What when someone impossible texts you back?

Synopsis

If you could spend just one more day with someone, who would it be?

When Lili sends a jokey ‘knock-knock’ message to her best friend Em, she doesn’t expect to hear back. Because – as Lili notices the chill in the air, and the little robin in her garden – she realises Christmas must be just around the corner once again. A whole year since she last saw Em.

But then this time someone replies. ‘Who’s there?’ It can’t possibly be Em, but Lili wants to believe it could be, and she hastily suggests meeting. 

However when she gets to the meeting place, there only one other person there waiting. A man. And not just any man. The most handsome man Lili’s ever seen, Dylan… And he is also waiting for someone he’s been missing.

As the days get shorter and Autumn turns to Winter, will two lonely hearts spend another Christmas without their loved ones? Or can they welcome an unexpected friendship? Or maybe even more, if they can just help each other to focus on not what they’ve lost, but what they’ve found…

My review

Lili and Em used to be best friends for years and years. In fact, they were more like sisters than just friends. But now it has been a year since Lili saw Em the last time, and she for sure misses her friend. With that fateful date and Christmas just around the corner, Lili cannot stop herself and sends Em one of their stupid “knock – knock” jokes. Only to get the shock of her life when she gets a reply, the kind that Em would send. But it cannot possibly be Em, no matter how much Lili wishes it could be true. So when there are more text going back and forth, Lili decides she wants to meet up, because even if she knows that it cannot be Em, somehow, there is some hope… And at that meeting she meets Dylan, the most handsome man she has ever met. And just like Lili, he is waiting for someone. And then Lili’s and Dylan’s paths keep on crossing, and a friendship is slowly forming, as they can understand each other’s ache and missing like no one else can. But also each other’s sense of guilt. But can the passing of time dimmish the sense of missing, the ache and their guilt? And can Lili and Dylan see beyond what they have lost, and focus on what they have found instead?

I know that this author writes absolute marvellous stories, not only with amazing characters, but also with a story that will touch your heart, and will heal it after breaking it too a little bit.

And I have to admit, while I absolutely felt the pain Lili was feeling at the start of the book, my mind went a bit wild. Because just like Lili, I was thinking of so many possibilities of what could be happening, wishing and hoping that the most obvious answer somehow wouldn’t be the real one.

Lili’s pain is so palpable, my heart just broke to hers so broken. I cannot imagine how it feels to lose your best friend, without a proper goodbye, and carrying around guilt. Lili feels indeed guilty because she feels that she could have done more for her friend.

The feelings she is carrying around, are also not allowing her to move on. She hangs on to those feelings, she cannot let go of them, not truly living her life at the fullest. But don’t go thinking that Lili is a complete sad character, because she is not.

Of course what happened to Em has scarred her, but that didn’t take away Lili’s caring and gentle character. And we see that in so many aspects, not only in her job, but how she is *at* her job, how she is with the people there. But also how she stays in touch with Em’s parents, how she is still part of that family. And then there is that robin, visiting her every day…

So as a reader, I wanted nothing more for Lili to find happiness again, to get rid of her guilt and just enjoy life again. And then she meets Dylan…

Lili and Dylan meet and that answers at least a few questions we all had in our mind. But Dylan’s arrival is so much more than just answering those questions.

Because Dylan understands Lili on a level that not many could, because he knows what it means to miss someone so deeply that it truly hurts.

Reading how Lili finds someone, a complete stranger, and is able to open up to him, to tell him everything that she feels and fears, was bittersweet. Because Lili needs to have that kind of person, to alleviate her burdens.

And when their paths cross again, it for sure felt like the absolute right thing for the both of them!

The friendship that is growing between Lili and Dylan form, beside the feelings that they have in common, was just amazing to see. This friendship is exactly what the both of them need.

With this encounter both Lili and Dylan dare to look ahead of them again, letting go of the hurt and pain that used to keep them in a tight grip.

And even if it’s clear that there is something that Dylan is not telling Lili and us, even when the truth come out, I could understand Lili’s sense of betrayal, but I could also understand  Dylan and where he is coming from.

In this book, we see how the past can hold us back, but also how it can take one person to make you start feeling the right sort of feelings again. And while I am not the kind of person that believes in the special sort of signs, I for sure believed that the robin came for a reason, and that Lili and Dylan meeting wasn’t just a matter of coincidence. A feeling that only grew stronger, the more the story evolved!

Samantha Tonge took me once again on a wonderful journey, that yes was filled with pain, hurt and guilt, but it is also filled with hope, peace and love. We read in this book how even if we are truly hurt, there are ways to look ahead again, and let our grief pass, even if we would do anything for just one extra day with them. This story for sure touched my heart and made me appreciated my loved ones even more, yet also filled me with hope, knowing that some encounters are just meant to be.

Are love and marriage just a transaction gone well?

Synopsis

Is marriage about love or marketing?

Kat is 34, single and running out of time – she wants to get married before she turns 35, but her fiancé just ditched her for a 21-year-old life coach.

Freddy is a ruthless marketing guru who thinks love is just transactional. He’ll use his marketing genius to make Kat the most sought-after woman in London, if she lets him rebrand her struggling company.

With her 35th birthday looming and her love life a disaster, Kat agrees to become Project Marriage.

Can a rebrand king sell happily ever after? Or is love something even the best marketer can’t package and promote?

A smart, funny romantic comedy for fans of Emile Henry (Funny Story), Lucy Score and Ali Hazelwood. 

My review

Kat is on a mission which she thought she would achieve. But her fiancé boke up with her for someone else. So her goal of getting married before 35 is further away than ever, as she is already 34. The last thing Kat needs now, is a cocky marketing guru, ready to take over her business she has been building with pride and joy, even if it is struggling. However, whatever Freddy wants, Freddy gets. And when he hears about Kat’s dream, he wants to make a deal out of it. As a believer that even love is transactional, he is ready to help Kat with her mission, if she lets him buy her out. While things don’t truly start off well between Kat and Freddy, with a common goal, they start to spend more time together, which makes them understand each other better than imagined. But when they will have both achieved their goals, they will part their ways, won’t they?

Being at the age of almost 39 myself, I can understand that biological clock ticking. And I can understand how it feels that there is a deadline to make, even when it comes to matter of the heart.

And reading that Kat’s own situation is even more complex, made me sympathize with her even more. Life and love aren’t easy in ‘normal’ circumstances, but learning about Kat’s struggles, it was easy to understand her level of urgency.

Although I need to say, that while I understood Kat, I also felt that Kat was settling too much, too easily? Not only there are so many signs that her ex is just a douchebag, but the fact that Kat still finds it hard to let him go, to block him and just remove him from her life completely, angered me a little bit. While there are so many moments where we can see that Kat is in fact a power woman, why can’t she let go of the parasite that her ex is?

But of course, as a reader, as an outsider it is always easy to say what someone else should do. Yet we all know that the heart doesn’t always do the most sensible thing and has a will of its own…

Kat is the kind of person that in a way we all are, or all attempt of being. She has dreams, just like all of us, but I admired her of what she has already achieved at her age. Not anyone can say they have their own business, can’t they?

The fact that perhaps she is too soft on the people that work for her, only shows that she is also a caring person. Yes, she could be stricter and show her ‘power’, but Kat is the kind of person that cares about everyone. She values everyone for their own skills, and looks after them.

She looks after her people, that when Freddy enters the scene, and wants to change just everything, she won’t just let him.

And I have to say, I agreed with Kat’s initial dislike of Freddy. It is one thing to be confident, self – assured. But first – impression – Freddy was too cocky for my liking. And it saddened me to read how he truly believes that everything is like a transaction for him. Everything, even love…

It felt also like he is tricking Kat, by promising her what she wants the most, getting what he wants the most when he succeeds…

However, the more I got to know Freddy, the more I saw a gentler side of him. When he learns about Kat’s condition, he doesn’t treat her with pity, but he wants to understand it and her. When she is in need, he gives her the space she needs, but also can be strict when Kat won’t accept any help but in fact needs it.

When Kat accepts Freddy’s challenge, I was eager to read what Freddy would do and who Kat would meet. I was a bit afraid that Freddy would give Kat a complete make – over, letting her change her persona too. So I was happy to read how Freddy does give her a make – over, but just in order to give her a severe boost of self-confidence.

And Freddy, by helping Kat, slowly start to understand that a lot of things are transactional, but matters of the heart are not. While he helps Kat, Kat in a way helps Freddy, by seeing things not that black or white anymore. He starts to see that even if love is a scary thing,  you cannot stop from feelings growing.

So while this is a romance, with lots of comedy bits in it too, it is in fact a deep journey that both Freddy and Kat are having. A journey where they will make mistakes, but where they will mainly learn more about themselves, about their self – worth, about their heart and about each other…

To build back up your life, no matter what age you are

Synopsis

Sad to leave her daughter and granddaughters behind in England where she has been visiting for the past year, Olivia Grace is excited to return to her hometown of Pelican Crossing and resume her life as a counsellor. But a shock awaits her, threatening to destroy her future and forcing her to make changes she’d never anticipated.

Dan Parker has moved to Pelican Crossing with his teenage daughter after the death of his wife, intent on making a fresh start. Now, having fulfilled his long-held dream of opening a Wellness Centre, he confronts an unexpected challenge

Faced with an unforeseen situation and frustrated by her friends’ relentless matchmaking, Olivia finally admits her attraction to Dan and agrees to a date. But real life isn’t a romantic novel, and things don’t go smoothly.

Can these two lonely people find a future together, or are they destined to grow old alone?

For fans of heartwarming small-town romances, this is a must-read. With vibrant descriptions of the charming coastal town and two endearing characters who struggle with loss and loneliness, this book will tug at your heartstrings.

My review

Olivia Grace, going by the nickname of Livvy, has returned back to Pelican Crossing, after staying with her daughter and granddaughters in England for a while. But upon her return back home, she is devastated that her working partner not only closed their counselling business, but opened a new one on her own, taking their clients with her. So when her friends tell her about the new wellness centre that has opened while she was away, With some spaces still free at the Centre, it’s up to Livvy to decide to start again or not. That brings her to meet Dan Parker, owner of the Centre. He recently moved to Pelican Crossing with his daughter, after the death of his wife. All he wants is to make a fresh start, and he is achieving that, with opening the Centre. While things don’t start off that great between the now – colleagues, and even being both adverse to their friends trying to play matchmakers, something starts to shift. And when Dan invites Livvy to a date, she agrees. But no matter how lovely the date has been, life isn’t a romance book, where things go well, without any hiccup. Will they be able to have not only the much needed fresh start, but also a chance at love? Or are they both past their primetime?

Having read several book from this author, I can say that I appreciate Maggie Christensen and her stories. Not only does Maggie write wonderful stories about new chances at life, she also shows us with each story that age truly is just a number, and that at any age love can be found (again).

I could immediately see it how Livvy is as a mother and grandmother. For the love of her family, Livvy would do almost anything. Almost anything, because no matter how much she misses her family, Pelican Crossing is her home. And living anywhere else isn’t it, as living in England was amazing to spend time with her daughter and granddaughters, but that hectic isn’t for her.

It is obvious that Livvy is a gentle, caring and loving person, and it angered me to read how upon her return she discovers how she has been betrayed by her business partner. It angered me even more to read how Livvy and Ingrid are counsellors, thus I would believe that Ingrid would be a good person…

As Livvy is not of the youngest people anymore, I could also understand that she doesn’t know what to do. When you are young(er), it’s easy to think to start all over again, with that kind of innocence. But as Livvy how been there and done that, she is wondering if she can go through all the bureaucracy again.

With all of her friends pushing her to give the Wellness Centre a thought, this brings Dan on her path.

Running away from your past isn’t a good idea, so when reading how Dan and his daughter moved to Pelican Crossing after the death of his wife, I on one thought it would be a great place for a second start, but I was also wondering if the choice Dan made, is the best for his daughter.

But I also admired Dan, seeing how he opened the Wellness Centre, and has a heart for Pelican Crossing. Not only does he wants to help people, but he also wants to make a difference, have an impact. With whatever he does, it is clear that he is altruistic and caring.

Even if things don’t start off that greatly between Livvy and Dan, from that first encounter I could so obviously the potential between them! And it was funny to read how all of their friends have the same idea, of how well they would be together.

Seeing that relationship evolve, was just so sweet. I liked it how there was this mutual respect for each other, but also how they would not want to cross any line, yet both silently wishing for more.

Yes, things progressed very slow – paced, not all of their own volition, but also because what is happening around them, to their loved ones. And there is of course the emotional growth they both have to go through, learning to open their hearts again, learning how to love again.

With this book, we see how in fact, you are never too old to grow, to mature, to learn. While the main characters may be older than I am myself, the journey they are embarking on, never let me feel the age difference, because what Livvy and Dan are going through, could happen to any of us.

This was a heartwarming book to read, showing us the strength of people, the warmth of people, and the ability to never give up, not even on love, no matter what the age is!

How can you not fall in love with this cover?

Synopsis

Where books are borrowed, and friendships are forged…

When her beloved grandfather dies, Ana Meštrović buys a catamaran in his memory, which she names Dida Krila – Grandad’s Wings.

For the summer months, it will be transformed into a travelling library, delivering books to children living across the Croatian islands.

Joined by crew members Natali, a young mechanic afraid of her own shadow, and Lloyd, an older widower who needs a fresh start, the newly-formed trio all have their own reasons for needing the floating library to be a success.

Embarking on an adventure that will change them for good, they each discover that a new chapter is only a boat ride away…

Pre-order Link – https://mybook.to/CroatianIslandLibrary

Publication Dates – 16th January 2026 (ebook) 29th January 2026 (paperback)

About the author

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. A love of books is a common theme too, so her publisher, One More Chapter, has christened them the Bookish Escapes collection which currently includes The Dubrovnik Book Club, and The Santorini Writing Retreat, with The Croatian Island Library to be published in January 2026.

In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter, and a new beginnings novel entitled The Olive Grove. All are set in Croatian, a country she loves.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

The cover

One day, with lifechanging consequences

Synopsis

On a cold winter’s day, a storm is brewing in the village of Weirbridge…

Georgie Dern has the chance to swap her empty nest for the job of a lifetime in Los Angeles. Can she chase her dream if it means letting down the woman who has given her the world?

Jessie McLean should be counting down the hours until she jets off to spend her retirement years in the sun. But when a devastating betrayal resurfaces, she has to choose between a fresh start and staying behind to settle old scores.

Alyssa Canavan has spent years building the business she adores. Now a legal letter has threatened her home and livelihood, but how does she fight a family that doesn’t give a damn?

Lachlan Morden is forced to return to Scotland to face the people who almost destroyed him. Will coming home reopen old wounds, or will a memory from the past lead him to the perfect revenge?

One snowy day, four lives, but who will have a bright new future when the snow is gone?

My review

It may be a day like no other, in Weirbridge, but for Jessie McLean, daughter Georgie, Alyssa Canvan and Lachlan Morden, this day will change everything, even for the rest of their live.
Now that she can retire, tomorrow she will leave the cold and enjoy her retirement in the Spanish sun. However, the closer the time arrives to leave, the more doubts she starts to have about the choices she made with her husband. And this last day, will be one where betrayals resurface and secrets are coming out. Meanwhile Georgie has taken over the hairdressing business, but when an opportunity of a lifetime arrives, Georgie does not know what to do: follow her dreams or keep the business her mother built and where people are relying on her?  And not to forget, her ex husband that suddenly wants another chance with her…
Alyssa meanwhile has just received a legal letter that will put and end to the business that she has loved building up. However, she won’t go down without a fight that easily! Even if that means facing Lachlan Morden and his family. Lachlan, that after the passing of his father, wants to have closure as soon as possible and get once again away from the people that almost broke him.
Somehow, all these people get entwined, and in just one day, things will change for each and every one of them, and things will never be the same again…

How many days do we have in our lives where absolutely nothing exciting happens? And then there is that one day, where everything happens, all at once, where you even think you cannot digest everything that has been taking place.

And Shari Low has the perfect ability to show just how much can happen in just one day, without making it seem like it is a complete impossibility. The more you read in this book, or in just any book of her, it sounds all so plausible.

In life, we make choices that we are happy to make, but often also choices that at one moment, we may end up regretting. And that is what book is about, about choices, and whether you will end up regretting those choices if you pursue them, or if there will be a chance at changing your mind and direction.

There is a lot we would do for love (and to quote a famous song – anything but not *that* 😊) yet with Jessie we see clearly that doing things out of love doesn’t mean that we do it with our hearts. Out of love, she has agreed to move to the sun, but now doubts are arising if that is in fact what she truly wants. And I could understand that… It’s easier said than done, leaving everyone and everything behind, especially your own children. And yes, I know she isn’t going on the other side of the world, and there will be plenty of opportunities to meet again, but still…

With Jessie’s bits in this book we see how love yes, is a beautiful thing, and how it can be a forgiving thing. But it can also be a scary thing, as it can pull you in two different directions. And it can be something that needs to make you courageous, to take that bitter pill and spill it all (okay, a mix – up of different sayings, but you get what I want to say, right?).

On top of the dilemma Jessie is facing, there is also a ghost from the past resurfacing, not only opening up old wounds, but also putting extra salt in those wounds. Old wounds that i immediately disliked myself, and left me even a bit astonished when more secrets came out. 

However, without spoiling anything, the mature way Jessie handled it all, well, chapeau!

Meanwhile, Jessie has left her business in the most capable hands of her daughter, Georgie. And while Georgie absolutely loves her job, she has big dreams. Dreams that suddenly can come to fruition, all she ahs to do is say “yes”. But saying yes also means leaving it all behind, all that Jessie and Georgie have been building over the years.

With Georgie, is it about what choice to make: to follow your dreams and leave everything behind? Because leaving means leaving people behind, people that not only rely on her, but that care about Georgie and Georgie cares about. 

Everyone always says that you should follow your dreams, but how wonderful it all may seem, Georgie makes me think what I would leave behind while pursuing my dreams. But when is it right to follow your dreams and when is it right to just keep it as a faraway dream? Makes you stop for a minute too, doesn’t it?

But what would you do when everything you have been building, is taken away from you, without a chance for you to fight back? Where is the justice in that? And just that is where Alyssa finds herself in. Because it is not only her shop, but also her home that suddenly us taken away from her. 

And that saddened me, but also angered me, because while I understood that it was all done in a legal way, it still felt so unfair, especially upon learning who in fact is responsible for it all. 

However, I liked Alyssa’s fierceness, her determination to fight against this injustice, how impossible that fight may seem! And I liked how even against her “enemy”, she shows compassion and heart…

An enemy, or at least a part of the bunch, that just wants to leave Weirbridge as soon as possible… Of course we all have our demons of the past. And i was curious to learn what exactly happened to Lachlan, to make him so reluctant to return to what is left of his family.

I have to say, I thought I knew had Lachlan’s past all figured out, understanding the difficult relationship he has with his brother, and the heartaches he has to endure. But Shari managed to surprise me by giving me a complete shocker!

And Lachlan’s reluctance made so much more sense. Yet by making one stop, by meeting one fierce person, he starts to understand that there are ways to make things right again. Even if that means facing the people that hurt you the most…

It may seem that a lot is taking place in just one day, with many characters. Yet in a way it was easy to keep up with everything, it was easy to feel for each character, it was easy to cheer for each character. And even seeing a few old faces again, just delighted me! 🙂

This book is all about choices, which decision should be made, and what if our heart pulls us in two different directions. There isn’t a guide to tell us what the right thing to do is. It is up to us to understand what our hearts truly want. And choosing isn’t always losing, but it can be sometimes also a win – win situation. A situation that may bring new people in our lives, or change the relationships in our lives.

I don’t think that this wonderful author will ever write a story that I won’t like. Because with each book, my love and admiration for Shari Low, and her stories just keep on growing! And this book for sure was a heartfelt, heartwarming and even inspiring story! 

When even breaks aren’t murder-free anymore…

Synopsis

A holiday island…

When private investigator, Dan Armstrong, and his girlfriend, Anna, are invited to the gorgeous island of Elba for a much-needed break, he jumps at the chance. The thought of sun-drenched shores makes Dan promise Anna he won’t “play detective” for a whole week…

A luxury hotel…

Their luxurious hotel, with its wonderful food and picturesque seaside views, seems the perfect escape, especially with Dan’s best friend Virgilio and his wife joining them. But the calm shatters with a sinister encounter and a sudden, suspicious death..

A decades old case…

Virgilio’s past connection to the victim casts a long shadow, pulling Dan into a decades-old case. But beneath Elba’s beauty lie secrets and resentments – the victim was universally hated – but was his death the result of foul play or just a tragic accident?

With his faithful canine companion, Oscar, Dan must unravel the island’s mysteries, a task that soon takes a decidedly personal and unsettling turn.

My review

Private investigator Dan Armstrong, his partner Anna and their loyal furry companion Oscar are invited by their best friends to enjoy a break together on the island of Elba. All happy to spend some time together and to relax, there is just one golden rule: whatever happens, there will be no investigations. So even when there is a suspicious murder, Dan is trying to keep his word and stay out of it. That is until it becomes clear that the victim and Virgilio are connected, and Virgilio becomes suddenly a person of interest, especially as there are images of him together with the victim at the crime scene. Of course Dan believes in his friend’s innocence, and even Anna agrees that all the possible must be done to clear Virgilio’s name. Even if the victim himself wasn’t a beloved character, Dan is doing everything he can to find the real culprit, together with Oscar. But the more Dan investigates, the more secrets are being revealed, and more personal the matter becomes!

Another adventure in a great series, do you really need me to tell you how excited I was when i started? Of course not!  But excited I was! 😊

And for once, I was in a place I haven’t visited myself (yet), so I was exploring the island of Elba together with Dan & Co. Just like Dan, all I know about the island, is that bit about Napoleon, and that’s it. But with this book, with the exception of the murder streak that keeps on going for Dan and Oscar, it absolutely has my curiosity now!

Now, the author would totally shock me if Dan would have a complete relaxed break, without a mystery to be solved. 😊 So while I wanted Dan, Oscar and Anna have a relaxing time, I also wanted and knew that Dan and Oscar would be quickly back to their investigating business.

There are characters that make you feel a bit sad with their passing, but I cannot say that in this case that is applicable. Yes, I believe in giving second chances, and if someone has paid his dues, he deserves to live his life in peace. But it is clear that the victim is still not a loved character, and there are obvious signs that this leopard didn’t change its spots…

And in this murder case, what angered me the most, was how suddenly all suspects fall into the person that would be the last man able to do such a terrible thing. Because yes, fingers are pointed towards Virgilio… And even if he is connected with the victim, and him being in the forces isn’t a free pass (as we know that not everyone in the forces are genuine and following the rules), Virgilio is for sure, for even more than 100% one of the good guys.

If Dan wouldn’t be helping out, or if Anna would ‘forbid’ Dan to do his investigation, I would have been truly disappointed in them. But of course Dan helps out, and of course Anna is okay with it. Because not only they are best friends with Virgilio, but also because they are those kind of people, ready to help their friends in time of need, ready to prove their innocence, even if there may be indications of their guilt.

Obviously during Dan’s investigations, I put on my own investigation cap. And I must admit, the more secrets Dan unveiled, the more confused I started to get. And just when I thought I got it all figured out, something new happens, throwing all my solutions in the bin. 

Things also take a complete different turn when it starts to get even more personal, as Dan suddenly sees one of his worst fears becoming reality. In a strange way, his reaction and his thoughts made me like Dan even more, it made him feel even more real and human.

Obviously wherever Dan goes, Oscar goes too. And that dog… are we sure he is ‘just’ a dog and not a superdog? Because everything that Oscar does, that is just amazing! I want Oscar all for myself! 🙂 

T. A. Williams took us once again on a cozy mystery, where things got a little bit more personal for our investigation team. But also once again, we got to know this team, and their friends a little bit better, once again they felt even more real than the previous books.  And all this in a new setting (for me), with once again details for the Italian way of life and even love.

An amazing cover to reveal, from an amazing author with another amazing book!

Synopsis

Lucky in life but unlucky in love, Lucy Greenfield owns a successful carriage business along with her best friend Max, and they have never been busier since their shire horses gained fame from their roles in the hit movie A Little in Love.

Too busy for romance, Lucy is surprisingly swept off her feet when Spencer arrives seeking help with his horse, and something more from Lucy. As quickly as Lucy falls, she wonders if all is not as it seems. Max can prove it, but that means he will have to express his true feelings for Lucy.

Relationships are strained as secrets unravel, and Lucy needs to solve the riddle of words to best describe how she feels… For her best friend.

Together, they must overcome what’s keeping them apart before it’s too late, if they are going to realise that the word they are searching for is love.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH2J3M55

About the author

I was born in Coventry but now live in Nuneaton. I married the love of my life over 20 years ago and we have two almost grown up children. We share our lives with two mad dogs as well.

Writing is a great passion of mine, that one day I hope to be able to turn into a career but until that day comes, I will continue working in accounts and payroll.

The cover

When romance and love are dead…

Synopsis

Get ready to fall in love with the brand new romance in the Scottish Escapes series from bestselling author, Julie Shackman.

When romance author Rosie Winters’s own fairytale romance ends with a bang, she’s determined to get away from everything. Packing up her belongings she sets off for the furthest place she can think of: Scotland.

Rosie spent her summers at her late grandmother’s coastal cottage in the Highlands and knows it’ll be the perfect place to wallow for a while. Even better that there’s a gorgeous lighthouse and dolphins in the bay.

What Rosie didn’t expect was to bump into the new lighthouse keeper, Mitch. Despite her recent heartbreak, Rosie finds herself fascinated by the mysterious Mitch. As they spend more time together, is it possible that he needs Rosie every bit as she needs him…

My review

Rosie Winters had it all: her books are a real success, and she is in a loving marriage with Joe. His flaw though is that he is always late for anything. Even at Rosie’s latest book launch, Joe cannot manage to get there on time, not surprising Rosie at all. But while talking to him on the phone, Rosie’s world falls apart when Joe has an accident. However, Joe’s death isn’t the only shock Rosie gets, as she quickly after the funeral learns that her marriage wasn’t that perfect as she thought it was. Rosie needs to get away from everyone and everything, thus she escapes as far as possible as she can. And that brings her to her late grandmother’s coastal cottage in the highlands. There she can hide and wallow on her own, while admiring the beauty of the place. However, her peace and quiet aren’t all that peaceful and quiet, as people know about her,  and her grandmother. And then there is Mitch, the new lighthouse keeper and her neighbour. Not only finds Rosie being fascinated  by his presence, but he also is there in time of need. But is it Rosie that needs Mitch, or does Mitch need Rosie too?

There are series that I am truly invested in. And from the moment a new book is out in that series, I don’t care about the blurb, I just have to read it. This book is exactly like that. I saw the author has written something new, and I didn’t care what it would be about, I knew I wanted to read it. Perhaps it is even an advantage not knowing what it is about, and just discover the plot reading bit by bit?

I have read several books where right from the start, it is clear that the relationship the main character was or is in, is doomed. Or that there are at least writings on the walls that the main character sees or at least should see, as those signs are obvious.

Unfortunately, Rosie is blissfully happy in her marriage with Joe, and while they both have busy and demanding careers, she is so sure of their love. It was even sweet to learn that Rosie has been using Joe as inspiration in her books.

And that knowledge just made me so angry. Because we know that everything Rosie believed in, is going to fall apart. And while I was mentally prepared for losing Joe, I wasn’t prepared for the level of deceit he has been using.

I could completely comprehend Rosie, her need to hide away, to wallow, to give up on everything, But on the other hand, I also wanted to tell her to not make any haste decision, as perhaps in the future she would end up regretting them… It is normal to lose your mojo as a writer after such a tragedy. But no matter how much it hurts at the moments, never burn down any bridges…

Obviously, I was all in for Rosie to go to Scotland, as I could understand that at home, there would be too many reminders of the life she had, or rather, thought she had.

A getaway is exactly what Rosie needs, to not just lick her wounds, but also to find herself again. And I found it lovely that Rosie returns to her late grandmother’s cottage, to the home to a woman she loved so dearly.

I could feel how Rosie is embraced by everything that connects her with her grandparents, and even if they aren’t around anymore, their love is still palpable, and is what Rosie needs.

My heart warmed in this book, reading how somehow, through artistic eyes, Rosie reconnects with her grandmother Tilda. Discovering not only Tilda’s paintings, but also her diaries, makes Rosie more determined to do her grandmother proud, and fulfil Tilda’s dream.

A mission that makes her work closer together with Mitch, the new lighthouse keeper.

The lighthouse keeper Rosie didn’t expect to meet and is a bit confused about it. The lighthouse keeper that has his own reasons to be hiding away too.

But what I loved about Mitch is the fact that despite his own need to be hiding, he doesn’t hesitate to offer Rosie his help. And he quickly sees behind the façade that Rosie shows him, he doesn’t give up.

Mitch is carrying around a lot of guilt, after an event that has cost him a lot. A guilt that isn’t justified, but we all know how guilt works, don’t we?

So it was just sweet and heartwarming to see how these two hurt and broken people, find out they are neighbours, and slowly, with a lot of patience, time and even some fear, start to get closer.

Of course this all could be possible with the help of their canine friends, that have a hand – or rather paw – in the process. So a big shout – out to them too! 🙂 

While it was lovely to see that romance bloom between Rosie and Mitch, I fell more for the journey they both are going through. Because Rosie has lost her trust, her belief in love. And with her escaping to Scotland, she not only slowly finds herself again, but she sees love all around. Love that is in the romantic sense of the word, but also in many other ways.

I admired the determination to make things right again, to make a dream come true, even if that person isn’t around anymore. And I loved it how even in the most painful situations, people come in your life that affect you, that make you believe in all that is beautiful again.

And Julie Shackman managed to capture all of this, all of those important bits, in a wonderful story, with great characters that have been through hell, but are slowly finding their way back up, with the help of each other.

Can a childhood home make you feel like being at home again?

Synopsis

Will she give everything up for love?

Freya Sinclair has it all. An exciting life in London, a successful career as a ceramicist and a handsome boyfriend. But when she receives a call that her elderly father is in hospital, she drops everything to support his recovery in Skye.

Back on the island, Freya finds a new lease on life – Coorie Castle’s craft centre is firing her creativity and she’s glad to be back with her dad again. Being so close to her schoolgirl crush, Mackenzie Burns, is an added bonus. The two share an instant connection and Freya misses her old life less and less.

But Freya has a boyfriend at home and now a dazzling job offer in New York. She must figure out what she truly wants, before anyone gets hurt.

A heartwarming, feel-good cosy romance perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Julie Shackman and Sue Moorcroft.

My review

Freya Sinclair is slowly growing her career in London as a ceramicist. As her boyfriend is also in the artistic world, it for sure seems a match made in heaven. However, when Freya receives a call that her father has had a fall and needs to recover, she doesn’t hesitate to go back to the Isle of Skye, to help her father. Even if her father is testing everyone’s patience, Freya is just as stubborn, and doesn’t relent. The more time she spends on Skye, the more inspiration Freya seems to find, especially when she visits the Coorie Castle’s craft centre. And she even has an instant connection with her former crush, Mackenzie Burns. Mack feels that same connection, even if he has never been looking for love and has a certain reputation concerning relationships. But no matter what either of them are feeling, or starting to feel, Freya is still in a relationship with Hadrian, and as a job proposition in New York. And she is just in Skye to help her father, so what when he has recovered and Freya is no longer needed?

I am a home – person, meaning that even if I moved out, I still live nearby the place I grew up. So for me it is a bit difficult to understand how it is to live so far from not only the place you grew up, but also so far from your family and friends.

And perhaps it is because I don’t know how it feels, that I enjoy reading such stories, where the main characters left their homebase, built a life somewhere else and for some reason, return to the place they escaped from.

I am not an artistic person myself, but I do appreciate art, whether it is a painting, a building, of even some pottery. If I like something, I like it and appreciate the work and effort the artist put in it. And ceramic for sure intrigues me, how something beautiful can be created from just a piece of clay…

So in that aspect, I admired Freya and I was even proud of her, seeing as she is getting the recognition of what she creates. And I can imagine it is not easy to  be successful in such a niche branch, so I was extra proud of her of what she achieves!

Of course I was also intrigued in getting to why she has left her home in Skye, and while I understood her, as her grief was too big, it also saddened me.

Even if Skye reminds her of the loss of her mother, she doesn’t hesitate when she hears about the accident her father had. And she doesn’t return out of duty, because it is expected from her, as a daughter, but because she wants to.

And that shows us the kind of person Freya is. She drops everything in London, to assist the father that has given her so much while growing up. She wants to help her father while he is in need, and even if he for sure is testing her patience (and not only Freya’s to be honest), she doesn’t give up, but stands her ground when needed, but also lets things pass when they are irrelevant.

Seeing Freya back home, somehow was more Freya to me than when Freya was in London. London is an exciting city, a fancy city. And without any disrespect, I felt right from the start that that isn’t just Freya. Freya is just a comfy girl, give her her Doc Martens above fancy high heels, a comfy sweater above a tight dress. In fact, that made me relate to Freya much more and easier, because I am just alike!

It was lovely to see Freya rediscovering her home again, to see how she gets inspiration from bits she appears to have forgotten, those tiny details that make a whole difference. And being back home makes her realize that Skye has a lot to offer, even things that she could never find or see in London.

And it warmed my heart to see how everyone welcomes Freya back home. And that for sure can make a difference, because without that warm embrace, it would make a complete different story. Not only is Freya now reconnecting with old friends, but also with an old crush, being Mackenzie Burns.

Mack… we all know the kind of men that aren’t looking for a steady relationship, but are enjoying life and encounters for just the night. And I am not judging Mack, if that is what works for him, and he isn’t intentionally hurting anyone, why shouldn’t he?

But when he meets Freya again, there is something that changes in him. Not that he suddenly becomes the perfect partner – material. But for a reason he cannot fantom himself, he just cannot get Freya out of his mind.

Mack is obviously a good guy, he is a great brother, a great son, an amazing uncle and even if he finds it difficult to let go the reins, a great and understanding boss. He is also a person that understands boundaries, because from the moment he learns that Freya isn’t available, he tries to stay away from her, making sure that no lines are being crossed.

And that is something thar I truly appreciated in this book, that even if the attraction keeps on growing, sparks keep on flying, there is always the respect that Freya is together with Hadrian. Even if Hadrian is someone I truly didn’t like. Him as a boyfriend leaves much to be desired. He doesn’t appear a lot in the book, but when he does, I wished him away as soon as possible…

There are many moments where Freya and Mack are spending time together. But while things evolve between them, this book is definitely about Freya’s journey. A journey where Freya has to make decisions and choices. Not only about what home is, but also what to do with her career. And in fact, what is the right thing to do, to follow your passions and dreams, or put everything on hold for the people you love the most? And is the relationship you are in at

the moment, the right kind of relationship?

I absolutely devoured this emotional rollercoaster that Lilac Mills wrote. She took us not only on a real journey to Skye, but also on this emotional journey, about rediscovering your home again, about self – discovery and about finding those emotions that were missing…. What a delight!

Can the most painful events of your life turn into something great?

Synopsis

Could a blast from the past be the secret ingredient to their future?

Asher Wright has spent his career creating and concocting the perfect dishes and is about to open his very own restaurant. Life is good. His love life, however, is far from cooking! He hasn’t thought about Lucy Gray in years – not since they both graduated, reeling from the shocking loss of her then boyfriend and his best friend Kris, who tragically died at 18. So when he witnesses the breakdown of her wedding in all its humiliating glory – old wounds and long-buried emotions resurface.

As Lucy lands a right hook on her soon-to-be ex-fiancée in front of their entire wedding party, she has a moment of realization… Love is not on the menu for her! Fate, however, has other plans… A chance twist of events lands Asher as the private chef for Lucy’s spirited grandmother, Mitzi, and what begins as awkward encounters in Mitzi’s Portland mansion soon evolves into a simmering connection she never expected.

As Asher and Lucy work through their past they discover a bond that feels both familiar and excitingly new.

My review

Lucy Gray didn’t expect that her wedding day would end with her breaking her fiancé’s nose just minutes before saying ‘I Do’. But of course she didn’t expect to see a video of him at his bachelor party getting a bit too close and intimate with another woman. And apparently he hasn’t been that monogamous at all… Now Lucy has decided that love isn’t on the menu. Not only love, but men in general. But then a man enters her  life… Or rather re-enters her life. Because the private chef her grandmother Mitzi has hired is no other than Asher. Asher, who not only revealed Brandon’s real character, but was also best friends with Lucy’s high school sweetheart, Kris, who died tragically in an accident. Now Asher is ready to open a restaurant with his brother. Things are going well for him, except when it comes to love. Because he hasn’t been all that lucky in love in the past… While initially things are a bit awkward between Asher and Lucy, bit by bit, a friendship starts to form, a complicity that they both didn’t expect to find with each other. But will their shared past allow them to move on together? Or will it be something that will keep them apart?

When we were teenagers, haven’t we all have had a sweetheart? In most cases, that relationship, if we can call it like it, may seem like the real deal, that it will last a lifetime. But in most cases, it is just puppy love. The relationship ends, and eventually, hopefully, we will find that real deal, that amazing love.

So when I learned in this book, that Lucy’s relationship with Kris ended way more tragically, of course I felt for Lucy. Because even if their future together perhaps wasn’t written in the stars, Kris’s premature dying ends things too abruptly and without any way of appropriate closure. And that made me fear that Lucy would be holding to this perfect version of her relationship with Kris. As no matter who she would be meeting, he would never be able to live up to the image of Kris…

Of course we know what is going to happen in Vegas and her wedding day, that in a way only confirmed my suspicions, that she isn’t able to find someone right for her, that she is blind to the red flags.

Yet I admired her feistiness when she is shown his betrayal and does stand op herself and even shows her strength, literally and figuratively speaking!

In the real world, it would never happen, or the stars would align very strangely, to let Lucy and Asher meet again after so many years, in Vegas, just moments before Lucy is getting married. But as his is a book, anything can happen in it, doesn’t it? 😊

It was sweet, to see how Lucy meets Asher again, after all those years. Having lost the same person they loved, connects them in a way that no one else could understand, or could be. And while they were both happy to see each other, it reminds them again of what, or rather who, they have lost. It is a bittersweet encounter, that they have, yet it is also a genuine one.

It is clear from the first time that Asher enters the scene, that he is truly one of the good guys. He  is genuinely happy for Lucy, and wishes her all the best. And even when he is faced with the truth about Lucy’s fiancé, he knows what the right thing to do is, no matter how much it will hurt Lucy initially.

I liked Asher immediately, for so many different reasons. He is genuine, honest, loyal and reliable. And yes, food is the only way to my heart, so him being a great cook, and on the verge of opening his own restaurant made my admiration for him only grow.

I have to also admit, I found him also very adorable. And while perhaps that doesn’t sound very attractive, it fits for Asher!

On the other hand, I also felt so sorry for Asher too. Reading about his past relationships, and how they all ended, just saddened me. Asher didn’t deserve to be treated that way by those women… And that made me understand his reticence, his insecurities and even his doubts all the better.

It was funny to read how Asher and Lucy suddenly are seeing each other each day, due him being Lucy’s and Mitzi’s personal chef. And even more reading how Lucy is falling for not only Asher’s cooking skills, but slowly, very slowly, also for Asher.

The more time they spend together, the more their complicity grows, the more their friendship grows, the more their understanding of each other grows. Yet as a reader it was also a bit frustrating to read how they find it so difficult to admit what they are truly feeling, not only to each other but also to themselves.

This book is filled with so much laughter and sweet smiles. But it is also obvious and mainly about characters finding their trust in love again. Both Asher and Lucy have been through a lot, a lot of pain too. And they have to see and learn that love is in fact a beautiful thing, if you can find the courage to let it in. It is also about letting go of the past, and move on from it. Moving on, which doesn’t mean forget, but to allow yourself to live your life and love at the fullest. And seeing Lucy and Asher going through this discovery together, is not only heart – warming but also inspiring!

The pace of this book is perhaps on the slower side, but it the perfect pace for the story. Because feelings, emotions, thoughts, don’t just change overnight, it is all whole process to go through. If the pace would have been even a tiny bit faster, it wouldn’t fit with the main characters’ personas. With this gentle pace it was not only easier to relate with them, but it was also more realistic.

I had high expectations for this book, as I have read several books from this wonderful author, which I all adored. And I can gladly say that this book will be added to that list!