Skip to main content

Featured

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...

Three Weddings and a Proposal by Sheila O'Flanagan #Review


I am delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for Sheila O'Flanagan's latest novel, Three Weddings and a Proposal. It was published on 20th May by Headline Review.

Delphine is at a wedding when the shocking news comes.

Suddenly her life changes for ever.Delphine  has  worked  hard  for  her  success  and  she  knows  she’s  got  everything  she  wants.  But  not  everyone  agrees.  Her  opinionated  family  aren’t convinced that living alone with no plans to ‘settle down’ could possibly make her truly happy, and no one appreciates it when she drops everything,  day  or  night,  whenever  her  boss  Conrad  calls.  Yet  Delphine  wouldn’t change a thing. And when C onrad makes her a surprise offer, it’s clear that her hard work is going to pay off.

A few short days later, Delphine’s life is unrecognisable. The man who once broke her heart has suddenly reappeared, and a shocking tragedy turns her world on its head.

Delphine must rethink everything that matters to her, and to those around her, and decide, once and for all, if love, family and a little compromise should  come  before  career,  security  and  independence...  and  if  she’s  prepared to make that choice


My Thoughts
 
I thoroughly enjoyed following Delphie's life as she comes to terms with loss and re-assesses her life's priorities. She comes up against some barely disguised misogyny in her professional life and there is such a contrast between the Delphie you see at work and the one you see surrounded by her family. When you see Delphie with her family, you sense the pressures that she feels because of their expectations on what constitutes success in life. Delphie has to decide whether she is willing to compromise in any area of her life.

    There are also some great examples of women supporting women. Delphie's female friends are always supportive and through their conversations, you often see what she is thinking about a given situation. Above all, there is the sense that change happens in life and that you have to grasp your opportunities when you can. I loved the structure of the novel which is hinted at in the title. There are some vividly drawn characters and relationships to observe. In all, this is a gorgeous read.
 
In short: An engrossing read with friends, family and work relationships all explored.
About the Author
 

Sheila   O’Flanagan   is   the   author   of   nearly   30   bestselling chart-toppers, including The Women Who Ran  Away, Her  Husband’s  Mistake,  The  Hideaway,  What  Happened  That  Night,  The  Missing  Wife  and  All For You (winner of the Irish Independent Popular Fiction Book of the Year Award). After working in banking and finance for a number of years, Sheila’s love  for  writing  blossomed  into  curating  stories about relationships in all their many forms.

You can follow Sheila here: Website  |  Twitter  |   Facebook

Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Sheila O'Flanagan, Headline Review 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!
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts