Category: Contemporary Fiction

Posted in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Contemporary Fiction

Today I am super excited to be joining the blog tour for The Christmas Letters by Jenny Hale

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

What a wonderful story, I always love reading books by Jenny Hale and this was no exception. When Liz returns home for Christmas after 7 years in New York, she is unsure what she will find after the loss of her Nan earlier in the year.

When Liz meets up with Naomi her childhood friend, we start to see glimpses of who Liz was before she became Elizabeth in New York. I was swept up in this story straight away as we revisit traditions including the letters her Nan used to write to friends and family to go with her cookies each year.

I loved the way the plot evolved and loved this story from beginning to end. What beats a Christmas story, based on a farm surrounded by snow and Christmas traditions with a sprinkling of romance.

Book Blurb

From the USA Today bestselling author of Coming Home for Christmas, with over one million copies of her books sold, comes a heartwarming holiday story that’s perfect for fans of Sheila Roberts, Debbie Macomber, and Jill Shalvis.

Elizabeth Holloway’s sparkling world comes crashing down around her when her boyfriend of seven years drops the bomb that he’s leaving her—at Christmas. In an attempt to piece her life back together, she suddenly finds herself seven hundred miles from her New York City home, trudging through the snow, back at her childhood farm in the Great Smoky Mountains.

And she isn’t expecting to meet visitor Paul Dawson with his dazzlingly blue eyes and warm smile, chipping away at her resolve to focus on figuring out who she is and what she really wants in life.

Just when she starts to think things are moving in the right direction, a stack of letters from Elizabeth’s grandmother will change everything she thought she knew about her family and cause a divide between her and Paul that she never saw coming.

Under the glitter of Christmas trees and bundles of mistletoe, Elizabeth uncovers more than she’d ever imagined. Will the Christmas letters strip her of everything she holds dear? Or will they be the biggest gift of the season?

A heartwarming holiday escape that will have you rushing to your loved ones this Christmas. If you enjoyed the Christmas movies based on Jenny’s books and are looking for more feel-good, small-town romance, look no further!

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies. 

She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers. 

When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favourite pastime.

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Posted in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction

What better way to end the weekend than with a review for the wonderful Making Waves at River View Cottage by Jennifer Bohnet

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I am a massive fan of books by Jennifer Bohnet and this story is a previous release that was originally known as Call of the Sea and I jumped at the chance to read one that I hadn’t previously read.

We meet the lovely Cassie and her family from the offset as her son Tom is preparing to finish his competitive sailing career with a round the world boat race. I found that I got to know the family and their back story early on and you could see the love of sailing in the family.

I absolutely loved this emotional story as we experienced the highs and lows with Cassie during the boat race and the old feelings that surface whilst she contemplates a new romance. The perfect story to pick up on a rainy day and curl up and lose yourself in.

Book Blurb

Cassie Lewis, a widow for over 20 years has begun to realise there must be more to life.

In-between working at the family boatyard in picture perfect Dartmouth and raising two children, she wonders where the years have gone.

Both her children, Tom and Polly, have inherited their father’s love of sailing and currently Tom is preparing for a gruelling round the world race. When an accident forces Tom to pull out, Polly, to Cassie’s horror, insists she is capable of taking his place.

As Polly prepares for the race, Cassie unexpectedly finds herself with two keen and eligible men vying for her love.

With her BIG 5-0 birthday approaching Cassie knows she has some big decisions to make but will the worry over Polly’s safe return, cloud her judgement?

Originally published in 2003 as Call of the Sea

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 12 women’s fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Bohnet/100063527178184/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniewriter 

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

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-bohnet 

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 Adult Fiction, Blogs, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction

Today I am delighted to be reviewing The Only Exception by Claire Huston

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

This has been in my pile since release day and I finally got a gap to read it and I’m so glad I did! I loved the first visit we had last year to the Compton’s when I read Art & Soul and really enjoyed this visit too.

We encounter Alex & Lucinda who meet in a fluke encounter in a lift early on in the story and after a sticky start build up an unlikely friendship. We spend time getting to know both of these wonderful characters and learn about their highs and lows of life and where they are currently at. As we get to know them we start to piece information together to understand how they have gotten to their current place in life and what they are planning to do to make changes. After they spend a bizarre afternoon/evening together they find some common ground and the pace and direction of the book really comes into its own.

A really enjoyable story, that I loved it was one of those that the more I read, the more I wanted to read. If you haven’t grabbed a copy and you fancy a light hearted read that will make you chuckle, then grab a copy now!

Book Blurb

Lucinda Green knows something is missing from her life. But what? Her catering business is enjoying modest success and she loves her cosy house, even if she does have to share it with her irritating ex-fiancé.

Whatever’s making her unsettled and edgy, Lucinda’s certain that a lack of romance isn’t the problem. How could it be when she doesn’t believe in true love?

But Lucinda’s beliefs are shaken by a series of electric encounters with Alex Fraser, a newly notorious actor who gradually proves himself to be infuriatingly funny and smart, as well as handsome.

Not that any of that matters. Because Lucinda doesn’t believe in all that ‘The One’ nonsense. That’s the rule.

But doesn’t every rule have an exception?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire, UK, with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it.

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for all the cakes mentioned in Art and Soul at http://www.clairehuston.co.uk along with over 150 other recipes. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

As well as her website, you can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Goodreads: linktr.ee/clairehuston_author

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

Let’s end the day with our review for the wonderful An Italian Dream by Kate Frost

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

What a wonderful story set in a gorgeous destination, full of sunshine, cocktails and food with the added addition of wonderful friendships both old and new.

I loved meeting Stella & Fern and learning about their friendship and looking back over the past 20 years as they both head towards their 40th birthdays. Fern fell pregnant with her twins at just 18 years old and so her life took a very unexpected turn, whilst her best friend although she fell pregnant young has lived a very different life.

I love books by Kate Frost, she always takes us to beautiful destinations that make you feel as if you are really there and soaking in the atmosphere alongside the wonderful characters that she creates.

A truly wonderful summer read, that is perfect for a lazy day in the sun to make you want to reach for your cocktail glass and soak up the summer rays.

Book Blurb

Follow your heart and then your dreams…

Best friends since childhood, Fern Chambers and Stella Shaw have been through everything together and are at a crossroads in their lives.

Carefree Stella has a monumental secret and put upon Fern’s happy life is not all it seems.

With their 40th birthdays approaching, a luxury holiday to the island of Capri is a chance for them to reconnect, let their hair down and celebrate in style. But untold truths and frustration bubble beneath the surface, turning what should be a holiday of a lifetime into an opportunity to make life-changing decisions.

Far from home, where anything feels possible, secrets are revealed, heartache is shared, love discovered and new friendships forged.

Will their Italian dream turn into a nightmare or lead to newfound happiness?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Kate Frost is the author of several bestselling romantic escape novels including The Greek Heart, and The Love Island Bookshop. She lives in Bristol and is the Director of  Storytale Festival, a book festival for children and teens she co-founded in 2019. 

Social Media Links

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/katefrostauthor 

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/katefrostauthor 

Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/katefrostauthor/ 

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

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 Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction

Happy Friday! Today I am sharing my review for A Leap of Faith for the Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I am absolutely loving this series and was super excited to get to visit the wonderful midwives again. During this visit we spend more time with Izzy who we’ve briefly been introduced to in the past.

As Izzy and her Grandparents relocate for summer, Izzy becomes acutely aware of the life firsts that she is going to miss out on with her Grandmother. Which in turn makes her even more determined to spend time with her and make the most of the time they do have.W

With the addition of some new characters including the latest arrival for Bobby & Toni. Plus the ever popular Reverend Noah who is stepping in for summer, it was great to get to know some different characters.

What is there not to love in this heartfelt series, each book is full of emotion as we spend time and go through the highs and lows with these wonderful ladies and their families.

Book Blurb

Midwife Izzy is devastated to learn that her beloved grandmother is dying. Abandoned as a baby by her own mother, her grandparents have been the only family Izzy has ever known and she wants to spend every last precious moment with them.

New locum vicar, Noah, is a wonderful support – kind, considerate and always there for Izzy whenever she needs a shoulder to cry on. But secretly Noah is battling his own doubts about his faith – how can he offer Izzy comfort if he doesn’t truly believe his own words?

When Izzy and Noah are brought together to support grieving parents, Noah reaches breaking point. He can’t stay in Port Agnes and live a lie. But Izzy is adamant it’s the only place she can be….

Will love find a way or will Izzy’s hopes of a future be dashed?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Thanks so much for looking at my books on Amazon. I write warm-hearted and uplifting stories of friendship, family, community, and love.

My stories are set in two locations, on the beautiful Cornish Atlantic Coast and in Kent’s Garden of England. It’s that sense of community that makes these settings so perfect for my novels.

Friendships, and particularly women supporting other women, are integral to my stories, be they midwives, business owners, or mums who meet at the school gates to share the highs and lows of life. There’s always a rollercoaster ride but, no matter what, there’ll also be a guaranteed happy ending to put a smile on your face by the time you reach that final page.

The readers who’ve chosen my books have made all of my writing dreams come true. I really hope you’ll decide to join them, take a break and enjoy getting lost in a feel-good story, with characters who’ll soon feel like old friends.

Thanks again for stopping by, Jo xx

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 Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Contemporary Fiction

Today I am really excited to be sharing my review for The Secrets of Summer House by Rachel Burton

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

What a wonderful story, I have loved my trip to Summer House. Set over a 40 year period we meet Olivia who is now an adult and has many unanswered questions following the death of her beloved Grandmother and also Olivia’s parents who she tragically lost as a baby.

This story was full of stories of the past and the hopes for the future for Tristan & Alice before everything began to unravel. I loved the location and the references to the boat races and commune. As I read I could feel the descriptions jumping from the page, making it easy to bring the story to life.

A wonderful story full of strong women and amazing friendships, I loved this beginning to end and absolutely love the ending for this story.

Book Blurb

An emotional, atmospheric summer read about family secrets and loyalty from the author ofKindle bestseller A Bookshop Christmas.The secrets of Summer House are about to come out at last…1976. Rushing out of the University Library, undergraduate Alice Kenzie bumps straight into PhD student Tristan Somers. There begins a whirlwind romance, and Alice falls pregnant and gives birth to a baby girl. Then Tristan is killed in a car accident. Unable to cope, Alice takes her baby to SummerHouse, Tristan’s family home in Suffolk, leaves her there and disappears.2018. Olivia Somers has always been told that her mother died in the same accident as her father.But when she finds a bundle of old letters in Summer House, everything she ever believed about her mother is called into question. Can she find her–and even more importantly, forgive her?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Rachel has a degree in Classics and another in English Literature, and fell into a career in law bymistake. She hasspent most of her life between Cambridge and London but now lives in Yorkshirewith her husband and their three cats. She loves yoga, ice hockey, tea, The Beatles, dresses withpockets and very tall romantic heroes. Find her on Twitter & Instagram as @RachelBWriter or follow her blog at rachelburtonwrites.com

Social Media Links

Twitter: @RachelBWriter

Facebook: @Rachelburton74

Instagram: @RachelBWriter

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

Today I am delighted to be sharing my 5* review for With This Kiss by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

Today I am so excited to be sharing my review for this superb story, I picked it up whilst on holiday to read and was instantly transported into the world of the wonderful Lorelai. I loved this book so much that I preordered a copy for my best friend and she is currently reading it and absolutely loving it as well.

When you first meet Lorelai you don’t think much of the fact that she is quite content working at the cinema and living with her best friend. However as you get to know her, you learn about how she learnt about her secret and the impact this has then had on her life.

I found this a refreshing read and totally different to anything else that I have read this year, making it really memorable. Lorelai was a complex character that avoided all relationships and affection in the hope of not revealing her secret to anyone.

This was my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last as I was totally absorbed and just loved getting to know these wonderful characters.

Book Blurb

If you knew how your love story ends, would you dare to begin?

From the outside, Lorelai is an ordinary young woman with a normal life. She loves reading, she works at the local cinema and she adores living with her best friend. But she carries a painful burden, something she’s kept hidden for years; whenever she kisses someone on the lips, she sees how they are going to die.

Lorelai has never known if she’s seeing what was always meant to be, or if her kiss is the thing that decides their destiny. And so, she hasn’t kissed anyone since she was eighteen.

Then she meets Grayson. Sweet, clever, funny Grayson. And for the first time in years she yearns for a man’s kiss. But she can’t…or can she? And if she does, should she try to intervene and change what she sees?

Spellbinding, magical and utterly original, With This Kiss is one love story you will never forget.

Available to purchase here

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 Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction

Today I am excited to share my review for Villa of Second Chance by Jennifer Bohnet

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I loved the opportunity to visit this lovely selection of characters, with the story set against the gorgeous backdrop of the French Riviera. We meet Rebecca & Delphine head towards a change in their paths after Delphine was suddenly widowed, whilst they are also preparing for the second wedding for Freya and Marcus.

I am a massive fan of books by this wonderful author as they are always set in a warm and sunny location and always contain that wonderful feel good factor to make you smile even on the most miserable days. The villa that they have hired for the wedding sounds amazing and as soon as the words swimming pool were uttered, I could just imagine cocktails around the pool.

This story is about second chance for everyone whether that be in love or just reconnecting family ties, I love the insight we gain into each personal story as we spend time with everyone. A truly gorgeous story based around the wonderful love story of Freya and Marcus, another highly recommended read.

Book Blurb

Escape to the Villa in the South of France with Top 10 international bestseller Jennifer Bohnet, for an uplifting story of family, love and second chances.

 Run by sisters Rebecca and Delphine, Villa Sesame is a popular venue for small intimate weddings on the sparkling French Riviera. Beautiful terraces and a horizon pool all over look the Mediterranean setting the scene to make memorable days and dreams come true.
When recently widowed Delphine unexpectedly announces her desire to retire and live a different life, Rebecca feels her own life could be slipping into free fall.
How can she possibly carry on with the business without her sister at her side? Could this be the beginning of the end for Villa Sésame and Rebecca’s life as she knows it?
As the guests gather for the June wedding of Freya and Marcus, Freya’s two childhood friends bring their own problems to the villa and cousin Verity has her own agenda.
But it’s the arrival of a certain guest who throws Rebecca’s whole world into turmoil and she finds herself asking the question, where do I go from here?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women’s fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

Social Media

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Bohnet-170217789709356/ 

Twitter – https://twitter.com/jenniewriter 

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

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-bohnet  

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 Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Contemporary Fiction

My third and final review of the day is for an author whose books I always love to pick up – The Story of Our Secrets by Shari Low

Posted on by LovetheSmellofaBook

My Review

I am a massive fan of Shari Low as her books always take me on an emotional journey and in the first few pages I knew this one would steal my heart.

We meet Colm straight away and know from this point on that this story won’t be straight forward and that there will be emotional highs and lows throughout as we learn about his relationship with Shauna and his gorgeous daughter Beth.

Set across a dual timeline 5 years apart we get to know Colm and then also what life was like for Shauna, Jess and Dan when we spend time with them in the future. I quickly learnt to love Dan and Shauna as they were easy going characters who are both trying to put one foot in front of the other. I took longer to warm to Lu and Jess as found them both to be prickly and they both take an emotional toll on Dan and Shauna.

This is a story that just keeps on giving as secrets come to light as they share their highs and lows in a bid to move on and I absolutely loved it.

Book Blurb

Colm O’Flynn was loved by his close circle of family and friends, however his death came too soon for everyone to make peace with their past.

Shauna, his second wife, adored him. But one night she broke their marriage vows, and didn’t get time to ask Colm’s forgiveness.

Jess was the first Mrs O’Flynn. Her heart is set on someone new, but will the last one night stand she shared with Colm come back to haunt her?

Colm’s best friend, Dan, is recently divorced. Can he take a second shot at happiness if it means betraying the one person who always had his back?

What no-one knows is that somewhere out there Colm left messages that could set them free to start over again.

Can divine intervention help them find Colm’s last wishes before it’s too late to love again?

Available to purchase here

Meet the Author

Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 25 novels, including One Day In Summer, My One Month Marriage, and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/sharilow

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

Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/ShariLowNewsletter

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shari-low

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