Book Review: Wish You Were Here Holiday Memories

An email from Anne @RandomTTours: ‘Would you like to join a blog tour for an Anthology of Travel stories?’

Miche @TouringTales: Yes, yes, yes, pick me, pick me 🙂

I’m delighted today to kick off the book blog tour for Wish You Were Here Holiday Memories. A travel anthology curated by Alyson Sheldrake, of short stories from twenty top travel memoir writers. Sounds like the perfect book for Touring Tales Travel and Book readers.

I don’t know about you but I always find January a bit tough. The Christmas decorations are back in the loft and we’re waiting for pay day. The weather is often cold, wet and miserable, but at least you can snuggle up with a good book and finish off the bottle of Baileys. 🙂

January is a great time to plan your holidays for this year. Will it be a weekend break, a summer holiday or that road trip you’ve been dreaming about? (Don’t forget to check out my Scotland Road Trip Series).

With holiday planning in mind, read my book review of Wish You Were Here Holiday Memories. This book will inspire you to book that next trip. I hope you enjoy this travel anthology as much as I did.

Book Cover Notes

Favourite holidays and special travel memories are shared in this anthology featuring twenty award-winning and top travel memoir authors.

We all have that one holiday that stands out in our minds. That one break or vacation we will never forget. Whether it is a childhood ‘bucket and spade’ family holiday. The ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ dream destination, your first trip abroad or the city where you first fell in love. The memories are still there today.

The authors in this anthology bring out their postcards and photo albums and invite you to join them as they reminisce about their travels. Maybe they will inspire you to book your next holiday too.

My Thoughts

What I love about anthologies is that they’re a great way to discover new authors. I’m always on the look out for new or established travel writers to read and follow. So I was delighted to be invited to join the blog tour for Wish You Were Here Holiday Memories. The anthology book is a globetrotting compilation of travel memoirs narrated by twenty award-winning and top travel writing authors.

Each chapter follows one of the authors as they share holiday memories, either from childhood, or more recently. From the comfort of my sofa I was transported to far away places such as Africa and The Galapagos Islands. The authors took me on a journey on trains, planes and automobiles (sorry great movie couldn’t resist it). There was even a trip on a Banana boat!

These short stories whisked me away to sunny days in the Mediterranean. Had me laughing out loud at holiday observations in Ireland. I particularly enjoyed reading how some authors found writing inspiration during their holiday adventures. I now have several new travel books added to my ‘To Be Read’ list for this year.

Some of the travel memoirs were entertaining and laugh out loud, others prompted welcome reminders of my own adventure holidays. I found Borrowed Earth by Adrian Sturrock, the most astonishing, moving and humbling short story of all. The author shares an honest account of his holiday memories from a trip to Africa. I loved the authors style of travel writing and I was hooked from the first page. Jaw dropping honesty, eye opening and a heart breaking story that has stayed with me well after reading.

We all love going on our holidays, whether to relax and unwind or to go on an adventure to re-energise. As you will discover reading this travel anthology, some holiday trips can be full of surprises or even life changing. So whilst we ride out the winter months go grab yourself a copy of Wish You Were Here Holiday Memories. Follow the authors holidays in this fascinating travel anthology and find inspiration to book your next holiday adventure.

Summary

This engaging compendium of travel memoirs reminds me why I love to travel.

I’m already packing my van ready for another adventure. Where are you going to go next?

Where To Buy Online

Amazon (UK)

Further book info

• Published Date: 9th November 2021
• Publisher: Independent
• Page Count: 366

About The Author

Alyson Sheldrake was born in Birmingham in 1968. She has always loved art and painting, although she found little time for such pleasures, working full time after graduation. Alyson joined the Devon and Cornwall Police in 1992 and served for thirteen years, before leaving to work in the field of education. She became the Director of Education for the Church of England in Devon in 2008.

Once her husband Dave retired from the Police, their long-held dream of living in the sun could become a reality. Alyson Sheldrake is the author of the award-winning Algarve Blog. She is also a feature writer for the Tomorrow Magazine in the Algarve.

Now an accomplished and sought-after artist working alongside her husband, Dave, a professional photographer. Alyson has published three books about their Algarve Adventures: Living the Dream – in the Algarve, Portugal; Living the Quieter Algarve Dream; and an anthology of expat stories entitled A New Life in the Algarve, Portugal.

Her next writing adventure took her into the world of anthologies, with her Travel Stories Series. The first book, Chasing the Dream – A new life abroad, was released in June 2021. This was followed in September 2021 by Itchy Feet – Tales of travel and adventure.

Wish You Were Here – Holiday Memories, is the third book in the series.

When Alyson is not painting or writing, you can find her walking their rescued Spanish water dog called Kat along the riverbank in Aljezur, Portugal.

Where To Find Alyson Sheldrake Online

Twitter | Website | Instagram | Facebook

Blog Tour Organised by

Random Things Tours

Many thanks to Anne @randomttours for inviting me on the tour and thanks also to Alyson Sheldrake for my digital copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Finally, I hope you’ve enjoyed my book review of Wish You Were Here Holiday Memories curated by Alyson Sheldrake.

Go grab yourself a copy of the book today. Don’t forget to check out Alyson’s other books including:

Itchy Feet – Tales of travel and adventure: An anthology of travel stories.

From the Indonesian jungle, to an epic journey out of Africa, and rafting the Zambezi, twenty intrepid and inspiring authors share their adventures with you in this anthology of travel stories.

Living the Dream: in the Algarve, Portugal: Book 1 (The Algarve Dream Series)

Have you ever been on holiday abroad and wondered what it would be like to live there?

Alyson and Dave Sheldrake did. They fell in love with a little fishing village in the Algarve, Portugal, and were determined to realise their dream of living abroad. They bought a house there, ended their jobs, packed up everything they owned and moved to the Algarve to start a new life.

Living the Quieter Algarve Dream: Book 2 (The Algarve Dream Series)

In this part guidebook, mostly memoir, find out why the Algarve is a favourite destination for so many, and why this couple have made it their home.

This honest and often hilarious story is the continuation of their Algarve Adventures. It can stand alone as a book for you to enjoy, and is also the follow-up to Living the Dream – in the Algarve, Portugal.

Find ALL Alyson Sheldrake Books To Order Here

You Might Also Like: 

Read my book review of Nothing Good Happens After Midnight an Anthology of Thriller stories.

Teaming up with New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver, Suspense Magazine offers up a nail-biting anthology.

This thrilling collection consists of thirteen original short stories representing the genres of suspense/thriller, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, and more.

Find more Non-Fiction Book reviews from Touring Tales.

New to Touring Tales? Find out more About me here

Shop for your next adventure