Book Review - No-one Ever Has Sex at a Wedding by Tracy Bloom - Blog Tour

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Title: No-One Ever Has Sex at a Wedding

Author: Tracy Bloom

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 29th March 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

In Katy’s opinion, weddings should follow some basic rules:

1) No-one should ever have sex. Of course. The married couple has the rest of their lives for that, and the guests should be too busy partying.

2) If you are heavily pregnant (as Katy is) you should obviously not be invited to three weddings in the space of one summer. Your husband’s accident-prone best friend, your attention-seeking colleague, your 73-year-old mother’s marriage to her Spanish toy boy – all without even an alcoholic drink to make them bearable.

3) During the speeches, it should not be revealed that you had a secret one-night-stand with one of the other guests.

4) Instead of laying bets on the length of the best man’s speech, guests should not be laying bets on whether a marriage will be in ruins before the end of the meal…

But this summer, Katy is lucky enough to be the special guest at the weddings that break ALL of the rules. What could possibly go wrong? 

Another absolutely fabulous book in this always entertaining series.  I couldn't put this down and read it in about 3 hours flat, while jetlagged, and was completely amused by all of it. 

It was a sheer pleasure to be among the antics of Katy, Ben, Matthew, Alison, Braindead and Daniel, in a book featuring 3 weddings, some fairly memorable speeches and moments.  Some utter hilarity and also some rather touching moments. 

If you have never read a No-One Has Sex Book before, then besides missing out on a fabulous series,  you should be reassured to know most of the key plot points from them are revised briefly during this story, as the first disastrous speech take in an ongoing story from the first book in the series.   I'm too deep into my enjoyment of the series to objectively state if it can be read as a standalone, but why miss out on hours of enjoyment?

There was nothing that I didn't like in this book, it was fabulous.  The story is very easy to follow and flows smoothly. The writing is entertaining, the dialogue witty. I loved the chapters focusing on different characters, all with headers to make it clear who you are with.  It was great to see a bit more into the minds of the men in this series. 

Braindead really is just that at times, and it is he who has some of the best lines of the book, I love this guy, even if his mouth and brain never seem to connect to each other! 

I can't get over how much this book just hit the right spot for me, made me forget that I was feeling iffy, and I was able to get completely into the story. Easily my favourite book from Tracy Bloom so far. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Please take a look at all the other posts on this wonderful books-on-tour. 

Book Review - The Summer of Chasing Dreams - Blog Tour

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Title: The Summer of Chasing Dreams

Author: Holly Martin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 29th March 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

This year everything is about to change...

Eva Blue is quite content with her life in London. In her job as a cover designer, she works at home, and often in her cosy pyjamas. She's happy to stay in her safe little world and not explore much outside of it.

She is the opposite of her mum, a free spirit who craved finding adventure and thrills in all corners of the world. But on the day her mum’s will is finalised, Eva finds a list of all the dreams her mum wanted to achieve in her life. Things she never did because she fell pregnant with Eva.

Eva decides these dreams will not go unfulfilled - she is going to be brave and complete them for her mum. As Eva has no experience travelling the world, she hires a guide to go with her on this trip of a lifetime.

Gorgeous but rude Thor Anderson is not the person she would choose to accompany her on this adventure, but somehow she gets stuck with him. As they discover the world together Eva starts to think he might not be as bad as she first thought. She is swept away by Thor's kindness and mischievous sense of humour. While Eva wrestles with moving out of her comfort zone, Thor is running from a past heartache. Sparks fly between them, but will a simple holiday romance be enough or can they put aside their pasts to embrace their futures?

Without a doubt my favourite Holly Martin book of all time, and easily the best one she has written since One Hundred Proposals.   This feels like vintage Holly Martin - a fabulous feel good factor, some incredibly romantic scenes and gestures, some wonderful creativity, had me laughing and smiling throughout and generally just wow. 

As someone that loves travel, loves going on holiday and also loves reading books set around the world - what better for me than The Summer of Chasing Dreams that features a round the world trip. 

I can't imagine the amount of research the author put into this to make each section in each country feel so  authentic, and real.  I could picture everything so so clearly, and really had a sense of every little thing that Eva and Thor were experiencing. 

Eva discovered her mum's chest of dreams written when Juliette was only 18, just before falling pregnant with Eva.  With the money that Juliette left her, Eva decides to travel around the world and experience the dreams for her, and also write postcards to her mum the whole way through.

I loved how the postcards were used to move the trip onwards and give a taste of some of the places, without us experiencing every last moment  of the holiday- just all the key ones.   

There are scenes that had me laughing out loud, including a sink in a hotel room in Belgium, conversations that made me fall for Thor, such as the ones about sex in Amsterdam,  there a memorable moments involving giraffes,  the scenery descriptions involved in a hot air balloon ride has made me determined to experience one of those. 

There were also moments where Thor's kindness and thoughtfulness had me almost in tears especially with  one surprise he had for Eva. 

Thor though was not meant to be Eva's travelling companion, and was sent as a replacement from the travel company when her original female escort became injured.  Even the initial stages of their interactions were amusing, and did think he seemed on first impressions rather too sure of himself. But as we got to know both him and Eva,  I could understand them both incredibly well. 

This is perfect holiday reading, or like me, a cold winters day read, where I get to think and virtually travel to warmer places.  I adored every single moment of this fabulous book and it already feels like one of my top romantic comedy reads for the year.   

Or if you thought all of that was too long to read - let me sum it up for you the easy way - go buy and read this book, and enjoy your virtual travels and romance! 

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

Please do take a look at all the other fabulous bloggers taking part on this blog tour

Book Review - The Girl in the Corner by Amanda Prowse - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Title: The Girl in the Corner

Author: Amanda Prowse

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing 

Publication Date: 11th December 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Rae-Valentine and Howard were childhood sweethearts. They’ve shared twenty-five peaceful years since they were brought together by Dolly, Howard’s larger-than-life sister. But now, on the night of their wedding anniversary, Howard reveals a shocking betrayal that leaves Rae reeling.

Heartbroken, she takes Dolly on her would-be anniversary trip to Antigua and the two women drink and dance and talk like they haven’t in years. But in the break from real life, Rae realises her choices have always been made for her, and suddenly she’s questioning not only her fragile marriage but also her one-sided friendships. Is she really the pushover everyone else sees?

When Howard comes looking for reconciliation, Rae has a choice to make: keep the peace, as she always has, or put herself first for once and find out who she really is.

Completely gripping from the first few pages.  I could easily identify with Rae-Valentine and could see some of her life mirrored in my own.

This is story about being the person you want to be, to try to live the life you want, and not for those more pushy relations. 

Rae-Valentine is a quiet sort of girl, bit of a wall flower, eager to please, lacking in confidence. Her parents appear to favour her older sister, her best friend is rather bolshy and the complete opposite and her husband is her best friends brother. 

She has married into a whole different life to what she has grown up with and when one day she hears her husband confess to a brief affair, her life is sent off kilter.

This is a book of self discovery, the majority of which is on a holiday to Antigua. 

There are some hilarious moments in this, as well as some that brought me almost to tears, 

Like the majority of the books I have read by Amanda Prowse, it was an addictive read, hard to put down, and is definitely  a book worth clearing time in your schedule to read in one sitting. 

Thank you to Lake Union and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Dreaming of Tuscany by T. A. Williams

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Title: Dreaming of Tuscany

Author: T. A. Williams

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: 11th February 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

The glamour of Hollywood. The magic of the Tuscan countryside. One big decision...
Beatrice Kingdom (Bee to her friends) wakes up in hospital in Tuscany. After an accident on a film set leaves her burned and scarred, she feels her whole life has been turned upside down.

Bee is offered the chance of recuperating in a stunning Tuscan villa in the company of a world-famous film star, the irascible Mimi Robertson. Here amid the vines and olive groves, Bee quickly finds there’s more to the place than meets the eye, not least a certain Luca (and Romeo the dog).

As she comes to terms with her injuries and her new life takes shape, Bee will have to travel a road of self-discovery… and make a huge decision.

It is always a pleasure to sit down and be absorbed into a new T. A. Williams book and I'm delighted to say that this was no exception. 

i loved every moment of this well written book, from its amazing descriptions of the Tuscan villa, the surrounding area, Italian food, a gorgeous man, beautiful scenery, to the fledgling friendship between Bree and Mimi. 

Bree is a history specialist, and Mimi is a famous film star, and with the exception of the film they had both just been working on, the only other thing they have in common is that they were both injured in a freak accident on the film set. Which leads to them recuperating together in a remote Tuscan Villa. 

I loved seeing how Bree adapted to life in the countryside, and the scenery on her many walks was really vividly described.  And her regular companion while walking around the huge grounds, is Romeo. 

Romeo is adorable, handsome, loyal, a huge fan of Italian food, and a fabulous companion for Bree, as he knows his way around really well. Of course Luca his owner has all those same qualities too and he and Bree seem to be on the same wave length about most things.  Oh and Romeo is in fact the trademark of a T. A. Williams book, a black Labrador! 

I really enjoyed every moment of this book, and would have loved the story to continue for longer, as i wasn't ready to leave these characters behind. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Summer on the Italian Lakes by Lucy Coleman

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Title: Summer on the Italian Lakes

Author: Lucy Coleman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 5th February 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Bestselling Brianna Middleton has won the hearts of millions of readers with her sweeping - and steamy - love stories. But the girl behind the typewriter is struggling... Not only does she have writer's block, but she's a world-famous romance author with zero romance in her own life.

So the opportunity to spend the summer teaching at a writer's retreat in an idyllic villa on the shores of Lake Garda - owned by superstar author Arran Jamieson - could this be just the thing to fire up Brie's writing - and romantic - mojo?

Brie's sun-drenched Italian summer could be the beginning of this writer's very own happy-ever-after...

This has to be a dream book for a book lover, or anyone with any sorts of writing aspirations, or those who love Italy, or sexy heroes, or just an all around fabulous story. 

I have no idea where to start in waxing lyrical about all aspects of this book,  I really don't think I could fault anything. 

I mean Brie is a romance writer that verges more towards the hot and steamy side of things, but her real life persona is a lot quieter, she is struggling after a rather high profile break up, to the extent her friends and family need to stage an intervention. 

Throughout the book we get to know a lot about her writing process, and how the characters come to life in her head. She is writing two  books at the same time, and gets involved in another one too, so that is a lot of Brie's fictional characters we get to know as she writes her books. 

Thankfully, unlike some books where authors are the main characters, there isn't a full book within a book style approach here, which I am grateful of, as I always find it confusing, and besides hearing about the creative process was far more interesting to me. 

The book really gets going when she takes over last minute as a teacher on a writing retreat for a month in Lake Garda, Italy.  Such a stunning inspirational location, and the Villa which is so central to the story is owned by the rather more academic author Arran, who is not at all like Brie was imagining. 

I loved getting to know the participants for the first week of the writing retreat, and also learning all about Arran too. Not to mention the gorgeous backdrop, interesting information about publishing from some of the workshops, plus Carrie - both Brie and Arran's agent,  the Italian food, the couple of planned excursions. 

And yet you may be thinking I'm portraying a rather simple book - but that couldn't be further from the truth as both Arran and Brie are complex characters, with all manner of things in their backgrounds that are influencing how they are. 

Plus Arran is instrumental to so many of they key story lines.   I couldn't get enough of our pair of authors, and was always eager to return, when real life dragged me away from the book. 

Words... or at least my words can not do this book justice. You really need go read it for yourself to fully enjoy its wonderfulness! 

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Secrets of Willow House by Susanne O'Leary - Blog Tour - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Title: Secrets of Willow House

Author: Susanne O'Leary

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 25th March 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

A heartwarming and moving story about secrets, fresh starts and the power of friendship, set in the wilds of Ireland’s shores.

Maeve McKenna is on the verge of a breakdown. Having worked herself into the ground as a sought-after interior designer in London, she’s in desperate need of a vacation.

Philomena Duffy is a little lonely. After losing her husband, their crumbling mansion, Willow House, feels awfully empty.

With the rugged shores of Ireland calling, Maeve visits her aunt Philomena in Sandy Cove, where she once, as a teenager, kissed a wild, mysterious boy – a kiss she has never been able to forget. The beautiful night’s sky is dotted with stars as far as the eye can see, and Maeve is worlds away from her chaotic life in the city.

As Maeve throws herself into restoring Willow House to its former glory, a deep friendship with Philomena begins to blossom. Surrounded by the faded walls and peeling carpets of the old mansion, together they stumble across a secret that turns their family upside down.

All the while, she can’t stop thinking about the enigmatic boy from her past, and that magical kiss… Is he still in Sandy Cove?

Just as she’s beginning to feel at home, reality calls. Part of Maeve can’t bear to leave Willow House and its rocky beach. Does she have the courage to leave the security of her old life behind, and put down new roots in Sandy Cove, or is that just a daydream?

I loved my time spent at Willow House with Maeve and her aunt Phil. It is set in a small village of Kerry, Ireland, and the Atlantic coast setting sounded delightful. 

We get to discover just what Uncle Joe's secret was that contributed to Maeve visiting her aunt, and I'll admit I had put the blocks into place quite a bit before the character. 

But it didn't matter, as it was how they pieced it together that was entertaining, and deciding what to do about the information once they have it, which really made this book. 

I loved how Maeve changed over the course of the book, from an incredibly stressed out interior designer, with hilarious but fussy clients, to how she is back in the place of her childhood summers 

There are a couple of men interested in Maeve, and one of them appealed to me far more than the other, but you'll need to read it to see who they are and how it played out. 

This is another enchanting read from Susanne O'Leary and I'm delighted to learn it is the start of a series.  I can't wait to return to Sandy Cove. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The House of Birds and Butterflies by Cressida McLaughlin - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Title: The House of Birds and Butterflies

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: 26th July 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Abby Field loves every inch of Meadowsweet Nature Reserve on the idyllic Suffolk coast where she lives and works. Especially Swallowtail House, the rambling but empty country house that seems to look out at her each time she passes it’s shut-up windows.

When a TV wildlife programme choses a rival location for their new series, Meadowsweet is under threat – unless Abby can whip up a plan to keep the visitors flocking. But she finds herself distracted by the arrival of a brooding – and annoyingly handsome new neighbour… bad-boy novelist, Jack Westcoat.

With the pressure on, Abby and her cute rescue huskie, Raffle, must pull something special out of the bag. But with Jack in need of a good friend – and Abby feeling the pull of attraction, she can sense her resolve fluttering away…

Until reading this book I don't think I had given nature reserves a thought ever. I think I knew they must exist but past that I had no clue. 

I am astounded by the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this book.  

I felt as thought I was on the Meadowsweet Reserve along side Abby, as we spotted assorted wildlife, and the details were easily able to paint a vivid picture. 

I loved the assorted events that Abby put on over the course of the book at the reserve, as well as her slow building friendship with the lodge at Peacock Cottage. 

In fact its the lodger, Jack who had the most interesting story-line, just why was he there, and what was he running from. 

An entertaining story that will appeal to both fans of the author and nature lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Book Review - Cut Off by Mark Billingham

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Title: Cut Off

Author: Mark Billingham

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 1st February 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

It's the moment we all fear: losing our phone, leaving us cut off from family and friends. But, for Louise, losing hers in a local café takes her somewhere much darker.

After many hours of panic, Louise is relieved when someone gets in touch offering to return the phone. From then on she is impatient to get back to normal life.

But when they meet on the beach, Louise realises you should be careful what you wish for...

If you enjoyed Cut Off, try Love Like Blood, the latest novel in the series starring Mark Billingham's detective hero, DI Tom Thorne.

Would you believe me that this was my first book from Mark Billingham, and what a story it was. 

It really is a quick read at around 90ish pages, and took me the time I had my dinner one evening to read it. 

It has a terrifying concept behind it, when Louise manages to lose her phone.  After all I know if I was in that situation I would equally feel lost without mine.  

This was creepy, it had me gripped and gave me an excellent introduction to perhaps the tip of the author's dark depths.  There was good characterisation and I really did feel Louise;s fear.  

If you are looking for something slightly on the dark side, that really hooks you in, and really is a quick enjoyable read, and a great example of how a novella should be written, then look no further than Cut Off. 

Book Review - A Vintage Summer by Cathy Bramley - Blog Tour

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Title: A Vintage Summer

Author: Cathy Bramley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld

Publication Date: 21st March 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

London has not been kind to Lottie Allbright. Realising it’s time to cut and run, she packs up and moves back home – but finds her family in disarray. In need of a new place to stay, Lottie takes up the offer of a live-in job managing a local vineyard. There’s a lot to learn – she didn’t even know grapes could grow so far north!

Butterworth Wines in the rolling Derbyshire hills has always been run on love and passion but a tragic death has left everyone at a loss. Widowed Betsy is trying to keep the place afloat but is harbouring a debilitating secret. Meanwhile her handsome but interfering grandson, Jensen, is trying to convince her to sell up and move into a home.

Lottie’s determined to save Butterworth Wines, but with all this and an unpredictable English summer to deal with, it’ll be a challenge.

And that’s before she discovers something that will turn her summer – and her world – upside down . . .

Because I love this author so much, I downloaded the book without reading the blurb, and then started reading it still without having a look at a blurb.  From the title I think I was expecting something perhaps featuring vintage clothes, and evidently I didn't look at the cover properly, or vineyards may have come to mind! 

We meet Lottie in London, as the groundskeeper of a crematorium and trying to desperately keep her boyfriend happy. I took an instant dislike to Harvey and it was well grounded, and  I cheered when Lottie made the decision to move back to Derbyshire to be closer to her family. 

Little did she realise at the time that it would be the best decision she ever makes and she ends up living and working at Butterworth Wines, and learning all about viticulture.   

It is once we are the the vineyards that the book really gets going, and I loved the wide variety of people who volunteered at this family business,. All of which I loved getting to know, especially Betsy and Majorie who are widowed ladies who are hoping to see the vineyard through one last summer and harvest. 

Betsy and Majorie are a real pair, so close to each other and listening to them bicker is always amusing. 

While Lottie is getting to know this new business, and the readers are learning all about the English Wine industry, we are also getting to know Jensen, Betsy's grandson.  And is he who will be so key to many of the outcomes of the book. 

I loved this look at an English vineyard, and it has all of Cathy Bramley's warmth, love, good feeling, excellent writing, easy to picture settings and people and just everything you want for a wonderful and charming book. 

In some respects I felt it was slow to get going properly, ie, to get to the key bits of the book, the moving to Derbyshire, but it was a highly engaging and enjoyable slow start, and it was all relevant and key information, that would help you empathise with Lottie later in the story. 

This is vintage Cathy Bramley through and through and I urge her fans, and those new to the author to give this a go if you want an incredibly enjoyable story and a lovely feeling at the end of it. 

Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Please do take some time to follow along with all the other lovely bloggers taking part on this tour. 

Book Review - A Year at Castle Court by Holly Hepburn - #HolidayReading Mexio

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Title: A Year at Castle Court

Author: Holly Hepburn

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 27th December 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Sadie is a single mum, nursing a broken heart. Her best friend from childhood, Cat, is burned out from working long hours as a chef in Paris. In need of a change, they decide to invest in their dream – running their own handmade biscuit shop in gorgeous Castle Court, a three-storey food court tucked away behind Chester's bustling streets.

They soon discover that Castle Court has its own community – a little haven of delight against the stresses of the outside world. But not everyone welcomes the new business; the patisserie owner is less than pleased by what she sees as direct competition and Greg, who runs the fancy bistro that dominates one end of the courtyard, doesn't think Sadie and Cat have the talent or business acumen to succeed. Luckily, there's support in the form of the delectable Jaren, who owns the Dutch waffle house opposite Smart Cookies, and Swiss chocolate-shop owner, Elin. And if all else fails, the friends can drown their sorrows in Seb's cocktail bar on the third floor!

This book left me craving biscuits... well not only biscuits but Dutch pancakes, american diner food and cocktails amongst others from all the fabulous places at Castle Court. 

Sadie and Cat are trying to navigate their first year in business of Star Biscuits, despite others in the court seemingly hating them, natural disasters and all manner of other things. 

Split into four parts, this was a very easy to read book, and  was enjoying every second of it. 

Despite suspecting I may know who each of the girls may end up in a a relationship with by the end of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of them getting to that point. 

And the biscuits what fabulous designs, and I had no idea so much work went into running an iced biscuit shop. 

I loved the other foodie shopkeepers in Castle Court and the whole community they have there. I just wish it was real so I could visit. 

Another joyous book from Holly Hepburn, which I loved every moment of.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop by Rebecca Raisin

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Title: Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop

Author: Rebecca Raisin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date:  3rd March 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

The trip of a lifetime!
Rosie Lewis has her life together.

A swanky job as a Michelin-Starred Sous Chef, a loving husband and future children scheduled for exactly January 2021.

That’s until she comes home one day to find her husband’s pre-packed bag and a confession that he's had an affair.

Heartbroken and devastated, Rosie drowns her sorrows in a glass (or three) of wine, only to discover the following morning that she has spontaneously invested in a bright pink campervan to facilitate her grand plans to travel the country.

Now, Rosie is about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, and the chance to change her life! With Poppy, her new-found travelling tea shop in tow, nothing could go wrong, could it…?

A laugh-out-loud novel of love, friendship and adventure! Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Holly Martin.

For Rosie it is a journey of self discovery as well as a trip around the UK, after she buys a campervan while drunk the evening her husband leave her for another woman. 

He accuses her of being predictable and suspects his leaving won't have any effect, whereas it is soon apparent it was the best thing he could have ever done for Rosie. 

Rosie is filled with self doubt and it was wonderful to see how she developed over the course of the summer, travelling around various festivals in her brand new travelling tea-shop.  The first person she meets at her first campsite is Aria, who runs a travelling bookshop. 

They team up and Rosie starts blending teas inspired by classic books which all sounded perfect - after all cream teas and books go together so well.  I really enjoyed getting to know Aria and just why she was travelling too. 

In fact there are all manner of interesting people on the travelling van circuit,  and a whole variety of different festivals where they popped up over the summer months.  

As I have come to expect from a book from Rebecca Raisin, it has a wonderful warm feel to it, everything is really well described, there is some humour and the back stories make you think a bit too.  There is even a gorgeous guy, who continued to surprise both me and Rosie.  

This was such a pleasure to read, I lost myself within the pages and felt as though I was at the various festivals with Rosie.  And Poppy her bright pink campervan is fabulous too.   

An incredibly enjoyable book and I already know that the wait for the next book by this talented author will be far too long! 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,. 

Book Review - The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker by Jenni Keer - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Title: The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker

Author: Jenni Keer

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 21st March 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Meet Lucy, aged 25, and Brenda, aged 79. Neighbours, and unlikely friends.
Lucy Baker is not your usual 25-year-old. She is more at home reading and knitting in her cluttered little flat than going out partying and socialising.

79-year-old Brenda is full of wise and wonderful advice, but when she’s diagnosed with dementia her life begins to change. Before her memories slip away for ever, Brenda is desperate to fulfil one last wish – to see Lucy happy.

Gifting Lucy the locket that helped Brenda find her own true love, she hopes to push her reticent neighbour in the right direction. But is Lucy Baker ready for the opportunities and heartbreaks of the real world? It’s about time she put her knitting needles aside and found out…

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker will be the most charming, heart-warming and feel-good novel you will read this year, perfect for fans of Ruth Hogan and Gail Honeyman.

An accomplished debut with some memorable characters. 

I adored Lucy's friendship with her older somewhat magical neighbour Brenda. From their friendship you could tell there was a close bond and just what sort of person she is.

Scratbags the stray cat is adorable and plays a key part in the story, by helping to soften the edges of the most unlikely of people. 

I enjoyed seeing the developments in Lucy as she learnt to be more confident and the story with the locket is great. 

Also enjoyed seeing just which celebrities Lucy could knit/ 

Its a heartwarming story from an author that I am most likely going to be keen to read more from. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.