How do you know when love is worth of risking the pain?

Synopsis

It’s winter at The Vineyard in Alsace, and wedding bells are in the air

How do you know when you’re ready for love?

Ellie Robinson has spent her life running from commitment following the breakdown of her parents’ marriage when she was young. She doesn’t believe in happy ever afters and the last thing she wants is to settle down in one place when she could be travelling the world.

Having moved from place to place throughout his childhood, Henri Weiss now calls the vineyard in Alsace home, and he loves the stability the vineyard and the people on it give him. While he enjoys travelling, it’s always good to come home again.

Following an extended travelling trip together, Ellie and Henri find their differences more marked than before, despite their love for each other being even stronger. Then a series of shocks in Ellie’s personal life throws things into turmoil, leaving Ellie unsure as to how to get everything she wants. And Henri facing the loss of the future he has dreamed of.

Can Ellie and Henri reconcile their very different desires and take a leap of faith on their love for each other? Will they get the happy ever after they’ve both been longing for?

Escape to The Vineyard in Alsace once again for this uplifting, romantic read and enjoy Christmas at Domaine des Montagnes.

My review

Ellie Robinson has the so – called travelling bug. Staying at just one place and settling down at one place is surely the last thing on her mind. And that is all thanks the divorce her parents went through when she was young.
But Henri Weiss, her boyfriend who she truly loves, enjoys the stability and security of living at the vineyard with his friends in Alsace. And he cannot wait to settle down definitely. Every time he goes away, he is more than happy to return home.
As both want different things, will their love be strong enough to find a compromise? And is their love enough to take that leap of faith, while both their lives are suddenly changing quickly, with Ellie receiving one shock after the other and Henri feels more alone than ever as his future may not be as secure as he thought.

Oh how I loved returning to the vineyard and see all my old friends again!!

But my feelings towards Ellie were shifting ones.
I understand how someone wants to see as much of the world as possible, don’t we all have that dream? But of course growing up, means also settling down, being together with the person you love and even start a family of your own.

So seeing how Ellie, just returned and already looking for a new place to go to, while she could have everything anyone would wish for, made me not really really like her… I found her a bit selfish, and perhaps even afraid of making a commitment. And not only a commitment with Henri, but also not wanting a commitment towards her friends and career-wise.

Of course there was more to her desire to wanting to have an escape, and the more was revealed about her past, and how the break – up of her parents made an impact on her feelings, a lot made sense now.
Seeing your parents breaking up, isn’t easy, but Ellie’s tale was even a worse one, because all what she thought was the truth, suddenly appeared to be untrue..

And while Ellie has her own struggles, Henri is also in limbo… he loves the stability that the vineyard gives him, but a bad harvest put the whole business in a bad situation. The one thing he needed the most, after losing his parents, a place he truly feels at home and welcome is now suddenly not a security anymore.
And while he is ready to definitely settle down and make a real commitment with Ellie, those feelings are not reciprocated, making him question if there is a future together in store for them.

This was not a story where it’s clear that love is enough. Because how perfect that sounds, life gets in the way. And events of the past have an influence of how you see things now. Both Ellie and Henri have been through difficult moments, and they reacted each differently, making them wish different things.

But what I loved about this story, was how both are determined to not give up on what they have together. Relationships is about finding a compromise, and Ellie slowly starts to see what a treasure she as with Henri and her friends at the vineyard. And that makes her wonder if she is ready for taking that leap of faith, hoping that love will be enough…
And of course it was great to see how the other couples are doing!

Discovering the true Spirit of Christmas (and not only that…)

Synopsis

From disco balls to Christmas baubles …

Ex-dancer Emily Williams turned her back on the sparkle of popular dancing show Strictly Dancing with Celebs to help those in need. Now the only dancing she does is teaching lonely pensioners to waltz, and the closest she gets to disco balls is making baubles with the homeless people in her Christmas crafts class.
She’s certainly not star-struck when Hollywood heart-throb Blake Harris is sent to her at short notice for community service, and has no desire to babysit the arrogant actor with his bad boy antics and selfish ways. Christmas might be a time for miracles, but Blake seems to be a lost cause.
But Emily’s reasons for abandoning her dancing passion means she understands the Hollywood wild child more than she’d like to admit. Could their time together, coupled with a dash of Christmas spirit, lead to a miracle change of heart for them both?

Book 3 in Helen’s Spotlight series but they can all be read as standalone stories.

My review

Emily Williams had a short appearance on dancing show Strictly Dancing With Celebs, and she loved every minute of it.
But she has turned her back on the world of dancing, and the only time she gives in to her passion, is when she is teaching the waltz at the community centre where she works.
So when Hollywood actor Blake Harris has to do community service, Emily surely is everything but star-struck.
Especially when Blake appears to do whatever he pleases, is never on time and whatever he does, has a selfish reason.
But what nobody knows, is that Emily understands Blake’s behaviour better than anyone else, because she left the dancing scene for a reason…
And maybe that is exactly what Blake needs, someone who truly understands him, without prejudice. And with the preparations for Christmas at the centre, maybe these two broken souls find each other to mend what has been broken…

When I read a story from this author, whether it’s Christmas or not, it’s always something magical…
The inner – Tiziana would love to stand in a ballroom and feel the thrill of dancing a waltz, salsa, rumba and I don’t know what else. But me being clumsy, it’s just something to dream about 😀

When we first meet Emily, she is starting her dance with her celebrity partner on Strictly Dancing With Celebs, but it’s obvious that her partner won’t be winning the final.
So when we see present – Emily, I was surprised seeing that her passion had been stored away and now she is working in a centre, helping those in need.
Of course it’s a noble thing she is doing, and she truly wants to make a difference, even if it’s on a smaller scale compared to the rest of her family.
But I couldn’t see what would have caused such a change of plans for her.

However, seeing Emily trying to help everyone at the centre, with limited resources, but with passion, was something I admired.
Not everyone can handle or behave correctly, without showing pity to those less fortunate.

I have to be honest, that’s the whole point of writing a review… for a big part of the story I did not like Blake.
He has issues, like so many, and when it’s time to pay for his mistakes, he doesn’t take his task serious. He arrives late, leaves early, and when he does something good, he makes sure it’s mentioned in the paper… And that is not the kind of people Emily and the other volunteers need at the centre.
But he redeems himself, because when I got to know where he is coming from, and he shows his true emotions, well, it made more sense.
And the more he shows the real Blake, the easier it was to like him and in the end he even stole my heart…

This was a wonderful story about people that made mistakes, but also are doing their bit to make the world a better place (wow, sounds rather melodramatic 🤣). Every one of us can make a difference, no matter how big or small it is. Not everyone is as lucky to have a comfortable life, and sometimes bad luck can strike us all.

It’s also a story about seeing behind the mask some of us carry, and even if we think that someone is not a nice person at all, we can be wrong, because we don’t know what caused to make that person behave in this particular way.
And just maybe, the real person is someone worth of falling in love with…

Pretending to be married, of course nothing more will happen…

Synopsis

The only man who’s tempted her…Now poses as her husband!

When an injured knight arrives on Brida O’Conaill’s doorstep, the village assumes he’s her long-lost husband. But her only previous connection to Sir Thomas Lovent was an intense shared moment at a tournament years ago. Brida maintains the pretence while she nurses him, yet once he’s back to full, virile health, she cannot reveal Thomas is not her husband—or that she’s unmarried!—when everyone is expecting them to act like husband and wife…

My review

Brida O’Conaill and Sir Thomas Lovent had a heated moment on a tournament years ago. But she hasn’t seen or heard from him since then. Not that she was left heart – broken, as she is determined to stay unmarried for the rest of her life.
The village she is living is, believes that she actually is married but that her husband is on a pilgrimage. So when Sir Thomas arrives at Brida’s doorstep, injured, everyone assumes they are husband and wife. And Thomas and Brida cannot reveal the truth, especially now that apparently someone is scheming against the King and Thomas finds himself being a suspect of murder…
Forced to keep up the pretence, will they be able to fool everyone? Or are they only fooling themselves?

The next part of the series, and I loved it!

We already knew Brida and Sit Thomas as they made an appearance before, but I was very happy when these two got their own story to share!

The prologue already was a nice appetizer, making us reader want to see more about the attraction between Brida and Thomas.
So when we jump forward in time, I was a bit surprised as nothing has happened in between.

When Thomas appears wounded at Brida’s doorstep, it’s obviously the real start of their adventure together.
I found it hilarious how they kept up the pretence of being married, and how they manage to appear a lovely couple when surrounded by people, but when alone Brida could strangle Thomas.
Their bantering, and pushing each other’s buttons was so funny, it had me giggling (yes, at 35 years I still giggle!) all the time!

Initially I couldn’t understand why Brida was adamant of never getting married, especially when her feelings for Thomas keep developing. But what happened to her when she was younger, and the influence of her mother, made sense to me. Even if Brida would think rational about it, it’s not easy when you are so sure about your future to think about it with a clear mind.
But I saw where she was coming from, and she just want to avoid getting hurt or hurting her loved ones.

And Thomas… he is one of the most easy – going men I have encountered in books, he is flirtatious, funny and without a worry. But that is all appearances, because his tale isn’t a very happy one neither.
The way he looks after his sister after his family’s tragedy is wonderful. And that tragedy has scarred him. But he is also courageous, not only because he is a Knight, but because realizing his feelings for Brida, he is ready to risk his heart…

I loved seeing how Brida and Thomas joined their forces and grew closer to each other, despite all that constant bickering and fighting (because we know their real feelings!).

This next part was something I truly enjoyed reading, not only because of the adventure our characters make, but also because they also learn that without the other one, there is no laughter (you’ll know what I mean after reading this book!)

When you’re looking for revenge but you find something else

Synopsis

A kidnapped royal…

Could be the Viking’s undoing!

After Brand Ivarsson of Kald abducts Anne of Termarth on the eve of her wedding, the Viking’s consumed with only one thing: revenge against her loathsome betrothed. But confronted with the stunning princess, so foreign to his world, Brand’s captivated not only by her beauty, but by her spirit and her kindness. Is Anne his prisoner…or is she the one who’s captured his scarred heart?

My review

Princess Anne of Termath is getting married after this has been arranged by her father. She dreams of having her own freedom and decide who to marry, but that is not in her cards. So the night before getting married to Lord Crowe, Anne is wandering along the ramparts of Termath Castle.
The last thing she expects to happen, is being kidnapped by Brand Ivarsson of Kald. He is seeking revenge against Lord Crowe and taking the Princess is the perfect way.
Even if both have prejudices ready, soon they realize that not everything they thought to know about the other was correct.
And maybe their feelings of despise and hate change into something completely the opposite?

Sometimes, all a woman needs is reading a book where a hot, ‘beastly’ Viking is the main character! And when you are in that mood, this book is the perfect read!

Before I started to read this story, I had to get in the right mind-set: remember Tiziana, we are talking about a historical tale, so women are not enjoying the freedom we have now, Vikings are conquering the world and absolutely forget about the comfort we have in the present!

So when we see Anne for the first time, it’s obvious that she isn’t all that thrilled about her wedding arrangements. And take also in account that her father isn’t the most involved one…
But of course, just listening and do as your told, is what you do in these times, even if you are a Princess.
Even if Anne is doing as told, she dreams of being free to make her own choices. She is in reality a feminist before feminism was a thing!
She is also a kind person, and she doesn’t want anyone to be hurting. And in order to protect her people, she agrees to go with Brand, as long as everyone else is safe, even if every bone in her body is afraid of being taken to Kald.

Of course, when we think about Vikings, Northmen etc, we all imagine these fierce warriors, with no compassion, only looking for making more conquests. And Brand his ‘nickname’ The Barbarian doesn’t help his cause.
And obviously, kidnapping Anne isn’t proof of his kind character. But when I got to know Brand better, and learned about what he had to endure when younger, my heart bled for him.
Slowly we get to see the real Brand, and he is not only a fierce Viking, but also a protective brother, only wanting peace for the people of Kald.

Yes, we know what will happen between Brand and Anne, but there was so much more to this story. it shows us that we always have a certain idea about a person or a people, based mostly on what we have heard from others. But the truth can be so different. Brand isn’t a blood seeking, violent man, just as Anne isn’t a gullible, spoiled princess.

And can I say that when there was a certain event linking both characters, my heart just melded?
I truly enjoyed reading this story about a Viking and a Princess, that thanks to each other find what it means to love someone unconditionally…

Two women, two different tales about love…

Synopsis

A snowy Victorian Christmas – Two festive short stories!

In The Christmas Runaway by Jenni Fletcher: wilful, independent heiress, Fiona MacKay, impulsively runs away to a remote Scottish tower where she’s trapped in the snow with equally headstrong, deliciously dishevelled Angus Drummond.

In Their Snowbound Reunion by Elisabeth Hobbes: fifteen years ago, Amy Munroe and Anthony Matthews were cruelly parted, and each blames the other. When Amy becomes Anthony’s new housekeeper, their passion is reawakened!

My review

The Christmas Runaway

When Fiona MacKay’s father is getting married again and to a much younger woman, Fiona isn’t very happy with the changes that will occur. So she decides to run away and hopes she can stay with her friend Mhairi in Windy Heads Tower, in remote Scotland.
But she doesn’t expect to spend time with Angus Drummond too…

Their Snowbound Reunion

Fifteen years ago, Amy Munroe and Anthony Matthews were madly in love. But they cruelly went their separate ways, blaming each other for their broken hearts..
Now Amy is Anthony’s new housekeeper, believing that Anthony won’t visit the place a lot. But when Anthony and his children are forced to stay longer than predicted, old passion are reignited.

Is there something more beautiful and heart – warming than a romance in the snow?
Because for me, it surely is on top of the most romantic things in a book!

Both stories are taking place around Christmas, so plenty of snow is guaranteed! But that’s how far the similarities goes…

In Jenni Fletcher’s story we see how Fiona seeks refuge in Scotland, with her friend Mhiari. Even if I thought that running away wasn’t the solution for her issues, I understood where she was coming from.
It’s been her and her father for a long time, and now everything changes, and that is not an easy thing to digest…

I found Fiona a marvellous character. When she meets Angus, it’s not under normal circumstances, but she stands her ground. And when that first misunderstanding is cleared, we see also that Fiona is a kind character, looking after her friend Mhiari, and isn’t afraid to face confrontation with Angus.

I loved reading how Fiona and Angus were almost in a constant fight, but it also warmed my heart to see how they were melting towards each other. They couldn’t be more different, but that’s part of the attraction, isn’t it?

Elisabeth Hobbes’ story is a whole different kind. The beginning is already a heart – breaking one. We barely started to know the love couple and then it’s already over…
And then fast forward fifteen years…

Amy’s and Anthony’s lives took a different direction, but Fate brought them back together, even if that wasn’t their intention to ever meet again.

Oh but how I loved seeing how Amy and Anthony are growing back close together! And may I say that his children are just too adorable!
Of course, the huge elephant in the room must be addressed, and when the truth came out, I cannot say I was totally surprised by it…

It warmed my heart to see how Amy tried to show Anthony that loosen up won’t be the end of the world. And then seeing what Anthony does afterwards, made my heart melt.

Both stories were so wonderful to read. The only ‘negative’ I can say, is that the stories were just too short! I would have loved to read more about these lovely women, and their love interests.
But even if it was all too quickly over, I enjoyed reading every bit of it. And sometimes it’s the short stories that show us the importance of love and how fast it sometimes can go!

Could it be that ghosts from the past aren’t that ghostly at all?

Synopsis

A perfect life…

Paul Henderson leads a normal life. A deputy headteacher at a good school, a loving relationship with girlfriend Jenna, and a baby on the way. Everything seems perfect.

A shocking message…

Until Paul receives a message from his ex-fiance Nicole. Beautiful, ambitious and fierce, Nicole is everything Jenna is not. And now it seems Nicole is back, and she has a score to settle with Paul…

A deadly secret.

But Paul can’t understand how Nicole is back. Because he’s pretty sure he killed her with his own bare hands….

Which means, someone else knows the truth about what happened that night. And they’ll stop at nothing to make Paul pay…

A brand new psychological thriller that will keep you guessing till the end! Perfect for fans of Sue Watson, Nina Manning, Shalini Boland

My review

Despite his troubled past, Paul Henderson now has everything he could dream of. He is deputy head teacher, he is totally in love with his girlfriend Jenna and soon he will be father for the first time.
But then his ex – fiancée Nicole reappears from Australia, with a score to settle with Paul. But her being back and making Jenna insecure, because Nicole is everything that Jenna isn’t, is not the biggest problem…
It’s not possible that Nicole is back, because Paul killed her with his own hands…
So what is going on???

If you don’t want to be terrified while reading, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!

Through the whole story, I felt sorry for Paul. As a child already, he didn’t have the easiest life, and now that everything seems to go well, a ghost from a not so far away past has returned to haunt him.
Of course, we know that he killed Nicole, and of course that is not a good thing, but when slowly we see how his life with Nicole was… well I still don’t approve it, but I understood him better. And the fact that he still doesn’t remember exactly what happened, saddened me even more.

We do not only Paul’s view, but also Jenna’s. And her point of view also made me a bit sad… because she is constantly faced with how amazing Nicole was, and she feels less because of those constant reminders.
She starts to doubt about herself and I found that such a sad thing, because even if Jenna doesn’t have the looks like Nicole, she is an amazing woman!

But when messages from Nicole start to appear out of the blue, I felt several chills… because I started to doubt everything that was told before…
Was Nicole truly dead? Maybe she was just unconscious? And if so, why return after being away? And with the bits we got to know about Nicole, why was she haunting and terrorizing Paul and Jenna?
And if Nicole was truly dead and ‘safely’ buried, who was it then? And why????

Slowly we also get to see glimpses of Paul’s and Nicole’s past together, and it shows us that no matter how good things are from the outside, we never truly know what goes on behind the closed doors and how the past can still haunt people.

Like I said, I found this a terrifying story, because all the time it left me guessing what was going on. I had my suspicions, but the author managed very well to make my mind go in every direction!
It’s not only that Nicole is sending messages, but also strange things are happening around… And let me tell you, I checked several times if my house was truly locked and there was no way that someone could come inside!

But despite all my fears, I found it very difficult to put the book away, because I wanted to discover what was truly going on.
And maybe, just maybe, some of my suspicions were correct. But then again, the reasons for it all, was something I didn’t see coming…

There is always time for forgiveness and a fresh start

Synopsis

Sisters Kitty and Jenny haven’t spoken since a very disappointing Carvery lunch. Kitty, sixty-two, thinks Jenny is turning grey. Jenny, sixty-six, thinks Kitty needs to grow up!

So when both sisters inherit a farmhouse in rural France, it gives them the perfect chance to heal the rift between them. Except the farmhouse is a wreck, the garden is terrorized by a flock of chickens, not to mention a donkey with a serious flatulence problem!

Kitty is determined to enjoy herself, especially when she meets gorgeous French builder, Leo. Ooh la – la! And Jenny finds the fully stocked wine cellar helps enormously with missing horrible husband Paul – hic!

And as the two sisters begin to repair their fragile friendship, they discover that being bad is actually very good for the soul.

My review

Kitty and Jenny are sisters that after a row haven’t spoken to each other for a long while. When they inherit a farmhouse in France from their Aunt Sheila, they must join forces and spend time together in the farmhouse that definitely is in need of some urgent TLC.
While sixty – six years old Jenny thinks that Kitty should finally grow up, sixty – two yeas old Kitty believes that Jenny should finally learn to grow a pair, will their time together in France be the opportunity to forgive and forget about the past and find that strong sister bond they once had? 

When I read the title of this book, I had a total different story in mind. I thought it would be about two sisters going totally crazy and would start doing things out of character while enjoying their time in France.
But after reading the blurb, and getting more and more into the story, it was obvious it wasn’t that kind of story.
And I was happy of being wrong, because I totally enjoyed reading this story! 

The story is being told through Kitty’s point of view, and while she is the one who has no strings attached, it was lovely yet heart – breaking to see how she is having her own struggles in life.
Kitty has had her own share of heartbreak in the years, married several times and divorced accordingly. Yet while it may seem that she is the fickle one, we get to know that the men she was married with, weren’t the perfect husbands after all.
And her single life at the moment isn’t the most exhilarating one… She feels more than ever alone, living in an apartment on her own, no real friends around and a sister close by, but couldn’t be further away…

We learn that in the past, Kitty and Jenny were very close as sisters, but something happened and that event caused a breach between them.
And I found that a very saddening thought, because the bond siblings have, is unique and stronger than anything. I just cannot imagine having such a huge row with my own brother with no contact at all as a result…

Yet that breach makes it difficult for the sisters to reconnect in France again. Both sisters are trying to be closer again, but those dark clouds of the past aren’t easily erased.
But I found it hilarious to see how some good wine, food and a wonderful place in France would be the perfect setting for these women to rekindle what once was lost.

Now, if Kitty’s life saddened me, Jenny’s tale broke my heart. She is married to Paul and has a son Ace (obviously a nickname!). But while it seems that she has the perfect family, we couldn’t be more wrong…
And this shows us that we can never just trust what we see from the outside. Because the life Jenny is having with Paul, is in my eyes a terrible one. Without telling too much, I loved to see how Jenny is opening up while being in France and sees for herself that her marriage isn’t what is supposed to be. 

Even if Kitty meets the wonderful French builder Leo, this story isn’t focused on that kind of love. But it’s a wonderful, heart – warming tale about two lost sisters, finding each other again (over a few bottles of wine), having each other as a support again.
Because no matter what happened in the past, family is family even after a huge row. And no matter how long it takes, the strong bond between sisters can be redeemed again.

I found this a wonderful, heart – warming tale and each sister has her own strengths but also her own weakness, but that makes them only more human. An inspirational read and reminder that blood is thicker than water…

Did he do it, or not?

Synopsis

Plumber Jessica Lemond is determined not to follow in her parents footsteps by living off her famous grandfather’s fortune. However, when the old timer himself elopes to Scotland with suspicions over the recent death of his much younger third wife hanging over his head and a private detective on his tail, it is left to Jessica to follow and clear up the mess. Happy to escape from her nightmarish lodger Doreen, she heads to the remote Snowflake Lodge with her young trainee Kirsten in tow.

However, Snowflake Lodge – with its oddball staff and very dodgy plumbing – is not how it appears in the brochure. Among the beautiful Scottish scenery, and with more hot chocolate and mince pies than she can possibly handle, can Jessica find something she didn’t even know she was looking for?

My review

Jessica Lemond’s grandfather has accumulated a fortune her parents are all too happy to spend. But Jessica wants to earn her own money, and that’s why she has her own plumbing business.
When her grandfather’s third wife dies, suddenly he is being suspected of killing her. And when he just eloped to Scotland, it’s up to Jessica to follow his tracks to Snowflake Lodge, together with her trainee Kirsten.
Not only does she wants to find out the truth, but she also wants to run away from her own lodger Doreen, who is pushing her to every limit Jessica has.
Little does Jessica know that Snowflake Lodge has its own charm, and odd Christmas traditions. And James, a jack of all trades who also runs reindeer sleigh rides in winter.
Can Jessica find out the truth about her beloved grandfather’s involvement and keep him away from that determined private investigator?
Maybe she will even find what she has been looking for or didn’t know she was looking for… 

Describing this story as a romance, doesn’t sound correct in my ears. Because even if there is some romance in it, it wasn’t the main theme. 

What I loved about Jessica, is that she isn’t the typical girly – woman. She works as a plumber and she loves it! She keeps her knowledge up to date and even knows about the old plumbing systems.
And I admired her that she doesn’t want to rely on the success of her grandfather, but want to make her own money.
She sees how her parents are more concerned about the money, and she doesn’t want to be like them. Even if that would be the easiest solution! 

She has a good heart, maybe even too kind, seeing how despicable Doreen is taking advantage of her kindness.
Doreen, I wouldn’t wish a lodger like her to my worst enemy!
Jessica’s kindness is also visible in how she looks after her trainee Kirsten. She wants to make sure Kirsten is happy working with her.
And Jessica doesn’t assume the worst of someone, even when all the evidence point in her grandfather’s direction. 

Rather early in the story it’s obvious that there will be a lot to laugh about. Seeing Jessica and Kirsten riding to Scotland, Jessica finding her feet in Snowflake Lodge, the most flirtatious grandfather ever, a mystery to reveal and funny staff members… it’s all a recipe for a hilarious reading session! 

I was truly entertained, being on a rollercoaster of events. This story is filled not only with funny bits, but also heart – breaking tales of the past, discoveries I didn’t see coming, all surrounded by a wonderful setting in Scotland, with plenty hot chocolate making me drool and making my own cup just to make myself feel part of the story!

The wedding of your nightmares…

Synopsis

Take one lavish holiday wedding. Add one evil ex and his bridezilla. And toss in a smoking-hot chef from the past. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Victoria Blackwood has spent years trying to redeem herself after falling victim to a blackmail scheme that cost her father thousands. So, when he insists she coordinate a big Christmas wedding at her family’s winery, she can’t say no. Even if the groom is her ex, and the caterer just quit.

For Rafael Sanchez, a last-minute call to cater a huge society wedding is a golden opportunity. If he can prove he’s up to the challenge, his brothers might entrust him with more responsibility in the family catering business. But when he meets Victoria, he can’t believe his eyes. Five years ago, they had a passionate fling that rocked his world. Until she left him with only a fake name to remember her by.

To pull off the perfect wedding, Victoria and Rafael can’t afford to get caught up in the past. But keeping things professional won’t be easy, not when the attraction between them burns hotter than Christmas in July.

My review

Victoria Blackwood is used to coordinate big events at her family’s winery, Blackwood Cellars. But the latest event surely is the most challenging one. First of all, this is a way to redeem herself after a mistake she made n the past, costing her father lots of money. And it’s her father that demands that she organizes everything for this Christmas wedding. Second, the groom is her ex – fiancé, marrying the woman that he got pregnant after cheating on Victoria. And yes, it can get even worse, because the wedding is actual the wedding Victoria had organized for herself. And to make it even more worse, the bride is a real Bridezilla, causing the caterer to quit last minute.
The last option is to hire Tres Hermanos. But of all the things Victoria expected, it wasn’t meeting Rafael Sanchez again, the man she had the most amazing fling with five years ago and to only ghost him afterwards.
Can they keep things professional? Or will that old spark and attraction reignite?  

Having read the previous parts of this trilogy, and absolutely loved them both, I was very curious about Victoria’s story. And who her counterpart would be.
And did I get everything wanted from her tale? Yes!
Could the story have been better? Absolutely not! 

Before I started to get to know Victoria better, I thought she was a woman focused on her career, and a rather stoic woman.
But the more I got to know he better, the more I saw that in fact, yes, she is a determined woman, but she is also a hurt woman, still carrying a burden that is way too heavy for her.
She once made a mistake in her life, and let’s be honest, don’t we all screw up once in a while, but her father won’t let her forget about it.
And the debt she has, won’t allow her to spread her wings and do what she truly wants to do. 

And the meeting with Rafael… pfew…
Of course we all know that some of the passion they once had, would resurface when meeting. But it’s not only that that made me love this book.
Rafael (and the rest of his family) wants that the wedding will be a success, and not only because it would be a huge step forward for their business, but also just because they are such amazing people.

Even if I loved our main characters and their attempt to resist each other, I never despised so many people in a book…
Victoria’s father is hideous, terrible and I admire/ pity his family that have to endure him. His every word is law, and woe to those who dare to contradict him!
And the groom… just YUK!!! I was glad that Victoria ended things with him, because I saw someone so self-centred, obnoxious, horrible man! 

But being surrounded by despicable men, made Victoria find the courage to stand up to them, and take them down a few notches.
And I nearly applauded when Victoria found her strong voice to do so! 

This was a romantic story, I don’t contradict it. But I saw it more as a story about a woman who has endured too much from the men in her life, and decided that it’s time to say ‘enough’. Thanks with the people around, who truly love and care about her, she is able to take the (small) steps to become independent, but also the strong woman she without a doubt is. And doing what someone is good as, but also has the passion for it, and not being used as a puppet for someone’s else whim, is what everyone deserves.
And while on your search for freedom, you can also find love, it’s a double win! 

Again this author managed to surprise me with a wonderful story, lovely characters (and a few nasty ones), filled with strength, determination, love and courage.
I loved ready every bit of this story, part of a magnificent trilogy, but reaching the end saddened me because it means it was the end of a wonderful journey I was able to participle together with the most amazing members of the Blackwood family…

Not only breaking rules, but also hearts

Synopsis

Sofia
One night.
No cuddling.
No sleepovers.
These are the rules I live my love life by. Running a business as a bar owner leaves no time for relationships—or their drama. But when I meet international rock star Brenner Reindhart, he makes me want to break all the rules . . .

Bren
Keeping Industrial November at the top of the best-selling charts for over eight years has taken a toll on me, and I’m ready to slow down.
I’ve been burned by love before, and I’m finally ready to try again. I think Sofia Ocampo might just be the one. Only, she has no plans to ever be in a relationship.
Aware she has no interest in it, I still give her my heart.
I can only hold my breath and hope she won’t break it.

***This high-steam, contemporary rock star romance contains adult content with some taboo elements not suitable for all readers. Read responsibly. All novels in the Industrial November on Tour series can be read in any order.***

My review

Sofia doesn’t do relationships. Her focus is on her bar, and when in time of need, she has her own rules. Namely, just one night, absolutely no cuddling and don’t even think about sleeping over. Thank you, goodbye, NEXT!
But when rockstar Brenner Reindhart enters the picture, everything she ever wanted, is now shifting. Especially now that Bren is looking to slow down after eight years of being at the top of the best – selling charts.
Bren, after having been heartbroken before, is now ready to try again. And he thinks that Sofia may be the perfect woman for her.
But no matter how much they are attracted and how good they are together, with both wanting different things, can this truly work out? Or will hearts be broken?

So, before you even think about reading this story… if you don’t like reading about VERY steamy moments, with very explicit details, don’t start reading it.
Because even I, who has read a few steamy stories, was a little bit shocked about just HOW explicit it would go. But I don’t see that as a problem, so I kept reading.

But even if there are several moments that were getting too hot, and a few taboo elements, this truly was a romance.
Because we have two main characters that make fireworks appear blank compared to the sparks that they make fly around, but are also burnt by/afraid of giving in to love.

I like how strong Sofia was in this story. She knows what she wants and what she doesn’t, and in her case it’s truly what you see is what you get. She speaks her mind, you know immediately what her intentions are. And if you don’t like it, you know where the door is.
She is a passionate woman, not afraid of her own sexuality, and not afraid to try something new.
Her loved ones have her complete devotion, and even if initially it’s not easy to gain her trust, once you have it, you can always count on her.

What I loved about her too, was that she stands her ground, also in bed. For once, it’s a woman using men for her own pleasure and not the other way around. And before you think bad of her, or start sl*t-shaming her, just don’t. Sofia is a woman who knows what she wants and her intentions are clear for the beginning.

And Bren… he is a rock star, but without the typical behaviour of one. He’s already been there, done that. What I liked about him, is that he is not the typical handsome one, but has a rougher look. And while the fans are more attracted to the other members of the band, Sofia sees his own beauty.
He is a rock star, but without the attitude. He wants to give Sofia the world.
And he looks after the other members of the band. His nickname isn’t stolen!
But what he should learn, is listen to what Sofia is truly saying, and not try to persuade her and hope to change her mind…

I was a bit surprised at the pace of the story. Initially it’s a slow pace, a lot happens in a short amount of time. But then suddenly we fast forward and we make a serious and important jump in time. It left me momentarily a bit confused, but it was also necessary for our characters to grow and realize what they have been missing out…

I found this a steamy story, that’s for sure, but also a story about two people finding each other, but also losing each other because of their stubbornness. Being in a relationship means compromising, but doesn’t mean that you have to repudiate your own feelings.

This story was a rollercoaster of emotions, going from hot to cold, filled with doubts, trust issues but also filled with emotional, beautiful lovely moments. Because you know that love is worth of all the risks and pain you endured in the past once you dare to trust and love someone with all your heart. And it’s a recipe for hot make out sessions! 😄