I am delighted to be sharing my thoughts today on Summer at 23 The Strand by Linda Mitchelmore, this is definitely a read for warm summer days. I would like to thank HQ Digital for my copy on NetGalley. You can buy this on kindle HERE at the time of writing this post its 99p 🙂

Synopsis:

Escape to the seaside this summer!

After actress Martha’s painful break-up hits the headlines, the warm golden sands and sparkling seas of Elberry Cove are the perfect escape from the paparazzi!

Nestled amongst a gorgeous line of brightly-coloured beach chalets, Number 23 The Strand is a home from home, a secret paradise where she can slowly begin to piece her heart back together.

When it’s finally time to leave, Martha decides to leave a special gift for the next guest. It’s a small act of kindness that starts a magical tradition all summer long…

A delightfully uplifting holiday read, perfect for fans of Lilly Bartlett, Tilly Tennant and Eve Devon.

My Thoughts:

This is such a delightful, uplifting and heartwarming read about acts of kindness for the visitors to 23 The Strand, it is a chalet in a Devon Holiday Village and it tells of the various guests who come and stay.

Sometimes you get a book that is just right for whatever time and place you are in. I read this book after coming back from holiday, I stayed in a chalet in a Devon Holiday Village, it was number 25. It was also in the same area as the book setting as well! It brought back memories and warm snuggly feelings of being away on holiday

This book is set out as a series of stories that deal with some aspects of the guests who stay at number 23. Starting with an actress who is trying to escape the limelight of the paparazzi she manages to relax and find peace. On leaving she leaves a little gift along with a note explaining why the chalet and her stay helped her. This little gesture is found by the next guest and they decide to keep the gift and note giving continuing.

This gives you various guests that arrive in the form of families and individuals throughout the season. Each visitor has their own agenda for being there, a problem or two, or something they need time to ponder over. Each story just flows from one to the next as the gift and note add the link.

Sometimes we all need to re-charge our batteries or need a time out from the real world for a few days and just escape. You don’t have to travel far to do this, for me my holiday was only 2-3 hours drive away. But the author has managed to capture the feelings behind the characters individual stories very well. It does have some more serious problems that the characters have to deal with, they are mentioned but not overly dwelt upon and so gives the stories a slightly more uplifting feel to them.

This really is a great summer read that had me with a smirk on my face and the odd lump in my throat and I admit to going a little misty eyed at times. The ending of the story was perfect and I did love the way the author tied up the loose ends.

A great book for readers who are looking for a delightful and heartwarming story and I am very happy to recommend this one. Pull up a chair under the sun shade, get a glass of something chilled with ice, maybe pop your feet on a footstool and relax with Summer at 23 The Strand xx

About the Author:

 My writing life began when I was shortlisted and published in a Woman’s Own short story writing competition. Since that happy day I’ve gone on to have over 300 short stories published now. I’ve written for just about all the UK women’s interest weekly magazines and also seen my work published in Sweden, Norway, Australia and New Zealand. Radio, too, on just the one occasion. I’ve also won and been shortlisted in a fair few short story writing competitions. I’ve also been published in anthologies – five to date. LOVES ME, LOVES ME NOT which is the 50th Anniversary Anthology of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and published by Mira, SEXY SHORTS FOR CHRISTMAS, SEXY SHORTS FOR THE BEACH, SEXY SHORTS FOR SUMMER – all published by Accent Press, and CHOC LIT LOVE MATCH, published – of course – by Choc Lit.
So, that was the first step. It seemed logical to move onto novels but that didn’t prove as easy for me. I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association and through their New Writers’ Scheme slowly honed my craft at novel-writing. Katie Fforde awarded me her bursary and it was just the confidence boost I needed to take me a step nearer publication. In 2012, Choc Lit published my debut novel, TO TURN FULL CIRCLE, which is the first in a trilogy. Book two is already written and on my publisher’s desk but I don’t have a publication date for it yet. I’ve also written a novella and a contemporary which are both under consideration.
I suppose you could call me a bit of a late starter. I’m a Baby Boomer and when I began working for Lloyds Bank, aged seventeen, there were still those ancient things called ‘hand-written ledgers’. So, post book publication, I’ve been on a very steep learning curve with technology. But so glad I plodded on with it because it has brought long lost school and work friends back into my life, and it’s made me so many new cyber friends, some of whom I have already met in the flesh. I would probably get a lot more written if I didn’t swan off to lunch with said friends far more often than I ought but I strive to make a work/life balance that I’m comfortable with.

Follow Linda on Twitter and on her Blog

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This was our chalet overlooking the River at Shaldon with Teignmouth on the opposite side, a fabulous view and the chance for a sneaky pint 🙂

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be great 🙂 xx