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Coming Home to Maple Lodge by Alison Sherlock #Review

  I am delighted to feature the first in Alison Sherlock's new series set in the Corswolds. Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge was published by Boldwood Books on June 20th. A family and hotel in desperate need of help… Maple Tree Lodge has been the home of the Jackson family for over a century. But the hotel has never been a success and, following the sudden loss of his father, architect Ben Jackson soon discovers the hotel is close to financial ruin. Ben has to make some tough decisions if the hotel is to survive and his family are to keep a roof over their heads. With the hotel in urgent need of a renovation, Ben’s sister calls on the talents of her best friend, interior designer Lily Watson. Cash strapped Lily needs a successful project to prove to herself and her high-achieving parents that she can carve a successful career and Maple Tree Lodge sounds like just the place for Lily to showcase her talents. However, Lily’s vision for a cosy, country Cotswolds hotel is the com...
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Death and Other Happy Endings by Melanie Cantor #Review #Giveaway

I am delighted to be featuring Melanie Cantor's novel, Death and Other Happy Endings on the blog today and to be able to offer a print copy of the book in a great Giveaway. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post.
 

Jennifer Cole has just been told that she has a terminal blood disease. She has three months to live -- ninety days to say goodbye to friends and family and put her affairs in order. Trying to focus on the positives (at least she’ll never lose her teeth) Jennifer realises she has one overriding regret: the words she’s left unsaid. 

Rather than pursuing a frantic bucket list, she chooses to stay put, and write letters to three significant people in her life: her overbearing, selfish sister, her jelly-spined, cheating ex-husband, and her charming, unreliable ex-boyfriend finally telling them the things she’s always wanted to say but never dared.

At first, Jennifer feels cleansed by her catharsis. Liberated, even. But once you start telling the truth, it's hard to stop. And, as she soon discovers, the truth isn't always as straightforward as it seems, and death has a way of surprising you ...

My Thoughts

Full of wit and humour, this has turned out to be a super read which I read in one sitting. I just had to find out what those happy endings were going to be. It is a fizzing mix of sadness and joy. Jennifer is placed in an unenviable position with her medical diagnosis and has to face up to mortality pretty quickly. As she does so, it lays bare her relationships with friends, lovers and family and causes her to re-evaluate every aspect of living. 

    Far from sombre, this is a life affirming book which you read with a smile on your face. There are surprises and unexpected moments as Jennifer's future lurches from revelation to revelation. It is all about seizing the moment and telling the truth to those you love. Hope is flickering away even at the bleakest of times. 

In short: Humour is found even in the darkest of places in this life affirming read.  
About the Author



Melanie Cantor was a celebrity agent and publicist for over thirty years. Her clients included Ulrika Jonsson, Melinda Messenger and Melanie Sykes.
In 2004, she hosted a makeover show on Channel 4 called Making Space and in 2017 having just turned 60 she was scouted on Kings Cross station, subsequently appearing as a 'real model' in the most recent Dove campaign.
She turned her hand to writing in 2008. Death and other Happy Endings is her first published novel.

You can follow Melanie here: Twitter

Book links: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Melanie Cantor and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.   

Follow the rest of the tour!

  

Giveaway (UK only)





To win a print copy of Death and other Happy Endings,  just Follow and Retweet the pinned Tweet at @bookslifethings.

 Closing Date 15th June 2019 and there is one winner.
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries only.  The winner will be selected at random via Tweetdraw 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. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
 

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