Tizi’s Book Review

A little bit of love, a little bit of drama, a little bit of secrets.

Synopsis

It’s 1988. The era of young love, with Scott and Charlene melting hearts in Neighbours, and a new princess for the Royal Family. With Bros, Madonna and Wet Wet Wet in the charts, and children hoping for Ghostbusters’ toys in their stockings.

But it’s not all fun for Belinda. If her life was a board game, she’s losing at snakes and ladders. Once she’d been working her way up one of those ladders but, thanks to her snake-like polytechnic lecturer, she’s toppled from the rungs. Now she works in an old people’s home, where her chief duties involve cleaning toilets and emptying commodes.

At least her lovely colleague, Joe, offers excitement in her otherwise dreary life. But Belinda can’t believe he’d be interested in someone like her. Not when her pretty friend, Tracey, only has to glance at a man to have him fall for her.

But just when it seems things are looking up for Belinda, the residents’ precious possessions start to go missing. Then she witnesses a disturbing incident and doesn’t know what to do. Luckily, Belinda has Joe to guide her – until she discovers that he’s hiding a secret, one that forces her to make an agonising decision.

Will she continue to hide in the shadows, never speaking out – or will she put her future on the line to stand up for what is right? After all, she’s caring for a generation that’s lived through two wars. Now it’s time to fight for them.

My review

In the Eighties, Belinda is ready to start a new job. After her own share of unfortunate events, she works in a care home/ residential home, mainly cleaning toilets and emptying commodes.
It’s not the job of dreams, but without a degree, she is not in the position to be picky on jobs.
Luckily she befriends colleague Joe, a very lovely and good-looking man. The closer they become, the more insecure Belinda becomes, because why would someone like him be interested in someone like her, while he could get someone gorgeous as her best friend Tracey.

But slowly things are looking better for Belinda, because the residents’ are really fond of her. However when possessions start to disappear and not all colleagues are treating the residents with the respect they earn, Belinda is not sure what to do. Should she dare to speak out, with risking her own job? Or should she just keep quiet?
With the guidance of Joe, Belinda is trying to do the right thing. But when it appears that Joe also has a secret of his own, Belinda has to make an even more important decision that will also affect the residents…

First of all, I was only two when this story is taking place 😃 So a few references were not that clear to me. But overall I truly enjoyed reading this blast from the past!

Despite her past, I admired Belinda and her courage of not just giving up. Working in the home is not something she saw herself doing, but she is committed to the job and she starts to really care about the residents. She sees how some people are feeling lonely and she does her best, even when her workhours are over, to make these people a little bit happier.
And I think that even in the present, we need more people like Bee, caring and looking after those who have fought literally so that we are where we are now. The older people are often seen as a burden, while they can still be a source of knowledge.

In the beginning, Bee is a very insecure woman, lacking self – confidence. But slowly she evolves in a young woman, standing up for the rights of the residents, and starts to see also her self-worth. And thanks to Joe, she starts to see how other people see her, a lovely, caring young woman with her heart at the right place.
Even when she discovers the truth about the missing possessions, she keeps in mind what the right thing to do is, even if it hurts someone nearby her.

I loved reading how this girl went from cleaning toilets to fighting for the care of the residents. And to read how she and Joe are getting closer, was just too sweet!
Being a story taking place in the Eighties, there were a lot of funny references that I could perfectly imagine. And also there were bits that were hilarious to read about!

I found this a very entertaining story with lovely moments, but also with secrets to be uncovered.
Sometimes I was left shocked with how the residents were treated, realizing that unfortunately this is still a fact in present times. But with people like Bee and Joe, the injustice can be undone with the caring people that truly have our beloved ones best interest at heart!

The story of a teenager

Synopsis

Emme starts dating a popular high school student who happens to be from a famous political family. It seems like everyone at school either wants to be Brendon Agretti or date him. Emme feels out of her comfort zone in Brendon’s worldand it doesn’t help that his picture-perfect ex seems determined to get back into his life, along with every other girl who wants to be the future Mrs. Agretti. Emme is already conflicted due to the fact her last boyfriend dumped her and her whole world is off kilter with her grandparents’ health issues. Life suddenly seems easier pushing Brendon away and relying on her crystals and horoscopes to guide her. Emme soon starts to realize she needs to focus less on the stars and more on her senses. Can Emme get over her insecurities and make her relationship work? Life sure is complicated when you’re dating the it guy.

My review

When Emme starts dating the popular guy from high school, she is not ready for all the extra luggage that comes with it.
Not only does she have to face her own insecurities, but she also has to face the flirting of Brendon’s ex – girlfriend. As at home she is also having difficulties because of her grandparents’ health issues, she starts to rely more and more on the guidance of crystals and horoscopes.
Because it seems to be all too much for her, it seems to her it will be easier to just push Brendon away. But is it the right choice to make? And should she learn to trust her intuition over the crystals and horoscopes?

When being in high school, who didn’t dream of being in a relationship with the most popular guy? Of course, if you’re not one of the popular girls too, chance of that dream coming true, are rather small.
So I was very happy with the opportunity of reading this story.

It’s clear that Emme is a young girl with a lot on her plate. Her previous relationship did not end very well, making her own insecurities grow bigger. Also at home she has to face big issues, because her beloved grandparents’ health situations are deteriorating.
When she starts dating Brendon, I was hoping that everything would go smoothly for her, but of course that would be a very short story if that would be the case.
And the issues she is having, are so recognizable for everyone. We all had insecurities about ourselves. As a teenager we all doubted if we were good enough. And an ex – girlfriend lurking behind every corner surely isn’t making things easy for Emme.

I have to admit, I found it a bit difficult to understand why Emme went all the way with relying on crystals and other beliefs in astrology. But maybe it’s because I have a total lack of interest in such matters.
But I understood that Emme had to find her comfort somewhere, so why not in astrology?

In general I found it a bittersweet story, about a young girl finding love, but having many struggles and sometimes making the wrong decisions. But it was also a story about growing up, because we see Emme slowly relying more on her intuition and even discard the advices given by a supposed good friend.

I think this would be a good story for teenagers to read, to see that there is always light on the end of the tunnel. And for adults it’s a good reminder of what we went through ourselves.

Can a heart be healed after being broken?

Synopsis

When you’ve loved and lost, how do you find the strength to let love in again?

Jemma thinks she’s found the love of her life. Scott is everything she ever dreamed of and she can’t wait to begin the next stage of their life together. But just as she is heading for her happy ever after, a shock revelation shatters Jemma’s life as she knows it. Left to pick up the pieces, Jemma’s friends and family rally round to help her find the courage to move on.

Sam think he has his future all worked out. A thriving career, lovely home and an amazing fiancée. But when tragedy strikes, he finds himself alone, far from everyone he cares about. Did he do the right thing by running away and trying to rebuild the tatters of his life alone?

This is the story of Jemma and Sam. Two lost souls, desperately trying to find closure and happiness. When a chance meeting brings them together a friendship is formed, but the guards are up. 

Will it finally be their turn for a happy ever after? Or will the secrets from their pasts prevent them from moving on?

Escape to Whitsborough Bay for an emotional, uplifting story of love and friendship from top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland. 

This book was previously published as Bear With Me.

My review

When Jemma meets Scott, she thinks she has found her perfect man. and now that she is ready to take the next step, she is over the moon when Scott seems to be on the same page.
But when a revelation just turns her world upside down, it’s hard to pick up the pieces again. Luckily, she can count on her family and friends to help her through one of the darkest moments of her life. But Jemma is not only facing a broken, heart, because her mother is worrying her every day a little bit more…

Sam is still coping with the tragedy that struck his fiancée. His whole future went up in air and now he finds himself alone after running away to a place where nobody knows him.
Because despite the good intentions of his friends and family, how can he start thinking of rebuilding a life when he had it all, and lost it?

When Jemma and Sam meet, they realize that they have found someone that understand the turmoil they are in.

I honestly think I have to stop reading books from this author!  No matter what I read of her, each time it breaks my heart, and I have tears in my eyes…

Both Jemma and Sam have been going through devastating events. And even if in one aspect they are very different, yet they are very similar.
Jemma’s love for Scott has been betrayed in the worst way. And somehow I understood her feelings and actions. Yes, her heart got broken, but it’s not easy to just erase the feelings of love you have for a man who you imagined spending the rest of your life with.
So when a second chance appeared, I understood her dilemma. Yet I couldn’t forget the way Jemma found out the truth…

Sam story was a more tragic, final story. Losing his fiancée Nikki like that, out of the blue, with later on an even bigger tragedy, ugh, no words can explain what it did to me!
Also here, I understood why Sam had the need to get away from everything and everyone.

This story is about grief, coping with your loss and finding strength to trust and love people again. Every feeling the characters go through, was so gripping, honest and real. I found myself often wishing to have the ability to get into the book and just give our protagonists a hug for comfort. Or when they took a step in the right direction, a high five.
There are several painful moments, but also so many emotional, beautiful moments, that made me forget the hardest bits and I found myself smiling with tears rolling down my face… And the bears added an extra layer of adorability!

It’s not only a book about what you have lost, but also finding the courage and strength to cope with whatever will happen next.
I found it an inspirational book about how to dare to look at the future again.

The author managed again to write a story about normal people, going through heart-breaking events, but instead of just giving up, they are able to see a little ray of light.
I just loved it, what more can I say???

How to choose between love and family?

Synopsis

An impossible choice:

His family or love

As steward to the Earl of Borwyn, Erik Ward had only admired sheltered noblewoman Linota Leofricfrom afar – until he has to escort her on a dangerous journey. When she’s kidnapped, he rescues the courageous beauty, revelling in finally having her in his arms. But Erik has a secret plan to reunite his family – now he’s forced to choose between that and his growing feelings for Linota…

My review

Linota Leofric has always been sheltered from everything by her mother. That all changed thanks to her brother. She starts to enjoy the funs of the world and learns all the things she has been missing out.
Little does she know that she has a secret admirer, Erik Ward. However, being born into different worlds, Erik knows he can only admire Linota from afar.
When Linota is being kidnapped for monetary reasons, Erik is ready to do whatever he can to save her. But an impossible choice is thrown at him: save Linota or betray her brother in the worst way but finally be able to find his missing sister.

This was a story I was absolutely looking forward to read, as we got a small glimpse of Erik and Linota in the previous book of this series.
I sensed immediately that there was so much more to their story! And did this story fulfil my expectations? You’ll find out reading below! 😃

Even if Linota is relatively young, she had a difficult childhood. Not only was her father accused of being a traitor, but she also saw him being hanged. And when her mother went a bit crazy and locked up Linota and her sister, well, I truly pitied the sisters even more.
So when Linota is at her brother’s wedding, I enjoyed reading how much fun she was having over sometimes the simplest things!
Her being young and a bit otherworldly, doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel any attraction towards the mysterious Erik Ward.

Erik Ward is this typical silent, mysterious man. but whenever he is nearby Linota, all he wants is to make her smile. And it’s just that aspect that made my heart melt too!
And the fact that he is constantly trying to find his beloved sister, shows how caring he truly is. He made his sister a promise, and he will do whatever he can to keep it.
So when keeping his promise means he has to make an impossible choice, it was just heart-breaking…

Whenever Linota and Erik are together, sparks just fly around. Their attraction is just so obvious, even if they know their love would be an impossible one. Both care very much about their families and will do whatever they can to make them happy, even if that means put their own happiness aside. Yet hiding their feelings makes it impossible for the other person to know how deep the feelings are and often Linota finds herself wondering if the love is only a one – way direction or not… 

I loved reading this story because it gave me the answers of questions I had after reading the previous book. And it confirmed my feeling that Erik wasn’t such a malicious man as we thought. There is always more to a person than we think and whenever someone acts out of character, we have to wonder what the real motivations are.

I found this a beautiful story, about a young woman and a man with a mission, trying to do the right thing by not giving in to their attraction. But sometimes just admitting the feelings you have can be the right thing. I loved reading about all the Leofric siblings and this story was the perfect ending for all of them!

When you are forced to face your past…

Synopsis

Escape to the countryside with a heart-warming new novel from Katie Ginger, author of Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage.

Amelia loves her life in Paris. But with the surprise inheritance of her childhood home, Meadow Farmhouse, she has no choice but to return to the small village of Meadowbank to restore her great-aunt’s old farmhouse. However returning to Meadowbank means she has to confront her past, including old flame Adam.

When Amelia discovers a locket hidden in the farmhouse, containing the picture of a mysterious World War Two soldier, she starts to uncover the secrets of her great-aunt’s past and is drawn further into village life. Shocked by the warm welcome from the villagers and her own surprising feelings for first love Adam, Amelia is suddenly confused as to where she truly belongs.

Can Amelia finally confront her own past and find where her heart truly calls home?

Fans of Rachael Lucas, Cathy Bramley and Jenny Colgan will fall in love with Katie Ginger!

My review

Amelia is living her life in Paris, but when her great – aunt dies, and Amelia inherits Meadow Farmhouse, she has to go back to the village of Meadowbank. Being back in her childhood home, she is determined to restore the farmhouse to sell it as soon as possible.
But returning back home means facing everything she ran away from many years ago, including her first love Adam.

When one day Amelia discovers a locket with a picture of a World War Two soldier, she wants to figure out who the soldier was and what links him to her great – aunt. That means she has to spend more time in Meadowbank, and the welcoming feeling she received from the inhabitants confuses her even more than ever. Because where does she truly belong? In Paris or in the place that holds more happy memories than remembered?

I have the feeling that each time I read a story of this author, I am saying the same things, because I absolutely loved this story!
However it gave me a lot of sad feelings, it was also a beautiful story.

Getting to know Amelia was not always a pleasure, because of her past. As a young child she has lost her parents and had to stay with her great – aunt Vera. It broke my heart reading how Amelia felt through all her childhood, like a burden to Vera. Vera was not a happy woman, and she was very cold and distant towards her own niece.
But reading how Amelia and Adam went from friendship to that first love was just adorable.

So when she is forced to go back to Meadowbank, I understood her hesitation… not only because of the bad memories, but Amelia is also afraid to face Adam again, as she just left him without any real closure.

The “reunion” is obviously an awkward one and avoiding each other is still the preferred solution. However in time of need, both Adam and his mother show their true caring characters. And no matter what hard feelings there were, they look after Amelia.

I found this not only a sweet story about returning home, but also a story about how one event can break a person. When Amelia finds out what happened to Vera in the past, it was such a sad, unjust event. It opened both Amelia’s and my eyes on the true nature of Vera. And it threw a whole new perspective over Amelia’s growing up. And her feelings of being a burden, belonging nowhere and be easily forgotten are all put in a different light.

I found it bittersweet to see how Amelia had to readjust her opinion over het great – aunt. Because it’s always the sad things we easily remember. But the more Amelia is staying at Meadow Farmhouse, the more forgotten memories resurface. And that makes her question where her true home is. Is it in Paris, with a great career and with friends that I honestly didn’t really like? Or is it in Meadowbank with so many memories, both happy and sad?

Just everything in this story was beautiful, even the sadder parts, but sometimes you need the sadness to appreciate more how an amazing story this truly is. And Katie Ginger showed what a great writer she is, finding the perfect balance between all the events.
I have just one question… can I get somewhere the sculptures Adam made? Because they surely would find a lovely home with me! 😃

When running away means the start of something new.

Synopsis

Brand NEW from the bestselling author of The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts.

Scandal hit party girl Lucy Conway needs to leave London fast, so she packs her bags and escapes to the sleepy village of Cranbridge to take care of her beloved Uncle Frank.

But the country village isn’t quite as idyllic as she remembers. To make matters worse, her Uncle’s pride and joy, The Cranbridge Times, is close to going out of business.

Editor-at-Large Tom Addison is having a crisis of confidence and needs help if the newspaper is going to survive. 

With time on her hands, can Lucy work some magic and together save the family newspaper?
Over a long, hot summer, friendships are made and hearts begin to heal. And, with the help of a stray dog, perhaps Lucy and Tom can find their very own new beginning…

My review

When Lucy Conway finds herself in the middle of a scandal written all over the tabloids, she sees no other option than escaping to the village of Cranbridge, to help her beloved Uncle Frank. She hopes to find a little bit of peace so that she can decide what she wants to do with her life.

But the Cranbridge she is staying in, is not the Cranbridge of her youth anymore. A lot has changed and not always for the better. So is her Uncle’s newspaper, The Cranbridge Times, on the verge of going out of business. And the editor of the paper, Tom Addison, is having a crisis of his own. Having a new employee is the last thing he needs, but how can he refuse the niece of the owner?

Lucy makes it her personal mission to save the paper and while figuring out what to do, she starts feeling et home at the little village, making friends, a stray dog lurking behind the corner and growing feelings towards an inhabitant of the village…

I absolutely loved retuning to Cranbridge! This small village is something I would love to live, with the whole community looking out of each other.

When Lucy arrives there, I saw her as a lost puppy, feeling alone in the world, her parents not being the most supportive ones. My heart ached when she felt that her Uncle Frank was more caring and loving than her own parents. Yet I was glad she had a place to go to, knowing that she would be welcomed with open hands.

Lucy is someone trying to find her place in the world. She lacks self-confidence, doubting what she is capable of. And what better place to realize your own worth than Cranbridge?
When she befriends Molly first, and then the other lovely women we already got to know in the first book, slowly she opens up and we see the real Lucy.
She also realizes what the meaning of true friendship is and acts on it, after realizing that her past friendships were nothing compared to the relationships made in Cranbridge.

Also Tom’s story is a sad one… not only is he a divorced man, but after losing his mother, it seems he cannot move on. and also at work he is without inspiration. Realizing that he is going to lose the paper is only making him feel more depressed.

The more time Lucy and Tom spend together, trying to save the paper, the more their friendship shifts into something more beautiful. and because of their time spending together, both Lucy and Tom start to have a more positive look on their current situation.

Cranbridge worked its magic again in this story, and I found it truly beautiful to see how two people that are feeling down, thanks to an amazing community and friends, see their own potential again. And if you don’t fall immediately in love with Keith, the stray dog, I suggest to get yourself checked by your GP, because then there is something wrong!

This story is about finding yourself again, finding a place to call home and a place where you belong, with people that accept you just as your perfect self is.
I found it beautiful, emotional, and each character stole a piece of my heart!

When a planned summer holiday in Nepal is forcefully changed in a search in Scotland.

Synopsis

After a gruelling academic year head teacher Harper MacDonald is looking forward to a summer holiday trekking in Nepal. Her plans are scuppered when her wayward niece, Ariel, leaves a note announcing she’s running away with a boy called Pen. The only clue to their whereabouts is a scribbled footnote: I’ll Be in Scotland. 

Cue a case of mistaken identity when Harper confronts the boy‘s father – Rocco Penhaligon – accusing him of cradle snatching her niece and ruining her bright future. At loggerheads, Harper and Rocco set off in hot pursuit of the teenagers, but the canny youngsters are always one step ahead.  And, in a neat twist, it is the adults who end up in trouble, not the savvy teenagers. 

Can Cupid convince Harper and Rocco that they have found their soul mates? 

Fasten your seatbelt for the road trip of your lifetime – It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

My review

Head teacher Harper MacDonald looking forward to her summer holiday. She has planned to spend it trekking in Nepal while her niece Ariel, that is staying with her, will spend the holidays with her mother. But when Ariel decides to run away with a boy Pen, and leaves a short note stating she’ll be in Scotland, Harper throws all her plans out of the window.
After a search and a case of mistaken identity, Harper finds Pen’s father Rocco Penhaligon. Together they set off in a pursuit of finding the teenagers, always finding themselves one step behind. But being them so different from each other, will they be able to find a truce on their quest, having the kids’ best interest in mind?

If there is one kind of story I truly enjoy reading, it’s about two very different people ‘forced’ to spend time together and realizing that they have more in common than thought and grow closer.
And this story surely ticked the above mentioned boxes!

Harper is a strict woman, which of course she has to be as she is the head teacher. But she applies her strictness also a bit at home. I also have to say that I somehow admired her. It’s not for just anyone to take a teenaged niece in house, and taking the role of mother on her. But Harper does the best she can to look after Ariel.

So when Ariel goes AWOL, with just a small note that doesn’t really say much, Harper is determined to find the man that is responsible for Ariel’s behaviour. And when she meets Rocco, that’s when the fireworks start!

Rocco is a character that got my personal attention immediately! The way he emerges from under a car… *swoon*!
Of course his character is the total opposite from Harper’s and that makes this a very entertaining story!

Whatever is said or done, is followed by a reprimand or a dislike no matter how right or wrong it is.

But while chasing the teenagers, Harper and Rocco get to know each other better, and start to see each other in a different light. It shows that first impressions can be wrong, and there is always more than meets the eye.
Both from Harper and Rocco we see a different side.
When Rocco takes care of Harper after her food poisoning, my heart just skipped a beat. But also Harper shows her true colours and it is clear that she has her own demons to face…

This story is a beautiful road trip, taking me to new places I also want to discover myself. It kept me hooked from the start and I wanted to know how the relation between a strict Harper and a laidback Rocco would evolve.
I found this a funny and sweet story about two strangers forced to work together, with many clashes but eventually standing side by side and a deeper feeling blossoming.

Could Mr. Right truly be closer than you think?

Synopsis

Mia Abbott’s move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she’s made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite – the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much – starts leaving notes in his window…for her.

Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sites of her new cityhe also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honour, she realises that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she’s had a taste she knows it will never be enough!

My review

After Mia Abbott moved to Manchester, it’s obvious she hasn’t made many new friends. After her terrible last relationship, she is also a bit mistrusting towards strangers and will surely not give her number to just anyone.
Highlight of her day is looking at the hot guy who lives opposite her place, working out. So when Mia finally decide to go out in a bar, how big can her surprise be when she finds out that Hot Guy is actually Luke Doyle, the bar owner!

After their first meeting, Luke starts leaving notes on his window for Mia. But it doesn’t stop at just sweet notes. He also takes her on non – dates, to places she would never think about. And who else can say they have a cocktail made specially for them???

But Luke has his own issues to deal with… but are they really insurmountable? Or will the Hot Guy and the Nerd always be a match that will never happen?

I don’t know how a crappy book this author would have to write to make me dislike one of her stories! Because every time I read something from her amazing imagination, I find it just impossible to put it away or just have a tiny bit of a sense that there is something I don’t like.

This is a story of two ‘normal’ people. Both of them are not famous nor rich. They are just like us, working hard for their earnings and just wanting to find happiness.

Mia initially seemed a bit of a recluse to me. Living on her own, she doesn’t go out much, and the only new people she got to know are her neighbour Stan and Naomi, who runs a café. But the moment she goes to the bar nearby, we see the real Mia.
Even if she is afraid of just handing her number over, with good reason of course, we see all the potential she has. She is funny, focused and caring. And even if you would think that she may seem creepy, spying on the Hot Guy working out, just admit, wouldn’t you be doing the same? Because I surely would!!!

Initially Luke ticked all the boxes of a typical bar owner. Being too hot for words, flirting with the ladies and afraid of commitment. But there is so much more to Luke! When he decides to take Mia out, he does things I wouldn’t never think about, taking her too by surprise.
And those notes in his window… that’s just too cute and too much to swoon over! And can I have a personal cocktail too? Pretty please???
I also had a laugh with all the nicknames Luke was able to invent to call Mia!

While getting to know each other, they both have to face the fact that there are things that they can either accept from each other, or just walking away. And even if it is a bitter pill to swallow, can they cope with the thought of what the other option would be?

I found this a funny, sweet, lovely story from the beginning. It shows that clichés are made to be broken, as you cannot judge a person by being one. There is so much more to a person than being “a geek/nerd” or a “hottie”. You only can get to know someone for real by spending with them. And the past may have changed you, but that it isn’t impossible to change again for the better. The past doesn’t determine who we are, because that it totally up to ourselves!

Another masterpiece by this author! 😃

Is it possible to stand out with a background that seems to doom you?

Synopsis

Let bestselling author Lindsey Hutchinson take you back in time to the Victorian Black Country, for a tale of love, hardship and fighting against the odds to succeed.

Life is tough for Ella Bancroft. After her father, Thomas, is wheelchair-bound by an accident at the tube works, the responsibility for keeping a roof over their head falls to Ella. Ella’s mother died when she was ten, and her sister Sally lives with her no-good, work-shy husband Eddy, so is no help at all.  If she and her father are to keep the bailiffs from the door, then Ella must earn a living.

But Ella is resourceful as well as creative, and soon discovers she has a gift for millinery. Setting up shop in the front room of their two-up, two-down home in Silver Street, Walsall, Ellaand Thomas work hard to establish a thriving business. Before long, the fashionable ladies of the Black Country are lining up to wear one of Ella’s beautiful creations, and finally Ella dares to hope for a life with love, friendship and family.

Meeting the man she longs to marry should be a turning point for Ella, but life’s twists and turns can be cruel. As the winter grows colder, events seem to conspire to test Ella’s spirit. And by the time spring is approaching, will the hat girl of Silver Street triumph, or will Ella have to admit defeat as all her dreams are tested.

The Queen of the Black Country sagas is back with a heart-breaking, unforgettable, page-turning story of love, life and battling against the odds. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Lyn Andrews. 

My review

After having discovered that she has a gift for Millinery, Ella Bancroft and her father set up a little shop in the front room of their house.
Together they do their utterly best to make a success of their business, even if Thomas wheelchair – bound.
Life is not easy for Ella, because it’s her responsibility to earn a living, as Ella’s mother died when Ella was just a young girl. And Ella cannot surely count on the help of her sister Sally and Sally’s lazy husband.

Slowly people start to discover the magnificent creations Ella is capable of inventing. And when she meets Harper, is there also love is something Ella dares to dream about.
But life and fate keep on playing cruel twists and turns and Ella is facing even more hardship. Will she be able to stay strong or will these last tricks be able to break her?

If there is one character I wished all the best in the world, it would be Ella Bancroft… not only is she looking after her father, with obviously all the love and care she can manage, but she is also very creative even if a bit taken advantage of at her work with Ivy Gladwin.
So when happiness finally seems to come in her life, I was truly glad. Ella is a woman that you quickly warm towards, because it’s obvious she has a kind heart.

There are several people who I instant disliked. Some redeemed themselves, others just confirmed my feelings.

This story is showing how life truly goes. It’s not only rainbow and sunshine, especially in the Victorian Black Country. More often life throws you curveballs and it’s up to you to decide if you’re going to admit defeat or fight for your happiness.
There are heart-breaking moments, even hard to digest as just a reader, but that’s also the charm of the book. There is no sugar – coating, this is how life really is. No matter how good or bad you are, you don’t always get what you truly deserve.

A gripping story about a woman who has to be courageous, make her own happiness, but also has to fight to maintain that little happiness she has fought so hard for it.
I found myself turning the pages, wanting to know more. And even if the ending surprised me a bit, it was in line with the rest of the story even if it wasn’t the ending I wanted the book to have…

After reaching the end, I found myself pondering about the injustice people had to endure, and it was a relief to be in the present, in a more comfortable position, being able to make my own happiness. And that is a thought we too often forget…