But I Smile Anyway…

I’m back with another great blog tour review for my friend, Susan Buchanan and her latest release, A Taste of Christmas Spirit.

The Blurb

CAN LARA ADD A SPRINKLING OF MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS?

Jacob introduces ever tastier treats to the Sugar and Spice cafe’s menu as the Christmas Spirit knits her magic into the lives of those finding this Christmas tough.

Florence is struggling to make ends meet and afford the present she knows her son wants for Christmas. Her ex-husband flaunting his new girlfriend and their baby isn’t helping her mood.

Widower Jude feels a failure as a father to his two young children after the tragic death of his wife. The move to Winstanton was meant to make life easier. Can he learn to carve out time to build new friendships and give himself the chance to grieve?

Rachel’s boss has given the promotion he promised her to the man twenty years her junior, whom she trained. She’s fed up with being taken for granted, and the lack of sympathy from her husband and teenage children.

Retired David feels Grinch-like as his son expects him to look after his grandchildren all the time, without taking his life into consideration. He used to love Christmas, but this year it has lost its sparkle.

Can the warm welcome at the Sugar and Spice café help them find their Christmas spirit?

A feel-good festive romance with a heartwarming community and a generous helping of Christmas spirit!

Purchase Link – https://books2read.com/u/meWMPV

My Review

A Dash of Christmas Spirit: NEW for 2026: the perfect heartwarming cosy romance to snuggle up with this Christmas! by Susan Buchanan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Dash of Christmas Spirit is the second in the series I have read, and I was excited to see what Lara got up to as she spread Christmas Joy in her inimitable way.
We return to the Sugar And Spice Cafe and meet lots of old friends, as well as new ones like Florence, a single mother struggling to give her son what she knows he wants, with no support from her ex. And then there is widower Jude, arriving in the town with his two children, trying to make fresh memories while honouring the one they have lost. Rachel is another main character, a working wife and mother, overlooked for promotion after many years in her job, and feeling unfulfilled. Finally, there is David, an older man and grandfather with so much love to give, but he feels used by his son and daughter-in-law as convenient childcare while they live their lives as if without children or responsibility.
They cross paths at the cafe and in other places, and Lara watches; you know she has hopes, plans, and ideas to help them fulfil their dreams.
This is such a wonderful festive read, and you know there will be a positive ending, but not without a few confusions and hiccups. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

About The Author

Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance, women’s fiction and romantic comedies, 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, A Taste of Christmas Spirit and Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, The Leap Year Proposal, You Can’t Hurry Love and The Boulangerie on the Corner.

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.

Social Media Links –

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/susancbuchananauthor

X @susan_buchanan and Instagram @AuthorSusanBuchanan and Threads @authorsusanbuchanan and BlueSky @susanbuchanan.bsky.social

And on her website http://www.susanbuchananauthor.com

Giveaway toGiveaway to Win A Signed and dedicated paperback of A Dash of Christmas Spirit with matching bookmark (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam 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.

https://gleam.io/XaEyk/win-a-signed-and-dedicated-paperback-of-a-dash-of-christmas-spirit-with-matching-bookmark-uk-only

I’m back with another great blog tour review for my friend, Susan Buchanan and her latest release, Teh Boulangerie on the Corner.

The Blurb

🥖🥐🥖🥐 Grab your passport for the first in the European Escapes series 🥐🥖🥐🥖

No home. No job. No boyfriend.

When Lia loses her job straight after a break-up, she escapes to the Molins’ family-run boulangerie in Toulouse – the place she was last happy, far away from her cheating ex.

Sworn off men, she isn’t prepared for the spark she feels for charming cheesemaker Jean-Luc, nor for things heating up at the family’s country home in Gascony when handsome, self-assured vineyard-owner Théo asks her out.

Torn between the two and her connections to the Molins family, Lia has some tough decisions to make.

Lia loves being back in France with the people she cares about, helping in the boulangerie. On discovering it is under threat of closure, she is devastated and resolves to do everything in her power to help it stay open.

Will she succeed? And will she be able to choose between the two handsome Frenchmen and live her happily ever after?

For fans of Gillian Harvey, Rebecca Raisin, Jo Thomas and Veronica Henry.

Purchase Link – https://books2read.com/u/4ErY7z

My Review

The Boulangerie on the Corner by Susan Buchanan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this beautiful story of hope, compassion and love.
Lia is in a funk and ends up retracing her steps to where she felt happiest, only to find that her job is no more and her idiot of a boyfriend ups and leaves her.
She finds herself in rural France, living with a family she spent time with as a youngster, and finally feels she belongs, especially when the family faces a huge personal hiccup.
There is plenty of sizzle as Lia finds herself with a couple of rather hot locals to take her mind off the idiot she has left behind. And could there be a little love..?
The hope and compassion come as she realises it may be in her hands to support the family; a family who mean more to her than she can explain.
All I know is that I want to end up in a boulangerie, with the sweet smells of fresh-baked bread and other ‘chocolatines’ every day and beautiful people all around me!

About The Author

Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship and community.

She is the author of The Leap Year Proposal, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit, Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, The Dating Game and Sign of the Times.

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.

Social Media Links –

Website – www.susanbuchananauthor.com

Instagram – authorSusanBuchanan

Facebook – www.facebook.com/susancbuchanauthor

Twitter – susan_buchanan

Threads – AuthorSusanBuchanan

Bluesky @susanbuchanan.bsky.social

Giveaway to Win a signed and dedicated paperback of The Boulangerie on the Corner (Open to UK Only)

https://gleam.io/XcGBb/win-a-signed-and-dedicated-paperback-of-the-boulangerie-on-the-corner-open-to-uk-only

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam 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.

I’m back with another great blog tour review for my friend, Susan Buchanan and her latest release, A Taste of Christmas Spirit.

The Blurb

The Sugar and Spice bakery sparkles with holiday spirit as Jacob serves up more mouthwatering festive treats, and Christmas spirit, Lara tries to sprinkle her magic over those who find the time of year difficult.

Ollie is at his wits’ end. A debt from years ago comes back to haunt him just as he and his girlfriend are buying their dream home.

Rose is dejected as her boyfriend has dumped her in their final year at university. She’s not looking forward to Christmas alone, nor her twenty-first birthday on Christmas Eve.

Sacha has recently moved to Winstanton following the failure of his business. He’s too embarrassed to confide in his family, but can he find the friendship he so desperately needs and begin to trust again?

Diana tries to find her new normal after the unexpected death of her husband earlier this year. All her plans for retirement have been thrown out the window and she feels lost. She needs a renewed sense of purpose and to find her place in the world.

Can Lara provide the answer to a joy-filled Christmas?

A story of hope, love, friendship, community, and of course, Christmas spirit.

For fans of Sarah Morgan, Philippa Ashley, Jenny Colgan and Cathy Bramley.

My Review

A Taste of Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Taste of Christmas Spirit is a lovely story in the lead-up to Christmas, focusing on several people in the small Scottish village of Winstanton, with The Sugar and Spice Cafe as the backdrop for many scenes.
We meet Ollie, Sacha, Rose, and Diana; four people very different in their own ways, with concerns that mar their enjoyment of the festive period, as they get to know one another and become involved in the local spirit of things.
Then there is Lara, the little Spirit of Christmas, who is trying to sprinkle her magic across people’s lives in her own way.
It was a lovely, cute story, and left me feeling warm and snuggly, ready for the festive period!
Now, I have read none of the other Christmas Spirit books; however, this in no way detracted from the story. In fact, it’s made me want to read them so I can learn more about some characters mentioned in this one.

About The Author

Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship and community.

She is the author of The Leap Year Proposal, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit, Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, The Dating Game and Sign of the Times.

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.

Social Media Links –

Website – www.susanbuchananauthor.com

Instagram – authorSusanBuchanan

Facebook – www.facebook.com/susancbuchanauthor

Twitter – susan_buchanan

Threads – AuthorSusanBuchanan

Bluesky @susanbuchanan.bsky.social

Giveaway to Win a signed and dedicated paperback of A Taste of Christmas Spirit (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam 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.

https://gleam.io/lJuA1/win-a-signed-and-dedicated-paperback-of-a-taste-of-christmas-spirit-open-uk-only