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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...
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The Matchmaker by Catriona Innes #Review #TheMatchmaker


I am delighted to bring Catriona Innes' debut novel, The Matchmaker to the blog, today. 

 
For Caitlin Carter, love means business.


She's taken matchmaking back to basics. There is no swiping left. No creepy location tracker. Definitely no unsolicited pics of areas of the anatomy no one wants to see. She's made dating great again: personal, patient... and profitable. Her start-up is going from strength to strength, with clients wanting to find the love she has with her own husband Harry, and she even has celebrities wanting to use her services...



Caitlin is living the perfect life. Except it's all a perfect lie. And Caitlin doesn't know how long she can keep it up.



In an era of social media and dating apps, when we have never been more connected yet more isolated, THE MATCHMAKER is a story about love, loss and loneliness, and learning to accept your reality.


Inspired by the hit TV show FIRST DATES, this emotionally charged rom-com with a heart-wrenching twist is perfect for fans of THE MAN WHO DIDN'T CALL by Rosie Walsh, SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL by Giovanna Fletcher and IT STARTED WITH A TWEET by Anna Bell.

My Thoughts

 This is a wonderful mix of witty dialogue, amusing episodes and poignant moments where grief and loss are exposed. Caitlin's secret gnaws away at her and erodes all her friendships and family relationships. She tries to bury her raw feelings and her true situation is only revealed to the reader as the story evolves.

   The writing is fluent and easy to read so it is one of those that when you start, you just have to keep going to the end. There are some lovely cameos from the cast of characters and Caitlin's attempts to smooth the way for the people she has matched leads to some laugh out loud moments. You see some attempt to come to terms with the past and learn to be honest, so that they can move on. There is a real seam of humanity running through the centre of the story and in the end, authenticity proves to be the winner. 

In short: light and dark- love and loss. 
 
About the Author

Hello, I'm Features Director at Cosmopolitan where, in the name of investigative journalism, I have joined an undercover police force, worked as a Playboy Bunny croupier and - for one night only - performed a stand-up set with just two hours practice. It was all terrifying! But hopefully will all make it into a book one day (so will be worth it!)

You can follow Catriona here:  Twitter  

Book links: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Catriona Innes and Tracey Fenton of Compulsive Readers for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Check out the rest of the tour!

  
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