Tizi’s Book Review

With so many challenges, is Christmas the perfect moment for miracles…

Synopsis

It’s the countdown to Christmas at Hedgehog Hollow Wildlife Rescue Centre, and everyone is gearing up for a festive season to remember…

It should be the most wonderful time of the year for Samantha and Josh as they prepare for the arrival of their first baby. But life at Hedgehog Hollow rarely goes to plan and the pair are faced with adversaries, old and new, and unexpected challenges to overcome.

Fizz’s job at the heart of the rescue centre is a dream come true but her personal life is more like a nightmare. With her love life a disaster and her past about to dramatically catch up with her, she needs the love and support of her Hedgehog Hollow family more than ever.

As the snow falls over Hedgehog Hollow, will Samantha and Fizz find the Christmas miracle they need to overcome their heartache and find happiness?

My review

Samantha and Josh couldn’t be more happier than they are now. In a few months they will welcome their first baby into family. And while initially both Sam and Josh were afraid of not being great parents, they now cannot wait to meet their little bundle of love.
Sam is taking things slowly, even if she finds it just impossible to stay totally away from the animals at Hedgehog Hollow.
Luckily she can count on Fizz, who is now working on a permanent base at the rescue centre. But Fizz’s personal is not all sunshine and rainbows, as not only her love life seems to go from bad to worse, and ghosts of the past are haunting her more than before.
But Fizz knows that she can always count on the love and support of the Hedgehog Hollow family, even if also there troubles are not far away… 

Dear Jessica, 

For writing an amazing story (again), I reward you with the maximum of points, a full five stars. And as we say in Belgium, a kiss from the teacher and a bank forward!
However… I also have the sad notice that on another level, I have to give you the lowest points, a one star.
And this for the fact that I was so proud while reading that I made it without using any tissue at all. Until I reached the last few chapters… Then the tears started to come and … I …. Just … Couldn’t…  Stop…
And you should also know that I kept reading until 1 A.M, because I just couldn’t wait until the next day to finish your book BUT I HAD TO WORK THE NEXT DAY!!! So I finished reading at 1 A.M., I cried for half an hour after reaching the end, and then I had to go into the office!
Can you really be surprised that everyone at the office kept wondering what was wrong with me?????? 

But honestly, how much I loved reading this last chapter…

I found it marvellous to see how Sam and Josh are ready for the next adventure in their lives. the support they give each other, the love they have for each other. I was truly jealous of their bond.
Both characters have been through so much, yet they manage to keep positive in life. And whenever there seems to be that things are getting too much, their love pulls them through. They truly are the perfect soulmates!  

And I couldn’t wait for the baby to arrive, as it would be the cherry on top of a wonderful cake. However, Sam doesn’t have an easy time at the end of her pregnancy, no matter how much she deserves it.
Seeing the behaviour of people who are supposed to help new mothers during a difficult time, and just being awful, left me shocked. And reading afterwards how this was a real event for this magnificent author, made things even worse. But I am sure that such people are more the exception and that the world is filled with amazing people! 

In this book, Sam and Josh have to share the spotlight with Fizz. While in the previous books we already liked her and her sparkly character, I couldn’t wait to get to know her better. And  I had my fingers crossed that something would happen with another lovely character in the book. 

But it broke my heart to see that Fizz’s world wasn’t all that sparkly as we imagined. Reading how her girlfriend treats her, and just didn’t treasure Fizz as the jewel she is, did not only sadden me, but also angered me!
Fizz truly deserves someone who loves her, and we obviously have the right person I mind! 

It’s not only her love life that isn’t working out… We get to know slowly that something happened to her in the past. And discovering the truth, and the culprit, truly made me sick. How can such a trust be betrayed in the most horrible way? 

Nevertheless, I was glad that when the cat was out of the bag, she did not only have her ‘real’ family supporting her, but also the amazing Hedgehog Hollow family. 

It warmed my heart to see that Fizz realizes that she deserves more, and that she starts to see that sometimes the thing we need the most is right in our face.
But while sometimes frustrating, I appreciated it also that Fizz values her friendship more than anything else and does not want to jeopardize it by coming clean about her feelings when she is not sure they will be welcomed… 

In this last book of Hedgehog Hollow, everything comes to a full circle, despite the setbacks our characters have to endure.
Jessica Redland is an amazing author, writing about people who you cannot not love. And no matter what hardship her characters have to endure, the fact that they continue to hope, love and just be marvellous people, shows us the resilience of people, and that someone awesome won’t break that easily. 

It saddened me that this was the last we would read about Sam and Josh and their family at Hedgehog Hollow. But on the other side, I was over the moon that I was able to participate in this amazing adventure this author took us on. She made me fall in love with the characters, but also with the fascinating world of hedgehogs.
And I am more than sure that whatever Jessica will write next, it will be again a masterpiece. And I will be sure to have my tissues ready!

To chose between love and friendship…

Synopsis

‘Mesmerising from beginning to end.’ Lizzie Lane

Yorkshire 1860

With the heat of their beloved India far behind them, Evie Davenport and her widowed British Army officer father, are starting a new life in England. But Evie is struggling. With her dearest mother gone, Yorkshire with its cold, damp countryside and strict societal rules makes Evie feel suffocated and alone.

Her friendship with Sophie Bellingham, the gently reared daughter of a wealthy rail baron, is Evie’s only comfort. Until the arrival of local cotton mill owner, Alexander Lucas.

Newly returned from America, it is expected Alexander will marry and finally make England his home. And Sophie with her family connections and polite manners is the obvious choice.

But when Alexander meets Evie, a simmering passion ignites between them. Evie, with her rebellious spirit is like no other woman Alex has ever met, but to reject Sophie for Evie would cause a scandal and devastate everyone Evie loves.

Evie knows she must do her duty. But in doing so faces the unbearable future of being without the man she loves.

My review

Evie Davenport has moved together with her British Army father from the heat of India back to England. Not only are they still coping with the lost of Evie’s beloved mother, but also adapting in England is not easy, with its cold countryside and strict rules.
Even if Evie feels lonely, she can count on her new best friend Sophie Bellingham, who loves Evie rebellious spirit and courage to speak her own mind.
Sophie is the daughter of a wealthy rail baron, and when Alexander Lucas returns from America, everyone expects him to marry Sophie.
But Alexander is more attracted to Evie’s character and is not interested in Sophie. However, Evie does not want to marry at all, and especially not with the man her best friend has fallen in love with.
But how long can she resist Alexander? Or will she stay loyal to her best friend and see the man she loves with someone else? 

I have always liked reading stories where the characters come from another continent and try their best to live in a whole different world.
Add the fact that our main character is very outspoken in a time where that was not appreciated and an impossible love interest, and that’s all any author needs for me to pick up their book. 

I appreciated how Evie has always been able to just be herself, not only in India with her family, but also in England with just her father.
While her educating and behaviour do raise eyebrows of the English people, Evie won’t let anything or anyone change her. If they don’t like her, it’s their problem, not hers.
Nevertheless, she also knows that her being just herself won’t make her win any popularity contest, but she is happy with the few, loyal friends she has, like Sophie. 

I could see and understand how difficult it is for her to adapt to a life in England, while life in India was so different.
And living alone with her father, who is still mourning the loss of his wife, is not making things easier. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love her father, because it’s obvious from each act that she loves her father deeply. 

I appreciated how she treasured her friendship with Sophie, and how she wouldn’t want to jeopardize that, especially when Evie feels more and more attracted to Alexander…
It shows how loyal Evie is, as she doesn’t want to lose Sophie over a man. Although I must say that Sophie’s reaction to Alexander’s rejection and even more towards the end of the story irked me more and more. 

There were also funny bits, like the women getting drunk, and that put a smile on my face as I could truly imagine how people would be astonished by two women having had a glass too much. 

Reading this story was something I truly enjoyed, showing us not only how life was in the 19th century, and how women are supposed to behave and having a main character acting the total opposite.
But it also shows us the brutal way of life, how losing someone we deeply love can cause a depression and even a deterioration of our own health. It shows us also how we would give up our own happiness if that is the cause for the unhappiness of someone else.
However, wouldn’t that same person understand our point of view and grant us to be happy? 

I found it an emotional rollercoaster, where maybe the speed was sometimes too fast, but made me think about how an event can change so many lives, for the better but also for the worse. And that no matter in what year or era we live in, each action will always be judged by bystanders, even if they have no right to or know all the facts…

Clove Lore, where broken hearts and feelings of sadness can be healed…

Synopsis

‘Tis the season for finding love… and the perfect book

With just two weeks until Christmas, everything in Clove Lore should be perfect. But the latest holidaymaker to the Borrow a Bookshop is feeling far from festive…

Icelandic ex-bookseller Magnús Sturluson might be surrounded by love stories in the Bookshop, but he’s nursing a sadness that not even fiction can fix.

When Alexandra Robinson finds herself stranded in Clove Lore, she finds a safe place to hide from heartbreak. After all, all that’s waiting for her at home is a cheater boyfriend and the memories of her parents. As Alex finds herself embraced by the quirky village community, she finds her tough exterior thawing – and as she grows closer to Magnús, she finds an equally soft heart under his gruff shell.

It seems that Clove Lore is working its magic once again – until a great flood on Christmas Eve brings devastation in its wake. It’s up to Magnús and Alex to batten down the hatches and help bring the village back together again, while also introducing the locals to the Icelandic tradition of the jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together.

But can Magnús and Alex truly rescue the ruins of the village, and salvage their Christmas spirit? Or is there another complication lurking even closer than they thought?

My review

Magnús Sturluson has always loved books. His love for books was even that big that at home in Iceland he opened his own bookstore. But thing didn’t work out and that has left Magnús felling depressed and feeling like a failure.
So the last thing he needs is to spend his holidays in Clove Lore, working in the Borrow a Bookshop, where his emotions of being a failure only grow…
That is until he meets Alexandra Robinson, who literally washed ashore after discovering her boyfriend cheating on her.
Alex for sure doesn’t want to spend her time at home, feeling heartbroken and not knowing what to do with her life.
She immediately feels welcomed at Clove Lore, and even grows closer to Magnús, who has a tender heart behind that cold stance he pretends to have.
Clove Lor seems to work its magic again, as it seems to bring two heartbroken people together, but the whole community is forced to face the brutality of nature when a flood at Christmas Eve flood the whole place. Everyone joins forces, but is everything, tangible and not, salvable? And do Magnús and Alex have a future together while their past and present are as far as possible from each other? 

First things first, I loved returning to Clove Lore, and returning to my old friends and see how they are all doing after the first book. But even if you haven’t read the first book, you can perfectly read this as a standalone.  

In this book I felt sorry for both main characters. It was sad to learn Alex’ story, how she is still grieving over the loss of parents, feeling the need to belong with someone, somewhere. On top of that, she is not chasing her own dreams, but makes sure her father’s dream stays alive and she catches her boyfriend in a compromised position with her best friend. 

While it may not have been the smartest move, I could completely understand why Alex wanted to get away from everyone and everything, and doesn’t want to reveal the truth when she is stranded in Clove Lore. 

And then there is Magnús. He also has a broken heart, but somehow I felt his story even a sadder one than Alex’. As a booklover myself, I could understand his passion for books and his wish to make people happy by selling wonderful tales to them.
But it truly saddened me to see how his dream got crushed, and how his shop caused not only the end of his relationship. I saw and felt his pain and his feeling of being a failure. 

But in this story, it’s a case of two broken hearts pulled together and how they are able to help each other out.
I loved how Magnús sees Alex like the mermaid from his dreams and how protective he acts towards her. It’s with small gestures that he lets us see just how amazing he is, despite his low self – esteem.
I also was very curious to read about the Icelandic legends and traditions. I was very intrigued by them, and it made me look for more about them on the amazing world of the Net, going as far as ordering my own Lopapeysa. I hope,it will make me feel as warm and cosy as how I felt reading this book!

And even if Alex is not feeling at her own best, she manages with her warm and kind character to melt the hard exterior of Magnús. She appreciates the help she receives from Magnús and everyone else.  

It warmed my heart seeing these two main characters together.
But what I loved the most about it, was how down – to – earth the both of them are. No matter how wonderful these two weeks together are, they both know that one day have to return home and do some soul-searching.
Because before they can be happy together, they need to figure out first what they want from life for themselves, and not what someone else wants them to want. And that made me appreciate this book even more. How can you find happiness if you don’t know what you truly want? 

But this isn’t only the story of Magnús and Alex, but of the whole community… My heart initially broke to see how the place is ruined by a great flood. And as that is happening on Christmas Eve, the sense of desperation is even bigger.
But then my heart swelled with warmth and even pride seeing how everyone put their best foot forward, Magnús included, to turn this in an unforgettable Christmas Eve… 

I found this a wonderful, heart – warming story about an amazing place, great characters, overcoming a great loss, different for each and every one of them, but finding happiness and love.

A Christmas that even the best weather broadcaster couldn’t predict…

Synopsis

When your heart’s broken, all roads lead home…

After the end of a long-term relationship, local weather girl Bea Armstrong has been avoiding her family, and their inevitable ‘I-told-you-sos.’ But with Christmas fast approaching, she is finally on her way home to Charis House, the school in Sherwood Forest that her mum and dad run in their old family home. And to top it all off, the insufferable Henry Fairfax – who her parents have always wanted her to marry – has also been invited. 

Relief comes in the shape of a last minute interview for her dream job. There are just a few minor problems… The interview is in Scotland, Bea has no car, and the snow is falling already. The only solution is for Henry to drive her – could this Christmas get any worse…

But during an unforgettable two day interview, a stay in a log cabin and a nightmare journey through the snow, Henry turns out to be nothing like she thought. And when Bea’s first love and recent ex shows up, Bea has a difficult choice to make…

My review

Bea Armstrong’s family never was certain about the guy she fell in love with. So after the end of her long – term relationship, it’s no surprise that Bea was a bit avoiding them. But you cannot avoid your family on Christmas, right?
So off to Charis House she goes, which also happens to be the school in Sherwood Forest that her parents are running.
Already not feeling the happiest she has been, things only get worse when she discovered that Henry Fairfax has been invited by her parents to spend the holidays with them. The same man she has tried to avoid while her parents have made no secret about how it would be perfect for them to get together, even when they were only children.
When Bea learns that she has a list minute interview for her dream job, Henry is her only way to get in Scotland, as Bea has no car and snow is already falling.
And it’s during their journey to and back from Scotland and the time in between that Bea gets to know the real Henry…
But Bea has some important decisions to take, and it does not only concern to accepting her dream job or not… 

Not many of you know this, but I have my own personal weather broadcaster, as my brother is always fascinated by the weather, and is checking satellite imagines and whenever I need a prediction, it’s him who I call, rather than checking online sites. 

So I immediately bonded with Bea, because I understood that passion, having it seen (on a lesser degree) personally.
But while being a broadcaster on the local television station may seem like a chore, just rattling of your predictions, I truly liked how Bea managed to connect with her viewers, and even has her own fans. And seeing how she made predictions on request, put a smile on my face. 

And I also could easily comprehend her emotions whenever it concerned her ex – boyfriend. If you have loved someone for so long, even if he/she has let you down, you always keep hoping that a change will be made and that everything will turn out for the best, even if your parents were against it from the very start. 

In this book, Bea has several opportunities to make things work in her favour. But we know even before she does or say it, that it is not in her character to say or do mean things. This is obvious during her ‘interview’. She wants to do a lot to get the job, but she doesn’t want to change herself. And during her stay in Scotland, she also learns what make her unique (and as a reader I can say also wonderful). 

I truly liked how Bea learned that her thoughts about Henry were wrong. Henry may not be the most flamboyant character, but we, together with Bea learn how kind, caring and supportive he truly is. He was not obligated to drive Bea, or to play along during the interview. But he is just that kind of guy… And Bea starts to see that for herself, and realizes that she misjudged him completely… 

What I loved about this story is that Bea learns that what she used to dream of, isn’t always what is the right thing for her. Is her dream job the perfect way to grow? Will that give her a greater satisfaction than in the job she now?
And when her ex reappears, for another chance, is she sure that she will come first for once? Or will it end again in her feeling small again? Is the guy her family saw perfect for her, truly the last man she wants to be with? Or is there someone else perfect for her?

But she also learns to stand up for herself even against her own family, fight for the right causes – to help her family –  and even at the most difficult moments, has time for her fans. I could surely comprehend why she is so loved by everyone. 

This book, even while I read it during summer, made it possible to dream about the lovely feelings that we all have around Christmas time. It shows us the importance of family, friends and the importance of following your heart. Like I said before, a dream isn’t in reality always what we truly want. But thanks to those dreams, we see what truly matters to us and makes it possible to chase new, realer dreams.

When your love for drama series bring you to romance in your life

Synopsis

It’s the right time for love, but is it the wrong place?

After the tragic, premature death of her husband Anthony, Martha has spent all her time focused on her teenage daughter Rosie in their small Welsh village.

But with Rosie leaving the nest, and Martha’s own job on the line, it feels that life is passing her by.

Inspired by her love for Scandi-noir dramas, Martha impulsively books a trip to Denmark, determined to push herself out of her comfort zone – even if the thought terrifies her…

Her trip to the tiny island of Fano becomes something much more: in the form of handsome stranger, Lars. Can Martha find love under the Scandinavian skies… but more importantly, can she find herself?

A romantic, warm and uplifting read, guaranteed to leave you smiling. Fans of Jenny Colgan and Kathryn Freeman will adore this feelgood read!

My review

Martha has lost her husband too soon and too unexpected. That made her put all her focus on daughter Rosie. But on top of that, her husband’s death also made sure that Martha doesn’t leave the house if not strictly required. But now that Rosie is not only moving out, but also going to do some volunteering on the other side of the world, and Martha’s job is on the line, Martha realizes that she is not living her life at the fullest.
And after not winning the competition of her favourite Scandinavian drama show, on an impulse, Martha decides to take a trip to Denmark and have a real adventure on her own.
An adventure that not only will make her discover the beauty of Denmark, but also take her on a more romantic adventure with local baker Lars and more important, an adventure of self – discovery.  

I have never been to Denmark myself, but it has always been on my bucket list. And after reading this story, it’s even higher on that list! 

Initially, I pitied Martha. I felt that she was a sad character, and like her friends and colleagues said themselves, she has become a little bit of a martyr.
Her world is really small, as it only involves her daughter and her job at the library. She obviously has friends at the library, but it’s clear that she is not the kind of person that can easily chat to random strangers about the weather. 

However, even if she is a sad character, involuntarily, she is also a funny character. The way she is so invested with her Scandinavian drama series, and even swoon over the ‘murderer’ in it, and even has a smooch with the television, put a smile on my face and the latter made me truly laugh out loud.
She is a loving mother, maybe a little bit too overprotective, but let’s be honest, Rosie isn’t the easiest person either, with her over dramatics and switching moods all the time. 

I felt proud of her when she *finally* decides to go visit Denmark, even after she was certain she would win the contest. And her antics while preparing, or on the flight itself, or after arriving were just so much fun to read about. 

But once in Denmark, we see a whole different Martha, still weird in some moments, yet we see her opening up, truly flourishing. And that was a lovely change to read about.
While reading, I wished I could stay at the lovely cottage with her, surrounded by bunnies and actual deer, although I would be terrified by hearing those sounds in the closet! (there is a logical explanation here, so no worries, this story will not turn into a crime story! 😊)

And when she meets Lars, well that was just the cherry on top of the cake!
I could understand her wariness with Lars, but I was also happy that she allowed herself to just go with the flow, and we’ll see what the future brings. 

I liked how she started out her own blog, to overcome her own grief and trying to help those in her same position.
Although I have to say, I thought that at some points she got a little above herself, thinking that her blog and her meetings would be a great success.
But not only the opposite happened, also she discovered a truth she never saw coming about what happened in the past. And while I enjoyed every bit of reading this book, I felt that the author somehow discarded this event rather quickly. While I understood that this thing was not the main event, I think I would have liked some better closure of it. Now I feel like some unfinished business. 

Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed partaking in this adventure together with Martha. Doing something unexpected can turn out the best thing you did. Because Martha did not only love again, which is very important in life. But even more important, she found her real self again, and turned from a frightened woman into a woman who dares to be adventurous and make changes in her life to find her happiness!

Of all the people to fall in love with…

Synopsis

To find love, they need to dig deep.

When kind-hearted archaeologist Rhona Lamond has her precious research stolen, she returns home to the Isle of Mull, lost and frustrated. An island project that tugs at Rhona’s soul comes up, and she’s desperate to take it on. But there’s a major problem.

Property developer Calum Matheson has a longstanding feud with the Lamond family. After a plot of land he owns is discovered to be a site of historical importance, his plans are thrown into disarray and building work put on hold. Calum doesn’t think things can get any worse, until archaeologist Rhona turns up. Not only is she a Lamond, but she’s all grown up, and even stubbornly unromantic Calum can’t fail to notice her – or the effect she has on him.

Their attraction ignites but how can they overcome years of hate between their families? Both must decide what’s more important, family or love.

My review

Archaeologist Rhona Lamond is not the kind of person to bloat about her research. However, on her latest dig she discovers that not everyone is like her, and some people aren’t even ashamed of even steal her research work.
With no other prospects in view, she return frustrated and disillusioned back home, to the Isle of Mull. When she learns about an island project that is just er cup of tea, she wants to take the job. There is only one ‘minor’ problem… The land that could be a site of historical importance is owned by Calum Matheson. And let him be the person that the Lamond family has a longstanding feud with…
But Rhona feels the pull of the site and Calum needs an expert to investigate his land further. Rhona and Calum couldn’t be more different, yet their attraction starts to grow. But is that enough to make years of hate disappear and will their families be ready to bury the hatchet or is their love doomed before it even started? 

Archaeology is not my cup of tea. I wouldn’t have the patience to dig a piece of land, hoping to find just *something*. I think I would be very disappointed when my hours of work appear to be for ‘nothing’ as no discovery would be made.
But I understand the importance of this job, so I admire those people who have a real passion for it. 

This story had a very big ‘Romeo & Juliet’ vibe. The Lamond and Matheson families have a feud with each other that is lasting for years. What has happened years ago isn’t revealed immediately, but we know it involved Calum and Rhona’s brother Arran. And whatever happened, that left a mark on both families, as the Lamonds aren’t afraid of badmouthing the Mathesons, and the Mathesons have to live with being stared after, even if there is no cause to it. 

The vibe I felt, is because of Rhona and Calum, obviously. Because with feuding families, there will be members that will do the unthinkable and fall in love with their rivals… 

There is a lot of myself I recognized in Rhona. She is a kind person, and her family, even if they don’t understand all her choices, is very important to her. She would do anything for them, even if her sisters drive her crazy.
She is also the person that, to avoid a big row, would let some injustice pass. Even if she did the discovery at the beginning of the book, she sees it as a team effort, and doesn’t mind if the spotlight is not on her.
But that also means that people who have no scruples, will take advantage of Rhona’s goodness.
So when Rhona does the unthinkable, working for Calum, I was cheering for her, because she finally did what she wanted to do. 

Of course the first times Rhona and Calum are together on the site, things are strained and awkward. Calum’s behaviour doesn’t help in the process. Not that he is rude or something like that, but he is just very wary and is a closed character.
I had so much fun seeing Rhona and Calum together, from how Calum didn’t want to get his clothes dirty, or how things are being said, unintentional of course, with a double meaning.
But I also loved how they started to get closer, understand each other better and even fell in love with each other. And how even having an old crush is being revealed put a smile on my face.  

But falling in love was, for as I see it, the easiest part. Because the both main characters know that their both families will be against them being together, especially as we see how awful the Lamonds react when they discover that Rhona went on a boat trip with Calum… And their behaviour towards the Mathesons in general was not something I could 100% agree with. I saw where they were coming from, but their behaviour was just so over the top, seeing also how they somehow keep sabotaging everything the Mathesons do… 

I immediately liked Calum’s parents, because despite the Lamonds’ efforts, his parents are just ‘chill’ people. They also feel angry towards the Lamonds, but they are okay with just ignoring them. 

If this were just a romance story, I would have liked the story anyway. But it is the growth of both main characters that made me love the story. We see Rhona maturing a lot in this book. Initially she let a little bit people walk over her. But slowly she realizes that she has to fight for her own happiness and have the recognition she deserves. Why should anyone be allowed to steal her work and get away with it?
We also see how she sees that there is more to what happened between Calum and Arran. And she wants to know the truth.
She also stands up to her family, and that made me proud of her, as it was long due. 

Also Calum makes a huge evolution in the book. We know he is a gentle person, but his past has scarred him so much, that he is afraid to lose control. But, thanks to Rhona and his best friend Will, he understands himself better. And seeing him opening up, and doing things he never imagined to do, warmed my heart. 

This book shows us how love can allow people to be themselves, or even find themselves again. Like I said, it has so many ‘Romeo & Juliet’ vibes, without the dramatic ending, even if there were some frustrating bits in this story!
You never know beforehand who you fall in love with, but even the most unexpected person can bring you the greatest joy and happiness in life. And falling in love can also end a feud that was maybe caused for the wrong reasons but lasted far too long. All of that, is the power of love.

Memphis, the rock ‘n’ roll place of not only the past but also the present and future

Synopsis

It’s Now or Never…In the summer of 1960, eighteen-year-old Rose Featherstone took a trip to Memphis that changed her life. Now, Rose confesses to her granddaughter, Daisy, that she returned home with more than just memories all those years ago – she was carrying Elvis Presley’s child!

Daisy is sure the claim can’t be true, and yet, what if it is? When her grandmother passes away soon after her startling revelation and leaves Daisy with a ticket to Memphis, Tennessee, Daisy decides it’s time to discover the truth. She’s always struggled to fit in but this trip might just show her the benefits of being born to stand out and is a moody motorcycle cop called Blue the answer to all her dreams?

Her adventures in Memphis take her behind the famous music gates of Graceland. Pack your Blue Suede Shoes for a rockin’ rom-com.

My review

Daisy Featherstone has always struggled to fit in, with her love for the Fifties, vintage clothing and even her love for The King himself, Elvis Presley.
That is all thanks to her grandmother, Rose Featherstone, who never forget her trip to Memphis in the summer of 1960. While Rose’s confession, that she returned home not only with amazing memories, but also carrying Elvis Presley’s child, seems to be the babbling of an old woman, Daisy starts wondering what is actual true of Rose’s claims, especially now that Rose has passed away. And that’s how Daisy finds herself taking a trip to Memphis, trying to discover the truth, but finding so much more than imagined, and that’s not only that nice Officer Joe Cody, aka Blue we’re talking about…. 

Reading about a story where there may or not may be an unknown child of Elvis Presley may seem a bit farfetched, but then once you start thinking about it, do we really know everything about The King? And is there a small chance that somewhere there truly is such a child? 

But that didn’t take away the fun I had while reading this story. 

First of all, it warmed my heart seeing the love between Daisy and Rose, even if we only saw that for a short period. It was lovely to see how Rose passed her passion for Presley, but also the music of that era to Daisy. It goes even that far that Daisy has her own Vintage – shop and feels more linked to the Fifties than the present. 

For me personally, it would be terror, going all over the Memphis, even if part of a tour, totally on my own, not knowing anything or anyone. So in those circumstances I admired Daisy, even if the initial plan was that her mother Lilian would accompany her. 

Being on a trip with people who cannot wait to visit Memphis and Graceland, with a love for Elvis Presley, it’s clear that Daisy will meet them and even befriend them. And while her closest new friends couldn’t be more different from each other, a unique friendship is made.
It also was sweet to see how well Daisy fitted in Memphis, how her passion here wasn’t seen as something strange, but rather as something normal. 

The Southern Kindness is also obvious with the help of Officer Joe, better known as Blue. While his initial help was rather up to standard, seeing how he kept on helping Daisy more in the store, and even turning out to be of invaluable importance, was a nice extra.
He for sure is the kind of man I would want to help me out too! Maybe in me being too level – headed, the romance bit went a bit too fast, but on the other hand, when you have found what you have been looking for…  

I have never been to Memphis myself, but following Daisy’s step, and the clear descriptions made it possible for me, as just a merely reader, to envision the places where magic took place.

Obviously, the author added a few layers of imagination and liberties in this book, yet she managed to stay true to the character of Elvis himself.
Having Elvis as a common thread throughout this story, was a nice idea, while the story itself was more about not only finding your ancestors, but also finding a place where you belong and you can just be yourself.

When the love for one person makes your forget the hate for another…

Synopsis

Becca and Charlie have known each other since university.
Becca and Charlies have also hated each other since university.

Until now. Until Ally’s bucket list. The death of their loved one should mean they can go their separate ways and not look back. But completing the list is something neither of them can walk away from.

And sometimes, those who bring out the worst in you, also bring out the very best…

Over the course of ten years, Becca and Charlie’s paths collide as they deal with grief, love and life after Ally.

Not since Emma and Dex in One Day and Will and Lou in Me Before You will you root for a couple as much.

My review

Becca and Charlie have hated each other since university. The only thing that held them together was Ally, Becca’s best friend and Charlie’s fiancée.
But unfortunately, Ally passed away, leaving the both of them heart – broken. Only silver lining would be that now Becca and Charlie can live their own lives, far away from each other. That is, until they learn about Ally’s bucket list she wanted Becca and Charlie to complete together for her.
Over the course of ten years, they complete one item of the list on a yearly base together. And meanwhile, they learn to deal with strong emotions like grief, loss, love while they also have a life after Ally… 

When I started reading this book, I knew I would be on a rollercoaster of emotions. But did I expect to find myself in tears just after the first chapters? Not at all! Was that the last moment I was crying while reading? Absolutely not!
So be warned when you start reading this book, waterworks will be turned on! 

In life, you have people you love, and some people you hate. There may be a logical reason for the hate, or not, but it can be rather easy to avoid those people.
That isn’t in Becca’s case. She knows Charlie since university, and she knows what kind of person he was, and she just doesn’t like him. Unfortunately, her best friend Ally fell in love with him, so Becca still had to endure his presence, for Ally’s sake. And the feeling was totally mutual, as Charlie loved Ally with whole his heart, but had to accept that Becca would be part of his life too…
But their unconditional love for Ally made them ready to thick of items of her bucket list, eve if that meant to still be in each other’s life, even if it were for one day per year… 

What I liked about this book, but at the same time also frustrated me a little bit, is that we see the whole ten years. Frustrating, because we knew what endgame we wanted to have, but also knowing it would take so long!
Liking it, because we see how both characters, with their own demons to face, mature in all these years. 

The items of Ally’s bucket list weren’t always my cup of tea, neither Becca’s or Charlie’s, as they couldn’t be more opposite. When Charlie was having a blast, for Becca is was torture, and the other way around. But no matter what the initial feeling at the start of the task was, we saw how Becca and Charlie could see the allure of each task, even if they wouldn’t choose it for themselves. 

In ten years, people change. It can be a big change or rather small ones. And because of the length of years, we see the change of the main characters, yet also managing to stay true to themselves. The more years pass, the better we understand Becca and Charlie.

The author managed also greatly in showing all the ups and downs in life. Both Becca and Charlie move on after losing Ally, cooping with their grief in different ways and times. We see how Becca still hangs on to Ally’s memory shows clearly her abandonment issues, and seeing Charlie after a few years into a new relationship, yet hiding his past, his fear of confrontation and wanting to take always the easy way out.
Life can take funny turns, one moment we are in the deepest imaginable pit, and the next one we are on cloud nine. Failure and success are both clearly present in the characters’ lives, at different moments, yet collide somehow sometimes, by a trick of Fate, when Becca and Charlie are together that one day. 

This was a heart – gripping, heart – warming story, showing the loyalty towards our loved ones. While the prelude was a sad one, the book is still filled with laughter, love and happy feelings.
The reader sees how feelings are shifting, the characters are evolving, maturing.
And I especially liked reading how sometimes the most frustrating person in the world can turn out to be the person you need to have in your life and to love him/her no matter how long it takes to be at the right time and place…

Home will always be home…

Synopsis

When your heart’s broken, all roads lead home…

London City Vet, Phoebe Dashwood, finds her partner Hugh and their boss in a passionate clinch beneath the mistletoe at their works Christmas party.

Heartbroken, she bolts to the New Forest, her childhood home to regroup and soul search.

Being home gives Phoebe the chance to reconnect with friends and family and especially with her fiercely independent gran, widower Maggie Crowther, owner of Puddleduck Farm, and makeshift animal shelter New Forest Neddies.

Deciding not to return to London, Phoebe hunts for work locally, hoping she can also help Maggie, who’s clearly swamped and not coping. But will Maggie accept Phoebe’s help?

Her quest is hampered by stubborn grandmothers, meddling mums, an attractive childhood friend, a real-life Lord, a remorseful ex, and a best friend who’s determined to play matchmaker.

Can Phoebe find happiness professionally and personally in the place she calls home, surrounded by those she loves or does fate have other plans for Phoebe?

My review

Vet Phoebe Dashwood is heartbroken when she finds her partner Hugh and their boss kissing underneath the mistletoe. She knows what the tradition is, but it’s the passion and emotion during that kiss that Phoebe sees that makes her return to New Forest, her childhood home.
Reconnecting with family and friends, and especially with her grandmother Maggie, makes Phoebe decide to stay in New Forest.
Phoebe now is looking for a new job, while also helping out Maggie at Puddleduck Farm even if Maggie is adamant she doesn’t need help.
Has New Forest always been and always will be her place to call ‘home’, where Phoebe is surrounded by not only her loving (yet sometimes interfering) family, a childhood friend who for sure has the looks, and a mysterious and also sometimes rude Lord? 

Could I ever skip the opportunity to read a book of Della Galton, especially if this is the start of a whole new series? Of course not, are you crazy!!! 

Before I started to read this book, I already imagined the whole story in my mind. And even when I was reading the first chapters, it looked like my imagination would seem to be correct and that I would be reading the story how I imagined.
But the more I was reading, the more I started to realize that the author didn’t follow my thoughts. And I didn’t feel sad about it at all, on the contrary! 

The main focus is on Phoebe, that after the end of her relationship returns back to her childhood home. I can only imagine how awful it is not to only break up with your partner, but having the break – up in the Christmas period.
I liked how Phoebe was determined to not let the break – up ruin the festivities with her family and how she put on a brave face. She even reassures everyone that celebrating the good things in life while her life is a little bit in pieces is not a bad thing. 

I loved how Phoebe cares about her family and is even ready to move back home, not only for herself to move forward, but also to help out Maggie at Puddleduck Farm. Is there a possible cuter name for a farm, that also turns out to be an animal shelter? 

The residents of the shelter for sure made me laugh. The donkeys are adorable, the dogs adorably loyal and even the most evil cat in the world stole my heart a little bit!
And the author managed perfectly to show us the importance of having dedicated people to look after the animals in need! 

Now, in this story there is also focus on two male characters, Sam, Phoebe’s childhood friend and actual Lord Rufus Holt.
I saw these two characters being contenders for Phoebe’s heart and initially I had my own preference as that one was obviously the nicer guy.
But like I said, this wasn’t that kind of story, and getting to learn both characters better, we got to know them better and even saw the pain behind the mask… 

And while I would have liked if there would be romance in it, I understood what the author was doing here.
Of course if Phoebe found someone new, how would the rest of the series continue? But also, Phoebe doesn’t need to be in a relationship to find happiness, especially so quickly after her previous one. Being in a relationship is a wonderful thing, but it has to be with the right person, at the right time. And in this book, it isn’t the right time yet for Phoebe, as her focus now is to start her new life in New Forest and at Puddleduck Farm. 

This was a wonderful, delightful story, with strong, lovely characters, human and animal. Starting over is never easy, but with resilience, good intentions, a kind heart, realizing who you truly are, putting your best food forward, and being surrounded by those who love you, things can be a little bit easier.
I cannot wait for what else Della Galton has in store for the characters of Puddleduck Farm!