Everybody needs a year of saying no!

Synopsis

Lottie Wentworth has never been more pleased to hear Big Ben ring in the new year and wave goodbye to The Year of Saying Yes!

When a long-term relationship ended, her best friend’s scheme to get Lottie back in the swing of things seemed like a good idea. She’s kept her promise to Jess to see it through but, as a lover of the quiet life, Lottie couldn’t be happier to say hello to a brand new year – The Year of Saying No! 

Unfortunately, the one thing she still seems unable to say no to is the crush she has on her best client and now friend, Army veteran, Seb Marshall. But she’s working on it, and with rescue dog Humphrey at her side, she knows that she’ll manage just fine.

Lottie’s decision to stop trying to please everyone has brought a sense of relief beyond what she had expected. Her actions and determination have also begun to send ripples throughout her life and those closest to her, bringing about changes none of them could have expected. 

But will all those changes be for the good?

My review

After a year of saying yes to everything, forced by her best friend, Lottie decides that this year, she is going to say no instead!
The idea of saying yes was an idea to get her life back on track and discover new things. But Lottie now only wants to do what she wants, so she is determined of saying no if she is not convinced.

Army veteran Seb is Lottie’s client and friend, but also her secret crush. When he hears about her resolution, at first he is skeptical. But when Lottie explains that she not saying no to everything, but only to things she really doesn’t want to do, he is supporting her as a true friend is supposed to do.

Is saying no the solution to get your life back on track? Or is it only a way of missing opportunities?

Immediately, from the first sentence, I liked Lottie! She had a rough period, when her relationship ended. And ‘forced’ of participating in a year of saying yes, now she does what SHE want. So she starts saying no and she even takes a dog!

But there was a HUGE frustrating part, whenever it concerns Seb…

Seb is this great man, having literally suffered a lot during his time in the Army. But he and Lottie go from a client  -relationship to becoming real friends. And there is even potential to more, IF THEY WERE JUST NOT SO DAMN STUBBORN!!!
On one hand, I get the doubts Lottie has, because if it all went wrong, she would lose not only her best client, but also a great friend. And is it all worth it?
But on the other hand, they would be so perfect together!!!

Lottie realizes though the story what she really wants, and slowly stands more up for herself. Initially she fears a little the reaction but her confidence grows and she puts herself first, even if it will pain her…

I always find it admirable when someone gets out of her comfort zone and does what she really wants. I am myself a people pleaser, always doing things I even don’t like, just to help people. So reading about Lottie, standing up for herself,  will hopefully work inspiring for me, and be more like Lottie!

This story worked for me inspirational, as it shows that being ‘selfish’ isn’t always a bad thing. It’s worse doing things you really don’t want to do just to please someone.
But even if I got frustrated here and there, I found myself smiling and cheering for Lottie (and Seb).
A beautiful, funny story with a strong message!

A book about book lovers, what’s not to like???

Synopsis

Author Callie Logan never expected to swap her life in London for one in rural Suffolk but, after the breakdown of her marriage, she decides that a fresh start is just what she needs. Finding Owl Cottage in the tiny village of Newton St Clare, Callie determines to give up on love and throw herself into her work. But fate seems to have other ideas and she soon has two very different men vying for her attention. 

First there’s Leo who likes to live on the wild side which usually means taking his dates foraging in the local woods for their supper. Then there’s Sam Nightingale, owner of Nightingale’s bookshop. Sam, recovering from a divorce, has also vowed to embrace the single life. That is, until he meets Callie.

But is Callie willing to risk her heart again and, if she is, will she make the right choice? 

The Book Lovers is the first in an exciting new series by the bestselling author of The Rose Girls and A Weekend with Mr Darcy.

My review

After her failed marriage, Callie decided to leave London and move to Suffolk. Time to find inspiration for her new children’s book but also to give up love!

Finding herself in a new lovely place, she meets new people.
After a first strange encounter, she befriends Leo. He’s not the average man, as he likes to go for long walks and is a fan of foraging.
But she also meets Sam Nightingale, owner of a bookshop. He also is recovering from a divorce and he also wants to give up love, just like Callie.

Is just giving up on love really a possibility? And what if you have two men with a strong connection? Can Callie put her ideas aside and pick out the right man for her?

Never give a book about books and book lovers to a book lovers! I honestly gave up sleep for this story! And for me giving up sleep, well, you must be writing a damn good book!

I just loved it! Every chapter, even the weird parts about sniffling old books! I have to admit I’m a “sniffler” myself, so I understand perfectly Sam’s and Callie’s feelings concerning the smell/perfume of old books.
Not many smells are better than books, so I could see myself standing next to Callie and Sam smelling books!

But ok, back to the essence of the story!
You feel the progress in Cassie and her new chapter in life. After a failed marriage it’s hard to pick up the pieces, but Callie is determined to enjoy life again and surround herself with her one and true love, books!
Finding a kindred spirit in Sam, she finds herself going to the bookshop more often. And going on dates, with no strings attached with Leo, she enjoys things she never imagined.

She finds herself at a crossroad, as she feels that giving up love isn’t that easy. But how to choose between 2 wonderful men? Ooh I wish I had the same difficulties! 😃

It’s hard to explain why I loved this book so much, because it’s ore a feeling in my gut, difficult to put into words.
It’s just the whole package that made it a wonderful story! I loved Callie, Sam, Leo, Grandpa Joe, just every character (except the ex – husband and ex – wife of course).
I’m all settled for the next part, and yes, I am ready for again sleepless night(s)!

So much more than just a romantic story!

Synopsis

The first in a new sun-filled series from the author of the Villa Limoncello trilogy.

Welcome to The Cornish Confetti Agency!

When the grand finale of Lexie Harrington’s catwalk show ends with a disastrous twist on the ‘ice bucket challenge’, she knew her highly-strung boss would fire her on the spot. What she wasn’t expecting was to bump into her fiancé cosied up with an attractive blonde in the restaurant opposite their apartment!

Desperate to escape her heartbreak, Lexie flees to her childhood home of St Ives to hold the fort at The Cornish Confetti Agency for her best friend Freya, leader of the yummy mummy network and firm believer in ‘happily ever afters’. Little did she know that delivering a Caribbean-themed wedding in sunny Cornwall would rival the fashion industry for drama, tantrums and mysterious goings on. 

Who is responsible for dousing the bridesmaid’s dress with tomato ketchup? Or hiding the bride’s beloved Jimmy Choos? Or attaching googly eyes to everything in sight?

The perfect Cornish wedding? Is there such a thing for The Cornish Confetti Agency? 

My review

Lexie feels that her world is falling apart. When the grand finale of the catwalk ends in a disaster, she is held responsible and the consequence is that she is getting fired on the spot.
Going home depressed, she sees her fiancé in a restaurant opposite their apartment with another woman!

As it’s getting all too much, see grabs the opportunity to help out her best friend Freya organizing a wedding for the Cornish Confetti Agency.
But little does she know that the dramas around a catwalk are nothing compared the dramas around a wedding!

Oooh I loved this story! Initially I thought it would be an only romantic book. But it wasn’t at all!

Lexie just had the worst time and her desire to run away from it all, is understandable.
As she has “some” experience in organizing events, she agrees to help her best friend with the Cornish Confetti Agency and follow up the wedding with a Caribbean theme.
As most of it was already organized, she is sure that it will be just a “ticking of checks on the list”.

I love it when a simple task suddenly appears to be a worst nightmare! Yes sometimes I can be a real sadist ☺️.
But admit, if everything would run smoothly, would this book be so charming?

Lexie finds herself into deep, but does her best to be crisis manager. This shows that she is focused on the job and will do whatever she can to get the result she had in mind.
And even when there appears to be a saboteur, she is determined to find him/her! This with the help of journalist Theo.

Lexie and Theo team up to discover the truth, and slowly they find themselves looking for each other more often than not.
Theo is yes a journalist looking for scoop concerning the wedding, but there is so much more to him. He has been through a lot recently too, and also had to cope with a broken heart…

The further you read in the story, the more mysterious the sabotages get. I found myself distrusting every guest of the wedding. But when the truth comes out, it was someone I never thought of!
I had a real “WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT????” moment but when the reasons are made clear, I had a “OOOOOH!!!” moment, feeling sorry for the culprit.

Thera are people in the story I liked from the first moment, and also people I disliked immediately. I have to admit that some made change my opinion about them, but some other made my dislike even bigger!

A beautiful story about how running away from your problems isn’t the solution, but can be an opportunity for a new direction, meeting new people, but also that trouble is always around the corner, in places you less expect them!
I had several gasps, but also lots of laughs and found myself smiling at the sweet moments, not only between Lexie and Theo, but also between bride and groom!
All set in the beautiful Cornwall, which made it even more special! 

When a new job is a real eye opener!

Synopsis

When life gives you lemons… add a splash of gin! A deliciously feel-good romantic comedy for fans of Sophie Ranald

When Liv’s high-flying career goes off the rails, she finds herself working at a glitzy new gin bar to pay the bills. She’s never let romance distract her, but with one very hot colleague, a mysterious online follower who might just be her soulmate, and a lot of cocktails, her dating life is about to be shaken up…

But is Liv looking for a sparkling flirtation, or something a little stronger?

Sometimes you have to face up to your past, seize your future, and mix your own recipe for happy ever after…

My review

When Liv is going for a meeting, she expects to receive her well-deserved promotion. But when the promotion vanishes into thin air and she even loses her job, she keeps her head  up high and is certain that quickly she’ll find a company who will appreciate her skills.
She starts with a great motivation her job search, but when it’s clear to her the timing couldn’t be worse, she is nearly desperation.

And at that point, also realizing that she cannot be too picky, as her financial situation isn’t allowing her months and months of not working.
When an old acquaintance offers her a job at a bar, she has to accept it, but only temporarily to pay the bills. Because working in a bar is NOT her dream job!

New friendships are made, and thanks to her perceptiveness and reading customers make her enjoy her job even more than she thought!

Ooh I so enjoyed reading this book!
Liv looks like a snob, looking a little bit down on people who work in a bar. But being part of that world, she quickly changes her mind.
She also learns that people she thought were her friends, were not really her friends. And that you can find real friends where you least expect it.

Liv is a recognizable woman. Everybody wants a career and be successful and have a lot of money. But Liv has extra motives… she had a rough childhood and she is determined to never go back in that situation.
But having money and being successful is not the most important thing in life. If you don’t have anyone to share it with, friends, family, partner, it’s a lonely life.
Luckily she can count on her best friend, Dylan who puts her back with both feet on the ground. He also is always there for her and give her the idea to use her perceptiveness in a blog.

And did blog make me laugh! I loved it how she was right on with her assumptions and gave it a funny twist! The way she blends the story with some ideas for cocktails, well it made me laugh about the story and curious about the cocktails!

The way Liv evolves in the story is beautifully written. You get to know Liv on a better level, the same time Liv realizes that she is living her life on the wrong way. Thanks to the help of her mystery online friend, she opens her eyes and is finally able to get a grip on her past and get it behind her.

This book is a way to realize yourself what the real priorities in life are. And that also sometimes all you have to do is look past the first impressions of people, because someone you would disregard quickly, can be surprising you more than you think!

Is it all only glitter and glam?

Synopsis

Cecily wants a big life, but can she handle it?

Cecily feels like she has it all: great best friends, the beginnings of a career as a model/actress, and she’s dating her favorite singer, Andrew Holiday. Then Cecily’s best friend Lila begins to ditch her every time Lila’s boyfriend calls. Cecily feels lost, but she and Andrew begin connecting more and she’s never been in a relationship where she felt so understood. Andrew even begins to confide in her about his anxiety. Soon Cecily experiences her own anxiety on a magazine photo shoot, but she manages to impress the magazine staff. Just when it seems like all her dreams are coming true, everything comes crashing down when a photo of Andrew with another girl appears online. He swears nothing happened, but Cecily is crushed. She feels like she’s lost two of the people closest to her.

Was her perfect relationship real or was she in over her head?

My review

The adventures of Cecliy continues. She is now officially dating Andrew. As to say, as officially as possible, because Andrew wants to keep the relationship a secret.
Not because he’s ashamed, but he wants to protect Cecily.
But Cecily is happy with this, because even despite the distance between them, the connection they have is real.

But when her best friend Lila is putting her and Allie aside to be part of the popular chicks, Cecily feels more alone than she ever thought. And when Andrew is photographed with another girl, her doubts about being good enough rise fast and her insecurity may jeopardize everything.

I loved this second part! The story takes off right where the previous ended.
Cecily now has to face the reality about dating a famous singer. The distance isn’t doing any good but both Cecily and Andrew want to make the best it. The connection they have is just sweet.
They think very alike and can talk about anything.
But of course, the distance isn’t helping and soon Cecily doubts about just everything.
Which makes sense, being a teenager and finding herself in a surreal situation isn’t easy.

This book doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It shows that getting the guy isn’t the hardest part, but it’s the start of making a relationship work. And being a teenager being more mature than general, doesn’t make it easier.
But when you have the right friends around you, will make it easier. Here again Krysten put the finger on the problem. Because teenagers will do a lot to be part of the popular clique or to be on the good side of the guy they fancy.
Lila goes in the series from a good friend to a total b*tch. And even if I do somehow understand her, I don’t understand how someone can just turn her back to her friends like that…
Luckily Cecily can still count on Allie, who stands by her side no matter what.

Cecily also gets the opportunity of a lifetime, being part of a magazine photo shoot. But hearing not so nice remarks makes her doubting of herself and her dreams. Being a young girl, the world of the famous can be a scary one.

All her new adventures make her question herself and what she really wants. But she has Andrew, Allie and even some unexpected allies on her side, who will show her that people being mean doesn’t mean that they are telling the truth.

And even when she doubts about Andrew, she has a lot of people on her side trying to show her the truth even if believing deception is easier for her. But Cecily wouldn’t be Cecily if she would give up that easily!
And Andrew proves again in this story that he is just as amazing as the songs he writes!

A sweet sequel, on the same drive as the first one, opening a mirror in the teenage world with all the glitter and glam, but also pointing out what young people have to face in, let’s be honest, a cruel world.
The emotions are real, recognizable and you keep hoping for Cecily that she will be able to see what a gem she truly is. And for those who don’t see her like that, that it’s their loss!
And before you think it’s a too depressing story, there are moments that make you smile and make you melt in the inside!

Secrets are made to be found out with time…

Synopsis

We all have secrets, but some of our secrets are darker than others…

When Julia’s husband leaves her, and their small son Matty, to live with another woman, her friends – especially Caroline and Vick – rally round to help. But when Julia starts a new relationship after a chance meeting, her friends are not quite as supportive.

Julia sees Brendan, the quietly spoken IT guy who comes round to fix her computer, as a loving and protective man and – as time passes – a potential father figure for Matty. Caroline and Vick, on the other hand, see him as jealous, controlling and potentially dangerous. He appears to be a man with a secret past.

What her friends don’t know is that Julia has secrets of her own and, if they get out, they will almost certainly shatter her fragile domestic bliss.

Landsliding is a compelling drama that turns your expectations on their head with a subtle twist to leave you wondering where your sympathies truly lie.

My review

Julia relies a lot on her friends Caroline and Vick and their husbands after her own husband left her and their son Matty.
But when Julia meets Brendan, her friends are suspicious about him. The relationship moves to quickly and Brendan seems too jealous and controlling.
Julia does not shares their worries and is happy she met someone loving and protective and even cares about Matty.

Brendan behavior goes from caring and loving to over-protective and controlling, even causing a distance between Julia and her best friends.
Behind his behavior lays a secret he is not willing to share. But also Julia has a secret of her own…

From the first moment, I felt pity for Julia… without a real explanation, her husband leaves her and doesn’t even tries to keep in touch with their son. Of course, a single mom cannot manage to solve all the problems in her household. Luckily for her, she can always rely on her friends. But when Brendan appears in the story, you feel that something is going to happen…

I understand the reservations Caroline and Vick had towards Brendan. He appears out of the blue, and he makes himself rather quickly part of Julia’s life.
I found him too smooth, too eager to be involved with Julia. From the first instance I disliked him.
But I have to admit the way the acts with Matty, is admirable. Matty is just a little boy missing his father. And Brendan does not see Matty as a burden, but wants to see him happy.
But here also, something kept nagging me that something was just off…
No matter what good act Brendan was doing, I kept having this feeling of distrust. You feel something big is coming out and I was afraid of what it could be.

Julia initially was a kind of a doormat… she was tired of being alone and grabs at the first opportunity to have someone who takes matters in hand. And when the first signs of Brendan being off appears, she keeps on defending him, even if she knows Brendan is behaving oddly.
But slowly Julia grows in the story. She goes from ‘doormat’ to a woman who wants to know the truth and wants to gain her own independence.

This story made me change sympathies all the time. I liked Julia, but when she betrayed her friends, I didn’t like her that much anymore.
Talking about her friends… Caroline and Vick seemed like real friends, but when Vick broke off all contact with Julia, it seemed a reaction too extreme if you take in account they were best friends.
And Caroline acts with the best intentions, but she also once in a while seems too possessive and wants to be acknowledged instead of just having her friend’s back.

This story makes you wonder who you can really trust and who is having a secret agenda. Each character has something dodgy and even if I felt sympathetic towards someone, I couldn’t shake that odd feeling…
When all the secrets are out, all the pieces of the puzzle come together and everything makes sense. And I even felt a bit embarrassed for being so mistrusting…

But the last chapter was something I didn’t see coming at all! It made me rethink of everything I read before and doubting if I had skipped some important clue or not!
So the end was not really the end and left me even with bigger questions than I already had!

Oh wow, just look at this cover! Doesn’t it make you curious???

Synopsis

A heart warming, feel good romantic comedy. 

‘I absolutely adored this book. It gave me all the feels! A charming read full of warmth and heart.’ ***** Kim the Bookworm

Bea Winters is in desperate need of a fresh start. Being bullied at work is not her idea of fun and she longs to follow her dream of becoming a published author. When an advert appears in her local paper to work in a publishing house in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale, it sounds too good to be true.  

She strikes up an instant friendship with gorgeous aspiring author, Eddie Richards and her dashing millionaire boss Scott Summers 

But all isn’t as it seems in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale.

How does the local clairvoyant know her name? Who does the little black dog that keeps appearing belong to and why does she keep bumping into the mysterious Charlie?  

As she starts to unravel the truth, it seems that everyone in Bea’s life is keeping secrets.  

An uplifting romantic comedy that will warm your heart – perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews.  

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winters-Gift-Florence-Keeling-ebook/dp/B07KDWRWXP/#ace-4131440328

US –  https://www.amazon.com/Winters-Gift-Florence-Keeling-ebook/dp/B07KDWRWXP/

About The Author

Florence Keeling adopted for her pen-name her Great Grandmother’s name, chosen because of the shared birthday of April Fool’s Day.  She is married with two teenage chidren.  Born and raised in Coventry, England she now lives just outside in Nuneaton.  Reflected Destinies is her first novel.

Florence Keeling also writes for children under the name of Lily Mae Walters.

Cover Revelation

Deep thoughts…

Synopsis

Relationships are complicated. Long distance ones, even more so. When AJ Williams met Lisa Millar online through mutual friends, he wasn’t prepared to fall in love with the woman of his dreams. In a heart-wrenching story of love attempting to transcend miles, AJ finds himself married, fighting a battle against his Bipolar Disorder and on the wrong side of the Atlantic from the woman he truly loves. Will their love conquer all? Or will the intricacies of a relationship woven across the Atlantic be too much to take and tear them apart once and for all?

** Warning ** Book ends on a cliffhanger!!

My review

AJ Williams and Lisa Millar are trying to make the best of their long distance relationship. But the distance is a big issue when the both of them need the other to be physical present.
AJ finds it a struggle to be so far away from the woman he loves. Add his marriage he tries to find a way out of it, and struggles with this Bipolar Disorder, it’s not easy to be AJ Williams…

Oh wow again… I thought I knew everything about this love story, but was I wrong!
Already in the first part we know how hard a long distance relationship is. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Reading AJ’s side of the story made me understand him better. And the way his Bipolar Disorder is described, made me realize that this is something that is harder to face than I thought. You see how AJ is having problems with his feelings and how the negative thoughts take the upper hand. He knows that how he acts is not the right way, but it’s something out of his control.
I knew that Bipolar Disorder is not something to take lightly, but the full extend was not clear to me. And thanks to this story I see it a bit clearer now.

My sympathy only grew for AJ the further I was reading. He is not afraid to show emotions and is always trying to help other people. Even if this means that he makes the wrong decision…
But he is also man enough to admit his mistake and put the right priority first.

Overall, you see that Lasairiona is not afraid to raise health issues, both physical and mental. She does not sugarcoat them, but manages to express exactly what a person goes through and she points out that it’s not possible to handle it by yourself. Asking for help is not a weakness, but the total opposite. It means that you’re strong enough to admit you cannot get out of it and that you need help.

And at the moment you think it’s all going the way it should be going, it all ends with a GIGANTIC cliffhanger!
Will this cause AJ to drift back? Just one way to figure it out: reading the next part ASAP!

Facing the past in Cannes.

Synopsis

A sweeping, bittersweet love story amidst the glitz and the glamour of the French Riviera.

Two very different women are starring in their own real-life dramas behind the scenes of the Cannes Film Festival.

Newly in love, Anna Carson returns to the Festival for the first time in nearly 40 years hoping to reconcile her past with her present-day happiness. 

Journalist Daisy Harris is looking for a big scoop at her first Festival and is determined to embrace her new single status amongst all the glitz and glamour.

Behind the champagne and parties, secrets from the past are bubbling to the surface and difficult decisions need to be taken.

One thing’s for certain – by the end of the Film Festival their lives will have changed forever…

My review

When you think of Cannes, there is 1 event that you think of: the Film Festival.
Anna Carson returns to the Festival after nearly 40 years avoiding the place. But this year she cannot runaway, as her film will be projected.
Daisy Harris is a young journalist, grabbing the opportunity to write about the Festival.

Anna rented the cottage of Daisy’s sister, so by sheer coincidence the two very different people meet.
Behind all the glitter and glamour of the Film Festival, Anna must face her past she avoided for so many years, while Daisy is figuring out what she really wants from her personal life and her career as a journalist.

A story taking place around the Cannes Film Festival, it’s like combining 2 of my favorite things: books and movies. So I immediately jumped to the opportunity to read this book. And I got more than I thought!

From the first time we meet Anna, we know she has a big secret. And her resolution is to come clean about with the involved people. But tragedy strikes again and Anna feels she lost the opportunity. Luckily for her, she can rely on Leo, her unexpected love of her life.
But when we get to know her secret, it’s not the end of the book.

The burdens Anna is carrying for so many years are not so easy to be exposed. But you see the difference in Anna once it’s out there. She is no longer ashamed of what happened 40 years ago, but is ready to embrace the past and build a future together with her love Leo.

Daisy is at a crossroad: she is enjoying her life as a single woman, but as her work is not such a certainty anymore, she has to decide what her next step will be.
Is chasing famous people to find a scoop her true calling? Or is it time for her to pursue her dream and just work freelance?

I truly enjoyed reading this book, as it was nice to grasp the excitement of the Film Festival. The energy just came out of the book!
But not only the excitement of Cannes was what I liked, also the way the author exposed each and every feeling.
I felt the pain Anna was having, and understood why it was so hard to come clean about everything.
Also Daisy’s enthusiasm was contagious. While she was writing her own finding about Cannes, I could sense her excitement.
But the way Daisy dealt with her discoveries was admirable. Being a journalist, it would have been so easy to take advantage of the situation and make it easier for her. But this would have been so out of character, as we get to know Daisy as a lovely, caring lady. And her meeting with a ‘nanny’ was just adorable!

An amazing story taking place in an amazing setting, which made me feel like I was finding myself in Cannes! 

Facing the past in Cannes.

Synopsis

A sweeping, bittersweet love story amidst the glitz and the glamour of the French Riviera.

Two very different women are starring in their own real-life dramas behind the scenes of the Cannes Film Festival.

Newly in love, Anna Carson returns to the Festival for the first time in nearly 40 years hoping to reconcile her past with her present-day happiness. 

Journalist Daisy Harris is looking for a big scoop at her first Festival and is determined to embrace her new single status amongst all the glitz and glamour.

Behind the champagne and parties, secrets from the past are bubbling to the surface and difficult decisions need to be taken.

One thing’s for certain – by the end of the Film Festival their lives will have changed forever…

My review

When you think of Cannes, there is 1 event that you think of: the Film Festival.
Anna Carson returns to the Festival after nearly 40 years avoiding the place. But this year she cannot runaway, as her film will be projected.
Daisy Harris is a young journalist, grabbing the opportunity to write about the Festival.

Anna rented the cottage of Daisy’s sister, so by sheer coincidence the two very different people meet.
Behind all the glitter and glamour of the Film Festival, Anna must face her past she avoided for so many years, while Daisy is figuring out what she really wants from her personal life and her career as a journalist.

A story taking place around the Cannes Film Festival, it’s like combining 2 of my favorite things: books and movies. So I immediately jumped to the opportunity to read this book. And I got more than I thought!

From the first time we meet Anna, we know she has a big secret. And her resolution is to come clean about with the involved people. But tragedy strikes again and Anna feels she lost the opportunity. Luckily for her, she can rely on Leo, her unexpected love of her life.
But when we get to know her secret, it’s not the end of the book.

The burdens Anna is carrying for so many years are not so easy to be exposed. But you see the difference in Anna once it’s out there. She is no longer ashamed of what happened 40 years ago, but is ready to embrace the past and build a future together with her love Leo.

Daisy is at a crossroad: she is enjoying her life as a single woman, but as her work is not such a certainty anymore, she has to decide what her next step will be.
Is chasing famous people to find a scoop her true calling? Or is it time for her to pursue her dream and just work freelance?

I truly enjoyed reading this book, as it was nice to grasp the excitement of the Film Festival. The energy just came out of the book!
But not only the excitement of Cannes was what I liked, also the way the author exposed each and every feeling.
I felt the pain Anna was having, and understood why it was so hard to come clean about everything.
Also Daisy’s enthusiasm was contagious. While she was writing her own finding about Cannes, I could sense her excitement.
But the way Daisy dealt with her discoveries was admirable. Being a journalist, it would have been so easy to take advantage of the situation and make it easier for her. But this would have been so out of character, as we get to know Daisy as a lovely, caring lady. And her meeting with a ‘nanny’ was just adorable!

An amazing story taking place in an amazing setting, which made me feel like I was finding myself in Cannes!