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One Winter at the French Chalet by Mandy Baggot #Review

  We are travelling to France for Mandy Baggot's latest romcom, One Winter at the French Chalet which was published by Boldwood Books on October 4th. Things aren’t going well for travel writer Orla Bradbee. With Christmas fast approaching, her boss is insisting Orla must travel to a rural village in France to interview a man who doesn’t speak. But with trouble at home – her teenage sister Erin is in a ‘situationship’ with a man online – Orla’s only plan is to take Erin with her. Get the interview done, find out more about this online Romeo and still be back in time for Christmas dinner. Easy, right? Saint-Chambéry is a picturesque French village nestled in the snow-capped mountains, but Jacques Barbier – gorgeous and brooding, yet a man of few words – makes it clear that Orla is wasting her time here. Orla can’t deny that Jacques intrigues and infuriates her, but what is the mysterious Frenchman hiding exactly? And can she get close enough to uncover his secrets with

Flora Air by Janice Cairns #Review #Giveaway


 Today's blog post is featuring Janice Cairns' novel, Flora Air. There is also the chance to win a copy of the book in a great giveaway. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post.

Flora Air is passionate about writing and she dreams of becoming an author, but she’s in a fog with her mundane day job. She meets a charismatic professor who nurtures her writing and suddenly her dreams seem possible. A touch of magic at the professor’s home adds old-fashioned charm and enchantment to Flora’s writing journey. When she realises she loves the married professor, her journey takes a wild turn. 

Can Flora actually succeed in becoming an author? What happens to the love Flora Air feels for the professor?


My Thoughts

Flora Air is set in Edinburgh and follows the central character of Flora Air who is desperate to become a published writer. She meets Oliver, a Professor who advises and champions her writing. At the beginning, Flora is relatively inexperienced as a writer but under Oliver's tutelage, she becomes determined to hone her skill. 

    Flora seems to be a character who is prematurely old. When we first meet her she is struggling with the onset of an early menopause and her slightly isolated life sets her apart.  Although the novel is set in the present time, with mention of iPads, smart phones and computers, Flora and to an extent, Oliver, seem to come from an earlier age. Flora writes the first draft of her novel by hand and has someone to type it for her. Her approach to life and her attitudes seems to belong in a book set in the 1920's.  This makes their acceptance of the magical realism aspects of the novel more understandable and gives them an other worldly air. They are kindred spirits. I enjoyed the description of the castle in Edinburgh as in a world of its own, like the writers of the city. Flora and Oliver certainly fit in this mould.

In short: Romance, writing and a touch of magic.

    
About the Author

 

Janice Cairns is the author of quality romantic fiction.  For more than thirty years she has lived in Edinburgh and her first three novels are set there.  She now lives in a historic market town not far from Edinburgh.  Most of her time is spent writing or thinking about writing.  She loves long country walks, reading good books and eating out in lovely restaurants.

You can follow Janice here: Facebook 

Book links: Amazon UK   |  Amazon US




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


                                                       Check out the rest of the tour!


                                                                        Giveaway (UK only)





To win 2 x Paperback copies of Flora Air (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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