But I Smile Anyway…

I am thrilled to be on the Cover Reveal Blog Stop for Caroline James’ next release, The Scottish Cruise.

The Blurb

All aboard the Celtic Dream as she sets sail on a magical Highland escape around the Scottish Isles…
When widow Maggie Blenkenship books a Scottish cruise to celebrate her seventieth birthday, she
expects breathtaking scenery and quality time with her sister. She doesn’t expect to fall in love.
Joined by a colourful cast of fellow passengers – a secretive actress battling frightening memory loss,
a sharp-tongued expat running from family ghosts, and a reserved gentleman haunted by his late
father’s wartime secret – Maggie discovers that the open sea has a way of loosening hearts and
unlocking truths.
As the Celtic Dream weaves through the dramatic Scottish isles, unlikely friendships form, long-
buried secrets surface, and love arrives quietly, unexpectedly, and right on time…
The Scottish Cruise is a warm and witty story about second chances, the courage to begin again, and
the beautiful, surprising things that can happen when you finally step out of the shadows.

Pre-order Link – https://geni.us/LFV3fp

Publication Date: 25th february 2027

About The Author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide and earned its reputation as Girl Power for the Over-Sixties! Her eagerly anticipated follow-up cruise novels include THE CRUISE CLUB, THE ARCTIC CRUISE and THE NILE CRUISE, hitting the Amazon Top 100 Kindle charts and chosen for supermarket slots in Sainsbury’s, Booth’s and Tesco, including ‘Fern’s Picks’ in Tesco supermarkets. Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.
When she’s not writing, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and writing and plotting her next novels in her Scottish retreat. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a passionate advocate for the written word and a champion of lifelong creativity.

Social Media Links –
www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Twitter: @CarolineJames12
Facebook: Caroline James Author
Insta: Caroline James Author

Books by Caroline James:
Coming soon: The Scottish Cruise
The Nile Cruise
The Arctic Cruise
Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure
The Cruise Club
The French Cookery School
The Cruise
The Spa Break
Hattie Goes to Hollywood
Boomerville at Ballymegille
The Best Boomerville Hotel
Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me
Coffee Tea the Chef & Me
Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me
Jungle Rock

I am thrilled to be on the Cover Reveal Blog Stop for the inimitable Nicola May’s Christmas release, Mrs Clutterbuck’s Christmas Emporium. It looks soooo good!

The Blurb

When Mabel Clutterbuck opens a Christmas shop in sleepy Merrycombe Bay, she has no idea how
much her little emporium is about to change the hearts and minds of the people who live there.
Mabel Clutterbuck reluctantly returns to the seaside town she grew up in to be closer to her ailing
mother. However, the old woman’s fading memories keep confusing Mabel with her sister Clara –
the sister who sacrificed everything to care for their mother before recently disappearing without
trace.
Determined to breathe new life into the old shop Clara used for her crafting endeavours, Mabel
transforms it into Mrs Clutterbuck’s Christmas Emporium, a magical haven filled with vintage
decorations, festive treasures, and a little bit of wonder.
The true magic, however, lies in Mabel’s Lucky Dip Gift Boxes. Carefully chosen for the hidden
heartaches of the customers who buy them, each one brings comfort, hope, and unexpected joy.
Not everyone in Merrycombe Bay is convinced, though, especially the formidable ladies of the local
WI!
As Christmas approaches, an unexpected romantic encounter gives Mabel a glimpse of a future she
never thought possible. And while she helps others find happiness, she begins to heal the parts of
herself she thought would remain broken.
But beneath the sparkle of fairy lights and festive cheer, old wounds refuse to stay buried. Why did
Clara leave Merrycombe Bay? And if she returns, will Mabel lose everything she’s finally found –
including the future she never thought she deserved.
Heartwarming, uplifting and sprinkled with Christmas magic, Mrs Clutterbuck’s Christmas Emporium
is a story of family secrets, second chances, unexpected romance, and the power of kindness.

Pre-order Link – https://amzn.eu/d/0h1XusUq
Publication Date: 6 th November 2026

About The Author

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic
comedies. With twenty-three books to her name, her work has captured readers’ hearts around the
world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon’s
Kindle bestseller charts. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes
through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.

Social Media Links –
w: www.nicolamay.com
i: author_nicola
fb: Nicola May Romance Author | Facebook