Summer At 23 The Strand by Linda Mitchelmore

Serena Ross aka Martha, escapes to number 23 after cutting her ties with her acting career and nearly causing a marriage split during said career she flees back to the UK in order to rethink on where life should be leading her next. After dying her hair and using contacts, she's sure she's unrecognizable.

She finds number 23 homely and falls in love with it its also near number 20 where Hugh, a nature photographer is staying with an injured leg.

She later leaves a gift and message to the next visitors.

Cally arrives with her husband and two young sons where she gets a break from worrying about a lump she has found on her breast. She finds the gift and decides to also leave a gift to the next guest after finding the necklace Martha left behind signed her real name.

Arthur arrives and strikes up a bond with Hannah a new widow and her young son whom need a break. Arthur never had children and lost his wife years previous. They all find comfort in each other.

There's also Ana, looking for work and a new life, Stella a stay at home mum to three kids and more in this book which depicts a trail of visitors and the gifts they leave in the chain of visitors that stay at number 23.

I really loved this book as it reminded me of Cressida McLaughlin's Blue Moon Guest House series which I loved too! This book showed how a break and escaping the normal day to day life can help gain perspective on situations and events we're dealing with in our lives. Each story was touching and hit quite serious topics during the whole novel showing the array of issues people find themselves dealing with.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!