What would you do with the oddest gift ever?

Synopsis

When downtrodden checkout assistant Bonnie Green receives a letter from a mysterious uncle, she can hardly believe her eyes.

Gifted a hundred-year lease on a famous cafe situated in the middle of a mythical theme park, Bonnie sets off with her best friend Debbie on an adventure to a hidden valley in the Lake District where they will find new friendship, love, and happiness, all set against the magic of Christmas … and more marshmallows than they can possibly eat….

My review

Bonnie Green is having a quiet life on her own. After her divorce, her children choose their father’s side, so the contact is limited to a bare minimum. Also her job as a checkout assistant is not what you would call the most exciting job, especially with a manager in charge like Cyril Reeves…
Luckily she has her best friend Debbie, even if they are total opposites.

When one day she receives a letter from a mysterious uncle, she cannot believe her eyes. Suddenly she finds herself gifted with a hundred – year lease on a café in the middle of a theme park. Before she makes any decision, she wants to go to the Lake District to find out what the story is. Together with Debbie she starts this new adventure, where not only special recipes will be found, but also new friendships, happiness and secrets of the past and the mysterious uncle himself.

I was pleasantly surprised with this story. I had no idea what to expect from it, and once I was in it, I found myself smiling all along.

Bonnie is so recognizable in so many ways. She has this normal life, just working and spend time with her best friend. It’s not the super – exciting life that we read in so many books. She is just a random woman, it could have been you or me.
She is divorced, but the sad part is that her children blame her for it, and do not see how her ex – husband is the bad one. The fact that her children do not have this much contact with her, and even blame her several things, made me feel so angry towards the children, and it made my heart ache with the injustice Bonnie had to endure.

When she decides to go to see the Marshmallow Café she received as a gift, I was surprised to see what the theme of the park was, and it made me instant happy. Yet immediately after I had this sense of fear. because the state of the park could be the perfect setting of a horror movie!
But no worries, it’s not a horror story! 😄

Despite the state of the park, the people working and living there, made me forget about how the park looked like. All the people there were so warm and welcoming. They have their hearts at the right place and are adamant to make the park work again. And all their hopes are now on Bonnie and Debbie.

I loved reading how Bonnie found her place at the park. Even if at the start she was very reluctant to give the Café a worth, she quickly finds herself submerged in the history and the future of the park. And whenever she has any doubts, she could count on Debbie. Debbie made me laugh so many times, with her behaviour! This friendship is proof that opposites attract, even in friendship.
Even if Debbie seems like a wild one, she stands by her best friend, helps Bonnie and supports her whenever Bonnie needs a cheer up. And at one moment in the story, she shows just how much she cares about Bonnie, and my respect for Debbie only grew.

This story was beautifully written, with so many lovely people in it. It made me long for Christmas even more. and I was very curious to get my hands on the recipes for making marshmallows and not only! 😄
I found this a wonderful, even magical tale about friendship, hope, a little romance, and finding your place in a place you only dreamed about!

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Synopsis

Luke, Viscount Enstone’s, resolve to avoid a love match is tested to its limit when he accepts responsibility for the Davenport family.

Luke has found it hard to sort out his late father’s affairs. A dishonest secretary and ailing land agent have left the family estates in disorder. With new people in place, he sets off to one of his smaller properties to discover the extent of an obligation that seems out of keeping with the cold-hearted father he remembers. Who is the young woman living at Shepley Hall and what was her connection to his father?

Miss Kitty Davenport has waited for a long time to find out if the new Viscount Enstone will continue the support his father gave to her family and her patience is wearing thin. Will he carry on paying for her young brother’s education and even assist him in finding a career? For herself, all she needs is help to find a suitable position as a companion and to escape from the unwanted attentions of a persistent suitor.

My review

Luke, also known as Viscount Enstone, is having a hard time sorting out his late father’s affairs. Not only has he discovered that his father had a dishonest secretary, also his land agent has left the family estates in disorder.
And on top of it all, he finds out that his father had agreed to let Miss Kitty Davenport stay at Shepley Hall, his property.  This is totally out of character for the cold – hearted man. So now Luke wants to know what Kitty’s connection was to his father.

Kitty on the meantime hopes that the new Viscount will continue the support. Because it’s not only her future at stake, but also her brother’s… All she truly cares about is that her brother can finish his education, while for herself she only wants to find a position as a companion, as an escape from the unwanted attention of a suitor who doesn’t understand the meaning of “no”.

Will Luke and Kitty be able to get on the same page?

Okay, I know that the readers will know how the story will end, so you may think that it’s not worth it starting reading it.
But I assure you it’s absolutely worth it! There are several twists in it that will surprise you!

Immediately from the start I pitied Kitty. She wants to be a strong independent woman, but she doesn’t have the options. Especially when it’s explained how she got into this situation, it was truly a sad moment… Yet I found it also a bit suspicious. On one hand, it sounded like a reasonable explanation, but on the other hand, the more I got to know about Kitty and her past and her father, the more it seemed just so out of character. It was all too convenient when her father lost everything on a game…

But I have to say, Kitty is also a smart woman. She is absolutely not waiting for her Knight in Shining Armour, but she wants to make her own decisions. She is also a very caring woman. She does not treat the housekeeping as just servants, but she truly cares about them. And it’s lovely to see how the feelings are mutual.
But the epitome of her caring is that how she puts her brother before everything. Even if this means she has to start working herself, nothing is too much asked as long as it helps her brother.

Luke is a man that gave me mixed feelings. He is determined to find out the truth about his father and his agreement concerning the Davenports, but when he starts thinking in a certain way, I thought he was being too prejudiced and quickly with his beliefs. And that irked me. Instead of asking for the truth, he just made assumptions.
But during the story it becomes clear he has his own demons to chase away, and that actually he is a nice man and also a very caring brother.
He may seem like a very cold and distant character, afraid of commitment, but when he make an impulsive decision, for Kitty’s sake, it’s just so obvious there is more to him than I thought. And that I had to see him in a different light.

I loved reading how Kitty and Luke were getting closer, but I got so frustrated reading how Luke sometimes behaved. I got angry at some characters, for their horrendous behaviour, admired Kitty’s courage and swooned over the sweet, tender moments (not only between Luke and Kitty, but also how Kitty was easily accepted in the family).

This story was fun to read, with the sweet moments, the action (yes, actual action!) and the ability to put it all perfectly together without having the idea it didn’t match in the bigger picture.

Christmas where magic happens!!!

Synopsis

Can a magical Christmas melt a frozen heart?

Join Belle and James as they visit Mickey Mouse for a sparkling holiday season at Disneyland Paris.

Belle has been numb since her mother died, and she can’t face Christmas at home without her. Instead she books a surprise holiday to her “happy place” – the Magic Kingdom. But her boyfriend James has problems of his own. He doesn’t “do Disney” and what will his mother think of him missing their family Christmas to go to Disneyland with Belle?

A festive romance with a sprinkling of Pixie Dust.

My review

After losing her mother, Belle has been struggling to feel happy again. And now that Christmas is approaching, she surely can’t face this holiday at home.
So her solution is to spend Christmas at the only place that would make her and her mother happy, namely in Disneyland Paris.
And what better way to do it than with her boyfriend James?
Only problem is that James isn’t into Disney and he is a bit too much attached to his mother, who seems cold towards Belle.
Will this surprise holiday bring these two persons closer, or will it be an eye-opener as they will realise that they have nothing in common?

Give me a story around Christmas, add just anything related to Disney to it, and I will look like a little child having a sugar rush! 

Yet it all starts on a sad note… Belle has lost her mother and she is trying to cope with it. But because it was always just the two of them, now she feels alone.
Luckily, she can count on James. Even I f they aren’t together for a long time, James was there for Belle and is trying to help her to overcome her immense grieve.

If anyone would ask me to celebrate Christmas in Disneyland, in THE Disney Hotel, I would be over the moon, just like Belle. But I also know that not everyone is like, and there are people out there who don’t have a thing for Disney. They don’t know what they’re missing, but ok, nobody is perfect! 🤣

When Belle shares her plans with James, he is not ecstatic. Disney isn’t his thing, but when he is too focused on what his mother would think, I didn’t actually like him a lot. Ok, you can be close to your parents, but there is also something as being too close!
Yet after some persuasion, he goes along with Belle, just because he wants to see her happy again. And here I saw a glimpse of what a kind man he actually is.

And the further I got along in the story, the more I got this fear that this couple would not survive the holiday. Yes, they are very different, with very different interests. But they have been through so much, and I wanted this couple to stay together.
The moments they did things as a couple that would either terrorize Belle or just bore James, I thought the worst.
Yet there were also sweet moments, making my hope resurface again. 

I have been to Disneyland several times myself, even as an adult, so I found it wonderful walking there again in my imagination, knowing exactly where Belle and James were. I even saw the queues, the parades etc. Even if I wasn’t physically there, I felt I was!

I found it a beautiful, even magical story (not real magic, just magical in the atmosphere) about grieve, finding each other or losing each other. It was also about getting to know each other, understanding each other completely and making each other happy.

I cannot say any more except I just loved it!

Letting it go is easier said than done!

Synopsis

A second chance…
With the single dad?

When hotelier Sophia Lambert finds billionaire Jack McGregor’s runaway daughter, a thank you dinner sounds harmless. Until Sophia finds herself tantalizingly attracted to Jack… The deeply desirable single dad re-awakens long-buried emotions in Sophia, but his jet-set life is beckoning. Unless Sophia can tempt him with her own proposal: to keep his feet on the ground…

My review

Sophia Lambert never expected that one of the tasks of a hotelier would be hiding under a table with a six – year – old. But when the child of a VIP goes missing, it doesn’t matter what she has to do, as long as the little girl is found!
Only too bad that under the table is exactly how Jack McGregor finds her and his daughter… what a lousy first impressions she is making. But Jack is just all too happy his daughter has been found.
After agreeing on a thank – you dinner, Sophie finds herself attracted to Jack and long – buried emotions are being awakened. And it appears that those feelings are mutual.

But their lives are just so different, and each of them has a troubled past making them hold back. Or is there a way anyway?

For those who are following my blog, know how much I adore Rachael Stewart. And for those who don’t follow me: I ADORE HER!!!! 🤣
Normally her stories are a bit spicier, so I was very curious to read something a bit out of the box of her.

And again, I loved it!

I found this an utterly sweet story about people that have a lot to overcome.
Both Sophia and Jack are carrying around a lot of guilt, and that guilt is holding them back from moving on.
I’m not going to give any details, because that would spoil the joy of reading this book and discovering it for yourself. But what I can say, is that I understand their way of thinking, yet it was sad to see how the past was a dark cloud over their lives.

Sophia is a kind and caring woman, and she has everyone’s best interest at heart. She is someone you immediately like and on some levels, I even wished I was her!
Despite her past, she has no troubles going to the same level as Lily, and together they have so much fun!
Even if she is not a mom herself, she senses immediately what Lily needs and wants to make sure that little girl is happy.

Jack is a workaholic, yet his only priority is Lily. He may seem a little overprotective, but once his past is revealed, I somehow understood him. sometimes he goes a bit too far, but honestly I couldn’t blame him.

Yet the true star of this story is Lily. She is the one that immediately stole my heart, and she is also the reason that Sophia and Jack are getting closer. Her innocence and her enthusiasm are so fun to read about!

This story shows that everyone deserves a second chance, and that love can overcome every fear.
Not only the love story between Sophia and Jack is wonderful, also the settings are amazing. The trip they make is out of a dream.
For me, this was a perfect total package and the author fulfilled all my expectations, even if it was something a bit out of the box for her!

The perfect vengeance with help from chocolate!

Synopsis

Ellie Sanchez wants revenge. Spurned during her school days at prestigious Monty’s academy when she was plain Eleanor Finch, and played second fiddle to her idol, Barnaby Westwood, and his show-off sister, Clementine, Ellie will stop at nothing to turn the tables now she’s all grown up. The siblings and their snubbing have been the catalyst for everything that’s gone wrong in her life, from parental neglect to her divorce.

When the Westwood travel merchandise company advertises for a new HR manager, Ellie decides her unique combo of karma and Law of Attraction has finally come good. And she’ll be bagging herself a cherry-on-the-cake, second, and richer, husband in the process – once Barnaby sees how much she’s changed, anyway. 

Fast forward two years and he STILL doesn’t recognise her! 

Fast forward two years and the company is in a financial mess.

Last Chance Saloon-style, Ellie coerces the siblings and their older sister, Brooke (the perpetual spanner in her works) to a rustic gîte in Normandy for a spot of team-building… over a very ‘special’ box of artisan chocolates.

Cue ALL the fireworks in the cocoa bean version of Jumanji…

My review

Ellie Sanchez has a plan. And that plan all starts with applying for the job of HR Manager at the Westwood travel merchandise company.
It’s not the job she is truly interested in, but more in getting back at the Westwood siblings. Because they have a history…
While at school, Ellie was plain Eleanor Finch, and rather invisible for her crush Barnaby Westwood and his sister Clementine.
Now that her appearances have changed, she has  planned the perfect revenge. Because those siblings were the catalyst for everything that went wrong in Ellie’s life.

Not only is she planning on getting Karma to do its thing, but she also relies on the Law Of Attraction, sure that Barnaby will see how much she is changed and that she is the woman of his dreams.

But when after several months the company is in deep waters and the Westwoods still don’t have a clue who she truly is, she devises the ultimate revenge. All it takes is a rustic gîte in Normandy, under the pretence of team – building, and a mysterious box of artisan chocolates.

How to make sure I read a book? Put chocolates on the cover and I won’t be able to ignore it!

I have to admit, there is a lot of going on, but it took me a while to see the whole picture.
When Ellie starts working for the Westwoods, it’s obvious that there is something that happened in the past. But that is not completely revealed immediately. So I had some difficulties understanding her true motives.

Despite her secret agenda that isn’t so innocent, Ellie is someone I quickly warmed to. Because there are so many things that makes her recognizable. Anyone who wasn’t part of the popular gang at school, has felt the same way Ellie felt. And who hasn’t even once devised a way to get revenge to the people that hurt you?

I had so much fun reading about the silly games she invented under the pretext as bonding. Everything Ellie does, has a secret agenda. And yes, you can think of it as it may be a bit over the top everything that Ellie is planning, but I found it very entertaining!

When Ellie puts the chocolates into action, it takes a bit of imagination, because I surely hope that the effects they were having on the eater was something completely made up!
Yet it was an eye – opener, not only for the readers but also for the characters.
The message that got through to me was that nothing is what it seems.

I found this very entertaining, and surprising towards the end. Getting revenge can be a main reason for acting like Ellie did, but is it truly the main purpose? Because without giving anything away, in the end Ellie did not get the revenge like she planned, but she found more than bargained. And isn’t that eventually all that matters? Not having the revenge like you planned, but just having closure and ending with surprising people by your side.

A Christmas full of second chances.

Synopsis

Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack

Heritage Cove is in full swing for the festive season and as the temperature dips, who will be lucky in love this Christmas?

It’s December in Heritage Cove and along with the village Christmas tree, frosty mornings and the promise of the most wonderful time of the year, the new waffle shack is about to open. And its owner isn’t a stranger to the Cove, because after all this time, Daniel is back to make amends with his brother Harvey – as well as a few other locals he might have offended along the way.

Fairly new to the village, local blacksmith Lucy has kept up the pretence of being with her ex for the sake of his gran but she’s fed up with all the lies. Determined to come clean and live the life she wants to live, she’s devastated to find that her attraction to Daniel is tainted by the fact he’s hiding a few things of his own. And his secrets are ones she isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to get past.

Heritage Cove is full of friendship and community; it’s a welcoming place people visit and never want to leave. But will it work its magic for Daniel and Lucy?

A festive read packed with Christmas romance, love and second chances, this is Book 2 in a series of standalone novels set in Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea…

My review

Blacksmith Lucy is determined that this Christmas will be the last one she will pretend still being together with her ex for the sake of his Gran.
She wants to move on with her life, and even if now she is doing a job she truly loves, still having to pretend with her ex, is just not moving on.

Daniel is coming back to Heritage Cove after several years. beside opening a new waffle shack, he also wants to make amends with his brother Harvey, as their relationship can best be described as non – existing. And while he tries to fix this relationship, he is ready to apologize to other locals who have been ‘victim’ of his past actions.

Lucy and Daniel quickly feel the mutual attraction, but will the secrets that Daniel is keeping be a deal breaker? Because some of those secrets are more devastating than others…

First of all, I was so happy returning to Heritage Cove! I loved reading Book No. 1 and was looking forward reading Book No. 2. But it can perfectly be read as a standalone!

From the very start, it’s obvious that Lucy is a very caring woman. The story behind her cat and the fact that she is pretending being still married because of her ex’s Gran, it’s just a fact that she is a kind woman with her heart at the right place.
Now that she is ready to move on, she has to finds a way to bring the news to both her ex and Gran.
But she is also a woman with strong beliefs. She can forgive many things, but there are also several things that are just unforgivable.

Daniel is a troubled man. We get to learn about his childhood and he didn’t have the easy childhood many of us had. And the way he handled this as a young man was so different compared to what his brother Harvey did (and here it’s handy if you read the first book) that it caused a huge rift between the brothers. And this Christmas he wants to bond again with his brother.

My heart was aching for these two, because they have been through so much, and I just wanted them to be happy, and why not, even together!
The attraction was so obvious, but the moment I thought ‘Yes, now it’s finally going to happen!’, something comes up, and takes Lucy and Daniel even further apart.

I found this a lovely story, about new starts, falling in love, but I found this truly a family story. Bonds can be broken, but it takes a lot of courage to take that first step to make amends. And that was something I truly admired in Daniel. He knows he has made mistakes in the past, but now he wants to truly apologize. It’s not something that is easily done, so in my opinion he was great in doing just that.
Lucy shows her greatness in giving forgiveness. There are a lot of misunderstandings and kept secrets. And Lucy, after the initial shocks, is ready to listen to hear the whole story.

This book showed me again what an amazing community resides in heritage Cove and made me want to live there too!
I loved reading about Lucy and Daniel, the way they handled each situation and despite every setback, they still are their amazing self.

My only point of criticism: reading a story with waffles in it, made me as a Belgian extra hungry that I just had to start baking my own batch of waffles. So thank you for all the extra unnecessary calories I had to take in!!! 🤣

Will having the wedding of your dreams be possible?

Synopsis

Do you believe in fate? Livvie Weatherill does…

This time last year, if anyone had told Livvie Weatherill she’dhave fallen in love and would be making plans for her Christmas wedding to Zander Gillespie, she would have laughed in their face. If they’d gone on to say they’d be planning to have their wedding at the imposing DanskelfeCastle, she’d have laughed even louder!

But it would seem fate had plans for her…

Since moving to the pretty moorland village of LytellStangdale Livvie is happier than she’s ever been. She’s living with Zander and she’s working at her dream job as a wedding dress designer at Romantique with her friends, Kitty and Violet. It’s fair to say, she’s enjoying immersing herself in village life, from romantic walks in the countryside, to meeting friends at the quaint Sunne Inne. And she can’t think of anything better than rounding off the day cosying up with Zander.

Life is sweet.

Her blossoming friendship with Freda Easton, the endearing but reclusive elderly lady who lives down the lane, has taken everyone by surprise. But Freda has a secret and, in a turn of events no one could predict, she finds herself grateful for Livvie’s fierce loyalty, cementing their friendship further.

Just when things seem to be running smoothly, a face from the past arrives on the doorstep casting a shadow over Livvie’s wedding plans. Adding to the drama, an icy blast of Arctic air brings heavy snowfall to the village, covering the moors in a thick blanket of snow.

Is their love strong enough to withstand the challenges thrown at them? Will they get their magical Christmas wedding?

Join Livvie and Zander – and all the usual characters – for a sparkling Christmas full of love and laughter in Lytell Stangdale.

My review

Last year Livvie Weatherill had the biggest changes in her life. She would have never imagined that her holiday would result in falling in love with Zander Gillespie and this year she would be planning her own wedding and the option of getting married at Danskelfe Castle would be the icing on the cake!

Also her living in the village of Lytell Stangdale is going for the best as she now is living her dream of being a wedding dress designer, together with her friends Kitty and Violet.
She enjoys her new life and is making new friendships, especially with Freda Easton.

But when things are going too smoothly, it’s a certainty that something bad will happen. and for Livvie and Zander it’s not just one thing that will jeopardize their wedding.
Is their love strong enough to overcome this nightmare?

I was so happy to read more of this beautiful couple again. Their love is just too sweet and too cute for words. The way they are just made for each other, I wish I could find such a love myself!
And they are just the perfect little family, together with Labrador Alf. Even all the mischief Alf is in, is covered with the cloak of love.

The start of the story is the happily ever after of the previous book, but instead of staying on that cloud of happiness, events are taking place that makes Livvie question everything.
Livvie wants to have the perfect wedding with the perfect man, but she quickly realizes that to have the wedding at the Castle, it will cost.
I felt sorry for Livvie her decision, because I truly cared about Livvie and I wished she could have everything she desires.

And when someone of the past appears, and it involves Zander, I got terrified for a moment, thinking that it would be the end of it all, and hearts would be broken all over the place! I just hoped that right decisions would be made and that our beloved couple would find a way to overcome this!

But the person that really got my heart broken, was Freda…
Initially she seems like this strange character, I even saw her as a kind of an old good witch, living on her own, and being mocked for her being not what people see as “normal”.
But when the truth came out, oh it was terrible! What happened in her past was truly an injustice and the way she still carries that burden, it left me speechless.
Yet here we see again what an amazing person Livvie is, as she opens her home and heart for Freda and how she is also struggling with the injustice.

Another moment I wished I could knock some sense in some people and give Livvie a big hug, was whenever Livvie her mother and sister appears in the story. Talking about selfish people!!!
Luckily Livvie can truly count on the love of her stepmother Rhoda! This shows that the love of a mother can come also from people that are not blood related.

But now I am talking only about negative things that are taking place in the story, but I LOVED reading about the dynamics between Livvie and Zander, I laughed with Alf, I smiled over the friendships.
This was a beautiful story, about family, friendships that can be found in the strangest places, secrets of the past being discovered, but most importantly, about love.
I enjoyed reading it all, even with all the heart – break it caused me!

While trying to find out the truth, you find something else…

Synopsis

Mistletoe and moonshine: a Christmas match made in heaven? 
Moonshine Hollow’s famous ‘Lightning Flash’ might be an acquired taste, although the same could be said for moonshine distillery owner Cole Landon, what with his workaholic habits and ‘Scrooge’ tendencies when it comes to all things Christmassy.
But when Jenna Pendean from Cornwall pays a visit to Cole’s family-run distillery in Tennessee during the holiday season, will Cole’s cynicism about the existence of Christmas miracles be put to the test?

My review

Jenna Pendean lives in Cornwall, but after a discovery, she makes a trip to Tennessee to visit the moonshine distillery owned by Cole Landon and his family.
She wants to find out the truth about her great grandfather and discover how he was involved in creating the recipe for the famous ‘Lightening Flash’.

After a tour visit in the distillery she meets Cole and even if his focus is on running the distillery, he is a real Scrooge whatever concerns Christmas.
But their meeting is the start of many changes. Yet with many secrets to be kept and a big distance between the places they live, Christmas miracles are truly put to test…

I found this not only a love story around Christmas, because it went so much deeper.

Jenna wants to find out the truth about her great grandfather, but with her own parents the relationship isn’t so perfect. Her parents divorced and they have both moved on, but their grudge towards each other affects Jenna more than they think.

Cole also is not having the easiest family. His father died in a tragic way, and the relation with his stepfather is rather cold.
He loves his family, but they have this habit of interfering (with the best intentions) and sometimes that can be frustrating. And I know what I’m talking about! J
Also he has this need to prove everyone he can take care of everything.

When things are getting more serious between Jenna and Cole, they mature and they dare to address their worries. Yet they are still a bit afraid to come clean about their secrets. Both Jenna and Cole are keeping things from each other, and all because being afraid of losing the other one.

But together this is a really beautiful couple. They take out the best of each other, and they are just a couple to become jealous of! And even when in the heat of the moment they get angry, they behave like adults and after they have calmed down, they show they are ready to hear the whole story.

I also loved reading about the history of moonshine and the American past. I have to admit, moonshine is not something I knew so I had to do some research myself. And also reading about some of the Christmas traditions in Tennessee made me rally feel very Christmassy!

A beautiful story about the past, family issues and facing them, daring to ask help and finding love. This story made me realize how important family is and that real family is always there for you, no matter what trouble you got in. I loved it! 

Starting over in Lisbon

Synopsis

‘Beautifully written, comforting and utterly uplifting, Lucy Coleman’s stories are the perfect tonic when life is a little grey.’ Holly Martin

Seren Maddison left behind a rainy Britain to follow her dreams and live and work in Lisbon. The vibrancy, the beautiful scenery and the sunshine, made her fall in love and she knew, instantly, that it would be her forever home.

International artist Reid Henderson has homes in Lisbon and London. Following his painful divorce, his dream is to turn his luxurious home into an art school and gallery.

When Seren and Reid first meet there is an instant attraction, but they are both people who have been hurt, and each have dreams that are so far apart, they aren’t even on the same page. 

Can they enjoy one summer of happiness together, as life bestows a gift of memories to cherish for the rest of their lives? Or is their destiny to chart a path into the future, in a home where dreams can come true?

Seren and Reid may be about to discover that love is as much about what you are prepared to give up, as what you are prepared to keep hold of.

Let Lucy Coleman transport you away to sun-drenched Portugal where true love really can conquer all, and home is where the heart is. Perfect for all fans of Trisha Ashley, Holly Martinand Sue Moorcroft.

My review

Seren Maddison decided to follow her dreams and left Britain behind to live and work in Lisbon. Just every bit of the city makes her feel at home, and she wouldn’t think about moving back to rainy Britain.
While working on her project, she meets international artist Reid Henderson. There is an instant attraction and they can’t keep their eyes of each other.
But Reid is still recovering from his painful divorce and having two homes in London and Lisbon makes it difficult for him to realize his own dream.

Will their one summer of happiness together with no strings attached be enough? Or is there a way to make a future together? Is love a matter of holding on to what you want or is it also a matter what you are ready to give up?

A story about starting over in a foreign country, well that certainly got my interest!

I found Seren from the start a very courageous woman. Just thinking about leaving everything behind, moving to a country you don’t even speak the language (very well), it would be just a nightmare for me. And not having a friend around, even more tragedy in my eyes!

So I admired Seren for just jumping into the unknown, starting a new job with real challenges. I also admired her being straight forward. She is not afraid to speak up her mind, even if everyone else in her situation would just nod and not stand their ground.

She is also adamant to make her project a success. Every new problem is a challenge she is ready to take, together with her team.

When she meets Reid, it’s obvious he will be her love interest. But he comes with a lot of baggage. He is divorces, but his ex and her family are still involved in his business. The relation with his daughter is not optimal, he is trying to realise his dream, so a relationship is absolutely the last thing on his mind.

It’s instant clear what the potential of this couple would be, together they are a force of nature. But his past and her trying to fit in a country with other customs, values and mind – sets are in the way.
Yet they both accept the situation they are currently in, and respect each other, not trying to force the other one in a situation that would only make them both unhappy.

This story is about starting over, finding love, but also about respecting each other and realizing that finding love does not mean it comes at the right time.
And the fact that made me kind of sad was that finding love sometimes means that you have to be ready to give something up. And for a romantic soul like me, it was something I had to digest, because love should come without strings attached.

This story points out what the beauty of love can be, but also what we have to overcome to gain that blissful feeling of loving someone and be in a relationship with this person. And that is something we have to realize.
But it doesn’t take the beauty away of this story. It shows what life can be when you dare to take that leap of faith and dare to start over again.

An unforgettable Christmas

Synopsis

Christmas has arrived…

And she’s spending it with her boss!

New Yorker Erin is intrigued when Hugo Harrington asks for her help on a hotel renovation in London, just weeks before Christmas! But Erin soon discovers how personal this project is to her brooding boss. Watching him wrestle with the memories of his past uncovers a side to Hugo she’s never seen. And then a stolen snowbound kiss changes everything…

My review

Erin is working for Hugo Harrington renovating a hotel in London. Despite her attraction, her only focus is her job and her son Noah. Giving in to her feelings is not an option, especially when she still feels betrayed after discovering the secrets her deceased husband kept from her.
But while working with Hugo on the renovations, she realizes that the hotel is a personal project and she sees a side of him she didn’t know.

This is the third part of The Christmas at the Harrington Park Hotel, and I surely was eager to get to know Hugo better! But for those who haven’t read the previous parts, it can be perfectly read as a standalone, so don’t let this hold you back!

Erin is a single mum, after her husband passed away. and even if she has a demanding job, I admired her ability to keep her focus on the only thing that matters, her son Noah. In a stressful it’s easy to lose your focus, but Erin will not allow anyone to take her away from Noah.
And even when her latest project moves her to London, she takes her little family with her.

Before I read this story, Hugo seemed to me bit of a cold character. But in this book, his true nature comes out. And so many things became clear to me.
At the moment he is telling about his past, I felt so sorry for him for the injustice and I just wanted to give this handsome man a hug to comfort him.

The chemistry between Erin and Hugo is palpable on every page they are together. Even if they are different on so many ways, they also are so much alike.
They both have a past that they are still carrying around, and are struggling with a way to put it all behind them.
And despite they are bonding, they are afraid of taking things further, with the fear of just getting hurt. And that realisation made me sad, because everyone is allowed to have a happy present and future…

I found this a bittersweet story. I say bittersweet, because the past is still a heavy burden on both characters, while they are just so nice people.
Both of them are finding a way to put the past behind them, but as always, it’s easier said than done.
Yet it was also a beautiful story, about second chances at happiness, in a beautiful setting. It was about people realizing what they wanted before they knew they wanted it.
It made me dream away about falling in love around Christmas, and this story is perfect to sweep you off your feet!