How to choose between love and family?

Synopsis

An impossible choice:

His family or love

As steward to the Earl of Borwyn, Erik Ward had only admired sheltered noblewoman Linota Leofricfrom afar – until he has to escort her on a dangerous journey. When she’s kidnapped, he rescues the courageous beauty, revelling in finally having her in his arms. But Erik has a secret plan to reunite his family – now he’s forced to choose between that and his growing feelings for Linota…

My review

Linota Leofric has always been sheltered from everything by her mother. That all changed thanks to her brother. She starts to enjoy the funs of the world and learns all the things she has been missing out.
Little does she know that she has a secret admirer, Erik Ward. However, being born into different worlds, Erik knows he can only admire Linota from afar.
When Linota is being kidnapped for monetary reasons, Erik is ready to do whatever he can to save her. But an impossible choice is thrown at him: save Linota or betray her brother in the worst way but finally be able to find his missing sister.

This was a story I was absolutely looking forward to read, as we got a small glimpse of Erik and Linota in the previous book of this series.
I sensed immediately that there was so much more to their story! And did this story fulfil my expectations? You’ll find out reading below! 😃

Even if Linota is relatively young, she had a difficult childhood. Not only was her father accused of being a traitor, but she also saw him being hanged. And when her mother went a bit crazy and locked up Linota and her sister, well, I truly pitied the sisters even more.
So when Linota is at her brother’s wedding, I enjoyed reading how much fun she was having over sometimes the simplest things!
Her being young and a bit otherworldly, doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel any attraction towards the mysterious Erik Ward.

Erik Ward is this typical silent, mysterious man. but whenever he is nearby Linota, all he wants is to make her smile. And it’s just that aspect that made my heart melt too!
And the fact that he is constantly trying to find his beloved sister, shows how caring he truly is. He made his sister a promise, and he will do whatever he can to keep it.
So when keeping his promise means he has to make an impossible choice, it was just heart-breaking…

Whenever Linota and Erik are together, sparks just fly around. Their attraction is just so obvious, even if they know their love would be an impossible one. Both care very much about their families and will do whatever they can to make them happy, even if that means put their own happiness aside. Yet hiding their feelings makes it impossible for the other person to know how deep the feelings are and often Linota finds herself wondering if the love is only a one – way direction or not… 

I loved reading this story because it gave me the answers of questions I had after reading the previous book. And it confirmed my feeling that Erik wasn’t such a malicious man as we thought. There is always more to a person than we think and whenever someone acts out of character, we have to wonder what the real motivations are.

I found this a beautiful story, about a young woman and a man with a mission, trying to do the right thing by not giving in to their attraction. But sometimes just admitting the feelings you have can be the right thing. I loved reading about all the Leofric siblings and this story was the perfect ending for all of them!

When you are forced to face your past…

Synopsis

Escape to the countryside with a heart-warming new novel from Katie Ginger, author of Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage.

Amelia loves her life in Paris. But with the surprise inheritance of her childhood home, Meadow Farmhouse, she has no choice but to return to the small village of Meadowbank to restore her great-aunt’s old farmhouse. However returning to Meadowbank means she has to confront her past, including old flame Adam.

When Amelia discovers a locket hidden in the farmhouse, containing the picture of a mysterious World War Two soldier, she starts to uncover the secrets of her great-aunt’s past and is drawn further into village life. Shocked by the warm welcome from the villagers and her own surprising feelings for first love Adam, Amelia is suddenly confused as to where she truly belongs.

Can Amelia finally confront her own past and find where her heart truly calls home?

Fans of Rachael Lucas, Cathy Bramley and Jenny Colgan will fall in love with Katie Ginger!

My review

Amelia is living her life in Paris, but when her great – aunt dies, and Amelia inherits Meadow Farmhouse, she has to go back to the village of Meadowbank. Being back in her childhood home, she is determined to restore the farmhouse to sell it as soon as possible.
But returning back home means facing everything she ran away from many years ago, including her first love Adam.

When one day Amelia discovers a locket with a picture of a World War Two soldier, she wants to figure out who the soldier was and what links him to her great – aunt. That means she has to spend more time in Meadowbank, and the welcoming feeling she received from the inhabitants confuses her even more than ever. Because where does she truly belong? In Paris or in the place that holds more happy memories than remembered?

I have the feeling that each time I read a story of this author, I am saying the same things, because I absolutely loved this story!
However it gave me a lot of sad feelings, it was also a beautiful story.

Getting to know Amelia was not always a pleasure, because of her past. As a young child she has lost her parents and had to stay with her great – aunt Vera. It broke my heart reading how Amelia felt through all her childhood, like a burden to Vera. Vera was not a happy woman, and she was very cold and distant towards her own niece.
But reading how Amelia and Adam went from friendship to that first love was just adorable.

So when she is forced to go back to Meadowbank, I understood her hesitation… not only because of the bad memories, but Amelia is also afraid to face Adam again, as she just left him without any real closure.

The “reunion” is obviously an awkward one and avoiding each other is still the preferred solution. However in time of need, both Adam and his mother show their true caring characters. And no matter what hard feelings there were, they look after Amelia.

I found this not only a sweet story about returning home, but also a story about how one event can break a person. When Amelia finds out what happened to Vera in the past, it was such a sad, unjust event. It opened both Amelia’s and my eyes on the true nature of Vera. And it threw a whole new perspective over Amelia’s growing up. And her feelings of being a burden, belonging nowhere and be easily forgotten are all put in a different light.

I found it bittersweet to see how Amelia had to readjust her opinion over het great – aunt. Because it’s always the sad things we easily remember. But the more Amelia is staying at Meadow Farmhouse, the more forgotten memories resurface. And that makes her question where her true home is. Is it in Paris, with a great career and with friends that I honestly didn’t really like? Or is it in Meadowbank with so many memories, both happy and sad?

Just everything in this story was beautiful, even the sadder parts, but sometimes you need the sadness to appreciate more how an amazing story this truly is. And Katie Ginger showed what a great writer she is, finding the perfect balance between all the events.
I have just one question… can I get somewhere the sculptures Adam made? Because they surely would find a lovely home with me! 😃

When running away means the start of something new.

Synopsis

Brand NEW from the bestselling author of The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts.

Scandal hit party girl Lucy Conway needs to leave London fast, so she packs her bags and escapes to the sleepy village of Cranbridge to take care of her beloved Uncle Frank.

But the country village isn’t quite as idyllic as she remembers. To make matters worse, her Uncle’s pride and joy, The Cranbridge Times, is close to going out of business.

Editor-at-Large Tom Addison is having a crisis of confidence and needs help if the newspaper is going to survive. 

With time on her hands, can Lucy work some magic and together save the family newspaper?
Over a long, hot summer, friendships are made and hearts begin to heal. And, with the help of a stray dog, perhaps Lucy and Tom can find their very own new beginning…

My review

When Lucy Conway finds herself in the middle of a scandal written all over the tabloids, she sees no other option than escaping to the village of Cranbridge, to help her beloved Uncle Frank. She hopes to find a little bit of peace so that she can decide what she wants to do with her life.

But the Cranbridge she is staying in, is not the Cranbridge of her youth anymore. A lot has changed and not always for the better. So is her Uncle’s newspaper, The Cranbridge Times, on the verge of going out of business. And the editor of the paper, Tom Addison, is having a crisis of his own. Having a new employee is the last thing he needs, but how can he refuse the niece of the owner?

Lucy makes it her personal mission to save the paper and while figuring out what to do, she starts feeling et home at the little village, making friends, a stray dog lurking behind the corner and growing feelings towards an inhabitant of the village…

I absolutely loved retuning to Cranbridge! This small village is something I would love to live, with the whole community looking out of each other.

When Lucy arrives there, I saw her as a lost puppy, feeling alone in the world, her parents not being the most supportive ones. My heart ached when she felt that her Uncle Frank was more caring and loving than her own parents. Yet I was glad she had a place to go to, knowing that she would be welcomed with open hands.

Lucy is someone trying to find her place in the world. She lacks self-confidence, doubting what she is capable of. And what better place to realize your own worth than Cranbridge?
When she befriends Molly first, and then the other lovely women we already got to know in the first book, slowly she opens up and we see the real Lucy.
She also realizes what the meaning of true friendship is and acts on it, after realizing that her past friendships were nothing compared to the relationships made in Cranbridge.

Also Tom’s story is a sad one… not only is he a divorced man, but after losing his mother, it seems he cannot move on. and also at work he is without inspiration. Realizing that he is going to lose the paper is only making him feel more depressed.

The more time Lucy and Tom spend together, trying to save the paper, the more their friendship shifts into something more beautiful. and because of their time spending together, both Lucy and Tom start to have a more positive look on their current situation.

Cranbridge worked its magic again in this story, and I found it truly beautiful to see how two people that are feeling down, thanks to an amazing community and friends, see their own potential again. And if you don’t fall immediately in love with Keith, the stray dog, I suggest to get yourself checked by your GP, because then there is something wrong!

This story is about finding yourself again, finding a place to call home and a place where you belong, with people that accept you just as your perfect self is.
I found it beautiful, emotional, and each character stole a piece of my heart!

When a planned summer holiday in Nepal is forcefully changed in a search in Scotland.

Synopsis

After a gruelling academic year head teacher Harper MacDonald is looking forward to a summer holiday trekking in Nepal. Her plans are scuppered when her wayward niece, Ariel, leaves a note announcing she’s running away with a boy called Pen. The only clue to their whereabouts is a scribbled footnote: I’ll Be in Scotland. 

Cue a case of mistaken identity when Harper confronts the boy‘s father – Rocco Penhaligon – accusing him of cradle snatching her niece and ruining her bright future. At loggerheads, Harper and Rocco set off in hot pursuit of the teenagers, but the canny youngsters are always one step ahead.  And, in a neat twist, it is the adults who end up in trouble, not the savvy teenagers. 

Can Cupid convince Harper and Rocco that they have found their soul mates? 

Fasten your seatbelt for the road trip of your lifetime – It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

My review

Head teacher Harper MacDonald looking forward to her summer holiday. She has planned to spend it trekking in Nepal while her niece Ariel, that is staying with her, will spend the holidays with her mother. But when Ariel decides to run away with a boy Pen, and leaves a short note stating she’ll be in Scotland, Harper throws all her plans out of the window.
After a search and a case of mistaken identity, Harper finds Pen’s father Rocco Penhaligon. Together they set off in a pursuit of finding the teenagers, always finding themselves one step behind. But being them so different from each other, will they be able to find a truce on their quest, having the kids’ best interest in mind?

If there is one kind of story I truly enjoy reading, it’s about two very different people ‘forced’ to spend time together and realizing that they have more in common than thought and grow closer.
And this story surely ticked the above mentioned boxes!

Harper is a strict woman, which of course she has to be as she is the head teacher. But she applies her strictness also a bit at home. I also have to say that I somehow admired her. It’s not for just anyone to take a teenaged niece in house, and taking the role of mother on her. But Harper does the best she can to look after Ariel.

So when Ariel goes AWOL, with just a small note that doesn’t really say much, Harper is determined to find the man that is responsible for Ariel’s behaviour. And when she meets Rocco, that’s when the fireworks start!

Rocco is a character that got my personal attention immediately! The way he emerges from under a car… *swoon*!
Of course his character is the total opposite from Harper’s and that makes this a very entertaining story!

Whatever is said or done, is followed by a reprimand or a dislike no matter how right or wrong it is.

But while chasing the teenagers, Harper and Rocco get to know each other better, and start to see each other in a different light. It shows that first impressions can be wrong, and there is always more than meets the eye.
Both from Harper and Rocco we see a different side.
When Rocco takes care of Harper after her food poisoning, my heart just skipped a beat. But also Harper shows her true colours and it is clear that she has her own demons to face…

This story is a beautiful road trip, taking me to new places I also want to discover myself. It kept me hooked from the start and I wanted to know how the relation between a strict Harper and a laidback Rocco would evolve.
I found this a funny and sweet story about two strangers forced to work together, with many clashes but eventually standing side by side and a deeper feeling blossoming.

Could Mr. Right truly be closer than you think?

Synopsis

Mia Abbott’s move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she’s made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite – the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much – starts leaving notes in his window…for her.

Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sites of her new cityhe also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honour, she realises that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she’s had a taste she knows it will never be enough!

My review

After Mia Abbott moved to Manchester, it’s obvious she hasn’t made many new friends. After her terrible last relationship, she is also a bit mistrusting towards strangers and will surely not give her number to just anyone.
Highlight of her day is looking at the hot guy who lives opposite her place, working out. So when Mia finally decide to go out in a bar, how big can her surprise be when she finds out that Hot Guy is actually Luke Doyle, the bar owner!

After their first meeting, Luke starts leaving notes on his window for Mia. But it doesn’t stop at just sweet notes. He also takes her on non – dates, to places she would never think about. And who else can say they have a cocktail made specially for them???

But Luke has his own issues to deal with… but are they really insurmountable? Or will the Hot Guy and the Nerd always be a match that will never happen?

I don’t know how a crappy book this author would have to write to make me dislike one of her stories! Because every time I read something from her amazing imagination, I find it just impossible to put it away or just have a tiny bit of a sense that there is something I don’t like.

This is a story of two ‘normal’ people. Both of them are not famous nor rich. They are just like us, working hard for their earnings and just wanting to find happiness.

Mia initially seemed a bit of a recluse to me. Living on her own, she doesn’t go out much, and the only new people she got to know are her neighbour Stan and Naomi, who runs a café. But the moment she goes to the bar nearby, we see the real Mia.
Even if she is afraid of just handing her number over, with good reason of course, we see all the potential she has. She is funny, focused and caring. And even if you would think that she may seem creepy, spying on the Hot Guy working out, just admit, wouldn’t you be doing the same? Because I surely would!!!

Initially Luke ticked all the boxes of a typical bar owner. Being too hot for words, flirting with the ladies and afraid of commitment. But there is so much more to Luke! When he decides to take Mia out, he does things I wouldn’t never think about, taking her too by surprise.
And those notes in his window… that’s just too cute and too much to swoon over! And can I have a personal cocktail too? Pretty please???
I also had a laugh with all the nicknames Luke was able to invent to call Mia!

While getting to know each other, they both have to face the fact that there are things that they can either accept from each other, or just walking away. And even if it is a bitter pill to swallow, can they cope with the thought of what the other option would be?

I found this a funny, sweet, lovely story from the beginning. It shows that clichés are made to be broken, as you cannot judge a person by being one. There is so much more to a person than being “a geek/nerd” or a “hottie”. You only can get to know someone for real by spending with them. And the past may have changed you, but that it isn’t impossible to change again for the better. The past doesn’t determine who we are, because that it totally up to ourselves!

Another masterpiece by this author! 😃

Is it possible to stand out with a background that seems to doom you?

Synopsis

Let bestselling author Lindsey Hutchinson take you back in time to the Victorian Black Country, for a tale of love, hardship and fighting against the odds to succeed.

Life is tough for Ella Bancroft. After her father, Thomas, is wheelchair-bound by an accident at the tube works, the responsibility for keeping a roof over their head falls to Ella. Ella’s mother died when she was ten, and her sister Sally lives with her no-good, work-shy husband Eddy, so is no help at all.  If she and her father are to keep the bailiffs from the door, then Ella must earn a living.

But Ella is resourceful as well as creative, and soon discovers she has a gift for millinery. Setting up shop in the front room of their two-up, two-down home in Silver Street, Walsall, Ellaand Thomas work hard to establish a thriving business. Before long, the fashionable ladies of the Black Country are lining up to wear one of Ella’s beautiful creations, and finally Ella dares to hope for a life with love, friendship and family.

Meeting the man she longs to marry should be a turning point for Ella, but life’s twists and turns can be cruel. As the winter grows colder, events seem to conspire to test Ella’s spirit. And by the time spring is approaching, will the hat girl of Silver Street triumph, or will Ella have to admit defeat as all her dreams are tested.

The Queen of the Black Country sagas is back with a heart-breaking, unforgettable, page-turning story of love, life and battling against the odds. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Lyn Andrews. 

My review

After having discovered that she has a gift for Millinery, Ella Bancroft and her father set up a little shop in the front room of their house.
Together they do their utterly best to make a success of their business, even if Thomas wheelchair – bound.
Life is not easy for Ella, because it’s her responsibility to earn a living, as Ella’s mother died when Ella was just a young girl. And Ella cannot surely count on the help of her sister Sally and Sally’s lazy husband.

Slowly people start to discover the magnificent creations Ella is capable of inventing. And when she meets Harper, is there also love is something Ella dares to dream about.
But life and fate keep on playing cruel twists and turns and Ella is facing even more hardship. Will she be able to stay strong or will these last tricks be able to break her?

If there is one character I wished all the best in the world, it would be Ella Bancroft… not only is she looking after her father, with obviously all the love and care she can manage, but she is also very creative even if a bit taken advantage of at her work with Ivy Gladwin.
So when happiness finally seems to come in her life, I was truly glad. Ella is a woman that you quickly warm towards, because it’s obvious she has a kind heart.

There are several people who I instant disliked. Some redeemed themselves, others just confirmed my feelings.

This story is showing how life truly goes. It’s not only rainbow and sunshine, especially in the Victorian Black Country. More often life throws you curveballs and it’s up to you to decide if you’re going to admit defeat or fight for your happiness.
There are heart-breaking moments, even hard to digest as just a reader, but that’s also the charm of the book. There is no sugar – coating, this is how life really is. No matter how good or bad you are, you don’t always get what you truly deserve.

A gripping story about a woman who has to be courageous, make her own happiness, but also has to fight to maintain that little happiness she has fought so hard for it.
I found myself turning the pages, wanting to know more. And even if the ending surprised me a bit, it was in line with the rest of the story even if it wasn’t the ending I wanted the book to have…

After reaching the end, I found myself pondering about the injustice people had to endure, and it was a relief to be in the present, in a more comfortable position, being able to make my own happiness. And that is a thought we too often forget…

Finding yourself during the War.

Synopsis

July 1914: Britain is in turmoil as WW1 begins to change the world. While the young men disappear off to foreign battlefields, the women left at home throw themselves into jobs meant for the boys.

Hiding her privileged background and her suffragette past, Constance Copeland signs up to be a Clippie – collecting money and giving out tickets – on the trams, despite her parents’ disapproval.

Constance, now known as Connie, soon finds there is more to life than the wealth she was born into and she soon makes fast friends with lively fellow Clippies, Betty and Jean, as well as growing closer to the charming, gentle Inspector Robert Caldwell.

But Connie is haunted by another secret; and if it comes out, it could destroy her new life.

After war ends and the men return to take back their roles, will Connie find that she can return to her previous existence? Or has she been changed forever by seeing a new world through the tram windows?

My review

Constance Copeland is having a rather privileged life. Money is not what worries her father, rather finding a good and wealthy match for his daughter. And hiding his daughter’s past as a suffragette.
But Constance has a mind of her own, and dreams of marrying out of love.
Yet being in 1914, the War brings Britain in turmoil and all the women have to adapt into taking jobs meant for the men at war now.
So Constance, despite her parents’ disapproval finds herself being a Clippie, collecting money and giving out tickets on trams. By changing her name now into Connie, she tries to hide her past and her wealth.
Soon she realizes that there is more to life than what she thought and makes friends in places she would never imagine.

But what will happen when the War ends?

This story was had somehow a double plot. We have on one side Constance and her sense of righteousness. But on the other side, we also have the War and its consequences for our protagonists.

From the start, it’s clear that Constance has a good sense of what is right and what is wrong. Even if sometimes she made the wrong decision, she always did it with the right intentions.
What I truly liked about Connie, is that she doesn’t make a distinction between poor and rich. She doesn’t care what the background of her friends is, even if for some it would mean not to interact with them. She befriends people based on characters and how good they get along.

She is a strong woman, making a mind of her own, and is not afraid to sometimes defy her own father. She stands behind her ideas and does not give up easily.

Also when the War seems to take longer than thought, she is not afraid to make her own decision to start working as a Clippie. Not only because her family is facing economic issues because of the War, but also because she wants to make her own contribution during the difficult times.

And this is what I liked about this story. Everybody knows how awful the War was for those who are fighting. But here we get a glimpse of how it was for those staying at home, women that have to do the jobs of their men, the fear of not knowing how their beloved ones are coping.

This is a story about a strong woman, fighting almost literally for her rights, in one of the darkest moments of mankind. Yet she does not just give up, and she is not afraid of doing what must. The author managed to write about a young woman slowly discovering herself, realizing that her strong beliefs are not understood by everyone. But also that the past mistakes cannot just be erased, but can be forgiven.

Can Nancy trust a man after being betrayed in the past?

Synopsis

Bath, 1852.

As a girl, Nancy Bloom would go to Bath’s Theatre Royal, sit on the hard wooden benches and stare in awe at the actresses playing men as much as the women dressed in finery. She longed to be a part of it all and when a man promised her parents he could find a role for Nancy in the theatre, they believed him.

His lie and betrayal led to her ruin.

Francis Carlyle is a theatre manager, an ambitious man always looking for the next big thing to take the country by storm. A self-made man, Francis has finally shed the skin of his painful past and is now rich, successful and in need of a new female star. Never in a million years did he think he’d find her standing on a table in one of Bath’s bawdiest pubs.

Nancy vowed never to trust a man again. Francis will do anything to make her his star. As they engage in a battle of wits and wills, can either survive with their hearts intact?

The second in Rachel Brimble’s thrilling new Victorian saga series, Trouble for the Leading Lady will whisk you away to the riotous, thriving underbelly of Victorian Bath.

My review

Nancy Bloom is a strong woman, working with her friends Louisa and Octavia in a successful brother in Carson Street.
Her past has marked her, making sure that she will never give up her independence or trust a man ever again. But when she meets Francis Carlyle, her whole world is turned upside down.
As he is a theatre manager, he sees in Nancy the perfect woman to play the lead in a play he is writing.
But can he convince Nancy to trust him and being the star, as once was her biggest wish? Yet both have their own secrets that could change how people see them…

First of all, I enjoyed being back on Carson Street. Nancy, Louisa and Octavia are running successfully their brothel and most important, they being close friends.
We already got a glimpse of Nancy in a previous book, but I was very happy to see that she now has a book of her own!

It’s obvious that Nancy has had a hard past, having her trust in a man been broken in a terrible way. And she is still carrying that burden around. Rather quickly it’s clear that she has hardened over the years, but that deep down she is also a scared woman afraid of trusting the male population again. Yet her passion for the stage is something that made me smile. Even if her life took a different route, she dreams of being on a stage, so she enjoys to perform for an audience.

When Francis appears on the scene, I understood Nancy and her reluctance in just believing his words. Yet Francis is determined to prove his good intentions and is ready to make Nancy his star in a play he wants to see no matter what on the stage.

The thing is, this story does not just tell us about Nancy and Francis, but also about how hard and difficult life would be in the Victorian Time. Not only for adults, who could somehow change their fate, but the victims are truly the children. They have no opportunity to escape to a better place and just have to endure.
And the author manages perfectly to put focus on that pain, but without making it a sad story.
Both Nancy and Francis somehow managed to escape their past, and while together, they understand that they are the lucky ones…

Yet it’s also a story about facing your demons, daring to put faith in people again, yet not forgetting who stood by your side all the time. I loved how Nancy changed from this strong yet unavailable woman started to change into still a strong woman, but a woman with her heart at the right place, and no longer afraid to show it.

I found this a story with sad moments, yes, but also with so many beautiful moments. It shows the hardships of life but it also shows that it is possible to change your course and that fear is only holding you back. And that with the right people by your side, it is possible to reach that happiness that seemed so impossible to achieve in the past.

When two women that are strangers start a journey together.

Synopsis

THE NO. 1 IRISH BESTSELLER!

‘One of my favourite authors’ Marian Keyes

‘If you’ve had to cancel your holiday plans this summer, don’t worry – this beautiful new novel will transport you to sunnier climes…’ – HEAT‘S READ OF THE WEEK

In Sheila O’Flanagan’s stunning new novel, two women face up to shocking truths about the men they’ve loved – and start to make their own decisions about what to do next…

Deira isn’t the kind of woman to steal a car. Or drive to France alone with no plan. But then, Deira didn’t expect to be single. Or to suddenly realise that the only way she can get the one thing she wants most is to start breaking every rule she lives by.

Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn’t really want to be on it but she’s following his instructions, as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then – finally – she’ll be able to let him go.

Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Grace and Deira find that it’s easier to share secrets with a stranger, especially in the shimmering sunny countryside of Spain and France. But they soon find that there’s no escaping the truth, whether you’re running away from it or racing towards it . . .

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO RAN AWAY:

‘Didn’t want it to end‘ *****

‘I would have given this 6 stars if I could‘

‘Within the first chapter, I had left reality and social distancing behind and joined two amazing women on a life-changing adventure’ *****

‘A great summer read‘

‘Five stars all the way!’ *****

‘Sheila O’Flanagan never disappoints‘ *****

‘Fantastic read!’

‘Couldn’t put this book down!’

My review

Deira and Grace meet two women that have been through a rough moment. When they meet, they have different plans. So does Deira want to go to Paris, using the car she just stole from her ex –  partner. And Grace is following the instructions of her late husband Ken, on a trip through Spain.

As fate seems to bring these two women together, Deira decides to change her plans and wants to help Grace to complete the puzzles Ken left behind.
These two women quickly discover that it’s easier to share the secrets they carry around with total strangers, and despite their differences, a strong friendship is being built. But no matter how hard and how far you run away, there is no way you can keep on escaping the truth and you will have to face it anyway…

When I started reading this book, I wasn’t aware I would be on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Initially I found it hard to understand Deira’s motivations. Okay, her partner left her, but then going on stealing his car, seemed a bit a bridge too far.
However, the more we got to know her and her past, the more I understood her and I was finding myself cheering for her!
Deira is in a very dark place, as she has only one purpose that makes her sometimes act like a crazy woman. But again, once you understand her situation, I am sure that you’ll have sympathy for her, just like I did.

Grace’s story is also a heart – breaking one. She sacrificed her own career for her family yet she feels that Ken did not fully appreciate everything Grace did. And when in time of need, it appears that Ken took the “easy” way out.
When she discovers that he planned a whole trip for her, going to Spain and solve his puzzles, she starts on this quest to finally be able to forgive him and move on.

I loved reading how these two women, so different from each other, are befriending quickly. Slowly their relationship evolves from being acquaintances to friends that dare to point out whenever the other one is in the wrong.

Both the women are changing through the story. Slowly, with each other’s help, they are getting out their negative thoughts and are seeing how the past was blocking them to a brighter future. And I have to admit, more towards the end, I admired our characters how they were doing the right thing, even if doing the proposed solution would make their wishes come true.

There are some romantic events in this book, but I found them not being the main subject in the story. They are a nice extra, but it’s not about finding love again, but about finding yourself again.

This story is about how to cope when you find yourself suddenly alone. But it shows how that you can find friendships and even new chances when you least expect it.  It also shows that no matter how dark your thoughts are, and that they are making you do the wrong things, you have a strength in you. In the end, you’ll be come a stronger, independent person and that you can make your own happiness.

It’s just the beginning…

Synopsis

Can true love go the distance?

London lawyer Rachel Watson has wound up in an Indian ashram with hippy heartthrob lover, Seb.

A high-achiever, Rachel has always lived life according to her Life List, ticking off goals along the way. But now that she’s in India, Rachel is going with the flow, or at least trying to…

Rachel’s visa is running out and it’s time to decide whether her relationship with Seb is a holiday romance or built to last.

The pair embark on a trip to Nepal for an Everest base camp trek, but will their relationship survive this gruelling expedition or is it time to part ways?

Flying Duo is the second romantic comedy in the ‘Flying’ series, following on from bestseller, Flying Solo, which was described by the Daily Express newspaper as ‘a must read that will appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella, Beth O’Leary and Mhari McFarlane’ ★★★★★

My review

After following her ex – boyfriend all the way to India, London lawyer Rachel has finally found love with Canadian Seb.
But after her law suit against the ashram, she has been banned from there and she starts wondering where her relationship with Seb will go. Also that her visa is running out, makes her wonder if with Seb is was a lovely holiday romance, or is he is the real thing?

When on a limp, they go on a trip to Nepal, and do an Everest base camp trek, will this make or break their relationship? Because not only they have to face the hardships of this expedition, but there appears also to be another competitor on the horizon…

Whenever I start reading a story of this author, I know I will forget all my surroundings, and this story was absolutely no exception!

I loved the idea to know what happens when our main character after she has found love. Is it truly her happily ever after? Or what are the issues a new couple has to face?
And Rachel is facing even bigger problems, because what do you do when your boyfriend lives in Canada? And while she enjoys her time in India, slowly she starts to long after London…

The way the author describes Rachel, makes this character a realistic one. She has doubts, insecurities and just longs for her happily ever after with the man she just adores.
But it’s also very common that instead of speaking out, Rachel is afraid of what Seb’s answer will be. And why jeopardize the happiness she is feeling with Seb?

Seb managed to make me feel even more in love with him, just like Rachel does. He is a lovely character, and the way he looks at and after Rachel, makes me wish for a boyfriend like him!
He has had a rough past, but he has found redemption and is figuring out where his future is. Not only geographically, but he is also thinking what he would like to do job-wise.

The only thing I didn’t like in this story, is the trip in Nepal. I enjoy walks, but only when it’s 100% safe! So I understood the fears Rachel was having, the disgust whenever leeches or other insects were involved! It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it!
Yet the moments that were the most fearful for Rachel (and for me too, THAT BRIDGE!!!!), Seb shows again how amazing he is! He understands Rachel and is able to calm her down by being just himself.

I enjoyed reading this next chapter of Rachel, as it shows what happens “after”. Getting together is the easy part. Staying together, thinking about the future is the hardest part. Insecurities are normal feelings to have, but with the right person by your side, all these negatives thoughts disappears, and even other people cannot tear you apart, because in his eyes, you are all your loved one needs!

This was again a story that was just perfect, just like I am used by this author!