Tizi’s Book Review

The wedding of your dreams, or not…

Synopsis

Wedding excitement is in the air! With their big day approaching, Fen has her heart set on a gorgeous, intimate celebration with not much fuss at all. But strong-minded mother-of-the-bride Marjery seems to have considerably grander plans. There’s also the small problem of a missing best man, and when Fen tasks Hudson Holmes and Ruby Watkiss with the job of tracking him down, their investigations unearth far more secrets than they bargained for. Will the Big Day go ahead in the light of such dramatic revelations? Can a wedding cake wish save the day? One thing’s for sure – this will definitely be a wedding to remember!

My review

Ruby Watkiss and Hudson Holmes are joining forces again when Fen needs help after her fiancé’s best man is missing.

But the missing best man is not Fen’s only problem… while she dreams of an intimate wedding, her mother Marjery is taking over and is changing the wedding into Fen’s worst nightmare. And then the love of her life Rob is going cold on her…

But why is Rory gone missing? The more Ruby and Hudson investigate, more is being revealed.

Can the wedding still be saved after everything? And when Myles’ ex – girlfriend Amelia appears on the scene, where will that leave the blooming romance between Ruby and Hudson?

I’m a rather new fan of the Little Duck Pond Café series. But even if I only jumped in late, I could not not love it!

Even if I don’t know how some love stories were born, all the couples are just so adorable. And that surely is also applicable for Fen and Rob!Every couple should have the wedding they dream of, and I found it cute to see how these two were so aligned.

But with an interfering mother, and Fen finding it hard to stand her ground, I could see how that would put a strain on the otherwise perfect couple. And when the best man also goes AWOL…

I have to admit, I just loooooove Ruby and Hudson! Despite what they have been through in the past, they now have found each other (unfortunately for us readers only as friends…) and they are not only great at investigating, but they also help each other in their more difficult moments. There are so many sparks flying around, it’s just too much for my poor heart!

When Amelia enters the picture, my heart broke for Ruby… Of course I understood Hudson, having that link with his lost brother, but seeing how Amelia is claiming more and more of Hudson…

There is so much I can tell about this story, pinpointing all the things that made me love it. But that would mean giving a few spoilers and I just won’t do that. This is a story you have to completely discover and fall in love with yourself.

Two things truly stood out for me, while reading this next chapter… wonderful people are always the one struggling in realising just how amazing they are. This is both applicable for Ruby as for Fen. These women are women to be jealous of. They have kind hearts, are unselfish and just magnificent by being ‘just them’. So why cannot they see what is so obvious for evryone around them?

And a more negative thing that stood out… some people are just disgustingly nasty people… Instead of just being nice, they enjoy hurting people just for fun or for inexplicable reasons. I cannot grasp why people would do what some characters did in this story. But do not fear… karma is a b*tch!

I’m stating the obvious when I say this was a wonderful read, with many mysteries, a lovely yet not always very smart in their investigations, couple with so much potential.

For a lot of readers it’s a lovely encounter with old friends, and for a few meeting new lovely characters.

How things ended in this second chapter surely left me longing for the next part, with the conclusion having not only my fingers crossed, but all parts that are ‘crossable’.

I loved this mix of romance and mystery, it left me a few times surprised as some twists I absolutely didn’t see coming. But the romance parts truly did warm my heart and I was again amazed by the wonderful writing of this author!

It ain’t over till it’s over…

Synopsis

Do you love someone enough to let them go?

It was love at first sight when talented art student Felicity “Flick” Johnston-Hart and Jim MacDuff’s worlds collided at Oxford University.

However, after years of blissful marriage, everything crashes down when their marriage comes to a painful and abrupt end, thanks to Flick’s interfering mother Penelope.

Finally succumbing to maternal pressure, Flick falls into the high-flying career her mother believed she was destined for. However, she soon realises life without Jim isn’t all she’d hoped, and that some decisions, once made, cannot be undone.

Meanwhile, Jim is settling back into life as a single man in the beautiful Highland village of Shieldaig, when an unexpected visitor brings painful news. A letter from beyond the grave leads him to do something he never imagined and takes him on a journey he didn’t anticipate.

Can either of them heal and truly move on?

Or is it true that a broken heart can never be a blank canvas?

This book was previously published as Through the Glass.

My review

It all started at Oxford University, when Felicity ‘Flick’ and Jim met. It was love at first sight and their love even resulted in a marriage.
However, Flick’s mother Penelope always wanted Felicity to aim for higher and more. And Jim wasn’t the kind of husband she wants for her daughter.
And after a lot of interfering, Flick believes her mother and decide to divorce Jim…
But her high – flying career and a life without Jim isn’t what she truly dreamed of.
Meanwhile has Jim settled in a wonderful Highland village, Shieldaig, with his dog Jasper. He couldn’t be more surprised when Flick is standing at his door, and his surprise changes into pain when she delivers him some terrible news…
And when Flick is forced to stay at his place because of the weather, is this a chance to finally mend both broken hearts? Or has happened too much for the both of them to move on?

It’s known by you all how much I love romantic stories. And stories of a second chances have a special place in my heart, because I just love how people once thought they had enough, realize that what they had, was what their hearts truly needed…

In this story, I found it difficult to like Flick… she had it all, and yet “thanks” to the interference of her mother, she decides that the man she loves suddenly isn’t good enough anymore.
I truly struggled how an adult woman can be pushed by ‘mother knows best’ and throw away her own dreams and the best thing she ever had…
I understand how someone wants to have a successful career, but seeing how Flick has completely changed, was not something I can comprehend.
And that especially when we see how Flick was while studying at the university.
That version of Flick was so easy to like!

And seeing how Flick and Jim met and how their love grew, well, that made me swoon all over the place!
I adored those Flick and Jim and seeing their love bloom… words cannot suffice!

Jim at university isn’t much different from present Jim. He is the kind of man that would prefer to do something that he loves, even if it wouldn’t be a great choice career – like.
I loved reading his laidback attitude, he won’t do something he doesn’t want just because someone else wants him to do.
But also his unselfishness behaviour… he loves Flick with all his heart, but he lets her go because that’s what she wants (at least she thinks she does…)

When after a few years Flick searches for Jim again, with some devastating news, and is forced to stay at his place, I was happy to see the old Flick again. And a little bit I was gloating, because I wanted that Flick saw just how amazing Jim just is!

Thanks to misunderstandings, Flick moves to Chicago and then the story turns into something darker, and absolutely not something I expected!
I won’t give anything away because I want each reader to discover the twist themselves and to be flabbergasted!
But this event is also an eye – opener and a way for Jim to fight for Flick.

This isn’t the kind of second chance – story that you have read before. It goes much deeper, is even more hurtful than other books.
But that is also the charm of the book. The author managed perfectly to capture the different stages in a marriage/love story, showing the beautiful but also the uglier bits.
Being in love sometimes isn’t enough, and interference of the wrong kind can pull you in a way you normally never would.

This was for me a ‘complete’ story, having the feelings of that first wonderful love, a painful divorce and broken people trying to cope with the rest of the world again.
Even the harder bits got me totally enthralled. It wasn’t only the sweet parts making me want to read more, but every event made me think to read just one more chapter, resulting in reading several ones…

Lisa Hobman is not an unknown author for me, but I have to say, that of all the books I have read from her, this may just be my favourite one!

So dear Lisa (getting all familiar here!), the stakes are high, and don’t you go disappointing me now with books I won’t like as much as this one!

Christmas magic and chocolate, the most perfect combo EVER!!!

Synopsis

Sometimes you just need a little Christmas magic to make your wishes come true…

When master chocolatier, Charlee, takes the leap to move to the picturesque seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, she is determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and set up a chocolate shop.

Luckily, she finds the perfect location for Charlee’s Chocolates on beautiful Castle Street… Now she just has to refurbish it in time for Christmas!

With a useless boyfriend and countless DIY disasters, Charlee doesn’t know if she’ll make it in time. With no ‘traditional’ family to support her, she feels lost in her new surroundings and the secrets of the past are weighing her down.

But the warmth and festive spirit of the Whitsborough Bay community will surprise her, and when plumber, Matt, comes to the rescue, it might be that all of Charlee’s dreams could come true this Christmas, and she could learn what family really means…

Escape to Castle Street for the perfect uplifting, festive read from top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland.

Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop was originally released as Charlee and the Chocolate Shop. Now re-released with a new title and new cover, this version has been freshly edited and features several new chapters.

My review

After losing her Nana, master chocolatier Charlee decides to move with her boyfriend Ricky to Whitborough Bay. Even if she moved away, she is determined to step into her grandfather’s footsteps and open a chocolate shop.
In Castle Street she finds the perfect location for Charlee’s Chocolates and now she is having a fight against time to have everything ready before Christmas.
Instead of working together with Ricky on the place, Charlee is working there alone, with many disasters. Luckily, she can count on the Whitborough Bay community with helping hands, and especially plumber Matt’s help is very welcome.
And Matt being kind and very attractive surely is an extra nice surprise. Unfortunately Matt is engaged and totally off limits…
But moving to Whitborough Bay means a new start for Charlee anyway, where she will learn what love and family truly means.

The preparations I made before I started reading this book:

·         MANY tissues: CHECK

·         Comfort food, aka lots of chocolate: CHECK

·         Soft pillow to hug when it’s getting too much: CHECK

Now, before Belgium goes again in a total panic attack like it did with the toilet paper during the pandemic, for once I didn’t need the tissues!
And before you think that tissues are mandatory to make me fall totally in love with a Jessica Redland book, it’s not!

I absolutely loved returning to Whitborough Bay and I just adored Charlee’s story!

Even if Charlee is heartbroken after her Nana died, she seems to have it all. even if at work she has to face her nemesis, working with chocolate is her passion and she has found the perfect boyfriend in Ricky.
And if moving is the solution for all yours and your boyfriends problems, wouldn’t you just do the same?

My heart broke to see how Ricky, instead of being a more active presence, became more and more invisible, and even became someone I truly didn’t like (and that’s even before the real nastiness was revealed!) while Charlee was trying to so hard to do her best to make things work.

Charlee is the kind of person I want to be or at least have in my life myself. Yes, her mother abandoned her as a baby with her grandparents, but she has been truly loved by them. But she is a great friend to have around and seeing her work her magic surely made me like her even more!
Even in Castle Street, with the amazing community, she quickly makes new friends and is making sure that she doesn’t step on anyone’s toes.

And Matt… amazing wonderful sweet kind generous funny Matt… he’s absolutely the kind of man I would fall in love myself! If Jessica has the mould for him somewhere stored, can I please borrow it???

This story was wonderful, just as I expected it to be. I have to say, I was a bit surprised when suddenly we jumped a year ahead, because I felt there was so much more I wanted to discover in that year we don’t know that much about.
But I found it sweet and nice to see how eventually, not that much has changed for Charlee. She is still happy with her Chocolate Shop, she is loved by the whole community and her feelings for Matt not only are still there, but now we have proof that’s is actually the real thing!

Even if in the ending things went a teeny bit too fast for my liking (I cannot say what exactly without giving any spoilers) but on the other hand, it shows us the genuinity of it and how right it all is.

There are several shocks in this story, a few bad ones, but most are very surprising and good ones. I had several negative opinions about characters in the book. And some remained the same, but I had to seriously adjust a greater part of them. It’s always easy to judge someone when you don’t know the whole story, but seeing the truth made me see how wrong I was. And those who I judges wrongly were easily accepted in my poor heart, that is just too small for all the amazing characters this author manages to make up!

I devoured this whole book, being in a constant dilemma… stop reading after the finished chapter, prolonging the joy I had over several days, or read just that one (or two, three, four, five,…) more chapters because I wanted to spend more time with these wonderful people?

I honestly don’t know how Jessica Redland manages to keep on writing such marvellous books. I always have this small fear that the book I’m going to start will be little less better than the previous one. But then my fears are unfounded, because it’s again a marvellous story, with marvellous yet normal people!

The past isn’t always ‘just’ in the past…

Synopsis

A child who does not know her name…

In 1903 fishermen find a wrecked boat containing a woman, who has been badly beaten, and a young girl. An ambulance is sent for, and the two survivors are taken to All Hallows, the imposing asylum, hidden deep on Dartmoor. The woman remains in a coma, but the little girl, Harriet, awakens and is taken to an attic room, far away from the noise of the asylum, and is put in the care of Nurse Emma Everdeen.

Two motherless boys banished to boarding school…

In 1993, All Hallows is now a boarding school. Following his mother’s death and his father’s hasty remarriage, Lewis Tyler is banished to Dartmoor, stripped of his fashionable clothes, shorn of his long hair, and left feeling more alone than ever. There he meets Isak, another lost soul, and whilst refurbishment of the dormitories is taking place, the boys are marooned up in the attic, in an old wing of the school. 

Cries and calls from the past that can no longer be ignored…

All Hallows is a building full of memories, whispers, cries from the past. As Lewis and Isak learn more about the fate of Harriet, and Nurse Emma’s desperate fight to keep the little girl safe, it soon becomes clear there are ghosts who are still restless. 

Are they ghosts the boys hear at night in the room above, are they the unquiet souls from the asylum still caught between the walls? And can Lewis and Isak bring peace to All Hallows before the past breaks them first…

My review

In 1903 two survivors of a wrecked boat are taken to asylum All Hallows in Dartmoor. The woman is in a coma and a young girl named Harriet is taken to an attic room where Nurse Emma Everdeen will take care of her.
Nothing is known about the victims, so all hope is on the woman to wake up and tell everyone what happened.
In 1993, All allows has been transformed into a boarding school, and Lewis Tyler is banished there after the death of his mother and his father’s remarriage. Feeling all alone and have the sense that nobody understands him, he befriends Isak, the boy he shares his room in the attic with.
And it’s in that room that the boys quickly discover that the ghosts from the past are still around. Lewis and Isak start to learn more about the past of All Hallows and the tale of Nurse Emma and Harriet.
Whose ghosts are still lingering around? And will the boys be able, after so much time has passed, to bring peace to them? 

I am not one of those readers that enjoy a ghost story. If I read such stories, it’s 99.99% sure that the story will keep me up all night, afraid of every little sound I hear, even if I know there is a logical explanation for whatever I heard…
So why would I read this story? Easy, because it’s not just a ghost story, and the blurb intrigued me! 

This book has two stories, both gripping, heart – breaking and I cannot say which one was my favourite! 

Lewis’ tale was a terrible one. Him begin a goth, not understood by his father, a mother who just got him passed away, and a new stepmother being the perfect example of why people don’t like stepparents…
My heart just broke for him and that was even before he was sent to All Hallows…
And that boarding school, what a terrible place!
However, I found it somehow sweet to see how he befriends Isak, a boy also with not a great reputation. But two hurt boys finding each other in the most difficult time of their life, well that was heart – warming to read!

The sounds they hear while in the attic, were terrifying not only the boys, but also me. And me being a scaredy – cat at the age of 35, made me surely understand how scared those boys were!
Yet Lewis is determined to find out what happened in the past and I loved seeing that determination seeing somehow him being alive again. And that’s how he learns about Nurse Emma and little Harriet….

Nurse Emma initially is a cold person, and I couldn’t comprehend how a nurse could be so distant. Because doesn’t everyone imagine a nurse being warm and kind and caring? So what happened to Emma to be like this?
And why can’t she be kind and tender towards poor little Harriet?
But when her past is revealed, a lot makes sense, and we can even see how Emma melts while taking care of Harriet. Even at the point she would protect the child with every strength she has!

The more I got into the story, the more a terrible foreboding I was having… I couldn’t see how it was possible that Nurse Emma did what Lewis discovered, because just how could she? I was hoping with every little bit in my body that there would be some kind of redemption, but how could it, with the past being exactly that, the past? 

The author wrote a ghostly story, without making it too ghostly. I liked how the bits that would terrify me in any other book, made me just want to read more.
Some things are inexplicable but in a gothic novel that’s to be expected. I had many chills, but I also had moments that shows that nothing is impossible and even if the past is haunting you, you can make the impossible become possible. 

I found it difficult to put this book away, because I had to urge to know what would happen not only wit Lewis, but Nurse Emma who I started to like, little Harriet that was quickly in stealing my heart, and Isak, a wounded boy feeling not loved by his father.  

If all ghost stories would be like this, I surely would be reading more from this genre!

Real friendships can stand the test of time…

Synopsis

Ella and Roly have bright futures ahead of them when they meet as teenagers and strike up an unlikely friendship. She has her career in academia all mapped out, and his star is in the ascendant as member of a manufactured boy band.

But ten years later, neither is where they expected to be. A chronic illness forced Ella to abandon her studies and put her dreams on hold, while Roly got kicked out of the band and lost everything – all his money, his career in music, even the underwear-model girlfriend. 

When they cross paths again they’re both ready to start over, and they rekindle their friendship as they each try to get back what they lost.

But Ella didn’t tell Roly what really happened the last time they met. And if he finds out, will it be the end of their new beginning?

My review

When Ella and Roly become friends as teenagers, their paths couldn’t be more different. Ella is ready to start her years in academy, while Roly is member of a boy band ready to conquer the world.
Even if the contact isn’t always that close, ten years later they are still friends. However, their lives took a whole different direction… Ella has struggled with a chronic illness, putting her whole life and all her dreams on hold, while Roly got kicked out of the band and lost everything when his addiction became public knowledge…
Together they decide to start over again, and they try to win back what they once lost. And their friendship becomes a solid one. But Ella carries a secret, a secret that would devastate Roly and put their whole friendship at risk… 

I have read one previous book from this author, and as I truly enjoyed it (and had a few shocks there!), I was very curious to read this new book.

Even if Ella and Roly took a whole different direction in their lives, I absolutely loved reading how in several moments they find each other again and how easy their friendship is, even when some time has passed since their previous meeting.

Seeing how Ella is trying to live again after facing her illness, made me feel very proud of her. I do not know a lot of this chronic disease, so I cannot understand how difficult it is for Ella, but her courage and determination to get out there again, I cannot say more than just ‘bravo’!
I had a blast during her job interview, and even if the job was not something younger Ella would imagine doing, I could see how perfect it would be for present Ella.
Slowly Ella is not only getting back out there, but she also starts to enjoy the things she (sometimes under a gentle obligation) is doing.

Roly’s backstory is a bitter one… Being a member of a boy band is a dream for so many us ‘normal’ people, and seeing Roly accomplish that, well, I would be jealous of having such an amazing career. However, it’s easy to see only the glitter and glamour. But there is also a dark path, and unfortunately that’s the path Roly chose…   
And seeing how his life has been and still is falling apart, broke my heart, especially when those who should look after him, obviously didn’t. 

Luckily for them, and for us readers, Ella and Roly decide to ‘reboot’ their lives together. I found it utterly sweet to see how these friends manage to help each other and slowly are getting closer to each other.
This is for me proof, that no matter how much you screwed up in the past, you can still take the right path and make something meaningful of your life. 

I loved how sometimes we have flashbacks, and we can see how Ella and Roly are meeting up again during several years. And it doesn’t show us only the best parts, but also the worst parts… And even if this is a fictional story, that made it more realistic. Because life isn’t always great and wonderful…  

When Ella’s secret is out, I didn’t find it a massive shock. But that’s because I thought the secret would be on a complete different level so I was a bit erassuered when it was something totally different. But I also understood Roly was. Because the secret made a lot of things clear, but it also jeopardizes the relationship between our beloved main characters.  

But this isn’t absolutely a depressing story! I had so many laughs while reading, and I absolutely loved Ella’s workplace and her bosses and colleagues. Roly’s mother and grandmother are absolute darlings who you wish could have in your life too.

I found this a wonderful read, about the setbacks of life, but also about the possibilities and second chances that life gives. And I found it a real important message that just because your life takes a different direction, it doesn’t mean it’s a ‘lesser’ life. Growing up, maturing and taking another path, makes you realize what truly matters to you, and sometimes it’s not the thing you always dreamed about.

With love, nothing is impossible

Synopsis

Love will always find a way… Discover the intriguing secrets of Hawthorn Place in this heartfelt dual-time novel, filled with warmth and charm, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Cecelia Ahern.

Two houses, hundreds of miles apart…yet connected always.

When life throws Molly Butterfield a curveball, she decides to spend some time with her recently widowed granddad, Wally, at Hawthorn Place, his quirky Victorian house on the Dorset coast.

But cosseted Molly struggles to look after herself, never mind her grieving granddad, until the accidental discovery of an identical Art and Crafts house on the Norfolk coast offers her an unexpected purpose, as well as revealing a bewildering mystery.

Discovering that both Hawthorn Place and Acacia House were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, Molly uncovers the secret of a love which linked them, so powerful it defied reason.

What follows is a summer which will change Molly for ever…

My review

Molly Butterfield had hoped that, after her boyfriend broke up with her, she would be staying with her mother and stepfather.
Unfortunately for Molly, that is not an option and even an increase of her allowance has not been given to her by her stepfather Brian.
With a job she truly doesn’t like, a restrained relationship with her stepfather, her mother pushing her to become more independent, Molly decides to spend the summer with her beloved grandfather Willy at Hawthorn Place on the Dorset Coast.
As Molly is not used of taking care of her own business, she and Wally are both struggling to look after each other.
Slowly Molly is getting her life back on track, and finds a job in an house that is identical to Hawthorn Place. And its owner Rory, being a recluse himself, surely is also an enigma for Molly. And the houses seems to have their own mystery, especially as Rory’s house is on the Norfolk coast…
Molly starts to uncover the past of both houses, that were both designed by Arts and Crafts architect Percy Gladwell. And his tale of love is even a more mysterious one…

Having two stories, for the price of one, can it get any better?

I have to be honest, Molly wasn’t someone I immediately liked… Of course, if I would be homeless suddenly, the first place I would go, is my parents, to crash on my old twin bed.
But seeing how Molly behaved, and just wanted to be hand over everything she wanted, and her determination to treat Brian so badly… well, I just cannot comprehend such behaviour.
So even if it caused a problem for her, I was happy to see how her mother and Brian decided to let Molly learn how to take care things of herself.
Even if I’m not a parent myself, I was nodding my approval along.
And the way she got the job at Rory’s, well she wasn’t really scoring extra good points…

I must say, Molly did (or to be more precise, she didn’t do…) a lot of things I didn’t like, but her love for her grandparents was very sweet and tender. And them being Brian’s parents and not really her grandparents, shows that Molly can accept “new members” in her tiny family, if she just wants to.

But slowly Molly is learning to be more independent, and not only that. When she finally earned some money by herself, she learns how to prioritize when it’s okay to spend it and when not.
And I found it nice to see that she suddenly becomes truly interested in the past of Hawthorn Place, and how it’s linked with Rory’s place, Acacia House, with the help of a cupboard…

She is determined to know everything she can find about the architect Percy Gladwell, and that gives us the opportunity to read a heart – breaking story.

Oh, Percy’s tale seemed from the start one that wouldn’t have a happy end… Not only is he slightly being pushed to court a woman who he totally has no feelings for, but he starts to bond with a married woman, Violet, designing the house of her dreams.
Is there something worse falling for a person you know you can never have? And even if you know that those feelings can never become more, I found it so lovely to see how these two characters were just so perfect for each other…

Both stories were so easy to read and to like, and seeing the changes in Molly was surely a very positive thing.
We see how this somewhat spoiled young woman is maturing, and how her presence is making a difference, not only for her grandfather, but also for Rory, who is still facing his own demons.
Watching Molly taking care of Rory, even if she sometimes uses her old tricks, truly changed my opinion of her.

There is a lot to take in this story, and some things are inexplicable, but all I can say is, just go with the flow.
It’s a book about (finally) growing up, seeing what’s right in front of you, and see what a better version of yourself you can be, by just being the real you.
It’s also about the struggle of loving someone you cannot (and I’m not only talking about Percy and Violet here…).

But for me personally, it’s the power that love can have, even if that will show in something rather impossible.
Whatever links the two houses, made a change in the past and makes a change in the present.

This was a gorgeous story where love is the real main character. Love is not only between a man and a woman, but as this story shows, between grandparents and grandchildren, stepfather and stepdaughter, a mother and a daughter, new loves, old loves, the list is just infinite. And even the love a reader can have for the characters of a book!

The perks of the Scottish Highlands, or not…

Synopsis

A fiery heroine, a Scottish god, a cabin, a castle, and enough heat to warm the coldest Scottish winter…

Highland Games is an unputdownable, enemies-to-lovers, romantic comedy, with sparkle and sizzle and a guaranteed happy ending. This sexy, witty, debut from Evie Alexander will have you laughing, swooning, and staying up way past your bedtime…

Perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Talia Hibbert, Sophie Kinsella, and Helen Hoang. If you’re looking for a riotous romantic comedy with plenty of heat, then Highland Games is for you!

♥♥♥ Welcome to Kinloch, and the hottest winter Scotland’s ever seen. ♥♥♥

Zoe’s always played it safe, just as her parents wanted. But when her great-uncle dies and leaves her a ramshackle cabin in the Scottish Highlands, she decides it’s time to change her life.

Upping sticks seems like a good idea in her cosy flat in London, but the reality is very different. There’s no electricity or running water, the roof leaks and there’s no front door. If that wasn’t bad enough, she’s moved up in the depths of winter and her scorching hot neighbour wants her out.

Rory’s got a fifty thousand tonne problem. If he can’t make Kinloch castle profitable, he’s out of a job. He needs a clear head, but there’s someone living in the cabin he saw as his own and she’s turned his world upside down.

Rory needs Zoe out of Scotland, and out of his life. The trouble is, she has no intention of leaving.

Let the games begin…

My review

Having played it safe, Zoe shocks everyone when she decides to move to the cabin her great – uncle left her as inheritance.
But her memories of the time she spent in the Scottish Highlands couldn’t be more different than the reality. The cabin has no electricity or running water, the roof leaks and moving during the winter surely wasn’t a great idea without any heating!
On top of it all, her neighbour Rory, who is just too hot for words, wants her out of the cabin! Rory has his own reasons why he wants Zoe out of the way, because he is looking for ways to make Kinloch Castle profitable again…
Two determined people, one determined to stay and the other determined to make the other one leave… who will win the game? And what about that attraction they are both feeling?

If you are looking for the perfect story about enemies – to – lovers, stubborn people, a Scottish that could ignite every fire anywhere and a castle too, let me tell you, you won’t have to search any longer! And with the addition of many laughs, misunderstandings, a rat names Basil, can you really need anything more???

How good can a debut be? Reading a first book is always a tricky job… will you like the story? And if you don’t, will you give then author a second chance with her next book?
And if you loved the first book, was it a lucky shot and from now on it will go all downhill?

Well, I surely loved the first book, and I have all the faith that this was not a one book wonder! 

The premise is already a great one… Zoe inherits suddenly a cabin in the Scottish Highlands, and somehow she thinks that it’s a good idea to leave London behind and move totally unprepared to the cabin!

Of course that’s an absurd idea and I was ready to prepared to laugh at and with her!
And when she arrives at the cabin, and sees it’s more than a ruin than a comfy cabin, what did she expect? A castle???

For first meetings, meeting Rory is surely the most hilarious and entertaining one! Why on earth would she expect to have bears in in the Highlands???

Zoe may seem sometimes a bit too gullible, clueless, but also shows plenty of determination to make everything work. And aren’t we all sometimes in too deep?

And Rory’s first impressions were those of a bit of a mean man, only working for his own benefits. But he also has this sweetness over him, on the moments that truly matters…

This whole story is filled with misunderstandings, mischief, pranks and the funniest gaffes (the stuck in a tree!). But it’s also filled with moments that are too hot! The way I pictured Rory in my mind, well, I can surely understand why Zoe is having a hard time!

It’s obvious that Rory is not who he pretends to be, and I understood why he was keeping his true identity hidden. For the readers of course it wasn’t a total surprise, but for the characters in the book it’s logical they were left flabbergasted.

The relationship between Rory and Zoe shifts from constant fighting over each other to the point that ignoring their attraction is impossible! When they finally give in, I warn you: put the heating down in your place, because reading those encounters will warm you more than enough!

I found this a hilarious, marvellous book to read. It ticked all the boxes I was expecting from such a genre.
The characters were easy to like and even when they acted a bit obnoxious or irritable, the way things evolved only increased me liking them!

This story was an impossible mission to put away, as I just had the urge to know what more was in store for Zoe and Rory, and what would happen with all that suppressed sexual tension!
And for me personally, the countdown has begun to read the next part of the series!!!

When you think everything is lost, is it truly all lost?

Synopsis

A enchanting story of love, loss and healing set in Regency England! For fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Balogh, Jane Aiken Hodge and Jane Austen.

Can two estranged friends find their way back to each other…?

Regency England

When her father —Major Angus Fairham — returns home from the Napoleonic wars, Prudence is excited to welcome him home to Fairham Manor.

However, tragedy strikes when Angus loses his estate to his close friend and comrade — young Captain Jack Staveley — in a drunken game of cards. Unable to face his loss, Angus takes his own life.

Distraught, Jack tries to restore Fairham Manor to Prudence, but she is too proud to accept his offer.

Overcome with grief and anger, she retreats to her aunt’s house in Bath and distances herself from her once close friendship with Jack.

But as the initial shock of her sorrow begins to dull, Prudence is soon missing the support of her most trusted confidant.

And when they once more find themselves in each other’s orbit, she must decide whether she can put aside her pride and open her heart…

WHEN ONLY PRIDE REMAINS is a historical romantic tale set in Regency England, with a feisty heroine and a moving love story at its heart.

My review

Prudence is over the moon now that her father Major Angus Fairham has returned from the Napoleonic wars.
She is looking forward to all the travelling they plan to do together. However, when Angus is being overconfident and reckless during a drunken game of cards, the consequences are not only those of losing the estate.
While Captain Jack Staveley is determined to find a way to restore the property back to Angus, Angus is struggling with his defeat and takes his own life.
And after losing her father, Pru is too proud to accept the offer of having the property back from Jack.
This event caused a distance between the once good friends, and having Pru moving to her aunt in Bath, doesn’t make things easier.
But slowly, Pru and Jack find their ways back to each other, and Jack’s honourable idea makes Pru wonder is she can put her pride aside, and maybe see Jack through a whole different light.

This story was slowly growing to me. It had a bit of a difficult start, but then the more I read, the more I liked it.

When Pru does not only lose her father, but also her home, I understood why she didn’t want to accept Jack’s offer. There is one thing left she can do for herself, and that is to choose who she wants to marry. And having a marriage proposal ‘out of guilt’, well, that will just won’t do for her.
I admired the courage Pru shows, by just living the life SHE wants to live. When she finds her Aunt, it’s obvious she has found a woman who shares her same ideas, and they quickly become real close friends.
I liked how she wants to be independent, allowing to do what she wants. She wants to find someone to get married to, but only out of love, nothing less!

Pru and Jack have always been friends, and initially they even see each other as brother and sister, so much time have they spend together.
And I could feel the guilt Jack was carrying, because if I were in his shoes, I would also feel very guilty,  even if he didn’t do anything wrong. And his solution for making amends is obviously not a good one, but you can see that he has a kind heart.

What Jack does next, is something truly admirable. When he transforms Fairham Manor in a place for soldiers scarred literally and figuratively by the war,  I cannot say more than just ‘wow’.
It’s not an easy accomplishment, but with the help of his friends, and when Pru also offers her help, I found it beautiful to see what can be done for the wounded with the right attention and help!

While helping those in need, Pru and Jack are getting closer again. And I found it a bit funny how their misunderstandings didn’t allow them to see what’s so obvious for the readers concerning their feelings!
And I found it truly heart – warming to see how when a terrible event, when everything seemed lost, was the perfect way for opening our beloved main characters’ eyes!

This story is full of courageous people: Pru wanting to make her own choices, Jack who wants to use his past to help others’ in a worse condition, the soldiers who are in terrible condition but not giving up and find the will to make something of their lives again.

For me, it was not only about the feelings between Pru and Jack, but also about what good someone can do when determined to help out. And even if not all people can be helped, many can, thanks to selfless people, being an example even in the present.

The romance part was sweet yet sometimes frustrating to read (because just why couldn’t Pru and Jack see what we all see!!!). But seeing how feelings can shift and become something so deep and just beautiful, was just perfect in this story!

A slow start, but sometimes it’s the slowly burning fires that last the longest!

Be careful what you wish for…

Synopsis

Snuggle up under your favourite blanket and escape to the beautiful village of Pebblestow this winter, for one of the most heartwarming stories of the season…

When Cara Mia Shaw makes a desperate wish one night, while riding on a carousel at a Christmas market, little does she know her small, but safe world is about to spin off its axis.

Befriending a fascinating returnee to the village, an elderly woman called Perdita with a jaunty pink beret and the wisdom of a life well lived, might set Cara on a different, albeit harder, course, if she’s brave enough to listen. Art was always her passion, after all, even if fate seemed to have other ideas.

And then there’s the new man in her life, who her friends think is perfect for her because they set her up with decent, reliable Greg in the first place. Cara’s been hurt enough times to know the difference between a good man and a feckless one. Until Wilfred comes along – moody, sarcastic, and scattered – just to complicate matters and meddle with Cara’s resolve, to the horror of almost everyone around her. But is either man ultimately meant for her, anyway? And will she self-sabotage as usual, or gamble everything this time, including her heart?

It might take the highs and lows of friendship, the risk of a forbidden romance, and a Pomeranian called Loki – not to mention some much-needed Christmas magic – before Cara finally realises the wish she made that night on the carousel might just be about to come true.

My review

Cara Shaw is not what you would call a woman who has ‘made it’ in life. What once started as a job as a nanny for the Pembrokes, now evolved to living at their place in an annexe and doing the odd tasks for her boss JoJo.
It’s not because her life is a failure, but her past marked her and now she is known by her friends for self – sabotaging every  positive turn.
when one night she takes a ride on a carousel and makes a wish, she doesn’t know how that new people will appear, from an elderly woman wearing a pink beret named Perdita (the woman, not the beret) to Greg, a man who her friends think is perfect for Cara, but who doesn’t ignite any fireworks. And then there is moody, enigmatic Wilf, brother of JoJo, who is not only totally off limits, but is carrying his own cross…
With Perdita’s good advice, what course will Cara take with her life? And will that wish on the carousel come true, If Cara dares to take that frightening last step?

When I started to read this story, I couldn’t understand Cara… she is a young woman, and her life should be peaking right now. Instead she is living with the Pembrokes, and isn’t even working as a nanny for them.
And then I’m not talking about her love life…
But the more we got to know her, the more became clearer for me. And where I initially didn’t understand her, I felt sorry for how her life turned out to be.

And when she meets Greg, pushed by her friends, I understood why she would settle for someone like him, when there are absolutely no sparks flying around. I’m not saying that Greg is a bad man, but just not the right man for Cara.

So when Perdita enters the picture, I loved her immediately, even if she has a bit of a mystery around her character.
Cara and Perdita quickly befriend each other, and I was truly happy when Perdita was able to let Cara “see the light”.
Perdita is also able for Cara opening up more and see her own potential. She is that unexpected friend, but that kind of friend that everyone needs in their life.

And Wilf… it’s obvious he is burdened, and tries to keep everyone at distance. And even Cara, even if the attraction is too obvious, and in his case sparks DO fly around!
Often Cara and Wilf clash, but you can only fight the attraction until a certain point. And when that point has been reached… No words are needed!

When Wilf’s dark secret is out (and JoJo’s too), I thought “That’s it?”. Not that I diminish it it’s a difficult thing to cope and live with, but maybe in my optimistic view of people, I thought that people would be more accepting and not so judgemental like some in Wilf’s past did…

I found this not just a romance, but it goes so much deeper. It’s about seeing yourself, and believing in yourself too.
Slowly Cara is finding her place again, and learns what she truly wants from her life and who she wants in it (thanks to Perdita with the letter – trick!).

The story is also about difficulties people have to endure and how hard it can be to start all over, full of hope.
But no matter what struggles you have in life, the right people by your side are not afraid to stand by your side and make the sometimes difficult journey together. Because the good things waiting for you are so much more rewarding.

The story took a little bit before I found myself completely submerged into it. But like the story itself, it was rewarding to persevere those initial harder chapters.
The author grasped perfectly how life can turn around, for the worse, but definitely also for the better.
With trusting people by your side, and even with some magical help, life can be beautiful, if you just dare…

When playing pretend goes too far…

Synopsis

There are two types of relationships: fake and real.

Chuck and Kate’s used to be real, oh-so-real. But after she broke his heart four months ago, leaving him, it became all just pretense for the sake of their entwined families.

With parents who are best friends and business partners, it’s not easy for Chuck and Kate to announce they’ve split up. But with the holidays looming over them, they can no longer keep pretending.

They head home for Christmas, determined to tell the truth—and end up accidentally engaged instead. The more they try to pull apart, the more the Universe seems to push them back together, shortening the road to the altar. And when just-for-show kisses stir up forgotten feelings, things get even more complicated.

Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Chuck and Kate’s relationship turn out to be fake or real?

My review

Chuck and Kate were destined to be together. Their parents are best friends and have a business together, their lives have always been entwined and growing up, they became best friends, and eventually they also became a couple. And not just A couple, but they were the next IT couple. Their future looked very bright, at least it was until four months ago…
Because four months ago, Kate decided to leave Chuck, breaking his heart and started to date Marco.
However, the news of their break – up has not told to their parents and they kept pretending to be still together, also for the sake of the business.
Now they are heading home for Christmas, determined to tell their families the truth. But telling the truth is not so easy, and things quickly escalate, even that far that suddenly Chuck and Kate are accidentally engaged and preparations for a quick wedding are being made!
Will this hastened wedding, with kisses for social media, bring back the feelings they used to have? And how far are Chuck and Kate ready to go with their pretend?

I always enjoy reading the imagination of this author, but I can honestly say that this one was the one where I laughed the most (at a point of nearly wetting my pants…#NoShame)!

I have to admit, initially I pitied Chuck, for having not only his heart broken, but also he sees how easily Kate moves on with her life. He honestly didn’t see it coming, that Kate would want to end things.
And I kind of disliked Kate… because I couldn’t comprehend how she could just move on with Marco…

But the more I read the story, the more became clear. Chuck was the predictable oblivious boyfriend, focused on gaming. He even totally missed the drop-the-towel challenge!
Even with all his flaws, there are so many examples that proof that in fact he is just a sweet, caring loving guy and that he just doesn’t see what Kate assumes are obvious signs…

And before you think that Kate is a not so nice character… the more I read, the more I started to understand her point of view. The things that stressed her about Chuck may seem not so important. But when you have a bunch of small things, it can all escalate very quickly.

Like I said before, this book is just too funny! That Chuck and Kate wanted to keep up the pretence a little bit more, but having the wish to come clean about their break – up and seeing how things went for the worse, was just hilarious!
It begins with keeping appearances because suddenly thy are the face of a new chocolate line, and then they have to post on social media what a “happy couple” they are. Then after a HUUUUGE misunderstanding they are engaged (talking about a walk – in at the total wrong moment!) and when an eavesdropping makes the family assume Kate is pregnant, a wedding is being organized.

I was curious to see how far Chuck and Kate would let things go. I would expect that every new thing would be the final straw. But it never was!
And for me, that made it clear just how much our main characters love their families… Having to break not only their hearts, but also a life lasting friendship and even maybe ruining a business…  Is that all worth it? On the other hand, is it okay to let the pretence go THAT far?

I loved reading how Chuck and Kate are bickering about almost everything. But “thanks” to the so many misunderstandings, they have the opportunity to start really talk about their relationship and see where it all went wrong.

This story is hilarious, but it also shows the pain points in a relationship, when communication is not at its best.
If one of those big movie makers are looking for a funny, sweet, but sometimes also frustrating rom com, use this story as it has the whole package!
There is heart – break, there are misunderstandings, there are too much interfering families, a rival, but most important, so many sweet, heart – warming moments, feelings of love and a good laugh!

I know what to expect from this author, and reading a new book makes me smile beforehand, but I didn’t expect for her to write this rom – comic masterpiece!

Oh, and one last thing:

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