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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...

Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas #Review

 

I always enjoy Jo Thomas' novels and I was delighted to get a place on the tour to celebrate the publication of her latest festive novel, Finding Love at the Christmas Market.
The ebook version was published on 24th September 2020, and the paperback will follow on 29th October 2020.

Cosy up with the new Christmas book from best-selling author Jo Thomas

 

Residential-home caterer Connie has had one online-dating disaster too many. Hurt in the past and with her son to consider, now she's feeling hesitant. Then one of Connie's residents sets her up on a date at a beautiful German Christmas market - with the promise she'll take a mini-bus full of pensioners with her...

Amongst the twinkling lights and smell of warm gingerbread in the old market square, Connie heads off on her date with a check-list of potential partner must-haves. Baker Henrich ticks all the boxes, but when Connie meets Henrich's rival William, she starts to wonder if ticking boxes is the answer.

Will Connie's wish for love this Christmas come true, and if so - with who?


My Thoughts

It took me a little to settle into this story but once Connie and her friends had arrived at the German market, it really took off for me and I was totally hooked. Connie is at a crossroads in her life as her son is now away at University and she is divorced. She has the empty nest syndtome. A lifeline to her has been her online baking friends and the seniors she delivers cooked food to. You realise at once that she is basically kind and thoughtful and in many ways, she is relatable. 

    Once in Germany, she meets two very different men and the whole group get totally involved in the Christmas festivities. This means festive reading with a capital F! The Christmas market sparkles and you can almost smell the delicious cinnamon and hot chocolate. There are plenty of characters who add lots of humour but also genuine warm feeling to the novel. I absolutely enjoyed it. It's a book to curl up with and dream of a snowy, shimmering Christmas.

In short: A festive treat

 

About the Author


Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before moving on to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 2’s The Steve Wright Show. In 2013 Jo won the RNA Katie Fforde Bursary. Her debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller in ebook and was awarded the 2014 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the 2014 Festival of Romance Best Ebook Award. Jo lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband and three children.

You can read my review of Jo's The Honey Farm on the Hill here 
Coming Home to Winter Island here and Escape to the French Farmhouse here 

You can follow Jo here:  Twitter   |  Website   |  Facebook

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Jo Thomas, Transworld and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Check out the rest of the tour!
 

 

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