Did he do it, or not?

Synopsis

Plumber Jessica Lemond is determined not to follow in her parents footsteps by living off her famous grandfather’s fortune. However, when the old timer himself elopes to Scotland with suspicions over the recent death of his much younger third wife hanging over his head and a private detective on his tail, it is left to Jessica to follow and clear up the mess. Happy to escape from her nightmarish lodger Doreen, she heads to the remote Snowflake Lodge with her young trainee Kirsten in tow.

However, Snowflake Lodge – with its oddball staff and very dodgy plumbing – is not how it appears in the brochure. Among the beautiful Scottish scenery, and with more hot chocolate and mince pies than she can possibly handle, can Jessica find something she didn’t even know she was looking for?

My review

Jessica Lemond’s grandfather has accumulated a fortune her parents are all too happy to spend. But Jessica wants to earn her own money, and that’s why she has her own plumbing business.
When her grandfather’s third wife dies, suddenly he is being suspected of killing her. And when he just eloped to Scotland, it’s up to Jessica to follow his tracks to Snowflake Lodge, together with her trainee Kirsten.
Not only does she wants to find out the truth, but she also wants to run away from her own lodger Doreen, who is pushing her to every limit Jessica has.
Little does Jessica know that Snowflake Lodge has its own charm, and odd Christmas traditions. And James, a jack of all trades who also runs reindeer sleigh rides in winter.
Can Jessica find out the truth about her beloved grandfather’s involvement and keep him away from that determined private investigator?
Maybe she will even find what she has been looking for or didn’t know she was looking for… 

Describing this story as a romance, doesn’t sound correct in my ears. Because even if there is some romance in it, it wasn’t the main theme. 

What I loved about Jessica, is that she isn’t the typical girly – woman. She works as a plumber and she loves it! She keeps her knowledge up to date and even knows about the old plumbing systems.
And I admired her that she doesn’t want to rely on the success of her grandfather, but want to make her own money.
She sees how her parents are more concerned about the money, and she doesn’t want to be like them. Even if that would be the easiest solution! 

She has a good heart, maybe even too kind, seeing how despicable Doreen is taking advantage of her kindness.
Doreen, I wouldn’t wish a lodger like her to my worst enemy!
Jessica’s kindness is also visible in how she looks after her trainee Kirsten. She wants to make sure Kirsten is happy working with her.
And Jessica doesn’t assume the worst of someone, even when all the evidence point in her grandfather’s direction. 

Rather early in the story it’s obvious that there will be a lot to laugh about. Seeing Jessica and Kirsten riding to Scotland, Jessica finding her feet in Snowflake Lodge, the most flirtatious grandfather ever, a mystery to reveal and funny staff members… it’s all a recipe for a hilarious reading session! 

I was truly entertained, being on a rollercoaster of events. This story is filled not only with funny bits, but also heart – breaking tales of the past, discoveries I didn’t see coming, all surrounded by a wonderful setting in Scotland, with plenty hot chocolate making me drool and making my own cup just to make myself feel part of the story!

The wedding of your nightmares…

Synopsis

Take one lavish holiday wedding. Add one evil ex and his bridezilla. And toss in a smoking-hot chef from the past. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Victoria Blackwood has spent years trying to redeem herself after falling victim to a blackmail scheme that cost her father thousands. So, when he insists she coordinate a big Christmas wedding at her family’s winery, she can’t say no. Even if the groom is her ex, and the caterer just quit.

For Rafael Sanchez, a last-minute call to cater a huge society wedding is a golden opportunity. If he can prove he’s up to the challenge, his brothers might entrust him with more responsibility in the family catering business. But when he meets Victoria, he can’t believe his eyes. Five years ago, they had a passionate fling that rocked his world. Until she left him with only a fake name to remember her by.

To pull off the perfect wedding, Victoria and Rafael can’t afford to get caught up in the past. But keeping things professional won’t be easy, not when the attraction between them burns hotter than Christmas in July.

My review

Victoria Blackwood is used to coordinate big events at her family’s winery, Blackwood Cellars. But the latest event surely is the most challenging one. First of all, this is a way to redeem herself after a mistake she made n the past, costing her father lots of money. And it’s her father that demands that she organizes everything for this Christmas wedding. Second, the groom is her ex – fiancé, marrying the woman that he got pregnant after cheating on Victoria. And yes, it can get even worse, because the wedding is actual the wedding Victoria had organized for herself. And to make it even more worse, the bride is a real Bridezilla, causing the caterer to quit last minute.
The last option is to hire Tres Hermanos. But of all the things Victoria expected, it wasn’t meeting Rafael Sanchez again, the man she had the most amazing fling with five years ago and to only ghost him afterwards.
Can they keep things professional? Or will that old spark and attraction reignite?  

Having read the previous parts of this trilogy, and absolutely loved them both, I was very curious about Victoria’s story. And who her counterpart would be.
And did I get everything wanted from her tale? Yes!
Could the story have been better? Absolutely not! 

Before I started to get to know Victoria better, I thought she was a woman focused on her career, and a rather stoic woman.
But the more I got to know he better, the more I saw that in fact, yes, she is a determined woman, but she is also a hurt woman, still carrying a burden that is way too heavy for her.
She once made a mistake in her life, and let’s be honest, don’t we all screw up once in a while, but her father won’t let her forget about it.
And the debt she has, won’t allow her to spread her wings and do what she truly wants to do. 

And the meeting with Rafael… pfew…
Of course we all know that some of the passion they once had, would resurface when meeting. But it’s not only that that made me love this book.
Rafael (and the rest of his family) wants that the wedding will be a success, and not only because it would be a huge step forward for their business, but also just because they are such amazing people.

Even if I loved our main characters and their attempt to resist each other, I never despised so many people in a book…
Victoria’s father is hideous, terrible and I admire/ pity his family that have to endure him. His every word is law, and woe to those who dare to contradict him!
And the groom… just YUK!!! I was glad that Victoria ended things with him, because I saw someone so self-centred, obnoxious, horrible man! 

But being surrounded by despicable men, made Victoria find the courage to stand up to them, and take them down a few notches.
And I nearly applauded when Victoria found her strong voice to do so! 

This was a romantic story, I don’t contradict it. But I saw it more as a story about a woman who has endured too much from the men in her life, and decided that it’s time to say ‘enough’. Thanks with the people around, who truly love and care about her, she is able to take the (small) steps to become independent, but also the strong woman she without a doubt is. And doing what someone is good as, but also has the passion for it, and not being used as a puppet for someone’s else whim, is what everyone deserves.
And while on your search for freedom, you can also find love, it’s a double win! 

Again this author managed to surprise me with a wonderful story, lovely characters (and a few nasty ones), filled with strength, determination, love and courage.
I loved ready every bit of this story, part of a magnificent trilogy, but reaching the end saddened me because it means it was the end of a wonderful journey I was able to participle together with the most amazing members of the Blackwood family…

Not only breaking rules, but also hearts

Synopsis

Sofia
One night.
No cuddling.
No sleepovers.
These are the rules I live my love life by. Running a business as a bar owner leaves no time for relationships—or their drama. But when I meet international rock star Brenner Reindhart, he makes me want to break all the rules . . .

Bren
Keeping Industrial November at the top of the best-selling charts for over eight years has taken a toll on me, and I’m ready to slow down.
I’ve been burned by love before, and I’m finally ready to try again. I think Sofia Ocampo might just be the one. Only, she has no plans to ever be in a relationship.
Aware she has no interest in it, I still give her my heart.
I can only hold my breath and hope she won’t break it.

***This high-steam, contemporary rock star romance contains adult content with some taboo elements not suitable for all readers. Read responsibly. All novels in the Industrial November on Tour series can be read in any order.***

My review

Sofia doesn’t do relationships. Her focus is on her bar, and when in time of need, she has her own rules. Namely, just one night, absolutely no cuddling and don’t even think about sleeping over. Thank you, goodbye, NEXT!
But when rockstar Brenner Reindhart enters the picture, everything she ever wanted, is now shifting. Especially now that Bren is looking to slow down after eight years of being at the top of the best – selling charts.
Bren, after having been heartbroken before, is now ready to try again. And he thinks that Sofia may be the perfect woman for her.
But no matter how much they are attracted and how good they are together, with both wanting different things, can this truly work out? Or will hearts be broken?

So, before you even think about reading this story… if you don’t like reading about VERY steamy moments, with very explicit details, don’t start reading it.
Because even I, who has read a few steamy stories, was a little bit shocked about just HOW explicit it would go. But I don’t see that as a problem, so I kept reading.

But even if there are several moments that were getting too hot, and a few taboo elements, this truly was a romance.
Because we have two main characters that make fireworks appear blank compared to the sparks that they make fly around, but are also burnt by/afraid of giving in to love.

I like how strong Sofia was in this story. She knows what she wants and what she doesn’t, and in her case it’s truly what you see is what you get. She speaks her mind, you know immediately what her intentions are. And if you don’t like it, you know where the door is.
She is a passionate woman, not afraid of her own sexuality, and not afraid to try something new.
Her loved ones have her complete devotion, and even if initially it’s not easy to gain her trust, once you have it, you can always count on her.

What I loved about her too, was that she stands her ground, also in bed. For once, it’s a woman using men for her own pleasure and not the other way around. And before you think bad of her, or start sl*t-shaming her, just don’t. Sofia is a woman who knows what she wants and her intentions are clear for the beginning.

And Bren… he is a rock star, but without the typical behaviour of one. He’s already been there, done that. What I liked about him, is that he is not the typical handsome one, but has a rougher look. And while the fans are more attracted to the other members of the band, Sofia sees his own beauty.
He is a rock star, but without the attitude. He wants to give Sofia the world.
And he looks after the other members of the band. His nickname isn’t stolen!
But what he should learn, is listen to what Sofia is truly saying, and not try to persuade her and hope to change her mind…

I was a bit surprised at the pace of the story. Initially it’s a slow pace, a lot happens in a short amount of time. But then suddenly we fast forward and we make a serious and important jump in time. It left me momentarily a bit confused, but it was also necessary for our characters to grow and realize what they have been missing out…

I found this a steamy story, that’s for sure, but also a story about two people finding each other, but also losing each other because of their stubbornness. Being in a relationship means compromising, but doesn’t mean that you have to repudiate your own feelings.

This story was a rollercoaster of emotions, going from hot to cold, filled with doubts, trust issues but also filled with emotional, beautiful lovely moments. Because you know that love is worth of all the risks and pain you endured in the past once you dare to trust and love someone with all your heart. And it’s a recipe for hot make out sessions! 😄

Finding yourself in a whole new country

Synopsis

A new start, a chance encounter, a Christmas to remember. Will Iris’s new year be happy ever after? 

When Iris Greene’s boyfriend surprises her with a romantic dinner at their favourite restaurant, she’s expecting a proposal, not a move to another country. 

But Amsterdam proves to be the change she never knew she needed, and a surprise encounter with a local actor leads Iris to new friends and the rediscovery of a long lost passion. While Iris thrives in a city filled with festivity, her boyfriend struggles, and her heart is torn in two. 

As snow falls and secrets are revealed, Iris must decide her future. Will she be brave enough to start over and take a chance on love?

My review

When your boyfriend surprises you with a romantic dinner at your favourite restaurant, that could only mean one thing, right?
So when Iris Greene is ready for her boyfriend Will to pop the question, she couldn’t be more surprised that weddings bells wasn’t what Will was hearing.
Instead he got a promotion that will make them both move for at least a year to Amsterdam.
Giving up everything, Iris isn’t that happy to move, but slowly Amsterdam seems to grow on her.
While Will is struggling with his job, Iris realizes that the move was the change she needed. And quickly Iris finds herself making new friends, reigniting lost passions and a place she truly feels at home.
But when the time comes to make an important decision, what will Iris do? Should she stay or should go?

Can I just start with telling how much I fell in love with this story? I knew what this author was capable of, and before I started reading even a word of it, I knew I would like it. but I didn’t expect it to love it so much!

I didn’t found this a romance story in the well-known sense of the word, because this isn’t the story how Iris falls in love with someone else.
But this is the beautiful, inspiring story how Iris falls in love with herself again, and falls in love with Amsterdam and its way of living.

In the beginning, Iris doesn’t really like her job and has given up on her passion of art. And when Will wants to move to Amsterdam, she doesn’t really put up a fight.
So seeing how our main character missed that feisty spirit and didn’t even throw a tantrum, made me think that she should really grow a backbone.

However, once in Amsterdam, I admired how she tried to make the best of her situation. Of course, I understood why those first moments she was acting more like a tourist, who wouldn’t. But seeing how she makes new friends and even finds a part-time job she likes, made me proud of her.
And seeing how the light returned in her eyes, when she rediscovers her passion for painting again. That was truly wonderful to read.

There was one character I was truly disappointed in, and that was Will’s… his behaviour towards Iris was just so wrong. He truly believes the world

revolves around him. The way he just disrespects Iris and tries to belittle her every time, made my blood boil!
So when his big plans fall apart, I was happy that Iris didn’t just accept to go back, but tried to make up what the best decision for HER would be.

I found this a beautiful story about a woman thrown into the deep, but makes the best of it. And slowly starts to be the real her again. I loved reading how Iris bloomed, became more confident and found real friends that stood by her side. And yes, there just may be something romance in the air after all!

Kate Frost managed to write a captivating story, set in a beautiful city not so far from my home, with wonderful people that will warm your heart even in the coldest moments of winter.

Three best friends, three completely different lives…

Synopsis

Briony, Natalie and Lauren have been best friends since school. Now in their thirties, their lives couldn’t be more different.

Eternally single Briony is desperate to find ‘the one’, while Lauren, a singer onboard cruise ships, is having far too much carefree fun to even think about settling down with ‘Mrs Right’. Or is she?

Meanwhile, long-term married mum Natalie has had her head turned at the gym by sexy spin instructor, Jason. And when he suggests some private, one-on-one sessions, sex-starved Natalie is powerless to resist.

When Natalie’s affair comes to light after a boozy night down their local, where they go to get their alcohol and ice cream fixes, Briony doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to forgive her friend. Luckily, a date with Mani, the hot, chivalrous son of her larger-than-life American boss helps to take her mind off things. Could he be the special someone she has been waiting for all her life?

As the girls embark on some of the most challenging moments of their lives, only one thing is for sure – their friendship will never be the same again . . .

Honoured as a Finalist in the, Fiction: Women’s Fiction category at the American Book Fest 2020, Best Book Awards.

My review

Since school have Briony, Natalie and Lauren been friends. Even if they still are very close, their lives couldn’t be more different.
Briony is still looking for that special someone to spend the rest with her life with. Maybe she has finally find that man in Mani, son of her American boss?
Lauren is enjoying her carefree life as a singer on cruise ships, and doesn’t even think about finding her own Mrs. Right.
And Natalie has been a happily married mother, until she started to go to the gym. Now she finds herself powerless to resists the advances of het spin instructor Jason.
When Natalie’s affair comes to light, the dynamics of their friendships shift completely.
Each women is facing one of the most difficult times of their lives. Will they all find the love they are searching for? And what will remain of their once so close friendship?

Normally I am one of those readers that immediately like the main characters in a story. But these three characters were a bit harder to like.
Not because they are not lovely, but because of their wishes they act in a way couldn’t agree with.
And when I say three, it’s actually just Briony and Natalie.

From the start, Natalie is already having an affair with Jason, her spin instructor. And even if I totally condemn cheating on your husband/wife, if you truly love someone else, I can (only slightly!) understand why someone has an affair. And if your husband/wife is a terrible person, okay, I understand it even more.
But in the affair, it’s obvious for the readers it truly just is some physical attraction. And that it very hard for me to understand Natalie… Especially when we get to know her husband. He is working too hard, but he does that so he’s able to give Natalie and their child everything to make them happy.

And then there is Briony… she wants her happily ever after too, but she’s trying a bit too hard for my liking. As her taking inspiration from actresses was initially something funny to read about, the more she is using those characters, the more I started to get a bit annoyed by it…
especially because the more I got to know the real Briony, the more I saw that just being herself would be more than enough.

I was a bit sad that Lauren got so little exclusive time in this book, because I saw that she would make the most sense of all the three friends.
And I was glad that in the end, my suspicions were correct and I was truly happy for her.

Now, this may look like I didn’t enjoy reading this book. But I did like it. I didn’t agree with some of the behaviour but that is also the charm of this book.
People make mistakes in life, that is more than normal. And the author shows us that yes, we can screw up terribly, and that when it all comes out, the world may seem to come to an end.
But sometimes all we need is a good kick in the a** to see how wrong our behaviour was and that we need to redeem ourselves. And maybe see what’s in front of our nose? Because maybe that’s all we need? And that is exactly what our characters do. How gullible they seem to act, they stand up again after being knocked down and show determination to fix it all again.

This was an honest tale about how wrong decisions can have big consequences. But we have to man up and accept them and fight for what we may have lost.

A partnership will be formed, but which kind?

Synopsis

When a workaholic lawyer meets a fun-loving music marketing executive for opposites attract, friends-to-lovers adventures, which partnership will she choose?

Workaholic lawyer Audrey Willems is not going to take any chances with her bid to become a partner at her New York law firm—especially with only six months until the decision. 

Until she bumps into Jake—her new neighbor. Jake is a fun-loving music marketing executive who might just be The One.

He’s funny, caring, supportive—and able to kill water bugs in the bathroom.

But Jake will never date a woman married to her job. His father was a workaholic lawyer who never had time for family. 

And she’s just got the case of a lifetime—the one she needs to win to make partner.  Working 24/7 at the office may not even be enough hours to pull off a victory.

If only she had not met him now.

Audrey is determined to prove that she can juggle work and romance—even if managing court cases, candlelit dinners, and bike rides around Manhattan is a lot harder than it looks.  She keeps canceling dates for yet another case crisis.

But when making partner is like a game of musical chairs and the last seat is a business-class alone, which partnership will she choose?

My review

Audrey Willems is a workaholic lawyer, with her own goal into reach. She wants to become a partner of the law firm she is working for, and with her current case, she is sure that a success will result in her becoming a partner in six months, when the decision will be made.
So any distraction is out of the question, no matter how amazing her new neighbour and music marketing executive Jake appears to be.
Having grown up with a workaholic father, who never had time for his own family, Jake surely never wants to date a woman married to her job.
But the more time Audrey spends with Jake, the more she starts to see what she has been missing. Because Jake is not only funny, caring and lovely, he is also a man not afraid to kill the water bugs in her bathroom.
However, with a deadline just around the corner, and Audrey needs to focus 24/7 on her job, will their blooming relations stand the test of stress? 

I thought I knew what to expect when I started to read this story, but after reading the last chapter, I was glad I got so much more than expected! 

What I loved about Audrey, was that she is pursuing her career, and determined to become a partner. But she is not a ruthless woman. Even when a few of her colleagues aren’t afraid to play dirty, she doesn’t lower herself to their level.
And when she feels like being stabbed by her female co-worker, instead of turning into a b*tch herself, she tries to find a way to show that we women have to stick together, especially in a man’s world…
Even if her focus is on her job, it’s obvious she is also a kind character. She knows that lately she isn’t being the best of friends, but tries to redeem herself.
And when Jake becomes her new neighbour, I saw a funny side of Audrey that I didn’t expect to see. I found it HILARIOUS how they kept exchanging the most absurd gifts, and kept trying to upstage each other. 

And Jake… not only did he make my heart melt, but he also made my ovaries explode! He shows Audrey how life is not only about work, and takes her to lovely dates, that made me envious. But also the patience he shows with her, because despite his resolution to never date a workaholic, he understands how important it is to Audrey.
And let’s not forget what an amazing uncle he is (Exploding ovaries alert!). 

But this story is so much more than just a romantic, swoon – worthy tale… It’s about the struggles women also have to endure at work. And the author manages to show us that life isn’t always fair and some men still think they are the stronger sex. But this isn’t written in a patronizing way, but it’s also not too subtle to go unnoticed.

The most important lesson however is that even when we think that we know what our main goal is, sometimes these goals can change direction.
And that sometimes it’s meeting the right person, and also losing them, will make you understand what truly matters in life. And that falling in love and having a wonderful relationship doesn’t mean that you cannot have your successful career.  

I loved reading this beautiful story about lovely people, I laughed several times, discovered a shared fear of water bugs (where is my own superhero Jake?) and I admired the courage our main characters showed when they did follow their hearts and instincts and didn’t just go with the flow. 

A truly heart – warming story that left me a warm feeling inside I didn’t want to get rid of!

An unexpected Christmas

Synopsis

Tammy is normally at her happiest at Christmas, but she’s been dumped by her long term partner, with no real explanation… and her Christmas looks pretty bleak.

Lawrence has just been told he has an inherited heart condition… and he’s not allowed to eat too many mince pies. Not exactly a recipe for a great holiday.

With time running out for Lawrence, will he tell Tammy how he feels before it’s too late?

– Plus sized hero

– British Asian heroine

– Romance in a microbiology lab

– All the Christmas feels

Girl At Christmas is a standalone novella in the award nominated Smart Girls series. If you like heartwarming, sweet romance and an unusual chubby hero, it’s the perfect book for you. Buy Girl AtChristmas and reclaim the holiday spirit today!

Girl At Chrismtas – FREE when you sign up to Rhoda Baxter’s newsletter! https://www.subscribepage.com/q3x1y8_copy

My review

Tammy is the kind of person that absolutely loves Christmas. But when her partner dumps her out of the blue, just before Christmas, her world falls apart. So celebrating the holiday is for once the last of her thoughts.
Meanwhile her colleague Lawrence has to change his whole way of living, as he has been diagnosed with an inherited heart condition.
As both Tammy and Lawrence are adapting to a new lifestyle, will they be able to see what is right under their noses?  

This may be the shortest story in the series, but I found it the most adorable one!
And I even found it a bit sad that it was a novella, because I surely wanted to read more about Tammy and Lawrence! 

Tammy is initially in a relationship with Jeff, and even if the sparks aren’t flying around, him leaving her out of the blue, comes as a shock to her.
Add an overbearing mother, and I completely understood why Tammy doesn’t feel the Christmas spirit this time. 

But can I say I just fell completely and utterly in love with Lawrence? He may not be winning an award for fittest, strongest, most handsome man in the world, but who cares???
There isn’t a thing about him that I didn’t love!
And when we get to know about his heart condition, I wanted to jump in and give him an encouraging hug and tell him that it would all be okay…

I found it so sweet and cute seeing how Tammy and Lawrence finally are spending more time together, and how they are helping each other.
Tammy helps Lawrence with a healthier eating habits, and Lawrence is a real friend, offering a shoulder to cry on, and makes Tammy see what an idiot her ex was… 

And then the author managed to make my heart crush in million little pieces… Because just at the moment it seems that these lovely characters are able to move on, *something* happens (no spoilers from my side!).
But luckily the author has some good glue, because it’s ‘thanks’ to that event that things move quicker. 

This story, even being not long enough for my liking, because the author got me totally hooked, was lovely, heart – warming, sweet, adorable.
The characters are so easy to like, and from the start you wish them all the best. And even if they don’t have the best cards in the game initially, they see what has always been there, just below the surface.
And that, looking more around you and to actually SEE those lovely people around, is what we all need to do a little bit more.
Sometimes it’s the worse of events that can be the start of something unexpected yet most magnificent and wonderful thing.
And this is surrounded by the magical touch of Christmas. Do we really need more?

When you got burned by love too much…

Synopsis

‘Full of heart, hope, friendship, family and laughter, and a plot with a mystery gagging to be solved’ Kim Nash on Welcome to Ferry Lane Market

When Star Bligh got pregnant at the age of sixteen, she thought her life was over. Now thirty-three, mother to Skye and owner of the successful jewellery stall in Ferry Lane Market in Hartmouth, Cornwall, she wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Well, maybe one. A few months ago she fell hard for American visitor Jack, but then he left without even saying goodbye and ever since she has struggled to get him out of her head. Until the handsome, roguish Conor turns up and sweeps her off her feet. But then one day, Star is shocked to bump into Jack. He’s back in Hartmouth to tell her why he left – but is she ready to listen?

As things get more complicated with her love life, another revelation threatens to turn the lovely world she has built for her and Skye upside down. But could this be the one thing that will make it complete?

Readers love Nicola May, too!

‘A FABULOUS must-read’ – 5 STARS
‘An excellent book of friendship – with a little wickedness!’ – 5 STARS
‘Good for the soul’ – 5 STARS
‘I loved it and devoured it in a matter of days’ – 5 STARS
‘A wonderful, feel-good novel with some grit thrown in’ – 5 STARS
‘Marvellous, beautiful and heart-warming’ – 5 STARS
‘Sea, sand and sex – a soppy delight’ – 5 STARS
‘A truly lovely book’ – 5 STARS
‘Fun and whimsy, plus a dog!’ – 5 STARS
‘Nicola May is a brilliant, relevant writer for today, exposing today’s issues with tenderness, and always demonstrating a warm, human, heartfelt response’ – 5 STARS

My review

Star Bligh never imagined getting pregnant at sixteen. Persuaded by her mother, she decided to keep the baby, and as a result, she is now thirty – three with a wonderful daughter named Skye. Proof that her life wasn’t over as she thought it would be, because now her life is even better. Living in Harmouth, Corwall, proud and successful owner of the jewellery stall in Ferry Lane Market and having her best friend Kara Moon always nearby, what more could she wish for?
Oh yes, never having fallen for American visitor Jack a few months ago… While she thought they had a connection, he just disappeared and never contacted her again. But why can’t she get him out of her head?
When Conor makes an entrance in Harmouth, could he be the one to take her mind of Jack?
But Star’s love life isn’t the only thing that will change again her whole life, because there are revelations that will not only turn her life upside down, but also the lives of those she loves. 

Oooh how I loved returning in Ferry Lane Market! It’s not only the main characters of the previous book that made me fall in love with the place, but it’s just everything and everyone living there!
And while in Book 1 the story was all around Kara Moon, we got to know Star a little bit, but I was very curious for reading her own story.
And I got everything I hoped for and even more! 

While initially my first thought would be that I would feel sorry for Star, but quickly I changed my mind and saw that strong woman that Star is.
She hasn’t had the easiest of childhoods, and even now she is struggling, with a mother that has some issues and not knowing who her father is.
But while in some cases, that would tear a person apart, Star had a lot of people by her side, and her own strong character, allowing her to be happy with her life. 

However, it did break my heart seeing how she was struggling with the abandonment of Jack. Because if there is one character that finally deserves to meet a soulmate, it surely is Star. And Jack’s behaviour wanted me to go to the States and kick his a**!

So when Conor enters the picture, I saw that ray of light that maybe could be the answer to Star’s pain. And I had my fingers crossed that maybe now she could move on. But… I also kind of kept hoping that Jack would see what an idiot he has been.

We also got to read some glimpses of Jack and his life in America. And while some of his reasons to return back, made some sense, my main thought was just ‘NO NO NO NO, go back to Star!’ 

Now, don’t get fooled, because this is not only a romance… Star has a lot of other struggles in her life, and when a major revelation was made, I actually grasped for air!
Star is facing too many problems, and that revelation made me think that was the last straw she could take. But I should have had faith in Star, because she didn’t get where she is now if she just gave up so easily.
And every down has its up, somehow. 

This story shows us that love doesn’t always come as expected and as easily. But I saw this story more as a story about a strong woman, being a great mother, an awesome friend, a daughter with her heart at the right place, just trying to keep control of everything and every lemon that life throws her.

I admired Star’s character, was amazed by her resilience and loved her way of living. In her eyes, no matter how difficult things are getting, nothing is insurmountable, as long as you just don’t give up.

I loved returning to Ferry Lane Market, and cannot what for my next visit!

Of course it all happens at once…

Synopsis

Olivia doesn’t believe in happy families. She can’t trust men to be reliable, so she’d rather manage without one. As for kids – she’s never having those.

Marine biologist Walter is losing his daughter. He longs for a second chance to prove he can be a reliable dad.

When Olivia discovers she’s pregnant by her douchebag ex, Walter finally sees a way to be more than just a friend-with-benefits to her.

But how can he persuade the most independent woman he’s ever met to accept his help, let alone his heart?

Girl In Trouble is a standalone novel in the award nominated Smart Girls series. If you like warm, witty, women’s fiction, you’ll love this book. Ideal for fans of Meg Cabot or Jennifer Crusie.

My review

If there is one woman that men are afraid of, it has to be Olivia. She drinks as a man (or even more and better), is truly independent and surely doesn’t want to have any kids.
She isn’t afraid of seeing men without any real commitment. So when her ‘boyfriend’ Will goes AWOL, it’s not that her heart got broken.
Olivia’s total opposite is her landlord Walter. Even if divorced, he tries to be the best dad he can for his little girl. But his job as a marine biologist doesn’t make it easy as he often needs to go away for research. And show him a spider and he goes totally crazy.
Luckily he can always ask Olivia to rescue him for the eight – legged monsters in his apartment.
What starts as a friendship, quickly develops into something more, until Olivia discovers she is pregnant. And it isn’t Walter’s…

Part three in a series, and stakes are high! I loved reading the previous parts and I was looking forward to read this next chapter.
But one thing I didn’t expect, was having my heart broken so many times… 

I love reading about strong, independent women, making their own success without needing a man holding their hands.
And that’s what I truly loved about Olivia. She doesn’t sit in a corner waiting for her knight in shing armour to save her, but she saves herself. Or even better, she makes sure she doesn’t need saving!
But the sad part of Olivia is that she doesn’t see the bright side of being in a real relationship and sees how lovely it is to build a life together. 

On the other side we have Walter. He had it all, but he lost it all too. And to make things even worse, his ex – wife is moving to the States, taking their daughter with her and her new man.
Seeing how that news devastated Walter, broke my heart the first time…
Because Walter is the kind of man who has all the good intentions, but sometimes fails in achieving them. And that is something that happens to every one of us. 

When reading the blurb, I thought the pregnancy would be taking part rather early in the story and that Walter would start persuading Olivia in keeping the child and becoming a family unit, even if it isn’t his child.
But somehow I was glad it turned out to be different, because now we got the chance to see how feelings started to bloom before everything takes a turn for the worse… 

There was one terrible event that broke my heart even more than before, and I just wanted to jump into the book and try to be any kind of consolation to our main character.
Because the way it happened was not by choice, and seeing a devasted Olivia shows the real Olivia, and not the façade she tries to keep up all the time.

The beauty of this story is that the main characters are so real, recognizable and always stay ‘in character’. Their past, even if for Olivia it was a hurtful one, made them to the person they are now, and they stay true to them. It’s not that they suddenly change, become the total opposite of what they were until now just to make it easy to reach that happily ever after.
Of course, both Olivia and Walter change, because that’s what love does to people, but it isn’t a total transformation. The changes are like baby – steps and just perfect for the people we start to care about so much. 

This story isn’t just filled with happy moments, but also with painful ones, just like happens in real life. And seeing how Olivia  realizes she also wants someone to love her, just the way she is, warmed my heart.
Because isn’t that what we all want, someone who loves us, no matter how weird we can be sometimes, or how terrified we can be of spiders…  

Honesty forces me to say that this wasn’t my favourite part of the series, but it felt like the most real one. And for me that is more than enough to love it!

Is there a line too far that you wouldn’t cross for your own child?

Synopsis

Two DNA tests, one big lie…

“As I speed off in the ambulance holding my daughter’s hand, I wonder how I could have been so stupid. I should have made the bargain, paid the price – anything to avoid being right here, right now.

A voice whispers in my head that I can’t silence. This is all your fault. You killed her. It’s her voice, the one I hear in my nightmares. The woman who stole my memories, the woman who stole my life. And, this time, I know she’s right.”

How far would you go to save your child?

Claire is living every mother’s worst nightmare. Her daughter, Jess, has been diagnosed with a rare illness and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. With no match on the registry, Claire turns to a charismatic geneticist for help and embarks on a Genetic Journey to seek a familial match for her daughter.

On the other side of the country, Marianne suffers her eighth miscarriage. Her perfect life is rotting underneath, but she is determined to do whatever it takes to have a baby.

When DNA test results reveal that Claire and Marianne are half-sisters, Claire must face the dark lies of the past and make impossible choices about the future. Is her secret sister the answer to her prayers, or will she cost her everything?

My Secret Sister is a tense and emotional family drama with a moral dilemma at its heart. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult, and John Marrs’ The One will be gripped.

My review

In San Francisco, Claire is living a nightmare… her daughter Jess has a rare illness and unless a match is found, there is nothing they can do.
The bone marrow transplant is their only option, but finding a match is not that easy.
As a mother, Claire would do anything for Jess, even putting Jess’ DNA in a worldwide system, hoping that somewhere a match can be found.
Meanwhile in Washington is Marianne having her own heartbreak. Another IVF has failed after many other attempts and miscarriages. And even if her marriage seems to be on its last breath, Marianne wants to do whatever it takes to become a mother.
Little did these two women except to be a match. And not just being a very very distant relative, but apparently they are sisters…
But is Marianne willing to be a donor? And at what price? And is Claire ready to pay for it? 

When I started to read this story, I was a bit afraid that Marianne would turn out to be a total psycho, demanding something absurd for just donating her bone marrow.
Especially after that prologue… 

But the more I read about Marianne and her desire and fails of becoming a mother, the more I realized that my initial impression was a wrong one.
I felt so sorry for her side of the story. I can imagine how much someone wishes to become a mother. And all the losses she had to endure… I found it terrible to read how after each disappointment her hope just diminished…
And seeing how her marriage was also falling apart, a husband becoming more and more distant, and absent, that is not something that Marianne deserved. 

However, Marianne’s story was a sad one, but Claire’s just a heart – breaking one…
I cannot imagine the horror of having a sick child, with almost no hope left to find a match. Of course I understood why Claire was going lengths to just find that one match that would save her little girl.
Reading how Jess tried to keep her head up high but also failing, broke my heart. Nobody, and especially no child should endure such tragedies.
And my heart got broken even more to see how this ugly disease affected all the family members. I understood the fight Claire was having, to save her little girl, but seeing how she acted around her other daughter Becky…

Becky isn’t the easiest teenager in the world, but let’s be honest, which teenager is? She is maybe impulsive, but it’s obvious she adores her little sister… And Claire’s behaviour is just uncalled for.

When the truth about the relation between Marianne and Claire is revealed, was a bit over the top, and the extra revelation even more, but of course the author had to pull a rabbit out of the head to link both women.

This was a gripping story to read, about women having to face their most terrible nightmare, trying to keep all the balls in the air, and learning that their past has been partially filled with lies from someone they both loved.
But this book is also filled with hope, because let’s be honest, hope is always the last thing to die. And the lesson that help doesn’t come always in the way we expect, but the way it comes doesn’t matter, but what we gain from it, is.
And maybe, just maybe, a tragedy can bring new, unexpected people in your life that even after an initial hesitating may fill that gap in your heart you didn’t know about…