The strength of not only a woman, but of a people…

Synopsis

Annaleise Winston can never seem to fit in with the Society Girls, the strict rules that govern them, or their selfish indulgence during the Great Depression. Behind closed doors, her publicly perfect new fiance, Frank Alexander, is violent and dismissive, but without his financial security, Annaleiseand her mother will be on the streets with not a penny to their name. 

When Annaleise finally has enough, she runs away and accidentally becomes stranded in a Hooverville, a lawless homeless encampment in Central Park, where she must keep her identity a secret if she wants to stay alive. But a kind shoe shiner named Thomas Kelley may get in the way of everything she thought she ever wanted. As their love for each other grows, the Great Depression worsens, and Frank will pay any price to bring back his bride.

My review

Everyone thinks that Annaleise Winston is a lucky young woman, as she recently got engaged to Frank Alexander. Even if life during The Great Depression is not easy for so many, Annaleise has to follow the strict rules commanded for her status and pretend to be happy to the prospect of marrying Frank. Nobody, beside her mother, knows how aggressive and dismissive Frank truly is. But as Frank gives financial security, Annaleise is afraid for his retributions…
However, when enough is enough, Annaleise runs away and after a streak of bad luck, she ends up in a Hooverville is Central Park.
Even if hiding her true identity, she learns to survive and she sees how a people in the same situation can bond and always keep a positive tone. And she meets the kind shoe shiner Thomas Kelley, who makes her rethink of all made and future ideas.
But Frank is not ready to give Annalise so easily up and is adamant to bring her back to her place, by side as a compliant wife…

Being a Belgian “young” woman of 34, of course I have heard of The Great Depression. But Hoovervilles were not something I ever heard before…
And I have to admit, the story how a whole nation suffered, was just terrible to read and it made me even research more about these hard times.

But back to the story…

Annaleise is the kind of character that I find easy to like but also easy to pity. When we first see her, she is not in a good place. Frank Alexander is responsible for their financial security, and that makes him think that he can just claim Annalise and turn her into a meek woman, listening to him. And when she doesn’t listen, he is not afraid to use violence to put the reins back on.
But she also made me like her, because she is ready to fight for her own happiness. Quietly she makes plans to run away and live her life how she wants it.

Of course, if everything would go like planned, this would be a whole different story…

So when she ends up in a Hooverville, I was curious to see how she would adapt in a world so different than what she was used to.
In the Hooverville, Annie, as she now calls herself, shows her resilience and her strength. She is not only now surviving, but even if the circumstances aren’t that good, she has found a place where she can be happy and even has found her passion for writing.

Okay, Thomas the shoe shiner has made my heart go soft too, because he is just great in everything he does, and how he looks after everyone in Hooverville but also has this vulnerability in him. Even in the end, when it would be so easy for him, he does what others would make happy, pushing his own happiness aside. Oh, were there only more people like him!

I found this a powerful story, about people finding themselves in a situation they did not choose for. But they show their strength and their will to fight (even literally) for what they honestly deserve.
The tale of Annie, and Thomas, opened my eyes of a past I wasn’t aware of, full of injustice and even ignorance. But it also showed again how people can unite for a common purpose and how a united front can make a change.
Just believe in your own and other strengths and your fight will be worth it, because having your happiness as a reward will never give you a more satisfying feeling.

In a family and world full of crime, who to trust?

Synopsis

Someone’s playing both sides and now they have a score to settle…

When the family business is crime, you can never be sure who to trust. And when three of their businesses are hit in one night, the notorious Glass family close ranks. Either someone is sending them a message or a war is coming… 

With trouble coming from all sides, the heads of the Glass family have more than enough to deal with, but all bets are off when a stranger from the past enters the game, causing division and mistrust.

Crooked cops, rival gangs and old enemies are bad enough, but when the trouble comes from the inside, loyalties are tested, with deadly consequences.

Page-turning, gripping, gritty, Insider is perfect for fans of Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Mandasue Heller.

My review

Luke is now running the family business instead of his brother Danny after previous events. Just it’s not a regular family business, but one in crime.
Together with his sister Nina he makes sure that everybody follows his rules and when necessary,  action is being taken.
When on one night, three of their businesses are being hit, it’s clear that they are being targeted and a war is on its way. But who is after them? And is everyone who they say they are? And who is this stranger appearing out of nowhere with claims that can shift all the dynamics?

I know the Glass family from the previous story, so I was curious to see how Luke would be “reigning over his kingdom” now that Danny is out of the picture.

I have to say, I was a bit sad, because in book 1, all Luke wanted was to get out of the criminal world, and now he is in charge of everything and everyone.
However, even if being a criminal, I still felt some sympathy for him. His will is law, and who doesn’t follow the rules, will pay for it. But Luke also shows compassion and isn’t looking to hurt people just for the fun of it.
He also cares a lot about keeping the family together. Even if he and Nina aren’t always on the same page, he will protect her no matter what.

I found it very intriguing and interesting to see how everything was evolving and shifting. In a criminal environment or not, when everything goes smoothly, there is no problem. But when problem after problem arise, it’s easy to go in a panic mode.
And questioning who to trust and who is the rat, it’s understandable that Luke starts to doubt just everyone, from the latest entries in his business, to people really close to him.

There were several twists in this story, that made me sit on the edge of my seat, trying to understand what all was going on, and who was having the cake and eat it too!
Even if my early suspicion on one aspect in the story appeared to be the correct one, there were still many missing pieces of the puzzle!

This surely was a page – turner, I found myself immerged in the criminal world, surrounded by criminals that also were kind of easy to like (at least some of them!).

Everyone dreams of going back to high school, right?🤨

Synopsis

When Ali, Blake, Charlotte, and Grant sign contracts to star in a Back to School reality TV show, LOVE is the very last thing on their minds:

Ali flies to the UK from New Zealand, intrigued by the golden opportunity to advance her amateur social media influencer career.

Blake carpe diems the moment with both hands after a constant flurry of bad luck.

Charlotte jumps at the chance to relive her sporting glories of the past – and take a hiatus from her humdrum marriage.

And Grant is just relieved to get away from his failing second-hand music shop.

But once the advances hit their bank accounts, it soon becomes apparent that producer Jock’s Pied Piper-style offer to change their lives is distinctly lacking in sherbet fizz!

In fact, the only sweet thing about this gig for the former students and the rest of their Bubblegum

and Blazers competitors, may just be the packet of candy in their pockets.

Re-enacting their past is a rollercoaster of revelations, retaliation, and unlikely romance in a gold-fish bowl of mayhem where Raphael (Agony Uncle of the school sweet shop) and his rhubarb and custards reign supreme…

My review

Ali, Blake, Charlotte and Grant are a few of the stars of a new reality show. It’s a total new concept, the contestants are going back to school and while trying to win challenges, the ultimate goal is to win the competition and go home with the grand prize.
But going back to school is not only a blast from the past, but quickly some competitors are falling back into their behaviour as teenagers. And producer Jock is pulling more tricks than a magician!
Not only is this an adventure full of revelations, opportunities for a fresh start, but also a little bit of romance and a sweet shop seller with an agenda of his own…

If someone would ever offer me to go back to high school, well my answer would be: HELL NO!!!
Not because I had a hard time, but just because the woman I am now, is so different from the girl back then, and I totally have no interest in going back to the time where I was rather invisible…
However, if the characters would follow my reasoning, there would be no story at all!

I loved to read how some characters were falling back to their teenage selves rather quickly, while some other were adamant to show a new, improved version of themselves.

Ali and Charlotte were the contestants I quickly had an opinion over, they were also the characters I had to change my mind over.
While Ali seems very superficial and only cares about her social media, Charlotte wants to grab this opportunity to do something for herself once.
But when the show is really rolling, we see the true nature of these women. And let me say that my re-adjusted opinion in the end wasn’t the same as when I started this book.
Someone made a change for the better, while someone else just kept falling down to a point I found that her ending was more than deserving.

Blake and Grant are the male contestants I had my fingers crossed all the time. Blake is surrounded by bad luck, and I truly wished that this show would turn his luck around.
And for Grant I just wished he would be able to have a more successful career.

Of course reading a story of this author, is a standard recipe for several twists and turns, and big surprises.
Again she managed to write a story where the reader is left sometimes flabbergasted by the true nature of some characters.
However this story surely entertained me and left me wondering when all the different truths would come out and how they would affect our characters.

I loved to see how old patterns were easily picked up again, but also seeing how this absurd reality show would be the start of something new for characters, in a surprising way.
Oh, and one last warning, after reading I surely needed a boost of sugar!!!

To postpone marrying the most perfect man, or not?

Synopsis

It’s wedding day in Port Agnes! 

The venue is booked, the dress is picked, and Senior Midwife Anna Jones only has to say ‘I Do!’ to the man she loves! Theirs might have been a whirlwind romance, but Brae Penrose is everything Anna dreamed her husband would be and she can’t wait to start a family with him.  

But as the big day approaches, Anna still isn’t pregnant and when disaster strikes, their perfect day looks destined not to happen at all! Is it a sign to slow things down?  

The other midwives won’t hear of Anna and Brae postponing their big day, and soon the whole community of Port Agnes comes together to make sure the Penrose wedding goes off without a hitch! 

And Anna realises, baby or not, she already has her dream family with Brae and her friends by her side. 

Meet The Cornish Midwives of Port Agnes- where community, friendship and love are always delivered. 

An uplifting and escapist read, perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Jessica Redland and Holly Martin!

My review

Senior Midwife Anna Jones feels that finally her life is just perfect. Even if her relationship with Brae Penrose is a perfect example of a whirlwind romance, she knows that Brae is everything she ever dared to dream of.
So she just cannot wait to marry the most perfect man and start their own little family, and pass on the love to their own children the same love she received from her parents, who have passed away way too soon.
However, the closer the wedding day is approaching, the more disasters seem to be happening, making Anna fear that these are all signs that postponing the wedding is the only solution…

If I already fell in love with Port Agnes and its inhabitants with the previous part, I now am totally hooked to the place!

And Anna is the kind of character you just immediately love! And Brae, he is just PERFECT, not only for Anna, but he is just perfect in every sense! His kindness towards others, the lengths he would just go for anyone, and especially Anna…
He surely was quickly rising on my list of characters – to – swoon – over! Are we sure he isn’t a real person and that I can have him as a boyfriend instead?

If there is one character I wished all her dreams coming true , it surely is Anna. There is nothing I disliked about her, because she is a wonderful, dedicated woman, very altruistic. And her only wish is to have a family of her own, raising her children the way her parents raised her.
The only time I wanted to kick some sense in her, was whenever she was doubting herself again. Her self-esteem took sometimes a fall and I just wanted to scream at her to make her see sense!

Anna and Brae are not the only wonderful people in this story, but all their friends are just as wonderful as this power couple!
And even the people that Anna got to know while being a midwife, they are all doing their utterly best to make it possible to let Anna and Brae have their dream wedding.

This story was of course about the love of Anna and Brae, but it was also that life doesn’t go as planned. However just because life doesn’t go as planned, doesn’t mean you cannot make the best of it. And it’s okay to feeling down for a bit, but afterwards you will find your strength back again. Also keep in mind that not everything that life throws you, are lemons because one day you can have the surprise of your life!

When a marriage doesn’t go as expected…

Synopsis

Is her new husband really who she thinks he is?

When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle…

She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith?

As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married?

My review

Young doctor Lauren Matheson is recently married to the older divorced businessman Joe after meeting each other on a poolside in California.
Now living in London together, their feelings are only getting stronger, and Lauren is certain that even his children will accept her in the near future as a new member of the family.
But even if Toby, the four – year old son, is easy in accepting her, teenager Grace is a harder nut to crack.
And Joe’s ex – wife Meredith is the perfect example of an intimidating woman.
When Lauren can’t seem to do anything right, and Meredith is on a mission while Grace is testing her limits, Lauren hoops to find support with Joe.
But Joe is never standing by her side, and is quickly changing in a man so different than Lauren met.
Was marrying Joe perhaps a mistake because he is not the man she thought he was?

Oh how much I pitied Lauren through the whole story!
I can imagine it can be difficult to be suddenly a stepmother and not to the easiest children. And having an ex – wife ready to make you feel small. But in many cases, you have the support of your husband. So that’s why I felt so sorry for Lauren, because she was truly alone in her battle to be accepted.
No matter how much I liked Joe in the beginning, the way he acted whenever Lauren pointed out something, made me dislike him more and more.

Through the whole story I wanted to just give Lauren a big, comforting hug, because she felt truly alone, not having some back – up…
Whatever she does, trying to make the best of every situation, everything turns for the worse.
And instead of finding anywhere the necessary support, she finds everyone fighting against her.

But I also have to say, there are also many sweet moments in the story. There are moments where Lauren manages to bond with Toby and even Grace, and that made me smile.

Because despite all the dark clouds hanging around Lauren, there were some silver linings, making her feel hopeful.

The whole situation makes Lauren think about herself and her future. Because no matter how much she loves Joe and the kids, is the current situation something she can overcome? And that realization is hard to digest, but in the end, is an unhappy marriage, where you feel you’re all the time on your own, worth the fight?

So even when most of the time Lauren was fighting against just everyone in the story, she shows also strength to make hard decisions. Because yes, love prevails, but most important is loving yourself and not just stay in a situation that makes you unhappy.

This story shows us that sometimes a marriage is not all fun and games, but can be one of the hardest things to fight for. But sometimes you have to realize when something is a lost cause or not. And also that not all is lost and there is a shimmer of hope even when you least expect it.

Could that one random meeting twenty years ago be with The One That Got Away?

Synopsis

Amelia might have met The One. But is she twenty years too late?

After her husband left her out of the blue, the only relationship 45-year-old Amelia Simpson has enjoyed recently is with Nutella and Pinot Grigio. While her 8-year-old twin boys, Jasper and Rupert, keep her busy, Amelia dreams of a life more than washing muddy rugby kits and weekly chats with best friends Sian and Jamie.

Amelia needs some magic back in her life – but magic seems in short supply in her small Welsh village. So when she finds the phone number that was given to her twenty years ago by a handsome stranger in New York, Amelia wonders whether he might be The One That Got Away.

But when Sian takes matters into her own hands, launching a worldwide hunt to find the handsome stranger Amelia met outside Tiffany’s two decades ago, Amelia finds herself on a flight to the Big Apple to reconnect with her ‘Perfect Pierre’.

But as the two explore the sights of NYC, has Amelia reconnected with The One? Or will she discover that the sparkle she was missing is actually closer to home?

A funny, relatable romcom about second chances that fans of Kathryn Freeman and Sophie Ranald will love.

My review

Amelia just got divorced from Richard, aka Dick, after discovering he has been having an affair with Tanja for over a year.
When her life seems to involve only het 8 – year – old twin boys Jasper and Rupert, and the necessary input of Nutella and Pinot Grigio, Amelia starts to dream of a life that is just ‘more’ than this.
So when she suddenly finds an old suitcase containing a phone number of the man she met 20 years ago in New York, she wonders if this stranger could be ‘The One That Got Away’.
Her best friend Sian takes matter in own hands and starts an online search to find this ‘Perfect Patrick’. When the search brings Amelia back to The Big Apple, will it be all she imagined? Or will love be closer than she thought?

Oh I enjoyed reading this story so much!!! This isn’t just a romantic comedy, but also manages to show an ugly reality…

Initially I found it a fabulous idea, having a worldwide search for a man you have met twenty years ago, hoping that he would be The Perfect One.
But of course, rational me started to think about the bad things that could happen. Never finding the actual guy, having other people pretending to be him, or that the man appears to be a total disappointment and that you imagined a whole fairy-tale and see your dreams scattered.

So when Amelia appears to have found the actual man, I found her a bit naïve, just embarking to New York, to meet a total stranger. Luckily she had her best friend Jamie also being there at the same time, so she actually had someone to have her back.
Even if Patrick appeared to be the perfect man, I still had my doubts about him. Even if he didn’t do anything actually wrong while being with Amelia, I couldn’t shake this sense that something was truly odd…
And without any actual revelations, it saddened me that not everything was like it appeared to be. And it made me even angry that something like that would still be possible…

But this wasn’t just about Amelia finding Patrick again, it was also about her putting her marriage behind her and have something to look forward to. She dares to take that chance on love again, even if her heart got broken in the past by Dick.
She embarks this adventure with such a positivism that is admirable, but also keeps her main focus on her children. She knows what truly matters and that family and friends are always first priority.

Beside Amelia and her NY adventure, I loved getting to know Sian better and the way she meets Rob. With his job it would seem an impossible match, but love surely works in mysterious ways!
And Jamie is just the best friend someone could have. He literally drops everything in time of need!
Also reading about young Jasper and Rupert was putting a smile on my face. Even if being twins, they couldn’t be more different. Yet they also have a good judgement of character. And children see often more than adults, as shown in this story too!

I found this such a beautiful story, about not giving up on love, daring to take that terrible step out there. But also about realizing that sometimes that one thing you are looking for can be closer than you think. And that being closer than imagined can be even more terrifying to take that step, but so much more rewarding once you dared.

When the love of your life appears to be still alive…

Synopsis

With her lost love…

To avoid a forced marriage, Lady Gwenllian plans to escape to a convent. She couldn’t possibly honor another when her heart still belongs to Ralph de Kinnerton, the man she had to betray to save his life—only to hear of his death shortly after. So how is it possible he’s here at this knight’s tournament? Now the pull of their unfinished past forces Gwen to question the choice she’d made for her future…

My review

For a long time Lady Gwenllian is planning to escape to a convent. Not because she has had the calling, but to avoid getting married to Stephen le Gross. Stephen is everything Gwen despises, as he is responsible for her to betray Ralph de Kinnerton in the past. Ralph was not only the love of her life, but even after the news of his death, she still cannot stop loving him.
So while he is supposed to be death, it’s not possible that Gwen sees him at a knight’s tournament? But while Ralph believes she truly betrayed her, will their love stand the test of time?

There are so many things I like when reading a story from Melissa Oliver. But what I like the most is that no matter how similar books may seem at first impression, it is always a whole different story.
And I always enjoy reading every bit of it!

If there are two characters I pitied from the very start, they must be Gwen and Ralph…
Gwen is being nearly pushed to marry Stephen le Gross (could a last name ever be more appropriate???), even if she truly despises him. She sees no other option than running away to a convent, hiding from Stephen.
And Ralph has been not only been betrayed by Stephen, his own cousin, but when he thought that Gwen would be running away with him, she refused. And that was the biggest betrayal of all.
Not only did he lose his memory and has been literally scarred, but that sense of complete betrayal never left him.

When Gwen and Ralph meet again, it’s obvious they have their own reasons for being at the tournament but it’s also clear that there are still many misunderstandings and also secrets…
But no matter how scarred the both of them are, that attraction they had a young ones, is still palpable!

Of course it was great to see some returning characters from previous books, but even if you haven’t read them (well, what are you waiting for?) you can see how kind – hearted these friends are.

This was a bittersweet story, about how the action of one selfish character has several consequences for people who just deserve better.
But it also shows us that even after tragedy, you can pick up the pieces and become a stronger person. And that if love is still in the picture, that feeling can truly be reinforced. And no matter what you think you did wrong, the person that truly loves you, can see past your mistakes and sees the real you and forgives you if forgiveness is truly required!

This story captured not only my attention, but refused to let go and brought me in a world with knights, maidens, tournaments, but most important, friendships that last forever and love! What else does a girl need?