It's Publication Day - Helena Halme Author

Today is Publication Day!

My latest novel, Book 6 in the Love on the Island Series, AN ISLAND HEATWAVE, is out today. Whoo, hoo!

After all the trials and tribulations I’ve had with this book, my 15th title, I am delighted and – to be honest – very relieved that this novel is finally out. I began writing AN ISLAND HEATWAVE in November 2021, right after sending the previous title in the Love on the Island series to my editor. I had the storyline almost ready, and I knew how the book was going to end.

But, then life happened. The world began opening up after Covid. Travel plans that had been put on hold for the best part of two years were suddenly imminent. As were various events, which I cautiously began attending, only to catch Covid myself.

As if this wasn’t enough, towards the end of the year the Englishman and I lost two close members of our families.

New Year, New Book

In October last year, I decided to push Publication Day into the spring. The novel was more or less ready, and my editor had given me her first comments, but I just didn’t feel ready to let the story go yet. So I took my time, and now, finally, THE ISLAND HEATWAVE is here.

AN ISLAND HEATWAVE

A heatwave makes everyone hot under the collar on the starkly beautiful Scandinavian islands …

Alicia is happily reunited with her ex, surgeon Liam. She’s pregnant and making a go of their new business venture when she sees the Russian fugitive Dudnikov – her archnemesis – disembark from a superyacht in the peaceful island harbor.

Patrick, the Swedish reporter with whom Alicia had a passionate affair, is also back on the islands. Is he here to be reunited with his former wife, Mia, the daughter of island magnate Kurt Eriksson? If so, why does he want to meet with Alicia?

Hilda, Alicia’s mother, puts aside her doubts and past disappointments to give her estranged husband Leo another chance, but their date in Stockholm turns out to be anything but romantic.

Meanwhile, young single mom Frida longs for her new love, Andrei, to leave his homeland of Romania and settle with her on the islands, but he keeps making excuses to stay. Can she win him over?

Good News!

AN ISLAND HEATWAVE is now available to buy from your favourite eBook store, including Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.

What’s more, the pre-publication offer price of $0.99 will be held until 12 March 23, when it goes up to $4.99.

The reason for the extended price reduction is that the novel has been accepted to be featured by various email marketing channels. These include a BookBub ‘New Releases for Less’ -feature and an Ereader News Today promotion, both on 7 March. This is great news because the book will hopefully get increased visibility during the crucial first weeks of its publication.

Reviews

Having good reviews is another great way to increase a book’s visibility. I’m delighted that AN ISLAND HEATWAVE has already gained some fabulous 4 & 5-star reviews! Here are a few of them:

Alicia and Liam are still dealing with the Russian while waiting for the birth of their child. Hate to see the series end. Each character might find the peace that they seek but not in the way that they want. Could not put it down as I wanted to see how it all came to an end.” – 5* Amazon

An interesting ongoing saga about family and relationships. Yes, I’m sure that reading the previous books would help when reading this one, but I jumped straight in at this entry in the series. While it took a little while to figure out just who was who, the back story, where required, is slipped into the plot to keep the reader up to speed. Whilst one storyline strays into the thriller realm, the majority of the book is concerned with the character development and relationships that lie at the heart of any long-running series. – 4* GoodReads

Great Read!
An Island Heatwave puts an ending to the stories that were pending in previous books of this series, some relationships were made stronger, and some not so much. The story continues to focus on human and family relations, and how we can always take lessons from good or bad situations. – 4* Barnes & Noble

I just loved the way the author tied up loose threads in An Island Heatwave but at the same time I am dreading that this might be the final book in the series. I do hope I am wrong!
A must-read for anyone already hooked on Alicia’s story or anyone else looking for a great read with interesting characters set in the beautiful archipelago of Åland. – 5* Amazon

I’d like to thank everyone who has already posted a review for AN ISLAND HEATWAVE. You have no idea how much your wonderful words warm my heart!