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Blitz Spirit at Harbour House by Fenella J Miller #Review

  I am delighted to be on the tour to celebrate the next in the Harbour House series by Fenella J Miller . Blitz Spirit at Harbour House   continues life in 1940,with the Second World War underway. It was published by Boldwood Books on October 7th.   September 1940 As the new housekeeper at Harbour House, Lily Turner and her teenage daughter Daphne have forged a resilient life since Lily’s husband Patrick abandoned them. But as war rages, Patrick, now vital to the war effort, is dispatched to Wivenhoe shipyard, forcing him to confront his past—and Lily—once more. He's no longer the reckless boy who deserted his family; hardened by the years, he’s determined to make amends. Yet, for Lily, the scars of abandonment run deep, and forgiveness is a luxury she's not sure she can afford. But she finds this new version of Patrick intriguing nonetheless.. With the Blitz intensifying and German bombers pounding Britain, life is precarious. When Patrick, Lily, and Daphne are...

Escape to Giddywell Grange by Kim Nash #BookReview

I am so happy to be taking part in the celebrations for Kim Nash's Escape to Giddywell Grange, which was published on September 18th. It is a romantic, uplifting book- just right for a cosy weekend in.



Maddy Young thought she had it all.


Swanky city apartment? – yep. Fancy car? sorted. High-flying career? – tick.


Even if she’s lost most of her friends because of spending all her time at work, and can’t remember when she last had fun, it’s worth it.


Until she’s suddenly made redundant. Now she’s 37, jobless, and after the breakup with the former love of her life, unhappily single.

Enter Maddy’s childhood friend, Beth, the owner of Growlers, the doggy daycare centre at Giddywell Grange, on a mission to make Maddy see there’s more to life than work.


Soon, Maddy is swapping spreadsheets for volunteer duty at the library, daily Starbucks for cups of tea with elderly neighbours, and her Prada handbag for doggy poo bags… And with Beth’s gorgeous brother, Alex, back from the States, Maddy starts to think that Giddywell Grange might just be her happy place.


But when her old life – and her old boyfriend - comes calling, will Maddy go back to the job she loved so much? Or will she discover that the key to happiness lies in making others happy?


An uplifting romantic comedy that will warm your heart – perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Milly Johnson and Katie Fforde.


My Thoughts

In this warm and endearing read, you get to follow Maddy's transition from her career driven existence, as she learns what actually makes her happy in life. It takes her by surprise, somewhat, but she is a believeable and likeable character who is not afraid to admit that she may have been going up the wrong path.

    A strength of the writing is the cast of characters who are part of her life, especially Beth who enables her to take on a new perspective on life. Maddy's past has influenced how she reacts to people she meets and it is quite a shock to her to realise how few actual friends she had in her work-driven life. 

    There are plenty of slow burn plot lines simmering under the surface. The meat of the story centres on Maddy's development but you glimpse the person she may become in her dealings with the people she meets in the village. Taking a chance and savouring each moment for what it is are major themes behind the story, as is how you measure success. Is it in material terms or in simpler pleasures? Friends and family are shown to be key to Maddy's happiness. With a fluent writing style and excellent pacing, this is a lovely read, which leaves you with a smile on your face.

In short: Thoughtful, inspiring themes underpin a great romance.

About the Author



Kim Nash lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk



Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can't quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.



When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.



Amazing Grace was her debut novel with Hera Books and came out in April 2019. You can read my review here.



Escape to Giddywell Grange is Kim's second novel and will be published on September 18th 2019.


You can follow Kim here: Twitter   |  Facebook                                           | Instagram


Book links: Amazon UK   |  Kobo   |  Apple

Thanks to the author Kim Nash, Hera Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources  for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.  

                                                              Follow the rest of the tour!


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