Book Review - From Here To Nashville by Julie Stock - #HolidayReading Mexico

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: From Here To Nashville

Author: Julie Stock

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Clued Up Publishing

Publication Date: 16th February 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Two worlds, 4,000 miles apart. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?

Rachel Hardy dreams of being a successful country music singer in Nashville's Music City, four thousand miles away from her lonely life in Dorset. When Jackson Phillips, an independent record label owner, encourages her band to audition for a nationwide 'Open Mic' competition, she decides they have nothing to lose.

But when she starts to fall in love with Jackson, the stakes suddenly get higher and she finds herself with a great big dilemma on her hands. Should she abandon her dream and take the easy way out or should she leave the life she has always known behind and take a gamble on a man who has personal demons of his own?

Follow Rachel and Jackson as they learn to trust in love again to see whether their music really can unite them.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this whirlwind romance.

If you love instant chemistry and a story that builds on a first meeting at rather quick speed, both in terms of romance but also in terms of dreams possibly coming true then this is definitely the book for you. 

I loved everything about Rachel and Jackson's story,  the way Rachel could suddenly have her dream of going to Nashville fulfilled and a whole lot more besides. 

Of course it isn't plain sailing at all, and there were times where I was frustrated by both of our leads. 

I love Julie Stock's writing style and the way she tells a story. to the chemistry between her characters.  

Its just a lovely upbeat escapist read that I was hooked on, and found myself turning the pages far too fast!

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Bistro By Watersmeet Bridge by Julie Stock

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title:  The Bistro By Watersmeet Bridge

Author: Julie Stock

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Clued Up Publishing

Publication Date: 6th August 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

When Olivia goes to manage Finn's failing bistro, will they end up sharing a table for two, or will it be a recipe for disaster?

Olivia Fuller longs to manage one of the restaurants in her father’s chain and to break free to live the independent life she’s wanted for so long. When her father finally puts his trust in her and sends her to a failing restaurant in Devon, she’s confident she can prove herself capable of doing the job.

Finn Anderson is about to lose his beloved seaside bistro, unless the bank can find a buyer to dig him out. When George Fuller offers Finn a deal, he has no choice but to accept if he wants any chance of getting his bistro back one day. And then the new manager arrives…

Even after meeting the prickly chef and discovering his complete lack of business skills, 

Olivia is confident she can turn the struggling business round. But as Olivia and Finn start working together, a mutual attraction develops between them, and soon, nothing is going according to Olivia’s plan. 

When there’s a real chance that the bistro might be sold off, Olivia and Finn determine to fight for it, united by their hard work and their growing feelings for each other.

But can they save the bistro and be together, or does destiny have a different path in mind?

A feel-good contemporary romance set in a bistro beside the sea in Devon.

What an absolutely charming story this was, I just wanted to dive in between the pages of the book and visit The Bistro By Watersmeet Bridge for myself.   I was utterly enchanted by it, and the Devonian setting.  

The narrative is split between Olivia and Finn's perspectives, so we really get to know both characters quite well.   Finn is the chef of what was a failing a bistro, until the company that Olivia's father runs, buys it and puts Olivia in charge. 

Olivia is delighted to finally have a chance to turn around a struggling restaurant but its clear that something isn't quite right with various decisions, that her father seems to make, or his logic, and it was fun finding out just what was behind them! 

I do love a book when you are rooting for the little guy against a bigger corporation, and you can't help but feel sorry for Finn for the reasons why the Bistro got into the mess it was in in the first place. 

With fabulous characters, some great food descriptions, a story that drew me in and was on my mind when I was't reading, and I just found it a really easy and gentle read. I was completely absorbed by it and wanted to know what happens next, and i would love to return to the setting in the future. 

This is the second book I've read by the author and thoroughly enjoyed them both, she just has a writing style that is a pleasure to follow, and clearly knows about food and drink. 

I loved this feel good story. 

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Vineyard in Alsace by Julie Stock - Fab Firsts

Fab Firsts is my new regular Sunday feature, that is going to be highlighting books that are firsts. When interviewing authors, it will be about their first book, as well as other firsts in their lives. When reviewing books for this feature, there will be a mix of debuts, first books in a series, the first time I read an author, and possibly other firsts depending on what I can think of!

If you are an author wanting to take part in Fab Firsts then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you.

I hope you enjoy this look at a variety of hopefully fabulous firsts, while making some sort of dent in my review and paperback TBRs which are my current main focus!

Although not Julie Stock's first book, it is the first book that I have read by this author. 

Amazon UK

Title: The Vineyard in Alsace

Author: Julie Stock

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: Clued Up Publishing 

Publication Date: 9th March 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Is there really such a thing as a second chance at love?

Fran Schell has only just become engaged when she finds her fiancé in bed with another woman. She knows this is the push she needs to break free of him and to leave London. She applies for her dream job on a vineyard in Alsace, in France, not far from her family home, determined to concentrate on her work.

Didier Le Roy can hardly believe it when he sees that the only person to apply for the job on his vineyard is the same woman he once loved but let go because of his stupid pride. Now estranged from his wife, he longs for a second chance with Fran if only she will forgive him for not following her to London.

Working so closely together, Fran soon starts to fall in love with Didier all over again. Didier knows that it is now time for him to move on with his divorce if he and Fran are ever to have a future together. Can Fran and Didier make their second chance at love work despite all the obstacles in their way? 

A romantic read set against the enticing backdrop of the vineyard harvest in France. 

If you like books set in France, or vineyards, or wine, or a second chance romance, then look no further than The Vineyard in Alsace.   It is a fabulous story with writing that felt incredibly comfortable to me to read, which is great as I had never read the author before this book. 

I loved the writing style and the fact the book is written in alternating perspectives between Fran and Didier, where you were often getting to see both of their thoughts on the same instance, while the story moves forward too. 

Fran and Didier used to date while they were at uni before circumstances drove them apart. Didier couldn't believe it when Fran applies for a job at his vineyard and can't wait to see her again.  Although a lot has happened in four years. Between them they both have incredibly tricky exes, one of them has a child, and there is also a dog too! 

I loved hearing all about life on the vineyard in Alsace, and with the initial tours showing Fran around, it reminded me a lot of my own tours of a couple of small vineyards in the Bandol region of France, last year. To me it all seemed incredibly realistic and I could picture it all very clearly. 

I loved the innate French-ness of the vineyard and town of Alsace. There was a spattering of basic french vocabulary used in some of the dialogue which added to the feel of the book, and the talk of getting fresh mouth watering croissants at the local bakery each day was incredibly pleasing to see. 

I really enjoyed seeing Didier and Fran's story, but not only theirs Fran's best friend Ellie comes out to visit and it changes her life too. They both have horrific ex-es to deal with, one more recent than the other, and its thanks to the ex-es that there are some great moments of drama and conflict in the book. 

The Vineyard in Alsace is an incredibly enjoyable book,  that transported me to a foreign location, for a lovely story that was very pleasurable to read. 

Thank you Julie Stock for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.