Dining At Davinci's - Annette Hannah
- Lynne Shelby
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Today, I'm delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for Annette Hannah's new novel, Dining At Davinci's
Here is my review:
A beautifully written dual timeline novel, Dining At Davinci’s is a wonderfully romantic read. It is the latest book in Annette Hannah’s series of books set in the market town of Bramblewood – although you don’t need to have read the other books to enjoy this one.
It tells the stories of two women, Dolly and Gracie, not only their love stories, but the challenges they face and the sometimes heartbreaking choices they have to make. Both Dolly and Gracie are engaging characters, who leap off the page, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their stories.
In 1975, art student Dolly Davinci takes a summer job in a hotel in the market town of Bramblewood. When she meets Tom, her boss’s son, her life will never be the same . . .
In 2018, Gracie Hart inherits a mysterious bunch of keys from her friend and mentor Dolly Davinci. At a crossroads in her life, having discovered that her fiancé has been lying to her, Gracie heads to Bramblewood to search for the address on the keyring. Here she meets Finn, and as the two of them try to uncover the secrets of the past that Dolly always kept hidden, a new future beckons for Gracie, if she has the courage to follow her dreams and re-discover the person she used to be.
The two women’s stories are very cleverly interwoven, and complement each other, with events in the past being reflected in the present, small details like a dress worn in 1975 being vintage clothing in 2018 underlining the links between them. I loved all the nostalgic details of the 1975 timeline. The contrast with 2018, particularly the way attitudes towards women have changed, is very well depicted, and unexpected twists and turns in the plot give the book a depth of emotion and that is very moving.
I read this warm-hearted, uplifting book in one day, as once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down until I’d found out what had happened to Dolly – and what was going to happen to Gracie. I’ve read all of Annette Hannah’s books, and I think this is her best one yet. I can’t wait for my next visit to Bramblewood.
If you would like to purchase Dining At Davinci's, please click on the links below:
Amazon link UK:
Amazon link US:
About Annette Hannah:
Annette Hannah is a Liver Bird who relocated from Liverpool to leafy Hertfordshire in the 80’s and now lives near a river with her husband, two of their three grown up children and a crazy black cocker spaniel. She writes Romantic comedies in settings inspired by the beautiful countryside around her and always with a nod to her home town.
She worked in Marketing for many years as a qualified Marketeer which she loved as it tapped into her creative side.
As an avid reader, she began to review the books she read, became a book blogger and eventually plucked up the courage to fulfil her life long dream of writing a book.
For four years she was a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s, New Writers’ Scheme, during which time she wrote a book a year. After signing a two book deal with Orion Dash in 2020 she graduated to full member of the organisation and was also their Press Officer and a Director for six years.
She loves long walks along the river, travelling to far flung places and spending time with her friends and family.
You can follow her on:
Instagram @annettehannah
Facebook @annettehannahauthor
Here is Dining At Davinci's blurb:
1975
When seventeen-year-old art student, Dolly Davinci’s fiancé goes to work in Australia for a year, she moves to the quaint market town of Bramblewood for a summer job in a hotel. But when she meets Tom, her boss’s dangerously handsome son, sparks begin to fly and Dolly’s destiny is irrevocably changed forever.
2018
Gracie Hart is devastated to find her fiancé has been lying to her, denying her the one thing she wants most in life. Whilst looking after his children for the past ten years, Gracie has lost sight of who she is.
When she receives a mysterious bunch of keys from her late friend and mentor Dolly, she heads to Bramblewood to search for the address engraved on the keyring.
Whilst exploring Dolly’s favourite haunts, Gracie meets gorgeous blue-eyed engineer, Finn and with the help of a cassette player and Dolly’s paintings, found in her old canal boat, they unravel the hidden truths in Dolly’s past.
Will they be able to piece together the fragments of Dolly’s heart and will Gracie find the inspiration to paint the future of her dreams with Finn?
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