When Santa grants you your wish…

Synopsis

Romance Can Happen When You Least Expect It…

She hates Christmas. He’s about to change her mind…

Cassie isn’t a fan of Christmas. After a string of unlucky incidents during the festive season—including getting dumped—this year she decides to spend the day at home. Alone. No men. No complications. 

But then her nightmare boss demands she track down this year’s most coveted Christmas gift—and the only person who can help is an annoyingly sexy Frenchman she’s just met.

Nicolas might look hot, but Cassie can tell he’s also arrogant, irritating and in love with himself. Exactly the kind of guy she hates. Plus, he’ll only help her find the gift if she helps him with something in return… 

Could Cassie’s festive fortunes finally be about to change? Can she learn to love Christmas again? And will Cassie get lucky in more ways than one?

Set against a gorgeous London backdrop with sparkling lights, Christmas markets and mistletoe, My Lucky Night is a fun, sexy enemies-to-lovers romcom novella that will give you all the feels! Ideal for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane.

Read as a standalone novella or as book two in the My Ten-Year Crush series.

My review

Cassie has had enough of Christmas. Each Christmas was a disaster the last years, so this year, she wants to spend it home alone, with a bunch of movies.
When with her godson Paul she visits Santa in his grotto, she is surprised when the good old man asks her what she wishes for Christmas. Of course she doesn’t expect him to give her for real ‘a boyfriend to play with’.
And then her most annoying boss demands her to find the most wanted and most impossible Christmas gift, otherwise…
And apparently the only person that can help her, is the most sexy Frenchman she has ever met. Ever met and also literally just met… Because Cassie and Nicolas has clashed a few times in just one day, and Cassie is sure that Nicolas is arrogant, irritating and no matter how good he looks, his behaviour is a real turn off (a little bit).
He is ready to help her on this impossible quest for the gift, but has something he wants in return…
The more Cassie and Nicolas are together on their missions, the more Cassie realizes that Nicolas is not what she thought. And with Nicolas, maybe she will feel differently about Christmas and maybe Santa did grant her her wish?

Ooooh I ADORED reading this story!!!
it was funny, sweet, heart – warming and at some occasions even steamy!!!

I understood why Cassie wanted to celebrate Christmas alone and on her conditions. If you had one bad Christmas, okay that’s bad luck.
But having year after year ‘incidents’ during the seasons, well, nobody deserves that!
And to make things even worse, her boss is asking to achieve the impossible. Reading about what he wants, when he wants it and for who the gift was, made my blood boil…
Surely my boss shouldn’t be calling me during my holidays, demanding for things he should arrange himself. Being a PA doesn’t mean to be a housekeeper!

But despite her doing what her terrible boss demands, I loved how she stood her ground against ‘injustice’.
It was hilarious to see her argue with Nicolas when he skipped the queue, when he didn’t look where he was going. And then to do the same, more focused on her phone and bumping into, yes you guess it, Nicolas!

However, I also loved the kindness both characters showed. Nicolas is ready to help Cassie to find that gift, and he only asks her to help him to thick all the boxes on his to do list.
And before you start to think weird things, that was exactly the kind of list I would like to complete myself!

This was a hilarious story to read, but also a wonderful story to read. I loved reading how Cassie and Nicolas spend the day together, seeing how the attraction starts to grow, even making me frustrated at each time when there is a kiss in the air, something comes in between.
And reading how Nicolas manages to make Cassie do things she has bad memories of… my heart just melted each time!

Seeing how they both learned from each other (no phones, stepping outside your comfort zone) was marvellous, and let me tell you, an elevator will never be the same again!!

This (rather too short for my liking, because I wanted MORE MORE MORE – even after reading the bonus chapters) was just perfect, just as I expected from this author.
It is exactly what everyone needs to read during the festive holidays. It will restore your faith in Santa and that even the most impossible wish can come true!

A good neighbour is better than a far friend

Synopsis

It has been a long and lonely year for neighbours Vivienne, Mary and Gwen. All ladies of a ‘certain age’, their lockdown experience has left them feeling isolated and alone. They are in desperate need of a change.

Things start to look up however, when Gwen comes up with a plan to get them out of London by borrowing a motor home. In no time at all the ladies are on the road – away from the city, away from their own four walls, and away from their worries.

The British countryside has never looked more beautiful. As they travel from Stonehenge to Dartmoor, from the Devon and Cornish coasts to the Yorkshire moors, gradually the years fall back, and the three friends start to imagine new futures with no limitations.

And as their journey continues and their friendships deepen, and while the seaside views turn into glorious mountains and moors, Mary, Vivienne and Gwen learn to smile again, to laugh again, and maybe even to love again. Now they can believe that the best is still to come…

My review

Vivienne, Mary and Gwen are all living in the same building. They know each other, and visit each other once in a while. But lockdown has made them feel more and more isolated. So when Gwen has a plan that involves borrowing a motor home and to make a road trip, after the initial hesitation, the three women ‘of a certain age’ decide to take off.
During their road trip through the British countryside, from Stonehenge to Dartmoor, Vivienne, Mary and Gwen realize what real friendship means and their trip makes them dream about what the future still holds for them.
And no matter what your age is, they see that it’s never too late to have fun, to have new dreams, new adventures and maybe even to have love again.

What I truly love about this author, is that she has written books about people that are older than me (no offence, but I am the ‘young’ age of 35, and most of her characters are over 35 and more). But their age doesn’t stop them to go out there and have a whole new adventure, not letting their age stop them.
And this book was even better, because it’s secretly my own dream to take off and discover the same places these lovely women visited!

The story takes off just after that horrible lockdown, and life is slowly (VERY slowly) starting back to get normal.
We get to know Vivienne, Mary and Gwen, and even if they are good neighbours, they couldn’t be more different.

I cannot say who of the three women was my favourite, because they all had that little something that makes you fall in love with them.
They also all have a sad tale, broken hearts and lost opportunities. But even if that past is still making them wonder ‘what if’, they won’t let it dictate their lives.

The adventures these lovely women have are a mix of hilarity, blasts from the past, and a few moments that made me gasp.
But no matter what happened to these women, I loved reading how their relationship shifted from being kind neighbours to real friends.
And the kind of friends that do everything with the best of intentions, even if it doesn’t always result in what they expected.
Sometimes they win, but sometimes they also lose…

I found this a wonderful story to read, about the adventure of a lifetime, friendship and new dreams. I admired the ladies’ sense of adventure, and loved seeing them grasp every new opportunity and seeing how this trip is changing their lives, was heart – warming.

This could be a story about three ladies of any age, but the author choose to make them of a certain age, and while not everything goes smoothly (the usual pains and difficulties), it wasn’t holding them back.
I saw their age more an icing on top of the cake, making me believe that age truly is only a number and that that number shouldn’t be holding you back! And I can only hope that I will have that same sense of adventure when I reach their age!

An unforgettable Christmas for our friends at Mermaids Point

Synopsis

Christmas is a time for love, laughter, families and friends, and in Mermaids Point, everyone is getting ready for the festive season.

For Nerissa and Tom, this will be their first Christmas as a couple, but making sure they have time for each other, whilst blending their families, will take some careful planning. What festive traditions will they make their own?

Laurie and Jake are flat out running Laurie’s seafront café, packaging up orders of mince pies, sausage rolls and other delectable Christmas goodies, as well as finding time for Jake’s journalism.  But when Jake’s mum offers them an unexpected gift, their plans are turned upside down.

Alex can’t help but be charmed by beautiful and talented Ivy, but he’s still recovering from his ex-wife’s betrayal and has a secret life he’s not ready to share with anyone yet. But as the Christmas spirit starts weaving its magic, Alex may find himself ready for love sooner than he imagines.

For Andrew, nothing is more important than family. As friends and family gather beneath his roof it’s a time for reflection about what the future might hold.

As far as Nick is concerned, pop sensation Aurora Storm is the ‘one that got away’. After they shared a brief holiday fling, he has been thinking about her ever since. Is Christmas the perfect time to finally reach out to her, or is love at first sight just in fairy-tales?

My review

Our beloved friends are ready for the Christmas season. New couple Nerissa and Tom are celebrating their first Christmas together, trying to find the perfect blend of different traditions and struggling to find some ‘couple – time’.
Laurie and Jake are both drowing in work, between Jake’s new article and Laurie’s mince pies,… and then an offer comes from Jake’s mother making them rethink about all their plans.
Meanwhile is Alex struggling after being betrayed by his now ex – wife, and has his own secret carrying around. But still cannot forget Ivy…
For Andrew, friends and family is the most important thing on earth. So he is more than happy to have all his loved ones under this roof during the holidays. But Christmas is also the perfect time to think about the future.
And Nick finds it impossible to forget Aurora Storm, the popstar who he had a holiday fling with…

You know what made me very angry after finishing this book? It left me with so many unanswered questions! This means that now I am FORCED to read every next part of the series!!! And not just because I want answers to my questions, but I also want to see my beloved friends again and want to fall in love with the characters that absolutely deserve their own book!
So congratulations Sarah Bennett, I am totally hooked!

Even if each person/ couple has a limited spotlight, the author manages perfectly to show each time what makes each one of them so unique and loveable.
And having all of them together for Christmas, was a magical treat! The love each character has for the other one, family, lover, it doesn’t matter, is something that sparks from each page.

Not each character is having an easy time, and while I would have loved to read more about it, I also understand that it wasn’t possible to put it all in this book.
Some stories almost broke my heart, especially as it apparently it would seem impossible that there would be a happy end.
But I have all the faith in this lovely author, that she will manage to make all the wrongs right again!

Of course I wasn’t really angry after finished reading this book, but as I love the characters so much, I just wanted MORE!
If you are, just like me, totally besotted with Mermaids Point and its inhabitants, you will find it impossible to skip this teaser, giving us a wonderful Christmas feeling, but also glimpses of what we may expect in the future for these great characters!

Can love stand the test of time?

Synopsis

Born centuries apart. Bound by a love that defied time.

She couldn’t believe her eyes. The runes were normally so reliable and she had never doubted them before.

Madison Berger is visiting Dublin with her family for a Viking re-enactment festival, when she chances upon a small knife embedded in the banks of the Liffey. Maddie recognises what the runes on the knife’s handle signify: the chance to have her own adventures in the past. 

Maddie only intends to travel back in time briefly, but a skirmish in 9th century Dublin results in her waking up on a ship bound for Iceland, with the man who saved her from attack. 

Geir Eskilsson has left his family in Sweden to boldly carve out a life of his own. He is immediately drawn to Maddie, but when he learns of her connection to his sisters-in-law, he begins to believe that Fate has played a part in bringing them together. Amidst the perils that await on their journey to a new land, the truest battle will be to win Maddie’s heart and convince her that the runes never lie…

My review

Maddie is in Dublin for a Viking re – enactment festival. When one evening, she finds a small knife embedded in the banks of Liffey, she immediately knows it’s not a normal, ancient knife. Maddie knows how to read the runes on the knife, and she knows that the knife can take her back in the past.
After saying the words, she is suddenly in the 9th century and after a struggle, Maddie finds herself on a boat with the direction of Iceland, together with the man that saved her from her attackers.
When Geir Eskilsson discovers that the strange woman on his boat, has a connection with his sisters – in – law, he believes that his attraction towards her is also a trick by Fate, to bring them together.
But can Geir convince Maddie to stay with him and start a new life together in Iceland? Or will Maddie return to the Dublin she knows, to her family and friends?

I have to be honest, I initially struggled with this story. No matter how hard I tried, I found I very difficult to get attached to the characters. Maybe because time travelling is a concept I found very hard to grasp? But I knew what I started, and I was adamant to give it a few more chapters a shot before I would give up.
So I kept reading, and suddenly the chapters flew by and I found myself totally enthralled by the tale of Maddie and Geir.
And okay, Nordic names will never be easy for me, but to make to read easier for me, I changed the names a little into Tiziana – understandable 🤣.

I was very intrigued how Maddie would cope in a world where so many things are not known yet, and a lot of things that are basic to us, are not invented yet.
But also how the 9th century was a whole different lifestyle. And I am not only talking about material things. But the actual way of life, and mind-set is the total opposite of what we know.
Maddie sees many things that in 2021 would be totally not done, and even if she knows she cannot divulge too much on changes in the future, she does her bit to make a few changes for the better.

Despite their huge differences, I truly enjoyed reading about Maddie and Geir. I admired Maddie’s determination to make some important changes, and I loved Geir’s wish to make Maddie happy. Even if he doesn’t understand what is wrong with some aspects of his way of life, he gives Maddie’s suggestions a shot and sees for himself what a change that can bring.

And I found it a bit funny how Geir just accepts that Fate brought him Maddie, while Maddie fights all her might to find a way to get back. And slowly realizes that maybe her future is with Geir after all?

After the initial struggle, I enjoyed reading this maybe impossible story (but who knows for real…). It shows us how little changes can have an important influence on the future. But also that sometimes, to find true love, it’s not about going forward, but about going back. And perhaps, after reading this book, we will all see that somehow all the luxury and comfort we have now, are all expendable and that with love, it doesn’t matter where (actual place but also in time) you are, because love is all that matters, even when you think that you are not good enough…

Moving to The Big Apple, a dream coming true… or not?

Synopsis

When her husband David announces he’s been offered a job in New York, Saoirse is thrilled. The glamour of the big city, the shopping, the culture, not to mention the free Manhattan apartment and business class air fare – what’s not to like? There’s just the small matter of making it work for their daughter, five-year-old Anna, who isn’t so keen to leave her friends and school behind.

The Big Apple in the middle of summer isn’t quite the holiday Saoirse envisaged, and with David away with work, New York apartment sizes on the miniscule side, and the pace of life faster than the sleepy London suburbs, solo ex-pat parenting pushes Saoirse to her limits. 

And as the pressure builds and ‘faking it till she makes it’ isn’t cutting it, there’s only one thing for it – Saoirse and Anna need a new plan, and ‘Winging It’ might be their best option…

Emma Murray returns with this laugh-out-loud funny, compulsively page-turning adventure about parenting, travelling, and finding your tribe – on both sides of the pond.

My review

Saoirse is over the moon that her husband David has been finally offered a new job. And not just any job, but a job in New York! Doesn’t everyone dream of living in New York, with all that glamour, shopping, famous places to visit? And even if their five – year – old Anna is sad for leaving her friends and school behind, she shows how flexible she is and sees the move as a big adventure.
But quickly Saoirse realizes that their move isn’t exactly how she envisioned their year in New York. Not only is their apartment way too small for the three of them, the pace New York works, is too fast for Saoirse to keep up. And so Saoirse feels herself abandoned in the Big Apple, with no friends around, and David being away with work, and her limits are quickly being reached.
Saoirse knows that this is the opportunity of a lifetime for David, but just faking it for a whole year suddenly seems an impossible mission…

What I like about the books from this author, is that the story she tells, is always genuine.
And again with the next chapter in Saoirse’s life, it’s not a wonderful adventure we set to. But it’s filled with everything that normal people like us would encounter.

I think that most of us, when we think about living in New York, we see that perfect life in front of us. We imagine walking in Central Park, walking into famous shops and have some crazy moments in there.
And that is also a bit what Saoirse imagines her stay there.
But the truth is the total opposite…

Ooh how I pitied Saoirse… Being stuck in a too small apartment, sharing beds with Anna, a concierge who should learn about customer service and the list is endless…
However, how bad her own situation is, I admired her determination, because she knows that this is David’s moment. And she knows how hard he is working and doesn’t want to add extra stress.
But how far can someone keep up the pretence without crashing completely?

So I was very happy that with a little help from her friends, she finally finds a new place, more like her own place in London, where the too fast pace of New York is not existing.
and the funny thing is, no matter where you are, London, New York or Chakamaka (in case this is a word only used in Belgium, it’s a non – existing, far place), life is everywhere the same. Everywhere you go, you have like – minded people, you have obnoxious people and you have people – pleasers, like Saoirse.

Yes, of course, I had many laughs during my reading session and I didn’t expect anything less as I have already read the previous parts (but you can read this as a standalone, but why would you only read one when you can read more???).
But there were some serious twists that I didn’t see coming at all, but then twist after twist they were marvellous!

I loved reading about the real issues a move can bring, and the struggles someone has when you cannot acclimatize in a whole different lifestyle. But this story is also filled with determination, good intentions, love and friendship.
A real treat to read!

What will the return of an old friend mean?

Synopsis

Ella Welford’s done with love. After having her fingers burnt, she’s been resolutely single for the last year and has sworn to stay that way.

Joss Campion’s still reeling from a messy divorce and has vowed never to open his heart to love again.

Growing up in the picturesque village of Lytell Stangdale, with the North Yorkshire Moors as their playground, Joss and Ella were best friends. The pair were inseparable.

Until the day something happened to ruin their friendship and Joss moved away.

An urgent telephone call summons Joss back to the village. His father’s been rushed to hospital and he’s needed to run the farm. When he returns, with his loyal canine companion, Sid, in tow, it isn’t long before he realises things aren’t as they seem. Why is his brother, Rich, being so evasive? And why does he get the impression the farm’s in trouble?

Teaching Assistant, Ella, has just broken up for the Christmas holidays and is looking forward to spending more time on her parents’ farm, tending her variety of rescue animals and recharging her batteries.

It isn’t long before the pair run into one another and sparks of attraction begin to fly – not that either of them will admit to it. But, just before Christmas, they find themselves thrown together in an unexpected turn of events as a fierce snow blizzard rages around them.

Could this be the moment that changes everything? Or is their past too big to ignore?

One thing’s for certain, life’s never dull in this little corner of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Join Ella and Joss – and all the usual Lytell Stangdalecharacters – for a heartwarming festive read.

My review

Teaching Assistant Ella Welford is happy that the Christmas Holidays means that she doesn’t have to go to school, and can put all her love into helping on her parents’ farm and tending the variety of rescue animals.
And even if everyone is asking her about her love life, she is a happy single, after her last relationship, and determined to stay single.
But then suddenly Joss Campion returns in town… Joss and Ella used to be best friends, and just did everything together, until one day something happened that changed everything and Joss moved away…
Now Joss is forced to return with his adorable dog Sid as his father has been rushed to the hospital and needs help. Not only his father needs help, but also the farm and his brother Rich isn’t a real help.
The only silver lining is that Joss and Ella quickly rekindle their friendship. And even if they both aren’t admitting it, sparks fly around…

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Lytell Stangdale and its inhabitants!!! So returning there, and for another Christmas story, made me very very happy!
Beside the love for this cute little village, I ADORED Ella and Joss!

Ella is just the perfect girl next door, with a kind heart and not only for her friends and family. The lengths she goes for the children at school, no matter how difficult they can be, and her readiness to help animals anyway she can, how can you not like Ella?
She is also a great friend, as will be clear how she behaves with Portia. Even when something happens that breaks her heart, but makes her friend happy, she puts her own feelings aside.
And when a certain feeling evolves, she cannot shake off that feeling of guilt towards her friend…

And Joss… even if most of the time I loved him, sometimes he made me also very very angry!
Initially we don’t know what happened in the past to make him move away, or what happened between Joss and Ella.
And first I thought that something really really really bad happened between the friends, but I was happy that my wicked mind was very wrong! Okay, it changed everything, but what Joss did, wasn’t as terrible as I thought.
But his tale about his move and the strained relationship with his father broke my heart. Especially when the truth comes out…
The angriness from my side came when Joss acted typical as a male, thinking with his lower regions and not with his heart and head. Because of course as a reader we want a certain ending and him doing the opposite made it difficult!

However, seeing these former best friends finding each other again, and reading how that companionship of the past was so easily back, truly warmed my heart.
And I laughed at the way they both try to resist the obvious!
Somehow, the community also made me a bit jealous, because no one hesitates when helping hands are needed, and everyone does whatever he/she can. Just a perfect place to live! And even when injustice is being uncovered, the kind hearts of those with the correct sense of right and wrong, beside the anger, it made me feel happy and proud as it didn’t become an act of ‘ an eye for an eye’.

This was a lovely story to read, bringing me back to a wonderful community, with new and old friends.
It shows us also that the past isn’t always in the past, and that mistakes can be redeemed. And forgiveness can be given, no matter how much time has passed.
But most important, feelings come also when you least expect it, even towards people you least expect it. However, how scary it may be to give in to these feelings, fear (and the past)  shouldn’t be holding you back, because what you gain instead, is so much more rewarding!

The author managed again to write a captivating story about lovely people with a shared past, and a past that changed them. And this all around the Christmas period. Is there truly something else you need to grab this book and enjoy every beautiful bit of it???

Well, I know what I will read in a not so far future!

Synopsis

A haunting Anglo-Saxon time-slip of mystery and romance

Can echoes of the past threaten the present? They are 1500 years apart, but can they reach out to each other across the centuries? One woman faces a traumatic truth in the present day. The other is forced to marry the man she hates as the ‘dark ages’ unfold.

How can Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, unlock the secrets of the past? Traumatised by betrayal, she slips into 499 AD and into the body of Lady Vivianne, who is also battling treachery. Viv must uncover the mystery of the key that she unwittingly brings back with her to the present day, as echoes of the past resonate through time. But little does Viv realise just how much both their lives across the centuries will become so intertwined. And in the end, how can they help each other across the ages without changing the course of history?

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.

“In the best Barbara Erskine tradition …I would highly recommend this novel” -Historical Novel Society

“Amazing …a really great book …I just couldn’t put it down” -Hazel Morgan

“Well-rounded characters and a wealth of historical research make this a real page-turner” -Amazon review

“Enthralling” -Amazon review

“Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense”  – Amazon review

“Viv/Lady Vivianne … lovely identifiable heroine in both time periods….I love her strength and vulnerability. And Rory/Roland is simply gorgeous!” – Melissa Morgan

“gripping … a very real sense of threat and danger, an enthralling mystery … a wholly convincing romance, across both timelines” – Anne Williams

Purchase Links

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shape-Air-haunting-Anglo-Saxon-time-slip-ebook/dp/B09J43ZKZP

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Shape-Air-haunting-Anglo-Saxon-time-slip-ebook/dp/B09J43ZKZP

About the author

Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She sees her author brand as a historical fiction writer of romantic mysteries that are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language/ literature/ history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books (Endeavour) for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. She has published three other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her work in progress is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon mysteries (Daughter of Mercia) where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

Two friends, a gaming hell, and an unforgettable Christmas

Synopsis

GAMING HELL CHRISTMAS – VOLUME 1: Mysteries abound at the newest Hell in town.

A Gift for the Duke’s Illegitimate Daughter – Kathy L Wheeler

Miss Alexandra Blessing, the Duke of Winsome’s illegitimate daughter longs for anonymity and a home of her own where her younger half-siblings don’t commandeer every moment of her day. Escape is imminent—right after her family’s annual Christmas fete.

But Alexandra is missing from the ball, and Theodore Millburn must find her before he loses something important: his chance for love.

The Merry Widow’s Christmas Adventure – Amanda McCabe

Annabelle, Lady Ranstruther, after a year of lonely widowhood is ready for new love—and she knows exactly who she wants—her wild friend, the gorgeous William, Lord Deansley. She fears he doesn’t want her, until they meet again at the exclusive, discreet gaming hell la Sous Rose, at Christmas.

Will it mean a future of love—or the end of all her dreams?

“Miss McCabe’s talent for lively characters and witty dialogue is always a winning combination.” ~ Romantic Times Reviews

My review

A Gift For The Duke’s Illegitimate Daughter – Kathy L. Wheeler

Alexandra Blessing is the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Winsome. However, despite society’s standards, she has been accepted by her father, and even better, she is living with him and his wife and half – siblings. But privacy and her own place is something Alex really longs for, especially when her younger half – siblings need her every time of the day.
When one night, she goes with her best friends to a masked gaming hell, she doesn’t know that meeting Theodore Millburn will change her whole life and everything she thought to know…

The Merry Widow’s Christmas Adventure – Amanda McCabe

Now that Annabelle, Lady Ranstruther, has been a widow for a year, she is ready to take of the cloak of mourning.
But putting her loveless marriage behind her is easier said than done, as her stepson keeps harassing her, threatening her to take everything from her.
And then there is her handsome neighbour William, Lord Deansley. She has always found him very attracted but never gave into temptation. Now that she is a single woman again, could William have the same feelings as her? According their meeting at the exclusive gaming Hell La Sous Rose, he surely does!

What I loved about these two stories, is that the female characters are very good friends since childhood. They have each other’s back no matter what and understand each other with just one look.
And I also appreciated that even if these are two different tales, they take place at the same time and we get to see occasionally the same event through different eyes.

Maybe Alex’ story was the most surprising one. First of all, I found it very sweet to see how Alex, despite her being illegitimate, has been truly accepted by her family and isn’t being treated less compared to her siblings. Also her stepmother truly loves her as her own.

I thought it would be a ‘simple’ story, where two people fall in love, and after fighting shortly against all odds, they get their happily ever after.
And yes, Alex and Theodore quickly have a passionate encounter and feelings are growing rather fast.

But there are also a few mysteries that our main characters are not aware of. As a reader, you have a hunch about what is going on, but that didn’t spoil reading for me at all!

(Anna)belle’s story was a shorter one compared to Alex’. And while I understood that there was already some history between her and William, I would have loved to see just a bit more!

Belle knows what/who she wants, but she also wants to enjoy her freedom, now that she finally can do as she pleases.
And that was something I understood so well, seeing how young she was when she got married. But of course, when love is involved…

In her tale there is not that much of a mystery going on, rather a bully who doesn’t want Belle to enjoy life as earned.
But when William appears as a knight in shining armour, I liked the man even more than I already did!

I enjoyed reading about these two women, wanting their own freedom, finding love ‘despite’ their status in society.
The friendship between these women, and their other friends, was something to be jealous of, because it stands the test of time, even if all the women couldn’t be more different.

The other friends made me also very curious for their tale and I am also very intrigued and want to know who the mysterious Lady X is!

A marriage of convenience and pity, that could never work…

Synopsis

An imperfect proposal…

But a perfect match?

Major James Rossington, Viscount Austerfield, survived Waterloo, but can he survive the Season as London’s most eligible bachelor? Convinced his battle scars make him unlovable, and to escape Society’s matchmakers, Ross proposes a wedding in name only to shy, sensible Carenza Bettridge. Liberated from her cruel stepmother and bullying half-sisters, she blossoms into a confident, altogether desirable woman. He promised Carenza a convenient marriage, but inconveniently finds himself wanting more…

My review

Carenza Bettridge absolutely adores her father and doesn’t hesitate to look after him. unfortunately, her stepmother and half-sisters aren’t applying the same kindness that Carenza is known for. On the contrary, her stepmother is cruel and her sisters bully her. Cinderella was treated like a queen compared to the things Carenza had to endure!
When Major James Rossington, Viscount Austerfield, also known as Ross, returns from Waterloo, he is the most eligible bachelor. But even while the unmarried ladies flirt with him and he is victim of his sister’s matchmaking skills, he knows that people are terrified and horrified of his scars.
So while her stepmother wants one of her own daughters to be the one to get married to Ross, it is Carenza that received the proposal. However, it is a proposal for a wedding in name only, as for Ross it will make him unavailable for more matchmaking, and after seeing how Carenza is treated, a way to escape her stepmother.
But Ross doesn’t expect to see Carenza blossom into a confident and caring woman. Maybe the marriage will become a real one?

I am one of those women that even at the age of 35, truly enjoy a good fairy tale. And with this title, I couldn’t pass on the opportunity reading this book!

But I have to say, the way Carenza is treated by her family, with excepting of her lovely father of course, gave me the shivers. There are so many examples in the world where new families are created, and people love each other, no matter if blood – related or not.
However, in a different era, things may be different, and if the characters were all kind to Carenza, we would have a complete different story.

Despite her stepmother and her sisters, Carenza remains that kind person, not fighting back. And not because she doesn’t mind the bullying, but because she knows how that would affect her father. so for his sake, she keeps enduring all the nasty nudges…

I loved reading how Carenza shows her true self after being ‘saved’ by Ross. After years being seen as a just a maid, she now can be the real Carenza. And obviously, she remains the same kind Carenza as before, but now she won’t hesitate to stand her ground, become more confident and trust her own gut.

Talking about Ross… being a Major, makes it obvious he is a courageous man. He admits himself that he loved his years in the army, and he was reluctant of become a Viscount, after losing his beloved brother. And his scars don’t make things easier for him. and seeing how there are predatory women flying around him, pretending to like him and not being disgusted by him scars, made it understandable why he proposed to Carenza.

I found it very sweet to see how, once married, these two lovely people started getting closer. But it also broke my heart seeing how the war had not only scarred Ross on the outside but also on the inside. But on the other hand, it warmed my heart to see how Carenza kept on showing him that she isn’t bothered by it.

This story may look like the fairy-tale at first glance, but while reading the comparison totally dissolved. This was a book about two people who deserve the world, but the world hasn’t treated them very kindly. Both characters are facing the reality that not all people are as kind and gentle and honest as themselves.
But when you find a kindred spirit, who wants to give you the world, it doesn’t matter how nasty some bits of the world can be.

I loved reading this book, not because the rather predictable ending, but because of how the characters find each other, and find a way to help each other out.
It shows us that love can cure a lot, and with the right people, friends and family, everyone can get that fairy-tale happy end, even when you thought it would never happen to you.

A second chance for two broken souls?

Synopsis

An unforgettable Greek escape…with the man she never forgot! 

A-list actress Catherine Wilde has it all, but behind closed doors she is fighting personal battles. So the chance to escape to the private Greek island of her best friend’s brother, Alaric, offers the tranquility she craves. Except seeing Alaric again sets her heart rate soaring. Life might have changed him, but he can still make her feel alive—and when the torch she once held for him reignites, it’s impossible to ignore!

My review

Catherine Wilde is known to the world as Kitty Wilde, A-list actress. But when she isn’t standing in front of the cameras, she now is facing the most difficult time she ever had.
She needs to find some peace again, and what better way to find that tranquillity again on a private Greek island, owned by her best friend’s brother, Alaric.
But even if seeing Alaric ignites something in Catherine, Alaric is doing his best to avoid her. Because Alaric is not only scarred on the inside, but also on the outside. And all he wants is to be left alone.
However, maybe being back together, on a remote island, is what they both need to feel alive again?

When the weather outside is dreadful, dark, rainy and cold, a story about second chances on a wonderful island, written by the amazing Rachael Stewart surely cheers me up!
And reading about someone famous, being rather normal and having ‘normal’, human feelings, also easily warms my heart!

Catherine is known all over the world, because she is an amazing actress. But the life of an actress is not an easy one. Not only is she standing all the time in the spotlight, but everything that happens to her, the good and the bad, it’s written everywhere and not always things are described as what truly happened.
And after what happened to her, wanting her to escape everything, trying to cope with her feelings of guilt, made me see her from another perspective.
The lives of the famous ones aren’t always filled with glitter and glam, and reading also what Catherine had to endure, even at a younger age, go get he where she is now, was a real eye – opener, but also a tale that made my heart break…
Catherine is carrying a feeling of guilt that not is justified, but it’s always easier for an outsider to make that realization…

And talking about guilt… Alaric surely knows what it means to carry that heavy burden. Because of one event, his whole life got turned upside down, and not only. His action had consequences for people he truly cared about, and he cannot face them anymore.
Also in his case, I understood his desire to disappear, but I didn’t agree with it.
From what we understand, Alaric was a real handsome, and talented man. But now he is scarred, and he believes that because of what happened in the past, he cannot create the same talented paintings/drawings as before.

Rachael Stewart managed perfectly, as I am used from her, to grasp the pain both our main characters have to endure.
But she also managed perfectly to show us those shimmers of hope and new beginnings. What starts as a ‘just one night only’ or ‘giving in into those feelings of lust’, is obviously changing into the realization that old feelings can resurface. And that meeting an old flame can make you feel alive again and understand that those feelings of guilt aren’t always justified.
Love always finds a way, no matter how hard you resist, and that love makes all the scars, inside and outside disappear.

A beautiful tale about second chances, broken people, a beautiful grand gesture, written by an author that succeeded my high expectations and delivered exactly what I needed on a droopy day!

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