You are never too old to learn, even to learn about yourself

Synopsis

Book Three in bestselling sensation Nicola May’s gorgeous new series – catch up with Book One, WELCOME TO FERRY LANE MARKET, and Book Two, STARRY SKIES IN FERRY LANE MARKET, now!

39-year-old Glanna Pascoe – also known as ‘the Rainbow Painter’ – runs the Hartmouth Gallery in Ferry Lane Market in Cornwall. She is just getting her head and broken heart around being single, childless, and sober when Cupid flies in, shooting arrows all over the place.

Meeting the mysterious and fascinating Isaac Benson, famous local artist, and recluse, allows Glanna’s disillusioned heart and attitude to soften, and she begins to learn more about herself than she ever thought possible. Confused by her growing feelings for Isaac, Glanna throws herself into organising a life-drawing class at her gallery, using both male and female nudes – and setting local tongues wagging.

A theft from her gallery and the return of ex-love Oliver Trueman cause Glanna to wonder if a pot of gold will be appearing at the end of her rainbow. And will it bring her the happiness, she has sought for so long?

My review

Glanna Pascoe may seem to have nothing to worry about, but her past shows her otherwise. While money surely never was an issue, she made some choices in the past that she now regrets. Running the Hartmouth Gallery in Ferry Lane Market in Cornwall, is the perfect opportunity to heal her broken heart, which she caused herself, adjusting on being single and not running to the bottle at every temptation.
And when by sheer coincidence she meets the famous local artist Isaac Benson, slowly Glanna starts to make her own pieces again and even organises a life – drawing class at her gallery, with locals participating in being both painters and nude models.
Just when Glanna seems to learn more about herself again, a theft of an important piece and the return of the man she truly loved makes her wonder if she can ever find happiness and love and peace again… 

Whenever I start reading a story by Nicola May, I know I will reach the end of it with a smile on my face.
And returning to Ferry Lane Market made it even a smile from start till end! 

But what I loved about this story more compared with the other parts of the series, is the journey Glanna has bene through.
it shows us that money cannot buy us happiness, but that we have to make our own happiness. 

Glanna has made some big mistakes in her past, even resulting in an accident that made her open her eyes and seek for help.
And while it would have been easy for the author making it seem that the hardest part is over now for Glanna, it’s obvious that Glanna is still having some hard moments.
Addiction of any kind isn’t something you once overcome and you are never tempted again, but it will always remain a struggle. But with the right help you can resist temptation.
And Nicola May shows us that wanting help, going to rehab and even going to see a therapist is nothing to be ashamed of. Any way of help is good, as long as it gives you the help you need. 

I loved to see how passionate Glanna is in her gallery and how art makes her happy. And her own signature of using rainbows add that little magical touch that we know that is present in the Ferry Lane Market Series.

While Glanna is trying to make the gallery a success story, she meets the enigmatic Isaac Benson, a famous artist.
Even if Isaac didn’t make my heart beat faster, he was what Glanna needs at that moment in her life. He puts his trust in her and sees so much in her, that Glanna even starts to believe in herself again, no matter what her history is.
And his own story made me feel very sorry for him, and his choice of staying out of the picture as much as possible was the obvious thing for him to do to protect his loved ones. 

Yet the return of Oliver, that was something that made my heart beat faster… I found it inspiring how he helped Glanna through her darkest moments. Afterbreaking his heart, it’s obvious he still holds a torch for Glanna, even when apparently he has moved on. 

It was wonderful to see also the former main characters again, and reading how life is for them now they have found their happy end. And let me tell you, reading about how some participants acted during the classes, made me laugh but also, even if I would be a little bit into create art myself, I would never participate!
And what I can say about Glanna’s parents… love will make us do the weirdest things! 

This wonderful story warmed my heart because second chances in life aren’t always given, but when opportunity arises, you should grab it with both hands.
Because even when we make mistakes, the right people will love us anyway and always, no matter how much time passes.
The author wrote the perfect story about imperfect people, on the search of their perfect happy end. While it can be a long search or even a difficult one, you will find it, all it takes is finding the end of the rainbow…

Even when you’re good as something, if there isn’t any passion in it…

Synopsis

Arianna Banks never committed to anything, whether a relationship, a job, or her education. Carrying a damaged reputation because of an atrocious childhood incident, Arianna’s poor self-image has been her downfall. When her parents die unexpectedly, awash with grief, she wonders what her purpose is. She makes several changes, including quitting beauty school to work at a charity call center. Convinced she is doing important work, Arianna isn’t prepared when a coworker named Marc Arnold challenges her to achieve her dreams through her suppressed passion for writing. Coming off a nasty breakup, Arianna grows closer to Marc, but she tells herself she won’t be at another guy’s mercy. But Marc isn’t ready to give up on her. Now Arianna must choose to walk away or invite him in. But inviting him into her heart means sharing who she really is, ugly scars and all. In the midst ofnavigating her heart, Arianna excels at her telemarketing job, but does she choose what’s familiar or dare to pursue her heart’s song, as Marc encourages her?

Arianna is the great-granddaughter of Lorna and Tristan Blake from the Lorna & Tristan Series.

My review

Arianna Banks finds it difficult to stick to a decision she makes. Whether it’s about a job, her studies, even being in a relationship makes her doubt if that is what she truly wants. She also has a dark past that made her act in a way that now caused her a damaged reputation.
And her parents dying unexpectedly, surely doesn’t help her self – esteem and makes her take even more rushed decisions, like quitting beauty school and start working for a charity call centre.
After initial struggles, Arianna finds herself finally doing something she is good at, and feelings like she is truly doing important work.
And when her co-worker Marc Arnold not only challenges her to follow her dreams, but also doesn’t give up on her, Arianna must decide to keep her distance or allow Marc in, sharing all her scars and fears. And maybe actually listen to Marc and dare to chase her dreams after all? 

Arianna is the kind of girl I immediately wanted to comfort and give a huge hug and tell everything would be okay in the end.
And that is when we are only aware of one of the horrible things that happened to her… So you can imagine how I felt after reading her whole story… 

I understood how little she thought of herself, and being in that downward spiral doesn’t make it easy to let Arianna realize that in fact whatever happened to her wasn’t ever her own fault and that in truth she is an amazing, lovely young woman. 

Reading about her struggles, broke my heart, because in fact nobody should have gone through what she went through, and nobody should feel useless as she does…
And so, even if my warning bells went of when she starts working at the call centre, I was happy for her she found something she was good at.
We all know how call centres try to take your money without knowing where it will truly end.
But for Arianna is was exactly what she needed for a boost of confidence. 

And of course, that job makes her meet Marc… Marc who wants to befriend Arianna, even if she isn’t really kind to him all the time.
Marc, who understand her boundaries and accepts to be just friends and accepts her wish to take things very slowly.
Marc is exactly what Arianna needs, to make her realize what her dreams are and that chasing them isn’t just wishful thinking… 

The author doesn’t run away of addressing heart-breaking events, showing also that not everything gets the justice it deserves.
But she also shows us that, yes, to get over the traumatic event may take some serious time and we are allowed to make mistakes.
But she also shows us that there are people who love us unconditionally, family but also new friends. And with them by our side, we are allowed to dare to dream and pursue our dreams, even how impossible they may seem to get realized.

A spa break like you never heard/ read before

Synopsis

The Spa Break – The laugh-out-loud romantic comedy of the year for fans of The Book Club 

with Jane Fonda & Judy Leigh!

 

A weekend at the spa will leave four old friends with a whole lot more than they’d bargained for…

The glossy brochure promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation, but what best friends Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory get is a weekend that upends their lives!

There for a girls’ weekend to celebrate Bridgette’s impending seventieth birthday, the spa soon has these spicy sexagenarians realising that there are unexpected benefits to age and experience, and that over the hill certainly doesn’t mean out of the game…in any respect…

My review

To celebrate her seventieth birthday, Bridgette takes her best friends Emily, Serena and Marjory to a spa that promises tranquillity and rejuvenation. A weekend, to recharge their batteries. However, with each woman being different and having different ideas, this weekend will be filled with not only relaxing massages, but also with unexpected glamping experiences, drinks with that little bit of extra, masseurs to take you to higher levels, unexpected partners in crime.
And this weekend is all the four women need to see that their lives need a change… 

I am the kind of woman that enjoys a few hours at a spa, but after a while, I would get bored even if every facility made me feel more relaxed than before.
So spending a whole weekend at a spa is not something I would think about of spending any of my birthdays.
But of course, it’s not because I don’t enjoy something, that I don’t want nobody to enjoy it if they love it. 

I liked how these four women are best of friends, even if they are so different from each other and have different backgrounds. And each woman is facing her own difficulties in life. From being taken for granted by her own children, to losing popularity to a younger woman on television and internet, to losing passion in a marriage and feeling superfluous… 

From the very start it’s clear that things won’t go as expected, as Bridgette’s booked suite suddenly isn’t available and she has no other option to stay at the glamping area. A nightmare for Bridgette, who longed for some luxury and now finds herself having a neighbour who is being a naturalist. While this is the funniest disaster, each woman finds herself in odd situations, making re-evaluate everything they thought they knew. 

Each woman is finding herself in a situation they didn’t expect them to be. But spending this weekend at the spa, also opens their eyes and show them insights they wouldn’t have if they would have been staying at home.
But the whole story, even if addressing some serious issues like relationship problems, is filled with so much humour and funny bits, you cannot not be laughing at loud. 

The lovely bit of this story is that each woman also finds her own strength and voice again. And even if in one situation I could see how it would end in disaster, I should have known that the main characters aren’t silly women being fooled by someone with lesser good intentions. 

It was sweet to see how all of the women enjoyed the weekend together but not being 24/7 in each other’s presence, and by even trying new things find themselves again, accept the changes in their lives but do not just sit back but take matters back in hand and find new energy to spend with their loved ones, but also the new spark added to their loved. 

A great book to show us that even when things don’t go as expected, it can be the best thing that could happen, and that at any age!

A new season, a next adventure

Synopsis

Welcome back to the Starfish Café – where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.

A new season…

As winter turns to spring, Hollie – owner of The Starfish Café – is feeling content as she settles into her new life with her loving boyfriend, Jake, and their adorable dog Pickle.

But when an unwelcome visitor threatens the future of her café, Hollie must stay strong to protect her family’s legacy…

A leap of faith…

Emerging from an unhappy relationship, Tori finds herself with nowhere to stay and nobody to talk to. The long-hidden secrets of her past weigh heavily on her until a chance encounter with Finley, struggling to come to terms with his own secrets, provides an opportunity to open up.

Can she find the strength to stop hiding from her past and face up to her family? Especially when that would mean letting her guard down and learning to trust again…

A fresh start…?

Little do Hollie and Tori know that their lives are about to collide at The Starfish Café and they may be able to help each other with a fresh start. After all, with good friends in your life, nothing is impossible…

My review

Hollie couldn’t be more happier at the moment as she is deeply in love with her boyfriend Jake and enjoys their lives together with their dog Pickles.
And with spring looming around the corner, she is looking forward to see what the future has in store for them.
If only there wasn’t someone wanting to buy The Starfish Café at any cost, even using threats to get his hands on Hollie’s family legacy…
And then there is the bit of Hollie working for the rescue services with Jake to overcome of fear of water and fear of losing Jake…
And it’s while working for the rescue services, that Hollie meets Tori. Tori, who just got out of an unhappy relationship, and has nowhere to stay or nobody to talk to.
What at first seems like an unimportant meeting, these two women become quickly friends, and their lives will get more entwined, especially as Tori also befriends Finley, Hollie’s and Jake’s colleague.
But both Tori and Finley, even if they also feel a bond and become very close friends, are having secrets and they have to come to terms with them.
Hollie, Jake, Tori and Finley surely aren’t expecting the many changes in their lives, but with great friends by your side, nothing is insurmountable. 

I have learned my lesson each time I start reading a story by the amazing Jessica Redland.
So having the first page in front of me, I checked if everything was close by for a reading marathon. 

• Plenty of tissues: check  

• Mountains of comfort food (read as: chocolate): check 

• Comfy blanket: check 

• Removing every kind of distraction: check 

• Cut me off from the outside world: check

And for once, I didn’t need the mountain of tissues while reading this book! Because for anyone who has read my previous reviews, know that at some point I always start crying like a little baby with Jessica Redland. 

Now, don’t go thinking that no teats means no good book, because Jessica (yes I go all familiar with her, because I spilled so many tears over her books that she is in my inner circle now!) did write again an amazing, wonderful, lovely, marvellous, stupendous story! 

First of all, Hollie and Jake are just amazing as a couple. The way they have each other’s back, but also understand each other perfectly, even without saying a word… my melted heart melted even more! And seeing them being together for real, and making plans for their future together, was nothing else but perfection. 

Of course, reading about a lovely couple that are having no issues, would be good. But obviously, there had to be something, or rather someone, throwing spanner in the works… I was left flabbergasted at the lengths people would go to get what they want, having no regards for anyone…
Naturally Hollie would protect what and who matters to her, and I admired her determination to keep her legacy, no matter how big the amount of money was thrown at her. 

And even when things seems impossible to get over, Hollie has Jake by her side, and obviously the whole community to step up and help out everywhere they can. 

While I enjoyed reading more about Hollie and Jake, this book is also about Tori and her struggles.

Obviously, I liked her immediately, despite her dire situation.
While it isn’t clear from the start why she keeps her distance from her family, you know with this author that it isn’t a small issue…

And Tori doesn’t suspect that being rescued by Hollie, is the start of a new adventure, but also the start of coming to terms with her past, that slowly is being revealed.

We see how a young Tori has struggles with her parents and how her trust that got broken once, gave her further trust issues. That made her make some decisions that not everyone understands and even makes her go into relationships that maybe aren’t built to last.
My heart went out to her, because even I would never make that kind of decision, I could comprehend where she was coming from… 

When her turbulent past is revealed, I was a bit shocked, but also realization that not everything was done with bad intentions and that broken things can be fixed with time and love, was the perfect Jessicaism (yes, I just made up a whole new word!)

And meeting Finley, not only makes her find a brand new friend, but also someone that understands her 100% and while things are purely platonic, they are kindred spirits. And even if they are new friends, they feel like they have known each other like forever and  support each other in every decision. 

This story gave me everything I expected (tears excluded). I was glad to see a great couple again, making acquaintances with new friends, and even having a few surprising guest appearances.

While I thought that Jessica couldn’t write an even better sequel, she did it again.
While reading, I couldn’t wipe that happy smile of my face, even the less nice bits couldn’t change my happy feelings.
The only bit that made me truly sad, was realizing that I finished the book and I had to wait longer for a next book!

Food, not only good for your body, but also for your mind and heart

Synopsis

When it comes to love, its feta late than never

Freya Butterly has always dreamed of being a Head Chef but despite running every service at the Mediterranean restaurant, she still doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. Craving adventure and a real taste of the Mediterranean, Freya takes matters into her own hands, ditching both her job and unsympathetic boyfriend and packing her bags for sunny Cyprus in pursuit of the prestigious Golden Spoon culinary award.

As one of the seven competitors, Freya is determined to rediscover her passion for food and clinch the prize, but what she doesn’t expect to discover is Xanthos. As gorgeous as he is charming – he’s quite the dish – and Freya is instantly attracted to him, but this trip was about Cypriot cuisine, not romance and she knows she must not let Xanthos distract her from the competition.

But if she walks away, will Freya spend the rest of her life wondering What If? Surely, it’s feta late than never . . .

My review

Freya Butterly’s passion is food, and her dream is being a Head Chef one day. But when again she doesn’t get the recognition she deserves at the Mediterranean restaurant and the support from her boyfriend, she decides to finally dares to try and winning the Golden Spoon culinary award in Cyprus.
But in order to win the award, she has to beat her other competitors, with apparently much more experience and knowledge.
And while trying to keep up with each new cooking task, Freya is suddenly intrigued by a certain Cypriot who ignites in Freya a passion that is not only about food… 

There is something about stories (either books or movies) about food that always make my appetite grow! And it’s not only the food – bit I am talking about!
Yes, of course I love reading about how people can be passionate about food, and the love they put while preparing their dishes.
But it also shows us that food can not only be an aphrodisiac, but also the way to get to know ourselves better and believe more in ourselves too. 

And while it’s Freya’s passion for food that brings her to Cyprus, it’s the food that shows her that it doesn’t matter where you come from (literally and figuratively), love and passion and confidence (for food or for anything or anyone or just even yourself) doesn’t make any distinction. 

I admired Freya, after the umpteenth delusion and disappointment, she finally deicides to do something for her and her alone. She just packs on her own, and even if a bit terrified, she starts a new adventure in Cyprus.
And while I admired her, I also wanted her to quickly see what everyone sees in her. It’s not because you don’t run a fancy restaurant, that you don’t know how to cook.
Because slowly we learn that her passion for food begins with a special teacher that during her more difficult times, showed Freya how to cook with love and that it doesn’t matter what dish you prepare, the love can actually be tasted in your creation. 

Of course, if everything would run smoothly for Freya during the competition, this book would be half as good as it is now. Because just like everywhere else, Freya meets different kind of people, with each their own character and not all that lovely as you would think. Now, don’t go thinking bad about her opposition, but you can compare it with being back to high school. There is the popular girl, the geek, the smart ass etc.
And obviously there are people which Freya gets along just perfectly and others… not.
And things don’t improve where sabotage is involved! 

Yes, there is romance involved in this book, and let me tell you, I wish I knew the same kind of Cypriot myself! Because Xanthos may seem a bit harsh initially, but believe me, there is so much more to him (and okay, even to his brother) on such a deeper level that you cannot fall in love with him too! 

But the story felt to me more like a journey to find yourself and believe in yourself. Because no matter how good you are at what you do, if you don’t believe in yourself, you will never be able to make your dream come true.
And having walked away from everything, Freya now has the opportunity to ask her those important questions like ‘What Now?’ and ‘What makes me the happiest and where can I be that all the time’? But this book also shows us that mistakes we made in the past, don’t mean that they truly are mistakes, but sometimes that’s just how life goes… 

This was a wonderful read, showing us the importance of daring to follow your passions, as you never know where they will take you and what you will find.
And always, always, believe in yourself!

A bucket list to complete with secrets to be unravelled

Synopsis

Two weeks, four friends and one big bucket list of secrets to unravel…

Val Murray and her best friend, Josie had been planning a ‘Thelma and Louise’ bucket list style holiday.
Now Josie is gone, and Val needs to make the trip before it’s too late.
But Val doesn’t want to do it alone, so she enlists the help of her nieces, Carly and Carole, and their best pal, Jess, who jump at the chance to join Val on a trip of a lifetime.
What Val doesn’t realise is that Carly, Carole and Jess are all at turning points in their own lives, nursing crushing secrets, lies and betrayals.
Somewhere between Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York they all hit a crossroads and have to decide if they want to return to the lives they left behind or let Josie’s last wishes take them on a brand new adventure.

My review

Now that Val’s best friend Josie has gone, Val wants to complete the bucket list they made, in totally ‘Thelma and Louise’ style.
So with her nieces Carly and Carole, and their best friend Jes, Val starts the trip of a lifetime.
While on the trip, Val realizes that not only herself is at turning points, but each member of the gang is facing difficult moments of their own.
And each one of them have to decide that when the secret is out, what they want to do. Start a whole new adventure or return to their lives back home?

This series started with ‘What If’, having a wonderful ending. Then  ‘What Now’ came out, with a lot of changes in the protagonists lives, and some I was sad to read about, but again, a perfect ending for everyone.
So when I started this newt book, I didn’t want to start reading it on one hand, because I didn’t want to see how perfect things would end.
But on the other hand, I was very curious to see where in their lives our lovely women would be.

All our main characters have matured when this book starts, with Carly facing a great change she isn’t really embracing, Carole is obviously struggling with her complete life, feelings no emotions and is faking every smile. And Jess’ happy relationship isn’t all fun and games.
And that made me sad, because these are women I really cared about (yes, I know they are not real people…) and I wanted for them to have that happy ever after for each one of them.

While their friendship is as solid as can be, each and every one of them are afraid to tell the truth and the secrets they are keeping.
Again, that saddened me terribly, because I knew that these friends would help each other and support each other no matter what.
But as often in life, sometimes we are afraid of speaking out our true feelings, as we don’t want to be judged.

However, while all the above saddened me, I also had several (even hysterical) laughs! Each item on the bucket list was hilarious, funny, and even if it ended in disaster for the characters, for the readers it was the funniest thing!

It broke my heart to see how each couple had to face their struggles, but on the other hand, the author showed us again how important communication in any kind of relationship is.
Sometimes the secrets for which we have the most terrifying thought about, can be solved with an easy explanation or solution.
And have the best of friends, family and partners by your side can make you overcome every fear.

I adored reading this next chapter of this series, and even if I had some initial fear, I truly enjoyed reading about the (even absurd) adventures our women had planned.
And while there were even some heart – breaking moment with some even heart – breaking revelations, my feelings of contentment and satisfaction after finishing this book were the overpowering feelings!
Again another great accomplishment from this amazing author that shows us her magnificent writing talents!

Love should come easy, but what if it isn’t?

Synopsis

I was a different man, once.

I was a man with only one woman on my mind – the only woman I wanted to hold in my arms.

I was her man.

But things change. Life changes you. Choices, mistakes, resentment: they all change you.

So do unkept promises.

We hurt each other. We loved each other, then hated each other, then missed each other, then grew apart.

And then…

One day, we found each other again.

At the wrong time, in the wrong place.

Because the two of us are wrong together – we’re too far apart, too incompatible.

We’re the main characters of a story that doesn’t belong to us.

But I still keep loving her, even though she hates me.

And she keeps hating herself, because she can’t help but love me.

And we keep searching for each other, even though we’re destined to lose each other.

I wish I could be a different man, just once.

I wish I could be the kind of man who’s ready to give everything for the woman he loves.

Someone who was ready to let her go.

Because I want her to be happy more than I want her to be mine.

My review

Brian is the kind of guy nobody expects much of. He avoids responsibility and doesn’t want to change.
Everyone also knows that he is not relationship – material. But what nobody knows, that there is one woman who holds his heart. But that is also the woman that he will never have. Because he once had Darcy and he ruined it all, and now Darcy hates him.
When Darcy returns back home, her hatred is obvious, because Brian took one thing from her and she wants it back.
But there is a thin line between love and hate…

When I read some of the previous books of this series, I was a little bit frustrated as there were some references I couldn’t follow (as what happened even earlier).  So even if in this book I was a bit more up to date, I was glad that the author gave ‘the past’ and the previous main characters a little bit more space in this book!

This book, the story of Brian and Darcy was a rollercoaster of emotions on so many different levels.
Darcy feels so much hatred towards Brian, and while initially we do not know why, we could feel what it was all about.
And while resenting Brian for so long may seem a bit over the top, when I read about Darcy’s true feelings, I could understand her.
Darcy and Brian go way back, and Darcy saw something in Brian that nobody did. She knew the real Brian, and believed in him, as he showed her also a side he showed no one.
So I felt her pain when she each time returned home, because the hurt was still so palpable, and why she was so reluctant to go back home.

And then Brian… I never wished for someone that people would see the real him. Brian is still carrying the burden of his father’s past with him. And that made people being wary of him (and his brother). Add that his actions didn’t really change that impression, and you have the typical bad boy in front of you.
But there is so much more than being an irresponsible, lazy, womanizing man!
Actions always speak louder but in Brian’s case, his reasoning is way much important than what he does.
He feels that in every case, situation, is never enough and he doesn’t want to burden his ‘being less’ with anyone. For those who matter to him, he only wants the best, even if that means heartbreak for him.

While the previous stories I enjoyed reading, I found this story had that little extra.
It shows us the vulnerability of people, the doubts and low self – esteem people can have. But also the mixed feelings…While Darcy is adamant to hate Brian, it’s obvious that she really doesn’t. But the hurt she felt so many years ago, is not easy to put that aside.
And Brian has to see that he is worthy of being loved, and love, because it won’t always result in losing that person.

This book shows us self – esteem can make or break a person. And that yes, in the process of accepting ourselves we can hurt people. But also that sometimes opening up, and showing the love we feel, can result in a beautiful love story.
I realized while reading this book that even if we get hurt by those who (are supposed to) love is, sometimes it doesn’t mean that we are not enough, but they don’t feel like being enough.
But loving someone means trusting that we are enough, and that even if initially maybe reluctantly, we are ready to change our whole world and be with that One True Love is everything we want and need to feel complete and worthy.

Everyone deserves the wedding of their dreams…

Synopsis

Even wedding planners struggle to get it right…

Jason is the best wedding planner around, known as the Fairy Godfather to the couples whose special days he plans. But coming up against workplace prejudice is taking a toll on his love for his job.

His mother-in-law, Mel, has just discovered her husband has been cheating on her with a younger woman. Nearing fifty, jobless and struggling, she needs to work out who she is aside from a mum and a wife, and get her life back on track.

Meanwhile, up-tight wedding planner Harriet is struggling to find her own true love – if such a thing exists. Between liars, married men, and disaster dates, she thinks she may never find the one. And her outdated attitude toward LGBT marriages make her even more bitter.

When Jason starts Extra Weddings – helping people marry whoever they like, in whatever way they want – he, Mel and Harriet find themselves coming together to help couples make memories to last a lifetime. But can they bridge their gaps, and be a unit when others need them most?

Fans of Casey McQuiston, Lindsey Kelk and Justin Myers are invited to the most heart-warming and extravagant wedding event of 2022.

My review

There is nothing impossible when Jason is your wedding planner. Of course with a nickname The Fairy Godfather, Jason always goes that extra length to give his clients everything they wish for their special day.
Despite how much he loves working his magic, he still has to fight against workplace prejudice, even at his new working place. He understands that not everyone is as open minded towards the LGBTQ – community but cannot believe how far people will go to refuse to host a wedding.
His new colleague Harriet, fellow – wedding planner meanwhile is also struggling. Not only is she still looking for true love, trying to find The One between liars, married men and terrible dates, but she also has old fashioned visions of how a wedding would look like, a man marrying a woman.
So it’s no wonder that Harriet and Jason don’t really click at work…
And after another setback, Jason decides to open his own business, Extra Weddings, wanting to help out whoever to get married however they want. But getting business rolling is not easy, and add some more drama on personal level, like his mother – in – law Mel finding herself suddenly single again at the age of fifty, no job and struggling…
But maybe Extra Weddings is exactly what everyone needs to get their lives back on track and reassess their thoughts about what a wedding should look like.

To be truly honest, this book was not that kind that I liked from the very start.
Not because of the story itself, but more because of the behaviour of a few characters (main character and some side characters).
I am a believer that it doesn’t matter who you love, man, woman, trans,… as long as you and your partner are truly happy and love each other unconditionally.

So while I totally embraced Jason being who he was, and adoring reading about his relationship with Pete, I truly struggled with completely liking Harriet.
I understood that, while she could have everything she wanted and have a nice job with her father’s business, she wants to do what she wants, make her own money and stand on her two own feet.
And yes, I even understood her when she dreams of a romance like in the books she loves to read. Because don’t we all want to find that totally consuming Love?
But Love never comes easy, and Harriet learns that the hard way…
And while I sympathized with her, her view over relationships and marriage were not something I could agree with. Being so young and old at the same time… I couldn’t understand why she couldn’t see that love comes in different shapes and colours.

However, seeing her opening he eyes, and throw all her prejudices through the window, was good to read about and also the only right thing to do.

Jason… can a man be more perfect in being himself as Jason? He is passionate about his work, understands what his clients wants (or don’t) and he cannot stand injustice and fights for rights that should be equal from the very start.
And when he cannot stand the ‘hostile’ work environment, he takes that leap of faith and starts on his own, just so he can give everyone their dreams.
He is kind, generous and even forgiving, as his relation with Harriet shows. And the love he has for Pete just sparks of the pages! Even if not married (yet?) with Pete, he sees Mel and her family already as his own family.

So when Mel is in need of help, there is no doubt that Jason and Pete will help anyway that they can. While Mel is obviously struggling after separating from her husband, I admired the courage she has. She dares to make not obvious choices, like starting to study again, and helping out Jason. But she also stands her ground when an opportunity rises and getting back to her old life would be easy.

Like I said earlier, this story was not an instant love for me. However, reading how people can redeem themselves, and see the world just how it is, changed a lot of the frustrations I had for those single – minded characters.
And reading how different weddings can be, from the cliché to the over the top, was putting an extra smile on my face!

This book is the perfect example to show that Love is Love, no matter what your prejudices are. Everyone deserve to love whoever they want. And the perfect partner doesn’t have to thick of 37 boxes on your list, or not having an own past and background.
No matter who you are, there is always somewhere worthy of your love and worthy of giving his/her love to you.
Just throw all prejudices out of the window and allow love to enter!

Believe in yourself and dare to take a chance!

Synopsis

Molly Hopkins has happily watched all of her friends’ dreams come true on Riverside Lane.

Deciding to follow her passion for baking, Molly with the help of her friends takes the plunge and opens a Tea Garden in the village hoping to make it a summer to remember!

Meanwhile, after a rather public end of his marriage, Logan Armstrong trusts no one but his beloved Grandad. He just wants his brief stay in Cranbridge to be as quiet as possible. But his Grandad has other ideas; he dreams of seeing the old watermill working again which might just mean Logan has to ask the village for help.

Can Molly finally overcome her lack of confidence and believe in her abilities to make the tea garden a success?

Will Logan discover that Molly might just be the one to mend his broken heart? And will both of them realise that life is for living and loving?

Over a long hot summer in Cranbridge, perhaps everyone’s dreams of a happy-ever-after can finally

My review

Molly Hopkins is happy that all her friends have found their happy ever afters. Only now she feels like the odd one out, still dreaming of her own happy after.
And one of her dreams is also opening a Tea Garden in the village of Cranbridge. With the help, and not able to say ‘no’ to anyone, she is able to realize her dream, even if it’s only for the summer.
While Molly is trying to make a success out of her dream, Logan Armstrong would nothing more than hide away after the public end of his marriage.
And is there any place better than Cranbridge? He doesn’t want to make new friends, ask for help (as it will end with always wanting something back in return) or just trust anyone in general.
But with his grandfather and his wish to see the old watermill working again, Logan has no other option to ask for help…
However, when Molly and Logan become business neighbours, it’s obvious that they can learn so much from each other, and maybe they are exactly what they need to believe that dreams can come true?

It’s not a secret how much I love the stories of Cranbridge and Riverside Lanes. So obviously I was very eager to reading this new chapter! And I knew beforehand that I would love this, just like the previous parts, but I didn’t expect that I could fall even more in love!

Was it because I could so easy relate with Molly? She has a kind heart, but also finds it very difficult to refuse to do something. And makes her being in situations she really doesn’t want to be (e.g. Easter Bunny…).
She has big dreams, but doesn’t believe in herself. She loves baking, but cannot believe that someone would want to pay for ‘just her cakes’.
And while I felt sorry for her, because we KNOW how amazing she is, I could understand her. Especially in her situation, with a mother having her own problems, brothers to look after and ex – boyfriend and ex – best friend who made her feel so small… Of course any person would not have a great self – esteem. Luckily, she has the best kind of friends now, believing in her and maybe pushing her to do things she rather wouldn’t do, but deep down wants to do.
But how little she thinks of herself, that won’t stop her to help out wherever or whenever she can, even if her help is not always initially wanted. And that shows us again how amazing Molly truly is!

And then Logan enters the scene… At first glimpse, you would think he is the total opposite of Molly. He keeps to himself, doesn’t engage with anyone in the village, and just refuses any kind of help, because he believes it will always come back to him!
So you would think it would easy to dislike him, right? But no, it’s obvious he is heartbroken, and who wouldn’t be? The end of a marriage is never something to be happy about, but the way his ended, was just so terrible!
Of course I understood why he wanted to escape for a while.
Quickly it’s clear how nice Logan really is, despite his initial beliefs of just being invisible. The way he wants his grandfather Stanley’s dream make come true, warmed my heart.
But also once he met Molly, and helps her out when she is being taken advantage of, and makes her believe in herself again… Heart – melting!!!

Obviously, seeing ‘my’ old friends again was wonderful, and reading how they had Molly’s back made me realize again how amazing life is when you have such friends in your life. The unconditional love and belief they have for Molly… can I be part of this group too? Pretty please????
The lovely thing of this book is not only how both characters show each other that it’s not wrong to chase your dreams, to believe in yourself and ask help. But also that when a community works together, any problem can be solved.
From fixing a watermill, making a Tea Garden, but also getting slowly out of a depression, finding something you love doing and in several cases, find love.

I had so many laughs, smiles of contentment, moments that my heart just melted but also a few gasps.
When I finished this book, I felt sad (as a bookaholic, it always breaks my heart when I finish a marvellous book…) but I also had to take a moment, looking straight ahead of me, and realize and digest that I have read an amazing book, showing us that chasing a dream can be scary, but that shouldn’t hold us back, because Yes We Can! And that believing in ourselves and in love is never the wrong thing to do!

When attending on your own is not an option, a year will be enough to find the perfect match, right?

Synopsis

Never say never to falling in love…

Val didn’t expect to be starting again in her seventies, but when life gives her lemons, Val is determined to make lemonade.

Settled into her new home – a picture-perfect fisherman’s cottage in the small Cornish seaside town of Lowenstowe – Val is ready to start a new chapter. And with her son due to get married next Christmas, there’s also the little job of finding herself a plus-one to help her face her ex-husband and his new girlfriend.

With the support of her neighbour Connie, and after decades of married life, Val takes the plunge back into the world of dating with trepidation and excitement. But can she remember how the single life works, let alone what her type is? There seem to be plenty of Mr Maybes, but no sign of Mr Right.

As the year passes, and as friendships and community life flourish, Val begins to blossom. And as Christmas approach, she might just decide she doesn’t need that plus-one after all – although never say never… 

Judy Leigh is back with her trademark promise of laughter, love and friendship. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

My review

The last thing Val expected, surely at her age, was getting a divorce and having to start all over again in a new town.
Even being in her seventies, Val is determined to make her new situation work, and feel truly home in her new cottage and making new friends.
And she is over the moon when her son tells her he is getting married next Christmas. Although… being on her own in the pictures is not how she envisioned the happiest moment of her son.
Together with her new friend and neighbour Connie, Val decides to start dating again. Each month she has to meet a new man, a Mr. Maybe, and see if he could be the man to accompany her and be her plus one.
Easier said than done, because Val quickly realizes that she is out of her depth in the dating scene and finding a Mr. Right is not that easy as she thought…

I have read several books of this author, and while the main protagonists are older than me, I find it surprizing how relatable their story is.

I admired Val her positivism, and her determination to make her new situation work, how difficult it may seem.
Getting a divorce and moving to a new place is never easy, but I can image how more difficult is can be when you are in your seventies. 
But Val makes the best of the situation, and quickly makes new friends.

I had several laughs, as we see each month how Val is meeting new men. And while you may think that Val is being the ‘seductress’, trying to find desperately a man, the opposite is true.
Her monthly man isn’t always a contender for going to the wedding, but she also meets people that open her eyes more.

While it’s Val’s mission to find the perfect date, we see more how Val is becoming an important and valuable member of Lowenstowe.
Not only is she discovering the town, but she also sees what fights are being fought to maintain the beauty of the place. And she joins the fight, determined to not being dismissed.

The more I read in this story, the more I realized that age truly us just a number. It’s not because you are in your seventies that you are obsolete.
And while the premise is Val finding a date, this is not the main purpose in this tale.
Because what stuck with me is that finding yourself, being yourself is more important than finding a man to stand by your side.

Also the way she acts, is an important thing. Because it would be easier to just sit on your own, but Val isn’t that kind of woman, and she rolls up her sleeves and takes action.
She is an example of not only how people of a certain age should be, but people in general, no matter what your age is.
You should enjoy life as it is, making the best of every situation, and never let anyone or anything hold you back.

And as is commonly known, the thing you are searching for the most, will come at the most unexpected moment!