Tizi’s Book Review

What will prevail, love or loyalty?

Synopsis

After tennis star Georgie Porter retires at just thirty-one, she buys a campervan and returns to her hometown of Glenbriar, hoping to make amends for the hurts she caused to a former sweetheart. But instead of finding the man whose heart she broke many years ago, she comes face to face with his younger brother, Kerr.

Easy-going and quietly loyal, high school teacher Kerr Halley has strong opinions about Georgie Porter – and there are rules about interacting with your brother’s ex, no matter how long ago she split with him. Especially when Kerr has always secretly carried a torch for her.

When they’re thrown together to fundraise for a local sports project, old grudges begin to thaw, and Kerr’s true feelings come to light.

As Georgie rediscovers the charm of small-town living, she’s drawn to Kerr’s warmth, his wit, and the way he sees the woman she is now – not just the girl she used to be. But falling for him means confronting her past… and risking fresh heartache within a family she’s already hurt.

In a town where history runs deep and people have long memories, Kerr’s loyalties are tested – and Georgie must decide if she’s brave enough to play for love, and not just for victory.

My review

Georgie Porter has reached the end of her tennis career. At the age of thirty-one, the world is still her oyster. But as her focus has always been on tennis, she does not know yet what her future will look like. But what she does know, is that in order to start a new chapter in her life, she needs closure about her past. That means that after buying herself a campervan, she needs to set off to Glenbriar, and apologize to a former sweetheart. However, when she knocks at the door, it is not Jake who opens the door, but his younger brother Kerr. Kerr Halley knows how much Georgie’s betrayal hurt his brother, and he is not happy that she has returned to Glenbriar and is looking for Jake. But Kerr cannot forget that he always had had a crush on Georgie. But bro’s before, well, exes, right? Yet when they are thrown together to fundraise for a sports project, things start to shift between them… But with an uncertain future, and a dark past, could things ever work out for them?

I know that I am being repetitive, but how amazing was it to return to Glenbriar! Here is a whole community with all their ups and their downs, yet they all connect all wonderfully, whether just as friends, as family, and even more important connections.

What I liked about getting to know Kerr much better, how his life somehow came at full circle becoming an adult. I could relate to him as he became a teacher himself, obviously having had great examples. Yet where I failed, he is a great teacher, a supportive one and his own former teacher is now his best friend. Who would ever imagine that your former teacher now is your friend.

Of course being a teacher is not an easy job, it is a passion, and while he loves his job, there are of course moments where he get a few grey hairs! But doesn’t every job have that effect?

Kerr is not only a teacher, but he is also the person you can always count on if you need a helping hand. It doesn’t matter if it is for a fundraiser, or a technical hand with a show, Kerr is your man!

But Kerr is also a loyal person. Not only when he gives his word, he will keep it. But he is also the kind of person that when you hurt one of his loved ones, you hurt him. And as Georgie hurt his brother so many years ago, Kerr cannot put that behind him. That kind of loyalty is truly admirable, especially after learning that in fact, Kerr always had a weak spot for Georgie…

I liked reading his protectiveness, as he knows that Jake is not in a great spot, and anything could trigger him. So he wants to avoid to make things worse, even if that means to make it clear to Georgie to back off…

Tennis is a sport that I enjoy watching, and I always wondered what big names will do when their prime time has passed. That is exactly the spot where Georgie finds herself.

Her career has ended, and as tennis has been her whole world, she is now a bit at loss. Which is of course understandable. I don’t know what I would in her place.

Though I am absolutely not a fan of campervans, I was nodding with approval when she bought her own and decided to return to Glenbriar.

It is clear that she not only wants to make amends with Jake, but she also hopes that she will find some inspiration and will know what to do next.

In a way, even if it’s water under the bridge, I admired how Georgie just wants to undo her past mistakes. But of course, in order to apologize, you have to have the counterparty ready to listen….

As a reader, it’s no surprise that Georgie doesn’t knock at Jake’s door, but at Kerr’s. And reading her confusion was yes, a bit funny 😊.

But the funniest was for me to read how Kerr and Georgie keep on meeting, keep on spending time together (even if just slightly forced). And it was sweet to see how these two people, with complete different background, but shared growing up, start to truly understand each other.

It is true that each story has two sides. And yes, Georgie could have ended things better with Jake, but on the other hand, it’s also in the past. And while I admired Kerr’s loyalty towards Jake, I also felt that Jake was and still is being selfish. In a way, he looks like a friend of mine, as he doesn’t allow himself to be happy with his life.

And it angered me even at a point, reading how Jake is the reason Kerr is holding back what concerns his feeling for Georgie. Feelings that are not new, as it was so sweet to read how Georgie was the girl Kerr always liked, yet Jake was the lucky person (another reason to disklike him!).

But for one angry Jake, there were so many other people genuinely happen to see Georgie back home. She is welcomed back with open arms, old friendships are easily rekindled. Glenbriar and its community once again shows us its kindness, warmth, love and forgiveness.

In this book, there is a lot of emotional turmoil going on. Not only is there Kerr, who loves his brother, but is falling (again) for someone that would not be approved by his family. And which kind of love should have the upper hand? Because if he choses Georgie, he could be seen as selfish, but if he choses his family, he may ruin his own chance at happiness and love.

And then there is Georgie, who has returned back home. A home that includes people not all that happy to see her return. But she needs to make not only amends, but also needs to figure out what her future looks like. And there is Georgie, who does not want to ruin Kerr’s relationship with his family, as she has already once broken that family. But over the years, people grow, mature and change… So is it fair to give up her own chance at love?

Margaret Amatt once again wrote a marvellous story, showing us the beauty of love, but also the difficulties that love can bring. We see how some things of the past need to be forgotten and forgiven, but also how some things of the past, the things that truly matter, don’t change. And how a second chance, or rather a real first chance, is something everyone deserves!

Can a dating app truly make you find love, even by just building it?

Synopsis

Beth is fed up with dating.

Sam doesn’t date.

So why are they creating a dating app together…?

After a failed marriage and a string of strikeout dates, Beth is starting to think she’s not cut out for a forever love. Then she meets Sam.

Sam has an uncanny knack of matchmaking his friends into long-term relationships. Now they’ve challenged him to turn his skill into code – a dating app with a difference. It all seems ridiculous… until he’s introduced to Beth.

Beth’s job in venture capital, and her dating experience, are ideal. Plus, she desperately needs a fruitful client project, or her job is on the line.

Sam clearly has the matchmaking skill and the coding knowledge to make this app a success. Not only that, maybe he’ll find her a Mr Right?

When they start double dating for project research, Beth falls hard. There’s just one problem: Sam, an incurable romantic, has his heart set on a Paris meet-cute destiny, and won’t consider anyone else.

However, when they decide to fake date as part of the app’s marketing plan, it’s clear to everyone that they belong together.

But if Sam can’t see that Beth is his perfect partner, he’s failed the ultimate matchmaking test, and the app is doomed.

Can she change his mind, save the project, and secure them both an Appy Ever After?

Appy Ever After is a laugh-out-loud, closed door romcom full of chemistry but no spice.

My review

Beth has always believed in love. However, her failed marriage and terrible dates afterwards, she is truly fed up with the dating scene. To make things even worse for her, her job in capital venture needs her to find a great new client project. And Beth feeling the breath of her new boss, someone she used to date, doesn’t make her feel any more comfortable.  A client that may come in the shape of Sam. Because Sam has an idea, an idea that will bring people together. Even if Sam isn’t looking for love himself, as he knows how he will meet the woman of his life, he is able to match people and have them have long-lasting relationships. So why not bring his skills to use and create an app? Beth not only may be able to give him the necessary money, but she is also a great coder. When two great forces meet, great things may happen. And even some fake dating may be taking place… But the more time Beth and Sam spend together, the more the people around them see how perfect they are for each other. So could their Appy Ever After make them, and especially Sam, see what potential there is for them?

In a way, I really connected with this story. Because both Beth and Sam are single and are or have been looking for love. Just like Sam, I used to have these great expectations about my own meet – cute. Several years later, I have to admit that I have given up hope and I just enjoy my single life! 😊

And in a world where many people are looking for love, the cyberworld is filled with several apps and websites that promise you the perfect match. And haven’t all been disappointed with a few of our matches?

So yes, I was a bit wary of Sam and Beth joining forces and writing a new app. Because where would they be different from all the other ones that there are out there?

Coding is not something I understand, but I do have the complete respect for people that are able to create apps or websites that go so much beyond than the easy website I have for my own blog 😊. And I was happy to read that Beth was used as the person with the technical brain. I found it refreshing that the female main character is used and not using the cliché of a coding male main character.

I also felt a bit sorry for Beth. Her marriage ended because sometimes that just happens. It isn’t that her husband is a bad person, it just ended without a specific reason. But Beth never gave up on love, and it was sad to read how on her search for her perfect match, she had to have several disastrous dates…

On the other hand we have Sam. He isn’t looking for love, as he has this image in his head how he will meet the woman of his dreams. And while it was rather sweet how he hung up on that dream, I found it also a bit silly. I am not saying that Sam is silly, but he held on so much on that idea, that he doesn’t see what is right in front of him.

However, I liked how Sam wants his own friends to find happiness and love. And it is not because of some kind of gift, or magic that he has, but he just manages to connect the right people in the right place. And it even is some kind of admirable, that he wants to use that insight to connect even more people.

Sam is also a righteous man, as we see further along in the story. Because when he discovers something that breaks his heart, he knows that the truth must come out, even if it may cause further heartbreak. But he is also righteous in the sense that he doesn’t just judge, but he gives chances to explain and to come clean…

Seeing Beth and Sam together was both so great to read, but also so frustrating! Because just like everyone around them in the book, I could see the potential, the sparks. Beth and Sam start as business partners, become close friends, having each other’s back and are each other’s support, beyond everything.

In this book, we see how strange love can work. It can take just one moment to bring great people in your life. But we also see how sometimes we can be our own enemies, where we make ourselves unable to see the truth, what is right in front of us. And we also see how fear of losing what we have can hold us back.

But we also see how meeting the right person can make us feel brave, courageous and how we dare to nor only believe but also feel love again.

All this is captured in a funny, sweet story with great characters that feel real, that go through real emotions and have real struggles. All that easier to not just like them, but love them and cheer for them!

A journey that starts in darkness…

Synopsis

Out of darkness, light will shine…

Amy Hardy once lived a life full of colour, but a tragic accident has turned her world to shadows. Determined to embrace her new life, Amy sets off on the famous Compostela pilgrimage, hoping to find light in the darkness and a new path.

Accompanying her on her journey is Luke Patterson a man whose own troubled past casts dark shadows over his life. He’s hoping that guiding Amy will be a distraction from his own troubles.

But as Luke and Amy travel through the stunning scenery of Northern Spain, following in footsteps of those travellers before them, they feel a connection to each other. And as their bond grows, a love story from the distant past emerges before them, forcing them to confront their own secrets, pain and feelings for each other.

Can a story of courage and bravery help them both to emerge from the shadows into the light once more?

Under A Spanish Sky is an enchanting novel about the search for happiness, fulfilment…and above all love.

Please Note: This book was previously published as Chasing Shadows

My review

After an accident, Amy’s world has turned dark, literally. But that doesn’t stop her from going on a pilgrimage to Compostela with a guide. Luke has been a dark place, figuratively speaking, and while initially a bit reluctant, slowly he starts to enjoys Amy’s company. And with having to be her eyes, he starts to see things differently too. The further they are on their journey, the more not only their connection grow, they also feel connected to the people that have walked the paths before them. People, of which even had their own love story. On this journey not only Amy and Luke, but also Luc and Aimée, start to question whether in a world filled with darkness, there will be light again…

I have to admit, that it took some adjustments from my side when I started reading this story. And that is just because I am used to this author having a great series set in Italy. And now being in Spain, was a bit different. But different isn’t bad, is it? Especially when you know the author and he could even write a story set on the North Pole, with only a bear being the main character 😊

I have never been on a pilgrimage myself, and to be honest, it isn’t on my bucket list either. But I do admire people who are doing it, have done it or are planning to do it. And of course the pilgrimage to Compostela is a very famous one!

Being on this journey, cannot be easy. It can be difficult for everyone, but I admired Amy wanting to do it, even with her sight gone. There are extra challenges for her, but I was even in awe of her determination to complete the whole journey, even if her journey is slightly different from the ‘standard’ journey…

I cannot imagine how it feels not being able to see anymore. I think it is also worse losing your sight than never having been able to see at all. I for sure would miss everything I love to see, and being surrounded by darkness all the time. Yet even if that is Amy’s situations, I liked it reading how she makes the best of it. She has had her lows, but she is back in action, so to speak.

Obviously, and I don’t mean this in any way of being disrespectful, Amy cannot go on this journey on her own. Her guide, her chauffeur and her eyes, is Luke.

Luke hasn’t had an easy time in the past, and I could understand his reluctance to help out his friend, who had a friend that needed someone to accompany her on her journey. When you are feeling low, you don’t want other people around you, or people needing to rely on you.

Of course, even if he started this journey with Amy not being all that happy with his life at the moment, he wants to make this as unforgettable as possible for Amy. And while initially his descriptions of the places they are  at, are not what Amy needs, I found it sweet to read how Luke starts to understand what Amy needs to hear, needs to feel.

Being on a journey together also means that you grow closer. And it was just amazing seeing the relationship evolve between Amy and Luke. They started as strangers, brought together by a common friend, they slowly become friends, able to open to each other, talking about things they have been bottling up.

The extra beauty of this book is, beside reading Luke and Amy’s story, is that we get two stories for the price of one.

On the same paths that Luke and Amy are travelling, also Luc and Aimée have been walking centuries ago.

I found it a bit funny, as they had almost the same names as Luke and Amy, but in a way it also made me see in a way an even deeper connection between all the characters.

Luc and Aimée are in a complete different timeline, in a different life than Luke and Amy. Even just between the two of them, things couldn’t be more different. Yet they have a mission in common, in a world where they are being chased.

Luc and Aimée are on a more dangerous journey to Compostela, literally being chased down and fighting for their lives. Yet they stand by each other’s side, no matter what. They protect each other from their enemies.

And that was what I liked reading from their story, the complicity they had, the fact they would be there for each other no matter what. In fact, that is a common thread in the whole story, the bond there is between the main characters.

That connection, that kind of loyalty even, is what makes this a great story to read. There is determination, even strength in all the characters. But there is also kindness, understanding and that deep connection.

In this book we see that no matter how dark the world may look like, literally or figuratively, a journey may bring light back in your life, especially if you are on this journey with the right partner.

Maybe this book is set in a different setting, and this is not only a mental but also a physical journey the characters are going through. Yet no matter the difficulties the characters are going through, the story is filled with that typical ‘T A Williamsism’ that elevates this story into a higher level.

What a cover, of course it will be an amazing story!

Synopsis

Daisy’s career hasn’t exactly been going to plan and the last thing she wants to do is stay home and wallow in self-pity. So, when an opportunity arises to escape her London home, and make some money working a fancy event at a stately home, she jumps at it.

Determined to make the most out of the situation, she decides a road trip to the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect way to reset and take control of her life.

When devilishly handsome Evan finds himself stranded at the event following a cancelled flight to Scotland, Daisy does the kindest thing she can think of and invites him to join her. As they embark on their journey north, will the scenic trip help them rediscover themselves, and possibly even find something they weren’t expecting…

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Scottish-Highlands-contemporary-romance-ebook/dp/B0FBT1BBXT

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Journey-Scottish-Highlands-contemporary-romance-ebook/dp/B0FBT1BBXT

Publication Date: 29th January 2026

About the author

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance. 

As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags. 

She has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, Cooper. 

Journey to the Scottish Highlands is Julie’s fourteenth novel.

The cover!

When love isn’t on your priority list…

Synopsis

A fresh start…

For A&E nurse Eden Grainger, Port Kara offers more than just a safe haven. It’s a chance to break free from her ex Jesse and start a new life. Her focus now is solely on her four-year-old son, Teddie, whose autism means he sees the world in his own unique way.

A guarded heart…

Pathologist Drew Redford prefers to keep himself to himself in the busy hospital. Shaped by family loss and navigating life with high-functioning autism, he finds comfort in certainty. But when Eden and Teddie enter his world, an unexpected connection forms, especially through his gentle interactions with little Teddie.

A kindred connection…

Despite a growing fondness, both Eden and Drew are cautious. Eden is wary of repeating old mistakes, and Drew struggles with letting people in. But Teddie continues to bring them together and Eden thinks this could be the start of something really special. But when Jesse returns, Eden is thrown into turmoil and makes a mistake that could cost her everything.

My review

Port Kara feels more than ever as a safe haven for A&E nurse Eden Grainger. It took her a while to end things with her now ex Jesse, but now being free, Eden is more than ready for a fresh start. Her only priority in life is now looking after her son Teddie, a four – year – old with autism. Life isn’t always easy, but Eden wouldn’t trade Teddie for anything in the world. What Eden didn’t expect though, is that pathologist Drew Redford would understand her situation. Working together at the same hospital for sure made them cross paths here and there, but with Drew preferring to be on his own, there hasn’t been a real opportunity to actually create a friendship between them. However, when Eden and Teddie enter his world, something shifts inside him. With Drew being one of the few to truly understand Teddie and his needs, Eden realizes that there is more to Drew than she thought. What starts as an acquaintance, evolves into a deep friendship. But with them both being very cautious and afraid to give their hearts away, could it possibly become something more? Or will a face from the past make them lose everything that Eden and Drew have been building?

Having read all the previous parts of this wonderful series, of course I was eager to read this new adventure. And of course I had perhaps extreme high expectations. But I have to say this even rather quickly in this review, that I think that this may be my favourite book from the series!

Even if I am not a parent myself, I can imagine how expecting parents are visioning their baby, and how their baby will grow, saying its first word, taking those first steps etc. But it is also a fact that not all children are the same, and that there are children that even more different than “normal” ones. But different doesn’t mean lesser or not normal. Different is just different.

And I loved reading Eden’s devotion towards Teddie. Eden feels that there are moments she is truly struggling with raising Teddie. But reading how she knows Teddie, even with limited ways of communication, just truly warmed my heart. Eden has changed the future visions she had for Teddie, and has made new ones, more directed at who Teddie truly is, and not the Teddie she imagined she would have.  

It must be said, that Eden hasn’t had an easy time before, and I am not talking about Teddie at all. Her relationship with Jesse was absolutely a toxic one, where she was being manipulated, gaslit and she just became a shadow of her former self. And I was happy for her to have finally finding the courage to step away from Jesse, prioritizing Teddie above everything and start fresh at Port Kara.

Port Kara we all know is a safe place for many people, Eden included. But also for someone else, namely Drew Redford.

I wasn’t all that sure what to think about Drew. Not because I doubted that he would be a good guy. But because he was and is such a closed characters. He has a lot going on in his mind, but he doesn’t show his cards to the people around him.

And I was a bit afraid that Drew would be a stereotypical autistic person, only showing the clichés, and that I would not be able to connect with him.

But I was happy that this amazing author did not ridicule the spectrum, but shows us that there are so many different layers. And that while there may be a lot that is shared, not everyone is the same, even on the spectrum. Just like you and I are different from each other, that is also applicable for people on the spectrum.

The more I saw of Drew, the more I understood him too. As an introvert myself (with moments pretending to be an extrovert), I could completely understand why Drew prefers to be on his own, and doesn’t interact with many of his colleagues.

Not only did I understand him better, but there are several views Drew has, that I totally agreed with. His mindset is so spot on, that I found myself nodding with everything he is saying.

And then there is his interaction with Teddie… that man made my ovaries just explode! He is the gentlest of men, the kindest, most accepting one. He doesn’t except a lot from anyone, just pure honesty…

Seeing things evolve between Eden and Drew was so so sweet… where things start with Eden needing some tips and advice from his side, evolves into a great friendship. A friendship that means so much to the both of them. It means so much to them, that they are afraid to take that next step.

And that is so relatable. Because aren’t we all afraid of losing what we have, by wanting to take things to a next level? Aren’t we all afraid that what we feel isn’t reciprocated? And aren’t we all afraid that what we have is so fragile that it could be that easily broken?

This is shown when someone from Eden’s past resurfaces, and is jeopardizing just everything. While I wanted to scream at Eden to just let it go, it is also a testament to her kind character… In this particular situation, there isn’t a right or wrong thing to do. Eden does what she feels she needs to do, and Drew’s decision was also a comprehendible one… And his next steps in this climax shows us once again how much more he sees and understands that what we would think…

I absolutely devoured this book. It felt so real, so raw even at moments… It shows how caution can hold you back, but also how connections can be formed, how understanding each other can bring you closer.

So now can you understand why I fell in love with this story so much?  

The things we do for (lack of) love…

Synopsis

Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.

Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.

When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.

Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.

With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?

My review

Andi feels that her relationship with Drew has become dull and anything but exciting. There just aren’t moments they share together, and even in the bedroom the only action taking place is actual sleeping. When Andi meets a complete stranger, it is clear that sparks fly around between them. But as Andi is in a relationship, and even when the stranger keeps on appearing in her life and they appear to have so much in common, Andi is not that kind of woman. Especially when Andrew is also in a committed relationship, even if even his isn’t all rainbows and unicorns… So when they both realize the situation they are in, they come up with a plan: to make their partners jealous by namedropping each other. But the more time they spend together working at The Pumpkin Patch, the closer they get. And when Andi finally finds the courage to finally end things with Drew, she knows that her feelings for Andrew can never lead to anything. Or is there a way anyway?

Haven’t we all been in a relationship that didn’t make us 100% happy, but we still hung on to it, for one reason or another?

This is the situation Andi finds herself in, with Drew. She still cares about him, but things have clearly changed in time. And I could understand how a relationship evolves, and that those initial sparks and fireworks might disappear, but it was clearly that while Andi still clearly cares about Drew, that things have shifted in a way that is not matching with a real, caring, loving relationship. To make it even worse, even in the bedroom things are unmoving and there is absolutely no “action” taking place…

So when Andi meets Andrew, I was happy for her to find those sparks again, even if it wasn’t with Drew. Because it opened her eyes, seeing how it feels to feel just alive again.

I was rooting for Andi and Andrew, even before I knew that Andrew wasn’t single. I could see the potential of them together so clearly. But on the other hand, I truly liked it how, even if things aren’t that great in their relationship, they don’t go on a path I cannot agree with.

Seeing their friendship develop, reading how they truly just ‘get’ each other, was so sweet to read. And as being the same kind of situationship, it makes sense for them to be each other’s confidantes. 

And it even makes sense for them to come up with the Pumpkin Pact.

Maybe it may sound a bit juvenile to come up with the pact, to just make their partners jealous. But I could understand where they were coming from… something has to change if it the relationship wants to survive.

Or in Andi’s case, it makes Andi finally take that step to end things. It was not an easy decision, but let’s be honest, we knew it was a necessary thing…

And even then, I respected Andi as I saw how she feels about Andrew, but doesn’t act upon them, as Andrew still is in a relationship. It must be heartbreaking for her, seeing the man she loves but she cannot have him…

I haven’t spoken about the steamy moments in this book, but if you have read other reviews, you know that there are some hot scenes. But these all happened with my seal of approval.

This book works inspiring in a way, as it doesn’t only show us how relationships can change, and how it takes courage to make important choices. But we also see how one accidental meeting with the right person can change everything. And we see how meeting one person can change everything but also how it doesn’t mean that respect should be thrown out the window.

And we also see how misunderstandings, miscommunication and even jealousy can be a threat. But those threats can be void, as long as we keep communicating, keep  on being open about what we feel and who we are.

This was a perhaps quick read, but not an unenjoyable one. And even if it would seem like an easy choice from the author to give the characters these names, I found it not only a funny bit, but also a cleaver proof and play of how easy misunderstandings can arise. Something to for sure keep in mind!

Can so much hurt be healed with the help of Christmas Spirit?

Synopsis

AN ALL-NEW CHRISTMAS SPIRIT BOOK FOR 2025

CAN LARA ADD A DASH OF MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS?

The Sugar and Spice bakery sparkles with holiday spirit as Jacob serves up more mouthwatering festive treats, and Christmas spirit Lara tries to sprinkle her magic over those finding the time of year difficult.

Ollie is at his wits’ end. A debt from years ago comes back to haunt him just as he and his girlfriend are buying their dream home.

Rose is dejected as her college sweetheart has dumped her now they’re in their final year. She’s not looking forward to Christmas alone, nor her twenty-first birthday on Christmas Eve.

Sacha has recently moved to Winstanton following the failure of his business. He’s too embarrassed to confide in his family, but can he find the friendship he so desperately needs and begin to trust again?

Diana tries to find her new normal after the unexpected death of her husband earlier this year. All her plans for retirement have been thrown out the window and she feels lost. She needs a renewed sense of purpose and to find her place in the world.

Can Lara provide the answer to a joy-filled Christmas?

A story of hope, love, friendship, community, and of course, Christmas spirit.

For fans of Sarah Morgan, Philippa Ashley, Jenny Colgan and Cathy Bramley.

Praise for the Christmas Spirit series:

‘Christmas all wrapped up!’
‘Right from page one you are drawn into all the joys of Christmas!’
‘A lovely story about love, friendship and hope all wrapped up in a lovely Christmas jumper!’
‘You can taste the hot chocolate, see all the Christmas lights and feel the warmth of a Christmas hug.’

My review

Lara is even more over the moon now that Christmas is finally looming around the corner. She also especially hopes that she can work her Christmas Spirit – magic again as there are many people around that need her help. Not only is there Rose, whose college sweetheart has just dumped her in their final year and now feels more lonely than ever. But there is also Ollie, whose past debts may jeopardize the future he is building with his girlfriend, ready to take the next steps in their relationship. And there is Sacha, who recently moved to Winstanton, afraid to admit to his own family that his business failed. And then there is Diana, who is trying to find peace and a new purpose after losing her husband unexpectedly earlier this year. Lara has a lot of work to do at the Sugar and Spice bakery, wishing joy and happiness for all.

Is there ever a time that you should not read a Christmas story? of course not, you and especially I can read Christmas stories all year round! And when an author like Susan has one out, I don’t care when it comes out, I just *have* to read it. Add to that statement the fact that Lara is back… Well do I need more reasons???

Obviously Lara is a real sweetheart  in this book, once again. Even if she is just a child herself, she has such a kind, gentle, sweet heart, wanting only happiness and love for everyone. And while she may work in mysterious ways, ways we cannot explain ourselves, it was so heartwarming to read how she just sees everything, present things or how thing would work out just perfectly in a not so distant future, with effects to the distant future.

There are several cases that Lara needs to work on, each with their own story and background, but with one common thread, love.

There is for example young love, or young heartbreak initially. Because at the start of the story, Rose isn’t in a happy place, as her boyfriend just broke up with her. Even if Rose is a young adult, not having had a lot of life experience yet, we all can recognize her pain, can’t we?

And being heartbroken in the Christmas period, I could understand how Rose isn’t all that looking forward to the most wonderful time of the year.

But while being heartbroken, and Rose doesn’t show it all the time, I could also clearly see her resilience.

And then there is the loss of a love that has truly lasted a lifetime. Diana has loved and still loves her husband dearly. And it truly saddened me to read how much his passing is still hurting her. I could also understand it, as after shared a lifetime together, and now being on her own, cannot be easy at all for Diana, especially with the kind of love she had.

But just like with Rose, I could see so much resilience in Diana. Even if her love is no longer around, Diana is making plans. I admired her desire to learn French, to even go to France. But I also enjoyed her kindness towards not only old characters, but also new characters. Diana shows us that finding love is a wonderful thing, losing it is terrible, but that there can be life after losing love.

There is even life and love after mistakes of the past. That is something we see with Ollie. Because he has made errors in judgements and just mistakes in general in the past, like everyone of us. And just when it seems that he has his life back on track, when he is ready to take a next step with his relationship, those mistakes resurface, threatening everything he has tried to rebuild.

It is so typical that at the worst possible time your past resurfaces. A past that also in Ollie’s case is not something to be ashamed of, but understandable difficult to admit what has happened. And the more Ollie’s story evolves, the more we see how not being open about the past can jeopardize not only the present, but also the future.

Ollie learns that honesty is always the best direction to take. Only with honestly you can move forward and find a new happiness and can let you see a bright future, without the dark shadows of the past.

Shadows of the past that also Sacha is feeling. The way his business ended, left a bad aftertaste. Not only has it ruined a friendship, but also ruined a business he truly loved. I could understand how at loss he was at the start of this book, and how also in his case, it is difficult to admit failure to your loved ones.

Sacha is at loss, and with his move to Winstanton, he hopes to not only find the answers to what to do with his life now, but also to find purpose back in his life.

Sacha’s life has changed in a way he didn’t expect, but he knows his former life will not return. And he has to make the best of the situation he is in. Many people would become very bitter about the turn their life would take, but Sacha never loses his kindness and his heart.

All the characters are going initially through a rough time. But with some help from sweet Lara, there is a connection that brings them all or partially together, and even closer. We see the resilience in each character, we see how no matter what lemons life has thrown at them, it didn’t break their kind, gentle and warm characters.

Susan Buchanan shows us with this story, that there is sunshine after the rain, that goodness, kindness and love, will be rewarded. And is there a better timing than Christmas? Is there a better main setting than the Sugar and Spice bakery? And is there a better Christmas Spirit than Lara?

This story warmed my heart, once again Susan accomplished this with not just perfect characters, but characters with flaws, normal characters that learn and mature the more their stories evolves. All that making them even more loveable and likeable! Well done Susan, well done! 😊

Dreams, hope, love, secrets and lies…

Synopsis

A heartwarming, feel good romantic comedy. ‘I absolutely adored this book. It gave me all the feels! A charming read full of warmth and heart.’ ***** Kim the Bookworm

Bea Winters is in desperate need of a fresh start. Being bullied at work is not her idea of fun and she longs to follow her dream of becoming a published author. When an advert appears in her local paper to work in a publishing house in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale, it sounds too good to be true.

She strikes up an instant friendship with gorgeous aspiring author, Eddie Richards and her dashing millionaire boss Scott Summers. But all isn’t as it seems in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale.

How does the local clairvoyant know her name? Who does the little black dog that keeps appearing belong to and why does she keep bumping into the mysterious Charlie?

As she starts to unravel the truth, it seems that everyone in Bea’s life is keeping secrets.

An uplifting romantic comedy that will warm your heart – perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews.

My review

Bea Winters likes her job, weren’t it for her being bullied by just one colleague of hers. But as we all need a job for a living, Bea just stays put where she is, and takes several deep breaths a day to get through it. And then just one day, she notices an advert… Not just any kind of advert, but the kind that offers the job and the opportunity Bea has been dreaming of, as it is an offer to work in a publishing house in a small village named Bloomsdale. While initially she doesn’t appear to have all the qualifications, somehow that same advert appears again, but slightly changed. And before Bea even realizes, she has landed the job! Once arrived in Bloomsdale, she quickly befriends Eddie Richards, an aspiring author just like Bea, who helps her not only finding a place to stay but settling in. And then there is her boss, Scott Summers. Bea enjoys her new life, there are also things happening in Bloomsdale that Bea just cannot explain… Like how does the local clairvoyant knows her name? Why does that little black dog keep appearing? And who actually is Charlie? Oh, and what about all the secrets that keep on appearing?

I never know what to exactly expect from a book of this author. Not that I am wary of her writing, because I have truly enjoyed every book I have read of her. But I don’t know what is going to happen, what is going to happen to the main characters or how things are going to evolve, and in this case specifically, what are all the secrets that are being kept in this village of Bloomsdale?

At the start of the book, I truly felt sorry for Bea. She is doing her job all the best she can, but with being bullied, it for sure isn’t easy to put on a smile on her face all the time. And that resonated with me on some levels. I haven’t been bullied at my previous job, but some people were so exhausted that I felt the joy draining out of my body after each day that has passed.

So even if the advert that Bea’s sees may have appeared in a strange way (let’s ‘blame’ it on serendipity), I was happy for her, to have an opportunity to make a change in her life.

Even if Bloomsdale is just the setting of this book, once Bea arrived there, I felt a lightness in my heart myself. I could feel that this was the place where Bea not only has to be, but where she truly belongs and is supposed to be.

It was sweet to see how Bea and Eddie immediately connect. They establish an immediate friendship, with Eddie being the best kind of friend, not only with helping Bea in every way he can. HE also listens to her, even when he might think that Bea is seeing things, imagining things.

However, I also have to say that I  was a bit shocked seeing how Eddie reacts each time he is around Scott Summers. Especially upon learning their connection to each other… It seems that Eddie changes in a whole different person when Scott is around, and I just couldn’t grasp the why’s…

I also have to admit that while I could understand the attraction that Bea has towards Scott, but I didn’t like – like Scott. I couldn’t put my finger on it why exactly, but I felt that he wasn’t completely honest and playing nicely with the people around him.

Bea truly is on a journey in this book. Not only is she starting a new life in a new village, with a new job. But with all the people she is meeting in Bloomsdale, she also gets to know more about herself, her family and things that haven’t been said out loud.

The more the story evolves, the more Bea starts to not only ‘get’ people, but she also starts to ‘get’ herself, and make discoveries about her and those around her. Discoveries that perhaps as a reader needs to you keep an open mind, and me as a sceptic had me raise my eyebrows. On the other hand, who says that what I believe is the truth? Couldn’t it be the other way around?

Florence Keeling wrote a sweet, heartwarming story, about fresh starts, the meaning of family, friends and love. But also how some past dynamics can change a whole future. Everyone has some secrets, some skeletons in their closets. But the bigger the secrets, the heavier the burden. And by coming clean it will not only alleviate yourself, but also it will allow you to make amends.

But most important, with this book we see how Life can give a nudge in the right direction. How it can make you meet people that you need in your life, even if you didn’t know it. And how one advert can be the catalyst of giving you so many answers and make you understand yourself, those around you and how love, in all its aspects, make itself even more visible than ever.

When not only an inheritance brings you to France…

Synopsis

Every moment is a new beginning on the French Riviera

Five years ago, Adam and Lucy Belgrave took the plunge and bought a sprawling rundown farm in the South of France to bring back to life, much against the advice of Adam’s brother, Elliot.

Today, that dream is becoming a reality and the farm is beginning to thrive and Elliot finds himself grateful for the refuge it provides after his career falters and his marriage fails.

After the death of her beloved granny, a bitter divorce and surprise redundancy – the saying ’sad things come in threes’ resonates with Briony Dymond’s life. With her mother by her side, Briony travels to France to learn some news that will change her life completely. Will she have the courage to embrace granny Giselle’s special wishes?

As spring returns to the French Riviera both Elliot and Briony seek to put their pasts behind them and look to find happiness in the future. But can the past give up its hold on the present?

My review

Briony Dymond has experienced in person what it means when people say that bad things come in threes. In a short time, not only did her marriage end, has she become redundant, she also lost her beloved granny. Saying that Briony needs some peace and an escape, would be an understatement. However, with her Granny Giselle last wishes, Briony and her mother have the chance to escape to the south of France. AS the place is familiar for them, they also quickly rebuild connections with old friends. That includes Adam and Lucy Belgrave, who years ago took a plunge and bought a rundown farm and make things work again. They are working bit by bit, even if there may have been some initial worry from Adam’s brother Elliot. However, Elliot couldn’t be prouder on the life his brother and sister – in – law have created, even if his own has fallen into pieces. A fresh start in France is what Elliot needs the most… When two broken hearts and souls meet, can there be healing taking place?

All the stories that I have read from this author, have one thing in common: the setting in France. Beside the (of course wonderful) setting, each story is completely different and I find myself eagerly picking up a new book!

I hate it when clichés are being confirmed, even just in books, as they show us that they are a cliché for a reason. Unfortunately, Briony learns the hard way that bad things always come in threes. The end of a marriage is always a painful event, even if in retrospect it was the only choice. To lose a beloved member of the family is perhaps even more painful, as it is for sure final. And perhaps losing your job is the lesser pain of them, but when it’s the last straw…

In a way, it’s good for her that Granny Giselle has left a cottage to inherit. It’s the perfect chance for Briony and her mother Jeannie to not only reconnect between them, and come clean about unsaid things, but also to reconnect with a place that meant so much to the both of them and still feel a connection to a person that is no longer between them…

Escaping from your past isn’t always the best choice, but for Briony it for sure is. She needs to not only recharge, but also take her life back in her own hands. And to recharge her batteries, is there a better place than in South France?

I am not the kind of person that would find peace by renovating an old farm, or living in a cottage. I would get more stressed by all the peace and quiet, but I can understand the allure of it. And it is just what Briony and Jeannie need, especially as there is more to the inheritance than Briony thought…

In the cottage, surrounded by memories and mementos, Briony had the time to think about what to do with her life. But not only that, she has the time to fall in love with France and its way of life. The way she has been welcomed (back) and how everyone is just accepting her because of Giselle, truly warmed my heart. And seeing how people are willing to help Briony, and not just interfere and be nosy, shows us the meaning of a real close community.

A community that also embraces Elliot, who also needs a fresh start after seeing his own marriage end in a terrible way, filled with lies and betrayal…

On one hand, my heart went out to him, as even if I didn’t know the whole story yet, it was obvious that Elliot was and still is in pain, and just wants to move on. And on the other hand, I admired his courage to do exactly that, and even stand up for himself when those demons of the past resurface.

Elliot and Briony have both learned the hard way what love can do, and how much it can hurt. And it is normal behaviour to act wary around new people. Yet what we see here is how these broken people find each other and connect. Even if there are attempts at keeping distance.

Slowly we see how those immense high walls can crumble, and how trust can be built, piece by piece. Of course this doesn’t happen overnight, and not without hiccups. There are some moments of odd behaviour, going hot and cold, but I cannot say I can blame either one of them, as it is obvious that fear and wariness are still present.

This isn’t the kind of story where there is an instant attraction, and falling heads over heels in love. But a slow story, showing how even the most beautiful things need time. Perhaps it is best to be compared with how long it takes for Adam and Lucy to renovate their farm. It takes some serious time, but the result can be so rewarding!

Jennifer Bohnet once again amazed me with her writing skills, taking me once again on a marvellous journey with real and realistic, not flawless, people. And once again in a great setting!

To find trust again after having it had broken

Synopsis

Amid betrayal and family secrets, a journey to the Scottish Highlands brings unexpected romance, healing, and a second chance at happiness. 

Scarlett flees to the Scottish Highlands on her 35th birthday after discovering her husband’s affair. Desperate for a fresh start, she seeks comfort with her estranged mother at the estate of the surly, yet rather attractive bachelor, Edward Cameron-Reid; a reclusive laird devoted to his family’s legacy.

As Scarlett disrupts Edward’s solitary life, an inescapable chemistry sparks between them amid the estate’s last-minute preparations for his brother’s wedding. However, their growing connection faces turmoil when shocking secrets and hidden motives surface, threatening not only the wedding but their blossoming romance.

Will the drama keep Scarlett and Edward apart? Can they overcome their fears and confront their true feelings for each other? Or will they discover that even after heartbreak, love has the power to offer a second chance?

A dual-narrative, spicy contemporary romance set in the Highlands of Scotland, for fans of Elliot Fletcher and Evie Alexander.

My review

Scarlett Hope didn’t have to have any worry after her marriage. Even if she didn’t get along with her mother-in-law that well, her life was the kind that would lavish her in comfort and style. That is until she discovers that her husband has not only betrayed their marriage, but also got their tenant pregnant… To make things worse, Scarlett discovers this on her own 35th birthday! Scarlett decides to keep her dignity and leaves the place that has been her home for a long, with just the bare minimum. The only place Scarlett can think of to give her safety, is to go to her own, though estranged, mother, in the Scottish Highlands. Scarlett hopes to find refuge there, and also a way to get her life back on tracks, and to make her life her own again. But while her mother welcomes her daughter back with open arms, the fact that she is the gardener of Hadden House, and its owner Edward Cameron-Reid isn’t all that thrilled with Scarlett’s arrival, things don’t start off all that well. Because the last place Edward wants to be, is at Hadden House, but as there a wedding going to take place, and the last thing Edward  needs, is being distracted by a fiery and funny woman like Scarlett. So even when sparks ignite and fly around, both their responsibilities and  past keep them from taking things further. Or not…

There is one thing I truly hate in these kind of books. And that is the level of betrayal the main character has to endure. Of course there must happen *something* to let the story take off. But it is almost always in such a nasty, ugly way, that it truly breaks the main character. Why are people so mean, deceitful? If the grass is truly greener on the other side, have the b*lls to do the right thing to the person you claimed to love…

Yet I was proud of Scarlett and her decision to leave. It would have been perhaps easier for her to just stay where she was, in a world of luxury and comfort, but that is not who Scarlett is and what she wants. She wants to be loved for the right reasons, she wants commitment, loyalty and have a partner in every sense of the word.

And I admired Scarlett and her choice to find refuge with her mother. For many people it would an obvious choice, to go to your parents, but as it is a strained relationship, it cannot have been easy for Scarlett to ask for help to a person that has hurt you in the past…

I liked it also to read how Scarlett isn’t the posh kind of woman, despite her married life. She doesn’t expect her mother to give her shelter and that Scarlett can just sit around and do nothing. No, Scarlett isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, or to use her knowledge, her know – how, to earn her own living.

While Scarlett for sure puts on a brave face, the hurt she has been though, at the hand of the man that is supposed to love her, is palpable. Not only at the start of the story, or upon the arrival at Hadden House. But the more the story evolves, the more we see how Scarlett, bit by bit, is able to get over her pain.

Of course this doesn’t happen overnight, and even after meeting Edward, and sparks start to fly, we see that hesitation in her. Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me… right?

It is almost mandatory that things don’t start off that greatly between Scarlett and Edward. If they would become BFF’s immediately, this story wouldn’t have the same attraction as it does now. Also because Edward isn’t a person with a perfect life.

Edward has his own struggles and demons to battle. His life has also been filled with ups and downs and he hasn’t come to terms with everything yet.

He isn’t all that happy has Scarlett has arrived, and he is wary of the woman. He wants to keep his distance, not only with Scarlett, but with many people that aren’t in his inner circle.

However, attraction, sparks, fireworks, they don’t care about your inner turmoil. And they won’t just back down because you want to. And seeing that attraction, those sparks fly around, was just great! Edward and Scarlett both deserve to find that attraction, those sparks, to show them that everyone deserves to find all the above and even more.

So as a reader, it was a bit frustrating to read how Edward at moments was hot and then cold towards Scarlett. But it also made sense in a certain way. Because it is a journey the both of them have to go through. With their backgrounds, it is not easy to just open up and let people, and let love back in.

I truly enjoyed reading this story, that shows us that keeping your dignity is something scary yet courageous. It shows us that broken bonds can be mended as long as there is love and also patience involved. And that even if life keeps on throwing curveballs, love can always find its way to you.

This book handles many different subjects, and isn’t only and strictly limited to the story of Edward and Scarlett. The author isn’t afraid to write down some heavy stuff in this story either. Heavy stuff that would perhaps be too heavy, yet here we see it alternate with some lighter, funny moments, without ever putting  anything to ridicule about it. These shifts made it truly great story to read, made me think, wonder, laugh, all at the same time.

This was my first encounter with this author, and I cannot wait to discover more of her works!