In a famous city where past and present collide, is a happy end possible?

Synopsis

Brimming with romance, adventure and vivid historical detail, Christina Courtenay’s gripping dual-time novel travels from the present day to the fires of ancient Pompeii.

The sunlight caught her gold bracelet, sending a flash that almost blinded her.

She closed her eyes, but jumped when the earth started shaking and there was an almighty boom behind her.

Present Day
Finally escaping an abusive marriage, Caterina Rossi takes her three-year-old daughter and flees to Italy. There she’s drawn to research scientist Connor, who needs her translation help for his work on volcanology. Together they visit the ruins of Pompeii and, standing where Mount Vesuvius unleashed its fire on the city centuries before, Cat begins to see startling visions. Visions that appear to come from the antique bracelet handed down through her family’s generations…

AD 79
Sold by his half-brother and enslaved as a gladiator in Roman Pompeii, Raedwald dreams only of surviving each fight, making the coin needed to return to his homeland and taking his revenge. That is, until he is hired to guard beautiful Aemilia. As their forbidden love grows, Raedwald’s dreams shift like the ever more violent tremors of the earth beneath his feet.

The present starts eerily to mirror the past as Cat must fight to protect her safety, and to forge a new path from the ashes of her old life…

My review

Caterina Rossi, Cat for her friends, finally found the courage to escape her abusive marriage. Together with her three – year – old daughter she returns back to her roots and family in Italy, hoping that her husband will never find them.
When she meets research scientist Connor, she offers her help with translating documents for his work on volcanology. Connor’s job brings the pair to the ruins of Pompeii, where Cat begins to have visions about a faraway past, linked to the antique bracelet that has been in her family for generations.
Visions that bring her to AD 79, where Aemilia has a new bodyguard as ordered by her distant husband. Even Raedwald is commited to his extra job as bodyguard,  he is set on getting revenge on his half – brother. Because Raedwald has been betrayed and sold as a gladiator in Pompeii. And every coin he can have, brings him closer to execute his plans.
But what he didn’t foresee are the growing feelings he has for Aemilia, that are reciprocated… However, with the Vesuvius acting up like we all know how it has, is a future possible for them?

Having read several books from this author already, I knew what to expect. And even I am very skeptical whenever visions etc. concerns, each book for sure captured my attention and I liked reading them.
Yet I cannot put exactly my finger on it, but when I finished this book, I found myself loving each bit I had read!

This is a dual timeline, yet each main character could have a whole book for themselves. But having a common thread, made the book an even more enthralling one.
But don’t ask me which story I preferred, as I loved them both equally.

I got really vengeful reading Raedwald and Aemilia’s story. First of all, the betrayal Raedwald had to endure made my blood boil. And then reading how he had to adapt as he was being used as a gladiator… we all know how brutal it was.
Of course I understood why he needed to gain his freedom and get his revenge on his family.

It was even funny in a way to see how love changed Raedwald… His focus shifted, although not completely from  gaining freedom to Aemilia’s safety. But not only that, we also see a gentle side with his interaction with Aemilia’s little girl.

Aemilia is obviously not happy in her marriage. It’s clear that hers is a marriage of convenience (like it is common during this era), but still it saddened me to see her so unhappy and not knowing what love looks like. That is, until she meets Raedwald of course.

I always like it when there is growing an impossible love. Although I was a bit afraid for the outcome, as we know that the volcano will erupt. I was afraid that their story would end in tragedy, so I was both eager and reluctant to read their evolution.

Another evolution I was eager to discover was that of Cat. My heart truly broke while reading her story…
Just like Aemilia, she is in an unhappy marriage, but in Cat’s case it’s even worse as her husband is a real tyrant. And Cat has literally felt his anger.
Yet I found her courageous when she finally decided that she had enough and escapes her personal hell.

Perhaps Cat didn’t handle everything like it should have been done, but I could completely comprehended her. And it warmed my heart to see how her family in Italy opened their arms for her, even after everything that has happened.
It shows that a real caring and loving family is always there for you, no matter what happened.

It was also great to see Cat starting a new life in Italy. Slowly she picks up the pieces and slowly she starts to trust those around her.
And that includes Connor…

Connor is exactly what Cat need to restore her trust in mankind. While their first encounter perhaps wasn’t the best one, Connor shows not only an interest in Cat, but he also shows kindness, patience, and gentleness. He is also ready to help out when he sees someone in need. And we see that in his actions towards Cat. Yes, he is attracted to her, but I also truly believe he would help her if she were ‘just’ a friend..

In this book we see in several occasions that there are plenty of ugly people in the world. But we also see, and that is more important, that there are more good people. And these people are there to restore faith in humankind.

Now, I am still skeptical concerning the whole vision-thing, yet in this book it was a great addition. It made it possible to link the main characters without making it all too crazy.
That made it for me possible to truly love reading this story. Because we not only it’s a captivating story in a beautiful setting, but we also see the power of real and the good kind of love and how it can change people and restore their faith.

When the goal is to end a courtship but then…

Synopsis

‘Angelica had always known her lack of high birth, fortune or influence debarred her from being presented as an eligible young woman worthy of marriage. To cap it all, being an actress assured she was utterly beyond the pale of respectability.’

Nightly at the Covent Garden Theatre in London, an enchanting actress is wowing the crowds with her affecting portrayal of Ophelia. Preyed on by rakes and opportunistic young bucks, feted by dukes and earls, even the Prince Regent himself, Angelica Leigh is a sensation.

But in Regency England, beauty and talent are not enough to be considered marriage material, so when the eminently eligible Lord Charles Latimer sets his heart on Angelica, his uncle is sent to intervene.

As a highly respected, hard-working and wealthy lawmaker, The Honourable Ivor Asprey, is himself seen as desirable husband material, but widowed with an eleven-year-old daughter Elinor, he has forsaken all thoughts of romance. Lord Latimer’s mother, the Duchess of Arlington, despairs of her son, despite being reassured by Ivor that his infatuation with the actress will pass. But there is something about Angelica Leigh that demands attention, and even the austere and upstanding Mr Asprey isn’t immune to her charms.

Sunday Times bestselling author Jane Dunn brings the Regency period irresistibly to life. Perfect for fans of Jane Austen. Janice Hadlow, Gill Hornby, and anyone with a Bridgerton-shaped hole in their lives.

My review

Angelica Leigh is an actress that manages to captivate her audience while performing at the Covent Garden Theatre in London.
She even captures the attention of Lord Charles Latimer, who has fallen for the beautiful actress and is determined to marry her.
But Regency England, and especially Lord Latimer’s mother isn’t ready to accept a ‘mere’ actress in the higher society. And thus  Charles’ mother, the Duchess of Arlington, asks her brother, The Honourable Ivor Asprey, to avoid a scandal. And while Ivor is sure that Charles’ infatuation will quickly pass, the widowed with a young daughter finds himself more and more captivated by Angelica… 

Regency stories are always a sort of guilty pleasure for me. Add the fact that there is clear distinction in class between the main characters, and you know that I will gladly read it!
But after finishing this book, I also found this a book showing different kinds of love. 

Because it’s clear that what Lord Charles Latimer feels for Angelica isn’t the real kind of love, but just a crush, an infatuation, even if he doesn’t realize it himself yet.
However, I admired his determination to pursue his wish to marry Angelica. And his feelings for Angelica also make sure that in every circumstance, Angelica has someone fighting in her corner. 

But we also see a nasty kind of love, even we can even call it love. Because Angelica has a suitor, who just wants to have Angelica as a mistress, to have his wicked, lecherous way with her. This is a kind of desire we all despise and need to stay away from. 

And then there is the kind of love that slowly develops, based on respect, understanding and knowing the person for real. And that is the kind of love that rises above every possible obstacle. 

At first, I didn’t know what to think of Angelica as her nature somehow clashes with her work as an actress. Not that I have something against actresses, but her latest play for sure attract the male attention as she doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination.
But it’s clear that acting is a passion of Angelica, and can you blame someone who is chasing their dreams? 

And in fact, Angelica is a kind, sweet, loveable character. There are moments she could chose the easy way out, but that is not the kind of person she is. She could have easily accepted Lord Charles’ proposal, but she isn’t sure about her feelings and she doesn’t want to bring scandal over Lord Charles, no matter how good his intentions are, and she for sure doesn’t want to disrupt a family… 

When because of circumstances she is staying at Ivor Asprey’s residence, we also see that there is so much more to her than we would think.
It was also lovely to see how well along she gets with Ivor’s little sweetheart, who is a real sweetheart.
But what I liked the most was to the developing relationship between Angelica and Ivor, as we see how spending time together can bring people to a better understanding and how it can make even the most reluctant person fall in love. 

And that is obviously Ivor, as he is determined to never fall in love again, as he believes that it will only end in heartbreak. Yet that doesn’t take away that he is ready to fight (even literally) for the woman who has won his heart. 

It doesn’t matter where you stand in society, because for the right person, you would be ready to make the scandalous match. Even when wrong choices are being made for protection, or to avoid a real scandal, in the most difficult moments the real emotions surface and it’s impossible to ignore them any longer. But in the end, every fight, every doubt, everything in general was worth it when love is in fact the endgame.

How one unexpected night can get you out of your comfort zone in so many ways

Synopsis

Lizzie Rose knows what she likes and likes what she knows.

Her role at the London Museum is more than a job, it’s her safe place and her passion. So when Lizzie is passed over for a chance in a lifetime opportunity in favour of her ex-boyfriend and fellow Egypt nerd Friedrich Klein, her heartbreak over their relationship pales into insignificance compared to her sadness at losing the project.

Best friend Colette thinks an evening of cocktails is just the medicine for a broken heart, and meeting dashing, charming, but very much ‘not her type’ Finn Bryson at the bar puts a smile on Lizzie’s face too. But Lizzie isn’t used to spending time outside of her comfortable world of academia and doesn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. So when Finn’s job brings him to the museum, she’s determined to put an end to any notion of romance between them.

But what if Lizzie’s comfort zone isn’t that comfortable any more? Is it time for Lizzie to take the chance on love that fate keeps bringing her way – even if it means changing the habits of a lifetime?

My review

Lizzie Rose is an archeologist that loves her job at the London Museum. So when she loses the chance to be the lead of a gig to her obnoxious ex – boyfriend, her best friend Colette decides that a night filled with cocktails what Lizzie needs.
On their night out, Lizzie meets Finn Bryson. Even if he is totally not Lizzie’s type, he manages to distract her, and Lizzie even does something she usually never does. Because after all, she is never going to see Finn again.
Until their worlds once again collide and Finn’s job brings him to the museum where Lizzie works. Even if sparks keep flying around, Lizzie is determined to not mix business with pleasure.
Yet Lizzie’s comfortable comfort zone doesn’t feel that comfortable anymore, and it’s up to Lizzie to take a step into the unknown, and perhaps even take a chance on Finn?

Maxine Morrey always manages to write stories that seem at first sight rather simple and easy. But she has the ability and talent to yet make it into something spectacular.
And having read several of her books, I knew I would be in for a treat!

Lizzie is such a recognizable character, even if her job (and passion) couldn’t be further from my own interests. Yet I could completely understand her, how she feels comfortable in her current situation, and not all that eager to make any changes.
I liked it how passionate she is about her job, I could practically see the light in her eyes!

But it was also clear how much her comfort zone was limiting her in a way. What happens when she meets Finn is so out of character for her, yet I could understand her feelings, how she was for sure enjoyed it, but it so not her.
There is so much potential in Lizzie, if only she would allow herself to take that step into the unknown, to even allow her to have fun and let her hair loose without feeling guilty or even losing herself.

And that is exactly why Finn is so perfect for her. While it started as one night of fun, when their paths cross again, he respects Lizzie for who she is, but he also wants her to see that there is so much more in Lizzie’s life than just her passion for archeology.
He understands her boundaries, fears and actions, but without turning Lizzie into someone else, she gently nudges her to understand that perhaps her boundaries are perhaps too strict, limiting her to be the best possible version of Lizzie.

So while before I already loved Lizzie, seeing her spending time with Finn, getting out there, having more fun and realizing how much she is capable of, made me love her even more.
And seeing her together with Finn was absolutely delightful!

Of course there are a few struggles in this book, and not only between Lizzie and Finn, but also things that unfortunately are still happening in the real world. And I thought that Maxine Morrey addressed these issues in a perfect manner, by showing them to us, but without getting too preachy about the injustice of it….

After finishing the book, I had to take some time to think about myself, and wonder if perhaps in the past I was a Lizzie myself, settling for my own comfort zone, but just like her, had to learn to step out of it and enjoy life more but without losing the person I am. I enjoyed reading this story from the first page until the very last one. I had extreme high expectations, and the author not only fulfilled them, but even went beyond!

Check this out!

Synopsis

A TIMES BEST NEW THRILLER PICK

‘Runs at breakneck speed through a dark and dangerous universe populated with characters who are never what they seem’ KATHLEEN KENT, author of Black Wolf

‘A perfect thriller – page-turning excitement, expert plotting, a good dose of wit, and above all a fierce heroine you can’t get enough of.’ ASIA MACKAY, author of Killing It

Meet Elsa Zero: Bad neighbour. Single mother. Ex-deep cover agent.
And right now, the most dangerous person on Earth.

When Elsa’s dull but dedicated boyfriend proposes in a packed restaurant, she doesn’t think her evening can get any worse. But as the clock strikes midnight, her world is turned upside down.

Suddenly Elsa is running for her life, trying to keep her children safe, and desperate to discover what the hell is going on.

Every intelligence agency in the world wants her dead because she’s in possession of a deadly secret – she just has to stay alive long enough to figure out what it is.

But this is Elsa Zero we’re talking about. And it’s a very bad idea to get on her wrong side.

Bursting with tension, twists and humour, this is a brilliantly unique action-thriller perfect for fans of Killing Eve, Lee Child and people who loved watching Nobody and Hunted.

Purchase Link – https://geni.us/ZKPBRRR

About the author

M.K. Hill worked as a journalist and an award-winning music radio producer before becoming a full-time writer. He’s written the Sasha Dawson series, Ray Drake series and the highly-acclaimedpsychological thriller One Bad Thing. He lives in London. Visit him at http://www.mkhill.uk or find him on Twitter @markhillwriter

A ghostwriting job with an unexpected and even terrifying twist…

Synopsis

Every screenwriter knows the best stories come from the truth…

But the truth can be terrifying

Marnie thought she’d left behind her days of writing ‘celebrity’ tell-all memoirs, but when her big break as a screenwriter turns to dust she’s forced to take another ghost writing job.

Except this time it’s for someone who is actually famous. Or rather, infamous. Blythe Hopper. A reclusive former Hollywood star who recently murdered her screenwriter husband.

And Marnie has her own reasons for wanting to meet Blythe, not least because of an email she received from Blythe’s husband, sent two days after he was shot dead.

But Marnie soon learns Blythe is not a woman to be messed with.

Dark secrets lurk at the Hoppers’ palatial London home – secrets long buried, which Marnie is determined to unearth. At any price.

Because this isn’t just about Blythe’s past.

It’s about Marnie’s too.

My review

Marnie is disappointed that her big break as a screenwriter went up in thin air. And the last thing she wants, is act once again as a ghostwriter.
But this latest job is one she could impossible refuse, as this time it concerns the memoirs of Hollywood star Blythe Hopper, infamous now after murdering her screenwriter husband.
A husband that appears to have sent Marnie an email, two days after his murder…
But Marnie learns quickly during her stay at the Hopper’s home in London that there are more dark secrets ready to be uncovered. Secrets that may even involve her…

I don’t often read thrillers, as way too often I am faced with the ugliness of people, and learn how far some would go. So I rather prefer a good romance, or a cosy mystery, where there is always a lightness present.
Yet once in a while, I cannot resist temptation and I grab a thriller, ready to be making my own connections and making an attempt to discover the truth myself before the big reveal.

In a book, there are always characters, most of the times the main character, that you immediately like. But in Marnie’s case, for me, she was a character that I had to learn to like.
I could understand her disappointment when her big break doesn’t happen at all. Of course it’s a bitter pill to swallow, and I could comprehend that she didn’t want to go back to ghostwriting.
But I found it difficult to agree with her work ethos. Especially at the very start, instead of arriving early, she prefers to have a pit stop and have a drink, which results in more drinks and appearing not only late but also inebriated at the scene.

Yet once settled in, Marnie’s misstep was the last thing on my mind, as Blythe Hopper and her loyal business manager Ludo Villander for sure aren’t acting all that welcoming or even normal…
Everything about the place and its inhabitants gave me the chills, and I knew that what we saw was just the tip of the iceberg.

The more the story evolved, the more there were awkward moments. From an overenthusiastic Blythe, to a Ludo acting more and more suspiciously, even on the verge of illegal.
Yet I couldn’t manage to connect all the dots and my imagination went from one extreme to another.

I have to admit, when everything was revealed, it’s not that I was disappointed, but I had a ‘that’s just it?’ – feeling. I had thought it would all have been more elaborated, complicated but Blythe’s revelations and what drove her to murder her husband, were in disproportion compared to her actions.

But that doesn’t take away that I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, trying to make any sense of the story. I wanted to understand everything that was going on, I needed to know what drove the characters to act in the way they did.
And in the end, I found myself thinking that yes, in fact sometimes the world can be an ugly place, driving you to do things you otherwise wouldn’t. But in a way it’s also a place where Karma will always do its thing…

Check out this marvellous cover, don’t you want to grab the book?

Synopsis

Lost memories. Lost loves. Can they find their way back to each other?

When Will wakes up after a car accident, he’s lost three years of memory. All he wants is his girlfriend and childhood sweetheart, Gem, beside him. Instead, nothing is as he remembers.

Gem has finally moved on from hers and Will’s break-up. With a new life and boyfriend, the last thing she expects is a call to say Will needs her – the man who nearly destroyed her.

As Will recovers, he is determined to prove to Gem that he is the man he once was. But by unlocking the secrets of his past, will he be able to piece together what caused him to change so dramatically? And, faced with the choice, will Gem continue with the safe new life she has built for herself, or will she go back to the man she used to love?

Heartbreaking and twisty, perfect for fans of Dani Atkins, Jojo Moyes and Colleen Hoover.

Pre-order Link – https://geni.us/SomebodyIUsedToLoveRRR

Publication Date: 27th June 2024

About the author

Eve Ainsworth is a public speaker, creative workshop coordinator and award-winning author who draws from her extensive work with teenagers managing emotional and behavioural issues to write authentic, honest and real novels for young people and adults. Eve’s adult debut, Duckling, was published by Penguin Random House in 2022. She has had short stories published in magazines such as Writers’ Forum and Prima and articles posted online for The Guardian, Metro and BookTrust. Eve is also a champion for working class voices, has set up the Working Class WritersNetwork and is an experienced mentor.

The cover!

When something is not like you expected it to be, but it turns out to be what you needed…

Synopsis

When Brid Harcus is sent to the Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland, she has high hopes for her trip being short, straightforward and lucrative.

Her mother has inherited a cottage from her Great Aunt Jennet which has been unlived in and unloved for decades, and the time has come to make it habitable and saleable. Easy, right?

But Midness Cottage has other ideas. For one thing it’s rather more ‘fixer upper’ than Country Living, with a resident goose and her goslings who have made themselves at home. And Brid definitely hadn’t planned for the strongly-held local belief that the cottage is meant to be the home of the Orkney Witch, and whomever lives in it must fulfil this role. Not the best message for the estate agent brochure and of course Brid doesn’t believe in magic, let alone have healing powers.

But Orkney does have healing powers. Its beauty and peace are enchanting, its people welcoming, and Brid’s handsome new friend Magnus is rather charming too. When her life back in York starts calling her home, will Brid sell up and ship out? Or did the last Orkney Witch cast a spell and leave a legacy of love if only Brid believed in magic…

My review

Brid Harcus sets off to the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Her goal there is to make her mother’s inherited cottage livable again and sell it as soon as possible. Brid has good hopes that it will be all very quickly, until she actually arrives.
Because Midness Cottage isn’t just in need of a little bit TLC, but in fact it needs everything, just like a standard bathroom, even if the goose and its goslings are a “nice” addition to the place.
And selling might be more challenging than Brid expected, as there is the local belief that the cottage was and will always be the home of the Orkney Witch and no one will get near the place, unless they are in need of the witch’s healing powers.
But Brid doesn’t give up that easily and transform the cottage in an actual nice place, with the help of her new friend Magnus.
Yet when York calls Brid back home, Brid realizes that Midness Cottage and Orkney Islands, but also Magnus have grown on her. So what is ‘home’ for Brid, the place she always lived in, or the place that somehow bewitched her?

There is something about stories about moving to the complete opposite of what you are used to that truly piques my interest.
Yet in this book, the opposite of what Brid is used to, is putting it rather mildly. Because just like Brid, I was in complete shock to see the state of the cottage. And I think I wouldn’t have the courage that Brid had and you would see me running away, screaming, straight back home!

Not only I found Brid courageous by staying in the cottage, but also living with a goose and its goslings, not having a decent bathroom and learning al about the myths about the place she is staying in, for sure it wouldn’t be my cup of tea.
But I also liked her determination to make things work, she knew that she could pimp up the place.

I am not a real fan of stories concerning witchcraft, so when the locals visited Brid, I had several rolls of my eyes, just like Brid did. It always makes me wonder why people would believe that a potion, a cream or a spell could possibly work. But, if that makes them happy, who am I to condemn them?
Now, don’t go worrying if you are just like me, because the witchcraft isn’t a real big part of the book. It appears here and there, and Brid may be seeming to create some potions and creams, but she does it with the same approach as I did: if it doesn’t harm you…

At the start of the book, Brid is adamant to make this a short trip, as she wants to return back to her life in York. And while the cottage and perhaps even the whole place isn’t that appealing on first sight, slowly Brid starts to understand the charm of it.

And it was lovely to see the effect the cottage and the Orkney Islands have on Brid. She makes new friends, and grows even closer with Magnus. But we also see a perhaps stressed Brid becoming more relaxing, calm person. It seems that Brid needed Midness Cottage more than Midness Cottage needed her. And not only that, Brid needed also the community, just as how the community needed a new witch.

Of course Brid has to have a love interest… and it couldn’t be more perfect than Magnus! While at first he may seem rather standoffish, his real, kind, caring and even altruistic nature emerges. And we don’t see that only in the way he helps Brid, but also how he is there for others.

This book shows us how life can sometimes go in a way we didn’t expect. Because Brid for sure never envisioned herself staying at a cottage, brewing potions and creating creams, and being accused of being a witch. Yet in Orkney Islands and in Midness Cottage, she finds herself more at home than she would ever think.

Once again this marvelous author took us to an amazing journey, filled with great characters, geese that steal the show and a warmth that sparks from each page. And a belief that perhaps witchcraft may be real, but not in the way we all expect it to be!

When bad press is the last thing you need…

Synopsis

A failing hotel…

With its reputation in tatters, Alexi Ellis is determined to save her beloved Hopgood Hall from any more bad press. A writing course for wannabe journalists shouldn’t cause too many issues and will hopefully take the heat off Hopgood Hall….

A shocking death…

But disaster strikes, when one of the group is found dead in a local pub. What’s worse Alexi was the last person to see the victim alive, which makes her suspect number one.

A case too close to home?

Alexi is sure she is being set up but who would go to such deadly lengths? With her reputation and liberty on the line, this is a case Alexi, Jack and Cosmo can’t afford to leave unsolved!

Perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Frances Evesham and Emma Davies.

My review

While Alexi Ellis hoped to help her friends with running Hopgood Hall, the past has proven the total opposite, as since Alexi arrived there have been several murders.
So Alexi truly hopes that a calm writing course for wannabe journalists will run smoothly and will give Hopgood Hall finally a positive connotation.
But then another murder happens, and it’s a member of the group Alexi is hosting. To make things even worse, Alexi is the last person to have seen the victim alive…
With her being suspect number one, Alexi is adamant to discover who the real culprit is, together with her partner Jack and loyal feral cat Cosmo. Because it’s clear that she is being set up, but who would do that? And of course there is her reputation and credibility to save!

A new story in a series that I have read from the start? Of course I have to read it! So obviously I grabbed this book, willingly entering once again in the lives of Alexi, Jack and Cosmo.

I have to admit though, I could understand some side characters in the book, as they see Alexi as a bad omen somehow. Because let’s be honest, for a quiet and calm place, there have been weirdly many murders, and it all started since Alexi arrived.
And I really wanted her to have at least one successful event, so that everyone wary would see that in fact she is an asset and not the complete opposite.

Another thing I have to admit, is that I didn’t really have an sympathy for the victim. Of course he didn’t deserve what happened to him, but his behavior beforehand made me really like him. I found him annoying, pushy and opinionated.
But again, no matter how much I disliked him, I never wanted him dead.

In this book I truly felt sorry for Alexi and those around her. Because this time, she is the prime suspect.
Yet I also admired our beloved friends, as they know that there is not only a murderer out there, but also someone trying to set Alexi up. Alexi finds herself surrounded with people (and once again an amazing Cosmo! J) who stand by her side and are ready to find proof of her innocence.

Obviously this remains a cozy mystery, so there still are plenty of moments of lightness, sweetness and even laughter.
And I liked it how once again 2 mysteries, the big one concerning the murder and a lighter one, regarding a disappearance, somehow were linked.

Yet there were also a few characters that by the end of the book only had my disapproval. I can try to understand their reasoning, but the way they handled things were so wrong in many ways… It shows us just how far people would go to get what they want, some further than others and with not an inch of regret or remorse…

I truly enjoyed returning to Hopgood Hall, even if I knew that there would be lurking a murder around the corners once again.
But that fact didn’t diminish any of my joy to read this book, with characters that I love more and more, who show us what friendship means, what resilience means, what determination means and what righteousness and the importance of the truth means.
And I absolutely liked it how no matter how many dark clouds seem to appear, all the right kinds of love keep on prevailing above everything!

To pretend to be deeply in love with your sworn enemy, for your job…

Synopsis

Lara and Sonny are sworn enemies.

As rival showbiz journalists, they are always out to get one-up on each other – whether being the first to scoop the latest celebrity gossip, or sabotaging a potential lead.

So when their bosses ask them to join forces and go undercover at an exclusive celebrity retreat, they can’t think of anything worse – except that they are going to need to pretend to be in couples therapy to blend in…

Being on a tropical island for work would be most people’s idea of heaven, but for Lara and Sonny it’s hell. Can a week of sun, sea and uncovering showbiz secrets together chip away at Lara and Sonny’s rivalry? And once they get home and the fake relationship is over, could a real one be left in its place?

Join top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh for a laugh-out-loud, enemies to lovers, fake relationship romantic comedy.

My review

Lara and Sonny are both showbiz journalists, looking for the latest scoops, trying to outshine each other as much as possible. Even a little/innocent sabotage is allowed in their rivalry.
But when their bosses ask them to join forces, and pretend to be a couple in need of therapy at an exclusive celebrity retreat, they have no other choice than to act all loved – up.
While attempting to gain a few scoops on a tropical island, Lara and Sonny may or may not find out that between love and hate there is a thin line…

I was very eager to start reading this book, as Portia MacInstosh is one of those authors that is always able to put a smile on my face.
And while it for sure achieved that goal, for a few reasons, my smile wasn’t a big as usual.
Not that the story was bad, on the contrary. But after finishing it, I still had a few questions that remained unanswered and in a  few occasions, the given answers weren’t completely satisfying.

It’s clear from the start that Lara despises Sonny. Enemies is perhaps a too strong word to describe their relationship, it’s more rivalry that perhaps at moments even get out of hand.
The depth of that rivalry went deeper than I expected, even with learning that there is a past between them, a past that was the catalyst of all.

Of course as a reader it’s funny to discover how Lara and Sonny clash and keep on clashing. On the other hand it was also funny to read how they manage (or at least attempt) to pretend to be deeply in love.
Their feelings towards each other (being negative obviously) made it easier to pretend to be a couple that need help.
And the ‘therapy’ for sure aided them in coming clean about their real feelings, and to come to a better understanding.

I have to admit, the island and all the secrecy around it, sounded very mysterious and made me very wary. It even reminded me in a way of a TV show I saw not so very long ago, where strange things are happening. And this couples’ retreat for sure gave me the same vibes! J

I loved reading how Lara and Sonny were slowly realizing that they had the same ethos, and that made them understand each other better.
Especially Lara learns that what happened in the past is exactly that, in the past. And that her initial thoughts of Sonny aren’t in fact represent who Sonny truly is.

Another thing that I liked about this story, is how seeing that even the more wealthier and famous persons amongst us are facing the same issues we all have. Money and status doesn’t buy everything, and just like everyone else, even the rich people are looking for love, and have the same fears and doubts like us ‘plebs’.

I enjoyed reading this story, even if perhaps I would have liked it more seeing more playing around the mystery of the island, more depths to some characters and a more final and conclusive end.
But that didn’t take away the fun I had diving into the story. And for sure I liked it to see how holding a grudge can perhaps hold you back from something else, and make you not see who someone truly is and what those feelings you have truly mean, as you let yourself submerge into the negativity instead of the positivity.

To let Scrabble find the perfect man for you

Synopsis

Scrabble fan Jo always seems to pick the wrong guys. Now she’s moved to the Yorkshire village of Hebbleswick, anddecided to give dating one last chance. This time, there’s a catch: she will only date men whose names would score highly in her beloved word game.

After Tarquin (16 points) proves just as disappointing as the rest, she meets low-scoring local doctor Ras (3 points). Her rules mean she can’t date him – but when he asks her to organise a Scrabble festival with him, she can’t say no.

As the event draws nearer and Jo and Ras grow closer, will Jo ignore her rule and let true love blossom over the triple letter scores?

My review

If there is one thing that Jo absolutely loves, it’s playing Scrabble. And after dating another wrong man, she decides to handle things differently this time.
After her move to Hebbleswick, she is determined to only date men whose names would score highly on the board.
Easier said than done of course, as Tarquin with his 16 points turns out in disappointment once again. And local doctor Ras, with his only 3 points, is out of the question according her own new rules. But when he needs her help organizing a Scrabble festival, how can she refuse?
With spending so much time together, could Jo realize that putting her trust in a board game to find the perfect man is perhaps bonkers? Or will the board game deliver, just not in a way Jo expected? 

I am going to admit something that may anger many people, but needs must… I never was a big fan of board games, and I have never actually played Scrabble.
But to my defence, I think I would come up with the shortest and even lamest words, giving me very few points. 

Yet that didn’t take away the fun this board game gave me in this book. Of course it’s never a good idea to do what Jo did, allowing a game to set the bar to date a man or not.
On one hand I could see how funny it would be, to find a man whose name would give many points, but to use that as a standard, I couldn’t truly comprehend.
And of course I knew, just like all the readers will know, it would not give Jo the outcome she expected. 

But the more I read about Jo, the more I not only understood her, but also her reasoning. In a way, Jo is a wallflower. She isn’t someone that enjoys the spotlight, and even at her work, she prefers to stay quiet even if there is some obvious bullying and other wrongdoings in her direction. 

Yet even if I was encouraging Jo to take a stand in several occasions, she was also someone I could relate with. I saw several of her characteristics in myself. And I knew how difficult it could be to get out of that shell you’re in. 

I liked it how slowly Jo was getting out of that shell. But it was also funny to see how in one specific occasion it was more an act of bravado than her actual want to do that specific thing (you’ll understand what episode I am talking about when you get there 😊). And I was somewhat even proud of Jo, as seeing her defeat her fear would give her an unexpected yet immense reward. 

Ras for sure was a wonderful character to get to know. While him being a doctor was scoring extra points for me, he also shows realness. He isn’t that kin of fearless character, but he is rather shy and unsure. And that made me like him even more, as he isn’t the perfect guy at all. Yet we also see him passionate about things he truly cares about, and he doesn’t just give up. When he goes in, he goes in all the way!
And while at first instance things seems to go in the wrong direction with Jo, a great friendship and understanding is growing between the both of them, brought together by their shared loved of Scrabble.  

But what I liked the most in this book, was the way how something that Jo loves, is actual able to bring people together! Not only does the game make her cross paths with Ras on several occasions, but with Ras needing her help to organize the festival, we see how a ‘simple’ board game can form perhaps even unlikely friendships, and can get people out of their (even lonely) houses.
New friends are being made over the board, new passions grow, even new romances bloom. 

In this book we see characters grow, take huge steps forward and becoming more confident. We see how a community can be build, letter tile by letter tile. It even made me wish to have a board game event nearby home where I could attend, even with my own short and low points words! 😊
I truly enjoyed reading this book, as it took something as random as a Scrabble game and turned it into a wonderful and even inspiring story, with the wonderful addition of seeing some other characters again that we have met previously!