Tizi’s Book Review

How people can surprise you in unexpected ways…

Synopsis

One ambitious businesswoman.

One irresponsible heir. 

A deal that will turn both their lives upside down… 

To grow her craft business, Nancy is in desperate need of two things: help and money. So when a potential investor she’s looking to impress recommends an assistant, she jumps at the chance to secure both.

Freddy Astley-Davenport is a notorious playboy with zero work experience. He’s poised to inherit his family’s estate in sunny Seashell Bay – but only if he can hold down a job for six months first. His plan is to take the assistant role in name only, then do the least work he possibly can.

Nancy has other ideas, though, and the pair butt heads from day one. However, as they argue, sparks begin to fly, and they soon discover exactly why opposites attract…

An absolutely escapist, funny, feel-good summer romance. Fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson will adore Bella Osborne.

My review

Nancy loves her crafts business, but she also knows that owning one is rather difficult. Without help and money, she can impossibly keep growing.
When a possible investor recommends an assistant, she thinks that she can kill two birds with one stone. If only it weren’t Freddy Astley-Davenport… a notorious playboy, with absolutely zero working experience and zero right mindset…
And he has his own agenda, which involves working as less as possible.
But that doesn’t fit with Nancy’s work ethos, and this will be only the first of many disagreements they will have.
However, when help is truly needed, they see each other from a total different perspective.
And then there is Nancy’s housemate, Alice. She loves her job at the school, even if the head teacher is more frustrating than possibly. When an unexpected kiss and the discovery that he is actually the father of one of her pupils, Alice fears that things might get too complicated. Even more complicated than her life and health already are…  

There are stories in this world that you know you will love even before you have even started them. And for me, this book was one of those! I love the author and that made it easy for me start this book with a huge smile plastered on my face! 

In fact, there are two stories to be told, even if Nancy’s tale has the bigger spotlight. But that didn’t take any love away from Alice, as her story was just as marvellous! 

Nancy’s tale is for sure the funnier one, as we can see a lot of bickering and bantering.
Nancy is a great example of a woman who has made it on her own, is passionate about the business she created and wants to make a real success out of it.
But she is also faced with the reality, as no matter how wonderful your dream may be, it isn’t easy having an own business. 

She is also the kind of person who wants to keep everything in her own hands, to keep an overview of everything. But that also means that she is in over her head. And having an assistant for sure would help! 

And enter Freddy…
Freddy is Nancy’s total opposite. He comes from wealth and never had to move one finger. And I have to say, I also had a certain image of Freddy in my mind, and his attitude at the start for sure only made that image being confirmed. 

These two characters together are a recipe for fireworks, and not the good kind. And those are exactly the kind of fireworks that give me a blast 😊
Two total opposites, working together, clashing together, how wonderful to read! 

But despite the many differences between them, slowly the real Freddy surfaces. A Freddy that hasn’t had an easy time, and is still having some struggles. Obviously he also knows that his problems aren’t the problems of the world, but why shouldn’t his struggles be acknowledged? 

And we also see the kind, caring and lovely Freddy, who doesn’t hesitate to take Nancy to his parents’ estate while injured.
And this is the place where the magic happens… Obviously Nancy and Freddy still have different visions, yet they come to understand each other better and see the person in front of them for who they really are. 

And then we have Alice… she is Nancy’s housemate, but the way they look after each other, they could perfectly be siblings.
Alice is a teacher’s assistant, with her heart at the right place. She is the kind of teacher everyone would love to have, instead of the teacher Alice is assisting. 

Her story is a smaller one, but I found her the heart – breaking one…  

The kiss she had with a stranger for sure ignited the right kind of fireworks. And when she discovers that Dom is her pupil’s father, Alice knows it may complicate things. 

It’s clear that Alice is hiding something, with also her overbearing parents. And even if we don’t know the specifics, it’s clear that it’s her secret holding her back from living her life at the fullest.
Her fear of her future makes her keep everyone at a distance, wanting to avoid heartbreak, even if it’s at her own happiness’ cost. 

This book for sure lived up to my extreme high expectations. I laughed and I cried, as we see how wrong our impressions of people can be, but also how fear can make us miss out the best thing that could ever happen to us.
And even if life doesn’t go exactly as planned, a change of direction doesn’t mean we won’t find what we looking for.
But one thing I have to add… this book only added more fuel on my discomfort of peacocks! 😊

The need to get away that means the start of something wonderful…

Synopsis

Autumn Laine has lost her creative sparkle. After losing her grandad and her job as an illustrator in quick succession, she is at a crossroads in life and needs a break. Spending time with her parents in Paris, even in the artistic community of Montmartre, doesn’t appear to be the answer.

So when her penpal, Rosie, invites her to stay in the Lake District, Autumn jumps at the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of Paris. After all, where better to re-discover her creativity than the place which inspired her heroine, Beatrix Potter?

Arriving at the picturesque lakeside village of Willowdale, Autumn is swept up by the beauty and magic of the stunning landscape. Welcomed into the community with open arms, she slowly starts to feel like herself again as her creative instincts re-ignite.

But when she meets Dane, who has escaped to the Lakes for his own reasons, will Autumn’s walls come down to let someone in again after so long? Or will the secrets of her past continue to hold her back?

A new beginning is a daunting prospect, but could it be the start of something wonderful too..?

Join million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland for a brand new series, full of love, friendship and community.

My review

Autumn Laine is an illustrator that has lost her sparkle. And losing her beloved grandfather and her job too doesn’t help to find her mojo back.
Even the thought of returning to Paris to her parents doesn’t bring her joy.
So when her penpal Rosie invites her to come over for a visit, perhaps that will be the place to let her inspiration return, especially if that visit means to stay at the place that inspired Autumn’s heroine Beatrix Potter.
Once arrived at Willowdale, Autumn is amazed by everything that surrounds her. With spending time with Dane, a man she literally collided with, will she perhaps find her inspiration back and move on from a past filled with secrets?  

So here we are again, making an attempt on putting into words how much we love a Jessica Redland Book…
Obviously I could go for a short review, by saying it’s wonderful. But of course that wouldn’t be doing justice to this amazing author and her marvellous talent. 

The book is named ‘The Start Of Something Wonderful’, clearly stating that it’s a start of a brand new series. But in my mind I shortened the title, as ‘Something Wonderful’ is more than enough to state my view of this book. 

I don’t know if it’s only me, or if everyone in Belgium would agree with me, but the Beatrix Potter hype/ love is not something I truly acknowledged.
Of course I know about her, and I know who Peter Rabbit is. But I have not any of her book nor enjoyed her illustrations.
That doesn’t take away I can comprehend the fans she has and that she inspires so many other people all over the world. 

But I am here to express my love for Jessica and another magnificent story, because BELIEVE me, Jessica just did it again! 

I am not talented in drawing or illustrating in any way. you could compare my “illustrations” with those of a child. But I can understand the frustration Autumn haves when she just doesn’t feel it anymore, as inspiration completely left her.
Of course her situation doesn’t help, losing her beloved grandfather, losing her job and just not feeling at home at any place she has been living.
And then there is of course the heartbreak she still has, despite the passed years… 

Through flashbacks we get to learn why Autumn has built the huge walls around her heart. And can you blame her? While it didn’t come as a total surprise to me what she has been through, it still broke my heart to read her tale of woe…
She is still carrying around the pain she had to endure, obviously failing at moving on. 

And that is the magic of Jessica Redland, as she takes her characters to a place that is just perfect for them. A place that perhaps we never imagined ourselves to go, yet now we cannot not go there too, as we have fallen unconditionally and irrevocably in love with the place and its inhabitants! 

Now, I have to say I was a bit amazed and flabbergasted reading the long-lasting friendship between Autumn and Rosie. I found it utterly sweet to see how Fate brought these two women together at a young age and they have established a wonderful bond, even distance cannot break that. And it thrilled me to see how strong and understanding this friendship was, even in real life! 

And then there is Dane… of course our beloved author had to add a swoon worthy love interest! Dane is just so perfect for Autumn (and not only her, I want him too!), even if he has his own baggage to carry.
But that baggage makes it also possible for him to understand Autumn so much better. And of course they have so many things in common, even more than they thought! 

At one point in the book, I was afraid that it would take a turn I would not like, when a face from the past resurfaced. While I could understand Autumn and her feelings, I couldn’t or wouldn’t want to see her taking that direction.
The past is in the past, and we should let go of it, as perhaps what we think we saw doesn’t fit with the reality. 

I have to admit, and Jessica knows this already, I squealed with excitement when I saw that at one point, Autumn has a housemate named Tizi. Now, as my nickname is Tizi, you can probably understand my excitement! 😊 

Dear Jessica, to end this review, I have to thank you… for taking me on this amazing journey, making me dream away, but also for once not having a tissue shortage in Belgium! 😊
Please don’t ever stop writing, as picking up any of your book is the highlight of my day, no matter how dark or light it was.
Just like all your other books, this book was top-notch, as I once again found myself giving up my sleep as I just kept on reading. The only regret I have, is that I read it too quickly and I now have to find the patience for your next story to come out.
All that there is left to say is… Chapeau!

Doesn’t the black sheep of the family deserve her happily ever after too?

Synopsis

The moment you stop looking, that’s when Prince Charming will come knocking on your door!

Summer Knowles does not want a boyfriend. Relationships have caused enough problems in her life. As bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding, she’s going to avoid all things romantic – especially the brawny, hipster best-man who has commitment-phobe written all over him!

When Archie Hill meets Summer, he immediately thinks bridesmaid-and-best-man-with-benefits! They have one week together and may as well make the most of it. But what if one week just isn’t enough…

As wedding fever takes hold, can a sworn-off-men bridesmaid and a die-hard bachelor learn a thing or two about happy-ever-after?

A friends-with-benefits, wedding date rom-com, perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood!

Please note that this title was originally published as You MayKiss the Bridesmaid.

My review

Summer Knowles made 1 terrible decision once and this caused her to have no friends left, and has been an outcast even from her own family.

Even if her twin sister Winter and her former best friend Lana have forgiven her, she is still on the receiving part of nasty looks.
So when Winter is getting married, Summer is obviously happy for her, but she is also afraid how the people will react to her presence.

And when she meets Archie, she accept the offer of no – strings – attached fun, so that she can distract herself.
But is she capable to keep the fun and her feelings separated?

I need to make a confession… when I first read about Summer in the previous parts of this series, I disliked her immediately.
I couldn’t understand how she could betray her best friend and sister like that. So when I started with this book, I was sceptic to read her story.
But I was pleasantly surprised!

Summer was not just a heartless, selfish b*tch… she made 1 terrible mistake that she will possibly regret her whole life.
She is afraid nobody will ever forgive her and is afraid of people’s reaction. Luckily she has the victims of her mistake on her side. Winter and Lana are the most forgiving persons I know, so I was happy for Summer that she was not alone.

When Summer meets Archie, he mistakes her for her twin sister, so I had a real laugh when the awkward moment of realisation was there!
Immediately the sparks fly around, but here my dislike for Summer started to shift in truly liking the girl! Even if Archie offers her an easy distraction, she will not make another mistake risking to jeopardize her sister’s wedding.

But of course, if she would stick to her decision it would be a very short story! 😃

I loved how it becomes very clear how insecure Summer actually is… she is fighting sometimes a lost cause, and she feels that no one will ever forgive her.

And Archie… he is the perfect example of a man with fear of commitment. He is resolute to add Summer to his list of conquests, but he quickly finds himself looking for her all the time.

I had so much fun reading this book. I loved Summer and her insecurities, and her hate for beards. I loved how much she actually cares for her sister and her friends.
I loved how Archie looks after Summer even if he doesn’t have to, when the agreement they made is crystal-clear. I loved how his view on relationships shifted.

I had to wipe the tears I had for laughing at the hilarious moments, had to stop myself from
‘aaaaw – ing’ several times.

A lovely story about finding love, even if you don’t want to find it. And that one mistake does not have to be the end. And that no matter what, family and true friends will find always a way to forgive you.
And love is all you need, just dare to take the chance! And that sometimes you have to change your opinion about people! 😃

While waiting for reading the book, let’s admire this beautiful cover!

Synopsis

When soap actor Sabrina Swift loses her way due to a public scandal, she packs up her life, heads to Cornwall and randomly finds herself running a Christmas gift shop in the quaint and quirky Ferry Lane Market.

Changing her looks and identity to keep her anonymity, the newcomer starts to make friends and enemies as she walks a frosty path in the established community.

And as rumours start circling that the outside market is going to be shut down, Sabrina is not only ensconced in an unexpected love triangle but is also faced with a difficult decision that could alter both her life and those of the inhabitants of Hartmouth forever.

Charming characters and a beautifully written setting make for a delightful and uplifting tale that explores themes of self-discovery, belonging and the importance of following your heart. 

Pre-order Links:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holiday-Romance-Ferry-Lane-Market-ebook/dp/B0CC342XY6

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Romance-Ferry-Lane-Market-ebook/dp/B0CC342XY6

About the author

Nicola May is a rom-com superstar. She is the author of sixteen romantic comedies, all of which have appeared in the Kindle bestseller charts. Two of them won awards at the Festival of Romance, and another was named ebook of the week in The Sun. The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay became the best-selling Kindle book in the UK, across all genres, in January 2019, and was Amazon’s third-bestselling novel in that year.

The cover

Can you fall for someone who could jeopardize your life?

Synopsis

Her rival

Is her most dangerous temptation!

Astrid Viggosdottir’s father has ordered a competition between her and new arrival Viking Ulrik to prove who is the better boat-builder! If she loses, Princess Astrid will be duty-bound to marry a Jarl. If Ulrik loses, he will be banished, leaving his motherless daughter homeless. With the stakes so high, Astrid should hate this man―but during the long hot summer their rivalry turns to a heated passion that neither can ignore!

My review

Astrid Viggosdottir may be a princess, but what she loves the most, is building boats. She wants to keep her freedom and marrying a jarl would only mean to give up her dreams and passion. But her father wants her married, sooner rather later. And with the arrival of Viking Ulrik, he sees an opportunity by organizing a competition. As Ulrik is also a boat builder, both Astrid and Ulrik have to build one to see who the better boat builder is. If Ulrik wins, Astrid will have to marry a jarl, and if Astrid wins, Ulrik and his daughter will be banished.
Rivalry rises during the competition, but no matter how hard both builders are trying to win, they cannot ignore the attraction between them… 

I think it’s always fun to read a story about rivalry, for the main characters to realize only later on that there are other kind of feelings involved.
Add in the equation a strong and independent female main character, a fierce yet also vulnerable male character, and Vikings, and I will for sure enjoy reading the whole book! 

When Astrid makes her entrance in the story, it’s clear she is not the typical Viking Princess. She is the kind of character who isn’t afraid of working with her hands, she doesn’t wants to follow protocol and even if it causes a rift between her and her parents, she wants to follow her passion.
I admire her for that, because while she could have everything she wants, the perks of being a Viking Princess, the thing she desires the most is building boats.
She also knows that if she would do what her father asks/demands from her, she would lose her liberty and passion, and she is not willing to give that up for anyone. 

Astrid knows what she wants, but she also knows that she is good at what she does. She worked hard to get her where she is now. So it saddened me that her own family (well, most of her family…) doesn’t see that and doesn’t appreciate her as she deserves. 

It’s obvious that Astrid is a fierce young woman, but she is also a kind woman, as we can see how she treats the people around her, and even Ulrik’s little girl. 

Now that I have mentioned Ulrik… I have read several books with strong Vikings in it, but I think that Ulrik may be my favourite!
Obviously he is an amazing warrior, and he won’t let his injury stop him. But he is also a wonderful father to Frida. Being a single father isn’t easy, yet he does whatever he can to protect his little girl, who is slowly growing into a young woman herself. 

As Astrid and Ulrik are fighting to be named the winner of the competition, I have to say I enjoyed reading about Astrid’s pettiness. But I liked it how she kept it low key. She doesn’t do things that would disadvantage Ulrik, but she isn’t making it too easy for him. It may seems childish at moments, yet for me it was a comic addition to the story.
But I also liked it how Ulrik didn’t take the bait. He knows what Astrid is doing, but he doesn’t retaliate or he isn’t going to be snitch. 

And then there is the slowly growing attraction between them…
Astrid and Ulrik couldn’t be more different, yet their passion and love for building boats is what brings them closer together.
And they start to realize that no matter what differences they have, they also have so much in common. They also both have moments where they want to protect the other one, even at their own risks.  

Even if Astrid and Ulrik show us that there are people who look at the real person and not at their status, there are a few characters that not only look down on Ulrik and Frida, and the other builders, but also act despicable…
Especially Astrid’s sisters made my blood boil over a few occasions, and if I could, I would slap them in the face! 

The author managed perfectly to play on the balance of enemies – to – lovers, adding several layers into it.
I never thought about the details and focus that goes into building a boat, and it made me appreciate the hard work that goes into it, especially keeping in mind that while now things may go easier, it for sure was a real task for the Vikings! 

But Lucy Morris managed once again to write a story about strong characters, that despite their restrictions given in life, are fighting for what they care the most, only to find out that their fight might have brought them someone on their path worthy of taking a chance on love.

Haunted by a past and haunted by not having a past…

Synopsis

His past is forgotten…
Can his mysterious healer unlock his future?

When Royce wakes with no memories and suddenly blind, his situation seems dire. The only thing he remembers is being attacked by shadowy figures…but not the beautiful woman who came to his rescue. Now Iona MacKenzie’s every touch drives Royce wild. But when news of a manhunt for him reaches them, Royce must uncover his past if he has any chance of saving himself—and the woman he’s falling for…

My review

Iona MacKenzie is living rather secluded on the little island of Lismore. People are wary of her, claiming her even of being a witch, yet they do not hesitate to ask for her help as a healer when needed.
When one night she sees men picking over what appears to be dead body, Iona doesn’t hesitate to chase those thieves away. And to her utterly shock, she realizes that the man left behind isn’t dead at all.
She nurses him until he gains back his conscious, only for the both of them to realize that the man has lost his sight and his memory. He only remembers being attacked and that perhaps his name may be Royce…
With Iona by his side, Royce tries to remember anything about his life, especially when there now appears to be a manhunt for him. It’s a race against the clock to not only uncover his past and saving himself, but also the woman who stands by his side in the darkest moments… 

The blurb of this story intrigued me immediately. One of the main characters not only losing his sight but also his memory, it for sure seems a recipe for an exciting reading session for me! 

As a reader, and also as the title says it, Royce is a laird. He is determined to discover the truth about what happened to his younger sister Violet twenty years ago. (Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler, as this is told in the prologue!).
Obviously, it didn’t come as a total surprise that his quest didn’t go as planned, as Royce ends up on the Lismore shore, left behind for dead. 

I can only try to imagine the terror of waking up and realize that your sight is lost. To make things even worse, not even remembering who you are or what you are doing.
Even if I haven’t been in either of those situations myself, I can somehow understand the frustration and the anger of feeling helpless. 

Luckily for our Laird, Iona comes to the rescue. From her behaviour I could see why the people around her would call her a witch, but it was also rather unfair. Just because someone is living secluded, hiding, is a healer and is tormented by her past, doesn’t mean that she is a witch. It was also rather mean, as they avoid her as much as she avoids them, but when they need her healing expertise, they ask her for help… 

Yet how can you not like Iona? She not only rescues Royce from the men in first instance, she also does whatever she can to bring him back to health. And even later on, once he regained consciousness, she keeps on helping him out.
Iona is the kind of character that does good not because of an ulterior motive, but because she is good herself. And even when she doesn’t know what to do, she listens to the voice in her head/heart, directing her to do always right… 

Both Iona and Royce have their own baggage, Iona with a past that scarred and scared her, and Royce a past that he doesn’t know.
Yet it found it utterly sweet to see how these two somehow haunted characters found each other in a dark moment.
With Royce not knowing his past, the bond between Iona and him is a genuine one. and him not seeing, makes it easier for Iona to open up. 

I truly liked seeing Iona and Royce together, with Iona trying to help out Royce, with making him feel useful in her house, and Royce adamant on not being only a burden to Iona.
And while neither of them truly know Royce’s background, I admired Ioan’s protectiveness towards this complete stranger in her house, while there are people on a manhunt for him. 

There are so many sweet moments in this book too, intentional or not. Iona and Royce getting closer was absolutely one of them, but also Jack’s antics for sure gave me a few ‘aaaw’ moments! 

I have to admit though, the reason for Royce being on his search, did ring a bell in my mind somewhere. But it took me a while to link all the clues together, only to be over the moon when I realized that I have actually read already what happened to Royce’s sister! 😊 

But what I loved the most in this story was that the author perfectly wrote down how the heart can make you see what is standing right in front of you, even when your eyes won’t cooperate. And that helping someone is always the right thing to do, as you’ll never know who you are helping, or how in the end it will also be helping you!
Kindness and love never go unrewarded, and this book for sure showed that!

When life doesn’t go your way, the only way is the way to home…

Synopsis

Jennifer McAndrew thinks she’s living her best life in London – wonderful man, great job, happily child-free. Except the ‘wonderful man’ turns out to have a secret that ruins everything…

Shocked and devastated, Jen doesn’t know what to do. So, she packs her bags and runs for the hills – away from her problems, all the way to her childhood home in Scotland and the safety of her dad.

But her dad is a changed man. Busy with his girlfriend, golf and G&Ts, he doesn’t have time for Jen’s worries. And she can’t see her sister, Isla, who she fell out with years ago.

So, Jen rekindles friendships with her old school pals, Alison and Rory. They’re juggling work and young families, but still find time to take her out and set her up with some terrible dates.

The more time she spends with Rory and his daughters, the more Jen thinks there could be something big missing from her life. But could she ever go back to small town life? And can she forgive what happened in the past? Should a good friend become something more?

The biggest question for Jen is – will she try to solve her problems, or will she cut and run for the hills again?

Another brilliant laugh out loud emotional read, perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Tracy Bloom and Sophie Ranald!

My review

Jennifer McAndrew is living the life in London. She loves her job, she loves her boss and is waiting patiently for him to be ready to make them being a couple public. That is until she discovers the hard way that her boyfriend/boss has been keeping secrets from her.
Now, with no job, no boyfriend and after a run to the A&E, Jennifer decides to pack her things and go back to Scotland, to her childhood home.
With her dad being more interested in his girlfriend, golf and G&T and having no contact anymore with her sister Isla, Jennifer rekindles her old friendships with Alison and Rory. And even their lives couldn’t be more different, both Alison and Rory always find ways to spend time with Jennifer.
And Jennifer may slowly realize that no matter how wonderful her life in London was, perhaps she was missing something bigger…
Could she possible be thinking about changing from a city – girl into a small town – girl? And what she was missing, could it be closer she ever imagined? 

This books starts with a good portion of Murphy’s Law… not only does Jennifer discover the truth about her relationship, it means also that she has to quit her job. To make things even worse, she ends up in A&E and what she thought might end in a great gesture, only ends in disappointment. And all the above give her no other option than returning to her childhood home all the way back in Scotland. 

I have to say, I liked it how Jennifer did the right thing when she discovers the truth. Although it breaks her heart, she knows where her boyfriend/boss has to be. And yes, even if she hopes for that great gesture, she knows deep down she is hoping in vain.
I liked it also how, despite her broken heart, she doesn’t exploit her situation. It would have been so easy to expose her boss or even demand for more money. Yet she only demands what is right, and the most admirable thing to do in that situation, asking him to leave her alone, allowing her to get over him.
Again it shows that Jennifer is not only a responsible and respectful person, but also a righteous one. 

Going back home, a place that holds so many sad memories for Jennifer, is not an easy thing to do. While we don’t know exactly what happened in the past, especially with her sister Isla, retuning back home, admitting somehow defeat, is never easy. 

Seeing Jennifer back in her former life, if we can say it like that, wasn’t only eye – opening for her, but also for me.
We all get to see what she left behind for a life in Glamour – London, even forgetting about those she left behind. But we also see how forgiving and welcoming her old friends can be.
I saw it like realizing once again that we only seme to remember the bad stuff that happened, forgetting about the lovely people and the good memories. 

Now, this is also absolutely a funny story!
We see Jennifer having a few dates, ending in disaster. And yes, it may be evil to find those bits funny, but who cares! 😊
But it was also amazing to see how she can make fun of those dates too, with her old friend Rory.  

I absolutely adored Jennifer and Rory spending time together. It was sweet to see how their friendship became such a strong one, where they can rely on each other. But not only that… Jennifer has never thought of having children, yet she manages perfectly to be around and look after and help Rory’s daughters. Talking about hidden talents! 😊  

Jennifer is not only changing her own vision of her hometown, but she is also reflecting on her own past choices, and is having a change herself.
She realizes what she has been missing, on several levels. Not only where she has been missing out, but also where perhaps she could have been making different choices. And while it may be too late to make a different choice, she sees that it’s never too late to make amends. 

We also see the real Jennifer resurfacing, as she is there when her friends need her, and even offer help and her knowledge to others.
Making her understand that not everything she thought she needed was to be found in London. 

I truly loved reading this story, as it was funny but also heartfelt. The author shows us that returning home isn’t always a bad things, as it will allow us to find what we have been missing in our lives. And she also shows us wonderfully that perhaps, we have been looking for something but it has always been there, right in front of us!

A scavenger hunt like you never seen before!

Synopsis

When Kiara is dumped by text and then ghosted by her boyfriend, she resolves to concentrate on her successful artist career and leave dating to those who can handle that heartbreak. 

But the chance to dress up as a teacup work of art and participate in a scavenger hunt at the New York City modern art museum to win her favorite artist’s painting has her pairing up with a stranger dressed as a Rembrandt. 

He may not know much about modern art, but he certainly knows how to make her heart beat. 

Can Kiara take a chance on love again?

My review

The last thing on Kiara’s mind is attending a scavenger hunt at the New York City modern art museum after not only being dumped by text by her boyfriend, but also being ghosted by him.
Her only focus will be on her own artistic career. But the opportunity to win her favourite artist’s painting is a too great opportunity to just let it pass.
Even if that means that she is being paired up with a stranger dressed as a Rembrandt, while Kiara herself is a teacup work of art.
Will this unlikely pair of strangers manage to win the painting, even if Rembrandt doesn’t know much about modern art? And what about the fact that this stranger makes Kiara’s heart beat a little bit faster? 

Okay, I have read several books of this amazing author, and I adored each and every one of them. So despite my fear of reading a novella that would be too short for my liking, I just had to read this story. 

And I didn’t regret it for one moment! Even if it’s still too short for my liking (I truly believe that the author would have managed to write a complete novel without boring her readers!), it was a wonderful, hilarious story. 

It’s very easy to like and even sympathize with a character like Kiara. There couldn’t be a worst way of getting dumped than by text (although, I still remember an episode of a certain series set in New York, where main character C. gets dumped over a post – it…). And not only that, add the horrendous fact of being ghosted too! 

I liked it how Kiara’s mood was also reflected in her artwork. Somehow that made her more real to mee, as it shows how normal people would react and how the pain reflects in their creations.
Even if I am not a modern art lover myself (sorry people, I just don’t get it…), I admired Kiara’s creativity, in not only her own artwork, but also in creating a marvellous costume! 

The scavenger hunt itself made me feel rather oblivious, as again, I don’t have a thing for modern art. In that notion, I felt myself more agreeing with Finn, the stranger, as he also felt like a fish out of the water.
But Finn for sure makes up his lack of knowledge with his determination and good spirits! 

While both Kiara and Finn are rather reluctant of meeting new people, with both their own reasons, and having their differences, it was just amazing to see how good along they get together.
And also reading how they just get each other… 

I truly loved reading this novella, and how Kathy Strobos managed to put so much of everything in a novella amazed me.
Having more chapters would obviously have been even greater than this novella, yet I cannot say I didn’t love the tale of Kiara and Finn.
A short novella that shows us that not only we can find what makes us heart beat faster at the most unexpected place or timing, but also how alike people can be even when they think otherwise, even if expressed in another way!

Best friends forever, but what if it’s not forever?

Synopsis

When Florence met Rowena, they knew for sure that they would always be friends.

Wayward parents, boring teachers, teenage crushes, first heartbreaks – anything and everything could be faced as long as Florence had Rowena by her side.

But then she didn’t.

And life had to be redrawn and reconsidered.

Being a grown-up has its perks, but as Rowena faces the biggest challenge of her life, and Florence wonders if it’s time to stop running away from hers, there’s a wise soul who knows the one thing that can help them both. Some friendships are meant to last forever, and it’s never too late for forever to start again.

Joyous and heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud funny, life-affirming and unforgettable, join Flo and Ro on a journey that will warm your heart and perhaps make you wonder about those old friends who knew you so well.

My review

Florence and Rowena grew up together, knowing that their friendship would last forever. Nothing could ever come between them. Until it did…
Now Florence is living back with her parents. But her parents have sold the house, and want Florence to stand on her own feet but also they want her to stop running away. Florence doesn’t know what to do, and suddenly inheriting a campervan from her old English teacher isn’t exactly giving her the answers she is looking for. Or is it?
Meanwhile Rowena is also going to a rough time, as she finds herself pregnant and alone.
For both women this would be where they would rely on their friendship, if it weren’t broken…
Yet with a little bit of help from an old teacher that sadly passed away, perhaps they can find the way to each other and forgiveness? 

I think it’s safe to say that when we were children, we all had that one friendship we were 100% certain would last a lifetime.
And while some lasted indeed a lifetime, some just didn’t, for several reasons.
So obviously I was very intrigued and wanted to discover how this strong friendship between Florence and Rowena ended and how it even pulled their lives in a total different direction. 

The focus is mainly on Florence, as I think I can say has been through the roughest times. We see her having a certain wanderlust, going from one place to another, never settling down.
But slowly we get to see it’s not her desire to explore places, but it’s her fear of staying at home to make her pack and leave every time. 

Through flashbacks we get to see how close Florence and Rowena were, how they would do anything for each other. we can easily say they were more sisters than just friends. They could rely on each other for just anything.
So the more I read about their wonderful friendship, the more I just needed to know why it broke and there were never attempts to build those bridges again. 

Once I knew what happened, it was easier for me to put the pieces on the complex puzzle together. Because while it could have been easy to rebuild again, the author shows us also how people work. It’s difficult to make the first move, as pride won’t allow us to get back what we desire. And the more time passes, the more difficult it gets. 

We see two characters that could have needed each other at pivotal moments in their lives, but found reasons/excuses to just not to…
Perhaps if they had each other, their lives would look totally different, with more support and more guidance even. But that’s how life goes, only one apparent small thing can have great effects. 

This book shows us how different our lives can go from what we expected or even dreamed of. People in our lives come and go, even those we love the most, even in the most terrible ways. And trust me on this, you will read passages that will just break your heart.
But we also see that there are people who have our best interest at heart, even an old English teacher that made an impact. 

However, most important of all, no matter how much time has passed, how out of touch you have been with your once – best – friend, if the feelings are genuine and real, it can take a small step to make you forget about those lost years.