Tizi’s Book Review

Finding what you didn’t know that you were looking for.

Synopsis

Twin sisters. One scorching summer.

A bucketful of secrets.

Diana’s life is perfect. Her twin sister, Josie’s – not so much. 

Diana has a rich and successful husband, two talented youngsters and an adorable dog. She always looks as if she’s stepped from the cover of a magazine. Her immaculate second home by the sea, for idyllic summers with her perfect family, was actually featured in one.
 
Josie has a messy, compact flat, dates, but not relationships, and she can’t even keep a houseplant alive. She moves from job to job, goes clubbing with her friends and often looks as if she’s fallen through a hedge.

Although Josie loves Diana deeply, each year she declines the invitation to spend the summer with her sister. Or any other family holiday. Because Josie has a secret.
 
But is Diana’s life so perfect? Or is she also hiding something? When secrets are revealed this summer, everything will change. Josie could finally have the life she’s always wanted … if she’s brave enough to take a chance.

My review

Josie is used of being the black sheep of the family. Whatever she does, she is no match compared to her twin sister Diana. Diana has it all, she is rich, has a successful husband and has lovely children and even a dog. Josie is living her single life happily, going from one job to another. And she does not want a relationship!

But when it appears to be something going on with Diana, Josie wants to help her out, even if it means that Josie has to go to the summer house in Seahorse Harbour. She is not looking forward going back there, as she has a secret she wants to keep.
Yet she is not the only one with secrets…

Will the truth come out? And will Josie still want her old life when she has the chance for something new?

Again a story by Emily Harvale that got me hooked!

This story was in my opinion a bit different compared to what I’m used of her, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it like her other books!

Josie is what I would call a free spirit. She does what she wants and does not to settle down. Yet I had so much fun with her! The things she says, not being embarrassed at all!
She is the kind of woman you know you’ll have fun hanging around!
But it’s clear very quickly that she also has her difficult moments… She wants to be there for her sister, but the secret she has makes it hard for her to be around Diana and her perfect life…

And when it’s obvious that Diana is also at a crossroad, well I felt sorry for both sisters! And when all the secrets were out, I felt how the weight of those secrets were lifted from everybody’s shoulders.

This is not a simple happy happy joy joy story, but it shows the complications of a real family, no matter if it mainly concerns adults.
Yet this is what made this book even more realistic for me. It’s not a story about fallen in love and living happily ever after. It’s about family, being there for each other and coming clean about the past.

Each character in this story, no matter how minor their part is, is an important link in the whole story. No matter how insignificant their presence may be, they are necessary for the bigger picture.
There are people who immediately steal a piece of your heart, and people who don’t. For other people they have to struggle a little bit to also find a piece, but in the end it’s worth losing your heart over them.

And not only people, Dog Henry is surely the quickest in squirming into your heart!

This was a beautiful story to read, about family struggles, daring to take a chance, and coming clean about the past.
I had several laughs, but also a few difficult moments when the truths came out. And yes, there is also love, so it was everything I needed and even more! I felt like Josie, not knowing what I truly wanted, but this book gave me everything and even what I didn’t know what I needed!

I cannot wait to read more about the adventures at Seahorse Harbour!

An amazing escape to Siena!

Synopsis

Lucy needed a change of scene. She didn’t expect the change of a lifetime.

Doctors Without Borders has been Lucy Young’s life for the past four years. After being rescued from a conflict zone, she’s making a change from saving lives under gunfire to practising medicine in safe, serene Siena.

Now treating wealthy patients at a private clinic, she’s never felt less comfortable. She’s used to helping those in dire need – not those in need of a nip and tuck. Her turmoil grows when she encounters injured tennis star David Lorenzo, whose smiles make Lucy forget her aversion to the rich.

She’s soon falling for the sportsman but is she losing herself in this world of excess? All she’s ever wanted was to help the underprivileged, so can her future lie in Siena at the clinic – with David?

This sunny romance is the perfect summer escape for fans of Lucy Coleman and Alex Brown.

My review

After having spent years with Doctors Without Borders in a conflict zone, Lucy needs some time off. So she decides to go Siena, trying to figure out what she wants to do in the future, how she can follow her passion and yet not being in danger.

She finds a job in a private clinic, where wealthy patients are treated. She enjoys not having to work in dire circumstances, yet she feels not as satisfied in her job anymore.
When she meets injured tennis star David Lorenzo, she starts to feel something she hasn’t felt in a long time. But will she fit in a world where money is all that matters, while all she really wants is to make a difference for those in real need?

So, before I start with stating how much I enjoyed this book, I have to say that one of my favourite Italian cities is Siena. I have visited it several times and each time I was in awe…
Reading a book taking place right there, made me feel like coming home again. I knew how the surroundings looked like, where the characters were in that specific moment.

But back to the story now…
I loved it from the very start until the end! Ok, the very start might be a stretch, because it was a rather frightening situation where Lucy was in.

But immediately I found myself devouring the book, sympathizing with Lucy, and her need to make a difference.
I can only imagine how it must be if one moment you are helping people with a minimum of equipment, and the other moment you are in a world of wealth.
So I admired the way Lucy managed it, trying to find a common ground and that her helping in a private clinic is still helping those who need her knowledge.

When we meet David for the first time, he doesn’t make the best of impressions. Yet slowly I understood where he came from and what he has been through. Of course again, I have no idea how the world of a famous tennis player looks like, but I can always use my imagination.

The contrast of viewing the world is so big between Lucy and David in first instance. Yet David manages to surprise me by being so ‘normal’. Yes, he has the wealth but he also wants to be able to do something.
Together they manage to bring out the best in each other, facing their demons and chase away the nightmares.

I found this a beautiful story, about o so different people yet finding common ground. A love story in the most beautiful setting ever.
A story about love, discovering what you truly want from life and chasing your dreams.

T.A. Williams managed again to make me dream away with his amazing books!

Fighting for your own freedom. 

Synopsis

Regency England. A land of oppression and social discontent.

Arthur Thistlewood is fighting for a revolution. Susan Thistlewood is fighting for freedom. From Arthur.

Battered and bruised by her violent husband, Susan finds comfort in food and books. As Arthur’s legal property, leaving the marriage seems an impossible dream — until a chance encounter with a charismatic Bow Street Runner. In the sanctuary of an inconspicuous London bookshop, the Runner’s easy manner and unexpected generosity compel Susan to pursue a life without her husband.

But will the Bow Street officer provide a key to Susan’s freedom? Or will he place her in the greatest danger of all?

Inspired by true events from the Cato Street Conspiracy of 1820, this is a tale of courage, determination, and love.

My review

Susan Thistlewood is in an unhappy marriage. And being in an unhappy marriage in Regency England isn’t as easy as in the present. You cannot just divorce from your husband when he is making you unhappy. There are strict conditions when a woman can apply for divorce. 

So while her husband Artur is fighting for a revolution, Susan has to find a way to escape and chase her own happiness.
When in a London bookshop, she meets a charismatic Bow Street Runner, is he going to help her for her freedom? Or is he putting her in a greater danger? 

From the very start, I pitied Susan… she dreams of a happy marriage, while she is stuck with Arthur. He has been married before, but his wife died earlier. The way he treats Susan and his son (from his first wife), I found it despicable.
Also the violent streaks he has, both towards Susan, his son, but also the plans he is plotting to start a revolution, made me dislike him immediately. 

So I understood Susan’s desire to find a way out. But it’s not an easy task…
I admired Susan for not just giving up, trying to find a way to be set free of an awful husband. Despite the hard times she has to endure, she finds joy in places she would least expect it.
Also she finds friends who truly care about her, and those feelings are reciprocated.  

When she meets that Bow Street Runner, she finds herself in a position to achieve her dream, and even if that means to put herself in danger, she is tired of living in fear of what her husband will do next to her. 

Through the whole story, Susan’s courage is visible. She is not one to just sit down and wait for luck to pass by. She wants to grab her own luck, and will not be condemned in a life of unhappiness.
Even if sometimes Susan may seem a bit naïve, especially in the beginning, her character evolves to a strong woman. She puts her priorities right and is not afraid to speak up.

This story shows that strong women are always fighting for their happiness, in the past and even in the present.
Susan is a beautiful example of it, as she does not just give up. 

This story is about a courageous woman in difficult times, with a streak of historical facts.  I found it hard to put it away as I wanted to see what more twists were awaiting. And I wanted to know how and if Susan would manage to achieve her one true desire, find happiness.  

Spoiler alert: you will need tissues!!! 

Synopsis

A moving and heartwarming love story perfect for fans of Me Before You and One Day in December…

Leila’s charm bracelet tells a story of love, a story of loss, a story of hope.

This is the story of her … and the story of Jake.

When Leila Jones loses her precious charm bracelet and a stranger finds it, she has to tell the story of how she got the charms to prove she’s the owner. Each and every one is a precious memory of her life with Jake.

So Leila starts at the beginning, recounting the charms and experiences that have led her to the present. A present she never could have expected when she met Jake nearly twenty years ago…

My review

Leila Jones loves her charm bracelet. So when she loses it, she does whatever she can to find it again. Luckily for her, a stranger finds it, she starts explaining how she got each charm, proving that she’s the owner. 

Each charm turns out to be the story of her and Jake… from the moment they met until the present. 

I just loved this book, even if those lost chapters had me crying like a baby… I wasn’t ready for that ending, and I just had to give myself a break and cry, cry, cry…
And making me cry over a book, well, I have to say to the author: well done! 

We get to meet Leila and Jake when they are only young children. Leila has to move away and Jake is moving to her old house. A random coincidence, that will be the start of some beautiful.. 

Through the years, we get to know Leila and Jake better. We see how they are getting closer, how they collide but in the end, they are there for each other. 

Both Leila and Jake have their struggles, are trying to find their place in the world and in each other’s lives.
Yet I was cheering from the very start that they would end up together. Because the reader can see immediately how perfect these two are for each other. 

To express what this book did to me, is hard to write down. Even just thinking about it is making the tears well up all over again.
It’s a beautiful story about two people growing up, both literally as emotionally. It’s also written so easily you will find yourself turning page after page, only having to take a break to wipe those tears away! 

I can go on telling you how this story and its characters captured my heart (and also broke it a little bit) but the best thing you can do, is start reading it! I promise you, you will need those tissues but you will find a real amazing, beautiful, captivating story!  

Mallorca is not only sun, sea and fun, as will soon be discovered by our main characters. 

Synopsis

The sun … the ocean … the farmhouse … the scammer… the police… the 3-legged dog?

George and Ellen have retired to sunny Mallorca. Social butterfly Ellen is itching to make yacht-owning friends while George’s heart is set on a secluded farmhouse in the country. In fact, now that they’re no longer living busy London lives, they’re beginning to realise they have very different ideas of happiness.

Private investigator Salva specialises in cases of adultery. That’s why it’s particularly embarrassing that he didn’t realise his long-term girlfriend has been cheating on him. He has no time to nurse a broken heart, since his family are the victims of a property scam they urgently need him to solve.

Robyn Chase is giving talks on her self-help book, No More Toxic Relationships – 7 Years, 7 Lessons. She’s finding it awkward being a relationship guru when her own boyfriend is avoiding her.

The sun is shining in Mallorca and everything looks beautiful. But the residents of one particular apartment block are about to discover it all might be too good to be true.

My review

How the lives of people on the same apartment block can be so different…
First we have George and Ellen. They are a retired couple, and moved to Mallorca with big dreams. But soon they realize they have totally different views and dreams.
George is set on buying a secluded farmhouse, while Ellen is making new friends all over the island. And the richer they are, the better. 

Salva is a private investigator who just found out that his girlfriend cheated on him. Having now second thoughts on his career, he has to mend a broken heart, and on top of it, he has to help his family, victims of a property scam. 

Robyn Chase is a famous writer, thanks to her self – help book. Yet she is struggling with her boyfriend, who seems to prefer avoid her rather than spending time together. 

How will all these characters get over their problems? And will they all find their happiness? 

Initially I had some struggles, because I had no clue how all these characters would come together. Because other than just living in the same block, there wasn’t anything that linked them together. 

But for those who will have the same question, don’t worry, give it time, it will all be clear! 

There are people in this book, that I had some sympathy for, but slowly I had to change my mind. I am not going to say who or what, but I truly disliked some at the end! 

I found this a disturbing story… it showed me that there are people with not the best intentions and are willing to take advantage of the good of people.
And even if I found it sometimes stupid how some of the main characters behaved, I know that it happens more than we think!
Everything that happens to each character could be happening to any of us. 

Yet there were also silver lightings, otherwise it would be a very depressing story. Despite the people I disliked, there were several people I truly liked and sympathized with.
And it showed me that yes, there are ugly people around, there are also people with their heart at the right place, and do the right thing. 

This story was about facing the truth, taking the right decision for you and putting the past behind you.

Even if at some points I didn’t like the way some characters were acting, the good actions took over and made me like this story.  

An unexpected inheritance with a twist of faith… 

Synopsis

Escaping a difficult childhood, unhappy marriage and dead-end job, Rachel McIntyre has escaped to the tiny Hebridean island of Inniscreag in search of a new beginning.

Taking a job as the manager of the local distillery, she’s just settling into her new life when the elderly, eccentric owner dies, unexpectedly leaving her two hundred year old family legacy in Rachel’s inexperienced hands.

Can she keep the small, community business alive in the face of a takeover attempt from a major multinational corporation? And can she resist the charms of the flirtatious, attractive company lawyer who arrives on the island to persuade her to sell up?

Join Rachel and the quirky inhabitants of Inniscreag – along with a couple of unexpected arrivals – in this funny, heartwarming tale about love, loss and having the courage to start over.

My review

Rachel McIntyre has found the perfect escape from her unhappy marriage. She has taken a job as manager of a local distillery in Inniscreag as start of her new life.
After some initial struggles, she finds herself at home now and is even accepted by the community. When the elderly owner of the distillery dies, Racehl is shocked to find out that the poor lady leaves the legacy of the distillery in Rachel’s hands. 

Rachel does not know a thing about how a distillery actual works, so she fears she cannot keep business alive. But when a multinational  will go very far to own the distillery, she hopes she can keep Edith’s dream alive. 

This story was some rollercoaster!
The moment you think it’s all ending, BOOM another twist! 

From the very start I felt sorry for Rachel. She ran away from an unhappy marriage, yet her husband is not giving her the closure she needs. It’s not that she has not tried to keep her marriage together, but at one moment it has to stop… And fact that her husband wasn’t as supportive as he should be, well, I understood why Rachel had to get away. 

I must say, Inniscreag looks like an amazing place to live. Okay, it’s a small island, and the roads are not as comfortable as what I’m used to. But the sense of belonging somewhere, having people to support you, well, you don’t find that everywhere.
Even if Rachel is not from the place, the islanders opened their hearts to her, and she finally has found a place she can call home.  

Rachel shows so much courage, but is yet also vulnerable. Despite her vulnerability, she is also strong and does not allow anyone to take advantage of her anymore. 

She has the courage to start over again, to put the past behind her, finding out the truth no matter how shocking it can be. 

When it’s clear that Rachel does not want to sell, the multination goes lengths to get what they want. Yet Duncan, their lawyer, has surprised me more than in one way. Some of the surprises were nice, and other not so nice.
But the more I read about Duncan, the more I started to like him. And I was not the only one! 

I loved this story from the very start until the end. There are so many things happening that I cannot just talk about.  
But this book made me feel all warm on the inside, made me laugh and sometimes even angry.

This was a story that surprised me in a good way, and making me long to be part of this amazing community, that acts more like one big family! 

When the real Maddie has had enough of the pretend Madeleine… 

Synopsis

Maddie Meadows adores her family and loves her work. But she has good reason to keep them separate.

For single mum Maddie, home is a flat on a run-down estate. And family consists of an excitable toddler, a lonely Dad and a younger brother mired in a love triangle.

Meanwhile, professional Madeleine balances a tricky day job, made worse by a jealous colleague. No one at work knows about her other life, and she needs to keep it this way: one of the bosses has made his feelings very clear about single parents and the people on her estate.

Thank goodness for her fun-loving and loyal friends – although Maddie wishes they’d believe her when she insists she has no time for love. Or so she tells herself as she fights to quell her hidden feelings for her gorgeous colleague, Oliver, who comes from the posh part of town.

When her friends line up their ideal man for her – Sean, more beanstalk than Bean – Maddie wishes she’d told them the truth. It’s hard enough juggling two lives. But, with all the added complications, how long will be it be before Maddie’s carefully created world comes crashing down?

My review

Maddie Meadows is  single mother ready for a new challenge at work.
But her work is not compatible with her real life. One of the bosses has made it rather clear what he thinks of single parents and people who are living where Maddie is living. 

So that’s why Maddie is ‘Madeleine’ at work, and she talks with a posh accent.  

But at home the real Maddie comes out. She speaks with her own accent, cares about her son, and takes cares of her dad and younger brother. 

The balance between work and home is not easy to be found. Yet she can count on her friends, who are always in for fun and love her no matter what. Only too bad her friends want her to find love again, and start doing some matchmaking. 

But with her new job, the prejudices she has to face every day, a jealous colleague, taking care of her lovely son and looking after her father and brother, she has absolutely no time for love, right? 

Fact about this book is, that is shows how life really is for all of us. Who hasn’t at least pretended to be a better version than we actually are?
And no matter what we do, there are always terrible people who have prejudices and totally no common sense.
It’s not because someone does not live in a fancy quarter or house, that it makes them lesser people. I even think it’s totally the opposite… These people stick together and help each other out, no matter what is going on. 

And it’s lovely to read how Maddie from the start is struggling with such nasty prejudices, yet she stays loyal to “her people”. Because she is the one who knows better. 

But this isn’t only about Maddie and struggling to find the perfect balance. It’s also about fighting injustice. And with her new job she has the possibility to do so. Even when people are working against her, she finds people with their heart at the right place. It makes her fight a little bit easier to fight! 

It’s also about family… Maddie is not having the perfect family according standard, but for her, it is just perfect. And this showed me that there is no standard perfect. Each and every one of us has somehow a ‘defect’, but that doesn’t make us lesser normal. Maddie has a open heart for everyone, no matter where you live or what you do. As long as you treat her people right, she will treat you right too! 

And yes, there is some romance involved too, but for me, it was not what this story is about. It is about family, friends, standing up for who you care about and not giving up.
Once everything falls into place, also that one missing piece will come along! 

I found this a beautiful story about an amazing woman who knows what matters in life!  

A good neighbour is worth more than a distant friend…

Synopsis

As the snowflakes fall, new love blossoms…

When teacher Florence Ashton receives a surprise inheritance, she decides to make the life-changing decision to up sticks to the charming town of Willowbury in Somerset. With a new house and a new job, she’s too busy putting down roots to think about love.

Air Ambulance pilot Sam Ellis is definitely not looking for romance either, especially not on his doorstep. When Florence, his new neighbour, complains about his noisy housemate, he feels more cross than star-crossed. 

But as the nights draw in and both find themselves thrown together in Willowbury’s seasonal drama production, will they overcome their differences and allow a little bit of winter magic to fall along with the snow? And what secrets will be revealed by the box of memories Florence finds in the attic at Bay Tree Terrace?

Let Fay Keenan transport you to the perfect country winter wonderland, with roaring fires, spectacular scenery, and unforgettable characters.  Perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Fern Britton and Katie Fforde.

My review

Teacher Florence Ashton moved to Willowbury when she inherited a house. She is ready to start her life at this new place with a new job.
She is not one to easily complain, but when her neighbour seems to enjoy playing the guitar during the night, she puts her own desire of sleep first.

Sam Ellis is an air ambulance pilot living together with Aidan. So when his neighbour complains about Aidan playing the guitar, he understands her feelings completely.

Sam and Florence find themselves suddenly taking part in a seasonal drama production. Even if they are lacking enthusiasm on being on the scene and having other things on their mind than romance, the time they spend together is making them bond.

Will Sam and Florence become more than just neighbours? Will they overcome their differences and fears? And what about that box that Florence found on the attic?

This story gave me so many feelings… I felt anxiousness, fear, pity, sorry. But I also had several laughs, felt happy, hopeful and had bittersweet moments.

Florence just took a huge risk, moving to a new place, starting a new job, so I admired her for her courage. She is also a bit anxious, but of course, who wouldn’t be?
And as she is a teacher, she uses her teaching voice even when she is talking with adults.
But she always has the best intentions, even when she knows that the message didn’t arrive in the way she wanted to deliver it.
She has her heart at the right place and even when she is having a colder moment with Sam, she still cares about Aidan.

Sam has been through a lot and he still feels like he is responsible of taking care of Aidan. But this is for him also an excuse for not moving on.
I admired him because he wants to take care of everything and everyone, but I also felt sorry for him. He didn’t dare to take a chance and put his own wishes and desires as priorities.

But slowly these two persons are finding each other… and oh boy, there was a scene I didn’t expect to be so steamy! I had to fan myself for a minute! J
But that getting closer was truly amazing to read about it! it made me also laugh when there was something brewing and at the last moment there was an interruption!

I loved this story for both its simplicity but also for daring to think outside the box. There are themes that some single-minded people would not like. But for me, it was just beautiful. Also learning about Sam and Aidan’s past, I could only imagine what real people would have to endure, but it was written so beautifully, it made this story complete…

And that box… I just have to mention the found box… the truth was truly heart-breaking… But it added again that extra to this story that changed it from a one in a dozen story to that something more!

Coming back home and claiming what is rightly yours, easy peasy right?

Synopsis

She watched him walk away…

…and now he’s back to claim her!

A family feud forced me to walk away from the woman of my dreams, Alexa—but I didn’t expect her to betray me by falling into my brother’s arms. Now, after a tragic accident, I’ve returned home to find Alexa leading the family business…and the chemistry between us is hotter than ever. The sparks reignite our electrifying connection, but can we learn to trust each other again?

My review

Alexa has just lost her husband and her father – in – law in an accident. Now she is struggling to maintain control of the family business, but she has to face people who don’t trust her abilities.
On top of it all, suddenly Cain O’Connor reappears. 

Cain is her brother – in – law, but Cain and Alexa have also a history. But that all ended l one day when he just disappeared after his after gave his brother shares of the business.
Now he’s back and wants to be back in charge of the business.

But problem is that Alexa isn’t just handing him the business back over and that there is still that raging chemistry between them!

Each time I read a book of Rachael Stewart, I think I know what to expect, and each time I am left behind surprised!
Of course there are some things that are predictable, but each book is so different from another one!

This book is all about Alexa and Cain.
Cain broke Alexa’s heart years ago and just left her alone. And then Alexa married his brother, making him believe it was all about the money for her.

I understand why Cain would think like that, but once we get to know the real reason, my heart broke for the pain Alexa had to endure…

These two characters are strong ones. They won’t let anyone just push them aside or control them.  They stand up for themselves and fight for their cause.

But even if they are strong, there is a vulnerability in both of them…
Alexa never had a family and has no bigger desire than having one herself. She now has a place she belongs and is not ready to just give up. Yet what she had to endure a few years ago is still causing her pain…

Cain is now a self-made man. When he left, he started his own business and has been very successful. He knows how to get what he wants. But he also is somehow broken… Alexa broke his heart too when she married his brother.

Of course the sexual chemistry sparks all over the place, otherwise it wouldn’t be a Rachael Stewart’s book! But it’s not only about those sparks.
It’s also about broken hearts, a great loss, coming clean and losing control over your own feelings.

I loved it, and it made this very warm summer even hotter! But it also was bittersweet reading about these two lovers who lost everything and are fighting back to win it all back!

A strange title but it will make sense!

Synopsis

Olivia Hamilton can do no wrong. Or at least that’s what the community of Fox River, North Carolina thinks of the odd but sweet young lady. She’s hiding a past she’d rather forget, engaged to the town’s most eligible bachelor, and longing for someone to see past the mask she wears. Olivia wants to find herself, forgive herself, and fall in love with someone who sees and embraces her flaws. 

Denver MacKenna grew up the fiddle-playing prodigy of not only his hometown of Fox River but of North Carolina and the surrounding states. He plays obsessively and tours as often as possible, escaping a life of loneliness at home. Until he meets a beautiful siren who calls to him and has him making plans to settle down. Denver knows it’s wrong to covet the elusive Olivia, but finds himself inexplicably drawn to the brief glimpses she gives him of her true self.

My review

Olivia Hamilton is the perfect daughter. She does whatever her parents want her to do, even if it means marrying someone she does not love.
But when she meets Denver MacKenna, she has to decide what her future will look like.

Will it be following her parents instructions, living a promised unhappy life? Or will she dare to take a leap of faith and follow her heart, even if it would mean to disappoint her parents again?

During the whole story, I felt sorry for Olivia. Having caused grief to her parents when she was a teenager, she is now determined to be the perfect daughter.
Yet this means that she doesn’t know who she truly is…
She is engaged, but it’s not about love, it’s about making her father happy. And that’s not what a marriage should be about!

So when she meets Denver, or rather, when Denver discovers her, I was happy for her. Denver was blown away by her singing voice, yet I found their dynamic just great to read about!

At first Denver is taunting her, persuading her to do things her parents wouldn’t allow. But soon it becomes more about just finding someone to sing his songs…

Because of a cheer coincidence, Olivia starts thinking about who she really is, and what she really wants. And has to make some hard decisions…
I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes!

I loved to read how Olivia become stronger, and her true self started to shine. I hated the parents and the fiancé of course, although I had to readjust my opinion over the mother… There was more going on than we thought, so I kind of was glad to change my opinion!

Denver turned out to be an amazing friend at first, but also a very patient man. He realizes that Olivia has to make up her own mind and he does not push her at all. Even when she seems to be ghosting him, he shows her his feelings are genuine and he truly cares about her, even if her feelings would not be the same.

This story was for me about finding yourself again, daring to stand up for yourself, and even go against your parents’ wishes.
It made me think about how lucky sometimes we can be, with having “normal” parents, just wishing truly the best for us, without a second agenda.
And that being you how you really are, takes courage, but the right people will appreciate and love you even more!