To overcome your fears to discover the truth…

Synopsis

Laura is watching the world go by without her.  

Unable to leave her house since suffering a trauma, Laura is stuck gazing out of her window at Willow Crescent, relying on husband Jim and best friend Debbie for help.

Then one day, Jim doesn’t come home.

A day becomes two, days become a week, and still no sign of Jim.  And with the police half-hearted in their efforts to look for him, Laura is forced into a decision.  She’s going to have to face the world outside and find her husband herself.

But what Laura hasn’t realised is that Willow Crescent is a community, eager to help. From Arthur and Carol next door ready to rally the neighbours, to Marjorie and her daughter Faye at number nine looking for their own reasons to engage with the world. From Sonja at number seven who thinks she may have seen Jim in London, to widower Ben at number four who understands all about being lonely. Laura has a world ready to embrace her if she can just find the nerve.

And when it slowly dawns on them all, that the Jim they thought they knew, may have been hiding some unfathomable secrets, Laura has a choice – retreat back behind her window, or start living the life that was waiting for her all along.

This is Clare Swatman’s tour de force. At the same time emotional, uplifting, page-turning and breath-taking, Laura is a character you will never forget.

My review

After a trauma, Laura is unable to leave her house. Even moving to Willow Crescent, away from the place of the trauma, she isn’t able to take one step outside her house.
She is lucky she can count on her husband Jim and her best friend Debbie for help.
Het life is really straightforward, there are no surprises at all. She could even stopwatch the moments Jim is expected to be home.
But one day, Jim doesn’t return home… which worries Laura terribly.
And when even after several days, there is no sign of Jim, and the police isn’t taking Laura serious, Laura may need to take matter in her own hands.
Even if that means to step outside and ask her neighbours for help. Neighbours she has never met, but who are willing to help their mysterious neighbour to find her husband back.
With each neighbour adding snippets of Jim’s character, Laura starts to realize that perhaps she didn’t know her husband that well at all, as he has been obviously been keeping secrets… 

Having read several marvellous stories of this author, I was ready to dive into the latest book. Yet I have to admit, this story was a bit different compared with her other books. 

While reading the blurb, it would seem that agoraphobia is the only thing Laura is struggling with. But it’s easy to see that there is so much more going on in Laura’s life, she is having more issues than I first assumed. 

My heart went out to her, as we discover that she was having a promising career as a chef, until the attack happens.
Obviously, it’s a terrible thing to happen, and I can only try to imagine what Laura is going through.
It broke my heart to see how that one attack took all her confidence and strength away, even turning her into a scaredy cat. 

Of course that doesn’t happen overnight. And even if there are no real clues, I felt that somehow her relationship with Jim wasn’t helping her to overcome her fears…
On the contrary, I even felt somehow that he was fuelling her fears even more. 

But there are so many other things to say about Laura and Jim…
At some moments it felt like Laura was a tiny bit too gullible. Yes, we have all fallen head over heals in love once or even twice. But Laura took the next steps too fast for my liking, and also her best friend’s liking.
Yes, you love guy, but you also barely know the guy. Why the rush of living together, getting married so quickly? 

And even after years being married to Jim, before the attack even happened, Laura continues to be ignorant about Jim, his job and his whereabouts… 

Now, when I started to read this book, I had to keep in mind that this was set in a time where there are no smartphones, no social media and no internet. So just doing a search over the internet, trying to locate Jim over his smartphone was not possible.
It had to be search ‘old – school’, by questioning the neighbours and following several leads.
For any of us, it would be easy to go knocking on doors, but for Laura it’s a huge step. 

Of course she just doesn’t open the door and step outside, but she has to take tiny steps to overcome her fear. And I admired her persistence to do exactly that, out of love for Jim.
We can clearly see her struggles, but we can also see how those struggles diminish within time. And obviously it helps having such understanding neighbours (even if a few are bit too curious and nosy!). somehow they all know Jim, for one reason or another, and they do all their best to help poor Laura out, to find out where Jim is. 

There are several neighbours I immediately liked, with Ben being my absolute Nr. 1 favourite! It warmed my heart to see how non – judgemental each neighbour is about Laura’s situation, and how they make her feel welcome in their homes, how terrified Laura may look like. 

The truth about Jim didn’t come as a that big of a surprise to me, as there were several hints throughout the book. And while Jim tries to explain his actions, I still don’t feel any sympathy towards him whatsoever.
I just couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more than one thing off with him… 

This story shows us that there are so many people struggling in their life for different reasons. And that one event can turn out toe be the catalyst of a downward spiral, only dragging you more and more down.
But it also shows that struggles can be overcome. It may not be an easy task to do so, but with admitting your need of help, and you finding help in unexpected corners, you can take that one step outside, and start to see the beautiful life outside again.
And even if people in your life disappoint you, there are many others out there that may bring you happiness again.

When a surprise turns into another kind of surprise, and then…

Synopsis

A new fun and fresh rom-com set in Sicily by Canadian-Italian author Nancy Barone.

In an attempt to resuscitate her twenty-five-year-old marriage, aerophobic Gillian Dobson knocks down a few tranquilisers and takes a dreaded flight to the Sicilian Island of Lipari to surprise her husband, away on a business trip. But her troubles are just about to begin…

My review

Gillian Dobson wants to surprise her husband who is on a business trip in Sicily. While their marriage wasn’t the most exhilarating anymore, after twenty years, she wants to rekindle their romance by facing her fears of flying and visit him on the island of Lipari.
But Gillian is the one to get a surprise, as she finds out that her husband is enjoying the company of another woman.
Gillian, devastated by this revelation, nearly has a car accident, colliding with handsome Sicilian Mattia Spadaro.
Mattia, who gives her electric shocks, but Gillian wants to stay away from his as far as possible, with not only his goods looks but also his reputation.
However, Sicily is giving Gillian many new opportunities and insights. Not only does Gillian dare to dream to a life on the island, but she falls in love with the typical Sicilian desserts. A love she shares with… Mattia. 

A book set in Italy, that’s all you need for me to grab it! To make things even better, add typical dessert in it, and I’ll love it. Add a great story and I will absolutely devour it! 

And this book ticked all the above boxes! 

I am not a fan of flying myself, I have seen too many disaster movies for that, so I could comprehend Gillian’s reluctance.
Yet I also admired her for taking that fearful step, for the sake of her marriage and surprise her husband.
It shows not only that she sees that her marriage is lacking something, but she is also willing to do something about it.
Only to have the biggest surprise herself… 

As a reader, the betrayal wasn’t as shocking as it was for Gillian. And it may be evil to say it, I had a good laugh to see her running on the street the way she was, and having almost an accident. 

I have to say, I had several good laughs at Gillian’s sake, as there were several moments that were terrible to undergo, but hilarious to read as a bystander! 

But beside my laughs, my heart also went out to Gillian. She isn’t the most confident woman in the world, she has her own issues, like her weight and finding the right size in clothes.
All while we all could see that she truly is a great woman, caring about her family, her old and even new friends.
Yet she allows her own doubts cloud the reality. Because she fails to see why someone like Mattia would even be interested in her. 

And those doubts were sometimes even frustrating, because the age – gap isn’t that big, Mattia has a genuine interest in her, and there is absolutely nothing wrong about enjoying desserts! 

But is was also sweet to see how Gillian is finding life in Liparo great. She may not be speaking the language, but she makes friends, even has a dog (in a way…) and finds a place with so much potential. We see both a physical as psychological change in Gillian, as she becomes not only more self – confident but also a part of the lovely community. 

With Mattia it’s obvious who her love interest is. But the author also shows us that before we can start to love someone else, we have to love and accept ourselves first.  

And things with Mattia don’t go always as easy, but my statement applies also on him. He has his own story, which is also holding him back somehow.
He has the playboy – attitude, but it’s only a façade, as he is struggling to find the right balance between his past, his present and the consequences of a rift in his family. 

This was a wonderful, even inspiring story to read, about how one event can be initially a terrible discovery, but can turn out eventually the best thing that could happen, as that one thing can be the catalyst of not changing yourself, but accepting yourself. And how you may discover that your happiness may lay somewhere else, with someone else, if you would only allow it and not let doubts hold you back.

The higher you rise, the deeper you will eventually fall…

Synopsis

They climbed up from the mean streets of Glasgow to the top of the world. Now these Hollywood icons are heading for a fall.

Twenty-five years ago, three friends from Glasgow shocked the world when they became Oscar-winning legends.

But now, they are all fighting for survival.

A-list actor Zander Leith has finally found happiness with his adored wife, Hollie. But a stalker with a familiar face is determined to take away the only peace he’s ever known.

Mirren McLean is one of the most powerful women in the industry. Successful. Respected. Untouchable. Until one mistake threatens to destroy her marriage and her career.

And Davie Johnston was once the king of late-night television. Now, his only chance to reclaim his crown is to gamble everything on himself.

Three stars, three tales of struggle and success. Now they’re discovering that in Hollywood, happy endings don’t last for ever.

Sometimes they’re just the calm before the storm…

My review

It took them a while, but now Zander Leith, Mirren McLean and Davie Johnston have reached the Mount Olympus. They are successful, powerful and with having each other back in their lives, things couldn’t get any better.
But not everything that shines is gold…
Because Zander and his beloved wife Hollie are suddenly faced with a stalker…
Mirren also has to face the consequences of her one mistake. A mistake that may not only destroy her marriage but also her career.
And Davie may have been able to turn everything he touched int gold, but now he only has one chance left to show his worth. And also his relationship with Sarah is taking an unexpected turn.
Is it only a matter of time before the mighty fall? Or will their friendship be what will put them all through the most difficult times of their lives? 

When I started to read this magnificent third part of the series, I knew that already the prologue would give me a big scare.
So, I was mentally prepared to not assume the worst by those first pages. 

However… I wasn’t prepared for what would come next… 

It’s not a secret that I don’t like stories in a series where all the previous hard work is undone by the next read. But again, I was a little prepared as I knew that our friends were not out of the woods yet.
And it broke my heart to see how all three friends have to face again horrible moments, while trying to hold onto everything they have worked so hard far. 

At the start, I couldn’t be more happy for Zander and Hollie. It took them two complete books to get where they are now, and it truly warmed my heart to see how Zander has finally found his peace with Hollie by his side.
Talking about a power couple! Hollie is exactly what Zander needs, and vice versa! 

So obviously, at one terrible moment, I hated both authors. Yes Shari Low and Ross King, I HATED the both of you!
My heart got broken in one trillion (million is not even enough to explain the hurt…) little pieces to read what happened to Zander and Hollie.
I know this is fiction, but why couldn’t they keep their happiness??? 

And then there is Mirren…
Compared to Zander’s storyline, hers is perhaps not the most crushing story. But it still was painful to see how also her world falls apart.
Her mistake is one that I don’t condone. Yet I could comprehend how she got to that point.
It saddened me to see how not only that mistake could cost her her marriage, but also her career, her credibility.
And all that because there is a lecherous person, ready to exploit the story for his own benefits. 

Davie hasn’t been always my favourite person in the series. He has this air about him, always believing he is the best at everything.
He is rather vain concerning his career, not seeing that his star is not shining so brightly anymore.
That makes him make disastrous decisions, making him cost everything…
He learns the terrible lesson that not everyone that helps out, does it with the best intentions… 

I was somehow glad that the three friends, even at their lowest, could always count on each other. Zander sees that his friends are annoyingly always checking on him after the terrible event, Mirren has Zander and Davie by her side when her whole world is falling apart.
And Davie can rely on the friends when not only his career is deteriorating, but also his relationship with Sarah is taking a turn for the worse, which he cannot explain why… 

Sarah may not be the main protagonist, but she has perhaps the most important story of them all.
The story she is chasing, is one close to reality. Without giving too much away, when she starts to investigate and trying to find witnesses/ victims, I could recall easily all the headlines in the news not so long ago.
And I admired Sarah’s determination but also courage to persist, even at her own cost somehow. 

Now, it may seem that this story is filled with negative moments and no joy at all. But that is not completely true.
Because no matter how rough things are getting for our main characters, they also show the strength of friendship. That even at the most difficult moments, the right, genuine friends will always stand by your side, fighting in your corner.
And that is the beauty of this story, that even with a few hiccups in the past, these friends are always there for each other. 

There were also lighter moments, and I absolutely liked those small nudges, references, appearances to real-life personas.
And there was also a wonderful wink – wink moment towards one of the authors of this gripping, heart – wrenching book.
Again I found it impossible to put this book away, as the story of three childhood friends who made it in Hollywood, their raise and fall, is one that once caught your attention won’t give it away easily. It caused me sleepless nights, as I kept reading, but in the end, it was worth it!

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!

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…

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!