One flight to St. Lucia, with life alternating encounters

Synopsis

As a flight to St Lucia leaves the runway, four passengers meet for the first time.

After escaping her controlling husband, Bernadette Manson is taking the first extravagant holiday of her new life. But when her best friend cancels, will she be strong enough to fly solo?

Tadgh Donovan is about to jet off to his destination wedding when he sees a shocking text. Has his bride-to-be written her wedding vows… or already broken them?

Hayley Ford is the wife of a top fertility specialist yet her battle to get pregnant has almost broken her marriage. Can a trip to the sun heal their relationship or should she brace for a crash landing?

Dev Robbins is crossing oceans to track down the woman he fell in love with at first sight. Will it be a one way trip to happy ever after or a return journey to singledom?

My review

People take planes for several different occasions. Let’s take a look at Bernadette for example. Now that she is freed from her controlling husband, she is going to enjoy for the first time an extravagant holiday. While the initial plan was that her best friend came along too, due circumstances, Bernadette is on her own.
Or what about Dev? He never believed in love at first sight, until one specific night. And now that the woman of his dreams is staying in St. Lucia for a wedding, he flies after her, to profess his love for her.
Talking about weddings… Tadgh may be a famous musician, but he is on his way to St. Lucia to marry his girlfriend. A girlfriend that seems to be have sent a text that makes Tadgh doubt the strength of their love.
Doubts… exactly what Hayley is having. Being a wife of a fertility specialist, but not able of getting pregnant herself… At the point of having a strained marriage. But will this holiday to St. Lucia be the stress-free vacation change her relationship for the better?  

I have read several books of this author and each time I am absolutely amazed how she is able to write such a captivating, wonderful story, even if it only takes place over a short amount of time. 

So even if I knew the talent Shari Low has, I was a bit doubting how a flight of just nine hours could result in an amazing story. But I should never have doubted her! 

To be honest, I never had a flight myself that lasted longer than 3 hours, and for me it would be horror being confined for the whole nine hours in a small space. Add the fact that the main characters are sitting next to strangers, made my horror only grow. 

It was very recognizable, that none of the characters wanted to be one of those passengers that talk for hours to complete strangers, while everyone just want to be left alone.
However, it was beautiful to see how these strangers, at different stages in their lives, somehow were just meant to sit next to each other. Of course, this was the plan of the author! 

I admired Bernadette and her determination, courage and no – nonsense approach. She came from a marriage with a controlling husband, yet she got out of it, and finally can live her life like she wants. She even has the courage to go on a holiday on her own, even if she has no idea what she will do there.
But due her own past, she sees more then meets the eye, and understands the situation Hayley is in. However, how easy it would be to interfere and tell Hayley what to do, Bernadette just tells her own story and lets Hayley know that it’s never too late to make a change. 

I truly felt sorry for Hayley… it’s rather easy and quick to realize that her husband is one of the worst kinds… The way he belittles her, even leaves her on her own in the plane, getting a better place for himself, and tells her how much or how little she may drink… Well, you know enough, right?
But as an outsider, it’s always easy to tell someone else what to do. But how does someone know what Hayley is thinking? Because isn’t the inability of getting pregnant putting a strain on their marriage? And everything will get better during the holiday?
I also felt proud of Hayley, because during the flight, she realizes that yes, she can make up her mind for her own, and no, her husband doesn’t have to be a jerk all the time to everyone.

Dev was a harder nut to crack. I loved his optimism, and faith that everything would end in a happy end. But let’s be honest, meeting a person one night and knowing she/he is The One? The odds aren’t really in favour are day?
But nevertheless, Dev is a good guy and only for that I wished him that his dream would come true.
And even if it wouldn’t he would always have his best friend Lizzy by his side. And his book would somehow always be a success! 

Tadgh may be the cliché of musicians, but he obviously has a tender heart. While not everyone understands why he wants to get married, for him, it’s the logical step. My heart broke for him with that one text, but for a long time I kept hoping for a misunderstanding. Because the level of betrayal would be too big.
And while he of course loves his girlfriend, he also has a secondary reason, and that made my heart just melt!
But the further along in the story, the more I slowly kept hoping for a different outcome.  

Sometimes this story may seems farfetched. But often life takes an unexpected turn at the most absurd places. Who would ever think that four different people could have such an important effect and impact on each other?
Sometimes talking to absolute strangers is exactly what we should do, to see something through different eyes. 

I loved reading every bit of this story, I loved all the main characters equally (and A LOT!). there is a very long build up ( the whole nine hour long flight!) and then everything comes together perfectly. While I felt the ending was a bit too hasted, as I just wanted to read more about what happens after the flight, the finish of a story is not the most important thing, but it’s the journey people take to reach that point. And in this case you can take it very literally! 

An amazing, wonderful story about beautiful people going at the same destination but with their own fights already fought or yet to fight. The beauty of how Fate brings people together that need each other to realize the most important thing in their lives.
A talented author bringing us a story that made me again realize and understand why I appreciate and love her and her books so much!

You never know the insides of a normal person

Synopsis

A family torn apart by their father’s infidelity are forced to confront the past thirty years later. As Natalie’s younger sister, Amanda, prepares for marriage and impending motherhood, her plea for the family to reunite uncovers pent-up tension and animosity. Can they forget the past and become a family again? 

Natalie’s life begins to unravel as their father starts to creep back into their lives and family tensions resurface, affecting her relationship with her boyfriend, Rob. Will the couple find their way back to each other, and can a family that has been torn apart ever heal their wounds? 

Can you ever walk away from someone you love, or do some fires never die out?

My review

Thirty years ago, Natalie’s father walked away from his family, as his infidelity has reached its peak. In the present, Natalie is finding herself ambushed by her younger sister Amanda to reconcile with their father. Amanda always kept in touch with their father, while Natalie cannot let go of the past.  And with Amanda’s wedding around the corner, and Amada finding herself pregnant, Natalie seems not able to escape her father.
Even her brother Paul betrays her by reaching out to their father…
But Natalie is not inclined at all to forgive him, and tensions arise between the family members. This also affects her relationship with Rob, her amazing boyfriend.
Can all wounds be healed over time? Or are some actions unforgivable? And is all truly lost for Natalie and Rob? 

This story took some time to grow on me. Not because it’s badly written or it doesn’t appear to go somewhere, but because initially it was difficult to properly understand and know Natalie.
Her first actions aren’t understandable at all, and I found it difficult to somehow sympathize with her.
Obviously that is the purpose of the author, as slowly we get to know about Natalie’s past and her present issues. 

The more is revealed the more I could understand her reluctance of being in touch with her father. I admired how as a young girl herself, she did everything she could for her mother and her siblings, how she was the one always taking matter in hands. And while her father was not in the run for the award for best father of the year. 

While it may seem a hard decision, not wanting to have her father back in her life, I saw where she was coming from, and I respected her decision. But it frustrated me that her siblings couldn’t just respect it too.
I found Amanda very selfish, she seems never to be content, it is always about her and noting is ever her fault. And everything seems to go so easy for her.
Even if Paul takes Natalie’s feelings more in account, he also seems to be pushing her to do things she truly doesn’t want to do. 

So is it really a surprise that Natalie at one point had enough? For me, no.  

Although, it took me a very long time to understand why she would break things off with Rob. They were together for such a long time, and nothing special had happened. So why throw away the best thing you have? 

But people don’t always reason logically, as this book clearly shows. And when it’s all too much, you make decisions that normally you wouldn’t make.
How would you act if you find yourself cornered?  

In books, often broken families somehow find a way back together. But in real life that is not always the case. Sometimes taking a step back is the best thing you can do, for your own peace of mind and happiness. 

While Natalie has endured many things in the past, and is only now trying to come to terms with it all, this book is also filled with hope and love. Because no matter how some things may be broken, literally and figuratively, there is always hope to fix these broken things. And it’s in the highest need that we realize what is worth fixing. 

Despite the maybe a little rough start for me, once I was in the flow of the story, I found myself submerged in Natalie’s life. There were many, many heart – breaking moments, but the book was also filled with happier moments, that made me smile. 

The author managed to describe the fragility of a family, how one event can change the course of a whole life and how that one event still affects someone even after many years have passed. Family is not made of people of your own choosing, and even if related by blood, members can be totally different. And while you obviously love them, it’s perfectly okay to chose your own happiness over theirs. 

But most important of this story is the message that despite the lemons that life throws at you, for the right person, you are perfectly enough, even with your imperfections and strange thoughts and that things will be all right after all. If that isn’t a hopeful message…

Sometimes, what we need has always been in front of us…

Synopsis

She was never meant to fall for her best friend’s brother…

Seren has had a soft spot for her best friend’s brother for as long as she can remember. But when she starts to see Kit as more than just a friend, she knows she’s on dangerous ground.

Avoiding him is probably her best course of action, but that’s easier said than done when you live on a tiny island.

When Kit declares he’s in love with her, she’s forced to deny her feelings. There’s too much to lose for her to do anything else.

If only her heart would get the message that she and Kit aren’t meant to be.

As the tension between them builds it becomes more and more difficult for Seren to keep her feelings hidden.

Can she find the courage to risk everything for love? And will Kit still be waiting for her when she does?

My review

Seren always felt part of the Trenearys’ family, even if they aren’t sharing any actual DNA. Growing up and being best friends with Noah, made her feel she always had to place where she would be welcomed with open arms.
But when she starts seeing Noah’s younger brother in a total different light, she knows she is in trouble…
How can she come clean about her blooming feelings when there is so much at stake? And she cannot imagine losing the people who are like a second family to her.
So when Kit speaks out his own feelings for Seren, she has no other option than denying her own.
But the heart wants what it wants, and hiding her feelings because more difficult every day… 

Having read the first book, and loving it, I obviously had no other choice than reading this next book too. 

I didn’t dislike Seren in book 1, but I saw her more as a threat to the wonderful couple that Keira and Noah make.
But in that book, Seren made me like her more and more, so I was very curious how and when she would have her own happy end. 

It’s obvious that Seren is a kind person, very loving and caring. Even if she has known loss at a young age, with the love she receives and gives to the Trenearys’ family, she feels she found the next best thing.
She is also a very understanding person, as she knows that now that her best friend is in a relationship, she is no longer his first priority. However, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t sting when she needs her best friend by her side. 

Kit may be younger than Seren, but the author manages perfectly to proof that age truly is just a number. Because Kit is more mature than other people of his own age, and even more mature than people who are actually older.
Maybe he is not the smartest guy around concerning professing his love, but his feelings are genuine and real.
He would do anything for Seren, even if that mean he should learn to use an actual bookmark!
And let’s be honest, he’s also a smart guy, as his successful business shows. He’s got the looks AND the brains! What else does a woman need!   

From the very start of this book, I had the best fun! It starts when Seren is ogling Kit without realizing it’s Kit who caught her attention. But I also swooned at the sweet moments, like Kit looking after Seren after a peanut incident.
However, as a reader I also got a bit frustrated. Not because the author didn’t do a great job with this book, but it was so irritating that it… just… takes… such… a… long… time for Seren to finally listen to her heart!
What does it matter if Kit is younger? So what if Seren has known him all her life? If he is the man for you, that all doesn’t matter! And don’t let fear of ruining everything make you ruin everything! 

Although… even if I got angry at Seren at some moments, I could also somehow comprehend her feeling. Not that I agreed with them, but I saw where she was coming from. Because what if in some weird ways, things would end badly between them, Seren would not only Kit as a boyfriend, but also as a friend, and also whole his family.
And that is not a risk she wants to take… 

The beauty about this book is that all the fears are understandable, even if you don’t agree. And also how difficult it can be that once something it outspoken, to return to things were before. But also that friendship, when love doesn’t seem to be reciprocal, is very important. Better to have someone in your life as a friend, than not having that person in your life at all.
What stood by me the most after long reading sessions, is that the heart cannot be dictated. No matter how hard we fight against our feelings, and try to even move on, your heart and love will always direct you back to the person you care the most about.
And overthinking about things that could go wrong, is not the best of ideas. Focus instead on the wonderful future and life together and make things work.

Three best friends, reunited but with their own problems

Synopsis

Divorced and on a deadline, bestselling novelist Bea Pinkerton has a serious case of writer’s block. With her agent breathing down her neck, Bea will do ANYTHING to avoid writing another word.

So an invite to a reunion with her old school friends at a beautiful chateau in France, is Bea’s perfect chance to escape. Surely here, relaxing with old friends and drinking cold fizz, Bea will find inspiration?

But as soon as Bea arrives, she realises this is not going to be the peaceful getaway she anticipated. Her old school friends Gin and Audrie are in various states of marital distress and to top it off a camera crew has arrived to film the goings on at Chateau De St Cyr.Far from being calm, the trip is total chaos!

Thank goodness for Bea’s new French neighbour Laurent Sinclair – handsome, charming and perhaps exactly the romantic muse she needs to get her mojo back.

But is Bea brave enough to take a second chance at love at her age?

Perhaps with a little help from her friends…

My review

It’s not often that friendships stand the test of time, but Bea, Gin and Audrie are proof that those friendships truly exist, even if they are living on different places in the world.
Getting together at Audrie’s place, a chateau in France, is the perfect place for all the women to escape their daily issues.
Bea is a famous author, but being divorced and a deadline for her new book, made her have a writer’s block. And her agent is losing patience…
So relaxing in France will maybe help her get over her block.
But as soon as she arrives, it’s clear that her holiday isn’t going to be as relaxing as expected, as the dream couple, Audrie and Victor, seem to be on the verge of a divorce. Especially when Victor’s colleague, lawyer Laurent Sinclair is also staying at the Chateau De St. Cyr.
And Gin’s latest divorce caused her more pain than admitted…
Will Bea be able to find the peace she so much needed, with her friends? And with charming Laurent, can she resist him, even if he appears to be the enemy? And what about the courage of allowing love back in her life, even at her age? 

I truly enjoy reading stories about friendships that started in school and even after decades they are still standing. Is it because I don’t have that kind of long friendship that I find joy in reading stories about people who have what I don’t? 

Nevertheless, this wasn’t only about three women getting together to spend time together, sharing drinks. But is was also about the struggles these great women have.
Bea is a successful author, but I can only imagine how difficult it can be to fulfil the high expectations everyone has for her new book.
So if I would go crazy, I can surely imagine Bea’s state of mind, taking also in account the way her marriage ended… 

Absolutely I agreed that visiting Audrie was the perfect solution for her. Only I didn’t expect for Bea to arrive in total chaos!
Yes, we are well aware that something was going to happen there too, but I didn’t expect things to go so badly…
And to be honest, at moments I got a bit frustrated because in my opinion, Audrie was sometimes just overreacting.
But when she did, she had her loyal friends by her side, loyal to the core, but also pointing out when she was being unreasonable.
And that made me like the story even more, because it shows us that real friends can tell you when you’re being just a little bit over the top! 

I had several laughs in this story too, because these tree women together are a force to reckon with! For sure I never want to be on their bad side! But also when you are on their good side, you have a strong alliance! 

This story shows us also that no matter how frightening it can be to allow love back in your life, it can be all worth it! Bea meeting Laurent is surely proof of it! Age is just a number and love doesn’t look how old you are when it puts the right partner in front of you.
But also love makes people do sometimes things with the best intentions but not on the smartest ways. But just when you think love has reached its end, it makes a turn of 180 degrees and it ignites even stronger than before! 

I truly enjoyed reading this book, filled with the adventures and misadventures of three women of a certain age, but certainly still young at heart!

Each family has its struggles, even if we don’t always see them…

Synopsis

Sasha Greenhope has a very lovely life. Her marriage is solid, her only daughter is delightful, and the family business is going full steam ahead.

The only blip on the horizon is the upcoming family reunion for her parents 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile. Sasha just does not fit with her rich family. Her French mother, Delphine thinks everything Sasha does is a faux pas.. And siblings, Adele and Beau, are clearly the favourites, leaving Sasha surplus to requirements

So when Sasha’s husband Ben takes this exact moment to reveal that they are about to go bankrupt, Sasha wants to be anywhere but stuck in a lavish marquee!

Swallowing her pride, and a whole bottle of fizz, Sasha determines to ask her family for help – and maybe even a loan – only to discover that her parents and siblings are all keeping secrets of their own!

Family secrets, warring siblings and a disastrous reunion… what could possibly go right?!

My review

Sasha Greenhope has always felt that her parents had their favourite child, and Sasha wasn’t it for sure…
Her mother obviously prefers Sasha’s brother Beau, while her sister Adele is obviously a daddy’s girl.
And Sasha marrying Ben surely wasn’t what her parents expected her to do. But Sasha proofed her parents wrong, as her marriage couldn’t be any more loving, with the addition of their daughter in the wonderful equation. Add a family business that being rather successful, and it’s clear that Sasha couldn’t be happier with her own tight unit.
So it makes sense that she is dreading to participate in the family reunion for her parents 40th wedding anniversary.
Because it’s obvious that Sasha will be in the shadows while her siblings will be taking the spotlight. To add more to a stressful upcoming event, Ben comes clean about the fact that their business may be going bankrupt.
With dread in her shoes, Sasha sees no other option than asking help from her wealthy family. But quickly discovers that each family has its own cross to bear…

Sometimes you like a book for several reasons, but when asked which point exactly made you fall in love with it, you can pin it to one specific thing.
And that is exactly the case with this wonderful book!

Sasha, Ben and LouLou are an amazing, sweet, loving family. While Sasha’s parents never really accepted Ben as their daughter’s husband, the love between them is just palpable in each shared moment.
That shows us again that richness doesn’t come from money, but from being surrounded by people that unconditionally love us.

However, no matter how great the love is, this family have their struggles… And it broke my heart a little bit, seeing how hard they worked together in their business, and because of one customer, their dreams and plans are just blown up at once…

Any normal family wouldn’t be so against asking family for help, but Sasha’s family isn’t a normal family. While her parents are the rich kind, whenever it concerns asking for money, Sasha always had to solve her own problems.
And in one way I could understand her parents’ reasoning, I thought it was also a bit mean, because it’s clear that Sasha is not one to just throw money away and won’t ask for help if not truly needed…
Also, having siblings being so perfect and successful, doesn’t make Sasha feel any better.

I was definitely in Sasha’s corner during the reunion at the Chadwell House, and got so frustrated and angry when there was obvious proof that Sasha was clearly the ‘less loved’ child. Of course, her parents love her, but just not as much as Adele or Beau…
And I ADORED Ben when he defended his little family!

But not all is as it seems in this book…
Obviously there are secrets that are going to be revealed, and some may not be a total surprise, some were unexpected and heart-breaking.
Each member is facing a struggle of their own, showing the reader that no amount of money, fancy clothes, fast cars and great houses is a recipe to save you from trouble…

While initially I truly hoped that Sasha would be finding her happiness with people who accepted her and her own family as who they are, during the story my feelings shifted.
It’s clear that communication in this family was the cause of many issues. No matter how difficult it is to express our feelings, and while it may hurt someone we love at that moment, it is always the best solution…

Now, beside my frustrations and anger, I also had many smiles and laughter while reading. Can I say that LouLou is just adorable???
The evil Tizi found it also funny how things went wrong. Like a tiramisu that was best left uneaten, or how a very important heirloom wasn’t what it seems to be.
But there were also many moments showing the strength of a family.  Because no matter what happened before, when truly needed, this family joined all forces, forgetting about their fights.

I could go on about this book for hours, but I will spare you that!
Just believe me when I say that this book is truly worth reading, as it shows us that even with family we never really knows what’s going on behind the scenes.
While speaking out may be hurtful, but in the end, it will bring us all together again. Also, with speaking out, we find a way to express our fears and realize that our fears are not always justified.
And sometimes, even if we wish for a new family ourselves, the one we got may just be perfect even with all its imperfections!

One moment in the past still haunting the present…

Synopsis

Two siblings, both missing for 20 years turn up within one day of each other. One dead. One alive.

It was an ordinary school day, the day I lost my little brother.

One moment he was on the roundabout and then was gone. Gone. Missing.

They all blamed me. I was in charge. Even though I was only ten years old.

They sent me away. The hurt, the shame, the questions. The not knowing.

I tried to move on.

It’s been nineteen years in exile and now somebody wants me back.

Someone with a dark secret. They hold the keys, they know the truth.

So, I need to return to the Welsh village of my childhood to find out who, because I have a secret, too…

I did something bad.

Diane Saxon’s standalone thriller is sure to plunge you into the dark world of secrets and lies.

My review

It has been twenty years ago since Caryn’s little brother has gone missing. While being a child herself at the time, she was the one everyone blamed. If only she had looked better after Lloyd, nothing would have happened to him.
So they sent her away, and Caryn has tried to made a life on her own, without her parents or friends from the Welsh village, trying to forget her dark past.
But when someone sends her a note, demanding her return, Caryn reluctantly return to the place she once used to call home, carrying her own secrets too. However, a village never forgets and  scepticism and unfriendliness surround her. And when a new murder takes  place, the some villagers find it easy to add one to one and end up with five…
Can Caryn finally discover what happened to her little brother so many years ago?  And what other secrets are being kept and what lies are being told?

This story surely gave me chills all over my body…
I can hardly imagine how it is when your sibling disappears, and I just cannot fathom how people dare suspect that you are the culprit, being a child yourself!
So obviously from the first minute, I was in Caryn’s corner, no matter what.

Also from that same first minute, I felt sorry for Caryn, as she seems also to be a victim of that horrible event… Of course, also her parents are victims, struggling with the loss of a lovely, yet also special, boy like Lloyd.
But Caryn, having been sent away to live with a grandmother she didn’t know, accused by her own parents, her own friends apparently abandoning her, she obviously didn’t have an easy time and my heart truly broke for her.

While reading this book, I realized how positive I truly am. When Caryn returned ‘home’, I was hoping for a warm welcome. And when not only her parents quickly dismissed her, but she was even being somehow bullied by some villagers… I also kept hoping for some kind of a happy end and that in the end Lloyd would be reunited with his family somehow.

But life isn’t always a fairy tale, just as this book shows us… People will go lengths to keep their secrets, and I was shocked when the truth was revealed.
Maybe I had a little hunch, but I couldn’t imagine the extend of the lies and secrets, and was left flabbergasted when the true characters were revealed and just the evil of some of them!

But do not despair, because it’s not all doom and gloom! While Caryn’s search for the truth was definitely the main aspect of this story, the author shows us also the nicer and better bits of humanity. And real friends, even if separated by time and space, are easy to find each other again, despite all the past hurt.

I knew before I started in this book, I would be easily hooked, as my own desire to figure out the truth is just too big to ignore.
But I didn’t expect it would just be impossible to put the book away! Even with my lame attempt to move on with real life, my brain just kept going back to this story, trying to put all the pieces together.
So my sincere apologies to anyone who tried to have a decent conversation with me, but failed… it wasn’t you, it wasn’t me, it was this gripping, suspenseful story!

Twelve nights to safe your own life…

Synopsis

The Theatre

London, 1592

When a player is murdered, suspicion falls on the wardrobe mistress, Magdalen Bisset, because everyone knows poison is a woman’s weapon. The scandal-pamphlets vilify her. The coroner is convinced of her guilt.

Magdalen is innocent, although few are willing to help her prove it. Her much-loved grandmother is too old and sick. Will Shakespeare is benignly detached, and her friend Christopher Marlowe is wholly unreliable. Only one man offers his assistance, but dare she trust him when nothing about him rings true?

With just two weeks until the inquest, Magdalen ignores anonymous threats to ‘leave it be’, and delves into the dangerous underworld of a city seething with religious and racial tension. As time runs out, she must risk everything in her search for the true killer – for all other roads lead to the gallows.

My review

Magdalen Bisset is working as a wardrobe in the Theatre in the times William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe are making their names on the scene. And Magdalen is lucky to know both men.
However, in times of need, you learn who your real friends are. Magdalen learns that sometimes the easiest answer isn’t always the truth, especially when murder is involved.
Because a player being murdered, poisoned, at the theatre, quick assumptions make that Magdalen is the prime suspect. After all, poison is used by women as a weapon.
Magdalen now only has a two weeks to find the real killer and proof her innocence. But with not many standing by her side, and a city struggling with many tensions, it’s easier said than done. However, anything is better than being sent to the gallows…

It’s never easy to proof that you didn’t do something, and imagine being forced doing that in the 16th century, where DNA, fingerprints, or even following someone through social media, or GPS on your phone are totally bollocks.
Add a city filled with religious and racial tension, prejudice towards women, and you know it would even be more an herculean task…

The time and place is something I can only imagine about, like every one of us. However, because of this book realization dawned that I had a romanticized view of it.
Obviously, feminism has grown a lot, but seeing how just a few centuries ago, women were prejudiced, accused without any inkling of real proof, made me think how happy and lucky we are to be in 2022…

In one way is was fascinating to see how Magdalen is fighting for het independence and freedom, and her friendships which such famous characters.
But also seeing how quickly she finds herself standing alone, with all her supposed friends to have their own reasons to never truly speak out, show again that sometimes being innocent isn’t always just enough.

But Magdalen has their fierceness in her that I admired. Even if against all odds, she never gives up or backs down. She is determined to proof her innocence and find the real murder.
And even threats won’t stop her own investigation, making her even more adamant!

I didn’t know how it was in 15th century London, peaking with their theatres, but also facing many struggles. And this book showed me that behind every beautiful poem or play, real life often was a struggle.

Even if I am not knowing British history as detailed as I thought, I found myself eager to discover together with Magdalen the truth. And learning how lives can be entwined in several (un)expected ways and how far people will go to keep a secret…

Even the best friends don’t share everything…

Synopsis

Follow your heart and then your dreams…

Best friends since childhood, Fern Chambers and Stella Shaw have been through everything together and are at a crossroads in their lives.

Carefree Stella has a monumental secret and put upon Fern’s happy life is not all it seems.

With their 40th birthdays approaching, a luxury holiday to the island of Capri is a chance for them to reconnect, let their hair down and celebrate in style. But untold truths and frustration bubble beneath the surface, turning what should be a holiday of a lifetime into an opportunity to make life-changing decisions.

Far from home, where anything feels possible, secrets are revealed, heartache is shared, love discovered and new friendships forged.

Will their Italian dream turn into a nightmare or lead to newfound happiness?

My review

Fern Chambers and Stella Shaw have been best friends since childhood. Even when their lives took different turns, they were the only constant in each other’s lives and the one constant.
With their 40th birthday approaching, Stella decides to celebrate in style and luxury and her win at the lottery makes it easy to go on o holiday in wonderful Capri.
But what was supposed to be a dream holiday, quicky turns out to be a holiday where secrets are being revealed and where it’s obvious that not everyone is having the happy life they wished for.
Will this holiday make or break a friendship which everyone thought would be unbreakable? And with new friendships, love and passion, how will these two women return to their homes? 

A moment of honesty before I start with my thoughts of this book… And I know many people won’t understand my feelings, but just let me be.
While I truly appreciate the beautiful places in Italy, I don’t adore Capri… I understand why people are attracted by the place, because there are wonderful places there, but if I were told that I would never visit the place again, I cannot say I would be heartbroken.
I could think of many other places in Italy that I prefer to visit… 

But back to this book!  

I truly like it when friendships stand the test of time, and no matter how the people changed during their lives, they still have that person in their lives that stood by their side all the time.
So I was happy to start reading this book, and wanted to know what this author had in store for Fern and Stella. 

It warmed my heart how these two women are still each other’s rock even if they are totally different and are at different points in their lives.
And when Stella treats her best friend after her lottery win, it showed again how deeply these women care about each other. 

I was intrigued how this holiday would go for the two ladies with their daughters. Even if Fern’s daughter was rebellious character, even pushing my buttons, it’s clear that despite some frustrations there is that love between just all of the (young) women. 

I also appreciated the respect Stella and Fern had. They wanted to do different things, but there were no hard feelings when they split up to do what they truly wanted. And that is again proof of an amazing friendship. Being friends doesn’t mean to do everything together, but also understand that someone’s interests aren’t necessary the same as your interests. 

I had fun with Stella on her trip on the yacht, but I also relaxed together with Fern during her visit in the retreat.
I could appreciate both women’s way to relax and enjoy their holidays. 

However… there are kept secrets too in this story. And while I was rather quickly in guessing what that was, I also felt that the person concerned should have had an inkling and I was even a bit angry at how in some level trust got broken by some rash actions. 

Even if there were serious regrets, it’s obvious money can’t buy happiness or forgiveness. But only time can heal some deep wounds. And true friendships can stand the most difficult tests.

What also stood out in this book, is that we are never too old to change direction in our lives. Or just understand what we want from life and what makes us happy.

I enjoyed reading this book, as it showed me so many aspects in life that can go wrong, but also so many aspects that can go right, even if it may seem scary to take that step.
But with courage, forgiveness, friendship and love, your life can take a turn you never imagined and fill the voidness we don’t always know we had.

Heritage Cove, where even the latest inhabitants lose their hearts

Synopsis

Welcome back to Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea brimming with character, community and friendship. The perfect place to fall in love…

Running Heritage View Stables is everything Hazel ever dreamed of. She loves working with the horses and managing the business with her brother. But after a terrible incident, she’s not sure whether she’ll ever be able to put things back the way they were.

Gus is ready to start over. He’s moved him and his ten-year-old daughter Abigail to Heritage Cove, where he’s opening his own vet practice. Everything is falling into place, especially as he watches Abigail start to come out of her shell for the first time since the accident.

Neither Hazel nor Gus is looking for love, but could they each be what the other needs? And is happiness even a possibility when their pasts won’t let them go?

Join new friends and old, as summer comes to Heritage Cove.

My review

Hazel loves running Heritage View Stables together with her brother. But things aren’t going as smoothly, as an incident made Hazel fearful to return to her teaching lessons.
With her brother Arnold’s schedule being full, Hazel taking over some lessons would be a much better solution than refusing new pupils.
When Gus and his daughter Abigail arrive at Heritage Cove, Heritage View Stables is the obvious choice for their horse Denby.
While Abigail adores Denby and just horses in general, Gus wants her to take lessons to grow her confidence.
But why is Hazel so stoically refuses to take Abigail under her wings even if it’s clear what a good influence Hazel has on Abigail?
Gus’ heart melts seeing how Abigail is getting out of her shell, and his daughter is his only priority while setting up his vet practice.
With two people not looking for love, could horses be the link to bring them together despite their own fears? 

Okay, I love Heritage Cove and its inhabitants, and I want to live there myself. This is not the first time I said it, so it’s not a big surprise I was happy to start with this new chapter in this series!
And did this author deliver? ABSOLUTELY!!! 

I am not a horse – lover myself. It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s just that they are so big and I am a scaredy – cat, so I would be terrified not knowing how such a majestic animal can behave unexpectedly. But that doesn’t mean I cannot see the beauty of such great animals from far far away. 

It’s obvious that Hazel loves looking after the horses and treats them with respect, care and much love. And it’s unfortunately also very obvious that she has been traumatized after an incident. Seeing how fear held Hazel back from doing something she loves to do, broke my heart a little bit. But I could also perfectly comprehend her (remember, scaredy – cat here!).
She is also a very sensitive character, as she disapproves aggressive behaviour and hates voices being raised. 

So I could understand her wariness around Gus, because the second time she saw him, he didn’t make a good impression.
Gus… talking about an entrance here! I surely didn’t expect our male main character doing *that* but it surely put a smile on my face!
Having this books showing us two points of view, made it possible to understand his behaviour so much better. He wants to protect Abigail from every kind of evil in the world, making him a bit too overprotective.
But with what Abigail had to endure, who wouldn’t be too protective over such a lovely girl? 

Abigail, that is absolutely a sweet girl that will steal everyone’s heart! And seeing the interaction between her and Hazel, warmed my heart!  

I found this a slow – burning romance, but without the romance being the headliner. Because both main characters have their own focus and also fears.
While it may be easy to say to get back on your horse, it’s always easier said than done. And taking that first, small step, can be the most terrifying thing you’d ever do. 

This was a marvellous next book in an amazing series. And while the expectations were very high, with even a small fear of getting a disappointment, this author delivered and even went beyond!

Everyone believes the headlines, why shouldn’t they?

Synopsis

In Rachael Stewart’s latest Harlequin Romance, the second in her Claiming the Ferrington Empire duet, an invitation to Paris with a billionaire is on the cards, but only if Bree is brave enough to take it…

Can a playboy billionaire……capture her heart?

Bree has escaped the big city to heal her heart in a village bakery. But when notorious billionaire Theo walks through the door, emotionally guarded Bree discovers it’s not just her toffee pudding that’s hot and sweet! The man behind the headlines is charming but intriguingly cynical about love. Accepting his invitation to Paris could be a mistake—or the best decision she’s ever made…

My review

Theo Ferrington/ Dubois comes at the rescue when his brother Sebastian returns back to the Ferrington Manor to claim it.
He didn’t do it only to help out his brother, but also to escape Paris where his reputation is that of being a billionaire player.
The last thing he expected was to meet Bree, Flick’s best friend who escaped from London herself after getting her heart broken.
But spending time together at the B&B, Theo doesn’t only enjoy being just Theo, not the billionaire again, but he surely enjoys the company.
However, with no interest in any kind of relationship, and Bree not letting her guard down, will something come from spending all that time together? And will they also turn into a cliché, like they say themselves, or is just enjoying themselves for the time being enough? 

Soooooo… Theo…. Where shall I start?
Theo is not the complete stranger, as we have got some glimpses of him in the first book of this series already. And even if he wasn’t the main protagonist there, sparks already flew around him and Bree, so yes, I absolutely had to read their story!!!!  

Bree is the kind of woman everyone wants to have as a best friend. Not only would she do everything for Flick, but she is also very protective of her, and Flick’s daughter Angel.
Poor who dares to hurt any of her loved ones!
But Bree also got burned in the past, and her ex made her feel unworthy, which in my opinion is just utter nonsense!
Because Bree is just amazing! She is kind, caring, loving, funny, and also hilarious whenever she accidentally says out loud what she is thinking!
I also appreciated how she didn’t start reading online abut Theo or Sebastian, but wants to get to know the person in front of her all by herself. 

So obviously, for Theo, Bree is like a breath of fresh air. Because Theo has his reputation against him, and the headlines surely enjoy to point out what a player he is.
But Theo isn’t just a billionaire player… And Bree sees easily, just like us, behind the façade. Can it be any more clearer than the way he looks after Becca?
It surely made my ovaries explode! 

While being back home, his guilt only increases as he realizes what consequences his past actions had. But guilt is something ugly, because it comes even when it is not applicable… 

I absolutely loved seeing Bree and Theo together. They go from being wary, to give in the attraction, fighting of not becoming a cliché (you’ll know what I mean when you read this book!) yet obviously becoming one! 

Both characters are fighting against growing feelings, but don’t we all know that is an impossible task? Because the heart doesn’t take orders from the head. And even if the heart got broken, that doesn’t mean it cannot be healed anymore.
And no matter how hard we try to hide our true selves, the right person sees right behind that mask (and headlines) and sees who we really are.

Rachael Stewart managed again to write a captivating story, with maybe less heated described in it. But the heat sparks from the pages anyway. And that is a talent this author has, with a few words, you completely turn into a puddle, imagining smouldering looks, innuendos and just great characters!