Blog Tour | But I Smile Anyway...

The Boulangerie on the Corner by Susan Buchanan #BlogTour #BookReview #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @Susan_Buchanan

25 Jan 2026 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: A Taste Of Christmas Spirit, Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Rachel's Random Resources, Susan Buchanan

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.

The Croatian Idland Library by Eva Glyn #BlogTour #BookReview Plus a #Giveaway #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @JaneCable @0neMoreChapter_

17 Jan 2026 2 Comments

by Ritu in Blog Tours Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Tour, Eva Glyn, One More Chapter, Rachel's Random Resources

Today, I am thrilled to be on the blog tour for Eva Glyn’s The Croatian Island Library.

The Blurb

Where books are borrowed, and friendships are forged…

When her beloved grandfather dies, Ana Meštrović buys a catamaran in his memory, which she names Dida Krila – Grandad’s Wings.

For the summer months, it will be transformed into a travelling library, delivering books to children living across the Croatian islands.

Joined by crew members Natali, a young mechanic afraid of her own shadow, and Lloyd, an older widower who needs a fresh start, the newly-formed trio all have their own reasons for needing the floating library to be a success.

Embarking on an adventure that will change them for good, they each discover that a new chapter is only a boat ride away…

Purchase – https://mybook.to/CroatianIslandLibrary

My Review

The Croatian Island Library by Eva Glyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Eva Glyn’s books, and The Croatian Island Library is no different.
Picture this; a floating library, sailing to several Croatian islands, to bring the written word in different languages to the younger generation. Sounds wonderful!
Three characters are the focus. Ana, a woman with a boat, trying to follow her passions without disappointing her family; Lloyd, an Englishman still grieving his wife, with a deep hidden connection to one island; and Natali, a young woman, with little formal education, aspirations but low confidence, and with a cute little dog, Obi, to add to the mix.
There was so much happening in the story, connected but separate, too, and it all ties in so well, with each of the main characters going through some well-written character arcs.
The description of each place leaves vivid images in the mind, and various delicacies mentioned get the taste buds tingling!
And little Obi is just a pleasure to read about! Gotta love a dog in a book!
Many thanks to HarperCollins, One More Chapter, for an ARC.

About the Author

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. Her latest book, The Santorini Writing Retreat, is her first set in Greece.

In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter. All her books are published by One More Chapter, a division of Harper Collins.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvaGlynAuthor

Twitter: @JaneCable

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evaglynauthor/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-glyn

Giveaway To Win a paperback copy of The Croatian Island Library (Open to UK & Ireland Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK & Ireland 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/Pm4Hb/win-a-paperback-copy-of-the-croatian-island-library-open-to-uk-ireland-only

Golden Girls On The Run by Judy Leigh #BookTour #Blog Tour @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks @JudyLeighWriter

12 Dec 2025 5 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Boldwood Books, Book Tour, Golden Girls On The Run, Judy Leigh, Rachel's Random Resources

Thrilled to be on the blog Tour for Judy Leigh’s lovely book, Golden Girls On The Run!

The Blurb

Age is just a number. Trouble is a lifestyle.

When octogenarian sisters-in-law Sadie and Bronagh find themselves at the centre of a scandalous (and slightly explosive) bake-off fiasco, there’s only one thing to do – steal Sadie’s grandson’s gleaming red Ferrari and make a run for it.

Sadie is the practical one, all cardigans and contingency plans. Bronagh treats rules as loose suggestions – especially if mischief or wine is involved.

What begins as a quick getaway across Ireland soon spirals into a wild, cross-country adventure filled with fake identities, unexpected friendships, and more than a few brushes with the law.

Sadie and Bronagh may be on the run, but what they find at the journey’s end might just be what they were missing all along…

My Review

Golden Girls on the Run by Judy Leigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this Thelma and Louise style adventure for our Golden Girls, Sadie and Bronagh, two sisters-in-law, who take off in a nephew’s canary yellow Ferrari, and leave Ireland for an impromptu trip to Devon!
They really showed that age ain’t nothing but a number for having fun, and along the way they helped so many people and learned new things about themselves, too.
The Irish contingency who end up in the sleepy village in Devon add another layer of fun, though it was sometimes, a bit crazy keeping up with what was happening where. Still, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and intend to be a Bronagh, living it up, being silly and truly enjoying the Golden years when they beckon, with the slight caution exercised by Sadie!

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/GoldenGirlsRun

About the Author

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @judyleighuk

Twitter: @JudyLeighWriter

Instagram: @judyrleigh

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JudyLeighNews

Bookbub profile: @judyrleigh

Life Begins at The Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash #BlogTour #BookReview #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks @KimTheBookworm @Tr4cyF3nt0n @RandomTTours

07 Dec 2025 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Boldwood Books, Book Tour, Kim Nash, Rachel's Random Resources, review, The Cornish Cottage By The Sea

Very happy to be a part of the book tour for my friend, Kim Nash, and her newest release, Life Begins At The Cornish Cottage.

The Blurb

When life gives you heartbreak , sometimes it also gives you a second chance…

When Tom Sullivan returns to the quiet village of Sandpiper Shore, Emma can hardly believe her eyes. She hasn’t seen him since they played Romeo and Juliet in their school play – a lifetime ago, before real heartbreak, and long before she ever imagined life as a widow.

The last thing she wants is to relive the past, especially with someone who once made her teenage heart flutter. But when Emma agrees to put on a charity pantomime to raise money for the air ambulance service that helped her late husband, she’s thrown firmly back into Tom’s path.

As rehearsals begin and the local community rallies around her, Emma finds unexpected joy in bringing people together – and a surprising connection with Tom that feels far too real to ignore. Maybe it’s time for Emma to become the leading lady in her own life, not just for the show, but for herself.

Full of warmth, humour and heart, this is a story about letting go and discovering that it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

My Review

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you want a good read with a more mature set of MCs, then Kim Nash is definitely one author to turn to.
I’ve loved the small communities she has created through her fiction, and the Cornish Cottage series, featuring three women who become close later in life, is a beautiful setup.
This time the focus is on Emma, a relatively recently widowed woman, who is settling into life in her new home after losing her husband Ben.
A blast from the past walks into her life, causing many feelings, from embarrassment and anger, to confusion.
Then she is somehow railroaded into taking over the local Christmas panto production, on top of running her Lonely Hearts group, where she is forced to confront those feelings, as well as come to terms with her own past.
Emma and Tom’s story comes full circle, and this is a beautiful, festive story filled with hope and second chances.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

About The Author

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, romantic, feel-good fiction, having wanted to write books since she was a little girl. She works as both Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture. She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni. When she’s not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog and reading, as well as running a book club in Staffordshire and organising local and national reader/author events.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.nash.10

Twitter https://twitter.com/KimTheBookworm

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kim_the_bookworm/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/KimNashNews

Bookbub profile: Kim Nash Books – BookBub

A Lot To Unpack by Portia Macintosh #BlogTour #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

02 Dec 2025 4 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Boldwood Books, Book Review, Book Tour, Portia Macintosh, Rachel's Random Resources

It is blog tour time for another book! This post is dedicated to A Lot To Unpack by Portia Macintpsh

The Blurb

It’s going to be a bumpy ride… 👀

Liberty’s just landed her dream job. The catch? It’s at Matcher, the dating app that ruined her life. After catching her boyfriend sending intimate pictures to everyone in a twenty mile radius, Liberty is struggling to get back into the dating game. Every man gives her the ick sooner or later.

Still, she’s having a great time travelling the world for work, until she’s assigned a secret mission: Travel to New York with her handsome and charming boss Jordan and swap out a contract from under his nose. It should be easy, but the more time Liberty spends with Jordan, the more she realises he might not be the bad boy she thought he was. But it turns out they’ve both got a lot to unpack, and Liberty still needs to complete her mission if she wants to keep her job – which means not breaking the one golden rule: do not fall for the boss!

My Review

A Lot to Unpack by Portia MacIntosh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do love Portia MacIntosh’s light-hearted rom coms, and was thrilled to read this one, A Lot To Unpack.
Liberty finds her partner, Ben, has been sending inappropriate pics of himself to others, via a dating app, Matcher. After a rather dramatic relationship end, she finds herself with no boyfriend, no job and no home.
An opportunity arises, though it seems too good to be true. Plus, it is working for Matcher, the app that ruined her life!
I thoroughly enjoyed Liberty’s antics as she tries to ingratiate herself into the dating world with a LOT of caution, and the situation she finds herself in, during the last third of the story, is just brilliant!
There is lust, kind of proximity, not quite enemy to lovers, but hot boss syndrome going on!
And the ending was just fab! Came through in the end!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/ALottoUnpack

About the Author

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 30 romantic comedy novels.

From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

Find out more at www.portiamacintosh.com

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @macintoshportia

Twitter: @PortiaMacintosh

Instagram: @portiamacintoshauthor

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNews

Bookbub profile: @portiamac