singing competition, eh?

What starts as an opportunity to meet her crush and perhaps show everyone what she is made of quickly turns into something quite unexpected. Michael likes Jessie. Is that even a scenario worth considering? The star and the single mother of two teenage boys, could it really be more than just a short blip in the exciting world of Michael?

Freeman makes an important point about the desirability of women who aren’t super young and childless. Even if society, especially the patriarchal system, tries to convince women that being a mother and a caregiver also equates to being a non-sexual being. Nothing could be further from the truth. Taking care of tiny humans doesn’t lessen the desire to be wanted or considered an object of desirability.

Jessie has to confront her fears and needs simultaneously, and be honest about what she wants and deserves in her life. A message the majority of us can comprehend and relate to.

It’s a passionate story about love, family and romance. The normal Mom finding out love is written and spoken in the same language everywhere – no matter how rich, famous or everyday normal you or you life may be.

Buy Reach For a Star at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Choc Lit; pub date 24 Sept. 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

Enter the Giveaway to Win a PB copy of Oh Crumbs by Kathryn Freeman (Open INT)

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*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.

#BlogTour It’s My Birthday by Hannah Pearl

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour It’s My Birthday by Hannah Pearl. It’s a romance, it’s women’s fiction and it’s contemporary. A tale of self-discovery, love and of taking charge of our own lives.About the Author

Hannah Pearl was born in East London. She is married with two children and now lives in Cambridge. She has previously worked as a Criminology researcher, as a Development Worker with various charities and even pulled a few pints in her time.

In 2015 she was struck down by Labrynthitis, which left her feeling dizzy and virtually housebound. She has since been diagnosed with ME. Reading has allowed Hannah to escape from the reality of feeling ill. She read upwards of three hundred books during the first year of her illness. When her burgeoning eReader addiction grew to be too expensive, she decided to have a go at writing. In 2017 she won Simon and Schuster’s Books and the City #heatseeker short story competition, in partnership with Heat magazine, for her short story The Last Good Day. Hannah is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Follow @HannahPearl_1 @RubyFiction on Twitter, Visit dizzygirlwrites.wordpress.com

Buy It’s My Birthday

About the book

It’s My Birthday… I’ll cry if I want to.

Oh boy, another birthday …

Karen could be excused for crying on her birthday, especially as it’s the first one since her husband got on a plane to the States and never came back. Then there’s the fact that her workmates were practically bribed to attend her birthday meal. But when a restaurant double booking leads to her sharing a table with single dad Elliot and his daughter, things start looking up.

As Karen gets to know Elliot she experiences feelings she thought she’d never have again. But is it enough? Or will the thing that destroyed Karen’s previous relationship also ruin things with Elliot?Review

It can be scary when life as you know it crumbles and you have to start from scratch one day just because one person in your relationship has decided they want a different life for themselves. Karen isn’t really unhappy about becoming single again, but she is finding it difficult to adjust to certain aspects of life as a single woman.

Meeting Elliot and experiencing life as a carefree individual feels fresh and exciting. The awkwardness of sex with someone new after such a long time is quickly forgotten because Elliot is in a similar situation. The two of them become close and Karen inadvertently steps into the void in his life. She also bonds with his daughter.

This bond is what awakens deep feelings Karen thought she had buried successfully in her previous relationship. The type of feelings that change things between herself and Elliot, perhaps even destroy the tender beginnings of their love story.

This is a story about self-exploration and discovery. It’s all about how Karen not only identifies what she wants in life, from herself and others, it’s about how she goes out to try and get it. I think at the beginning she doesn’t even fully comprehend what is going on, but in essence that is what this story is all about. Her path to find her own recipe of happiness.

Although this is definitely a story about romance and love it isn’t really the core of the premise. How many couples, especially women in relationships, tend to shove their own needs and wants into a locked cupboard whilst being part of a duo. The needs and wishes of the other person become more important. The caregiver inside of women outranks the individualist that lives inside of them at the same time.

It’s a romance, it’s women’s fiction and it’s contemporary. A tale of self-discovery, love and of taking charge of our own lives.

Buy It’s My Birthday by Hannah Pearl on Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Ruby Fiction; pub date 19 Mar. 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Magnolia House by Angela Barton

Today it’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Magnolia House by Angela Barton. It’s a story about moving on, romance and friendship with a little bit of mystery on the side.About the Author

Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She is married with three grown up children and adorable four-year-old twin granddaughters. Angela is passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction and loves time spent researching facts for her novels. Having signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Choc Lit’s new imprint, Ruby Fiction, Angela is excited to be working alongside such a lovely team.

Angela and her husband, Paul, recently moved to France and planted a lavender field. She’s looking forward to spending more time writing in the beautiful Charente countryside working from her new writing room, a beautiful shepherd hut. Angela is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Nottingham Writers’ Studio.

Follow @angebarton @ChocLitUk on Twitter or Angela Barton on Facebook, Visit angelabarton.net

Buy Magnolia House

About the book

Rowan Forrester has it all – the happy marriage, the adorable dog, the good friends, the promising business and even the dream home after she and her husband Tom win a stunning but slightly dilapidated Georgian townhouse in London at auction.

But in the blink of an eye, Rowan’s picture-perfect life comes crashing down around her and she is faced with the prospect of having to start again.

To make ends meet she begins a search for housemates, and in doing so opens the door to new friends and new beginnings. But could she be opening the door to new heartbreak too?Review

Rowan and Tom add a dream home to their long list of successes. The perfect couple with the perfect life that suddenly comes crumbling down one day. Perhaps the facade isn’t so perfect after all.

Inevitably Rowan experiences what we all do in life at some point. The fact we don’t really ever know someone as well as we think we do or know all their secrets. She finds this out the hard way when her house of cards falls down unexpectedly.

Forced to reconsider her options and choices, she decides to change her dream home into flats and invite strangers into her home. Strangers who turn her world upside down and inside out. What seemed to be important during her life with Tom now no longer appears to have the same importance.

I thought it was interesting how Barton chose not to go down the most obvious happy to forgive and all is hunky-dory route. Instead the story takes a slight left turn towards the end. Probably a more realistic view of the situation.

Barton doesn’t concentrate on the misery or heartbreak of her characters, but rather on the fact that life must go on regardless of which hands we are dealt. Where one door closes another one opens, possibly even more than one.

It’s a story about moving on, romance and friendship with a little bit of mystery on the side. The author has a flair for authentic characters with realistic problems, which makes it easier for readers to connect with them. It’s a contemporary read with a cosy feel to it.

Buy Magnolia House at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Choc Lit; pub date 29 Jan. 2019.

Buy Arlette’s story here