A different choice, a different life

Synopsis

A modern-day retelling of A Christmas Carol…

Caroline is a cynic career woman living the high life in Manhattan where love and relationships are but a distant memory of the past.

But after a freak accident on Christmas Eve, Caroline receives a visit from a cheeky spirit of Christmas Past, Present, Yet to Come, and—most importantly—Christmas That Could Have Been. When she wakes up on Christmas Day suddenly married with three kids and living two doors down from her parents in New Jersey, Caroline has a chance to experience the life she would’ve had if she’d made a different choice.

Will small-town life as a mother and a wife make her rediscover what’s really important in life?

My review

Caroline is the typical cynical career – focused woman. The passion she once had for books has shifted into finding books that would make the most money.
Spending Christmas Eve with her family has become a chore that she wants to tick off as soon as possible.
But this Christmas Eve, Caroline has an accident while leaving her sister’s place and she receives a visit from a Christmas Spirit.
Suddenly Caroline is catapulted into a whole different life, married to her ex – boyfriend, with three kids and living way too close to her parents and sister.
Even if it looks like a total nightmare at first instance, Caroline learns what her life would have looked like if she would have made a different choice in the past. 

I have read several books from this other and each time I loved it! So having the opportunity to read a retelling of a Christmas Carol, with the imagination of Camilla Isley, I knew it would be a hit! 

Caroline was initially very easy not to like. Her focus is purely on money and prestige, she doesn’t treat her employers very kindly and she loathes Christmas.
I understand the desire for someone to have a wonderful career, but I found Caroline very obnoxious.
Of course that’s the whole point of this tale (and the original story), to have a very unpleasant person and make him/her see how different life could be if he/she chose a different path. 

So when she finds herself suddenly not only married, but also with three kids, I found it hilarious! Being surrounded by a bunch of kids, asking for attention and not actually knowing them, that’s asking for trouble for Caroline.
She learns the hard way that children do not always follow the plans you had made, and a disaster is quickly followed by another. 

But she also sees that being loved and being surrounded by that, can make all the disasters disappear.
Not only did I fall in love with the kids myself, but also Sam was the kind of man that could easily steal my heart! 

I found it lovely and also funny to see how Caroline is adapting to the family life. The whole different life shows how much she has changed in her ‘real life’ and it wasn’t a good change. Caroline now sees how a good life could look like, and she herself undergoes a change. She becomes the Caroline she once was again, following her passions and following love, not following just the money. 

I found this a wonderful retelling, with a few changed bits compared to the Dickens’ story, but they only elevated this tale even more. It reminded me also of the movie with Nicholas Cage (while he still made the better kind ones).
Camila Isley stayed true to the original concept of A Chistmas Carol, adding her own signature and making it up to date to 2021.

This story was exactly what everyone needs to read on a day where you do not want to do more than just sit comfortably under a blanker with a hot cocoa! And it made me wonder in what kind of different life I would end up after the visit of my own Christmas Spirit!

Giveaway time!

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When your biological clock keeps on ticking…

Synopsis

She can’t hit the snooze on her biological clock forever…

Love, career, kids—Brooklyn Monroe wants it all. Her beauty company? A triumph. Her love life? Total fail. At 42, that makes motherhood her top priority. With no man in her life, she’s prepared to fly solo, but her plan is derailed when a mailing list mishap turns Brooklyn into a someone-get-me-pregnant internet meme. Making her PR nightmare go away entails a soul-baring interview on national TV. And the guy asking the questions? Her all-too sexy ex.

Talk show host Alec Trakas is the king of bad timing. Case in point, his heartbreaking romance with Brooklyn. Alec was all about commitment but Brooklyn was launching her start-up, and forever wasn’t in the cards. Now a shot at his ultimate dream job depends on convincing Brooklyn to spill the secrets leading to her viral celebrity. It sets Alec’s star rising, but puts Brooklyn in a sea of flirty men. Fate has thrown them back together. Sparks are flying. But is the timing finally right? Because having it all might not be worth the risk of losing each other again.

My review

Brooklyn Monroe and her sister Virginia have made a real success of their beauty company. But at 42, Brooklyn realizes that if she wants a child, it has to be now or never… easier said than done, as her love life is non – existing…
So when a joke goes viral and Brooklyn becomes a someone-get-me-pregnant internet meme, the only way to make this nightmare disappear, is having an honest interview on national TV. And of course it’s her ex Alec Trakas that will ask the questions… talking about awkward!!!
Alec meanwhile is ready for his career to take another turn. And what better way than a heartfelt interview with a woman who has gone viral overnight?
Sparks keep on flying between Brooklyn and Alec, but as once it was Brooklyn focused on her career and Alec on making a family, the cards are all turned now. And Brooklyn being pursued by many man wanting to get her pregnant.
Will second time be a charm for them? Or will bad timing be again the spoilsport of something that could be perfect? 

Even before I started reading this book, I cold understand Brooklyn desire to become a mom. And as she is still single, I could completely support her decision to get some help from a certain bank to get pregnant.
The decision that Brooklyn made some time ago, to focus on her career, was also something recognizable. But unfortunately for her, that meant breaking up with Alec and having currently a biological clock ticking too loudly! 

I found it hilarious to read how a joke could go so viral, and how suddenly Brooklyn becomes (in)famous. Even if in the story, there are people making fun of her, it also shows us the other side. Many women are in the same position, having chosen for their career and now for them it’s almost too late.

The reconnection between Brooklyn and Alec was something just indescribable… Isn’t that we often think we are over someone (even if that person broke our heart) and then we see them again and all those feelings just resurface? And even if you are both in a different place in life, you want to do anything for the other one, just to help out.
It’s just that thinking that made me love Alec even more!
Even if Brooklyn broke his heart, he sees what she is going through now. And even if he isn’t in that place to give her what she wants, he helps her out in her time of need. Even if that means to pretend to be more than just friends!

The attraction between Brooklyn and Alec is just so obvious for anyone, even for themselves. And even if they know what the other wants and the best thing would be to just stay away, the heart wants what it want! 

I truly enjoyed reading this story. It is not only about just second chances, but also about how priorities can shift. It is a realistic tale with funny bits about how women sometimes are struggling with finding the perfect balance between family and a successful career.
The author grasped perfectly the struggles Brooklyn is going through, but she also managed in a wonderful way to show us the power of love and reconnections.

This book was the first one I’ve read from this author and it made me now curious to read more from her!

When past and present collide and forgiveness stands in the way

Synopsis

Christmas. A time for family, friends – and rekindling old flames…

When Laurel returns to the village of Middledip, she’s looking for a quiet life. Adjusting to her recent divorce, she’s ready to spend some time getting back on her feet amidst the glorious snow-dusted countryside.

Yet, life in Middledip is far from straightforward. Coming to the aid of her sister, Rea, as she navigates her own troubles, Laurel barely has a moment to think about where her own life is going.

However, time stands still when she sees her old flame, Grady Cassidy – and it’s soon as if they’ve never been apart. But through her happiness, Laurel remembers why she left the village all those years ago, as she recalls a dark night and Grady’s once-wayward brother, Mac…

Can Laurel learn to forgive and forget? Or will her chances of Christmas under the mistletoe with Grady remain a dream?

An enchanting, festive read, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Carole Matthews.

My review

After divorcing her husband, Laurel decides to return home. Home being the village of Middledip. Not only is she looking for a quiet life but her sister Rea needs her help more than ever.
Slowly adjusting to the country life and focusing on her paintings, Laurel is in shock when she sees Grady Cassidy again. Not only is Grady an old flame, but he is Mac’s brother. And let it be that Mac was involved in making Laurel leave head over heels Middledip so many years ago.
However, when things with Grady are going for the better, the past is still holding Laurel back.
Will she be able to forgive the persons that hurt her so may years ago? Or are some things just unforgivable? 

I always feel a bit sad when a story starts with a couple breaking up. It’s a pity that for a while they were a perfect team and suddenly they aren’t anymore.
And when we get to know the specific reasons why it didn’t work out between Laurel and Alex, well, my heart just broke a little bit… 

But not only her tale broke my heart… there is Rea with her phobia, Laurel’s niece Daisy having a hard time at school, but also Grady is having some difficulties. However, there are also many lovely moments in it, so do not think you will get depressed while reading!

It’s clear from the beginning that Laurel has been traumatized by something in her past, but she doesn’t hesitate when Rea needs help. Laurel doesn’t only come back because her sense of guilt or duty, but because she truly wants to rekindle their bond.
And seeing how Laurel understands Rea’s struggle and tries to help her, without pushing Rea too hard, was very sweet. It shows us that Laurel is this kind loving woman that would do everything to protect her loved ones.
And also when Daisy finally opens up concerning her problems, Laurel won’t allow anyone to hurt her little niece!

And then Grady enters the story…
Years ago he was head over heels in love with Laurel, but when she suddenly disappeared, he was devastated. Even now, her return doesn’t leave him unharmed!
When he and Laurel not only start talking to each other, but when it’s revealed they have faced the same issues not so long ago, my heart went out to these lovely characters! 

I was curious to know what happened to Laurel in the past, and how Mac was involved. I even feared a bit for the event to be even more terrible than what happened, but I understood Laurel now a lot better and somehow I understood her reasons for not wanting to forgive. 

This is not only a story about second chances at love, but also about second chances at life. The author managed to grasp the pain the characters are feeling but she also managed to show that pain can hold us back. Whatever happened in the past cannot/ should not be forgotten, but forgiveness isn’t only about making the counterparty feel better, but it will allow you to open your heart and go full ahead for the wonderful things that love can bring.

Synopsis

Dear Santa,

I wish I could believe in magic again.

From, Sasha.

Sasha Hansley hates Christmas. As a child, it was her favourite time of year, but ever since the tragic death of her mother, it has completely lost its magic.

But when she gets an unexpected phone call from her eccentric estranged father, she’s forced to dust off her snow boots.

He has been running a Lapland-style Christmas village in Norway and after suffering a heart attack, he is on strict doctor’s orders to slow down. Eager to reconnect with her dad, Sasha books the next flight out there. Only she has never actually been on a plane before, let alone to the Arctic Circle.

Met at the runway by drop-dead-gorgeous Taavi Salvesen, they sleigh ride through the snow with the Northern Lights guiding their way.

When Sasha uncovers sacks of unopened Santa mail – letters that children and adults from all over the world write to Santa every year – she realises that she can send a little bit of magic out into the world by replying to some of them.

With Taavi on hand to help, will Sasha rediscover her own excitement for Christmas and find love among the letters?

The Post Box at the North Pole is like one big romantic mug of hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and a splash of Christmas magic! Fans of Holly Martin, Sarah Morgan and Heidi Swain will love this novel!

My review

Christmas Magic, that doesn’t truly exist, right?

Everyone loves Christmas, but Sasha Hansley is the exception. She used to loved it, but that love died together with the tragic death of her mother.
Her estranged father is the adventurous type, going from one place to another, doing even dangerous things, while Sasha has never been on a plane.
But her father suffered a heart attack and needs to slow down. So Sasha packs up and flies over to the Arctic Circle, all the way to Norway.
Not only is Sasha surprised  when at the airport it’s not her father waiting for her, but Taavi Salvesen with a sleigh.
But she is also surprised when her father appears to be running a Lapland style Christmas village, a failing one…
While her father and Taavi embrace the whole Christmas Spirit, Sasha struggles with it. Until she starts reading letters children over the whole world wrote t Santa. With the help of Tav, will she start to rediscover her love for Christmas again?

I’m a sucker for Christmas stories, and this one surely stole my heart!

Sasha initially is a woman I pitied… she had a job, working with dogs only because her friend gave her it. and when someone else is in the picture, she is being discarded.
She has no contact with her father, only the strict necessary. I found it a rather sad picture, because I saw how lonely Sasha was, even if she deserved so much more.
When her father calls, after suffering a heart attack, her kind character emerges. Because even if the contact is a strained one, and she has never been on a plane before, she doesn’t hesitate to help out her father.

I understand the passion someone can have for Christmas, but Sasha’s father went totally next level. Of course, running a Christmas Village has to be done by someone truly into it. but I have to admit, I felt Sasha’s frustrations when her father just refused to take things slowly and kept on Ho Ho Ho – ing!
However, further along in the story, his pain is also very clear and I felt how the past and the guilt kept hurting him.
I was happy that he had the help in the form of Tav…

Oh Tav… if only fictional characters could be real. He is just how I would imagine the perfect Norwegian Alpha Man!
But he is even better than the typical Alpha Man! He also has been hurt (even literally), giving him that vulnerability that made me swoon. But for him, the Christmas Spirit and Magic is something real, and he wants to show Sasha the Norwegian way to celebrate Christmas.
He has trust issues, but with Sasha this big man starts to melt and he becomes even more perfect than before!

All characters have their own issues. Sasha having no real purpose and being alone, Tav with trust issues and just avoiding people as much as possible, and Sasha’s father and his guilt and trying to make amends with Sasha…
Having such characters elevates this story to a higher level. Because they all are processing their issues, and it’s not just a ‘silly’ problem, but heart – breaking ones…

I am not a fan of the cold, or the snow (I can enjoy it from the inside of my home although!) but when Sasha lands in Norway, and the scene she sees before her, it’s just magical, making me want to see it for myself!
The sleigh, the reindeers (I absolutely adore Rudolph Number Three!), the whole Christmas Village, the Northern Lights, for me, it was all magical!

On a funnier note, I loved reading those small snippets of letters that children wrote to Santa. Some were typical, asking for material stuff or the newest games, but those who made me melt were those unselfish ones… I am always amazed how perceptive children can be, and how altruistic. And Sasha also realizes this and it was sweet to see how she wanted to do the extra effort for those kind of letters!

Despite the cold, this was a real heart – warming story, showing characters that learn to trust, love and open up again.
The setting is magical, the characters loveable, and all doing their utterly best to make things works. Life is not always a straight path we follow, but we have hurdles we have to jump over. But those hurdles allow us to understand what truly matters and that a hurdle isn’t always the scariest thing.
I fell in love with all the characters, the location, the reindeers and the passion that emerges from everyone having a spot in this wonderful, magical tale!

Everyone loves Christmas, don’t they?

Synopsis

‘Tis the season for mulled wine, mince pies, and magic under the mistletoe…

Flora loves Christmas more than anything else in the world, so she’s gutted when her Scrooge-alike boss fires her from Deck the Halls Christmas emporium. But now she finally has a chance to follow her dreams – and what better place to start than the home of Christmas?

Before she can say ‘sleigh bells’, Flora’s on her way to Lapland in a campervan-cum-Christmas-shop. She can’t wait to spend her days drinking hot chocolate and taking reindeer-drawn carriage rides, but something Flora didn’t expect was meeting Connor, a Norse god of a man who makes her heart flutter and snowflakes swirl in her stomach. There’s just one problem: Connor hates Christmas.

Can Flora convince Connor of the joys of Christmas – and will she find a festive romance along the way?

My review

If Flora could celebrate one holiday all days of the year, it would surely be Christmas. So even if her boss is more like The Grinch, she loves working for Deck The Halls Christmas Emporium. But when she gets fired, Flora has the opportunity to follow her dreams.
So now Flora is on her way to Lapland and has a campervan/ Christmas sop – on – wheels.
Lapland is just what she needed, but meeting Connor surely isn’t. Their first meeting was already one filled with misunderstandings, but now he appears to be in charge of the markets where Flora is staying.
And to make things even worse, he absolutely hates Christmas! Flora suddenly has a new mission: convince Connor that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!

I love the time around Christmas, but to say I go all the way in preparations and celebrating is also an exaggeration.
From the beginning of December I start singing that certain song about what I want for Christmas and when it’s snowing I surely enjoy the magical atmosphere, from the inside although!
Hot chocolates and beautiful lights surely can lift my spirits, but that’s in for me. So somehow I understood Flora’s love for the holiday, but I wouldn’t ever think to go to Lapland!

But I loved Flora’s enthusiasm at being able to do something she dreamed about! Of course, if everything would go smoothly from the beginning until the end, I wouldn’t enjoy this story so much!
Not only does Flora has to search for a new camper, but her first encounter with Connor isn’t the happiest encounter of encounters!
I nearly laughed my pants of reading how absurdly suspicious they both were!
But I also found it funny to see how they pretended to have that same mistrust afterwards.

Seeing how Flora is struggling to adapt in Lapland, and sometimes failing, was very entertaining to read. But also seeing how she is able to make new friends in a new environment was sweet. 
Obviously she doesn’t get along with everyone, Connor included initially, but I loved seeing how she won’t accept being bullied!

But what truly warmed my heart was seeing how Flora tries to show Connor the real spirit of Christmas. Some of Connor’s points were right, and his reluctance understandable, but then there were moments where Connor shows how kind and caring and also how funny (even if not on purpose) he can be.

A Christmas story without any romance wouldn’t be complete, so of course there are some romantic bits.
But those feelings weren’t the main characters. For me it was about starting over, following your passion, and feelings what Christmas is truly about.
Kindness and spreading joy is important during these holidays, but not only during this period, but everyone should show these emotions every day!

This was a lovely story, about a lovely character with her heart at the right place. Sometimes all it takes is courage to follow your dreams. You cannot know for sure where it will take you, but it will certainly be an adventure.
And just because you don’t believe in certain aspects of the Christmas period, doesn’t it mean you’re a Grinch. But it’s a matter to find the things that you do enjoy and open your heart and mind about it. And with the right nudge in your back, you’ll never know what will happen next!

After finishing this book, I was completely in the Christmas mood, trying to name all the reindeers of Santa, seeing if it would be too early to set up my tree (unfortunately the tree is still not set…) and drinking hot chocolate with a big smile on my face!

The wedding of your dreams, or not…

Synopsis

Wedding excitement is in the air! With their big day approaching, Fen has her heart set on a gorgeous, intimate celebration with not much fuss at all. But strong-minded mother-of-the-bride Marjery seems to have considerably grander plans. There’s also the small problem of a missing best man, and when Fen tasks Hudson Holmes and Ruby Watkiss with the job of tracking him down, their investigations unearth far more secrets than they bargained for. Will the Big Day go ahead in the light of such dramatic revelations? Can a wedding cake wish save the day? One thing’s for sure – this will definitely be a wedding to remember!

My review

Ruby Watkiss and Hudson Holmes are joining forces again when Fen needs help after her fiancé’s best man is missing.

But the missing best man is not Fen’s only problem… while she dreams of an intimate wedding, her mother Marjery is taking over and is changing the wedding into Fen’s worst nightmare. And then the love of her life Rob is going cold on her…

But why is Rory gone missing? The more Ruby and Hudson investigate, more is being revealed.

Can the wedding still be saved after everything? And when Myles’ ex – girlfriend Amelia appears on the scene, where will that leave the blooming romance between Ruby and Hudson?

I’m a rather new fan of the Little Duck Pond Café series. But even if I only jumped in late, I could not not love it!

Even if I don’t know how some love stories were born, all the couples are just so adorable. And that surely is also applicable for Fen and Rob!Every couple should have the wedding they dream of, and I found it cute to see how these two were so aligned.

But with an interfering mother, and Fen finding it hard to stand her ground, I could see how that would put a strain on the otherwise perfect couple. And when the best man also goes AWOL…

I have to admit, I just loooooove Ruby and Hudson! Despite what they have been through in the past, they now have found each other (unfortunately for us readers only as friends…) and they are not only great at investigating, but they also help each other in their more difficult moments. There are so many sparks flying around, it’s just too much for my poor heart!

When Amelia enters the picture, my heart broke for Ruby… Of course I understood Hudson, having that link with his lost brother, but seeing how Amelia is claiming more and more of Hudson…

There is so much I can tell about this story, pinpointing all the things that made me love it. But that would mean giving a few spoilers and I just won’t do that. This is a story you have to completely discover and fall in love with yourself.

Two things truly stood out for me, while reading this next chapter… wonderful people are always the one struggling in realising just how amazing they are. This is both applicable for Ruby as for Fen. These women are women to be jealous of. They have kind hearts, are unselfish and just magnificent by being ‘just them’. So why cannot they see what is so obvious for evryone around them?

And a more negative thing that stood out… some people are just disgustingly nasty people… Instead of just being nice, they enjoy hurting people just for fun or for inexplicable reasons. I cannot grasp why people would do what some characters did in this story. But do not fear… karma is a b*tch!

I’m stating the obvious when I say this was a wonderful read, with many mysteries, a lovely yet not always very smart in their investigations, couple with so much potential.

For a lot of readers it’s a lovely encounter with old friends, and for a few meeting new lovely characters.

How things ended in this second chapter surely left me longing for the next part, with the conclusion having not only my fingers crossed, but all parts that are ‘crossable’.

I loved this mix of romance and mystery, it left me a few times surprised as some twists I absolutely didn’t see coming. But the romance parts truly did warm my heart and I was again amazed by the wonderful writing of this author!

It ain’t over till it’s over…

Synopsis

Do you love someone enough to let them go?

It was love at first sight when talented art student Felicity “Flick” Johnston-Hart and Jim MacDuff’s worlds collided at Oxford University.

However, after years of blissful marriage, everything crashes down when their marriage comes to a painful and abrupt end, thanks to Flick’s interfering mother Penelope.

Finally succumbing to maternal pressure, Flick falls into the high-flying career her mother believed she was destined for. However, she soon realises life without Jim isn’t all she’d hoped, and that some decisions, once made, cannot be undone.

Meanwhile, Jim is settling back into life as a single man in the beautiful Highland village of Shieldaig, when an unexpected visitor brings painful news. A letter from beyond the grave leads him to do something he never imagined and takes him on a journey he didn’t anticipate.

Can either of them heal and truly move on?

Or is it true that a broken heart can never be a blank canvas?

This book was previously published as Through the Glass.

My review

It all started at Oxford University, when Felicity ‘Flick’ and Jim met. It was love at first sight and their love even resulted in a marriage.
However, Flick’s mother Penelope always wanted Felicity to aim for higher and more. And Jim wasn’t the kind of husband she wants for her daughter.
And after a lot of interfering, Flick believes her mother and decide to divorce Jim…
But her high – flying career and a life without Jim isn’t what she truly dreamed of.
Meanwhile has Jim settled in a wonderful Highland village, Shieldaig, with his dog Jasper. He couldn’t be more surprised when Flick is standing at his door, and his surprise changes into pain when she delivers him some terrible news…
And when Flick is forced to stay at his place because of the weather, is this a chance to finally mend both broken hearts? Or has happened too much for the both of them to move on?

It’s known by you all how much I love romantic stories. And stories of a second chances have a special place in my heart, because I just love how people once thought they had enough, realize that what they had, was what their hearts truly needed…

In this story, I found it difficult to like Flick… she had it all, and yet “thanks” to the interference of her mother, she decides that the man she loves suddenly isn’t good enough anymore.
I truly struggled how an adult woman can be pushed by ‘mother knows best’ and throw away her own dreams and the best thing she ever had…
I understand how someone wants to have a successful career, but seeing how Flick has completely changed, was not something I can comprehend.
And that especially when we see how Flick was while studying at the university.
That version of Flick was so easy to like!

And seeing how Flick and Jim met and how their love grew, well, that made me swoon all over the place!
I adored those Flick and Jim and seeing their love bloom… words cannot suffice!

Jim at university isn’t much different from present Jim. He is the kind of man that would prefer to do something that he loves, even if it wouldn’t be a great choice career – like.
I loved reading his laidback attitude, he won’t do something he doesn’t want just because someone else wants him to do.
But also his unselfishness behaviour… he loves Flick with all his heart, but he lets her go because that’s what she wants (at least she thinks she does…)

When after a few years Flick searches for Jim again, with some devastating news, and is forced to stay at his place, I was happy to see the old Flick again. And a little bit I was gloating, because I wanted that Flick saw just how amazing Jim just is!

Thanks to misunderstandings, Flick moves to Chicago and then the story turns into something darker, and absolutely not something I expected!
I won’t give anything away because I want each reader to discover the twist themselves and to be flabbergasted!
But this event is also an eye – opener and a way for Jim to fight for Flick.

This isn’t the kind of second chance – story that you have read before. It goes much deeper, is even more hurtful than other books.
But that is also the charm of the book. The author managed perfectly to capture the different stages in a marriage/love story, showing the beautiful but also the uglier bits.
Being in love sometimes isn’t enough, and interference of the wrong kind can pull you in a way you normally never would.

This was for me a ‘complete’ story, having the feelings of that first wonderful love, a painful divorce and broken people trying to cope with the rest of the world again.
Even the harder bits got me totally enthralled. It wasn’t only the sweet parts making me want to read more, but every event made me think to read just one more chapter, resulting in reading several ones…

Lisa Hobman is not an unknown author for me, but I have to say, that of all the books I have read from her, this may just be my favourite one!

So dear Lisa (getting all familiar here!), the stakes are high, and don’t you go disappointing me now with books I won’t like as much as this one!

Christmas magic and chocolate, the most perfect combo EVER!!!

Synopsis

Sometimes you just need a little Christmas magic to make your wishes come true…

When master chocolatier, Charlee, takes the leap to move to the picturesque seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, she is determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and set up a chocolate shop.

Luckily, she finds the perfect location for Charlee’s Chocolates on beautiful Castle Street… Now she just has to refurbish it in time for Christmas!

With a useless boyfriend and countless DIY disasters, Charlee doesn’t know if she’ll make it in time. With no ‘traditional’ family to support her, she feels lost in her new surroundings and the secrets of the past are weighing her down.

But the warmth and festive spirit of the Whitsborough Bay community will surprise her, and when plumber, Matt, comes to the rescue, it might be that all of Charlee’s dreams could come true this Christmas, and she could learn what family really means…

Escape to Castle Street for the perfect uplifting, festive read from top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland.

Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop was originally released as Charlee and the Chocolate Shop. Now re-released with a new title and new cover, this version has been freshly edited and features several new chapters.

My review

After losing her Nana, master chocolatier Charlee decides to move with her boyfriend Ricky to Whitborough Bay. Even if she moved away, she is determined to step into her grandfather’s footsteps and open a chocolate shop.
In Castle Street she finds the perfect location for Charlee’s Chocolates and now she is having a fight against time to have everything ready before Christmas.
Instead of working together with Ricky on the place, Charlee is working there alone, with many disasters. Luckily, she can count on the Whitborough Bay community with helping hands, and especially plumber Matt’s help is very welcome.
And Matt being kind and very attractive surely is an extra nice surprise. Unfortunately Matt is engaged and totally off limits…
But moving to Whitborough Bay means a new start for Charlee anyway, where she will learn what love and family truly means.

The preparations I made before I started reading this book:

·         MANY tissues: CHECK

·         Comfort food, aka lots of chocolate: CHECK

·         Soft pillow to hug when it’s getting too much: CHECK

Now, before Belgium goes again in a total panic attack like it did with the toilet paper during the pandemic, for once I didn’t need the tissues!
And before you think that tissues are mandatory to make me fall totally in love with a Jessica Redland book, it’s not!

I absolutely loved returning to Whitborough Bay and I just adored Charlee’s story!

Even if Charlee is heartbroken after her Nana died, she seems to have it all. even if at work she has to face her nemesis, working with chocolate is her passion and she has found the perfect boyfriend in Ricky.
And if moving is the solution for all yours and your boyfriends problems, wouldn’t you just do the same?

My heart broke to see how Ricky, instead of being a more active presence, became more and more invisible, and even became someone I truly didn’t like (and that’s even before the real nastiness was revealed!) while Charlee was trying to so hard to do her best to make things work.

Charlee is the kind of person I want to be or at least have in my life myself. Yes, her mother abandoned her as a baby with her grandparents, but she has been truly loved by them. But she is a great friend to have around and seeing her work her magic surely made me like her even more!
Even in Castle Street, with the amazing community, she quickly makes new friends and is making sure that she doesn’t step on anyone’s toes.

And Matt… amazing wonderful sweet kind generous funny Matt… he’s absolutely the kind of man I would fall in love myself! If Jessica has the mould for him somewhere stored, can I please borrow it???

This story was wonderful, just as I expected it to be. I have to say, I was a bit surprised when suddenly we jumped a year ahead, because I felt there was so much more I wanted to discover in that year we don’t know that much about.
But I found it sweet and nice to see how eventually, not that much has changed for Charlee. She is still happy with her Chocolate Shop, she is loved by the whole community and her feelings for Matt not only are still there, but now we have proof that’s is actually the real thing!

Even if in the ending things went a teeny bit too fast for my liking (I cannot say what exactly without giving any spoilers) but on the other hand, it shows us the genuinity of it and how right it all is.

There are several shocks in this story, a few bad ones, but most are very surprising and good ones. I had several negative opinions about characters in the book. And some remained the same, but I had to seriously adjust a greater part of them. It’s always easy to judge someone when you don’t know the whole story, but seeing the truth made me see how wrong I was. And those who I judges wrongly were easily accepted in my poor heart, that is just too small for all the amazing characters this author manages to make up!

I devoured this whole book, being in a constant dilemma… stop reading after the finished chapter, prolonging the joy I had over several days, or read just that one (or two, three, four, five,…) more chapters because I wanted to spend more time with these wonderful people?

I honestly don’t know how Jessica Redland manages to keep on writing such marvellous books. I always have this small fear that the book I’m going to start will be little less better than the previous one. But then my fears are unfounded, because it’s again a marvellous story, with marvellous yet normal people!

The past isn’t always ‘just’ in the past…

Synopsis

A child who does not know her name…

In 1903 fishermen find a wrecked boat containing a woman, who has been badly beaten, and a young girl. An ambulance is sent for, and the two survivors are taken to All Hallows, the imposing asylum, hidden deep on Dartmoor. The woman remains in a coma, but the little girl, Harriet, awakens and is taken to an attic room, far away from the noise of the asylum, and is put in the care of Nurse Emma Everdeen.

Two motherless boys banished to boarding school…

In 1993, All Hallows is now a boarding school. Following his mother’s death and his father’s hasty remarriage, Lewis Tyler is banished to Dartmoor, stripped of his fashionable clothes, shorn of his long hair, and left feeling more alone than ever. There he meets Isak, another lost soul, and whilst refurbishment of the dormitories is taking place, the boys are marooned up in the attic, in an old wing of the school. 

Cries and calls from the past that can no longer be ignored…

All Hallows is a building full of memories, whispers, cries from the past. As Lewis and Isak learn more about the fate of Harriet, and Nurse Emma’s desperate fight to keep the little girl safe, it soon becomes clear there are ghosts who are still restless. 

Are they ghosts the boys hear at night in the room above, are they the unquiet souls from the asylum still caught between the walls? And can Lewis and Isak bring peace to All Hallows before the past breaks them first…

My review

In 1903 two survivors of a wrecked boat are taken to asylum All Hallows in Dartmoor. The woman is in a coma and a young girl named Harriet is taken to an attic room where Nurse Emma Everdeen will take care of her.
Nothing is known about the victims, so all hope is on the woman to wake up and tell everyone what happened.
In 1993, All allows has been transformed into a boarding school, and Lewis Tyler is banished there after the death of his mother and his father’s remarriage. Feeling all alone and have the sense that nobody understands him, he befriends Isak, the boy he shares his room in the attic with.
And it’s in that room that the boys quickly discover that the ghosts from the past are still around. Lewis and Isak start to learn more about the past of All Hallows and the tale of Nurse Emma and Harriet.
Whose ghosts are still lingering around? And will the boys be able, after so much time has passed, to bring peace to them? 

I am not one of those readers that enjoy a ghost story. If I read such stories, it’s 99.99% sure that the story will keep me up all night, afraid of every little sound I hear, even if I know there is a logical explanation for whatever I heard…
So why would I read this story? Easy, because it’s not just a ghost story, and the blurb intrigued me! 

This book has two stories, both gripping, heart – breaking and I cannot say which one was my favourite! 

Lewis’ tale was a terrible one. Him begin a goth, not understood by his father, a mother who just got him passed away, and a new stepmother being the perfect example of why people don’t like stepparents…
My heart just broke for him and that was even before he was sent to All Hallows…
And that boarding school, what a terrible place!
However, I found it somehow sweet to see how he befriends Isak, a boy also with not a great reputation. But two hurt boys finding each other in the most difficult time of their life, well that was heart – warming to read!

The sounds they hear while in the attic, were terrifying not only the boys, but also me. And me being a scaredy – cat at the age of 35, made me surely understand how scared those boys were!
Yet Lewis is determined to find out what happened in the past and I loved seeing that determination seeing somehow him being alive again. And that’s how he learns about Nurse Emma and little Harriet….

Nurse Emma initially is a cold person, and I couldn’t comprehend how a nurse could be so distant. Because doesn’t everyone imagine a nurse being warm and kind and caring? So what happened to Emma to be like this?
And why can’t she be kind and tender towards poor little Harriet?
But when her past is revealed, a lot makes sense, and we can even see how Emma melts while taking care of Harriet. Even at the point she would protect the child with every strength she has!

The more I got into the story, the more a terrible foreboding I was having… I couldn’t see how it was possible that Nurse Emma did what Lewis discovered, because just how could she? I was hoping with every little bit in my body that there would be some kind of redemption, but how could it, with the past being exactly that, the past? 

The author wrote a ghostly story, without making it too ghostly. I liked how the bits that would terrify me in any other book, made me just want to read more.
Some things are inexplicable but in a gothic novel that’s to be expected. I had many chills, but I also had moments that shows that nothing is impossible and even if the past is haunting you, you can make the impossible become possible. 

I found it difficult to put this book away, because I had to urge to know what would happen not only wit Lewis, but Nurse Emma who I started to like, little Harriet that was quickly in stealing my heart, and Isak, a wounded boy feeling not loved by his father.  

If all ghost stories would be like this, I surely would be reading more from this genre!

Real friendships can stand the test of time…

Synopsis

Ella and Roly have bright futures ahead of them when they meet as teenagers and strike up an unlikely friendship. She has her career in academia all mapped out, and his star is in the ascendant as member of a manufactured boy band.

But ten years later, neither is where they expected to be. A chronic illness forced Ella to abandon her studies and put her dreams on hold, while Roly got kicked out of the band and lost everything – all his money, his career in music, even the underwear-model girlfriend. 

When they cross paths again they’re both ready to start over, and they rekindle their friendship as they each try to get back what they lost.

But Ella didn’t tell Roly what really happened the last time they met. And if he finds out, will it be the end of their new beginning?

My review

When Ella and Roly become friends as teenagers, their paths couldn’t be more different. Ella is ready to start her years in academy, while Roly is member of a boy band ready to conquer the world.
Even if the contact isn’t always that close, ten years later they are still friends. However, their lives took a whole different direction… Ella has struggled with a chronic illness, putting her whole life and all her dreams on hold, while Roly got kicked out of the band and lost everything when his addiction became public knowledge…
Together they decide to start over again, and they try to win back what they once lost. And their friendship becomes a solid one. But Ella carries a secret, a secret that would devastate Roly and put their whole friendship at risk… 

I have read one previous book from this author, and as I truly enjoyed it (and had a few shocks there!), I was very curious to read this new book.

Even if Ella and Roly took a whole different direction in their lives, I absolutely loved reading how in several moments they find each other again and how easy their friendship is, even when some time has passed since their previous meeting.

Seeing how Ella is trying to live again after facing her illness, made me feel very proud of her. I do not know a lot of this chronic disease, so I cannot understand how difficult it is for Ella, but her courage and determination to get out there again, I cannot say more than just ‘bravo’!
I had a blast during her job interview, and even if the job was not something younger Ella would imagine doing, I could see how perfect it would be for present Ella.
Slowly Ella is not only getting back out there, but she also starts to enjoy the things she (sometimes under a gentle obligation) is doing.

Roly’s backstory is a bitter one… Being a member of a boy band is a dream for so many us ‘normal’ people, and seeing Roly accomplish that, well, I would be jealous of having such an amazing career. However, it’s easy to see only the glitter and glamour. But there is also a dark path, and unfortunately that’s the path Roly chose…   
And seeing how his life has been and still is falling apart, broke my heart, especially when those who should look after him, obviously didn’t. 

Luckily for them, and for us readers, Ella and Roly decide to ‘reboot’ their lives together. I found it utterly sweet to see how these friends manage to help each other and slowly are getting closer to each other.
This is for me proof, that no matter how much you screwed up in the past, you can still take the right path and make something meaningful of your life. 

I loved how sometimes we have flashbacks, and we can see how Ella and Roly are meeting up again during several years. And it doesn’t show us only the best parts, but also the worst parts… And even if this is a fictional story, that made it more realistic. Because life isn’t always great and wonderful…  

When Ella’s secret is out, I didn’t find it a massive shock. But that’s because I thought the secret would be on a complete different level so I was a bit erassuered when it was something totally different. But I also understood Roly was. Because the secret made a lot of things clear, but it also jeopardizes the relationship between our beloved main characters.  

But this isn’t absolutely a depressing story! I had so many laughs while reading, and I absolutely loved Ella’s workplace and her bosses and colleagues. Roly’s mother and grandmother are absolute darlings who you wish could have in your life too.

I found this a wonderful read, about the setbacks of life, but also about the possibilities and second chances that life gives. And I found it a real important message that just because your life takes a different direction, it doesn’t mean it’s a ‘lesser’ life. Growing up, maturing and taking another path, makes you realize what truly matters to you, and sometimes it’s not the thing you always dreamed about.