The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous - #coverreveal #blogtour

I love doing a cover reveal on the blog. I know we are not meant to judge a book by it's cover but it is always the cover that attracts me to a book initially. This book is definitely one I would pick up to find out more about. 

The Blurb

They're off for the time of their lives. But are you? 

Single parent Heather isn't neurotic (honest!) - she's simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university - so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice on a parents' forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad whose "helpful" statistics and assertions about “helicopter parenting” leave her fuming. 

Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren’t just roommates – they are self-declared "besties for life". Suddenly, Heather and Scott are thrown into a begrudging alliance. 

As they navigate the new status quo, Heather's instinct to organise meets Scott's philosophy of letting go. Their practical text messages about mattress toppers and emergency supplies evolve into conversations about dream jobs and bucket list aspirations. Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing them together, meaning Heather and Scott find it increasingly difficult to ignore each other...

Book Details 

Publication Date – 10th July 2026

Publisher:  All Ways Book Ltd

Formats: e-book

No. of Pages:  438

Series:  Book 1 in the Empty Nesters series

Preorder Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10.  

Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving women navigating the messiness of life. She has worked as a Research Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.  

As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and provides listening services for a mental health charity aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide.  

In her free time Ko loves to run, meditate and travel; preferably all on the same day.   Ko has been married for 25 years, has 2 children of her own and is now navigating her own empty nest.  

The Freshman Parents is Ko’s debut novel and is the first in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series.

You can also find Ko at:

Author Website

Instagram

(media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

The Mistress by Valerie Keogh - #bookreview #blogtour

 

I was brushing my hair when Ivan came into the bedroom. He said nothing, just stood there looking at me. I wasn't easily intimidated, but he was a big man and he had an air about him that said he could resort to violence if necessary...

***

She wants what you have...

Hannah Parker is a woman who always gets what she wants.

When her current husband discovers she has been lying to him – again - she knows it’s time to moveon and find someone who can give her the life she desires... The life she knows she deserves...

But who will be the lucky man?

When her eye catches a glimpse of an old flame in a photograph, she’s sure it’s a sign. Mark Shepherd has always been in her thoughts – they’d been happy once, he’d adored her, but she’d made a mistake and let him get away. She won’t make the same mistake again....

Hannah is older now and wiser. She knows what men want and she knows how to keep them happy.

So what if Mark is happily married with a family of his own?

All good things must come to an end...

***

No spoilers here, but wow, that ending was completely unexpected!

This is the story of two women; Susan, who feels unmoored because her only son has left to go to university a long way from home and suspects her husband is having an affair.  Then there is Hannah, a manipulative woman who is used to getting her own way.

The book is written with a dual perspective with the chapters being told by either of the two women. This is what elevated this book as it was easy to understand the point of view of both of them. This made it far easier to like Susan than Hannah. Susan is the wronged woman but Hannah is devious and scheming. I found myself rooting for Susan whilst hoping that Hannah would somehow get her comeuppance. I did feel some sympathy for her as the book progressed and I learned more of her backstory though.

I was gripped from the very first page of this book. It was a page-turner with some nice twists and turns to the narrative along the way. The author is a great storyteller and really knows how to keep the readers interest. She has created an utterly believable scenario and has written an engaging and compelling story.

This is the second book I have read by Valerie Keogh. I also read The Nurse which I enjoyed equally. You can read my review by clicking here. Having now read two of Ms. Keogh's novels and enjoyed them so much it has left me wanting to go and read every book she has ever written. 

Releasing in the UK today, this is an excellent and exciting book which I highly recommend.

ISBN: 978 1805494225

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback, paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  288 (paperback)

About the Author:

Valerie Keogh lives in Wiltshire with her husband and a huge black cat, Fatty Arbuckle. She grew up reading Agatha Christie and initially wrote crime novels - she now writes psychological thrillers.

The Little Lies was shortlisted for the Crime Fiction Lovers Award 2021.

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)