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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...

Surprises on the Scottish Isle by Lilac Mills #Review

 

We are off to the Isle of Skye for another romance from Lilac Mills. Surprises on the Scottish Isle was published by  Canelo on January 23rd.

 
Will they get a second chance at first love?

When newly divorced Tara McTaigh spots an advert for a studio to let in Coorie Castle’s craft centre, she packs up her Edinburgh life and moves to the Isle of Skye, eager for a fresh start.

Little does she know that the castle’s estate manager, single dad Calan Fraser, is the man who broke her heart back at university. Thoroughly done with romance, Tara decides to ignore Cal and focus on building her business – creating dollhouses to commission. But Duncoorie is a small community, and the two keep bumping into each other…

Just as she is starting to open her heart once more to Cal, a change in his life puts everything on the line. When a surprise storm threatens Tara's safety, will Cal realise in time that love is worth the risk?

An uplifting and feel-good crafty romance for fans of Holly Martin, Sue Moorcroft and Julie Shackman.


 My Thoughts

This escapist read is the perfect antidote to a cold January day. The Isle of Skye shimmers in the background and the environment is never far away. You can absolutely understand how Tara breathes a sigh of relief when she finds this idyllic spot. The surprise in store for her is that she meets up again with her first love, Calan.  They both have baggage from the past but strong memories of their time together.  You also get a sense that time has moved on from their first meeting and attitudes to mental health have moved on.

    There is a great community centred around the Castle with the crafty workshops and the cafe. There is much potential to set further stories here and plenty of lively characters to feature in them. Second chances, moving on are important to the story and you see several characters who have to come to terms with changes in their lives.

In short: a heart-warming romance in a glorious setting

About the Author

Lilac Mills lives on a Welsh hillside with her very patient husband and incredibly sweet dog, where she grows veggies (if the slugs don't get them), bakes (badly) and loves making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually).

 She's been an avid reader ever since she got her hands on a copy of Noddy Goes to Toytown when she was five, and she once tried to read everything in her local library starting with A and working her way through the alphabet.

She loves long hot summer days in the garden, and cold winter ones snuggled in front of the fire, but whatever the weather she's usually writing, or thinking about writing, with heartwarming romance and happy-ever-afters always on her mind.

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

Thanks to Lilac Mills, Canelo and Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources  for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

                                                              Follow the rest of the tour!
 

 


 


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