Book Review: The Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Jill Steeples to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Forever Cottage.
It’s never too late to change your story…
Tess Alexander lives an enviable life with her husband Charles, at Hollyhocks Cottage in the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping. Dreaming of their early retirement, Tess’s plans are dashed when Charles shares some devastating news and suddenly she’s left alone with only Barney, her adorable Beagle dog, for company.
Facing an uncertain future, Tess tries to reconnect with her old self. She begins to transform the neglected garden office into a beautiful retreat, the perfect spot for her to indulge in her long-forgotten creative passions.
However, a chance encounter with charming but down on his luck, Rob Templeton, soon puts pay to her plans, when she offers him the place to stay instead, sensing a kindred spirit.
With the support of old friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must now step out of her comfort zone and embrace a different way of life, one that is filled with secrets, possibilities and second chances, if only Tess is prepared to take them.
With so many demands on her attention, will Tess find a way to follow her heart and discover her own happy ending?
*****
Tess loves her life in Lower Leaping with her beautiful home, husband and her dog. Having raised their daughter, she’s looking forward to the future.
However, when an announcement from her husband shatters her marriage, for a moment, she isn’t sure what she’s going to do next.
I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for the latest novel by Jill Steeples. Having not read anything by this author (I’m not sure how this happened), I was looking forward to discovering what this book had to offer. I am going to try and make this review as spoiler free as possible.
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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Three’s A Crowd
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Three’s a Crowd
You have the chance to spend a day with three people of your choice. However, it’s all at the same time and not everyone gets on.
Write about the day.
by Book Review: Love At First Sight by Laura Jane Williams
She’s found the one. He’s just not the one for her.
Jessie doesn’t believe in love at first sight. Until one sunny Saturday in London, a fire alarm in Whole Foods throws her into a stranger’s arms. Cal is charming and funny: their chemistry is instant.
Quick-fire flirting turns into the most romantic day of Jessie’s life. But that evening they’re forced apart before swapping numbers. Jessie is devastated – has she just lost the one?
After weeks of searching, Cal turns up on her doorstop holding two dozen red roses. It feels like fate.
The only thing is, they’re not for her…
*****
Jessie has dreams of running her own business but also loves being a nanny to Henry. When she meets a stranger at Whole Foods with whom she spends a perfect evening, she believes that maybe she could chase her dream whilst also keeping her current job. She also thinks that maybe she found the one…or is he?
I was a BIG fan of Our Stop so I jumped at the chance to review Love At First Sight, the latest novel from Laura Jane Williams.
The plot of this novel moves well and I really couldn’t figure out where it was going to go next. The premise is strong and focuses on Jessie as she tries to navigate next stages. She is attempting to find courage to seize life with both hands.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Genres & Pictures
Welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, we are going to be doing a little mixing and matching.
I’ve posted four pictures below. Your task is to pick the picture that you’re instantly drawn to:
Pictures created using AI – Adobe Firefly.
Once you’ve picked a picture, pick one of the following combinations of genres:
- Historical Fiction and Sci-Fi
- Dystopian and Comedy
- Romance and Thriller
- Magical Realism and Suspense
- Young Adult and Mystery
- Western and Horror
Once you’ve got your picture and genre combination, set your alarm for 20 minutes and write as much of a story as you can, using the elements you’ve chosen.
Have fun.
by Book Review: The Accidental Debutante by Jane Dunn
It’s so exciting to be welcoming Jane Dunn back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, The Accidental Debutante.
A daring young lady and dashing lord
At Prebbles Flying Circus, the daring Eliza Gray captivates audiences with her breathtaking feats on horseback. Yet beyond the applause, she harbours a longing to find the family she lost as a child and discover who she truly is.
Fate, however, takes an unexpected turn when Eliza is unceremoniously knocked down by a curricle driven recklessly by Raven, Earl Purfoy. Dazed but intrigued, she cannot help but notice Purfoy’s commanding presence.
For his part, the dashing lord, is mortified at his carelessness and resolves to assist the spirited yet intriguing young woman. He deposits her in the care of his dearest friends, Corinna and Alick Wolfe, who encourage Miss Gray in her search for her family and sponsor her entry into London society. The glittering balls and scurrilous gossip of the ton are a far cry from the circus ring and Eliza finds herself the subject of intense speculation and unwelcome advances.
As a most accidental debutante, Eliza has to navigate the complexities of high society and her new friendships. Her quest for family and belonging becomes perilously entwined with Zadoc Flynn, an American heir in search of an English bride, and the unfathomable Lord Purfoy.
Can Eliza uncover the truth of her past and the family she longs for? And will it be Mr Flynn or Lord Purfoy, or indeed her new female friends, who help her find her place in the world?
In a tale of courage, passion, and self-discovery, this lost orphan must decide where she truly belongs.
*****
Eliza knows little of her life before Prebbles Flying Circus. With little in terms of clues, she leaves the circus life behind to go in search of her long lost family. When she falls (literally) into the path of Lord Raven Purfoy, things go in a direction that even Eliza couldn’t have imagined. Can Eliza find what’s she’s looking for?
by Book Club
