Please join me on the blog tour for Hook, Line and Single by Phoebe Macleod
Can the future be rewritten?
Ruby may be young, free and single… but she’s absolutely not ready to mingle.
Ruby is happily sworn off men. There’s nothing she needs that can’t get from her friends, cat or, frankly, the wonders of modern technology. So when her flatmate tricks her into going on a singles cruise, she’s furious.
Thankfully, Ruby isn’t the only one onboard under false pretences. Cameron also had no idea what he was letting himself in for. So after Ruby and Cameron strike up conversation, they agree to platonically pair off, to protect each other from the flirtatious advances of the other guests – not to mention the matchmaking efforts of Barry, the enthusiastic host.
There’s just one problem. Cameron isn’t just in the same boat as Ruby – he’s also good looking, kind and fun. As they explore the picturesque towns of the Mediterranean, Ruby finds herself enjoying his company much more than she’d intended.
Can Ruby keep her heart safe, or will she be in too deep by the time the boat docks at its final destination?
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise, and I’m drawn to books that include cruises in their timelines, so this was a good choice. Ruby is perfectly happy living with her best friend, Sam, who is hopeless at dating but doesn’t give up, and their cat, Samson, the most handsome cat in Margate, and working in her bookshop with her friend Jono. There’s no need for a man, She’s sworn off them. When an opportunity arises for the two BFs to go on a cruise, she reluctantly agrees, only to find that Sam has signed them up for a cruise with a minor difference; they are part of a singles group, with the intent of ‘mingling’. Not best pleased, Ruby grudgingly gives it a go, with unexpected results. Cameron, the inevitable love interest, is a caring, considerate bloke, and, as a reader, I did find myself rooting for him. The side characters are all great, with members of Ruby’s family, like her sister, Em, who could probably do with her own novel outing. Samson the cat has his special appearances, and any story with a cat will reel me in. It’s a romance. Of course, there is a love story, but there is a darkness behind it, and Ruby’s reluctance to even consider a relationship is slowly revealed at the end, giving her a great character arc. An easy, enjoyable read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Phoebe MacLeod is the author of several popular laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. She mainly sets her books in her home county of Kent and her first new title for Boldwood will be published in November 2022.
Today, I am thrilled to be a part of the blog tour for Karen Louise Hollis’s most recent book, The Whitlock Close Weddings!
It’s 1982 and the residents of Whitlock Close have an exciting few months ahead of them. The Lincolnshire village is looking forward to two weddings! Former school teacher Sarah Willington is set to marry Mark Thomas, guitarist of the successful boy band The Unflappables, and no expense is being spared. The second wedding will be a quieter one, but who exactly is Norman marrying – Nora or Mabel? Twelve-year-old Louise has to decide about her gymnastics career, following a shocking development with her friend Jayne’s health. Plus what on earth is going on with her boyfriend Toby? Meanwhile, there are people moving in and moving out, cats going missing and a big Christmas trip away to the new Silver Sands Holiday Camp. It’s going to be another eventful few months for the residents of the eight semi- detached houses in Whitlock Close.
My first foray to Whitlock Close, and the 80s setting gave me a real nostalgic blast from the past! It’s like Neighbours, in book form, as we move from house to house, learning all that is happening in the different families. What lovely community spirit shown within!
About the author Karen Louise Hollis was born in Lincoln, England in 1969. She began writing from an early age, being the daughter of two journalists. She is a mum to five children and has three grandchildren. She has had over twenty-five books published and has written about a variety of topics including motherhood, poetry, Doctor Who and gymnastics. The Whitlock Close Weddings is her fourth novel, following Welcome to Whitlock Close (2022), Starting Again in Silver Sands Bay (2023) and Over The Garden Fence (2023).
Please join me on the blog tour for The One Before The One by Emma Cooper.
When Liv’s boyfriend Kit disappeared on a hike, seven years earlier, she thought her life was over. But with the help of their family and friends, she’s pushed her way through the grief, and now, miraculously, she’s found a way to love again.
Until the morning of her wedding, when Liv steps through a doorway, and finds herself, somehow, back at the flat she shared with seven years earlier, six days before he left. Now, Liv has a chance to live those six days over, and change everything. If she gets this right, she can find out why Kit leaves and stop him.
But can she save him? And if she does, how will she choose, between the man she loved then, and the one she loves now?
OMG, where do I start with this book? First, I want to review with no spoilers, but that will be sooo hard to squeal about the twists and turns without giving things away! So, can you imagine having the chance to go back to a ‘better’ time in the past and making some changes that could change the trajectory of your life? Liv finds herself in that same situation, except on the eve of her wedding. After losing her fiance, Kit, tragically, it has taken her years to come to terms with his disappearance finally. She has taken steps to move forward and seems happy until a freak moment takes her back seven years to the week before Kit’s disappearance. This is where the story takes off. There is a dual POV and a shifting timeline. Short chapters take us through Liv’s experiences as she relives a week where she is not sure she can change anything, but she learns a lot about her own life that she had no idea about. And the experiences of one who left in the days after his disappearance. I don’t want to be cryptic, but I can’t say too much other than I was gripped and confused in a good way. This romantic mystery, as I think it should be tagged, had many twists, which made me double-check things. It was so cleverly written that I didn’t know what was going on for a while! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Author Bio
Emma Cooper is the author of highly acclaimed book club fiction, including The Songs of Us, which was shortlisted for the RNA Contemporary Novel Award. Previously published by Headline PG, Emma will publish emotional book club novels with Boldwood.
Today, I am thrilled to welcome amazing author Susan Buchanan to my blog for a cuppa and a chat about all things writerly, especially her latest release, Leap Year Proposal.
Thank you so much for having me Ritu.
Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Susan! Let’s get you set with a drink first. Would you prefer a coffee, a cup of tea, or, to be brave, traditional homemade Indian masala tea?
Thanks for having me, Ritu. Lovely to be here. Normally, I’d go for a latte or even a hot chocolate (loaded, of course!), but I like to embrace my inner adventurer, so let’s have some of that homemade masala tea, please.
If we’re having masala tea, I can make samosas and pakoras (fried potato and vegetable fritters), but I also have homemade shortbread cookies!
You may have to win me over on having those with tea, to be honest, but I do like them – usually with a glass of milk on the side actually! And, c’mon, I’m Scottish. Of course, I like Shortbread! If I’m superb, can I have both?!
Absolutely!
Now, it’s so lovely to have you on my blog, Susan! And this visit hits a bit differently since we met in person at the 2024 RNA Conference last year. I don’t often get to say that I have sat alongside many of my Book and a Brew friends! How has writing life been treating you since August?
Yes, it was lovely to meet you and what a gorgeous location for the conference at Royal Holloway. Writing life has calmed down a little now as I switch my focus to the business side of writing given the launch of The Leap Year Proposal and the launch in a few months’ time of You Can’t Hurry Love. But when we last met, I hadn’t even decided to write A Little Christmas Spirit yet so September onwards was pretty intense, although mostly in a good way. I’m actually trying to carve out some time between launches to work on the next two books. I live in hope!
Where do you like to write? Do you have a writing room at home, or are you a nomadic writer, taking your notebook and pen or laptop to different places?
I think where I like to write and where I do write are not actually necessarily the same place! If I could, I’d be in a café (which I have done in the past) being supplied with copious amounts of hot chocolate and cheese toasties when needed, so I could simply focus on writing. (Idyllic!) However, when the kids are at school, I tend to write on my laptop on a lapdesk in my living room, on my recliner sofa, with my Labrador, Benji, taking up 90% of the sofa. When the kids are home, I either do the same and put headphones on (!) or I retire to my office. I don’t like writing in bed. I have to say I have, in the past done a lot of my writing in bed!
Are there any of your books with a special place in your heart? I know that is a toughie, as they are all our book babies, aren’t they?
Prior to this year, I’d have said no, as, as you rightly say, they are all our book babies. However, given the impact The Christmas Spirit and indeed the Christmas Spirit series has had on so many readers, and the amount of positive feedback I’ve had from readers about that book, telling me how it made them find their Christmas spirit when they weren’t feeling it, how they’d wanted to ignore Christmas this year, or how it just gave them a lift, I’d have to say The Christmas Spirit. What wonderful feedback to have had!
Correct me if I am wrong, but is this your tenth book now?
Yep, book 10. Kinda exciting, actually. It’s also funny how it wasn’t the tenth book I wrote. For various reasons, books aren’t always released in the order you write them! Apart from The Leap Year Proposal, I have two series and two other stand alones.
Let’s return to your latest release, Leap Year Proposal. I love romance, and you had three very different relationships within this book. How easy was it to weave the three stories together to make one book?
Well, to be honest, that’s what I love the most. And for anyone who has read my Christmas Spirit books, they’ll know that having multiple points of view is something I enjoy writing. However, this book has had so many permutations – a couple of publishers asked for quite major changes. Some I made, some I didn’t. But the one thing I would not back down on was the three female protagonists. To do otherwise would have been a different book.
I have to admit that I am one who loves to both read and write multi-POV stories. My series all have at least three POVs, and it really helped me create the characters which my readers then develop feelings for, and they want to know more. I think it’s why the first book became a series, because I had so many people asking me about the other characters!
I may well release chapters of the original to my subscribers at some point as I cut/changed a lot of the original book. Secondary characters were cut, locations were changed and even occupations. I loved the original book too, but I do love this version.
What was the inspiration for the whole leap-year proposal idea? It seems archaic, now, for women to wait for 4 years before they can officially propose to a man!
Ha! Now there’s a story, so I’ll give you the short version. Years ago, I remember hearing of it and thinking it was romantic. Nine years ago, I remember hearing it on the radio and thinking, ‘Aw, that’s nice.’ Fast-forward 4 hours and I’d proposed! My proposal and our story has nothing to do with the book, but it gave me the germ of the idea for the story. And of course, women can propose whenever they like, but I think 29 February is a special day, simply because that day only exists once every four years!
What a brilliant story! I love it! You old romantic, you!
Jess being a dog walker, I also got my fair share of furry buddies being mentioned! Do you have a pet, at all? I love animals, and we have two cats here who are equal parts love and mischief!
Yes, the crazy Labrador, Benji. He’s actually part polar bear. He’s enormous. But a big teddy! And greedy as heck!
Gorgeous! We have big cat and little cat, Sonu Singh, who is 11 and Minnie Kaur aka The Minx, who is one next month!
I must tell you I devoured your latest offering in pretty much a day, because I really enjoyed the premise of the story. Plus it was based in Scotland! I’ve never been before. Are all your stories set there?
Aw, thank you. I’m so glad you liked it. I can’t believe you’ve never been to Scotland. Get up here! No, in actual fact, my first book, Sign of the Times, is set in Scotland, Switzerland and Italy; my second book, The Dating Game, is set in Scotland and Spain (Barcelona, where I used to live); two of my Just One Day series books are set in Scotland, and Italy and Spain (Bergamo and Madrid) and the other two are set solely in Scotland, and two of my Christmas Spirit series are set in Scotland. The Leap Year Proposal has a section in Italy, and my next book is set in Costa Rica, and the one after that in France. Did I mention I love travelling?! Readers can also expect many more books set in European and faraway locations!
Well, I’m going to have to get up there, somehow, aren’t I? And yes, I can definitely tell you love your travel!
And what is next for Susan Buchanan?
Ah, that’s what I get for jumping the gun – see above! My next book will be out on 6th May, the one in Costa Rica. It’s set in a sloth sanctuary – which I visited and loved, many years ago. The title is You Can’t Hurry Love, which appealed to my sense of humour since sloths are not known for their speed on land! There will be another Christmas Spirit book in 2025 and possibly A N Other book, but I haven’t decided which yet, or indeed if I can manage the timescales. Suffice to say, there will be at least 3 books from me in 2025!
That sounds amazing! You are one busy lady!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful writing world with us, Susan!
Thank you so much for having me today. 😊
Good luck with your latest release!
The Blurb
Three women. One crazy hen weekend. A life-changing decision.
When three women meet on a mutual friend’s hen weekend on the Scottish island of Arran, they get more than they bargained for when one of them has the genius idea of proposing on 29 February, like the age-old Irish tradition.
High-flying businesswoman Anouska and boyfriend Zach are deliriously happy and madly in love. If only they had more time together. But now she’s pregnant and doesn’t know how to tell him since having kids hadn’t featured in their plans.
Dog walker Jess lives with her childhood sweetheart, but they’re already like an old married couple, without the romance, or the wedding, or the ring. When Mark doesn’t propose on New Year’s Eve, Jess is gutted and decides to take matters into her own hands.
Ellie and Scott still live apart after six years, and his lack of commitment is a sore point. She’s up for a huge promotion which involves moving country. It’s make-or-break time. She needs to know he’s worth turning down the job for.
The women meet weekly, helping each other with decisions big and small, becoming each other’s support system in the run-up to ‘the big ask’.
Will love conquer all or will their hopes and dreams come crashing down around them?
I love romance, and it’s a treat to have three tied into one book, along with a little tradition that they decide to see through. Three women, strangers to one another, all in relationships but very different situations, meet at a mutual friend’s hen weekend and, for whatever reason, decide that they will all propose to their partners on February 29th, as it is a Leap Year, and the woman proposing on that day is an age-old tradition. Split into three POVs, the story follows Anouska, Jess, and Ellie over a couple of months as they build their friendship and experience the trials of planning secret proposals. The thing is, nothing is going to go smoothly, is it? Especially when there are little secrets, doubts and confusion in the mix! I read this story in about one day, thoroughly enjoying each woman’s story. I also loved the blossoming friendships that developed throughout the book. Another Scottish-based book makes me want to visit all the more! Many thanks to the Author and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing an ARC
About the Author
Susan Buchanan writes romantic comedy, contemporary romance and women’s fiction, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship, community – also Christmas!
Her books are Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit and Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.
As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader, if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it.
She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two children and a crazy Labrador.
When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, playing board games, watching quiz shows and eating out, and she has recently discovered a love of writing retreats.
Giveaway to Win a signed paperback of The Leap Year Proposal (Open to UK Only)
*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.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “spoonful.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Okay, so, I’m sat here writing this from my sick bed, on my phone, as I’m still not 100%.
I’ve had more than a spoonful of cough mixtures over the last week. It’s still not shifting…
Anyway, as soon as I read the prompt, good old Mary Poppins came to mind.
We all love that classic, A Spoonful Of Sugar, don’t we?
To be honest, a lot of the medicines right now, are sweet enough, but hey, it doesn’t stop a Disney fan from wanting to sing it, everything I have to give, or take, medicine!
Now, I thought I’d share the cat antics of this morning.
I was in bed (my recent abode of the last week) when, at around 10am, I heard a bang.
I knew Minnie Kaur the Minx was on the loose. She’d obviously gone and pushed something off somewhere.
Little did I know it was a little bit more than a something…
The Living Room TV was off its stand, face down, awkwardly balancing on a pointed tissue box cover on the coffee table.
This didn’t look good!
With Lil Princess’s help, we got the TV back up, but I could see the dents in the screen. This did not look promising. What would our resident TV fab, Hubby Dearest, say?
I switched it on.
Yup.
Not good.
It looks like she tried to climb up onto the radiator cover behind the TV, where she usually sits to watch the world go by. The cover somehow moved and fell, knocking the TV over.
And there you have it. The #DarkDestroyer strikes!
And in other calmer #caturday news, #SonuSingh has rediscovered my office beanbag and is peacefully chilling out.
Unlike the Dark Destroyer, #MinnieKaurTheMinx , who offered to start her own #OnlyCats fan page to fund the new TV, to replace what she spectacularly destroyed! (Image censored to protect our lil girl’s modesty!) I had to remind her she’s not even 1, yet, and will need to make sure her #catmum reviews her online activity. How are kitten ready knows these things, I don’t know, but she was all for showing of her lil black beans and cute paws!
And there you have our morning, so far!
I think I need a spoonful of something to get over the excitement/shock!
Disclaimer: no cats were harmed, injured or allowed to post on OnlyCats, during the xompising of this post. 😝
But I Smile Anyway... 