RRR presents... The Mother of All Problems by Nancy Peach - REVIEW!

Today's Rachel's Random Resources tour features a new release via Hera Books.  It's a book that takes a look behind the scenes of daily life for a family when things get just a bit more complicated.  Okay, that's really downplaying what happens, but you'll see what I mean.  Ladies and gents, let's get between the epages of today's ebook of choice...

The Mother of All Problems

by

Nancy Peach

About the book...

Penny Baker is coping. Just about.

Three kids, one dog, one lovely but sometimes oblivious husband. Tick, tick tick.

She is even managing to hold her own among the competitive school mums - if you don’t look too closely. But when she finds herself also caring for her elderly mother, diagnosed with dementia, the household is thrown into disarray and Penny finds herself stretched to breaking point trying to meet everyone’s needs.

Can she make the new family situation work? And is there any chance of finding some space in it all for herself?

Fans of Milly Johnson, Gill Sims and Alexandra Potter will adore this funny, relatable and uplifting read.

‘Moving, romantic and very funny – a winning combination’ Charlotte Northedge, author of The House Guest

---> GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY <---

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As I was saying, it gives us a peak behind the curtain answer of "I'm fine" when the reality is anything but.  Penny is trying to deliver everything to everyone and when an unexpected "house guest" adds that proverbial straw to her camel-esque back, well...let's just say things start tumbling down like a house of cards.  It's not that she's not good enough, strong enough, or any other "ENOUGH" you can think of, it's that life is complicated, and when a monkey wrench is thrown into the mix, even if the wrench is an adored family member, it can take down the biggest titan in the room.  

I loved Penny's character because while she juggled all the balls life threw at her, she still kept her head...until she couldn't...and THAT'S OKAY.  It made her more real.  It gave her the three dimensional touch instead of being just a well written person on paper.  Her family too, and that goes for her parents as well.  Her mom's condition isn't something out of the ordinary, but rather something that many have to deal with day to day, and it really shone a light on it in a new way for me.  Dementia is generally only talked/written about in regards to the downsides, but the author gives us a look at potential creative ways to help work with the struggles instead of against them. 

This is a story that reminds us that even in the chaos of life, there is beauty to be found, if only we can slow down enough to catch a glimpse.  It's okay to say that we're not okay AND do something about it.  Whether that "something" is reorganizing our priorities, gathering the family to redistribute the load, or assembling the troops (aka friends and community) to accept the helping hands that may be on offer.  There's no weakness in getting help, whatever the form.  There's no shame in reevaluating our priorities, direction, or goals.  Life is about living it...messes and all.  Without the missteps, we'd never truly appreciate the golden moments.

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About the author...

Nancy Peach is a writer of women’s fiction, a mother of three, and an owner of various ridiculous-looking pets. She is also a practicing doctor working for the NHS and a national cancer charity, and has been writing (in a terribly British, embarrassed, secretive way) for as long as she can remember. Nancy’s debut, Love Life was published in 2021. The Mother of All Problems was long-listed for the Comedy Women in Print prize.

TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM  |FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you and to Hera Books for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RRR presents... THE GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS VILLAGE by Kiley Dunbar - REVIEW!

Just hear those sleigh bells 🔔 jingling, ring ting tingaling too...

Come on its lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with...

... okay, so maybe not, after all it's 100°+ where I'm at, but the dream was nice for a moment right?

Let's keep that wintry wonderland dream alive as we welcome today's blog tour guest via Rachel's Random Resources, author Kiley Dunbar and her latest release...

The Gingerbread Christmas Village

by

Kiley Dunbar 

About the book...

Everyone deserves a Christmas treat...

The annual Wheaton gingerbread exhibit (a model village made of gingerbread) and grotto has been an important part of the sleepy Cotswold hamlet’s Christmas celebrations for decades.

For years the gingerbread exhibition drew visitors from across the region and each year the model town grew more elaborate and ambitious but recently, interest has been dwindling. The gingerbread grotto needs to be rehomed or close forever.

Sixty-four-year-old Margi, the event’s founder, has had enough of village life (and its total lack of eligible men) and is planning to sell up and head to Birmingham to live closer to her niece.

She has lost her spark and her Christmas spirit and decides this will be her last gingerbread village, but despairs when she finds her only support is her old friend, Izzy, her niece Lucy from Birmingham, and Fern, the shy young farmer’s daughter. Oh, and Patrick, the gorgeous, reliable school caretaker.

As if this wasn’t enough, Lucy is determined to get her out dating again and persuades her to try some online dating apps but Margi’s had her heart broken too many times and wonders if she has just missed her chance.

Can they save the Gingerbread Grotto and can Margi get her old spark and her Christmas spirit back?

A cosy, totally feelgood seasonal read that will have you smiling. The perfect read to snuggle up and have you feeling festive! Fans of Jenny Colgan and Trisha Ashley will love this book.

AMAZON |  APPLE | KOBO 

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I'm sorry. Gingerbread fan or not, seeing a village made of it, the scope of which is alluded to in this story.... sounds amazing! I've never actually made the holiday treat, nor created anything with it, but this book definitely put a bee in my bonnet, or a sprig of holly in my bouquet!

Margi was a gem. Grant it, she and her cohorts are a generation or so older than the typical ones chosen for most tales, but that just made them even lovelier to me. They had life, spirit, and wisdom to share, while still making mistakes just like the rest of us because guess what? That game is not exclusive to younger gens. All those missteps take a toll at any age, and poor Margi is really feeling it. The disappointment, the unfortunate decisions, the let downs, all lend a hand in depleting her holiday spirit. The final straw? Losing her typical venue... but not to worry; miracles can happen, even in an every day setting, and especially during the holidays... and Margi's gonna need all the spirit she can get!

A great story with a cast full of dreamers, and do gooders, you can't help but love. You'll root for the proverbial underdogs, and cheer with zeal as connections are made or repaired at heart. The perfect addition to your get-me-in-the-holiday-spirit reading list!

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About the author...

Kiley Dunbar writes heart-warming, escapist, romantic fiction set in beautiful places, with One Winter's Night being shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel Award 2021.

Kiley's five novels include: The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday (May 2021), One Winter's Night (September 2020), Summer at the Highland Coral Beach (2020), Christmas at Frozen Falls (2019) and One Summer's Night (2019). 

'Kiley Dunbar Author Book Page' on Facebook

website and newsletter: http://www.kileydunbar.co.uk/ 

YOUTUBE   |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

REVIEW starring... Blind Dates by Gordon MacMillan

When you've read an author's work, you get a taste of their writing style, and, if it's a good match, you may even get a whole slew of titles to explore to quench that hunger. Sometimes, it's a new author, and so the hunger pains have to be lived with until a new title hits publication...but when it does, you can bet you'll be RIGHT THERE to scoop up that next work, and devour it cover to cover. Such was the case here, as I had previously read Songs for Your Mother, and rather adored it, and couldn't wait to check this one out once I caught wind of it. Currently on tour with Rachel's Random Resources...

Blind Dates

by

Gordon MacMillan

About the book....

Is true love just a few dates away ... or even closer than you think?

Tom has always been a hopeless romantic: but now he's just hopeless. After lockdown in particular made the millennial a reclusive introvert, it was finally time to get back 'out there' - at least according to his best friends Adam, Allison and sister Sarah.

As the group sets up ten miracle dates to rejuvenate Tom's love life, he soon realises how difficult the dating scene has become, along with juggling his Shakespearean-themed café on the side and a hobby of romantic mixtape making.

As the dates continue to turn into disasters, an old flame keeps reappearing in Tom's sight - along with bittersweet memories. Fearing it may be too little too late, Tom must decide whether he can date his way to happiness, or find his true match was under his nose the whole time.

AMZ | KOBO | APPLE | HIVE

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The story takes place just after the pandemic has released its grasp on everyone, allowing interactions to be held face to face again, and reminding us just how incredible awkward we can be when faced with only ourselves day after day after day. Tom went from slightly extroverted to severely introverted, and having to place yourself in the dating pool isn't going to bring anyone further out of their shells. Good thing he's got friends with his best intentions at heart, and maybe a little desire for him to see beyond his own nose, seize the day, and go for what his heart has always wanted. I mean, love is blind, but the bearer of it is often blinded by their own misconceptions, perceived inadequacies, and other nonsense that simply isn't there, but they can't help but see. The date setup was humorous, but it made my heart smile. The knowledge that perhaps there was someone out there for him that he simply hadn't taken a chance on yet, heartwarming. The fact that the chance he needed to take wasn't so much on the other person, but on himself, was eye opening.

I loved how it tied itself into our daily lives, before and after, while giving us a way to happily-ever-after that was plausible. I enjoyed how the emotional aspects and impact of everything was explored, from the reason for him getting back out there in the first place to why he should consider all his options...no matter how improbably they may seem to his own eyes. I thought the conversations were witty, and full of charm, while the feelings conveyed allowed this one to be enjoyable for both male and female readers...without jokes about their "man card" being pulled. I rather like the author's writing style, and appreciate the way he builds his characters, while taking baby steps forward within the story. The time is taken to let things progress naturally without some sudden earthshaking event throwing everything out of balance.

In short, if you're a Contemporary Fiction fan, this one's for you...and if you didn't check out the first title released, you should definitely take a click on over to discover what you've been missing!

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Special thanks to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good READ IT!

RRR presents... CHRISTMAS AT THE BORROW A BOOKSHOP by Kiley Dunbar - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're back with Rachel's Random Resources with a stop along their current festive tour set to get you in the mood for a little Christmas...or perhaps it's better said, Jolabokaflod!  In the normal sense of the word (meaning BOOK FLOOD), it'd be most welcome, but the way it comes about here is anything but...and yet, the outcome is still one filled with love, joy, and, perhaps most importantly, HOPE.  Ready or not, fair readers, prepare for your own bookshop holiday between the pages of today's ebook of choice...

Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop

by

Kiley Dunbar

Hera Books

About the book...

'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?

 

AMAZON  |  KOBO  |  APPLE  |  HIVE

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Magnus is running away...

...from a business disaster, a love that didn't last, and well-meaning but interfering friends and family. He's stuck on holiday in a place that should have been a dream, but now only reminds him of all he lost.  How could this Christmas possibly get any worse?

Alex is running away...

...from the loss of her dad, the breakup of her long-term relationship, her ex-best friend, and all the nosey bodies that would mean well with their questions, but inadvertently keep driving the final nail in the proverbial you-know-what.  She's quite literally run away in her father's old boat, and through her first of several dramatic landings, ends up being rescued from an almost certain demise.  How could this Christmas possibly get any worse?

The answer to both of their questions is simple...it can't.  Even when all looks lost, even when secrets are revealed, even when the whole of Clove Lore is washing itself away into the river leaving behind wreckage not unlike that of a hurricane, even when the only way forward is boxing up the past and making ones way through the sludge of uncertainty...it simply can't get any worse.  You know why?  Because these two have found something...and that something begins with Clove Lore and ends with themselves.  They may have both been damaged, but people heal.  They may have had no interest in starting a new ANYTHING, and yet new beginnings happen all the time.  They may have felt rudderless in the heavy seas that were their lives, but they've found their anchors in new dreams, new friendships, and new relationships.  All it took were a few VERY close calls, almost losing everything once again, and making the most of a holiday they weren't likely to forget any time soon...but hey, sometimes that wakeup call can be brutal!

I loved the idea behind the Borrow a Bookshop.  I enjoyed getting to know the ENTIRE cast of characters and watching their stories unfold right alongside that of Magnus and Alex.  I was aghast at the challenges some of them faced, and shared in their heartbreak when the town was torn asunder, but equally felt rebuilt after the time, energy, and love they spent on recovery and repair in all its forms.  It truly is a place filled with its own magic...and I can't wait to see what happens for the next holiday guest come 2023.

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About the author...

Kiley Dunbar writes heart-warming, escapist, romantic fiction set in beautiful places, with One Winter's Night being shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel Award 2021.

Kiley's five novels include: The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday (May 2021), One Winter's Night (September 2020), Summer at the Highland Coral Beach (2020), Christmas at Frozen Falls (2019) and One Summer's Night (2019). 

'Kiley Dunbar Author Book Page' on Facebook

website and newsletter: http://www.kileydunbar.co.uk/ 

YOUTUBE   |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RRR presents... ALWAYS AND FOREVER AT GLENDALE HALL by Victoria Walters - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we've got Rachel's Random Resources stopping by with their current tour featuring the fourth book in a Contemporary Fiction series that you won't want to miss! Honest truth, I've not read the others, but I think I very well may like to backtrack and do so because I so enjoyed this one...and yes, it works as a standalone, so no worries if you haven't read the others first, same as I. Shall we get ourselves between the epages then? I do believe I heard a resounding YES, so here we go! Ladies and gents, time to take a closer look at our blog tour guest and ebook of choice...

Always And Forever At Glendale Hall

by

Victoria Walters

About the book...

What if we’re all just searching for something?

Anna Stewart is lost. After barely surviving a car accident as a teenager, Anna is scared of settling. Flitting between jobs, boyfriends and homes whenever she gets bored, she has no idea what the future holds. Then her brother Brodie, minister of Glendale, suggests she moves to the beautiful Scottish village, lining up a housekeeper job for her at Glendale Hall.

Out of options, Anna agrees to the move, knowing that she can always run away again. Once at the hall, her culinary skills impress everyone, and she agrees to give Hilltop Farm’s new manager, Cameron, cooking lessons. Sparks fly between Anna and the handsome Scot, but Cameron is looking for love - something that Anna definitely isn’t.

But it's wedding season at Glendale Hall, and Anna is about to discover that her new home has a way of working its magic on even the coldest of hearts. Will she really be able to just walk away, or could Anna have finally found a place to belong?

It’s summertime in the beautiful Highlands village of Glendale – pack your bags and come on holiday with this gorgeously uplifting, romantic read. Fans of Milly Johnson, Heidi Swain and Holly Martin will love this charming romcom.

AMAZON | KOBO | IBOOKS

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This is a story of lost souls, broken hearts, dreams that seem well beyond reach, and above all else...HOPE. It's the hope of finding their place in the world. It's the hope that they can forgive themselves, let alone be forgiven. It's the hope that the next place they go will be more accepting, the next time they rest their head perhaps their heart can rest as well. It's about having hope for things that you didn't even know you were searching for, until you stumble upon it...and then you don't know what to do with it because it scares you out of yourself, and yet that's exactly what you needed! It's a story about so many things, and they all add up to acceptance, family, and love.

I loved Anna despite her itchy feet. She was living life to the fullest, and how many people can honestly say they've taken the chances they've been given. Those choices may not have gotten her in a better place, but they were at least her choice. When she lands in Glendale Hall, I crossed my fingers it's make her stay. I hoped on her behalf that the scattered pieces of her life would finally fall into place. When Cameron came around, despite his gruffness, he seemed like a kindred spirit, and their connection was something that could not be denied. There's a certain magic with a soul recognizes its potential forever...but when those two halves belong to people that were hurt so very much, and carried so much unnecessary guilt, it can make for a bumpy ride. This one is no different, but the end results are worth the journey.

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About the author...

Victoria Walters writes up-lifting and inspiring stories. She's the author of three novels, THE SECOND LOVE OF MY LIFE, SUMMER AT THE KINDNESS CAFÉ, and COMING HOME TO GLENDALE HALL. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for an RNA award. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star, and her books have won wide reader acclaim.

Victoria is a full-time author. She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry, and loves books, clothes, music, going out for tea and cake, and posting photos on Instagram.

Find out more about Victoria by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters, on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at:https://victoria-writes.com/.

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Special thanks to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RRR presents... THE SCHOOL OF STARTING OVER by Lisa Swift - REVIEW!

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers and Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and yours!  Whether you've Irish in your blood, or merely a bit more luck than the rest of us, today we all shine a bit greener than the norm...perhaps it will bring us a bit o'luck with CORVID-19!  

Seriously guys, some of you know I work in retail management, and others are learning that now, but these last few days have been a true test of patience, stamina, drive, willpower, and just about anything else you can think of.  It's not even the disease itself that's scary at this point (though it is to some degree, obviously), it's everything else that's happening and might happen because of it.  I'm not in a business that can work from home, nor do we supply frivolities, but actual essentials to every day living, so if some of the things people are supposing come to pass, I may just inadvertently earn that time at home I need, but like many can't really afford.  

Anywho...in the mean time, we'll carry on like the troopers we are.  Speaking of which, let's cast the spotlight on something more fun than work, and of course that would be READING...as we welcome today's book of choice and Rachel's Random Resources blog tour guest...

The School of Starting Over

by

Lisa Swift

Hera Books

About the book...

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.

AMAZON  |  KOBO

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Side note, I happened to notice that the last two books I read (including this one) featured potential romantic couples with the woman either being in a seat of power or being the more powerful character.  Nothing wrong with that and while the first wasn't as high hitting for me, this one surprisingly was.  Grant it, I went into both with high hopes, and while I wasn't disappointed, I was left deciphering why exactly there was a difference.  Here's what I came up with...

Both featured strong female characters, but this one's strength wasn't so much being a tech genius nor the higher power, but rather from what she's been through in life, the betrayals she's faced, and the challenges she overcame.  I loved her for all her flaws as well as her pluses, such as a big heart that couldn't seem to say no to Kevin (he's a sheep...yep...trust me, it works), her tact when handling a less than trusting parent, and her way of seeing through to the heart of people that allowed her to give them what they needed.  The men were definitely not alphas in either story, but while the former was a brooder, sulky, git (sorry, he was...even if there was some golden heart buried under it all!), this one is more on the unsure side of things without the prickly parts and a certain about of sweetness (dare I say cuteness?) that while not swoon worthy exactly was definitely heart melting.  I loved how he was so generous with the children, but when it came to the opposite sex, he clammed up like Fort Knox.  I wasn't certain about his level of insecurity, but it became endearing once you got to know him.  In fact, the whole town was noteworthy in some fashion, so you really couldn't leave a stone turned over without falling into someone else's life.

All in all, a great romantic comedy with a lot of heart.  The leading lad and lass were so wonderful you couldn't help but root for them...yet they weren't the only ones worth rooting!  Look for the dual story line that gives our gal Stevie a chance at a new romance, and readers another potential couple to fall in love with!

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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.

Lisa is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RRR presents... THE GIRL FROM THE WORKHOUSE by Lynn Johnson - REVIEW!

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for another fabulous tour featuring a work of Fiction that fits into the Family Saga niche rather well, but it best be accompanied by a few other monikers too, such as Historical, Women's, and a wee bit of Romance.  It's a story that moves in its own time, and will move you, if you'll let it, to heights of joy, bottomless fears, and so many things in between.  Ladies and gents, may I draw your attention to today's ebook of choice and blog tour guest...

The Girl from the Workhouse

by

Lynn Johnson

Hera Books

About the book...

Even in the darkest of times, she never gave up hope

Staffordshire, 1911. Ginnie Jones’s childhood is spent in the shadow of the famous Potteries, living with her mother, father and older sister Mabel. But with Father’s eyesight failing, money is in short supply, and too often the family find their bellies aching with hunger. With no hope in sight, Ginnie is sent to Haddon Workhouse.

Separated from everything she has known, Ginnie has to grow up fast, earning her keep by looking after the other children with no families of their own. When she meets Clara and Sam, she hopes that she has made friends for life… until tragedy strikes, snatching away her newfound happiness.

Leaving Haddon three years later, Ginnie finds work as a mouldrunner at the Potteries, but never stops thinking about her friends in the workhouse – especially Sam, now a caring, handsome young man. When Sam and Ginnie are reunited, their bond is as strong as ever – until Sam is sent to fight in WW1. Faced with uncertainty, can Ginnie find the joy that she’s never had? Or will her heart be broken once again?

An emotional, uplifting and nostalgic family saga that will make you smile, while tugging on your heart-strings. Fans of Sheila Newbury, Kitty Neale and Sheila Riley will love this beautiful read.

AMAZON  |  KOBO

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Honestly, I was on a deadline when I was reading this and I just couldn't make myself read any faster.  I was totally immersed in the time period, lost in the lives of the characters the author brought to life before my eyes, and there for every up, down, and in between with my heart in my hand.  When Ginnie and her mum and da first go to the workhouse, I was shattered.  How could they let Mabel go stay with the Aunty, but NOT Ginnie?  Was there truly not enough room for such a little girl?  Then when the visits didn't come from the outside, and sometimes not even within the "estates" walls, I felt the trembling of my shattered heart going dormant...and yet unable to stop hoping that something would change for the better.  Then, as life often does, things DID change...

Clara became a dear heart that ended up parting ways from Ginnie way too soon.  Sam started as her most innocent of loves and grew over time to be truly "the one" that may or may not ever actually have to chance to be something more to each other outside the walls of Haddon House, and yet it didn't stop them from dreaming, from holding on to each other's hearts with all their might.  Even when times separated them, they still managed to keep the other as a tender possibility for a future they dared to imagine.  Mary was an unexpected connection, but one that was no less genuine than the rest.  She provided a mother/sister figure in time for Ginnie, as well as the other girls, while sharing not a drop of blood.  Constance was another unexpected friend in the making, and just goes to show you that your class does not determine the size of your heart.  Of course, we also have Ginnie's blood relation family, but the funny thing is...I hold more fondly to those she chose to be in her circle, per se, than to those that we granted the right biologically.  

Through the voices of these characters (and more!), the author winds her story around your person and snares your heart.  You can't help but hope for something more for Ginnie, Sam, and the others, while still holding tight to the richness of what they do have, albeit not countable in silver or gold.  The historical events they are living through certainly color their lives, but in spite of the harshness, they become truer versions of themselves, reaching for a tomorrow that they certainly know isn't promised, yet can't help but try for.  Though filled with much darkness and despair, there is also hope and love...and that my friends is certainly worth reading for.

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About the author...

Lynn Johnson was born in the Staffordshire Potteries and went to school in Burslem, where the novel is set. She left school with no qualifications and got a job as a dental nurse (and lasted a day), a nursery assistant, and a library assistant before her ambition grew and she enrolled at the Elms Technical College, Stoke-on-Trent and obtained six O’levels. She obtained a Diploma in Management Studies and a BA Hons in Humanities with Literature from the Open University while working full-time. 

Most of her working life was spent in Local Government in England and Scotland, and ultimately became a Human Resources Manager with a large county council.

She started to write after taking early retirement and moving to the north of Scotland with her husband where she did relief work in the famous Orkney Library and Archives, and voluntary work with Orkney’s Learning Link. Voluntary work with Cats Protection resulted in them sharing their home with six cats.

She joined Stromness Writing Group and, three months after moving to Orkney, wrote a short story which would become the Prologue to The Girl From the Workhouse. 

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun.

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