Review of One Summer in Provence by Carol Drinkwater

 

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Today is my stop on the Random Things blog tour for One Summer in Provence by Carol Drinkwater.

Celia Grey has a seemingly perfect life. She is married to playwright Dominic and living in a beautiful chateau in Provence.

Out of the blue, her long lost son who she gave up for adoption gets in touch. On the spur of the moment, Celia invites him to visit her in France.

In spite of the shock, Celia and Dominic welcome David. However, Dominic is suspicious. Is this really Celia’s long lost son and if not who is he and what does he want?

The setting of this book in Provence and the descriptions of the area and house were beautiful. 

I really enjoyed reading this book, which was my first book by this author.

Thank you to Random Things Tours for including me. Check out the banner below to follow the other stops on the tour.

Review of Secrets of the Bees by Jane Johnson

 

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Secrets of the Bees by Jane Johnson.

Ezra Curnow had lived his whole life in a small cottage on the Trengrose estate in Cornwall. It’s an idyllic life and generations of his family lived there before him.

However, this is threatened Eliza Rosevear dies without a will and the ownership of his cottage is put into question by the family from London who purchase the estate.

Toby and his wife Minty arrive with plans of modernising and setting up a tourism business. They immediately see Ezra’s cottage as a money spinner and are determined to get him out. Ezra, however, is prepared to battle to save his beloved home and lifestyle.

When it seems that Toby will move to underhand tricks to get him out, it is the late Eliza who does not seem to want to rest until a secret is uncovered.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I found myself rooting for Ezra, but also wondering about Eliza’s life and the history of Trengrose. A fantastic give star read for me and Cornwall is one of my favourite settings for a book.

Thank you to Ransom PR and Head of Zeus for including me. Check out the banner below to follow the other stops on the tour.

Review of The Cardinal by Alison Weir

 

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Cardinal by Alison Weir.

I really enjoyed Alison Weir’s books and the way in which she brings history to life. The Cardinal was no exception and we learn about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey through his eyes.

This was an interesting read for me because when I studied history at A level, we focused also on the Tudors and I remember learning about Wolsey’s role.

I really liked the way that Weir weaves in the more personal aspects of Wolsey’s life including his upbringing, life as an Oxford scholar at only 11 years old and his relationship with Joan Larke. I found it very interesting reading about his secret second life and the riches he amassed.

After such a dramatic rise through the court, how did he end up in disgrace and estranged from the woman he loved.

Alison Weir vividly brings this powerful figure to life in this fantastic book. Highly recommended especially for fans of the Tudor era and historical fiction.

Thank you to Random Things tours and Headline for sending me a copy.

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