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See the Stars by Eleanor Ray #Review

  See the Stars by Eleanor Ray will be  published on February 5th 2026 by Piatkus .  Do you ever feel that life isn't going to plan?   When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.  Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?  Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel...

Under a Tuscan Sky by Karen Aldous ** blog tour review and Giveaway **

I have a summery read to introduce to you today: Under a Tuscan Sky by Karen Aldous. There's also a great Giveaway- details are at the end of this post (sorry, UK only).  First let's find out a bit more...

Escape to Tuscany this summer with Karen Aldous’s brilliantly uplifting read. Perfect for fans of Erica James and Cathy Kelly.
A summer she’ll never forget…
When Olivia Montague’s grandmother passes away, she decides it’s finally time to make some changes in her own life. So she breaks up with her ‘going nowhere’ boyfriend and embarks on a journey to her Nonna’s home in Tuscany.
Until now, Olivia has always believed that she’s incapable of love, after being abandoned by her parents as a baby. But with each day spent at the gorgeous villa nestled in the rolling Italian hills, she feels her heart begin to flutter…
And when handsome antiques dealer Hugh St. James arrives on the scene, she realises things might be about to change forever!



 
My Thoughts

c.Books, Life & Everything


Having just visited Tuscany, I was in the mood to read this story and it certainly transported me back to that beautiful countryside.

We first meet the central character, Olivia when she is at a crossroads in her life. Her Grandmother has died and she has the task of sorting out her estate in Italy. At the same time, she is dissatisfied with her life with Will. We sense from the beginning that she is a bit of an idealist, bowled over at the thought of her grandparents' seemingly perfect love. She decides to break off her relationship with Will and to try to be more self-reliant. Although she is forty, she has leaned on others for support all her life and seems a little immature and unsure.
 
In Olivia, Karen Aldous has created an interesting and essentially likeable central character, as you watch her attempts to overcome her own feelings of insecurity. It is great to see a character develop as the story unfolds. You can sense her potential as after all she has established a business in the UK with her lifelong friend but her relationship with her mother has left her very unsure about her own capacity to love. 


The story carried me along and I read it in one sitting in an afternoon. Primarily a romance featuring a love triangle, there was nevertheless more to discover about family ties and relationships as secrets from the past came to light.  This is a warm and self-affirming story- just right for a holiday read.

In short: an Italian romantic interlude- great for a summer read.
 
About the Author



Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!

Karen gets much of her inspiration from her travels and if she had to choose, France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy and the USA would be her favourites. However, wherever she goes, she discovers a new character emerges in 'Karen's World'. She likes to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives - but struggle to control them! And, of course there's always a gorgeous hunk or two!

You can connect with Karen on Twitter   |  Website   |Goodreads




Giveaway


You can enter this great Giveaway (UK only) for a chance to win one of the following prizes by following the link below 


1st prize: £10 Amazon voucher, eCopy of Under a Tuscan Sky & a signed notebook
2nd & 3rd prize: eCopy of Under a Tuscan Sky & a signed notebook
 


 
 Thanks to HQ Digital and Jenny at Neverland Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the Tour.

Check out these great blogs!



 

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