Finding love on Sunshine Island

 

Finding Love on Sunshine Island

Welcome to the Sunshine Island - where the beaches are golden, the lifestyle is perfect and anything is possible.

Piper Le Brocq is happily single after the disastrous ending of her engagement eighteen months before. The only man in her life is Jax, her best friend and cousin, who spends his life teaching locals how to forage and taking tourists on boat trips around the island. Her days are filled with helping out at her mother's guest house and selling her glass mosaics at The Cabbage Patch emporium in Trinity.

Piper loves living on the Sunshine Island, where the neighbours look out for each other and visitors are welcome. So, when handsome guest Alex Cooper arrives at the guest house to check up on his grandfather, she welcomes him to the sunny island. And when he needs help after his grandfather is injured, she's quick to get involved.

Yet, the more she gets to know Alex the more mysterious he seems, and Alex isn't the only one keeping secrets from her.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3Ce7ebq

Author Bio – 

Georgina Troy writes uplifting romantic escapes and sets her novels on the island of Jersey where she was born and has lived for most of her life. When she was writing her first novel she realised there were hundreds of places on the small that would make perfect romantic settings and when she discovered that no one else had at that time written a romance set on the island she decided to do it herself.

Social Media Links –  

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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/georgina-troy

My review

What a superb start to a new series set on Jersey! I was immediately pulled into Piper's life as soon as I opened the book. The introduction of her cousin Jax as a sounding board was a nice touch, as I was crossing my fingers that Piper and Alex would get together.

The minor characters were interesting too; Alex's grandfather, the artisans at the Cabbage Patch as well as Piper's neighbours.

Once again, Georgina Troy has got me hooked and I can't wait for the next in the series.

 

Summer at the French cafe

 

Summer at the French Café

Sparkling sun, strolls in the gorgeous French countryside, that first sip of cool, crisp wine – Summer is Kat’s favourite season. And this year should be no exception…

As soon as Kat Jenson set foot in the idyllic French village of Kirchhoffen, she knew she’d found her home. Now she has a dreamy boyfriend, a delightful dog and the perfect job managing a bustling book café in the vibrant Parc Lemmel.

But when she learns her boyfriend isn’t all he seems, it’s the start of a difficult summer for Kat. Vindictive troublemakers, work woes and family heartache follow, and the clear blue sky that was her life suddenly seems full of clouds.

Then she gets to know the mysterious Noah, and her sun begins to shine brighter than ever. But Noah has problems of his own – ones that could scupper their new-found happiness. Together, can they overcome their many obstacles, and find love again?

The perfect summer read for fans of Trisha Ashley, Sarah Morgan and Carole Matthews.

Purchase Links 

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-French-Caf%C3%A9-feel-good-fiction-ebook/dp/B09JBL9X3L/

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/summer-at-the-french-cafe-1

Apple books https://books.apple.com/gb/book/summer-at-the-french-caf%C3%A9/id1598083256

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Summer-French-Caf%C3%A9-feel-good-fiction-ebook/dp/B09JBL9X3L/

Author Bio – 

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. She’s reached the coveted #1 spot on Amazon Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary.

 

Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.

Social Media Links – 
Website [www.suemoorcroft.com]

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My Review

This is such a delightful book, set in an equally delightful location of a French book cafe in a park. It's easy to see why Sue Moorcroft is a best-selling author; the characters are so real that they jump off the page. Add in difficult personal relationships that stop Kat and Noah from being together and you have a winner. The dog is just the icing on the cake!

Sizzling with summer fun, this book is a real treat.

The memory Keeper of Kyiv

 

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv

In the 1930s, Stalin’s activists marched through the Soviet Union, espousing the greatness of collective farming. It was the first step in creating a man-made famine that, in Ukraine, stole almost 4 million lives. Inspired by the history the world forgot, and the Russian government denies, Erin Litteken reimagines their story.

In 1929, Katya is 16 years old, surrounded by family and in love with the boy next door. When Stalin’s activists arrive in her village, it’s just a few, a little pressure to join the collective. But soon neighbors disappear, those who speak out are never seen again and every new day is uncertain.

Resistance has a price, and as desperate hunger grips the countryside, survival seems more a dream than a possibility. But, even in the darkest times, love beckons.

Seventy years later, a young widow discovers her grandmother’s journal, one that will reveal the long-buried secrets of her family’s haunted past.

This is a story of the resilience of the human spirit, the love that sees us through our darkest hours and the true horror of what happened during the Holodomor.

May we never forget, lest history repeat itself.

 

A share of proceeds will be donated to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

 

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3MTkVBr

Author Bio – 

Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. Her first historical fiction title, drawing on those experiences, will be published by Boldwood in June 2022.  She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children.

 

Social Media Links –  

Twitter https://twitter.com/ErinLitteken

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/erinlitteken/

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erin-litteken

My review

I have read many books that relate the horror of war. The memory keeper of Kyiv, however, is one that will stay with me. The story, is of course, more relevant than ever in view of present-day events in Ukraine and 'lest we forget' has never been more apt. What the writer does, however, is take us on a journey that allows the reader to learn more about the reality of Communism and the horror its implementation had on ordinary people. 

The book is cleverly written, starting with a few of Stalin's activists arriving in the village until we see how easily power and greed corrupt until through fear of death and hunger, the villagers succumb to the new totalitarian regime. 

Throughout it all, human nature remains undaunted and love will find a way. The two stories, past and present, give a timely insight into both the good and evil of human nature and the ever-present danger of history repeating itself.

A powerful book that should be on every school curriculum.

Behind the Olive Trees

 

She thought she'd found her lost past, but did she uncover all the secrets?


Melodie returns to her mother's house in Corfu for the first time since inheriting it. Only, she discovers it isn't empty. She finds someone has been living there; a girl who claims the property is hers.

Dismissing the claim, Melodie tries to enjoy her new life in the beauty of Corfu. The girl soon resurfaces and it becomes impossible to ignore her any longer.

About the author

 

Francesca Catlow loves to travel. Born and raised in the heart of Suffolk, Catlow has travelled extensively in Europe with her French husband and, more recently, their two young children. Of all the places she's been it is the Greek islands that have captured her heart. She visits as often as family commitments allow. 'The Little Blue Door' is Catlow's first novel - written during the lockdown of 2020 while feeding her baby in the early hours. She has previously written plays alongside being a lyricist and performer. Behind the olive trees is the second book in the series. To stay up to date please visit www.francescacatlow.co.uk.

My Review

I loved the first book in the series, 'The little blue door' and couldn't wait to read the sequel. 'Behind the olive trees' sees Melodie settling into married life with her husband Anton and step daughter Gaia. Her quest to discover more about her deceased mother's life, leads her to take in the squatter who has been occupying her mother's house. 

This book takes on a more chilling, psychological tone as the atmosphere becomes charged with danger. As odd things begin to happen, the discovery of who the cuckoo in the nest really is, comes as a shock not just to Melodie but also to the reader. Each page is overlaid with a tense, electrical charge that makes the reader both reluctant yet desperate to turn the page.

Just as things settle down into some kind of normality for Melodie and her new family, the book ends on an abrupt cliffhanger. Please tell me there is a third book in the series as I can't wait to read the next installment.

What happens in Greece

 Buying a rundown cottage in Greece. A crazy, wine-fuelled idea, or the best decision she’s ever made?

Charlotte takes in the scene. To the left, her (ex?) fiancé’s retreating back as he runs back to civilisation; in front, the crumbling Greek island farmhouse she thought was their shared dream; and just below, a goat munching merrily on her sunhat…

At first, Jamie had leapt at Charlotte’s idea to permanently swap drizzly Chester for sun-drenched Crete. Now it looks like she’ll be living this dream alone. Devastated but determined, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work turning the ramshackle house into her forever home. At least the local community welcomes her with open arms, including sexy restaurant-owner-slash-handyman, Darius.

Taking a sledgehammer to her old life, and snacking on homemade honey cake on her breaks, Charlotte begins to see the promise of a future without Jamie. But on a trip back home, he suddenly appears, wanting her back. Faced with a choice between the first love who broke her heart and the gorgeous Greek man who has been putting it back together, how will Charlotte choose where she truly belongs?

A totally laugh-out-loud and feel-good summer read about taking a chance on life and love! Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer.

Author Bio:

Sue Roberts lives in Lancashire with her long term partner Derek and has had a lifelong love of writing, encouraged by winning a school writing competition at the age of 11.

She always assumed that ‘one day’ she would write a book, always having a busy household and a job, the idea remained firmly on the back burner but never forgotten.

The inspiration for her first novel came to her on a holiday to a Greek village. Her daughters had left home and suddenly the time had come to write that book!

https://www.instagram.com/suerobertsauthor/

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Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09SV5JVCRsocial 

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My review

Once again Sue Roberts paints a gorgeous picture of Greek life, enabling the reader to feel the sunshine and taste the delicious food. It is this ability to transport the reader to Greece that I love and contrasted with rainy life in England, who wouldn't?

I do have one small niggle though; everything falls into place without any problem when Jamie and Charlotte move to Greece. Anyone familiar with Greek bureucracy knows that buying a house takes forever and it is virtually impossible for an English person to buy a car without the correct residence papers. 

Artistic licence aside, I loved everything else about this book - the characters, the depiction of the cottage and the conflict that Charlotte faces where she has to decide between her old life and her new one. I think many people secretly dream of a new life in the sun and this book allowed me to indulge the dream. 

Instructions: to be read in the garden with a glass of something. Repeat until finished.

The Storm Girl

 

The Storm Girl

The gripping new historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl from Bletchley Park and The Forgotten Secret.

A heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for centuries.

1784. When Esther Harris’s father hurts his back, she takes over his role helping smugglers hide contraband in the secret cellar in their pub. But when the free traders’ ships are trapped in the harbour, a battle between the smugglers and the revenue officers leads to murder and betrayal – and Esther is forced to choose between the love of her life and protecting her family…

Present day. Fresh from her divorce, Millie Galton moves into a former inn overlooking the harbour in Mudeford and plans to create her dream home. When a chance discovery behind an old fireplace reveals the house’s secret history as a haven for smugglers and the devastating story of its former residents, could the mystery of a disappearance from centuries ago finally be solved?

Sweeping historical fiction perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kathryn Hughes and Tracy Rees.

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Storm-Girl-Sweeping-historical-fiction-ebook/dp/B09VYLVP58/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Girl-Sweeping-historical-fiction-ebook/dp/B09VYLVP58/

Author Bio – 

Kathleen McGurl lives near the coast in Christchurch, England. She writes dual timeline novels in which a historical mystery is uncovered and resolved in the present day. She is married to an Irishman and has two adult sons. She enjoys travelling, especially in her motorhome around Europe but home is Mudeford, where this novel is set.

Social Media Links – 

https://kathleenmcgurl.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KathleenMcGurl

https://twitter.com/KathMcGurl

My review

This is a thrilling tale of smuggling in byegone days combined with a modern day story that tries to solve an old mystery. I love this knd of dual timeline novel and this one had me gripped. Both threads were well narrated and  morphed seemlessly onto each other, keeping me turning the pages. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

A Tidy Ending

 

From the bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie, a delightfully sinister novel about a married woman living a nice, quiet suburban life—but things aren’t always what they seem…

Linda has lived in a quiet neighborhood since fleeing the dark events of her childhood in Wales. Now she sits in her kitchen, wondering if this is all there is: pushing the vacuum around and cooking fish sticks for dinner, a far cry from the glamorous lifestyle she sees in the glossy magazines coming through the mail slot addressed to the previous occupant, Rebecca.

Linda’s husband Terry isn’t perfect—he picks his teeth, tracks dirt through the house, and spends most of his time in front of the TV. But that seems fairly standard—until he starts keeping odd hours at work, at around the same time young women in the town start to go missing.

If only Linda could track down and befriend Rebecca, maybe some of that enviable lifestyle would rub off on her and she wouldn’t have to worry about what Terry is up to. But the grass isn’t always greener and you can’t change who you really are. And some secrets can’t stay buried forever…

My review

I've read all Jo's books so far but I think this one may just be my favourite. It's the kind of book that stays with you, partly because of the delightfully portrayed characters, partly because of the slightly sinister undertones running throughout and finally because the ending really is so neat and tidy yet I didn't see it coming. All in all a wonderful story showing great psychological insight. Reader beware - there may well be a Terry and LInda living in your street!

An island of secrets

 

An Island of Secrets

For fans of Dinah Jefferies, Victoria Hislop, Lucinda Riley and Rosanna Ley, this is a stunning and sweeping WW2 novel that shows a side to the war not often seen before.

That was then…

Seventy-five years ago, British SOE spy Guy Barclay was forced to leave behind the woman he loved in war-ravaged Yugoslavia.

…This is now

As ninety-three-year-old Guy’s days draw to a close, he asks his granddaughter, Leo Holmes, to go looking for answers. Given that her marriage has imploded and her City job is on the verge of killing her, Leo agrees and rents a house on the island of Vis, where her grandfather was stationed in the Second World War.

But as Leo’s search takes her down unexpected roads – and into the path of a gorgeous local, Andrej Pintaric – she begins to wonder if this journey down memory lane might yield unexpected results for more than just her beloved grandfather…

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/AnIslandOfSecrets

 

Author Bio – 

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Her last holiday before lockdown was a trip to Croatia, and the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground, driven by her friendship with a tour guide she met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life had proved invaluable. Her second novel set in the country, a dual timeline looking back to World War 2, will be published in the spring of 2022, also by One More Chapter.

Eva lives in Cornwall, although she considers herself Welsh, and has been lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for twenty-five years. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Social Media Links – 
Twitter @JaneCable
Instagram @evaglynauthor
Bookbub @EvaGlyn  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-glyn 
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My Review

This book combines the best of dual timelines - a historical story set in wartime Yugoslavia and a modern romance set in what is now Croatia. It made a pleasant change to read about this aspect of WW2, as most book focus on other regions. Well told and a reminder of the horrors of war and the enduring nature of love. I really enjoyed this book and can thoroughly recommend it.