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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...

Four Christmases and a Secret by Zara Stoneley #Review


 Festive reads continues today with Zara Stoneley's Four Christmases and a Secret. I am delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for the novel, on its Publication Day
 
Four Christmases and a Secret

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Except for Daisy Christmas means another of Uncle T’s dreaded Christmas parties, complete with Christmas jumper and flashing antlers.  And Oliver Cartwright.  Gorgeous Oliver Cartwright. Who she hates.

Every year Daisy has to face insufferable Ollie and hear all about how BRILLIANT he is.  Whereas Daisy has no job, no man and no idea how to fix things.

This Christmas however Daisy is determined things will be different.  There will be no snogging Ollie under the mistletoe like when they were teenagers.  No, this year she’ll show Ollie that she’s a Responsible Adult too.

But as the champagne corks pop, and the tinsel sparkles, Uncle T has news of his own to share…and it could change Daisy's life forever…


My Thoughts

This turned out to be a great read. It is a bittersweet story with some genuinely funny yet also some poignant and emotional moments. Daisy and Ollie have been friends since childhood and the dialogue between them reflects this. I enjoyed their repartee- they each seem able to outdo the other with  a quick reference to years gone by. Of course they find out that now they have grown up, their relationship has become a little more complicated. Ollie is a likeable and sympathetic character. Who wouldn't like to meet someone like him? Daisy realises pretty soon there is more to him than all the successes that his mother and hers have spent years recounting. 

    I particularly enjoyed all the episodes which are set in Uncle Terence's bookshop- it sounds perfect. Uncle Terence seems so full of life and has a few secrets of his own. It seems that several people in this book have secrets. Some of them are quite surprising. Frankie, Daisy's friend turns out to be one of these surprises . Daisy has quite a journey to go on in this story as she slowly comes to terms with her past and settles on a new direction. I thoroughly enjoyed going on it with her.

In short: heartwarming romance.

 
About the Author



Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of 'The Wedding Date'.

She lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Born in a small village in the UK, Zara wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true. She now writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

Zara’s bestselling novels include 'Bridesmaids', 'No One Cancels Christmas', 'The Wedding Date', 'The Holiday Swap', 'Summer with the Country Village Vet', 'Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage' and the popular Tippermere series - 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs' and 'Country Rivals'

You can read my reviews of Bridesmaids here and The Wedding Date here.


You can follow Zara here: Website | Twitter | Facebook 
| Instagram | Bookbub| Amazon Author Page

Book links: Amazon UK | Amazon US

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