Today it’s time for something new, so I’m doing a promo for ‘Chickens Eat Pasta, by Clare Pedrick

Synopsis

Chickens Eat Pasta: Escape to Umbria

Not just another romance, but a story of escapism, coincidences, friendship, luck and most of all… love.

Chickens Eat Pasta is the tale of how a young Englishwoman starts a new life after watching a video showing a chicken eating spaghetti in a mediaeval hill village in central Italy. 

“Here I was, 26 years old, alone and numb with boredom at the prospect of a future which until recently had seemed to be just what I wanted.”

Unlike some recent bestsellers, this is not simply an account of a foreigner’s move to Italy, but a love story written from the unusual perspective of both within and outside of the story. As events unfold, the strong storyline carries with it a rich portrayal of Italian life from the inside, with a supporting cast of memorable characters. Along the way, the book explores and captures the warmth and colour of Italy, as well as some of the cultural differences – between England and Italy, but also between regional Italian lifestyles and behaviour. It is a story with a happy ending. The author and her husband are still married, with three children, who love the old house on the hill (now much restored) almost as much as she does. 

Chickens Eat Pasta is Clare’s autobiography, and ultimately a love story – with the house itself and with the man that Clare met there and went on to marry. If you yearn for a happy ending, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a story that proves anything is possible if you only try.

Purchase Links 

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chickens-Eat-Pasta-Escape-Umbria-ebook/dp/B012GZXOPY

US – https://www.amazon.com/Chickens-Eat-Pasta-Escape-Umbria-ebook/dp/B012GZXOPY

UK Audiobook  – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chickens-Eat-Pasta/dp/B07BYLZX3X

US Audiobook – https://www.amazon.com/Chickens-Eat-Pasta/dp/B07CBJRG9C

About the author

Clare Pedrick is a British journalist who studied Italian at Cambridge University before becoming a reporter. She went on to work as the Rome correspondent for the Washington Post and as European Editor of an international features agency. She still lives in Italy with her husband, whom she met in the village where she bought her house.

You can follow Clare on her Facebook Book Page, her own Facebook page and on Twitter.

Read her blog about life in Umbria here

Spoiler -alert: I loved it!

Synposis

Marigold Doyle’s life was perfect, with a successful career and wonderful marriage. But when her husband, Julian, passes away, her life is thrown into turmoil as she discovers a trail of secrets Julian was hiding in the months prior to his death. Struggling with her grief, she knows she needs to find out Julian’s actions to help her move on. 

Finn Schröder, a former police officer and now private security consultant, is focused on an uncomplicated, unattached life and growing his business. He agrees to help Marigold find out the truth about Julian, but as they become closer, he realises his feelings for her may be developing beyond simply professional. 

As Marigold and Finn work through the web of Julian’s deception, will they learn to face the reality that things aren’t always exactly as they seem?

My review

As genre this book is classified as ‘Romance’. But if you read the synopsis, you’ll know it’s more than just a romantic story.

There is mystery, drama, and a few ‘what on earth???’ moments.

After Marigold loses her husband after a heart attack, she discovers that he had secrets. And big ones, like having leased an appartment nobody knew about.

So she asks Finn, a former police officer, to investigate this further and find out why her husband had an appartment. Was he cheating on her? And what else was hidden?

Initially Marigold looked like a real snob to me. When she married her husband, Julian (the husband for being clear 😀) was just a man who matched all her needs. He was smart, good looking, ambitious, had a good job. Sure, she loved him, but did she love him for all the superficial things or for who he really was?

And how Marigold acted, well, it screamed ‘spoiled brat’ all over the place.

But then I got into the story. And more I was reading, more I was starting to feel sorry and even sympathy for Marigold.

This book was proof that there is always more than sees the eye. You get to see another side of Marigold, and you learn that she’s just like every other woman, with her own doubts and insecurities.

But luckily for Marigold, she can rely on Finn. What starts as a work relations evolves to more and they even start to build a nice frienship. They both learn that they can trust each other.

What was refreshing, was that for the real romance, you had to be very patient. And although sometimes it was frustrating (kiss the guy already!!!) it felt right for the story.

Nobody rushed into a new story, but everybody takes time to understand what their feelings are. Is it love? Is it just lust? Or need to just have anybody close, no matter who it is?

The story is also so easily written, that you cannot just put it away. I started on a lazy day and only a few days later, I finished it.

If it isn’t clear, I really enjoyed this book, and as always when you like a book, I was sad when I reached those final words, ‘The End’…

As this was the first book that I read from this author, it really got me interested in her other books.

So dear Megan Mayfair, you’ve got a new fan!

Today it’s time for anothr review, and I just loved this book!

Synopsis

When successful jewellery designer Isla Ashton unexpectedly inherits her eccentric Aunt Kate’s Caribbean island, she is obligated to return to the place she associates with heartache and regret. To where she grew up and fell in love with her childhood friend, Leo Fernandez. Fully intent on selling the island and finally putting the past behind her, Isla is soon compelled to put together the pieces of what really happened on a fateful night ten-years before. She begins to believe that in going to prison, Leo hadn’t only been shielding her from the same fate. She also starts to suspect that her late Aunt hadn’t been entirely honest in sending her away under the guise of recriminations. Who had they both been protecting and why?

My review

Have you ever read a story where your first thoughts are: ‘Oh, seems like a nice story, but not extremely good’?

Well, those were my thoughts when I started this book. I chose to read this book as a nice opportunity to pass some time. I didn’t exactly have high expectations of it. Just a book like there are written a zillion of this kind.

But boy, was I wrong…

As already said, I wasn’t expecting very much of this story, but once I started reading in it, I just couldn’t stop.

One of the things that made me continue reading, was that you learned more about the past reading the diaries of Kate, who, after her death, left everyting to her goddaughter Isla.

Isla inherited an actual island, and also a lot of jewellery. But sadly, Isla left the island many many years ago after an incident when she was only 16 years old. And by leaving, she also left the boy behind she truly loved, Leo, after he betrayed her by doing illegal activities.

So you start reading the present, you get to learn Isla. She’s an independent woman, having her own business in creating jewellery.

Through flashbacks you get to know Isla even better. What happened at the island causing her to leave everything behind?

And then Isla finds the diaries Kate left behind. Luckily for the readers, we can join Isla reading them, having even more flashbacks, from Kate herself.

Devastating truths come out, and Isla finds to understand Kate better as she knows the reasons now why Kate did what she had to.

But inheritating an island, brings also a lot of responsibility that Isla isn’t ready to face, and there is Leo… is it all really over?

You get to know the characters on such a personal level that I found it hard to put the book away and carry on with real life.

So somehow I found myself also on an island, being drawn into this story and not wanting to stop.

And before I knew, I reached the end… of course a book must come to an end eventually, but honestly, I wouldn’t have mind if there would have been a few more chapters!

Time again for another review of a great book!

Synopsis

She wasn’t looking for love…

When Lucie Kennington flees the bright lights of London for the quiet Derbyshire countryside, she’s shocked to discover that the heir to the Bluebell Castle estate is far from the wizened employer she expected.

In fact, Arthur Ludworth might just be the most handsome man Lucie’s ever laid eyes on – and a terrible distraction! Sowhen she stumbles across a legendary painting feared lost for centuries, she can’t believe her luck – perhaps this is the hidden treasure to save Arthur and his family from ruin?

But it’s only a matter of time before Lucie’s past catches up with her and by then it’s too late, she’s falling for him…

My review

I am going to be brutally honest… when I started reading this book, I was kind of panicking…

Normally it takes me a couple of weeks to finish a book, being a working person, and not always having time to read chapter after chapter after chapter.

And thus receiving the book so close to the deadline, totally freaked me out…

I already saw myself neglecting work, family etc. just to finish the book on time and having also a small fear that I wouldn’t really enjoy this book.

But how wrong can someone be?

I started reading it, and before I knew, I read more than I initially wanted.

I

Just

Couldn’t

Put

The

Book

Away!!!

Every free minute I found, I continued reading as I had the need to know what going to happen next.

It’s the most common of lovestories, man meets woman, mutual attraction, trying to resist, giving in but then how to cope with secrets?

Is it because it all takes place in a castle? Or because there is a search for a hidden treasure? Or because I understand Lucie’s passion for art?

All of the above are plausible reasons that made this different than other more cliché stories.

It dragged me into it, I almost wanted to go over Bluebell Castle myself and submerge in that great fantasy…

Lucie is so recognizable, with her insecurities. And Arthur… oooh Arthur, how I wished you were actually a real man. But then of course, falling for me, instead of Lucie 😂.

So yes, I was very happy I liked the story so much that I had no problems with the deadline. But I was also sad, as I finished it so quickly…

But no worries for me, as I know that the next book of Bluebell Castle will be there (hopefully very soon!) so I can continue with living in that great castle, with all those amazing people!

Today I’m reviewing this delightful book!

Synopsis

A spy on a mission…Until he meets this heiress!

Miss Theodora Cranford’s learned to keep her impetuous nature locked away. She won’t be deceived by another man who can’t see past her fortune. She wants an honourable, sensible sort – not a self-assured scoundrel like her new neighbour, Lord Gray. Although she’s sure there’s more to him than meets the eye… But after that first captivating kiss, she’s certainly left wanting more!

My review

It’s been a while since I read a historical romance. So having a chance to submerge myself again in the past, I took it.

At first I had some difficulties into focusing on the story. I cannot really point out what the problem was. Was I in a too stressful situation so that even reading wasn’t relaxing enough anymore? I don’t know.

What I do know, is that after all the personal issues were kind of getting solved, suddenly I started reading and kept reading like I always did.

And I enjoyed reading the story!

Thea is living with her uncle and aunt, but is very suspicious when it comes to men. As she is going to inherit a large amount of money, she finds it hard to trust men as she doesn’t know if they like her for being her, or her money.

And then she meets her new neighbour, Lord Gray. Being suspicious as usual, Thea keeps her distance, but slowly they get to know each other better. But Lord Gray has his own secrets he’s not willing to share…

The story starts rather slowly, a bit slower than I am used to. But if you are having the same feeling as I did and want to stop, just don’t.

Hang in there, keep on reading!

After you get to know all the characters, everything evolves at a quicker pace, and you’ll just get going on, not wanting to stop.

Both Thea and Gray their feelings change during the story and I found myself cheering for the both of them. And I was hoping the kept secrets wouldn’t be insurmountable.

It was nice to read how Thea and Gray started from dislike, to feeling shy around each other. And then after agreeing of being friends, admitting that friendship is not what they both want.

Also nice to read was, that you don’t know what is really going on with the side characters. Is Thea’s uncle really into illegal affairs? And who else is an accomplice?

Or is there someone else trying to put the blame on an innocent person?

And then the comical characters! Harriet seems like a great friend, very open and always in for the not so subtle jokes!

And Trefor the dog! Just adorable!!!

On a more personal note, being a Jane Austen fan, I just loved the references to Pride & Prejudice!

So a lot to like! I even was kind of sad when I reached the end…

Hi over there!

It’s time again for a review, this time a good book of Rosie Travers!

Synopsis

Career girl Becca Gates’ organised life is thrown into chaos when her mother, romantic novelist Pearl, announces her surprise engagement to Jack, a man she has only just met. 

Worse news follows when Pearl tells Becca she intends to leave London, quit writing, and retire to her new fiancé’s idyllic waterside home on the south coast. Becca is determined to prevent Pearl from making a disastrous mistake, but when she at arrives at Rivermede, more shocks await when she stumbles upon a familiar yet unwelcome face from her past.

As Pearl embraces her new life amongst the local sailing fraternity, Becca receives a grim warning that all is not as calm as it seems at picturesque Rivermede, and if she wants to keep her family safe, she should keep them away. 

But why should Becca trust the man who has betrayed her before, the man who broke her heart, the man who thinks he knows all her secrets?

My review

Normally I’m not really into suspense stories, but reading the synopsis I wanted to know more. So I went ahead and in the end I was glad I gave this story a shot.

The story starts with a bang… Becca’s mother decided to marry a man she met on a cruise and sells her house and stops writing books.

This comes to a shock to Becca, as she not only sees her home being sold, but also her job coming to an end, as she helps her mother being a writer.

So she decides to meet her stepfamily and in the meanwhile she hopes she can stop the wedding.

But soon she disregards the plan, as she learns that there are a lot of strange things going on. And for some strange twist of destiny, she encounters the man who broke her heart 15 years ago. What is he doing at Rivermede?

As you can see, a lot of things are happening. During my reading, my fear was that it would be all too confusing and I would mix up everything and everyone.

But luckily Rosie Travers knows how to write, and she knows how to keep you intrigued.

The more you get into the story the more everything falls into place.

Fact is that the romance makes the story lighter and that makes it a better story.

This is a perfect mix between suspense and romance.

There js a nice switch between the intrigues and the lighter parts, making sure that you have the time to take a breath.

I really enjoyed this story and found it very hard to put the book away. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And that’s always a good sign, if you can’t stop reading, right?

Only thing that I didn’t really like, was the epilogue… there is the relevation of one last secret. But for me this one was superfluous. For me personally, the perfect closure would be without the epilogue. But this is my own opinion, so if you disagree with me, I can understand it.

But generally speaking, this a good story that just begged for your attention. I found it very hard to stop and go on with real life!

It’s a busy busy reviewing month for me, so here is my next review! I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Synopsis

One night only. 
Just think of the possibilities…

The second she sees Mr Oh-So-Delicious, Jennifer Hayes knows she needs one night of crazy. No names, no strings, no rules. Except that Jennifer’s naughty one-nighter is actually Marcus Wright—her new business partner! Now they’re mixing business with all kinds of pleasure. But when it comes to falling in love her sexy Mr Wright is either Mr Wrong or the best mistake of her life…

My review

To be truly honest, I didn’t have very high expactations.

We are all aware of the prejudice regarding Harlequin books. No worries, I’m not judging the fans of such books, but I think I won’t upset anyone if I say it’s generally known that such books cannot be classified under the genre of ‘classic literature’.

That said, bye bye with the not so positive comments.

This book is the perfect book to read if you just want to sit back and enjoy. You know what to expect (a perk of reading a Harlequin 😂) and the writer delivered just that!

The story has the ‘warning’ of having that little bit ‘more’, as having some explicit scenes written in it. But not in a disturbing way. It fits in the story and makes you understand the characters!

You see the evolution in Marcus and Jennifer, you see and understand the struggle as they are facing their feelings and do not know how they can have a solid relationship at work and resist the mutual attraction.

And then there are the troubles in their families… a lot of different things are happening and they just don’t know how to make everything work.

But taking one step at the step and facing their own feelings, makes it possible to put all the pieces of the puzzle at their place.

One tiny tiny point of annoyance from my side was the use of the word ‘tummy’… as we are talking about adult people, I’m sure that in the English dictionary there are plenty of synonyms for it. But that’s my opinion, so if you’re not bothered by it at all, it’ll be my problem and not yours 😃

So just sit back, relax and enjoy this story, because isn’t it nice to read a story where you don’t have to keep in mind who was who and trying to keep track of everything?

Today it’s time for a new review!

Synopsis

Don’t miss the new delightfully uplifting book from the author of A Recipe for Disaster!

A second chance at love…

When globe-trotting Emmy first fell for first-aider William on a freezing New Year’s Eve, she really believed that their love would go the distance.

But when she returns to Australia, her letters start to go unanswered and her emails bounce back unread, Emmy decides it’s time to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and start afresh in London.

So she’s shocked when William walks in on her very first day at her new job! Even worse, he’s hotter than ever. But why did he disappear for so long? What has he been hiding? And could this really be their second chance at falling in love…? 

Perfect for fans of Carole Mathews, Mhairi McFarlane and Carrie Hope Fletcher.

My review

What a lovely story to read!

But let’s start with the beginning, as I was facing a ‘reading block’, as I really couldn’t read a book for a whole week.

What’s a week in a lifetime? But for me, it’s like hell freezing over…

So slowly I started reading this book, being mentally prepared for only reading a few pages.

And then, before I knew, I reached the end.

So it’s pretty obvious I enjoyed reading this book.

It starts as a holiday fling between Emmy and William. They start writing letters (yes actual letters 😀 ) but all of the sudden, William stops replying…

And Emmy learns to cope with her heart break, and even falls in love again.

Taking the next step,in their life, Emmy and her boyfriend decide to move from Australia to London.

And then Emmy realises that William of all people is a doctor at her new job!

This was a really really really really nice book to read. It has all the drama you expect in a romantic story. So it’s not all puppies and sunshine.

But it’s the drama that kept me reading. Why is William being such an a**hole when they first meet again?

And what will happen with Emmy her relationship?

Will all secrets be discovered?

And will there be place for forgiveness?

All the above are sufficient reasons for liking the whole story. But it’s the easy writing and the fact that you can relate to everything that made me love it!

I can go on forever finding reasons to persuade you to read this book, but I think that if I tell you,that I finished it in only a few days (keeping in mind that I have to work 8 hours a day) you have a pretty good idea what my opinion is!