Not every guest at your B&B is the same…

Synopsis

Yorkshire lass and dental receptionist Janet Jackson has just taken a big risk. Using all her savings, she’s turned her spacious garage into a Bed and Breakfast, slapped a sign on it and without any experience at all, is now awaiting her very first guests.

With a moody teenage daughter and a crazy sister to contend with she’s already got her work cut out. The trouble she soon discovers, is that guests have undesirable habits, annoying pets and endless demands. ‘Is it bloody worth it?’ she asks herself a dozen times a day. Janet gradually learns her trade – but not without being tested to her limits. The question is: will she come through the experience with her bank balance, cottage and her sanity intact? 

Hugely entertaining but a word of warning: if ever you’ve thought of running a B&B, read this hilarious debut novel first– you might want to think again!

My review

Janet Jackson is a dental receptionist and has absolutely nothing in common with her more famous namesake. They don’t even live in the same continent, as the famous one lives in the States while this one lives in Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Janet has just turned her garage into a Break & Breakfast, a dream she always had, and also it’s a way to become more independent.
But beside her dream of running a B&B she has absolutely zero experience and needs the help of her teenage daughter Chloe and Janet’s sister Maureen. Quickly Janet realizes that running a B&B is not as easy at it seems, and each guest behaves differently. And Janet finds herself going from one crisis to another, and not all B&B – related… 

I live in an apartment myself, but even if I were living in a bigger house and would have the possibility to run a B&B, I would never do it.
First of all, I wouldn’t have the patience, second, I wouldn’t trust a full 100% my guests and in the end it would be just a matter of time before I would start screaming at the guests.
But of course there are people who are actually capable of running it smoothly. 

What I liked about this book is that we see how Janet and her family get ready to start her new business, but that we also see that there is just so much more to take care of than just offering literally a bed and breakfast in the morning.

I admired Janet’s courage to start the business, and the efforts she has put in the place and is still putting in it, to make it as comfortable as possible for her guests.
We see how some things go smoothly, as there are wonderful guests, but also how things can go wrong when guests are not appreciating the place they are staying in.
And slowly we see how Janet manages to find her own house rules that guests need to follow. Running a new business is learning while running it and it though trial and error that it can be a success. 

And that also applies in Janet’s life beside running the B&B (which isn’t a real B&B as she quickly dismisses the Breakfast – part).
Janet is the kind of person who cares about her loved ones deeply, and wants to help out as much as she can.
But the more we got to know Janet, the more ‘alarm bells’ started to go off in my mind. She does everything with the right intention, but I also saw how she did things just to please people even if things went too far. 

I love my sibling deeply, but if I would have a sister like Maureen, well, I would have slapped her several times. And I for sure would have made Chloe clear that that are rules to be followed and that they are not to be bend…
And even her relationship with Peter isn’t an all loved – up one.. 

However, slowly we see Janet grow in the story. She learns that she cannot please everyone, family or guests, but that she has to follow her own feeling.
I admired her when she stood up against her own sister, demanding to contribute more in the household, but also how Janet refused to let her ex – husband just stay in her house too and just raid the fridge etc.
But even when she finally stands up for herself, that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t look out for those around her.
She still helps them the best way she can, but now it’s without losing herself in the process. 

I enjoyed reading this book, as I sympathized with Janet, and slowly saw her growing up and allowing herself to be herself and even speak up.
The variety of guests showed that you never know what people will rent your place, and it was hilarious to see how it went from one extreme into the total opposite. Some guests were infuriating with their behaviour, while other ones were quick in making me like them. 

If there is only one remark I can give, is that while slowly we see Janet getting everything back on track, and I was ready (and very curious) for the next guests to arrive, I realized I had reached the end. But isn’t being disappointed because you wanted to read more of this book, a good sign?

Venice, a place to heal

Synopsis

Fate brought them together, now it’s up to them to make it work…

Having left the army to recover from a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed is on her way to Venice to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a world-famous writer who has lost her mojo. Plagued by grief and sleepless nights, Jane soon finds a kindred spirit in Veronica, coping with her own loss after the death of her husband.

When the two relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside to escape the summer tourists, Jane meets the rest of the Cooper family – including Veronica’s brooding son, David. With his own tragic past, David has resigned himself to a life of solitude. Jane finds herself determined to bring joy back into his life, even if it means finally spilling her secrets.

Can Jane and David help each other heal, and find love in the process, or are some scars too deep to treat?

My review

Captain Jane Reed left the army after a traumatic experience. While physically she has healed, even if she has scars that will always remind of her of what happened, it’s on an emotional level that she still hasn’t healed completely.
Her new job brings her to Venice, to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a successful writer known all over the world, but hasn’t written a word since the death of her beloved husband.
Both Jane and Veronica are finding it difficult to move on with their lives, but being together, Jane manages not only to enjoy her life again, but also helps Veronica to get out of that dark place.
And when they relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside for the summer, and Jane meets the other members of the Cooper family, she realizes that Veronica’s brooding son David has his own dark past, causing him to live in solitude.
Jane finds herself drawn to him and makes it her mission to get that spark back in his eyes, even if that means to come clean about her own secrets. 

It’s not a secret how much I love reading the books this author writes. And no, me being Italian and that the author has a whole series taking place in Italy doesn’t have anything to do with it! 

I don’t hide the fact that Venice is not my favourite Italian city, so I was curious to discover if T. A. Williams would manage to change my mind or not. While initially Venice confirmed all my ‘dislike’ for the place, I also discovered hidden gems of the place I didn’t know before. And add that the characters move to the countryside for the summer, surely helped increasing me liking this story! 

Already in the first chapter I liked Jane. Being a Captain in the Army, and being part of that specific department is something I admire but I also know you have to be right person for doing it. I for sure wouldn’t be up for the job, and we see what happened to Jane when it goes wrong.
So obviously it makes sense leaving the Army, and having the desire to start somewhere new. And with her background and Jane speaking fluently Italian, accepting the job as an assistant in Italy was the perfect solution. 

After her experience in Fallujah, we see only a shadow of who Jane was, which again is understandable. But once in Venice, surrounded by its beauty (yes I see Venice’s beauty too, it’s just the overhyped thing and being crushed by tourists I don’t like, and the pigeons, and the water, and the overpricing of just everything…) but also surrounded by the genuine people she meets, we start to see how Jane slowly starts to see the good things of life again.

I also liked how just Jane’s presence helped Veronica out. Also in her case, I understood her pain, but it saddened me how such a great woman seemed to have just given up. It warmed my heart to see how slowly also Veronica got out of her shell again, and got her spirit back! 

It’s obvious before we even know more details, that the love interest will be David. And while he has his own demons to face, we also see, just like Jane does, his potential. His behaviour may seem odd, and we know that *something* happened, but we don’t know the details.
I have to admit, I thought that his secret would be a bigger one. Not that what he went through is not bad enough, but in my imagination I made up a story that was way worse. 

Jane makes it her mission to help David out, even if he fights it initially. But we start to see more and more the real David, and I for sure could understand Jane’s attraction.
But for me, this story wasn’t only about Jane and David. I saw it more as a journey that broken people took, voluntarily or involuntarily. Jane, David and also Veronica have endured losses in different yet similar ways and are finding it difficult to overcome their pain.
However, sometimes all it takes to heal is to have these hurt people together, sharing their feelings and knowing that someone who understands is listening, to start the process to find happiness and joie de vivre again. 

This was again a heart-warming, wonderful story about ‘broken’ people, finding each other and helping each other.
The author again managed to fulfil my high expectations and even diminished my dislike for Venice a little bit.
Because with this author, it feels like you are walking around the place yourself, you can feel the heat of a crowded city, but also the fresh air in the countryside, and even the wet nose of a lovely dog!
Just amazing!

When you are left on your own, you realize you are not alone

Synopsis

A story about friends, sisters, motherhood and starting again – one day at a time…

Stella fell in love with Simon hard and fast. He was everything she wanted in a husband, and he seemed to feel the same way about her. More than a decade of marriage later, life is sweet. They have three much-wanted children, a successful business, and a comfortable London home. What more could Stella possibly want?

But then, out of the blue, Simon is gone. Vanished. No one knows where he’s gone or why.

Now Stella, with the help of her friends and family, has topick up the pieces of her and her children’s life, all the while wondering what she missed. Was her husband who he said he was, and can she trust her own memories of their life together?

Helen McGinn’s latest novel is a love story to friendship, sisters, motherhood and starting again – one day at a time. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Noble, Cathy Kelly and JoJo Moyes.

My review

When Stella met Simon, she wasn’t expecting to get married so fast and having children. But now, a decade later, her life with Simon and their three children couldn’t be more perfect, especially knowing that their own business is a successful one.
So when out of the blue Simon decides to walk out of the family and literally vanishes, Stella doesn’t know what to do.
With the help of her family and her friends, slowly Stella manages to pick of the pieces of her and her children’s lives. But no matter how things are getting back on track, she cannot stop wondering if she missed any sign. And if Simon could so easily walk away from the family he desired so much, did Stella truly know her husband? 

We know from the start that things will take a bad turn for Stella. But from only reading the blurb I had so many questions I hoped I would get rather fast an answer to them.
Because it is just so difficult to grasp the fact that someone would just walk away from a perfect marriage and his loving family.
So initially I thought that while everything seemed picture perfect, there must have been some  serious problems.  

When Simon just walked out, after a ridiculous argument – if we can even call it that – I was just left flabbergasted. Okay, he doesn’t like confrontation, but if you are not happy in your marriage, talk about it, find a solution, get a divorce. There are so many ‘normal’ options you can chose from, do anything except just walking away without ever getting back in touch!
So yeah, it’s obvious that from the start I disliked Simon, and that feeling only grew stronger as more was revealed… 

But this is not a story about walking away from your family, it is about how to get back on track with your life after a shock.
Stella obviously isn’t having an easy time, her whole life is turned upside down, and where she first was part of a team, is now facing everything on her own.
I hated the fact that Stella followed Simon in his wishes, in getting married quickly, having soon after children, and even if she had so many happy moments, now has to face everything on her own. 

After a time of grieving, I admired how she managed to find a way to move on. And how she realizes that hiding yourself, while you did nothing wrong, is not the best solution. Her husband is a d*ckhead, he is the one who should feel ashamed.
So seeing how Stella has a whole team on her side, from her sister to her best friends, truly made me feel happy for her. Especially when we know that not everyone agreed with the choices she made with Simon. 

And that trip to Florence, while it was hard for her to leave her children behind (always in capable hands, no worries!), it was exactly what Stella needed to recharge her own batteries. This also shows us how she puts her children’s happiness before her own, disregarding even what she needs. But that is just what an amazing mother does.
Add the fact that while it could have been easy to turn the children against Simon, by speaking badly about him, she knows that no matter what, and no matter what his reasons were, he stills remains the father of her children.

Seeing also how resilient those children were, shows us to never underestimate them, no matter what age they are. They understand things much better than we realize. And even by doing small, little things, they show their support, help and love.  

Stella is on a double mission in this story, namely moving on with her life without Simon, but also discovering where Simon is and why he left.
Discovering more about Simon and his actions, truly shocked me even more than expected. And like I said, the more discoveries were made, the more I hated the guy. And even near the end of the book, I despised the man! 

I understood the desperation Stella was feeling initially, but I especially admired the slowly growing feeling of hope that was growing inside Stella.
While initially everything was a tragedy, Stella learns that even if her husband abandoned their family, she has so many people she can rely on. Family and friends are only one call or one text away and they don’t hesitate to drop anything they were doing when help is needed.

And that is what stuck with me, family and real friends are invaluable in your life. Even at your lowest, loneliest moment, they will stand by your side and lift you up again. And that sometimes losing someone is the best thing that could happen, because you gain so much instead.

When your last relationship makes you wary for the next one…

Synopsis

No matter how hard you fight it, love will always find a way…

Ever since she was a little girl, dance teacher Anoushka Cartwright has dreamed of opening her own dance studio near her home on her beloved North Yorkshire Moors. And when she gets the chance to do just that she can hardly believe her luck!

Life is sweet. Or it would be if it wasn’t for her relationship with Damon which has been growing increasingly toxic, much to her family’s concern. Critical of her dreams he can’t understand why she won’t move to the city of York and live with him. He refuses to accept their relationship is floundering until the day Anoushka breaks up with him.

Popular indie/folk singer, Gabe Dublin, hails from Southern Ireland. He’s been head-over-heels in love with Anoushka ever since he first set eyes on her at a wedding two years earlier. She’s the reason he keeps returning to the area, staying with his friends, Lady Caroline Hammondely and her husband Sim, at Danskelfe Castle. Gabe and Anoushka have become good friends, but she’s always made it clear they could never be anything more, which is tearing Gabe’s heart in two. He knows he won’t be able to love anyone else the way he loves Anoushka.

Her family and friends can see how perfect they are for each other but Anoushka is adamant, after her experience with Damon, she has no room for a man in her life. She makes a pact with herself to focus all of her attention on her dance school. And she intends to keep it. The only thing is, it’s not as easy as it seems.

When an unexpected situation throws them together, Anoushka’s feelings are exposed for the world to see. The question is, will she act on them or will she stay true to her promise to herself?

Join Anoushka and Gabe – and all the other Life on the Moors Characters – for the latest heartwarming visit to the characterful village of Lytell Stangdale in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors.

My review

Anoushka Cartwright is in an almost perfect place. Her father is now married with his childhood sweetheart, and the blended family couldn’t be more loving and wonderful.
Anoushka is in an almost perfect place, because she hopes that she can realize her dream of opening her own dance studio, but it’s difficult to find the perfect location, and being an affordable place too.
Anoushka is in an almost perfect place, because her relationship with Damon has been growing for a while into a toxic one. He wants her to leave Lytell Stangdale and wants her to go live with him in York, he wants her to change her hair and the way she dresses. And he doesn’t support her in chasing her dreams.
But Anoushka had enough, and has finally decided to break up with him and to never let another man in her life again, not even popular indie/folk singer Gabe Dublin. Gabe knows that Anoushka will never look the same way at him like he does at her, yet she is the reason he keeps coming back home.
However, how long can Anoushka ignore the feelings she has for Gabe? Or will she stubbornly refuse to take a chance with Gabe? 

I have read several parts of this series (not all of them yet, but I am determined to rectify this asap!) and each story made me fall in love with all the characters and with each story I fell more in love with the wonderful place that Lytell Stangdale is.
But somehow this story touched me even more than the other ones, as the author raises a subject that is unfortunately very real. 

From the start I loved Anoushka. She is part of an amazing family. Even if the members are not all biologically linked, the love between each member couldn’t be more pure.
I loved also how Anoushka just is 100% Anoushka. She is sparkly, happy, and I could see how her presence alone would make the place even better.

However, how amazing Anoushka may be, her boyfriend Damon (I changed his name into Demon, so you get an idea what kind of character he is…), is turning this confident young woman into a shadow of herself. Reading how Demon – sorry Damon – behaved and just even talked to Anoushka, made me cringe… And it broke my heart to see how Anoushka changed in his presence…
So I was truly proud of how Anoushka was able to get herself out of the claws of such an evil person. 

In this book, we are rooting for Anoushka and Gabe to finally have their shot at happiness. But I felt that this was a deeper story than just a story about two perfect people  finding each other.
Because Anoushka slowly becomes her old self again, but it isn’t always as easy, especially as ‘He-who-must-not-be-named’ keeps on reappearing again and again, trying to manipulate our beloved Anoushka again. 

It is very important to understand that getting out of a relationship with a person who is gaslighting you, is the easier part. But as Anoushka shows us, she has once loved that person, and somehow a doubt still  remains. And gaining that confidence back again, daring to chase your dreams again, while you had someone whispering in your ear you were chasing waterfalls, is not an easy task.
Having family and friends who support you all the way is obviously a great help, and reading how Anoushka got to be her great self again, was wonderful. 

Now, I cannot just ignore Gabe, because he is a part of this story too. He is the perfect example of someone who got his dream, but also didn’t let his success get into his head.
Since he laid eyes on Anoushka, he has been in love with her. Isn’t there anything sweeter than that? Especially as she was one of the major reasons he keeps on coming back to Lytell Stangdale.
And even now that she is available, Gabe respects her decision to keep things friendly and that she is not ready to dive into another relationship. 

As a reader, Anoushka’s decision was yes understandable, but also frustrating, as Gabe is exactly what she needs.
And the waiting for that one spectacular moment is sooooo long, but when it happens, it was just perfection… 

While the subject of this book is a very serious one, I had the best time reading it. First of all, seeing how my old friends are doing, was wonderful. Seeing the mischief of some people and also animals was hilarious. But most important, seeing how a lovely character managed to set herself free again, was inspiring and heart – warming.
This is just another amazing success of a marvellous author who keeps on surprising her readers in a most delightful way!

In a small town, there cannot be many murder suspects right?

Synopsis

When feature writer Ruth Finlay and her elderly neighborDoris Cleaver visit an antique and collectibles market in the small town of Myrtle Bay, they get a lot more than they bargained for.

After Ruth’s old tennis coach is found dead, they discover that there’s no lack of people who harbor a grudge against the victim, and a tangled web of family ties and lies begins to unravel. But can Ruth and Doris find the killer in time to avert a second murder?

A quirky feel-good mystery laced with intrigue, Murder in Myrtle Bay is the first book in Isobel Blackthorn’s ‘Ruth Finlay Mysteries’ series. Set in small town Australia, it is a sure pick for any fan of classic whodunits and cozy mysteries!

My review

Ruth Finlay is a feature writer in the small town of Myrtle Bay. You would think that not much would happen there. That is until Ruth’s old tennis coach is found dead at the antique and collectibles market. And yes, of course it’s Ruth, together with her elderly neighbour Doris find the body.
The both of them start to make their own investigations, believing that not many people would hold a grudge against the victim. But the more they dig, the longer their list of suspects become.
Will Ruth and Doris find the right culprit? Or will the list of victims become even longer? 

After all the romance I read, sometimes is a cosy mystery exactly what I need! 

I can only imagine the shock of discovering a body at the market I am visiting, and I for sure wouldn’t react so calmly like our main characters. 

Now, I am one of those people who think: ‘Just let the police do their job, they don’t need my interference’, but in a book, I love investigating together with the characters.
And Ruth and Doris follow the steps I would make, even if I wouldn’t have a white board full of suspects 😊. 

Myrtle Bay is a small town, so I was surprised to read how many people were an actual suspect. That shows us that no matter how big or slam your town is, anything can happen. But also that grudges can be held for a very long time.
While initially the victim seemed to be rather ‘clean’, the more Ruth and Doris are digging, the more intrigues and wrong – doings are being discovered.  

I liked also reading the contrast between Ruth and Doris. Ruth keeps an open mind, has some sense before bursting into places and with her job, she has the perfect way to interrogate her suspects without making it feel like an interrogation.
While Doris is more impulsive, into the moment, not much overthinking about what they are doing. I also found Doris a bit too fixated on one suspect (making me frustrated 😊) and not always thinking logically.
Yet it was wonderful to see these two people working together! 

Beside the mystery, we also get to know Ruth better. Her bond with her father truly warmed my heart. It could have been easy for her to just visit once in a while, yet she truly looks after him, eve bringing him food and worry about him.
But that is in general just Ruth, she looks after those she cares about, just like she does with Doris. Not everyone would become such close friends with their elderly neighbours! 

This was indeed the cosy mystery I needed to read, truly keeping me guessing, re – guessing time after time who the culprit was.
And just like a real good mystery, I didn’t suspect the depth of vengeance of the murderer. As often in such stories, everything goes on an easy pace, letting you know all the characters, until suddenly all the pieces fall together and it becomes a matter of being on time to protect the new victim. 

The author managed to write an intriguing mystery, but also adding many layers so that the focus was not only on the mystery, but with many moments that put a smile on my face. She also made sure that we got to know the main characters better while investigating, making it possible to bond with them.
This is the promising first part of a series, and I am curious what new adventures are waiting for Ruth and Doris!

When a medium who isn’t really one, starts to see ghosts for real…

Synopsis

Flora Flowerdew has a secret. The former Florrie Gubbins, music hall dancer, is now Madame Flowerdew, one of London’s most renowned spirit mediums. But it’s actually herbeloved Pomeranian dog, Chou-Chou, who can see the ghosts.

One of her most lucrative seances, for the wealthy Petrie family whose daughter is about to marry a handsome young duke, goes chaotically awry. The duke’s late, and very irate, grandfather demands Flora and his grandson Benedict find the long-missing family diamonds—even the search becomes littered with mayhem and murder! Can Flora discover the jewels before she loses her career, her sanity—and her heart?

Sparks fly as Flora, Benedict, and Chou-Chou pursue the truth of the diamonds’ disappearance in this lighthearted, cozyhistorical mystery set in foggy, gas-lit London

My review

Flora Flowerdew, medium extraordinaire, has a few secrets. First of all, her real name is Florrie Gubbins, she used to be a musical hall dancer, and isn’t a real medium.
Even if her business is a successful one, it’s her Pomeranian dog Chou – Chou who can see really ghosts.
But during one of seances, for the wealthy Petrie family, Flora is shocked when she sees a ghost herself. And it doesn’t help that the ghost, a duke nonetheless, demands to find the long – missing family diamonds. Together with the ghost’s grandson, Benedict, Flora start the search for not only the diamonds, but also for the truth.
And meanwhile, she starts to feel more and more attracted to Benedict, who is however supposed to get engaged with the daughter of the Petrie family.
Will the diamonds be found, between more murder, mysteries and attraction? 

I have read several books of this author, and I enjoyed them all very much. So when I started to read this was, I was all in for the positivism.
But writing reviews means also being honest about the books that you read. And I felt that this books was somehow not as good as the other books I have read from her. 

Now, don’t understand me wrong, it isn’t that this book wasn’t a good one, but I think that the fact that I don’t believe in ghosts, and have a negative view over mediums didn’t make it possible for me to truly enjoy this book to the fullest. 

And Flora’s way of conducting her business didn’t help me change my mind completely. She isn’t a real medium, and knows things about her clients by just using common sense and just asking subtly around.
So when she sees a ghost, a terrifying one nonetheless, for real, I was actually having a little bit a feeling of revenge.
Of course, Flora isn’t a bad person, and we get to know that she didn’t have an easy time and has now found a way to have stability and independence in her life. 

And while she could have just stepped away, instead, she wants to discover the truth about those diamonds. She is a bit surprised that Benedict is ready to help her out, but after all, don’t all detectives have a side – kick by their side?
And two people can discover more than one… 

But while reading, we get to know also the main characters better. And just like in real life, what we see, isn’t always the truth. The characters of people go much deeper than what they show us, and I enjoyed discover every character more and more while getting further along in this book. 

I liked to see how clichés are being thrown out of the window, as we have a medium who truly cares about her latest clients, a Duke who isn’t feeling superior but enjoys the company of ‘normal’ people, a woman who prefers to marry someone else than a Duke, and a lovely dog who sees ghosts. 

This was, despite my reticence, an enjoyable story to read, with many questions that needed to be answered, main characters that dug deep to have those answers, and meanwhile started to grow closer.
As this is the first book of a series, I am sure that not only more mysteries will surface, but also we will see more of Flora and Benedict and their blooming romance.

With so many challenges, is Christmas the perfect moment for miracles…

Synopsis

It’s the countdown to Christmas at Hedgehog Hollow Wildlife Rescue Centre, and everyone is gearing up for a festive season to remember…

It should be the most wonderful time of the year for Samantha and Josh as they prepare for the arrival of their first baby. But life at Hedgehog Hollow rarely goes to plan and the pair are faced with adversaries, old and new, and unexpected challenges to overcome.

Fizz’s job at the heart of the rescue centre is a dream come true but her personal life is more like a nightmare. With her love life a disaster and her past about to dramatically catch up with her, she needs the love and support of her Hedgehog Hollow family more than ever.

As the snow falls over Hedgehog Hollow, will Samantha and Fizz find the Christmas miracle they need to overcome their heartache and find happiness?

My review

Samantha and Josh couldn’t be more happier than they are now. In a few months they will welcome their first baby into family. And while initially both Sam and Josh were afraid of not being great parents, they now cannot wait to meet their little bundle of love.
Sam is taking things slowly, even if she finds it just impossible to stay totally away from the animals at Hedgehog Hollow.
Luckily she can count on Fizz, who is now working on a permanent base at the rescue centre. But Fizz’s personal is not all sunshine and rainbows, as not only her love life seems to go from bad to worse, and ghosts of the past are haunting her more than before.
But Fizz knows that she can always count on the love and support of the Hedgehog Hollow family, even if also there troubles are not far away… 

Dear Jessica, 

For writing an amazing story (again), I reward you with the maximum of points, a full five stars. And as we say in Belgium, a kiss from the teacher and a bank forward!
However… I also have the sad notice that on another level, I have to give you the lowest points, a one star.
And this for the fact that I was so proud while reading that I made it without using any tissue at all. Until I reached the last few chapters… Then the tears started to come and … I …. Just … Couldn’t…  Stop…
And you should also know that I kept reading until 1 A.M, because I just couldn’t wait until the next day to finish your book BUT I HAD TO WORK THE NEXT DAY!!! So I finished reading at 1 A.M., I cried for half an hour after reaching the end, and then I had to go into the office!
Can you really be surprised that everyone at the office kept wondering what was wrong with me?????? 

But honestly, how much I loved reading this last chapter…

I found it marvellous to see how Sam and Josh are ready for the next adventure in their lives. the support they give each other, the love they have for each other. I was truly jealous of their bond.
Both characters have been through so much, yet they manage to keep positive in life. And whenever there seems to be that things are getting too much, their love pulls them through. They truly are the perfect soulmates!  

And I couldn’t wait for the baby to arrive, as it would be the cherry on top of a wonderful cake. However, Sam doesn’t have an easy time at the end of her pregnancy, no matter how much she deserves it.
Seeing the behaviour of people who are supposed to help new mothers during a difficult time, and just being awful, left me shocked. And reading afterwards how this was a real event for this magnificent author, made things even worse. But I am sure that such people are more the exception and that the world is filled with amazing people! 

In this book, Sam and Josh have to share the spotlight with Fizz. While in the previous books we already liked her and her sparkly character, I couldn’t wait to get to know her better. And  I had my fingers crossed that something would happen with another lovely character in the book. 

But it broke my heart to see that Fizz’s world wasn’t all that sparkly as we imagined. Reading how her girlfriend treats her, and just didn’t treasure Fizz as the jewel she is, did not only sadden me, but also angered me!
Fizz truly deserves someone who loves her, and we obviously have the right person I mind! 

It’s not only her love life that isn’t working out… We get to know slowly that something happened to her in the past. And discovering the truth, and the culprit, truly made me sick. How can such a trust be betrayed in the most horrible way? 

Nevertheless, I was glad that when the cat was out of the bag, she did not only have her ‘real’ family supporting her, but also the amazing Hedgehog Hollow family. 

It warmed my heart to see that Fizz realizes that she deserves more, and that she starts to see that sometimes the thing we need the most is right in our face.
But while sometimes frustrating, I appreciated it also that Fizz values her friendship more than anything else and does not want to jeopardize it by coming clean about her feelings when she is not sure they will be welcomed… 

In this last book of Hedgehog Hollow, everything comes to a full circle, despite the setbacks our characters have to endure.
Jessica Redland is an amazing author, writing about people who you cannot not love. And no matter what hardship her characters have to endure, the fact that they continue to hope, love and just be marvellous people, shows us the resilience of people, and that someone awesome won’t break that easily. 

It saddened me that this was the last we would read about Sam and Josh and their family at Hedgehog Hollow. But on the other side, I was over the moon that I was able to participate in this amazing adventure this author took us on. She made me fall in love with the characters, but also with the fascinating world of hedgehogs.
And I am more than sure that whatever Jessica will write next, it will be again a masterpiece. And I will be sure to have my tissues ready!

To chose between love and friendship…

Synopsis

‘Mesmerising from beginning to end.’ Lizzie Lane

Yorkshire 1860

With the heat of their beloved India far behind them, Evie Davenport and her widowed British Army officer father, are starting a new life in England. But Evie is struggling. With her dearest mother gone, Yorkshire with its cold, damp countryside and strict societal rules makes Evie feel suffocated and alone.

Her friendship with Sophie Bellingham, the gently reared daughter of a wealthy rail baron, is Evie’s only comfort. Until the arrival of local cotton mill owner, Alexander Lucas.

Newly returned from America, it is expected Alexander will marry and finally make England his home. And Sophie with her family connections and polite manners is the obvious choice.

But when Alexander meets Evie, a simmering passion ignites between them. Evie, with her rebellious spirit is like no other woman Alex has ever met, but to reject Sophie for Evie would cause a scandal and devastate everyone Evie loves.

Evie knows she must do her duty. But in doing so faces the unbearable future of being without the man she loves.

My review

Evie Davenport has moved together with her British Army father from the heat of India back to England. Not only are they still coping with the lost of Evie’s beloved mother, but also adapting in England is not easy, with its cold countryside and strict rules.
Even if Evie feels lonely, she can count on her new best friend Sophie Bellingham, who loves Evie rebellious spirit and courage to speak her own mind.
Sophie is the daughter of a wealthy rail baron, and when Alexander Lucas returns from America, everyone expects him to marry Sophie.
But Alexander is more attracted to Evie’s character and is not interested in Sophie. However, Evie does not want to marry at all, and especially not with the man her best friend has fallen in love with.
But how long can she resist Alexander? Or will she stay loyal to her best friend and see the man she loves with someone else? 

I have always liked reading stories where the characters come from another continent and try their best to live in a whole different world.
Add the fact that our main character is very outspoken in a time where that was not appreciated and an impossible love interest, and that’s all any author needs for me to pick up their book. 

I appreciated how Evie has always been able to just be herself, not only in India with her family, but also in England with just her father.
While her educating and behaviour do raise eyebrows of the English people, Evie won’t let anything or anyone change her. If they don’t like her, it’s their problem, not hers.
Nevertheless, she also knows that her being just herself won’t make her win any popularity contest, but she is happy with the few, loyal friends she has, like Sophie. 

I could see and understand how difficult it is for her to adapt to a life in England, while life in India was so different.
And living alone with her father, who is still mourning the loss of his wife, is not making things easier. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love her father, because it’s obvious from each act that she loves her father deeply. 

I appreciated how she treasured her friendship with Sophie, and how she wouldn’t want to jeopardize that, especially when Evie feels more and more attracted to Alexander…
It shows how loyal Evie is, as she doesn’t want to lose Sophie over a man. Although I must say that Sophie’s reaction to Alexander’s rejection and even more towards the end of the story irked me more and more. 

There were also funny bits, like the women getting drunk, and that put a smile on my face as I could truly imagine how people would be astonished by two women having had a glass too much. 

Reading this story was something I truly enjoyed, showing us not only how life was in the 19th century, and how women are supposed to behave and having a main character acting the total opposite.
But it also shows us the brutal way of life, how losing someone we deeply love can cause a depression and even a deterioration of our own health. It shows us also how we would give up our own happiness if that is the cause for the unhappiness of someone else.
However, wouldn’t that same person understand our point of view and grant us to be happy? 

I found it an emotional rollercoaster, where maybe the speed was sometimes too fast, but made me think about how an event can change so many lives, for the better but also for the worse. And that no matter in what year or era we live in, each action will always be judged by bystanders, even if they have no right to or know all the facts…

Clove Lore, where broken hearts and feelings of sadness can be healed…

Synopsis

‘Tis the season for finding love… and the perfect book

With just two weeks until Christmas, everything in Clove Lore should be perfect. But the latest holidaymaker to the Borrow a Bookshop is feeling far from festive…

Icelandic ex-bookseller Magnús Sturluson might be surrounded by love stories in the Bookshop, but he’s nursing a sadness that not even fiction can fix.

When Alexandra Robinson finds herself stranded in Clove Lore, she finds a safe place to hide from heartbreak. After all, all that’s waiting for her at home is a cheater boyfriend and the memories of her parents. As Alex finds herself embraced by the quirky village community, she finds her tough exterior thawing – and as she grows closer to Magnús, she finds an equally soft heart under his gruff shell.

It seems that Clove Lore is working its magic once again – until a great flood on Christmas Eve brings devastation in its wake. It’s up to Magnús and Alex to batten down the hatches and help bring the village back together again, while also introducing the locals to the Icelandic tradition of the jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together.

But can Magnús and Alex truly rescue the ruins of the village, and salvage their Christmas spirit? Or is there another complication lurking even closer than they thought?

My review

Magnús Sturluson has always loved books. His love for books was even that big that at home in Iceland he opened his own bookstore. But thing didn’t work out and that has left Magnús felling depressed and feeling like a failure.
So the last thing he needs is to spend his holidays in Clove Lore, working in the Borrow a Bookshop, where his emotions of being a failure only grow…
That is until he meets Alexandra Robinson, who literally washed ashore after discovering her boyfriend cheating on her.
Alex for sure doesn’t want to spend her time at home, feeling heartbroken and not knowing what to do with her life.
She immediately feels welcomed at Clove Lore, and even grows closer to Magnús, who has a tender heart behind that cold stance he pretends to have.
Clove Lor seems to work its magic again, as it seems to bring two heartbroken people together, but the whole community is forced to face the brutality of nature when a flood at Christmas Eve flood the whole place. Everyone joins forces, but is everything, tangible and not, salvable? And do Magnús and Alex have a future together while their past and present are as far as possible from each other? 

First things first, I loved returning to Clove Lore, and returning to my old friends and see how they are all doing after the first book. But even if you haven’t read the first book, you can perfectly read this as a standalone.  

In this book I felt sorry for both main characters. It was sad to learn Alex’ story, how she is still grieving over the loss of parents, feeling the need to belong with someone, somewhere. On top of that, she is not chasing her own dreams, but makes sure her father’s dream stays alive and she catches her boyfriend in a compromised position with her best friend. 

While it may not have been the smartest move, I could completely understand why Alex wanted to get away from everyone and everything, and doesn’t want to reveal the truth when she is stranded in Clove Lore. 

And then there is Magnús. He also has a broken heart, but somehow I felt his story even a sadder one than Alex’. As a booklover myself, I could understand his passion for books and his wish to make people happy by selling wonderful tales to them.
But it truly saddened me to see how his dream got crushed, and how his shop caused not only the end of his relationship. I saw and felt his pain and his feeling of being a failure. 

But in this story, it’s a case of two broken hearts pulled together and how they are able to help each other out.
I loved how Magnús sees Alex like the mermaid from his dreams and how protective he acts towards her. It’s with small gestures that he lets us see just how amazing he is, despite his low self – esteem.
I also was very curious to read about the Icelandic legends and traditions. I was very intrigued by them, and it made me look for more about them on the amazing world of the Net, going as far as ordering my own Lopapeysa. I hope,it will make me feel as warm and cosy as how I felt reading this book!

And even if Alex is not feeling at her own best, she manages with her warm and kind character to melt the hard exterior of Magnús. She appreciates the help she receives from Magnús and everyone else.  

It warmed my heart seeing these two main characters together.
But what I loved the most about it, was how down – to – earth the both of them are. No matter how wonderful these two weeks together are, they both know that one day have to return home and do some soul-searching.
Because before they can be happy together, they need to figure out first what they want from life for themselves, and not what someone else wants them to want. And that made me appreciate this book even more. How can you find happiness if you don’t know what you truly want? 

But this isn’t only the story of Magnús and Alex, but of the whole community… My heart initially broke to see how the place is ruined by a great flood. And as that is happening on Christmas Eve, the sense of desperation is even bigger.
But then my heart swelled with warmth and even pride seeing how everyone put their best foot forward, Magnús included, to turn this in an unforgettable Christmas Eve… 

I found this a wonderful, heart – warming story about an amazing place, great characters, overcoming a great loss, different for each and every one of them, but finding happiness and love.

A Christmas that even the best weather broadcaster couldn’t predict…

Synopsis

When your heart’s broken, all roads lead home…

After the end of a long-term relationship, local weather girl Bea Armstrong has been avoiding her family, and their inevitable ‘I-told-you-sos.’ But with Christmas fast approaching, she is finally on her way home to Charis House, the school in Sherwood Forest that her mum and dad run in their old family home. And to top it all off, the insufferable Henry Fairfax – who her parents have always wanted her to marry – has also been invited. 

Relief comes in the shape of a last minute interview for her dream job. There are just a few minor problems… The interview is in Scotland, Bea has no car, and the snow is falling already. The only solution is for Henry to drive her – could this Christmas get any worse…

But during an unforgettable two day interview, a stay in a log cabin and a nightmare journey through the snow, Henry turns out to be nothing like she thought. And when Bea’s first love and recent ex shows up, Bea has a difficult choice to make…

My review

Bea Armstrong’s family never was certain about the guy she fell in love with. So after the end of her long – term relationship, it’s no surprise that Bea was a bit avoiding them. But you cannot avoid your family on Christmas, right?
So off to Charis House she goes, which also happens to be the school in Sherwood Forest that her parents are running.
Already not feeling the happiest she has been, things only get worse when she discovered that Henry Fairfax has been invited by her parents to spend the holidays with them. The same man she has tried to avoid while her parents have made no secret about how it would be perfect for them to get together, even when they were only children.
When Bea learns that she has a list minute interview for her dream job, Henry is her only way to get in Scotland, as Bea has no car and snow is already falling.
And it’s during their journey to and back from Scotland and the time in between that Bea gets to know the real Henry…
But Bea has some important decisions to take, and it does not only concern to accepting her dream job or not… 

Not many of you know this, but I have my own personal weather broadcaster, as my brother is always fascinated by the weather, and is checking satellite imagines and whenever I need a prediction, it’s him who I call, rather than checking online sites. 

So I immediately bonded with Bea, because I understood that passion, having it seen (on a lesser degree) personally.
But while being a broadcaster on the local television station may seem like a chore, just rattling of your predictions, I truly liked how Bea managed to connect with her viewers, and even has her own fans. And seeing how she made predictions on request, put a smile on my face. 

And I also could easily comprehend her emotions whenever it concerned her ex – boyfriend. If you have loved someone for so long, even if he/she has let you down, you always keep hoping that a change will be made and that everything will turn out for the best, even if your parents were against it from the very start. 

In this book, Bea has several opportunities to make things work in her favour. But we know even before she does or say it, that it is not in her character to say or do mean things. This is obvious during her ‘interview’. She wants to do a lot to get the job, but she doesn’t want to change herself. And during her stay in Scotland, she also learns what make her unique (and as a reader I can say also wonderful). 

I truly liked how Bea learned that her thoughts about Henry were wrong. Henry may not be the most flamboyant character, but we, together with Bea learn how kind, caring and supportive he truly is. He was not obligated to drive Bea, or to play along during the interview. But he is just that kind of guy… And Bea starts to see that for herself, and realizes that she misjudged him completely… 

What I loved about this story is that Bea learns that what she used to dream of, isn’t always what is the right thing for her. Is her dream job the perfect way to grow? Will that give her a greater satisfaction than in the job she now?
And when her ex reappears, for another chance, is she sure that she will come first for once? Or will it end again in her feeling small again? Is the guy her family saw perfect for her, truly the last man she wants to be with? Or is there someone else perfect for her?

But she also learns to stand up for herself even against her own family, fight for the right causes – to help her family –  and even at the most difficult moments, has time for her fans. I could surely comprehend why she is so loved by everyone. 

This book, even while I read it during summer, made it possible to dream about the lovely feelings that we all have around Christmas time. It shows us the importance of family, friends and the importance of following your heart. Like I said before, a dream isn’t in reality always what we truly want. But thanks to those dreams, we see what truly matters to us and makes it possible to chase new, realer dreams.