Doesn’t everyone dream about a magical kiss at midnight?

Synopsis

A picture-perfect town; a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street…

Will a kiss at midnight change her life forever?

Sadie Winters has spent her whole life doing as she’s told. But when her overbearing aunt forbids her from going to the farewell ball at the beloved local castle, Sadie has had enough!

One magical makeover, one midnight curfew, and wearing a dress of her own creation, Sadie is unrecognizable as Ever After Street’s shy seamstress.

Sadie might dream of meeting a handsome prince but the only person to cross her path is Witt – the slightly awkward estate agent intending to sell the castle and dash Sadie’s dreams forever.

As the clock strikes midnight, Sadie and Witt share a magical kiss and Sadie knows her heart is in serious danger. Surely Witt must feel the same way…? Sadie can’t hang around to find out.

But as reality dawns the next day, and fate brings Witt to Sadie’s door again, Sadie realises that her mystery estate agent prince has absolutely no idea who she is!

Sadie can’t forget their midnight kiss, but is she brave enough to change her life and find love along the way…?

My review

Sadie works as a seamstress in The Cinderella shop, located in Ever After Street, with a mysterious castle on the background.
The shop used to belong to her parents, but after their death, it went to Sadie’s Aunt Ebony. Aunt Ebony is to give the shop back to Sadie ‘once she believes that Sadie is ready for it’. While Sadie is grateful for everything that her Aunt has done for her and the shop, she couldn’t disagree more with the direction Aunt Ebony has taken with The Cinderella Shop. So even if she disagrees, Sadie is a good girl, listening to what her Aunt tells her to do.
That is, until Aunt Ebony forbids Sadie to go the farewell Ball held at the beloved Castle, which will be being sold.
Sadie for once decides to go against her Aunt’s wishes and has a complete make – over, and with wearing one of her own creations, she truly feels like a Disney Princess. A princess with a midnight curfew, to meet her Prince Charming but to run away when the clock strikes midnight after a wonderful kiss. Like a real Cinderella story, her Prince Charming is looking for his Princess. But for sure her Prince will recognize Sadie when he enters her shop? And if he doesn’t will Sadie find the courage to admit it was her? 

Can a story have too many fairytale references? Absolutely not!
Did I love reading this book from the very first word to its last? Absolutely yes! 

Now, I have to say, I was a bit afraid that this story would be too much alike the famous Cinderella story. so I was very happy to see that yes, there were many similarities, but also that the author made sure that this story would go beyond the fairytale. 

Sadie is someone impossible to dislike. The only negative I would dare to say about her, is that perhaps she lets fear hold her back.
Not only is she afraid to speak up to her Aunt, explaining how she disagrees with the direction of the wonderful store they are running.
But she is also afraid to admit that it’s in fact her the Cinderella everyone, and especially Witt is looking for.
Otherwise, we can clearly see her kind character and fall in love with her and her belief in love and even magical moments. 

When she is at the ball, I could understand how uneasy she would feel, not knowing anyone, and feeling out of place. So when she meets her Prince Charming, and there is an instant click, I was over the moon for her, as she deserves to fall in love with someone special. 

As someone very invested in this story, I got very angry when the clock struck midnight, and Sadie had to run back hope, recreating indeed the Cinderella story again. Why did that happen before we knew who Prince Charming truly was? 

And the next day, I could absolutely comprehend Sadie’s anger when Witt, Prince Charming, didn’t seem to recognize Sadie at all! Sadie was expressing the frustration everyone has over the Cinderella story: how can you not recognize someone you spent the whole evening with??? 

Yet this is the wonderful twist the author gives us… because all the above happens rather quickly in the book, so we have plenty of time to take the fairytale and give it the best other direction possible.  

As from this point we get to know Witt better, and not only get to see him as Prince Charming. Because he for sure has flaws, like any human being. But he also has his own issues, that even hold him back. Yet for me, that made me only like him even more, as his vulnerability was so sweet to witness.
And obviously, seeing him at ease, more free even, around Sadie was just wonderful. 

Being with Sadie, helping her out while she and her cousin Scarlett are helping him, makes it possible for him to open up more, and see things from another point.
But him being with Sadie, also allows Sadie to chase her dreams and not let her Aunt hold her back. And seeing Sadie *finally* standing up for herself made me feel proud of her. It takes courage to stand up against someone you love, but sometimes needs must… 

During the story, we know what secret Sadie is keeping from Witt. Yet it was so heart – warming to see these two together, even falling for each other, Witt completely forgetting about his quest to find his Cinderella.
But towards the end, it appears that also Witt has been keeping a few secrets of his own. And while I suspected some, I was still a bit surprised by them.  

This story was so quickly devoured by me, I should feel a bit ashamed of it. But how could I, when I had so much fun? The references to so many fairytales were so spot on and amazing, the slow – burn was there too, but I loved the most how the characters are able to elevate each other. They give each other the courage to pursue their dreams, to fight the dragons of their childhood and to believe in the magic of love again.

A bet to get you the woman you love, always a good idea…

Synopsis

Finding his future wife

Means revisiting his past…

After making a pact with his brother to find a bride by the year’s end, warrior Camron of Clan Graham faces his toughest battle yet: to win defiant Anna, his first love. She’s fiercely protective of her family and her independence, so Highlander Camron must prove to Anna that she’s more than just a bet—and that he’s a man she can trust with her safety and her heart!

My review

Camron of Clan Graham has always been in love with Anna. He loves her so much that even when she fell in love with someone else, he was happy for her, even if it broke his heart.
But Anna’s love story also ended in heartbreak when the man she trusted wasn’t that honest at all. That made her more protective over her family and more closed up too.
Slowly, with Camren’s kindness, patience and love, Anna starts to see that perhaps Camren is worthy of her opening up again.
But Camron has made a bet with his twin brother, to find a bride by the year’s end… So how much was part of the bet and how much was real? 

Highlanders always evoke a certain kind of curiosity in me. A warrior always seems so strong, fierce and alpha.
So discovering the “softer” side of such fierce men, is always a real pleasure for me. 

And Camren for sure is the gentlest warrior… Yes he is a warrior, but we see more his insecurities, his kindness, his gentleness, and even his stupid decision, making him more human and loveable for the readers.  

From the start we know that he has been in love with Anna, despite their difference in age, and even her being in love with someone else at a time.
But it was sweet to see how Camren always is looking for/at her, seeing her, being mesmerised by her. And not only because of her beauty (while obviously she is a beautiful woman, even with her grey streaks), but because Camren also sees how Anna truly is. She has been hurt, but that only makes her more protective towards her family.
Perhaps eve too protective, especially towards her little brother Lachie.  

That same Lachie that seems to bring Anna and Camren even closer, as Camren cares about this little boy and is ready to help him and teach him, even with a terrified Anna by his side, ready to jump in at even the smallest risk of hurt for Lachie. 

Of course, as a reader, but also with just thinking about it, making a bet with your brother, drunk or not, about marrying first, is never a good idea. But while it was a terrible idea, it was also what brought Camren finally into action. Or helped at least a bit…
But I truly believe, even without the bet, Anna and Camren would end up together anyway, as there are many indications that the feelings are reciprocated, but fear is not allowing them to surface.
And we see also many moments between Anna and Camren, that indicate that the bet would have been superfluous.  

Obviously Anna and Camren have a long way to go before their happily ever after. First of all there is Anna’s fear of loving again. She has been burnt before, and that makes her wary of any man showing an interest in her. And there is Camren, not knowing how to express himself to make Anna understand the depth of his feelings.
But they also learn to trust each other, understanding that they know each other better than thought, while even when the feelings weren’t clear, there was always something between them going on.  

This is a wonderful story about finding love, or rather finally seeing to be loved for a long time. But it’s mainly about building trust, showing you are worthy of the trust given to you. But also knowing who is worthy of your trust and love. And no matter what your doubts are about yourself, those who truly love you, see them as an asset and not an impediment. 

Nicole Locke started of another wonderful series, of that I’m sure already. And with that same bet involving other parties, I cannot wait to read how it will affect them too!

When high school friends reunite on a holiday, what could possibly go wrong?

Synopsis

There’s trouble in paradise…

Moving home in her 30s was not the life plan Jas had in mind. So when her best friend gets in touch to say she’s arranging a long overdue reunion with their high school friends, Jas is very much up for the escape. Oh, and it’s all expenses paid to Italy – so that’s a bonus!

But while being whisked away to the beautiful Italian coast may seem idyllic, Jas has to come face to face with not only her ex-boyfriend, but the one that got away too!

It’s a week of sun, sea and unravelling secrets, and as the love triangle from the past starts to develop once again, this trip is not panning out exactly as Jas imagines…

Should the past be left where it is, or could there be a second chance at love on the horizon..?

Join top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh for a sun-drenched, laugh-out-loud love triangle romantic comedy!

My review

Jas never thought that not only she would lose her job but she also had to return back home with her parents. While she counts her blessings that her parents welcome her back, she feels like this is for sure a serious step back from her life plan.
Luckily she receives an invite from her best friend, to not only have a reunion, but to have it in a gorgeous villa in Italy, and all expense are being paid. Too bad that the reunion of high school friends both include her ex – boyfriend and the one friend she always had a crush on.
With a week spending in paradise, the holiday seems like a dream coming true. But nothing is less true, as this will be a reunion that no one would ever forget, for one reason or another… 

I eagerly started this book, as I have loved reading previous books of this author. However, I imagined a totally different story than what it actually was.
But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy reading it anyway, on the contrary, as it made me keep guessing what would happen next, as the reunion for sure was one filled with good and not so good surprises for the characters! 

Immediately from the start, I sympathized with Jas. Not only has she just lost her job, but she lost it while she hasn’t done anything wrong. But how can you fight against it, if it’s your own boss in the wrong?
Returning back home for sure feels like a defeat for Jas, as when she was younger, she had dreams about making a difference in the world (don’t we all have had that same dream?). 

When her friend Maxi calls for the reunion – holiday, obviously Jas doesn’t want to miss this opportunity. Who would??? A holiday in Italy, with no worries about any expense, how much better can a holiday get? 

How happy Jas is about the holiday, the reunion also means to face two people of her past… her ex – boyfriend Mike, with a relationship that didn’t exactly ended on good terms, and Cam, the boy she had a huge crush on, and feels like ‘The One That Got Away’.
I could feel Jas’ dread on seeing both men now again, and learning how well they are doing in their lives for sure causes Jas more pain… 

When the group is finally completely reunited, it was easy to see how the old hierarchy was quickly restored. Maxi and DJ act like they are still together, even if Maxi is married to Rupert. Mike is still the popular guy, but also jealous whenever Jas and Cam appear to be doing just about anything. Cam is still the calming force of the group, trying to keep everything under control. And Clarky is still annoying person acting too cool for his own good. 

And it’s exactly Clarky who turns this story into something completely different than expected, with his “great” idea of a boat trip, which turn out to be a survivor’s experience nobody prepared to. 

It’s during and after the experience that the story truly takes off, as we see the dynamics shift from adults into high school behaviour again (although in Clarky’s case, he never left the high school behaviour). 

We get to learn about what exactly caused the close friends to drift apart, despite their strong bond. With the help of flashbacks we get glimpses of that friendship, but also we get to see how everything fell apart. 

Of course this wouldn’t be a Portia MacIntosh if there wouldn’t be any hilarious moments in it. I laughed with the discovery of the suite that the friends ended up with. I laughed over the resort games and to be honest, I also laughed over Clarky’s stupidity! 

I loved reading this book, as even if it was funny at more than one occasion, it also shows us how people always have the need to show off somehow. We don’t want to admit that our lives isn’t that great at all. Jas just lost her job and is back home, but also Maxi, DJ, Mike, Clarky and Cam aren’t having the easiest times. But while that it just how life goes, it’s difficult to admit that to even the people who were the closest to us.  

But the author also shows us that we should grab that second chance when it’s handed to us. Because just perhaps the first chance wasn’t the right time, and we needed to mature to truly understand what we have or could have and truly appreciate that precious second chance not only at love, but maybe even more important, at friendship.

From a joyous moment to a complete nightmare

Synopsis

She’s on trial for murder… Now it’s her turn to tell her story…

#The truth is that I loved James with my whole heart. We were soulmates: meant to be together forever. On the morning of our wedding, I had just found out I was carrying his child.

But it’s time to tell my side of the story. It’s time everyone knew what happened on that wedding day, on our honeymoon, and on that fateful last drive together. It’s time everyone found out about the secrets and about the threat that loomed over our marriage. It’s time everyone found out who really killed James.

And I need everyone to believe me. To believe I’m not a killer. Because if they don’t, then my baby won’t just have no father… she’ll have no mother.

My review

Daisy and James finally got married after being together for years. But their married life is cut short as right after the honeymoon, James disappears on their drive back home, only to be found dead later on.
Being heartbroken, Daisy keeps on looking for answers, especially now that she is carrying James’ child. And slowly Daisy realizes that there were secrets kept hidden, and those secrets would threat the bubble of happiness that Daisy wanted to create with James…
A threat that would end up with Daisy on trial for murder… 

As this is an author I didn’t know before, it was the blurb that made me read this book. Because just from those few words, I just needed to know if Daisy murdered James, or did Daisy murder someone else? Or was she being framed?
So many questions I had, so I just had to pick this book up and read it! 

I found it initially a bit strange, as we get to know Daisy while on trial, talking to her unborn child, writing every detail down. I feared that it would give us tunnel vision, only showing Daisy’s perception of the things and not discover the truth.
But even if we see things only from Daisy’s perspective, we gather enough details to figure out what truly happened. 

While Daisy and James seem perfectly happy, I have to admit that I never truly warmed to James. Not only doesn’t he seem as dedicated to their relationship as Daisy, but his behaviour at moments is truly odd. It’s clearly that he is hiding something, or even more things… 

Yet Daisy is truly in love with James, and trusts him unconditionally. Even when he acts oddly, she gives him time to gather his thoughts and see her perspective too.
From her behaviour, I couldn’t understand how she would end up arrested (no spoiler here, as it’s already mentioned in the blurb that she ahs to stand on trial!).
Especially seeing how devasted  she is after losing James. 

Daisy is adamant on discovering the truth, but she also knows that life has to go on, especially for her child’s sake. So while never actually giving up, she starts to move on. 

The more I was into the story, the more suspicious I got over a certain character. Especially seeing how easily he squeezes himself into Daisy’s life. I had several alarm bells going off in my head and I wanted Daisy to be more careful about who she lets into her fragile life. 

The revelation of the murderer didn’t come as a real surprise, yet the exact details of the motives did. Because it’s clear that James was hiding more than Daisy could ever imagine…
And I was happy to see that my initial fear, before I started to read this book, were unfounded. Although I have to admit that those last pages made me second – guess myself… and that end left me a bit feeling empty – handed… 

But that didn’t take away that this was a gripping thriller, where you don’t know what to expect. And even when you think you may expect something, the author takes you to a whole other direction, leaving you a bit flabbergasted and leaving you with the need to read further.

*Sorry, cannot think of a fitting tagline for this one…*

Synopsis

YOU WILL CRY WHEN YOU READ THIS!

The funniest, happiest, saddest, happiest romantic comedy you will ever read. With a small twist!

What’s the ‘small’ twist? You’ll have to read it to find out. But let’s just say, you’ve never read anything like this before.

WARNING: Be prepared for many happy tears. And a lot of laughter.
READ THE REVIEWS to see why readers love this book.

For fans of:
Jojo Moyes, Cecelia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella and Nick Spalding

FROM THE 1 MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

My review

Michael Lamb is doing a research for his thesis, and that brings him to meet nine – year old Callum. While Callum starts to tell his story, it’s the start of a wonderful story about love. But not just *a* story, but the greatest love story ever told… 

Oh my poor heart! From the blurb, you have no idea where this story will take you. So it was a dive into the unknown for me. And while I am scared of diving, this dive for sure was worth it! 

Michael was not the easiest character to like from the start. I felt he was opinionated, judgemental, but also lonely and scared. His relationship ended after him being too honest, as he sees himself as a coward, even if his girlfriend would need his help.
Just like his house, which he refuses to heat, it seemed as his heart was equally cold… 

But little does Michael know that once Callum enters his life, it will change completely.  

Callum stole my heart from the first moment he appears. It’s not only his young age and honesty, but also him being so lovely and innocent that made my heart melt, even if he has not the most positive background.
He is living with his single – mother, grandparents and uncle in the same place, they don’t have all the money in the world. And at school, his teacher prefers to ignore him and his potential and sees him more as a slow learner.
But what we see is a Callum that is happy with his life, he doesn’t see how wealth would make things better for him, because he already has everything he needs. And sometimes we need to realize that too, that what we have is a wealth of its own, and that we should be happy and grateful for what we have. 

Yet, this is the greatest love story ever told, so obviously there has to be a love interest. And the love interest isn’t for Michael, but for Callum, in the wonderful, sweet form of Angel Rain. 

My eyes are getting misty all over again thinking about the sweet friendship of Angel Rain and Callum… I promise you, their story will be worth of all the tears you will cry while reading.
Angel Rain and Callum couldn’t have a more different background. Yet because of their innocence, their honesty, they are a perfect match for each other. 

Angel Rain makes Callum challenge himself, by making him read more books and see his true potential and not what his teacher tells him. And Callum is adamant on fulfilling Angel Rain’s wishes, making her see a world outside her window. 

With Callum telling Michael about Angel rain, we see how Michael is affected by this sweet tale. He not only understands his failures of the past, but he also realizes that by making small changes in your life, by allowing colour and light in your life, you too become a more colourful and lightened person.
Thanks to Callum in his life, Michael changes for a coward to a person to fight for what’s right and protects who he cares about. And starts to believe that love is worth is, even if it could end in heart – break somehow. 

This book yes made my ugly cry in the end, but there was also so much laughter and mischief in it too. Oh, the sweet child – talk, not understanding words correctly and making their own word of it. But also the desire to make a friend happy by searching for frogs or to star – gaze together. The friendship and love between Callum and Angel Rain is easy, innocent and simple. It’s the people around them that make things unnecessary difficult.  

I don’t give easily five starts to a book, and I for sure don’t easily cry over books. But this book deserves the full five stars, even if the author broke my heart. And this book was worthy of my tears, as it shows how significant the most innocent yet most beautiful story can be.
After finishing this book, and throwing your tissues away, the beauty of this story, the wonderful characters and even the silly tale of tadpoles, will make you rethink about your own blessings in your life. And this story for sure will put everything in perspective, as you will realise that not only was this indeed the greatest love story ever told, but also changed you and how you want to be more like Callum too, just like Michael did…

Can love be found again, even when you have given up on it?

Synopsis

Becki is fifty and a single mum to eleven-year-old Jemima, after being widowed five years ago.
Dan is forty-eight and a single dad to eleven-year-old Freddie, after his wife left him five years ago.
They have both given up on love.
But when they all go to Silver Sands Bay on the Lincolnshire coast for the summer, will they be able to put the past behind them and find love again?

My review

Becky is a widowed fifty-years old single mother. Together with her daughter Jemima and lovely dog Trudi they go on a holiday in Silver Sands Bay, on the Lincolnshire coast for the summer.
There they meet Dan, a single dad of forty eight, with his son Freddie. While their situation may be different, as Becky’s husband died five years ago, and Dan’s wife left Dan and Freddie five years ago, their heartbreak made Becky and Dan give up on love.
Not only do Jemima and Freddie get along, also Becky and Dan do. But will they getting along be enough to dare open up to love again? 

I have to say, this was a very lovely story to read. This wasn’t a book filled with great drama (even if there were a few moments) but it was filled with heartwarming moments, showing how beautiful it can be to find that one person that will give you the courage to believe in love again, with the blessing of your loved ones. 

Reading about Becky and Jemima (and Trudi 😊) was just amazing. Jemima is the typical teenager many moments, but after losing her father, I felt that she was also more mature than others.
It’s clear that Becky is an amazing mother, understanding Jemima’s behaviour, but also knowing where to draw the line.
These women have been through a lot, and that brought them even closer as they formed a unit of their own. 

And then there is Dan and Freddie. And laugh that I did over these two! While it saddened me to read how Dan’s wife just packed and took off without another glance, I loved to see how also these two are close, and have their lives filled with fun and a lot of laughter. 

But the thing I liked the most in this story, was the complicity between each character. The children didn’t have any struggle with the blooming feelings of their parents, on the contrary, as they were conspiring together to make it work!
All the characters got along perfectly, and that was wonderful to read. There is no need for overload drama before admitting love back in their hearts. Sometimes it can just come on a holiday while spending time together and playing boardgames, without any phone or internet reception. 

Obviously there is a little bit of drama, but that didn’t redirect the spotlight, it only made things clearer for our lovely main characters. 

I devoured this book rather quickly, and I loved every bit of it. And I even liked it how the author managed to do some name-dropping of authors I absolutely adore while the characters are looking for something to read! That just put an extra smile on my face!

To have courage to resist, to have courage to escape…

Synopsis

‘A rich and engaging vision of life gone by and a lust for one woman’s future, rolled into one. And now I want to move to Italy!’ Mandy Robotham

A gripping and moving debut novel about two women, decades apart, whose fates converge in Florence, Italy. Perfect for fans of Patricia Wilson, Mandy Robotham and Lucinda Riley.

Only fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town’s resistance network during World War II. Risking imprisonment and death, she relays messages, supplies, and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan Hills. Her parents have no idea, consumed instead by love and fear for their beloved son, Achille, a courier and unofficial mechanic for a communist brigade fighting the fascists.

Then, after 1945, Stella seemingly vanishes from the records, her name and story overshadowed by the tragic death of her brother – until a young writer arrives in Tuscany in the spring of 2019, uncovering long-buried secrets.

Fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage and a lonely life on an isolated estate, Tori McNair has come to Florence, the beautiful city her grandmother, Margaret, taught her to love, to build a new life. As she digs into her family history with the help of Marco, a handsome lawyer, Tori starts to uncover secrets of the past – truths that stretch back decades, to a young woman who risked everything to save her world….

‘A glorious read full of rich detail that made me ache to be back in Italy. I loved the characters and the story.’ Liz Fenwick

‘Conjures Tuscany so beautifully that I felt I was taking a holiday there whilst reading it. The spirit and atmosphere of Italy simply sizzle from its pages. A true escape!’ Fiona Walker

‘This moving page-turner is a love letter to Florence – past and present – and filled with all the juicy elements that hist-fic lovers will celebrate: love, passion, history, courage, secrets and second chances.’ Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of Woman on Fire

‘A poignant, emotional novel about love, loss, and new beginnings.’ Christine Wells, author of Sisters of the Resistance

My review

Tori MacNair has had enough of her emotional abusive marriage and flees to the place she loved spending time with her grandmother. As having left her home, that means also that the plans for her latest book are thrown out of the window. But that also means a new opportunity, as the new plans are to write about her stay in Florence.
Digging into her family history, she discovers the story about a young woman, Stella Infuriati. Stella is a member of the resistance network during the Second World War. She works together with her brother Achille to pas on messages, supplies and even more to the partisans.
But once the war is over, Stella disappears, and nobody knows what happened to her.
And Tori is determined to discover what happened to that young girl, related to famous auto racer Achille Infuriati. 

Being an Italian, I know the stories about the resistance and Partigiani in Italy during the war. Obviously I wasn’t there during those hard times, but I always admired the people who fought against the monstrosities that were taking place. 

I liked how this book has dual timelines, as it didn’t carry all the heaviness of the war, but also shows how strong people can be. 

I truly felt sorry for Tori, as her marriage made her unhappy. Even if Duncan doesn’t take a lot of room in the book, we see how his behaviour towards Tori affected her. And how selfish and mean he is…
I completely understood why Tori had the need to escape, especially after Duncan’s latest mean trick. And I completely agreed with Tori that she had to go to a place that held so many happy memories for her.
But it broke my heart to see how even her own sister won’t side with her, and was pushing Tori to just back.
It’s not because we don’t see things ourselves, that they aren’t true. And I felt that siblings should always stick together…  

Obviously Tori totally opened up in Florence, how could she not in such a wonderful place. Not only can she do what she wants herself, but she finds joy again in her life, and is slowly becoming herself again, and not the person that Duncan wants her to be, a small and insignificant person. 

It was great to see how the Italian hospitality sparked from the pages too, as quickly Tori makes new friends and even the restaurant and bar owners are looking after the latest Scottish arrival. With all their big mouths and gestures, the author also manages to show the big heart Italians have… 

Just like Tori, I was intrigued by Stella’s story. first of all, I admired her courage, especially at her young age. It only shows that even the smallest person, with the smallest gesture can make a great difference. 

We see Stella growing up (too fast unfortunately) during war. She for sure sees atrocities that not only a teenager but no one should ever see…
But we also see her taking her responsibilities and see injustice.
And injustice is something she grew up with, as her parents always favoured her brother Achille. It saddened me to read those bits, as it is clear that both her parents see her more as a nuisance or even a maid instead of the loving and caring person Stella is. 

I was also very curious to see how these two apparently separate stories would be linked together. And while I got all my questions answered, I would have liked to see more of that link in the book. But that is just my opinion, and it doesn’t take away any pleasure I had while reading this book. 

The author wrote a story about two strong women in their darkest moments. While their stories couldn’t be more different, the courage they have is equal. Because it takes a lot of courage to help the resistance during war.
But it also takes courage to escape an abusive marriage and start over again, trying to find happiness.
And in the end, that is what both our main characters are seeking, happiness…

What if you made different choices in your past?

Synopsis

The Good Place meets Sliding Doors, Begin Again is an uplifting novel about life’s what if’s, missed chances and new beginnings.

Despite living firmly in her comfort zone, Frankie McKenzie feels unsettled. She can’t help feeling something’s missing. Is it a home to call her own? Travel? A more rewarding job? A relationship? Before she can work it out, she dies in a freak kebab-related accident after yet another dud of a first date.

But life isn’t over for Frankie. Instead, she is offered a second chance: Frankie can revisit key moments from her past to see if different choices will lead her away from that fateful takeaway and on to the fulfilling life she’s always dreamt of.

Soon, Frankie will see what her life would have been if only she’d caught that one-way flight, accepted the marriage proposal or attended the intimidating job interview. Will she finally find her Mr Right? Or discover she already had?

What would you change if you could begin again?

Praise for Helly Acton:

‘A romcom with a difference’ Sarra Manning

‘Genius, funny and thought-provoking. 5 stars’ Carrie Hope Fletcher

‘Warm, witty and thought-provoking’ Abbie Greaves

‘A fresh, funny, razor-sharp take on society’s views of relationships. It’s feminist, it’s provocative and a total joy to read’ Hannah Tovey

‘Helly’s writing is filled with such humour and warmth, it makes me laugh and think whilst seamlessly tackling complex ideas about modern society. What a triumph!’ Abigail Mann

‘Funny and clever. I loved every single line’ Lucy Vine

My review

Frankie McKenzie feels like she is missing something in her life. What exactly, she cannot say. Before she can figure out what that missing bit is, she dies in a crazy accident involving a kebab…
But for some reason, Frankie gets a second chance, if she wants it. First she must revisit some key moments in her life, that will show her what would have happened if she made a different choice at that moment.
And then she has the final choice of going back to her life, or not… 

This book reminded me of a certain very famous classic, that even the main protagonist mentions. Yet that didn’t take my interest away, as I am always a very curious person. 

Frankie is the kind of character that sees disaster everywhere, especially on her dates, before they even began.
And while there obvious are weird characters in the world, I found it also a bit unfair of her, as not all people are the same, and everyone deserves an honest chance.
So her behaviour on her date with Oli wasn’t one I was very happy to read, as Oli truly seemed like a good chap… 

But of course, as this happens at the start of the book, I was ready to give Frankie the chance to redeem herself.
I have to say, I found it a bit hilarious to read how Frankie dies… who can ever say they died with e kebab involved? (yeah, I know, no one can actually say that, but I just had to make this lame joke 😊). 

Once Frankie dies, the true story starts, as the whole ‘second chance’ thing begins. 

I think it’s safe to say that we all wondered what life we would have if we made a different choice in the past.
So it was very interesting to see how Frankie would relive those pivotal moments of her past and seeing what different outcome her life would have if she took another direction of the one she actually took. 

Without giving too much away, the author shows us that no matter what choice we make, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Even if we would make a different choice at that time, we would have regrets over other bits. There is a reason why we made that specific decision at that moment in our lives. And unlike Frankie’s story, we do not get a do – over, we have to make do with what we have. 

But that doesn’t mean that reflection about our past cannot make us a better person. Because Frankie, now more mature than when she made those decisions, sees also how unfair at moments she was. And the present Frankie is able to see more than the past Frankie, making her realize not only the faults in other but also in herself. And that makes her grow into a even more mature person. 

This book shows us through Frankie’s eyes that there will always be some kind of regret of the choices we made. But that doesn’t mean that the other option would be better suited. The author also shows us that putting people on a pedestal isn’t the right thing to do, and that the only person on that pedestal should be yourself. But we also shouldn’t judge a person by its cover as perhaps that person may have the depth that you need and also be the person you need… 

A book that while makes you laugh, also makes you think about your own choices, however without regrets!

A mysterious gift that makes one’s world turn upside down

Synopsis

Rosa Larkin is down on her luck in London, so when she inherits a near-derelict corner shop in a quaint Devon village, her first thought is to sell it for cash and sort out her life. But nothing is straightforward about this legacy. While the identity of her benefactor remains a mystery, he – or she – has left one important legal proviso: that the shop cannot be sold, only passed on to somebody who really deserves it.

Rosa makes up her mind to give it a go: to put everything she has into getting the shop up and running again in the small seaside community of Cockleberry Bay. But can she do it all on her own? And if not, who will help her succeed – and who among the following will work secretly to see her fail?

There is a handsome rugby player, a sexy plumber, a charlatan reporter and a selection of meddling locals. Add in a hit and run incident and the disappearance of a valuable engraved necklace – and what you get is a journey of self-discovery and unpredictable events.

With surprising and heartfelt results, Rosa, accompanied at all times by her little sausage dog Hot, will slowly unravel the shadowy secrets of the inheritance, and also bring her own, long-hidden heritage into the light

My review

Rosa Larkin cannot believe that she has inherited a shop in a Devon village. But while the money of selling to place would make her life easier, it’s obviously the one stipulation she must follow, as the shop cannot be sold, only passed on to someone who deserves it.
With no other option, Rosa goes to Cockleberry Bay not only to look at the place, but also to find the person whom she inherited from.
What Rosa didn’t expect, was to see the potential of the store, and a desire to run the place herself. Together with her dog Hot, Rosa has now a purpose in her life. And she finds herself surrounded by people offering a helping hand, from her best friend in London, to a sexy plumber to even a local reporter and a whole bunch of meddling locals, offering (un)wanted advice of their owns. 

Normally you start a series from the first book and then read the other books in chronological order. Well, I didn’t… I have read other parts of this wonderful series, yet somehow missed the first book. So before I started, I was very curious to know how it all began… 

From the start, it’s clear that Rosa didn’t have an easy life, as her being abandoned at a young age, never finding a real home and not ever allowing anyone to get too close, to avoid heartbreak.
With no one really close, beside her roommate/ best friend Josh, it is understandable that the news of the inheritance came as a total surprise to her.
While on one hand I was happy for Rosa to have this new opportunity in life, even if it’s a strange one, I also admired her courage to just pack and head off to Cockleberry Bay.
I know that if I were in her shoes, I would be too much of a scaredy cat to do what she did. 

What I liked about Rosa is that she is a real person, who makes mistakes, misjudges some characters, but also at the start of the book a rather standoffish character. She is even a bit literally and figuratively scarred from her past and is wary of all the locals of Cockleberry Bay. The only one she trusts and loves unconditionally is the loveliest, cutest dog ever in the world! And with a name like Hot, how can you not just adore him??? 

But back to Rosa…
So while initially she is keeping her distance and making a few bad decisions, she slowly somehow adapt to the Cockleberry Bay way of living. Not only is she making new friends with her neighbours, she finds a job while starting up her own shop, but she only shows her kindness while looking after and caring about the young local woman in need. 

I loved the whole story, with Rosa trying to settle down, a few mysteries around the corner and even room for romance. Romance that kept going different directions, surprising me at moments with behaviour that I didn’t see coming. But also with my own personal favourite, that I kept having my fingers crossed for.
And even with love, we see a change in Rosa, as how she initially has no qualms about having a night of fun with an unavailable man, to realize towards the end that even she is looking for love, and that even she deserves to find it in a trustworthy man. 

This story has so much in it, yet it never feels too overwhelming. A lot of things are happening in it, but you never lose the gist of it. And that is that no matter how life has been to you this far, somehow, somewhere there is a place waiting for you to call ‘home’, with locals that are welcoming you in with their kindness but even their weird bits. 

After reaching the end of this book, I felt happy that I finally caught up with the start of this wonderful series. It gave me not only the answers I was searching for, but so much more in the shape of love, acceptance and growth.
This author for sure knows how to captivate her audience with a wonderful story!