#Blogtour A Child for the Reich by Andie Newton

 It’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour A Child for the Reich by Andie Newton.

About the Author 

Andie Newton is the USA Today bestselling author of The Girls from the Beach, The Girl from Vichy, and The Girl I Left Behind.

She writes gritty and emotional war stories about strong women. Andie holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in teaching. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, her two boys, and one very lazy cat.

You can find book club discussion questions on andienewton.com. Follow on Twitter: @AndieNewton FB: Andie Newton Author Page – Instagram: andienewtonauthor

About the book

Rumours of the Nazis coming for Czech children swept through the villages like a breeze through the trees, and the story was always the same… They wanted our children to raise as their own.

Since her husband, Josef, joined the Czech resistance three years ago, Anna Dankova has done everything possible to keep her daughter, Ema, safe. But when blonde haired, blue-eyed Ema is ripped from her mother’s arms in the local marketplace by the dreaded Brown Sisters, nurses who were dedicated to Hitler’s cause, Anna is forced to go to new extremes to take back what the Nazis have stolen from her.

Going undercover as a devoted German subject eager to prove her worth to the Reich, the former actress takes on a role of a lifetime to find and save her daughter. But getting close to Ema is one thing. Convincing her that the Germans are lying when they claim Anna stole her from her true parents is another…

Review

It’s probably a lesser-known fact or atrocity committed by the Nazi regime, the kidnapping of children, and it is one that has been used by other regimes to reinvent, brainwash and shape into people more amicable to their own agendas. During the Nazi regime over 200,000 Polish children and an unknown number of children from of other ethnicities were stolen and reprogrammed to forget their own cultural background and identity, to then be inserted into German families.

I remember watching a programme about survivors who remember being taken, and those who lost children. Not all of them survived the programmes – the special nurseries for instance – reluctant children for instance found themselves with a one-way ticket to death. Imagine how many cuckoo children never found out that they are victims of the natural selection, the most important criteria being the right physical appearance – the physical attributes of an Aryan child. It’s so cold and calculated.

It’s the heart of this premise. A small Czech family, who have the misfortune in this case to be the mothers of Aryan looking children who are on the hit list. They will do anything to keep them safe or in this case get them back from their kidnappers. Easier said than done in an environment where you can trust no person and betrayal has become the daily occurrence.

It’s a story that will refresh memories of forgotten victims of that period in time. IT’s also a story that speaks volumes about family relationships, loyalty and survival. It does have the dramatic voice of screenplay or screen version, with scenes drawn out for the emotional pauses and perfect shot. It’s a question of how each reader falls in tune with that particular feeling or voice.

It’s war, it’s about family, and it gives a voice to the invisible victims. 

Buy A Child for the Reich at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: ‎One More Chapter pub date 9 Dec. 2022. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour 6 Ripley Avenue by Noelle Holten

 It’s my turn on the BlogTour 6 Ripley Avenue by Noelle Holten.

About the Author

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at http://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of risk cases as well as working in a multi agency setting. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, attending as many book festivals as she can afford and sharing the booklove via her blog.

Dead Inside – her debut novel with One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK is an international kindle bestseller and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson. Subscribe to her newsletter Noelle Holten – Author, Follow @nholten40 on Twitter, Visit crimebookjunkie.co.uk 

About the book

One House. Eight Killers. No Witnesses. 

Jeanette is the manager of a probation hostel that houses high risk offenders released on license. At 3am one morning, she receives a call telling her a resident has been murdered. Her whole team, along with the eight convicted murderers, are now all suspects in a crime no one saw committed…

Don’t miss the first nerve-shredding standalone thriller from Noelle Holten, author of the Maggie Jamieson series.

Review

Hidden in this crime thriller is a subtle critique of the legal system in regard to violent offenders and the way their rights often supersede those of their victim/s and their families. I would include potential future victims in that train of thought. Certain types of offenders will probably reoffend, and with that in mind the house on Ripley Avenue – in the middle of a normal neighbourhood, well it creates a lot of controversy.

A lot of controversy actually, especially when one of the violent offenders get a taste of his own medicine and ends up dead. Not sure anyone is really that upset about it, however it does mean the police have to find the person responsible for the brutal crime. Herein lies the problem, there are no witnesses and eight potential killers, and the author makes a grand job of making you think everyone has a legit reason to kill.

This didn’t grip me the same way the DC Maggie Jamieson series did. The writing was a bit he said she said, a bit surprising but it’s a standalone and slightly off the already beaten path. The premise was interesting though and the killer was kept hidden and in plain sight all at the same time.

Buy 6 Ripley Avenue at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: ‎One More Chapter; pub date 27 Sept. 2022. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Love Life by Nancy Peach

 It’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Love Life by Nancy Peach.

About the Author

Nancy Peach is a writer of commercial women’s fiction, a mother of three, and an owner of various ridiculous-looking pets including a dog who unexpectedly grew to be the size of a small horse. She is a practicing doctor working for both the NHS and a national cancer charity, and has been writing (in a terribly British, embarrassed, secretive sort of way) for as long as she can remember. 

Nancy has been longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2020 and shortlisted for the Harper Collins / Gransnet competition 2019. Her debut Love Life is published by One More Chapter at HarperCollins. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and is represented by Tanera Simons at Darley-Anderson’ You can find her on Twitter at @Mumhasdementia on Instagram @nancy.peach and Facebook NancyPeach.Writer  

About the book

Dr Tess Carter is no starry-eyed Jane Austen heroine. After all, if your dad left without a backward glance and you found your last boyfriend in bed with another guy, you wouldn’t believe in romance either. And the voices in Tess’s head – you know, the ones that tell you you’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not clever enough – well, these voices are very loud. Very loud indeed. Especially when the proud and disagreeable son of one of her patients starts challenging her every decision.

Edward Russell might have a big job and a posh voice, but Tess is determined not to let him get to her, especially if she can get her inner monologue to stop with the endless self-sabotage. And Edward, it turns out, may be less of a prat than he first appears; he’s certainly handy in a crisis.

In the real world, where gentlemanlike manners and out-of-the-blue declarations of love are a story-book fantasy, it’s up to Tess to decide whose voice to listen to … and how to make her own heard.

Review

Tess is more than unlucky in love – more like a walking train wreck. At least her career is running smoothly, well until someone from the past returns, but unfortunately he doesn’t remember what happened between them. The two of them try to navigate professional and private relationships at the same time with little success

It’s often an emotional read, due to nature of the Tess’s work and the way Edward and Tess are connected, but perhaps more so because Tess is relatable. She is also very lucky have Jane in her ear – just saying.

What I really enjoyed about this concept was the angel and devil on your shoulder element, and as if that wasn’t enough to entertain the reader the author takes it one step further. With an homage to the world of literature, the grand dame of unrequited passion, love and complicated relationships – our angel with words of wisdom is Jane Austen herself. 

To counter the sensible, the prim and the proper is the devil himself – a tv talk show host. A man who revels in the salacious gossip, the misery, failure and misfortune of others. If whilst writing this a certain host of a popular now cancelled show was in mind, then I can only congratulate on the comparison, for he is indeed a pompous, egotistical man who believes himself to be better than others. He would indeed sneer and jeer from the sidelines.

The two figures narrate the life of our lovely doctor, and often influence her actions and words, as she finds herself in constant conversation with the image of her hopes and dreams, and simultaneously the image of her failure and self-doubt. It’s an incredibly clever plot and a delightful read.

Buy Love Life at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎One More Chapter pub date 16 Sept. 2021. Buy at Waterstones.

#BlogTour The Olive Grove by Eva Glyn

It’s my turn on the BlogTour The Olive Grove by Eva Glyn. The Olive Grove will be published by One More Chapter in ebook and audiobook on 3rd September and in paperback on 25th November.

About the Author

Eva Glyn writes emotional women’s fiction inspired by beautiful places and the stories they hide. She loves to travel, but finds inspiration can strike just as well at home or abroad.

She cut her teeth on just about every kind of writing (radio journalism, advertising copy, PR, and even freelance cricket reporting) before finally completing a full length novel in her forties. Four lengthy and completely unpublishable tomes later she found herself sitting on an enormous polystyrene book under the TV lights of the Alan Titchmarsh Show as a finalist in the People’s Novelist competition sponsored by Harper Collins. Although losing out to a far better writer, the positive feedback from the judges gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams.

Eva lives in Cornwall, although she considers herself Welsh, and has been lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for twenty-five years. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Bibliography: The Missing Pieces of Us (One More Chapter, 2021), The Olive Grove (One More Chapter, 2021)

Follow @JaneCable on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Visit evaglynauthor.com

About the book

An English woman searching for a different future. A man desperate to escape his war-ravaged past. Can these two find what they are looking for on the beautiful Croatian island of Korčula? 

Antonia Butler is on the brink of a life-changing decision and a job advert looking for a multilingual housekeeper at a beautifully renovated Croatian farmhouse, Vila Maslina, is one she can’t ignore.

Arriving on the tiny picturesque island of Korčula, Antonia feels a spark of hope for the first time in a long time. This is a chance to leave the past behind.

But this island, and its inhabitants, have secrets of their own and a not-too-distant past steeped in tragedy and war. None more so than Vila Maslina’s enigmatic owner Damir Maric. A young man with nothing to lose but everything to gain…

Review

Antonia throws all her eggs into one basket to embark on a risky new venture. She doesn’t expect to encounter a man with vision who is also someone burdened by the past – to the point of shutting down at times.

Kudos to Glyn for weaving a tragedy of the 20th century into this contemporary read, which tends to be glossed over and buried beneath the rubble of so many other atrocities and tragic events. Make no mistake this was a war of cruelty and proof of the base nature of the human species. It also changed the landscape of Yugoslavia forever.

The author makes a valid and interesting point during the story about the way people who live in war-torn countries or places that are frequently targets of violence and/or terrorism – they become almost desensitized to the violence. They go about their days as if everything is normal, whilst often being  eaten alive by inner fear, anxiety and PTSD.

Saying that, I think the aforementioned was at the core of this story and the fact the factions still exhibited hatred and blame towards each other after the end of the conflict, hence the decision made by the surrogate mother figure in this story. It’s a story about having belief in yourself and following your dreams, however it is also an important reminder of events that should never have happened and the world should have intervened in properly.

It may have a serious undertone, but the story also does due diligence to the beautiful country and surroundings. Simultaneously it’s also a tale of two people helping each other to grow, evolve and  discover the world they have each kept at a distance in their own way. 

Buy The Olive Grove at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎One More Chapter pub date 3 Sept. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Christmas Island by Natalie Normann

 Today it’s my turn and the last day of the Blogtour Christmas Island by Natalie Normann.

About the Author

Natalie Normann grew up in a shipping town on the west-coast of Norway and always wanted to be a writer. Actually, she wanted to smoke cigars and drink whiskey like Hemingway but settled for chocolate and the occasional glass of Baileys.

Her writing journey started with short stories in women’s magazines until her first book was published in 1995.

Follow @NatalieNormann1 on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Facebook, Buy Christmas Island

About the book

In the bleak midwinter… A really frosty wind is making Holly’s life absolutely miserable. After all the years of hard work it took Londoner Holly Greene to become a doctor, now it could all be taken away and she only has herself to blame. She’s retreating to her brother’s rustic home on an island off the coast of Norway to lick her wounds. Only, it’s the middle of winter and icy slush plus endless darkness isn’t exactly the cheery, festive getaway she had imagined.

Nearly stumbling off the edge of a cliff in the dark, Holly is saved by Frøy, a yellow-eyed cat of fearsome but fluffy proportions, and his owner – grouchy, bearded recluse, Tor. Tor has his own problems to face but the inexplicable desire to leave a bag of freshly baked gingerbread men on Holly’s doorstep is seriously getting in the way of his hermit routine.

Call it kindness, call it Christmas, but Holly’s arrival means midwinter has never looked less bleak.

Review

Holly is escaping professional embarrassment by spending Christmas with her brother on a remote island. Not sure Holly understands what that means when she actually arrives there and thinks nothing of setting off on foot in the dark and the cold. What could possibly go wrong?

Holly and Tor, and the beast called Froy aren’t really what you would expect in a Christmas story, but then they come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and shades. I say shades because it isn’t exactly a light jovial jingle bell story, but it does have its funny moments even if it takes place in an area that is quite cold and dark.

I liked the way Normann plotted the story. It gives the romantics what they want, but holds off on the magical elf dust. It becomes more of a two people meeting under peculiar circumstances and fighting a mutual attraction. There are dangerous cliffs in the dark and predatory cats that follow ladies who sing in the dark, which is the comedy that balances the more argumentative and somber moments.

It’s a story with a strong Nordic vibe with beautiful descriptive passages on the surroundings, and yet it has all the ingredients of a romantic Xmas read set in any other setting, which makes it a bit of something for everyone read – oh and those with a hankering for Viking like hermits who are guarded by large cats.

Oh, and Froy needs his own book. Just saying.

Buy Christmas Island at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: One More Chapter, pub date 14 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com. At Hive. At Bookshop.org.

#BlogTour The Last Charm by Ella Allbright

Today it’s Happy Publication Day for The Last Charm by Ella Allbright and my turn on the BlogTour.

Enter the fantastic Giveaway below to Win Dorset and Reading themed goodies to celebrate The Last Charm by Ella Allbright (UK Only)

About the Author

A self-confessed reading addict, Ella Allbright writes commercial women’s fiction set in her beautiful home county of Dorset. Her first novel in this genre, The Charm Bracelet will be published in August 2020 by One More Chapter, an imprint of HarperCollins, and she’s currently hard at work on her next book. Ella is represented by agent Hattie Grünewald at The Blair Partnership, who represent J.K. Rowling.

Ella also writes as Nikki Moore, the author of the popular #LoveLondon romance series. A number of the novellas featured in the Top 100 short story charts on Kobo and the Top 20 in the Amazon UK bestsellers Holiday chart, and in 2018 the collection was released in Italy. Her first published work was the short story A Night to Remember in the best selling Mills & Boon / RNA anthology Truly, Madly, Deeply. Her debut romance Crazy, Undercover, Love was shortlisted for the RNA Joan Hessayon Award 2015.

When not writing or reading, she can be found working in her HR day job, walking the family’s cute beagle puppy or watching a Netflix series!

Follow @NikkiMoore_Auth on Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon and on Amazon as Ella, She also vlogs about how to get published as ‘Author By The Sea’ on her YouTube channel – on Youtube, Ella on Goodreads as Nikki on Goodreads, Visit nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com, Buy The Last Charm

About the book

Leila’s charm bracelet tells a story of love, a story of loss, a story of hope. This is the story of her … and the story of Jake.

When Leila Jones loses her precious charm bracelet and a stranger finds it, she has to tell the story of how she got the charms to prove she’s the owner. Each and every one is a precious memory of her life with Jake.

So Leila starts at the beginning, recounting the charms and experiences that have led her to the present. A present she never could have expected when she met Jake nearly twenty years ago…

Review

When Leila and Jake meet one of them is being dragged from the home she adores and the other has moved into it. Jake is fascinated by her creativity and feels sorry for her, despite the fact he lives a troubled and unhappy life himself.

The bracelet and the charms become a source of comfort and validation for Leila. A sign every year that someone hasn’t forgotten her and loves her. Each charm has an important significance to Leila, so when she loses the bracelet she makes a public appeal in the hopes someone will return her precious item and memories.

Leila tells the story of how she met Jake. A unlikely friendship is forged and as their lives intersect many times during the years they are often like two ships passing in the night. Never the right time or place and often their interactions are burdened by misconceptions and the emotional baggage.

Jake is a young boy who will become a man influenced by the neglect, abuse and lack of love he experienced for many years. Leila is a young girl who will become a woman scared of abandonment and afraid of commitment.

Given the charming title and cover you wouldn’t be remiss in thinking that this is a light-hearted romance or rom-com, but it actually veers into more of a contemporary read with plenty of depth. A story of love, support, loyalty and friendship. A tale of loss, which isn’t quite realised or understood until it is too late and so many opportunities have passed them both by.

It’s a tender read, which is strangely uplifting at times because Allbright infuses it with a sense of hope. With the thought that happiness is there within our grasp if we just open our eyes, soul and hearts to it.

Buy The Last Charm at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: One More Chapter; pub date 21 Aug. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Giveaway to Win Dorset and Reading themed goodies to celebrate The Last Charm by Ella Allbright (UK Only)

First Prize  – Books Make Me Happy/TLC Branded Mug, Keepsake Bracelet for Readers, Lulworth Chocolate Bar, Mermaid metal bookmark, TLC Postcards, PLUS mystery prize

Second Prize – Lulworth Chocolate Bar, I love Durdle Door chocolate lollipop, Sunshine metal bookmark, TLC Postcards, PLUS mystery prize

Third Prize – Lulworth Chocolate Bar, I love Lulworth chocolate lollipop, Starry Sky metal bookmark, TLC Postcards, PLUS mystery prize

Click here to Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

*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 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 A Sunset in Sydney by Sandy Barker

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour A Sunset in Sydney by Sandy Barker.

About the Author

Sandy Barker is an Australian writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list and a cheeky sense of humour. She’s also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob.

Many of Sandy’s travel adventures have found homes in her writing, including her debut novel, a contemporary romance set in Greece, which was inspired by her true-life love story.

Follow @sandybarker on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Amazon, on Goodreads,Visit sandybarker.com, Buy A Sunset in Sydney

About the book

How far would you go in the name of love? Sarah Parsons has a choice ahead of her. After the trip of a lifetime she’s somehow returned home with TWO handsome men wanting to whisk her away into the sunset.

Pulled in two directions across the globe, it’s making life trickier than it sounds. Her gorgeous American, Josh, wants to meet Sarah in Hawaii for a holiday to remember. Meanwhile silver fox, James, plans to wine and dine her in London. It’s a lot to handle for this Aussie girl, who had totally sworn off men!

Join Sarah after her adventure in One Summer in Santorini, for the heart-warming and uplifting third novel in The Holiday Romance series.

Review

I’m going to say it right off the bat – Sarah is far too hard on herself when it comes to age, especially her age in relation to her partners. The level of insecurity is almost obsessive and screws with her head and the way she interacts with both men. Oh my god I am too old, oh my god I am too young. Seriously, just let yourself have some fun without making it all about birth certificates, generation gaps and expectations of youth or maturity.

Sarah is finding herself again after quite some disappointment. Her love life or budding relationships have become slightly complicated in a sense that she finds herself drawn to two men. Josh, who lets her be herself without any thought of restrictions. Freedom and being carefree, enjoying the small moments in life. Being with James is more about appreciating the finer things in life and there is an expectation of behaviour, of adulthood and of a certain lifestyle.

It’s all about finding the path that is right for you when it comes to love. Money, lifestyle, freedom and choice – what is more important to Sarah, a woman torn between two different experiences of love.

I have to be honest, I found Sarah quite selfish as a character. There didn’t seem to be any consideration for either man – it was all about her all the time. Don’t get me wrong. Have your cake and eat it, as much cake as you want, but be aware of the cake you are devouring.

I enjoyed the way Barker gave her main character the freedom to experience without the limitations of society, family or friends. No judgement, which often goes hand in hand with female characters. It’s very much a story of new beginnings and self-discovery.

Buy A Sunset in Sydney at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: One More Chapter; pub date 3 July 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Waterstones. At Kobo. At Google Play.

#BlogTour The English Wife by Adrienne Chinn

It’s my turn on the BlogTour The English Wife by Adrienne Chinn.

About the Author

Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer. When not up a ladder or at the computer, she can usually be found rummaging through flea markets or haggling in the Marrakech souk.

Her second novel, The English Wife — a timeslip story set in World War II England and contemporary Newfoundland — is published in June 2020. Her debut novel, The Lost Letter from Morocco, was published by Avon Books UK in 2019. She is currently writing her third novel, The Photographer’s Daughters, the first of a 3-book series, to be published in 2021.

Follow @adriennechinn on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Buy The English Wife

About the book

Two women, a world apart. A secret waiting to be discovered…

VE Day 1945: As victory bells ring out across the country, war bride Ellie Burgess’ happiness is overshadowed by grief. Her charismatic Newfoundlander husband Thomas is still missing in action. Until a letter arrives explaining Thomas is back at home on the other side of the Atlantic recovering from his injuries.

Travelling to a distant country to live with a man she barely knows is the bravest thing Ellie has ever had to do. But nothing can prepare her for the harsh realities of her new home…

September 11th 2001: Sophie Parry is on a plane to New York on the most tragic day in the city’s history. While the world watches the news in horror, Sophie’s flight is rerouted to a tiny town in Newfoundland and she is forced to seek refuge with her estranged aunt Ellie.

Determined to discover what it was that forced her family apart all those years ago, newfound secrets may change her life forever…

Review

Ellie finds herself torn between two men, which is probably an emotional situation enhanced by the turmoil of living through war and in a city being bombed every night. Fear and anxiety are not the right bedmates for sensible decisions, but rather of emotional surges and bonds made during difficult times.

The relationship she has with her sister is one that becomes brittle over the years as Ellie follows her heart. Something she is forced to delve into again when her niece Sophie is forced to seek her out during an emergency.

It’s historical fiction – a family saga that carries destructive secrets through multiple generations.

Chinn accurately captures what happens when sisterhood and sibling rivalry doesn’t adhere to the rules of normal dysfunction and instead wanders into hatred and betrayal.

This was the part of the story that resonated with me the most – the relationship between the sisters. It isn’t always a tale of support, love and protection. Sometimes being the people we are supersedes any genetic or blood connection, which also means the reality can be painful or simply mean the term sisterhood is obsolete because the relationship is non-existent.

It may seem like prime-time drama and fiction, but I found that aspect in particular had an air of authenticity.

Chinn also navigates the waters of family and blood connections quite well, and the essence of feeling at home or as if you belong somewhere. In regards to Ellie’s path as the stranger and ‘foreigner’ who comes to comprehend that home isn’t necessarily where you were raised.

Buy The English Wife at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: One More Chapter; pub date 25 Jun. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Amazon Ca.

#BlogTour The First Date by Zara Stoneley

It’s Publication Day and it’s my turn on the BlogTour The First Date by Zara Stoneley.

About the Author

Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date. Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.

She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say ‘ahhh’.

Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘No One Cancels Christmas’, ‘The Wedding Date’, ‘The Holiday Swap’, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet’, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage’ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.

Follow @ZaraStoneley @HarperImpulse on Twitter, on Goodreads, on YouTube, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Amazon, Visit zarastoneley.com, Buy The First Date

About the book

Right place. Right time.Wrong guy …

After breaking up with her childhood sweetheart, clueless dater Rosie has found herself in a boyfriend-drought. So when she finally swipes right on a guy who seems interested, she can’t wait to meet up IRL.

Until she’s left standing alone. In a bar. Ghosted.

Enter Noah. Confident, funny … and a serial first dater. Offering to give Rosie a crash course in seduction, this could be just what she needs. Until her matchmaker turns out to be the best date she’s ever had – and Rosie wonders if she wants the fake dates to be the real ones after all …

Review

First of all a quick nod to the third party in this couple. Hugo is an adorably chaotic addition to this fast-paced, witty and often loose-tongued romcom. He deserves a little bit of recognition.

When Rosie is waiting for a date she is filled with anxiety and the fear of rejection. She tends to say the wrong thing or just get tongue-tied. Somehow being single and having to play the field isn’t all it’s cut out to be. Being dumped by her previous partner has really left a huge dent in her confidence.

The last thing she expects to encounter is a dating expert who is willing to teach her the ropes in man-catching, and she really isn’t prepared to find him both annoying and irresistible at the same time.

It’s a witty and energetic romcom, which is no surprise because it is trademark Stoneley style. She really knows how to grab the most realistic element of relationships, love and heartache and run with it. Then all of those things are combined with a pitch perfect sense of humour.

Those of us who remember the olden days, before mobile phones, Tinder and internet dating probably feel bad for 21st century daters. It might look so much easier, faster and there are so many people to choose from. But it isn’t. Nowadays it’s easy to judge, reject and go on to the next without a thought to the person they have just rejected or ghosted. Old-school meant having to really getting to know someone face-to-face.

Once again the author manages to create a delightful and entertaining read.

Buy The First Date at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: One More Chapter; pub date 24 April 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Bridesmaids and No One Cancels Christmas by Zara Stoneley.

#BlogTour Mummy Needs Help by Susan Edmunds

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Mummy Needs Help by Susan Edmunds.

About the Author

Susan Edmunds is a business journalist by day and a fiction scribbler by night. She lives in Whangarei, New Zealand. Most of her non-work writing relates to motherhood and the crazy experience of being left to take care of a child when you have no real idea what you’re doing. When she gets the chance at some time off, she spends time with her children, exercises and tries to tackle her sleep deficit.

Follow @susanedmunds on Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Buy Mummy Needs Help

About the book

Can you go mad from sleep deprivation? Will my mother ever leave? Will the baby sleep through the night before she turns twenty-one?

Renee is struggling to get to grips with having a totally dependent new-born. Luckily for her there is a Facebook group of new mums who welcome her with open arms and assurances that she might sleep again … one day.

Whilst Renee finds a safe space for questions and confessions, all hubby Nick can see is how easily she seems to be adapting to parenthood: a world in which he still feels adrift. Work is beginning to be the place he feels most at home.

As her daughter reaches the age where she can finally have a solo shower, Renee realises it’s been months since she’s had a baby-free discussion with Nick, let alone a date night. The question remains: will their marriage survive the storm?

Review

Renee is prepared for the sunshine filled dreamy sleepy mornings, household bliss, a fantastic relationship as the two of them become a new family of three. Nobody mentioned the tiny humans won’t sleep, puke everywhere, your body needs at least a year to recover and your relationship might break like a brittle twig.

If there is one thing that will stay with me after this read it’s that part of me feels sorry for 21st century mothers, especially new ones. I suppose it’s a bit like being stood on a large field with your baby and being pelted from every direction with ‘good’ advice by family, friends and strangers.

It’s been a few decades since I was in that position and I’m glad I wasn’t able to google every hiccup and illness. I think I had a book or two, my mother and the health clinic where I took my babies for weighing and vaccinations. Other than that it was just me, the baby and the empty Mojave desert – oh and occasionally my hubby. Trust yourself, your instincts, and if you ask for help and don’t get it – find another source of help.

Side note – all of mine survived and made it successfully to adulthood.

Although I can imagine plenty of readers finding this read amusing I was struck by the fear, anxiety and genuine insecurity woven into the story. Is this the way society is making women feel when they embark on the most painful, exhausting and often terrifying part of their lives, when or if they choose the role of mother? Society should be trying harder to support not judge, to encourage not diminish and to make motherhood less of a competitive sport.

Edmunds delivers an engrossing contemporary read on the stress of a new baby and the strain it can put on a relationship. A story a lot of readers will be able to relate to.

Buy Mummy Needs Help at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: One More Chapter; pub date 10 April 2020. Buy at Amazon com.