Wednesday 30 October 2019

Blog Tour: The House That Alice Built by Chris Penhall*



So I was attracted to this book by the amazing cover and the blurb. It sounded like something I would love to do. I mean who doesn't want to drop everything and go to another country. Check out the blurb below and see what your first impression is.

'Home is where the heart is … 
Alice Dorothy Matthews is sensible. Whilst her best friend Kathy is living it up in Portugal and her insufferable ex Adam is travelling the world, Alice is working hard to pay for the beloved London house she has put her heart and soul into renovating. 
But then a postcard from Buenos Aires turns Alice’s life upside down. One very unsensible decision later and she is in Cascais, Portugal, and so begins her lesson in ‘going with the flow’; a lesson that sees her cat-sitting, paddle boarding, dancing on top of bars and rediscovering her artistic talents. 
But perhaps the most important part of the lesson for Alice is that you don’t always need a house to be at home.'

So one of the first things I noticed about this book was that it is very easy to read. By this I mean you soon find yourself zooming through the chapters. I mean the story flows so well, that even though a few weeks is passing in the book it is not made obvious which I enjoyed immensely. 

So as in every romance there is a Prince Charming, whether he is there to save the day or just sit in the background until our main girl needs him. Now in this book I found myself questioning whether he was Prince Charming or Mr Mysterious. I loved that factor though because it go you thinking. This factor also added some extra depth to this character.

One thing that will really draw you to this book, apart for the descriptions of this Place (I really want to go now!) is the way it sounds like Paradise and it is a completely real life situation that Alice is going through. I mean from the beginning you are thrust into her world, it was all very normal. Its a situation I can imagine a friend telling me about. This in mind, it makes the book very relatable.  

Now let's talk a little bit about the Author Chris Penhall, a freelance writer and radio producer who is also a member of the Romantic Novelists Association. Winner of the 2019 Choc-Lit Search for a Star Competition (with this book!) Chris was originally born in South Wales but has lived near London and Portugal. When she lived in Cascais near Lisbon (where the book is set) she began to dabble in writing fiction, but it was years later that she was confident enough to start her first novel. Many years after, she finally finished it. She is currently working on her second. Chris is a lover of books, music, cats and is an enthusiastic salsa dancer, a keen cook and loves to travel. She is never happier than when she is gazing at the sea. Chris currently lives in the Essex countryside and has two grown up daughters. 


Overall I enjoyed this book immensely. Reading the story and the descriptions of the gorgeous is enough to add it to my holiday list. This is a great summer read and is available now. You can get your copy HERE

Until Next Time

Emma

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