Tizi’s Book Review

An escape in the hope to heal, to find peace

Synopsis

Heartbroken after the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, Stella hopes that this trip to the idyllic Greek island of Crete will give her and her family a chance to heal. And when she first steps into the breath-taking Villa Ariadne, with its views over the azure waters and intoxicating scent of lemons, Stella’s troubles seem to melt away.

Until the arrival of an old acquaintance, and an unwelcome revelation, threaten to undermine the peace at the villa, and Stella is forced to make a difficult decision.

But with the help of Crete’s beautiful scenery and the kindness of its locals, Stella is about to discover that Villa Ariadne can still offer an escape… and so much more. Can she open herself up to the possibility of love and find the strength to start again?

My review

After losing her best friend and simultaneous seeing her marriage ending, Stella decides that she needs to get away. With family and friends, she takes off to Crete, hoping to get over her heartbreak and hoping to find some inner peace again.
Villa Ariadne for sure seems the perfect place to do some healing, with an astonishing view and amazing smell of the lemon trees.
And slowly Stella realizes, what truly matters in her life, with the help of the island itself, its inhabitants, and even unexpected arrivals.
Will this Greek escape be enough for Stella to find fresh hope in life again?

I cannot imagine how terrible it is to lose a best friend… I am happy to have all my friends still around me. So all I can try is try to understand what Stella has been going through and what she still is going through.
Stella is obviously an amazing friend, how she has been there until the very last moment. And seeing how devastated she is after losing her friend, shows what a great heart she has.

But I could also comprehend how her being a great friend, was affecting her family. It’s difficult to find the right balance, and afterwards how to deal with your grief while people are depending on you. And it saddened to see how her grief, or inability to grieve, was eventually the demise of her own marriage, also affecting the relationship with her children.

Stella is also the kind of person that has to learn how to block people. She is a real people – pleaser, and finds it difficult to put boundaries. And again, affecting her own relationships…

Taking in account all the above, I found it a good idea for Stella to take a trip to Crete. It’s so obvious she needs to get away and find a place to clear her mind, to just digest everything that she has been through.
But it was also clear that things wouldn’t go so smoothly all the way and that there would be some clashing and drama, even with those the closest to her.

The focus in this book is obviously on Stella and her journey to heal, find peace but also her journey to understand where things have gone wrong and why.
Of course we also see the other characters that accompanied her on this holiday, and also how the community on Crete welcome the new arrivals.

We see how Stella has to make several amends, but also how she has to realize herself what she truly wants and how to set her boundaries but without being too hurtful towards the people that in fact deserve to put in their place.

I have to admit, Stella wasn’t always the easiest character to like, as she seems stubborn, not understanding towards others and in a way also blaming others for her own errors. But that is also the beauty of this book, because we see Stella truly having an emotional journey, understanding it all and making amends.

And also, perhaps that one specific scene towards the end was not that necessary, and a closed door scene would have been better? Because honestly, I was a bit shocked reading those bits, as it was so different from the whole book! 😊

I enjoyed reading this book, as it shows how sometimes the right thing, out of your heart, can cause a disruption somewhere else. But we also see that sometimes to take a step back, away from home, can be the perfect opportunity to get everything back into perspective, and allow you to properly grieve. And only when you allow that grief, you can also understand the errors you made and find a way to set them back right.
And what better setting than sunny Crete, in a wonderful Villa! 😊 

When to chase a dream, you need the help of the man that broke your heart…

Synopsis

Join the residents of Railway Lane for one last magical adventure…

Globetrotting Libby Jacobs has lost her job but is looking forward to spending more time in her home village of Cranfield.

She dreams of turning her chocolate making hobby into something more permanent. There’s only one problem – Ethan Connolly.

Despite being soul mates growing up, Libby hasn’t been close to Ethan since their disastrous date at the school prom. But now he’s back and he has just what Libby needs… a large kitchen! But can they even bear to be in the same room together?

Ethan never stays in Cranfield too long as it reminds him of his parents’ terrible marriage. But when disaster strikes, he’s forced to stay and help realise his grandad’s dream of a Christmas train. Can the whole village help Ethan create a seasonal spectacular in time?

Can Libby confront her secrets and realise her dreams?

And can Ethan ever stop running from his past and trust his heart?

Perhaps the magic of winter on Railway Lane might just give Libby and Ethan a second chance after all…

My review

Libby Jacobs has flown over the whole world being a stewardess. But while initially the job sounded so alluring, Libby has been struggling with keeping a smile on her face with the more and more demanding customers. So when she loses her job, the only thing that worries her is the financial side of it. Because how can she now take care of her father, living on Railway Lane in Cranfield? Libby has no other choice to return back home too. But perhaps now Libby has the opportunity to follow her real dream and turn her chocolate making hobby into something real. However, in order to create her delicious treats, she needs a lot of room. Room that she doesn’t have at home. The only person who has a big enough kitchen, is Ethan Connolly. Libby and Ethan know each other since they were children, and have even been best friends. Until he broke her heart at school prom… Ethan also recently returned to Cranfield, even if he has no plans to stay for all too long. But when tragedy strikes, he needs to reassess his plans. Because now he has made it his goal to make his Grampa’s dream of a Christmas Train coming true. And even with him not believing in love any more, after seeing his parents’ marriage ending in disaster, having Libby daily in his kitchen makes him rethink about his ideology. But with secrets between them, and so much unspoken between them, is there a chance of finding happiness in a place that holds so much hurt for the both of them?

First of all, what a wonderful return it was for me to Railway Lane! Having read every book of this series, Cranfield for sure stole a piece of my heart, each character stole a piece of my heart and I was ready for Libby and Ethan doing the same to my poor heart!

Libby for sure from the very start has an air around her filled with confidence, swag and her job as a stewardess for sure is one that sweeps you off your feet. Or at least that is what Libby makes everyone believe. Because being a stewardess for isn’t all that glamourous at all. Beside the fact that even if she is flying everywhere, yet not seeing any of the places at all, I can for sure understand that her job isn’t all that easy.

People are being more and more demanding, even ruder if I dare say so, and for someone as outspoken as Libby, it’s difficult to always keep a smile on your face and not just say what you are actually thinking.

But even if losing her job is perhaps something that Libby doesn’t really regret, it’s the consequences of not having an income that worries her the most. And getting to learn her background, more about her situation with her father, the struggles she will have to face, that is what truly saddened me.

Because Libby has been through a lot, and even if she has had rebellious streaks at a younger age, it’s clear that she is a responsible woman. Even if the relationship with her father isn’t an easy one, she wants the best for him.

What also broke my heart a little bit, is that Libby truly passionate about making chocolate delights, as that connects her with her mother who has passed away years ago. Yet that passion is something that she has to keep hidden from her father, because as while for her it’s a lovely link to her mother, she doesn’t want to tell her father about it, as she believes it will only cause him more heartbreak…

Luckily, she can always count on her best friends, to help her out even when she is reluctant of asking for help. It was truly sweet to see how they not only seem to understand her even when she doesn’t open up about everything, but also how they join forces to make her dream come true.

And that is a common thread in this book, because the community of Cranfield is there to help anyone who needs a helping hand.

That is what Ethan experiences too. After seeing how the marriage of his own parents went down terribly, he has always been reluctant to return to Cranfield, making his visits as short as possible. And I couldn’t blame him, as the place holds so many not – so – nice memories…

But also in his case, despite his background and what he has faced in the past, the love he has for his brother, father and Grandpa is palpable from each page.

And to see the dedication he has to see his Grandpa’s dream coming true, truly shows what an amazing man Ethan actually is.

We also see how kind – hearted he is, allowing Libby to use his kitchen, even if the relationship with her is a strained one.

It takes a while for us readers to understand what truly happened between them. And I have to say, there was also a bit of a surprising discovery! 😊

I found it truly great to see how Libby and Ethan not only are spending more time together and around each other, but also understanding and accepting more about what it means being part of a community. But them spending time together is a great occasion to smooth things between them out. Because for sure there is a lot for them to talk about!

They both mature a lot in this book, admit their fears and understand that in fact in a way they have been hiding for a long time.

Once again Alison Sherlock wrote a wonderful story, about the importance of community, how it can help you, and let you grow. We also see how the mistakes of the past still affect you, and hold you back. But when you find surrounded with the people that truly care about you, you can let go of the hurtful past and look ahead to a bright future, with perhaps not with the person you expected to, but bright and wonderful for sure!

To spend Christmas with the man you despise, the worst possible Christmas ever, right?

Synopsis

Two sworn enemies, snowed in over Christmas with chemistry that will melt the ice!

Nina Thompson has one Christmas wish: to avoid her brother’s obnoxiously handsome best friend, Tristan, like the plague. From the moment he humiliated her as a teenager to their escalating revenge schemes, Nina and Tristan’s relationship can only be defined as an all-out prank war! And there is yet to be a winner.

But it just so happens the ghost of Christmas present has other ideas. When Tristan unexpectedly crashes her family’s Christmas, Nina’s dreams of a peaceful holiday vanish faster than Santa up a chimney. Determined to end their rivalry for good, she braces herself for one last prank-filled showdown.

But when they find themselves snowed in, with no way of avoiding each other amongst the holiday festivities, they discover their heated exchanges have been masking a different kind of sizzle. Caught in a snow globe of holiday romance, they decide to let their fiery chemistry burn bright—but this is absolutely and unequivocally nothing more than a secret fling destined to melt with the snow, this is not a forever romance…

This Is Not a Holiday Romance is an enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity rom-com perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Abby Jimenez, and Lynn Painter.

My review

Nina Thompson is happy to return back to her home to celebrate Christmas. But when she hears that her brother Dylan is bringing his best friend along, her mood quickly shifts. Because Tristan is the one person that pushes her buttons all the time since being teenagers. Nina never forgot how he humiliated her years ago, and things evolved to a continuous series of pranks, one more devious than the other. Even during the festivities their pranks keep on going, testing the patience of everyone around them. But when the Christmas Spirit pulls the perfect prank, by snowing everyone in. And it’s then that Nina and Tristan discover that what sparks between them is not only rivalry, but something more passionate. But no matter how much passion there is between them now, once the snow has melted, things will melt down for them too, or won’t it?

There are a few authors that put a smile on my face by just picking up their next book. I am excited before I even know what the book will be about. And Camilla Isley is one of those lucky authors, because I had the biggest grin on my face at the start, while reading and at the end of the book!

Nina is of course a wonderful character. I liked her from the very start as she is truly a warm and kind person. And the relationship with her family, is just amazing.

She is the kind of person that values the right principles and stand by her friends in time of need.

Yet it’s also clear that her pranking Tristan has a deeper even darker source. Even if the pranks are rather innocent, her disliking Tristan comes from what happened years ago.

What perhaps for Tristan was an innocent remark, even a joke, it affected Nina deeply. And that saddened me, because Nina is just is like I said a wonderful person. We see how words, spoken without a second thought, can have a lasting impact on people.

The pranks of course are hilarious, and I am happy that I still have the trust of eating an Oreo without being afraid of putting it in my mouth! 😊

And with a person like Tristan being the victim/ culprit added more to the fun!

Tristan is the typical kind of man that seemingly hit the jackpot, he has the looks, he has the brains and doesn’t have any financial worries.

But while for Nina he for sure is a cocky person, we also see a funny man, a kind man, a generous man, but most important, also a vulnerable man.

Because behind his flamboyant persona, there is a man that has been hurt by the people that should love him the most…

I could understand that the continuous bickering between Nina and Tristan is tiring for everyone around them, but they have now this “tradition” between them and they just cannot stop. Until the moment that one prank goes a bit too far and shifts everything between them…

I loved seeing dynamics change, how suddenly Nina and Tristan comprehend each other, how much for their rivalry was in fact just a misunderstanding, or just being teenagers. There is of course a physical aspect in their spark, but it goes much deeper than just “the flesh”. While snowed in, they spend more time together, they get to know the real Nina and the real Tristan. And that was truly beautiful to read, how these strong people find someone to open up to, to show their vulnerability with.

Of course with their fling being secretive, it’s written in the stars that their secret will come out. And of course that happens in the most terrible act.

But it must also be said, while I was angry at Tristan in that aftermath, I could also understand him why he made that choice… with his background, it made perfect sense, even if it was a terrible one…

Camilla Isley wrote once again a great story, showing us a great enemies – to – lovers tale. But also a tale about how we sometimes think in the wrong way about people. And how hurtful words can be. But it’s also about finding romance and love in the most unexpected way, in the most unexpected person. And that perhaps the most unperfect person is the most perfect person for you.

I easily devoured this book, perhaps even too quickly! But I cannot wait to see what story a certain brother and a certain best friend can make! 😊

Are you just like me and cannot wait for release date?

Synopsis

An uplifting festive romance perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and authors such as Phillipa Ashley, Trisha Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Rebecca Raisin and Donna Ashcroft.

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.

Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.

But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …

Pre-order Link – https://mybook.to/BellasCC

Publication Date: 18th September 2024

About the author

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it.

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

The cover!

Can a broken heart be healed while surrounded by your loved ones?

Synopsis

It’ll be a Christmas to remember …

Holly Berry is finally in a place where she can see her happy ending: a beautiful daughter, who’s growing ever sweeter by the day, a new home she can make her own, and – of course – her partner-in-crime, Evan.

But when tragedy strikes, Holly’s life is thrown into turmoil. And, perhaps in denial, she decides to cancel all of her Christmas plans in favour of some healing of her own.

She thinks spending time with Evan’s family will help, but it’s her own family she needs to be with right now. Luckily, they know this, and follow her out to the States to join her in her alternate holiday plans.

They say that time heals all wounds, and with her loved ones around her, can she hope for a brighter tomorrow…?

A heart-wrenching and ultimately uplifting story about friends, family and true love lasting forever, from the bestselling author of the Wildflower Lock series

My review

Holly Berry feels that she finally has it all, her sweet shop is running greatly, her daughter is a real delight and she has found her perfect man in Evan and she cannot wait to live together in the house they recently bought. Of course it took her a while to get here, so she is truly counting her blessings. With Christmas around the corner, and big plans in the making, what was meant to be a small getaway for the loved – up pair, turns out in a terrible tragedy. And Holly decides to not only cancel all the plans, but also to escape everything and fly over to the States, and stay with Evan’s family. Yet her own family and friends know her the best, and give her all the needed support even in the States. But with a heart broken that much, is there a chance of time healing all the wounds?

With this book, I made a terrible mistake. Because I have read the previous parts in the series, so I just started with this brand-new chapter without bothering reading the blurb. And that was a BIG mistake, because I was looking for a happy romance, only to have to discover that Holly is having her heart, hopes and dreams crushed, breaking my heart in the process too!

And this book for sure starts just like I imagined it would be, with Holly and Evan making huge steps forward in their lives together, Holly surrounded by her loved ones, and has just found the perfect balance in her wonderful life.

It was just so great to see how after everything, Holly and Evan are reaching their happily ever after, and that just everyone around them is cheering for them.

So with all these positive events awaiting the lovely pair, I was anything but prepared to see how it all fell apart. And in what a way!

I know that Evan did the right thing there, but did the outcome had to be so final? Even at night, after having put the book away, I was thinking of ways to have Holly heartbroken in a way, but not in such a final way.

It was devastating to read how Holly is coping in the aftermath. While I didn’t always agree with the choices and decisions she took, I knew that acting in that was, was her way of trying to deal with everything.

There isn’t a script to follow when grief hits you, you have to find what works for you, and you alone. And for Holly, what works is going to the States, to Evan’s family.

Despite the grief surrounding Holly and everyone else, it was also bittersweet to see that Holly has so many people around her, being there for her in any way she needs. Even if that means flying over to the States to be by her side.

It was pulling my heartstrings to see how also comfort was found with the people going through the same things as Holly was.

This for sure wasn’t an easy book to read, and I can imagine it wasn’t either easy for the author. Because we were all waiting for that happily ever after, to see it all fall apart.

But even if I had many ugly – crying moments while reading, seeing how the characters are coping with grief, each on their own way (by running away, reminiscing, and even blaming someone else), was good to read. Because like I said, life doesn’t always go as planned, dreamed or hoped. But perhaps time is indeed a good healer, and it will allow you to cry, despair but eventually also smile and remember about the happy times without having to feel the terrible ache in your heart.

When Christmas is about dreams, but not shared ones…

Synopsis

You are invited to spend CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE where each of the neighbours are celebrating in their own special way.

Veronica and Owen are looking forward to a happy Christmas on The Close with their friends and neighbours.

Their son, Travis, is due to take some important exams, but will he be able to concentrate when a serious crush derails his schedule?

As their fortieth birthdays approach, some significant celebration will be required, but how can Veronica agree to Owen’s life-changing request?

The fifth standalone episode of ‘Christmas on The Close’ shows how sharing a treasured life with someone does not necessarily result in sharing the same treasured dreams.

My review

Veronica and Owen love their life on The Close, and with their son Travis being a teenager now, Christmas Time is the perfect occasion to see what dreams they still may have, especially as both their fortieth birthday is approaching.
But Veronica is shocked to learn that Owen has a request that she never even thought about it. A request that will change their lives completely.
So this Christmas, Veronica has some serious thinking to do, beside worrying about her son Travis. Because not only Travis need to focus on his examens he is not sure he wants to take, but he is also determined to finally make a move on his crush.
This for sure will be a Christmas to remember for the whole family, but in what way?

Sometimes you don’t need an elaborated book to show the values of family, love and Christmas. Sometimes a short story about a family and their personal dilemmas and issues can be just the right thing to make you realize exactly that.

Christmas is always a time to think about the past, present and future. You think what has happened, where you are now, and what you hope there is waiting for you.
And we see here how Veronica is having the exact thoughts, also adding a self-conscious layer of doubt.
Because getting closer and closer to forty, can be a terrifying thought, and makes you indeed think about what you truly want to achieve before it’s “too late”.

Just like Veronica I was a bit shocked to read about Owen’s request, or rather question. On one hand I could understand him, but on the other hand, just like Veronica, I saw a mountain of possible issues.
But it’s also once again recognizable that when an important birthday approaches, you think about everything. Even if Veronica didn’t have the same thought as Owen, it makes her think about it…

And Travis, perhaps I was the most invested in his story. Because it’s not easy being a teenager. Not only does Travis is stressed about his examens, he is not sure which direction he wants to follow. And he has a huge crush on his neighbour!

I found it truly sweet how he wants to get noticed, going extra lengths for his crush. But I was afraid that his story of love would end in disappointed as there were several red flags…
Yet I also found it great to see how something unexpected happened for Travis!

I truly enjoyed reading this quick story, about a normal family ready for Christmas. A Christmas that will be remembered for different reasons, as choices are being made, realizations made and a Christmas that has been a real eye – opener for the characters!

When your life turns out to be a lie but also at risk, who to trust?

Synopsis

The first rule of undercover work—don’t get attached…

Pilot Elise Hughes left the family business in the Florida Keys and now flies the rich and powerful to and from the Rocky Mountains. When she has to execute a by-the-book emergency landing, it’s no big deal. But being stranded in a small town with her handsome new colleague is something else entirely.

Obsessed with getting justice for his murdered father, undercover FBI agent Eric Erickson believes retribution is finally within reach. Until things get complicated. And dangerous. And he’s forced to face a few too many realities—including Elise’s connection to a well-known crime boss.

After Elise is kidnapped by the same man who took Eric’s father, he has a choice to make—find Elise or exact revenge. Meanwhile she has a choice of her own—trust the dangerous family she never knew she had or the man who’s been lying to her from the start.

My review

Elise Hughes is a pilot flying off the rich and powerful people to and from the Rocky Mountains. While there is a clear difference between her and the clients, with a few of the clients she get better along than with others.
What she didn’t take in account is that for her latest flight, she is paired up with Eric Erickson. And there is just something about Eric that is just…
But when the pilots have to execute an emergency landing in a small town, and having them stranded there, together with their clients, Elise learns some ugly truths, also involving her.
Because not only is Elise kidnapped for her being related to a dangerous family, but also Eric is seeking out revenge for his father that has been murdered, by exactly the same people who kidnapped Elise. And now the pair of them have to make some important choices: can Elise trust the family who she just found, with all their baggage? Or will she trust Eric, who lied to her from the start, but also being the person that ignites something in her? And what will Eric do? Execute his plans for revenge and bring down Elise’s family? Or find the woman he cannot get out of his mind?

I have to admit, I don’t like flying, I have never dreamed of being a pilot or just anything involving being high up in the sky. But I for sure have the respect for people who made that their jobs. And being a pilot isn’t easy, and seeing how Elise managed to become exactly that, while it’s still seen as a ‘manly’ job, well she had my admiration from the start!

At the start of the book, there is a lot we don’t know about Elise. Well, to be honest, Elise doesn’t know herself yet… But what we know from her, saddened me. Because she discovered that her father, the man she idolised, wasn’t as great as she always thought he was.
And it also broke something between her and her siblings, as her brothers seem to have posthumously forgiven him, but Elise just cannot…

But even if as a reader it isn’t a complete surprise, Elise’s true background is a shocking one. She never could have imagined what secrets have been being kept from her, only when it’s too late.
Now, I don’t know how I would react in her situation, but I liked her for standing her ground, fighting back and even trying to figure out an escape plan.

And she is lucky to have an ally, in the shape of Eric Erickson, even if initially they just don’t seem to get along…

Beside the name of the character, which was a bit a too easy choice (until further on we discover the truth about this too), Eric is everything I expected from this type of character.
Yes, he is on a revenge mission, but he doesn’t cross a line, or has a lack of the rules. As an FBI agent, he knows that things need to be done the right way, or no way.

But what I liked the most about Eric, was how he can shift his focus. Because while initially his only focus is on revenge, with this growing between him and Elise, he realizes that the woman he is starting to fall for is more important than getting even.

It also needs to be said, it was a bit difficult to “accept” in a way everything that was happening, as there for sure is A LOT. But I also believe that it’s purely to blame that my world and Elise’s and Eric’s are just so far from each other. I know that there is some serious bad sh*t in the world, but I have been living in a rather “clean” one, if you understand what I am saying? I have never encounter just a snippet of the character’s world, so in a way I am blissfully unaware of it 😊.

I for sure enjoyed reading this first book from a new author. It has suspense, danger, but also romance in it. We see characters grow, mature and understand the way of the world. And with that understanding comes also learning to prioritize what truly matters.
And as this is the first chapter of a series, I cannot wait to discover what else the author has in store for us! 

Isn’t this cover making you want to pick up the book and read!?

Synopsis

Christmas cheer was dead, to begin with.

The world rests on Eliza’s shoulders. The kids, her husband, work, her elderly mother and don’t forget her newest friend, perimenopause. It’s too much to carry, but she’s been doing it for years. It’s just what a good wife and mother does, isn’t it? 

When another Christmas rolls around, Eliza is drained by all the expectations and logistics of the holiday season. She’s fast approaching her breaking point, only no one around her notices she’s on the edge.

After an incident at her in-law’s on Christmas Eve brings things to a boiling point, she finds herself with three unexpected visitors. The spirits of the past, present, and future take her on a journey through her life to shake her out of the rut she’s gotten into. Their messages leave her with new possibilities: reconnect with her past, reclaim her present, or forge a new future, and you, the reader, decide which option is best! 

Pre-order Links

https://books2read.com/u/3kw7gO
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DDHX2854

Publication Date: 15th October 2024

About the author

Alana Oxford is a Michigan author of romcoms, sweet romance, and humorous women’s fiction. She wants her stories to bring sunshine and smiles to her readers. She enjoys improv comedy, moody music, everything book related, and has an ongoing love affair with the United Kingdom.

The cover!

How life goes after different choices at a crossroad…

Synopsis

‘Bea was always early for everything. Even, it turned out, when she was running away from her life.’

As Christmas approaches, Bea Preston has a choice.

Looking up at the departures board in Heathrow airport, her flight to New York boarding soon, she knows that getting on that plane changes everything. Her life in London has grown stale, her relationship with boyfriend Dom has run its course, and New York has always been her dream. But it’s a risk – she’ll miss her parents, her friends, her job.

What if Bea could live both lives? In one she goes back home for Christmas, and in another she heads to the Big Apple. Would her fate remain the same, or can one decision really change everything?

In a grand sliding-doors love story that spans oceans, years and lives, Clare Swatman’s unforgettable tale of fate and friendship is perfect for all fans of Jojo Moyes, Beth Moran and Ruth Jones.

My review

Bea Preston is not the kind of person that easily breaks people’s hearts. But this Christmas, will be different. Because the closer the happiest time of the years approaches, the more doubts Bea has about her life.
That is why she finds herself at Heathrow Airport, ready to board for a flight to New York. Even if her life in London is not what she wants from life, and her relationship with Dom seems to have had its best course, is New York the solution? Because she will leave also her loving parents and family behind.
When just a few moments before boarding, she receives a phone call, she needs to decide what to do: follow her plans and head off to New York for a fresh start, or return home to the comfort of her life as she has always known…

Haven’t we all wondered once where life would take us if at one specific moment we would have made a different decision?

In this amazing book we have a glimpse of what would happen in any of the two options. And to make it even more intriguing, there are time jumps, so each chapter is a new year, in each situation. And it’s obvious that a lot can happen in a year, in a lifetime.

Bea is in so many ways recognizable and relatable. Even if we don’t know why exactly she wants to escape London, it’s clear that it’s something that is truly bothering and affecting her.
But beside her trauma, I truly liked Bea. She is perhaps someone that wants to please people too much and follows their opinions instead of following her own heart and head.
Yet that doesn’t take away that she truly is a caring woman, a loving woman that in fact doesn’t want to hurt anyone.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t take away that sometimes you have to be ‘selfish’. And this is where Bea’s life splits in two: we have the Bea that thinks about what she truly want, and thus heading off to New York. And then there is Bea that listens to those around her and returns back home.

I had perhaps a preference of which storyline I preferred. But even in my favourite one, we see that life can throw several curveballs, making you reassess all the choices you made.
And those curveballs at moments also angered me, in both storylines, as I was cheering for Bea and I wanted her to be happy, no matter what choice she makes.

I found it amazing of how this author managed to let have Bea similar experiences, as events in both storylines overlapped. That somehow made me believe that no matter how much you make your own choices, some things are in a way already written in the stars for you. And no matter what, it will bring you in that spot where Fate wants. Sometimes it will take a longer time to get there, but eventually the goal will be reached.

A truly wonderful story, with a whirlwind of emotions, showing us not only the many ups and downs of life, but also that a lot can happen that will change the course of your life. We see the difficult choices that life presents us, but no matter what, we also see that one way or another, there are loving people around us, supporting and cheering for us.
Oh and I also need to warn you: yes, while reading, you will be singing a certain song with the same title! 😊