Top 10 Cities to Visit in Switzerland

As most of you probably know, I love in Switzerland. The country has lots to offer and so many beautiful places. I will start with my top cities to visit and make a series out of it: top lakes, mountains, views, restaurant, villages etc. 
These are my fave cities in my home country in no particular order. It's important to know that our cities are different from cities in other countries. The are to typically big town, with a downtown etc. 
ZUG

Zug is my hometown. We have a population of about 30000, so it's very small, especially the you are from another country. Zug is in a great location, about 30 minutes from Zurich and the airport. It's in the centre of Central Switzerland, surrounded by mountains (not the high high ones) and it's directly by the lake. All this opes up a lot of possibilities for activities and things to do. People know each other, the old town is very cute and if you go a bit higher the view is fab! I really love this town. We also have a lot of expats and international companies. 

LUCERNE

This city is very special to me as well, because I went to uni there for four years. It's about 30 minutes from Zug, also by a lake and even closer to the mountains. The old town is very pretty and there are so may fab places right by the lake to hang out. It's very crowed and full of tourists though, so if you ever come to Lucerne, let me be your guide ;). 

ZURICH

Another obvious choice ad no it's not the capital of our country. Zurich is very big and fabulous for shopping, whether it's in the Bahnhofstrasse or the Niederdörfli (old town). Zurich really has some old and hidden gems and it's also right by the lake. 

BERN

Bern is our capital! It's located by a river and the old town is just stunning. Part of it is car free ad perfect to stroll around. Right by the Aare (river) there are some cute little places and in the Rosengarten you have a great view of the city. 

ASCONA

Ascona is in the Italian part of our country. It has this Italian charm and is located right by the lake. The promenade there is fantastic, full of cute restaurants and bars. The buildings are so pretty, it's the perfect place to relax. 

BASEL

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Basel is right by the border to Germany and France. The Rhein river flows through it and the city has a lot of great restaurants. It's great for shopping and the old town is very cute. 

LAUSANNE

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Lausanne is in the French speaking part of Switzerland, right by Lac Leman. Lausanne has wonderful places right by the lake, but if you want to go shopping you have to go to the upper part, where the old town is and then you have a fab view of the region and the lake. 

GENEVA

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Geneva is also in the French speaking part, at the ad of Lac lemon. It's a very big city with lots of parks and beautiful places by the lake. In summer there are a lot of things going on and of course the shopping is good as well. You can definitely feel a French vibe in the city. 
LOCARNO

Back to the Italian speaking part: Locarno is right next to Ascona, also by the lake. It has a great piazza, where lots of festivals are going on in the summer. The restaurants are great and the area has lots to offer. 
AARAU

Aarau is a cute, little town in Northern Switzerland. It has lots of towers, old buildings, a castle and parts of the town wall. It's the perfect city to stroll around and stop for a drink. 

Of course there are lots more in our country, some of which I have visited, some not. Here are some other cities to visit: St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Montreux, Murten etc. 
If you ever come to Switzerland, let me know, I will be your personal tour guide. 

One in a Million - by Lindsey Kelk

Original Cover

The blurb: 

Everyone wants that special someone….



Annie Higgins has given up on love: she’s too busy trying to get her tiny business off the ground. Infuriated by the advertising agency across the hall making fun of her job, Annie accepts their crazy challenge – to make a random stranger Instagram-famous in just thirty days.


And even when they choose Dr Samuel Page PhD, historian and hater of social media, as her target, Annie’s determined to win the bet – whether Sam likes it or not.


But getting to know Sam means getting to know more about herself. And before the thirty days are out, Annie has to make a decision about what’s really important…


Funny, real and heart-meltingly romantic, Annie and Sam’s story is My Fair Lady for the social media age – and the perfect feel-good read.

My Opinion:

  

I don't even know where to start this review, because this book is absolutely FABULOUS!!!

Lindsey Kelk is one of these very talented writers, who creates a wonderful world around her characters, makes them lively and authentic and comes up with a gripping and exciting storyline. 

We follow Annie Higgins, who runs her own agency, dealing with social media. She has given up on men and love. Together with her best friend Miranda she successfully runs the business and takes on a bet from the guys across the hall: creating a new instagram account based on a person they all don't know and getting him to 20k followers in a month. 

That's where Sam comes in, or I should rather say Dr Samuel Page. He is a historian and very different to Annie, how can she create an account only based on him?! Their first encounter is not so much fun and he is very distant and arrogant. His girlfriend Elaine has just left him and that's where Annie sees her chance. She helps him getting his girlfriend back and she can create the account, without showing his picture of course.

She changes his looks and makes him see what is needed in a good relationship. Obviously they spend a lot of time together and yes they get along really well after a while. There is still Charlie from across the hall though right?! Oh and Elaine, let's not forget her. 

Both, Sam and Annie are really relatable characters and I loved following them around. I was hooked to the storyline from the start and liked all the social media references. Lindsey Kelk also really knows to include current events, like the world cup. These make the book very authentic and real.

I loved the way the relationship between Annie and Sam slowly developed. There was never a dull moment and I really liked the two of them together. They are so different from each other, but the sparks were there from the start, even if it took them a while to figure it out themselves. There were of course also some obstacles in the way, but that keeps you going as a reader.

Lindsey Kelk's writing is absosultey hilarious, romantic, passionte and just fantastic. She really understands how to engage a reader. 11 out of 10 points for this book for sure!!!!!

The story really is a modern day My Fair Lady, it's got a twist, a gende swap and of course the whole social media thing, just brilliant!!!

Rating:

Lindsey Kelk on Twitter: @LindseyKelk

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A Summer Scandal- by Kat French

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb: 

Summer has never been so scandalous…

When Violet moves to Swallow Beach, she inherits a small Victorian pier in with an empty arcade perched on the end of it, and falls in love immediately. She wants nothing more than to rejuvenate it and make it grand again – but how?

When she meets hunky Calvin, inspiration strikes. What if she turned the arcade into an adult-themed arcade full of artisan shops?

Not everyone in the town is happy with the idea, but Violet loves her arcade and business begins to boom. But as tensions worsen and the heat between her and Calvin begins to grow, life at Swallow Beach becomes tricky. Is it worth staying to ride out the storm? And can Violet find her own happy ending before the swallows fly south for the winter?

Sexy, sassy and full of heart, Kat French is back in a new summer sizzler.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

After her grandfather Henry dies, Violet inherits a small Victorian pier in Swallow Beach. Henry has lived there, but he left the place, after his wife Monica died. Violet’s mum Della doesn’t want to speak of the place and when Violet decides to go there for the summer, she is not happy. 

Violet is with Simon, but when he proposes she just can’t say yes. She doesn’t feel that he is the one and she is very clear about that to him. He doesn’t seem to understand though…

Violet goes to Swallow Beach and the adventure begins. She lives in her grandmother’s flat and it’s like no time has passed. The apartment still has all the old interior and it’s filled with some surprises. Violet meets her neighbour Cal, who is very handsome, but also a little mysterious. They get on well from the start, I would say, they had instant chemistry. He sparks her creativity and they start making exciting plans for the pier. She also meets Barty, someone, who actually knew her grandmother. Keris is a fun young girl, who turns out to be a great friend. However, there are also people, who don’t like Violet’s appearance. Her plans for the pier are also not to their taste. 

Cal’s and Violet’s relationship is an up and down, with sparks flying constantly ad there is definitely a deep connection between them. Things get interesting when Simon turns up and Cal has a secret as well. The way he handles things, when that certain person turns up, was confusing to me, but it fit the storyline. 

I really adored the scenes between him ad Violet, so sweet, but also passionate and sexy. 

Violet also finds Monica’s diary and she discovered a lot about her grandmother, also that she is very similar the her. 

For Violet this book is definitely a journey of learning what she really wants in life. There are rocks on the way, but that’s part of it. I loved following her through these important stages of life. 

The plot has a fab flow, the characters are fantastic and the setting is gorgeous as well. Kat French really bring the pier to life and makes a story lively and fresh. 

I was hooked from the start and the storyline was full of drama, passion and love. It’s funny, sexy and the perfect read for summer!

Rating:

Kat French on Twitter: @KFrenchBooks

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The Forgotten Guide to Happiness - by Sophie Jenkins

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb: 

Sometimes, happiness can be found where you least expect it… 
Twenty-eight-year-old Lana Green has never been good at making friends. She’s perfectly happy to be left alone with her books. Or at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Nancy Ellis Hall was once a celebrated writer. Now eighty, she lives alone in her North London house, and thinks she’s doing just fine. But dementia is loosening Nancy’s grip on the world.

When Lana and Nancy become unconventional house mates, their lives will change in ways they never expected. But can an unusual friendship rescue two women who don’t realise they need to be saved?

An irresistible story of love, memory and the power of friendship that readers of The Keeper of Lost Things and The Lido will adore.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Lana Green is a writer, who is now trying to write her second book, after having successfully published Love Crazy. It was based on her real life experiences and now that her boyfriend is gone, with no goal to come back anytime soon, she doesn’t know what to write about. Lana doesn’t know what to do and her financial problems don’t help at all. 

Lana starts looking after Nancy Ellis Hall, a once successful writer, who suffers from dementia now. She also starts spending a lot of time with Nancy’s stepson Jack. The two of them get along really well and I really adored their scenes and moments together. He made her enjoy life again and she finally had something to write about again. I definitely felt a chemistry between them, but for Lana it wasn’t an obvious connection at all. It all gets destroyed when her former boyfriend Mark comes back. 

Lana also started teaching literary classes, where she made new friends. When Mark is back, she just goes back to him, as if nothing happened. That’s where I kind of lost interest in the book, because I didn’t understand her decision and her actions. 

The characters, who kept me in the book were Jack and Nancy. He was a lovely character, with a great heart and a lot of passion. Nancy is so sweet and I think the author found a great way to include dementia in this story.

The ending was a bit confusing in my eyes and I just couldn’t find a connection to Lana anymore. 

Sophie Jenkins writing is cute, quirky and enjoyable, but I really struggled with the flow of the story. 

Rating:

Sophie Jenkins on Twitter: @sophiejenkinsuk

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Book of the Month - June

The books I read this month:

-      Theo –by Amanda Prowse 4.5/5

-      The Little Cornish Kitchen –by Jane Linfoot 3/5

-      Daisy’s Vintage Cornish Camper Van –by Ali McNamara 5/5

-      Best Practice –by Penny Parkes 4.5/5

-      While I Was Sleeping –by Dani Atkins 5/5

-      The Cottage on Sunshine Beach –by Holly Martin 5/5

-      The Happiness List –by Annie Lyons 5/5

-      The Summer Getaway –by Tilly Tennant 4.5/5

Two of these books really stood out to me: 

Daisy’s Vintage Camper Van – Ali McNamara

The bit on the back:

Welcome to the gorgeous Cornish town of St Felix, where there's magic in the air...

When Ana inherits a broken-down camper van from her best friend, she takes the chance for a quick trip to Cornwall - some sea air and fish and chips on the beach is just the tonic she needs. 

But St Felix has bigger plans for Ana. She discovers a series of unsent postcards, dating back to the 1950s, hidden in the upholstery of the van. Ana knows that it's a sign: she'll make sure that the messages reach the person that they were meant for. And as the broken-down van is restored to gleaming health, so Ana begins to find her way back to happiness.

My opinion:

I went through all the emotions reading this book; I laughed, I cried, I felt happy, sad etc. Ali McNamara’s writing is full of passion and heart. I felt so close to the characters and I was really routing for Ana. The book includes mystery, romance, friendship, love, beautiful settings and amazing moments. 

Full review: http://simonascornerofdreams.blogspot.com/2018/06/daisys-vintage-cornish-camper-van-by.html

Ali McNamara on Twitter: @AliMcNamara

Website: http://www.alimcnamara.co.uk

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While I Was Sleeping – Dani Atkins

The bit on the back:

A brand new and brilliant emotional family drama for fans of Jojo Moyes and Dorothy Koomson, from the bestselling author of Fractured.

I don't remember what happened or what has changed.

I can still hear your voices but you can't seem to hear me.

I was about to be married and had everything to look forward to.

Now I have to find a way back - to you, to our family, to us.

My opinion:

This book absolutely touched my heart. I don’t think I ever cried so much, reading a book. It’s heart-breaking, poignant, moving and tear-jerking. 

The ending of the book made me speechless!!!

it was absolutely BRILLIANT!!! On so many levels…

Review: http://simonascornerofdreams.blogspot.com/2018/06/while-i-was-sleeping-by-dani-atkins.html

Dani Atkins on Twitter: @AtkinsDani

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Q & A with Penny Parkes

Did you always dream of being a writer?

It has to be said that I have talkedabout being a writer for as long as I can remember, but that didn’t always translate into actually writing. My Convent school didn’t consider making up stories to be a valid career path, so I contented myself with reading everything I could get my hands on instead.

How did your writing career develop?

I started out finding film locations – not the obvious apprenticeship to becoming an author – but, as it turns out, very good training for learning to look behind the scenes, and beyond the superficial.

Beginning that first novel really was a leap of faith and, for that first year I immersed myself in every bookish event, festival and writing workshop I could find. It was the writing life, as much as the writing, that drew me in.

Your newest novel is called Best Practice,what is it about?

Best Practice is really about the things in life that we take for granted, always assuming they will be there for us if we need them.  In this case, it was the Air Ambulance service that really caught my attention.

Not to mention that Holly and Taffy are planning their wedding, with plenty of time for second thoughts and hiccups, despite Elsie Townsend being on hand with some world class meddling – her notion that you should plan life to suit yourself rather than convention certainly proves timely. 

And Alice Walker, with Coco at her side, is about to confront the reality that not all her emotional baggage is metaphorical…

What was your inspiration for the book?

A few years ago there was a riding accident locally – the young girl in question could only be reached by air ambulance, and indeed their skill and timely intervention made all the difference. It had been bubbling away in the back of my mind ever since, apparently, as when I sat down to write, the new character of Chris Virtue simply arrived on the page.

Where and when do you write your stories?

I’m actually making more of an effort to write everywhere, rather than trying to create that perfect moment! Out of preference, I will write on the sofa in my study with The Ginger Ninja beside me, or even in bed. If I can’t find peace and quiet then the noise cancelling headphones are a Godsend. I tend to use time on the train, or driving, swimming or walking the dog to do my plotting and planning.

What do you do and enjoy when you’re not writing?

I love to read – and quite varied genres from comedy to thrillers to domestic noir. I genuinely feel twitchy if I don’t have a book on the go. I’m also a huge movie fan, so I save trips to the cinema as carrots to get the work done.

If I get any proper downtime, then I will always be plotting a trip – more of an adventure than a holiday.

What books have influenced your life most? 

I think it would have to be the books I was reading as a teenager and young adult that made me want to be an author – although that list has grown over the years. Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous by Jilly Cooper were two pivotal reads for me. And then later, Jane Fallon’s wickedly funny Getting Rid Of Matthew. All of them added weight to my dream to create a chunky novel of my very own.

What are you working on at the moment?

I have just this week handed in my copy edits for Private Practice (out 2019) and intend to take a few weeks to plot and plan my next Larkford adventure – something a little different but still with the Larkford soul that my readers know and love.

Pick three authors you want to have dinner with and tell us why.

I have to confess to being incredibly lucky to count some of my very favourite authors amongst my friends, and the Cotswold posse regularly get together to put the world to rights over a roast chicken and a glass of rosé. Likewise the Simon and Schuster dream team make sure their authors are never lonely; we’re all in touch with each other for moral support (and the occasional cocktail) Please don’t make me choose – they’re all gorgeous!

Coffee or tea?

Coffee.  Always coffee. Black – don’t dilute the caffeine!

Paperback or e-reader?

Paperback for choice (I can read in the bath) but Kindle for travelling or there’s no room in my suitcase for clothes!

Mountains or the sea?

Mountains and lakes every time.

Sweet or salty?

When it comes to popcorn – both together!