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‘Cinderella’s Fling With The Billionaire’ – written by Rachael Stewart #BookReview @rach_b52

When it just supposed to be one night…

Synopsis

After one steamy night together, a Cinderella is unexpectedly reunited with the very same billionaire…on a luxury superyacht! Find out what happens in this forced-proximitystory by Rachael Stewart!

FOR ONE NIGHT OR FOREVER?

Single mom Maria has fought to reclaim her world from her controlling ex. Romance is the last thing on her mind—until billionaire widower Tim walks into her bar, igniting a passion she thought she’d buried. A brief fling was meant to be enough, until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited on a luxury superyacht. Working as a stewardess, Maria is mortified to be serving the man she shared a bed with. Worse still, their attraction is stronger than ever…

From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.

Sun, Sea and Swept Away

Book 1: What Happens at the Beach…
Book 2: Cinderella’s Fling with the Billionaire

My review

Maria has worked hard to get out of the clutches of her controlling ex. So with her found freedom and being a single mother, romance is absolutely the last thing on her mind. And then one day, or rather evening, a handsome man walks in the bar she is working at. And against all odds, Maria ends up spending the night with Tim. But even if it was out of Maria’s character, she knows that this was a one – off and that she will never see Tim again. Until she accepts a job for helping out on a luxurious superyacht. Maria is more than shocked to learn that one of the owner’s guest is nobody else than Tim! While their night together was amazing, Maria working as a stewardess and serving the man she slept with, shows her how different their worlds are. And while she wants to keep her distance, the attraction between them  thinks otherwise.

Sometimes you read stories about characters that couldn’t be further away from your own life. Of course, me being happily single, not being a mother or ever having been in an abusive relationship, you would think it would be a little bit more difficult to understand Maria’s reasoning and actions.

But the truth couldn’t be further away, because no matter the differences, I felt her pain, her struggles, but also her determination, her strength and her independency. And even if I haven’t have been through what she has been through, her character was so recognizable, so real.

Even if at the start it isn’t clear what Maria ahs been through, it is obvious that she has fought hard to get where she is now, that she has fought hard for her and her daughter’s freedom. And no matter who enters the scene, nobody or nothing will ever make her give that up ever again.

It takes a while before we know Maria’s past and just like Tim, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that what happened to her, the fault is not hers at all, but that she has been taking advantage of by someone who kicks on power.

I could also understand how Maria acts out of character after meeting that stranger in the bar. Sometimes you need to break free, break out of character, and just go with the flow. And acting like that once in a while, what is wrong with that if you don’t hurt someone else?

I am also a fierce believer that Maria wouldn’t have that night with just anyone. The fact that she has it with Tim, shows us already early on in the book, that there is something between them simmering, no matter how different their  lives and lifestyle are.

Tim… what a haunted and scarred character that he is… I cannot even try to understand how much he is still in pain and grieving over his loss. Time may heal all the wounds, but it can take a loooong time. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially if you have lost like Tim did…

Even for Tim it is an act out of character when he has this thrilling night with Maria, but again, what is wrong with that? Especially with their chemistry!

Obviously, we know that between Maria and Tim it won’t remain with just one night. We know beforehand that they will see each other again on the superyacht, and I was having a bit an evil moment, waiting for them meeting again and wanting to see their shock! 😊

And did I get rewarded for it! 😊

The difference in status couldn’t be more obvious, and Maria’s discomfort is palpable from each page. And while I was cheering for Maria and Tim getting closer and have those sparks flying again, I could very much appreciate Maria’s desire for professionalism, and even if against better judgement, pretend that one night never happened.

Of course, being on a yacht together, it means that avoiding each other is just impossible. Yet it is also the perfect opportunity to truly get to know each other. And seeing them getting there, was just great.

Slowly, with even some ups and downs, and between extravagant behaviour of guests and saving lives, Maria and Tim get to know the person behind the money, the person behind the strong façade.

I truly enjoyed this story about hurt yet strong people, trying to find a way to truly live and enjoy life again. We see that differences can pull people apart from each other, but more important how likenesses can bring them closer together, allowing them to open up again to that strange feeling that love is.

Rachael Stewart for sure wrote a beautiful story about two people that have been through hell and back, yet deserve the world filled with happiness, joy and love. I absolutely loved getting to know Maria and Tim better, and cheering for them from the very first moment they set eyes on each other!  

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‘The Holiday Post’ – written by L.B. Dunbar #BookReview

When a stranger becomes a houseguest…

Synopsis

Doc Hollywood meets It’s a Wonderful Life with a hint of The Santa Clause when a globetrotting toy industry mogul is stranded in this small harbor town days before Christmas.

Despite dreams to explore the world, I’ve never been anywhere other than this small harbor town. Single mom, local postmistress, and one-fourth owner of a failing auto repair shop are all the reasons I’ve remained planted where my roots began.

Hideaway Harbor is layered in love for the holidays, enticing visitors to the coastal area for a seasonal respite, so thanks to an unpredicted blizzard, it’s no surprise when a stranger plows into the town’s welcome sign.

What is a surprise is when he’s suddenly—and rather reluctantly by me—an extended-stay guest in my home thanks to no vacancies in town, some pesky matchmaking, and candy cane martinis on a Monday.

There’s something vaguely familiar about this new visitor. The combination of snow and tinsel colored hair. The well-trimmed matching beard. The laugh lines near his coal-colored eyes. How good he looks in the color red. He’s thoughtful and kind, and has a flair for the holiday season, which makes him most likely to make the top of Santa’s good guy (with a hint of bad boy) list.

After some disappointing news concerning the holidays, the hap, hap, happiest time of the year isn’t feeling so spectacular. But my houseguest’s presence builds a snowstorm of emotions in my chest, making my Christmas wish a transfer to the naughty list . . . with him.

Unfortunately, there’s a mystery behind his origins, and he has “not-staying” written all over him. With places to be before the calendar flips to December twenty-fourth, he’ll soon be gone, and I’ve encountered this heartbreaking, lump-of-coal sensation once before.

No matter how short or sweet his visit, there’s no doubt about the magic we make together, leaving me to wonder if love is the greatest adventure we take.

+ + + 

Welcome to Hideaway Harbor – where Christmas charm meets small town – and six amazing authors bring you six original holiday romances steeped in heat, heart, and winter quirkiness which can be read as standalones.

My review

Lumi used to have to many dreams when being younger. Now she is a single mother, postmistress and quarter – owner of an auto repair shop. Life for sure didn’t go as expected for her, but Hideaway Harbor is her home. Winter always brings extra visitors, especially to see the Christmas Spirit that defines Hideaway Harbor. So when a stranger has an accident, it isn’t an actual surprise. What is a surprise, is that Lumi finds herself suddenly having the stranger with the name of Saint as a houseguest. And Lumi cannot deny there is something familiar about Saint, even if she cannot put her finger on it yet. And that even if Lumi is going to have an unusual Christmas, a very non – festive one, Saint is the one who is able to turn on emotions and feelings that Lumi hasn’t felt for a long time. However, there is a lot of secrecy around Saint, and as Saint won’t be staying, would good could ever come from all those feelings both Lumi and Saint are starting to have?

I have read several books of this series, written wonderfully by different authors, and that can all be read perfectly as a standalone. And each book, I was a bit afraid that it couldn’t live up to the other stories I have read. And yet, I am still waiting for that disappointment 😊

Perhaps I found this one the sweetest story of all what I have read. Of course there is some spice in it, and several swoon – moments. But there is something about Saint’s mysteriousness, and even a certain way of innocence, that made this story somehow sweeter.

In a way, I found Lumi a bit of a sad character at the start of the book. Not that I pitied her, but while she is content with her life, with choices she has made, that she isn’t her life at the fullest. There is still so much potential in her, yet her responsibilities then and now are keeping her in Hideaway Harbor.

It is also obvious how much she cares about just everything and everyone, from her son, to her sisters and the auto repair shop, to even that stranger that has just crashed his car…  

Now, as the partly owner of an auto repair shop, it is rather mandatory to help Saint out. And yes, even if she has been a bit pushed in letting him stay at her place, of she truly didn’t want to do it, she could have.

I don’t know if anyone could persuade me let a complete stranger in my place, no matter how much money they would offer. I think I am too wary, and perhaps that I have read too many thrillers to not think of worst case scenarios.

Even if the houseguest would be like Saint. Now, me being 39 years old, I have never thought of any man like a hot Santa. Yet with Saint, I had to rethink about that! 😊

I said it earlier, there is just something about Saint… He is extremely hot, but not just that. He also is caring, gentle, patient and just lovely. Mix that with a certain level of vulnerability, innocence too, and it is just a full package!

On the other hand, there also the burden of responsibility on his shoulders, the way his family is demanding his return home. A home and a business too, he is being very mysterious about. And whenever questions are asked, his answers only add layers of mystery!

The connection there is between Lumi and Saint is just amazing to read. Even if they start rather cold toward each other, slowly the attraction becomes unbearable to keep on ignoring any further. Wow, those sparks! 😊

But it is not just the physical attraction between them, but also the emotional attraction, the desire to make each happy somehow…

I truly enjoyed reading this story, as it shows how perhaps one accident can the start of a brand new adventure, and can make you feel things you haven’t felt or believed in for a very long time. And with that layer of mystery, and the seem of the impossible happening, it made me even wonder if Saint truly would be…  

I said it before and I will say it again, perhaps the sweetest story of the series, but equally beautiful!

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‘The Holiday Clause’ – written by Lydia Michaels #BookReview

When a specific clause changes the yearslong dynamics

Synopsis

A Hideaway Harbor holiday rom-com from bestselling & award-winning author Lydia Michaels!

Three billionaire brothers. One ultimatum. And a childhood best friend who just became the prize.

The Christmas rush began the moment Magnus Hawthorne informed his sons that his billion-dollar empire would come with one hell of a holiday clause—whoever marries first inherits everything.

Too bad they all want the same woman.

Wren Wilde, Hideaway Harbor’s unintentional cat lady, is sick of bossy Hawthorne men controlling her non-existent love life. After years of their territorial interference, she’s finally going after what she wants. But Greyson, Soren, and Logan have other plans—one of them must marry, and all three brothers want Wren.

With no clue how her boring life turned into a billion-dollar competition, Wren refuses to play along. But when three alpha males turn on the holiday charm and refuse to take no for an answer, her defenses crumble.

Wren must decide which brother wins, and this Christmas, her choice comes down to love.

“A steamy, small-town, holiday romance with an unforgettable love triangle that’s guaranteed to heat up readers’ hearts this winter!”

Tropes: Protector • Three Possessive Alpha Males • Billionaire Brothers • Grumpy/Sunshine • Holiday Romance • Small-Town • Rom-Com • Friends-to-Lovers • Long-Time Crush • First Love • Virgin • Christmas Ultimatum • Holiday Rush • Christmas Competition • Steamy Romance • Childhood Best Friend • Family Rivalry • Won’t Take No for an Answer

My review

Wren Wilde has grown up together with the Hawthorne boys. Especially a common grief years ago made their bond unbreakable. Although Wren has to admit that having Greyson, Soren and Logan acting not just as her best friends, but also as bigger brothers, made her love life rather non – existing. And while she loves her boys, their lives couldn’t be more different. Where Wren is known as a real cat – lady and runs The Haven, a place for peace and quiet, Magnus Hawthorne has built a billion – dollar empire to be inherited by the boys. But what nobody expected is that Magnus has added a clause before Greyson, Soren or Logan can inherit the business. A clause that the one whoever marries first, gets it all. And the three siblings think there is only one woman perfect for them… Wren. But no matter how much Wren loves the brothers, it is not enough to marry any of them. Or is there?

I have to admit, the friends that I had while growing up, aren’t my friends anymore. Not that something happened, but sometimes, that is just how life goes. So at the start of the book, I was a bit envious of the friendship between Wren, Greyson, Soren and Logan. Of course there is also the grief of losing their mothers, who were also best friends, that brought them all even closer.

On the other hand, I do have an older brother, a very protective one too. And in that aspect, I could completely understand Wren’s frustrations, as those three brother, with the best intentions, kind of ruined her love life… But when you love, you love that person, those people, completely, no matter how often they irritate you, right?

Obviously, it is not a secret what the shocking clause is that the men’s father, Magnus has added. As I am not part of the richer population of world, I truly wonder if the rich people can truly be that bold, and even crazy…

And while you may think that the Hawthorne boys are driven by money to get married as soon as possible, it is obvious that this is not the case. It is just that the brothers don’t want to lose what their family has built. And when there is so much at stake, I could understand why the only option the brothers see, is Wren.

Again, don’t go thinking that they are taking the easiest option. They truly care and love Wren, all in their own specific way. And Wren knows them inside and outside, she knows them and they know her inside and outside.

But I loved it how Wren just dismisses all of the men. Not because she doesn’t love them and she doesn’t care about their inheritance. And getting married to just any of the brothers could be an easy option, but I liked reading how Wren wants to be loved in the way that you should be loved.

Wren has been though a lot, and is in a way still finding her feet. She loves running The Haven, is perhaps even a bit excentric, but she also has her own personal struggles and issues.

But no matter what she is going through, she has one of the kindest hearts in the world. And that does not only show in the care she has for cats, but also the way she keeps on looking after her father and just how she knows how to help his through his own demons.

And let’s not forget how she is always there for any of the Hawthorne brothers, even if in the past and present they hurt her somehow.

In reviews, you have to be honest. Thus I must say, I had my own favourite Hawthorne brother. And perhaps he isn’t the easiest person to like, but in a way, or at least for me, he was.

There is so much I want to say about how the story evolves, and how many swoon – worthy moments there are. But that also means giving you all already an idea how the story will evolve. And I just won’t do that, as you have to discover it all by yourself.

What I also liked in this book, how there are several ups and downs. Because things don’t always go right from the first time, not in real life. And falling in love is perhaps the easiest bit, but it is also about keeping that love, not per se protected, but open and embracing.

We see in this book, how important it is to communicate openly about what is going through your mind, to protect your loved ones, but finding the balance and not become overprotective. And it is about the lengths you are ready to go for the person you love.

Lydia Michaels wrote a wonderful, heartwarming story about all the aspects of love, and that one special love. And the book started of with a peculiar clause, that made me frown, but I finished the book with a big, happy, satisfied smile on my face!  😊

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‘The Widow’s Vow’ – written by Rachel Brimble #BookReview @RachelBrimble @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

When your future is doing the same you did in your past.

Synopsis

From grieving widow…

1851, England. After her merchant husband saved her from a life of prostitution, Louisa Hill was briefly happy as a housewife in Bristol. But then a constable arrives at her door. Her husband has been found hanged in a Bath hotel room, a note and a key to a property in Bath she knew nothing about the only things she has left of him.

To a new life as a madam…

Knowing the debt collectors will arrive any moment, Louisa must leave everything she knows behind, and move to Bath. But left with no means of income, Louisa knows she has little choice but to return to but her old way of life. But this time, she’ll do it on her own terms – by turning her new home into a brothel for upper class gentleman. And she’s determined the horrors she was forced to endure in the past are not experienced by the girls she saves from the streets.

Enlisting the help of Jacob Jackson, a quiet but feared boxer, to watch over the house, Louisa is about to embark on a life she never envisaged. Can she find the courage to forge this new path?

My review

Louisa thought she finally escaped a life of prostitution, by getting married. She enjoyed her life as a housewife, but when a constable knocks on her door, her dream falls apart. Her husband has been found dead in a hotel room and left her a property in Bath and many debts. Now that Louisa has no more income, she sees no other option than returning to her old job. But this time it will be on her conditions. She won’t run just a random brothel, but one for upper class gentlemen. And to make sure that every woman in the house is safe, she needs someone to watch the house. And her eye falls on boxer Jacob Jackson. Will Louisa succeed in run the brothel how she envisions it? And can she truly protect the girls?

Initially I couldn’t’ imagine that I would like Louisa. Maybe in my own naivety, I found it hard to understand why someone would go back into prostitution, after just escaped from it. I thought that there would be other solutions.

But okay, putting my own thoughts aside, I had to admire Louisa’s determination to be different. She truly wants the best for the girls and goes lengths to provide protection.
Once she made her decision, she is sticking by it, and will not allow anyway to bully her away.

When she meets Jacob, she immediately sees he is exactly what she needs. Jacob is a boxer, so I understood he wasn’t jumping at this opportunity.
Jacob was a hard nut to crack. He strongly beliefs that because he was raised with violence, that he is also a violent man. He thinks that violence runs in his blood and nothing can change his mind.

All the people in this story make an evolution. Louisa has to learn to love again, daring to allow someone in her life and heart again. Jacob has to learn that violence isn’t the solution and that he isn’t born to be a violent man.

This is not a story where it’s all rainbow and sunshine. It shows how hard life can be if you are not so lucky.
But it also shows that determination can change your life and that you don’t have to be only a victim.
And being in a difficult position, but having people that care about you, is all that matters. The people that are about you and you care about can come in different sizes and shapes. It can be a friend that you know for years, the latest addition of your brothel and even that boxer that needs to provide the protection.

It’s a dark story, but with silver linings that made this story an enjoyable read. I found myself feeling compassionate about the characters, hoping that they would see the light and not just give up.

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‘A Merry Little Christmas’ – written by Rosie Green #BookReview @Rosie_Green88 @rararesources

When Christmas isn’t turning out to be the most wonderful time of the year…

Synopsis

Festive excitement is in the air, the tree is sparkling on the village green and Christmas music is making even the most hardened cynic feel a little sentimental – but one Little Duck Pond Café favourite is feeling anything but romantic! Is this destined to be a festive season best forgotten? Or could Katja’s dream of a merry little Christmas possibly end up coming true?

My review

After a terrible breakup, Katja truly believed she has found love again, in the form of Caleb. Not only is he just amazing, but he also understands Katje better than no one else did before. He knows that things need to go slowly, not because Katja isn’t sure about her feelings, but because she is afraid of the depths of them. However, while Katje doesn’t want anything more than snuggling with Caleb for their first Christmas together, there are things that worry Katja. Firstly, there are these reoccurring nightmares she keeps on having, making her fear for what she may lose, and secondly, Caleb starts to act out of character. Has Caleb run out of patience and is letting her down slowly, and will this be a lonely Christmas for Katja after all? Or is there more than what the eye sees?

Initially, I was over the moon reading this next instalment that I absolutely love. However, that feeling started to shift the more I was reading it. Now my dearest Rosie, don’t go panicking, keep on reading my thoughts of the book and you’ll see what you have done to my emotions and more important, to my heart! 😊

Of course I knew who Katja is as she also takes part in the previous parts of the series. So I knew already what she had endured in the past, and how her previous relationship ended not only in heartbreak, but also in a terrible way.

Even if now she had found love again with Caleb, I could understand why she wants to take things slowly with him, and how she is a bit afraid of admitting what she truly feels. Having been burnt by love before does that with people, doesn’t it?

And my heart went out to her, seeing how she is being haunted by nightmares and how those nightmares are exhausting her. I think I could understand where those nightmares are coming from, but as I have been haunted by nightmares myself for a longer period (though for complete different reasons), I know that even if you know better, it doesn’t stop those nightmares from returning.

When you are in need, you should get all the possible support. And how much did it warm my heart how all of Katja’s family and friends are always there for her. It is not easy to understand what is going on in someone’s head, but seeing their support, shows how close and how caring just everyone is in this wonderful community.

A community that wants Katja to be happy, just like she deserves to be. A community that wants Katja to understand that she has the real deal found with Caleb.

However… no matter how amazing Caleb has been, how patient he has been and how understanding he has been, the change of his behaviour made me share Katja’s doubts…

We see Caleb becoming more distant, dodgy even. And I did not like this side of Caleb. Even if I knew that this author would never disappoint me with characters that I would truly dislike, Caleb for sure was testing me in every possible way.

I truly tried to keep my faith and I truly tried to believe him and his goodness. But Caleb also made sure that no matter what I wanted to believe, I only saw the bad things… Bad things I didn’t want to see, but couldn’t otherwise…

There is so much to say about Caleb’s character and behaviour, and things will be made clear in the end. But as this is a spoiler – free review, I cannot divulge further on it. But what I can say, is that Rosie for sure played dirty!  And I don’t know if I have forgiven her yet! 😊

Despite the turmoil Katja is going through, and all the doubts she is having, we see also her strength in this story. She has been through a lot, but that also makes her a compassionate person, seeing signs that perhaps not everyone sees. She is ready to help out those who find it scary to stand up for themselves. Katje shows us that no matter how difficult life gets, kindness and care don’t cost a thing.

Rosie Green wrote a beautiful, strong, compassionate story, where things aren’t going easy for the main characters. But the characters are always kind-hearted, patient, righteous and protective of their loved ones, but strong enough to not let the bad ones win and take over. All this is written in a wonderful tale, surrounded with some Christmas sprinkles, making me (in the end 😊) love the story completely and full heartedly!

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‘The Holiday Grump’ – written by Enni Amanda #BookReview @EnniAuthor

The need to hide, the need to stay hidden

Synopsis

A runaway bride. A grumpy bookseller with a heart of gold. A friends-with-benefits deal doomed from the start.

Hideaway Harbor was supposed to be a quick detour—one cozy Christmas job, then I’d be back on the cruise ship, far from my powerful ex and the mess I left behind.

But thanks to a tiny mix-up, my “accommodation” is a storage room with a creaky daybed and no plumbing.

Enter my neighbor Fredrik: a broody bookstore owner with a decent bathroom and the social skills of a cactus.

He’s everything I shouldn’t want—grumpy, reclusive, and allergic to holiday cheer. Yet he keeps showing up for me. Saving me. Heating up the sauna…

And suddenly, we’re tangled in something neither of us is ready for.

We’re just friends. With excellent benefits. Until the lines blur.

I should keep running, but this small town is starting to feel like home.

And Fredrik… he might be the reason I finally stay.

—

The Holiday Grump is part of the Christmas at Hideaway Harbor series of six spicy romantic comedies. The books are interconnected standalones and can be read in any order

My review

While waiting for her next job on a cruise ship to start, Noelle agrees to be managing a popup shop filled with all that is Christmas in Hideaway Harbor. As Hideaway Harbor is literally a place in the middle of nowhere, it is the perfect place for Noelle, as she is running away from her controlling ex and the mess Noelle left behind by running away right before saying ‘I Do’. With Christmas looming around the corner, even in a lovely place like Hideaway Harbor, finding lodgings is difficult, so when Noelle’s accommodation is anything but what she thought it would be, Noelle doesn’t know what to do. But her shop – neighbour Frederik, owner of the bookshop right across her shop, has a decent bathroom ready to be used. However, even if Frederik is allowing Noelle to help herself with bathroom utilities, Noelle cannot deny that Frederik is a grumpy, reclusive man, wanting nothing more than being left alone. Yet Frederik cannot stop himself from helping Noelle out, even if she drives him crazy… And even if Noelle is staying at Hideaway Harbor for a limited time, Noelle and Frederik become friends with very good benefits, with no expectations at all. But when lines start to blur, is it all that defined as the both of them may think?

Christmas is always the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it? The  people are cheerful, the lights outside and the ‘will it snow?’…

But while for so many it is a wonderful time of the year, it is obvious the moment that Noelle (there isn’t a more fitting name! 😊) appears for the first time, that while she is a positive person, she isn’t in the happiest time of her life. She is running away from someone and something, and she needs to be somewhere to recharge herself, to find herself again.

I truly liked Noelle, because despite everything she has been through, and that in fact she is still hiding and running away, she is just a wonderful person. Despite everything she has been through, she still keeps a smile on her face, and no matter what curveballs are being thrown at her, she never loses her joy and cheer.

The contrast with Frederik couldn’t be any bigger. Being surrounded by books all day would be heaven for me, and I think I would be loving selling stories to people. But Frederik likes the darkness in his store, the quiet of it. And even if the store isn’t making any money, he likes it how on his own he is most of the day.

The comparison that in the book is made that Frederik is a Grinch, is rather spot on. However, we see more often than not, just who the real Frederik is. And that is a man that has been hurt by love, but also a man that does not let anyone struggle.

And it is seeing that softer side of him, the real him, was what made me even fall in love with him too. Of course, it is difficult for Frederik to get out of his Grinch – mood that easily, and communication is always a work in progress, yet seeing that progress, the slow change in him taking place, was so heartwarming.

That is all thanks to Noelle and her fierceness, her persuasive powers. Noelle and Frederik couldn’t be more different at the start of the book, but also right from the start it is clear that there is something pulling them together. And seeing how they are going from a low level of antagonists, to friends to friends with… feels like the normal course of life.

Again, things don’t go straightforward between them, as both Noelle and Frederik are haunted by events of their past, some closer to the present than others. But in both cases, also thanks to each other, they are able to trust people again, to let go of the past and to not already dream, but at least think about the future again.

But what for sure also helped in Noelle’s case, is the community of Hideaway Harbor. There are for sure excentric characters, but they are all opening their arms and hearts for Noelle. It feels like Noelle not just fits perfectly in Hideaway Harbor, but that she has been part of this community forever.

Obviously, there are several heated moments in this book, and Frederik for sure surprised me a little bit in that aspect 😊. But those heated moments show once again how well Noelle and Frederik are compatible! Now, as they start of as friends with benefits, and with blurring lines, it is to be expected that things become complicated.

Yet those complications and how the pair of them cope with them, shows the struggles they have internally, but also the growth they are going through. And that growth is the core of the story.

That growth and change in the main characters show us that no matter what has happened in the past, a page can be turned. And meeting a random person can be the catalyst of seeing more lights in your life again, to believe in all what is beautiful again.

I absolutely devoured this book, wanting to read more of Noelle and Frederik, but also not wanting to read too much of them. Because I just did not want to reach the end of this beautiful, heartwarming, inspiring, very Christmassy story that for sure put a smile on my face!

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‘A Christmas Caroline’ – written by K. L. Crear #BookReview @rararesources

A Classic story, updated

Synopsis

Caroline’s got frugality down to a fine art. She can make a tin of soup stretch for days, considers “reduced to clear” her love language, and thinks Christmas is just a daft excuse for people to throw their money away on tinsel trimmed tat. 

But Christmas Eve night takes a turn when her best mate, Marlene, drops in for a chat. Lovely, right? Except Marlene’s been dead for seven years and she’s got a message for Caroline, she will be visited by three spirits and if she doesn’t pay attention, her future’s looking bleaker than the contents of her fridge freezer. 

Caroline’s convinced she’s having a hallucination. Ghosts? Surely not! But as the night goes on, she starts to wonder if she might just learn something worth more than her latest discount voucher. And for someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing, this might be the wake-up call she didn’t see coming. 

Move over Ebenezer! This modern, laugh-out-loud retelling of the Dickens classic has a new Scrooge in town. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella. 

My review

When you would look up frugality in the dictionary, there is definitely a picture of Caroline next to the description. So what if she is eating from the same tin of soup for days, so what if her sofa is killing her back, as long as she doesn’t have to spend an extra penny. Not even her friends can make her change her way of living, especially as in fact, Caroline doesn’t have many. But one evening, Caroline gets a wake – up call from her best friend Marlene. Nothing strange, weren’t it for the fact that Marlene has passed away seven years ago… And Marlene is telling Caroline that she will be visited by three ghosts, hoping they can make Caroline see that if nothing changes, her future will be bleak and lonely… Sceptical initially, Caroline starts to wonder if there may be some truths in what she is being told…

Of course the classic of A Christmas Carol is known to me. And while I have seen adaptations of it, movies and series, I haven’t ever read the actual book. I know, shame on me!

And I can only imagine how not only how difficult it can be for an author to take such a beloved story and give it another twist to it, but it also courageous, because there is so much to take in account and a lot of prejudice against it too.

I can understand how especially in these current times, sometimes you have to think about every penny and how to spend it. And initially I thought that Caroline couldn’t afford any frivolity, and that it makes sense for her to use the same tin of soup for days.

So learning that in fact Caroline would have been able to buy a more comfortable sofa, but just doesn’t want to, made me frown a little bit. Yes, you shouldn’t spend your money on unnecessary things, but when it is a necessity… And even if it weren’t unnecessary, but it is something you truly want, why not? You only live once, right?

When Marlene appears, knowing that Caroline’s best friend has passed away, it makes sense for Caroline to think that she is hallucinating, wouldn’t you freak out too? But it is also a necessary wake – up call, because there is still time for Caroline to change her own life.

Obviously, Caroline is a stubborn woman, and thus strong ways must be found. So let the known three ghosts enter the scene!

While I truly wanted Caroline to realize that her way of life is no way of living in fact, it also saddened me to read how it came this far with her. And how alone and lonely in fact Caroline is. Yes, partly it can be blamed on herself and the choices she has made overtime, but still… Being lonely and alone is somehow a vicious circle, difficult to get out of it on your own…

Yes, perhaps after the visit of the last ghost, Caroline’s action were a total 180 compared to her previous behaviour, but is makes it obvious to the readers how much the ghosts have affected her and how well the message has arrived.

I truly enjoyed reading this revisited version and how it was set in the present, with everything we know and have now. Of course the classic remains the classic, but I truly believe the author owned this story. And with reading this tale, it made me once again realize how life should be lived at its fullest, enjoy it at the fullest, with the people you love, because before you know, it can be over in a blink. And you wouldn’t want to be just a footnote in someone’s else life, would you? Don’t you want to be the star in your own life?  

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‘The Falconer’s Lost Baron’ – written by Susanne Dunlap #BookReview @rararesources

Is all truly lost when we think it is?

Synopsis

A sweeping Regency tale of identity, devotion, and unexpected romance.

Lady Antonella thought she knew who she was—until a shattering family secret strips her of her name, her place in society, and her future. Cast adrift in Cornwall, she finds an injured goshawk in a poacher’s net and begins to nurse it back to health. But the hawk belongs to the war-scarred Lord Atherleigh—a man haunted by loss, determined to dismantle his mews, and certainly not expecting a spirited young woman to upend his solitude.

In London, her twin sister Belinda—radiant, poised, and newly on the marriage market—has only one goal: to find a worthy match… for Antonella. But when Hector Gainesworth, a charming rogue with laughter in his eyes and secrets of his own, turns his attention to Belinda instead, her heart begins to spin in an altogether unexpected direction.

As the sisters navigate betrayal, desire, and the demands of their hearts, two men must decide whether to risk everything for love. And Antonella’s goshawk may be the wild, winged thread that binds their fates.

My review

Antonella and Belinda have been the closest of sisters, and not just because they are twins. Or at least that it what they always believed to be. However, one shocking revelation makes Antonella not only take away her place in society, but also her identity. She doesn’t know who she truly is and where she belongs. The only thing that brings her solace, is her passion for birds. So when she finds an injured goshawk, she is determined to bring it back to health. Little does Antonella know that in fact, the goshawk belongs to Lord Atherleigh, who lost not only his hand but also hope and the will to live during war. And little does Antonella know that what starts as a random encounter, could possibly bring them together. Or not? Meanwhile in London is Belinda determined to protect her sister, and she is ready to make sure that Antonella’s life is secured. And that means to find a compatible suitor for her. But when Belinda meets Mr. Gainesworth, who is perfect for Antonella, Belinda must make an impossible choice and understand what her heart truly desires…

When I started reading this book, I was a bit in doubts. Not because I doubted the story, but because I am absolutely not into birds at all. In fact, I am a bit terrified of them! They can stay in the sky as long as they won’t, as long they don’t come near me! 😊

In that aspect, I found a kindred spirit in Belinda, as she feels the same about those feathered animals. But as a wonderful, supporting and loyal sister, she is in Antonella’s corner and even if she doesn’t understand it herself, she sees the passion Antonella has for them.

The love between the sisters is so sweet to read. Of course being twins is even a closer bond, but as I have an amazing relationship with my own brother, I can understand how the sisters would do anything for each other. Their differences, both physical as their interests, cannot break their sisterly connection.

A connection that cannot be broken by hearing upon the news that in fact they aren’t sisters at all. Of course, being sisters for years cannot be erased by one shocking revelation. You cannot just stop being sisters overnight. And I loved reading the determination from both women, that nothing would tear them apart, that they would find ways to always be in each other’s lives.

I have to admit, I was shocked how the news was brought to them, how cold, how rationale, without any feeling. And it not only saddened me but also it also broke my heart seeing how easily Antonella was dismissed, ‘downgraded’. Even if Antonella isn’t truly family, you raised this woman, so how can you not care about her anymore?

Of course Antonella is at loss after the news. Wouldn’t you be too? Everything you thought you knew, turns out to be a lie… At loss is even an understatement! Obviously Antonella needs to find her peace in a special place.

And seeing how she has that place, and how it brings her inner calmness, made me in a way happy for her. Seeing also how she is determined to help out the injured goshawk, how she somehow connects with it, made me like her, admire her even more.

A hurt Antonella and an injured bird, they need an equally pained character.

Lord Atherleigh for sure fits the bill, haunted by not only the loss of his hand, but also the demons of the war that are still haunting him. How to cope with everything you have seen, everything you have lost, and knowing that people are starting at you.

I could absolutely comprehend how he feels that he has lost everything, that there is nothing left for him. But I also wished for him to see quickly the light again, and that he would understand that there is still more than enough in life.

So seeing Antonella and Lord Atherleigh somehow finding each other, understanding each other, warmed my heart. But are those few encounters truly enough?

At the same time, we see Belinda in London, trying her best to find the best suitor for Antonella.

Seeing that sisterly love, that determination, made me immediately like Belinda even more than I already did before!

Whenever Belinda is in Society, she is looking around, not for herself, but for Antonella. Yes, that makes some strange conversations, putting several smiles on my face 😊

And when Belinda meets Mr. Gainesworth, I could see why Belinda thinks he is the perfect match for Antonella. But I could clearly see who would be an even perfecter match! 😊

In this book we see how even the most disruptive news cannot break a bond that is thicker than blood. But we also see how it can make you still question everything and even yourself. And we see how different people are, and how different lives can go. Yet no matter how different people are, or what they have been through, there is also an unexplainable connection that can be formed, against own beliefs and altruism.

And that is the strength also of this book, how all the characters, no matter their hurt, are thinking about others. We see how despite everything that is happening, how big each character’s heart is. That made me forget about my fear and dislike of birds that connect the characters one way or another!  

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‘A Family Affair’ – written by Joy Wood #Extract @joywoodauthor @rararesources

Let’s get you curious with an extract!

Synopsis

Odele Gardia . . . married to wealthy businessman Howard, is the hard-nosed matriarch of the family and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She’s ruthless in the boardroom and not afraid to lean on adversaries. 

Sebastian Gardia . . . Odele’s brother and business partner. His wife, Freya, reveals that she is pregnant with their first child.

Elliot . . . the prodigal son, is returning from America with his girlfriend, intending to propose to her.

Business is booming, her brother is going to become a father, and her son is coming home – it’s surely a time to celebrate. But Odele is hiding a huge secret and is constantly looking over her shoulder. If the secret came out, it would destroy the family.

Jimmy Alder . . . booted out of the police force, has been paid to spy on the family. The discovery he makes could have catastrophic consequences for them all.

A dysfunctional family, protectors of their power, wealth and each other, have no warning of the revelations about to erupt and the cost to their dynasty.

Extract

Wealthy Odele Gardia, the ruthless matriarch, is looking for a fixer. She requires someone discreet to ‘lean on’ a family member.

Odele parked her car in the executive car park that she’d purchased a permanent parking space for, and made her way down in the lift and out into the fresh air as she started the short walk to the office. As she approached the entrance, the vagrant was back, sitting on the pavement. She’d labelled him as a vagrant, but he was far from it. While he might be unshaved and dressed shabbily, he was too good looking to be who he was trying to be. And she was well ahead of him now, anyway.

“I paid you to move on. Why are you still here?”

He shrugged. “I need more money. Ten quid doesn’t go far.”

“Can’t you take yourself off and loiter somewhere else?”

“I could,” he nodded to the paper cup at the side of him, “but I don’t get handed Costa coffees down the side streets.”

“Where do you live?”

He shrugged again. “Here and there.”

“Are you Jimmy Alder?” she asked and she noticed the surprise in his eyes.

“Lady,” he said, “I can be anyone you want me to be.”

“Very funny. I understand you used to be a police officer?”

He didn’t answer. 

“Well, did you?”

“I might have been.”

“But you got kicked out of the force.”

“Did I?”

“That’s what I’m told. And now you’re being paid to watch my brother?”

“Really?”

“Yes, by his wife, my sister-in-law. You’re following him, that’s why you’re here, so no need to play the innocent.”

“Look lady, I’m happy to move on if you pay for a decent lunch for me.”

“I can do better than that. I can give you some work.”

“What sort of work?”

“Work that’ll bring you in some money, so you don’t sit outside my office every day.”

“I’m listening.”

“Are you discreet?”

“It’s my middle name.”

Odele glanced at her Rolex. “Do you know cafe Valerie on the high street?”

“Yep.”

“Meet me there at midday.”

“And you’ll shout me lunch?”

“Yes.”

“How can I refuse, then? A man’s got to eat.”

Odele opened her purse and tossed a ten-pound note at him. “In the meantime, clear off. I’ll see you at 12.”

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‘The Garden Of Shared Stories’ – written by Clare Swatman #BookReview @clareswatman @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

How strong is love truly?

Synopsis

Emma is at an all-time low the day she meets Nick. She sits down in a quiet rose garden in her local park, and from nowhere a handsome man sits next to her and turns her world upside down.

Over the weeks, she and Nick meet regularly, always in the same place, always at the same time. They discover they have a lot in common – shared heartbreak, and shared dreams. They tell each other stories about the people they’ve lost – things they’ve never told anyone else. Bit by bit, they get to know each other, and fall in love.

But there’s a catch, because however much they have in common, they have one big thing keeping them apart… twenty years apart. Because when Nick is sitting in the garden it’s 1999 – two decades before Emma is there.

Emma never expected to fall in love again, but now she has, she’s not going to give up on it without a fight. But how do you turn something impossible into a happy ever after?

My review

It’s one of those days for Emma… not only is she still struggling with the loss of her husband, but at her work things didn’t go easy today. So after a day she just wants to forget, she decides to make a stop in a rose garden at her local park. Nick had exact same idea after still grieving over the loss of his wife a few years ago. While normally the both of them find it difficult to talk about what they have been through, Emma and Nick connect and are able to talk just about everything. Over the weeks, they keep on meeting in their special spot, and slowly the both of them start to believe that they may fall in love again. However things aren’t just that easy as they may think, and meeting outside the rose garden is impossible, because they learn that in fact, they are not living in the same year and there are twenty years separating them… So even if Emma and Nick are ready to fight for what there is blooming between them, could there possibly be a future for them, when even the present is trying to tear them apart?

Clare Swatman always writes wonderful stories, that truly touch your heart, but also stories with a little extra, an extra that will also make your heart ache….

While I was reading this book, I couldn’t not think about a wonderful movie starring a certain Sandra B. and a certain Keanu R. There are similarities of course, but also many differences, making me not only fall in love with both main characters, the story but also made me feel their own heartbreaks.

I can only try to imagine how it feels to love your partner. And when you loved so dearly, like Emma and Nick did and still do at the start of the story, I could comprehend that the both of them are struggling with letting go and just attempting to move on.

So obviously, when Emma and Nick meet in the rose garden, and connect, I was happy for the both of them. There is no time limit for grief, and weeing how their meeting is able to get over their pain and sense of loss, was just so heartwarming.

It would be easy to ‘blame’ their connection on the fact they share a common grief, but the more time they spend together, the clearer it becomes that there is so much more that connect them than just the loss of their partner.

I have to admit, that when I started reading this book, I haven’t read the blurb thus didn’t know what the twist of their love story would be. Of course there were signs the more we got to know Nick and Emma better, but when the penny finally dropped for them and me, I was a bit shocked.

The fact that the evolution of Emma’s and Nick’s romance is limited to the rose garden, made me wonder how long the magic would be able to capture my attention. But I should not have worried, because I was just so into the story!

And while Emma and Nick for sure spend their shared time together in this mystical, magical garden, we also get enough to see of Emma and Nick on their own, at their homes, with their family and friends.

But we also see how the both of them are trying to make sense of what is happening to them, even if it doesn’t make sense at all. Why can they see each other, even if there are twenty years between them? And why are they falling for each other, when the prospect of a future together is nihil?

This book is split in three big parts. Parts that show how both Emma’s and Nick’s lives have changed after meeting each other, and how their presence in each other’s lives affected their own personal lives and paths.

There are also several fears outspoken in this book. What will ever come of the feelings Emma and Nick are having? Can the future be altered, and how will it be altered? Is it courageous to fall in love again after having had it all already?

Clare Swatman wrote an amazing, heartfelt story, showing us the beauty but also the ‘impossibilities’ of love. She shows us the power of love, but also the fragility of it. But she also shows us hope, courage, strength, determination and how the strangest things happening to us can bring us the most beautiful things.

After I finished reading this book, I could not stop thinking: what a story I just read! A story that I for sure recommend to read! 😊