We are returning to France for another great summer read by Gillian Harvey . The Village Cafe in the Loire was published by Boldwood on July 12th. High-flyer Becky Thorne cannot believe what she’s being told. She doesn’t need to be signed off for burnout! Life has been a bit chaotic lately, that’s all. As if dealing with her enviable job and permanent meddling from her mother aren’t enough, she’s also inherited a café in the Loire from an estranged great-aunt, complete with sitting tenant who refuses to budge. But nobody stands in Becky’s way! Ignoring her best friend Amber’s advice, she decides to storm over to France and sort the tenant out. Then she can finally get the café sold and jump back on the career ladder. What she doesn’t count on is the tenant being Pascale, who is six feet of tall, dark, handsome and extremely grumpy about her plans for change. Not to mention the village and the secrets it holds about her past. Becky’s path to succes...
Last Christmas by Clare Swatman #Review
Bea was always early for everything. Even, it turned out,
when she was running away from her life.’
As Christmas approaches, Bea Preston has a choice.
Looking up at the departures board in Heathrow airport, her flight to New York boarding soon, she knows that getting on that plane changes everything. Her life in London has grown stale, her relationship with boyfriend Dom has run its course, and New York has always been her dream. But it’s a risk – she’ll miss her parents, her friends, her job.
What if Bea could live both lives? In one she goes back home for Christmas, and in another she heads to the Big Apple. Would her fate remain the same, or can one decision really change everything?
In a grand sliding-doors love story that spans oceans, years and lives, Clare Swatman’s unforgettable tale of fate and friendship is perfect for all fans of Jojo Moyes, Beth Moran and Ruth Jones.
My Thoughts
This is a great festive read with a sliding doors story format which shows you two possible lives which Bea could lead. As you get into the story, the two alternatives take some working out but it is worth it to see the surprising twists and turns in her possible lives. Whether to go to New York or stay in the UK is her quandary at the start. Bea has to decide whether following her heart is the best outcome for her.
As the years pass and her two lives pan out, you see that she has opportunities in both to fulfil her dreams but there are pitfalls along the way. In fact, at some points Bea exasperates you with the decisions she makes. Set near Christmas over the years, it is not as crammed full of festive references as some Christmas reads. The storylines take precedence. There are moments of romance but also heartbreak and at the root of both her lives are some firm friendships both sides of the pond.
In short: Can a split- second decision change your destiny?
About the Author
Clare Swatman is the author of seven women’s fiction novels, which have been translated into over 20 languages. She has been a journalist for over twenty years, writing for Bella and Woman & Home amongst many other magazines. She lives in Hertfordshire.
You can follow Clare here: Facebook
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Book link: Amazon UK
Thanks to Clare Swatman, 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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