Skip to main content

Featured

Wartime Arrivals at Harbour House by Fenella J Miller #Review

  I am delighted to be on the tour to celebrate a new series by Fenella J Miller . Wartime Arrivals at Haebour House is the first in a historical fiction series which begins in July 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War. It was published by Boldwood Books on November 29th. London July 1939 Elizabeth Roby lives a content and privileged life in London with husband Jonathon and children, Emily and George. But with the outbreak of war, everything changes. Jonathon informs his family that they have to move from their smart London home to the riverside town of Wivenhoe and their new home Harbour House, where Jonathon will do his duty for his country as part of the Admiralty at the shipyards. But Elizabeth is devastated. How will she start a new life in a place she hardly knows, surrounded by strangers? And how will her children cope allowed to run wild in the countryside with urchins? Elizabeth is sure it will be a disaster! But with the threat of German bombs ha
Post a Comment
Read more
Labels

An Island Promise by Kate Frost #Review

 

Escape to beautiful Ibiza for a summery read. An Island Promise by Kate Frost was published by Boldwood Books on August 7th.

 
Three friends, a Balearic promise and a summer that could change their lives forever…

For twenty-one-year-old Belle Madden her first holiday to Ibiza with best friends Gem and Laurie was memorable for all the right reasons: partying the night away, planning a future filled with big dreams and making a promise to return in ten years to celebrate living their best lives – hopefully…

Fast forward a decade and Belle is desperate for a change. Eager to escape her relationship troubles, she jumps at a job opportunity that takes her back to the White Isle.

Despite loving island life and her new job, Belle realises something is missing. With their busy lives the three friends have drifted apart, their friendship fractured. Remembering their promise to return, Belle seizes the opportunity to organise a reunion holiday.

After the initial excitement of being back together in Ibiza, cracks start to appear. A lot can change in ten years. Dreams can be shattered, love lost and hope destroyed. And when secrets are revealed, long suppressed emotions begin to unravel…

Will Belle repeat her past mistakes or can a second chance summer be the beginning of a happy-ever-after for friendship as well as love?

My Thoughts

The White Isle, Ibiza, stands resplendent in the story and its sounds and colours are always there, in the background. It is the reason Belle is drawn back, ten years after her holiday there and the setting for the reunion of the three friends, Belle, Gem and Laurie. The three women are very different in personality and struggle to reconnect at first. Each woman has her own backstory and issues to come to terms with. Each can look at the others and envy their lives. Of course, appearances can be deceptive. 

    Caleb has own sadness and regrets to overcome. On the surface, he seems to have it all but his life reflects his loneliness and unresolved grief he feels. Diego, his brother- in - law, has also done a lot of growing up since he met Belle, Gem and Laurie ten years earlier. They all have to learn to face up to their feelings, be open and honest and live in the present. There is plenty of detail in the storyline as they all interact. Secrets are revealed. The story moves from the present to ten years earlier and back in a meaningful way and to shed light on events and how people are feeling. It all results in an enjoyable read, perfect for holiday reading.

In short: old friendships and new beginnings


About the Author

Kate Frost is the author of several bestselling romantic escape novels including The Greek Heart, and The Love Island Bookshop. She lives in Bristol and is the Director of Storytale Festival, a book festival for children and teens she co-founded in 2019.

You can follow Kate here:  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter    |   You tube  |   Website

Purchase links

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

Check out the rest of the tour!


 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment