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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...

Hopeful Hearts at Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters #Review

 

 Having read  Coming Home to Glendale Hall (you can read my review here ), and New Beginnings at Glendale Hall ( review available here), I am absolutely delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for the next in the series, Hopeful Hearts at Glendale Hall, which is published today on September 2nd!  

What happens when love takes you to unexpected places?

Heather Douglas appears to have it all. But living on a farm in the Scottish Highlands with her partner, Rory Fraser, all while bringing up their adorable toddler, Harry, isn’t easy. As a former librarian, Heather is worried that she’ll never fully fit into life on Fraser Farm. And after the death of her beloved mum five years ago, Heather feels lost, as well as guilty for holding back accepting Rory’s marriage proposal because she can’t imagine her wedding without her mother.

So when ex-boyfriend, Stewart, appears in the village of Glendale, it’s a shock to the system. The man who broke her heart years ago now has big plans for the neighbouring farm and wants Heather to be part of the development. Knowing that she’s living a very different life to the one they had planned at university leaves Heather wondering if she has made the right choices since she and Stewart broke up. Especially when things start to go very wrong on the farm ...

This Christmas, Heather will need to face her fears and let go of the past or risk losing everything. She will need love, faith, and a whole lot of hope!

Return to the beautiful Highlands village of Glendale with the latest book in the bestselling Glendale series – the perfect cosy, uplifting, romantic read for fans of Heidi Swain, Milly Johnson and Holly Martin.


                                                                                        My Thoughts

I was certainly not disappointed with the third in this series, having loved the first two. It lives up to the standard of those and I was delighted to reacquaint myself with all the familiar characters. The focus of this third novel is the relationship between Heather and Rory and their life at Fraser Farm. Family and friendships certainly figure large as does being part of a community and looking out for each other.

    There are some harsher themes embedded in the story. Heather's lack of self- esteem and anxiety is a major factor but there is also a strand which looks at the effect on a farming community of inappropriate development. You also get to follow Heather's attempt to come to terms with what is really important to her as she has to decide whether hopes for the future can change. As the snow settles over the village and Christmas sparkles, there are plenty of gorgeous moments, full of cosy evenings, firesides and Christmas lights. I hope that I detected the possible direction a fourth book might go in. Fingers crossed!

In short: The past threatens to disrupt this Christmas cheer.  

                                                                               About the Author


Victoria Walters writes up-lifting and inspiring stories. She's the author of three novels, THE SECOND LOVE OF MY LIFE, SUMMER AT THE KINDNESS CAFÉ, and COMING HOME TO GLENDALE HALL. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for an RNA award. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star, and her books have won wide reader acclaim.

Victoria is a full-time author. She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry, and loves books, clothes, music, going out for tea and cake, and posting photos on Instagram.

Find out more about Victoria by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters@, on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog athttps://victoria-writes.com/

Book links:  Amazon UK  |  Apple Books |  Kobo 

Thanks to Victoria Walters, Hera Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Follow the rest of the tour!


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