Guest Review: Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe by Alison Sherlock

Can following your dreams lead to happy-ever-after?

After leaving an unhappy relationship, Hannah Jackson has no confidence in herself or love. The only thing she secretly dreams of is her own bakery. But when her brother Ben, the owner of their family run hotel Maple Tree Lodge, asks her to open a cafe in the renovated boathouse on Dragonfly Lake, Hannah is consumed with self-doubt.

Due to an injury, Ben’s best friend and champion triathlete Alex Grant finds himself suddenly at a crossroads in his life and accepts Ben’s offer to recuperate at Maple Tree Lodge. Nursing a secret, longtime crush for Hannah, Alex is hoping that he can find a new future for himself and that it might somehow include Hannah.

Can Hannah overcome her lack of confidence and make the boathouse cafe a success? And can Alex find himself a new path and finally admit to Hannah how he really feels?

Over a magical summer by the lake, and with the help of a stray puppy, Hannah and Alex discover if all of their dreams really can come true.

Review: This is the second book in the Maple Tree Lodge Hotel series. Each book in this series is intended as a standalone read, but I cannot help but recommend you read the first book before this one to give complete enjoyment of the characters and events. Once again, this book has a stunning cover, this time conveying a beautiful summer’s day at the family-run hotel.

This story focuses on Hannah Jackson, sister of Ben, who owns the Maple Tree Lodge Hotel. Hannah has returned home to the lodge having escaped a disastrous relationship which has sapped her confidence. Although she is an accomplished baker, she refuses to accept that she could make a living through her craft. She is even unwilling to help Ben by running a cafe in the lodge’s recently renovated boathouse. When family friend and famous athlete Alex Grant is injured in a race, he is invited to spend the summer recovering at the hotel and gradually helps Hannah to establish and make a success of the new cafe. Alex has always secretly loved Hannah, a feeling that is actually mutual. Working closely together over the summer, can the pair admit their feelings and find happiness?

I loved this second instalment of the story of Maple Tree Lodge Hotel. It was good to catch up with the Jackson family and learn about their achievements since opening the hotel. They are such a close family and it was rewarding to witness the different generations working together with successful results. Hannah had been damaged by her unfortunate experience with a controlling boyfriend. Lucky for her that the strong and handsome Alex turned up to gently restore her confidence. There were some great characters in the story, most of whom I recognised from the first part of the series or some other Alison Sherlock books. I liked the way in which the latter were incorporated into the plot. I can recommend this truly heartwarming romance and wonder what is next for Maple Tree Lodge.

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Top Ten Tuesday: My Favourite Books by My Favourite Authors

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Guest Review: Family Ties for the Village Midwife by Tilly Tennant

As the clouds chase the sun across the Lake District hills, and the warm breeze hints at spring on the way, midwife Zoe Padbury is counting her blessings. Until a surprise arrival changes everything…

Zoe Padbury is a big believer in second chances. She’s been so happy since she started over in the village of Thimblebury. Especially now she’s moved into Hilltop Farm with her boyfriend Alex and can be on hand to help his daughter when her baby arrives.

All that changes when Zoe’s father arrives, arm in arm with his newly pregnant fiancée Chantal. Chantal is bowled over by Thimblebury’s picture-perfect charm, and before Zoe’s had a chance to draw breath, they’ve made plans to get married in the old stone church, make Zoe their future baby’s midwife and move into the cottage next door.

Worried about her mum’s broken heart and how Alex feels about having her family so close by, at first Zoe doesn’t notice that Chantal’s brother has also moved in and is determined to make trouble, ruining the lives of the people who have made her feel so welcome. With the villagers up in arms about his behaviour, Zoe is torn in two. Can she protect her new life and love without losing her family?

Review: This is the third book in a series of stories featuring Zoe Padbury, a midwife who is attached to the medical practice in the Lake District village of Thimblebury. Following the break-up of her marriage, she has moved to the village from Manchester and has recently become romantically involved with neighbour Alex who lives with his pregnant daughter Billie. Although part of a series, I feel that this book, like the others, can be read as a standalone.

In this story, we find Zoe considering moving in with Alex and Billie. She is shocked to receive a phone call from her dad announcing that his much younger girlfriend, Chantal, is pregnant. Zoe’s mother, who has become very bitter since divorcing Zoe’s father, is annoyed about the situation, and more so when he decides to marry Chantal. What’s more, when Chantal visits Thimblebury and sees how pretty it is, she insists that the wedding should be in the local church. When Zoe finally moves in with Alex, her father and Chantal see an opportunity and move into Zoe’s former cottage, further upsetting Zoe’s mother. However, worse is to come when Chantal’s brother and his dog move into the cottage as well. Both man and dog are very unpleasant and cause no end of trouble in the peaceful village. Poor Zoe finds herself caught in the middle between her new friends in the village and her family, all the while trying to carry on with her job.

Gosh, this was a particularly dramatic instalment of this series. I did feel sorry for Zoe, with stress on all sides. As well as the situation within her family, there were some difficult patients and tricky births for her to deal with, as well as personality clashes in the medical practice. As usual, Tilly Tennant has skilfully portrayed typical village life, where everybody knows what is going on with others and pulls together when necessary. I enjoyed meeting up with characters from previous books in the series who I feel I am getting to know, and I even felt quite upset that a disruptive element had disturbed the usual peaceful atmosphere. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and finding out how everybody is faring.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Guest Review: Healing Hearts at the Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples

The winds of change are sweeping through the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping.

After a tumultuous few months, Tess Alexander is ready to welcome her first guests to The Garden Retreat, a beautiful lodge in the grounds of Hollyhocks Cottage.

With her daughter Hannah home from her travels in Australia and her mother, Marjorie, acting out of character, Tess has to juggle many demands on her attention. Even her flourishing relationship with dashing Rob Templeton is put to the test when he faces an emotional dilemma from his past and Barney, her beloved beagle, has her at her wits end.

Tess can weather most storms with the unbridling support of her close friends Dilly, Gina and Suzy but when a passing remark in the local pub causes her to question one of those friendships, she wonders who can she really trust?

Can Tess overcome the obstacles in her path to find the happy ending she truly deserves?

Review: This is the second book in the Lower Leaping series from this author. Lower Leaping is a small village in the Cotswolds where the central character in the first book lived in the lovely Hollyhocks Cottage. This new book can be read as a standalone, although reading book 1 first will increase any reader’s enjoyment.

Once again, this story features Tess Alexander, still living in her beloved cottage with her faithful beagle Barney, but now also with her daughter, Hannah, who has returned from her travels with a broken heart. Tess has converted the garden annexe to the cottage into a self-contained retreat and is now ready to offer it to paying guests. Unfortunately, her sense of achievement is overshadowed by a series of worries and not just about Hannah. Her normally content mother is acting strangely, her relationship with Rob Templeton has apparently met a bump in the road, she has suspicions about one of her trusted group of close friends and her ex is liable to turn up whenever he feels like it. Even Barney has decided to go on an adventure. Tess is a strong woman, but can she cope with all of this and come out the other side with her sunny personality intact?

I enjoyed everything about this easy to read story, especially meeting up again with Tess and other characters from the first book in the series. There were also some new additions to the cast, and once again they were likeable and interesting people. I am envious of anyone booking a stay in Tess’s garden retreat; it sounds as though they will be well looked after. In fact, the whole village and its community have been so well described by the author as to make me wish I could visit. I was delighted to find that Tess and Rob were in a flourishing relationship after meeting up in book 1, but it was not all plain sailing. I hope that there will be more from Lower Leaping soon and readers can find out how things are progressing for Tess and the others.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books Featuring May Flowers

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Guest Review: The Invitation by Veronica Henry

A secret love story.

A chance to stay forever...

London, 1953

Clementine falls for handsome Alfie Arbutus over cocktails at the Savoy and knows that life will never be the same again. Especially when he invites her to visit the family home he will inherit one day, Foxwood Manor...

Stella lost a part of her heart forever when Edwin Arbutus died. Their wartime love affair changed everything - but now she has her young son, Ted, to fight for.

Elizabeth hopes that throwing the glamorous Snow Ball at Foxwood will bring light back into its darkened walls, and into the eyes of her heartbroken husband, Michael, for the first time since they lost their eldest son.

Yet as the gilded invitations are sent, the lives of all three women collide with unimaginable consequences - will the secrets of the past break the family apart, or bring them back together?

Review: I always love a book written by Veronica Henry. She is so versatile, and has taken me to all sorts of destinations over the years. Reading the synopsis of this book set not long after the end of the Second World War made me wonder if I was going to enjoy it, but I needn’t have worried; the compelling story had me hooked right from chapter one.

The story revolves around the Arbutus family and their home, Foxwood Manor, located in the Somerset countryside. It focuses particularly on the family matriarch, Elizabeth, her son’s partner, Clementine, and her late son’s lover, Stella. The whole family have been deeply affected by the loss of the elder son (Edwin) in the war. He was an accomplished artist, and his paintings adorn the entire house. The narrative is set in 1953, but also travels back a few years to follow the wartime romance between Edwin and Stella that resulted in a son he never knew about. The introduction of Clementine, and later Stella, into the family motivates Elizabeth to re-introduce the Snow Ball, once an annual event at Foxwood Manor but not held since Edwin’s death. Can this lift the spirits of the family, especially Edwin’s father, and bring joy back to the household?

This was a powerfully emotional book, filled with romance, drama, family connections and secrets. The three main characters are all strong women in their own ways and the way in which the author drew them together was captivating. The shadow of Edwin is everywhere in the story but not in a spooky way. It was touching the way he was remembered; like some of the characters, I expected him to walk through the door at any minute. There is a fourth woman that I feel deserves a mention - faithful cook and housekeeper Daisy. I was full of admiration at the way in which she could conjure up amazing meals for any number of people in minutes. I can confidently recommend this book to anyone seeking an escape for a few hours into another world. I miss the characters and hope that we may meet again in a future book from Veronica Henry.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Top 10 Tuesday: Authors I Wish Were Still Writing Today

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Some of these authors are still writing but under a different name, in a new genre but some of them have sadly passed away or no longer write and I wish I could have a new novel from all of them!

Review: Lift me Up by Milly Johnson

 Tam Remington had her life planned out. Until a conversation in a broken lift—with her worst enemy—changes everything.

For a decade, Tam has quietly held YorkMart together whilst others took the credit, making herself smaller in the process. When she's briefly promoted to acting Managing Director, she finally has a chance to shine—until her promotion is snatched away and handed to Jack Cesaroni—the man brought in to do the job that should have been hers.

Tam expects nothing but disappointment from Jack. But when they're trapped in a lift between floors thirteen and fourteen, he sees what no one else has: Tam is exceptional. That single word of recognition sparks something Tam thought she'd lost—and an unexpected connection she never saw coming.

Now Tam faces an impossible choice: stay being the smaller version of herself she's become used to, or take a leap and reclaim the vibrant, authentic woman she once was—and discover how wonderful it could be if she lets someone see the real her…

Review: I absolutely loved listening to this one on audio-having one of my favourite narrators really made the whole experience even better. There’s just something about a familiar voice that brings the characters to life in such a comforting, engaging way, and it made Tam’s journey feel even more personal. It quickly became something I looked forward to picking up again whenever I had the chance.

It also had that classic Milly Johnson feel that I always enjoy; especially the satisfying character arcs where certain people get exactly what’s coming to them! There’s a real sense of “girl power” running through the story, and I loved watching Tam grow into herself and start to recognise her own worth. The title feels spot on because that theme of empowerment is woven all the way through. I also really connected with the thread of someone planning a wedding they’re not entirely sure they want, which added an extra layer of relatability and emotional depth for me.

Right from the start, the close proximity trope had me completely hooked-the lift situation was done so well and created just the right amount of tension and connection between the characters. Overall, it was a really enjoyable listen, perfectly paced, and just a genuinely uplifting story.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Guest Review: Hitler By Ian Kershaw

Ian Kershaw's two volume biography, Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris and Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis, was greeted with universal acclaim as the essential work on one of the most malign figures in history, from his earliest origins to the final days of the Second World War.

Now this landmark historical work is available in one single, abridged edition, tracing the story of how a bitter, failed art student from an obscure corner of Austria rose to unparalleled power, destroying the lives of millions and bringing the world to the brink of Armageddon.

Review: Ian Kershaw had written previously a two volume biography of the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. This book is a combined and abridged volume of these two books.

It describes his early years and somewhat bohemian life in Austria, before moving to Germany. At the outbreak of the First World War, he joined the German Army and served on the Western Front. It was during this time, and its aftermath, that his political views started to take shape. Disillusioned and embittered by Germany’s capitulation and the measures imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, back in Munich he became involved in right wing politics. Having been imprisoned following a failed coup, on his release, he pursued a more orthodox approach to gaining power for himself and his National Socialist, or Nazi, Party. Eventually, as the party gained more seats in the government, he was appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933. By suppressing opposition, he became effectively a dictator and was able to pursue his policy of expanding German territory eastwards. This led to the outbreak of the Second World War. The book describes how this unfolded, leading eventually to his demise as the Soviet Union’s Army overran Berlin.

As a combination of two books, this is quite a long read or listen (I listened to the audiobook). However, it is a very detailed account of Hitler’s life; his rise to power; how he was able to conquer large areas of Europe through a mixture of gambling, bluffing and bullying; and how his armies were eventually driven back and defeated. It also describes the various individuals who were instrumental in his life. It is a salutary lesson in how a leadership cult can develop. As a very comprehensive biography of one of the most infamous individuals of the 20th century, I recommend this book.