It’s such a pleasure today to be helping launch the blog tour for the latest book from Jane Lovering, One of a Kind, and sharing my publication day review. Published today (13th June) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), as an audiobook, and also in paperback. My thanks, as always, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading copy (provided via netgalley).
I so look forward to every new book from Jane – they’re never quite what you might be expecting, but there’s always a guarantee of wonderfully drawn characters, a few tears, lots of laughter, and the most entertaining storylines beautifully written. It was The Recipe for Happiness (I notice it’s free via Prime reading) that made my 2023 Books of the Year list (Jane’s a regular…!) – the two individuals at the story’s centre who won my heart, the laughter, the emotional content, the perfect Yorkshire setting (you’ll find my full review here). But it could so easily have been There’s No Place Like Home instead (this one’s free via Kindle Unlimited) – life under canvas on the Yorkshire Moors in the depths of winter, in pursuit of a giant black cat that might or might not exist, with its cast of characters I really cared for and the usual helping of life’s issues and complications (you’ll find my review here). And this year started with a visit to Orkney with The Island Cottage – a heroine I adored, a developing romance I entirely believed in, a fantastic sense of place and a touch of real magic (you’ll find my review here – and this one’s free with Prime reading too…).
But enough – let’s take a closer look at her latest…
A long-held secret, and a beautiful heart hoping to be understood.
Cressida Tarbet loves her job at an animal rescue centre, even if it means she’s resigned herself to scrimping to make ends meet – a lifestyle far removed from her best friend Ivo’s, in his ancestral gatehouse stuffed with antiques and art.
But although their upbringings were different, Ivo has held Cress’s heart ever since she clapped eyes on him at university. The trouble is – she has never told him. So, when a mystery and a baffling crime throw Cress and Ivo together, she can’t help but wonder if fate is telling her something.
As the puzzle takes them from beautiful Yorkshire, to the stunning Isle of Wight, the pair get closer. Ivo begins to understand the cause of Cress’s risk-aversion and she puts her irritation at his brilliant mind to one side as she starts to appreciate Ivo’s uniqueness. But then the unthinkable happens and their worlds are turned upside down, and Cress has to wonder if fate was calling after all…
Uplifting and unforgettable, settle back to enjoy this one-of-a-kind novel about falling in love with a one-of-a-kind man. Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Beth Moran and Jo Bartlett.
Be prepared for a slowish start – well, apart from the fact that it starts with the discovery of a dead man, identity unknown, on the Yorkshire moors. Oh yes, and he just happens to have a very friendly red squirrel in his pocket.
So Cress, wildlife rescuer, is the obvious person to call – she’s been a friend of on-the-spot reporter Ivo since their university days, although she really wishes (well maybe…) that they could be something rather more. Their lives are very different – he lives in luxury in the gatehouse of the family pile, Cress keeps head above water with the help of a couple of lodgers – and when he suggests she moves in for a while, until they sort out what to do with the squirrel (working name Fred…), it’s a bit of a no-brainer.
And what then follows for a while, in the author’s inimitable style, is the progress of their relationship, with plenty of the sparkling dialogue she does so very well, and a lot of inner turmoil from love-lorn Cress. And then there’s Ivo – a particularly flamboyant dresser, totally exhausting to be around, never stops moving or talking, changes the subject mid-sentence, acts on impulse, and entirely loveable in his own quirky and neuro-diverse way.
But that’s not all the story – together they decide to conduct their own investigation into what’s begun to look like a murder rather than an unexplained death, and that takes them on a road trip to the Isle of Wight, both to take Fred home and to dig a little deeper. And if the early part of the book was slower moving (and no complaints from me – I loved it!), the pace certainly picks up dramatically and the whole book moves into edge-of-the-seat thriller territory, albeit with plenty of laughs along the way and some distinct progress on the romantic front.
This book is very, very different – with everything I enjoy about the author’s writing, but with plenty of added extras. The events that unfold on the IoW are written quite wonderfully, making it a real page turner, and I really loved Cress’ distinctive voice and wry humour when faced with… well, with the possibility of it being the end of everything really. And the developing relationship between her and Ivo was, to quote the publishers, “utterly beautiful” – amid all their challenges and baggage and issues and differences, they’re a couple who are really meant to be together. As always, a total delight.
About the author
Jane Lovering is a bestselling and multi-award winning romantic comedy writer. Most recently Jane won the RNA Contemporary Romance Novel Award in 2023 with A Cottage Full of Secrets. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.
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