Blog Tour: Summer at Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts

Summer at Rachel's Pudding Pantry

Caroline Roberts

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

The Pudding Pantry opens its doors for summer.

And there are wedding bells on the horizon . . .

Escape with the gorgeous new novel in the Pudding Pantry series.

The sun is shining as Rachel and her gorgeous beau Tom, prepare to tie the knot at Primrose Farm.

It takes a village to pull off the perfect country wedding and Rachel couldn't be more grateful for her friends and family as they roll out the hay-bales and string up the bunting - all she needs to do is focus on her Happy Ever After.

But no wedding is without drama. A face from the past is looking to stir up trouble in the village and there's a secret following Rachel all the way up the aisle . . .

With old friends, new promises and a little borrowed time, will Rachel get the wedding of her dreams?

----------------------------------------


Caroline lives in the wonderful Northumberland countryside with her husband, and has two children and a lively spaniel. She credits the sandy beaches, castles and rolling hills around her as inspiration for her novels. She enjoys writing about relationships; stories of friendship, love, loss and family, that explore how beautiful and sometimes complex love can be.

She believes in striving for your dreams, which after many years of writing led her to a publishing deal (yippee!) with her heart-wrenching novel The Desperate Wife and The Cosy Teashop in the Castle, a romantic comedy which became a Kindle bestseller. Summer at Rachel's Pudding Pantry is the third book in her latest series, set on a farm in beautiful rural Northumberland with cakes and bakes galore.

A slice of cake, glass of bubbly, and a cup of tea, would make her day - preferably served with friends!

If you'd like to find out more about Caroline, visit her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and her blog - she'd love to hear from you!

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

-----------------------------------------

Words cannot describe just how amazingly good this book is. It was an absolute pleasure being back at Primrose Farm with Rachel, little Maisy and of course lovely Jill. The cover of this book is probably my favourite of the whole series. I love the bright colours used, the confetti, the bunting and of course the flowers. It all ties in really well and looks so beautiful.

As the same as the other novels, this story focuses on Rachel and her life on Primrose Farm. Firstly, can I just say that I have absolutely no idea how she does everything and not collapse with exhaustion?! Rachel looks after the farm, runs the tea pantry, bakes in her spare time for the pantry, is a single mum to little Maisy, she also has a budding new romance with Tom which she is trying to keep going andddddd plan a wedding!! I mean, just how exhausting does that sound?! My hat goes off to her, because I certainly wouldn't be able to do what she does.

What is slightly different with this book is that we also see some chapters from best friend Eve's point of view. Eve is going through her own troubles, being married to Ben for years she feels that their relationship is starting to feel a little stagnant and that he sees her crafting job as just a little 'hobby'. So, when Eve goes to craft fairs to get business, she meets artist Aiden and falls for him. It was really refreshing and interesting to read more about Eve and what she decides to do. I was happy with how things turned out for her as she seemed like such a lovely and bubbly character who deserves a happy ending!

Although this novel is a follow on from the others, I would say you could easily read it as a standalone but I would urge you to read the others first so you can really enjoy and appreciate the storyline and all of the wonderful characters! This book was like a warm hug, I adored the descriptions of the bakes and yummy food from the Pantry - it seriously made my mouth water! - and I enjoyed reading about Rachel planning her wedding. This book was a breath of fresh air, it was wonderfully captivating and enjoyable.

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Sun, Sea and Sangria by Victoria Cooke

Sun, Sea and Sangria

Victoria Cooke

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Kat swore off dating many years ago, after her marriage ended in a catastrophic mess. Having moved to the Canary Islands for a fresh start, she has never had much time for romance, channelling all her energy into managing an all-male dance troupe - the Heavenly Hunks.

With golden beaches, sparkling blue water and relaxing after work with a glass of sangria - or three - for Kat, it's summer all year round.

But despite life being postcard-perfect, Kat can't help but wonder if she is missing out on the most important thing of all . . . love.

The dancers are well known for their flirtatious antics and aren't looking for anything serious . . . except Jay.

Handsome, caring and a good listener, he ignites a fire in Kat's heart that scares her witless. But her relationship with Jay should stay strictly professional . . . right?

As the temperature rises, will Kat be able to take the plunge, let go of her past and find romance in paradise?

Fans of As Greek as It Gets, Sunrise Over Sapphire Bay, and My Greek Island Summer will love Victoria Cooke!

--------------------------------------

The cover and description of this book completely drew me in. I needed some sunshine and romance in my life and this fit the bill perfectly. I've enjoyed quite a few novels by Victoria Cooke before so I was eager to get stuck into this one by her, as it includes all the things I love most - Sunshine, romance and of course - COCKTAILS!

This book started off quite slowly I'll be honest. When the description said that it was all about golden beaches, cocktails galore etc and I was reading about dance routines in bars, I was a little bored and was hoping it would get going. Luckily, the more I read the more I started enjoying it. I liked Kat, she wasn't my most relatable character but she had been through a lot with a controlling ex-husband so I really felt for her and what she had been through.

What I didn't really understand at first was that when Jay came onto the scene, Kat started telling him all her woes when they'd only known each other a day or so, so that felt a bit rushed to me and the death of her school-friend kind of seemed a little irrelevant to the overall storyline (sorry I know that sounds harsh!). However, as I mentioned above the story soon got better and soon I was dying to know what was going to happen next! Whether Kat would get together with Alonso or whether she would get closer to Jay and if they won the competition!

It was an exciting novel in the end, and I did love the location as well as the overall storyline. The dancers all seemed really nice and had their own quirks and there are some laugh out loud moments that made me want to read on. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Little Shop in Cornwall by Helen Pollard

The Little Shop in Cornwall

Helen Pollard

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Claudia thought she knew how this summer was going to go. Turns out, she didn't have a clue...

It's been two years since Claudia arrived on the beautifully rugged Cornish coast with nothing but a suitcase to her name. She'd walked out on the husband who had never loved her, ditched the corporate job she'd never wanted and vowed that no gym membership card would come within ten feet of her ever again.

Swapping boardrooms and cocktails for a little shop right at the end of the beach roach should have been a bit of a shock. But from the moment she first laid eyes on the empty, run-down store, Claudia knew this was where she was meant to be all along.

After all the upheaval, Claudia was looking forward to a quiet summer, full of the usual holiday makers and long walks along the clifftops. But life in her patch of paradise is about to change in more ways than one.

Enter recently widowed Jason, dragging his sullen teenage daughter Millie in tow. Millie and Claudia immediately hit it off. And while Millie loves everything about Claudia's free-spirited way of life, practical architect Jason is less than thrilled with his daughter's new interests. He doesn't shy away from telling Claudia exactly what he thinks and sparks fly every time they meet.

But as circumstances throw Claudia into Jason's path in increasingly unexpected ways, she begins to glimpse what lies beneath his fiery temper and sharp tongue. Claudia was sure her new life was perfect in every way. But was there something missing after all?

The perfect summer holiday escape, full of warmth, humour and heart. Fans of Sarah Morgan, Cathy Bramley and Phillipa Ashley will be charmed by this seaside romance.

------------------------------------

I think you just know when you first start a book whether you are going to enjoy it or not. And that's what happened with me with this novel. As soon as I started reading the first page of the Prologue, I knew I was going to love it. I haven't read a novel by Helen Pollard in sooooo long so I couldn't wait to read this one. I absolutely adored her La Cour de Roses series which was set in France. So to be reading another novel by this author felt really great and I was excited to get stuck in!

This was such a refreshing read. It's about main character Claudia who has opened her own New Age shop in Cornwall after a tough divorce with her ex-husband. After wanting to get as far away as possible from her ex-husband, she decides that Cornwall is the perfect place to move to with its beautiful scenery and sea. Claudia works hard in her shop to learn about everything she sells. She offers meditation classes for free, does yoga everyday and is generally happy with the new life she has set up for herself.

That is until, Jason arrives on the scene with daughter Millie. Jason and Millie have been through some terrible heartache that made me well up with emotion on more than one occasion. Claudia can sense that they have broken souls and so tries to help them out, and in the process, she realises she has fallen in love with Jason. Jason is possibly the most different type of person from herself that she could find. He doesn't believe in what she practices and turns his nose up at half the stuff she does or says. However, the pair soon grow close because of their love of Millie and the beautiful setting of Cornwall brings them together.

This was a fabulous novel that I loved reading. I loved reading about the drama with Hester's Cauldron and felt sorry for Claudia with what she was going through. There was a bit of mystery there with Alice too and I wondered more than once whether that would amount to anything. It was a great read and I loved every page. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

In Case You Missed It by Lindsey Kelk

In Case You Missed It

Lindsey Kelk

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

What if Mr Right was right in front of you all along?
The hilarious new rom-com from the Sunday Times bestselling author - available to pre-order now!

When Ros comes home after three years away, she's ready to pick up with life exactly where she left it. But her friends have moved on, her parents have rekindled their romance, and her bedroom is now a garden shed. All of a sudden, she's swept up in nostalgia for the way things were.

Then her phone begins to ping, with messages from her old life. Including one number she thought she'd erased for good - the man who broke her heart. Is this her second chance at one big love? Sometimes we all want to see what we've been missing...


---------------------------------------

I've read only a few novels by Lindsey Kelk but I have really enjoyed them so I was looking forward to getting stuck into this one. The cover is simple and doesn't give anything away but the bright colours really make it stand out and it looks so pretty! Also, wasn't sure on the title of the novel but again as I mentioned before I couldn't wait to read it!

This one was absolutely brilliant. I love Lindsey's easy humour, her novels are so easy and enjoyable to read and I felt like I flew through the pages. Laughing at Ros' attempts at romance and the adventures she has with her friends. There are some real laugh-out-loud moments in this book, such as a certain sushi situation that took place between Ros' parents. I also loved Ros' mum, she seemed like such a fun character! All of the characters I liked really. I kind of knew what was going to happen throughout, but there were other moments that I had no clue what was going to happen and the end result made me laugh!

This novel is set in London, with main character Ros who has just moved back from Washington where she has just lost her job. Since she has moved back in with her parents, everything doesn't seem the same as before. She feels her friends have moved on with their lives, her mum and dad have even got a romantic spark that wasn't there before. So, when Patrick comes back into her life, it seemed like all her dreams had come true - as Patrick was the one who got away and Ros believes she's still madly in love with him. But, everything isn't the same as before and Ros learns the hard way that everything happens for a reason and the past is the past for a reason.

It's a great, lighthearted novel. I loved all of Ros' friends, her parents, the easy humour. It was just a really lovely read. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Sunset in Sydney by Sandy Barker

A Sunset in Sydney

Sandy Barker

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

How far would you go in the name of love?

Sarah Parsons has a choice ahead of her. After the trip of a lifetime she's somehow returned home with TWO handsome men wanting to whisk her way into the sunset.

Pulled in two directions across the globe, it's making life trickier than it sounds. Her gorgeous American Josh, wants to meet Sarah in Hawaii for a holiday to remember. Meanwhile silver fox James plans to wine and dine her in London.

It's a lot to handle for this Aussie girl, who had totally sworn off men!

Join Sarah after her adventure in One Summer in Santorini, for the heart-warming and uplifting third novel in The Holiday Romance series.

Travel to beautiful destinations with old friends and new in this gorgeous romantic novel perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Sue Roberts.

-----------------------------------------

How lovely it is to be back with Sarah and her love triangle! How would it feel to have not just one, but two men in love with you and wanting to be with you and whisk you off for lovely holidays! I have enjoyed Sandy's other novels very much and I couldn't wait to read this one as well. The cover really stood out to me, I adore the colour of the sky and the Sydney Opera House taking centre stage. It really is a stunning cover and made me want to delve straight in!

As mentioned, this story follows main character Sarah as she makes her journey towards deciding who she prefers out of Josh and James. Both men are very different. Josh being young, American and quite care-free, and James being older, English and very, very rich. This novel has laugh-out-loud moments (like when the bellboy walked in on Sarah in Hawaii) and I really found myself wanting to read this novel more and more as the story went on. Sarah is really rather fond of both of her lovers, and simply cannot decide who she prefers. Of course, the main issue is location (with them both being half way around the world from her) and other issues being age as well as class.

It's a fantastically refreshing, enjoyable and lighthearted novel which is a perfect easy read, especially in these uncertain times. We get to read about a lot of the world including beautiful Hawaii and New Zealand as well as a lot of scrumptious descriptions of the food that Sarah gets to enjoy on her various trips. I also enjoyed how there are three parts of the book, as it makes it easier to understand just where abouts Sarah is. The style of writing is simply and really nice to read. I just really loved this novel. I can't wait to read more by Sandy in the future.

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Summer on Seashell Island by Sophie Pembroke

Summer on Seashell Island

Sophie Pembroke

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

All you need is one summer to change your life...

Miranda Waters has always loved Seashell Island - while her brother and sister escaped it as soon as they were old enough. So when Miranda is left in charge of her parents' Lighthouse B&B for the summer, the last thing she expects is her wayward siblings showing up at the door, seeking sanctuary.

It's been years since they've all lived under the same roof. Now, they're facing a whole summer together - and a crisis for the B&B and Seashell Island. With the Lighthouse filled with people - including two imaginative nieces, a four piece folk-rock band, and an unruly llama - and a lifetime of secrets between them, can the Waters siblings work together to save their home before it's too late?

This summer it's time to discover that home really is where the heart is, and what family really means...

The perfect summer holiday romance for fans of Heidi Swain, Phillipa Ashley and Sarah Morgan

------------------------------------

I don't believe I've ever read a novel by this author but I was looking forward to giving it a go. The cover is simple but pretty and it caught my eye. I love the little Lucy (Lucifer) the llama which makes an appearance! It's really summery and I adore the bright colours.

So, the story follows three main characters. The three siblings - Miranda, who is the eldest, Leo, and Juliet who is the youngest. Each 'chapter' focuses on a different sibling and talks about what their thoughts and feelings are. The three siblings have been through an equally horrible amount of heartache, all for different reasons.

At first I felt really sorry for Miranda, because the way the author described it, it was like neither of her siblings liked her because she was so set in her ways. Yes, she did have a couple of annoying tendencies but when you scratch away at the surface you get to see why she is the way she is and why she likes things a certain way. I think I connected to Juliet's story the most though. I was just so intrigued as to what she was going to do that I was looking forward to reading her part of the story. It was Leo that fascinated me the least, maybe because of his male character, I'm not so sure.

The location of this novel sounded beautiful, a small island just off the Welsh coast that is usually brimming with tourists in the summer months, however in recent years there seemed to be a dip in visitors and the three family members have to find out what is happening exactly with their parents Lighthouse B&B. I loved reading about all three siblings and how, nearer the end of the book, they all came together and realised how important family is.

Overall, a really enjoyable and lighthearted novel. I really enjoyed it and shall be looking out for more novels by this author in future. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Forget-Me-Not Summer by Sophie Claire

A Forget-Me-Not Summer

Sophie Claire

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

*Previously published as Her Forget-Me-Not Ex*

The cosy and charming second novel from Sophie Claire, author of The Christmas Holiday. A perfect read for fans of Trisha Ashley and Cathy Bramley!

It's taken years, but Natasha Brown's life is finally on track. Running a florists in the quaint village of Willowbrook, she's put her short-lived marriage to Luc Duval far behind her. That is, until he unexpectedly walks through her shop door, three years after their divorce.

Luc reveals that he never told his family about their split, and now his father is desperately ill and demanding to meet Natasha. Luc needs her to come to France and pretend they're still happily married. Natasha is horrified, but when Luc makes her an offer she can't refuse, reluctantly packs her bags.

The deal is two weeks on a vineyard with his family, but will Luc and Natasha be able to play the perfect couple after years apart? And in the glorious Provence sun, will the old spark between them be impossible to ignore?

--------------------------------

I don't think I could quite possibly put into words just how much I enjoyed this novel. I don't believe I've ever read a book by Sophie Claire before but wow I will definitely be looking out for more of her novels in future! The cover didn't exactly blow me away, but when I read that this story was set in the beautiful location of Provence, I just knew I had to give it a read. What I didn't know was just how much I would love it!

The story follows main characters Natasha and Luc, who were once married and had been through one of the most awful experiences and pain imaginable. The couple were distant with each other and Natasha soon left and built a business and life for herself in Willowbrook. I wasn't keen on Luc at first because of what he had put Natasha through and how cold he was. Even when they get to France he still springs surprises on Natasha and to me it just seemed he was really self-centred and childish. However, when we get to read the story from Luc's point of view, it made me realise that he too had been through the heartbreak and made me warm to him a little more.

The location of the novel sounded idyllic. I love novels set in France anyway but this was off the scale. The descriptions made me feel as though I was actually there on the Duval's vineyard, surrounded by the juicy grapes and the scent of flowers enveloping me. I loved all of Luc's family, they seemed so lovely, kind and so family-orientated which I found very heartwarming. The storyline had me gripped from the start and I was so intrigued to find out what happened between Luc and Natasha and whether they would reconnect and retry with their relationship.

Overall, a lovely sunshiney read with heartwarming and heartbreaking topics. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.