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The Widow's Vow by Rachel Brimble #Review #PublicationDay

  Today's historical fiction takes us to Victorian England and Bath. Published by Boldwood  today on December 16th, A Widow's Vow is the first in the Ladies of Carson Street saga series by Rachel Brimble.   From grieving widow... 1851. After her merchant husband saved her from a life of prostitution, Louisa Hill was briefly happy as a housewife in Bristol. But then a constable arrives at her door. Her husband has been found hanged in a Bath hotel room, a note and a key to a property in Bath the only things she has left of him. And now the debt collectors will come calling. To a new life as a madam. Forced to leave everything she knows behind, Louisa finds more painful betrayals waiting for her in the house in Bath. Left with no means of income, Louisa knows she has nothing to turn to but her old way of life. But this time, she'll do it on her own terms – by turning her home into a brothel for upper class gentleman. And she's determined to spare the girls she sa...

The Village Christmas Party by Sue Roberts #Review

 

Festive reading continues with Sue Roberts' The Village Christmas Party. It was published by Bookouture on October 10th.


The smell of mulled wine fills the air as the villagers listen to carollers singing. Everyone in town is ready for the big day. But Lauren only has hours to get the community Christmas party back on track…

Thirty-four-year-old Lauren has a list for everything, especially Christmas. With her presents bought months in advance, the last thing on her checklist is the charity party she runs every year. It has to be perfect – she has seen how much the event means to the older villagers who would be alone for the holidays otherwise.

Everything is going smoothly as the local church bells ring. Until handsome Kian walks in, claiming he has the little village hall booked for his young daughter’s birthday party. Lauren nearly falls off the ladder she is using to hang fairy lights. There’s no way this is happening. Not when she’d triple-checked every detail…

As Lauren frantically tries to find another option, Kian’s insistence that she should just “relax” isn’t helping her stay merry and bright. There’s only one way to make this a festive party to remember. She has to try and work with Kian.

They clash over every detail, but as their helpers arrive, Kian’s kind and welcoming nature soothes Lauren’s shaken nerves. And his gorgeous blue eyes make her wish she’d put the mistletoe out. Until Kian mysteriously disappears…

And Lauren is left alone to keep the excitable children from running into the flaming Christmas pudding the older guests love every year. Will Kian’s chilled approach cool the celebrations? Or can Lauren and Kian put aside their differences and save the day once more?

This completely addictive and gorgeous festive romance is perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Tracy Rees and Heidi Swain. You will not be able to put this down once it wraps you up in its warmth and charm!

My Thoughts

 This is an unashamedly festive read with Christmas preparations served up with all the trimmings. The gentle, uplifting story features Lauren at its centre. Lauren is shown to be a very generous, kind soul who has huge empathy for anyone she sees is potentially lonely and on the outside. She helps all age groups to join in but her big passion is for the older villagers who she helps to organise an annual Christmas Party for.  When she meets Kian, she finds herself noticing him wherever she goes but they are thrown together when the village hall is double booked for two very different parties.

    You will find yourself urging Lauren on and hoping that she will put herself forward for once. Friendship is very important to her, as is her family but she soon discovers that family dynamics are changing. Just like Lauren, you are not sure whether Kian is as sincere as he appears to be but as the story develops, all is revealed. Loneliness hiding in plain sight is central to the story. Lauren gets as much from the Village party as anyone else. It is a warm tale, full of uplifting moments with the joy of the season there for you to see.

In short festive reading

About the Author

Sue Roberts lives in Lancashire with her long term partner Derek and has had a lifelong love of writing, encouraged by winning a school writing competition at the age of 11.

She always assumed that ‘one day’ she would write a book, always having a busy household and a job, the idea remained firmly on the back burner but never forgotten.

The inspiration for her first novel came to her on a holiday to a Greek village. Her daughters had left home and suddenly the time had come to write that book!

You can follow Sue here: Instagram  |  X (Twitter)

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Sue Roberts and Bookouture for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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