Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of From Thailand with Love by Camilla Isley.

All Logan has to do is to get the gold and get the girl. Easy, right?

Travel photographer Winter Knowles and archeology professor Logan Spencer dislike each other at first sight. Stuck together on a wild island, these two unwilling teammates will bicker and banter their way through a laugh-packed treasure hunt.
After years of searching, a new mapping technology has given Logan a clue to the location of the legendary Lost City of Gold. A discovery that could make his career. So the last thing he needs on this life-changing expedition is for his team to get distracted by a pair of long legs.

When Winter accepted the assignment on a tropical island she didn’t sign up for a brooding team leader who’d clearly prefer to run a boys-only club. Never one to back down from a challenge, Winter is ready to show him she’s no damsel in distress.

But when a treasure like no other is uncovered and ruthless enemies will want to keep it for themselves, it’ll be up to the two of them to save the day. Left alone to fight in the jungle, they will soon discover their lives might not be the only thing at stake—their hearts could be too.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

Firstly I must confess to not having read any other novels from the First Comes Love series, but I can confirm that it can be read as a standalone.  I did not feel I was missing out on anything by not having read any of the previous books (although I think I may go back and read To the Stars and Back, and am keen to read the next book You May Kiss the Bridesmaid).

Logan Spencer is an archeology professor who is about to embark on what could potentially be the find of his career.  Secrecy surrounds the expedition, and he is keen to work with people he knows and trusts.  Winter Knowles is an experienced travel photographer, hired to document the expedition.  Logan and Winters first meeting is less than ideal, each making an impression on the other (but not necessarily a good one!).

What follows is a difficult start to a hard expedition – Logan has everything riding on its success, and Winter is keen to prove that she is not a damsel in distress and that she has just as much to offer as the men she travels with!

It’s clear that this is a novel with plenty of sexual tension between two characters who have a lot of chemistry, even if they refuse to admit it.  The romance does not however detract from the beautiful setting or the adventurous side of the storyline.  Thailand is such a stunning country (having been lucky enough to visit, I know!) and I feel that Camilla Isley has captured its beauty perfectly.  The rawness of the unexplored area they visit is described beautifully, making you feel like you are hiking the terrain with them (without the painful legs or rough sleeping conditions!).  In addition, the expedition itself is exciting to follow, and you really feel Logan’s hope (and sometimes desperation) about finding the legendary Lost City of Gold.

This is a lovely novel with a great storyline.  It really captures your imagination, making you feel like you are there, hiking through the lush undergrowth with the expedition team whilst rooting for Logan and Winter.  I am more than happy to recommend this novel to you all!

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖

Thank you to Camilla Isley and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Author Bio

Camilla is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.

She’s a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/camillaisley/

https://www.instagram.com/camillaisley/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14135080.Camilla_Isley

 

 

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I am so excited to bring you my review of A New Life for Ariana Byrne by Liz Hurley as part of her amazing blog tour, on a day full of love!

What happens after all your dreams come true?

Ariana Byrne knows how to survive. After becoming guardian to her four little sisters after their parents died when she was only eighteen, she had to grow up quickly. Now she’s in her twenties, stuck in a loveless marriage to Greg, trying to make ends meet for her young twins, William and Leo.

So when Ari is told that she’s actually the Right Honourable Lady de Foix, Countess of Hiverton, owner of a sprawling estate in the village of Saxburgh in Norfolk, her first instinct is laughter. Surely the girl who has to choose between food and keeping the lights on isn’t really rich beyond her wildest dreams?

She knows how to take care of her sisters and her children, but how on earth can Ari take care of an entire village? Can she fight off the circling land developers from Saxburgh, and stop her in-laws from grabbing all the money for themselves?

And while she’s struggling to settle in and settle down, she’s making new friends and new mistakes. Trusting her gorgeous neighbour, Sebastian Flint-Hyssop, may be the biggest one of all…

She’s swapped sink estate for country estate…but can a girl from inner city London learn how to become a Lady?

Take a trip to Hiverton Manor for the most uplifting novel of 2020 – guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Fans of Jenny Colgan, Trisha Ashley and Carole Matthews will love this romantic, feelgood read.

Ariana Byrne has had many tough times in her relatively short 28 years of life.  Losing her parents at such a young age, and then fighting hard to keep her younger sisters together when the authorities thought it best to separate them.  Giving up her own dreams in order to be the best sister she could be, then the best wife she could be to Greg, and the best mother she could be to her twin sons, Leo and William.  After ten years of struggling without the support of her beloved parents, Ari unexpectedly finds herself a Countess, and wealthy at a time when she had struggled to put food on the table.

If you want a novel that knows how to draw you in then this is the novel for you.  A lot happens in the first four chapters. A LOT.  Sometimes you wonder how so much could happen to one person in such a short space of time, but you can’t help but follow the story through to see how Ari deals with the cards she has been dealt. Ari is a character who has given up everything for those around her, and there isn’t a more deserving character to receive the title and riches that she receives.  Obviously they come with their own set of problems, (the most obvious being that she had family the whole time, but they just didn’t care about her or her sisters) but watching her deal with them all is inspiring.  This is not your standard chick-lit or romance novel – of course there is romance, but this novel is more about the strength of a woman when facing adversity.  How she has spent her whole adult life fighting for what she believes to be right, regardless of the consequences for herself.

I loved this book.  I loved the characters, I loved that there were so many strong female personalities, and I wanted to know how they would deal with the issues that were presented to them.  The village setting was perfect, a real contrast to Ari’s humble beginnings in the diverse London street she lived on. Everything about this novel was fab, and I am so pleased that Liz Hurley will be continuing the story of the Byrne sisters – I can’t wait to read the next installment!

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖 📕

Thank you so much to Liz Hurley and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this fabulous blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Author Bio 

When I grew up I wanted to be an underwater archaeologist or an astronaut but I ended up in a library. Everyone laughed as I’m not a naturally quiet person but I loved it. I went on to become a professional librarian for the money and the glamour. Not finding quite enough of either my husband and I set up a bookshop.  We didn’t find much there either so I started writing. Now I have loads of money and glamour but only in the pages of my books! In the meantime I dive and look at the stars.

Social Media Links –

• Twitter: @hello_hurley
• Facebook fan page: @theotherlizhurley
• Instagram: @liz_hurley_writes
• Author website: lizhurleywrites.com

I am very excited to bring you my review of Victoria Walters New Beginnings at Glendale Hall as part of the excellent blog tour run by Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources!

Two weddings and a baby…but who will get their happy ever after?

Emily Prescott’s life isn’t going to plan. Her dreams of starting a family with fireman boyfriend Greg and opening up her own bakery in London feel like they will never come true. So when a wedding invite arrives from her oldest friend, Beth Williams, Emily is thrilled. Not only will she get to return to her childhood home in Scotland, but best of all – Beth wants her to bake the wedding cake!

However, her excitement is cut short when she discovers that Greg has cheated on her. Devastated by his betrayal, Emily flees to Glendale Hall, Beth’s grand estate in the Highlands, and tries to distracts herself with helping with the wedding plans, but that’s not easy when Greg keeps hounding her to forgive him. Then she’s introduced to Glendale’s new young and handsome vicar Brodie, and things become even more complicated.

When Emily discovers that Greg’s betrayal runs deeper than she imagined, she finds herself with a whole host of decisions to make, especially when she discovers her long awaited dream is finally being fulfilled – at exactly at the wrong time…

Escape to Scotland and fall in love with this gorgeous and inspiring romance from the bestselling author of Coming Home to Glendale Hall! The perfect feel-good read for fans of Holly Martin, Heidi Swain, and Jill Mansell.

Emily Prescott cannot wait to attend her oldest friends wedding in Scotland.  She is excited to return to the village she grew up in, and she cannot wait to introduce her boyfriend Greg to her friends.

In the weeks before they are due to leave, Emily discovers that Greg has cheated on her. Distraught, she leaves immediately, seeking refuge at Glendale Hall.  She throws herself into helping Beth with the wedding and planning a beautiful cake for the happy couple.  Her life becomes even more complicated when she is introduced to the young and handsome new vicar in Glendale, Brodie.  However, as Greg’s betrayal deepens, Emily finds herself alone facing the most unexpected life decisions.

Full disclosure – I have not read Coming Home to Glendale Hall.  But now I will!  Having not read Coming Home to Glendale Hall though I can confirm that it is not necessary in order to enjoy this novel because I loved it!  It was easy to read, but packed full of likeable characters.  Glendale was the perfect setting, it was the kind of friendly village that makes you really want to live there.  There are very few surprises in this novel, but that isn’t why I chose to read it.  As far as chick-lit goes, this one is definitely up there! This is an ideal read for a Sunday afternoon with a hot chocolate and piles of cake!

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖

Thank you to Victoria Walters and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Author Bio

Victoria Walters writes up-lifting and inspiring stories. Her moving debut novel THE SECOND LOVE OF MY LIFE was chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for an RNA award. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star. Her heart-warming new novel SUMMER AT THE KINDNESS CAFE is available to download now.

As well as being an author, Victoria also works as a Waterstones bookseller and buys far too many books there. She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry (named after Harry Potter). Victoria is not only obsessed with books but loves buying slogan tops, mugs and notebooks, and posting them all on Instagram.

You can discover more about Victoria – and find pictures of Harry the cat – by following her on Instagram at @vickyjwalters, on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at:https://victoria-writes.com/.

I am thrilled to bring you my review of When Adam Met Evie by Giulia Skye, as part of the blog tour arranged by the fabulous Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources.

When former Olympic Swimmer, Michael Adams—now Canada’s hottest reality TV star— insults his fake showbiz wife on social media, he escapes the ensuing scandal and jumps on the first flight to Australia. Desperate to experience ordinary life again—if only for a few weeks—he becomes “Adam”, just another tourist traveling through the Outback. But with a reward out for his safe return and his fame’s nasty habit of catching up with him when he least expects, he needs a better disguise… and he’s just found it.

Sweet and scruffy British backpacker, Evie Blake, is taking a year out of her busy London life. Tired of lies and liars, she’s looking for adventure to heal her broken heart. So when the hot Canadian she meets at the campground offers to be her travel partner through Western Australia’s wild Kimberley region, she grabs the chance, unaware he’s got the world out looking for him.

He’s just a down-on-his-luck traveler, right?

Michael Adams is famous.  Very famous.  To the outside world he has it all – the glamorous wife, lucrative sponsorship deals – everything a man could want.  However after the ultimate social media scandal, he goes underground, disappearing to Australia where one of his close friends and former Olympic swimming rivals lives.  When he finds himself at a loose end for six weeks, he decides to go incognito, travelling the Outback as backpacker Adam, hoping for some anonymity.

Evie Blake has always wanted to travel, and plans a long trip with her boyfriend Zac to get away from the stress they had been facing in their relationship, hoping to reconnect again.  When Evie unexpectedly finds herself in Australia alone, she seeks adventure to help her fix her broken heart.  When she finds herself faced with the incredibly attractive Adam, she throws caution to the wind, agreeing to travel the wilderness in Western Australia with him.

Adam and Evie are both lost souls trying to find their way again in the chaos of their lives.  The Australian Outback is the perfect setting for them, as they each seek peace and tranquility, giving them both the time to find what they are looking for.  What neither of them expect is to find each other.  Adam’s (or Michael’s) secret could prove too much for them though when the time comes for truth is finally revealed.

This is such a lovely story.  Both Adam and Evie are really interesting, well-rounded characters.  Adam is fascinating, as his life highlights how our public persona can hide who we really are, and what we are really feeling.  Evie is another great character, heartbroken not just because of the breakdown of her long term relationship, but also her anguish at not yet being a mother.  They are both so lost, but in a really believable, relatable way.  In addition to the characters, the setting is perfect.  Giulia really captures the beauty and remoteness of the Australian Outback – I genuinely enjoyed following their travels, and it has given me the bug for visiting there myself!

I am more than happy to recommend this novel – its an ideal book if you want to satisfy your own wanderlust from the comfort of your own home!  I look forward to reading the next novel in in Giulia Skye’s “Take a Holiday” series!

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖 📕

Thank you to Giulia Skye and Rachel at Rachels Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Adam-Evie-Giulia-Skye-ebook/dp/B081HDK38Y/

US – https://www.amazon.com/When-Adam-Evie-Giulia-Skye-ebook/dp/B081HDK38Y/

Author Bio

Italian-born Giulia Skye spent her childhood watching classic Hollywood films and thinking up her own romantic stories. After two decades working in TV production, she knew turning those stories into novels would be much more enjoyable – and far cheaper – than turning them into films. She still keeps her hand in TV production but is at her happiest being a stay-at-home mum, spending time with her family, growing her own vegetables and conjuring up sizzling stories about sexy heroes meeting fiesty heroines who aren’t always as they at first appear. When Adam Met Evie is her first novel, Book 1 of her “Take a Holiday” series.

Social Media Links

Twitter handle; @giuliaskye

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