Some friendships last a lifetime…

Synopsis

When Lin, Josie and Minnie left Miss Hamilton’s class at Middleton Ferris County Primary School, sixty years ago, they could only dream about what the future had in store for them.  The one thing they knew for certain was that their friendship would thrive.

Years later and life hasn’t always been kind.  Josie is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband Harry a year after his sudden demise. Lin is hoping to celebrate her fiftieth wedding anniversary with husband Neil, but he’s suddenly keeping secrets and telling her lies, so she’s suspecting the worst  And as for Minnie, well she loves her life in Oxford academia, but with no family to call her own, she sometimes wonders if the sacrifices were all worthwhile.

So, when the ninety-year-old Miss Hamilton – or Cecily as she lets them call her now – glides gracefully back into their lives on her glamorous purple mobility scooter, the ladies are in need of inspiration and fun. And over their regular lunches, the friends start to dream of leaving the past in the past and embracing the future, because there’s nothing you can’t achieve with good friends at your side.

My review

Lin, Josie and Minnie has been friends since they were kids. And when they left their Primary School sixty years ago, they were wondering what their lives would look like. But no matter where life would take them, they were sure that their friendship would last.
Now the friends are not only older but also wiser. Even if Josie is still mourning the loss of her husband Harry, Lin is discovering that her husband Neil is having secrets, and Minnie has been enjoying her life in Oxford, but has no family on her own, they can still count on each other.
And when their old teacher, at the blessed age of ninety, Miss Hamilton, or Cecily, is back in their lives, she is also still the one who provides the silver ladies with wisdom. With their regular lunches, with an expanding group, these ladies are ready to enjoy their lives at their fullest, and no one will hold them back!  

It is always a great treat to read a book of this amazing author, even if the story and the lives of the characters couldn’t be further away than mine!
I start the book with a smile, and I end with an even bigger smile on my face! 

I liked it how Lin, Josie and Minnie kept their friendship intact despite the different turns their lives took. Thee are the kind of friendship that truly matter and should be treasured!. 

Each woman has her own story to tell, and they get the right amount of spotlight to make the reader invest in them, without feeling that we are getting too much (unnecessary) information. 

I had both admiration and compassion for Josie. She has lost her husband, but that didn’t stop her to go on a cruise, which was on their bucket list. Even if her heart is broken, and we can feel her pain, she does her best to commemorate Harry, by trying to have the best time. And I liked it how she even managed to find a kindred soul and how this odd couple (not *that* kind of couple though!) managed to share their pain and somehow be able to move on, without ever forgetting. 

Lin however was perhaps the character I felt the most sorry for. Because while she has a lovely marriage with Neil, she starts to see that he is lying to her and is keeping secrets.
Perhaps I have read too many books, or Lin’s suspicion was too contagious, but I started to think the worst of Neil.
My mind went even that far to think that somehow he and another side character were linked… 

Minnie perhaps is the strongest characters, as she has showed throughout the years that she doesn’t need anyone in her life to make her feel complete. She is perfectly fine on he own, surrounded by the best of friends. But maybe she starts to feel that is missing?

But what I truly loved to read, was how these friends, despite age and distance still are each other’s rock. And not only each other, but also for other people who may need somehow a helping hand.
No matter who you may be, when you need someone by your side, you can count on the silver ladies to help you with every step you have to take, how difficult it may be.
With their wisdom, nothing is insurmountable! 

The return of their teacher, Cecily, was a great asset, as it only added more wisdom to this book, but also more fun!
I wish I will be like Cecily when (and if…) I reach the wonderful age of ninety! 

This story has many layers that may have the looks of a sad story, but it is the complete opposite. It is filled with yes some sad moments, but also elated, funny, positive moments. It has a slow pace, but this only proofs that a story doesn’t has to be filled with action or tragedy to capture your heart. 

While the main characters are of a certain age, and even older, while reading I never felt the difference between them and me. The only difference was that they have a lifetime of wisdom that they share with those who are only starting to build their wisdom. 

This was again a lovely, heart – warming read from an amazing and very talented author!

The joys and loves that working at a dogs’ home can bring…

Synopsis

Life could not be busier for Ginny and the team at Wagging Tails.

The annual dog show is looming, a crucial event when it comes to fundraising and ensuring the volunteers can continue the brilliant work they do.

But their trusted newspaper reporter, who always includes them in his weekly column, is retiring, only to be replaced with a city-slicker named Darryl. And Darryl, as Ginny soon learns, has no interest in articles he deems ‘below him’.

Not one to take no as an answer, Ginny becomes determined to get him to meet the dogs themselves. One look at their cute faces and they’ll worm their way into his heart.

But what Ginny doesn’t anticipate is that Darryl might be more open-hearted than he seems. And inviting him to the dogs’ home might be the best decision she ever made – even if she doesn’t realise it at first!

My review

Ginny couldn’t be luckier to be working at the Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home. She loves what they are doing for the dogs, but also each dog has stolen a piece of her tender heart.
But working at a dogs’ home isn’t easy, as they rely on the goodwill to raise money, as they want to keep up the good work.
To have more awareness around their annual dog show, Ginny wants the help of their trusted newspaper reporter, who always mentions The Wagging Tails in his weekly column.
However, not only has the reporter retired, he has now been replaced by Darryl. And Darryl has no interest at all in writing an article about The Wagging Tails or the dogs.
Ginny is determined to make Darryl fall in love with not only the dogs but also the place so that he may write an article that does justice to all the work.
But Darryl is not that cold – hearted as he initially seems, and Ginny gets to learn a whole different side of him… 

I am a cat – person, and I am not ashamed of it. But being a cat – person doesn’t mean that I don’t like dogs. On the contrary, I love dogs too, it’s just that I love cats a little bit more.
So having a soft spot for animals in general, I just HAD to read this story. And I didn’t regret it at all! 

First of all, I admired Ginny and everyone else at The Wagging Tails. I truly believe that you can see a lot of someone’s character by the way they treat animals. And it’s obvious that everyone at the dogs’ home has a generous and loving heart! 

But that is only one of the things I truly liked about Ginny. She truly cares about the poor dogs, and she gives each and one of them all the love and necessary attention. But she does so much more… Because no matter how much she dislikes Darryl at the start of the book, she knows she needs his help to raise more awareness.
So if that means that she has to go over and over again to his office, she just does that. If that is not determination! 

Ginny shows her determination and her strength, but she obviously also has that vulnerability over her. She has been burnt by love before, and because of that, she has become a bit wary of men. With what her ex has done however, can you truly blame her? 

Yet again, even when she meets up with her ex again, instead of showing any kind of weakness, she shows her strength, even if that means to fake a bit until she makes it! 

Darryl was a hard nut to crack… he absolutely doesn’t make a great impression, and it takes a while to see his true colours. To despise him is a rather big word, but I didn’t like it, especially when we get to see those first articles he has written. 

But I was never so happy to have to change my opinion of him. Because his reluctance of writing about the dogs’ home, and also other articles, are justified in a way. Yet it doesn’t forgive it all, as his writing has an effect on those who we have started to love.
Seeing him turn apparently overnight was a strange course, but the more we got to know Darryl, the more I started to truly like him and understand him.
And seeing him fall in love with Luna was one of the sweetest moments! 

And understand him did also Ginny, and seeing how things are growing between them was just marvellous!
Ginny deserves to be loved by a man like Darryl, and Darryl deserves to be loved by a woman like Ginny. 

So when doubts start to raise, especially on Ginny’s side (again with her background I could somehow comprehend her), it was a bit frustrating. Why should our past be able to hold us back from a wonderful thing? But that is also a process that Ginny has to go through, to learn to trust again. And how can she not do that with someone as lovely as Darryl? 

For the greatest part of this book, I was completely in love with everything that happened, everyone that appeared, humans and animals.
There are obviously a few characters that I rather wanted to leave the story sooner than later, but that is also part of the growth especially Ginny is making. 

In this story we get to meet lovely characters, with a great heart. We get to see dogs that just steal your heart from the first moment. And we see the importance of dogs’ homes and how every help they can get, is welcomed.
But we also get to see that we have to learn to move forward, to allow happiness again in our lives. And that even when we make choices out of love, because we think it’s the right thing to do, perhaps it’s not up to us to make that choice…  

A book that for sure makes you feel all the lovey – dovey feelings, but also makes you think about how *you* can also make a difference for institutions with a great heart and passion!

When you go on your honeymoon on your own, you can never know what will happen next…

Synopsis

Sophie Fairfax knows that you don’t get to fifty without collecting some emotional bruises along the way.  Having left the School of Knocks with top marks, she’s not just older, she’s wiser. 

So, when boyfriend George proposes, Sophie says yes.  After all, George is nothing like her charming but unfaithful ex, Teddy. Okay, George is a little boring – his favourite colour is grey – and there’s also the small matter of him suggesting Sophie is too old for a bikini and should buy a one-piece for their honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast, but so what?

When Sophie uploads a pic of her engagement ring to Instagram, she expects attention, but not in the form of Thomas Tabby Cat – a fake account – warning she’s betrothed to a cheater. 

Rocked, Sophie suffers flashbacks to life with Teddy. She can’t go through that again. Bestie Sue suggests it’s the work of a jealous troll, but Sophie is rattled.  Is there a love triangle and, if so, might it become a wrecktangle?

Sophie reckons there’s a way to find out. Sometimes, when searching for an enemy, you need to check your list of friends….

My review

After a failed marriage, Sophie hasn’t given up on love yet, even if she is fifty. So even if George may be a bit boring and both literally and figuratively speaking grey, she doesn’t care. Because at least she knows that George would never be unfaithful, like her ex Teddy.
When she posts her engagement ring on social media, she expects many congratulations. Obviously she is shocked when a fake accounts suggests that George is cheater.
With the wedding so close, Sophie can’t shake the feeling of doubt… Is George a boring man, or a cheater?
And what will Sophie do? Marry George despite her doubts and head for their honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast? Or will she be betrayed again, but this time by someone she least expected to? 

Debbie Viggiano did it once again… She wrote a wonderful story, in a wonderful setting (not biased at all here! 😊) but also a heartfelt story about picking up the pieces not once but maybe twice… 

Sophie is a woman that gave me mixed feelings at the start. First of all, I admired her, not only for not giving up on love. Because after how her first marriage ended, as Teddy cheated on her, it takes courage to take that step again, especially when you are in your fifties.
But I also liked it how, despite the hurt, she and Teddy are still on good terms. They are friends, and even if Teddy cannot stop flirting with her, Sophie knows that she can always count on him. 

However…
I also felt that while she gave love another chance, she wasn’t it giving a*real* chance. George may have been an comfortable choice, but it wasn’t the right choice.
Everything about George screamed ‘grey’, while Sophie is a cacophony of bright colours. Every choice Sophie made, from her bathing suit to the colours of her bouquet or even Sophie’s friends, George had a negative opinion. 

When the post was sent, I was a bit shocked, just like Sophie. But that wasn’t the only shock we get before and during the wedding itself. Without giving anything away, George’s ‘greyness’ turned into a nasty colour (perhaps best to be compared with the colour of vomit?). 

And then the wonderful story truly takes off, as Sophie’s adventure on the Amalfi Coast starts. Having been to all the places Sophie visits, I knew perfectly where Sophie was, and I saw again all the wonderful places that stole pieces of my heart. 

Of course, it’s mandatory that some things still go a bit awry. But even those mishaps added to the fun I had while I was reading. 

What I liked the most, was the strength that Sophie is showing more and more in the story. At her arrival in the hotel, she is a poor lost soul, but slowly we see the strong Sophie emerge. She allows herself to be just her again, and is finding her feet while enjoying the beauty of Italy. 

There may or may not be a romantic interest for Sophie, but it didn’t feel like that was the purpose of the story… 

The purpose was for me that we should never just settle down, but if we have to start over, we do it with all our heart, out of love, and not out of fear.
Sometimes it may be the scariest plunge that can take us on the most amazing adventure
Why only make lemonade out of lemons, when you can also make a delicious limoncello? 

I found this a real treat to read! This is an author who absolutely always delivers and never disappoints!

When you need an escape but you find something more

Synopsis

Will one summer in Sicily change her life for ever?

After her marriage falls apart, Ursula Quinn is offered the chance to spend the summer working at a hotel on a beautiful island off the coast of Sicily, Italy. Excited by a new adventure, she sets off at once.

At Residenza dei Tringali, Ursula receives a warm welcome from everyone except Alfio, son of the Tringali family. He gave up his life in Barcelona to help his mother Agata with the ailing business, and is frustrated with Ursula’s interference – and she in turn is less than impressed with his attitude. As they spend more time together, though, they begin to see each other in a different light.

But what with Ursula’s ex-husband on her tail, family secrets surfacing and an unexpected offer that makes Alfio question his whole life, there’s plenty to distract them from one another. Can she face her past and he his future, and together make the most of their Sicilian summer?

My review

Ursula has been through a rough time lately. So when she has the chance to not spend the summer to work at a hotel but also study ceramics on the coast of Sicily, she grabs the opportunity with both hands.
For her that means that she can take her mind of her failed marriage, escaping even her ex – husband and even get away from the other family problems.
She is welcomed by everyone at Residenza dei Tringali, everyone except Alfio Tringali.
Alfio come back from his life in Barcelona, to help out his family with the hotel. His family who is struggling with not only the hotel but also with several health issues.
So the last thing Alfio needs is the interference of a stranger…
But the more time Ursula and Alfio spend together, the more they realize that their first impressions of each other were wrong.
However, even if they are each other’s perfect distraction, what will happen once the summer is over? 

Do I love reading a book written by Sue Moorcroft? Yes!
Do I love reading a book set in anywhere in Italy? Yes!
So, if you combine the two above statements, did I love reading this specific book? Absolutely! 

In this book, we follow Ursula, who we already met in Under The Italian Sun, as Zia’s best friend.
While it isn’t mandatory to read first Zia’s story, I recommend it, to make things make even more sense. And also because it’s another great story! 

With Ursula’s background and history, I was glad to see how she was making plans to get her life back on track. After everything she has been through, I wanted her to find happiness just like Zia did. Not only because it would be a great story but just because Ursula deserved it. 

Now, I have to admit, it took me a while to see Ursula as a good character. Not because of her character, but because that name is imprinted in my mind as an evil character from a specific tale.
But this Ursula for sure deserves all the love I have! (Remember The Little Mermaid?)

Even if there was a incident in the past, I admired Ursula and her determination to show everyone around her that she is in fact okay, that she doesn’t need anyone to hold her hand.
But there is a different being just okay being good… 

And that is the evolution we see Ursula making.
At the start of the book she is indeed doing ‘okay’, but nothing more than that. Yet during her story, we see her grow, mature, even becoming ready to face her demons instead of using her known strategy of running away. 

But we also see that she slowly starts to learn that not all men are the same. And we see her learning to trust men that worthy of her trust, men like Alfio… 

Alfio is just like Ursula, haunted in a way by demons. He feels like he has failed not only his father, but also his family.
And he may have built his own reputation in Barcelona ( in a good way), yet being back home made him initially feel like a stranger amongst his own relatives… 

Yet we can clearly see the love between him and his family. Because not only didn’t he hesitate to come back home when needed, he also wants the best of interest for everyone in his family, and not just what’s best for him.
He wants his mother, sister and niece to be able to take a rest, to not to have to worry about a thing. Even if that would mean to sell the place that has been in his family for a long time. 

While they started on the wrong foot, Ursula and Alfio start to understand each other in a way that perhaps nobody ever did.
They see the pain they both have endured, and also see that behind the pain there is a great person hidden.
Obviously what started as a bickering old couple (figuratively speaking), turned into a summer fling but turned into something deeper. 

There are a few other bumps in the road for both Ursula and Alfio, but reading their development, their growth, and their seeing the things even differently was a real delight to read.
But it was also good to see how Ursula’s family is seeing how strong Ursula in fact is. And that one moment of stupidity doesn’t define our whole character at all. 

Again this was a great gem to read from a very talented author. It shows us not only the strength of people, but also how we can see the strength behind the pain. And how one place can turn to be the place that we need to call home, as it gives us everything we need to be truly happy: love, joy, purpose and passion for newly discovered talents.

How a meeting between two dogs can turn into something just…

Synopsis

She missed out on her happily ever after.

He’s not sure if he deserves one.

Sometimes, fate needs a helping hand…

Bethany Cross is ready for the mother of all fresh starts. No more self-sacrifice. No more city smog. And definitely no more lying, cheating ex-husbands who make divorce proceedings an actual living hell. Instead: Cotswolds. Country air. Candle making.

But when her Yorkshire Terrier, Poppy, makes the “acquaintance” of a rather virile Dachshund, the irritatingly handsome barrister attached to him makes Beth’s newly simple life…complicated.

James Taylor has ditched the courtroom for the countryside while he cares for his terminally ill sister. When a prickly, flame-haired, and newly single Londoner moves into the Taylors’ rental cottage, she looks like just the distraction James needs. But each encounter is an escape that only amplifies just how much he’s about to lose.

As Beth’s walls of caution start to crumble under James’ touch, past scars threaten to engulf the first sparks of chemistry. And when reality catches up with them, both must find a way forward — even when the future seems unbearable.

Always Beth is a dual first person POV, open door romance, featuring a swoonworthy MMC, bittersweet family ties and a HEA.

My review

Bethany Cross, Beth for friends, is ready to start afresh, even if her lying, cheating husband is making it difficult to get a divorce.
With her moving to the Cotswolds, she hopes to have some peace with her lovely Yorkshire Terrier, Poppy and Beth’s candle making.
Little does Beth know that when Poppy meets Dachshund Dick, it will change her life too. Because even if James Taylor irks her in every wrong way, she starts to not getting him out of her mind.
But James has just left the courtroom to take care of his terminally ill sister Lauren. And he for sure has no time to think about the new tenant of the cottage… Yet he cannot stop thinking about her too
Perhaps they can be the distraction the both of them need… 

When I started reading this book, I thought I had it all figured out: woman meets man, woman clashes with man, woman and man fall in love, woman and man live happily ever after.
Well, I quickly realized that the big lines I had indeed correct, but I never expected to also have my heart broken, a few times just lightly but few times also hugely… 

At the first meeting with Beth, I felt sorry for her… Her marriage is over, and while her greatest wish is to get a final closure over it, her husband refuses to give in easily. His position is also making it difficult for Beth to find someone ready to fight in her corner.
And it saddened me to see how she wasn’t able to completely move on because of him.
I also understood why she initially kept everyone at a distance from the moment she moved into the Cotswolds.
But it was also wonderful to see how slowly she starts not only to feel truly at home, but also  Beth is opening up, even becoming stronger.  

And then she meets James… And I couldn’t stop laughing and having fun!
Seeing the two of them bickering every time was so delightful! But also seeing how impossible it was for the both them to ignore that attraction… 

Yet I couldn’t stop my heart from breaking while reading James, and also Lauren’s story… 

Lauren’s illness shows us how unfair life can be… To read how final things were for her, was just terrible. However, despite her situation, she still has this strength over her. And wants to make sure that James will end up well…
I am very close to my brother too, even if we are not twins, but that love between the siblings was so real and recognizable for me, it made my heart ache for the imminent pain that was lurking around the corner. 

I could perfectly understand why James decided to help out Lauren. Because just like him, I would do anything for my sibling.
Yet while it’s expected for a man to be strong, and keeping his emotions in hand, we clearly see fragility in James. Especially when things are getting rough with Lauren, but also when we get to know about his past, we see how in pain James has been and still is… 

While for both Beth and James it felt that, once their initial dislike was over, they met at the wrong time, for me it felt that they met at exactly the right time. Because inadvertedly, they were exactly what they needed, at exactly the right time. 

When the terrible thing happened, it broke my heart and I had to have a few sobs myself, especially reading how it all happened… But I was glad that James had someone there for him.
So for a moment, I hated the author for doing what she did! But that feelings didn’t last till the end of the book, luckily for her! 

How things turned out from that point was rather unsurprisingly for me, as I had a hunch how the story would go. But that didn’t take away any pleasure I had! 

This story was absolutely heart – warming and breaking to read, even with a few heated moments in it.
I loved reading how Beth and James find each other in their darkest moments, I felt sad getting to know Lauren but also losing her.
And I laughed over the antics of Poppy and Dick/Richard! Those dogs for sure put a smile on my face! 

Even if this was a romance, it also shows the fragility of life, but also the strength of it!

A band like you have never seen before!

Synopsis

Take a tiger, an orangutan, an elephant, an eagle, a rhino, a dragon, a spider, and a turtle. Mix with music till loud – you might want to stand back.

My review

Even if I don’t have children of my own, I read this book with curiosity and even some eagerness!
I loved the idea of different kind of animals playing in a band together, where their differences don’t matter, as music is what brings them together. 

It was lovely to see how each animal has its own talent, and bring joy to their listeners, even those who are already in bed!
The rhyming adds a great extra something into this cute little story, making it even better. 

The illustrations are beautiful, and for the smallest readers a great help to see what instrument is played by which animal. 

If I were ever so lucky to become a parent and would want to start my precious one very early with the English language, I can see myself reading this story to him/her!

When you think you have found the perfect man, but have you really?

Synopsis

How do you know if you’ve married the wrong person?

It was a whirlwind romance and we had the perfect relationship.
He was my dream partner, loving, caring, attentive… until the day I married him and things became toxic.
I spent my wedding night in A&E with an ‘unexplained’ broken wrist – but I knew what happened….
My romantic illusions shattered. My fear of the future heightened.
The man I had fallen in love with wasn’t the man I married.
And that was just the start of things to come.
Quickly things escalated. He isolated me from family and friends, and with no one to turn to, he began to control every part of my life.
I tried to escape, but he watched my every move.
Until one day he went too far, and I found my strength to fight back.
I no longer wanted to be a victim.
I wanted to live.
I wanted my life back.
But at what cost?
In sickness and in health and till death us do part…

** Perfect for the fans of Louise Candlish and Adele Parks**

My review

Sophie truly believed that she has found the love of her life with Jay. Even if her previous relationship and engagement aren’t that long ago, with Jay she feels ready to take their relationship to the next phase.
However, she didn’t expect to spend her wedding night in A&E with a broken wrist, caused by the man who she loves.
From the moment Sophie and Jay said their ‘I Do’, the perfect man turned into a nightmare.
Jay starts to isolate Sophie and control every step she takes. But his abuse isn’t only psychological, but also physical. Sophie has no one else to turn to, confide in or ask for help.
But she realizes that she has to fight back for her not being a victim anymore…
However, will Jay just let her walk out? 

While the blurb already is a terrifying one, I was intrigued by it. Not only did I want to know what Sophie had to endure, but I also wanted to read how Jay was able to separate her from her loved ones. And of course I wanted to see how Sophie would escape from her nightmare. 

I have to admit, beside the abuse itself, there were moments that I didn’t like. Like how Sophie allowed Jay to play his tricks, or how quickly her own family walks away from her, and even her best friends don’t appear to be the most caring kind.
But of course, this is all part of Jay’s scheme, which is truly a real nightmare! 

I was astonished reading how quickly Jay turned from a caring (although, was he ever truly a caring person?) man to a jealous, vindictive, abusive, controlling bastard…
Even if I tried to comprehend him somehow, his reactions were of a psychotic person… 

And my heart went out to Sophie…
Not only did she get her heart broken by her ex – fiancé, but by wanting to find happiness, she ends up in a real nightmare.
It gave me goosebumps to see how this once strong and confident woman was turned into a shell of her former self.
With Jay gaslighting her, controlling her and even more hideous things, she starts to doubt herself and her memories. 

It is a terrifying thought yet unfortunately it’s also a reality that someone who claims to love you, is set out on hurting you, playing you, making you look like an unstable fool.
So I was glad to see how Sophie found the strength to fight back (not literally), to get not only her freedom  but also her sanity back. 

Obviously things don’t go smoothly from the first time, and I was again flabbergasted to see how easily people can be put against the victim.
I realized myself that for Sophie to be truly free from her nightmare, there would be only one possible outcome…
And even then things didn’t go as presumably planned, how horrifying! 

This for sure isn’t the kind of book you want to read to pass time easily. It shows us the worst kind of people, who are set up on breaking those around them.
But it’s also about the resilience victims, but also people just in general have. Because even at their lowest moment they are able to find the strength to fight back, and have a determination to succeed to gain their freedom back…

Protect the Crown together, despite their feelings of…

Synopsis

She never forgot him…

Can she ever forgive him?

Part of Protectors of the Crown. Marguerite never expected to see Savaric again—let alone to have to help him when she finds him outnumbered in a fight. He’s the brooding knight she fell for two years ago, until he left her unexpectedly. Now Marguerite is a hardened spy, and wary of trusting him again. But how long can she resist their connection when they must work together to protect the Crown…?

My review

Marguerite and Savaric met two years ago in an unusual way. And while there was a purpose in their ‘meeting’, Marguerite couldn’t stop herself from falling in love with the Knight. Only to be heartbroken when he left her unexpectedly.
Now Marguerite is a spy for the Crown, and is forced to work together with the Protectors of the Crown. And that means working together with Savaric again…
Can they work out their differences to fulfil their task by stopping the Duo Dracone for once and for all? And what kind of feelings are the both of them truly having? And can Marguerite trust him again after everything that happened two years ago? 

I have enjoyed reading the previous parts of this series, so that made me very eager to read this book too!
While we have seen both characters preciously, we didn’t have the chance to get to know them better. And it sounded like music in my ears that these two side characters would have their moment in the spotlight too! 

Marguerite for sure has grown since her first appearance, and I liked it how she even made it to become someone of importance to the Crown. Her skills turned her into a spying asset.
She is also a strong, focused woman, not afraid to get her hands dirty whenever needed. And I for sure found it hilarious to see how she became a Knight in shining armour, to help ‘damsel in distress’ Savaric.
For sure I could understand her feelings towards Savaric and her distrust. That one time she put her trust and love in one person, he only ended up breaking her heart. 

Yet despite her personal feelings, she feels terrible to see how people are wary and even rude to Savaric because of the way he looks and his background.
In the time this story is set, Savaric’s appearance is not something common, and unfortunately people aren’t able to see beyond the colour of his skin and even doubt his intelligence. Something that unfortunately is still very current in the present…
Luckily Marguerite is not one of those kind of people, and sees Savaric for the man and Knight he truly is. 

While it was wrong what Savaric did two years ago to Marguerite, I could understand where he was coming from. He has his heart at the right place, but he is also very wary for the way people think. That causes him to do what he thinks is the right thing, but doing the opposite, hurting Marguerite in the process. 

It was lovely to see how both Marguerite and Savaric get a second chance for their love. If only it wouldn’t be that frustrating as a reader to get to that point!
It’s obvious that no matter how hard they deny it, those feelings of two years ago are easily resurfacing! And with the growth they have made in that time, it has come back with a vengeance! 

Of course there is also their quest to finally defeat the Duo Dracone… And seeing Marguerite, Savaric and the other Knights join forces to finally succeed had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It is always amazing to see where a woman shows her strength and isn’t just an accessory in a fight!
And seeing the other Knights and their spouses was a nice reunion! 

I truly enjoyed reading this story, about strong characters, fighting in their own ways against prejudices but also a common enemy. But I liked the most that Love finds a way despite all those prejudices, as it always looks beyond the surface. And that those that truly love you, aren’t afraid of those nasty voices that are talking behind your back or even straight in your face. People that love are ready for every fight they have to put up with (yet there shouldn’t be any fight at all!) as long as they can share their love with whom they love!

A Jarl and a servant can never be together, can they?

Synopsis

She can be his lover

…but never his wife!

Forced into servitude, Wren is quietly miserable…until Jarl Knud arrives at her settlement, seeking an alliance through marriage. Despite their initial sizzling attraction Wren despises everything the Jarl represents—and he needs a high-status bride to save his people, not a servant like her. As Wren uncovers the man beneath the fierce Viking chief she’s tempted to claim one forbidden night of passion…but will it ever be enough?

My review

Wren hasn’t know anything else than being a servant to Earl Ingrid. From a young age she grew up together with Ingrid. But Wren never forgot her place, as she was and always be merely a servant. And that makes her life rather miserable and all she dreams about is to gain her freedom one day, somehow.
When Earl Ingrid makes an alliance through marriage with Jarl Knud, Wren knows that things will change for sure, but she doesn’t know how exactly.
Because their first meeting is not in front of Earl Ingrid, yet at night, when Wren is taking a bath in the waters.
And Jarl Knud finds himself captivated by Wren… But Jarl Knud is only looking at marriage as a way to strengthen his forces, as he already let his people down once and won’t allow any enemy to cause them hurt again.
So no matter what they feel, or start to feel, thing can never evolve to something more and deeper… 

I don’t know why, by Viking romances always get somehow. I think it’s safe to say that we all have that Alpha – male figure in our minds when we think about Vikings, a man that will protect with his every might. And that as a reader we are ready to swoon all over him. 

Having read several of such stories, I was ready to enjoy this story from an author I know and that never disappointed me.
However…
This book got to me even more than I thought! 

First of all, there is Wren. Wren, who despite her situation, is a bright young woman. She cares about Earl Ingrid, yet she dreams of her freedom. Wren is the kind of character is a silent, even hidden character at the start, but will show immense growth.
Wren knows that her situation isn’t the best one, but she knows how to behave to have the best possible life with Earl Ingrid. 

Knud may not have made the best of first impressions, but not only his behaviour but also his set of mind made all up for his initial slip of the tongue.
I was not surprised of him not wanting to get married out of love, as having read many many stories where the male protagonist shares the same thoughts.
But when his past is revealed, and the pain he had endured, made my heart go out to him.
Yet that doesn’t take away the vision of Viking I had in my mind of him!  

I loved reading how Wren and Knud, despite their many differences are feeling drawn towards each other. And it saddened me that they both realize that nothing could ever come from it, as Wren is a servant, and Knud a Jarl, searching for an alliance by marriage (not out of love). 

Yet no matter their differences, they evolve in each other’s company. We see Wren becoming bolder by the minute, expanding her dreams and realizing how blank and dull her life has been until now. And we see in Knud a Jarl very protective of his people, admitting his failures and his fears, and slowly learning to open up, even if it is towards ‘nothing more’ than a servant. 

Even if towards the end it felt a tiny bit too rushed, I liked it how the author managed to tie all the loose ends, in some ways unexpected and in some expected.
I was surprised by Earl Ingrid’s behaviour and antics, yet I was surprised by the revelation of Wren’s parentage. 

There were many bits in this story that made the characters wiser and open – minded. I truly admired Knud’s vision concerning servants, with the help of his and our good friend. 

This story shows that love doesn’t follow a strict pattern. No matter what state of power you have, it’s not up to you to decide who you fall in love with. And even if you decide to not love again, that is not up to you.
Because everyone deserve to love and to be loved, and with love also come great power and it makes you grow as a person too!

A Jarl and a servant can never be together, can they?

Synopsis

She can be his lover

…but never his wife!

Forced into servitude, Wren is quietly miserable…until Jarl Knud arrives at her settlement, seeking an alliance through marriage. Despite their initial sizzling attraction Wren despises everything the Jarl represents—and he needs a high-status bride to save his people, not a servant like her. As Wren uncovers the man beneath the fierce Viking chief she’s tempted to claim one forbidden night of passion…but will it ever be enough?

My review

Wren hasn’t know anything else than being a servant to Earl Ingrid. From a young age she grew up together with Ingrid. But Wren never forgot her place, as she was and always be merely a servant. And that makes her life rather miserable and all she dreams about is to gain her freedom one day, somehow.
When Earl Ingrid makes an alliance through marriage with Jarl Knud, Wren knows that things will change for sure, but she doesn’t know how exactly.
Because their first meeting is not in front of Earl Ingrid, yet at night, when Wren is taking a bath in the waters.
And Jarl Knud finds himself captivated by Wren… But Jarl Knud is only looking at marriage as a way to strengthen his forces, as he already let his people down once and won’t allow any enemy to cause them hurt again.
So no matter what they feel, or start to feel, thing can never evolve to something more and deeper… 

I don’t know why, by Viking romances always get somehow. I think it’s safe to say that we all have that Alpha – male figure in our minds when we think about Vikings, a man that will protect with his every might. And that as a reader we are ready to swoon all over him. 

Having read several of such stories, I was ready to enjoy this story from an author I know and that never disappointed me.
However…
This book got to me even more than I thought! 

First of all, there is Wren. Wren, who despite her situation, is a bright young woman. She cares about Earl Ingrid, yet she dreams of her freedom. Wren is the kind of character is a silent, even hidden character at the start, but will show immense growth.
Wren knows that her situation isn’t the best one, but she knows how to behave to have the best possible life with Earl Ingrid. 

Knud may not have made the best of first impressions, but not only his behaviour but also his set of mind made all up for his initial slip of the tongue.
I was not surprised of him not wanting to get married out of love, as having read many many stories where the male protagonist shares the same thoughts.
But when his past is revealed, and the pain he had endured, made my heart go out to him.
Yet that doesn’t take away the vision of Viking I had in my mind of him!  

I loved reading how Wren and Knud, despite their many differences are feeling drawn towards each other. And it saddened me that they both realize that nothing could ever come from it, as Wren is a servant, and Knud a Jarl, searching for an alliance by marriage (not out of love). 

Yet no matter their differences, they evolve in each other’s company. We see Wren becoming bolder by the minute, expanding her dreams and realizing how blank and dull her life has been until now. And we see in Knud a Jarl very protective of his people, admitting his failures and his fears, and slowly learning to open up, even if it is towards ‘nothing more’ than a servant. 

Even if towards the end it felt a tiny bit too rushed, I liked it how the author managed to tie all the loose ends, in some ways unexpected and in some expected.
I was surprised by Earl Ingrid’s behaviour and antics, yet I was surprised by the revelation of Wren’s parentage. 

There were many bits in this story that made the characters wiser and open – minded. I truly admired Knud’s vision concerning servants, with the help of his and our good friend. 

This story shows that love doesn’t follow a strict pattern. No matter what state of power you have, it’s not up to you to decide who you fall in love with. And even if you decide to not love again, that is not up to you.
Because everyone deserve to love and to be loved, and with love also come great power and it makes you grow as a person too!