Book Tour | But I Smile Anyway...

The Old Girls’ Island Getaway by Kate Galley #BookTour #Blog Tour @rararesources @KateGalley1 @BoldwoodBooks

06 Mar 2026 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Boldwood Books, Book Tour, Kate Galley, Rachel's Random Resources

Thrilled to be on the blog tour for Kate Galley’s The Old Girl’s Island Getaway!

The Blurb

Two old friends. One sun-soaked adventure.

Dorothy and Gina may be separated by twenty years, but their friendship is timeless. At seventy-one and nearly ninety, life’s too short not to have a little fun – especially in Corfu.

When Dorothy is invited to visit an old friend at his villa, she insists Gina comes along. They’re looking forward to sunshine, sea breezes, and perhaps a dash of ouzo. But their plans are upended by an unexpected guest: glamorous actress Florence Quinn, who’s taken up residence in the pool house.

Florence may sparkle on the surface, but she’s hiding something – and someone – from her past. Determined to help, Dorothy and Gina embark on a quest across the island, only to find that Corfu holds more secrets, scandals, and surprises than they ever imagined.

A warm, witty, and adventurous tale of friendship, mischief, and unexpected discoveries.

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

My Review

The Old Girls’ Island Getaway by Kate Galley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading the previous exploits of the Old Gals, I was excited to get back to Dorothy and Gina’s world, because they do find themselves in some interesting scrapes, proving that there is no age limit for fun, frolics and friendships!
This time, Dorothy takes Gina to Corfu at the request of one of her old friends, who lives there, and also her teenage granddaughter, Juliet. Florence, who is an actress, joins them out there, caught up in a bit of a scandal of her own.
The description of the scenery is fab and made me want to go there, even with all the steps you have to climb to get back up to where you started!
And the story itself is pure genius, when there are hidden agendas, teenage hormones, and some oldies who are up for adventure, no matter what it entails.
I won’t lie, there are a couple of sad bits, which reflect life, but there is plenty of light-heartedness, and definitely scope for more adventures, nearly 90-year-old Dotty definitely has it in her!

About The Author

Kate Galley is the author of uplifting golden years fiction, including The Second Chance Holiday Club. She lives with her family in Buckinghamshire and works part time as a mobile hairdresser.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @KateGalleyAuthor

Twitter: @KateGalley1

Instagram: @kategalley1

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

Bookbub profile: @kategalley1

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton #BlogTour #BookReview #RachelsRandomResources @RachelBWriter @rararesources

04 Mar 2026 5 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Tour, Rachel Burton, Rachel's Random Resources, The Strawberry House

I am super excited to be on the Blog tour for this fantastic book, The Strawberry House, by the amazing Rachel Burton!

The Blurb

1938: For Camilla Kerrigan, life at her family’s Oxford manor is a delicate balancing act – between duty to her family and a yearning for something more. When her brother Anthony returns for the summer, bringing with him a new friend, Camilla recognises a kindred spirit. Like her, Henry is thoughtful, restless and uncertain of his future.

But the arrival of four strangers – among them a gifted artist determined to paint Camilla’s sister Mabel – soon shatters the fragile peace of the manor. In the shimmering heat, desires are stirred and one impulsive act will set in motion a tragedy that echoes for decades.

1952: Haunted by war and the memory of that long-ago summer, the last thing Henry wants is to return to Montagu Manor. But when a photograph arrives, showing the painting he thought destroyed – the portrait that ruined so many lives – he is drawn back into the past.

Now, Henry and Camilla must face the secrets that shaped them, and the love that refuses to fade.

One unforgettable summer. One devastating secret. A love that time could not erase.

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

My Review

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read a few of Rachel Burton’s more recent books, and this sounded so delicious, just from the title (plus the cover was pretty irresistible, too!) I just had to read it!
Set in both the pre-WW2 and post-WW2 years, The Strawberry House is a story focusing on a tragedy at Montagu Manor, or more enticingly called, The Strawberry House in 1938.
Two very different souls meet there and fall in love, but the war and the aforementioned tragedy push them apart for fifteen years, when a chance assignment for Henry brings him back to Camilla.
I loved the whimsy of having a group of artists turn up for an entire summer at the Manor, and the behaviour of one plays fully to the Diva nature that many assign to successful creative types.
There was also much angst described as Camilla is a woman born into a genteel family, with dreams of higher education, whereas her father has no interest in allowing his intelligent daughter that chance because that’s not what ladies do. And Henry is facing similar struggles but from a different point. His background is not like Camilla’s. In fact, his father runs a factory and wants Henry at the head of it, but Henry dreams of becoming a journalist, and his Oxford education is a stepping stone to him realising his dreams.
I was swept away with this book, turning each page eagerly, and loved the added mystery element to it with a lost treasure that needs finding.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

About The Author

LinRachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels and romantic comedies. Rachel was born in Cambridge and studied Classics and English Literature before starting a career in law. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @RachelBurton74

Twitter: @RachelBWriter

Instagram: @RachelBWriter

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

Bookbub profile: @RachelBurton

The Cottage At The Edge of The Woods by Jane Lovering #BookTour #Blog Tour @rararesources @janelovering @BoldwoodBooks

25 Feb 2026 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Posg, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Boldwood Books, Book Review, Book Tour, Jane Lovering, Once Upon A Thyme, Rachel's Random Resources

Thrilled to welcome Jane Lovering and her latest book, The Cottage At The Edge Of The Woods, to the blog!

The Blurb

Some houses won’t let go of the past. Some people won’t, either…

When single mum Libby is offered a life-changing sum of money to clear out an old cottage in the woods, she expects dust and decay. She doesn’t expect a house full of secrets, a room full of birds, and a woman who refuses to leave.

The handsome but stressed architect who hired Libby is also a puzzle. Why can’t Ross empty Elm Cottage himself? What can he possibly see in Libby, who has been burned by love and is wary of attachment? How can they persuade the mysterious but kindly Isobel to move on?

As Libby is pulled into the cottage’s story, she must face up to her own deepest fears. Can she help Isobel, fight the past that haunts her, and learn to open her own heart to love once more?

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

My Review

The Cottage at the Edge of the Woods by Jane Lovering
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Jane Lovering’s stories, and this was a beautiful, gentle love story with more than romance at the heart.
Libby is running, constantly hiding from her ex, worried that he will swoop in and take their beautiful toddler, Tilly, from her.
She is barely surviving, and an intriguing job opportunity puts her in a difficult position: she has to visit a rundown cottage and persuade the squatters living there to leave.
Facing phobias, meeting a mute older woman, as well as Ross, the strange but good-looking architect who has employed her, puts Libby in quite a position.
The characters were genuine, and I could really feel Libby’s fears, as well as really warm to Tilly, her two-year-old, who was cute and very much a toddler in their terrible twos!
This story has a little magic and a little intrigue, and it also addresses a few more serious topics, such as mental health and abusive relationships.
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.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @jane.lovering

Twitter: @janelovering

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

Bookbub profile: @janelovering

Faking the Grade at Glenbriar High by Margaret Amatt #BookTour #Blog Tour @rararesources @AmattAuthor

10 Feb 2026 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Tour, Margaret Amatt, Rachel's Random Resources, review

I am excited to be on the blog tour for Margaret Amatt’s most recent release, Faking the Grade at Glenbriar High.

The Blurb

Fake dating isn’t on the curriculum… but neither is falling in love

He’s tall, dark and handsome… And he’s just announced his engagement to someone else.

Guidance teacher Clara Morgan thought her year couldn’t get any worse, but it just did. No matter how hard she tries to keep her chin up, it’s hard not to feel down.

Kind and intuitive English teacher and single dad Sam Addison realises something’s up with Clara; he puts two and two together and works out her secret.

Shocked that someone has discovered her unrequited love for one of her colleagues, Clara leans on Sam for support. When he’s invited to a wedding, Clara offers to go with him – as a friend. But she starts to see him in a whole new light when she introduces him to the concept of fake dating.

Sam gave up on love long ago and has a whole cupboard full of baggage, but Clara is just so loveable. If only he wasn’t stuck in a complicated home setup, and she wasn’t in love with someone else.

Sorting out their feelings will need some serious attention if their relationship is going to make the grade and give them the happy ending they deserve.♥ Faking the Grade at Glenbriar High is the 17th book in The Glenbriar Series , but can be read on its own as a standalone.

♥ Set in the highlands of Scotland in a small town with fun, romance, drama, and a guaranteed happy ending, Faking the Grade at Glenbriar High has a bit of steam and lots of heart.d exactly where they’re meant to be.

My Review

Faking the Grade at Glenbriar High by Margaret Amatt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this gentle romance, with fake dating at the heart.
Clara is a teacher at Glenbriar High and is coping with having her heart broken by her crush, unintentionally. What makes it worse is that they work together, and their paths cross regularly.
Along comes Sam, another teacher with his own complicated personal story, and an opportunity to support one another through some complex situations.
You know when you read a book, and feel that cosy sensation, knowing you are going to love the ending, without even having read it? That. That is what I felt reading this.
Clara helps so many, and Sam does the same, so knowing they are headed towards one another is just heartwarming.
A thoroughly enjoyable book that may be part of a long-standing series, but is perfectly fine being read as a standalone.

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

About the Author

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

Social Media Links –

https://www.margaretamatt.com/subscribe

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretAmattAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/margaret_amatt_author

https://ko-fi.com/margaretamattauthor/shop

A Shore Thing by Portia Macintosh #BlogTour #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

30 Jan 2026 2 Comments

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

It is blog tour time for another book! This time, A Shore Thing by Portia Macintosh

The Blurb

Lights. Camera…Showmance!

From the moment Cleo met Lockie, her infuriatingly charming co-casting producer on hit reality show Welcome to Singledom, he’s been getting under her skin. Their job? Casting singles for the ultimate island romance. Their problem? They can’t agree on anything.

Now, the cameras are ready to roll, and the contestants—well, most of them—are en route. But when the threat of a tropical storm delays half the cast, launch night turns into a total disaster. With no Plan B, Cleo and Lockie are forced to step in as contestants. Just for 24 hours until the real stars arrive.

Simple, right? Except tensions are sky-high and sparks are flying for all the wrong reasons! All they have to do is couple-up and get voted off – but there’s a storm coming, so leaving the island might not be so easy. Cleo’s used to pulling strings behind the scenes, not falling headfirst into the drama.

But when the cameras stop rolling, will their fake fling fade with the credits—or could it be Cleo’s most unexpected plot twist yet?

My Review

A Shore Thing by Portia MacIntosh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Portia MacIntosh’s books are a surefire light-hearted read, and I was excited to read A Shore Thing.
Set in the world of Reality TV, we have our FMC, Cleo, who is a behind-the-scenes hero. She casts for a show that is waning in popularity, given the glut of reality TV. And she is introduced to the MMC, Lockie, in an unconventional manner, only to find out he will be working closely with her.
Their chemistry is immediately palpable, and how Cleo tries to keep it all simmering, but not boiling over, is an art in itself, especially when their show goes a bit wrong, and she finds herself in an unexpected situation.
There are hilarious moments, high tension, and a few scenes that you know might be spicy, but the reader can use their imagination instead of getting blow-by-blow accounts.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Purchase Link –

About the Author

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

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

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

Find out more at www.portiamacintosh.com

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @macintoshportia

Twitter: @PortiaMacintosh

Instagram: @portiamacintoshauthor

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

Bookbub profile: @portiamac