BRAND NEW instalment in the warm-hearted romance series from Sarah Hope, for dog lovers everywhere!
Life begins outside your comfort zone…
Book-keeper Megan has always lived life by a set of very rigid rules, but with impending divorce papers on the horizon, she throws herself into a new challenge.
She finds solace and purpose in her volunteer work at a dogs’ home but with finances tight, and soon-to-be ex-husband Lyle controlling her purse strings, she might have to trade the work for something more permanent.
But spending her time in the fresh countryside air, Megan discovers a glimmer of hope for a new beginning, finding strength, love, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow – and maybe, even possibly, a new romance.
A cosy and heartwarming romance set in the beautiful Cornish countryside, perfect for fans of Sarah Bennett, Jo Bartlett and Philippa Ashley
MY THOUGHTS
Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village is the fourth book in the series. Though it is part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone without missing anything important. I love the fact that the book is focused on dog rescue and hope it inspires some to help dogs in some way: adoption, volunteering or even monetarily.
The book is a real ray of sunshine, guaranteed to make even the darkest skies bright. After you’re done reading your heart will be filled with gladness. The characters are well thought out and well developed, friendly sorts who want the best for the dogs and have a lot of empathy.
I enjoyed reading about West Par as it sounds like such a lovely place. Wagging Tails employees and volunteers are all like one family always wanting the best for each other and looking out for one another and when one of their own falls on rough times they all jump in to help.
A sweet dog that had been adopted didn’t work out for a family is returned and I felt so bad for the dog, but she really takes to one of the volunteers and they come into each other’s lives just when they are needed the most.
When it looks like skies are turning gray don’t despair or give up because hope and positivity is right around the corner. Love, love, love this series and I really hope it continues.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Sarah Hope is the author of many successful romance novels, including the bestselling Cornish Bakery series. Sarah lives in Central England with her two children and an array of pets and enjoys escaping to the seaside at any opportunity.
352 pages Avon publisher October 15, 2024 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
From the author of Dog Days Forever, a heartfelt, holiday contemporary romance perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins, and Susan Mallery, in which a young woman returns to her small hometown and ends up fostering a pregnant dog with—of all people—the man she used to love.
Lucy Buchanan and Theo Taylor have never gotten along…like ever. Not when they were children, not when they were teenagers, and definitely not as adults…though that last part might be more Lucy’s doing than Theo’s. It was the summer after she graduated college when their antagonism towards each other boiled over into something… hot.
That is until Lucy left town in a flash, leaving everything behind for warm Los Angeles. But now she’s returned after seven years following a bad breakup, and a newfound disillusionment with La-La Land.
As for Theo, he doesn’t know and doesn’t care about whatever happened to make Lucy come back. His lingering resentment is enough to keep her at arm’s length until she inevitably leaves again. The problem is, being around each other has proven that their friction isn’t going anywhere, especially when it leads to some pretty intense heat.
The two have no idea what they’ve rekindled, but things get even more complicated when they rescue a pregnant dog together, taking on joint responsibility of caring for her.
Lucy and Theo must find a way to overcome their past, first for the sake of the dog and her litter, and for their own wounded hearts.
MY THOUGHTS
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I loved it. It has zipped right up there as my favorite book of the holiday season this year and I read Christmas books all year so that’s really saying something. Okay, so it didn’t hurt that the cover is so darn appealing. After all who can resist a huge lug of a dog and her adorable puppies?
A second chance romance that everyone seems to know is going on except for the main players. Seven years ago, Lucy Buchanan and Theo Taylor were romantically involved. Keep in mind this couple doesn’t get along, never has from the time they met during childhood all the way through everything they’ve been through together.
From teasing to arguments, it’s not happening. But is this just a front for how they really feel for each other again. With Lucy back from LA with a bad breakup under her belt she can’t help noticing how Theo has matured but this doesn’t stop them from being on each other’s last nerves again. With smoldering looks and mistletoe kisses it may be cold outside but this couple doesn’t need a fireplace to keep themselves warm.
The star attraction of the show was Bear, a huge dog Lucy found that brings the couple together more than ever. It’s not all bows and ribbons in this one though as we have some angsty scenes. An exciting feel-good spicy romance perfect for holiday reading.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Shannon Richard lives in Tallahassee, FL with her adorable rescue dog Teddy—not that she’s biased or anything. She enjoys experimenting with a new recipe in the kitchen or perfecting an old one. It’s typically done with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand. She has no shame for the amount of reality T.V. she indulges in, listens to entirely too many podcasts, and is now a plant lady.
293 pages September 19, 2023 publication date Crooked Lane Books publisher
ABOUT THE BOOK
It’s beginning to look a lot like murder in the sixth installment of this charming cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Donna Andrews and Jacqueline Frost.It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America’s Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production.Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry’s shop assistant Jackie O’Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role.It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.
MY THOUGHTS
Rudolf, New York is full of Christmas cheer, or is it. This charming Christmas time cozy mystery has the local drama club preparing for the annual Christmas production.
When a member of the team is found dead, we find out some of the members are jealous of the roles others are playing and think they deserved the part. Is this enough to take the merry and bright out of the holiday season?
As the snow flies so do tempers in this cozy that kept me guessing as I flipped pages.
An author whose books I don’t miss has done it again with another satisfying cozy mystery presentation.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than forty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Year Round Christmas books for Crooked Lane, the Tea by the Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane Books, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates) for Crooked Lane.
Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards.
Vicki is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
I’m excited to invite you onto my blog today for the blog tour of A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home. The author writes such lovely books, and this series focuses on dog adoption. Helping animals in any way is near and dear to my heart so you can imagine how much I’ve enjoyed this series.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home
There’s no place like home…
Although dog trainer Sally is relatively new to Wagging Tails, the team she works with have quickly become her family and the dogs her friends.
But when Andy, the one that got away, turns up for a brief respite from the city, she is at a crossroads. As tempting as a life with him is, she loves her home of West Par, and anyway, she has responsibilities here.
Number one on that list is ensuring the dogs’ home stays in business. A developer has been sniffing around wanting to buy the land, and the team is worried.
Sally will do anything to save her home and her friends’ livelihoods but the lure of reuniting with her lost love is strong. Is there a way for her to have both?
MY THOUGHTS
A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home is the third book in the series. Though it is part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone without missing anything important.
I love the fact that the book is focused on dog rescue and hope it inspires some to help dogs in some way: adoption, volunteering or even monetarily. The book is a real ray of sunshine, guaranteed to make even the darkest skies bright. After you’re done reading your heart will be filled with gladness.
The characters are well thought out and well developed, friendly sorts who want the best for the dogs and have a lot of empathy. The plot moves along at a medium pace, not getting offtrack.
There is a light romance going, a second chance at love possibly. The focus is not on the romance though which was nice to see. The story is lighthearted but with some serious parts as well. Puddles stole my heart; I’m rooting for you little one. A sure win, once you start this book you’ll be hooked.
Pub Date 20 Mar 2024 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Sarah has been dreaming up stories ever since she was a child. She remembers many a family stroll when she’d daydream up her next story adventure.
As an adult, she prefers to write romance novels and novellas with a Happy Ever After ending. She has two main romance series, the Escape To… series that focuses on single mums taking a chance and fulfilling their career dreams as well as finding love, and The Cornish Bakery series, that follows a busy bakery in a beautiful fictional bay in Cornwall.
Sarah Hope lives in Central England with her two children and an array of pets and enjoys escaping to the seaside at any opportunity.
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