To keep on believing

Synopsis

People say that it’s hard not to fall in love living on the sunny island of Jersey, but for Bea Philips, still reeling from a divorce and the loss of her beloved godmother, she’s not sure she can find the time. While her soon-to-be-ex-husband is trying to take away the home she grew up in, surly but attractive builder Luke is doing it up. Her old flame Tom has just turned up as her new manager at the office, and she has no idea what the mysterious Jersey Kiss is that her godmother has bequeathed to her…

Is life going to give Bea a break, so she can keep her dream home, and maybe fall in love?

New Beginnings by the Sunflower Cliffs is the first in a gorgeous, romantic series set on the breathtaking island of Jersey. Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

While on the island of Jersey it’s always sunny, Bea’s life for sure doesn’t feel light a ray of sunlight… Not only is she still grieving over the loss of her beloved godmother, also her marriage ended on bad terms. And her soon – to – be – ex – husband is making sure that he gets a piece of Bea’s home too, even if he in fact he doesn’t really need to.
Bea’s home is in dire need of renovations, making Bea meet attractive builder Luke. But with her old flame, and new manager at her office, Tom warning her for Luke, she doesn’t know what to do… And what about the mystery of the Jersey Kiss that her godmother left to Bea in her will? Will Bea ever find out what the Jersey Kiss in fact is? And will there perhaps be a real kiss in store for Bea too?

Having read several books of this author, with the setting of the island of Jersey, I was very much looking forward to return to this wonderful place, even if it’s the start of a complete new series.

At the start of this book, and to be honest, a great part of the book too, I truly felt sorry for Bea. The loss of her godmother affected her great time, and it was easy to understand why, as after losing her mother, her godmother was there for her in so many different ways, from when Bea was a young girl, to the adult she has become now.
But it was also sweet to see how that love and help was being reciprocated, as when needed, Bea didn’t hesitate to look after her godmother just like her godmother looked after her all those years ago.
So can you truly be shocked by how deep the love was between the both of them? And can you be really surprised that losing that one fixture is Bea’s life was so devastating for her?

And feeling sorry for Bea concerning her failed marriage is perhaps not the right feeling, as her ex for sure is a piece of art…

But while Bea raised many feelings of sadness over me, she also gave me hopeful and happy feelings. Because she is surrounded by the best kind of friends, and even a great (half)sister – if the sister doesn’t keep listening to her mother that is…
And while at moments Bea is acting a bit meek, we see also how she stands her ground and the lengths she takes to protects what or who she cares about.

This story was a romantic one, yes. But it was mainly about picking yourself up after a bad time. It was also about (mis)trust and (dis)honesty, and in a way also gut feelings.
Because we see some new and old people arriving in Bea’s life and we see her seeing the reality: that some people misuse our trust and that there are others that we trust for some inexplicable reason and signs of warnings against it.

I have to admit, I had my own gut feeling telling me who to trust and who not. And I was glad to proven right! J
But somehow it also saddened me, as it showed that people can go far to save themselves, not caring who they hurt meanwhile…

There are several sad and also infuriating things happening in this book. But that doesn’t take away how much I enjoyed reading this book, and how inspiring I found this book. Because no matter what happens to Bea, she never gives up hope, or just gives up period. She is determined to find a solution that will solve her problems.
Also, no matter how afraid she is of getting burned again by love, with the right person she is ready to take the plunge.

And that is what matters, do not give up, in life or love. Because it may take a while, but all’s well that ends well. Just don’t give up!

Another tour, another adventure

Synopsis

Travel Together Tour Manager Eve Mitchell is planning a quiet Christmas at home to rest and relax before a special New Year. But she soon, very unexpectedly, finds herself in the depths of the Essex countryside looking after a singles’ group which contains some old, familiar faces and some pleasant – and not so pleasant – new ones. With its country walks, quizzes, disco and black-tie ball, the Christmas and Twixmas Break passes quickly, but just as they think it’s all over the plot takes a twist and we learn some dark secrets…

My review

Tour manager Eve Mitchell is truly looking forward her calm Christmas celebration. She needs the calm before the special New Year, as her son will be getting married. But her calm and quiet – time is being ruined when a travel group needs her rescue in the Essex countryside.
Once again Eve is seeing familiar faces between the new ones. And once again this holidays will be filled with twists and turns amongst country walks and quizzes.

Once again we can enjoy the work of this author, and enjoying Eve Mitchell’s talent as a tour manager.
This time her adventure is closer to home, but nevertheless it’s still an adventurous one! 😀

When the story starts, I wanted Eve to be more stubborn in a way. Because she made it very clear she needed this time off, yet she finds herself packing up and helping out, once again. Although it was a good thing of her, of standing her ground and demanding all the extras she also got.
But of course Eve wouldn’t be Eve if she would let a group stand in the cold without an extra thought.

The story taking place in Essex made it perhaps easier for me to imagine the setting, as it’s also for me a bit closer to home, even if my home is in Belgium. But it’s easier to imagine Essex, which has many similarities to places in Belgium, than for example India or Antigua.

And it was of course great to see some old friends again. Although I have to admit, I wasn’t that happy to see *everybody – everybody* back… 🤣
I was glad to see how some characters haven’t change a bit, but also to see the change made in the past books was still present.

Obviously it was also good to make some new acquaintances, even if also in this case, there were some nice new meetings and some not so… We see once again a diversity of people, of characters that can make your life easy or difficult.

Eve obviously is the main protagonist, and where in the first book of the series she was a rather lonely character, now her life has expanded with not only her son in the picture, but also the man she in fact never stopped loving.
But in this chapter of Eve’s life we also see glimpses of her former life, and the family she left behind. And while initially I was wondering if it were truly all that bad as she would make us believe, I was shocked to see how the reappearances behaved. I would have thought that some things would have been water under the bridge, to only realize the opposite.
Yet it was great to see Eve putting her priorities straight and doing the right thing for her and her real loved ones.

I truly enjoyed reading this book, seeing Eve doing her thing closer to home, but being still an amazing tour manager. And it was lovely to see how also in her personal life were finally falling into place. And now it’s up to the next chapter! ☺️

The importance of books in lives 

Carl Kollhoff is passionate about books. So of course working in a bookstore is the perfect place for him. For years, he ha also been delivering ordered books to special customers after closing time. And for him, those customers feel like real friends, even if each delivery only took a short time.
But when Carl loses his job, it’s so much more that Carl loses. And it takes a persistent nine – year – old girl to show Carl and his book friends that there is a whole world outside their homes and they in fact can help out each other, all together. 

This isn’t the kind of story that I usually read. You can find me enjoying romance, or cosy mysteries, or even a thriller here and there.
Yet there was something that drew me to pick up this book. Of course the bookstore was a giveaway, but the blurb made me curious to see this unlikely friendship between a man of older age and a curious and persistent nine – year – old girl.  

Once I started in the book, I discovered that perhaps it wasn’t that much about Carl and Schascha but more about the power and importance of books in people’s lives. No matter how different someone’s life is from someone else, the love of book is something universal and something that everyone can experience, no matter what genre they prefer. 

Of course the more I read about Carl, the more mixed feelings I got. Because on one hand it was truly sad to read how slowly he is somehow being disregarded, and feeling more and more alone on this world. But on the other hand, we also see the lengths he goes to keep his customers/ friends passionate about books. He goes very far for them, even if it costs him a lot, literally and figuratively. 

I have to say, from the moment Schascha enters the story, it turns into a lighter story, a more innocent one too.
Schascha is a force of nature to be reckoned with. And as expected from a nine – year – old girl, she won’t be easily dismissed. Once she put her mind to something, she will not give up.
But even if this girl puts on a big act towards Carl, we also see her purity in a way. even if she sees and understands more than any other young girl, she doesn’t understand everything and how the world works. 

In that respect, it was lovely to see the dynamics between Carl and Schascha. Carl is set in some of his ways, and Schascha forces him to do things differently, or goes behind his back. And in Carl Schascha finds in a way a lovely grandfather, sharing his wisdom with her. 

But, like I said before, there is more to this story than just the new friendship between Carl and Schascha. Because we also get glimpses through Carl’s eyes into his customers lives. And each customer couldn’t be more different from the other customer. Yet the one thing that connects them all, is their love for books and Carl delivering those books. 

It was funny but in a way also heart – warming to see how Carl finds the perfect name from a fictional character to call his customers, showing that he sees more to them than just being the delivery man.  

And how strange it can be, it’s that connection that changes each life. From a woman who pretends to be in a happy marriage, to a man enjoying stories but not knowing how to read, from a nun to a man writing his own books, Carl and his own story brings them all together, helping each other and joining forces. 

This book shows us that no matter who we are, books can truly unite people. Books don’t care about who you are or what you are. They only ask to be read and treasured. And only people with that same passion for books can understand how books can sweep you of your feet. But books can also be the link to get people out their homes, to become an united front and help out those around us. And that can be by helping with a small gesture, or by opening up your house, with or without the little nudge of a special little girl… 

For sure I had several laughs (wait until you meet Dog! 😊) but there were also heart – breaking moments, with losses. But that didn’t take away me enjoying this book, about books and people that love books!

Everyone dreams of living in a chateau, but is it really a dream?

Synopsis

Click: buy… a fifteen bedroom chateau

Condition: ‘may require improvement’

It seems like a good idea. Sell everything we own. Swap our modern little London flat for an entire chateau in the middle of France.

It’s always been our dream. And now it’s coming true. Because who wouldn’t want this?

As I use the rusty key to open the big, creaking wooden door of the fairytale chateau that’s officially our new home, I wonder: what could possibly go wrong?

Turns out my grasp of the language isn’t brilliant but I’d guess that the French for this is probably: L’EVERYTHING.

As the French sun blazes overhead, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a year to remember…

My review

Since things changed at work, Emma isn’t that happy anymore. It affects her private life too and old fears and issues seem to resurface. So when her husband Mark comes up with the idea of selling their London home and buy a chateau in France, is there truly something holding them back? Getting a change of scenery could perhaps also be the perfect distraction from starting a family, as their attempts has been unfruitful until now…
Their new home in France is a real fairytale chateau, but also one in dire need of some TLC. But life in France isn’t as easy as Emma imagined, as not only is she struggling with the language, but she also seems to feel hostility from the villagers. And then to make things even worse, an accident forces Emma to hold it all together by herself…
Was the plan of buying a French chateau truly a dream, or will it turn into a nightmare that will not only destroy dreams and hopes, but also a marriage? 

I am the kind of person who could be best compared to a little scaredy – cat. I like my routines, don’t like major changes and I stick to what I know.
So you can see that moving to another country to have a new start at life for sure wouldn’t be something that I would ever be doing, or it should be for a very good reason!
Yet that doesn’t take away that I like reading books about people that have the courage to do exactly that! 

From the start, I liked the couple made of Emma and Mark. Even if Mark is a bit older than Emma, it’s clear that they truly love each other.
Mark is also a perceptive man, seeing how unhappy Emma is and how it resurfaces old demons of her past once again.
He is also a positive person, he sees everything through rose – tinted glasses and won’t be affected by a setback.
But on the same time, that same positive attitude also makes him overconfident. In the way that he believes he can is able to do everything himself, as a super – hero somehow, but doesn’t realize he is just as human as you and I. 

However, the focus of the story is on Emma. It’s clear that Emma has been through a lot in her life, from an early start. And learning that background, made me understand her character, her persona so much better.
I understood her need to have someone to hold her hand, the need to have stability and how her fears affected her.
At the start of this book, Emma is yes indeed very capable at her job, but with things going downhill there, it would be easy to make a change. Yet her old fears are resurfacing, even not allowing her to do the obvious thing work – related. 

We see also that Emma’s fears are holding her back in other aspects, as once the move in France is made, she finds it hard to adapt to her new life. She is rather negative. Not that she regrets the choice of moving, but she sees negativity everywhere, even where there isn’t.
Her self – esteem is also very low, to such a length that she believes that her difficult past is the reason that the inability to have a complete family is her fault. 

It’s not a nice thing to say, but the accident is the best thing that probably could happen to Emma. Suddenly she finds herself on her own, and she has to take care of herself, and of the chateau. And I found it great to see her getting outside, getting to know people, even making attempts to speak the language and have slowly a change of mindset. I even had more delight at seeing Emma getting her hands dirty, literally!

At one point I was a bit afraid that the story would take a direction I didn’t like, with Mark being ‘out of the picture’ and Emma making new friends.
But that was not the purpose of this story. because it’s all about Emma and her making things work. We see her flourish, taking matters into her own hands.
Of course there are still some struggles for her, and it doesn’t help to be in a foreign country on your own.
But slowly she becomes more open, more confident and more positive. The Emma at the end of this story is the complete opposite of the Emma at the start of the story. And seeing that evolution was a real delight for the readers, as it shows that having someone by your side is great, but it’s by standing on your own  two feet that you learn the most. 

And the absolute culmination was the surprising end, not only surprising me, but also Emma and every other character. Without giving anything away, as I want you to be as positively flabbergasted as I was, it shows that sometimes things come at the most unexpected times and ways… 

This was a really delightful book to read, seeing how somehow learns to stand on her own two feet, taking the plunge and starts to stand positive in life after a difficult life before. With the right attitude in life, great things are awaiting for you and no mountain is insurmountable!

A holiday with a mystery…

Synopsis

Autumn is here and the Little Duck Pond Café crew are looking forward to spending a relaxing week in the country. That’s the theory, anyway. Because when they arrive, they quickly become immersed in village life after a power cut, only to find themselves spooked at every turn by mysterious goings-on, all of which seem to be connected to the creepy old house next-door. Is someone playing scary Hallowe’en tricks on them? Or is there something rather more sinister afoot…?

My review

As Hallowe’en is approaching, Ellie and the other Little Duck Pond Café crew go on a relaxing holiday in the village of Silverbells. For Ellie it’s also a kind of escape from her worries at home, especially those worries concerning her lovely neighbour Milo…
But also for her friend Maddy the holiday comes at the perfect moment, as she is sure that she is now a single lady once again…
But the holiday will take an unexpected turn, as mysterious things appear to be happening in the house next – door. Is it truly haunted, as the rumour goes? Or can the friends figure out what is truly going on?  

First of all, once again a delight to visit my dear friends once again! It was great to see how they were doing! 

This next chapter may be perhaps not what I expected from the series, as this is a real cosy mystery, but the essence of it still remains pure Little Duck Pond Café! 

But… no matter how lovely it was to see my friends again, this story gave me also literal goosebumps! Just like Ellie and the other women, every mysterious event, I was trying to rationalize it. I was trying to find an acceptable explanation, just so to find a reason to not give in to the fear that in fact, around Hallowe’en, the appearances in the haunted house manifest even more and even more forcefully and perhaps even more evil… 

Yet even if the spooky, inexplicable bits gave me goosebumps, I also got the goosebumps in a positive way. Because no matter how you turn around it, these ladies are truly best friends, looking after each other, worrying about each other, comforting each other.
They all have such a love for each other, wanting the best for each and every one of them. But they also know that sometimes someone just needs some space, and they give each other also that. 

I found it somehow even an inspiring spooky story, as Ellie, ‘thanks’ to everything happening in Silverbells, realizes that life is too short to be afraid. And that perhaps she just needs to put her big- girl – shoes on and take that next step, no matter how scared she is… 

There are a few twists I didn’t see coming, as the revelation of the culprit of the spooky events was truly an unexpected one. But I admired how the author added that something special to it, making even *that* a real Rosie Green – thing! There were also a few twists that I secretly was hoping for, and they for sure put a smile on my face! 😊 

This was once again an amazing reading session that ended once again way too soon! And once again I am truly looking forward to the next chapter, that I am certain of that will be another masterpiece, just like this one. And I will forgive Rosie Green for that final, but most powerful fearful goosebump she gave me!

When a heartbreak makes you adventurous

Synopsis

A SWEET and FUNNY romantic comedy for readers of Sandy Barker and Mandy Baggot.

When your life goes off-piste how do you climb back up the mountain?

Holly Roberts is well-known among family and friends for despising the cold, so no one is more surprised than her when she agrees to pack her bags and move to the Swiss Alps. But after getting her heart broken, spending the winter season working as a sous-chef for wealthy twins Genevieve and gorgeous Luca, is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Verbier is home to millionaires and Holly has never felt more out of place in the snow-capped wooden chalet. Thankfully new friends, chalet girl Liv and chef Xavier are there to be her guide in this new world of après-ski and fondue, and to teach her how to get off chair lifts! And then there is Luca… rich, handsome, kind but what is the catch?

She just wanted to escape her problems but could she get her HE after all?

My review

What was supposed to be a wonderful day, turned into a nightmare for Holly Roberts. Because at her wedding day, her husband – to – be realized that in fact, he didn’t want to marry Holly at all. And one of the excuses was that Holly wasn’t adventurous.
With a broken heart, Holly decides to accept a winter seasonal job in the Swiss Alps. Her decision, while understandable, shocks everyone, as Holly isn’t known for loving the cold. But working as a sous – chef for wealthy twins Genevieve and Luca is exactly what she needs.
And while feeling like a fish out of water, her new friends/ colleagues Liv and Xavier are ready to immerse Holly in the wonders of Verbier, filled with snow, après – ski and so much more.
This will turn out to be the adventure of a lifetime for Holly, where she learns that even in the coldest place, warmth can be found.

There is one reason I did not like this story. And that reason is one that Holly, our main character for sure can understand.
I absolutely hate the cold, only like the snow when I can sit warm and cosy on the inside, and for no reason on earth, it doesn’t matter how much money you would give, I will never ever go skiing, snowboarding or whatsoever!
But that was the only thing I didn’t like about the story!

I can only imagine how terrible Holly must have felt, finding out that your fiancé decides on the day itself that perhaps getting married isn’t what he truly wants.
And I think I would act in exactly the same way as Holly, I would hide away from everyone and everything!

Accepting the job as a sous – chef in Verbier is totally out of Holly’s comfort zone. Not the being a sous-chef bit, because we have seen clearly how good she is with that. But going to Switzerland, for sure was a leap in the dark for her.

It was sweet and great to see how she was being welcomed in the chalet by her colleagues – that – would – turn – into – great – friends. They truly take Holly under their wings, in more than just one aspect. Liv and Xavier couldn’t be more different from each other or from Holly, yet somehow  that mismatch works perfectly! Because it’s these new friendships that we see Holly stepping more and more out of her comfort zone, even doing things she would never imagine doing!

We see Holly doing adventurous things, or at least adventurous for her, but we also see her growing more confident in the story.
Obviously her confidence and trust doesn’t come without trails and fails. As a reader I already felt that her trust in one character perhaps was unfounded. But I could also understand why she thought in that direction, as Holly is a person that isn’t of the mistrusting kind.

This was a warm story, despite set in a cold! It shows us the resilience of people, and how one tragic even can be the catalyst of a great new adventure and the start of a new direction in life.
That one devastating moment in your life can make you perhaps take an unexpected decision, but perhaps that is exactly how your life was supposed to go, as it will give you an opportunity to grow, to mature, to meet new people who will truly of importance to you.
That one moment that went awry, can give you a second chance at a brand new start for a new, greater, more adventurous you! And even the cold won’t be able to hold you back! 😊

Are you as intrigued as I am? Check out this cover!

Synopsis

‘We’re not famous anymore. We’re notorious.’

For over a decade, the Lancasters were celebrity royalty, with millions tuning in every week to watch their reality show, Living with the Lancasters.

But then an old video emerges of one of their legendary parties. Suddenly, they’re in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons: witnesses swore they’d seen missing teenager Bradley Wilcox leaving the Lancaster family home on the night of the party, but the video tells a different story

Now true crime investigator and YouTuber Tom Isaac is on the case. He’s determined to find out what really happened to Bradley – he just needs to read between the Lancasters’ lies . . .

Because when the cameras are always rolling, it won’t be long until someone cracks.
_

For fans of Murder in the Family and The Club, Clickbait is told through mixed media, from video transcripts to diary entries, capturing a unique and addictive commentary on ruthless ambition and the dark side of fame.

Pre-order Link – https://linktr.ee/clickbaitbook

Publication Date: 11th April 2024

About the author

L.C. North studied psychology at university before pursuing a career in Public Relations. Her first book club thriller – The Ugly Truth – combines her love of psychology and her fascination with the celebrities in the public eye. Her second novel, Clickbait, delves into the world of reality TV and the dichotomy between real and fake. When she’s not writing, she co-hosts the crime thriller podcast, In Suspense. L.C. North lives on the Suffolk borders with her family and also writes psychological suspense novels under the name of Lauren North. Readers can follow her on Twitter and Instagram as @Lauren_C_North, and Facebook as @LaurenNorthAuthor

The cover!

Check out this marvellous cover!

Synopsis

Two weddings, three hotel reservations gone awry…and one weekend in Cornwall they’ll never forget!

When the similarities between Ella Swift and Callum Smith’s last names lead to a hotel room mix-up, they find themselves sharing a cramped cottage in Porthkara rather than the private luxury hotel suites they expected.

Each in town for a different wedding – and carrying more baggage than just the suitcases in their hands – the reluctant roommates are forced to share a shelter from the storm surge that sweeps in off the Atlantic. But as the rain crashes down there’s a shift in more than just the atmosphere, and by the time the sun rises on a new day, Ella and Callum’s futures have already been forever changed…

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Room-Mix-Up-enemies-lovers-ebook/dp/B0C5BYMX97/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hotel-Room-Mix-Up-enemies-lovers-ebook/dp/B0C5BYMX97/

Publication Date – 15th December

About the author

I live in Cambridgeshire with my family which includes a large dog and a cute cat. I love the changing seasons. I like pyjama days and cosy log fires in winter. In summer, my top things are strawberries and walking on beautiful beaches in North Wales. I started writing my first romance on a vintage typewriter. Writing got put on hold while I studied for a degree in Drama and French. I’ve been an office temp and a bilingual PA in London. Now I’m a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and thrilled to write fun, flirty romance for One More Chapter. My website is www.kathyjay.com

The cover!

To mend broken hearts, in the past and in the present

Synopsis

Marina and Hugh were once madly in love. But after the loss of their beautiful little daughter, grief has created a distance between them that feels impossible to bridge. Marina knows leaving Italy is the only way they will be able to move on, but Thorncliffe Hall, Hugh’s family home in England, is so grey and unwelcoming.

Just when life feels like it may never regain colour, Marina and Hugh come across a striking china coffee pot in a London shop window, adorned with a fox flying through the night sky. The coffee pot comes attached with a mystery, one that is connected with Hugh’s own family many years ago.

By digging into the past, Marina is about to discover a story far beyond her wildest dreams. But will the past help her heal the present?

A heart-wrenching, utterly unforgettable story for fans of Lucinda Riley, Dinah Jeffries and Amanda Prowse.

My review

After losing their daughter, Marina and Hugh are struggling with their grief. It even went that far that it has caused a distance between them, while they used to be so much and deeply in love…
As an attempt to move on, they decide to make the move from Italy to Hugh’s family home in England, Thorncliffe Hall.
Yet Marina struggles with adapting in England, as she misses the warmth and sun from Italy. But little does she know that stumbling upon a china coffee pot in a London shop will ignite something inside her. Because that coffee pot, adorned with a fox flying through the night, comes with a mystery attached to Hugh’s house. And Marina is determined to discover the story behind it. And it will be a story Marina never imagined. And maybe the story it will make it possible for Marina to overcome her own grief? 

At the start of this book, my heart went out to Marina. I am not a mother myself, and I cannot even try to imagine the heartbreak when a child dies. But I can comprehend how it broke something inside Marina and Hugh…
It was even painful in a way to see how it took away the light in Marina’s eyes, how it took away her joy of life. And it saddened me to see, even if understandable, it affected a wonderful relationship… 

I perhaps agreed with Hugh that a change of scenery would do the both of them good, but I also knew that any kind of change wouldn’t happen overnight.
And I knew beforehand that the move from warm and sunny Italy to grey England would be rather difficult for someone like Marina. 

While my heart went out to Marina, and her pain was palpable from each page, it also warmed my heart seeing that accidentally stumbling upon a coffee pot would be the incentive for Marina to feel just something once again.
Maybe I didn’t agree with her with keeping her progress concerning the history of the pot a secret, but I couldn’t be possible hold it against her, as it’s clear that it’s exactly that pot that is bringing her back to life again. 

For sure Marina’s story was a sad, heart – breaking one. But for some reason, it was Elody’s story that made me totally invested in this book.
Through Marina’s discoveries and her determination to find more about the coffee pot and its history, we get to know Elody, and her story that took place a century ago. 

Just like Marina, yet differently on the same time, Elody has suffered a great loss. A loss that has forced her to adapt to a new life, with people who weren’t all that welcoming her in the family.
But despite the pain and grief, we also see the strength and determination that Elody has.  

A determination and strength that made Elody fight for women to have equal rights as men, especially after the Great War.
But also, a strength to chase her own dreams, how impossible they may or may not seem. And a strength to follow her heart, even if she has been told to stay away.
What truly touched me, was how much she truly cared and deeply loved a child who hasn’t had the easiest of lives. 

We see Elody having to make impossible choices, making her lose anyway. If she would follow her heart, she would lose a right cause. If she would choose to pursue the right cause, it would mean to lose her heart… 

Marina’s life and Elody’s life are very different from each other’s, yet also the same in a way. They have both lived a great loss, but they have a kind and loving heart, especially towards the littlest creatures around them.
They both have to find the strength to overcome their pain, and to find a way to open their hearts for love (again). 

This story started with a devasting heart – break, but slowly it grew into something inspiring. Because we see that no matter what era we are living in, everyone has to suffer pain. But it’s with finding strength and perhaps a kindred spirit through time, and seeing that hope is always the last thing to die, that we can actually see that there will always be sunshine after the rain. Even if that rain has turned into a monsoon that never seems to stop, yet some day it will…

Sometimes, anything is possible

Synopsis

A sweet, Christmas ghost story with a dash of romance

Ellie Peach travels to Manhattan for a fan-making apprenticeship. While staying at a historic boarding house, she meets the charming James Denny. He claims to be a Broadway actor waiting for his lost love. When Ellie offers to help search for her, it leads to old secrets and adventure…

“This was such a fun, light-hearted Christmas read. Loveable characters with a fun storyline.” – Books With Sally

“New York Miracle is a beautifully written and engaging novella that will leave readers feeling warm and uplifted. Margo Laurie’s storytelling expertise shines through in this heartwarming tale, reminding us that Christmas miracles can happen, especially when love and hope are involved.” – NetGalley reviewer

“New York Miracle is a surprising story; the mystery of James and his lost love took me on a great adventure… James is the main driving force of the story. He kept saying the craziest things that had me glued to the book.” – Readers’ Favorite

My review

Ellie Peach has decided to go to Manhattan for a fan – making apprenticeship with her aunt. While staying at a historic boarding house, she is intrigued by the presence of James Denny. At first she doesn’t believe him, but slowly she realizes that he truly is who he claims to be… a ghost. A ghost who is still waiting for his lost love. Will Ellie be able to help James finding the woman who captured his heart so long ago?

This was a sweet, lovely novella to read. Of course as ghosts are involved, you have to keep up an open mind, otherwise you will not appreciate this story at all.
So even if I am not truly a believer of ghosts, I was ready to give this a shot, as I especially was intrigued how it would all end.

I have never been to New York myself, so together with Ellie I found myself discovering this city. Now, I am not aware of the rules and laws concerning apprenticeships and I am aware that money absolutely is a factor, but I personally think I would have chosen a different place to stay.
Yet I am also a different person than Ellie, and staying at the boarding house, with the strict rules made by the nuns, was what Ellie needed and what the story also needed. Otherwise we would have never met James!

James is… what can I say about him. A lovely but also a strange man J. He is not how I imagined a ghost would be like. Beside some side effects of being a ghost, it looked like he was rather normal and human. And that was what made it so easy to like him and feel for him learning about his past…

His past as a Broadway actor trying to make his break, for sure added a lot of glitter and glamour in the novella, but it was his finding his great love and losing it that made the story.

It was sweet to see how Ellie was determined to help out James, as it shows Ellie’s true character. She is the kind of person that wants to help, no matter how strange or impossible it may be. And Ellie and James on the quest together was magical in more than one way!

I am not going to give a lot away, as this is a novella you have to discover yourself. But I truly liked reading it, and even as a non – believer I was truly touched by how all the discoveries and how the ending was written.
It was a short story, and perhaps I still have a few questions left. But after reaching the ending, I found myself with a smile on my face, as perhaps there are still things that are inexplicable and perhaps impossible. But can we be truly sure of it being impossible? And that perhaps the magic of love can turn the impossible into something possible?