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Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle by Jaimie Admans #Review

  Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle by Jaimie Admans was published by Boldwood Books on September 9th. A Scottish castle, a fake marriage… and one very real Christmas romance?   After a window display goes disastrously viral – thanks to a malfunctioning animatronic Santa and an unfortunate encounter with Paddington Bear – Lula Haines finds herself without a job just weeks before Christmas. So she jumps at the chance to decorate Hollybrae Castle in Scotland for the holidays. There’s just one complication: her handsome new boss, Oliver Bracewell, needs a fake wife for the festive season. To secure a promotion that could save his family’s castle, Ollie has been pretending to be a married father-of-two to impress the family-focused firm where he works. Now his bosses are coming to stay at Hollybrae over Christmas… expecting to meet his non-existent wife and children. At first, playing along is easy as Lula is swept up in the magic of turning Hollybrae into the perfect f...
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The Old Girls' Network by Judy Leigh #Review


I am delighted to be part of the celebrations by Boldwood Books for the publication of Judy Leigh's The Old Girls' Network on 16th June. 

Is it ever too late to change…


After a health scare, 77 year-old spinster Barbara goes to convalesce in the sleepy Somerset village of Winsleigh Green with her sister Pauline, who is now a widow. The sisters are like chalk and cheese - Barbara, outspoken and aloof and Pauline, good natured and homely – so it’s not long before the tension starts to rise.


But when Pauline accidentally knocks down a vagrant who goes by the name of Bisto Mulligan, the ladies find themselves with another houseguest. As he recovers, it becomes apparent that Bisto is not who he first seemed, and as the sisters get to know the kind and courageous man he really is, it’s clear Bisto has the potential to change both of their lives.


As the spring turns to summer, and Winsleigh Green comes to life, can the three friends make the changes they need to, to embrace fresh starts, new loves, new lives and new horizons. Or do old habits die too hard?


Funny, joyful and with a spring in its step that reminds you to live every day like it’s your last. Judy Leigh has once again written the perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee MacDonald and Cathy Hopkins.


My Thoughts

 This is certainly a delightful book with some original characters who grow before your eyes. My favourite has to be the spiky Barbara, who starts off the book at her lowest and who slowly loses some of the protective shell she has armoured herself with. The relationship between the two sisters emerges and there are some poignant moments between them. Bisto, of course, seems to undergo the most change as you learn the truth about his life and he has quite a few surprises and hidden talents.

    With a cast of quirky characters and some dry and witty lines, this is a book to cheer you up and can truly be described as heart-warming. The yoga session has to be one of the high spots for me! It is the sort of book which offers you both humour and pathos 
and I would like to think that there could be return trips to visit Pauline, Barbara, Bisto et al. 

In short: As Len would say: Laughter. Tears. Perfect.  
 
About the Author

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

You can follow Judy here: Twitter 

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Book link: Amazon UK  

Thanks to Judy Leigh, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources   for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 



 
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