What can happen when you say ‘yes’?

Synopsis

Can learning to say ‘yes’ change your life?

When Cat Jones is given the opportunity of a lifetime to present one of Ireland’s most popular live daytime shows, alongside TV royalty David Fitzgerald she isn’t sure she is ready for the challenge.

But after being pushed by her mother’s friend Lorraine to say ‘yes’ to everything for a month, she reluctantly agrees.

What follows is a whirlwind of opportunities where Catisforced outside her comfort zone with varying degrees of success.

Once she accepts the challenge to take the plunge with the eclectic sea swimming tribe The Forty Footers’in Dublin Bay, she never looks back. She is warmly welcomed into their lives, and learns to find reserves of strength she never knew existed which helps her deal with a toxic ex, and a growing attraction for a handsome TV executive.

With best friends, Becca and Sinead also in need of a re-boot, can Cat empower them to choose ‘risk and adventure’ or willthey go back to their old, safe lives?

Say ‘yes’ and your whole life will open up in wonderful ways

My review

Cat Jones is comfortable in her life. Just like her mother, she doesn’t take unnecessary risks and doesn’t look for a change, as she is content with how things just are.
But when her mother’s friend Lorraine dares the both of them to just day ‘yes’ to everything for a month, Cat is forced to step outside her comfort zone.
So se finds herself agreeing on swimming along the The Forty Footers  in the ice-cold sea, and she agrees to present Ireland’s most popular daytime show.
Even her best friends Becca and Sinead are being persuaded, on a lighter level though, to take more unexpected turns in their lives.
But in the end, what will be the consequences of saying ‘yes’? 

When I started reading this book, I was in the corner of ‘why change something when everything is going fine’. So I could totally relate to Cat’s feelings.
And I would be horrified by having to say ‘yes’ to everything, especially when there is a character, a funny one, just like Lorraine who would make you do the strangest things. 

However, it’s thanks to do things outside your comfort – zone that you get to experience new things and maybe discover wonderful things that you never would if you had followed your first instinct of saying ‘no’. 

I found it truly amazing and even eye – opening to see how Cat’s life is starting to change, for the better, all because her saying ‘yes’, even reluctantly.
It goes from small things, like swimming in the sea, to bigger things like accepting the opportunity of presenting a daytime show. All things where Cat’s initial reaction would be a negative one. 

And seeing how Cat’s life is changing for the better, was even inspiring at some level. We see her making new friends, becoming part of a small yet caring tribe, and we see also the change in Cat herself. We see how from stepping outside her safety cushion makes her feel more confident of herself, even if sometimes it’s with trial and error. But it’s thanks to those ‘fails’ that we learn the most. 

I loved seeing how she finds her little haven of peace while swimming in the cold, but also how she is growing as a host. Even the appearance of an obnoxious ex won’t throw her.
An ex that shows us that we can stand up to bullies without taking their bait, but by standing tall. 

There are several moments that have an effect on Cat’s character, but also those around her. The saying ‘yes’ has such a positive turn for each and one of them, and that positivism for sure sparked from the pages.
Some outturns made me shiver from the cold, some made me feel the same adrenaline Cat was feeling, some were exhilarating and some were absolutely hilarious!   

This was a truly positive, inspiring story about making changes in your life by just saying that little affirmative word.
It shows us that no matter how comfortable our life is, and no matter how scary it may seem, making a change can be so rewarding. The author lets us see that sometimes even our best bits are hidden from ourselves and it’s by doing something different that we can grow into not a better version of ourselves but in a more confident, stronger and even more curious version of ourselves, knowing that no challenge is too big!

When one dream falls apart, can another one start?

Synopsis

Welcome to Freya’s French Farmhouse, the second book in a brand new series from the author of the Hummingbird Hotel series and the Cornish Confetti Agency series.

Escape to the French Riviera!

After losing her aromatherapy studio in the BlossomwoodBay fire, Freya Farnham finds herself at a loose end, especially when her trusty Renault decides that it’s time to head to the scrapyard in the sky. Now she has no excuse not to agree to her parents’ request to head to the pretty village of Saint-Julien to find out why her late Uncle Toby’s gorgeous French farmhouse isn’t selling, even when the real estate agent, Xavier Deschamps, advertises himself as “the best in the whole of Provence”.

As soon as she arrives, Freya realises what the problem is, and so, with the help of handsome local car mechanic Jacques Jordan, she invests her last euro in a kaleidoscope of cleaning products and sets about transforming the drab and dusty dwelling into a chic and shiny château. Little did she know that in the process she would discover more about her family’s history than she bargained for.

Can she come to terms with her past? Or will the demons that have been snapping at her heels since childhood prevent her from seizing the chance to achieve a much-longed-for sense of belonging in the friendly community where she’s treated as one of their own?

Why not join Freya as she explores the lavender-infused Provençal countryside, and enjoy a trip filled with fun, fragrance, and delicious foodie treats with a dash of heart-warming romance thrown in for good measure!

My review

Freya Farnham is at loss. Not only did she lose her aromatherapy studio in a fire in the Blossomwood Bay, she has no longer a place to rent, and her car died on her. With her best friend also having left the country for a brand new adventure, what is there left for her in Blossomwood Bay?
It’s the perfect opportunity for Freya to agree with her parents’ request to discover why her Uncle Toby’s farmhouse is still for sale, while being set in the wonderful Provence.
Once arrived at the Farmhouse, Freya immediately understand why the place hasn’t been sold yet, as the place looks more like a haunted mansion and not a chic French château.
With the help of local car mechanic Jacques Jordan and other new acquaintances, Freya starts to clean the while place and sees a wide array of possibilities.
But where does her future lay? To a place where she has nothing left, or to a wonderful place filled with prospects and people who make her feel more than welcome?  

Daisy James for sure has found the perfect recipe to make her readers escape from the hectic of their own lives, taking them all to a marvellous journey in amazing places.
And this story isn’t luckily for us the exception! 

While this is the second book of a series, and the majority of the drama at Blossomwood Bay has already happened before, it can be perfectly read as a standalone, as the focus is truly on Freya. And even if there are references to ‘before’, you can easily catch up without any worries! 

At the start of this brand new adventure, it’s clear and o so understandable why Freya is feeling down.  She has worked so hard for her studio and now her dream went literally up in ashes. With absent parents (for a right cause, yet absent anyway) and her best friend also away, I felt sorry for her, as her loneliness was truly palpable. 

So going to the village of Saint – Julien, at her parents’ request felt right for me too in every aspect. Sometimes we need to step away to see the bigger picture and to have the space and time to think about what we want to do with our lives. 

I have to admit, I immediately fell in love with Saint – Julien. It sparks warmth and it makes everyone feel so welcome there.
But also there are so many lovable and likable characters, offering kindness and help to Freya right when she needs it!
Yet even if it is a village in the Provence, it kept its uniqueness and its qualities of being a small village, where everyone knows everyone. And even the more particular characters, like Esmée, are part of a warm community. 

Obviously Freya has a love interest in her adventure, in the wonderful form of Jacques. However, no matter how amazing, kind and helpful he is, I didn’t feel that this romance was the whole purpose of the story. Yes of course, it’s a nice addition to have some love in it, but I felt it more the kind of story where our lovely main character is at a crossroads, and has to decide whether or not to take a giant leap into the unknown and start all over again in a place that holds so many great memories for her. 

And there it is… the mystery, or rather two…
Because Freya spent amazing times with her Uncle Toby, yet a huge rift between her parents and Toby made sure that she never visited the Farmhouse in years. It was a real intrigue and together with Freya I wanted to know what happened in the family.
And how exactly did Toby get his hands on the Farmhouse? Especially seeing the place, and reading how the real estate agent made sure it didn’t get sold. So many questions I just needed the answers to! 

Yet even if there were so many questions, I felt myself embraced in warmth with this story. The author shows us that sometimes from a bad event wonderful things can come, only if we found the courage to listen to our hearts.
I truly enjoyed reading this second book, it lived up to the expectations I had and makes me look forward to read the next story this amazing author has up in her sleeve!

When you fake to be the girlfriend of a famous person, yet you may fall for his PA?

Synopsis

Welcome to Pepper Bay, where you’ll find love drama,and a happily ever after.

Snuggle down with this cosy, feel-good, comfort read that whisks you away to a beautiful bay on the Isle of Wight – Perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Alison Sherlock, Rachael Lucas, and Holly Martin.

The Pepper Bay books are standalone stories that intertwine with recurring characters. Best enjoyed when read in order.

The Old Boat Clubhouse: When Hollywood actor Keaton Byrd needs a brand boost, the last thing Harriet Hadley thinks is that it will involve her. All she does is work in housekeeping in Sandly’s biggest hotel. Being asked to be his pretend girlfriend in exchange for a whole heap of money doesn’t exist, even in her wildest dreams. Can she really pull it off? Be the small-town girl who he needs to rebuild his image? It’s worth a try. What could go wrong? Especially with Keaton’s right-hand man, Jude Jackson, always by her side, making sure she’s okay. He smells so good, just like the ocean she adores, and he looks like the men her sister Lexi puts on the front covers of her steamy romance novels. How is Harriet supposed to concentrate on being Keaton’s fake girlfriend when she can’t stop looking at Jude? The best part is, Jude is always looking back.

My review

Harriet Hadley never thought that bumping into Jude Jackson while working as housekeeping in Sandly’s hotel, would turn into an offer she could not refuse.
She is being asked be a fake girlfriend to Keaton Byrd, a famous Hollywood actor in dire need of positive news around his persona.
For a single mother, the offered money is too good to pass on and so she accepts. But how can everyone be fooled by a famous actor falling for a local girl?
Luckily Harriet can count of Jude to look after her, always making sure she is okay with everything going on. And Harriet starts to realize she cannot get Jude out of her mind, and neither can he! 

I absolutely like it how this author manages each time to turn a rather simple story into something marvellous! And how she also manages to make each story unique, even when there is always a common thread. But also how each story can perfectly stand on its own, making you pick out what you want to read, in whichever order you want! 

For me, this felt as the sweetest story of the whole series. I loved all the other books too, yet this story gave me more ‘how sweet’ moments than the previous ones. 

First of all, while it would be easy to pity Harriet for her background, I absolutely didn’t. Of course it’s sad to read how she ended up being a single mom, yet she managed perfectly to create a happy home with her cute little son Tommy.
She enjoys her life, and she would do anything to make Tommy happy, even if she cannot give him everything. 

Harriet is absolutely a kind and generous person, but she is also a strong person. It’s not easy to raise a kid on her own, even if surrounded by her family. However, she is also strong in the sense she won’t take b*llsh*t from anyone. When she meets Jude and Keaton, she makes it absolutely clear that no lines will be crossed howsoever. And I liked that about her, because it would have been easy to exploit her situation to gain more money. 

I absolutely loved reading how she sees more in everyone, even in Keaton, than everyone else. That again shows her kindness and her empathy. She sees behind Keaton’s façade and is able to push him into the right direction, making him see he deserves real happiness too.  

But the best bits were whenever Harriet and Jude were together…
Jude is just a wonderful guy, both inside and outside. With Harriet referring to him as a famous male doll, she just put the right picture of Jude in my mind. 

Even if he has the looks, it’s his behaviour that made me fall in love with him too. Yes, he is working for Keaton, but he keeps looking after Harriet, making sure she is okay with everything that is going on.
His passion for water makes it also easy for him to bond with Tommy, and that truly warmed my heart.  

And then there is his patience and understanding with Harriet. While their feelings are very strong, he understands and accepts that Harriet wants to take things slowly.
It cannot be easy falling for a person while there is so much at stake, but those secret looks, those stolen moments just for Harriet and Jude were truly worth all the faking! 

It was great to see how these two wonderful people found each other and were so comfortable with each other.
Love can come very quickly, as this author has showed us again, but sometimes it’s just like that… what can you about it when it crosses your path?
But it also makes it possible to solve dilemma’s in your life. Because with Jude falling in love with Harriet, several different pieces of the puzzle suddenly all fell perfectly into place… 

I found this again a great book to read, this is absolutely a story that didn’t disappoint! The author wrote again a wonderful story that is so easy and enjoyable to read. I had a smile on my face from the very start till the end!

Can a mistress truly find love when she is being trapped?

Synopsis

In the eyes of the ton, Ellen Harding lives a charmed life – she is the beautiful, exquisitely adorned mistress of Lord Gainsborough.
But on the inside, behind her glamorous façade, she is empty – a vessel – deaf to the voice of morality and blind to shame. Unable to escape the gilded cage she has been trapped within.
Kind, gentle Edward Marlow could prove to be her salvation… With one look he gives her hope. With one touch he sets her senses alight.
Lose yourself in the passionate intensity of this stunning debut from exciting new talent Jane Lark.

My review

Ellen Harding is living as a mistress of Lord Gainsborough. While on the outside it may seem that Ellen is his by choice, carrying his jewellery, the truth is a darker one, where she is forced to do whatever Lord Gainsborough wants.
But one night may change everything for Ellen, by meeting Edward Marlow. Just one look gives her feelings she only felt once, and for sure it wasn’t with Lord Gainsborough.
Will Edward be the one who will save Ellen? Is Ellen to risk everything for love? 

I started reading this book with the thought it would be an easy, quick book to read. And while the start was just like I imagined it would, I was a bit flabbergasted when I realized that just when I thought I would quickly reach the end, I wasn’t even halfway the story! 

The start is rather predictable as a young woman is the mistress of a despicable man lays her eyes on her saviour, and feel an undeniable attraction.
But where I thought it would be nothing more than a ‘simple’ romance (nothing wrong with that, as I enjoy reading such books too!), it quickly turned in a whole different kind of story. And that was a very pleasant surprise! 

You cannot not feel sorry for Ellen, because while it would appear that being a mistress would give her more liberties, the opposite is true.
We get to know that Ellen is not being a mistress by choice, but by force. And to protect her secret, she has no other choice than comply…
But life with Lord Gainsborough is not easy. Not only does his looks and age even make me repulse, but his behaviour is just horrible. 

Ellen is truly a tormented soul, and where she has resigned in her life, the appearance of Edward brings everything in turmoil.
I could understand on one hand why she didn’t want him to see her, out of fear. But on the other hand I could also comprehend her frustrations when he kept his distance, because of her love for him.
Her life isn’t an easy one, and while it’s far by perfect, she knows that she is all doing this for one purpose alone… even if that frustrated Edward, as he doesn’t know where he is standing. 

Edward is truly a kind and gentle soul, perfect to heal Ellen’s tormented one. He is very understanding of Ellen’s reticence. But he is also ready to fight for her.
He is the kind of man who sees a woman in need of help, and helps her, without hesitation or asking questions.
He doesn’t care what people may think, he follow his heart. 

And while this is all very sweet, this story goes beyond it all. Because we see a woman who has been treated wrongfully, not only when she was mistress, but way before, by her own father and other people she thought would be on her side.
With now having found someone in her corner, she wants to regain her place in the world, with the people who belong by her side.
And Edward will stand by her side no matter what. 

There are obviously people against the bond between Edward and Ellen, for several and completely different reasons. I could comprehend the wariness of those close to Edward, because a mistress isn’t the kind of person people like Edward should marry. Yet Ellen was clever enough to see their tricks and prove them wrong.
And it was wonderful to see how the group of allies started to grow once they saw the Ellen behind her ‘title’ as mistress. 

It was a slow start for me while reading, but quickly I found myself submerged in this bittersweet tale of two characters who find each other, and find the strength and courage to fight the wrongdoings.
And tat is what love can do, it makes you find that one person who can make the impossible possible… 

This author was a real delight to discover and I cannot wait to read more from her!

Can what is now lost, be found again?

Synopsis

I left at dawn on a rainy day. 

I left as he slept, believing that he’d still find me in his arms when he woke up. I left, taking everything I’d promised him. I took it all, and neither of us would ever have it again. 

I left, turning my back on everything I knew, believing I could never be part of it.

I left the man who loved me, the family who raised me. I left my home, my roots, my dreams. I left my whole life behind in search of a past that was never mine. I hurt everyone who loved me, and broke him into so many pieces that I know I’llnever deserve his forgiveness.

But I’m here, now, trying to rebuild everything I’ve destroyed. I’m trying to find what I thought I’d lost. And although he says that he’ll never be the same, though he says that there’s nothing left of him, I can’t abandon him again. I can’t say goodbye to us.

They say that you always find your way back to happiness, but I’ve found my way back to the only place I’ve ever felt at home.

I’ve found my way back to him.

My review

Niamh has returned back home after leaving her home, family and boyfriend on a rainy day several years ago. Now she has returned, but where once she was part of the community, she feels like a stranger now.
She knows that she has hurt a lot of people by leaving, especially Noah while searching for her past. But now that she is back, she wants to fix everything that she broke. Even if her family welcomes her back with open arms, she also knows that make things right with Noah will be the most difficult bit. Because her leaving, made sure that Noah is no longer the same man, and perhaps never will be. So it’s up to Niamh to show him that now she is back to stay, with him. 

I always love a story about second chances (or even third ones), and having read previous books of this author, I had to give new book also a shot. 

In this book, there is no question of who has been through the most, as both Niamh and Noah didn’t have an easy time, or still don’t. 

It’s not clear from the start what made Niamh leave in first instance (or second instance), yet it’s obvious that her leaving broke Noah. And no matter how long has passed, Noah is still a broken man, especially as he still carries around the guilt of what happened while he was trying to cope.
I know, I am talking very vaguely, but I cannot and will not tell the details, because it’s up to you to discover the depth of it all. 

Niamh is facing the difficulty of returning home while she hurt so many people with her leaving, not only Noah. Even if her family is truly happy to see her again, there are other people wary of her return. And I could understand them, as they had to face her absence, trying to build up again what she ‘demolished’.
It would be easy to see Niamh as the ‘bad character’, however, she is not.
She had her own reasons to leave, reasons that I could understand. What she had learned, crushed her whole world and I saw that her search was what she needed, even if it didn’t give her all the answers she needed. 

I also admired her, because it couldn’t have been easy to return. Yet she ahs this determination to show everyone that she is back to stay, and will fight for her loved ones, whatever it takes, even if some will keep on pushing her away. 

Even if that person is Noah, the man she has always loved, and who loves her the most. His tale is truly an even sadder one. because his whole world collapsed, he is proof how a broken heart looks like.
He is facing also other several issues, and I liked it how the author shows us that it’s okay when you’re not okay, that you have nothing to be ashamed of.
I could perfectly understand his reluctance of just welcoming Niamh back, for his own sake. He has been hurt by her in the past and he cannot survive another heartbreak again. 

It was sweet to see the efforts that Niamh made to show Noah she was truly back. And for sure it was also sweet to see how Noah truly lightens up with Niamh back in his life. Of course that doesn’t mean that all issues are resolved, but that makes this book realistic. Problems don’t just disappear in one blink, it is a work in progress…  

This story is a story about heartbreak, but also about healing hearts. It shows the strength of love, that it truly can conquer it all when you have found that special person. It also shows that nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes or have our issues, and that’s okay.

How a cinema can change someone’s life…

Synopsis

Patsy Clements lives in Croftwood. It’s been her sanctuary for three years while she rebuilt a life for herself that is safe and happy. Out of necessity, she has learnt to live without ambitions or dreams, but she does have her best friend Oliver who means everything to her.

Oliver Jones owns the trendy local coffee shop and establishes himself as the town entrepreneur when he buys the derelict old cinema in the park. Bringing it back to life is going to be a challenge and he wants his best friend Patsy to be his business partner. 

After lying low for three years is it a mistake for her to change the life that has kept her safe or is it time to start living again? Will stepping into the limelight tempt fate and mean her past catches up with her and can she survive if it does?

Join Patsy and Oliver in the small town of Croftwood for a summer where friendships are made, challenges are everywhere and romance blossoms at the cinema in the park.

My review

Three years ago Patsy Clemens returned back home in Croftwood, with only crushed dreams. Her life now is a safe one, without any real ambitions or dreams. But it doesn’t bother her, as long as she has her best friend Oliver by her side.
Oliver is not only her best friend, but also the owner of the trendy coffee where Patsy works. And contrary to Patsy, he has big dreams. And one of them is to bring back the old cinema at the park to life. And he wants Patsy to be his business manager.
The cinema however is in need of a lot of TLC, both the building and the whole cinematic setup. With the help of local architect Matt and amateur projectionist Ed, Patsy and Oliver hope to bring the cinema back to life.
And perhaps it will bring Patsy also back to life? 

It always saddens me to read a story where a main character has been through something terrible in the past, that now makes her hold back from even dreaming.
So that is why I immediately felt sorry for Patsy, even without knowing the full details of what she has been though. Because even f she seems content with her life now, it’s clear that she still is looking behind her shoulders. And that is not fair, as she also deserves to have big(ger) dreams than just working at the coffee shop of her best friend Oliver.
So even if she doesn’t have the ability to be a real partner with Oliver’s new acquisition, I was happy for her having a chance to do something else, and step outside, not only out of her comfort zone. 

And seeing her opening up, gaining more confidence, and even getting back on the dating scene, was something wonderful, because it’s something Patsy absolutely deserves!
We also see what amazing ideas she has concerning the cinema, showing us her creativity and her brightness. A cleverness she also shows whenever she interacts with the people of Croftwood, even the more difficult characters. 

Yes, this is also a romance story, as Patsy finds herself meeting two men, Ed and Matt. And while with one she gets quickly along greatly, the other one cannot stop from irking her. I am not going to tell you more about this, I will let you discover this all by yourself, also because the romance doesn’t feel like the main subject. 

Because it’s all about Patsy finding herself again, with the help of the best kind of friends you can imagine. Having Oliver by her side, even if he doesn’t know the depth of her fears, means the world to Patsy. And Oliver is such a nice character, appreciating the friendship with Patsy, not ever wanting something in return for everything he does for her.
He wants only the best for Patsy, he wants Patsy to see her potential and to live again. This kind of friendship is the most honest and most genuine of them all, and also the most precious one.  

This kind of friendship, together with finding the courage to live again, are for me the main themes of this story.
This story shows us that sometimes we need a (gentle) nudge in our back to even find the courage to face our most evil enemies. But no matter how scary it may seem, if we dare to stand tall, with the people who truly care surrounding us, even the evilest of enemies can be overcome. And it’s with these same lovely people by your side that you can start to live again, and to dream again…  

It’s obvious that I enjoyed reading this strong story. The author manages perfectly to grasp the essence of how resilient people can be, and how important it is to have great friends by your side, seeing your true potential even when you cannot…

Friends help each other out, even by faking

Synopsis

One romantic getaway. Two friends. Seven days just pretending…

When Nina Copeland’s mates try to match her with the guy next door, she needs a plan. Because Matthew’s just a friend, and Nina has a secret she doesn’t want him to discover – not until she’s tidied her messy life.

After his divorce, physics teacher Matthew Gilchrist has kept his heart locked safely away. So why do people keep pushing him to date his chirpy neighbour? He and Nina are fine just as friends. Aren’t they?

Nina hatches a solution to get everyone off their backs: fake a relationship at a family reunion, then stage a break-up so life can go back to normal. What could go wrong?

Stuck together at a romantic highland lodge, new feelings lure them out of the friend zone. But if love is to find a way in, Nina must confront her past, and Matthew put his heart on the line.

My review

Nina Copeland may seem to have it all, but looks can be deceiving. With a famous brother, she is more used to people getting close to her because of him and not because they are actually interested in Nina.
With her real friends all finding their own happiness, Nina feels more alone and lonely than ever. But luckily she can always count on her neighbour for a chat, and why not, to make her garden look better again.
But Matthew Gilchrist is not the same man after his divorce… He does not want to start dating again, even if everyone around him is pressuring him.
So when Matthew is going to the annual reunion, Nina comes up with the perfect plan: to fake a relationship, to get everyone of their backs. What could possibly go wrong?
But in the romantic setting in the Highlands, are their feelings shifting to something deeper? Can there grow something between these friends, even if Nina has a past she is afraid to confront? 

When I started reading this book, I was all set for a funny, sweet and romantic escape, for both the main characters, but also for myself.
Yet the more I got into the book, I realized that while indeed this was a wonderful romance, it also handled some more serious issues, like the ones Nina is facing, but also Matthew… 

First of all, there is Nina. It may seem that she has it all, and doesn’t (need to) work, but when we take a closer look at her life, we can see that things aren’t that easy for her.
It saddened me on several occasions to see how people come to her only because she is ‘the sister of…’ and not because they want to know Nina for who she really is.
And I also felt that her own friends don’t understand her, it even frustrated me how they somehow didn’t see Nina’s true emotions, the turmoil she was and still is going through.
Plus the problem she got into because she felt useless, made It even more clearer that she is a young woman who doesn’t know how she fits in life, despite/ thanks to the help of her brother. 

Now, it may seem that Nina is a very dark character, but the opposite is true. Yes, she obviously is still having several issues, but she is also a very bright persona.
Because of her volunteering, she has learnt to listen to people around her, and even hear things that are not being said. That lakes her able to understand people better, and even offer help in several occasions, by making them see what they are not seeing. 

She is also a great friend, especially to Matthew. Yes, she had a huge crush on him years ago, but could you blame her?
But that’s not the point… she truly cares about Matthew in a genuine way, she wants to help him, even if that means to be in a fake relationship with him.
And slowly she is able to let Matthew understand that he truly is an amazing man, no matter what his ex said. 

Because Matthew truly is amazing, even if he is a bit awkward at moments! My heart broke when his story was being told, how his hideous ex managed to turn him into an insecure boy, doubting himself in every possible way…
Even at moments he makes a total fool out of himself, I couldn’t stop liking him. His awkwardness touched a soft spot in my heart and no matter what he did or say, he is the kind of guy who can be easily forgiven, because he is just so real… 

Nina and Matthew have very different backgrounds, but that doesn’t stop them from being more than just friendly neighbours. They are the kind of friends that can count on each other no matter what, they will always have each other’s’ back, even if that means going on a family reunion fake – dating. 

And that is what frustrated me in this book… because these two characters are just perfect for each other. hey are what the other person needs. But why does it take so damn long before they finally see that??? 😊
If even Matthew’s family can see that, why can’t they? 

I have to say, Thistle Lodge sounds so amazing. Of course there is the setting, in the Highlands, it already made me dream away. But no matter how great a setting is, it’s mainly the company that can make or break the whole reunion.
And Matthew’s family for sure is a gem, each member adds an ‘amazingness’ to this story in their unique way!  

Reading this story was not only great, but it went even beyond. It was marvellous to see how these broken main characters, who already have each other’s back, discover that together they could find their inner peace, and chase away their demons.
And with the both of them being so caring and understanding, they truly and absolutely deserve every inch of happiness, together. 

This book was funny, hilarious, romantic but also bittersweet at moments. It was the perfect mishmash that made me finish it way too quickly as I just couldn’t put it away!

When a wedding and its plans don’t go as… planned

Synopsis

Cozy Craft Mysteries can be read in any order. A funny whodunnit series, full of charming characters and mysteries that will keep you guessing to the very end.

A wedding is a cause for celebration. Not only do dressmakers Penny and Izzy get an invite to the big day but they have an unusual dress commission to complete for one of the guests.

It seems Penny’s only problem is deciding which potential boyfriend to take as her plus-one guest — practical handyman Aubrey or cultured fabric expert Oscar.

But bigger problems arise when the maker of the wedding cake is found dead in the grounds of the stately home where the wedding is to take place.

And when another key individual in the wedding plans is also murdered, it seems like someone has deadly plans to prevent this marriage.

Can Penny and Izzy unravel the mystery and solve this crime before the big day is fatally ruined?

If your ideal book features mystery, friendship, cute romance, crafting and a charming rural setting then this is the book for you.

My review

Penny and Izzy are not only invited to a wedding, but they also have an order for a dress for one of the guests. A guest who wants to steal the show with an amazing swan dress. Obviously it’s something the cousins can manage, once they figured out all the logistics.
Yet things start to turn for the worse when the maker of the wedding cake is found dead in mysterious circumstances. And when another incident is just too coincidental, it’s clear to Penny and Izzy that there is more to the story…
So the two cousins start another investigation, trying to figure out who is out there killing people involved with the wedding.
But that is not the only investigation, as Penny has to decide who to take as her plus one… 

Well, like I said previously, this series is for sure growing on me. And this story absolutely showed me that love can grow slowly! 

A wedding is always a joyful occasion, but I have to admit, the bride and her family and friends are a bit an odd bunch…
Every dynamic felt wrong somehow and I wasn’t always convinced of the pure nature of the feelings. But that was not the focus of this story, and after all, who am I to judge someone when whatever they are doing is making them happy? 

Because the focus is on the murder of course. I have to admit, the first murder was a real strange one. I saw red flags everywhere, and just like Izzy and Penny, I wasn’t sure of it being it an accident, which of course wasn’t! 

Seeing the cousins in action, both sewing and investigating, has become quickly a real treat! I loved seeing that the bond is always getting stronger and stronger, the cousins relying more on each other, and even seeing that bond change from cousins into one that sisters would have.
Penny and Izzy couldn’t be more different, that is stating the obvious, but they are also perfect for each other. They make each other see things in other perspectives, showing that thinking differently can make you see even more. But they don’t undermine each other, they accept each other just the way they are. 

While being a cozy murder mystery, having a second murder for sure made the balance tip over to the more mysterious side of the story.
Yet the mystery and cozy bits were so linked together, making me smile through the weirder bits! Who has ever heard of experiments with cement, trying to solve a murder? I for sure never did before, and it’s bits like this that makes this book, this whole series, a great adventure to read! 

I have to admit, Penny’s love triangle didn’t go as I hoped it would, but secretly I hope that the author will sense what I want to happen and will make it work! That would be for sure the cherry on top of a majestic cake. And if not, well, it’s a majestic cake anyway, with or without cherry!

When even the safety of your home and work just aren’t anymore…

Synopsis

Since that fateful night I have always kept myself to myself. Reserved. Private. Alone.

Some people think I am too quiet. That life is passing me by. But I know there is safety in my own company. That no one can hurt me if I don’t let them get too close.

Until the day I meet him. A handsome, charming stranger. A chance for me to take a risk…finally?

Or a man who threatens everything I’ve worked so hard for?

You’ll be sorry…

And that’s when my whole life begins to fall apart….

Don’t miss the brand new thriller by Valerie Keogh! Perfect for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and K.L. Slater.

My review

Since an incident ten years ago, Ava Warrington has kept a low profile, even on the verge of her being a bit paranoid.
Her job at the Tate Museum is the job of her dreams, but at the same time it also gives her comfort and peace she needs.
But then things start to happen around her that take her peace away. After rejecting a persistent man at the bistro while dining with her best friend, Ava starts to think that that man is somehow responsible for the incident at the museum. And more things start to happen, making Ava wonder if she is just losing her mind, or is someone truly after her? And why? 

If you are looking for a story to give you goosebumps and makes you paranoid too, this book is just perfect!  

From the start, it’s clear that something happened to Ava ten years ago, and she is still carrying that burden. And even if we will only know what towards the end of it, I could sense it was something serious. Even without the details, I could comprehend why Ava wanted a low – key life, having the safety of what she knows to protect her. 

When she rejected the man in the bistro, I knew it was the right thing for her to do. Not only do you always have to do what feels right for you, or makes you feel the safest, but also seeing his persistence and his behaviour, well, I thought Ava got a lucky escape! 

But while from there things start to go bad for Ava, I couldn’t completely agree with her that it was that same man who was after her. Because let’s be honest, why would a rejection lead to such extreme actions? 

This story for sure made me question the intention of people in general. Are they being genuinely nice, or are they being nice for their own agenda? And what about friends who start ghosting you out of the blue?
Ava has to face each of the above, and starts to question her own mental condition somehow. Is she seeing things? Is she being too paranoid? What is real and what isn’t anymore? 

For anyone who hasn’t been through a traumatic event in the past, it’s already creepy enough. But what with happened ten years ago to Ava, it made things even more worse as she kept in mind that somehow the past was coming back for her, that karma would get her. 

I have to admit, the revelation of what happened ten years ago, didn’t truly come as a real shock, yet the extension of it did. It made me understand Ava better, and I could see where her guilt was coming from. Although I wouldn’t have minded if there wouldn’t have been that last ounce of doubt of what really happened..   

The author manages perfectly to keep us on toes, making us guess what was going on. Only to shou w that we were on the wrong track!
There were many twists in this book, some more gruesome than others, which made me want to put the book away, yet at the same time I wanted to keep on reading.