To restore an inn, to heal a heart

Synopsis

Bachelor best friends and steamy romance . . . Welcome to Cedar Falls. The emotionally riveting, uplifting and spicy small-town series from Cissy Mecca. Perfect for fans of Lucy Score, Elise Silver and Lauren Asher.

Rule one of the Bachelor Pact is simple: Never fall in love.

Temporarily returning home to Cedar Falls comes with mixed emotions. But having to work alongside the distractingly beautiful Pia, hired by my father before his unexpected death to run and restore my family’s inn, is a test I could do without. I don’t need help, especially from a stranger whose delectable body is inviting me to forget the most important rule of the Bachelor Pact.

I learned early on to avoid attachments, and Pia is completely off-limits. I’m technically her boss. Working together to renovate the crumbling inn, I try to shield my heart and ignore my body’s traitorous responses. But Pia’s laughter fills the dusty halls, melting my defences and testing my iron-clad resolve. But as each day passes, the thought of returning to my old life as a cop in the city and leaving Pia becomes more and more difficult. Now, with my future and an age-old promise on the line, I’m left wondering if I should finally crack open the door to love I sealed so long ago.

My review

Pia cannot wait to start her new job in Cedar Falls, after quitting her last job when she didn’t get the well deserved promotion. She knows that she will find many bright ideas to help run and restore the local Inn to its former glory. But Pia is shocked to hear that her employer recently passed away, and that now it’s his son Mason that is in charge. Mason himself does not know if he wants to stay in Cedar Falls and run the inn, as his life is somewhere else. So when he meets Pia for the first time, it is natural for him to almost literally chase her away. Yet soon Mason realizes that he needs help with the Inn, and thus Pia get her initial job back, even without knowing if there will be a future in it. The more time Mason and Pia spend together, the more the attraction starts to grow. But what Pia doesn’t know is that when Mason was in college, he made with his then – and – still – now best friends a pact. A bachelor pact, with the first rule being to never fall in love… Will the pact stand or will Mason be the first to break it?

It’s normal that there are books that seem to have a plot that you have already read before, with just a few apparent changes on first sight. But there are also books that seem to be like thirteen in a dozen, yet once you start reading it, you are aware that the story is for sure nothing like you expected it to be and you were sucked in without a chance of getting away from it!

And this book is one of those books, as I found myself just reading, and reading, and reading, and just had to know more.

From the very start, I liked Pia. Even if it felt not right that she quit her job of some macho behaviour, and she did not get the promotion she truly deserves. Yet I liked Pia because she decided to take the high road, and show her worth somewhere else.

It may not have been easy for her to walk away from what she knows, but it’s also clear that there has been a click with Mason’s father and made the move to Cedar Falls easier for her.

Pia isn’t the kind of girl to let a setback hold her down, so with the most positive attitude, she is ready to do her absolute best with her new job at the Inn. Of course as a reader we know that things will go down south rather quickly, as we know about Mason’s father passing. And that Mason isn’t that eager to continue with the family’s legacy.

I was a bit shocked at Mason’s behaviour when Pia enters his scene. I can complete comprehend that he may not be having an easy time, but being polite doesn’t cost a thing, does it?

But Pia may be on the receiving end of bad news, she doesn’t show and doesn’t let it pull her down. I could see how in her mind she was trying to come up with a new plan.

Now, it may be easy to get mad at Mason and his bad behaviour, but like I said, it’s understandable, losing your father unexpectedly isn’t easy.

He has also a lot on his mind. What to do with the Inn? Where is his own future? Is it back to his life or is a change of scenery, and returning back home in Cedar Falls what he truly needs? There is a lot of thinking he has to do, and it’s not an easy task.

I liked it though how his friends are the real kind of friends. They don’t hesitate to stand by their friend’s side, offering not only help, a figuratively shoulder to cry on, but also to be the voice of wisdom.

The friends go way back, as they met in college. And while their lives took different directions, they have always been there for each other. And that male boundary was in a way sweet to read. Because beside all the ‘macho’ behaviour, these friends truly care about each other. And of course there is also a lot of gentle banter between them, making me laugh in several occasions.

Of course we know that Mason are Pia, while working together, aren’t going to be able to keep their distance. And of course we know that despite their initial agreement to just go with the flow, and no expectations, that it will turn into another direction.

Once again, of course, I liked reading how Mason and Pia got along together, and those heated moments for sure are heated. But I was more curious seeing their emotional development. Because the Bachelor Pact that Mason and his friends made, is just a kind of excuse for Mason of not getting closer to anyone or get heartbroken. So how would things change with Pia?

I loved reading this book, as yes, there is spice in it. But we also see how a terrible event, like losing a parent, can be the start of reassessing your whole life, and make a change. And how it may put people on your path to reassess also made pacts in the past.

Both Pia and Mason grow a lot in this book, not only they meet someone special, but they also learn to understand that some feelings, like love, cannot be stopped, no matter how hard you try. And a change of life, a change of home, or rather a return to home, may be exactly what was missing in your life.

Cedar Falls for sure seems to be a place that will be having a lot of wonderful characters, with many stories yet to be told!

Is it all well that ends well?

Synopsis

Abandoned, penniless and orphaned as young children, Bertram and Alice saved each other from a terrible fate.

For seven long years they have been kept apart, Bertram, BJ to his friends, learning how to survive and then thrive in the penal colonies of Australia, and Alice growing her prosperous chain of bakeries in the Black Country town of Wednesbury.

Now BJ’s sentence is nearly up and he has a choice to make. Queen Victoria’s England has changed since he’s been away and so has Alice. Should he leave behind the life he’s built and face the terrifying, months-long voyage back home?

The memory of the boy who saved her from starvation by teaching her how to pick pockets has sustained Alice for all these years and now he may be coming back to her. Can Alice and BJ finally get their happy ending or does fate have other plans for the pickpocket orphans?

The Queen of Black Country sagas is back with an unforgettable story of friendship and bravery, heartbreak and joy. Perfect for all fans of Katie Flynn, Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.

My review

Even if they have been seven years apart, BJ and Alice have been able to maintain their friendship. Even living in different continents couldn’t break their bond.
Alice has been able to create a successful chain of bakeries in the Black Country town of Wednesbury. And BJ’s sentence is nearly over, meaning that he can finally move from Australia back home, even if his life and own personal success thrived in Australia.
But both BJ and Alice aren’t the children anymore that they were when they met. So will Fate them the final happiness they long for? Or is there something in store for the orphans?

Starting the last book of a series is always giving me contradicting feelings. While I want to see how the bigger story ends for the main characters, I am not always ready to say goodbye to them. And I of course also know that before there may be even an indication of a happy ending for them, things won’t be that straightforward.

Knowing Alice from before, from when she was just a child, and seeing her now as a grown up, somehow made me feel proud. Not that I have anything to do with the way she turned out, but still 😊.
She has come from very far, and perhaps not always in the most legal ways, yet she managed to not only have several bakeries of her own, but she also has the most loyal friends. Friends that are more family for her, even if there is no blood connection.

With everything that has happened to her, Alice is also the kind of person that has a lot of wisdom. What she sees, she has her own opinion about it, and her gut feeling often proves to be right. And that both when goods things appear to be happening, but unfortunately, also in the bad things. Life for sure brings experience and knowledge…

I loved reading how the friendship with BJ just keeps going from strength to strength. Distance and time do not have an effect on their reciprocal love and care. The pair of them bonded together in the direst times, and that connection cannot be broken by anything.

Not even the life that BJ seemingly has been building up in Australia. Yes, he has been sent over there as a sentence, but he has shown his worth, his loyalty and knowledge over the years, and with Mac it truly was more a father – son relationship than something more business or prison – like.

BJ has truly matured in a responsible, loyal, and reliable young man, and just like with Alice, I was very proud of his journey and his maturity.

Separately, their stories were already amazing ones, and I was eager to read of and when the friends would meet again. And of course, I was hoping for a certain direction the story would take, like everyone else I think 😊.

And it truly warmed my heart to read that first encounter, how easy it all felt for the both of them, like no years has passed at all. Once again only proof that the good kind of friendships may be tested, but that nothing could possibly break them.

Of course we also see how those around Alice and BJ are doing. And it’s not an understatement to say that also for them, there may be several ups and downs. But that’s life, isn’t it?

I truly enjoyed reading this last chapter, as it shows how no matter how bad things may start and continue in life, there is always hope, a ray of light and good things that will cross your path. Even if this story is taking part in a past that is darker, and luckily not something we may have experienced ourselves, there are lessons to be learned for all of us.

Is home truly where the heart is?

Synopsis

Welcome to Cosy Cove, where love burns brighter than any candle!

Beth Williams thought her dreams had melted away after a devastating breakup, but she finds a flicker of hope at Harbour Lights, her artisan candle shop nestled in the heart of Cosy Cove. But just when Beth thinks she’s content with her quiet life, a ruggedly handsome stranger threatens to reignite her carefully guarded heart.

Enter Jacob Lawson, a charming journalist whose assignment in the quaint seaside town quickly becomes more than just another story. As Beth introduces him to the town’s hidden gems—from the bustling summer fair to sunset walks on the beach—Jacob finds himself captivated by more than the scenery.

But as their attraction simmers, both Beth and Jacob must confront their deepest fears. Can Beth trust her heart to love again? And will Jacob choose the comfort of Cosy Cove over the call of his career?

Join Beth and Jacob on a journey of second chances, sweet moments, and the kind of love that makes every day feel like a summer holiday. Will they find the courage to embrace a future together, or will their fears extinguish the flame before it truly ignites?

Get ready to fall head over heels for Cosy Cove, where every page promises a warm hug for your heart. Perfect for fans of seaside romances, charming small towns, and love stories that sparkle brighter than the sea at sunset!

My review

Even if Beth Williams is still hurt from her heartbreak, she has everything she needs at home in Cosy Cove. She doesn’t need anything more than a quiet life and her artisan candle shop.
Yet when Jacob Lawson arrives at Cosy Cove, and Beth is the one helping him with his assignment for writing an article about the charming town, something changes.
There is an attraction between them and denying that is very difficult. But their attraction also means that both Beth and Jacob need to confront their own fears. Is Beth ready to open her heart for love again? And Jacob has never had the need to settle down anywhere. But is Cosy Cove that place or not?

There are stories of which you know that will make you feel all warm on the inside. And when it was this book’s turn to be read, I knew this was going to be giving me that warm feeling on the inside!

Often in books, the main characters leave their home, to return for one reason or another. But it isn’t all that often that the main character loves the place she is living in, and has always been living in. Yet that is exactly the case for Beth, as she couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to call her home like Cosy Cove. Why would she ever think about leaving Cosy Cove when even after a heartbreak, it still feels like home.

Of course, living in Cosy Cove isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, there is no such place on earth, but also life isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, isn’t it? And Beth for sure has learned that lesson too, after a heartbreak, losing her faith in love. 
Yet it’s clear that Beth is also the kind of person that doesn’t give up. In the sense that, no matter how blue she feels, she always tries to keep her head up, and is just a positive, chirpy, happy woman.

It’s also clear that if anyone is in need of help, any kind, they can always count on Beth.

And her helping character is what brings her crossing paths with Jacob.

Jacob is a journalist, with the task to write about Cosy Cove, but differently. He isn’t on the search for the typical local stories, but everywhere he goes, he tries to find a gem story that needs to be told. And who knows a place better, knows the real gems of a place, than the inhabitants of the place.

I truly believe that Jacob’s nomadic life wouldn’t be my cup of tea, but I also understand that there are people that have the need to go from one place to another, discovering the world, not having the need to put down roots.

So, in that aspect it was great to see how Cosy Cove immediately works its magic on him. How someone that has never wanted to settle down, is suddenly drawn to a place. And of course, it isn’t only Cosy Cove that makes Jacob think about where life will take him? Or rather, if it will take him somewhere else.

Beth and Jacob are very different, with different lifestyles and different life pace. Yet no matter how different their lives has been and still are, there is an instant connection between this lovely pair. An attraction that they cannot deny.
They cannot deny it, but that doesn’t mean they jump in heads first, without thinking about it. And that made me respect the both of them even more, beside the fact that I liked the both of them. It would have been very easy to write or read a story when the main characters give in immediately, without thinking about the ‘what next’.
Both Beth and Jacob are responsible people, knowing that every action has a reaction. And matters of the heart aren’t to be taking lightly. But they both also know that they have to face their own personal demons of the past before next steps can be taken.

I found this truly a heartwarming, sweet story, with also funny bits in it. Beth and Jacob are people that easily will steal your heart, but just all the people of Cosy Cove will be successful in that aspect. And I am not afraid to say that the quiet and peaceful place of Cosy Cove itself also stole a little piece of my heart…

Whatever you do, keep it professional…

Synopsis

Sometimes it’s fun to kiss and tell!

Sensible journalist Jess is not a rule breaker, especially where her career is involved. But trying to extract a tell-all interview from notorious art dealer and bad boy Xander Heaton is going to test her patience… and self-control. Because she must, at all costs remain professional, respectable and stay focused on the job at hand.

But it’s not long before Jess realizes that Xander spells trouble with a capital T and is living up to his tempting reputation! Trying to keep her distance, Jess decides that maybe she could break her golden rule, just this once to get Xander out of her system and her job back on track. But one night is never enough! And she learns that actually breaking her rules once in a while can lead to more fun than sticking to them!

My review

Jess feels that as a journalist, she needs a big interview, to show her talent. Because her boss for sure has given her several signals to step up in the game. So her task now is to get a real in – depth interview with artist Xander Heaton. Easier said than done, as Xander has a reputation for not only being elusive, but with his bad boy attitude, Jess not only has to show a lot of patience, but also she has to try to resist Xander. Xander, who not only is a recipe for Trouble, but is also in search for a new muse, as he wants to create art with a capital A. Yet he cannot keep his attraction towards Jess hidden… just like Jess… And what bad could one night of giving in do? As long as it just stays with one night of fun…

Whenever I start a new book, I begin with putting that book on my reading pile on Goodreads. And with this book, I was a bit surprised that seeing those first visible reviews, that there were a lot of people that had some difficulties with it.

But I have to say, that when I started to read, I found myself disagreeing with those reviews. Of course everyone has the right to his/her own opinion, and not every book is for everyone. So I was happy that I *did* enjoy reading the story of Jess and Xander.

I felt sorry for Jess, as it’s clear that at the beginning of the story she is under a lot of stress. Being a journalist alone is already difficult enough, but as she feels that her job may be at risk and she hasn’t had the chance to show her worth yet.

It’s obvious that Jess has a great work – ethic. When she accepts a job, she wants to do it well, she wants to paint the right picture of the subject of her interview. She wants to get to the bottom but without crossing any lines, or even getting too close.

And it saddened me to read how closed – up she always is in a way. Her past relationships weren’t all that great, in any aspect, and that made her even more insecure than before. While in fact it has been just a matter of not meeting someone who knows what is needed.

I liked her resolution to write a great article, no matter how difficult her subject is, no matter what his reputation is. She doesn’t take up his b*llsh*t.

It wasn’t always easy to like Xander, especially at the beginning of the book, as he clearly shows his playboy – attitude, thinking mostly about only himself. And not taking in account other people and their feelings.

Yet once in Italy, there is a shift in their relationship. A shift that made me see Xander in a complete different light. Because yes, he is still this flirty man, but he also shows a Xander that not many people see. The way he doesn’t let Jess stay in a terrifying hotel, the way he gives her the space she needs, but also breaks down her walls. The way he shows patience with her, in several different occasions and ways.

But especially the way he is able to open up himself, to show his own vulnerabilities with Jess, like he never could with anyone else…

And I liked it how Jess is able to let go too, once again, in more than just one way 😊. How she slowly lets Xander in, showing her own insecurities and is able to tell him where they come from.

Of course, Xander is a man, and often men just don’t get women. And so while he thinks he is doing something amazing, he doesn’t seem to understand how that is exactly the opposite of what Jess truly wants.

Yes, there is a lot of friction in this book, yes there is a lot of spice in this book. But there is also a real journey in this book, for both main characters. Both Jess and Xander have a lot of unresolved issues, and with their unconventional time spending together, there is an opportunity to get closure from those issues.

But they also grow in the sense of opening up, letting people in, and finding perhaps the most terrifying feeling of them all, love…

I enjoyed reading this story, seeing two complete opposites taking important bits from each other, learning from each other, and allowing to let go in front of each other. A story that has much more depth than I initially expected and I loved reading every bit of it!

When the man you have been writing is not the man you meet, yet a bigger problem arises…

Synopsis

Right girl. Wrong Earl.

Lydia Hope-Wallace’s secret life as the anonymous author of rebellious political pamphlets has led her into a correspondence with the charming Earl of Strathrannoch. When she learns he’s in dire financial straits, Lydia sets out for Scotland to offer him a marriage of convenience – to, erm, herself.

Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch is stunned when a bewitching stranger offers him her hand in marriage. But when he realizes that his traitorous brother has been writing to her under his name, he’s bloody furious.

Desperate to track down his estranged sibling, Arthur needs Lydia’s help. What he doesn’t need? The attraction that burns hotter each moment they spend together. As Lydia slips past his defences, Arthur will have to risk everything to keep her safe – even his heart…

My review

Lydia Hope – Wallace may be a heiress, but she prefers being a wallflower than the centre of attention. And being a wallflower is also the perfect cover – up, as she secretly is the author of several seditious pamphlets. Pamphlets that not everybody would agree with, yet somehow Lydia has found a kindred spirit in the Earl of Strathrannoch. Even if they have not ever met in real life, they have corresponded almost from the moment she wrote her first pamphlet. When the Earl, Arthur, informs Lydia that he has financial issues, Lydia sees this as a perfect opportunity. As an heiress, it’s expected from her to get married, and with her inheritance, she can help out Arthur. But when she arrives in Scotland, ready to propose the marriage of convenience, she is flabbergasted when Arthur seemingly doesn’t know her. And quickly they realize that it has not been Arthur corresponding with Lydia, rather his younger brother. A younger brother that now appears to be plotting and part of British espionage. So even if the last thing Arthur needs is a woman ready to marry him, he knows that with joining forces, he will find his brother again. But what he didn’t count on, was feeling sparks flying around the more time he spends with Lydia. Sparks that he tries to ignore, but for how long is that possible?

There are so many Regency stories, that the authors need to find a way to stand out from all the rest. An yes, authors can spice things up, but that isn’t always working, and for sure not for me. I am not against spiciness in books, but I need also something more than just that.

And luckily, Alexandra Vasti has found a perfect blend in her Regency stories!

Even if initially I found Lydia’s idea of marrying Arthur a bit strange, I cannot deny that I admired her courage. Not only because she does this her way or no way, but also because she is way ahead of her time. She doesn’t just follow the rules of society, but makes up her own mind, has ideas of her own instead of just accepting once again what society tells her.

So I found it hard to connect this strong – willed Lydia with the Lydia that is ready to have a marriage of convenience. Even if her chosen partner is Arthur, a man she has been corresponding with for a long time and share the same ideas, and even if she may help him out financially, would she really do such a thing?

And perhaps, even if it didn’t come as a surprise, I was happy reading how her plan fell apart, as Arthur has absolutely no idea who Lydia is when she stands at his door. Not because I am an evil person, but because Lydia deserves more than just a marriage of convenience…

The same of course also applies for Arthur, even if we don’t know him all that well at the start of the book. But I quickly understood that he too is one of the good guys.

Even if he isn’t having an easy time himself, and being an Earl doesn’t mean he doesn’t have financial issues, he does the best he can. I liked it also how he isn’t prejudiced at all and accepts people for who they are.

But it also saddened me that he feels that he has failed in a few aspects, even if he is doing his very best to make things right again…

So I could understand as him feeling a failure, a loner, for ‘rejecting’ Lydia and not just her proposal but her presence too. Until he realizes that there is a bigger picture and that he must protect and save his brother…

And there is one person that knows his brother and can help him… Because his brother has been telling Lydia a lot in his letters, of course. And I could not wait to see what Arthur’s brother truly was up to, and if Arthur and Lydia would manage to find him. But most importantly, I wanted to see how sparks would fly around 😊.

And fly around they did! Not only did those sparks spice things up a lot, but those same sparks also made both main characters believe in something they never did believe in.

The more time spent together, the more Arthur and Lydia get to know each other, and no, not only in a physical way 😊. They understand each other, even if they are different. Yet they don’t want to change each other, they accept each other differences.

I loved reading this book, as it shows that even if plans don’t go as expected, it can bring the right thing on your path. And that differences aren’t always made to be changed, but that they will be accepted by the right person.

This book gave me enough different vibes, from spice to fierceness to action to love, it made me keep on reading! like I said, this author just found her own perfect blend to make a unique and wonderful story to read!

Everyone deserve a second chance, but does everyone feel the same?

Synopsis

oman with a dark past…

Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she’s trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them – to rebuild her life and move on.

When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books the perfect place to find happiness – even if it is all lies.

But the past can never stay hidden…

As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen’s new life and ruin everything she’s built.

But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again…

Don’t miss another page-turning, nail-biting read from the queen of psychological thrillers, Valerie Keogh! Perfect for fans of J.A. Baker, Keri Beevis and Nina Manning.

My review

After been in prison for manslaughter (of her own partner), Helen is ready to start again. All she wants is a quiet life, forget about past mistakes, and move on. And opening a bookshop is not only something she always dreamed of, but will also give her a place to find her own happiness. But no everyone is happy with Helen being free again and owning a bookshop. Someone doesn’t believe that Helen has paid enough for the crime she committed and is adamant on sabotaging everything Helen is trying to rebuild. However, Helen won’t let anyone scare her away, and she is ready to fight against whoever is against her…

I am a believer that if someone paid for their crimes, and have truly remorse for what they did, they deserve a second chance. And there is also the fact that we should think about why a crime has been committed, what pushed a person that far?

We know what Helen did to her partner, and she has paid her dues for it. But it’s also clear from the very start that there is more to her story than what she initially shows and tell us.

But that doesn’t take away that in a way I admired her determination. The determination to put the past behind her and pursue her dream of opening a bookshop. Although I have to say that I had my doubts seeing the place she wanted to buy. Stating that it would need some TLC would be a real understatement!

I understand that not everyone would be happy with Helen being free again, but I was happy to read that she has the full support of her sister. It is not easy to find loyal and loving people, but also it is not easy to be that loyal and loving person…

Helen knows she has to face a lot pf prejudice, but she won’t let other people’s opinion stop her, because she knows that in her bookshop, not only will she find her peace, but she will also find people with the same love of books.

But it was also understandable that Helen is rather wary of all the new people in her new life. She knows how people can be, and that how they act in front of you isn’t always what they would say behind your back…

Helen is faced with the characters of people, with plenty of them not being the good kind of people, people that will play you, people with a second agenda, and people that pretend. Her wariness only increases by the human behaviour, making her even more resolute to not being played by anyone anymore.

But that is of course easier said than done. Helen has a lot of baggage and we don’t know all of it yet, but all she wants is to move on, and not being haunted at home or at the bookshop. I felt the anxiety, the fear in her place, the fact that she doesn’t feel safe anywhere… Yet I liked it how she doesn’t show her fear to anyone, as she won’t allow her persecutor chase her away.

Now, I have to say that I didn’t understand all the choices Helen makes in this book. Sometimes she is being too wary, while on other occasions she is being too trusty? It felt that at moments she was fighting the wrong fights, the wrong enemies.

While perhaps not all twists and turns were that surprising, there still were a few that did do actually that.

Yet it also felt to me that this isn’t just the story about Helen getting out of prison, wanting to start over and facing some difficulties. But it felt to me that it was also a story about how things from your childhood form you to the person you are now. And towards the end we also see how the same events can be seen in a different way, how you experienced something, is experienced in a complete different way by someone else.

I truly enjoyed reading this story, with complex characters. Characters that want peace, characters that want happiness, characters that support, characters that love, but also characters ready for vengeance…

But most important, characters that don’t give up easily and will fight for that same peace and happiness.  

When suspicious things happen at night…

Synopsis

How can one 12-hour night shift be so deadly?

I loved the anonymity, flexibility and solitude that working the night shift at Storage Queen gave me.

The unsociable hours paid well, helping me fund my university degree and giving me a quiet place to study while the world slept peacefully in their warm, cozy beds. It was the perfect job for me.

But that Friday night proved to be more than I bargained for when a man walked through the door, dragging a large suitcase.

My immediate instincts told me something was wrong.

That’s when my ordeal began.

I just had to make it through the night shift.

A pacy, heart stopping, page turning thriller for the fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell.

My review

While not everyone would like to work the night shift, for Nina it is the perfect solution. As working the night at the Storage Queen gives her the chance to study while guarding the place. Until one Friday night… when a man walks in with a large suitcase, Nina immediately senses that something is not right. And then Nina’s normal 12 hours of peace and quiet turn into a real nightmare, where surviving the night shift is her only goal…

There are several reasons why I would never ever want to work the night shift, in any sector. And while I am the right person to work that shift, I have the most respect for people who work that shift, as I know that it isn’t always easy. The reasons I would not be great as a night – shifter, is that for one, I am not a night person at all. And second, it’s because of books like this one, that I would be too terrified to be all alone and I would freak out with every noise that I would hear.

And I admired Nina, for not working the night shift, in combination of getting her medical degree. Even if she starts the shift after just breaking up with her boyfriend, she doesn’t let the heartbreak stop her from doing what must. Once again, I don’t know if I would be able to work that kind of shift, especially after what just happened to her.

As a reader, we already know that this night shift is going to be a real nightmare for Nina, and we know right from the moment that the stranger with the suitcase enters, the game starts. And even if Nina doesn’t know it yet, she feels that something is off with him, by just her gut feeling. This only shows how right our primal instincts can be.

I also liked it how Nina isn’t a Wonder Woman at all. Yes, she goes investigating what is happening, but she is also just a woman of flesh and blood, with vulnerabilities. The fact that Nina is diabetic shows this vulnerability, fragility.  We see how that affects her, and how it weakens her. Her being diabetic shows in a physical way how vulnerable people can be, not only physical but also on other levels.  Yet Nina doesn’t let those issues hold her back, in fact she is more determined than ever to fight back.

Initially I didn’t believe how much could possible happen in ‘just’ 12 hours, but now I know that in fact, a LOT can happen. Whole lives can be turned upside down in just one night. And revelations and discoveries can be made you would never have thought of.
Because let me assure you this, that Gemma Rogers for sure knows how to add twists and turns to this already gripping, terrifying story. Twists and turns that I did not see coming. Twists and turns that add even more unexpected layers. Twists and turns that made me question humankind even more…

This is not the kind of story you want to read to have a relaxing evening, to take your mind of all the worries and problems of the world. This book for sure added more fear, wariness and suspiciousness. And more resoluteness to never ever work a night shift in my life! 

To find someone unexpected to rely on

Synopsis

From the outside, Olivia Macomb looks like she leads a charmed life. She’s an up-and-coming influencer who is an heir to the Macomb family fortune, and about to start a lifestyle brand with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff. Then her world gets blown apart by her longtime boyfriend leaving her the morning of their website launch. Not only has he left, but the business she created is all in his name and she’s been left with nothing to show for all her hard work. Now she has to pick up the pieces and find out who she is on her own.

Enter Walker Vinton, the indie pop star who used to date Olivia’s close friend, Paige. When their school throws a big event, Paige asks Walker to be Olivia’s date to give to the gossip bloggers something else to talk about other than Olivia’s broken dreams.

Walker ends up coming to Olivia’s rescue in more ways than one at the party, and a twist of events leads to the two embarking on a fake relationship. Walker and Olivia wind up becoming best friends and she realizes he’s the boyfriend of her dreams. 

He helps her build both her brand and her self-esteem back up. Walker even helps her start a new business. However, the lines begin to blur as Olivia’s feelings for Walker are very real. The two share intimate conversations and dreams, but what’s real and what’s fake in this starry world?

My review

Olivia Macomb was so close to have it all. Not only is she the heir to the Macomb family fortune, but she is also gaining success as an influencer. Until her boyfriend and childhood sweetheart Jeff not only decides to break up with her, but also taking the business that they have been building together and was ready to launch with him. Now it’s up to her to pick up the pieces of her broken heart, and show people who she truly is. If only she knew that herself… The last thing she needs, is the pity of people or them having gossiping about her. So when her school throws a party, Olivia’s best friend Paige ask her former boyfriend and rising indie popstar Walker Vinton to be Olivia’s date, to let everyone see that Olivia isn’t pining over Jeff. But there is more to Walker than Olivia initially thought, and she for sure didn’t expect Walker to become close friends. And when Walker helps Olivia out on several occasions, they don’t stop the rumours of them being an item. The more their pretend continues, the more Olivia realizes that her feelings for Walker aren’t only pretend. But Walker cannot possibly feel the same about plain Olivia, right?

This lovely authors writes stories that perhaps are for a younger public than that I am, but that doesn’t mean that I cannot enjoy reading them.

Olivia in this book for sure shows her age. And I mean this in the kindest possible way. She still has this innocence over her, not having experienced yet how the real world works, and that in some matters, people don’t always play nice.

But at the start of this book, she learns already that valuable lesson. And it was so understandable why she is so taken aback by Jeff’s actions, and how it dented her own confidence. Who wouldn’t feel betrayed in her situation? And who wouldn’t feel just like Olivia, not knowing who is genuine and who not.

Not only now is her confidence down, but by being an influencer, and a well – known heir, whatever she does or doesn’t, is seen by everyone. Everyone that has an opinion ready to share. And that angered me, because yes, everyone has freedom of speech, but often we forget that when we spill our guts about someone, it can and will hurt that person.

Olivia for sure finds it difficult to let it all go, and all those gossiping literally behind her back don’t help. Luckily she has her friends that have her best interest at heart, and living in that same world, they are ready to help Olivia however they can.

And that is how Walker enters Olivia’s life. Not that he is a complete stranger, as their paths have crossed before, him being Paige’s ex.

I have to admit that I didn’t have this great opinion of Walker, as I knew him from a previous book in this series. But I also knew that Walker would get his redemption in this book. And he for sure proved me right!

What perhaps started as a favour, quickly evolves to something more, something more important.

It was sweet to see how Walker is able to not only help Olivia in several occasions, but he is also able to see who the real Olivia is. He sees who Olivia truly is, and doesn’t want to change her in any way. He isn’t ashamed or feels awkward with her around, he truly enjoys being around her.

And we also see a complete other side of Walker. He is clearly showing the public a façade, and he doesn’t let anyone see his own doubts, fears and turmoil.

Seeing the relationship between Olivia and Walker evolve was just amazing. Olivia and Walker in this book start a bit awkwardly, but slowly, they not only help each other, they understand each other in ways that nobody ever did. They also make each other understand that it’s their lives and that they should not let anyone dictate them or pull them in a direction they don’t feel comfortable with.

When Olivia starts to understand that what she feels for Walker is more than just pretend, it is normal that she doesn’t know what to do. They have established a connection, yet she doesn’t want to break the friendship that has become so important to her. And most important, how could someone like Walker, who could get any girl in the world, could possible feel the same for her?

And it saddened me, because of course Olivia is a great person, and why shouldn’t Walker fall for someone like her? Olivia has a lot to work on in this book, and with Walker’s help, she slowly understands herself and dares to stand on her own two feet.

Of course there are several ups and downs in this book, just it is in real life. But there is also an innocence in it, that fits perfectly the characters. Yet that innocence doesn’t diminish the level of seriousness the characters go through.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this next chapter in a series that perhaps is far from my own world, yet managed to grasp the issues and struggles of life, but also the good and the hopefulness and warmth of it perfectly.

Can love be stronger than time and space?

Synopsis

From bestseller Zoë Folbigg comes this beautiful, romantic tale of finding love in the most unexpected places.

Under the midnight sun of Arctic Norway, Cecilie goes online looking for friends, and stumbles across Hector Herrera. They start chatting and soon realise that they might have just fallen in love. But there’s a problem: Hector lives thousands of miles away in Mexico. And he’s running from a tragic past.

Cecilie’s whole life has been anchored by sticking to what she knows and her job at the cafe in the town in which she grew up. Can she really make a leap of faith for someone she’s never met? And will Hector break free to change the path he’s on?

An unforgettable story about two people, living two very different lives under the same sky, and whether they can cross oceans, seas and fjords to give their love a chance.

Please note this novel was originally published with the title The Distance

My review

Cecilie and Hector meet online through a shared love for Depeche Mode. Slowly a friendship has been formed and they may have been falling in love with each other. There is nothing wrong with love, weren’t it that Cecilie lives in Arctic Norway and Hector in Mexico. And they have never met in real life… So with Cecilie sticking to what she knows, and never goes on a real adventure and take a leap of faith, and Hector being on a path he cannot step off, do they have a chance? And how exactly is Kate’s story linked to this pair, when she suspects that her own marriage is falling apart?

In this world where everything is digital, haven’t we all made friends online? Haven’t we all had a connection (romantic or not) with a person, even if we have never seen them in real life? But how often have we also been disappointed by these online people?

I have to admit, I did find it a bit of a strange love story. I could understand the attraction, the connection, but to fall in love with a person you have never met? To have your own love life on hold for an impossible love? I had my doubts for sure…

But this isn’t only the story about an impossible love, it is also a story about hope and truly believing in something, despite all the signals there appear to be.

Cecilie is the kind of woman that just *is*. And I don’t mean this in a mean way, but for me, it felt that Cecilie could be many women in the world. She doesn’t really step outside her comfort zone, Don’t many women, or just people in general, feel like life is passing by too quickly, and yet there they are, still standing still at the same spot. Well, I for sure know I feel like that sometimes too!

So while perhaps while having doubts, I was happy that Cecilie found Hector. What started as a shared love for Depeche Mode, becomes more. What starts as just friendly words of endearment, because words fully meant.

But not only distance and not having met in real life form obstacles, also Hector’s personal life does. And he for sure didn’t have an easy life when being younger, and still now he is struggling with the relations of his past…

Yet, no matter where life takes the both of them, they always find a way back to each other. And shows the strength of their bond, that isn’t being held back by the distance between them.

Now, there is also Kate’s story. A story that apparently had nothing to do with Cecilie and Hector; But that doesn’t take away that I was invested in her tale too…

I felt for her for the greatest part of this book. She loves her family, but she also struggles with it. Her husband isn’t the most present one, and his behaviour from the very start made me question him. And when he even gaslights Kate, I wanted to scream at her to trust her instincts.

Yet I admired her growing stronger in this story, her determination to find out the truth, even if that truth is even more shocking than Kate or I thought.

And it takes a long time to discover the link between the lovely two other main characters, yet once revealed, it was just beautiful to see how past and present united in a beautiful setting, with the perfect closure.

I enjoyed reading this book about the strength of love, how unlikely it may seem at first instance. And how strong it can be even with the years passing by and how life takes you on totally different directions.  

When you need help, better not look a gift horse in the mouth…

Synopsis

A missed path. A lost love. And a second chance to get it right.

James Charlton may be second-in-command at his father’s lucrative business, but, according to his parents, he’s just not ‘posh’ enough for the kind of woman they expect him to marry. When they decide he would be perfect for the horse-mad daughter of a local earl, James needs to up his game. First step, learn to ride… But James has never even sat on a horse before.

Dagmar Ingenfeld’s life revolves around horses. She barely has room to breathe, running the stables on a country estate while desperately trying to help her mother save her café from foreclosure. When a rich and handsome man from her past arrives back in her life, she wants him straight back out again. James Charlton is nothing but bad news. Until he offers her a chance to save the café.

Only one catch. Dagmar must teach him how to ride – and fast.

As the lessons begin, Dagmar sees a different side to James, and an old flame is rekindled. But how can their budding romance go anywhere when she’s a stable girl, and he’s expected to ride into the sunset with the earl’s daughter?

James must decide whether to follow the money or take a chance on Dagmar, and perhaps, against all odds, discover the true path to happiness.

My review

Dagmar Ingenfeld’s world is surrounded by horses. She loves riding horses, wins even local prizes with them, and spends every minute by running the stables of the local country estate. To say that she is more a horse – person than a people – person would be an understatement. But even if horses are her world, when Dagmar learns that her mother’s café is at risk of closure, she wants to do whatever she can to help her mother out. Even if that means helping James Charlton… James himself is tired of his parents’ matchmaking schemes. And their latest perfect match is the daughter of an Earl, who adores horses. So if James want to take over his father’s business, he must show them that he is ‘posh’ enough. But to be what his parents want him to be, and to get the attention of Lady Victoria, he needs to get back in the saddle, literally. Or rather, get on the saddle for a first time. And who has the best reputation for riding lessons? But Dagmar is totally not interested in helping James out, as he is not a stranger. But with her helping him, he would be able to help her… So is there really a choice?

What I love about this marvellous series, is that it gives chances that we got to know in previous instalments, yet giving new readers still a chance to enjoy the book, as it can be read as a standalone.

And it’s also lovely to get to know these characters so much better, and how sometimes our first impressions of them can be wrong.

There is something I have to admit about Dagmar before I start talking all the reasons that I *do* like her. Because I know a Dagmar myself, and I don’t get along with that Dagmar, I found it a bit difficult to switch of my person thoughts and give this character a real chance. Luckily, it was easy to forget about ‘my’ Dagmar, as Dagmar Ingenfeld is just a lovely person.

And even if I am not a horse – person myself (I am the kind of person that petrifies when a horse gets too close 😊), I could understand why Dagmar loves those creatures so much. It was sweet to see how much she cares about them, how much she understands them and even how they understand her.

Beside the horses, there are many things about Dagmar that I recognized. I could easily see her characteristics also in mine. And the fact that she doesn’t have many human friends, is even wary of them, made me feel so much sympathy for her. And then reading about the difficult times she also  had as a child, made me feel for her even more.

But I didn’t just sympathize with or feel for Dagmar, I truly liked her as a persona. Even if she is rather on her own, for those she cares about and those she loves, she would do anything. And for her mother, nothing is too much.

Not even helping out the man that she used to have a crush on when being younger. The man that caused her a heartbreak on several levels. Yet he may just be the man that can help her and her mother. So obviously, she cannot refuse to learn him to ride, right?

I have to admit, that right from the start, James’s tale made me feel angry. Not that James himself is a bad person, but the fact that he is forced in a direction by his own parents, angered me. On one hand, I could understand the allure of being linked with an important family. But is that allure the right thought to have for your child? Shouldn’t you be ‘pushing’ your child to make a match out of love rather out of money?

And I felt sad that James didn’t get heard by his parents, no matter how hard he tries. And it saddened me to read how rather our of despair, James agrees to the plans of his parents.

Of course, as a reader, I was eager to see how these two characters would get along in the story. Because of their background, it didn’t come as a surprise that Dagmar isn’t all that thrilled by spending time with James again. And yet we see that each story has two sides, as James remembers Dagmar in a different light than how Dagmar remembers him.

I loved reading how initially their work agreement has to stay a secret, yet slowly their relationship changes. From just understanding the made agreement, to spend more time together, to become friends and to even defend each other, it was great to read their development.

This story was a real delight to read. The feelings are changing slowly, as both main characters are getting to know each better, and for real this time. Of course there are some bumps in the roads, and a few misunderstandings. Not only between Dagmar and James, but also misunderstanding themselves.

The fact that slowly both Dagmar and James are growing, evolving and opening up, even fighting back, was just making me cheer for them as an individual but also as a pair even more. Because with them, we see that the older we get, the wiser we get. Everyone has childhood sins, mistakes they made. But with growing up, we also change. And changing means forgiving for the past mistakes, and allow new feelings to grow.

Margaret Amatt managed to write a marvellous new chapter in an amazing series. With seeing old friends again, making new friends, I don’t think I will ever get bored by returning to Glenbriar!