Escape to Lisbon in The Villa of Dreams by Lucy Coleman which was published by Boldwood Books on December 1st.
'Beautifully written, comforting and utterly uplifting, Lucy
Coleman’s stories are the perfect tonic when life is a little grey.' Holly
Martin
Seren Maddison left behind a rainy Britain to follow her
dreams and live and work in Lisbon. The vibrancy, the beautiful scenery and the
sunshine, made her fall in love and she knew, instantly, that it would be her
forever home.
International artist Reid Henderson has homes in Lisbon and
London. Following his painful divorce, his dream is to turn his luxurious home
into an art school and gallery.
When Seren and Reid first meet there is an instant
attraction, but they are both people who have been hurt, and each have dreams
that are so far apart, they aren’t even on the same page.
Can they enjoy one summer of happiness together, as life
bestows a gift of memories to cherish for the rest of their lives? Or is their
destiny to chart a path into the future, in a home where dreams can come true?
Seren and Reid may be about to discover that love is as much
about what you are prepared to give up, as what you are prepared to keep hold
of.
Let Lucy Coleman transport you away to sun-drenched Portugal
where true love really can conquer all, and home is where the heart is. Perfect
for all fans of Trisha Ashley, Holly Martin and Sue Moorcroft.
My Thoughts
It was so refreshing to forget about Winter and escape for a while to sunny Lisbon. This novel certainly has a great sense of place and anyone who has visited Lisbon in the past will recognise many of the places described. Seren has a real affinity for the city and has created an event which absolutely pays homage to the setting and its people. She is quite an interesting character with a difficult family background. Her life in Portugal is definitely a case of starting again for her and she has a plan in her mind for her future, which might surprise a few people.
I enjoyed the comparison of culture between life in the UK and Portugal. Seren soon realises that her working life in Portugal comes with certain expectations about socializing with work colleagues and social life there is completely separate to working life. However, there is an instant chemistry between Seren and Reid which leaves her feeling torn. As the novel progresses, Seren learns quite a bit about herself and what she really wants.
In short: A heart-warming and enjoyable escape to the sun.
About the Author
Lucy Coleman is a #1 bestselling romance writer, whose
recent novels include Summer in Provence and Snowflakes over Holly Cove. She
also writes under the name Linn B. Halton. She won the 2013 UK Festival of
Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award and lives in the Welsh Valleys.
You can follow Linn/ Lucy here: Facebook | Twitter | Website
Catch up with the rest of the tour!
A huge thank you for being on the tour, Pam, and taking the time to read and review - so appreciated! And I think we could all do with a trip to Lisbon, even if it's only virtually. Wish I was back there! x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Pam, for being on the tour and for taking the time to read and review. So delighted you enjoyed a little fun in the sun! x
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