Tizi’s Book Review

Stars in the eyes, stars on the island, love in the heart?

Synopsis

Will sparks fly at Hollyhock Farm this summer?

When a hit TV series sets up camp at Hollyhock Farm, Jersey’s tranquil lanes are turned upside down. Radio DJ Callum Preston is used to high-maintenance guests – but nothing prepares him for interviewing the star-of-the-hour actor Riley Sharp, or meeting his beautiful, overworked PA, Tasha Dodds.

As Callum and Tasha grow closer in the island sunshine, the farm becomes the backdrop for more than just the cameras. But with paparazzi scandals brewing and Callum’s family thrust into the spotlight, will their Jersey summer end in heartbreak – or be the start of something wonderful?

My review

As a radio DJ, Callum Preston is the local celebrity. But his status compares to nothing when a TV hit series is shooting at Hollyhock Farm. The peace an quiet of the Isle of jersey is out of the window, especially as the star of  the show, actor Riley Sharp is ready to swoon everyone over, for his own benefit of course. Erratic behaviour that drives his PA, Tasha  Dodds crazy. Not only now, but the years that Tasha has been working for Riley, Tasha has been wondering how much more she can take. When Tasha and Callum meet, there is not only an instant connection and understanding, but the more Callum shows Tasha the beauty of the isle, the more Tasha questions where her future may lay. But no matter how much feelings may be growing between Callum and Tasha, with Riley’s reputation and paparazzi lingering around every corner, even putting Callum’s own sister in the spotlight, what will happen when the summer ends, and the shooting is over, and thus Tasha will be leaving?

There are places that grew on me by just reading books with that setting. And the Isle of Jersey is for sure one of those place I have never visited, but that I have started to truly love and appreciate, together with its wonderful community.

A community and especially Hollyhock Farm that has opened for the shooting of a series. It for sure sounds something out of this world, how of all the places, people have chosen this place to make the series. It may be even something to become starstruck about, having actors and crew wandering in the place that you call home.

But no matter how starstruck we may be, we also know that not all actors or famous people are that great or kind in real life, than how they make themselves appear. And that for sure is applicable for Riley Sharp.

He is obnoxious, rude, mean, and truly believes the sun shines through his you-know-what. And I couldn’t just understand how his lovely PA, Tasha, could keep up with his behaviour. And then we aren’t talking about his on – and – off relationship. If Tasha cannot keep up, who else could possibly can?

Even if Tasha is questioning how long she can keep up with Riley’s actions, the fact that she hasn’t run away yet, shows her levels of loyalty an forgiveness. In a way, she knows that Riley is testing everyone’s patience and that she could or should have left a long time ago. Even if it isn’t the first time, and it won’t for sure be the last time that Riley is testing Tasha, she won’t just give up on him or on her job. That shows also her determination.

A determination that causes her many headaches, worries and sleepless nights, so is there a better place than Jersey to kind a calmness and peace again, despite Riley? And is there a better person to show her that peace and quiet, with surprising places, than Callum?

Right from the start we know that Callum is yes a busy person, but also who truly treasures his family. Of course, just like with every family, there are moments they get Callum on his nerves, but the love he has for each member of the family wins each time over the stress they cause him.

With the birthday party for his beloved Grandpa, it is just a matter of time before he meets Tasha. And his natural kindness and gentleness makes is so easy to understand why these two people connect.

It was so sweet to see how well Callum and Tasha understand each other, and just how good they get along. The both of them have been through a difficult time (and perhaps are still going through), so I could for sure appreciate the pace of their story.

While there is an instant connection, they both not only take things slow, but they for sure take their times to get to truly know each other, to understand each other. And that is something that sometimes in books is hastened too much.

And with so many issues around them, not only Riley’s constant irritating behaviour, but also how things apparently explode unexpectedly, involving Callum’s sister. Perhaps I would have loved reading more about that evolution, seeing their own storyline and how things turned out the way they do, but I was more than happy with this lovely, sweet story.

I absolutely loved reading this slow-burn story, returning to a place that I love. In this book, we see that you can find someone special in an unexpected way, but to make haste decisions is never a wise decision. Both Callum and Tasha know what they feel, but they also want to give each other the much needed freedom, without ever wanting to pressure each other in making a decision when the time may not be right yet.

And that made me not only appreciate the main characters even more, but made me also appreciate the author even more. Because love and life decisions cannot be taken without thinking through things. Something that even in real life we should think about…

But how wonderful it was to return to Jersey, to meet new friends, but also old friends! This series and this author manage to never disappoint!

When past and present collide in an unexpected way…

Synopsis

A love that will change them forever

A treasure that will bring them home

West Mercia, AD 873 – Merewen’s settlement is on guard against the outside threat of the ‘Heathen’ Norsemen. But for Merewen, the real threats come from within, as her future is cruelly snatched away from her.

Eirik, a Norseman, finds himself abandoned and injured after his uncle’s plunder of Mercian land goes wrong. He thinks his fate is sealed – until Merewen saves his life.

Hereford, Present Day – Left reeling after a huge betrayal, Alix moves to her grandfather’s farm in Hereford to heal her broken heart. There, after being given a family heirloom, she soon finds herself haunted by memories of a life she never lived, a relationship she never had, and a time in which she never existed.

Local farmer Noah is being hounded by the police to find the Viking hoard that his sister and her criminal boyfriend stole from his farm. Noah must prove his own innocence while struggling to decipher the curious connection he has to newcomer Alix – a bond that seems to transcend their own reality.

As they search for the lost treasure, Alix and Noah start to feel the whispers of a love they never expected, one powerful enough to echo through history.

My review

After having her heart broken by two people closest to her, Alix couldn’t be more happy to move to her uncle’s farm in Hereford. Being away from her family, Alix hopes to let her heart heal and with a new job she hopes it will all work out for the best. Weren’t it for the fact that strange things are starting to happen, ever since she has been gifted a family heirloom. Because every time she touches the crystal pendent, she is brought back in a faraway past, with a man she has never met, with a life she has never lived. And when she meets her neighbour Noah, on whose own farm has been found a Viking hoard, things become even more intriguing. Because while Noah wants to protect his sister, he cannot avoid the fact that she and her criminal boyfriend have tried to sell illegally all that has been found, causing even Noah being haunted by the police. Noah is determined to find the rest of the reassure, while at the same time he tries to understand the connection he has with Alix. Could there be a link with Merewen and Eirik, who met in West Mercia in AD 873? Merewen just has all her future snapped away from her, in favour of her own sister. With no happy prospects in sight, Merewen is wary when she discovers a hiding Norseman, Eirik. Eirik is tired of the plundering and just wants to settle down, even if that isn’t what his uncle wants. And when Eirik is injured and abandoned, he thinks that this is it. But he didn’t count on Merewen and her ways to heal people. With so different lives, how do Alix, Noah, Merewen and Eirik connect with each other, through time and space?

Is there a better feeling than knowing when you start a book, not only with a dual timeline, but also from an author that you just know that will pull you in her story and will captivate you?

I am always very curious when reading dual timelines, how those two stories will connect. And yes, perhaps the way it works out isn’t something I would believe in the real world, but in books anything can happen.

What I liked in a strange way in this story, is how alike all the characters are. Both Alix and Merewen are facing a betrayal they didn’t expect, ruining in fact the plans that the both of them had. And it felt also significant that the betrayal they had to endure, was done by the same connection.

But what I liked about both characters, these women, despite the heartbreak, are strong women. They have been hurt but are determined to take their future in their own hands, and find in their own way happiness again.

Especially in Merewen’s story, we see how this woman, limited in doing what she truly wants, finds a way to do what not only is what her heart tell her to do, but what in fact is just the right thing to do. Even if that means helping out someone who could perfectly be your enemy.

With Alix and Merewen we see how people around us can hurt us, but we see how strong women can be, and how life can turn around.

The same can be said of Noah and Eirik in a way.

Both Noah and Eirik are in a place in their lives they don’t actually want to be anymore. Noah’s life is turned upside down by his sister and her boyfriend and their criminal activities. And while it is obvious what the right thing to do, just like a real big  brother, Noah wants to protect his sister, and believe in the good of her.

Eirik has had enough of going from place to place, plundering and even killing. All he wants is to settle down, but because of loyalty, he keeps on doing the plundering even if his heart isn’t in it. Out of loyalty he does what he doesn’t want to do, but that loyalty and love is not reciprocated as after a fight he is just being left behind without a second thought…

And it was in a way bittersweet, seeing how Eirik is grippling at his life, fearing this may be the end for him, then seeing an angel, obviously being Merewen, to his rescue.

I loved reading how each character, at a bad time in their lives, find each other. Perhaps they don’t have the best first meetings, but reading how slowly they start to see each other in a different light, and understand each other, just warmed my heart.

While each character has own trauma, problems to get over, finding a companion, a friend, an ally, helps to move on, to see a way for a different direction.

And that is the strength of the story, or rather stories. Because no matter what curveballs life throws you, no matter what betrayal you have to endure, no matter in what era you are living, all it can take is meeting one person who is able to change just everything…

I truly found this a great story to read, bringing past and present together in a beautiful way, showing us not only how people can hurt us, but how people can heal us…

When returning home means to fight for it too…

Synopsis

From the USA Today Best-Selling Author Terry Lynn Thomas
An Apple Butter Christmas
A Heartwarming Small-Town Christmas Romance

Coming home for Christmas was supposed to be temporary—until love, legacy, and one unforgettable orchard changed everything.

Welcome to Hartstone, where the snow is deep, the secrets are deeper, and love might just get a second chance under the twinkling lights of the town Christmas tree.

Diana Marchcroft didn’t plan on returning to Hartstone, but when her beloved aunt is injured, Diana leaves the city behind to help save her family’s struggling apple orchard. What she doesn’t expect? The fight of a lifetime and the survival of her family’s heritage. The orchard is at risk of being developed into an exclusive golf course and destination wedding venue.

Alex Kelley thought he’d buried his feelings for Diana after their relationship ended abruptly on the night he planned to propose. When he unexpectedly bumps into her, he realizes that some embers never go out.

With the town busy with visitors for the annual Apple Butter Festival, Diana and Alex discover that sometimes Christmas miracles come wrapped in second chances.

If you love:

• Cozy snow-covered small towns
• Second-chance love stories
• Orchard festivals and secret kisses under the stars
• Family, friendship, and a sprinkle of holiday magic

…then curl up with An Apple Butter Christmas, a feel-good romance that will warm your heart like a mug of hot cider on a winter’s night.

My review

Diana Marchcroft ran away from her home in Hartstone, after being heartbroken by Alex Kelley. She has avoided coming back home many times, but when her aunt is injured, Diana doesn’t hesitate to return to not only help her aunt out, but also to save her family’s legacy. Because their apple orchard is at risk of being bought and turned into a golf course and destination wedding venue. Diana is not ready to give up her home without a fight and tries think of ways to prevent the sale, even if that means to move back home herself. Even if that means she bumps back into Alex… Alex who never understood why Diana left her home, him and broke his heart on the night he wanted to propose. But when two hearts have been broken, is there still something left of their feelings? And with joined forces, can the orchard be saved, just like Diana’s and Alex’s love?

When I started reading this book, I had to look op what apple butter is. Because those first chapters, I found it difficult to comprehend what products were made at the apple orchard. So not only did it enlighten me but it also put a smile on my face when I realized it can be compared to appelstroop, something that is made in Limburg in Belgium, my home 😊.

Another thing I was wondering at the start of the book, is what made Diana run away from Alex? Because reading how close they have always been, and how one night it all ended, I couldn’t link those two things. But of course I also believed that what happened then, truly hurt Diana leaving her no other option than leaving.

Even if Diana ran away from Hartstone, the fact how easy she returned, shows that she is not only a kind and loving person, but also the fact that she has missed her home and her loved ones who are living in this community. And that despite that the man who broke her heart is also in Hartstone.

While her choice for leaving was for herself, the fact that without a doubt Diana returns back home, shows us that she has her priorities straight and that she put others’ need before her own.

I liked reading her fire in this book. While she understands why her beloved aunt wants to retire, just like I could understand it, she also holds on to the family legacy. It’s not because she hasn’t been living in Hartstone or at the orchard, that she doesn’t care about it.

Not only does Diana has fire, but also Kiera won’t go down without a fight. She also cares about the orchard, and not just because it is her job. She truly wants the orchard to flourish, literally and figuratively. I liked reading how many great ideas Kiera has, and how entrepreneurial Kiera is.

While I liked reading those bits, reading how one character is playing dirty, even spreading lies and sabotaging the orchard, made my blood boil. I could comprehend the situation Meredith finds herself in, but is her way the only way? I don’t think so…

And not only the way Meredith acts involving the orchard, but her behaviour in general was just not likeable at all. The sneakiness, the desire to make people get things wrong, especially where Diana and Alex are involved…

Alex… he for sure shows what it means to be a good, righteous man. And what it means to love someone even if they broke your heart…

Alex is the kind of person that wants to help out everyone, who wants to give everyone a second chance. He also believes that someone should not pay for the errors of someone else. And he is the kind of person to rather have someone in his life as just a friend, than not having that person in his life at all.

But he is also the kind of person that enough is enough. He gives everyone a (second) chance, but he won’t let anyone fool him or his loved ones.

Of course with two broken hearts, I was curious to see how things would be resolved. And in a way, I found it sad reading how things were ended in the past without any clear explanation. Because all this could have been easily avoided with just communicating…

And we see in this book how much that is actual key… Not only between Diana and Alex, but with others too. It may be difficult to be open about everything, but when you do, you know exactly where you stand and what the truth is, avoiding miscommunications.

Being human means making mistakes. Perhaps some could be avoided, perhaps not. But it is important that we learn from our mistakes, that we forgive (but not let take advantage of us neither! 😊) and that we can put the past behind us and look forward to a happy future.

I cannot wait to read this one!

Synopsis

Some places are special enough to heal hearts… Welcome to Little Beaubrook

In a tiny English village hidden away for decades, the mists are parting to reveal a manor which glows gold and tumbledown thatched cottages that have been waiting for the right people to rebuild them.

On moving in day, a diverse group of new neighbours have only two things in common. Their hearts have been broken in some way, and they’ve all signed a contract with some very strange stipulations, including buying one of the cottages for a pound. As Chair of the commonhold association, Albie Curville hopes that by sharing his late wife’s rules for living he can bring these reluctant strangers together to fulfil her dying wish before he runs out of time… and before they discover his secret.

When their newfound community – built on kindness, friendship and a manor with a long history of helping those in need – is threatened by an outside source, can they finally overcome their pasts to save Little Beaubrook and seize the second chances they deserve?

Come and visit this magical lost village for a cosy, feel-good story about love, found family, new beginnings and the healing power of community. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Jenny Colgan, Evie Woods and Phaedra Patrick.

Pre-order Links

UK  – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magical-Beginnings-Little-Beaubrook-heartwarming-ebook/dp/B0FVNQC7S8

US – https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Beginnings-Little-Beaubrook-heartwarming-ebook/dp/B0FVNQC7S8

About the author

Bella Brightside is a multi-published, award-nominated romance author who writes under several pen names and had commercial success with her novel The Last Charm. Owned by a husband, large family and two naughty beagles, she drinks too much coffee, buys far too many books and spends her nights wondering how a sentient village would behave. 

You can find her on Instagram at @authorbythesea1207.

She is represented by the literary agent Rachel McMillan.

Time for the cover!

Can Christmas wishes come true?

Synopsis

After one toxic relationship too many and more failed jobs than she can count, spirited Scarlett Finch has lost her sparkle and doesn’t think she can face this year’s festive season. The last thing she expects is to land a Christmas job at Glenbriar’s Little Station Bookshop, especially not thanks to a slightly unhinged older woman with a parrot, a pug, a wild imagination, and some crackpot ideas for displays – not to mention a flair for making unexpected decisions, like hiring Scarlett without telling the owner.

Widowed dad-of-three Lloyd Miller is just trying to keep life on track. Between moving house, juggling his day job, and preparing to take over the bookshop from his retired mum, the chaos inside the shop is the last thing he needs, particularly when it includes Scarlett, the woman he shared a no-strings summer fling with… and hasn’t stopped thinking about since.

While Glenbriar twinkles with Christmas lights, both Scarlett and Lloyd are haunted by their pasts, drawn together in their present, and uncertain of their future.

A bookshop full of anonymous wishes might just give them the courage to make their own – but with neither convinced they deserve a second chance, it’ll take more than festive magic to open the book on a new romance. They can’t change the past – but they can still choose how the story goes.

My review

Scarlett Finch knows everything about toxic relationships, as she has been in several ones. Relationships that have led her into making mistakes in the past, making her lose her sparkle and joie de vivre now. With all her loved ones around her being in a happy place, Scarlett has never felt more alone and lonely, especially with Christmas looming around the corner. And having no job, doesn’t make it easier for her to see things from the bright side. Until one day, she is looking at a Help Wanted sign at Glenbriar’s Little Station Bookshop. And before Scarlett knows it, the old woman in the store, with a pug and a parrot, has given her a job without even consulting the owner. The owner who happens to be the mother of Lloyd Miller, with whom Scarlett has had a summer fling with. Lloyd is struggling with the loss of his beloved wife, looking after his three children on his own, having a new job and at the same time taking over the bookshop from his mother. So with too many things on his mind, he is shocked to find Scarlett in the bookshop. But at the same time, he is also happy to see her again, as he hasn’t been able to forget the young woman that rocked his world that summer… However, both Scarlett and Lloyd are not only scarred but also haunted by their past and with too many differences and much more important priorities, even their Christmas wishes couldn’t come true, or can they?

There were several reasons I was happy to start reading this book. Not only do I love the stories this wonderful author writes, but I was also happy to return to Glenbriar, residence of many of my friends by now. With several books in this series, it feels like truly being welcomed back by all my friends that I made with each book. But as Scarlett isn’t a complete stranger, and I know about that trip that took place in summer, and what she has been through, I truly wanted to see how her story would turn out to be.

Right from the start, I still felt sorry for Scarlett. She has been through a lot, has met many wrong men and has made several mistakes already in her young life. She is at a point in her life where she wants to make a change, but she is also struggling with turning that leaf over.

I was cheering for Scarlett, having everything crossed that she would find her own happiness and that she would understand that making mistakes is just human. I could also see so clearly that Scarlett has learned from her mistakes, and just how much she has matured from our first encounter with her till this very book.

I loved reading how Scarlett rather by accident ends up getting the job at the Station Bookshop, not only because of the force of nature that Eunice is, but also because Scarlett admits herself that she hasn’t picked up a book for ages. But just like Eunice, I could feel that Scarlett was just the right person at the right place. Not only to help Eunice out, but also to give the bookshop a much needed injection of change and spark.

But most important I was also very eager to read how Scarlett and Lloyd would find each other again and if there would be any chance of that fling to evolve into something more important. Even if it may seem the wrong time and place…

Lloyd… there is so much going on in his life now, and unfortunately, not all has been a wonderful time.

Reading his background, learning about all that has happened and is still taking place, getting to know his children, well, it broke my heart…

Of course losing someone is painful, and losing her in that way, even more terrible. However how much Lloyd is still hurting over his loss, he knows that his children need him now more than ever. And while Eve, his eldest daughter may not agree with his choice, I could understand why Lloyd made the choice to move to Glenbrair.

It is not only to have a fresh start, but also and mainly to have the comfort and help from family around him. But being reminded with every turn around the corner what they have lost as a family, to be reminded of what they all have endured, and who has left is, isn’t the best way to start look forward again.

Now, it is not that Lloyd is in any way looking for someone new, because his priority is only on his children. He just wants to see a smile back on their faces, and he wants them to be able to not forget their mother, but to think about her with happy memories.

I had to laugh a little bit, reading how both Scarlett and Lloyd are flabbergasted when they see each other again. They never thought they would ever meet again, so while it was funny as a reader, I could understand the short circuit in their minds.

While of course I wanted Scarlett and Lloyd to find each other immediately again, I appreciated how Margaret let the main characters take their time. Not only because it was initially a bit awkward, but also because both Scarlett and Lloyd know that no matter what they may or may not feel, they aren’t the priority. Especially Scarlett shows a great maturity in knowing that Lloyd should and must only focus on his children.

Children who are not only struggling with the move, but are still grieving (and understandably) over the loss of their mother. And it felt so real to see how each child or teenager is coping with all what has happened to them.

And seeing how Scarlett wants to help each of them out, but without crossing a line anyhow, shows us once again how good at heart she truly is. She knows what matters, when to offer help but also when to take a step back. But also not letting anyone belittle her anymore.

I liked in this book there is a special place for the Christmas tree where anyone can hang their own wishes in. And it was sweet to see how there are of course some superficial wishes, but more important, how there are wishes from the heart…

The story of Scarlett and Lloyd couldn’t be more fitting for a Christmas story, because it is a beautiful story about yes pain and grief, but more important about second chances, growth, love, matureness, understanding, respect and even forgiveness.

To refind the city of/ you love, to refind yourself, to refind more too?

Synopsis

Every moment of your life is a second chance…

Thirty years ago, Kitty Collins was a confident, carefree fashion history student living her best life in Paris. But then Tomas Laurent broke her heart and she retreated back to England.

A year later, Kitty’s a married stay-at-home mum and those big hopes and dreams have been replaced by nappy changes, school runs and dinner parties for her husband’s Academia colleagues.

Now 50 and recently divorced, Kitty is empowered to embrace single life and finally makes plans with Sasha, her daughter, to return to the city that stole her heart to move forward with her life.

But when a chance encounter awakens feelings she’d forgotten she had Kitty begins to wonder whether the ghosts of Paris should be left in the past.

With the help of old friends and new friends, can Kitty discover the woman she’s supposed to be and fall in love with the City of Light once more?

My review

At the age of fifty, Kitty recently divorced from her academic husband. A divorce is never easy, but hers is rather amicable and there still is a mutual respect and of course the love they both have for their daughter. Perhaps the life Kitty had, isn’t the life she envisioned as a young woman. Because once upon a time Kitty used to be a confident, carefree fashion history student, enjoying life and love in Paris with Tomas Laurent. Until Tomas broke her heart and she returned back to England. Being free to do as she wants, Kitty not only decided to celebrate her fiftieth in Goa with daughter Sasha, even making a new friend that persuades her to visit back the city she used to love, Paris. Empowered and ready to find herself again, Kitty decides to spend some time in the city that made her lose her heart. And with new and old friends, Kitty may find not only herself again, but even more?

Perhaps the main character in this book, Kitty, cannot be further away from myself. Not only is she more than a decade older than me, she is also a mother and has been married. But also, as a young woman, she has been studying and living in Paris, while I never left the comfort of my own country for a longer period.

It is clear that the young Kitty and the Kitty of now couldn’t be more different. Of course time has passed, and you mature, you change not only because you get wiser, but also because the turn life takes. And it is obvious that what happened in Paris with Kitty all those years ago, changed Kitty.

Kitty has become a more subdued, plainer version of the woman she used to be. It even felt for me, that when she got her heart broken in Paris, she just settled and stopped following truly her heart and her passions. Not that she has been living a life that she regrets now, but it is obvious that she has lost herself in all those passing years.

The story starts with her and Sasha being together in Goa, celebrating Kitty’s birthday and fulfilling one of her dreams. I was a bit surprised reading how easily especially Sasha just befriends everyone, being too trusty even? Of course, her open character is what makes Sasha her unique self, but I don’t think I would act in the same way Sasha does. But of course, that makes Kitty also become close friends with someone she meets there.

And I liked seeing how her new friend makes her understand that a broken heart in Paris means that she should also stop loving Paris. With her new friend, Kitty finds the courage to return to the place that she used to love.

It is in a way courageous, because Kitty isn’t just going on a short city trip, but she want to stay in Paris for a longer time. And I could understand that, because it is not only that she needs to fall in love with Paris again, but she also needs to fall in love with herself again.

Now, I need to say, Paris is a lovely city, but it is also a big city. So I found it a bit hard to believe how she just bumped into her old friend. But on the other hand, it also serendipity, as that encounter would be in fact what Kitty truly needs, for both her past, her present and her future.

I liked seeing Kitty’s confidence grow the further the story evolved. With her old and new friends, she comes out of that shell she has been for far too long. It was sweet how those friends (still) could see the real Kitty, the Kitty that desperately needs to emerge quickly.

That is the also the strength of this book, because with friends and their confidence in you can make you make self-confident and more courageous, to make choices that just a short ago you would be scared to be taking.

Of course Paris wouldn’t be the City of Love without some romance in it.

Just like young Kitty, I was rather disappointed in young Tomas and his behaviour and lack of courage and responsibility. But I could also understand the pressure he was on, and not being able to pursue his own dreams.

Yet the Tomas of now for sure has grown. Yes, he has made mistakes in the past but somehow also found a way to make his big dream come true. And even if he has achieved it, he still has regrets about the past…

Perhaps I would have liked to see more about Tomas and his own growth, but the focus was righteously so on Kitty. Because she has to go through the biggest growth in this book. She has to learn to grow confident again, to learn to love and like herself again, and to trust herself again.

And that is the important message of this beautiful story. Life can throw you curveballs, and life doesn’t always go as expected. And that can make you change yourself. But it is important to always be your real self. And if you have lost yourself, it is important to find yourself again. Because you are amazing, you are confident and you are more than good enough!  

When a fresh start doesn’t turn out as expected

Synopsis

🍂 Sparks are flying in more ways than one…

After years of juggling teaching with volunteering, Polly is finally ready for a change. When she lands her dream job at Meadowfield Nature Reserve – with the promise of a promotion in three months’ time – she trades in the stress of the classroom for the beautiful autumn days of the Cotswolds countryside.

Pennycress Inn is the perfect base for her fresh start: charming, cosy and filled with friendly faces. But everything changes when Zac, her attractive but infuriating ex-colleague, arrives. He’s here to take up a post at the reserve too – and is also staying at the inn! Worse still, the promotion Polly was counting on is suddenly up for grabs – and Zac’s her biggest rival.

With three months to prove herself, Polly must navigate village life, unexpected emotions and a career-defining challenge. As tension simmers and fireworks fly, will Meadowfield become the place she truly finds where she belongs – or will she be forced to walk away from everything she’s dreamed of?

My review

Polly is ready for the job she has been dreaming of. No longer teaching and volunteering, because not only did she manage to get the job at Meadowfield Nature Reserve, but she has also been promised a promotion in three months’ time. Momentarily staying at Pennycress Inn is just perfect for her, as she also get to know the community. However, what Polly didn’t expect is that Zac, her ex – colleague, has also applied for a job at the Reserve and is also staying at the inn. And to make things even worse, the promotion Polly was promised, isn’t a given anymore… Now Polly has to fight for the promotion, in a job that is not what was agreed earlier. And Zac being her biggest rival, especially as Polly hasn’t forgotten how he has been giving her a cold shoulder after her farewell party at their previous school. Three months for Polly to prove her worth, three months where tensions are building, but also three months where fireworks are flying around. But what will happen after those three months?

When I started with this book, I had already a smile on my face, just because I was so happy to return to a place that feels so warm, lovely and welcoming.

I am not the kind of person that can make life – altering decisions. Even changing a job for me means applying internally because I am a bit afraid of where I will end up. Yet I admired Polly with her choice and decision to not only go for a anew job, but also make an actual move.

Of course, as she is already a volunteer, it is obvious that her new job is something Polly is truly passionate about. I could understand that it would make all those changes easier, even if there is always and understandably a little bit of trepidation and a little bit of fear.

Now, wherever you work, there are always colleagues that you like more and some that you like less. But I couldn’t understand what has happened between Polly and Zac, because before the party, they seemed to get along pretty well. And yes, I could comprehend in a way that things would be a bit awkward. But that Zac would be totally ignoring Polly, that I couldn’t understand. That also made me rather dislike Zac…

And yes, I admit, that I was rooting for Polly all throughout the story. I wanted her to get the promotion, to come up with the best ideas to not only get more donations but also more visitors.

Not only because I am rooting for women all the time, but mainly because Polly deserves it. She needs this fresh start, she needs to feel home somewhere new. She hasn’t had the easiest times, and it’s clear that she is still hurt over the losses. So of course she deserves to be happy!

To only have Zac appearing and ruining everything! 😊

To start liking Zac, it wasn’t easy… He isn’t a bad man, not at all. But because we have only one side of the story, we don’t know what Zac has been and still is thinking. And we don’t know his struggles. What I can say is that Zac for sure can play a part, as he makes it all seem so easy what he is doing, but is hiding what is troubling him…

And once we start to see the real Zac, how could I not like him? It starts with little things, things he initially may seem to be doing reluctantly. And then we see the caring side of Zac, the Zac that sees more than Polly makes him believe. And the more we see the Zac that starts to open to Polly, admitting his own fears, doubts and struggles. But also his feelings and emotions…

And seeing Polly and Zac joining forces, understanding each other a lot better, was so heartwarming. Seeing them growing closer, admitting their real feelings shows us that in fact, how someone acts, doesn’t always represent their emotions or inner turmoil.

I also have to say that, how lovely was it to see my old friends again, and see how they are thriving!😊 Seeing them all again, and seeing how welcoming and accepting they are towards both Polly and Zac made me even more wanting to stay at Pennycress Inn myself! 😊

Sarah Hope wrote a beautiful story, about how starting over perhaps doesn’t always go as expected. But even if things go differently, it doesn’t mean it goes exactly how it needs to go. Starting over yet the recent past resurfacing can make you understand previous behaviours and make you see what you didn’t understand or comprehend. And starting over with someone ‘old’ can perhaps bring you what you never thought could be happen to you…

This author made me feel not so terrified anymore about a fresh start, as long as there is heart and love involved! 

Check out this cover

Synopsis

A new kind of yearbook has arrived for founders, dreamers, and doers. The Entrepreneur’s Almanack is a funny and deeply personal chronicle of what it feels like to start a business from scratch. This third in a series of short yearbooks celebrates the underrated art of entrepreneurship and a key aspect of the same: namely, success in business has more to do with intangibles than we care to admit. 

The guesswork and the gut, divine providence, even dumb luck are all players and should be welcomed round the table, not ignored at the fringes.

The Entrepreneur’s Almanack is the cosmic crutch you never knew you needed in business, but shouldn’t be without.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FVM42P26

Publication Date – 14th November

About the author

When Robin Bennett grew up he thought he wanted to be a cavalry officer until everyone else realised that putting him in charge of a tank was a very bad idea. He then became an assistant gravedigger in London. After that he had a career frantically starting businesses (everything from dog-sitting to cigars, tuition to translation)… until finally settling down to write improbable stories to keep his children from killing each other on long car journeys.

The cover!

Going back is not taking steps back…

Synopsis

Sometimes the only way forward… is to go back.

When Rowan Bellamy’s marriage collapses in spectacular style, she retreats with her two children, Bella and Theo, to the last place she ever wanted to return—her windswept Cornish hometown of Port Agnes. Taking the headteacher role at the local primary school is the easy part. Facing village gossip, curious neighbours, and old flames? Not so much.

Especially when one of those flames turns out to be Nathan Lark — the boy who broke her heart and the man who now has a reputation as bruised as her own. With his young nephew Leo a pupil in Rowan’s school, she and Nathan are thrown into each other’s lives once more. And whether she likes it or not, the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore.

As salty sea air begins to soothe old wounds and Port Agnes slowly feels like home again, Rowan must decide if she’s brave enough to let go of the past and open her heart one more time.

My review

Rowan never thought that the lack of passion in her marriage would end in a terrible discovery and the actual end of her marriage. Not being able to stay at the place that was her home for a long time, Rowan decides to take her children Bella and Theo and move back to her hometown, Port Agnes. She is ready to start again, with a new job as headteacher in the local school and rekindling friendships with old friends, and making new ones. But picking up the pieces of her life is not that easy, especially as in villages like Port Agnes, curious and gossiping neighbours are common. And when Rowan crosses paths with Nathan Lark, tings get even more complicated. Because Nathan is Rowan’s old flame, but with him being Leo’s uncle, a pupil of Rowan’s school with special needs, their paths cross more than it normally would. But despite the chemistry and sparks flying around between them, Nathan has a bad reputation and even has spend some time at his Majesty’s pleasure. Both Rowan and Nathan are still coming to terms about how their lives have turned out to be, so the last thing on their mind should be the sparks between them. But that is easier said than done…

Whenever I start reading a book of this wonderful author, I know that real life is being put on hold. House chores, cleaning, even sleeping, it can all wait because I have this book to read! 😊

Marriages that end aren’t a rarity anymore in the current world. And while it is always a sad thing, it can happen… So while I knew that Rowan’s marriage wouldn’t make it, I was still a bit shocked at the true reason.

Shocked, but also a bit sad. Because without giving anything away, we see how people cannot be their true selves, and have to pretend for ‘the bigger picture’. And nobody shouldn’t be able to not be their real selves, life is too precious to put on a mask and pretend.

What also saddened me, was reading how Rowan loves her husband, but how there isn’t any passion in their marriage. Of course, with the shocking revelation, it makes sense why that is lacking. But it saddened me as Rowan never got to feel that real passion, that deep love, those fireworks that spark with every touch, with every kiss.

Another thing that saddened me, was reading how Rowan feels that she cannot stay at the place that has been her home for so long. I know that her move is necessary for the storyline, but still 😊. It angers me how people are afraid of the gossiping, bad looks and looks of pity, even if Rowan in this case has done absolutely nothing wrong.

It broke my heart a little bit, reading how not only Rowan but also Bella and Theo need to adjust to their new lives in Port Agnes. Especially as the children don’t know the real reason of the move and the split of their parents (yet).

Starting over is not easy, adapting to not only a new life, but also returning back home, where a lot has stayed the same, but at the same time, a lot has changed too. Rowan is obviously doing the best she can in the situation she finds herself in, always putting her children first.

But not only as parent we see what kind of person Rowan is, also as a headteacher and a person in general, we see that she has a caring heart, wanting to help wherever she can, always having the right priorities.

The right priorities, even if that means putting her own feelings aside. Feelings concerning Nathan Lark…

Nathan… what a man that he is!

As an uncle he would move earth for Leo, there is not one thing he wouldn’t do for his nephew. And seeing their relationship was so heartwarming… Not only Nathan’s relationship with Leo, but also with his own brother, Will. I know how it feels having a great bond with your sibling, so I could understand and I could recognize the connection the two brothers have.

It is not a secret at the start of the book that Nathan has made a mistake in the not so far away past, but also that he has paid for it. And it angered me reading how some people are still condemning him. Especially as the committed crime is in my opinion not a that terrible one. And with the circumstances, it was even understandable…

Both Rowan and Nathan are not ready to give in to their feelings, with everything that has happened recently in their own lives. And with both not coming completely clean, there is always a certain level of trepidation.

On the other hand, it was so sweet to see how they are ‘forced’ spending even more time together because Theo and Leo become instant best friends! 😊

It needs to be said, my heart broke reading about Leo, but I also admired his mindset. It cannot be easy being restricted like he is, and knowing what the future may bring. But his positivity is something to truly admire! Leo for sure is an inspiration!

This is not only a story about second chances, but it also like the title says it, about letting go of the past. The past can be a burden, as we see with Rowan and Nathan. And there are and always will be people that will never let us forget about mistakes that we have made. The past shouldn’t be allowed to hold us back. Yes, we should learn from the past and from the mistakes, but it shouldn’t be a reason of not starting to live again, to love again, to allow love again.

Jo Bartlett not only captivated me with this wonderful story, she also brought me joy with it, she inspired me and made me believe in the good of people again.

Can Christmas bring that extra magic?

Synopsis

Can the happiest time of year heal the most broken of hearts?

Georgine loves Christmas. The festive season always brings the little village of Middledip to life. But since her ex-boyfriend walked out, leaving her with crippling debts, Georgine’s struggled to make ends meet.

To keep her mind off her worries, she throws herself into organising the Christmas show at the local school. And when handsome Joe Blackthorn becomes her assistant, Georgine’s grateful for the help. But there’s something about Joe she can’t quite put her finger on. Could there be more to him than meets the eye?

Georgine’s past is going to catch up with her in ways she never expected. But can the help of friends old and new make this a Christmas to remember after all?

My review

After the breakup with her ex, Georgine’s life isn’t an easy one. You may think that a breakup may be difficult, but her ex left her with debts, making Georgina struggle to make ends meet. However, the financial worries won’t stop her to love Christmas. She is even organizing the Christmas show at the local school. And when with the arrival of Joe Blackthorn comes also extra help for that same show, Georgine couldn’t be more grateful. Yet there is something about Joe that Georgine recognizes, but cannot put her finger on. What Georgine doesn’t expect, is that somehow her own past is catching up with her, making her question everything once again. But will this Christmas be the one where all the pieces finally fall into the right place?

I had one big issue while reading this book… The main character’s name is Georgine, but each time that name appears, I read it as Giorgina, as that is my mother’s name 😊 So that also made me see each time my own mother in my mind and not the character that is closer to my own age and not to my mother’s 😊.

But if that is the only issue I have with this book, well, that isn’t really an issue, right? 😊

I found it difficult to understand how Georgine could live like she is at the start of the book. While of course her current situation isn’t caused by her own, it angered me reading how she is paying the price for the mistakes of someone else.

It is also clear that in her past something has happened, causing other financial issues. But as this isn’t made clear from the start, I didn’t know what to expect as a revelation, making my mind also going wild, thinking of the strangest things that could have happened.

But even if Georgine has struggles, I liked reading how she loves Christmas and how she wants to all she can for the show at the local school. A local school that truly could be an inspiration for other, real schools.

I also admired Georgine, how she is looking after her father, without making him feel like any kind of burden, even if he isn’t the fit man he used to be. Also when her sister appears on her doorstep, Georgine is ready to help Blair.

But don’t get me wrong, Georgine is ready to help all her loved ones out, but she has learned her lesson and she is not just letting people walk over her.

When Joe Blackthorn arrives in Middledip, it is obvious that he has a history with the place and with some people. But it is also clear that in a way, he is running away from something.

My heart broke when discovering Joe’s background. What he has been through as a young child, is something that nobody should go through. A child needs to have a worry-free upbringing, having fun, feeling loved and cherished.

Yes, he has made mistakes in the past and even not so far away present. But I couldn’t blame him, because it is all obviously linked to the way he grew up…

I also have to say, I could understand why Joe is keeping his real identity hidden from especially Georgine, but I could also understand the anger, disappointment and mistrust from her side, when discovering who Joe truly is.

Not only with Joe, but also with Georgine, we see how the past can burden you, and affect your present and your future. It is difficult to get rid of that burden, to make people understand that you are not the same person you once were.

But we also see that no matter what has happened to us, the essence, what makes us us, never changes. Because we see that Joe made mistakes with the influence of others, but that his core is an amazing person.

And seeing how Joe and Georgine are finding each other again, after all those years, how that connection they both believed they had as youngsters, somehow managed to stand the test of times, was just so great and heartwarming to read.

Of course, there are several ups and downs both Georgine and Joe have to overcome,  and there are still secrets being kept, out of shame or fear, but also here, the core of their feelings never changed.

And that is the power of this book, showing us how people can turn their lives around. But also how strong feelings and emotions can be, no matter how much time has passed. And that around Christmas, anything can happen, and even insurmountable things can be solved, if you just believe and have faith, trust and love.