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.
Summer 1745: Prince Charles Edward Stuart has landed in the Highlands, igniting a rebellion that will set Scotland ablaze.
Redcoat Captain Robert Catto has painful personal reasons for hating all Jacobites with a passion. Except for one. Christian Rankeillor is a fiercely intelligent apothecary in Edinburgh. Her loyalty to the Jacobite Cause is unshakeable.
Now, as the Rising gathers force and loyalties harden into life-or-death choices, Catto must confront enemies on and off the battlefield as well as the ghosts of his troubled past. On opposite sides of a brutal conflict, can Robert and Kirsty dare to hope against all the odds they might have a future together? Or will the coming storm destroy their last chance at love?
The renowned and well-loved author of Damn’ Rebel Bitches: The Women of the ’45 and Bare-Arsed Banditti: The Men of the ’45, Maggie Craig brings to life the drama, danger and defiance of 1740s Scotland with a storyteller’s touch and a historian’s insight.
Maggie Craig is a celebrated Scottish author whose passion lies in bringing Scotland’s rich history to life. She’s written well-loved family sagas set in her native Glasgow and Clydebank, while her Storm Over Scotland series is a tale of star-crossed lovers negotiating Jacobite intrigue and political tension before and during the 1745 Jacobite rising. She’s equally renowned for her non-fiction: Damn’ Rebel Bitches: The Women of the ’45 and Bare-Arsed Banditti: The Men of the ’45 highlight the personalities of the Jacobite Rising, and her latest, One Week in April: The Scottish Radical Rising of 1820, examines radical eighteenth-century movements. She’s also written a social history of Red Clydeside and a vivid biography of wartime nurse and Jacobite historian Henrietta Tayler. Renowned for her meticulous research, Maggie has been described as writing with a brilliantly authentic voice.
She broke into the wrong house. Now, three brutal men will make her pay—with her body, her secrets, and her soul.
When runaway heiress Marigold Calder crashes into the forbidden Isles of Kassel during a blizzard, she’s desperate for shelter. The isolated mountain lodge seems like salvation, until she realizes it belongs to The Bears, three massive Russian brothers who own the most exclusive—and dangerous—private men’s club in Kassel.
HUNTER – The violent one who takes what he wants🔥 STONE – The cold mastermind who’ll break her with a single look🔥 ASH – The deceptively gentle one who’s anything but safe🔥
In Kassel, trespassing has a price. And once they catch her sleeping in their bed, eating their food, and wearing their clothes, these territorial predators decide she’s theirs.
Trapped by the storm and their obsession, Marigold discovers a dark connection between their families that turns their hospitality into a hunt for revenge. Now, they won’t just keep her, they’ll ruin her.
A scorching hot, morally grey, billionaire reverse harem featuring possessive anti-heroes, forced proximity, primal dominance, explosive chemistry, and a heroine who refuses to break. This standalone dark romance contains mature themes and explicit scenes that will leave you breathless.
Step into their den… if you dare.TROPES: Reverse Harem/Why Choose • Dark Romance • Forced Proximity • Snowbound • Captive Romance • Morally Grey Heroes • Touch Her and Die • Possessive/Obsessive • Enemies to Lovers • Found Family • Russian Heroes • Private Club • Billionaire Romance • Secret Identity • Revenge Plot • High Heat 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
My review
When Marigold Calder escaped, she never expected that she would be literally crashing and would have to fight for her life. So when she finds an isolated mountain lodge on the forbidden and very private Isles of Kassel, she believes that she is safe. But what she doesn’t know, but will realize soon, is that the owners of the lodge, the Bears, three Russian brothers, don’t allow anyone in. And whoever dares to trespass, has to pay a price. And all three brothers, Hunter, Stone and Ash, have decided that this trespasser with golden hair, is now theirs, to do as they please. As a storm rages on, Marigold has no other choice to submit to the three brothers, with their own different character but all also having a pull that Marigold finds strangely to ignore. And then Marigold discovers that the Bear Brothers are seeking out for revenge as someone of Marigold’s family hurt the one person the brothers love the most. Turning Marigold into a pawn in a very dangerous game…
Having read the first book of the series The VIllians of Kassel, I knew that not only it would be a complete retelling, with many liberties of the author. Lydia Michaels may use famous tales as inspiration, yet she changes so much in her own story, that while there still are a few similarities, a lot is, well, just not. And I also knew that there would be a lot of explicit scenes, and even moments where the female main character would be acting against her own will. But there are several of warnings at the start of the book, so I as warned well beforehand.
At the start of the book, it is obvious that Marigold is literally running away from something and someone (or rather, several people). But the exact who, why, when, etc. is not made obvious further along in the book. But her desperation is obvious from those first few pages. And reading what she had to endure, at the hand of the people that perhaps should protect, cherish and love her the most, isn’t that the worst possible betrayal?
I could understand that her need to survive was bigger that questioning whose house she would be trespassing. And I could also understand the reason that she lies when the three brothers find her. Again, that need to survive at any cost…
If she would have literally crashed anywhere else but this lodge, perhaps she would have met someone who would show her kindness and help her out. Unfortunately, she crashed the lodge of the most fearful, savage, revengeful brothers of the whole continent.
There are so many signs that the three brothers are not to mess with, they have laws of their own, no law stopping from what they want to do.
Hunter, Stone and Ash are the closest as siblings could ever be, and I am close to my brother, but not to their extension! They have been through a lot, together, but there is nothing that would tear them apart. On the contrary, their family bond is just unbreakable.
And when there is a threat, in any form or shape, they are united to protect what is theirs and what they love.
So when they find Marigold in their home, they won’t just let her walk away. Because nobody comes to their home and just walks away… And they also now that Marigold isn’t telling the truth, and one way or another they will get it out of her…
I cannot say that the brothers sparked something inside of me from the start. They are controlling, intimidating and also scary… Yet even if they are brothers and have a lot of similarities, they are all different characters. Where Ash shows a gentle side (but don’t get fooled by it), Stone is a cold mastermind and Hunter seems to be the most violent and vengeful one.
United they are a force to be reckoned with, but somehow, Marigold is their weak spot…
Of course I knew they wanted to use Marigold for their own benefit and pleasure. And I knew that Marigold would have no other option than complying, as these men saved her but also as she has no other place to run.
And yet, there is something about these brothers, and it isn’t just their power that emanates from the pages… We see this when they let Marigold know why they are seeking revenge, as they want to protect and avenge the person they love the most.
We also see how Marigold starts to see behind this strong façade all the brothers have. I am not saying they are suddenly saints, because they are not. But there is just something about those three Bears, a hidden vulnerability in a way, that made me understand the attraction…
Talking about attraction… or rather, I need to talk about the spicy and all the action that is taking place. First of all, while initially Marigold does not have a choice and has some with all the brothers, I could see how it would be an impossible choice to just pick one. Not my cup of tea, a reversed harem, but I am not judging someone else’s choices, if it makes them happy and they don’t hurt anyone else in the process.
Secondly, pfew, there is A LOT of action taking place! And even if there was a moment I was wondering about the logistics about a certain scene, I perhaps needed to take a break myself, as sometimes it got a bit too hot! 😊
Of course it is a spicy story, that perhaps is not for everyone, but I also saw something else in this book. I saw how a hurt, broken woman may have found herself in the lion’s den. But the lions, or rather Bears, that she encounters, make her understand that she is not completely broken, that she in fact is a strong fighter. And those three strong brothers, they realize that no matter how much they protect what is theirs, no matter how closed up they are, there may be one woman with golden hair that is able to open their hearts in a way they never expected.
Lydia Michaels also with this story turned a well – known tale into something completely different. But different isn’t a bad thing. Different is just another way of looking at life, different is just understanding that there are more ways to see things. And that one evening where you need to survive, can open a gate (or a door) to a whole different life that may fit you better than you may ever believe…
A BRAND NEW spicy summer romance set in everybody’s favourite matchmaking hotel 🌞🌴💖
For fans of Meghan Quinn and Ali Hazelwood!
Tropes: 🌶️ Matchmaking 🌶️ Rockstar romance 🌶️ Grumpy sunshine 🌶️ Opposites attract 🌶️ Forced proximity 🌶️ Fake dating 🌶️ Celebrity comeback 🌶️ Playboy with hidden depths 🌶️ Luxury hotel setting
They say opposites attract… right?
Ex-rock star Jake used to have it all. But a fall from grace has left him with a career in tatters. Trying to salvage his reputation, his agent suggests a trip to sunny California’s brand new five-star Love Hotel. The plan is to instigate a fake whirlwind social media romance to reignite his star power. Simple. Except, Jake barely knows how to use a hashtag. And he’s definitely not looking for love.
Looking for a second chance at finding true love, Halle has categorically sworn off musicians and social media after a painful break-up. So, when matched with notorious bad boy Jake, they’re a dating disaster waiting to happen, right?
Jake’s here for the clicks. Halle is craving a connection. ¬ Except the Love Hotel’s matchmaking team are the experts for a reason. And after two weeks of forced proximity in paradise, Halle and Jake discover that the pairing which at first seemed so wrong starts to feel so right…
Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Meghan Quinn and Sarah Adams!
Praise for Olivia Spring:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ADORE Olivia’s pitch perfect romances – one of the few who can have me swooning over her male characters.’ Bestselling author Kristen Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I was hooked from the first chapter. An absolute delight!’ Bestselling author Laura Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Through Olivia’s wonderful writing style, I honestly felt as though I was there’ Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Well what can I say apart from this book is a rare gem. It has everything book lovers will adore’ Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Once you get hooked into the story you won’t want to put it down.’
My review
Halle has been seriously burnt by love, but is ready to find it again. So when with the help from her friends, she gets a spot in The Love Hotel resort in California, Halle is over the moon. The Love Hotel is known for finding perfect matches, and the only thing that Halle doesn’t want, is to be matched with someone famous, like a musician and someone very present on social media. So when she learns that her ‘perfect match’ is ex – rock star Jake, she is rather angry. Not only because Jake used to be famous, but over the years he has created a notorious bad boy reputation. What Halle doesn’t know though, is that Jake needs to salvage his reputation somehow. And according to his agent, instigating a fake romance plastered over social media is the perfect solution. Where Jake is looking for redemption, Halle is looking for a connection. And with this match, it would seem that The Love Hotel made a mismatch. Or could it be that in the two weeks Halle and Jake are spending together, they realize that perhaps their mismatch isn’t so mismatched at all?
When I started reading this book, I was excited as a little child 😊. Not only because I was so ready for another couple in The Love Hotel, but also because we see Sammie and Romeo from the previous book working as Love Alchemists!
At the start of the book, I was a bit angry with Halle! How dare she use her connections to gain a spot on the Love Hotel, and I don’t even know how to apply for it! 😊
It’s clear that Halle has been hurt by love before, and I could understand how she saw that fame is the cause of it. Because since her then – boyfriend became famous, he changed and he hasn’t been the perfect boyfriend. Nobody is a perfect partner, but he for sure does know how to treat his girlfriend in an awful way.
So I could understand how Halle wants to find her perfect match, that has to be anything but a famous person! But I also felt a tiny bit offended in the name of any musician (not that I am one 😊) because it isn’t fair to paint everyone with the same brush.
Yes, Jake is the perfect example how volatile fame is. He has made mistakes in the past, and he has a bad boy reputation and he lost everything. And initially, I didn’t pity him, because I only based my opinion on the little details that I knew. But just like Halle, I had to get to know Jake better and learn about his history.
I also found it a bit a dirty game of his agent, whom I just immediately disliked, without even a real piece of evidence. I understood that Jake needs to do something to change the world’s perception. Jake may think that his match will be playing along, and knows about why he is in the resort, but we all know better, don’t we? 😊
When Halle and Jake meet, of course they don’t get along. Halle does not want to be around Jake at all, and makes her disdain for him and his reputation very clear. I for sure liked her playlist, making her feelings very very very obvious!
Being at the Love Resort means that Halle and Jake are ‘forced’ to spend together. And initially even on the pictures it is clear how they feel about each other. But slowly, the more time they spend together, it becomes clear that they both have a misperception of each other, and that they share a lot of common thoughts, interests and ideas.
And the more time I spent getting to know Jake, the more I not only understood him, but also how everything fell into place. Because with his story, not only we see how bad choices and decisions can affect your life and reputation, but also how one tragic event changes just everything.
With Jake, we see that behind every tabloid cover is a story, a reason why that persona acted in that way. And that is something important to realize, that behind every façade there is a person that perhaps has been broken and is just trying to pick up the pieces of his/her life again.
Halle and Jake slowly start to comprehend that The Love Hotel Resort didn’t mess up with them matching up together. Halle has a lot of baggage of her own, and Jake is so understanding, non – judgmental and comforting. His acceptance of her and her ‘faults’ makes Halle realize that she in fact does not have anything to feel ashamed about and that Halle being Halle is more than good enough.
And Jake finds someone that is willing to listen, without expressing any kind of judgement. With Halle, Jake feels that he can open up, not only about his mistakes but also about what haunts him, and what broke him. With Halle, he finds someone that is just there for him.
We see with this pair that opening up can release a burden, and that it can make you feel more confident too. Jake gives an extra incentive to Halle, to believe more in herself and her capacities, he makes her understand that why shouldn’t she pursue her dreams? He also becomes very protective of her, wants to protect her from all the evils of the world, even if that evil is his own agent. And Halle makes Jake understand that not everything bad that happened to him, is his fault. Halle makes Jake see that even the most terrible thing that he has endured, can be turned into a lovely remembrance.
I feel with each review that I write for Olivia Spring, that I am repeating myself. Because also with this next book in a great series, she just swept me away. Because despite the hurt both main characters have been through, with their match, they find not only each other matched, but so much more. They find strength, acceptance, resilience and self – confidence.
Yes, this is a romance, but it shows so much growth in the main characters, there is an evolution. And seeing that movement is the strength of the book, seeing how not only perceptions can change, but how also you can change yourself, into a more confident, stronger person.
Lynn grew up believing that saluting magpies could keep bad luck at bay. But after a string of disasters—illness, financial ruin, divorce—she’s forced to admit: the magpie magic isn’t working.
At rock bottom, she turns to a lifeline—a list of treats and adventures she’d always meant to try but never quite got round to. As she slowly ticks them off, what begins as a quest for distraction becomes something deeper.
A train rattles across America. Flamingos flap. Secrets surface. There’s clifftop terror. And step by step, old fears, inherited wounds, and superstitions begin to loosen their grip—creating space for forgiveness, of herself and of others.
How I Learned to Stop Saluting Magpies is a funny, thoughtful memoir about letting go, moving on, and inching—slightly suspiciously—toward joy.
While working as a research psychologist, Lynn Farley-Rose became fascinated by how people cope when things get tough. 31 Treats And A Marriage is a personal account of reconnecting with life after unforeseen calamities, and in The Interview Chain she talks to remarkable people about things that help to make the world a kinder and more connected place. She grew up by the sea in Devon and then lived in London until a move to rural Sussex resulted in a complete change of lifestyle. At one point she was responsible for the welfare of thirty-two animals and eight species including her four children. She now lives in Hampshire and loves her adult children but has no pets.
When even at The Love Hotel it doesn’t go as planned…
Synopsis
Welcome to the Love Hotel 🏝️🌞💖 Check in for a hilarious and spicy opposites attract summer romance set in a matchmaking hotel in Italy 🇮🇹
NEW FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR OLIVIA SPRING
Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Meghan Quinn and Sarah Adams!
Tropes:
🏝️ Opposites attract
🏝️ Forbidden romance (staff and hotel guest)
🏝️ Banter to b*nging
🏝️ Forced proximity
🏝️ Grumpy sunshine
🏝️ Matchmaking
🏝️ Spicy !!!!
Sparks Fly…but with the wrong guy?
Sammie Gordon knows of The Love Hotel’s infamous reputation for making happy ever afters a reality. So when she gets her coveted invite to the hotel’s exclusive resort in Italy she’s packed her bags before she’s signed on the dotted line. What could be more perfect than sun, sea, culture and… her perfect match?
Except Sammie doesn’t get the immediate flutters of excitement when she meets her date. He may be perfect on paper, but their connection is more lukewarm than red hot passion! And when he leaves abruptly, Sammie is left alone in paradise. This is a disaster!
But The Love Hotel always goes above and beyond for their guests. And so Love Alchemist Romeo steps into the breach to keep her company on all the planned dates and intimate dinners. In a professional capacity… obviously! When sparks fly instantly, Romeo knows he’s in trouble. With a strict no-dating guests rule, Romeo has to try and keep things professional. But like magnets, Sammie and Romeo are drawn to each other. Their chemistry is forbidden and so they must, at all costs resist the temptation to cross the line…
Praise for Olivia Spring:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ADORE Olivia’s pitch perfect romances – one of the few who can have me swooning over her male characters.’ Bestselling author Kristen Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I was hooked from the first chapter. An absolute delight!’ Bestselling author Laura Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Through Olivia’s wonderful writing style, I honestly felt as though I was there’ Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Well what can I say apart from this book is a rare gem. It has everything book lovers will adore’ Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Once you get hooked into the story you won’t want to put it down.’ Reader Review
My review
Sammie is over the moon when her application for The Love Hotel has been approved. She knows about how the Hotel is able to find perfect matches, and Sammie cannot wait to meet her perfect man. To make things even better, the resort she is going to, is in Italy! However, when meeting her match, there aren’t immediate sparks, and his remarks for sure aren’t always the right kind… And then her match just leaves her, without any clear explanation or apology! Luckily, The Love Hotel always goes lengths for its guests, and Love Alchemist Romeo makes sure that Sammie doesn’t feel like the odd one out on all the planned activities. But even where Romeo wants to keep things professional (especially as he already is fighting against rumours), the attraction between him and Sammie is yet so strong, yet so forbidden…
I have said it before, and with this book, I will only confirm it once again: I want to go to the Love Hotel myself to find my perfect match! Not only because of its perfect location, but how everyone there goes lengths to your match, but also look after you, even when bad things happen!
Right from the start, I found Sammie a real delight to get to know! She is looking for love, but that doesn’t mean that she let someone walk over her, criticize her or let her have a bad feeling about herself.
This we see in the very beginning, at a terrible date, with her sarcasm she put people in place, letting them understand that they have crossed a line. That openness, the fact that she talks before she thinks, is not only great to read, but in a way (although on a lower level),so recognizable for me! 😊
Also her search for a perfect match is recognizable, as I still haven’t found my match yet. So once again: where can I send my application to? 😊 Just like Sammie, I don’t need a man, but for sure it is nice to have someone by your side, who loves you just the way you are.
And when she learns that she is finally to go to the Love Hotel, I was over the moon for her, even extra when learning she will go to Italy (not biased at all 😊). But also how she learns about her trip, made me laugh, because her confusion and her nearly missing out on this amazing opportunity!
Even if I knew beforehand that her match wouldn’t be the perfect match at all, I was almost disgusted by this man looking supposedly for love. Everything he said or did, was not only cringy, but so ugly. He was not only lying, but also body shaming Sammie, while Sammie is just perfect with all her curves.
So while it broke my heart for Sammie seeing how she is being abandoned, I was happy to see him gone, and let the real story start!
Another admission of mine, while Romeo is a lookalike of a famous actor, I can understand the appeal, but that specific Italian actor isn’t doing it for me. So I hope that Olivia can forgive me, but in my mind, Romeo looked a bit different, still the typical Italian but not so much of a lookalike 😊.
Romeo, with such a name, would you expect a terrible person? Of course not!
But I also felt sorry for him, because rather quickly when he appears in the book, it becomes clear that he is being objectified by women. And while at the resort he keeps absolutely his professionalism, some women make it difficult to not believe the rumours about him. All the while he is just being the perfect gentleman, professional Love Alchemist.
With him we see how not only women being objectified, but also men, and how that objectification can ruin careers, lives. Because we see that despite the person that Romeo is, he is afraid to act the right way, in fear of being misunderstood or as it can be seen as something wrong.
Because he truly cares about his guests, not just about Sammie. He wants everyone to have a good time and enjoy their match. And he just doesn’t understand how Sammie’s match just left, while Sammie is just perfect…
While he is looking after Sammie, without crossing any line, we also learn that he has been burnt by love before and that makes him very wary. Also the fact that he sees in what an unhappy marriage his own mother is, makes him rather reluctant to give another chance.
Talking about his mother… Romeo is for sure an amazing son. Not only would he walk on water for his mother, he also wants her to be happy, and he knows what would make her happy. Romeo is the kind of son that will make sure that his mother gets her own happy ending….
No matter how hard Romeo and Sammie are trying to keep their distance, and not cross any line, sparks fly around whenever they are together. But it isn’t just something physical, Sammie understands Romeo, and they have a lot of things in common. And Romeo just loves Sammie’s creativity, her spontaneity en just how she is in general. There cannot be a more perfect match! Weren’t it forbidden…
Olivia Spring once again surprised me with this book. Not that I expected I wouldn’t like it, on the contrary. I didn’t expect it to love it just so much… I was rooting from the start until the very end for Sammie and Romeo to find their happiness. And I found myself getting angry at moments, but also I also and especially found myself smiling, swooning, laughing throughout the story.
There wasn’t one bit I didn’t like (even Sammie’s original match couldn’t change my happy feelings). Although, there was just one thing… that I finished it… Because this book is so captivating, so wonderful, that you never want it to end! 😊
Lose your innocence to one of the wickedest men alive in this DARK and TWISTED Peter Pan retelling by bestselling and award-winning author Lydia Michaels.
Some adventures lead to happily ever afters. Others lead to ruin.
Wendy Darling is desperate to escape the gilded cage of her childhood, but her parents’ obsession with wealth and status has her trapped. Suffocated by their expectations and starved for freedom, she runs off with the duplicitous billionaire Peter Pangbourn to the Never Lands—an exclusive playground for the lawless elite. But once there, Wendy finds herself stranded and at Peter’s mercy—powerless to get home.
When pirates storm the island, Wendy is kidnapped by the cruel and vengeful Captain James Hook. James has waited a lifetime to punish his brother, Peter, and he plans to use Wendy’s innocence to exact his revenge.
Dark secrets are revealed in a battle of wills, and a dangerous obsession ensues between Wendy and her ruthless captor as his dominance is met with stunning surrender. While Hook is determined to dominate and destroy Wendy, she is set on saving his dark soul.
“Fans of Haunting Adeline and Twisted Love will devour this enemies-to-lovers, dark billionaire romance! Hush Darling sizzles with taboo degradation as Wendy, a virgin captive, faces off with one of the most vengeful and villainous pirates alive.”
Tropes: Dark Romance, Billionaire Romance, Virgin heroine, degradation kink, Daddy vibes, Abduction, Pirate Romance, Enemy Brothers, enemies-to-lovers, good vs. evil
My review
Wendy Darling hasn’t known any different that her family, especially her parents, are obsessed with wealth, money and status. That made Wendy grow up in a gilded cage, so when Peter Pangbourn, a billionaire her parents want her to end up, but is not as a do – gooder he makes everyone believe, offers Wendy to her with him to The Never Lands, Wendy sees this as a chance to escape her personal prison. But Wendy quickly learns that The Never Lands is where the elite play around without taking any law to heart. To make things even worse, while Wnedy tries to find her way back home, pirates capture her, and she finds herself at the mercy of Captain James Hook, who is seeking revenge against Peter. While Wendy has no other choice to surrender to James’s will and desires, she understands that his dark side comes from his past he tries to hide. And she makes it her own mission to show him that his soul isn’t completely lost at all…
I don’t think that there is one person in the world who hasn’t heard of the story of Wendy and Peter Pan, and the evil Captain Hook. While not exactly a fairytale, we all see the good and the bad in the original story, loving Peter and despising the Captain.
But what if someone uses the original tale and gives it not just a twist that it is set in the present, but also a definite darker one too, where nothing is off limits, where Wendy finds herself at the mercy of wicked minds?
When I started reading this book, I thought I knew what to expect, but the more I was reading, the more I realized that my initial thoughts were wrong, on several levels.
Not only is Peter not that innocent boy we all knew, but in fact he is a rather despicable man, used to use his wealth to get what he wants. And he isn’t used of getting ‘no’ for an answer. Not only that, but once we are on The Never Lands, we also see that his moral compass is just completely off. We see how he uses people, especially women for his own pleasure.
And seeing how Wendy, innocent in so many aspects, falls at his mercy, made me even fearing for her, with her. Innocent, because Wendy has truly been living in a gilded cage, not being allowed to do what she truly wants, or understand what her own passions and desires are. Growing up with parents with only wealth and status on their mind, isn’t a way to grow up, so even when Peter visits her and tempts her to get away, I could understand Wendy(s desire to at least go rogue…
At Never Lands, Wendy is obviously in shock, not only seeing how Peter behaves, but also his friends. If I were Wendy, I would be screaming around, trying to find a way away from it all, wanting to get home (even if that is a prison) as fast as possible. If only that were the only shock Wendy would have…
Because of course, just like the original story, there has to be pirates and a Captain Hook!
Now, I need to admit, while his behaviour is totally not okay, I could understand why he is out for revenge. Right from the start we know about his connection with Peter, and yes, while he is the bad guy, I felt sorry for James…
That doesn’t make up for his behaviour towards Wendy of course, but it made it easier for me as a reader to understand the character of the Captain much better.
Now, this book isn’t for the fainthearted, as we see how James shows his dominance towards Wendy, and she has no choice but surrender to his whims. And Wendy being rather innocent also in that aspect, is not ready for the tornado that James is.
But at the same time, being captured and having no choice to go into submission, also frees her in a way. Wendy has been living her whole life in submission, but this kind of submission is liberating for her, as she understands not only her body better, but also her own darker side.
The more Wendy freely submits, the more James finds Wendy irresistible, impossible to just ignore or just use her as he initially planned. And the more these two people, who couldn’t be more different, find a connection somehow…
I have to admit, I made a mistake while I was reading this story. And that was that I was reading it during my lunchbreak at work. And some bits, well, they weren’t fit for reading at work! 😊
There is a lot of ‘action’ in this book, and we were warned for it at the start of the book. And while perhaps there were a few moments that went a little bit too over the top for my own personal liking, I could also see further than just that action.
Because that action is also the reason that Wendy discovers who she really is, and that what she feels and thinks and desires, is not weird or strange. And we see Wendy getting stronger, more courageous throughout the story. At the same time we also see this fierce, vengeful Captain melting at the hidden force that Wendy in fact is.
Lydia Michaels clearly took her inspiration from the story of Peter Pan, but made her own story, changing the narrative. And perhaps it took me a bit to forget about the old Peter Pan and Wendy. But once I made that click in my head, I found myself totally drawn into this dark and twisted story, that somehow also shows strength, courage, self – discovery, passion and a connection that makes no sense at first but is undeniable and perhaps stronger than anything else in the world!
PREPARE TO BE HOOKED by the brand new thriller from Lisa Jewell, author of No.1 bestsellers None of This Is True, Don’t Let Him In and Then She Was Gone.
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It was the night she almost died.
Jane Trevally, newly divorced and feeling a little lost, agrees to accompany a man she doesn’t know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath. She’s offered a drink, goes in, and then – a scream and the sound of something falling upstairs – Jane senses she’s in a bad place. She runs.
Twenty five years later, Jane finds herself outside the same house, this time to return a small white dog who’s been found near her home in the country; a dog whose owner has just been reported missing.
A fleeting glimpse of a haunted looking woman through the window sends Jane on a mission to uncover the house’s secrets – secrets more terrifying than she could have ever imagined, especially when she realises it could have been her …
A missing woman, a dysfunctional family and dark, dark secrets … Prepare to be hooked: it’s the new Lisa Jewell thriller.
Bestselling author Lisa Jewell’s brand new thriller IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER is out on 2 July 2026
He’s certain his second chance already came and went.
But Gull Island has other plans.
Widowed business owner Annie Lawson has lived with the ache of a love cut short. Running her shop and raising her young son have taught her how to build a full, steady life, even as her heart stays guarded. Letting someone in again isn’t on her to-to list. But when the cottage next door fills with a bestselling author and single dad carrying more regret than pages written, her life begins to tilt in unexpected ways.
Cal Carter comes to Gull Island to outrun a painful divorce, resuscitate his writing voice, and rebuild trust with his teenage daughter. The last thing he expects is a neighbor whose laughter slips past his defenses and whose warmth makes him question the certainty he’s built around his own future.
Between sea turtle nests, summer storms, and long talks that stretch past dusk, Annie and Cal drift closer than either intended. But as their bond deepens, a long-buried truth from Cal’s past asks them to loosen their hold on what’s behind them—and consider whether the love waiting right next door might be worth the risk.
Book 2 in the kisses-only Gull Island Romance series. Each book stands on its own
When things are not going well, faking may bring some solace…
Synopsis
Fake dating isn’t on the curriculum… but neither is falling in love
He’s tall, dark and handsome… And he’s just announced his engagement to someone else.
Guidance teacher Clara Morgan thought her year couldn’t get any worse, but it just did. No matter how hard she tries to keep her chin up, it’s hard not to feel down.
Kind and intuitive English teacher and single dad Sam Addison realises something’s up with Clara; he puts two and two together and works out her secret.
Shocked that someone has discovered her unrequited love for one of her colleagues, Clara leans on Sam for support. When he’s invited to a wedding, Clara offers to go with him – as a friend. But she starts to see him in a whole new light when she introduces him to the concept of fake dating.
Sam gave up on love long ago and has a whole cupboard full of baggage, but Clara is just so loveable. If only he wasn’t stuck in a complicated home setup, and she wasn’t in love with someone else.
My review
Clara Morgan is a guidance teacher that secretly has a crush on one of her colleagues. So when he announces his engagement, it is normal for Clara to feel down. Not only that shakes Clara, but she has also received some news that truly turns her world upside down… Her devastation is noticed by English teacher and single dad Sam Addison. And while he doesn’t hear it from Clara, he quickly understand what turmoil Clara is in. As Clara knows that Sam knows about her heartbreak, how ashamed Clara may feel, she finds comfort and support with Sam. And with their relationship going from colleagues to friends, when Clara discovers that Sam has to attend a wedding and will have to face remarks and comments about being single, why wouldn’t she suggest to be his plus one? So even if Sam gave up on love a long time ago, and has a lot of baggage, is there something wrong with do some fake dating with someone as lovely as Clara? Spending more time together means for the both of them seeing each other in a different light. However, Sam is in a complicated family situation and Clara was just so not long ago in love with someone else. So what are their feelings actually saying, and is there a possibility for more?
There is something about Glenbriar and its inhabitants that always make me feel so happy when I pick up the next instalment of the series. 😊
At the start of the book, it is obvious that Clara has unreciprocated feelings towards one of her colleagues. And even if she tries to hide it, to avoid any awkward situations, hearing about the engagement crushes her. Of course I could understand her developed feelings and the devastation upon hearing the happy news, because we all know how lovely and amazing Kerr is!
In itself, Clara’s broken heart wouldn’t be the end of the world for her, but the fact that she has learned some devastation news about herself, makes her now question not only herself, but also any future plans she may have envisioned.
And what Clara is going through, truly saddened me. Because she is such a lovely, warm, kind young woman who deserves someone special in her life, and the future she dreamed about. IT shows how unfair in a way Life can be, how easily it can take something from you…
But where Life takes something away, it also gives you something. And in Clara’s case, it is Sam’s friendship and support. Of course they already know each other, and there is already a sort of relationship, the colleague – type.
Yet as Sam is quick to realize what Clara’s feelings are for Kerr, Clara finds an ally in him. Because that is the kind of person Sam is… He wants to be there for people he cares about, he is kind, gentle, understanding and with his own personal issues, we see he would move heaven and earth for his children…
Where I felt sorry for Clara is going through, I felt anger with Sam’s storyline. Not because Sam is doing something wrong, but because he loves his children so much, and wants to be near them as much as possible, he is at the mercy of his ex. And let that ex be the person my anger is aimed to.
With Clara and Sam being somehow in a way kindred spirits, their relationship evolves even outside the school walls. Where they start to meet by sheer accident on their walks, they intentionally start to spend more time together.
And when Sam is going to attend a wedding, and he knows him being single is going to be subject of mocking, Clara suggests to be his plus one, and is ready to be fake – dating him. Like we don’t know that things will go through another shift there 😊.
But it isn’t the fake – dating that made me cheer for these two lovely people. It is how they are with each other, how they are around each other’s loved ones, without the need to pretend. There is an instant liking, an instant and genuine love for everyone they meet. Again a testament of their wonderful characters!
Both Sam and Clara are lovely people, but they are going through a lot in their lives at the moment. And love and romance is absolutely the last thing on their mind. But they both deserve it so much, especially with each other.
What we see with Sam and Clara, is not only compassionate they are, but they understand what the other is going through. They are there for each other when needed, but also take a step back when it is needed.
Saying this is a heart – warming story would be an understatement. Because this story emanates just so much love, warmth, kindness and gentleness, despite the turmoil the characters are going through.
Saying I devoured this story, would be an understatement, because I found myself just reading page after page after page. That much I loved reading Clara’s and Sam’s story. Their story shows us that no matter what curveballs Life has thrown us and is still throwing us, there are always people in your life that suddenly become so important and that will make you believe in love again and perhaps make you be courageous enough.
And to end my review, can I say I cannot wait to read the next instalment, involving another teacher, a frustrating student and his father! 😊
Alexander is the most normal and loved eleven-year-old boy you will ever meet. Until one day, he isn’t.
Living in the south east of England in the 1990s, Alexander’s life appears stable – a warm home, a loving mother, and a familiar school routine. But beneath the surface, things begin to shift. Affection turns cold. Words are twisted. The father he once looked up to becomes a figure of confusion and fear.
As the tension in the house builds, Alexander is forced to question everything: his place in the family, his worth, and whether the love he thought was unconditional ever really existed. While friendships and football offer brief moments of safety, the emotional pressure at home grows unbearable, and he’s left trying to make sense of a world that suddenly seems stacked against him.
Growing Pains is a raw, emotionally charged debut inspired by true events. It lays bare the hidden scars of emotional abuse and explores the quiet, persistent damage inflicted by those closest to us. Told entirely from Alexander’s perspective, it captures the confusion, shame, and resilience of a child trying to survive in a home where silence is the only defence.
This is book one in a powerful new series following Alexander’s fight to be heard, to heal, and to find out who he is beyond the pain.
A portion of profits from this book will be donated to child protection charities, including the NSPCC.
Joseph Ball is a working-class voice author, a full-time retail manager, and a lifelong book lover who dreams of opening his own bookstore. He lives in the Dorset countryside with his wife, children, and two cats, where most days begin early, end late, and are built around family life. Joseph grew up in Essex in the late 80s and 90s, and it is those formative years that inspired his debut novel, Growing Pains. Drawing from lived experiences, Joseph has created a world that honours the people who helped him through, while shedding light on the silence that surrounds emotional abuse. Growing Pains was written to show that not all wounds are visible, and not all children who suffer are noticed. It is a story for those who smile to keep the peace, whilst their trauma goes unseen. Joseph hopes that this story might reach someone who needs to know they’re not alone, and that their voice and their stories matter too. A portion of the profits from Growing Pains will be donated to child protection charities
Tizi’s Book Review 