Month: Jan 2022

Posted in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Chick Lit

On this rather gloomy Sunday afternoon, I am delighted to share my review for Wishing Under a Starlit Skye by Lisa Hobman

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

What a corker, I was really looking forward to this one as I love trying out authors who I haven’t read much from before and this book did not disappoint. We meet single Mum Caitlin and her daughter Grace, as Grace turns 13 her Mum decides it might be time to start thinking about her love life again.

This story follows Caitlin as she embarks on some single nights to see if she can find someone to light that spark in her again. These adventures are filled with moments to make you laugh and cringe in equal measure. I think the author has perfectly created the environment in which she is writing about and it made me chuckle as reminded me of stories from friends with similar experiences.

As I read I enjoyed the fun element of the dating alongside the day to day highs and lows of life including a few unexpected surprises and curve balls. I loved the characters of Caitlin and Grace as they searched for the perfect balance and addressed her life choices in the lead up to the moment that she is in. I found this was a story I loved to come back to and I looked forward to sneaking in another 5 mins wherever I could to keep reading.

I can’t wait to read more by this author as this book held my attention beginning to end and I could easily visualise the story as it continue to unfold.

Book Blurb

Glentorrin bakery owner, and lone parent, Caitlin Fraser, is single and finally ready to mingle.


With her daughter, Grace, about to become a teenager, and her friends all settling down, Caitlin decides she deserves a shot at happiness too.


Resisting the pull of dating apps, Caitlin embarks upon a series of disastrous singles events where she bumps into fellow villager, and astronomy buff, Archie Sutherland, who is nursing his own past secrets.


When Grace’s best friend’s father, handsome Lyle Budge, asks Caitlin to dinner, things progress quickly and she has a taste of what their future as a family could be, much to both their daughters delight! But when Archie makes a shocking discovery, and he turns to Caitlin for help, she soon discovers Lyle isn’t the sharing type, meaning prickly ultimatums loom for everyone.


Will wishing upon the stars over Glentorrin help Caitlin to figure out her way forward? Or is her hunt for romance like a once in a lifetime comet, easily missed in the blink of an eye?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Lisa Hobman has written many brilliantly reviewed women’s fiction titles – the first of which was shortlisted by the RNA for their debut novel award. In 2012 Lisa relocated her family from Yorkshire to a village in Scotland and this beautiful backdrop now inspires her uplifting and romantic stories. Her first title for Boldwood Dreaming Under an Island Skye was published in February 2021.

Social Media Links

Facebook http://facebook.com/LisaJHobmanAuthor 

Twitter http://twitter.com/@LisaJHobmanAuth

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LisaHobmanNewsletter

Many Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to join the blog tour. Please remember to like and share to help spread the book love

Thanks for visiting Love the Smell of a Book today and I hope you have a great day!

Daisy & Kel x

Advertisement
Posted in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Chick Lit

Today I am delighted to be sharing my review and jumping on the blog tour for Heartcross Castle by Christie Barlow

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I always love picking up a book by Christie Barlow and this book did not disappoint. It was the perfect story to lose myself in over the Christmas period. From the very first few pages when we meet Grace you know that she is going to be integral in the story. As we discover how Grace is linked to Love Heart Lane we see her venturing back to Scotland and the castle with her three young boys in tow.

A book that can be read as part of the series or as a stand alone, it was lovely to revisit old characters from previous books whilst getting to know Grace and her boys. From the moment Grace steps off of the bus she feels at home again and the warm welcome she receives from childhood friends really instills the sense of community and how far they will go to look out for eachother. Grace’s boys are real characters that made me chuckle throughout and it was great to see how they grew and the antics they got upto as the story continued.

Whilst reading this book, I laughed at the antics of the boys and felt the pain experienced by Grace that she never managed to reconnect with her Grandad. This story will warm even the coldest heart and leave them wanting to read more. A truly wonderful read, that you will just want to curl up with and ignore the world once you start reading.

Book Blurb

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what

A second chance…

When her grandfather Marley passes away Grace Power discovers she’s been left the beautiful but crumbling estate of Heartcross Castle. As a single mum of three, Grace has no idea what she’s going to do with it – but who can say no to a roof over their kids’ heads and a chance to get away from past hurts?

And a forever home

Heartcross Castle is full of secrets – especially a lost security deposit box that holds the truth to everything… But when celebrity chef Andrew Glossop sets his eyes on the castle and, to make matters worse, mistakes Grace as the new housekeeper, Grace tells him there is absolutely NO CHANCE he is getting his hands on her home.
 
Devastated to have got it so wrong, Andrew will do anything to make it up to her – but is she willing to listen?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of fifteen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.

Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.

When Christie isn’t writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.

Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.

Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_barlow/?hl=en

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow 

Facebook page Christie Barlow author

Many Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to join the blog tour. Please remember to like and share to help spread the book love

Thanks for visiting Love the Smell of a Book today and I hope you have a great day!

Daisy & Kel x

Posted in 5*, Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Contemporary Fiction

This evening I am so excited to be sharing my review for superb – The Library by Bella Osborne

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I absolutely loved this heart warming story with Maggie and Tom quickly assuming the lead roles we follow their stories as they hit a cross roads where they encounter eachother and forge a friendship. The relationship between them initially feels like a necessity to them both due to the loneliness but as the story continues to progress so much more starts to evolve from this unlikely friendship.

Set between the library and the farm, both of which are places I’ve always loved to spend time. I loved this book and flew through it far too quickly. This story covers alcoholism, loss and loneliness but is written with such compassion that you are compelled to keep reading.

A superb book to kick the year off with, I really connected with the characters and felt sad to reach the end, I loved watching the relationship between Maggie & Tom grow as they both learnt to live a little more again and find a reason to laugh.

Book Blurb

Two different generations. Two unusual people. Thrown together to save their local library.


Tom is a teenager and blends into the background of life. After a row with his dad, and facing an unhappy future at the dog food factory, he escapes to the library. Tom unwittingly ends up with a bagful of romance novels and comes under the suspicion of Maggie.

Maggie is a pensioner and has been happily alone for ten years, at least that’s what she tells herself. When Tom comes to her rescue a friendship develops that could change her life. As Maggie helps Tom to stand up for himself, Tom helps Maggie realise the mistakes of her past don’t have to define her future.

They each set out to prove that the library isn’t just about books – it’s the heart of their community.

Together they discover some things are worth fighting for.

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Bella Osborne has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. In 2016, her debut novel, It Started At Sunset Cottage, was shortlisted for the Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year and RNA Joan Hessayon New Writers Award. Bella’s stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Bella believes that writing your own story really is the best fun ever, closely followed by talking, eating chocolate, drinking fizz and planning holidays. She lives in the Midlands, UK with her lovely husband and wonderful daughter, who thankfully, both accept her as she is (with mad morning hair and a penchant for skipping).

Social Media Links

Twitter: @osborne_bella

Facebook: @BellaOsborneAuthor

Instagram: bellaosborneauthor

Many thanks for the invitation to read and review your latest release.

Massive thanks to everyone who has stopped by to visit my blog, please remember to like and share to help spread the book love far and wide!

Have a great day

Daisy, Jacks & Kel x

Posted in 5*, Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Chick Lit

Today I am delighted to be joining the blog tour for A Wedding at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I am loving this series and this wonderful story did not disappoint, after the ending of the last book I was left desperate to know what was going to come next and this book plunges straight back into the story.

I loved that this time we got to spend time with Phoebe the quiet accountant and get to know her and her family, this story kept me keen to keep reading as I felt a real empathy towards Phoebe and little Darci as we came to understand more about their family set up and how important the role at Hedgehog Hollow really is to Phoebe.

Jessica Redland has a wonderful way with words and has quickly become a firm favourite as an author for me to pick up, especially when I need a little distraction. Her books are like receiving a hug and they always leave me either feeling warm and fuzzy.

If you are looking for some ultimate distraction, definitely read this series they are truly wonderful and the hedgehogs are simply wonderful to learn about.

Book Blurb

It’s time for the wedding we’ve all been waiting for…

Life at Hedgehog Hollow is never dull, although Samantha hopes that the new year ahead will be a little less chaotic as she prepares to marry the love of her life, Josh. But disaster strikes when she checks the rescue centre’s bank account after the festive season and discovers it has been emptied. Who would do such a thing, and why? With the future of Hedgehog Hollow now in jeopardy, planning a wedding has lost its shine.

Phoebe is desperate to escape the shadow of her family, infamously known for their attacks on Samantha’s beloved rescue centre. Could the kindness of the Hedgehog Hollow team be the chance she needs for a fresh start, or will her family’s secrets continue to drag her back?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Jessica Redland is the top 10 bestselling author of over thirteen novels, including The Secret to Happiness. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.

Social Media Links

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

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/JessicaRedland 

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

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter

Many Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to join the blog tour. Please remember to like and share to help spread the book love

Thanks for visiting Love the Smell of a Book today and I hope you have a great day!

Daisy & Kel x

Posted in 5*, Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Chick Lit

Today I am delighted to be jumping on the blog tour for Spring Surprise for the Cornish Midwife

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I have been loving this series so jumped at the chance to revisit the lovely ladies in Port Agnes and I was not disappointed. After a bit of a reading slump this book captured me and left me keen to keep picking up my book.

We get the chance to catch up with all the lovely ladies as Jess continues her journey into fostering whilst getting to know more of the charming Dexter. Alongside Anna edging closer to maternity leave and the arrival of her twins whilst Ella is planning her wedding.

This is a story packed with life changing moments and emotional highs and lows, where we get to know more about the midwives in the unit and also spend time with our favourites.

This story held my attention from first to last page and has totally recaptured my love of reading. A truly superb read, to curl up with on a rainy day, where once again Jo captures me as welcomes us back into this wonderful community of midwives she has created.

Book Blurb

Brand new from the top 10 bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife.

Midwife Jess knows she’ll never have a baby of her own, but she’s determined to still be a mum. So Jess decides to foster, providing love and support for children who desperately need it – something Jess never had as a child when she was in foster care.

Jess loves caring for the precious babies who come into her life, but letting them go again breaks her heart every time – can she really be a mum after all?

But then Jess finds a surprise on her doorstep – a newborn baby! As the search for the missing mum begins, Jess cares for the precious babe day and night. She desperately wants to reunite mum and baby, but knows that when the day comes, her own heart will shatter.

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Boldwood published the first title in The Cornish Midwife Series – part of a twelve-book deal – in April 2021.

Social Media Links

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/j_b_writer?lang=en  

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jo_bartlett123/?hl=en

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/JoBartlettNewsletter

Many Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to join the blog tour. Please remember to like and share to help spread the book love

Thanks for visiting Love the Smell of a Book today and I hope you have a great day!

Daisy & Kel x