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Floating Solo by Shelley Wilson #Review

  Fancy taking a leisurely boat ride along a beautiful Warwickshire canal? Floating Solo by Shelley Wilson was published by Hillfield Publishing on November 5th. Are you single? Have you lost your confidence when it comes to travelling? Would you welcome a few weeks away to find that missing spark? Climb aboard the Creaky Cauldron for an adventure like no other! Budding entrepreneur Kat Sinclair wants to grow her quirky solo narrowboat holiday enterprise but faces rejection at every turn. Until a Hollywood film crew gets in touch with the potential to change her business, dreams, and love life forever. 'Enemies to lovers' 'Small town romance'   My Thoughts   You can't help but fall under the spell of life on the canals when you read this story. Kat has big dreams for her business but seems to lack confidence to put it into action. Her Floating Solo holidays are very successful for her clients and many use the experience to sort out their thoughts and plan their ...

The Memory of You by Samantha Tonge #Review

 


I am delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for The Memory of You by Samantha Tonge. It was published on May 16th by Boldwood Books.

A gorgeously uplifting story about memories, storytelling, love and friendship, about the journeys we take and the people we meet, what we remember and how there are some things we can never forget.

Alex would like to believe sheā€™s a woman who has it all. Or thatā€™s what she tells everyone, including herself. But this is far from true. Actually sheā€™s on the cusp of losing her home, her dream career as a writer is in tatters, her ex wonā€™t speak to her, and her motherā€™s gone forever.

But then a chance meeting with a stranger named Hope gives her the opportunity of a lifetime, when Hope jokes that perhaps Alex should take over her job in a cafe while she goes travelling.

Just at that moment, it sounds like the answer to all her problems. So Alex persuades Hope to let her step into her shoes for a month. She brushes away Hopeā€™s attempts to explain about the cafĆ©, instead demanding to know more about the owner Tom.

But she should have asked to know more. Because the ā€˜Wrong Order CafĆ©ā€™ isnā€™t like anywhere sheā€™s ever been before. And Alexā€™s life is about to change foreverā€¦


 My Thoughts

There are so many layers to this story which deals with some serious issues in a warm and humane way. The Alex you meet at the beginning is not particularly likeable but then you realise that she feels that way too. There are plenty of people who you can enjoy in the Wrong Order Cafe and there is a feeling of community there and acceptance of  the loss that dementia brings to people and their families. As it takes away a personā€™s identity as memories fade away, there is nevertheless a determination to hang onto as much as possible to what makes them unique and loved.

I enjoyed all the humour which was to be found in the story, from Captain Beaky to the customers who delighted in the wrong order being delivered. Alexā€™s realisation about what she values and her opinion on how she has been living strikes home. I also loved all the references to the writing process and books. Most of all, I enjoyed the setting in Manchester having caught the bus in Stevenson Square many years ago as a schoolgirl. 


In short: a warm uplifting story which goes beneath the surface. 




About the Author

 

Samantha Tonge is the bestselling and award-winning author of over 15 romantic fiction titles published by HQ, and most recently Aria. Her first book for Boldwood, Under One Roof, was published in February 2022 and her move to Boldwood marks a broadening of her writing into multi-generational womanā€™s fiction. She lives in Manchester with her family.

 

You can follow Samantha here: Twitter   |  Facebook   |  Website
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Book links: Amazon UK  

         
Thanks to Samantha Tonge, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the event.
 
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