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The Cottage on Strawberry Sands by Holly Martin #Review

I am delighted to return to Apple Tree Bay for the next in Holly Martin's series, The Cottage on Strawberry Sands . You can read my review of  Sunshine and Secrets at Blackberry Beach   here .   Escape to the golden sands and glittering seas of Apple Hill Bay for a sizzling summer of love. From the bestselling author of Sunshine and Secrets at Blackberry Beach comes this gorgeously romantic tale. They say there’s no place like home and for Roo Clarke this couldn’t be more true. Fourteen years ago she left the sparkling shores of Apple Hill Bay for America, leaving behind her childhood best friend Theo Lucas, and with him a piece of her heart. Nothing has felt right since then, and though she’s certain Theo has long since moved on from their hometown, Roo has high hopes that the exciting new job that’s brought her back here and the quirky beach hut she’ll make her own will fill her heart again. But Theo hasn’t moved on, he’s right where Roo left him in Apple Hill Bay,

A Little Christmas Charm by Kathryn Freeman ** Blog Tour Review & Giveaway **

I am delighted to be featuring A Little Christmas Charm on Books, Life and Everything today. It is one of the festive reads I have been looking forward to reading this year, especially after I reviewed A Little Christmas Faith last year. There is also the opportunity to win a paperback copy of A Little Christmas Faith. Details on how to enter this International Giveaway are at the foot of this post.


Would you swap sea and sunshine for tinsel and turkey?


Gabby Sanderson is used to being let down – even at Christmas. Which is why she’s happy to skip the festive season completely in favour of a plane ticket and sunnier climes.



But this Christmas could be different, because this time she might not be spending it alone. Can Owen Cooper charm Gabby into loving Christmas in the same way he’s charmed his way into her life, or is he just another person who’ll end up disappointing her?


My Thoughts

I certainly wasn't disappointed with this well written romance. I find that Kathryn's books are eminently readable with a lovely fluent writing style. Although not particularly likeable at the beginning, both the central characters prove to have much more going on than appears from the surface. You come to see that they both have their vulnerabilities.  Owen might be all easy charm at work but you realise that there is much more to him than that. With an ageing parent and an almost step- daughter, he has to step up to the mark and take on his responsibilities. Gabby has had a difficult childhood and felt let down by her mother. It remains to be seen whether she can come to terms with having to give way to other people.

    I particularly enjoyed the developing friendship between Owen's father and Hilda, his P.A. You first get to glimpse that Owen has hidden depths when he interviews for her post. There is humour to be found in some of the secondary characters, especially Zoe, who brings a blast of young angst with her. There are some lovely inter-generational moments with some pointers about what is actually important at Christmas - such a contrast to the business meetings where the story begins. Gabby's relationship with her Mum casts some light on why she is so wary of relying on others. 

 I was thrilled to meet up with Faith and Adam again from A Little Christmas Faith and to see how Nip and Tuck were getting on.  If you want a festive romance to escape into, you won't be disappointed with this one. It's a yes from me!

In short: An interesting take on a festive romance.


 
About the Author (in her own words)

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.
With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.
You can follow Kathryn here: Website | Facebook | Twitter 
Book link: Amazon UK
Thanks to Kathryn Freeman, Choc Lit and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Do check out these other brilliant bloggers!
Giveaway (International)



To win a paperback copy of A Little Christmas Faith by Kathryn Freeman (Open Internationally) just follow the link below and good luck!

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Comments

  1. Thank you so much for taking part in the blog tour Marianne and for your kind words. So pleased you enjoyed A Little Christmas Charm - and checking up on Nip and Tuck. I was pleased to visit them again, too :-)

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