I am thrilled to host my dear friend Jodie Homer as she celebrates publishing another book! the mobile Bakery at the Christmas Parade.
Blurb Twelve years ago, April left her childhood friend and boyfriend Ben to follow her dreams of being a famous baker, but now she is coming home with her tail between her legs. Ben is still upset about April leaving, so when she comes back he wants nothing to do with her. When April and Ben get thrown into organising the Christmas parade together, can they put their feelings and twelve-year feud aside for the sake of Christmas and give the villagers a parade they will never forget? Can they work together to make this the best ex-mas parade ever?
Welcome to Birchlea Heath Village, which is a place about to welcome you into its fold several times over, as Jodie Homer has set a new series there! In this first book, we meet April, a former resident who feels like she has to crawl back home after her big dreams of baking fame failed to come alive. She returns to the loving welcome from her family and friends, but not from Ben. Ben was her boyfriend twelve years before. The boy she left behind as she went to chase her dreams. And he hasn’t forgotten. It is a sweet second-chance romance with plenty of hurdles that two people must face to reach the finish line. There were plenty of mince pies and lots of karaoke sessions throughout the book. Perfect for me, though… should I be thinking of mince pies in September?
Author bio Jodie lives in a small village in Solihull with her husband and two children. She loves nothing more than dancing around embarrassingly to 90s music and eating mint chocolate. Jodie enjoys reading and writing books full of romance and swoon-worthy fictional men.
It’s been another busy one, with me starting back at school in a new class, Lil Princess starting 6th Form, (not so) Lil Man passing his driving test, and me turning 49. When did that happen? I was just 30 the other day!
The big question is, what did I read, and did I continue to get words down?
I started the month with 6 NetGalley ARCs. Finally, I started with less than the previous month. And I read them ALL! (And added a couple more…) This would not have happened, had I not caught COVID and been laid down for 5 days, which meant a really badly timed absence from school, as the children were just starting… but I couldn’t do much more than rest because I was so ill, so I read!
I got feedback for book 3, In God’s Hands, from the publisher, and we have been working on a cover. Eeek! (The release date is 5 November; keep your eyes peeled!) However, there are no new words because, well, school! And, a cover reveal happened, too!
I read ten books, of which nine were ARCs, and, shh, but right now, I am reading one, and have one on my arc list, meaning I have been able to start books that are sitting there on my Kindle or shelf, patiently waiting to be read!
Karen Swan’s books truly intoxicated me, and this Christmas love story weaved through another tale of discovery was pure magic. Darcy has moved to Copenhagen to finish her PhD studies. It’s a good thing because, given a breakup, she needs to remove herself from certain aspects of her life. Love and celebrating Christmas are the last things on her list, and a chance project to research a particularly juicy discovery gives her the opportunity to bury her mind in other directions. However, her wonderful housemate, Freja, is in the throes of her own early love story and, not wanting to leave her friend behind, creates a profile for Darcy on a dating app for well-to-do folk. Max is one of those suggestions on the app. He’s wealthy, intelligent, in a good job, broodingly handsome, and moody. Sparks of attraction fly, but his close connection to her research makes it challenging to explore that attraction. She kisses a few frogs on her journey of discovery, both personal and professional, and unearths some well-hidden home truths along the way. I love the details of the art world. The history behind various artworks is always fascinating, and how this is entwined in the writing gives the story another dimension. Did I want to shake Darcy and a specific other character several times? Why, yes, I did! But then, the book would have been far too short, and Darcy wouldn’t have been allowed to finish her essential research! Fantastically written and a wonderful read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
I’ve become accustomed to reading an Emma Heatherington before Christmas and this was another lovely heartwarming story. Hotel manager Bea and nurse Ollie meet by chance as they wait for a flight from Heathrow back to Ireland to visit family. Both feel an instant connection, however circumstances mean they are not of the right mindset to explore. The story follows a year in both their lives, where coincidence and fate meet, and conspire to bring these two back together. This was a wonderful tale, a beautiful book and a true feel good festive love story, laced with the emotional difficulties encountered as the characters traverse through their individual difficulties. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC.
I have to tell you, I LOVE a Lucy Mitchell book. I’ve read all her wonderful stories, and I sighed and giggled throughout them. I was delighted to read The Christmas Dog Sitters and thoroughly enjoyed visiting Harp Brook. Rachel, our MC, has had a tough year. From a relationship break to losing her beloved cat, followed by the devastating loss of her best friend, and ending up with no job and in a leaky flat, surrounded by memories, she’s not had the best time. Armed with the power of WhatsApp groups, her family conspires to get her back on her feet with an invitation to Harp Brook, where she is asked to dog-sit in a beautiful mansion and have a relaxing three-week break. However, looking after delightfully wild octogenarian Grandpa Eric, a rather strict brother-in-law’s rules how to live in his house, a young cleaner with a problem, construction work, accompanied by a rather handsome but somewhat gruff builder, strange vibes coming from the local community, constant WhatsApp messages and Facetime calls from family members, and an over-exuberant, Houdini of a cocker spaniel called Humphrey into, doesn’t quite equate to a relaxing break. I have to say, I raced through this book in one sitting. An element of mystery added another layer to this brilliant RomCom. (Don’t ask me about it, or it won’t stay a mystery!) Rachel’s grief burrows deep inside you as a reader. I wanted to reach into the book and hug her, and I only wanted the best for her. Builder Ben was the sweetheart we all needed – and I always love a hero who can cook! Lucy creates a fantastic supporting cast whenever she writes. Rachel’s mum, the Aunty gang, and cousins who add to the various WhatsApp chats are hilarious in parts and so reminiscent of groups I have on my phone! Everyone thinks they can solve the world’s problems via messages and GIFs! Two firm favourites did emerge, though. Grandpa Eric is a brilliant character with his wild hair, and he wishes to have a Christmas adventure while still able. The love he shows Rachel, along with the sense of loss and grief many elderly folk feel, as the world around them thinks they are now incapable of anything other than sitting in a chair with a blanket over their knees and a cup of tea, just pulled at my heartstrings. Humphrey, the gorgeous dog Rachel went to dog sit, initially is a total loon! He appears to be a devil, but that is just the disguise he wears, as he shows himself to be a veritable angel—a real mischievous cutie. An incredible, heartwarming, feel-good story. Please pick it up now!
Sarah Morgan writes amazing stories; this was another one with heartbreak and tragedy woven through the storyline and an ultimate festive, feel-good ending. The story centres around Imogen, a young woman who has worked hard all her life to create a feeling of security around herself—something that she did not have growing up. Christmas is coming, and she doesn’t know how to handle the questions and curiosity of colleagues who have a wonderful family to spend time with. She’s gone to the extent of creating a fictitious family, boyfriend, and even pet to stave off feelings of pity from others. But everything comes to a head when she has an awful conversation with her one existing family member. Sent off on an enforced break by her concerned boss, Imogen ends up in a beautiful cottage hosted by a dear client for the month. Then things start to unravel further as questions are asked, and the answers to mysteries are slowly revealed. The story is told through the POV of several key characters, which adds to the story. There is a dishy, caring vet, and a wonderful golden retriever named Ralph. Oh, and Alpacas! My only wish? I had more of a conclusion about what happens with Imogen’s mother. Wonderfully written and easy to read. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.
TW of seizures and light transphobia. A light-hearted MM romance with the added joy of Christmas, cake and animals! Christopher is in the first year of starting his own business, a small cafe in a tiny Welsh village. It’s been hard, not feeling a part of the tight-knit community and far from his family. But with the aid of one ally, a stash of Christmas films and a hunky actor in said films, he’s got through. Just as the festive season kicks in, he’s looking forward to a break, with his small flat rented out to someone for a few days, allowing him the chance to visit his loved ones. Then British weather happens. Snow falls. Planes, trains and automobiles grind to a halt. Everyone’s except the soon to arrive lodger, who raps on the door, and Christopher finds himself face to face, not with a woman, but a man. A familiar, handsome male. Who he’s been drooling over the last few months. Nash Nadeau, the Rom Com heartthrob. Neither can they leave, nor can they realistically fit into his teeny flat above the cafe, but they’re going to have to manage because there are no other options! Oh, what fun! Forced proximity to the hilt! I enjoyed the difficulties these two had to go through, as they navigated their own feelings, as well as those around them, as a community rallies together to get through the freak snowstorm! There is another book featuring Christopher, but I could read this as a stand-alone with no problems. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.
Releasing 24th October, 2024
I’m on the blog tour on 27th October! Pop over to see what I thought!
Sonali Dev writes beautiful stories and I have read a good few of them. There’s Something About Mira is a heartrending tale of a woman torn between her family and her own wishes. It’s never easy, as a child of immigrants, to navigate the new world around you, stepping around your parent’s delicate threads of connection back ‘home’, and trying to create your own threads as a person with East/Wets heritage. As her marriage looms, Mira has a lot on her shoulders. She has to consider everyone’s thoughts and feelings as she tries to plan for her future. Druv is perfect. Everyone says so, and he really does seem it. But his wonderful job is always getting in the way. Then, the one chance they had, pre-wedding, to spend time together gets snatched away, and Mira goes away herself (agreed by the relevant powers who oversee her whole life, though somewhat begrudgingly and with the blessing of her intended). While out in New York, she rekindles her relationship with her brother and gets tangled up in a lost-and-found incident when she happens across an intriguing ring and necklace. She then meets Krish, someone who can help her with the mystery she is determined to solve, as well as may be other things. Oh, the way this story unfolded was just brilliant. The family dynamics, as well as learning how to be true to yourself, were played perfectly. There are some key themes that are still considered somewhat taboo within the South Asian culture, even now, especially with some of the older generations, and they are dealt with, with such sensitivity. I loved it! #TeamMira! Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.
This has been on my TBR for a while, so I figured I would give it a go. It’s a cute second-chance romance story with loss at the heart. Cori has moved away from her family to start fresh, reeling from her best friend’s death after an illness. She only knows a distant cousin there, has no job, and hasn’t lived alone for a long time, so there i far too much time to wallow in grief. Then, along with her cousin and friends, including another Cory, she begins to venture out. A strange app appears on her phone, supposedly to guide her to her perfect partner. However, there is a little twist: The app tells her that her future lies with someone she has encountered before. Of course, you gotta kiss a few frogs before your Prince Charming is revealed, but what happens when you think you might want your Prince to be someone different? It’s an easy read with a bit of mild spice and a feel-good ending!
Want a sweet romance with seriousness, a sprinkling of spice and some feisty pets? Well, In Italy Love may just be for you! Julia upped sticks from Australia for love and a handsome Italian man. Fast forward a short while, and things aren’t all sweetness and light. She finds herself without a home, money, or support. At least she has Arco, her pup. Making her way home, she stops in a tiny village, Cividale del Friuli, hoping to wait for an elusive passport to arrive and some clarity about her life before she heads home. That’s when things go a bit awry. Meeting Alex, a busker of sorts, and making an out-of-character suggestion of dinner sparks a journey in a totally different direction to what she had imagined, especially as he ends up entangled in her temporary stay in Friuli. Along with his cat, Attilla. It is a gorgeous autumnal read with its fair share of emotion and giggles, too. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC
I’ve enjoyed my forays to the Cornish Cove of Driftwood Bay thanks to Kim Nash, and couldn’t wait for the next visit. This time we get to know Nancy. She’s lived there all her life and gone from teaching to her dream of opening up a bookshop in the little village, thanks to an inheritance. It’s wonderful, being surrounded by books and all she loves, however, there are other things she needs to consider as a businesswoman, like plans, and finance, and she’d rather not. Then she meets, or rather collides with Dennis, a visitor to the area, and grandson of the legendary potty-mouthed Vi, and her world is turned a bit on its side. This is a cute, easy read of a romance, with its fair share of trials, as Nancy struggles to trust, as does Dennis. And all the while, everyone else knows what is staring them both in the face. I loved visiting the Bay again, meeting new characters, and catching up with others we’d met, previously, too. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Releasing 28th October, 2024
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
Today, I am on the blog tour for Dean Koontz’s newest novel, the Forest of Lost Souls.
The Blurb
A fearless woman, raised in the forest, fights against a group of powerful men in this gripping novel about good versus evil, the enduring nature of myth, and the power of love by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.
Raised in the wilderness by her late great-uncle, Vida is a young woman with an almost preternatural affinity for nature, especially for the wolves that also call the forested mountains home. Formed by hard experience, by love and loss, and by the prophecies of a fortune teller, Vida just wants peace. If only nearby Kettleton County didn’t cast such a dark shadow.
It’s where Jose Nochelobo, the love of Vida’s life and a cherished local hero, died in a tragic accident. That’s the official story, but Vida has reasons to doubt it. The truth can’t be contained for long. Nor can the hungry men of power in Kettleton who want something too: that Vida, like Jose, disappear forever. One by one they come for her, prepared to do anything to see their plans through to their evil end.
Vida is no less prepared for them.
Vida, the forest, and its formidable wonders are waiting. She will not rest until goodness and order have been restored.
My Review
The Forest of Lost Souls by Dean Koontz My second Dean Koontz novel. It is told from a few random POVs, but mainly from Vida, our MC; the story is part fantasy, part thriller, and a bit whoa if you know what I mean. Vida lives alone, panning for gems, with a fantastic talent for what she does. She lives alone, having lost the uncle she lived with, and has recently lost her fiance, too. Somehow, she becomes embroiled in finding out what happened to her fiance, pulling herself into danger and all manner of situations. There’s murder, horrific male characters who don’t think much of women, wolves and a white lion… As with the first, it took me a while to get into this, but the well-written, evocative language, rather than the storyline, gets my rating.
About the Author
Dean Koontz won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition when he was a senior in college, and has been writing ever since. Fourteen of his novels have risen to number one on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list (One Door Away From Heaven, From the Corner of His Eye, Midnight, Cold Fire, The Bad Place, Hideaway, Dragon Tears, Intensity, Sole Survivor, The Husband, Odd Hours, Relentless, What the Night Knows, and 77 Shadow Street), making him one of only a dozen writers ever to have achieved that milestone. Sixteen of his books have risen to the number one position in paperback. His books have also been major bestsellers in countries as diverse as Japan and Sweden. Many of his books have been made into films.
The New York Times has called his writing “psychologically complex, masterly and satisfying”. The New Orleans Times-Picayune said Koontz is “at times lyrical without ever being naive or romantic. [He creates] a grotesque world, much like that of Flannery O’Conner or Walker Percy … scary, worthwhile reading.” Rolling Stone has hailed him as “America’s most popular suspense novelist”.
Dean Koontz was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University), and his first job after graduation was with the Appalachian Poverty Program, where he was expected to counsel and tutor underprivileged children on a one-to-one basis. His first day on the job, he discovered that the previous occupier of his position had been beaten up by the very kids he had been trying to help and had landed in the hospital for several weeks. The following year was filled with challenge but also tension, and Koontz was more highly motivated than ever to build a career as a writer. He wrote nights and weekends, which he continued to do after leaving the poverty program and going to work as an English teacher in a suburban school district outside Harrisburg. After a year and a half in that position, his wife, Gerda, made him an offer he couldn’t refuse: “I’ll support you for five years,” she said, “and if you can’t make it as a writer in that time, you’ll never make it.” By the end of those five years, Gerda had quit her job to run the business end of her husband’s writing career.
Dean Koontz lives in Southern California with Gerda and their golden retriever, Elsa. Dean and Gerda share a deep love of dogs.
But I Smile Anyway... 