When one night only results in more than bargained for.

Synopsis

A VIP assignment…
an unexpected consequence!

Ex-SAS officer Jacob Wolfe’s latest job, as aristocrat Charlotte Pemberton’s bodyguard, is pushing him to his limits. Never one to step over the line, he’s determined to ignore their intense connection. Until a single dance leads to a forbidden kiss… and Jacob is tempted to break all his rules. But their resulting night together has an unexpected consequence…

My review

Charlotte Pemberton is ready to shine. She is part of a fashion family business and is ready to show what she is capable of. But when there are threats, the family takes no further risks and hire a bodyguard.
Former SAS officer Jacob Wolfe latest assignment is protect VIP aristocrat Charlotte. He is used of keeping his distance and emotions out of the way, but both do not expect to have such an intense connection.

When one dance leads to a kiss and even more, there are consequences nobody could have foreseen.

In my modest opinion, I think the title is a too big giveaway… you know what the result of that one night will be, while it actually only takes place past halfway the book.
I thought “it” would happen earlier and that there would be more struggles with the unexpected news.
But anyway, I found this a lovely story to read.

Charlotte may have all the luxury and money anyone could dream of, but I found it easy to relate with her. Not because of the money (I wish!!! 🤣) but because deep down, she is just a young insecure woman like us. She knows what she is doing, but sometimes she is afraid to show her true colours.
Of course she doesn’t show this, and can be rather resolute, especially when the family business is concerned. But even if now she wants to stand in the spotlights, she only shows what is expected from her and not what she truly is.

Jacob is everything I expected from a bodyguard. He is focused on the job, and does not take any risks. But the more time he spends with Charlotte, we see this other side of him. He sees more behind any façade, and is gently pushing Charlotte to show the world how she truly is.

Both Charlotte and Jacob are very strong characters, bound to clash. And whenever that happens, on more than one occasion, I was having so much fun!
Yet even if they are so different, the attraction is also very obvious. And the clashing is just the prelude to finally giving in.

I found this a story not only about attractions and about the consequences. But also about how despite big differences, people are perfect to each other. The right person takes you out of your shell, sees you just how you are.
And even if there are unexpected consequences after one night of passion, people can surprise you in a beautiful way, by opening their hearts and souls.

When falling in love is the easiest part…

Synopsis

Jess is falling for Sam.

Sam is falling for Jess.

But it seems life will do whatever it takes to make them fall apart.

When Jess and Sam lock eyes at a party, a spark ignites. The spark. But love at first sight isn’t like the movies, especially when Sam’s ex, Victoria, is determined to make their honeymoon period a living hell.

Is love at first sight enough?

My review

When Jess and Sam meet, it’s love at first sight. The spark ignites and the attraction is instant. Only problem: Sam has a girlfriend, Victoria.
Jess does not want to be ‘the other woman’, so she tries to forget about Sam.
But when some time later, Sam tells her that he is no longer in a relationship, they can finally be together.
They are a perfect match and enjoy getting to know each other, and are over the moon with the thought that they belong together.
Yet not everybody is happy with this love at first sight that cannot be ignored, and  their new relationship has to endure not only gossip but also sabotage.

This story stole my heart, broke it and fixed it again. And if a book can do all this, it’s a wonderful thing!

When we get to know Jess, II was a bit afraid she would become actually ‘the other woman’, just going after the man she has fallen in love with.
But when it was clear Jess isn’t that kind of woman, I admired her. She prefers to stay single and not take another woman’s man.
Her determination to not break up a relationship, shows what kind of woman she is. She hasn’t had the easiest of youth, but this did not make her into a selfish woman. All she wants is to be loved, and that she is the first priority, not just someone “extra”.

I also respected Sam, because he was in the impossible position of falling for another woman while being in a relationship. And how easy it would have been for him, just to have his cake and eat it too. Yet he does the right thing, and only after a period he contacts Jess again.

When Sam and Jess are together, it’s just an overdose of sweetness. They truly are made for each other, and the Lego reference makes perfect sense.
This couple is how each couple in real life should be. The love truly sparks (pun intended) from each page.

But the story broke my heart at the injustice this couple has to endure. Not only the ex is still around the corner, but Sam is feeling the repercussion of breaking up with Victoria, as he is not only losing his friends, but also his own parents siding with her. And let’s not forget the dream he has, also falling apart.

I think this book should start with a warning: impossible to put away!
Because once I started reading it, I wanted to read more about this beautiful couple, I wanted the bad things to be over quickly and I just wanted this couple to have their happily ever after they deserve.
This book shows us that not always you can chose who to love, and that loving someone shouldn’t come with strings attached. And that yet somehow you have to fight for the one you love.

I adored reading this, and it left me with mixed feelings. I was reading it finding it impossible to put it away, yet I was sad when I finished it!

Dare to dream big!

Synopsis

‘A lovely escape that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Just what’s needed at the moment’ No1 bestselling author Jane Fallon

The world is waiting…but just outside of your comfort zone.

Jo Campbell is perfectly content in a perfectly structured life.
Nothing ever changes in Jo’s life, and she likes it that way.
Or at least, she tells herself she does.
Most of the time, she manages to push down the tiny voice that tells her to chase her dream and maybe, just maybe, open her battered and bruised heart up to love.
But to chase her dreams she needs to take chances that are way out of her comfort zone and learn to not put other people’s happiness above her own.
Most of all she has to learn to trust her heart, which may just be the biggest challenge of all.

My review

Jo Campbell is happy with her life. She owns together with her brother Noah the local pub. Even if at the moment she is staying at her mother’s place, helping taking care of her little sister now that her father is away for work, she does not see it as a problem. On the contrary, she enjoys the fun she is having with that little girl!

On her free moments, she is writing her book and her ultimate dream is to see it published. But the fear of rejection is holding her back. So when her best friend Libby does the unthinkable, Jo is shocked by the effect.
Can Jo dream of having her biggest wish granted?

I found it lovely returning to Ivy Lane! In the previous part we got to know Libby and Noah, and so I was very ecstatic to discover Jo her story.
Reading the first part is not a requirement, but it helps to have some background information.

Immediately it’s clear what an amazing person Jo is. The way she cares about her little sister, and spends time with her, it’s just so admirable and also adorable.
The Campbell’s family is for me the perfect example of altruistic people, opening their house and hearts for those in need.

Because of the way the Campbell’s have raised their children (own children, adopted or fostered), Jo is someone who puts someone else’s need before her own. There isn’t a thing she wouldn’t do for someone she cares about.
But it’s because of her altruistic behaviour that she has put her own dreams away. She believes that her book could be a success, but the fear of being wrong, is holding her back.
And when she finally has found the courage to let someone read it, it’s Libby that does the thing Jo should have been doing a long time ago.

When new characters appear on the scene, just like Jo I had my opinion ready. And just like Jo again, the characters surprised me, both in a good way and in a bad way. I’m not going to give anything away, because I want you to discover it all by yourself, while being captivated by the rest of the story.

The main theme of the story is not romance, but daring to dream big, and not be afraid to chase your dreams! The fear of not succeeding should never hold someone back to go for it.
I loved also the love that sparks of the book. Jo is a great sister, but also a great friend and daughter. Even if her past has caused her a broken heart, she has overcome it and is now focused on her future.
Everyone cares about each other in Ivy Lane, and a helping hand is always nearby. For me, it’s like a dream location to live and work! You are never on your own.

This story captivated me, I turned page after page, smiling over the sweet moments, laughing at the mischiefs (thank you Clara 😁), but also heartbroken over the sadder moments, angry over the sleaziness of some people.
This story kind of gave me hope that there are kind people over the world, ready to stand by your side. And that dreaming big doesn’t mean dreaming about the impossible.

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.