I am thrilled to be on the Cover Reveal Blog Stop for my lovely writer friend, Florence Keeling! Check out this gorgeous cover for The Word Is Love.
The Blurb
Lucky in life but unlucky in love, Lucy Greenfield owns a successful carriage business along with her best friend Max, and they have never been busier since their shire horses gained fame from their roles in the hit movie A Little in Love.
Too busy for romance, Lucy is surprisingly swept off her feet when Spencer arrives seeking help with his horse, and something more from Lucy. As quickly as Lucy falls, she wonders if all is not as it seems. Max can prove it, but that means he will have to express his true feelings for Lucy.
Relationships are strained as secrets unravel, and Lucy needs to solve the riddle of words to best describe how she feels… For her best friend.
Together, they must overcome what’s keeping them apart before it’s too late, if they are going to realise that the word they are searching for is love.
I was born in Coventry but now live in Nuneaton. I married the love of my life over 20 years ago and we have two almost grown up children. We share our lives with two mad dogs as well.
Writing is a great passion of mine, that one day I hope to be able to turn into a career but until that day comes, I will continue working in accounts and payroll.
I’ve been online friends with Ola for a good few years, and it is my genuine pleasure to showcase her latest book, The Marriage Monitoring Aunties Association, as a part of the blog tour.
The Blurb
Friendships – fantastic. Family – getting better. Career – promotion on the cards.
Romance – *seriously delayed*
Sade Sodipo is ready to meet ‘the one’ and finally fulfil the Nigerian Dream. So far God hasn’t performed that little miracle quite yet, but it’ll happen this year for sure. Especially if her mother, two best friends, younger sister and all those in the unofficial Marriage Monitoring Aunties Association have anything to say about it.
She might love her job, have great friends and even own her own home, but according to the meddling aunties, this is why she’s still single at 50.
What if her prayers for the perfect man have got lost? Or maybe Sade’s happy-ever-after is right on time…
I love stories steeped in cultures that are fighting to keep themselves heard while in another country, so this UK-based story with a Nigerian cast of characters was right up my street! Sade Sodipo is a successful career woman with her own house, unmarried, and, shock, horror, fifty years of age! This is a sticking point for her mother, the various aunties of the church, and pretty much anyone in her Nigerian circle. The story is based on Sade’s own ingrained religious and cultural beliefs, which include saving herself for ‘The One’ and true love leading to marriage and children. However, with her age against her and her health not cooperating, this is looking increasingly unlikely. Is it a romance? Well, yes, romance 100% plays a part in this story, as Sade meets someone, but it is more about her accepting herself, as she is, and realising that maybe she needs to think a bit more about the expectations she (and the community) has put upon herself. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter, for an ARC.
Purchase Links
About The Author
Ola Awonubi is an award-winning author, creative writing tutor, and speaker, known for her compelling storytelling that bridges cultures and histories. Born in London to Nigerian parents, she spent part of her childhood in Nigeria before returning to the UK, where she pursued her passion for writing.
At the age of 40, Ola rekindled her dream of becoming a writer and earned an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East London. Her talent quickly gained recognition—her short story The Pink House won first prize in the National Words of Colour competition (2008), and The Go-Slow Journey secured first prize in the fiction category of Queen Mary Wasafiri’s New Writing Prize (2009). She was also honored with the Best Author CA Award (2019).
Ola has authored eight books, including Love’s Persuasion, Love Me Unconditionally, and the anthology Naija Love Stories. Her historical fiction novel, A Nurse’s Tale, published by One More Chapter Books (HarperCollins) in July 2023, became a bestseller in Canada, earning a spot on The Globe and Mail’s historical fiction chart. It was also recognized by the Brown Girl Collective as a favorite historical fiction book of 2024.
Her upcoming romantic comedy, The Marriage Monitoring Aunties’ Association, is set for release in Summer 2025, as part of a two-book deal. She is also working on a Jane Austen adaptation set in Lagos, currently under consideration by publishers and agents.
Beyond her writing, Ola is a creative writing tutor and speaker, sharing her expertise at prestigious events such as the Black British Book Festival, Meet-Cute Romance Festival, and London Festival of Writing. She will also be speaking at The London Writers Festival, Jericho Writers Conference, inspiring aspiring authors with her insights on storytelling, publishing, and book marketing.
Ola’s work has been featured in Afreada, Brittle Paper, Story Time, Woven Tale Press, and NaijaStories.com, with over 15 short stories published across various literary platforms.
Through her Substack newsletter, “The Resilient Writer,” she provides actionable writing guidance, digital resources, and industry insights, helping fellow creatives refine their craft and build their author brands.
Giveaway to Win a Paperback copy of The Marriage Monitoring Aunties Association (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.
I am always excited to have my friend, Gillian Harvey, on the blog to celebrate another of her wonderful books! This time we have The Village Cafe in the Loire!
The Blurb
High-flyer Becky Thorne cannot believe what she’s being told. She doesn’t need to be signed off for burnout! Life has been a bit chaotic lately, that’s all. As if dealing with her enviable job and permanent meddling from her mother aren’t enough, she’s also inherited a café in the Loire from an estranged great-aunt, complete with sitting tenant who refuses to budge.
But nobody stands in Becky’s way! Ignoring her best friend Amber’s advice, she decides to storm over to France and sort the tenant out. Then she can finally get the café sold and jump back on the career ladder.
What she doesn’t count on is the tenant being Pascale, who is six feet of tall, dark, handsome and extremely grumpy about her plans for change. Not to mention the village and the secrets it holds about her past.
Becky’s path to success is all planned out. But the Loire has a magic she might not be able to resist…
Sometimes I think Gillian Harvey is going to turn me into a Francophile, with all the gorgeous French setting books she writes, and this is one of those that makes me want to jump on the Eurostar, begin drinking coffee, and don a beret! Becky is the protagonist, a thirty-something career woman who is on the brink of brilliant success; however, an inheritance looks set to derail all her plans. She finds herself signed off from work, and ends up in a small village in the Loire, at the behest of her late great aunt, with a cafe for which she has no training, other than drinking coffee, and to pop the cherry on top, there is a lodger who it seems is resistant to leaving the building, even though all she wants to do is sell it. Of course, that hunky, troublesome lodger named Pascale gives her another thing to think about. Becky has few friends, Amber being her best friend, and her mother is there to guide her in life. But she sometimes cannot see beyond her own problems, often ignoring the SOS signs from those around her. The storyline is one of self-discovery, and we see Becky begin to question all she has thought about her future before, and also to begin to look beyond herself, considering others, with a little romance along the way. There is, of course, a little twist in the tale, too, to keep readers on their toes!
Gillian Harvey is an author and freelance writer who lives in Norfolk. Her novels, including the bestselling A Year at the French Farmhouse and The Riviera House Swap, are often set in France, where she lived for 14 years.
I am thrilled to be on the Cover Reveal Blog Stop for my lovely writer friend, Florence Keeling! Check out this gorgeous cover for Love, Lies &Family Ties.
The Blurb
A heartwarming, feel good romantic comedy. ‘I absolutely adored this book. It gave me all the feels! A charming read full of warmth and heart.’ ***** Kim the Bookworm
Bea Winters is in desperate need of a fresh start. Being bullied at work is not her idea of fun and she longs to follow her dream of becoming a published author. When an advert appears in her local paper to work in a publishing house in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale, it sounds too good to be true.
She strikes up an instant friendship with gorgeous aspiring author, Eddie Richards and her dashing millionaire boss Scott Summers. But all isn’t as it seems in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale.
How does the local clairvoyant know her name? Who does the little black dog that keeps appearing belong to and why does she keep bumping into the mysterious Charlie?
As she starts to unravel the truth, it seems that everyone in Bea’s life is keeping secrets.
An uplifting romantic comedy that will warm your heart – perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews.
I was born in Coventry but now live in Nuneaton. I married the love of my life over 20 years ago and we have two almost grown up children. We share our lives with two mad dogs as well.
Writing is a great passion of mine, that one day I hope to be able to turn into a career but until that day comes, I will continue working in accounts and payroll.
I am thrilled to be on the blog tour for one of my writing friends, Saz Vora, with her latest book, True Love Again.
The Blurb
At a Gujarati wedding in North Devon, the interfering aunties are in full force, scheming and pairing off the single people. Normally Meera avoids these gatherings, but for this wedding she can’t say no.
Krishan, a widowed single parent, struggles with the idea of moving on – especially when no one can compare to his late wife. And the Aunties’ suggestions for a perfect match aren’t helping. Then he meets Meera.
When an accident with the floral arrangements sends the pair off on a mission for replacements they develop an easy friendship. Krishan suggests to Meera that they pretend to date for the rest of the summer’s events, and she agrees as long as he promises to join as a Beta tester, for her dating and new experience app.
Krishan is reluctant, but Meera promises him it will only be a couple of times.
You know me; I love a story with a South Asian twist to it, and Saz Vora, as a fellow Indian author with a Kenyan background, and brought up in the UK, writes some heart-wrenching stories, so when I was offered the chance to read True Love, Again as a part of the blog tour, I jumped at the chance. The story centres around two people: Meera, a divorcee who has sworn off men after a traumatic break-up experience, and Krishan, a single father who has sworn off love after losing his wife in the most tragic of ways. They meet at a wedding, under unusual circumstances, and what sparks between them is a relationship of convenience, as they seek to escape the Masi Mafia and the aunties who are forever trying to pair them off with a suitable match. But sometimes the lines get blurred, and feelings begin to develop where they shouldn’t—or should they? I enjoyed reading this, especially the details about the entire Masi Mafia, and how that community’s gossip can be used for both good and disastrous results. I almost wish that the end had stretched a bit longer, so we saw how their relationship progressed, before a lovely, happy ending!
Purchase Links
About The Author
Saz Vora is a passionate storyteller, wife and mother, and a proud voice of British Asians in multicultural Britain. Born in East Africa and raised in Coventry in the heart of the Midlands, Saz grew up balancing the vibrant rhythms of her Gujarati Indian roots with her British upbringing. This rich cultural tapestry infuses every word she writes.
Saz’s powerful debut novels, My Heart Sings Your Song and its sequel Where Have We Come—a finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2020—weave a deeply emotional tale of love, loss, family, and resilience. Based on true events, her work fearlessly explores the often-unspoken realities of baby loss within South Asian families in Britain, shining a light on stories that need to be told.
Her talent has also been recognized in short form—her poignant piece on a childhood memory, Broad Street Library was longlisted for the Spread the Word Life Writing Prize 2020.
Before embracing her calling as a writer, Saz enjoyed a successful career in television production and teaching. But storytelling has always been her true passion. Today, she crafts heartfelt narratives that reflect the layered complexities of multicultural identity, family expectations, and women’s experiences—especially those often shrouded in silence.
With a love for music, food, and film (from Bollywood to Hollywood and everything in between), her books are rich with references that connect readers to her world. Each story is a soulful blend of emotion and authenticity, written for readers who appreciate the depth and drama of South Asian family life and the power of voice in confronting taboo topics.
But I Smile Anyway... 