**We were gifted an e-copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own**
A very belated Happy New Year to you all! It’s been a crazy start to 2021 so this is my first post of the year, but fear not I have plenty lined up so it won’t be the last. Today I have the pleasure to be part of the blog tour for Christie Barlow’s brand new release, The Lake House. This new offering is the latest in the Love Heart Lane Series all about the quaint Scottish village of Heartcross and of course the characterful community that live there. Christie is one of my favourite authors and The Lake House is one of my most anticipated reads for the year so I’m thrilled to be able to share my full review with you today and don’t forget to check out some of the other wonderful bloggers on the tour too.
About The Book
There’s a newcomer to the village of Heartcross and she’s never been more in need of a friend.
As the new waitress at the local bistro, The Lake House, Ella is ready to start afresh ––and that could mean there’s love on the horizon in the form of the gorgeous Roman, the local water taxi driver. Every day Roman is there to ferry Ella to the restaurant on the other side of the lake and every night he makes sure she gets home safe. But Roman has secrets of his own…
Can the Love Heart Lane community offer Ella a chance of a new life? Or will the ghosts of her past catch up with her?
Review
The last six months have been anything but easy for Ella. After tragically losing her parents she thought she had found love, but the person she thought she could count on turned out to be con-man. Having lost everything, including her business, Ella is at her lowest ebb when her good friend Callie offers a lifeline to leave the city behind and start again in the small Scottish village of Heartcross. With free accommodation staying at Callie’s and a job at the newly opened Lake House restaurant Ella feels she may be able to finally turn to tide of her luck.
Ella isn’t the only person fleeing their past for a new life in Heartcross and unfortunately Roman’s fresh start isn’t quite going to plan. His problems and secrets seem to have followed him and he is desperately trying to hold down his job driving the water taxi for the Lake House customers while dealing with his crumbling personal life.
The Lake House has been in Flynn’s family for years and with it’s glamourous, celeb filled history he was certain it’s relaunch would be a success. However, business is slow despite the thriving tourism in Heartcross and if things don’t change soon his vision for The Lake House will never become reality. Luckily for him new employee Ella arrives in the nick of time brimming with fresh ideas for getting customers through the door, but can she pull off an extravagant launch party with the help of Roman or will the pairs personal demons hold them back?
The Lake House is the fifth book in the Love Heart Lane Series and one which I have eagerly anticipating having absolutely adored the previous books. As with the others in the series there is no need to have read the previous instalments as each book features a different protagonist. However you do also get the chance to catch up with some of the other characters along the way which is fabulous too. For me I’m a stickler for reading books in order and I would highly recommend each and every one of them, in fact they just seem to get better with each new offering becoming my new favourite!
This series is all about community which is not only wonderful to read about, but also gives each book a feeling of coming home. It doesn’t matter how long it is since I have read one of the books Barlow’s beautiful writing transports me straight back into the heart of things within a couple of pages and I am hooked.
Despite being what I’d consider to be a quick read (probably because I couldn’t put it down!) the characters are fully rounded and feel so relatable and real. The interactions between the characters and the no holds barred depiction of their faults and problems just make them easily come to life in my imagination. Barlow writes such a varied array of characters that all have distinct personalities making it very difficult to choose a favourite!
I really enjoyed watching the transition Ella undergoes during this story as she journeys to find herself, realising the inner strength she possesses and that she is capable of much more than hiding under her duvet from the world. This whole story is full of hope, change and above all new beginnings, perfect for the start of the year when this book was released, but also a wonderful heart-warming, feel-good tale guaranteed to give your mood a lift anytime.
The Lake House is yet another triumph from Christie Barlow who has cemented her place firmly on my favourite authors list with this latest release. If you are looking for an easy to read, feel good contemporary with a whole load of friendship and a dash of romance thrown in then this is the book for you – in fact that goes for the whole of the Love Heart Lane Series.
About The Author
Christie Barlow is the author of ten bestselling romantic comedies including A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Clover Cottage. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn’t writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture. Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook
The Lake House is available to purchase now from Amazon*
Fraser’s Fun House 