#Review by Lou – Under the Italian Sun by Sue Moorcroft @SueMoorcroft @ElliePilcher95 @AvonBooksUK #WomensFiction #Romance #Fiction

Under the Italian Sun
By Sue Moorcroft

Family members to discover, loss and lovely scenery and food, Under the Italian Sun will play with your emotions in a journey from the very south of England to Italy. It is all quite intriguing to see lives unearthed as ancestry is uncovered.
Discover more in the blurb and review as you escape to being Under The Italian Sun.

Thanks to Ellie Pilcher at Avon Books for inviting me to review and for gifting me an e-book.

Blurb

The #1 bestseller is back with an uplifting, escapist read that will brighten the gloomiest day!

A warm, sun-baked terrace.

The rustle of verdant green vines.

The sun slowly dipping behind the Umbrian mountains.

And the chink of wine glasses as the first cork of the evening is popped…

Welcome to Italy. A place that holds the answer to Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers’ many questions. Not least, how she ended up with such a mouthful of a name.

When Zia discovers that her mother wasn’t who she thought she was, she realises the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known.

However, as she delves into the secrets of her past, she doesn’t bargain on having to think about her future too. But with local vineyard owner, Piero, living next door, Zia knows she has a serious distraction who may prove difficult to ignore…

This summer, join Zia as she sets out to uncover her past. But can she find the future she’s always dreamed of along the way?

Review

The book deals with loss of a gran and family discovery of where you come from. It begins with Zia and Ursula looking through belongings, left behind by Zia’s gran for clues to who her father was/is. There is also the mystery as to who Victoria Chalmers was and how she may have fit into the family. There’s a lot of unravelling, a bit like “Long Lost Family” and trying to piece together Zia’s family tree, which is of much interest, and Zia is on a mission to discover all, by hiring Harry – a private investigator and things get rather complicated. There’s also the burgeoning romance that brings characters together on this adventure.

The valley where Zia and Ursula go to in Italy – Tenuta Domenicali, in Orvieto wine region, is awash with grape vines for wine, where Emiliano works on the production side, which belongs to the Domenicali family. There’s much to consider for the business and whether to sell to a big company with big tourist ideas and plans for development or to decline the offer.

The book goes between Italy and Devon and brings up some real issues about affordability in the very south of England, or rather lack of it and how everything is vastly expensive.

There is an air of holiday time about the book, which makes it a lovely, beautifully written book to read whilst on a staycation or in your garden with the sun beating down on you or curled up somewhere in your home. The book is both uplifting and emotional. It isn’t a heavy read, although it deals with grief, it still has that lazy summer’s day feel about it. It may also make you hungry with some of the lovely food that is mentioned.

As Under the Italian Sun continues, it is intriguing to see how the vines of family connections intertwine. There are birth and death certificates to be found and the details that come with those. It’s a book that may even inspire some readers to investigate their family history to see what they can unearth.

#QuickReviews of Great Summer Reads In Many Genres of Fiction Part 1 #SummerReads #MustReads #Fiction #CrimeFiction #Thriller #RomanticFiction #HistoricalFiction

Summer Reads
Various Books of Many Genres
By Various Authors

I’ve read a lot of books over this summer, so thought I would share some quick reviews of a few of them. They are in no particular order, except I’ve alternated a crime/thriller with another genre all the way down. I’ve chosen 18 to highlight. There are many genres from crime fiction to thrillers to rom-coms to uplit to historical fiction and more. I have added a link to each part so you can read a bit about the authors, the blurb and full review. I hope you enjoy and gain some inspiration. I am still reading and reviewing. There are many more coming up. Thank you in advance for taking time to read. I always appreciate it. If you click on Full Review for each book, that will take you to the original reviews, which are more in-depth and also have blurbs and more…

The Daughters of Cornwall by Fern Britton – Written with such sensitivity, candour and a little humour along the way; it is an all absorbing read. Set in 1918, 1939 and 2020, discover illigitamacy and family secrets in this atmospheric, well-plotted, compelling book. Click for Full Review

Killing Rock by Robert Daws – Set in Gibraltar, discover the dark side of this island, with its backdrop lovely sun, sea and sand, in this twisty tale that grips and captivates to the end. Full Review

Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce – Discover this wonderfully uplifting book about friendship and a new adventure, even when it takes a lot of determination to make things happen. The contrast between the characters is written so well, it’s a delight to read. Full Review

The Secrets Of Strangers by Charity Norman – a fast-paced psychological thriller that takes place in a cafe, with characters who intrigue with all their secrets as this unputdownable and enthralling book unfolds and characters unravel. Full Review

The Miseducation of Evie Epworth By Matson Taylor – set in Yorkshire in the 1960’s, this is one of the wittiest books that I’ve read in a long time. There’s the fashions, the music, cake and Evie is trying to make a decision between heading to the bright lights of Leeds or NYC. It already has a lot of recognition and made it to the Radio 2 Book Club. I am informed there will be a second one. Full Review

Hinton Hollow Death Trip by Will Carver – a page-turner of a psychological thriller set in a small place called Hinton Hollow, follow the most unexpected and original narrator, around the area as you meet the characters and see how they mirror society and if there is hope of anything getting better. Full Review

Summer on A Sunny Island by Sue Moorcroft – Sun, sea, sand and perhaps a bit of romance on a gorgeous island; all wrapped up in a book that is perfect for lazing with in the sun. Full Review

Before I Say I Do By Vikki Bradley – A rivetting thriller set around a wedding day, supposedly the happiest day of your life. The wedding day is fast approaching and yet there are secrets that the bride would rather not emerge . It’s a thriller that is hard to resist and to put down. Full Review

With or Without You by Drew Davies – A life can change in a second. One day you’re doing the mundane and everything is taken for granted. The next, everything changes. It certainly has a great observed, captivating plot. Full Review

What Lies Beneath by Adam Croft – First in a brand new series set in Rutland, it gets off to a great start as readers get to know the police and Rutland and some bodies that are emerging. Full Review

The Geometry of Holding Hands Hands by Alexander McCall Smith is the latest installment of the delightful Philosophy Club/Dalhousie series. With the return of many wonderful characters and an inexpected offer given to Isabelle, involving a Highland estate. It’s a book that will engage and delight fans. Full Review

The Bobby Girls Secrets By Johanna Bell. Follow this fascinating and enjoyable series about the first volunteer women policewomen. This is the second in the series and I am informed that there is a 3rd in the pipeline. The first is called The Bobby Girls. The bonds of friendship intrigue as do the storylines and this time they aren’t all in one area. Bobby Girl has a new opportunity. There are also interesting photos of the real Bobby Girls and a bit of info about them in the closing pages of the book. Full Review

The Colours by Juliet Bates – A bright, bold, incredible book about a character with synisthesia. With exquisitely observed writing, it is a highly absorbing read that will take any reader to the beach and on a trip through someone’s life. Full Review

Lion Heart by Ben Kane – Don the armour in this atmospheric, compelling book that transports readers into the rich landscape of Richard LionHeart. Forge weaponry and battle, but the action doesn’t stop there as it is much more nuanced than that and focuses on more than just war, which makes it an excellent book in the first in this new series. Full Review

Dance With The Reaper by Wes Markin – Put on your dancing shoes, embrace the reaper and dance through life and death and find the murderer with DCI Yorke. It compels, intrigues and surprises. Full Review

Perfume Paradiso by Janey Jones – Wake up and smell the perfume and travel through the pages to explore Italy to create a new perfume and perhaps find love, is what comes in this delightful romantic comedy. Full Review

The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce by Tom Gillespie – Set between Glasgow, Scotland and Spain, life and art collide, making this an emotional, exquisitely written book that takes readers into a possible forgery and then there’s Jacob’s relationship, but will it survive?Full Review

The Garden of Forgotten Wishes by Trisha Ashley takes you into a beautiful garden and charming characters lives; some of them quite unexpected as an unlikely lot volunteer to bring a garden into the vibrant state it was once in, even though personal lives aren’t always straight-forward. This is a joyful, uplifting summer read. Full Review

#Review of the delightful – The Garden of Forgotten Wishes by Trisha Ashley @trishaashley @TransworldBooks @RandomTTours #Fiction #SummerReading #NewBook #SundayTimesBestSeller

The Garden of Forgotten Wishes
By Trisha Ashley
Rated: 5 stars *****

Today is my stop on the blog tour for the very delightful summer read that is The Garden of Forgotten Wishes. It whisks you away to a beautiful garden and interesting, characters with their uplifting community spirit, sometimes complicated lives and a bit of romance.
Discover the author, blurb, review and the social media links below.
I thank Haley Barnes at TransworldBooks for sending me a copy of the book and to be invited by Anne to review.

About the Author

Trisha Ashley’s Sunday Times bestselling novels have twice been shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance, and Every Woman for Herself was nominated by readers as one of the top three romantic novels of the last fifty years.
Trisha lives in North Wales.

Blurb

The brand new novel from Sunday Times Top Five bestselling author Trisha Ashley – the perfect Summer read!

All Marnie wants is somewhere to call home. Mourning lost years spent in a marriage that has finally come to an end, she needs a fresh start and time to heal. Things she hopes to find in the rural west Lancashire village her mother always told her about.
With nothing but her two green thumbs, Marnie takes a job as a gardener, which comes with a little cottage to make her own. The garden is beautiful – filled with roses, lavender and honeysuckle – and only a little rough around the edges. Which is more than can be said for her next-door-neighbour, Ned Mars.
Marnie remembers Ned from her school days but he’s far from the untroubled man she once knew. A recent relationship has left him with a heart as bruised as her own.
Can a summer spent gardening help them heal and recapture the forgotten dreams they’ve let get away?

Praise for Trisha Ashley:
‘One of the best writers around!’ – Katie Fforde
‘Full of down-to-earth humour’ – Sophie Kinsella
‘A warm-hearted and comforting read. Trisha at her best.’ – Carole Matthews

Review

Meander through the garden. It looks beautiful. Seek out the lovely plants that are listed on a key code list for what you see on the small map, and jump back with Marnie to 1993 before following her to the first chapter in 2017.

In 1993, life is bitter-sweet as Marnie (Marianne) sits with her mum after her aunt has dropped her off, reminiscing together, even though for Marnie, to bring up the good times isn’t a natural thing for a young child to do. Her mum is doing the rounds of chemotherapy.

Marnie, by 2017 was in France. To live in a chateau sounds idyllic. Like a dream!
This is a book with themes of control. It’s a timely book, since that’s finally one of the main topics up for discussion. This is also about Marnie’s escape, with Treena’s help more than what led up to her fleeing.

The book is as heartwarming and as uplifting as it is heart-wrenching. Marnie, once she has left for the UK, she has a hope to reconnect on some sort of level with the mother she lost to cancer. She also hopes to rediscover herself and some people she once knew at Jericho’s end. The Fairy Falls sound tranquil and is where the Cottingley Fairies were “filmed” and proven to be a hoax, later a film was made. She also hopes to restore the garden at Lavander Cottage, that she once knew.

She meets Ned, who presents a tv show called “The Small Plot.” They knew each other from their student days at horticultural college. The only issue is, intriguingly, he isn’t so pleased to see her.

There’s a lot of strength of character and courage presented within the characters in this book. I love that a lot and is, for me anyway, relatable. The characters have been through a lot and yet they still get on with life.

There’s a real passion for gardens and gardening within the book for readers to explore. It’s uplifting how people end up supporting each other to meet the same goal of having a completed garden. Watching it expand is beautiful and elegant to read about. It’s also nice that it isn’t too romanticised, in other words, you can see some of the hard-work it takes to pull something as vast off. Romance blossoms amongst the blooms of nature as the project grows.

This is a beautiful book that shows courage against adversity in so many ways. That’s what makes it a great book for this summer.

After the book, there are related recipes to some of the icecreams within the book. So you can try out making your own, lavender, ginger, minced meat, mulled wine, non-dairy coffee and choc chip icecreams.

Trisha Ashley’s Social Media Links

For more information about her please visit www.trishaashley.com , her
Facebook page www.facebook.com/TrishaAshleyBooks or follow her on
Twitter @trishaashley

#Review of the lovely summery book – Perfume Paradiso by Janey Jones Perfume Paradiso by Janey Jones @janeyjones23 @bwpublishing @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours #BlogTour #SummerRead

Perfume Paradiso
By Janey Jones
Rated: 5 stars *****

Italy, glasses of Frizzante, beautiful scenery, the scent of perfume and decisions to be made…. that’s what is encountered in this charming summer book. Find out about the author and the book, plus review below. Thanks to Black and White publishing for sending me an e-book copy and for LoveBooksTours and Janey for inviting me to review.

About the Author

JANEY JONES is a full-time writer with a love for food, fashion and all things French and Italian. She is the author of the fantastically successful Princess Poppy series, with sales of over 4 million copies. Before Princess Poppy took over her life, Janey had always intended to write contemporary fiction, and Perfume Paradiso is her second novel after the very popular Secret Life of Lucy Lovecake (writing as Pippa James).

Blurb

One week in Italy. One week to make her dreams come true . . .

Romance is the last thing on Charlotte Alexander’s mind. Her perfume business is flourishing. And a glamorous new life in New York awaits. Just one more thing is needed: a supply of artisan lavender for her trademark scent.

But when Charlotte stumbles across the infuriating and infuriatingly handsome Alessio Rossini, her plans begin to fall apart. With New York finally in reach . . . should she follow her dreams or her heart?

A captivating, feelgood summer romance set in the beautiful Italian countryside.

Review

Creating a new perfume is harder than you think! Get yourself of Frizzante, the wine of choice within this book, (or whatever your tipple may be) and meet Charlotte and Bryony – this is a chance to follow 2 women who have dreams of expanding their perfume range. Charlotte, with dreams of Provence, France, but then explores Montecastello, Italy. It is fun travelling with her to see where she ends up, if it’s France or Italy or New York and what sort of perfume, if any is created in this original summer romance, that does have some humour within it.

An unfortunate incident with a passing tractor ends up with a messy splattering over Charlotte, which in turn leads to an otherwise rude “farmer”, then finding some kindness in helping her out, where she meets the more delightful and courteous Umberto Rossini, from a valuable family who owns a huge vineyard.

This is a relaxed read for a summer’s day, with a lovely sounding hotel, complete with pool and characters – Umberto and Alessio, who create some friction and a countess who owns Lavandula, the very place where Charlotte and Bryony would like for their perfume business, with all its “green” credentials as they produce perfume using only natural ingredients.

Alessio and Umberto become Charlotte’s interest for romance, but in a deep, profound coversation in the idyllic countryside with Cosimo and a stolen kiss, finds Alessio showing his jelousy, who saw them from afar. Things hot up and get even more interesting when there is talk of a model and how Charlotte’s newly formed acquaintences all link to each other. Things, in quite an unexpected twist, take a darker turn…

The book has the possibilities of romance, the scents of perfume wafting through the air, lovely scenery and delicious food, all with added substance and profoundness. It is worth finding out if Charlotte can live her dream of creating the fragrant lavander and basil scented perfume, the way she wants to or not. It all makes a very good summer read to relax into with that Frizzante (or drink of choice).

Buy Link https://amzn.to/3eMN8bm

Follow the rest of the tour

An Excerpt of The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce by Tom Gillespie @tom_gillespie @lovebooksgroup #BlogTour

Introducing an Extract/Excerpt of
The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce
By Tom Gillespie

Today I have a very exciting excerpt of an absolutely wonderful book that is full of intrigue. I will have a full review in the summer, so watch out for that too. In the mean-time, please enjoy a bit from the book and also find out about its Scottish author.

Extract/Excerpt

A spiralling obsession. A missing wife. A terrifying secret. Will he find her before it’s too late?

When Dr Jacob Boyce’s wife goes missing, the police put it down to a simple marital dispute. Jacob, however, fears something darker. Following her trail to Spain, he becomes convinced that Ella’s disappearance is tied to a mysterious painting whose hidden geometric and numerical riddles he’s been obsessively trying to solve for months. Obscure, hallucinogenic clues, and bizarre, larger-than-life characters, guide an increasingly unhinged Jacob through a nightmarish Spanish landscape to an art forger’s studio in Madrid, where he comes face-to-face with a centuries-old horror, and the terrifying, mind-bending, truth about his wife.

About the Author

Tom Gillespie grew up in a small town just outside Glasgow. After completing a Masters in English at Glasgow University, he spent the next ten years pursuing a musical career as a singer/songwriter, playing, recording and touring the UK and Europe with his band. He now lives in Bath with his wife, daughter and hyper-neurotic cat, where he works at the university as an English lecturer. Tom writes long and short stories. His stories have appeared in many magazines, journals and e-zines. He is co-author of Glass Work Humans-an anthology of stories and poems, published by Valley Press. Visit Tom at tom-gillespie.com

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2zspp0N

#Review of Summer on a Sunny Island by Sue Moorcroft @SueMoorcroft @AvonBooksUK #BookReview #Uplit #Fiction #feelgood #RomanticFiction

Summer on a Sunny Island
By Sue Moorcroft
Rated: *****

I’ve come to really enjoy Sue Moorcroft’s books, so I was so happy to see that I was approved for reviewing Summer on a Sunny Island by Avon. This book was worth the wait.
It is perfect for some escapism at Summer Cottage. There’s sun, sea, sand, a harbour, food and characters with their reasons on why they are on such an otherwise, idyllic, beautiful island. It’s enough to sweep you away in an imaginary holiday of your very own, from the comfort of your own home.

Blurb

The #1 bestseller is back with your perfect holiday read!

When Rosa Hammond splits up from her partner Marcus after his gambling problem becomes too much to handle, she decides to take up her mum Dora’s offer of a summer in Malta. Not one to sit back and watch her daughter be unhappy, Dora introduces Rosa to Zach, in the hope that sparks will fly under the summer sun. But Rosa’s determined not to be swayed by a handsome man – she’s in Malta to work and that needs to be her focus.

Zach, meanwhile, is a magnet for trouble and is dealing with a fair few problems of his own. Neither Rosa or Zach are ready for a romance – but does fate have other ideas? And after a summer in paradise, will Rosa ever want to leave?

A heartwarming, escapist book to lose yourself in this summer from bestselling author Sue Moorcroft, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Cathy Bramley.

Review

The book is set on a Maltese island, where the main characters, Yorkshire girl Rosa and Cornish guy Zach, who she is seeing on a date that isn’t really a date.
Rosa and Marcus have split and she is escaping it all in Malta, except her mother would really like for her to have a summer romance and is trying to play cupid and has set her up with a date, in this idyllic setting with sun, coastlines and harbour and other gorgeous views. It’s almost dreamy and is very easy to slip into and escape the outside world for a bit. We may but not be able to physically go on holiday, but with this book, we certainly can in our imaginations and still return with a positive effect. The book does however carry substance. Sue Moorcroft balances it out divinely.
Zach has secrets from Rosa about not talking to his father and his grandad having dementia, who his nanna cared for.
On the night out readers meet Elsa from Edinburgh and Luccio who Zach met whilst during volunteer work for a youth organisation and has been lured into hanging out with a not so pleasant crowd.
Dory is an interesting character who is a food writer. The mediterranean food sounds delightful. This is a book that could truly make you hungry. Over delicious sounding food and wine, Rosa’s mother possibly taints the relaxed atmosphere a little by probing into the date that wasn’t a date, or as Rosa will stand firm about in her belief.
It’s interesting to read about Marci and Zach’s parents and Rosa’s parents with connections to the army and with how Dory became famous and has a bestselling Sunday Times book. It’s also interesting to read the grittier, not so wonderful parts too with Luccio heading towards trouble and with Dory’s publication issues. Elsewhere there are relationship anxieties and a disclosure of a miscarriage. It’s all sensitively written and doesn’t go too heavily into details. The book never loses that totally relaxing feel.

It’s fun seeing the relationships between the characters and seeing them develop, seeing the moving on process and romance develop and the interactions.

About the Author

Award winning author Sue Moorcroft writes contemporary women’s fiction with occasionally unexpected themes. The Wedding Proposal, Dream a Little Dream and Is This Love? were all nominated for Readers’ Best Romantic Read Awards. Love & Freedom won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 and Dream a Little Dream was nominated for a RoNA in 2013. Sue’s a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner, a past vice chair of the RNA and editor of its two anthologies.

The Christmas Promise was a Kindle No.1 Best Seller and held the No.1 slot at Christmas!

Sue also writes short stories, serials, articles, writing ‘how to’ and is a creative writing tutor.

You can follow Sue on Twitter @SueMoorcroft, find her on Facebook and visit her website.