Even best friends have secrets…

Synopsis

One New Year’s Eve, Georgie James and her friends come up with a genius plan to help them stick to their resolutions… They all write down secrets, seal them in envelopes and then post them to each other. The secrets will be revealed at the end of the year if they haven’t kept their resolutions.

It’s perfect. Except…

Georgie’s secret is BIG… and revealing it could destroy their friendships. She has no idea why she chose that one to write down. There are plenty of innocent things she could have said – even admitting she finds newcomer Raf incredibly annoying would have been better.

What she does know is that there’s no way she can let her secret be revealed. Which means she needs to keep her (nightmare) resolutions and, most importantly, get her envelope back before anyone can open it. Which, given she sent her secret to Raf, means spending a lot more time with him than she’d choose to…

A heartwarming romantic comedy for fans of Beth O’Leary and Mhairi McFarlane

My review

New Year’s resolutions are always started with the best intentions, but also fall apart as quickly as they were made.
But Georgie James and her best friends come up with a genius plan to stick to them: they will all write down their secrets and post them to each other. And if they failed their resolutions, those secrets will be revealed.
Plans made infused by alcohol is never a good idea, especially as Georgie writes down a secret that big that could destroy everything…
So when she learns that Raf is in possession of her secret, she is determined to have that envelope back in her hands, even if that means spending more and more time with him.

I am always a bit envious when friends, eve the fictional ones, are have been best friends like forever. That is a kind of friendship I don’t have (now, don’t pity me, I have best friends, but the friendships I had in my childhood didn’t stand the test of time 😊) and it amazes me how that love is still there, no matter how many years have passed.

In this book, we have four best friends, and their partners, coming together regularly, spending time together and find comfort in each other’s presence. So obviously they also spend New year’s Eve together, with the mandatory glass of champagne (or even more glasses).
These friends know everything about each other (or at least they think they do), and support each other through everything.
So it made perfectly sense that they would come up with a plan to succeed in their resolutions. Because haven’t we all had resolutions and failed at them, some quicker than others?

I found it a bit a dangerous plan, to use secrets as a ‘blackmail’ to keep up with their resolutions, but of course the stakes had to be high in order to make the friends succeed.
And while I think I would write a silly secret, I could understand while a bit inebriated, Georgie would write down her biggest secret.

A secret that admittedly, didn’t come as a great shock to me, as I found there were enough breadcrumbs spread around the book.
And even if I at moments found that Georgie could have had several opportunities to come clean about it over the years, I could also understand why she didn’t.
Because no matter how strong a friendship is, it can take one crack to break it all apart…

The focus in this book is mainly on Georgie and her quest to get the envelope back from Raf. And seeing them spending time together was lovely, and we could easily see the developments there. But I also couldn’t forget what Georgie’s plan was and I was a bit afraid of the reaction when that plan would come out, because it for sure would!

And the other focus was on Poppy, as she also has a secret she is afraid to vocalize. Yet her secret is more of a fear than a real secret..
Perhaps her ‘secret’ was one that most people can relate to, as it’s something that is more likely to be happening to any of us (or at least the doubts and fears are, not the actual fact of it 😊).

I found it a bit a pity that while there are four of best friends, the focus was only on two of them. Because it would for sure would have been great to also have a better insight in all of the friends, and not just Georgie and Poppy.
But on the other hand, I also understand that choices need to be made while writing a story!

There were some moments that made me roll my eyes over the behaviour of the protagonists, as I was thinking ‘just get a grip’. But when there is so much at stake, it isn’t easy to stay rational about it, and you may act out of character.

While reading, I also had to have a few snickering moments, as some resolutions were so typical but also so crazy (because resolutions are about making things better, not to make things ‘worse’ in a way). Yet it was also funny how all the friends were adamant of not backing out, and documenting every time they resist to just give up.

But I liked the most to see the works of real friendship, even at the most difficult test. And I liked the impartiality of it too. because it’s easy to point fingers and chose sides, but real friends don’t do that.
We see how friendships are being tested, and how trust can be broken. But with a friendship so strong, is a mistake of the past, a kept secret, worthy of throwing away everything friends have been through together?

And that is the real beauty of the story, because things in this book don’t always go that easy, just like real life. But some connections are worth of the fight, even if at first instance they broke our hearts….

Love is always a work in progress…

Synopsis

Life would be idyllic if everyone else was on the same page…

Puddleduck Vets Practice is busier than ever.
Phoebe Dashwood is juggling the usual crazy animal antics of her quirky clients, whilst organising the wedding of her bridezilla grandmother and thankfully dating her perfect man.

Phoebe loves every minute of being a New Forest vet, even if she hardly has time to catch her breath. If only she could find some quality time for her and the man of her dreams, life would be perfect.

When an ex’s heartbreak stirs up some emotions from the past, Phoebe realises she must deal with some unfinished business. It would seem a miracle is needed to pull off a happy ending for everyone – but is it within Phoebe’s power to work miracles?

My review

Puddleduck Farm is always a place full of surprises. Phoebe Dashwood loves running her Vets Practice, and as she now finally has admitted her feelings towards Sam, life couldn’t be any better. Even her grandmother becoming a real bridezilla isn’t an issue for Phoebe!
But being a vet also means always being busy… and taking time from her and Sam. And while Sam may seemingly not be making an issue of it, Phoebe starts to wonder if the reality cannot live up to Sam’s dream of being together with Phoebe. Even if they are together for a short time, are they on the same page concerning the future?
And Phoebe cannot stop worrying about Rufus, because even if they aren’t together, when tragedy strikes his family, she wants to be there for him. But is Rufus now ready to let someone in? Because even if things didn’t work out with Phoebe, it doesn’t mean it won’t work out with someone else? IS there a happy end in line for everyone?

What a wonderful delight returning to Puddleduck Farm! I am not into large animals, never let me get close to a horse, or even a cow for that matter, but I for sure can love them from afar or in amazing books like this one!

I am always eager to know what happens after a couple gets together. Because getting together is the easiest part (although, for Phoebe and Sam it for sure took a long time! 😊) but a relationship is always a work in progress, and both parties have to find their find in a changed position. And being a vet does mean getting unexpected calls away, cancelling dates, or just being tired after a long and hard day of work.
So I just had to see how this lovely couple would find the perfect balance and be happy together!

It may sound weird, but I found it somehow sweet how especially Phoebe was not sure of where she was heading as a couple with Sam.
Not that I liked her self – doubting, but it was more that Phoebe is having and even expressing doubts that everyone has. Especially as Phoebe went from being best friends with Sam to that deeper connection. The fear she has is real, because what if things wouldn’t work out? No matter how determined or how much in love you can be, you will never know what the future brings. And if things should go terribly wrong, it’s not only the end of a relationship, but also that of an amazing friendship.
Phoebe’s thoughts makes her a more reliable and real character, because it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows in life.

Phoebe is in this third instalment, despite her doubts, still that amazing person I got to know from the previous books. She is kind, gentle, with a great heart, compassionate and doesn’t hold grudges. And we see that how she still cares about Rufus. Even if things weren’t meant to be between them, she still worries about him, and wants to be there for him as a friend. And that was truly lovely to see, because you don’t stop caring about someone when things doesn’t work out romantically.

I have to admit, I didn’t really like – like Rufus in this book. Yes, he is still learning to cope with his fears, but he also allows the past to still hold a tight grip over him, making him even more closed off than before. And while when something unexpected happens (although I had a gut feeling about this),  I was a bit shocked by this. But I was more shocked to see Rufus making once again the same mistake and hurt the people he cares about the most.

Obviously there are a lot of other things happening in this book, some lovely events but also some events that makes you stop a moment and think about it. Because while there is a lot of lightness in this book, there is also room for serious matters. Matters that perhaps have been kept hidden, but when once exposed, is met with such understanding and love, that it can give enough courage to take matter back in own hands.

And obviously, we read once again that communication is key. Because opening up, talking about your fears, doubts and thoughts, is what can make or break a relationship. In a relationship, you have to be able to express what’s bothering you, because perhaps whatever it is that haunts your thoughts, isn’t what is truly going on.
Because reality can be that even when you don’t know, you can be on the same page. And that when love is the real thing, even those short moments (or too short moments) shared together can be the most amazing moments.

This author wrote exactly what I was expecting from this third instalment, even more layers to a already amazing series. I loved reading every bit of it!

To need to find calmness in the daily hectic, to find something much more important

Synopsis

There are worse fates than growing up knowing that you will one day inherit a vast and magnificent Cotswolds country estate, but for Rhys Travers it has always felt like a huge responsibility.

Juniper Meadows is home to much of his extended family, not to mention the many local businesses that operate on the estate, so there’s no time to sit back and enjoy the view. Juniper Meadows is a full-time job, and that doesn’t leave much time for romance…

Tasha Blake’s career leaves no time for romance either – much to her mother’s chagrin. Tasha’s sister Danni has kindly provided two grandchildren, but Victoria Blake is keen for more! When her job takes her to Juniper Meadows for an extended project, the slower pace of life, the beauty of the countryside and the warmth of the Travers family, soon has Tasha in its thrall, and the future Lord of the Manor Rhys Travers is rather easy on the eye too.

As the busyness of life on the estate sweeps Tasha and Rhys along, they are both able to ignore the secrets and silences that are growing between them. But when the future of Juniper Meadows hangs in the balance, loyalties and love are tested to breaking point. When the chips are down, can Rhys and Tasha see a future together, come rain or shine…

Sarah Bennett is back with her signature blend of warmth and joy, plot and pace. A Sarah Bennett book is a ray of sunshine and a huge hug, guaranteed to brighten any day, perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

Rhys Travers knows that one day, he will inherit Juniper Meadows. And while on paper it seems a great gift, Rhys also knows that it all comes with a great responsibility. A responsibility he is already carrying, as running the place is more than a fulltime job, leaving no room for anything else, not even romance.
Something that Tasha Blake can relate with. Because her job is a demanding one, even if her own mother wishes to see her settled, preferable with some extra grandchildren too!
When a project brings Tasha to Juniper Meadows, she is quickly enthralled by the beauty of the place and the warmth she received from the Travers family.
And while working together, both Rhys and Tasha have to try to ignore their mutual attraction… But when secrets are revealed, is there a chance that their blooming relationship will stand the test?

Why is it always such a delight to pick up a book from this amazing author? And why does it warm each time my heart to return to Juniper Meadows?
Because once again I was wowed by another wonderful story about love, warmth, kindness and the wonder of peaceful nature!

There is something about both characters that, even if they find themselves in a peculiar situation, made me immediately like them.
They are both very responsible people, with a heart for what they do. But they also have a sense of what’s right and what’s wrong. We see this especially with Tasha, as she is doing what she has been instructed to do. Yet she feels that something isn’t right, and just follows her gut feeling, doing as she is told, but not more than that.

Yet it’s clear even before we truly know the main characters, that they are kind and loving people, ready to protect who and what they love.
But they also have their own struggles… Rhys is struggling with taking care of Juniper Meadows, as he wants to once again protect the place he loves, but to do it all is just a too big of a task.
And Tasha is struggling with not only the high expectations from her mother, which collide with her own expectations. But also is she struggling with doing as her boss wants to do and what is in fact the right thing to do.

It was sweet to see the pair together, firstly just working together, but slowly also realizing that there are some serious sparks between them. And yes, it was also a bit funny seeing them trying to resist, only to fail miserably!
But I was also curious to see how things would develop once all the secrets were revealed. Because it’s unpredictable how people can react to such revelations, and I was having my fingers and even my toes crossed that the light would be seen rather quickly, as this lovely couple deserve to have and be in each other’s lives.

Obviously I was so happy to see the whole Travers family again. I don’t think there is a more welcoming, open, and even forgiving family as them. They accept Tasha as one of their own, involve her even with just family matters and understand the position Tasha found herself in.

This story once again revolves about love in a wonderful and warm setting, surrounded by amazing people. Sometimes it can be the strangest situations that can bring us the most unexpected yet most wonderful things on our path. And love can be the most powerful emotion, making even forgive and forget what can appear to be a terrible betrayal.

Sarah Bennett wrote again a captivating story that swept me away, wanting me to go over to Juniper Meadows myself and let myself embrace with the warmth, kindness and love of an amazing family and their loved ones!

When trying to find your roots brings you so much more

Synopsis

Escape to the Amalfi Coast and feel the warmth of the Italian sun on your face, hear the sound of the turquoise waves crashing on the beach and fall in love with a new enemies to lovers romance!

Lia Bathurst had always dreamed of escaping to the white sandy beaches and turquoise blue seas of the Amalfi coast – but that dream hadn’t included meeting her real father. A father she had never even known about until a few weeks ago! Yet here she was, standing outside the gates of a gorgeous pink villa being refused entry by the insufferable – and insufferably handsome – Raphael Knight, her father’s business manager.

When an old black and white photo proves Lia’s claim to be true, Raph is determined to make sure this stranger, with her long caramel waves and infectious smile, doesn’t have an ulterior motive. Even if that means not letting her out of his sight.

As temperatures rise, and not just from the heat of the Mediterranean sun, could Lia and Raph’s forced proximity lead to something more like… amore?

My review

Lia Bathrust got the shock of her life a few weeks ago, after discovering that her father isn’t her biological father at all. And after receiving a rejection over her designs for a restaurant in London, she thinks that perhaps it’s time to find her real father, as she knows that he, famous actor Ernesto Salvatore, is residing at the moment in his villa on the Amalfi coast.
But Raphael Knight, Ernesto’s business manager and stepson, is not allowing a complete stranger getting close to Ernesto, as in the past similar claims, yet unfounded, have been made.  And he won’t let get Lia out of his sight, as he wants to know what Lia’s game is.
And then, before any of them realize, the game has been changed and the heat sparking between them cannot be blamed on the Mediterranean sun…

I believe that I am a very easy reader to please. I don’t need that much to be touched, and if it takes place in a wonderful setting, I’m hooked. And when I pick up a book from this author, I know I will be spoiled. And then it’s set in Italy, what more could I possibly need more??? 😀

At the start I truly felt sorry for Lia. Everything she believed in turns out to be lie, and even if she didn’t miss anything while growing up, learning that her father isn’t in fact her father, truly shook her. I could understand on one hand how at loss she felt, but on the other hand, isn’t a father the person that loves you unconditionally and raises you to the person you are now? Yet I could comprehend Lia. And it’s not only this discovery that made her doubt everything. Also her designs were rejected, so it was a case of the mountain only getting bigger and bigger.

Honestly, I have to say that it wasn’t 100% clear of what her job truly was, or how it actually works and what her design in fact truly were. But I blame it purely on my ignorance, as I am sure that her creations would be looking marvelous! 😀

I admired Lia’s courage to go take off to the Amalfi coast, and find her father herself, even if that means to stand against a stoic Raphael Knight. What’s in a name, right? 😀
Because he for sure acts like a knight, in the sense that he is ready to protect and fight for his family and loved ones.
But just like a knight, he is also immovable, just going for his goal.

What I liked the most about this book, was the unconditional love that sparked from each page. From how Lia was welcomed into the family without an issue, after revelations that she is in fact Ernesto’s daughter, to how both Raph and his brother Leo are just as much Ernesto’s sons even if there is no shared DNA…
The whole family are what you could describe a real Italian family, from learning how to make pasta, to support each other but also to tease each other incessantly. It just warmed my heart to read all those bits!

And of course there is the changing relationship between Lia and Raph… I could understand both visions. Lia wants to find her family and figure out where she belongs. And I understood Raph wanting to protect his family against vultures lurking around each corner.

I found it hilarious to see how these two people are trying to outsmart each other, but as spending more time together (voluntary or not…) slowly are getting closer, understanding each other and seeing the person in front of them. That evolution, in a beautiful setting, was just marvelous.

But it was also lovely to see how being surrounded by family (just found or the kind that has always been there for you), inspiration can be found, and how doubts (even self-doubt) can be  erased.

I truly devoured this story, as it had everything I wanted, needed and even more. Julie Caplin made me fall in love with a fictional family, fictional characters and made me fall deeper in love with a place that already had a special place in my heart!

Dreams can always come true, no matter what

Synopsis

Can you live your dreams and also find your destiny?

Since having to drop out of her design degree, Bella Douglas has been unlucky in just about everything life has thrown at her.She’s lost more jobs than she cares to remember and to top it off she’s still single, despite her Granny Isla’s best attempts to set her up with every eligible bachelor in the Scottish Highlands. Currently PA to her best friend, aka, Lady Olivia MacBain, at DrumblairCastle, Bella is yet to find a role that sets her soul on fire. But when disaster strikes for Olivia, Bella steps into the breach to rescue her bestfriend from a fate worse than a bad interior designer.

When Bella and her Granny find themselves homeless, they relocate to the castle where a handsome new neighbour brings mystery, intrigue and a spark of romance.

Is Bella finally on the track to find true happiness? Or do more catastrophes lie ahead? And does true love hide where you least expect it?

My review

Bella Douglas isn’t really known for being lucky. First she had to drop out of her design degree, and it’s easier for her to remember the current job she has, instead of remembering all the other jobs she has lost.
Even in matters of the heart she is unlucky, despite her Granny Isla’s attempts of matching her to any available man.
And while she is currently working as a PA for her best friend Olivia at the Drumblair Castle, Bella is still searching for something that she is actually good at and she loves doing.
When opportunity rises to help out Olivia, Bella is eager to use her vision and her skills as an interior designer.
And when Bella and Granny Isla are forced to stay at the castle after disaster strikes again, they find themselves facing a neighbour that is very much intriguing.
Will this opportunity finally turn the cards for Bella and make her find something she loves doing, and bringing her love at the same time? Or is this just once again a case of calm before the storm?

Obviously it was a delight to return to Drumblair Castle. And I was very eager to read Bella’s story while at the same time seeing how Olivia was doing as Lady of the Castle.

I absolutely liked Bella’s character. She shows in so many ways how altruistic she is, how caring she is, and how she always sees the good in everyone.
She is so kind in many different ways, even putting others before herself.
But she is also the kind of person that will never boast herself, on the contrary! Despite her actual great skills, she often fails to see how amazing she is. Bella obviously doesn’t believe in herself like we as a reader do, and that is a pity, because she is just amazing!

I loved seeing her together with her Granny Isla, who for sure is a force of nature! It was absolutely hilarious how Isla has her own way with words!
The love between the two was so obvious. Yet I could also perfectly understand Bella’s frustrations when Isla was playing matchmaker once again!

I was happy for Bella seeing how Liv gives her the chance to be the interior designer for the castle but also giving Bella more responsibilities. I can understand how in worst case scenarios (and that also happens…) this may test the friendship, but yet when a friendship is so strong, even the worst of the worsts cannot break that bond!

It angered me to see how a trust in a character was given, truly believing it was the right thing to do, to only see how that trust was actually better not given. And it only confirmed my gut feeling in the first book!

Of course there is also romance for Bella in this book. Yu could even see it like a little love triangle if you want. Obviously I could understand Bella being star struck for a moment. Yet I liked it more how Bella nevertheless doesn’t lose herself and just follows her gut feeling. A gut feeling that mirrored mine and once again was the right feeling!

On the other side of the triangle was something that was born out of friendship, showing compassion, care and preparedness to help when needed. It shows patience that isn’t present with the ‘rival’. But here we see people that want only the best for each other, even at the cost of thei own wishes and happiness.

I found this a wonderful, sweet but also hilarious story, about altruistic people that believe and trust each other, are willing to forgive past mistakes. But also trust their (gut) feelings, and always keep an eye open.
We also see that no matter what happened in the past, how unlucky you may have been, your time will come to shine brightly, and that good things will come on your path.
And obviously it’s filled with so many love, in all its forms… and love that can change over the course of time, or just how strong it can stay no matter what…

When a past you want to keep hidden, returns…

Synopsis

Nicole Wilde’s life has not panned out how she expected.

Ten years ago when she was living the rock star lifestyle as a music journalist – touring the country, going to gigs and hanging out with celebrities – she never thought she would end up living an uneventful life in suburbia, in a relationship that is well past its sell-by date.

Nicole knows that her days of wild parties and tour buses are over, but yet there is something that keeps drawing her back to her old life. So when rock star Dylan King turns up on her doorstep needing her help to restore his public image, she can’t resist one last trip down memory lane.

But Nicole and Dylan’s history is complicated. And when her old life and new life collide, she will soon realise that you can’t run away from your past forever, and sometimes you just have to follow your heart…

My review

Nicole Wilde is not the young woman she was then years ago. Back then, she would live like a real rock star, touring around the world, going to gigs, all because of her job as a music journalist.
But now Nicole is not living the glitter and glam anymore, but she is living in suburbia, in a relationship that honestly has had its best time…
Nicole back then and Nicole now couldn’t be more different, and it makes Nicole sometimes miss the good old times.
And then suddenly rock star Dylan King needs her help to restore his reputation… While things have been complicated between the two of them, the allure of her old life is too big to ignore. But Nicole also knows that restoring Dylan’s reputation is easier said than done, as in the past his name was always linked with trouble. Is Dylan truly a changed man? And is the past truly in the past for Nicole?

I was intrigued by this story’s blurb. Of course knowing this author and having read several of her books already, I didn’t question one moment if I would read it or not.
But with story had that little bit extra, as our main character had a past that was the total opposite compared to her present.
A past that she tries to keep hidden, especially how wild that past has been.

Nicole Wilde for sure seems to have it all together, now that the wild bit is apparently out of her system and she has settled down.
But her life for sure shows us how off perception can be, as yes, Nicole cannot complain about her life, but for sure it isn’t all that glam as her partner Rowan makes it appear on his social media.

And isn’t it when we are at our lowest, that we start to think about our past, where we seemed to be happier? A past that stands in contrast to the life Nicole is living now?
Now, Nicole for sure had seen and heard everything ten years ago, but don’t think she was all into the wild things linked to the rockstar – life. Because no matter what she was seeing, she has never been tempted into the complete wicked world her friends and bands lived in.

Specifically, how Dylan King used to live… because he for sure had ‘bad boy’ written all over him. And it saddened me to see so much potential going to waste in a way. He is the perfect example of having it all, yet living too hard and too fast, and see it all flush away in making the wrong choices over and over again…

When he reappears, he is also the typical case of wondering, is it truly possible that he has completely changed? And that he won’t fall back into the same traps he fell into in the past? Because it’s easy to say you won’t, but what when you’re back in it?

This story was in a way a sad one. because Nicole is being torn between her old life and her new life. Both lives have hurt her, but what is the right thing to do? Because it’s not only about Dylan or Rowan, but she also has to think about Rowan’s kids, as she is the main caretaker of these lovely boys.
But it is the right thing to do, to give up your own happiness for the kids’ sake? And not only that, there is also the uncertainty, because what happened in the past can easily happen again…

it was only after I finished reading this book, that I realized that in fact, this was a sequel. But if you, just like me, haven’t read the previous books, do not worry, because you can easily catch up with everything. Things that need further explanation, are explained, and even without the detailed bits, you wan easily understand what Nicole went through, and understand how her life has changed, but also why her heart is in turmoil now.

In this book, we see clearly that the rock star life isn’t an easy one, as it throws you several and severe and dangerous temptations on your path. But we also see that people can change, for the better, and they deserve a second chance.
And we also see that no matter how ‘easy’ a life can look like, it doesn’t mean perse that it’s a happy life. It take courage to not only understand the unhappiness in your life, but it also takes courage to take matter in your own hands again.
And perhaps, the only way forward, is to go back to your past…

When a loveless marriage is awaiting, and a trickster crosses your path

Synopsis

A chance meeting…or so she thought. Is confidence trickster Will Samson the hero he claims to be or someone else entirely…

Emily Darson assumed her future of propriety and privilege amid a loveless marriage was set in stone. At least, she did until confidence trickster Will Samson came into her life…

Then everything changed.

With each revelation about her fiancé and herself that Will uncovers, he also reveals a little more of who is he, what he has suffered, and the volatile vengeance that burns in his heart.

Can Emily really risk security for scandal? Loyalty for love? Only time will tell…

My review

Emily Darson is willing to do anything to make sure that her father’s business stays in safe hands, even if that means to have a loveless marriage with Nicholas Milne.
But even if she is ready to get married, she doesn’t want to change into a meek wife, and she will for sure keep fighting her battles. Even if that causes friction with her fiancé.
Then she crosses path with Will Samson, a man on a mission, searching vengeance for what harm Nicholas Milne caused Will’s mother. And if that means to use Emily…
But the more time Emily and Will spend together, the more Will reveals about Nicholas’s character and what Will has been through, making Emily rethink about her options. And the more of Emily Will sees, the more Will starts to rethink about his plans and using Emily for his schemes.

I am always curious to read in historical fiction how strong and even independent women will manage to break free from the terms of society. Because while society expects them to behave in a certain way, I can for sure understand that there are plenty of women that have a mind of their own and won’t just give up themselves in order to find a husband.

It’s clear from the first moment that Emily is just one of those women, staying true to herself. But in order to keep the family legacy safe, she has no other option than marrying Nicholas Milne, even if she has no loving feelings of any kind towards him.
Yet for love of her father, she is ready to do exactly that, because the cause matters to her.

Nevertheless, I found it great to see how Emily, despite Nicholas’s attempt, won’t change a bit. She keeps on speaking her mind, has an opinion of her own and just does as she wants.
That fierceness obviously causes some troubles with her fiancé, but she won’t give in!

I had a bad feeling about Nicholas, even before I knew his real character. There was just something about him that gave me the chills.
And when everything was revealed, he made me just sick… that such men existed and still do, that’s just terrible.

So obviously I was totally team Will from the moment he appeared, even if he was scheming against Nicholas and wanted to use Emily to succeed.
Yet I wasn’t fooled by that, because it’s clear that his revenge is purely because of the injustice and the terrible things his own mother had to endure.
I could understand his thirst for vengeance but I liked seeing how his plan changed once he meets Emily.

Emily and Will couldn’t be more different from each other, yet they connect, what they both didn’t expect. And with revealing his real intentions, he finds an unlikely ally in Emily, who once again shows the strength of women.

And that strength is shown also by many other women, ready to stand up against men using and mistreating them!
It was also great to see that despite society’s expectations, there are parents that want what’s best for their children, even if that goes against what society wants.

This was a lovely story, about an unlikely connection, joining forces, and understanding. But it also shows how ugly the world can be. But it also shows us hope that good will always find a way to prevail and that even love, how unconventional or scandalous may seem, is always the right course to follow!

When you love your best friend, is a good idea to pretend to be dating your other best friend?

Synopsis

Lori has been in love with her best friend Aiden since college. Now Aiden (handsome, fair, All-American dream doctor) is getting married, and Lori desperately needs a date to the wedding.

So she asks the best man, Jace (tall, dark, and brooding), to pretend their platonic friendship is something more not to have to face the worst day of her life alone.

Fake dating one best friend to forget the other should be easy… Plot twist—it’s not. When Jace starts acting like the sweetest, most attentive boyfriend, Lori begins to wonder if she’s been seeing him wrong all this time?

They’ve been an inseparable trio since freshman year, but now everything is changing — and that’s not even bringing Jace’s feelings into the mix.

Basically? It’s complicated.

My review

Ever since Lori met Aiden in college, she has been in love with him. Together with Jace, they have been inseparable for years. But her feelings were never reciprocated. And seeing Aiden getting married to someone else, it’s Lori’s worst nightmare coming true.
So she asks Jace, her other best friend and Aiden’s best man, to be her date, to help her through the worst day of her life. And that also means to be pretend – dating before the actual marriage.
But the last thing Lori expected, was that Jace would turn out to be the best boyfriend in the world. Could it be that she never saw Jace for who he truly was and what he was truly feeling?
And then Lori learns about a pact the boys made in college, which makes things even more complicated…

Dear Camilla,

May I kindly ask you to stop writing such great, funny, hilarious stories? With each book you publish, I find myself giving up real life, and let myself submerge in the book. Sleep? Who needs it… Food? Who needs it… Everything else has to make room so that I can keep reading page after page. And that is not healthy! 😀

Is there something I didn’t like about this book? Perhaps one thing… it was over too quickly! 😀 I was completely enthralled by it, curious to see how it would all evolve, and when the once made pact was revealed, how it would affect all the characters.

I truly liked Lori from the start. Even if she is a doctor (so really really smart!), she doesn’t act like one. Meaning that she still is a ‘girl next door’, not splashing money around and is just like you and me.
And I also felt sorry for her, as she has loved Aiden for years. I can only try to understand how her heart broke and keeps on breaking seeing him with someone else, and on the verge of marrying someone else…

So while perhaps it wasn’t the best idea ever to pretend to be dating common best friend Jace, I could understand her reasoning. Yes, it all started by just a misunderstanding, but as she didn’t do anything to correct Aiden, I had a few laughs over the whole awkward situation.

Now, I have to say, while Lori is totally in love with Aiden, it isn’t that her friendship with Jace isn’t a that good one. And it was sweet to see those little revelations, where we see that in fact Jace is an amazing friend, there for Lori whenever she needs a shoulder to cry or. And all that while keeping his own feelings well hidden…

Seeing Lori and Jace paired up was so so so sweet, even if it was just pretend. And seeing the real feelings emerge or just grow was amazing! I could see how this couple would work for real, as they are exactly what they need or are longing for.

And even both their friendship with Aiden was a real genuine one. These three friends would walk through fire for each other, and you can clearly see how all the lies that Lori and Jace are telling Aiden is not an easy task for them. They know that once the truth comes out, it can end everything they have been building on for years.

It was absolutely funny to see how the pair are trying to keep up with the pretense, even finding allies that are having the best of times with teasing and adding a bit of fuel on the fire!
But we also see how Lori realizes that the woman she sees as her worst enemy perhaps isn’t truly the enemy, and she starts to see Aiden’s fiancée for who she truly is and that being a likeable and warm woman.

Obviously, being a Camilla Isley book, I had so much fun, laughter, smiles, swoons while reading. And even if there are a few misunderstandings, miscommunications between the characters, all of the friends truly care about each other, and don’t want to hurt in any kind of way.

I just *devoured* this book, I couldn’t get enough of it, wanted and needed more of it. Camilla managed to write a story about friendship that lasts a lifetime, an unreciprocated love, faking it until you make it, but most important, realizing that love was perhaps closer by than you thought but didn’t manage to see. And all this wrapped up in a wonderful book that for sure will put one big smile on your face!

This is an author that never disappoints, and makes me look eagerly forward to her next book! Because you can be sure of it that I will read that one too and will love that one too! 😀

When you want to save a home that isn’t yours…

Synopsis

His house. Her rules. But who’s in charge?

Pippa Munro had everything planned for her perfect wedding. What she did not have planned, was for her boyfriend to break up with her. Or sell her beloved farm. So instead of being blissfully engaged, Pippa finds herself jobless, homeless and loveless. Things couldn’t be going better…

Wolfie Squires needs someone to look after his family’s ancient house. He’s too busy with his hot shot city job to deal with a country manor several hundred miles away.

The perfect solution? Find someone to house sit.
The less-than-perfect candidate? Pippa Munro.

Pippa is more comfortable working on a farm than dusting a chandelier, and definitely not the ideal choice for the job.

As tempers fray, ideas clash, and secrets are spilled, Pippa and Wolfie might realise they have the same ambitions for the house, if only they could stop arguing long enough to find out…

My review

While Pippa Munro was expecting a proposal, the last thing she thought was that in fact she would end up jobless, homeless and single. All thanks to her (ex) boyfriend Alex that sold her home and the farm, without even consulting her.
Her search for a new job bring her to the Squires family mansion, where Wolfie Squires needs someone to look after the place while he is working in the city.
But Pippa is shocked seeing the state of the once splendorous mansion, and learns about all the tasks that need to be done. Only to leave her flabbergasted when she hears that Wolfie is trying to sell the place, while it has been of importance to just everyone.
So while Pippa tries to save the place and return it to its original splendour, she finds herself clashing with Wolfie over everything. But slowly they both realize that perhaps they do share the same visions…

I am an absolute lover of the trope enemies – to – lovers. So obviously I just *had* to read this book.

I was aware that Pippa at the start of the book would be in a relationship, yet it left me shocked the kind of relationship it actually was. Because for sure it felt more like Pippa was working for Alex, not only as a farmer, but as a maid, as a taxi driver, just everything except being a real girlfriend.
And then I am not talking about the decisions Alex made without even talking about it to Pippa, whose future also depends on it.

But I liked Pippa’s ethos. Because even if she isn’t the actual owner of the land she is working on, she loves the work. She has a vision for it. But not only for the farm, also when she starts working for Wolfie, she sees the potential of the mansion. She sees the work but she also knows how all the efforts would pay off.
Her passion for whatever she does, sparks of the pages. Even if that means that clashing with the lord of the manor (figure of speech).

Because let it be clear, Wolfie is not an easy character…
When we meet him, he is rathe standoffish, even cold in a way. And while he knows the place needs to be looked after, he couldn’t care less. The quicker the mansion is sold, the better.
And the way he just appears and disappears, well no brownie – points for him!

But slowly, very slowly, we see a complete other side of Wolfie, a side that perhaps is even haunted by his upbringing. Because while it seems heaven to grow up in a mansion, for Wolfie it was anything but.
And there is also this soft side in Wolfie, a side that cares, that is worried, that doesn’t hesitate to go on a search in the rain and carry someone back home.

Pippa also starts to see this side of Wolfie, and starts to understand him better, and sees that despite the many differences between them, there are so many similarities.
Yet their relationship, from platonic to friends to … is a work in progress, as there are several occasions of miscommunications, misunderstandings and even not coming clean about some matters.

I have to admit, the name of ‘Wolfie’, irked me a tiny bit. Because in my mind, Wolfie was more a ‘Wolf’, giving more importance to his character than his actual name. And there were moments that he for sure showed us that he can carry around his weight (or Pippa’s 😊).

I liked reading how these two characters seemed to be fighting against each other, only to realize that when their forces are joined, they are practically invincible. And that what haunted them in the past, dark memories, can be replaced by creating new and happy memories. But most important of all, communication is key to everything.

Sometimes, a change in your life is exactly what you need, no matter what that change exactly is…

Synopsis

When your old life ceases to exist, its time to build a new one…

It’s early summer on the French Riviera when Vivienne Wilson arrives for a one-woman writers’ retreat after learning that her philandering husband or 30 years, wants a divorce. There to collect the shell-shocked Vivienne is recently widowed Maxine Zonszain, who is struggling to come to terms with her empty life. To add insult to injury she receives another knockout punch with a letter from her very estranged first husband…. Florist extraordinaire, Olivia Murray, shares the Villa that Vivienne is renting. She’s content with life – but sad to add another failed relationship to her growing list and longs to meet ‘The One’. Life under the summer sun in Antibes becomes a challenging time for all three women as secrets are shared, problems halved as they forge unexpected friendships and embark on new adventures. Sometimes life’s surprises turn out to be unwanted but just sometimes the ‘new normal’ makes for a happier life than the one lost.

My review

Vivienne Wilson never thought that while taking off for her retreat on the French Riviera for her new book, her husband would tell her that their marriage was over, on the same tone if they would be discussing the weather.
To state that Vivienne is shell-shocked in for sure an understatement, and it for sure puts a damper on her mood arriving in Antibes.
Welcoming her in Antibes, is Maxine Zonszain, who is struggling with the loss of her husband. Maxine is ready to help Vivienne with all her questions, and the apartment Vivienne is renting.
An apartment that belongs to Olivia Murray, local florist and content with her life, yet there is still missing something. And even if she is still looking for that special person in her life, Olivia is tired of her mother’s constant interference.
No matter how different these women are from each other, under the Antibes’ sun, a friendship is formed and the three women learn that shared problems can be halved and that new adventures will await, no matter what phase of life you’re in.

I always thin k to know what to expect from a book written by Jennifer Bohnet, yet each time she manages to surprise me with another wonderful story. And this book for sure wasn’t an exception on this great rule!

The story starts with Vivienne ready to go on her retreat, to find inspiration for her next book. But instead of feeling ecstatic, her journey to the airport turns out to be a real nightmare. And all that ‘thanks’ to her ‘wonderful’ husband…
Is there anything worse than starting your retreat by discovering that not only your husband has decided to end your marriage but already has a ‘replacement’?
So it made perfect sense for Vivienne to arrive absolutely subdued in Antibes. And Vivienne herself knows that her behaviour isn’t what it should be. So it was nice to see her apologize to Maxine and Olivia.

I was also intrigued by her real quest. Because she didn’t come to Antibes only to find the inspiration for her book, but also a way more personal reason. And I wanted to know how her search would go and if she would find all the answers she was looking for.

It was lovely to see Vivienne getting to know Maxine and Olivia better. And it was great to get to know them also better!
My heart broke for several reasons while getting to know Maxine. Not only is she still hurting after losing the man she loves, but she is also carrying a secret from the past, a secret that suddenly stands at her door.

Maxine didn’t have it easy in the past, but I liked it how, despite everything, she managed to find happiness and love again. And how, once again – despite everything – she is a kind, caring and warm woman.

And then there is Olivia, living and enjoying her life, even if it comes with perhaps her own mother’s disapproval. I’m not saying that her mother is a bad person, but she for sure is the perfect example of ‘mother knows best’. 😊
Somehow, I felt connected with Olivia the most, maybe because she was also the closest to my own age. But I could understand how she wanted to make things on her own, following her own dreams and even making her own mistakes.

It was amazing to see how these three women, even if Vivienne just recently came into the other’s lives, managed to form such a close bond. Their friendship perhaps started a bit rocky, and their lives couldn’t be more different. Yet with having each other, and staying in magnificent Antibes, they manage to start a brand new adventure in their lives.

I loved reading this story, as first of all, it was a great setting. But most important, it shows us that no matter what kind of lemons the past or even the present throws us, with the right kind of friends and support, we may open our eyes and find the courage, determination and the will to start an unexpected yet amazing new adventure!