Monday 28 May 2018

Upcoming New Release and Review: Lighthouse Beach by Shelley Noble



I found the beginning of the narrative a little slow as it struggled to hold my by attention as I began my first Shelley Noble novel. However, by the time I reached Chapter Three, Lighthouse Beach had more than piqued my curiosity. Especially as the bride of the society wedding along with Lillo and two other friends make a dash from their hotel to escape the wedding!

Lillo Grey was surprised when she received an invitation to the wedding of a friend she'd not seen in years. Yet, she somehow thought it would be a good idea to attend. It isn't until after the ensuing dramas have receded that she fully appreciates how she needs Jess, Diana and Allie friendship as much as they need hers.

Diana, CEO is a no-nonsense and matter of fact woman. Jess is easily led, especially by her possessive family. Allie is a widow living with her in-laws and Lillo has issues she hopes no one will realise about until after they have left her haven at Lighthouse Beach. Somehow, these four unique women find a renewed perspective on their lives as they descend into the small town where Lillo sought refuge amongst people who have their own individual reasons to live there too.

While the focus is on Lillo and her guest, an abundance of colourful, supporting characters add a wonderful community spirit to the proceedings. They are a mix-matched bunch of people who invade the lives of the unsuspecting outsiders and slightly irk our heroine Lillo when their interference is too much to handle, even when it is heartfelt.

By the end of the novel, I was invested in all the characters. Whilst I appreciate it when the author writes a 'happy for now' ending; encouraging the reader to ponder about what happens next in the lives of the characters. There's an abundance of scope to unravel the loosely tied endings for a sequel. I sincerely hope Ms Noble will write more about Lillo as she goes off to pursue unfinished business and fulfil her potential and to know if Lighthouse Beach did change the lives of Jess, Allie and Diana for the better.

A heart-warming and somewhat humorous novel about the power of friendship. Written exquisitely, the overall feeling of this novel is positive and uplifting with waves of melancholy woven into the narrative. It's definitely a wonderful book to relax with on the beach or by a pool.

***arc generously received courtesy of William Morrow Paperbacks via Edelweiss+***

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Noble comes a heartrending and uplifting novel about friendship, love, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for our dreams.

What was supposed to be an idyllic wedding leads to an unexpected journey of self-discovery… 

When Lillo Gray pulls up to Kennebunkport’s most exclusive hotel wearing a borrowed dress and driving a borrowed VW van, she knows she’s made a big mistake. She’s not even sure why Jessica Parker invited her to her posh wedding. They haven’t seen each other since they were unhappy fourteen-year-old girls at fat camp. And now they’re from two completely different worlds. There’s no way Lillo fits in the rarefied circles Jessica travels in.

Jess isn’t sure she’s ready to go through with this wedding, but she’s been too busy making everyone else happy to think about what she wants. But when she and her two closest friends, Allie and Diana, along with Lillo, discover her fiancĂ© with his pants down in the hotel parking lot, she’s humiliated…and slightly relieved. In a rush to escape her crumbling life, Jess, Allie, and Diana pile into Lillo’s beat-up old van and head up the coast to Lighthouse Island. Once there, she hopes to figure out the next chapter in her life.

Nursing broken hearts and broken dreams, four lost women embark on a journey to find their way back into happiness with new love, friendship, and the healing power of Lighthouse Beach.

Cover Reveal: The Letter-Kitty's Story by Eliza J. Scott


The Letter – Kitty’s Story
Publication Date – 29th June 2018

Life is anything but peaceful in the chocolate-box pretty village of Lytell Stangdale, where life unravels, and hearts are broken. Full of heart-warming moments, this book with have you crying tears of joy, laughter and sadness.
Thirty-four-year-old Kitty Bennett is trapped in a loveless marriage to criminal barrister, Dan, who’s gradually isolated her from her family and friends. Until the day she (literally) bumps into her first love, the handsome and easy-going Ollie Cartwright – someone she’s done her best to avoid for as long as she can remember. Looking into Ollie’s eyes awakens feelings for him she thought she’d buried deep years ago, and he clearly feels the spark, too. As she walks away, Kitty can’t help but wonder what might have been…
Dan senses that his marriage is on shaky ground and knows he needs to win his wife round. He turns on the charm, skilfully using their two children, Lucas and Lily, as bargaining tools. But Kitty’s older brother, Jimby, and her childhood best-friends, Molly and Violet, have decided enough is enough. For years they’ve had to watch from afar as Kitty’s been browbeaten into an unrecognisable version of herself. They vow to make her see Dan for what he really is, but their attempts are no match for his finely-honed courtroom skills and, against her better judgement, Kitty agrees to give her husband one last chance. But, all-too-soon, a series of heart-breaking events and a shocking secret throw her life into turmoil…
Will Kitty stand by Dan, or will she be brave enough to take the leap and follow her heart to Ollie?

Author Bio – I live in a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with my husband, two daughters and two black Labradors. When I’m not writing, I can usually be found with my nose in a book/glued to my Kindle, or in my garden. I also enjoy bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off with a visit to a teashop where I can indulge in another two of my favourite things: tea and cake.

Blog: Eliza J Scott - elizajscott.com
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