What’s more to say about my blog about books I’ve read?
Well, this is my blog about books I’ve read 😀.
I always liked reading books, and it all started on a very silly way… It’s always good to blame my dad, so he is the cause of my reading addiction.
When I was still a little girl, a looooooong time ago, I saw him always going to the bathroom with the newspaper. One day I wondered why he did that, so I took a book and tried to see the fun of that.
And since that day, you can find everywhere in the house a book of mine.
A while ago, I had the opportunity to review some books, and now a new opportunity came to post them on an own blog.
So here we are, my own blog!
I read books, and I will post my thoughts about them.
Some books I’ll like, some I won’t like that much…. but you can be sure that I’ll give you my personal and honest opinion about them.
When a heart has been broken, what else can it take?
Synopsis
💔 How do you mend a broken heart? 💔
Michelle finally thought she’d found love with her hot Greek doctor. But when Demetri reveals he’s returning home to care for his sick mother, Michelle’s dream future crumbles. Choosing not to follow him feels like losing more than just love – it feels like losing who she’d started to become.
Determined not to fall apart, Michelle decides to throw herself into rebuilding her life in Sandpiper Shore, but then unexpectedly, Demetri’s brother, Makkis, arrives on her doorstep. Offering him a room seems like the kind thing to do… but the constant reminder of her lost love is difficult for her heartbroken soul.
And the more time she spends with Makkis, the clearer it becomes: there are parts of Demetri she never knew… Just as Michelle starts to heal with a little help from her friends, she’s faced with a decision: fight for the love she knows she deserves, or finally learn how to let go…
My review
The moment Michelle made the move to Sandpiper Shore, she felt that she had finally found a place that made her feel home. Not only has she found new best friends, who support her through thick and thin, but she also found love with the local Greek doctor, Demetri. She never believed to feel like this again, but with Demetri, it all just feels right. That is, until Demetri reveals that he needs to return to Greece, to help with the care of his sick mother. Even if he asked her to come along, Michelle cannot leave behind the life she has been building in Sandpiper Shore. So after being left behind heartbroken, Michelle tries her best to not completely fall apart. And then Demetri’s brother, Makkis, is standing on her doorstep. As there is no other place for him to stay, Michelle does the right thing and offers Makkis a room, even if it is a constant reminder of what she has lost. And through Makkis, Michelle learns things about Demetri’s life in Greece she never knew about, making her doubt she truly knew the man she still loves. Slowly picking up the pieces of her life, with the help of her friends, Michelle finds herself at a crossroad: choose for love or learn to completely let go…
Firstly, what a delight it was to return to Sandpiper Shore! With each book, I like, or rather – love, the place more and more! Not only because it looks like a great place to be living, but also and mainly for the community that is residing here! So of course with a new story ready to be read, I had to grab this next chapter with both hands!
Having read the previous parts of this series, I already kind of knew Michelle and her Demetri a little bit. And as curious I am, I just could not wait to get to know Michelle better, and I was eager to read how her love story would evolve, especially as she seemingly already has found love. And yes, I am the kind of person that doesn’t read the blurb of a new book, if it is from an author that I love 😊.
While it saddened me that Demetri is leaving Michelle behind rather quickly in the book, I could also understand both characters. As Demetri’s mother is unwell, it is more than normal that he wants to go to assist her back in Greece. But I could also understand why Michelle doesn’t want to leave her life behind in Sandpiper Shore.
Because Michelle has worked hard to get where she is now in her life, and leaving it all behind, in a different country, a different country, with people who she doesn’t know, I wouldn’t be that eager too. And it is absolutely not that Michelle doesn’t love Demetri, as she clearly does.
But to be honest, Demetri is acting a bit strange, not only is he keeping his plans hidden from Michelle for a while, and even when his plans are out in the open, there are some calls that made me wary. I wanted to trust Demetri completely, but just like Michelle, I found his behaviour just a bit odd.
That last goodbye between Michelle and Demetri was truly heartbreaking, as it also meant the end of their relationship. Better a clean cut, avoiding to prolong the inevitable that would come anyway…
With Michelle struggling after Demetri’s departure, shows again how deep her feelings were and still are for the Greek doctor. And it was sweet reading how her friends are there for her, to commiserate with her, but also to give her the figuratively kick in the ass.
I have to admit, when Makkis arrives and becomes a part of the story, I was a bit suspicious of him. Not because he behaves in a bad way, but it seems all a bit too coincidental. And yes, he takes things a bit too much for granted.
It was sweet of Michelle to let him stay in a room, showing her kind character, but I felt that perhaps clear agreements should have been made, especially as we see the further the story evolves, the more advantage is being taken of.
Perhaps you would think that Michelle is being too gullible in this book, too trustworthy of a stranger. But in her defence, while going through heartbreak, do we ever make smart choices then? I truly believe that in normal circumstances, Michelle wouldn’t fall for it at all.
With everything that Michelle is hearing about Demetri, she finds herself truly at a crossroad. Are her feelings strong enough to believe her heart, and follow her heart? Or is it truly time to move on and forget about the man she loved? It is not an easy choice to make, especially as her choice will determine her life…
Obviously in this book, we see how Michelle is coping after Demetri’s departure. But at the same time, it is also a story about regret, past mistakes, trust and determination. Because we see at one point how Michelle truly has the desire to reconnect with someone close to her.
And that is also an important aspect, I believe. Because no matter how much time has passed, it is never too late to reconnect, to find those important people of your life once again. And it shows that those people can truly become important once again, as they enrich your present life once again.
This story is about picking up the pieces of your life again, after being heartbroken. We see the vulnerability of people, but also the perhaps unexpected strength of them. We see how after every rainfall, the sun will shine again. And that the most difficult choices in your life can change the course of your life.
Kim Nash didn’t amaze me with this book, because I already knew that I would be totally swept away by this book. A book that saddened me, made me laugh, made me even angry, but most important, made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside 😊.
When you are accustomed on being alone, is it too late to have a change?
Synopsis
Rhana Black has always been content with her quiet life in the Pelican Crossing hinterland, where she spends her days breeding spaniels. Following a traumatic incident at her school formal and weighed down by her own insecurities about her appearance, Rhana has shied away from any romantic relationships. That is, until a chance encounter with a hot air balloonist changes everything.
Steve Morton has been struggling to move on after the tragic death of his pregnant fiancée. In search of solace, he finds himself in Pelican Crossing, where he rediscovers his love for flying and starts offering hot air balloon rides and scenic helicopter flights along the coast. When he meets Rhana, he is taken aback by the intense emotions he feels towards her.
As Rhana and Steve navigate their complicated pasts and undeniable chemistry, they must decide if they are willing to break their self-imposed barriers and take a chance on love. But with their old wounds and deep insecurities threatening to keep them apart, can they be able to overcome their fears and find happiness together?
My review
Rhana has always enjoyed her rather solitary life in Pelican Crossing. She doesn’t need more than spending her time breeding spaniels and finding the perfect homes for the pups. Romance is absolutely the last thing on her mind, especially after a traumatic incident while she was at school. Even too many people around her are tricky, her new neighbour Steve Morton included. Yet she ahs to admit, she likes seeing his hot air balloon flying over Pelican Crossing! Steve himself has been struggling since years ago he lost his pregnant fiancée. But with his fresh start at Pelican Crossing, he hopes he has finally found a place that he can call home. He for sure rediscovered his passion for flying, whether it is by offering hot air balloon rides or scenic helicopter flights. What he didn’t expect, is to find himself intrigued by his introvert neighbour, Rhana. However, with both of them having troubled pasts and high built walls, will they find the courage to give love a chance again? Or are they both too stuck in their loneliness to change?
Whenever I start a book of this series, there is a sort of calmness and peace that comes over me. And that is all because of the lovely characters that I have met here over all the different books. Yes, calmness and peace, even if the main characters all have to face their struggles in life and need to find the courage to give love another chance.
Having read the previous books, of course I already know a tiny bit who Rhana is. But it is not that I knew her all that well, so obviously I was eager to get to know this mysterious woman with a passion for spaniels better.
Being a bit of an introvert myself, I could quickly connect with Rhana. I could understand perfectly why she doesn’t need anyone around her, why she enjoys her own company and those of her spaniels. And that was even before I knew about her past, and that made me understand her solitude even better.
Obviously, reading those bits, truly broke my heart, especially reading how it still affects her, and how it only deepened her own securities even more. No one should ever go through what Rhana has been through, yet unfortunately we read how even in the present these things are still happening…
But no matter how reclusive Rhana is, we also see her gentle, kind and caring character. Not only with her spaniels, but also when she sees a young woman that may need help. Even when her friends try to warn her, as it may not seem smart to take a complete stranger in house, Rhana feels it in her heart it is the right thing to do, and is even more convinced when she in fact finds a young woman going through the same turmoil she herself once went through. And it warmed my heart to see how protective, motherly, Rhana becomes…
And slowly, very slowly, we see Rhana stepping more outside in the world, or rather Pelican Crossing. And yes, Steve also has something to do with it, even if Rhana is initially not all that happy with the helicopter flights Steve organises.
Steve arrived in Pelican Crossing after living somewhere else before, but now he feels the need to settle in one place, and when the opportunity arose to buy property in Pelican Crossing, he just had to grab this chance.
I could understand how he felt that need, because even after years, the pain over his losses is still something he is carrying around. Such losses are not easy to overcome, and it for sure somehow blocks you to move forward, to give someone a chance.
Yet the better we get to know Steve, the more I was in fact a bit in awe. Because he has already proofed in the past what a generous person he is, and still is. And he is also a modest person about it, he isn’t bragging about what he has done or wants to do. On the contrary, he feels very uncomfortable the more people know about his actions…
I also liked it how understanding Steve is. Not only with the compassion he shows when his usual helpers are unable to help for the moment, but also with Rhana. No matter what he is feeling for her, he understands that Rhana needs more time and he is willing to give her all the time she needs, and is willing to go at her pace.
For me, the more I was reading in this book, the more it felt that this book was a work – in – progress – book. Because while there is absolutely some sparks flying around between Rhana and Steve, it was more about both main characters slowly getting out of their shelves, stepping more outside and let people (back) in. We see with both Rhana and Steve, that it is never to change, to become more outgoing (but not losing the essence of you). And that speaking out about the haunting secrets of the past can truly be alleviating.
This for sure was another heart – warming, inspiring story. It was exactly what I was expecting from this author, in another brand new story of a series that captured my heart, despite the age difference between myself and the characters in it 😊.
When a search for a mysterious lighthouse brings light back in life.
Synopsis
His love might be the light she’s looking for
After a string of disasters, music teacher Lottie Ashford is out of options. So when her well-meaning mother suggests she restore an old family property – a crumbling lighthouse on the remote island of Barra – Lottie reluctantly agrees.
Local fitness fanatic Ruaridh Griffin has been unlucky in love. When Lottie turns up at his sister’s B&B asking for help to find a mystery lighthouse, he can’t help wanting to assist – and he’s instantly drawn to her. But getting involved with a visitor is one thing he’s sworn never to do again.
As Barra weaves its quiet magic, Lottie begins to feel at home for the first time in years. Worse still, she’s falling for someone she’s not sure feels the same. And despite Ruaridh’s best intentions, Lottie is getting under his skin, making his promise to himself harder than ever to keep.
If this is love, Ruaridh must face his fear of being burned again – and Lottie must decide whether her future lies on the island or somewhere else entirely.
♥ This is the second book in the Love on the Edge – Barra series, but it can be read as a standalone. ♥ Set on the Hebridean island of Barra in Scotland with fun, romance, drama, and a guaranteed happy ending, The Lighthouse by the Sea has a bit of steam and lots of heart.
My review
When her mother suggest to not only find but also restore an old family property, it is the escape that Lottie Ashford needs. She has had a few disasters after another recently, and just wants to get away from everyone and everything, and it is also the perfect opportunity to think what she should do with her life. However, the property is rather special, as it is a lighthouse, set on the island of Barra. Of course Lottie needs the help of locals, and the brother of the owner of the B&B where Lottie is staying, is willing to help her out. Ruaridh Griffin is intrigued by this mysterious lighthouse and wants to find it almost as bad as Lottie does. The more the pair is working together on their quest, the more attraction seems to spark. But Lottie is afraid to open up again for love, after what she has been through last time, and she isn’t sure that Ruaridh might be feeling the same as her. But Ruaridh is drawn to her, but he has sworn to never get involved with visitors ever again… So with Lottie feeling more and more at home on Barra, like she hasn’t been feeling for years, where will her future lay?
When I started reading this book, I had to make a small mental switch. As I have read many books of this author that take place in Glenbriar, I now had to adjust that now we would be on the island Barra 😊. Not that I have an issue with that, because I knew that I would love this story just as much as all the other books that I have read from this amazing author.
Right from the start, I could understand why Lottie needed a time – off. Even if we don’t know the details from the beginning, it is crystal-clear that it truly affected her. Not only emotionally, but also it cost her her job (even how unfair that is…). My hear truly went out to her, as the betrayal and the hurt took place on so many levels…
Now, I have to say, that while going to Barra is what Lottie needs, I found it a bit strange that a person can own an actual lighthouse. I would think it would be a common property or something like that. And in a way, it was also gullible of Lottie to believe that, just like I was a little bit gullible. But eventually, it all makes sense 😊.
What was truly sweet about this story, is how there is an immediate attraction between Lottie and Ruaridh, a physical one, but we see how it slowly progresses to something much deeper. And it isn’t all romantic that things are evolving, because there is a wonderful friendship building between the pair of them.
In a bit of an evil – Tizi way, I found it also a bit funny, reading how feelings are evolving, but both of them don’t want to repeat past mistakes, and how they are not sure what the other person is feeling, while it is crystal – clear what those feelings are.
I could understand the not wanting to make a same mistake, both for Lottie and for Ruaridh. In Lottie’s case, I cannot understand how people can take pleasure from humiliating people, that is just cruel. And what Ruaridh concerns, he has been badly burnt by a woman who wasn’t truly honest to him.
And Ruaridh is the kind of person who doesn’t deserve to be lied to, he deserves honestly and love. Yes, he may have a great physique, but he is also the kind of man who wants to just help out, who isn’t even afraid to get his hands dirty. He doesn’t look down at a dirty job, because someone has to do it, so why not him?
In this lovely, heartwarming story, we see how at loss people can feel, ‘thanks’ to the behaviour and actions of others. But we see how a place, even one where you have never been before, can truly feel like a home, where you truly belong. I saw this book as the literal search of a lighthouse, but the main characters find a figuratively lighthouse, someone, a place, to guide them through life. And to also find the courage to come clean about feelings and emotions, finding the courage to let love perhaps again back in your life…
My return on the island of Barra was a wonderful one, and Margaret Amatt shows us once again what a talented author she truly is!
Mixing business with pleasure… what could possibly go wrong?
Maya Darlington-Hume is the life of the party, used to turning heads—and getting her way. But behind the champagne and charm is a woman chasing something real, especially from the one man who’s never taken her seriously: her father. So when she discovers the gorgeous stranger who caught her mid-bath is actually her father’s business partner—and her new boss—Maya decides to have a little fun.
Benedict Chivers has worked hard to get where he is, and he’s not about to risk it all for a fling. Especially not with his investor’s irresistible daughter. But Maya is hard to ignore… and even harder to resist.
Their connection is electric, their chemistry off the charts—but with so much at stake falling into bed might be the easy part. Staying out of trouble? That’s another story.
My review
Maya Darlington-Hume has a reputation, she is a really party girl, and is used getting things done her way. And she knows how to have fun! But what nobody knows is that behind the façade, Maya wants to chase her own dream jewelry making. But nobody believes in Maya’s intentions, and her father least of all… So obviously Maya enjoys taunting her father! But when she is enjoying her bath one evening, and the stranger who enters the bathroom and sees her having a good time, Maya did not expect that gorgeous man to be her father’s business partner and her new boss. As she has no choice in accepting working for Benedict Chivers, she decides to have some fun with him. But Benedict has worked too hard to get where he is, and he won’t jeopardize it all for a fling, no matter how much Maya tries to seduce him, even at the office. Until he cannot resist her anymore… But while things are meant to be just fun, there is a lot at stake for the both of them. And is it worth the risk?
When I started reading this book, I knew things would be getting hot and steamy. And I knew that Maya would appear as a brat somehow, but I also knew that slowly we would get to know the real Maya, and we would learn that she is not who everyone thinks she is.
While several of her actions are provoking, I could also see right from the start that she is free – spirited in a way. She does as she pleases, she enjoys her no – strings – attached ‘relationships. And of course it is fun to read how she feels no embarrassment at all, and accepts her own sexuality, there were moments that I thought “Hell no, I would never do that!!!” 😊. But that is also the fun of reading books, isn’t it? Because you can see characters doing things you would never do yourself!
On the other hand, it is also clear that Maya is ‘acting up’ for a reason. And reading how she is being dismissed that easily by her father and even her sister, it angered me. Okay, Maya have done some stupid things in the past, but shouldn’t be family always supporting you, helping you even in the darkest moments?
And because her own family doesn’t have a high opinion of it, that also reflects on others. Because Benedict has also seen and heard of Maya’s behaviour, and he doesn’t believe that Maya will be an asset.
I could understand Benedict’s reluctance, because someone who appears not to be fitting in your business, is always a liability. But I also found that Maya deserved an honest chance… And there are several moments that she for sure shows her worth and what an asset she can truly be!
It may sound a bit weird, but I liked to read how Benedict is trying to keep his composure yet cannot resist Maya. As the boss, he had to be respected by his employees, but Maya is just impossible to resist.
There are several spicy and even cheeky moments in this book. And yes, I enjoyed reading them 😊. But there is also depth in this book, even if it is a rather short story, compared to other books. Because we see that no matter how different Benedict and Maya are, they not only connect on a physical way, but also on an emotional level. Benedict starts to see Maya for the young woman she truly is, a confident woman, a determined woman, but also a wounded woman, an insecure woman.
And Maya starts to see Benedict no longer as the strict, stoic man he shows at the office. But she sees a gentler side, a fierce side, an Alpha side. But she also sees a man that wants to be successful, and more important, a man that learns to stand up for himself, what he wants, and will not be used for other people’s gain.
This was a steamy story, but also a sweet one at the same time. We see two people with their own dreams and hopes, but also own issues and troubles. And where they wouldn’t be a match at all, we see here that there can be deeper connection based on the real emotions and feelings. And that connection can make you find the courage to find the unexpected and can change everything…
When the ghosts of the past are realer than you thought
Synopsis
Spring has arrived in the Cotswold village of Rowan Vale and everyone is in an optimistic mood.
Everyone except Danny. He’s had a rotten eighteen years stuck in a village where all his hopes and dreams were shattered. His annoying ex-work colleague, who seems determined to look on the bright side of the afterlife, won’t leave him alone. And – as if that wasn’t bad enough – he’s facing eternity dressed as Adam Ant.
Meanwhile, in London, Rory plans to whisk his wife Kirsty away to the Cotswolds for their wedding anniversary. But when they arrive in Rowan Vale, Kirsty is horrified. How could her husband be so insensitive?
Rory insists that they stay at The Quicken Tree Inn and face up to the issues in their marriage. Kirsty has no choice but to go along with him, hoping she can finally put what happened all those years ago behind her. But when she spots her long-dead cousin in the village, things take a decidedly difficult turn…
Will confronting the ghosts from her past be a recipe for happiness or disaster?
My review
Kirsty for sure feels that while being married ten years with Rory, things have changed between them. Kirsty feels that they have come at a crossroad and that now they both want different things from life. And when Rory tells Kirsty that he has planned a week away for their 10th anniversary, she is truly in shock. It is a lovely gesture, weren’t it for a fact that he has planned to stay in Rowan Vale. It for sure is a lovely place, but for Kirsty it’s the place where she lost her first husband Danny eighteen years ago in a terrible accident, where also her cousin Brooke lost her life. While Rory hopes that staying at the Quicken Tree Inn will give them a chance to resolve the issues in their marriage, Kirsty hopes that she can finally put the past behind her. But what neither Rory or Kirsty know, is that Rowan Vale is a special place, where not only the living people are residing, but also ghosts. And two of those ghosts are Danny and Brooke. While still alive, they used to be colleagues and as they were at a work party where they had to dress up, Danny is facing eternity as Adam Ant, and Brooke as a member of Bananarama. And while Brooke tries to see the bright side of everything, Danny cannot let go of the memories of the life he had. So when Rory and Kirsty arrive in Rowan Vale, it is only a matter of time that things will take a turn. But for better or for worse?
I have read all the books of this series, and if you have read my reviews of it, you know that I am rather sceptical whether ghosts exist or not. And with the first book of this series, that scepticism was very present. But the more I read into that book, the more I fell in love with the whole concept and how rather ‘normal’ the presence of ghosts have become while reading.
So with a new book out, of course I just had to grab and read it too! How can I not???
I have to admit, Kirsty isn’t immediately the easiest person to like. She isn’t a bad person, but to me it felt a little bit that about certain things, it should be her way or no way. And while it seems that with Rory she has found a kindred spirit (😊), she has very stubborn moments even with him.
But the more the story evolved, the more I just started to ‘get’ Kirsty and I even started to feel sorry for her. Not only after reading how she lost Danny, her first husband, but also how it is clear that she is carrying a burden about the past.
Right from the start, it is also clear that her marriage with Rory isn’t going that well anymore. In a way, it is normal after ten years, but on the other hand, it is also the past that is somehow hanging over them. And it for sure is to Rory’s credit that he wants to try to get everything back on track. And I could understand why he decided to go together to Rowan Vale, but side-tracking Kirsty, I knew it wouldn’t be going that well.
You would think that slowly, things would be getting better for Rory and Kirsty, once arrived and settled in Rowan Vale. But the truth is that it is the complete opposite… Because first of all, for us readers there is a shocking revelation, as there appears to be an unexpected connection…
And yes, while we understand where Rory is coming from, his behaviour in Rowan Vale is very odd in the eyes of bystanders, like Kirsty. And I could understand why Kirsty starts to believe that things are going from bad to worse…
Of course also Danny and Brooke are shocked on seeing Rory and Kirsty in Rowan Vale. And their reactions are very different. Where for Danny it is a dream coming true in a way, having the chance to see Kirsty again, for Brooke it feels like her worst nightmare.
And that left me a bit flabbergasted, because Brooke has been always this bubbly, cheerful young woman, making the best out of the situation she finds herself in. So why is she so against Kirsty being in Rowan Vale?
The most reasonable and palpable explanation, her own feelings for Danny, that makes sense. Because I was also cheering for Brooke and I hoped that her feelings somehow would be reciprocated.
But Brooke knows something about Kirsty, something she discovered on that fateful night, and that secret made me understand why she wants Brooke and Rory away as fast as possible.
And yes, when *that* secret comes out too, I was again a bit in shock. But in a way, it is also a way to show how things can change in a marriage, how it can go wrong. And we also see how something over the years can be romanticized. How we remember things, isn’t always how things actually are.
Of course in this book we see some old friends again. And it was lovely to see how their stories are progressing, without stealing the spotlight. Each character keeps on growing here too, proving just how amazing they are, worthy of me loving them 😊.
I absolutely adored reading this book. It shows us not only how difficult it sometimes can be to move on from your past, how you can be (literally) stuck at one place. We also see how secrets can be a real burden, how it can jeopardize everything you have been trying to build over the years. And we see how sometimes we see things through rose-tinted glasses. But and more important, we see how – even by confrontation – the ghosts of the past can be laid to rest (although in this book not literally 😊).
When your best friend is the one you need ‘help’ from…
Synopsis
A BRAND NEW flirty, addictively steamy billionaire romance from Rachael Stewart. Perfect for fans of Nicole Snow and Ilsa Madden-Mills.
Taylor
I wanted a baby-no strings, no messy emotions. Just a donor I could trust-my best friend. He didn’t hesitate or ask why. He said yes… with one condition: no clinics, no cold procedures. Just him-his bed, his way. I should have said no. But I wanted this. And I didn’t realise how much I wanted him. I told myself I could handle it, keep my heart locked tight. The moment he touched me, all those lies fell apart. Now, I’m falling-for a man who never promised me anything but his body. And my deepest desire risks becoming my darkest downfall. But now there is no turning back.
Axel
She asked me to give her a baby. No love. No future. Just a piece of me. I’m not a good man. I’m not the kind you build a life with. But this…this was my one chance to touch heaven and pretend it wouldn’t burn me alive. So I took her. Over and over. Knowing she’ll never be mine. But now I’m addicted. Possessive. I don’t want just her body-I want her soul. Her future. Her everything. And when she walks away-like we both know she will-it’ll break me. Because I’d give her the world. But I’ll never be worthy of it.
My review
Taylor is the kind of woman who knows what she wants, and always finds a way to get it. Now that not only her biological clock is ticking, but also as she sees the joy her little niece brings, Taylor wants to experience motherhood herself. However, she wants to do this on her own, and she does not want any donor. She wants a donor that she trusts… and who is better than her best friend Axel? Not that she wants him to be an actual father, she just wants a baby from him. Axel is initially flabbergasted by Taylor’s request, but only on one condition: no clinics or procedures, the baby has to be ‘made’ the natural way. Because what Taylor doesn’t know is that Axel has always wanted her, but as he doesn’t see himself as a good man, he doesn’t believe he is worthy of her. So with this one chance to be with her, how can he refuse? However, the longer they are trying to get pregnant, the longer Taylor realizes that who she truly desires is the man she cannot ever have. And Axel realizes that when the moment arrives and Taylor will walk away, he will be left broken…
Having read the first book of the series, and having already met Taylor and Axel with them helping out Sadie, I was very curious to see where Rachael Stewart would be going with the next chapter in the series!
It isn’t mandatory to have read the first book, but I suggest to read it, as it will give you a better idea about all the dynamics between not only Taylor and Axel, but all the main characters. And it will also give you a better idea about who Taylor and Axel are. And of course, that first book is also a great book, so more fun too for you! 😊
Taylor is the kind of woman you don’t mess with. She knows what she wants, she knows what it takes and she isn’t afraid to just go for it. It is obvious that she is a very strong, independent woman. She also isn’t the kind of person that shows affection. But I don’t mean it in a way that she doesn’t love, because with Sadie we see how much she loves her younger sister. Taylor is just the kind of person that doesn’t has her heart on her sleeve.
Perhaps I have to admit, while she is very protective, caring and loving towards her family and her closest of friends, I did not see in her the maternal feelings she starts to have at the start of the book. But that can be on me, because of course, we don’t know Taylor all *that* well, do we?
I could understand Taylor, that she doesn’t want just any donor for her baby. With how she and Sadie grew up, it makes sense in her way of thinking wanting the biological father to be someone she trusts, knows and also knows that he would never take a claim on her child.
Luckily for her, she knows one person that she trusts implicitly, and she knows that he does not have an interest in being a “real” father. And that is her best friend Axel…
Axel, that we know is this tough guy, someone you don’t want to mess with. But also the guy that would do just about literally everything for the people he cares about and loves. That desire to do anything, goes even that far that he agrees to give Taylor a baby.
But with his condition, to use the natural way, we see already a little bit who Axel truly is, and what he feels.
And with his real emotions and feelings revealed to us, I somehow couldn’t stop myself from feeling sorry for Axel. Not only because it shows us what he truly feels for Taylor, but because how little he thinks of himself…
Yes, he had a terrible youth, and yes, perhaps he has done wrong things while growing up. But he has redeemed himself in so many other ways, and he has been able to change his life for the better. So why wouldn’t he be worthy of love? Why would he not be enough for Taylor? Why would he be having ‘evil’ in him?
So even if Axel this tough guy, on his own he shows a vulnerability that just made me want to jump into the book and give him a comforting hug, and I just wanted to show him what I saw, that he is in fact a good person. But I also knew that Taylor would also be perfect for the job 😊.
Funny isn’t perhaps the correct word to use, but I found it a bit funny to see how the dynamics are shifting between Taylor and Axel, and how they both see each other in a way they didn’t expect. We know that Axel is a Alpha man, and I didn’t expect any different in the bedroom. And he for sure delivers 😊. Yet there are a few moments that i was a bit stunned by his ‘alphaness’ 😊.
Of all the things, I didn’t expect Taylor to going along with Axel, following his demands and follow his instructions, that have no room for any kind of negotiations. And yes, also and especially in the bedroom! 😊
Of course, as a reader it doesn’t come as a surprise when it becomes clear to the pair of them that the other party has not always been completely honest about their feelings. And that made me also very curious to discover how the reactions would be. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised!
Now, another non – surprise is that there is a point where things are going terribly downhill, as something happens that seems impossible to overcome for Taylor and Axel. That angered me a little bit very much (😊) because the pair of them have gone through so much, past and present, and they have grown so much even throughout this book that I just wanted things to work out for them without any further hiccups.
Rachael Stewart wrote this book about two very strong characters, yet the more you get into the book, you see a vulnerability in both of them. We see that behind the strong façade is a person (applicable for both Taylor and Axel) haunted by the past, afraid to change the strong existing relationship, doubting the own self-worth and afraid of admitting the deep, hidden feelings…
This book show us the vulnerability of characters, but also their strengths. It shows us also several steamy moments, that fit so well with both characters. And it shows us, and most important, how courage and understanding, acceptance and trust, can just change everything, for the better.
Saying I loved this book, would be too easy and it would never express exactly how I feel about it! Rachael Stewart just did once again deliver and exceeded my expectations that were already sky-high! 😊
When a great lover of romance books meets a hater of romance books…
Synopsis
Two enemies. One fake-dating romance. Unexpected fireworks.
My ex cheated on me with my sister.
Now they’re both coming to my brother’s wedding in Spain.
Which means I need a fake date. Fast.
The last person I expect to volunteer is Ben—the infuriatingly handsome playboy and property developer I’ve been forced to work with to open the Romance Library’s dreamy readers’ retreat in small seaside town, Sunshine Bay.
And the man who hates romance novels.
I should say no, but I’m desperate.
It’s only for one weekend.
How bad could it be?
Except when Ben impresses my family, then charms his way into my knickers, everything changes.
My dry spell? A distant memory.
That writer’s block? Gone.
Ben becomes the unexpected muse for my debut novel and I know I’m in trouble.
He’s leaving town soon, so falling for him would be a disaster.
Especially when our relationship was supposed to be fake.
Unfortunately, my heart has other ideas…
A steamy, dual POV romance novel featuring:
• Fake-dating romance
• Enemies-to-lovers romance
• Forced proximity
• Only one bed
• Destination romance
• Small-town romance
• Workplace romance
• Library setting
• Book lovers
• Spicy scenes
• A guaranteed happily ever after
Perfect for readers who love funny, spicy romance novels with hilarious banter, a swoony hero and bookish heroine. Also ideal for fans of The Spanish Love Deception, The Hating Game and Book Lovers.
Not only is Sarah a huge lover of romance books, but her big dream is to write one too. After facing the biggest betrayal of the people that should love her the most, Sarah is ready to have a fresh start, with the help of her best friends, who are running the Romance Library in Sunshine Bay. However, her journey to Sunshine Bay couldn’t start any worse, as she sees the biggest hater of romance books there. Sarah understands that not everybody loves the same genre, but what that stranger says on the train is so unrespectful that even upon her arrival in Sunshine Bay she is still fuming. And then she learns that the same man is no one else but Ben Eaves, brother of Theo, owner of the Romance Library and in a loving relationship with Jess, Sarah’s BFF. How can her friends allow Ben to help out with the library, when he is so against everything it stands for? Yet after some time passes, Ben for sure shows his worth. And when Sarah is in need of a fake date at her own brother’s wedding, Ben surprises everyone by offering his help. Once in Spain, Sarah and Ben find themselves unable to deny the attraction that is simmering between them. However, even once back home and the closer they are getting, Ben’s plan is to leave Sunshine Bay once his work is done. So how will this romance end for the biggest romcom lover and the biggest romcom hater?
So, where to start with this review… Okay, I will start by saying that having read several books and series of this wonderful author, and that with each book/series I fall more and more with her writing talents and the wonderful stories she writes! Just when I think that I cannot devour any of her books any more or faster, she makes me fall into the non – stop – reading – trap all over again!
I don’t know if I am speaking for every booklover like me, but whenever the main character is a bookaholic, and especially with romcoms, I am immediately hooked and I immediately love him/her!
So of course I absolutely adored Sarah from the very start! Her passion for books is so palpable from every page and I admired her wanting to give writing her own romance a shot. It is easy to read a book, but writing one yourself, that cannot be easy, otherwise everyone would be writing bestsellers, right?
What I do have to admit, is that I found it a bit strange how easily Sarah decided to make the move to Sunshine Bay. As I am very rooted to my own home, I cannot see myself packing up and leave the place I used to call home. However, the moment I got to know her background, I could understand her motivations even better. Even if working in the Romance Library would be already enough of motivation 😊.
Sarah is also the kind of person that wouldn’t hesitate to help her friends and loved ones out. She doesn’t hesitate one moment to help out Jess and Theo, and even when they ask her to work together with Ben, she puts her own thoughts aside, for her friends.
I understand that not everyone shares the same opinions and thoughts, that is just normal. And I can for sure understand Sarah’s fury upon hearing Ben’s conversation where he just trashes out about romance books. But I also have to say, that it wasn’t Ben’s brightest idea to say such things out loud, in public, whether he means it or not.
It needs to be said, Ben isn’t just against romance books, but he also doesn’t believe in love (anymore). And it saddened me to read that, because everyone should believe in love and its power…
Sarah and Ben couldn’t be more opposites than they are in this book, and of course that means that they are clashing several times. And those clashes for sure were funny to read, especially when Sarah is tasked with making Ben read romance books, in order to change his mind 😊.
But the greatest bits were where Sarah and Ben are actually getting along. Even if they don’t always share the same thoughts, together they have the best ideas to improve the Romance Library. And they slowly see that in fact there are many things they *do* have in common.
And I was smiling when Sarah realizes that Ben is in fact a great guy, despite him not believing in love. Because Ben shows his amazing character in so many different ways. Not only when he suggests to accompany Sarah to the destination wedding of her brother, but we see his gentle, caring character also when Sarah is going through that painful time of the month. Doesn’t every woman wants to be pampered like Ben is pampering Sarah???
And then there is Spain, where things truly take a different turn for this pair. What starts as a supportive role for Ben, shifts into a fake – date, trying to fool everyone and show how passionately in love Sarah and Ben are with each other. I have to say, on a sidenote, I truly despised Sarah’s sister and Sarah’s ex. I just cannot understand how you can just be like that…
But in Spain everyone sees what Sarah and Ben aren’t seeing themselves yet. And seeing them realizing that what they are feelings goes beyond, was just an ‘aaaw – moment’ for us readers. Of course sparks fly around since that moment and I wasn’t sorry for it! 😊
I have had several laughs in this book too. Obviously the clashing between Sarah and Ben is one reason. But the main laughs came from reading how all the ‘typical tropes’ were being ridiculed by Ben, like the enemies – to – friends, the fake – date, the only – one – bed,… And yet then suddenly…
Now, of course things don’t go completely straightforward, as both Sarah and Ben have been terribly hurt and scarred in the past. And that pain and those scars make them not truly really understand their feelings and emotions, nor do that pain and those scars give them the courage to admit and speak out about what they are feeling.
It was absolutely amazing how the amazing author that Olivia Spring is, is able to show us all these cliché tropes, and have a little laugh about them, yet shows us that at the most unexpected moments and ways, well, clichés are created for a reason! But Olivia also perfectly pinpoints the struggles that people are facing. How a love that broke you, can hold you back from experiencing the greatest feelings and emotions that love can bring with it.
This was a wonderful story, as it gave me all the emotions I expected. But it also gave me so much more, as I truly connected with all the great characters, I felt everything they were going through in my bones. And like I said, I just devoured this book. I don’t think it would be even possible to read it more and faster than I already did!
Olivia Spring shows with this book once again what a talented author she is. I don’t think that she will ever be able to write a book that I won’t love or devour! 😊
Prepare to escape to Scotland with a gorgeous feel-good romance this summer…
Returning to the Scottish Highlands was never part of Poppy Summers’ plan. But life had other ideas.
With her parents’ cherished holiday cottages losing money, Poppy is determined to carry on their legacy and save the business before they’re forced to sell.
Revamping the cottages is Poppy’s priority until she meets Mason Cooper, a charming historian drawn to the highlands for research. As their newfound friendship grows, is it possible that something more might be enough of a reason to make Poppy stay for good?
When exhausted single-mum Jess returns to Manchester for her twenty-year school reunion, she’s hoping for nothing more than a well-deserved break from reality. What she’s not expecting is to bump into her secret teenage crush, hot single-dad Sam, or to remember quite how much they have in common.
But they live so far apart, their kids aren’t always easy, and there are events in their shared past it’s best not to revisit. Surely the idea of a future together is just a crazy dream in their messy, adult lives?
Though when Sam invites Jess to accompany him to a mutual friend’s high-profile wedding, the years they spent apart once again melt away. What will it take for them to be together? Can they use their second chance to finally get it right?
Katharine Light was born in Glasgow and lived there until her family moved to Manchester when she was ten. While in her teens, she began writing stories for her younger sister Emma. These mostly centred around a naïve heroine and a 1980s pop star (some would say the hero was modelled on John Taylor of Duran Duran).
She did a degree in psychology at University College London, and after a year travelling, worked in corporate film production for several years, before taking a break to raise her children.
For many years she wrote mainly during the holidays, around her busy work for a local church.
Her first novel Like Me, published in 2023, was shortlisted for The Selfies Book Awards 2024. Her short story My arms are empty which is based on an episode from her second novel Me Too recently won the City University competition City Writes.
She is a director of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, with responsibility for organising their conferences, gatherings and awards ceremonies.
Katharine lives in London with her husband and quite often at least one of their adult children. She loves singing, walking, painting, looking at art, and going to the theatre.
When wanting to live up the expectations, you are losing yourself
Synopsis
What if becoming the perfect wife meant losing the woman you used to be?
Christina Pemberton – born plain Tina Miller – may be a skilled restorer of antique silver, but to her husband’s old-money family, she is still tarnished goods. They won’t quite let her in to their rarified world, and it’s tearing her marriage apart.
Desperate to prove herself worthy, Christina makes a decision that weighs heavily on her conscience. But then a secret from her past threatens to resurface, and Christina faces an impossible choice between the world she aspires to join, and the life that shaped her.
This is a warm, gripping tale of family, legacy, love, and second chances, set in a beautiful house on the rugged North Devon coast, perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Tilly Tennant, and Sue Moorcroft.A Perfect Devon Manor is a warm, emotionally satisfying midlife romance set in an enchanting Devon manor. Expect a marriage in trouble, self-rediscovery, second chances, and falling in love again, with high-stakes family drama, village intrigue, a glimpse into the rarified world of antique silver restoration, and a life-affirming happily ever after.
My review
Despite being married years to Hamish Pemberton, Christina still feels as tarnished goods. Even if she used to be Tina Miller, she is a skilled restorer of antique silver now. But that and having a daughter Elspeth, isn’t enough to let Christina feel that she truly is a part of the Pemberton family. Eager to show her worth, and her wish to help out her family, Christina finds herself in a situation that she doesn’t truly agree with. And when her past is threatened to come out, Christina feels more than ever that everything she has tried to built on during the years, could be falling apart in the blink of an eye…
How often have we read stories where the main characters are from a different background, yet the love is too big to ignore and in the end they find their happily ever after? But what would happen in the years to follow and when the ‘lesser’ party isn’t truly accepted into the wealthy family?
Right from the start I did not only felt sorry for Christina, but I pitied her too. Her life and marriage with Hamish is clearly not an amazing one, and it is obvious that Hamish lives in his own world, in the past, and that even if they are a small family of their own, they are still too close to Lady Flora…
And also the situation Christina finds herself in… she is very talented as a restorer of antique silver. So it angered me it to read how she is forced into using her skills for doing wrong things. I could understand how Christina initially agreed to it, in order to help the family. But it is clear that she is being used for not so genuine purposes…It even infuriated me, reading how Christina’s past is used as leverage.
I have to admit, I felt that anger throughout great part of the book. Not because of my dislike for the story, but I was so angry in Christina’s place. All she wants, is a happy family with Hamish and Elspeth, having a place to truly call home and to be just accepted by the Pembertons and people connected to them.
It is also crystal clear that in all the years wanting to please others, Christina has lost herself. She has been trying to hard to be liked, and during these years, it kind of feels that she has lost her essence, of what makes Christina in fact Tina.
My heart broke for her, as she finds herself in an impossible situation, or rather in several impossible situations… And with the fear of the truth of her past coming out, jeopardizing even more her present and her future.
A past that made my mind go wild, that went from a small crime to even the most criminal one. But when the truth came out, it wasn’t something that I could have imagined. So sometimes, a mind going too wild, isn’t a great mind 😊.
Now, I am sounding all negative in this review, but believe it is all because I am upset for Chrstina. And there are some lovely moments in the book, absolutely! For example, the love between Christina and Elspeth, just so heartwarming to read the connection between mother and daughter! And there is also how Christina wants to save and protect the family, even if their despise/dislike is obvious.
The more the story progresses, the more growth we also see. Of course Christina is slowly learning to stand up for herself, and even learns to play a little bit dirty. But in fact, all of the Pembertons, the good ones, are going through a whole process. Eyes are being opened, pasts are being accepted, and old ideas and ideologies are thrown out of the window.
So even if the book had me in an angry mood because of all the injustice, at the end of it, I was happy with the course of it. Yes, some things were perhaps concluded too quickly, without any real justice being done, but with the general feeling that the characters end with, that is also okay for me 😊.
Tizi’s Book Review 