‘Welcome To Pennycress Inn’ – written by Sarah Hope #BookReview @SarahHope35 @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

A fresh start never comes easy, does it?

Synopsis

Laura wants to shake things up. She’s thirty-eight, and has been living in her parents’ house since her divorce last year. Her siblings seem to have got their lives together: successful careers, happy marriages, beautiful children.

Laura’s determined to prove herself. And buying the beautiful Pennycress Inn in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Meadowfield could be just the way to do it.

But getting the inn ready for its first guests proves easier said than done! With crumbling walls, dangerous woodwork and loose roof tiles, not to mention unfriendly locals and even errant sheep, Laura soon fears she’s made the wrong choice.

Luckily a friendly face is on hand in the form of gorgeous chef, Jackson. But is he too good to be true? And just why are the villagers so against her?

Can Laura turn her life around and get the fresh start she longs for at Pennycress Inn?

My review

After her divorce last year, thirty – eight – year old Laura is ready for a fresh start. Her big dream has always been running an Inn. And now that she has the time and the resources after her settlement, she can realize that dream after purchasing Pennycress Inn. And Meadowfield is the best setting in her eyes, as it’s a place where nobody knows her, and nobody sees how her life has been a succession of failure, especially compared to her family. But her dream may not be that easy at all to realize, as the Inn may need a lot more TLC than expected. And the locals aren’t that welcoming at all.. But luckily her neighbour is not only someone she knows, but also more than willing to help her out. Hopefully with the help of Jackson, Laura can do what is needed for the Inn, but also change the opinion of the locals. Will this be the fresh start Laura needed?

The start of a new series from an author that I love, always make me feel both excited and a bit scared. With the background that I had, will the series live up to the high expectations I have? Will the story enchant me like the others did?

Yet rather quickly I found myself absolutely enjoying reading this wonderful story, and any fear or doubt just evaporated!

Even if Laura starts buying an Inn, and that is not something I could possibly do myself, there for sure were many, many other things that made me truly like the main character. Not only like her, but it was also easy to recognize many of her thoughts and even doubts. I easily connected with her, and I had everything crossed for her so that everything would work out for her. Of course I knew she would have some bumps on her way, but I felt that she deserved the fresh start she that much needed.

I could understand why she needed a fresh start, how she feels like a failure compared to the rest of her family and how she wants to show that she can make it on her own. And on her own also means away from her family. Perhaps that sounds weird, but her reasoning made perfect sense to me. Because being close means also means that they can interfere anytime, even it’s with the best intention. And what Laura needs more than anything else, is proving her worth. Not only to her family, but mainly to herself too, even if she doesn’t know this yet.

I have to say, it didn’t come as a surprise that the Inn isn’t exactly ready – to – business, yet the level of TLC needed, even I underestimated it. But once again, I could understand why Laura failed initially to see all the defects of the inn. When you fall in love with a place, you see it only through rose – tinted glasses…

What shocked me the most though, was how everyone behaved around her… Being wary of the newcomer is understandable, but I found everyone just rude! I don’t know if I would be able to keep calm like Laura does…

And while the explanation of their behaviour was reasonable, I found it also a bit short – sighted of everyone…

Despite the ice-cold welcome she receives from everyone, I was absolutely thrilled to read that someone was over the moon with her arrival in Meadowfield. Jackson isn’t a complete stranger and that made it just even more perfect for me. There isn’t this awkward getting to know each other, there is just genuine care between them, a happiness of finding each other again, and a wonderful, strong connection.

In this first instalment we not only see how Laura is trying to realize her dream. But we see more importantly how Laura understands that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. We also see how she finally sets some boundaries with her family, making them understand why her marriage ended and that family always comes first.

But we also see courage in many aspects. Not only courage to start something completely new, but also courage to open up again, towards your family, talking about the hurt and pain you feel, but also opening up for something not exactly new, yet new at the same time. Opening up for finding happiness again.

I absolutely devoured this book, Sarah Hope swept me off my feet with this first book of a brand new series. While often in a first book in a series it’s exploring the “area”, this book just lets you enjoy the beauty of a fresh start, and let you fill your heart with joy and happiness! I cannot wait to read more!

‘Wish You Weren’t Here’ – written by Portia MacIntosh #BookReview @PortiaMacintosh @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

When to make a point at your sister’s wedding and you bring your ex…

Synopsis

Don’t get mad, get Ethan!

Lana has had enough. Her ‘perfect’ sister is getting married. In Australia. On Lana’s 30th birthday and no one seems to have noticed. To make matters worse, she’s been given a list of rules she must follow so she doesn’t upstage the bride. Well, rules are meant to be bent right?

She’s found a killer dress, now she just needs the most inappropriate wedding date she can find. But where to start? All her attempts at online dating are simply disasters, and not in the right way! Too boring/married/easily intimidated! But then her drop dead gorgeous ex Ethan suddenly reappears in her life. With the power to make her dizzy with excitement she reminds herself why they broke up. Together they literally attracted chaos until their relationship imploded. They couldn’t make it work. But could Lana make this work in her favour… just for the wedding?

However, when they arrive in Australia Ethan seems to have forgotten he’s only there to help cause bedlam. Instead he’s off the charts charming, nothing like she remembers and not playing by her rules. She’s here for revenge, not a rekindled holiday romance…but Ethan has other ideas!

A laugh-out-loud, fake dating romantic comedy from million-copy bestseller Portia MacIntosh

My review

Between siblings, there is always a bit of rivalry, between the love. But for Lana and her half – sister Persephone it’s different… Ever since her father married Seph’s mother, Lana never felt more disconnected from her own family. Things aren’t made any easier as Seph has decided to get married on Lana’s thirtieth birthday, of all days. And when Lana is being summoned for an intervention from her father, stepmother and Seph, she decides she had enough. So the with her new determination to bend the strict rules, she finds a killer dress, and now she needs to find the perfect date. Or rather, the most imperfect date, as that is what everyone expects from her. But finding someone (im)perfect is easier said than done, until her ex Ethan shows up again. Whenever Lana and Ethan were together, it was a recipe for chaos and disaster. And the perfect plan comes up, because that is exactly what Lana needs, to bring a little bit of chaos (without disrupting the actual wedding of course). However, once in Australia, everyone is besotted with Ethan, and Ethan himself is on his best behaviour, having Lana’s back and being the best boyfriend she could imagine. But it’s all pretend, isn’t it?

Starting a book of this author, is always preparing myself also for a trip filled a lot of fun! And with a setting like Australia, it felt like an extra cherry on top of the cake!

Lana is right from the start a very likable woman, even if there are several aspects of her life that i felt sorry for.

In several aspects of her life, things aren’t going that greatly, and it’s not that she can rely on that many friends. Also at work it seemed to me she is being taking for granted, even in a way taken advantage of, and she is not always being appreciated. Normally there are always some colleagues that turn into friends, but even there Lana feels rather lonely. And then I am not talking abut how she is being ridiculed when she brings up an idea that doesn’t sound so silly to me!

So when at the start of the story, when she first meets Ethan, she playing pretend, I saw it more from the funny side, like intended, and not in a more “evil” way.

And I for sure found it funny to read about that encounter with Ethan, and how things turn in utter chaos, on top of the sparks that fly around between the pair.

Of course it’s clear that after that first encounter, things aren’t going to last, so while that made me sad, as they for sure were amazing together, I also wanted to know what separated them and what would bring them back together.

But like I said, there were several aspects that saddened me, and even angered me. What angered me the most was the relationship with her father, her stepmother and her half-sister. I can understand that things cannot be easy when there are ‘step’ and ‘half’ family members involved. But just wow, Lana for sure hit the jackpot…

I cannot understand how dismissive her stepmother could be, how easy it was for her to paint Lana as the black sheep of the family, and not taking Lana’s feelings in account at all.

And how so is someone selfish about a milestone birthday? Becoming thirty is not nothing… I rather found Speh rather selfish, planning a wedding on your sister’s birthday? Even if there isn’t a close bond between them, there should be at least some sense?

Perhaps it isn’t the best idea Lana has, but I for sure couldn’t blame her. When someone thinks the worst of you, don’t you just sometimes want to show the real worst of yourself? Yet I was happy that Lana wasn’t a total cow and wanted to actually ruin Seph’s wedding, as that would be too much and would in fact also ruin the story.

Trying to find the best worst date was so hilarious to read! From trying to be bad, to be just a scumbag, Lana sees them all. And while there are several red flags (pun intended, and you’ll get it when you read the book 😊) I somehow also admired Lana in a way of not running away screaming… Although there was also a dodged bullet…

It was like serendipity that it’s then that Ethan appears back in her life… And despite everything, despite all the chaos, sparks starts to fly once again!

I loved to see how Ethan is not only acing at being the pretend boyfriend, but he is also the best ally Lana could have in Australia. He sees her for who she is, appreciates her just the way she is, and does not want to change one bit of her. He is her accomplice all the time, showing her family that Lana is an amazing person, and not the black sheep or the ‘just plebs’…

Perhaps Lana’s behaviour could be seen as childish, but after being seen for so long as the ‘bad person’, can you blame her? I cannot guarantee that I wouldn’t act the same way!

What we see in this book is a story about acceptance, being you is more than enough. And if there is someone who doesn’t appreciate it, it’s their loss. But it’s also a story about accepting the chaos of life and love. It’s also about new chances, understanding and courage.

Portia MacIntosh managed to put all this in a hilarious, warm, lovely story. A story for which I had high expectations, and it didn’t disappoint one bit! 😊

‘A Love Like No Other’ – written by Kate Frost #BookReview @katefrostauthor @rararesources @BoldwookBooks

What you want isn’t what you always get…

Synopsis

Four women struggle with their life choices and the hand fate has dealt them…

All Pippa Green has ever wanted is marriage and kids, but at thirty-four and about to embark on IVF, her dream of having a family is far from certain.

Pippa’s younger sister Georgie has the opposite problem, juggling her career, her lover, a young daughter and a husband who wants baby number two. She seems to have it all. But does she?

Carefree Sienna, Pippa’s best friend, is happy travelling the world with her successful career in film, however, long term boyfriend Ashton is desperate for Sienna to commit to their future. When mother nature has a surprise, will it make or break them?

Happily married Connie shares her fertility journey with Pippa, but while their blossoming friendship is cemented through the highs and lows of shared experiences, Connie underestimates the impact being unable to conceive will have on her and her marriage.

As their lives collide in a way they could never have predicted, will any of them find lasting happiness?

Perfect for fans of Rowan Coleman, Dani Atkins and Sian O’Gorman.

Previously Published as Beneath the Apple Blossom by Kate Frost

My review

Pippa Green’s greatest wish is to become a mother. But after many attempts and having reached the age of thirty – four, she has no other option of trying to get pregnant through IVF. She and her husband are looking forward and have the most positive attitude.
Pippa’s struggles are the total opposite of her younger sister’s Georgie. After marrying young, she now has a lovely daughter, and her husband is ready for Child Nr. 2. But Georgie isn’t sure wanting the same…
Through a blog that Pippa set up, she meets Connie. A worry shared is a worry halved, and having to go through the same journey bring Pippa and Connie closer and they quickly become friends.
The contrast between Pippa and her best friend Sienna couldn’t be bigger, as Sienna does not want any commitment even if she is in a steady relationship with her boyfriend Ashton.
Four woman, four different lives, find themselves all connected one way or another, but where will Life take them?

Sometimes you read stories that just hit right home, even if perhaps the situation the characters find themselves in, is not the same situation you are in.
And this story was just exactly that. Not that I am trying for children myself, but having children has always been a dream of mine, but as I still haven’t found my perfect match, and being 38, that dream is locked away now.

But that didn’t take away the compassion I had for especially Pippa in this book. There are people in the world that were made to become parents, and from the very start, it was clear to me that Pippa was one of those people.

As the main focus is on her, it’s her that we get to know the best. And through everything, every step during her journey, I was hoping alongside with her that her dream would finally and asap come true.
I admired her, her courage to persist and I liked her ability to write down her happy moments but also the painful moments.

Even if not in her same situation, I could comprehend how difficult it was and even is for Pippa to see people with children, how easy it was for them, while she has to struggle. And it broke my heart for her…

But I could also understand how difficult it can be for those around her. Because it’s not easy having what someone wants to dearly. But on the other hand, you deserve your own happiness too. It’s not easy to try to be compassionate but also not to hide your own moments of happiness.

I have to admit, it was not easy to like all the characters, or at least at some moments. For example there is Georgie… This is a young woman that seemingly has it all, yet she cannot shake the feeling that she is missing something in her life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling that way, but it’s what she does with those feelings that I found it difficult to digest… There are always options to make a change, but of all the options she had, for me she made the only wrong choice…

Also Sienna wasn’t always an easy character to understand. She loves Ashton, her boyfriend, but for some reason or another she does not want any kind of firm commitment. I can understand that you can need your personal space (believe, I can relate to that very easily 😊) but I also found her at moments a bit too convinced of not giving up on anything.

Even when the unexpected happens to Sienna, I felt her at moments being a cold character. Life is about compromising, and yet it seems that she only wants others to compromise… But I was happy to see a slow change in her the more the story progressed.

Connie doesn’t appear immediately in the story, yet I could see why she gets along with Pippa so easily. It’s not only because they are going through the same, but also Connie is a kind character, a compassionate and understanding person.

Yet when the penny dropped with her story, my heart just broke in tiny little pieces. Because she doesn’t deserve to go through what she is going through…
At the same time, she also shows a resilience, a strength that is admirable. I don’t know if I would/could act the same way!

Despite the many difficulties in this book, the many heartbreaking moments, I found it rather easy to devour it. It shows the reality that no matter how much you want something, it doesn’t mean that you can get it easily. Life doesn’t go always as you want it, or expect it to go, yet it’s important to never give up, to keep the hope alive. And also to handle the lemons that life gives you. Because no matter how many lemons you get thrown at, you can always make a delicious lemonade of it!

‘Forever Love at Wildflower Lock’ – written by Hannah Lynn #BookReview @HMLynnauthor @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks

Is love enough?

Synopsis

Hannah Lynn’s GORGEOUS series continues as Daisy May looks ahead to her happy ever after…

It’s time to meet the family…

Daisy May thought she had everything figured out. After successfully establishing her coffee shop at the idyllic Wildflower Lock and with things going well with charming Theo, she was ready to embrace her happily ever after. But when Theo pops the question, the happiness is overtaken by worries.

Because meeting Theo’s family for the first time is not accompanied by the warm welcome she hoped for. Theo’s parents disapprove of her and they have no qualms in showing it. And when they reveal secrets about Theo’s past, Daisy is left in a spiral.

As insecurities creep in, and with even her own mother expressing her doubts, Daisy begins to question her future with Theo.

Will love conquer all, or will she give in to her fears and cancel the wedding?

The heartwarming conclusion to the Wildflower Lock series, a gorgeous story of friends, found family and above all, romance!

My review

Daisy May finally believes she has it all together. Her coffee shop at the Wildflower Lock is running well, and she and Theo are deeply in love. And when Theo pops the question, Daisy is over the moon. However, being engaged means that she finally has to meet Theo’s family for the first time.
Despite all of the good intentions Daisy has, and her willingness to show her from her best side, Theo’s parents aren’t really welcoming her with open arms. On the contrary, they make sure that Daisy and Theo both know that they don’t approve of her… They even go that far to reveal some secrets that Daisy didn’t know about.
Secrets that only add to the doubts that are suddenly arising, together with the doubts Daisy’s own mother is expressing…
Doubts that can jeopardize everything Daisy and Theo have been building up. So will their love be strong enough to overcome it all, or not?

I was eager to read this next chapter, especially as now Daisy and Theo are a steady couple, still deeply in love. They even share custody in a way of the newest addition in the form of a lovely dog!

Of course I knew the characters already, yet they both manage to keep on surprising me, both in good ways, but also not so good ones…

Daisy and Theo are the kind of characters that deserve each other, as they have both worked hard to get where they are now in their lives. And having found each other, after some struggles, and seeing them so happy, truly warmed my heart.
I nearly swooned reading how Theo proposed Daisy, as it is just so characteristic of him, and also that he really knows Daisy, and knows what will please her or what not.

I was a bit surprised to read that Daisy hasn’t met Theo’s parents yet. However, once I got to know them too, I could have loved not knowing them at all! I cannot understand how people can be like that. And how on earth did Theo turn out to be the lovely man with such parents?

When those same parents reveal some secrets, I was just like Daisy initially very angry. The secrets are those of the kind that Theo perhaps should have thought twice about them, and about telling Daisy about them. But after some thinking about it, for me it didn’t feel like they were such a great deal…
Yes, Theo is perhaps being a typical man, not seeing things or reading the signs, but we know his heart, so I could not stay angry at him for too long.

On the other hand, I found Daisy a bit of a frustrating character at times. At the start of the book, she knows she has a good thing with Theo. Yet slowly we see her doubting everything. And if those doubts came from herself, it would be understandable, but she lets the opinions of others question her everything. And that angered me, because she *knows* Theo and she loves him.

Even if that frustrated me, it also made both characters very realistic. Because making mistakes is human, but also let people cloud your own judgement is human.

Hannah Lynn wrote a great sequel of this series. A sequel that shows the beauty of love, but also the doubts and insecurities of life. Perhaps it wasn’t always as easy to like the main characters all the time, but wrong choices, wrong decisions and wrong opinions are part of life. And it’s up to the characters, up to us in real life, to make the right choices and the right decisions, and to listen to your heart.

‘Resist’ – written by Lasairiona Lewis #BookReview

To resist, to be strong, to be what exactly?

Synopsis

She thought she was securing her future.
He’s turning the page on her past.
To save her legacy, she’ll say ‘I do.’ To expose the truth, so will he.

Cora
Inheriting my late father’s publishing empire is all I’ve ever wanted, except there’s a catch—marry a husband within the year to secure my claim.

Enter Sterling Montgomery—a charming new employee offering the perfect solution: a marriage of convenience. But the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to remember this isn’t real.

Can I secure my future without losing my heart?

Sterling
Blackwell Publishing is my target. Vengeance for my mother, served ice-cold. One fake marriage proposal later, I’m in. But with every touch my plan unravels.

Cora is my temptation, my impossible choice—gorgeous with fierce mind and intoxicating vulnerability. I came to burn her world to the ground. Instead, I’m the one in flames.

But when the smoke clears, will anything be left?

My review

Cora has been trained to take over her father’s publishing empire. Now the time has come, and Cora hasn’t ever more than ready. However, what she didn’t count on, is that her father put a stipulation in his will. So now Cora must figure out how to find a husband in just a few months, or lose what is her right. Under slight pressure, she decides to join her best friends to a night out, in Protocol. Even if she isn’t in the right mood to participate what Protocol is known for, to please her friends, she just goes. There she meets Sterling, the Dungeon Master of the night. And despite her initial thoughts, something just ignites. But what Cora doesn’t know, is that Sterling just secured a job at Blackwell Publishing, part of his mission to avenge what happened to his mother. He wants to bring down the people that hurt his mother. When he realizes that the woman he just met, is the daughter of the man he despises the most, can he go on with his plan? And one fake proposal later, does he still want to burn the place down, even if it’s him in flames for the woman who won’t let him in?

The Protocol Series is a special kind of series. You are into it, or you are not. It can be that it’s not your cup of tea, and that’s okay. For me, it was clear from the first book that I was in for it, even if some things weren’t my thing. But not completely liking every little bit in a book doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy the bigger picture and the journey the characters are going through.

Luckily for me, there wasn’t one bit I didn’t like in this book. On the contrary, I loved every bit of it! Well, whenever it concerned the sparks between Cora and Sterling, and their journey. Because the story of Cora’s father and Sterling’s mother made my blood boil…

What I absolutely liked, was the power and strength that emanates from Cora. Not only is she a strong woman careerwise. She knows that she wants to run Blackwell Publishing, and she knows how she wants to run it. Even if the stipulation in her father’s will may jeopardize her plans, she isn’t someone that gives up easily.

Yet we also see a vulnerability in Cora. Because losing her father, her hero, hit harder than she would have thought. And beside this strong woman, we see a young woman mourning, trying to find her strength back.

I was happy for her that she has a few friends. Her friends may not count a lot in number, but even in friendship it is a fact that quality matters over quantity. And her friends may be different in character, yet there is a bond that nothing can break. Only the best kind of friends can bring you out of the dark with some gently and not so gently persuading.

Despite Protocol being what is it, even for me, the rather not so experimental kind of girl, Protocol feels like a safe haven. No matter what you are into, or what you aren’t into, Protocol is the place that accepts you, doesn’t judge you for who you are.

The place is exactly what Cora needs right now, even if she doesn’t want to participate, and she just want to ‘be’.

It’s often that when there are very strong main characters, when the ‘action’ takes place, they are more submissive, wanting to let go of the control. And that is what I loved about Cora, because who she is on the outside, is who she also is on the inside. She never gives control out of hand, she needs to be in control all the time. She is the domme in this book, and I was curious, eager even, to read who would be able to satisfy Cora.

Sterling initially didn’t seem to me to be the right man. But that is all my fault, as I am not so known in this specific world, and it seemed strange to me that a Dungeon Master like Sterling could be the sub that Cora is seeking.

But Sterling is not just a normal sub. It felt to me that he takes the role that is needed. He feels what is needed and he adapts to it. He is the kind of person that gives.

However at the same time, he is also very protective… He wants to avenge his mother, who has been hurt in the past and is still carrying that burden.

I could understand his mission, and I admired him for it. But when he meets Cora, we see a change in him. He still wants to pursue his plans, but Cora makes him question it. Because he knows that going for revenge, will be hurting Cora in the end.

It was easy to devour this book, and that is not only because of the spice. But because we see how two characters find each other, while they shouldn’t. We see a Cora forced to going along with a fake proposal, to gain what should be rightfully hers. But we also see a Cora that has closed off her heart for too long, and slowly is letting Sterling in. We see how sometimes no matter how short of a time you know someone, how they can impact your life, and that no matter how scary it can be in such a short time, that person may be what you need.

We see also a Cora devastated learning some truths. But also a Cora wanting to do the right thing. While by her side is a loyal Sterling, with struggles and dilemmas of his own.

This book captures reality perfectly, at least that is what I think about it. Because it’s not easy to open up your heart to someone new. It’s difficult to let someone in when you have to be this strong, independent person. But the right person can come and will not only be able to bring down those high walls, but will also be able to bring joy in your life. And even succeed in things that you normally achieve only on your own by showing patience and determination to get the wished outcome (wink – wink 😊) .

Las had extremely high, almost impossibly expectations to reach. But once again she achieved them so easily! And for that, she has my unconditional love and appreciation, as she is able to write sexy stories, strong characters, journeys that touch you and yes, even teach me a few things 😊.

‘My Brother’s Teammates’ – written by Melissa Ivers & Lasairiona McMaster #BookReview

When love comes differently…

Synopsis

What do you get when you cross a curvy seamstress with three hot hockey players? A pucking disaster.

My escape plan seemed foolproof – retreat to my brother’s empty apartment after catching my ex with another man. But I stumble into an unexpected complication: his hockey player roommates…and I’m stark naked.

Despite my mortifying entrance, and against my better judgment, they’re willing to let me stay but with a few rules:

1. No funny business.

2. No telling the team captain – aka my brother – Harrison.

3. It’s temporary until I can find somewhere else to live.

At first, the boundaries hold. But simmering tension and close quarters makes resisting temptation harder with each passing day. The simmering tension threatens to combust, blurring the lines we swore not to cross.

But how can we go back after crossing that line? And what happens when my brother inevitably finds out?My Brother’s Teammates is a laugh out loud why choose sports romance. Remember sharing is caring.

My review

Charlotte never expected when arriving home to find her boyfriend in a compromising situation with another man. And thus she finds herself single, homeless and also without a job… Not wanting to admit to her family that she is once again a failure, she decides to stay at her brother’s apartment, which is empty at the moment as his teammates are out for a game. Or at least she thought she would be alone for a few days… and Charlie for sure didn’t think that Jace, Roman and Mateo would be coming home while she was on her own, without any clothes on.  Some reluctantly, some more happier, agree to let Charlie stay with them, on the condition that there will be no funny business, and that Harrison may never find out that his little sister is staying with his teammates. Teammates with bodies to swoon over and also a reputation… So how long will everyone resist temptation? And what with long kept hidden feelings?

From the very start, there was something about Charlotte that made me not only like her, but made me feel a connection with her.

Of course her story doesn’t start all that great… finding your boyfriend getting ‘busy’ with someone else must be terrible, but to discover it to be with another man, I cannot even imagine how betrayed Charlotte must be feeling. And it’s not only that, reading how she has always been there for him, while he took her for granted, and reading how easily he just dismisses her and is being just unrespectful, made my blood boil. Relationships ends, feelings of love may disappear, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a mean person…

I could perfectly comprehend why Charlotte doesn’t confide with her family after everything that has happened. Nobody wants to admit failure. And while her feelings of being a failure are totally wrong, I could understand why she feels that way. And it makes perfect sense of wanting to have a place to lick her wounds, on her own. And her brother’s apartment being empty for a few days, it is the perfect solution!

Obviously her plan has some faults, and obviously I found it hilarious! It may be mean of me, but come on, how can you not laugh when the main character is naked and the brother’s teammates come home earlier than expected!

Being the youngest sibling myself, and having an older brother too, I know how frustrating it can be with an overprotective brother. So not only Charlotte’s but also Jace’s frustrations for sure were something I recognized.

Now, I have to say, I don’t know if feeling attracted to three men, three different men too, is something that I can relate with. But I could see the and understand the attraction. And if all parties are on the same level, and have an understanding, who am I to judge their choices? But I found it a bit risky to keep it all a secret, or at least keeping it a secret that Charlotte is staying with Jace, Roman and Mateo. Because we all know, that when it all comes out (and we all know that it *will* come out), hell will break loose…

While reading this story, I found myself being very open and accepting Charlotte’s story. Just because something isn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean that I am in my right to express my opinion and to just judge people’s actions.

It needs to be said, that there are plenty of steamy moments in this book. But there is also plenty of room for real feelings. It’s not about an itch that needs to be getting rid of. But it’s about deeper feelings, feelings that have been there for a while, or feelings that are just rising and need to be understood.

Yes, this is a steamy romance, but this is also a story with so much growth in it. Because we see Charlotte finding the courage to pursue her dreams, we see Jace finally admitting his real feelings. And we see Mateo and Roman seeing a shift in their friendship. All the while trying to understand how the connection between the four of them could possibly work.

I was a bit afraid that the focus would be on the ‘carnal’ aspects of the relationship, so I was happy that both authors took time to create realistic characters, characters that grow and grow on you. Each character has personal struggles, yet with being a unity, each is able to overcome those struggles. And that is thanks to the strength of each persona, because only all together they find this perfect balance.

This may be an unconventional love story. But who ever decided the rules of a conventional love story? If unconventional brings happiness and love, who are we to disagree? Not all love stories are the same, but does it truly matter how a relationship looks like, when what matters is to love and be loved?

‘Home For The Hockey-Days’ – written by  Lasairiona McMaster #BookReview

When it starts with a bang…

Synopsis

In the frozen heart of Cedar Rapids, hockey hotshot August Kade collides with more than just his on-ice rivals when a fender bender sparks unexpected fire with Rowan Armistead – the whip-smart ex of his fiercest competitor.

As Christmas lights twinkle and tensions rise, the polar opposites find themselves skating on thinning ice.

Can the jock and the introspective beauty conquer their societal divides and the ghosts of relationships past? Or will their smoldering romance shatter under the weight of old wounds before the last hockey-day puck drops?

“Home for the Hockey-Days” is a sizzling novella about the improbable across-the-tracks romance that proves sometimes the greatest gifts come wrapped in unlikely packages.

My review

August Kade lives for ice hockey. But being part of hockey team Cedar Rapids Raccoons also means that he needs to be on top of his grades. And that is not that easy, as his grades are dropping. To keep his dream of playing the games, he has no other option to have a tutor. Luckily he can count on his teammates/friends to pass him the number of a tutor. Yet he is shocked to learn that Rowan Armistead is not only the young woman who crashed his car, but she is also the his biggest rival’s girlfriend. Or at least he thinks so… But needs must and August cannot afford to lose more points or his spot in the team. With Rowan tutoring him, attraction starts to grow. However, with August’s background, can they find a way to each other, or are their differences too great to overcome?

You know what I truly hate about novellas? It’s that they are too short! Especially with this author, I am so invested in each character, and I am just not ready to say goodbye yet! And I just want *MORE*!

With this novella, though I had an extra challenge… As I am a loyal reader, I have read all the Cedar Rapids Raccoons books already. And with this book being more of an anthology, I had to have somehow some amnesia, and forget what I already know about some characters.

Yet I was quick to open up my heart to August and Rowan. They are both delightful, yet also vulnerable at the same time.

August for sure deserves more in life. Yes, he may be the captain of the Cedar Rapids Raccoons, but he is struggling on so many levels. Not only are his grades not what they are supposed to be, but also his financial status isn’t helping. And with a brother in trouble, August finds it hard to not only confide with someone, but he also finds it difficult to accept help.

And while in one way, I wanted to bang his head, wanting him to stop to be so stubborn, I could also understand him. When someone believes that accepting help is a sign of weakness, it’s difficult to get out of that mindset, especially when there are teammates without any of his worries.

But his teammates, and especially the De La Pena’s wouldn’t be the mates they are, if they wouldn’t help out a friend in need…

August getting a tutor wouldn’t be half as funny if his tutor would be just a random person, without a link somehow to August. Not only is Rowan linked through the De La Pane’s, being friends with Athena, but she has also a link with August’s enemy. On top of it all, she is also the person crashing into his car (which already has had its best time…)

Rowan is a great young woman, she is the kind of person that I could easily be friends with in real life. She had her own share of bad luck, but she had her head straight on her shoulders, knows what she wants and how to achieve it.

Yet even if she is a kind person, she doesn’t accept crappy behaviour for anyone. She isn’t afraid to call out bad behaviour, and that for sure is admirable! She is a woman with balls, even if it took her a journey to be this fierce woman.

August and Rowan together make the sparks fly around? Whether their encounter is cheer luck, or when they have planned their meeting, there is something going to happen all right…

But this novella, while of course it has some great spice in it, isn’t only about physical attraction. Because I felt it like it was more a journey to acceptance and believing that you are more than enough. Who you are isn’t defined by the lemons life throws you, but it’s about who you are on the inside. And the right person doesn’t look at that bank account, or background, but sees you for who you are, and if you are a good person, that is more than enough.

Lasairiona wrote a great story, about growth and acceptance (and yes, great spice too). She only angered me a little bit as I was so completely into this couple yet they just had to do with a novella, while they for sure could have a complete novel of their own. Even I think that even a complete book would still leave me hungry for more! 😊

‘Fake Fling With The Billionaire’ – written by Rachael Stewart #BookReview @rach_b52

When even a real princess doesn’t believe in Prince Charming anymore…

Synopsis

A former princess, the billionaire next door and a scandal in Paris… Read all about the blossoming romance that has the media buzzing in Rachael Stewart’s latest Harlequin Romance!

ROYAL MEET-CUTE ON HER DOORSTEP!

While navigating a high-profile divorce, ex-princess Cassie is lying low at a friend’s Paris apartment. She doesn’t expect to become intimately acquainted with new neighbor Hugo, who’s locked out—and naked! Despite their…unusual encounter, Cassie and the billionaire form an unlikely connection, both struggling under the weight of predetermined destinies. When a leaked photo creates a media frenzy, Hugo suggests faking a captivating romance, giving Cassie the cover to rebuild her life. But what started as a charade only draws them closer, blurring the lines between fact and fiction…

From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.

My review

Cassie used to be a loved princess by everyone. Too bad that her husband didn’t feel the same way and thought that he didn’t need to be faithful. Now that they are divorced, her ex’s royal family are doing everything they can to put Cassie in a bad light, trying to put the blame of the end of marriage on her. With the paparazzi lurking around each corner, Cassie is lucky to be having still a few good friends. And one of those friends is letting her stay in his Paris’ apartment. With his apartment being a separate floor from the hotel, Cassie does not need to worry about curious eyes. But the last thing she expects, is to lay her own eyes on her neighbour, Hugo. Especially as their first encounter is when he is naked… When Hugo learns that Cassie is keeping herself hidden and hasn’t ever explored Paris, he makes it his mission to show Cassie what she has been missing. But when one day, a picture of them is made public, a new plan is being formed: they will pretend to be dating, as that will give them the perfect cover. Because the ex – princess and the billionaire, that for sure rings good, right? But the more they are pretending on the outside, could it be that they may be not so much pretending on the inside?

What young girl hasn’t ever dreamed of becoming a real princess? Yet with growing up, dreams change, and we all know that being a princess isn’t exactly a Disney fairytale… And even princesses see their marriages end.

Unfortunately, Cassie’s end of the marriage doesn’t mean her regaining her freedom. It angered me reading that not only her ex – family is doing whatever they can to make her look like the bad part, but also Cassie isn’t having any kind of support from her own family.

How cunning can families be? I can understand that parents want the best for their children. But there is a huge difference between wanting the best or just using your own child for social prestige. And then not supporting your child when they need you the most? I just cannot understand that…

With no support from her family and most people she thought of being friends, Cassie had my immediate sympathy. I was happy for her that even if she has lost a lot, she still has a few real friends, who truly are in her corner. A friend in need is indeed a friend indeed!

And that brings her to Paris. Having been to Paris several times myself, I can easily say that it’s a city that never bores, there are always new places to discover. So another moment of anger rose while reading. Because of that despicable ex – family, Cassie has no other option than staying hidden in her apartment. Journalists, paparazzi are chasing her and all that while Cassie just wants her freedom back, wants to discover a wonderful city, and she wants to do what she loves the most…

It would be so easy to portrait Hugo as a real Knight In Shining Armour, ready to sweep the princess of her feet, showing her that love is worth a chance. But I liked it that Hugo isn’t that. Because Hugo has his own demons to chase. And the last thing he needs, is looking after someone.

Of course their first encounter is a hilarious one, it couldn’t be any funnier than that! 😊 And what follows is an attempt to apologize, but also a way in. A way into getting to know each other, a way to also opening up themselves.

I found it truly sweet how Hugo suddenly finds himself wanting to show Cassie around, to show her that she doesn’t need to hide away. And he wants her to enjoy herself, he wants her to understand that she is more than good enough, that she didn’t do anything wrong.

Seeing them getting closer was just so heartwarming, as these are 2 people that have been through a lot. This isn’t just Hugo wanting to help Cassie, it’s also Cassie that wants Hugo to see that what happened in his past isn’t a testament to his character. Yet he is just a person that followed his heart, to only have to broken later on. And that isn’t on him…

I absolutely loved reading this book, even if for a while it only takes place in a limited place. But that doesn’t mean that is felt constricted at all, on the contrary. Seeing Cassie understand that she now is a liberated person, that she can do what she wants and what she pleases, was just amazing. We see slowly this “little” woman, this kitten, finding herself and rise to this great and strong person. And we see how letting go of the past, and letting love back in can liberate anyone. But it takes courage to do that, and that isn’t easy. But it’s all worth it. Because love is worth it.

Rachael Stewart once again showed us that love can be found in unexpected ways, with unexpected people. And with her amazing writing skills, she got me captured in this wonderful story from the first word until the very ‘the end’!

‘Unexpected Family For The Rebel Tycoon’ – written by Rachael Stewart #BookReview @rach_b52

When you have a good neighbour…

Synopsis

From just neighbors…to a forever family? Dive into Rachael Stewart’s latest captivating romance!

FROM REBEL TO MR. RIGHT NEXT DOOR?

Everyone’s heard of Matteo De Luca: tycoon, soccer player and international thrill seeker. Until an injury sees him permanently benched—and bored! So bored that when his neighbor’s kid drives off another nanny, Matteo volunteers to step in, adding “manny” to his CV. After unexpectedly becoming her nephew’s guardian, it’s clear Porsha’s defenses are high. But as Matteo gets to know the woman beneath, a startlingly intense connection emerges… Could this be his biggest adventure yet?

From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.

My review

Porsha is struggling with the changes in her life. She has always been focused on her career, but now that she is has become the guardian of her nephew, she finds it difficult to find the perfect balance. Especially as Fin has the great ability to chase all of the nannies away. So when an incident with a flying bra makes her neighbour knock on her door, Porsha doesn’t understand why Fin is ecstatic. Because her neighbour is (in)famous former football player Matteo DeLuca. Now that his sport career has ended, he has a reputation in the investment world, but he is also an adrenaline junkie. So Matteo shocks himself and Porsha when he offers his help and become Fin’s “manny”. But looking after Fin also means that Matteo gets to know Porsha better. And the more Porsha lowers her defences, the more the attraction is impossible to ignore. But Porsha isn’t the only one wanting to keep her heart closed for heartbreak, as Matteo himself doesn’t want to let love in…

Just every time that I think that this author cannot surprise me, she comes up with another story, doing exactly that. And this book wasn’t the exception!

It’s often that both in books and in real life, women have to make a choice: career over children, or children over career. And no matter how much we may say that women don’t have to make that choice, in reality it often is just that, women taking a step back once children enter the scene.

But for Porsha, the situation is very different. She has been working so hard on her career, so focused on being different from her own parents, following the rules. And she never expected to become the guardian of Fin, her nephew. So it’s normal that Porsha is struggling with finding the right balance. She loves Fin, let there be no doubt about it, but she finds it difficult to be a parent.

Not only that, but because of the fact that her own parents are rather free – spirited, and her beloved sister was also carefree, made Porsha the complete opposite, wary, overprotective and seeing danger everywhere.

But I have to say, my heart went out to Fin… He is only seven years old, but I cannot imagine how it feels to lose your mother, especially that young (to take in account that when the story takes places, Fin is already with Porsha for two years…)

However, Fin never loses his innocent enthusiasm, and reading his joy and happiness while being together with Matteo, just warmed my heart. Fin is an energetic boy, who truly deserves to be happy, just as any child deserves to be.

As a first encounter, the one between Porsha and Matteo for sure can count as one of the most original ones. Who would have ever imagined how a bra would be the culprit! Ten out of ten for originality for Rachael on this one! 😊

Matteo would be easy to be a cliché, a sportsman whose career ended, with lots of money, a certain reputation and now yes, lost.

But the moment he meets with Fin, we see this tender man coming out, a man that is doing what he can to put a smile on a little boy’s face. And seeing that soft side of Matteo, made me fall in love with him too!

And on a way more personal, Italian note, I just loved it how Rachael fitted some Italian in it. Yes, she isn’t the first one to do it, or will be the last one. But I have read how Italian was used in some English books, and how just the wrong words were used. And yes, no complete conversations were written down, but the right Italian word or even the right Italian saying used at the right time was for sure a nice addition!

In this book perhaps I expected more “action” (if you know what I mean 😉). But I was pleasantly surprised to read how this is yes a romance, but it’s more about having the right person to let those immense high walls down. And it’s not only Porsha who has to learn to let go, but also Matteo has to learn how to let in. And that is not easy, as those walls took a long time to be built, so it isn’t taken down so easily? Yet seeing that journey, taken together, was so heartwarming.

This book was so easy to devour. But that doesn’t mean it was an easy story. Because the main characters have so much depth, so much to overcome and so much to learn. But the fact that the story has so much heart, made it a wonderful book to read!

‘Family Portrait’ – written by Victoria Connelly #BookReview @VictoriaDarcy

You cannot chose your family, can you?

Synopsis

Sometimes, it’s those closest to you who are hiding the most.

After the death of their artist father, Alex, Brenna and Cordelia Bellwood return to Slate House – the Victorian mansion in the Lake District where they grew up together. But the three siblings have very different memories of being there and of their relationship with their famous father.

For Alex, his passion for art was always overshadowed by his father’s fame. For Brenna, life was turned upside down when their mother left them, forcing her to grow up much too quickly. And Cordelia – once the beloved muse of her father – now questions her role after a shocking revelation that threatens the whole family.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of Grasmere, Family Portrait is a lyrical and poignant story showing that the things that tear us apart can also bring us together again.

My review

After losing their father, siblings Alex, Brenna and Cordelia Bellwood reunite at Slate House, their childhood home, to take care of what needs to be taken care of. In most cases, a loss would bring family closer together, but being the children of the famous artist that Nicholas Bellwood for sure didn’t make things easy for them. So there is Alex, who is an artist himself, but never managed to step out of the shadow of his father, even if he made the move to Greece. Brenna never was close to her father, and she feels that she had to grow up way to quickly after their mother left them. Cordelia is the youngest sibling, and she is the only one that has a close bond with their father. But when the will is read, there are revelations that will shake everyone’s world. Revelations that may tear the siblings even more apart than they already were, or is there a chance that in fact it will bring them all closer?

If you grew up in a happy family, it always makes you question what happened to a family to not be a happy one. Of course the explanations are limitless, as I could think of many reasons why a family doesn’t work. And in whatever book I read, it always saddens me to read how children are affected by the behaviour of the people that take care of them.

When I began reading this book, it’s so obvious that Nicholas Bellwood and his behaviour had and still has an effect on his children. Perhaps it even angered me a little bit, reading how different Nicholas was towards each of his children.

It truly broke my heart to see how distant the three siblings were from each other. You would think that such a distant father would bring the siblings together, yet it managed to tear them even more apart. Of course it’s not that they weren’t talking at all with each other, but for one reasons or another, their lives took them in complete different directions.

And perhaps it didn’t come to me, as a reader, as a complete shock to read about the secret that their father kept from them for years. It just fitted with the image of Nicholas I had in my mind. Yet it left me also a bit flabbergasted reading this completely other version of Nicholas. And I am not going deeper on this matter, otherwise I would be talking way too cryptic while attempting not giving away anything 😊.

Yet this isn’t a dark story. Yes, it shows us a complicated family, with complicated relationships. But no matter what, it’s clear that the three siblings love each other, no matter how scarred they are from the past and the present. And it was sweet to see that they take care  of each other, sometimes even with some tough love.

I absolutely loved reading how slowly the three siblings are growing closer to each other once again. They have lost each other time, but being together at Slate House gives them the chance to understand each other better again. And that warmed my heart, for real, because no matter what has happened, the love of siblings will always stand every test.

The focus is mainly on Brenna in this book, which I could perfectly understand. Of course the author had to make a choice, and because Brenna had the most complicated relationship with her father, it was also the most interesting storyline.

Brenna is truly on a journey in this book. Not only does she have to come to terms with losing her father, but she is also on a journey of finding herself again. And while on this journey, she has to be there for her siblings, each on their own journey.

I found myself devouring this book, wanting, no, needing to know more about this family that is trying to find each other again, but also finding themselves again after a childhood and upbringing that wasn’t easy.

Victoria Connelly once again managed to write a story that touched my heart, as it shows the difficulties of a family, but also the beauty of it, no matter what complications they may encounter!