The Little Swiss Ski Chalet - Julie Caplin

 

It’s time to pack your bags and head to the breath-taking, snow-covered peaks of the Swiss Alps for velvety hot chocolates, delicious cheeses and a gorgeous love story…

Food technician Minna has always believed that chocolate will solve everything – and it’s just what she needs when her latest relationship mishap goes viral!

So with her bags packed and a new determination to sort her life out, Minna decides to drown her sorrows with the best hot chocolate in the world at her godmother’s cosy Swiss chalet. Chocolate: yes. Romance: no. Until she has a run in on an Alpine train with a mysterious but oh-so-gorgeous stranger…

Purchase Links

http://amzn.to/3jU2lKy 🌎 http://mybook.to/SwissSkiChalet

My Review:

This is a gorgeous book by one of my favourite authors; Julie Caplin (alter ego of the wonderful Jules Wake) never fails to whisk me away to somewhere new and make me believe if I open my front door I’d be right there. Bringing to life another stunning location, this is a fantastic addition to a series of romantic escapes. There is something very comforting and familiar about these books, each with their own story and in a different place across the globe, some characters may overlap and make appearances, but they are all standalone books – each very special in its own right.

This time we are whisked to the Swiss Alps with Mina, a food technician who’s love life has just taken a nosedive and so she decides to visit her godmother Amelie who owns a wonderful ski chalet. Thanks to Minas adventures and escapades in this book I feel like I’ve had my own personal adventure on the Alps, and that isn’t something I would really do. I feel I’ve lived vicariously through this down to earth, funny and caring character, Mina.

Amelie herself sounds truly special. I wish I could take a visit to her Swiss Chalet. She has the knack for seeing what her guests need and matching them up to create new friendships that nurture and encourage the best out of them. Everything about the chalet sounds wonderful – how cosy it is, what special friendships are forged and how delicious the food sounds. I mean who wouldn’t want a time each day dedicated to cake!

With mouthwatering descriptions that will soothe the weariest heart, The Little Swiss Ski Chalet, is a soul soothing and heart warming read. Yet another great escape in a time where we are all keen to ignore reality, Julie Caplin creates a home away from home in book form, with a warm, family feeling community of characters.

Curl up, be transported to the Swiss Alps, and enjoy. I cannot recommend this book enough – or any by Julie Caplin/Jules Wake. 

Author Bio:

Julie Caplin, formerly a PR director, swanned around Europe for many years taking top food and drink writers on press trips (junkets) sampling the gastronomic delights of various cities in Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Copenhagen and Switzerland. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. 

These trips have provided the inspiration and settings for her Romantic Escapes series which have been translated into fifteen different languages.

The first book in the seven strong series, The Little Café in Copenhagen, was shortlisted for a Romantic Novel of the Year Award.

Social Media Links:

 @JulieCaplin Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/JulieCaplinAuthor/

Instagram @juliecaplinauthor

Coming Home to Brightwater Bay - Holly Hepburn

 **The BRAND NEW series from Holly Hepburn, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde** 

On paper, Merina Wilde has it all: a successful career writing the kind of romantic novels that make even the hardest hearts swoon, a perfect carousel of book launches and parties to keep her social life buzzing, and a childhood sweetheart who thinks she’s a goddess. But Merry has a secret: the magic has stopped flowing from her fingers. Try as she might, she can’t summon up the sparkle that makes her stories shine. And as her deadline whooshes by, her personal life falls apart too. Alex tells her he wants something other than the future she’d always imagined for them and Merry finds herself single for the first time since – well, ever. Desperate to get her life back on track, Merry leaves London and escapes to the windswept Orkney Islands, locking herself away in a secluded clifftop cottage to try to heal her heart and rediscover her passion for writing. But can the beauty of the islands and the kindness of strangers help Merry to fool herself into believing in love again, if only long enough to finish her book? Or is it time for her to give up the career she’s always adored and find something new to set her soul alight?

The brand new series from Holly Hepburn, first published as four ebook parts: BROKEN HEARTS AT BRIGHTWATER BAY, SEA BREEZES AT BRIGHTWATER BAY, DANGEROUS TIDES AT BRIGHTWATER BAY and SUNSET OVER BRIGHTWATER BAY

My Review:

An absolute pleasure to read, originally four novellas by Holly Hepburn I thoroughly enjoyed them as one in ‘Coming Home to Brightwater Bay.’ An utterly charming, heart warming read that captures your imagination, your emotions and will have you dreaming of living a much simpler and lovelier life in lands far away.

Having never had the pleasure of visiting the Orkney Islands, or anywhere close, I had to rely on the imagery created by the author and I genuinely was bowled away and wished I could visit…if not relocate! I think I’m an Orkney Island convert just like Merry. How wonderfully descriptive and informative this books is, no wonder our leading character, Merina, didn’t want to leave.

Merina heads to the island to be a writer in residence, having lost her way and finding herself unable to write. On the island she soon rediscovers her passion, although not necessarily for what she should be concentrating on. Her writing aside, she soon builds up relationships in the community that, over time, she realises she cannot be without.

What a lucky lady she is with the attentive, intelligent librarian Niall on one hand and the hunky, Icelandic Viking Magnus on the other. What’s a woman to do! Oh, the problems she faces.

With moments of heartfelt emotion, coupled with scenes of hilarity and comedy thanks to a rogue goat – this book will entertain, comfort and provide a fantastic escape for a few hours. I highly recommend for a cosy afternoon – be warned you will be packing a bag for the Orkney Islands as soon as you can. 

PURCHASE HERE

About the author: 

Holly Hepburn is the much-loved author of commercial women’s fiction. She lives near London with her grey tabby cat, Portia. They both have an unhealthy obsession with Marmite. Follow Holly on Twitter @HollyH_Author. 

The Lake House - Christie Barlow

 

There’s a newcomer to the village of Heartcross and she’s never been more in need of a friend.  Ella is ready to start afresh ––and that could mean there’s love on the horizon in the form of the gorgeous Roman, the local water taxi driver. Every day Roman is there to ferry Ella to the restaurant on the other side of the lake and every night he makes sure she gets home safe. But Roman has secrets of his own…

Can the Love Heart Lane community offer Ella a chance of a new life? Or will the ghosts of her past catch up with her?

My Review:

I’m a really big fan of Christie’s and the Love Heart Lane series is one of my favourites. I like how Christie creates such wonderful settings and relatable and likeable characters – The Heartcross community is like a familiar group of friends now and I’m fully invested in so many of their lives. It’s always a pleasure reading the next book and catching up with old favourites as well as new characters.

The Lake House is our fifth book in this series, although each can be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading all in this series.

Ella is our leading character this book and she finds herself in Heartcross after some serious trouble. She is at rock bottom because of other people’s secrets and deception, now she needs to start again, if she can. What a lovely character, I felt so sorry (and angry) for her, hoping that whatever happened it could all come good with a fresh start.

Roman instantly gained my interest and affection but what is he being so secretive about. Can Ella take any more lies and secrets? Can she trust him or not, it’s hard for her to tell after all she has been through. For Roman, he wants to do the best for everyone even if that means running into trouble himself.  

The star of the show is most definitely Dolores. What a great character – she jumps off the page and into your heart. She deserves the adulation she receives.

I adored this story and the Lake House just sounds like the most phenomenal place – I’d go in a heartbeat if I could.

It’s the brilliant sense of community that you get with this book, yet again, that makes it so good. Christie doesn’t shy away from including issues and problems whilst creating a cosy and heart-warming read. You feel uplifted and happy for the characters, like they are friends. I couldn’t put it down, perfect cosy up and enjoy an afternoon type read. 

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B086115DK9/

US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086115DK9/

Author Bio:

Christie Barlow is the author of ten bestselling romantic comedies including A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Clover Cottage. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.

Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.

When Christie isn’t writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.

Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.

Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

 Social Media Links: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_barlow/?hl=en

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow 

Facebook page Christie Barlow author