A Duke of One's Own by Emma Orchard BLOG TOUR

 

Summer, 1816. A notorious rebel is about to meet her match...

Lady Georgiana Pendlebury is no stranger to breaking the rules of polite society. But when a so-called ‘friend’ invites her to a clandestine party, Georgiana is shocked to discover the event is more scandalous than even she could have imagined. So when a mysterious stranger offers help, she accepts, not realising their encounter will turn her life upside down.

Later that summer, Georgiana is invited to attend a house party at an infamous castle in Yorkshire. The gathering is a loosely veiled effort to arrange a marriage for the Duke of Northriding, who desperately needs an heir. Duke Gabriel Mauleverer has a terrible reputation as a rake, and Georgiana is happy to be a guest purely for the entertainment, but upon arrival, she is shocked to discover that the Duke is none other than the stranger who rescued her weeks earlier.

As the other ladies vie for the Duke’s attention, Georgiana is desperate to avoid their shocking secret getting out. But she finds herself caught, unable to avoid Gabriel’s gaze. Are they a threat to each other? Or could they be the answer to each other’s greatest desires?

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

A Duke of One's Own is a fun historical romance with endearing characters.

I like Georgiana. She has a slightly naughty streak and is inquisitive. She isn't at all intimidated by the Duke and not at all convinced that they should marry. Gabriel, the Duke, is fascinated with Georgiana from the moment he meets her and once he is formally introduced to her he wastes no time in trying to seduce her. Georgiana on the other hand has been warned off him because of his wicked reputation. I enjoyed watching Gabriel mature from a scandalous rake to loving husband.

The events leading up to the whirlwind engagement and hasty wedding take up the first half of the novel. The second half is centred around the couple getting to know each other better and learning how to express their feelings for each other. Steamy scenes are sprinkled throughout the novel. There is also some tension thrown into the mix by a pair of siblings who want to cause problems for Georgiana.

Fans of historical and regency romance will enjoy this book.

Emma Orchard is the author of several well-reviewed regency romance novels published by Allison & Busby. In her other life she is a literary agent. Her first book with Boldwood is a raunchy romp set in Regency London.

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The Suite Life by Portia MacIntosh (2024) BLOG TOUR

 

Gigi isn't looking for the one. Just someone...!

As she gears up for her sister’s destination wedding in Hawaii, the countdown is on for Gigi to find a date. Just someone to prove to her friends and family that she's ok, and to stop the pitying looks would be great!

Of course she can’t wait to be bridesmaid for her sister, but it’s just not ideal that the best man is also her ex… especially when he is bringing his hot new reality star girlfriend!

But when Gigi arrives at the hotel in Hawaii to find there has been a mix-up with her room, and she’s been upgraded to a suite, things start to look up. Not only is the room bigger than her entire flat, but the staff are waiting on her hand and foot, and she’s being treated like royalty!

Something isn’t quite right, but The Suite Life suits Gigi, and why shouldn’t she pamper herself while she mends her broken heart? It may even lead to her finding the perfect date after all…

A laugh-out-loud, friends to lovers, close proximity romantic comedy from million-copy bestseller Portia MacIntosh.

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

There were so many times I laughed out loud while reading this book. The funny one-liners and witty banter made this a lighthearted and humorous read while the chemistry between Donnie and Gigi made the romance believable and sweet.

It was easy to see where the story was going when Gigi and Donnie became friends and when Gigi found out the reason she was being treated so well by the staff in the resort. However, I couldn't wait to see how things panned out and whether or not she would have any hassle with the resort when they realised their mistake. 

It was fun to watch Gigi go on disastrous date after disastrous date but it was even more enjoyable to see her and Donnie bonding afterwards. I really liked that they enjoyed doing simple things together and had fun doing so. There was no pretence from either of them when they spent time together as friends and it was easy to see how they would be a good match.

The side characters of friends and family attending the wedding were a nice mix and supportive of Gigi however the ex and his girlfriend were not and I could understand Gigi's obsession with finding a date for the wedding even though I really wanted her to go by herself and be fabulous having a good time with her family and friends.

I loved the gradual progression of Gigi and Donnie's relationship from friends to something more with the story concluding in a lovely heartwarming way.

Author Bio –

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 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.

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Double Trouble by Stephanie Harte BLOG TOUR

Meet the Kennedy twins and get ready for trouble!

Twin sisters Lily and Daisy Kennedy live a life ruled by their controlling father, Des. Desperate to salvage his own shattered dreams, he forces his girls to perform in seedy London club, Eden's, in the hopes they will finally hit the big time.

Their double act instantly pulls in the punters, but in the shadow of the spotlights, danger lurks. Lily, the golden girl, is stressed out by their new life, but rebellious Daisy relishes the freedom and excitement it brings.

But when Daisy is spotted by renowned club owner Samson Fox, she’s dragged into a gangland world filled with threats and menace. And when Lily is kidnapped from the club, Daisy realises that she has brought trouble to their door – trouble only she can fix.

Don't miss this brand new gripping gangland story, perfect for fans of Martina Cole, Kerry Kaya and Caz Finlay

Purchase Link - 

https://mybook.to/DoubleTroubleSocial

Double Trouble starts in a hair-rising way with the abduction of Lily from the nightclub, Eden, where she and her twin sister Daisy are singers.

The timeline then shifts to how and when the girls got hired at Eden, their family squabbles, and the dark world they unknowingly inhabit once they are part of it. 

The story is surprisingly light and easy to read considering the crime world in which it is set. Drugs, smuggling and trafficking are the business of the day and Eden is just front for it.

The story is told from multiple points of view but seeing things from different characters' perspectives doesn't make them any easier to like. I didn't particularly like any of them although Daisy was my favourite and I felt sorry for how her parents treated her. MacKensie had reasons for his questionable actions, and I'm hoping there is redemption for him in the next book. 

The book ends in a similarly exciting way to how it begins and with a cliffhanger that took me by surprise, I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Lily and Daisy.

Author Bio 

Stephanie Harte was born and raised in North West London. After leaving school, she trained in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy at London College of Fashion. Stephanie went on to teach beauty workshops at a specialist residential clinic for children with severe eating disorders for ten years. She also previously worked as a Pharmaceutical Buyer for the NHS and an international medical export company. While taking a break to raise her two children, Stephanie began writing as a hobby. She signed a contract in March 2019 with Head of Zeus. Stephanie wrote seven crime novels for the publisher before signing a contract with Boldwood Books in June 2023. She is currently writing a new series, The Kennedy Twins. The first book, Double Trouble, will be released on 10th April 2024.

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Summer at the Santorini Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin BLOG TOUR

 

A Greek island holiday. A fake-dating pact. A chance at true love?

After losing her job as a book scout, hopeless romantic Evie needs a fresh start. So when she hears that her eccentric grandmother has just taken on a small bookshop in Santorini, Evie jumps at the chance to visit her.

But life on the island is not as idyllic as it first seems. Gran has a tempestuous relationship with her landlord and he’s threatening to take the bookshop away from her. So when Gran asks Evie to fake a romance with her landlord’s Greek God of a grandson, Georgios, to keep the family on side, she reluctantly agrees.

As the sun sets on Evie’s Greek holiday, can she save the bookshop – and fake date her way to love?

Purchase Links

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Summer at the Santorini Booshop has all the hallmarks of the perfect summer read; a stunning location, quirky fun characters, fake dating, books, and dogs. The story is infused with humour on every page making it a lighthearted read. The romance was sweet and cute.

I've never heard of a book scout but that's Evie's job and it sounds like the perfect gig. 

She goes to Santorini at the behest of her meddlesome mother and sister to help her grandmother who is having trouble paying the rent on her bookshop. Gran is a hoot. She's a colourful character with a zest for life and a penchant for getting married having recently walked down the aisle for the ninth time.

Gran is not very forthcoming with the truth surrounding her financial situation and the state of her recent marriage so there were a couple of twists along the way. Fake dating Georgios is more complicated than it sounds when real feelings begin to develop. I had an idea of how things would go with Evie and Georgios but it was a lot of fun to watch them find their happy ever after.

Author Bio – Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once in a lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.

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Floored by Chrissie Harrison (2024) Blog Tour

FLOORED is a charming romantic comedy guaranteed to give you a lift.

Hannah and Drew work in the same office.

Hannah and Drew use the same elevator.

Hannah and Drew aren’t looking for love.

They haven’t even met.

Yet something is happening…

Amiable TV production accountant Drew has turned his back on love after the death of his fiancée, an incident which cemented his longstanding elevatophobia. When Drew moves towns and jobs for a fresh start, he hears a voice in the office lift telling him to “be careful”.

Is it his fevered imagination, the ghost of his fiancée, or someone playing a cruel prank? Quickly, he becomes desperate, foolish… and unexpectedly smitten.

Sweet and sassy Hannah wouldn’t mind finding love, but keeps choosing the wrong boyfriends. Her innate social anxiety, deepened by bad experiences with a preying boss, is a huge barrier to dating anyone new.

Yet, to expose her boss’ antics, she needs to be lucky as well as smart. However, talking to a sweet but hapless co-worker isn’t the answer… is it? After all, she could never imagine meeting him in person.

When Drew discovers the adorable girl behind the voice, a relationship blossoms alongside a shared determination to bring justice to their workplace, risking everything.

Will their daring plan succeed or will it jeopardize the happiness they’ve found with each other?

This wonderful, laugh-out-loud, will-they-won’t-they romcom is perfect for those who loved Beth O’Leary’s "The Flatshare", Laura Jane Williams’ "Our Stop", or Sally Thorne’s "The Hating Game".

Praise for Floored:

“This book of yours is fantastic! It's so well written, witty, funny, and the story kept me wanting to know more every single minute. I absolutely love the dynamics of Drew and Hannah's relationship... and all the other character dynamics too. It's such a well thought-out plot and I love how everything falls into place at the end.” - Editor

“I've just finished reading Floored and absolutely loved it. I loved the relationship between Drew and Hannah as they both overcame their (realistic) problems. The comedy throughout was fantastic, I don't think there was a second that I didn't have a smile on my face when reading. It's a great romance, with lots of extra strands to it to keep the reader entertained and excited.”- Reader

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Floored is delightfully funny and lighthearted despite dealing with weightier topics such as loss and workplace sexual harassment.

I loved the banter between Drew and Hannah. I had to laugh at the idea that Drew's first thought was that the voice in the life was a ghost and his second option was that the lift was talking to him. Once he figured out that he was talking to a human woman I couldn't wait for him to meet Hannah in real life.

There are plenty of laughs along the way. A lot of one-liners had me laughing out loud, and witty side characters provided another source of humour.

Drew and Hannah join forces to get evidence against the company's CEO but not everything goes to plan. Navigating the workplace strife, tension and drama proves challenging for the pair who are just beginning to date. However, love finds a way and with a little help they manage to get the evidence they need and the ending they deserve.

Author Bio

I’m an incurable romantic at heart, and a sucker for great humour. I’ve been writing for many years, and all the stories contain either love, or humour, or both – I simply can’t keep these elements out of my work.

I’m inspired by the big and small screen as well as books, and have a soft spot for Richard Curtis’ romcoms, timeless TV comedy like The Good Life and Blackadder, less well-known feelgood films and romances (Always, Forget Paris, Roxanne), and books which make me laugh (Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, The Rosie Project).

I have a soft spot for stories with strong women and nerdy or hapless guys.

Fundamentally, I try to write the books I like to read. I hope to distil humour, romance – and sometimes pathos or bittersweet vibes – into my novels.

Outside of writing, I enjoy photography, great scenery, a nice peaceful train ride, delicious coffee and cake, and catching up with old friends. I’m also something of a geek, fascinated by maths, science and even fonts!

Chrissie Harrison is a pen name.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway to Win 1 x hardcopy of Floored (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 be 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 dispatch or delivery of the prize.

The Cottage in Sweet Meadow Park (Book 1) by Liz Davies (BLOG TOUR)

 

Enjoy a stroll in the park with this uplifting story of love, friendship and following your dreams.

When Molly Brown buys a derelict cottage in the middle of a rundown park, she hopes to return both the cottage and the park to their former glory. However, Molly soon begins to wonder whether she’s bitten off more than she can chew, especially when the good-looking guy from the council refuses to help.

In his role as Parks and Highways Officer, Jack Feathers doesn’t want to waste public funds on an overgrown, unloved park, no matter how gorgeous Molly is. But when he finds himself needing somewhere to live, Molly makes him an offer he can’t refuse – to move into her spare room, rent-free.

The catch? He has to help bring the park back to life.

It seems to be an ideal solution, until… Molly falls for Jack, the park is vandalised, and she realises he is still in love with his ex.

And soon Molly begins to regret letting Jack into her home, her life and her heart.

A delightful romance full of warmth, humour and community spirit, perfect for fans of Jessica Redland and Suzanne Snow.

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

The Cottage in Sweet Meadow Park is a highly entertaining read with a feel-good factor. It is sweet and funny with even the last line leaving me laughing and wanting to read the next book about the cafe in the park.

Molly is determined to restore the cottage she's just bought and make improvements to Sweet Meadow Park making the public space more appealing and safe for visitors. Jack is in charge of council spending on the park. He wants to help but isn't convinced that it will be money well spent when any improvements will be vandalised anyway. 

Molly and Jack become friends when Molly offers to rent a room to him while his house is being sold. They spend a lot of time together and work well together on their home improvements. Jack has liked Molly from their very first meeting but he is oblivious to her flirting with him and he gives her the wrong impression. I was a little frustrated with Jack that he didn't just tell her the truth about his feelings, his crazy ex-girlfriend and his sister's involvement in the house sale. It would have saved the pair of them a lot of angst. Luckily, interference from an unlikely source sets him straight and a happily ever after swiftly follows.

I loved the sense of community in this book. There were a few eccentric but kind-hearted characters, cute dogs, and naughty teenagers who made good in the end.

It makes a very heartwarming read and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Author Bio

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humour, and a great deal of love.

 She's married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn't scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you'll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn't very good at it, and loves to eat - she's much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days.

She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper van and travel the world in it.

You can find Liz Davies on Twitter

 

Murder Takes Root (The Gardener Mysteries Book 2) By Rosie Sandler (2024)

 

Description

Steph is excited to get her hands stuck into her latest gardening project. This time, she's been commissioned by Lady Clara of Ashford Manor to restore the stately gardens to their former glory.

But the estate is suddenly thrown into chaos when a dead body is discovered in one of the rooms. The police rule it as suicide, though Steph's convinced they're barking up the wrong tree. Because she knows the deceased better than they do and it could only be one thing: murder. And if the police won't listen to her, then Steph will have to get to the bottom of the case herself.

As Steph starts digging for the truth, it seems the staff are hiding more than it seems. But one thing is for sure, she's not going to let the killer lead her up the garden path...

Gardener turned amateur sleuth Steph and her adorable dog are on the search for a killer in this highly gripping and unputdownable cosy crime novel. Fans of Richard Coles, Fiona Leitch and Sarah Yarwood-Lovett will be hooked from beginning to end.

This is the second book in what's turning out to be a wonderful series. Steph's latest gardening project is on the Ashford Manor estate and it quickly becomes clear that an infestation in the garden will be the least of her worries. Sir Angus a nonagenarian who thinks someone is poisoning him, shouting and arguing in the middle of the night, a hostile and secretive head gardener and a suspicious sudden death all create a tense atmosphere of mystery and danger. 

Lightheartedness and heartwarming scenes emerge primarily with Steph's dog, Mouse and the estate's dog, Belle. The side characters are a friendly and likable bunch of people and it made me sad when the murder happened as the young victim was fun loving and had taken on the responsibility of caring for his autistic brother.

The mystery kept me guessing as there were one or two characters I thought could definitely be involved and I was surprised when the big reveal came. 

Because of the temporary nature of Steph's jobs there aren't a lot of recurring characters such as friends or romantic interests for Steph. But, her family do make appearrances and I so enjoyed their interactions especially those between Steph and her Dad. I'm intrigued as to what will happen when Steph meets her biological mum!

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