Blog Tour: Snow Days with You by Leonie Mack

It’s fair to say that the idea of living in the French Alps, with mountains covered in snow, skiing, mountain climbing etc is completely foreign to me. I mean, I live in Australia. We do have snow regularly a couple of hours away from me, but it is something that you go and make a special effort to see as opposed to something you expect to see., or that you live and work in. It's enough snow to ski on, and of course, has its dangers. To make it even more foreign to me I was reading this book when I was on holidays in Hawaii – not a place known for it’s snow.

Luna Rowntree is supposed to be heading to her cousin's house in Sheffield, but she makes an impulsive decision, instead heading to the town of Chamonix in the French Alps. Months before she had received a significant inheritance from a man she had never heard of before and she doesn't know why. She doesn't feel comfortable spending any of the inheritance until she knows that it is really meant for her.

As this was an impulsive decision, Luna is ill prepared. She doesn't have the correct tyres or snow chains, or the right shoes or clothes. When she runs out of petrol outside the headquarters of the elite mountain rescue squadron of the French Gendarmerie Nationale, the PGHM (the Peloton de gendarmerie de haute montagne) she meets a gendarme who assists her to find somewhere to stay for a few day.

Luna is determined to find out more about her mystery benefactor. She does know that he is somehow linked to this town, as her mother lived here briefly before she was born. she starts asking questions, which once again brings her into contact with Yannick.

Whilst Luna is searching for answers, it seems as though Yannick is hiding from life. He is an experienced rescuer, one of the best, but that isn't enough to prevent him from being traumatised by the rescues that went wrong. His marriage is over and he knows that a lot of that is to do with the pressures and dangers associated with the job so he is reticent to get involved with anyone His biggest joy in life is his young daughter who loves to ski with him, much to his ex-wife's annoyance.

It seems that for Luna to get the answers she needs, she will need to ski and climb the mountains, and Yannick is the one to teach her. In return, Luna will teach the members of the PGHM how to use English in emergency situations.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Luna and Yannick were together, even before they were together, together. Yannick was patient and gentle with Luna as he taught her some unlikely skills such as skiiing and mountain climbing. He also helped her piece together a past that seemed very different to the past that her mother had told her about.

I liked reading about the work of the PGHM. It is incredibly vital and dangerous work, rescuing people who find themselves injured or lost on the mountains. These are people who put their lives at risk to save others and it was fascinating to read about their lives, and to see the camaraderie which exists amongst such close knit groups.

I have read several of Leonie Mack's books now. One was set in Paris, one in Italy, and now this one set Chamonix. What they all have in common is the sense of place that the author is able to convey. I can't wait to find out where Leonie Mack will be taking us next!

Thanks to Netgalley, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. Check out other reviews on the blog tour stops below

About the book

Snow Days With You

When Luna Rowntree gets an unexpected and life-changing legacy from a man she’s never met, she’s determined to find out why – even if it is Christmas Day and her family are expecting her.

So, with only her mother’s ashes for company – it’s a long story, but Luna knows her mother would have wanted to come on the adventure too – Luna sets off in her trusty Astra to the skiing resort in Chamonix, where her mysterious benefactor had lived.

But her little car isn’t designed for driving through snow-covered mountains, and when she runs out of fuel heart-breakingly close to Chamonix, Luna is relieved to be saved by her very own knight-in-shining armour. Well, knight in mountain rescue uniform anyway.

Yannick is charmed and baffled by Luna’s mission, and before he knows it, he has agreed to help. But Yannick has his own secrets calling him from the mountains, and his own reasons to run away. As he helps Luna understand her past he realises he has to face his as well if he’s ever going to risk opening his heart to love

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

About the author

Leonie Mack is an author of romantic comedies with great international locations. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings!


Social Media Links –

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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leonie-mack

Weekend Cooking: Spring Clean for the Peach Queen by Sasha Wasley

This month my read on a theme bookclub theme was "books with a colour in the title", so I chose to read this book, and the added bonus is that the book is good for a Weekend Cooking post.

Charlize Beste is up and coming actress who would probably be about a C-list celebrity, but she has a particular knack of making it look like she is doing much better than she actually is. However, she moves to be more infamous than famous when she is pictured in a compromising position with a famous actor who then dies later that night. The situation is not helped when some artistic semi-nude photos are released in the aftermath.

Charlize's real name is Charlotte Benze, known as Lottie, and given the media attention that she is receiving Lottie decides that it is time to return to her home town of Bonnievale and make some changes in her life. Lottie is going to Marie Kondo her life, getting rid of her phone, all her acting paraphernalia, social media - everything. Unfortunately Lottie's feminist mother is disappointed in her and so the welcome home is less than warm. To be fair, Lottie often feels like she is a disappointment to her mother.

And so it is that Lottie finds herself staying in a run down caravan on the farm that belongs to Angus Brooker. It just so happens that Lottie is the reigning Peach Queen of the town, and Angus was her King. The contest hasn't been run for years though as the town has been going through a really hard time. Years before, the peach trees were infected with disease. For many farmers this meant ripping out all of their orchards, and replanting resistant trees or just walking away. Things are better now, but it has taken a long time for the town to recover.

Whilst on the farm, Lottie helps Angus' mum with her own de-cluttering projects and gradually Lottie learns about the Brooker's life, and also some of their secrets. It soon becomes clear that there is something not quite right with Mrs Brooker.  There are signs of forgetfulness, and Angus is worried that she is going to endanger herself by doing things like leaving the oven on, or leaving the house and getting lost. Angus is glad of the help with his mum, but otherwise he would not be best please with having Lottie around. He has been through a nasty divorce, and he now has a "policy" which basically means that he is avoiding any kind of romantic entanglements.

In the meantime, his well meaning but bossy Aunt Pris has decided that it is a perfect time to reinstate the Peach Queen contest and that Lottie is the perfect person to be the face of the contest, whether she likes it or not. After all, a little bit of scandal will be good for publicity, although publicity is exactly what Lottie is trying to avoid.

This was a really interesting story which covered a lot of subjects from celebrity to the plight of farmers, dementia, de-cluttering and starting over.  The characters were interesting to read about, and I liked the way that each of them were facing up to their issues, and how each of them were able to help the others move forward with whatever their current reality was. I also enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Angus and Lottie. For example, they had a fun game between themselves where they were hiding money that Lottie was trying to give Angus as rent and he was refusing to accept it!

Bonnievale  is based on the town of Donnybrook in the south of Western Australia. I have been there before as my cousin lives and works in the town. It is a town which is build around the fruit farms in the surrounding areas.

So what about food I hear you ask? Obviously there is lots of information about peach farming. Mrs Brooker is also a stereotypical farmer's wife in that she is a fabulous cook. Lottie really isn't,  but soon she is learning all about things like making jam, scones, plum cake and so many more different delicious sounding foods.

I thought I would share a passage from the book because it entertained me

Mrs Brooker and I spent the morning making chutney from some unripe nectarines Angus had brought down.


"Chupney, I called it for many years," she confessed when the diced onions were frying in a pot.

 

"Chupney?" I couldn't help laughing.

She smiled. "Nobody corrected me for ever such a long time. My mother taught me how to make it and I'm still not sure if she simply never noticed I was saying it wrong, or if she thought it was funny and let me be. I was still saying it as an adult, you know. I would make it with my mother-in-law She never said a word about my pronunciation either. It was Pris who broke it to me, in the end."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?

Mrs Brooker tinkled a laugh. "I was writing up the labels and she looked at me and said, "What one earth have you done? You've spelled chutney wrong!" I was confused until she told me in no uncertain terms it was a t, not a p. I didn't believe her at first, but I took a stealthy look at my old CWA cookkbook and my heart sank when I realised she was right. What a blessed fool I must have made of myself for all those years, down at a school fete or in the Progress Association meetings. Why did no one ever tell me?" She shook her head.

Have you got a story about when you have mispronounced something like this?

We are on holidays for the next three weeks so expect some "What We Ate on Holidays" posts coming up!

Weekly meals

Saturday -  Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake

Sunday -  Out for dinner

Monday - Chicken Shwarma

Tuesday - 

Wednesday - Mexican Chicken and Rice

Thursday - Beef Teriyaki Bowls

Friday - Sausages, mash and broccoli

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

Blog tour: In the Greek Midwinter by Mandy Baggot

Once upon a time if you mentioned travelling to Europe, my first thought would be France. These days, I am a little more equal opportunity and the thought of France will be folowed pretty quickly to Italy, and more recently, Greece. I seem to be going through some kind of Greek period. I've bought a Greek cookbook, watched movies set in Greece, and one of my close friends recently visited so I was living vicariously through her photos.

Jen also had a plan to visit Paris on a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, David. Unfortunately David needs to cancel  the trip as he needs to take a last minute trip to Athens for work. Jen's friend Bonnie is determined to make the romantic trip still work so she convinces Jen to head to Athens and surprise David. Let's just say things don't exactly go to plan.

Jen loves Christmas, and she even owns a party/events company called Christmas Every Day. This is her busiest time of the year, and she really needs this year to be successful, as the business is struggling a bit, well, a lot. She hasn't told anyone that things are so bad that she has had to give up her flat. Given how badly things are going, the disastrous trip to Athens is the last thing she needs, but a series of unfortunate events means that she is unable to get home. She therefore has to rely on her Ukrainian assistant Natalia, to keep her business afloat, whatever it takes.

In directly inverse proportions, Astro hates Christmas, and he wants to ensure that not even the slightest hint of Christmas enters into the bar he works at. Unfortunately, his co-workers have decided that a bit of festive cheer is exactly what the accountant has ordered. Among them are a young boy called  Achilles whose mother works hard to just make ends meet and Astro's uncle Phillipos is at a cross roads in his life

When Jen stumbles into Astro's bar, little do they know that their path's will continue to cross. Soon Astro is showing Jen the real Athens, and revealing the secrets that he has kept hidden for so long. And Jen is sharing her truths, including her very rough childhood, and the reasons why she loves Christmas so much.

I must confess that I haven't really ever considered what Athens would be like as a Christmassy destination but the world that the author shares with us in the pages of this book is definitely one that sounds enticing. We do visit the obvious sites such as the Parthenon, but Astro also shows her off the beaten track locations - the real Athens.

Overall I enjoyed this book. There were times when everything felt a bit frantic, especially as Jen tried to manage her business issues back home from a distance, with David and to get home. I really loved the final scenes. I also loved seeing Athens in a different light! 

I have read one other Mandy Baggot book set in Greece. Now I need to find some time to read more!

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read this book

About the book

In the Greek Midwinter

It was supposed to be a holiday of a lifetime…

But when Jen’s boyfriend David suddenly cancels their romantic Paris trip, needing to urgently travel to Athens for work, it’s best friend Bonnie who suggests they surprise him.

Having already booked the time off from her events company – Christmas Every Day – Jen decides an impromptu and romantic gesture might be just what their relationship needs?

Arriving in Greece and finding David is not there, Jen has a lot of questions. And when she gets her answers she has a choice – should she go home or should she stay a while?

With the help of Astro, the handsome yet Christmas-hating waiter from the local bar, she sets about a little Greek Christmas research. But what starts as a ‘business trip’ soon turns into something more…

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

About the Author

Mandy Baggot is a bestselling romance writer who loves giving readers that happy-ever-after. From sunshine romantic comedies set in Greece, to cosy curl-up winter reads, she's bringing gorgeous heroes and strong heroines readers can relate to. Mandy splits her time between Salisbury, Wiltshire and Corfu, Greece and has a passion for books, food, racehorses and all things Greek!

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.baggot

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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mandy-baggot

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Jobs

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is 

Bookish Jobs I Would Do For Free (Real or Imaginary) (Submitted by Susan @ Bloggin’ bout Books)

Book Lovers by Emily Henry - This book features a literary agent and an editor!

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams - This is set in an Oxford printer where the main characters starts as a bookbinder.

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman  - A short story set in a bookstore

Elodie's Library of Second Chances by Rebecca Raisin - Elodie leaves her job in publishing and becomes a librarian in a small town

The Great Passage by Shion Miura - This is about the creation of a dictionary

Beach Read by Emily Henry - Two writers end up living next to each other for a summer

The Women's Pages by Victoria Purman - The main character in this book is an early war journalist

Aria's Travelling Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin - A travelling bookstore owner!

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan - Or on the shores of a Scottish lake

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George - Or Paris. Le sigh!

Did any of these books appear on your list?

Six Degrees of Separation: From I Capture the Castle to The Fatal Shore

 

Welcome to this month's edition of Six Degrees of Separation, which is a monthly meme hosted by Kate from Books Are My Favourite and Best.  The idea is to start with a specific book and make a series of links from one book to the next using whatever link you can find and see where you end up after six links.  I am also linking this post up with The Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz. 

 

This months starting point is I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, which is the diary of Cassandra Mortmain.

I instantly thought of a book but I couldn't remember the name of the book, I had no idea why I thought it would connect to the starting book, and I only had a vague idea that the author's first name was Michelle. Eventually I figured it all out out, thank goodness. The book is called A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper.  This is a book which tells the story of the royal family of an imaginary kingdom. The family lives on a small island in a crumbling castle in the mid 1930sand the story is told through the diary of Princess Sophie. And it turns out both of these books have been released as Vintage Children's Classics.

For my next step I am choosing Australian historical fiction author Tea Cooper. There are any number of her books I could choose but I guess I have to pick one which is.......The Cedar Cutter.

In the end I could have chosen any of her books because I am choosing my next link in the chain based on the word Tea. My next choice is The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. This is the first book in the Tea Rose trilogy set in Victorian London. I was very excited to see an email from this author this week to say that she is releasing a new short story set in this world! Yes!!

This made me think of other novella's I have read so my next book is The Fish Girl by Mirandi Riwoe which is a reimagining of a short story by W Somerset Maughan. This was a book I featured in a Weekend Cooking post a number of years ago, and it was winner of the Seizure Viva La Novella Prize back in 2017. It is set in Dutch Colonial Indonesia

I tried to think of other books set in Indonesia. There was one that came to mind but it was one I would rather not feature, so instead I am choosing Map of the Invisible World by Tash Aw.

My final choice is another with a map on the cover, The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes. 

Next month's starting point is 

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo, which is a novella that has been nominated for the Booker prize

Weekend Cooking: What I Baked (In My Kitchen) in September

The first Saturday of the month is when I share all the things that I baked in the previous month. This month, I am not sure I really need to use the word all, because I actually only baked two items, and they were both exactly the same recipe. There will be even less this month because we are away for most of the month.

I have been making my go-to chocolate cake for years. Every now and again I try a new one but I hadn't found one that replace it....until now.

This month I thought I would try making the chocolate cake from Nagi Maehashi's cookbook RecipeTinEats: Dinner. Like most of the recipes I have tried from this cookbook it was another really successful bake. I then topped it with her recipe for chocolate buttercream frosting.

First, I made the cake just for fun, and then I made it for my son's birthday and everyone who was at dinner loved it. I like to think that I had ALMOST convinced my 16 year old nephew that it was so simple that even he could make it. I say almost because I don't think he ended up trying, but he definitely could. So here are the two versions that I made:

I did offer people sprinkles which they could add themselves if they wanted!

I thought I would share the video from the Recipetineats website for this cake.  The recipe in the book is ever so slightly different in that you add some coffee but other than that it is fundamentally the same:

Each month I link up with In My Kitchen hosted at Sherry's Pickings. It is an opportunity to share anything new in your kitchen.

The only major new thing for us is that we bought a barbecue this month!! It is un-Australian not to have some sort of barbecue in the backyard but when we were moving house over a year ago we had to throw ours out as it had definitely seen better days! Now, we have a nice shiny new one which we have used a couple of times already! It's just a middle of the range barbie, not really fancy but it does have a sideburner which I have never had before. No idea what we will use it for but we will figure it out I am sure!

One of the reasons why we didn't make much is that I went to Perth to see my dad who isn't well, and then we went to Adelaide for my mum's 75th birthday dinner. Every time I go to Perth I make sure that I get some Spearmint Milk which is something we can't get here! This month I'll be baking even less as we are about to go on holidays for 3 weeks.

We did visit the fabulous LaManna supermarket this morning and I was finally able to track down an ingredient I have been looking for for months. It took four staff members to help me find it but I finally got hold of some Nduja paste which is a Sicilian ingredient. Now I have to remember which recipes I needed it for. One of them was a recipe for Broken Eggs from Rice Table, but at this particular moment in time I can't remember what the other one was.

I also bought one new cook book. This was the Jamie Oliver cookbook of the month for September and I wasn't going to buy it but succumbed at the last minute as there were some delicious sounding recipes being cooked!

Weekly meals

Saturday -  Out for dinner

Sunday -  Roast pork rolls

Monday - Steak and salad

Tuesday - Pork chops, mash and gravy

Wednesday - Zucchini Risotto

Thursday - Cheese on toast

Friday - Takeaway

Blog Tour: Finding Family at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash

Last year I read my first book by Kim Nash which was set in a small town on the Cornish coast called Driftwood Bay, and really enjoyed it. I therefore jumped at the opportunity to read the follow up book, again set in the town.

We first met Gemma in Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove, where she was one of the more welcoming members of the town to Meredith, whose story we read in the first book. Gemma has been running the local cafe since her beloved mother passed away but now it is time to make some changes. With the help of Clem who we met in the first book, she is expanding the space which means doing renovations. When she meets another newcomer to town, Jude, who is the local fire safety officer, it is safe to say that they don't hit it off straight away. Gemma makes some assumptions about Jude which makes her distrust him.

In addition to needing renovation work, Gemma is going to need some new staff. One of those new staff members is a young girl named Occy. Gemma is able to connect with Occy in a way that her single father can't but she is sure to respect the boundaries that have been put in place.

Like all of us, the characters in this book all bring their own issues to the situation. For Gemma this includes an ex husband.  She also isn't sure what it going on with her sister, who she is normally close to. Jude has his own history, which erupt in a wholly unexpected way. I wasn't sure at first about some of these aspects of the story, but  it all worked out well in the end

I once again enjoyed my time in Driftwood Bay. It has just been announced that there are at least two more book coming in this series, and you know that I will be jumping on board for those too!

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read this book.

About the book

Finding Family at the Cornish Cove

Family is everything…

In the years since her death, Gemma has been running her late mother’s café with devotion, and when an opportunity comes to buy out her next-door neighbour and expand, she jumps at the chance.

She knows she will do her mother proud – keep her legacy going strong – but deep down she knows there’s still something missing. With her mum in her mind more than ever, and the knowledge that she may never start a family of her own, she can’t stop thinking about what life has in store for her.

But sometimes family are those you choose, or those who choose you! And with a growing community of supporters cheering Gemma on – including some new faces at her blossoming bistro – and maybe one in particular, will she really spend the rest of her life alone?

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

About the author

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, romantic, feel-good fiction, having wanted to write books since she was a little girl. She works as both Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture and a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk. She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni. When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog and reading, as well as running a book club in Staffordshire and organising local and national reader/author events

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.nash.10
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimTheBookworm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kim_the_bookworm/?hl=en
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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kim-nash

Blog tour: When We Were Friends by Samantha Tonge

When you were a teenager did you have a friendship that was so strong that you just knew was going to last forever, and yet it didn't. I did. I became friends with her at a church camp and once we clicked we totally clicked. We spent a lot of time together and we talked about everything, especially her love life (mainly because I didn't really have one), past future, everything. In our first jobs we ended up working quite close to each other so we would meet for lunch. And then we went on holiday together, came back, and that was it. We were no longer friends. Even now I can't tell you what happened, and I have thought about it a lot over the years.

Morgan, Paige, Tiff and Emily had a friendship like that. They were thick as thieves all through high school. Together, they were the Secret Gift Society, always having each other's back and solving small mysteries for others as well. They were inseparable. The difference between them and my friendship is that they all know exactly what happened to end their friendship. It was explosively, spectacularly  destroyed in public at their school dance and they have never spoken since

Nineteen years later Morgan needs their help. Her 18 year old son really needs to know who his father is, a secret that Morgan has never told anyone. She puts a coded message in the alumni newsletter asking The Secret Gift Society to meet up, not knowing if any of them will see the message, let alone show up. They do, although it is reluctantly as the hurt that was caused on that night so long ago has left a lasting impact on all of them.

This book covers a lot of ground. As the story unwinds we learn about the issues that each of them are facing as adults, ranging from infertility to divorce, to the impact that working as a frontline nurse during Covid has, and more. The women are all wary to share their truths with each other, which is understandable given the distrust that they all feel. We also learn what happened in the lead up to the argument that destroyed the friendship, and the things that they all kept from each other then, some of which are really big issues in themselves

There is a lot going on in this book as the women look back at their past, and then evaluate their current lives. In an effort to help Morgan, the group travels to the south of France and then to Cornwall and we gradually see each of them coming to some kind of realisation about the part that they played in the destruction of their friendship, and about the current issues that they are facing, as well as deciding if their is any future for them as friends now. I particularly liked the way the author addressed the fact that there are often things that we don't tell anyone, even the people we tell everything too. There is also a big twist towards the middle of the book that I must confess I did not see coming. When I finished the book I was like, okay, I can see how that happened but when I was reading it definitely came out of the blue.

I like Samantha Tonge's books. They always have that little bit extra than just a run of the mill book in her genre. I already know I will be looking for the next one from her!

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to review this book.

About the book

When We Were Friends

Four friends, one big secret... and the journey of a lifetime.

It’s nineteen years since they stopped speaking to each other, but now Morgan needs to contact her three best friends from school: Paige, Emily and Tiff.

Her teenage son wants to meet his dad and Morgan can’t ignore his requests any longer. And Paige, Emily and Tiff all knew what actually happened back then. Even if that was what led to their friendship group falling apart, they’re the only people Morgan can think of who might be able help her find the man who disappeared without a trace before she could tell him she was pregnant.

Can Morgan persuade her old friends to go on a road trip to track him down? As adults – with marriages, children and a whole bucket-load of their own problems – will they be able to work together to solve the mystery? And if so – just when forgiveness for the past looks like it might be possible – how will they cope with the biggest shock of all?

A story about love, families and how the people who know you best are the ones you will always need in your life. Totally heartbreaking, brilliant, uplifting fiction for fans of Jill Mansell, Paige Toon and Sheila O’Flanagan.

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

About the author –

Samantha Tonge is the bestselling and award-winning author of fifteen romantic fiction titles published by HQ, and most recently Aria. Her first book for Boldwood, Under One Roof, will be published in February 2022 and marks a broadening of her writing into multi-generational woman’s fiction. She lives in Manchester with her family.



Social Media Links –



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaTongeAuthor
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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-tonge

Blog Tour - Match Me If You Can by Sandy Barker

The last time I read a Sandy Barker book it was book 5 in the Holiday Romance series. I really don't like reading series out of order so as soon as I heard about the author's new series I was determined to get in right at the beginning. Sandy Barker was also one of the authors at the readers retreat that I went to earlier this year which was another reason why I was super keen to read this book!

This is the first book in the Ever After Agency series. The Ever After Agency is a match making agency which exists to find matches for the uber rich, all subject to the highest levels of secrecy. Poppy is an Australian working in London and loves her job at the agency. However, with someone threatening to reveal the agency, she is feeling a little anxious about things.

In the midst of the turmoil in the office. Poppy meets a new client. Tristan Fellows is handsome, successful and comfortably wealthy. What he isn't is married, and the terms of his recently deceased grandfather's will are that he must be married by his 35th birthday, which is very, very soon in order to inherit an absolute fortune. Tristan has been encouraged by his friend Ravi to use the agency as he successfully found love via the agency.

Soon Poppy has got three beautiful women lined up as possible matches, who are willing to meet the conditions that Tristan has put in place, the most important of which is that this is not going to be a love match. Obviously these women have their own reasons for saying yes to this arrangement, some of which are somewhat surprising to both Poppy and Tristan.

Poppy accompanies Tristan as he goes to meet the first woman but as she spends time with him, she begins to feel the first fluttering of attraction, which of course is completely forbidden given he is a client. 

For Tristan, he can't quite believe that his beloved grandfather has imposed such a condition on the inheritance, to the exclusion of his female cousins, which obviously caused a lot of family drama. To be honest, I struggled to believe that there would be such a condition in a will in this day and age, but sometimes you just have to suspend belief in a story. With the deadline looming, numerous family dramas, there's no surprise that Tristan is a bit grumpy. It is only with his close friends, Ravi and Jacinta where he can let himself relax.

Where Tristan is apparently all surliness, on the outside Poppy is all sunshine and rainbows, so if you love a grumpy and sunshine romance, with plenty of repartee, then give this one a go. 

I would really love to read Ravi and Jacinta's story and I kept on seeing if maybe this is a story that the author has already told, but apparently not. Ravi and Jacinta were really supportive of Tristan despite the craziness of the whole scenario, and they provided some reality checks as Tristan introduced some of the women to them, and they seem to have a great romance of their own.

I enjoyed this first book in the series, and I am looking forward to reading more!

Sandy Barker loves to travel and this always shines through in her books, and this is no exception with the locations varying from a mega yacht in the Mediterranean to Scotland as well as London. 

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read this book.

About the book

Match Me If You Can

Welcome to the Ever After Agency – a clandestine organisation offering bespoke solutions to romantic problems.

Whether you're looking for the love of your life, a fresh romantic start, or just want to keep up appearances, the agency can tailor a solution to meet your needs.

When Tristan Fellows walks into the agency, Poppy Dean knows she's in for a challenge. A typical bachelor, Tristan has no intention of falling in love, but in order to receive his 30-million-pound inheritance, he must find himself a wife before his 35th birthday.

This may be Poppy’s hardest case yet, but even the most arrogant of men can sometimes warm a woman’s heart…

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

About the author

Sandy Barker is a bestselling author of destination romance. She’s lived in the UK, the US and Australia, and has travelled extensively across six continents, with many of her travel adventures finding homes in her books.

 

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandybarkerauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/sandybarker

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

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: October Linky

 

August has been another good month in the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge with nearly 70 new reviews being linked up during the month!

 Great effort! Now...onto October!

I am looking forward to reading more of your reviews throughout the coming month! I am sure there is going to be a lot of great historical fiction discovered and shared with fellow HF lovers during the coming month and beyond! 

If you haven't already signed up, it's not too late! The sign up post is here.

Just to recap what participants need to know. At the beginning of each month I will put up a post which will have a Mr Linky embedded into it for you to add your link.

Please remember...

• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review). A direct link to your Goodreads review is also acceptable
• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (fantasy, young adult, graphic novels...). If you aren't sure if your book counts as historical fiction, check out this definition.
• if you have time, have a look some of the other links that are present. You never know when you will discover new blogs or books!

I have created a group on Facebook which you can find here and don't forget to use the #histficreadingchallenge hashtag on the socials.

Let the reading begin!!

If you have any other links please add them to the November linky which you can find here.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge Participants

1. The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky (Laura's Reviews) 2. Night Train to Marrakech (Helen @ She Reads Novels) 3. Surrender in Walk the Blue Fields (Davida @ The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews) 4. Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder (Laura's Reviews) 5. The Mistress of Bhatia House (Laura@RBA) 6. Adama (Cathy@WhatCathyReadNext) 7. Murder by Invitation Only by Colleen Cambridge (Laura's Reviews) 8. Hunters of the Dead (Mark @ CC) 9. Wolves of Winter (Cathy@WhatCathyReadNext) 10. Shellie@ShellieLovesBooks (The King's Jewel) 11. Shellie@ShellieLovesBooks (Murder, I Spy: A Rex and Dora Mystery) 12. The Murder Wheel (Cathy@WhatCathyReadNext)

13. The gentleman (Alexis Drake) 14. Queen and the Knave (Becky's Book Reviews) 15. A Polluted Font (Laura@RBA) 16. Chasing Shadows (Barbara H.) 17. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Helen @ She Reads Novels) 18. The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse (Laura's Reviews) 19. Witch of the Glens by Sally Watson (Staircase Wit) 20. House Aretoli (Laura@RBA) 21. The Nonesuch (Helen @ She Reads Novels) 22. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie (Laura's Reviews) 23. The mesmerist (Alexis Drake) 24. Once a Monster (Helen @ She Reads Novels)

25. The Vienna Writers Circle by J.C. Maetis (Maphead's Book Blog 26. Jane and the Final Mystery by Stephanie Barron (Laura's Reviews) 27. The Socialite Spy (Cathy@WhatCathyReadNext) 28. Scarlet Town (Helen @ She Reads Novels) 29. The Kitchen Front (Davida @ The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews) 30. Run to the Western Shore (Cathy@WhatCathyReadNext) 31. Bev@My Reader's Block (The Floating Lady Murder) 32. In Two Minds (Cathy@WhatCathyReadNext) 33. Black Coffee (Shellie@ShellieLovesBooks) 34. Voyager (Shellie@ShellieLovesBooks)

Learn more about Historical Fiction Reading Challenge here.

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