Is it a prank too far, or what is there truly happening?

Synopsis

Single mum Ellie is shown a missing person post on Facebook.
It’s of her three-year-old son, Tyler…
But he’s right there, holding her hand.

Surely this is some kind of prank – she knows her friend Louise can go too far with her jokes sometimes. And Ellie is used to the other mums gossiping at the school gates…

But now the other parents are questioning whether Tyler is really her child.

Ellie does everything she can to prove the post is fake, but the longer it goes on she knows it is malicious. Who would do this to her? And why?

It could be her ex, Darren, but deep down she knows it must be linked to what happened all those years ago – the night she’s been doing her best to forget…

All she knows is that she has to keep her son safe – no matter what.

My review

Ellie is a single mum, trying to build up her life together with her three – year – old son Tyler. Things aren’t always that easy, but she is doing her best and tries to be involved as much as possible.
Of course she knows that the school gate is the perfect place for the other mums to gossip. She tries to stay out of it as much as possible, but then she is the subject of the gossips, as there is a suddenly a missing person post on Facebook. And the missing person is her son Tyler…
Now Ellie not only has to figure out what is happening, as the post is only the start, but she also has to convince everyone that everything they are hearing about her is false. Is this a prank from her friend Louise that has gone too far? Or is there someone after her? And why? And is it linked with what happened to her three years ago?

Sometimes you have stories where you think you know what will happen. And when the book follows your thoughts, it can still be a good book.
But then there are books like this one, where you think to know what to expect. Yet then it turns out to go totally differently, even if a few initial hunches are still proven to be right.

From the start I somehow pitied Ellie. Yes, she is doing her best, but I can only imagine the hardships on being a single mum. Also reading how her ex – boyfriend keeps on refusing to acknowledge Tyler as his son was heart – breaking and made me frown my brows.
How could Darren be so sure of that fact, while Ellie was adamant on him being the lovely boy’s father…

It’s clear that Ellie has made mistakes in the past. Yet after a mysterious yet terrifying event three years ago, she has wiped the slate clean and has turned out to be a loving mother to Tyler. She is still wary of everything and everyone, which in her case, even if we are not aware of the details, is perfectly understandable.

I was astonished a bit reading about the missing person report. It made me even doubt for a moment about Ellie’s sincerity, showing how easily doubts can arise.
And while it’s always innocent until proven actually guilty, how do you prove that you innocent?

Yet I also admired in a way Ellie. She is an amazing mother, despite her situation. She loves Tyler deeply and would do anything for him.
She is also a very determined person. She won’t allow her ex to keep on ignoring that he is Tyler’s father. But she is also determined to find out who is after her.
And slowly we see her also growing more courageous by trying to figure out what actually happened that night three years ago.

The more I was into the story, the more creeped out I was getting. Not only upon discovering the facts of that specific night, but also reading about people’s characters. While we always should go out from the good of people, here we see the total opposite, in so many different, hideous ways…

There are for sure moments in this story that I got goose bumps. But even with those moments, I found it encouraging that Ellie, despite her doubts, found people ready to fight in her corner, with an unconditional love for her.

This book was a terrifying one, showing all the fears that not only a mother, but a woman in general too, can go through.
But beside the fear, we also see a lot of resilience and strength in this book, showing us that facing our demons, real ones included, can be a scary thing but isn’t knowing the truth always the best? And that we can only grow stronger afterwards!

Faking to be still madly in love for just the festivities, can that truly work?

Synopsis

After years of being everyone’s favourite couple, always up for a party and having fun wherever they go, things have fizzled out.

But when they realise they have a whole calendar of events and celebrations with friends and family coming up, Cara and Millsy can’t face letting them down.

So they decide to make a pact: just convince everyone they’re as madly in love as ever and get through the festivities without causing suspicion, and then deal with the break up in the new year. How hard can it be…?

Swept up in the festive spirit, will Cara and Millsy fake it tilthey make it? Or will they realise they are meant to be after all…?

My review

Ever since Cara and Millsy got together, they were everyone’s favourite couple. But what nobody knows, is that after years of being together, Cara and Millsy have decided to end their relationship. With many shared festivities for the holidays on the calendar, they both have decided to pretend to be still together and only inform every one of their break – up later on.
However, how long can they pretend to be still madly in love? And how easy will it be, when Millsy’s accent coach is tagging along everywhere they go?

So first I have to talk about the thing I didn’t like, so that I can focus completely on everything that I *did* like.
I didn’t know that this was an actual sequel, so it felt a bit that I missed out on a great story. I would have loved to know how Cara and Millsy got together, as it’s clear that it took them a while to get where they were before their break – up.

But on the other hand, perhaps it was better that I didn’t read the first book? Because I think I would be heart – broken to see how a lovely couple would be breaking up?

Yet that didn’t take away my positive feelings I had while reading this book.

Of course a relationship isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, and even the best of relationships can reach its end.
It’s sad, but that’s life…

While I didn’t agree with Cara and Millsy’s decision to pretend to be still together for the holidays, to spare everyone’s feelings, I could understand it somehow.
Being the perfect couple comes with extreme high expectations and admitting defeat isn’t easy. And it’s only more difficult when so many plans have been made beforehand, especially during the holidays.

It’s always nice to see how an ex – couple still care about each other, and have end things amicable, instead of pushing each other’s limits at each possible occasion.
And it’s obvious that Cara still cares deeply about Millsy. Just because things didn’t work out, for one reason or another, it doesn’t mean that the love has gone.

And I found it truly sweet to see how, even if they are pretending, Cara and Millsy are still so in sync with each other. From sharing plates, to understanding each other with just one look.
Even if I haven’t read about how they got together, I could clearly envision how they worked as a couple.

It saddened me though, to see how Millsy was trying to push Cara to move on, as if he wanted to do the same as soon as possible.
And the presence Tally for sure wasn’t helping! There wasn’t one moment that I liked her character at all.
I understood how Millsy needed her to get his accent right, but was it truly necessary to be present at every activity, to wriggle her into just everything, appropriate or not.

Even if you could see the theme as a sad one, because it’s about a couple that have broken up, it was still a funny story to read!
Not only are the dates that Cara is going to, hilariously terrible, but also the weird situations Cara and Millsy find themselves into for sure put a smile on my face!

But it was also a heart – warming story, because no matter how hard they try to hide it, the love is still so obvious. And then of course a certain ‘incident’ involving Santa, well actions speak louder for words, that’s for sure!

I found this a wonderful story to read, about a couple wanting to protect in a way their loved ones. But we also see how they pretend to be okay with the decision they took, but in fact they are not. Sometimes breaking up is the right thing to do, but let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just not. And while it may have been a difficult decision to break up, perhaps sometimes we need to find the courage to admit that the initial decision was a wrong one.

Portia MacIntosh found the perfect balance with her latest book, as she wrote a lovely, heart – warming, heart – breaking story about the consequences of an (unwanted) break – up. But even if the premise is a sad one, it is also filled with joy, fun and laughter, as hope is always the last thing to die!

When a fresh start is what you need, but you get catapulted back into your past

Synopsis

How do you get over the loss of your husband? And not only your husband but your home too and all the trappings of your old existence?

Gennie moves back to Cornwall in search of a fresh start. Working for Marion’s children’s charity seems perfect. Tucked away in the countryside, close to an artists’ community, it’s a place for Gennie and her daughter, Alice, to rebuild their lives in peace and quiet – until ex-soldier Jack comes along with the same idea in mind, a face from the past, forcing Gennie to confront things she would rather forget and igniting fears of another turbulent relationship.

Involving herself with Jack and his problems is the last thing she needs, not now she’s made new friends and opportunities are opening up again, but can either find happiness and a new direction without the other?

My review

After losing her husband, Gennie decides that it’s time for a fresh start. Together with her daughter Alice the move back to Cornwall is made. As the two of them are living in the countryside, Gennie working for Marion’s children’s charity and living close to an artists’ community, it for sure is the perfect place to live in peace and quiet.
But Gennie’s peace and quiet is disturbed by the return of ex – soldier Jack, who is looking after exactly the same thing.
As Gennie and Jack have a history, it’s forcing Gennie to confront her past and her fears. But will her fears and Jack’s issues be too strong to find happiness once again and perhaps together?

Before I start talking about the book itself, I somehow feel that I should warn you in a way. Because while the title may be ‘Finding Jack’, I feel it doesn’t do the book any justice. And that is because this isn’t the search for Jack, but more the search for yourself, facing your demons, your fears. And only after finding your peace and quiet, in the place you live but also in your heart, you can open up for someone else in your heart.

I always find it inspiring if someone decides to start afresh. And in Gennie’s case it’s even more admirable. Because after losing her husband in a terrible way, both the before, the during and the after were gut – wrenching. Yet Gennie finds the courage to take her daughter to Cornwall and start all over again. And not just anywhere, but she will also start working for a children’s charity.

Gennie shows an hesitant resilience. Yes, she wants to start all over again, but she is still searching for the exact details of how she wants to achieve that happiness with her daughter. And slowly, sometimes even against her own wishes, she starts to find those (little) things in life that bring her joy.

Yet in order to find joy, Gennie also has to face those things that took her joy away somehow. And with the return of Jack, it for sure brings Gennie back down into the rabbit hole. In the sense that Jack is anywhere but in his happy place yet. While Gennie is taking steps forward, Jack isn’t there yet by far.

And because of the history Gennie and jack have, due one holiday meeting together, and Jack being Marion’s son, their paths keep on crossing.
The differences between the both characters, them having a  different state of mind, are so (even painfully) obvious.

I could also understand Gennie, as she doesn’t want to open that dangerous can once again, as it cost her already so much effort to overcome it once.
It was easy to comprehend why Gennie wanted to keep her distance from Jack. But on the other hand, in order for Jack to beat his own demons, he needs someone in his corner too…

But in this book we don’t only see the troubles the main characters are having, or how they are overcoming the troubles and finding happiness again. There is also a great sense of community, especially in Marion’s children’s charity.
The way the children are being helped, accepted, handles with care, but also giving them a home, a sense of belonging.
And with Gennie and Jack both looking after those poor children, brings them even closer together.

The author shows us that people have a great resilience. But also that not everyone has that in the same amount. Some may struggle for a longer time with their demons.
For one reason or the other, the fight we all have to fight is one we have to do it on our own, but it helps to have someone that understands us, even if they have an initial sense of self – preservation. And that is not because of selfishness, but because the hurt they have already faced is too hard to face once again.

Yet when it’s the right person, and with taking baby – steps, one at the time, even the ugliest demons can be faced and defeated. And that will only bring more happiness and joy in our lives, if only we dare to open up ourselves once again, and not let fear hold us back.

The length to go in order to receive an inheritance, but with a twist

Synopsis

Welcome to the Ever After Agency – a clandestine organisation offering bespoke solutions to romantic problems.

Whether you’re looking for the love of your life, a fresh romantic start, or just want to keep up appearances, the agency can tailor a solution to meet your needs.

When Tristan Fellows walks into the agency, Poppy Dean knows she’s in for a challenge. A typical bachelor, Tristan has no intention of falling in love, but in order to receive his 30-million-pound inheritance, he must find himself a wife before his 35th birthday.

This may be Poppy’s hardest case yet, but even the most arrogant of men can sometimes warm a woman’s heart…

My review

Poppy Dean works in a matchmaking agency in London. She loves finding the perfect match for her customers!
But when Tristan Fellows enters the agency, it’s clear that he is an unusual kind of customer. Because even if he is looking for a wife, he has absolutely no intention of falling in love or whatsoever. His desire to find a wife is all linked with the stipulation in order to receive his 30 – million – pound inheritance, as he must have found a wife before his 35th birthday…
With a race against time, it’s up to Poppy to find a perfect match for Tristan. But what when Poppy realizes that behind his arrogant composure is a man she may start falling for herself? 

Whenever I start reading a new book from this author, even before I have read one single word of it, I already have a big smile on my face.
Because I know that I will love the story, I will laugh, I will swoon and yes, I will even get a bit frustrated at moments. But as it’s all part of the bigger picture, even the frustrations are absolutely welcome! 

Poppy’s character for sure is a delight! She believes in what she is doing, and is absolutely dedicated in finding perfect matches for her customers.
She is just lovely, and it’s clear how much the distance from her family affects her. It hurts her to be so far away from her parents, even if she is doing something she loves. 

Obviously she wants to find matches for love, and even if she doesn’t agree with Tristan’s reasons, she knows that he also is a customer and he deserves to find a match according his stipulations. And seeing how determined Poppy remains, shows us once again how invested she is in the job she is doing, even if Tristan isn’t the easiest customer to have. 

Now, it’s easy to condemn Tristan for his choices, as he all does it to get his inheritance. But let’s be truly honest for a moment… what would you do in his situation? And he makes it clear that whoever is being matched, is aware that this will be anything but a marriage out of love. He isn’t tricking some ‘poor woman’, he wants the truth out there. 

And the more we get to know Tristan, the more we get to see behind his strict, distant and even arrogant behaviour.
There are several occasions in it that we see who Tristan truly is, a man with a kind heart and who is compassionate. He is also honest about what he wants and why. 

As Poppy accompanies Tristan on his search for a potential wife, is with him on the first meetings and spends actual time with him, she also starts to see the real Tristan. And she understands, just like we did, that behind that façade is in fact a great man. 

And perhaps as a reader it was sometimes frustrating, as both Poppy and Tristan know that no matter how their feelings are evolving, but it somehow also shows both their professionalism. Poppy knows that giving in to her feelings is not the right thing to do, and Tristan is adamant on not letting love get into the equation of finding his wife. 

Now, being a Sandy Barker – book, there just have to be some hilarious moments in it. And while for Tristan perhaps some of them were a complete nightmare, I just had so many laughs!
But there were also so many sweet moments in it too! Like seeing how Poppy and Tristan are getting closer and closer, and understanding each other like no one else possibly could. 

I truly enjoyed reading this book, just like I knew that I would. And as this is *only* the first book of a brand new series, I may have to warn Sandy Barker…
Because now the bar is set so high, and I will expect nothing else but amazing, marvellous next chapters of a series, as the start of it already swept me of my feet!

Being a mum is never easy, no matter the age of the child(ren)

Synopsis

Whatever the question, the answer is wine!

They’ve swapped the dark and lonely baby days for school gate chaos, but Aisha, Sophy and Mel are discovering that there are new parenting pitfalls just waiting for them…

Influencer Sophy, is trying to keep on top of home and work life but is finding it all a bit tough! Everyone thinks she’s living her best life, but the pressure to maintain perfection at the school gates when all she wants to do is cry, is taking its toll on Sophy.

Aisha doesn’t know what to do with all her spare time now her twins are at school. Maybe it’s time to focus on herself and the dreams she’s put on hold? But when her mum suddenly begins to feel unwell, Aisha has to rethink everything.

And when Mel is offered a chance to live her dream, she grabs it with both hands. But there’s a catch – notably, her ex-boyfriend who makes it clear that he wants another chance to prove he the one she should be with.

Can the three mums navigate this new stage of motherhood together and keep their friendship and their sanity? Or could life be about to change for them all over again?

My review

Even now that their children are going to school, friend Sophy, Aisha and Mel learn that the dark nights have been swapped into school gate chaos.
Sophy’s career as an influencer may be thriving, but behind the scenes she is struggling with finding the perfect balance between work and family. And even if she has found the most caring man to stand by her side, nobody sees her struggles, or does Sophy dare to open up about it.
With the twins now at school Aisha doesn’t know what to do with all her sudden free time now. Has the time finally come to chase her dreams? But will her girlfriend, who suddenly is becoming more and more distant and even keeping secrets from Aisha, support her? And what about Aisha’s mother, who is feeling unwell suddenly?
And then there is Mel, who never regretted the choices she made in her life. Suddenly she is offered a chance of a lifetime, on a cruise of all places! But when she learns that the offer came because of an ex – boyfriend, it makes her rethink of the past. And when the ex – boyfriend himself makes it clear that he hasn’t forgotten her…
Going from the 3AM shattered mum’s club to the 6PM frazzled mums’ club, these three women learn that motherhood, friendship and partnership is always a work in progress, but where will they next decisions and choices take them now? 

Well, I always enjoy catching up with characters whom we have met previously and have spent hours together, reading their stories!
Because after the ‘The 3AM Shattered Mums’ Club’, I for sure wanted to know how life would go for these three friends who have met accidently but were exactly what they needed! 

I have to be honest, this wasn’t always an easy book to read. Not that there were bits in it that I didn’t like, but this book is so real, even painfully real at moments.
And while I can imagine how wonderful it can be to be a parent, I can also imagine how difficult it can be. 

Sophy for sure is the perfect example of it. At first sight, she may seem to have it all, but we also see rather quickly as a reader that there is something wrong. And it saddened me that somehow Sophy couldn’t confide about her struggles and her fears to those close to her.
It even angered me somehow, because society has so many high standards for people, making us feel inadequate at moments.
But who hasn’t ever had a moment of doubt, fear, or angst? And why shouldn’t we be talking about it? There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of having those feelings, and you can be certain of it that once you open up, you will discover that you are not the only one feeling that way! 

We also see in this book the desire to chase our dreams, but doubting about them anyway. And that is for sure Aisha. Now that the twins are older, and Aisha now has more time, why shouldn’t she pursue her dream?
But whether it’s typical for women or not, Aisha is having doubts about it. Yes, she has the talent, but is *now* the good time? And what if it turns out to be a failure?
Yet sometimes we have to dare to take that step, and just do it. It’s better to have failed than not having tied at all. 

Aisha is not only looking at the prospect of fulfilling her dreams unfortunately. Because there has shifted something in her relationship, making her even more afraid.
Again perhaps typical, or even more accurate, recognizable in my case, Aisha is afraid to talk about the elephant in the room.
While we all know it’s best to know the truth, but the hurt and pain it would cost, is it worth it? 

And then there is the looking back at the past. Haven’t we all wondered what would have happened if we made a different decision at one point in our lives? Perhaps not that we regret the lives we have now, but that ominous ‘what if’… 

That is exactly what is happening to Mel. She has the opportunity of a lifetime, only to discover her
ex – boyfriend is behind it.
Maybe her behaviour on the cruise was the one that disappointed me the most, because it somehow seemed the most selfish one?
But on the other hand, meeting up with your ex, whom you always had a soft spot for, wouldn’t it turn everyone into a giggling teenager/ young woman again? 

However, this gives also the opportunity to Mel to rethink about her choices and her past, making her wonder if the choices she once made, would be the same choices she would make now?
A blast from the past is perhaps the perfect opportunity to count your blessings and let you be grateful for all the growth you have made in the previous years. 

The author in this book shows us that life is always a rollercoaster. When you have passed one obstacle, it doesn’t mean you have reached the finish line. A new phase in your life will bring new obstacles, new challenges.
But a new phase in your life doesn’t mean that you have to do it all on your own. Because the friendships built on the most difficult moments of your life, are also the strongest ones. And those friends are always there for you, no matter how dark things may get, or no matter how many doubts you are having. 

This is for sure a book that makes you stop and think about your own life. And no matter how difficult things are going at one point, there is always a bright light at the end of the tunnel, making you appreciate once again everything you have, everything you have fought for and everyone you have in your life.

Can fake – dating change into something more, even with a limited time?

Synopsis

One month to pretend… or one month to fall in love?

How do I turn down an overly keen colleague I have zero interest in dating? Should I:

1. Stammer and bluster my way through every excuse in the book

2. Accept and then immediately turn in my resignation letter, change my number and leave the country

3. Allow my hot, new, doctor neighbour to step in and pretend to be my boyfriend

The answer: there are no right answers.

But option 3 is happening and I’m fake dating Lucas just to survive my work Christmas party without any further unwanted advances.

My review

Sarah is an HR manager in a hospital. But when one of the new colleagues doesn’t get the hint that Sarah isn’t interested in him, Sarah has to come up with another solution. Enter Lucas Moore, not only her new neighbour but also doctor at the same hospital.
With showing everyone that she is not available, she hopes to get rid of the unwanted attention.
But while Lucas agrees to fake – dating Sarah, and the more affection they have to show their colleagues, the more Lucas has an effect on Sarah…
Because even if Sarah absolutely despises Christmas,  because of Lucas she starts to see the beauty of it again. And because of Lucas, Sarah is opening up after protecting herself from emotional pain. But Lucas is going to return to the States after the holidays, so how close will Sarah allow him to get?

Fake – dating around the period of Christmas, can a story get any better than that?

When we first meet Sarah, she appears a very distant person. She won’t let anyone close and appears to not need anyone. And she doesn’t like Christmas!
But it’s clear that this is just a façade, and Sarah is doing this all to just protect herself, as she has been hurt in a terrible way around the same period a few years ago.

We can also see that she has worked hard to get where she is now, as she has an important position as HR manager in the hospital.
And she deserves to be where she is now. So it truly angered me to see how there still are dinosaurs in this world, not only not accepting a no as an answer, but truly believing that their behaviour is still okay.
And while it’s easy to tell Sarah what she has to do against it, I could also somehow comprehend her. Because at the start of it all, it’s a thin line. And the more the story evolves, the more difficult it gets to speak out, but also to provide some kind of evidence, or show it’s not just a case of misunderstanding.
Unfortunately, that is still a hot topic in the world, one that should have been long gone…

But we also see a very vulnerable, softer Sarah… when she finds Fred she takes him in, even if it’s against the policies of her apartment. But also how she is worried about her elder neighbour.
And then when Lucas is slowly able to bring down her high walls…
We see how Lucas is having an effect on her, how she allows herself to let Lucas in, to have a confidante, but also someone to have fun with, to banter with.
That Sarah for sure is great to have around!

Lucas for sure is exactly what Sarah needs. Even if reluctantly he agrees to be her fake boyfriend, he truly starts to care about Sarah, as a colleague, a neighbour, a friend. And he doesn’t hesitate to help her when she needs someone in her corner.
But he is just in general a great guy. He truly cares and he won’t be chased away by rudeness (yes that’s you Mrs. Kelsey! J) . He is a great brother to a sister going through a rough period, but he is also an amazing uncle, who is there for his nephews whenever they need someone in their corner.

This for sure was a heart – warming story, as it shows us two people finding each other in perhaps the weirdest circumstances, not getting along initially, but slowly start to see each other for who they really are. That behind the hurt there is an amazing character.

I loved reading the banter and bickering between Sarah and Lucas, but I loved the tender and vulnerable moments the most, as we see both characters in their purest forms.

The author shows us characters that are easy to like and love, even if in some cases they are initially very closed or rude, but also characters that don’t give up. We see also (and unfortunately) people causing a toxic work environment, but also how that an united front can make a difference.

But most important it shows us that love and romance can be find in perhaps the strangest ways, but that if you dare to open up yourself to it, it can be the most exciting and courageous thing that could happen.

Check out this wonderful cover!

Synopsis

Romantic entanglements, A-list weddings and missing diamonds… it’s going to be a busy spring in Westenbury!

Sisters Hannah, Rosa, and Eva are on a mission to sustain picturesque Heatherly Hall, in Yorkshire’s Westenbury village. So when they hear the legend of the Jet Set – a necklace with a rare diamond, commissioned by royalty and hidden in their hall – they plan a fundraiser: an Agatha-Christie style am-dram production and treasure hunt.

As if that weren’t enough, music superstar Drew Livingston and Bollywood legend Aditi Sharma have chosen their hall for a wedding in just six weeks’ time, and the pressure is mounting to pull off the wedding of the decade.

Staging the play, unravelling the mystery of the diamond, and meeting the demands of an A-list bride and groom without their lives unravelling seems impossible. But these three sisters know that with family by your side, anything can be overcome…

Perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Jill Mansell, and anyone who loves a warm and witty romance with a dash of intrigue.

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

Publication Date – 29th February 2024 – so just 5 months to go!

About the author

Julie Houston lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire where her novels are set, and her only claims to fame are that she teaches part-time at Bridget Jones’ author Helen Fielding’s old junior school and her neighbour is Chocolat author, Joanne Harris. After University, where she studied Education and English Literature, she taught for many years as a junior school teacher. She now teaches just two days a week, and still loves the buzz of teaching junior-aged children. She has been a magistrate for the past nineteen years, and, when not distracted by Ebay, Twitter and Ancestry, spends her time writing. Julie is married, has a twenty-four-year-old son and twenty-one-year-old daughter and a ridiculous Cockerpoo called Lincoln. She runs and swims because she’s been told it’s good for her, but would really prefer a glass of wine, a sun lounger and a jolly good book – preferably with Matthew McConaughey in attendance.

The cover!

To love cats, yourself and everyone around you

Synopsis

It’s the most wonderful time of the year on Castle Street, and there’s a paw-some new business opening….

It had always been Tabby’s dream to work with cats and an inheritance from her beloved nanna has finally made that a reality. Idyllic Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay couldn’t be a better place for pastry chef Tabby to open a cat café with her boyfriend, Leon.

But when Leon leaves her in the lurch, the pressure mounts for Tabby. With Christmas fast approaching, she has to open the café on her own – a daunting prospect, especially when she’s been hiding her health issues from the ones she loves.

Faced with local resistance to the café – and somebody seemingly determined that she won’t succeed – Tabby will need her friends, family and cats more than ever to recover her broken Christmas spirit and pull together for a Christmas miracle.

Will the cat café bring the festive joy to Castle Street as Tabby had hoped or will it be a cat-astrophe? And can the magic of Christmas on Castle Street mend Tabby’s broken heart as well as her business?

Escape with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland this Christmas for the purr-fect festive treat!

My review

Tabby is finally realizing her dream: opening a cat café in Castle Street in Whitborough Bay together with her boyfriend Leon.
The opening has already been postponed once, as Leon accepted a job as a chef on a cruise ship. While that perhaps was a gift in disguise, Tabby now is counting down the days to finally welcome Leon back and to open the café.
That is until Leon decides that not only the café isn’t his dream and that being in a relationship with Tabby isn’t either…
Now Tabby has to open her café on her own, while Leon would be her ack – up when her health wouldn’t allow her to work.
Luckily Tabby can count on her family, friends the people she has hired for the café to make the opening happening.
But apparently not everyone is happy to have a cat café in Castle Street, and Tabby finds herself fighting against not only her illness, but also against prejudice and even against her own pride, as even her closest family doesn’t know the depth of her illness… 

Hello everyone, my name is Tiziana, and I am an ailurophile… (yes, I had to check letter by letter that I was writing that word correctly 😊).
At the moment I have no cats of my own, and that is only because I am living in an apartment, work fulltime and I wouldn’t find it fair for a cat to be having a limited space and being on its own for most of the day…
So I take pleasure from catsitting, reading books where cats also appear etc. 

And can you imagine my complete joy at discovering that one of my favourite authors (yes, that’s you Jessica!) wrote a book involving cats??? It felt like all my favourite holidays were coming together! 

Tabby, our main character, is an amazing, lovely person. Even if I questioned the amount of cats she has, because let’s be honest, there are A LOT of them, I admired with how much love and care she looks after each and every one of them.
And I completely understood her with giving each cat a voice and accent of their own. Believe me when I say that I did the same thing!  

But while I was developing a girl – crush on her, my heart also broke for her. Not only did her boyfriend dump her on a terrible way, also her health – issue for sure did add pressure on realizing her dream. (In Dutch we have a very fitting saying, by pointing out that something isn’t just that straightforward ‘Dat is geen kattenpis’, which would be translated as ‘That is no cat pee’). 

I didn’t know much about the disease, and I didn’t know how it all translated into how it makes someone feel. But reading how Tabby is feeling, and how she is trying to explain it, both with the colour scheme and the amount of spoons (you’ll get it when you’re reading the book), somehow it was much more understandable for me, even if I can only try to imagine how people really feel having the disease.
And it truly broke my heart seeing how Tabby’s health issues are preventing her to live her dream at the fullest. Because somehow, she always has to depend on someone else on the bad days… 

I could comprehend Tabby, as she hides her discomfort, as she doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone. But her family and friends do an amazing job by asking her what would she do if someone she loves was in need of help? 

Jessica shows us with this book how much love there can be in a person. The way Tabby cares about each cat as an individual, and how she makes decisions that even break her heart, but are the best decision possible for her furry friends, shows us that Tabby is a real cat – lover.
And we see at one specific occasion how one event truly affected Tabby (don’t go thinking I have forgiven you for that Jessica, as you brought me to tears once again! 😊). 

But Jessica also shows us that we should never underestimate the love others have for us. Tabby is afraid to show her real pain to her people. But she slowly learns that her people love her unconditionally and would do anything to help her out. Because that’s what you do when you love someone. 

I have read a few reviews before I started writing mine, and some were saying that this wasn’t’ a real romance, as it only appears more towards the ending.
And yes, it’s true that Tabby’s love interest isn’t the main subject of this lovely book. But let me ask you this… what is romance about? Isn’t it about finding/ having someone to love?
And so, Tabby has to learn to love herself, her completely. And she has other people around her that love her. So how can this not be a romance? Because this book is filled with love, on each page! 

Well, except when there is one character who proves to be anything than a lovely character… 

Like I just said, Tabby has to learn to love and accept herself. Even if that means that her dream perhaps isn’t that realizable in the way she thought it should be. But that doesn’t mean that her dream and love for cats cannot be shown in a different way, one that is perhaps even more ‘Tabby’ than she thought. 

My dear Jessica, once again you wrote an amazing story, filled with so much warmth even if there were a few heart – breaking moments in it.
And you brought us also back a few old friends, which absolutely delighted me! 😊
You show us again and again what marvellous characters you can put into books. And they are real characters, flaws even included. But those flaws and real issues that they are facing, make the characters only more lovable.  

This was a typical Jessica Redland – book, filled with so much warmth, friendship, paws and love. Once again this author exceeded my extreme high expectations!

When a made bet turns out to go completely differently

Synopsis

Escape to Medieval Scotland, where a Highlander searches for a bride…

Is the wife the Highlander seeks

…already by his side?

Back from battle, Hamilton of Clan Graham makes a bet with his brother to find a wife by summer’s end. So, the Scottish warrior enlists the help of his childhood friend, Beileag, to help him woo his perfect woman. But like Hamilton, Beileag has changed whilst he’s been away…and she intrigues him like never before! His focus should be on winning a bride. Yet why is Beileag all he can think about?

My review

Hamilton of Clan Graham has made a bet with his twin brother, to find a woman by the end of the summer. While Hamilton does it to push Camron to finally go after the woman he loves, he doesn’t want to lose the bet himself.
He has found the perfect woman for him, and he asks the help of his childhood friend Beileag. But what Hamilton didn’t expect is to see how Beileag has changed while he was away. And he finds himself intrigued by this woman, proving that still waters run deep…

Having read the first book concerning the Clan Graham brothers, I was very curious to read Hamilton’s part.
And while I absolutely liked reading Camron’s tale, I think that perhaps Hamilton may be my favourite of the twin brothers!

But even if Hamilton was my favourite of the two brother, I truly liked Beileag’s character.
Well, I liked her, but I also felt sorry for her.
She is a quiet character, yet nothing goes unnoticed. I felt that she wasn’t comfortable in her own skin, and her height for sure wasn’t the best of gifts that Mother Nature could give her.
Also her parents weren’t exactly the most kind and loving people.
Yet we can see obviously that Beileag is a kind and loving woman. Her siblings mean the world to her, and she is also very protective towards her friends.

I loved how free – spirited she was during the whole story. She found something that made her happy, her own world, and even if she knows that not everyone would agree with what she is doing, she won’t let anyone take it away from her.

But it was also interesting to get to know Hamilton better. Why was the bet placed? And what exactly did he truly see in his ‘perfect woman’?
While it was easy to see Hamilton as a playful person, up to mischief all the time, in this book we get the chance to get to know the real Hamilton, his fears and struggles included.
And while his choice for a wife may have seemed a superficial one, it’s clear it’s made with a purpose. And that purpose shows us an unexpected vulnerability in Hamilton.

Hamilton and Beileag are very different kind of characters, a fierce warrior and a shy young woman. Yet them together, it just works.
Despite their differences, they seem to understand each other, and when they don’t, they want to.
I found it even sweet to see how slowly they start to see each other in a different light. They get to know each other on a totally different level, and they realize that perhaps despite their differences, they also have a lot in common.

Beileag naivety concerning matters of the heart and Hamilton’s passion turn this unlikely couple into a couple with fireworks. Beileag learns that love is not something impossible and Hamilton learns that even for him there is a perfect match, even if it’s not in the form of the woman he expected it to be.

This was a great story to read, as it gives us characters that perhaps are unlikely to find something deeper with each other yet they do.
It was also a funny story somehow, seeing how sudden jealousy submerges, and making the characters understand the depth of their real feeling.

Giveaway!

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When secrets bring you together…

Synopsis

Amelia Riley and Ben Lawson have something in common – fathers who have kept secrets.

On the day of his father’s funeral, Ben’s life changes forever when a woman he’s never met shows up claiming to be his sister. As he investigates the past, Ben is shaken to discover that much of his life has been built on a carefully constructed foundation of his father’s lies. Needing answers, he agrees to visit Juniper Meadows, the ancestral estate owned and run by his long-lost relatives, the Travers family.

Arriving in the pretty Cotswold countryside, the first person Ben meets is Amelia Riley. They are immediately drawn to one another, but Amelia has her own complicated ties to the Travers family. Her only goal is to set the past to rights so she can move on with a clean conscience.

As Ben starts to see the events of his childhood more clearly, he allows the warmth and fun he finds at Juniper Meadows to draw him in from the cold. But just as he’s contemplating setting down roots, Amelia is making plans to leave…

Bestseller Sarah Bennett is back with an irresistible, feel-good, page-turning escape, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

Ben and his father have always been on their own, after Ben’s mother died. At least that is what Ben always thought, and he couldn’t be more shocked to learn that not only his mother is still very much alive, but he also has a little sister.
Digging up his father’s past, Ben sees that his father has kept many secret and hasn’t always been as truthful as Ben thought.
In search for more answers, he decides to take up on his sister Hope Travers’ offer to visit Juniper Meadows.
And slowly Ben gets t know a part of his family he was unaware of, and it makes him think about what his future may hold, as in the past he didn’t follow his passion, but listened to his father. With now a family that encourages to follow your passion, Ben has a lot of thinking to do. And thinking he does, as he also keeps thinking about his encounter with Amelia Riley…
Amelia, who has been best friends with Hope, but also discovered that her own father betrayed her and her mother in a terrible way… 

Oooh just what a delight to return to Juniper Meadows! And I liked it how the story just picked up straight where book Nr. 1 left us, namely Hope finding her brother, after learning of his existence. 

I felt sorry for Ben in so many different aspects… He is doing a job that in fact he doesn’t truly love yet he did it anyway, after his father pushed him for a ‘real’ career. He never felt the support for chasing his artistic talents, even if that was what put him in a happy place. He has lost his father, not knowing about the illness, and  has to face somehow even the hypocrisy of those who knew his father. And then he learns that everything he thought he knew was a lie. Not only did his own father kept the truth about Ben’s mother, but Ben is shocked to learn that he has a little sister, and a whole family ready to welcome him back. 

But I could also understand Ben, as he doesn’t know what to do with the fresh information he has received. He is obviously wary of the new situation, and he doesn’t know what the correct way is to tackle the whole matter. 

I truly sympathized with him, as while he was happy to realize that he isn’t alone in the world at all, but I could also understand that finding a whole family still makes him a bit wary of everything, as he tries to comprehend what happened in the past, and what the real truth is. 

Of course Hope optimism is very infectious, and I found it heart – warming to see how quickly the siblings bonded. Yet I also was glad to see that Hope understood that they all needed to take baby – steps. 

If there is one person who could somehow comprehend Ben, knowing what it feels to discover a father who kept secrets and didn’t always follow the laws, it is Amelia. 

Amelia isn’t a complete stranger, as she made an appearance in the previous book. But I was happy to see she has her chance in the spotlight in this book.
We know what her father did (and even if you didn’t read the previous part, it is all explained) and I could understand her feelings.
While Amelia herself didn’t do anything wrong, she will always be linked to her father. So her sense of guilt and shame, even towards her best friend, made sense to me, even if they were absolutely unjustified, because she didn’t do anything wrong. 

So obviously, these two people, haunted by secrets from others, find each other. And seeing Ben and Amelia finding each other, comprehending each other like no one else could, and find someone to just talk to (initially 😊) was truly heart – warming. Because both characters need to have that kind of person in their lives.
But they also find someone that persuades them to follow their dreams, to do something with their artistic talent, even if it would be a risk somehow. 

I truly liked the development between them, but in the end what I liked the most about this book, was the story about family.
Because Ben finds a family he wasn’t aware of, yet he is accepted between their midst like if he has always been there.
The Travers’ for sure show everything that is beautiful about a family. This is a welcoming, open family, ready to help out a member of it, no matter if you have always been in there, or have just arrived. And no matter if you’re family by blood or not, just like Amelia. Because Amelia is also part of the family by proxy, as she is Hope’s friend. And that makes you find a home, with no judgement. 

This author once again wrote an amazing story, with wonderful characters even if they are haunted. Yet Sarah Bennett makes it possible to inject so much warmth and love in her tale, making her characters find a place where they truly belong, with whom they truly belong.