Can love be stronger than anything else?

Synopsis

Return to Northumberland where happy ever afters await…

Take a magical trip to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of warmth and joy, it will leave you with a wide smile and a yearning to visit this iconic location in person.

When the almost unbelievable truth about Kittiwake Penaluna’s heritage comes to light, the residents are shocked, but in true island fashion they rally together to protect their fledgling chick as she faces life-changing revelations.

Meanwhile, the island mourns the loss of its beloved village butcher, and the closure of the shop on Main Street leaves a hole at the heart of the community. Then, when other businesses unexpectedly close, rumours begin to circulate about who might be behind the unsettling changes.

As familiar faces depart, new ones arrive, but not everything is as it seems. And when a despised figure from the past returns, old tensions resurface and the island is thrown into further turmoil.

Amid the chaos, Ellie and Zen finally begin preparing for their long-awaited wedding, but as always on the island, nothing goes quite according to plan. With difficult decisions to make and obstacles to overcome, they soon discover that they can weather any storm, because love always endures on Lindisfarne…

My review

Ellie and Zen are truly looking forward to their wedding. While they are rather laidback about how they want things to take place, even in a lovely place like Lindisfarne nothing ever go as planned. But while this may be the wedding of the year, there are other troubles that worry the community of the wonderful island. Not only is there the truth about Kittiwake’s heritage and how it will affect more than just Kitti’s life. But the sudden death of the village butcher means that not only the shop has closed, it also means the arrival of two newcomers that may not seem to fit with the warm community that Lindisfarne is. However, the worst is the return of an old face, that nobody is waiting for. And that person is more than willing to shake things back up, and not in a good way…

I need to say, before I start reviewing the story itself, that it is said that you can read is as a standalone, I suggest you read the whole series. Yes, it is said that a richer reader experience is it recommended to read Book Nr1, but if I wouldn’t have read the previous parts, I know that I would have struggled with keeping up with everything. So I truly recommend to read the whole series, as it is not only easier but also a wonderful bigger story!

Right from the start, I felt like coming home again, I felt embraced by the warmth that the people of Lindisfarne share. No matter who they are, what age, gender, or occupation they have, Lindisfarne is the place where everyone is welcome, where you will find yourself accepted for who you are. Of course if you are just as kind and loving and as everyone else!

It truly warmed my heart to see how huge the love still is between Ellie and Zen. They cannot wait to get married, and neither could i! I wanted to see the culmination of their love, and I was curious to see what their wedding would look like.

But not only the love they share for each other was great, I loved reading how parental they still are of Kitti, even if they know about her parentage. Their behaviour and protectiveness does not only show what great parents they will be in some future, but also that they are the kind of people that will love you unconditionally.

However, and unfortunately, life on Lindisfarne isn’t only filled with rainbows and unicorns…

When the beloved village butcher passes away, obviously his wife Dora is not only shocked but devastated by losing the love of her life. And I could understand how she needed some time off, but I was also a bit scared upon her return with her nieces. Not that the nieces are evil, but you will understand what I mean with stating they are a bit weird and unworldly.

Even if I didn’t warm to the siblings immediately, I was hoping that soon they would see how wonderful it is to be living in Lindisfarne and that they would open up more and become truly a part of the community.

And then the return nobody wanted… If you know the series you know who I am talking about. And if this is your first encounter with the series, well, let me just tell you that that character is someone that is able to drive everyone crazy!

I was afraid of that return, and for sure, there are moments that if I could I would let my Italian fury unleash upon that person! And furthermore, her return also made me fear that people that redeemed themselves previously would fall back in past behaviour. Something I just didn’t want to happen.

Because (and I am truly trying to keep it all spoiler – free here 😊) I truly liked how not just this character, but mainly this character, has matured since the last book. And falling back into old habits would be affecting also other people now. People that have already been through enough…

However, despite all the drama that is taking place in Lindisfarne, even things that I haven’t addressed here, and twists that made me even fear for the wedding, we see in this beautiful story that no matter how life can take a turn – and not always for the better – finding yourself surrounded by great, caring, loving people can turn something bad (or not so great) into something amazing.

And that is the strength of the island, and thus of the book. Because there is so much love, warmth, kindness and acceptance in it. It sparks from all the pages, you just love all the characters (with the exception of a few…) and you find yourself wishing to go to Lindisfarne yourself.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this next instalment. And even if it has been a while for me that I have read the previous part, it felt like I never left and I for sure never wanted to leave! 😊

When the task is to find a match, but then you start falling yourself for your customer

Synopsis

A Regency fairytale retelling with a grumpy sunshine romance

To make her mark…
She must find his match!

It’s a tale as old as time: Lucas Worthing, a wealthy Viscount, is reluctantly obliged to find a high-society wife. Especially with a deathbed promise to his mother to fulfill! But the odds are stacked against battle-scarred Lucas when the gossip sheets persist in calling him the Beast of Barnett House. Enter the Cupid’s Arrow Agency…

Matchmaking for reclusive Lucas won’t be easy, but plucky Ophelia Granger isn’t deterred by his imposing castle or gruff demeanor. If she can pull this off, her business stands a chance of success. Yet there’s nothing harder than finding a bride for the man you’re falling for yourself!

My review

Growing up as orphan hasn’t been easy for Ophelia Granger. But with her self found sisters, things are changing for the better. Ophelia is even ready now to open her own agency, after seeing how her matchmaking skills have brought happiness to the people around her. Now she just needs to find the first customer for her Cupid’s Arrow Agency, which is easier said than done. Until after a theft, Viscount Lucas Worthing comes to her rescue. Lucas is reluctant to get married, as his battle scars and his reclusiveness have gossipers let him name the Beast of Barnett. But a promise to his mother made on her deathbed, is making Lucas searching for a wife, not out of love, but out of convenience. And why not help out a new acquaintance with her new business and hire her with his search for a wife. Ophelia could not be more thrilled with her new task and is adamant to show society that Lucas is anything but a Beast… But the more time Ophelia and Lucas spend together, the more Ophelia realizes that she is falling for Lucas. So how can she find the perfect match for Lucas, while she wants to be that person herself, even if Lucas does not want to marry out of love at all…

No matter what era we are living in, aren’t we all searching our perfect match in love? And haven’t we all struggled or are still struggling with actually finding that person? So why would finding love in the Regency era be any different?

Oooh riiiiight, there is something like society, expectations, and let’s be honest, often marriages aren’t made out of love, but rather out of convenience… And when a Viscount is literally and figuratively scarred by his past, things only get more complicated…

Right from the start, I felt truly proud of Ophelia. Having read the other book of the series, I knew where Ophelia and her sisters (yes, they are truly sisters, even if it’s not by blood) came from and how hard they have worked to be where they are now in their lives.

And I was extra proud of Ophelia, as she is ready to open her own business, something that isn’t so usual for women in Regency. To be even more in awe of her, Ophelia opens a matchmaking business, wanting to find love and happiness for everyone. Ophelia made some great matches already and wanting to use her ‘talent’ to make other people fall in love, why not?

It shows what a kind character Ophelia is, wanting others to find love and happiness, even if she hasn’t found it herself yet. And while she is patient for her own prince to appear, she is also eager to see who it will be.

But Ophelia is also a strong woman, because the more the story evolves, and the more she interacts with a sometimes very stubborn Lucas, she stands her ground and even knows how to ‘play’ him, to get him more outside and increase the possibilities of finding the match he is looking for. I could see how her business would become a real success, as Ophelia has found the perfect blend of kindness and determination 😊.

However, her very first client, Viscount Lucas Worthing, for sure is a challenge!

On one hand, I could understand how he isn’t looking for love, broken by it before, but also how he is afraid that his looks won’t ever make someone love him for the person he is. Also he didn’t have a great example in his life. And to make things worse, his guilt also makes him believe that he doesn’t deserve love, or happiness.

A guilt that shows also what a great character he in fact is, and how wrong his nickname of Beast of Barnett is. Because while he wasn’t at fault at all at what happened in the past, he does everything what he can to at least alleviate the pain and grief that he believes he caused. I am sure that not everyone would act the same!

Yet this kind side of his character is something that not many people see. Not only because he is rather reclusive, but all the gossip about his persona isn’t helping either. Yet it is something that I wanted, needed, everyone to see, to understand that scars don’t define a person.

On the other hand, I wanted to slap Lucas, because no matter what, everyone deserves to find the perfect match, to marry out of love and not just because you find someone to be content with the rest of your life.

And yes, I wanted, needed Ophelia to see the real Lucas as soon as possible, because it is obvious how the feelings, emotions will change throughout the story. And the quicker things start to get interesting, the better 😊.

It was very interesting to read how Ophelia and Lucas are working together to find Lucas’s perfect match in a very limited time. And yes, I laughed reading how Ophelia just sees trough Lucas’s attempts to just stay inside. And I found it sweet too reading how Ophelia just gets his trepidation of doing that, but still is able to let him do what she tell him to do.

Slowly, (even too slow for me 😊), we see how Lucas is able to let his guard down, and how Ophelia sees the real Lucas. And those moments were just the best! Of course there is still the issue that Lucas is not looking for love, and it would be strange if Ophelia would end up with her client, wouldn’t it?

I absolutely loved reading this story, about love, strength, self-acceptance and courage to love again. Of course there are hurdles, but that is also in real life, isn’t it? Jeanine shows us with this story that love is universal, accepting and wonderful. And that once you open your heart to it, and to that special person, it can change everything in the best of ways.

Giveaway time!

Enter for the chance to win a signed print copy of Beauty and the Brooding Viscount (book 2 in the Regency Fairytales series) and a beautiful custom necklace that matches the cover made by @gioiellibijitcreations! 

*Terms and Conditions –INT entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://gleam.io/xFIM7/giveaway-escape-into-a-fairytale-summer-open-int

How a spring holiday is not only needed, but full of changes too

Synopsis

After a successful seasonal opening in April, friends Emma and Annarita are eager to welcome a new set of guests to their Umbrian inn during the full bloom of May.

Upstate New Yorker Lisa needs an escape from betrayal and the prying eyes of her smalltown neighbors. Elderly, reclusive artist Antonio hopes leaving Milan for a country sojourn will spark his long dormant creative muse. Manhattan socialite mother Sharon grudgingly embarks on a country holiday with her young son, Josh, with whom she shares few interests. Roman author Margherita prefers time spent alone, but her career may depend on a stay in bucolic Todi among fellow guests. And Emma and Annarita are anxious to embrace their close friend Tiffany on her brief stay in the heart of Umbria.

The swallows may have returned and colorful petals now dot the countryside, but will the inn’s atmosphere allow hurts to heal and friendships to blossom?

My review

April has been a great seasonal opening for the Three Coins Inn, and friends Emma and Annarita cannot wait for the new guests to arrive in Todi. But where especially Emma hopes that the group of strangers somehow will connect, the new guests are not kind ready to mingle. New Yorker Lisa needs an escape after a heartbreak. Antonio is a reclusive artist who has lived an exciting life in the past in Milan, but has also a connection with the Inn. Meanwhile Sharon has left Manhattan togethers with her younger son Josh, hoping to reconnect with the young boy. And then there is Margherita, a Roman author, who is struggling with her next book and her career may even be at risk. All the guests have their own issues and worries, and are not looking to bond with someone else. But not only May, but mainly the Three Coins Inn somehow works its magic and somehow connections will be made. But which ones, how, and how will it affect the lives of the guests?

When I start reading a story when there are guests staying in a hotel, a inn, in a residence, I am always a bit afraid that firstly, I will get confused about all the different storylines and secondly, that it will be more difficult connecting with the characters, as they have to share the spotlight with others.

But luckily, this book kept it all very clear for me, and I somehow connected with (almost) everyone, even if each guest was very different and unique.

And I say that I connected with almost everyone, because unfortunately for the biggest part of the story (and I hope the author will forgive me…) I did not like Sharon at all… And I will talk first about this and then I will talk about what I did like about the book 😊.

Because right from the start, Sharon is struggling with how different Josh is from her first son. And that is something I found difficult to comprehend, because each child is just different, and just because one son loves sports, doesn’t mean the other son does too. On the other hand, I could in a small way understand Sharon, as especially in a place like Manhattan,  presence and exposure is everything.

Yet I found her selfish too, just letting Josh roam around the place on his own, while she is enjoying massages, spa,… Even if I wouldn’t have a real connection with my child, I would be too terrified to let my young child just wander around. Because let’s be honest, you never know who may be lurking around the corner, even if the Inn sounds like a very safe place.

But I have to admit that Josh is the surprise for me. Despite his young age, not only is he supersmart, he also has a talent for languages and a real artistic streak. And his genuineness, innocence and his whole being, just too adorable!

And his eagerness is impossible to resist, as Antonio can confirm!

I didn’t know what to think about Antonio initially, as he just gave me different vibes. One moment I was in awe of his artistic talent, the other moment I found him rather selfish, especially when he was telling about his past. However, the more time he spends painting, the more time Josh is also spending with him, the more we see Antonio’s heart melting in a way.

And yes, even if I didn’t agree with his past actions, I felt sorry for Antonio, as he truly regrets the mistakes he made and there is no chance of redeeming them. And there is also an event, or rather incident, that made me even feel more sorry for him.

Another person that I felt sorry for, was Margherita. In a way, her story resonated me the most. Not that I am an author and having troubles with a new book. But it was more the fact how I enjoy just my own company, and prefer to stay at home and not getting out and mingle.

Obviously, Margherita is in a more severe level of wanting to stay at home, and has actual issues with getting outside. I could truly feel her struggles and the turmoil she has when she just has to step outside her home.

And with Margherita we also see how good it can do when there is someone that understands you and nudges you in a way that you need but that doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself. And with those nudges, we truly see Margherita stepping outside her comfort zone, literally and figuratively speaking.

Lisa is the kind of character you cannot not feel sorry for. What she has been through, the level of betrayal is already heartbreaking. But add to her heartbreak the fact that at home, the whole neighbourhood knows what happened and that she is being watched by everyone, how can anyone expect to her to get over her broken heart?

So of course getting away from everything and everyone is the only option for her, which is also the perfect opportunity for her to think about her future. And is there a better place to do all this thinking than in this lovely Inn? Of course not 😊.

As you can see, a lot of guests with all their own issues and worries. And I haven’t talked about Emma and Annarita! But while it all may seem a lot taking place, all at the same time, I never lost the red line. I knew what was happening with whom, and with each character I saw the growth in them.

Guests are opening up, stepping outside in the world that can be a scary place, but we also see connections made. Connections between people that were complete strangers at the start of the book, but also between characters that desperately needed to connect again, to understand again.

Seeing this evolvement, surrounded all by not only a great setting, but with kindness, warmth and gentleness, is the real strength of the book. Because it is thanks to the place that the Three Coins Inn is, with the love and care put in of the owners, that each guest not only (starts to) feel at ease, but also understands what to do next.

And yes, I can honestly say that at the end of the book, I liked all the characters, even those I didn’t like immediately 😊. That shows once again how things can change over while staying at a lovely Inn like the Three Coins Inn!

This was my first visit at the Inn, but with characters like these, I don’t know if it will be my last one 😊.

After many disasters in life, can things change for the better?

Synopsis

When Gertie buys a run-down house ‘by accident’, she considers it the latest fail in a series of disasters! Her job at the Little Duck Pond Café and the friends she’s made there are a big comfort – especially as temporary boss Alice seems to be going out of her way to make her life difficult. But then Gertie meets the handsome Rafe – and her life takes a turn she definitely wasn’t expecting . . .

My review

Gertie would have never imagined wanting to give her boyfriend a great and useful gift for his birthday, would end up her being single and finding herself buying a run – down house that needs more than just some TLC… Despite things going from bad to worse, her job and her friends at the Little Duck Pond Café are a great comfort, even if temporary boss Alice does not seem to fit with the group. And then Gertie meets Rafe, and it seems that things have turned for the better.

First things first, I am not a fan of rhubarb, so I apologize to Rosie Green, as I wasn’t all that excited about Gertie’s famous baking, and that I won’t be trying out the recipe at the end of the book…

But that is the only negative I can say about the story, so let me begin with explaining what a delight reading this story was, once again a great addition in a wonderful series.

I have to admit, even if I didn’t know all the details yet, I somehow found it a little bit gullible of Gertie, the way she has bought her house. And I was a tiiiiiny bit fearful that her gullibility would be a trait of hers, and not just a lapse of judgement, or accidental. So I was over the moon as I truly liked Gertie from the start.

Obviously, I felt sorry for her, as she hasn’t had an easy time, with not only losing her boyfriend in another despicable way, but how she finds herself living in a house that is just not okay to be living in (yet)…

But on the other hand, it is crystal-clear that Gertie is a kind, caring and lovable character, even if life hasn’t always been kind to her. Yet despite everything, she never loses her patient towards others, nor her kindness. And I have to admit, I don’t know if I could be like her! 😊 Especially as her new yet temporarily boss Alice is pushing all my buttons, and I am just the reader! I can imagine the patience the whole friendly bunch must have!

With everything going on, it truly was heart-warming to read how not only Gertie has the best kind of friends, but she is also a great friend. Because no matter what is going on in her life, she doesn’t hesitate to help out her friends. The friendship that there is at the Little Duck Pond Café is truly remarkable, showing that colleagues can truly become real friends.

There is so much I want to say about this book, its new characters, but I fear that if I dive too deep into it, I will give away spoilers… All I can say is that my initial gut feeling once again proved to be right, even if in a way I wished, for Gertie’s sake that I would be wrong.

In a way, this was a different story, as it felt to me that the romance bits weren’t the major plot lines, but it was in fact just *Gertie* and her life, friends and loved ones. We see how no matter how dark the clouds may seem, how suspicious some people may be, there are always ray of lights, amazing and supporting friends and how truth always finds a way, and that truth may perhaps even put people on your path that you (can or will) connect with.

This was truly a wonderful story to read, even if there were some bits I did not like (the blame is on the behaviour of some characters). But those bits were needed, mandatory even for the story. But Gertie for sure (in a platonic way! 😊) stole my heart with her own heart. And I cannot wait what Rosie Green and her great talent will have next in store for Gertie, because I see A LOT of potential here! 😊

And now a great cover reveal!

Synopsis

Sail down The Nile this summer on a voyage of discovery…and just a little bit of mystery!

Pre-order the next unforgettable escape from the #1 bestseller – the perfect read for summer 2026!

Will an adventure sailing The River Nile turn the tide for Hattie?

Hattie Mulberry is exhausted. Worn out from the demands of everyone around her, she’s long overdue a break. So, she decides to take a holiday – the adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of her literary hero, Agatha Christie.

Before Hattie knows it, she’s embarking on a glamorous Nile cruise. Not only a voyage steeped in history and world-famous sights, but one where the passengers are almost as fascinating as the views from her luxurious cabin…

As the eclectic band of travellers journey between ancient temples and legendary tombs, guided by handsome Egyptologist Sam, secrets surface, desires awaken, and tensions simmer beneath the Egyptian sun.

Will the magic of moonlit nights on the Nile bring romance and renewal? Or will the infamous curse of Tutankhamun cast a shadow when least expected?

A gloriously escapist read full of sun, secrets and romance, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

Pre-order Links

https://geni.us/TNCK   The Nile Cruise

Publication Date: 30th July 2026

About the author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, earning its reputation as Girl Power for the Over-Sixties! Her eagerly anticipated follow-up cruise novels, include THE CRUISE CLUB, and THE ARCTIC CRUISE both hitting the Amazon Top 100 Kindle charts.

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and writing and plotting her next novels in her Scottish retreat. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a passionate advocate for the written word and a champion of life-long creativity

Books by Caroline James:

 

The Nile Cruise

The Arctic Cruise

Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure

The Cruise Club

The French Cookery School

The Cruise

The Spa Break

Hattie Goes to Hollywood

Boomerville at Ballymegille

The Best Boomerville Hotel

Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

Coffee Tea the Chef & Me

Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me

Jungle Rock

The cover!

Not all that shines is gold…

Synopsis

Everyone thinks Ivy Macomb’s life is perfect as she’s a teen actress on a TV show, part of a well-known family, and has just started college with her football star boyfriend, Ryan. However, as Ryan’s on campus fame grows, the two break up leaving Ivy heartbroken. She makes up a cover story to save face about how they’re taking time apart, but she’s devastated and unsure how to handle things. She ends up having a crying meltdown in front of her great-uncle who is better known in the media as the most ruthless man in business. However, she learns there’s another side to Uncle Alfred as he not only offers advice, but helps her with her podcast.

Her cousin tries to get her to go out and show people she’s doing fine after the breakup. Enter freshman hockey player, Konrad Gorski. Ivy and Konrad become fast friends as he’s a shoulder to cry on for her as she deals with her feelings. He’s also been through a bad breakup and has trust issues. Konrad is selected to go overseas for a hockey opportunity and the two stay in touch daily. They begin to have feelings for each other, but she’s worried about getting hurt. Can Ivy open her heart to love again?

My review

On the outside, Ivy Macomb’s seems perfect. Not only is her family known by everyone, she also is a teen actress in a famous TV show. But what nobody outside her inner circle see, is how heartbroken Ivy is after the end of her relationship with football star Ryan. On the outside it seems that they are just taking time apart, but for Ivy it means a time with insecurities not only about herself. However, she finds help in the unexpected form of her great – uncle Alfred. And with her friends supporting her in every possible way, Ivy hopes that she can quickly find her own silver lining again. And when she slowly becomes friends with hockey player Konrad Gorski, she learns that not only is he a shoulder Ivy can cry on, but also that he is one of the few that understand her better than anyone else. However, when things start to evolve between them, can Ivy get over her fear of getting hurt again?

When do you notice that you are getting older? The moment you are reading young adult books and you find yourself giving mature advice to the main characters 😊.

We all know how it feels to have your heart broken, especially when we were younger. It may seem like the end of the world, but after some time has passed, we also realize that perhaps the end of a relationship is the best thing that could happen to us. But when you aren’t there yet, it hurts terribly.

And Ivy is still in this painful situation, where it still hurts thinking about the love she has lost. IT doesn’t help that firstly, Ryan is being seen everywhere with another young woman, but also how he keeps on contacting Ivy, claiming to still have those feelings for her. Of course the poor “child” is confused!

Not only do we see that she is trying to overcome the heartbreak, but being in the spotlight also means that everyone has an opinion over you, and it isn’t always a positive one. We see how those negative comments are affecting Ivy. She isn’t already a confident woman, and seeing and hearing people talking about her, only increase her self-doubt. And the fact that people think that being a public person means you should deal with it all, is just pure b*ll*sh*t! I truly believe that even if you dislike a person, that doesn’t give you a free pass to talk badly about them, especially so publicly.

Seeing Ivy struggle with everything all at once, truly made me feel for her. On the other hand, it also warmed my heart to read how many people are supporting her, are just there for her. Even people from her own family that she wouldn’t expect to be so helpful and impactful to make her able to overcome it all.

We see with all the support she gets, even from her Uncle Alfred, how important that is, to have people on your side. How their advice can not only give you perspective, but also and mainly how they can help you with your self-confidence.

Of course you don’t just make the click in your head, and how fear can still be holding you back. We see this especially when the new friendship with Konrad evolves.

I wouldn’t have expected it from someone like Konrad, to just ‘get’ and understand the struggles Ivy is having. But he does, and he is so ever patient with her, giving her the space when she needs it, but also being near to her when she truly needs it (even if she hasn’t spoken it out loud).

Seeing that friendship (initially) develop was just so sweet. Because it shows us that you can find the person you need and gets you, in the most unexpected person. And that not everyone ticks all the boxes of clichés.

Now, I was raised as a catholic myself, but in my personal case, I never found nor needed the comfort that religion can give you. But I was happy while reading this book, that not just one character, but several did find that in their religion. Even if I am more distant, I could understand how believing and relying on higher powers can give you the comfort you need, and can release the turmoil you are feeling. So for me personally, it shows how comforting it can be, in your time of need.

Even as a real adult (😊) I enjoyed reading this book, as obviously it shows the struggles you can face while getting into adulthood. But reading how you can find comfort and help with the people around, even from people who you least expected it, shows you that no matter how alone and insecure you may feel, you are not.

It also shows you that it is normal to be scared of opening your heart again, but that some people are for sure worth the risk. And it doesn’t matter how young or old you are, the emotions in this book are applicable to all of us, as we have all been there, or are still there, or will be there.

A dream job in a dream place to mend a broken heart…

Synopsis

Art conservator Rose Bennet is still reeling from a bad break-up when she is offered a dream job in Venice, restoring an art collection in the Ca’ D’Ambra, a six-hundred-year-old Venetian palazzo. Despite her fears about travelling to a foreign country on her own, Rose is soon heading to Italy for the summer.

While she is awestruck by the breathtaking beauty of Venice, Rose finds the owner of the palazzo, the arrogant and short-tempered Luca Casserini, insufferable. When he questions her ability to do her work, she almost heads straight back to London, but decides that she won’t let herself be intimidated or driven away before she’s even had a chance to ride in a gondola. 

Losing her way in Venice’s picturesque maze of canals and alleyways, the last person Rose wants to see is her employer, but when they meet by chance and, to her surprise, he offers to show her around the city, she feels it would be churlish to refuse.

Spending sunlit summer days exploring Venice with Luca, Rose discovers a passionate side to him, very different to her first impression, and her feelings towards him begin to change …

Rose knows she can restore a damaged painting, but can she mend Luca’s damaged heart?

My review

Rose Bennet is an art conservator that has just been through a bad break – up. With the help of a good friend, she is offered a job in Venice, where she will be staying in a Venetian Palazzo, Ca’ D’Ambra, restoring an old painting. Even if travelling on her own scared her a bit, she is ready to grab this opportunity with both hands. Because who would truly refuse spending a summer in Venice? Even if the owner of the palazzo, Luca Casserini, has initially doubts of Rose’s ability. But when getting lost through the maze that Venice is, and Luca unexpectedly comes to her rescue, the last thing Rose expected was that Luca would be the one that would the one showing her around the city. And the more time Rose spends with Luca, the more she understand that the Luca she met isn’t the real Luca, as not only Luca shows how much he knows and loves Venice, but how passionate he truly is. So even when things starts to shift between them, can Rose heal Luca’s own broken heart, even if she will only be staying for the summer? And that while she also tries to discover the secrets that the painting she is working on is keeping…

Before I start with my review of this book, I need to make a confession… While I for sure wanted to read the story, I wasn’t all that thrilled about the setting. As an Italian, I love everything Italian, with just one exception, being Venice… Not because Venice isn’t a beautiful city, because it truly is, with all its history. But in my opinion, is had become too touristy, too busy, too commercialised. And that took a bit of the magic away for me. But it’s a me – problem 😊.

I know that a heartbreak is often mandatory for a story to take off. But I also find it despicable how the ex is treating the main character. Why can things not always end amicably, in a decent way? Ending a relationship is already painful on itself, but when someone is hurting the main character on purpose, it also breaks my heart a little bit.

So as this was the case with Rose, I could understand her need to get away from everything and everyone. Now, if I weren’t Italian myself, speaking also Italian, I don’t know if I would have the courage to spend months in Venice. And we see that trepidation also with Rose. While she absolutely sees this chance as a once in a lifetime opportunity, she fears it also a little bit. And that for sure resonated with me, even if I would be even more fearful than Rose!

I am anything but an artsy type. Ask me to draw a tree, and you would think a five – year – old drew it. But I am in absolute awe of famous artists, but also restaurateurs. Not only the patience, but the care, the love, the eye for detail they all have… something I will never have myself, but I for sure admire these people!

Even if Rose and I are very different, but so alike too in some aspects, I truly connected with her. I could understand her trepidations, her passion for the portrait and her eagerness to discover Venice. She is so easy to like, as she is a ‘normal’ person, not too fussy at all. And even when the owner of the palazzo, Luca, doubts her, she doesn’t act meekly.

Obviously, Luca doesn’t make the best of first impressions. It would be strange and change the story, wouldn’t it? 😊

Luca is in that aspect a real Italian macho. As he has been burnt by love before, he wants to keep any emotion in that aspect as far as possible. He pretends that his lifestyle at the moment is what he wants and needs, but when spending more time with Rose, we see so many cracks in his armour… And the real Luca starts to emerge, this kind, generous, open and loving man.

It was sweet to see the relationship evolve between the both main character. They have been both been burnt by love, and in Luca’s case, there are also many worries about his legacy. And how they connect over art, history and those shared heartbreaks, it was just wonderful to read.

Of course there is something that threatens to jeopardize everything Rose and Luca have slowly been building, but that *something* is also a great addition, a great other level to this book, linked with the painting Rose is working on.

And even if that storyline is not as detailed as Rose’s and Luca’s is, I truly enjoyed reading those bits too, going back into the past, reading how things were done or not done there, yet how emotions and feelings are the same no matter whether you are in the past or in the present.

We see in this story not only the relationship between Rose and Luca evolve, but they also mature the further the story evolves. They both learn to open up their hearts again, to put trust in people again, and just dare in general. And that is in my opinion a strong message, even stronger than just finding love unexpectedly. Because when you dare again in life, good things will come on your path.

And yes, perhaps it made my dislike for Venice disappear a little bit 😊.

How to recover from heartbreak?

Synopsis

What if everything you ever wished for turned out to be the loneliest place of all?

Helena Beale is desperately lonely. Still grieving her parents, stuck in the city, and watching everyone around her move on with their lives, she begins to fear that love has passed her by.

So when a psychic predicts a dazzling future – a devoted man, a beautiful home, and a child to call her own – Helena clings to the vision like a lifeline.

And then, impossibly, it comes true. Helena finds herself in the countryside with a charismatic partner, a little boy she adores, and the picture-perfect life she was promised. From the outside, she has everything she ever wanted. But inside the relationship, something is very wrong…

As cracks begin to show, Helena must confront a devastating truth: getting what you wished for isn’t the same as being truly loved. Can she gather enough courage to break free, and choose herself when everything is telling her not to? This emotional romance is perfect for readers of Beth Moran, Paige Toon, Dani Atkins and Laura Pearson.

My review

After also losing her mother, Helena Beale is feeling the loneliest person in the world. With everyone around her moving forward, Helena believes that love isn’t in the cards for her. Until a psychic predicts that her future involves a man and a child with curly hair. Years later, Helena finds herself having moved to the countryside with her partner Noah and his son Raffy. Life couldn’t be any better and Helena never thought that she could love so deeply. However, one day Noah makes a choice that devastates Helena and turns her whole world upside down. Can Helena be strong enough to heal from the heartbreak and experience that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?

I am always very wary both in real life and while I am reading, and there is a psychic, or gypsies who claim to predict the future. I don’t believe it and I always take it with an inch of salt what they claim to know.

And when in this story, broken Helena has a conversation with a psychic who seems to know and sense a lot about her life, even then I was wary. I was almost telling Helena to not fall for those tricks, as it could not be possible true.

So yes, I was a bit surprised when several years later, Helena seems to have found exactly what the psychic predicted. And I was happy for her, but I also knew that her whole world would be falling apart, somehow.

I need to say, that while on paper (pun intended), Noah seems the perfect match for Helena, the more we see his actions (past and present), the more red flags arouse. And in a way, I was satisfied that my gut feeling about this character seemed to be right.

Because it may seem that Helena the past years has been happy with Noah and Raffy. However, even before Noah breaks Helena’s heart, there are signs that in fact, Helena is bending over backwards to please Noah. It has gone even that far that Helena since their move, hasn’t made any new friends and that even Raffy isn’t going on any playdates.

And that truly angered me, because a relationship is about compromising. You cannot agree on every aspect in life, but in a normal relationship, both partners give and take. And it is clear that Noah only takes, never gives. Not even for Raffy and his wellbeing.

I just cannot understand how Noah can act this way, being to selfish, controlling. Not only is it his way or no way, but his reactions when being contradicted are just so wrong. And what I also couldn’t understand, is how Helena is just going along with Noah’s erratic behaviour.

Of course, as an outsider, it is always easier to say what someone should do in this kind of situations. But is also a fact that finding yourself in an unhealthy relationship doesn’t just happen overnight. It is bit by bit that changes are taking place, and before you know, you have also changed so much that you are just a shadow of your former self.

So while I absolutely despise Noah and his actions, especially the way how he just leaves Helena behind, I was somehow happy. Obviously, Helena finds herself in so many difficulties that first of all could be avoided would Noah just have been honest, and secondly, no one should ever find themselves into.

On the other hand, beside all the struggles and the heartbreak Helena is going through, I also saw this as an opportunity for her. An opportunity to not only do as she ‘pleases’, but also and much more important, to find herself again.

And while the struggle is real, and Helena doesn’t get everything fixed right away, I loved seeing her work in progress.

We see how in fact, Helena is a real caring person. That shouldn’t truly surprise us, seeing how much she loves Raffy as her own son. But we see that even as a neighbour she goes beyond just politeness to help out Margery. It truly warmed my heart to see how that relationship evolves into a real friendship. The same can be said of Nathalie. Helena and Nathalie couldn’t be more different, but difference can make the strongest friendships!

And the best bit of the whole book, is seeing Helena grow into a strong, independent woman. After the initial struggles, she knows what she wants to do with her life, and with the help of her new friends, she just gets going. Seeing the new Helena, in a way even the old – pre – Noah Helena again, shows not only resilience, but strength, courage and determination.

Obviously, it didn’t come as a surprise to me, that just the moment where everything falls into perfect place for Helena, a certain person that we all dislike, reappears. It didn’t come as a surprise, but his audacity for sure did! And while I wanted to scream at Helena not to fall into his trap, I could also understand her, as Raffy is still a big part of the equation…

And here, we see how much Helena has grown throughout the story. Because, without giving the endgame away, we see how she is not the meek Helena any longer while standing in front of Noah. She isn’t afraid of speaking out, confronting Noah and just stand tall against him. But we also see that as a real mother, her feelings towards Raffy haven’t changed at all.

In this story, there may or may not be a love interest for Helena. But whether it is a match or not, the romance isn’t the red line. By far!

Because while it is heartbreaking to read what Helena has been through in the past, and is going through now, it is also a very inspiring story. We see with Helena, that no matter how deep you fall, step by step you are able to stand up again. Not only stand up, but stand up tall and proud again. You can find yourself again, you can find new and important people in your life.

While it is not always an easy story to read, I found myself absolutely devouring this book. It shows us the ugliness of people, yes, but mainly the beauty of people, the strength of people and how even the most devastating heartbreak can be a learning point and change your life for the better, somehow.

What started as a lie, brings you into a war zone…

Synopsis

Hunger Games meets Escape from Alcatraz meets West Side Story.

A war zone in prison

A secret identity

A forbidden love

She never should have lied. Now she’s Scarlen Smithson, petty thief in the notorious Horstal Island prison where Bear Vyer, enemy to the king, is an inmate. Luckily, he doesn’t know she is the princess, but that doesn’t stop him claiming her for his own.

Tropes:

Enemies to lovers

Hidden identity

Forced proximity

Shapeshifters 

Fated mates

Found family

Spice

Ring of Fire is book one in the Ring of Fire series, a fated-mates romantasy that takes place in more than one world and contains adult themes.

My review

Being locked up as a thief in the notorious Horstal Island Prison, isn’t what you expect from a princess. However, now she has the name of Scarlen Smithson, and even if she knows how cruel and uninterested her own father, the King, can be, she hopes that she will be released quickly. But the King sees this as a lesson, and is determined to let her serve the complete sentence. While Scarlen is trying to finds her bearing in the cruel world of prison, she finds herself suddenly claimed by shapeshifter Bear Vyer. Bear, who is determined to get revenge on the King, while protecting his also imprisoned family. However, Horstal Prison is a place where you have to fight for your life, literally. And Scarlen finds herself doing exactly that, trying to survive the cruelties taking place at Horstal, while the despise and dislike she initially felt for Bear starts to shift into something deeper and somehow destined. But Bear does not know who Scarlen is, and as Bear stands on the complete opposite where Scarlen’s father stands, how can things ever work, if Scarlen and Bear should ever get out prison?

When I started this book, it was already a dilemma. I know this author as K.T. Dady, and I have loved her romantic books. The issue was however, that I am not the kind of person that easily picks up a romantasy. So should I give the author a chance in a genre that isn’t really my cup of tea? Or should I stick with what I love?

After an internal debate, I decided, with the agreement of myself, to give this book a chance. And hoping that Kate would be able to pull me into a story with a lot of mystery, magic, shapeshifters and why not, an impossible love.

And yes, I have to admit after finishing this first instalment, that I was happy that I decided to give it a go.

To make things easier, I will call the main character Scarlen, as this is how she is addressed in the book.

As I have never been in a prison myself, not even for visiting someone, I believe that I would be very scared if I had to spend several months there. And I am talking about a normal prison… So reading about Scarlen’s trepidation upon her arrival at Horstal, made perfect sense to me. And that was even before I know about the strict regime and how it would be a real war zone for everyone. En plus, how once reached a certain age, this prison would be the final stop… Just horrendous!

So of course I was a bit relieved reading how Scarlen finds someone that will look after her. Not really a friend (at least at the start), but someone that shows her how things work here and what she should be steering far away from. Good advice that Scarlen for sure takes to heart!.

However, no matter how much Scarlen tries to stay away from trouble, somehow trouble starts to find her. Especially once Bear Vyer claims her. I have to admit, I found it a bit strange, how Bear just claims her, like just deciding to a bar of chocolate in the store… But the more the story evolves, and the more Bear and Scarlen are spending time together, the more it becomes clear that even if it was an unexpected act of Bear, there is something so much deeper between the two. Despite Bear truly hating Scarlen’s father…

The bond between Bear and Scarlen is truly the silver lining during their ‘stay’ at Horstal. Because the cruelties taking place there, just horrific! I truly believe that if I were incarcerated there, I would be the first person down! There would be no way I could survive in such a cruel and mean environment.

An environment that is no place for Scarlen at all, and I would think that her father would do anything to get her out of here. But her father, with all his power, isn’t the kind of father that is loving and caring. And that angered me, because why wouldn’t a father want to protect his own daughter? But the more I got into the story, the more I understood that not only has Scarlen been living a secluded life, she doesn’t know the truth about her father and what he is capable of.

And that made me understand better Bear’s (and everyone else’s) dislike (to put it mildly) of the King. I could understand where Bear was coming from, but I was also afraid of how this would affect the growing relationship between him and Scarlen.

I have to say, that for being a first book in a series, a LOT is happening. Not only there is Scarlen arriving in prison, and she meets Bear. There is also an actual survival of the strongest and smartest, fighting for your life. And then there is an escape plan, with revelations and secrets that can jeopardize everything that has happened earlier in the book…

And then I am not talking about those last, final chapters! It just left me with even more questions! How can I survive without knowing more???

As you can see, I have been totally captivated by this book, something that I absolutely did not expect! But as there is for sure fantasy bits into it, while reading I did not have the feeling that it was romantasy. Somehow, in a strange way, it felt like a ‘normal’ story to be. Difficult to put into words what I mean, but the shapeshifters, the magic, it didn’t bother me at all, like it normally would. So all I can say to this author is: well done as you proved me wrong! And now hurry with the next instalment of this series! 😊