Author: Lily Malone
ISBN: 9781489250469
RRP: $29.99
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Lily Malone is a West Australian author who writes captivating contemporary romances with in-depth characterisation and an intense attention to detail. She is an author who has been on my radar for a couple of years but I have never quite got as far as picking up one of her books.
Water Under the Bridge is the latest release by Lily Malone, published by Harlequin Mira, and it’s the first of a three book series set in the fictional West Australian town of Chalk Hill. The first of three, that’s enough to excite me. It means a whole town of characters that we will get to know, and hopefully love, as we follow their lives through more than one story.
Ella Davenport avoids swimming pools since leaving the world of competitive swimming so when she picks a new career selling property she chooses a town far from the water and devoid of swimming pools. She’s still learning the real estate trade but is determined and persistent.
Jake Honeychurch is forced to sell his nanna’s house, against all of his own wishes, so he lists it with the rookie and asks way too much. What better way to make it difficult to sell.
This is a contemporary small town story so of course there are developers sniffing around, and their eye is on Honeychurch House. Ella has her hands full negotiating to close her first sale and readers will travel the rocky road of her new career path with her, and all the Chalk Hill residents as she discovers whether or not she can take a chance at a new start.
I look forward to curling up with Water Under the Bridge sometime very soon, but in the meantime 20 of our Beauty and Lace Club members are already reading Water Under the Bridge thanks to Harlequin, so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
Water Under the Bridge is available now through Harlequin and from Angus and Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for giving me this book to read.
Ella Davenport has decided to move herself and her child to Chalk Hill a nice little country town for a fresh start.
With a new career selling property her old life as a swimming champion is long behind her.
Jake doesn’t want to sell his Nanna’s house and he asks the new real estate agent to sell it. He asks for and hefty price knowing that it won’t sell.
Ella is trying as hard as she can to sell this house but as it’s a small country town buyers aren’t rushing in.
Lily Malone has written a wonderful Country boy city girl love story with a difference.
Oh wow I’d never thought of it that way moments popped up every now and then, and there are some very positive messaged in there.
This is a love story that makes you stop and think with all the cleverly crafted words of wisdom written into it.
I liked the story of Ella and Jake and how there are so many other little things happening all the time.
Love doesn’t always flow the way we want it to and there are some interesting things happening to keep you entertained and amused.
I’m so excited that this is the first book in a three-book series as I can’t wait to follow the rest of the story of Jake and Ella and the residents of Chalk Hill
I found Water Under the Bridge an interesting read with a fairly unique storyline as we follow the romance between Ella and Jake. Ella is an ex-almost Olympian swimmer who gave up her career at a young age with the birth of her son. 10 years on she has separated from her husband and moved to the small town of Chalk Hill where she is trying to focus on doing what’s right for her and not everyone else. She takes on the challenge of becoming a real estate agent which is extremely hard with only 1 homeowner willing to let her list their home. The owner turns out to be Jake who secretly doesn’t want to sell the house but needs to list it for his own reasons. A romantic interest forms but ex husbands, children and town dramas constantly put a stall on their relationship as well as their own demons. I enjoyed the story and it really questioned the pre conceptions you often can make about characters. I great read for anyone who likes a rural romance and I look forward to reading more about Chalk Hill’s residents in Malone’s future books. Thanks Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for a good read.
My first read from Lily Malone. I very much enjoyed this book and couldn’t stop reading it. I didn’t want to finish it.
I loved the storyline and how there were a few questions raised throughout the book that are all eventually answered but left me on the edge of my seat wanting to know more.
The small country town of Chalk hill was written beautifully and I love the characters and homely/welcoming feel.
I look forward to reading more books from the Chalk Hill Series. I really hope that there will be more to read on Jake and Ella ❤️
Ella Davenports chance at Olympic gold was ruined by a bad decision.
Ella chose Chalk Hill for her new career in Real Estate. she meet with Jack Honeychruch in regards to the sale of his Nanas home ella’s first big sale.
this hangs in the balance because of the breaking news of a waterski park to be build in the area which includes jacks house.
can Ella throw off the failure of the past and take a chance of a new life of have her dreams been washed away again.
Lily Malone has a very unique way of capturing the characters and the story lines are great
looking forward to reading more from her
A truly delightful story centred around Ella, her son Sam and there move to Chalk Hill were hercareer commences in selling property. Not withstanding she was a champion swimmer, the town embrasses her and manages to convince her to assist in re-opening the local swimming pool. A few issues along the way with Sam challenging her at times, getting into trouble and boy attitude which makes them both unhappy. Except they both fall for Jake, whose Nanna’s house Ella has been trying to sell.
Some issues in Ella’s past need addressing before she and Sam can be really happy and along with a few changes in mind, happiness isn’t far away.
Lily Malone, I love this story and I than you for your writing skills. Beauty and Lace and also Harlequin books thank you for the opportunity to read this story.
This is the first time I have read one of Lily Malone’s book.
And it was fantastic!
So thank you Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for sending me this book to read.
Lily captured me early on in the novel with Ella’s story.
I was hooked and addicted
Thanks xx
“Water under the Bridge” by Lily Malone is lovely tale that I felt moved along at a beautiful pace but did not give me that feeling of not wanting to put it down or read through the night. It is based in the beautiful fictional town of Chalk Hill and is the first in what will be a three-book series based on this delightful town and characters.
Ella Davenport is the main character of the novel – a woman with a past that she is running from, whilst trying to find her feet in a new career in real estate after being a professional swimmer. She moves to Chalk Hill to start over with her son Sam a moody teenager not happy at his Mum moving them to the middle of nowhere and not having time for him like she use to. As you progress through the novel you are given snippets that tell the story of why her Olympic dream was shattered and why she wants to stay out of the water for good.
Jack Honeychurch is determined to not sell his Nanna’s house and this is how he meets Ella as the house becomes his first listing. Why does he not want to sell? this is another story told through the novel.
The book introduces you to the people of Chalk Hill and the place becomes another character.
Thank you Harlequin Books and Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Water Under the Bridge is a good read. Ella Davenport made a bad decision ruin her chance of gold. All she has left is to be a real estate agent to sell Jakes mothers place. He really doesn’t want to sell the house so he sidetracks the negotiations with Ella.
Well written and very enjoyable. As a country girl I can relate to this in so many ways.
I recommend this to anyone who likes a story of romance with a happy ending, and a few curves in between.
Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and Beauty and Lace for the advance copy.
What a beautiful love story.
Water under the bridge is the first novel I have read of Lily Malone, and I look forward to reading more!
Ella and Jake are both strong characters in this novel who fall in love with one another. But they both have secrets that keep them apart.
Love, lust, sex and passion ………..
Thank you beauty and lace xx