Just never give up hope and faith!

Synopsis

The 2019 Victorian romance from the Sunday Times bestselling author.

A perfect Dickensian saga for Christmas.

Christmas Day, London 1880. Snow falls … a dying Irish girl clutching her new-born baby drags herself to the sanctuary of an East End orphanage and throws herself on the mercy of the Sisters of Clemency. The nuns raise little Ettie O’Reilly as their own, but the lives of the nuns and orphans are soon crushed by an unscrupulous bishop. The heart-breaking outcome turns Ettie’s life upside down and Christmas will never mean the same again.

Will Ettie ever find her friend Michael Wilson whose secret holds the key to their past? Will Ettie keep her innocence and survive the traumatic events that are about to erupt?

My review

Ettie’s young life started already rough. She never knew her mother, as she grew up in a monastery. For her, it was a great time, but when the monastery needs to close, she knows her life she knew comes to an end.

The rest of her growing up, she goes from happy moments to moments of great despair. Het next employer is a good one, but soon big misfortunes take place.

Each time Ettie thinks her life gets a little bit better, something happens and her life gets worse than before.

You feel Ettie’s pain when you are reading the rougher parts. I had a real hard time reading those bits, because Ettie did nothing wrong to be on the receiving part of such misfortunes.

Like every girl, she just wants to be happy. She doesn’t desire richness or wealth. She just wants to find Michael again and wants to feel loved.

Despite the bad things, I also felt hope. Ettie did not ever give up her faith and believed some good would come her way.

And it’s her good spirits that made me feel good about this story!

Christmas and lots of love!

Synopsis

No matter how far you go, home is where the heart is…

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up rather than risk her family’s disapproval, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle – but now she’s finally returning to Glendale Hall.

As Beth tries to mend her broken family ties, and fights to bring the community of Glendale back together, she realises that the story she has told herself for a decade might well be a very different one from the truth. Even though she ran from Glendale it has never left her heart. And, she soon realises, neither has Drew – Beth’s first love.

Will Beth be able to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? What will Drew say when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for so long? Can a festive trail bring the village back together?

Will Christmas work its magic on Glendale – or will Beth be forced to run away from it all over again?

A charming, uplifting novel that will warm your heart – the perfect read to curl up with this autumn. Fans of Trisha Ashley, Debbie Johnson and Cathy Bramley will love this gorgeously romantic read.

My review

All you need is a little bit of Christmas magic.

This was just an amazing story about love, family and forgiveness.

10 years ago Beth Williams ran away from home, being pregnant. She moved from Scotland to London to raise her child alone, but the way she wanted, giving Izzy all the love of the world.
But when the news arrives that her grandmother is terminal sick, she decides to face her demons and go back to Glendale Hall. Not only she faces her demons, but also people from her past, as Drew, the man she loved so deeply 10 years ago.

It seems a rather ‘easy’ story, a story you’ve read too many in the past. But don’t get fooled, it’s so much more.
Beth’s family is one full of secrets, and keeping high standards. So coming home for Beth is not that easy.

I truly enjoyed this story, and I am not ashamed to say that I just finished it in less than 24 hours.
It has all what you expect from a Christmas story and more!
Just when I thought we were nearly the end, I discovered I was only halfway the book and there was so much more to be resolved. And more secrets ready to come out!

Beth is in my opinion an amazing, strong woman. Despite her past, she stands up for herself, her own little family and her beliefs.
And slowly she also stands up for her feelings.

Izzy is a wonderful child, who adores books.
And Drew is just Mr. Perfect!

So if you are searching for a great story around Christmas, read this one!

Just so sad when you realise how tragic someone’s life can be…

Synopsis

Her life may not be perfect but she’s happy. Until she makes a terrible decision – and learns the hard way that home is not a place of refuge.

Not while Simon lurks in every shadow. 

He groomed her as a teen: terrorised her into fleeing, leaving her baby behind. Now the man who destroyed her childhood has become the perfect father to her teenage daughter. And her return threatens his future.

A desperate man is a dangerous one. 

Simon says she must leave or suffer the consequences. She refuses.

Now it’s his move. Because it’s not enough to face your demons. 

Sometimes, you must destroy them.

My review

Sometimes you know right from the start you’re going to read about a tragic person.

But you have to learn how tragic Cindy is.

Unfortunately Cindy is one of those persons where you think all hope is lost.

As a young girl, she has been terrorised by Simon, causing her to flee.

And from there on, her life has been a twirl of bad decisions.

After the last tragedy, she goes back to her childhood home, hoping to escape the current threat. But she cannot escape the past threat.

As the story goes back and forth from past to present, we get to know Cindy and learn how she was as a young girl.

Unfortunately, her family wasn’t the best one and that lead her straight into the arms of Simon. But he had a secret agenda and just used her as he pleased.

Being back is putting her and her twin in danger as Simon still lurkes behind every corner.

Can she never escape her past?

Luckily she can count on her old friend, Troy. Even though he doesn’t know what happened, he is there for her, giving a helping hand when needed.

And so Cindy finds the strength, for her and her children, to fight back.

This is a sad story, as you are faced with the sick minds of people, and their victims. It shows that one decision can change the course of your life, and that you can get sucked into a downward spiral.

But before you go thinking it’s a too depressing story, this is also about facing your demons. And with the help of real friends, you can learn to stand up for yourself and take charge of your own life.

Sometimes all you need is a nudge in your back, and suddenly you’re tired of being a constant victim. And you start fighting back, fighting for a future you deserve!

Mysteries ahead!

Synopsis

Audrey, recently widowed, is not saying why she left her comfortable home in the south of England to move into an old school boarding house on the edge of a moor. Tina, a young estate agent, is concerned for Audrey’s safety as she believes the folklore about a schoolboy who never went home. Property developers, annoyed at losing a site ripe for demolition, make plans to encourage Audrey to sell. Malcolm, a charming widower, brings a welcome light into Audrey’s life until it shines into a very dark corner…

My review

This book is full of mysteries and just keep you guessing.

For me, it even gave me goosebumps when really strange things happens!

The story gives you an insight in several people, like Robert, Tina and Audrey. They are all connected by 1 thing: an old boarding school.

Robert used to go there, Tina sold the school and Audrey bought it.

But as simple as this seems, their lives is so much more complicated.

Through Robert his diary, we get to know the hard way of life at a boarding school in the past.

And when we are learning more from Tina and Audrey, doubts arise: are ghosts real or is it just a trick of the mind as there are several urban legends?

And how are all the people connected with each other? What happened really in the past and what effect did it have on the present?

For me, it was a real ‘sit on the edge on your seat’ story, I had the need to know what happened!

Slowly all the mysteries onfold and the truth comes out.

But just when you think ‘it’s all out there, now it will all end well’, there is another twist and we are again anxious for the next thing!

So hide yourself for your family and friends, because you’ll be hooked to this story!

It’s all about never giving up your dreams!

Synopsis

She’s about to launch her dream business. The last thing she needs is a distracting housemate and his son…

Shelby is excited to open a shop with her best friend. But with Janna just-married and moved out, she worries their hopes of starting a boutique will never come true. And things get more complicated when her old distrust of men is put to the test by her handsome new roommate and his little boy…

With Oktoberfest decorations forgotten and replaced by Christmas cheer, she slowly allows Shane and the child a space in her heart. But she doesn’t trust her second chance at romance or the success of her boutique when surprising news threatens her newly minted courage.

Can Shelby find the strength to let her ambitions flourish, along with her new passion?

Bedazzled Dreamer is the second touching book in the Inspiration In Cologne women’s fiction series. If you like heartwarming stories, cozy small towns, and festive holiday experiences, then you’ll love Deborah King’s romantic women’s fiction tale.

My review

From the very beginning, you know Shelby has been through big problems in the past. But that won’t stop her chasing her dreams!

But trusting men, that’s still a big issue, and her world gets turned upside down when Shane and his son Nate go living with her. Can she trust this handsome man?

Luckily for her, she has a bunch of awesome friends who assure her that her intuition is still working just fine.

Despite her low self esteem, slowly she grows in the story, trusting her friends to back her up if necessary.

She goes from a small girl to a strong woman, going for what she truly desires.

Even if there are some moments that are heavy, it’s written so easily that you gather the mood, but it won’t put you down.

I enjoyed this story, as it teaches you that even whatever it was in your past, you can be a strong person again!

And Shane is just the perfect man, as he is patient, understanding and so caring!

And he’s also a perfect dad!

Nate is just too cute for words! For me, he was the secret key of success of this book!

So if you’re in for a story about finding your place and great people, read this book!

Feel the feelings!

Synopsis

Sam lives by the mantra that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.  

After the tragic loss of her husband, Sam built a new life around friends, her cat Coco and a career she loves. Fending off frequent set-ups and well-meaning advice to ‘move on’, Sam is resolutely happy being single.

But when Sam gets seconded to her firm’s Boston office for the summer, it is more than her career that is in for a shake-up. A spur of the moment decision to visit the idyllic beaches of Cape Cod could end up changing her life forever.

My review

My my my, so many feelings that I even can’t express what I feel…

Sam lost the love of her life and still after all these years, she finds it hard to move on without her Kev.

She has her friends, but does not date, does not go out, she just ‘is’.

When for her work she has to move to Boston for 3 months, she accepts this new adventure.

And here she get to know new people, befriends them and slowly she opens up again.

Meeting with Ethan even gives hope for a new step in her life. Or not?

While I was reading, I understood where Sam is coming from. She HAD the love of her life and she lost him. So why would she settle for less, when she knows that what she felt for Kev is something she will never feel again?

But is it right to continue living in the past? Not thinking about what the future can bring?

So yes, I understand Sam, but I also wanted her to just go for it. It’s right to mourn over someone who we loved, and the pain of that loss will never disappear, but we all have to find a place in ourselves where that pain can stay but without taking over our whole life.

After a while it’s ok to be happy again and think with happiness about that person without feeling guilty.

Time for some deep digging inside yourself and realise we’re not so bad at all!

Synopsis

No longer content to just be Snappigram sensations, folk hop singers Zeke and Angelique are ready to move up from coffee house performances to the big stage. With songs like “Uh Huh, Future Baby Mama” and “Don’t Worry About the Bills, Little Missus” there’s pretty much no way they can fail. 

But if their musical career takes off, will it leave their love behind?

This satirical novella about an over-the-top fame hungry duo is for fans of David Sedaris and Don DeLillo.

My review

In a world where people are more and more selfish and social media is all over the place, Zeke and Angelique try make in the music branch.

They are deeply in love with each other and there is not an ounce of doubt that their dream will come true.

These 2 people are so self-absorbed, selfish and mean toward other people that it’s just hilarious. Their love is also so over the top and unreal. The fights they get into are so unnecessary and futile. And the drama they are making of little things just made me roll my eyes and made me have a good laugh.

The real world is getting more and more self-centered and everybody just thinks how much they can gain more from life. And this satire shows how people can be at their worse without even realising it.

But it’s written so light-hearted that yes, you understand the underlying message but you accept it with a smile.

And you realise that you’re not so bad yourself, luckily!

Slowly getting into a story isn’t always a bad thing!

Synopsis

A family ripped asunder.
A terrible secret lurks in a thrilling novel of love, grief, and mystery.

Patrick thought his grandfather, John, died before he was born.
In later life, he finds out that it wasn’t true. For the first five years of Patrick’s life, they stayed in the same small village.
So why were they kept apart?

Patrick wishes to search the past to find the reason – but only if he can be united with his young daughter first.
And that means bringing her home to Scotland.
It means journeying to France to take her away from the care of her mother, Patrick’s ex-wife. 

In 1915, with the war raging in Europe, John is a young man working on the family farm. Not yet old enough to enlist but aware of its looming threat, he meets Catherine. But his attempts at courtship end suddenly when an accident rips his life apart.

Told in alternate chapters, set, mainly, in South-West Scotland, this is the dramatic story of Patrick, interwoven with John’s traumatic life.

My review

Sometimes you know that you just have to go through a little bit of pain before you enjoy a story. And this is what happened to me when I was reading this book.
Those first chapters were really hard for me to get into the story. I just didn’t feel the pull of it. But deep down inside I just KNEW I shouldn’t just give up and put it away.

So after initial struggle, somehow and somewhere during the story I had found it.

Out of the blue I was pulled into it and I couldn’t put it away.

This is a book containing 2 stories, the story of John and the story of Patrick, grandson of John.
After the death of his father, Patrick wants to know why James wanted to be buried next to his father, when apparently they weren’t really close.

Slowly we get to know both Patrick and John better. Both lives were scarred by some dramatic events and the difficulty of processing those events.
Both characters seem a bit introvert. They have acquaintances but don’t have a real group of friends who they can rely on. This makes their struggle in life even harder.

John will do everything in his possession to make his little boy happy, but one crucial decision throws a spanner in the works.
And Robert is determined to rebuild a life with his ex-wife.
But there is so much to be discovered and secrets to be uncovered.

And this is what made me like the book. When the moment arrives that everything is settling down for the best, another secret is unfolded and the newly found peace is all in the drain again.

So if you are looking for a story that keeps on intriguing you, demanding your attention, go on, read this one!  

The most perfect time to reveal a Christmas book is September!

One Week ‘til Christmas

Two people. One chance meeting. Seven days to Christmas.

Isobel Bennett is waiting for the number 11 bus when a man quite literally falls into her lap. Snow is falling, Christmas lights are twinkling, and a gorgeous man with dark brown hair has just slipped on ice and is now pressed against Isobel.

Isobel knows she’s not imagining the chemistry between them. But then his ride arrives and, embarrassed, he beats a hasty retreat, murmuring apologies – and Isobel realises only too late that she didn’t manage to catch his name…

When she runs into him again the next morning, she decides it’s fate.

It’s a second chance for Isobel and Tom – but there’s only one week until she’s leaving London for good. Seven days of enjoying all the festive delights the city has to offer: ice-skating at Somerset House, mulled wine on the Southbank, Christmas shopping at Liberty.

There’s magic in the air and mistletoe in the trees – but what will happen when the week is over?

For fans of Josie Silver, Lucy Diamond and Marian Keyes, this is one Christmas romance you don’t want to miss!

Pre-order Links: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07VXLVLJW/

https://www.amazon.com.au/One-Week-Christmas-Belinda-Missen-ebook/dp/B07VXLVLJW

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VXLVLJW

https://books.apple.com/us/book/one-week-til-christmas/id1475077464?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Belinda_Missen_One_Week_Til_Christmas?id=W4CmDwAAQBAJ

https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/one-week-til-christmas

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-week-til-christmas-belinda-missen/1132755266?ean=9780008296933

Author Bio – 

Author and sometimes foodie, Belinda is a ridiculous romantic who met her husband after being set up by a friend two states away. 

Residing in country Victoria, surrounded by books, cat-fur, and half-eaten cake, Belinda divides her days between writing rom-coms, baking, and indulging her love of comic books.

Social Media Links – 

www.belindamissen.com

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