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The Island of Hopes and Dreams by Kate Frost #Review

  Travel to beautiful Sardinia for a summery read. The Island of Hopes and Dreams by Kate Frost was published by Boldwood Books on June 16th.   When the beginning of the end is just the start… Newly single Lola Wild has had her fill of well-intentioned matchmaking friends. Her best friend Mirabel’s hen weekend highlights all that’s wrong with Lola’s life and she knows something has to change. With Mirabel’s luxurious wedding in Sardinia fast approaching, Lola is looking forward to switching off, spending time with her friends and keeping her non-existent love life off everyone’s agenda. Meanwhile, fellow wedding guest Rhys Strickland has his own problems. So when a chance encounter brings Rhys and Lola together they decide to help each other out. To the idyllic backdrop of white sand beaches and azure bays, they bond over shared heartache, and friendship blossoms as they attempt to navigate the hurt and hard truths of past relationships. Opening up their hearts ...

Shooting Stars over the Highlands by Lisa Hobman #Review

 

I am delighted to be on the tour for Lisa Hobman's fourth Scottish Highlands novel, Shooting Stars over the Highlands. It was published by Boldwood Books on April 29th.

 
What would you wish for if you had one chance?

Esme Cassidy had two dreams growing up: to be a famous film star, and to own Drumblair Castle.

Sadly, overly cautious parents put paid to a career in front of the camera, instead encouraging her to study towards a ‘proper job’, and Lady Olivia MacBain is the current custodian of ‘her castle’.

After graduating and a year travelling, Esme returns home broken-hearted and throws herself into her new role as Lady Olivia’s PA at Drumblair Castle. It’s not quite her original dream but at least she’s living at the castle in one of the estate cottages with her housemate and friend, handsome, yet quirky, groundsman Judd.

With the news that the castle will be used as a film set for a period movie, Esme gets to witness first-hand the career she missed out on. And with her teenage crush in the starring role, she can’t believe her luck. But he wouldn’t be interested in a girl like her, surely?


Perfect for the fans of Alison Sherlock, Jessica Redland and Fay Keenan

 

 My Thoughts

 I am thoroughly enjoying this series and it is always good to see how life is panning out for the inhabitants of the castle. Esme is the newcomer who is newly employed as Olivia's PA. You soon realise that she  has got unfulfilled ambitions and a deep yearning to act and to perform. Her parents, particularly her mother, have encouraged her to out aside those ambitions and to find herself a 'safe' job.  Living back at home following a heartbreaking end of a relationship, Esme finds herself feeling stifled and infantilized at home and looks to move out of her childhood home, to assert her independence. 

    There is quite a cast of characters who bring some humour and colour to life in the village.  Both professional and amateur actors are rehearsing their productions and Esme finds herself involved with both. There is a gentle romance which runs through the story as Esme seems to have a range of choices available to her. 

In short: family, friends and new romance

About the Author

Represented by Lorella Belli at LBLAUK and signed to Boldwood Books.

Shortlisted in 2014 Romantic Novelists Association RoNAs in the Contemporary Romance category for debut novel Bridge Over the Atlantic (later signed by Aria Fiction and rereleased as A Seaside Escape).

I've had what you could call a very varied career including time working as a singer and appearing on TV's Stars in Their Eyes in 1997. But writing has always been a deep rooted passion.

In 2012 my family and I relocated from England to our favourite place in the world, Scotland, and we are now happily ensconced in village life. The stunning location was the inspiration for my writing career and so it's only right that it features in all of my books.

I'm a happily married mum of one with two energetic dogs who make cameo appearances in some of my books. I love writing and creating new characters and now have the pleasure of owning my own bookshop.

You can follow Lisa here: Facebook

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Purchase links

 

Thanks to Lisa Hobman, 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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