Book Review - Meet Me At Pebble Beach by Bella Osborne

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Amazon UK

Title: Meet Me At Pebble Beach

Author: Bella Osborne

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 28th May 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Meet Me at Pebble Beach was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.

Regan is holding a winning lottery ticket.

Goodbye to the boyfriend who never had her back, and so long to the job she can’t stand!

Except it’s all a bit too good to be true…

When Regan gets pranked, she finds herself jobless, homeless and boyfriendless in one fell swoop.

Luckily her friendly seaside community provides a beacon of hope, proving to Regan that sometimes you really can rely on the kindness of others – and one local in particular, a handsome fireman called Charlie, helps Regan realise that this could be her chance for a fresh start.

Armed with a list of ways to change her life, Regan decides it’s time to step out of her comfort zone. Because – as Charlie knows all too well – life is for living . . .

A feel-good summer read, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Veronica Henry and Cressida McLaughlin.

Oh I do love a Bella Osborne book, and this is no exception! 

Within a chapter or two I was very interested in Regan's story and wow does she go on a journey in this book, including hitting rock bottom after a prank leads her to quitting her job, dumping her boyfriend and as a result losing her home all within a few mins. 

Seeing how she deals with that, and how she pulls herself back together and the steps taken to make a wish list written in haste ,to come true!   With the help of new and old friends, Regan has a lot of support even if she doesn't always seem to make the best decisions. 

This is definitely a book you will enjoy if you love Jam or Hedgohogs - but I promise not hedgehog jam! I won't say why both of these feature quite a bit, but trust me there are all manner of wacky flavoured jams which sounded rather interesting, and amongst other things some incredibly cute hoglets.   Oh and Elvis, he's fabulous and is gorgeous,, and a gentle giant, and so mischievous too! 

Then there is Kevins' story, which may have you shedding a tear, and the story involving him brings in an important issue, that faces not just Brighton but most places around the world.  Oh and Charlie, he is fabulous, I loved Charlie. He's a fireman, he is a rock for Regan, but he also has his own issue and I honestly had no idea how the book was going to turn out, although I'm delighted with the ending. 

This is just a really engaging read, it's deep in places, its very lighthearted in places, if best friend Cleo's subject matter for her paintings doesn't raise a smile at least I'd be shocked, and generally its a very well written book that I couldn't get enough of. 

Another gem of a book from this talented author. 

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy, which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - A Walk in Wildflower Park by Bella Osborne - #HolidayReading Madeira

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Amazon UK

Title: A Walk in Wildflower Park

Author: Bella Osborne

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 27th June 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

A Walk in Wildflower Park was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.

Life’s not always a walk in the park…
Anna thought she’d found The One – until he broke off their engagement exactly a year before their wedding day. Hoping new surroundings will do her the world of good, she moves in to a place of her own on the edge of gorgeous Wildflower Park.

With the help and friendship of her neighbour Sophie (a stressed-out mum whose children a regular source of newly-invented swear words and unidentifiable sticky surfaces), Anna quickly settles in and pledges to focus on her career, but a handsome new colleague seems determined to thwart her attempts at every turn. And when she receives a text from a mystery man, it looks as though an unlikely romance is on the horizon…

Is Anna about to be swept off her feet by someone she really shouldn’t be falling for? Or could this be the new start she needs and deserves?

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book from Bella Osborne. 

I loved seeing motherhood from Sophie's eyes, with two young kids and pregnant with her third, and a husband who seems like a waste of space. 

I enjoyed getting to know Anna, and seeing her get over being dumped by her fiancee, and end up in a position where there are many men who seem to think they are in with a chance with her. 

The ex wants her back, there is the man who she strikes up a text friendship with after some wrong numbers, and then the American man who is gorgeous, seemingly off limits but does make things interesting for Anna. 

I think even from those descriptions you can tell who I was rooting for.  And there is also Bert, who Anna gets to know after adopting his cat Maurice from an animal shelter   I love Bert and Maurice's story so much. 

Anna clearly has got a deep rich past to her, and its interesting to see just what it is that has happened to shape her.  Hudson also was an interesting issue to come to terms with too. 

This was a pleasure to read and I loved Anna and Sophie's walks in Wildflower Park, which sounded like a lovely private park.  

Just an all around lovely read, which does produce a few surprises along the way to keep readers on their toes. 

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Escape to Willow Cottage by Bella Osborne

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Amazon UK

Title: Escape to Willow Cottage

Author: Bella Osborne

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 10th August 2017 

Rating: 5 Stars

A cosy and heartwarming seasonal romance, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley.

Beth is running away. With her young son Leo to protect, Willow Cottage is the lifeline she so desperately needs. Overlooking the village green in a beautiful Cotswolds idyll, Beth sees a warm, caring and safe place for little Leo.

When she finally uncovers the cottage from underneath the boughs of a weeping willow tree, Beth realises this is far more of a project than she bargained for and the locals are more than a little eccentric! A chance encounter with gruff Jack, who appears to be the only male in the village under thirty, leaves the two of them at odds but it’s not long before Beth realises that Jack has hidden talents that could help her repair more than just Willow Cottage.

Over the course of four seasons, Beth realises that broken hearts can be mended, and sometimes love can be right under your nose…

Escape to Willow Cottage was originally digitally published as a four-part serial under the title Willow Cottage. This is the complete story.

My only regret with this book was that I didn't read it last year as it came out. Somehow it had slipped through the gaps of my TBR but having finally read it I am delighted that I have. 

It is a gripping book that starts a bit slow, building information, character building and scene setting but by what I believe would have been parts 3 and 4 when it was released in parts, the book is so action packed, drama filled and utterly unputdownable. 

I found I was racing through the pages  just to see how various things would turn out.  And there were assorted surprises throughout, plus the book touches on deeper issues.  I loved Beth and her son Leo and seeing her attempt to renovate a cottage in a small village where she knows no-one and appears to have someone living in the willow tree on the property and just everything to do with the little village she moved to. 

Then there was the storyline involving her best friend Carly who dreams of boyfriend Fergus proposing, and some of her initial thoughts as to how and when are hilarious. I loved Carly and Beth's friendship and just about everything to do with this book. 

A superb story from an incredibly talented author, that I really need to not wait so long to read her next release. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Coming Home to Ottercombe Bay by Bella Osborne- #HolidayReading Book 3

Book 3 of 28 read on my holiday to Cyprus in June 2018.

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Amazon UK

Title: Coming Home to Ottercombe Bay

Author: Bella Osborne

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 18th June 2018 

Rating: 5 Stars

Daisy Wickens has returned to Ottercombe Bay, the picturesque Devon town where her mother died when she was a girl. She plans to leave as soon as her great uncle’s funeral is over, but Great Uncle Reg had other ideas. He’s left Daisy a significant inheritance – an old building in a state of disrepair, which could offer exciting possibilities, but to get it she must stay in Ottercombe Bay for twelve whole months.

With the help of a cast of quirky locals, a few gin cocktails and a black pug with plenty of attitude, Daisy might just turn this into something special. But can she ever hope to be happy among the ghosts of her past?

What on earth do you do if you discover you have inherited an old abandoned railway station that has had planning permission turned down for multiple times?  What do you do if the conditions of this inheritance are that you have to stay in Ottercombe Bay for a whole year especially when you a someone with itchy feet and never stays in one place for long?

Well that is exactly what Daisy is faced with, and along with some old and new friends has to make some big decisions. 

There are other questions from her past that need answering, other mysteries to be solved and potentially a new love interest too. 

Easily though my favourite character was Tamsyn, Daisy's wonderful best friend, who has a real way with words and a delightfully inquisitive mind - or you could just call her bonkers!

Add in to this story Bugsy Malone, a pug who takes an instant dislike to Daisy, and at times seemingly wants to get rid of her, and you have a brilliant set of characters to make a hugely entertaining book. 

i loved reading this, it felt like a breath of fresh air, in amongst other books featuring surprise inheritances and keeps you reading and interested from start to finish.  I loved it!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Guest Post - Christmas as a Writer by Bella Osborne - Blog Tour

Hi Rachel’s Random Reads, Thank you for having me on your blog today.

My immediate response to the question ‘What’s Christmas like as a writer?’ was it’s the same as everyone else’s Christmas but now I’ve had a little think I’m maybe not so sure.

You see us writer types are a little bit ________ – feel free to insert any of the following words here:

Odd
Different
Arty farty
Unpredictable
Distracted by the voices in our heads

Literally every day throughout the year I jot down ideas. It may be something someone says or something I see or simply an idea that pops up out of nowhere. Whatever it is I have to write it down straight away so that it is captured for future use and not lost in the spaghetti tangle that is my frontal lobe. Christmas is no different. My husband recently picked up what he believed were Christmas gift lists that made total sense to start with…

Aunt Doris – Gardening gloves
Malcolm & Penny – Cocktail Shaker
Jack – Star Wars anything and chocolate

To then find it turns it bit odd halfway down…
Dog is an evil mastermind
Donkey burgers
Cat that looks like Hitler

All items on the second list are completely true that I have jotted down and make total sense to me!

I also try to take a break from the writing at Christmas so that I concentrate on having festive fun with my family but I don’t think my writerly brain really gets this concept. You see we never really stop being writers. I can happily walk away from the day job and switch off for two weeks and it won’t cross my mind but writing just isn’t like that. The writer’s brain keeps thinking like a writer. Ideas keep being generated, characters keep popping up in my mind’s eye and acting out scenes, the story continues even if I’m not writing it down.

So, you see, Christmas is no different. I will still have my slightly odd thoughts at unplanned times and will need to write them down on the nearest thing available. Let’s just hope that’s not someone’s Christmas card!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks so much Bella for visiting Rachel's Random Reads, always a pleasure to have you, and I really hope you can enjoy Christmas even with all the ideas whirring around! 

Part two of a cosy and heartwarming seasonal romance, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley.

Beth is running away. With her young son Leo to protect, Willow Cottage is the lifeline she so desperately needs. Overlooking the village green in a beautiful Cotswolds idyll, Beth sees a safe place for little Leo.

When she finally uncovers the cottage from underneath the boughs of a weeping willow tree, Beth realises this is far more of a project than she bargained for and the locals are more than a little eccentric! A chance encounter with gruff Jack, who appears to be the only male in the village under thirty, leaves the two of them at odds but it’s not long before Beth realises that Jack has hidden talents that could help her repair more than just Willow Cottage.

Over the course of four seasons, Beth realises that broken hearts can be mended, and sometimes love can be right under your nose…

Willow Cottage is part of a serialized novel told in four parts, following the journey of Beth and her new life in the Cotswolds. The full book will be out next June, but for now, enjoy Willow Cottage seasonally!

Available now to purchase on Amazon UK

Please do follow along with the blog tour, to see more from Bella Osborne

Guest Post - Top Things To Do in Antigua by Bella Osborne - Blog Tour

Hi Rachel and thank you for having me on your blog and for being part of my first ever blog tour! 

The holiday that features in my latest novel ‘A Family Holiday’ is on the beautiful Caribbean island paradise of Antigua and here are my top five things to see and do whilst you're there.

Top things to do in Antigua

No 1 - Swim with Stingrays - Forget swimming with dolphins this beats it hands down! These are wild animals that come and interact of their own free will and they are quite safe too. An amazing experience.
  
No 2 - A boat trip - Antigua is beautiful inside and out but a chance to see it from the sea, just as the first explorers would have done, is inspiring. There is also something special about chasing across the water in a fast boat!

No 3 - Nelsons Dockyard – A trip full of history, this area has been beautifully restored and tells the story of a time when Antigua was the ‘Gateway to the Caribbean’ and a thriving stop on the trade routes of the British Empire.

No 4 - Zipwire – This is a chance to see Antigua from a very different viewpoint! Get an adrenalin hit whilst whizzing high above the ground in the rainforest canopy.

No 5 - Shirley Heights - There are two sides to Shirley Heights: there is the quiet restaurant and bar that boasts lovely views across English Harbour to Nelsons Dockyard and holds some history as in it’s previous life it was a military complex responsible for conveying messages back to St Johns. But on a Sunday night Shirley Heights is transformed into the must go to party and barbecue. An opportunity to watch a stunning Antigua sunset whilst sipping a cool drink is not to be missed.

But to be honest wherever you go in Antigua you will have an amazing time because the locals will see to it that you do. Have a fun summer!

Thank you so much for sharing Bella, I loved my trip to Antigua about 10 years ago and I loved re-visiting the country both with this post and also in A Family Holiday.  My review of A Family Holiday will be on the blog on 12th July.

A Family Holiday

‘Heartwarming and funny from an exciting new talent’ – Katie Fforde

She’ll do whatever it takes to keep this family together…

As the nanny to four quirky but loveable children, Charlie French has learnt that if there was ever a cement shortage Weetabix would be a viable substitute and that YouTube videos can go viral in seconds, much to her horror. But, most importantly, she's learnt that whatever happens you stick together as a family.

When tragedy strikes, Charlie is forced to decide whether it’s time to move on or fight to keep the children she loves. With the distraction of the children's gorgeous Uncle Felix and the chance of a holiday in stunning Antigua, she’s left wondering if turquoise seas can wash away their present troubles. Is the pull of white sand beaches too tempting to resist or will paradise fail to keep them all together?

A gorgeous summery beach read, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews and Jill Mansell.

Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/Family-Holiday-heartwarming-summer-romance-ebook/dp/B01EFEKVBE?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc

Amazon.co.uk - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Holiday-heartwarming-summer-romance-ebook/dp/B01EFEKVBE?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc

KOBO - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/a-family-holiday-a-heartwarming-summer-romance-for-fans-of-katie-fforde

About Bella Osborne

Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel.

In 2016, her debut novel, 'It Started At Sunset Cottage', was shortlisted for the Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year and RNA Joan Hessayon New Writers Award.

Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Bella believes that writing your own story really is the best fun ever, closely followed by talking, eating chocolate, drinking fizz and planning holidays.

She lives in The Midlands, UK with her lovely husband and wonderful daughter, who thankfully, both accept her as she is (with mad morning hair and a penchant for skipping).

Website – www.bellaosborne.com

Twitter - @osborne_bella

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Bella-Osborne-127964384079908/