The healing nature of Honey

Synopsis

Escape to the English countryside with Liz Fielding’s emotional and uplifting summer romance.

An escape to the country 

A kiss to reawaken them both…

Honeysuckle Rose finds much-needed solace in her great aunt’s garden. But her peace is threatened by her distracting and brooding neighbour, Lucien Grey. Once a high-flying news reporter, Lucien returned from the front line a changed man. Honey can see that beneath his frosty exterior is a heart waiting to be thawed. Can their unexpected but impossible-to-ignore midsummer kiss be the beginning of a fresh start…together?

My review

Honeysuckle Rose inherited her great aunt’s cottage and garden. She enjoys taking care of all the fauna and flora, and found the much needed peace.
But then her peace is disturbed by her new neighbour, Lucien Grey. Everyone knows Lucien grey as a high – flying news reporter but he has returned as a changed man. now he is a brooding man, with no bigger desire than being left alone.
After a first, heated meeting, Honey realizes that Lucien has demons to face. With both needing the other’s help in several occasions and that one unexpected kiss, will they be exactly that one thing they both needed to dare to see a bright future again?

I thought I knew what kind of story I would be reading. And even if this was a rather short one, compared with other tales, maybe this one touched my heart the most…
Because this story goes much deeper, with characters who are facing dark emotions and are struggling to get again a grip on their lives again.

While Honey seems a woman with her head straight on her shoulders, rather quickly it’s obvious she has her own demons to face.
The losses she endured, made her make choices not based on what she truly wanted, but more like what her loved ones expected from her.
Of course, if she didn’t have her heart at the right place, she wouldn’t be using her knowledge as a nurse abroad, or have such a desire to take care of her great aunt’s garden.

But that makes her understand Lucien all the better, because she knows what he is going through. And despite their initial clash, and even the clashes alter on, she truly wants to help him, because lingering in the past will only hold your back.

I can only imagine what Lucien saw and has been through. And I completely understood his state of mind, as it cannot have been easy.
But I loved seeing him opening up, and find his drive again, with the help of Honey.

OF COURSE you and I both know what will happen between Honey and Lucien, no surprise there. But I found it heart – warming that these were two people, both scarred somehow, despite their initial dislike find each other (again?) and help each other to face their fears. Together, with their even perhaps a limited knowledge about the matter, they find a way to process what happened to them.

The beauty of this (too short for me!) story is, beside the love – aspect, that something terrible is finding its place without ridiculing it, but showing the seriousness of it. And that there is a way to overcome it. It may need baby steps, but you can heal from those scars.
Honey is exactly what Lucien needs, with her hands – on attitude, and Lucien and his feelings is exactly what Honey needs to overcome her fears.

This story was wonderful to read, about love, pain and courage to move. But also about a community being there for each other and offer a helping hand, however they can.
And when you know, you just know…

When your security is no longer there, a new plan needs to be made for the future

Synopsis

He needs a wife…
Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan…
But the only woman who’s caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she’s hardly respectable, but she’s determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose’s mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William’s a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she’s very much mistaken if she thinks the livesthey once led won’t follow them wherever they go.

In the third instalment of Rachel Brimble’s exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for…

My review

Octavia Marshall is the only one for the ladies of Carson Street that hasn’t found love yet. However, love is absolutely the last thing on her mind, as she is having other worries. With her best friends Nancy and Louisa no longer receiving customers, Octavia is the only ‘original’ Lady of Carson Street still working.
But as the future of such houses are at risk, Octavia is thinking about her own future. And in her future is no place for her past, because no matter she used to have wealth and privileges, there is no way she is going back to that hurtful place.
When Octavia meets William Rose, she sees an unexpected opportunity. Because William learns the hard way that no one takes him seriously until he becomes what expected in Victorian times: a family man.
William needs someone to pose as his fiancée and Octavia needs someone to teach her how to become a businesswoman.
With each their own goals, will their deal of being fake engaged change into something with deeper feelings?

Having read the previous parts of this series, there is one thing I have learned… do not mess with the Ladies of Carson Street!
Even if what they do for a living is not something I recommend, all the women are strong, independent and with a mind of their own.
They do what’s needed to survive, and even if 2/3 of the company is now in a happy relationship, they did not suddenly change into a meek woman, ready to just obey their man.

And Octavia… how I understood her so well… she is seeing her friends all having their happily ever after, all deserved of course, but that makes Octavia wonder what her life and future will look like.
She knows that she cannot continue doing what she is doing, not only because of her reaching an age she won’t be that popular anymore, but also because there are people determined to close houses like Carson Street.
And I admired her determination that, once she knows that she wants to learn to run a business, she seeks the right opportunity to get things started. I loved her mentality of forging her own happiness, and not let prejudice dictate would she can or cannot do.  But she is also afraid that she somehow will lose her friends and will be left alone, again. And that vulnerability was a nice new layer of Octavia.

And her meeting with William, a meeting that starts it all, isn’t obviously a normal meeting. Of course, what did we expect with Octavia?
William has made his own success, and I was even a bit proud of him, because he really looks after the people that work for him. and in Victorian that is not something taken for granted.
So I found it also frustrating how society would hold him back in making his business more successful, especially seeing how hypocrite society can be…
What I even liked more about William, is how is not judging Octavia for what she is doing. He understands what brought her to do this kind of life.
But he also sees the pain that still haunts Octavia, no matter how hard Octavia tries to hide it.

Having two people wanting to make the best out of their plans, and making a deal, makes in this case perfect sense.
And yes, it isn’t a surprise how things evolve, but that is also the beauty of this book. And that’s because we have two strong main characters, that will always do the right thing. Even if that means going away from the person you start to love. Or even refuse a very important question, because it isn’t the right time.

Octavia and William may have a complete different background and current lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t have anything in common. They see the good in each other and respect each other.

I found this a great latest addition and I liked getting to know Octavia better and getting acquainted with William. It shows us that even in the past there are people that see the real us, and don’t put a label on us without actually getting to know us.
And that with determination, even stubbornness and the right person by your side, you can make a change and turn your dreams into reality.

Picking up the pieces after love broke everything

Synopsis

With the recent breakdown of both her ten-year relationship and her parents’ marriage, thirty-five-year-old Marnie Barnes no longer believes in love. To give her life the shake-up it so clearly needs, she books a ticket to Canada.

Thousands of miles away from her home and her twin sister, she struggles to have the life-changing experience she dreamt of – until she meets Nova, a dinosaur-loving space nerd with a penchant for living in the moment. After a wonderful day together in Vancouver, they part ways. Though gutted, Marnie thinks it’s proof that she’s not meant to find love and tries to move on with her life.

But a few months later, back in England, she bumps into someone achingly familiar. As Marnie navigates her new feelings, takes chances and makes the first move for the first time in her life, can she regain her faith in love – and find it for herself?

My review

Marnie Barnes no longer believes in love. Not only has her own relationship broken down, but also her parents’ marriage is in the past now.
So when she went on a holiday to Canada, it gave her the peace she needed.
Back home in England now, she has to not only make up to her friends and family for disappearing, but also hold on to think peaceful feeling she found in Canada and make again something of her life.
And then someone she thought she would never see again, is also in England. Maybe this is Marnie’s opportunity to believe in love again?

Before I even started reading this book, I thought it would be a real romance, our main character would, after seeing her previous relation getting ended, meet someone new and fall in love and by taking baby steps, believe in love again.
But after reading the prologue, I quickly realized that it wouldn’t be that kind of story. so I was intrigued.

I have to admit, I admired Marnie’s courage to just pack and go all by herself to Canada. That surely wouldn’t be something I would dare to do. I always need someone by my side, just in case!
Although I would have loved to read about her adventures there, she was rather quickly back home and then the story really took off.

It was sweet to read how everybody saw that Marnie got that ‘Canada Glow’ over her, a sign that the trip really did her good. But of course life didn’t stand still and Marnie quickly realizes that while she was away, not everyone knows the truth, making her look like the guilty part of the end of the relationship.

If you are looking for a pure romance book, I understand that you will be a little bit disappointed, because this book is more about the journey Marnie is making, and finding her own happiness again. She is determined to keep that glow with her, and slowly we start to see the real Marnie. And the real Marnie is such a nice, caring person, easy to like.
Even if you would only see the way she interacts with Paislee at school, you would know enough. Marnie is the kind of person and teacher that knows how to get through children and just understands them.

This book takes us through everything that Marnie goes through. The good bits, like her sister and best friend standing by her side all the time, or how she is happy to see Paislee open up more, but also on the not so good bits, like seeing the end of her parents’ marriage or realizing how the truth can be twisted and how people easily believe rumours.
However, the good parts prevail, and also seeing how there may be a love interest, was beautiful to read.

Talking about that love interest, I am not going to say very much about it. Not because I didn’t like it, because I did, and that person may be just the right person for Marnie. But I don’t think the focus of reading the book should be on this aspect…

Seeing Marnie bloom again was the real treat of this book and all the rest was a nice extra. I saw this as a lesson not only of love, but mainly about how it’s okay to fall a little bit apart after a tough time, but by taking your time (no matter how long it takes of how far it takes you), you will be able to pick up those broken pieces again. And that maybe that falling apart is exactly what you needed to find yourself again and be the best “you”.

When feelings can risk the close unit of a family…

Synopsis

Welcome to Pepper Bay. A small close-knit community where you’ll find chocolate box cottages, quaint shops, drama, friendship, and love.

Snuggle down with this cosy, feel-good, comfort read that whisks you away to a beautiful bay on the Isle of Wight – Perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Phillipa Ashley, and Holly Martin.

The Pepper Bay books are standalone stories that intertwine with recurring characters.

Pepper Pot Farm – Tessie Sparrow and Nate Walker have everything a relationship can have, except intimacy. Neither of them want to add it into the mix, for fear of ruining their friendship.

It’s not easy for them to stay apart when they are growing so close, and Tessie’s secret plan to help save Nate’s farm might destroy them forever.

My review

Tessie Sparrow and Nate Walker spend their lives together with their daughters as a loving family. And even if the girls, Daisy and Robyn, see each other as sisters, they are not. In fact, Tessie and Nate aren’t even together.
While everyone sees how perfect they would be for each other, even if there might be some feelings, neither one of them want to ruin the perfect symbiosis, especially as they both have been hurt by love in the past.
However, being all the time together, it’s getting harder each time to stay apart.
Add Nate’s farm being at risk, and Tessie’s plan to help Nate in secret, will this family have the chance to be real one or will it fall apart?

I have read the previous parts of this series, and while I was swept away by the main characters at that time, I always wanted to know more about Tessie and Nate.
What made them so close? And why aren’t they together yet? So many questions I wanted an answer, and FINALLY I got them all!

Even if the most times, it was frustrating that Tessie and Nate wouldn’t take that next, obvious step, I loved reading about they worked as a family even if by blood they actually weren’t.

I found it sweet reading how Tessie and Nate were always there for each other, even in the past and at their most difficult times.
They truly are best friends, wanting only the best for each other. And even if there was one glitch, they found each other again.

It’s not really a spoiler when I say there is a kiss, right? Because when that one, first kiss is FINALLY there, it was just perfection.
Yes, it was not on the most romantic place, or the most perfect timing, but it was perfect for Tessie and Nate…

But what made me absolutely melt, was the unconditional love, not only for each other, but also for Daisy and Robyn. They both are parents of the girls, no matter if they are the “real” mother or father.
And this was for me perfect proof that love is thicker than blood. But again, who would not love amazing kids as Daisy and Robyn?

Obviously, if everything would go smoothly from start to finish, this story would lose a bit of its magic. There are a few blasts of the past, jeopardizing the small happiness created by Tessie and Nate. And while they were all for selfish reasons, there was one really nasty one, but what else could we expect from that specific character?

And then there is Tessie’s secret… at first I thought it would be a more devastating one, but I was quickly reassured it wasn’t that earth – shattering, but more an issue of bruised egos.
Add some terrifying moments too, and I even loved our main characters even more, because realizing what they could have been losing, makes them understand that fear shouldn’t be holding back their feelings.

A wonderful love story, an amazing FAMILY story, main characters that will warm your hearts and the extra charm of seeing our old friends again, playing also a rather important part in the story of two people who have loved, have been hurt, but deserve all the happiness in the world.

This series is the kind that will slowly grow to you and before you know it, you have fallen completely in love with all the characters and Pepper Bay.
And now the agonizing part, waiting for the next chapter to come out!

The start of very peculiar and unexpected friendships…

Synopsis

Abbey Carter should be feeling on top of the world. 

She has the home of her dreams – a picturesque cottage just walking distance from her beloved Primrose Woods. She has a job she loves, great friends, and most exciting of all – a wedding dress hanging in her wardrobe ready to be worn.  So why does she feel so lonely… 

Lizzie Baker loves her job at the Treetops café in Primrose Woods, and she loves being a grandmother even more. If only she could face her fear of flying and see her granddaughter in person rather than on a screen.

Rhianna West is head over heels for her boyfriend Jay. She just wishes he could see her more regularly. His excuses are starting to wear thin, and Rhi’s dreams for the future are beginning to fade.Can the fun and friendships, the picture-perfect scenery and rolling seasons in Primrose Woods help the women find the happy endings they deserve? After all anything is possible if you dare to dream…

An absolute treat of a book. Let Jill Steeples whisk you away into the beautiful countryside for the perfect feel-good comfort read. Just right for fans of Cathy Bramley, Heidi Swain and Julie Houston.

My review

Abbey Carter should feel like she has it all. she has a lovely cottage, just at walking distance from her beloved Primrose Woods. She loves her job and her friends, and soon she will be marrying Jason. So why isn’t she feeling all those expected butterflies?
On the other hand we have Rhianna West, deeply in love with her boyfriend Jay, but he keeps making excuses for not going public. While Rhianna is waiting patiently, she starts to doubt if Jay is really into their relationship just as committed as she is.
But when the truth comes out, it not just one dream that has been shattered.
Broken hearts and faith in mankind destroyed, hearts need to be mended and maybe with some gentle and good-natured interference of Lizzie Baker, who works at the popular treetops Café, new people enter Abbey’s life and new friendships can be made. 

Ooh this was a refreshing, lovely story to read! Of course, as an avid reader, I rather quickly figured out what was going on.
And while it would be easy to start pointing fingers, in this specific case, there is only one guilty party… 

It broke a little bit my heart seeing how Abbey discovers the truth about Jason, especially as she gave him already many second chances.
But then I also thought, that if she wasn’t that sure about that perfect wedding dress, that maybe that was already a sign… 

What I truly liked about Abbey, is her kind character. When she meets Rhianna for the first time, her reaction is an obvious one. But when all the cards lay on the table, Abbey realizes that Rhi is just as much a victim as she is.
And seeing how Abbey and Rhi, accidentally become friends, warmed my heart, as forgiveness is truly possible. 

While the main focus is on Abbey and finding her own peace, she is surrounded by people who love her. Like I said, Rhi is becoming one of those people, and Luke, Rhi’s ex – colleague is also a new addition and also Lizzie quickly becomes more important and then there is Sam…

All of these characters have also a big part in this story, Rhi trying to figure out what she truly wants from her life, after her last disaster.
Lizzie, who has a great desire to visit her daughter on the other side of the world, but is afraid of flying.
Sam, who is afraid of commitment has his own reputation.

Of course there is romance involved, but I didn’t think that was the main focus of this story. This was a wonderful story about starting over, discovering yourself, and love in all its aspects. We have unworthy love, betrayed love, but most important, non – judgemental love between friends, parents and children, love for the environment, new love after having had True Love, and self – love.

I have to admit, while everything went how I wanted for Abbey, I still have a few questions about Rhianna. So please tell me that she will have her own story too???
Because I know for sure that, seeing how I devoured this book, Rhianna’s story will be devoured with the same emotions!

Married to woman after a scheme, what good can come from it?

Synopsis

She’s the best wife…

…he never wanted!

Ross MacMillan lifts his bride’s veil…and discovers it’s not the woman he’d agreed to marry but her beautiful younger sister, Ilysa MacDonnell! The new MacMillan chieftain must accept Ilysa as his wife, for retaining his clan’s lands depends on her father’s support. But why is she there? Are her aims to help him or her father? Drawing out Ilysa’s secrets will kindle an alliance more powerful—and passionate!—than Ross ever imagined…

Highland Alliances: Convenient marriages to save their clan!

Book 1: The Highlander’s Substitute Wife by Terri Brisbin
Book 2: The Highlander’s Tactical Marriage by Jenni Fletcher

Book 3: The Highlander’s Stolen Bride by Madeline Martin

My review

Ilysa MacDonnell is living a quiet life in the nunnery of Iona as a lay sister. So when her father brings her back home, she has no idea what the reason behind is, although she is happy to see her sister Lilidh again.
Only after being wed to the new MacMillan chief Ross, it’s clear that her father swapped the sisters on purpose, for his own schemes.
Ross also has no other option to accept Ilysa as his wife, to have the MacDonnell’s support, even if now he is married to a woman rumoured to be disfigured.
But why did MacDonnell make Ilysa marry Ross? Is she part of a bigger plan? And Ross didn’t surely expect that this innocent woman would be carrying hurtful secrets, wanting him to protect her every way that he can, igniting a passion neither one of them expected…

So, those who have read my previous reviews, know I can truly enjoy reading a historical romance, even if the outcome isn’t that very surprising. But sometimes a girl just needs some positive vibes while reading!
And this book, well it may be one of my favourite of this type!

It’s clear from the start in what way Ilysa is ‘damaged’. But it’s not only physical that she is scarred, also the way her father, and even her sister, bullied her, made Ilysa turn into a scared woman, ready to be punished for every time she has been doing something wrong in their eyes.

However, despite the fact that she has been used by her own family for their devious schemes, I loved reading how she managed to turn a bad situation into a good one. She shows several times her strength, as she manages to make the people of the village truly love her by just being her, and adding her own bits to make the place a nice place to be living in.

But if there is one character that stole my heart, it was Ross (except in one occasion, I despised him, but when you get there you’ll know when that is).
Even if his wife is not who he expected to be, he show a very gentle side I didn’t expect.
He sees how frightened Ilysa is, and he does not push her, he knows that giving her time and space is the only way to make her trust him.

I found it somehow even adorable to see how these two people, forced together, both having trust issues, start to bond together and see each other’s weaknesses but mostly important, strengths and how they can stand as an united front.

Ilysa’s family, without any exception, is a despicable one, only thinking about themselves and not afraid to betray a made alliance. And I could, I would have entered the book and kicked seriously some a**es!

I truly enjoyed reading this story, about people who finally deserve some good in the world, and finding it with each other.
If the next parts of the series will be as good as this first new instalment, I am sure that there will be more characters that I will fall in love with!

When an unwelcome rock star starts a cocktail bar…

Synopsis

Rock star, River Jackson, is back in his hometown of Glastonbury to open a cocktail bar… and the locals aren’t impressed.

Seductive Georgina is proving too hot to handle; band mate, Angelic Alice, is messing with his heart and his head; his mum is a hippie-dippy liability; his school friends have resorted to violence – oh, and his band manager, Lennie, AND the media are on his trail.

But River is armed with a magical Mexican elixir which will change the lives of three lucky people. Once the Mexican wave of joy takes a hold of the town, he’s glad he didn’t lose his proverbial bottle.

Pity he hasn’t taken better care of the real one…

My review

River Jackson is a rock star who had enough of his music career. Instead, he opens a cocktail bar in his hometown of Glastonbury.
But not everyone is happy with his return, in fact it’s the total opposite… And they are not afraid of using violence to make River get the message.
Slowly River is making a success of his bar, with the help of Georgina, whose looks are too hard to resist.
Even if several people still want something from River, the arrival of band member Alice is like a light in the dark.
But will Georgina easily step aside, or is her presence a scheme to get back at River? And what will his magical Mexican Elixir, only for Three Chosen Ones, do with who is drinking it?

Reading a book of Isabella May is always something unexpected, as there is always somehow a layer of magic involved. And this story fits in perfectly!

I have to admit, there is a sequel of this book, and I made the mistake of reading first the sequel before reading this story. So I kind of already knew how this story would end. But reading how River got where he is today, was surely a nice discovery.

Yes, his trip in Mexico is not an ordinary trip, but that what makes this story unique. If there wasn’t e bit of ‘crazy’ or ‘impossibilities’, this wouldn’t be an Isabella May story.

I loved reading how River was ready to take a risk by opening a cocktail bar in a place where most people would rather see him go than come. But that shows his determination to make it all work.
And even his rule of a limit on cocktails, I could see how it all work out for the best.

Of course I didn’t like Georgina, but I also understood how River would need the distraction. But I didn’t not like her only because of I knew what happens in the sequel, but her behaviour and scheming plans were just despicable. I know that someone can hold a grudge, as made clear also by other characters in this book, but there is always a limit at how far someone can go.
And adding someone else in her plots, someone that should have the other’s person back, made me just ‘yuck’.

The total opposite was Alice. I loved her from the first appearance. She has had her own ballast, but is now looking for her happiness.
And I admired her sense of right and wrong, even if her feelings are growing, she keeps her distance because of River’s unavailability. Even more, she doesn’t want to sacrifice her little place of heaven and of belonging for making a mistake in the love area.

The partnership, even just as friends, between River and Alice is something to be jealous of, there is a complicity that make them trust each other and they know that there won’t be any judgement. And that is what real friendship is about!

This was again an entertaining read, seeing how not only our main characters but also a whole town fall under the spell of a magical elixir, changing their lives forever.
Most characters are easy to like and like, and those who initially are not so nice, also undergo a transformation (again, most of them…) for the better.
This book was the perfect cocktail (yes, pun intended) of romance, drama, friendship and mystical encounters.

Fake dating your best friend, what could possibly happen?

Synopsis

An opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, fake dating romantic comedy

Love is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Usuallyme. I admit it, I’m a relationship-recluse. Ironic, given that I write romantic comedies. So, I’m on a sabbatical from dating. 

Which is why fake dating my best friend Rory is fool-proof. Rory suggested it because he needed a date for work functions. And I can use our experiences as fodder for my romcom novel. Plus, my sister doesn’t know it’s not real and she is thrilled that I’m not walling myself off emotionally. Her words, not mine. But I do wish she would stop saying that she always suspected there was something more between me and Rory. She should realize that we’ve been friends forever so I’m immune to his appeal. 

We would never work. Rory is such a romantic; he still believes in that perfect love similar to his parents’ marriage. My parents fought bitterly. So, we are better off as friends. I can’t risk losing our friendship, even if this might be my chance—before his ex-girlfriend wins him back.  

Those flickers of attraction? Easily extinguished by cold water reality—like a two-mile hike in drenching rain over sand with wheelie luggage. 

But our relationship is not sticking to the plot—or is it?

My review

Penelope’s big dream is to become a romance writer. Trying to achieve her dreams, she has given herself two years to do whatever she can to start her career.
Even if she writes romance, her own love life isn’t that great. She doesn’t believe in great love stories, because they will end up always in hurt.
But as her scripts still are rejected, with the constant remark that the emotional bits are missing, she persuades her best friend Rory to start fake – dating, just to help her to find what has been missing in her stories.
Rory is up for it, as he can now use his ‘girlfriend’ to go to work functions to avoid unwanted attentions.
However, Rory’s vision is the total opposite of Penelope’s. Where Penelope is not romantic, Rory truly believes in that perfect love like his parents have.
But where to draw the line to what’s fake and what’s real? Because what will happen when feelings are growing but fear of losing a best friend makes you holding back? And add an ex – girlfriend to make things even more complicated…

Personally, I found this book had all the things I love to read in a story. Fake dating, best friends to more, opposites that attract… what more could I wish for a feel-good?

There are so many things I liked about Penelope. She has found the courage to chase her dreams, and gave herself enough time to have a go for it. And even if I am not so artistic myself, I found myself intrigued in the world of miniatures. That shows again that she is also a patient person.
Reading about the loss of her parents and how that changed her view of love, broke my heart a little bit.
And then I am not talking about the disaster about confessing her feelings to her crush…

Penelope is the total opposite of her best friend Rory, and that made me eager to see how these two people with different visions would not only manage to be a fake, but convincing, couple, but also see the how and the when both of them would realize how perfect they are for each other. They are the yin and the yang, putting each other in perfect balance.

But of course, being best friends with growing feelings, it would be more than normal that there is also some fear involved, are the feelings reciprocal? And what if the relationship wouldn’t work out? is that also the end of the friendship?

Despite all these questions and doubts, I found it wonderful to see how this lovely (fake) couple went on dates, had each other’s back no matter what, and were always there for each other, even at their most difficult moments.

I found it very sweet to see how with an excuse, Penelope and Rory got even closer than before. Rory even is Penelope’s biggest fan and believes in her attempt to launch her career.
And seeing how Penelope uses her miniatures to visualize her dates with Rory, was a nice extra.

This was again a wonderful read from this author, with even a few cameos of her other characters and great new additions as supporting characters, like Zelda!
I adored reading how two people who deserve everything they wished for, slowly realize that daring to take that fearful step would give them all they ever wanted and needed.
Another success story of this author!

What a young woman would do to protect an innocent life even when on the run…

Synopsis

Yorkshire Dales 1850

As a terrible storm rages, Annabelle Wallis is shocked to find a distressed young woman at her cottage door, heavy with child. Moments later a baby girl is born. But by dawn, the mother has vanished, leaving behind the helpless child wrapped only in a silk peacock shawl.

When news spreads that Lady Eliza Hartley, sister to wealthy estate owner, John Hartley, has been found dead, Annabelle realises the terrible secret she has stumbled on. Terrified she’ll be blamed for Eliza’s death, Annabelle flees to the filthy slums of York, where she plans to raise the precious orphan as her own.

The cobbled streets of York’s slums are no place for a young woman like Annabelle or a Hartley babe and John Hartley is determined to bring them both home. But Annabelle proves impossible to find.

Annabelle can’t hide forever from the wealthy Hartley family, but can she ever give up the baby she loves?

My review

Annabelle Wallis never knew who her parents were. But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been loved while growing up, because Widow Wallis took Annabelle in her house when just being a baby and gave all the possible love.
But when Ma dies, Annabelle does not know what to do, because the place she called home, was not owned by Ma.
To make things worse, after a terrible storm, Annabelle is shocked when a young woman is at her door, ready to deliver a baby.
A baby the new mother left in the morning in the hands of Annabelle, only wrapped in a silk peacock shawl.
When later the news is spread that Lady Eliza Hartley has died, Annabelle connects the dots and afraid to be blamed for the death, she flees to York, hoping to stay out of the hands of Eliza’s brother John Hartley, a man determined to find the last person that saw his sister alive and is now taking care of his niece…

I will start by telling what I didn’t really like about this book, so that I can start will the many things I did like (and we had the bad news first J)

When you read the blurb, you would think that rather soon in the book, Annabelle is going to flee to York with the baby and start a whole new life, still trying to stay as far as possible from the Hartleys.
And I thought the whole book would be a cat – and – mouse game.
However, this was in my opinion a whole different book. The fleeing only takes place almost halfway the book.

Until then, we get to know Annabelle, and what her struggles and dreams are. And for me, that was more important than the fleeing part.

Because we see that Annabelle may not know her parents, but loves her life with Ma and her friends. And even if she is good friends with Dickie, who wants to marry her, she has bigger dreams than that.
Not that she has her head in the clouds, and wants the impossible, but she knows that there is *more* possible for her.

And I found it also surprising that her first meeting with John Hartley wasn’t after the terrible event we know that will take place, but before! And that maybe her future fear is not her initial emotion when she sees John.

And John was also totally not what I expected! And I mean this in a good way! It’s obvious he is a loving and caring brother, but also a man who wants to protect those he cares about, even if they are of a lower status than himself.
His determination to find Annabelle and his niece and to discover the truth, only confirmed more my judgement of him.

It’s obvious that both main characters are kind persons, doing whatever and however they can to protect their loved ones. And I admired Annabelle how she made the right call, even if it broke her heart.
And John was ready to stand against his own family to make sure justice would be done, and not injustice.

This story shows us many ugly bits, as prejudice, shame, fear and how nasty some people can be. But there are also many beautiful bits in it, like real friendship, love for a child that is not your own and the sacrifices you are ready to make to protect an innocent life. And also how love can defy status.

Will a second chance erase the past and what will the future hold?

Synopsis

When seven-year-old Fran first met Will they knew instantly that they were made for each other. For eleven years they were inseparable, but then, at the age of eighteen, Will just upped and disappeared.

Twenty-five years later Will is back.

Is fate trying to give them a second chance?

Still nursing the heart break from all those years ago, Fran is reluctant to give Will the time of day. The price Will must pay is to tell the truth – the truth about why he left, the truth about why he’s back…

And Fran has her own secrets to hide. The time has come to decide what Fran and Will really want from life – before it’s too late.

My review

Fran and Will met when they were still young children. But very quickly they became best friends and were inseparable. And that close friendship inevitably changed into love. That was until Will’s mother died and Will and the rest of his family packed and left for never coming back.
So obviously present Fran is shocked when Will is back.
And while Will is over the moon with having Fran back in his life, she isn’t so ready to let the boy that broke her heart back in her life.
But that’s not all, no matter how good it feels spending time together again, and old feelings resurfacing, Will must come clean about his past and his reason of being back. And Fran has her own secrets she kept from Will.
How will all the revelations affect the emotions? Is a second chance at love written in the stars? Or is a new heartbreak in the make?

When I started reading this story, I thought that this would be one of those sweet stories, with obviously somewhere a struggle between the main characters but with a happy end.
But I wasn’t prepared to be on an emotional rollercoaster, where I would laugh over the beautiful bits, cry over the many heart-breaking moment and grasp for air with each revelation.

This story is yes a romance, but not only that… there is so much going on, with equal importance and not all romance – related.

In first instance, I found it refreshing reading how Fran seeing which way the wind blows when Will appears back in her life.

It’s obvious that what happened so many years ago, truly broke Fran’s heart, and she isn’t in the phase ‘forgive and forget’.
However, she wants her old friend in her life so she gives Will a chance. While the old feelings quickly resurface, she doesn’t want to take the next step too quickly. And that’s what I loved about her too, she always keeps in mind what’s best for her son Kieran.

But nevertheless, it was heart – warming to see how Fran and Will are getting closer again and seeing how their love gets a second chance!

And if they getting back together would be the end of the story, it would have been a nice story yes, but like I said before, it goes deeper than just two people finding each other after many years spending apart.

I’m not going to dig deeper into what our main characters have to endure, but it broke my heart to read why Will was back. I had a sense of injustice, because what the author wrote, was just not fair for Fran and Will. But the way they handled the hard bits (and they were really difficult, even just for us as a reader…) made my admiration only grow.
And not only Will has a secret he has to tell Fran, Fran herself had a few secrets…

While it would have been so easy for each party to blame and hold a grudge, the matureness of both Fran and Will is something many people should have. Of course, the initial shock makes them keep their distance, but they realize time truly is precious and why waste it on being angry when the past is just that, the past. It’s not something we can change anymore…

Let me also add that I enjoyed reading the parts where everyone wanted to tick off items of the bucket list made when Fran and Will were still younger. Each new adventure put a smile on my face!

This was a wonderful read, not what I expected but maybe that’s why I even liked it more. it shows us how the past events change us into the people we are now. But what I kept in my mind was, that no matter what happened in the past, or what the future will look like, love is always worth of taking that chance. Even if afterwards you will have a broken heart, it’s better to have lived those wonderful moments together than regretting to not have them.
And maybe most important of them all, it’s never too late to forgive someone…