Tag: Romance

198 pages Publisher Lake Union Publishing Publication date September 1, 2022

I have sooooo many books on my back list and I’ve come to accept I’ll never be caught up because I keep adding more new ones. Do you have a miles long back list as well?

ABOUT THE BOOK

n this charming novel from the bestselling author of The Dressmaker’s Gift, food was once the language of Evie’s soul. Now, can she remember the recipe for happiness?

Revised edition: Previously published as The French for Christmas, this edition of The Recipe for Hope includes editorial revisions.

Evie’s running away: from her soon-to-be ex-husband’s shiny new life, from the devastating loss of her baby last year, from a memory-filled London and, most particularly, from Christmas. A remote cottage in the South of France seems like the perfect peaceful place to soothe her sorrows.

But the countryside soon proves anything but quiet, from the rooster crowing at dawn to the barn owl hooting through the night—not to mention Evie’s handsome neighbour, doctor Didier, who works away in his garage at all hours.

Unexpectedly, the sights and sounds of life amid the sparkling beauty of the Dordogne give Evie a renewed sense of inspiration, and with her French grandmother’s recipe book for company, she begins to rediscover her love of cooking. Soon, the tight-knit community begins to enfold her, reminding Evie what really matters in life.

But are Didier’s gorgeous blue eyes on more than Evie’s delicious dinners? And can a cancelled Christmas—complete with a Not-Christmas feast for two—heal her heart?

MY THOUGHTS

A poignant and deeply moving story.
Set in the beautiful South of France this was with its original publication titled Escape to France.
Evie has had a most dreadful year, the stillbirth of her baby and her marriage has dissolved.
This short story takes her to France, away from the tear-soaked nights in London to a soothing escape in a remote cottage. A place to recover, relax and move forward in life.
Emotion filled story that had me filled with compassion and hope of healing for Evie.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Fiona is an acclaimed number 1 bestselling author, whose books have been translated into more than thirty different languages worldwide.

She draws inspiration from the stories of strong women, especially during the years of World War II. Her meticulous historical research enriches her writing with an evocative sense of time and place.

She spent seven years living in France, having moved there from the UK in 2007, before returning to live in Scotland. Her love for both of these countries, their people and their histories, has found its way into the books she’s written.

Fiona says, “To be the first to hear about my NEW releases, please visit my website at http://www.fionavalpy.com and subscribe to the mailing list. I promise not to share your e-mail and I’ll only contact you when there’s news about my books.”

Thank you for stopping in.

A heartwarming, cosy, utterly uplifting romcom

by Kiley Dunbar

292 pages Publisher Hera Publication date September 1, 2022

Description

‘Tis the season for finding love… and the perfect book

With just two weeks until Christmas, everything in Clove Lore should be perfect. But the latest holidaymaker to the Borrow a Bookshop is feeling far from festive…

Icelandic ex-bookseller Magnús Sturluson might be surrounded by love stories in the Bookshop, but he’s nursing a sadness that not even fiction can fix.

When Alexandra Robinson finds herself stranded in Clove Lore, she finds a safe place to hide from heartbreak. After all, all that’s waiting for her at home is a cheater boyfriend and the memories of her parents. As Alex finds herself embraced by the quirky village community, she finds her tough exterior thawing – and as she grows closer to Magnús, she finds an equally soft heart under his gruff shell.

It seems that Clove Lore is working its magic once again – until a great flood on Christmas Eve brings devastation in its wake. It’s up to Magnús and Alex to batten down the hatches and help bring the village back together again, while also introducing the locals to the Icelandic tradition of the jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together.

But can Magnús and Alex truly rescue the ruins of the village, and salvage their Christmas spirit? Or is there another complication lurking even closer than they thought?

MY THOUGHTS

This is the second book in the Borrow a Bookshop series and though I haven’t read the first I easily jumped right into the story.
Such a heartwarming and uplifting story brimming with goodwill and cheer.
Loved the seaside village of Clove Lore and its characters. It felt like I was visiting with old friends.
I enjoyed reading about the Icelandic customs especially jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together. It’s great to see such an importance put on literacy there.
Very much enjoyed this holiday read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Hi! I’m Kiley Dunbar, and I write bestselling, uplifting romance novels centering radical kindness and community.

I’m Scottish, a parent carer, lover of all things thrifty and money-saving, and I exist to drink tea and visit gardens or potter round the charity shops looking for vintage bargains.

I’m so excited to share my new ‘repair shop’ series which launched on 24th JULY 2025 with FIXING A BROKEN HEART AT THE HIGHLAND REPAIR SHOP. You can buy it here right now on eBook, paperback, audiobook as well as large print! Request it to your library or your fave indie book shop too if you like!

I hope you absolutely love my new books. If you enjoy visiting my Highland Repair Shop, why not pay a visit to the BORROW A BOOKSHOP? Check out the whole gorgeous, nerdy, funny, romantic series here too!

Happy reading,

Love,

Kiley, x

Happy weekend. Thank you for stopping in.