Book Review: Annie's Lovely Choir by the Sea by Liz Eeles

The Blurb

When twenty-nine-year-old Annie Trebarwith receives an unexpected letter from a great-aunt she’s never known, she leaves her shoebox-sized flat in London and catches a train to the rugged Cornish coast.

Salt Bay is beautiful and Annie begins to kindle a bond with her great-aunt Alice. Even though there is zero phone signal and the locals – including the gorgeous but brooding Josh Pasco – can be decidedly grumpy at times, Annie starts to feel at home in Salt Bay.

Soon Annie’s love of music leads her to relaunch the Salt Bay Choral Society, and she’s surprised to see how just much the choir means to the community – and she even starts to break through Josh’s surly exterior…

But London is calling Annie back, and she has to make a decision. Give up her old life completely, or leave Salt Bay, her new-found family – and the choir – behind?

Annie’s Lovely Choir by the Sea is a heart-warming story about family, belonging and the healing power of music, perfect for fans of Jo Thomas, Holly Martin and Carole Matthews.

My Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher, Bookouture for the ARC. Apologies to them and the author for being late with my review - unfortunately real life sometimes gets in the way!

Oh what a lovely heartwarming story this is! I really, really enjoyed this book - oh God, here she goes again, loving all the books she's reading - well, I'm sorry, but it's true. It's not my fault I keep picking the most excellent books to review!

I have to confess I wasn't sure this book would be anything special. There are after all, many books set 'by the Sea', and choirs aren't particularly my thing. But I'm so happy I was wrong.

Annie's Lovely Choir by the Sea is a wonderful stories of family, secrets and community. Oh, and romance, of course. Not that Annie is looking for it - she's only come to meet Alice, the great aunt she had never met. Alice reminded me so much of my own great aunt Rene; now sadly in a better place. Reading about Alice was like getting a hug from Rene! Instead Annie finds a real sense of belonging, and makes some great friends.

The plot is expertly drawn and there are many elements to Annie's story. The characters are well written and believable, the narrative fresh and humorous and the descriptions of Salt Bay so good I want to go and live there myself. I'd even sign up for the choir!

It's a great summer (or whenever) read and I genuinely enjoyed it immensely. I cannot wait to visit Salt Bay again!

You can buy Annie's Lovely Choir by the Sea here.

About the Author

Liz began her writing career as a journalist and press officer before deciding that she’d rather have the freedom of making things up as a novelist. 

Being short-listed in the Corvus ‘Love at First Write’ competition and the Novelicious search for a new women's fiction star gave Liz the push she needed to keep putting pen to paper …. and ‘Annie’s Lovely Choir by the Sea’ (her first published novel) is the result. 

Liz lives on the South Coast with her family and, when she’s not writing, likes to spend time walking by the sea, and trying to meditate. Her ambition is to be serene one day …. she’s still got a long way to go.

You can contact Liz on Twitter: @lizeelesauthor, Facebook: www.facebook.com/lizeelesauthor or Instagram: lizeelesauthor

Book Review: Then. Now. Always. by Isabelle Broom

The Blurb

Are you ready for an adventure?
Hannah Hodges certainly is. And so when she is offered the opportunity to spend a month filming a documentary in Almeria, a magical village hidden away on the south-east coast of Spain, she grabs it. Almeria was where she spent a large part of her youth; where she made so many of her memories, and her mistakes.

But now she is twenty-eight and this time it is going to be perfect. Because she is not only going with her best friend Tom but also with her gorgeous boss, Theo. And this unforgettable place with its snowy white buildings, mesmerizing sunsets and deep blue sea is the perfect location to make Theo finally fall under her spell.

But Hannah's past is everywhere she looks, Tom is acting strangely around her, and her awful (half) sister appears determined to ruin everything, again. Even from a thousand miles away . . .

Hannah has just a month in paradise to secure the happy future she knows is waiting for her. Will Almeria work its magic? And will that future look exactly as she always thought it would?

My Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.

Isabelle Broom's books should come with a warning on the front cover: ADVISORY: READING  THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO BOOK A HOLIDAY RIGHT AWAY!

Ahh this book is so lovely. As ever, Isabelle immerses the reader in beautiful, warm and sunny surroundings, and reading this is the next best thing to being in the Spanish village of Mojacar. It's descriptive without bogging the story down with too much detail, but enough to evoke the sights, sounds and smells of the setting perfectly.

The characters are written equally well. I felt I was Hannah, and could see why she was so in love with Theo. 

The awkward relationship between Hannah and her half-sister Nancy is very poignant. Despite blaming Nancy for her father's indifference, Hannah still feels the responsibility of an older sister and feels she has to look out for Nancy - even though she annoys the hell out of her.

Then there's another fly in the ointment; the beautiful Claudette, whose flirty French accent and high maintenance winds Hannah up further. But then best friend Tom is always on hand to calm things down, but then he starts acting a bit weird too. 

Of course the main reason for them all being in Mojacar is to film a documentary which could make Hannah's career. She meets the wonderful Elaine, an artist who has adopted the Spanish village as her home. But there's more to her story than the artist's community which existed years ago.

Of course the inevitable happens in the end, but the journey there is not always straightforward, and it is a great fun read that had me pouring wistfully over travel websites.

Isabelle Broom has filled me with wunderlust yet again...

Now. Then. Always. is published on 20th April, and you can pre-order it from Amazon or other retailers. It's the next best thing to an actual holiday!

About the Author

Isabelle Broom was born in Cambridge nine days before the 1980s began and studied Media Arts at the University of West London before starting a career first in local newspapers and then as a sub editor at heat magazine. Nowadays, when she’s not writing novels set in far-flung locations, Isabelle spends her time being the Book Reviews Editor at heat and walking her beloved dog round the parks of north London. 

Her novels My Map Of You and A Year And A Day (published by Penguin Michael Joseph) are out now. The third, Then. Now. Always. will arrive in April 2017.

If you like pictures of dogs, chatter about books and very bad jokes, you can follow her on Twitter @Isabelle_Broom or find her on Facebook under Isabelle Broom Author.

Book Review: Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain.

For everyone dreaming of escaping to the country, fall in love this summer at Skylark Farm...

Amber is a city girl at heart. So when her boyfriend Jake Somerville suggests they move to the countryside to help out at his family farm, she doesn't quite know how to react. But work has been hectic and she needs a break so she decides to grasp the opportunity and make the best of it.

Dreaming of organic orchards, paddling in streams and frolicking in fields, Amber packs up her things and moves to Skylark Farm. But life is not quite how she imagined - it's cold and dirty and the farm buildings are dilapidated and crumbling.

But Amber is determined to make the best of it and throws herself into farm life. But can she really fit in here? And can she and Jake stay together when they are so different?

A story of love in the countryside from the author of the bestselling The Cherry Tree Café. Perfect for Escape to the Country dreamers, Cath Kidston fans and Country Living addicts!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After the success of last year's debut The Cherry Tree Cafe, Summer at Skylark Farm introduces us to Amber and Jake, who forgo their stressful careers in London for country life. Unfortunately Amber learns that that life on a farm is not without it's own problems, from flapping geese and stroppy hens, to conniving ex girlfriends just waiting to see her fail.

Amber takes it all in her flowery wellie-clad stride, and settles down to her new life, eager to make friends and to prove to Jake and everyone that she is more than a city girl. She's hard-working, and determined to make it work.

Jake is her boyfriend, whose heart has always been on his aunt's farm, and he is overjoyed when Amber follows him back to the countryside, even if her initial attempts at cake baking would make Mary Berry weep.

Harriet and Jessica quickly make Amber feel welcome, and Jessica is delighted when Amber offers to help organise her wedding. 

But there's a storm brewing when a face from the past turns up...

I loved it! It's a sweet, gentle, feel-good read, with both comedy and turmoil thrown in. And it was lovely to meet some of the characters from The Cherry Tree Cafe! I love books like this, when there are links to previous books - it's like meeting up with old friends. Hopefully we'll be able to catch up with the characters from this book in the future!

You can buy the ebook here (other retailers are available!), but if you want a sneaky preview, click here for my turn on the Blog Tour, where you can read a chapter excerpt.

BLOG TOUR!!! Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain

I am very honoured to be hosting the first day of the Blog Tour for Heidi Swain's gorgeous new book, Summer at Skylark Farm!

For everyone dreaming of escaping to the country, fall in love this summer at Skylark Farm...

Amber is a city girl at heart. So when her boyfriend Jake Somerville suggests they move to the countryside to help out at his family farm, she doesn't quite know how to react. But work has been hectic and she needs a break so she decides to grasp the opportunity and make the best of it.

Dreaming of organic orchards, paddling in streams and frolicking in fields, Amber packs up her things and moves to Skylark Farm. But life is not quite how she imagined - it's cold and dirty and the farm buildings are dilapidated and crumbling.

But Amber is determined to make the best of it and throws herself into farm life. But can she really fit in here? And can she and Jake stay together when they are so different?

A story of love in the countryside from the author of the bestselling The Cherry Tree Café. Perfect forEscape to the Country dreamers, Cath Kidston fans and Country Living addicts!

For a sneaky peak at the book, here is a chapter excerpt from the book, and you can read my review right here!

Prologue

At precisely 11:57 p.m., on Friday the 13th of March, I fumbled to answer my mobile phone yet again and in that moment, that much anticipated moment, when I was leaning in for my first longed-for kiss of the day and it was denied me, I knew I had reached a point in my life when something simply had to change. There was no work/life balance any more; no spontaneity, no fun, and I'd had enough.

Of course I didn't remember the blinding flash of enlightenment, the Bridget Jones 'that was the moment' freeze frame revelation as soon as I scrambled out of bed some time before six the following morning, but it did come back to haunt me. I can now say without a shadow of a doubt, that that was indeed the moment everything began to change.

Chapter 1

Friday 13 March, 11:57 p.m.

'No, no no, don't go,' I whispered, quickly stretching across the bed as Jake sat up and began pulling his T-shirt back over his head. 'I'll only be a minute.'

'It's fine,' he whispered back, the faintest glimmer of a smile playing around his lips, but not quite making it as far as his eyes. 'I'm used to it.'

He leant over, kissed my forehead and headed for the door with his pillows and the throw from the chair tucked under his arm.

'Sorry,' I mouthed as he took one last look at me before slipping out quietly to take up his increasingly familiar Friday night spot on the sofa.

'I'm used to it,' he'd said. How tragic was that? How awful that he was resigned to the fact that our Friday Night Special would, at some point, be interrupted and that he'd be relegated to sleep on the sofa on the assumption that I would be working into the wee small hours. And to make matters worse, I was about to discover that this time the interruption was actually all my own fault.

It hadn't been my fault when my boss, Simon Hamilton, had called on the commute home, then during supper and then again in the middle of the very first episode of Gardeners' World (which, accordingly to Jake, was the only way to start the weekend from March onwards), but this time it most definitely was.

So exhausted from yet another full-on work week, I'd signed for the eagerly anticipated concert tickets a client had been clamouring for, grabbed my coat and bag and headed for the door. No one in their right mind wanted to be chained to the office and seven o'clock on a Friday night and I was completely unaware that I'd stuffed the tickets in my bag, along with my diary and half-eaten lunch when I scrambled to get out of the door and run for the bus.

'Amber? Are you there?'

'Yes,' I said, stifling a yawn, 'yes, I'm here.'

'So, have you got them?' Simon asked. He was beginning to sound unusually impatient. I think you must have because I've searched high and low this end.

'Sorry,' I apologised again, as I heard him slamming drawers and dropping papers, 'just give me a second and I'll have another look through my bag.'

'And if you have got them,' I heard him say before I put the phone on the bed and began yet another search, 'shall I send a courier or can you deliver them yourself in the morning?'

I rifled fruitlessly through the array of interior pockets for a few seconds then gave up and tipped everything out on the bed. My heart sank as I spotted the envelope amongst the detritus, now unattractively flecked with low-fat salad dressing courtesy of my lunch container, which had parted company with its lid.

'Oh God, Simon, I'm so sorry,' I winced, biting my kip as I picked the phone back up. 'Yes, yes, they are here. I'll deliver them first thing in the morning.'

'OK, no worries,' he breathed, sounding far happier. 'That's fine then. Don't worry about it, Amber. I know it's been a hell of a week. It could've happened to anyone. I'll expect you at the office around nine.'

He hung up before I had a chance to apologise for causing himself such a late night and, having scribbled myself a note to remember to deliver the tickets first thing in the morning, I repacked my bag, snuggled back down in the bed and drank in the still warm scent of my now absent other half. I ached to join him on the sofa and tempt him back to bed but my head was still too full of work stuff to relax properly and it was hardly fair to disturb him now.

I thumped my pillows into a more sleep-inducing shape, reminded myself that I loved my job and tried to ignore the little voice in my head that seemed determined to remind me that I used to love my job. For almost as long as I could remember my career had been my life, the whole of my life. Since graduating I had worked tirelessly to claw my way up the ladder and was currently considered the go-to girl in the company if you were struggling to secure tickets for, or gain access to, any sought-after or sold-out event.

Top shelf corporate hospitality was my speciality and I was riding high on my success, but God only knows I'd worked hard for it. The only problem was that now I'd fought my way to the top, I wasn't actually sure I wanted to stay there. Did I really want to be the go-to girl? Suddenly it didn't seem like the be all and end all any more.

I hadn't taken a holiday in the three years since I'd joined the company or a single sick day, and the increasingly continuous night time and weekend interruptions were getting beyond a joke. Somewhere along the line, my life had definitely gone awry. Just six months ago I wouldn't have made such a silly mistake with those tickets, or anything else for that matter, but now everything was beginning to feel different and I couldn't help thinking that perhaps I didn't care about it all quite as much as I should.

I used to roll my eyes at colleagues who bemoaned the fact that their work/life balance was suffering and that they'd missed yet another school play or family function. Work was my life, no balancing act required. So what if I missed another family christening or my mum's annual summer barbecue? I could send enough stork-shaped nappy bundles and elaborate floral bouquets to make up for my absence.

Or I could until Jake Somerville landed the other side of my desk eighteen months ago and unwittingly set about pricking my subconscious into questioning my priorities. It had been a long and slow process I admit, but suddenly it was beginning to feel like there was no way back, and to be completely honest I didn't want one. I was ready for a change, as long as it was a change for the better, of course.

'Amber, let me introduce you to my little brother.'

I recalled how I had swung round in my seat, a scowl firmly etched across my face. I didn't really have time that morning for Dan Somerville, the office Lothario and all round Golden Boy. I had a fast approaching deadline and still no car to meet one of our most influential European clients whose plane was just about to touch down at Heathrow.

'Jake, this is Amber,' Dan grinned, 'Amber, this is Jake.'

'Hi,' smiled Jake, offering me his hand.

'Hello,' I breathed as I stole a quick glance and struggled to ignore the unexpected eruption of butterflies in my stomach as a result.

After a near miss at my first Christmas office party I'd sworn off the whole attraction, dating and romance thing. I really didn't need that kind of distraction in my life, but in that moment I just knew my pupils had widened beyond all reason and the whole career driven ice queen act was traitorously legging it for the door.

So, does the lovely Jake manage to show Amber that there is more to life than being at everyone else's beck and call?  You'd better buy the book here if you want to find out!

Book Review: Summer at Rose Island by Holly Martin

Fall in love with the gorgeous seaside town of White Cliff Bay this summer and enjoy long sunny days, beautiful beaches and… a little romance. 

Darcy Davenport is ready for a fresh start. Determined to leave a string of disastrous jobs and relationships behind her, she can’t wait to explore White Cliff Bay and meet the locals. 

When Darcy swims in the crystal clear waters of the bay, she discovers the charming Rose Island Lighthouse. But it’s not just the beautiful building that she finds so intriguing… 

Riley Eddison doesn’t want change. Desperate to escape the memories of his past, he lives a life of solitude in the lighthouse. Yet he can’t help but notice the gorgeous woman who swims out to his island one day. 

Darcy is drawn to the mysterious and sexy Riley, but when it seems the town is trying to demolish his home, she soon finds herself having to pick sides. 

She’s fallen in love with White Cliff Bay. But is that all Darcy’s fallen for? 

Pull up a deck chair, sink back with a bowl of strawberry ice cream and pick up the summer read you won’t be able to put down.

It was refreshing to meet Darcy Davenport, an intelligent woman with a background in Marine Biology that the author has obviously spent time researching. Darcy's arrival in White Cliff Bay starts off ripples which gradually turn into waves crashing into village life.

I love her. She's feisty, strong-willed and determined to fit into village life, even if everyone seems to know what's going on in her life before she does. But she is also vulnerable; dismissed as a failure by contemptuous parents who have eroded her belief in her abilities to succeed in a career.

Brooding cowboy Riley is lusted over by most of the female population (including me), but he keeps himself to himself. Then along comes a 'mermaid' who turns his world upside down.

Riley's home, the lighthouse, is at the heart of the story, with the battle to save this much-loved landmark bringing the community together. This is the third book in the White Cliff Bay series, but the fact that I haven't read the previous two did not matter as it works as a standalone novel. Although I will be going back to read the previous two as I'd like to find out more about the lovely characters we encounter in this one - and it's the closest I'm going to get to living in such a spirited village.

The book had me giggling at certain points, and it is a lovely feel-good read. Perfect summer reading.

You can buy Summer at Rose Island on Amazon here (other retailers are available!).

Book Review: The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish

'I can't take my eyes off the water. Can you?'

 It's summer when Elm Hill lido opens, having stood empty for years. For Natalie Steele - wife, mother, teacher - it offers freedom from the tightly controlled routines of work and family. Especially when it leads her to Lara Channing, a charismatic former actress with a lavish bohemian lifestyle, who seems all too happy to invite Natalie into her elite circle.

Soon Natalie is spending long days at the pool, socializing with new friends and basking in a popularity she didn't know she'd been missing. Real life, and the person she used to be, begins to feel very far away.

But is such a change in fortunes too good to be true? Why are dark memories of a summer long ago now threatening to surface? And, without realizing, could Natalie have been swept dangerously out of her depth?

I was delighted to receive an advanced reading copy from the publisher.

This book got right under my skin. The main character, Natalie, is enticed into a friendship with the beautiful Lara and all her glamorous lifestyle has to offer. 

Bored, fed up with her husband's straight-laced predictable attitudes, her life has up to now been consumer by daughter Molly's severe phobia of water, to a point where Natalie knows that she is herself drowning her daughter with her own guilt.

Seduced by the hedonistic lifestyle of the rich and beautiful Channings, she finds herself becoming more distanced from her husband Ed and best friend Gayle, who are both disapproving of Natalie's new friends. Natalie is a perfect example of a woman in the grip of a midlife crisis, rebelling against those she loves for the promise of something new and exciting. Nat may appear selfish and needy but she is leaping at a chance to help her daughter where previous attempts have failed.

Lara's daughter Georgia is a replica of her mother, but ironically Ed cannot see this, he is swayed in his own way to see Georgia as a perfect role model for Molly. 

My experience of reading The Swimming Pool was like being submerged in the water. I was totally immersed in the story with its beautiful, vivid descriptions. It is an almost surreal experience, a story of toxic friendships, manipulation and guilt, filled with dramatic tension. The story is cleverly written, told from various points in time; after a terrible accident; the weeks leading up to it; and glimpses into a shameful secret in Natalie's childhood.

A truly mesmerising read.

Book Review: Summer at the Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn

The perfect summer novella for all fans of Cathy Bramley and Scarlett Bailey.

When sisters Sam and Nessie left the city lights to take over The Star and Sixpence pub in Little Monkham, little did they realise they'd be taking on the villagers too...

Thrown in at the deep end with a wedding to organise at the same time as launching their new hotel rooms, the last thing they need is Sam's past catching up with them.

As the scandal strikes, the only question is will the villagers stick their necks out for two relative newcomers? Or will Franny, the terrifying postmistress, see them gone for good...

Spend a lazy summer day with Summer at the Star and Sixpence - the perfect novella for those long sunny afternoons.

This summer novella is the third instalment in the series, the previous being 'Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence' followed by 'Valentine's Day at the Star and Sixpence'.

I haven't read many novellas before, and this is the first time I have become invested in a novella series. I'm usually too impatient to find out what happens next, but with these being released every 2 or 3 months, I can just about contain my excitement!

I had read the previous instalments on Kindle, so it was lovely to receive a special edition advanced reading copy from those lovely people at Simon and Schuster.

It's perfect for reading whilst lazing in the garden. Unfortunately for me it was snowing at the time (in April!) so I was wrapped up in my granny blanket reclined on the sofa rather than lounging in the sun. But still I was immersed in the story of Sam and Nessie's newest plans for their inherited pub, renting rooms out, including a beautiful bridal suite. The bride in question is someone very influential in the world of travel writing, so they need to impress her!

It was lovely to see Nessie and Owen finally on their first date, even if it doesn't quite go according to plan, but more exciting was finding out the reason Sam was so happy to leave her London life behind.

It is short and sweet, and I look forward to reading 'Autumn at the Star and Sixpence' which will be released - you guessed it - in the Autumn!