Sweetness over the top!

Synopsis

When Olivia goes to manage Finn’s failing bistro, will they end up sharing a table for two, or will it be a recipe for disaster?

Olivia Fuller longs to manage one of the restaurants in her father’s chain and to break free to live the independent life she’s wanted for so long. When her father finally puts his trust in her and sends her to a failing restaurant in Devon, she’s confident she can prove herself capable of doing the job.

Finn Anderson is about to lose his beloved seaside bistro, unless the bank can find a buyer to dig him out. When George Fuller offers Finn a deal, he has no choice but to accept if he wants any chance of getting his bistro back one day. And then the new manager arrives…

Even after meeting the prickly chef and discovering his complete lack of business skills, 

Olivia is confident she can turn the struggling business round. But as Olivia and Finn start working together, a mutual attraction develops between them, and soon, nothing is going according to Olivia’s plan. 

When there’s a real chance that the bistro might be sold off, Olivia and Finn determine to fight for it, united by their hard work and their growing feelings for each other.

But can they save the bistro and be together, or does destiny have a different path in mind?

A feel-good contemporary romance set in a bistro beside the sea in Devon.

My review

Sometimes all you have to do is stand up for yourself and never give up your dreams, even if the situation seems impossible.

And love can be found in the most strange places.

This is what I’ve learned after reading this sweet book.

Finn is obligated to sell his bistro after not being able to make a successful business of it. With pain in his heart, he sells it to The Rivièra, famous for its chain restaurants.

Olivia is the daughter of the boss but feels that her efforts are not appreciated at her workplace. And just the moment she decides to leave the business, her father gives her the opportunity to go and see how a failing bistro can be made profitable again.

And yes, it’s Finn’s bistro!

Here does the real story start. Like I said, this is truly a sweet story. Don’t misunderstand me, I really enjoyed it!

But if I had to describe how the book feels to me, it’s ‘sweet’.

Both Olivia and Finn have to stand up for themselves and just cannot accept that the current situation is the final one.

When they start working together, they are of course a bit suspicious. But soon they realise that they chase the same dream for the bistro and that together they can achieve so much more than alone.

And even when they start getting more and more along, their acts are so sweet and genuine. They both want for each other what’s best, even if it means sacrificing themselves for the higher purpose.

During the story you get to know both Finn and Olivia better, and you get to learn the struggles they faced in the past. They both learn from each other, and slowly they grow into an even better version of themselves, not afraid to chase their dreams and facing the past, but also those against them!

I know, I am very repetitive, but sit down and enjoy this amazingly sweet story!

When the second part of the series fulfills every expectation..

Synopsis

The summer she will never forget…

Time’s running out for Iggy Ludworth to restore the wild gardens of Camland Castle in time for the Summer Fete, so she ropes in hotshot gardener Will Talbot…

But she regrets her decision as soon as he sets foot in the historic grounds – not only is Will arrogant and bossy, he’s totally gorgeous!

And very soon, sparks are flying amongst the bluebells. Yet with summer nearly over, will their summer fling convince Will and Iggy to go the distance?

Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

Book 1: Spring Skies Over Bluebell Castle
Book 2: Sunshine Over Bluebell Castle
Book 3: Starlight Over Bluebell Castle

My review

I loved it! I loved it! I loved it! I loved it! I loved it!

What more can I say?

The first book already made me fall in love with Bluebell Castle and his inhabitants, but now I’m addicted!

When I got the opportunity to be joining the reviewing tour, I just KNEW I had to be in it. And I was over the moon when I received the copy of this book.

A little bit of fear I had, as sometimes the second part in a series is never as good as the first one. But never ever had I the feeling that this book was not as good as the first one.

Iggy is, despite living in a castle, such a normal, down to earth (even literally!) girl, not afraid to dirty her hands.

She is an independant woman, doing whatever it takes to make her plan come together. She doesn’t like to ask help, but she knows when it’s absolutely required.

But she’s also a bit insecure, can she just trust Will, are his feelings real or is he only pretending? And what about her own feelings?

And Will… he’s just this sexy gardener (but not just A gardener, he’s the most perfect one!) who works at Bluebell Castle, making Iggy her plans come into reality and even doing more than that!

As he is nationally famous, initially he ‘escapes’ London and hides in the castle. But after meeting with Iggy, he cannot ignore the attraction.

As already said, this story got me hooked, and I couldn’t put it away.

It was a genuine story, with deeper levels on the emotional parts. But also when Helena, the triplets mother, comes back, you know it that the worse it yet to come.

Despite having a horrible mother, Arthur, Iggy and Tristan are amazing persons, you just wish they were real and you could just go to Bluebell Castle!

I cannot wait to read Tristan his story!!! And now my list of ‘OMG, I have to read all the books this author wrote’ is even longer!

What could have happened in the meanwhile…

Synopsis

It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now…”

Cathy’s immortal words from Wuthering Heights change Heathcliff’s life.  At just seventeen years of age, heartbroken and penniless, he runs away to face an unknown future.

Three years later, he returns – much improved in manners, appearance and prosperity.

But what happened during those years? How could he have made his fortune, from nothing? Who might his parents have been? And what fate turned him into literature’s most famous anti-hero?

For almost two centuries, these questions have remained unanswered.

Until now…

My review

Yes, I am not ashamed admitting I’ve read Wuthering Heights several times. Each time I was reading it, I wondered what Heathcliff did the years after he left Catherine.

I guess nobody will ever really know and we can only use our own imagination.

And that’s exactly what Sue Barnard did.

She thought what could have happened and created her own story.

And after reading her story, it makes all perfectly sense.

As said before, we can only imagine what adventures Heathcliff took part in, but this story fills in all the blanks.

It stays also true to the writing style of Emily Brönte, keeping you in the same atmosphere.

It’s also a nice touch that you read from different point of views, making sure you gather the whole story, all the thoughts and feelings.

Everybody who read Wuthering Heights knows how the story ends for Heathcliff, and honestly, he wasn’t the nicest person in the world.

This book made him look more human, less unlikeable.

You get to learn him, see what caused the hardness in his demeanor and you sympathise with him.

So my initial fear of having one of my all time favourite books being torn into shreds, was totally misplaced.

This was a great story to read and enlighted me, made me enjoy it to the full!

Not the usual love story!

Synopsis

Having an affair is inconceivable to Dani and yet she’s having one with Alex. He’s married, he’s an actor and she’s his agent.

Then Dani meets Sean, a paparazzi photographer with a formidable reputation. It’s a profession that makes him unpredictable at best. A dangerous trait when his motivation to expose becomes personal. 

Dani knows she’s made mistakes. She also knows she’s not the first person who wilfully hurt someone they love and is simply unable to explain why.

My review

First thing you need to know, is that the book goes very fast.

It took me a while to realise this fact, but if you know this from the start, the book will make more sense.

Even if you think only a small lapse of time has passed, in truth a couple of months have passed.

So if you think that everything is going way too fast, it’s not.

This story had me really thinking, how you sometimes cannot just explain your own actions. You do something wrong, and you know it is, but you just cannot stop yourself.

This is what happening with Dani. She’s the agent of happily married Alex and somehow she finds herself having an affair with him.

And then she starts a relationship with Sean, a paparazzi.

You already know that one of the relationships is going to be doomed. But is it the affair, being discovered by Sean? Or is Sean going to be dumped, as Alex is the right man for Dani?

This isn’t a typical love story where all is forgotten and forgiven. Dani needs to learn to live with the consequences of her choices and has to do some deep digging in her past.

And who will be prepared to forgive her for her badly made choices? And will she get her life back together or not?

The life of an agent isn’t an easy one, as work is always the first priority. And love messes up the perfect balance Dani had.

So in some kind of way, it’s a sad story, but there is always a silver lining in the places you least expect it.

A little bit of everything!

Synopsis

It looks like a perfect Cornish autumn, with aspiring novelist Maisie Clark still finding inspiration as a maid at the historic Penmarrow Hotel. Between the staff of quirky co-workers, glamorous and unusual guests, and her growing friendship with the charming but mysterious Sidney Daniels, Maisie is living out adventures instead of just penning them in the pages of her would-be novel’s growing number of chapters.

And then there’s the slight problem of keeping the balance between friendship and ‘something more’ with Sidney, who’s helping introduce her to the village’s version of a Cornish Halloween, and has recently taken an interest in Maisie’s secret that may change things between them. But even Maisie’s imagination can’t conjure the unusual event this Halloween brings to the Penmarrow. An eccentric earl has chosen this site to host his lavish birthday celebration that includes a pretty (and perceptive) young psychic whose predictions seem to have everyone on edge — and, to Maisie’s delight, the elusive novelist Alistair Davies is rumored to be part of the guest list! But with the earl’s bickering relatives and illustrious friends on hand— and more than one ghost of the past waiting to be revealed — it’s anyone’s guess what the festivities will bring before the party is over.

Will the psychic foretell doom for the earl’s gathering—and is her ‘gift’ as genuine as it seems? Will Maisie finally meet her favorite author face to face? And, more importantly, what about the romantic sparks that fly between Maisie and Sidney?

My review

Reading a book that’s the 2nd part of a series without having read the first one, is always tricky.

How many references will there be? And will I understand the whole story, while I missed the beginning?

Luckily for me, this story could be read as a perfect standalone. Of course, if you have read the first part, it would be a little easier, but it isn’t an absolute requirement.

This is a real mystic story… are the séances the real thing? Is the so proclaimed psychic a real one, or is she faking it?

Main character Maisie is asking herself the same questions, while she is also trying to write a book, blending in the hotel and the town, and continuing her friendship with Sidney. Because that’s all there is, right?

This is an enjoyable story to read, leaving you longing for more of it. I reached the end, while I wasn’t even ready for the story to be over!

It was nice to see how the mysteries are being unveiled, but don’t let you down.

Sometimes when a magic trick is revealed, you feel let down when the diceiving part is so easy. But here you get to know everything and you have a feeling it was all for the better!

I wanted to see if all ends well while now you’re kind of left hanging…

For me it felt like I finished a chapter instead of the whole book. And mentally I wasn’t just prepared for the end!

So yes, count me in for reading the following parts!

When a story doesn’t let you! ❤️❤️❤️

Synopsis

Polly and Olly were never supposed to meet…

Polly might spend her days searching for eligible matches for her elite list of clients at her New York dating agency, but her own love life is starting to go up in smoke.

Even worse, she can’t stop thinking about the very person she’s meant to be setting her latest client up with… surely it can’t get any worse!

But then Polly bumps into oh-so-handsome Olly, who heads up a rival agency, and realizes that perhaps all really is fair in love and dating war…

Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Debbie Viggiano.

My review

As in the past I’ve already read a book written by Zoe, I couldn’t resist to read and review another one!

Knewing her style, I knew what to expect and it didn’t let me down!

Polly is a British girl, but living in New York. As she has a hard time finding a job as a photographer, she decided to apply for a job in a dating agency.

She likes playing match maker even if it isn’t the dream she chased in life.

But her agency isn’t the only one, and soons she finds out that there is just 1 big rival…

And right there works Olly…

The interaction between Polly and Olly isn’t constant present, which makes it possible that we just get to know Polly better. We learn that she has dreams but finds it hard to realise. Also is she not a dress up doll, making sure wearing nice clothes, putting tons of make-up etc. She’s just a normal girl, trying to find her way in the world.

This makes this story not just a love story, but a story about how a young woman is growing, getting stronger and trying to fit in.

Slowly Polly goes from a wallflower to this strong, independant woman.

And in the meantime, she develops more feelings for the man she never expected to have feelings for.

As usual for Zoe May her books (ok I know, it’s only the second book I’ve read 😃), just when you think everything is going for the best, a little drama happens. And the characters have to find a way of getting back together and just dare to take the leap of faith.

Again an amazing story!

A big surprise for me!

Synopsis

A bachelor party on a cruise ship. What could go wrong?

When private detective Francie is hired to spy on a groom-to-be as he and his bachelor party set sail for the Caribbean, she thinks she’s landed herself a week of paid vacation. Between lounging in the sun and sipping margaritas, she just needs to–best case scenario–report back that he’s on the up and up, or–the unfortunate, more likely scenario–snap a few photos of her target in compromising positions, buy a box of sympathy chocolates for her client, and then collect her pay along with a nice golden suntan.

Blame it on the island breezes or the alcohol, but within hours of setting sail, Francie’s leisurely vacation gets complicated when she starts making careless mistakes. Like accidentally becoming friends with the groom and falling for his best man.

Can she get herself and her mission back on track, or has she blown her cover and possibly even her career?

My review

This was a true surprise for me, reading this book.

I started reading it, without having too high expectations. Because you know it’s a novella, and the genre already makes you know what the end will be like.

So I thought it would be a book like so many, you can easily put it away without reading it, and not missing out.

And yes, I finished it rather quickly, even for my standards, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it!

As I have never been on a cruise, it made me dream about exotic locations, meeting new people etc.

Francie is a private investigator hired by Danielle. Danielle wants proof that her fiancée is cheating on her during the trip his friends organised.

So Francie steps outside her comfort zone and goes on the cruise to do her job.

Being a real wallflower, she doesn’t really blend in, and when she finds out it’s a cruise for single people, she’s feeling even more awkward!

But then she makes a few friends, and suddenly she’s part of a ‘gang’… and in that gang is also Evan, the man she’s supposed to spy on!

And here the story really starts, as she meets Eli.

She has to find a way to do her job, as she’s being stalked by neurotic Danielle for updates, but she has to make sure nobody finds out what her reasons are.

Short story yes, but it also gives Francie the chance to grow, to be more confident and stand up for herself.

She also learns not settling for less and make her own choices, driven by her heart and not because it’s the easy choice.

This is a nice book to read while you’ll enjoying the sun. And if you’re not on a cruise yourself, just image being on the Oceanic Aphrodite!