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One Day and Forever by Shari Low #Review

  One Day and Forever by Shari Low was published by Boldwood Books on January 25th.  As dawn breaks, four people are planning journeys that could change their lives forever… Kara McIntyre is supposed to be jetting off to her destination wedding in Hawaii. However, a last-minute hitch appears to have left her without a job, home and, more importantly, a fiancé. TV sensation Ollie Chiles and Kara always have each other’s backs. But when his wife goes viral in a compromising clinch with another man, Ollie must choose between supporting his best friend in her hour of need or going home to save his marriage. Alice Brookes is flying away to a new life after surviving a horrendous marriage and a very public scandal... until a stranger brings a letter from the past that could change everything. After saying goodbye to someone he loves, Zac Conlan should be heading back to Dublin. Now a shocking discovery is threatening to change his plans and his future. When weather del...

The House That Alice Built by Chris Penhall #Review


I have great pleasure to welcome you to the celebrations for Chris Penhall's debut novel, The House That Alice Built. 
 
Home is where the heart is … 

Alice Dorothy Matthews is sensible. Whilst her best friend Kathy is living it up in Portugal and her insufferable ex Adam is travelling the world, Alice is working hard to pay for the beloved London house she has put her heart and soul into renovating. 

But then a postcard from Buenos Aires turns Alice’s life upside down. One very unsensible decision later and she is in Cascais, Portugal, and so begins her lesson in ‘going with the flow’; a lesson that sees her cat-sitting, paddle boarding, dancing on top of bars and rediscovering her artistic talents. 

But perhaps the most important part of the lesson for Alice is that you don’t always need a house to be at home.


My Thoughts

This was a breath of fresh air in the midst of Autumn. Transported to Portugal, there are some fine descriptions of the scenery and local life there. There are some vividly portrayed characters, especially Alice herself. It is easy to empathise with her as she tries to escape from her ex, Adam's, selfishness and control. Kathy, her friend, has her best interests at heart and at times feels like her guardian angel.

    As Alice slowly digs within herself and find reserves she did not know she had, it is great to see her creativity begin to blossom. I did find Adam to have a whiff of the pantomime villain about him. As Alice learns to stand on her own feet, she finds friendships to support her. This is just the novel to help you escape from the cares of everyday life. A debut novel, it is enjoyable and confident writing. 

In short: A slice of Portugal to banish the winter.

     
About the Author



Chris Penhall is a freelance writer and radio producer.

Her book, The House That Alice Built, won the Choc-Lit Search for a Star Competition 2019. 

Born in South Wales, she has also lived near London and in Portugal, which is where The House That Alice Built is set. It was whilst living in Cascais near Lisbon that she began to dabble in writing fiction, but it was many years later that she was confident enough to start writing her first novel, and many years after that she finally finished it! She is now working on her second. 

A lover of books, music and cats, she is also an enthusiastic salsa dancer, a keen cook, and loves to travel. She is never happier than when she is gazing at the sea. 

Chris has two grown up daughters and lives in the Essex countryside. 

Chris is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

You can follow Chris here:  Website  |  Twitter Facebook

Book links: Amazon UK  |  Ruby Fiction  |  Kobo
                 |  Barnes and Noble  |  Google

Thanks to Chris Penhall, Ruby Fiction and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy f the book and a place on the tour.

                                                   Catch up with the rest of the tour


 

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