So Happy to be on the Blog tour for the debut of Ko Porteous and her book, The Freshman Parents, the first in the Empty Nesters series.
The Blurb
They’re off for the time of their lives. But are you?
Book #1 in The Empty Nesters Series.
Single parent Heather isn’t neurotic (honest!) – she’s simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university – so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice on a parents’ forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad whose “helpful” statistics and assertions about “helicopter parenting” leave her fuming.
Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren’t just roommates – they are self-declared “besties for life”. Suddenly, Heather and Scott are thrown into a begrudging alliance.
As they navigate the new status quo, Heather’s instinct to organise meets Scott’s philosophy of letting go. Their practical text messages about mattress toppers and emergency supplies evolve into conversations about dream jobs and bucket list aspirations. Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing them together, meaning Heather and Scott find it increasingly difficult to ignore each other…
I cannot explain just how much I enjoyed reading this as a woman of a certain age. The story covers two single parents whose daughters are off to university, and the all-encompassing worry that surrounds that, from two very different perspectives. The story begins with a Facebook group-style chat for parents whose children are going to university for the first time, where our two main characters meet and clash. Heather is a character I can relate to (not the single-parent bit, though!). A mother who only wants the best for her child, but as the sole caregiver so far, she finds it hard to let go totally. Scott is a single father who feels he has equipped his daughter with everything she needs to be independent and a true life decision-maker for herself. They clash over mattress toppers at first, then, when the girls start university and are in the same accommodation block, tensions simmer as the two parents meet. There is midlife, and then there is MIDLIFE. These two are both there, and it is fantastic to read how they navigate their different parenting styles and the needs of their children, who grow close and have to spend more time together. Slowly, layers are unravelled, and you get to see the true reason they parent the way they do, and there is a bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance going on. Heather and Scott’s characters go on a journey as they learn to live and love a little again. I was invested the whole way through, and loved the little Facebook updates which echo the concerns of many parents as their children leave home for the first time, as well as giving a bit of a giggle with some questions and answers.
About The Author
Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10.
Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving women navigating the messiness of life. She has worked as a Research Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.
As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and provides listening services for a mental health charity aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide.
In her free time Ko loves to run, meditate and travel; preferably all on the same day.
Ko has been married for 25 years, has 2 children of her own and is now navigating her own empty nest.
The Freshman Parents is Ko’s debut novel and is the first in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series.
I am thrilled to have the President of the RNA, and fabulous author, Sue Moorcroft’s latest release, Secrets of the Italian Guest House, on the blog today!
The Blurb
Two sisters she’s never met A first love who’s impossible to forget…
For Jade, life in Lake Como is la dolce vita. Until her beloved grandmother passes, leaving Jade not just the family’s bustling guesthouse to run, but two life-changing secrets to confront…
The pensione hasn’t just been left to Jade, it’s also been inherited by her sisters – who she had no idea existed. As Erin and Rosalie arrive in Italy, Jade is forced to face the heart-wrenching prospect of sharing her last remaining tie to the woman who raised her.
Jade is desperately trying to hold on to the past, but there’s one person she would prefer to leave firmly behind: her first love, Leo. He’s back in the city that is filled with the memories they once made together. But as Jade fights to take control of her future and her heart, why do all cobbled roads lead back to Leo?
Lose yourself in the first, utterly romantic novel in a brand-new trilogy, filled with new beginnings and second chances. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Milly Johnson.
Lake Como is calling me this time, and Sue Moorcroft is to blame for it! We are whisked off to Lake Como to a small pensione, like a guesthouse, run by Jade and her grandmother. Only, her grandmother, upon her demise, reveals a secret via her solicitor that changes Jade’s life. Such an intimate dissection of family relationships and politics, as we weave through Jade’s idyllic childhood, on the face of it, but the gaping holes that were papered over, like her non-existent father and Houdini mother. Then to find out she has siblings… I really loved how this was written, and cannot wait to read more about these three sisters!
Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her novels have been #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada, Germany and Italy. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award, two HOLT Medallions and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She’s the president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.
Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse and a Sue Moorcroft pen (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
We are celebrating the first book birthday of A Scottish Teashop in Napoli, written by the lovely Jane Lambert!
The Blurb
When Lucy’s childhood sweetheart leaves her at the altar, her world shatters. But instead of cancelling her honeymoon, she boards the plane alone—bound for a sun-soaked island that will change everything.
In Naples, recently widowed Elena is fighting to keep her husband’s family mozzarella factory and language school afloat while raising her young son. Desperate to save both businesses, she posts a job advert—and fate delivers Lucy to her doorstep.
Together, these two women—each nursing heartbreak and loss—discover that friendship, food, and a dash of courage can heal even the deepest wounds.
Imagine setting off on the holiday of a lifetime, with a dream wedding planned at the end, only to have it all come crashing down when he jilts you by not even getting on the plane. This is the situation for poor Lucy, left alone in a tropical paradise by her fiance, She takes the bull (or should I say buffalo?) by the horns and hands in her notice at the school where she taught, after finding an interesting-looking opportunity teaching English to students in Napoli, Italy. Elena, in Naples, is suffering her tragedy, having been suddenly widowed, with her dream English school to run, as well as her husband’s family business, a handmade mozzarella factory to contribute to, plus being there for her son. I loved this story; a celebration of female friendship, as well as new beginnings, and learning that you have to take every opportunity that comes your way. Lucy is someone who seems to have always pleased others, and it is beautiful to see how, with the encouragement from her new Neapolitan friends, she blossoms with ideas for herself, as well as learning to love again. Elena’s deep love for her husband and her loyalty to the family lead her to feel like she is failing everyone, including herself. Through this story, you see her grow and develop a friendship with her new English teacher, Lucy, that is more fruitful than she ever thought it would be. And romance? Of course, there is! Dario, the godfather to Elena’s son Stefano, is a hunky police officer who comes to the aid of Lucy in several ways, and the slow burn of this romance is gorgeously built up. Loss is covered in different forms, and mentions of the effect of the Mafia on families in Italy ground the story in a reality not many live through. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Purchase Links
About The Author
Jane was brought up on the west coast of Scotland, studied Modern Languages at Stirling University, and then taught English in Vienna.
She travelled the world as cabin crew before hanging up her wings to become an actor. She has appeared in ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’, ‘True West’, ‘Calendar Girls’ and ‘Deathtrap’ in London’s West End.
“It’s never too late to follow your dreams” is her mantra and the phrase HarperCollins chose to promote her debut novel, ‘The Start of Something Wonderful’, which was inspired by her somewhat risky career change!
Her love affair with Italy began when she married a Neapolitan chef.
‘A Scottish Teashop in Napoli’ is her love letter to this wonderful city, its people and traditions.
She’s currently writing ‘The Unexpected Flatmate’, an uplifting and heartwarming tale of love, hope, community and kindness, set during the pandemic and dedicated to the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Jane will be appearing at Tea Leaves & Reads Literary Festival on 27th September, when she’ll be talking all things teashop and handing out her mini Victoria sponge cakes!
How is it already the end of June? That is half of 2026 done!
So… it’s been another busy one at school. The build-up to the end of term is always huge. We have the prep of the new classes for next year, and for the Early Years side, which starts a lot earlier than the rest of the school, as we have to accept applications to school, as well as nursery, then there is form filling, and working out classes, who will be where, which staff will be where… and report writing. I managed to do the lion’s share of report writing in the half term, but there has been plenty of other preparation to keep me busy!
And… another BIG thing. My (Not So) Lil Man turned 21! Like, seriously? How does that happen so fast? He is, with God’s blessing, a happy, healthy soul, with a good job, and (for the most part!) a sensible lad, and we couldn’t be more proud of him!
Plus… Lil Princess finished her A-level exams and had her final ever prom! So, now it is the wait for results, and a time for her to decide what to do with her life. She is hoping to sign up for an apprenticeship next week, and has started her driving lessons… my baby is growing up!
We have also had a few losses again within family and friends, and there were at least 2 funerals that the family needed to attend, which also made life a little delicate, as memories arose from our big loss from last year…
I have been trying to push my book babies, but honestly, with all the above happening, it hasn’t been that easy.
Oh, and how can I forget the HEATWAVE! Honestly, sitting in a classroom with 20/30 irate 3-4-year-olds is not fun! We have sweltered, and I just found out there are a few more days like that coming next month… God help me!
I enjoyed this instalment in the Just a series by Becky Monson, revisiting old friends (characters) and getting to know some acquaintances (other characters) much better! This focuses on Quinn, a plus-size TV Anchor who doesn’t feel she deserves to be loved for who she is because of how she looks. It doesn’t help that her mother is always trying to ‘help’ with constant reminders of how she could lose weight, as well as rather nasty emails from a viewer. Then she meets Brit Henry, who seems to like her… until they find out they will be working together, and he is her new boss… And she hasn’t told him a rather embarrassing work-related secret! Lots of angst and fun, as well as feeling.
I have enjoyed all of Laura Jane Williams’ previous books, so to read this was a no-brainer. A little different to some of her previous stories, this one focuses on two very different women. CJ, who lives in Lisbon and is a single mother, is living with a cousin and his husband, managing an apartment complex and Ash, who has come away from life in the UK, with possible heartbreak and a need for a reset. She is staying at the complex, and the two clash horribly, then seem to go for the same guy. But you can feel the chemistry crackling somewhere else. Previously, having any feelings for another woman had not even been given the time of day. Now, something else is happening for them both. I loved Ash’s line about not loving men or women, but loving people. A story of finding out where true happiness is. Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Cornerstone for an ARC.
Some people really know how to write gritty, dark thrillers, and Zoe Rosi is 100% one of them! It’s not a read or listen for the faint-hearted, I have to say. All Expenses Paid takes a very extreme look at social media and the lives of some influencers. Debbie is one of those influencers, pootling along with a decent follower count and an obsession with her likes and comment numbers, constantly comparing herself to others, including one of her good friends, Amelia. An invitation for what looks like a gorgeous holiday in a distant, exotic location, with the opportunity for lots of content, and a chance to earn some good money, is too much for her to say no to, so she, along with Amelia, heads off to what she discovers is the much darker, more gruesome side of influencing and big money. I found myself inwardly flinching as I listened to the story, and it really made me wonder… is there really stuff like this behind the content of some ‘influencers’, or is it just a very dark exaggeration for fiction’s sake? Either way, it was disturbing but, in a weird way, interesting. Hats off to the author and the narrator, who kept me listening!
After reading Nine Dolls, last year, reading this was a simple decision for me. Rupa Mahadevan writes brilliantly crafted domestic thrillers and creates nuanced, fragile, damaged characters with great skill. The protagonist, Clara, is all the above. Damaged, hugely, through experiences, and fragile as a result. Roshini is her lifeline, her buoy in a sea of negativity and misunderstanding. When Roshini disappears, Clara is thrown into a huge tailspin. There were so many threads to this story, and the twists and turns to reach the conclusion were so well written, I was totally unaware of the ending until it was revealed!
I think a lot of us have an unconscious relationship with food. Some are minor. You eat to live. Sustenance, that is it. Some of us have memories embedded deep within, relating to food, meals, and certain dishes. Memories that mould our relationship with grub. Dawn O’Porter explores her own seesaw relationship with food, and how it affected her health, physically and mentally, and how it shaped so much of her life, even now, as she feels the most stable she has ever felt. This was a raw memoir, peppered with some real emotion and seasoned with the best recipes, nostalgic, with modern twists, that I am sure most people would relate to.
This is the series that really got me into UK cosy crime, and it is still keeping me as hooked as the first book! The Nosy Parker in question is Jodie Parker, a past police officer, current caterer, wife to DI Nathan Withers, and somehow a murder sleuth! Okay, so it’s not everywhere she goes, but somehow, once or twice a year, she finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. So much so that the local police force, knowing her background and excellent deductive skills, has unofficially got her on their books! And it appears that nowhere is sacred! Even her honeymoon. It starts a bit unconventionally anyway, as Jodie’s mother and daughter, along with her dog, Germaine, accompany them. They are at the soft opening of a new sustainable luxury resort on one of the Cornish Isles, and though there are some questionable characters, everything is fine. Until it isn’t. Find someone with a grudge or motive, or possibly several people, and some inclement weather, and you are in for a treat! I love how there are comedic moments throughout, as well as the real feel of traditional whodunnits of the past, meaning that though there is murder, there is also lightness to it. I really do enjoy these stories, and long may they continue!
I was swept right back into the world of Rita Jory and the community in Seahavem Bay with this second book in the series. Rita is a woman of a certain age, a widow with two grown children and a fledgling business started after the death of her husband. The wellness retreat has been well received by the locals and those who have stayed, and Rita’s romance with the neighbour, who also has a bit of a complicated connection with her late husband, is blossoming. In the first book, we hear so many secrets, and though most are accepted, there are still other little things coming out of the woodwork through book two. First, an ex-wife appears, then Rita discovers something about herself… All with the retreat needing to be used for a wedding, a new band of guests with their own issues, and an intruder who threatens to put the kibosh on the whole site and business! So much going on! I loved seeing what the original characters were up to, and I love Teo, Rita’s husband’s son from another relationship, who treats Rita like his own mother. Rita certainly goes through the wringer, again, losing another loved one, but gaining many more in the process If you love stories with family at the heart, and a gorgeous village setting, then you won’t be disappointed!
I have been eyeing up Kimberley Adams’s books for a while, and I got a chance to listen to the audiobook of Love Lindisfarne. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed at all! The story of Ellie, jilted, not quite at the altar, in London, gets away, to the Isles in Northumberland, namely Lindisfarne, to lick her proverbial wounds in private, but also to help with some animals at a sanctuary there. Life is at a different pace from what she is used to, and it is a world away from her usual work. Armed with her phone so she can stay in touch with her group of friends and family, and a woefully under-packed suitcase, she arrives dramatically, which signals exactly how the rest of her stay will go. Ellie really finds herself through this story, and even though it is a bit cut off from the world, I fancy a trip to Lindisfarne, too! She also makes some great new friends to add to her circle, a new four-legged pal, Nacho, and one or two romantic interests. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this, and Colleen Prendergast’s narration was 100% on point! I know I will be adding the next lot of books to my ever-growing TBR!
This was a gorgeous dual-timeline story that had me hooked from the off. Set partly in Victorian London and modern-day London, the story centres around philanthropy and an interesting connection to a famous Victorian author and one of his most successful novels. Isabelle, or Belle, keeps a set of journals about her life in the 1800s, as well as a recount of a rather otherworldly event she experienced, and then buries her writing somewhere so it won’t be found easily… Nearly 200 years later, Emily, a history lecturer, is given access to the newly unearthed journals in a crumbling old house in Cheapside, and the discovery sends her on an emotional journey of her own. There is so much to unpick here, from second chances to personal transformations, as well as bringing to the forefront the importance of certain historical places and their origins. I don’t want to rehash the story, but I will say that this is one of my favourite Victoria Scott books!
I requested this book even before reading the synopsis because the name Mr Sidhu jumped out at me. Sidhu being my mother’s maiden name, and the lead that it would be a Sikh at the forefront of the story had me requesting before anything else. I was somewhat aware of the Horizon scandal, but not in much detail, so I was intrigued to see how it played out in the story, too. Mr Sidhu, Sukdev, or Dave/David to the British locals around his post office in Richmond, has worked hard his whole life to serve the community and provide for his family. He hails from rural Punjab, and, not having any interest in the usual Jatt-puna of working the ancestral land, he concentrates on his studies, and with the backing of his father, Sukhdev finally ends up in England, a place hailed as some kind of money-making heaven by many back home. Along with his wife, he built up his Richmond-based business while living in Hounslow, and when she passed, he continued at the shop as the Postmaster, with Rose at the shop till. Mr Sidhu becomes caught up in the PO scandal when money begins to disappear from his accounts, recently upgraded to the new Post Office software. Here we see how his family react to what is happening, as well as how they need to find someone to blame. Rose becomes an important presence in Mr Sidhu’s life when he thought he would have been sitting back, playing with the grandchildren he and his wife always thought their children, Meenu and Raju, would have provided, with a solid business to pass on to the next generation. I loved how the softly, softly nature of Mr Sidhu mirrors many of the elders in our community. Always present, always supportive, but not interested in causing any trouble, even if they suffer difficulties. I found Meenu very annoying. I wanted to shake her. Questioning her gentle father, unable to stand by him when he needed her and disappearing at a time he really needed her. Raju’s character was also interesting. A product of two traditional individuals, who allowed both their children to find their own paths, Raju works as an actor, and I love that he doesn’t give up. Rose is just lovely. David’s (Mr Sidhu) real support through a tough time is proof that there are people out there who look beyond colour and culture and see the goodness inside. The story is gentle yet aggressive. A journey to satisfaction, marked by delays and setbacks, and the special delivery of minor racism. This was a brilliant read. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ, Juniper, for an ARC.
Oh my, I had sooo many thoughts and predictions as I read/listened to this, and I wasn’t far wrong, but also I wasn’t right either! Marie is married to Scott, and they have a gorgeous little girl. Scott also has children from a previous marriage, but Marie has yet to meet her stepchildren, and create a blended family that she thinks would be great for her own daughter, who has no siblings. Only Scott has the ex-wife from h*ll, determined to place a wedge into their chances of happiness and constantly placing demands on his time. Marie is hoping that they can start trying for baby #2, so her own little one has a sibling at least. Marie is also a wedding dress designer, and has plenty of brides-to-be dramas of her own to sort out along with home life, as well as finding out the dishy GP she has taken a bit of a secret fancy to, is one of her client’s brothers, and chance means they keep on meeting. All this along with her French mother and aunt who like to cause their own mischief, as well as a cousin who is firmly on her side, but has her own opinions. I was fully ensconced in Marie’s life, rooting for her, cheering her along, and maybe, just maybe, gently encouraging her to explore ‘things’ with that dishy GP! A fab book, a great listen and a brilliant story!
Mila is a jinx. Well, she’s convinced herself she is a jinx with weddings, having messed up the seven weddings she’s been in the wedding party for. Convincing her best friend that she cannot be a part of her wedding party is the big thing here. Mila doesn’t want to ruin her BFF’s special day. And also, she cannot be around Grayson, her boss. Because, well, she seems to have a boss thing, too. Lots of tension, close proximity, and chemistry bubbling over, as well as plenty of giggles! I had fun reading/listening to this one!
I am on the blog tour for this gorgeous read in mid-July, so keep your eyes peeled for the review!
13 books read this month! Lucky for some! Which one caught your eye?
I’m back with another great blog tour review for fantastic author, Nicola May and her latest release, Marry Me in Seahaven Bay.
The Blurb
The emotional and uplifting new novel from the author of the million-copy bestselling Cockleberry Bay series.
Life at the Seahaven Bay Retreat is flourishing, but Rita Jory’s second chance at happiness is about to face its biggest test yet. When Jago’s glamorous French ex-wife appears on the doorstep with a five-year-old daughter in tow, their blossoming relationship hangs by a thread.
Between juggling retreat guests seeking healing, her daughter Sennen’s desperate need for a last-minute wedding venue, and dealing with Elodie’s impossible demands, Rita’s already stretched to breaking point.
Then some very unexpected news forces her to reconsider everything she thought she wanted. But can she trust Jago with her secret and embrace the new life ahead?
Rita must decide whether to protect her heart or fight for her future.
A joyful, tender and laugh-out-loud tale of family, forgiveness and finding the courage to say yes to life’s beautiful surprises. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.
I was swept right back into the world of Rita Jory and the community in Seahavem Bay with this second book in the series. Rita is a woman of a certain age, a widow with two grown children and a fledgling business started after the death of her husband. The wellness retreat has been well received by the locals and those who have stayed, and Rita’s romance with the neighbour, who also has a bit of a complicated connection with her late husband, is blossoming. In the first book, we hear so many secrets, and though most are accepted, there are still other little things coming out of the woodwork through book two. First, an ex-wife appears, then Rita discovers something about herself… All with the retreat needing to be used for a wedding, a new band of guests with their own issues, and an intruder who threatens to put the kibosh on the whole site and business! So much going on! I loved seeing what the original characters were up to, and I love Teo, Rita’s husband’s son from another relationship, who treats Rita like his own mother. Rita certainly goes through the wringer, again, losing another loved one, but gaining many more in the process If you love stories with family at the heart, and a gorgeous village setting, then you won’t be disappointed!
Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With twenty-two books to her name, her work has captured readers’ hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon’s Kindle bestseller charts. As a self-published author, she achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on Amazon twice, and has been a strong advocate for indie authors, pushing for a dedicated chart for them in The Bookseller magazine. Now signed to Storm Publishing, Nicola continues to write heartfelt rom-coms with her signature blend of warmth and wit.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.
But I Smile Anyway... 