The changes in a new family

Synopsis

Are there enough hours in the day for everyone to find their happy place?

Phoebe Dashwood and Sam Hendrie welcome their beautiful baby daughter into their already busy lives. With motherhood now top of Phoebe’s to-do list alongside being a vet, and running an animal sanctuary there’s no time for day dreaming.

As Phoebe battles sleepless nights, extra challenges arise in the shape of abandoned African Pygmy Hedgehogs, stolen cats, and a worrying trend to keep wildlife as pets.

Meanwhile, Sam is selflessly left holding a baby and when a familiar face from the past returns old feelings are tested. With so many plates spinning Sam worries something may get broken – he just hopes it won’t be their relationship.

Can parenthood, a relationship, and a professional life be successfully juggled and is it really everpossible to have it all?

My review

Phoebe Dashwood and Sam Hendrie have just fallen in love with their baby girl. Both their hearts expanded in a way they didn’t know it couldn’t. With Lily now around, Phoebe’s life is even fuller than before, because looking after a baby, being a vet, running an animal sanctuary for sure is filling her days! But when the sleepless nights kick in, and Phoebe feels that she cannot keep control of all the chaos, especially as Phoebe thinks that she is the only one feeling this way. However, what Phoebe doesn’t know, is that Sam is struggling too with all the changes in their lives. And with new challenges coming their way, and old faces from the past resurfacing, with the new dynamics in this new family, are Phoebe and Sam strong enough to fight all the battles as a united front?

Puddleduck Farm is the kind of place that throughout the series kept growing on me. Of course I loved it from the first book, but my love and admiration for the place and the people living and working there, only kept on growing. How could I not, when there is so much love present?

So obviously, with this latest book, I was eager to return to a place that I love, with people that I love! I just couldn’t wait to read what this wonderful author had in store for Phoebe and Sam.

Perhaps while you are reading this book yourself, you will feel that this isn’t the happiest book of the series, but for me, it felt like the most realistic, more emotional one.

Because we see a lovely new family, Phoebe, Sam and Lily, trying to find their feet with the new dynamics. And where often in books, the arrival of a baby is a blissful event, we see with Phoebe and Sam how things aren’t always rainbows and unicorns.

Phoebe and Sam are the kind of people that always want to do the right thing, they both always want to help out, and in this book, we see how there are several occasions where it comes at their own cost. Especially with Phoebe we see how she has a lot or even too many eggs in her basket, and she feels like she is losing it all.

And her desire to help, to be there for everyone, is absolutely admirable, but with changed circumstances, Phoebe needs to learn that things cannot be same as they were before. It also broke my heart, that while she is an amazing mother to baby Lily, there are still some unfinished business causing her even more distress.

And then there is Sam… he obviously is still the amazing man we got to know throughout the book, and there isn’t any doubt at all that he is truly devoted to Phoebe and Lily. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the most important women in his life.

But somehow, Sam lost himself. And seeing that, truly broke my heart… With wanting to do good for everyone else, he has lost doing what *he* loves doing the most. And don’t see this as Sam being a selfish man, because he is anything but! But don’t we all need an escape, an outlet, to digest everything that is happening, a way to clear your mind? And exactly that seems that Sam has lost. And while it may be something silly, in fact it is something that we all need, to get a clear head, to have some *you – time* -, that will make able for you to fight the world again.

And it broke my heart reading how Phoebe and Sam, this power couple, aren’t able to talk about their struggles to each other. On the other hand, it was sweet in a way; because they don’t want to burden each other with their inner turmoil.

This shows that communication is everything in a relationship, no matter how difficult the subjects may be. Because you never know how someone else is feeling, and that perhaps some feelings are exactly the same.

Phoebe and Sam also learn that a problem shared is a problem halved. And not only sharing it between them, but also with all the people around them, that love them deeply. Asking for help is nothing to be embarrassed about, especially in a new situation.

Now, it may seem that this is a very sark story, filled with heartbreak, doubts, troubles and turmoil. And yes, there may be several struggles. But all those negatives are erased by the love that is palpable from each page. There is no doubt at all that all the characters love each other, in all the relationships. And even when mistakes are made, in moments of ‘weakness’, there may be some anger, but whatever has been done, for whatever reasons, there is an understanding of the ‘why’ it was done, and nothing the cloak of love cannot cover.

Phoebe and Sam are as always surrounded by characters that also have all the best of intentions. People that want to help in any way, perhaps even in absurd ways (looking right at you, Maggie 😊). That made me laugh in this book, made me smile, made my heart feel just warmer than it was feeling before.

We see how a whole community comes together, how no issue is too much handle. A community that works as one, no matter how different each individual is. Throughout the series, all the characters have grown a lot, but in this book, we see exactly how much each has grown, and how far they have come. Not only has their own knowledge expanded, but people have come out of their shell, have become more confident, and have become an important link in the amazing chain that Puddleduck Farm is.

Della Galton wrote an amazing, heartwarming story, showing us how lives change, how priorities change, but love is always prevailing. This is a realistic book, showing us the struggles of parenthood, but also the importance of communication, and unselfish meaning of love. Phoebe and Sam may have their own little family now with sweet Lily, but in fact, they have already been part of an amazing family that reside or live around Puddleduck Farm!

A bucket list to follow, with a lot at stake, at Christmas

Synopsis

When talented chef Molly’s best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly’s inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve deadline: just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava’s wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She’s in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy is perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Olivia Spring and Sophie Kinsella.

My review

Molly had great plans with her best friend Ava. They even had a restaurant together and they were planning to go from strength to strength. That is, until Ava passes away and leaves Molly heartbroken over the loss of her best friend. Ava has left Molly her shares of the restaurant, but due a legal mix – up, Molly must complete Ava’s crazy bucket list in order to have those shares. To make things even worse, she only has twelve days, as the deadline is set on Christmas Eve. As Molly is in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps, a few of those items on the list may me more doable than expected, like sharing Champagne in a hot tub with a billionaire. And when she meets Levi, indeed a handsome billionaire, she may have find the perfect person. But Levi isn’t willing to play any kind of games, in fact, Levi is sending Molly complete mixed signals, going from hot to cold in just mere seconds. So while Molly keeps finding herself in embarrassing situations, often involving Levi, can she manage to achieve her big goal and tick off all the items of the bucket list? And where will things end up with elusive, annoying, yet irresistible Levi?

I cannot imagine how it feels to lose your best friend. So even if Molly’s pain is something I can only attempt to imagine, my heart went out to her. The love between Molly and Ava is so palpable from the memories we read, even if Molly and Ava were complete opposites. Where Molly is the more introvert, calm one, Ava is the more extravert, adventurous one.

So while Molly is obviously heartbroken, it was also in a way fitting that Ava would come up with an outrageous bucket list for Molly to complete.

Now, I have to admit, I don’t know if I would be able to complete that same bucket list, because while it would be perfect for Ava to do such things, I am too introvert and too alike with Molly have the courage to do them! Of course, there is a lot at stake for Molly, giving her no other option than doing whatever Ava has put on the bucket list.

The level of embarrassments Molly goes through the first part of the story, would make me hide away, run away, never wanting to show my face anywhere in France anymore! For the readers though, it was hilarious to read. But it also shows us how much courage it takes from Molly trying to fulfil that bucket list. Her discomfort and her awareness of how things may seems is so obvious to the readers, and it made me truly feel sorry for her too, because we know that it is out of character and it isn’t Molly’s way to behave at all.

So when her paths cross on an embarrassing way too, with Levi, I knew that those levels would only go up. Because while Levi may be a way to complete that bucket list, but I also knew that it wouldn’t go as straightforward as Molly would think.

On the contrary, because Levi isn’t waiting for another woman to throw herself at his feet.

I have to admit though, while I knew that Levi would redeem himself, I wasn’t a big fan of him after his first appearance. He is blowing hot and cold all the time, he is attracted to Molly, but then he quickly pushes her away, he is even being rude at her for no apparent reason.

But it also felt for me that Levi needed to be this way, allowing Molly to stand up for herself. Because the more the story progresses, the more Molly makes it clear that no matter how much there is an attraction between her and Levi, she doesn’t deserve to be treated the rude way.

It was frustrating to read how Levi at moments wouldn’t listen to Molly, to hear her side of the embarrassing story. Because we know that not everything is what it seems, as we get not only extra proof of this in this book, but we also know this from real life, don’t we?

Seeing things shift, evolve, change between Molly and Levi was great to read. We see how the more the story evolves, the more the pair of them realize what the feelings they are having. And the more they understand and act upon them, doing the right things.

While this book is filled with many moments of laughter (whether or not caused by embarrassing moments for Molly), this book is also a learning curve for both Molly and Levi. Because Molly clearly steps outside her comfort zone, but she also finds her voice and finds the courage to stand up for herself. While Levi learns that not everybody has a second agenda. But for him, most important, that he has to be patient and actually listen to those around him.

I enjoyed reading this book that shows in a funny way what can happen by stepping outside our comfort zone. And who knows which we may encounter. And just because things don’t start off with the right foot, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a chance of something more!

The magic of Christmas, even through the years and the people…

Synopsis

Care assistant Sophie loves the holidays, and nothing makes her feel more festive than helping 82-year-old resident Bea keep in touch with her old friend Greta. In their Christmas letters, the women update each other on their lives – Bea’s in the quiet residential home in London, Greta’s in the heart of Vienna and the grand Wynter Hotel.

But everything changes when Bea passes away before Sophie’s had a chance to post this year’s letter. Devastated, Sophie struggles to imagine this Christmas without her dear friend. But then Sophie finds one last note from Bea – and this time, it’s not addressed to Greta. It’s to Sophie, telling her to go to Austria.

Which is how Sophie finds herself in Vienna at Christmas, with the snow falling, and an important delivery to make… But when Sophie reaches the Wynter Hotel, there are surprises in store, and before she returns to England, her life will have changed in ways she could never have imagined…

My review

Bea and Greta may be getting older, but whatever happened in their lives, no matter how far they are living from each other, they never stopped writing each other Christmas letters. Still now, while Bea is living in a residential home in London, and Greta is living in Vienna. Sophie may be a care assistant, but she has a special connection with Bea, and enjoys the moments they spend together. It is even so that Sophie has helped Bea writing her letters to Greta, and has even been subject in those same letters. When Bea then passes away, Sophie does not know how to tell Greta the news, especially as the last letters hasn’t been posted yet. As it was Bea’s greatest wish for Sophie to visit Vienna, and to get over the devastation of losing Bea, that is how Sophie finds herself in Vienna during Christmas time. But her visit in Vienna will turn out to be one full of surprises, for not only Sophie, but also for Greta’s family. And with Christmas just looming around the corner, this will turn out to be a holiday that for sure is life – changing.

When I started reading this book, I was so ready for the Christmas magic. And yes, it may sound crazy to be ready for Christmas in summer, but what are you gonna do, sue me? 😊

And I was extra eager to read this story, as the setting is in Vienna, the city that was subject of my own summer holidays! So it was easy for me envision the places that Sophie is visiting, as I have walked in the same streets just a few weeks ago!

At the start of the book, I was quickly enchanted by the connection that Sophie and Bea have. It is a fact that we often don’t give our elder enough of our times, or even get annoyed by all their stories that they repeat time over time over time. Yet seeing how Sophie goes even beyond her job as a care assistant, and happily visits Bea, that truly warmed my heart. Sophie shows right from the start, and not only with Bea,  that there are so many people not only doing a job with passion, but also just have a genuine heart.

When Bea passes away, my heart truly broke for Sophie too. At the same time it angered me that even at such moments, there are people looking only at their own interest, trying to find a way that improves their own benefits…

I found it truly admirable of Sophie, who wants to respect Bea’s wish for her to visit Vienna. And I found it even more admirable that she wants to tell Greta herself the news of Bea’s passing… While it may not be an easy thing to do, Sophie knows that it is the right thing to do. Once again proof of her amazing, warm and kind character!

Once in Vienna, Sophie is getting a few surprises of her own. It starts rather quickly, when she goes to the Wynter Hotel, only to learn that Greta and het lovely husband Walter don’t actually own the hotel that carries their same last names. And that is just the first surprise!

Unfortunately this isn’t the only surprise that is waiting for Sophie… while the next surprise didn’t come as a real surprise, the fact that we read this book from different points of view, get to read the thoughts of different characters in this book, shows us that there are so many more layers in this book than I initially expected.

With Jennie also in the story, I was curious to see how she would fit in with not only Walter and his son Nick, but also with Sophie.

Jennie hasn’t had an easy time growing up, she is truly still scarred by some events and actions. Yet seeing how the Wynter family have opened their home and especially their hearts for her, was just ah – ma – zing. And seeing how protective is about the family that is truly family for her.

While I knew that Sophie is a total honest person, I could understand Jennie’s hesitation when Sophie is in Vienna, especially as Walter nor Nick have any doubts, while delicate information is being passed on. With people with bad intentions in the world, you cannot be cautious enough, can you?

However, you cannot see beyond all the love and warmth in this book. And how one trip to Vienna can truly change one’s life. It truly amazed me how there is so much kindness in this book, so much openness is it. And it was great to read how so many pieces of a puzzle that I didn’t expect to exists, just fell together.

But most important, the love that sparks from each page, just warmed my heart, even a heatwave in Belgium was nothing against it! Love between friends, love between couples, love between siblings (connected or not through blood). Love that can bring other people together, love that can put the past behind everyone, love that can make you feel love again.

Helen Rolfe wrote such an amazing, heart – warming, kind and even generous story. She shows us that even if this is a fictional book, there are good people in this world. Wonderful people, that can come suddenly in our lives, people that can change everything. And those kind of people are worth of every even scary step we are going to take…

The perfect combo is of course love and dance

Synopsis

Clara’s dance school is finally open, much to the excitement of the residents of Sunnybrook. The stress-busting, lights-off ‘Dancing in the Dark’ sessions are a big hit with the Little Duck Pond Café girls. But when the school is threatened with closure, will Clara’s dream be over before it’s even begun? Love is in the air for new recruit Anika, but could her dreams of romance be about to turn sour, too?

My review

Clara is excited to finally see her dream come to fruition, to open her own dance studio. She cannot wait to show her loved ones and the locals what she created, a place where dance is centre stage, and everyone can come, with or without dancing feet. Of course it took time for her to get at this point, and there have been several stress moments. But has the studio, Magic of Dance, taken too much time? Because suddenly it feels that Clara and her boyfriend Rory are drifting apart, and with her sister (and Rory’s ex) Lois acting oddly and spends way too much time with Rory, Clara starts to fear that she may have lost the person that matters the most to her. Meanwhile Anika is curious about the new dance studio that is opening. Especially as she has just found a job which brings her close to the dance studio. A job that she needs, as Anika and her dad are having financial struggles that only keep on getting worse when her dad is involved in an accident. So with her new job, and new friends, Anika hopes that her life can turn for the better, especially now that Xander has entered her life again. So can both Clara and Anika forget their troubles and dance?

So here we again, and this time, I put my dancing shoes on! Not that I am a good dancer, and my special moves are definitely for the moments when I am on my own. 😊

And how over the moon I was for not only seeing my friends again, but especially I was so so happy for Clara, as she is finally seeing her big dream coming true! If there is one person who deserves all her dreams coming true, it is for sure Clara! And seeing her (initially) still so happy with Rory, it truly warmed my heart!

However… and Rosie for sure played it dirty with this book and this lovely couple!

Because no matter how amazing and wonderful and even jealous – worthy the relationship that Clara and Rory have, there are throughout the story several red flags that yes, made me fear the fate of this couple.

Add to the normal struggles that a couple have, a sister like Lois, and any relationship is truly tested. And my my my, how much I disliked Lois and her behaviour! While I initially had all my trust in Rory, I truly believed that he was one of the absolute good guys, with Lois’s behaviour and their shared past, you never know, do you?

Yet I had to keep my faith in Rosie Green, and believe that in the end, somehow, things would not be what they may seem and that things would turn out for the best… otherwise Rosie would for sure end on my black list!

As often with a return to Little Duck Pond Café series, we are spoiled with two stories for the price of one!

This time the new entry is in the form of Anika.

Anika, who I immediately liked, even if it was clear from the start that she and her father aren’t having an easy time…

But no matter what has happened previously to this lovely pair, the love between father and daughter was just so lovely. Not every parent – child relationship is easy, but no matter all the lemons that life has thrown at them, they never let it come between them, or give up.

Even on the love aspect, Anika has been burned before, and her current dates aren’t all that great (if they appear on the date at least). Yet Anika doesn’t let it bring her down, she keeps on being the wonderful character she just is.

And when she crosses paths with Xander again, a former colleague, I for sure had all my hopes up! Especially because just the name alone, Xander, is one of my favourite names, so he had to be perfect, didn’t he?

With Xander in the picture now, I had everything crossed that things would change for the better for Anika now, as she truly deserves her happiness.

However, Anika isn’t in the clear yet, as not only her lovely father has an accident and his life is even at risk…

And here we see once again not only what a dedicated daughter Anika is, but also her caring nature again. Because she doesn’t leave her father until it’s necessary. And she keeps on worrying about him as it becomes clear that he is struggling afterwards.

But we also see how understanding Anika is, when some truths are revealed, truths that I saw perhaps coming a little bit. Not only is Anika understanding, but she is also the kind of person that does the right thing, no matter how much it will hurt her, or even break her heart…

To say that I loved reading this next amazing episode, would be an understatement. Because I DEVOURED this book, just couldn’t get enough of it. For my own mental health, for my own tender heart, I might believe that Rosie Green must stop writing. Because it cannot be healthy getting so invested, absorbed in each new story she writes and absolutely loving every bit of it! 😊

What when your daughter is not safe?

Synopsis

You’d know if something was wrong… wouldn’t you? But danger doesn’t always wear a mask – it can hide in plain sight.

After a difficult break-up, my six-year-old Daisy is finally settling into life in two homes. She’s spending more time with her dad, his wealthy and glamorous partner Kirsty, and her new stepsisters, Amelia and Freya. She seems happier. More relaxed. Like she’s finally found her place.

It should be everything I ever wanted for her. So why does it feel like I’m losing her?

Then Daisy confesses something that stops me cold. Something I can’t ignore. That Amelia isn’t kind. Behind closed doors, she’s cruel. Violent even.

Everyone says it’s just normal sibling tension. A bit of jealousy. But the more I try to dismiss it, the harder it becomes to shake the feeling that something is deeply, dangerously wrong.

What would you do if your child told you they were being hurt by someone you trusted? Would you risk everything to protect them – even if no one believes you?

My review

After Tasha’s partner Craig ends their relationship and starts a new life with another woman, Tasha is struggling with all the changes in her life. For the sake of their six- year-old daughter Daisy, Tasha has moved to live closer to Craig and his partner. So it is easier for Daisy to spend time with her father and his new family. After some time to adjust, Daisy seems happy with her other home. That is until Daisy admits that she is afraid of her oldest stepsister, Amelia. Because not only is there a big age difference, but Amelia is not kind at all towards her, on the contrary. It can even turn into violence at moments. While no everyone seems to see those evil streaks of Amelia, Tasha finds herself wanting to protect her little girl from getting hurt. But with no one in her corner, and a few secrets of her own, can Tasha give her little girl the protection she needs?

I am not a mother myself, and I have been happily single for a while now. So all I can do, is try to imagine how difficult it is when in this book, Tasha’s partner Craig decides to end things and have a new life with his new partner. The heartbreak itself is already a struggle, but the hardship to make a little girl like Daisy understand what is happening…

It must be said, that right from the start, Tasha does everything to make things as easy as possible for Daisy. I admired how Tasha realizes that downsizing is necessary, that moving closer to Craig, for Daisy’s sake, is a way to make things easier. And the way that despite how betrayed Tasha feels, she never talks bad about Craig whenever Daisy is near. It shows that Tasha for sure has only Daisy’s best interest at heart, and wants to do anything to make her little girl happy.

But while  I admired her actions, I also felt that Tasha is perhaps too protective over Daisy? Of course, Daisy is only six years old, and any good mother wants to protect their children for every possible hurt. But I also felt that Daisy has to learn how to fall, because only then she can learn to stand up again. But obviously, I was only a bystander in this book, and I am not a parent myself, so what do I truly know about parenthood?

My heart truly went out to little Daisy, as her whole life is changing and being so young, it is difficult to truly understand what is all happening. And as Daisy is obviously a shy girl, not knowing what to say in a new environment, I could understand why she closes off even more.

On the other hand, it was lovely to see how slowly Daisy opens up while staying with Craig and his new family. How she finds a new best friend in her stepsister Freya truly warmed my heart, showing us the innocence and the genuineness of children.

Amelia of course is completely something else, and before things truly get out of hand, I could understand her. She lost her father, her mother moved on, all this on top of being a teenager… But while I was a bit sympathetic with her initially, what happens afterwards is just not okay.

But the more the story progresses, the more I was starting to have my own doubts  about what is taking place. And yes, I have to admit, while I felt for Tasha and Daisy, I found it a bit difficult to actually truly like any of the characters. 

Because there is something about each and every one of them that just didn’t sit right with me. What is Tasha keeping from everyone? Why is Daisy afraid to truly tell what is going on? And Amelia, why is she truly so horrible to Daisy? How come Craig is so blind and doesn’t see what Daisy is going through? And how come that Kirsty can be so dismissive of her own daughter, no matter how difficult Amelia is?

In this book, we see how lives can easily be turned upside down, how not everything is what it seems, and how easily also things can take a very dark and unexpected turn. But we see the determination of a mother, to protect her child, the love that a mother has. A mother that isn’t without faults, but has her heart at the right place. A mother that even despite all the evidence, shows a compassion and understanding and also a determination to figure out the whole truth.

A truth that in this book went absolutely dark and went a way I didn’t expect it to go. Even if I had some suspicions, I was shocked of the level that some people would go…

But the story, even with its dark themes, shows us what it means to be a real mother. A mother for a little girl that needs protection, even if it’s not clear who the enemy is and what the endgame of that enemy is. A mother that will go lengths to protect the most precious thing in live…

While waiting for the publication date, fall in love with this cover!

Synopsis

When a wary rock star and a cynical reporter fake date to bury a scandalous rumor, will true love be exposed as the real story?

Nick: I do my best songwriting while playing my guitar on the fire escape. Unfortunately, my in-bed-at-ten next-door neighbor, Maddie, is not a fan of my music. She clambers out on the fire escape to yell at me about making “noise.”  In bunny slippers, no less. But then she trips and falls into my arms. 

That photo of Maddie plastered all over me hits the papers, just as my dream recording company wants to sign my band. Which is a problem, because an obsessed fan is claiming that I’m her boyfriend and now the media is blowing up that I’m two-timing them both. Good-bye recording contract, unless….

Maddie: I’m supposed to cover the story. Not be the story! But when Nick begs me to fake date, I can’t resist the chance to be Nick’s girlfriend—even if fake—the opposite of my life as a city desk reporter. But my ex said I’m a terrible kisser, and there’s no way I want Mr. Hot Rock Star saying the same thing. Hence, clause 11 in our contract: There will be absolutely no physical contact.

Nick: When Maddie receives a threatening photo of the two of us with an X over her face, my desire to protect her suddenly feels all too real. It’s either a troll or her undercover investigation has been compromised. With both our careers at stake, is breaking up the only way to keep Maddie safe?

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHZ2LNFR/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FHZ2LNFR/

https://books.apple.com/us/book/my-rock-star-neighbor/id6748830148

Publication Date: 10th October 2025

About the author

Kathy Strobos is an award-winning author living in New York City with her husband and two children, amid a growing collection of books, toys, and dollhouses. She took a break from working as a lawyer to write romantic comedies full-time and get in shape. She is still working on getting in shape. 

Born and raised in Manhattan, she loves writing about New York City and her smart heroines who live and fall in love there, amidst its vibrant energy and the aroma of homemade chocolate chip cookies. She is the award-winning author of: A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, Partner Pursuit, Is This for Real?, Caper Crush, My Book Boyfriend, Love Is an Art and My Secret Snowflake.

The cover!

Glenbriar isn’t for everyone an amazing place…

Synopsis

She’s about to take him on a journey he never saw coming

After a couple of dreadful years, Elise Reid has finally found success working for a coach tour operator in Glasgow. But when she’s sent back to her hometown of Glenbriar to cover for a sick colleague, she finds herself stuck on a coach with her ex-fiancé… plus his new wife, his stroppy little sister, and his best friend – a man who’s always hated her.

Burnt out and searching for a break, eco-blogger and environmental activist Gabe Wilder decides a coach tour with his best friend would be a good way to unwind and reset. But when the tour guide shows up, Gabe can’t believe his bad luck. He and Elise have never got on, and after what she did to his best friend, he’s kept her at arm’s length, despite a simmering attraction he’s never confessed to anyone – even himself.

Unfortunately, neither Elise nor Gabe’s resistance to each other got the memo, and the more time they spend together, the more their chemistry sizzles. But between the watchful eyes of the group and the knowledge that this trip has an expiry date, giving in to temptation is a mistake waiting to happen. If they want a real chance at happiness, they must stop looking back, take a risk, and trust that sometimes, the best detours lead exactly where they’re meant to be.

My review

Elise Reid has made many mistakes in her life. So in order to get her life back on track, she left Grenbriar and is happy working for a coach tour operator in Glasgow. Working behind the scenes is exactly what Elise wants, but when there is a new base opening in Glenbriar, and the tour that has been organised is suddenly without a guide, Elise finds herself back on the coach. To make things even worse, the tour is with a few familiar faces. Faces that Elise isn’t ready to see yet, as it is her ex – fiancé and his new wife, that same ex – fiancé’s little sister and his best friend. With a shared past, Elise fears that this tour will turn into a real nightmare. But what she didn’t expect is that out of the blue, she finds herself attracted to Gabe Wilder, the best friend. The friend who is a famous eco – blogger but feels burned out, and does not know where life will take him next. So going on a coach tour with his best friend could be a way to get a clear head and reset. Even if Elise is the tour guide, the person that hurt his best friend. And whatever happens, bro’s before…, right? Yet during the tour there is not only an initial attraction, but sparks start to fly around like fireworks. And with the agreement that what happens on the tour stays on the tour, nothing could go wrong, right?

I always love returning to Glenbriar. However, this time I didn’t feel the same joy that I usual had. As in the previous books, I loved the main characters from the very start, with Elise, it was the opposite.

Because as I have read all the previous books of this wonderful series, I knew of Elise, her past, and her connection to a few characters. And what she did preciously, didn’t paint a great picture of Elise. Yet I also am a believer that people can change and deserve a second chance.

So while I was perhaps a little bit reluctant, I wanted to give Elise a chance not to only show us how she has changed, but also I wanted her to have her own happy story.

Elise working for a coach tour operator resonated with me, as my own brother works as a tour guide during school holidays. And as I have been with him on a few tours, I know how tiring and even exhausting it can be. Not only the trip itself, but also the people on it too! And I could perfectly understand why Elise isn’t all that happy to be in that coach again, as she definitely prefers working behind the scenes.

Of course I could also perfectly understand how Elise wants the ground to swallow her, once she learns that there are people on the tour that she knows. And not just any people, but her ex-fiancé Aidan with his wife Lilah, Aidan’s sister Scarlett and then there is Gabe… Talking about a nightmare coming true!

Yet I have to admit, even if I was still wary of Elise at first, I had to absolute admire her professionalism. I don’t know if I would be able to keep my calm with what is happening on the coach, involving mainly Scarlett and her boyfriend…

A professionalism Elise tries to keep up all the time, no matter how awkward each situation is. It cannot be easy to be facing those people of the past, especially as they clearly only know the façade Elise showed and still shows them.

Because the more I got to know Elise, the more I had to readjust my opinion of her. Of course, she made mistakes in the past, but haven’t we all made mistakes? And it saddened me to read how she didn’t let anyone close enough to show them the real Elise. Because the Elise behind closed doors is not the Elise that everyone sees and believe to know.

Elise shows a vulnerability that many of us also have. Reading those doubts, fears and insecurities felt at moments like a mirror in my face, because I saw some of those bits also in myself…

Elise truly has changed, she knows what she did was wrong. And being faced with  that past again, while trying to move on, even if she hasn’t found the courage to return to Glenbriar yet, felt like a slap in her face, even perhaps a much needed wake – up call.

A wake – up call that also comes in the form of Gabe.

Gabe has been Aidan’s best friend for years. So obviously, when Elise broke Aidan’s heart, he stood by Aidan, just like a real friend should.

And how he cares about his friendship with Aidan, how he acts as a brig brother with Scarlett, shows the kind of man Gabe is. When he cares, he *cares* and he would go lengths for his loved ones.  

But on a personal level, Gabe is a bit in turmoil, as he does not know what to next career – wise. And I could understand it, because while he has been rather successful as a eco – blogger, it starts to feel more and more like a chore, and not a passion anymore…

A passion that suddenly ignites with the most improbable person ever, the woman that broke his best friend’s heart. Of course as a reader I absolutely enjoyed reading how awkward it feels for both Elise and Gabe, and they don’t know what to do with those feelings.

And let me tell you, pfeeew sparks fly around! They keep gravitating around each other every moment, and when they give in, to ‘get rid of that itch’ (yeah right, who believes that anyway! 😊) I felt a happiness because despite their intentions, something shifts.

Elise and Gabe are able to open up something inside of each other, something unexpected but so much needed. And it was beautiful to read how they find each other, the two most unlikely people to get together.

In this book we not only see how everyone deserves a second chance, a new opportunity to not find love perse, but to find happiness again, to be able to return back home. We see the struggles of allowing to be just yourself, to let everyone see the real you, the beautiful bits but also the ugly (a.k.a. the painful) ones. It is also about loyalty, with the struggles of following your heart, but possibly causing a betray to your loved ones.

But most important, we see the love, care generosity and the will of forgiveness of people. We see in this lovely book, by this amazing author, that love, in every aspect, will always prevail and will find a way to express itself.

What when someone impossible texts you back?

Synopsis

If you could spend just one more day with someone, who would it be?

When Lili sends a jokey ‘knock-knock’ message to her best friend Em, she doesn’t expect to hear back. Because – as Lili notices the chill in the air, and the little robin in her garden – she realises Christmas must be just around the corner once again. A whole year since she last saw Em.

But then this time someone replies. ‘Who’s there?’ It can’t possibly be Em, but Lili wants to believe it could be, and she hastily suggests meeting. 

However when she gets to the meeting place, there only one other person there waiting. A man. And not just any man. The most handsome man Lili’s ever seen, Dylan… And he is also waiting for someone he’s been missing.

As the days get shorter and Autumn turns to Winter, will two lonely hearts spend another Christmas without their loved ones? Or can they welcome an unexpected friendship? Or maybe even more, if they can just help each other to focus on not what they’ve lost, but what they’ve found…

My review

Lili and Em used to be best friends for years and years. In fact, they were more like sisters than just friends. But now it has been a year since Lili saw Em the last time, and she for sure misses her friend. With that fateful date and Christmas just around the corner, Lili cannot stop herself and sends Em one of their stupid “knock – knock” jokes. Only to get the shock of her life when she gets a reply, the kind that Em would send. But it cannot possibly be Em, no matter how much Lili wishes it could be true. So when there are more text going back and forth, Lili decides she wants to meet up, because even if she knows that it cannot be Em, somehow, there is some hope… And at that meeting she meets Dylan, the most handsome man she has ever met. And just like Lili, he is waiting for someone. And then Lili’s and Dylan’s paths keep on crossing, and a friendship is slowly forming, as they can understand each other’s ache and missing like no one else can. But also each other’s sense of guilt. But can the passing of time dimmish the sense of missing, the ache and their guilt? And can Lili and Dylan see beyond what they have lost, and focus on what they have found instead?

I know that this author writes absolute marvellous stories, not only with amazing characters, but also with a story that will touch your heart, and will heal it after breaking it too a little bit.

And I have to admit, while I absolutely felt the pain Lili was feeling at the start of the book, my mind went a bit wild. Because just like Lili, I was thinking of so many possibilities of what could be happening, wishing and hoping that the most obvious answer somehow wouldn’t be the real one.

Lili’s pain is so palpable, my heart just broke to hers so broken. I cannot imagine how it feels to lose your best friend, without a proper goodbye, and carrying around guilt. Lili feels indeed guilty because she feels that she could have done more for her friend.

The feelings she is carrying around, are also not allowing her to move on. She hangs on to those feelings, she cannot let go of them, not truly living her life at the fullest. But don’t go thinking that Lili is a complete sad character, because she is not.

Of course what happened to Em has scarred her, but that didn’t take away Lili’s caring and gentle character. And we see that in so many aspects, not only in her job, but how she is *at* her job, how she is with the people there. But also how she stays in touch with Em’s parents, how she is still part of that family. And then there is that robin, visiting her every day…

So as a reader, I wanted nothing more for Lili to find happiness again, to get rid of her guilt and just enjoy life again. And then she meets Dylan…

Lili and Dylan meet and that answers at least a few questions we all had in our mind. But Dylan’s arrival is so much more than just answering those questions.

Because Dylan understands Lili on a level that not many could, because he knows what it means to miss someone so deeply that it truly hurts.

Reading how Lili finds someone, a complete stranger, and is able to open up to him, to tell him everything that she feels and fears, was bittersweet. Because Lili needs to have that kind of person, to alleviate her burdens.

And when their paths cross again, it for sure felt like the absolute right thing for the both of them!

The friendship that is growing between Lili and Dylan form, beside the feelings that they have in common, was just amazing to see. This friendship is exactly what the both of them need.

With this encounter both Lili and Dylan dare to look ahead of them again, letting go of the hurt and pain that used to keep them in a tight grip.

And even if it’s clear that there is something that Dylan is not telling Lili and us, even when the truth come out, I could understand Lili’s sense of betrayal, but I could also understand  Dylan and where he is coming from.

In this book, we see how the past can hold us back, but also how it can take one person to make you start feeling the right sort of feelings again. And while I am not the kind of person that believes in the special sort of signs, I for sure believed that the robin came for a reason, and that Lili and Dylan meeting wasn’t just a matter of coincidence. A feeling that only grew stronger, the more the story evolved!

Samantha Tonge took me once again on a wonderful journey, that yes was filled with pain, hurt and guilt, but it is also filled with hope, peace and love. We read in this book how even if we are truly hurt, there are ways to look ahead again, and let our grief pass, even if we would do anything for just one extra day with them. This story for sure touched my heart and made me appreciated my loved ones even more, yet also filled me with hope, knowing that some encounters are just meant to be.

Are love and marriage just a transaction gone well?

Synopsis

Is marriage about love or marketing?

Kat is 34, single and running out of time – she wants to get married before she turns 35, but her fiancé just ditched her for a 21-year-old life coach.

Freddy is a ruthless marketing guru who thinks love is just transactional. He’ll use his marketing genius to make Kat the most sought-after woman in London, if she lets him rebrand her struggling company.

With her 35th birthday looming and her love life a disaster, Kat agrees to become Project Marriage.

Can a rebrand king sell happily ever after? Or is love something even the best marketer can’t package and promote?

A smart, funny romantic comedy for fans of Emile Henry (Funny Story), Lucy Score and Ali Hazelwood. 

My review

Kat is on a mission which she thought she would achieve. But her fiancé boke up with her for someone else. So her goal of getting married before 35 is further away than ever, as she is already 34. The last thing Kat needs now, is a cocky marketing guru, ready to take over her business she has been building with pride and joy, even if it is struggling. However, whatever Freddy wants, Freddy gets. And when he hears about Kat’s dream, he wants to make a deal out of it. As a believer that even love is transactional, he is ready to help Kat with her mission, if she lets him buy her out. While things don’t truly start off well between Kat and Freddy, with a common goal, they start to spend more time together, which makes them understand each other better than imagined. But when they will have both achieved their goals, they will part their ways, won’t they?

Being at the age of almost 39 myself, I can understand that biological clock ticking. And I can understand how it feels that there is a deadline to make, even when it comes to matter of the heart.

And reading that Kat’s own situation is even more complex, made me sympathize with her even more. Life and love aren’t easy in ‘normal’ circumstances, but learning about Kat’s struggles, it was easy to understand her level of urgency.

Although I need to say, that while I understood Kat, I also felt that Kat was settling too much, too easily? Not only there are so many signs that her ex is just a douchebag, but the fact that Kat still finds it hard to let him go, to block him and just remove him from her life completely, angered me a little bit. While there are so many moments where we can see that Kat is in fact a power woman, why can’t she let go of the parasite that her ex is?

But of course, as a reader, as an outsider it is always easy to say what someone else should do. Yet we all know that the heart doesn’t always do the most sensible thing and has a will of its own…

Kat is the kind of person that in a way we all are, or all attempt of being. She has dreams, just like all of us, but I admired her of what she has already achieved at her age. Not anyone can say they have their own business, can’t they?

The fact that perhaps she is too soft on the people that work for her, only shows that she is also a caring person. Yes, she could be stricter and show her ‘power’, but Kat is the kind of person that cares about everyone. She values everyone for their own skills, and looks after them.

She looks after her people, that when Freddy enters the scene, and wants to change just everything, she won’t just let him.

And I have to say, I agreed with Kat’s initial dislike of Freddy. It is one thing to be confident, self – assured. But first – impression – Freddy was too cocky for my liking. And it saddened me to read how he truly believes that everything is like a transaction for him. Everything, even love…

It felt also like he is tricking Kat, by promising her what she wants the most, getting what he wants the most when he succeeds…

However, the more I got to know Freddy, the more I saw a gentler side of him. When he learns about Kat’s condition, he doesn’t treat her with pity, but he wants to understand it and her. When she is in need, he gives her the space she needs, but also can be strict when Kat won’t accept any help but in fact needs it.

When Kat accepts Freddy’s challenge, I was eager to read what Freddy would do and who Kat would meet. I was a bit afraid that Freddy would give Kat a complete make – over, letting her change her persona too. So I was happy to read how Freddy does give her a make – over, but just in order to give her a severe boost of self-confidence.

And Freddy, by helping Kat, slowly start to understand that a lot of things are transactional, but matters of the heart are not. While he helps Kat, Kat in a way helps Freddy, by seeing things not that black or white anymore. He starts to see that even if love is a scary thing,  you cannot stop from feelings growing.

So while this is a romance, with lots of comedy bits in it too, it is in fact a deep journey that both Freddy and Kat are having. A journey where they will make mistakes, but where they will mainly learn more about themselves, about their self – worth, about their heart and about each other…