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Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton #DuckPondCottageBook2 #Review #PublicationDay

  I am loving returning to the Duck Pond Cottage series by Della Galton . Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage is published today by Boldwood Books on February 22nd.   Can love conquer all? Jade and Finn are idyllically happy in their little corner of rural Wiltshire. A rescue centre jampacked with animals keeps them super busy. With Finn’s art going from strength to strength, Jade can’t believe they’re living the dream until an arrogant property developer with questionable motives jeopardises their perfect lives and the future plans of the rescue centre. Jade and Finn both have trust issues and they’ve promised there’ll be no more secrets. But keeping promises is harder than either of them imagined, especially where Finn’s past is concerned. Living with Mr Spock the potty-mouthed parrot and Mickey the dog who barks at TV baddies there's never a dull moment at Duck Pond Rescue. But will the humans get their ‘happy-ever-after’ too? Can they lay the ghosts of the ...

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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