The heart always knows, even when the mind doesn’t

Synopsis

Welcome to Pepper Bay, where you’ll find love, drama, and a happily ever after.

Snuggle down with this cosy, feel-good, comfort read that whisks you away to a beautiful bay on the Isle of Wight – Perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Alison Sherlock, Rachael Lucas, and Holly Martin.

The Pepper Bay books are standalone stories that intertwine with recurring characters. Best enjoyed when read in order.

Christmas Memories at Waterside Cottage: Charlie and Grace have been together for four years, but when Grace wakes up in hospital after an accident, she doesn’t remember her husband at all. With Christmas just around the corner, and it being their favourite time of year, Charlie pulls out all the festive stops, hoping his wife will remember their relationship or at least fall in love with him all over again, because there is no way he can lose her.

My review

Grace finds herself waking up in the hospital after an accident. At first she is shocked to see her sister snuggling with her boyfriend. But that isn’t the biggest shock for Grace, because she quickly learns that she has lost four years of memories, and those years include falling in love and marrying Charlie, the Hot Doc.
With Christmas approaching, and being the favourite time of the year for the both of them, Charlie is determined to make his wife to remember him or at least to make her fall in love with him all over again. Because losing the love of his life is just too impossible to imagine…

Wow, what a wonderful story this was! It warmed my heart in an inexplicable way, showing us the real powers of the heart and the strength of real love…

I can only try to imagine what Grace goes through when she wakes up. First of all, it’s a shock to wake up in a hospital. Second, she sees her younger sister acting all loved up with Grace’s boyfriend (or at least that’s what grace thinks Freddy still is). And I cannot think about the fact of losing everything that happened the last four years.

But even if it is a terrible thing that happened to Grace, and what was behind the accident, seeing Grace’s family all coming together, caring and worrying about her, it warmed my heart to see such a warm and close family.

I also found Grace a courageous woman. Because she gives Charlie a chance, even if she doesn’t know him. She puts her trust in her, without an indication or memory of herself that Charlie has deserved that trust.
It cannot be easy to put your trust on someone purely based on the words of someone else, or some pictures. But it was sweet to see that Grace somehow still remembers Charlie, even if it is only a gut feeling.

Charlie is also not having an easy time… yes, compared to Grace, he has it rather easy. But how would you feel when the person you love suddenly doesn’t remember you? It was so heart – breaking to read how Charlie is afraid of losing Grace forever…

Yet I liked it how determined Charlie also is, as if Grace remembering him is not an option, then he must make her fall in love with him once again. I think that I could fall in love with Charlie myself, seeing how much he loves Grace, and how aligned they even are!
Even if their romance was a whirlwind one, it’s crystal – clear that what they had was the real thing, and even a great loss couldn’t break them.
Grace and Charlie had the kind of love story to get envious over!

The author managed perfectly to grasp the strength of love. Because here are two people, living together, ready to fight for what they once had, even if one party cannot remember any of it. But love works in mysterious ways, and the heart feels what the brains cannot recall. And we see that Grace, despite her lack of memories, feels that Charlie is trustworthy, that he is a good guy.
No matter what someone else tries to tell her, no matter those moments of doubts, Grace’s heart knows who Charlie is.

Pepper Bay always brings me so much joy and happiness. Yet perhaps this latest stay at Waterside Cottage, with marvelous characters, love that sparks from the pages, and the magic of Christmas is my favourite book so far. Because this book has just everything I expected, even if it all started with a tragedy. And I am definitely repeating myself, but seeing how strong love can be, and how the heart remembers what we have forgotten, was just magnificent and truly heart – warming!

To fake a marriage in order to save a vineyard’s business

Synopsis

Cleo Arendse: You know how almost every movie set in Italy seems to be about a woman who travels to Tuscany and is swept off her feet by a charming, gorgeous but arrogant aristocrat? Well, that’s not this story.

Luca Fioravanti:
Challenge accepted.

British Banker Cleo Arendse is nothing like the women lawyer Luca Fioravanti is used to – both because she’s only in Tuscany to oversee his family vineyard’s business and because she’s impervious to the charm that has never failed him before now.

But Luca has never shied from a challenge, and when circumstances arise that allow him to step in as Cleo’s knight in shining armour, he leaps…right into a fake marriage! The romance may be a ruse but the passion burning between Luca and Cleo is very, very real, and as the ‘honeymoon’ glow envelops the pair, all bets are off…

My review

Cleo Arendse is a British banker that heads over to Tuscany as a favour, to oversee a vineyard’s business.
Through the grapevines she has heard that the owner’s son, Luca Fioravanti, is known for sweeping women of their feet. That makes Cleo even more adamant to not fall for his charms.
But the more the two spend together, the  more Cleo realizes there is more to Luca than just his looks. And after Luca coming to Cleo’s help, suddenly they have to pretend to be married. For the sake of Luca’s family and the business, they agree to continue with the fake marriage. But what happens when the passion is impossible to ignore?

Stories taking place in Italy always have my interest a little bit more than others. I am always curious to see how and if the author manages to captivate the real Italian way of living instead of trusting the clichés.

And after finishing this book, I can say that this has the perfect mix of clichés and authenticity. Because when Cleo arrives in Tuscany, she sees the typical Italian macho man, using as expected his good looks to get the woman he has set his eyes on.
And I found it great to see how Cleo indeed can appreciate Luca’s looks, but isn’t affected by it, as everyone else is.

I have to admit that initially I didn’t understand how Cleo and her job were linked to the vinery. I also found it strange how she was persuaded to make the trip. But does the latter truly matter in the bigger picture?

Cleo may seem at first a strict woman. She doesn’t mess around and is focused on the job. But the more the story evolves, the more we see that there is a reason she is so strict and perhaps even cold. She has been burnt by love in the past, more than once, and won’t allow anyone else to make a fool out of her, or break her heart.
And we see that in fact, Cleo is a very warm, kind and open person, a person that cares about her friends’ wellbeing. She is also the kind of person who can put the right priority and sees what truly matters to someone.

Seeing Cleo in Tuscany was both sweet and funny. Funny because I can clearly imagine the kind of welcome she received. Italians may be very warm and welcoming, but they are also very proud and protective. And when someone may be likely to take away something that we care about, that person will see a not so nice, warm and welcoming side of us! 🤣
It was sweet to see Cleo in Tuscany because she understand what the vinery means to Luca and his family, and that makes her determined to make things work, even if that means to prolong her stay there.

There is also a family feud in this story, and this shows once again the pride of the Italian family. The head of the family’s word is somehow law, and when not followed it can have far – reaching consequences lasting years…

Yet we have a main character that in a short time understand the dynamics of the Fioravanti family, and not only takes the business at heart, but also each member of the family. And I found it
heart – warming to see Cleo wanting to make all the wrong – doing right again, threading things with care, but also determination.

And we also see Cleo getting Luca. Because behind all the bravado that Luca shows us, there is in fact a man who is carrying a heavy burden filled with amongst others, many doubts…
But also that in fact Luca is a real gentleman, he doesn’t take advantage of a situation and he helps out when someone (Cleo included) needs it.

It’s his nature of helping out that brings this couple in the awkward situation of faking to be married. And their pretending for sure was hilarious! Italians are not ashamed of showing affection, and having to pretend and trying to fool Italians isn’t an easy task!
However, it’s also this faking that brings Cleo and Luca even closer, to a point where resisting is in vain.

I found this a funny and romantic book to read, because we see main characters going from enemies to lovers. Both characters don’t know how to handle all these emotions that they raise in each other. As there are several obstacles to overcome, not only the distance, but also the fear of getting hurt, or feeling something so pure, genuine and new.
But I also found it funny to read how Cleo was welcomed into the family when the word got out of the ‘marriage’. And there we see the real Italians emerge, warm, kind and sharing recipes and knowledge of how to make your own pasta! 😊

Love can be scary thing, especially when you have been hurt before, or have always been adamant for not falling for that ‘trick’. But when the right person comes on your path, you can try as much as you want to ignore that, love won’t be stopped.
And no matter how scary it may be, true love is worth the risk! And the author managed perfectly to put this into words on the pages!

Keeping secrets about your relationship and from your relationship, and a holiday to fix it all. Or not…

Synopsis

If crime writer Lottie Lucas hadn’t landed a three-book-deal, she’d never have met Ryan.  Older, suave, confident, refined Ryan.  Or Relic Ryan as bestie Jen calls him. 

However, there’s something Lottie hasn’t told Jen.  Ryan has an ex-wife – well, Lottie thinks Heather is an ex-wife, and Ryan wouldn’t lie, would he?  It’s galling that Heather is still on the scene, and Lottie knows Jen wouldn’t approve.

But Lottie is hugging a bigger secret.  This one is something else and, like a nasty spot, it’s threatening to come to a head and cause a mess entirely of Lottie’s own making.

If Jen found out she’d bash Lottie over the head with one of her size sevens, and if Ryan caught wind – well, that would be an entirely different scenario.

So, when an opportunity arises to escape to Cornwall, Lottie grabs it like a drowning person clutching a lifebuoy. A change of location seems like the perfect solution to both issues. But Lottie is about to discover that secrets have a habit of catching up with you – and this one is tracking her like a supersonic missile…

My review

Thanks to her three – book – deal, Lottie has met Ryan. Even if he is older, now Lottie and Ryan are dating. But what Lottie hasn’t told her best friend Jen, is that Ryan is a divorced man. Because that will only add to the ammunition Jen has against Ryan.
Because the way Ryan acts, it doesn’t seem at all that he divorced his wife Heather…
But what neither Jen or Ryan know, is that Lottie is keeping another secret from them both. A secret that could break both relationships… But a girl’s gotta do what she’s gotta do to survive, especially with Lottie’s past.
So when a romantic weekend to Cornwall turns out to be a double holiday with Jen an her boyfriend, Lottie believes that this is the perfect opportunity to solve her issues.
Yet this holiday may turn out to be completely different than expected… 

I have to admit, after I finished reading this book, I was happy there were several funny bits, because besides Lottie’s character, there weren’t many character that I warmed up to… 

Now, don’t think I didn’t enjoy reading this book, because I truly did. But I just pitied Lottie in so many occasions and I felt that she wasn’t surrounded by people that had her best interests. 

From the start it was clear that her marriage ended in disaster, and that made me very curious, as I wanted to know what exactly happened. And the more I knew about her past, the more I had my fingers crossed that her relationship with Ryan somehow would end up being what she truly deserved, a happy relationship. 

Like I said, I felt sorry for Lottie a lot, and while it would have been easy to classify her as ‘gullible’, I didn’t see it like that. I saw Lottie more as a woman who found herself in vulnerable situations, where it would be easy for people to take advantage of her, especially with her marriage. And even when she sees the light, and anyone else would be ready to pack and leave, I somehow could comprehend her not doing it. Because she is the kind of person who thinks that next time will be better, lessons have been learned, and she is also the kind of person that thinks of the happiness of her loved ones and put it before her own happiness. And whether that is justified or not, well, I found it courageous of her of not just giving up… 

But slowly we see her growing more and more of a pair. Where at first she just goes along with everything, even agreeing to go on a double – holiday with her best friend even if she rather doesn’t, we see her deciding to take matter in her own hands. And where at first it’s Jen not wanting Lottie to play gooseberry, Lottie decides to not be with Jen all the time. 

Jen truly got on my nerves if I have to be honest… she may be Lottie’s best friend, but that doesn’t give her a hall pass on being so rude to Lottie. I can understand her being so outspoken, but she took it next level in a negative way.
And I truly disliked her behaviour during the weekend away, how she sneaked herself into it and then being so ungrateful towards Lottie to even chasing her out of the booked room and demanding Lottie to give her and her boyfriend some alone – time. 

I think that as a true best friend, Jen should have been more supporting and available in a way for Lotties, when Ryan doesn’t show up… 

Also Ryan got on my nerves unfortunately, as it’s clear that there is something not right in the stories he tells Lottie. And the way he keeps abandoning her, that is just not okay… and then I am not talking about the holiday. 

But the unfortunate holiday is exactly what Lottie needs to have her eyes opened. Because there she starts to see everything more clearly, and even has an epiphany.
And seeing her growing up and standing up for herself was for sure a delight to see! 

There is also the big elephant in the room, or rather this review. I am not going to say what that secret is, because I want you to discover it by yourself.
But I can tell you that when I learned about it, I was shocked and flabbergasted for a minute, and then I found it just impossible to stop laughing about it.
I found I just so absurd and funny! And even if Lottie worries about it, it is the bit that puts lightness in the story.
It makes no sense at all, especially if we have to believe Lottie’s statement that her are truly ugly, yet she has some fans…
And the final revelation just added a more absurd cherry on a very strange cake! 

This story shows us with lightness that there are people out there ready to take advantage of the vulnerable situation you are in. And that there are people who want to have the cake and eat it too, without taking in regard others’ feelings.
But it mainly shows us that in life it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them and they make us mature.
And that settling for less is never the best option. Even if we are feeling low and lone, it’s worth the wait to find someone that appreciates, treasures and loves you as you deserve.
And that is exactly what we see in this romantic comedy!

A new job, a new chance, a rivalry lasting for ages

Synopsis

Two families at war and Alice finds herself caught in the middle. Can she re-write a story as old as time?

When cutbacks force Alice out of her assistant manager role at a Devonshire stately home, she turns her sights elsewhere: the picturesque hills above the historic city of Parma. An aristocratic Italian family are looking to open their medieval castle to the public, and Alice is just the woman for the job.

Four years ago, a life-changing accident pushed Alice into depression, but the beauty and charm of the Italian countryside works its magic in brightening her days. Especially when she keeps bumping into handsome Luca… But rivalries run deep in the town, and Alice’s work – not to mention her potential love life – are caught in the middle of a long-standing feud between two families.

With her job and future happiness in peril, can Alice save the future of the castle, and bring two warring families together?

My review

When cutbacks strikes at a Devonshire stately home, it’s Alice’s job as an assistant manager that is on the line.
With some help of her friends, she finds herself a new job, and this one will take her to the picturesque hills just above Parma. As Alice has already spent time in Italy previously, and knows the language, she is the right person to help with opening a medieval castle to the public.
Even if Italy may seem a dream location, Alice has learned the hard way that it’s a place that indeed gives a lot, but can also take a lot, as four years ago Alice was involved in a life – changing accident.
But Italy wouldn’t be Italy if it wouldn’t work its magic again, and show Alice its charm, and all the beauty it has. Even if an old feud between the aristocratic family who own the castle and the mayor may seem to complicate things. And to complicate things even further, Alice cannot stop bumping into Luca, which may add only even more fuel to that feud… 

T.A. Williams writes amazing book, no matter if he writes a cozy mystery or a romance. Whatever genre I am reading, I know I will be captivated whenever I have one of this author’s books in my hand. And this one wasn’t that unlucky one to be the exception! 

Those who have read my reviews, know that I am Italian (and Belgian too 😊) and that I am absolutely not biased at all (yeah suuuure… 😊).
But from the moment I read a book taking place in Italy and it’s a place I have been myself once or even more often, it always feel like reading about home. And with T.A. Williams managing the words, well, it makes me feel all warm on the inside. 

I have read several books, and I don’t know exactly why, but this book felt the most genuine one.
Because from the first instance, I absolutely liked Alice, even before I knew about her accident and how it changed her.
She has worked hard to get the role of assistant manager in the Devonshire estate, and she has proven her worth more than once.
Even getting the job in Parma was thanks to her work ethics and her visions, and not because she knew someone that knew someone. Even if she perhaps got the interview that way, the job was handled to her based on actual facts and her honesty. 

But not only her focus on the job was admirable, but also how she has been able to pick herself up after that accident. Although she has been through a lot, she isn’t there yet completely, and she has still so many insecurities, which are unfounded.
I liked to see how Alice wasn’t presented as a Miss Perfect, but with human flaws we all have. And while that accident has caused her permanent ‘damage’, and it limits Alice at moments, I didn’t feel that the author used it as a way to gain pity. On the contrary, we can see how determination can overcome those limitations. 

I loved reading Alice settling in Parma, and found it funny to read how she keeps on meeting the same stranger in several occasions. I found it sweet to see how, eve without sharing one word with him, it ignited something back to life in Alice, and how she started to see and believe that life truly does go on, and that even a terrible accident cannot stop some feelings. 

Yet we also see Alice’s loyalty towards her new friends, when she thinks she knows who that stranger is. And while initially I was a bit afraid that the story would take a turn I wouldn’t like, I was absolutely pleased to learn that Alice was wrong in her perception, even if her conclusions were understandable! 

The fact that there is a longstanding feud, that may cause problems in opening the castle to public may be an overreaction for non – Italians. But believe me, Italians can hold grudges for a very long time.
Yet it saddened me to see how it affected people I started to care about, and how unpredictable outbursts could be and turn out… 

A feud that also involves Luca, Alice’s love interest… and my heart broke reading how that feud, and Luca’s father erratic behaviour split a family and caused and still was causing a lot of pain…
Even if it was difficult to understand any of it, I was somehow glad to get an actual reason and that there was more to it than just a character being a terrible person… 

But I absolutely loved reading how Alice in Parma, with Luca and all her new friends, starts to believe in herself and in love again. We see her going from a perhaps fearful little animal, to a strong and confident person, ready to tackle any challenge on her path. And seeing that strength and confidence growing is the real power of this book. Because no matter how much life knocks us down, it also can raise you to the highest (Italian) hills. 

This author took me once again to a wonderful journey to a place that I truly love, with characters that are just as human as we are, but are also able to grow stronger on each page. T.A. Williams has the marvellous talent of telling beautiful stories with putting the right picture of the setting in your mind and with characters that you cannot not love…

When a marriage end, it can be the start of something new

Synopsis

Imagine for a moment, your husband leaves you. Then through a bizarre twist of events, you find yourself working with the girl he’s left you for – and even worse, she’s pregnant…

Louisa’s not really up to any more complicated relationships. Right now, she doesn’t need them. She has good friends. Okay, so one has a screwed-up husband and the other a very strange horoscope habit. Not to mention her ex-husband’s new girlfriend, who Louisa has somehow found herself giving relationship counselling to. She doesn’t need anyone else with problems in her life right now.

It would be nice, wouldn’t it? To find a straightforward man, who isn’t remotely messed up. Now there’s a thought… But does such a man even exist?

She thinks not. But, she resolves, a life of helping other people find their happy-ever-afters is still something. But then handsome vet Marcus walks into her life. And everything changes…

Set in the Hampshire countryside against a background of horses and vets, this is a story about friendship and love, and life’s way of throwing in the unexpected…

My review

Louisa knows that things aren’t perfect in her marriage with Arian. But which marriage is? That doesn’t leave her utterly shocked when Arian admits to have met someone new, and she is even pregnant!
Now Louisa finds herself single in a new home, and complications are the last things she needs now in her life. But what Louisa wants, isn’t what Louisa gets, as she needs to help out her friends, from going to a horoscope addiction to another marriage in crisis. And what Louisa absolutely doesn’t need, is her ex’ girlfriend working by your side…
While helping out those around her in finding their happily ever after, Louisa learn that perhaps her own perception wasn’t always that spot – on, especially concerning vet Marcus. 

I have read several books of this amazing authors, and I know I shouldn’t be fooled by the lightness of the title. Because this author can write deep stories, with twists and even tears from my side. So I *thought* I knew what I was getting into, yet once again I was totally fooled. 

The focus of this book is definitely on Louisa, and what happens after learning that her husband is leaving her.
Of course I truly felt sorry for her, because even if things aren’t always working well in a marriage, cheating is a terrible thing to do. What happened to talking to each other, or just decide to go your separate ways? Especially when Louisa hasn’t had any clue about how Arian was truly feeling, or had an idea of how mismatched they in fact were… 

Like I said, don’t get fooled by the title, because for me, this wasn’t about Lou’s search for the perfect man. But for me it was more about Lou standing on her own feet, making it (whatever that maybe, in whatever area of her life) and learning that everyone, even those the closest to her, have their own issues in their lives. 

We see in several occasions that in fact Lou is an amazing, understanding and helpful friend. She worries about her loved ones, which also include her colleagues at the vet practice. She wants every and each of them to be happy. She also goes lengths when any on them is in need or just deserve it. 

But Lou is also the kind of person that is forgiving. Of course I could understand her shock when learning that her ex’ new girlfriend is working by her side at the practice. And while it could have been a difficult situation, she also sees Karina for who she is, and Lou doesn’t hold onto the past and hold a grudge. 

We see her also ‘getting’ people. She may be opinionated at first, with a few characters, but once she gets to know them, she understands that her vision was wrong. And even if she perhaps may have the wrong first impression, she still gives them a chance. 

There are several things going on in this story, as we see for example Lou going from married to divorced, but we also see her as a caring daughter who worries when an incident occurs. We see her not giving up on love, not for herself but for her friends. And we also see her kind heart towards animals.  

Yet seeing Louisa slowly believing in love for herself was perhaps the best thing of the whole book… because no matter what happened in the past, love can always be found again. 

In this book there aren’t perhaps the hugest plot twists. We see the daily lives of characters, a bunch of people caring for each other and loving each other in different specifics ways. And most important, we see how to carry on with life, even after an unexpected break – up.  

This is the story of a normal woman, with a regular job, who goes through things everyone can relate to. A normal woman, who grows thanks to what she is going through or what happens in her life.
And yes,  a woman who dares to open up for love again, even if she was adamant that she didn’t need to find that perfect man to find her own happiness, yet perhaps can stumble upon that man, if she dares to look around. 

Once again this was a great story to read, about moving on, not losing yourself and being that kind and loving person you have always been, and not let anger poison you, even towards that person that hurt you the most.
It’s a wonderful story about strength, matureness, growth, friendship and love, what else do you need more?

When your need of the truth brings you somewhere and something unexpected

Synopsis

When Luna Rowntree gets an unexpected and life-changing legacy from a man she’s never met, she’s determined to find out why – even if it is Christmas Day and her family are expecting her.

So, with only her mother’s ashes for company – it’s a long story, but Luna knows her mother would have wanted to come on the adventure too – Luna sets off in her trusty Astra to the skiing resort in Chamonix, where her mysterious benefactor had lived.

But her little car isn’t designed for driving through snow-covered mountains, and when she runs out of fuel heart-breakingly close to Chamonix, Luna is relieved to be saved by her very own knight-in-shining armour. Well, knight in mountain rescue uniform anyway.

Yannick is charmed and baffled by Luna’s mission, and before he knows it, he has agreed to help. But Yannick has his own secrets calling him from the mountains, and his own reasons to run away. As he helps Luna understand her past he realises he has to face his as well if he’s ever going to risk opening his heart to love

My review

Luna Rowntree has received an unexpected legacy. As this came from a man she has never met and doesn’t even know who he is, Luna is determined to figure out why she was the recipient. So that’s why she finds herself with her mother’s ashes as comfort in Chamonix, and not celebrating Christmas with the family.
But with a car that isn’t made for mountains, and a mind full of thoughts, Luna suddenly is stranded not that far from Chamonix without any fuel. Luckily mountain rescuer Yannick is there to the rescue. And before they both know it, Yannick agrees to help Luna on her mission to find out the truth. In Chamonix, Luna discovers what it means to be passionate but also respectful about the mountains. And with Yannick by her side, she perhaps can find the courage to let go of her fears, whichever they may be. But Luna was only meant to stay for a period in Chamonix, and with Yannick’s own reasons to prefer mountains over emotions, where will this leave them? 

There are books that make you feel all warm and cosy, but there are also books that give you the shivers… And this book for sure was the latter.
Now, I absolutely adore this author, so the shivers weren’t related to the story itself, but completely to the setting.
I am one of those people that in the winter, want to sit at home, hidden under a fluffy blanket, with a hot cocoa, not caring about the weather outside, as long as I can stay in the warmth. 

Yet no matter the setting was in Chamonix, in my opinion the coldest possible place, the story itself made it possible to vanquish the cold. 

From the start, my heart went out to Luna. As I am also very close to my mother, I could understand the difficulties of letting her go. But I also understood that she couldn’t comprehend she has received a lot of money from a man she didn’t know or had ever heard of. I found that a bit of a disturbing fact, because that brings so many questions. And I think I would have done the same as Luna, trying to discover who the man was and why he left her that amount. 

In so many aspects I recognized a lot of myself in Luna. Never ask me to go skiing, because I know that it will end in disaster or in accidents. Luna is also somehow a scaredy – cat, thinking that she cannot do things. And those fears come from deep inside, also from her overprotective mother. And that is also a fact I could relate to, even if in my case, it’s my father who sees danger everywhere 😊 

But the beauty of this story is that Luna finds the courage to do things she never imagined doing. From packing and leaving to Chamonix, without an actual plan, to doing things that would make her (and me) cry out of fear.
And that is with the help of Yannick… He has so much trust in Luna, and just like Luna says herself, with that face, we would believe anything he would say. 

Don’t think that Yannick is just a character that is easy on the eyes. Because from everything around his person, we feel his pain, his losses. And because of everything he has been through, I couldn’t blame him on not letting anyone new getting close to him.
The love for his daughter is so obvious, he is an amazing dad, even if he has a job that is unpredictable and even dangerous.
I have to add, even if I don’t think I will ever get in touch with a mountain rescue team, my respect for them only grew the more I was reading. The calculated risks these people take to save someone, is truly admirable. 

Obviously the mystery that brought Luna to Chamonix was one that kept me sitting on the edge of my seat, as I wanted to know the ins and the outs of it.
But it was a story about pushing boundaries, finding courage, finding someone that encourages you to push those boundaries, to find that courage but with always following the rules and respecting the environment.
Of course this means also finding courage to open yourself, to find yourself, or rather change yourself in the real you. 

This was a wonderful, even inspiring story that perhaps didn’t have my favourite setting. But with such an amazing author, the story could take place in the North Pole, and I would still love it, as the warmth from the characters and their tales makes the cold just go away…

Love is a beautiful thing, but love also hurts, in more than one way

Synopsis

A secret romance was just the start of the story…

Tucked into a crook of the Norfolk coast lies Nelson’s Bar – an idyllic village where time seems to stand still. Maddy Cracey has called this beautiful spot home all her life, as had her husband Adey – until an epic row sent him storming out into a blizzard, with no sign of him since that fateful night.

Six years on, and Maddy’s life in the village has settled into a gentle pattern with her young daughter and Great Aunt Ruthie. However, when handsome stranger Raff turns up with a handful of long-forgotten love letters, their quiet life is upended as family secrets from the past are unearthed.

As Raff and Maddy get to know each other, they grow closer and a love story of their own seems inevitable. But when Maddy receives a mysterious message, she can’t help but wonder whether her own past is as distant as she’d thought it was…

The festive new novel about love, family and the power of words from Sunday Times bestseller Sue Moorcroft, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

Maddy is carer of her Great Aunt Ruthie. Together with Ruthie and Maddy’s daughter they are living in the village of Nelson’s Bar, on the Norfolk coast.
Life hasn’t been easy for Maddy, as six years ago, after a huge row, her husband Adey went out to only never return again. Yet now Maddy finally feels that things are coming together.
That is until Raff appears, with in his hand love letters written by Ruthie and Raff’s father. Secrets are being unravelled and Maddy learns about Ruthie’s greatest love. Meanwhile Raff and Maddy are getting to know each other better and something starts to bloom. Until Maddy starts to receive text from an unknown number, and Maddy fears it may be someone she thought she would never hear from again… 

I have to admit, I had a different totally story in my mind when I started with this book from the amazing author Sue Moorcroft. Yet different doesn’t mean bad, right? And I knew that anyway this author would once again write a captivating story. 

I loved reading the dynamics between this little family of women. Even if Ruthie is not Maddy’s mother, we could see very obviously that these two women for sure loved each other like a mother and daughter would.
For me, it showed us once again that a mother isn’t per se the once that gave birth to someone. 

And seeing how three generations of women are in symbiosis was wonderful and sweet. Each of the women, Maddy’s daughter included, are very different from each other, but the care, love and even worry for each other are very obvious. 

I thought that the past love letters would have a bigger spotlight, and that perhaps we would see through flashbacks how Ruthie experienced that great yet impossible love and its consequences. Yet while those letters and that love for sure was the catalyst of everything, it didn’t take up that much in the book itself. 

Nevertheless, we see how that great love is what brought all the characters together. Because of that love, Ruthie get the chance to meet someone she never thought she would ever meet. And even if she didn’t regret the choices she made in the past, as that for sure was the right choice, there is always that niggling thought in your mind. 

In this book, we see that while in theory everything would be resolved very easily, whenever emotions and matters of the heart are involved, things never are. And taking in account that for a few characters there is also a health issue, it only makes it more complicated. Because while things may seem straightforward, they never truly are. 

Maddy takes up big part of the book, and you cannot not like her. She has been through hell with the disappearance of her husband Adey six years ago. Yet she managed to get her life back on track, even if things aren’t that easy. Because with Adey disappearing, she is left in the dark and she has so many questions that will perhaps never have an answer.  

With her past taking in account, I found it sweet and perfect for Maddy getting closer to Raff, as she deserves to be happy again.
But here also we see that Maddy needs to take steps on her own time, as this doesn’t affect only her. 

I have to say, those mysterious texts and the aftermath left me disappointed in a way. Not that the author did a bad thing with this storyline! I would never think such things of this amazing author. But I was more disappointed with all the revelations and the characters involved. It left me flabbergasted to read how people can be… 

But that didn’t take away the fact that I truly enjoyed reading this book, reading about characters that have been through a lot and are still going through, but still find love anyway. Perhaps not in all the same forms of love, but love is love, a mother – daughter love, friends – love, even Auntie – niece love.
And that with love comes care, kindness, worry but also forgiveness, warmth and even more love!

When your first love broke your heart, but reappears 10 years later in your life…

Synopsis

The course of true love never did run smooth, but with Phoebe MacLeod it always gets a chance. Perfect for fans of Jo Watson and Mhairi McFarlane.

Everyone remembers their first love. Jess Thomas definitely does. So, it’s more than a little awkward when Jess’s first love, Jamie Ferguson, turns out to be the best man at the wedding she’s catering for. And more than a little insulting when he doesn’t appear to remember her at all.

Since Jamie broke her heart (via text!), 10 years earlier, Jess has sworn off romance. And with a booming catering business to focus on, she’s doing OK. She has no interest in revisiting the past.

But when Jess’s car breaks down on a country lane, she has no choice but to accept Jamie’s help. Now, Jamie is determined to show Jess he’s a new man. But can guys like Jamie ever really change? And if she gives him another chance, is she setting herself up for a fall?

My review

A younger Jess Thomas had a huge crush on Jamie Ferguson. And just when Jess’ dreams seemed to be coming true, Jamie broke her heart by text.
Now ten years later, Jess is catering a wedding and the best man is no one else but Jamie. To add even more insults, he doesn’t appear to be recognizing her. In fact, no one of her former fellow students appear to recognize her… And that’s fine by her, because Jess doesn’t need a blast from the past, as her focus is on her catering business.
But when after the wedding, Jess’ car breaks down, she has no other option to accept Jamie’s help. And after revealing (or rather blurting out) the truth, Jamie is adamant to show Jess he is not the same young man anymore.
But can Jess give the man that broke her heart a second chance?

Oooh, what a delightful book to read! I truly devoured this from the first page until the very last one!
Was it because it was so relatable? Because haven’t we all been heart – broken by our crush when we were younger? And haven’t we all thought about what would happen if that same crush would reappear back in our lives suddenly?
Or is it the talent of this author, that makes it so easy to give dive into the story and keep on reading?
But it doesn’t matter what the real reason was, because I absolutely enjoyed reading it!

Jess is the kind of character everyone could recognize. She has built her own successful business with the help of her friend. Yet while successful in the business, in matters concerning the heart she has been keeping away from it all.
And while I am a longtime single woman, I could relate to her in many ways, from not having the time or need to awful fates, there were are some moments that didn’t make total sense to me.

Through flashbacks we get to see how young Jess had a huge crush on Jamie, and how that made her act even out of character. Yet even there we see some things we even did, like doodling names together, listening to the band our crush loves etc.
And I was happy for young Jess to see how at a party Jamie finally it all seemed to come together. But I also knew it wouldn’t end well, even if I somehow kept hoping it would?
It’s at that same party that Jess acts typically Jess, even in a sweet way. But she also acts very untypically Jess. I know that for a crush you would go far, but for me it went a tiny bit too far?

So when ten years later, Jess and Jamie meet again, I could understand why Jess didn’t want to reveal who she was and wanted to get away as far as possible.
Making it all more hilarious when she ends up stranded and Jamie appears to be her knight in shining armour.
I actually laughed out loud when Jess tried to get rid of him with fake calls, and when she babbled the whole truth out, even if she didn’t want to! 😊

Yet when the truth came out, I also understood Jamie, how he wanted to show Jess that in fact he has changed. Because haven’t we all grown up, and changed compared to the younger us? We all made mistakes when younger, and as adults we know that what we did was wrong and the ‘now us’ would act completely differently compared to the younger us.

It was sweet in so many ways to see how Jamie keeps on being persistent for a second chance. Not immediately a second chance in a romantic way, but also showing that he has in fact matured and that now he is someone you can count on.

Through several occasions we see Jess and Jamie together, and while things sometimes are getting complicated, it was sweet to see how Jess’ trust slowly is building back.
But trust isn’t built overnight, and we see that moments that Jess perhaps is overreacting or that Jamie seems to be still hiding a few things.
Yet we also see the both of them admitting that perhaps it was a matter of overreaction, and they know that they are not there yet, but the both of them are willing to see where whatever this is between them a chance.

This was once again a wonderful and lovely story from an amazing author, showing us that sometimes when things happen it isn’t the rught time or place, but that with a second chance, it can be the perfect time and place. We just have to open ourselves for the given opportunity!

When you go back to a happy place to find it back again…

Synopsis

After a difficult break-up, Poppy is keen to put the past behind her and what’s better than some relaxing time with her aunt in the picturesque Cornish village of West Par.

But life at her aunt Flora’s Dogs’ Home is anything but relaxing. When a poor little pup is stranded at the gates, Poppy takes them for a check up at the local vet, hoping against hope they’ll be fine.

And there she meets Mack: the vet who is so charming and experienced with the dogs, but selfish and – dare she say it – money-grabbing with his clients.

But underneath that cold exterior, she’s sure there’s more to the story. If only she could convince him to open up. Because without him, the future of Wagging Tails isn’t so assured…

My review

After a hurtful break – up, Poppy needs to clear her head. And the only place she can think of, is the place that brought her a lot of joy years ago. So she packs her stuff and she is going to stay with her Aunt Flora. Poppy is more than ready to help Aunt Flora with running the Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home. Poppy quickly loses her heart to all of the dogs staying there, and even one in particular. Dougal is the puppy she found stranded at the gates, and she hopes with all her heart that the little pup will turn out to be okay.
There she meets Mack, the new vet who is strictly following the rules, as everyone should pay for his consult and treatments. But with Wagging Tails being a charity, money may be an issue. And thus Mack is seen as a selfish and money – grabbing person.
But as contact with the vet is mandatory, Poppy earns that there is more to his story, and she hopes she will be able to make him open up more, as it may affect more than just the Wagging Tails future…

There are some series that truly touch your heart for several reasons. I mean, I love many books, series and authors. But while sometimes it can just be a character, or the subject, or the place, sometimes it’s so many things all together in the one book that makes you melt.

And this book was exactly that… from the first page I truly liked Poppy, adored returning to Wagging Tails, and fell utterly in love with little pup Dougal!  Even when first meeting Mack, and his decisive ‘no’ for any kind of discount couldn’t make me shake of the feeling that things weren’t just that straightforward with him, and that he would show his real, kind, loving and generous character!

The story starts with Poppy’s heartbreak. And I could understand that even if it was something that was inevitable, it can still hurt a lot. And adding that her ex doesn’t seem to waste any time, well, I was hurt in her place!

Yet even if she is heartbroken, we see the good the right environment can do to someone. Not only is she welcomed with open arms by her Aunt Flora, but also by everyone working at the Wagging Tails, old friends and new ones.
And of course, the presence of all the dogs also helped Poppy overcoming her grief. It only shows that sometimes dogs can help us even more than humans can!

It’s crystal-clear how kind – hearted Poppy is. The way she cares about the dogs, how easily she loves Dougal, how much she is worrying about her Aunt, all signs that Poppy for sure is a lovely character. And the kind of character that deserves to love and be loved.

For a person that cares so much, and takes the fate of Wagging Tails at heart, I couldn’t disagree with her reaction when learning that the new vet didn’t give any kind of discount, especially after seeing how much it all costed!

But it’s easy to judge someone like Mack, if you don’t have all the inside information… Because yes, it may seem that Mack is counting any penny he is making. But, even if we don’t know anything about him yet, we can see his gentle character already from the moment that Poppy arrives with Dougal. Mack truly cares about each animal that enters his office. He doesn’t act lightly, and wants to make sure that the animals will get the right treatment. And even after the poor animals have left his office, he wants to follow them up.

This is all before we even get to know his background… and when learning what he has been through, and what kind of big brother he is, well, it truly warmed my heart. And it made so much sense, as I could understand why he acted the way he did.
Even if some moments his actions still made me frown, for example the way he was looking for a Christmas gift for his secretary. He for sure went from one extreme to the other! 🤣

With Poppy and Mack seeing each other more and more, the attraction between them start to grow, and the initial antipathy (especially Poppy’s) start to disappear.
Poppy senses that there is more to Mack’s story, and she wants to know what’s truly behind the façade that Mack shows…

And I found it sweet to see how all the volunteers at the charity do whatever they can to raise money, but also how  the community and everyone in the village show their generosity.

This was a lovely, heartwarming story, showing us that we should never judge a book by its cover, and that a certain behavior always has a reason. But with patience, understanding and love, we can make a person open up, and even make them take a chance at love again!

An accident with consequences…

Synopsis

When the ceiling of preloved clothing shop Roseford Relovedfalls in at the height of Christmas season, owner Polly Parrott is in despair. She can see her fortunes draining away as quickly as the water is pouring through her roof. What makes it worse is that standing right underneath the deluge is Will Sutherland, sporting hero and new owner of Parson’s Grange, the new modern mansion in Roseford.

Polly and Will’s first meeting is about as far from a success as it can be, but over a festive season of Christmas markets, a Yuletide Ball and inconvenient snowfalls, can they forge a friendship or even more, despite their unpromising beginning? Or will the complications in both of their lives end their romance before it even begins?

My review

Polly Parrott is the proud owner of Roseford Reloved, a clothing shop selling preloved items. But running a business isn’t always easy, and when the ceiling of the shop collapses, it’s just the cherry on top of the cake, as it collapsed on a customer.
Luckily the customer himself just has been drowned and there is no further damage, but for Will Sutherland it’s just another thing going wrong that day…
Former football legend and current owner of Parson’s Grange Will has just recently moved to Roseford with his two daughters after a failed marriage and a career that both have made him mistrust everything and everyone.
Yet while the first encounter with Polly was a disastrous one, the more they meet each other, the more difficult it becomes to ignore their attraction.
But as Will’s life is filled with multiple complications, will their romance has a chance to survive?

Having read all the previous books in this series, I was a bit afraid… as I absolutely loved those books, I feared that this one would not be able to live up to my expectations.
But when will Tizi learn to have faith in the authors that she loves?

First of all, how delightful to return to Roseford and seeing all my old friends once again! It truly warmed my heart to see how things have evolved in the meantime and that they were still all very much in love and happy!

From the first appearance, I truly liked Polly. Not only is she very kind and gentle, but the way she runs her shop is even something I would call admirable. Yes, she is selling second – handed clothes, but she doesn’t call them like that. I loved it how she named the clothes ‘preloved’ and that even if it’s not firsthand user, it seems like they actually are.

Polly is the kind of person you want to have in your life as a friend. There is not a thing I didn’t like about her. She is so understanding, patient and if even giving Will when needed options.
Perhaps she is being even too altruistic, as she is ready to give up on her own happiness for the sake of others.
And at some moments, I would have loved to see her biting back, as she always keeps a smile on her face, even when customers don’t deserve it.

As Polly is who she is, she also has a lot of good friends ready to help her out in time of need, or just giving her some kind words of encouragement.
It only shows that Roseford truly is a community that looks after each other! Even if newcomers are welcomed with a wary eye J

Newcomers just like Will and his daughters Hattie and Maeve.
Thanks to Fay’s dedication, I knew somehow how to imagine Will J.
Will in Roseford felt like a fish out of water, as Will is accustomed to a more not only glamorous place, but also a more lively place to live.

My heart truly went out to Will for several reasons…
First of all, he saw his marriage ending in a hideous way. And now he has moved in a house that mostly his ex has put together.
To make this more difficult, he also is struggling with his eldest daughter Hattie, as she is the most fed up with all the recent changes.
And to add even more fuel, he is struggling career wise as an incident in the past for sure left its mark on him and his reputation…

While for sure the two first are definitely difficult as they may be, perhaps I got more frustrated at the last point. I am not going in details here over what exactly happened, but it only showed once again how single – minded people can be, and how evil they can be… Just because someone is a famous person (a celebrity or a sportsman), it doesn’t mean that we have any say in their personal lives.
And even if this is just a fictional story, I know it unfortunately happens in real life, and seeing how it can ruin someone’s life, it truly hurt me…

That made me understand Will’s wariness, as he has seen how ugly people can be. In that way, it was sweet to see how slowly he warms up to Polly, even if with a little bit of help from Maeve.
It only make you see that the right people will make it possible to trust and to love. But also that the wrong people will always be able to push the wrong buttons…

Because no matter how lovely seeing the relationship develop, Will’s issues aren’t solved overnight…  It takes time to overcome all the hurt that has been caused, and it for sure is by trial and error.

Yet that doesn’t take away that he is a great father, that has learnt from his own mistakes and he truly cares about his daughters. He is absolutely concerned about his girls, and he wants their happiness more than anything, even if it’s difficult for him to handle things the right way.

Even expressing his feelings to someone is difficult for him, even to his own daughters. But once again, seeing him making progress was an amazing thing to see.

I absolutely devoured this book, as it was just amazing, lovely, wonderful and marvelous to read. It shows us how life can throw you curveballs and you are left to pick up the pieces (even those of a collapsed ceiling 🤣). But once again we see how the power of love can be that extra nudge in your back to not give up, to trust again, to believe in love again, even if there are a few mishaps on the way to gain your happiness.

And on a sidenote, even if Hattie was a rather hard nut to crack, and Maeve was a delightful character, I would have loved it to see more of them! 😀