And today a teasing extract with a giveaway!

Synopsis

A gripping, emotional saga of family secrets and the power of love, set during the Vietnam War…

North Carolina, 2015: Nicole has always idolised her successful father, Ed. But on his deathbed, he reveals a devastating secret he’d guarded for a lifetime. He served in the Vietnam War, fell in love, and fathered a child there. A child he never had the courage to acknowledge.

Huế, South Vietnam, 1968: While her village is rocked by the explosions of the Tet offensive, seventeen-year-old Mai finds a wounded American hiding in her family’s chicken shed. Mai faces an agonising choice. Will she report the soldier to the Viet Cong, who have a stranglehold on the village, or will she risk her life and that of her family to help him?

In 2015, Nicole embarks on a journey into the unknown, travelling to Vietnam on a quest to uncover her father’s long-buried truths. Helped by Greig, an ageing Vietnam vet and his journalist son, Long, she delves into the shocking world her father wanted to forget, plumbing depths of resilience and courage she never knew she possessed.

Will Nicole find her long-lost sister, or will the Vietnam War guard its shameful secrets for ever?

If you are a fan of page-turning, emotional historical fiction like The Women, The Home Front and The Mountains Sing, you will love Mandarin Road.

Mandarin Road is a dual-timeline, standalone book by bestselling historical fiction author, Ann Bennett. Discover this moving, compelling read today.

Extract

This is the beginning of Chapter 4. In the first chapters, we see Ed, a US Marine, in the thick of the battle for Huếin January 1968, wounded in an explosion and dragging himself across the fields towards a village to hide from the Viet Cong. Years later, on his deathbed, Ed reveals to his American daughter, Nicole, that he served in Vietnam, fell in love and fathered a child, a daughter, Kim, there. Finding a letter from the mother of the child, Mai, amongst her father’s belongings after his death, Nicole travels to Vietnam, to Huế, to try to track down her half-sister, Kim. Chapter 4 is the start of Mai’s story. 

MANDARIN ROAD

Chapter 4

THÔN SÔNG, HUẾ, VIETNAM, DECEMBER, 1967

MAI WAS JUST seventeen when the Viet Cong first came to her sleepy village in the Perfume River valley. Until that point her family had lived a simple life – her father owned some fields where they farmed rice and kept a few animals. Mai and her younger sister, Phuong, would help her parents in the fields when they weren’t attending school in nearby Huế. Her life had been undisturbed by the events in the outside world and barely affected by the fighting elsewhere in Vietnam, although her father had a wireless set and would listen to the developments of the American War on the evening news. Each night when it ended, he would switch off the radio and turn back to his family, shaking his head, a grave look in his eyes.

Despite those daily reminders, it felt to Mai as if the war was something taking place a long way from home. Ever since she could remember there had been reports of fighting in her country, against the French, against the communists, against the Americans. It had been the constant backdrop to her life. 

American troops were stationed in Huế, on a compound to the south of the Perfume River and in other pockets throughout the town. One of the big hotels on the river, the Huong Giang Hotel, housed South Vietnamese Army officers in its palatial rooms. Mai would see them going in and out of the grand entrance in their smart uniforms, and the hotel’s dock was used as a landing ramp for American boats. Crossing the bridge beside it to walk to school in the mornings, Mai and Phuong would watch, fascinated, as flat-bottomed, landing craft would pull up there and unload their cargoes of tall, rangy soldiers with their pale skins and pale hair. There were often American tanks on the streets and soldiers in the cafésand bars too. Mai, along with the rest of the population of Huế, got so used to their presence they barely noticed them any more.

The other regular reminders that the country was at war were the American helicopters that flew over the village, sometimes so low they would whip up the dust on the ground and flatten the grass in the fields. The village boys would leave their games and run out into the clearing, waving and shouting. A couple of times they’d flown over the nearby forest, spraying the trees with chemicals. The villagers had stood and watched, wondering what it meant, glad that at least the Americans hadn’t sprayed their crops when they’d passed over. 

But when a unit of Viet Cong entered the village with their rifles towards the end of 1967, their peaceful life changed for ever.

It was early evening, the orange sun had started to sink in the sky, and Mai was tending the chickens in the shed on the far edge of the rice field. She fed them the vegetable peelings from the family’s evening meal, as she always did, and made sure their water trough was topped up from a nearby stream. 

She became aware that something was wrong when she came out of the shed. The buffalo were moving across the field towards her as one, which they never did, and it was clear to Mai that something must have disturbed them. Scanning the side of the field the animals were lumbering away from, she noticed movement in the opposite corner. Her heart thumped at what she saw: a ragged-looking man carrying a rifle on his shoulder, crawling 

on all fours along the bank like a crab, moving quickly and deftly. She looked behind him and realised with a shock that it wasn’t just one man, it was a whole line of them, strung out along the field, all making straight for the village. Her mouth went dry, and her heart raced. She knew she should run back to the house and warn her family, but she was rooted to the spot with terror. 

Despite the fear, she knew she couldn’t just stand there and watch it happen. She took a deep breath and forced her legs to move. She ran back along the bank of the field towards the village as fast as she could, and hurried up the front steps when she reached her house. 

‘Ma! Ba!’ she yelled, panting from the run. ‘Phuong!’ She ran inside. 

Her father was bent over the radio as he always was at that time of day. He looked up and frowned. He didn’t like to be interrupted. Her mother and Phuong were washing the dishes in a bowl in the corner that served as a kitchen. They turned round and stared at her. 

‘Some soldiers are coming. Quick.’
‘Soldiers?’ Her father’s eyebrows shot up.
‘They are Vietnamese, but not South Vietnamese,’ she said. ‘Viet Cong,’ her father said, and quickly switched off the radio. Mai saw the panic in his eyes. He didn’t know what to do. ‘Maybe we should hide,’ she suggested.

Her father strode to the door and pushed aside the rope screen. When he turned back into the room his face was pale. ‘Too late,’ he said.

Mai went to him and peeped over his shoulder. She gasped. They were there already; the men she’d seen crawling across the field. Now they were walking down the middle of the clearing between the houses, pointing their guns all around them. It sent a chill through her to see them. Most disturbing of all, the leader was pushing the village headman along at the front of the column, prodding him with his rifle as he stumbled. 

The giveaway

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of The Bookseller of Kathmandu by Ann Bennett (Open to UK & Europe Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK & Europe entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://gleam.io/HxzUl/win-a-paperback-copy-of-the-bookseller-of-kathmandu-by-ann-bennett-open-to-uk-europe-only

 

Today I’m gonna spoil you with an intriguing extract!

Synopsis

The only thing worse than a persistent suitor? A dead one on your lawn.

London, 1892. Alice, Duchess of Stortford, has returned to town determined to enjoy her first Season as a wealthy widow. But instead of balls, flirtation, and whispered gossip, she finds herself besieged by ambitious bachelors—none more persistent than the insufferably smooth-talking Miles Fonthill. When Alice firmly refuses his sudden proposal, she assumes the matter is settled.

Instead, he turns up dead in her garden.

The police are happy to call it a tragic accident. Alice is less convinced.

Why was Miles climbing over her garden wall in the middle of the night? Why had he become so determined to win her favour? And what did he really want?

As Alice begins to dig into Miles’ final days, her search leads her into the glittering heart of London society, where old loyalties run deep, secrets are guarded fiercely, and reputation matters more than truth. But when whispers of the mysterious Order of the Golden Key begin circling dangerously close to her own late husband’s name, Alice realises this death may be far more complicated than one unwelcome suitor meeting an unfortunate end.

And if someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets…this Season may prove positively deadly.

Perfect for fans of feisty female sleuths, Victorian High Society, and secret scandals, all served with a dash of humour and a cup of tea.

The extract

Intro

The morning after Alice, Duchess of Strotford, rejected Miles Fontill’s proposal begins with an unexpected disturbance. Before breakfast has even been served, she learns that something—or rather someone—has been discovered in her garden…

Extract

Alice opened her eyes to the dim light filtering through her bedroom curtains. Something felt off.

The house was never entirely silent—there was always some distant creak or settling, the muted rhythm of servants moving about their duties—but this was different. There were voices. Not the ordinary, unguarded cadence of work but something hushed and urgent.

Her gaze slid to the clock on the mantel. Seven on a Sunday morning. Far too early!

She lay still for a moment, straining to catch the whispered conversation taking place just beyond her door. The words remained frustratingly indistinct, but the tone carried clear instruction.

Sunday mornings at Darby House typically unfolded with leisurely precision—Aunt Cora never emerged before nine, and even the servants moved at a more relaxed pace. Whatever had the household stirring at this ungodly hour must be significant indeed.

“Curious,” Alice murmured to herself, reaching for the bell pull beside her bed. 

Barely three minutes passed before her bedroom door opened, revealing Maud with a tea tray already prepared. 

“Good morning, Your Grace,” Maud said, her voice pitched slightly higher than usual. She set the tray on the bedside table with hands that trembled just enough for Alice to notice. “I’ve brought your morning tea.”

“So I see,” Alice replied, watching as Maud poured with less than her usual grace, a few drops splashing onto the saucer. “You’re remarkably prompt this morning.”

Maud didn’t meet her eyes. “Cook had just boiled the kettle, ma’am.”

As Alice accepted the cup, she studied her lady’s maid over its rim. Maud’s cheeks were flushed, and a strand of hair had escaped her cap. She moved about the room with jerky, distracted motions—yanking open the curtains to reveal the pearly grey light of early morning, poking at the banked fire with unnecessary vigour, adjusting items on the dressing table that needed no adjustment.

What’s going on? “Lovely morning,” she said, taking a careful sip of her tea.

“Yes, ma’am.” Maud busied herself with the washstand, pouring water from the ewer with the concentration of a surgeon.

Alice set down her cup with a deliberate clink. “There seems to be a lot of activity in the house this morning.”

Maud’s hands stilled momentarily before she resumed laying out Alice’s washing things. “Does there, ma’am? I haven’t noticed.”

Really? Maud never not noticed anything.

Her maid glanced up—just for a fraction—and then looked away again.

Alice swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, the cool floor beneath her bare feet a welcome jolt to her senses. She padded across to the washstand and began washing herself. She watched Maud from the corner of her eye. 

Maud was chatty by nature. Her nattering normally filled Alice’s bedchamber the way a good fire did—warm, ordinary, reassuring.

Now there was no talking at all.

Only fussing—Maud was currently plumping pillows that didn’t need plumping.

Enough! Alice patted her face dry and turned to find Maud holding out her undergarments, her head bowed, still avoiding her gaze. “Maud,” Alice said firmly, “what’s wrong?”

The maid jumped as if she’d been pinched. “Nothing’s wrong, ma’am. Nothing at all.”

Alice fixed her with a look. “Nonsense. Something has clearly happened, and you—along with half the household, it seems—are aware of it. I’m not particularly fond of being the last to know what’s occurring in my own home.”

Maud’s shoulders slumped. “I told Mr Pratt and George that I couldn’t do it,” she blurted out. “I knew you’d see right through me. I’ve never been able to keep secrets from you.”

“And yet you’re trying valiantly this morning,” Alice replied dryly. “Come now, spit it out, Maud. Whatever it is can hardly be improved by stalling further.”

Maud took a breath and began helping Alice into her chemise and corset with quick, trembling hands. “I really shouldn’t say, ma’am. Mr Pratt wanted to tell you himself.”

A flicker of irritation sparked in Alice’s chest. She’d had quite enough of being managed, particularly by men who thought they knew better than she did about what information she should receive and when. “I’ll deal with Mr Pratt,” she said. “Now please tell me what has happened.”

Maud’s fingers fumbled with the corset laces as Alice turned to allow her to begin the familiar ritual of dressing. “There’s been a… discovery,” the maid finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “A body, ma’am.”

Alice froze with her arms half-lifted. “A body?” A cold, sick sensation ran down her spine. “Where?”

Maud paused. “Er… in the garden.”

Alice’s mouth went dry as she lowered her arms. “Which garden, exactly?” she asked, although she felt like she already knew the answer.

Maud’s fingers stilled. “Here,” she whispered. “In… in your garden, ma’am.”

Alice felt the room tilt slightly, as if the floor had shifted beneath the rug.

A body.

In her garden.

On a Sunday morning.

Her throat tightened, making it difficult to get the next words out. “Who is it?” she eventually managed.

Maud’s fingers pulled too hard on the laces. Alice barely felt it. “They think… They’re saying it’s Mr Fonthill.” The last words came out in a rush. “Dead as a post, ma’am.”

When the need of a fresh start brings you to Napoli…

Synopsis

When Lucy’s childhood sweetheart leaves her at the altar, her world shatters. But instead of cancelling her honeymoon, she boards the plane alone—bound for a sun-soaked island that will change everything.

In Naples, recently widowed Elena is fighting to keep her husband’s family mozzarella factory and language school afloat while raising her young son. Desperate to save both businesses, she posts a job advert—and fate delivers Lucy to her doorstep.

Together, these two women—each nursing heartbreak and loss—discover that friendship, food, and a dash of courage can heal even the deepest wounds.

Filled with pasta, laughter, and second chances, this is a story of resilience, renewal, and the unexpected magic of connection.

My review

After years being together with Stewart, Lucy is ready for the next step. But when their private wedding on location ends up with Lucy being stood up, she feels that her whole world is falling apart. All her dreams for the future have fallen into pieces, and the life she used to live, isn’t that inspiring at all anymore. So when she reads an advertisement for a teaching job in Napoli, Italy, she feels like this is a sign. Once arrived in Napoli, Lucy is staying with Elena and her son Stefano. Elena used to have big dreams for the family’s mozzarella factory, and her own dream of running a language school. But being widowed way too early, Elena cannot manage it all on her own. So she is more than happy with the arrival of Lucy. Especially as, even if different, the women share the sense of loss. And even if they don’t know it yet, them being together may be the cure to heal their pain and sense of loneliness. Because there is nothing that (new) friendship and female comradery and unity cannot heal…

I am easy to convince to read a book. Just give me a great blurb, and I am sold. Or make it even easier for yourself, and put in the title something that I feel connected to, and I am already hooked. So of course, with Napoli in the title, I just had to read this book!

Although I have to admit that at the start of the book, the first few chapters, I got very angry. Not at Lucy, as she hasn’t done anything wrong at all. But I got angry at Stewart. I just don’t understand why people cannot be honest about their feelings; no matter how difficult it must be. And to make it even worse, he doesn’t even have the guts to tell it to Lucy, but he decides to let do it with a voicemail, while Lucy is already flying over to their wedding location.

The devastation Lucy is going through is so palpable. I could understand the pain she is enduring, because she has been betrayed in the most terrible way, from the person she loves and trusts the most.

So despite her pain, I was happy to see how suddenly there is this female compassion, where complete strangers, from the manager to the housekeeping, are doing all the possible to help Lucy. This for sure shows that there are kind and compassionate people all over the world, even when you least expect it to find them.

Being an Italian myself, I couldn’t agree more with Lucy starting afresh in Napoli, as there is no better place on earth than Italy! 😊  But I could also comprehend her trepidation, as it cannot be easy to move to another country, not speaking fluently the language. And let’s be honest, also not knowing where she will end up…

But there couldn’t be a more fitting place for Lucy to ‘end up’ with Elena and her son Stefano. Not that Lucy suddenly finds paradise and is in place where nothing is going wrong. Yet it is the place that Lucy needs to be, and the place that needs Lucy too.

Because even if their lives are so different, Lucy understands that in a way, Elena and she are feeling the same pain, the same hurt, the same loneliness and even the same fears.

My heart broke a second time while getting to know Elena and sweet sweet Stefano better. She and her late husband Giancarlo had so many plans for the future, not doubting for one instance that they wouldn’t succeed.

Unfortunately, Elena and Stefano have to face a life without their beloved husband and father. And their loss shows us how unfair life can be. Or rather, how selfish and money – grabbing some people can be…

It may seem strange, but I liked it to see how the author took her time to show us the reality of life. Italy is known for all the beauties it has, but there are also many ugly bits in it. And it is important to not forget about those bits, and to fight against it.

But I just loved reading how these two women, Lucy and Elena, find each other in their pain. As Elena doesn’t want to give up her dream of running the language school, she brings into her life the person she needs the most.

It was just so heartwarming seeing these two women form a friendship, how with being together and living together, they are able to grieve, to finally see things brightly again and are able to look forward positively.

Of course there is room for romance in this book, but while it shows Lucy that love is still around, it didn’t feel for me the main message of the book. Because this book is all about friendship, determination, not giving up, and believe that good things will come your way. And that may start with moving to Napoli, meet amazing people, get a taste of mozzarella (di bufala of course😊) and will make you open a teashop in a country addicted to coffee!

When the second chance doesn’t go as planned or thought

Synopsis

The emotional and uplifting new novel from the author of the million-copy bestselling CockleberryBay series.

Life at the Seahaven Bay Retreat is flourishing, but Rita Jory’s second chance at happiness is about to face its biggest test yet. When Jago’s glamorous French ex-wife appears on the doorstep with a five-year-old daughter in tow, their blossoming relationship hangs by a thread.

Between juggling retreat guests seeking healing, her daughter Sennen’s desperate need for a last-minute wedding venue, and dealing with Elodie’s impossible demands, Rita’s already stretched to breaking point.

Then some very unexpected news forces her to reconsider everything she thought she wanted. But can she trust Jago with her secret, and embrace the new life ahead? 

Rita must decide whether to protect her heart or fight for her future.

A joyful, tender and laugh-out-loud tale of family, forgiveness and finding the courage to say yes to life’s beautiful surprises. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.

My review

After some struggles, Rita Jory’s Seahaven Bay Retreat is truly up and running. And totally unexpected, she has also found love again with her neighbour Jago. Things couldn’t be going better, and even when Rita’s daughter Sennen is in desperate need for a wedding venue, Rita doesn’t hesitate to help Serren out and is willing to let her use the Retreat. But then things start to go downhill… Not only does Jago’s French ex – wife appears on his doorstep with her five – year – old daughter, jeopardizing Rita’s and Jago’s relationship, the new guests of the retreat are also not all that honest and open – minded. And then Rita herself receives news that shakes up things even further, making her reconsider just everything. But which path is the correct one to follow, and is Rita ready and willing to just follow the course that Life has stipulated for her?

When I picked up this book to read, I was happy for my return to Seahaven. Although I have to admit it was also with a bit of trepidation, because I knew that Rita would have to face new and even unexpected challenges.

And believe me, there are challenges and struggles in this book, that I even don’t understand how Rita is holding it all together!

While I believe that I am a kind person, I don’t believe that I would be a great host. I don’t think I would have the patience to handle each customer like Rita does. Of course she has an amazing duo helping her, and they for sure alleviate some of the burden. But as Rita is still the owner of the retreat, it is clear that she has to handle the most difficult matters. And not only is Rita taking care of each ‘issue’, she also quickly understand the nature of each person that is staying at the retreat. For me, it felt that Rita is more of a mother – figure during each retreat than just the owner.

And some people that are staying are more of a challenge than others, or not that honest… making things even more complicated for Rita.

If only those were the only issues Rita is facing. Because while she is happily in love with Jago, I have to admit that I wasn’t all that pleased with Jago in this book. Not because he has completely changed character and has because a d*ckhead, but that he is being just too nice, especially to people that don’t deserve it. You may wonder how a person can be *too nice* but trust me, Jago is.

And while I can understand and I love his kindness, I also felt that there are moments in this book where Jago should be shutting off his heart and not be him. It sounds weird, but you’ll understand what I am talking about. It angered me too seeing how his gentleness and kindness, what made Rita fall in love with, is also exactly what is causing a rift between these two lovely characters.

Were those the only struggles, as Life has something else planned for Rita, something completely unexpected. And while many women would be thrilled with that news, I also could understand Rita, as she for sure didn’t expect to be on the receiving side of this kind of news. Especially as she would have thought to be on the opposite end of this specific journey. Once again, it seems like I am talking in riddles, but it will make sense 😊.

Despite all the chaos taking place in this book, I absolutely loved reading it. Because we see how things can suddenly take an unexpected turn, and you may need to face challenges you never thought that you would need to face.

But what we see in this book, how resilient, how strong someone can be. How even when curveballs are coming your way, surrounding yourself with your loved ones, can get you through everything. And how even if there may be a sense of betrayal, or rather hurt, coming from the person you love, nothing is ever truly lost. Especially if that person is doing those hurtful things for the right reasons, and you cannot actually blame that person.

While there were a few bits that frustrated and angered me (thanks to some characters), I absolutely loved reading this next chapter in a wonderful series, from an amazing author. Each time I initially don’t think that Nicola May can surprise me (in a good way obviously 😊) and yet each time she does just that!

When an old love resurfaces and needs your help…

Synopsis

Caroline, Dowager Marchioness of Lewiston, has long since made peace with the life she was given: a grand title, a comfortable house, and a heart carefully trained not to want what it cannot have.

Then Thomas Ashcombe returns.

Years ago, Thomas was the man she loved—and lost. Now he is a wealthy merchant newly arrived from India, bringing with him not only a fortune, but a daughter, Anjali, whose place in English society is as uncertain as her father’s safety. Thomas has come home with dangerous evidence of corruption connected to the East India Company, and powerful men will do anything to silence him.

When Thomas is falsely imprisoned under suspicion of treason, Caroline must decide whether she is willing to risk her reputation, her family, and her carefully ordered world for the man she never forgot.

Sir Julian Meredith has always preferred legal arguments to drawing-room conversation. Awkward, red-haired, and far too honest for his own comfort, he is no one’s idea of a romantic hero—least of all his own. But when Anjali Ashcombe’s courage draws him into a web of secrets, forged loyalties, and political danger, Julian discovers that love may require a bravery no courtroom ever demanded of him.

As Caroline and Thomas fight for a second chance, and Julian and Anjali reach for a future neither of them expected, one question remains: can love survive when truth itself has become a crime?

My review

Caroline did not have the life she expected to have, but she has accepted how things have gone. As the Dowager Marchioness of Lewiston, she has a title, a nice house and after everything, the relationship with her daughters is restored. But what Caroline has learned through the years is not to linger on the past, and not long for things that she cannot have. But she never expected that her first love, Thomas Ashcombe, upon his return from India where he lived for years, would be asking (of all people) her to help his daughter Anjali to have her debut in society. Thomas though also has another mission, to reveal evidence of East India Company corruption, which may be a dangerous task… Meanwhile Anjali tries to adapt to English society, but struggles to all the changes and not losing herself and her roots. The English people are not all that happy to welcome Anjali, but she finds an ally in Sir Julian Meredith, a barrister that knows his ways in court, but not social events. But when Thomas’s revelations become a real danger, Anjali and Julian will go lengths to make the right person pay, and bring them perhaps even closer?

While this book is part of a series, it can be perfectly read as a standalone. And from the start, you would like Caroline. Unfortunately, I didn’t like Caroline, because I have read several books of the series, and I couldn’t forget what has happened previously, especially concerning Caroline’s behaviour towards Antonella.

But I was pleased to read that Caroline’s behaviour in this book cannot be compared with the behaviour she has shown in Antonella’s story. And slowly I started to like this ‘new version’ of Caroline and I was happy reading how she has redeemed herself and how in fact she is a nice person. Even if she has lived a life not as expected, could not marry the man she loved and instead married a man that, well…

And I found it sweet reading how Caroline was willing to help Thomas and Anjali out. She doesn’t hold a grudge towards him and she knows how important it is for a young woman to have the right introductions into society.

It was also heartwarming how Caroline sees how different Anjali and her upbringing are, yet she doesn’t judge Anjali, she accepts Anjali’s uniqueness and even tries to understand Anjali. Something Caroline has learned to do being on her own now. And Anjali for sure can be testing, so I admired Caroline for her acceptance, patience and understanding.

Poor Anjali though… She had to leave her home, her friends, without a clear reason. Yes, her father has told her that she would benefit from her introduction in society, but Anjali knows that there is more to their departure than what Thomas wants her to believe. But as a dutiful and obedient daughter, she doesn’t question her father, and she also believes that when the time is right, her father will tell her everything.

It angered me reading how people are looking at Anjali… in India her family was a very respected one, but here people look down at her, judging her, and even when someone shows interest in her, it is more about financial benefit than truly, honest feelings towards Anjali.

Let’s also be honest, the contrast between her home in India and her stay with Caroline, couldn’t be any bigger. Not only how people are looking at her, but also how things are done.

Luckily for her, Anjali makes friends that are honest in their intentions, and women that we also know 😊. It was just sweet reading how our friends are accepting, listening to Anjali without any prejudice at all.

And then she meets Julian…

My heart went out to Julian, because while he is a great barrister, not someone to mess with, his own insecurities are so palpable whenever he has the scene. Not only is he in a way ashamed of his hair (by the way, I LOVE it 😊) but he also feels socially awkward. That is something that I somehow recognized, because it isn’t always easy to know what the right way to behave it. Or to be certain that the way you want to act, will be appreciated.

I was in love reading the bits where Anjali and Julian connect. There is some awkwardness between the pair, but there is a connection between them, a mutual understanding that is just amazing. For me, it is proof that no matter how different lives and upbringing can be, that even your total opposite can be exactly who you need in your life.

And there are moments in this book that Anjali needs Julian by her side, as her father appears to be in danger.

Thomas, who had a successful life in India, found love and built a family. And I liked it reading how he is a righteous man. He doesn’t look down on anyone, and when he sees wrongdoings, he want to uncover the corruption. And he does not think about his personal gain at all, but he goes lengths to protect his loved ones.

Thomas is also a proud man, but not too proud. He wants to best for Anjali, but he isn’t ashamed to ask help to Caroline, the woman he used to love. He knows what to do to help Anjali, and he won’t allow his pride or his past to keep Anjali away from what would benefit her the most.

I truly admired Thomas’s determination and his love for his daughter. He knows that his revelations can come with risks, but he is adamant to go through with it. At the same time he keeps Anjali in the dark, for her own safety and protection.

Protection that may be truly required because we see in this story how far people are willing to go for their own benefit, lacking interest in how it affects others. A real example of pure selfishness and greed…

And of course there is the reunion of past lovers… I found it bittersweet reading how Caroline and Thomas were pulled apart when they were younger, how they built different lives, and how at an ‘older’ age they reconnect, even become friends again.

There is a lot happening in this book, which makes sense as it is two stories for the price of one. But I never had a moment where I lost the plot (literally speaking, figuratively, that is a complete different matter 😊). I was engaged with all the main characters, as they showed us what kindness, care, acceptance truly is. And how old faces but also new faces can have an impact on your life.

When change is on the way, which course to follow?

Synopsis

Will this summer change everything for Trish – and for Brambleton?

Trish has spent years turning her beloved café-bookshop, Prosecco & Prose, into the social heart of Brambleton – until London developer Charlie Blackthorn arrives with plans for a sleek boutique hotel next door.

Handsome and confident, Charlie is certain he knows what’s best for Trish and Brambleton. His proposal splits the village, stirring wounds and firing up opinions.
When Brambleton’s anonymous new agony aunt weighs in, Trish is pushed out from the safety of her café counter into a summer of impossible decisions. Charlie may be infuriating, but he sees strengths in her she’s long forgotten, and his kindness unsettles her more than his hotel ever could. As tensions rise, should she defend her little kingdom from change… or dare to imagine something bigger?

Escape to Brambleton for a story of love, laughter and new beginnings.

A Perfect Devon Summer is a cosy, feel-good summer romance filled with small-town, rural life charm, community spirit, and slow-burn and clean chemistry. Featuring grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, forced proximity, and city meets country. Expect village gossip, secrets, and an anonymous agony aunt. A heart-warming tale of belonging, confidence and new beginnings – all set against the glorious Devon coast.

Perfect for fans of clean small-town romance, escapist summer reads, and binge-worthy village series with emotion, humour and heart.

My review

Trish’s café – bookshop Prosecco & Prose is the heart and soul of Brambleton. Trish has worked hard to turn her business into a success and with everything that has happened in her life, she couldn’t be any prouder. That is until a London developer, Charlie Blackthorn, arrives in Brambleton and wants to open a boutique hotel right next door. Charlie is confident that his hotel will only benefit Brambleton. But his arrival and his idea are dividing the village, as there people who think that the hotel is exactly what Brambleton needs, but there are also people, Trish included, that believe that the hotel will change the heart of Brambleton and not for the better. There is one way to stop the build of the hotel, but that also means that Trish needs to step out of her comfort zone and the safety of what she has now. With everyone having an opinion on what should be done, and an anonymous agony aunt spelling her (unwanted?) opinions, Trish needs to decide which direction her life will take. And then there is the matter that no matter how infuriating Charlie may be, he sees in Trish what she has long forgotten about herself. And the way he keeps on helping her, even if it may jeopardize his own plans…

This is a series that I have enjoyed reading, so obviously I had to add this book to my reading pile. And perhaps this book is the one I loved the most.

If you don’t immediately take a liking to Trish, there is something wrong. Because she truly is the heart of Brambleton, or rather her Prosecco & Prose is. But of course a business can only be successful if there is an amazing person running it. And of course Trish is exactly that.

Not only does she love running Prosecco & Prose, but she isn’t looking for making the most profit as possible, but she wants that Prosecco & Prose is a place where people can enjoy a drink, but also lose themselves in books and  have a place where a chat is always possible. Prosecco & Prose is truly a place that Brambleton needs and sees as the soul of their village.

But no matter how much Trish loves running Prosecco & Prose, it is also obvious that the past is still a burden. Not only to her, but also to her father. And that burden makes Trish hold back, lose herself too. But it especially scarred her father, Manuel.

I have to admit, that seeing how Manuel is keeping Trish back from going for the expansion, I didn’t like him. Instead of supporting his daughter, he tries to keep her small. I just couldn’t grasp why a loving father (which he absolutely is), would act in that way. But I also have to be honest, once the details of the past came out, the injustice of it, I could truly comprehend where Manuel was coming from.

Charlie’s arrival in Brambleton causes a great disruption. Not only for Trish, as the hotel would decrease the area of her own business, but also that people believe that it would change the whole dynamics of Brambleton. And let’s be honest, Charlie’s initial behaviour, closed, cold, dismissive and overconfident, doesn’t help.

And his arrival makes Trish wake up somehow. It makes her wonder if expanding, and thus taking a risk, is what she truly wants to do with her business. Trish gets advice from everyone around: expand, don’t expand. Of course the poor woman does not know what to do. However, to me it also felt that she was making a decision while her heart wasn’t completely in.

I saw it more as some kind of rivalry contest between Trish and Charlie, the desire to keep Brambleton as it is versus change and innovation. Rivalry yes, but in a teasing way too. Because as Trish and Charlie are neighbours, they see each other all the time. And while there are moments where they clash, the moments where they open up, have honest conversations and even help each other out, were the moments that warmed my heart.

They show us that rivalry doesn’t mean being nasty towards each other, there is always respect between both parties. Respect that also changes in that openness that I already mentioned earlier.

The more time Trish and Charlie spend together, the more they realize there is more than what they both initially thought, and that the both of them have been scarred by the past, which they have been kept hidden for far too long.

And that understanding, the growing connection between them, brings them also closer. Keep your friends closer but your ‘enemies’ closer somehow seems very applicable in this case (but in an honest, genuine way 😊). It shows how feelings can change from one way to the complete opposite.

This isn’t the kind of story where everything is straightforward, where there one right and one wrong. This is a story where characters learn (from each other), change, open up, evolve for the better. Obviously it isn’t without any hiccup, but that isn’t in real life, is it?

And that reality, of changing emotions, growth, acceptance is what made me love this story. It feels raw, real, yet it also is a warm story showing once again what a unique yet wonderful community Brambleton truly is.

To join forces when a mystery needs to be solved

Synopsis

When a catastrophe threatens Ellie’s business there’s a puzzling mystery to solve, and Gertie steps in to follow the clues. Love and romance are the very last things on Gertie’s mind right now. But while she’s risking her safety helping to hunt down the culprits, could she also be in danger of losing her heart?

My review

What was supposed to be a great surprise birthday party for Ellie at the Little Duck Pond Café, turns out in a catastrophe, as literally everything has been stolen from the café. Obviously the café cannot open, and thus Gertie makes it her mission between quickly – arranged – shifts, to find out who the culprits are. And who better to help than her neighbour and private investigator Jonah? Together they go on the search of the culprits, which turns out to be more complicated than initially thought. And not without risk for their own safety! And while there has been already some chemistry between Gertie and Jonah, will this quest bring them closer? Or are they both still too hurt from the past?

I don’t think I could squeal any louder when I started reading this book. That excited I was with a new brand chapter in a series that just keeps on getting better and better.

Unfortunately, my happiness rather quickly changed into shock. Now Rosie, don’t go panicking, as it has nothing to do that I disliked the story, but more with what happened at the Little Duck Pond Café. I just cannot grasp how someone can be so evil to go and steal just *everything*!

Now, I also have to admit, having faced burglary myself a few years ago, the shock, devastating, inability to grasp what happened, was something I recognized, although I wish I didn’t.

Despite the horrible event, it warmed me how the friends and family of Ellie and the Café are showing a fire in them. Not only are Ellie’s friends more than understanding that their jobs will change a little bit, with even a few shifts gone, but they, and especially Gertie, are determined to get to the bottom of what happened, why it happened and who the culprit is.

And of course I was excited to see how Gertie and Jonah would be working together, how they would find clues and most important, how their relationship would evolve! 😊

While I often think of myself that I am rather quick with discovering the truth in a mystery, I don’t think that I would be good at finding actual clues. While reading I often base my ideas on my gut feeling, but that isn’t actual proof, is it? So I was curious to see what Jonah’s modus operandi is. And how Gertie would experience it all.

This story felt to me like a real cozy mystery, where lovely characters are on a quest to find out the truth, while also getting to know each other better, and have some crazy moments at time. But even if it was a mystery, the warmth that we have got to know over the whole series never disappeared. You just feel that all that Gertie and Jonah are doing, is because they cannot face injustice and they want to help their friends.

And while I felt angry at the culprits who we don’t know yet, at the end I could understand where they were coming from, even if that doesn’t make it right what they did… But it also shows how sometimes people are pushed into doing things due circumstances.

Of course what I was the most curious about, was discovering how the relationship between Gertie and Jonah would evolve. Because we know that there is some chemistry, but also that both have been burnt by love. And I could understand that neither one of them want to jeopardize the friendship they have built in a short time, but it is a solid friendship.

But obviously, while I understood the both of them, I was also almost screaming at them: make that move!!! Don’t be afraid!!! 😊

I found this an amazing book to read, as it gave me both mystery, romance, but also friendship and just a lot of warmth. Rosie Green made her main characters go on a real quest, which turns out also to be a journey to let go of your fears and doubts.

Absolutely a marvelous addition to an already great series!

Can a leopard truly change its spots when it’s about matters of the heart?

Synopsis

In her early fifties, Harri Caldwell has always prided herself on being a strong, independent woman. Content with her single life, she loves her role as headmistress at the prestigious Lilian Cooper College for Young Ladies in Brisbane.

High profile barrister Charles Kaye has lived a charmed city life. With an amicable divorce behind him and three grown daughters, he is often featured in gossip columns alongside beautiful young women, a revolving cast his daughters nickname Charlie’s Angels.

When Charles and Harri meet at an art gallery opening, the instant connection is undeniable and, much to the chagrin of Charles’ daughters, a relationship quickly ensues. Their romance attracts media attention, not only because of Charles’ public profile but because Harri is so different from the women he is usually linked to. Older, private and firmly outside the socialite mould, she becomes an unexpected fascination for the press.

As the media attention and his daughters’ disapproval weigh on Harri, she begins to question whether their love can withstand the pressure. Will this prove to be the breaking point for their relationship or will Harri be Charlie’s last angel?

My review

Harri Caldwell is in her early fifties, but is clearly a strong, independent woman. As a headmistress at the Lilian Cooper College for Young Ladies, she is strict but correct. She is also happy with her life as a single woman, and doesn’t feel that she is missing out on anything. Until at an art gallery, she meets barrister Charles Kaye and there is an undeniable connection between them. But Charles is not just a barrister, he is one with a high profile. Often he is mentioned in gossip columns with women by his side that could even be younger than his three adult daughters.  And those daughters have nicknames all these temporarily women as ‘Charlie’s Angels’. When the romance between Harri and Charles because public, not only Harri finds herself suddenly out of her depth, but Charles’s daughters aren’t all that happy with their father’s latest ‘conquest’. As Harri is the complete opposite of Charles’s former partners, she finds herself suddenly in the spotlight and under scrutiny of three women wanting to protect their father. Harri is not used to all this kind of attention and despite having finally found love, she starts to question if she is ready for all the changes that are coming her way. Is their love strong enough or will it break though all the pressure for outside?

Another story by an author who is able to grab my attention even if the main characters are in a different stage in their lives as myself.

Yet I felt this instant connection with Harri, as I am also a happy single woman, believing that I am strong and independent 😊. At the start of the story, we see how Harri has always been content with her life, how she has found what she wanted from her life. Even if she hasn’t found love, she doesn’t feel like it is a missing piece. And I could feel that if life continued this way for Harri, she wouldn’t mind it all.

And then she meets Charles at an art gallery…

Charles is anything that Harri is not. And I don’t mean this in a bad way, it’s just that Charles has a completely different life and lifestyle. Where he is accustomed to be photographed, Harri isn’t.

That contrast between these two characters was wonderful to read, it just shows how love can work in mysterious ways, unexpected ways. And that love doesn’t look at a lifestyle, but it looks at someone’s heart.

It was absolutely sweet to see how this unlikely pair has found each other and how deep their feelings just are, even if it may all seen to progressing so quickly. And it truly seems that Charles has changes his tune and is ready to settle down with a woman different than his previous dates.

Now, it may seem that Charles used to be a player, and perhaps he indeed was. But after meeting Harri and falling for her, we see a caring man, who just adores Harri and would do anything for her. Although it also needs to be said, that his love perhaps is being professed in a way that Harri isn’t accustomed too, as Charles doesn’t have to look at a dollar more.

It saddened me though reading how not everyone was happy for the happy couple. That the gossip pages are having a ball is predictable. But I was so disappointed in the behaviour of Charles’s daughters…

On one hand, it is understandable that they are not all that happy to see their father settling with a woman they don’t know. But especially in Nicole’s case, I was truly shocked by her behaviour and antics. Give Harri a chance for God’s sake!

Gabi is having her issues on her own, and somehow her lacklustre response made sense to me. The last thing she is thinking is about her father and his new love… She has enough issues on her own which she doesn’t know how to handle, so in a way, she gets a free pass from me.

And Becky… while she is happy for her father, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that she saw it only as how it could benefit her own life, with her ‘new stepmother’ being the headmistress of her own daughters’ school… So it didn’t feel all that altruistic…

Obviously Harri is doubting now her relationship with Charles. Not that she doesn’t love him, but it’s all the side activities that she isn’t prepared for, even if Charles is by her side.

In this book we see how beautiful love can be, at whatever age it arrives, but how doubts, self-doubt and interference of others, can jeopardize exactly that. But we also see that staying true to your real self, to not pretend to be someone else, or even not hold a tiny bit of a grudge (even when it would be justified), can let people see your true colours and that even if things are a little bit going fast, it can be just right.

Maggie Christensen wrote once again a beautiful story about love at a next stage in life, but one that can still be just as amazing, even if it can be a bit terrifying.

Can a casual summer fling turn into something more?

Synopsis

Can a no-strings attached holiday fling really just stay casual?

Olivia is a fiercely independent woman climbing the ladder of corporate finance. But when her family demands she take time off to go to her niece’s bachelorette and wedding in Nantucket, she reluctantly agrees.

On the island, she catches the eye of Connor: a handsome, cocky, playboy type—also ten years her junior. Olivia’s sisters egg her on, encouraging a summer fling, but she’s more interested in catching up on her finance reading. Except…he’s funny and sexy, and doing her ego a world of good.

As their attraction steadily grows, Connor gets Olivia to relax her tightly held control and indulge in the fling she won’t admit she needs. But too soon, the holiday is over and they’re back home, living two very different lives.

And yet, neither can ignore the intense chemistry that didn’t go away after the summer. Are they just a Nantucket fling… or something much more?

Tropes:

• Opposites attract

• Age gap

• Summer fling

• No strings attached

• Single dad

My review

Olivia’s goal in life is to climb as high as possible in the world of corporate business. She doesn’t have time for romance, and believes that love and family is a choice that she will never make. Even taking time off for a holiday is something Olivia will never do, as she can use that time better for her work. So when her niece is getting married and also has a bachelorette party organized in Nantucket, Olivia has no choice than agreeing to join her family. Upon her arrival, she meets Connor, who is working during the summer on the island. Connor may a good looking, real handsome man, and also a cocky one. And Connor for sure knows how to boost Olivia’s ego with his attention. But despite his playboyerish behaviour, Connor is in fact a responsible single father, with no greater desire to give his daughter all that she dreams of, even if in reality it is a struggle. And the summer is the only opportunity he has to be and feel somewhat young again. While Olivia for sure is out of his league, he cannot resists the attraction he feels for Olivia. And while initially Olivia is reluctant to have a summer fling with a man so much younger than herself, with the persuasion of her own family, she gives into temptation. But what when the holiday is over and both Olivia and Connor have to return to their lives?

I always have a smile on my face when I start reading a book of this author. And the fact that there is an age gap, and that the characters couldn’t be more different, intrigued me even more!

But I have to admit, it took me a while to get completely into the story. I know that it takes a moment to get to know the characters, to understand them and to connect with them. And while I understood Olivia’s choices, those choices also made it a little bit difficult to connect with her.

Of course, everyone is free to chose how to life their lives how they want. And why shouldn’t a woman go for her career? When a man makes this kind of choice, nobody questions that choice. But when it is a woman, it feels like everyone is judging that choice. So in a way I admired Olivia for being so open about her own choices and dreams. On the other hand though, and while I understand that not everyone wants to have a family, I found that Olivia is also taking away her chances of finding love, even when not wanting to have children.

Now, of course her choice has to come from somewhere, especially as it is a perhaps unpopular opinion. And the more I got to know Olivia, I could understand her reasoning, even if I didn’t agree with her the full 100%.

That doesn’t mean that Olivia is not a lovable character. She has her own views and thoughts about things, but even if that differs from those of her own family, she loves them very deeply. She is also a focused woman, she knows what she wants and goes for it. She won’t allow anyone to put her in a corner. If she stands in a literal corner, it is because she wants it.

And at first instance, you would think that Connor is Olivia’s complete opposite. Of course they are different, and his initial player attitude, or rather his past player attitude, would make you think that they would never work.

Yet rather early we learn that Connor is a single dad, and that his player – days are definitely over. And that also made me change my mind about him quickly. Because not everyone would take up the responsibility of raising a child while almost being a child yourself. And that is something I admired about Connor.

Because we see that he hasn’t had it easy, and still isn’t having an easy time. Yet he is a loving father to his little girl, a devoted one. He would do anything for her.

On the other hand, we also see how he has lost his own freedom. Freedom isn’t exactly the right word, but where young people were and still are enjoying their lives without a real second thought, Connor took his responsibilities and all he tries to do is to make Ellie happy.

And I can understand that during the summers, he brings Ellie to the good care of her grandparents, while he tries to earn extra money and yet feel a little bit ‘more free’. Also it is a way to get closer to his own dream, opening his own restaurant.

So while slowly I got to know and learned to appreciate each character separately, I also absolutely enjoyed reading about their dynamics and how their combined story was evolving.

Because I absolutely loved reading how in Nantucket Connor is able to change Olivia’s mind and have a fling with him. Already on the island the electricity flies between them and it made me even more curious to discover what would happen when they would be both back home, as the book was far by its end!

And let’s be honest, we see people getting together all the time, whether it started as a fling or not. But what when there is a character so set on her own ideas (not pointing the finger towards anyone, OLIVIA!!! 😊) how can things towards a happy ending where both parties don’t give up or lose the essence that makes them?

Just that, reading how the characters would evolve, what made me truly love this story.

Because of course once back home Olivia wants to keep her distance, and not continue their fling.  But when they cross paths again, would this summer be that easily forgotten like nothing ever happened?

Seeing that evolution, made me once again believe in the power, the strength of love. Because as we all know, Olivia is a strong, independent woman, who isn’t looking for love, for a family. But when the right person comes into your life, a lot can change. And what you thought you would never want or need, suddenly becomes impossible to not have. Most important though, is how the right person (whether in this case it’s Olivia or Connor), will always support you, understand what you need, what you want, and is there for you, even at moments when you don’t think you need that support. And the right person will always accept you for who you are, will never try to change you. Even if that acceptance will hurt that same person…

What a wonderful story this was, even is it took me a while to get into it, it was sooooo worth it!

Giveaway time!

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of A Nantucket Fling (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://gleam.io/PNcxM/win-a-paperback-copy-of-a-nantucket-fling-open-internationally

What to wish when a genie appears?

Synopsis

A heartwarming paranormal cosy romance set in a small Scottish village, featuring a flamboyant genie, three unexpected wishes, and a second chance at love after loss.

Love, second chances, and a dash of magic… what could possibly go wrong?

Beth Calder’s life so far:

Marriage falling apart? Check.
Heartbreak she can’t quite move past? Check.
Fresh start in a quiet Scottish village? Check.
Discovering a genie inside a pinball machine? That’s new.

Arriving in Cranley is meant to be Beth’s chance to begin again. A job as head chef at The Jekyll and Hyde pub, a cosy place to call home, and a village that doesn’t ask too many questions feel like exactly what she needs. Romance is firmly off the table.

That becomes harder to hold onto when she meets Kieran, a thoughtful and quietly charming tech developer who understands more than she expects. It becomes even harder when the pub’s dusty basement reveals a glitter-loving genie with a habit of interfering and a belief that Beth’s story isn’t over yet.

With three wishes she doesn’t quite trust and a heart still holding onto the past, Beth must decide whether to keep playing it safe or risk everything for a chance at something new.

In Cranley, even the most unexpected kind of magic can help you find your way forward.

A Wish for Beth is Book 4 in the Cranley Wishes series. Perfect for readers who love small-town charm, gentle paranormal romance, and uplifting second-chance love stories filled with warmth, hope, and a touch of magic.

My review

After a failed marriage and heartbreak over her biggest wish not coming true, Beth Calder was in desperate need of a fresh start. So the Scottish village of Cranley is exactly what Beth needs, and is happy with her new job as head chef at The Jekyll and Hyde pub, where she can try out new recipes with funny names. But the last thing Beth expected, is that the pinball machine in the basement is the home of an actual genie. A peculiar genie that will grant Beth three wishes. Even if Beth is initially wary and distrustful of this genie, she starts to wonder what she can wish for. She just knows that one thing she won’t be asking for, and that is for a new love in her life. And then she meets Kieran, a tech developer who also recently moved to Cranley. Kieran seems to understand more what Beth is going through. Kieran himself is struggling with his new idea and his new life in Cranley. And while love is out of the equation for him, there is something about Beth he cannot ignore. So while both Beth and Kieran are not looking for romance, Gigi the Genie has other ideas and the community  seems to share not only that idea, but also the belief in genies for some strange reason… But with a past that still haunts Beth, can she start looking beyond the pain that love can cause?

It has been a while since my last visit to Cranley. And it took me a moment to remember exactly what happened with the other inhabitants. But just reading a few names and it was all coming back to me 😊.

Right from the start, my heart broke for Beth. Of course the end of a marriage, where Beth loved her husband so much, is terrible. But all what transpired before in her marriage, the attempts to have their own baby… As I am not a mother myself, I can only try to imagine how devastating it can be to feel like a failure after each time…

And of course, after all that she has been through, she needs a fresh start, away from everyone and everything she knows. And I could even understand her reluctance of coming clean about the real reasons of her move. It is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, but it is normal that Beth doesn’t want any looks of pity at all.

Now, it needs to be said that Cranley is a special village, where the inhabitants aren’t surprised by sudden and inexplicable appearances. But as a stranger landing in Cranley, it can be a shocking discovery that in a pinball machine a genie is living. Especially as we have all learned that genies aren’t real.

It makes sense that Beth initially is wary and even believes that she is imagining things, and how she thinks that she cannot tell anyone what she is experiencing with Gigi. Any other village would claim her being crazy!

I found it funny to read about Gigi’s antics. As we know from this series, is that each genie is up to some mischief. And I loved it! 😊But it also needs to be said, that Gigi has also some great insights. It felt to me that Gigi expresses the inner voice of Beth somehow. Because beside the antics, Gigi truly gives some good advice to Beth. Perhaps not in the most subtle ways, but what is being said, is perhaps a message that Beth needs to hear, in able to move forward in her life.

Although, I need to say that also playing tricks with Kieran’s mind isn’t perhaps the best way of Gigi to make things work. Even if it’s done with the best intentions 😊.

Kieran, who made the move to Cranley for the same reason as Beth: to start again. Not for completely the same reasons, but he also went through a heartbreak, and thus can rely with Beth easier.

I truly sympathized with Kieran, because even after his move to Cranley, I could not shake of the feeling that after everything he has been through, he must be very lonely. It also felt to me that that aspect transpires in the ways that he is at moments reluctant to go outside, to go to the pub for example.

Yet we also see clearly that he is smart, and has great ideas, as it shows with his idea for an app. And even if it takes him a moment to feel at ease, we see that he is empathic, cares about his (new) friends and is ready to help out. Even if perhaps that isn’t always the brightest of ideas with a reappearance of someone from his past… But also here it just proves what a kind heart he has.

It is no rocket science figuring out who will be involved with the romantic storyline. And while I was cheering for them, for me it didn’t feel like the major storyline. Because it is about letting go of the past, or at least giving it a place in order to move on. And it is not an easy task, and perhaps we could all benefit from a genie like Gigi, voicing out loud (too loud? 😊) what maybe is already brooding in our minds and hearts?

This was at moments a very bittersweet story, but mainly and more important a heartwarming and even inspiring story, about how life perhaps doesn’t always go as you want or plan, and causes you heartbreak in the process. But life always finds a way to make things right again, somehow. And that is, no matter how difficult it may seem initially, to keep in mind. And that the biggest heartbreak can give you the opportunity to grow, to digest and to give a second chance at the most beautiful emotions that exist.

Audrey Davis captured all this heartbreak but also beauty in this wonderful, funny story!