#BookReview SUMMER OF HOPES AND DREAMS by SUE McDONAGH @ChocLituk

ABOUT THE BOOK

Can “Dozy Rosie” spice up her life and prove she’s not boring?

Rosie Bunting has spent her life caring for others, often at the expense of her own hopes and dreams. But when she overhears somebody describing her as “boring”, she decides it’s time for a change.

Little does she realise that the outdoor pursuits weekend brochure handed to her at the local Art Café will kick start a summer that will see her abseiling down a Welsh cliff face in “eye watering” leggings, rediscovering her artistic side and unexpectedly inheriting an old fire engine. It also involves meeting hunky outdoor instructor, Gareth Merwyn-Jones – although of course he’d never be interested in Dozy Rosie Bunting … would he?

One thing’s for certain: Rosie’s path to achieving her hopes and dreams might not be smooth, but it’s definitely not boring.

PUBLISHED BY CHOC LIT

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0953VZQN9?tag=smarturl-gb-21

Apple: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/summer-of-hopes-and-dreams/id1567909469?

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/summer-of-hopes-and-dreams

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sue_McDonagh_Summer_of_Hopes_and_Dreams?id=5-8xEAAAQBAJ

Nook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sue_McDonagh_Summer_of_Hopes_and_Dreams?id=5-8xEAAAQBAJ

MY REVIEW

All the feels – and more!! I loved the latest in the Art Cafe series – easily read as a standalone! – and it has yet more fabulous characters you take to your heart in the most wonderful of settings!

Rosie is the main focus of this story and I dare you not to want to be her best friend!! She’s the kind of woman who is always putting others first, without complaining, yet she’s forgotten just who she is. And when she overhears her own daughter calling her boring – shame on her!! – she throws caution to the wind and sets about finding herself and putting herself first for a change!

After a visit to the Art Cafe, she finds out about an outdoor pursuits weekend – what better way than doing something out of the ordinary and challenging yourself!! And while she’s there she starts a journal so she can chart her progress – I loved this aspect of the book and loved reading her entries! She’s more honest with a pen in her hand and seeing her thoughts on everything written down seems to make her more relaxed and feel in control!

She meets all kinds of different people on the weekend and I loved the variety and how that seemed to help with her confidence – the lovely instructor Gareth helped on that front too!! He was dealing with his own family issues after his marriage broke down.

Rosies’ ex is still on the scene too and sniffing around when there’s money to be had, so I loved watching how Rosie dealt with this new challenge. And how others helping her, made her happy again to be helping others with their own problems and finding solutions to make the future seem more ‘rosy’ for Rosie!! I’m sorry I couldn’t resist!!

A fabulously inspiring story!! Loved it!!

★★★★★

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#BookReview ESCAPE TO THE ART CAFE by SUE MCDONAGH #publicationday #EscapeToTheArtCafe

ABOUT THE BOOK

Heartbreak and cake at the Art Café …

It was meant to be the perfect romantic holiday. But then Flora Bexton’s boyfriend does the unthinkable, and she responds in the only logical way: she steals his motorbike and escapes for a holiday by herself on the Welsh coast.

Far from the lonely trip she imagined, Flora soon finds comfort at the friendly local Art Café where the legendary hot chocolate and cake help to ease her troubled mind. And when Aussie-Welsh lifeguard Jake Foley steps in just when Flora needs help the most, she realises that her ‘holiday’ feels more like home with every passing day …

PUBLISHED BY : https://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/escape-to-the-art-cafe/

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Art-Cafe-uplifting-page-turner-ebook/dp/B0872BX3WR/r

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/escape-to-the-art-cafe

Apple: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/escape-to-the-art-cafe/id1507978185?mt=11&app=itunes&at=11lNBs 

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/escape-to-the-art-cafe-sue-mcdonagh/1136855018?ean=2940162660330

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sue_McDonagh_Escape_to_the_Art_Cafe?id=WZfqDwAAQBAJ

MY REVIEW

Book 3 in the Art Cafe series introduces us to 2 totally new characters and wow!! What an introduction!! I love this series, and it delivers once more with a wonderful setting, and fabulous storylines to escape into – and a new swoonsome hunk to drool over in the shape of Jake!! Where do I get to meet blokes like these?! I need to move myself to Wales I think!

This book centres around Flora who finds herself in Wales at her parents holiday home and she’s got plenty to escape from after the ultimate betrayal. But she’s not so sweet and innocent herself as she’s stolen her boyfriends’ motorbike to escape on – that’ll teach him!! But it’s not the 30th birthday to remember as she finds herself alone and in trouble in the water – Jake to the rescue! He’s recently returned from Australia where he was a lifeguard and is staying with his grandparents in their hotel, which is in need of a bit of TLC.

The moment they meet there are sparks – who can blame Flora! – but she’s very wary, and you get the impression Jake is hiding some sadness too. A pair well matched with unresolved issues from their past plaguing their present!

As always, the community surrounding the Art Cafe are welcoming to the newbies amongst them and Flora finds herself settling in really well and even thinking of starting up her own hair dressing business. But disaster is never far away and once again the power of community is brought to the fore after a devastating storm and it helps cement certain feelings and brings unknown truths out which could scupper progress made.

What I love about this series is just how relatable the characters are. How they have to face up to dilemmas in their lives and really get to know themselves when their backs are up against the wall. This can easily be read as a stand alone but you’ll be wanting to go back to visit the others in the series once you read this! Wonderful!!

★★★★★

#BookReview Meet Me at the Art Cafe by Sue McDonagh #publicationday

About the book

Highly recommended. 
Would you take a chance on a bad boy with a leather jacket and a vintage motorbike? 
That’s the question single mum Jo Morris has to ask herself when she collides with local bike mechanic Ed Griffiths on a rainy Welsh hillside. Working at the Art Café, Jo hears the gossip and is all too aware of Ed’s reputation. 

But whilst he’s certainly no angel, there is something about Ed’s daredevil antics that Jo can’t ignore. And as she gets to know him better and watches the kind way he deals with her young son Liam, she begins to wonder – is there more to this ‘bad boy’ than meets the eye? 

Published by Choc Lit

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

iTunes

Kobo

Google Play

Nook

MY REVIEW

Back to the Art Cafe and it is just as wonderful as the first visit – check out Summer at the Art Cafe  if  you missed it! – and I just adored every aspect of this book! The setting, the characters, the predicaments they found themselves in… it just all worked to make for such a wonderful reading experience and I’m already hoping that there’ll be more visits to come in the future as the characters are people you want to check on every now and then to see how life is treating them!

In this book we follow Jo, who works at the Cafe with Lucy, and is a single mum to the rather adorable and very cheeky Liam!  ‘Out of the mouth of babes’ sums him up perfectly and his comments and quips had me laughing out loud many a time!  And Jo is one of those women who gets on with things and is rather partial to a bit of upcycling, and goes everywhere by bike! You soon find out why she’s so wary of travelling by car and as her past is revealed you can’t help but feel sympathy for her.

And one day she meets Ed, in not the most glamorous way, and is drawn to him immediately despite her concerns about his reputation in the local area.  Him and his motorbike are well known in the village as he and his family have been there for years, and as a attractive bloke he seems to have a ‘love em and leave em’ kind of attitude! But you soon find out there’s reasons for his attitude too, and it’s clear the pasts of Jo and Ed have shaped them and how they react to certain situations.

When Jo is in the right place at the right time to become a hero, it is only too clear that her and Ed are going to be spending more time together and I just loved their relationship, and the bond he builds with Liam too! Not many blokes are willing to take on a child but he seems to relish the role as a surrogate dad!

I just loved every minute spent with Jo, Ed and Liam and despite the obstacles they found themselves facing there always seemed to be time to enjoy life – and a special word for Jo’s neighbour Beryl!  She certainly knows how to enjoy life and she’s another character you can’t help but adore!

Fabulous!!

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#CoverReveal Meet Me at the Art Cafe by Sue McDonagh @ChocLituk

COVER REVEAL

Hello!! Another exciting cover reveal to share with you all today – the team at Choc Lit are helping to brighten up some dull Winter days with the news of forthcoming gorgeous book releases so I hope you’ll love seeing and hearing about this one as much as I am! And what makes it even more gorgeous is that Sue herself helped design this cover as she is a watercolour artist – and when you see the cover you’ll be able to see that influence!

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Would you take a chance on a bad boy with a leather jacket and a vintage motorbike?

That’s the question single mum Jo Morris has to ask herself when she collides with local bike mechanic Ed Griffiths on a rainy Welsh hillside. Working at the Art Cafe, Jo hears the gossip and is all too aware of Ed’s reputation.

But whilst he’s certainly no angel, there is something about Ed’s daredevil antics that Jo can’t ignore. And as she gets to know him better and watches the kind way he deals with her young son Liam, she begins to wonder – is there more to this ‘bad boy’ than meets the eye?

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Meet Me at the Art Cafe is published on 26th March by Choc Lit and will be available to purchase as an eBook on all platforms, as well as in audio.

And now is the time for me to share this stunner with you all….

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What do you think?! I’m already picturing myself sitting at that table! Cannot wait to read this one, and hope you feel the same way!

#BookReview Summer at the Art Cafe by Sue McDonagh #PublicationDay

From watercolours and cupcakes to leather jackets and freedom …
If you won a gorgeous purple motorbike, and your domineering husband said you were too fat for leathers and should sell it, would you do as you were told – or learn to ride it in secret?

Artist and café owner Lucy Daumier intends to do just that – but learning to ride is far from easy, especially under the critical eye of prickly motorcycle instructor, Ash Connor.

But gradually Lucy gets the hang of it, and in the process re-discovers the girl she used to be. So starts an exciting summer of new friendships and fun – as well as a realisation that there is more to Ash than meets the eye when she is introduced to his seven-year-old daughter, Daisy.

But can Lucy’s new-found happiness last when a spiteful family member wants to see her fail? 

Publisher – Choc Lit

Out now!!

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

iBooks

Kobo

Google

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MY REVIEW

Imagine winning your dream motorbike – despite never having learnt to ride one!! That is exactly what happens to Lucy, who is the owner of the Art Cafe. She has always loved motorbikes but never managed to achieve her dream to own and ride one, until now! As soon as she wins the bike she books lessons and is determined to grab this opportunity before it passes by. Some of the people in her life though aren’t best pleased with her choice, especially Gerry her other half, who is a repulsive and nasty piece of work!! Forever putting her down, belittling her hopes and dreams all under the guise of claiming to love her and is sure this ambition to ride is just a mid life crisis.

But under the careful watch and support of Ash, her bike tutor, she finds a strength inside of her to go for it and blossoms as a person as she does! And this doesn’t go unnoticed – both by Gerry and by Ash! He’s a single dad to the charmingly delightful Daisy, and they all soon find themselves becoming more involved with each other on a day to day basis.

I loved the transformation Lucy goes through in this book! The confidence that doing something that she’s always dreamt of doing does for her is amazing! I found it to be such an enjoyable and inspiring book full of fabulous characters and I just hope we get to visit them all again in the future!!

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Summer at the Art Cafe by Sue McDonagh #CoverReveal #ChocLit

COVER REVEAL

Hello all!  An absolute treat in store for you today with yet another stunner of a cover from the wonderful team at Choc Lit ready for you to enjoy ahead of the May release!! Here’s a bit more about the book before the big reveal….

Summer at the Art Cafe by Sue McDonagh

From watercolours and cupcakes to leather jackets and freedom …  

 

If you won a gorgeous purple motorbike, and your domineering husband said you were too fat for leathers and should sell it, would you do as you were told – or learn to ride it in secret? 

 

Artist and cafe owner Lucy Daumier intends to do just that – but learning to ride is far from easy, especially under the critical eye of prickly motorcycle instructor, Ash Connor.  

 

But gradually she gets the hang of it, and in the process re-discovers the girl she used to be. So starts an exciting summer of new friendship and fun – as well as a realisation that there is more to Ash than meets the eye when she is introduced to his seven-year-old daughter, Daisy.  

 

But can Lucy’s new-found happiness last when a spiteful family member wants to see her fail?  

 

Summer at the Art Cafe is published on 15th May and will be available to purchase as an eBook on all platforms.  

So without further ado, here’s your first look at the beautiful cover….get ready to swoon!

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