Blog Tour | But I Smile Anyway...

A Dash of Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan #BlogTour #BookReview #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @Susan_Buchanan PLUS a GIVEAWAY!

01 Oct 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, 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

Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle by Jaimie Admans #BlogTour #BookReview #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks @be_the_spark

19 Sep 2026 11 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogging, Bloggr, Book Tour, Finding Love At The Magial Curiosity Shop, Jaimie Admans, Rachel's Random Resources

I am delighted to be on the blog tour for Jaimie Admans’ Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle.

The Blurb

A Scottish castle, a fake marriage… and one very real Christmas romance?

After a window display goes disastrously viral – thanks to a malfunctioning animatronic Santa and an unfortunate encounter with Paddington Bear – Lula Haines finds herself without a job just weeks before Christmas. So she jumps at the chance to decorate Hollybrae Castle in Scotland for the holidays.

There’s just one complication: her handsome new boss, Oliver Bracewell, needs a fake wife for the festive season. To secure a promotion that could save his family’s castle, Ollie has been pretending to be a married father-of-two to impress the family-focused firm where he works. Now his bosses are coming to stay at Hollybrae over Christmas… expecting to meet his non-existent wife and children.

At first, playing along is easy as Lula is swept up in the magic of turning Hollybrae into the perfect festive escape with Ollie. But as Christmas draws nearer and she and Ollie grow closer, Lula begins to wonder if Hollybrae could become more than a temporary escape… and if the man she’s only pretending to love might actually be the one she’s been waiting for all along.

With heaps of tartan, tinsel and Christmas magic, this uplifting romance is perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Heidi Swain, Cressida McLaughlin, Ellie Henderson or Jessica Redland!

Fake marriage Christmas romance Boss x employee Small town Found family

My Review

Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle: An utterly enchanting Christmas Romance from Jaimie Admans by Jaimie Admans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Visiting the little worlds that Jaimie Admans creates is a pleasure, and I loved being at Hollybrae Castle, set around the Mull of Kintyre.
Lula is a window dresser in a prestigious department store in London, and all the hard work she has done to create a perfect display bites her on the backside when it all goes horribly wrong.
Unemployed near Christmas, with little chance of finding another job like it, she responds to an advert for a short-term vacancy in a castle in a remote part of Scotland, to decorate it for Christmas.
Ollie, the owner of the castle, is quite gorgeous, in every sense of the word – looks and personality – and Lula finds herself in a surreal situation.
This is where the Hallmark vibes kick in, when she finds herself not only employed for a month, but with a fake husband to boot!
The whole fake marriage adds another dimension, and getting to know more about Ollie, the reasons behind his wanting his castle jazzed up, and watching them slowly fall into the conclusion you want is just dreamy!
A brilliant cast of characters supports this fake couple, including their brilliant pretend children, Rory and Maggie.
I loved this easy-to-read festive book because who says Christmas is only for December?

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GM2WTCSZ/

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GM2WTCSZ/

About the Author

Jaimie Admans is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies – including The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane and The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters. Her series for Boldwood, The Ever After Street Series, is based on the magical world of fairytales.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @JaimieAdmansBooks

Twitter: @be_the_spark

Instagram: @jaimieadmans1

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

Bookbub profile: @jaimieadmans1

The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous @rararesources @K_J_Porteous

24 Jul 2026 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Posg, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Boldwood Books, Book Review, Book Tour, Ko Porteous, Rachel's Random Resources, The Freshman Parents

So Happy to be on the Blog tour for the debut of Ko Porteous and her book, The Freshman Parents, the first in the Empty Nesters series.

The Blurb

They’re off for the time of their lives. But are you?

Book #1 in The Empty Nesters Series.

Single parent Heather isn’t neurotic (honest!) – she’s simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university – so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice on a parents’ forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad whose “helpful” statistics and assertions about “helicopter parenting” leave her fuming.

Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren’t just roommates – they are self-declared “besties for life”. Suddenly, Heather and Scott are thrown into a begrudging alliance.

As they navigate the new status quo, Heather’s instinct to organise meets Scott’s philosophy of letting go. Their practical text messages about mattress toppers and emergency supplies evolve into conversations about dream jobs and bucket list aspirations. Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing them together, meaning Heather and Scott find it increasingly difficult to ignore each other…

Purchase Link: https://amzn.eu/d/0dbgIz37

My Review

The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cannot explain just how much I enjoyed reading this as a woman of a certain age.
The story covers two single parents whose daughters are off to university, and the all-encompassing worry that surrounds that, from two very different perspectives.
The story begins with a Facebook group-style chat for parents whose children are going to university for the first time, where our two main characters meet and clash.
Heather is a character I can relate to (not the single-parent bit, though!). A mother who only wants the best for her child, but as the sole caregiver so far, she finds it hard to let go totally.
Scott is a single father who feels he has equipped his daughter with everything she needs to be independent and a true life decision-maker for herself.
They clash over mattress toppers at first, then, when the girls start university and are in the same accommodation block, tensions simmer as the two parents meet.
There is midlife, and then there is MIDLIFE. These two are both there, and it is fantastic to read how they navigate their different parenting styles and the needs of their children, who grow close and have to spend more time together.
Slowly, layers are unravelled, and you get to see the true reason they parent the way they do, and there is a bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance going on.
Heather and Scott’s characters go on a journey as they learn to live and love a little again.
I was invested the whole way through, and loved the little Facebook updates which echo the concerns of many parents as their children leave home for the first time, as well as giving a bit of a giggle with some questions and answers.

About The Author

Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10. 

Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving women navigating the messiness of life. She has worked as a Research Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.

As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and provides listening services for a mental health charity aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide. 

In her free time Ko loves to run, meditate and travel; preferably all on the same day.  

Ko has been married for 25 years, has 2 children of her own and is now navigating her own empty nest.

The Freshman Parents is Ko’s debut novel and is the first in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series. 

Social Media Links –

www.koporteous.co.uk

Instagram: Ko Porteous Author

X: https://x.com/K_J_Porteous

Facebook: Ko Porteous Author

Secrets of the Italian Guest House by Sue Moorcroft #BookTour #Blog Tour @rararesources @SueMoorcroft

13 Jul 2026 4 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Tour, Rachel's Random Resources, Sue Moorcroft

I am thrilled to have the President of the RNA, and fabulous author, Sue Moorcroft’s latest release, Secrets of the Italian Guest House, on the blog today!

The Blurb

Two sisters she’s never met
A first love who’s impossible to forget…

For Jade, life in Lake Como is la dolce vita. Until her beloved grandmother passes, leaving Jade not just the family’s bustling guesthouse to run, but two life-changing secrets to confront…

The pensione hasn’t just been left to Jade, it’s also been inherited by her sisters – who she had no idea existed. As Erin and Rosalie arrive in Italy, Jade is forced to face the heart-wrenching prospect of sharing her last remaining tie to the woman who raised her.

Jade is desperately trying to hold on to the past, but there’s one person she would prefer to leave firmly behind: her first love, Leo. He’s back in the city that is filled with the memories they once made together. But as Jade fights to take control of her future and her heart, why do all cobbled roads lead back to Leo?

Lose yourself in the first, utterly romantic novel in a brand-new trilogy, filled with new beginnings and second chances. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Milly Johnson.

My Review

Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse by Sue Moorcroft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lake Como is calling me this time, and Sue Moorcroft is to blame for it!
We are whisked off to Lake Como to a small pensione, like a guesthouse, run by Jade and her grandmother. Only, her grandmother, upon her demise, reveals a secret via her solicitor that changes Jade’s life.
Such an intimate dissection of family relationships and politics, as we weave through Jade’s idyllic childhood, on the face of it, but the gaping holes that were papered over, like her non-existent father and Houdini mother. Then to find out she has siblings…
I really loved how this was written, and cannot wait to read more about these three sisters!

https://geni.us/ItalianGuesthouse

About The Author

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her novels have been #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada, Germany and Italy. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award, two HOLT Medallions and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She’s the president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.

Social Media Links –

Amazon page: Sue Moorcroft

Audible page: Sue Moorcroft

Website: www.suemoorcroft.com

Facebook author page SueMoorcroftAuthor

Twitter: @SueMoorcroft

Instagram: @SueMoorcroftAuthor

Linked in: Sue Moorcroft

Link Tree: linktr.ee/SueMoorcroft

Bookbub: SueMoorcroft

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse and a Sue Moorcroft pen (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/SCjXP/win-a-signed-copy-of-secrets-of-the-italian-guesthouse-sue-moorcroft-pen-uk-only

Marry Me in Seahaven Bay by Nicola May #BlogTour #BookReview #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @nicolamay1

28 Jun 2026 4 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Escape to Seahaven Bay, Nicola May, Rachel's Random Resources

I’m back with another great blog tour review for fantastic author, Nicola May and her latest release, Marry Me in Seahaven Bay.

The Blurb

The emotional and uplifting new novel from the author of the million-copy bestselling Cockleberry Bay series.

Life at the Seahaven Bay Retreat is flourishing, but Rita Jory’s second chance at happiness is about to face its biggest test yet. When Jago’s glamorous French ex-wife appears on the doorstep with a five-year-old daughter in tow, their blossoming relationship hangs by a thread.

Between juggling retreat guests seeking healing, her daughter Sennen’s desperate need for a last-minute wedding venue, and dealing with Elodie’s impossible demands, Rita’s already stretched to breaking point.

Then some very unexpected news forces her to reconsider everything she thought she wanted. But can she trust Jago with her secret and embrace the new life ahead?

Rita must decide whether to protect her heart or fight for her future.

A joyful, tender and laugh-out-loud tale of family, forgiveness and finding the courage to say yes to life’s beautiful surprises. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.

Purchase Links – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GMXMX9BF

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GMXMX9BF

My Review

Marry Me in Seahaven Bay by Nicola May

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was swept right back into the world of Rita Jory and the community in Seahavem Bay with this second book in the series.
Rita is a woman of a certain age, a widow with two grown children and a fledgling business started after the death of her husband. The wellness retreat has been well received by the locals and those who have stayed, and Rita’s romance with the neighbour, who also has a bit of a complicated connection with her late husband, is blossoming.
In the first book, we hear so many secrets, and though most are accepted, there are still other little things coming out of the woodwork through book two.
First, an ex-wife appears, then Rita discovers something about herself…
All with the retreat needing to be used for a wedding, a new band of guests with their own issues, and an intruder who threatens to put the kibosh on the whole site and business!
So much going on!
I loved seeing what the original characters were up to, and I love Teo, Rita’s husband’s son from another relationship, who treats Rita like his own mother. Rita certainly goes through the wringer, again, losing another loved one, but gaining many more in the process
If you love stories with family at the heart, and a gorgeous village setting, then you won’t be disappointed!

View all my reviews

About The Author

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With twenty-two books to her name, her work has captured readers’ hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon’s Kindle bestseller charts. As a self-published author, she achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on Amazon twice, and has been a strong advocate for indie authors, pushing for a dedicated chart for them in The Bookseller magazine. Now signed to Storm Publishing, Nicola continues to write heartfelt rom-coms with her signature blend of warmth and wit.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.

Social Media Links –

i: author_nicola

X: @nicolamay1

f: NicolaMayAuthor

Tiktok: @nicolamayauthor