When Christmas back home is a challenging one…

Synopsis

Falling in love can sometimes go off-piste…

There’s never a good time to bump into your ex – so Maya Bashir is shocked when she comes face to face with her old flame Sam Holland, who is wearing nothing but a tiny apron, working as a naked butler at her friend’s Christmas party.

Having driven home for the holidays after losing her boyfriend, flat and job – and dreading her father’s inevitable disappointment that she still doesn’t have a fifty-year plan – perhaps Sam is exactly the distraction Maya needs.

But as sparks begin to fly, Maya doesn’t know if she can let Sam back into her heart so easily… With Christmas day fast approaching, will Maya find love or disaster under the tree?

My review

Maya Bashir isn’t really looking forward to return home for the holidays. Not only is she back single, but she also is without a job. Being under constant scrutiny of her father, being compared to her sister and failing, Maya just want some peace in her life. When her best friend holds a festive party on Maya’s way home, it’s the perfect opportunity to recharge her batteries before Maya arrives home. But what Maya doesn’t expect is that the naked waiter is Sam Holland, who broke her heart years ago. Sam is doing an extra job for the money, and for sure is shocked to see Maya again. He hopes that what she has seen will stay between them… Especially as now she will be working with him as a ski instructor on the Scottish Highlands. While they in the past parted on bad terms, spending time together again, they have a chance to clear the air and learn that what happened in the past wasn’t what they thought that happened. But is now their time? Or is there still too much going own in their lives to have a second chance to what never has been?

The blurb of this book already had me already laughing, thinking about a naked waiter walking around serving you drinks 😊. With something like that, the whole story must be good, right?

I have to admit, that as the focus is being on Sam being Maya’s ex, I would have thought that the age of the main characters would be more like mine. So I was a bit surprised in learning that not only they both are younger, but that also their past relationship was more innocent than I expected. Now, I am not saying that it is a bad thing, but just that I needed to readjust my vision about the story. 😊

I also wasn’t prepared for the fact that this isn’t a happy – happy – joy – joy story. Because there are serious matters that the author talks about in this book, and that unfortunately it is something that happens in real life too, and too often.

First of all, we have Maya. I felt sorry for her, because she truly is at loss somehow. Okay, everyone has faced the end of a relationship losing a job. And that is for sure not a pleasant moment in your life. But for Maya, the fact that she has to return to her parents and reassess her life, isn’t a thought that fills her with joy.

It’s not that her parents don’t love her, because it’s crystal-clear that they do. But Maya is constantly being compared to her more successful sister, and has even been slightly forced to give up her own dreams and passion to do what her father wanted her to do.

A parent always wants the best for their child(ren), but I also believe that sometimes for a parent it’s possible to project their own dream to their child, not understanding that their dreams may not be same as their children’s. And that is something we clearly see in this book, because Maya’s father wants the best, but his best isn’t perse Maya’s best…

Maya is trying to find what brings her joy again, and I liked it to see how skiing and being a ski instructor is bringing that light back in her eyes, even if it goes against everything her father wants her to be… And even if that means working with Sam again.

Don’t we all remember that first heartbreak? And Maya’s first heartbreak involves Sam… Eight years ago Maya was over the moon to learn that Sam was feeling the same way about her as she did about him. Only to have her heart crushed when one of her best friends is being the messenger telling her that Sam has had a change of heart…

As a reader, I already had an idea what may have happened those years ago, especially when from Sam we hear a complete different story…

While I felt sad for Maya, my heart just broke getting to know Sam better. He is a genuine good guy, but the relationship he finds himself in, isn’t the good kind of relationship. With Sam we see how a good, smart guy can not understand what a relationship should be like, but also starts doubting himself…

In this book, we see how two people who had a shot at love in the past, are having a second chance. But in order to have that second chance, there are several severe hurdles to take. Not only to they have to find the courage to pursue their happiness, but they also have to find the courage to stand up and fight for themselves, before they can even think about a possibility of “them”.

And while that fact is heartbreaking, having to fight so hard for yourself and your happiness, even standing against people you love, this was also an utterly heartwarming story. About two somehow broken people, with kind and gentle hearts, finding that courage and finding each other. Finding that one person that listens, helps and understands you as no one did before. And that one person that makes you believe that happiness can be found. Sometimes, all we need is to find that one person, that can heal your heart, even if that person is someone that broke it in the past.  

An not just a regular promo, but an amazing one, if you are on her mailing list!

Synopsis

Nora’s city life isn’t exactly working out how she planned. She’s stuck in her best friend’s tiny boxroom and hasn’t yet found that dream bookish job. But when she’s forced to return to her hometown of Little Harbour, Nora’s life takes an unexpected plot twist. Her estranged sister needs her help and the beloved family bookshop of her first love, Alex, is about to go out of business. 

Alex knows a trip home to his dad and The Book Nook is long overdue. If only his own life wasn’t such a complete and utter mess he’d have visited by now. But then he hears Nora Bell is back in town and it’s the push he needs to change everything.

When the two meet again it’s clear the spark of attraction still burns bright, but their unresolved past overshadows any possible future. Can they work together to save the bookshop and find their fairytale ever after, or will hidden secrets and surprising truths keep them apart?

Perfect for fans of second chance romances, dreamy bookshops and escapist seaside settings!

About the author

Katie Ginger writes romantic comedies as Annabel French for Avon, HarperCollins and historical fiction as Emma Royal for Century, Penguin Random House. When she’s not writing she spends her time reading, looking after her family and volunteering as Vice Chair or the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

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Is nine years enough to heal an impossible pain?

Synopsis

Emily is back in Ireland after nine long years away from home, when she sees him. Her ex-husband, Rob, holding hands with a five-year-old girl. A girl that should be hers.

Over a decade before, Emily and Rob were exhausted but ecstatic new parents, delighting in the arrival of their longed-for baby daughter, Alannah. But tragedy was just a few weeks away, and in their unfathomable grief, Emily and Rob’s marriage fell apart.

Emily moved to New Zealand to get away – but returning to Dublin nearly a decade later for her mother’s funeral, she finds herself face-to-face with her past. The man she loved has a new daughter, beautiful little Molly, and Emily’s heart breaks yet again for everything that could have – should have – been.

But Rob and Molly’s lives aren’t without their own misfortunes.

Could a second chance at family heal all their broken hearts?

Caroline Finnerty’s tender and poignant new novel is perfect for fans of Amanda Prowse, Emma Robinson and Alison Ragsdale.

My review

Nine years ago, Emily’s world fell completely apart. Just the moment that things were just perfect, tragedy struck, making Emily run away to New – Zealand, away from her husband Rob, her family and friends.Now Emily has returned to Dublin, for her mother’s funeral. And not only does she has to face her past, but also Rob. Rob, who now has a little daughter, Molly. A daughter that makes Emily’s pain only come back with a vengeance, as Rob now apparently has the future they thought would be having  together. However, being back home, Emily learns that Rob and Molly haven’t had an easy time at all. And the more their lives get entwined again, the more Emily’s heart gets attached to Molly, and even Rob? But with so many broken hearts on the line, what will the future look like?

There are stories that just get you, even if you haven’t experienced the same as the main characters. And this story for sure just had me!

Of course even if the book starts in the present, with Emily returning home to Dublin, as a reader you already sort of know what kind of tragedy struck to make her leave. But that didn’t take away I wanted to get to know Emily and her story.

It cannot be easy to come back home after nine years, with so many unfinished business and still a heart that is in pain.

It’s clear that while it may seem that it did Emily good to get away from the place that held so much heartbreak, in fact she still hasn’t completely gotten over it.

Through flashbacks, we get to learn more about Emily, not only as a person, but also what has brought her to run away.

And even if I knew about the tragedy that would be waiting for her, I truly liked Emily. She is a person with a vision, determination and imagination.

And her relationship with Rob is the kind of getting envious over. Because while they may have their differences, they are just perfect. They are each other’s yin to their yang…

I thought that I was mentally ready for tragedy to strike, but oh boy, I was so wrong… what Emily and Rob went through is something no one should ever go through. And there is no right way to grieve over such a pain… Whatever direction that grief takes you, it will never be the direction that other people will follow, as grief is something so personal. Everyone has to find their own way to grieve. Some will find solace in numbers, some will need the solitude. Some will need to be close, others need distance…

In Emily we see that while she initially thought that she needed the distance, we in fact see that only once back home, she is seeing that she has only been running away, and not facing what happened nine years ago.

I could understand her shock in seeing Rob and Molly, as it would appear that Rob has moved on and has forgotten their past.

But Molly is a force of nature, that even manages to shake Emily’s world. Despite what his little girl already has been through at her young age, it’s her innocence but mainly her strength and her outspokenness that makes her so lovable. So lovable that even Emily cannot resist her. The way she sees the world, at her young age, so innocent, yet so spot – on… everyone needs a Molly in their world!

Knowing what Emily has been through, and Rob and Molly, it was just so sweet to see how Emily and Rob are finding that comfort and solace they once had, again. Finally they are able to grieve together over what once was.

But also finding each other again, was so (bitter)sweet…

I didn’t expect to devour this book, because it’s a heartbreaking story to read. But I found myself turning page after page. It was almost physically painful to read this story, as it talks about a difficult subject. But it was so heartwarming at the same time to see how pain and loss will never leave you, but will have the right place in your heart and mind.

In this book we see that while getting away from everything may be the perfect solution, at the moment. But that perhaps the comfort of home is what is needed to be able to look ahead of a bright future again, yet never forgetting what it took to get there…

You never know what there is behind a smiley face…

Synopsis

A hidden secret

Live every day as if it were your last – that’s the motto Bess has lived by since her father died unexpectedly. As a critical care paramedic, Bess sees every day just how easily life can be taken away. But carefree living has risks, and as Bess’s debts mount, she discovers her actions could have terrible consequences…

An unexpected arrival

Nothing gives Gio more joy than his work saving lives in the fire service. And on the days when his call-outs put him in the path of the air ambulance, and one paramedic in particular, things are pretty perfect. Until Gio’s world is spun on its head, first by the arrival of his estranged mother on his doorstep, and then by an accident that could put his career on hold indefinitely.

A new beginning?

Gio and Bess have always worked well together, but could they be the solution to each other’s problems beyond the frontline as well? And will they let their guard down enough to give each other a chance before snow falls over Whistlestop River?

My review

If there is one thing that Bess has learned after losing her beloved father and her own health scare, is that you should live your life as were your last day. Her job as a critical care paramedic is only reinforcing her motto, as she knows how life can just end abruptly. And that thought has brought her in financial difficulties, and her debts keep on accumulating. However, towards her loved ones, friends, family and colleagues she doesn’t show that life is a struggle and puts on a daily happy smile.
Even her friend Gio doesn’t know her struggles. But Bess doesn’t know that Gio has his own struggles, as his estranged mother suddenly stands on his doorstep, and an injury may jeopardize his career as a firefighter.
Despite both their lives seem to be falling apart, the mutual attraction keeps on growing. But will they have enough courage to let both their guards down? Or is friendship all that there can ever be?

I was so ready to read this story, as I loved reading the first book of the series. While it’s not mandatory to have read Book One, I truly recommend it. Not because you otherwise won’t be able to catch up, but because it’s just an amazing story and perhaps it will give you a better idea what being a critical care paramedic entails.

There are a lot of things I loved in this book, but what I liked the most, was the reality of it. Because both Bess and Gio have apparently a good life. They both have a job they love doing, they have a bunch of friends and the only way seems to be up.
And they both seem to be happy in their lives.

However, we never know truly what happens behind closed curtains, or what struggles people have in life. Because when things get rough, difficult, it’s not easy to talk about it, or just ask help.

While I have never been in Bess her situation, both losing a parent or being in a mountain of debts, I could understand her. Loss and grief can do strange things with people. And losing her father so unexpectedly, it made sense that Bess had to go somewhere with her pain.
Obviously it wasn’t the best thing Bess did, but in her state of mind, it made sense. And once you get in that downward spiral, it’s not easy to get out of it…

And that while Bess should be enjoying er life, because not only because she is a lovely person, but she has also been already through so much, and she deserves some genuine happiness, without any big worry…

As a reader or a bystander, it’s always easy to say that when in need, ask for help. But is it really just that easy? With Bess, we see that there is also a big feeling of shame, because how could a sensible person possibly let thing escalate this far?

She cannot even confide to her friends, not even Gio, who she has known for years, so big is her sense of shame…

Gio, who has troubles of his own, when his mother suddenly stand on his doorstep…
I know that your mother will always be your mother, but how often can you forgive someone and give a new chance?
Yet it’s a testimony of Gio’s character when he does exactly that, however without losing his wariness and looking for signs that things may go downhill again…

And when his career as a firefighter is in jeopardy, I felt so sorry for him. I can only understand too well what it means when suddenly your dream job could become an improbability…

I became very aware of his mental state, because he also is going from one setback to another, and letting go of the past, or the fear of history repeating itself is not easy at all.

Yet I liked Gio cheekiness! 😊 He is determined to go on a date with Bess, and he doesn’t give up! It was sweet to see how just seeing Bess makes him just feel better, more uplifted.
His feelings for Bess are genuine, and it’s also his feelings for her that make him able to confide in her.
But he is also understanding and patient, because it’s normal that Bess is a bit afraid to take a next step with Gio, as she doesn’t want to lose him as a friend.

But this wasn’t a love story. Well, in a way it was 😊 but it felt more like a ‘life story’. Because we see how two lovely characters are going through a dark moment in their lives. And while they don’t see an easy way out, they have to learn to ask for help, and see that those around her are only too willing to offer a helping hand, one way or another.

I truly enjoyed reading this story, not only because of its lovely characters, but also because it’s so realistic, both in a good way and in a bad way. It also is in a way inspiring, showing what can happen when finding courage. Courage to ask for help, courage for listening, courage for forgiving, and courage to open you heart.
Helen Rolfe gave me with this book what I expected, needed and more!

Can a heart love again after being broken so terribly?

Synopsis

She came to Provence in the hope of a fresh start, she never expected she would fall in love in and find herself along the way.

Inheriting an old stone house in Provence, along with her sisters is the catalyst Ellie Gilchrist needs to put some distance between her and her grief. But when she arrives at the run down ‘La Masionette’ hidden amongst overgrown Lavender and Ivy, she wonders if she’s made a mistake?

That is until she meets her guarded neighbour Julien and his adorable little boy, and she’s surprised by the flutters of excitement she never thought she’d feel again. Add in rescuing a stray dog and she has the much needed distraction she needs. Ellie decides to stay temporarily and work on bringing the little house back to life again. If only she can ignore the fireworks that explode every time she’s around Julien. They both have hearts they want to protect, but a little temporary affaire can’t be too dangerous, especially when Ellie has stated she will be leaving after the last summer market of the season. But something in the alchemy of what she discovers in this part of France seems to be casting an irresistible spell making it difficult to walk away.

My review

Ellie Gilchrist has recently faced the most terrible heartbreak someone could ever face. Even now she is still grieving over her loss. So when she and her sisters inherit an old house in Provence, perhaps going there will put some relief on her pain. But La Maisonette radiates also a sadness, making Ellie wonder if coming to France was the right choice.
That is until a few things happen around the same time: meeting neighbour Julien and his little boy Theo, rescuing a stray dog, and finding inspiration again for her art.
After a long time, Ellie finds something to be excited about, and she doesn’t want to lose it again. So she decides to stay at La Maisonette. While attempting to bring La Maisonette back to life, she also grows closer to Julien. But as he also is protecting his heart, perhaps a short fling is the perfect solution to make them both feel alive again. Because after all, Ellie will be leaving after the summer…

When I started this book, I thought I would be reading a book like I have read so many before. Woman is heartbroken, takes off to a dreamy setting, falls in love, *some drama*, and then there is a happily ever after.
Of course there is absolutely nothing wrong with such stories, as I can truly devour them, but sometimes I just need something different.
Yet I was very quickly realizing that this story was different. And while it was heartbreaking reading Ellie’s story, it was also a wonderful one.

There are many ways of heartbreak, and each heartbreak is one too many. But I cannot imagine how Ellie can even just live with her kind of heartbreak. Because just reading what she has been through, made my heart ache, and I was just reading about it. I know that what happened to her, is something that unfortunately happens in the real world too, and it’s not something anyone should go through…

It angered me also that not everyone around seems to understand the pain Ellie is feeling, and that there isn’t a time limit on grief. It takes what it takes, it can be weeks, months or even years. Everyone has to grieve on their own terms, and it takes what it takes…

And sometimes, getting away from everything is exactly what someone needs, to not only be away from all those reminders, but also to clear the mind. And who knows, perhaps the getaway is exactly what is needed.

When Ellie arrives at La Maisonnette, it’s so clear that she is still not okay. Even the discovery she makes with her sister in one of the bedrooms, brings her back to her own experience.
And my heart practically literally broke during her first encounter with Julien and Theo…

Yet seeing slowly Ellie changing, was truly beautiful and heartwarming. It starts with something perhaps unimportant, yet it’s just that thing that ignites a passion, a fire back in Ellie’s life. A light that Ellie needed, but couldn’t find anywhere else.
And that spark makes her decide to stay in France, as that is something she feels she needs to do.

I truly loved getting to know the real Ellie, the one that isn’t carrying all the pain in the world, but a woman that is ready to face the world again.
And seeing her getting closer to Julien was also just sweet.

Julien has his own reasons to keep his distance, but what I liked the most about him, was not only him being a wonderful dad to Theo, but he also seems to comprehend Ellie’s struggles or what may trigger her.

Both main characters aren’t ready to open up their hearts for love again, as they know the hurt that can come afterwards. But we all know that love perhaps won’t come easy, but it also cannot just be stopped because we don’t want to get hurt again…

Before you think that this is a slow walk in the park, think again. Because the author for sure wrote a few twists and turns, shocking ones, but also heart – stopping ones! And with those twists and turns we also see that the main characters are human, perhaps saying or doing the wrong thing at the wrong time…

Now, I still have a few questions that are left unanswered, or rather mysteries that I had a hunch about. 😊
And perhaps the grand gesture of Julien at the end was a TOO big of a gesture? Or let me say it differently: I don’t know anyone in my life that would be able to make that kind of gesture 😊

I have to be honest, I didn’t expect to be so captivated by this story. So I surprised myself by how quickly I was devouring this book. Yes, there is a lot of pain in it, but there are also so many ray of lights in it. We not only see the resilience of people, but we also see that small steps need to be taken. And that a change of scenery can be the answer that was needed…

To protect the past, to move on from your own?

Synopsis

Rowan Thorpe can be forgiven for living with one foot in the past.

Since having to say goodbye far too young to the future she had planned, moving on still feels a daunting task. So, when historian Connor O’Keefe strides purposefully into her office and life, looking far too handsome for his own good and threatening to undermine the local legends she holds close to her heart, she is more than a little unsettled.

Connor has a past too, and his own reasons to keep his heart under wraps. But when a combination of fate and an unexpected snowstorm mean that Rowan and Connor have all the time in the world to swap stories, it may finally be time for an end and a new beginning.

My review

Rowan Thorpe is doing everything to protect the local legends and myths, especially those of the moors, and even more specifically, The Fairy Stane. Even if that means fighting against the sudden arrived Irish historian Connor O’Keefe. Connor wants to dig up the Fairy Stane, as he believes he may find some Roman artefacts for his own research. Rowan for sure isn’t happy with Connor appearing too often and too handsomely, trying to destroy what she wants to protect for his own professional benefit. And she for sure won’t be blinded by him, as her heart is still utterly broken after the future she planned with her husband ended abruptly. But the more Rowan gets to know Connor, the more she understands that he also has a painful past. A past he wants to get away from. Can two broken hearts find a way to get some healing? And will they be able to move on from the past?

There are plenty stories where the main characters have a broken heart, for one reason or another. But there is something even more devastating about being widowed. Especially, just like in Rowan’s case, there was still a whole future to be planned, dreams to come to fruition and only to have it all ripped away from her.

My heart truly went out to her, as it’s so clear that she is still so much grieving, or rather hasn’t grieved properly yet. And I could understand how she got so focused on preserving The Fairy Stane, as at least that is one thing she can hold on to, keep in her life.

I have to admit, while I understood her reasoning, as an adult it was bit over the top reading how a likewise adult woman was so adamant and resolute on not seeing Connor’s point of view on things. There is of course this mystery around the Stane, as what is it really? Because as wonderful it would be as it would be the entry to Fairyland, well, as adults, we know better…

But this book isn’t about what the Stane truly is, but it’s about Rowan, Connor and the hold their past has on them…

Connor’s story is similar to Rowan in a way, but also so different at the same time. He also has experienced heartbreak, not like Rowan’s but still a painful one. He thought he had found the perfect woman for him, to only learn it has all been a lie from the very start.

And that saddened me, to read how love can be a beautiful thing, but also a terrible thing when you are being wronged…

And I was very quickly in judging the lady that did this to Connor, but the further along I got in the book, the more I realized that there are always two sides in a story. And that we can never assume what the other side of the story is…

But back to Rowan and Connor. Of course for the readers it was hilarious to see how these two people are fighting, arguing most of the time. And it was absolutely funny to see how circumstances bring them to be living together at Rowan’s place.

This is of course also the perfect opportunity to just get to know each other, to understand each other, and to help each other heal too.

This book for sure is showing us that pain and grief just don’t disappear overnight. Nobody can tell you how to grieve, how long it will take or what will trigger a blast of pain and hurt…

And that is for sure what we see with Rowan. She is still clinging to her late husband, everything reminds her of him.

But with Connor entering her life, it was just so heartwarming seeing shift something in Rowan. Even if she does her best to deny it 😊.

While I wanted things to progress perhaps more quickly, as I wanted the both of them to be happy, I also knew that it cannot be forced.  Both Rowan and Connor need to face their past, acknowledge the pain but also find the courage to start to living again, to move on. But never forgetting the past of course. But the past is in the past, and it shouldn’t be holding you back to live your life once again.

I truly loved reading this book, even if Rowan’s agony is so palpable from the pages. And the final revelation of the real meaning of the Fairy Stane was also a heart – breaking one.

But the beauty of this book was also in its pain, as we see how a loss can close someone completely up. And sometimes it needs a confrontation with someone to make a change in life, to have some light back in life.

Jane Lovering wrote once again a captivating story, that gripped my heartstrings. It shows us the pains of the world, but also the beauty that life can give us. And it shows us how something to fight over can the start of a brand new story.

When a change in life, brings a blissful memory back in your life

Synopsis

An uplifting festive romance perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and authors such as Phillipa Ashley, Trisha Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Rebecca Raisin and Donna Ashcroft.

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.

Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.

But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …

My review

When fleeing her heartache and her job’s annual conferences, she finds herself wandering around in a church in the village of Haileybrook.
And before she knows, she finds herself pretending to be the fake date of handsome stranger Jack at a wedding. While for sure there is a connection between the two, Bella has to suddenly leave without a word.
A year later, Bella is ready to change her life and start all over again at Haileybrook, with a new job and a cosy cottage. And she is looking for once a peaceful Christmas.
But not all is as peaceful as Bella would think, with feuds, mysteries, sudden appearances of family and even an unexpected encounter!

Claire Huston is the kind of author that can write stories without extra overcomplicated dramas, adding drama for the purpose of being dramatic, yet still have a wonderful story. Now, don’t think that there isn’t any drama in this book, because there is. But it’s all in a way relatable drama. I found myself often thinking that it could all happen in the real world too.

Bella’s character is also a relatable kind of person. It’s clear that she had enough of her hectic life, she doesn’t enjoy her job anymore, and on top of that, she is still trying to overcome her heartbreak.
Yet that doesn’t take away that she is always ready to help out people, even if in some cases she shouldn’t be helping out.

My heart went out to her, seeing her wandering around in Haileybrook for the first time, at the start of the book. I could feel her inner turmoil, her pain, her heartache.
It’s clear that she needs a change in her life. But making a change can also be a scary thing, so it’s understandable that her thoughts are all over the place.

Her first encounter with Jack for sure is a great one! I was laughing not only at the stumble, but also how Bella agrees to be his fake date, and has the ability to make turn the awkward situation into a hilarious one. Yet it was also sweet to read how protective Bella is, as she wants to make Jack look in a different, better light!

Sparks for sure fly during the wedding between Bella and Jack, and saying that I got a bit angry when Bella has to leave abruptly, is an understatement! And to then just skip to one year later, well Claire Huston wasn’t scoring many points with that! Luckily for her, she scored on other levels! 😊

I was happy for Bella for her fresh start, as even if it is something completely different from her past life, it is just perfect for her. Of course, taking over from someone else isn’t easy, especially as that person is rather unorganized. But I admired Bella’s determination and good spirits!
Good spirits she keeps having while meeting new people. She isn’t easily upset with whatever crosses her path and has a great way of keeping the peace in tricky situations.

But not when she suddenly stands in front of The One That Perhaps Got Away…
I have to say, as a reader I knew that that meeting was on the cards, and I was very eager! However, I was a bit surprised by Jack’s reaction. Yes, it’s a shock for him too, but him acting so cold and distant was not what I was expecting from lovely Jack…

On the other hand, it’s kinda understandable too, as he thinks Bella just ghosted him, literally by just disappearing into thin air. 

It was lovely to see how slowly not only they are getting reacquainted with each other (or just rather, getting to know each other for real, as they just spend one evening together, a year ago 🙂 ) but also understanding that they could trust each other, relying on each other. Especially as they also share the same values in life. This is especially shown at a moment that Jack isn’t treated the right way and Bella stands up for him, even jeopardizing her own job.

And seeing Bella finding the courage to open up and tell Jack about her past love life and how it ended terribly in heartbreak, not only made me understand her better, but also shows once again that high level of trust there is between Bella and Jack.

But this was mainly Bella’s journey to find happiness. And that doesn’t have to involve romance per se. Okay, reconnecting with Jack is a great perk, but we see how the story is more about Bella maturing. It starts with turning her life upside down, not an easy task at all, but we see her forming new and important friendships. But we also see Bella learning to stand her ground, learning to gently put a stop at being too kind to some people.

I have to say, I was expecting a little bit more of Christmas in this book. There are for sure some Christmassy things happening, like there are mistletoes, trees, gingerbread houses, etc. But it isn’t that Christmas is the red line throughout the whole story, it’s more of a nice addition to an already great story. 

This was for sure a great, lovely story to read, and everything I expected from this author! There is so much warmth in this book, so much love, so much laughter too! I enjoyed devouring this book! 

As best friends, nothing is too much to ask for

Synopsis

‘Extraordinary… a raw, vulnerable, breath-stealing love you can feel as you read’ Emily Henry

‘Dazzling, tender, and romantic’ Carley Fortune

We’ve always been best friends… but what if we were more?

Laniah and Isaac have been best friends since childhood, and they couldn’t be more different. She’s a homebody who runs a small natural hair store with her mum. He’s an international influencer with the paparazzi on his tail.

When Issac comes home for the first time in months and discovers Laniah and her mum are struggling to keep their business afloat, she refuses to take a dime from him. And so, he does what any self-respecting best friend would do: tells the world they’re dating.

Suddenly business is booming, and Laniah reluctantly agrees to pretend to be lovers for the course of the summer. Just long enough to catch the eye of an investor and get her dream back on track.

But as the lines between what’s real and pretend blur, it becomes harder and harder to see where friendship ends and something else begins….

Brimming with chemistry, A Love like the Sun is the perfect slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance about falling in love and second chances. Perfect for fans of Tia Williams and Emily Henry.

My review

Laniah Thompson and Issac Jordan are best friends since childhood, even if their current lives couldn’t be more different. Laniah enjoys just staying at home, and is passionate about the business she runs with her mother, Wildly Green, a natural hair store. While Issac runs an international brand and is famous around the world, followed by paparazzi.
When Issac finally makes an appearance back home in Providence, and learns about the financial struggles Laniah is facing, as her best friend of course he wants to help her. However, Laniah refuses to just accept his well – deserved money.
So Issac comes with the next best thing: telling everyone they are dating. Now business is blooming once again, but also everyone suddenly has an opinion about Laniah, something she isn’t accustomed to.
But telling the world also means to pretend, and now that thin line that has never been crossed before is at risk. Because the more they pretend, the more difficult it becomes to keep everything in the friend – zone. Is the pretence of them the incentive to see each other more as just best friends? Or is the risk to lose each other too big for a shot at love?

I love reading books where friends start to pretend to be in a relationship and I am always eager to see how things will develop, what hurdles will cross their paths and how it will all end (at the same time hoping for that one specific end 😊).
And I am also always curious to read how different lives can go, even for best friends.

In this book, it was lovely to see how Laniah and Issac have been best friends, even if everyone around them suspected at least that there was more than just friendship. But their friendship is a genuine one, that has been through a lot in the past, yet never faltered. Even if now their lives are total opposites, they know they can always rely on each other, no matter what.

As true friends, they will always want to help each other, and that is exactly what Issac wants when he learns about Laniah’s store being in difficulties. While it for sure is honourable that he wants to help financially, I could also Laniah’s reluctance of accepting that kind of help. It’s difficult to explain, but even I wouldn’t want to accept money from my friends, even if that would help me out.

And I found it great that Issac understood that, yet was adamant on finding another way of helping his best friend.
Now, telling everyone they are dating isn’t perhaps the ideal solution, but of course if Issac did something else, we wouldn’t have this story 😊.

My heart went out to Laniah, as she isn’t only struggling with her business, but has a lot on her plate. And it angered me to see how someone who is supposed to take her complaints at heart, is just so quickly dismissing her, with consequences that could have been easily avoided.

But the focus is obviously on the shifting cards between Laniah and Issac. Through some flashbacks, we can also see how this pair has always been there for each other, and how there has always been *something* there.
I found it sweet to read how at moments they are supposed to be pretending, they are just themselves. They don’t realize how “couply” they are by just acting as usual.

And seeing the attraction grow between them, with many will – they – will – they – not moments were while frustrating but also delightful! Also reading them realizing the depth of their feelings, was also really good!

Obviously taking their friendship further isn’t without risks, because is taking a chance at love, and perhaps failing, worth the risk of losing your best friend? But on the other hand, what if this is the kind of love that everyone is looking for?

I liked reading this book, as it shows that sometimes because of we are so used to things, we aren’t able to see past that. We cannot see the potential of making a change. But it’s also about fear not letting you hold back. Fear for that change, but also fear of the unknown future. Yet it’s mainly a story about love. Love in all its aspects, love that can change for the better and love that is worth the risk!

Looking for a fresh start, finding more than just your roots

Synopsis

Welcome to the town of Starr’s Fall, where Autumn can feel like it goes on forever, and two people have a chance to fall in love…

The leaves are falling, with a crispness to the air, along with the scents of coffee and pumpkin spice, past a half-empty street of shuttered storefronts and a bandstand that has seen better days…

Just like the whole town of Starr’s Fall, thinks Laurie Ellis – as she and her beloved dog Max head to collect the store keys. Maybe she has seen better days, too, but she’s certainly ready for a new start—and to leave her past behind. Still Laurie wonders whether she made a terrible mistake in coming to lovable but shabby Starr’s Fall. Will she even find customers for her pet store and bakery, never mind a community to welcome and accept her?

Not according to Joshua Reilly, the handsome but grumpy manager of the bookstore across the road, who claims he’s never heard of anything so ridiculous as a bakery for dogs.

But Laurie remains stubbornly undeterred. She’s starting over, right here. Not least because she has another secret reason for being here… one she isn’t telling anybody, at least not yet, as it involves her own tragic past.

What she doesn’t yet know is that a clue to the mystery is hidden deep in Joshua’s bookstore. And he doesn’t yet realize that Laurie herself might be the key to mending his own battered heart… for Laurie and Joshua and the whole town, it’s going to be a fall to remember.

My review

Laurie Ellis is ready for a fresh start. So she heads off with her lovely dog Max to Starr’s Fall. She wants to leave her past behind, and open a pet store and bakery.
Yet she is also a bit scared, because will the store be successful? And will the community accept her as a newcomer?
And her fear is justified, as she sees how her neighbour across the road, Joshua Reilly, behaves. Joshua has the reputation of being grumpy and reclusive. And he for sure doesn’t believe that Laurie’s business will be successful.
But Laurie has an ulterior motive for her move to Starr’s Fall, one that she isn’t yet ready for to share with anyone. Yet Joshua’s bookstore may be having a clue for the answers that Laurie needs. And perhaps Laurie may be the answer for Joshua to heal his own broken heart?

Picking up a book from a new author is always a but scary. Even if the author has a great reputation, it doesn’t mean that her books will appeal to me, or that I will like her writing style.
So with a little bit of trepidation I started this book, hoping that I would like it, a bit afraid that I wouldn’t…

But my worries were unjustified because I absolutely loved reading this book!

Making the move to a new town, where you don’t know anyone, can be a scary thing. So in that aspect, I admired Laurie, because let me say this: I couldn’t do that! Even when I moved to be living on my own, I stayed in very close proximity of my family and friends 😊.
But while I admired Laurie, also for starting a business that isn’t that obvious. Yet that also says a lot about Laurie’s character, how she has a heart for animals and wants the best for them, as we can also see the way she cares about her own dog Max.

I also admired her as she chose Starr’s Fall for a specific, ulterior reason. Being a foster child, she doesn’t know who her biological parents are. The only thing she knows is that her mother is from Starr’s Fall, so there is no better place to start her search in this little place.
Yet her growing up in the system, is also why I felt so sorry for her. Because not only did she not have the best of childhoods, but she also still has so many unanswered questions…

As I am a little bit evil, I enjoyed reading the initial clashing between Laurie and Joshua. And that because of course we already know that romance is on the cards between this pair.

It was difficult to immediately like Joshua, because of the way he acts. Not only is he very reclusive (something that I could understand, as at moments I prefer solitude too), but he is very grumpy, answers very rude even.
Yet slowly getting to know him better, made me understand not only his character but also his behaviour that much better.

And it was great to see how slowly those immense high walls he has been building, are falling apart. Even if it scares him terribly, Laurie makes him want to do better, she is the incentive for him to be more open, brighter and more out there.

In fact, the both spending time together makes it possible for the both of them to be more open and bright. And if there are two people who deserve to find lightness and even love again, it’s for sure Laurie and Joshua!

This story is also about Laurie’s search for her biological mother. And that quest isn’t an easy one, but also involves a little bit of luck.
But I also have to admit, that I was a bit disappointed in this storyline. Not because of the storyline itself, but of the outcome. I am not going to tell much more about it, but let me tell you it wasn’t the resolution I was hoping for. But in a way, that is also part of life, that things don’t always go as expected or imagined…

I absolutely enjoyed discovering this author, her storytelling, and her characters. She has added many different layers in this book, even unexpected ones. I cannot wait to read more from her!