Today I’m delighted to be participating in the Fall into Romance Blog Hop. I’ve chosen one of my favourite recent romantic reads that’s sure to cheer and warm you up as the cold creeps along and the nights draw in.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Anouska Knight

In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson’s life as she knew it changed for ever. Now to the external world, at least she’s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.

His charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there’s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts.

Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow?

How do you learn to love again?

I was eager to read this book, given that it won Mills & Boon’s and ITV Lorraine’s search for the next big thing in contemporary women’s fiction. What a deserved winner! I loved the book. Loved it. It’s warm, it’s powerful, it’s poignant and its steeped with romance. Ciaran makes for a very attractive male lead, and Holly is so easy to like. As the two characters ‘wrestle with their ghosts’ I found myself so invested with their story and hoping at every turn that they would find a way to let go of the past and be together.

I love the author’s descriptive writing, which really sets the scene. For example:

Gnats drifted on the same warm summer breeze that saw colourful paper lanterns swaying on the their strings. Lily of the valley filled jam jars at each table, but sweet peas had won out in the battle to fragrance the evening air.

So wonderfully evocative!

I also like the messages that come through in the book about love and loss, and the very sensitive and intelligent exploration of grief. When you loved someone and lost him tragically, how do you let yourself love again? The author is expert at moving the reader between light and dark, so that by the end of the book you feel that you’ve been on a cathartic journey.

For me, the vein of warm humour running through the book really adds to the appeal. And the author even manages to blend moments that make you smile with moments that make you fan yourself – especially in one very memorable and colourful intimate encounter (I won’t spoil it for you be explaining, but trust me, you’ll love that scene!).

Overall, I think Anouska Knight has a long career ahead of her as a romance novelist. I, for one, will be keen to pick up her next novel, safe in the knowledge that it will sweep me away and make me fall in love with the characters.

Now for the fun bit! For the hop, I’m giving away another romance novel that’s sure to kindle your flames this autumn: my novel, Burning Embers, set in sultry Kenya. I have two copies up for grabs. To win, simply:

• Comment on this page telling me what you love best about autumn
• Between 13 and 21 September
• Making sure you give your name and a contact email

 Good luck! And now click on the Hop button below to visit the next blog in the hop.