Emma's Review: The Lemon Tree Hotel by Rosanna Ley

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

A story about love, family secrets, and a little piece of heaven . . .

In the beautiful village of Vernazza, the Mazzone family have transformed an old convent overlooking the glamorous Italian Riviera into the elegant Lemon Tree Hotel. For Chiara, her daughter Elene and her granddaughter Isabella, the running of their hotel is the driving force in their lives.

One day, two unexpected guests check in. The first, Dante, is a face from Chiara's past, but what exactly happened between them all those years ago, Elene wonders. Meanwhile, Isabella is preoccupied with the second guest, a mysterious young man who seems to know a lot about the history of the old convent and the people who live there. Isabella is determined to find out his true intentions and discover the secret past of the Lemon Tree Hotel.

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Author Interview: Rosanna Ley

Today is paperback publication day for Rosanna Ley's latest novel The Lemon Tree Hotel and it's my absolute pleasure to invite her back to the blog to join in the celebrations.

Hi Rosanna and welcome back to the blog.  It's been a few years since you last visited us so can you give readers a quick recap/intro to yourself and your writing journey.
Thank you! My novels are published by Quercus and you can find more information about me on my website: rosannaley.com

I write books that focus on relationships and character journeys with a hefty dollop of delicious destination thrown in. There’s often a bit of history and a bit of mystery but basically I’m most interested in what makes people tick. I enjoy travelling to different places and exploring new cultures and love writing about these in my novels.

Your latest book is The Lemon Tree Hotel and centres around the Mazzone family and their boutique hotel, can you give us a brief introduction to them? 
The hotel is an old convent – which has a fascinating history and a secret past - that has been restored by Chiara’s parents. Chiara runs The Lemon Tree Hotel with her daughter Elene who is the chef and her granddaughter Isabella who works front of house as manager. It is an elegant and much-loved characterful hotel with a great focus on peace, tranquillity and excellent cuisine. (Sounds perfect, huh?!) These three strong women however, have very different ideas on how The Lemon Tree should be run. Add to this the marital dynamics and the arrival of two guests who have very unexpected agendas, and the family tension rises…

When starting to plan your books which comes first, characters, location or the plot?  And how much research do you do before you start the writing process? 
Sometimes it’s the characters, sometimes the plot, sometimes theme, sometimes location that’s the beginning point. For The Lemon Tree Hotel it was location because the cinque terre area on the Italian Riviera means a lot to me and I wanted to write about it. I also wanted to write about a hotel, so this was the perfect location.

Emma's Review: Her Mother's Secret by Rosanna Ley

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

For many years Colette has avoided returning to her homeland - the magical island of Belle-Île-en-Mer in Southern Brittany - afraid to confront the painful memories she left behind. She is living on the Cornish coast when she hears about her mother Thea's failing health and realises that the time has come for her to go home. But can Colette ever forgive Thea for what she has done?

Despite Colette's wariness, romantic Belle-Île still fascinates her. She takes on the running of her mother's flower shop and makes friends with Élodie from the Old Lighthouse where Thea once worked as a nanny and with the enigmatic Étienne who shares Colette's mixed feelings about the island. As Thea opens up to her for the first time, Colette finds herself softening and being drawn back into the landscape of her past. But can Belle-Île also be a part of her future?

The ghosts of that past still linger. What happened all those years ago and how did it cause the rift between mother and daughter? It becomes clear that the beauty of Belle-Île hides a devastating family secret - one that Colette is determined to unravel at any cost.

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Emma's Review: The Little Theatre by the Sea by Rosanna Ley

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

Faye has just completed her degree in interior design when she finds herself jobless and boyfriend-less. While debating what to do next she receives a surprise phone call from her old college friend Charlotte who now lives in Sardinia and is married to Italian hotelier, Fabio.

When Charlotte suggests that Faye relocate for a month to house-sit, Faye wonders if a summer break in sunny Sardinia might be the perfect way to recharge her batteries and think about her future. But then Charlotte tells Faye that there's something more behind the sudden invitation: her friends Marisa and Alessandro are looking for a designer to renovate a crumbling old theatre they own in the scenic village of Deriu. The idea certainly sounds appealing to Faye, but little does she know what she's letting herself in for if she accepts this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity . . .

Amazon links: Kindle or Hardcover

Emma's Review: Last Dance in Havana by Rosanna Ley

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

Cuba, 1958. Elisa is only sixteen years old when she meets Duardo and she knows he's the love of her life from the moment they first dance the rumba together in downtown Havana. But Duardo is a rebel, determined to fight in Castro's army, and Elisa is forced to leave behind her homeland and rebuild her life in distant England. But how can she stop longing for the warmth of Havana, when the music of the rumba still calls to her?

England, 2012. Grace has a troubled relationship with her father, whom she blames for her beloved mother's untimely death. And this year more than ever she could do with a shoulderto cry on - Grace's career is in flux, she isn't sure she wants the baby her husband is so desperate to have and, worst of all, she's begun to develop feelings for their best friend Theo. Theo is a Cuban born magician but even he can't make Grace's problems disappear. Is the passion Grace feels for Theo enough to risk her family's happiness?

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback

Guest Book Review: Rosanna Ley - The Saffron Trail

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

Once, there was a girl who loved saffron. She loved its secrets, its mystery, and best of all, she loved its hint of magic.

After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant.

It's there she meets Amy - a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family's involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their own pasts. 

This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own 'saffron trail' - from the labyrinthine medina and bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families' origins.

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback

Coming soon from Quercus Books

As we've come to the end of this feature week for Quercus Books it's time to look at some of the books they are publishing in the next couple of months.

Betrayed by Anna Smith (published on 8th May)

You don't mess with Rosie Gilmour and get away with it.

Crime reporter Rosie Gilmour is back at The Post, bruised and battered from her last investigation but determined to find missing barmaid Wendy Graham. 

Convinced that Wendy is the key to an explosive new story, Rosie's search leads her deep into the dangerous world of Glasgow's Ulster Volunteer Force.

This time, Rosie will find herself at the mercy of the most vicious gangsters she's ever encountered. 

Has she met her match?

Author Interview: Rosanna Ley

Today is the start of a new publisher feature week, this time for Quercus Books, as a way to catch up on outstanding reviews for books that they have kindly sent me as well as a few additional features including interviews with some of their authors.

First up I'm delighted to welcome bestselling author Rosanna Ley to talk about her new book Return to Mandalay which is published next month.

Rosanna Ley has worked as a creative tutor for over twelve years, leading workshops in the UK and abroad, and has completed an MA in creative writing. Her writing holidays and retreats take place in stunning locations in Italy and Spain. Rosanna has written numerous articles and stories for national magazines. When she is not travelling, Rosanna lives in West Dorset by the sea.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book Return to Mandalay? 

‘Return to Mandalay’ is set in Burma, land of scorching heat and monsoons, of green paddy fields and golden temples... The story is told from two main perspectives: Lawrence’s and his granddaughter Eva’s. This enables me to tell a story ranging from 1938 to present day, but in fact the story goes back even further – to the time of the final Burmese dynasty. 

As a child, Eva was entranced by her grandfather’s stories of his life in Burma, working with elephants, sending timber down the River Irrawaddy, and fighting in the Burmese jungle during World War II. And she senses that his heart still remains there - but he will not tell her why. When Eva's job as an antique dealer requires her to go to Mandalay, Lawrence breaks his silence and asks her to return a mysterious artefact he has in his possession - a decoratively carved wooden chinthe - to its rightful owner. But when Eva arrives in Burma, her mission proves dangerously complicated and the treasure she is guarding becomes the centre of a conspiracy dating from the final Burmese dynasty. Unsure who she can trust, Eva is caught between love, loyalty and integrity, but she is determined to find the truth about her grandfather's past, her own family origins, and the red-eyed chinthe itself – enigmatic symbol of the riches of Mandalay.

Guest Book Review: Rosanna Ley - Bay of Secrets

Reviewed by Ceri Kehoe 

Spain, 1939.
Following the wishes of her parents to keep her safe during the war, a young girl, Julia, enters a convent in Barcelona. Looking for a way to maintain her links to the outside world, she volunteers to help in a maternity clinic. But worrying adoption practices in the clinic force Sister Julia to decide how far she will go to help those placed in her care.

England, 2011.
Six months after her parents' shocking death, 34-year-old journalist and jazz enthusiast Ruby Rae has finally found the strength to pack away their possessions and sell the family home. But as she does so, she unearths a devastating secret her parents, Vivien and Tom, had kept from her all her life.

Book Read: Rosanna Ley - The Villa

When Tess Angel receives a solicitor's letter inviting her to claim her inheritance - the Villa Sirena, perched on a clifftop in Sicily - she is stunned. Her only link to the island is through her mother, Flavia, who left Sicily during World War II and cut all contact with her family. 

Initially resistant to Tess going back to her roots, Flavia realises the secrets from her past are about to be revealed and decides to try to explain her actions. Meanwhile, Tess' teenage daughter Ginny is stressed by college, by her blooming sexuality and filled with questions that she longs to ask her father, if only she knew where he was.

Author Interview: Rosanna Ley

Today's interview guest is author Rosanna Ley whose new book, The Villa, was released last month. She kindly agreed to answer my random questions as well as tell us a little bit about her book...
 
Can you tell us a little bit about The Villa 
The Villa is a romantic mystery narrated by three generations of women, all looking for answers.  The novel begins when Tess Angel receives a solictor's letter inviting her to claim her inheritance - the Villa Sirena, perched on a clifftop in Sicily.  She is stunned as her only link to the island is through her mother, Flavia, who left Sicily during World War II and cut all contact with her family.

Initially resistant to Tess going back to her roots, Flavia realises the secrets from her past are about to be revealed and decides to try to explain her actions in a journal which includes the traditional recipes of Sicily; her legacy to her daughter.

Meanwhile, Tess’ teenage daughter Ginny is stressed by college, by her blooming sexuality and filled with questions that she longs to ask her father, if only she knew where he was. 

 

In Sicily, Tess encounters the enigmatic Tonino and his childhood enemy Giovanni, sons of two feuding Sicilian families still living the bitter rivalry of the past and still seeking 'il tesoro' - an ancient treasure.  Tess joins in the search.  But she has no idea who to trust in this golden landscape where shadows lurk around every corner.