Chapter and Cake

Author Bio

Maxine Morrey is a bestselling romantic comedy author with ten books to her name including Winter’s Fairytale and the top ten hit The Christmas Project. Her eleventh book is being released by Boldwood in 2021. She lives in West Sussex. Her first novel for Boldwood, #No Filter, was published in November 2019.

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Book Review: Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

May 6, 2021May 5, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ Leave a comment

Today I am pleased to bring you my review of Bridgerton: The Duke & I by Julia Quinn.

Can there be any greater challenge to London’s Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke? Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1813
By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend’s sister, the lovely – and almost-on-the-shelf – Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth – it’s all an elaborate plan to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable . . .
Their ruse works like a charm – at first. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it’s hard to remember that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it’s his devilish smile, certainly it’s the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her. It wasn’t the plan, but it seems she’s falling for the duke, for real. And amidst the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule . . .

I’m going to assume that you know all about Bridgerton – if you don’t, have you been living under a rock?! Bridgerton, series one, was the Netflix hit of lockdown. If you don’t want to marry the Duke of Hastings then I don’t know what is wrong with you! Anyway, after falling in love with the Bridgerton family thanks to Netflix I just knew that I had to dive into the novels!

Having already seen the series (over the course of two days, I really binge watched it!), I already knew the premise of this first novel. But as we all know, movies and tv series will never include all the finer details included within a novel, so I was keen to dive right in.

The Duke and I focusses on Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter in the Bridgerton family. She has been on the debutante circuit for a while now, without any suitable marriage proposals. She’s forthright, and knows what she wants; she’s also lucky enough to have supportive brothers who won’t palm her off on the first man to propose.

The Duke of Hastings has returned to England following the death of his father. With his new title, he is the most eligible bachelor in London, with mothers everywhere desperately pushing their single daughters towards him, hoping to secure their futures. Naturally, Simon has a secretive past that has him convinced that he needs to remain single – he will never marry, and no one can persuade him otherwise.

When Daphne and Simon come up with a mutually beneficial fake courtship, everything seems perfect for them – Daphne is now attracting suitors and Simon is no longer constantly surrounded by meddling mothers. As we all know though, the route to love is never a smooth one, especially when you have the elusive Lady Whistledown providing a very thorough commentary…

Based on the assumption that you have watched Bridgerton (and loved it – what’s not to love?!), then it is safe to assume that this is the novel for you. It’s got all the little details that are missing from the series, but includes all the handsomeness, sauciness and amazing costumery. Plus, we all know that we’re going to have to wait for series 2…no need to wait for the novels though! I shall be diving into The Viscount Who Loved Me as soon as I am able to, I can’t wait to learn more about Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton, and his rakish ways! So go and grab yourself a copy of this book, a large glass of wine and get ready to devour the naughtiest book of the season!

Purchase Links

Obviously this book can be purchased at all good bookshops, but personally I’m rather attached to my local independent bookshop – so if you want to support a local business, then please follow the link below when buying your copy (not an ad, I just happen to love that I have a local independent bookshop!)

Maldon Books

BLOG TOUR Primrose Park by Christie Barlow

May 1, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ 2 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of Primrose Park by Christie Barlow as part of her fabulous Blog Blitz!

Vet Molly has always been career driven and focussed on caring for her animals, but when she meets a gorgeous Mystery Man at a conference and their connection is off the charts, well, one night off work won’t hurt anyone…except the next morning he’s vanished and all Molly knows about him is his first name.
Three months later, back in Love Heart Lane, everyone loves the story of Molly’s amazing one-night stand. It’s so unlike her! But when Mystery Man turns up walking his dog through Primrose Park and their night together seems to mean nothing to him, Molly needs her friends and neighbours more than ever. And especially when she’s left with the most unexpected of surprises…

Molly is a career driven, independent woman. She loves being a vet, and her veterinary practice is her sole focus, caring for the animals in her community. When the opportunity to do some new training comes up, she jumps at the chance – she is keen to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for a loving relationship with their dogs, even the more difficult ones! A random encounter with a handsome stranger at the training conference makes her question if she actually does want something more in her life, but her night of passion ends abruptly when he vanishes the next morning, leaving Molly with nothing but his first name – Cam.

Three months later, Cam is never far from her thoughts. Whilst she is not one for one night stands, she knows they had an amazing connection – so when he turns up in Heartcross Molly cannot believe her luck! Until of course, he makes it quite clear it really was just a one night stand…for Molly though it will never just be a one night stand, when she finds her situation changing dramatically – it could be said that she finds herself with a lifelong commitment thanks to their one night together!

I was so excited to revisit Love Heart Lane – this is a series that I love. It is full of characters that we know and love, whilst learning more about a character that we are aware of, but know nothing about yet. It’s like putting on your favourite jumper – its warm and comforting, and that is how Heartcross feels to me. Yet again, I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this novel, so I was able to make my sisters jealous again as they waited until publication day to get their hands on it!

Molly is such a lovely character, although I did find her a little needy at times when it came to Cam – this is easily forgiven though when you consider her raging hormones and her own upbringing. She is keen to create her own family, and I can understand her reasons for wanting Cam to be a part of that.

Primrose Park is an excellent addition to the Love Heart Lane series, and I am more than happy to recommend it to you all! So grab yourself a hot chocolate (because quite frankly it’s still chilly, despite now being May!), a blanket, and a copy of this lovely book!

Thank you to Christie Barlow and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting to me a part of this Blog Blitz, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US

Author Bio

Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of fifteen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. 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 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.

When Christie isn’t writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, 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.

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A New Life for Ariana Byrne

BLOG TOUR The Single Mums Book Club by Victoria Cooke

April 30, 2021April 29, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ Leave a comment

I am very pleased to bring you my review of The Single Mums Book Club by Victoria Cooke on publication day!

Three friends, three single mums, one quest to find love…
It’s 8:30am and I’m already utterly exhausted. My son has lost his football boots, my daughter is ready for school dressed only in her vest and knickers, and of course, my 1-year-old has filled his nappy for what feels like the tenth time this morning.
As for my husband? He’s decided marriage doesn’t suit him, and well… buggered off.
All hope of ‘me time’ has but dwindled to sipping half a glass of wine whilst shouting after the kids. But everything is about to change.
I’m taking control of my life! I’ve joined… a book club.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Wow… live a little.’ But my fellow book clubbers, Amanda and Janey, are my lifelines. They understand the daily struggle because they’re mothers too.
And in between the prosecco, Doritos and googling everything about Mr Darcy on SparkNotes, they’ve convinced me to go on a date with my boss.
A single mum of three looking for romance… what could possibly go wrong?
A gloriously funny and relatable read for anyone who just needs a little more ‘me time’. Fans of Why Mummy Drinks and Has Anyone Seen my Sex Life? will snort with laughter at this utterly hilarious and heart-warming read.

Great blurb, and a great cover – excellent ways to draw a reader in, and The Single Mums Book Club provides us with both!

Stephanie is a single Mum of three, who is struggling with her newfound situation. She had always craved to be part of a stereotypical family unit, and for a few short years she had achieved that. Unfortunately, her husband had decided that he wasn’t actually keen on marriage, and therefore ended her perfect family life. As a result, Stephanie finds herself regularly alone, with three children, and very little help. She needs to find herself again, but she has no time, no money and she didn’t even get to keep her friends in the divorce. After what can only be described as an epic breakdown in the local supermarket, Stephanie finds herself in the company of her neighbour Janey, a fellow Mum with her own problems. And so, the Single Mum’s Book Club was born! With the addition of Amanda, a widowed woman desperately in need of company, these three women form a support group that is, at times, loosely based on books!

The descriptions of motherhood in this book are scarily accurate, divorced or not. We’ve all felt stressed, juggling the many tasks that we are faced with when we have children. Even if you’ve got a supportive partner, life is always hectic when children are involved! Victoria Cooke captures the feelings of Mums everywhere beautifully – she really shows how women can feel torn, how much they adore their children, and how they really do put their children first.

I loved following Stephanie’s story – it was good to see her realise that her perfect family life may not have actually been that perfect. In fact it was good to see her realise how her idea of perfect may not have been perfect for her at all! Naturally we got a lovely little romance thrown in for good measure, which was not picture perfect either – dating a divorced mother of three is never going to be easy, but I loved following their own story.

I am more than happy to recommend this novel – it was a lovely, easy read which was very easy to relate to. Perfect for a bank holiday weekend – so grab yourself a copy, a blanket and a glass of wine and dive right in!

Thank you to Victoria Cooke and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Author Bio

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of a career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first novel, ‘The Secret to Falling in Love,’ in 2016.

Her third novel, Who Needs Men Anyway? became a digital bestseller in 2018 and her debut, The Secret fo Falling in Love was optioned in 2020.

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Book Review: Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior

April 18, 2021April 17, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ Leave a comment

Today I would like to bring you my review of Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior.

Veronica McCreedy is about to have the journey of a lifetime . . .
Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. And she’s never seen without her ruby-red lipstick.
Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.
She can be found either collecting litter from the beach (‘people who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses (‘someone must have moved them’) or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’).
Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway . . . And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.
But today . . . today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this.

I’m sure that like me, you have seen this novel recommended everywhere! I was therefore determined to read this novel as soon as I could, and I was not disappointed!

Veronica McCreedy is an 85 woman, who lives alone in her large house, with only her housekeeper Eileen for company. She is stubborn, and she is most definitely set in her ways! She spends her days litter picking or watching wildlife documentaries, but as the days pass her by she realises that she has a significant amount of money and no one to leave it to when she dies. As her past seems to haunt her more and more, she looks to the future – one that she would really like to have an impact on, despite her advancing age. One evening, whilst upset that her beloved Earth Matters show seems have finished, she discovers a new wildlife show, The Plight of Penguins, presented by her favourite wildlife presenter Robert Saddlebow. What follows, is a journey of epic proportions. An elderly woman with a plight, a long lost Grandson, and finally, a colony of penguins in deepest Antarctica.

Away with the Penguins is a story about love and loss, but it is so much more than that. It is a story that shows us that no matter what barriers you find in front of you, they can be overcome. Mrs McCreedy is a very wealthy woman, and as we all know, money can indeed help make life a little easier. But that money did not stop her reaching 85 years of age all alone, with no one but her housekeeper for company. However, she does not let her age hold her back in her quest to help the penguins. Instead she goes on an actual quest, across land and sea, finding out more about herself whilst also cautiously letting others into her life.

This is such a wonderful novel – it was easy to get wrapped up in Veronicas story and empathise with her. She may have been an older lady set in her ways with a grouchy nature, but as you learn more about her you realise why she has shut herself away for so long. I also really enjoyed learning more about Patrick, which added such a beautiful element to the story as it unfolded. I am more than happy to recommend this novel – if it does nothing else other than make you want to pick up the phone and call your Grandparents if you are still lucky enough to have them, then it will have been a successful read.

Away with the Penguins can be bought in all good bookshops, but if you can support a local independent bookshop then please do.

BLOG TOUR High Heels in the Highlands by Liz Hurley

March 24, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ 2 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of High Heels in the Highlands by Liz Hurley on day one of her amazing blog tour!

Clementine’s swapped a London flat for a Scottish castle – but will she get her fairytale ending?
After discovering they had inherited an enormous fortune, as well as the titles of ‘Lady’, the lives of the five Hiverton sisters have never been the same.
While oldest sister Ariana settles in Norfolk, fashion designer Clementine heads to the Scottish Highlands to investigate their newly inherited castle. Not bad for a girl brought up in poverty in a tiny house in East London…
However, Lady Clem quickly finds out that Ruacoddy Castle is falling to pieces, the neighbours – especially grumpy young farmer, Rory – are suspicious of her and the eccentric housekeeper, Ottoline, is still in residence.
But just as Clem starts to embrace her new life in the Highlands, growing closer to Rory and forming a friendship with Ottoline, she stumbles upon a secret in the attic that could destroy the Hiverton family. Can she save the castle as well as her family’s reputation?
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immoveable object?

So High Heels in the Highlands is the third novel in the series about the Hiverton sisters – if you want a quick catch up them please head over to check out my reviews of the first two books in the series;

Cornish Dreams at Cockleshell Cottage

I adored the first 2 novels in this series, and High Heels in the Highlands was no exception. Lady Clementine is having a bit of a rough time in her career, and so when her older sister Ariana asks that she heads up to Scotland to check out their newly inherited Scottish castle, she is more than happy to do so. What she doesn’t anticipate though is the resident housekeeper and the local bearded young farmer. Clem is hot headed with a temper to match, but with her heart in the right place. She is fiercely loyal to her family, and will do what it takes to ensure that they are all safe and well. What she doesn’t anticipate though, particularly as a city dweller through and through, is falling in love with her castle. It ignites something in her – her passion for fashion, but it also gives her something to fight for. She finds herself working within her small community, and realising that the castle is just as important to peoples livelihoods as it is to hers. Add in a very stubborn housekeeper who hasn’t left the castle in decades and what follows is certainly not boring!

I love this series, I really do. It provides us with the familiarity of following one family, the Hiverton sisters, whilst also introducing us to a whole new story each time with a wealth of new characters. It’s the best of both worlds in terms of giving us a great standalone novel, whilst learning about a family member that you’ve already been briefly introduced to! The five sisters are all so different as well, so none of the stories can possibly be the same, even though they all experienced the same traumatic childhood following the loss of their parents at such a young age. Its like putting on your favourite comfortable cardigan but in a new colour!

I am more than happy to recommend this novel. It is a light easy that really draws you in and gets you to engage with the characters. I loved the dynamic between Clem and Otto, and I adore the fierce loyalty of the sisters to one another. If I was to have one gripe, it would be that the books haven’t been released in chronological order – it caused me a little confusion to begin with (you’ll understand if you’ve read the first two already) but if that’s the worst thing I can say then I think we are doing well! So please do go out and grab yourself a copy of this fabulous novel!

Thank you to Liz Hurley and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Kobo

Apple

Author Bio

Heroines with grit, gumption and good old-fashioned gorgeousness!

Liz Hurley writes exciting and heart warming stories that will make you cheer and laugh.

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The Girls of Mulberry Lane

BLOG TOUR Stormy Days on Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke

February 7, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ 1 Comment

Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of Stormy Days on Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke, as part of her wonderful blog tour.

London 1950
Peggy Ronoscki is happily settling into life running her guesthouse on Mulberry Lane, surrounded by close friends and family. Life just seems too good…
But then disaster strikes.
Pip, her beloved son is left in a coma following a devastating car crash and a young girl collapses in the market leaving Peggy no option but to nurse her back to health.
As things begin to go awry, Peggy worries she has brought trouble to her doorstep?
Can her life ever return to normal? Or has Peggy’s good nature led her astray?

If you are a regular follower of my blog, you will know what a fan I am of the Mulberry Lane series – if you’re new then please check out my other reviews below;

A Wedding at Mulberry Lane

Mulberry Lane Babies

New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane

The Women of Mulberry Lane

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane

Stormy Days on Mulberry Lane is the seventh book in this wonderful series, and once again it focuses on our heroine Peggy Ronoscki. She has finally returned to the lanes, both for herself and for the opportunities that it provides her children. She is once again surrounded by her beloved friends and family and she is content with her life. The war is over, rationing has eased and she loves to look after those that stay at her guesthouse. But when Peggy finds a collapsed girl in the marketplace, her good nature pushes her to take her in and care for her. Her son Pip is also involved in an awful car accident, leaving Peggy to hold together everything in the lanes so that her daughter and daughter-in-law can rush to be by his side. Peggy’s good nature may finally come back to bite her, as trouble starts to follow in her wake!

Whilst Stormy Days on Mulberry Lane can definitely be read as a standalone novel, I would not recommend it because you’d be missing out on the wonderful, colourful stories that bring you to this point in the lanes. Peggy Ronoscki is such a central character in the Mulberry Lane series, that it would be a shame to miss out on understanding her story and how she came to be at this point in her life. She is such a kind and caring character, who clearly suffered during WWII, but it made her stronger. Her strength of character is a delight to read, and her husband Able compliments her so beautifully that they are really a pleasure to read about. Maureen and her daughter Shirley are also favourite characters of mine, and I’ve really enjoyed watching them grow and evolve as characters throughout this series. Shirley in particular really comes into her own in this novel,.

So whilst we have left WWII behind us in this novel (and I am a big fan of fiction set during WWII, particularly when its following the strength of women), I continue to love this series as it shows us how that period in time continues to have an effect on all those who made it through. I love revisiting characters, and continuing to watch them evolve and grow, and the Mulberry Lane series is no exception to this. I am more than happy to recommend this novel to you (along with the other 6 in the series!). If you haven’t get discovered the ladies of Mulberry Lane, a snowy, lockdown day like today is the perfect opportunity! So grab yourself a hot chocolate and blanket, and curl up with the women of Mulberry Lane!

Thank you to Rosie Clarke and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Link

Author Bio

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire.

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BLOG TOUR A Remedy in Time by Jennifer Macaire

January 26, 2021January 24, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ Leave a comment

Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of A Remedy in Time by Jennifer Macaire as part of her wonderful blog tour.

To save the future, she must turn to the past . . .
San Francisco, Year 3377. A deadly virus has taken the world by storm. Scientists are desperately working to develop a vaccine. And Robin Johnson – genius, high-functioning, and perhaps a little bit single-minded – is delighted. Because, to cure the disease, she’s given the chance to travel back in time.
But when Robin arrives at the last Ice Age hoping to stop the virus at its source, she finds more there than she bargained for. And just as her own chilly exterior is beginning to thaw, she realises it’s not only sabre-toothed tigers that are in danger of extinction . . .

So before I even comment on the novel, I think we should all take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous cover! Wow! I really love it, it really captures the essence of the book.

This is not a novel I would ordinarily have chosen to read, but sometimes its nice to read something outside of your usual genres. A Remedy in Time centres around Robin, a woman who is highly intelligent but with a murky past. In fact, she remembers almost nothing about her childhood. In the year 3377 this makes her a dangerous woman in society, but her intelligence and subsequent work on the much needed vaccine for the fatal strain of typhus that is currently affecting the planet all work in her favour. She should never have been considered for a time travel mission, but her expertise are deemed essential in finding a cure for the disease that is destroying humanity, and halting the movement of people between Earth and Mars.

Jake is one of Robin’s closest friends, and the son of Dr Powell, Robin’s mentor. They can’t seem to stay away from each other, despite Jake being in an on/off relationship with Helen. Jake is also less than keen on Robin time travelling. Whilst time travelling is now used regularly, Robin is due to go back 12,000 years which is at the absolute limit of the time travelling capabilities.

As I’m sure you can imagine, Robin’s journey does not go smoothly. It is full of danger and mystery, as well as pre-historic beasts that Robin (and we as the reader) could only ever imagine. Pre-historic natural history is really brought to life in this novel in such a unique way, and I actually really enjoyed it! It was completely different to any novels I’ve read before, but it was really nice to escape to such a different landscape. So if you’re looking for something a bit different, this could be the book for you. There’s plenty of danger, there’s some twists and turns, and there’s a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure! So maybe go and grab yourself a copy of A Remedy in Time and immerse yourself in the pre-historic timeline!

Thank you to Jennifer Macaire and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US

Headline

Author Bio

Jennifer Macaire lives in France with her husband, three children, & various dogs & horses. She loves chocolate, biking, & reading. She grew up in upstate New York, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. She graduated from St. Peter and Paul high school in St. Thomas and moved to NYC where she modeled for five years for Elite. She went to France and met her husband at the polo club. All that is true. But she mostly likes to make up stories.

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BLOG TOUR The Little Swiss Ski Chalet by Julie Caplin

January 24, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ Leave a comment

Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of The Little Swiss Ski Chalet by Julie Caplin as part of her fabulous blog tour.

The Little Swiss Ski Chalet
It’s time to pack your bags and head to the breathtaking, 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…

The Little Swiss Ski Chalet follows Mina, a food technician whose job it is to design ready made meals. Her enthusiasm and passion is often ignored however, with many of her ideas being pushed to one side by her employer. When her relationship breaks down in a rather spectacular (and eventually, very public manner) she realises that she needs to get away – working alongside her ex is far too painful. With a little encouragement she finds herself packing her bags and heading off to Switzerland to visit her Godmother at her cozy Swiss ski chalet. The lure of Swiss chocolate is strong, and she finds her passion for food reignited…along with her passion for a mysterious stranger she meets on the train!

Does serendipity exist? Does love at first sight (or first kiss) exist? You will have to grab yourself a copy of The Little Swiss Ski Chalet to find out what happens to Mina, Luke, Amelie and Johannes!

The Little Swiss Ski Chalet is such a sweet, romantic read. Mina is a great character; she’s flawed of course, but she’s not afraid of hard work to get what she wants. She’s just spent too long not knowing what she really wanted. Escaping to Switzerland finally gives her some perspective and it enables her to explore her passions whilst reconnecting with her beloved Godmother Amelie. The Swiss setting is an added bonus – Julie Caplin really captures the landscape within her words, making it so easy as a reader to imagine Mina’s surroundings. It’s definitely made me want to visit Switzerland, and maybe even give skiing a go!

I am more than happy to recommend this novel to you all. Its a light, easy read full of romance, chocolate and good food. What more can you want?! So grab yourself a hot chocolate and settle under a blanket to read this book on this chilly, lockdown Sunday!

Thank you to Julie Caplin and Rachel at Rachels Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Link

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.

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*BLOG TOUR* Love Heart Lane by Christie Barlow

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BLOG TOUR The Lake House by Christie Barlow

January 12, 2021 ~ ChapterAndCake ~ 2 Comments

It is my pleasure to bring you my review for The Lake House by Christie Barlow as part of her fabulous blog tour!

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?

I am so excited to talk to you today about the next instalment in Christie Barlow’s Love Heart Lane series, The Lake House. If you would like to re-familiarise yourself with the other novels in this series, then please check out my reviews below;

Foxglove Farm – I’m ashamed to say I haven’t read it yet. I own it, I just haven’t got round to it!!

*BLOG TOUR* Clover Cottage by Christie Barlow

*BLOG TOUR* Starcross Manor by Christie Barlow

The Lake House is book 5 in this wonderful series (and I’m thrilled to say that book 6, Primrose Park is due out in April 2021 so not long to wait!)

Ella has not had a good time. After losing her parents, she thought that she had found someone who could support her through her grief. Instead he betrays her in the worst possible way. After struggling alone for 6 months, her friend Callie finally persuades her to leave her home and join her in Heartcross, offering her the love and support she so desperately needs. Heartcross offers her the new start she needs; a new home, new friends and maybe even a new romance!

I love returning to Heartcross, it is such a lovely tightknit, supportive community and it is so easy to immerse yourself in it. As our real world continues to fight the challenges thrown up by a pandemic, it is such a delight to be able to lose yourself in such a wonderful place. As I’ve said many times before, I love getting involved in a book series because I love to revisit places. I like to see characters we have met before and find out where they are now. But what makes The Lake House stand apart from rest is that this time our central character is Ella, an outsider. Having a character join the village and see it with fresh eyes really does give a new perspective. Ella’s heartbreak is very real, but it’s inspiring to watch as she attempts to rebuild her life back up with nothing but her new found community. In the times that we currently live in, there is a lot we could learn from a place like Heartcross, fictional or not.

It would be remiss of me to not mention two other characters who I feel really help the book ‘pop’. Roman is the local water taxi driver, and he is of course suitably handsome (love interest alert!!). Naturally there is some mystery surrounding him, which doesn’t always tally up with the warm, giving character that he is portrayed as. As we learn more about him though, it becomes very clear that everyone has their secrets and their struggles, even if they have a smile on their face.

Finally, I cannot end my review without mentioning Dolores…what a legend! I can only hope to have lead a life as colourful as hers when I reach her advanced years, and she just goes to prove that it’s never too late when it comes to love!

For me, the sign of a good book is one that is talked about. I introduced my two sisters to the Love Heart Lane series during lockdown number 1 (I know, I hate that the lockdown now have numbers!) and they have loved them. So much so that they have both been sat waiting for The Lake House to be released (I may or may not have mentioned to them how lucky I was to get an early copy!). If you find a book that you enjoy, then tell your friends. Now, more than ever, we all need a little lighthearted relief and books most definitely offer us that.

So, grab yourself a bar of chocolate, a glass of wine and snuggle up on your sofa with a copy of The Lake House – you won’t regret it!

Thank you to Christie Barlow and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

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