A Scottish Highland Hideaway by Julie Shackman ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 15th August 2024

Genre: Romance

Summary:

For Bailey McArthur, her family and job mean everything. She runs her own floristry shop and loves spending time in nature in the pretty town of Heather Moore, whilst desperately trying to forget about being jilted on her wedding day.

When journalist Zach Stern arrives in town asking questions about a famous actor, Bailey decides to throw him off the trail of the superstar hiding out in the Scottish Highlands.

But despite Bailey’s efforts to thwart Zach's investigation she finds herself falling for him. It’s just a shame she can’t be honest with him. But then, Bailey might not be the only one with a secret to hide…

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, One More Chapter and Julie Shackman for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
OK so I discovered Julie's books last year with a brilliant Christmas book that I absolutely devoured and so when this one came up I knew I had to read it. I really love her writing style it makes for such an easy book to read because I practically step into the places she created like I'm watching the interaction in Bailey's shop or gossiping with her employees, I love that it feels that way. It's a really well-done enemies-to-lovers trope, much like Bailey I started off distrusting and disliking Zach and he really had to work to earn that trust so that by the end I was yelling at Bailey to go find him and have her happy ending because they clearly are meant to be.
But I have to say my absolute favourite interactions in the whole book were Bailey and Ezra. They were so similar and their experiences with the media were almost mirror image to some degree and I loved how caring Bailey was towards him because she knew what he was going through in that regard and she wanted to protect him. Their friendship was by far my favourite relationship in the book(yes I know it's meant to be the romance but you read it and tell me you didn't love them!).
Everything about this book gave me the autumnal vibes and I am so ready to embrace that, this book gave me the cosy feeling I needed and I will definitely be rereading it soon. Julie Shackman is an auto-buy author for me and I plan to head into her back catalogue asap for more trips to Scotland.

Krystina xx

The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath~Blog Tour

 Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 18th January 2024

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Summary:

It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.

But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, One More Chapter and Sue Heath for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
So this book has dragged me through so many emotions, I've smiled a lot at what I've read but I've cried so much too! I have to start off by saying that I absolutely adored Mary( and Charles) she reminded me a lot of my Grandma, from her name to her stubborn personality and love of baking that I actually found myself in floods of tears at the end of the book ( and that's the only way I can say this without spoilers). She and Charles were just so adorable, I loved how in love with each other they are and how that had a knock-on effect on all the other characters. I definitely loved everyone in this book, there wasn't a character that you had to dislike, they were all so damn lovely and perfectly flawed in their own ways. I really felt for poor Kate, she had so much trauma to deal with and so much grief and, though it sounds awful, I loved watching the way she dealt with everything thrown in her path and found a way to live her life again, and I especially love that she did it through food. Food is a brilliant way to bring people together to enjoy each other's company and talk through things and I love how well this was shown in this book.
I liked the way we had chapters from everyone, I so enjoyed seeing each of their points of view and Sue Heath's writing style is so lovely to read. I started this book this morning and breezed through it in no time at all, it just flowed so beautifully. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her, even if they drag all the emotions out of me!

Krystina xx

The Bookshop by the Loch by Julie Shackman~Blog Tour

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 1st February 2024

Genre: Romance

Summary:

Lexie Dunbar is a book lover. And her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends. So when she hears that it’s going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help.

Lexie’s plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified, the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her.

Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever after…

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, One More Chapter and Julie Shackman for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I knew I needed to read this because I absolutely adored the last book by Julie Shackman that I read, so I know her writing style is fantastic and she's going to give me all the feels with whatever she writes. I wasn't wrong this book has made me laugh, smile, get annoyed and cry like my heart is breaking.

I really liked Lexie, she was a brilliant FMC you really feel for her predicament and get angry on her behalf at times, I have to say I loved how much she loves books. 
On the flip side when I first encountered Tobias I disliked him so much, he was so rude and irritatingly self-centred, but much like he did with Lizzie he grew on me and I did really love him to bits by the end. It was fun to watch them dancing around each other and getting mixed up about how they each felt until they finally worked out all the crossed wires.
I loved Celeste, she was the whole reason I cried at this book, her story pulled at all my heartstrings way more than anyone else's and I equally loved and hated her ending because it really made me cry, so much so that my child came over to hug me because apparently, books shouldn't make you sad.
I loved this book, I think I'm probably going to end up buying a physical copy for my shelf( and to reread)  because it's definitely a book I need to read again.

Krystina xx