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Hopeful Hearts at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas #Review #PublicationDay

  I am delighted feature another in the WW2 saga by Maisie Thomas. Hopeful Hearts at the Wartime Hotel  is published today by Boldwood Books .  Manchester, 1942. When Kitty Dunbar was forced to confront her husband’s debts and close the family hotel, she transformed Dunbar’s into a storage business for bombed-out families. But with her daughter to support, and relishing her new independence, Kitty is keen to come up with more ways to use the once prestigious hotel. Sharing her home are former chambermaid Lily , and kind-hearted welfare worker Beatrice , both haunted by past loss. Together, the three women create a new kind of family in the heart of the Manchester Blitz: one built on respect and resilience. When Kitty suggests hosting wedding receptions in the old dining room, her friends are happy and willing to lend a hand – and help to serve ‘Dunbar’s Wartime Wedding Punch’! But when Lily meets a handsome doctor, and Beatrice comes face to face with an old ...

Spring Skies over Bluebell Castle by Sarah Bennett #Review


It is a real high point to be on the blog tour for a new series by Sarah Bennett. Spring Skies over Bluebell Castle was published on April 1st and is the first in a brand new series.



She wasn’t looking for love…


When Lucie Kennington flees the bright lights of London for the quiet Derbyshire countryside, she’s shocked to discover that the heir to the Bluebell Castle estate is far from the wizened employer she expected.


In fact, Arthur Ludworth might just be the most handsome man Lucie’s ever laid eyes on – and a terrible distraction! So when she stumbles across a legendary painting feared lost for centuries, she can’t believe her luck – perhaps this is the hidden treasure to save Arthur and his family from ruin?


But it’s only a matter of time before Lucie’s past catches up with her and by then it’s too late, she’s falling for him…


Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

Book 1: Spring Skies Over Bluebell Castle

Book 2: Sunshine Over Bluebell Castle

Book 3: Starlight Over Bluebell Castle





 My Thoughts
 
What a promising start to the new series this book turned out to be. There is so much scope for stories to emerge around the different characters who are introduced. The triplets, Arthur, Tristan and Iggy all have distinct personalities and are all likeable in their own way. The first in the series is centred around Arthur who has inherited the family title and the castle itself. Enter Lucie, with her own issues which are hanging over her. They find they have quite a lot in common despite the difference in their background, such as the loss of their father.



    The setting, a castle in the North, has a touch of romance. The links to the Arthurian legends and pre-Raphaelite art was very clever and added another layer to the story. I also loved the family dogs who roamed through the castle, bringing affection and informality with them. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series and hoping that some of the secondary characters, like Launcelot and Morgana get at least some cameo roles - they have such possibility for humour.



In short: A sparkling start to a new series.



About the Author


Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.


Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.

When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.


Sarah is the author of the Butterfly Cove, Lavender Bay and the forthcoming Bluebell Castle trilogies, published by HQ Digital UK.

You can follow Sarah here: Twitter   |  Facebook|  Amazon Author Page

Book Links: Amazon UK   |  Amazon US   |  iTunes  | Kobo Books  |  

Thanks to Sarah Bennett,  HQ Digital and Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the Tour.
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