Thank you for joining me today I am so happy to be sharing my review of this wonderful book but that's not all Rachel Dove has kindly agreed to take part in a little Q&A.
First of all though let's take a look at the description for the book...
Lily Rose Baxter loves her little flower shop on Foxley Street and the freedom and independence from her family that it represents.
Lily can't help but feel that something is missing from her life…, but when mysterious stranger Will Singer comes into her shop looking for the perfect bouquet of roses, all that could be about to change.
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Q&A with Rachel Dove
1 - Can you choose three words that best
describe your personality?
Caring, driven, fun
2 - Is there a book you wish you could have
written?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - such a good
book, and series.
3 - What was the last book you read?
Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris - I loved her
Sookie Stackhouse novels but have had this book on my shelf for a while. It was
excellent, and I have ordered the next already!
4 - If you were stranded on a desert island
what three books would you want with you?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (my favourite book)
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire and a book about surviving being stranded
on a desert island!
5 - Do you have any strange writing habits?
I write a lot of things away from the keyboard; on
post its, in my head, in notebooks - I tend to write passages when they come to
me, so I often end up with bits of paper in my handbag. I am a pantser, and
proud!
6 - Is there a specific place where you
write?
No, not really - I have a desk in my bedroom, which is
a large room but I tend to write on the couch in front of the TV. I like
background noise, something easy to tune in and out of.
7 - What is your favourite personality
trait of your main character from The Flower Shop on Foxley St.?
Lily Baxter is selfless. She puts everyone else first,
and even when she doesn't she is conflicted. She has a big heart, and people
take advantage of that and her easy going nature.
8 - What did you enjoy most about writing
The Flower Shop on Foxley St.?
I really loved being back in Westfield. It's so vivid
in my head that the village feels real to me. It was a pleasure to write. I
will be sad when the series ends.
9 - Are you working on anything now?
Always! I am off for the summer with my
kids, but I am writing a romantic comedy and a YA, which is new for me. I like
to write different things, and keep dipping into each project when I have time
before deadlines.
Quick fire questions - Which do you prefer?
Paperback or eBook
Both - a book is a book to me.
Classic novel or Contemporary
Classic.
Cinema or Theatre
Cinema
Crisps or Chocolate
Chocolate!
Tea or Coffee
Coffee
Night out or Day out
Day out with my kids, night out with my hubby
Thank you so much Rachel for taking the time to
answer the Q&A x
First of all I have to mention the cover it's just so pretty and immediately caught my eye then after reading the description I couldn't wait to start. So what did I think...
I have to begin with Lily she is a great character that is completely likeable and I had to feel for her situation. It was like she was trying to keep everyone happy and not really noticing how other people treated her. I was definitely rooting for her that's for sure and I really hoped she would grab hold of any opportunity that would make her happy.
In no time at all I found I was half way through the book mainly because it was so easy to get wrapped up in not only Lily's life but her friends and families lives too. A special mention has to go to Roger he was one of my favourite characters he was funny and had me smiling on more than one occasion. However the main thing I loved was his friendship with Lily it was lovely to see their interactions throughout the story. You also have the playful friendship that Lily and Simon share where they are like squabbling siblings. Then there is Will who is a bit of a mystery, if you read my reviews you will know that I have a soft spot for any type of mystery in the books I read. So this was perfect for me and I have to say I couldn't wait to discover the truth.
It was a nice touch to see the story from a few different perspectives I found that this moved the story along at a steady pace and kept things interesting. I loved how there were parts where I was either giggling or smiling away to myself but there were also some emotional parts too. It was all balanced out perfectly to create a wonderful story of new beginnings along with being brave and taking a chance.
Rachel Dove has a lovely writing style that felt down to earth and made it so easy to connect with the characters. I could easily imagine bumping into these people in real life, Westfield sounds perfect although maybe not the part where everyone knows your business. It really is a lovely uplifting story and it's set in Yorkshire, what more could you want!
The Flower Shop on Foxley Street is a gorgeous story that has such a warm and comforting feel to it!
With thanks to Rachel Dove for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I am a wife, mother of two boys, perpetual student, avid reader and writer of words. I sometimes sleep, always have eye bags and dream of retiring to a big white house in Cornwall, with 2 shaggy dogs, drinking wine on my seafront balcony whilst creating works of romantic fiction. All done with immaculate make up and floaty dresses. In the meantime I nearly always remember to brush my hair, seldom have time to look in a mirror and write many, many to-do lists.
My first solo novel, Crossing Life Lines is out now in Kindle and paperback format. Look out for my horror shorts, published through Bayou Brew Publishing: The House of Sugar Blood, August 2013 and Uni Assassin, out now, and my short story, Mallow Girl, out now.
In July 2015, I won the Prima magazine and Mills & Boon Flirty Fiction Competition, with my entry, The Chic Boutique on Baker Street, out now in ebook and paperback.
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This is amazing! Thank you so much for the review, and for having me to chat xx
ReplyDeleteThank you and you're very welcome! It's a gorgeous story and definitely in my top reads of 2017! xx
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