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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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Because of You by Dawn French #Review

 

Because of You by Dawn French has been longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. It is published in paperback by Michael Joseph on April 29th and I am delighted to be on the first day of the blog tour to celebrate this heartwarmimg read.. 


Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . . midnight.

As the old millennium turns into the new, two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters.

Hope leaves with a beautiful baby girl.

Anna leaves with empty arms.

Seventeen years later, the truth of that night starts rolling, terrible and deep, toward them all.

A reckoning is coming. Lives will collide.

And mother-love will be tested . . .

Because Of You is Dawn French's stunning new novel, told with her signature humour, warmth and so much love.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed the opening of the novel and the contrast between the two pairs of prospective parents. Then I began to realise what was about to happen and the story took on quite a different complexion. This is a subtle look at motherhood and what it means. Can parental ties be created or are they innate bonds? Selflessness and self - absorption are nicely offset and ultimately, you find yourself thinking about forgiveness and whether guilt can be mitigated by good behaviour. It is a real mixture of humour and pathos, with some emotional moments and life affirming events.

    Hope dominates the story for me. Living with guilt as if it is a submerged friend. If she doesn't address it, it lies dormant but inevitably, as Hope knows, it will find its voice. I enjoyed the different aspects of the story, through the differing characters who I could ss so clearly. None more so than the odious Julius who was such a contrast to the men in Minnie's life, Lee and Quiet Isaac. Family and parental love are threaded through the story. Highly recommended.

In short: Warmth and wit in abundance.

About the Author


Dawn French has been making people laugh for thirty years. On purpose.

As a writer, comedian and actor, she has appeared in some of the UK’s most long running, cherished and celebrated shows, including French and Saunders, The Comic Strip Presents ..., Murder Most Horrid, The Vicar of Dibley, Jam and Jerusalem, Lark Rise to Candleford, and more recently, Roger and Val Have Just Got In.

You can follow Dawn here: Twitter

Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Dawn French and Keeley Rigden of Michael Joseph for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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