Escape from the chilly weather we are having at the moment and take a trip to St. Lucia- if only we could! The next best thing is to read Daisy James' Sunshine and Secrets which was published by Canelo on March 19th. Daisy has written a great author post for us on the wonderful setting for her book, but first here's a little about it:
When newly heartbroken, michelin-starred chef Millie Harper
is offered a job overseeing the setup of The Paradise Cookery School she jumps
at the opportunity. Leaving London and her memories of heartbreak behind she
hops on a plane to the hilltop cocoa plantation in St Lucia.
But this beautiful island break might be more work than
she’d expected…. With only two weeks to
have the kitchen installed, cocoa pods going missing from the plantation and
the notoriously relaxed island workmen to contend with, she’s going to need
some help. Gruff but charming estate manager Zach Baxter, is only too happy to
offer his opinions. As the two clash heads can they remain focussed on the job
in hand and get the cookery school finished in time?
Pack your bags and jump right into the sun and secrets of
The Paradise Cookery School. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Oliver and
Kat French.
Welcome to Books, Life and Everything, Daisy. Over to you!
A trip to St Lucia
When I decided to set Sunshine & Secrets in St Lucia I
realised I needed to do a lot of research – but that was no hardship! I spent
weeks scrolling through photographs of sun-kissed beach, brilliant blue skies
and swaying palm trees craving a snooze in one of the hammocks stretched
beneath the shade with a cocktail in one hand and a great romance novel in the
other.
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I chose an old dilapidated cocoa plantation for the setting
of The Paradise Cookery School, overlooking the town of Soufrière in the south
of the island. The swimming pool and the veranda had a panoramic view of the
spectacular Pitons too, which Millie, the
main character in the book, decided
she had to climb before she left to return to the drab and drizzly streets of
London in the winter.
However, St Lucia isn’t just about sun, sea, sand and
sailing. The island has a wealth of attractions and activities on offer. Millie
meets up with the cocoa plantation’s prickly estate manager, Zach, who suggests
a trip to the open-air market in the island’s capital Castries - a veritable
treasure trove for a professional chef - where she can sniff, squeeze and taste
all the local produce available. Castries market doesn’t only sell fresh fruit
and vegetable and that day’s catch, but also hand-made crafts and souvenirs
like pottery, carved masks, woven hats and brightly coloured head scarves. However, the best
thing to do at the market is sit with a drink, inhale the spice-infused aromas
and soak up the atmosphere.
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There are plenty of activities to enjoy too, so it’s not all
sitting around taste-testing the rum. Zach took Millie on a zip-wire ride
through the tropical rainforest which, eventually, she loved.
So, if it’s cold, rainy and dull in your part of the world,
why not take a virtual trip to the Caribbean and attend one of Millie Harper’s
Paradise Cookery School courses? You won’t be disappointed!
Thanks, Daisy! You make it all sound so tempting- which of course it is!
My Thoughts
The real star of the show in Sunshine and Secrets has to be the beautiful island of St Lucia. It oozes with personality and seems so vivid and colourful in the story. You can totally understand why Millie falls in love with the island. There's more to the story than the setting however, no matter how glorious it is. Millie is a lovely creation. Accident prone yet obviously a talented cook, you can believe how easily she settles into island life and makes friends. Several of the characters are nursing secrets of their own which you gradually begin to glimpse.
I particularly enjoyed Millie's friendship with Ella, who always told it like it is. The incorrigible builders and kitchen fitters add lots of humour to the story and test Millie's patience to the limit. Brimming with good humour, this is a rom com which can be savoured - a book to save for a dull March day when you need a little escapism and romance. You can't help but think that actually, you'd like to enrol at the Paradise Cookery School yourself and sample some of those gorgeous creations.
In short: Full of good humour and friendship as Millie takes a chance.
About the Author
Daisy James is a Yorkshire girl transplanted to the north
east of England. She loves writing stories with strong heroines and
swift-flowing plotlines. When not scribbling away in her summerhouse, she
spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She
loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something pink and fizzy or
indulging in a spot of afternoon tea – china plates and teacups are a must.
Thanks to Daisy James and Ellie Pilcher of Canelo for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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