Review: 'A Leap of Faith' by Trisha Ashley (2016)

Sappho Jones stopped counting birthdays when she reached 30 but, even with her hazy grip on mathematics, she realizes that she's on the slippery slope to the big four-oh! With the thought suddenly lodged in her mind that she's a mere cat's whisker away from becoming a single eccentric female living in a country cottage in Wales, she has the urge to do something dramatic before it's too late. The trouble is, as an adventurous woman of a certain age, Sappho's pretty much been there, done that, got the T-shirt. In fact, the only thing she hasn't tried is motherhood. And with sexy potter Nye on hand as a potential daddy—or at least donor—is it time for her to consider the biggest leap of all? It's either that or buy a cat…
I was quite surprised when I found an unexpected review copy of Trisha Ashley's 'A Leap of Faith' on my doorstep quite a few weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, book post is one of the best things there is, but I hadn't heard or read anything about this particular release, so was pleasantly surprised by it, especially since it is set in the Gower in Wales, a place where I spent quite some time myself. In the past I've read 'Wish Upon a Star' and 'Creature Comforts' (click here to read my review), which I both really enjoyed, and I looked forward to reading more of Trisha's work and making a fictional trip to the lovely Gower!
Thirty-nine-year-old Sappho Jones knows she can't really complain about her life. She's made a career of writing fantasy novels, has a lovely cottage in the Gower in Wales to call her own, good friends around her... She just misses a bit of romance and, with her biological clock suddenly ticking louder than ever, a baby or two. While helping her close friends Mu and Miranda with the issues they are currently facing and hiding from her slightly stalkerish ex-boyfriend Dave, Sappho continues to bump into local potter Nye; a handsome single man who lives in the Gower and definitely makes Sappho feel all the good things. But is Sappho sure this is what she wants for herself and is there even a slight chance that Nye would be up for it...?
I've had the pleasure of reading a few of Trisha Ashley's other novels before starting 'A Leap of Faith' and she's definitely an author whose books I pick up without reading the blurb; I already know it will most likely turn out to be a read I will enjoy, and luckily that was also the case with this particular title. Even though Sappho is quite the main character, she made me laugh and I was curious to learn more about her. As readers we are also quickly introduced to Sappho's friends Mu and Miranda, and part of the storyline is also focused on them and some of these issues they are dealing with, which resulted in an entertaining storyline with lots of different things going on.
What really made this novel quite special to me personally is the setting. My grandparents used to live in the Gower, in Rhossili, and I spent a lot of my summers there. It's still one of my most favourite places in the world and it was just lovely to read a book that's actually set in that place. Trisha Ashley has her own unique writing style, which is unlike anyone else's, and while it does always take me a bit of time to get used to, I once again really enjoyed it. While I wouldn't say 'A Leap of Faith' is my favourite Trisha Ashley novel, it's definitely a fun and enjoyable read, and the setting, for me, turns this into a read I most likely won't forget about anytime soon.

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: 'Creature Comforts' by Trisha Ashley (2015)

Izzy has broken off her engagement to her feckless fiancée Kieran and returned to her childhood home – the sleepy village of Halfhidden.
She soon realizes that life in the village is anything but peaceful – for one thing she’s living with her mad aunt Debo and her pack of dogs, and for another, Izzy has a lot of unanswered questions.
When she was a teenager, Izzy was involved in a terrible accident, involving various inhabitants of Halfhidden. As she sets out to discover what actually happened on the night of the accident, she realizes that her painful past is actually standing in the way of her future happiness. So when a handsome stranger comes to Halfhidden will she let love back into her life?
Today I’m really excited to be part of the blog tour for Trisha Ashley’s latest novel, ‘Creature Comforts’ (what a gorgeous cover!), which was released by Avon on the 26th of February 2015. I got the chance to be introduced to Trisha’s work last year when I read her novels ‘Chocolate Wishes’ and ‘Wish Upon a Star’ (click here to read my review). I instantly loved her writing style, specifically her wonderful scene setting, usually in cosy English villages, and looked forward to checking out more of her work in the future. So, I was really happy when I was asked to be part of this blog tour and couldn’t say ‘yes’ quickly enough! Be sure to also scroll down for a special extract from the novel!
Izzy Dane has decided to break off her engagement to her fiancé Kieran, and return to the small English village she grew up in, Halfhidden. When she was just sixteen years old, Izzy was involved in a horrible car accident together with a few other teens from the village. Due to a serious head injury and memory loss, Izzy has never managed to find out what exactly happened that night and it’s something that is still haunting her. Now she’s back in Halfhidden, she wants to question everyone who was involved to finally discover the truth. However, not everyone is willing to bring back the memories of that night. At the same time, Izzy has a lot of other things to deal with, such as the start-up of her own clothing business, getting back into touch with old friends, and getting to know the new handsome stranger who has recently moved to the village…    
Once again, a wonderful novel by Trisha Ashley! ‘Creature Comforts’ has a captivating storyline, a gorgeous scene setting and a colourful cast of characters to keep readers thoroughly entertained for a few hours. It didn’t long for me to warm to the main protagonist, Izzy Dane, who has returned to her home village of Halfhidden to find answers to something that happened to her when she was a teenager. Next to Izzy, there are quite a number of characters in the novel; I have to admit all the different names that were introduced were a bit daunting to me at first, but as the story progressed I managed to connect all the different names and got to know all the characters. All of them are quite different from one another but really add something to the story, such as Izzy’s former best friends Cameron and Lulu, Izzy’s aunt Debo, handsome newcomer Rufus, and the big loveable dog Babybelle, whom I couldn’t help but develop a soft spot for!
The author’s writing style is incredibly easy to fall into; it’s well-paced and flows really well. Next to that, Trisha Ashley’s scene setting skills are fabulous which once again comes forward in her descriptions of the almost enchanting village of Halfhidden. I could easily imagine all the pretty houses and shops and wouldn’t mind living in a place just like it! Also typical for this author are the delicious recipes at the back of the book, which are definitely worth giving a try. Overall, ‘Creature Comforts’ is a warm, delightful, well-written story that had me captivated from start to finish; perfect for a rainy afternoon on the couch with a large cup of tea or a sunny Spring day in the garden!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Exclusive extract from 'Creature Comforts'!

Lulu had been living in France for years, in an increasingly abusive relationship with an  older  man  called  Guy, who’d turned  out  to be  an alcoholic –  and  since he  had his own vineyard, that gave him rather a lot of scope. He hadn’t been physically abusive to her, but instead sapped spirit and self-confidence over the years with the drip, drip, drip of criticism. Cameron and I had both worried about her, but there wasn’t a lot we could do.

She efficiently ran the self-catering holiday gîtes and B&B rooms in the small manor and outbuildings of the estate, while Guy occupied himself with the making and consumption of wine. I’d visited only once and, on the surface, he’d been jovial, charming and welcoming ... though since Lulu, Cam and I emailed each other most days, I knew that he was jealous of any other men who might show an interest in her.

Cameron went out there every summer to teach watercolours at their annual artists’ week, and Guy tolerated his presence because he was under the misguided impression he was gay!

Then, at the end of the last summer school, Guy had been off on a bender and Lulu had finally snapped, packed a bag, grabbed her passport and left with Cam.

Now she was living in a static caravan in the small paddock that had once been occupied by her pony, Conker, behind the Screaming Skull Hotel in Halfhidden, and trying to expand the Haunted Weekend breaks set up by her parents into week-long Haunted Holidays.

‘I need you,’ she’d told me during our last brief phone call. ‘My brother, Bruce, and his wife, Kate, have taken over the pub and restaurant, leaving Mum and Dad to concentrate on the hotel side, and I’m sure they only handed over the management of the Haunted Weekends to give me a role. So my Haunted Holidays simply have to be a success.  I need way more ghostly goings-on and you have a better imagination than I do.’

‘Why don’t you ask Cam’s grandfather, Jonas?’ I’d suggested. ‘He told me all kinds of old legends and stories when I was little, so I’m sure he could come up with some ideas – especially if it brings more visitors to the Lady Spring, too. In fact,’ I’d added, ‘why not call a meeting and get other people from the village on board? This could bring visitors to the whole valley, not just the pub.’

‘Great idea,’ she’d enthused. ‘See, I said you have lots of imagination!’

Now she was going to do just that, holding the first meeting on Tuesday evening – so if Kieran and I had the almighty falling-out tomorrow that I suspected was on the cards, I’d be back in time for it.

‘I’m so looking forward to seeing you again,’ Lulu had said. ‘Do you know, it’s been nearly four years? And Cam hasn’t seen you for even longer. It’s lovely that Cam has moved back here too, but it’s not the same when it isn’t the three of us.’

‘No, you’re right,’ I’d agreed, and then suddenly I’d longed even more to be at Halfhidden again, that Shangri-La of my childhood. It was pulling me back and, despite what had happened in the past, it would always be the place where I felt I truly belonged.

I got off the plane in much the same sticky and dishevelled state I’d  got onto it, though at  least  I’d sent most of my heavy luggage on to Halfhidden and only had one suitcase with me.

Kieran’s father was meeting me, which made me feel a little awkward, anticipating the next day’s full and frank discussion. I wasn’t sure what would happen after that, except I’d be going straight home, leaving the ball in Kieran’s court.

There had been no getting out of it, though: Douglas had to be in London for some meeting or seminar the day before, and had stayed up to have lunch with friends before heading home, and he’d insisted on collecting me from Heathrow on his way back to Oxford.

‘Rough journey?’ he said, after failing to recognise me until I went right up to him. This lack of tact only hardened my resolve as we set off towards Oxford, and since I was thinking ahead to what I was going to say to him and Miranda when  we  arrived, it  was  a  while  before  I  noticed  he  was driving very fast ... and  also, unless he’d taken to using whisky as an aftershave, he’d been drinking.

And  on  that  very  thought,  even  though  we  were  just approaching a sharp bend, Douglas recklessly swung out to overtake a lorry – straight into the path of a small blue car coming the other way.

There wasn’t enough room to get past and Douglas jammed on the brakes, jerking me sharply forward ... Then the weirdest thing happened. It was as if, for just a second, the fabric of time ripped open and I fell through, right into the Range Rover on the night Harry Salcombe died.

Then, equally suddenly, I was catapulted out again, into a gentle, familiar bright light, filled by a soft susurration of wings and a hint of celestial music...

I found I was now hovering above the car, which had spun right round and was facing back the way we’d come, while the small blue one was in a ditch. I could see myself sitting like a statue in the passenger seat, eyes wide with shock, and hear the thin thread of Douglas’s voice, as if through water. 

‘Come on, Izzy, be quick – change places with me!’ he demanded, pulling at my arm urgently, as if he could drag me across into the driver’s seat. ‘Izzy, come on, I’ll lose my licence,’ he snapped. ‘Pull yourself together, you’re not hurt.’

Then he sharply slapped my face and instantly I was back in my body and gasping with shock, partly at the blow and partly from once again being wrenched back from Heaven.

Blog Tour: 'A Piece of Cake' by Trisha Ashley

Professional cake-maker Kate doesn’t have time for a man in her life, especially a boorish, sports-mad one like Wes. He’s definitely not her type.

But at her best friends wedding, when one crisis follows another, Kate begins to wonder whether she’s misjudged Wes.

Can love be the sweetest thing of all?

A warm, witty and romantic short story from Sunday Times top 5 best-selling author Trisha Ashley.

I’m really excited to be part of a rather yummy and special blog tour today! On the 28th of August a special e-book short story written by Trisha Ashley was released titled ‘A Piece of Cake.’ At the end of last year I got the chance to read and review Trisha Ashley’s novel ‘Wish Upon a Star’ which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I couldn’t wait to check out this new short story. I also have a delicious recipe from Trisha herself to share with all of you today, so be sure to check that out for some well-deserved weekend treats!

Kate is a professional cake-maker who is completely focused on her work, which means she doesn’t have the time to find a boyfriend. When she is asked by her best friend Laura to make the cake for her wedding, she has no idea Laura wants to set Kate up with her groom’s best man, Wes. However, Wes and Kate already know one another and Kate is convinced their different lifestyles do not mix, especially since Wes is a famous footballer who loves to party. But at Laura’s wedding, Kate can’t help but bump into Wes and she starts to doubt whether she should give him another chance... 

This short story is a wonderful treat which is perfect to be read in just one sitting. Just like Trisha Ashley’s books, the story is well-written and captivating, and has a lot of yummy cakes and delicious treats in it.  I really liked the friendship between Kate and Laura, and the sparks between Kate and Wes were definitely there! I would really like to see a full-length novel starring these characters, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that. ‘A Piece of Cake’ is a quick read, a warm and yummy story to enjoy when you have a few extra minutes! 

Rating:

9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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A special recipe from Trisha Ashley!
Chocolate Blancmange Rabbit Recipe: Trisha Ashley
I have one of those lovely Victorian glass rabbit-shaped jelly moulds, but the plastic ones do just as well. 
      You could use a packet of instant chocolate blancmange mix, but it’s very easy to make your own, and for a pint you need:
1 pint of milk 4 level tablespoons of cornflour 3 level tablespoons of sugar 1 level tablespoon of cocoa powder.
Method:
1) Blend the cornflour into a paste with a little bit of the milk, add the cocoa powder and stir well.
2) Bring the rest of the milk to the boil, and then pour it slowly onto the cornflour mixture, stirring or whisking all the time.
3) Return the mixture to the pan and bring to the boil, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens, which it does quite quickly.
4) Cook for a couple more minutes and then remove from the heat and stir in the sugar.  (This is all stirring stuff.)
5) Dampen the rabbit mould and pour in the mixture, tapping the sides to remove air bubbles.
6) When cool, put in the fridge overnight.
7) To turn out, gently pull back the blancmange from the edges of the mould with your fingertips to break the seal.  Put a plate on top, then invert.
As well as at Easter, this pale brown, trembling rabbit goes down very well at children's birthday parties.  If you have an Alice in Wonderland party, you can omit the cocoa powder to make a white rabbit, but use vanilla-flavoured sugar.
      I always say, there's nothing like a Mad Hatter's teaparty…

Thanks for sharing, Trisha!

Weekly Feature - Once Upon a Story...

 'Once Upon a Story' is a weekly feature in which we go back in time and focus on a specific novel that was released in the same month we're in right now (in this case April), but a few years back! It can be a women's fiction classic from the 1990's or perhaps a great chick lit read from 2011. I thought it would be nice to not just focus on recent releases, but also take the chance to jump back in time once a week and look back at wonderful reads that have been released over the years!
This week, we're travelling back to April 2009 to look back at...

The path of true love never runs smooth. But for some, it's one seriously bumpy ride…   Josie Gray and her childhood sweetheart Ben Richards always dreamt of living a life of rural bliss. And when Josie inherits her beloved Grandmother's cottage in Neatslake, Lancashire, it seems they might have got just that.   Josie throws herself into her wedding cake business, whilst Ben gains increasing acclaim as an artist. The tranquil village turns into a hive of activity when Josie's childhood friend Libby Martin returns to the village, planning a lavish wedding to rival any celeb bash.   But amidst all this romance, Josie's fairytale relationship with Ben turns into a nightmare, and she quickly becomes Love's number one cynic – until charming wedding photographer Noah Sephton arrives in Neatslake with a very different outlook on love…
Trisha Ashley is known for her heartwarming romantic comedy novels and on the 16th of April 2009 her novel 'Wedding Tiers' was published by Avon. I read my first Trisha Ashley novel last year ('Wish Upon a Star') and I straight away fell in love with Trisha's writing style! I love the sound of 'Wedding Tiers', mainly because it focuses on a wedding cake business and a story of childhood sweethearts (and includes a charming wedding photographer)! Besides, the beautiful blue cover perfectly fits the sunny Spring weather at the moment... Enough reason to pick up this pretty book!  
Be sure to visit the blog next week for another blast from chick lit past with 'Once Upon a Story...'!

Review: 'Wish Upon a Star' by Trisha Ashley (2013)

The perfect gift isn’t always under the tree…

Single mum Cally’s life is all about her little girl Stella. She’s resigned to the fact that the only romance she’s going to get is from the rom-coms she watches, and with her busy job and her daughter, she doesn’t have time to even think about love.

But life gets very tough when Stella gets sick. Balancing her job as a recipe writer and looking after Stella is all consuming, so when Cally meets handsome baker Jago the last thing she wants to do is fall in love, especially when she’s been badly burned by a Prince Charming from her past. Can laid-back, charming Jago unlock Cally’s frozen heart and help her find true love and magic under the mistletoe?

I’ve heard from multiple people that the holiday season wouldn’t quite be the same without a Christmassy Trisha Ashley novel to keep us company, so this year I was quite curious to read my very first Trisha Ashley book! I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of Trisha’s latest festive release, ‘Wish Upon a Star’, from the lovely people at Light Brigade PR. I saved the book for the days leading up to Christmas and snuggled up on the couch with a blanket, soft Christmas music in the background, and a cup of delicious hot chocolate to step into the world of Sticklepond!

When Cally found herself pregnant, she was dumped by her boyfriend Adam and forced to start a life as a single mum. Luckily, she was blessed with her daughter Stella and together they lead a happy life. However, Stella was born with a serious heart condition which required major surgery. Now, three years later, the doctors in the UK can’t help Stella anymore and in order for her to lead a normal and long life, Cally will have to take her daughter to the USA so she can undergo experimental heart surgery. Cally sells her flat in London to raise part of the money that is needed for the trip to Boston, and moves back to her mother’s house in the small village Sticklepond. All the villagers are up to help raise the money needed for Stella’s operation, but one of them in particular catches Cally and Stella’s attention; Jago is also new to the area and works together with his best friend David in a macaron shop, waiting for the right property to come along to start his own croquembouche (French wedding cake) business. Cally loves spending time with Jago, but she knows she can only focus on Stella right now. However, when their exes Adam and Aimee suddenly reappear on the stage, Cally is forced to deal with multiple things at the same time...

This book has everything to make it a thoroughly enjoyable chick lit read: a lovely leading lady, a handsome Prince Charming, a good storyline, a gorgeous scene setting, and lots of yummy treats! Trisha Ashley’s writing is extremely detailed which resulted in a very clear picture of the village of Sticklepond and its inhabitants in my head. I’ve read that the village is also the backdrop for some of Trisha’s other novels, but the fact that I hadn’t read any of those before starting ‘Wish Upon a Star’ didn’t bother me at any point. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the fundraising for Stella, the blooming friendship between Jago and Cally, and the arrival of the exes, Aimee and Adam, in town.

Cally writes articles about baking for a job and this aspect is woven into the storyline in an absolutely delicious way. Not only does Trisha’s writing leave the reader with images of yummy cakes and goodies, but there are also some recipes at the back of the book for everyone to try out. Even though the novel wasn’t as festive and Christmassy as I had originally expected, my first Trisha Ashley book certainly did not disappoint and I can’t wait to read more of her work. ‘Wish Upon a Star’ is an inspiring, heart-warming treat for the holidays and a great read to curl up with in front of the log fire!

Rating:8,5/10