Thrilled to welcome Jane Lovering and her latest book, Once Upon a Thyme, to the blog!
The Blurb
All her life, Natalie Fisher has been taught not to ask questions. Why risk uncovering uncomfortable truths, when you can stay in the safety of blissful denial?
Since taking over the family herb farm, Natalie has stuck with what she knows, rarely venturing much further than the nearby village where her invalid mother now lives. But then, one day, everything changes with the arrival of unexpected visitors.
First comes Zeb, employed by Natalie’s mother to help with the business but soon hinting at other motives. Then comes Simon with the famous band he manages, wanting to film in Natalie’s beautiful garden. The band causes chaos and the attitude of one particular member throws Natalie’s ordered life into confusion.
Over one magical summer of revelations and of uncovering secrets, Natalie starts to blossom and by the time autumn arrives she knows nothing will ever be the same again. Will she finally get an answer to the mystery of her childhood? And can she embrace the fresh start she so deserves – but which means she’ll have to take one enormous and brave leap of faith?
An uplifting novel about fresh starts, family secrets and finding love when you least expect it.
Tally is a woman in her late twenties who runs a herb farm. It has always been a part of her family, first belonging to her grandma, then her mother, before Tally buys it outright from her mum. It’s a tough gig, especially as she has caring responsibilities for her mother, unwell with an unknown illness, but she loves being with the plants, and her guinea pigs, and especially Big Pig, her sow. She ends up with Zeb, a marketing consultant appointed by her mother, tagging along as she goes about her life. A chance visit from an up-and-coming band who want to use the farm to shoot videos gives Tally the chance of some more income, much-needed funds to continue her small, struggling business, and under the guidance of Zeb, she hesitantly agrees. But there are lots of things going on, with thinking about a certain band member, as well as looking out for her mother, and trying to quell feelings that are building about someone else. It’s a slow-rumbling romance, with a slightly darker moment when secrets are uncovered; however, it’s a lovely summer read. A gorgeous story filled with love, a twist of mystery and a lot of hope. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
About The Author
Jane Lovering is the bestselling and award-winning romantic comedy writer who won the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2023 with A Cottage Full of Secrets. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.
Hello, tail end of May! The time sure is flying, isn’t it?
Yup, it’s the end of May, and my Whitsun week half term, most of which has been taken up writing the end of year reports, as well as walking and reading.
Did I write? Nothing more than the reports, unfortunately…
Now, back to this month’s reads… I even started listening to Audio books as I walk, this month, and that has been a revelation! I realised that with such a huge list of ARCS to read, my physical TBR pile would never lessen, so I found some of the books on my shelf and listened.
In fact, I read 10 books and listened to 8 this month. Pretty productive, eh?
I have just listened to The Midnight Library as an audiobook, and this was the first book I have listened to, ever! Was it a good choice? Absolutely! I was immersed in the story about Nora, a woman who thinks her life is worth nothing. Taking an attempt to end it all spirals into a visit to The Midnight Library, aptly named because that is when she slips from consciousness. Instead of finding peace in her own The End, Nora is confronted with many, many choices. The chance to wipe her regrets away. It was both intriguing and uplifting by the end. You know how we end up thinking ‘what if?’ regarding certain situations? This is Nora’s chance to remedy some of those regrets. Nora’s character is battling with low self-esteem and what appears to be depression. But this brilliantly composed journey of hers shows that there is light at the end of most tunnels. I really enjoyed listening to this.
Having read the Dubrovnik Book Club last year, I was thrilled to read this book by Eva Glyn. And the added plus for me was that one character was someone I had met before! Set in Santorini, we meet Zina and Lambros, a young married couple who have shifted back to Zina’s family farm, away from Athens, to support her widowed mother and give Lambros a chance to balance his wellbeing and mental health. He busies himself with building the farm back to what it used to be, and Zina creates a luxurious space where retreats can be held. Her first is one for writers, hosted by a famous author who writes under a pen name and several unpublished writers looking to be tutored and guided by this person. A colourful group of people congregate for a month-long retreat, including Karmela, whom we met in a previous book. There are secrets, love stories, relationship difficulties, and much more tackled within the story, all set in a beautiful rural part of a country well-known for its tourism attraction beauty. I enjoyed this read and was fully invested in the story, wanting to know what would happen to all the characters at the end! Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins One More Chapter for an ARC.
Well, what can I say, except Kay Bratt has done it again, with another brilliant book for the ever-growing Harts Ridge series! Two storylines work in parallel as we follow Taylor and her husband to Mexico to attend the wedding of her stepfather, Ellis’s daughter, and we are hot on the trail of Lucy, Taylor’s youngest sister, who has run away, again, leaving her son Johnny with her family. Though Taylor is supposed to be taking a break from anything crime-related, she ends up slap bang in the middle of a double kidnapping case, which is connected to the wedding they are there to attend. Meanwhile, Lucy is on the run, and ends up meeting folk, some kind, some unsavoury, and she ends up back in a place she thought she’d never return to. I won’t go into more detail, but the ending was more than satisfying for more than one character whom we, as readers, have come to love, and there is scope for more of these wonderful Harts Ridge stories!
I do love a book with a relatable FMC. Emily is a woman in her early 40s, recently single after being in a long-term relationship, and in need of a change. She quits her career in the air as a flight attendant, and embarks upon a lifelong dream – to become an actress. And why shouldn’t one aspire to make those dreams come true? Emily is lucky to have supportive friends, but her mother does not necessarily believe that Emily is doing what is right for a woman of her age. Emily meets some wonderful people who become a second family to her in a small Italian restaurant, where, like most jobbing actors, she has found a job to keep her head above water, until she lands the perfect role. And she also meets someone rather special too. Let me not regurgitate the story here, but in a nutshell, we have a lovely story of second chances in both love and life. Remember, it’s never too late!
Okay, hands up to being verrrrry late to this bookish party, but the book has been on my shelf for ages, and I decided to audiobook it as I walked. The following is Olive, a PhD student, who somehow accidentally finds herself ‘fake-dating’ Professor Adam Carlson, who is not only arrogant and moody but also hot! Olive is a bit of a nerdy character, not experienced in relationships and boy, does it show! But the fake dating allows her to build a friendship with her fake boyfriend, and in her head, it becomes more of a situationship than she intended. It was a lighthearted read, and as the story built up, I willed for them to come clean to one another about the obvious to everyone else chemistry that they oozed! Now, the steamy part… yes, it was built up slowly, but OMG when it hit, it was HOT! I enjoyed the book even more than I thought I would, as is often the case with books that have been hyped up so much. I totally got the hype this time! A slow burn stem romance with some real sizzle when it comes to the crunch!
My third audiobook so far, and this was a more serious listen. The story of Lale, the Slovakian Jew, captured in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, was harrowing, and that it was based on a true story makes it even more heart-wrenching to listen to. Lale was well-educated, with his wits about him in an incredibly tough situation. How he finds himself as the Tätowierer, or the master tattooist of Auschwitz, is a sad tale in itself, but how he uses his role to help his fellow prisoners is inspiring. Inside the camp, he meets a girl, Gita, and somehow they develop a relationship despite the restrictions. From the beginning, Lale shows a sense of positivity, even though terrible things are happening to him and around him. These two lovers don’t know if they will depart the camp alive or dead, together or apart, but that faith is forever there. I was so moved, listening to this beautiful account of a horribly ugly time in the world’s history.
I loved this story of Mickey Teasdale, who owns a shop selling curiosities on the wonderfully named Ever After Street. She’s determined to match her wonderfully odd collection of stock with the right person, and she always has a story behind each item, whether truth or fiction. Teenager Ava tumbles into her shop one day, followed by her father, Ren. An initial clash of personalities gives way to a friendship and the possibility of something more, especially as they discover a secret in one item that Mickey sells to Ren. A possible real diary of a mermaid piques their curiosity, as one person is desperate for it to be true, and the other is determined to disprove any thoughts of sea people being real. And the third, well, she’s just excited to be there for the ride! I loved that we met all three characters right from the beginning, and it was wonderful to read how their relationships developed, with all the ups and downs accompanying two damaged souls. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and then I realised it was a part of a series. This did not detract from my enjoyment of the book whatsoever. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
I’ll admit to not having read any of the other Little Duck Pond Cafe books, but after reading this one, I think I will be visiting again soon, to catch up! The Pop-Up Cake Shop can be easily read as a standalone. I loved this story which centred around Katya, a woman who finds herself single, after discovering that her partner is not the faithful man she believed. Ellie, her heavily pregnant boss and friend, brings her aboard on a new venture, a travelling cake van, where customers can buy lovely fresh cakes at reduced prices, to stop wastage from some of the local food businesses. Along the way, she meets some interesting people including several new singletons, and they form a little group. An early encounter with a stubborn bulldozer driver, Ivan, and his foreman boss, Caleb turns into something more, as the weeks pass by, and the visits to the surrounding villages become regular. I enjoyed meeting lots of characters who I suspect, if I go back to the beginning of the series, I would learn a lot about, but I was especially glad that Katya got the ending she deserved!
I have listened to this book on my journey to work and back, as well as while walking, and it blew me away, almost as much as The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Cilka’s Journey looks at the life of Cilka, to whom we were introduced in The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Cilka Klein was another prisoner in Auschwitz and played a part in Lale’s journey to freedom, but her own story was intriguing, so I was so grateful to Heather Morris for doing all the research to write this next book. The book is set in Russia, where Cilka ends up as a prisoner in a Russian camp, charged with crimes she hasn’t committed. It is horrific to know the degradation and rape that the women in these camps were subjected to, on top of poor living conditions, barely any sustenance, and the threat of death, any day. Cilka’s story shows how she managed to pull herself through this second round of horror, and in that time, bettered herself, and often the lives of the other prisoners who lived with her, even though she was still being subjected to horrific attacks regularly. It did warm my heart to hear the ending. Though it is based on many facts, there are fictional elements, as Morris could not talk to Cilka herself, because she had passed away at the time of the writing of this story. The thought of what that innocent 16-year-old was subjected to over many years doesn’t bear thinking about, but it is also important that the facts are laid out, so people like us know exactly what happened in these camps and prisons. Hopefully, this will breed some compassion into those reading or listening, given the world’s horrors.
Oh, I love these kinds of family-related stories! I thoroughly enjoyed the last Laura Pearson book I read, so was thrilled to read this newest title from her. Imagine getting to your 60s and suddenly being faced with a person who should have been in your life from day one? This is what happens to Debbie Jones and Ruth Waverly. Faced with one another, on one of Debbie’s routine door-knock visits as a part of her job, collecting donations and secular donors for a charity, the two women are shocked to see themselves. Two people who look almost identical. I don’t want to rehash the story, but this is the almost unbelievable story of twins, separated at a very young age, unaware of the existence of the other. How they go about finding out their beginnings, the reason for their separation, and how each woman grows, as if by finding the other, they have finally gained the confidence to take steps they never would have before, is written so beautifully. There is a cast of side characters that give both women extra layers to their personalities and characters. I really enjoyed this.
I enjoy a fake dating trope in my romance reads, and Lizzie Chantree has given me a wonderful one here. The Windsor Love Pact is the first in a new series, set in Windsor. Maya, a wonderfully talented jewellery designer and artist, recently moved back ‘home’ after an unpleasant break-up. A chance encounter with Noah Benedict, a handsome and famous actor who has moved in close by, changes her life’s path. Both characters have a lot on their plates, and the idea of fake dating seems like the perfect solution to the constant cries of ‘when will you find a partner?’ for both of them. I thoroughly enjoyed the build-up of chemistry between Maya and Noah and the meddling from specific individuals. There are secrets and little twists that are a fantastic surprise for readers as the end of the story comes into view. I loved all the different aspects of this book, from the colourful characters, whom I look forward to learning more about as the series progresses, to Bertha, the old ferry that Maya sometimes works on. The descriptions of the riverside views and the plants and flowers surrounding the area made me want to visit! I’m now getting impatient to read the next one! Roll on, August!
Continuing my Audiobook journey, I decided to choose this book, by an author I have already read and enjoyed. Breaking the Rules, the first in The Cornish Village School series was a fantastic listen as I strode each evening. I even laughed out loud at several scenes, so may now look like my local village madwoman as I walk and listen! The story centres around Rosie, the headteacher of the local school, which suddenly finds itself in danger of closure and amalgamation with other village schools, and Matt, her new rather hunky neighbour. There are comedic meet-cute moments. Not one, but several, that really kept me listening. Rosie has baggage of the emotional kind and she doesn’t feel ready for any sort of encounter with a male, however her body and one part of her mind insists on barraging her thoughts, filling them with Matt. We also have the POV of Matt, who has moved for a change, and also because of his job. He has his own reasons for trying hard to steer clear, but both his mind and the behaviour of his scruff of a dog keet bringing him back face to face with Rosie. There are some great characters introduced, who I am sure will feature in future books, and this was the epitome of a romcom!
Another audiobook down. Well, it was one I got free, and though it was entertaining, it wasn’t a taxing listen, and the story of two doctors who somehow become connected romantically was okay. There are lies, misunderstandings, and a theme of mental health, which I feel could have been explored more. The narration was pretty good, though, and made the book, as the characters’ Scottish, Irish, and English accents were brilliantly done!
There will be a Blog tour in the next few days for this one, with the full review!
Remind me not to listen to Lauren Blakely books while driving my car, with passengers in! This story of Monroe and Juliet is a steamy romance of the spiciest degree! Both MCs are hosts on a dating podcast, and they also know each other through Juliet’s brother. There’s a brief history there, and Munrow struggles to keep his feelings quiet. But that gets harder when an extremely satisfied listener gifts them a house which they intend to sell, and when visiting it, they discover it only has one bed…a double bunk bed. With mirrored ceilings! And, to top it off, Juliet asks him to be her dating coach as her life is filled with failed dates. The story is told through both Munroe and Juliet’s POV, and all I will say is that they definitely found out that they were physically compatible, as the pretend dates they went on morphed into something more. Phew! Grumpy sunshine/forced proximity at its spiciest!
Another June Blog tour for this one, so you will have to wait for the full review!
A beautiful, emotional story told by Phillipa Ashley. The story centres around two characters; Tammy, who has lived in Porthmellow all her life. She’s a sand artist and also helps at a local gallery. Having lost her father, she is a bit untethered and quite reluctant to forge relationships with people other than her most trusted friends. The second is Ruan. He’s a solicitor, recently moved to the area, but with connections to the village and surrounding area that become more and more apparent as the story goes on. You feel the connection between the two characters from the beginning, and feel the effects of past secrets coming out on that fragile start of something that could be so special. I loved the story, and the cast of side characters brought extra depth to the story, especially Davey and Polly.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC.
An easy-to-listen-to/read of a book. Abbie finds out that she has inherited a property, not long after an embarrassing breakup, and finds herself in Corfu, where she becomes the owner of a small hotel inland. With her dreams of finding a small cottage in the countryside, with the proceeds of the sale of this unwanted hotel, she arrives in Corfu, with the aims of a quick visit, and finds herself sucked into the small community there, and ends up honouring one of the bookings made prior to her aunt’s death. She meets some characters, including a spiritual Aussie yoga instructor with a penchant for skintight lycra, a wonderful older woman who owns the local taverna and then there is Nikos. Nikos, a former Michelin-starred chef, owns the vineyard next to the hotel, is young, and somewhat handsome, as well as very helpful, rescuing Abbie from all sorts of scrapes. He’s also in a place because of necessity, rather than passion. There is romance, and lots of gigglesome moments along the way, but I cannot 5 star it as I didn’t gel with the narrator as much as I would have liked.
I am thrilled to be able to showcase the newest release by my talented writer friend, Lizzie Chantree. The Windsor Love Pact is the first in a new three-book series, and it promises to be fab!
The Blurb
The perfect fake-date romance read from the international bestselling author.
Fill your day with small-town love, grumpy movie stars who aren’t looking for romance and happily-ever-afters.
When Maya, a talented designer with a penchant for order has a chance encounter with Noah Benedict, a handsome movie star with a flair for spontaneity, destiny takes an unexpected turn. Two strangers with wildly different lives find themselves thrust together and Maya’s quiet existence suddenly becomes a thing of the past.
With Noah pressured by his family to settle down and Maya recovering from a challenging breakup, they strike an unconventional deal –a fake relationship. For Noah, it is a chance to prevent his toxic ex from selling further untrue stories about him. For Maya, a chance to heal her broken heart.
Little do Maya and Noah know that their pretend romance will lead to a whirlwind of emotions and unwanted press interest, testing the boundaries of their agreement. As the charade unfolds, sizzling stolen glances and staged kisses ignite real sparks of passion as the lines between fake and real begin to blur. But, just as they start to believe in the possibility of something genuine, a secret emerges about one of them that threatens to unravel the delicate threads of their budding relationship.
With familial expectations, media interest and troublesome ex partners, Maya and Noah must confront the truth of their feelings. Will their love survive the storm of fame and deception, or will the truth tear them apart?
Sometimes, the most unexpected connections are the ones that catch our heart. Set against the backdrop of a charming riverside town, this heart-warming story proves that the most beautiful love stories are often the ones we didn’t expect.
I enjoy a fake dating trope in my romance reads, and Lizzie Chantree has given me a wonderful one here. The Windsor Love Pact is the first in a new series, set in Windsor. Maya, a wonderfully talented jewellery designer and artist, recently moved back ‘home’ after an unpleasant break-up. A chance encounter with Noah Benedict, a handsome and famous actor who has moved in close by, changes her life’s path. Both characters have a lot on their plates, and the idea of fake dating seems like the perfect solution to the constant cries of ‘when will you find a partner?’ for both of them. I thoroughly enjoyed the build-up of chemistry between Maya and Noah and the meddling from specific individuals. There are secrets and little twists that are a fantastic surprise for readers as the end of the story comes into view. I loved all the different aspects of this book, from the colourful characters, whom I look forward to learning more about as the series progresses, to Bertha, the old ferry that Maya sometimes works on. The descriptions of the riverside views and the plants and flowers surrounding the area made me want to visit! I’m now getting impatient to read the next one! Roll on, August!
Now, if my review is not enough to tempt you into ordering straight away, here is an excerpt from Chapter One to whet your appetite!
Maya gasped in shock as a man barrelled into her, knocking the lukewarm coffee she’d been sipping straight over her white vintage lace t- shirt. Time froze for a second before she realised that he was holding her arms to steady her and apologising profusely. ‘I’m so sorry!’ he said, his tone breathless as he pushed the black baseball cap he was wearing further back to reveal more of his face and then glanced behind him. Maya felt another punch of surprise as she recognised the piercing blue of his eyes first and then the fact that they were filled with panic. She looked over his shoulder and noted a crowd forming on the other side of the pretty little flower-adorned bridge they were standing on and frowned, before understanding dawned. Recalling the feeling of having no privacy, she quickly wondered how she could limit the damage to this escalating situation. ‘Please let me pay for your dry cleaning and coffee,’ he said hurriedly, as he tried to draw her away from the crowd, who looked as if they were deciding how much they could push their luck by approaching their idol. Maya’s own eyes sparkled as she had literally just been thinking that her days were pretty quiet, after her own touches with fame. Now she was standing on the bridge next to her rental house with devilishly handsome bad boy, Noah Benedict! It was like a scene from one of his movies. ‘It’s fine,’ she said lightly. ‘It looks like you’re in a bit of a predicament,’ she nodded towards the crowd who were just now beginning to walk towards them as Maya and Noah rapidly turned back towards her house and the docks along that side of the river. ‘I was feeling a bit stir crazy and thought no one would notice me if I had a quick early morning stroll,’ he shrugged and then grinned self-depreciatingly, which made a few butterflies take flight in her stomach. ‘We all start pretty early here if we’re working on the boats and the cafés on that side of the water bring in droves of early morning dog walkers. I live here…’ she pointed towards the first town house, then flushed as that might seem a tad stalkerish and forward. ‘I meant to hide in!’ she hurried on and he chuckled, but then looked over her shoulder again and grimaced. ‘But they already know you’re here and if that’s your boat,’ she nodded towards the shiny black powerboat that she’d seen docked outside his mansion situated further up the river when she helped on the river cruises, ‘then that’s your best bet. Jump in and I’ll walk back across the bridge and hold them off. I probably know most of them.’
He heaved a huge sigh of relief and quickly took her hand to thank her. ‘Your clothes and coffee. What can I do to compensate you?’ he asked again as they reached his boat and he threw the cap in, leaving his dark blonde hair all mussed-up and sexy. ‘It’s nothing. It will take me two seconds to change clothes and I work across the water, so I won’t even be late for work.’ She smiled warmly at him, to show him she was sincere and he breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you,’ he said as he jumped into his boat and set o!. ‘I don’t even know your name,’ he called back, but she’d already turned and was walking rapidly towards the bridge and he had to quickly start the engine and move the boat back into the centre of the river. After persuading the group on the bridge that there was nothing to see now, Maya caught her breath and stepped aboard Bertha, the timeworn steamboat that was docked on the river Thames, and waved to Joe, her grandad’s best friend and one of her favourite people on Earth. What a morning! Joe ran the only steamboat on this stretch of the river, with its black and gold railings and cream and black lifebuoy rings that were tied at intervals with bright orange rope. The forest-green awning that covered the seating area had seen better days and the paddle wheel needed a lick of paint, but the boat was still majestic despite being weathered from the water and passing of time. Bertha’s faded grandeur caught the interest of tourists walking around the dock area, and she often featured in people’s holiday snaps. Joe’s business was largely based on ferrying tourists up and down the estuary and regaling them with local history, even if Maya was pretty sure he embellished his stories here and there for his own entertainment when she wasn’t around to chide him. She wouldn’t be surprised if he added in a visiting humpback whale or a dragon living in the nearby castle at some point. She ran her hands along the wooden handrail and enjoyed the feeling of her feet being back on board the solid timbers of Bertha’s deck. She’d missed this… both being on the water and part of a bustling community. The river path was still a feathery assault course of swans and geese, hopeful that a passing child might drop a morsel of food and she breathed in the honey-sweet scent of the golden Marsh marigolds and tall grasses that were swaying in the slight breeze across the water, reminding her of home. Sometimes she couldn’t believe how much her life had changed, but it felt good to be surrounded by so many memories of her childhood. Maya grinned and waved to Roman, the guy who helped Joe with the river cruises. Roman had his long dread‐ locks held back with a headband as usual and he sent her a winning smile as he helped a customer step over the threshold of the deck, holding her walking stick, handbag and half-empty bottle of vodka! Maya’s mouth dropped open and then she giggled as Roman handed the items back to the woman once she was safely on board. ‘Roman,’ she called out, ‘do you need some help?’ The woman was certainly unsteady on her feet, but Maya suspected it was more likely from the drink than the need for her walking stick, as she was currently waving it at a huge seagull, who was regarding her with keen interest.
Roman shook his head, which made the ends of his hair fly around his shoulders. ‘I think I can manage.’ He winked, already reaching out to assist the next passenger on board. Maya made a note to sit near to the wobbly customer, just in case she fell overboard. There was a wooden-panelled bar in the centre of the boat with art deco effect mirroring along the back wall, that would have been opulent and glamorous in its heyday, but they only really served lukewarm rosé wine now so it was unusual for them to have to worry about customers overindulging, as they spent most of their time gazing at the lush river views, or into the verdant gardens of the exclusive houses that lined the waterfront. Maya eyed the woman who was laughing uproariously at something her friend said, then saw that they were celebrating something by the way the second woman brought out a slightly squashed cake and some candles that she quickly discarded after a glance at Bertha’s wooden bench seating. She pulled a couple of plastic forks from her turquoise bag and they both tucked in with relish and more giggles. One of the ladies caught Maya’s hand as she passed and she turned to them with a polite smile. ‘Are we likely to see Noah Benedict on this cruise?’ asked one, as she took both their plates and slipped them back into her bag, crumbs and all, which made Maya wince. The other lady sat forward eagerly and Maya bit her lip in mirth. Most of their customers mainly wanted a glimpse of Noah, the charismatic movie star who lived along the river in a beautiful glass and metal house that must have incredible views of the river. Before he’d crashed into her that morning, Maya had actually glimpsed Noah herself on the grounds of his estate a few times and she could understand everyone’s excitement. Being so close to him for a few moments had been a whole different experience. Magnetism shone from him, even in his harassed state. He had the usual Hollywood film star classic good looks; blonde tousled hair and piercing blue eyes with a requisite drool- worthy body that must take hours of punishment in the gym. The hunted look on his face had surprised her though. She’d assumed he courted publicity, as he was always featured in the press. ‘I can’t promise anything,’ she said, much to the ladies’ obvious disappointment, ‘but there have been more sightings of him from Bertha than any other cruise on the river,’ she added quickly, not mentioning that some of the villagers had seen him up close and in person that very morning. These feisty ladies might lynch her! Despite her broken-heart, Maya had started to feel that she was – slowly – starting to heal. It was good to be back again, back among people who’d known her as a child. Living beside the ebb and “ow of the river after the glitz and glamour of the life and relationship that she’d had to leave behind, had brought her a quiet joy. Her old routine involved a fast-paced work life, creating intricate jewellery for influencers, celebs and attending non-stop parties. Now she spent her time by or on the water, on Joe’s boat or on the bank sketching wildlife, while she tried to come to terms with the loss of her jewellery design business and fiancé. Walking in on him in bed with Portia, one of their models, had brought her glittering career and what she’d thought was a good life with her fiancé crashing down around her. Maya thought back to her first sight of Blake. He was tall, dark and handsome, and surrounded by a group of eager women. He had been sitting astride a chair in their art class, where they were studying jewellery design, and his eyes met hers as she’d walked in. She’d felt a frisson of heat go down her spine and her cheeks flush. He’d
sat next to her when their lecturer arrived and her heart was already metaphorically in his hands. They’d been so young. Together, their ideas were magic, though. Maya’s designs were unusual and customers adored her work. Blake quickly realised his genius lay in marketing, so he left the design work to Maya. An up-and- coming reality star had been photographed wearing one of their Luna Moth neck‐ laces with delicately arched wings and sweeping tail in a nightclub in Soho, and suddenly everyone wanted to know their brand. Influencers were talking about them and their phones buzzed from morning to night with requests from stylists asking to borrow jewellery for events. They had been a dream team for a while with high- profile parties, celebrity endorsements and a swanky new “at. Their list of clients had grown and although she’d been shy and hadn’t relished the spotlight, Blake had courted it. ‘Our success is down to my marketing skills,’ he’d repeated like a mantra. ‘Of course,’ she’d always appeased, as she’d sketched some new jewellery ideas, keeping her eyes down and firmly on her work. ‘Pieces landing in the right person’s hands takes weeks of networking,’ he’d crowed, making excuses for why he was always out late at night, but people came back time and time again for her beautiful designs. Most of their customers thought Blake was the designer because he was the public face of the company – and he didn’t disabuse them of that notion. To them she was the boho partner in her glamorous one-off pieces that her grandmother had designed and her love of vintage. Maya glanced down at her current attire of an A-line skirt that sat a few inches above her knees and looked like it had been scattered with flowers as the print was of regal purple dahlias, the contrasting pink and white petals of cosmos and flowering sage on a white woven background. Above that she had a cute little white short-sleeved shirt she’d tied at her waist and a pretty little nasturtium flower brooch, with its wide petals and splashes of colour at its centre. She’d taken a second look at her coffee stained outfit of a lace top and jeans earlier, and decided to make a bit more of an effort, as you never knew who you might bump into in this town it seemed, she smiled to herself. Not that she was ever likely to stumble across Noah Benedict again and she was definitely not attracted to sexy rogues any more. She’d learned that lesson the hard way and her heart carried the scars. Blake clearly preferred sleek blondes like Portia. Portia had been wearing an incredibly expensive 18-carat diamond necklace Maya had designed and nothing else. Maya had looked at them both and felt like the air had been sucked out of her lungs. Portia had gasped and grabbed the bloody diamond necklace – as if Maya was about to rip it from her throat – and then darted to the bathroom to lock herself in. Maya hadn’t smashed anything, nor screamed accusations at Blake. She’d just let the bottom fall out of her world while Blake scrabbled around to find his jeans and trademark white tee. Then she’d turned on her heel and run, tears streaming down her face, heart smashed into a million tiny pieces. She’d swept up the few personal items from her desk, leaving everything else behind. Unfortunately that included a folder of her designs for their forthcoming, much anticipated collection. For a long time after the breakup Maya had hidden herself away at her grandparents’ house where she’d grown up with her siblings and
dissolved into all-too-frequent tears at the world and the injustice of loving a man who didn’t value her. Maya had barely left the house, her family tip-toeing around her and whispering in corners in hushed tones. She’d hardly been able to eat because she felt that the affair must have been her fault; she wasn’t attentive enough, talented enough, sexy enough, clever enough. Maya had never been short on admiring looks from men, but Blake had chipped away at the way she dressed and behaved until she’d been reduced to being grateful that he loved her. She wouldn’t put herself through the pain of a broken heart again. Slowly, with the help of her family and her best friend Leah, she’d begun to heal. Being close to the water, riverside plants and the wildlife they attracted, like the ever- darting dragonflies and busy bees, had helped and she’d started designing again. Smaller jewellery at first and then bolder and more intricate pieces that were inspired by the shapes and forms of the flowers she discovered growing by the river. Maya rested her elbows on the rail as she watched the world pass by and a couple of fish darted along in the frothy white ripples that Bertha created in the water. As the boat steamed along, Maya wished her troubles would wash away with the breeze and she could truly start again. Leah had popped round the night before and tentatively suggested that she consider dating again. The friends had met a couple of years previously, but to Maya, it felt like they’d known each other their whole lives and she didn’t know how she’d survived without a confidante and cheer‐ leader like Leah before that. ‘No thanks,’ Maya had replied as she reached into the fridge for a second chilled bottle of sauvignon blanc. ‘But…’ Leah had begun, but Maya had given her one of those stares that told her to shut up and drink her wine. This conversation seemed a recurrent theme with her friends and family these days. Her grandparents constantly tried to match-make her with the grandsons of friends or neighbours. Dodging the topic was becoming an art form. No way, she wasn’t ready. It had taken everything she had to pick herself up again and she’d spent the last two years building up a new jewellery brand that was hers and hers alone – No.1 Ethereal Lane. She’d worked from her workroom in her house by the river, sketching new ideas while helping Joe and on Bertha, and now her brand was being noticed. A particular piece, an exquisite cluster of white-gold bell-shaped comfrey flowers with shimmering emerald-winged stalks and curved silver leaves, had just gone viral, the collection selling out immediately. Post after post appeared on social media about the collection and the press were now on the trail of the mysterious designer behind the brand, because no one seemed to know who that was. Had it been Blake’s marketing wizardry that had propelled them to the level of success their business had reached last time, or was it her designs that customers fell in love with and were clamouring to buy?
Joe beckoned her over with a wave and Maya slid her sketching pencils and sketch pad back into her canvas tote bag, leaving it tucked under the bench by her feet so no one could trip over it. ‘How are the birthday girls getting along?’ he asked, inclining his head to the women who were currently leaning over the guard rails to look at the fluffy- downed cygnets that were paddling at the side of the river. Maya bit her lip in mirth. ‘They’ve been nattering about how to get the attention of our gorgeous captain to persuade him to go of course,’ she teased. Joe laughed. Customers often flirted with Joe as he was so handsome. He looked like a dashing pirate and certain female clientele seemed to think he came with the boat and was there for the picking! Joe would shake his head and roll his eyes with good humour. Maya moved over to nudge hips with Roman as he stood at the guard rail by the port side of the boat and he grinned and nudged her back. They enjoyed flirty banter with each other, but although Roman was gorgeous, he still occasionally dated his extremely fiery and vocal ex-girl‐ friend from the next town and getting thrown into the middle of an argument was the last thing Maya needed. Roman’s angular cheekbones and cheeky smile often got schoolgirl giggles from their female customers and he enjoyed every moment, she knew. ‘It’s quiet again today,’ Maya noted, glancing around at the almost clear decks. Roman winced and shrugged. ‘I know. The worry lines on Joe’s face can’t get any deeper!’ he tried to joke as they both glanced at Joe, who was standing by the huge black paddle wheel. Maya put her arm around Roman’s shoulders and gave him a squeeze of comfort. ‘Olive needs her hip op and Joe can’t afford to stay at home and help her. We don’t have enough passengers as it is.’ ‘I agree. Olive’s been hobbling around their bungalow for months.’ Maya sighed and tears sprung to her eyes. ‘He’s so stubborn.’ Joe’s wife, Olive, needed him at home, but the business required him to be on board. Maya helped as much as she could, serving drinks from Joe’s collection of mismatched glassware and checking tickets. It wasn’t enough. ‘We must come up with a plan to help,’ she added and Roman hugged her back before moving away. ‘Let me know if you think of anything.’ She watched Roman walk towards Joe and noticed that his shoulders were sagging in defeat. If Bertha was dry docked, she might not make it back into the water – and both Joe and Roman would lose their livelihood. The boat drew up near Noah’s waterfront pad and Maya leaned over the guard rail and breathed in the fresh river air, closing her eyes for a quiet moment of contemplation as the breeze touched her face. Noah’s sleek black power boat was moored by the wide raised wooden jetty to the front of his property, so he’d made it back alive! She thought of those piercing blue eyes and the way they’d briefly settled on her dark brown ones and then shook the image away. Working on the deck of a boat might be unusual for some, but it suited her. After all, she could work pretty much anywhere that inspired her. Maya sat cross-legged on the bow and considered Joe’s options, which were limited. As she watched the riverbank glide past, she sighed when she saw a young couple strolling along with a frolicking dog, smiling as they held each other’s hands. That had been her once. She
took her phone out of her bag, glancing despondently at the screen. She was sure that her ex, Blake, would have loads of inspired ideas about how to help Joe. He’d texted her constantly when they split up, but there had been over a year of silence now. She swiped open an old text and !inched, waiting for the pain they usually brought. She needed to permanently delete them and move on, but she’d kept one or two and she didn’t really know why. It was as if she couldn’t quite let go of the last strands of their relationship, which was ridiculous because she’d definitely moved on. Maya almost snarled at the phone and the woman sitting next to her frowned and turned her way. ‘Are you okay, dear?’ she asked, patting Maya’s hand. ‘Sorry!’ Maya shivered, wishing she’d brought a jumper as the wind was picking up as they neared the halfway point of the cruise and her hair kept flying in her face. ‘Old message from my ex,’ she explained, grimacing and not wanting to explain further. The face of the woman next to her hardened and she urged her to take a fork and a mouthful of the remaining squashed cake, which Maya gratefully accepted. ‘Delete it,’ she advised sagely. ‘This will help,’ the woman insisted, patting her hand in solidarity. The cake was deliciously chocolaty, which immediately restored Maya’s good spirits and filled the air with the indulgent scent of earthy cocoa and sweet vanilla. She shook her head at the offer of a tipple of vodka, but was sorely tempted. She shoved the phone firmly back into her bag and knew she wouldn’t receive another text. Other than that one time… Blake had always been predictable. She had nothing to offer him now and he always had his eye on the prize. Maya sat back to let the sun that peeked through the clouds for a minute or two warm her face, then pulled her sketchpad back out of her bag. She began sketching the common reeds that were swaying in the wind and the oval leaves and beautifully scented, spiky-looking flowers of the water mint on the river bank as they sailed slowly by. She was building something new after feeling like she’d been without an anchor for the past two years. Her heart was finally healing and being back home with the inspiration of the river and all its surrounding natural beauty was inspiring her creativity. Her new-found success would annoy the hell out of Blake. Suddenly – unexpectedly – she was taking over the world of high-end jewellery design again, this time with no one knowing her name. People were beginning to know her brand, No.1 Ethereal Lane, but the designer behind the intricately cut designs was unknown and she intended to keep it that way.
About the Author
International bestselling author, award-winning inventor and product designer, Lizzie Chantree, has been featured on television and radio. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now writes books (many based in Essex) full of friendship and laughter, that are about women who are far stronger than they realise. Lizzie has recently combined her love of writing and design by launching a range of sustainable book and writing-themed fashion and homewares, that are being worn and displayed by influencers, worldwide. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter, @Lizzie_Chantree
I’m back with another great blog tour review for my friend, Susan Buchanan and her latest release, You Can’t Hurry Love!
The Blurb
A delicious friends to lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance for 2025.
A 30th birthday celebration. A sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica. A split-second decision.
When Kat MacDonald takes the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica, she doesn’t count on ditching her dead-end job, sending her uber-controlling boyfriend packing and volunteering at a sloth sanctuary. But when she finally meets the swoon-worthy assistant manager Dexter, the chemistry between them is unmistakeable and sparks fly. Despite a rival for his affections, and her ex’s inability to know when to give up, she and Dexter are drawn to each other like magnets. Just as she’s settling into life at the sanctuary and making friends, a letter arrives from back home in Scotland. A letter which could both upset her new plans and give her everything she has ever wanted. Everything except Dexter. Kat is should she stay in the tropical rainforest paradise with her beloved sloths, new friends and the delectable Dexter or pursue her lifelong dream? Or can she find a way to have it all?
A fun, escapist read full of romance, beautiful scenery and humour, perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary Leonie Mack and Portia MacIntosh.
I must admit wanting to move to Costa Rica and see the Sloths! That, Susan Buchanan, is because of you and your fantastic book! Kat is in Costa Rica on the holiday of a lifetime. True – she’s not there with the person she wanted. That would have been Dad, with whom she shared many passions, including travel and sloths. She should have been there with her best friend in his absence, who ended up in a cast at the last minute and could not travel. That left her boyfriend, Aiden. Sounds like a dream holiday. Beautiful tropical beaches, fantastic food, the love of your life by your side… However, things go awry when a particular person begins to show his true colours. In Costa Rica alone, Kat wants to continue to honour the memory of her dad by doing all the things she promised herself she would do, including going to the Sloth Sanctuary. I’m not going to recount the whole story for you now. Kat’s adventure is longer than planned, and she finds herself in many beautiful places, in fantastical situations with someone rather gorgeous! It’s never smooth sailing for her, though. Kat ends up with some decisions to make, and because of being burned far too much in her near past, she sometimes allows that to dictate her plans, without putting the proper thought into things. I don’t envy Kat. Well, the Kat at the beginning, anyway. Grief is complicated to deal with, and a broken relationship on top of that is not going to make it any easier. But, as she grows within the story and begins to experience things she never would have thought possible, that Kat, I envy! The Gorgeous person I mentioned earlier, Dexter, is a beautifully sensitive soul, and a typical man. Seriously, why can they never say what they mean? Still, everything was described in such a way that as I said at the start, I just want to go and see this gorgeous country, and get to know some sloths, with whom I had no affinity before! A wonderful read!
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.
Giveaway to Win a paperback of You Can’t Hurry Love (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.
Thrilled to share my review of the lovely Jane Lambert’s book The Start of Something Wonderful. This is a relaunch by Jane’s publisher, HQ, of what was previously debuted as Learning to Fly.
The Blurb
It’s never too late to follow your dreams…
Forty-year-old air stewardess, Emily Forsyth, thought she had everything a woman could wish for: a glamorous, jet-set lifestyle, a designer wardrobe and a dishy pilot boyfriend. Until he breaks up with her…
Catapulted into a mid-life crisis she wishes she’d had earlier, she decides to turn her life upside-down, quitting her job and instead beginning to chase her long-held dreams of becoming an actress!
Leaving the skies behind her, Emily heads for the bright lights of London’s West End – but is it too late to reach for the stars?
I do love a book with a relatable FMC. Emily is a woman in her early 40s, recently single after being in a long-term relationship, and in need of a change. She quits her career in the air as a flight attendant, and embarks upon a lifelong dream – to become an actress. And why shouldn’t one aspire to make those dreams come true? Emily is lucky to have supportive friends, but her mother does not necessarily believe that Emily is doing what is right for a woman of her age. Emily meets some wonderful people who become a second family to her in a small Italian restaurant, where, like most jobbing actors, she has found a job to keep her head above water, until she lands the perfect role. And she also meets someone rather special too. Let me not regurgitate the story here, but in a nutshell, we have a lovely story of second chances in both love and life. Remember, it’s never too late!
About the Author
Jane travelled the world as cabin crew before making the life-changing decision to become an actress. She has appeared in Calendar Girls, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Deathtrap and True West in London’s West End. She is currently adapting The Start of Something Wonderful into a 6-part comedy drama for TV.
But I Smile Anyway... 