Ramblings about books and life
I regularly share my top reads from this blog over at The Riviera Woman.
The Riviera Woman, run by Anna Fill, helps women living or working on the Riviera live life to the full with it’s inspirational people and interesting articles.
For August, I have chosen The Secrets of Villa Rosso by Linn B. Halton. You can read my review here.
I am delighted to share with you my review of The Secrets of Villa Rosso by Linn B. Halton.
Thank you to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be part of the tour and for arranging an e-copy of the book from Harper Impulse in return for an honest review.
Before I share my thoughts with you, here is what The Secrets of Villa Rosso is about.
Some places stay with you forever…
When Ellie Maddison is sent on a business trip to Southern Italy, she’s reminded why she loves her job – set amongst rolling vineyards and rich olive groves, the beautiful Villa Rosso is the perfect escape from her life back home. But what Ellie isn’t prepared for is the instant connection she feels to the estate’s director Max Jackson, or the secrets they share that are as intertwined as the rambling vines that cover Villa Rosso.
It’s not long before Ellie finds herself entangled in the history of the place, trying to understand the undeniable effect Max is having on her. As their relationship grows, what will Ellie discover about this idyllic villa and those who have walked through its doors?
What started as a simple work trip will change Ellie’s life forever.
Have you ever been to a place where you feel so comfortable with the surroundings and the people but yet it’s the first time you’ve ever been there? This is what happens to Ellie Maddison when she visits Villa Rosso and feels a deep, familiar connection with Max. Ellie has found her soul mate in her husband Josh and so we follow Ellie on her journey as she tries to deal with the lasting effects from her trip.
This is the first book by Linn B Halton I have read and it certainly won’t be my last. Through writing which flows effortlessly, I was transported from the very first word, into Ellie’s world and the descriptions of Italy and the interior design world are devine!
I thought the structure of the story worked really well. It begins with a party for Ellie and Josh’s nineteenth wedding anniversary, where Ellie sees something unsettling. It then goes back in time and Ellie takes us on her journey from the trip to Italy, the mystery which surrounds Villa Rosso, meeting Max and to her life when she returns to England.
The Secrets of Villa Rosso is Ellie’s story so is told solely from her point of view. I connected with her in a way I have never connected with a character before. Every thought. Every feeling. I was living Ellie’s experiences with her. When I had to put the book down because real life had to happen, I was left wondering how she was. Hats off to Linn B. Halton for writing which touched me in this way. Ellie also deeply feels things and this is mirrored in the strength and depth of the writing. It oozes off of every page.
Beautifully written and with a clever storyline, The Secrets of Villa Rosso is a story which I know will stay with me for a very long time. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to escape in a page-turner this Summer.
Win a signed copy of The Secrets of Villa Rosso (Open Internationally)
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From interior designer to author, Linn – who also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman – says ‘it’s been a fantastic journey!’
Linn is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels and is excited to be writing for both Harper Impulse (Harper Collins) and Aria Fiction (Head of Zeus); she’s represented by Sara Keane of the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.
When she’s not writing, or spending time with the family, she’s either upcycling furniture or working in the garden.
Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award; her novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards.
Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her ‘rock’, Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she freely admits she’s an eternal romantic.
Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.
Find out more and read chapter one from each of Linn & Lucy’s novels at http://linnbhalton.co.uk/, follow Linn on Twitter @LinnBHalton and @LucyColemanAuth , visit her Facebook page @LinnBHaltonAuthor and her Amazon author pages: Linn B. Halton and Lucy Coleman
I am thrilled to welcome back Liz Fenwick and her sixth book One Cornish Summer to Sarah’s Vignettes today. I have another great interview with Liz to share with you and there are details of a fun giveaway Liz is running over on her social media pages.
I read One Cornish Summer back in March and found it beautiful and poignant (read my review here). I really hope it does well because it deserves to.
Against the beauty of Cornwall, a story of two women struggling with their past: one cannot remember hers, the other cannot forget…
When Hebe receives a life-changing diagnosis at only 53, she struggles to make sense of what it will mean for her, her job and the man she loves. With memories slipping away by the day, she flees to the one place she has always felt safe and peaceful – Cornwall, and the house her family spent so many summers in.
Lucy is having her own crisis, and seizes the chance to follow her aunt to Cornwall. Curious about what has driven Hebe there after so many years, she also has to battle with the secret she has kept since her family’s last summer there more than ten years ago.
Both women will learn that memories live in our hearts and that sharing secrets can set you free… But can they find their way back to the things that are truly important to them?
Welcome back to Sarah’s Vignettes, Liz!! I’m delighted to have you answering more questions about One Cornish Summer, your writing, and Cornwall. Continue reading “One Cornish Summer Publication Day Interview & Giveaway with Liz Fenwick (@liz_fenwick) @orionbooks”
I am delighted to be featuring an extract from The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James as part of the blog tour.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Izzy Smith at HQ, Harper Collins for asking me to take part in the tour and for sending me a proof copy of the book to read. A review will follow on this blog soon.
Scroll down to find out more about The Woman in the Mirror and to read a captivating extract – it’s the Prologue!! Continue reading “Blog Tour & Extract: The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James (@VFoxWrites) @HQstories”
I’m delighted to be helping Rosie Green reveal the cover for her second novella: Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café, which is due to be published on 18 June 2018.
Thank you to Rachel Gilbey from Rachel’s Random Resources for asking me to take part. Continue reading “Cover Reveal: Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café by Rosie Green (@Rosie_Green1988) @rararesources”
I am very excited to be helping Eliza J. Scott reveal the cover for her debut novel: The Letter – Kitty’s Story, which is due to be published on 29 June 2018.
Thank you to Rachel Gilbey from Rachel’s Random Resources for asking me to take part. Continue reading “Cover Reveal: The Letter – Kitty’s Story by Eliza J. Scott (@ElizaJScott1) @rararesources”
I regularly share my top reads from this blog over at The Riviera Woman.
The Riviera Woman, run by Anna Fill, helps women living or working on the Riviera live life to the full with it’s inspirational people and interesting articles.
For May, I have chosen One Cornish Summer by Liz Fenwick. You can read both my review and a great interview with Liz here. Continue reading “One Cornish Summer by Liz Fenwick (@liz_fenwick) ~ Recommended Read ~ The Riviera Woman”
