Extract: Shaken and Stirred by Bella Osborne

Hello to Bella Osborne who is returning  with the blog tour for Ottercombe Bay: Shaken and Stirred.

Daisy Wickens has returned to Ottercombe Bay, the picturesque Devon town where her mother died when she was a girl. She plans to leave as soon as her great uncle’s funeral is over, but Great Uncle Reg had other ideas. He’s left Daisy a significant inheritance – an old building in a state of disrepair, which could offer exciting possibilities, but to get it she must stay in Ottercombe Bay for twelve whole months.

With the help of a cast of quirky locals, a few gin cocktails and a black pug with plenty of attitude, Daisy might just turn this into something special. But can she ever hope to be happy among the ghosts of her past?

To celebrate the release of Ottercombe Bay Part Four: Shaken and Stirred, Bella and Avon have shared an extract. Enjoy. 

**** Start of Extract.****

The warm spring weather had brought the trees to life, the seagulls were back in full chorus and as the holidaymakers returned the sleepy town was waking up. Daisy needed it to be a good season.

Locos was busy because Easter was fast approaching, the celebrations for which appeared to start early thanks to Daisy’s Singapore Sling cocktail promotion, and she was rushed off her feet.

If she never had to make a Singapore Sling again it would be too soon. She swore she’d be making them in her sleep. With no Max or Guillaume, Daisy and Tamsyn were working flat out.

On the plus side, it meant she didn’t have time to dwell on recent events. However, a little more time for sleep and general relaxation would have been welcome.

In between customers Tamsyn passed Daisy a piece of paper and when she had a moment to catch her breath she studied it.

Daisy read the handwritten note.

*** End of Extract***

My verdict on Shaken and Stirred… 

Shaken and Stirred is the final part in the Ottercombe Bay serialisation series. 

These novels are part of a four-part serialisation.

Daisy hasn’t been to visit Ottercombe Bay and her Aunt for years preferring to travel rather than to confront the memories from her past and the death of her mother. It’s a place she’s been actively avoiding.

When a family bereavement brings her back, she wants to get there, do what needs to be done and then leave as quickly as possible.

For Daisy, this is going to be easier said than done.

She’s been left a significant inheritance but it comes with a very big string attached. She must stay in Ottercombe Bay for a year.

Can Daisy stay and confront her past so she can move on into her future?

It’s been great to finally get some answers to the questions raised in the first three parts. The great thing about it being split over four novels is that I get to enjoy reading it for longer. The setback is that I am impatient for the next part which has been the case for each book.

It being done this way is quite clever as it builds suspense and excitement around the plot. I really wanted the puzzle pieces to slot into place.

Daisy changes a lot as a character. All the supporting characters are wonderful.

Bella’s talent for storytelling really shines through more with every book. They have such warmth, humour, endearing characters and settings. I get the same comforting feeling reading Bella’s books that I get reading Trisha Ashley’s novels. It’s like getting a nice visit from friends.

I devoured every part of this novel and it’s perfect for that summer reading list. Go on, treat yourself.

About Bella: 

Bella can remember writing a story about a theft of the crown jewels when she was nine but she decided that 2013 would be the year she’d write her novel. 

She joined the Romantic Novelists Association’s New Writer’s Scheme and in 2014, got a two book contract with Harper Impulse. 

It Started at Sunset Cottage was released in 2015 and was later re-released with a new cover by Harper Collins Avon. 

Her other books include A Family Holiday and Willow Cottage. 

The Ottercombe Bay series is published by Avon. The complete novel, Coming Home to Ottercombe Bay is due to be released in paperback in June. 

For more information about Bella, visit her website: http://www.bellaosborne.com

Bella is also on Twitter too: https://twitter.com/osborne_bella

To read Bella’s previous Bella’s Scribblings columns, click here. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.