Title: The Restaurant
Author: Linn B. Halton
Date to be Published: 8/2/12
Publisher: Sapphire Publishing
Synopsis:
Age, relationships, and careers – we are all unique. Yet beneath the exterior facade we choose to show to the world at large, what do we have in common? The things we bury deep inside; the worries and fears we are unable to verbalise, and the hand fate takes in our lives is a common thread. Sometimes we fail to recognise in each other that innermost struggle on the path to true love.
Six very different stories, six couples linked by The Restaurant @ The Mill, owned by Hilary Marks and Ben Adams. As the restaurant thrives the atmosphere is alive with conversation, snapshots of lives unfolding; each one a personal journey.
Read an excerpt:
When your family is affected by a tragedy, you find yourself in the midst of emotions that are so strong it’s almost impossible to keep a grasp on normal life. The tragedy happened to my sister, Mya, who was driving home one dark night in the pouring rain. The car that hit hers swerved to avoid a cyclist whose wheel had struck a pothole, and the effects of that night spread out like ripples on a pond to catch us all.
Sam was my sister’s boyfriend, and during the long months following the accident we were all distraught. My parents had each other for support, but I couldn’t add to their burden, could I? So I shared my feelings with Sam and he, in return, shared his feelings with me. I was nineteen at the time and Sam was twenty-seven. He always talked to me as if I was his equal; he made me feel that my fears and worries mattered, that I mattered.
The day I knew beyond a doubt that I had fallen in love with him was, ironically, the day he made the decision to gently disengage himself from our family. One moment he was a part of everything that was going on and within a few weeks he was no longer there when I looked for him. Mum and Dad accepted it was time for him to move on, grateful for the way he had taken care of me. I knew from that very first day when he appeared late and left early, that it was the start of the end; I also knew that I couldn’t change how I felt about him. I had no idea whether he noticed the difference in me, because either way it could never work. If he felt something for me, how could we pretend that he hadn’t once loved my sister? If he thought of me simply as Mya’s younger sister, that would break my heart.
**My thoughts**
Have you ever sat in a restaurant, or a park, or at the mall, just watching the people around you? People-watching is a favorite pastime of mine. I like to observe people and try to imagine what is going on inside their heads and in their lives. Sometimes, I like to make up my own stories about them.
The Restaurant @ The Mill is kind of like doing just that. As you read it, you feel like you are sitting in the restaurant with the gift of being able to see into these people's lives. So many of their stories are familiar on some level, whether it is your own or that of someone you know. These love stories span generations and different ages. They include romantic love, as well as love of family and friends. I even see some love of good food and drink. Throw in some ghosts for a fun twist and even more love.
I love the closeness of the community represented at The Restaurant. People know each other, but don't invade their privacy and space. There is a familiarity among all of the patrons and employees that is comfortable. It reminds me of some of my neighborhood hangouts, only a little bit more quaint. Perhaps that is because it takes place over in England. I just know that I want to go visit it now, even though it is a fictional place.
Buy links: Kindle | Paperback
Linn B Halton lives in the UK, in the small Gloucestershire village of Arlingham, on the banks of the River Severn with her adorable husband and cat with attitude–Mr Tiggs! She writes romantic fiction with a psychic or astrological theme and many of the paranormal events that feature in her books are real life experiences .
Linn is also a featured new Author on http://loveahappyending.com/ and Editor of the feature ‘Author & Associate Catch-Ups’ including ‘Reader/Author Team Reports’ on the website’s magazine-style blog.
Visit Linn’s author pages:
Website
Publisher Author Page
Love Happy Ending Author Page
Twitter: @LinnBHalton
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
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