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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...

From Cornwall with Love by Cressida McLaughlin #Review #TheCornishCreamTeaSeriesBook8

 

What could be better than another in The Cornish Cream Tea series? From Cornwall with love is number 8 in Cressida McLaughlin's series and was published by Harper Collins on June 8th.  

Sunshine awaits in the beautiful Cornish coastal town of Port Karadow where romance and a Cornish cream tea are always on the menu …

There’s no place like home. There’s no place like Cornwall…

Maisie Winters has everything she could ever want. She lives in the idyllic Cornish town of Port Karadow, has a jammy job in her dad's shop, adores her rescue mutt, and has time to take the landscape photos she loves.

While her best friend and sister left the town to chase big dreams in London and New York, Maisie stayed – she wouldn't leave her favourite place for anything … or anyone.

When her long-time crush, Colm Caffrey, returns from a decade abroad, old feelings start to resurface. Maisie begins to ask herself if there might be one big thing missing after all?


My Thoughts

This has all the hallmarks of a Cressida McLaughlin novel. The setting in Cornwall is gorgeous and very much part of the story. The characters we have met before reappear and through their friendships add to the uplifting community feeling. Most of all, there is the addition of two more characters and a possible romance.   

    Maisie is an interesting character who has known for a long time where she wants to be. She wants to stay near her childhood home in Port Karadow and to help her local community any way she can. Intrinsically kind, she has a real feeling for its local inhabitants. She also knows what she does not want. She has close ties with her Dad and her big sister but a more strained relationship with her Mum, who she feels she can never please. In fact. Maisie takes on a whole raft of jobs to prove to her that she is capable and can achieve. 

    Colm returns from Australia and obviously has a few secrets from his past. The chemistry between him and Maisie is clear and they have a close understanding although at times, they have quite a lot of communicating to do and Maisie tends to listen to the local gossip which causes problems. I loved the collection of dogs and cats which now have been gathered and who add to the humour. Full of friendship and life, this is a lovely addition to the series. 

In short: second chances , friendship , community




About the Author


Cressy was born in South East London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. She studied English at the University of East Anglia and now lives in Norwich with her husband David.

When she isn’t writing, Cressy spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.

You can follow Cressida here: Twitter |  Website   |  Instagram                                                            |  Facebook 

Book link: Amazon UK   

Thanks to Cressida McLaughlin, Harper Collins and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.  

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