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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...

A Paris Fairy Tale by Marie Laval #Review #Giveaway

We are off to Paris for Marie Laval's new contemporary romance, A Paris Fairy Tale. There is also a great Giveaway. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. 

Is Paris the city of happily ever afters?



Workaholic art historian Aurora Black doesn’t have time for fairy tales or Prince Charmings, even in the most romantic city in the world. She has recently been hired by a Parisian auction house for a job that could make or break her career. Unfortunately, daredevil journalist Cédric Castel seems intent on disrupting Aurora’s routine.



As Aurora and Cédric embark on a journey across France, they get more than they bargained for as they find themselves battling rogue antiques dealers and personal demons, not to mention a growing attraction to each other.



But with the help of a fairy godmother or two, could they both find their happily ever afters?


                                                                                     My Thoughts

This is a great mixture of romance and mystery in equal measures. It has a distinctive tone, set against the world of palaeography. There is plenty of detail about Aurora's profession as she examines medieval manuscripts and evaluates their authenticity. Aurora's life amongst the museums of Europe is far from boring or dry and there are high stakes with huge amounts of money and reputation on the line. 

    I particularly enjoyed the character of Aurora with her cool, icy facade. Both her and Cedric have damaged pasts which have had a profound effect on them. Fire and ice, they are such a contrast to each other and there some moments of wry humour between them. There are also some brightly written secondary characters who contribute to the story. Paris is a superb backdrop for the story with its open spaces and dark alley ways. In all, it is a modern fairy tale with some dark issues and surprising twists.

In short: Beautiful Paris hosts this contemporary romance with a mystery to solve.

 
                                                                              About the Author


Originally from Lyon in France, Marie now lives in Lancashire with her family. She works full-time as a modern languages teacher and in her spare time she loves writing romance and dreaming about romantic heroes. She writes both historical and contemporary romance. Her historical romance The Lion’s Embrace won the Gold Medal at the Global Ebook Awards 2015 (category Historical Romance), and best-selling Little Pink Taxi was her debut romantic comedy novel with Choc Lit. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. Her native France, as well as her passion for history and research, very much influences her writing, and all her novels have what she likes to call ‘a French twist’!


You can follow Marie here: Twitter   |  Website    |  Pinterest 
                                           |  Facebook

Book links: Amazon UKAmazon US  

Thanks to Marie and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 



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Giveaway (UK only)






To win a 'I love Paris' Keyring, and a medieval necklace (handmade from a copy of an illuminated manuscript) -  UK Only, just follow the link below and good luck!


*Terms and Conditions –UK 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 Rachel’s Random Resources reserves 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 Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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