The Christmas Castle in Scotland - Julie Caplin

 

The Christmas Castle in Scotland

Izzy McBride had never in a million years expected to inherit an actual castle from her great uncle Bill but here she was, in the run up to Christmas, Monarch of her own Glen – a very rundown glen in need of a lot of TLC if her dream of turning it into a boutique bed and breakfast was to come true.

But when Izzy’s eccentric mother rents a room to enigmatic thriller author Ross Adair and the Scottish snow starts to settle like the frosting on a Christmas cake, it’s a race to get the castle ready before they’re all snowed in for the holidays.

Purchase Link:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Castle-Scotland-globally-bestselling-ebook/dp/B09NZ5BRP9

US - https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Castle-Scotland-globally-bestselling-ebook/dp/B09NZ5BRP9

Christmas cosied up in a great castle in Scotland? YES
PLEASE!
I absolutely adore every book from Julie Caplin, every
location and story incite the feelings of wanderlust within me and I wish I
could be right there and this is no exception, in fact I think it’s the one I
really do hope I can do one day. 
I did not want this story to end (I never do), I think
this is the best yet – the setting, the characters, plot and Julies’ wonderful
writing style is like a comfort blanket, hugging you, keeping you warm and
right in the thick of the action. 
I love the characters especially as they are such an
eclectic bunch; each have their own personality and it is easy to picture them
(or in Duncan’s case hear their accent!) 
Izzy is our leading lady and we have met her briefly in
the last book (it isn’t a series as such so you can read this without any of
the previous books – although I highly recommend you do!) and she has inherited
a castle in Scotland she is hoping to turn into a hotel. Doing this alongside
an eccentric (but loveable) Mum who has rented out a room to a writer, without
Izzys knowledge of course. This writer is paying for peace and quiet although
it soon becomes apparent; he is getting more than he bargained for. 
Getting the hotel ready in time for the festive season 
(and another booking taken by Izzy’s Mum) means a real team effort and a lot of
soul searching by all involved. As everyone pulls together and becomes a unique, 
slightly dysfunctional family unit we see them overcoming adversities in all
aspects of their lives. 
As always this is a story with romance at its core, but
don’t expect smooth sailing, there is drama and tension thrown in as well but
with ups and downs will every character find a positive ending? 
I wish we could go back and revisit, just to see how they are all getting on. 
It’s a wonderful, cosy read and I cannot praise Julie enough.
Author Bio:

After reading English at the University of East Anglia, Julie Caplin, who also writes as Jules Wake, worked in PR where she honed her fiction writing skills on press releases. Her regular press trips to Europe while working on food and drink accounts inspired the Romantic Escapes Series, which have been sold to 19 territories and are best sellers in Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

She’s now a full-time author and what better job is there than making stuff up! It certainly beats housework.

Social Media Links – @JulieCaplin Twitter

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

Instagram @juliecaplinauthor

Coming Home to Winter Island by Jo Thomas

Wrap up warm and prepare to explore the breath-taking beauty of a remote Scottish island and an old house waiting to unlock enchanting family secrets.
Ruby's singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover. But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It's time to go and see the grandfather she's never met. City girl Ruby knows she will be happy to leave the windswept beaches behind as quickly as she can, especially as a years-old family rift means she knows she won't be welcome at Teach Mhor. But as she arrives at the big house overlooking the bay, she finds things are not as straightforward as she might have thought. There's an unexpected guest in the house and he's not planning on going anywhere any time soon ...

Purchase Here

My Review:

Another of my absolute favourites, Jo Thomas always delivers a fantastic read that will transport you to amazing places with wonderful characters and brilliant story lines.

Ruby, unable to do what she loves and sing, finds herself on a journey of discovery – of how to make a very special gin but also in discovering who she really is, where she came from and importantly what she is capable of.

I adored the picturesque sounding Winter Island, described so well by Jo, I could really picture every aspect of the close-knit community. Yet another fantastic location for this book, which has become synonymous with every Jo Thomas book.

Aside from Ruby, who is a fantastic character and her rollercoaster relationship with Lachlan, I adored Hector and thought the inclusion of how he was suffering from Alzheimer’s but had periods of lucidity through music was absolutely breath taking and so emotional. As someone who has watched loved ones suffer, this hit home hard but thought it was written in the most tender, touching ways plus Hector is quite the mischievous character and added some extra heart to the story.

Such an eclectic bunch of characters within the community, moments of hilarity and then a rollercoaster of emotions. There are some interesting surprises and little twists that I didn’t expect, I think Jo Thomas is an absolute diamond for telling a story with such heart and soul, always with something delicious to tempt us with.

I couldn’t put this book down, as with every one I read from Jo. I couldn’t recommend this one any more to everyone that loves a great story with lovable characters, perfect to cosy up with.

BLOGTOUR: Foxglove Farm - Christie Barlow

Return to Love Heart Lane for friendship, romance and a community who will be be there for you no matter what…

Isla and Drew Allaway appear to have the perfect life – a strong marriage, two beautiful children and their picture-perfect home, Foxglove Farm.

But, new mum Isla is struggling.  She loves her little family but with Drew working all hours on the farm, Isla’s lonely.

When she discovers that Drew has been keeping secrets from her, Isla has to face losing the home they all love.
Can the Love Heart Lane community pull together once more to help save Foxglove Farm?  And can Isla save her home…and her marriage?

My Review:

I’ll happily tell you I adored ‘Love Heart Lane’ – this first book in this series so I could not wait to read this. Saying that, if you haven’t had chance to read that brilliant book rest assured you can read this as a standalone too.

Foxglove Farm focuses on Isla and Drew, married with a family and their farm; I was a big fan of these characters in Love Heart Lane so was really pleased that they were the focus of this book. What seems to be a perfect relationship and a perfect life slowly starts to unravel around Isla and she must rely on the support and guidance of the community, her friends and family to make sure she doesn’t lose everything.

This is a wonderful story based around a gorgeous sounding, close knit community. It’s so endearing to read this and feel part of a community that rallies around each other, Christie Barlow has created such warm, funny and caring characters that I genuinely cannot wait to read more about them all. (I’m so pleased to hear there will be a return visit!)

I feel like Isla and Drew had a mountain of hurdles to overcome in this one; just when I thought everything was ok there was another sucker punch that threatened everything. Honestly, how much could two people go through in one book. It held my interest and had be gasping, talking out loud at parts. As if my ‘telling off’ Drew would do something. What impressed me was how such serious topics were introduced and handled – encouraging people to talk about problems, reach out for help and trust in the ones who love us.

In this book we meet the crazy but kind, Martha. What a whirlwind she seems and it’s a breath of fresh air that balances some of the tougher parts of the book. I’m glad she came back to the village when she did, Isla needed her and what a rock she turned out to be.

I was totally absorbed by Christie’s wonderful writing, a beautiful style that will fully engage you in this story. I adored Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm is probably even better – I think the more we discover about this place and its characters there more we will enjoy.

I highly recommend this romantic, funny yet sensitive book. Thank you to all involved for the chance to read and review. 

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Foxglove-Farm-romantic-comedy-again-ebook/dp/B07L21WV71

US - https://www.amazon.com/Foxglove-Farm-romantic-comedy-again-ebook/dp/B07L21WV71

 

Author Bio:

Christie Barlow is the author of A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother, The

Misadventures of a Playground Mother, Kitty's Countryside Dream, Lizzie's Christmas Escape, Evie's Year of Taking Chances, The Cosy Canal Boat Dream, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA & Australia. 

Christie is an ambassador for @ZuriProject raising money/awareness and engaging with impoverished people in Uganda through organisations to improve their well-being.

Website www.christiebarlow.com 

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow 

Facebook page Christie Barlow author

Love Heart Lane - Christie Barlow

AVAILABLE HERE

Goodreads Blurb:

Welcome to Love Heart Lane…
When Flick Simons returns to the small village of Heartcross she only expected to stay for a few days. The white-washed cottages of Love Heart Lane might be her home, but the place holds too many painful memories, and of one man in particular – Fergus Campbell.
When a winter storm sweeps in, the only bridge connecting the village to the main land is swept away! As the villagers pull together, Flick finds herself welcomed back by the friends she once left behind. And as the snow begins to melt, maybe there is a chance that Fergus’s heart will thaw too…

My Review:

I love a book set in a picturesque village, with a strong community spirit with a great mix of characters that all bring something very different. 'Love Heart Lane' is a wonderful example of this. Set in the small, Scottish village of Heartcross we have the first of what will be a lovely series of books. I definitely think this is a village and group of characters I could really become very fond of!

Felicity (Flick) fled Heartcross 8 years ago and is now back and must face the hurt and upset from those she left behind. When bad weather takes hold and causes a major disaster, Flick seems to be voice of reason and spokesperson for the village - can she fix what is broken - literally and in terms of her relationships/friendships?

I liked Flick, she is strong and very capable. She keeps her head in a crisis and confident in terms of speaking up for herself and others - a couple of times I felt she was a little too full on though; with regards to Fergus, she hardly gives him any space to compose himself now she's back before she's on at him about how she feels and wanting him back. I just felt a bit sorry for him. 

Don't get me wrong, I think Flick is a great character and I really felt for all she had been through, I understood her reasons for leaving Heartcross but didn't think she appreciated that time moves on and everybody would have carried on with their lives too. She is a great heroine, and she does work hard to cement her position back within the community. She does get involved in literally everything that happens from delivering babies to delivering food parcels! 

A lovely tale of renewing friendships, accepting situations beyond our control and fighting hard for those you love. With plenty of drama, some laughs and a long lost romance, I think Heartcross is going to be a fabulous setting for some great stories. I look forward to finding out more about the other characters of Heartcross.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍.5