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The Twenty Dates by Ko Porteous #Review #EmptyNesters

It is good to return to The Empty Nesters series by Ko Porteous. The Twenty Dates was published by All Ways Publishing Ltd on October 8th. You can read my review of Book 1, The Freshman Parents   here The kids have left, assuming love endures. But can yours? Book #2 in The Empty Nesters Series   Claire’s marriage is in (total!) crisis. Her husband, Mark, is distracted, presumptuous, and utterly clueless - smart scales for their 19th wedding anniversary? Really? Perhaps she'd be better off alone. At least there'd be less laundry.   When Claire suggests separating, Mark panics. He asks for one last chance: twenty dates, one for each year of their marriage, to prove they're better off together than apart. What follows is a series of adventures Claire never saw coming - some mortifying, some exhilarating, and some that make her question everything she thought she knew. About Mark. About marriage. And about the woman she's quietly become while she wasn't payin...

Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern by Helen Rolfe #HeritageCoveno6 #Review

 

I am delighted to feature the sixth in Helen Rolfe's Heritage Cove series. Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern is a feelgood Christmas tale with some familiar characters. It was published by Boldwood Books on September 19th. 

A wonderful story of love, friendship and opening your mind and your heart to new possibilities that will enchant fans of Holly Martin and Heidi Swain.

The Copper Plough is at the heart of village life for the residents of Heritage Cove, and never more so than at Christmas, when the tree glows in the alcove and the smell of mulled wine carries out onto the street. So when new owners for the beloved pub arrive and decide to shake things up, not everyone welcomes the changes with open arms.

Local bakery owner Celeste is ready to keep an open mind. But she’s shocked to discover that one of the new landlords is Quinn, a former Navy sailor with whom she had a short but powerful romance years earlier.

Fate may have brought Quinn and Celeste back together, but life seems determined to keep them apart. Can the villagers learn to embrace the newcomers this Christmas? And will Quinn and Celeste find a way back to each other before snow falls over Heritage Cove?


My Thoughts

Each of the Heritage Cove stories can be read as a standalone, but it does help to have read some of the series if you are to understand the relationships between the characters. This story centres on Celeste and her mixed feelings when she is reunited with someone from her past. Driven by her career, she has made some hard decisions about her future which seem to block her from forming deeper relationships. She has a lot of thinking to do. Quinn has returned to the village but finds that he cannot leave some issues in the past. He needs the support of his family.

     The community of Heritage Cove are at the centre of the story. Concerned that the local pub is about to be taken over by newcomers, they have to tread a fine line between interference and giving advice. I'm not sure how the new publicans kept their patience at times! Barney is an important component in the village and has some health issues to cope with.The community pulls together to celebrate the festive season and it was  those parts that I enjoyed the most. Full of delicious Christmas sights and sounds, it is just the book to get you in the mood for some December celebrations. 

In short: Romance, friendship, family community all tied up with a huge Christmas bow.

 

About the Author

Helen Rolfe is the author of many bestselling contemporary women’s fiction titles, set in different locations from the Cotswolds to New York. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.

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

  
 
Thanks to Helen Rolfe, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 
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