Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, right?

Synopsis

1968, Sicily.  Just months after a terrible earthquake has destroyed the mountain town of Gibellina, Enzo and his wife Irene Borgata are making their way back to the family home, Villa Alba del Ciliegio, on roads overlooked by the eerie backdrop of the flattened ghost town.  When their car breaks down, Enzo leaves his young wife to go and get help, but when he returns there is no trace of Irene.  No body, no sign of a struggle, nothing.

Present Day. TV showman and true crime aficionado Milo Conti is Italy’s darling, uncovering and solving historic crimes for his legion of fans. When he turns his attention to the story of the missing Irene Borgata, accusing her husband of her murder, Enzo’s daughter Maddi asks her childhood friend, retired detective Jane Cobain, for help to prove her father’s innocence. But the tale Jane discovers is murky: mafia meetings, infidelity, mistaken identity, grief and unshakable love.  As the world slowly closes in on the claustrophobic Villa Alba del Ciliegio, and the house begins to reveal its secrets, will the Borgata family wish they’d never asked Jane to investigate? And what did happen to Enzo’s missing wife Irene? 

Bestselling author Louise Douglas returns with an irresistibly compelling, intriguing and captivating tale of betrayal, love, jealousy and the secrets buried in every family history..

My review

In 1968, Irene Borgata disappeared after a car break and her husband Enzo went to get help. With absolutely no evidence at all, the case turned into a classical cold case.
That is until in 2003 an Italian TV showman, Milo Conti, make it his next case – to – be – solved. Hin finger points into the direction of Enzo. With the people getting more and more agitated, Enzo’s daughter Maddi asks her friend and retired detective April Cobain for help and proving Enzo’s innocence.
Initially rather reluctant, April decides to help out her childhood friend, only discovering that Villa Alba holds more secrets she thought…
With the clock ticking for the big revealing TV show, will April find the evidence of Enzo’s innocence? And what did truly happen to Irene? 

With this kind of blurb, it’s rather easy to catch my attention. Especially when there is so much mystery… How could someone just disappear into thin air? Why is there nothing to be found, not a body, not a drop of blood, or even a ransom note?
And then I am only talking about the disappearance itself, because it’s clear that Villa Alba holds many more secrets, ready to be all revealed! 

It was fascinating to read the dual timeline, seeing how Irene was adapting into her new life, just married to Enzo, and seeing how April is trying to discover what really happened with Irene, with a deadline to keep in mind too. 

I liked how the author made a change in the traditional dual time line, by showing us Irene’s thoughts and not just telling us how Irene’s life was.
That made me understand Irene better, seeing her struggles. And not only of those adapting to a life in Sicily, but also her emotional struggles.
We see how Irene got her heart broken even before she met Enzo, but how she slowly is picking up the pieces of her life again. She does her best to be happy with Enzo and his family, but it’s not easy to enter a typical Sicilian family as a foreigner. And it’s not easy when your heart still belongs to someone else…  

We see her many struggles, but also her little moments of happiness. How she find it with the horses, but also falling in love with little Maddalena, how they form a unique bond between the two of them. 

A Maddalena that even in 2003 is struggling with the disappearance of the only mother – figure she has known. So I understood why she reached out to April when a TV show would dedicate an episode to Irene’s disappearance. 

I liked to see April’s determination to get to the bottom of the story. Even if she is connected with the family, and cares not only about Maddi but also Enzo, she won’t allow that connection to stop the truth from coming out. Whether it’s that Enzo truly killed his wife or if there was completely something else going on. 

As someone who has read and watched several mystery – stories, I have to admit that the big revelation didn’t come as a complete surprise. Throughout the story we get a few clues that can give it already away, if you are paying attention.  

Yet even if my hunch turned out to be right, this story kept me pushing to read more. The need to be proven right was just too high.
And while it was certainly about finding out the truth about a cold case, it was for sure also about the strength of love, even lost loves.

Is there a more perfect place to mend a broken heart than a French Chateau?

Synopsis

When wedding planner Hattie signs up for her dream job, organising her cousin’s wedding in France, it offers the perfect escape from a relationship that’s been going south for a while. 

Unfortunately when she arrives at the idyllic Chateau St Martin, not everyone is as enthusiastic about the forthcoming wedding, including Luc Bremont, son of the owner of the chateau.  

Luc has finally been given the chance to make his own champagne at the family vineyard and everything rests on making it a success, the last thing he wants is the distraction of a big wedding at the chateau. 

Will Hattie be able to build bridges between the inhabitants of the chateau in order to allow the wedding to go ahead?

My review

With her boyfriend Chris giving her a dilemma, him or a French experience, Hattie decides to break up and go the French Champagne region to plan the wedding of her cousin.
But she didn’t expect the Chateau to be in such a state, as it appears that Hattie decision to turn up months early turned out to be the right one. Not only Hattie needs to be on top of everything, but the whole place needs a good cleaning. And with people suddenly backing out of made commitments, Hattie does not know where to start first…
Luckily she can count on Luc, whose parents own the chateau. While Luc himself is trying to chase his own dreams, he is also the person taking Hattie under his wings and shows her the French beauty.
But no matter how undeniable their attraction is, this could only be a holiday fling, or not? 

Julie Caplin is the Queen of Romance Escapism! Having read several lovely books, I keep being surprised by the talent of this author. Each story takes me on an adventure, a wonderful journey and I never get the sense of repetition. 

Hattie is the kind of character you like from the first moment. Even if she just came out of a (rather toxic) relationship, and her heart is broken, she keeps her head high and is ready to face the French adventure with great enthusiasm.
And that enthusiasm sparks from every page, even when things more often than not start to take another, negative direction. 

She also starts to discover the pleasures of life, how wonderful a simple picnic can be, or wandering around in local markets, tasting wonderful food.
Hattie starts to see that her life with Chris was not actual living her life at her fullest, but more just hanging in there. And seeing how Hattie enjoys the little things in life, was truly sweet. 

I liked it too how Hattie tries to adapt herself in France. Because often tourists or ‘temporarily’ people don’t make the effort to learn the language or to understand the customs and traditions of a country. Yet Hattie tries her best, even if failing at moments, and even tries to make a connection to the people around the chateau. 

And for sure she connects with Luc! While Luc for sure is a lovely character, I couldn’t stop feeling sorry for him…
It saddened me to read how he grew up without feeling loved by any of his parents, and how he feels more at home and loved by people who are not related to him, rather than the people he shares the same DNA with. 

Yet I also admired his courage to stand up against his own family, as once again they fail to understand him and his dreams. He isn’t afraid to go lengths for the right cause.
And he is absolutely the kindest man ever! Even if the wedding Hattie is arranging, clashes with the wedding of Yvette, a close friend, he tries to do the right thing. Just like Yvette does, it would have been easy to sabotage Hattie’s plans, but that is just not the person that Luc is.
Can I just also add that I could ‘hear’ his pronunciation of Hattie’s name and that made me weak in the legs? 😊 

And seeing how two lovely people, with their own problems, find not only comfort but so much more in each other, truly warmed my heart.
Hattie and Luc connect in a wonderful way, not only they enjoy spending time together, but they find a sort of complicity, trying to help each other out. And if that isn’t a great base to start something marvellous, I don’t know. 

Just like I am used to, this book is also filled with so many hilarious moments. I liked the animosity between Fliss and Alphonse, and seeing how quickly that turned 180°. But I also laughed at the attempts of sabotage. For sure I will never look at a certain kind of poo in the same way! 

There is also a bit of a mystery in this story, adding a great new layer, making the reader even more curious and more adamant on continue reading! 

Again this author delivered wonderfully, taking me on a journey in France, even if I am not a true connoisseur of Champagne.
But whether the story is set in France or in any other country, the author shows us that the best things can be found at the most unexpected times and places.
If only we dare to find the courage to change our lives completely and do as our heart asks us to do, no matter how scary it may seem.

Can you put a price on love and freedom?

Synopsis

A mistress cannot marry for love…

As one of the famous Preece sisters, Kitty is the most sought-after courtesan in London. But with the vicious Duke of Gillingham scaring away any man who looks her way, securing a new arrangement with a wealthy gentleman will be no easy feat. Kitty’s only hope to find someone suitable is through her loyal and cherished friend, the Reverend Sidney Wakefield.

Sidney has devoted his life to the church, but it was never by choice. He is a writer and Kitty his muse. As he is roped into Kitty’s plotting, he begins to realise that protecting her from the malevolent Duke comes at a price – and it might mean losing Kitty to someone else entirely.

As Kitty and Sidney try to find a way out, it becomes clear that years of friendship have developed into something deeper. Except that they are from different worlds and Kitty’s heart has never been hers to give away…

My review

Kitty Preece is together with her sisters one of the most desirable courtesans in London. But being in demand also means catching the wrong kind of attention. And Kitty has caught the attention of the Duke of Gillingham.
Even if Kitty truly dislikes the man, his wealth cannot be just ignored… And thus Kitty must find someone even more wealthier, to escape the Duke’s clutches.
Her best friend, writing Reverend Sidney Wakefield wants to help Kitty the best he can. Not only because Kitty is his muse, but she is also the woman who has stolen his heart.
While trying to find a way out of Kitty’s situation, realization dawns that there is mote than just friendship. But with their worlds miles apart, is their love alone enough? As it’s not only a matter of money, but also a matter what people would think and a matter of status… 

I always enjoy reading stories about impossible loves. It intrigues me to see how the story will develop from something impossible to something possible and wonderful. Add the fascination of a Regency story and my interest only increases! 

Kitty is the kind of person that may seem to use her assets merely for gaining wealth. But while that in a way may be true, there is more to her than we first see.
She hasn’t become a courtesan by choice, but more by force. And while I don’t like that, I understand that all three sisters had to make this career, to survive. 

But when on moments we see Kitty parading around, we also see the soft and kind side of Kitty, how she looking after Ada – Marie and her nieces too.
Also her friendship with Sidney shows us that she isn’t a shallow character at all. She treasures her friend and even deeper into the story we see how she wants to protect Sidney, despite her own feelings. 

Sidney is in a way not the kind of Reverend I always imagined, yet in other ways he absolutely is. He is indeed a Reverend, but we also see another passion in him, and a talent. And him being a write somehow clashed with my vision of a Reverend.
His friendship with Kitty shows how non – judgemental he is. He doesn’t judge Kitty for her ‘profession’ but he sees her true character. And in that way he is a real Reverend, as he sees the heart of people. 

The Duke is for sure a despicable character, in several ways. And his behaviour made it for sure understandable that Kitty wants to escape from him the sooner the better.
And of course she seeks the help of her best friend. The best friend that would do anything for Kitty, even if that would mean to have his own heart broken… 

While we know from the start Sidney’s feelings, it was sweet to see how Kitty realizes what her own feelings are. But on the other hand it was also sad, because her situation isn’t one where she can just follow her feelings as there is too much at stake, not only for her but also for her loved ones. 

And that frustrated me a little bit in Kitty… because I could see the dilemma. How can she be with the man she loves if that would mean that Sidney would lose a lot? And how can she ever abandon her sisters? But how could she ever lay with another man when her hearts belongs to Sidney? And as a reader or bystander it’s easy to say to make a decision and just stick with it. But how can you decide when it’s your life and your beloved ones’… 

This wasn’t the light – hearted story I expected it to be. There are darker bits in it, showing us the ugliness of real life and even betrayals of the people around Kitty and Sidney. But life, no matter what era, isn’t a journey filled with sparkles and rainbows. There are always people that will hurt you.
But also, no matter era you are living in, there will also be love. Sometimes it may be hard battle, but love will be worth of the battle and all the other struggles it will meet on its path. And this book shows us all those aspects.

Can Home be found when you are lost?

Synopsis

Welcome back to Little Woodville.

Visit old friends and new in this super, summer escapist read.

Morgan Rosewood finds herself at a crossroads in her life after returning home to Forget-Me-Not Cottage to care for her ailing mother. She and boyfriend Ronan, had plans, big plans, but all these hopes and dreams are put on hold when Morgan’s mum suddenly dies.

Morgan’s emotions are in turmoil but she sets about the task of clearing the house and running her late mother’s vintage market stall.

Nate Greene has his own reasons for staying away from Little Woodville. Nate needs to reconcile his past and tackle the long overdue task of decluttering the place he once loved – his abandoned wood workshop, filled to the brim with his creations.

He secures a stall at the local market to showcase his wares and it isn’t long before the workshop reignites the passion he once shared with a special person.

Thrown together Morgan and Nate have their own personal battles to overcome.

Can the beautiful little Cotswold village teach two lost souls what matters,

and more importantly, will it give them each something they didn’t come here for? Love…

My review

Morgan Rosewood had big plans with her boyfriend Ronan, until her ailing mother needed her help. So Morgan put everything on hold to look after her mother and to restore their bond. Now that her mother has died, Morgan finds herself at loss. With the task of clearing out the cottage and running the vintage market just like her mother, Morgan is finding it hard to move on and wonders where her future may lay.
However, Morgan is not the only one with her emotions in turmoil, as Nate Greene has also returned to Little Woodville.  With a past that still haunts him, he is determined to sell all his creations made in his wood workshop. And what better place than the local market? But even if his passion reignited, can he make himself stay at a place that hurt him so much?
When two broken souls find each other, could it be that together they will be able to mend their broken hearts? And perhaps find with each other something more? 

At the start of this book, I felt a heaviness. And that is because Morgan’s pain was just so palpable on each page.
While her relationship with her mother was strained for a while, it got restored when the daughter was looking after the mother.
And it broke my heart to see how at loss Morgan was, to have found and lost her mother again… 

I also admired Morgan for the choice she made. She had so many plans with her boyfriend Ronan, yet she didn’t hesitate to put them all on hold to help her mother.
That showed me her kind heart, because not everyone would do what she did… 

But picking up the pieces after her loss is anything but easy. Grieving is difficult, but add also the task of clearing the house, filled with memories of her mother, well, I don’t know how I would cope with it. 

Obviously, everything that has happened lately, is making Morgan think about where her future is. It’s clear that she still deeply cares about Ronan, but the Forget-Me-Not cottage is giving her more comfort and a more homely feeling Morgan was expecting to.  

Her meeting with Nate means that she finds someone who understands her pain and someone she can unload to, without any prejudice.
Because Nate is also a person who is in pain, for a different yet alike reason. He also is at a crossroad, trying to figure out which direction to take. 

The fact that these two people find each other at their most difficult moments was somehow beautiful to see.
While their pain is initially the one thing they have in common, they slowly get to know each other much better, and start to realize that pain and grief is not the only thing they share. 

What I loved the most about this book, is how the author manages for the characters to not cross a certain line, despite their growing feelings. It only shows a great level of respect for those around them. It would have been so easy to just follow their guts and feelings and give in, but that is not the kind of people Morgan and Nate are.
Because they are both kind, loving, helpful and respectful.  

And it’s not just the two main characters that are lovely, but the whole community of Little Woodville show such a warmth, that it’s impossible to ever feel alone or lonely. There is always someone around to lift you up when you need it.  

This book is about a journey that two people have to make. A journey that starts with grief, but slowly turns into finding passion again, a place that truly feels like home even if that place for a long time didn’t feel like it.
It also shows us that plans can change, that what we had planned before isn’t per se what we need right now or in the future. And that sometimes the most difficult decision that must be made, can also be the easiest to be made, with the greatest reward of them all by finding love with old friends, new friends, family and even that one special person…

When married by obligation to the King, can an alliance be found against a traitor?

Synopsis

Stirling Castle, 1498

Visiting court for the first time since her father’s death, Lady Avelina Gordon finds herself drawn to the handsome warrior, Sir Lachlan MacNair. But as a woman who has seen too many of her friends lose everything for ‘love’, she keeps her heart guarded.

Castle Berradane, 1502

Lady Avelina is unceremoniously told to expect her new husband within the month. The man in question: Sir Lachlan.

Lachlan arrives in Berradane carrying his own secret, and a determination to control his heart. As attraction builds between the couple, they find themselves under attack and fearful of a traitor in their midst.

Can the teamwork they’ve shown in adversity so far pull them through one final test, and will they find the strength to risk their hearts, as well as their lives?

My review

Ever since the death of her father is Lady Avelina responsible for Berradane and its inhabitants. But when the King lets her be told to expect her new husband, Avelina is not ready to just hand over her power. Even if her husband – to – be is Sir Lachlan MacNair, a warrior she has been drawn to a few years ago. But with her heart well locked away, determined to never lose everything she has for ‘love’, she will allow Lachlan in her home, but not more.
However, Lachlan is carrying his own secrets, and while he never forgot the beautiful Lady he got literally entangled with years ago, he will control his own heart.
Despite their attraction, the newlyweds find it often hard to find common ground. That is until there is the threat of a traitor amongst them.
Now Avelina and Lachlan must join forces for the sake of not only Berradane, but also for their own sakes, as their hearts are more at risk than ever… 

I always enjoy reading stories where the main characters have an instant attraction towards each other, but are finding more things to disagree over than just admitting their feelings. Because I love to see how heart always wins over mind. You can fight all you want, in the end it’s the heart that wins. 

So in this book, it was great to see the initial attraction, but how both Avelina and Lachlan do not act upon them.
It takes years and sporadic visits where nothing truly happens, until the inevitable happens. And who are they to disagree with the King himself? 

I found Avelina a very strong woman, despite the era she is living in. It is not evident for a Lady to have a say over how to rule their homes, yet there she is, showing that women are just as equally capable of doing so.
She shows that she doesn’t need a man in her life.
And obviously when she is ‘forced’ to marry Lachlan, she won’t give up what she has fought so hard to gain. 

Yet it also saddened me to see how lonely she was. Yes, she has her servants, of which a few are even more friends than merely servants. But she doesn’t have someone to truly confide in, to share her worries with.
And I felt even more sorry for her beliefs that love would make you lose everything. 

In that aspect, it was funny to see how she keeps her distance with Lachlan, how she keeps challenging his propositions and suggestions. 

While it has to be said, Lachlan does it all with the best intentions. But how can you gain your wife’s trust when the marriage is an arranged one and you barely know each other? 

Lachlan is the kind of warrior I think every woman would dream of. He is strong, fierce, fearless. But he is also kind, gentle, understanding and patient.
He knows what he feels for Avelina, and while he also sees her attraction towards him, he won’t cross any boundary, he takes his time with her, he wants her to get to know him and the other way around. 

The clashing between this couple was rather funny, in a bit of a mean way. Their stubbornness at moments was just too funny for not laughing at it.
But we also see slowly how trust is being gained, even if their true feelings are still well hidden. 

The attack of Berradane is of course not a complete surprise, and even the traitor wasn’t a that shocking revelation at all.
And for readers the outcome wasn’t one we didn’t see coming, yet it was great to see how forces were joined by Avelina and her people and Lachlan and his fellow – warriors. It shows that both characters truly care about the people of Berradane and are ready to put their own differences aside for the greater good. 

This was a lovely story to read, about two characters that are afraid of allowing love in their hearts. But with time they realize that fighting against love is in vain, and that fighting together against a real enemy can make them understand that love is worth the fight (literally and figuratively speaking).

When a much needed solitary holiday turns into a not so solitary one…

Synopsis

Young and quiet, Lucy Granger leads an introverted life in Reading, living in a flat and working in design at a graphics company—until it is upended when she both sells her idea for a mobile game and suffers an unexpected medical diagnosis shortly afterwards.

Facing a mandated medical rest period, she decides to use her windfall earnings to take a year’s holiday, renting a farm on New Moon Lane in a country village in Yorkshire. As Lucy settles into her holiday home for some tranquility, she soon learns that she is not the only tenant, when a llama named Llarry strolls out of the farm’s supposedly-derelict barn. He is shortly followed by others in a menagerie of abandoned animals left behind—from a sickly donkey who likes eating crisps to a flirtatious cockerel sleeping in the back garden.

To Lucy’s consternation, no one is willing or able to take them on, leaving her with a strange mix of furry and feathered friends to find homes for. Reluctantly adapting to her circumstances in order to deal with this problem, Lucy will discover other surprises about the animals in her care, and the place she is temporarily calling home. About herself, as well.

Will her ordinary life ever be the same after her experience on New Moon Lane? More importantly, should she really want it to be?

My review

Lucy Granger is living a quiet life in Reading. Her job doesn’t require that much interaction, ideal for an introvert like her.
And then two things happen at the same time: she sells her idea for a mobile game, which is great news. But the other thing, is not a good one, as she has suddenly a medical condition that requires her to have a rest period.
For Lucy is this the perfect opportunity to take a year’s holiday, finding a peaceful place to stay, while she can keep on developing her mobile game.
Her heart is set on a farm on New Moon Lane in Yorkshire, but no matter what she expected from her holiday, she didn’t expect it to be filled with llama’s, a donkey and a cockerel.
With no one else willing to take the animals in their care, it’s up to Lucy to look after Larry the Llama, Dimitri the Donkey and Kenny the Cockerel…
And slowly Lucy discovers the importance of these sweet, stubborn and cocky animals and even some new arrivals…

A brand new series always feels like opening a Christmas present for me. Will I like it? Or will I hate it?
And with an author you already know and like, it’s always even more terrifying, as you hope that you will like it, but then realize that the latest book just wasn’t your cup of tea.
Now, before I am giving Laura Briggs a complete heart attack, this book wasn’t the latter!

Lucy is a character that people will relate very easily to. Just like I did, because no matter how much people think I am an extrovert, deep down I am an introvert. I can enjoy more the quiet, the being on my own, than large crowds.

Yet even if I had could relate with her very easily, I also felt sorry for her. Because where I at moments can talk to people without feeling too much of of my comfort zone, we can clearly see that Lucy does have those struggles.
I think we will never ever see her having a chat and have just a small talk about the weather. So I am very eager and curious to see how her character will develop further, and I truly hope she will be able to open up, becoming a bit more extravert, without losing her own essence.

While her medical condition is a bit mysterious, I could feel that her holiday on New Moon Lane is exactly what she needs, even with the (un)pleasant discovery of the animals.

Ooh, those animals! They for sure stole my heart! And not only mine… Even if cockerels aren’t my favourite animals (thanks to my neighbours who have one and keep me awake night and day…) Kenny for sure is the exception as even he managed to steal my heart!

The disadvantage of reading the first book of a series, that I was eager to read more, I was ready to see what adventures would be waiting for Lucy. Yet this book felt more like a first meeting, you know you like the characters, but you don’t have the complete picture yet.

However, with the many glimpses, meeting several side characters, it’s clear that this series has a great potential!

With once different dreams, how to share a stage together in the present?

Synopsis

Two old flames. One small stage. Trouble is just waiting in the wings …

Mimi and her sisters are still struggling to keep their beloved Halfpenny Lane Theatre afloat.

So when Hollywood heartthrob Rocco Agnew wants a part in their upcoming production of Private Lives it promises to be a lifesaver. Rocco sets hearts racing and ticket sales soaring wherever he goes.

The only problem: Rocco is Mimi’s ex – the one who broke her heart – and she’s slated to play opposite him in a role that will bring them far too close for comfort.

They can’t turn down Rocco. Mimi doesn’t want to bow out. Will the little theatre be big enough for both of them?

This is the second book in the Halfpenny Lane series, but it is a complete story and can be enjoyed as a standalone.

My review

Halfpenny Lane Theatre may have been saved, but Mimi and her sisters are learning that it’s not easy to keep their beloved theatre alive.
One of the attempts to bring in money, is having to have the production of Private Lives on their stage, with Mimi in the lead role.
And when Rocco Agnew, famous Hollywood star, shows an interest, it seems to be the answer to all of their prayers. Weren’t it that Rocco is Mimi’s ex.
So how can Mimi play against the man that broke her heart years ago, in a play where the main characters get rather close to each other? 

I already fell in love with the three sisters and the theatre in the first book of the series. And while I absolutely loved reading about Aiofe and Jonathan, there was something about Mimi that always intrigued me.
So her having her own story, having the opportunity to understand her better, was just marvellous! 

From the start, it’s clear that Mimi ticks all the boxes of an artistic mind. Her heart is set on giving the performance of her life on the production of Private Lives. And not only because she is an actress in heart and soul, but also because she wants to restore the theatre to its old glory. 

She is so determined to make everything work, that she will even silence her broken heart and play opposite Rocco Agnew.
Because no matter how cool she plays, the readers, and obviously also her sisters, know how much it still pains her, as Rocco is clearly the one that got away.
But I loved to see how she put her own feelings aside, for the sake of the theatre. 

With this second book, we get to see more of the behind the scenes of a play, and it was lovely to have those sneak peeks!
As an spectator, we don’t linger too often wondering all the blood, sweat and tears it has costed every member of the production. 

The ‘reunion’ of Mimi and Rocco left me a bit on a crossroad… because no matter was I was hoping for Mimi, Rocco is also not available. And while I understood those lingering feelings, and those moments where stage kisses turn into something more, I wasn’t a fan of crossing a line.
So I was a bit proud of how both characters found the restraint before things got too far. 

Of course, it was also hilarious to see how Mimi pretends to be also in a relationship, with Sam of all people, as we can all see that Sam has only eyes for one of the sisters and it’s for sure not Mimi! 

But even if there clearly is some unfinished business between Mimi and Rocco, it was also great to see how these lovely characters found each other again, even just as friends. Because their relationship didn’t end on bad terms, but it ended because their lives went different directions.
Seeing how at ease they were, warmed my heart, and despite the apparent impossibilities, I kept having my fingers crossed for something more. 

This story went in some ways even further than I expected, even adding some serious eye-rolling, totally over – the  – top, it’s – all – in – her – head drama.
The author managed perfectly to blend the magic of the theatre, with the strength of a family, a determination to fulfil dreams, to a wonderful story about second chances. With also a small addition of showing us the unfairness of people having to hide their true selves.  

I truly enjoyed reading this next wonderful chapter about Halfpenny Lane Theatre! It gave me everything I expected and even more.

And now all there is left for me, is to look forward to Sive’s story. Because she for sure also deserves her place in the spotlight!

When it’s time to take back the reigns of your life in your own hands

Synopsis

I always thought I was going to be a girl who did something. I was going to run my own business and find fame and fortune! Fall in love…

But here I am. Still waiting for it all to happen, sitting on the floor, surrounded by lilies and roses, trying to do my best friend’s wedding flowers because – in her words – ‘how hard can it be, Frankie?’. The answer is actually ‘very hard’ but it’s not the only thing that’s tough right now. My boyfriend won’t commit, I barely have a job, and once again I have the hangover from hell…

What I don’t know is that life’s about to throw me a curveball a new friend I will make with a beautiful, sad-eyed little boy who is so very tragically ill. I still don’t know about that heartbreak.

Even so, in this moment, I know that it’s time for some changes. Maybe it’s time to make my dreams come true? To try to become a marathon-running, healthy-living, wildly-in-love florist-to-the-stars!

Because I’m beginning to realise that you only get one chance at life. I don’t yet how you change everything, all at once, but what I do know is it all starts with me…

My review

Frankie always dreamed of having her own business, yet she never expected to be a florist. It all happened when her best friend needed wedding flowers and after all, ‘how hard can it be?’.
Now she hopes to become a celebrity florist, even if the rest of her life isn’t going that well. The relationship with her mother is strained, using an euphemism, her boyfriend won’t commit and Frankie is facing another hangover…
Life goes its usual way for Frankie, until her best friend Honey challenges her to run a half – marathon. That is a sign for Frankie that perhaps it’s time to make some changes. And her finding  a new friend in Lulubelle and her little wonderful yet ill son Cosmo, makes Frankie realize that life is just too short (and unfair at times)  and that you only have one chance to life it…  

Debbie Howells just did it again…
Because this book is both inspiring yet also heart – breaking at the same time. 

I have to admit, Frankie at the start of the book wasn’t exactly the kind of person I would like to call my friend. Of course, for friends, Frankie would do just anything, as is shown with the wedding flowers for Honey and even later on in the books there are plenty of examples of Frankie’s love for her friends. That is not the issue with her.
The issue is that Frankie always manages to make a fool out of herself, and I didn’t like how she was having one hangover after the other.
And hangover, or rather the ‘before – part’, always put her and everyone around her in awkward situations. 

I also felt that Frankie didn’t know what she actually wants herself… because yes, she may be a great florist, but the way she got into the job, being pushed by Honey, well, that said enough for me. 

Yet it’s also exactly her not knowing what she wants, that shows this vulnerable side of her. Even as a florist, she wants everything to be perfect, causing herself unnecessary stressful moments. Frankie has such high standards, dictated by herself, that she doesn’t see that it has become even unhealthy. 

And it saddened me to also see how people just take advantage of her kindness, like her boyfriend who just takes her for granted or comes around whenever it suits him best… 

But I also have to say, that I was glad, happy and even proud to see how Frankie slowly is trying change her life. Nevertheless, training for a half – marathon would be pure horror for me!
Frankie finally seems to grasp that the way she is living her life, isn’t the right way. she doesn’t do anything actually wrong, but well, it’s not the best life she is having. 

Obviously, Frankie also learns that things don’t change that easy, and that it’s a work of trial and error. But seeing her making these changes, seeing how it also changes her for the better, was wonderful.
Frankie isn’t per se a selfish character, but meeting Lulubelle and sweet darling Cosmo, makes Frankie realize that even with her own little ways, she can make a change in people lives.  

This book is all about the journey a person makes. Not one journey isn’t without a hurdle. And we see not only Frankie, but also other characters, like bossy Honey, changing for the best. Not only in the way they act, but also in the way they actual think. 

Before you wonder, yes, there is also place for some romance in this book. And it’s in those bits we can also clearly see a change in Frankie head and heart.  

And of course, I will never forgive Debbie Howells for the heartbreak she caused not only the characters in this book, but also me. I found myself actually wiping tears away at those specific moments.
But no matter how terrible those moments were, even those moments are part of life. And it’s sometimes those moments that make us appreciate what we have more, and even make us a better person. 

The author shows us that to have a change, we need to make the change ourselves. And we have to start with little bits otherwise it’s a recipe for failure.
We should also never underestimate the importance of meeting new people. Because those new people in our lives can turn out to be of great value not only in the change we are attempting to make, but also in our lives in its whole. 

This story will make you laugh, giggle, facepalm, and even shed a few tears. But in the end, this emotional rollercoaster will leave you feel inspirated, and making you think of how you can make those changes in your own life. Because no matter how you spin this, you only have one life, and you should live it at the fullest, filled with happiness and joy. But also remembering that the darker moments will only make you appreciate the light all the more…

An unexpected inheritance with unexpected stipulations

Synopsis

It’s a truth often acknowledged that when a journalist and Jane Austen fan girl ends up living next door to a cynical but handsome crime writer, romantic sparks will fly!

When Maddy Shaw is told her Dear Jane column has been cancelled she has no choice but to look outside of London’s rental market. That is until she’s left an idyllic country home by the black sheep of the family, long-not-so-lost Cousin Nigel.

But of course there’s a stipulation… and not only is Maddy made chair of the committee for the annual village literary festival, she also has to put up with bestselling crime author –and romance sceptic – Cameron Massey as her new neighbour.

When Maddy challenges Cameron to write romantic fiction, which he claims is so easy to do, sparks fly both on and off the page…

My review

Maddy Shaw always enjoyed writing her agony aunt column named ‘Dear Jane’, taking inspiration from the novels of the famous author.
But with her column being cancelled, Maddy has no other choice than looking outside London for place to stay.
So when she inherits a house from the black sheep of the family, Uncle Nigel, it may be the answer to all her prayers, even it the inheritance comes with a few unexpected stipulations, like being chair of the committee for the annual village literary festival. And then she finds herself also having a lodger in the form of Luke Hamilton, better know as bestselling crime author Cameron Massey. And it’s a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen lover and a cynic crime writer are bound to clash… 

I can say with a clear conscience that this story was not the kind of story I was expecting. I thought that the story would be more centred around  Jane Austen’s stories, even somehow a reproduction of it somehow.
So I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that I was on the wrong track.
but only to be quickly assured that this was a great story, even if not in the ways I expected it to. 

Maddy is the kind of character that you will immediately like. But not only that, as in my case, I recognized a lot of her in myself too. 

Losing your job is always difficult, but I can only try to imagine how it would also mean that you have to search for another place to live, and realize that you have to just change your whole way of living. Yet Maddy keeps her hopes up, believing that something will come her way. So I was glad when it did, even if it came in a way that Maddy didn’t expect. 

Seeing Maddy getting accustomed to her new place, getting used to the ways of how her neighbours are around, was not only refreshing, but also hilarious. I know for sure that I would get frustrated with such kind of neighbours, but it’s also clear what a close unit they are.
And how much they care about the ‘traditions” of their village, and how much Nigel, despite Maddy and her family’s vision of him, mattered in the village. Everyone wants to continue his legacy, showing how much he was loved. 

Obviously the best parts were those between Maddy and Luke. Their clashing, if we can call it like that, was exactly what I expected from them. Of course they don’t dislike each other completely, but they only don’t agree on the importance of genres in literature. And seeing how romantic Maddy tries to persuade Luke that romances aren’t at all that predictable, while Luke is sure that everyone could write a romance, was hilarious. 

But beside their bantering, it was great to see how slowly the relationship between them change from owner and lodger to friendship where trust and confidence only start to grow. And the trust and confidence, where Luke opens up and confides in Maddy about his struggles, was wonderful to read about. 

While the final outcome wasn’t a total surprise, it’s just like Maddy says herself, it’s the journey the characters make that is worth of the read. It’s the changes that characters undergo that make you hooked to a story. 

It was also sweet to see how, while perhaps not the main focus of this book, Uncle Nigel gets the recognition he truly deserved, which is as far as possible from being the black sheep of the family. It only shows that no matter what mistakes you make in your life, you can always find a way to turn things around.  

And while this book was not what I expected from the title, the author showed with her writing skills and her developing characters, that sometimes the unexpected can turn out to be even better than what we expected.

A new flatmate that just doesn’t feel right…

Synopsis

Always trust your very basic instincts or prepare for the consequences…

It was surreal returning to work after a five-month enforced sabbatical following the suspicious death of my best friend Livvy at a work event. I was grateful for the time away to grieve and had slotted straight back in work But a surprise awaited my return. Amanda Dowd, Livvy’s replacement, was firmly entrenched as my new flatmate in the company apartment. Something didn’t feel right, I felt on edge. But everyone seemed to love Amanda.

Even my ex-Jayden was blinded by her outgoing personality and model looks. Yet her desperation to become friends felt unnatural. When I began to receive calls, photos and presents supposedly from Livvy, I became spooked… someone was targeting me, watching me. With my job, home and life on the line, I had to find out who was doing this to me. I knew I hadn’t caused Livvy’s death; I still believed it was no accident. Someone else was guilty and I had to find out who before I was next…

Bestseller Gemma Rogers is back with another page-turning thriller.

And how far would they go to keep their secret?

My review

Ria needed a sabbatical after the suspicious death of her best friend Livvy. Suspicious, as Livvy died on an overdose, but was not doing drugs at all.
When Ria returns to the company apartment, she discovers she has a new flatmate, Amanda. And Amanda apparently has replaced Livvy in other ways too, as everyone at the office loves her and her ideas, even Ria’s ex Jayden. Yet despite Amanda’s open personality and amazing looks, Ria cannot shake off the feeling that something isn’t right.
And then Ria starts to receive calls and presents from ‘Livvy’. It’s clear that someone is watching Ria and wants Ria to pay…
Ria knows that Livvy’s death has more to it, and wants to figure out who is the culprit, before she becomes the next victim. 

There is something about this book that gave me goosebumps from the start until the end. Of course I sympathized with Ria, losing her best friend like that. And I could also understand that Ria believed that it wasn’t just an accident. Yet it could also comprehend how frustrating it was for Ria, as nobody took her serious and disregarded Livvy’s death rather easily. 

It’s hard to pick up your life after a loss, especially a loss like Livvy’s. And seeing how everyone, all the colleagues, friends, even bosses have moved on without a second breath, well, it’s hard…
But not only reading how Ria is trying to grasp the fact that life goes on, but also how easily Livvy has been replaced was terrible. 

From the start, it’s clear that there is something odd about Amanda. She truly wriggled herself in everyone’s lives, being the life of the party, making the world turn around her.
And while she doesn’t to anything really wrong, she is just trying too much and that was for me a clear signal already.
Also the fact how she had so easily wrapped Jayden around her finger, and not only him, just made things even worse. Whatever she did or does, no matter how friendly she appears to be, I never warmed towards her, even not a little bit. And not even in the end, when all the truths came out. 

There is so much going on this book, while of course Ria trying to uncover Amanda takes centre stage. There is how to cope with a loss, the guilty feelings, but also attempts of fixing broken relationships, having second chances or not and also, despite the many attempts, not losing your minds. 

Those bits where Ria gets calls and presents from ‘Livvy’, gave me even bigger goosebumps. You know that someone is dead, can you imagine the shock when you get those calls and presents? I for sure would be screaming like a madwoman! 

I have to say though, while initially I thought I already knew where this book would take me, the author added so many twists and turns, that in the end, I was left a bit flabbergasted. All loose ends got perfectly tied up, but absolutely not in the way I expected them to!
And I have to say, that towards those finals chapters, there were several characters that disappointed me… their behaviour was not in sync with how I (and Ria of course too) would think. That made me realize that no matter how good we think we know people, in the end we sometimes have too high expectations of them, which will only make us feel disappointed in them, and even in ourselves. Made me also wonder if we can truly know someone inside and outside? 

This book took me, like I am accustomed from this author, on a trip filled with doubts, suspicion, wariness and even fear. Again a thriller that had me sitting on the edge of my seat, not wanting to continue reading, out of fear for the next revelation, but also needing to continue reading, wanting to find out the truth, nothing but the truth and the whole truth…