**PART TWO in the brand new series from Holly Hepburn, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde**
On paper, Merina Wilde has it all: a successful career writing the kind of romantic novels that make even the hardest hearts swoon, a perfect carousel of book launches and parties to keep her social life buzzing, and a childhood sweetheart who thinks she’s a goddess. But Merry has a secret: the magic has stopped flowing from her fingers. Try as she might, she can’t summon up the sparkle that makes her stories shine. And as her deadline whooshes by, her personal life falls apart too. Alex tells her he wants something other than the future she’d always imagined for them and Merry finds herself single for the first time since – well, ever.
Desperate to get her life back on track, Merry leaves London and escapes to the windswept Orkney Islands, locking herself away in a secluded clifftop cottage to try to heal her heart and rediscover her passion for writing. But can the beauty of the islands and the kindness of strangers help Merry to fool herself into believing in love again, if only long enough to finish her book? Or is it time for her to give up the career she’s always adored and find something new to set her soul alight?
?The brand new series from Holly Hepburn, author of A Year at the Star and Sixpence. Parts one to four in the new series are available to pre-order now: BROKEN HEARTS AT BRIGHTWATER BAY, SEA BREEZES AT BRIGHTWATER BAY, DANGEROUS TIDES AT BRIGHTWATER BAY and SUNSET OVER BRIGHTWATER BAY
~*~Praise for Holly Hepburn~*~
'A fresh new voice, brings wit and warmth to this charming tale of two sisters' Rowan Coleman
'Warm, witty and laced with intriguing secrets! I want to pull up a bar stool, order a large G&T and soak up all the gossip at the Star and Sixpence!' Cathy Bramley
'You'll fall in love with this fantastic new series from star of women's fiction, Holly Hepburn. Filled to the brim with captivating characters and fantastic storylines in a gorgeous setting ... simply wonderful. I want to read more!' Miranda Dickinson
'The Star and Sixpence sparkles with fun, romance, mystery, and a hunky blacksmith. It's a real delight' Julie Cohen
'Like the dream pub landlady who always knows exactly what you want, Holly Hepburn has created the most delightful welcome to what promises to be a brilliant series, in the first Star and Sixpence. The sisters are warm and intriguing, the neighbours are (mostly!) friendly and the gossip is utterly addictive. I was very sad when it was time for last orders, and am already looking forward to the next round. Especially if a certain blacksmith happens to be at the bar...' Kate Harrison
'Warm, witty and utterly charming, Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter's day. It left me with the most wonderful happy glow' Cally Taylor
'A super sparkling star of a story and I can’t wait for part two’ Alexandra Brown
I’ve wanted to write books for adults for as long as I can remember but I was too scared to try. One day I decided to be brave and dipped a toe into the bubble bath of romantic comedy with my first novella, Cupidity, and I’ve never looked back. I often try to be funny to be funny, except for when faced with traffic wardens and border control staff. My favourite thing is making people smile.
I’ve tried many jobs over the years, from barmaid to market researcher and I even had a brief flirtation with modelling. These days I am mostly found writing.
I live near London with my grey tabby cat, Portia. We both have an unhealthy obsession with Marmite.
Oh just as I thought that Marry was getting her professional life back on track, now her personal life is all in a muddle. Whilst part one of this series was all about introducing us to these intriguing characters and our wonderful setting, part 2 takes us deeper into how all these characters connect together and what makes them tick. I really liked getting to know a little more about Merry. But i also enjoyed getting a little deeper involved with Magnus and Niall. I love this community and I am so glad that we get to be a part of it with Merry as our guide.
I think my favourite thing about this new series though, has to be the setting. I have always wanted to go to Orkney and now I can in the pages of this book. I love the way everything is described and the detail that we get even though these installments are only short. I feel like i can picture myself on the winding roads, smell the sea and feel the long grass on my calves. Everything is just so vivid and described in such beautiful detail I literally feel like I've just come back from a trip there to write this review.
A whole chapter of this installment of the series is dedicated to a visit to Highland Park. Now whilst this may not be my favourite whisky, a visit to a distillery is always welcomed by me. Holly Hepburn is spot on with the details of the tour and I did have to pour myself a wee dram to read with the rest of the book after the way Merry enjoyed herself there. It was great to have this particular spot opened up to us as readers, I don't think I've read anything else that visits a distillery in quite such detail and as a whisky lover I really appreciated it.
I just can't wait to read the rest of this series. I wish I didn't read the installments so quickly so I now have a long time to wait until the next one is out, but at the same time with a setting and characters like this, I just can't help myself.
I've been in a bit of a book funk recently but this book has helped to lift me out of it. I love Holly's books and always eagerly await the next one or next part of one. I like how this story is developing and how we are getting to know the characters a little better. The next part can't come soon enough.
Merry, who has writer's block, decides to take the position of Artist in Residence on Orkney Island for 6 months. She has a failed romance and needs the change to give her inspiration. While in Orkney she meets two very different men and gets the inspiration she needs. A very funny read. Holly Hepburn delivers again. Can't wait to read part 3.
A nice read, again very long chapters and for someone who does not get time to sit reading for long periods it is a bit annoying having to keep leaving the book mid chapter, but overall a nice read, a bit drawn out at times.