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A Special Place Book Tour

Cover Blurb

Lacy
Since the age of eight I have been told there was something wrong with me. There must be because I have no friends except James who has always looked out for me although I don’t know why. There is something special about James being around him makes me feel at home if only things were different!
James
I have admired Lacy for years she has an inner strength that she doesn’t realise that she has and one day I am determined to ask her out... I know that when I ask her out, she will question and second guess everything but one day we will be a couple.

Other Titles By the Author

Helen Kelly

Author Bio

Helen Kelly was born in Ashton Under Lyne and has grown up in various parts of the UK. She now lives in Selby in
North Yorkshire. Helen struggled at school and after attending a college course when she was 29 she was
diagnosed as having Dyslexia. Since that time Helen has tried to overcome her difficulties and has completed an
Undergraduate degree in Early Years and Professional Practice. Having obtained a 2:1 in that degree Helen
wanted to stretch herself and went on to complete a Masters Degree in European History, as well as a Masters
Degree in Research of History and a Masters Degree in British History.
Helen’s books show her love of visiting places in the UK especially if there is a river or a waterfall involved. Her first
book, A Special Place was published in 2022 and her Second book, New Beginnings is due out later this year. Both
of these books are part of the fictional Greengrove series that are set in a village. Helen loves to use inspirational
places she has seen and loved to set her scenes.

The Book Tour

Day 1 - Favourite Quotes

“I have come to sit on my stone bench by the side of the river. It's not really mine but I think of it as being my special place.” (Andrew Bell)

“You are overthinking. I can hear your brain working from here ,you can relax around me, it’s ok.” James knew exactly how to be around Lacy, how to put her at ease. (Eileen Tilley)

“As you know Lacey has low self-esteem, and she doesn’t feel that she has people that she can rely on, so I was thinking that, if we worked together, we could help her see what a wonderful person people think she is.” (Kirsty McKay)

“I like knowing that you are safe upstairs and when I finish work, I get to spend time relaxing with you. This is something I have wanted for ages.” (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

She totally captivates me. (Yvonne Weston)

May came over and gave me a cuddle, then said, “Not to worry. We will get everything sorted out.” (Karen Looms)

“As soon as I walked in through the door of the Greengrove Arms, I felt a sense of calm as the smell of the rustic interior and the heat of the fire enveloped me like a big hug.” (Tania Marshall)

Day 2 - Character Summaries

Lacy: Lacy is an interesting character. I like the way she carries on with life despite her feeling so inferior. (Andrew Bell)

James: James I felt was a calm person. He would be someone I would like to be around. Even as a child he knew he needed to care for Lacy by allowing her to experience life good and bad through encouragement and support Although at times he frustrated me as did Lacy for them not reading certain signals in the relationship. James was the protector which I loved about him but wasn't too overpowering. He recognised Lacy’s low self-esteem due to early and indeed continued bullying from a group of girls. James eventually found the courage to bring his strength to the fore. (Eileen Tilley)

Lacy: There were many elements of Lacy’s story that resonated with me on a personal level, and so I immediately formed an emotional connection with her. It was very easy to remain invested in her story and for me to hope that the author would give her a happy ending. In terms of the character development, I did find that the way in which Lacy’s personal thoughts and feelings were expressed, made her an extremely likeable and credible character. One that readers would root for, as it is a sad fact that many of us have been on the receiving end of bullying and know all too well how difficult it is to try and rebuild your self-confidence and self-esteem when it has been so callously torn apart. I too can recall many times growing up when I had wished for a knight in shining army to come to my rescue. I am positive that I am not the only one who thought this, and so what a wonderful touch for the Author to include in Lacy’s story. I also really enjoyed and loved how the secondary characters came together to rescue Lacy, by demonstrating her true worth, and giving her the strength she needed, to be able to stand tall, and stand up for herself. (Kirsty McKay)

May: My favourite character was May. She truly gets to shine in this story even though the story is obviously focused on Lacy and James. From the beginning, she is this benevolent, kind force that helps the characters in the story. However, as James’s mother, she has a big part in helping him push out of his comfort zone and be the best he can be for Lacy, especially after the incident with Peter. She also has a hand in getting the town to rally, and support Lacy as she starts her new venture and expands on old plans. But she never draws attention to herself; on the contrary, she gently pushes people toward their best goals. I love her gently bossy personality, like when she tended to lacy after her fall. And I love how she is one of the core people to make Lacy realize she is not a burden, and to come out of her shell. When she reprimanded James and insisted Lacy be tough on him, and Lacy actually listened, I was cheering for them both. Her quirks, such as going on shopping sprees and hiding her crafts from her husband, even though both of them technically know, adds to her endearing qualities. Even though May is never at the forefront of the action, without her, I truly believe the miscommunication issues between James and Lacy would have torn them apart. She was the repairing force that kept them together at first, after that, she was simply there to witness what should have happened a long time ago: a wholesome, sincere romance. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

Lacy and James: Lacy and James are the main characters. I’m not sure which is my favourite one. I feel for Lacy as she is a victim of bullying at school and the torment continues in her adult life - I too know how that feels. James tries to always be available to rescue Lacy - that is something that I too have tried to do with my friends. I feel for James. Both characters are well developed, the emotions they go through can be felt by the reader. The flow of their relationship progressing is written well. It is very well done. (Yvonne Weston)

May: May is James' mother. She is a calm, level-headed woman who is always helpful and shows empathy without interference. (Karen Looms)

James: My favourite character from A Special Place is James. James is a genuine gentleman, much like the proverbial knight in shining armour stepping in to save the day just in the nick of time--over and over again! He has a knack for committing to memory specific details that your average man might never even notice. It is obvious to the reader that James is portrayed as an upstanding man of integrity who is liked by everyone within his realm of influence. One might think that he was just too good to be true but the author was careful to make him a believable character. He had a moment of weakness where his mouth got him into hot water with the person he loved most in all the world. I loved that, even though he was not perfect, he was quick to recognise his mistakes and do what was necessary to make things right while being considerate of the needs of the one he had wronged. (Tania Marshall)

Day 3 - Favourite Excerpts

I enjoyed the part when Lacy’s relationship with James blossomed. “I couldn’t believe it, but James had saved the day yet again!” (Andrew Bell)

I was sitting in the nicest restaurant I had ever been to ,with the man of man of my dreams ,overlooking my favourite river, I was getting ready to tell him I wasn’t going out. I was trying to think of an excuse that didn’t sound lame ,but as soon as I saw him, I couldn’t speak and then when he gave me flowers, I just stood there stuttering like an idiot. (Eileen Tilley)

‘For the first time, her ranting actually made me smile, because unbeknownst to her, James was standing right behind her and had heard everything she had said to me. He winked at me and mouthed if I was ok. I slowly and subtly nodded to let him know I was fine.’ I loved this scene when Sarah (the bully) is caught in the act and karma pays her back. (Kirsty McKay)

Right after Lacy’s fall, when she feels like a burden and basically holes herself in her house. That part resonated with me because I know how it is to feel like you’re a burden, especially when ill-intentioned people tell you so over and over. The fall wasn’t even Lacy’s fault, yet she still felt horrible and punished herself for it. Yet, the town loves her, and she has just the right people in her life to help her physically with her knee, and also emotionally, by proving to her she is needed and supported. Seeing Lacy realise this was one of the most satisfying parts of the book. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

Although I wasn’t expecting David to say anything else other than accept the proposal, as it wouldn’t cost him anything, I always felt it was best to ask and create a working relationship. Just like our character here, this is how I think and feel regarding my own small businesses!! (Yvonne Weston)

May didn’t leave me when we got back to the surgery. In fact, she insisted on waiting for me and taking me home afterwards. They couldn’t believe that I had walked to the surgery (well, hobbled). They said they’d be in contact when they had the results from the x-ray and that I had to rest my legs, so I couldn’t walk too much. May and I headed off to my house. When we got there, she helped position me on the settee and, despite me protesting, made me a sandwich and a cup of herbal tea. She also filled a flask with some more herbal tea to stop me from getting up and making my own. She was like a whirlwind, and she wouldn’t take no for 51 an answer. She said I needed someone to come and drop some dinner off for me and to make sure I was settled in bed for the night. She took my spare key so that I wouldn’t need to get up to answer the door later. With that, she left me to rest. (Karen Looms)

“When we got to the first aid room, he didn’t leave me there like I’d expected him to. Instead, he sat with me until Mrs. Hobbs arrived. The more time I spent with him, the more I could feel my negative tension leaving. Despite my reservations towards James, he made me laugh, telling me silly jokes and doing impressions of people, and after a little while, I realised that there was something different about him. I didn’t know what it was, but I felt so comfortable and safe with him.” (Tania Marshall)

Day 4 - Video Interview

Day 5 - Reviews

Overall Score: 3.5 stars: I found this romance book engaging, and I especially enjoyed how the author changed effectively between the two main characters so you could gain their perspective of events throughout the story. The characters were relatable and highlighted several common issues around confidence and the impact of low self-esteem due to bullying from younger years. Character’s personalities remained consistent throughout and ensured the reader was able to feel a range of emotions including empathy and excitement. (Andrew Bell)

Overall Score: 3.5 stars: I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely book and found it an easy and comfortable read. Though not someone who normally reads the romance genre, I found myself getting caught up in the story of Lacy and James. It’s the sort of book that would be great to take along on a holiday. (Eileen Tilley)

Overall Score: 3.5 stars: A heartwarming romance story with an emphasis on the importance of being able to love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin. The main protagonists, Lacy, and James are very likeable, and the way in which their thoughts and feelings are expressed throughout the book makes it easy for readers to relate to them and so invest in their stories. The dialogue is credible, and the plot, whilst simple, is engaging. The story moves along at a good pace, although there are quite a few editing issues that may occasionally distract. However, readers should note that the author has shared that she is dyslexic, and I would stress that the editing issues identified do not spoil the overall enjoyment of the story. (Kirsty McKay)

Overall Score: 3.5 stars: Lacy Johnston is a shy, sweet woman who moves to Greengrove when she is young. The book follows her as she grows up in Greengrove and endures non-stop bullying from a group of girls led by Sarah. In that hostile environment however, she manages to find James, an equally sweet young boy who starts looking out for her, without letting her know. The story then speeds through to the present day where all the characters are now adults. The POV switches from Lacy’s, to James’s. I found that technique to be mostly useful and gives us a slightly deeper glimpse into each character’s psyche, especially after major events such as the fall, or the disaster with Peter. However, the dialogue and the inner thoughts of each are so similar, I had a hard time really connecting with the characters long term. I also felt the switch in POV didn’t necessarily add a whole lot of depth to their personalities. Even the ancillary characters kind of come off as flat in places, and sometimes I wondered if these characters were adults or still teenagers. They all had a similar feel. The satisfying parts were Lacy’s progression; she is so vulnerable at the beginning, and James is such a dear heart to her. Yet, she finds her own strength as she develops and realises she has a lot to offer to the world. James’s unending devotion to her is also a highlight of the story, and their relationship progresses at a steady pace. The pay off at the end feels deserved and natural. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

Overall Score: 3.5 stars: Written in two parts from each of the main characters in turn, the book is not your typical love story, but we are treated to the happy ending that we crave. Development of the main characters progresses well, despite the masses of names of people they encounter. That can be confusing at times. Although it does need further editing and I found errors throughout the book, overall, I would recommend it. (Yvonne Marrs)

Overall Score: 3.5 stars: This book has some heartwarming characters, particularly James' mother, May and I was pleased with the ending. It wasn't really something that was to my own personal taste however and therefore this affected my enjoyment of the overall story. I did find some editing issues in the book. If these were addressed, I may be able to rate the book more highly. (Karen Looms)

Overall Score: 3.5 stars: “A Special Place” is an engaging story that carries you from childhood to adulthood with its well-developed characters that you will either love or hate. It is a classic story of romance peppered with bits and pieces that are not your run of the mill variety in terms of character traits. The author was successful at leading you to commiserate the agony the characters experience and celebrate their success in overcoming insecurities. Predictability that faintly echoes that of a Hallmark movie and some occasional lapses in editing are the primary challenges the author has struggled to overcome. (Tania Marshall)