Release date - 8th November 2023
Book length - 298 pages Publisher - Boldwood Books BUY LINKS UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Rachel from www.rachelsrandomresources.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK Click: buy… a French chateau. Condition: ‘may require improvement’… It seemed like a good idea. Selling everything we own. Just Mark and I, swapping our tiny little terraced London home – and the heartbreak of not being able to start a family – for an entire chateau in the middle of France… This has always been our dream. And now it’s coming true. As I use the rusty key to open the big, creaking wooden door of the tumbledown fairytale chateau that’s officially our new home, I wonder: what could possibly go wrong? Turns out my grasp of the language isn’t brilliant – and I’ve realised too late that I should really have got fluent before emigrating. But it turns out that the answer is ‘le tout’. In other words, ‘everything’ than can go wrong, will… Will our marriage survive this adventure? With all the tumbling masonry, will we? As the French sun blazes overhead, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a year to remember… MY REVIEW An emotional and heartwarming story of love, loss, and taking charge of your life, THE FRENCH CHATEAU ESCAPE by Gillian Harvey is a wonderful story that hooked me from beginning to end with rich characters that found their way into my heart. Life isn't exactly plain sailing for Emma at the moment. She hates her job and her nightmare boss, she cannot get pregnant, and it's breaking her heart watching her grief-stricken father fade away in front of her eyes. When her older partner, Mark, decides that they should sell their home, quit their jobs, and buy a chateau in France, Emma thinks that he has lost his mind. But maybe a change of pace and a relaxing lifestyle could fix it all, and when they find the perfect place for such a bargain, what could go wrong? Well, the answer is everything. It soon becomes apparent that Emma's hospitality background is not going to be enough when it comes to a total renovation, and although their age gap never factored into their relationship before, it is factoring into the workload that Mark is now trying to undertake all by himself. With money running out, no ability to speak the language, and still no sign of the baby that they want, Emma is worried that they have made a huge mistake. And when an unexpected accident occurs, who knows what will happen to their French chateau dream life?! And will Emma and Mark's relationship even survive the challenge? THE FRENCH CHATEAU ESCAPE by Gillian Harvey is a rich and interesting story filled with adventure and beautiful imagery, as well as sensitive topics such as grief and infertility. The characters are fleshed out and engaging, and I teared up a few times while reading it which always shows the author's talent to connect with readers. Emma has gone through a lot of things in her life which left her unsure of herself in the beginning so it was a delight to watch her realise her own strengths and how determined she could actually be all by herself. THE FRENCH CHATEAU ESCAPE by Gillian Harvey was more than I expected and I look forward to more from this author. AUTHOR INFO Gillian Harvey is a freelance writer and bestselling author who lives in Haute Vienne France. Since moving to Boldwood from Orion in 2022, she has released three novels set in France: The bestselling A Year at the French Farmhouse, One French Summer, and A Month in Provence. You can follow the author here for updates: Website - www.gillianharvey.com X - twitter.com/GillPlusFive Instagram - www.instagram.com/gillplusfive/ Don't forget to check out all of the other blog spots along the way!!! Release date - July 2023
Book length - 160 pages Publisher - Zaffre Books (Bonnier) BUY LINKS Ireland & Worldwide - www.kennys.ie UK - www.uk.bookshop.org US - www.amazon.com I voluntarily reviewed this book via Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK When twenty-five-year-old Takako's boyfriend reveals he's marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle Satoru's offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above his shop. Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo, the Morisaki Bookshop is a booklover's paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building, the shop is filled with hundreds of second-hand books. It is Satoru's pride and joy, and he has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife left him five years earlier. Hoping to nurse her broken heart in peace, Takako is surprised to encounter new worlds within the stacks of books lining the shop. And as summer fades to autumn, Satoru and Takako discover they have more in common than they first thought. The Morisaki bookshop has something to teach them both about life, love, and the healing power of books. MY REVIEW A gentle, slow-paced story of family, tradition, and the magnificence of the written word, DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP by Satoshi Yagasawa is a simply lovely read. When Takako gets brutally dumped by her boyfriend who she also works with, she immediately quits her job and finds herself a little lost and alone. So when her eccentric Uncle Satoru offers her free room and board for helping out in their family bookshop, Takako feels like this is probably her best option, even if it isn't the most appealing. As Takako settles into the routine of the bookshop and its customers, it isn't long before she begins to feel revitalised, and as new friendships are formed, Takako regains her confidence and a newfound interest in life again. And it turns out that she may have more in common with her Uncle than she could ever imagine possible. From family ties and expectations to finding the perfect path for you, DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP has it all. Blending beautiful traditions with the modern world is wonderfully described and the characters, while a little cold at times, really connect well together and push the story forward at a gentle pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more Japanese translations. ABOUT THIS AUTHOR Satoshi Yagasawa was born in Chiba, Japan in 1977. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is his debut novel, and it won Chiyoda Literature Prize. It was first published in Japan in 2010, the sequel the following year. |
WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! Currently ReadingUPCOMING BLOG TOURS
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