When secrets bring you together…

Synopsis

Amelia Riley and Ben Lawson have something in common – fathers who have kept secrets.

On the day of his father’s funeral, Ben’s life changes forever when a woman he’s never met shows up claiming to be his sister. As he investigates the past, Ben is shaken to discover that much of his life has been built on a carefully constructed foundation of his father’s lies. Needing answers, he agrees to visit Juniper Meadows, the ancestral estate owned and run by his long-lost relatives, the Travers family.

Arriving in the pretty Cotswold countryside, the first person Ben meets is Amelia Riley. They are immediately drawn to one another, but Amelia has her own complicated ties to the Travers family. Her only goal is to set the past to rights so she can move on with a clean conscience.

As Ben starts to see the events of his childhood more clearly, he allows the warmth and fun he finds at Juniper Meadows to draw him in from the cold. But just as he’s contemplating setting down roots, Amelia is making plans to leave…

Bestseller Sarah Bennett is back with an irresistible, feel-good, page-turning escape, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

Ben and his father have always been on their own, after Ben’s mother died. At least that is what Ben always thought, and he couldn’t be more shocked to learn that not only his mother is still very much alive, but he also has a little sister.
Digging up his father’s past, Ben sees that his father has kept many secret and hasn’t always been as truthful as Ben thought.
In search for more answers, he decides to take up on his sister Hope Travers’ offer to visit Juniper Meadows.
And slowly Ben gets t know a part of his family he was unaware of, and it makes him think about what his future may hold, as in the past he didn’t follow his passion, but listened to his father. With now a family that encourages to follow your passion, Ben has a lot of thinking to do. And thinking he does, as he also keeps thinking about his encounter with Amelia Riley…
Amelia, who has been best friends with Hope, but also discovered that her own father betrayed her and her mother in a terrible way… 

Oooh just what a delight to return to Juniper Meadows! And I liked it how the story just picked up straight where book Nr. 1 left us, namely Hope finding her brother, after learning of his existence. 

I felt sorry for Ben in so many different aspects… He is doing a job that in fact he doesn’t truly love yet he did it anyway, after his father pushed him for a ‘real’ career. He never felt the support for chasing his artistic talents, even if that was what put him in a happy place. He has lost his father, not knowing about the illness, and  has to face somehow even the hypocrisy of those who knew his father. And then he learns that everything he thought he knew was a lie. Not only did his own father kept the truth about Ben’s mother, but Ben is shocked to learn that he has a little sister, and a whole family ready to welcome him back. 

But I could also understand Ben, as he doesn’t know what to do with the fresh information he has received. He is obviously wary of the new situation, and he doesn’t know what the correct way is to tackle the whole matter. 

I truly sympathized with him, as while he was happy to realize that he isn’t alone in the world at all, but I could also understand that finding a whole family still makes him a bit wary of everything, as he tries to comprehend what happened in the past, and what the real truth is. 

Of course Hope optimism is very infectious, and I found it heart – warming to see how quickly the siblings bonded. Yet I also was glad to see that Hope understood that they all needed to take baby – steps. 

If there is one person who could somehow comprehend Ben, knowing what it feels to discover a father who kept secrets and didn’t always follow the laws, it is Amelia. 

Amelia isn’t a complete stranger, as she made an appearance in the previous book. But I was happy to see she has her chance in the spotlight in this book.
We know what her father did (and even if you didn’t read the previous part, it is all explained) and I could understand her feelings.
While Amelia herself didn’t do anything wrong, she will always be linked to her father. So her sense of guilt and shame, even towards her best friend, made sense to me, even if they were absolutely unjustified, because she didn’t do anything wrong. 

So obviously, these two people, haunted by secrets from others, find each other. And seeing Ben and Amelia finding each other, comprehending each other like no one else could, and find someone to just talk to (initially 😊) was truly heart – warming. Because both characters need to have that kind of person in their lives.
But they also find someone that persuades them to follow their dreams, to do something with their artistic talent, even if it would be a risk somehow. 

I truly liked the development between them, but in the end what I liked the most about this book, was the story about family.
Because Ben finds a family he wasn’t aware of, yet he is accepted between their midst like if he has always been there.
The Travers’ for sure show everything that is beautiful about a family. This is a welcoming, open family, ready to help out a member of it, no matter if you have always been in there, or have just arrived. And no matter if you’re family by blood or not, just like Amelia. Because Amelia is also part of the family by proxy, as she is Hope’s friend. And that makes you find a home, with no judgement. 

This author once again wrote an amazing story, with wonderful characters even if they are haunted. Yet Sarah Bennett makes it possible to inject so much warmth and love in her tale, making her characters find a place where they truly belong, with whom they truly belong.

Aren’t you curious about this book?

Synopsis

The American Woman: a story of hope, disappointment and new beginnings

When it’s impossible to forget is it possible to forgive?

Jennifer is stuck doing dead end waitressing jobs, her naïve dream of Hollywood stardom in tatters. Gareth, an IT consultant on a temporary contract, is the unlikely customer at Giulio’s Diner in the downbeat part of Los Angeles where she is now working.

It shouldn’t be a perfect match, the attractive, outgoing waitress from Idaho and the shy, good looker from Wales, but when it comes to relationships nothing is predictable, is it?

They move from state to state and when Gareth’s work in America dries up Jennifer follows him to Britain. Everything changes. What is she supposed to do when she discovers that she’s been fed a pack of lies?

Now living alone in Muswell Hill, Jennifer is a regular at the popular Dream Café with a great job and a lovely set of friends, but it’s impossible to cast aside the wonderful memories of her time together with Gareth.

Were his lies justified? Are they forgivable? And most importantly, should she be giving Gareth the second chance he so desperately wants?

[This is a stand-alone novel in the ‘at the Dream Café’ series]

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/American-Woman-story-disappointment-beginnings-ebook/dp/B0CCYSWVJ3/

About the author

R J Gould writes contemporary fiction about relationships using a mix of wry humour and pathos to describe the tragi-comic life journeys of his protagonists. The American Woman is his ninth novel and follows The Engagement Party, Jack and Jill Went Downhill, Mid-life follies, The bench by Cromer beach, Nothing Man, Dream Café, Then and now, and Darren, Andrew and Mrs Hall. He has been published by Headline Accent and Lume Books and also self-publishes. Before becoming a full-time author he worked in the education and charity sectors. In addition to his addiction to telling stories, he has somewhat milder addictions to playing tennis, watching film noir cinema, completing Wordle and eating dried mango slices. He is a member of Cambridge Writers and the Romantic Novelists’ Association UK and lives in Cambridge, England.

Oooooh look at this brand new book from this amazing author!

Synopsis

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what 

Fashion designer Libby Carter has always loved weddings, so when her brother finds himself in a bind and asks her to step in and plan the perfect winter wonderland wedding for guests at his hotel, Starcross Manor, she happily takes on the challenge. But this is no ordinary Christmas wedding and when everything starts to go awry Libby asks gorgeous videographer Guy Hart for help.

This isn’t single dad Guy’s usual gig – and he is not a fan of weddings – but saying no to vivacious Libby isn’t an option … especially when saying yes leads to one very unforgettable kiss under the mistletoe!

Where to buy

https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Wedding-Starcross-Manor-holiday-ebook/dp/B0BM4GGC2T

An unexpected inheritance with a twist…

Synopsis

“Far as I’m aware–” Joe said, dropping his head briefly, the better to compose his features, “–far as I’m aware, Miss, we’ve no rabies in the Hebrides at the moment.”

Rose Mackie has inherited a house on a far-flung Scottish island from her curmudgeon of a father who wanted nothing whatsoever to do with her.

So she lands on Primrose Island with the intention of packing up the old beach house, selling it to the first person who’ll make an offer, and moving firmly on. But Joe Fraser, her late father’s neighbour, has some inconvenient news for her on that front.

Rose prepares for battle – only to find that the longer she spends on Primrose Island, and the more time she spends around Joe in particular, the more she begins to question everything she thought she knew…

My review

When Rose Mackie inherits her father’s house on Primrose Island, she wants to sell it as soon as possible. As her father was not in her life at all, why should she keep something from him?
When her father’s neighbour Joe Fraser informs her that there is a stipulation in the will, and selling the place isn’t as straightforward, Rose knows that she will have to spend more time in her father’s house than she wanted.
But the more time she spends in the house, and the more time she spends with Joe, she learns that in fact, she knew less about her father and his situation than she thought to know.
And that perhaps that one stipulation that initially infuriated her, wasn’t that bad at all…

I always love reading stories where the main character for one reason or another inherits a house, and then discovers that the truth isn’t what he/she thought it was.
So obviously I just had to read this novella too!

I can only try to imagine how Rose must feel, when not only she inherits a house on Primrose Island, but also she inherits it from her father, whom she never had any contact in her life.
While Rose until a certain age always believed that her father would return, at one point she stopped caring. If he didn’t care about her, why should she?

Having those thoughts, I couldn’t blame her reluctance and her wish to just sell up the place as quickly as she could.
But it was also clear that things weren’t as Rose always thought they were, and I was very curious to see to what extend exactly.

We can see a lot of anger in Rose, and that is completely understandable. Yet in a way it was also funny to see the alterations with Joe.
Not only does Rose see Joe as a know – it – all/ better but she also dislikes it how Joe seems to know her father in a different way than hers.
So seeing them clash over several things, or over different opinions put a smile on my face, especially as us readers we know how it all will end.

But what warmed my heart the most in this novella, was seeing how Rose, even if she has negative feelings over her new place, somehow finds her peace in Primrose Island.
And she also discovers that her father is anything but the mans he thought she was, and that makes her feel regretful, but also closer to a man she has never known.

The downside of a novella is, that there is so much to say and so little space to tell it all. So things evolve rather quickly, or things that perhaps would have escalated more, are resolved without any issue, just an angry look suffices.
And it left me with a few in depth questions that were left unanswered, or that I would have liked to see more how things would evolve between Rose and Joe.

But that didn’t take away I enjoyed reading this novella, showing in a short amount how sometimes in a place that doesn’t feel like home, with the truth and discoveries, you find a place more home than anywhere else.
And that even on the most remote place (or at least how it feels) you can find the most unexpected yet most wonderful things.

A holiday filled with twists and turns, nice ones and not…

Synopsis

Antigua… the Caribbean at its most luscious, its most beautiful… silver sand, cobalt sky, warm turquoise sea… and a bunch of complete strangers, who only have one thing in common: they’re single. Some are looking for romance, some for something more. But they’ve all chosen to spend their holiday with people they have never met before. And pretty soon, some will become good friends, some enemies and some lovers. And many of them will experience things they never expected, including their tour manager Eve, who perhaps has the biggest shock of all. A story that will make you laugh and make you cry with just the right number of twists to keep you turning the pages as you get to know all the members of the group as they, in turn, get to know each other.

My review

Tour manager Eve is heading off to Antigua with a group of singles, ready for their holiday. As each have their own reasons to participate on a singles’ holiday, they have all chosen the wonderful setting of Antigua, even if they are all are a bunch of strangers to each other.
It’s up to Eve to let each person have the best possible times, with excursions, amazing food and live the wonderful experience of an all – in vacation.
In the time span of a couple of days, some people of the group become good friends, some will have an instant dislike for each other, and others will benefit of the ‘What happens in Antigua…’.
But also in that same time span, things will happen to several of them, and tour manager Eve included, that will change their lives one way or another… 

When I started this book, I was thinking about my own personal situation. As I am single, I have thought about going on a singles’ holiday myself. But not having made that final decision yet, I thought that meanwhile I could enjoy reading this book and see how the characters would experience a holiday on their own. 

And as I also have brother who is a tour guide in Italy and I have joined him a few times, i for sure could understand Eve’s situation.
Eve is a kind person, and is ready to help out however she can. She is also very patient, but we can also see that some are testing her patience to her limits.
And again, going on trips with my brother, I knew that people on holiday can be at their best, but also at their worst.
Even just as a reader, there were some characters that got me so frustrated! I don’t know if I would have been able to keep calm and carry on just like Eve did! 

It was great to see how diverse the group was. Each has its own background, and also personal reasons for being on the holiday.
Some may be genuine, but some not.
And that diversity for sure made this a captivating story. 

Reading about all the several people on the holiday, at first made me a bit afraid I would confuse a character with another. But my fears were unfounded, as it’s very easy to keep with each one of them.
Of course, having a group, it’s normal to like one character more and dislike another. And seeing how my gut feeling in the end proved to be right, was satisfying.
Yet that didn’t take away that, despite my gut feeling, there were a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming! 

I have to admit, that perhaps the length of each chapter was a bit too long for my liking. I perfectly understand the choice the author made, as each chapter depicts one day at the time. But as I am the kind of person who reads by chapter, if you are laying in bed, ready for some sleep, that one last chapter for sure takes a while to get through! 😊 And yes, there are “pauses” in each chapter so I *could* have stopped at one of those, but once again, I am a reader by chapter 😊. But this is truly a personal feeling I had, and it didn’t influence my opinion over the story itself! 

This book for sure gave me the holiday – vibes, as my last holiday was at the start of July and I for sure needed a new break, even if it was a fictional one!
But beside that laid – back vibe, it also shows us that even in a short time span, relationships can be formed. And I am not talking only about the romantic one, but also the friendship kind, a kindred spirit kind, and even a surprising kind! 

I truly enjoyed reading this story, and while many characters had their closure, I cannot wait to read more about Eve and her next tours!

What changes will new arrivals bring to a place that is the heart of a village?

Synopsis

A wonderful story of love, friendship and opening your mind and your heart to new possibilities that will enchant fans of Holly Martin and Heidi Swain.

The Copper Plough is at the heart of village life for the residents of Heritage Cove, and never more so than at Christmas, when the tree glows in the alcove and the smell of mulled wine carries out onto the street. So when new owners for the beloved pub arrive and decide to shake things up, not everyone welcomes the changes with open arms.

Local bakery owner Celeste is ready to keep an open mind. But she’s shocked to discover that one of the new landlords is Quinn, a former Navy sailor with whom she had a short but powerful romance years earlier.

Fate may have brought Quinn and Celeste back together, but life seems determined to keep them apart. Can the villagers learn to embrace the newcomers this Christmas? And will Quinn and Celeste find a way back to each other before snow falls over Heritage Cove?

My review

While the whole community of Heritage Cove is worried about what the new owners of the Copper Plough will do to the place, bakery owner Celeste is keeping an open mind about it.
Just because there are new owners, doesn’t mean that everything will be thrown away. But Celeste also tries to make the people comprehend that the new owners do have the right to  run the pub how they want, and that changing its name into ‘The Star And Lantern’ is just the beginning of a new adventure for its owners.
Then Celeste learns that one of the owners is Quinn, a former Navy sailor she had a short but intense romance with a few years ago.
Has Quinn come back to stay and rekindle their relationship? But things aren’t all that straightforward, as Quinn has his own demons to chase away, Celeste keeping her distance despite the attraction. Let’s not forget the community that aren’t all that keen on all the sudden changes. And then there is the fate of a beloved member of Heritage Cove, whose health is taking a turn… 

First of all, how lovely to return to Heritage Cove! If there is a place where community truly sticks together and is more a family than just people living in the same place, it for sur is Heritage Cove! 

Both Celeste and Quinn may not be the typical main characters that you would expect.
Yes, of course they are both lovely, but Celeste has made a choice in her life that perhaps not everyone would understand/ agree with. And Quinn is going through time, which was kind of expected but seeing his struggles aren’t all that easy, especially as it also affects those around him in a way. 

Celeste is a very open – minded young woman. In the sense that she is sad to see new owners taking over the pub, but she is also seeing it as an opportunity for them. While the village is rather afraid to see what the future will bring, Celeste is ready to give the owners a chance.
She knows that change isn’t a bad thing, and that there can be found a middle ground. But a chance must be given. 

With realizing that one of the owners is Quinn, an old flame, I could also understand that Celeste didn’t know how to behave.
On one side, she was happy to see him again, but on the other hand, is she ready to give her heart to him completely? And will he accept her choice? 

Now, before you go thinking the weirdest things about the choice Celeste made, it isn’t a strange one. it’s a choice that perhaps even takes courage to make, and that perhaps not everyone would agree with. But in the end, it’s Celeste’s life and she can live it anyway she wants. 

And then there is Quinn… from his first appearance he somehow made me fall in love with him. And I even liked him more seeing how he respected Celeste’s wishes with their first goodbye… 

But my heart also broke for him, seeing how he has returned.
Because Quinn is broken, in a way we could expect a former Navy sailor would return. But I found it also refreshing in a way to see how Quinn has changed.
Reading how things slowly crept on to him, without an explicit cause, was showing us that his situation can come in different ways, and not just “the one” we all assume. 

We see Quinn struggling, but also we see Quinn somehow ashamed of what he is going through. And how he doesn’t know how to cope with it. And that’s a real struggle for so many people in real life. As a bystander it’s always easy to have a readymade solution, but it’s always easier said than done, and only the person living it can know when the right time has come to take the right step to healing.

This is a slow – burn romance, if we can really even call it that. Because, yes the focus is on Celeste and Quinn and their trying to figure out if they have a chance of their HEA, even if there are several struggles to overcome. 

But after finishing this lovely book, what remained truly fixed in my mind, was the whole community. A community that looks after each other. And just FYI Helen Rolfe, I still haven’t forgiven you for the agony you caused me by doing that to sweet Barney! 😊
And also a community that loves the place they are living, and wary of any change. But also a forgiving and despite their wariness also an accepting community.  

Heritage Cove showed once again the power of friendship and family. A place where home truly is a home, where you can be who you are. A place where perhaps even anything is possible.
And of course, a place that resides several of our old friends that delighted us also in this book with their presence and still being of importance to the main characters!

A murder mystery weekend event to uncover more than just a staged murder…

Synopsis

One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths.

They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either.

But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis.

When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad.

With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too?

A sweet romantic comedy with a cosy mystery at its heart. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Freeman, Laura Jane Williams and Katie Fforde.

My review

After going through a difficult moment, Kate Brannon is happy to be finally attending a murder mystery weekend in a Victorian manor house.
Not only will that weekend take her mind of her being recently dumped, but also the prize money is a great incentive.
But her enthusiasm diminishes a bit when she learns that Max Ravenscroft will be part of her team. While Max is part of her usual gang, he is also Kate’s nemesis, as he often takes the win barely moments before she cracked the mystery.
With the two of them working on the case, Kate realizes that Max is not what she thought he was, and together they may have a real chance of winning.
That is, unless the suspicions of the game being rigged are true…

Well, I can say that this story for sure took me by surprise. And in a good way!
I found it refreshing that the main characters are taken part in a murder mystery and that there wasn’t an actual murder taken place. It seemed for sure something I would like to do myself too!
And the lengths the ‘suspects’ go to be as believable as possible for sure put a smile on my face! 😊

I truly liked Kate, as I could both feel her sadness but also her enthusiasm for what was waiting for her.
After having her heart broken, it was clear that this weekend was exactly what she needed to get her ex out of her mind.
There were also some bits of Kate that I recognized in myself, like her fear of speaking in public. And I loved her unique style. If only I had the same dresses as Kate does!

And I could also comprehend her dislike towards Max. Max didn’t do anything wrong in the past, but sometimes you just dislike the person who manages to steal your thunder and appears to dislike you just as much.

But in fact, in the whole story I couldn’t find any fault Max. on the contrary, once we get to know him better, we see what a gentle, kind, supporting person he is.
He may antagonize Kate at first, but we also see how he manages to make Kate feel more confident and also stronger in general.

I found it sweet in a way to see how these two nemeses realize that what they to know what the other one was thinking, could be so wrong. And once that realization dawned, they found out that they could rely on each other and that together they are a force to be reckoned with.
And then the moment they see each other in another but amazing daylight, where they realize that perhaps there is more going on between them… no words needed!

Obviously, there are some issues to be taken care of. Not only the fictional murder, but a host that may not be so genuine and honest as we may think. An appearance that was not only unexpected (yet expected from our side!) but also unwelcome.
But all the above only worked in favour of our main characters.

On a last note, I have to say I found the title of the book very clever! It for sure put an extra smile on  my face!

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book, and I found myself sleuthing along with amazing characters. Characters that realize that perhaps their initial thoughts about each other could be wrong, and see the real person in front of them.
And this all taking place in a wonderful setting! ☺️

How different lives can go, despite the same background

Synopsis

If you’re born with nothing you have to make your own luck.

When Jared Johnson first meets Clarice Connaught he saves her from the hands of her father, who is brutally beating her in the street. Never one to walk past someone in distress, Jared doesn’t hesitate to help. But who is this girl and what is her story?

Jared Johnson started with nothing. At just twelve-years-old he was orphaned and homeless, but eight years later, Jared is a success. Running McGuire’s Rag & Bone Yard and surrounded by friends, all Jared needs now is to find the perfect girl to settle down with.

Nothing has come easy for Clarice but still she has dreams of a grander life and the finer things. And if her father isn’t willing to provide them then Clarice will do anything to find someone who is.

Jared and Clarice have one thing in common – they are survivors – and in Queen Victoria’s Birmingham you need your wits about you to keep the wolf from the door. But Clarice isn’t everything she seems, and like a bad penny that always shows up, she brings more trouble for Jared and his friends than they could ever have imagined…

Lindsey Hutchinson, the top 10 bestseller, Queen of the Black Country Saga, is back with a page-turning and heart-warming story perfect fans of Katie Flynn, Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.

My review

Jared Johnson is the kind of man that never hesitates to help out when someone is in need. That is exactly how he met Clarice Connaught, when she is being beaten by her own father.
Jared is immediately intrigued by this young woman and wants to know more about her.
He learns that just like him, Clarice hasn’t has it easy, and she dreams of a better life, a life that her own father doesn’t help to provide.
But while Jared is being rather successful with running McGuire’s Rag & Bone Yard and has close friends around him. The only thing he is missing, is a woman by his side. And he hopes that Clarice may fill that spot.
However, not everything is what it seems with Clarice, as she is determined to go forward in life, and she won’t be stopped by anything or anyone…

Having read several books from this author, I know that I should be prepared for a story that will show us the hardship of life, but also how people in the most dire situations can make the best out of it.

From the start I had a kind of admiration for Jared. He hasn’t had it easy, yet he managed to change his life. From being orphaned and homeless, he has become a man where you can rely on. And the best bit is that he hasn’t lost his kind heart while getting where he is now.
As he has been helped out when needed, he is one that will always pay it forward.

And that brings him to meet Clarice, a woman that is in the same precarious situation Jared was once in. And of course as kind – hearted Jared is, he wants to help Clarice out.

At first, I truly pitied Clarice, as we see her as a struggling young woman, with an uncomprehending father.
But rather quickly I had to readjust my opinion over her. Because while normally I admire people who are ready to fight to get our their current situation, in Clarice’s case I couldn’t comprehend her behaviour at all as she is the kind of woman who would stop at nothing to gain more money and wealth.

She isn’t afraid of using her looks to have men wrapped around her little finger, using them for her purposes. She also has a lack of conscience, as shown even further along in the book.
So for once I wasn’t compassionate about the female main character and I even hoped she would get what she deserved.

We see here how different people handle a likewise situation, as we have Jared who is proud of what he has achieved and as he has truly worked hard for it.
But on the other hand we have Clarice that just wants everything handed over, and believes it’s her right.
I don’t know if ‘nice’ is the right word to use, but is was ‘nice’ to see how different lives can go by making one choice or another.

So while this perhaps wasn’t the kind of story I expected, and the characters surprised me, and not all in a good way, it still managed to show me that doing good will get you rewarded in one way or another. And that sometimes we can get a lucky escape and find even a bigger joy and happiness unexpectedly.

When to save a place you love so much, the help of a real Grinch is needed…

Synopsis

The perfect cosy and uplifting romance to curl up with this winter!

In Mistletoe Gardens a legend exists: anyone who kisses underneath the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love…

When local baker Essie Browne discovers that Mistletoe Gardens is to be demolished in January, she’s determined to save the place she loves so much. So Essie proposes building a life size gingerbread house to bring in the crowds…just how hard can it be?

Well, quite hard actually. Essie can bake gingerbread blindfolded, but she hasn’t got a clue how to build an actual house with it! She needs help – and fast!

Enter local builder, Joss Hallissey. Essie is convinced that with Joss’s help they can pull this off. There’s just one tiny problem: Joss hates Christmas, gingerbread, and… well, just about everything else too.

Joss the Grinch makes it clear that her idea is ludicrous and pointless, but he reluctantly agrees to help with her plan.

Will the gingerbread house be enough to save Mistletoe Gardens? Or will Essie’s chance for a magical kiss under the mistletoe be lost forever?

Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Kat French and Caroline Roberts!

My review

After a disappointment, Essie Browne has returned to Folkhornton, to work at the baker together with her mother.
When at a council meeting, Essie hears that Mistletoe Gardens will be demolished in January, she is determined to come up a plan to save the place she loves.
Being a baker, the plan is to build a life size gingerbread house, to bring in more people.
Only problem is, Essie has no idea how to put her plan into work even if gingerbread is something she can bake with her eyes closed.
So she goes to local builder Joss Hallissey for help. Problem is, Joss hates not only Christmas, but also gingerbread. Yet even if he refuses initially to help blatantly, Joss finds himself helping Essie out, no matter how crazy he may think her idea is.
Will Essie succeed in building a life size gingerbread house and save the Mistletoe Gardens? And will spending time together, make Joss less Grinch – like?
Or is it a hopeless case and will Essie never receive a magical kiss under the mistletoe? 

Since I have discovered this author, I am always very eager to start a new book she has written. Somehow Jaimie manages to write a wonderful story with a sprinkle of magic, but without letting that magical moment take over the whole story.
And once again she managed to make me fall in love with the story, its characters and its warm and cosy feeling. 

Essie was the kind of person I both pitied and liked at the same time. I liked her because she is full of good intentions, and when she cares, she cares deeply.
But I pitied her because after a disappointment, she had to return with her tail between the legs, and felt that her mother didn’t support her.
She has one amazing idea after the other for the bakery, but each time her mother shuts her down. And it saddened me to see how a wonderful character like Essie couldn’t find her voice to stand up (always respectfully!) against her own mother. 

I also admired her, as we can see how determined she is to save the Mistletoe Gardens, even if somehow she should know better. And no matter what her mother tells her, or tries to “sabotage” Essie’s work, Essie just doesn’t give up. 

Essie’s mother is for the bigger part of the book not a character to easily like. She always manages to make Essie feel so small, and Essie always has to stand by for whatever her mother needs.
But I have to admit, towards the end of the book, I changed my opinion. So when you are at your breaking point, just hang in there! 

Before I started, I thought that Joss would be a hard nut to crack. But even with his Grinchy behaviour, it was easy to see that there was a deep hurt that caused him to behave the way he did. Quickly we see his true colours, with him helping Essie out. Yes, it starts with just giving advice, but we also see a man that in fact, no matter how difficult he plays to be, is just a sweetheart!
Even with him being suspicious with the presence of MMM, he never loses his cool. And the way he looks after Rob, made my heart truly melt! 

I found this a real heart – warming story, about two people working together on something impossible. Yet the impossible pulls them together, and together they find a way to heal each other but also themselves.
It’s also about a wonderful community, that when it truly matters, comes together to make even the most impossible of impossibles possible. 

This book is filled with so much warmth and love, in expected ways but also unexpected ones. And you will find yourself falling in love with not only the main characters, but even the strangest ones, characters in a dinosaur costume 24/7.
What more can I say that now I have the immense desire to visit Mistletoe Gardens and experience the magic myself???

When things get complicated with the person you loathe…

Synopsis

In the new, sexy and hilarious novel from bestselling author Sara L. Hudson, find out what happens when a grumpy billionaire, a perpetually friendly marketing exec and a hairless cat with a catnip addiction spend a night in Vegas… (A black-eye for starters.)

Thomas Moore, heir to the glamorous New York department store Moore’s, has everything. Everything but a sense of humor. Probably why he’s so often compared to his philandering crook of a father.

Alice Truman, recently promoted from the sales floor, is determined to prove her worth. Even if that means smiling in the face of the arrogant and too-sexy-for-his-own-good Thomas Moore, who seems to think her unfit for her new position.

Avoidance works wonders until Alice’s best friend plans an Elvis-themed destination wedding with Thomas’ brother—a concept the modern Mr. Darcy loathes.

Throw in a hairless cat, a calamitous bachelorette party and some questionable cocktails, and things become… complicated. And when things get complicated, anyone but the boss would be better.

My review

Alice Truman is happy with her promotion from the sales floor in New York’s department store Moore’s. With a difficult past, she is finally getting the life she deserves.
Even if that means that she has to deal with Thomas Moore, the heir of the place she is working.
Thomas has everything, but with his kind of family, especially his kind of father, he takes everything way too serious and for sure emanates arrogance. And he doesn’t understand how someone like Alice could go from the sales department to the marketing department.
However, when Alice’s best friend is marrying Thomas’ brother, Alice and Thomas are forced to work together, especially as the wedding will be on location and will be Elvis – themed.
The last thing that Alice and Thomas would expect is that everything would get so complicated after a (un?)memorable bachelorette party… 

This is the second part of a series. And while I loved the first part, reading about Chase and Campbell was amazing, I think that maybe this second part is my favourite one… 

It was amazing to see Alice again, and it was lovely to see how just at ease she is with her new job. A job that is just perfect for her, as she has the most amazing ideas.
But it was also great to get to know Alice better. Because previously she did appear but we didn’t get the chance to know her that well. 

And I have to say, to read about her past, her struggles, well, it made me so sad. At a younger age she has been through rough times, and just when things would finally get better for her, tragedy struck again.
However, she didn’t let that bring her down, on the contrary. It was even somehow inspiring to see how she fought to get where she is now, and how far she is ready to go for those that matter to her.
She is the kind of person that will always be there for you, and will help anyway she can. You can call her any time for rescue, and she will show up.
While that is a wonderful character trait, it’s also a dangerous one… because we can see how her kind heart is being taken advantage of… 

And for sure I could understand her feeling towards Thomas, as they are definitely mixed feelings… He may have the looks, but his behaviour, especially towards her, isn’t that amazing at all… 

So yes, Thomas was a hard nut to crack. The contrast with Chase couldn’t be bigger. Thomas is a very closed character, he won’t allow anyone to get close. His own family is struggling with completely understanding him.
He is also a person who has been deeply affected by the behaviour of his father, and thus decided to close his heart for love at all, in any form. 

But no matter how much Thomas and Alice seem to dislike each other, there is also something else palpable between them. There is an attraction that is just building up chapter after chapter, only to explode at the bachelorette – party. 

First of all, what a party that was! I never laughed so hard over ‘decorations’ that were travelling along!!!
And I found it just perfect that things got out of hand in such a matter that was unexpected but also just expected! 

It was funny in a way to see how Alice and Thomas are trying to come to terms with what happened, and the arrival of sweet Mary is making things even more complicated (or not…).
But the best bits were seeing how even the tiniest of actions, like an exploded kitchen after preparing and sharing breakfast, or a daily drawing to be found in a briefcase, could make the apparently coldest person melt bit by bit.  

In this book, we see two people, from a complete different background, ‘forced’ to live together. They are as chalk and cheese, but slowly they turn more alike.
We see a character struggling not only with opening up, but also with himself, and a character wanting to protect who she loves.
We see the innocence and acceptance of a young child, the antics of a cat with a reputation and a name that still makes me snicker and a family wanting each member to find happiness and love. 

I loved reading this book, making me once again realize that what we see isn’t always the reality. And even behind the coldest attitude and arrogance in fact there is a person looking for someone to love.
And that sometimes it takes someone who is our complete opposite to make us understand that we all deserve to be loved.
To be loved despite our backgrounds, as that doesn’t define us as a person. Because even someone with a sad background, can be the strong person to walk on water to show you that love comes in shapes and forms you wouldn’t expect.