Today I’m trying to tempt you with with this book!
Synopsis
Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.
Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.
When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.
Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.
With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?
Welcome to Holly’s Hawaiian Holiday, the third book in a brand new series from the author of the Hummingbird Hotel series and the Cornish Confetti Agency series.
Escape to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands!
When Holly Henderson loses her dog-grooming business in the Blossomwood Bay fire, she’s devastated, and her plans to expand into creative coat-dyeing are over before they began. After her temporary job at Blossomwood Kennels also comes to a heart-breaking end, she’s left with no choice but to accept her cousin’s offer of a dog-sitting assignment for celebrity TV chef Oscar Reynolds if she wants to keep her beloved springer spaniel, Ariel, in dog biscuits.
However, the assignment is in Hawaii and Holly has never been further than a short weekend trip to Paris. With some trepidation, she heads to Oahu and the Mahina family’s ranch where, within five minutes of arriving, she’s run off the road by a speeding Ferrari and doused in an avalanche of “organic” fertiliser.
So much for the glamorous holiday she’d hoped to enjoy!
But despite the inauspicious start, it doesn’t take long for the tropical island paradise to weave its Aloha magic through Holly’s veins. Can the hang loose lifestyle help her find the confidence she needs to deal with the demons that have been chasing her for as long as she can remember? Or will they continue to pursue her, sapping her energy, and ruining her chance of finding happiness?
Join Holly as she explores everything the beautiful Hawaiian Islands have to offer, and enjoy a story filled with sun, sea, and surfing, along with a Dash, Dollop & Drizzle of heart-warming romance.
My review
After the Blossomwood Bay Fire, Holly Henderson has lost her dog – grooming business. Even if her dream ended up in fire, she luckily found a new temporary job at Blossomwood Kennels. But when that job comes also to an end, Holly doesn’t know what to do. Her cousin comes up with the perfect solution: a job as dog – sister for celebrity TV chef Oscar Reynolds. The only “downside” is that the job is in Hawaii and Holly has never been on such a faraway journey. However, beggars cannot not be choosers and Holly heads to Oahu, even if her arrival isn’t exactly how it was planned. Nevertheless, Holly finds herself quicky submerged in the magical atmosphere of the place. And perhaps she can finally defeat her demons and find her own happiness, while helping the Mahina family too with their own struggles.
How does Daisy James do it in each book? No matter where she takes us with her stories, whether we are in France, Italy or Hawaii, she captures perfectly the way of life in that place, and makes it so easy for her readers to make them feel they are walking there themselves.
The book starts when the tragical fire already took place, and we get to know a Holly that is trying to put her life back on track. But it’s easier said than done of course.
From the beginning, we see that Holly is the kind of person that wants to avoid any kind of confrontation as much as possible. And while that is very relatable, because don’t we all want to avoid it, for Holly is has a deeper reason, a reason that has affected her at a younger age and she is still having that same demon hanging over her.
But we also see a Holly with her heart at the right place. While she loses her temporary job, she also knows that it’s the best decision, also for the animals kept at the kennels. Because she for sure is an animal – lover, and if she could, she would take all the animals with her!
So having presented a job as a dog – sitter is absolutely her cup of tea! Despite the job being in the paradise of Hawaii, I could understand her initial trepidation, especially when we learn that Holly hasn’t been a real globe trotter. And her arrival isn’t exactly running smoothly..
But no worries, as Hawaii quickly shows its way of living, and ‘hanging loose’. I have never been to Hawaii myself, but I liked it to read how laid back the people there are. They have obviously their responsibilities and they take them too, and their worries for sure bring a few frowns on their forehead. But generally speaking, it’s a relaxing way of life.
I have to say, I don’t think I would manage to work with Alani. That woman is a recipe for disaster, with her forgetfulness. But that doesn’t take away her kind and generous character, even if she is adamant on finding The One, but having the wrong mindset perhaps?
Holly working in Hawaii may be exactly what Holly needed in her life. Hawaii, its inhabitants and also Oscar give her the chance to mature, to face her demons and stand tall. Of course this isn’t a change made overnight, as she needs a lo of courage to finally do it. But she also knows that it’s the right thing to do, as the confrontation may reveal the truth that affects the island.
It was lovely to see Holly and Oscar grow together, how even if they don’t know each other, are so at ease with each other. Of course does the presence of Max, the Westie, help. But there is just an underlying something bringing these two people together.
Yes, there are also a few twists, a few predictable and some not, adding drama to the story. but that drama is also needed, as the characters need to understand what is happening and what it is that they true want.
I absolutely enjoyed this journey to Hawaii and I loved seeing Holly emerge from the shadows. Daisy James took us to an amazing place, making us wanting to order any food and drink that was mentioned. And we got to know some wonderful characters, going through their own rollercoasters but rising stronger and fiercer than before!
Having found love is just the start… keeping it is something different…
Synopsis
How can life be too busy for love?
Phoebe Dashwood is living the dream. She’s running her own successful vet practice, Puddleduck Vets, alongside her grandmother’s animal sanctuary.
She’s also dating the gorgeous, yet slightly broken Rufus Holt, the most eligible bachelor in the New Forest. So why isn’t she blissfully happy?
Both Phoebe and Rufus are consumed 24/7 by their own commitments. Their relationship is always last on the list. Phoebe juggles quirky, yet demanding clients and their pets whilst widowed Rufus is consumed by his anxieties, responsibilities of fatherhood and the unenviable tasks of being a Lord in waiting with a huge estate to manage.
Phoebe knows that when you’re a vet, there isn’t always a happy ending. But will there be a happy ending for Phoebe, Rufus and everyone else at Puddleduck Farm? Is it ever really possible to have it all?
My review
Phoebe Dashwood is finally in a happy place. She is running her own vet practice, has a loyal team and also managed to date the elusive Rufus Holt, Lord – to – be and still scarred by his past. But no matter how wonderful things may seem, Phoebe and Rufus are so packed by their own commitments, that they can barely spend any quality – time together. And Rufus’ anxieties aren’t making things easier. With being a vet, there is never a peaceful moment, but will Phoebe manage to have her well – deserved happy ending anyway?
First of all, I need to say that I found it so lovely to return to Puddleduck Farm! I was very curious to see how Phoebe was doing, and all her friends and family too!
Only to be left disappointed… now, not that I didn’t like the story, no worries! But it saddened me that even if some time has passed, there hasn’t been a real evolution in Phoebe’s relationship with Rufus. Yes, Rufus has a serious baggage, and being a vert isn’t easy, as you can be called up any time. But somehow I had hoped that some demons would have been chased away, that a balance somehow would have been found…
And we see the toll It has taken on Phoebe. While on paper she has it all, the reality is very different. Being a vet is a calling, and you know that helping the animals is always the main priority. Phoebe still has a great passion, and the way she is heart – broken when there are animals in need show that more than often. We also see a kind – hearted Phoebe, that finds it difficult to be strict. Any kind of sad story is enough for her to give reduction, to do exams without charging the patients’ owners. And while that is truly admirable, that is however not how a business is run…
Phoebe’s life as a vet is hectic, so I had so much my fingers crossed that at least in her free time he could cuddle up and relax with her boyfriend. Too bad she didn’t… That relationship hasn’t evolved like a relationship should. In my opinion, it seemed more that Phoebe and Rufus were ‘just’ friends and the sparkle I saw in the previous books was somehow just missing.
Yes, I know that Rufus is still struggling, and demons aren’t chased away just overnight. And yes, obviously Rufus still loves his late wife and his priority is looking after his son. The baggage he is carrying around is a heavy one, and I completely understand that. But Rufus’ character seemed to be standing still, while all the other characters have grown. And Emilia’s presence for sure didn’t help in the evolution of the relationship.
In this book, we see the struggles of being in a relationship. Whether it’s finding no time to spend together, or an unexpected surprise, or being not ‘good enough’ for your partner’s parents, how wonderful it may seem to be having found love, it isn’t always a walk in the park. Getting together is just the start, not the finish.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a depressing book, as the ending tied all the knots perfectly. Perhaps not like we expected it to end, but different isn’t always bad. Because for sure I had several laughs too! Saddam the cat for sure lives up to his name, and his antics had me laughing all over the place. And let’s not forget about sweet, wonderful Archie, Rufus’ son. His innocence and curiosity is a force to be reckoned with. Della Galton wrote an amazing third part of a wonderful series. She shows us that love is always a work in progress, and we keep learning from it. And sometimes love is enough, and sometimes it just isn’t…
But that doesn’t mean that we should give up on our search for our own happy ending. Because perhaps the journey we have taken will show us that what we truly need, has always been there and we just have to understand what our heart is trying to tell us.
Oooh check out this cover, are you just as impatient as I am???
Synopsis
Lexie Dunbar is a book lover. And her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends. So when she hears that it’s going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help.
Lexie’s plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified; the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her.
Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever after…
Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance. As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags. She is married, has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, Cooper. The Bookshop by the Loch is Julie’s tenth novel.
To spend Christmas and New Year in New York, just not like how expected…
Synopsis
Thirty-two year old Charlie Brown has a plane to catch.
As Christmas approaches, she is New York bound, to be reunited with boyfriend Harry after work has kept them apart.
But once she lands, Harry is nowhere to be found…
There’s no hand-drawn sign with her name being brandished at the gate. No answer from Harry’s phone. And all at once, Charlie’s worst fears come true.
What has happened to Harry? And what should Charlie do now that she’s an ocean away from home?
As Charlie slowly comes to terms with her predicament, she makes a decision. She’s not leaving New York without finding out the truth, and with a little help from her handsome new friend Pete, there might still be a path to happily-ever-after…
Bestseller Zoë Folbigg returns with a page-turning story of love, friendship and learning to believe in your own worth. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, JoJo Moyes and David Nicholls.
My review
Make – up artist Charlie Brown cannot wait to fly over to New York to spend the holidays with her boyfriend Harry, who is living there for work. But when Charlie arrives at the airport, there is no Harry to be found. Not only that, but Harry doesn’t answer his phone and with Charlie not knowing Harry’s address, Charlie is utterly lost in a city she doesn’t know. What can Charlie do in a city on the other side of the world, and worried about what could have happened to the man she loves? With the help of her new friend Pete, a real New Yorker, Charlie is determined to find out the truth. But is it a truth Charlie wants to hear?
If there is one thing I absolutely hate, it’s ghosting… so reading how Charlie is being ghosted by her actual boyfriend of all people, made my blood boil! How can someone who claims to love you, leave you just stranded in a city you never been before? I understand that people can fall in love with someone else, but is it so hard to grow a pair and actual just break up with them?
And Charlie for sure doesn’t deserve to be treated like that! Charlie is such a likeable character. Likeable but also a bit naïve… from the moment there is radio silence from Harry’s side, I knew what happened. Yet Charlie has the hope somehow it’s all a misunderstanding, or that something has happened. However, even in her naivety, Charlie shows an admirable determination. She goes lengths to find out what happened with Harry.
And also further in the story, she shows a growth, by not just accepting cr*p from anyone. Slowly she learns to even go for the confrontation, to make her point clear, to show others that they are wrong.
Charlie is also a very caring person. She doesn’t look at “what” you are, but who you are. She likes or dislikes you for the right reasons. And with Harry being the exception, she also quickly senses someone’s true colours.
That is why it’s so easy for her to befriend Pete. Because Pete is genuinely a nice guy. I have never been to New York, but I can imagine it’s the kind of city where a lot of people only care about themselves and won’t help out a stranger. But that is not who Pete is. He befriends Charlie not only out of pity, but because they just click. Even if Pete himself has been heartbroken, and apparently the person in question likes to rub it in, Pete didn’t let it affect his kind nature.
It warmed my heart to see how Pete, his friends and even his family embraced Charlie. While Charlie sees the bad of some people, she, and we as a reader, see also all the good that people have.
This was a wonderful, heart – warming but also slow – burning story, about how the worst that could happen can turn in the best. We see the characters grow more mature, learning to stand tall and stand up for themselves. But we also see so much kindness and love in this book. And it’s a nice extra touch having a character discovering a new city, taking us together with her on all her explorations!
Three women, three decades, three Christmas Eve moments that change their lives forever.
On Christmas Eve, 1968, Cathy McLean receives a surprise visit from the lost love of her life and is forced to chosebetween the one that got away and the one that stayed.
On Christmas Eve, 1993, Cathy’s daughter Helena is overjoyed to hear that her boyfriend is about to propose, until a devastating encounter threatens to bring her heartbreak instead of diamonds.
On Christmas Eve 2023, an shocking discovery rocks Eve Quinn’s world. The only gift Eve wants this year is the truth. But will it take a Christmas miracle to unravel generations of secrets?
Unwrap this festive tale of complicated families, impossible choices, and an unforgettable love that lasts three lifetimes.
My review
Christmas Eve is a wonderful holiday for everyone. Yet in 1968, Cathy McLean is left flabbergasted from a surprise visit from the love of her life. Because no matter how they felt, he left and Cathy hasn’t heard from him in more than a year. And she has moved on… But now she has to choose… to go back to the man she once loved, or stay with the man she loves now? Same day, different year, as in 1993, Cathy’s daughter Helena is over the moon hearing that her boyfriend is going to propose. But on the prelude of an amazing night, Helena discovers that her boyfriend may still not have changed his spots. And that his intentions aren’t all that well… So what should Helena do, especially as Christmas Eve may change her future forever? Same day, different year, as in 2023, Helena’s daughter Eve discovers that what she thought was the truth, in fact wasn’t… But how can Eve find out what truly happened in the past and find that missing piece of the puzzle?
Oh my God, Shari Low just did it again! I know with each book she writes, that I will dive straight into it, will find it impossible to put it away and I just keep on reading even when I should be sleeping!
Having read several books from this amazing author, I know that there is *A LOT* happening in a short timespan and that you should keep your focus otherwise you will miss a lot! Yet I juts loved how she did her usual thing, but yet managed to do it differently! It was just great to see the same common thread, Christmas Eve, and how each character lived this festive moment so differently with decades between them.
With the three decades between all the characters, it’s easy to see the evolution of the characters. we can see Cathy thirty years later, Helena twenty years later and see how Eve is picking up all the pieces of a complicated puzzle.
Cathy is perhaps the most gullible person. And I am not meaning this in a bad way. she got her heart broken and moved on, is a very responsible young woman. But did she truly expect things would just be that easy when her past reappears? She is responsible not only towards looking after her sister, but also responsible in the choices she made and is still making. She doesn’t regret those choices, and knows that she did the right thing.
And seeing how after thirty years she still stands by those choices, made my respect grow for her. But it was also sweet somehow to see how she still is wondering what would have happened if things went differently.
For me, Helena was the most difficult character to like. As we see her in 1993 and in 2023, and we know what happened to her in 1993 with her boyfriend, I found it hard to understand how in 2023 she ends up by being divorced. And her being rather cold and distant didn’t make her score any cookie points.
But slowly I got to understand Helena better. We see her struggling with the choice she has to make. And even on what was supposed to be a wonderful evening, I could comprehend what she did and why she did it.
Eve was the character I liked the most. She was the most down – to – earth. She is shocked by a revelation and wants to discover the truth. But she also knows that she needs time to digest the information herself and needs to pick the right moment to confront her family.
Beside the shocking news, she also has to make a personal choice herself. And while it would have been easy to take the easy way out, once again she decides to take her time to think things over. Whatever Eve does, she doesn’t do it on a whim. She wants to make the right choice not only for her, but also for those around her.
I absolutely loved reading this book, as it shows that we all have a turning point in our lives. and how one choice, one decision will affect not only the course of your life but also the lives of those around you and even the next generations.
But what I loved the most in this book was, no matter how all the main characters were from each other, even if they were family, the fact that they are and always will be family unites them. Perhaps in the end, the loose nods were tied too easily, but that somehow was also in sync with the rest of the story, because in the end, you’ll never know how things will turn out for real. Sometimes all it needs is one moment in your life to make all the pieces of the puzzle fall perfectly into place.
This was another amazing, marvellous, astonishing book from a very talented author. Each book makes me fall more and more in love with her and her amazing talent!
To return to a haunted past, to find a future that is…
Synopsis
Lottie Fanshawe has become an expert over the years at banishing dark memories of the past – but now, the time has come to sell Sycamore House, her old family home, which she walked away from a decade ago. With beloved brother Dylan now a missing person – a victim of their past – there’s only Lottie left to organise the sale. Being back in Sunnybrook is the last thing she needs, and her plan is to get in and out as speedily as possible. But finding a welcome at the Little Duck Pond Cafe helps Lottie in more ways than she could have imagined. And then there are her growing feelings for dark-eyed Liam Westerbrook to grapple with . . .
My review
Sycamore House in Sunnybrook is a house with a dark past, and the inhabitants have heard different kind of stories about what happened. But for Lottie Fanshawe, it’s a place with many haunted memories. For her, the time has come to sell the place, and the sooner the better. Unfortunately, the house needs some TLC for increasing the interest. And since her brother Dylan went missing, it’s all up to Lottie now… She cannot wait to leave Sycamore House for good, but despite her dislike of the place, she finds herself welcomed in Sunnybrook, with the help of the people in the Little Duck Pond Café. And then there is Liam Westerbrook… But is there a chance for Lottie to find happiness in a place that brought her also the greatest heartbreak?
Here we are again, after reading another part of the Little Duck Pond Cafe… And in fact, I could just copy – paste my previous review, change some things as this is another story with other characters. But the fact that I absolutely love each part of the series for sure still stands!
Reading about Lottie’s past for sure broke my heart. Seeing how she had to fight tragedy after tragedy wasn’t the lightest story to read, and I absolutely understood her reasons for getting rid of Sycamore House! My heart went out to Lottie, as it’s clear she is a lovely person, but her past hangs over her as a dark cloud. And her not knowing where her brother is, her brother who has been her rock despite his own demons… I just cannot even try to imagine not knowing where my own brother would be.
But Lottie is not the kind of person you will only pity. Because she has also this fierceness in her, she takes matter in her own hands, and she understands people on a level that isn’t for anyone… So obviously seeing her being welcomed by the wonderful people of the Little Duck Pond Café warmed my heart. Not that I had one doubt in my mind how my old friends would act towards the latest stranger in Sunnybrook!
Yes, in this book there is a love interest for Lottie, in the wonderful form of Liam. And while Liam is everything we could imagine for Lottie, the romantic relationship wasn’t the focus. Of course I had my fingered crossed and I was rooting for them, never losing hope even when Rosie Green would dare to add a twist.
The focus of this book was picking up the pieces again after great tragedies. Lottie has been through a lot in her young life, has lost a lot people she loved. But slowly Lottie sees that beside the many sad memories, there are also a lot of happy ones. When your past keeps haunting you, it’s difficult to see the little rays of sunshine, but they are still there. We just need to find them again.
The deeper I got into the story, the more emotional I got. Lottie is having a lot of closures in this book. Some may go easy while others don’t. But we also see the effect Lottie has on the people in Sunnybrook. Sunnybrook for sure is a place that gives and takes in all the best ways. Lottie is exactly what Sunnybrook needs. But Sunnybrook is for sure what Lottie needs too…
Rosie Green managed once again to write a magnificent story, isn’t there a limit on her talent? How can this woman keep on adding new chapters to a series without ever getting repetitive? Each story stands perfectly on its own, and as a reader you feel your heart expanding when you return to Sunnybrook. Seeing our old friends again for sure is a delight and making new ones is so easy! I just cannot wait to return to this lovely place with its amazing characters! Bring it on!!! 😊
How to find yourself again when you’re at your lowest…
Synopsis
To look to the future, you first have to face your past…
With Christmas just around the corner, Molly Bliss has almost hit rock bottom.
After the heart-breaking loss of her parents, an escape to Iceland to spend the holidays with her sister Claudia is a chance for her to find solace and focus on her neglected relationship with her boyfriend Howard. But when Howard ‘misses his flight’, Molly is forced to rethink her whole outlook on life.
Surrounded by her family, Molly has never felt more alone. With ongoing family tensions rumbling and a surprising connection with old flame Leifur and his friend James, Molly realises she has an opportunity to rediscover who she really is.
While exploring the wild beauty of Iceland, a fragile hope seeds itself in Molly and alongside the life-affirming experiences and new friendships that are forged, she’s forced to question why she ever put her own dreams on hold.
Will Molly allow grief and disappointment to destroy her chance at happiness, or can new love sparkle as the land of fire and ice begins to work its magic?
My review
Molly Bliss isn’t herself ever since losing her parents. With Christmas just around the corner, visiting her sister Claudia in Iceland may perhaps give Molly peace and perhaps it will even reignite the fire between her and her boyfriend Howard. But when Howard decides to not fly off with her and ‘catch a later flight’, and even manages to ‘miss’ that one, Molly has to think about what she wants from her life. Once in Iceland, Molly has the chance to not only reinforce her bond with Claudia and Claudia’s family, but she also makes new friendships and even meets an old crush of hers. The beauty of Iceland is also the perfect opportunity for Molly to rethink about her own future, and think of why her dreams aren’t worthy of pursuing. And perhaps the cold and snow of Iceland can warm her heart towards a man too?
I am not a person that loves the cold! So while I for sure want to visit Iceland and see all the beautiful things there, the cold is holding me back to put my dream into actual plans. And yes, I know you can layer up for visiting the place, but have you ever seen Bambi struggling on ice? Well, that’s me in snowy circumstances, even when there is no ice involved! So I will just enjoy reading books that take place in a magical country!
Reading about Molly and all her struggles absolutely broke my heart. I could feel her pain and sense of loneliness emerge from the pages. I could only try to understand the devastation she was feeling after the loss of her beloved parents. And I could comprehend how it also affected her relationship with Howard.
Now, the less is said about that idiot the better… I know that it has to be hard living with a person who is still grieving, but Howard didn’t make an effort at all through, and he even did the most terrible thing someone could do! So I was glad that his presence was rather short-lived!
It was so sweet to see the two sisters reconnecting again. Molly and Claudia couldn’t be at a more different phase in their lives, yet the love between the siblings is so palpable. Claudia, as the bigger sister, wants to protect Molly, she wants Molly to be happy and she wants Molly to succeed in realizing her dreams. But the literal distance also put somehow an emotional distance between the two…
For sure discovering the wonders of Iceland together with Molly, Claudia, and new/old friends Molly made was wonderful. I could just envision myself what they were all seeing. But for Molly the journey to Iceland was more a journey to self – discovery and overcoming her grief. Slowly Molly sees that in fact she isn’t that alone in the world, and that even if her sister lives in another country, they can still be there for each other.
Molly also starts to see that her dreams are worthy to be pursued. Why shouldn’t she follow her passion and take that chance? It’s better to have tried and failed than just take the easy way out…
Of course Molly has also a love interest in this book. And I am not going to spoil anything, but I was glad to see that the author followed my line of thinking! 😊
This was a cold story, literally, but with so much warmth in it. Molly goes through a great journey, from feeling lonely and lone to finding love from her family (even if it has been always there), to finding love in new friendships, finding herself, finding courage again and even finding love in other matters of the heart.
Kate Frost wrote once again a great story about characters that you will like from the start, even if they have a sad story of their own to tell. A great story about a physical journey but mostly an emotional journey, making you understand that there isn’t a strict timeline for grief, but there is always time to chase your dreams. And that even if you don’t feel it, you are loved and surrounded by people that care and have your best interest at heart!
When you are searching for love but do not or cannot see what’s in front of you
Synopsis
On an anonymous online dating app, LittleMissPerfect meets HotAussie007 and it’s love at first click. In real life, a smart but spiky woman in STEM, research scientist, Dr Eden, meets a laid-back Aussie marketing manager, Finn, at the big pharma company where they both work in California. They’re forced to compete for special projects funding, and both their jobs are on the line.
Eden just wants to win at science and in life. It’s not happening! She can’t stand Finn’s too-cool-for-school, nice guy act, or his delectable forearms that keep invading her space. While Finn is stupidly attracted to Eden, when she’s not telling him off, he isn’t free to pursue her. He’s stuck in the worst position in his professional life, and doesn’t see a clear way out. He can’t tell her the whole truth about what’s going on at work or in his personal life. . . or it could all blow up in his face.
When they realise the truth about their online alter egos, dating is off the table. Can they ignore their inconvenient attraction, and work together to take down their unethical boss? Or will intense rivalry cause their IRL work lives and online love lives to collide and explode like a science experiment gone wrong?
Note: Dating Little Miss Perfect is an updated take on You’ve Got Mail for lovers of online dating romcoms, with added science, cupcakes and old movie references! This new release from award-winning author Cassandra O’Leary is a stand-alone contemporary romance novel of approximately 97,000 words.
My review
Eden is a research scientist known for being a Little Miss Perfect. Well, of course everything should be perfect when you’re doing groundbreaking research. However, her perfectionism also makes it impossible to find love. Yet she managed to find her perfect match online. HotAussie007 is everything she is looking for a man and she cannot wait to see if HotAussie007 is also in real life a perfect match for LittleMissPerfect. In real life there is another man in Eden’s life. But in a negative way. Because Finn is the Australian marketing manager the company Eden is working for. And whenever these two are together, it’s a clash of the titans. Yet there is that saying that there is a thin line between love and hate. However, Finn has other reasons for not pursuing Eden… and what about Eden’s online match?
There are stories where you know from the start what is going happen and how it’s all going to end. And yes, beside a few twists, this story was one of those kinds. But did it bother me? No, because those twists make it worth reading, and there is for sure enough originality to make you want to keep reading.
I am not the kind of person that understands anything of doing research or elaborated science, so whatever Eden was saying about her own wok, well, I just went with it. But no worries, it isn’t that the author is slaying you with scientific words! In Eden’s line of work it’s normal talking about results going not the way they expected and I let it go over my head.
Eden is indeed a Little Miss Perfect, but while at work that may seem sometimes that Eden is a know-it-all (but she truly does know it all), we see that she has reasons to be so determined and resolute to make everything work.
She is also the kind of person that would do anything to protect who and what she loves. she isn’t happy where she working now, but she needs the money in order to keep the house and protect her sister, especially with their background…
Yet it was lovely to see a complete other side of her, while she is talking to her online match. They for sure do say that still waters run deep! To say I was shocked is overstating it, but I didn’t expect her to be talking like that!!! 😊
Finn is the complete opposite of Eden. He is the perfect example of how I would imagine Australians to be like. And I mean it as a compliment! He is laid – back, doesn’t even take that great offence whenever Eden is being her usual self. In everything he does, his caring and loving character emerges. The way not only he is looking after Eden after their literal clashing, but also the lengths he goes afterwards. And seeing how even in time of need, he doesn’t hesitate to return back to his parents, shows his true heart.
His background for sure is a sad one too, and it truly left a mark on him. It’s clear how that event made his life take a complete different direction.
Yet he also is the kind of person who makes it clear when a line has been crossed, and expresses clearly his hurt feelings. He is also the kind of person that wants to do the right thing, especially when he sees that there is something dodgy going on at the company.
Eden and Finn together are just explosive! Their banter is hilarious for us readers, while we can sense the simmering attraction, waiting to erupt! It was sweet to see how slowly they realize that in fact they have more in common than they would think.
Of course the revelation of the online matches wasn’t that big of a revelation. But in a way it also shows us that what we see in front of us isn’t the complete person. How we are at work, where we have to show our professionalism, isn’t the same person at home, where we can be 100% ourselves.
In this book we also see that sometimes our own doubts can hold us back. Because we Eden having doubts about Finn, and how she is afraid to go all – in. And that results in her doing things the logical Eden wouldn’t do. But I could understand her, because haven’t we all done stupid things for/because of love?
But we also see that love makes us protective. Because Finn, when on the look for answers, sees things that would point its dodgy finger towards Eden. Yet even if he is doing the right thing, he wants to protect Eden, even at risk of losing her…
This was a wonderful, hilarious book. The author takes her time to make us get to know both main characters. There is depth in the both of them, making them even more human. And we see that finding love isn’t always easy, as even when we have found it, there is still room for making mistakes, having misunderstandings. And that love can also be a scary thing, as we want to protect ourselves from a potential hurt. But love is also amazing, as it makes us see what we have in front of us, making us protective, making us open up about our fears. And then, to end on a lighter note, there is love that makes your love for cupcakes only expand! 😊
Home is where the heart is, even when renovations are required.
Synopsis
Dig out your hard hat and gaze up at the snowflake-speckled sky over the Boardwalk.
Portia Fortescue has traded in the hustle and bustle of London to help renovate a magnificent French manor house on the beautiful island of Jersey with her boyfriend Charlie Hargreaves.
But what they hoped would be a blissful escape to the chateau, turns out to be more of a DIY SOS.
As the winter snow sets in, the stress of restoring the derelict chateau back to life begins to take its toll on their relationship.
Portia has known heartbreak before, but thought she’d found her happy-ever-after with Charlie…
Just when their dreams appear to crumble beneath them Portia and Charlie discover the warmth of the Boardwalk community – the best friends anyone could ever ask for.
This new life could be everything they want it to be, if only they can finish the chateau in time for its grand reopening!
My review
Portia Fortescue believes in love again, after meeting Charlie. Once she thought she could never love again, after her heartbreak, but Charlie showed her that love can be found again. While living together in London has been wonderful, Portia feels that Charlie misses his life on the island of Jersey. So when Charlie inherits a French manor house, it’s the opportunity the couple was looking for to return to Jersey. But the manor needs a lot of TLC and both Charlie and Portia have underestimated how difficult it is to do it all by themselves. Despite winter throwing snowy curve balls in their schedule, the couple can luckily rely on the community for help. Will Portia and Charlie manage to reopen the chateau in all its splendour in time but at what cost?
First of all, what a delight to return to this wonderful island! Secondly, it was great to read a story where love has already been found and we get to see what happens afterwards. Because most of the times, that’s where the story ends, but a life together starts.
We see Portia and Charlie together, Charlie having made the “sacrifice” of making the move to London for love. Yet it’s clear that there is something missing in the relationship. Yes, the love is absolutely there, and Portia couldn’t be happier to have found a second chance at love. But here we see that loving someone isn’t enough to be completely happy.
It’s not that Charlie is ungrateful, but we see a clear difference in the Jersey – Charlie and the London – Charlie. London – Charlie isn’t the real Charlie, and he obviously misses his home. Luckily Portia sees behind his façade and decides that a return, even a short one, is needed to find themselves again.
I found it wonderful how just literally everyone in Jersey is asking if the return is a final one, as Portia and Charlie are clearly being missed. And it was sweet to see how both main characters realize that Jersey is indeed home, even if Portia was a real city – girl before.
With the French manor now belonging to them, Portia and Charlie have the incentive to make that move back home. Now, I am not a Handy Harry (Harriet?) myself, so for me personally doing all those restorations would be a real nightmare. Not only would I truly be terrible at it, but in the end it would have to be redone all over again. So yes, I would just throw some money at it, and let the professionals do it! 😊
I admired the positivism Charlie and Portia had at the start of all the work, but I was also a bit wary. Because things couldn’t be that easy, right? And indeed, rather quickly, the couple’s dream turns into a minor nightmare. Problem after problem arise, making their plans just go terribly wrong.
It saddened me to read how all the to do’s and setbacks truly took a strain on this wonderful couple. Yet that made them also more human in my eyes. Because in life it isn’t always lovey – dovey. Things get difficult, but it’s up to you to make it still work.
While it saddened me to see how difficult Charlie and Portia are having it, I also found it just wonderful and heart – warming how just the whole community decide to help out, any way they can. It can go from the little things, to bring food over, to help with the plastering.
I have to be honest, at a moment I was a bit afraid that the book would be too much of a ‘Restorations For Dummies’ book. I almost feel the ache in my own body, the frustration building up with every setback.
But my fears were totally unfounded, as I quickly realized that this is a marvellous book about taking charge of your life, making sometimes choices that aren’t easy to make, finding a home with happiness and love, and a wonderful community that feels more family – like than just friends. And understanding that even when things don’t go easy, some things and some people are worth fighting for and they deserve every blister, every ache in your body, as the reward of happiness and love is priceless…
