Tizi’s Book Review

Can a fresh start chase away the demons of the past?

Synopsis

Spring is in the air in Starr’s Fall, and for two people, love may be just a roll of the dice away…

As the frozen earth gives way to the first spring crocuses, pushing their way into the warmer air, Maggie arrives in Starr’s Fall. She’s looking for a new start, with her lovable but painfully shy teenaged son in tow.

It feels like the odds are against her, but she’s determined to come out winning this time, and to fulfil her dream of opening up a board game café. But not everything’s a game, and when she finds herself attracted to a man who’s known as a different sort of player, she worries she’s setting herself up to lose.

Zach is funny, surprisingly geeky, and, most importantly, bonds with her son. But Zach is also drop-dead gorgeous, has a reputation around town, and is also ten years younger than her.

When he asks her out on a date, Maggie is totally thrown. She can’t deny she’s attracted to him. But is she ready to risk her heart with another roll of the dice?

A totally gorgeous, unmissable, small town romance, perfect for fans of the Gilmore Girls and Virgin River, from million-copy bestselling author, Kate Hewitt.

My review

After losing her husband, Maggie and her son Ben need a fresh start. As Starr’s Fall is the one place that holds happy memories, the broken family decide to make the move. With Ben as inspiration, Maggie wants to open a board game café, hoping that it will allow Ben to become less shy and a happier teenage boy.
The community of Starr’s Fall is not only a curious one, but everyone is also rooting for Maggie. And Zach is not only rooting for them, but he is also ready to help them out. With a shared gaming interest, quickly a bond is made between him and Ben. But that is not the only bond, as he also shows an interest in Maggie and even asks her out on a date.
However, Zach has the reputation of being a player, not taking relationships seriously. And then there is also the fact that he is ten years younger than Maggie. So many red flags that make Maggie doubt about his intentions. But she cannot deny that she is in a way also attracted to him. But is she ready to take a risk, when it’s not only her own heart at stake?

It took me a minute to get reacquainted with Starr’s Fall. But once I did make the connection, I was completely back in. And I loved returning to this quaint place and reading this wonderful, heartwarming, heartbreaking and even inspiring story.

My heart went out to Maggie and Ben, as they have endured a terrible loss, and their grieve is very palpable. But it’s also clear that beside Maggie losing her husband, and Ben his father, there is something else haunting this broken family. Something that will take time to be revealed, yet I already had an indication of what that could be rather quickly.

Yes, it may seem strange reading how a new home was chosen based on a place they visited twice on holiday. But let’s be honest, many stranger things have happened in books, hasn’t it?

Yet that didn’t take away the fact that I admired Maggie for the choice and decision she made. It may not be easy to leave your home behind, even if it is filled with painful memories. That shows her dedication as a mother, as she would anything for Ben.

Opening a board game café may not be that evident, especially with a world where everything is getting digitalized. But I liked reading how Maggie wants to find a way to make it work, and how ‘old-school’ games and digital games find a perfect blend in this book. Even if greatest part of the mentioned games didn’t ring a bell to me 😊.

While perhaps Ben isn’t a main character in this book, it for sure felt that he is of great importance. Not only because he is the reason for moving, but also because he is the reason for Zach and Maggie getting closer.

Zach is from the start a great character. He is kind, understanding and helpful. And even if this is just a book, I could just see his gorgeousness.
But he is also perhaps the most misunderstood person of Starr’s Fall. Because everyone has a certain image of Zach, the image of him being a player.

And I felt confronted by that. Because what someone did in his past, is just that, in the past. Yet nobody sees the man that Zach is now, a man that gave up perhaps his own dreams, a man that has many great ideas but is facing the stubbornness of his own sister. A man that is looking not only for something that makes his heart beat faster, but also for someone that makes him feel like that.

But it was so heartwarming  to see the connection between Zach and Ben. How a game can bring two people together, people in complete different stages of their lives. And how an outsider is able to let a shy teenager, with many struggles and demons to fight off, to get out of his shell.

I liked it how the author added another extra layer to this story, by making Maggie the older character of the romantic pair. A woman that has already been through a lot, and is initially not ready to take a new chance at love.

It’s true that there are many prejudices in the world about a woman and a younger man. But does age truly matter? Isn’t the most important thing love? Age doesn’t make someone more mature or wiser, it’s life experience…

Of course there are several ups and downs in this book, but that is also they beauty of the book. Because a fresh start doesn’t mean a new life without struggles, or erasing the past. It doesn’t mean that that characters aren’t making new mistakes. But it all depends on how they handle those ‘downs’, and how they are during the ‘ups’.

This was a real heartwarming story, showing the strength of people, but also some weaknesses. But those weaknesses can turn us into stronger people. Stronger people ready to start over, to be welcomed in a beautiful community with great people, ready to help out.
I loved reading this book, as it can be used as an inspiration, because no matter how many lemons life throws you, there is always the opportunity and the help to create an amazing lemonade!

And today I am sharing this wonderful cover with you!

Synopsis

When Megan Johnson inherits an old cottage in the Welsh countryside, she seizes the opportunity to cut ties with her past life, after a broken romance. Her nearest neighbour, a horse trainer, is also something of an enigma. Single dad Glyn Phillips does his best to balance his love of horses and hard work, with his devotion to his son. When he meets his new neighbour, he knows he should resist any attraction. A feisty pony mare which mysteriously appears on his land adds to his problems, but another, larger problem lies ahead. Two matchmaking spirits find their carefully laid plans may not go as smoothly as they hope.

Pre-order Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Matchmakers-Mare-Hywela-Lyn-ebook/dp/B0DYF6L15C

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matchmakers-Mare-Hywela-Lyn-ebook/dp/B0DYF6L15C

About the author

Award-winning author, Hywela Lyn spent most of her life in Wales, whose beautiful landscapes and wealth. of myths and legends inspired her to write. A horse and dog lover, she weaves romantic Science Fiction adventures and fantasy romances set in Wales, past and present. She loves dreaming up characters who overcome the odds, and go on to find deep and enduring love. However difficult the journey, in the end love will always win. She  hopes her stories will truly take you ‘out of this world’.

Her penname, Hywela Lyn is a combination of her first two names. (She has always been known by her second name ‘Lyn’ and thought it was time her Welsh first name was used as well!) She is a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, and her local writing group, Chiltern Writers. Beloved Enemy, the third book in her Destiny Trilogy, was shortlisted in the Paranormal category of the prestigious Romantic Novelists Association RoNA awards and was a Runner up in the RONE Awards in 2017. When not writing or reading, she can usually be found outdoors with horses or her little dog – or just eating chocolate!

The cover!

When your helping nature is a win – win situation, or isn’t it?

Synopsis

Everyone in Halfmoon Quay, the picture-perfect village clinging to the edge of the Cornish coast, knows Rick Penrose is the person to turn to for help.

Friendly and reliable, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, he’ll do anything for anyone. When his teenage crush Anya moves back to the quay for a fresh start, he has the perfect solution. She needs a job and his great uncle needs help to run his hotel. It’s a win-win.

Following the death of her husband, Anya Stokes discovered everything about her life was a lie. Without her beautiful home and the luxuries she took for granted, Anya and her daughter, Freya, have no choice but to move in with her aunt and uncle in Halfmoon Quay.

As she begins to turn her life around, Anya realises the perfect man might have been right under her nose all the time. But there’s a fine line between helping and taking over and Rick doesn’t always know where it is. Then Anya discovers he’s been keeping things from her and it’s like the past is repeating itself…

Head to the glorious Cornish coast with bestseller Sarah Bennett for this unashamedly heartwarming and uplifting read. Perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

Rick Penrose is the kind of person that will go lengths to help out. Everyone in Halfmoon Quay know that, and always go to him for a word of advice or to help finding a solution to any kind of problem. So when his teenage crush Anya moves back, how can Rick not attempt to help her out? Because not only did Anya lose her husband, but him death also made her world fall apart, as the life she has been living has been all been a lie. Now she has to rebuild her life, together with her daughter Freya. While grateful that she can be staying with her aunt and uncle, Anya needs to build up a life from scratch, so different from her former life in luxury. Luckily her old friend Rick is able to help her finding a job, as his great uncle needs help running his hotel. Slowly Anya adapt to life in Halfmoon Quay, and old friendships are being rekindled. And she discovers that perhaps a quaint place life Halfmoon Quay may have everything she may need. Or will the thin line between being helpful and taking completely over being crossed, and revelations tear Anya and Rick apart, once again?

There are several certainties in life. And one of them is, that Sarah Bennett is an amazing writer that keep on giving her readers wonderful stories.

For once in a story, I could relate to the male character the most. Rick is always there, ready to solve a problem, to give some advice. Even if sometimes he wishes people would leave him alone, or just solve their own problems, when asked, he cannot ignore the call for help.

And I recognize that behaviour in some extend in myself, even if I am learning to be more ‘selfish’ and not just help out anyone, when helping out means doing something  I don’t want to do, or that it will cost me somehow.

Yet being helpful, and wanting to help is proof that Rick truly is a Good Guy. And yes, I say that with capital letters, because people like Rick aren’t found all that easily. And we should treasure these kind of people, as in a real selfish world, they are treasure to be kept.

Rick is also a family person, and with his large family, he has a big heart to let everyone have a piece of it. For family, he would walk on water. Even if that means that in order to help out his great uncle, he uses a little bit of blackmail, and he has promised to keep the truth hidden from his loved ones.

While it’s clear that Rick for sure does everything with the right intention, I could also see how things were weighing on him. He feels so much responsibility, and keeping secrets doesn’t sit well with him.

Yet it was great to see how his helpful character brought Anya back in his life. Of course they would cross paths easily, as Halfmoon Quay isn’t really the big city where nobody knows or sees you. But because there is a family link, and Rick’s kind nature, of course their meeting again is quicker than in other circumstances.

While I could easily relate to Rick, my heart went out to Anya in this book. Obviously losing your husband is something terrible. But for Anya, it goes much further than just that. Because after his death, Anya learned that her married life has been a lie, just like her life in luxury.

With a daughter to look after, Anya had no other choice than make the move to Halfmoon Quay, with her tail between the legs, having to rely on the goodwill of her family. And I could perfectly understand her feelings about it, because while you need the help, it takes a serious dent out of your pride to admit that you cannot make it on your own.

On top of that, we also learn that while being married, she also lost herself. Wanting to please her husband, who changed through time.

Not only this book is the story about two people finding each other, but it mainly, or at least to me, a story about finding yourself again. Yes, of course how Ricka and Anya are getting closer to each other. With Rick already having had a teenage crush on Anya, it feels like this time around, he has a real shot at winning her over. But he also realizes that the teenage Anya and the Anya of his crush, isn’t the real Anya, just like he isn’t the teenage Rick anymore.

Because both Rick and Anya have been pleasing people for too long, losing themselves in the process.

Rick is so used to help out, that he goes on autopilot and doesn’t always realize that sometimes, his help isn’t needed, or at least not in the way he gives it.

And Anya has to learn to find out who the real Anya is again. And she also has to learn to accept help, but also let people back in. Bringing down those walls isn’t an easy task, and not without any risk, as there will be hurtful moments. But is closing yourself off the right direction?

This story has several ups and down, involving Rick and Anya, but also the other members of the family. Halfmoon Quay, the Penroses and just life in general isn’t a picture perfect, nobody is perfect. Characters make mistake, keep secrets and make assumptions. But it’s what they, and we, do with those imperfections. Do we let them ruin everything, or do we forgive them and do we move on from them?

Sarah Bennett wrote a magnificent story, capturing the difficulties, the struggles of life, but also the warmth and love., She wrote a heart – warming story about finding yourself, fresh starts, and a possible potential that is just the beginning of something beautiful.

To restore an inn, to heal a heart

Synopsis

Bachelor best friends and steamy romance . . . Welcome to Cedar Falls. The emotionally riveting, uplifting and spicy small-town series from Cissy Mecca. Perfect for fans of Lucy Score, Elise Silver and Lauren Asher.

Rule one of the Bachelor Pact is simple: Never fall in love.

Temporarily returning home to Cedar Falls comes with mixed emotions. But having to work alongside the distractingly beautiful Pia, hired by my father before his unexpected death to run and restore my family’s inn, is a test I could do without. I don’t need help, especially from a stranger whose delectable body is inviting me to forget the most important rule of the Bachelor Pact.

I learned early on to avoid attachments, and Pia is completely off-limits. I’m technically her boss. Working together to renovate the crumbling inn, I try to shield my heart and ignore my body’s traitorous responses. But Pia’s laughter fills the dusty halls, melting my defences and testing my iron-clad resolve. But as each day passes, the thought of returning to my old life as a cop in the city and leaving Pia becomes more and more difficult. Now, with my future and an age-old promise on the line, I’m left wondering if I should finally crack open the door to love I sealed so long ago.

My review

Pia cannot wait to start her new job in Cedar Falls, after quitting her last job when she didn’t get the well deserved promotion. She knows that she will find many bright ideas to help run and restore the local Inn to its former glory. But Pia is shocked to hear that her employer recently passed away, and that now it’s his son Mason that is in charge. Mason himself does not know if he wants to stay in Cedar Falls and run the inn, as his life is somewhere else. So when he meets Pia for the first time, it is natural for him to almost literally chase her away. Yet soon Mason realizes that he needs help with the Inn, and thus Pia get her initial job back, even without knowing if there will be a future in it. The more time Mason and Pia spend together, the more the attraction starts to grow. But what Pia doesn’t know is that when Mason was in college, he made with his then – and – still – now best friends a pact. A bachelor pact, with the first rule being to never fall in love… Will the pact stand or will Mason be the first to break it?

It’s normal that there are books that seem to have a plot that you have already read before, with just a few apparent changes on first sight. But there are also books that seem to be like thirteen in a dozen, yet once you start reading it, you are aware that the story is for sure nothing like you expected it to be and you were sucked in without a chance of getting away from it!

And this book is one of those books, as I found myself just reading, and reading, and reading, and just had to know more.

From the very start, I liked Pia. Even if it felt not right that she quit her job of some macho behaviour, and she did not get the promotion she truly deserves. Yet I liked Pia because she decided to take the high road, and show her worth somewhere else.

It may not have been easy for her to walk away from what she knows, but it’s also clear that there has been a click with Mason’s father and made the move to Cedar Falls easier for her.

Pia isn’t the kind of girl to let a setback hold her down, so with the most positive attitude, she is ready to do her absolute best with her new job at the Inn. Of course as a reader we know that things will go down south rather quickly, as we know about Mason’s father passing. And that Mason isn’t that eager to continue with the family’s legacy.

I was a bit shocked at Mason’s behaviour when Pia enters his scene. I can complete comprehend that he may not be having an easy time, but being polite doesn’t cost a thing, does it?

But Pia may be on the receiving end of bad news, she doesn’t show and doesn’t let it pull her down. I could see how in her mind she was trying to come up with a new plan.

Now, it may be easy to get mad at Mason and his bad behaviour, but like I said, it’s understandable, losing your father unexpectedly isn’t easy.

He has also a lot on his mind. What to do with the Inn? Where is his own future? Is it back to his life or is a change of scenery, and returning back home in Cedar Falls what he truly needs? There is a lot of thinking he has to do, and it’s not an easy task.

I liked it though how his friends are the real kind of friends. They don’t hesitate to stand by their friend’s side, offering not only help, a figuratively shoulder to cry on, but also to be the voice of wisdom.

The friends go way back, as they met in college. And while their lives took different directions, they have always been there for each other. And that male boundary was in a way sweet to read. Because beside all the ‘macho’ behaviour, these friends truly care about each other. And of course there is also a lot of gentle banter between them, making me laugh in several occasions.

Of course we know that Mason are Pia, while working together, aren’t going to be able to keep their distance. And of course we know that despite their initial agreement to just go with the flow, and no expectations, that it will turn into another direction.

Once again, of course, I liked reading how Mason and Pia got along together, and those heated moments for sure are heated. But I was more curious seeing their emotional development. Because the Bachelor Pact that Mason and his friends made, is just a kind of excuse for Mason of not getting closer to anyone or get heartbroken. So how would things change with Pia?

I loved reading this book, as yes, there is spice in it. But we also see how a terrible event, like losing a parent, can be the start of reassessing your whole life, and make a change. And how it may put people on your path to reassess also made pacts in the past.

Both Pia and Mason grow a lot in this book, not only they meet someone special, but they also learn to understand that some feelings, like love, cannot be stopped, no matter how hard you try. And a change of life, a change of home, or rather a return to home, may be exactly what was missing in your life.

Cedar Falls for sure seems to be a place that will be having a lot of wonderful characters, with many stories yet to be told!

Is it all well that ends well?

Synopsis

Abandoned, penniless and orphaned as young children, Bertram and Alice saved each other from a terrible fate.

For seven long years they have been kept apart, Bertram, BJ to his friends, learning how to survive and then thrive in the penal colonies of Australia, and Alice growing her prosperous chain of bakeries in the Black Country town of Wednesbury.

Now BJ’s sentence is nearly up and he has a choice to make. Queen Victoria’s England has changed since he’s been away and so has Alice. Should he leave behind the life he’s built and face the terrifying, months-long voyage back home?

The memory of the boy who saved her from starvation by teaching her how to pick pockets has sustained Alice for all these years and now he may be coming back to her. Can Alice and BJ finally get their happy ending or does fate have other plans for the pickpocket orphans?

The Queen of Black Country sagas is back with an unforgettable story of friendship and bravery, heartbreak and joy. Perfect for all fans of Katie Flynn, Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.

My review

Even if they have been seven years apart, BJ and Alice have been able to maintain their friendship. Even living in different continents couldn’t break their bond.
Alice has been able to create a successful chain of bakeries in the Black Country town of Wednesbury. And BJ’s sentence is nearly over, meaning that he can finally move from Australia back home, even if his life and own personal success thrived in Australia.
But both BJ and Alice aren’t the children anymore that they were when they met. So will Fate them the final happiness they long for? Or is there something in store for the orphans?

Starting the last book of a series is always giving me contradicting feelings. While I want to see how the bigger story ends for the main characters, I am not always ready to say goodbye to them. And I of course also know that before there may be even an indication of a happy ending for them, things won’t be that straightforward.

Knowing Alice from before, from when she was just a child, and seeing her now as a grown up, somehow made me feel proud. Not that I have anything to do with the way she turned out, but still 😊.
She has come from very far, and perhaps not always in the most legal ways, yet she managed to not only have several bakeries of her own, but she also has the most loyal friends. Friends that are more family for her, even if there is no blood connection.

With everything that has happened to her, Alice is also the kind of person that has a lot of wisdom. What she sees, she has her own opinion about it, and her gut feeling often proves to be right. And that both when goods things appear to be happening, but unfortunately, also in the bad things. Life for sure brings experience and knowledge…

I loved reading how the friendship with BJ just keeps going from strength to strength. Distance and time do not have an effect on their reciprocal love and care. The pair of them bonded together in the direst times, and that connection cannot be broken by anything.

Not even the life that BJ seemingly has been building up in Australia. Yes, he has been sent over there as a sentence, but he has shown his worth, his loyalty and knowledge over the years, and with Mac it truly was more a father – son relationship than something more business or prison – like.

BJ has truly matured in a responsible, loyal, and reliable young man, and just like with Alice, I was very proud of his journey and his maturity.

Separately, their stories were already amazing ones, and I was eager to read of and when the friends would meet again. And of course, I was hoping for a certain direction the story would take, like everyone else I think 😊.

And it truly warmed my heart to read that first encounter, how easy it all felt for the both of them, like no years has passed at all. Once again only proof that the good kind of friendships may be tested, but that nothing could possibly break them.

Of course we also see how those around Alice and BJ are doing. And it’s not an understatement to say that also for them, there may be several ups and downs. But that’s life, isn’t it?

I truly enjoyed reading this last chapter, as it shows how no matter how bad things may start and continue in life, there is always hope, a ray of light and good things that will cross your path. Even if this story is taking part in a past that is darker, and luckily not something we may have experienced ourselves, there are lessons to be learned for all of us.

Is home truly where the heart is?

Synopsis

Welcome to Cosy Cove, where love burns brighter than any candle!

Beth Williams thought her dreams had melted away after a devastating breakup, but she finds a flicker of hope at Harbour Lights, her artisan candle shop nestled in the heart of Cosy Cove. But just when Beth thinks she’s content with her quiet life, a ruggedly handsome stranger threatens to reignite her carefully guarded heart.

Enter Jacob Lawson, a charming journalist whose assignment in the quaint seaside town quickly becomes more than just another story. As Beth introduces him to the town’s hidden gems—from the bustling summer fair to sunset walks on the beach—Jacob finds himself captivated by more than the scenery.

But as their attraction simmers, both Beth and Jacob must confront their deepest fears. Can Beth trust her heart to love again? And will Jacob choose the comfort of Cosy Cove over the call of his career?

Join Beth and Jacob on a journey of second chances, sweet moments, and the kind of love that makes every day feel like a summer holiday. Will they find the courage to embrace a future together, or will their fears extinguish the flame before it truly ignites?

Get ready to fall head over heels for Cosy Cove, where every page promises a warm hug for your heart. Perfect for fans of seaside romances, charming small towns, and love stories that sparkle brighter than the sea at sunset!

My review

Even if Beth Williams is still hurt from her heartbreak, she has everything she needs at home in Cosy Cove. She doesn’t need anything more than a quiet life and her artisan candle shop.
Yet when Jacob Lawson arrives at Cosy Cove, and Beth is the one helping him with his assignment for writing an article about the charming town, something changes.
There is an attraction between them and denying that is very difficult. But their attraction also means that both Beth and Jacob need to confront their own fears. Is Beth ready to open her heart for love again? And Jacob has never had the need to settle down anywhere. But is Cosy Cove that place or not?

There are stories of which you know that will make you feel all warm on the inside. And when it was this book’s turn to be read, I knew this was going to be giving me that warm feeling on the inside!

Often in books, the main characters leave their home, to return for one reason or another. But it isn’t all that often that the main character loves the place she is living in, and has always been living in. Yet that is exactly the case for Beth, as she couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to call her home like Cosy Cove. Why would she ever think about leaving Cosy Cove when even after a heartbreak, it still feels like home.

Of course, living in Cosy Cove isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, there is no such place on earth, but also life isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, isn’t it? And Beth for sure has learned that lesson too, after a heartbreak, losing her faith in love. 
Yet it’s clear that Beth is also the kind of person that doesn’t give up. In the sense that, no matter how blue she feels, she always tries to keep her head up, and is just a positive, chirpy, happy woman.

It’s also clear that if anyone is in need of help, any kind, they can always count on Beth.

And her helping character is what brings her crossing paths with Jacob.

Jacob is a journalist, with the task to write about Cosy Cove, but differently. He isn’t on the search for the typical local stories, but everywhere he goes, he tries to find a gem story that needs to be told. And who knows a place better, knows the real gems of a place, than the inhabitants of the place.

I truly believe that Jacob’s nomadic life wouldn’t be my cup of tea, but I also understand that there are people that have the need to go from one place to another, discovering the world, not having the need to put down roots.

So, in that aspect it was great to see how Cosy Cove immediately works its magic on him. How someone that has never wanted to settle down, is suddenly drawn to a place. And of course, it isn’t only Cosy Cove that makes Jacob think about where life will take him? Or rather, if it will take him somewhere else.

Beth and Jacob are very different, with different lifestyles and different life pace. Yet no matter how different their lives has been and still are, there is an instant connection between this lovely pair. An attraction that they cannot deny.
They cannot deny it, but that doesn’t mean they jump in heads first, without thinking about it. And that made me respect the both of them even more, beside the fact that I liked the both of them. It would have been very easy to write or read a story when the main characters give in immediately, without thinking about the ‘what next’.
Both Beth and Jacob are responsible people, knowing that every action has a reaction. And matters of the heart aren’t to be taking lightly. But they both also know that they have to face their own personal demons of the past before next steps can be taken.

I found this truly a heartwarming, sweet story, with also funny bits in it. Beth and Jacob are people that easily will steal your heart, but just all the people of Cosy Cove will be successful in that aspect. And I am not afraid to say that the quiet and peaceful place of Cosy Cove itself also stole a little piece of my heart…

Whatever you do, keep it professional…

Synopsis

Sometimes it’s fun to kiss and tell!

Sensible journalist Jess is not a rule breaker, especially where her career is involved. But trying to extract a tell-all interview from notorious art dealer and bad boy Xander Heaton is going to test her patience… and self-control. Because she must, at all costs remain professional, respectable and stay focused on the job at hand.

But it’s not long before Jess realizes that Xander spells trouble with a capital T and is living up to his tempting reputation! Trying to keep her distance, Jess decides that maybe she could break her golden rule, just this once to get Xander out of her system and her job back on track. But one night is never enough! And she learns that actually breaking her rules once in a while can lead to more fun than sticking to them!

My review

Jess feels that as a journalist, she needs a big interview, to show her talent. Because her boss for sure has given her several signals to step up in the game. So her task now is to get a real in – depth interview with artist Xander Heaton. Easier said than done, as Xander has a reputation for not only being elusive, but with his bad boy attitude, Jess not only has to show a lot of patience, but also she has to try to resist Xander. Xander, who not only is a recipe for Trouble, but is also in search for a new muse, as he wants to create art with a capital A. Yet he cannot keep his attraction towards Jess hidden… just like Jess… And what bad could one night of giving in do? As long as it just stays with one night of fun…

Whenever I start a new book, I begin with putting that book on my reading pile on Goodreads. And with this book, I was a bit surprised that seeing those first visible reviews, that there were a lot of people that had some difficulties with it.

But I have to say, that when I started to read, I found myself disagreeing with those reviews. Of course everyone has the right to his/her own opinion, and not every book is for everyone. So I was happy that I *did* enjoy reading the story of Jess and Xander.

I felt sorry for Jess, as it’s clear that at the beginning of the story she is under a lot of stress. Being a journalist alone is already difficult enough, but as she feels that her job may be at risk and she hasn’t had the chance to show her worth yet.

It’s obvious that Jess has a great work – ethic. When she accepts a job, she wants to do it well, she wants to paint the right picture of the subject of her interview. She wants to get to the bottom but without crossing any lines, or even getting too close.

And it saddened me to read how closed – up she always is in a way. Her past relationships weren’t all that great, in any aspect, and that made her even more insecure than before. While in fact it has been just a matter of not meeting someone who knows what is needed.

I liked her resolution to write a great article, no matter how difficult her subject is, no matter what his reputation is. She doesn’t take up his b*llsh*t.

It wasn’t always easy to like Xander, especially at the beginning of the book, as he clearly shows his playboy – attitude, thinking mostly about only himself. And not taking in account other people and their feelings.

Yet once in Italy, there is a shift in their relationship. A shift that made me see Xander in a complete different light. Because yes, he is still this flirty man, but he also shows a Xander that not many people see. The way he doesn’t let Jess stay in a terrifying hotel, the way he gives her the space she needs, but also breaks down her walls. The way he shows patience with her, in several different occasions and ways.

But especially the way he is able to open up himself, to show his own vulnerabilities with Jess, like he never could with anyone else…

And I liked it how Jess is able to let go too, once again, in more than just one way 😊. How she slowly lets Xander in, showing her own insecurities and is able to tell him where they come from.

Of course, Xander is a man, and often men just don’t get women. And so while he thinks he is doing something amazing, he doesn’t seem to understand how that is exactly the opposite of what Jess truly wants.

Yes, there is a lot of friction in this book, yes there is a lot of spice in this book. But there is also a real journey in this book, for both main characters. Both Jess and Xander have a lot of unresolved issues, and with their unconventional time spending together, there is an opportunity to get closure from those issues.

But they also grow in the sense of opening up, letting people in, and finding perhaps the most terrifying feeling of them all, love…

I enjoyed reading this story, seeing two complete opposites taking important bits from each other, learning from each other, and allowing to let go in front of each other. A story that has much more depth than I initially expected and I loved reading every bit of it!

When the man you have been writing is not the man you meet, yet a bigger problem arises…

Synopsis

Right girl. Wrong Earl.

Lydia Hope-Wallace’s secret life as the anonymous author of rebellious political pamphlets has led her into a correspondence with the charming Earl of Strathrannoch. When she learns he’s in dire financial straits, Lydia sets out for Scotland to offer him a marriage of convenience – to, erm, herself.

Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch is stunned when a bewitching stranger offers him her hand in marriage. But when he realizes that his traitorous brother has been writing to her under his name, he’s bloody furious.

Desperate to track down his estranged sibling, Arthur needs Lydia’s help. What he doesn’t need? The attraction that burns hotter each moment they spend together. As Lydia slips past his defences, Arthur will have to risk everything to keep her safe – even his heart…

My review

Lydia Hope – Wallace may be a heiress, but she prefers being a wallflower than the centre of attention. And being a wallflower is also the perfect cover – up, as she secretly is the author of several seditious pamphlets. Pamphlets that not everybody would agree with, yet somehow Lydia has found a kindred spirit in the Earl of Strathrannoch. Even if they have not ever met in real life, they have corresponded almost from the moment she wrote her first pamphlet. When the Earl, Arthur, informs Lydia that he has financial issues, Lydia sees this as a perfect opportunity. As an heiress, it’s expected from her to get married, and with her inheritance, she can help out Arthur. But when she arrives in Scotland, ready to propose the marriage of convenience, she is flabbergasted when Arthur seemingly doesn’t know her. And quickly they realize that it has not been Arthur corresponding with Lydia, rather his younger brother. A younger brother that now appears to be plotting and part of British espionage. So even if the last thing Arthur needs is a woman ready to marry him, he knows that with joining forces, he will find his brother again. But what he didn’t count on, was feeling sparks flying around the more time he spends with Lydia. Sparks that he tries to ignore, but for how long is that possible?

There are so many Regency stories, that the authors need to find a way to stand out from all the rest. An yes, authors can spice things up, but that isn’t always working, and for sure not for me. I am not against spiciness in books, but I need also something more than just that.

And luckily, Alexandra Vasti has found a perfect blend in her Regency stories!

Even if initially I found Lydia’s idea of marrying Arthur a bit strange, I cannot deny that I admired her courage. Not only because she does this her way or no way, but also because she is way ahead of her time. She doesn’t just follow the rules of society, but makes up her own mind, has ideas of her own instead of just accepting once again what society tells her.

So I found it hard to connect this strong – willed Lydia with the Lydia that is ready to have a marriage of convenience. Even if her chosen partner is Arthur, a man she has been corresponding with for a long time and share the same ideas, and even if she may help him out financially, would she really do such a thing?

And perhaps, even if it didn’t come as a surprise, I was happy reading how her plan fell apart, as Arthur has absolutely no idea who Lydia is when she stands at his door. Not because I am an evil person, but because Lydia deserves more than just a marriage of convenience…

The same of course also applies for Arthur, even if we don’t know him all that well at the start of the book. But I quickly understood that he too is one of the good guys.

Even if he isn’t having an easy time himself, and being an Earl doesn’t mean he doesn’t have financial issues, he does the best he can. I liked it also how he isn’t prejudiced at all and accepts people for who they are.

But it also saddened me that he feels that he has failed in a few aspects, even if he is doing his very best to make things right again…

So I could understand as him feeling a failure, a loner, for ‘rejecting’ Lydia and not just her proposal but her presence too. Until he realizes that there is a bigger picture and that he must protect and save his brother…

And there is one person that knows his brother and can help him… Because his brother has been telling Lydia a lot in his letters, of course. And I could not wait to see what Arthur’s brother truly was up to, and if Arthur and Lydia would manage to find him. But most importantly, I wanted to see how sparks would fly around 😊.

And fly around they did! Not only did those sparks spice things up a lot, but those same sparks also made both main characters believe in something they never did believe in.

The more time spent together, the more Arthur and Lydia get to know each other, and no, not only in a physical way 😊. They understand each other, even if they are different. Yet they don’t want to change each other, they accept each other differences.

I loved reading this book, as it shows that even if plans don’t go as expected, it can bring the right thing on your path. And that differences aren’t always made to be changed, but that they will be accepted by the right person.

This book gave me enough different vibes, from spice to fierceness to action to love, it made me keep on reading! like I said, this author just found her own perfect blend to make a unique and wonderful story to read!

Everyone deserve a second chance, but does everyone feel the same?

Synopsis

oman with a dark past…

Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she’s trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them – to rebuild her life and move on.

When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books the perfect place to find happiness – even if it is all lies.

But the past can never stay hidden…

As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen’s new life and ruin everything she’s built.

But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again…

Don’t miss another page-turning, nail-biting read from the queen of psychological thrillers, Valerie Keogh! Perfect for fans of J.A. Baker, Keri Beevis and Nina Manning.

My review

After been in prison for manslaughter (of her own partner), Helen is ready to start again. All she wants is a quiet life, forget about past mistakes, and move on. And opening a bookshop is not only something she always dreamed of, but will also give her a place to find her own happiness. But no everyone is happy with Helen being free again and owning a bookshop. Someone doesn’t believe that Helen has paid enough for the crime she committed and is adamant on sabotaging everything Helen is trying to rebuild. However, Helen won’t let anyone scare her away, and she is ready to fight against whoever is against her…

I am a believer that if someone paid for their crimes, and have truly remorse for what they did, they deserve a second chance. And there is also the fact that we should think about why a crime has been committed, what pushed a person that far?

We know what Helen did to her partner, and she has paid her dues for it. But it’s also clear from the very start that there is more to her story than what she initially shows and tell us.

But that doesn’t take away that in a way I admired her determination. The determination to put the past behind her and pursue her dream of opening a bookshop. Although I have to say that I had my doubts seeing the place she wanted to buy. Stating that it would need some TLC would be a real understatement!

I understand that not everyone would be happy with Helen being free again, but I was happy to read that she has the full support of her sister. It is not easy to find loyal and loving people, but also it is not easy to be that loyal and loving person…

Helen knows she has to face a lot pf prejudice, but she won’t let other people’s opinion stop her, because she knows that in her bookshop, not only will she find her peace, but she will also find people with the same love of books.

But it was also understandable that Helen is rather wary of all the new people in her new life. She knows how people can be, and that how they act in front of you isn’t always what they would say behind your back…

Helen is faced with the characters of people, with plenty of them not being the good kind of people, people that will play you, people with a second agenda, and people that pretend. Her wariness only increases by the human behaviour, making her even more resolute to not being played by anyone anymore.

But that is of course easier said than done. Helen has a lot of baggage and we don’t know all of it yet, but all she wants is to move on, and not being haunted at home or at the bookshop. I felt the anxiety, the fear in her place, the fact that she doesn’t feel safe anywhere… Yet I liked it how she doesn’t show her fear to anyone, as she won’t allow her persecutor chase her away.

Now, I have to say that I didn’t understand all the choices Helen makes in this book. Sometimes she is being too wary, while on other occasions she is being too trusty? It felt that at moments she was fighting the wrong fights, the wrong enemies.

While perhaps not all twists and turns were that surprising, there still were a few that did do actually that.

Yet it also felt to me that this isn’t just the story about Helen getting out of prison, wanting to start over and facing some difficulties. But it felt to me that it was also a story about how things from your childhood form you to the person you are now. And towards the end we also see how the same events can be seen in a different way, how you experienced something, is experienced in a complete different way by someone else.

I truly enjoyed reading this story, with complex characters. Characters that want peace, characters that want happiness, characters that support, characters that love, but also characters ready for vengeance…

But most important, characters that don’t give up easily and will fight for that same peace and happiness.  

When suspicious things happen at night…

Synopsis

How can one 12-hour night shift be so deadly?

I loved the anonymity, flexibility and solitude that working the night shift at Storage Queen gave me.

The unsociable hours paid well, helping me fund my university degree and giving me a quiet place to study while the world slept peacefully in their warm, cozy beds. It was the perfect job for me.

But that Friday night proved to be more than I bargained for when a man walked through the door, dragging a large suitcase.

My immediate instincts told me something was wrong.

That’s when my ordeal began.

I just had to make it through the night shift.

A pacy, heart stopping, page turning thriller for the fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell.

My review

While not everyone would like to work the night shift, for Nina it is the perfect solution. As working the night at the Storage Queen gives her the chance to study while guarding the place. Until one Friday night… when a man walks in with a large suitcase, Nina immediately senses that something is not right. And then Nina’s normal 12 hours of peace and quiet turn into a real nightmare, where surviving the night shift is her only goal…

There are several reasons why I would never ever want to work the night shift, in any sector. And while I am the right person to work that shift, I have the most respect for people who work that shift, as I know that it isn’t always easy. The reasons I would not be great as a night – shifter, is that for one, I am not a night person at all. And second, it’s because of books like this one, that I would be too terrified to be all alone and I would freak out with every noise that I would hear.

And I admired Nina, for not working the night shift, in combination of getting her medical degree. Even if she starts the shift after just breaking up with her boyfriend, she doesn’t let the heartbreak stop her from doing what must. Once again, I don’t know if I would be able to work that kind of shift, especially after what just happened to her.

As a reader, we already know that this night shift is going to be a real nightmare for Nina, and we know right from the moment that the stranger with the suitcase enters, the game starts. And even if Nina doesn’t know it yet, she feels that something is off with him, by just her gut feeling. This only shows how right our primal instincts can be.

I also liked it how Nina isn’t a Wonder Woman at all. Yes, she goes investigating what is happening, but she is also just a woman of flesh and blood, with vulnerabilities. The fact that Nina is diabetic shows this vulnerability, fragility.  We see how that affects her, and how it weakens her. Her being diabetic shows in a physical way how vulnerable people can be, not only physical but also on other levels.  Yet Nina doesn’t let those issues hold her back, in fact she is more determined than ever to fight back.

Initially I didn’t believe how much could possible happen in ‘just’ 12 hours, but now I know that in fact, a LOT can happen. Whole lives can be turned upside down in just one night. And revelations and discoveries can be made you would never have thought of.
Because let me assure you this, that Gemma Rogers for sure knows how to add twists and turns to this already gripping, terrifying story. Twists and turns that I did not see coming. Twists and turns that add even more unexpected layers. Twists and turns that made me question humankind even more…

This is not the kind of story you want to read to have a relaxing evening, to take your mind of all the worries and problems of the world. This book for sure added more fear, wariness and suspiciousness. And more resoluteness to never ever work a night shift in my life!