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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...

The School of Starting Over by Lisa Swift #Review


What a joy to be taking part in the celebrations for The School of Starting Over. Published on 11th March, by Hera, it is a gem of a read. 


Nell’s going back to school… but now she’s learning lessons of the heart


Reception class teacher Nell Shackleton has a plan. At least, she had until she arrived at her new home of Humblebee Farm, a dilapidated farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors. But so what if the roof’s full of holes, the back door’s hanging off and there’s a sheep in the front room? Because sometimes a new beginning means starting at the bottom… right?


Xander Scott is one of the youngest headteachers Leyholme Primary School has ever had. But managing over-zealous parents and their semi-feral kids proves a tricky task for shy Xander – as does keeping his mind on the job when his feelings for the new Reception teacher become more than strictly professional…


At 43, Nell’s new friend Stevie Madeleine has given up on love. After losing her wife, Stevie’s decided that her four-year-old daughter Milly and cocker spaniel Red are the only girls she needs in her life. That is, until larger-than-life dog-walker Deb arrives on the scene. But will the secrets of Stevie’s past stop her new romance dead in its tracks?


Meeting Xander and Stevie brings joy back into Nell’s life – but when old secrets start to surface, there may be some hard lessons to learn for them all…


A gorgeously uplifting and hilarious romantic comedy that will delight fans of Milly Johnson, Holly Martin and Heidi Swain.


 My Thoughts

In this feelgood story, you feel as though you are part of the village community. There are lots of secondary characters who Nell meets as she starts again at the local school and they all add something to the feeling of community. Just right for a local school. In Xander, you have someone who is certainly not typecast. He has several insecurities and as you find out about his family, you realise that he has been carrying a secret for quite some time. 

    There are some deftly drawn, humorous episodes. Many of them involve Colin, a sheep who seems to adopt Nell and who really brings a smile to your face. As you discover, Nell has a few secrets of her own, but she is a thoroughly sympathetic character who is so different to Xander. With lots of love, merriment and humour, this is a great read to light up what can be a sombre world at the moment.

In short: A sparkling romcom to enjoy.

About the Author



Lisa Swift is a romance author from West Yorkshire in the UK. She is represented by Laura Longrigg at MBA Literary Agents. Her first book is due to be published by Hera Books in August 2019.

As Mary Jayne Baker, Lisa also writes romantic comedies for Aria Fiction.


You can follow Lisa here: Twitter   |  Website  |   Facebook

Book links: Amazon UK  |  Kobo  

You can read ny review of When You Were Mine here.

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

Check out the rest of the tour!



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