Surprises on the Scottish Isles

Will they get a second chance at first love?

When newly divorced Tara McTaigh spots an advert for a studio to let in Coorie Castle’s craft centre, she packs up her Edinburgh life and moves to the Isle of Skye, eager for a fresh start.

Little does she know that the castle’s estate manager, single dad Calan Fraser, is the man who broke her heart back at university. Thoroughly done with romance, Tara decides to ignore Cal and focus on building her business – creating dollhouses to commission. But Duncoorie is a small community, and the two keep bumping into each other… 

Just as she is starting to open her heart once more to Cal, a change in his life puts everything on the line. When a surprise storm threatens Tara's safety, will Cal realise in time that love is worth the risk?

An uplifting and feel-good crafty romance for fans of Holly Martin, Sue Moorcroft and Julie Shackman.

Review

Tara finds herself alone in love not once but twice in the first two chapters of this lovely later-in-life romance. She decides that a solitary, small-town life of independence is what she needs. She’s off to lonely Duncoorie without a thought of the loves who left her behind.

Fate, however, has other plans. As Tara tries to establish herself, she learns that small towns aren’t actually good places to be alone. They tend to come with loads of community, some nosier than necessary. She and Cal have little hope but to get entwined in so many delicious ways.

The book is quite a bit of fun for a breezy romance. The characters are complex enough that their foibles make sense. The author embraces romance tropes without being nonsensical. There is a fair amount of physical romance in this one, so I’d give it a strong PG-13. It’s much more Netflix than Hallmark with all the necessary feels of a solid romance. 

Purchase Link - https://geni.us/SOTSI

Author Bio – 

Lilac Mills lives on a Welsh hillside with her very patient husband and incredibly sweet dog, where she grows veggies (if the slugs don't get them), bakes (badly) and loves making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually).

She's been an avid reader ever since she got her hands on a copy of Noddy Goes to Toytown when she was five, and she once tried to read everything in her local library starting with A and working her way through the alphabet.

She loves long hot summer days in the garden, and cold winter ones snuggled in front of the fire, but whatever the weather she's usually writing, or thinking about writing, with heartwarming romance and happy-ever-afters always on her mind.

Social Media Links – 

Website: https://www.lilacmills.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilacMills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilacmillsauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilacmills

 

How Do I Tell You? - By Nicola May

An uplifting, heart-warming story from the number one bestselling author.

How do you rebuild your life when it changes forever in an instant?

Thirty-five-year-old Victoria Sharpe has a decent job as an illustrator, a perfectly good if predictable relationship, and great friends. So why can’t she shake the feeling that something is missing?

Keen to let off steam, she sets off on a night out with her best friends. Next morning – one reckless decision later – she resolves to make some seriously overdue changes to achieve the fulfilment she craves.

Then she gets devastating news that shatters everything she ever wanted for her future.

Or so she thinks. Because as friends and family rally around to support her, and an unexpected new romance makes her heart skip a beat, Victoria discovers that sometimes in the deepest darkness the brightest light can shine through. But, after all she’s been through, can she let it in?

This uplifting, heart-warming story from number one bestselling author Nicola May will have you reaching for the tissues. An unputdownable, unforgettable read, perfect for fans of Shari Low, Jill Mansell and Amanda Prowse.

“Nicola packs a punch in this joyous story about love and family, healing and hope. Singular, strong and sensitively written.” Milly Johnson, author of The Happiest Ever After

Review

Nicola May is known for her relatable characters who fit perfectly into their stories. This was no exception, though I won’t say it was my favorite of her works. I enjoyed her exploration of how disruptive a chronic disease diagnosis can be to daily life. The novel has many mature scenes and themes, so it’s not for the casual reader in search of family-friendly fair. 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Tell-You-heartwarming-bestselling-ebook/dp/B0DPR2BYN8

https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-You-heartwarming-bestselling-ebook/dp/B0DPR2BYN8

Author Bio – 

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With eighteen books to her name, her work has captured readers' hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon's Kindle bestseller charts. As a self-published author, she achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on Amazon twice, and has been a strong advocate for indie authors, pushing for a dedicated chart for them in The Bookseller magazine. Now signed to Storm Publishing, Nicola continues to write heartfelt rom-coms with her signature blend of warmth and wit.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.

 

Social Media Links – 

i: author_nicola

X: @nicolamay1

f: NicolaMayAuthor

Tiktok: @nicolamayauthor

 

 

Cover Reveal: Greek Retreat Trilogy

 Adorable April Afternoons

Jessica is escaping to the Greek Retreat to discover if running away from a broken engagement really can lead to a happy ever after. She doesn’t believe life works that way, but her future could depend on it.

The Greek island of Kynos is an idyllic hideaway, offering its visitors the space and time needed to truly appreciate the traditional hospitality. The locals are always friendly and ready to entertain their guests, while the daily activities offer many different ways to explore the island and its heritage.

Jessica is hoping The Retreat will provide everything she needs in order to plan for a successful future, but has she left it too late?

The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPL8X95M

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPL8X95M

Publication Date: 20th March 2025

 

Joyful June Journeys

Chrissie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to avoid some of the issues her parents have left her to deal with at home. She hopes that visiting a new location will give her a different perspective and help her to find a way forward.

The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPL9T6VH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPL9T6VH

Publication Date: 22nd May 2025

 

Sweet September Surprises

Katie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to give herself some space to recover from an unexpected predicament. She blames herself for the situation she finds herself in and knows that something has tochange, although she has no idea what she is looking for.

The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPL3R8BP

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPL3R8BP

Publication Date: 21st August 2025

Author Bio – 

Stephanie writes contemporary fiction in the form of novels, novellas and short stories and her books explore a wide range of life’s challenges, dreams and responsibilities. The stories are all character based, so she has fun expressing each unique personality and the reasons behind their actions in a setting which always has a strong sense of community.

 

She published the AEGEAN SUN series of books as a fly-on-the-wall vision of life in a Greek resort during the summer season, the CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE series is set in a British suburban cul-de-sac over the festive period and the GREEK RETREAT trilogy is planned for publication in 2025.

 

Stephanie lives in Lancashire where, apart from reading and writing, she loves gardening and cycling and is a huge fan of the soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours.

 

Social Media Links – 

Personal Twitter / X​​https://x.com/stephaniewooduk

Author Twitter / X​​https://x.com/StephanieWoodGR

Facebook​​​https://www.facebook.com/StephanieWoodAuthor/

Bluesky​​​https://bsky.app/profile/stephaniewood.bsky.social

 

 

The Great Race

 The Great Race – Book 1 (Return to Fable Land – series)

Get Ready, Set, Go!

Who will win the race? Slow and steady or fast and reckless? 

The Great Race is the first bedtime story in the delightful Return to Fable Land series – modern day fables with magical animal adventures, humorous fantasy action, and whimsical ‘talking’ characters with attitude and smarts, engage the imagination and stimulate the intellect, empowering children to go for a personal best. Ages 5 + 

Review

The tortoise and the hare is one of several fables woven into this adorable story about trusting in our own abilities and getting help when needed. I read it with my young son, who enjoyed the pictures and story equally. This delightful early reader book is filled with fun new words that are cleverly introduced by the author. My son had fun waiting on the highlighted words and then trying to guess what they mean before we looked at the definition. The book is a little longer than I expected, but only took us a few nights to read together. There’s a nice blending of easy-reading and challenge to make sharing this book with young readers a joy. 

Purchase Link

UK https://amzn.eu/d/2VHZJOl

US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKYS3RJ3  

Author Bio – Sun Chara has collaborated with her brilliant brother, writing as Joe Happy-Light, on several children’s books for Return to Fable Land series. With the authors’ collective backgrounds in education, entertainment, medicine, and martial arts, combined with their entrepreneurial spirit, The Great Race, the first modern day fable in the series is sure to delight.

 

Social Media Links – 

https://X.com/sunchara3

https://instagram.com/sunchara3

https://linkedin.com/sunchara3

https://truthsocial.com/sunchara

Giveaway to Win a $20 Amazon Gift Card and e-copy of The Great Race (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494604/?

Miss Anna and the Earl

 

Discover the truth of The Triplet Orphans in the final instalment of this compelling Cinderella trilogy! 

The key to unlocking Cinderella’s past… 

The enigmatic earl? 

For Miss Anna Lennox, a house party hosted by the Earl of Garvald is a timely distraction from uncovering the truth about her past. And a chance to indulge her secret tendre for him! She can’t escape her quest for long after discovering the earl’s castle was once her home and he was her playmate as an infant! With so many unanswered questions about her past, is there room for Anna to explore her attraction to the earl and discover if her feelings for him are anything more than rekindled friendship?

Review

Anna is the third of a set of triplets with questionable parentage to try and find love. She’s become enthralled by the Earl of Garvald who she noticed during the London season where her sisters found love. She soon discovers that the Earl may hold clues to the mysteries in her own past. 

The story flits along with all the romance and frill we expect from Regency romance. I enjoyed the cast of characters filled with heart and humor. The author did a lovely job creating a world that felt loving, welcoming and charming. the mystery carries the plot well and creates enough conflict to keep the romance from growing dull.

In summary, this is a thoroughly enjoyable Harlequin romance that is romantic without being too spicy. I enjoyed it so much I’m almost ready to forgive Harlequin for the AI cover. I think they owed the author and story more than this. 

Purchase Link

books2read.com/MissAnnaEarl

Author Bio – 

Catherine Tinley is a multi award-winning writer of witty, heartwarming Regency Romance. Her first novel, Waltzing with the Earl, won the Rita® Award for Best Historical Romance 2018, and she has since won the 2021 RoNA award, the 2021 HOLT medallion, and the 2022 RoNA award for Best Historical Romance. She lives in Ireland with her family and can be reached at www.CatherineTinley.com and on social media at https://linktr.ee/CTinley

 

Social Media Links –  https://linktr.ee/CTinley

 

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of Miss Anna and the Earl (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494605/?