Please join me on the blog tour for Onwards and Upwards by Celia Anderson
Ingrid is desperate to sell up and move on. Recently widowed, she no longer needs the large house or the treasures (and tat) collected by her late husband, Tommy, an auctioneer. Then there’s the debt he left her with, too.
So, she jumps at the chance to downsize and move to Willowbrook on a temporary lease. She’ll open a pop-up shop for just one year – to dispose of Tommy’s accumulated goods – and then move on. No getting embroiled in village life.
But Ingrid hasn’t reckoned on Willowbrook’s extrovert local ladies (known as the Saga Louts). Or handsome local craftsman Joel, with whom there’s a definite attraction. They all want to help set up ‘The Treasure Trove’.
Surprisingly, it turns out Ingrid can also help them.
Will she ever achieve the fresh start and simpler life she craved? Or will Ingrid discover a wonderful new way to move onwards and upwards?
Fans of Milly Johnson, Maddy Please or Judy Leigh will love Celia Anderson’s uplifting and romantic stories.
Ingrid is recently widowed and having found that her gregarious, life and soul of the party husband had left her with as much debt as memories, embarks upon a task to sell off some of the accumulated junk from her married life, so she can downsize and live a simple life. She takes on a temporary let of her aunt’s shop in order to accomplish this, and though she initially thinks she is alone, an entire village is there to help her. I loved the Saga Louts, a group of older, independent women, each widowed, and trying to live their best lives. They take Ingrid under their wings and assist her with the shop set up, and I have to say I loved Winnie! Josh, divorced carpenter with a teenage daughter also ends up helping, after being her removal driver, and finds that he has more reasons for volunteering to assist the lovely Ingrid. Along with the above, there were so many great characters. There was a real eclectic mix of people, giving the book a wonderfully inclusive feel. Ingrid may have had her doubts and problems, but she works out ways to overcome them with her new friends and faces up to age-old demons along the way. She even finds time to help some of those new friends with their own conundrums. I really enjoyed reading this. A lovely feel-good story with an eclectic mix of characters supporting. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Author Bio –
Celia Anderson is a top ten bestselling author of women’s fiction. Previously published by Harper Collins, she is now turning her hand to uplifting golden years fiction for Boldwood.
Please join me on the blog tour for The Year of What If by Phaedra Patrick
Can the future be rewritten?
On the verge of her second marriage, Carla Carter knows she’s finally found the one. She and her fiancé, Tom, met through Logical Love, a dating agency she founded for the pragmatically minded, and she’s confident that, together, they will dispel an old family curse claiming Carter women are unlucky in love.
But Carla’s highly superstitious family insists she visit a fortune teller before her big day, and the tarot cards reveal that a different man holds the key to Carla’s happiness – someone she met while travelling during a gap year, twenty-one years ago. This startling information spurs Carla to trace and revisit the ex-boyfriends she met during that time before she walks down the aisle.
From Barcelona to Amsterdam, Turkey to Paris, will Carla find her perfect match? And can a face from her past help Carla rewrite her entire family history, forever?
Aren’t we all guilty of a little ‘what if?’ in our lives? This new Phaedra Patrick story hits the nail on the head with the concept. Carla is once bitten, twice shy. Married and divorced, she is convinced that romance and her won’t meet, especially since the females in her family are cursed never to have a fulfilling relationship. However, she decides she doesn’t believe in curses and finds herself a wonderful partner, through her own matchmaking company, Logical Love, where questionnaire answers match potentials with a compatibility percentage. Almost on the eve of her wedding, her family ladies take her on a hen do, involving some mystical shenanigans which lead Carla to question her past and embark upon a journey of (re)discovery, travelling destinations she visited in Europe as a young woman, and meeting old flames… A great concept, and many secrets unfold as Carla meets old faces anew, and begins to question her own feelings on love and how you meet ‘the one’.
Phaedra Patrick is the bestselling author of several novels, including The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, which has been translated into twenty-five languages worldwide. Her second novel, Rise and Shine Benedict Stone, was made into a Hallmark movie. An award-winning short story writer, she previously studied art and marketing and has worked as a stained glass artist, film festival organizer and communications manager. Phaedra lives in Saddleworth, UK, with her family.
Please join me on the blog tour for The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters
Can the city of love mend a broken heart?
Romance author Tessa Elliot has writer’s block, and worse – she isn’t sure she still believes in love. To heal her broken heart, she decides to go on the romantic break in Paris she’d booked before her world fell apart.
But when she arrives at the Airbnb, Tessa is stunned to find someone is already there. Her ex’s best friend Ethan has made himself at home, being told that the place would be empty.
As it’s Paris Fashion Week, and with no other options, they agree to share the apartment. Neither will be in the place much after all, with Ethan taking a cookery course and Tessa on a hard deadline to finish her novel.
But sharing close nights in a one bed apartment, there’s an undeniable pull towards one another.
Will Tessa be able open her heart, and her laptop, ever again?
A gorgeous romance set in the city of love, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren
I’ve read a couple of Victoria Walters books and this one was an entertaining read, as were the others. In The Paris Chapter, we follow romance author Tessa to Paris. She’s been betrayed and in her quest to find peace with her relationship status, and the belief in romance again, she uses a break that had been booked for her and her now ex-boyfriend, Joe. However, she arrives to find that her cheating ex is even more of a git as he had passed on the break to his best friend. Tessa is stuck in Paris during the height of Paris Fashion Week in a one-bedroom apartment with a rather hunky chef named Ethan. I have to say I really enjoyed the close proximity nature of this story; we all know what we wanted to happen. There is a decent enough steam factor within the story too – Phew! One thing – I did not like Joe and couldn’t bring myself to believe that Tessa would even try to possibly rekindle anything with that wally. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Victoria Walters is the author of both cosy crime and romantic novels, including the bestselling Glendale Hall series. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent, shortlisted for two RNA novels and was picked as an Amazon Rising Star. Previously published by Hera, she is now writing romantic comedies for Boldwood
Is she a glutton for punishment, or does she just like my nibbles? Kiley is back for a fourth visit!
Today, I am thrilled to welcome amazing romance author Kiley Dunbar to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things writerly, especially her newest release,A New Chapter at the Borrow a Bookshop. It’s out, TODAY!
Welcome back, Kiley, for your fourth Book and A Brew with Ritu! Something of a record, there!What drink would you like? I’ve got all the usual, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, masala tea?
Hi! It’s so nice to be back round at yours! Thanks for having me back. I’ve been reading your lovely characters in In God’s Hands. (I’m hiding behind my hands -eek!) and getting FOMO – so please can I have some, with sugar!
Absolutely! And, today there are fairy cakes! ��
Ooh, nice! I brought some Scottish tablet, which I make every new year. Hope you love it, it is ridiculously sweet. Why, thank you! The last time I had tablet was when we went camping for my Duke of Edinburgh Award nearly 35 years ago! (Jez, that makes me sound old!)
I love that you are back here for another cuppa with me, Kiley! How have you been? What is new in Kiley Dunbar land?
Cheers! It’s so nice to be back. I feel like I’ve spent the last couple of weeks with you as I’ve been reading In God’s Hands every night before bed and loving it!
Sheesh! Thank you!
What’s new with me? Well, I have lots of happy news this new year! A new book just released called A New Chapter at the Borrow a Bookshop, as well as a new book series coming up later in the year! Phew! It’s all go in Kiley Dunbar land!
And any new vintage bits you’ve acquired recently to tell me about?
Sooo many! From my vintage 1980’s Stead and Simpson (remember them?) ankle boots (somehow never been worn and on eBay) and lots of little vintage trinkets for the house. I can’t resist glassware or plant pots from the charity shops! I’d rather find and fix than buy new. It’s all about the fun of the search for me!
I love seeing your posts with your finds!
I’m going to the Meet Cute festival this year. Will you be there? Is there anywhere else that your reader fans may meet you this year?
Sadly no, I’m going to be laying low in 2025 (as far as events go) as I have two books to write for my new series. It’s going to be a busy year. I’ll miss seeing you there, though; the Meet Cute Festival always sounds amazing! Make sure you tell us all about it on your blog!
Oh, I will do that! I have somehow managed to volunteer for one or two talks there, too!
Have you joined the Bluesky revolution? I have, but I don’t know if I am giving myself more work, lol!
I’ve only just got on Threads, haha. Not sure I can cope with another new socials! I think I’ll stick to enjoying my Instagram for now, I feel like I have most fun on there. I’m full of admiration for folks branching out with Bluesky. Maybe I’ll see you over there one day!
I’ll be honest; I’m there, but not really active… I think Insta/FB are my main platforms and Tiktok/Threads come second!
Let’s return to the book of the moment, A New Chapter at The Borrow a Bookshop. Book 5 in one of my favourite series! I did love this kind of second chance/friend-to- lovers theme! Did you enjoy writing Annie and Harri’s story?
I enjoyed it more than any other book I’ve written. It’s my first ever attempt at my favourite ever trope ‘friends to lovers’ and every page was fun! Harri and Annie were made for each other, but of course they take a while to realise and there’s a lovely ‘will they/won’t they’ slow burn with a tiny bit of spice along the way.
And the mystery of the Clove Lore Castle… that was entertaining! Inspired by anything real that you may have read or a total figment of your imagination?
I wanted to explore a bit of the countryside around Clove Lore in this one and so the creepy old castle and its mysterious hermit owner came into being. I also really wanted Harri and Annie to spend the night accidentally locked-in somewhere away from the bookshop, hence the castle’s old gothic library with the roaring fireplace where they, ahem, realise they might be more than just friends. That was perfect!
Please tell me this isn’t the end of my dream holiday spot!
Well… I never say never. I hope one day I can go back to Clove Lore and make more book nerds fall in love, but for now there’ll be a break in the series. I’m going to miss everyone sooo much! I know that feeling. Right now, I am toying with the idea of a series book 4 or something totally different, but those Rishtay characters are so compelling!.
Now, what do we have in store for you, book-wise, next?
I have a brand new series launching in summer 2025 (with publisher Boldwood Books) called The Highland Repair Shop. It’s set in my version of the Scottish Cairngorm mountains and centres round a community of expert fixers. It’s all about people who love their planet and will not take broken for an answer. That goes for broken hearts too. I promise it will be very, very romantic as well as community and sustainability-minded. Are you a make-do-and-mender, Ritu? It suits my thrifty (read ‘tight with money’ haha) disposition.
This sounds like another corker, Kiley! I cannae wait! And, while I’m not much of a mender, I totally agree with the thrifty mentality!
Thanks so much for a lovely cuppa and chat! You really know how to help a girl celebrate a book launch, Ritu! I’ve had a blast.
I am thrilled to have been able to host you again, Kiley. I know it won’t be long before you are back!
Now, as I mentioned before, I was lucky enough to read an ARC of A New Chapter At The Borrow A Bookshop, so let me share the blurb and my review.
The Blurb
A decade after they said goodbye after graduation, old friends Harri and Annie reunite in the beautiful village of Clove Lore in Devon – what more could these bookworms want than a holiday running the tumbledown bookshop?
Unbeknownst to Annie, Harri is arriving with a bruised heart after the end of his long-term relationship, while Annie is running away from painful memories in Texas.
Elsewhere in Clove Lore, the mysterious owner of Castle Lore has died, causing much gossip in the village. When Harri and Annie are sent to investigate the huge Gothic library, they find themselves locked in overnight and soon, are discovering their connection might be more than just good friends…
I make no secret of the fact that I am a total Kiley Dubar Fan. I have read every one of her books and love the worlds she builds. They are relatable and visitable all in one! Clovelore is somewhere I want to go, and I’ve already said in previous reviews that if there were a Borrow A Bookshop holiday scheme, I would 100% be up for it! This time, we meet the new borrowers, Harri and Annie, old friends who were Uni pals and flatmates, then separated after graduation. Harri stayed in Wales with his girlfriend, and Annie flew back to The States. The simmering chemistry between these two friends is obvious, and Kiley turns the heat up in teeny notches. You can feel the attraction slowly reaching the boiling point, and I love how she does that! Of course,, we get to catch up with all the other Clovelore locals and some of the previous borrowers, as well as meet a wonderful new character, William Sabine, who has a heartbreaking story of his own. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful read. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend the rest of the series, too, simply because it is such a brilliant concept! May thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC.
And here’s a little about Kiley and her other books.
Kiley Dunbar is Scottish and lives in England with her husband, two kids and Amos the Bedlington Terrier. She writes around her work at a university in the North of England where she lectures in English Literature and Creative Writing.
Today, I am incredibly excited to have a fantastic author and interweb friend of mine, Gillian Harvey, over for the second time, this time to talk about her latest release, Midnight in Paris
Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Gillian! Let’s get you set with a drink, first.
What would you like to drink? All the hot beverages are available to you, as well as my trusty masala tea!
A coffee please, Ritu.
And what would you like to eat? I’ve been making fairy cakes and cookies, but also fried up some fresh pakoras, too!
I’ll try a bit of everything!‘Midnight in Paris’ has one foot in France and the other in the UK (Cambridge), which has created a nice balance. My next is set in a small French village, but I’m working on something set firmly in the UK as well! So a bit of both.
So lovely to have you back here, Gillian! And a change for you since we last spoke. You’ve moved back to the UK – How is that going for you with your writing?
We loved our time in France, but it felt like the right time to move back to the UK. We’ve landed in a lovely seaside town in Norfolk, and it’s been a great experience so far (albeit exhausting)! The writing is going great – I’m feeling really creative and the words are flowing! Sounds lovely, and yay for the words!
Last time, we spoke about how much France had inspired your writing recently. Will that country always feature in your novels, or will we get more UK-based stories, or even based in far-flung destinations?
Midnight in Paris’ has one foot in France and the other in the UK (Cambridge), which has created a nice balance. My next is set in a small French village, but I’m working on something set firmly in the UK as well! So a bit of both.Exciting for us readers!
I know I asked this last time, but obviously, you have uprooted yourself since then, so do you now have your writing room/area in your new place? Or are you visiting cafes, perching for hours, consuming coffee, and typing away?
Right now, we’re in rented accommodation while we look for a forever home. It’s a lovely house, but a little on the small side – especially as my kids keep insisting on growing at an alarming rate! This means, right now, my desk is in my bedroom which isn’t ideal. Especially as I seem to create chaos around my work area. But I’m hoping within the next year I’ll have my own office to work in, fingers crossed. As for cafes, no. I love going to them, but I’d be too shy to work in one! Too many people asking me what I’m up to (at least, in my imagination)!Oh, I do hope so, for your sake, and you are right. These kids don’t half grow fast!
Are you planning to go to any author/book-related events this year? I am attending the MeetCute festival in June!
One of the things I really looked forward to about moving to the UK is the fact that I’ll be more able to travel to book festivals – I had serious FOMO looking at author pics on Instagram after some of the bigger events. But right now, I haven’t got anything in the diary. I think that moving has been so tumultuous I’m still catching my breath. But I’m determined to get out and about more this year – and may well see you in June.Oh, I do hope so, it would be awesome to see you!
It’s time to talk about the book in question, Midnight In Paris. Oh my goodness, this was an emotional read! Where did the inspiration for this story come from?
Often my stories come to me as a ‘snapshot’ of a moment. This story built from the idea of the bridge and all it signifies in the story and went from there. Paris is also quite special to me – my husband and I went to Paris for a trip away when we were first seeing each other. It was a real budget event, using coupons from the paper! We went again for our honeymoon in rather more lavish style. Although our room had room service, we actually kept ordering tea and biscuits – so I suppose you can take the Brit out of Britain… but some things are hardwired.I have to agree, my tea is so important, too, but then again, I am Indian, living in Britain, with Kenyan influence, so Tea was always going to be a thing, lol!
Were you intending to write a tear-jerker?
I knew that there would be an emotional element in the book due to the bridge scene, but I think the eventual book went a little deeper than expected. I wanted to write really meaningful characters that the reader connected with, so I hope that’s been the case! I haven’t been through anything like the characters in this book, but I have had an emotional year with the move and other ups and downs, and I think sometimes that channels into a book. Basically, it was a therapy session! I’m really proud of this story.And so you should be! It was beautifully written!
The story touches on trying to start a family. Is this something you wrote with any personal experience? I know how hard that can be, having done the same with my latest novel.
Yes, my husband and I were told we’d never be able to conceive naturally. It took two rounds of IVF before I had my daughter, then another for my sons. Then we had two unexpected pregnancies afterwards – I guess doctors don’t always get it right. That’s a whole novel in itself…Tell me about it! I have PCOS and spoke to a friend who was diagnosed as a young girl. She was told she would never have children, and when it came to marriage, she stated this fact to whoever her suitor was, as she didn’t want any comeback, then she she was happily married, settled and devoid of any inclination to have a family, she ended up with four kids! It gave me some hope!
And, finally, please let us know what we can expect from you next!
I’m just working on a novel right now. It’s set in France and really focuses on the importance of friendship. I’m hoping to create an emotive experience for the reader, while injecting some upbeat, humorous moments too. I’m also working on a side-project that I’m really excited about. But it’s all very hush-hush for now. 😊 oo
Ooohhh! Secret side project! Now I am even more intrigued, lol!
Thank you so much for popping over for a visit, Gillian!
Thanks for having me, Ritu!
The Blurb
Ten years. Two people. One last visit…
Sophie and Tom first visited Paris together as students. During their weekend away in the world’s most romantic city, falling in love – with the place, and each other – was simply inevitable.
They resolved to return every summer and kept their word, until something happened that changed their world forever.
Five years on, Sophie’s travelling to Paris alone to meet Tom again in their special place, on the Pont du Carrousel at midnight.
Because life has torn them apart. And now Sophie has something to tell Tom. Something that will change everything…
The most heartbreaking, uplifting and powerful novel you’ll read all year. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Kristin Hannah and The Notebook.
Oh my goodness, Gillian Havey! What are you doing to me? I’ve always loved the author’s books, especially the stories set in France, but this was something else. Not as light hearted, but as much of a good read as the others, if not more. The emotional rollercoaster I went on as I read was unbelievable. Tom and Sophie have a place in Paris that has become their place, and they have visited it over the years. This last visit is so poignant, and its reason is heart-wrenching. I shall give nothing away, but I was in bits. It is a more serious tale, detailing hard-hitting issues, but in a nuanced, sensitive way. A true page-turner of a book, I loved it. I think it’s my favourite so far!
Freelance writer and author Gillian Harvey lives in France with husband, Ray and their five children. She regularly pens articles and short stories for UK magazines including Woman’s Weekly and People’s Friend. She also writes opinion pieces and has been published in Independent, Guardian, Metro.
Gillian started her career in the teaching profession working at secondary school level. After moving to France in 2009, she started freelance writing for publications in the UK, France and the US.
Gillian has written a monthly column in Writing Magazine since 2020. She has previously been columnist for Prima Baby and Living France magazines.
Gillian’s first novel ‘Everything is Fine’ was published worldwide with Orion in May 2020. Her second, ‘Perfect on Paper’ was published in UK May 2021. She has since moved to Boldwood Books where she published the best-selling ‘A Year at the French Farmhouse’ and, most recently ‘One French Summer.’
But I Smile Anyway... 