#BookReview ~ The Croatian Island Library by Eva Glyn ~ @JaneCable @rararesources #Contemporary #Friendship #Croatia

The Croatian Island Library by Eva Glyn

About the Book:

Where books are borrowed, and friendships are forged…

When her beloved grandfather dies, Ana Meštrović buys a catamaran in his memory, which she names Dida Krila – Grandad’s Wings.

For the summer months, it will be transformed into a travelling library, delivering books to children living across the Croatian islands.

Joined by crew members Natali, a young mechanic afraid of her own shadow, and Lloyd, an older widower who needs a fresh start, the newly-formed trio all have their own reasons for needing the floating library to be a success.

Embarking on an adventure that will change them for good, they each discover that a new chapter is only a boat ride away…

My Review:

The Croatian Island Library is a wonderful and captivating novel. I loved the nautical library concept. Everyone should have the opportunity to read and in low population areas surrounded by water? A pop-up-library is amazing.

Even more amazing is the cast of characters. Three completely different personalities, capabilities, and backgrounds. I loved getting to know Ana, Natali, and Lloyd. Obi, Natali's dog, steals the spotlight several times throughout. 

There are spectacular character introductions, backgrounds, and development. I love how the relationship between Ana, Natali, and Lloyd blossoms. Things start out awkward but the author takes all of them on journey of self-discovery, leading them to wonderful friendship. 

I loved visiting Croatia (I have Croatian heritage) in this novel. The pages are filled with beautiful descriptions, vivid imagery, and spectacular would-building. I enjoyed being in this world and meeting Ana, Natali, Lloyd, and Obi.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Meet the  Author:

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. A love of books is a common theme too, so her publisher, One More Chapter, has christened them the Bookish Escapes collection which currently includes The Dubrovnik Book Club, and The Santorini Writing Retreat, with The Croatian Island Library to be published in January 2026.

In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter, and a new beginnings novel entitled The Olive Grove. All are set in Croatian, a country she loves.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvaGlynAuthor

Twitter: @JaneCable

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evaglynauthor/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-glyn

Giveaway To Win a paperback copy of The Croatian Island Library (Open to UK & Ireland Only)

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Win a paperback copy of The Croatian Island Library (Open to UK & Ireland Only)

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#BookReview ~ The Village Cafe in the Loire by Gillian Harvey ~ #Romance #Friendship #NewBeginnings @GillPlusFive @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

The Village Cafe in the Loire

High-flyer Becky Thorne cannot believe what she’s being told. She doesn’t need to be signed off for burnout! Life has been a bit chaotic lately, that’s all. As if dealing with her enviable job and permanent meddling from her mother aren’t enough, she’s also inherited a café in the Loire from an estranged great-aunt, complete with sitting tenant who refuses to budge.

But nobody stands in Becky’s way! Ignoring her best friend Amber’s advice, she decides to storm over to France and sort the tenant out. Then she can finally get the café sold and jump back on the career ladder.

What she doesn’t count on is the tenant being Pascale, who is six feet of tall, dark, handsome and extremely grumpy about her plans for change. Not to mention the village and the secrets it holds about her past.

Becky’s path to success is all planned out. But the Loire has a magic she might not be able to resist…

My Review: 

The Village Cafe in the Loire is a book about friendship, love, and starting over when you realize your dreams and goals actually belong to someone else.

Becky is a director at a prestigious advertising agency but when she has a meltdown, she's forced into a month long leave to destress. On top of that, she just found out she was left a café in France by her great, great aunt. With timing on her side, she takes a trip to France to settle the affairs of the café so she can get back to London and salvage her job and reputation.

When Becky arrives in France, she discovers selling the café isn't going to be easy. Not only is there a tenant who won't leave, but her great aunt left a requirement for Becky. Wanting to escalate the matter, Becky does not find a friend in the Mayor, so it looks like she's going to be managing a café. 

The Village Café in the Loire is a charming story about the real effects of burnout, and not just for the main character. Becky's job is stressful and consuming of her time and life. She's been overworked by management and she gets to her breaking point. Any other company would have probably kicked her to the curb, however, I do like the fact that her employer was willing to give her time off to decompress. She's been a terrible friend and I felt so bad for Amber, who was going through her own tribulations and couldn't depend of Becky for any type of support. 

Becky, unfortunately, learns the hard way about what her priorities should be and that shooting to the top of the corporate ladder at the expense of her friends and family has effects, not just on her but on others. I love how the author developed Becky and evolved her in a short period of time. I was hoping for an ending that brought all aspects of Becky's life together and I was satisfied at how the author pulled everything off. I was excited that what I wanted for Amber actually became a reality. Becky and Pascal are sweet together but they didn't start off that way. I enjoyed how the author introduced them, the part Pascal played in Great Aunt Maud's requirement, and how they eventually become something more than tenant and manager.

This book was my first experience with Gillian Harvey and I am enthrall by her writing. I was drawn into The Village Café in the Loire and kept engaged throughout. It was a wonderful book with great pacing, spectacular character development, and very vivid world-building. I'll be looking into more of this author's work.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

  

Purchase Link:

Amazon


Meet the Author:

Gillian Harvey is an author and freelance writer who lives in Norfolk. Her novels, including the bestselling A Year at the French Farmhouse and The Riviera House Swap, are often set in France, where she lived for 14 years.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: @GillianHarveyAuthor

Twitter: @GillPlusFive

Instagram: @GillPlusFive

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/GillianHarveyNews

BookBub profile: @gillplusfive

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Sign Up to Host #Childrens Book ~ Mixter Twizzle's Breakfast by Written by Regan W.H. Macaulay and Illustrated by Wei Lu ~ @ReganWHMacaulay @MirrorWorldPub

Mirror World Publishing presents a 1-week virtual book tour for Mixter Twizzle's Breakfast by Written by Regan W.H. Macaulay and Illustrated by Wei Lu !

About  Mixter Twizzle's Breakfast:

Mixter Twizzle is an odd, red, round-shaped, mischievous creature.  He lives in a hovel, beneath a rustic barn, underneath the chicken coop at Riverdale Farm.  He’s a snoozing sneezer and a snoring barker---a peculiar sort that both annoys and pleases. At first, Mixter Twizzle is thrilled by his egg-gorging fests, delighting in his own wickedness, but he soon realizes he is lonely. He longs for companionship, but the hens will have nothing to do with him. Can this fiendish creature learn to make friends at the farm?

This is for September 4-10, 2018.  I don't require top or only post of the day for any of my tours.  Materials will include a standard post and an HTML.

Genre: Children's Picture Book; Fantasy; Friendship

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Tour Hosts for Cover Reveal ~ Mixter Twizzle's Breakfast by Written by Regan W.H. Macaulay and Illustrated by Wei Lu ~ @ReganWHMacaulay @MirrorWorldPub #Childrens

Mirror World Publishing presents the cover reveal for Mixter Twizzle's Breakfast by Written by Regan W.H. Macaulay and Illustrated by Wei Lu! Check out the following bloggers/authors/hosts participating in the reveal of this cover!

About Mixter Twizzle's Breakfast:

Mixter Twizzle is an odd, red, round-shaped, mischievous creature. He lives in a hovel, beneath a rustic barn, underneath the chicken coop at Riverdale Farm. He’s a snoozing sneezer and a snoring barker---a peculiar sort that both annoys and pleases. At first, Mixter Twizzle is thrilled by his egg-gorging fests, delighting in his own wickedness, but he soon realizes he is lonely. He longs for companionship, but the hens will have nothing to do with him. Can this fiendish creature learn to make friends at the farm?

Genre: Children's Picture Book; Fantasy; Friendship

Publish Date: September 3, 2018

Publisher: Mirror World Publishing

Publisher Website: https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/

Cover Reveal Participants:

Jojo Debrazza

https://jojodebrazza.com/2018/08/01/cover-reveal-mixter-twizzles-breakfast/

Bookworm for Kids

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YA/NA Book Divas 

https://www.facebook.com/yareeds/posts/2295154880501223

Sharon Ledwith: I came. I saw. I wrote. 

https://sharonledwith.blogspot.com/2018/08/mirror-world-publishing-presents-cover.html

Triple A 

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Tales from the Bayou... 

http://ritamonette.blogspot.com/2018/08/mixter-twizzles-breakfast-cover-reveal.html

My Book Addiction and More 

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T's Stuff 

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