Fire of the Forebears
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT: The woman smiled. She almost seemed friendly; she was the only one in this forsaken place to understand it. Pain shot through Kura’s arm and she cried out, grasping her saja wound. Her own pulse beat beneath her hand. “The more you resist, the more it will hurt.” Kura locked eyes with the woman, her voice a whispered breath. “What?” The woman’s blood-red lips twisted into a wide grin. “Have they really taught you nothing? There was a time when men quaked in fear at the sight of me.” Kura grit her teeth against the pain. “Am I dead?” “Oh no, pet, you are very much alive.” The woman lifted a slender hand, and the campfire fell to mere coals; the searing heat leapt into Kura’s veins. She screamed. “Give me the sword, girl.” The woman seemed so calm, but her simple command carried the force of a storm. Kura shook her head, limbs trembling. “The sword!” the woman repeated, flinging up her hand. Fire surged through Kura’s veins, fracturing her natural wall of stubbornness, and she clamped down on another scream. What did she care about the sword? The pain vanished. Kura fell onto her hands and knees in the dirt, coughing as she drew in ragged breaths. A bird called overhead. Just a bird? Of all things? She almost laughed. The fog swirling among the spires receded to reveal a scraggly dead tree a short distance away, with a bird perched on the top branch. It was the size and color of a raven, except for the spots of white—like stars in a dark sky—scattered across its chest. The bird gave another call, the sound a harsh chatter, and flapped its wings to reveal the golden feathers on its underside. It was a flicker. The woman hissed. “Out of so many, you come for her?” Kura struggled to her knees, but her limbs didn’t support her own weight. The woman turned back to her, brushing aside her displeasure with a grin. “Go on. Fight.” Kura tried to stand, but her feet slid on the dry dirt. “Fight with all the strength you have.” Kura fell back, chest heaving for air. The woman held a staff, a long wooden pole that held a single-edged blade—one straight and the other curved—at each end. “That way my victory will be all the more sweet.” With a shout, Kura ripped her sword from its scabbard and met the woman’s advance. That rusted blade clashed with the sharpened staff, the impact reverberating through the stone spires as a flash of white sparks lit up the darkness. For just that moment the woman’s face was illuminated, and for just that moment her smile faltered.
GIVEAWAY! #Blog Tour #Book Review of Under One Roof by Samantha Tonge #Boldwood Books @rararesources20/2/2022
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in Under One Roof by Samantha Tonge. Under One Roof One forgotten discovery will change three women’s lives for ever… Robin hasn’t been home for decades. After running away to London, she never expected to see her cantankerous mother, Faye, again. But when Faye has a fall, the two women are thrown together once more. The years apart have not made their hearts grow fonder and the ground between them is unsteady. Then Robin finds an unopened scroll – the last of the treasure hunts her much-missed father used to take them on every Sunday. A hunt he believed might change everything. Yet, not even this gift from her beloved father can smooth the way until Robin’s daughter, Amber, arrives to meet her grandmother for the first time. Amber is determined that the decades-old mystery be solved. Can a 30-year-old treasure hunt really ‘change everything’? Purchase Link My thoughts: I have come to expect well-written and entertaining books from Samantha Tonge, but this one is special and is probably my favourite so far. There is unexpected depth in this very easy-to-read, seemingly simple story of three women, representing three generations of one family. Robin ran away from home when she was 16 and although she did see her mother Faye once when her own daughter Amber was born, it wan’t enough to heal the animosity and bridge the gap between then. Now, 48-year-old, divorced and recently made redundant Robin is asked by her Uncle Ralph to go back to her home village in greater Manchester to take care of Faye who has had a nasty fall. You’d think Robin’s mother would be grateful for having someone to look after her for a few weeks until her cast comes off and her bruises fade, but no, Faye doesn’t want any help or support, especially not from her estanged daughter who left her in the summer when Faye’s husband/Robin’s dad passed away. But Robin isn’t the same firey teenager with little life experience- she has matured and learned how to deal with challenging situations and a lot of this experience has come from being a mother herself. When her sweet, independent, eighteen-year-old daughter has a bit of a crisis with student accomodation, the simplest solution is to move into her grandmother’s house and get to know Faye and the secrets her family holds. I loved the way the story focused on the three main characters (a bit more on Robin and Faye) which allowed the author to really develop them and dig deep into their feelings and their motivations. All of this without becoming too long and boring. There is a wonderful treasure hunt with its enigmatic clues- the last gift left by Robin’s father to the two people he considered most precious in the world. Of course, Faye and Robin do need Amber’s help to not only with the mysterious anagram, but also with their own uneasy mother-daughter relationship. There are also great references to 80s (including some fashion gems a lot of readers are going to sigh over nostalgically). And there are Dear Debbie! letters written by teenage Robin that bring a bit of levity and show how difficult it is (some say impossible) to give life advice to a teenage girl. The secondary characters are memorable in their own way- e.g. Tara, Yul, Blanche, even absolutely adorable Hoover…They do not take away from the protagonists, but rather add and enhance their stories by providing valuable details that let us understand what happened and empathise. While my own family is nothing like Robin’s, reading this book brought back a lot of memories from when my grandmother was still alive and I could observe her relationship with my mother and realise for the first time in my life why my mother behaved in certain ways. A well-written, thought-provoking, compelling and entertaining read from a very talented author who keeps delighting her fans with every new release. Highly recommended to anyone who likes stories about families in general and mother-daughter relationships in particular, life, time, second chances, forgiveness and understanding. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio –
Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK and studied German and French at university. She has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris as part of the Opening Crew, and has travelled widely. She enjoys family time, baking and walking and always knew that one day she would write. Samantha finally took the plunge seriously in her late thirties, and hasn’t stopped since. Under One Roof will be her sixteenth book and she has also sold many dozens of short stories to women’s magazines. Samantha’s uplifting stories are about identity and self-discovery, about friendships and communities. She enjoys creating diverse characters and writing about relatable issues that make the reader feel it’s not just me. Her books have hit the AmazonUK overall chart Top Ten position twice and she has won two awards. Facebook / Twitter / Instagram It Started with a List
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My thoughts:
Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, so it was a no-brainer that I just needed to read Tinia Montford's delicious and sassy new romance It Started with a List. Vassa is an epitome of a Good Girl- she's genuinely interested in studying (well, she's majoring in English Lit, so I can relate), doesn't care for parties and meaningless flirting (yes, Lazarus Gilbert, I'm talking about you). She also has serious trust issues following her ex-best friend's betrayal...This is something that made this book stand out for me straightaway. It is hard to get over a bad break-up of a romantic relationship, but losing a friend you've known and been inseparable with since middle grade is just devastating. As it often happens Vassa never got her closure after Alexa publicly humiliated and then shunned her and that forced Vassa withdraw in her shell even more. She is in her fourth year of college and it is definitely time to rethink what she is doing with her life. Why not start with a bucket list of things that are supposed to make your last college year fun and memorable? Vassa and lots of other people may think that Lazarus is a baseball golden boy, a shameless flirt and a prankster, but what they don't know that he has his share of problems, one of which is failing his English Lit class. Lazarus needs a tutor and he really couldn't choose better than our quiet and thoughtful Vassa (who might have been harboring a crush on for a few years, shhh). Deep down you already know that despte the outward appearances, the protagonists are really more similar to each other than they realise themselves. Add a fantastic slow-burn romance to their relatable coming-of-age stories and you've got me melting in delight. Tinia Montford's writing is very easy to follow and you'll get involved in the story in no time at all. Tinia makes you feel a whole range of emotions alongside her characters. It's definitely a case of show, not tell. It might be a good idea to check out the list of trigger warnings before you embark on reading the book, as the author doesn't shy away from discussing some serious issues. Recommended to anyone who loves the opposites attract/sunshine Vs grumpy and enemies-to-lovers tropes, slow-burn romance and generally new adult fiction. I will definitely be looking to Tinia Montford's next book! Thank you to Giselle from XBT, the author and the publisher for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. For the Strange and Surprising: Where the Mongrels Are
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My thoughts:
For the Strange and Surprising is one of those books where you get swept away and transported in a new, fascinating orld right from the word Go. I loved the riches and colour scheme of the cover book and couldn't wait to delve in into this story which proved out both imaginative and totally original. Twenty two year old Ada is still grieving the death of her father and is on a fishing trip when she gets into a terrible storm. Ada has to swim for her life to escape a watersprout and sharks and I was absolutely mesmerised by how the author engaged all my senses in these opening scenes. The book got better and better with every page and kept me up until small hours. In the aftermath of the strorm Ada ends up on a mysterious island which is not on Earth where she has to navigate a new world full of unexpected dangers. I really liked the protagonist Ada- she's complex and flawed and the author does a wonderful job revealing the hidden depths of this strong and open-minded character as the book progresses. There are also four male protagonists, Ecaeris, Tallodus, Imryll and Connac,each of which is bringing out a different angle, a different side of Ada's personality. The banter is delicious and the tension is palpable. I'm not ususally a big fan of multiple POVs, but here it works surprisingly well. A very entertaining start to a new series with fantastic world-building, intriguing characters, adventure and humour- can't wait to read the second book! Thank you to Giselle from XBT, the publisher and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for No Ex Before Marriage by one of my favourite authors Portia Macintosh. No Ex Before Marriage It's not over until someone says 'I do'... While her friends join the "Wife Club" one by one, Poppy feels like that part of her life is done and dusted. Already married and divorced she's not desperate to go through all that again. But what if her divorce never actually went through...? After a shock revelation Poppy not only discovers she is still married, but that Zac is about to have his second wedding! Coming face to face with her (almost) ex-husband after six years apart is never going to be easy. And when Zac panics and tells his new wife-to-be that Poppy is family, things can't get much worse as she is welcomed with open arms as part of the wedding party! As the memories flood back, can Poppy really leave the past where it is? And can she watch the first love of her life walk down the aisle to say 'I do' once again? Purchase Link My thoughts: Portia MacIntosh is one of my favourite authors as my local bookshop and my library card can attest. Her books are such a treat-lighthearted but with some serious issues explored on the way, with sweet and loyal protagonists, and incredibly entertaining plotlines. No Ex Before Marriage was no exception- once again five stars, Portia does it again! The book opens with a wedding scene. The last of Poppy Walker's childhood friends Rachael has joined the Wives' Club. She might have gone a bit over top with relegating Poppy to a sad singles' table, but Poppy is a good sport, she won't spoil her friend's wedding by complaining. Well, Poppy does have some things to be unhappy about. Her best friends have been excluding her from their social life. While Poppy was the first to get married, at the tender age of twenty four, she was also the first one to get divorced. Add her mum dying in a freaky car accident and her dad barely coping with his grief...What Poppy needs is love and support of her friends, but all she is getting is judgy comments. The single table would be an utter disaster, were it not for Kat, a fun-loving fellow pariah who reminds her to take every opportunity to live her life and have a good time. Then out of blue, Poppy's Dad informs her that her divorce was never finalised and she has very little time to correct the situation before her ex gets married in a private ceremony in a remote part of Scottish Highlands and Poppy doesn't think twice- she needs to save Zac, 'the nerdy love of her life', from becoming a bigamist. The pace was great. Portia hits the ground running with the opening scenes and the road trip and then lets us absorb what actually happened to Poppy and Zac's relationship through a series of flashbacks entertwined with the scenes at the Scottish castle where Zac and his influencer/ daughter of a movies star fiancee are getting ready for their wedding. It isn't difficult to guess what caused Zac and Poppy's breakup and when we finally got to discussing this heavy topic, I was very happy to see it was dealt with in an extremely sensitive way. It did add a touch of real life sadness to this very well-balanced book. Poppy is a very likeable protagonist, although, unlike Portia's other protagonists, she does come across as a bit weak- defeated by life? in need of a good hug and a fun night out with her friends? She's serious and honest, and takes responsibility for her own actions. She doesn't give up on her friendships, because sometimes life happens and you can drift apart, the important thing is to talk and make time for your lifelong friends. You're probably going to hate Poppy's friends at the beginning of the book and might not find it easy to forgive, but I bet it will make even more appreciative of Kat. Well, the more, the merrier, and there's place in life for all kinds of friend, old and new. I often see books described as heartwarming and uplifting and I don't always agree with the blurb, but that's exactly how this one felt. The message is great: live your life and do things, even though it might mean you making mistakes, because no one is perfect, live your life so that you don't have regrets later, have fun and take care of your loved ones. Highly recommended to anyone who appeciates a good British romcom. Thank you to Rachel, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio –
Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of over 15 novels, including Stuck On You and The Plus One Pact. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences. Social Media Links Facebook https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia/ Twitter https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh Instagram https://www.instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh #Blog Tour #Snowflakes Over The Starfish Cafe by Jessica Redland @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources5/9/2021
Snowflakes Over the Starfish Café Welcome to The Starfish Café - where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships. Two broken hearts. Since she inherited The Starfish Café, Hollie has poured her heart into the business, striving to keep her mother's traditions and warm-hearted spirit alive. But behind closed doors Hollie is searching for true happiness, as she grieves the tragic loss of her family who were once the beating heart of the café... An unexpected meeting. Jake lives by two rules: don’t let anyone get close and don’t talk about what happened. Little does he know that a chance meeting at The Starfish Café, facilitated by a fluffy lost dog, is about to turn his world upside down... The chance to love again. Can Hollie and Jake break down the barriers that have been holding them back from finding love and happiness, before Christmas comes around? Afterall, with courage, nothing is impossible... Purchase Link Let the full-on festive fabulousness begin! My thoughts: I'm a big fan of Jessica Redland's writing and always look forward to re-visiting the seaside town of Whitsborough Bay. The protagonists of this newest story, Hollie Gabrielle (yes, it's a very Christmassy name and isn't it just lovely?) and Jake have gone through all kinds of heartache, including loss of parents and siblings, emotional abuse and betrayal, and yet they still take time to help others. Jake is a charge nurse in the A&E department of the local hospital, while Hollie is the Starfish Cafe owner and a baker. Hollie's mum paid a lot of attention to building up a community and the cafe has never lost its warm, welcoming atmosphere. A cute shih tzu dog lost by somebody on the Bonfire Night brings Hollie and Jake together, but do they still believe in true love after years of loneliness? We get a lot of backstory ( hope you like your romances to have a substantial build-up) and, oh dear, there were times when it seemed unfair that so much grief befell these sweet characters. This isn't exactly a lighthearted romcom, but there's plenty of heart, love and hope to make it an uplifting read. It's good to have a reminder that the festive season may not be the same for everyone- there are people who are lonely and do not find it easy to make new friends. If you've been following the Whitsborough Bay series, you'll be delighted to see some familiar faces. A great addition to Jessica's impressive collection of heartwarming stories. Thank you to NetGalley, BoldwoodBooks, Rachel fromRachel's Random Resources and Jessica Redland for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio –
Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds. Social Media Links – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandAuthor Twitter https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jessicaredlandauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in celebrating the publication day of The Ticklemore Tavern, the latest addition to Liz Davies's charming Tiklemore series. The Ticklemore Tavern Violet makes her own gin. Logan Cassidy sells it in his pub, The Ticklemore Tavern. It should have been a match made in heaven, especially since the pair of them fancy the socks off each other, and they are both young, free and single. Except... Logan’s mum, Marie, doesn’t think Violet is good enough for her son. No woman is, or ever will be. And when she becomes ill, Logan is torn between looking after his mum or following his heart. However, neither Logan, nor Marie, has taken the sheer force of nature that is Violet into account. What Violet wants, Violet gets. Usually... But maybe not this time, eh? Purchase Links UK / US My thoughts: It wasovely tocomeback to one ofmy favourite fictional villages, see the familiar faces and catch up with what's been going on in their lives, and, of course, see a new couple find their happily-ever-after. This time it's the turn of everyone's favourite publican Logan who's been focusing on running his business and taking care of his rather controlling mum Marie for too long. Logan's father walked out from their lives when Logan was just five and Marie did a great job ofraising Logan on her own. But now he is 33 and enjoys having his own space and making his own decisions, so why isMariefinding it so hard to let him find a girlafter his own heart? Meet Violet Archer- a successful gin distiller with lovely, vivacious personality. She is trying to expand her customer base by offering her product samples to local pub managers. When she meets Logan there is a definite spark and both of them are single and unattached. Seems like fates are smiling at her...If only his mother didn'tdislike her quite as much from the word go...If I were Violet, I would have run for the hills, but to Violet's credit she isn't easily intimidated and happens to think that Logan is worth fighting for. I love Liz Davies's easy, engaging writing style and her lovely sense of humour. Once again,she has created interesting protagonists with great personalities, as well as introducing newsecondary characters in addition to the recurring contingent. You've got to admire everyone's favourite octogenarian couple- Hattie and Alfred. Hattie doesn't mince her words and sees through Marie's tricks straightaway. Ticklemore is a fabulous community and it's always a pleasure to see how much its inhabitant care for each other's well-being and happiness. Can't wait to read the next story in this lovely 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. Website: https://lizdaviesauthor.wixsite.com/home Social Media Links – Twitter https://twitter.com/lizdaviesauthor Facebook: fb.me/LizDaviesAuthor1 WRITTEN FOR YOUby Robin Bielman Publication Date: August 23, 2021 Genres: Adult, Entangled: Amara, Contemporary, Romance, Friends to Lovers Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xQCABf iTunes: https://apple.co/2Usbra5 B&N: https://bit.ly/3soKu3E Kobo: https://bit.ly/3AQvw9E Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3iTBiAX Amazon AUS: https://amzn.to/3sqsLbW Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2UpFizM SYNOPSIS Cam Radcliffe is on a deadline to write his next blockbuster action film, but all he can think about lately is writing romance. The inspiration? His best friend, Reese. They’ve known each other for years, but suddenly working in the same office has given him a whole new appreciation of her. Reese is driving him wild in the best possible way, and Cam only hopes it isn’t obvious. If she knew, he’s certain their friendship would reach The End. So, of course, Reese figures it out. But the awkward, negative response he expected is nothing like the reality—like they’re living their own romcom. A romcom that’s giving him the worst case of writer’s block at the absolute worst time in his career. Especially when the secret Reese has been forced to keep comes out…and threatens to ruin everything. ABOUT ROBIN BIELMAN Robin Bielman is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, frequent coffee shops (and by frequent she means daily but she’s trying to break the habit), and spend time with her family. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can’t live without jumpstarts most of her story ideas. She writes with a steady stream of caffeine nearby (see above) and the best dog on the planet, Harry, by her side. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon Author Profile | Entangled Publishing | Newsletter
My thoughts:
Friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, so when I read the description for Robin Bielman's new book Written For You, I knew I'm in for a treat! If you're looking for a perfect summer read (it's not too late!), consider this sweet and sexy story. Reese Resnick and Cam Radcliff have known each other since they were kids. Their adopted moms are best friends. In fact, Cam's mom Pixie is Reese's godmother. Needless to say, they know each other very well. Reese knows how lovely and considerate Cam is and how hard he has been working tobuild his career of a scriptwriter. His latest action movie was a huge success. Now he is on a tight deadline to produce something equally engaing, but all this pressure is blocking his creativity. Perhaps,it will be easier to write at home surrounded by his loving parents and his brothers? Cam knows that Reeese has changed a lot of jobs over the years, unable to find the career that would be both enjoyable and stimulating at the same time. She's been working for a talent agency for the last three months, reading script submissions. While Cam may have her doubts whether she is going to stick with this job as well, Reese is convinced she has finally discovered her real vocation. When Cam's aggressive agent approaches and bullies her into spying on Cam's progress with the script, he does it by threatening to get her fired from her dream job. Reese is always welcome to stay at her godmother's house is going to make sure Cam writes the best script of his life and she is going to help him. There's so much at stake and I don't mean just their jobs, but also the life-long friendship and their easy-going family dynamics, so only very strong attraction and 'blazing' chemistry can force the two protagonists to risk everything and finally change the nature of their relationship. Reese is a sweet, fun-loving girl and deep down she knows what her heart wants. Cam is a writer who is a bit slow to recognise how perfect their own story is. Luckily, his adoptive brothers Nash and Gael are there to tease and nudge him in the right direction. Reese and Cam worry about their parents discovering their budding romance, but in reality it has always been obvious to anyone that they were made for each other. The story is set in a small town of Rustic Creek and I loved all the adventures and fun moments Reese and Cam get up to on their mission to help Cam produce his masterpiece. My favourite has got to be the library prank, but there were lots of others. If you are a fan of the small town setting, you'll love Rustic Creek. Lovely romcom recommended to anyone who enjoys the friends-to-lovers trope! Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, the author and IndieSage PR for the ARC which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily. Better Believe It
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My thoughts: When I started reading this book, I didn't realise it is the second in the series. The first one, Better in the Morning, deals with Veronica,Jada's best friend and how she reached her happily-ever-after. Better Believe It can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone. On paper, everything in Jada Marlone's life looks perfect: she has a lovely husband, three-year-old son, a successful career, and a wonderful house. She regularly posts her smiley updates on social media and has lots of 'friends'. And with all this Jada is strangely and inexplicably lonely. Her marriage is stifling, the motherhood is really hard, 'constant' and all-consuming - very different from what had imagined it to be, and she keeps thinking about her ex. Her spiritual guides-Jada's late grandparents know that deep in her heart Jada is very unhappy, so they ask another person from Jada's life who has passed away too early (her cousin Gina) to help them steer her towards a diffrent kind of life - more meaningful and full of love and forgiveness. I must admit I didn't take to Jada straightaway. Everything she said rubbed me the wrong way. She seemed too self-absorbed and egoistical, too cold and too blunt. Gradually, I saw that there are many sides to her, including that of going through a contract to help the elderly mother of her babysitter, that she might not be gushy and cuddly, but she is a good person who just happened to find herself in the wrong kind of life. After all, everyone makes mistakes and sometimes takes wrong turns, but the real test of strength is our willingness to change ourselves and learn from the past errors. There is a large cast of great secondary characters, although Gina has got to be my favourite. The book has a great mix of funny, humorous moments and serious, emotional, even tragic ones. In the nutshell, it is about life and happiness, so you can expect a bit of rough and smooth thrown in together. It is also about love, forgiveness, motherhood and family dynamics. Even if you don't believe in signs and messages from the great beyond, there's a lot in this book for anyone who likes reading about second chances in life. I really enjoyed the book with its humorous writing, quirky characters and thought-provoking questions. Thank you To Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, the publisher and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Thankyou to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Zoe Allison's hot summer romance Sun, Sea and Summer Vibes. Sun, Sea and Summer Vibes Sometimes first impressions are far from the truth... Nina Darwish is a scientist who likes to proceed with caution and careful deliberation. When she arrives at the party destination of Ibiza to play PA for her best friend and international pop sensation Isla Starr, she has trouble adapting to the carefree and easy-going vibe on the island. The situation isn’t aided by Isla’s seemingly surly yet irritatingly attractive music producer, the world-renowned dance DJ Logan Wild, known by his real name—Cameron—to his friends. Plus, Nina’s run-ins with, and repeated rebuttal of, an extremely entitled and very annoying male singer named Zac don’t help to aid her mood. Unbeknownst to Nina, Cameron remembers her from the past, when he was a geeky student who admired her from afar. Unfortunately, it’s clear that Nina considers him ill-natured, no doubt due to his natural awkwardness, which he masks using a stage persona. However, even if that weren’t the situation, he’s involved in a dead-end relationship with his celebrity girlfriend Ash. Plus, Nina’s eye appears to have been drawn onto Ash’s no good ex-boyfriend, Zac, therefore there’s no point in believing anything could ever happen between them. But despite all of that being the case, for some reason, he just cannot stop thinking about her. Purchase Links First for Romance (Totally Bound’s bookstore) Amazon UK Amazon US My thoughts: If I told you that most of the action in Zoe Allison's new book takes place on the island of Ibiza, would the picture you envision include disco, music,and parties? if these are the first things that come to your mind, well, you're on the right track....There's also a super sexy DJ, a singer, a rising influencer star...and a geeky scientist, who happens to be the singer's BFF. Don't forget an arrogant celebrity, who just won't go away and who likes to put the spanner any time he gets a chance... A few misunderstandings, deep emotional connection seemingly coming out of nowhere, obsession, flirting and forbidden attraction, and finaly passion- all the elements of a holiday romance are here, so let's unpack them. Nina has recently been made redundant and is at a crossroads as far as her future is concerned. When her best friend Isla, who has been climbing musiccharts, calls her and invites her to Ibiza (officially to work as a PA, unofficially to have a lovely all-paid holiday to help them reconnect with each other, Nina doesn't think twice. Once Nina is on the island, she is immediately drawn into the whirlwind of Isla's world. Nina gets hit on by an unlikeable A-list celebity Zac (who she can't stand) and meets mysterious DJ Logan Wild a.k.a Cameron who studied at the same university as Isla and Nina. Cam is difficult to work out-he seems cold and stand-off-ish at first glance, although, undoubtfuly, handsome. Not that it should matter, since he has an influencer girlfriend Ash. Cam and Isla are supposed to work together on a song, but Nina is getting more and more worried about her friend behaving strangely. If all of this isn't already complicated, Isla gets together with Zac, who aso happens to be Ash's ex. Cam+Ash, Zac+ Isla, Nina-...? Nina isn't there to fall in love, she is supposed to help Isla organise her work and this noble intention on her part means she gets to talk to Cameron quite a lot and discover that she might have been too hasty in her first impression of him. Despite the complex love geometry, this is a fairly short book and I don't wantto give away the story. There were some interesting issues touched upon: feeling disconnected from one's family and friends because of focusing too much on career and fame, negative aspects of social media (trolls etc), losing a parent and trying to be what you think would make them proud of you,being with a person because of their looks and judging them for superficiality at the same time. I had a few niggles the biggest of which is the 'better that the other girls' vibe, but this is just my personal opinion. Finally, I loved this cover: sun-soaked days, sandy beach, crystal-clear sea, and a book in your tote bag- what more can you ask for a perfect holiday? Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources and the publisher for the review copy. Author Bio – Growing up, Zoe Allison loved stories about falling in love. But rather than being rescued by a knight in shining armour, she imagined herself fighting dragons alongside him, battling supervillains as heroic allies, or teaming up to dive into perilous waters in order to save a loved one from drowning. Once Zoe did grow up, she became a doctor. But as time went on, she craved a creative outlet to counter the soul sapping burnout that her career inflicted upon her, and also to achieve those happy endings that were so often lacking in the real world. She wanted heroes who truly love and value women, who find their true love inspiring, are fascinated by her, want to connect with her as a soulmate and fully open themselves to her on an emotional level. And so, Zoe began to write her romances. A Zoe Allison novel promises a heroine who is not only her hero’s equal in ability and intellect, but whose hero equals her in emotional intelligence. Her characters overcome conflict infused with spine tingling sexual tension to forge a deep connection as soul mates as well as lovers, and ultimately, they both rescue each other emotionally. Even if they might begin their journey as enemies… Social Media Links – Twitter: https://twitter.com/zoeallisonauth1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zoe.allison.9279 Insta: https://www.instagram.com/zoeallisonauthor TikTok: tiktok.com/@zoeallisonauthor Thank you for reading the post!
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